Rap and ruck and jam it up the 9th of May 1996 edition of Top of the Pops!
Hair today
9-5-96: Presenter: Bear Van Beers
(4) SUGGS feat. LOUCHIE LOU & MICHIE ONE – Cecilia
A third time in the studio but the song was now at its peak.
(8) BUSTA RHYMES – Woo Hah! Got You All In Check
Making his studio debut with his first of ten top ten hits, but this one go no higher.
(10) KLUBBHEADS – Klubbhopping (video) (and charts)
With their only top ten hit and it got no higher.
(7) THE BLUETONES – Cut Some Rug
Performing the third single from their number one album, Expecting to Fly, but it got no higher.
(19) TONY RICH PROJECT – Nobody Knows
With what will become his only top ten hit when it peaks at number 4.
(17) DEF LEPPARD – Slang
Performing the title track from their top five album, but it got no higher.
(2) MARK MORRISON – Return Of The Mack
The former number one returns to the studio.
(5) BLUR – Charmless Man
Here with the fourth single from their number one album, The Great Escape, but it got no higher.
(1) GEORGE MICHAEL – Fastlove (video)
Second of three weeks at number one.
(NEW) LIVERPOOL FC – Pass And Move (It’s The Liverpool Groove) (video) (and credits)
Will become their second of two top ten hits when it peaks at number 4.
16th of May is next.
8-7-76: Presenter: Tony Blackburn
ReplyDelete(NEW) SUTHERLAND BROTHERS & QUIVER – When The Train Comes In
(2) CANDI STATON – Young Hearts Run Free (video)
(41) CHAMPS BOYS – Tubular Bells (danced to by Ruby Flipper)
(50) BILLY OCEAN – L.O.D. (Love On Delivery)
(9) ELTON JOHN & KIKI DEE – Don’t Go Breaking My Heart (video)
(16) THE SENSATIONAL ALEX HARVEY BAND – The Boston Tea Party
(13) DOROTHY MOORE – Misty Blue (video)
(NEW) 5000 VOLTS – Dr. Kiss Kiss
(1) THE REAL THING – You To Me Are Everything
(30) WAR – Me And Baby Brother (and credits)
I watched this show last night on BBC4, with my favourite performance being the Ruby Flipper outdoor routine to the The Champs Boys. I guess in the famous heatwave of the summer of '76, it would have been too hot in the studio, and why not do it outdoors in the Blue Peter garden as confirmed by Tony Blackburn? The grass was yellow instead of green, as there would have been a drought at the time.
DeleteIn those days a No.41 single could get on the show like this one by The Champs with Ruby Flipper doing the honours.
My other fave on this show was Dr Kiss Kiss by 1000 Volts, which was a sound typical of the romantic 70's along with The Champs.
More Cecilia? Bored of this one now.
ReplyDeleteBusta Rhymes - It's different and one that definitely grew on me.
Klubbheads - I watched this episode about four hours ago and have already forgotten this one.
Bluetones - I have such a soft spot for this one and it pretty much never gets played so it's lovely to have it here.
Tony Rich - I have quite a soft spot for this song even if I had completely forgotten the name of the artist until today.
Def L - Alright, not their most memorable.
MM - Living up to its name I guess.
Blur - has been in my head all day. Might not be one of their best or most loved but it sure is catchy.
GM - Ready for a new number one now.
Liverpool - Pass the sick bucket
Welcome back to sexy Dutch presenter Bear van Beers for her second TOTP show as presenter. She comes a very close second to Jo Whiley who just edges it.
ReplyDeleteIn a show with a stagnant Top 3, and Mark Morrison returning on the show at No.2, after already having been at No.1, he was doing a Coolio instead of being ignored as he already had the Top spot honours before.
I noticed in the Top 40 chart rundown a new entry at No.14 by S-Express with Theme From S-Express The Return Trip. Not much of a return when your new entry as high as No.14 misses out on a TOTP placing, and not even the chart rundown video this week, and they fell badly to No.32 the following week, so we would not get to see them at all.
