Another one not repeated this time around, hosted by Saville and Richard Skinner, who was in fact already a R1 DJ, but getting his introduction to the TOTP public Steve Wright style.
You can watch the full programme here on Vimeo (via Manorak)
Full chart here
I have a feeling that good and exciting material was pretty thin on the ground for this edition, since most of the songs were in the lower reaches of the chart and struggling to get anywhere. But anyway these things seem to go in cycles so let's just get on with it:
The Skids - Circus Games
And by way of proof of the above statement here's the second outing for The Skids who had crept up just one place to no. 32 from no. 33, which is where they were two weeks ago when featured on the show. They must have been chuffed to have got a second chance although again the Great British public weren't buying it (literally) and they dropped down to no. 40 the week after.
Black Sabbath - Paranoid (promo)
I can't seem to find any information out there as to why this 1970 song from The Sabbath became an unexpected hit again a decade later, so any gen would be gladly accepted. Over the years Paranoid has turned out to be quite an 'evergreen' as it crops up every now and then on films and stuff. Already at no. 17 this week.
Ian Dury & the Blockheads - I Want to Be Straight
Again? Like the Skids' single this had stalled after its TOTP showing a couple of weeks back, yet somehow was miraculously 'rescued' for this week, and then got nowhere. Next!
Elvis Presley - It's Only Love
Again it's an old one re-marketed, perhaps in the wake of Presley's death, which had happened three years hence. HAd someone from Black Sabbath died too? Legs & Co. give it the once over this week so let's break the monotony a bit and watch it over on One For the Dads.
Shakin' Stevens - Marie Marie
Another 'rescued from obscurity' feature, which again hadn't done very much since being on three weeks ago. Now at the dizzy heights of no. 21 it gained another two places next week. Then nothing. A bientot, Shaky. Next!
Judas Priest - United
More p*ss poor strugglers, I'm afraid. And it's even a repeat of two weeks ago. Next!
Splodgenessabounds - Two Little Boys
Oh something a bit fun and interesting at last, although one wonders why this lot weren't put in the opening 'novelty band' slot. A not-so-good follow-up to Two Pints of Lager.. which had been a hit during the Wilderness Weeks of The Strike. Not surprisingly this song has its origins in English music-hall and this is more or less what we get 'post-punk' style with The Splodge Ones, albeit on a very cramped and overcrowded stage. God knows what they were on but they certainly gave tonight's lacklustre show a kick up the backside. They also went whizzing up the charts after tonight's showing, my lords, laydees and gennle-meeen, but its success was short-lived.
Split Enz - I Got You
Maybe it was a new TOTP strategy to save the best bits til last, after wading through the drudgery? That would certainly seem the case this week. Colourful Australian cousins Split Enz make their TOTP debut with this number, which is actually a bit creepy, but a well-crafted song nonetheless, somewhat in the style of say, Squeeze. This one had already made it to no. 27 and would deservedly go on to do better.
Kelly Marie - Feels Like I'm in Love
It's a new number one folks, and full marks to Kelly for hangin' on in there and getting to the top after six weeks grafting and sweating (enough of these short lived 'instant hits' already!). It must also have been a big satisfaction to have out-done fellow females Sheena 'I've Got Two Singles Out Actually' Easton and Hazel 'I'm a Film Star Too Actually' O'Connor, and beating both to the top spot (can you imagine the backstage bitchin'!!?). Randy Crawford also hot on her heels, so we'll see what happens next week folks.
Queen - Another One Bites the Dust (playout)
You'd have thought that Queen going all disco would've deserved more pops attention, but there obviously wasn't even a decent promo-video around, so just unleash the kids!
Back next week with a proper Pops showing, at last. T'ra!
Showing posts with label Ian Dury & the Blockheads. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ian Dury & the Blockheads. Show all posts
TOTP 80.26 28/08/80
BBCFour repeat here.
Full chart here.
