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)

TOTP81.22 04/06/81

Repeated on BBCFour 11/03/2016
Full chart here
Presented by Richard Skinner 

TOTP debut: Kate Robbins & Beyond, Imagination.

Siouxsie & The Banshees – “Spellbound” (29) 

Blimey! Siouxsie and crew are back with a bang! Siouxsie all leather clad and stuff, and cracking the mike lead like a whip. Phew! What i want to know though is what happened to the bloke in the light blue T shirt lurching over Siouxsie at the very start, but then who seems to disappear without a trace, engulfed by Pop Kids who ecstatically dance along to this gorgeous post-punk romp. Plus only Siouxsie can pronounce 'entranced' and 'dance' like that.

Shakin’ Stevens – “You Drive Me Crazy” (2) (rpt)

Pink-jacketed Shakey is up to no. 2, engaged in a duel with a dandy highwayman. 

Kate Robbins & Beyond – “More Than In Love” (13)

I have absolutely no recollection of this whatsoever, and probably with good reason. Apparently "actress" and "comedienne" - and indeed songstress - was starring in ITV sitcom Crossroads at the time (Hello, Mum) from whence this totally odious ditty which made it all the way up to no. 2. BAcking band Beyond were still smarting after losing out to Bucks Fizz at A Song for Europe, so horrah for them. Next!

Squeeze – “Is That Love?” (40)

Oh, noooow I get Skinner's little quip about being at a crossroads. Saw what you did there, Rich. Anyway let's move on to something a whole lot better, and ergo way down in the charts. Squeeze band are back, and much like Sioxsie & the Banshees, and UB40 last week and probably loads of others this is new material from upcoming new albums. Note that Jools Holland has already left, replaced by one Paul Carrack, who also left the band after this album. It must be a tough job being Squeeze' keyboard player.

Imagination – “Body Talk” (43) 

But now brace yourselves, and lock up your daughters, as a seminal Eighties-TOTP moment is about to happen. I think when we first saw Imagination on The Pops, nobody quite knew what to make of it. Boney M without the girls? Hot Chocolate with hair? Glam-Bowie-esque sexuality re-invented? Outrageous! Whatever it was it was to become one of the decade's most memorable and influential tracks, and indeed one of the most representative groups. 

The Jam – “Funeral Pyre” (4) (video)

But now for something completely different. Such was the Kids' thirst for all things Jam that this happily entitled little ditty was straight in at no. 4. Bit of a mystery how this one came about as there was no album around, or even on the horizon. Wikipedia people please correct the release date as if it was already in the charts and on The Pops on 4 June, how could have been released on the 6th? Angry Young Jam power-pop at its best.

Michael Jackson – “One Day In Your Life” (12) (Legs & Co)
Like the man says, it's an oldie that's been re-released, although quite why we shall never know. LEgs go to town with a slow, blue thing performed on a redux cast-off Doctor Who set. Excruciating boredom.

Toyah – “I Want To Be Free” (8) (video)
We missed the studio performance this time around cos of DLT, and this time it's the video. Peak position for this one.

Phil Collins – “If Leaving Me Is Easy” (44)
Very much sleepy time here for Collins' third single release off debut album.

Adam & The Ants – “Stand & Deliver” (1) (video)
Last week at the top for this one.

Odyssey – “Going Back To My Roots” (23)
Play-out

TOTP 81.0 1/1/81

Welcome to 1981, in Top of the Pops land.

The first Pops of '81 was actually shown on 1st January but was basically still a review of 1980, carrying on from the Christmas day show. The programme was co-hosted by Dave Lee Travis and Tommy Vance so needless to say it wasn't repeated in 2016, but just for the record here are the songs and acts that were featured.

STATUS QUO – What You’re Proposing
Quo's comeback single got to No. 2 in November. The follow-up Lies was in the charts at the time but didn't go Top 10.

OTTAWAN – D.I.S.C.O. (promoclip)
Feels like this was on forever in 1980, I don't even want to count the times... But here's that clip again to keep the party rolling and keep the disco crowd happy. 10 weeks in the Top 30, peaking at no. 2

MADNESS – Baggy Trousers 
The Nutty boys were the first act on TOTP '80 and here they are again in '81 after a very good year with four singles in the year's charts, and another one about to be released. Recorded festive performance of Trahziz sans audience. Watch it here.

THE JAM – Going Underground 
Went straight into no. 1 back in March and stayed there for 3 weeks. In this studio performance Paul Weller is sans pinny but with a rather fetching Whaaam guitar he obviously bought with the proceedings.

BILLY PRESTON & SYREETA – With You I’m Born Again 

Calming things down a bit, here's Bill and Sy giving us more of what they gave us early '80. The pair have never been seen again since.

THE DETROIT SPINNERS – Working My Way Back To You / Forgive Me Girl (Medley) ( Legs & Co.) 

More four on the floor with Legs & Co. showing us how to do it best.

UB40 – Food For Thought 

A surprise debut hit for the Brum multi-ethnic band or were a kind of mellow response to the neighbouring Specials. Two more hits followed during the year and there'll be new stuff an' ting in '81.

KELLY MARIE - Feels Like I’m In Love 

This wee lass's debut got to no. 1 in September although sadly she failed to come up with a decent follow-up. Dooh-dooh dooh-dooh dooh-dooh.

HOT CHOCOLATE – No Doubt About It 

Speaking of the Midlands, here's the late Errol and his mates with their cooool no. 2 hit from May. Like Status Quo they'd been around for years.

THE BOOMTOWN RATS – Banana Republic (promo)

These post-punkers were quite successful in updating their sound to match new styles although this recent hit was about as far as they got success-wise. But lead singer Bob Geldof has a cunning plan.... 

STEVIE WONDER – Masterblaster (Jammin')

Another no. 2-er (kept off the top by The mighty Police) although that wouldn't have bothered Stevie much. Possibly one of his last great tunes though. We'll see him again in '81.

ABBA – The Winner Takes It All (promo video)
We couldn't go through a Pops review without this tear-jerker which had been a hit in the summer, and predecessor to the Super Trouper album, and a story of break-uos and heartaches was to become very much the name of the game (geddit?)

THE PRETENDERS – Brass In Pocket 

The first, and perhaps the best, no. 1 of 1980 wraps up the annual review rather nicely. 

My thanks as always to Popscene for providing the rundown info.