The Pet Shop Boys are in the building
10/12/87 (Mike Smith)
Pet Shop Boys – “Always On My Mind” (4)
Will be the Christmas number one.
Michael Jackson – “The Way You Make Me Feel” (3) (video)
At its peak. And another bullet dodged by BBC4!
Rick Astley – “When I Fall In Love” (2)
Just missed out on the top spot, despite the harp.
Johnny Hates Jazz – “Turn Back The Clock” (27)
Peaked at number 12.
Madonna – “The Look Of Love” (15) (breaker)
This lesser known hit peaked at number 9.
Mel & Kim – “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” (13) (breaker)
This second Comic Relief single peaked at number 3.
Alison Moyet – “Love Letters” (9)
Her sixth and final top ten hit peaking at number 4.
T’Pau – “China In Your Hand” (1) (rpt)
Fifth and final week at number one.
Jellybean featuring Elisa Fiorillo – “Who Found Who” (11) (video/credits)
Went up one more place.
December 17th is next.
I would have first seen this edition surrounded by crates, as we moved house the following day. Anyway, here’s Smitty again, narcissistically going on about his clothes and plugging the forthcoming first ever Red Nose Day. He is not at his worst here, but neither is he remotely likeable.
ReplyDeleteLots of covers on this show, starting with a first-rate example from PSB, who take the Elvis classic, give it a dynamic synthpop makeover, and make it their own. Although people often bemoan the fact this beat Fairytale of New York to the Christmas number 1, I think it was a thoroughly worthy chart topper, and fun to see Chris looking miserable in his vaguely Christmassy woolly hat and jumper. On next to one of the better songs from the Bad album, indeed perhaps the best, but Jacko still seems to be struggling for inspiration when it comes to videos, as we get yet another set of carefully choreographed steps in a gritty urban setting. There is a bit of light sexual harassment thrown into the mix as well, though even at the time the idea of the King of Pop as a red-blooded male would have been hard to swallow…
We then get the second cover of the night, sadly nowhere near as good as the first as SAW attempt a cynical festive cash-in on Rick Astley’s ascendant star with this insipid version of an old standard, which was actually a hit for Doris Day before Nat “King” Cole recorded the definitive rendition. The song does not suit Rick’s voice at all, forcing him to sing in a weird register, and he also looks awkward perched on that seat while the harpist and violinist play. In many ways, this feels like an X Factor Christmas record some twenty years early. Johnny Hates Jazz are also in the studio, not looking anywhere near as colourful as Smitty maintains, but Clark does look a bit of a berk in his hat. A pleasantly melodic song, this one, certainly better than the previous hit, but for me it never really gets out of first gear.
Cover number 3 comes courtesy of Alf, with what would sadly prove to be her last major hit. This was another song that was recorded by Elvis, but Alf’s version cleaves closely to Ketty Lester’s interpretation. Like Rick she is sitting down, but she looks a lot more comfortable than him and is also singing something that suits her voice. The Jellybean performance that closes the show looks as if it was lifted from TOTP USA – it certainly isn’t the video, as Elisa is not pretending here to be Jellybean’s former squeeze Madge. This is quite a lively, upbeat number, but feels a bit throwaway, despite Elisa having an impressive voice.
Regarding Janice Long, it was a different era and the BBC was far more puritanical, at least outwardly, therefore by this time I believe that Janice had been dismissed by Radio 1 for having the temerity to fall pregnant outside of wedlock, which seems incredible now when you consider that Jimmy Savile was still on the Beeb's payroll.
DeleteJanice would join forces with Simon Mayo to present a show in the summer of 1988, followed soon after by an infamous live Top of the Pops alongside Mark Goodier which was her final show as host.
The above comment belongs on the preceding show's thread if the owner of this blog is able to transfer.
DeleteAs I understand it, Janice's treatment by Radio 1 amounted to constructive dismissal, as they offered her a less prestigious slot on her return to work, which she understandably refused. I notice that she has stated on her Twitter feed that when she was presenting the 3 December show the director wanted the audience to crowd round her and obscure her bump, which led to Gary Davies nobly standing up for her.
