Climie up the charts
31/03/88 (Nicky Campbell & Mike Smith)
Eighth Wonder – “I’m Not Scared” (10)
Went up three more places.
Climie Fisher – “Love Changes (Everything)” (11)
Peaked at number 2.
Debbie Gibson – “Only In My Dreams” (13) (video)
Went up two more places.
Jellybean featuring Adele Bertei – “Just A Mirage” (28) (breaker)
Peaked at number 13.
Fleetwood Mac – “Everywhere” (29) (breaker)
Became their tenth and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 4.
Glen Goldsmith – “Dreaming” (24) (breaker)
Peaked at number 12.
Taylor Dayne – “Prove Your Love” (25) (breaker)
Became her second and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 8.
Status Quo – “Ain’t Complaining” (22) (video)
Peaked at number 19.
Wet Wet Wet – “Temptation” (17)
Went up five more places.
Aswad – “Don’t Turn Around” (1) (rpt from 17/03/88)
Second and final week at number one.
Pet Shop Boys – “Heart” (7) (video/credits)
Will be number one next week.
Next up is 7th April.
I'd like to add my thanks to Angelo's for the efforts of Neil B, Robert Thompson, the anonymous Archivist and others to fill in all the gaps in these reruns, not just the Smitty shows but the Yewtreed ones too. Hopefully we will only need your services very occasionally from now on!
ReplyDeleteWe can finally say goodbye and good riddance to Smitty, whose evident belief that he was bigger than the show has cost BBC4 viewers the chance to see well over 60 editions, even from beyond the grave. It's fitting that his last outing was with Nicky Campbell, someone cut from a very similar cloth and evidently destined to be his spiritual successor on TOTP, though we can at least be grateful that Campbell hasn't tried to stop his other shows being seen. Predictably they egg each other on here to increasingly feeble attempts at humour, the low point being the Brucie impersonations. I must admit, however, that Campbell's misleading intro to Debbie Gibson was quite amusing, as was his barbed comment about the number of singles Fleetwood Mac had now released from Tango in the Night. What possessed him, however, to don that hideous roll-neck sweater?
Patsy's back, in leather this time to further excite the dads watching - shame about those trashy big hooped earrings, though. Plenty more leather, as well as denim, next up from Climie Fisher, with PP's favourite record of the moment. It's certainly a well-produced song with a decent tune, but slightly too tame for my liking.
I think Debbie Gibson's second hit is a slight improvement on her first, as it's less facile and repetitive, with a reasonable chorus. It looks as if she was trying to sex up her image a bit in the video, posing on that bed on the beach and snuggling up to her "boyfriend," but she doesn't really pull it off. Smitty permits himself a snide dig at Quo when introducing their new video, though in truth they probably deserved it here as this is a lazy, by-the-numbers offering from them. Smitty has lost his ill-fated beard for his final show, but it's now Rick Parfitt's turn to experiment with face fuzz, which has the unfortunate effect of making him look a bit like Noel Edmonds. Griff Rhys Jones is a notable guest star in the promo, but sadly his antics are not very funny - the only memorable moment is when he pulls the plug and the song cuts out, though it soon drearily trundles back to life again!
I had forgotten about this Wets hit, which I don't think I have heard for 30 years. It's not a bad song, but this live version is awful, chiefly thanks to Marti overemoting and throwing in unnecessary vocal embellishments. His refusal to put down his mic stand for the entire performance, even though he was standing on the same spot throughout, was also annoying. PSB end up effectively topping and tailing the show, appearing in their own right at the end with this imminent chart-topper, which would prove to be their last. What a song it is, an irresistible and very dance-friendly slice of synth pop which for me is one of their finest achievements. Great video too, clearly inspired by Hammer horror and with its tongue firmly wedged in its cheek.
While I wouldn't call it good riddance to Smitty, I am relieved that we will no longer be in a situation to blog 3 or 4 shows in a week because of the BBC4 ban on his shows, which is the best outcome of this departure of Smith from the show. I
Deleteactually found him quite energetic and full of exuberance compared to some others who have hosted the show, but as mentioned before, 1988 was a year when TOTP presenters galore from the 70s and 80s were to bow out after a long stint, many of which were for around 10 years or so.
