Friday 20 December 2019

Top of the Pops and Wine

We wish you a merry Christmas Day 1988 edition of Top of the Pops!

We Three DJs



25/12/88  (Bruno Brookes, Gary Davies & Anthea Turner)

S-Express – “Theme From S-Express”
Pet Shop Boys – “Always On My Mind”

Belinda Carlisle – “Heaven Is A Place On Earth” (video clip)
Tiffany – “I Think We’re Alone Now” (video clip)
Kylie Minogue – “I Should Be So Lucky” (video clip)
Whitney Houston – “One Moment In Time” (video clip)
Enya – “Orinoco Flow” (rpt from 20/10/88)

Aswad – “Don’t Turn Around” 
Fairground Attraction – “Perfect”

Climie Fisher – “Love Changes (Everything)” (video clip)
Bros – “When Will I Be Famous?” (video clip)
Rick Astley – “Together Forever” (video clip)
Bobby McFerrin – “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” (video clip)
Brother Beyond – “The Harder I Try” (video clip)

Pet Shop Boys – “Heart”
Yazz – “”The Only Way Is Up”

The Timelords & Gary Glitter – “Doctorin’ The Tardis”~ edited out.

Bros – “I Owe You Nothing” (video clip)
Glenn Medeiros – “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You” (video clip)
Phil Collins – “Groovy Kind Of Love” (clip from 08/09/88)
Robin Beck – “The First Time” (rpt from 10/11/88)

Wet Wet Wet – “With A Little Help From My Friends”
The Hollies – “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother”

Cliff Richard – “Mistletoe & Wine” (rpt from 08/12/88)
Bros – “Silent Night” (with credits)


Next up is the 31st December.

52 comments:

  1. Last Episode With The April 1986 to December 1988 Logo, End Graphics and the Main Stage That Has Been Used In Some Form Since 1980.

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  2. Does anyone have the 1988 episodes June 9th & June 16th as they are missing from my SkyQ box.

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    1. How odd - my SkyQ box failed to record those 2 as well!

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    2. I've not yet moved across to Sky Q, as I am still using my Sky+ HD box, as apparently you can't transfer the recordings to Sky Q, so while my Sky HD box still works ok present-day to record shows, I'm not looking to move to Sky Q just yet.

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  3. Here's the uncut version of Christmas Day 1988 ~ https://we.tl/t-w6ZBXxmBaX?src=dnl

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    1. Thanks Angelo. That GG performance was a bit of a mess.
      Such an arrogant prat..
      Won't miss this at all on Xmas Day when I watch the rest of the show.
      Merry Xmas.

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  4. Here's an upscaled stereo copy of 25 Years of TOTP from 31/12/88 also. It's an mkv file:

    https://we.tl/t-pVpn29MUQp

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    1. Thanks xrayfour - looking forward to watching this.

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    2. Cheers xrayfour.

      Will give that a watxh NYE before I with to R2 for Gary Davies 80s NYE... 😀

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    3. Thanks xrayfour.Fantastic job!

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  5. Thanks to Angelo for providing an uncut version of this - no surprise that the Timelords performance was cut by BBC4, though even if Mr Gadd hadn't been there those KKK-style robes, albeit in black rather than white, might have been enough to erase this from history anyway! This was a Christmas show very much in the vein of the last couple, a sprinkling of new studio performances interspersed with video clips. Gazza and Bruno were both professional, but Anthea was predictably screechy and annoying - she can count herself lucky that she got this gig, given she had only presented one regular show at this point. Lots of pointless "interviews" with various stars as well this year, none especially toe-curling, though Simon Climie couldn't resist plugging his new single unbidden - it got to 22 in the end.

    Not much to say about the new performances. Fairground Attraction, in their last appearance on the show, were very irritating thanks to Eddi's throwing and catching antics with the audience, which severely impeded her miming in places - even more irritatingly, I couldn't make out what it was she was throwing! The Wets were live but very loud, and to close we had to endure a truly hideous rendition of one of my favourite carols, with Matt indulging in absurd vocal gymnastics that would put Whitney or Mariah Carey to shame. My ears, my ears...

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    1. I did a 'Christmas Turkeys' show for hospital radio many years ago which included the Bros take on Silent Night - with added glass breaking sound effects when Matt hit the high notes. Very childish, but it worked well.

