First shown on BBC 1 on Christmas Day, 1980
Presented by Jimmy Savile and Peter Powell
not repeated by BBCFour in 2015
...so a huge thanks to Manorak for posting the show on vimeo, and thanks - as ever - to Popscene for the running order. Basically it's a 'The Best of [insert year here]' Christmas Day special, with lots of hits to keep everyone awake during the postprandial blow out and before The Queen comes on.
The Nolans - I’m In The Mood For Dancing
Dexy's Midnight Runners - Geno
Blondie - Atomic
Paul McCartney - Coming Up
Barbara Streisand - Woman in Love
Liquid Gold - Dance Yourself Dizzy
David Bowie - Ashes to Ashes
Marti Webb - Take That Look Off Your Face
(..having trouble with blog-tags so splitting this post into two..)
Showing posts with label Blondie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blondie. Show all posts
TOTP 80.38 20/11/80
First broadcast 20/11/80
Not repeated on BBCFour in 2015
Presented by Dave Lee Travis
Full chart here.
This one not repeated for (by now) well known reasons, so thanks again to Popscene for the details.
Motorhead - Ace of Spades
Second performance of this one, now at no. 15, albeit a non-mover from last week. A fitting tribute to drummer Mr. Philthy Animal, RIP.
The Boomtown Rats - Banana Republic
The Rats are back, after their Top 5 Someone Looking at You at the beginning of the year, with soem new material and a 'modernist' sort of video. Sort of. New in at 23.
Diana Ross - I'm Coming Out (Legs & Co.)
Another single from Ms. Ross from her eponymous album, obviously not content with the success of Upside Down and Ol' Piano. No idea what Legs did with this one but I doubt it was anything about being gay. Up to no. 18.
Eddy Grant - Do You Feel My Love
One of those songs that sort of pops up out of nowhere and doesn't seem to be very 1980-ish at all. Anyway here's Eddy (né Edmond Montague) at no. 30.
Rod Stewart - Passion
If anything we should give Rod credit for passing seamlessly from the 70s to the 80s while keeping up the quality of his output, unlike many others (hello Elton and Gilbert). Sort of follows on from 1978's Do Ya Think I'm Sexy in terms of subject matter but hey, sex sells, right Rod?
Kool & the Gang - Celebration
Another one of those you don't necessarily associate with 1980 but here it is repeated, and now at no. 12.
Dennis Waterman & Dennis Waterman Band - I Could Be So Good For You
Now up to a staggering no. 4, selling more than even David Bowie, and Minder was probably top of the ratings.
Top 10 rundown:
(10) Status Quo – What You’re Proposing (down from 5)
(9) Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – Enola Gay (down from 8, again)
(8) Adam & The Ants – Dog Eat Dog (down from 7)
(7) Bad Manners – Special Brew (down from 3)
(6) Stephanie Mills – Never Knew Love Like This Before (up from 9)
(5) David Bowie – Fashion (up from 6)
(4) Dennis Waterman with the Dennis Waterman Band – I Could Be So Good For You (non-mover, see above)
(3) Barbra Streisand – Woman In Love (dowm from 2)
(2) ABBA – Super Trouper (up from 13)
Not repeated on BBCFour in 2015
Presented by Dave Lee Travis
Full chart here.
This one not repeated for (by now) well known reasons, so thanks again to Popscene for the details.
Motorhead - Ace of Spades
Second performance of this one, now at no. 15, albeit a non-mover from last week. A fitting tribute to drummer Mr. Philthy Animal, RIP.
The Boomtown Rats - Banana Republic
The Rats are back, after their Top 5 Someone Looking at You at the beginning of the year, with soem new material and a 'modernist' sort of video. Sort of. New in at 23.
Diana Ross - I'm Coming Out (Legs & Co.)
Another single from Ms. Ross from her eponymous album, obviously not content with the success of Upside Down and Ol' Piano. No idea what Legs did with this one but I doubt it was anything about being gay. Up to no. 18.
Eddy Grant - Do You Feel My Love
One of those songs that sort of pops up out of nowhere and doesn't seem to be very 1980-ish at all. Anyway here's Eddy (né Edmond Montague) at no. 30.
