Full chart here.
This show was not repeated on BBC4 in 2015, as it was presented by J*mmy S*vile, but here's the line-up anyway, courtesy of Turn it on Again > Top of the Pops 1980:
Leon Haywood – Don’t Push It, Don’t Force It (chart rundown)
Not a terribly exciting chart this week, the highest new entry being Sky's Toccata, as featured last week. There are however are couple of big movers who make fairly unlikely bedfellows in the battle for the top spot before long....
Phil Lynott – Dear Miss Lonely Hearts
Thin Lizzy leader had obviously got a bit peed off with working with bandmates so decided to embark on a solo career à la John Foxx. Unlike Foxx however, Lynott continued to stay in Thin Lizzy at the same time and even have his band mates guest on the album Solo in Soho. Confused? Well never mind cos this will get nowhere. Lynott's biggest solo hit would be Yellow Pearl, co-written with Midge Ure for said album, which would later become the TOTP theme tune. Midge Ure of course replaced John Foxx in Ultravox - see what I did there?
Barbara Dickson - January February
Stable at last week's no. 11, but somebody obviously decided she needed to a leg-up. Which she didn't get.
Girl – Hollywood Tease
Blimey! Who's this? Some kind of glam-rock outfit who don't want to join the new heavy metal movement? Reminds one of early Japan (David Sylvian's band, not the country) but more Led Zeppelin than Roxy Music. I swear I'd never heard this before in my life, and probably never will again either.
Blondie – Call Me (Legs & Co)
This one is already at no. 2 - yes number two - guys n gals, without so much of a Pops' credits run-out up to now. Still no sign of Debs and the boys though so one will have to make do with the Legs, dressed a kind of ska suit affair with coloured tops, Pauline Black wouldn't be seen dead in.
B. A. Robertson – Kool In The Kaftan
Tiresome and thankfully here for the last time with this one.
The Selecter – Missing Words
Again, struggling somewhat chart-wise but they won't need to make the trip down from Coventry again for a bit.
The Ruts – Staring At The Rude Boys
New in at, er, no. 51 folks. Not a patch on Babylon's Burning but this wouldn't do too badly for them.
The Pretenders – Talk Of The Town
Top 10 again after their no. 1 smash, but we won't have to endure this tedious video no more. Still a great tune though.
Dexy's Midnight Runners – Geno
Geno! Geno! Geno! This one's up to no. 12 this week and obviously causing a bit of a stir up and down the country as the single is bought by young punters who had no idea who Geno Washington was. And to think Record Mirror called this "a turgid eulogy with few redeeming features". Stay tuned.
The Nolans – Don’t Make Waves
Bubbling under the Top 30, and we still have I'm in the Mood for Dancing still ringing in our ears. Lovely ladies with a lovely dance routine and a lovely live vocal. Lovely.
UB40 – Food For Thought
Up one more place for the Brummie boys who were hitting their peak with this one at no. 4.
Sham 69 – Tell The Children
More fag-end of punk rock, although would fare much worse than, say, The Ruts. But Sham 69, you may now disband.
The Detroit Spinners – Working My Way Back To You
My colleague Angelo has reminded me that this is actually a medley with Forgive Me Girl. Still at no. 1 but I think that's quite enough of the '70s for now thank you very much.
Bobby Thurston – Check Out The Groove
Oh no! More seventies?
Showing posts with label Barbara Dickson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Barbara Dickson. Show all posts
TOTP 80.14 03/04/1980
Introduced by Kid Jensen
BBCFour repeat here
Chart here.
Full show on youtube here.
Judas Priest - Living After Midnight
The Priest were up ten places after last week's appearance so get the chart rundown slot. Indeed many of the acts on last week benefit from last week's show (except for John Foxx and The Dooleys, both non-movers), especially Genesis, The Brothers Johnson and Secret Affair although it's those creepy Dr. Hook who storm into the Top 10, beating even Madness with their new one. The Top 5 is still pretty much distributed between the usual handful of artistes although The Vapors are on their way down and Liquid Gold dangerously close to the top spot.