Four new singles peaking outside the Top 40 this week from previous chart regulars, even going back to the 70s and still releasing new singles (bravely) trying to still be of appeal to a next generation with different musical tastes:
ReplyDeleteNo.48 Briana Corrigan - Love Me now
Briana's only solo single since leaving The Beautiful South in 1992 to pursue a solo career, and this new single was the first and only single off a new album for 1996. Interestingly, The Beautiful South went downwards in terms of chart positions for their singles after Corrigan left the group.
No.56 AC/DC - Hail Caesar
Only bringing out around one single a year since 1990, and this was to be their final one until a brief return in 2000 with a single called Stiff Upper Lip that could only manage No.65. Brian Johnson currently hosts a Sky Arts series with Mark Knopfler, interviewing classic rock/pop musicians mainly of their own generation.
No.58 Elvis Costello & The Attractions - It's Time
No this is not a Pipkins comeback, but the third single in a row for Costello since 1994 to fail to make the Top 40, this was the same line up that brought us Olivers Army getting to No.2 in 1979.
No.85 Maria McKee - This Perfect Kiss
Good Lord, sounding a bit like Briana Corrigan, but Mckee who had a big No.1 with Show Me Heaven in 1990, was now on her first single in three years since a paltry No.74 achievement in 1993.
Looks like 1996 is taking a summer break.
ReplyDeletesome website say that the provisional schedule for Friday 9th August there is double bill of 1996 from 7pm
Delete14-7-77: Presenter: David Jensen
ReplyDelete(NEW) THE REAL THING – Love’s Such A Wonderful Thing
(24) RITA COOLIDGE – We’re All Alone (video)
(41) THE SAINTS – This Perfect Day
(21) THE COMMODORES – Easy (danced to by Legs & Co)
(30) DAVE EDMUNDS – I Knew The Bride
(NEW) JIGSAW – If I Have To Go Away
(29) SUPERTRAMP – Give A Little Bit (video)
(NEW) CILLA BLACK – I Wanted To Call It Off
(7) THE SEX PISTOLS – Pretty Vacant (video)
(1) HOT CHOCOLATE – So You Win Again ®
(2) EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER – Fanfare For The Common Man (and credits)
Some good songs here, particularly The Commodores and Supertramp, but song of the show has to go to Rita Coolidge with some video, a snapshot of the romantic 70s, and what a gorgeous voice. More Coolidge please!
DeleteGood to see Kenny Rogers appearing in the studio for an interview and introducing the No.1 song by Hot Chocolate, but not singing anything himself. Good Lord!
20-7-78: Presenter: David Jensen
ReplyDelete(30) GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS – Come Back And Finish What You Started (and charts)
(NEW) SHAM 69 – If The Kids Are United
(10) A TASTE OF HONEY – Boogie Oogie Oogie (video)
(25) JUSTIN HAYWARD – Forever Autumn
(16) SATURDAY NIGHT BAND – Come On Dance Dance (danced to by Legs & Co)
(60) THE NEW SEEKERS – Anthem (One Day In Every Week)
(23) CITY BOY – 5-7-0-5 ®
(7) ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA – Wild West Hero (video)
(4) CLOUT – Substitute (video)
(38) RAYDIO – Is This A Love Thing
(3) MARSHALL HAIN – Dancing In The City (danced to by Legs & Co) ®
(73) CHILD – It’s Only Make Believe
(1) JOHN TRAVOLTA & OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN – You’re The One That I Want (video)
(5) SHOWADDYWADDY – A Little Bit Of Soap (and credits)
Looks like BBC4 will simply never show the Grease movie clip!
DeleteQuite, I remember when I first got into pop music, it was because of the Grease phenomenon, and the only way to see any clips from the movie was on TOTP every week in the summer of 1978, cos the movie didn't come out in the UK until after the 9 weeks at No.1 for this first single from the movie, and I remember seeing the movie clip every week on the show and wanting to see how much more of the video we would see after the the pair came out of the Shake Shack.
DeleteThe fact that all this has been completely brushed over by BBC4 by removing the movie clips is a big shame, as it does not capture how the show was put out every week, especially as everyone was waiting for the No.1 movie clip as soon as the show started, and not any Legs & Co May performance when the single was a new entry at No.23!
Also, it was a pity that BBC4 edited out the best three songs on the show, which was City Boy, ELO and Clout, and so the main flavour of this show was missing if you also include the No.1 movie clip being pasted over.
