Mist You Nights
25/06/87 (Simon Bates & Peter Powell)
Chris Rea – “Let’s Dance” (18)
Chris gets tonight's show underway and the song peaked at number 12.
Bruce Willis – “Under The Boardwalk” (3) (live clip)
Went up one more place.
Pet Shop Boys – “It’s A Sin” (5)
In the studio with this storming tune which will be number one next week.
Terence Trent D’Arby – “Wishing Well” (14)
Also in the studio with his follow up to If You Let me Stay and it peaked at number 4.
Prince – “If I Was Your Girlfriend” (23) (breaker)
Peaked at number 20.
Simple Minds – “Promised You A Miracle” (22) (breaker – live clip)
Taken from their number one album Live in the City of Light, it peaked at number 19.
Cliff Richard – “My Pretty One” (26)
The smoke machine is going ten to the dozen, all his dance moves are in full working order, and Cliff's latest record will peak at number 6.
The Firm – “Star Trekkin’” (1) (video)
Second and final week at number one.
John Farnham – “You’re The Voice” (7) (Montreux clip/credits)
Went up one more place.
July 2nd is next.
Michael Jackson will be coming up as No1 in a few weeks time. Do you think the BBC may be inclined to edit those episodes in light of recent uproar?
ReplyDeleteWe had this discussion a couple of posts back. I don't know what will happen longer term with Jacko songs, but happily the forthcoming number 1 was never shown on TOTP because there was no video, so that shouldn't cause any problems.
DeleteAs mentioned on story of 87 Michael Jackson did get to number 1 but there was no video. No Legs & Co either
DeleteCouldn't find anything to comment on for this show, and that is how dire it was. I noticed that the new Prince video in the Breakers section was not a new video at all, but rather a cut-and-paste jobby from the Kiss video. Unlike Prince not to come up with a new video with all his previous creativity up to now!
ReplyDeleteDory - Did you watch the right show?
DeleteDory wasn't interested because there were no girls in it.
DeleteGood Lord, you're right, I just realised that the whole show only had male performers. It must be a first for the show. I can't recall seeing that before, or do we ever notice if it has happened before?
DeleteIt must have happened before, but I'm not sure exactly when. It's more likely to happen than an all-female show, anyway (I imagine).
DeleteJohn Farnham keyboard player didn't seem to trust the Montreux lockers rooms, kept his satchel on him the whole time.
ReplyDeleteUnlike Dory, I thought this was one of the more enjoyable shows of the year so far, and a much better outing for PP and Master Bates than their previous one two weeks earlier. They were appearing together so much on the show at this point that, if they were capable of wit and humour, they might have become the new Rhythm Pals. Solid professionalism is the order of the day instead, though once again PP says "the Pops" far too often and the lighting made Bates look creepier than usual during one of his links...
ReplyDeleteChris Rea provides a solid start to proceedings, with a sturdy tune which, as so often with him, is well-crafted but just a tad dull. This was by far his biggest hit in the UK up to this time, nearly a decade on from his TOTP debut, but he would have to wait another couple of years before finally registering his first (and only) Top Tenner. Chris is in his blond period here, and the presence of the accordionist came as a surprise given that you can't obviously hear one on the record. PSB, by contrast, already had two Top 10 hits to their name, and this excellent, dramatic slice of synth pop would deservedly become their second number 1 and herald a run of hugely successful - and consistently excellent - singles over the next 18 months. I don't know if Neil was feeling cold or it was wet outside, but you certainly wouldn't think from that big coat he was wearing that it was June! Incidentally, Jonathan King claimed at the time that the duo plagiarised Cat Stevens' Wild World on this song. I don't think there's much of a similarity myself, and JK was eventually obliged to pay them damages.
TTD next, looking effortlessly cool in his cap and shades, though it's a little bit weird when he and the band gather in a circle during the instrumental break. Another first-rate tune here with a distinctive, unusual arrangement and some great drumming - how could a man with this much talent blow it so quickly? The Prince breaker won't feature again, and to be honest I've forgotten how it went already - it certainly didn't seem like one of his more inspired efforts.
Bates talks about Alan Tarney as if he was a household name when introducing Cliff, but there's no question that he was a pivotal figure in the Peter Pan of Pop's late 70s/early 80s renaissance. This new collaboration isn't perhaps quite in the same league as some of their earlier ones, but it is still a highly polished piece of pop that was good to hear again after a long while. Sadly Cliff's performance lets the side down as usual, with the normal pointing and cringey moves - a bit too much dry ice as well. John Farnham in Montreux to finish, complete with his bogus piper. It's a good performance that we get to see in full, and unusually for that festival John appears to be singing live, so credit to him for that.
