There's a kind of magic in the 21st of December 1995 edition of Top of the Pops!
Bottles of the pop
21-12-95: Presenters: Ronan Keating & Stephen Gately
(22) CORONA – I Don’t Wanna Be A Star
Getting the last regular edition of 1995 underway but the song got no higher.
(35) MARY KIANI – I Give It All To You
Performing her second of four top 40 hits but this one got no higher.
(6) QUEEN – A Winter’s Tale (video) (and charts)
At its peak.
(12) THE LEVELLERS – Just The One
A second studio performance but the song got no higher.
(NEW) MADONNA – Oh Father (video)
Will peak at number 16.
(33) JIMMY NAIL – Love
In the studio tonight but this John Lennon cover got no higher.
(10) OASIS – Wonderwall
Heading back up the charts again after previously peaking at number 2.
(NEW) DOG EAT DOG – No Fronts
Will become their only top 40 hit when it peaks at number 9.
(1) MICHAEL JACKSON – Earth Song (video)
Third of six weeks at number one.
(TOTP2) THE SNOWMEN – Hokey Cokey (clip of TOTP 17-12-81) (and credits)
A number 18 hit from 1981.
25th December is next.
After Take That it was inevitable that Boyzone would get a go presenting The Pops. They do Ok.
ReplyDeleteWasn't expecting much from Corona but it had a rather nice disco vibe to it.. I really enjoyed that.
From disco to an 80s style ballad from Mary Kiani who might be Scottish. Show has gone retro tonight. Very nicely done. Liked that. When was the last time we had Bagpipes on TOTP? Ian Wright on backing vocals.
And now something you don't get every day from Queen, a dull tune. Mr Blobby,, Barrymore, Frank Bruno. Is it funny season? Smokin Mojo Filters I remember I liked that tune.
All hail The Levellers. Love the way this speeds up as it goes. Tune of the night.
Madonna. Always forget this tune when I think of her songs. From 1989 of course (Like A Prayer album) but this rather fine song gets a second life on her 95 ballads album.
Nail and Son (Thomas I think) with a dreary ballad. Final Nail in his chart career? This was poor.
Oasis v MFP. I know who'd win the fight. As for the songs I'm really torn. Love them both.
Dog Eat Dog. Oh good, stage school white kids hip hop. Why am I reminded of The Offspring? Amazingly this will go Top Ten next February. My goodness.
I also spotted Mr Blobby on the chart rundown, and also at peak at No.40 was Motiv 8 with Searching For The Golden Eye, which coincidentally was in the same chart as Golden Eye by Tina Turner four places above at No.36, and a new entry Eye Of The Tiger by Frank Bruno at No.31, all three then with the word Eye, and two with Golden Eye in the song title.
Delete11-4-74: Presenter: Noel Edmonds
ReplyDelete(23) LIMMIE & THE FAMILY COOKIN’ – A Walkin’ Miracle (crowd dancing) (and charts)
(8) MUD – The Cat Crept In
(4) SLADE – Everyday
(36) MUNGO JERRY – Long Legged Woman Dressed In Black
(7) DIANA ROSS & MARVIN GAYE – You Are Everything (video)
(20) THE WOMBLES – Remember You’re A Womble
(22) THE CHI-LITES – Homely Girl (danced to by Pan’s People)
(17) BILL HALEY & HIS COMETS – Rock Around The Clock ®
(NEW) ABBA – Waterloo
(1) TERRY JACKS – Seasons In The Sun (footage from Musikladen)
(5) THE GLITTER BAND – Angel Face (crowd dancing) (and credits)
Just watched this show on IPlayer, and we're also celebrating 50 years since this show first aired in 1974, and also celebrating a non-wiped episode.
DeleteHighlight of the show was Noel Edmunds getting a kiss on the lips from one of the girls in the studio audience just before introducing the Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye video which didn't even have Ross or Gaye in it, but a nice early spring video which looked like on a British coastline somewhere.
I did like The Wombles in the TOTP studio singing one of their famous singles, and they did look very heavy in those wobbles costumes.
The Chi-Lites tune danced this week by Pans People was a later hit for UB40 in the 80s which is when I first heard it, and never knew the original until now.
The playout song this week was The Glitter Band, which I don't think had anything to do with Gary Glitter. Apparently The Glitter Band had a main TOTP slot the week before in the TOTP studio on 4.4.74 edition at the same position of No.5, and this sounded quite good on the playout, especially with the lovely studio audience dancing to close out the show.
Forgot to say that the first single on the Top 30 chart rundown, which was the norm for chart rundowns in those days, was Electric Light Orchestra with the superb Ma Ma Ma Belle, having already peaked at No.22.
DeleteThis song always featured on ELO concerts around the world, and even in the more recent incarnation called Jeff Lynne's ELO with their live concerts in more recent years since re-emerging on to the scene around 2014 since the old ELO line-up disbanded in 1986.
