Top of the Pops to the Beat

We have something a little bit different this week, put together by Alan Fish - so big thanks to Alan! This is a UK Gold style edition of a 'strike' episode with our host, DLT, in voice over only.....

Hope to see you soon......

 

 

Top of the Pops 3rd July 1980

Hosted by Dave Lee Travis

http://www.4shared.com/video/7dMDIFpIba/TOTP_03_07_80.html

 

(30) JOY DIVISION - Love Will Tear Us Apart

Playing over the charts is Joy Division's only top 20 hit

 

(17) MATCHBOX – Midnight Dynamos

Still slowly making its way up to its peak if number 14

 

(36) YELLOW MAGIC ORCHESTRA - Computer Game (theme from the Invaders)

Their only hit which fought its way to 17 in the charts.

 

(9) BA ROBERTSON - To Be Or Not To Be

A big leap in the charts from 25 to 9 for BA but a higher position just wasn't to be.

 

(6) STACY LATTISAW - Jump To The Beat

This week's Legs & Co routine

 

(37) BAD MANNERS - Lip Up Fatty

Determinedly bouncing its way towards the top 20.

 

(21) BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS - Could You Be Loved

Another record slowly climbing the summer charts

 

(3) OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN AND ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA – Xanadu

Poised to claim the number one spot

 

(39) JOAN ARMATRADING - Me Myself I

This one would eventually peak at 21 in the charts

 

(5) THE KORGIS – Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime

The band's only top ten hit

 

(16) THE DETROIT SPINNERS – Cupid

This became a second top ten hit of 1980 for this 70's throwback band when it reached number 4.

 

(1) DON McLEAN - Crying

The final week at number one for Don

 

(12) ODYSSEY - Use it Up and Wear it Out

Getting in the queue for the number spot.

 

Whole Lotta Top of the Pops

Our thanks once again to Stephen Murphy and his team for putting together these 'lost' editions of Top of the Pops ~ the deeper into the strike of 1980 we go the more difficult it must be to find clips to include in these shows, hence maybe a few surprises.......

Good welcome to the 26th June 1980!

 

 

Top of the Pops 26th June 1980

Hosted by David Jensen

http://www.4shared.com/video/c-IWcWEQce/Top_Of_the_Pops_26_06_80.html#

 

(11) STACY LATTISAW - Jump To The Beat  

Plays over the credits, soon to become her only top ten hit

 

(47) PHIL LYNOTT - King's Call

Featuring Mark Knopfler on guitar, this tribute to Elvis made it to 35 in the charts

 

(29) THE SEX PISTOLS – (I’m Not Your) Stepping Stone

Legs & Co get all punky again to this cover of the Monkees which peaked at 21

 

(2) LIPPS INC - Funky Town

A repeat here of the Legs routine with Funky Town now at its peak in the charts

 

(39) ELVIS COSTELLO - New Amsterdam

Slowly climbing to its peak if 36

 

(41) AC/DC - Whole Lotta Rosie

 One of four singles released in June by the band, this one was the biggest hit when it peaked at 36

 

(8) LIQUID GOLD - Substitute

Now at its chart peak

 

(19) UB40 - I Think its Going to Rain

The double A side with My Way of Thinking, peaked at 6

 

(30) ODYSSEY – Use It Up Wear It Out

On its way of course to the very top of the pops.

 

(16) QUEEN – Play The Game

Freddie here wearing his Flash Gordon t-shirt - this song peaked at 14

 

(6) TEENA MARIE – Behind The Groove

A repeat of the Legs routine here, with Behind the Groove at its chart peak

 

(1) DON McLEAN - Crying

The second of three weeks at number one for Don.

 

(7) SPLODGENESSABOUNDS – Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps Please   

Plays over the credits this week after leaping to number 7 in the charts, but it got no higher.

 

 

Could You Be Top of the Pops?

Here is the third of Stephen Murphy's resurrected editions of Top of the Pops 1980, this time the 19th of June.....

Bob hears that MASH is no longer number one

 

 

 

Top of the Pops 19th June 1980

Hosted by Tommy Vance

http://www.4shared.com/video/6joUq33Dce/TOTP_19_06_80.html

 

(22)  SPLODGENESSABOUNDS - Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps Please

Is this week's chart rundown selection, the band's only top ten hit.

 

(51) BAD MANNERS - Lip Up Fatty

On its way to becoming their first top 20 hit

 

(29) UB40 - My Way Of Thinking

The follow-up to Food for Thought, and a second top ten hit.

 

(28) BA ROBERTSON - To Be Or Not To Be

This was to be BA's final top ten hit

 

(26) SURFACE NOISE ~ The Scratch

The first of this week's Legs & Co routines.

 

(12) JUDAS PRIEST - Breaking The Law

Already at its peak in the charts.

 

(39) OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN AND ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA ~ Xanadu

The second single from the movie and this one was heading for the top.

 

(4) ROBERTA FLACK & DONNY HATHAWAY - Back Together Again

The second of this week's Legs routines, the song would peak at number 3.

 

(40) SAXON - 747 (Strangers in the Night)

This became the band's second biggest hit when it made it to 13 in the charts.

 

(53) PAUL MCCARTNEY ~ Waterfalls

The follow-up to Coming Up, and another top ten hit for Paul.

