Stay With Me Till Top of the Pops

It's the 12th July 1979 already, hosted by hello hello hello Mike Read, and a whole lotta lovely new performances on the show this week....

I need Top of the Pops tonight....

 

 

12-7-79: Presenter: Mike Read

(16) SLICK – Space Bass (and charts)
(33) SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES – Playground Twist
(17) THOM PACE – Maybe
(8) THE BEACH BOYS – Lady Lynda (danced to by Legs & Co)
(38) THE POLICE – Can’t Stand Losing You
(30) RICKIE LEE JONES – Chuck E.’s In Love (video)
(NEW) STONEBRIDGE McGUINNESS – Oo-Eeh Baby
(2) JANET KAY – Silly Games
(32) PUBLIC IMAGE LTD – Death Disco
(26) SUPERTRAMP – Breakfast In America (video)
(51) CHANTAL CURTIS – Get Another Love
(14) THIN LIZZY – Do Anything You Want To (video)
(58) JUDIE TZUKE – Stay With Me Till Dawn
(1) TUBEWAY ARMY – Are ‘Friends’ Electric?
(22) DONNA SUMMER – Bad Girls (and credits)

 

Slick ~ with Space Bass at its number 16 peak do the chart rundown this week

 

Siouxsie & the Banshees ~ looking very glamorous in her mackintosh raincoat, Playground Twist just about wriggled into the top 30.

 

Thom Pace ~ still a bit dull is this one, getting close to its number 14 peak now.

 

The Beach Boys ~ the Legs and Co ladies are back from holiday, although they seem to have landed in some remote sun tanned orange studio for this Beach Boys routine.

 

The Police ~ in the studio for a second time this year with their fabulous follow up single to Roxanne, the second release from their debut album, Outlandos D'Amour.

 

Rickie Lee Jones ~ this was her only hit single in the UK, reaching number 18.

 

Stonebridge McGuinness ~ were edited out from the 7.30 show, catch up with Oo-Eeh Baby later on BBC4 tonight at 1.30 am.

 

Janet Kay ~ was also edited from the 7.30 show, now in her peak number two position.

 

Public Image LTD ~ a debut in the studio for Johnny and the boys - Jah Wobble taking every opportunity here to show off his specially blacked out tooth

 

Supertramp ~ with the title track from their 18 million seller album, and a video that looked like it was filmed at the same time as their last one. Did they ever make it into the Top of the Pops studio? I think they did for Dreamer in 1975.

 

Chantal Curtis ~ 'zooming up the charts' at 51 but this French lady didn't get any higher and didn't get another hit.

 

Thin Lizzie ~ another 7.30 edit victim, but we have seen this video previously.

 

Judie Tzuke ~ now we're talking! An amazing performance of an amazing song, this was actually the second single from her debut album, Welcome to the Cruise (the first, which failed to chart, was a wonderful acappella tune called For You) - somehow, Stay With Me Till Dawn was her only hit single.

 

Tubeway Army ~ now in their 3rd of 4 weeks at number one.

 

Donna Summer ~ not such a bad girl, she sings us out over the credits this week.

 

 

Next up is the 19th July 1979, presented by David Jensen.

 

 

C'Mon Everybody ~ it's Top of the Pops 5th July 1979!

Thought I'd post this one up quick whilst it's still available! Thanks once again to Darnall 42 for coming to the rescue and allowing us this opportunity, so c,mon everybody, throw off your crash helmets and rev up your engines!

what, time for my last top ten hit?

Top of the Pops 5th July 1979


As always, don't click the link if you are going to be offended by the host, Jimmy Savile.


5-7-79: Presenter: Jimmy Savile

(22) CHIC – Good Times (and charts)
(45) MANFRED MANN’S EARTH BAND – Don’t Kill It Carol
(6) AMII STEWART – Light My Fire (from Snowtime Special)
(54) THE KORGIS – If I Had You
(9) THE SEX PISTOLS – C’mon Everybody (video)
(12) EDDY GRANT – Living On The Frontline ®
(18) VILLAGE PEOPLE – Go West (video)
(21) THE RUTS – Babylon’s Burning ®
(41) THE KNACK – My Sharona
(27) THE DOOLEYS – Wanted
(30) PATRICK HERNANDEZ – Born To Be Alive ®
(1) TUBEWAY ARMY – Are ‘Friends’ Electric?
(29) DAVE EDMUNDS – Girls Talk (and credits)

 

 

Up the Junction ~ Top of the Pops 28th June 1979

So on a night when England sadly, if rather predictably crash out of yet one more World Cup, at least over on BBC4 we have another edition of .......

