tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post8606643419965232063..comments2024-03-28T10:45:51.725+00:00Comments on Never Forget ~ Top of the Pops 1995: What's in a Top of the PopsAngelohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16090709386124664912noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-75510582403051930872015-10-25T17:13:06.894+00:002015-10-25T17:13:06.894+00:00Terribly messy opening with the crowd pretending t...Terribly messy opening with the crowd pretending to dance to Grottowan which looks like it was edited in from the end titles. Then what's coming up which I hate.<br /><br />And Status Quo complete with Francis in a nasty denim waistcoat and the pogo-ing prats in the crowd which appears to be influencing a few others to half-heartedly join in. I was never a Quo fan but they did make some catchy records and this was one of them. The strange thing is we thought they were old fogies then when they were about 34 years old but they're still going now.<br /><br />Then Di on video again and Dennis Waterman dressed very much like Terry from Minder. Peter Powell makes reference to him usually 'catching' people forgetting that he left The Sweeney in 1978. Oh well.<br /><br />I bought Enola Gay at the time and loved it although didn't hear their album until at least a year later. A good performance apart from the close up of the wrong keyboard player during the synth solo.<br /><br />'Exciting' music news slowing everything down again and then the charts.<br /><br />Ooh la la the Legs girls get all saucy and French dancing to Casanova even if their clothes are from the wrong period not to mention the striped pop socks. Not that anyone cared. I remember this Coffee song but I was tiring of disco by this point.<br /><br />Black Slate chalk up another TOTP appearance (see what I did there?) but I don't remember them having a double bass player last time.<br />.<br />Peter Powell asks Dennis about the charity football team The Showbiz II. They may be good at football but they also made a few dodgy records which left a lot to be desired.<br /><br />The Nolans on video which looks like it was filmed in a branch of Magnet and southerns with all those louvre doors and blinds. Pretty forgetful or pretty and forgetful if you like this type of thing.<br /><br />PP then interviews Paul Jones. I remember at the time thinking that The Blues Band was a really boring name for a band.<br /><br />A repeat of Lynx and I still don't know why the keyboardist bothered wearing that massive neck synth when there don't appear to be any sounds coming out of it when he plays it.<br /><br />Peter's borrowed Cyril Fletcher's big winged armchair from That's Life to introduce Gilbert. Not a bad song but very much 1974. He never had a brilliant singing voice but he appears to be singing live apart from some "do-dos" at one point which he delivers without opening his mouth. Hasn't he got a hairy chest?<br /><br />The rushed-a-bit Top 10 with barely a snatch of The Specials who had gone up 20 places and The Police again.<br /><br />And play out with that bleedin' disco song again complete with Nazi salutes from the goon who has been sitting in the audience all night.<br /><br />And the tee shirts. Apart from the TOTP shirts (one of which was modeled by Patsy from Ad Fab) there were also a few record company shirts on display including EMI which suggests where the most of the crowd may come from.<br />. <br />A thought occurred to me as to why the shamrock tee-shirt adorned pogo-ing prats are there every week - I wonder if they arranged that so they can repeat performances in the hope that no one would notice if they kept seeing the same faces. Also I notice that largely the bands are now filmed from the side to allow the crowd to dance in peace without being moved down like they used to.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11937581521280389248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-20974211751120654242015-10-15T23:05:36.858+01:002015-10-15T23:05:36.858+01:00There were 1960s UK and 1970s US bands called The ...There were 1960s UK and 1970s US bands called The Eagles and The Outlaws.<br /><br />Dr. Feelgood were named after a song recorded by Johnny Kidd & The Pirates and Roxette were named after a song recorded by Dr. Feelgood!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-26966087907668666252015-10-14T21:06:24.456+01:002015-10-14T21:06:24.456+01:00Thanks for the info Julie - I suspected Co-Co prob...Thanks for the info Julie - I suspected Co-Co probably didn't owe their name to the Sweet hit. Incidentally, another example of this that comes to mind is Free, both a band and a number 1 single, thanks to Deniece Williams. John Gnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-79783715943957332172015-10-14T14:45:58.527+01:002015-10-14T14:45:58.527+01:00Eurovision winner Nicole came so, so close to bein...Eurovision winner Nicole came so, so close to being a true one-hit wonder (one chart-topping single and nothing else ever again), but her follow-up single "Give Me More Time" ruined it by managing a solitary week at the bottom chart rung of number 75.