Repeated on BBCFour 27/05/2016
Introduced by Peter Powell
Full chart here
TOTP debut: ABC, The Dukes, The Jets,
Modern Romance – “Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey” (45)
Follow-up to party song Everybosy Salsa, doing pretty much the same thing as its predecessor. In fact i think they might vene be the same song.
The Police – “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” (3) (video)
Sting and pals are also very much in the 'up' mood with this one after the rather dour Invisible Sun, and are on their way to no. 1 - oops, spoiler.
The Dukes – “Mystery Girl” (47)
Mystery band more like it (not even listed on wiki), although this is basically Dominic Bugatti & Frank Musker - a songwriting duo who did pretty well in the mid to late 70s with stuff for Paul Nicholas, the Three Degrees and more recently with Sheena Easton's Modern Girl. Now they have a crack at doing one of thier own songs, and fail miserably.
Rush – “Tom Sawyer” (26) (live clip)
A follow-up of sorts to last year's Spirit of Radio, although Rush 'hit singles' are basically flukes more than anything.
The Jets – “Yes Tonight Josephine” (44)
Rockabilly's back, alas.
ELO – “Twilight” (30) (Zoo)
Julio Iglesias – “Begin The Beguine” (21) (video)
ABC – “Tears Are Not Enough” (50)
Debut for this glitzy outfit from Sheffield who would go on to 'define the eighties' and all that, with their debut album Lexicon of Love. ABC were indeed on the brink of something big here with what would effectively become the sound of next year, rather than this, aided by lush Trevor Horn (Buggles, Dollar) production and equally lush orchestra arrangements by Ms. Anne Dudley.
Irony of ironies, the 'sequel' album Lexicon of Love II was released the same day that this show was repeated on BBCFour. Coincidence? I say maybe....
Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin – “It’s My Party” (1) (rpt from 24/09/81)
Last week at no. 1 and back to a repeat studio performance from over a month ago.
The Four Tops – “When She Was My Girl” (5) (video/audience dancing/credits)
Amazingly at no. 5 and will go even higher to..... Tune in next week folks!
Showing posts with label Peter Powell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Peter Powell. Show all posts
5 November 2016
3 September 2016
TOTP81.35 03/09/81
Repeated on BBCFour 28/09/2016
Presented by Peter Powell
Full chart here.
One of my 'legendary' TOTP shows here, one of those I would remember for many years to come. One of those TOTPs where you could remember where you were and want kind of state of mind you were in...
Apart from the opening act and couple of others it's pretty much all killer no filler, including the appearance of John Foxx and the very wonderful Europe After the Rain (it bombed), OMD performing Souvenir for the first time (it went on to be a big hit and an 'eighties' classic) and Gary Numan with his new one, the slightly pervy She’s Got Claws (it's sort of 'classic' Numan, but ofetne forgotten now). Apart from that there's plenty more chart wonderment. Oh and a new no. 1 ..
To celebrate this rather special episode we're posting all of the original studio performances as lovingly captured by Mr Lee Nichols on his y.t. channel, something he's been doing for yonks now, and very grateful to him we are.
OK so you've had your tea, Tommorow's World has nearly finished so better get settled down for tonight's edition of...TOP. of the. POPS!
Modern Romance – “Everybody Salsa” (16)
Well after all that praise and anticipation we're off to a pretty cheesy start with one of the cheesiest bands of 1981 with more cheese than a group of cheese makers making cheese at a cheese convention in Cheddar in Cheeseshire. That said...what better way to get the party started! Sal-sa! Sal-sa!
John Foxx – “Europe (After The Rain)” (40)
The last time we saw Sir John of Chorley on The Pops he was mostly standing still in front of the camera droning on about an 'underpass' and that 'no-one was driving' looking like he wished he was somewhere else such as in a disused warehouse playing with a tape recorder or reading a J G Ballard novel. Not so in shiny new 1981, just over a year on, as our John has been to The Continent, chilled off, warmed up and is now jumping about "playing" an acoustic guitar (shock! horror!), "swaying" and singing about "fountains, squares and colonnades". Amazing what that Mediterranean diet and a few bottles of Chianti can do. Foxxy puts his all into this performance (although the posh looking lady in the posh frock could have made a bit more of an effort) and is obviously glad to be back on national telly and in the charts. Sadly though, this one slipped down the following week and we shall never see him on The Pops again. His new album The Garden was out soon and would spend a whole three weeks in the Top 40. Never mind Mr Foxx, you'll be inspiration for a new generation of electronica kids in years to come.