I never thought I'd say this on a show co hosted by Bates, but PP was by far the most annoying of the two hosts tonight. As well as his frequent 'the pops' utterances there was a reference to Bruce Willis being on VT - so 1977 - plus the dramatic pause introducing Wishing........Well and his refusal to say Your Sex.
DeleteI agree Steve. Omitting the full George Michael title again just seemed stupid after Mayo had said it the week before - was PP that much of a prude?
Deletedoes anyone else remember that alan tarney was on the very first show of these re-runs in april 1976? it was as half of a duo called tarney and spencer with the other half being a drummer that did a few oohs and aahs backing vocals!:
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ppmf8lPJoic
Not only did JK accuse the PSBs of plagiarism, he recorded Wild World with a PSB-style production to demonstrate it. There is a similarity, but it's not THAT strong.
DeleteI wonder if Bates will be so prudish on next week's show over the George Michael song?
DeleteRegarding Chris Rea, I was surprised to learn that 'Driving Home for Christmas' did not achieve a higher peak chart position than 27, now revered as something of a seasonal classic.
DeleteNor was I aware it wasn't even released until 1999, having always previously expected it to be a tune from the 1970s.
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DeleteIn fact 'Driving Home for Christmas' came out on the B Side of 'Hello Friend' in December 1986...and was rerecorded later, which is the version we're all familiar with....although I quite like this version also.
Deletehttps://www.45cat.com/record/mag298
Driving Home For Christmas was first released as an A-side in 1988, but could only get to 53 - very surprising, given its subsequent seasonal ubiquity.
DeleteChris Rea starts off an all-male line-up of an episode, with a tune that politely invites us to dance, but doesn't serve up much of a groove to do so: more wedding disco than Studio 54. What was his original hair colour, anyway?
ReplyDeleteThat crowd Brucie is performing in front of are really excitable, aren't they? And how come he's sweating buckets in a T-shirt when the Temps are clad in Bacofoil jackets and barely perspiring?
Pet Shop Boys with one of their signature tunes, and it races along dramatically with a muscular synth sound that would have been difficult to achieve at the start of the 80s. Justifiably a classic, and no wonder it was a number one, with its soul-searching lyrics bolstered by the big sound.
Terry with his other big hit, this was played to death at the time, though I preferred the previous one. On a fresh listen all this time later, it's quirkily produced but soulful enough, and I have no problem with that. Mr D'Arby looks like he doesn't want to be recognised in that shades and cap pulled down ensemble. Tabloids getting to him?
His big rival Prince is the first of two Breakers, with a track from his abandoned concept album where he would have performed the whole thing as a woman (hence the feminine lyrics). I did hear he was planning to record the vocals then speed them up to make them sound more like a girl! That wouldn't have been ridiculous at all, of course. Anyway, it's a slinky, kinky little number, but you can hear why it wasn't Top Ten material.
Sir Cliff with a ditty that's nice enough, but little revived and a bit twee and "nice". Even he has a mullet now! He's doing his best to sell the song, but it's too gossamer for his overzealous moves.
Bah, they cut The Firm before Scotty goes "Och, see you, Jimmy!" and Bones saying "It's worse than that, it's physics, Jim!" William Shatner does of course have a recording career, despite not being able to sing, sort of a Rex Harrison type set-up. I remember when his first album, The Transformed Man, was released on CD and John Peel played a track (Mr Tambourine Man, I think) and Peelie commented that on listening to the whole thing in the office that afternoon, he was so embarrassed by what he was hearing that he dearly hoped nobody would walk in while it was playing.
John Farnham again, to end on, giving it 100% as usual. Not sure that bagpiper couldn't have been replaced by a synth. He looked to be having trouble with his fingering.
I remember at the time really liking this Pet Shop Boys tune, but it has been so overplayed over the last 30 years or so, that I don't like it so much now, and it doesn't come anywhere near their only No.1 up to this point, ie, West End Girls, which still stands head-and-shoulders above the rest of their work, at least in the 1985-1987 first phase for them.
DeleteBy the way, The Firm did have the "see you Jimmy" bit on last week's show at its first week at No.1. I think that two weeks at No.1 was enough for The Firm with this novelty record.
despite "star trek" being little more than a cult during its original run, leonard nimoy also managed to convince a record company to sign him up to cash-in on it - in his case with "mr spock's music from outer space", which was mostly either instrumentals associated with his tv shows or him in character as mr spock!
Deletetalking of spock: does anyone else remember this classic sketch on "spitting image"?:
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UNSuPYo8_Q
Nimoy released a few albums, actually. He may have had a beautifully rich speaking voice, but his singing left a lot to be desired!
DeleteI still have nightmares after seeing him perform The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins...
Deleteregarding the bagpipe guy with john farnham: strangely enough an advert has appeared here for what i assume is a bizarre tribute act (appearing at the clitheroe grand) called the red hot chili pipers!