Rod Stewart - Passion
If anything we should give Rod credit for passing seamlessly from the 70s to the 80s while keeping up the quality of his output, unlike many others (hello Elton and Gilbert). Sort of follows on from 1978's Do Ya Think I'm Sexy in terms of subject matter but hey, sex sells, right Rod?
Kool & the Gang - Celebration
Another one of those you don't necessarily associate with 1980 but here it is repeated, and now at no. 12.
Dennis Waterman & Dennis Waterman Band - I Could Be So Good For You
Now up to a staggering no. 4, selling more than even David Bowie, and Minder was probably top of the ratings.
Top 10 rundown:
(10) Status Quo – What You’re Proposing (down from 5)
(9) Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – Enola Gay (down from 8, again)
(8) Adam & The Ants – Dog Eat Dog (down from 7)
(7) Bad Manners – Special Brew (down from 3)
(6) Stephanie Mills – Never Knew Love Like This Before (up from 9)
(5) David Bowie – Fashion (up from 6)
(4) Dennis Waterman with the Dennis Waterman Band – I Could Be So Good For You (non-mover, see above)
(3) Barbra Streisand – Woman In Love (dowm from 2)
(2) ABBA – Super Trouper (up from 13)
Blondie - The Tide is High
No. 1 per last week as the world awaits the new album.
UB40 - The Earth Dies Screaming (playout and dancing)
A less than cheery ending, but they were probably a bit pushed for chart risers. Brum's finest (post-ELO and pre-Duran) now at no. 11.
TOTP 80.37 13/11/80
First broadcast 13/11/80
Repeated on BBCFour from 05/11/2015
Presented by Simon Bates
Full chart here.
Preview then:
Iron Maiden - Women in Uniform
"..they're playing live tonight.." and indeed at least from the vocal it seems as if they really are playing live. Or perhaps it is only the (lead) vocal. Since when did that happen? Anyway, like the man said: new entry at no. 35. Catch them in Uxbridge and Redcar.
David Bowie - Fashion (video)
"..a beautiful thing from the Top Ten.." Thing? Does he mean the video or Bowie or what? Anyway indeed it is the "film" - at last - for The Dame's newest hit. Not as weird as the Ashes to Ashes one, but in true Bowie you've never seen anything quite like this before.
Repeated on BBCFour from 05/11/2015
Presented by Simon Bates
Full chart here.
Preview then:
Iron Maiden - Women in Uniform
"..they're playing live tonight.." and indeed at least from the vocal it seems as if they really are playing live. Or perhaps it is only the (lead) vocal. Since when did that happen? Anyway, like the man said: new entry at no. 35. Catch them in Uxbridge and Redcar.
David Bowie - Fashion (video)
"..a beautiful thing from the Top Ten.." Thing? Does he mean the video or Bowie or what? Anyway indeed it is the "film" - at last - for The Dame's newest hit. Not as weird as the Ashes to Ashes one, but in true Bowie you've never seen anything quite like this before.
After calling a young girl in spectacles "four eyes" (look who's talking) Simes presents those two other smarmy creeps from Doctor Hook to hype their new album called 'Razzy' or something. It did rubbishly so Capitol had to rush out a Greatest Hits album to compensate.
Gladys Knight & the Pips - Bourgie Bourgie
Speaking of rubbish American MOR here's a final blast from the 70s for this lot. Another low entry (like iron Maiden) so we do seem to be scraping the barrel a bit this week, n'est-ce pas? This gotone place higher before disappearing into oblivion.
Simes has a handful of new albums ready for Christmas, including the Abba one in case he didn't mention it. But wait here's Bolton's finest comedian who could crush grapes like no other.
Chart rundown 30-20, then
John Lennon - (Just Like ) Starting Over (Legs & Co.)
Still can't comment on thsi one without getting a bit weepy, but suffice to say here's a pretty amazing dance routine from ver Legs, which starts off very minimalist-Japanese, presumably as a homage to Yoko Ono, and then suddenly each pair of Legs is in a differen get-up doing a bit of a jig each on a separate stage. One can't help feeling they were all 'improvising'. Just a little.
Chart rundown 19-11
Liquid Gold - The Night, The Wine and The Roses
Another one form the 30-40 bracket. Pretty rubbish UK-disco as usual although I can't help feeling they would've done better had they emerged circa 1985. Although perhaps they were just as influential on 80s music as, say, David Bowie? Discuss.
