Simon Mayo reveals the music that made him 🎶
Some great tunes!
Simon Mayo is the Drivetime presenter on Greatest Hits Radio playing the music that defined his career every weekday 4pm-7pm. You can also listen to Simon on The Album Show every Sunday at 1pm, where he celebrates the biggest albums of the 70s, 80s and 90s.
On Drivetime, Simon is joined by Matt Williams on sports duties, Nigel Barden cooking up his Kitchen Greatest Hits, and Producer Suzi keeping an eye on them all!
When can I listen to Simon Mayo on Greatest Hits Radio?
You can find Simon Mayo on Greatest Hits Radio from Monday to Friday from 4pm, as well as from 1pm every Sunday.
Simon has had an amazing broadcasting career and is passionate about music, so we thought we'd get to know him better and ask about his favourite tunes...
What songs did Simon Mayo listen to growing up?
We asked Simon what songs were played in his house when he was growing up and he told us: "My parents weren’t very Rock and Roll. My main musical memories are my dad playing Gilbert and Sullivan and Flanders and Swan (British comedy duo).
"My sister was 18 months older than me and she played records by The Monkees like ‘I’m A Believer’, Kenny Rogers ‘Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town’, Cliff Richard and Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony.
"My cousin introduced me to Paul Simon and that’s been the one constant from when I was very young to where I am now. I still think Paul Simon is a genius."
What was the first single Simon Mayo bought?
He revealed that he bought 'Congratulations’ by Cliff Richard, explaining: "I was nine or ten, it was the Eurovision Song Contest song. I think Cliff’s great, I think he’s had a few albums which I’d very happily put on now. 'I'm Nearly Famous', that was fantastic. I really rate Cliff."
What’s the most embarrassing record Simon owns?
As he hosts The Album Show, it was only fitting we check in about Simon's own record collection. He told us: "I don’t buy into that whole embarrassing guilty pleasure thing at all. If you really like a record, you really like a record.
"I have two John Denver albums and I’m very proud of them. Some people would consider them embarrassing or guilty pleasures but I don’t believe there are such things. I’m out and proud!"
What is Simon's most played album?
Simon told us: "Paul Simon is my favourite artist of all time, and 'Graceland' is his finest work ever."
He also described Bob Marley and The Wailer's 'Exodus' as: "The greatest reggae album of all time."
What is the most amazing live performance he has seen?
While at Greatest Hits Radio Live, we asked Simon this and he said: "I think the best show that I've seen in the last few years has been David Byrne from Talking Heads when he did a show over at the O2 in London. They've turned it now into a movie. It was so brilliant, he had done things with a live concert I hadn't seen anyone do before.
"The stage was completely empty. All the musicians carried their own music, their own instruments. If there were any PAs they were behind the curtains. The choreography was astonishing. They were all wearing the same clothes, they were all barefoot. And it just was great, so I'd say David Byrne on his last tour."
Which song changed Simon Mayo's life?
"There is a song I like very much and would put in my all-time list of favourites which is called ‘The Last Resort’ by the Eagles," Simon revealed.
"It’s the last track on ‘Hotel California’. I always thought it was one of the Eagles greatest songs.
"I interviewed Don Hendley and Glen Fry separately and Glen Fry called it Don Hendley’s masterpiece. When I told Don Hendley, he said ‘He’s never told me that.’ I got a ticket when Don Hendley did a concert in Hyde Park a few summers ago and watched him perform it. It’s an extraordinary song."
What was the first song Simon danced to with someone else?
Thinking back, Simon said: "I have no idea. All the slow dances at the parties I was going to at the time seemed to be either 10CC ‘I’m Not In Love’ or Chicago ‘If You Leave Me Now’.
"I do remember thinking all the people slow dancing to ‘I’m Not In Love’ they were dancing to a song that is basically saying I’m not in love with you, your picture’s on the wall because it hides a nasty stain and that’s why it’s hanging there.
"So it would have probably been one of those two songs. There was a girl called Janice Brewer at my school who I always thought was great but it was certainly never with her!"
