TOTP81.41 15/10/81

Repeated on BBCFour 20/05/2016
Introduced by DLT
Full chart here

TOTP debut: The Exploited, B.A. Robertson & Maggie Bell (as a duo)

..and David looks rather fetching in that 'bomber jacket and tie' outfit...

Gary Glitter – “And Then She Kissed Me” (44)
Removed from the 2016 repeat

Toyah – “Thunder In The Mountains” (5) (video)
So we start off with a video, which will help this one to go one place higher next week. Toyah studied drama don't ya know..

B.A. Robertson & Maggie Bell – “Hold Me” (36)
A modest new entry although will go on to do better, God knows how or why.

Altered Images – “Happy Birthday” (16) (rpt from 01/10/81)
Still doing well but could and will do even better.

The Tweets – “Birdie Song (Birdie Dance)” (2) (Legs & Co)
Bird shite still hanging around unfortunately.

Godley & Creme – “Under Your Thumb” (3) (rpt from 17/09/81)
On the other hand we have musical excellence unjustifiably one place below. That's the Great British public for ya.

The Exploited – “Dead Cities” (41) WATCH
Punk has now officially become self-parody.

Squeeze – “Labelled With Love” (31)
Let's calm thinsg down a bit with a nice little ballad. Probably gets played a lot on Radio 2.

The Creatures – “Mad Eyed Screamer” (25) (rpt from 01/10/81)
Artistically somewhere between The Exploited and Squeeze are Siouxsie & Budgie doing their stuff. Will go one place higher next week.

Dave gives us a little talk about how long he's been away and how much things have changed while Heaven 17's “Play To Win” plays in the background.

Chart rundown 20-10

Bad Manners – “Walking In The Sunshine” (10)
Peak position for these summer time blues.

Chart rundown 9-1

Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin – “It’s My Party” (1) WATCH
Mercifully keeping The Birdy things off the top, and with some style and panache. Best no. 1 since Tainted Love.

This Year’s Blonde – “Platinum Pop” (48) (+ credits)
A nedley of Blondie hits, would you believe. She does the voice very well, though.

TOTP81.39 01/10/81

Repeated on BBCFour 19.05.2016
Presented by Mike Read
Full chart here

TOTP debut: The Creatures, Altered Images.

The Tweets – “Birdie Song (Birdie Dance)” (7)
Bird sh*t.

Godley & Creme – “Under Your Thumb” (6)
Going ahead in leaps and bounds and will do even better.

Sheena Easton – “Just Another Broken Heart” (37)
(rpt from 17/09/81) This one's really struggling and hasn't gone up much since it was last shown two weeks ago. But Sheena obviously had some friends in high places who managed to get this one repeated.

The Teardrop Explodes – “Passionate Friend” (25)
Another one that's struggling a bit but possibly a big fave of Mike Read's so it's good to see Julian Cope tripping again.

The Creatures – “Mad Eyed Screamer” (34)
Siouxsie & Banshees spin-off as 'er and Budgie (no relation to The Tweets) get all hot an bothered to whip this one up.

Ottawan – “Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)” (3) (Legs & Co)
..and then on to something completely different.

Toyah – “Thunder In The Mountains” (32)
The fiery-haired one is back with a new single. Possibly not about farting.

Bad Manners – “Walking In The Sunshine” (30) (video)
Surprisingly pleasant soft-reggae outing for this obnoxious lot.

Altered Images – “Happy Birthday” (48) WATCH
Debut appearance and indeed chart hit for these erstwhile post-punk John Peel darlings gone pop.

Gidea Park – “Seasons Of Gold” (28)
Rubbish.

Dollar – “Hand Held In Black & White” (19) (rpt from 03/09/81)
The Trevor Horn gloss still working its magic, but go no further with this one Dollar people.

Adam & The Ants – “Prince Charming” (1) (video)
Still there and not even for the last week (yaaawn).

Tight Fit - "Back To The 60's (Part II)" (38) (audience dancing/credits)

TOTP81.37 17/09/81

Repeated on BBCFour 05.05.2016
Presented by: Steve Wright
Full chart here


TOTP debut: The Tweets, Godley & Creme

Gidea Park – “Seasons Of Gold” (35)

OMD – “Souvenir” (3)
(rpt from 03/09/81)
Chart peak for this ethereal smoocher, but they'll be back with two songs about Joan of Arc, oh and possibly the best album of the eighties.

Beggar & Co – “Mule (Chant No.2)” (41)
Fresh from their success with Spanda BAllet's Chnat No. 1, here they are with Chant No. 2. See what they did there? Will only reach as high as no. 37 next week.

Sheena Easton – “Just Another Broken Heart” (42)
Sheena tries to follow up her James Bond theme with a new song, but she's just soooo last year's thing.

The Teardrop Explodes – “Passionate Friend” (29)
(rpt from 03/09/81)
Julain Cope still 'high', but not in the charts and it's the last we'll see of them, sadly.

Hi-Gloss – “You’ll Never Know” (17) (Legs & Co)

The Tweets – “Birdie Song (Birdie Dance)” (25)


Godley & Creme – “Under Your Thumb” (30)

Amazing debut by one of the most original and creative duos  of the eighties.


Bucks Fizz – “One Of Those Nights” (20)
(rpt from 03/09/81)

The Pointer Sisters – “Slow Hand” (11)
(video)

Adam & The Ants – “Prince Charming” (1)
(video)


Dollar – “Hand Held In Black & White” (24) (audience dancing/credits)