Spandau Ballet - To Cut a Long Story Short
"Have a listen to this!" The sound of a new, young Britain no less in the form of Spandau Ballet's TOTP debut. Hot on the heels of Adam & the Ants' debut a few weeks back, here is another new band with funny clothes, perhaps just a touch of make-up and a brand new sound for the nations' dancefloors. Way down at no. 43 but this would shock the record-buying public into getting them up to no. 19 next week, positively p*ssing over all the rest. Plus they have decent haircuts. "I've a feeling we're going to be hearing a lot from these bright young things in the years to come" (he said in a Simes voice).
Abba - Super Trouper
I'd love to know how many had tuned in to see this 'film' for the first time but actually preferred watching Spandau Ballet instead, but no matter as Abba were already at their peak and the record-buying public had been hotly anticipating this new one, and the ensuing album. It is indeed the highest 'jumper' up to no. 13 from nowhere. Feelin' like a (Christmas) no. 1? Possibly.
Top Ten countdown ..
Blondie - The Tide is High
"A new number one and a great lady" - so what do you know Simes? And just what is it about putting the words "Number One" in your song lyrics these days? Is that in the hope of actually getting to number one? Well it might well be cos this is where Blondie are this week, and a million miles from, say, 'Rip Her to Shreds'. The video is a complete shambles and one wonders what they were 'on' when they made it. Better than Barbara Streisand though.
"Special" guests all reunited on the stage for the party in funny hats outro, the pervily titled:
Young & Company – I Like (What You’re Doing To Me)
See you next week! (sort of..)
TOTP 80.17 24/04/80
BBCFour repeat here.
Full chart here.
Introduced by Steve Wright. A lot of 'repeats' from last week (in the year 2015), but a few interesting new ones too.
Full chart here.
Introduced by Steve Wright. A lot of 'repeats' from last week (in the year 2015), but a few interesting new ones too.
Rodney Franklin - The Groove
Straight in at no. 27 (from 70) so this since forgotten number deserved a spin. Apart from one big new entry in the Top Ten the charts aren't terribly exciting this week. Notwithstanding the dullness (and Steve Wright) it's not a bad show.
Smokie - Take Care of My Baby
Oh dear. What are this lot doing here? This the eighties! Very much in the David Essex category of making some kind of 'comeback' after a run of success mid-70s-ish,although this was just about the end, my friends.
Paul McCartney - Coming Up
And here is that exciting new song of the week, featuring a goofy Macca 'n' Linda (last seen in a Christmas mood) in state-of-the-art video montage with all the special effects, which is what you'd expect from a multi-millionaire who still feels it fit to churn out pop songs now and then. This was the first of two singles off upcoming album McCartney II, in which Macca had discovered the synthesiser. Maybe he'd got The Human League in to advise..him. Nice homage to Buddy Holly and Ron Mael too.
The Cure - A Forest
For those interested, "Goth" starts here. This was one of those singles which was milling around in the lower reaches of the cahrts, gets a leg-up on TOTP, doesn't do much and becomes legendary. Robert Smith still with short hair, but looking suitably alienated and angstful, something which hundreds, nay thousands, of groups/singers would imitate. The thing is with A forest is that it never had a decent follow up either although John peel would continue to champion them (see also Siouxsie & the Banshees) til they made it big time.
Elvis Costello - Hi Fidelity
More post-punk/new wave fayre although in a somewhat lighter mood and Mr Costello of course being no alienated and angstful stranger to the the pop charts. Bizarre video (much in the vein of the last one) although oddly though this didn't get any further than this week's no. 30 spot.
Sky - Toccata
New performance from these musos who are obviously still having a good time despite the poor lighting. Now up to no. 11 but could do better... Not sure about Steve Wright's jerky hand movement between this and the next one, but there you go.
Sad Café - My Oh My
Super special effects to introduce this one, which still remains dull and is inexplicably up to no. 14 already.
Cockney Rejects - Cockney Rip-Off
With poor faux-Cockney accent intro, of course. A bit of a mad thrash but at least they liven the place up a a bit. But what's with the scarf tied to the guitar neck Bay City Roller style mate? A bit anarchic but so it should be. i wonder if they met Sky for a drink after?