DeleteJody Whatley on Sounds of the 80s just there was invited to pick her favourite 80s tunes, so she chose... Looking for a New Love by Jody Whatley and A Night to Remember by Shalamar. Gotta think of those royalties, I suppose.
ReplyDeleteha ha - doing an elisabeth schwarzkopf, who notoriously picked mostly her own recordings on "desert island discs". although in her case i think it was pure ego as opposed to trying to beef up her bank balance!
DeleteHere is 1987 so far https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=16tA0kJ3Cuq5Jo5WOX6iSSNXGX8M2POG9
ReplyDeletechris rea: has anyone cracked the joke about the dire straits-chris rea supergroup yet? yet another song title lifted from a hit only a few years previously - have these people no imagination? despite that and a toe-tapping feel to it, it's still more suited to driving along listening to it on the radio than boogieing on down to
ReplyDeletepet shop boys: they might have now been seriously taking off as a major act, but they still hadn't really clicked musically for me. yes, they use the same chord sequence as the verses in that cat stevens tune (i wasn't familiar with it at the time, but i remember the plagiarism accusations), but there's no copyright crime against that
terence trent darby: i could never make up my mind if i liked this rather sparse track (both in in terms of instrumentation and chords - there's only two of them throughout) or not. the same applies now
cliff: oh dear, is the peter pan of pop still trying to convince joe public that he likes girls? now that he's close to being an octagenarian, he must be getting a bit concerned that they're still digging up dirt on fellow dubious ladies man wacko several years after his death. i can't remember this at all, but that's hardly any surprise as it's typical featherlight fodder from alan tarney
Jonathan King (am i allowed to mention him?) spoofed its a sin by recording wild world in the PSB style
Deletehttps://g.co/kgs/8ASXam
Back to to the FF...
ReplyDeleteBit of in-your-face camera work for the Chris Rea opener. Didn’t make the song any more exciting.
Wonder what the squiggly writing said on the side of PSB Chris’ trousers...
Why did the run down say “Echo & Bunnymen”?
In the link before TTD, the lady in the yellow jumper forgot her strides...
...and as I am in a picky mood, since when were they called “The Simple Minds”?
As mentioned previously by others, after all these years, Cliff still doesn’t know what to do with his arms. Actually, I had forgotten this little ditty - quite pleasant.
Did John Farnham have shares in the BBC - that’s three weeks in a row!
Mr Bates and Mr Powell (who has strangely taken to calling the show ‘The Pops’ lately) lead us through this ‘Let’s Dance’ backdropped edition which I really enjoyed (no1 aside, but that was easily fixed).
ReplyDeleteChris Rea – Let’s Dance – Speaking of which. I had forgotten the subtle guitar work on this track. Nice way to start (and continue) the show. Best thing out of Newcastle since Lindisfarne.
Bruce Willis – Under the Boardwalk – Understated cover of the hit co-written by Clodagh Rodgers’ mentor.
Pet Shop Boys – It’s a Sin – Dammit this is good! Tennant and Lowe probably never wrote a more ‘storming tune’ than this (thanks Angelo, I couldn’t have put it better myself!). 1987 is so flippin’ contrasting!! Such tosh released a lot of the time (Hi there ‘Jack this’ and ‘Jack that’….) and then an absolute tour de force like this. Just in time to beam into no1 next week thank god!!
Terence Trent Derby – Surely the best record from this guy? I hated the first single but this had a wonderful hook to it.
Breakers – Prince – diminishing returns. I don’t even recall this. Simple Minds – Didn’t think much of this first time round and sounds even less appealing live.
Cliff Richard – My Pretty One – Alan Tarney’s back again with another great song for Cliff. Love the way rotates with his hands in the air! Let’s not forget, Tarney penned some great songs for Barbara Dickson (not all of them hits), and I forgot about Tarney and Spencer, so thanks for the reminder Wilberforce.
The Firm – Starr Trekkin’
John Farnham – You’re the Voice – If ever a song demanded a ToTP extended playout then this is one. Cocking a really big snoot at nos 1 and 2 by showing what a great melody can deliver music wise, this is a true highlight to close the show. The piper coming on at the right time adds to the mix and excitement. This and the Pet Shop Boys really lift the show to high quality for me; and I’m in joyful harmony with John G on this – sorry Dory!
p.s. meant to add, I wonder why the wonderful Atlantic Starr (did any spot the deliberate pun on The Firm above?) not get shown on the Breakers? They were currently sitting at no1 in the US charts with this song.
Deletechris rea's home town was middlesbrough to my recollection. or it might have been sunderland? anyway, definitely not newcastle
DeleteWilberforce - Yes, Chris Rea hailed from Middlesbrough.
