About this season
Ready Steady Go! is one of the UK's first rock/pop music television programmes and was a forerunner of MTV-type programming. It was conceived by Elkan Allan, head of Rediffusion TV. Allan was assisted by record producer/talent manager Vicki Wickham, who became the show's producer, and Michael Lindsay-Hogg who was appointed the show's director in 1965. It was broadcast from August 1963 until December 1966. It was produced by Associated-Rediffusion the weekday ITV contractor for London, called Rediffusion-London post 1964. The live show was eventually networked nationally. The show gained its highest ratings on 20 March 1964 when it featured the Beatles being interviewed and performing their songs "It Won't Be Long", "You Can't Do That" and "Can't Buy Me Love" - the last of which was a hit at the time. RSG! USA! was a Dick Clark production in 1964. A trademark infringement ended the show after six episodes. Its last episode was broadcast on 23 December 1966.
Episodes (52)
1. The Searchers; Herman's Hermits; Peter & Gordon
Aired 4 September 1964 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --Peter and Gordon --Herman's Hermits - ""I'm Into Something Good"" --The Searchers - ""When You Walk In The Room"" --The Rustiks Additional guests (from another source): --Bern Elliott and the The Klan - ""Good Times""
2. Cliff Bennett; Adam Faith; Bill Haley & his Comets
Aired 11 September 1964 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --Bill Haley and his Comets --Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers - ""One Way Love"" --Tony Jackson and the Vibrations - ""Bye Bye Baby"" --Adam Faith and the Roulettes --Rita Bartok --Doug Sheldon
3. The Animals; Elkie Brooks; The Hollies; Dionne Warwick
Aired 18 September 1964 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --The Animals - ""I'm Crying"" --The Hollies - ""We're Through"" --Dionne Warwick - ""Reach Out for Me"" --Elkie Brooks --The Chants
4. Gerry & the Pacemakers; Wayne Fontana; Little Eva
Aired 25 September 1964 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --Gerry and the Pacemakers - ""It's Gonna Be Alright"" --Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders - ""Um Um Um Um Um Um"" --Little Eva --Little Walter --The Band of Angels --The Four
5. John Lee Hooker; Lulu; Keith Powell
Aired 2 October 1964 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --John Lee Hooker --Lulu and the Luvvers --Keith Powell
6. Dave Clark Five; Manfred Mann; Honeycombs
Aired 9 October 1964 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --The Dave Clark Five --Manfred Mann - ""Sha La La"" --The Honeycombs - ""Is It Because""
7. Dionne Warwick; Mick Jagger
Aired 16 October 1964 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --Dionne Warwick - ""Reach Out For Me"" From another source: --Mick Jagger interview by Ellen Grehan
8. Dusty Springfield; Dave Clark 5; Marianne Faithfull; Sandie Shaw
Aired 23 October 1964 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --The Dave Clark Five - ""Anyway You Want It"" --Marianne Faithfull - ""Blowin' in the Wind"" --Dusty Springfield - ""Losing You"" --Sandie Shaw - ""There's Always Something There To Remind Me"" Also appeared? --The Rolling Stones - ""Cry to Me"" and ""She Said Yeah""
9. The Kinks; The Dixie Cups
Aired 30 October 1964 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --The Kinks - ""All Day & All Of The Night"" --The Dixie Cups - ""People Say"" --Sugar Pie Desanto - ""I Don't Wanna Fuss""
10. The Beach Boys; Gene Pitney; Dusty Springfield; Fourmost
Aired 6 November 1964 • 30 min
--The Beach Boys - ""I Get Around"" and ""When I Grow Up (to be a Man)"" Plus, an interview by Keith Fordyce. Clips (probably from 6-Nov-64): --Martha and the Vandellas --Dusty Springfield - ""Losing You"" --Gene Pitney - ""I'm Gonna Be Strong"" --The Fourmost - ""Baby I Need Your Lovin'"" Additional guests (scheduled to appear): --Eden Kane --The Plebs --Johnny Tillotson
