Ooh, what I'd give and what I'd take for the 8th of February 1996 edition of Top of the Pops!
Hard hat rock
8-2-96: Presenter: Julian Cope
(14) B.T. feat. VINCENT COVELLO – Loving You More
Had previously peaked at number 28 last year, this remix was at its peak at number 14.
(6) JOAN OSBORNE – One Of Us
Here with her only top ten hit and it got no higher.
(16) SMASHING PUMPKINS – 1979 (video) (and charts)
At its peak.
(4) LIGHTHOUSE FAMILY – Lifted
Making their studio debut with their first of five top ten hits, but it got no higher.
(7) EAST 17 – Do U Still?
In the studio tonight but the song got no higher.
(5) ETTA JAMES – I Just Want To Make Love To You (via satellite)
Her only hit and it got no higher.
(2) 3T – Anything (via satellite)
At its peak.
(NEW) TERRORVISION – Perseverance
Performing what will become their first of three top ten hits when it peaks at number 5.
(1) BABYLON ZOO – Spaceman
Third of five weeks at number one.
(TOTP2) ROD STEWART – Maggie May (clip of TOTP 27-12-71) (and credits)
Rod's first of six number one hits.
15th of February is next.
TOTP2 10-02-1996 https://we.tl/t-SmlsFMsRfP
ReplyDelete(please thank Ben Cook & Robert Thompson from the Popscene facebook group)
Thanks Rob, Ben and Robert!!!
DeleteThis one has sound, so thanks all.
DeleteI could only pick out Motorhead on this 50th TOTP2 show, rounding off the show with Ace Of Spades, although my favourite of theirs is Please Don't Touch which was a collaboration with Girlschool.
Cheers Rob, as always
DeleteSo so sorry, I was away at the weekend and the link has expired. Is there any chance somebody could repost or guide me in the direction of where I can find an alternate download link. Many thanks
DeleteREPOST AS REQUESTED:
Deletehttps://we.tl/t-wRaBSXUFKX
You are awesome, thanks!
DeleteLess interesting show than the last one, but I noticed in the chart rundown this week a couple of new entries at peak position, but not to be on the show as they slipped out of the Top 40 the following week:
ReplyDeleteNo.31 The Shamen - Heal (The Separation)
I didn't think the Shamen were still releasing new singles by 1996, as the 1991-1993 period for them was amazing, and this new 1996 single missed out on a slot on the show, cos No.31 is not high enough to guarantee a place, and was to be their last ever single, apart from a remix of Move Any Mountain released at the end of the year which did not do much better than this one.
No.28 Inner City - Your Love
Their first two singles in 1988 were Top 10 and their biggest singles, and then between 1989 to this final regular year for them in 1996, it was a struggle for any of their singles to make Top 40, and this new one was a rare exception, but still could not get a slot on TOTP at a peak of No.28.
3T - already at No.2? Good Lord, it's Michael Jackson's nephews of his other brother Tito, with Michael Jackson having mentored them and signed them onto his record label MJJ Music. It's a good effort by 3T, but is no Boyz II Men or All-4-One, who were in another league and a bit older.
19-5-77: Presenter: David Jensen
ReplyDelete(NEW) SUZI QUATRO – Roxy Roller
(15) HEATWAVE – Too Hot To Handle (video)
(NEW) LINDA LEWIS – The Moon And I
(21) BAY CITY ROLLERS – It’s A Game ®
(NEW) CAROL BAYER SAGER – You’re Moving Out Today
(3) JOE TEX – Ain’t Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman) (video)
(23) THE TRAMMPS – Disco Inferno (danced to by Legs & Co)
(NEW) TONY ETORIA – I Can Prove It
(27) JOY SARNEY – Naughty Naughty Naughty ®
(NEW) THE JACKSONS – Show You The Way To Go
(4) VAN McCOY – The Shuffle (danced to by Legs & Co)
(41) THE JAM – In The City
(1) ROD STEWART – The First Cut Is The Deepest (TV special 24-10-76)
(20) BOZ SCAGGS – Lido Shuffle (and credits)
Quite a good 70s show this one, although they edited out one of the two Legs & Co performances, although the one they did keep in was probably their sexiest ever outfits, as they were mere bikinis, so a hot Disco Inferno thanks to Legs & Co!
