Thursday 7 February 2019

Respect Your Top of the Pops

Please wear your smartest clothes and be on your best behaviour for this 19th March 1987 edition of Top of the Pops!

Sharp dressed girls


19/03/87  (Simon Bates & Peter Powell)

Mel & Kim – “Respectable” (2)
Tonight's show gets underway with what will be the number one song next week.

Bruce Willis – “Respect Yourself” (11) (video)
Became his first of two top ten hits when it peaked at number 7.

The Mission – “Severina” (25)
Performing in the studio but the song got no higher.

Erasure – “It Doesn’t Have To Be” (15)
A second studio performance for this song and it went up three more places

Genesis – “Tonight Tonight Tonight” (19) (Montreux clip)
This fourth single from their number one album Invisible Touch went up one more place.

Al Jarreau – “Moonlighting” (8) (rpt from 05/03/87)
At its peak

Boy George – “Everything I Own” (1) (video)
Second and final week at number one.

Prince – “Sign O’ The Times” (16) (video/credits)
Providing a very cheerful end to the show with a tune that peaked at number 10.


March 26th is next but it is yet another skipped Mike Smith edition.

21 comments:

  1. In a show where I found nothing worth commenting on, the only golden nugget on it for me was the brilliant video at No.11 by Bruce Willis, featuring the delectable June Pointer of The Pointer Sisters, who was always the only sexy sister of the group, but who sadly left us at the age of only 52 in 2006.

    The notable point about this video is that it is nearly 6 minutes long, and TOTP missed the first minute-and-a-half of the video where we see a glimpse of the original performer of Respect Yourself on a screen in the bar, at around one minute into the video here in full:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3vMKSA0OKc

    Suffice to say, that the video continued on for a further couple of minutes after the TOTP clip finished up, with more of June Pointer in her sexy yellow dress, and more dancers coming on with four pool tables deployed into action among the sexy dancing.

    I wonder who had the brilliant idea of dueting June Pointer with Bruce Willis, in a busy 80s period where there was no music from The Pointer Sisters for two years since the turn of 1984/85 with their last hit I’m So Excited. If this was June’s return to action, then it was a mighty fine return, and with such panache.

    TOTP also missed the final twist at the end of the video, so it’s worth watching it in full. It is music and videos like this that keeps me going watching these reruns and the weekly blog, not for the garbage on the rest of this particular TOTP show!

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    1. Thanks Dory for identifying the singer. 😀
      I will check out the full video.

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  2. It's Veterans' Night, with PP and Master Bates paired together but the former doing most of the work, including all of the chart rundowns for some reason. The Headmaster feels like a Wrighty-style spare part in consequence, but he came over better than PP, who stumbled over his words a bit; it sounded to me as if he called the first song "Respectful."

    Whatever he actually said, Mel & Kim put in another good performance as they rocket towards number 1, with a monochrome variation on their usual outfits. More respect to follow, with Bruce Willis actually making a decent fist of The Staple Singers classic, though there is of course no reason for this to exist except as a David Soul-style cash-in on the actor's then-current popularity. Bruce is helped by the fact that June Pointer does a lot of the work, and she really should have been given a joint credit with him. The video is evidently designed to show off how cool Bruce is, but just demonstrates once again how dingy and unappealing American bars look...

    The Mission are in the studio for the first time, looking as though they have wandered in from 1970; the backing singer seemed quite ethereal. This is probably their most accessible song up to this point, with a nice hooky chorus, but it just lacks a bit of oomph. Erasure are back with a pretty much identikit performance - in fact, there hasn't been anything really distinctive about any of their studio appearances thus far. No breakers this week, but we get Genesis at Montreux instead, with Phil awkwardly toggling between the drum kit and front of stage, something he could more easily get away with given they were miming. It's not a bad song, but loses its way a bit in the long instrumental passages, and given the parent album had been out for months by this time, and been very successful, it seems a bit of a pointless single release.

    Boy George is on video this time, a rather weird affair with its shop-window display of TVs and the crowd coming in part-way through to do some self-conscious dancing; even more oddly, George is wearing a fairly ordinary suit! The final link gets cut out completely, seemingly because Smitty gets mentioned right at the end of it and it would therefore have been difficult to edit - PP also has a frog in his throat. Prince to end, with the title track from what many regard as his finest album. It is a compelling song, understatedly funky and driven along by the power of the lyrics, which the video rams into your brain.

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  3. Started out ok, but tapered off...

    Nice segue from respectable to respect yourself.

    I know it is pathetic, but all i could hear the Mission singing was ‘semolina’.

    The Genesis video went on a bit. Watched the ‘Genesis together and apart’ film last night - Tony Banks is a grumpy old b*****r.

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    1. when i went to see genesis at wembley stadium later that year, they (quite unnecessarily in my view) ended the show with a lowest-common-denominator rock and roll medley. and it was quite apparent that (unlike phil collins, who was lapping it up) tony banks shared my disdain and was only doing it under protest!

