TOTP81.18 07/05/2016

Not Repeated on BBCFour
Full chart here
Presented by Peter Powell

TOTP debut: Tottenham Hotspur FA Cup Final Squad, Starsound

This show actually went out live, which is apparently why there is no longer any 'broadas quality' recordings to be repeated. Shame becuase it was quite a cracker of a show. Anyway thanks to Popscene for the listing and handily bracketed chart positions.

Kim Wilde – Chequered Love (32)
Follow up to Kids in America and the Wilde family just keeps on getting better. Work on debut album in progress.

Stray Cats – Stray Cat Strut” (26) (video)
Another follow-up single, and one which would become their signature tune in years to come. Third one from their debut album.

Shakin’ Stevens – You Drive Me Crazy (5)
Yet another follow up! And after his no. 1 smash, Shaky's already up at no. 5.

Keith Marshall – Only Crying (12)
This one's a bit more familiar and seems to have been hanging around for yonks. At its peak now and a TOTP adieu for Keith and his teeth.

Tottenham Hotspur FA Cup Final Squad/Chas & Dave – Ossie’s Dream (Spurs Are On Their Way To Wembley) (45)
Another newbie with the Spurs FA Cup squad following that all British tradition of football teams doing pop songs. This one might be a bit of a novelty though as they got some professional mates in to give them a hand. FA Cup final was played two days later. Spoiler here.

Eddy Grant – Can’t Get Enough Of You (13)
Again like Keith MArshall seems to have been doing the rounds for quite a bit, and like MArshall's effort the record buying public say 'no more!' to this one too. But he'll be back.

Starsound – Stars On 45 (2) (Legs & Co)
The 'starsound' medley records were one of those aspects of 1981 music that are often forgotten, and perhaps understandably so. Annoying then as now, but boy did they shift the units.

REO Speedwagon – Keep On Loving You (21) (video)
Yawnsome American AOR although perhaps their best known tune, and Top 10-bound.

The Nolans – Attention To Me (9)
Speaking of the Top 10, the nations best loved siblings are on again, and at their peak this time around.

The Undertones – It’s Going To Happen (36)
Ooo some daring post-punk bands still getting through even though they've tarted up their sound somewhat with trendy horns and things. All the more daringly the song was actually about the Maze prisoners hunger strikes led by Bobby Sands, and even more ironically sands died just two days before the show went out, hence black arm band worn by one of the song's writers Damian O'Neill.

Adam & The Ants – Stand & Deliver (1) (video)
And yet another follow up yet this one beats them all going straight in at no. 1, a feat achieved at a time when it really was a, er, feat to achieve. Not in the studio but flashy new video to show off in all its panto glory, Diana Dors included.

Starsound – Stars On 45 (2) (audience dancing/credits)
Again? Oh well....

See you "next week".

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.