Madness - Nightboat to Cairo
And indeed here are the nutty boys from Camden appropriately dressed for this Egyptian pastiche straight in at no. 14. It was actually the lead track from their Work Rest and Play EP, a compliment to their debut album One Step Beyond (which featured 'Cairo') and a stop-gap prior to their new album in the making.
Barbara Dickson - January February
Here's Babs again with one of her best known numbers, doing very nicely thank you at no. 12. In April.
Dexy's Midnight Runners - Geno
Their debut effort didn't do so well chartwise, despite a rousing TOTP performance, although by now word had obviously got round that this lot were a bit good and Geno would become one of those new wave/eighties anthems still renowned to this day. Still bubbling inder the Top 30 but destined to do a lot better. A lot better indeed.
Pretenders - Talk of the Town
Another much anticipated new single after their surprise No. 1 success earlier in the year. Here the lads 'n' lass appear in a Blondie-esque promo-video (for 'tis surely captured on new-fangled videotape rather than film) on an eye-dazzling set. Very Kenny Everett-ish in a way, which is probably what it was made for rather than drab old TOTP. Great track by the way.
Leon Hayward - Don't Push It Don't Force It.
Kid invites us to exercise our eyeballs on this one and sound advice indeed as this week Legs & Co. really are rather phwaor. (Male chauvinist mode on, note the flash of bum in the opening seconds) The skimpy night dress things remind one of Kim Basinger's favourite kitchen get-up in a future 9½ Weeks, and the girls here really show us how silly animal/workman/ballet costumes often get in the way of the enjoyment. So don't force it, keep in simple girls, keep it simple. (Male chauvinist mode off).
UB40 - Food for Thought
This was by now blaring out of the nation's radio sets morning, noon and night as is reflected in its formidable no. 10 spot. Ironically, in a few years, they will not only be appearing on the same show as Chrissie Hynde (albeit virtually) but on the same song even.
The Selecter - Missing Words
Yet another eagerly anticipated follow-up single from these 2-Toners who as usual give an energetic delivery with lost of jumping around on the wobbly TOTP stage. Discrete success for this one although their chart performance was decreasing with each release.
B.A. Robertson - Kool in the Kaftan
Slow chart progress for this Scotsman who seems even more irksome than last time. This kind of 'comedy' single seems to have aged even more poorly than, say, Captain Beaky. Love and peace, man.
The Lambrettas - Poison Ivy
More jerking and jumping about à la Selecter which is quite a relief after "B.A.". The Lambrettas had gone Top 10 with this cover version, although this is as high as they got with it. No matter. They'll be back again soon, I'll wager.
Prima Donna - Love Enough For Two
Well it's April and so it's Eurovision Song Contest time and this is the UK's 1980 entry folks. A fairly banal affair although to their credit it got to third place with cent et six points, pipped to the top spot by Ireland's Johnny Logan (more of him later). The German entry came second, although that year I was of course rooting for synth-poppers Telex from Belgium who naturally came third last.
The Jam - Going Undergound
But enough of this soppy Eurovision malarkey! Let's get back to real English music wot ver kids are interested in. Yes, Weller & Co. hold out at no. 1 for a third week. After which it may have seemed as though The Jam had their moment of glory, but it ain't over yet!
Doctor Hook - Sexy Eyes (play-out)
Thank you Mr Kid Jensen for an ace show by the way - pity we had to end with this but, sadly, it was doing rather well.
See you next week!
BBCFour repeat here
Chart here.
Full show on youtube here.
 |
| Cheeky! Kid Jensen excercises his eyeballs (see Legs & Co.) |
Judas Priest - Living After Midnight
The Priest were up ten places after last week's appearance so get the chart rundown slot. Indeed many of the acts on last week benefit from last week's show (except for John Foxx and The Dooleys, both non-movers), especially Genesis, The Brothers Johnson and Secret Affair although it's those creepy Dr. Hook who storm into the Top 10, beating even Madness with their new one. The Top 5 is still pretty much distributed between the usual handful of artistes although The Vapors are on their way down and Liquid Gold dangerously close to the top spot.