DeleteAlso really liked the Joe Tex video clip from Soul Train, although TOTP cut out shortly after the 'big fat woman' came onto the stage to join Tex, although you can see the whole video on Tube where she is there on stage for much longer bumping with Joe Tex!
Also didn't know that The Jacksons ever performed in the TOTP studio, and there was Michael Jackson with the Jackson Five in the West London studio! I certainly remember from 1978 when I started watching TOTP, that we only got videos of The Jacksons, so this 1977 studio appearance may have been their only one!
And then on the same show, we get the debut of The Jam on TOTP, and they were to come regularly to the TOTP studio including The Style Council after The Jam split up, so it's great to see the first time on TOTP.
I've fallen behind with the current repeats due to being very busy but I'll try to get back on track with 1996. I did catch the '77 show and I thought I'd comment on it. Good things on this one with Kid Jensen still in his groovy dude early phase. Lots of swaying and bobbing about as he delivers his links wearing a brown shirt emblazoned with, among other things, what looks like a pertractor. He does an especially good job trying to jolly along an audience who explore whole new territories of stoniness even by 1977 standards. Carol Bayer Sagar in particular deserves an overseas visiting performer's equivalent of the George Cross for her performance. What a miserable bunch. The Jacksons manage to get them going at least.
DeleteSuzi Quatro; Worth it for Kid's none more Kid like yelp of "Roxyyyy Rolllerrrr!!!!!" at the end. Fantastic. That should be put in a '70s pop TV time capsule. Maybe it was. Goodtime chugger with Suzi charisma personified as ever dressed like an 'Adventure Game' contestant (not on yet) and the rest in sporty tops.
Heatwave; Alright funkiest with the ba d in close up and some flames even more so. Enjoyed the kung fu moves from one of the lead singers at the end.
Linda Lewis; Well done Kid for clearly saying "It's not often we have Gilbert and Sullivan on the show..." instead of Gilbert O'Sullivan by mistake. Lovely song which gives the marvellous Linda Lewis plenty of opportunity to show off that fabulous voice. In close up for almost the whole performance which is fine with me though what the kitchen blinds effect is in aid of I've no idea. At the expense of the studio audience which is something to applaud.
Bay City Rollers; I'm no expert on The Roller's output but 'It's a Game' is definitely the best thing of theirs that I've heard. I genuinely liked that one and the audience making it immediately clear that this is a repeat. One girl front right of stage losing her absolute shit at one point. That was good fun all around.
Carol Bayer Sager; Our host takes a ride on the camera and has a jig for a classic tune. This year obviously had punk and disco and electro but also a great strand of eccentric pop. Brilliant song. Her live vocal is sharp and witty in a song that's already wonderfully witty but it's made to seem unbearably flippant thanks to the icy glares of the people in front of her. She smiles and does some delightful illustrative gestures but in her mind she must be thinking, "cheer up you lot!". Two people near the back seemed to enjoy it/life during its duration. As I recall played endlessly by Jimmy Young on Radio 2 around '79/'80 so some precious pre-school memories with this single.
Pt.2 (hopefully better spelt):
DeleteJoe Tex; Another classic '77 single via all time great pop show 'Soul Train'. Miserable gits of TOTP, now THAT is how to enjoy a performance. Some fantastically groovy dancing from all corners of the floor, intriguingly not equalled by Joe Tex himself who skids awkwardly around for most of the time though the mic stand tricks were very impressive. 'Ain't Gonna Bump No More...' Probably best you don't Joe as when said fat woman makes the slightest contact with him on stage he falls over. Great fun though and what a voice. "Bumping away!". If you say so Kid.
The TRAMMPS; For love of Legs & Co we have a really bad edit. I can't decide if the flashing orange lights make it more or less sexy. A perfectly hot routine as it is with Patti starting things off (thank you) and all sharing the raunch clad in gold discs and streamers. I think 'Disco Inferno ' was inspired by 'The Towering Inferno'. I'm not sure if those costumes would've withstood a million gallons of water being detonated from blown up water tanks. I'll step off from that train of thought. One of their best routines. The audience are exactly as you'd expect apart from one guy in a 'tache who initially moves his hands in time to the beat before it fortunately dawns on him that it's embarrassing to look like you're enjoying yourself on Top of the Pops and then stops.