DeleteThanks guys for the correction. My recollection was he played at the start of the 'Great North Run' one year and hence me mistakenly assuming he hailed from Tyneside.
DeleteAbout Atlantic Starr, it could be because they wanted to keep it an all-male performers show this week, even the Breakers.
DeleteChris Rea went as far as releasing a single called "Stainsby Girls" in honour of his wife who attended a school in that Middlesbrough district.
DeleteI suppose if Pete was calling the show Top Of instead of The Pops, we'd think he was going on about the monkey from Pipkins.
ReplyDeleteMorgie and Wifey in tow this evening, shall I warn her what's number one ☺☺☺
ReplyDeleteSlimes and PP this week kicking off with Chris Rea. This has got JT flossing around the lounge. nice hair dye Chris. Seriously tapping my foot to this one. Wasn't this a hit again later on? Good opening to the show.
Oh no its the full Temptations and Bruce Willis combo. Bass. How low can you go? Very low it seems. This is actually quite funny in places but for all the wrong reasons. Poor. Bruce is not that great a singer, one of the temps looks really cheesed off consigned to backing vocals.
PSB. One of their best. Superb. Well and truly in their imperial phase. I wondered what was gonna knock The Firm off the top spot and now we know. Hopefully we'll get the great video at some point.
TTD back again. Classy tune this. Probably his best. So smooth and soulful. A real quality track and a great performance.
Breakers:
Prince. One of his lesser known dirges..FF
Simple Minds. This is more like it. Some AOR rock, and it's not bad either. Dull video though.
Sir Cliff up next with one of his better hits. I've always liked this for sone reason, think I had taped this off the radio at the time and it stuck in my head.
The Firm still at the top. Wifey agog. Sing a long now. ..
It's worse than Agadoo she says...ha ha ha, she's left the room.
JT is stunned into silence. Hilarious.
John Farnham even got a Montreaux invite. Did everyone get to go to this. ..
Well I enjoyed that...going for a lie down now...
Does anyone know how long the Montreux rock festival went on for? It seems TOTP showed clips from Montreux at least for the third year now since 1985, but it could not have had that much longer, surely?
DeleteYour super soaraway TV Cream and IMDB websites show the Montreux rock festival was covered on British telly from 1984 to 1988. The Montreuz Jazz festival's been going since 1967!
DeleteThank goodness for that, so I guess we will only have the 1988 TOTP summer shows featuring montreux clips, but no more after that. I must admit that I would prefer to see the official video if the group are not performing in the TOTP studio. The Montreux clips only prevent seeing the official video, as it seems to be another option for TOTP in place of the video.
DeleteI suspect the main reason so many Montreux clips were finding their way into TOTP was because Michael Hurll produced the Montreux coverage.
DeleteWilby, I remember Tarney and Spencer from the first show of the re-run, where Tony Blackburn told us Alan Tarney did everything on the single except the drums. That show also contained another song played heavily on Radio 1 but a complete flop, "I'll Never Love Anyone Anymore" by Laurie Andrew.
ReplyDeleteChris Rea - An OK song but not his best. I recently got a 'Best Of' collection by him as it was cheap and there are a surprising number of good songs that weren't big hits on it.
ReplyDeletePet Shop Boys - I loved this at the time, but have heard it so often since that it's not one of my favourites by them any more.
Terence Trent D'Arby - Are those 2 backing singers the same as before? If so, even with the vest gone they look even more silly. It's another good tune by him though.
The Prince song is one of his most forgettable hit singles.
Cliff Richard - The return of Alan Tarney means that we get his best song in years.
A shame that we get John Farnham yet again at the end while other songs lower down the chart such as 'Don't Dream It's Over' get repeatedly ignored.
Pretty sure that's Vest Boy and Tribute Paul Simon backing old Terry again and joining in the weird group huddle.
DeleteI have just read that the Firm's novelty hit had the lowest start position for a future no1. In at no74 -> no13 -> no1 (sigh!).
ReplyDeleteThis was actually The Firm's seventh single for Walthamstow studio record label Bark. They released one more, whose subject matter was the Flowerpot Men.
DeleteSee you Jimmy!
DeleteDo those laces up, Chris! Mister Rea in a coat five sizes too big and winning this year’s award for singing just to the camera.
ReplyDeleteBruce Willis. That’s an FF then.
Frightening lighting for Slimes into imperial Pet Sounds. And I thought Chris Rea’s coat was too big!
Jody Watley looking in her mugshot like the sister of old Tel with his weird mid-song group huddle.
Prince with what sounded like a scrambled hash with a sped-up vocal.
Simple Minds with a fine song but too fast here.
There you go, all the Cliff song moves in one studio turn.
After a classic number one, we get the Oz Hasslehoff and that bloody pipes noise.