Keep on Dancin' ......... it's Top of the Pops 1st March 1979 :-)

ITV tried to tempt us with the following distractions ~  6.35 Crossroads 7.00 The Bionic Woman 8.00 Robin's Nest 8.30 TV Eye 9.00 Show jumping From Birmingham 10.00 News At Ten

But meanwhile over on BBC1 ~ 6.55 Tomorrow's World 7.20 Top of the Pops 7.55 Blankety Blank 8.30 Potter 9.00 News 9.25 The Good Old Days 10.15 Omnibus

So it just had to be......

1-3-79: Presenter: Mike Read

(29) THE CARS – Just What I Needed (and charts)
(20) THE SKIDS – Into The Valley
(4) GLORIA GAYNOR – I Will Survive (video)
(46) THIN LIZZY – Waiting For An Alibi
(23) GARY’S GANG – Keep On Dancin’ (danced to by Legs & Co)
(28) QUEEN – Don’t Stop Me Now (video)
(25) CHIC – I Want Your Love
(40) VIOLINSKI – Clog Dance
(8) LENE LOVICH – Lucky Number ®
(26) BONEY M – Painter Man (video)
(55) DAVID ESSEX – Imperial Wizard
(1) THE BEE GEES – Tragedy (danced to by Legs & Co) ®
(24) THE SEX PISTOLS – Something Else (and credits)


The Cars ~ 'drive' over the credits this week, with a tune that parked at number 17.

The Skids ~ very aptly following the Cars, with a particularly energetic high kicking performance - goodness knows how it would have sounded if frontman Richard Jobson was singing this live, but for a band who hated the show, here they were for a second time looking like they were having quite some fun.

Gloria Gaynor ~ the disc slipping roller disco former B side karaoke classic emotionally pirouetting its way here to the number one slot.

Thin Lizzie ~ were named after 'Tin Lizzie' a character in the Dandy comic. This particular korker made it to number 9.

Gary's Gang ~ a New York outfit with their only UK top 40 hit, danced to here by Legs & Co wearing what seems to be a cross between air hostess uniforms and wedding dresses! The song reminds me more than a little of Van McCoy (the Shuffle/Hustle).

Queen ~ Freddie looking a little uncomfortable playing the piano whilst standing, you either need very short legs or very long arms to pull that one off. This driving tune classic only made it to number 9 for Queen but McFly put their foot down and took it to number 1 in 2006.

Chic ~ with a very strong follow up to Le Freak, infact this song became their biggest UK hit reaching number 4.

Violinksi ~ was edited out of the 7.30 show ~ gutted about that I love this tune - I had my clogs on all ready to dance to it and everything! You'll have to stay up till quarter to two in the morning to see it on the unedited version ~ or just wait for it to come on iplayer.

Lene Lovich ~ oh oh uh oh! - also edited out, but a least we have previously seen this performance.

Boney M ~ clearly expecting some very cold weather judging from their apparel - maybe this performance was from 'Snowtime Special' ? - singing a song co-written by Kenny Pickett, who also co-wrote the lovely 'Grandad' for Clive Dunn

David Essex ~ I don't recall ever hearing this song before, but tonight I thought it was really quite impressive. David had 19 top 40 hits in the UK, this one just about became one of them, when it reached (a far too low surely) number 32.

The Bee Gees ~ it seems all they sent along for the show was about 3 photos of themselves, so it's down to a repeat of Legs & Co (from last week's banned DLT show) to interpret this week's new number one. And they did it as sad clowns, with one of them (Gill?) being shot in time to that explosion noise that Barry made when he got too near the mic. But it was ok because she woke up again with a big smile at the end :-)

The Sex Pistols ~ play out over the credits, with a song featuring the vocals of the totally infamous Sid Vicious, who had died a month earlier.

Next week it's the 9th of March, and David Jensen is the host.

Get it..... Top of the Pops 22nd February 1979!

Here is the edition of Top of the Pops that won't be shown tonight on BBC4 due to the continuing case of DLT....

Top of the Pops 22nd February 1979


Many thanks once again to Darnall 42 for giving us all the choice of viewing this :-)

ahem.....
22-2-79: Presenter: Dave Lee Travis

(14) JUDAS PRIEST – Take On The World (and charts)
(18) THE REAL THING – Can You Feel The Force
(11) ROD STEWART – Ain’t Love A Bitch (video)
(2) THE BEE GEES – Tragedy (danced to by Legs & Co)
(5) ELVIS COSTELLO & THE ATTRACTIONS – Oliver’s Army ®
(12) GENE CHANDLER – Get Down (footage from Soul Train 20-1-79)
(13) THE MEMBERS – The Sound Of The Suburbs
(25) DARTS – Get It ®
(22) NAZARETH – May The Sun Shine ®
(1) BLONDIE – Heart Of Glass (video)
(15) MEAT LOAF – Bat Out Of Hell (and credits)

Stop Your Sobbing It's Top of the Pops 1979

BBC1 15/02/79 6.20 Nationwide 6.55 Tomorrow's World 7.20 Top of the Pops 7.55 Blankety Blank 8.30 Butterflies 9.00 News 9.25 The Good Old Days...........

