Friday 17 November 2017

Do They Know It's Top of the Pops

Time to get your cracker out and give it a good pull, it's a live edition of Top of the Pops from December 20th 1984!

I wish it could be croak-mas every day!



20/12/84 (Simon Bates & Janice Long)

Roy Wood/Wizzard – “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday” (36)
One of many re-entries for what was already a Christmas standard, this year it peaked at number 23.

Paul McCartney & The Frog Chorus – “We All Stand Together” (3) (video)
At its peak, and in its way the end of an era, as Paul would never again get this high up in the charts, not with a proper record anyway.

Bronski Beat – “It Ain’t Necessarily So” (33)
Here they are all wrapped in tinsel and the song peaked at number 16.

Spandau Ballet – “Round & Round” (19) (video)
Went up one more place. But edited out of tonight's early showing.

The Council Collective – “Soul Deep” (37)
It's Paul Weller and gang of course, raising money for the striking miners, and it peaked at number 24.

Foreigner – “I Want To Know What Love Is” (26) (video)
As correctly predicted by Simon, this was a future number one.

Thompson Twins – “Lay Your Hands On Me” (20)
Fresh from playing the keyboards for Foreigner, Tom Bailey also made it to number 13 with this first single from their top five album, Here's To Future Days.

Band Aid – “Do They Know It’s Christmas” (1) (video)
This year's Christmas number one, now in its second of five weeks at the top.

Ray Parker Jr – “Ghostbusters” (15) (audience dancing/credits)
It had peaked at number 2 back in September, now here it was rising up the charts again, this time reaching number 6!


Bob gets all Christmassy


Next up then is Christmas Day 1984.

134 comments:

  1. It’s Christmas, so what better way to deaden the atmosphere than to get Master Bates to co-host the last regular show of the year? Cue the inevitable time-check and cretinous assertions, notably the presence of Bronski Beat miming in the studio somehow proving that the show is live! Still, overall he is in one of his more tolerable moods and he also seems to rub along well with the ever-bubbly Janice, who clearly needs to do some work on her frog impressions…

    I don’t recall ever seeing this performance of Roy Wood’s pension before, perhaps because it’s not as visually striking as earlier ones, with a relatively underdressed Roy hemmed in on that small stage by kids and cheerleaders. Bronski Beat seem to be having fun with this pleasant interpretation of a Gershwin classic, which allowed them to deploy the bossa nova settings on their keyboards. The Spands’ video, meanwhile, looks to have been made with a firm eye on the Christmas market with its focus on kids and fictional characters. It’s pleasingly imaginative, and reminds me that this was the first Christmas in which I took part in a nativity play. I think on that occasion I was a shepherd, though I did eventually graduate to playing Joseph!

    The Council Collective proceed to completely disrupt the Christmas spirit with this highly political song in support of the then-striking miners. It’s a surprise in some ways that this was allowed on the show, and equally surprising that Jimmy Ruffin was involved - I wonder how Weller roped him in? The song itself is pretty forgettable, apart from the Modfather’s rap at the end, which is memorable for all the wrong reasons. The dour mood is extended by Foreigner’s decidedly sombre video, which gets cut just as the gospelly, more joyful bit of the song kicks in. This is still a fine record, however, superbly sung by Lou Gramm, and Bates (for once) was spot on with his prediction that this was destined for the top.

    Curious that Tom Bailey should have been playing keyboards for Foreigner, but here he is with his own group, who all look as shiny as festive wrapping paper, with Joe Leeway’s strange bass perhaps the most notable feature of the performance. We then get a slightly different version of the Band Aid video, before Ghostbusters’ inexplicable rise back up the charts means it gets used for the third time as a playout track - this wouldn’t be the last occasion, either…

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's hard to find that much on why Tom Bailey was there, and of course memories can be notoriously fallible anyway. But it seems to have have been recorded in New York and it probably wasn't planned he just turned up at the studio apparently. He may have specifically added the downward figure on the synth track.

      Delete
  2. Council Collective - I certainly don't recall this one, but it is an interesting mix of music styles between various soul singers and Weller. Interesting collaboration here, and it was like something out of Later With Jools, where the song was such that it could go on forever and you would still wonder what the next twist in the song was going to be. But nothing Xmassy about it as John G correctly points out.

    Foreigner - I guess Bates referring to this as a future No.1 was due to the fact that it had been ages since Foreigner were in the UK charts, I think the last time was in early 1982, coupled with the fact that the new video was very good and soul-searching in its nature. I also couldn't figure out how Tom Bailey from British band The Thompson Twins got to play keyboard on this single from an American band.

    The Thompson Twins - Tom Bailey back again with his own band, Good Lord, I nearly said two appearances on the same TOTP show, but really it was only this one, cos he did not appear in the video of Foreigner, so no-one would have known. Pity that Lay Your Hands On Me got no higher, considering their top 3 ability earlier in the year with two other songs. Nice Xmas costumes and colours to add to the effort with this one.

    Ghostbusters - ah, confined to the playout again, they seemed so at home on the playouts, didn't they? But what was that awful edit when Janice Long introduced it, and what did they need to edit that made the snip come off so badly? Also, there was only 30 seconds of the song on the early evening playout, and we were then treated to a whole one minute of it on the late night playout. Good G-d!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Foreigner weren't entirely an American band, though they were formed in New York half of them were British, maybe hence the name.

      Delete
    2. The full playout can be found at youtube.com/watch?v=DV6x-go1UbU As you'll see Bates commits the cardinal sin of mentioning Jonathan King!

      Delete
    3. Good G-d, so that is what the clunky edit was all about....Simon Bates getting us ready for JK that same evening meeting Frankie Goes To Hollywood, and that JK is Bob Geldof's favourite person. I guess that comment alone was not enough to have Geldof or Bates banned from TOTP like JK, Glitter, DLT, Smith and Saville.

      Delete
    4. Thought it was a very quick fade out at the end - particularly as we've been having a few extended play-outs going right to the end of the songs.

      I'm hoping there might be a bit extra on tonights showing.

      Delete
    5. daf! one of the original crew is back!! are you staying, or just passing through?

      Delete
    6. So the BBC can show a photo of Glitter in the chart rundown and say his name but they can't says JK's name? How odd.

      Delete
    7. I know, it is ridiculous, and a case of double standards in my opinion.

      Delete
    8. Daf, unfortunately not, the Saturday night showing had no more of the playout than the Thursday late showing, so one minute was all we got across all three showings. Pity that, cos they must have danced the whole tune in that studio.

      Delete
    9. Yeah these edits are unfathomable, it's near impossible to figure out the logic of what is or isn't considered acceptable.

