Transvision Amp
14/07/88 (Simon Bates & Bruno Brookes)
Transvision Vamp – “I Want Your Love” (15)
Cooooooor! Peaked at number 5.
Salt ‘N’ Pepa – “Push It” (2) (video)
At its peak.
UB40 & Chrissie Hynde – “Breakfast In Bed” (7) (rpt from 23/06/88)
Went up one more place.
Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers – “Tomorrow People” (28) (breaker)
Peaked at number 22.
Def Leppard – “Love Bites” (20) (breaker)
Went up to number 11.
Pat Benatar – “All Fired Up” (30) (breaker)
Her final top 40 hit and it peaked at number 19.
Debbie Gibson – “Foolish Beat” (18) (video)
Became her second and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 9.
The Wee Papa Girl Rappers – “Heat It Up” (29)
Peaked at number 21.
Tracy Chapman – “Fast Car” (5) (video)
At its peak.
Glenn Medeiros – “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You” (1) (rpt from 07/07/88)
Second of four weeks at number one.
Michael Jackson – “Dirty Diana” (14) (video/credits)
Peaked at number 4.
July 21st is next.
Thanks to Acer Ben and xrayfour for this. BBC4 fans will doubtless be heartbroken to miss Master Bates' swansong, and fittingly we get two time checks and a notable cock up, when he back announces Transvision Vamp as Salt 'N' Pepa before hastily trying to correct himself. Actually overall this was one of his better outings, which is a measure of how bad he had been on some previous occasions! Bruno does well here, perhaps his best performance so far, though he looks as if he was heading for a golf club dinner after the show...
ReplyDeleteWendy and co get things going with their studio debut, but despite her best efforts Wendy doesn't do much for me - the Minnie Mouse top doesn't help, I don't think. The drummer seems determined to steal some of her limelight with the exaggerated manner in which he wields his sticks. Salt 'N' Pepa are on video again, but this appears to be a different, more basic promo to what we saw before.
The breakers are all on again, and we are then on video once more with Debbie Gibson, looking all thoughtful and pensive as she undergoes numerous costume changes. This ballad represents a notable change of pace for her, and it's not bad at all, but though she tries hard she doesn't quite give it enough power or emotion to make it truly memorable. Back in the studio, Salt 'N' Pepa's British rivals assail our eardrums with their sample-heavy rap. They certainly look the part, but sound a bit too British to fully convince as credible rappers from the 'hood. Jacko comes up with a disappointingly unimaginative "in concert" video for his latest single release from Bad, perhaps to tie in with his then current mega-tour. You don't hear this one very often, but it's quite a decent rocker, though I've never understood what he sings directly after "Dirty Diana" each time...
Incidentally, I was amused to see that we got a brief shot of Simon Mayo at the end of the Glenn Medeiros repeat, as they didn't cut back to the live studio pictures quickly enough!
DeleteI noticed that as well John, it seems that BBC1 at the time of the original broadcast of this show had not cut the clip in time before the Mayo shot, but perhaps they were not perfectionists at the time, and did not care, but it definitely looked shabby, as I don't think this has happened before when showing repeat clips of previous shows!
DeleteAccording to the lyrics, Whackson sings "Dirty Diana, nah!" then finishes the chorus with "Let me be!"
DeleteThanks for that - I was hoping it might be something a bit more profound...
DeleteI seem to recall a re-run TOTP way back when some DJ presented a repeat of a stage performance and you can see the previous host (I think it was DLT) enjoying the act from an adjacent stage.
DeleteQuite a good show this one for Simon Bates's last appearance as a presenter. The debut of Transvision Vamp was a great start to the show, and Wendy James certainly has a sexually-charged look about her as Wikipaedia put it, and just when I thought Samantha Fox and Sabrina were the pinups at the time, so I have to disagree with John with regard to Wendy James. Love the video too, as we got a brief clip of it on last weeks show on the Breakers I think.
ReplyDeleteSalt & Pepa - it always amuses me when people decide to change the English dictionary spelling of a word to bump up their fortunes and public interest. Here we have Pepa instead of pepper, and other examples of this were Phorever People by The Shamen a few years later, around 1993 I think. Also, wasn't there a song called California Gurls, and numerous rappers in later years and decades with the word 'Wimmin' in their song titles? The list goes on, as I am sure there were many other examples in recent years.
Breakers - Def Leppard with easily their best single to date, and uncharacteristically romantic in their tone. This has to be their best effort in this 1987-88 era from the Hysteria album.
Pat Benatar with funnily enough a similar sounding record to Transvision Vamp, but two totally different personas.
Debbie Gibson - I remember this one, and really liking it, as one of my favourite tunes of the summer of '88, being on holiday and hearing this everywhere it seemed. Gorgeous tune in my opinion, helped enormously by the brilliant saxophone section on it.
So farewell, Simes, and you didn't disappoint with your Salt N Pepa link, for old time's sake. According to him they got their break from Sidney Wonder. Who the Hell is Sidney Wonder?!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, half-arsed lyrics ahoy with Transvision Vamp, a band name that probably means something gender fluid these days. A friend of mine saw them in concert when they had made it big, and the word he used to describe Wendy James was "lanky". Make of that what you will.
