tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post2936874410238414907..comments2024-03-28T23:09:18.798+00:00Comments on Never Forget ~ Top of the Pops 1995: I am the Top of the PopsAngelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090709386124664912noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-64251534207036132412016-01-22T00:05:21.048+00:002016-01-22T00:05:21.048+00:00Then we should call you Sir Bama. The video for Un...Then we should call you Sir Bama. The video for Under Pressure would have been the only way to see this hit on TV, as you would never get Bowie and Queen on any TV show by 1981, let alone TOTP! Doryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07718769648375882927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-8718122695095551842016-01-21T22:09:17.880+00:002016-01-21T22:09:17.880+00:00I am late in blogging this week as I was too busy ...I am late in blogging this week as I was too busy last week. I am determined to blog this year as 1981 was an important year for me as I walked out of college, left home, went to live near Henley-on-Thames with some friends, fell in love, fell out of love and eventually moved up to London and got a job in the film industry. I actually never saw a lot of the 1981 shows at the time for one reason or another (so I'm looking forward to seeing them all) but ended up helping create the video for Bowie and Queen's Under Pressure (I helped choose the clips of films they used - I kid you not, it's all true).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11937581521280389248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-14029906702734521572016-01-21T22:07:25.224+00:002016-01-21T22:07:25.224+00:00It was suggested that Bad Manners were banned from...It was suggested that Bad Manners were banned from TOTP for using the blow up doll on a family show in the performance of Lorraine but it seems that it had more to do with a later hit where up he painted his head yellow with a big red dot in the middle so he would look like a giant zit and it caused a glare and ruined the lighting. Can't wait to see that!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11937581521280389248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-81653856091654167372016-01-21T12:09:09.706+00:002016-01-21T12:09:09.706+00:00Thanks for finding the video of Lorraine by Bad Ma...Thanks for finding the video of Lorraine by Bad Manners. This appears to be their first foray into video, as their first three hits in 1980 had no videos made for them, and only studio performances at TOTP were done.<br /><br />The pop video for Lorraine must be quite rare, cos I admit this is the first time I've seen it and on Utube it is a poor mangled copy looking quite withered in its quality, and the miming is a bit out of synch with the audio.<br /><br />Anyway, it appears that for a first video (at the start of 1981) to be made at the fourth of the Bad Manners catalog of hits, it needs a clean copy, cos it seems the same Henry the 8th costume from the video and the same blow-up doll were used for the TOTP studio performance this week.<br />Doryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07718769648375882927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-7026807391134275832016-01-21T11:07:22.187+00:002016-01-21T11:07:22.187+00:00good to see you back on the trail bama - i like th...good to see you back on the trail bama - i like the comment about the wicker man parade!wilberforcehttp://www.gavinunderhill.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-29732385783681679052016-01-21T08:27:47.496+00:002016-01-21T08:27:47.496+00:00prior to david bowie's death i was working on ...prior to david bowie's death i was working on a weird al yankovic-style parody of "ashes to ashes" where the addiction is supermarkets rather than drugs (which i still intend to perform by the way), and one line is "one flash to buy, but no mr muscle"...wilberforcehttp://www.gavinunderhill.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-25990999522638940082016-01-20T22:47:48.802+00:002016-01-20T22:47:48.802+00:00Cleans baths without scratching!Cleans baths without scratching!Arthur Nibblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11547006132533866220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-72196754543133919362016-01-20T22:20:23.228+00:002016-01-20T22:20:23.228+00:00No titles, no Coming Up section, just straight int...No titles, no Coming Up section, just straight into...