      I've done an edit of this with the missing playout section (from Youtube) edited into the BBC4HD version, but it's not as good as it might be. The BBC4 version shifted the voice over at the end around a bit so it actually begins over top of the Band Aid clip. Which means that if you then cut straight to the YT clip you get a line of dialog twice. It really needs the last few seconds of the Band Aid video from the same source as the YT clip ideally. If anyone has a link to this then please let me know.

      Delete
    10. wilberforce - Aw thanks great mate - I'll try and stick around.

      Random Thoughts :

      Is Janice Long the only person in the world that thinks the universal 'Frog sound' is 'Ninnip'.

      Batsey going all Dave Nice announcing the Spands have been making a lot of money for charridy.

      And to compliment the Festive mood, Weller (Wella Wella, Ah!) provides some Christmas Rapping, and Tom Bailey has come as the Quality Street Toffee Penny.

      Delete
    11. I see Aled Jones has now been stood down from Songs of Praise owing to sexual harassment allegations, so I wonder if Walking in the Air will be heard at all this Christmas, or indeed on the repeats when we get to the end of 1985?

      Delete
    12. drykid ,I've found a possible link at youtube.com/watch?v=Gv5bENVkH_g It cuts Bates and Longs link altogether but you might be able to use it.

      Delete
    13. brie: thanks! That one ends a tiny bit short to be perfect, but having said that half a second's silence is better than 3 or 4 seconds of talking that shouldn't be there, so I'm going to use it anyway. Will upload the finished result today or tomorrow :)

      Delete
    14. Glad to have been a help!

      Delete
  3. I certainly didn't know Tom Bailey was involved with Foreigner, I suppose it made them a bit less foreign.

    One of the better parts of the song for me is the vocal around "In my life there's been heartache and pain" which is very expressive. And the vocal does dominate the song for me following the opening. I definitely felt the chorus was too simpering at the time, I can accept it more now though.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I don't fast forward much on these repeats, but I make an exception for Wizzard, if I never hear this again it will be too soon. And of course I am about to hear it again next month, a lot.

    Paul and his Frogs, I didn't fast forward this, though, I love the animation. Rupert and the Frog Chorus should really be a staple of Christmas TV like The Snowman is.

    The implications of Bronski Beat telling us the things that we're liable to read in the Bible ain't necessarily so would have passed me by at the time, but now I get it. Nice vocal from Jimmy, but the backing is a bit like a pub band, or Raw Sex.

    Spandau Ballet, it remains a mediocre song, but the video lifts it a little with its fantasy, fairy tale trappings. I don't remember anyone dressing up as a werewolf for the school play, however.

    Council Collective, sounds like who you phone up to arrange a special rubbish pick up. I won't get into the politics, but there's not much left if I don't, no real tune, and Weller rapping is not something I'd want to hear again.

    Foreigner, well done Simes, you're correct for a change. The verses are nicely atmospheric, but the choruses are just too histrionic for me, real top of the voice, screw up your face, cords standing out on your neck overdoing it.

    The Thompson Twins, probably their best single, similar in its gospel would-be-inspirational sound to Foreigner, but the tune is better here. Alannah's turn to wear a duvet. Anyone reminded of Caroline Aherne on Jazz Club playing the xylophone?

    Band Aid with all those famous faces, but none look as cool as Jon Moss playing the maracas.

    Ghostbusters rising back up the charts, I suppose those Christmas parties wouldn't accompany themselves.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Council Collective's Soul Deep sounds eerily like Perfect 10 by The Beautiful South, released in 1998. No doubt The Beautiful South in 1998 may have got their inspiration from The Council Collective in 1984?

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWjDZkY1ILU

      Delete
    2. I doubt even Paul Weller remembered The Council Collective in 1998!

      Delete
    3. Weller's solo career was well entrenched by 1998, and frankly I couldn't remember any of his songs in that era, as I had stopped following the charts at the end of 1995 when the internet arrived.

      Delete
  5. wizzard: roy wood's pension plan gives me another opportunity to mention the far-superior "ball park incident", that he recorded before deciding his future lay in ripping off phil spector

    bronski beat: i remember thinking this cover (i was aware it was a gershwin tune at the time, if not actually familiar with it) was a quite pleasant change to the hi-energy of their first two hits, and another listen confirms that. but i don't remember a huge chorus gatecrashing in half way through - was that on the actual record? i know it's not much of a contest, but larry steinbacheck was very much the looker of the band compared to the others. and it's a rather sobering thought that he was only a year or so older than me when he died last year

    spandau: was there a reason to film this video in black and white? presumably the kids in the classroom are supposed to be them in a throwback? i have to admit that it has improved a bit on a second listen with plenty of sleek production going on (unlike their early stuff, which really sounded amateurish in that respect), but it will never gain a place in my heart (or my mp3 collection)

    style council: i see the modfather's already leapt on the newly-rolling charidee bandwagon that would make a mockery of the charts for the next few years (i'm proud to say i've never bought a charidee record in my life, although i did make a small financial donation from my bank account towards "live aid" at the time. however if i could step into a time portal aware of how much of the money generated found its way into the hands of african dictators to buy arms whilst the likes of U2 and queen made millions on the back of it, then there's no way i would do that now). of course the miners strike has gone down in history as the irrestistable force of arthur scargill meeting the immovable object of thatcher (who were pretty much as bad as each other in my view). but has it ever actually been determined that the miner's were justified in doing what they did, or that the government were right to put to the sword that which was in terminal decline anyway?

    foreigner: i did actually quite like "waiting for a girl like you", but this is just more aor drivel a la styx, chicago, reo speedwagon et al. i suppose we should think ourselves lucky that journey (who were perhaps the most successful exponents of that tedious genre stateside) never managed a breakthrough in blighty?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OK, a bit of politics (always bad manners to discuss politics at the dinner table): the consensus seems to be now that the Tories were carrying on Labour's policy of closing the mines because the industry was in decline, but the Government's main crime was not putting in any plans to replace the communities' source of income, hence all those ex-mining towns that struggle terribly to this day. Don't ask me what the solution is this far down the line, though!

      Delete
    2. I wonder if Weller's miners aid single (which also featured Leonardo Chignoli from Animal Nightlife and was mixed by Heaven 17's Martin War) was created and recorded ahead of the Band Aid single or did Band Aid come first? Although I guess George Harrison's 1971 Bangladesh was the first real charity single.

      Delete
    3. Just to add my thoughts on the miners' strike - I think the coal industry was doomed anyway, but Scargill made a huge tactical blunder in calling the strike without a national ballot, which led to a spilt in the NUM as the Nottinghamshire miners largely continued working. This weakened the strike's impact, and the lack of a ballot combined with Scargill's full-on militancy helped turn public opinion against it. This was a key reason for the strike's failure, and many pits ended up closing at what I suspect was a faster rate than if it had never happened.