UB40 – “One In Ten” (7)
But enough of that Continental rubbish! Better get back to the Top 10 and a bit of harsh social reality in Thatcher's Britain, as the UB40 brothers continue to rise with their smash hit about UK unemployment figures, with one in ten now apparently unemployed. "..a statistical reminder of a world that doesn't care.." Strong stuff, now at its chart peak.
Gary Numan – “She’s Got Claws” (6) (video)
The fourth new single on tonight's show (count 'em) although unlike the others Gary obviously couldn't make it to the studio and, not wishing to be outdone by young upstarts like Visage, has sent along his arty new video instead. By rights this should've been on last week when it entered the charts but no matter, it's already doing very nicely at no. 6. "She’s Got Claws" was all part of Gazza's new 'look' and 'sound' by the way after he'd announced he was never gonna tour again, preferring to stick to the confines of the studio only. Like John Foxx, he also has a new album waiting to be released forthwith! Anorak moment: this particular song features the late Mick Karn of Japan on sax and bendy bass, whose sound Numan had taken to on hearing the Gentlemen Take Polaroids album.
Dollar – “Hand Held In Black & White” (31)
It seems amazing that we haven't seen Dollar on The Pops since they were on a few times in early '80 with their version of I Wanna (sic.) Hold Your Hand. Reliable sources (wiki) tells us that they had an album out in 1980 but it wasn't really up to much and it looked like they'd gone down the dumper already. But despair ye not - enter Trevor Horn, he of The Buggles and budding mega-pop record producer, to pick them out, shake them up and turn them into something new. Plenty of polish not only on the teeth and peroxided hair here as this song has all the Horn-y glitter and pop appeal of tracks by another British band who will be enjoying a string of hits also produced by Horn in the not too distant future. Watch Dollar rejoice in re-found pop glory here and look out for Trev modestly playing bass guitar in the background.
The Pointer Sisters – “Slow Hand” (29) (Legs & Co)
Not much to say about this one except that The Legs seem to be on top form, despite the fact their days are apparently already numbered. Here they don some pretty scant shiny "dresses" and prance round a stage shaped like a polo mint, except that rather than having a hole full of air in the middle, this one has a bunch of Pop kids trapped in the middle. It must have done The Pointer sisters some good however as they would continue their ascent up the charts in coming weeks.
OMD – “Souvenir” (23)
Soft Cell – “Tainted Love” (1)
And after being totally blown away by all that magnificence at last we can get to enjoy seeing Soft Cell at no. 1 (instead of Shaky Stevens or that stupid "Japanese" thing ) and quite possibly the first completely electronical music sort of thing ever to make it to the top spot. The triumph of synth-pop even before the term 'synth-pop' had been invented, perhaps? Hurrah! (video this time uploaded by 80smusicdude - ta.)
Funkapolitan – As Time Goes By” (47) (+ credits)
Well Gary Numan must have heard our comment about not being able to make it to the studio because surprise, surprise here he is! In his new 'gear' and with his arm around a very short young girl...careful there Gazza! You're nearly strangling her!
Not sure how many times it's happened that we've actually had a group performing in the play-out. Gone are the days of the song playing over the credits with a single camera pointing into the studio lights with a few 'special effects'. New ways, new ways....
Presented by Peter Powell
Full chart here.
One of my 'legendary' TOTP shows here, one of those I would remember for many years to come. One of those TOTPs where you could remember where you were and want kind of state of mind you were in...
Apart from the opening act and couple of others it's pretty much all killer no filler, including the appearance of John Foxx and the very wonderful Europe After the Rain (it bombed), OMD performing Souvenir for the first time (it went on to be a big hit and an 'eighties' classic) and Gary Numan with his new one, the slightly pervy She’s Got Claws (it's sort of 'classic' Numan, but ofetne forgotten now). Apart from that there's plenty more chart wonderment. Oh and a new no. 1 ..
To celebrate this rather special episode we're posting all of the original studio performances as lovingly captured by Mr Lee Nichols on his y.t. channel, something he's been doing for yonks now, and very grateful to him we are.
OK so you've had your tea, Tommorow's World has nearly finished so better get settled down for tonight's edition of...TOP. of the. POPS!
Modern Romance – “Everybody Salsa” (16)
Well after all that praise and anticipation we're off to a pretty cheesy start with one of the cheesiest bands of 1981 with more cheese than a group of cheese makers making cheese at a cheese convention in Cheddar in Cheeseshire. That said...what better way to get the party started! Sal-sa! Sal-sa!
