While 2023 starts with a continuing war in Ukraine and there are horrific events in the Middle East on the horizon, I'm struck by what a relatively uneventful year it has been. While I clearly don't want you to switch off, and there is some great music and significant moments to enjoy in this episode, I do find myself asking, is this the most unint…

Brierly Hill 90210 presents... 1975I was 8-years old as the year began so was mostly interested in riding my bike, climbing on the backs of tractors as the summer harvest was brought in, waiting until prompted to yell “Crackerjack” at the TV and thinking how much fun it would be to hang out with Jimmy Saville. I have a vague recollection that there…

1973 is another of those years that feels like one chapter is ending as another begins. That may have something to do with personal memories. I turned 7 and, while I certainly have earlier memories, they're just glimpses and fragments. There are stories in this 1973 episode that have a concrete “time and place” to them.But there's a flip side to th…

My name is Jon Miller. I was born in 1966 in the idyllic countryside of the Cotswold Hills in the south west of England. I have a brother who is two years younger than me and soon after he was born, my parents moved from the tiny village of Salperton, to the slightly less tiny village of Hazelton about 2 miles away.I was 5 as 1972 begins and attend…

In this episode you going to hear from artists that are the epitome of 1970s music; T Rex, Rod Stewart, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, what have you. But there's a new sound creeping in that doesn't even have a name yet!Discotheques had been popping up in Europe as early as the second World War. The shortened term “disco” first appeared in 1964 to desc…

The music of the early 70s does not have the greatest of reputations. You can judge for yourself if that is well-founded or not. But there certainly seemed to be less good songs to draw from as I put this episode together. But, if you're of a similar age to me, a child born of the 60s, there's something that starts to feel more familiar now. See if…

One of the reasons for looking back to pre-rock'n'roll in this series was to learn more about the styles, trends and back-stories that shaped the music of the punk rock movement and beyond. I've mentioned before that there's clearly never an alignment to musical styles starting or ending with how the calendar falls. But there was almost a dividing …

From the start of this series, I've included clips from television shows, mostly from when they first broadcast. Even though I was born in 1966, I have memories of shows that debuted as early as the mid-50s; The Woodentops, Andy Pandy, The Flowerpot Men. But as we get to the TV of 1968, I'm starting to have more direct recollection of watching them…

As a child, I had a fascination with the year 1967. Why would that be do you think? Having plunged into the music and sounds of the year to bring you this episode, I'm still not sure I know the answer.It is undoubtedly a year of dramatic change. Musically, the best that the 60s had to offer transitions into the drippy, hippy nonsense that become th…

Back in 1953, many British homes bought TVs for the first time so that they could watch the coronation of their new Queen. But there are also TV-related changes afoot in these episodes from the mid 1960s. Filmed news reels are increasingly being replaced by TV news coverage. Maybe this happened earlier and it's only becoming apparent because techno…

As another year gets underway, there's a striking change in tone for stories that have been running for a while. There's a difference in the action taking place in Vietnam but also in the way it is being reported. Similarly, race relations are being addressed more directly as steps are taken, both forward and back, in all corners of the world.…

1964 is a year without the single, big-impact story of other years. The assassination of President Kennedy is still a fresh, raw memory as Americans go to the polls later in the year. Political change is coming to the UK also with a general election on the horizon.Children are going missing in the Manchester area, close to Saddleworth Moor. That's …

The year started with something I'd avoided to this point; I came down with COVID the first week of the year. I was very poorly for 24-hours but quickly recovered after that. Others have not been so fortunate.As is always the case as the calendar turns a page to January, one's never sure what kind of year it's going to be. I don't think any of us w…

It's hard writing the introduction for an episode when you know a major news story will dominate it. While the focus will inevitably be on events in Dallas in November, there are other things happening in 1963, some significant, some less so.While the US has had a presence in Vietnam for the last few years, a coup changes the political complexion i…

As a new year begins, the US continues to ramp up it's presence in Vietnam. But Americans are looking closer to home.The previous year had seen the failed invasion of Cuba by former exiles of that country. The invasion, though it wasn't known at the time, has been funded by the US government. Their response to this failure would be a trade embargo …

As a new year begins, tensions are rising between the US, led by newly elected President John F Kennedy, and Cuba, two years after the revolution that installed Fidel Castro as it's leader.On the other side of the world, pressure is also building as communism spreads in south-east Asia. The United States is keeping it's finger in that pie as well.M…

Something that's struck me throughout this series is the evolving use of language through the decades. It's a fascinating insight into trends and attitudes present in general society of the time. There's a real contrast from the language used in 1960 news reels and even in the TV news of race riots in the late 70s and early 80s to what you're likel…

