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6 Music’s Deep Dive into Massive Attack’s Blue Lines

Celebrating 35 years since the release of this seminal album with music from 1991, plus hear Blue Lines in full throughout the day alongside words from the artists who love it.

Celebrating 35 years since the release of this seminal album with music from 1991 all day, plus hear Blue Lines in full throughout the day alongside messages from those who were there and those it inspired, including Arlo Parks.

Nick has a Cloudbusting mix of uplifting tunes from 1991 to banish the grey skies. Plus, he finds a treasure from that year in the BBC archive, in the form of Madonna chatting to Terry Wogan.

Released in April 1991, Massive Attack’s Blue Lines melded a punk spirit with the sound of hip-hop and dub. Forged in the sound systems of Bristol, it created a world completely its own, spawned decade-defining tracks, and turned the global music spotlight onto its home city. To celebrate its 35th birthday, alongside playing a huge range of music from 1991, we’ve dug into the archive and found interviews from the key players involved in its making, with words from 3D and Daddy G of the band, plus Cameron McVey, Roni Size and Neneh Cherry. We’ve also got new messages from those who love the album, including Beth Orton, Arlo Parks, Martina Topley-Bird, James Lavelle and more.

Head to BBC Sounds to catch up with everything from the day, as well as to listen to a special programme that brings together the album and all the messages together in one handy listen. Just search Massive Attack in Sounds.

Produced by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 6 Music.

25 days left to listen

2 hours, 59 minutes

Last on

Wednesday07:00

Music Played

  • A Tribe Called Quest

    Check the Rhime

    • Jive.
  • Massive Attack

    Safe From Harm

  • Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

    Sailing On The Seven Seas

    • OMD: The Singles.
    • Virgin.
    • 17.
  • Slowdive

    Catch The Breeze

    • Creation.
  • The Source

    You Got The Love (feat. Candi Staton)

    • React.
  • Bizarre Inc

    Playing With Knives

    • Vinyl Solution ‎.
  • Anthrax

    Bring Tha Noize (feat. Public Enemy)

    • Madhouse: The Very Best Of Anthrax.
    • Island Records.
    • 12.
  • Nirvana

    In Bloom

    • DGC.
  • Prince & The New Power Generation

    Gett Off

    • Paisley Park/Warner Bros.
  • Dinosaur Jr.

    The Wagon

    • Warner Bros.
  • Blur

    There's No Other Way

    • Food.
  • DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

    Summertime

    • Jive.
  • Happy Mondays

    Loose Fit

    • Factory.
  • The KLF

    3 A.M. Eternal

    • EMI.
  • Nine Inch Nails

    Head Like A Hole

    • CD SINGLE.
    • TVT Records.
    • 1.
  • MK

    Burning

    • Burning.
    • Defected Records.
    • 1.
  • K‐Klass

    Rhythm Is A Mystery

    • Now 1991 - The Millennium Series.
    • Now.
  • LFO

    LFO

    • Warp.
  • Pulp

    Countdown

    • Fire Records.
  • Shades of Rhythm

    Sound Of Eden

    • The Album.
    • ZTT Records.
    • 6.
  • Rhythm on the Loose

    Break Of Dawn

    • Break of Dawn EP.
    • Network Records.
    • 1.
  • Siouxsie and the Banshees

    Kiss Them For Me

    • KISS THEM FOR ME.
    • Wonderland.
  • Xpansions

    Move Your Body

    • Move Your Body (Elevation) - EP.
    • Sony Music CG.
    • 1.
  • Massive Attack

    One Love

  • DJ’s Rule

    Get Into The Music

    • Serious EP.
    • Hi-Bias Records Inc..
    • 1.
  • Yo‐Yo

    You Can't Play with My Yo-Yo (feat. Ice Cube)

    • Make Way For The Motherlode.
    • Rhino/Elektra.
    • 3.
  • Paris Angels

    All On You (Perfume)

    • ISLAND.
  • Martika

    Martika's Kitchen

    • The Divas Of Dance (Various Artists).
    • Telstar.
  • Queen Latifah

    Latifah's Had It Up To Here

    • Nature Of A Sista'.
    • Tommy Boy Music, LLC.
    • 1.
  • The Fall

    High Tension Line

    • Shift Work.
    • Beggars Banquet.
  • Young Disciples

    Apparently Nothin'

    • TALKIN' LOUD.

Broadcast

  • Wednesday07:00