First broadcast 02/10/80
Not repeated by BBCFour in 2015.
Presented by Dave Lee Travis
Full chart here.
Not repeated due to DLT presenterage. Despite having paid him good (taxpayers') money for 25 years, the BBC now deem him unfit for broadcasting, even in a historical context. One wonders if they still have it in for him after his on-air resignation in 1993, but there you go. Anyway thanks to those nice people at Popscene and Turn It on Again/TOTP 1980 here's a brief description of what came up on this particular show, with a few comments.
Show preview in (three) videos is preceded by a lengthy rambling about a special car and a motor show or some such. But on with the show.
Gillan - Trouble
Highest chart entry at 22 and it's back to the heavy-metal 'head banging' genre, even without Tommy Vance at the helm. As DLT duly informs us this is a cover version of an Elvis Presley song (from 1958), and pretty dismal it is too. This might as well be 1973. I'm no expert but he sounds like the bloke from Deep Purple to me.
..a lot more rambling on about that stupid car then..
Stevie Wonder - Master Blaster (video inter-spliced with studio dancing)
At no. 2 and the first of a string of hits by Wonder over the next few months or so. It'll be 'Happy Birthday' within a year so we should be grateful for this.
Matchbox - When You Ask About Love
Their follow up to....the previous one, and more 50s-nostalgia nonsense. Now at no. 38, this did surprisingly well although thankfully has since fell into the depths of oblivion.
Thin Lizzy - Killer on the Loose (video)
Not sure if Lynott is warning us against the killer or actually saying he is the killer given all his aggressive posing, snarling and finger wagging. Anyway having abandoned his solo "career" he's on his way to the Top 10 (for the last time) wiv Ver Lizzy.
Change - Searching (Legs & Co.)
We had a quick preview of this one in the credits run-out last week, and a classy bit of soul-funk it has turned out to be too. Legs give it their all, dressed as French maids (what else?) but you'll have to do some "searching" (geddit?) around for that for yourselves. Up to their no. 11 peak.
30-20 rundown. Good to see Lynx at 23.
Odyssey - If You're Looking For a Way Out (video)
Better have some more disco music then. Oh no..it's a slow one! This is the follow up to their unforgettable no. 1 of a few months back (the title of which escapes me) and will likewise go top 10, staying Top 40 for 12 weeks. And we haven't even seen the back of them yet.
The Charts (sic.) 19-11
Madness - Baggy Trousers
Well they've certainly kept the best til last and I can imagine that a large part of the viewing public had been eagerly awaiting this "nutty" studio performance (we only had the video last time). Up to no. 4, which is a gross injustice innit. Love Suggs' stop/start 'dancing' and all that arsing about. At least it meant max. audience participation, something which was still largely lacking on The Pops.
Top 9 rundown, including The Giant Sombrero. Then DLT kisses two young girls on the lips while handing out free LPs.
The Police - Don't Stand So Close To Me (video)
Summers/Copeland/Sumner continue their run at the top. One wonders whether there could've been some kind of Madness vs. The Police rivalry competition if this chart had been some years into the future when record companies and such liked to play up such things (hello Oasis and Blur).
Bob Marley & Wailers - Three Little Birds (credits)
The band had just completed their massive Uprising World Tour even though Marley was already very ill. But he didn't worry 'bout a ting.
Tune in Thursday 08/10/15 for the 09/10/80 show.
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