TOTP81.8 26/2/81

Well while the rest of the world speeds ahead in the TOTP-Tardis with BBCFour already landing in April, we here at TOTP81 prefer the Luddite approach and take it all in our stride week by week.

Presented by Peter Powell
Full chart here
TOTP debut: Kim Wilde

A couple of good new things this week, but not much else besides I'm afraid so we should make swift progress. Take it away Pete

Status Quo - Something ‘Bout You Baby I Like
Well The Quo are back, and straight in at no. 19, no less, and hot on the heels of last year's double-whammy and album. Quo were on such a roll that this new one and the imminent parent album Never Too Late were in fact recorded at the same time as last year's stuff. This was a cover version, as you all know.

Roxy Music Jealous Guy 
Speaking of cover versions, here's as fitting a tribute to a dead artsist as any: take one his lesser known songs and do your own version which turns out to be miles better than the original. Roxy being Roxy and this being 1981 they also make a smooth, expensive looking promo video to go with it. Result! Up to no. 6 already, so watch out Ultravox.

Beggar & Co - (Somebody) Help Me Out
Second time for this one and it's a repeat of the previous one with them dressed up as tramps. Now up to zweiundzwanzig.

Kim Wilde - Kids In America
I can't quite remeber if this was the first ever time we'd seen / heard sultry peroxide blonde Kim Wilde's debut single but in any case it probably made quite an impact, whether the comments were 'oh she's just trying to be Debbie Harry' or 'Phwaoaar!!". Whatever it was Kim and her bruvver and the rest made their mark and it was what we now know to be the start of an illustrious career as a TV gardener.

The Passions  - I’m In Love With A German Film Star
Anothe repeat although we shall never tire of this. Now struggling back up to no. 25 and als the last we shall see/hear of them/it.

Madness The Return Of The Los Palmas 7
This '7' now up to no. 7 and that's about as far as it goes. Full marks for pulling off a studio performance of an instrumental track, although it does help to be 'nutty'.

Kelly Marie - Hot Love
This was on as a 'breaker' a couple of weeks ago, and not really much more than that two weeks on. Slow progress but believe it or night she'll be given another chance soon enough.

Coast To Coast  - (Do) The Hucklebuck
Another tiresome 'novelty' song and (repeated) performance although Hucklebuck fever was no doubt sweeping the nation getting this one up to no. 8.

Ultravox Vienna (video)
The fourth time this one has been featured, and it's Studio Performance 2, Promo Video 2 at this point. Appropriately at no. 2 as it was last week and 2 weeks ago, and...

Freeez - Southern Freeez
Third repeated performance of the night, although I suppose you could get away with repeating stuff week after week in the days before youtube and i-player. Freeez now Top 10-ers.

Kiki Dee - Star
Another new one, and for those who are counting the fifth female chanteuse of the night. Kiki (née Pauline Matthews - snigger) was perhaps still living off the interest from her '76 hit with Sir Elton although this was a decent enough stab at trying to have the mike all to herself.

Joe Dolce Music Theatre - Shaddap You Face
Second of three weeks at no. 1. Promo video with credits over the end. Hey!

TOTP81.7 19/2/81

First shown Thursday 19 February 1981
Presented by DLT
Full chart here

TOTP debut*: The Teardrop Explodes, Girlschool (with Motorhead), Toyah, Talking Heads.

* a new feature as there were quite a lot of new and important acts who appeared on TOTP for the first time in 81 so I thought it would be worth noting.

This one not repeated in 2016 so we can get through it pretty quickly, although I've added some record sleeves instead of video still to make it a bit more interesting (ta discogs).

The Teardrop Explodes - Reward
Indeed their first time on the Pops and not quite in the Top 40 but things will get better for these erstwhile "underground" scousers.

Rainbow - I Surrender
Promo film repeat  - now at no. 4

Fred Wedlock - The Oldest Swinger in Town (with Legs & Co.)
Not sure if I'm relieved or sorry we didn't get to see Legs doing their thing to this one, but given their pretty performances up to no, perhaps it's just as well. Poor old Fred now at no. 6.

Motorhead/Girlschool - Please Don't Touch
AKA 'Headgirl' as this collaborative effort was also known. The St Valentine's Day Massacre EP was straight in at 15.

Toyah - It's a Mystery
Another debut and another EP 'Four From Toyah', of which this was the lead track. Pity we didn't get to see this band* on their first TOTP but they'll be back.
* subtle eighties anorak comment.

Stray Cats - Rock This Town
Second and final time for this one, now in the Top Ten. Someelse described them as the link between rock and roll and the New Romantics so I won't use that one again.

Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime
First time for this one and perhaps one of Legs' better performances which we don't get to witness first hand but which by a strange quirk of fate we'll get to see again. Once in a Lifetime just outside the Top 40 at 35 but will get higher n higher.