DeleteJanet Ellis left Blue Peter around the same time, of course, and though it was long assumed she was dismissed for being unmarried and pregnant, she has apparently stated that she decided to leave of her own accord.
John G - I'm not certain of the circumstances behind the departure of Janet Ellis from Blue Peter, although the reasons reported at the time were linked to her pregnancy and marital status, however in an interview with the Penny Black Music website which Janice Long gave back in 2013, she expressly stated, to borrow her words verbatim that "eventually, I was fired [from Radio 1] for being pregnant and for not being married".
DeleteJust to clarify, I am not disputing that Janice was pushed out, but from what I have read it seems as if the powers that be at Radio 1 were too cowardly to just give her a P45, but basically forced her into leaving by offering her what amounted to a demotion. Either way, she was treated very shabbily.
DeleteWe transfer link https://we.tl/t-2zLfmzYHl6?src=dnl
ReplyDeleteThis link does not exist, therefore please can you re-check and confirm the correct filepath.
DeleteWorks fine for me ...
DeleteHere are two newly discovered BBC Archive copies of 24/09/87 ans 01/10/87.
ReplyDeletehttps://we.tl/t-D2afr7EUjy
Fantastic stuff! Many many thanks! Really kind of you to upload these skipped episodes. I'm still going to keep my fingers crossed that hopefully a BBC Archive version of 8/10/87 might turn up as it was unfortunately the only one out of the four in a row that were skipped that the original off air recording made back in 1987 had a few VHS technical issues! Still either way..its wonderful that yourself and others take the time to share these with us and keep the run going. Very much appreciated! At least with the 1988 editions around the corner we won't have so many Mike Smith editions to have to request! Good love to you all!
DeleteWhat was it with Christmas 1987 and cover versions of old standards? At least the Pet Shop Boys did something different with their material, a cover that stands with Willie Nelson's version - maybe even better, as Neil drops the "have" from the end of lines, which always bugged me in previous versions.
ReplyDeleteMichael Jackson in a rapey video for a middling tune, it was clear he was out of good ideas now and reduced to letting the production do most of the work. Watching him aggressively stalk this poor girl (even through a parked car!) doesn't do his tarnished image any favours.
Rick Astley cranks up the karaoke, er, harp, for a cover aimed at the grans of the kids who bought his previous two hits. It was a big hit, I suppose, but despite a good voice there's no way he bears comparison with Nat King Cole. We are spared the ridiculous kitsch of the video.
Johnny Hates Jazz in dazzling, um, black and grey (was Smutty being sarcastic?), another weedy plodder with Mr Datchler looking oddly like a round-shouldered Matthew McConaughey. How do we keep hearing him play the piano when he stands up? It's a mystery.
Alison Moyet fares better with her cover, though it didn't take French and Saunders in the video to highlight the little tinkle on the piano at the end of each line was a tad gimmicky. It does remind me of lying in bed in the dark before school in the depths of December '87, listening to the radio before I got up to greet the morning.
Jellybean and Elisa sound positively fresh after all those ancient tunes, at last something that is nothing more than 1987 in style. The song is a bit of a Madonna reject, and you could say the same for the singer if you were being harsh, but it's nice enough.
pet shop boys: i'm pretty sure this was the first time i'd heard this song, which like another recently-covered latterday king recording "suspicious minds" was written by the same guy (the story goes that as an unknown he was was told they would be recorded as long as the king got a "songwriting" credit to grab at least half the royalties. however the guy stood his ground and told the most successful recording artist in the history of popular music to either give him full credit or fuck off. and the king capitulated because he liked the songs so much). this is certainly the better of the two songs for me, although a throbbing electro-dance treatment is probably not the best way to showcase it. i also remember neil tennant responding to criticism that they had stooped to doing a cover by saying "well we added an extra chord to it"!