Technically 'You're the One That I Want' and 'Summer Nights' was part of a official Grease Megamix video put out by Stock/Aitken/Waterman, it did get shown on a TOTP repeat in April 2021 on BBC Four alongside 'Greased Lightning'. However the BBC did show 'Grease' on Boxing Day 2020 for the first time in 24 years, but then later showings was put out on Channel 4 (as the rights were held back to the other broadcaster) for the 1998 print, previously ITV/C4 have shown it since the early 2000s right through till now. Only the BBC have shown The Lost Boys, The Shining countless times now in the 2020s, as it's only Channel 4 are showing Paramount movies from the 70s and 80s in the modern age.
DeleteThe BBC couldn't pay the rights to show the Grease and Saturday Night Fever clips back then, however official music video's with clips from films on have remained since the TOTP80 repeats with 'Silver Dream Machine' and 'Can't Stop the Music' (which they are nearing their 45th anniversary next year)
The Grease Megamix video was shown on a TOTP episode from December 1990 in which BBC Four did show in April 2021.
DeleteHowever long after this with the Boxing Day 2020 showing on BBC One, Channel 4 did show 'Grease' again and the rights were back as they were since 2009 and ITVX have got the rights back now since they last showed it in 2007 when it was on the main ITV. A kind of guess there!
If anyone watched the TOTP2 Summertime Special on BBC2 last night, a repeat of the show introduced by Mark Radcliffe, and first aired in August 2012 which included the Summer Nights clip from the Grease movie, I was expecting it to be glossed over by a Legs & Co clip due to the movie rights issues, but the movie clip was left alone thankfully with no tampering to remove and replace it, and yes this in a BBC2 August 2024 airing of the same 2012 TOTP2 Summertime Special, so how was that managed?
DeleteWe're certainly being spoiled with 1978. Very happy about that as I missed so many in 2013 and the music in that year is endlessly enjoyable. Disco, punk, new wave, rock, crap, ballads, electro, things with flutes. It's all there. I'm also glad that '79 is finally getting a look in in a couple of weeks.
ReplyDeleteA rare sight not of Kid Jensen, but of Kid Jensen looking a bit of a wally. Usually the most urbanely dressed of the late '70s presenters, this show he's chosen to dress as Frank Spencer. Maybe off to do some home decorating immediately after. A great job as always although a surprisingly garbled link at the end.
On general election night I had the huge pleasure of seeing Gladys Knight at Southend Cliffs Pavillion. She was absolutely delightful and her voice couldn't have aged one bit from 1978. She did 'Come Back and Finish What You Started' and what a pleasure to hear it accompany the ever fantastic chart rundown.
Sham 69; Maybe his pratfall at the end of their last performance caused Jimmy Pursey to subtly change tack for their latest release. A magnificently committed (and bloody loud) tear through of 'If The Kids Are United'. The kids in the audience certainly look like they are though what they excitedly clap along to comes over more as, "Uf the Kuds, Ur Unutuh!!". Still, what a start. Jimmy Pursey looks like he's about to push a bread bicycle up Gold Hill but doesn't sound like it.
A Taste Of Honey; Sounding far more thrilling than Jools Holland's version though rather than boogie it just sounds like straight funk to me. A brilliant live concert (or party) clip of 'Boogie Oogie Oogie'. Were the two girls sisters? I couldn't make out whether the cute girl with the big hair was playing the fantastic guitar solo. So catchy that single and was going round my head for hours afterwards.
Justin Hayward; A live vocal and, I'm assuming, live Totp orchestra accompaniment for 'Forever Autumn'. The revolving visual effects may've been a cheap effects dept version of the 'Red Weed'. Either that or Justin was sitting in a giant vase. Absolutely beautiful song and one of my earliest memories of pop music either from the time it was in the charts or from my Uncle owning 'The War Of The Worlds' LP and playing it whenever we visited his house.
Saturday Night Band; Not a very memorable song and not a very exciting routine from L&C. Dressed as yoga participants which they change from by roughly taking their trousers off. Nice to see Sue doing a bit of role play in taking off hers.
The New Seekers; Way off at No.60, The New Seekers come along to do an accapella in 1978. I've long stopped understanding this year. It does however have a monster of a catchy chorus and the bonhomie you expect of them. It's also absolute proto Bucks Fizz in its own way. The lead singer in the superimposed close up is Bobby Gee in all but actuality. The audience didn't look too excited to see them back.