Visage - Fade to Grey
Odd in more ways than one - it went down last week but then back up again so given a second chance -  and it's that video again. Not complaining mind.

Adam & The Ants - Kings of the Wild Frontier
Perhaps it's because I never was an 'antperson' that it's surprising for me now just to see how big they were in late 80/early 81, and indeed beyond. This one (originally released last year) in at no. 39 and said 'antpeople' really couldn't get enough of it with old single Car Trouble one place behind, another two singles still in the Top 20 and yet another one Zerox at 59. that's more than Sheena Easton ever achieved.

Joe Dolce - Shaddapa Your Face
The Hateful One now at the top, the first non-Lennon related no. 1of the year and keeping Ultravox and indeed Rainbow off the top. No comment-o.

Madness - Return of the Los Palmas 7
Credits play-out.

TOTP81.6 12/2/81

First shown Thursday 12 February 1981
Presented by Richard Skinner
Full chart here

For some reason BBC Four is racing ahead with the Pops repeats, and they're already one month ahead. But who cares? We're taking our time here on TOTP81 and posting our reviews week by week, as they happened sort of. Richie Skinner's turn this week and he's done very well up to now but will have his work cut out with this mostly hit-less line-up.

Pretenders - Message of Love
First time we've seen this lot since the follow up (Talk of the Town) to their no. 1 (Brass in Pocket), and they're already doing well straight in at no. 28. Success was short lived for this particular single however and sadly we won't be seeing/hearing Chrissie Hynde going "I love ya I love yaI love ya I love yaI love ya I love yaI love ya I love ya..." again.

Ultravox - Vienna
It seems to be the trend to have a really successful single early on in the schedule so let's go straight to no. 1 and see the 'Vox with their new video for Vienna now up to no. 2. Pretty seminal stuff it is too with lots of real (?) fog, horses, decadent palatial building, smart clothes and thin 'tashes - all in grainy black and white-ish. Ah Viennnuuuuh!

Barbara Jones - Just When I Needed You Most
...and whooosh back down the charts again to no. 31 where we find, er, Barbara Jones and another one of those soft reggae songs I have no recollection of whatsoever. Probably because it got nowhere. Sad to report that Babs passed away in 2014. Awww. Next!

Coast to Coast - Do the Hucklebuck
Oh dear. No sooner than having got Matchbox out the back door, then this lot come storming in without so much as a ring on the door knocker. yes, it's another one of those "zany" faux-1950s rockabilly choons which we written especially for embarassing school/college/wedding parties for years to come. In at no. 39 and I fear the damage is going to be even worse.

Gillan - Mutually Assured Destruction
Blimey! Talk about contrasts ...after the poofy rockabillies, better get the greasers in! And quite an odd bunch they are too, and with a very odd song indeed. Has the edge slightly over last year's Trouble although, like Ms. Jones' effort, this didn't get any higher than this week's no. 32 spot.

George Benson - What's On Your Mind? (Legs & Co.)
We do seem to be scraping the barrel a bit this week and now we've got right down to no. 50 where we find Benson's rather poor follow up to last year's hits, accompanied by a duly lacklustre performance from the leggy Legs. Oh dear.

Chart countdown 30-21, with six out of ten records going down and one stable. New entry That's Enetrtainment by The Jam blatantly ignored.

Freeez - Southern Freeez
And something a bit interesting at last. Together with the 'new romantic' and nascent synth-pop scenes, mostly around the London area, Brit-funk was also taking a bit of a hold and here's a prime example right here on the Pops stage t'night! Not to be confused with Spandau Ballet's The Freeze, this one is a pleasant enough funk-fest fronted with the icy (geddit?) Ms. Ingrid Allmann who manages to sing throughout without even pretending to use a microphone (but thereby hangs a tale...). Up at no. 34 but will do deservedly better.

Slade - We'll Bring the House Down
Oh God. For those who thought Slade were just a 'glam' '70s' band, think again. Total rubbish of course, but surprisingly not the worst thing there is around.

Charts 20 - 11: Visage, Straits, Cliff, Spandau, The Look all going down.

Beggar & Co. - Somebody Help Me Out
And back to the Brit-funk thing with this ramshackle bunch who, in true Legs & Co. tradition, have dressed according to the 'theme' of the song - ie. tramps begging for help. They're a lively bunch and on stage seem like a cross between the Specials, Madness, Earth Wind and Fire. We're in the deep and darkest nether regions of the charts again (no. 53) but we've caught a big 'un this time and it's a cracking start for these nutty boys of brass! And a darn better "dance" performance than Legs & Co.

Kelly Marie - Hot Love
Wee Kels did great last year with her no. 1 Feels Like I'm In Love (doo-dooh, doo-dooh), although the follow-up not so great. Now she's back with those dancers. This one too will fail to set the charts alight  although it will hang around for like ages.

