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.
Last on
Music Played
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A Tribe Called Quest
Check the Rhime
- Jive.
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Massive Attack
Safe From Harm
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Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Sailing On The Seven Seas
- OMD: The Singles.
- Virgin.
- 17.
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Slowdive
Catch The Breeze
- Creation.
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The Source
You Got The Love (feat. Candi Staton)
- React.
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Bizarre Inc
Playing With Knives
- Vinyl Solution .
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Anthrax
Bring Tha Noize (feat. Public Enemy)
- Madhouse: The Very Best Of Anthrax.
- Island Records.
- 12.
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Nirvana
In Bloom
- DGC.
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Prince & The New Power Generation
Gett Off
- Paisley Park/Warner Bros.
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Dinosaur Jr.
The Wagon
- Warner Bros.
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Blur
There's No Other Way
- Food.
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DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
Summertime
- Jive.
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Happy Mondays
Loose Fit
- Factory.
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The KLF
3 A.M. Eternal
- EMI.
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Nine Inch Nails
Head Like A Hole
- CD SINGLE.
- TVT Records.
- 1.
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MK
Burning
- Burning.
- Defected Records.
- 1.
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K‐Klass
Rhythm Is A Mystery
- Now 1991 - The Millennium Series.
- Now.
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LFO
LFO
- Warp.
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Pulp
Countdown
- Fire Records.
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Shades of Rhythm
Sound Of Eden
- The Album.
- ZTT Records.
- 6.
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Rhythm on the Loose
Break Of Dawn
- Break of Dawn EP.
- Network Records.
- 1.
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Siouxsie and the Banshees
Kiss Them For Me
- KISS THEM FOR ME.
- Wonderland.
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Xpansions
Move Your Body
- Move Your Body (Elevation) - EP.
- Sony Music CG.
- 1.
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Massive Attack
One Love
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DJ’s Rule
Get Into The Music
- Serious EP.
- Hi-Bias Records Inc..
- 1.
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Yo‐Yo
You Can't Play with My Yo-Yo (feat. Ice Cube)
- Make Way For The Motherlode.
- Rhino/Elektra.
- 3.
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Paris Angels
All On You (Perfume)
- ISLAND.
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Martika
Martika's Kitchen
- The Divas Of Dance (Various Artists).
- Telstar.
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Queen Latifah
Latifah's Had It Up To Here
- Nature Of A Sista'.
- Tommy Boy Music, LLC.
- 1.
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The Fall
High Tension Line
- Shift Work.
- Beggars Banquet.
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Young Disciples
Apparently Nothin'
- TALKIN' LOUD.
Broadcast
- Wednesday07:00BBC Radio 6 Music

