tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post4697057971940885580..comments2024-03-28T23:09:18.798+00:00Comments on Never Forget ~ Top of the Pops 1995: Legs & Co with LoveAngelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090709386124664912noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-64297833253658897192016-05-28T11:09:58.379+01:002016-05-28T11:09:58.379+01:00It looked liked Toyah was inspired by the Reward v...It looked liked Toyah was inspired by the Reward video by Teardrop Explodes, as well as the video of Musclebound by Spandau Ballet, both from earlier in 1981.Doryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07718769648375882927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-61509095824318168392016-05-28T02:17:38.888+01:002016-05-28T02:17:38.888+01:00Yes, it was good to see David Jensen back but othe...Yes, it was good to see David Jensen back but otherwise I'm not really sure what to make of this show.<br /><br />Gary Glitter looked as though he was still doing his 1973 schtick, thinking that an electronic keyboard was all that was needed to bring things up to date. Erm, no. I do think that he had something of an Indian summer in the mid-'80s, but that was still a few years in the future here.<br /><br />Doing the computer equivalent of swapping tapes in the VCR we next have Toyah. I've no idea what this was about but she looked like she was enjoying herself. I can only assume that the obvious multi-storey car park followed by the obvious disused airfield was an artistic statement.<br /><br />So this was the final Legs & Co exclusive performance was it? It'll be sad to see them go, having been with us since 1976/2011, but to be honest they do look somewhat anachronistic on these 1981 shows. Thinking about it, they spanned a large part of my childhood and were therefore 'my' dance troupe - I have but a vague recollection of Pan's People and today tend to associate them with stuffy early '70s rock.<br /><br />I had a mate at school who was into The Exploited and similar stuff. Dead serious it all was too, although hard to believe now...<br /><br />At the time there was a woman who lived up the road from us who bore similarities to the subject in the Squeeze song. While I have no recollection of her at all, apparently my sister would cross to the other side of the road if she was in her front garden because she thought she was a witch!<br /><br />Bad Manners have dried out their instruments and bought a new keyboard for this studio performance (that was one weird video two weeks ago).<br /><br />At last - a new number one. I've always thought that this recording only really gets going towards the end, when it becomes a rather good bouncy synthpop cover version.<br /><br />And finally - well, despite being a medley of all time fave songs from an all time fave band, even I found this wearing. Is Adrian Baker forgiven now? I wonder how much of it got played on the original broadcast - oh, and there were definitely credits shown on the iPlayer version I watched.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-31079392424543983602016-05-28T01:27:55.692+01:002016-05-28T01:27:55.692+01:00I noticed this - it would seem that the BBC was no...I noticed this - it would seem that the BBC was no longer making second, simultaneous recordings with mute presenter links by this time (these were made expressly for the purpose of inserting repeat performances into future shows). Some late '60s/early '70s editions exist only in this form. A particularly interesting one is 27/02/69 where the sound man got his wires crossed and started recording the presenter links (luckily a rare appearance by the late Stuart Henry) with no music! He sorted things out during Sandie Shaw's 'Monsieur Dupont'.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-24148301381255404402016-05-27T21:28:12.852+01:002016-05-27T21:28:12.852+01:00I’ve missed the yewtreed show so having watched th...I’ve missed the yewtreed show so having watched this show and the one from 1st October there’s quite a bit of crossover and sadly, little improvement…<br /><br />GG – And then She kissed me – Well we didn’t see it but I’ve had a look on YT out of curiosity. What strikes me the most is just what an awful cover this is. Artist aside, records like ‘Rock n’Roll Part 2’ were great pieces of three minute pop, but this is just not in the same league.<br /><br />Toyah – Thunder in the Mountains – Sorry, not my cup of tea at all.<br /><br />B A Roberston – Hold me – P J Proby eat your heart out. This is just magnificent! Love it! Forgotten how good it was. B A does a great performance too. A real surprise this.<br /><br />Altered Images – Happy Birthday – Stevie Wonder had a hit with the same title and there’s a very famous piece by this title too. As for Clare & Co, not sure anyone sings that on their special day?<br /><br />Tweets – Birdie Song (sorry ‘Bird Song’) – Love the Donald Duck masks and the tartan outfit Lulu is wearing. Clearly Legs & Co did enjoy dancing to this one. Still makes me chuckle. I am sure that Sebastien Faulks had this record in mind when he wrote ‘Birdsong’.<br /><br />Godley and Crème – Under your thumb – Yes G&C are talented Mr Jensen and what a shame that they couldn’t stick around with S&G longer in 10cc. <br /><br />Exploited – Dead Cities – “It’s short” said Kid. Thanks goodness.<br /><br />Squeeze – Labelled with love – Nice tune. Goes on a bit, but gets in your head. Looks like this could have been played live?