31 episodes

Welcome aboard The Giddy Carousel of Pop!
We are a Smash Hits appreciation podcast dedicated to the swingorilliant British pop magazine which ran from 1978 to 2006. In each episode, we take an old issue of Ver Hits (usually from the 1980s but may slip a year or two either side of that) and discuss what’s on its pages, looking at who’s riding high on the carousel and who’s heading down the dumper.
We always have a guest to help us along the way, so we’ll be talking to the readers, the writers, and who knows, maybe even the odd pop star who appeared in its pages. Hang on tight!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Giddy Carousel of Pop The Giddy Carousel of Pop

    • Music
    • 4.9 • 37 Ratings

Welcome aboard The Giddy Carousel of Pop!
We are a Smash Hits appreciation podcast dedicated to the swingorilliant British pop magazine which ran from 1978 to 2006. In each episode, we take an old issue of Ver Hits (usually from the 1980s but may slip a year or two either side of that) and discuss what’s on its pages, looking at who’s riding high on the carousel and who’s heading down the dumper.
We always have a guest to help us along the way, so we’ll be talking to the readers, the writers, and who knows, maybe even the odd pop star who appeared in its pages. Hang on tight!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    BONUS EPISODE: The Observer 'New Review' Preview (August 2023)

    BONUS EPISODE: The Observer 'New Review' Preview (August 2023)

    Simon and Gavin pop up for a quick spin on the carousel to share some exciting news! Listen and all will be revealed... Then get down to your nearest newsagent on Sunday 6th August! We'll be back with a full episode in the autumn.
    CONTACT DETAILS:
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/GiddyPopPod
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GiddyPopPod
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giddypoppod/
    Website: https://giddypoppod.home.blog/
    Buy us a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/giddypoppod


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 4 min
    Smash Hits - 19 August - 1 September 1982 with Sue Humphreys

    Smash Hits - 19 August - 1 September 1982 with Sue Humphreys

    Welcome back to The Giddy Carousel of Pop, a podcast about the Britain's brightest pop mag, Smash Hits.
    In this episode we go back to August 1982 with Gav's old school mate Sue Humphreys. The cover star is John Taylor, and inside the mag are features on Duran Duran, The Stranglers and Sting, with the usual Bitz, RSVP, singles reviews and lyrics.
    Read along with us.
    Like Punk Never Happened: https://likepunkneverhappened.blogspot.com/2012/08/august-19-september-1-1982.html
    Smash Hits Remembered: https://michaelmouse1967.wixsite.com/website-4/97-19th-august-1st-september-1982
    And check out the playlists of pretty much all the songs featured in this issue of Ver Hits!
    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1UCTGnZd5DK1XsgikiAEMS
    YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfs58mqeRNuE5gdb-BcdwcCqOsRR2fAYk
    Top 40 on BBC Radio 1 from August 22nd, 1982: https://www.mixcloud.com/Andy_JS/uk-top-40-sunday-22nd-august-1982-with-tommy-vance-90-mins/
    HOSTS: Simon Galloway and Gavin Hogg
    GUEST: Sue Humphreys
    CONTACT DETAILS:
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/GiddyPopPod
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GiddyPopPod
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giddypoppod/
    Website: https://giddypoppod.home.blog/
    Buy us a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/giddypoppod

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 2 hrs
    Smash Hits - 29 October - 11 November 1981 with Nige Tassell

    Smash Hits - 29 October - 11 November 1981 with Nige Tassell

    Welcome back to The Giddy Carousel of Pop, a podcast about the Britain's brightest pop mag, Smash Hits.
    In this episode we are joined by popular culture and sport writer Nige Tassell as we spin the carousel back October 1981.
    The cover stars are The Fun Boy Three and inside the mag are Julian Cope, Japan, Girls At Our Best and a whole lot more, alongside the usual Bitz, RSVP, singles reviews and lyrics.
    Read along with us.
    Like Punk Never Happened: https://likepunkneverhappened.blogspot.com/2011/10/october-29-november-11-1981.html
    Smash Hits Remembered: https://michaelmouse1967.wixsite.com/website-3/76-29th-october-11th-november-1981
    And check out the playlists of pretty much all the songs featured in this issue of Ver Hits!
    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4W5DewDFmsX6XikTjHMwjJ
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfs58mqeRNuHC_j6KKkxMuSK8Eusim4KR
    Nige's latest book, Whatever Happened to the C86 Kids?: An Indie Odyssey, is out now: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Whatever-Happened-C86-Kids-Odyssey/dp/1788705580/
    Top 40 on BBC Radio 1 from October 25th, 1981: https://www.mixcloud.com/Andy_JS/uk-top-40-sunday-25th-october-1981-with-tony-blackburn-90-mins/
    HOSTS: Simon Galloway and Gavin Hogg
    GUEST: Nige Tassell
    CONTACT DETAILS:
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/GiddyPopPod
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GiddyPopPod
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giddypoppod/
    Website: https://giddypoppod.home.blog/
    Buy us a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/giddypoppod