Top 10 countdown

John Lennon - Woman
Well Skinner's done really well this time, considering he's had a show with only one top ten hit apart from this, and only one other Top 20 song (Slade fer Chrissakes). Anyway here's Lennon again and that video again played over the credits again.

We'll see you next week, hoping there will be a few more Top 20 tunes to be heard. Byeee!

TOTP81.5 5/2/81

Fist shown 5 February 1981
Presented by Simon Bates.
Repeated on BBCFour from
Full chart here

It's February already, and 1981 starts to get into some kind of swing although don't get too excited this is still a pretty poor show with lots of repeats and some rubbish. And Simon Bates is wearing a bloody awful jacket.

Stray Cats - Rock This Town
You may remember The Cats' debut last year with Top 10-er Runaway Boys. Now they're back with their new one which would do equally as well. Album coming soon. . .and there's some pretty wild-cat dancing going on the studio I'm pleased to say.

Blondie - Rapture
Blondie were stuck at no. 5 with this one and with all the jostling for the top going on, it never got any higher. Album Autoamerican had a slight recovery though in its eleventh week on the chart. Amazingly also this week the Yanks still had The Tide Is High at no. 1 although Rapture would also get to the top of the Billboard 100, making it the first single to feature "rapping" to achieve such a feat.

Spandau Ballet - The Freeze
A repeat of the performance from three weeks back. "Difficult second single" The Freeze was flailing a bit at no. 17 and indeed wouldn't get any higher - rather a disappointment after To Cut a Long Story Short. But they also had an album coming out pretty soon, and a cunning plan for their next single.

Fred Wedlock - The Oldest Swinger in Town
But of course this being Great Britain we can easily pass from the 'futurist' avant-garde (a clue) pop of Spandau Ballet to the ridiculous folk-pop songery of Fred Wedlock (real name Peter Frederick Wedlock). Bristol born Fred had been doing the rounds as a folk singer for ages before becoming Britain's latest pop sensation (cough), with this his one and only hit. One wonders about what the term 'swinger' actually refers too (oo-er), and in fact this one was edited out of the early evening repeat. It's all Noel Edmonds' fault of course. RIP Fred who passed away in 2010.

Rainbow - I Surrender
A healthy slice of Anglo-American c*ck-rock from Rainbow, who had recruited some new guys for the new album Difficult To Cure, including singer Joe Lynn Turner (real name Joe Lynn Turner). Already stonking its way up to no. 12 and would go on to do even better. Heavy metal for the 80s.

Dire Straits - Romeo and Juliet
Another repeat from a couple of weeks back and now Knopfler and pals were up to no. 11. Fun fact: the song itself, written by Knopfler, was inspired by his failed romance with Holly Vincent, lead singer of the short-lived band Holly and The Italians. Thank you wikipedia for that.

XTC - Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)
Much like Spandau, XTC also were struggling a bit although au contraire this repeat would  give them a good boost up the cahrts - or was it the special 7" fold out sleeve that helped them along a bit? Who cares...it remains a great track!

Cliff Richard - A Little in Love
A belated release form last year's I'm No Hero album which had already spawned Top 10 single Dreamin' last summer. Somebody obviously wanted to go with the success of Suddenly with ONJ and rush released this one. For me, nowhere near as good as anything and it peaks here at no. 15.

The Passions - I'm in Love With a German Film Star
Something really really great at last. Absolutely loved this since I first heard it and always remember this epic TOTP performance too, not least due to the fact that I fell in love with singer Barbara Gogan on the spot. It's a lovely song full of adolescent ennui which was right on my wavelength at the time. It's a shoe-gazing song even before the term 'shoe gazing' had been invented. I've read that there have been plenty of cover versions made of this song over the years but I really don't want to hear any of them. This is already perfection.

Joe Dolce - Shadappa Your Face
Oh dear. Never has the term 'from the sublime to the ridiculous' been more appropriate. This is irritating, racist and downright crap. Needless to say the next time we hear it it will be at no. 1.

John Lennon - Woman
Imagine gets knocked off the top spot only to be replaced by Lennon's new single Woman which had been biding its time for a couple of weeks. Phil Collins and indeed Ultravox left very disappointed, although the latter will certainly have to get used to it.

The no. 1 video plays out over the credits - was this a TOTP first? Answers on a postcard and I'll see you next week...

RIP Sir Terry Wogan

Just taking a break form the usual TOTP81 routine to pay homage to Sir Terry Wogan who died on 31st January 2016, aged 77.

Much that Wogan was very much of our 'parents' world' and therefore kept at some distance, he undoubtedly played a big part in my adolescent and formative years as Radio 2 presenter every weekday morning throughout the '70s and early '80s. His sardonic wit also added much to those endless Eurovision shows when the time came around every year.

His 1978 'Floral Dance' wasn't exactly on this young teenager's favourites list at the time but here is Sir Terry in all his TOTP glory performing his vocal version of the traditional tune on 5 January 1978. The single reached a modest no. 21 that month.