Top of the Peters!

 

 

28-6-79: Presenter: Peter Powell

(24) SEX PISTOLS – C’mon Everybody (and charts)
(3) SQUEEZE – Up The Junction
(19) LENE LOVICH – Say When (video)
(26) THOM PACE – Maybe
(5) QUANTUM JUMP – The Lone Ranger ®
(23) JANET KAY – Silly Games
(29) THIN LIZZY – Do Anything You Want To (video)
(37) U.K. SUBS – Stranglehold
(10) GERRY RAFFERTY – Night Owl (video)
(36) BONNIE TYLER – Married Men
(20) CHAS & DAVE – Gertcha
(1) TUBEWAY ARMY – Are ‘Friends’ Electric?
(30) SLICK – Space Bass (and credits)



Sex Pistols ~ get us off to a rock n rolling start over the chart rundown

Squeeze ~ a new performance of Up the Junction, with Glenn in a stripy t-shirt, just one chart place below its peak position.

Lene Lovich ~ such a lively crowd in this video - reminding me somewhat of the Nirvana video for Smells Like Teen Spirit.

Thom Pace ~ a little dull this one following straight after Lene Lovich. Maybe was Thom's only hit and made it to number 14.

Quantum Jump ~ another showing for The Lone Ranger now at its peak at number 5.

Janet Kay ~ a new performance of Silly Games from Janet, adorned in a silver headdress, though not sure if she did a live vocal this time.

Thin Lizzy ~ a fun video for Do Anything You Want To, but this tune did remind me of The Boys are Back in Town, particularly the guitar riff, but nevertheless a good song.

UK Subs ~ making their debut on the show with Stranglehold, the first of two top 30 hits for this punk group in 1979.
Gerry Rafferty ~ a video reminiscent of the one he made for Baker Street a year earlier, Night Owl was his first of two singles from the album of the same name.

Bonnie Tyler ~ was a casualty of the 7.30 edit, but you can engage with her at 1.00am tonight on BBC4.

Chas and Dave ~ looks like a third performance of Gertcha, now at its number 20 peak, but this was also edited out of the 7.30 showing.

Tubeway Army ~ Gary and the boys are back in the studio for a new performance of Are Friends Electric now it has made it to number one. This was the second single from their album Replicas, the first one, Down in the Park, failed to chart.

Slick ~ play us out over the credits of this Legless & Co edition of Top of the Pops.

The next edition is from the 5th July 1979 and its a Jimmy Savile, so we won't get to see it unless it somehow turns up online somewhere, because it was shown on UK Gold.

Otherwise we jump all the way to the 12th July 1979 with Mike Read.

Wanted ~ Top of the Pops 21st June 1979!

Huge thanks once again to Darnall 42 for uploading an edition of Top of the Pops 1979 that will not be broadcast on BBC4, this time due to the host being Dave Lee Travis.

Click Here to watch Top of the Pops 21st June 1979

If it works for Abba....

 

21-6-79: Presenter: Dave Lee Travis

(22) THE CLASH – I Fought The Law (and charts)
(21) EDDY GRANT – Living On The Frontline
(55) THE DOOLEYS – Wanted
(25) VILLAGE PEOPLE – Go West (video)
(63) RUBY WINTERS – Baby Lay Down
(37) THE RUTS – Babylon’s Burning
(24) AMII STEWART – Light My Fire (video)
(NEW) DAME EDNA EVERAGE – Disco Matilda
(16) DOLLAR – Who Were You With In The Moonlight ®
(57) PATRICK HERNANDEZ – Born To Be Alive
(14) JOHN WILLIAMS – Cavatina (danced to by Legs & Co)
(71) SNIFF ‘N’ THE TEARS – Driver’s Seat
(1) ANITA WARD – Ring My Bell ®
(29) THOM PACE – Maybe (and credits)

 

 

The Clash ~ it's the band who refused to be on Top of the Pops playing over the credits this week

 

Eddy Grant ~ this song was featured three times on the show, twice hosted by Jimmy Savile, and the other by DLT. So BBC4 audiences won't get to see Living on the Frontline at all.

 

The Dooleys ~ here's the moment they did a Brotherhood of Man, and switched to Abba style female lead singers, and to great effect. Wanted became their biggest hit when it reached number 3.

 

Village People ~ very enthusiastic dancing from the boys in what looked like footage from an (American?) tv show.

 

Ruby Winters ~ appearing live in the studio but Baby Lay Down went to sleep at number 43.