What song reminds Simon of his first holiday abroad?
Reflecting on his childhood, Simon explained: "We had a family holiday to Provence in the south of France and it was fiendishly hot. I had a cassette of Neil Diamond ‘Hot August Night’ which was a remarkably old music taste for a sixteen-year-old to have, but whenever I hear that it always reminds me of the fierce temperature and smell of pine trees."
What songs and fashion remind Simon of his last year at school?
According to Simon, it's 'Sound and Vision’ by David Bowie. He commented: "I remember it being on the radio a lot. I was probably a few years behind the times but I was probably wearing narrow trousers, skinny ties, hoping to look a bit like Paul Weller."
What were Simon's top three jukebox choices in the pub?
Simon shared: "I have my own jukebox now, which is a great joy. But I would say The Dead Kennedys ‘Holiday in Cambodia’. I remember putting that on much to the disgust of everyone else. The Jam ‘News of The World’ or ‘In The City’ and because I’ve always loved old rock and roll stuff, ‘Chantilly Lace’ by the Big Bopper."
Speaking about what he chose to drink at the time, he added: "Anything that was put in front of you. I think it was a pint of King and Barnes ale, which was the local brewery."
Are there any songs that make Simon emotional?
Opening up, Simon said: "Music can have an interesting reaction on you. It’s like a physical thing. It doesn’t have any connotations but ‘Finlandia’ by the composer Sibelius is one of the great pieces of classical music.
"There is a particular chord sequence, which I find really powerful and very emotional for reasons I cannot explain. But in terms of triggering an emotional response, it’s ‘Finlander’ as a piece of music."
Does Simon Mayo have a favourite karaoke song?
“I’ve never done karaoke," Simon admitted, before saying: "There are some songs I know all the words to like ‘Down in the Tube Station at Midnight’ by The Jam. I could sing that for you but I’m afraid in terms of karaoke songs I’m a disappointment."
Does Simon Mayo sing in the shower?
We wanted to find out whether Simon sings in the shower and what his go-to song is, and he replied: "Yes! 'Come Back My Love’ by Darts. There’s this ‘woah-oh-oh’ in the opening and the reverb you get out of the shower works very well."
WATCH: Get to know Simon Mayo
How can I listen to Simon Mayo's Greatest Hits Radio shows?
Simon is on Drivetime every weekday from 4pm-7pm! You can also listen to Simon on The Album Show every Sunday at 1pm.
Can you listen to Greatest Hits Radio online?
You sure can. As well as listening to Greatest Hits Radio on your traditional radio, you can also find us on our website, on the app and on your smart speakers.
Find out all the ways you can listen to Greatest Hits Radio.
Is there a Greatest Hits Radio app?
We have a free app so you can listen to Greatest Hits Radio on your phone.
Get the Greatest Hits Radio app for Android.
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How do I play Greatest Hits Radio on a smart speaker?
To get Greatest Hits Radio on your smart speaker, simply say to your device: "Play Greatest Hits Radio".
Who are the Greatest Hits Radio presenters?
Take a look through our brilliant presenter line-up.
Ken Bruce
Greatest Hits Radio is the home of the legend that is Ken Bruce, weekdays 10am-1pm - including PopMaster, the UK's biggest music quiz for 25 years and counting.
Find out more about Ken and PopMaster.
Simon Mayo
Simon Mayo hosts Drivetime every weekday at 4pm and The Album Show on Sundays from 1pm.
Simon said of his Drivetime show: "I think the thing about Drivetime is that it is like the flip side of breakfast. You kind of know what an awful lot of people are doing, it's the end of most people's day, they're doing some final bits of work, they're shutting the laptop, they're doing a bit of food preparation, they're driving home. I think it is that sense of camaraderie, it's the end of the day, people want to be cheered up and they want to spend some time with some decent folk on the radio!"
Find out more about Simon Mayo here.
Paul Gambaccini
Paul brings us his famous America's Greatest Hits programme every Saturday between 5pm-7pm, featuring two hours of the Greatest Hits that made it big in America.