<br /><br />Talking of which, I nearly shouted at the radio today when a DJ played two supposed one-hit wonders, The Buggles" (he obviously hasn't been watching these re-runs) and The New Radicals who (a) didn't make number one with "You Get What You Give " and (b) had a lovely ballad called "Someday We'll Know", released after the band had split, which made the top 50.Arthur Nibblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11547006132533866220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-56621682625617230142015-10-14T14:43:58.472+01:002015-10-14T14:43:58.472+01:00This comment has been removed by the author.Arthur Nibblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11547006132533866220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-32599724802297895572015-10-14T10:58:32.572+01:002015-10-14T10:58:32.572+01:00John G - Cheryl Baker's pre-Bucks Fizz outfit ...John G - Cheryl Baker's pre-Bucks Fizz outfit Co-Co was originally named Mother's Pride, but presumably changed its name in order to garner airplay on the BBC. The band opted for another grocery-related name, but I suspect the respelling was necessary for international purposes, because of the silent 'a' at the end of 'Cocoa', which might have led to mispronunciation around the world. The hyphen may well have been inserted to avoid legal disputes with either fashion designer Coco Chanel's estate or Michael Poliakoff, aka Coco The Clown.Julie Joanne Bevanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13480391445628307945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-8522614343568038172015-10-14T07:27:20.229+01:002015-10-14T07:27:20.229+01:00thanks julie - i wasn't totally sure i had my ...thanks julie - i wasn't totally sure i had my facts right about the first nicole!wilberforcehttp://www.gavinunderhill.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-3660981869535517782015-10-13T23:23:34.566+01:002015-10-13T23:23:34.566+01:00Wilberforce - Charlene's 'I've Never B...Wilberforce - Charlene's 'I've Never Been To Me' was released on Motown and reached No.1 in the UK in '82, the same year that the German Nicole won Eurovision and had a chart-topper herself with the winning song, which was issued on Epic.Julie Joanne Bevanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13480391445628307945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-77455251308910429772015-10-13T21:16:30.553+01:002015-10-13T21:16:30.553+01:00Taking up Arthur's challenge, Deep Purple were...Taking up Arthur's challenge, Deep Purple were named after Nino Tempo and April Stevens' 1963 US number 1 (it only got to 17 here). Whether Britain's 1978 Eurovision entrants Co-Co had their name inspired by The Sweet's identically titled hit from 7 years earlier, I don't know...John Gnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-25683034071149370562015-10-13T18:06:24.540+01:002015-10-13T18:06:24.540+01:00there were two chart acts called nicole: to my rec...there were two chart acts called nicole: to my recollection one was a white early 80's eurovision winner and got to number one with an dire ditty called "a little peace (wasn't that somewhat bizarrely released on motown?), and the other was a black soul/rnb singer who had a minor hit in the mid 80's with timmy thomas called "new york eyes" (which was rather good in my opinion)wilberforcehttp://www.gavinunderhill.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-52542197610556779842015-10-13T16:47:33.962+01:002015-10-13T16:47:33.962+01:00Ah, now then, how many acts shared their name with...Ah, now then, how many acts shared their name with a hit single like "Kokomo" did, or vice versa? The Beach Boys' so-named single reached number 25.Arthur Nibblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11547006132533866220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-8867515525785521252015-10-13T16:23:54.749+01:002015-10-13T16:23:54.749+01:00Correction to above: the second Kokomo only reache...Correction to above: the second Kokomo only reached No.45.Julie Joanne Bevanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13480391445628307945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-67217178791731421842015-10-13T16:19:13.157+01:002015-10-13T16:19:13.157+01:00Thanks, wilberforce and Arthur - I'd forgotten...Thanks, wilberforce and Arthur - I'd forgotten about the two Blues and the two Mr Bigs! Two acts called Kokomo also made the British Top 40; the first was American jazz pianist Jimmy Wisner, the second an acclaimed British blue-eyed soul outfit.Julie Joanne Bevanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13480391445628307945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-73856722572759956092015-10-13T13:10:21.437+01:002015-10-13T13:10:21.437+01:00In a sense, I suppose you could also say that The ...In a sense, I suppose you could also say that The Sugababes fall into this category, given that all the original members left the group during its run of hits...John Gnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-26430789438905717742015-10-13T12:40:17.039+01:002015-10-13T12:40:17.039+01:00I see The BBC's director of television Danny C...I see The BBC's director of television Danny Cohen is leaving. Wonder that holds for the future?Arthur Nibblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11547006132533866220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-83190047413808873152015-10-13T12:34:20.234+01:002015-10-13T12:34:20.234+01:00Two acts called Mr. Big - the UK band we saw three...Two acts called Mr. Big - the UK band we saw three years ago with "Romeo", and a US band we might get to see in twelve years' time with "To Be With You".<br /><br />Well worth mentioning again Polly Brown's jaw-dropping TOTP appearance with Sweet Dreams, which can be found on YouTube, where she blacked up and pretended to be a singer called Sarah Leone!Arthur Nibblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11547006132533866220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-14015579993918538612015-10-13T09:27:37.494+01:002015-10-13T09:27:37.494+01:00i've just remembered blue: one a 70's soft...i've just remembered blue: one a 70's soft rock band that to my recollection appeared earlier in this totp run, and a 90's/00's boyband. a common factor was a certain mr reginald dwight, as the former were on his rocket record label, and he "duetted" with the latter. sot when the 70's band started legal proceedings against the others i think it put reg in a rather difficult position!wilberforcehttp://www.gavinunderhill.