ReplyDeletewacko: not as good as "bad", but this shuffling mid-tempo effort is miles better than the first single off that album. one wonders if the incessant whoops and yelps were beginning to get on producer quincy jones' nerves by now (he had already apparently told wacko to junk a load of demos for this album as he felt they were below-par), and maybe part of the reason the partnership broke up afterwards? as for the video, once again wacko is in never never land with his "gang" and "girl"
rick astley: i think i was sort-of aware of the nat "king" cole recording before this copycat version came out (to try an impress doubters that rick was a proper singer and not just a pop puppet). however it did get a bit embarrassing when nat's effort was re-issued as a result and was competing for airplay. nat probably got the edge for me at the time, although in retrospect there were much better crooners around from his era (vic damone springs to mind). i once read an amusing story where cole moved into a swanky white neighbourhood, and one if his neighbours complained to him about niggers bringing down the tone of the place. to which nat replied (presumably without irony) something like "you're right, i don't want them hanging around here either"!
johnny hates jazz: i thought i would have been non-commital about this in the same manner as what i thought their first two rather bland efforts, but there was something about the sentimental feel of it that really got under my skin, and grew to love it accordingly. and still think it's a quality piece of work worthy of making my top crackers list for this year
alison moyet: having struggled to ditch the blokey nickname for the last few years, shitty no doubt got right up her nose (and mine too now!) introducing her by saying "take it away, alf" . i couldn't remember this one at all, but as soon as listened on yt i was thinkng "this sounds like a cover to me" in the vein of "that old devil called love". so not surprised to learn that it was. and like "old devil", in my opinion there were much better songs from the tin pan alley era to re-do than this tedious tune
jellybean/elisa: yes it's all very madonna-like, but it's far better than anything she'd done of late. plus elisa (was she mr jellybean's then-current squeeze out of interest?) is a better singer and more of a looker to boot. so why did she end up in the "where are they now?" folder whilst even now ms ciccone continues to embarrass herself and many others by still desperately clinging to the coat-tails of the latest musical fads?
Nat King Cole didn't have such a great time when he bought a house for his family in a rich, white neighbourhood - the racists in the community killed his pet dog as a "message" to him to leave or else.
Deletei don't know if the above tale regardng nat king cole was apocryphal or not, but i was under the impression that his white neighbours were at least accepting of him moving in because although he might have been black he was also rich and successful and apparently polite and well-mannered too (and i would have thought that some of them owned at least one of his recordings, as they were very much aimed at that market as opposed to his own ethnic group). however thx's comment suggests at least some were not...
DeleteInteresting. This non BBC4 episode has attracted more comments than the previous episode that was shown. Smitty getting his Rudolf’s mixed up with red nose day I fear. Not the best of episodes for me.
ReplyDeletePet Shop Boys – Always on my mind – Willie Nelson? Elvis? Give me either rather than this electronic version that takes all the passion out of the song. SmoothFM listeners recently voted Elvis’s version at no10 out of the top500 and they were spot on with their choice. The best Christmas no1 ever? I don’t think so.
Michael Jackson – The way you make me feel – The less said about this the better. No1 in the US a few weeks later (sigh!).
Rick Astley – When I fall in love – Rick managed to almost completely copy NKC. There’s nothing wrong with this version, just that it adds nothing new to Nat’s version. Check out the Carpenter’s version for an additional intro that does offer something a little different.
Johnny Hates Jazz – Turn back the Clock – Well we’d all like to sometimes for all sorts of different reasons, so Johnny’s tune does hit a raw nerve with me. Nice song.
Breakers – Madonna – The look of love – ABC!! There are four Madonna tracks on the ‘Who’s that Girl’ soundtrack and the only one not to make a 7” release was ‘Can’t Stop’ which I’ve never heard, and I can’t say that I recall this one either. The big album was just round the corner… Mel and Kim (really??) – Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree – Vaguely humorous, but give me Brenda Lee’s version.
Alison Moyet – Love Letters – If anyone watched the Aden series ‘The last Post’ you’ll recall that the Jessica Raine character played the Ketty Lester version over and over again. For me Fox’s version of this is right up there with Ketty’s and I like Elvis’ rendition as well. In fact I prefer all three ahead of Alison.