Sharing some of the things he loves about his show, Paul said: "Radio is the perfect form of one-to-one communication. TV can be direct, too, but the camera operator is always in your line of vision! I enjoy sharing my favourite music, and my admittedly freakish knowledge of it, with people who care about that music. I love the opportunity for challenging talk overs, too!"
Find out more about Paul Gambaccini here.
Alex Lester
The Dark Lord keeps you company in the small hours. Join him for the Music Marathon from 1am and the Best Time Of The Day Show 4-6am weekdays.
Alex brings: "Your favourite songs. Bizarre insights and unusual thoughts," to his show and told us that he loves that during his show: "It's just the two of us. You and me. (Against the world)."
Find out more about Alex Lester here.
Jenny Powell
Jenny plays the biggest songs of the 70s, 80s and 90s on Greatest Hits Radio to kickstart your weekend, every Saturday and Sunday from 6am.
On Jenny's show, listeners can look forward to The Breakfast Club, which she says is: "A warm-up for the weekend, full of positive vibes and feel-good factor when you wake up on Saturdays and Sundays. I insist you have a dance with me on the Kitchen Disco, I share some fun news stories from the previous week on The Headliners and get you smiling no matter what, sharing some of my favourite tracks from the 70s, 80, and 90s."
Find out more about Jenny Powell here.
Andy Crane
Join Andy's late-night community of music and company, Sunday-Thursday at 10pm.
Andy has three hours of the biggest songs from the 70s, 80s and 90s as well as The Top 10 at 10 and Midnight Music Marathon. His show is full of: "Great music and plenty of laughing."
Find out more about Andy Crane here.
Martin Kemp
Join our resident pop star Martin Kemp as he kicks off your Friday night with his Mixtape – three hours of handpicked essential weekend songs from the 70s, 80s and 90s to get you in the mood and dancing round the kitchen.
Then on Saturdays, it's side-two as he brings you nothing but the greatest decade of all time on The 80s Mixtape.
Get your teenage kicks in the company of THE 80s poster boy on Greatest Hits Radio!
Find out more about Martin Kemp here.
Jackie Brambles
Jackie Brambles hosts The Evening Show every Monday to Thursday from 7pm - 10pm.
Jackie promises to deliver: "Great music and great conversations! Every night we're joined by one of your favourite artists of the 70s, 80s and 90s for an in-depth chat about the highs and lows of their careers and their musical influences over the years."
Find out more about Jackie Brambles here.
Kate Thornton
Join Kate at the weekend.
Saturday afternoons are all about the best 70s, 80s & 90s pop soundtrack, bringing you the weekend Good Times – expect One Hit Wonders, Anthems, Nostalgia and plenty of opportunities for you to get involved in the show live.
On Sundays, it's 'The UK Pop 40' as Kate counts down the UK Top 40 as it was on this day in history – exactly where the chart should be. Get the tape recorder out the loft!
Find out more about Kate Thornton here.
Richard Allinson
Weekend Good Times never sounded so good!
He's a broadcasting legend with a voice like silk that, alongside the Biggest Songs of the 70s, 80s & 90s, make the perfect weekend soundtrack – Saturday and Sundays at 9am.
Saturdays kick off with your chance to guess the year on The Top 10 Til 10, while Sundays are reserved for an hour of your special songs and dedications.
Speaking about his show, Richard said: "The idea is to recreate all those great memories I have of weekends growing up, a bunch of us meeting up to buy clothes, records, maybe sort a date…everything happened on a weekend and we remember the records we played at that time."
Find out more about Richard Allinson here.
Des Paul
Join Des for Rhythm Of The Night every Friday and Saturday night from 10pm, where he plays all the greatest soul, funk, disco and Motown hits to start your weekend.
Des explained what he loves the most about his show: "The favourite bit of presenting Rhythm of the Night is when listeners contact me to say how much they've loved hearing a particular track and then tell us all about when and where they used to hear it."
Find out more about Des Paul here.
Now read:
Simon Mayo returns to Drivetime with Greatest Hits Radio
Everything you need to know about The Album Show with Simon Mayo