Madness - Nightboat to Cairo
And indeed here are the nutty boys from Camden appropriately dressed for this Egyptian pastiche straight in at no. 14. It was actually the lead track from their Work Rest and Play EP, a compliment to their debut album One Step Beyond (which featured 'Cairo') and a stop-gap prior to their new album in the making.
Barbara Dickson - January February
Here's Babs again with one of her best known numbers, doing very nicely thank you at no. 12. In April.
Dexy's Midnight Runners - Geno
Their debut effort didn't do so well chartwise, despite a rousing TOTP performance, although by now word had obviously got round that this lot were a bit good and Geno would become one of those new wave/eighties anthems still renowned to this day. Still bubbling inder the Top 30 but destined to do a lot better. A lot better indeed.
Pretenders - Talk of the Town
Another much anticipated new single after their surprise No. 1 success earlier in the year. Here the lads 'n' lass appear in a Blondie-esque promo-video (for 'tis surely captured on new-fangled videotape rather than film) on an eye-dazzling set. Very Kenny Everett-ish in a way, which is probably what it was made for rather than drab old TOTP. Great track by the way.
Leon Hayward - Don't Push It Don't Force It.
Kid invites us to exercise our eyeballs on this one and sound advice indeed as this week Legs & Co. really are rather phwaor. (Male chauvinist mode on, note the flash of bum in the opening seconds) The skimpy night dress things remind one of Kim Basinger's favourite kitchen get-up in a future 9½ Weeks, and the girls here really show us how silly animal/workman/ballet costumes often get in the way of the enjoyment. So don't force it, keep in simple girls, keep it simple. (Male chauvinist mode off).
UB40 - Food for Thought
This was by now blaring out of the nation's radio sets morning, noon and night as is reflected in its formidable no. 10 spot. Ironically, in a few years, they will not only be appearing on the same show as Chrissie Hynde (albeit virtually) but on the same song even.
The Selecter - Missing Words
Yet another eagerly anticipated follow-up single from these 2-Toners who as usual give an energetic delivery with lost of jumping around on the wobbly TOTP stage. Discrete success for this one although their chart performance was decreasing with each release.
B.A. Robertson - Kool in the Kaftan
Slow chart progress for this Scotsman who seems even more irksome than last time. This kind of 'comedy' single seems to have aged even more poorly than, say, Captain Beaky. Love and peace, man.
The Lambrettas - Poison Ivy
More jerking and jumping about à la Selecter which is quite a relief after "B.A.". The Lambrettas had gone Top 10 with this cover version, although this is as high as they got with it. No matter. They'll be back again soon, I'll wager.
Prima Donna - Love Enough For Two
Well it's April and so it's Eurovision Song Contest time and this is the UK's 1980 entry folks. A fairly banal affair although to their credit it got to third place with cent et six points, pipped to the top spot by Ireland's Johnny Logan (more of him later). The German entry came second, although that year I was of course rooting for synth-poppers Telex from Belgium who naturally came third last.
The Jam - Going Undergound
But enough of this soppy Eurovision malarkey! Let's get back to real English music wot ver kids are interested in. Yes, Weller & Co. hold out at no. 1 for a third week. After which it may have seemed as though The Jam had their moment of glory, but it ain't over yet!
Doctor Hook - Sexy Eyes (play-out)
Thank you Mr Kid Jensen for an ace show by the way - pity we had to end with this but, sadly, it was doing rather well.
See you next week!
TOTP 80.12 20/03/1980
BBC4 website programme page here
Official chart in full here
This week's show presented by Mike Read, so behave yourselves and mind your language. He's even got the Nerdy Student-teacher Thought Police in ...
Detroit Spinners - Working My Way.. (chart rundown)
The Spinners were up a massive twelve places to no. 8 thanks to Legs' sterling 'working-women' routine last week. In other chart action, Top 30 new entries include songs by last week's performers Genesis, The Dooleys, Secret Affair and Siouxsie & The Banshees (yay!). The Vapors are amazingly up to no. 4, Liquid Gold at 5 and Marti Webb is stable at 3, all benefiting from being featured last week, unlike The Police, Fearne Kinny, Peter Gabriel and Rainbow, who all drop. Oh, and there's a mighty new number 1...
