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)

TOTP81.29 23/07/81

Repeated on BBCFour: 31/03/2016
Presenter: Richard Skinner
Full chart here

The Vapors – “Jimmie Jones” (44)
A bit of a comeback after their top 3 hit Turning Japanese all of 18 months ago. This is a bit rubbish however and not helped by the sheer length of the singer's mullet, approx. 3 years too early. At no. 44 and got no higher.

Sheena Easton – “For Your Eyes Only” (16) (video)
Apparently "for the first time on British television" and according to Skinner something for those who like James Bond and Sheena Easton, which is hardly surprising as it's the new James Bond movie theme sung by Sheena Easton. Fun fact 1: Sheena Easton is the first Bond theme singer to actually appear in the film; Fun Fact 2: Blondie also recorded a song called For Your Eyes Only for the movie but it was rejected.

Shakin’ Stevens – “Green Door” (22)
New one for Shakey, straight in at no. 22 and obviously the nation's favourite record/artist at the time judging by what happens next. 1981? It might as well be 1958.

REO Speedwagon – “Take It On The Run” (28) (video)
American AOR/MOR. "Take it on the run, baby - exactly where you want it, baby". Ummm...

ABBA – “Lay All Your Love On Me” (7) (Legs & Co)
By Abba's standards this one didn't really get very high, perhaps due to the fact that it was a 'limited edition' 12" only release, so they probably ran out before it could get to the top like their previous two singles. That said, it was the highest charting position achieved for a 12-inch only release in the UK  at the time. Legs do their best to 'interpret' the song and the abandoned church stage-set is perhaps inspired by the song's opening chords which sound like they're played on a church organ, and the chorus is, well, choir-esque. Quite why they choose to dance in their nighties/pyjamas/knickerbockers is, however, beyond us. Skilfully covered by Erasure some years into the future.

Tight Fit – “Back To The ‘60s” (30)
Another one of those annoying medley singles, which time (up to now) had largely forgotten. Destined to ruin your summer.

Visage – “Visage” (25) (video)
Steve Strange et al scraping the barrel somewhat issuing the titular track off eponymous album, but any excuse to dress up for a video, eh Steve? Plus it was sort of their manifesto .. "new styles, new shapes" etc. Video directed by Midge Ure, who also had a hand in writing, playing, producing and God knows what else, which makes it sound very Ultravox-y.

Chart rundown from 20 'right up to' no. 11.

Gidea Park – “Beach Boy Gold” (35)
More cover-medley rubbish. Will also ruin your summer.

The Specials – “Ghost Town” (1) (rpt)
"A great song" .. at no. 1 for third and final week.

Starsound – “Stars On 45 Volume 2” (2) (Legs & Co/credits)
More Legs & co. in white dresses. At least this one was a medley of Abba songs. Hilarious seeing selected pubescent punters trying to "impress" Legs.

TOTP81.11 19/3/81

Repeated on BBCFour  2016
Full chart here

Presented by Peter Powell

TOTP debut: Sharon Redd, Bucks Fizz

Much to our shame here at TOTP81 Central we didn't actually get to watch this show, nor record it on the ye olde VCR either so we're just going on a couple of videos kindly uploaded to youtube and a lot of guesswork for this week's comments. Pity 'cos Pete Powell tells us at the start that "we've got a great show lined up", but then again don't they always say that? Here goes..

Sharon Redd - Can You Handle It?
Don't know much about this foxy lady other than she's a bit foxy, has very long arms and cuts a mean figure in a slinky black cat-suit thing. The song is perhaps a bit too 1979-disco though and unsurprisingly didn't go very far.It's a full-on TOTP studio job though with the Sharon up on her own mini-stage, Legs and Co. rear of stage, plus the kid-audience, who have to sit down and hand-jive, lest their dancing proved to be better than that of Shaz and Legs put together.

Shakin' Stevens - This Ole House
Video and big-hit time with Shaky the Pelvis who is up to no. 2. Promo-video duly shot in an ol' house. To be fair he makes a good job of this, even though me Dad used to say he still preferred Rosemary Clooney's version. As do I.

Dave Stewart & Colin Blunstone - What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?
And speaking of cover versions, here's a modernist take on an ol' song originally a hit for Jimmy Ruffin in 1966 ('twould be interesting to know whether it was featured on The Pops back then). This eighties version is synth-heavy and the stage set-up is very Gary Numan / John Foxx-esque although Blunstone's voice, and the organ solo, still manages to make it sound like it was made sometime in the last decade. Dave Stewart isn't the one who was in The Tourists and then broke away with Annie Lennox to form Eurythmics in the future, but is actually the former prog-rock keyboardist who liked to mess around with newer versions of older classics, as indeed he will do again in the near future, but still before The Eurythmics are invented, but with somebody else. Got all that? This Ole Dave and Colin (and colourful pals) now at no. 30. Extra points for the PiL T-shirt.