<br /><br />Creatures – Mad Eyed Screamer – Eeek FF.<br /><br />Bad Manners – Walking in the Sunshine – Eeek FF.<br /><br />Dave & Barbara – It’s my Party – Not my favourite no.1 by any stretch. Better than Adam and the Ants admittedly. Barbara reminds me a little of Anneka here.<br /><br />This Year’s Blonde – Platinum Pop – Wow, don’t recall this at all. The whole record more or less on the playout. The vocalist was Tracy Ackerman and it’s not a bad effort but she’s no Debbie Harry. Interesting that ‘Call me’ is not in the medley and ‘Dreaming’ features twice. Surprised this didn’t go higher but then again the songs were all fairly recent unlike the other ‘retro’ medleys that tormented us during the summer and autumn of 1981.<br />sct353https://www.blogger.com/profile/15640119850898956884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-64382591806130422342016-05-27T01:08:43.984+01:002016-05-27T01:08:43.984+01:00Exactly it's AT the same time.Exactly it's AT the same time. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11937581521280389248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-54976452493883665612016-05-26T13:44:54.812+01:002016-05-26T13:44:54.812+01:00It's possible to know that Johnny and Judy lef...It's possible to know that Johnny and Judy left at the same time without knowing their exact destination.THXnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-63200898973673525432016-05-25T22:56:36.400+01:002016-05-25T22:56:36.400+01:00I found this clip of Glitter presenting a TOTP sho...I found this clip of Glitter presenting a TOTP show in December 1994 presenting Zig & Zag with some tasty Santa Girls as helpers:<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0UMWXcYyS8Doryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07718769648375882927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-24715262261508694472016-05-25T21:43:40.462+01:002016-05-25T21:43:40.462+01:00If Carrack was uncomfortable as a supporting playe...If Carrack was uncomfortable as a supporting player in Squeeze, I wonder how Paul "Sad Café" Young felt a few years later when they were both in Mike & the Mechanics but Carrack ended up getting the lion's share of the vocal duties on their hit singles...John Gnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-43252089241011852682016-05-25T20:49:29.038+01:002016-05-25T20:49:29.038+01:00If the BBC4 run reaches that far, I guess that'...If the BBC4 run reaches that far, I guess that's a show we definitely won't be seeing.Steve Hackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07365973104946684183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-61264804230308718602016-05-25T19:54:10.594+01:002016-05-25T19:54:10.594+01:00Tempted was a huge hit in America and i suspect Pa...Tempted was a huge hit in America and i suspect Paul Carrack left the band to capitalise on that success with solo work and with Nick Lowe.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11937581521280389248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-39659035227517722312016-05-25T19:34:43.089+01:002016-05-25T19:34:43.089+01:00GG released a medley his hits (All That Glitters) ...GG released a medley his hits (All That Glitters) at the end of 1981 - he performed it on TV although not on TOTP. He made two TOTP appearances in 1984 with Dance Me Up and Another Rock and Roll Christmas. He also presented a how in 1995.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11937581521280389248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-87737552716222228702016-05-25T19:09:49.413+01:002016-05-25T19:09:49.413+01:00You're right - just checked my copy of Now 3 a...You're right - just checked my copy of Now 3 and it's halfway through side 4. I can't recall what it sounds like, but as I hardly ever played side 4 I'm guessing it wasn't that memorable.Steve Hackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07365973104946684183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-64941369630482455912016-05-25T19:01:59.583+01:002016-05-25T19:01:59.583+01:00Part two:
Odd to see Kid getting all nostalgic fo...Part two:<br /><br />Odd to see Kid getting all nostalgic for a time that had only just past. Then the Top Ten and Dave and Babs at number one. Dave tries to cool by having a neck keyboard which means he is now facing the crowd but it's never a good idea because of the strain it puts on you upper torso. "Nobody knows where my Johnny has gone, But Judy left the same time" - does that actually make sense? I think not.<br /><br />A few weeks ago it was Funkapolitan playing us out, now This Week's Medley, sorry This Year's Blond. or should that have been Last Year's as Debbie Harry and Co were old hat by now. In fact Debs had just released her first solo album - the one where she has kebab skewers rammed through her chops - produced by Nile Rogers and Bernard Edwards. They should have played out with Backfired from that which would have been a much wiser choice than this pap. The bass player actually looks like Les McQueen from The League Of Gentlemen's Creme Brulee and the keyboard player spends the first half of the medley clapping along with the crowd. Poor Legs are forced to work off their notice by doing Stevie Nicks style skirt dancing in the background. Not a good way to end a show, or a career. Apart from Bad Manners and Squeeze the show was mish-mash of rubbish, repeats and edited Yewtree people. Poor Mr Jensen having to front such a mess.