Smitty left TOTP because he was about to quit Radio 1, from which he departed in May. While I don't share your liking for him as a TOTP host, I most definitely agree that it will be a relief not to have those marathon weeks where we have to cram in loads of shows anymore. There will still be the odd show in future that BBC4 will skip (the 25th anniversary show at the end of 1988 should be the next one), but barring unforeseen presenter or technical issues, they should now be few and far between.
DeleteMike always said he regretted leaving radio behind and always wanted to get back into it, but his aerial footage business took up most of his time. Not long before he died he did feature in a TV doc about where he somewhat notoriously broke down in tears about losing his fame. Ah well, I liked him at the time, but seeing him again has been less... forgiving.
DeleteSmitty could occasionally be funny - I did like his intro to the Quo video on this show - but on the whole I found him grating.
DeleteI can't really remember him as a radio presenter (or for that matter as a TOTP host) first time, round - perhaps his style of presenting was funnier and more engaging at the time.
So it must have been Smith that began the 1988 domino effect of long-term TOTP presenters leaving shortly after, ie, Simon Bates and Peter Powell, although I think Mike Read stayed on at least till the end of 1988 on TOTP.
DeleteBut hey, 1989 will be completely different it seems, with their overhaul by CBBC presenters like Andy Crane to herald in a whole new era (and generation, as those in their 40s would make way for new ones in their 20s!
A quick look at Popscene suggests (if I've counted correctly) that we have 19 episodes hosted by kids TV presenters to look forward to in 1989, including several CBBC pairings. Anthea Turner seems to be the most prominent of them.
DeleteSybil Ruscoe also co hosts several times - a surprise to me, as I thought she was a Newsbeat presenter on Radio 1!
Mike Read hosted his last regular TOTP in February 1989, and then bowed out completely the following December with a special edition reviewing the 80s.
DeleteSteve - I don't remember Sybil Ruscoe being on TOTP at all, though she did become a regular on Radio 5 Live after it launched.
DeleteNeither do I John and I was watching it every week at this time. She was on six times including a co-host with Mike Read on the show you mentioned, and one with Simon Mayo and Rod Mckenzie - another strange presenting choice, although I guess as he was on Radio 1 breakfast a lot of viewers would have known him.
DeleteRod McKenzie was a legend! "Inside her body!"
Deleteif shitty had remained a radio jock rather than followed tidybeard down the light entertainment route, then i doubt he could have afforded his own private helicopter?
DeleteHe was always good fun when he was on Radio 1 breakfast. Can't believe that was 30 years ago!
DeleteHe was my first R1 breakfast show host and I thought he was very good. Mayo was brilliant though and the one I remember the most.
DeleteI always liked Smithy as a kid and such a shame we never got these shows on BBC4.
Mike and Nicky got on well, didn't they? But our long national nightmare is over, and Smutty is once again consigned to history. Thanks to the uploaders who have filled the gaps.
ReplyDeleteSomeone in the graphics department obviously liked Patsy, judging by the big red pair of lips appearing at the end of her turn.
Climie Fisher sounding more like themselves in this rerelease, though Simon's voice still is in dire need of a packet of Strepsils. Pleasant enough ditty, but bland, and they will never be more than also-rans in the 80s pop firmament, though this was a pretty big hit.
Deb up next, going all surreal in her video, though it's not exactly Un Chien Andalou. The song shows an improvement in her writing skills, with a pretty, yearning chorus that's not too offensive. There was always something a bit naff about her, mind you.
Status Quo back with their usual song, in one ear and out the other material, though it kept their legions of fans happy. They go the comedy video route with Griff Rhys Jones recruited in multiple roles, not exactly hilarious, but about Quo's level of dad humour. My sister met Griff once and says he was a total arse. Little showbiz anecdote, there.