T’Pau – China in your hand – One last blast of this classic and played through in full again!
Jellybean and Elisa – Who found who – Catchy little pop tune in look and sound of early Madonna. Nice way to end the show.
Tams watch – Smitty cops out completely on the Tams song title by just not saying any of it! So three different options for this song’s brief chart run and surprise surprise, it didn’t make the Breakers.
The Mel & Kim spoof name is interesting - wouldn't it have been public knowledge that the originals were in a bad way healthwise (well, one of them was)? I can't remember, but it seems a little bad taste taking the mickey in those circumstances. Though not totally outrageous or anything.
DeleteI happened to hear Noel Gallagher interviewed on the radio yesterday and he mentioned his favourite TV programme is TOTP. He says he loves the repeats. Join in, Noel!
ReplyDeleteNice to see the Top 4 each getting a full play, being played in sequence at the start of the show, with the No.1 being kept for later on in the show of course.
ReplyDeleteThis week will see the year 1987 finished up on BBC4, up to the 31st Dec edition, with 1988 only just round the corner...
Anonymous, Have you got any of these pre-1976 editions, which I don't think anyone has asked for before? They are 26/12/67, 15/02/68, 25/12/69(which only part of exists) and 15/11/73. Also have you got the following 3 shows in higher res that you have previously uploaded? They are 4/10/73, 8/08/74 and 2/01/75. Cheers!
ReplyDeletehi brie here are a few of them from above list, not sure if are same as previous uploads, i aint got a clue what iv'e uploaded (should have made a list i think)
Deletehttps://we.tl/t-R4jIGpZbHS
Hello Anonymous, could I make a couple of enquiries/requests please?
ReplyDeleteHave you a copy of 'Pop Goes The 60's' from 31/12/1969 without the watermark and also 20/03/1975? Finally is 25/05/1978 still unavailable? Thank you.
here you go with the two episodes, and yep 25/5/78 is still unavalible.
ReplyDeletehttps://we.tl/t-bb5Zglj1lD
Thanks so much Anonymous you are amazing!
DeleteThanks also to the regular bloggers here. I've enjoyed reading your posts since the blog began and it's always been interesting & informative. Thank you!
Hi Guys here is the full show 25.05.78 it is the BBC4 edit with a little help from UK Gold
Deletehttps://we.tl/t-c1prrPnPnu
Thanks again Anonymous for these! Has anyone out there got a copy of 15/11/73? It's on the Google drive file but it's an EinsFestival copy and the number one by Gary Glitter has been removed.
Deletebrie
Deletehere is full copy of 15.11.73
https://we.tl/t-7lXtMO25Yw
Here's another very good copy of 15/11/73. I gave a copy of it to Amanda for the Google Drive/Mega but I don't think she has uploaded it yet.
Deletehttps://we.tl/t-p6sqCEeEgr
Many thanks to you both for this! Have either of you copies of 2 clips from 14/12/72, 31/01/74 and the whole show of 13/12/84, as I don't think that Anonymous has any of them. Anonymous, are you going to upload 10/12/87 as you said earlier you had a copy ready?
DeleteHere are my copies of them:
Deletehttps://we.tl/t-CfsUTfS8g3
Cheers for these xrayfour!
Deletehere is 10/12/87 again i did post it on fb page as angelo was away from home hence link didnt come over here as normal
Deletehttps://we.tl/t-IGhIlT2Hp0
Thanks Anonymous. Great stuff!
DeleteAnonymous, have you any of these early 80's shows in higher res that you previously uploaded? They are 7/01/82, 30/12/82, 5/05/83, 21/07/83 and 8/09/83. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteyep here they are
Deletehttps://we.tl/t-Ti1scLIiyd
Brilliant, Anonymous! Thanks again.
DeleteHi Anonymous just wondering if you have hi res versions of 2 shows from 1977 12th may and 23 June maybe you put them up before and i missed them sorry if that was so
ReplyDeleteyep here you go
Deletehttps://we.tl/t-Xv2VNvpVxQ
thanks for that
DeleteOo! An edition on YouTube for a change. TOTP with adverts!