Bobby Thurston - Check Out the Groove
..or even went out clubbing with the Legs? the mind boggles, as indeed ido the eyes as the girls doing a bit of what was effectively even then old school disco-style 'strutting' in their knickers! Plenty of low lying camera shots too. Phew! Calm down a bit...
Bad Manners - Ne Ne Na Na Nu Nu
But no! Don't sit down just yet folks as it's time for this lot! Actually since the panting and heaving Legs gathered round Wright for the introduction they might as well have stayed on and joined in. Sadly this is not the case and we get the big fat sweaty bloke and his pals instead. This was their first hit, so I imagine that, as with The Cure, this was their TOTP debut.
David Essex - Silver Dream Machine
Second time for Essex and his new song/new movie plug. Doing well in the Top 10, although that was perhaps not the case for said film at the box offices.
The Undertones - My Perfect Cousin
Is it me or does this show seem to be going on for like forever? Anyway here's another repeat of the la's from 'Derry (or somewhere like that). Just noticed that the drums sound a bit like the ones on A Forest. Is there any link? Answers on a postcard...
Johnnie Logan - What's Another Year
Oh God. What's this? Eurovision winner? Rubbish! It's not even in the charts! But Logan did indeed win the contest in The Hague on the 20th of the month with a massive 143 points so obviously he's got some kind of automatic qualification for the Pops. This show was long enough already but the "wait" for Blondie is made even more agonizing!
Blondie - Call Me
And here they are! No they aren't! Wright very unceremoniously announces the new number one and indeed Blondie's second in a matter of weeks. In fact it's obviously all been a bit too quick for them too as they haven't even got a proper video together. So what we get is even more of a movie-plug than David Essex's thing, and indeed more of Richard Gere than Debbie Harry. The film was of course American Gigolo and effectively launched Gere as a Hollywood superstar (probably because he bared his arse to the camera). Back to the song, it was written by Harry and the legendary Giorgio Moroder, although Wright doesn't mention any of this and just plugs his radio show instead.
Dexy's Midnight Runners - Geno
This had rocketed up to no. 2 from no. 12, so Blondie 'n' Moroder beware!
Be back in two weeks. T'ra.
TOTP 80.16 17/04/1980
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?
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?
TOTP 80.10 06/03/1980
In their infinite wisdom, BBCFour have decided not to repeat this particular episode presumably because it was hosted by then Radio 1 deejay Dave Lee Travis who has been struck off a lot of Christmas card lists lately.
I am however indebted to Twitter followee Lee @leethommo Thompson who regularly publishes his vintage hand-written TOTP lists and who kindly tweeted me the list for this week's missing episode. And quite a cracker it would have been...
Mr. Thompson has also informed me that this was Martha & the Muffins' only live in the studio appearance and there will also be no repeat to come either as we get the filmed video next week. We can only live in a hope for repeats of the likes of Squeeze, The Lambrettas and UK Subs. But, er, Tony Rallo......?
In other chart action, power-ballard songstresses Marti Webb and Kern Finney were putting the scares on Blondie, still at the top spot. Cliff and the Whispers were slipping down whereas both Peter Gabriel and Rainbow obviously benefited from their respective promo-video showings last week and have both gone Top 10. (Post) punk rockers Stiff Little Fingers, the Police and The Vapors (highest new entry into Top 30) all going strong, as are (post) disco-ers Gibson Bros. and Liquid Gold.
Full chart here, and stick around for the next show.. coming soon!
I am however indebted to Twitter followee Lee @leethommo Thompson who regularly publishes his vintage hand-written TOTP lists and who kindly tweeted me the list for this week's missing episode. And quite a cracker it would have been...
Mr. Thompson has also informed me that this was Martha & the Muffins' only live in the studio appearance and there will also be no repeat to come either as we get the filmed video next week. We can only live in a hope for repeats of the likes of Squeeze, The Lambrettas and UK Subs. But, er, Tony Rallo......?
In other chart action, power-ballard songstresses Marti Webb and Kern Finney were putting the scares on Blondie, still at the top spot. Cliff and the Whispers were slipping down whereas both Peter Gabriel and Rainbow obviously benefited from their respective promo-video showings last week and have both gone Top 10. (Post) punk rockers Stiff Little Fingers, the Police and The Vapors (highest new entry into Top 30) all going strong, as are (post) disco-ers Gibson Bros. and Liquid Gold.
Full chart here, and stick around for the next show.. coming soon!