<br /><br />Racey. Oh well you can't win 'em all. I like the pianist who doubles up as a sax player who leaps up onto the top of the piano when the pintsize lead singer takes his turn miming the keys. They're still doing the naff formation dancing thing but it's looking a bit tired now.<br /><br />Mr Skinner did a sterling job as presenter this week, I had forgotten just how good he was.<br /><br />The first of several repeats today with Adam and The Ants. I never knew exactly what the lyrics of this were in the middle bit so I looked them up and they read "Don't tread on an ant, you'll end up black and blue You cut off his head, legs come looking for you". You can't argue with that.<br /><br />The Look and I Am The Beat which I hated at the time as it was so annoyingly catchy. This was more Powerpop (or Power Pop as Paul Weller called it) than 60s revival/mod but it is a good song and a solid production. I never liked the way the lead singer pronounced the word Beat though, sounds more like Biyte.<br /><br />Legs and Co do Barry Manilow, well in a sense. And they do it looking very pissed off in what seem like one-size-fits-all negligees in slow formation.<br /><br />The Charts - and there are no less than 5 former, present or future number ones in the top 30 this week. Oo er.<br /><br />The Beat. Another repeat I knows but a worthy one. I like the way ersatz bassist Horace is taking then trouble to mime each bass note even though he didn't play on the original. And he claps along in the drop out. Well done sir!<br /><br />Sad Cafe gradually morphing into a heavy metal band complete with leather pants and bubble cut perms. The drummer looks like a fat Bev Bevan.<br /><br />Oh no it's Alvin Stardust's dad again. It seems like months that we last saw this but it was only about four week ago.<br /><br />Chas and Dave complete with members of the crowd wearing giant rabbit heads which looks like something out of the May Day parade from The Wicker Man. Where's The Salmon of Knowledge?<br /><br />The Specials - another repeat - but I note that as well as the christmas jumpers and swapping bassists the band also must have had a bet as to who could do a forced grin directly into the camera because both John Bradbury and Jerry Dammers have a go. I'm sure Terry would have done so as well if he weren't busy chewing gum and trying not to drop it.<br /><br />Yet another repeat in the shapely shape of The Nolans. Watching this it's hard to imagine that lead singer Linda was later a cop in The Bill.<br /><br />Bad Manners. I saw them live not long after this time and they were a superb live act. In the video the band are dressed a Henry VIII's courtiers attending a banquet and Lorraine Is Henry VIII's seventh wife. So it all make sense, sort of.<br /><br />The Top Ten and then John Lennon's Imagine. I remember how nice it was to see this vid at the time but it has become over-familiar now.<br /><br />And play out with Queen's ode to Molly "get two" Weir.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11937581521280389248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-57152196926056752352016-01-17T10:57:31.807+00:002016-01-17T10:57:31.807+00:00I also thought it odd that Skinner referred to Leg...I also thought it odd that Skinner referred to Legs & Co wearing miniskirts, cos these were nighties they were wearing dancing to Lonely Together by Barry Manilow. What was the matter with Mr Richard Skinner here, as I always thought of him as the intelligent type??Doryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07718769648375882927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-68912716967328443162016-01-17T00:13:48.227+00:002016-01-17T00:13:48.227+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Arthur Nibblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11547006132533866220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-7098077890291188222016-01-17T00:11:47.444+00:002016-01-17T00:11:47.444+00:00I know, everything's posting twice at the mo, ...I know, everything's posting twice at the mo, but I can't work out how to resolve it! Anyone got any ideas?<br /><br />Anyway, here we go...<br /><br />Do you remember Racey’s debut? A sub-Smokie effort with a pouting, bearded singer? I remember it more than this effort from half an hour back.<br /><br />The Look’s singer reminded me of Killing Joke’s Jez Coleman, but that was nothing compared to the David Van Day impersonator on keyboards which looked like an elongated deckchair. Three months to make the top 30? Blimey! This was the single’s fourth week in the top 75, and their only other chart track, “Feeding Time” stalled at 50 about 18 months later.