The last time we saw Sir John of Chorley on The Pops he was mostly standing still in front of the camera droning on about an 'underpass' and that 'no-one was driving' looking like he wished he was somewhere else such as in a disused warehouse playing with a tape recorder or reading a J G Ballard novel. Not so in shiny new 1981, just over a year on, as our John has been to The Continent, chilled off, warmed up and is now jumping about "playing" an acoustic guitar (shock! horror!), "swaying" and singing about "fountains, squares and colonnades". Amazing what that Mediterranean diet and a few bottles of Chianti can do. Foxxy puts his all into this performance (although the posh looking lady in the posh frock could have made a bit more of an effort) and is obviously glad to be back on national telly and in the charts. Sadly though, this one slipped down the following week and we shall never see him on The Pops again. His new album The Garden was out soon and would spend a whole three weeks in the Top 40. Never mind Mr Foxx, you'll be inspiration for a new generation of electronica kids in years to come.
UB40 – “One In Ten” (7)
But enough of that Continental rubbish! Better get back to the Top 10 and a bit of harsh social reality in Thatcher's Britain, as the UB40 brothers continue to rise with their smash hit about UK unemployment figures, with one in ten now apparently unemployed. "..a statistical reminder of a world that doesn't care.." Strong stuff, now at its chart peak.
Bucks Fizz – “One Of Those Nights” (32)
The Fizz are back with another try at repeating their Eurovision success, at least at a national level. Certainly not their most memorable effort. They can do better, and will.
The Fizz are back with another try at repeating their Eurovision success, at least at a national level. Certainly not their most memorable effort. They can do better, and will.
TheTeardrop Explodes – “Passionate Friend” (33)
Getting a bit too glitzy round here, better get back to grass roots kids' music from up North eh? The Teardrop's last single, the snappily titled Treason (It's Just a Story), did quite well chart-wise although sadly in 2016 we didn't get to appreciate its wondrousness due to a certain yew tree getting in the way. Here's another stab at the charts from Cope & Co., somewhat reminiscent of psychedelic 60s pop which wasn't back in fashion yet. Might've done even better in, say, 10 or 12 years time. Despite slow chart progress this one will get a good run for its money Pops-wise so we'll see y'all again soon, Jules.
Getting a bit too glitzy round here, better get back to grass roots kids' music from up North eh? The Teardrop's last single, the snappily titled Treason (It's Just a Story), did quite well chart-wise although sadly in 2016 we didn't get to appreciate its wondrousness due to a certain yew tree getting in the way. Here's another stab at the charts from Cope & Co., somewhat reminiscent of psychedelic 60s pop which wasn't back in fashion yet. Might've done even better in, say, 10 or 12 years time. Despite slow chart progress this one will get a good run for its money Pops-wise so we'll see y'all again soon, Jules.
The fourth new single on tonight's show (count 'em) although unlike the others Gary obviously couldn't make it to the studio and, not wishing to be outdone by young upstarts like Visage, has sent along his arty new video instead. By rights this should've been on last week when it entered the charts but no matter, it's already doing very nicely at no. 6. "She’s Got Claws" was all part of Gazza's new 'look' and 'sound' by the way after he'd announced he was never gonna tour again, preferring to stick to the confines of the studio only. Like John Foxx, he also has a new album waiting to be released forthwith! Anorak moment: this particular song features the late Mick Karn of Japan on sax and bendy bass, whose sound Numan had taken to on hearing the Gentlemen Take Polaroids album.
Dollar – “Hand Held In Black & White” (31)
It seems amazing that we haven't seen Dollar on The Pops since they were on a few times in early '80 with their version of I Wanna (sic.) Hold Your Hand. Reliable sources (wiki) tells us that they had an album out in 1980 but it wasn't really up to much and it looked like they'd gone down the dumper already. But despair ye not - enter Trevor Horn, he of The Buggles and budding mega-pop record producer, to pick them out, shake them up and turn them into something new. Plenty of polish not only on the teeth and peroxided hair here as this song has all the Horn-y glitter and pop appeal of tracks by another British band who will be enjoying a string of hits also produced by Horn in the not too distant future. Watch Dollar rejoice in re-found pop glory here and look out for Trev modestly playing bass guitar in the background.
