Full chart here
For those reading in 2015 welcome back to TOTP '80 after a week's break, and if you're reading in 1980 then you'll have realised that the Pops wasn't in the usual Thursday slot this week but moved forward a day 'cos of the Winter Olympics, which have just opened.
So anyway, put your skis and padded anoraks away for the moment, and enjoy this week's show, presented by Simon Bates. There's something for everyone tonight, including no less than five cover versions - can you spot them all?
Kool & the Gang - Too Hot (chart rundown)
Promoted from the "OK, get the kettle on" run-out credits spot a couple of weeks ago, they're now promoted to the "come in, sit down, shurrup, it's on" chart rundown spot. Good work.
Chart notes: The Rats have jumped up to number 4, the Nolans are stable at No. 3, despite all their dancing and romancing in the TOTP studio of late, and there's a new No. 1, more's the pity. TOTP going all out on the 'special' effects with double image for each position. Oooh! Clever!
Matchbox - Buzz Buzz a Diddle It
Well let's get the party started albeit with a blood curdling banshee-like cry from a Matchbox wannabe cowboy. Slow progress for our nutty rockabillies, so someone thought they needed a bit of a boost by placing them in the prime first act on slot. They slipped down again after this no. 22 peak, but they'll be back.
Keith Mitchell - Captain Beaky
And here's the little kids' favourite nice and early so they can go to bed before any lunatic punk rockers come on to traumatise them. This novelty record had already reached no. 5. So much for the punk revolution. Nul points Simon Bates for the 'feathered-friend' co-presenter but top marks for Mitchell for the live vocals and that jacket.
Flying Lizards - T.V.
Oooh! Hang about a bit longer kids, it's the novelty punk/new-wave band slot! Hopes were high after the bizarre yet catchy version of Money last year, and Simes shows us he's really 'with it' by having this as his record of the week. This original composition was nowhere near as good as Money though and didn't even make it into the Top 40, making the Lizards effective one-hit wonders. Nice try, and probably one of the bizzarest TOTP performances ever. Very, very, very ...Dada.
Elvis Costello - I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down
Seasoned new-waver Elvis Costello and his Attractions were straight in at no. 15 this week with htis stomper. It had been almost a year since their smash hit Oliver's Army but this tune was certainly up to that high standard and an excellent taster for his new album Get Happy!! which was also just out. Nice early promo too, possibly filmed on a wet day in South of France. This how to be bizarre and successful - Flying Lizards take note.
Michael Jackson - Rock With You (Legs & Co.)
It's Jacko! No, actually it's only Legs & Co. "as you've never seen them before!". Up from 35 to no. 12, just one place ahead of Cliff Richard whose Carrie possibly gave him inspiration for the future hit Billie Jean - we can but speculate. But back to now, and God knows what Flick Colby had been on this week to have dreamt this one up.
Dave Edmunds - Singing the Blues
Bit of an odd one this bluesy boyo, who had a number 1 hit - I Hear You Knocking - back in 1970, and seems to have lived off the success of that ever since. He did quite well with Girls Talk and Queen of Hearts in 1979 (I challenge you to whistle either of 'em) and this new one would also give him the same medium-sized/mediocre success. As Simes quite rightly points out Nick 'Breaking Glass' Lowe also features on gee-tarr, as does another bloke who looks like Keith Chegwin.
Jon & Vangelis - I Hear You Now
Back to the 'sound of the eighties', or almost. This seems to have been around for ages already. Video features a bloke in a leotard jumping out of a synthesiser. Don't ask. Moving swiftly along..
The Shadows - Riders in the Sky
'Simes' has to remind us that this next group are really famous and successful by showing us a big record in a frame. Again, it was slow progress for Cliff's former mates but amazingly they did get even higher than this week's no. 22 spot. The band are all modern now because they've got four (count 'em) syndrums and even a Moog hidden in the background. It was, alas (snigger), their last top 20, nay 40, hit. I'm not even going to mention what they did next.
Marti Webb - Take That Look Off Your Face
Andrew Lloyd Webber and co were obviously trying to follow up the success of Don't Cry for Me Argentina from Evita, although he would do better with Cats a year or so into the future. A nice enough song though and a good one for wives and girlfriends to shout into the faces of cheating partners. Webb is even more chilling and motionless than John 'Underpass' Foxx a couple of weeks back. Does she even blink? Scarey! Features TOTP orchestra and...tubular bells!
Stiff Little Fingers - At the Edge
It's punk rock time, and this week it's Stiff Little Fingers all the way from Belfast. They were only just bubbling under the Top 40 although someone obviously thought it was time they had their prime time break (at a suitable distance from Capt. Beaky) after being championed by the likes of John Peel. I had this down as being suitably shambolic yet it wasn't really, although compared to Marti Webb even The Wombles would have seemed energetic.
Kenny Rogers - Coward of the County
It's No. 1 but Rogers hasn't even bothered to come to l'il ol' England to go on Top of the Pops and it's that awful live promo film instead. Interestingly that makes it the second no. 1 in a row featured only via a live promo film. As far as I can make out this one isn't about teenage preganancy and contraception though. Not that I've ever listened to it properly.
Ramones - Baby I Love You (credits)
Well at least we're left with a slightly sweeter taste from another kind of American act. It's all been a bit rushed tonight becuase of the Friday slot and you won't be able to discuss it with your mates tomorrow morning either. Tough.
Did you spot all five cover versions? Answers next week!
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