11. Adam Faith; Herman's Hermits; The Hollies; Françoise Hardy
Aired 13 November 1964 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --Herman's Hermits - ""Show Me Girl"" --Adam Faith and the Roulettes - ""Message To Martha (Kentucky Bluebird)"" --The Hollies - ""We're Through"" and ""Come On Back"" --Francoise Hardy
12. Jerry Lee Lewis; Rolling Stones; Marvin Gaye
Aired 20 November 1964 • 30 min
--Rolling Stones - ""Off The Hook,"" interview with Brian & Mick, ""Little Red Rooster"" & ""Around And Around"" --Jerry Lee Lewis (with the Plebs) - ""High Heel Sneakers"" & ""Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On"" --Marvin Gaye - ""How Sweet It Is"" & ""Can I Get A Witness"" --Them - ""Baby, Please Don't Go"" --The Zephyrs - ""What Am I Gonna Do"" --Kenny Lynch - ""On My Own Two Feet"" Additional guests (scheduled): --Simon Scott - possibly ""My Baby's Got Soul"" --Samantha Jones From this date? --Burt Bacharach
13. The Beatles; Kim Weston; Isley Brothers; Searchers
Aired 27 November 1964 • 30 min
--The Beatles (3rd RSG! appearance) - ""I Feel Fine,"" ""She's A Woman,"" ""Baby's In Black"" & ""Kansas City/Hey Hey Hey Hey"" --Kim Weston - ""A Little More Love"" --The Isley Brothers - ""Stagger Lee"" & ""The Last Girl"" Also from this show: --The Searchers - ""What Have They Done To The Rain?"" and ""This Feeling Inside"" --Sandie Shaw - ""Girl Don't Come"" --Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas
14. The Miracles; P.J. Proby; Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers
Aired 4 December 1964 • 30 min
--The Moody Blues - ""Go Now"" Scheduled guests: --The Miracles --P.J. Proby - ""Somewhere"" --Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers
15. Georgie Fame / Rufus Thomas / Dick and DeeDee / Gerry & the Pacemakers
Aired 11 December 1964 • 30 min
Guests: --Georgie Fame & Blue Flames - ""Monkeying Around"" and ""Yeh Yeh"" (live performance) --The McKinleys - ""Sweet and Tender Romance"" --Kenny Lynch - ""On My Own Two Feet"" --Tony Jackson and the Vibrations - ""You Beat Me to the Punch"" --John Watson and the Hummelflugs - ""Looking for Love"" --Rufus Thomas - ""Walking the Dog"" and ""Jump Back"" (live performance) --Dick and DeeDee - ""Thou Shalt Not Steal"" --Gerry and the Pacemakers - ""Ferry Cross The Mersey,"" ""Why Oh Why"" and ""My Babe""
16. Petula Clark; The Animals; Brian Poole and the Tremeloes
Aired 18 December 1964 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --Petula Clark - Downtown"" --The Animals --Brian Poole and the Tremeloes
17. The Searchers; Sandie Shaw
Aired 25 December 1964 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --Dave Berry --Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders --The Four Pennies --Herman's Hermits --The Nashville Teens --The Searchers --Sandie Shaw Rediffusion Stars And Garters Susan Maughan, The Square Pegs, Steve Berry --The Searchers --Sandie Shaw Surviving footage (might be from 25-Dec-64): --The Searchers - ""What Have they Done to the Rain?"" --The Searchers - ""This Feeling Inside"" --Sandie Shaw - ""Girl Don't Come""
18. RSG! The New Year Starts Here! (1965 New Years Show)
Aired 31 December 1964 • 30 min
""Ready, Steady, Go! The New Year Starts Here"" London, Television House, Kingsway. --Interviews with members of The Stones --The Rolling Stones (performances from the 20-Nov-64 RSG!) - ""Around And Around,"" ""Little Red Rooster"" and ""Off the Hook."" Also Mick Jagger demonstrates a new dancing style. Scheduled guests: --The Animals --The Dave Clark Five --Freddie and the Dreamers --The Kinks --Kenny Lynch --Manfred Mann --Susan Maughan --Sandie Shaw --Dusty Springfield
19. Cilla Black; The Rockin' Berries; Sonny Boy Williamson
Aired 8 January 1965 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --Cilla Black - ""You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"" --The Rockin' Berries - ""What In The World's Come Over You"" --Sonny Boy Williamson