Then Simes' fave with a cheapo video seemingly taped off a TV show appearance, but not TOTP. Shouldn't it be "Push it well, push it very well"?
Skip over the Ubies and Chrissie, and then Debbie gets all morose on us. You're 17, it's not the end of your dating life! Kind of difficult to take seriously, but earnest as always.
Then brightening things up considerably, the Wee Papa Girl Rappers with what is basically Rock Da House Part 2, and if it's not as good, they are little rays of sunshine nevertheless. Haven't heard this since it was a hit!
They really don't like that Fast Car chorus, do they? Then a repeat of Glenn - I see Kim Wilde's guerrilla tactics have won out and her next big hit is already inside the Top 40.
Lastly, about a quarter of Michael Jackson's Dirty Diana, which if nothing else proves it wasn't BBC Four cutting the final videos early, BBC 1 did on the original broadcast. Ooh, was he singing about Princess Diana?! Er, no. I suppose this is his equivalent of rocking out. Not very impressed.
No doubt Gibson was given those lyrics by an older person when the song was written, cos yes, for a 17 year old, they should never be singing about not being able to love again the way they loved one particular person, no doubt another teenager!
DeleteI don't recall this Wee Papa Girl Rappers tune, as their memorable one seemed to be Wee Rule. Perhaps they should have done a combo with Pepa of Salt n Pepa, and called themselves Wee PEPA Girl Rappers which may have helped the fortunes of this particular tune!
I would honestly watch the heck out of a Wee Pepa Girl Rappers supergroup.
DeleteRap battle!
DeleteEr, anyway, @Dory, Debs wrote Foolish Beat by herself, as with all her hits. She's the youngest person to write and record her own No.1 single in the US, and Foolish Beat was that tune.
Hi, Anonymous! I'm on to ask for more shows if you've got them. Have you got the original archive shows of the following, which BBC4 either didn't show or cut bits out of? They are 20/01/83, 16/02/84,16/08/84 (all with JK sections removed) 16/06/83, 31/05/84 and 10/01/85 (all not shown due to DLT and Smith) Cheers!
ReplyDeletehere are 4 episodes brie
Deletehttps://we.tl/t-9Ww0U2XNiG
Anonymous, can you got 1/05/86 (archive version). Please
Deleteyep, here is 01/05/86
Deletehttps://we.tl/t-sLKPXZ9RfK
And here's my modified copies of 19/01/84 & 17/05/84 brie. Restored by drykid & missing bits provided by Neil:
Deletehttps://we.tl/t-fTDruhcgMx
Many thanks anonymous for 1/05/86!
DeleteLove the extra bit at the start of 16.6.83 there with Noel Edmonds gotcha of DLT! Thats why i love these archive versions as theres often little nuggets of extras contained within that were not with the original broadcast. Excellent stuff!
DeleteGreat stuff, Anonymous! Thanks again for these.
DeleteMany thanks xrayfour, for your efforts in getting these shows. Also thanks to drykid and Neil for supplying the missing bits. While I'm on xrayfour, have you got 27/09/73, 2/09/82 and 31/05/84 that Anonymous hasn't got,plus drykid's restoration of 26/10/78? Cheers!
DeleteYes, here they are:
Deletehttps://we.tl/t-fPNzxkbeZB
https://we.tl/t-vcuipOZygv
Hi, has anyone got drykid's restorations for 07/11/85 and 12/12/85?
DeleteI forgot that I had upscaled Neil's copy of 02/09/82. There's not much in it but I think the audio is less muddy on this one:
Deletehttps://we.tl/t-9ClVKgWnuw
I've not got drykid's restorations of 07/11/85 or 12/12/85. If they don't turn up I'm sure he will give them to me if I ask nicely.
Brilliant, xrayfour! Thanks again!
DeleteThanks guys for making this available. Not too much wrong with it to my ears. Sorry to see Simon go actually. He did the chart show after Tom Browne on Sunday evenings and although not as good as Tom, still did a pretty good job. I guess he’d stopped doing it by 1988.
ReplyDeleteTransvision Vamp – I want your love – What a performance! Great opener on a show packed with female vocalists.
Salt n’ Pepa – Push it – Sans crowd noises, this still sounds great and gets right in my head. Not sure about the Stevie Wonder connection though; it doesn’t show.
UB40 and Chrissie Hynde – Breakfast in Bed – Only one of the UB40 guys sings on this but as noted previously, oodles better than their murdering of Sonny and Cher’s classic.
Breakers – Heard far too much of Ziggy, Def Leppard didn’t really bite, Pat Benatar sounded good although I prefer ‘Love is a Battlefield’.
Debbie Gibson – Foolish Beat – As noted by THX, a US no1 no less, but I don’t find it that good. Just OK. Is there a stonking chorus somewhere that I have missed?