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 1 hr 52 min
    Christmas Bonus - December 2022

    Christmas Bonus - December 2022

    Welcome to The Giddy Carousel of Pop's Christmas Bonus! A little episode to round up/round off the year, as Simon and Gavin pick out some of their fave podcasts, books and music-related films and tv of the last 12 months. Plus a shoutout to recent Ko-Fi supporters. We'll be back for a full ride on the carousel in 2023. Until then, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
    CONTACT DETAILS:
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/GiddyPopPod
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GiddyPopPod
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giddypoppod/
    Website: https://giddypoppod.home.blog/
    Buy us a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/giddypoppod

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 44 min
    Smash Hits - 13-26 August 1986 with Brian & Sarah (Permanent Record Podcast)

    Smash Hits - 13-26 August 1986 with Brian & Sarah (Permanent Record Podcast)

    Welcome back to The Giddy Carousel of Pop, a podcast about the Britain's brightest pop mag, Smash Hits.
    In this episode we are joined by our American podcast cousins, Brian and Sarah from Permanent Record Podcast - https://www.permanentrecordpodcast.com/ - as the carousel spins us back to August 1986. And there's much to discuss!
    The cover stars are The Human League. Also featured are Doctor & The Medics, Paul McCartney, Killing Joke, Tina Turner, Katrina & The Waves, Spandau Ballet, Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Zodiac Mindwarp and a whole lot more, alongside the usual Bitz, RSVP, singles reviews and lyrics.
    Gav also tells us about his new book, We Peaked At Paper - https://www.boatwhistle.com/we-peaked-at-paper.
    Read along with us.
    Like Punk Never Happened: https://likepunkneverhappened.blogspot.com/2016/08/august-13-26-1986.html
    Smash Hits Remembered: https://michaelmouse1967.wixsite.com/website-8/201-13th-august-26th-august-1986
    And check out the playlists of pretty much all the songs featured in this issue of Ver Hits!
    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4Yu8MNz9OxkJb42hTGfgzg
    YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfs58mqeRNuEV6c6O3vemC_035uCpQ5WP
    HOSTS: Simon Galloway and Gavin Hogg
    GUEST: Brian and Sarah from Permanent Record Podcast
    CONTACT DETAILS:
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/GiddyPopPod
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GiddyPopPod
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giddypoppod/
    Website: https://giddypoppod.home.blog/
    Buy us a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/giddypoppod

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 2 hrs 39 min
    Smash Hits - 9-22 December 1982 with Helen O'Hara (Dexys)

    Smash Hits - 9-22 December 1982 with Helen O'Hara (Dexys)

    Welcome back to The Giddy Carousel of Pop, a podcast about the Britain's brightest pop mag, Smash Hits.
    In this episode we are joined by musician Helen O'Hara (Dexys, Tanita Tikaram, Tim Burgess) for a spin back to December 1982, when Helen, as part of Dexys, was literally riding high on the giddy carousel of pop (sometimes a little too giddy).
    Artists discussed include Dexy's Midnight Runners, Yazoo, Abba, Whitesnake, Shalamar, Julian Cope and many more.
    Former Smash Hits editor Mark Ellen also jumps on for a quick ride to tell us about the making of the legendary Smash Hits Christmas flex-disc.
    Read along with us.
    Like Punk Never Happened: https://likepunkneverhappened.blogspot.com/2012/12/december-9-22-1982.html
    Smash Hits Remembered: https://michaelmouse1967.wixsite.com/website-4/105-9th-december-22nd-december-1982
    And check out the playlists of pretty much all the songs featured in this issue of Ver Hits!
    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1oTQIfExIqrkIOFAC4jBwj
    YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfs58mqeRNuER31txcQH79EdoxsIOpHaB
    Check out Helen's book here: http://www.route-online.com/all-books/whats-she-like.html
    HOSTS: Simon Galloway and Gavin Hogg
    GUEST: Helen O'Hara
    CAMEO: Mark Ellen
    CONTACT DETAILS:
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/GiddyPopPod
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GiddyPopPod
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giddypoppod/
    Website: https://giddypoppod.home.blog/
    Buy us a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/giddypoppod

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    • 2 hrs 29 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
37 Ratings

37 Ratings

lucybwales ,

Love it!

I utterly love this podcast. I wish there were more episodes!

Bribelfing ,

Smash hits gold

I’ve only just started listening to these podcasts so I’ve went back to the 1st one and working my way through them. Smash Hits was my music bible for about 5 years after buying the issue with The Funboy 3 on the cover from I think October ‘81. I love the way you guys have set this up where you can read the mag as you are listening to the podcast and the Spotify and video playlists are great as well. Cheers

Spikecricket ,

Smashing podcast

I’m really enjoying listening to you guys reliving the 80s, you make it fun and I love the nostalgia. It’s a pleasure to listen to so thanks for brightening up the journey to work. More 1984 though please, the best year of the lot. Keep up the good work and thank you.

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