This one was so enjoyable to watch and if it was purely because of it being 50 years since Abba's Eurovision triumph, well at least we've had a an earlier surviving edition that was complete and entirely as broadcast. I thought
Deletethe audience were as much a highlight as the music; There's a bloke in a check shirt near the start desperate to get his face in shot, a fellow in a bow tie who looks like he'd rather be at The Proms, a bunch of lads who could be on a stag night, one of them clad in a hooped top who gets somewhat overexcited. Oh yes and two girls in chocolate brown shirts and trousers who appear prominently like a Children's Film Foundation version of the '80s 'cheerleaders'. I wouldn't say that to the face of the one who's insouciantly chewing gum throughout. Noel who is welcomed by a ferocious crash zoom, has an ease and brassiness that you don't see in later editions. Maybe it's the girls all around him but he's very gregarious and I hazard to say, even quite cool, with voices and jokes and mic lending all while wearing a shirt of loverman unbuttonedness and the biggest hair I've seen him have thus far. Interesting how he starts things off with the exact kind of link that Tony Blackburn does all the time nowadays on Radio 2.
One other thing; you wouldn't think a 3 day week had just come to an end by looking at the lights on this. Collosal supernova, or whatever they could be called, lights all over the place. All in all just a hugely entertaining 35 mins.
Mud; The best band to start things off and doing a whole range of antics. A Kicking song and just a shame it's mimed so we don't get a chance to see if Rob Davis really can play that solo entirely behind his back. Dave Mount looked like he was trying an extravagant drum trick but appeared to end up in a bit of a tangle with a stick dangling upside down. Great start!
Slade; This edition is heavy on rollicking glam and here's the most rollicking of the glam groups to do something unusually slow. 'Everyday' a brilliant song and good to hear Noddy's lower register and his yell together in full effect.
Mungo Jerry; Noel does a comic voice and even a comic face in this link. A girl gets up and joins him and you assume a conversation is coming but then she just gets ignored by both host and cameraman. Anyway a scary looking bloke dressed in silver next. A song with staggeringly banal lyrics and an unpleasant humping action on his guitar at key moments. Apparently his hair was sprayed silver as well but I couldn't make that out due to the prominence of his sideboards though even they can't compete with an awe inspiring star light that obliterates everything in sight near the end. Everyone else in the band is denim dull though the keyboard player is having a great time, grinning and thrusting his fist jovially at the camera. This song should be total crap but could I get this out of my head for hours after and did I want to? No I did not!
Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye; At last one of those vintage Totp films that predated the age of videos and this one to an absolute classic. Noel does interact with a female to his side. Asks her a question and......blimey!!!!!
So glad 'You Are Everything' has featured even with a film storyboard that could've been written by someone who only half heard the lyrics and was pissed when drafting it. A man in trendy clobber walks somewhere treacherous to suddenly spot a girl then walks off again. Er, then plays football with his mates. She still seems to like him though. Doesn't make much sense but has a romantic air about it. It made me think of the Monty Python sketch starting at Trafalgar Square where a competitor goes and hides somewhere on the planet and another competitor has to go and look for him.
The Wombles; I was really looking forward to seeing this. Huge fun and worth it alone for the sight of a crowd of adults of at least average intelligence shouting "Remember You're a Womble!!!". Was that Chris Spedding then doing fun hand actions with Mike Batt? One of the highlights.
One extra observation to the first part; It was good to see Genesis at No.29 with 'I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)'. They've selected a reasonably conventional live still of Peter Gabriel. Its great to ponder what the effect would've been on Genesis' record sales had the single Ben represented by a still of him in a red dress and a foxes head!
DeleteSky Arts is showing the Peter Gabriel Taking The Pulse - Live In Verona 2010 concert tonight, well its about half way through as I am writing this, to be followed by Phil Collins concert from 2010, followed by Genesis When In Rome concert, so it is a Genesis night tonight on Sky Arts until midnight.
DeleteLooks good. I might watch some of the concert. I wish they would show the documentary about them on the channel.
DeletePt second;
DeleteThe Chi-Lites; The fifth Pan's People routine since January and it's by far the best for me. I'd say it's a classic and one of the last, maybe the very last surviving routine featuring the classic line up of Ruth, Babs, Dee Dee, Louise and Cherry. A funny link out of The Wombles and into the five dancing to "'omely gewl" in a memorable routine switching back and forth from plain to goddess. When as the latter wearing flimsy white dresses, in Ruth's case so much so that when they come forward in a line hers looked for a moment like it would fly straight over her head. Or was that just my sad imagination?
Some delightful acting especially from Dee Dee while Louise of course looks utterly gorgeous even while looking plain. When she switches to white. Wow! I must say she is my favourite of all the dancers.
Really love this original version of 'Homely Girl' and another highlight.
Bill Haley and His Comets; OK! Another real treat on TV. This wholly live performance of 'Rock Around The Clock' with I presume the original Comets wasn't even included on a Rock 'n' Roll compilation on BBC4 several years ago. It sounds brilliant though the saxophone player seems curiously unaware of the problem of not playing straight into the mic. As he sways from side to side the sax is obviously going to go loud then quiet! Strange lapse for a member of an act that established their live routine in the early '50s. Anyway loved that. It's so easy to take the single for granted and yeah Biil Haley was too old etc, but I heard this at full blast at a cousin's wedding anniversary years ago and my God it was thrilling to hear! Every 8th beat is like a cannon going off. And can you hear this in any other voice but Bill's?