20. Rolling Stones; Righteous Brothers; Del Shannon; Kinks
Aired 15 January 1965 • 30 min
--Rolling Stones - ""What a Shame,"" ""Time Is On My Side"" and ""Down The Road Apiece"" Scheduled guests: --The Kinks - ""Tired Of Waiting For You"" --Del Shannon - ""Keep Searchin' (We'll Follow The Sun)"" --The Righteous Brothers - ""You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'""
21. Dave Clark Five; Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders; Billy J. Kramer
Aired 22 January 1965 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas --Dave Clark Five - ""Everybody Knows"" --Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders - ""Game Of Love""
22. The Who; The Animals; Hollies; Elkie Brooks
Aired 29 January 1965 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --The Hollies - ""Yes I Will"" --The Animals - ""Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"" --Goldie and the Gingerbreads - ""Can't You Hear My Heart Beat"" --Elkie Brooks From another source: --The Who - ""I Can't Explain"" (believed to be the Who's British TV debut) --The Animals --The Hollies - ""Yes I Will"" and ""Nobody"" --Donovan --Ron and Mel --Elkie Brooks --Goldie and the Gingerbreads --Rick and Sandy --Rhythm and Blues, Inc
23. Marianne Faithfull; Gene Pitney; The Zombies
Aired 5 February 1965 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --Gene Pitney - ""I Must Be Seeing Things"" --Marianne Faithfull - ""Come & Stay With Me"" --Adam Faith - ""Stop feeling Sorry For Yourself"" --The Roulettes --The Zombies From another source: --Donovan (his TV debut)
24. Manfred Mann; Millie; Sandie Shaw; Dusty Springfield
Aired 12 February 1965 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --Manfred Mann - ""Come Tomorrow"" --Dusty Springfield - ""Your Hurtin' Kind Of Love"" --The Nashville Teens - ""Find My Way Back Home"" --Sandie Shaw - ""I'll Stop At Nothing"" --Millie Small (a.k.a. Millie) From another source: --Donovan - ""Talking Donovan Blues""
25. Georgie Fame; Roy Orbison; The Searchers
Aired 19 February 1965 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --Roy Orbison - ""Goodnight"" --Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames - ""In The Meantime"" --The Searchers - ""Goodbye My Love"" Additional guests (from another source): --Donovan - ""Talking Pop Star Blues"" --Crispian St. Peters - ""At This Moment""
26. 26 February 1965
Aired 26 February 1965 • 30 min
--The Rolling Stones - ""The Last Time,"" ""Everybody Needs Somebody To Love""/""Pain In My Heart,"" ""Play With Fire"" and ""I'm Moving On"" --The Who - ""I Can't Explain"" Additional guests (scheduled): --The Dave Clark Five - ""Reelin' & Rockin'"" --The Animals - ""Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood""
27. Petula Clark; The Moody Blues
Aired 5 March 1965 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --Petula Clark - ""I Know A Place"" --The Moody Blues - ""I Don't Want To Go On Without You""
28. Donovan; Gerry & the Pacemakers;Temptations; Stevie Wonder
Aired 12 March 1965 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --The Temptations --Little Stevie Wonder --Donovan - ""Catch the Wind"" --Gerry and the Pacemakers - ""I'll Be There"" --Françoise Hardy - ""All Over The World"" --Gary Farr and the T-Bones
29. Dave Clark 5; Kinks; Martha & the Vandellas; Miracles; Them
Aired 19 March 1965 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --The Dave Clark Five - ""Reelin' & Rockin'"" --Martha and the Vandellas - ""Nowhere To Run"" --The Kinks - ""Everybody's Gonna Be Happy"" --Them (with Van Morrison) - ""Here Comes The Night"" --Dave Berry - ""Little Things"" --The Miracles --Bobby Vee --The Yardbirds - ""For Your Love""
30. The Supremes; The Drifters; The Moody Blues
Aired 26 March 1965 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --The Drifters - ""At the Club"" --The Supremes - ""Stop In The Name Of Love"" --The Moody Blues - ""I Don't Want To Go On Without You"" --The Checkmates