      The sound effect CD also came in handy for equally hellish festive offerings from Michael Bolton and Anita Dobson...

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    2. I think it was a satsuma John. She was feeding it to the guitarist as well.

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    3. Yeah, it was a satsuma. Or a tangerine. Do you know, I had a satsuma today that was rubbish, totally tasteless. I thought it was supposed to be the season for them?! Satsuma news, there.

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    4. Cheers THX. Made me smile.

      I belive you need a Clementine...flavour never disappoints. 😀 😀 😀

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  6. Interesting to watch this, where even the songs i don't like had something about them, and compare it to the soulless christmas episodes we get nowadays - I’m obviously getting too old!

    Highlights

    PSB
    Belinda Carlisle
    Yazz

    Lowlights

    Tiffany
    Glenn Medeiros
    Wet wet wet

    Curious: wondered what the strange symbol in the corner of the Whitney video was, but when Enya faded in I realised it was the tip of the holly graphic...

    Has anyone else ever mentioned that the girl in the Rick Astley video looks like Kylie?...

    Don’t remember seeing the Silent Night clip before.

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    1. I can definitely remember the Silent Night clip from the time, as my Dad was making comments about it being a load of rubbish!

      I suspect it was recorded at the same time as Cat Among The Pigeons, maybe with the Christmas special in mind or with the expectation that the single was going to stay in the top 2 longer than it did.

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    2. My Gran saw Bros do Silent Night on Wogan and was praising it for the rest of Christmas. Probably not target audience, mind you.

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  7. I never noticed it before but the S-Express singer seems to throw a tantrum mid way through and goes and sits down and scowls for the rest of it. What was going on there? Now I remember why I used to find Anthea Turner annoying even before the lottery/Grant Bovey era.

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    1. I don't think she was throwing a tantrum, she was miming the screams near the end of the record. Seems to have taken it out of her, though!

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    2. As I menitoned back in April? I had a clear childhood memory of this moment and I thought it was because she sent the microphone stand flying so she was sulking.
      Will see how much my memory cheets when I watch it back on Xmas Day.

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  8. I can see Anthea is going to be subjected to a lot of abuse over the next year, but I think she's quite funny. I mean, she's not supposed to be, but...

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    1. She will hereby be known as Anthea Turn-off in my comments. 😀

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    2. Anthea wasn't too bad on this occasion but with Bates and Smitty gone the presenting roster was lacking a really annoying host.

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    3. I'd already nicknamed the unwanted screecher Anthearse (as in Anthee-arse), but that reads more like a vehicle for a dead insect, so I'll probably borrow Morgie's moniker and pay copyright fees. :-D

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  9. is this the last broadcast episode of 1988? i went to the tvdb site to find out, but like most these days they insist on invading one's privacy in return for browsing their site! if anyone can let me know if so or not, then i would apprceciate it. thanks

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    1. yes, bbc4 are not showing the 31st December edition due to jimmy savile being one of the hosts.

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    2. There was a 25th Anniversary TOTP special broadcast on 31.12.88 with old footage & some new performances of old songs. I've posted a link above but if my memory is serving me well I don't think that you download the shows Wilberforce. It can be viewed on a Russian site if you wish. I've checked it out & all appears to be ok with the link which is available & has been viewed on Facebook:

      https://my.mail.ru/mail/valeriy1001/video/275826/276587.html

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    3. despite the presence of "now then, now then", angelo presumably you will be submitting a post for that show? xrayfour thanks for the link, but you are right in that i don't download the shows. however, i should like to add a submission to that one as and when angelo has featured it

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    4. That's a cool link xrayfour ~ I think I might use that one for the blog :-)

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    5. It's on its way imminently :-)

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  10. I know we've got an mkv file of the 31st December edition, but I was wondereing if anyone's got an mp4 version out there, as I think most people prefer mp4s?

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    1. mp4 311288 https://we.tl/t-7xB26j69z6

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  11. I'm fairly sure that at some point in the programme (I'll need to re-watch it sometime to be sure!!) they say that they will play every number 1 of 1988, however they do miss out on a number 1 during the show, that being the 1 week chart topper 'Desire' by U2. All the others are there as far as I can tell.

