TOTP81.34 27/08/81

Repeated on BBCFour 21.04.2016
Presented by Richard Skinner
Full chart here

Startrax – “Startrax Club Disco” (18)

Cliff Richard – “Wired For Sound” (27) (video)

Soft Cell – “Tainted Love” (2)

The Nolans – “Chemistry” (26)

The Rolling Stones – “Start Me Up” (28) (video)

ELO – “Hold On Tight” (5) (Legs & Co)

Ultravox – “The Thin Wall” (19)

Genesis – “Abacab” (12)

Aneka – “Japanese Boy” (1) WATCH

Modern Romance – “Everybody Salsa” (29) (audience dancing/credits)

TOTP81.33 20/08/81

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


TOTP debut: U2

Once more The mighty Human League, now at their chart peak to date, are deprived of a repeat showing in 2016 so today's Pop Kids may never know how important they were in the magic year of 1981. Likewise future stadium-fillers U2 had their debut banned from our i-players, but unlike the League they struggled up just one place the following week before going 'down the dumper' albeit temporarily. Indeed we won't be seeing them again until after New Year's Day (see what we did there?) in 1983. Siouxsie and her Banshees are back with a new one although sadly this won't do as well as Spellbound. The rest, as they say, is pretty much rubbish, save for UB40 who continue with their unemployment woes and go Top 10 next week.

Chartwse, your faithful blogger's faves Depeche Mode, Kate Bush, Visage,Spandau are all on the way down, but (hurrah!) Duran, ELO and Kim Wilde all going up, and watch out for those Soft Cell Brothers, now climbing a massive 17 places to go into Top 10.

But back to this week's line up (chart placing in brackets)


Enigma – “I Love Music” (25)

The Human League – “Love Action (I Believe In Love)” (3) (rpt from 06/08/81)

U2 – “Fire” (36)

Siouxsie & The Banshees – “Arabian Knights” (32) (video)

UB40 – “One In Ten” (16)

Randy Crawford – “Rainy Night In Georgia” (30) (Legs & Co)

Tenpole Tudor – “Wunderbar” (20) (rpt from 06/08/81)

Lobo – “The Caribbean Disco Show” (10)

Shakin’ Stevens – “Green Door” (1) (rpt from 23/07/81)

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – “Hooked On Classics” (2) (audience dancing/credits)

TOTP81.32 13/08/81

Repeated on BBCFour 07/04/2016
Presented by Simon Bates
Full chart here

TOTP debut: Soft Cell, Aneka

Duran Duran – “Girls On Film” (6)
Duran open up the show as they did two weeks ago although this time with even more vigour and confidence! Will reach its no. 5 peak next week.

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – “Hooked On Classics” (2) (video)
Another one we saw two weeks ago, and with Shaky at no. 1 they obviously ain't gonna go much higher.

Soft Cell – “Tainted Love” (26)
ooo.. this is new! this is interesting! they look a bit weedy though...will this ever be a hit?

Kim Wilde – “Water On Glass” (13)
Another one we sw two weeks ago and this time it's also a repeat showing. Will reach no. 11 peak next week.

Bill Wyman – “(Si Si) Je Suis Un Rock Star” (22)
As above.

Startrax – “Startrax Club Disco” (27) (Legs & Co)
Another medley, sigh.

Aneka – “Japanese Boy” (19)
Something else new, and a bit of a novelty hit.

ELO – “Hold On Tight” (9) (video)
This one had been ignored last week when it had already gone top 20, but no matter as this week it's gone top 10, testament to their popularity at the time.

Shakin’ Stevens – “Green Door” (1)

UB40 – “One In Ten” (23) (audience dancing/credits)
Those "politically aware" Brummies are back, and heading for the Top 10 again.

TOTP81.31 06/08/81

Not repeated on BBCFour in 2016
Presented by Jummy Saville
Full chart here

TOTP debut: Lobo

Dexys Midnight Runners – “Show Me” (16)

Sheena Easton – “For Your Eyes Only” (8) (video)

Tenpole Tudor – “Wunderbar” (36)

Lobo – “The Caribbean Disco Show” (27) (Legs & Co)
More info on Lobo (in Dutch) here.

The Human League – “Love Action (I Believe In Love)” (29)

REO Speedwagon – “Take It On The Run” (25)

Gidea Park – “Beach Boy Gold” (20)

Tight Fit – “Back To The ‘60s” (10) (rpt from 23/07/81)

Shakin’ Stevens – “Green Door” (1) (video)

Visage – “Visage” (21) (audience dancing/credits)