<br /><br />Legs & Co are wearing mini skirts, ay, Richard? Nice outfits, nice moves, but faces like slapped arses, possibly due to Barry’s song? <br /><br />Sad Café – just sad. Matchbox – even sadder. Good live vocals by Chas and Dave, with a fun track that em’braces’ the chart – see what I did there?<br /><br />An unusual song about domestic violence by Bad Manners – maybe they’d drunk too much “Special Brew” beforehand ? - but enegetic performance of the night, and I loved that bassline.Arthur Nibblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11547006132533866220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-21581904729101321152016-01-17T00:02:06.159+00:002016-01-17T00:02:06.159+00:00Incidentally Arthur, you're double posting all...Incidentally Arthur, you're double posting all over the place at the moment!THXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-27773642937870154482016-01-17T00:00:42.074+00:002016-01-17T00:00:42.074+00:00It's a pity Chas and Dave brought out Rabbit a...It's a pity Chas and Dave brought out Rabbit a bit too late for the Watership Down soundtrack.THXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-43153299834370905212016-01-16T23:34:23.387+00:002016-01-16T23:34:23.387+00:00Erm, I bought "Rabbit"! Still quite enjo...Erm, I bought "Rabbit"! Still quite enjoy the song in truth.Arthur Nibblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11547006132533866220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-53664053027697959542016-01-16T23:34:19.066+00:002016-01-16T23:34:19.066+00:00Erm, I bought "Rabbit"! Still quite enjo...Erm, I bought "Rabbit"! Still quite enjoy the song in truth.Arthur Nibblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11547006132533866220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-69706805317243775612016-01-16T18:34:56.260+00:002016-01-16T18:34:56.260+00:00So the first show of 1981 and a few thoughts from ...So the first show of 1981 and a few thoughts from me…<br /><br />Racey - Runaround Sue – The lead singer’s name was Richard Gower and I always think of David! I’m sure Showaddywaddy also covered this song but looking up on 45cat, it’s not there. They certainly could have done and it wouldn’t have sounded much different.<br /><br />I’ll skip Adam and the insects….<br /><br />The Look – I am the beat – never really liked this one very much but obviously it’s still popular.<br /><br />Barry Manilow – Lonely together – Barry was huge at this point in time and I remember a number of live shows being on TV at this point in time but I don’t think he made any TOTP appearances nor were there videos for the singles. But I quite enjoyed the Legs Girls anyway…<br /><br />The Beat – Too nice to talk to – Another non-favourite band and song for me. I think they had a good crack at an old Andy Williams hit a few years later.<br /><br />Sad Café – I’m in love again. Truly awful song which I recall disliking intensely at the time. How it troubled the charts at all is beyond me. Later in 1981 SC released one of my favourite singles of the year; ‘Follow you anywhere’ after a record label switch from RCA to Polydor. Despite extensive radio play there was no TOTP appearance and ‘sadly’ it did not chart.<br /><br />Matchbox – Over the Rainbow – Move along Dorothy…<br /><br />Chas & Dave – Rabbit – Novelty nonsense. Who bought this stuff?<br /><br />Specials – Do Nothing – One of their best ‘double A’ side singles where you never heard the other A side (Maggie’s Farm).<br /><br />Nolans – Who’s gonna rock you’ – welcome repeat of the girls and drummer Santa.<br /><br />Bad Manners – Lorraine – Another novelty nonsense record that confounded chart watchers by charting. Barry Manilow would, of course feature the word ‘Lorraine’ in his next single (I made it through Lorraine….), which makes for a nice tie in on this show.<br /><br />John Lennon – fine song, sad circumstances for it to be at no1.<br /><br />Fade out with ‘Gordon’s alive’ made me chuckle as Brian Blessed still gets asked to say that when people meet him.