31. Ready Steady Goes Live!
Aired 2 April 1965 • 30 min
--Donovan --The Roulettes --The Artwoods - ""Sweet Mary"" --Tom Jones - ""It's Not Unusual"" (mimed, despite the new policy) --The Kinks - possibly ""Everybody's Gonna Be Happy"" --Manfred Mann - ""With God On Our Side"" (joined by session musician Jim Sullivan) Additional guests (scheduled to appear): --Dionne Warwick - ""You Can Have Him"" --Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers --Zoot Money's Big Roll Band --The Yardbirds - ""For Your Love""
32. The Rolling Stones; The Animals; Roger Miller
Aired 9 April 1965 • 30 min
--The Rolling Stones - ""Everybody Needs Somebody to Love""/""Pain In My Heart,"" ""I'm Alright"" and ""The Last Time"" Additional guests (scheduled to appear): --The Animals - ""Bring It On Home To Me"" --Roger Miller - ""King Of The Road"" --Goldie and the Gingerbreads --Dave Bem (or Bern?) --Madeline Bell - ""Daytime"" --The Yardbirds - ""For Your Love""
33. Adam Faith; John Lennon & Paul McCartney
Aired 16 April 1965 • 30 min
Live from The Ricky Tick Club, Windsor --John Lennon and George Harrison interviewed by Cathy McGowan Other guests: --Don & Dee Dee Ford --Adam Faith --The Kinks - ""Everybody's Gonna Be Happy"" --Herman's Hermits - ""Wonderful World"" --Doris Troy --The Yardbirds - ""For Your Love"" --Adam Faith - ""I Need Your Lovin'"" (with John Lennon, George Harrison and others singing along) An audio recording of this performance survives.
34. Cilla Black; Tom Jones; Paramounts; John Mayall's Bluesbreakers
Aired 23 April 1965 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --Cilla Black - ""I've Been Wrong Before"" --Tom Jones - ""Once Upon A Time"" --Paramounts --The Moody Blues --John Mayall's Bluesbreakers
35. Bertice Reading; Georgie Fame & the Blue Flames
Aired 30 April 1965 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames --Bertice Reading
36. Everly Brothers; Sandie Shaw; Unit Four Plus Two
Aired 7 May 1965 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --The Everly Brothers - ""The Price of Love"" --Unit Four Plus Two (Unit 4+2) - ""You've Never Been In Love Like This Before"" --Sandie Shaw - ""Long Live Love"" (also scheduled for next week's show)
37. Dave Clark 5; Kinks; Sandie Shaw; Spencer Davis Group
Aired 14 May 1965 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --The Kinks - ""Set Me Free"" --Sandie Shaw - ""Long Live Love"" --The Dave Clark Five - ""Come Home"" --The Spencer Davis Group
38. The Who; The Four Tops; Connie Francis
Aired 21 May 1965 • 30 min
--The Who - ""Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere"" --The Four Tops --Connie Francis - ""My Child"" --David Goldsmith --Ronnie Jones
39. The Moody Blues; Billy J. Kramer; Soul Sisters
Aired 28 May 1965 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas - ""Trains & Boats & Planes"" --The Moody Blues - ""From The Bottom Of My Heart"" --The Soul Sisters
40. The Rolling Stones; The Kinks; The Yardbirds
Aired 4 June 1965 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --The Rolling Stones --The Kinks - ""Set Me Free"" --The Yardbirds - ""Heart Full Of Soul"" --Les Surfs From another source: --Rolling Stones - ""The Last Time"" and ""Play With Fire"" --Burt Bacharach
41. Marianne Faithfull; Lulu; Manfred Mann; Wayne Fontana
Aired 11 June 1965 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --Dave Berry --Manfred Mann - ""The One In The Middle"" --Lulu - ""Leave A Little Love"" --Marianne Faithfull - ""This Little Bird"" --Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders - ""Just A Little Bit Too Late""