Raydio; Rather tedious though good to see the 'mind your head' set back again.
Marshall Hain; Wahey! This gets shown again. Note what appeared to be a gentle dig at Hot Gossip from Kid at the end. I can understand the need to show L&C at their hottest, HG just beginning their run on Thames on 'The Kenny Everett Video Show' when this was first broadcast. This is pretty classic as Legs routines go. Brilliantly choreographed against a set that looks very Busby Berkeley with a dash of the opening sequence to 'Mr.Ben'. Not much more to be said other than Patti looks magnificently sultry in the fedora. She could've personally supervised that performance. Also the routine makes 'Dancing In the City', a perfectly decent tune, seem a lot sexier than it really is.
Raydio had only two hit singles in the UK, of which this was the second and last one. For the previous and first single earlier in the year called Jack & Jill, TOTP showed the video, as the group were not available to fly in from the US to perform in the studio, but it stands out as one of the most romantic singles of the year, and I could listen to Jack & Jill for hours on end. Check out the video here, and anyone would fall in love with the song, especially at the beginning where we see the evolution of the transistor Radio (Raydio), and then returns to the latest raydio set at the end:
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha1j2Gqj_xg
Child; This lot again. It's hard to make 'It's Only Make Believe' sound uninspiring but they make a decent fist of it.
ReplyDeleteJohn Travola & Olivia Newton John; It says something about BBC4's choice of re-repeats and also how long this was at No.1 that I feel like I've seen this more than enough times lately and 1978 isn't even the main repeats year at the moment.
Another fine job completed, we cut to rock 'n' roll revival radio with the lights.
Rock 'n' Roll
With no 1996 TOTP this week, I had the pleasure of watching the 29th July 1982 edition which was the only TOTP action on BBC4, and a Top 3 played in full, all to fadeout with no editing, it was probably the best Top 3 in terms of quality dance pop music you could ask for:
ReplyDeleteNo.1 Irene Cara - Fame (video)
No.2 Dexys Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen (studio)
No.3 Don't Go - Yazoo (video)
There's also a studio performance of Arthur Daley He's Alright by The Firm which was the same group who brought us Star Trekkin', a No.1 in 1987 which only had a video and no TOTP studio appearance.
Forgot to say that this show played all the songs in their entirety, whether in the studio or the video, giving the whole show a more relaxed feel for the viewer.
DeleteThis in contrast to the customary chopping out of a song two-thirds of the way through, just to move on to the next song and cram as many songs into the show as possible, this July 1982 edition quite rightly preferred to play songs in full at the expense of squeezing another song into the show.
It was a brilliant edition wasn't it. Agree great to get some full length songs. Great to see so much of the video of 'Don't Go'. A rare full length play of the no.1 with the credits as well. I'd really like to see the full length version of 2nd August '79 next week which looks like a classic but I suppose it will be the edited show, so missig Dave Edmunds and a couple of others.
DeleteJust watching this now, and yes Dave Edmunds got edited out unsurprisingly, as I remember he got edited out of another TOTP show with this BBC4 customary process of having two 35-40 minute shows squeezed into 60 minutes instead of giving them their full showing. Also getting edited out was Darts with Duke Of Earl at No.22 which turned out to be their final Top 10 hit.
DeleteAt least we did get to see the brilliant TV debut of The Specials with Gangsters when at No.41 in the chart, they could still get onto TOTP.
Hopefully Dave Edmunds will appear with 'Queen Of Hearts' in a couple of months time. I think it's the first '79 show they've included this year and what an incredible period for pop music that Summer was. A fantastic variety on 2/8/79 and some truly glorious singles. Great to see the 2nd studio clip of 'If I Had You' with the singer nerding it up for all he's worth and a close up on the slide playing which didn't appear on the other performance. It's always good to see PP in the era when he links songs as if he's being intermittently tickled and another brilliant Legs routine. The playout was a fantastic disco stomper as well which I haven't heard for years.
DeleteHaven't had to do this in years, but is there a link for the episode not being shown tonight from July 1996? Rumoured to be because one of the guests is currently on trial.
ReplyDeleteYou mean May 1996?
Delete