      Delete
  6. Festive fun indeed with a few Christmas crackers and turkeys on show here…

    Roy Wood / Wizzard – I wish it could be etc… Well we’ve heard this a few times over the years now haven’t we? Recorded in the heat of summer as was Slade’s hit. As noted, this is one performance not featured on ToTP2 Christmas shows.

    Paul McCartney / Frogs – We all stand together – Turkey

    Bronski Beat – It ain’t necessarily so – Turkey

    Spandau Ballet – Round and round – I wonder what those kids think of this now 33 years on?

    Council Collective – Soul Deep – Hmm. Charity record eh?

    Foreigner – I want to know what love is – The highlight for me. One of my all-time favourite videos (shame it was chopped here) and one of the best number ones of the era. Never knew about Tom Bailey btw and at the time I wouldn’t have known who Tom Bailey was.

    Thompson Twins – Lay your hands on me – Tom Bailey again and it’s a pretty good song and rendition.

    Band Aid – Do they know it’s Christmas – I watched the 1989 version video on YT as I don’t recall ever having seen it since 1989, not even on ToTP Christmas shows….and you don’t see who sings the line “there’s a world outside your window”…any ideas anyone? As for this 1984 showing, it’s different to the previous cut the week before as I certainly don’t recall Boy George taking a swig of (brandy?) on that showing.

    Ray Parker Jnr – Ghostbusters – Playout for the second time after a long interval but what made it rise up the charts again? Looking at the 1984 year chart it was no9…outselling several no1s….but not Agadoo-doo-doo.

    Soon be time to select your top10 and least faves of 1984 pop pickers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do recall seeing this performance of Roy Wood on at least one TOTP2 Xmas show. I remember the muli-coloured neon Christmas 1984 logo in the background. The weird thing is the original kids singing on the track would have been about 21 by that point. They should have bought them back and made them mime saying it was Musician's Union rules.

      Delete
    2. The even weirder thing about this is that it's NOT actually the original 1973 kids on this version - or ANY version on you may have heard on the radio (unless the DJ plays it off the original 1973 single) or Christmas compilations.

      When they were going to re-issue it (either in 1978 or 1981 - it's not clear), they couldn't find the tapes, and had to re-record it from scratch (though I think they may have used a needledrop for the cash register bit at the start)- and this is the version used ever since.
      Story about it here : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-25402438

      Since the re-recorded version has exactly the same 1973 info on the 7 inch label (fraud!), the only way to make sure you've got an original 1973 version is by checking the b-side :

      1973 original - Rob Roy's Nightmare
      1981 (1978?) remake - See My Baby Jive

      Delete
    3. I had no idea they had re-recorded the whole thing I just thought they had tweaked it a bit. That may explain why it is credited to Roy Wood and not Wizard.

      Delete
    4. I didnt know this either. Time to rip my 1973 single...

      Delete
    5. It's a fascinating story but 45cat shows that the single was originally reissued on EMI in 1978 not 1981 as the article says. That might explain why they couldn't use the same kids when they did the 1981 TOTP appearance (if it was 3 years later) but even if they did remake it 1978, it's hard to believe that on the strength that it might be a hit (it didn't chart in 1978 and it only got to number 41 in 1981) they re-recorded again and it sounded almost the same both times. In fact the voice at the start that says "all you happy children" before Roy starts singing certainly is the same. All a bit odd and I'm not sure I completely believe it.
      This leads to the legal question of whether or not the rest of the band get performing royalties from it because if Roy reckons he remade it then he gets all the money.

      Delete
    6. everyhit.com lists the re-issue/re-rerec of "IWICBCE" by "Wizzard featuring vocal backing by The Suedettes plus the Stockland Green Bilateral School First Year Choir with additional noises by Miss Snob & Class 3C"!

      as regards the re-recording: i can't believe that the master tapes of the original were lost or mislaid in such a short time, particularly given the nature of the recording which would have meant almost inevitable demand for it once a year - although i have read about some master tapes from the 70's being destroyed as a result of having some kind of protective gunk put on them which actually had the opposite effect!

      maybe roy was doing a "prince" in that he was a multi-instrumentalist who played most if not all things on many of his recordings, so perhaps that explains the reason for the re-recording? also, perhaps he signed a duff deal with his record company (who would have owned the original recording in perpetuum as they originally footed the bill, as was usually the case in those days - even though in the case of hit records, the artists themselves ended up actually paying for it through a percentage of their royalties going to their record company as a result of the deal!) when he originally recorded it, so re-recorded so with things more in his favour financially?

      still, one for toyah to wail about until such time roy himself offers an explanation. whilst we are on the subject of mysteries, does anyone know why roy put an extra "z" in the name of his band?

      Delete
    7. Since no-one has answered your question sct, that's Marti Pellow singing the "...world outside your window.." line on Band Aid 2

      Delete
  7. Ghostbusters climb back up the charts was due to the then recent release of the Ghostbusters film in the UK. Coming some 6 months after its US premiere, it had its UK premiere on Friday 7 December 1984. It then spent all of December being rolled out to cinemas nationwide.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I went to see it at my local, long gone fleapit, one of the first times I went to the pictures with friends and not parents. One of my moviegoing highlights! I even liked seeing Teen Wolf at the same cinema!

      Delete
    2. Interesting point Robbie. The original release of Ghostbusters in the UK charts in Aug/Sep '84 and getting to No.2 for three weeks, was on the back of JK's slot on TOTP showing the video, so it did not need the movie release in the UK for its first success reaching No.2.

      The fact that it was now being released as a movie in the UK as late as Dec '84 was an added bonus for the single to have another chart outing, but yes, this second time surge to the top ten within a few months was somewhat unusual, and a bit like Frankie's Relax re-entering the chart (and to No.2) when Two Tribes got to No.1 in the summer.

      Delete
    3. i've never seen "ghostbusters", even though i liked bill murray in both "tootsie" and "groundhog day" (the latter being one of my favourite films ever). the fact (as someone here has now explained) that it took several months to come to blighty from the states whilst the theme was released as a single much earlier than that, suggests i was put off by the hype? however i do remember going to watch "teen wolf" - it had actually been made prior to "back to the future" (that i also remember watching at the cinema), but in the wake of that film's success it got a full UK cinematic release as a cash-in. i'm sure i was not alone in expecting some kind-of "BTTF pt ii", and being somewhat disappointed as a result?