The Jacksons; Right if anyone's going to wake this lot up it's The Jacksons making their 1st appearance in the studio since Dec 1972. Another brilliant song that always makes me smile done with the expected panache by the brothers in funky Sgt.Pepperesque costumes. Michael beckons them all to clap along at the end and they do. Some of them anyway.
The Jam; Wow, what's this? A first appearance for that new thing that's going on and marvellously we get one guy (two actually but only one is attention seeking enough to be dead centre) pogoing along. Seen throughout in artful silhouette, you can't see his expressions or If he's wearing punk slogans on his top but you do see more than a couple of people staring at him
like he's a nutter. Fantastic tune and great to see this great band making their arrival. Weller pointing the guitar with purpose but close up he looks rather gauche which is fair enough. Rick clearly not
wanting anyone to look into his eyes just yet and Bruce already has his look and movements down. So new is this "new wave" intrusion, Kid introduces it by pulling a 'dear me!' face and making an air guitar pose with his mic as if it's something by Led Zeppelin.
Rod Stewart; A clip of 'First Cut Is The Deepest' from another studio with Rod playing the acoustic guitar with his arse and shaking the hair around. Nice version but far prefer the other side. The performance interrupted to show some people walking past the camera and some others standing around waiting to go home.
Play out to the brill 'Lido Shuffle' from Boz Scaggs, soon to get a real boost thanks to Rita Coolidge covering one of his songs. By coincidence I made an impulsive decision the previous Sunday to wander round Ruislip Lido. Quite a lot of shuffling too as the beach was very busy that afternoon.
BT - Very generic but not horrible.
ReplyDeleteJoan O - I hated this at the time, mainly because it was everywhere. It's grown on me over the years, now I don't mind it though I'd never actively seek it out.
Smashing Pumpkins - Love
Lighthouse Family - right, now we are in 1996. This lot will be everywhere all the time and get on our (/my) nerves. And to think this seemed like a pleasant song initially.
E17 - In very much umpeenth single from the album mode. It's alright but nowhere near their best.
Etta James - was this really her only UK hit? Wow. Glad she's gained a lot more retrospective recognition. And get that Diet Coke money Etta, good for you!
3T - Terrorvision - Love this one
A marti Pellow lookalike to open up. BT with not a bad dance number. Don't remember this one at al but enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteJoan Osborne. For a “God” tune I quite like it.
Well performed as well..shame some of that attitude and vocal prowess doesn't make it on to the record.
Love this pumpkins tune. Mellow and clsssy. A very American video.
Lighthouse Family. Mrs Morgie and me love thiis band. Could listen to them all day. Had tickets to see them and they split up and gave us a refund Bastards. 🤣
East 17 go catchy pop tune. They've lost their edge and originality. Time to go. I do like the song though ironically but could have been any boy band.
Tv advert time with Etta James. Never sure if this was a new recording or a re-release. Looks bloody freezing there. Couple of lost sailors wandering by from a Village People video.
3T. On a beach. Are All 4 One still there? Check behind the rocks boys. Still got that backpack. Big trousers must be “in”.
Terrorvision. Whales and Dolphins in any other pop hits anyone? Not their best tune but great fun.
Zoo Time again and we're done. Much better show. Shane about the presenter.
Cosmic
Three new entries at peak position this week outside the Top 40 and worth a mention:
ReplyDeleteNo.46 Kim Wilde - This I Swear
Good Lord, was she watching Eastenders when putting out this new single? Anyway, it was to be her last ever single, bringing down the curtain on a 15-year chart career since her first and biggest single Kids In America got to No.2. The only thing she never managed was a No.1 single.
No.57 Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band - Lock And Load
Last of four singles since January 1995 in this brief comeback period since the early 80s, but only We've Got Tonight made it to No.22 in Jan 1995 with no TOTP feature, but the next three singles up to Lock And Load, all failed to make the Top 40. Was this song title referring to the Silver Bullet name of his band?
The Specials - Hypocrite
First single since 1984 for the famous Coventry band, and I can only assume there was some sort of attempted comeback in 1996 to spur a new single, but a new generation in 1996 was not impressed, as it failed to make the Top 40.