15-2-79: Presenter: Peter Powell

(7) THE BEE GEES – Tragedy (and charts)
(54) THE DOOLEYS – Honey I’m Lost
(11) GENERATION X – King Rocker ®
(6) EDWIN STARR – Contact (danced to by Legs & Co)
(39) ALAN PRICE – Baby Of Mine
(30) PEACHES & HERB – Shake Your Groove Thing (video)
(46) THE PRETENDERS – Stop Your Sobbing
(21) GLORIA GAYNOR – I Will Survive (video)
(62) LENE LOVICH – Lucky Number
(3) THE THREE DEGREES – Woman In Love (video)
(50) THE SKIDS – Into The Valley
(1) BLONDIE – Heart Of Glass (video)
(17) THIRD WORLD – Cool Meditation (and credits)

The Bee Gees ~ play over the chart rundown - they just weren't interested in being on the show at this time were they?

The Dooleys ~ a number 24 hit for this brother and sisters act ~ much better was soon to come...

Generation X ~ with their number 11 biggest hit ~ band members Bob Andrews and Tony James both went on to have bigger hits in the 80's with Sigue Sigue Sputnick and Westworld respectively.

Edwin Starr ~ his first band was a ‘50s doo-wop group called The Future-Tones

Alan Price ~ ex member of the legendary Animals of House of the Rising Sun fame - but this song made it to 32 in the charts

Peaches and Herb ~ were Herbert Feemster and Linda Greene, although there were quite a few other Peaches over the years

The Pretenders ~ with a Kinks cover, Chrissie Hynde was in a relationship with Ray Davies at the time.

Gloria Gaynor ~ sings a maga classic disco hit written by Dino Fekaris and Freddie Perren, who also wrote Peaches & Herb’s Shake Your Groove Thing ~ not a bad week then.

Lene Lovich ~ with a tune that went on to be a number 3 smash, was born in Detroit, but spent her teenage years living in Hull, after her English mum ran away from her Yugoslavian dad! Duff duff duff........

The Three Degrees ~ the video this time, what a smash this was for them, where did Twiggy go wrong?

The Skids ~ with another song about the troubles in Northern Ireland - it got them to number 10.

Blondie ~ yes, it's still number one :-)

Third World ~ play us out over the credits this week with what became a number 17 hit.

Next week's show still hangs in the balance a bit ~ it could be the return of DLT to our screens, we'll have to wait and see.

I Was Made for Top of the Pops!

It's the 8th of February 1979 and over on BBC1 tonight we have : 6.20 Nationwide 6.55 Tomorrow's World 7.20 Top of the Pops 7.55 Blankety Blank 8.30 Butterflies 9.00 News 9.25 What Kind Of Society?

And right now, it's 7.20, and time for.....

Top of the Pops!
8-2-79: Presenter: David Jensen

(17) DAN HARTMAN – This Is It (and charts)
(58) MICK JACKSON – Weekend
(29) ROD STEWART – Ain’t Love A Bitch (video)
(2) ABBA – Chiquitita (danced to by Legs & Co)
(45) ELVIS COSTELLO & THE ATTRACTIONS – Oliver’s Army
(5) THE SHADOWS – Don’t Cry For Me Argentina
(13) DR. FEELGOOD – Milk And Alcohol
(7) LEIF GARRETT – I Was Made For Dancin’ (video)
(50) DARTS – Get It
(20) JUDAS PRIEST – Take On The World
(39) THE JACKSONS – Destiny
(1) BLONDIE – Heart Of Glass (video)
(21) GENE CHANDLER – Get Down (and credits)




















Dan Hartman ~ plays over the credits this week

Mick Jackson ~ incredibly in the charts, at the same time for the second time, with the other Mick Jackson, though with different songs on this occasion. This one's a bit lame, especially compared to Blame it on the Boogie, and was lucky even to get to 38 in the charts. Cool onesie though :-)

Rod Stewart ~ impersonating Kenny Everett again here, this time even down to the bum tight leopard skin trousers! This song completely passed me by at the time, indeed tonight was the first time I can say I ever heard it - but it did get to number 11. And he was on this week's cover of Smash Hits -

 

 

A quick studio appearance now by new permanent British resident, Micky Dolenz, who was 'monkeying around'

Abba ~ Here's Legs & Co doing one of their in and out of the scenery dance routines, this time in long, flowing Spanish dresses. 'Chiquitita' is a Spanish compliment for a woman and means 'little one.'