The Pointer Sisters – “Slow Hand” (29) (Legs & Co)
Not much to say about this one except that The Legs seem to be on top form, despite the fact their days are apparently already numbered. Here they don some pretty scant shiny "dresses" and prance round a stage shaped like a polo mint, except that rather than having a hole full of air in the middle, this one has a bunch of Pop kids trapped in the middle. It must have done The Pointer sisters some good however as they would continue their ascent up the charts in coming weeks.
OMD – “Souvenir” (23)
And the new ones just keep on coming... Unlike Dollar OMD (which actually stands for Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, kids) had started to hit the big time in 1980, not least with Enola Gay which had already become a bit of an eighties 'classic' even when the eighties had only just got started. Like Dollar, Foxx, Numan and others they've been locked up in a dingy studio somewhere writing new stuff and planning world domination. To their credit OMD just about achieved it too with this single, a couple more to come and the parent album Architecture & Morality which would go on to represent their creative and commercial peak. Souvenir has the slightly wimpier band member Paul Humphreys on vocals, which is fair enough as he basically wrote it himself togther with Martin Cooper, also appearing here "playing" sax. It's a dreamy, sloppy thing but it was a dreamy, sloppy thing for geeks and wimps like me who'd enjoyed bopping about to their previous hit about the Hiroshima bombing but could totally relate to this one with its enigmatic lyrics and slightly ethereal sound, while still conatining a thing our mums and dads would call a 'tune'. Anorak points on this one for spotting temporary band Mike Douglas ("playing" the xylophone thing) who left the band shortly after.
And after being totally blown away by all that magnificence at last we can get to enjoy seeing Soft Cell at no. 1 (instead of Shaky Stevens or that stupid "Japanese" thing ) and quite possibly the first completely electronical music sort of thing ever to make it to the top spot. The triumph of synth-pop even before the term 'synth-pop' had been invented, perhaps? Hurrah! (video this time uploaded by 80smusicdude - ta.)
Well Gary Numan must have heard our comment about not being able to make it to the studio because surprise, surprise here he is! In his new 'gear' and with his arm around a very short young girl...careful there Gazza! You're nearly strangling her!
Not sure how many times it's happened that we've actually had a group performing in the play-out. Gone are the days of the song playing over the credits with a single camera pointing into the studio lights with a few 'special effects'. New ways, new ways....
16 July 2016
TOTP81.28 16/07/81
Repeated on BBCFour: 25/03/2016
Presenter: Peter Powell
Full chart here
Saxon – “Never Surrender” (26)
One of those heavy metal bands which seem to have been around forever already, even though their chart 'career' was relatively short lived. This will get them into the Top 20 next week for the last time. Ever.
Third World – “Dancing On The Floor (Hooked On Love)” (12) (video)
More summer-reggae fun, if you like that sort of thing. They'll make it to the Top 10 next week but that's as far as it goes. Ever (except for 1985 when they'll have a revival with an old one)
Depeche Mode – “New Life” (19)
Hurrah for the brand new sounds of synth-pop! The Dizzy Deps continue their somewhat sluggish climb up the charts and are one small step further towards world domination.
The Jacksons – “Walk Right Now” (30) (Legs & Co)
Speaking of world domination, as l'il Michael does his own thing, big bros also have a crack and making the big time once more. Some nice arse waggling from The Legs too, if I may say so.
Dexys Midnight Runners – “Show Me” (33)
After things went a bit t*ts up following last year's surprise no. 1, Dexy's are back with a good 'un, although "Eileen" is still a year away.
Kate Bush – “Sat In Your Lap” (15) (video)
And she's back! Long awaited and much anticipated follow-up to last year's string of hits and no. 1 album (and a criminally largely-ignored 'Christmas' single), here's Kate with one of her best, going on about "heaven is hell", wanting to be a "lawyer and a "scholar", "going up the ladder" and of course that "knowledge is something that's sat in your lap". How can you not love her?
Bad Manners – “Can Can” (3) (rpt from 02/07/81)
From the sublime to the ridiculous, as is often the case on The Pops. The Manners still desperately hanging on to that prestigious no. 3 spot.
Spandau Ballet – “Chant No.1 (I Don’t Need This Pressure On)” (18 -straight in!)
Another much anticipated comeback after their 'Journeys to Glory' success, and Ver Spans have evidently been going down 'Beat Route' (geddit?) quite a bit and have come up with some funky new dance stuff with the help of Beggar & Co. who you remember from a while back. Spandau will never be as good as this again. Ever.