TOTP 80.9 28/02/1980
Shown on BBCFour as from 19.03.2015
Full chart here
Well with all that Winter Olympics nonsense over, we're back on a Thursday night after Tomorrow's World, with the full 40 mins. worth of fun. Take it away Kid...
Jefferson Starship - Jane
Didn't we have this a couple of weeks ago as chart rundown music? (checks database) ..yes indeed! Three weeks ago when it was at no. 30, and now it's gone all the way up to no. 21. It's going to be a long night.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions - I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down
First 'live' act tonight and it's a bouncy new-wave one which you may recall stormed into the charts at no. 17 a couple of weeks ago and was now at no. 5. Costello is doing his best to look 'cool' by appearing indifferent and un-bouncy but ends up looking like he doesn't give a monkey's. Which may well have been the case.
Marti Webb - Take That Look Off Your Face
Another one from two weeks ago and indeed a repeat of her glacial debut performance with the TOTP orchestra. Gary Numan and John Foxx stand aside - Marti was a chilling female automaton no mistake. "..you didn't sleep good last night.." still grates on me after all these years: one sleeps well, Marti, one doesn't sleep good.
The Vapors - Turning Japanese
It's the bouncy new-wave newcomers slot and this one quite rightly became quite a classic of its genre. Mimed studio performance interlaced with random 'Japanese' images which of course have nothing at all to do with masturbating in prison, which is what the song is actually about. Not that they never told us that at the time. Did Mike Read know?
Michael Jackson - Rock With You
..which is apparently all he wants to do according to 'Kid'. The camera pans right to give a faux-live in the studio effect, but we're not fooled. The BBC could never afford all those laser beams. Here's Jacko kicking off a rather bizarre disco-themed triptych. The single had indeed gone Top 10 although wouldn't go any higher than this.
Liquid Gold - Dance Yourself Dizzy
And from the sublime to the ridiculous. Kid takes into the tacky world of Brit-disco with a glass of ..something, and lead singer duly shows she's partial to a tipple pre-performance, if only for the sake of being to appear to be having a good time. Her co-members are equally as annoying, especially the bare chested (and almost bare everything else-ed) "drummer". This will of course be a huge hit.
Gibson Brothers - Cuba
Staying in the disco-dance theme here are the brothers Gibson (not be confused with the Brothers Gibb) who have chosen a missile crisis as the subject of this cheery number. Legs & Co. have also decided they'd like to celebrate US sanctions by joining along with the band on stage - a TOTP first?
According to Official Charts the song is having its second chance at chart success, after failing to set the nation alight last year. Lucky us.
Peter Gabriel - Games Without Frontiers
oooh! Art-rock! Weird visuals! and (at last) the real sound of the eighties? Gabriel had already gone Top 20 with this which did in fact get his post-Genesis solo career rolling, after the false start with Solisbury Hill a few years back. Could be huge. Mike Reid possibly not playing it though cos it mentions the word 'willy'.
Stiff Little Fingers - At the Edge
Punk-rock time and da Fingers seem angrier than ever. One wonders if Liquid Gold hadn't been the more anarchic of the two though.
Dave Edmunds - I Never Felt More Like Singing the Blues
Better calm down a bit..and we never felt more like going and put the kettle on before time.
The Police - So Lonely
An odd choice for Legs & Co. who had already had a turn with the Gibson Bros. The Police were obviously already at superstar status such that they didn't need to come on TOTP especially considering this was a single which had been dug up from their back catalogue and re-released on the back of previous success Walking on the Moon. Another song about masturbation? Who can say...
Rainbow - All Night Long
Well after Dave Edmunds and all that prancing about we'd better have some proper rahck music... and all credit to this lot, they really do look and sound like a rock band should I suppose. Surprisingly enjoyable, unlike.....
The Shadows - Ghost Riders in the Sky
I think this must be the third time this had been featured for Chrissakes and they haven't got any better. In fact it gets a whole lot worse with the drummer and his so-not-plugged-in syndrums placed at the front of stage. Sooo nineteen-seventies dah-ling, Please Lord let them climb no higher in the charts! (prayer answered)
Blondie - Atomic
This rather lacklustre show is saved by Blondie being at number one, albeit featured via the promo-video shown last week too. Mind you in those days TOTP was probably the only occasion you'd get to see such a thing so hurrah!