<br /><br />I liked the show format, lots of songs, little chit-chat and one host. <br />sct353https://www.blogger.com/profile/15640119850898956884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-68959924471542188062016-01-16T17:10:02.847+00:002016-01-16T17:10:02.847+00:00Interestingly on the sleeve notes for the excellen...Interestingly on the sleeve notes for the excellent double CD compilation 'The Songs 1975 - 1990)', Barry describes this song as "his one attempt at leaning a little towards country music".sct353https://www.blogger.com/profile/15640119850898956884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-44061056772335141742016-01-16T17:05:08.259+00:002016-01-16T17:05:08.259+00:00It's great to share memories with like minded ...It's great to share memories with like minded fans of what was one of the TV highlights of each week. Special thanks to those who enable us to see ALL of the shows!sct353https://www.blogger.com/profile/15640119850898956884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-5278188792782544752016-01-16T15:23:46.301+00:002016-01-16T15:23:46.301+00:00the mere fact that doug trendle (as was his givenn...the mere fact that doug trendle (as was his givenn name) chose to call himself buster bloodvessel suggests that if not proud of his girth, then at least he was willing to use it to humourous effect (and also maybe benefit from the novelty value - unlike now there weren't many obese or even overweight people back then). further evidence of his state of mind m'lud is that after his pop career went belly up (sorry!) he opened up a hostelry called "fatty towers"! if anyone was concerned about his over-exposure, i would say it was more likely his record company (that don't forget was owned by a future tory peer) than the man himself...wilberforcehttp://www.gavinunderhill.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-60338917730991479062016-01-16T13:48:05.524+00:002016-01-16T13:48:05.524+00:00John, the Henry VIII outfit in Bad Manners is an e...John, the Henry VIII outfit in Bad Manners is an evolving direction of the lead singer in this their 4th hit, with more and more hiding of lead singer's natural physique with each evolving hit from Ne Nee Nee Na Na Noo Noo right through to now with Lorraine. <br />I go into this in more detail below, commenting on Wilberforce's post.Doryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07718769648375882927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-35640620965814296222016-01-16T13:42:26.841+00:002016-01-16T13:42:26.841+00:00Wilberforce, agreed regarding Bad Manners. If you ...Wilberforce, agreed regarding Bad Manners. If you look at their sequence of hits, only their debut hit Ne Nee Nee Na Na Noo saw Buster Bloodvessel in his natural form.<br /><br />From Lip Up Fatty onwards in the TOTP studio in August 1980, Buster Bloodvessel moved in a different direction of covering up his physique with fancy dress outfits instead, which would have covered up his obesity, as we saw gradually through performances on the show during 1980.<br /><br />Although fat was still acceptable on TV in 1980, it looks from all the footage that the singer himself was not comfortable with it, through the gradual covering up from one hit to the next during 1980 & 1981.Doryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07718769648375882927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-12436582576740902982016-01-16T06:41:21.689+00:002016-01-16T06:41:21.689+00:00host: i always liked richard skinner, but watching...host: i always liked richard skinner, but watching him churning out such weedy wordplay i'm hard-pressed to say why now - maybe it was listening to him on the radio that i enjoyed, where such things weren't required?<br /><br />racey: so we're all set up for the age of synth-pop now, and what do they bring us? some lightweight note-for-note rock n roll-era cover from a band who weren't exactly cutting-edge even when they did original material! and the addition of the (air) keyboards player made no difference to the banality of their music. well, i for one certainly hope that's the last to be seen of them now...<br /><br />the look: i may be wrong here, but i think the music tabs heaped scorn on this lot at the time for being bandwagon-jumpers. it certainly sounds to me like someone more used to churning out pap for the eurovision song contest had noticed the trend of new wave power pop and thought "we'll have a bit of that". this never did anything for me at the time with its banal tune and awful singing, and if anything sounds even worse now. as regards the gimmick "stuck" bit at the end (that others have noted hardly even got featured here), it was the only bit of the record that was remotely interesting to me. so as such, given the choice i'd rather listen to that in perpetuum than the rest of the song ever again!<br /><br />the beat: what a shame that they didn't immediately follow the look rather than have that barry manilow rubbish sandwiched inbetween. mr skinner would then have had the opportunity for a decent quip for a change: "no, you're not the beat - THEY are!"