The Who - You Better You Bet
Repeat from a couple of weeks ago. Now Top 10 at no. 9, but it's their last hit single. Ever.


Stevie Wonder - Lately (Legs & co.)
Snooze time with this uber-slow smoochy track from Stevie, now at no. 18. Sadly sonic proceedings
are not aided one jot by this Legs routine which might as well have been done in 1972. Costumes likewise.

Phil Collins - I Missed Again
Another studio repeat from a couple of weeks ago. Phil and his horns now up to 14. Album knocked off the top spot by those scoundrels Adam & the Ants but still going strong at no. 2.


Bucks Fizz - Making Your Mind Up
Yes, it's that time again - Eurovision! And here's our entry for this year - a kind of all singing-all-dancing Abba but without the instruments and Scandinavian accents (more's the pity). Again, sorry we missed this one as it was a debut and a very important one in some ways. Not in the charts (yet), but expectations for Eurovision success - and beyond - are high. Those swift of mouse may see the performance here, but (parental warning) there is much bottom wiggling and ripping-off of skirts.

Visage - Mind of a Toy
Follow up to the now seminal Fade to Grey for these New (fangled) Romantics and already flying relatively high at 24. A sign of the times perhaps that they were a new "group" who didn't need to bother to get thir backsides outside the recording studio (if indeed they ever did), or the nightclub, to go on Top of the Pops. But no matter - it's another cracking video by Godley & Creme and an excellent song often wrongly ignored in favour of  'Grey'. Debut album also out now, kids!

Duran Duran - Planet Earth
And keeping the New Romantic theme going, here are  the meisters of frilly shirts and crimped hair now in the Top 20. They join the ranks of The Who and Phil Collins with another studio repeat. Bah-bah-bah b-bah-bah-bah-baaah.

Toyah - It's a Mystery
This one seems to have been going around for ages, yet it's a mere four weeks since they debuted. Fairly new romantic-y too and up to a thurpwithing no. 8, and it ain't over yet!


(Top 10 countdown probably happened here)


Roxy Music - Jealous Guy (over credits)
Second and final week at no. 1, as the nation starts to get fed up with moping about John Lennon and prefers to get up and have a good knees-up.


See y'all next week when we should be 'right' again.

TOTP81.7 19/2/81

First shown Thursday 19 February 1981
Presented by DLT
Full chart here

TOTP debut*: The Teardrop Explodes, Girlschool (with Motorhead), Toyah, Talking Heads.

* a new feature as there were quite a lot of new and important acts who appeared on TOTP for the first time in 81 so I thought it would be worth noting.

This one not repeated in 2016 so we can get through it pretty quickly, although I've added some record sleeves instead of video still to make it a bit more interesting (ta discogs).

The Teardrop Explodes - Reward
Indeed their first time on the Pops and not quite in the Top 40 but things will get better for these erstwhile "underground" scousers.

Rainbow - I Surrender
Promo film repeat  - now at no. 4

Fred Wedlock - The Oldest Swinger in Town (with Legs & Co.)
Not sure if I'm relieved or sorry we didn't get to see Legs doing their thing to this one, but given their pretty performances up to no, perhaps it's just as well. Poor old Fred now at no. 6.

Motorhead/Girlschool - Please Don't Touch
AKA 'Headgirl' as this collaborative effort was also known. The St Valentine's Day Massacre EP was straight in at 15.

Toyah - It's a Mystery
Another debut and another EP 'Four From Toyah', of which this was the lead track. Pity we didn't get to see this band* on their first TOTP but they'll be back.
* subtle eighties anorak comment.

Stray Cats - Rock This Town
Second and final time for this one, now in the Top Ten. Someelse described them as the link between rock and roll and the New Romantics so I won't use that one again.

Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime
First time for this one and perhaps one of Legs' better performances which we don't get to witness first hand but which by a strange quirk of fate we'll get to see again. Once in a Lifetime just outside the Top 40 at 35 but will get higher n higher.

Visage - Fade to Grey
Odd in more ways than one - it went down last week but then back up again so given a second chance -  and it's that video again. Not complaining mind.

Adam & The Ants - Kings of the Wild Frontier
Perhaps it's because I never was an 'antperson' that it's surprising for me now just to see how big they were in late 80/early 81, and indeed beyond. This one (originally released last year) in at no. 39 and said 'antpeople' really couldn't get enough of it with old single Car Trouble one place behind, another two singles still in the Top 20 and yet another one Zerox at 59. that's more than Sheena Easton ever achieved.

Joe Dolce - Shaddapa Your Face
The Hateful One now at the top, the first non-Lennon related no. 1of the year and keeping Ultravox and indeed Rainbow off the top. No comment-o.

