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)

TOTP81.25 25/06/81

Repeated on BBCFour 24/03/2016
Full chart here
Presented by Simon Bates

TOTP debut: Kirsty MacColl (as solo artist), Depeche Mode.

All in all a very lacklustre show reflecting a very lacklustre chart with all those sloppy American ballads in the top spots and not much else going on. That said, there are a couple of important debuts tonight with the late Kirsty MacColl bursting onto the scene (an straight onto the cover of Smash Hits!), country 'n' western tongue firmly in cheek, and of course Basildon's finest Depeche-ay (sic.) Mode pushing forward The Sound of The New© with their second single just outside the Top 40.


Gillan – “No Laughing In Heaven” (32)
Oh dear. At no. 32 and not going anywhere much, quite rightly. His last one New Orleans got to no. 17 but this one is going to get anywhere near. He'll be featured again for a fourth single much later in the year but that one's crap too.

Elaine Paige – “Memory” (9) (pre-recorded insert) (rpt from 11/06/81)
Cats had just had its premiere in the West End and Ms. Page is obviously doing well on the back of that despite not dressing like a cat at all, at least not for this 'video'. Writers Webber and Nunn will actually go on to win the Ivor Novello Award for the song, which isn't called Memories by the way.

Kirsty MacColl – “There’s A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He’s Elvis” (40)
Another kind of lady singer and indeed song now. Kirsty (daughter of a folk-country singer, y'all) had been trying for quite a bit to get a hit single, starting with They Don't Know in '79 which would later become a hit for Tracey Ullmann. This one sort of rides the rockabilly-revival wave but in a very ironic and enjoyable sort of way, out-rockabillying The Polecats, Matchbox et al. It's also got that very British comedy-novelty-song sort of appeal so off you go up the charts then Kirsty. Not her first time in the TOTP studio as you may remember her on backing vocals in Jonah Lewie's kitchen back in '80.

The Evasions – “Wikka Wrap” (31)
Speaking of "British comedy-novelty-song" appeal this one has that too but, like most of its genre, is also totally annoying and a bit rubbish. For those who don't know it's a spoof of Alan Whicker RIP and his Whicker's World programme which was quite popular at the time. TOTP would've done better to have featured Wordy Rappinghood by the Tom Tom Club which was one place higher at 30, but never mind. Wikka Wrap went up to no. 20 after this feature, but then mercifully died a death.

Randy Crawford – “You Might Need Somebody” (28) (rpt from 11/06/81)
Third songstress in a row tonight - talk about Women's Lib! Randy seems to crop up now and then with a very pleasant sounding song, and no-one seems to complain much. Although an American, apparently Randy was more successful here than Stateside, so good for her, even though she wouldn't be earning half as much money.

Depeche Mode – “New Life” (43) video
So here they are for the first time: a brand new ramshackle "new wave" quartet with a daft name, funny haircuts and a few cheap keyboards which they allegedly lugged along with them on the train when they made it up to Shepherd's Bush from Basildon. Barely out of the local comprehensive, the dizzy Deps had been doing the local pubs and clubs, with their synthesizers stacked on beer crates, for quite some time before signing up to indie label Mute and then doing some more pubs and clubs with their synthesizers stacked on beer crates. This was their second single (as we all know) and one which would propel them to fame, an unexpected split, finding their feet again, bashing bits of metal, US stadium tours, S&M cross-dressing, the fall of the Eastern Bloc, heroin addiction, the return from near-death and on to dream-homes in California and New York.  But before all that, please dance along to this one and hail the birth of the synth-pop genre. New life indeed.

Michael Jackson – “One Day In Your Life” (1) (Legs & Co)
After all that modernity and happy-go-lucky abandon, better get back to something boring and irksome, danced to by the Legs. Oh and it's number one would you believe. Originally recorded in 1975, this was only released as a stop-gap after the successful Off the Wall album, included on a compilation album called, er, One Day In Your Life, not to be confused with the other greatest hits album out at the time which was called The Best of Michael Jackson, also originally released in 1975 but which doesn't have One Day In Your Life on it. Woolworths shop assistants were going mad at the time.

Quincy Jones - "Razzamatazz" (26) (audience dancing/credits)
I've no idea about this one and I haven't heard/watched it either so .. see you next week!



This week's Smash Hits

TOTP81.16 23/04/81

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

TOTP debut: Level 42, Roger Taylor (as solo artist).

Like we said, this one wasn't repeated in The Future so just a quick rundown of what was on:

Level 42 - Love Games
And indeed one of the 'victims' of Yew Tree policy in 2016 as we don't get to see the debut of these Isle of Wight funk-poppers with their soon-to-be first hit, now bubbling under at no.48. Plenty of chances of seeing them again though (we hope) when 1983 is repeated (which may or may not be sooner than you think).

