TOTP81.20 21/5/81

Not repeated on BBCFour in 2016
Full chart here
Presented by Dave Lee Travis

TOTP debut: (all tried and trusted acts this week)

After last week's super-short show due to FA Cup Final replay (won by Spurs) we're back to 'normal' this week although for obvious reasons this show was not repeated this time around. Shame really as it was another bumper show full of Great British (and Irish) talent performing loads of good music.
Setlist shamelessly ripped from Popscene), with thanks:

The Undertones – “It’s Going To Happen” (21)
Second outing for this one, this time sans armband.

Shakin’ Stevens – “You Drive Me Crazy” (2)
Title probably referes to Adam and his Ants in his Pants , as Shakin' ends up doing a bit of a Vienna by being no. 2 for a very long time.

Smokey Robinson – “Being With You” (23)
Sloppy, smoochy, girlie stuff which should never have made it over to this country. I blame Margaret Thatcher.

Toyah – “I Want To Be Free” (13)
Easy to forget how popular Toyah was/were in 1981. The second of four Top-tenners this year.

Tottenham Hotspur FA Cup Final Squad/Chas & Dave – “Ossie’s Dream (Spurs Are On Their Way To Wembley)” (5)
Obviously gone up because they won. Repeat studio performance.

The Teardrop Explodes – “Treason (It’s Just A Story)” (18)
Julian Cope and co. go up a bit more into the Top 20. End of the road for this one but they'll be back.

Stray Cats – “Stray Cat Strut” (11) (Legs & Co)
If you're wondering what legs did to this then see here (warning: contains DLT getting hot under the collar).

The Human League – “The Sound Of The Crowd” (15)
All too brief world domination by former board game faction The Human League really takes off here with the second, even more brash performance of their first hit. Phil Oakey has forgotten to wear a shirt for the occasion. Watch here.

Kim Wilde – “Chequered Love” (4)
Sadly Kim has remembered to put hers on but an enjoyable promo vid nonetheless. Top 5 but she won't reach such giddy heights again until 1986.

The Beat – “All Out To Get You” (25)
Another repeat and attempt to get a Big Hit out of this, but despite thsi one doing a yo-yo in the coming weeks it's the last we'll see of them.

Duran Duran – “Careless Memories” (37)
Now this is interesting: Duran Duran's follow-up to first hit Planet Earth and nearly one that sent them "down the dumper" as someone used to say. The non-success of Careless Mammaries (sic.)  (off the newly released debut album) nearly meant they went off into New Romantic oblivion (hello Classix Nouveaux) although as we all know that just didn't happen. A bit o a rarity this so have a look here (warning: contains DLT picking his nose). This is also the one famously presented by Tony Blackburn on the Top 40 radio show as by Durran Durran ..

Adam & The Ants – “Stand & Deliver” (1) (video)
Third week at numero uno for the dandy highwayman.

play out to:

Quincy Jones - "Ai No Corrida" (audience dancing/credits)
Up to 14 but that's quite enough thankyou.