      Delete
  8. A bit of an early Christmas treat, musically at least. I must have seen this at the time but I don't recall it. On the plus side we have good old Janice in a very festive mood but on the downside we have watch-obsessed Slimes making the whole experience feel like a turgid school disco.

    While I loved Wizzard as a kid I remember being a bit bored with this song by this point and it's odd that this is credited to just Roy wood rather than the whole group. This was actually a semi-remix of the original song which was extended on the 12 inch as a "party mix". Originally the b-side was penned by a member of Wizard (all the original Wizzard single were like that so the band all got an equal royalities) but here the b-side was another Wizard hit See My Baby Jive.

    I dismissed this Macca single as childish tosh at the time and wouldn't even listen to it if it came on the radio. But seeing the video here I can see what a lot of fun it was. a superb cartoon very much in The Snowman mould with a live action intro (interesting that The Snowman was also re-issued that year) and a great catchy song with an intricate orchestral arrangement. I bet Macca wished this would get played every year like The Snowman but like Captain Beaky it is strangely forgotten now..

    Now we're talking. Bronski Beat with their superb arrangement of It Ain't Necessarily So. Lovely clarinet and electric piano but you can see who the real star was here and it's small wonder that the band were soon to split up. I loved this one at the time and bought it.

    Spands on video in monochrome. I don't recall the song at all. The video is a bit weird and it's a shame we don't get to see the end to find out what happens to the kids who had the scary fantasies. The band look strangely old in black and white.

    Soul Deep by Weller and Co has dated terribly. I bought this one at the time because I supported the Miners strike (and to be honest bought anything with Weller on it) but even I had mixed feelings about this and didn't play it much. Nice to see Junior back and the legendary Jimmy Ruffin but why not give them a better song to sing? Weller's rap is frankly embarrassing.

    The Charts and no less than 6 (count 'em) number ones in the 40 this week and 5 other former number ones outside the 40 (Slade, FGTH x 2, Wham and George Michael), a true sign of how well classic singles sold that year and continued to sell. Is that an all-time record? Plus there are two singles by Alvin Stardust in the 40. Who'd have thunk it?!

    I Want To Know What Love Is - loved the song but hated the video mainly because I hate slo-motion which is over-used to convey something meaningful but is just a cheap way of padding a video out. This couldn't fail to be a hit really and is still an (over-played) classic.

    The Thompson Twins seem to have run out of ideas here. It's okay and has a good chorus but no way as good as their earlier singles. Not sure why the lads are wearing silk pyjamas, I think they should dress up as policemen.

    The Top Ten is a bit of a mess as it includes Black Lace, G Glitter and The Toy Dolls who I could live without but the rest are all pretty good. I never cared much for the Band single (mainly because I sold tons of copies of it that year and got sick of it being played on a loop in the shop I worked in - St Albans Our Price) but the cause was good and having not seen the video for ages I watched it all the way through for old times sake. Boy George still looks like he's made of greasy wax and is swigging bandy from a bottle, Weller is still chewing gum and The Boomtown Rats. Kool and The Gang and Banananara, aren't given any lines to sing. Not that you'd want to hear Bananarama sing (if that isn't an oxymoron)

    Never saw the Ghostbusters film but I liked the theme song. A great dance track to play out with and the crowd are having a good time. Merry Christmas-ish!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    2. Just realised that next week there are no less than 7 number ones in because Wham's Freedom re-entered the 40. Phew!

      Delete
    3. Captain Beaky is brilliant, though I don't think I knew it that well at the time. I think it's better than the Frog Chorus song, though I said before I like the sweet chorus to it a lot.

      Delete
    4. I think the slow motion is effective in the Foreigner video, as firstly it's a slow song anyway, it's used quite consistently through the video and my main point it acts as a cooler visual counterpoint to the passion in the music.

      One of the best moments in the video for me is when the man (is it Mick Jones the songwriter?) and woman are on the phone and they twist in some kind of duet superimposition. The opening is evocative with the shots of the sky and skyscrapers adding some epic scale to it.

      Delete
    5. The phone section is actually Lou Gramm which makes sense as the woman rushes toward him at the end. Yet the opening section is all about Mick Jones, so that makes it a bit confusing.

      Delete
    6. Have you got nothing better to do in your spare time Starry?

      Delete
    7. the above comment has been made by someone who has submitted several posts vehemently complaining about the "wooooooooooooooaaagh" bit in the toy dolls record being a rip-off of the "weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrr" bit in "lily the pink" - sounds like a case of the pot calling the kettle black to me...

      Delete
    8. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    9. Wilberforce, if you were to meet with The Toy Dolls now, and ask them how they came up with the idea of that part of their tune, it is very likely that they would say that they looked back at other Xmas hits for inspiration, and hey presto, they could go one better than The Scaffold's Lilly The Pink, and make a modern day 1980's version of the weeeeeeeeeeeelllll, and deeper escalation of that part of the tune, and just call it Nellie The Elephant. Sounds too much of a co-incidence to me to reject this notion, especially as both were released for the Xmas market.

      Delete
    10. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    11. Besides, there is no other use of such an escalation in pop history outside of these two tunes, so even more likely that this was some copying of the original Scaffold idea for Toy Dolls to cash in for themselves, so where was their originality for anything if there are no other songs to offer, apart from one Xmas hit?

      Delete
    12. dory (perhaps not surprisingly) you seem to be missing my point, which is "people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones"

      Delete
  9. I read in the paper today that David Cassidy is critically ill in hospital having suffered multiple organ failure and requires transplants. One can only hope it goes well. We haven’t seen David on these reruns yet but ironically his comeback hit ‘The last Kiss’ is coming up soon.

    A great run of singles in the early 70s with two number ones – ‘How can I be sure’ and ‘Daydreamer / The Puppy Song’ and my favourite; the maxi single with ‘Some kind of Summer’ and the superb ‘I am a Clown’. DJs used to forget that this single was 33 rpm and start it off too fast!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I read about David Cassidy as well, he has been unwell for some time. I hope he recovers. His singing style was a big influence on George Michael who sung uncredited backing vocals on The Last Kiss.

      Delete
    2. If the worst comes to the worst, what has the Beeb got available for a tribute?

      Delete
    3. It was reported quite recently that he has dementia, so even if he does recover there have to be major question marks over his future quality of life. I think he had a good voice, and his hits were a cut above those of many teen idols - Could it Be Forever is my favourite of his.

      Delete
    4. Daydreamer by David Cassidy stands out as one of the best singles ever from the 70s. I don't remember it at the time it charted and got to No.1 in 1973, as I was only 5 years old and had not got into pop music then, but hearing it years later as a vintage classic made me sit up and listen to it cos it was so good. Hope he gets better and comes through his medical problems.