Wee Papa Girl Rappers – Heat it up – Oh dear, I thought these two were only responsible for the dire ‘Wee rule’ but unfortunately not. Fast forward
Tracy Chapman – Fast Car – Fast forward (again)
Glenn Madeiros – Nothing’s gonna change my love for you – Video next week perhaps? Great to see a quality song at no1 though.
Michael Jackson – Dirty Diana – Ross? HRH? Who knows. Simply awful and handily placed for swift eject!
It looks like BBC4 are trying to rattle through these episodes as quickly as they did in previous years, when first it was the DLT shows that they could leave out, then the Smith shows, and now that there are no characters to leave out, they are leaving shows out anyway, such as this one when neither of the presenters had done anything wrong or did not sign repeats contract, etc.
DeleteBates made way for Tony Blackburn on the Top 40 show, and then returned briefly in 1984 before Richard Skinner (sadly) got the gig.
DeleteTa VM to Acer Ben and xrayfour for this ‘end of an era’ show.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to The Golden Hour. It was when Simon Bates made his last TOTP appearance – but what was the year?
Bruno Brookes inventing Al Murray’s Pub Landlord attire for him there.
I wonder what the attraction was for Elvis Costello to write an album for Wendy James? A cool sit down start and the dawn of the Essex fake tan there, though we lost one Vamp lad compared to their mugshot. Wendy’s left her books at home this time.
A studio and video mash-up there for Salt ‘n’ Pepa. Points lost for not getting one of the blokes to mime that lad’s ’sexy people’ rap. Poor show.
Ziggy looks like his dad, doesn’t he? Sounds similar too, if a bit poppier, though not as ‘weak lemon drink’ as Aswad had become.
Move over, Magnum, the Def boys show how to nail a full-on yet mid-pace metal ballad.
Well done, new mum. Pat Benatar with some more of that sort of rock the Americans took to their hearts more than us. Has to be “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” for me while we’re at it.
Debbie and her ex were thirsty, weren’t they? Look at all those cups! Did a caffeine rush kick in and cause her to dump him? Very mature lyrics there for a teenager, but I’m still waiting for a chorus unless it was brilliantly camouflaged.
“Heat It Up”? Rewarmed gas mark 4 leftovers from last night.
FF Gloomy Tracy and Syrupy Glenn and also Jacko after ten seconds of that bilge. “Dirty Diana”? Nah. See what I did there?
I’ll give you a timecheck, Slimes. It’s half past seven. Time for you to disapear into the ether. Bye and thanks, I guess, considering some of the upcoming hosts.
Interesting... it appears Wendy James approached Elvis Costello for help after her band split. An unusual collaboration.
DeleteAnother RIP came to my notice today sadly. Barrie Masters, the energetic lead singer with Eddie and the Hot Rods. Shame that ToTP performance of 'Teenage Depression' has gone.
ReplyDeleteHello any chance of putting up the 14/07/88 edition please? I missed it somehow! Thanks in advance.
ReplyDeleteCould not get the Mega link to work. Here's a WeTransfer of the show:
Deletehttps://we.tl/t-eSasHw7jrs
Thank you very much!
ReplyDeleteThe first copy of 1988-07-14.mpg uploaded a few weeks ago from we.tl/t-tGXF2rwwgr is 50 frames interlaced and plays properly in 50 frames if on VLC you set deinterlace mode to Bob.
ReplyDeleteI'm so far behind that I'm mired in amongst the 'have you got the show from xx/xx/xx posts!
ReplyDeleteLuckily, there are a lot of songs we've already seen on this edition so this shouldn't take long....
Interesting that they've gone with a different Salt'n'Pepa clip - perhaps they realised how unlike the single version the official video is?
Debbie Gibson - Very dull indeed to these ears.
Wee Papa Girl Rappers - This is the only thing that I'm disappointed to have missed on BBC4. It's a very good track, although the official chart records show that 'Two Men And A Drum Machine' (what happened to the trumpet?!) were also credited but they are ignored on TOTP.
Jacko - One of his most under-rated songs I reckon. Certainly you hardly ever hear it, which is a shame as it's miles better than 'Man In The Mirror' which somehow became his approved classic tune after he died. Not sure who decided that on our behalf....
So long Slimes you won't be missed. No chemistry at all with Bruno and time for him to leave..check your watch on the way out.
ReplyDeleteWendy James looking fabulous as The Vamp hit the TOTP studio for the first time. Great energetic opening to the show.
A different video for Salt n Pepa followed by a repeat of UB40 which so nothing new to see here.
Breakers:
Ziggy and his Melody Makers with a decent enough tune. I do vaguely remember this but the video is a bit bland.
Def Leppard - Big fan of Love Bites. Video seems ok but song is real quality.
Pat Benatar. Don't remember this at all. Seems ok.
Getting a full play for Debbie Gibson means this has grown on me since last week. Probably her best tune so far.
Found myself really enjoying the Wee Papa Girl Rappers even though I don't remember this one at all. Lots of energy and would sound great in a club.
2 repeats in a row followed by one of MJs best songs. Perfect to go with his tour dates as it suits a live video.
Too many repeats tonight, not the best of shows.