42. The Marvelettes; Them; Solomon Burke
Aired 18 June 1965 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --Them - ""One More Time"" --Solomon Burke --The Marvelettes
43. The Animals; Donovan; Hollies; P.J. Proby
Aired 25 June 1965 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --The Animals - ""We Gotta Get Out Of This Place"" --Donovan - ""Colours"" --Bobby Goldsboro - ""Voodoo Woman"" --The Hollies - ""I'm Alive"" --P.J. Proby - ""Let The Water Run Down""
44. The Who; Peter Cook & Dudley Moore
Aired 2 July 1965 • 30 min
--The Who - ""Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere"" and ""Shout And Shimmy"" --Peter Cook and Dudley Moore - ""Goodbye-ee"" Additional guests (scheduled): --Kenny Lynch - ""I'll Stay By You"" --Manfred Mann - ""The One In The Middle"" --Nina Simone --Ad Libs --Majority
45. Yardbirds; The Dave Clark Five; The Ivy League
Aired 9 July 1965 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --The Dave Clark Five - ""Catch Us If You Can"" --Goldie and the Gingerbreads - ""Sailor Boy"" --The Ivy League - ""Tossing & Turning"" --Kenny Lynch - ""I'll Stay by You"" --Simon Scott Additional guest (from another source): --The Yardbirds - ""Heart Full Of Soul""
46. The Animals; Georgie Fame; Nina Simone
Aired 16 July 1965 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --The Animals - ""We Gotta Get Out Of This Place"" --Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames - ""Like We Used To Be"" --Dusty Springfield - ""In The Middle Of Nowhere"" --Inez & Charlie Foxx --Nina Simone
47. Simon & Garfunkel; Marianne Faithfull; Moody Blues
Aired 23 July 1965 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --Marianne Faithfull - ""Summer Nights"" --P.J. Proby - ""Let The Water Run Down"" --Dave Berry - ""This Strange Effect"" --The Pretty Things - ""Cry To Me"" --The Moody Blues - ""From The Bottom Of My Heart"" From another source: --Simon & Garfunkel - ""I Am A Rock""
48. The Kinks; The Yardbirds; The Breakaways
Aired 30 July 1965 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --Anki --The Breakaways --The Kinks - ""See My Friend"" --Crista Nelli --Bobby Solo --The Yardbirds - ""My Girl Sloopy""
49. The Byrds; The Who; Sonny & Cher; Brian Poole
Aired 6 August 1965 • 30 min
--The Who (without Roger) Scheduled guests: --Brian Poole and the Tremeloes - ""I Want Candy"" --The Byrds - ""All I Really Want To Do"" --Sonny And Cher - ""I Got You Babe""
50. The Animals; Walker Brothers; Nico
Aired 13 August 1965 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --The Animals - ""We've Gotta Get Out Of This Place"" --Nico - ""I'm Not Sayin'"" --The Walker Brothers - ""Make It Easy On Yourself"" From another source: --The Animals - ""Talkin' About You"" & ""Let The Good Times Roll"" --Sonny and Cher
51. Herman's Hermits; Donovan; Wayne Fontana
Aired 20 August 1965 • 30 min
Scheduled guests: --Donovan - ""Universal Soldier"" --Herman's Hermits - ""Just A Little Bit Better"" --Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders - ""She Needs Love"" --The Alan Price Set - ""Any Day Now""
52. The Rolling Stones; The Hollies; Lulu
Aired 27 August 1965 • 30 min
--The Rolling Stones - ""Mercy Mercy,"" ""Cry To Me"" and ""Satisfaction"" --The Rolling Stones - ""Apache"" (the Shadows classic the Stones never issued on record. This song performed without Mick, during closing credits) Additional guests (scheduled to appear): --The Hollies - ""Look Through Any Window"" --Georgie Fame --Lulu - ""Try to Understand"" --The Yardbirds