Presented by Peter Powell and B.A. Robertson
Well we're back off our holidays but there are cases to be unpacked, washing to be done and plants to be watered so just a quick run-through this week.
First of all I'd just like to reiterate my view that B.A. Robertson is/was a burke and is/was never funny. Peter Powell was always a bit borderline embarrassing, but usually redeemed by his tastes in music. Not so this time I'm afraid. On with the show...
Ok well it's the usual 'preview' which interestingly puts the two promo videos (David Bowie and Gary Numan - oooh the irony) up first followed by a few other minor acts.
The Barracudas - Summer Fun
It's the novelty band up first of course, in true TOTP tradition. An appropriate choice as it's already late August and probably raining. Equally appropriately, this got nowhere.
Gary Numan - I Die: You Die
More summer fun! Not! Gazza's back with another new single, and like its predecessor We Are Glass is not from the forthcoming album. Ergo his millions of fans rushed out and bought the 7"(*) and made it a new entry at no. 8. Promo video only of course in which Gary sits in his car (where he feels safest of all), lurks in front of a microphone and wanders down dark and empty corridors. I can't hide my love of this track but the video is totally cringe-worthy and dates it incredibly, as most videos do, turning Gaz into a parody of himself. (*lovely piano version of Down in the Park on the B side btw).
The Selecter - The Whisper
In which Pauline has evidently abandoned her boy-ish sharp black suit 'n' trilby in favour of a more Thatcher-esque affair, although she continues to bounce around a lot like the rest of the band. Some kind of attempt to bring the ska sound into the 80s? Oh dear.
Mike Berry - The Sunshine of Your Smile
"Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent." - Ludwig Wittgenstein.
The Skids - Circus Games
Oh still about, are they? Actually I've always quite liked The Skids so nice to see them back on, and with a good tune too. More smart clothing in an attempt to 'modernise' their image, although I must confess I preferred their 'modernist' look. This made no. 32 and so possibly their last appearance on the Pops. Question: Why is Jobson sucking his finger at the beginning of this?
Elton John - Sartorial Eloquence
Former TOTP guest-presenter Reg really was struggling at this point in his career and this kind of dirge with such a difficult title wasn't getting him anywhere either. But as we well know he was one of those 70s artists who would go on to re-invent themselves for the eighties. Hang on in there Reg.
Sue Wilkinson - You've Got to be a Hustler...
Second Pops performance for Sue and pals and she's been tarted up a fair bit this time, spandex 'trousers' 'n' all that, making her a kind of raunchy Sheena Easton, if you will. The keyboardist has even tried to copy her look. Still struggling at no. 25 though and got no higher.
Ian Dury & the Blockheads - I Want to Be Straight
Another throwback to the late 70s (see The Selecter, Skids above) and frankly the geezer's past his best. Obviously on some kind of post-70s hangover/hiatus, Dury confesses that he wishes to turn over a new leaf, and stop misbehaving himself. Nobody believed a word of it of course.
Village People - Can't Stop the Music
Yet more late 70s stuff still dragging on through .. Where are the eighties?????
Judas Priest - United
So after Village People what do you get? Judas bleedin' Priest! Lots of leather and Marshall amps and a singer looking like he'd much rather be somewhere else. The kids seem to be enjoying it, but oh my God .. what a very disappointing show this has turned out to be.
Top 10 rundown and then...
David Bowie - Ashes to Ashes
Thank Goodness for that! Sir David has come to save us all by letting us hear something modern and eighties and showing Gary Numan how a video should be made in this day and age. Second and final week at no. 1 (oops, spoiler) but the legacy lives on.
OK, end of a rather abysmal show, and it's the customary 'let the kids go mad on stage' moment. Thank you B A Robertson for nothing.
The Beat - Best Friend
A bit of quality ska to play out on, although of course it was the other A side 'Stand Down Margaret' that was selling the single.
A show hardly worth coming back off our holidays for; things can only get better. Can't they? See you next week, sort of.
Full chart here.