I noticed a musical trend starting in the previous episode. The earnest beginnings of rock n' roll were joined by novelty songs in 1958. You may recall songs about lollipops, splish-splashing and yakety-yakking. Do you see parallels to later musical movements; earnest angst to begin, novelties soon follow but then more serious musicians shape the p…

I was born in 1966, 3 years before man first walked on the moon. I have a vague recollection of my dad getting me out of bed to watch some of those Apollo missions. So it's interesting to hear the prelude to those memories, forged 11 years earlier from America's fear of the Soviet Union.Also aligned to the fear of communism is the west's fear of Ar…

As I work on this series, I'm still fascinated by the highs, lows and lulls that are outside of my control. The working title of the series was “chronology” and, as much as possible, I let that tell it's own story. The music, news and entertainment timelines drive the narrative.While there is still excitement and a newness to the music of 1957, wor…

Historical! Montgomery, Suez, Hungary, Eurovision and Bert Trautmann. Musical! Little Richard, James Brown, Johnny Cash and Gene Vincent.Podcast hosted by Jon Miller által

There wasn't a specific date when rock 'n' roll started. As mentioned in earlier episodes, it had been a term used since the 1940s. DJ Alan Freed had used it as early as 1951 and rock 'n' roll recordings had occasionally charted since 1953. But there was an event that happened in 1955 that put rock 'n' roll in the headlines and firmly on the map. T…

Alan Freed used the term “rock and roll” as early as 1951. It was a euphemism for sex but Freed used it to describe rhythm and blues, or “race music”, in a way that was more acceptable to white audiences. Freed was keen to promote white cover versions of songs originally recorded by black artists.But, while this new rock 'n' roll music started to g…

If you've followed this series from the beginning, it started with 1977, the year I began high school and a year when music changed with the arrival of punk rock. So why jump back to 1953? As I recorded the earlier chronological episodes, I found myself thinking, both for the music and the major news stories, how did we get here? What's the back st…

I was 7 as 1974 began and, while my musical memories are becoming more well formed, they are still a little fuzzy. Most of them from this episode seem to be around October and I suspect this is from a Sunday night chart rundown that my dad taped for me off Radio 1 and that was played over and over until the tape broke.Memories of 1974's music are f…

As the year begins, stories from 2020 are coming to a head. COVID vaccines are being rolled out, cases attempting to show that black lives do matter will get their day in court and Donald Trump continues to not accept the result of the election.On the home-front, continuing the saga from the year before, our house is still on the market, but there'…

1976 is a defining year in British music. The glam rock of the early 70's is making way for disco as it gains mainstream success. There is also a disturbing trend in sickly pop ballads. But young people are becoming increasingly frustrated at the lack of opportunities and the general staleness of the establishment. Harold Wilson is Britain's Labour…

We'd been living in our “dream house” for 12 years but, it having been built in the 19th century, there was always something failing, breaking or otherwise needing repair. It was beginning to take it's toll, both financially and in terms of time spent. So we decided it was time to move on. With the impeccable timing that had us buy it during a majo…

The year begins with the US Government shut down over a refusal to fund Trumps wall on the Mexico border.Globally, many are starting to wake up to the potential impact of climate change, mostly young people making their voices heard. In the UK, the bickering over Brexit is taking everybody nowhere fast. But the Windrush scandal of the previous year…

I missed a mention of turning 50 a couple of episodes ago. Probably from being in denial.I know the cliche about age just being a number. But there is something about reaching that particular number that, in my case at least, brings about a need to look back on one's life. I'm sure the seed of this series was planted in that flower pot of nostalgia…

I only recorded one new podcast episode in 2017. Looking back, I'm not sure if there's any one reason why the show slowly petered out, though there would be a couple more shows in 2018 before work started on this current series. But I had been doing it for 12 years which is a long time in the podcast universe.It probably had something to do with fa…

I started recording this series in 2020 and it's 2021 as I record this episode. Depending on when you're listening to this of course (it could be 2030 and I'm coming to you from the implant behind your ear as you ride your self-driving rocket-ship), doesn't 2016 feel like we're up-to-date? The events seem like they've only just happened.Having said…

In some previous episodes, I've spoken of a glut of good music for certain years. This time, more than any other I can remember, I have more news stories than usual. I think that's partly due to several long-running stories coming to their end. There are the usual smatterings of death, relegation, job suspensions and criminal indictments for past m…