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  4. Too many repeats on tonight's show! Mel and Kim's dance routine was even exactly the same, down to blowing kisses too. Took a while to get to the top, didn't it?

    Why don't you sing anymore, Bruce? Would have lived up the Death Wish remake. From a time when the old curmudgeon was actually enthusiastic about going to work, before Die Hard made him a megastar and it looked like he'd be a composite, singer-actor. His voice isn't that bad, identifiably himself, but let's face it, he's not a Pointer Sister, and this cover just adds his smirking charm to a perfectly decent original.

    Urgh, it's The Mission with their groaning Gothics, only this time they have acquired Julianne Regan on backing wailing. I preferred All About Eve anyway. What's with the massive amps? You're miming!

    Vince doesn't get a microphone for this return Erasure performance, but he does get his keyboard suspended in space like a conceptual art project. Apparently the Swahili is Andy asking us if he could come home with us for a shag. Well, it's flattering to be asked...

    Most pointless performance on this episode, the drum solo from the latest Genesis waxing. Not one, but two drummers in tandem! It's not exactly Moby Dick. When the skins aren't being struck, it does sound like The Clangers having a fit.

    Al's Moonlighting turn again, pity he was a Scientologist so all the royalties from this presumably go to line their pockets.

    Boy George's mad staring eyes in the video for Everything I Own, reminded me a bit of an instalment of Dance NRG with all that grooving in the studio, though not musically, of course. Whatever happened to Normski, anyway?

    At last, the highlight, Prince's spare, insistent, futuristic but groovesome state of the nation wake-up call, some of the finest lyrics he ever wrote and they're impossible to miss in the video. Sadly, it all sounds relevant to this day.

    No Breakers!

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    1. I didn't realise that was Julianne Regan - at least she was able to mime without a hitch on this occasion...

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  5. Intersting that the previous show had songs with "Sweetest" and "Sweeter" in the titles next to each other, and the trick's repeated here with two 'respect' titles, and a 'night' and 'moon' title, in succession.

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  6. Mixed bag on this show tonight (tonight, tonight)...

    Mel and Kim – Respectable – A big improvement on the current no1 but otherwise it’s Ok but nothing more.

    Bruce Willis – Respect yourself – Soon to come, Erasure with ‘A little Respect’ but this is a forgettable song that’s really a duet with the uncredited female singer. Those snooker tables bring to mind ‘Being with you’ by Smokey Robinson.

    The Mission – Severina – Just dull.

    Erasure – It doesn’t have to be – Before ‘A little Respect’ however we had this lesser tune which I skipped.

    Genesis – Tonight, Tonight, Tonight – I said last week that this track was a surprise single and even more surprising hit. Not my favourite track off the album by any respect (that word again!). Here it’s not live either (as with all the other Montreux stuff I have seen) and curiously they have edited out the second verse and retained the long instrumental section which certainly wasn’t on the single cut. Chester Thompson has commented that this was the most taxing song to play live and here Phil lends a hand on those electronic drums.

    Al Jarreau – Moonlighting – It really was quite good this, certainly a much better tune than Brucie’s effort.

    Boy George – Everything I own – I gave this a wide berth again. Last week at no1 – hooray!

    **** No outro from the hosts, just a clunky segue into the playout song ****

    Prince – Sign of the Times – Much prefer the Belle Stars song of the same name. This is, as Angelo comments, a really cheerful end to the show and a rubbish video too.

    …and no1 in the US is Huey Lewis and the News with ‘Jacobs Ladder’ (written by Bruce Hornsby). Didn’t even get an A Side release over here. Rather that than Boy George for me

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  7. I could used to watching TOTP live again on a Thursday night. 😀 JT along for the ride.

    PP doing the donkey work tonight and Slimes seems to have just turned up 5 mins before...

    Mel and Kim back with new outfits but the same routine and heading all the way to the top. Deservedly so in my opinion. An all time fave.

    Next we get to see more of the Bruce Willis number which improves immensely after the first chorus when Bruce has a sex change and belts out the second verse. Seriously though, who is she? And why is she not credited on the record, seriously she is by far the best part of the song.

    Dr and The Medics back next... Oh no sorry its The Misson with a girls name I've never heard of but gets repeated so often I'm sick of it already. Thumbs down Chez Morgie.

    Erasure back again, same as before. Great song, same performance, even the same shirt (but with a jacket over the top).

    Montreaux STILL! Talk about get your monies worth. I think others have said great album track but not singles material and I agree. Good performance though.

    Al Jarreau.. Yawn.. Again....

    Boy George still at the top. Very simple but effective video.

    Bye PP and Slimes.. Guess there was no way to edit that one. 😀 😀 😀

    Finally I get to explain lots of new words to my 12 year old thanks to Prince. It is one of his best songs though so I'll forgive him and the video is strangely powerful.

    Back to the contraband then..

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    1. Bruce Willis's co-singer is that June Pointer out of The Pointer Sisters. Someone else, erm, pointed that out on another thread.