David Bowie - Alabama Song
More weirdo art-rock! Not exactly the first thing you think of when discussing David Bowie in 1980 with friends and colleagues, but amazingly this track did really well, evidence that anything new Bowie-related was already selling like hotcakes. Apparently this release was merely "to hasten the end of Bowie’s contract with RCA" cit. Wiki, and had already been going around for a bit (full story here). An interesting quirk in (Bowie) chart history nonetheless, even though even better things were just around the corner.
....so show us the way to the next TOTP! What's that? Presented by DLT? Who's he?
Full chart here
Well with all that Winter Olympics nonsense over, we're back on a Thursday night after Tomorrow's World, with the full 40 mins. worth of fun. Take it away Kid...
Jefferson Starship - Jane
Didn't we have this a couple of weeks ago as chart rundown music? (checks database) ..yes indeed! Three weeks ago when it was at no. 30, and now it's gone all the way up to no. 21. It's going to be a long night.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions - I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down
First 'live' act tonight and it's a bouncy new-wave one which you may recall stormed into the charts at no. 17 a couple of weeks ago and was now at no. 5. Costello is doing his best to look 'cool' by appearing indifferent and un-bouncy but ends up looking like he doesn't give a monkey's. Which may well have been the case.
Marti Webb - Take That Look Off Your Face
Another one from two weeks ago and indeed a repeat of her glacial debut performance with the TOTP orchestra. Gary Numan and John Foxx stand aside - Marti was a chilling female automaton no mistake. "..you didn't sleep good last night.." still grates on me after all these years: one sleeps well, Marti, one doesn't sleep good.
The Vapors - Turning Japanese
It's the bouncy new-wave newcomers slot and this one quite rightly became quite a classic of its genre. Mimed studio performance interlaced with random 'Japanese' images which of course have nothing at all to do with masturbating in prison, which is what the song is actually about. Not that they never told us that at the time. Did Mike Read know?
Michael Jackson - Rock With You
..which is apparently all he wants to do according to 'Kid'. The camera pans right to give a faux-live in the studio effect, but we're not fooled. The BBC could never afford all those laser beams. Here's Jacko kicking off a rather bizarre disco-themed triptych. The single had indeed gone Top 10 although wouldn't go any higher than this.
Liquid Gold - Dance Yourself Dizzy
And from the sublime to the ridiculous. Kid takes into the tacky world of Brit-disco with a glass of ..something, and lead singer duly shows she's partial to a tipple pre-performance, if only for the sake of being to appear to be having a good time. Her co-members are equally as annoying, especially the bare chested (and almost bare everything else-ed) "drummer". This will of course be a huge hit.
Gibson Brothers - Cuba
Staying in the disco-dance theme here are the brothers Gibson (not be confused with the Brothers Gibb) who have chosen a missile crisis as the subject of this cheery number. Legs & Co. have also decided they'd like to celebrate US sanctions by joining along with the band on stage - a TOTP first?
According to Official Charts the song is having its second chance at chart success, after failing to set the nation alight last year. Lucky us.
Peter Gabriel - Games Without Frontiers
oooh! Art-rock! Weird visuals! and (at last) the real sound of the eighties? Gabriel had already gone Top 20 with this which did in fact get his post-Genesis solo career rolling, after the false start with Solisbury Hill a few years back. Could be huge. Mike Reid possibly not playing it though cos it mentions the word 'willy'.
Stiff Little Fingers - At the Edge
Punk-rock time and da Fingers seem angrier than ever. One wonders if Liquid Gold hadn't been the more anarchic of the two though.
Dave Edmunds - I Never Felt More Like Singing the Blues
Better calm down a bit..and we never felt more like going and put the kettle on before time.
The Police - So Lonely
An odd choice for Legs & Co. who had already had a turn with the Gibson Bros. The Police were obviously already at superstar status such that they didn't need to come on TOTP especially considering this was a single which had been dug up from their back catalogue and re-released on the back of previous success Walking on the Moon. Another song about masturbation? Who can say...
Rainbow - All Night Long
Well after Dave Edmunds and all that prancing about we'd better have some proper rahck music... and all credit to this lot, they really do look and sound like a rock band should I suppose. Surprisingly enjoyable, unlike.....