The Specials – “Ghost Town” (1) (video/credits)
"Do you remeber the good old days before the ghost town?", well possibly youdo even as the nation plunges once more into race riots in the big cities under staunch Conservative rule. Times change eh? Still, cheer up chaps as there's a Royal Wedding coming up soon.
See you!
18 June 2016
TOTP81.24 18/06/81
Repeated on BBCFour 18/03/2016
Full chart here
Presented by Peter Powell
TOTP debut:
Linx – “Throw Away The Key” (32)
Phil Collins – “If Leaving Me Is Easy” (27) (rpt from 04/06/81)
Odyssey – “Going Back To My Roots” (6)
Kool & The Gang – “Take It To The Top” (22) (Legs & Co)
Champaign – “How ‘Bout Us” (5) (video)
Siouxsie & The Banshees – “Spellbound” (23) (rpt from 04/06/81)
The Specials – “Ghost Town” (21) (video)
Imagination – “Body Talk” (19)
Smokey Robinson – “Being With You” (1) (video/credits)
see: The Sound of the Crowd
Full chart here
Presented by Peter Powell
TOTP debut:
Linx – “Throw Away The Key” (32)
Phil Collins – “If Leaving Me Is Easy” (27) (rpt from 04/06/81)
Odyssey – “Going Back To My Roots” (6)
Kool & The Gang – “Take It To The Top” (22) (Legs & Co)
Champaign – “How ‘Bout Us” (5) (video)
Siouxsie & The Banshees – “Spellbound” (23) (rpt from 04/06/81)
The Specials – “Ghost Town” (21) (video)
Imagination – “Body Talk” (19)
Smokey Robinson – “Being With You” (1) (video/credits)
see: The Sound of the Crowd
7 May 2016
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".
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".
16 April 2016
TOTP81.15 16/04/81
Repeated on BBCFour 03/03/2016
Full chart here
Presented by Peter Powell
TOTP debut: Department S, Girlschool (without their mates), Ennio Morricone.
Hello and welcome to another Top of the Pops. It's nearly Easter in 1981-land but there's not a creme egg in sight as Pete Powell takes us into The Pops with The Jacksons' Can You Feel It stomping away in the background. Go Pete, go!
Bad Manners - Just a Feeling
They're back again although it does feel like they haven't even been away, but that might be just a feeling. By rights they shoul've been on last week but they were obviously otherwise Fattily engaged. Now at no. 15.
Spandau Ballet - Musclebound (video)
And after all that fat, time for a bit of muscle. Ver Spans themselves are obviously otherwise engaged asit's their grainy video that gets an airing this week. As I've said before it was a kind of 'double A side' with Glow - wish they'd come on to do that one instead. Would've given Bad Manners a run for their money. Now at 18 but there's time to improve.
Girlschool - Hit & Run
After having been given a bit of a leg up (oo-er) by big brother types Motorhead, Girschool after another try at going it alone (after failing last year) with this one. HEavy metal fans obviously still prefer their men rather than women in leather as they don't hals as well as Saxon, the abovementioned Motorhead et al. New at 32 and it won't get much better.
Sugar Minott - Good Thing Going (We’ve Got A Good Thing Going)
Well imagine going into a record shop in 1981 and asking for that. Mind you at this point you probably could've just picked it up off the racks at Woolworths or Boots or somewhere similar, which is what a lot of punters obviously did, as it's up to 7.
Department S - Is Vic There?
About time we had something new and a bit weird, and here indeed are Department S who fit the bill perfectly. They even have a singer who holds the mike like Alvin Stardust used to. This was probably first heard on John Peel's late night weirdo radio programme or some such but somehow theymade their way into the mainstream, and had their one and only hit. Amazingly (according to wiki) they are going to release an album in 2016. Can we wait?
The Beat - Drowning
And here's a combo who did rather well out of 1980 with all those chart singles. this is nice enough although you do get the feeling they are a bit last year's thing warmed up. Not drowning but slowy waving goodbye? Aother double A side with All Out to Get You which was actually a lot better. New at 53.
Whitesnake - Don’t Break My Heart Again
Allegedly caught by BBC cameras (yeah, we believe you Pete) in this faux-live performance, Whitesnake are another one of those macho testosterone-charged heavy metal bands much favoured by fans over girlies in T shirts. Album Come an' Get it (ooo-err!) just out and this is from it. Just made it into the Top 30 at 29.
UK Subs - Keep On Running (Till You Burn)
No strangers to The Pops where they always seem to get the chance to appear and sell a shed load of records afterwards although that never seem to happen. Agian, like Dept. S they are also still going and amazingly have an album out this year and even more amazingly it's their 26th, each one with a title beginning with a consecutive letter of the alphabet.