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11937581521280389248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-46272881085606941652016-05-25T19:01:31.316+01:002016-05-25T19:01:31.316+01:00Welcome back David Kid Jen-sen. Older and wider. A...Welcome back David Kid Jen-sen. Older and wider. And a carefully edited intro to avoid the Glittery One.<br /><br />I have to say that Toyah's song sounds a lot better with the accompanying video even if it is a bit silly. I like the way she climbs the stairs at the start to find the chariot and then suddenly she's on the same level again and drives the chariot through the underground car park to show off to her mates - "I've got a chariot and you haven't!". I do feel a bit sorry for that poor little horse having to cart Toyah around all day. It must be knackered, poor thing. The ending is a bit weird, several people fire arrows with messages at others and the message is - a picture of an arrow. Well that makes sense. Not.<br /><br />BA Robertson - or is it Rob Brydon - leaves the comic songs behind but still can't resist being silly on this badly mimed cover of the PJ Probably classic. I feel sorry for the little rockabilly guy in the suit playing the harmonica, he's trying to big up his part by dancing and making a great show of putting his mouth organ in his pocket and getting it out again when its time to play his part but the camera WILL NOT focus on him, not even once.<br /><br />Altered Images - Many happy returns - or a least one as it's a welcome repeat for Clare and Co. We even get a snatch of Mike Read back announcing at the end behind Kid.<br /><br />Perhaps the most embarrassing three minutes EVER on Top of the Pops - Legs and Co dancing to the Birdie song - or The Tweet Song - as Kid insists on calling it And they aren't even doing the dance. The crowd are doing the dance but sitting down which is ridiculous, and who turned out the lights? Maybe that was to help hide all the red faces.<br /><br />It's leather trousers and twitch time for Godley and Creme with another repeat. I like this a lot but hearing it several times as we have highlights a part near the end where Lol's synth does a descending scale that heard with modern ears sounds really cheap and nasty.<br /><br />Then The Exploited with "Der Ser" or Dead Cities as normal people pronounce it. I remember someone dragging me to an punk/Oi gig around this time where The Exploited were playing. Their fans had a chant which went "Spoilted - Barmy army!!". I was not a fan and couldn't wait to leave. <br /><br />This is more like it, Squeeze with the brilliant Labelled With Love. I had bought the East Side Story album and so didn't bother buying the single at the time. Many years later I found one with a picture sleeve which it turns out was quite rare. I like the bit where the audience think the songs ended and get ready to clap but the band carries on and everyone laughs.<br /><br />Bazza Manilow is the only song in the bottom third of the Chart who's going up which is a bit odd.<br /><br />The Creatures again, then part two of The Chart and I see Laurie Anderson has made an appearance. The first time I heard O Superman was on the radio on the say when was leaving the house I had been living sharing in the country with friends throughout 1981. My relationship had fallen apart, my friends had moved out, my partner had left and I was the last to leave sitting there in the evening gloom with all my possessions packed up around me waiting for my dad to pick me up and take me home. I was only 18 and I felt very sad.<br /><br />But Bad Manners would have cheered me up. This song is very unusual with its minute long instrumental break and they play the whole song this time. I see the guitarist has grown a beard making him look a bit like a serial killer.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11937581521280389248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-52151594080867445102016-05-25T18:06:36.963+01:002016-05-25T18:06:36.963+01:00Sorry I missed your original comment. I WAS surpri...Sorry I missed your original comment. I WAS surprised no one else appeared to have commented :-)charlie cookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09051342047720711857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-12974069755714694652016-05-25T17:40:59.136+01:002016-05-25T17:40:59.136+01:00You're right - just checked my copy of Now 3 a...You're right - just checked my copy of Now 3 and it's halfway through side 4. I can't recall what it sounds like, but as I hardly ever played side 4 I'm guessing it wasn't that memorable.Steve Hackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07365973104946684183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-60121665684481840132016-05-25T16:22:01.834+01:002016-05-25T16:22:01.834+01:00Yes, Carrack was on board for the East Side Story ...Yes, Carrack was on board for the East Side Story album, but left afterwards. I hadn't realised he'd already left by the time this single came out though (which he of course played on)<br /><br />Carrack rejoined Squeeze a decade later for the Some Fantastic Place albumMichael Conwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04335838750534927508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-65147025938041305472016-05-25T16:21:56.554+01:002016-05-25T16:21:56.554+01:00Yes, Carrack was on board for the East Side Story ...Yes, Carrack was on board for the East Side Story album, but left afterwards. I hadn't realised he'd already left by the time this single came out though (which he of course played on)<br /><br />Carrack rejoined Squeeze a decade later for the Some Fantastic Place albumMichael Conwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04335838750534927508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-75539260102938132012016-05-24T21:03:15.844+01:002016-05-24T21:03:15.844+01:00Ah, that's what it was! I referred to this in...Ah, that's what it was! I referred to this in my post above. I incorrectly assumed that it was a Kid link that had gone wrong and hadn't been edited out correctly or something like that.Noaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02790474836630218113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-65343710084261150232016-05-24T12:21:17.070+01:002016-05-24T12:21:17.070+01:00purely by chance (honestly - i don't make a th...purely by chance (honestly - i don't make a thing of following his career) i have now discovered that mr glitter did in fact have another totp mugshot showing in 1984 with a single called "dance me up" that got to no. 25 (and appeared on the "now 3" compilation, which was how i got wind of it). i don't know if it was played in the show or not though...wilberforcehttp://www.gavinunderhill.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-79136926888186296182016-05-24T12:11:00.795+01:002016-05-24T12:11:00.795+01:00I forgot to say I liked Kid's rueful "Pun...I forgot to say I liked Kid's rueful "Punk's not dead" remark and frown after The Exploited. To think they stopped one place short of Batesy having to announce them in the mugshots!Arthur Nibblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11547006132533866220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-69675722449765906052016-05-24T09:23:16.232+01:002016-05-24T09:23:16.232+01:00On the contrary - As Altered Images ended, and Kid...On the contrary - As Altered Images ended, and Kid Jensen started to speak, I heard the start of Mike Read's commentary from the first appearance two weeks earlier. The edit appeared to have been made slightly too late!charlie cookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09051342047720711857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-66539576756354307322016-05-23T23:27:21.251+01:002016-05-23T23:27:21.251+01:00Good evening, Kid, and good grief! Too much waffli...Good evening, Kid, and good grief! Too much waffling about how long you’ve been away and what acts you’ve missed in the meantime, announcing a cringeworthy hitsound countdown with ‘the rest of the charts’ having previously announced two non-mugshot acts as if they were in it ,and announcing that number 2 of a number 2 as both The Tweet Song and The Bird Song. <br /><br />Glad I missed Gadd. <br /><br />Oooh, Toyah becomes Bodicea. Bring back Hazel.<br /><br />I take it the BA in BA Robertson stood for Bloody Awful. Was Maggie Bell really 36? She looked like The Krankies’ mum.<br /><br />What an appalling swansong for Legs & Co. Swan, bird, geddit? To think I was depressed when Cherry Gillespie resigned. If they’d known this was the end, shouldn’t alleged deputy head Legger Patti have been up front instead of Lulu?<br /><br />DAY SAY! DAY SAY! Edinburgh’s The Exploited must have been the only true punk band to appear on TOTP. Bassist Big John Duncan (born Jeff Le Rennais, fact fans!) went on to join Goodbye Mr. McKenzie, who also numbered future Garbage singer Shirley Manson among their ranks.<br /><br />Kid wasn’t all that far off with his top spot prediction for Squeeze’s almost rhyming country goodie, which I performed as a request encore in my indie-folk duo days. Yes, really! <br /><br />Interesting to hear Heaven 17 played in the background some 13 places below their TOTP appearance chart placing.<br /><br />Buster Bloodvessel would have been boiling in that jumper and those moonboots. Funny how the lads stage right as we looked were all dressed in old gold while everyone else mingled like a testcard.<br /><br />Dreadful gong mime at the start of the number one, but superb drum miming just after the first chorus. Why was Barbara wearing a Russian Doll at the front of her blouse?<br /><br />For goodness sake, man, mime the keyboards to “Hanging On The Telephone”! I could’ve carried on watching This Year’s Blonde’s singer for artistic merit (ahem) but gave up at that point.Arthur Nibblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11547006132533866220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-41709687697746819182016-05-23T21:10:14.578+01:002016-05-23T21:10:14.578+01:00Oh, it was Tracy Ackerman? She sang backing vocals...Oh, it was Tracy Ackerman? She sang backing vocals on a few 90s dance tunes and had a minor hit with a dance cover of 'Get Here' (credited to Q Feat. Tracy Ackerman IIRC) - well I never...Noaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02790474836630218113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-84164416224956868702016-05-23T19:15:56.097+01:002016-05-23T19:15:56.097+01:00But this was David's Jensen's show, so I t...But this was David's Jensen's show, so I think you put your comment on the wrong show Charlie.<br />It should be the 1st October show which Mike Read hosted that was the debut of Altered ImagesDoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07718769648375882927noreply@blogger.com