Matchbox - Babes in the Wood
Enough modernity already, back to rockabilly nostalgia again with The Box's new one just a place below Level 42, ie. 49. A bit of a non-starter though and another lot to which we bid adieu.

Eddy Grant - Can’t Get Enough Of You
Eddy and pals are doing rather well on the other hand up to no. 22, and counting.

Roger Taylor – Future Management
Another new one, but from an old face. Why it's Queen's drummer Roger Taylor who obviously thought "Well if Phil Collins can do it, so can I" and has made a solo album / single. Rodge hardly manages to pull off the same trick however: in at no. 55 and destined to do not a lot better.

Gillan - New Orleans
Repeat of the hairy one (not the cornflake) and hairy friends at a hairy no. 18.

Barry Manilow - Bermuda Triangle 
An speaking of yacht rock, it seems amazing that Barry Manilow was still popular in 1981. What happened to Adam & the Ants? Where are The Human League? Stay tuned for answers to all of these questions... Meanwhile Legs & Co. dance away to this one from Baz, and believe it or not it's perhaps one of their best of the year as they splash about a bit in their bikinis, so what bad luck chaps that it doesn't get a repeat in the 21st century. But then again, there's always this...


Saxon - And The Bands Played On 
Repeat from 09/04/81. Enough said.

Keith Marshall  - Only Crying
Ditto

Freeez - Flying High

Back to the new Brit-funk with Freez's follow-up to Southern Freeez, but with a new vocalist. Flying High didn't quite live up to its name though and only got to no. 35. But again, stick around for '83 and a brand new Freeez sound.

Bucks Fizz - Making Your Mind Up

Second week at no. 1. But for the record....

Ennio Morricone is up to no. 2, Sugar Minott up to no. 4, The Jackson Sisters are at 7, at The Nolan Brothers at 10.

..and speaking of records, we play out with Starsound - Stars on 45. 

Night!

TOTP81.14 9/04/81

Repeated on BBCFour 25/02/2016
Full chart here
Presented by Mike Read

TOTP debut: Keith Marshall

Welcome back and we're in for a good show with a good balance of hits, mid-way hits, breakers, stuff you can dance to, stuff you can rock to and some stuff which is just plain bonkers. According to Mike we're gonna see some of the best acts of 1981, which is unsurprising as this is 1981. On with the show.

Linx - Intuition
Well after having their video shown twice, they've made it to the studio at alst although basically doing what they do in their video, and even all dressed the same as far as one can tell. Up to no. 7 and pretty much the end of the road for this dynamic debut. They'll be back!

Bucks Fizz - Making Your Mind Up
Well they've just won Eurovision and here they are again doing that routine. Can't work out if this is a repeat or a live in the studio sort of thing but who cares? The Fizz certainly don't as they're at no. 2 and on top of the world. Well, on top of Europe anyway.

Saxon - And The Bands Played On
I keep forgetting that aswell as the year of synth-pop, new romantics and all that 1981 was also a big year (again) for greasy heavy metal type acts such as Saxon. They had a couple of biggish hits and misses last year and now they're back. Not a lot of difference between them and Linx when you think about it. Play on!

Keith Marshall - Only Crying
And here's one to keep your girlfriend happy. Sloshy Keith used to be in 70s glam-pop band Hello (thanks for reminding us of that Mike) and now he's on a solo thing with big hair and big teeth and that way of rolling his head which is just so annoying, as is the rest of this song. Outside the Top 30 and this will be around for a bit longer yet.

David Bowie - Up the Hill Backwards
The fourth single off last year's Scary Monsters album (count 'em) and stuck at no. 32. Legs do a decent enough routine thankfully not involving them going up a hill backwards, instead doing a 'Spanishy' sort of dance when that castanet sound comes in. Wonder what His Bowieness thought of it? Again it's the end of the road for Scary Monstrs period releases but of course he'll back later in the year after having a bit of  a session with Queen.

Quick interlude as it's Rosemary-from-Legs-&-Co.'s 21st birthday! So young! So innocent! Some sub-rate champers (read obviously used to drinking the real thing) to celebrate although make the most of it Rosemary as you'll be out of a job within 6 months.

Graham Bonnet - Night Games
Repeat of studio perf. of two weeks ago. Now at no. 12. Nothing more to add.

Public Image Ltd. - Flowers of Romance
Talk about 'variety' on The Pops! Kiddie choirs, greasy heavy metal types, blokes in girls' blouses, blokes whipping off girls' skirts - you had in all in '81. Plus this lot: a ginger ex Sex Pistol dressed like a vicar (sort of) and his 'friends' miming to a totally weirdo 'tune' which had probably only been played by John Peel on a Tuesday night at 11.40 pm. Involves a gal palying/sawing a cello, some other bloke in a lab coat banging on some drums, a keyboard that nobody uses and quite a few 'special effects'. Whatever next? PiL now at no. 31 and the hits just keep on coming.