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  12. Hi Anonymous! I'm on to ask if you've got the following archive episodes of these mid-80's shows that BBC4 either cut bits out of or didn't show at all. They are 14/04/83, 28/07/83, 28/06/84, 18/10/84, 2/05/85 and 12/12/85. Cheers!

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    1. here are some eps : https://we.tl/t-itAcvtllsC

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    2. Happy Christmas from me Anonymous. The shows that you have shared with us over the past year were a collector's dream. Have a great 2020!

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    3. Most welcome everyone hopefully i can share more in 2020. Happy Christmas and Prosperous New Year to all.

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    4. Great stuff, Anonymous! Thanks for these and all the many shows you've posted for me. Happy Xmas and a great new year to you!

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    5. Hi xrayfour! Just a message to wish you a happy Xmas and new year as well, and to thank you for posting the other shows Anonymous hadn't got. While i'm on, have you got the two missing shows that I've just asked Anonymous for and he hasn't got? They are 2/05/85 (Smith show) and 12/12/85 (Link to Smith) Cheers!

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    6. Here you go brie. It's a new restoration of 12/12/85 with the complete missing link. I only finished it this morning. There's no opening titles on 02/05/85. Happy new year:

      https://we.tl/t-8QMI9dIaai

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    7. Brilliant stuff, mate! Many thanks for your work on these. All the best for 2020!

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  13. seeing that it turns out this is the last edition of the show dedicated to 1988, i have decided to post my annual "crackers" and turkeys" list here:

    crackers:

    the mission - tower of strength
    alexander o'neal ft. cherrelle - never knew love like this
    taja seville - love is contagious
    will downing - a love supreme
    mica paris - my one temptation
    all about eve - martha's harbour
    breathe - hands to heaven
    chris rea - on the beach
    pet shop boys - left to my own devices
    inner city - good life

    turkeys:

    basically the vast majority of what was on the show that isn't listed above. that's not to say 1988 was virtually bereft of any decent music, just that the good stuff either never came out on singles or if so then didn't make much of an impact in the charts - probably thanks to the SAW-sage factory hogging them!

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    1. here's a few examples of stuff i like from 1988 that never got shown on the programme:

      the bible - honey be good
      bruce hornsby & the range - the valley road
      francois hardy - la sieste
      the go-betweens - streets of your town
      level 42 - man
      thomas dolby - airhead
      joni mitchell - number one
      rem - the wrong child
      mica paris - great impersonation

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    2. 'Man' by Level 42 was the excellent B Side to the excellent A Side 'Take a Look' which never even got a breakers feature.

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  14. I must admit I don’t enjoy these year review shows as much as I sued to when they were broadcast.

    This one kicks off with the dreadful S’Express and that put me in a bad mood for a start.

    The best records of 1988 for me are either not featured at all or we get a brief video snatch. Yet again they won’t show the Robin Beck ‘Coca Cola’ video and we get the ‘hat’ performance again.

    Sadly one memory I do have of this show is the tasteless ‘eating’ performance of Fairground Attraction – definitely imperfect.

    Edited out is one of my favourite no1s of 1988 for obvious (sparkly) reasons. Watching that performance again on YT it struck me as to what a surprise that must have been to see Gadd suddenly appear, and the lyrics have been changed back to the original Glitter/Leander lines, so this must have been a rerecorded version. Whatever, it’s the most interesting act on the show for me.

    Other lowlights are the Hollies singing the rerecorded version of ‘He ain’t heavy’ again, Aswad, Whitney and three helpings of Bros. What was all the fuss about?
    All in all a very disappointing edition which I skipped most of.

    I’ll have a think about turkeys and crackers of 1988. In the meantime, the first act on this show is definitely in the latter category.

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  15. My top 10 records of 1988:

    1. Hazy Shade Of Winter - The Bangles
    2. The Race - Yello
    3. She's Like The Wind - Patrick Swayze
    4. Come Into My Life - Joyce Sims
    5. Kokomo - The Beach Boys (US No.1)
    6. Handle With Care - The Travelling Wilburys
    7. Wild Wild West - The Escape Club (US No.1)
    8. Yeke Yeke - Mory Kante
    9. Push It - Salt 'n' Pepa
    10. Left To My Own Devices - The Pet Shop Boys

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  16. Top10 of 1988 (no order)