      Delete
    5. even though he was several years older, david cassidy had the misfortune (in blighty, at least) to be seen as the teeny bop rival to donny osmond. as a big glam fan at the time it seemed a classic "two bald men fighting over a comb" scenario to me, although cassidy was definitely the preferable of the pair. i do remember always enjoying watching "the partridge family" whenever they could bother throwing them into the tv schedules (although danny bonaduce and manager reuben made the show rather than cassidy). i have even considered getting hold of it on dvd, although i'm sure it will be very much of its time now...

      Delete
    6. I'd momentarily forgotten about his PF hits. Some great ones there; a superb cover of 'Looking thru the eyes of love' and 'Walking in the Rain' for which the Pans People dance from 1st June 1973 can be viewed on YT.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFZ8-nw9fjY

      Delete
    7. Sadly, Cassidy passed away yesterday.

      Delete
    8. His popularity always completely bemused me I'm afraid. I don't think he was that great a singer, and until I played it on my radio show had no idea how utterly awful his cover of 'Please Please Me' was. Having said that, I remember seeing him on The One Show a few years back and even then he looked confused. I wouldn't wish dementia on anyone so at least he is at peace now.

      Delete
    9. in the post-rock n roll era tradition of fabian et al, david cassidy was a pretty boy for the teeny boppers. so it didn't really matter how good or bad he was as a singer!

      as regards dementia (and similar mental degenerative diseases): i always think the people you should feel sorry for are not those who are actually "suffering" with it (they don't know what day of the week it is much of the time... or care) but their nearest and dearest who have to witness the pitiful descent from human being to vegetable, and often have the unenviable (and hopeless) task of trying to keep them in check!

      Delete
  10. I was thinking of reviewing this show earlier but then I thought, I’ve got weeks to do this. As a result, some of my comments have been already thought up.

    BBC4 have really ballsed up this year, what with two episodes a week, loads of missing episodes due to a DJ with a suspended sentence and an arse who refused to allow re-runs, and now a gap of at least six weeks to the first show of 1985, by which time we’ll have lost Julie, Wilby and 20th Century. This feels more like a wake than an early Christmas celebration. I don’t watch the Christmas shows, so here we go for the last time this year.

    Oh dear, Slimes on timecheck duty again. If it isn’t a Christmas programme, Slimes, why is there a neon sign screaming out “Christmas 1984” (apart from the “R” light having blown)?

    First, a re-issue from the golden age of Christmas singles, a couple of years in the early 70’s when bands released quality festive songs. Roy Wood looks scary here – no facial make-up! I much preferred the version with Wizzard who don’t get a namecheck on this appearance, even though they were on the definitive version.

    Ninnip, Janice? NINNIP? I prefer turkey to these frogs’ legs.

    Oo! It’s the synth pop Acker Bilk! When does the song actually start? Ah. Dreadful crackly sound quality on this particular song, and not an inspired cover in my opinion.

    I preferred that “Merry Christmas from Crew 7” sign to the Spands’ video, full of crap jackets, shite shirts and a storyline so dull that the vid’s chopped before we even finish the second chorus.

    The Council Collective? I agree, it sounds like they’ve come to empty the bins. The intro’s spat out by Slimes, and this was dreadful plastic soul. Not surprised this was only a miner hit. See what I did there? According to the interweb, the unknown chap not namechecked in the outro was Dizzy Hite. Me neither. Who were the other four in that mugshot, then?

    “Cold as Ice” – excellent. “Urgent” – enjoyable. This - zzzzz, but sadly I’ll have to get used to it.

    No, Janice, The Thompson Twins aren’t at number 23! They’re at number 20, and the second non-chart topping non-mover on the show. Their smoking jacket type outfits might have been better suited to Bronski Beat’s Gershwin cover.

    No point in doing a critique on that charity record and that film tune inexplicably going back up the chart and it isn’t even Halloween. A really poor end to the regular year in my view. ‘No no no’ instead of ‘Ho ho ho’.

    ReplyDelete
  11. The Foreigner video is very good, I thought it would be more along the lines of the Chicago one recently and somewhat of a standard hazy smooth US music video. But actually it doesn't show the singing till much late on and the visuals and a good understated counterpoint through most of it to the emotional vocals. And it cleverly weaves in the backing singers, and I have no idea they are actually that until they start singing. The video definitely helped it get to No1.

    The Council Collective song is ok it has energy and the female vocal adds more soul.

    “It Ain’t Necessarily So” isn't really a favourite Gershwin song of mine but the arrangement is interesting. My favourite in the vocal part I think is the wordless section.

    Ghostbusters the film I'm sure I saw some of but I think it's likely in the section of US comedy (idiots being idiots/slapstick) which rarely appeals to me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I meant "and the visuals ARE a good understated counterpoint"

      Delete
    2. The Spandau video is good and is fairy tale orientated just like Nik Kershaw's The Riddle was at the time too. Having it in black and white gives it a classic look and maybe relates it to old christmas films. And all that crisp white makes me think of snow too.

      Delete
  12. Restored BBC4HD version of 2012/84 with final link edited in via two different youtube sources (thanks to brie for finding the links...):

    TOTP 20/12/1984


    Also, while I'm at it, I went back and redid 20/9/84. I put up a restored version before with the JK segment reinserted wholesale from the VHS version, but this VHS source was of very poor quality with picture dropouts so I've now gone back and replaced the song clips themselves (The Warrior, Cars, John Waite) using better sources:

    TOTP 20/09/1984


    Full list of restorations:

    https://drykid.github.io


    Next up; I need to revisit 6/12/84. I already put up a restored version using the wetransfer version that had the last link and playout missing. However Neil B. has since uploaded a version with better picture quality and a complete playout (https://dc701.4shared.com/download/CHXV-yLWei/TOTP_1984-12-06.m4v) The only flaw with this version is that the opening titles are missing, but as these are the same on every episode it's easily fixed by using a different BBC4 recording. Will therefore upload a new version later this week hopefully.

    OK I'll shup up now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just want to say a BIG thank you Drykid for taking the time in editing these and sharing them with us. On 20/12/84 I was going to attempt to drop in that final link myself from a YouTube clip for my archived version as the BBC Four edit really was handled very clumsily. I could never had gotten it as good as your edit so many thanks indeed! Whenever BBC Four make an edit I always look out for your uploads as they are always so well done! I'm not usually fussed about the missing JK sections but those final closing links edited really annoy me and there's really no need for BBC Four to cut those just to avoid a mention of a certain name. So again thank you for all the time and effort it must take it doing these and please keep them coming!

      Delete
    2. drykid, How do you manage to download Neil B's m4v uploads as I've tried several times to download both 6/12/84 and 13/12/84 editions from his 4shared page and all I get is a document that won't play.