Eddy Grant - Can't Get Enough Of You
Better get back to the pop kids. Here's Eddy Grant and a whole bunch of mates with his new one just outside the Top 40. The (predominately white) kids in the studio are loving reggae-ing along to this one and with all this inter-racial bonhomie it's hard to believe that the Brixton Riots are only days away. Eddy lived in Kentish Town anyway.

Gillan - New Orleans
See Graham Bonnet (above). Now at 24.

Charts 30 - 21

The Whispers - It's a Love Thing
More American blandness. A black male vocal group basically doing the same thing as The drifters were probably about seven or eight years ago. Legs danced to it a couple of weeks back but now we see the real thing in a performance video. Those flares.

Charts 20 - 11

Hazel O'Connor - D-Days
Which lead us neatly to Hazel O'Connor at no. 10 this week. repeat performance of two weeks ago of Haze jumping around in her bra and tights.

Top 10 countdown.

Shakin' Stevens - This Ole House
Last of three weeks at no. 1. repeat again. he'll be back, and again and again and...

Ad lib to fade.

TOTP81.12 26.03.81

Repeated on BBCFour 11/02/2016
Full chart here

Presented by Richard Skinner

TOTP debut: Polecats, Graham Bonnet, Tony Capstick

Last show of March and Spring has sprung and Skinner is slowly abandoning the Geography teacher look in favour of a trendy new shirt, but still keeping the rowdy kids at bay.

Polecats - John, I'm Only Dancing
Now here's a thing - a poignant cover of a David Bowie song. Also quite funny as it had only been a hit just over a year ago, although the original dates back much further of course. (Further reading here). Appropriately the lead singer is thin and white. As indeed they all are. Despite 'rockabilly mania' this would only get one place higher than this week's 36.

Kim Wilde - Kids in America
So much for the new guys, better get a hit on: Kim Wilde now at no. 2 (video)

Graham Bonnet - Night Games
Always thought he was an American although I just discovered he was born in Skegness. He's been around a bit has our Graham and fresh from a successful album  and a couple of hit singles with Rainbow he decided to go it alone. This is his one and only UK solo hit, but he's still going apparently.

Hazel O'Connor - D-Days
Can't quite work out how she released her album Sons and Lovers last year, yet this is only the first single from it. Anyway we're all hungry for a bit of TOTP Hazel action and this is what we get! Haze is in full-on post-punk theatrical mode, perhaps trying to go one up on Lene Lovich? Or on Toyah (the singer) even. (Enjoy the full performance here)  Anyway good to see her back, now at no. 23

Tony Capstick - Capstick Comes Home
Oh no it's one of those Great British Novelty Singles isn't it? We do seem to have to have one now and again. Tony was a folk singer from Yorkshire who spent a lot of time as a radio deejay, cum comedian, cum bit-part actor.  One of the year's highest new entry's so far in a no. 10.

Gillan - New Orleans
OK so after a quick snooze, let's get the party going again with some pretty serious hard rock cover version stuff. From the new album Future Shock. According to wikipedia band member Bernie Tormé "left just before the band were due to fly back to the UK to appear on Top of the Pops". So obviously not here tonight then.

Linx - Intuition (video)
Another showing of the video premièred by Tommy Vance a couple of weeks back. Doing well at no. 13

Lene Lovich - New Toy
We haven't seen Lene on The Pops for almost two years now - last appearance was with Bird Song in November '79, which wasn't even a hit. As this one won't be either. Much like O'Connor it's a late seventies post-punk throwback thing although Lene was obviously too scary to appeal.

Bad Manners - Just a Feeling
Just one place below Ms Lovich are Bad Manners. The 'joke' seems to be wearing a bit thin, although this won't be the last we'll see of them. Fatty wotsit lead singer also very scarey, possibly trying to out-scareHazel and Lene at this point?

The Whispers - It's a Love Thing (Legs & Co.)
Dreary American disco music which still sounds so 'seventies'. And Legs are down to five? It's even too dark in here to tell really

.

Landscape - Einstein a Go-Go (video)
Thnakfully some proto synth-pop to modernise things up a bit. Still going strong at 11 although it's still that video.

Shakin' Stevens - This Ole House
New number one, and Shakey's first of four. A repeat of the studio knees-up from a few weeks back, rather than the rather dour video, and so Legs are back to 6...hurrah!


Bucks Fizz - Making Your Mind Up (over credits)
Extra plug for The Fizz about to go live from Dublin in ten days time with their Song for Europe now at 24.

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!