Ennio Morricone - Chi Mai (Legs & Co.)
Better slow things down a bit after all that post-punk malrkey, and this is where Pete's voice goes all soft and sincere which I really like.... Anyway it's the 'oddity' of the moment with Maestro Ennio Morricone's theme to BBC TV's Lloyd George period-costume drama series thing. You'd be forgiven for thinking that Morricone's pièce sounds a bit dated as it has its origins in one of his film scores from the early 70s, somewaht re-purposed here by Aunt Beeb. Legs rise to the Edwardina occasion by dressing up as Sufragettes putting on thier best BBC drama series serious faces to do a little dance. A nation snoozes off in the armchair.
Coincidentally, thirty five years on, and at the grand old age of 87, Morricone has just been given an Academy Award for his film score for Tarantino's The Hateful Hate. So now you know.
The Cure - Primary
But don't switch off just yet Pop Kids as it's time for a Legendary Post-Punk Moment on Top of the Pops as those weirdos The Cure suddenly appear and 'do' their latest single Primary. Not their first time on the show as Pete would have us believe, as they already had their first pop at chartdom with A Forest a year hence, making it all the way to 31. Primary would fare even worse than that, but no matter - they'll be writing songs about cats and caterpillars and being locked up in wardrobes soon.
The Nolans - Attention to Me
So how do follow up a little known doom and gloom proto-Goth band on The Pops? Why, with the all-singing all-dancing all-smiling Nolans of course! Mind you they have dressed up in their best Gary Numan black jumpsuits for the occasion. Even the Cure had a bit of eighties colour about them. Anyway, like the gals say it's all attention to them as they climb up to no. 14.
Top Ten countdown
Bucks Fizz - Making Your Mind Up
I suppose there were no prizes for guessing that The Fizz would've been this week's new number one, just pipping Shaky and indeed Stevie Wonder to the post. It would've been a laugh if Ennio Morricone had made it instead though eh? Again, they're probably off galavanting over Europe somewhere as this is a repeat showing of oen of their previous jigs.
The Jacksons - Can You Feel It
And we finish as we started with the Jacskon's record on heavy rotation in The Pops studio to see us all out.
So until next week, byeeeeeeeee!
Full chart here
Presented by Peter Powell
TOTP debut: Department S, Girlschool (without their mates), Ennio Morricone.
Hello and welcome to another Top of the Pops. It's nearly Easter in 1981-land but there's not a creme egg in sight as Pete Powell takes us into The Pops with The Jacksons' Can You Feel It stomping away in the background. Go Pete, go!
Bad Manners - Just a Feeling
They're back again although it does feel like they haven't even been away, but that might be just a feeling. By rights they shoul've been on last week but they were obviously otherwise Fattily engaged. Now at no. 15.
Spandau Ballet - Musclebound (video)
And after all that fat, time for a bit of muscle. Ver Spans themselves are obviously otherwise engaged asit's their grainy video that gets an airing this week. As I've said before it was a kind of 'double A side' with Glow - wish they'd come on to do that one instead. Would've given Bad Manners a run for their money. Now at 18 but there's time to improve.
Girlschool - Hit & Run
After having been given a bit of a leg up (oo-er) by big brother types Motorhead, Girschool after another try at going it alone (after failing last year) with this one. HEavy metal fans obviously still prefer their men rather than women in leather as they don't hals as well as Saxon, the abovementioned Motorhead et al. New at 32 and it won't get much better.
Sugar Minott - Good Thing Going (We’ve Got A Good Thing Going)
Well imagine going into a record shop in 1981 and asking for that. Mind you at this point you probably could've just picked it up off the racks at Woolworths or Boots or somewhere similar, which is what a lot of punters obviously did, as it's up to 7.
Department S - Is Vic There?
About time we had something new and a bit weird, and here indeed are Department S who fit the bill perfectly. They even have a singer who holds the mike like Alvin Stardust used to. This was probably first heard on John Peel's late night weirdo radio programme or some such but somehow theymade their way into the mainstream, and had their one and only hit. Amazingly (according to wiki) they are going to release an album in 2016. Can we wait?
The Beat - Drowning
And here's a combo who did rather well out of 1980 with all those chart singles. this is nice enough although you do get the feeling they are a bit last year's thing warmed up. Not drowning but slowy waving goodbye? Aother double A side with All Out to Get You which was actually a lot better. New at 53.