 

The Ruts ~ making their fiery debut on the show with what became their only top ten hit.

 

Amii Stewart ~ more flames on show with another disco version of an old song, this time the Door's Light My Fire, and another top ten hit being kindled for Amii.

 

Dame Edna Everage ~ some things are just so bad they are funny, and some things are just so bad...... but Barry to his credit gives it some welly, though thankfully this non-charter won't be on again!

 

Dollar ~ a good year for the duo with top ten hits soon to follow.

 

Patrick Hernandez ~ picking up where Harpo and Paul Nicholas left off, this was his only UK hit, and I bet the aforementioned two would have loved to have twirled their canes to this one.

 

John Williams ~ it's a bendy ballet routine this week from Legs and Co.

 

Sniff n the Tears ~ I was half expecting this to be a novelty record in answer to Driver 67, but no such luck, Drivers Seat was their only charter and it stalled outside the top 40.

 

Anita Ward ~ still having a good chime at number one :-)

 

Thom Pace ~ plays us out with his only hit which we'll see on the show next week.

 

 

Back on BBC4 next time then with the edition from 28th June 1979.

Ring My Bell ~ it's Top of the Pops 14th June 1979!

Well the Maggie Stredder Singers (aka the Ladybirds) and the Top of the Pops Orchestra were back with a vengeance on this week's show, unleashed by Mike Read...

'Are they back from the pub yet?'

14-6-79: Presenter: Mike Read

(8) SISTER SLEDGE – We Are Family (and charts)
(68) MATCH – Boogie Man
(5) McFADDEN & WHITEHEAD – Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now
(4) EARTH, WIND & FIRE with THE EMOTIONS – Boogie Wonderland (video)
(24) LENE LOVICH – Say When (danced to by Legs & Co)
(26) GERRY RAFFERTY – Night Owl (video)
(16) QUANTUM JUMP – The Lone Ranger ®
(10) EDWIN STARR – H-A-P-P-Y Radio (video)
(7) TUBEWAY ARMY – Are ‘Friends’ Electric? ®
(41) JANET KAY – Silly Games
(27) CHAS & DAVE – Gertcha
(13) SQUEEZE – Up The Junction ®
(1) ANITA WARD – Ring My Bell
(30)  JOHN WILLIAMS – Cavatina  (and credits)

Sister Sledge ~ at its number 8 peak We are Family plays over the chart rundown

Match ~ another group of Bee Gees wannabees, but Boogie Man was their only charting single, and it peaked at 48.

McFadden and Whitehead ~ now this was more like it. Not only a great song, but being performed live in the Top of the Pops studio with the Maggie Stredder Singers (who I thought had left the show by now) and the Top of the Pops Orchestra both in full view. And I thought it sounded pretty good!

Earth, Wind and Fire ~ another outing for this video, though not on the 7.30 edition on BBC4 tonight.

Lene Lovich ~ and a very quirky Legs and Co routine to go with this very quirky and highly enjoyable song.

Gerry Rafferty ~ sadly edited out of the 7.30 edition, but should be on again in two weeks time. Such a cool song this one.

Quantum Jump ~ busy leaping up the charts, but edited out tonight. Its the same performance as the 31st May though. Kenny Everett was largely responsible for this becoming a belated hit ~ using it on his tv show and playing it on his radio show.

Edwin Starr ~ 1979 was a good year for Edwin, with two top ten hits, Happy Radio will move up one more place. But this was also his final top tenner.

Tubeway Army ~ a repeat showing for Are Friends Electric, which had made a big jump up the charts on its way of course to the very top. And I remember buying this very edition of Smash Hits ~

Janet Kay ~ here's a song that totally passed me by at the time, despite it being somewhat eccentric and memorable. Silly Games was to be Janet's only hit (albeit 3 times) and made it all the way to number 2.

Chas and Dave ~ the gertcha boys are back and managed to slip in another 'cowson' again!

Squeeze ~ not shown last week at 7.30 but here is that same performance now in all its BBC4 glory. Up the Junction was the third of four singles to be released from their Cool for Cats album.

Anita Ward ~ replacing Blondie at the top of the charts, this was Anita's one and only UK hit, and here we are treated to another live studio performance to round off an excellent show.

John Williams ~ provides an unusually chilled feel to the end credits with his only top twenty hit.

Next week's show, the 21st June, is hosted by DLT. So the next edition on BBC4 will have to be the 28th June with Peter Powell.

Living on the Frontline ~ it's Top of the Pops 7th June 1979....