The Bodysnatchers - Do Rock Steady
It's the quirky new band of the week, and the ska revival is obviously still going strong as demonstrated by the 'Snatchers of which there are apparently many. The two featured instrumentalists look amazingly like the two girls from The Human League, or at least how they would be some one and half years from now. Mike avoids the 'all-female band' reference but can't do without uttering another kind of sad sexist quip. Good song.
Squeeze - Another Nail in My Heart
They were on a couple of weeks back (in 1980) although we didn't get to see them (in 2015). Disappointingly underlit and Jools Holland almost off the stage and uncaptured on camera.
Rush - Spirit of Radio
"Here's Rush" says Mike but it's actually Legs & Co. time, this week in a kind of throwback '70s psychedelic dance routine thing which wouldn't actually be so bad if it were not for the fact that it's occasionally superimposed with a bizarre secondary routine of the girls dressed in 'eighties' plastic clothes listening to fake radios in improbable settings. Read obviously not paying much attention as he keeps going on about 'the band..'.
Sad Café - My Oh My
Perhaps we were unduly harsh on them towards the beginning of the year when they did Sad Little Girl or whatever, because that was actually quite good compared to this bluesy dirge. Sadly (geddit?) this is going to do quite well...
Lambrettas - Poison Ivy
Mod revival also still not dead as we get this lot - probably from Norf London - doing their version of an old song (yawn..). It's also 'drummer front stage' time although with that jumper and possibly the worst mod haircut ever, he looks as if he's hoping no-one will notice.
Barbara Dickson - January February
Before which Mike climbs up the stairs and has a Sooty and Sweep-esque conversational exchange with a fake owl. Moving on, here's Babs Dickson who - like Sad Café - did not very well with her last effort but would do nicely with this one. The song has obviously been a couple of months in the making, although a little less thought has been given to her stage outfit.
Shakin' Stevens - Hot Dog
Here he is again (third time?) and he's still only at no. 24 for Chrissakes. Time to try something else Shakes... 'Eddie Cochran of the eighties'? pah!
New single plug time: oh it's David Soul who says how much he likes 'English bands' (sic.), and, hey he's got a new single out.
UB40 - Food For Thought
Thanks to that ridiculous interlude, English band UB40 don't get much of an introduction for their TOTP debut. On the face of it they look like a kind of all-male Bodysnatchers but of course they were much more than that. Just at no. 40 this week although this is gonna be huuuge. And yes they were singing 'Ivory Madonna'.
Martha & The Muffins - Echo Beach
Read obviously totally unimpressed by The '40 and intent only on getting his 'two Canadian bands' link in, firstly with Rush and now with Martha and her Muffs (but who are those two squares standing in front of him during this hugely important intro? one asks). Another song the 2015 audience missed when they were on two weeks ago (in 1980), and alas for reasons best known back then, instead of the 'Pops studio performance we get a faux-live promo film this time, which is also inexplicably cut short.
B. A. Robertson - Kool in the Kaftan
I wonder what David Soul made of this? B. A. Robertson was one of those totally disagreeable characters who made a lot of semi-comic hit singles and somehow got away with it. This one takes the p*ss out of the hippy/'love and peace' movement, some ten years after such things were fashionable, so obviously even longer in the making than Barbara Dickson's latest effort. Like Barbara he's Scottish although this link has obviously escaped Read's attention as he's been too busy concentrating on Canada.
The Jam - Going Underground
At least he takes a few seconds to tell us that this next one is straight in at number one .. even though he makes it sound like it was something that happened once a month or so in those days too. NOT SO! This was a MASSIVE event for a MASSIVE single which probably hadn't even been played on the radio much at that point, also given it's semi-veiled political critique. Although taking much from the mod revival, The Jam at least managed to create something new and exciting and bring the angry young musical men sentiment bang up to date. They even had to make it into a double-A side with the softer Dreams of Children for fear of not getting Going Underground played although it was the latter and its legendary promo film (The Police, please take note) which gave them their finest moment. Mike read somewhat redeemed by stating afterwards that with this instant chart top-spot they were now up there with the likes of Elvis, The Beatles, and, er, Slade.