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-77430374627229018252015-10-13T09:20:49.450+01:002015-10-13T09:20:49.450+01:00Other names shared by chart acts include Karen You...Other names shared by chart acts include Karen Young - borne by a British balladeer and a (now deceased) American disco singer who scored with 'Nobody's Child' and 'Hot Shot' respectively. There were also two hitmaking bands called Sweet Dreams: a pop-soul duo consisting of Polly Brown and Tony Jackson, who hit with a cover of Abba's 'Honey Honey' in '74, and the British Eurovision entrants of '83 featuring future celebrity vocal coach Carrie Grant, the latter band's only hit being 'I'm Never Giving Up'. Bobby McVay, another member of the 80s Sweet Dreams, has more recently had a spell with Formerly of Bucks Fizz.<br /><br />Interestingly, producer/songwriter Ron Roker worked with both versions of Sweet Dreams; similarly, Bill Martin and Phil Coulter produced and wrote hits for both the original Kenny - Irish soloist Tony Kenny - and the later British boy band of the same name, both of whom recorded for the Rak label. It seems Martin and Coulter retained 'Kenny' as a trademark after Tony split with them, and applied it to a teen band they discovered in North London and subsequently took under their commercial wings.Julie Joanne Bevanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13480391445628307945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-18289778368836443792015-10-13T09:17:01.323+01:002015-10-13T09:17:01.323+01:00I shouldn't forget Oasis. The original Peter S...I shouldn't forget Oasis. The original Peter Skellern/Mary Hopkin/Julian Lloyd Webber/Bill Lovelady group from the 80s certainly had a different sound to their later Britpop namesakes! I'm not sure that the original Oasis ever had a hit single, but their only album did reach 23.John Gnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-62348930992711602282015-10-13T09:12:14.174+01:002015-10-13T09:12:14.174+01:00Nirvana are another example, the original psychede...Nirvana are another example, the original psychedelic UK group having a minor hit with Rainbow Chaser in 1968. They did apparently sue Kurt Cobain and co in the early 90s, but settled out of court. They were then going to cash in on the popularity of their grunge namesakes by releasing a covers album called Nirvana Sings Nirvana, but it seems Cobain's death put a stop to that project.John Gnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-36769513652066894752015-10-13T08:48:17.801+01:002015-10-13T08:48:17.801+01:00there were actually two acts with the name kenny t...there were actually two acts with the name kenny that had chart hits in the 70's - the other one scored with "heart of stone" circa 1973. another case of two different acts with the same name having hits was (or should that be were?) space with "magic fly" (70's french disco-prog outfit) and "the female of the species" (90's indie rock scousers). there are more like that, but their name(s) escape me for the moment - perhaps others can name them?wilberforcehttp://www.gavinunderhill.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-36733755233867685422015-10-12T23:03:17.090+01:002015-10-12T23:03:17.090+01:00Gerard Kenny co-wrote the Minder theme I Could Be ...Gerard Kenny co-wrote the Minder theme I Could Be So Good For You with Dennis' then wife Patricia. When the Minder screen credit said the song was written by Waterman and Kenny I used to think it was co-written with the band Kenny, the ones who a hit with Fancy Pants in the mid 70s.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11937581521280389248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-66570771657411633142015-10-12T22:57:45.256+01:002015-10-12T22:57:45.256+01:00I read in Stephen 'Horace' Panter's au...I read in Stephen 'Horace' Panter's autobiography that when The Specials were on TOTP doing A Message To You Rudy they were all a little worse for wear from smoking dope and when they had to do a retake he forgot to put his shoes on. That's possibly had some reason why their appearances on the show in 1980 were rare and the fact they were touring in America and the UK for a large part of the year can't have helped. Their next appearance is just before Christmas where Horace swaps places with Dave Steele from The Beat as a joke.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11937581521280389248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-40191258902391643052015-10-12T20:08:47.754+01:002015-10-12T20:08:47.754+01:00I guess the question of whether this was ever offi...I guess the question of whether this was ever officially a double A side is a moot point. If you look at the record label variations on 45cat you'll see that 'Stereotype' is Side 1 and 'International Jet Set' is Side 2. Chart placings classed it as a doubel A Side however. Contrast this with ' 'Do Nothing / Maggies Farm' where the two sides are A1 and A2 respectively. Confusion reins with 'Rat Race / Rude Buoys outta Jail' where some releases had both sides as 'A' and others had A1 and A2. Finally 'A Message to you Rudy / Nite Club' seems to have all label variations as 'A' on both sides, but with a tiny '1' beside the 'A' on 'A Message to you Rudy'.<br /><br />Like the Jam's so called double A side releases, I don't recall ever hearing the 'other' A sides played (or do I maybe recall them playing 'Precious' on TOTP?). This is in contrast to (say) releases from Rod Stewart, 'First cut is the deepest / I don't want to talk about it' or, most famous of all, 'Penny Lane / Strawberry Fields Forever'.<br /><br />...or was I just listening to the wrong radio stations? sct353https://www.blogger.com/profile/15640119850898956884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6656821189691902130.post-23895019046333318822015-10-12T19:38:23.481+01:002015-10-12T19:38:23.481+01:00Interesting article in The Guardian on-line today;...Interesting article in The Guardian on-line today; an excerpt from Elvis Costello's autobiog in which he relates some behind-the-scenes stuff at ToTP and how he and The Attractions were pretty much always pissed come recording time!shaky shakersonnoreply@blogger.com