I mentioned last time that I wasn't really enjoying my job. I felt too old to mix it up with the youngsters at a New York technology start-up. But after a few years of job hunting, I finally landed a “proper job” with a manufacturing company in Pennsylvania.Elsewhere as 2014 begins, while the world still grapples with events in Ukraine and Crimea, …

I wasn't really enjoying my job as a product manager for a software company in New York. I shouldn't have had anything to complain about; the work was challenging, I was getting good experience and I enjoyed working with my team. But the money wasn't great, it was a long slog up to New York on the train and the overselling of our software's capabil…

The kids are growing up. One is 6 as the year begins and our youngest turns 4 in January. He's sick a lot and it'll be another 5 years before we find out why.In America, the economy continues its slow recovery; too slow for several big name brands and retailers that didn't sufficiently prepare for a digital economy. Will economic recovery be fast e…

I had started a new job in 2010 after spending the best part of a year out of work. I was now a project manager and integration consultant working for a start-up company in New York. 2011 saw me working on an assignment on Wall Street in the city. That meant 4 hours on Amtrak and 2 hours on the New York subway each day.Musically, the long train rid…

The year started with me still not in full-time employment. But I was doing contract work for a major US health insurance company so was better off than most. But come February, one of my previous contracts offered me a full-time position and I took it. I was earning half of what I was before the financial crash but beggars can't be choosers.I ende…

After living in our new house in Pennsylvania for a year, we corrected our mistake of not selling our old house first by finally off-loading it for far less than we'd planned. That was obviously not great news but things got worse in March when, with a wife and two very young children to support, I was let go from my job in California. A lot of oth…

As a small child, I remember driving with my parents to Evesham to visit my grandparents and seeing a hill completely covered with trees except a small clearing in the middle and down one side. I recall thinking that it would be an ideal place to build a perfect house, white and with a majestic view of the valley below.I only realized relatively re…

Being a first-time parent with a 1-year-old is thrilling, frightening, fun and exhausting. With a life that revolved around eating, feeding, sleeping, doctor's visits, social interaction with other toddlers and their parents, much of 2007 is a blur. You'll notice an increased focus on kids TV in these episodes!But I continued to record weekly podca…

Becoming a first time dad at 40 was exhausting. I felt too old for it yet knew I had been too immature to have done it earlier. Our son was NOT a good sleeper. My recollection of that time was sitting up all night rocking him to sleep while listening to Shitmat and This Morning Jacket. Surprisingly the boy liked the Killa Babylon Kutz album and it …

The year begins with George W Bush celebrating a second term as US president while the world mourns and prays for those effected by the massive Indian Ocean tsunami at the end of 2004.On the personal front, by February, we were pregnant again and, after many nervous months, this time it stuck. Looking back, I don't remember a direct connection but …

Does any day, week, month or year feel like the end of something as it's happening? It's only in hindsight that, usually as the result of a new beginning, you see the previous end for what it was. Even then, it's mostly like a gradual evolution, not a sudden end. But in looking back, 2004 is an ending. There's personal sadness that goes with it whi…

I switched from Windows to Mac in 2003 and bought by first iPod. It was still the early days of online music and Apple had “New Music Tuesday” when they would give away a newly released track and would list all of the albums that had been made available in iTunes that week. It was a small enough number that I could scan through each Tuesday to see …

The year started with America still coming to terms with a new world after September 11th the year before. Everybody was getting used to new security restrictions, myself included as I continued working in California, traveling from New Jersey once a month. If I was lucky enough to get an upgrade, I'd have to eat my deluxe airline meal with a plast…

I started my new job in January and began a new routine; 1 week in the office in California and the rest of each month working from home in New Jersey. That suited me, greatly reducing the amount of time spent in airports and on airplanes. There was still a 12-hour round-trip once a month and it's hard to imagine now that was pre portable MP3 playe…

This new year heralded not just a new millennium but many new things on the personal front as well. We had been married 6 months and I broke out on my own to become a self-employed software developer and consultant. My first gig was in the US mid-west where Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota all meet. Not only is that part of the world incredibly cold…

In the second episode where music and the outside world were things that happened to other people, I got married in October of 1999. So a big chunk of the year was spent gearing up for that. The official ceremony was at my wife's church in New Jersey but we then travelled, with a large American contingent, to the UK to do it all over again in the C…

This is the start of a period when I took my eye off the ball that is music and it smacked me square in the face... or it went sailing over my head or hit me in the groin, depending on how you look at it. Things were “getting serious” with my girlfriend, we got engaged and built a house together. Maybe that whole “getting a life” thing is what shif…