The Vapors - Turning Japanese
Mike keeps the new wave vibe going with The Vapors who, were it not for The Jam, may have got to the number one spot via the new wave kids spending their cash on a song about .................But that's it..! ....We'll see you next week!
Official chart in full here
This week's show presented by Mike Read, so behave yourselves and mind your language. He's even got the Nerdy Student-teacher Thought Police in ...
Detroit Spinners - Working My Way.. (chart rundown)
The Spinners were up a massive twelve places to no. 8 thanks to Legs' sterling 'working-women' routine last week. In other chart action, Top 30 new entries include songs by last week's performers Genesis, The Dooleys, Secret Affair and Siouxsie & The Banshees (yay!). The Vapors are amazingly up to no. 4, Liquid Gold at 5 and Marti Webb is stable at 3, all benefiting from being featured last week, unlike The Police, Fearne Kinny, Peter Gabriel and Rainbow, who all drop. Oh, and there's a mighty new number 1...
The Bodysnatchers - Do Rock Steady
It's the quirky new band of the week, and the ska revival is obviously still going strong as demonstrated by the 'Snatchers of which there are apparently many. The two featured instrumentalists look amazingly like the two girls from The Human League, or at least how they would be some one and half years from now. Mike avoids the 'all-female band' reference but can't do without uttering another kind of sad sexist quip. Good song.
Squeeze - Another Nail in My Heart
They were on a couple of weeks back (in 1980) although we didn't get to see them (in 2015). Disappointingly underlit and Jools Holland almost off the stage and uncaptured on camera.
Rush - Spirit of Radio
"Here's Rush" says Mike but it's actually Legs & Co. time, this week in a kind of throwback '70s psychedelic dance routine thing which wouldn't actually be so bad if it were not for the fact that it's occasionally superimposed with a bizarre secondary routine of the girls dressed in 'eighties' plastic clothes listening to fake radios in improbable settings. Read obviously not paying much attention as he keeps going on about 'the band..'.
Sad Café - My Oh My
Perhaps we were unduly harsh on them towards the beginning of the year when they did Sad Little Girl or whatever, because that was actually quite good compared to this bluesy dirge. Sadly (geddit?) this is going to do quite well...
Lambrettas - Poison Ivy
Mod revival also still not dead as we get this lot - probably from Norf London - doing their version of an old song (yawn..). It's also 'drummer front stage' time although with that jumper and possibly the worst mod haircut ever, he looks as if he's hoping no-one will notice.
Barbara Dickson - January February
Before which Mike climbs up the stairs and has a Sooty and Sweep-esque conversational exchange with a fake owl. Moving on, here's Babs Dickson who - like Sad Café - did not very well with her last effort but would do nicely with this one. The song has obviously been a couple of months in the making, although a little less thought has been given to her stage outfit.
Shakin' Stevens - Hot Dog
Here he is again (third time?) and he's still only at no. 24 for Chrissakes. Time to try something else Shakes... 'Eddie Cochran of the eighties'? pah!
New single plug time: oh it's David Soul who says how much he likes 'English bands' (sic.), and, hey he's got a new single out.
UB40 - Food For Thought
Thanks to that ridiculous interlude, English band UB40 don't get much of an introduction for their TOTP debut. On the face of it they look like a kind of all-male Bodysnatchers but of course they were much more than that. Just at no. 40 this week although this is gonna be huuuge. And yes they were singing 'Ivory Madonna'.
Martha & The Muffins - Echo Beach
Read obviously totally unimpressed by The '40 and intent only on getting his 'two Canadian bands' link in, firstly with Rush and now with Martha and her Muffs (but who are those two squares standing in front of him during this hugely important intro? one asks). Another song the 2015 audience missed when they were on two weeks ago (in 1980), and alas for reasons best known back then, instead of the 'Pops studio performance we get a faux-live promo film this time, which is also inexplicably cut short.
B. A. Robertson - Kool in the Kaftan
I wonder what David Soul made of this? B. A. Robertson was one of those totally disagreeable characters who made a lot of semi-comic hit singles and somehow got away with it. This one takes the p*ss out of the hippy/'love and peace' movement, some ten years after such things were fashionable, so obviously even longer in the making than Barbara Dickson's latest effort. Like Barbara he's Scottish although this link has obviously escaped Read's attention as he's been too busy concentrating on Canada.
