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.