Whitesnake - Don’t Break My Heart Again
Allegedly caught by BBC cameras (yeah, we believe you Pete) in this faux-live performance, Whitesnake are another one of those macho testosterone-charged heavy metal bands much favoured by fans over girlies in T shirts. Album Come an' Get it (ooo-err!) just out and this is from it. Just made it into the Top 30 at 29.
UK Subs - Keep On Running (Till You Burn)
No strangers to The Pops where they always seem to get the chance to appear and sell a shed load of records afterwards although that never seem to happen. Agian, like Dept. S they are also still going and amazingly have an album out this year and even more amazingly it's their 26th, each one with a title beginning with a consecutive letter of the alphabet.
Ennio Morricone - Chi Mai (Legs & Co.)
Better slow things down a bit after all that post-punk malrkey, and this is where Pete's voice goes all soft and sincere which I really like.... Anyway it's the 'oddity' of the moment with Maestro Ennio Morricone's theme to BBC TV's Lloyd George period-costume drama series thing. You'd be forgiven for thinking that Morricone's pièce sounds a bit dated as it has its origins in one of his film scores from the early 70s, somewaht re-purposed here by Aunt Beeb. Legs rise to the Edwardina occasion by dressing up as Sufragettes putting on thier best BBC drama series serious faces to do a little dance. A nation snoozes off in the armchair.
Coincidentally, thirty five years on, and at the grand old age of 87, Morricone has just been given an Academy Award for his film score for Tarantino's The Hateful Hate. So now you know.
The Cure - Primary
But don't switch off just yet Pop Kids as it's time for a Legendary Post-Punk Moment on Top of the Pops as those weirdos The Cure suddenly appear and 'do' their latest single Primary. Not their first time on the show as Pete would have us believe, as they already had their first pop at chartdom with A Forest a year hence, making it all the way to 31. Primary would fare even worse than that, but no matter - they'll be writing songs about cats and caterpillars and being locked up in wardrobes soon.
The Nolans - Attention to Me
So how do follow up a little known doom and gloom proto-Goth band on The Pops? Why, with the all-singing all-dancing all-smiling Nolans of course! Mind you they have dressed up in their best Gary Numan black jumpsuits for the occasion. Even the Cure had a bit of eighties colour about them. Anyway, like the gals say it's all attention to them as they climb up to no. 14.
Top Ten countdown
Bucks Fizz - Making Your Mind Up
I suppose there were no prizes for guessing that The Fizz would've been this week's new number one, just pipping Shaky and indeed Stevie Wonder to the post. It would've been a laugh if Ennio Morricone had made it instead though eh? Again, they're probably off galavanting over Europe somewhere as this is a repeat showing of oen of their previous jigs.
The Jacksons - Can You Feel It
And we finish as we started with the Jacskon's record on heavy rotation in The Pops studio to see us all out.
So until next week, byeeeeeeeee!
18 March 2016
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.
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.
26 February 2016
TOTP81.8 26/2/81
Well while the rest of the world speeds ahead in the TOTP-Tardis with BBCFour already landing in April, we here at TOTP81 prefer the Luddite approach and take it all in our stride week by week.
Presented by Peter Powell
Full chart here
TOTP debut: Kim Wilde
A couple of good new things this week, but not much else besides I'm afraid so we should make swift progress. Take it away Pete
Status Quo - Something ‘Bout You Baby I Like
Well The Quo are back, and straight in at no. 19, no less, and hot on the heels of last year's double-whammy and album. Quo were on such a roll that this new one and the imminent parent album Never Too Late were in fact recorded at the same time as last year's stuff. This was a cover version, as you all know.
Roxy Music Jealous Guy
Speaking of cover versions, here's as fitting a tribute to a dead artsist as any: take one his lesser known songs and do your own version which turns out to be miles better than the original. Roxy being Roxy and this being 1981 they also make a smooth, expensive looking promo video to go with it. Result! Up to no. 6 already, so watch out Ultravox.
Beggar & Co - (Somebody) Help Me Out
Second time for this one and it's a repeat of the previous one with them dressed up as tramps. Now up to zweiundzwanzig.
Kim Wilde - Kids In America
I can't quite remeber if this was the first ever time we'd seen / heard sultry peroxide blonde Kim Wilde's debut single but in any case it probably made quite an impact, whether the comments were 'oh she's just trying to be Debbie Harry' or 'Phwaoaar!!". Whatever it was Kim and her bruvver and the rest made their mark and it was what we now know to be the start of an illustrious career as a TV gardener.