      Delete
    3. brie: m4v files aren't exactly the most standard video format, so it may be they're downloading ok but you don't have the right software to play them. Best to check the file you've downloaded, if it's over 1GB then it probably downloaded OK. In which case I'd try playing with VLC Media Player, which definitely should be able to play them.

      Delete
    4. wayne bartley: Thanks! Even if these edits weren't of use to anyone else, I'd probably keep doing them anyway as I have a vaguely-OCD like compulsion to fix as best I can all this pointless tampering. But it's always nice to know that other people find them useful too. As far as the quality is concerned, I'm pretty pleased with them these days. Some of the early ones were a bit rough but I've got a reasonable technique going now. One thing I've been doing a bit lately for instance is - when going from VHS to BBC4 or vice versa - is to cut between audio sources at a slightly different point to cutting the video, as this makes it seem a bit less jarring. So say for the final links I'll cut back to the BBC4 video at the earliest possible point, but let the VHS audio continue until the playout song itself starts as it's just clapping at that point. It just makes it all smoother.

      I suspect if I went back and looked at some of the older ones I've done I'd probably find myself wanting to redo them.

      Delete
    5. Hopefully going forward into the 85 repeats there won't be so many edits as we will see less of Jonathan King and only episodes that mention Mike Smith being on the following week will need to be cut. But you never know with BBC Four! Removing a song written by the Doors and a love theme from The Thorn Birds weren't exactly highlighted as an issue at the start of the 84 repeats but ultimately were!

      Delete
    6. I get the impression from looking at the Popscene episode guides that there are only two or three JK episodes still to come (though I may be reading them wrong, can anyone confirm?) If that's the case then the number of edited (as opposed to skipped completely) episodes should go down considerably. The main problem will be episodes that precede Mike Smith episodes, as you say (although this is based on the assumption that the final link continues to reference the next week's presenters; this only started in '83 and I don't remember how long it went on for.)

      The removal of mentions of Mike Smith is one of the most bizarre aspects of this. Since he hasn't committed any crimes, you'd think mention of his name was being removed simply to obscure the fact that episodes featuring him were being skipped for contractual reasons. Yet other references to skipped episodes (e.g. forthcoming Xmas episodes that were never likely to be shown) are left in. Makes no sense.

      Delete
    7. By removing mentions of Smith's name, I guess BBC4 don't want to make us expect to see him the following week if they keep the mention in. It's like saying that we'll get a biscuit next week with our tea, but then we only get the tea. Fair dues I suppose.

      Delete
    8. Dory: well that was original assumption too, but then how can you explain them leaving in the following at the end of 23/8/84: "TV: next week on the programme British Rail are going to unveil their new inter-city high speed train and they're going to call it Top of the Pops. MR: Not only that, it's going for the speed record between London and Bristol. So join us, be part of the speed record on Top of the Pops next week." Surely people are going to notice when no such episode turns up? So if that's the logic for cutting the Mike Smith references then that would have had to go too. But it didn't.

      Mind you, having read some of the stories about the state of the relationship between him and the BBC, it's not impossible that there was a degree of spite involved. Maybe someone high up decided that if his estate wouldn't play ball by giving permission for the episodes to be shown then they'd take the opposite tack instead and just erase him from history altogther. Childish but not impossible.

      Of course it's also equally possible that there are no hard rules at play, but instead just a bunch of different people working on these edits and interpreting some vague guidelines inconsistently.

      Delete
    9. 1980 09 25 needed please

      Delete
  13. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. drykid I have been watching some of your restored TOTPs the first being 1979 12 13 with the restored Barron Knights Track. I am After a complete copy of 1980 09 25 this is the one with the Russ Abott intro chopped. I've noticed this isn't in your collection

      Delete
    2. Yeah, I think someone else mentioned that one. But I don't have access to any VHS versions that aren't out there in the wild already, so unless people upload their original recordings of eps like 25/9/80 on vimeo or 4shared then there's nothing I can do sadly. It's a shame cos I have the time right now to do more restorations.

      Delete
  14. I would like to thank all those that contribute to missing episodes - in particular drykid and neil B - but all who contribute. I don't get to contribute as much as I should as I am usually several weeks behind, and it is difficult to update from my tablet, but I do appreciate everyone's contributions. Finally thanks to angelo for maintaining the site.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're very welcome, and thanks for contributing yourself as the oldest one on these blogs in your sixties if I recall correctly.

      Delete
  15. The Top of the Pops vine tells me that the Christmas Day 1984 edition will be shown on BBC4 on Friday 15th December at 8.30pm.

    But you know what, it's nice to have a little bit of a rest for a week or so :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. More like three weeks or so Angelo, but thanks for the heads up.

      Delete
    2. Yes, it's definitely nice to have a break after all the relentless blogging and commenting of recent weeks. Again though, that scheduling for the Christmas Day '84 show seems weird - why not put it on the following week? We should also get the 27 December edition, which presumably will be shown the week before Xmas.

      Delete
  16. Quick post from a long time reader - this has been the first set of repeats that I really remember most of from when they were originally broadcast (I would have been 8/9 years old at the time) and would just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for creating such an entertaining and informative discussion group and blog! Extra special thanks, though, must go to those who took the time to record the episodes that the BBC aren't reshowing and for their care and dedication in preserving the films and bringing them back to us now to provide an unbroken record (pun not intentional) of the charts in the 1980's. I, and I'm sure all the others here are truly very grateful for all their efforts. As we go forward to 1985, I hope to join in the discussion as well and add my weekly two penneth worth (for better or worse!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah it's a similar thing with me. I's not that I don't know most of the songs pre-1984; as a music fan it's inevitable that over time you pick up on this stuff anyway. And as for the TOTP performances themselves, a lot of it is familiar from TOTP2 or UK GOLD TOTP repeats or wherever. But with 1984 it's the first year where I'm finding every episode is filled with songs that I remember first hearing *at the time of the episode*. And it makes a significant difference to the listening experience.

      Delete
    2. matt it's good to read that as part of the "next generation" (which i suppose makes me mr spock?!) you are going to be taking over from the old hands such as myself who feel the time has come to withdraw from critiquing these repeats, as our golden era has now passed. however having said that i have been re-thinking my decision to "retire" from reviewing these shows, and try and hang on for another year in that capacity...?

      Delete
    3. Welcome Matt, and I'll look forward to reading your comments in 1985/2018! We have now reached years where I was a regular viewer of the show, so even though the overall musical quality begins to slide from '85, the next few years of repeats (assuming we carry on into the late 80s) will contain quite a few childhood memories for me.