The Jam - Going Underground
At least he takes a few seconds to tell us that this next one is straight in at number one .. even though he makes it sound like it was something that happened once a month or so in those days too. NOT SO! This was a MASSIVE event for a MASSIVE single which probably hadn't even been played on the radio much at that point, also given it's semi-veiled political critique. Although taking much from the mod revival, The Jam at least managed to create something new and exciting and bring the angry young musical men sentiment bang up to date. They even had to make it into a double-A side with the softer Dreams of Children for fear of not getting Going Underground played although it was the latter and its legendary promo film (The Police, please take note) which gave them their finest moment. Mike read somewhat redeemed by stating afterwards that with this instant chart top-spot they were now up there with the likes of Elvis, The Beatles, and, er, Slade.
The Vapors - Turning Japanese
Mike keeps the new wave vibe going with The Vapors who, were it not for The Jam, may have got to the number one spot via the new wave kids spending their cash on a song about .................But that's it..! ....We'll see you next week!
TOTP 80.4 24/01/1980
Repeat showing: from 05.02.2015
Presentation duties tonight go to Mike Read, the Mary Whitehouse of Radio 1, so no swearing or mentioning sex between consenting adults. Incredibly that awful shirt of his did get past the censors. Anyway it's a real roller-coaster of a show in more ways thena one so better get cracking....
Chart rundown
Ooo - what's this? Azymuth? Makes for ace chart rundown music, they should use it every week. Would've made good theme music for something and it probably did.
The Buggles - The Plastic Age
Although their previous Video Killed the Radio Star had been a top no. 1 single some months hence, perhaps the full importance of that song had still to be fully appreciated at this point. Tonight here's the follow up in the prestigious opening new song spot, with Trevor Horn and the other bloke(s) giving us more futuristic pop sounds, sleeky production and clever clever lyrics about our not-too-distant dystopian future. The Kraftwerky intro is sadly lost here, but it's funny how Horn sounds like Jon Anderson and some point. Perhaps they should do something together with Yes.Taken from the forthcoming album The Age of Plastic - geddit?
The Nolans - I'm in the Mood for Dancing
From the lower reaches of the still non-existant Top 40 to the giddy heights of No. 4 with this new live performance by the Nolanettes complete with the legendary TOTP Orchestra. They (the orchestra) didn't appear that much but the show and indeed the whole music industry would feel the fullforce of their musicians' union-backed clout in a few months. The Girls were on fine form and evidently in the mood, for dancing obviously.
The Boomtown Rats - Someone's Looking at You
Bee Gees - Spirits Having Flown (Legs & Co.)
..or just 'Legs' as 'Mike' refers to them, and couldn't resist the nudge-nudge wink-wink comment at the end. A nice enough Gibb-tune gracefully interpreted by Flick Colby's girls. It had reached no. 16 but wouldn't get any higher and was indeed the last we would hear from the high-pitched siblings for quite a bit. Baz would soon be off to do other stuff with Barbara Streisand.
Joe Jackson - Different for Girls
The incredibly tall one is back this week too, and deservedly so having made it to no. 12. Make the most of it Joe, you'll have to wait another two years and release another eight singles before you get another chart hit.
Suzi Quatro - Mama's Boys
Eh? What's she doing in here? I thought we'd left Suzi Quatro clad in her leather 'catsuit' in the early 70s somewhere! Sorry, this is the eighties Suzi, we don't want you anymore. But what's that? "he touches me barely...he loves me too quickly..he's everything but manly..". Has Mike Read actually heard this?
Dollar - I Wanna Hold Your Hand
They're back after the other performance of two weeks ago, and Thereza has swapped that little back and white dress for a black and white jumper. I'm surprised how well this did as The Beatles still weren't nostalgia material yet, as we'd spent most of the 70s trying to forget them. Even The Beatles were trying to forget The Beatles. Kudos to BBCFour for leaving Read's intro referencing J*immy S*ville intact.