Madness - Return of the Los Palmas 7
Credits play-out.

TOTP 80.3 22/1/81

First broadcast: 22nd January 1981
Repeated on BBCFour from: 15/01/2016
Presented by: Peter Powell
Full chart here

Not a bad show by the looks of things - quite a few lousy repeats but a few classic stonkers to make up for it so let's boogie on down, shall we Pete?

The Look – I Am The Beat
In 2016, they've only just been on although in the actual two weeks between this and the previous appearance they'd gone up to no. 6. Found myself humming this even after the show. Annoying.

Blondie - Rapture (promo)
Well after taking on punk rock, disco, futuristic rock and all kinds of stuff HArry and friends now approach rap which was fast taking a hold Stateside. Thankfully they make a good job of it, although with that voice leading the proceedings they could get away with just about everything. Nice, modern Sesame Street-ish sort of video too.

Spandau Ballet - The Freeze
Back in the studio and those slick London "new romantic" types are back with their daft clothes and floppy hair. Hurrah! Second single and lookin' good at no. 45. Can't wait for the album.

Racey – Runaround Sue
Let's not get too radical though. Repeat from two weeks ago and still unbearable, especially after Spandau Ballet. Up to no. 13

XTC - Sgt Rock Is Going to Help Me
I used to really like XTC and this one in particular. Good quality new wave kind of rock with a touch of English humour added in. They'd done well with Making Plans For Nigel back in '79, although last year's Generals and Majors had failed less well. Similarly themed 'Sgt. Rock would however become one of their greatest and best loved singles.  Quite right, Pete - this was taken from last year's Black Sea album, and rescued just in time from sinking without a trace, me hearties. (cf. Vienna by Ultravox).

Visage - Fade to Grey
Classic eighties track time and quite rightly accompanied by a very (early) eighties video, featuring band "leader" and "singer" Steve Strange, and directed by Godley & Creme, formerly half of 10cc. As their name would suggest, with Visage the 'visuals' were the thing although if you've got a good futuristic sounding backing track with enigmatic lyrics, a French girlie spoken vocal and a breathy uhhhh-uhhhhh catchline, it's got to be a winner. Famously written by half of the new Ultravox (Ure, Currie) and Gary Numan's keyboard and violin player (Chris Payne). They couldn't really go wrong.

Yarbrough and Peoples - Don't Stop the Music (Legs and Co.)
At last we get some disco music which sounds very eighties, as opposedto the rubbish we had last year which didn't. As I have confessed in the past I know very little about the genre, but I do know that this one sounds sort of similar to that SOS Band Just be Good To Me which would be very much in vogue a few years hence. Anyway to mark this momentous sonic occasion showing the way forward in dance music, Legs and Co get their Scottish kilts and all the tartans trimming out to perform a provocative highland routine. I really would like to know why oh why they chose to wear that stuff, och aye.


Adam & the Ants - Antmusic
There have been quite a few famous 'number twos' in chart history (another of which we'll see during the coming months) and this must surely be one of them. Poor old Adam and his Ants in his pants were indirect victims of the Lennon assassination and the record sales that ensued. This week they're wedged in between Lennon's first posthumous single release Woman at no. 3 and this week's no. 1 (again). But anyway they can't complain as they're also at no. 11 with resuscitated early single Young Parisians.

Honey Bane - Turn Me On, Turn Me Off
Here's an interesting one at last - Ms. Bane with her debut solo single now in the nether reaches of the charts. Honey (née Donna Tracy Boylan) had been doing quite a bit of mucking about in the punk years with bands like Fatal Microbes and Crass, plus a short spell with St. Charles Youth Treatment Centre in Essex, before being "rescued" by Jimmy Pursey - he of Sham 69 - who was looking for some new "talent". As pleasing as her tune may be, it didn't get very far, perhaps smacking a little too much of a wannabe Hazel O'Connor. And that was sooooo 1980. (Toyah! Where are you?)

Ok..this week's "best selling" Top 20..well, up to no. 11 anyway.

Bad Manners - Lorraine
Tie for one more and sadly it had to be this. Repeat from two weeks ago.

Top Ten Time..and Queen just won't budge from that all-important no. 10 spot, and Phil Collins has whooshed up a massive 32 places to no. 4 after (not) appearing on the last show.

John Lennon - Imagine
Well this music certainly hadn't lost its flavour  - third out of four weeks at no. 1 and now four singles in the top 10 for Lennon (but not a Beatles record in sight).

The Gap Band - ...(?) (playout)
...er, erm...


It's going to be quite strenuous keeping up with the Pops this year, what with the twice-weekly helping and loads of skipped Yewtree espisodes, but please bear with us and keep on tuning in!

G'night.