The two girls in brown look like they're meant to lead everyone in some rock 'n' roll moves but lead in some other dance completely.
Abba; Interesting to see Noel's link to 'Waterloo'. He has a certain "this could be alright" tone to his voice though there's no doubting that the audience, most of whom don't look like Eurovision was their thing, are well into it. A bloke at the front looks like a superimposed image set on fast forward. Lots of jackets and feathercut heads gazing intently and the group who look iconic wearing their Eurovision clothes. Again this sounds completely live and another classic few minutes.
Terry Jacks; From Eurovision to a performance from German TV. A brick wall and solarised perm. It doesn't get more '74 than that for me. He looks a lot like an overweight, bubble permed James Dean Bradfield up close. 'Seasons In The Sun' miserable as hell but also very charming.
I liked Noel's goodbye saying the show should end on a cheerful note. Play out to The Glitter Band and the handclaps and the shouted chorus. No surprise which members of the audience got their faces in the camera the most here! Full of happy faces and carrying on way after the credits finished this has been an absolute treat. More please!
The Boyzoners are fine as presenters (and I hated their music).
ReplyDeleteCorona - good but not spectacular
Mary K - I'd forgotten all about this one. And no wonder because it's not very exciting. The definition of filler track - not bad but just there.
Queen - like this one.
Welcome return from The Levellers after the last performance got Glittered off the reruns.
Madonna - was this released for Something to Remember? I'm sure it was for some compilation anyway. Odd to turn an old album track into a single but it's powerful (if unsubtle).
Jimmy Nope.
Oasis even though they've sunk a few places? The show's been doing that kind of thing a lot this year. It's weird.
DED - good tune but strange choice for an exclusive.
Three new entries peaking just outside the Top 40 and with a mention:
ReplyDeleteNo.42 Morrissey - Sunny
Last single for Morrissey until late 1997, so goodbye for a while.
No.43 Luther Vandross - Every Year Every Christmas
Fifth single of 1995, and after this would only have the occasional single, and not every year as has been doing since 1986.
No.50 Michael Ball - The Rose
Penultimate single before calling a day with one more single a couple of months later in Feb 1996.
Paging Rob,
ReplyDeleteShe has had me painting all day.
Any chance of the usual TOTP2 fix, to soothe my aching back?
So sorry but having been on holiday I missed all those posted last week, being 2.12, 9.12 and 16.12, can anybody repost or point me in the direction of where I can find them? Thanks
DeleteTOTP2 episodes just to clarify!
DeleteTOTP2 23-12-1995 (please thank Ben Cook & Robert Thompson from the Popscene facebook group) https://we.tl/t-fdh1IeE3x6
DeleteAlso sorry Anon. I can't reupload them... but maybe someone else can ;)
DeleteThanks Rob,
DeleteThere's tonight TV sorted.
I am very grateful as ever.
@Anonymous I will repost them for you this time.
I don't have the fast upload and I have some more painting to do, so keep popping back today/tomorrow and I should have them uploaded at some point.
Any chance someone could re upload totp2 23/12/95 please?
DeleteThanks rob, ben and robert!!!
ReplyDeleteTotp2 02/12/95
ReplyDeletehttps://we.tl/t-Azf1612JH1
Cheers for this one Lurker!
DeleteTOTP2 09/12/95
ReplyDeletehttps://we.tl/t-5RmvjIAOOC
thanks!
DeleteLast one:
ReplyDeleteTOTP2 16/12/95
https://we.tl/t-lTlAAmrsOj
With thanks to Rob for keep posting them :)
Agreed, thanks for uploading them again :)
DeleteAny chance someone could repost 23/12/95 of TOTP2 please?
DeleteThe '74 edition was fascinating. Incredible to think that the starting point of rock n' roll was just 20 years old. Bill Haley was only 47 in that clip and he had been considered over the hill when he first played in the UK in 1957, when he must have been...er 29.
ReplyDeleteThe Wombles were the starting point of my own pop obsession. Remember You're A Womble was my first ever record - a gift on my fifth birthday in August of that year. I mentioned this fact when I met Mike Batt many years later after an interview with his then-charge, Katie Melua. Sadly, he didn't seem too impressed by this. He shook my hand and looked faintly embarrassed, as if I had farted out loud.
It's on the very cusp of my memory but '74 was a year filled with significant endings and beginnings. I hope they get round to showing the few pre '76 shows they're able to in this slot..
Hi will, it looks like the '74 show is all that will get shown pre '76. They're skipping 29/04/71 so I assume there'll be no more. Still at least we got one vintage one.
DeleteI was only one year older than you in 1974 Will, and I can only barely remember that year for The Wombles and Pot Black snooker on BBC2 where we still had a black and white TV at home in '74 and couldn't see the coloured balls from our TV set. I think we had Bagpuss on the telly around then and remember watching Pipkins, and Mary Mungo & Midge may have still been around on the telly by then, as I do remember watching it, but have no idea if it was in 1974 or before.
Delete