      Wilberforce - even if you no longer regularly critique the shows, I hope you will still contribute when you feel like it, as the comment threads won't be the same without you. If you are going to carry on with regular reviews for another year, that is great news!

      Delete
    4. why, thank you john - that encouragement could well tip the balance as to whether i carry on or not. the fact is that i still followed the charts past this point, with my interest beginning to wane in favour of less commercial music around the late 80's. also if i do another year, then it means i shall have re-experienced 10 years-worth of them (and my own past in that period). and although the pop landscape was irrevocably changed for the worse by the advent of charidee records (plus other soon-to-happen factors such as sampling technology becoming accessible to non-musicians), surely 1985 can't be any worse than the 1984 i've just witnessed? i do know without even checking that there were more diamonds among the dross in the following year than there were in this one!

      Delete
    5. Good on ya, Wilby! You know it makes sense! ;-D

      Delete
    6. Hang in there Wilby. I think my own bowing out time will come at the end of the 80s.

      Having said that, the horrors of 'Jack your Body', 'Pump up the volume' and 'S'express' are not too far away now....

      Delete
    7. thanks both of you for your sentiments - i'm almost certain to soldier on for another year now!

      sct those you mention i think were all hits post-1985. although i don't despise them like certain other later-80's no-nos, they were all evidence of the decline of dance music in that period (that picked up again for me in the early 90's, with house stuff like this):

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwVxXEYrgZk

      my own personal horror of what is to come is perhaps typified by that below, but fortunately that's not next year either but 1986:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9A7K-CwKA0

      Delete
    8. I would say that after Samantha Fox (1988) and before Corona (1994), the early 90s dance phenomenon that really came to fore was the 'Madchester' period with The Happy Mondays, The Soup Dragons and The KLF around 1990/1991 where some brilliant music came through.

      The KLF even superbly added the talents of 1970s star Tammy Wynette for a theme of their own called Mu Mu Land and the Justified And Ancients, which appeared across a number of their tunes between 1991-1992. Even the word Trance was glorified within the song title of their top 5 hit Last Train To TRANCEntral in 1991.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frIUgilfsWA

      Brilliant stuff, and I can't wait to blog these if the TOTP repeats continue into the early 90s.

      Delete
    9. the samantha fox thing was not given as as something typifying mid/late 80's bad dance music - just typifying how awful a lot of mid/late 80's music was in general!

      i do actually agree with dory for a change that some of the early 90's indie dance stuff was pretty good - i used to frequent a club near oxford street in the west end at that time, where that kind of stuff ("there's no other way", "fool's gold", "i'm free", "all together now", etc) got played all night whilst everyone drank bottles of sol with bits of lime in them. but what i remember best was that whenever the dance floor started emptying, the DJ would stick on "step on" and it would be heaving again in no time!

      Delete
    10. Italo-disco was at it's peak around 84-86, then after that house music came through, along with other things like techno and rave. I went through a few thousand house songs recently and it's interesting how it changed from a more electro sound 88/89 to a more varied soulful sound.

      The 80s has lots of good melodic dance music, whether it was all in the UK charts or not doesn't really bother me. Some styles decline and others rise as always.

      Delete
  17. I went back and redid 6/12/84 using Neil B's version as the source (superior to the we transfer version and with a complete playout.) The only flaw with that version is the missing opening titles, but as these are always identical it was easy enough to add these in from a different BBC4 repeat, which I've now done:

    TOTP 06/12/1984

    Full list as usual:

    https://drykid.github.io

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. drykid, Any chance of uploading Neil B's upload of 13/12/84, presuming it's a better quality version of the wetransfer version I've got, as there's no way I can download m4v files.

      Delete
    2. Yep it's much better quality, and without the annoying skip during Like A Virgin. However like Neil B's 6/12/84 it's missing the opening titles so I'm going to fix those the same way as 6/12/84 and then upload the restored version later in the week hopefully. Have been a bit busy the last few days.

      Delete
    3. Brilliant! I'll look forward to seeing it. Thanks!

      Delete
  18. The copy of 13/12/84 I downloaded played up with picture and frame loss and jittering up to Kool and The Gang when it finally settled down. Either way I was very grateful to see the episode and can live with these problems against not seeing the episode at all. Just wondered if anyone else had experienced issues?

    ReplyDelete
  19. My attempt at restoring 13/12/84, with the title sequence from a different ep added to Neil B's version (which apart from the missing start was far better than the wetransfer one):

    TOTP 13/12/1984

    ReplyDelete
  20. No news yet of exactly when December 27th 1984 will air, but it won't be on Friday 22nd because BBC4 are screening TOTP4 Christmas 2017 at 7.30pm. It's a new 90 minute compilation. Maybe they will show December 27th 1984 on December 27th 2017?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Would certainly be the logical way.

      Delete
    2. It looks as if BBC2 have a Lenny Henry tribute programme on 23rd December, so maybe BBC4 will show 27/12/84 on the same evening to tie in with that? There is certainly no obvious reason for them not to show it.

      Delete
    3. has lenny henry died or something? i note that david cassidy's death never made the main page of wikipedia (whereas the likes of jim nabors, jerry foden and rance howard did - nope, i've never heard of them either!) - perhaps the most famous person never to achieve that distinction?

      Delete
    4. Lenny isn't dead, but in the BBC's eyes he has evidently become a fully-fledged "national treasure" deserving of an hour's hagiography. Those three names you mention are a complete mystery to me - presumably American celebs of some description?

      Incidentally, I have now seen rumours elsewhere that 27/12/84 will actually be shown on Friday 29 December.

      Delete
    5. thanks for that john - you don't hear much about him these days, and as such i assumed he may have actually retired if not died. but if they want to avoid yet-more accusations of reverse-discrimination policies, shouldn't the beeb also devote an hour's tribute to his peer and fellow "new faces" winner jim "nick nick" davidson?

      Delete
    6. Lenny is still pretty active, but more so on the radio and in the theatre these days, where he has done quite a lot of serious acting to considerable acclaim. I suspect the yoof today would probably recognise him, if at all, as that bloke off the Premier Inn ads!

      I suspect we will be waiting a very long time indeed for the Beeb's Jim Davidson tribute...

      Delete
  21. And I'm hearing that on Christmas Eve at 7.30pm BBC4 will be showing the 25th December 1973 edition!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Story of 1985 and big hits 1985 are confirmed for friday 5th January 2018

      Delete
    2. A poignant show that one of Christmas Day 1973, as it has a Gary Glitter performance that will probably be edited out, and David Cassidy who passed away only last week. It is also one of very few 1973 episodes that still exist, and not wiped.

