TOTP81.43 29/10/81

Repeated on BBCFour 26/05/2016
Introduced by Simon Bates
Full chart here

TOTP debut: Haircut 100, The Fureys with Davey Arthur, Trevor Walters


Altered Images – “Happy Birthday” (2)
Peak position for Clare and the gang as they do a bit of a "Vienna" and stay at no. 2 for three weeks on the trot. Note Legs & Co. 'relegated' to dancing along at the front with the audience.

Rod Stewart – “Tonight I’m Yours (Don’t Hurt Me)” (18) (video)
I doubt he'd get away with a title like that these days but anyway it was acceptable in the 80s as Rod continues to reinvent himself as pioneer of American dance music (the irony!) even with a touch of synth pop. Apparently the album of the same name (released shortly after) wasn't all like this, but he stuck to the formula for the singles.

The Fureys with Davey Arthur – “When You Were Sweet Sixteen” (22)
Dreadful folk-pop thing, probably thrust upon us by Terry Wogan. Every now and then R2 get through the net.

Olivia Newton-John – “Physical” (29) (video)
Much like Rod Stewart, Olivia was also into a re-invention process after success with Grease in the late seventies, although she'd also been given a leg-up into MOR disco/dance music by ELO with last year's Xanadu. Another album-title-track-as-single and a 'steamy' video which would make it a bit of an 80s benchmark.

Trevor Walters – “Love Me Tonight” (38)
Reggae-pop thing which will somehow get to no. 27. See you again in two weeks Trev.

B.A. Robertson & Maggie Bell – “Hold Me” (13) (rpt from 15/10/81)
Repeated boredom which will get it up to no. 11 next week.

Haircut 100 – “Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)” (40)
The original Whoop! song which seemed to burst in out of nowhere. The jangly guitars went somewhat against the current synth-pop conic tendencies, just as the chunky jumpers and fresh faces went against the "New Romantic all make-up and hair" fashions, but both made for a breath of fresh air in music for the kids - the girls and boys of the title's caveat in fact. Chunky jumpers were in and were the shape of things to come.

PS. Look closely enough and you will just about see Legs & Co.'s final appearance, again pretty much among the audience but at the back this time. A sad farewell, it has to be said.


OMD – “Joan Of Arc” (21)
And they're back! After surprising the aforementioned kids and an already hard-core following with a seemingly sloppy slow song about, um, being in love and stuff, the eclectic OMD (Orchestral Manoevres in the Dark to friends) return with a song about Saint Joan of Arc, no less. Said song starts off with a soft choral sound then sort of builds up into something you can almost dance to then fades out again. There's no chorus and no 'hook' this time even, in fact you just wouldn't be able to get away with it these days although back then you could because on the whole pop music was a lot more inventive and interesting, so there. This was also a taste of the new album, snappily entitled Architecture & Morality, which was just around the corner. After this performance the single rose an amazing 14 places to go Top 10 the following week, again possibly helped along by the chunky jumper chic. Eighties greatness in the making.

Squeeze – “Labelled With Love” (9)
Speaking of the Top 10, Squeeze have made it there too and it ain't even over yet.

Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin – “It’s My Party” (1) (video/credits)
Third week at no. 1 and at the risk of boring us with another repeat (or even another studio performance) Dave 'n' Babs have done a video and posted it along to The Pops.

See ya next week!

TOTP81.42 22/10/81

Not repeated on BBCFour in 2016
Presented by Jimmy Savile
Full chart here


This Year’s Blonde – “Platinum Pop” (47)

The Human League – “Open Your Heart” (6) (video)

Barry Manilow – “Let’s Hang On” (16) (video)

The Four Tops – “When She Was My Girl” (29) (video)

Elvis Costello & The Attractions – “A Good Year For The Roses” (9) (video)

Gillan – “Nightmare” (37) (video)

The Police – “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” (27) (video)

The Jam – “Absolute Beginners” (7)

Shakin’ Stevens – “It’s Raining” (10) (rpt from 08/10/81)

Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin – “It’s My Party” (1) (rpt from 24/09/81)

Rod Stewart – “Tonight I’m Yours (Don’t Hurt Me)” (28)(audience dancing/credits)

TOTP81.41 15/10/81

Repeated on BBCFour 20/05/2016
Introduced by DLT
Full chart here

TOTP debut: The Exploited, B.A. Robertson & Maggie Bell (as a duo)

..and David looks rather fetching in that 'bomber jacket and tie' outfit...

Gary Glitter – “And Then She Kissed Me” (44)
Removed from the 2016 repeat

Toyah – “Thunder In The Mountains” (5) (video)
So we start off with a video, which will help this one to go one place higher next week. Toyah studied drama don't ya know..

B.A. Robertson & Maggie Bell – “Hold Me” (36)
A modest new entry although will go on to do better, God knows how or why.

