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Sounds of 1986 - 40 years on

A weekly celebration of the greatest musical decade - "If you were there, you'd know"...and if you weren't, pay attention!

A weekly celebration of the greatest musical decade - "If you were there, you'd know"...and if you weren't, pay attention!

Radio 2 and Radio 1 are celebrating the music and memories from previous years ending in 6 to start 2026. To hear more, search ‘All the 6s’ on BBC Sounds.

Produced by Listen for BBC Radio 2

24 days left to listen

1 hour, 57 minutes

Last on

Last Saturday 20:00
BBC Radio 2

More episodes

Previous

New Year's Eve Party Sounds of the 80s with Gary Davies

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The Winter Chill Edition

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Music Played

  • a-ha

    The Sun Always Shines on TV

    • Fantastic 80's - 3 (Various Artists).
    • Sony Tv/Columbia.
    • 1.

  • Billy Ocean

    When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going

    • Billy Ocean - Love Is For Ever (L.I.F.
    • Jive.

  • Dionne Warwick

    That's What Friends Are For (feat. Elton John, Gladys Knight & Stevie Wonder)

    • (CD Single).
    • Rocket.

  • Diana Ross

    Chain Reaction

    • Now That's What I Call Music '86.
    • Now.

  • TV Stars in the Charts

    • Su Pollard

      Starting Together

    • Grange Hill Cast

      Just Say No

    • Chas & Dave & The Matchroom Mob

      Snooker Loopy

    • Spitting Image

      The Chicken Song

    • Anita Dobson & Simon May

      Anyone Can Fall In Love

    • Nick Berry

      Every Loser Wins

    • Cliff Richard, The Young Ones & Hank Marvin

      Living Doll

  • Paul Hardcastle

    The Wizard

    • The Top Of The Pops Party Album.
    • Telstar.

  • Janet Jackson

    What Have You Done For Me Lately

    • Janet Jackson - Design Of A Decade.
    • A&M.
    • 6.

  • Prince & The Revolution

    Kiss

    • 4Ever.
    • Warner Bros.

  • Art of Noise

    Peter Gunn (feat. Duane Eddy)

  • Genesis

    Invisible Touch

    • Genesis - Turn It On Again.
    • Virgin.

  • Peter Gabriel

    Sledgehammer

    • Virgin.

  • Wham!

    The Edge Of Heaven

    • Wham - The Best Of Wham!.
    • Epic.

  • The Housemartins

    Happy Hour

  • Bananarama

    Venus

    • Fantastic 80's - 3 (Various Artists).
    • Sony Tv/Columbia.

  • Madonna

    Live To Tell

    • (CD Single).
    • Sire.

  • TV Themes & Cindy Fee

    The Golden Girls - Thank You For Being a Friend

    • Burning Girl.

  • Queen

    Friends Will Be Friends

    • Queen - Greatest Hits II.
    • Parlophone.

  • Back to the Movies 1986

    • Pearl & Dean

      Asteroid (Pearl & Dean Theme)

    • Yello

      Oh Yeah

    • The Psychedelic Furs

      Pretty In Pink

    • Peter Cetera

      Glory Of Love

    • The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra

      Ripley's Rescue (From "Aliens")

      Conductor: James Horner.

    • David Bowie

      Absolute Beginners

    • David Bowie

      Underground

    • Berlin

      Take My Breath Away

  • Ken Freeman

    Theme From Casualty

  • The Communards & Sarah Jane Morris

    Don't Leave Me This Way

    • Electric Dreams.
    • UMOD (Universal Music On Demand).
    • 2.

  • Farley Jackmaster Funk

    Love Can't Turn Around (feat. Darryl Pandy)

    • House Hits (Various Artists).
    • Needle.
    • 17.

  • Aerosmith

    Walk This Way

    • Columbia.

  • Run‐D.M.C. & Aerosmith

    Walk This Way

    • Now 8 (Various Artists).
    • Now.

  • Bon Jovi

    You Give Love A Bad Name

    • Slippery When Wet.
    • Mercury.
    • 2.

  • Paul Simon

    You Can Call Me Al

    • The Paul Simon Anthology (Disc 2).
    • Warner Bros.

  • Pet Shop Boys

    Suburbia

    • Now 8 (Various Artists).
    • Now.

  • Erasure

    Sometimes

    • Erasure - Pop!.
    • Mute Records.

Broadcast

  • Last Saturday 20:00
    BBC Radio 2

Featured in...

  • All the 6s

    Start 2026 with music and memories from previous years ending in 6, from 1966 to 2016!