ReplyDeleteHow many more times have we got to suffer that gimp presenting?
I used to hate this Pet Shop Boys’ cover but now recognize it as an alternative take classic. They did need some bloke on keytar for that two-note solo, mind. Now, if only we could persuade Neil and Chris to enter Eurovision…
I saw enough of Jacko’s vid last edition. Next!
Rick Astley with a decent voice not fully suited to this blatant festive topper attempt. The backing band reminded me that Gillingham FC‘s terrace band recently advertised for a harpist.
Oo! Will we see mugshot squatters Anthrax on the show? Oh.
Johnny Hates Jazz with a non-mover which hasn’t turned either way this week. A tune almost as monochrome as the lads’ garb.
“The Look Of Love”? More like the sound of “Will this do?”. Madge made Johnny Hates Jazz sound like Anthrax (I guess).
Huge bonus points to Mel Smith for shutting the door on Bastard Ben Beret, but some points taken away for the lyrics and their festive Yankee muck. Pumpkin pie my arse.
Alison there with the sort of bluesy country song she loved and which suited her voice like three cigarettes in an ashtray (erm, check Patsy Cline if that was too obtuse).
I liked the synchronized jumping of Jellybean and Elisa’s band. See that, Five Star? You don’t need all those poncey moves to be effective. Shame the song’s Madge baiting disco.
Just 5 Smitty shows left now, of which only 4 are regular editions, so we will soon be rid of him...
Deletehurrah! hopefully whoever replaces him will not make it so obvious that they're just using the show as a stepping stone to weekend light entertainment gigs?
DeleteNicky Campbell arrives just before Smitty goes, and I suppose he is another who had bigger aspirations than just being a DJ, though he would ultimately move in a much more serious journalistic direction.
Delete1988 actually sees a lot of presenter changes, as PP, Bates and Janice all bow out as well, with the likes of Mark Goodier joining the roster and Bruno Brookes finally becoming a regular. Michael Hurll also finally left the show, and his successor Paul Ciani would start using kids' TV presenters like Andy Crane, Caron Keating and (shudder) Anthea Turner...
Like that awful quiz show on London Weekend that Shitty co-hosted with the artist then recently known as the Joan Collins Fan Club?
Deleteexactly arthur. talk about the odd couple! i somehow can't imagine them hanging out in the bar together after their shows...
DeleteThe show has one more format change I recall before the big relaunch in the early 90s. The chart is about to be split in 3 (40-31, 30-11 the 10-1) and more songs crammed in by introducing a 3 minute limit for live acts and 2 minutes for the video. As well as losing the breakers and an updated credits sequence, 1989 I recall is when that came in.
DeleteOnce Smithy goes we should be OK until Xmas Day 88 (Mr Glitter joining The Timelords) and 1.1.89 which was the 25th anniversary edition.. Cue Saville...
Now you mention it, I do recall that songs featured on TOTP did start to get cut off early much more regularly towards the end of the 80s. I remember being annoyed about it at the time, though given chart music was in pretty steep decline by then it wasn't as bad as if they had instituted that policy in earlier years!
DeleteAs we are finishing 1987 on Friday, it's time once again to guess what Angelo's next blog title will be. I have really struggled to think of many suitable ones for '88 - The Only Way is Up would work well, but does anyone else have any suggestions?
There were only twenty No.1 singles in 1988, fewer than in previous years, so less to choose from.
DeleteWith the advent of a new producer and adverse format changes, including Anthea Turner as host, the latter part of 1988 was when I would cease to be a regular TOTP viewer, having watched the show since 1982.
The blog would be much less without "A little Help From" Angelo's "friends" ��
DeleteHi Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteWould you have any of the following shows from 1982 in higher res? They are all skipped shows rather than Jonathan King edited ones:
14/01, 25/02, 13/05, 10/06, 24/06, 26/08, 02/09, 30/09, 07/10, 04/11, 25/11, 16/12 and 25/12. Thanks.
yep here they are in two batches, can't find 02/09 though.