Many thanks once more to Darnall42 for uploading an edition of Top of the Pops to Vimeo, that for obvious reasons will not be shown on BBC4. Jimmy Savile is the host, so clearly don't click the link if you will be offended.

Top of the Pops, 7th June 1979

 

7-6-79: Presenter: Jimmy Savile

 (20) TUBEWAY ARMY – Are ‘Friends’ Electric? (and charts)
(66) THE TOURISTS – Blind Among The Flowers
(30) ELVIS COSTELLO & THE ATTRACTIONS – Accidents Will Happen ®
(3) ANITA WARD – Ring My Bell (danced to by Legs & Co)
(17) THE SKIDS – Masquerade
(50) LINDA LEWIS – I’d Be Surprisingly Good For You
(2) ROXY MUSIC – Dance Away (footage from Snowtime Special: Abba In Switzerland 16-4-79)
(21) SISTER SLEDGE – We Are Family (video)
(54) THE SUTHERLAND BROTHERS – Easy Come Easy Go
(28) DOLLAR – Who Were You With In The Moonlight
(61) NICK LOWE – Crackin’ Up
(6) ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA – Shine A Little Love (video)
(45) EDDY GRANT – Living On The Frontline
(1) BLONDIE – Sunday Girl (footage from TopPop)
(11) DONNA SUMMER – Hot Stuff (and credits)

Gertcha ~ it's Top of the Pops 31st May 1979!

Squeeze edited out of the 7.30 show? ~ Gertcha!

31-5-79: Presenter: Paul Burnett

(19) ANITA WARD – Ring My Bell (and charts)
(41) QUANTUM JUMP – The Lone Ranger
(4) PEACHES & HERB – Reunited (video)
(42) CHAS & DAVE – Gertcha
(15) McFADDEN & WHITEHEAD – Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now (danced to by Legs & Co)
(18) SPARKS – The Number One Song In Heaven
(47) VOYAGER – Halfway Hotel
(5) EARTH, WIND & FIRE with THE EMOTIONS – Boogie Wonderland (video)
(50) SQUEEZE – Up The Junction
(24) EDWIN STARR – H-A-P-P-Y Radio (video)
(56) FISCHER-Z – The Worker
(52) HOT CHOCOLATE – Mindless Boogie
(1) BLONDIE – Sunday Girl (footage from TopPop)
(28) LINDA CLIFFORD – Bridge Over Troubled Water (and credits)


Paul Burnett always seemed to do such a great job hosting the show, and tonight is no exception, if only he'd got the gig more often, especially in 1979..........

Anita Ward ~ with a perfect song to open the show, and soon to be the next number one.

Quantum Jump ~ sing along now everybody ~ 'Taumata-whaka-tangi-hanga-kuayuwo tamate-aturi-pukaku-piki-maunga horonuku-pokaiawhen-uaka-tana-tahu mataku-atanganu-akawa-miki-tora'  This song originally came in 1976 and the band had split up by the time it eventually became a hit in 1979 - but they did kindly reform for this performance tonight.

Peaches & Herb ~ now at their number 4 peak.

Chas & Dave ~ Chas having to do a live vocal here to avoid saying the word 'cowson' which somebody's wife at the BBC thought was a bit rude! Though I'm sure I heard someone sneak it in at least once!

McFadden & Whitehead ~ a wide range of outfits this week for the Legs & Co routine, ranging from wedding dresses to pyjamas - and in front of a clap along audience too.

Sparks ~ a new performance for this one still rising up the charts, but of course filled with lots of disturbing stares into the camera, and even a detached head at one point.

Voyager ~ sounding very much like Mott the Hoople on helium, Halfway Hotel closed down before it made the top 30.

Earth Wind and Fire ~ were edited out of the 7.30 show, but we've seen the video before.

Squeeze ~ why the (probably) best known song from this wonderful band was edited out of the 7.30 show will forever remain one of life's great mysteries, but it will be on again very soon.

Edwin Starr ~ was also unhappily edited out of the 7.30 show - catch up with him at 12.30 am.

Fischer Z ~ pronounced 'fishers head' with a pre-twotone foray into ska here, but The Worker failed to make the top 50.

Hot Chocolate ~ with an interesting song that would maybe have been more at home on The Old Grey Whistle Test, but the group didn't release a top 40 hit in 1979.

Blondie ~ the second of three weeks at number one for Sunday Girl.

Linda Clifford ~ still in the lower reaches of the top 30 (as is Mike Oldfield!) plays us out over the credits.

Next week's show, the 6th June 1979, is a Jimmy Savile, so instead we will leap ahead to the 14th June with Mike Read (and Squeeze!).