Top of the Pops Ready or Not

 Ready or not, here I come, gonna find the 20th of September 1996 edition of Top of the Pops!

Tick-tock of the pops

20-9-96:   Presenter:  Tony Mortimer  

(8) BELINDA CARLISLE – Always Breaking My Heart

Getting the 1700th edition underway with her seventh and final top ten hit, but it got no higher.

(3) DEEP BLUE SOMETHING – Breakfast At Tiffany’s

A second studio performance and the song will get to number one in two weeks time.

(14) LIGHTHOUSE FAMILY – Goodbye Heartbreak

In the studio but the song got no higher.

(9) SHERYL CROW – If It Makes You Happy  (via satellite)  (and charts)

At its peak.

(13) CLOCK – Oh What A Night

A second time in the studio but the song could get no higher.

(FLASHBACK) ADAM & THE ANTS – Prince Charming  (video)

Number one in 1981.

(NEW) THE BLUETONES – Marblehead Johnson

Performing what will become their third of four top ten hits when it peaks at number 7.

(NEW) PHIL COLLINS – Dance Into The Light

In the studio tonight with what will become his thirteenth and final top ten hit when it peaks at number 9.

(1) FUGEES – Ready Or Not  (video)

First of two weeks at number one.

(TOTP2) SLADE – Coz I Luv You  (clip of TOTP 27-12-71)  (and credits)

First of the band's six number one hits.

Top of the Pops Flava

 Throw ya hands up in the air, there's a party at the 13th of September 1996 edition of Top of the Pops!

Pennis the menace

13-9-96:   Presenter:  Dennis Pennis

(12) ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT – On A Rope

Launching tonight's show but the song went up no higher.

(6) STRETCH ‘N’ VERN present MADDOG – I’m Alive

Here with their only top ten hit and it was now at its peak.

(5) JAMIROQUAI – Virtual Insanity

Had already peaked at number 3.

(2) FUGEES – Ready Or Not  (video)  (and charts)

Will be number one next week.

(NEW) SKUNK ANANSIE – All I Want

Performing a song that will peak at number 14.

(FLASHBACK) ABBA – Dancing Queen  (video)

Number one in 1976.

(15) WAY OUT WEST feat. MISS JOANNA LAW – The Gift

Their biggest hit, and second of four top 40 hits, but it got no higher.

(20) DONNA LEWIS – I Love You Always Forever

A second studio performance and the song will climb another fifteen places.

(NEW) DEEP BLUE SOMETHING – Breakfast At Tiffany’s

Performing what will become their only number one hit.

(1) PETER ANDRE – Flava

Here with his first of three number one hits.

(TOTP2) OASIS – Shakermaker  (clip of TOTP 30-6-94)  (and credits)

Number 11 in 1994.

Top of the Pops Verses the World

 Hey now, look up in the sky now, see the 6th of September 1996 edition of Top of the Pops!

Space man

6-9-96:   Presenter:  Julia Carling

(9) SPACE – Me And You Versus The World

Getting the show underway but this storming tune got no higher.

(13) CLOCK – Oh What A Night

In the studio but the song got no higher.

(2) KULA SHAKER – Hey Dude

A second studio performance but the song was now at its peak.

(4) THE SMURFS – I’ve Got A Little Puppy  (video)  (and charts)

Back in the charts for the first time in eighteen years with their second of three top ten hits, but this one got no higher.

(NEW) DINA CARROLL – Escaping

Performing what will become her fourth and final top ten hit when it peaks at number 3.

(FLASHBACK) SOFT CELL – Tainted Love  (clip of TOTP 3-9-81)

Number one in 1981.

(3) THE CHARLATANS – One To Another

Here with their second of four top ten hits but it could get no higher.

(7) LOS DEL RIO – Macarena

Had already peaked at number 2.

(NEW) ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT – On A Rope

Performing what will become their only top 40 hit when it peaks at number 12.

(1) SPICE GIRLS – Wannabe

Seventh and final week at number one.

(8) OMC – How Bizarre  (video)  (and credits)

Had already peaked at number 5.

Top of the Pops Insanity

 Future's made of the 30th August 1996 edition of Top of the Pops!

Top hat hit

30-8-96:   Presenter:  Simon Mayo

(12) SHED SEVEN – On Standby

Getting Simon Mayo's last ever edition underway but the song got no higher.

(15) MN8 – Tuff Act To Follow

Performing their penultimate hit but it got no higher.

(4) REM – E-Bow The Letter  (video)  (and charts)

At its peak.

(19) DE’LACY – That Look

With their second of three top 40 hits but it go no higher.

(5) LOUISE – Undivided Love

In the studio tonight but the song was at its peak.

(2) GEORGE MICHAEL – Spinning The Wheel  (video)

At its peak.

(NEW) FLUFFY – Nothing

Here in the studio but the song would only peak at number 52.

(3) JAMIROQUAI – Virtual Insanity

Performing the second single from their number 2 album, Travelling Without Moving, but it got no higher.