The Specials - Too Much, Too Young
This is more like it. Raw, mixed-race energy captured live on stage somewhere in the Midlands, no doubt. Mike Read's intro is true enough in the facts but does he know this new one is about teenage pregnancy? Incredibly he didn't get it banned from either radio or tv although this showing of the promo film cuts off before the final "..try wearing a CAP!", and no Mike, not one to keep the rain off.
Barbara Dickson - Caravan Song
Well after that injection of new youth music it's back down to earth and into the studio with a yawnsome ballad written by "the very talented Mike Batt", yes the one who wrote The Wombles songs. Not sure what this is doing here as the song didn't even make the Top 40. Batt obviously has friends in high places, including Mike Read singing his praises in a bubble above the studio.
Matchbox - Buzz Buzz a Diddle It
More nostalgia of the 1950s variety from an oddball rock n roll no sorry, rockabilly outfit who had even stole Dr Hook's maracas for this one. They'd done quite well with their previous song, the aptly named Rockabilly Rebel, although this one would do less well. A bit daft but at least Mike Read gets the horn.
Sheila & B. Devotion - Spacer
Again, a bit of a mystery why this one is on again as it was 'a non-mover at no. 20' as they used to say. Presumably to modernise things up a bit after the nostalgia acts, and get the dads interested again as Legs were on pretty early. Same promo-video as last time, featuring an amazing number of phallic symbols. Mike?
The Regents - 7 Teen
'New wave' novelty group of the week although they were no doubt taking it all very seriously. I can't seem to find out much about them so I'll be scouring Smash Hits to see if they were ever featured. The female backing vocalists remind me of the girls in The Human League who would in fact only materialise a year later. Hang on, Mike - are they singing about an under-age female doing..things?
Pretenders - Brass in Pocket
Second week at number 1 indeed and a new studio performance even though Chrissie Hynde still hasn't found a decent hairdresser and thank goodness for that! It must have been chilly in those studios cos she's wearing a jumper and a jacket and a scarf around her neck and a pair of gloves. This really was a good tune; 'tis a pity it's the last we'll hear of it on the Pops.
Kool & the Gang - Too Hot
Oh no, it can't be that chilly or at least Kool and his lot don't think it is. Another smooooth run-out this week, and unless you want to go and get some more of Mike Read 'on the wireless' (sic.) it's either Wildlife on One next or the rather more entertaining It's Patently Obvious over on Two.
See you next week...
Full chart here
For video clips see lee nichols' channel
 |
| pic: @OldRoberts953 |
Presentation duties tonight go to Mike Read, the Mary Whitehouse of Radio 1, so no swearing or mentioning sex between consenting adults. Incredibly that awful shirt of his did get past the censors. Anyway it's a real roller-coaster of a show in more ways thena one so better get cracking....
Chart rundown
Ooo - what's this? Azymuth? Makes for ace chart rundown music, they should use it every week. Would've made good theme music for something and it probably did.
The Buggles - The Plastic Age
Although their previous Video Killed the Radio Star had been a top no. 1 single some months hence, perhaps the full importance of that song had still to be fully appreciated at this point. Tonight here's the follow up in the prestigious opening new song spot, with Trevor Horn and the other bloke(s) giving us more futuristic pop sounds, sleeky production and clever clever lyrics about our not-too-distant dystopian future. The Kraftwerky intro is sadly lost here, but it's funny how Horn sounds like Jon Anderson and some point. Perhaps they should do something together with Yes.Taken from the forthcoming album The Age of Plastic - geddit?
The Nolans - I'm in the Mood for Dancing
From the lower reaches of the still non-existant Top 40 to the giddy heights of No. 4 with this new live performance by the Nolanettes complete with the legendary TOTP Orchestra. They (the orchestra) didn't appear that much but the show and indeed the whole music industry would feel the fullforce of their musicians' union-backed clout in a few months. The Girls were on fine form and evidently in the mood, for dancing obviously.