The Shadows - Ghost Riders in the Sky
I think this must be the third time this had been featured for Chrissakes and they haven't got any better. In fact it gets a whole lot worse with the drummer and his so-not-plugged-in syndrums placed at the front of stage. Sooo nineteen-seventies dah-ling, Please Lord let them climb no higher in the charts! (prayer answered)
Blondie - Atomic
This rather lacklustre show is saved by Blondie being at number one, albeit featured via the promo-video shown last week too. Mind you in those days TOTP was probably the only occasion you'd get to see such a thing so hurrah!
David Bowie - Alabama Song
More weirdo art-rock! Not exactly the first thing you think of when discussing David Bowie in 1980 with friends and colleagues, but amazingly this track did really well, evidence that anything new Bowie-related was already selling like hotcakes. Apparently this release was merely "to hasten the end of Bowie’s contract with RCA" cit. Wiki, and had already been going around for a bit (full story here). An interesting quirk in (Bowie) chart history nonetheless, even though even better things were just around the corner.
....so show us the way to the next TOTP! What's that? Presented by DLT? Who's he?
TOTP 80.8 22/02/1980
Repeated on BBCFour as from 12.03.2015
Full chart here
A bit late with our Pops commentary this week chums, as we've been having a few technical problems - unlike Peter Powell who's presenting the show all the way from Lake Placid! Wow!
Here's the chart rundown ... in that glorious technicolour yellow they seem to find so eighties.. Unlike the music which is by, er, Rainbow?
Shakin' Stevens - Hot Dog
After last week's lacklustre blues performance by Dave Edmunds, here's the TOTP debut of fellow-Welshman Shakin' Stevens who seems to be presenting rock n roll in a lot more lively eighties kind of way. Shaky is of course a lot better lookin' boyo and it comes as no surprise he'd been making his career as an Elvis Presley impersonator, sorry tribute artist. This was at no. 40 but was already causing a bit of a stir. Better get used to Shaky cos he's gonna be around for quite a bit yet.
Blondie - Atomic
Straight in at no. 3 indeed, although it's hard to fathom out why as this was already the third single off last year's Eat to the Beat album which had probably already sold shedloads. This was a sort of remix however which may have got the punters to buy it again, a technique which would be fully exploited in the coming years. Quality semi-disco/pop/rock from Blondie, which is how we liked 'em, and a vast improvement on the previous rather dour Union City Blue. This one was certainly helped along by the post-nuclear scenario, bin-bag chic promo video too.
The Beat - Hands Off She's Mine
Peter Powell's on quite a roll here, grinning all over his clean-saven dimply face as he comes out of Blondie and into The Beat 'bouncy as ever' with their new one. Yes, much bouncing to be done with the follow up to their debut Tears of a Clown/Ranking Full Stop from last year. It'll be a big year for them although, unlike Shaky, their appeal will wear off pretty quickly.
The Buggles - The Plastic Age
Again!?!? Time really hasn't been kind to this song which surely needs greater recognition given how long it stayed around. It's a repeat of the 'rubber gloves' performance from a couple of weeks back, although we're not complaining.
The Tourists - So Good to Be Back Home Again
Another bouncy repeat studio performance with Annie Lennox in that kinky rubber helmet thing (not a patch on the Buggles-gloves). Already at no. 10 this week so kudos to them, but make the most of it guys 'n' gals.....
Fern Kinney - Together We Are Beautiful
Phew, after all that bouncing around in the plastic age better get back to some 70s style songstress in a big orange dress to calm us all down a bit. I have no recollection of either song or singer whatsoever and I believe for good reason. Warning: includes organ solo.
The Ramones - Baby I Love You
Pete getting all dreamy and cuddly after that one but hey! It's time to wake up again with The Ramones! Another studio repeat as the song goes Top 10, although - like the Tourists - it's the last we'll see of them. Ever.
The Whispers - And the Beat Goes On
Blimey! This slice of MOR disco is already at no. 2 and we still don't know what these Whisper chaps even look like! Legs & Co. appropriately (not) get dressed up in post-punk-cum-disco gear to bounce around to this one and wiggle their bottoms a lot..
Cliff Richard - Carrie
Hurrah! He's back! Ace song and loads of Cliff close-ups, which is a shame actually as we don't get to see enough of those glittery lapels. Gross injustice of the week as this is kept out of the Top 5 by Captain Beaky and his wretched band.
