Amazing facts!!! A new occasional series

[michael_churchill]

On a very few occasions, there have been double A-sided singles in the charts where each side was by different artists. The only one that reached number one was "With A Little Help From My Friends" by Wet Wet Wet / "She's Leaving Home" by Billy Bragg in 1988 (from the charity album "Sgt. Pepper Knew My Father"). "Wand'rin' Star" by Lee Marvin was originally listed in the charts as a double A-side with "Talk To The Trees" by Clint Eastwood, but not by the time it reached number one. Perhaps the strangest was "Woman (Uh Huh)" by Jose Ferrer / "Man (Uh Huh)" by Rosemary Clooney, which reached no.7 in 1954, which is the same tune with lyrics from the different point of view of the sexes. Each sang backing vocals on the other's side and appeared at the end imploring the listener to turn the record over for the other point of view. Ferrer and Clooney were married.

[RJSRdg]

"I talk to the trees....
That's why they put me away..."

- Eccles

[Lunaticonthegrass]

"I talk to the trees....
That's why they put me away..."

- Eccles

Dear Lord, you're worse than my dad.

[RJSRdg]

Blame Spike Milligan!

[michael_churchill]

The link between Tony Hancock and George Michael...
In 1961, Tony Hancock re-recorded two classic episodes of his TV show, "The Blood Donor" and "The Radio Ham" for Pye Records and they were released on an LP that reached number 12 in the charts. A sample from "The Radio Ham" of actress Annie Leake, who played Hancock's landlady, saying "Would you stop playing with that radio of yours, I'm trying to get some sleep!" appears at the end of George Michael's song "Too Funky".

[michael_churchill]

Do you remember the 2011 Comic Relief sketch featuring Smithy from "Gavin and Stacey" with cameos from the likes of Paul McCartney, Gordon Brown and George Michael? That was directed by Ben Winston (who therefore directed his own father, Lord Robert Winston). He also directed the pre-recorded segment of the LA 28 handover at the Olympic closing ceremony featuring Tom Cruise.

[michael_churchill]

Only two athletes have competed at the Olympics in Beijing twice - that is the 2008 Summer Games and the 2022 Winter Games.
Jaque Mourao of Brazil was a mountain bike cyclist and a cross country skier. She has competed at three summer games and five winter games since 2004.
Montell Douglas of Team GB was a sprinter and competed in Bobsleigh. They were her only two games. She is now better known as Fire in Gladiators and will be a contestant in Strictly Come Dancing this year.

[michael_churchill]

The white Rolls Royce in the swimming pool on the cover of "Be Here Now" by Oasis was given the same number plate (SYO 724F) as a black police van seen in the background on the cover of "Abbey Road" by the Beatles.

[michael_churchill]

Jon Bon Jovi's first professional recording was for the 1980 album "Christmas in the Stars: Star Wars Christmas Album". Jon had a part-time janitor's job at the Record Plant studio in New York, which was managed by his cousin Tony. Producer Meco, who'd had a number one single with his disco version of the Star Wars theme, asked Jon to sing on "R2-D2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas"!