Deletehttps://we.tl/t-qnUI4QG3Dg
https://we.tl/t-EBRm9nahTY
Awesome, thank you!
DeleteSo Xmas is coming and it's time for the Rick vs Nat King battle that was won by...
ReplyDelete.. PET SHOP BOYS... and I couldn't be happier. What a storming cover version this is. One of my all time favourite songs and I think Radio2 voted it their best cover version of all time a few years ago. PSB at the top of their game.
We are live tonight and Mike is the perfect host for these live shows. Even getting the PSB song title wrong! Nice winter hat Chris. Proper strobing jumper as well.
The dodgy MJ video up next. Still a cracking tune though.
Rick up next. Confession time. I am really not a fan of this song. Hereasy I know. Imagine 13 year old me having to edit TWO versions of this song out of the chart on my tape to tape deck. 😀 Rick does well with it and I am not surprised SAW were pissed off it wasn't Xmas number one. At least its short.
JHJ lucky to get a showing stuck at number 27 but I am glad they did. I think this is their best song. Very chilled, tuneful chorus and hugely radio friendly. Now I'm sure there was more than 3 of them last time??
Think TOTP must be saving up the Xmas big hitters for next week.
Breakers:
Madonna. Where did this song come from. How have I no recollection of this at all. Bit of a slower tune that has clearly been erased from her history.
Mel and Kim rocking around the Xmas tree. Great idea really well executed. Possibly the best charity record ever..
ALF. Where have you been. My word it's nice to be reminded what a fabulous voice she has. Shame its used on this dreary tune but ALF makes it listenable. Heavy on the piano.
T'Pau still at the top despite a big shake up of the Top Ten (and not before time). Sorry but this is still a great tune and I've enjoyed all 5 weeks of it.
Oh it's so nearly Xmas. Which will fall in my birthday week 😂 😂 😂 Presents all round.
Jellybean and Madonna... Sorry Elisa... play us out. This is very Debbie Gibson isn't it. Must be a TOTP USA appearance. This stomps all over the real Madonna song in the charts.
Quality show. Best in months. Happy days. 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
johnny hates jazz officially only had three members, but by this point in time it was becoming commomplace for such small combos (who thanks to the wonders of modern technology either did everything themselves on their recordings, or hired session players if they couldn't) to add auxilliary performers for promotional "live" performances to create the illusion it was a "proper" band
DeletePet Shop Boys - A terrific cover version, and rightly Christmas No.1.
ReplyDeleteThose who whinge about 'Fairytale Of New York' not being Christmas No.1 are often those who could have bought it and didn't. Those who weren't around at the time will also not understand that it wasn't regarded as the classic that it is today - most people I know either loved or detested it!
Michael Jackson - One of the best songs from the album though the video is extremely icky. IIRC the single got a massive bounce in the new year and I thought it actually peaked at No.2?
Rick Astley - A blatant cash-in given that his previous single was still quite high in the chart!
I think he's on record as saying that he wasn't comfortable. The Nat King Cole reissue at least split buyers and prevented it from hitting the top.
Johnny Hates Jazz - A rather lovely melancholy reflective tune.
Madonna's most forgotten tune of the 80s in the Breakers - quite rightly, as it's awful.
Alison Moyet - A decent enough cover of a not particularly interesting song.
Jellybean / Elisa Fiorillo - Average fare which hasn't dated particularly well.
I wonder how long the tradition of record purchases determining chart position continued for; as 7-inch vinyl which I guess in 1987 was still the predominant force, was surely soon to be overhauled by the CD single, and then online streaming?
DeleteDoes anyone know at which point or which year that the concept of record purchases in the record shops no longer determined chart position, as I was still buying 7-inch vinyl as late as 1990 before moving on to CD singles in 1993, and I guess they would have been available before then?
Record sales still do count towards the chart AFAIK Dory, but make up a very small percentage of the contribution to chart position. It was only in the 2000s that downloads were added and I don't think streaming was added until relatively recently.
Delete