Altered Images – “Happy Birthday” (16) (rpt from 01/10/81)
Still doing well but could and will do even better.

The Tweets – “Birdie Song (Birdie Dance)” (2) (Legs & Co)
Bird shite still hanging around unfortunately.

Godley & Creme – “Under Your Thumb” (3) (rpt from 17/09/81)
On the other hand we have musical excellence unjustifiably one place below. That's the Great British public for ya.

The Exploited – “Dead Cities” (41) WATCH
Punk has now officially become self-parody.

Squeeze – “Labelled With Love” (31)
Let's calm thinsg down a bit with a nice little ballad. Probably gets played a lot on Radio 2.

The Creatures – “Mad Eyed Screamer” (25) (rpt from 01/10/81)
Artistically somewhere between The Exploited and Squeeze are Siouxsie & Budgie doing their stuff. Will go one place higher next week.

Dave gives us a little talk about how long he's been away and how much things have changed while Heaven 17's “Play To Win” plays in the background.

Chart rundown 20-10

Bad Manners – “Walking In The Sunshine” (10)
Peak position for these summer time blues.

Chart rundown 9-1

Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin – “It’s My Party” (1) WATCH
Mercifully keeping The Birdy things off the top, and with some style and panache. Best no. 1 since Tainted Love.

This Year’s Blonde – “Platinum Pop” (48) (+ credits)
A nedley of Blondie hits, would you believe. She does the voice very well, though.

TOTP81.40 8/10/81

Not repeated on BBCFour in 2016
Introduced by DLT
Full chart here



Madness – “Shut Up” (7)
The Nutty Boys have made it up the charts in leaps and bounds but this is already at its peak.

Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin – “It’s My Party” (8)
(rpt from 24/09/81)
Still doing very well and the surprises aren't over yet.

Barry Manilow – “Let’s Hang On” (30)
(video)
Brit audiences still being fed with Yankee crap.

Shakin’ Stevens – “It’s Raining” (40)
A disappointing entry point for this one, given Shaky's track record.

Slade – “Lock Up Your Daughters” (29)
(rpt from 24/09/81)
Peak position.

Elvis Costello & The Attractions – “A Good Year For The Roses” (23)
(video)
Surprisingly high entry point for Elvis and destined to go higher.

Japan – “Quiet Life” (19)
(rpt from 24/09/81)
Peak position for this one as it stays there next week too.

Tight Fit – “Back To The Sixties Part 2” (33)
'Medley' craze slowly fizzling out, we hope, as this one gets no higher.

The Human League – “Open Your Heart” (21)
Highly anticipated new single from the Mighty League does not disappoint and their mega-era-defining album Dare is just around the corner. Epic.

Depeche Mode – “Just Can’t Get Enough” (11)
(rpt from 24/09/81)
The 'Peche are heading for the Top 10 although we won't see them again til Christmas.

Adam & The Ants – “Prince Charming” (1)
(video/credits)
The last of its 4-week run at the top.

TOTP81.39 01/10/81

Repeated on BBCFour 19.05.2016
Presented by Mike Read
Full chart here

TOTP debut: The Creatures, Altered Images.

The Tweets – “Birdie Song (Birdie Dance)” (7)
Bird sh*t.

Godley & Creme – “Under Your Thumb” (6)
Going ahead in leaps and bounds and will do even better.

Sheena Easton – “Just Another Broken Heart” (37)
(rpt from 17/09/81) This one's really struggling and hasn't gone up much since it was last shown two weeks ago. But Sheena obviously had some friends in high places who managed to get this one repeated.

The Teardrop Explodes – “Passionate Friend” (25)
Another one that's struggling a bit but possibly a big fave of Mike Read's so it's good to see Julian Cope tripping again.

The Creatures – “Mad Eyed Screamer” (34)
Siouxsie & Banshees spin-off as 'er and Budgie (no relation to The Tweets) get all hot an bothered to whip this one up.

Ottawan – “Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)” (3) (Legs & Co)
..and then on to something completely different.

Toyah – “Thunder In The Mountains” (32)
The fiery-haired one is back with a new single. Possibly not about farting.

Bad Manners – “Walking In The Sunshine” (30) (video)
Surprisingly pleasant soft-reggae outing for this obnoxious lot.

Altered Images – “Happy Birthday” (48) WATCH
Debut appearance and indeed chart hit for these erstwhile post-punk John Peel darlings gone pop.

Gidea Park – “Seasons Of Gold” (28)
Rubbish.

Dollar – “Hand Held In Black & White” (19) (rpt from 03/09/81)
The Trevor Horn gloss still working its magic, but go no further with this one Dollar people.

Adam & The Ants – “Prince Charming” (1) (video)
Still there and not even for the last week (yaaawn).

Tight Fit - "Back To The 60's (Part II)" (38) (audience dancing/credits)