<br /><br />sad cafe: with six people already involved, you'd think one of them would mime a sax solo instead of getting a seventh in. and when it comes to haircuts he's just as hopelessly adrift of 1980's fashions as most of the rest of the band! but even though it looks awful, you have to give singer (the other) paul young some kudos for becoming the first proper wearer of a mullet on the show (that ironically his namesake became famous for later on in the decade). musically, it really is difficult to believe that this turgid and instantly-forgettable pub rock was done by the same band that gave us the classy "every day hurts"<br /><br />bad manners: it looks like the band have won a competition to help themselves to a costume of their choice at the local fancy dress shop! as regards the blow-up doll (or was it just a mannequin they nicked from the same shop?), somebody has very kindly gone to the effort of stitching her name on her chest just in case we had no idea who she might be. this sounds very similar to their last effort to me, maybe a reason why it stalled outside the top 20 (despite getting a lot of airplay at the time to my recollection)? like showaddywaddy (and probably racey too), its relative failure also probably elicited the dreaded edict from the record company to "either do cover versions from now on, or clear your desk!"wilberforcehttp://www.gavinunderhill.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-62140278209097706172016-01-15T21:42:11.814+00:002016-01-15T21:42:11.814+00:00As is normally the way, there is more than a whiff...As is normally the way, there is more than a whiff of a post-Christmas hangover about this first show of the year, with a stack of repeat performances and little that is either new or exciting. Still, Richard Skinner marshals it all capably enough, though I hope he refrains in future from awkwardly bopping along to the music - was the name badge to remind people who he was? This show is notable for seeing the temporary return of Robin Nash, who was filling in for a few weeks for Michael Hurll. This might explain the dropping of the interview spots and the return of fancy video effects to accompany the closing credits. <br /><br />Racey were not exactly the best choice with which to start the year, though they give a very professional performance. The trouble is their version of Runaround Sue sounds practically identical to Dion's, which makes you wonder what the point of it was really - it's no great surprise their chart-bothering days were almost over. Despite their name, The Look were not that visually impressive! Their song is a catchy tune, though the singer's mockney-style vocals and the self-aggrandising lyrics grate somewhat.<br /><br />Sorry Legs, but pulling sad faces and dancing in your underwear aren't enough to save this second-rate, yawnsome Manilow effort. It sounds at a couple of points as if it might turn into I Made it Through the Rain, but sadly it never does. Sad Café, meanwhile, offer up yet more leaden soft rock and prove beyond doubt that they were one trick ponies - Every Day Hurts must have seemed a long time ago by this point. Despite his awful mullet, Paul Young was a charismatic performer, but he was ill-served by desperately weak material like this. Mike & the Mechanics could not come soon enough for him!<br /><br />Finally, Bad Manners deliver a song, and a performance, which seem rather dodgy by today's standards. Somehow I don't think TV executives now would allow a blow-up doll on stage, and I doubt they would be too keen on lyrics making light of domestic violence either - it is a perky tune, though. Looking at a sweaty Buster, I suspect he may have regretted putting that Henry VIII costume on under those hot studio lights...<br /><br />Finally, I note that the audience were being kept well away from the stage during the Look and Legs performances - were they contagious?John Gnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-53751782332979062722016-01-15T16:38:23.621+00:002016-01-15T16:38:23.621+00:00Right, so, in a 'round robin' way, if The ...Right, so, in a 'round robin' way, if The Look sang “I Am The Beat” and Roxette did “The Look”, then The Beat needed to release a single called “Roxette”.<br /><br />I always thought The Look’s singer sounded more like Anthony Newley myself. Arthur Nibblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11547006132533866220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-46909739292984703642016-01-15T12:04:39.900+00:002016-01-15T12:04:39.900+00:00On The Look's tune they missed out the space a...On The Look's tune they missed out the space alien electronic babble noise too. Maybe it was an effects-free version specially used here? No idea why.THXnoreply@blogger.com