"LISTEN!!!" Marti displaying a full range of irritating tics with this "live" rendition from Wet Wet Wet, and in effect spoiling whatever appeal it might have originally had. The backing vocals don't do it any favours either.
Aswad on tape, but keeping Bros off the top, and then one of our next number ones, The Pet Shop Boys with one of their biggest hits, though least revived for some reason. Ian McKellen camps it up in the video as our Nosferatu. A quick Google reveals the bride was a Croatian actress I've never heard of, thought she might have been a supermodel at that height. Anyway, this will be back.
Griff has long given the impression of being a suppressed bundle of rage, and if I remember rightly he did admit some years ago
Deleteto having anger management issues.
Yes, didn't he do a penitent TV documentary about it, where he apologised for treating everyone so badly?
DeleteI think he did, though I can't remember for certain now.
DeleteAh, you mean "Losing It - Griff Rhys Jones On Anger".
Deletehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/07_july/10/griff.shtml
Thanks Arthur! Sounds like he knew of which he spake.
DeleteGriff was tailor made for the 'Hey wow!' sketch on 'Not the 9 O'Clock News'.
DeleteI'd like to add my thanks to Neil and the various uploaders for these contraband editions. What a shame they couldn't be shown on BBC4, although it's a mercy Smitty departed at this point before his partnership with Campbell could become a regular pairing.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised Status Quo were such a big climber, perhaps a case of extra editions of the single being released for the hardcore fans to snap up rather than because of the quality of the song.
Now we're finally rid of Smitty I wonder if the Beeb will go back to showing one a week when we get to 1989?
I wondered that as well, but I suspect the two shows per week format is probably now set in stone. However, if so it won't give BBC4 much room for scheduling manoeuvre in future on days when they need to push TOTP aside for Proms or sports coverage - at least, that's the case if they still want to get through two full years of shows in one current calendar year.
DeleteIf the current format continues I think we'll have a lot more 'doubles' (shows at 7.30 & 8pm) to keep things on track. I hope this isn't the case, as it'll mean more repetition in weeks where the same track is number one on two consecutive shows.
DeleteI suspect that's what will happen, but we will find out next year.
DeleteHi Anonymous! I've not been on for a while as I've been on holiday and have not looked at the blog recently. Anyway I've come on to request some shows from the mid 70's which are all a bit of a long shot. They are 20/09/74, 27/09/74, 5/12/74, 30/01/75 and 6/02/75. According to Popscene these shows are wiped but the performances still exist. The next two shows exist but haven't turned up yet. They are 6/06/74 and 4/10/74. The last three shows exist in the BBC Archive. 3/04/75 has the chart rundown missing and mute DJ links. 17/07/75 has the first two performances missing and 9/10/75 is complete and is in the Archive as an off air recording. I don't expect you to have any of these but I thought I would ask you. Many Thanks!
ReplyDeleteall i can help you with is 4/10/74 sorry.
Deletehttps://we.tl/t-G0tZJWZLbM
Thanks for looking for these Anonymous. One is better than none at all! While i'm on can I request 5 shows that you have more chance of having? They are 18/02/82, 10/03/83, 28/04/83, 11/08/83 and 25/12/83. Cheers!
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DeleteBrie, good shout regarding 4/10/74. I never saw the David Bowie video before, with scenes from a 1974 London in the early days of colour, when most people probably still had a black-and-white TV at home.
DeleteThe tall brunette in the video with the flares was quite fit looking, and I didn't know there were double decker buses as early as 1974. Picture that red phone box where you had to push the 10p coin very hard. That I do remember, in the days when you could also do a reverse charge call if you didn't have enough money to put in.
Did anyone spot in the video the same South London street market picture used in the opening credits of Only Fools And Horses?
Double deckers go all the way back to 1847, Dory, though of course they were horse-drawn in those days!
DeleteBrinsley Forde of Aswad was IN The Double Deckers, lest we forget.