    1. You Came – Kim Wilde (could have picked Kim’s other two top ten hits as well)
    2. A little Respect – Erasure
    3. Missing you – Chris de Burgh
    4. Hands to Heaven – Breathe
    5. Doctorin’ the TARDIS – Timelords
    6. Especially for you – Kylie and Jason
    7. Circle in the Sand – Belinda Carlisle
    8. Glenn Medieros – Nothing’s gonna change my love for you
    9. George Michael – One more Try
    10. Aztec Camera – Somewhere in my Heart

    Christmas Turkeys

    1. Theme from S’Express – S’Express
    2. Beat dis – Bomb the Bass
    3. I need you - BVSMP
    4. Desire – U2
    5. One moment in time – Whitney Houston
    6. With a little help from my Friends – Wet Wet Wet
    7. Don’t turn around – Aswad
    8. Riding on a Train – Pasadenas
    9. Dirty Diana – Michael Jackson (could have picked any of his other singles but chose this one)
    10. We call it acieeed – D.Mob

    (lots of other rubbish in the charts, but these 10 particularly offended my ears).

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  17. Caught up now and was a bit of a disappointing Xmas special with lots of repeats (Enya, Cliff) and pre-filmed inserts (Bros) and a lot of clips. Felt slightly underwhelming.

    Glad to see my memory did not cheat and the S-Express singer WAS sulking after knocking her microphone stand into the crowd. Highlight of the show.

    Good to see PSB twice - they've had a good year.

    And the less said about that Timelords/GG mash up the better - utterly appalling.

    So time for the Christmas Crackers and Turkey.
    Being 14 at the time I have a LOT of love for 88, unlike many people here, so I COULD easily do a Top 40 so I've tried to pick songs that really stand out but still only got it down to 20 songs

    Top 20 (no order) Crackers of 88

    1. The Timelords - Doctorin' The TARDIS
    2. Krush - House Arrest
    3. Billy Ocean - Get Outta My Dreams (Get Into My Car)
    4. Jellybean featuring Adele Bertei - Just A Mirage
    5. Bananarama - I Want You Back
    6. Prefab Sprout - The King Of Rock n Roll
    7. Desireless - Voyage Voyage
    8. Morrisey - Every Day Is Like Sunday
    9. Kim Wilde - You Came
    10. Siouxsie and The Banshees - Peek A Boo
    11. Yazz - The Only Way Is Up
    12/13. Tanita Tikaram - Good Tradition/Twist In My Sobriety
    14/15. Pet Shop Boys - Heart / Left To My Own Devices
    16. George Michael - Monkey
    17. Yello - The Race
    18. Enya - Orinoco Flow
    19. Deacon Blue - Real Gone Kid
    20. Freiheit - Keeping The Dream Alive

    Top Ten Turkeys

    1. Morris Minor - Stutter (c)Rap
    2. James Brown - Payback Mix
    3. Scott Fitzgerald - Go!
    4. Star Turn On 45 Pints - Pump Up The Bitter
    5. Billy Bragg / Cara Tivey - She's Leaving Home
    6. BVSMP - I Need You
    7. Julio and (absent) Stevie - My Love
    8. Sinitta - I Don't Believe In Miracles (in fact all her 88 singles were shit)
    9. Tiffany - I Saw Him Standing There
    10. Shakin' Stevens - True Love

    That's it for 88 then...other than to share my TOTP 88 Playlist (for those that can stand it..)

    https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4TU1BGxBh2wwKbDxoV7VMQ?si=9gYtOcVZRdOzPy2W29RsTw

    And finally the songs ignored by TOTP or that only made the Top 50. My "near misses" playlist

    https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5cDVnEEK3I3Ru1urmmCAZ1?si=U9alYHaIRu6baj5Rj1h-nQ

    Merry Christmas All...

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  18. I actually ended up enjoying 1988 more than I had expected, and certainly more than I did at the time. The second half of the year in particular saw some very good stuff in the charts. My Top 5 looks like this:

    1. All About Eve - Martha's Harbour
    2. Erasure - A Little Respect
    3. Tanita Tikaram - Twist in My Sobriety
    4. PSB - Left to My Own Devices
    5. Kim Wilde - Never Trust a Stranger

    Biggest turkey was Tiffany's godawful Fabs cover - hopefully not to be heard again for another 30 years at least...

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  19. I hearby declare 'Left to my own devices' as the most popular 1988 tune on this forum!

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