Presented by Peter Powell and B.A. Robertson
 |
| pic: popscene |
Well we're back off our holidays but there are cases to be unpacked, washing to be done and plants to be watered so just a quick run-through this week.
First of all I'd just like to reiterate my view that B.A. Robertson is/was a burke and is/was never funny. Peter Powell was always a bit borderline embarrassing, but usually redeemed by his tastes in music. Not so this time I'm afraid. On with the show...
Ok well it's the usual 'preview' which interestingly puts the two promo videos (David Bowie and Gary Numan - oooh the irony) up first followed by a few other minor acts.
The Barracudas - Summer Fun
It's the novelty band up first of course, in true TOTP tradition. An appropriate choice as it's already late August and probably raining. Equally appropriately, this got nowhere.
Gary Numan - I Die: You Die
More summer fun! Not! Gazza's back with another new single, and like its predecessor We Are Glass is not from the forthcoming album. Ergo his millions of fans rushed out and bought the 7"(*) and made it a new entry at no. 8. Promo video only of course in which Gary sits in his car (where he feels safest of all), lurks in front of a microphone and wanders down dark and empty corridors. I can't hide my love of this track but the video is totally cringe-worthy and dates it incredibly, as most videos do, turning Gaz into a parody of himself. (*lovely piano version of Down in the Park on the B side btw).
The Selecter - The Whisper
In which Pauline has evidently abandoned her boy-ish sharp black suit 'n' trilby in favour of a more Thatcher-esque affair, although she continues to bounce around a lot like the rest of the band. Some kind of attempt to bring the ska sound into the 80s? Oh dear.
Mike Berry - The Sunshine of Your Smile
"Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent." - Ludwig Wittgenstein.
The Skids - Circus Games
Oh still about, are they? Actually I've always quite liked The Skids so nice to see them back on, and with a good tune too. More smart clothing in an attempt to 'modernise' their image, although I must confess I preferred their 'modernist' look. This made no. 32 and so possibly their last appearance on the Pops. Question: Why is Jobson sucking his finger at the beginning of this?
Elton John - Sartorial Eloquence
Former TOTP guest-presenter Reg really was struggling at this point in his career and this kind of dirge with such a difficult title wasn't getting him anywhere either. But as we well know he was one of those 70s artists who would go on to re-invent themselves for the eighties. Hang on in there Reg.
Sue Wilkinson - You've Got to be a Hustler...
Second Pops performance for Sue and pals and she's been tarted up a fair bit this time, spandex 'trousers' 'n' all that, making her a kind of raunchy Sheena Easton, if you will. The keyboardist has even tried to copy her look. Still struggling at no. 25 though and got no higher.
Ian Dury & the Blockheads - I Want to Be Straight
Another throwback to the late 70s (see The Selecter, Skids above) and frankly the geezer's past his best. Obviously on some kind of post-70s hangover/hiatus, Dury confesses that he wishes to turn over a new leaf, and stop misbehaving himself. Nobody believed a word of it of course.
Village People - Can't Stop the Music
Yet more late 70s stuff still dragging on through .. Where are the eighties?????
Judas Priest - United
So after Village People what do you get? Judas bleedin' Priest! Lots of leather and Marshall amps and a singer looking like he'd much rather be somewhere else. The kids seem to be enjoying it, but oh my God .. what a very disappointing show this has turned out to be.
Top 10 rundown and then...
David Bowie - Ashes to Ashes
Thank Goodness for that! Sir David has come to save us all by letting us hear something modern and eighties and showing Gary Numan how a video should be made in this day and age. Second and final week at no. 1 (oops, spoiler) but the legacy lives on.
OK, end of a rather abysmal show, and it's the customary 'let the kids go mad on stage' moment. Thank you B A Robertson for nothing.
The Beat - Best Friend
A bit of quality ska to play out on, although of course it was the other A side 'Stand Down Margaret' that was selling the single.
A show hardly worth coming back off our holidays for; things can only get better. Can't they? See you next week, sort of.
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