Deletegood link thx! i did actually meet brinsley forde in the late 90's, when he was a guest presenter at the music college i was attending. the dreadlocks had gone by then, and he seemed to be a really nice and affable guy
DeleteI've never met him, but he seems like a cool guy in interviews. And needless to say, he was a cool MF on The Double Deckers.
DeleteThanks for these Robert (aka Anonymous). Is there any reason they won't let you post as Anonymous any more after all this time?
DeleteThe double decker in the video is a DMS type bus on route 220 (the first route, along with 95 to operate the type). One of my other passions outside ToTP is collecting photos of this particular variety. This is DMS39 which appears here in its repainted livery (which occurred in November 1973) having entered service in November 1971 from Shepherd's Bush garage.
DeleteThis is the clearest version of this ToTP episode I have ever seen, so many thanks for making it available.
A few quick notes for now....
ReplyDeleteBig thanks from me as well to the myriad posters who've filled in the huge BBC4 gaps and helped maintain the full TOTP story as a result. Much appreciated.
As for the thankfully departing Shitty - last week on, er, "This Week" (which I'm very sad to see axed) Andrew Neil jokingly called the last show the end of an error. For this TOTP show, it's the end of an arsehole.
Did Madness ever write a response song called "Can I Play With Iron Maiden"?
Finally, for those not familiar with it, "Un Chien Andalou" is a surreal film co-made by Salvador Dali which includes a scene of (apparently) a woman's eyeball being sliced open, which resulted in appalled riotous behaviour by cinema audiences when first screened. The film's mentioned via the line "slicing up eyeballs" in the Pixies song "Debaser".
Yes, it was the Dali/Bunuel short, though it should be pointed out the eyeball-slicing first scene was actually achieved by editing in a shot of a dead cow's eye being cut, they didn't go as far as attacking anyone!
DeleteDebaser has the chorus "I am un chien Andalusia!" in case anyone was in any doubt.
oh shit - although i've never actually seen the film in question, i have a "room 101" thing about getting my minces sliced every time it comes to mind (which seems to happen on a basis far more regularly than i'm comfortable with). even though i knew that they used a dead cow's eye to get that effect. that doesn't make it any less squeamish!
DeleteWe were given cows' eyes to slice open in biology classes! Don't think I could do that now...
DeleteThank Christ we only got that duo presenting the once. Possibly the most excruciating pairing yet.
ReplyDeleteIt’s the slightly older British Vanessa Paradis first, with her band in Italy (yeah, pull the other one).
I really hate acts who made the audience clap during a song. Climie Fisher give us a singer with a voice as thin as Pasty’s and a song about a 17-year-old making out which isn’t a patch on a similarly themed song, “Summer The First Time“ by Bobby Goldsboro.
Debbie Gibson’s tune sounded slightly sped up compared to last time. Maybe that was done to get through that weird video quicker.
Wahay! Jellybean smiling! Sounded like a Dead Or Alive rip-off if you ask me.
“Everywhere”? Fleetwood Mac were nowhere to be seen in that Blackadder epic.
The record in Glen Goldsmith’s video appeared to be by high energy singer Laura Pallas. Interesting. More interesting than this Ratners R&B.
My word, Taylor Dayne really does have a large mouth, doesn’t she? Put to use on a lesser known and lesser selling shouty follow-up.
Didn’t Shitty and Nick love that Quo track? Admittedly, it was the same old same old. Griff Rhys Jones’s cameo parts were as funny as piles.
Wet Wet Wet sponsored Clydebank FC, their local football team. Sadly, Clydebank eventually folded. On this live outing ramped up to ultra annoying, I wish Marti Bellow had folded instead.
Great acting by Neil tenant at the end. Up there with Rock Hudson and Elton John at their best. The “heart beat” refrain reminds me of that wonderful chap who used to be on “Vision On”.
Remember US videos ran at NTSC speed, which was slower than the British PAL, so when TOTP showed them they could sound a little more rapid than they were supposed to. Hence Debs sped up.
DeleteAh, yes, of course. thanks for that.