Iron Maiden - Running Free
Uh-oh it's heavy metal time, although well done to the lead singer for trying to look a bit post-punk with the stripey T-shirt under his levver jacket, and he does quite a good job of singing live too. Not sure how this one features in the Iron Maiden or even heavy metal canon but it really doesn't do much for me. Not that they'd be bovvered.
Kenny Rogers - Coward of the County
Still No. 1. Sadface. But by way of a retort Pete plays out with Peter Gabriel and Games Without Frontiers....so there!
See you next week.
Full chart here
A bit late with our Pops commentary this week chums, as we've been having a few technical problems - unlike Peter Powell who's presenting the show all the way from Lake Placid! Wow!
Here's the chart rundown ... in that glorious technicolour yellow they seem to find so eighties.. Unlike the music which is by, er, Rainbow?
Shakin' Stevens - Hot Dog
After last week's lacklustre blues performance by Dave Edmunds, here's the TOTP debut of fellow-Welshman Shakin' Stevens who seems to be presenting rock n roll in a lot more lively eighties kind of way. Shaky is of course a lot better lookin' boyo and it comes as no surprise he'd been making his career as an Elvis Presley impersonator, sorry tribute artist. This was at no. 40 but was already causing a bit of a stir. Better get used to Shaky cos he's gonna be around for quite a bit yet.
Blondie - Atomic
Straight in at no. 3 indeed, although it's hard to fathom out why as this was already the third single off last year's Eat to the Beat album which had probably already sold shedloads. This was a sort of remix however which may have got the punters to buy it again, a technique which would be fully exploited in the coming years. Quality semi-disco/pop/rock from Blondie, which is how we liked 'em, and a vast improvement on the previous rather dour Union City Blue. This one was certainly helped along by the post-nuclear scenario, bin-bag chic promo video too.
The Beat - Hands Off She's Mine
Peter Powell's on quite a roll here, grinning all over his clean-saven dimply face as he comes out of Blondie and into The Beat 'bouncy as ever' with their new one. Yes, much bouncing to be done with the follow up to their debut Tears of a Clown/Ranking Full Stop from last year. It'll be a big year for them although, unlike Shaky, their appeal will wear off pretty quickly.
The Buggles - The Plastic Age
Again!?!? Time really hasn't been kind to this song which surely needs greater recognition given how long it stayed around. It's a repeat of the 'rubber gloves' performance from a couple of weeks back, although we're not complaining.
The Tourists - So Good to Be Back Home Again
Another bouncy repeat studio performance with Annie Lennox in that kinky rubber helmet thing (not a patch on the Buggles-gloves). Already at no. 10 this week so kudos to them, but make the most of it guys 'n' gals.....
Fern Kinney - Together We Are Beautiful
Phew, after all that bouncing around in the plastic age better get back to some 70s style songstress in a big orange dress to calm us all down a bit. I have no recollection of either song or singer whatsoever and I believe for good reason. Warning: includes organ solo.
The Ramones - Baby I Love You
Pete getting all dreamy and cuddly after that one but hey! It's time to wake up again with The Ramones! Another studio repeat as the song goes Top 10, although - like the Tourists - it's the last we'll see of them. Ever.
The Whispers - And the Beat Goes On
Blimey! This slice of MOR disco is already at no. 2 and we still don't know what these Whisper chaps even look like! Legs & Co. appropriately (not) get dressed up in post-punk-cum-disco gear to bounce around to this one and wiggle their bottoms a lot..
Cliff Richard - Carrie
Hurrah! He's back! Ace song and loads of Cliff close-ups, which is a shame actually as we don't get to see enough of those glittery lapels. Gross injustice of the week as this is kept out of the Top 5 by Captain Beaky and his wretched band.
Iron Maiden - Running Free
Uh-oh it's heavy metal time, although well done to the lead singer for trying to look a bit post-punk with the stripey T-shirt under his levver jacket, and he does quite a good job of singing live too. Not sure how this one features in the Iron Maiden or even heavy metal canon but it really doesn't do much for me. Not that they'd be bovvered.
Kenny Rogers - Coward of the County
Still No. 1. Sadface. But by way of a retort Pete plays out with Peter Gabriel and Games Without Frontiers....so there!
See you next week.
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