The Boomtown Rats - Someone's Looking at You
"Staying with the emerald Isle" quips Read (ouch) even though the singing sisters were from Blackpool. The Rats were no strangers to the charts, or to the TOTP studio, and this was to be their eighth top 20 hit. Full on TOTP production innovation here, cutting between the band playing 'live' on TOTP stage, Geldof even remembering to raise the mike to his mouth occasionally, and footage of selfsame Geldof watching multiple TV screens, evoking some kind of Orwellian ssurveillance-scenario. Phew, heavy.
Bee Gees - Spirits Having Flown (Legs & Co.)
..or just 'Legs' as 'Mike' refers to them, and couldn't resist the nudge-nudge wink-wink comment at the end. A nice enough Gibb-tune gracefully interpreted by Flick Colby's girls. It had reached no. 16 but wouldn't get any higher and was indeed the last we would hear from the high-pitched siblings for quite a bit. Baz would soon be off to do other stuff with Barbara Streisand.
Joe Jackson - Different for Girls
The incredibly tall one is back this week too, and deservedly so having made it to no. 12. Make the most of it Joe, you'll have to wait another two years and release another eight singles before you get another chart hit.
Suzi Quatro - Mama's Boys
Eh? What's she doing in here? I thought we'd left Suzi Quatro clad in her leather 'catsuit' in the early 70s somewhere! Sorry, this is the eighties Suzi, we don't want you anymore. But what's that? "he touches me barely...he loves me too quickly..he's everything but manly..". Has Mike Read actually heard this?
Dollar - I Wanna Hold Your Hand
They're back after the other performance of two weeks ago, and Thereza has swapped that little back and white dress for a black and white jumper. I'm surprised how well this did as The Beatles still weren't nostalgia material yet, as we'd spent most of the 70s trying to forget them. Even The Beatles were trying to forget The Beatles. Kudos to BBCFour for leaving Read's intro referencing J*immy S*ville intact.
The Specials - Too Much, Too Young
This is more like it. Raw, mixed-race energy captured live on stage somewhere in the Midlands, no doubt. Mike Read's intro is true enough in the facts but does he know this new one is about teenage pregnancy? Incredibly he didn't get it banned from either radio or tv although this showing of the promo film cuts off before the final "..try wearing a CAP!", and no Mike, not one to keep the rain off.
Barbara Dickson - Caravan Song
Well after that injection of new youth music it's back down to earth and into the studio with a yawnsome ballad written by "the very talented Mike Batt", yes the one who wrote The Wombles songs. Not sure what this is doing here as the song didn't even make the Top 40. Batt obviously has friends in high places, including Mike Read singing his praises in a bubble above the studio.
Matchbox - Buzz Buzz a Diddle It
More nostalgia of the 1950s variety from an oddball rock n roll no sorry, rockabilly outfit who had even stole Dr Hook's maracas for this one. They'd done quite well with their previous song, the aptly named Rockabilly Rebel, although this one would do less well. A bit daft but at least Mike Read gets the horn.
Sheila & B. Devotion - Spacer
Again, a bit of a mystery why this one is on again as it was 'a non-mover at no. 20' as they used to say. Presumably to modernise things up a bit after the nostalgia acts, and get the dads interested again as Legs were on pretty early. Same promo-video as last time, featuring an amazing number of phallic symbols. Mike?
The Regents - 7 Teen
'New wave' novelty group of the week although they were no doubt taking it all very seriously. I can't seem to find out much about them so I'll be scouring Smash Hits to see if they were ever featured. The female backing vocalists remind me of the girls in The Human League who would in fact only materialise a year later. Hang on, Mike - are they singing about an under-age female doing..things?
Pretenders - Brass in Pocket
Second week at number 1 indeed and a new studio performance even though Chrissie Hynde still hasn't found a decent hairdresser and thank goodness for that! It must have been chilly in those studios cos she's wearing a jumper and a jacket and a scarf around her neck and a pair of gloves. This really was a good tune; 'tis a pity it's the last we'll hear of it on the Pops.
Kool & the Gang - Too Hot
Oh no, it can't be that chilly or at least Kool and his lot don't think it is. Another smooooth run-out this week, and unless you want to go and get some more of Mike Read 'on the wireless' (sic.) it's either Wildlife on One next or the rather more entertaining It's Patently Obvious over on Two.
See you next week...
Full chart here
For video clips see lee nichols' channel
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