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DeleteArthur, I wonder if the video was done after Lindsey Buckingham left the band. If his departure hadn't been made public, maybe they thought it would look strange if the rest of the band were prominent in the video but he wasn't.
ReplyDeleteWow 44 comments already! I am a little late again, mind you. Thanks to Robert Thompson for making it available.
ReplyDeleteEighth Wonder – I’m not scared – proving more durable and listenable than the other ‘Wonder’ this appearance by Faye, sorry Patsy sees another little black number and also features the ‘time scoop’ effect from ‘The Five Doctors’.
Climie Fisher – Love changes everything – Climie and co are giving this song title a good tilt at’ best song called ‘Love changes everything’ in 1988’ but get pipped by Michael Ball later in the year. Nice to see the cameraman running around to film the female backing singers.
Debbie Gibson – Only in my Dreams – Written by Debbie herself, this was first released in 1987 and charted lowly reaching no54. Here it’s officially called ‘Only in my Dreams (1988)’ and it’s a better song for me than her other hit.
Breakers – Jellybean, Glenn Goldsmith and Taylor Dayne all went right over my head. Fleetwood Mac however, were an entirely different ticket. The best track on ‘Tango in the Night’, and the fifth single release after some flops – ‘Seven Wonders’ and ‘Family Man’ had been released ahead….and still one more single release was to come - ‘Isn’t it Midnight’.
Status Quo – Ain’t complaining – Sounding like Chas and Dave, this is diminishing returns for the boys despite the amusing video.
Wet Wet Wet – Temptation – The wets were gaining a Showaddywady reputation by this stage, but they still did nothing for me.
Aswad – Don’t turn around – FF
Pet Shop Boys – Heart – Wow! Based on the film ‘Nosferatu’, we once again see Lowe as the driver and end up with Ian McKellan singing along! Very arty – the female bride is none other than Danijela Colic-Prizmic.
…and just outside peaking at no41 for now is ‘Oooo baby baby….’ Which we’ll be hearing more of later in 1988. Can’t wait!
Michael Ball's song didn't enter the charts until January 1989, so I think Climie Fisher can claim the honour for 1988!
DeleteOuch yes! Why did I think it was 1988? Memory cheating again!
DeleteFor me another 'Vienna'. A No2 record that deserved to go all the way if it wasn't for Simple Minds and Jason Donovan!
Interesting about the six singles released from “Tango In The Night” in the UK. They followed a complete pattern of a top 10 hit followed by a flop between 54 and 60. Fleetwood Mac’s record label then released a greatest hits compilation and pulled one of the two new tracks, “As Long As You Follow”, as a single. It peaked at 66!
DeleteIsn't It Midnight is one of the best tunes on the Tango In The Night album if not the best one. I certainly rate it higher than Little Lies and Everywhere, and on a par with the debut single Big Love which is my favourite by a mile. It's quite amazing how they were still releasing singles from this album in mid-1988 with Isn't It Midnight, which was about a year after the first single from it in April 1987.
DeleteArthur, I remember purchasing the video for As Long As You Follow from Itunes several years ago, which is about the only one ever put up on there to download and buy, even now, yet all those other famous videos over the years have not been offered for public purchase by iTunes. One can only hope that things change, and that they furnish the rest of them for us to enjoy and keep.
DeleteIsn't It Midnight got lots of airplay at the time (and I agree Dory, one of the best songs on the album) but by that point there can't have been many Mac fans who hadn't bought Tango In The Night.
DeleteI'm surprised As Long As You Follow didn't do better in the charts. I bought it as a 3" CD single, the only one I've got in that format.
I'm mystified as to how 'Isn't it Midnight' didn't fare better in the charts but, oh hang on, that's the title of the B Side!
DeleteOn the subject of Mac B sides, 'For You & I Part 1' which was the flip of 'Big Love' is worth a listen. When Tango In The Night was remastered a couple of years back one of the bonus tracks was a combined version of the b side with part two which closed the original album.