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    2. Thanks. Always post first read after.. 😀

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    3. It has to be said that June Pointer was the one with the sex appeal out of the Pointer Sisters, with the tall curvy figure and striking looks, her being the youngest of the sisters, especially when she sang on Slow Hand, a No.11 hit in 1981, which is my all time favourite of theirs.

      Having seen June's Wikipaedia summary, it was a little sad to see that she had a cocaine addiciton for much of her career, and died of a stroke plus breast cancer complications at the age of only 52, having seemed to go in a similar way to Whitney Houston. The Pointer Sisters are apparently still going, but having replaced the deceased or retired, with the daughters of the original 'Sisters' continuing the legacy.

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  8. bruce willis: yes another extended dramatic intro for a video, although i suppose it could be justified this time as bruce is primarily an actor. here he cashes in on his new-found fame by playing himself pre-fame i.e. tending a bar as a starry-eyed wannabe (bruno is his nickname, apparently). he can carry what is a bog-standard tune okay (didn't the kane gang do this not that much earlier?), although his singing is hardly anything special - something emphasised by the far-superior black female singer, who gets just as much action but no credit! and it's already apparent that he's receding since his breakthrough, which must have concerned the producers of his hit tv show (although it seems a full head of hair is not so important when you play tough guys in a dirty white vest, as opposed to besuited smoothies). by the way, wasn't this quite bizarrely released on motown?

    mission: the amps are far more impressive than the recording. his voice reminds me of someone else, but i can't think who

    prince: a functional stripped-down funk groove with a similar video to go with it. i wonder how many people who bought or even listened to this were familiar with the terms "reefer" and "horse"? i certainly wasn't aware of the latter at the time!

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    1. Bloody Hell, you're right! Bruce Willis actually released at least six singles on Motown. I guess quite a few of his covers were Motown songs which makes some sense, but what a crap signing for a bespoke label. Bruce is actually his middle name, his first name being Walter, which conjures up images of Hylda Baker's "Nearest And Dearest", and I guess he didn't want to be known as Wally Willis!

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    2. bruce joined kiki dee, r. dean taylor, rare earth and maybe a few others as one of the rare white artists signed to that label. maybe berry gordy siged him up as he was a fan of "moonlighting"? i certainly can't think of any other good reason for him doing so( other than for "money" ho ho)

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    3. btw the way i'd have said that bruce was just as uncool a name as walter for a hollywood star. perhaps he should have got himself billed as bruno willis?

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    4. Bruno Brookes would have been beside himself with glee if he'd done that.

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  9. What a dull show this was with the good stuff having been seen before.

    Bruce Willis - Dreadful rubbish that proves the Moonlighting does have a bit to answer for.

    The Mission - Appropriate that you can sing 'Semolina' to this as it's soggy gruel that I don't want to go anywhere near.

    Genesis - The song is alright but it doesn't benefit by being represented by a year old performance that bears little resemblance to the 7" version.

    Prince - I know everyone raves about it but I've always found the tune rather dull if I'm honest.

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  10. Headmaster and head pupil together hosting on this one, and not for the only time as we’ll soon discover.

    Mel and Kim with choreography not quite as sharp as Five Star but admirably executed all the same.
    Slimes, are you sure Bruce Willis is THE star of “Moonlighting”? What about Cybill Shepherd, who apparently had an agreeable jazz voice? Bruce isn’t even the star of his song’s video, for goodness’ sake.

    The Mission with stacks of, erm, stacks and other colours than black, especially Julianne in her forest Cinderella dress. Nice heart beauty spot, Wayne. The agreeable side of goth rock here, though the title kept making me think of a fictional female Spanish golfer.

    Our hosts stand incongruously high stage left to us behind The Mission before Peter messes up Terence Trent D’Arby’s first name and namechecks Lillo Thomas, who we never get to see or hear, previously a brilliant runner who broke the world 200 metres record aged 16 and who qualified for The Olympics only for a car crash to put paid to that dream.

    Vince’s amazing levitating keyboard and Andy’s less than magical dad dancing again.

    No, Slimes there are three “Tonight”s in the title of Genesis’s song, denoted here by a purely indulgent mime in Switzerland.

    Are you sure Al Jarreau’s here tonight, Pete? Looks like a repeat if you ask me.

    Boy George in a TV showroom and alternating between tie and no tie during the video, which was more notable than this dreadful cover.

    Pete and Slimes slip out the back door before saying goodnight and leave us with the scary notion of Prince making Leonard Cohen look like Tight Fit. Pass the black lightbulb, someone.

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  11. i wasn't aware that lillo thomas (who i vaguely remember having some dance/club success) was a top class athlete, but i did know that johnny mathis was also a contender for the olympics. however in his case he was advised to concentrate on his burgeoning professional singing career. which was probably for the best, as olympic glory rarely paid the rent back in those days (so if he had followed his athletic aspirations instead, he might have been for the high jump in more ways than one ha ha)

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