The Passions - I’m In Love With A German Film Star
Anothe repeat although we shall never tire of this. Now struggling back up to no. 25 and als the last we shall see/hear of them/it.
Madness The Return Of The Los Palmas 7
This '7' now up to no. 7 and that's about as far as it goes. Full marks for pulling off a studio performance of an instrumental track, although it does help to be 'nutty'.
Kelly Marie - Hot Love
This was on as a 'breaker' a couple of weeks ago, and not really much more than that two weeks on. Slow progress but believe it or night she'll be given another chance soon enough.
Coast To Coast - (Do) The Hucklebuck
Another tiresome 'novelty' song and (repeated) performance although Hucklebuck fever was no doubt sweeping the nation getting this one up to no. 8.
Ultravox Vienna (video)
The fourth time this one has been featured, and it's Studio Performance 2, Promo Video 2 at this point. Appropriately at no. 2 as it was last week and 2 weeks ago, and...
Freeez - Southern Freeez
Third repeated performance of the night, although I suppose you could get away with repeating stuff week after week in the days before youtube and i-player. Freeez now Top 10-ers.
Kiki Dee - Star
Another new one, and for those who are counting the fifth female chanteuse of the night. Kiki (née Pauline Matthews - snigger) was perhaps still living off the interest from her '76 hit with Sir Elton although this was a decent enough stab at trying to have the mike all to herself.
Joe Dolce Music Theatre - Shaddap You Face
Second of three weeks at no. 1. Promo video with credits over the end. Hey!
Presented by Peter Powell
Full chart here
TOTP debut: Kim Wilde
A couple of good new things this week, but not much else besides I'm afraid so we should make swift progress. Take it away Pete
Status Quo - Something ‘Bout You Baby I Like
Well The Quo are back, and straight in at no. 19, no less, and hot on the heels of last year's double-whammy and album. Quo were on such a roll that this new one and the imminent parent album Never Too Late were in fact recorded at the same time as last year's stuff. This was a cover version, as you all know.
Roxy Music Jealous Guy
Speaking of cover versions, here's as fitting a tribute to a dead artsist as any: take one his lesser known songs and do your own version which turns out to be miles better than the original. Roxy being Roxy and this being 1981 they also make a smooth, expensive looking promo video to go with it. Result! Up to no. 6 already, so watch out Ultravox.
Beggar & Co - (Somebody) Help Me Out
Second time for this one and it's a repeat of the previous one with them dressed up as tramps. Now up to zweiundzwanzig.
Kim Wilde - Kids In America
I can't quite remeber if this was the first ever time we'd seen / heard sultry peroxide blonde Kim Wilde's debut single but in any case it probably made quite an impact, whether the comments were 'oh she's just trying to be Debbie Harry' or 'Phwaoaar!!". Whatever it was Kim and her bruvver and the rest made their mark and it was what we now know to be the start of an illustrious career as a TV gardener.
The Passions - I’m In Love With A German Film Star
Anothe repeat although we shall never tire of this. Now struggling back up to no. 25 and als the last we shall see/hear of them/it.
Madness The Return Of The Los Palmas 7
This '7' now up to no. 7 and that's about as far as it goes. Full marks for pulling off a studio performance of an instrumental track, although it does help to be 'nutty'.
Kelly Marie - Hot Love
This was on as a 'breaker' a couple of weeks ago, and not really much more than that two weeks on. Slow progress but believe it or night she'll be given another chance soon enough.
Coast To Coast - (Do) The Hucklebuck
Another tiresome 'novelty' song and (repeated) performance although Hucklebuck fever was no doubt sweeping the nation getting this one up to no. 8.
Ultravox Vienna (video)
The fourth time this one has been featured, and it's Studio Performance 2, Promo Video 2 at this point. Appropriately at no. 2 as it was last week and 2 weeks ago, and...
Freeez - Southern Freeez
Third repeated performance of the night, although I suppose you could get away with repeating stuff week after week in the days before youtube and i-player. Freeez now Top 10-ers.
Kiki Dee - Star
Another new one, and for those who are counting the fifth female chanteuse of the night. Kiki (née Pauline Matthews - snigger) was perhaps still living off the interest from her '76 hit with Sir Elton although this was a decent enough stab at trying to have the mike all to herself.
Joe Dolce Music Theatre - Shaddap You Face
Second of three weeks at no. 1. Promo video with credits over the end. Hey!
20 January 2016
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.
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.
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