DeleteHi Anonymous! Can you please put up the link to 25/12/83 again as I hadn't downloaded it yet? Many thanks!
ReplyDeletehere you go
ReplyDeletehttps://we.tl/t-WsdDbYIkIB
Thanks Anonymous for this! Is it ok to keep requesting shows in the future as I wondered why you had removed the earlier link?
ReplyDeleteKeep requesting removal was accidental
DeleteGreat news, Anonymous! Thanks again.
DeleteNice to see Mike Smith bowing out by bringing Nicky Campbell down to his low quality level. Even more irksome was his habit of merrily slagging off the acts he didn't like. John Peel did it with humour, Mike Smith always sounded superior and smug when he did it.
ReplyDeleteClimie Fisher - A fantastic pop song, strange really how it took a re-release to make it a big hit.
Debbie Gibson - A not so fantastic pop song, though admittedly better than her debut.
Breakers - Not sure if we see these again, but I like them all bar Glen Goldsmith. The Jellybean one is a particular favourite.
Status Quo - It's not too bad by their standards. The video isn't as funny as they seem to think though.
Wet Wet Wet - Marti showboating here and showing exactly why the band are better off without him now (especially as this song became an 8 minute club singing fest at their gigs in the last few years) - as the last single from the album it's no surprise that it's the forgotten one, especially as it shares similarities with 'Angel Eyes'.
Pet Shop Boys - It's PSB, so of course it's great.
I'd like to echo the thanks to all the people who filled in the gaps with the missing episodes. I never would've thought that I'd be able to get a full set of every 80s episode.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I really appreciate the restoration work done on some of the episodes, but, unfortunately, I missed the download window for some of Drykid's edits and wondered if anyone could help out with any of the ones I'm missing:
19 July 1984
20 March 1986
03 April 1986
08 May 1986
10 July 1986
29 October 1987
Thanks
Hi,
DeleteI know you were looking for these on Popscene recently. I was hoping someone would come up with them as I'm missing drykid's restoration of 19/07/84 myself.
I remove the black bars from the restorations as it allows me to watch them in either 4:3 or 16:9 on a widescreen TV.
Here they are apart from 19/07/84:
https://we.tl/t-PMssmzAms5
https://we.tl/t-CIdLgeBENP
Has anyone got a copy of drykid's restoration of 19/07/84?
Thanks if you have!
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DeleteThanks so much for uploading those missing restorations. I'm a completist when it comes to getting the full original episodes, so that's a big help!
ReplyDeleteCan you please re upload 31/03/88 (Nicky Campbell & Mike Smith)
ReplyDeleteThank You
ReplyDeleteSo we reach the final Mike Smith edition and a massive thank you to everyone who has provided the episodes. Much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteSensual blonde Patsy back again with an identical performance and still no sign of the other seven wonders.
Climie Fisher with a song that didn't seem to get much love on here last week. Personally I love it. An 80s fave. A brilliant little pop song. All ended after this for CF.
Debbie Gibson gets Nicky trying to be funny. This is much better than her first hit and has aged well. Why is she dancing with the priest on the beach. She has very odd dreams.
Breakers:
Jellybean with their best record. Top Ten of the year. Possibly best song of the year. I absolutely love this record.
Fleetwood Mac with my favourite song of theirs next. Everywhere has an instructing video as well.
Glen Goldsmith..Boom Boom? Me neither.
Songs OK but nowt special.
Taylor Dayne back again so soon. This is not a bad pop song and you don't hear it so much nowadays.
Status Quo and Griff ain't complaining.
Yes it sounds like all their other records. Yes it's over quickly.. Let's move on.. I like the video though.
The Wets playing live and a huge crowd favourite. This song sounds so much better live so a good idea. Also shows off they are real band. Would like to see Bros try this.. 😀 😀 😀
Aswad get a second week at the top.
PSB. Their best video. One of their best songs. Great end to the show and heading all the way to the top.
Good luck finding the single version of this... So many different mixes abound..
Nicky and Smithy really bring out the worst in each other. Never again thank god.