Elvis Costello ~ with his ultra mega classic biggest hit, with Abba inspired rippling piano, about the troubles in Northern Ireland.

The Shadows ~ were edited out of the 7.30 showing, as were...

Dr. Feelgood ~ how could they edit this one out? But you can still catch both of these on the 12.50 am showing.

Leif Garrett ~ the Justin Bieber of his day was only 17 years old at the time of this very catchy Michael Lloyd tune, and was soon to get involved in car crashes, drink, drugs and police arrests.........

Darts ~ A second lead vocal single for Rita Ray, singing a song written by band member Horatio Hornblower.

Judas Priest ~ provide some 'heavy rock' in the shape of stadium anthem Take on the World, which became a number 12 hit for them. Singer Rob Halford dressed here for a Village People audition maybe :-)

The Jacksons ~ Not only in the charts at the same time again, but now even on the same show as the other Mick Jackson. In fact, they even stayed in the same hotel! The Jacksons won the battle of the Boogie but this time they lost out to Mick by one place in the charts, Destiny only reached 39.

Blondie ~ second week at number one and first showing for the famous video. Heart of Glass went on to sell 1.28 million copies in the UK, making it the 56th best seller of all time in Britain.

Gene Chandler ~ plays over the credits this week with a song that would go on to reach number 11.

Top of the Pops 79 takes a Sky at Night rest next week, so returns in two weeks time when energetic Peter Powell will be the presenter.

This is the Sound of Top of the Pops

Over in ITV on the 1st February 1979 we had:  6.35 Crossroads 7.00 Wish You Were Here 7.30 Jim Davidson Show 8.00 Rising Damp 8.30 TV Eye 9 Streets Of San Francisco 10 News

And on the good old Aunty Beeb: 6.20 Nationwide 6.55 Tomorrow's World 7.10 Top of the Pops 7.55 Blankety Blank 8.30 Butterflies 9 News 9.25 Euro Figure Skating Champs

A tough decision, but I think it will have to be.....

Top of the Pops!
1-2-79: Presenter: Mike Read

(27) EDWIN STARR – Contact (and charts)
(51) NAZARETH – May The Sun Shine
(3) THE THREE DEGREES – Woman In Love ®
(37) THE MEMBERS – The Sound Of The Suburbs
(19) SALLY OLDFIELD – Mirrors ®
(39) UFO – Doctor Doctor
(14) BILLY JOEL – My Life (video)
(52) TWO MAN SOUND – Que Tal America
(28) GENERATION X – King Rocker
(61) THE POINTER SISTERS – Everybody Is A Star
(7) DRIVER 67 – Car 67 ®
(1) BLONDIE – Heart Of Glass (danced to by Legs & Co)
(8) ABBA – Chiquitita (and credits)



Edwin Starr ~ any relation to Ringo? sings over the chart rundown this week :-)

Nazareth ~ An unlikely fusion of folk and heavy metal here from this band from Dunfermline, who featured guitarist Zal Cleminson,  recently transferred from the Sensational Alex Harvey Band.

The Three Degrees ~ another showing for this Giorgio Moroder produced song, although I think we are being treated to the Top of the Pops Orchestra produced version here :-)

The Members ~ very enthusiastically introduced by our host Mike Read, this song was produced by Steve Lillywhite, both future U2 producer and Kirsty MacColl husband. (Nice shot of a multi-coloured punk hairdo in the audience too)

Sally Oldfield ~ a repeat showing of the fairy-like Mirrors, now at its peak of 19 in the charts.

UFO ~ another song on the heavy side on tonight's show, a bit too heavy it turns out to rise any higher than 35 in the charts.

Billy Joel ~ was edited out of the 7.30 showing. Still, not a bad week for him sitting side by side in the top 15 with Barry White's cover of Just the Way You Are.

Two Man Sound ~ the slightly mad chap on the bongos is Yves Lacomblez who wrote Ca Plane Pour Moi for Plastic Bertrand ~ but more than that, the frontman Lou Deprijck, is the guy who actually sang the vocals on it! They couldn't repeat that success with this record though, which failed to make the top 40, despite Rosie and Gill's best dancing efforts.

Generation X ~ looking and sounding very much like Adam & the Ants here - this record became their biggest hit and was released in four different colours of vinyl.

The Pointer Sisters ~ were edited out of the 7.30 showing, catch them at 12.30am

Driver 67 ~ also edited out, how could they? It was a repeat showing though from a couple of weeks ago.