(1) SPICE GIRLS – Wannabe

Sixth of seven weeks at number one.

(NEW) BIG SOUL – Baby Shake  (video)  (and credits)

Failed to chart.

Top of the Pops Always Forever

 Near of far I will be with the 23rd August 1996 edition of Top of the Pops!

Simply the vest

23-8-96:   Presenter:  Bear Van Beers

(10) ANT & DEC – Better Watch Out

The duo get the show underway with their first single not as PJ & Duncan, but the song got no higher.

(13) BRYAN ADAMS – Let’s Make A Night To Remember

Here tonight and the song went up three more places.

(8) PET SHOP BOYS – Se A Vida É (That’s The Way Life Is)  (video)  (and charts)

At its peak.

(3) BACKSTREET BOYS – We’ve Got It Goin’ On

In the studio but the song was now at its peak.

(2) 3T & MICHAEL JACKSON – Why  (video)

At its peak.

(5) OMC – How Bizarre

A second studio performance but the song was now at its peak.

(NEW) REM – E-Bow The Letter  (video)

Will peak at number 4.

(NEW) DONNA LEWIS – I Love You Always Forever

Performing what will become her only top ten hit when it peaks at number 5.

(1) SPICE GIRLS – Wannabe  

Back again for their fifth of seven weeks at number one.

(18) GLORIA ESTEFAN – You’ll Be Mine (Party Time)  (video)  (and credits)

Got no higher.

Dude of the Pops

 I do what I can when I feel like the 16th of August 1996 edition of Top of the Pops!

Shaker rattle and roll

16-8-96:   Presenters:  Steve Lamacq & Jo Whiley

(26) CHER – The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore

Getting tonight's show underway but this Walker Brothers cover got no higher.

(8) OMC – How Bizarre

Went up another three places.

(2) LOS DEL RIO – Macarena  (video)  (and charts)

Now at its peak.

(NEW) KULA SHAKER – Hey Dude

Performing what will become their second of five top ten hits when it peaks at number 2.

(17) ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES IN THE DARK – Walking On The Milky Way

Here with their 18th of nineteen top 40 hits, but it got no higher.

(NEW) GEORGE MICHAEL – Spinning The Wheel  (video)

Will peak at number 2.

(5) PAUL WELLER – Peacock Suit

At its peak.

(4) ETERNAL – Someday

A second studio performance but the song got no higher.

(1) SPICE GIRLS – Wannabe  

Back in the studio for their fourth of seven weeks at number one.

(23) SEPULTURA – Ratamahatta  (video)  (and credits)

Their second and final top 40 hit, but it got no higher.

Trash of the Pops

 We're the lovers on the streets, we're the 9th of August 1996 edition of Top of the Pops!

Bretter things

9-8-96:   Presenter:  Peter Andre

(20) NEW EDITION – Hit Me Off

In the studio tonight to get the show underway but the song go no higher.

(17) EAST 17 – Someone To Love

All the strings tonight and the song went up one more place.

(4) DODGY – Good Enough  (video)  (and charts)

Their only top ten hit and it was at its peak.

(NEW) ME ME ME – Hanging Around

Performing what will become this britpop supergroup's only hit when it peaks at number 19.

(8) BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY – Tha Crossroads  (video)

Got no higher.

(3) SUEDE – Trash

A second studio performance but the song was now at its peak.

(NEW) 3T & MICHAEL JACKSON – Why  (video)

Will peak at number 2.

(2) ROBBIE WILLIAMS – Freedom  

A second studio performance but the song could get no higher.

(1) SPICE GIRLS – Wannabe

Third of seven weeks at number one.

(21) 911 – Love Sensation  (video)  (and credits)

Their second the thirteen top 40 hits but this one got no higher.

How Bizarre of the Pops

 Ooh baby, every time I look around it's the 2nd of August 1996 edition of Top of the Pops!

Kiwi of the pops

2-8-96:   Presenter:  Jas Mann

(14) SEAN MAGUIRE – Don’t Pull Your Love

Getting tonight's show underway with his seventh of eight top 40 hits, but it got no higher.

(19) OMC – How Bizarre

Performing his only top 40 hit and it will peak at number 5.

(7) ALANIS MORISSETTE – Head Over Feet  (video)  (and charts)

At its peak.

(15) ALISHA’S ATTIC – I Am I Feel

Making their studio debut with their first of eight top 40 hits, and it went up one more place.

(9) NENEH CHERRY – Woman

A second studio performance bug the song was now at its peak.

(5) MANIC STREET PREACHERS – Everything Must Go

Here with the storming title track from their number 2 album, but it got no higher.

(NEW) ETERNAL – Someday

Performing a song that will soon peak at number 4.

(4) LOS DEL RIO – Macarena

A second studio performance and the song went up another two places.

(1) SPICE GIRLS – Wannabe  

Finally making their studio debut to celebrate their second of seven weeks at number one.

(NEW) ROBBIE WILLIAMS – Freedom  (video)  (and credits)

Will peak at number 2.