      Delete
    3. I remember watching that show on BBC2 over Christmas 1991 - I suspect it was probably the first TOTP the Beeb ever repeated in full. Needless to say, they won't be showing the whole thing this time...

      Delete
    4. even though i don't agree with or condone artists being airbrushed from archive shows because of their non-musical misdemeanours, i think the use of the word "poignant" to describe the absence of g*ry gl*tter from the 1973 xmas edition is somewhat over-egging the pudding!

      Delete
  22. And further breaking news is that The Story of 1985 is scheduled for Friday 5th January at 9pm followed by Big Hits 1985 at 10pm.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. One of my colleagues told me that the repeats will be Friday only next year which, if true, means we can enjoy them at a less frenetic pace.

      Delete
    2. I certainly hope that's the case, as the twice-a-week format deployed over the last couple of years has been too much of a good thing, in my view, particularly with so many forbidden shows to also squeeze in between broadcasts.

      Delete
    3. perhaps that was why i was getting a little weary of it all? but having said that: now we haven't had a show to watch/review for what seems at least two weeks, i'm chomping at the bit for the next!

      Delete
    4. I rarely bother with the yewtreed/forbidden shows, but even so the twice weekly format has felt like we're rushing through each year. It's also boring when tracks other than the number one appear on consecutive nights because we've skipped a show. So I'm hoping it's true, and it also gives us more time to enjoy the blog each week (more reading than contributing in my case!)

      My step son and his friends at uni have started watching the TOTP repeats as they love eighties music, nice to see that it's not just those who remember the shows first time round who are enjoying them.

      Delete
    5. steve it's good to hear that your stepson and his chums love eighties music, and i hope you've informed him of this blog? up until this point in my life (mid-80's/early-20's) i had no real interest in music that existed before i first started listening to it as and when it was released (in the early 70's) - the only possible exceptions being a few massive old hits by the like of the king, the beatles and the stones. it wasn't until the late 90's that as i got more mature not just as a person but as a musician as well (and at which point pop music was starting to run its course in creative terms anyway ), that i started seriously delving into the past to check out more esoteric forms of music such as jazz, latin, soundtracks and easy listening

      i do pity the youth of today in that they have no new music to listen to that isn't either manufactured industry crap and/or ripping-off stuff that was around decades earlier. but on the other hand all the retro music that i had to search tirelessly for via old records or CD compilations is now all pretty-much available at the click of a button!

      Delete
    6. I was the same Wilberforce, other than the Stones, Beatles and Pink Floyd I stuck with what was around at the time (83/84 onwards when I was growing up).

      Going to uni and working in a record shop helped to expand my musical knowledge but I really started to appreciate more unusual and older music when I began volunteering for my local hospital radio station. Being asked to play music that was outside my comfort zone and having a huge record library to explore really expanded my knowledge.

      I still think there's some good stuff around today, you just have to dig a lot deeper to find it because it's not necessarily in the charts.

      Slightly off topic, I see there's a bit of minor controversy in the news today about TOTP with Reggie Yates stepping down from presenting this year's specials due to some remarks he made on social media. I hope Greg James is brought in as a replacement, I think he's done a pretty good job as one of the hosts on Sounds Like Friday Night.

      Delete
  23. I decided to wait until December to watch this one so here I am, fashionably late.

    Wizzard - Regardless of whether the version we hear now IS the 1973 version or the 78/81 re-release, this one is definitely different with a bit less 'oomph' in the production. Which is probably why you don't see it that often.

    Macca - As I said before, quite magical and wonderfully nostalgic.

    Bronski Beat - I've never really clicked with this one, much weaker than the earlier singles.

    Spandau Ballet - Actually sounded better on second listening, and the video was quite entertaining.

    Council Collective - Thatcher is bad,M'KAY! Repeat until laughable rap. Completely dreadful.

    Foreigner - The wonders of growing older. Hated it at the time, I really like it and it's a good karaoke candidate.

    Thompson Twins - So glad this appeared on a show we got to see, as it's my favourite of theirs. Also, nice of the BBC to wheel out Deep Thought from the TV version of The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy and put it in the background.

    Band Aid - A different edit! As well as the brandy (you can see why that is usually chopped out!) we don't usually get to see Neil, do we?

    ReplyDelete
  24. The Lenny Henry 27/12 TOTP is being shown on 29th December apparently, according to provisional listings.

    ReplyDelete
  25. So coming up on BBC4 we've got:

    25/12/84 at 8.30pm on Friday 15th.
    25/12/73 at 7.30 on Christmas Eve
    27/12/84 at 8.00pm on Friday 29th
    New Year Special at 4.05pm on 31st December
    The Story of 1985/Big Hits 1985 at 9.00pm on
    Friday 5th January.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. angelo am i right in assuming that the "new year special" is contemporary crap?

      Delete
    2. It remains to be seen ~ hopefully they might show a few clips from yewtreed editions?

      Delete
  26. That New Year special is on BBC1, so it will definitely be contemporary stuff!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh I see, I thought it was another BBC4 special ~ but its actually the up to date Top of the Pops (minus latest naughty boy Reggie Yates!) - so yes, it'll feature 2017 hits. Nevertheless, I'll still be watching, I still quite like to see what these modern day pop stars look like :-)

      Delete
    2. I'll be watching the new year special too. Unlike the Christmas Day show it features acts who've done well in the album charts and up and coming bands as well as the usual top 40 stuff.

      Delete
  27. I see Keith Chegwin sadly passed away aged 60. A great personality and TV staple of the 80s. Did he really feature in the band Kenny?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He did, but left before they had any hits.

      Delete
    2. I saw a photo taken of him on 'Plays Pop' which can be dated almost precisely as 4th March 1978 due to the chart on display. The ELO track was none other than the classic 'Mr Blue Sky' and the Yellow Dog song still makes me laugh - not that it ever gets played on the radio these days.

      http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/keith-chegwin-multi-coloured-swap-shop-cheggers-plays-pop-and-saturday-superstore-a8104096.html

      Delete
    3. re: "just one more night": it was also absent from the plethora of 1970's CD compilations that were released 10/15 years ago - i had to rip my digital copy from the 7" vinyl in the end. yellow dog performing that song (with the singer in biggles drag, the band doing the shadows dance steps and the hosts playing along with the joke ending) remains one of the highlights of these re-runs for me

      Delete
    4. Don't forget Cheggers had a hit with Brown Sauce and their record I Just Wanna Be a Winner. I think more than anything he would have loved to be a proper pop star. Plus Cheggers Plays Pop had a huge range of bands on. RIP.

      Delete
    5. I loved Cheggers Plays Pop as a kid, but more for the gungy games than the music - in fact, I don't really recall the musical part of the show at all!

      Delete