Blondie ~ the rare sight here of a Legs & Co routine to the number 1 song - the celebrated video must not have been ready yet? Heart of Glass had actually been written several years earlier, but never satisfactorily recorded until this mega hit version - proving maybe that the best things come to those who wait.

Abba ~ play us out this week, and we'll have to wait until next week, the 8th February 1979, to see the Legs & Co interpretation of this quite brilliant song.

Could it be....... the 25th January 1979 Top of the Pops?

Here, courtesy of Darnall 42 on Vimeo, is the 25th January 1979 Top of the Pops, hosted by Dave Lee Travis......

Top of the Pops 25th January 1979


25-1-79: Presenter: Dave Lee Travis

(6) BLONDIE – Heart Of Glass (and charts)
(27) DR. FEELGOOD – Milk And Alcohol
(26) BARRY MANILOW – Could It Be Magic (video)
(21) THIRD WORLD – Cool Meditation (danced to by Legs & Co)
(12) BARRY WHITE – Just The Way You Are (video)
(28) THE DOLL – Desire Me
(25) LEIF GARRETT – I Was Made For Dancin’ (video)
(44) JUDAS PRIEST – Take On The World
(37) PHOEBE SNOW – Every Night
(9) THE SHADOWS – Don’t Cry For Me Argentina ®
(NEW) DONNY & MARIE OSMOND – On The Shelf
(1) IAN DURY & THE BLOCKHEADS – Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick ®
(3) EARTH, WIND & FIRE – September (and credits)

Hit Me With Your Top of the Pops

With the infamous 'Winter of Discontent' about strike, and the first episode of Blankety Blank about to air, Peter Powell is here to cheer us all up with this week's.....

Top of the Pops!
18-1-79: Presenter: Peter Powell

(30) SHALAMAR – Take That To The Bank (and charts)
(53) OLYMPIC RUNNERS – Sir Dancealot
(28) ANNE MURRAY – You Needed Me (video)
(3) RACEY – Lay Your Love On Me
(27) DAN HARTMAN – This Is It (danced to by Legs & Co)
(54) FRANKIE MILLER – When I’m Away From You
(5) OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN – A Little More Love ®
(2) IAN DURY & THE BLOCKHEADS – Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick
(18) THE THREE DEGREES – Woman In Love
(26) BILLY JOEL – My Life (video)
(7) CHIC – Le Freak
(1) VILLAGE PEOPLE – Y.M.C.A. (video)
(11) CHAKA KHAN – I’m Every Woman (and credits)






Shalamar ~ play over the chart rundown with their first top 20 hit.

Olympic Runners ~ then give us an energetic, onesie clad, invisible trampolining start to the show. Shame the song wasn't quite good enough to take off in the same way though! Two members of this band, Pete Wingfield and Mike Vernon, also played for Rocky Sharpe and the Replays.

Anne Murray ~ this instantly recognisable country song peaked at 22 for this Canadian singer. Boyzone did better when they covered it in 1999, and took it to number 1.

Racey ~ edited out of the 7.30 showing - not to worry you can catch them in the second showing at 1am.....

Dan Hartman ~ is this week's choice for the Legs and Co routine. A full compliment of Legs this week too. 'This is It' reached number 17.

Frankie Miller ~ edited out ~ catch him at 1am...

Olivia Newton-John ~ ditto for the delicious A Little More Love.

Ian Dury and the Blockheads ~ ah, it's the classic one where Davey Payne plays two saxophones at the same time - a real 'where were you' moment this. I remember where I was when I first saw it - in front of the telly watching Top of the Pops :-)

The Three Degrees ~ take the country song that failed to chart for Twiggy in 1977 and turn it into a top 3 smash hit. They just sang it a whole lot better really, and had more sparkly costumes.

Billy Joel ~ I've always like this song, it has more than a touch of class and a fair bit of piano oomph! This was a good time for Billy what with Barry White's cover version of Just the Way You Are also in the top 20. I expect he was grateful now that his suicide attempt of 9 years earlier had not succeeded.

Chic ~ freakishly ironic that a song written about not being allowed into a dance club would go on to become one of the biggest dance floor fillers of all time.

There then follows a brief appearance by latest teen sensation Leif Garrett who informs us that 'I Was Made for Dancing' has just charted at number 43, and also that Britain in January is nothing like California....

Village People ~ and from one timeless disco classic to another, with its final week at number one before Ian Dury hit it with his rhythm stick. Though we won't get to see that whacking moment on BBC4 next week because unfortunately that's a banned DLT episode.....

Chaka Khan ~ who played over the chart rundown last week, now plays over the end credits this week, with her Ashford and Simpson written song at its peak number 11 position in the charts.


So next week then BBC4 takes us to February 1st 1979 and a show hosted by Mike Read.