For years now it’s been an annual tradition – when ABC1’s Rage goes into retro mode during the month of January.

Every year Rage digs through the archive to bring viewers a mix of retro hits and repeats of classic ABC shows.  In previous years the retro playlists predominantly featured old Countdown and Rock Arena footage and episodes but these days features a slightly broader mix of shows, interviews and performances from the vaults.

This weekend the retro hits kick off at 10.00am today (Saturday) with an hour of classic hits – but this only acts as the warm up to tonight, starting at 11.30pm, when the Rage playlist (below) includes video clips and studio performances of 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s hits and interviews with stars of the era, including footage from classic shows Hit Scene, GTK, Be Our Guest (which featured regular cast members Jack Allan, Jacki Weaver, Sean Scully, Lorraine Bayly and Gordon Glenwright, pictured) and This Day Tonight (TDT).

Saturday 7 January:
11:30pm
THE EASYBEATS Wedding Ring (EMI)
NILSSON Everybody’s Talkin’ (Independent)
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND Sweet Jane (Warner)
TDT: TEENAGE ACTIVITIES/DISCOTHEQUE April 3rd, 1967 (ABC)

Sunday 8 January:
12:00am
PYTHON LEE JACKSON – Live on Be Our Guest, 1966 I Idolise You (Independent)
HIT SCENE (host Dick Williams, pictured below) May 24th, 1969 (Rage)

12:30am
HIT SCENE May 31st, 1969 (Rage)

1:00am
ALLUSIONS, THE – Live on Be Our Guest, 1966 The Dancer (Independent)
ALLUSIONS, THE – Live on Be Our Guest, 1966 Gypsy Woman (Independent)
FUSIONS Tully – Live on Fusions, July, 1969 (Rage)

1:30am
APPROXIMATELY PANTHER Documentary on youth culture, 1967 (Rage)

2:00am
BLACK DIAMONDS, THE – Live on Be Our Guest, 1966 See The Way (ABC)
BLACK DIAMONDS, THE – Live on Be Our Guest, 1966 I Want, Need, Love You (ABC)
HIT SCENE July 12th, 1969 (Rage)

2:30am
GTK Frank Zappa Rehearsing at the Hordern Pavillion (ABC)
HIT SCENE July 26th, 1969 (Rage)

3:00am
HIT SCENE August 2nd, 1969 (Rage)

3:30am
GTK Interview with Ravi Shankar (ABC)
HIT SCENE August 16th, 1969 (Rage)

4:00am
LITTLE RICHARD Operator (Warner)
THE TEMPTATIONS All I Want From You (Motown)
MARVIN GAYE Can I Get A Witness (EMI)
MARVIN GAYE Sexual Healing (Sony)
HIT SCENE November 8th, 1969 (Rage)

4:30am
RICHARD WRIGHT GROUP – Live on Be Our Guest Miss Hargreaves (ABC)
RICHARD WRIGHT GROUP – Live on Be Our Guest No No No No (ABC)
HIT SCENE December 20th, 1969 (Rage)

5:00am
ATLANTICS, THE – Live on Be Our Guest It’s A Hard Life (ABC)
ATLANTICS, THE – Live on Be Our Guest Why Do You Treat Me Like You Do (ABC)

5:30am
GTK Renee Geyer Interview & Performance (ABC)
SANDY EDMONDS – Live on Be Our Guest Sunny (ABC)
JULIE DRISCOLL & THE TRINITY Indian Rope Man (Polydor)
THIS DAY TONIGHT: DANCING August 19th, 1977 (ABC)
NEWS EXCERPT – October 1st, 1978 Babe’s Disco (ABC)
IAN DURY & THE BLOCKHEADS Reasons To Be Cheerful (Festival)

6:00am
THE MANHATTAN TRANSFER Twilight Zone (Atlantic)
PORTSMOUTH SINFONIA Classical Muddly (Festival)
TED MULRY GANG Jamaica Rum (Independent)
NOOSHA FOX The Heat Is On (Chrysalis)
TELEX Rock Around The Clock (BMG)
DONNA SUMMER This Time I Know It’s For Real (Warner)
SYLVESTER Mighty Real (Festival)
THE POINTER SISTERS I’m So Excited (BMG)

Rage Goes Retro continues every Saturday night (late night through to 6.30am Sunday) during January on ABC1.

Source: Rage