 

(6) KORGIS - Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime

Their one and only top ten hit, which peaked at number 5.

 

(46) BOB MARLEY ~  Could You Be Loved

His first top ten hit for more than two years, and his final one before his premature death.

 

(1) DON MCLEAN – Crying

The first of three weeks at number one for Don.

 

(24) ROD STEWART - If Loving You Is Wrong (I Don't Want To Be Right)

The third of this week's Legs & Co routines is also the song that plays over the credits, and this one would peak at 23 in the charts.

 

 

Top of the Pops Substitute

Big thanks to Stephen Murphy and his team once again for providing us with a detailed look at what Top of the Pops 12th June 1980 might have looked like.....

Oooh ~ Steve Wright is the host!

 

 

 

Top of the Pops June 12th 1980

http://www.4shared.com/video/FUsczmvWce/TOTP_061280.html

 

(28) SURFACE NOISE - The Scratch (and chart countdown)

Their only top 30 hit which peaked at 26.

 

(54) JOAN ARMATRADING - Me Myself I

Her second of only three top 30 hits, this one peaked at 21.

 

(34) QUEEN – Play the Game

Third single from The Game, peaked at 14.

 

(17) TEENA MARIE - Behind The Groove (17)

This week's Legs & Co routine

 

 (25) MANHATTAN TRANSFER - Twilight Zone - Twilight Tone

Their penultimate hit now at its chart peak.

 

(48) HOYT AXTON - Della and the Dealer

A surprise inclusion in the show at his chart peak at 48.

 

(23) JUNIOR MURVIN - Police and Theives

Peaked at 23.

 

(21) LIQUID GOLD - Substitute

Their second and final top ten hit peaked at 8.

 

(30) THIN LIZZIE - Chinatown

Peaked at 21.

 

(31) THE POLICE - Six Pack

This was a collection of the band's first five singles plus The Bed's Too Big Without You, it cost £5.99 at the time and it peaked at 17.

 

(14) OMD - Messages

Peaked at 13.

 

(29) IRON MAIDEN - Sanctuary

The band's first top 30 - just - peaking at 29.

 

(1) THE MASH - Theme From MASH (Suicide is Painless)

Final week at number one.

 

(2) DON MCLEAN - Crying

But he'll have tears of joy next week.......

 

 

 ************************************************************************

 

Stephen Murphy has re-made his version of the 'strike show' 12th June 1980 edition of Top of the Pops. Here's the running order and the link ~

Top Of The Pops And The Dealer
Host Peter Powell
http://www.4shared.com/video/ze_W6Itwce/TOTP_12_06_80_New.html
...

(28) Surface Noise - The Scratch (Charts)
(42) Splodgenessabounds - Two Pints Of Lager
(2) Don Mclean - Crying.
(25) Manhattan Transfer - Twilight Zone (Video)
(12) Lambrettas - Daance (r)
(34) Iron Maiden - Sanctuary
(14) OMD - Messages (r) 2905
(6) Roberta Flack And Donny Hathaway - Back Together Again (Legs And Co)
(48) Hoyt Axton - Della And The Dealer
(23) Junior Mervin - Police And Thieves (r)
(21) Liquid Gold - Substitute r
(5?) Regents - See You Later
(1) Mash - Theme From Mash
(27) Rod Stewart - If Loving You Is Wrong (Old Style Credits

 

 

Top of the Pops Town

A huge thanks here to Stephen Murphy and his team for painstakingly recreating this edition of Top of the Pops from June 5th 1980. You can imagine the time and effort it must have taken.
This was the first of nine shows lost to the musicians strike at the BBC throughout June and July, but now thanks to a great deal of skill and perhaps even a little bit of actual magic, we can now watch the show in full as hosted by Simon Bates.......

Better late than never......

 

 

Top of the Pops 5/6/80

 

http://www.4shared.com/video/6OxVx-jqba/TOTP_05_06_80.html

 

 

(29) Teena Marie - Behind the Groove (and charts)

This week's chart rundown song became Teena's only top ten hit in the UK

 

(35) Siouxsie and The Banshees - Christine

The second single from her top ten album, Kaleidoscope, Christine peaked at 22.

 

(22) ELO - I'm Alive

The first of the Xanadu soundtrack singles, this one peaked at 20.

 

(3) Lipps Inc - Funky Town (danced to by Legs & Co)

You may recognise the funky town set that Legs & Co are using for their routine this week.....

 

(23) Judas Priest - Breaking the Law

The follow up to Living After Midnight, and their final top 20 hit.

 

(19) Jona Lewie - You'll Always Find me in the Kitchen at Parties

This one peaked at 16 in the charts, and then it started to sink......

 

(27) The Korgis - Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime

Became their only top ten hit when it made number 5.

 

(47) Elvis Costello - New Amsterdam

The third single from his number 2 album, Get happy.

 

(49) Darts - Let's Hang On

This became the band's final top 20 hit.

 

(57)  The Stranglers - Who Wants the World

It was three years now since their last top ten hit, and this one peaked at 39.

 

(5) The Specials - Rat Race

Now at its peak in the charts.

 

(1) The Mash - Suicide is Painless (danced to by Legs & Co)

Its second of three weeks at number one.

 

(14) Robert Flack and Donny Hathaway - Back Together Again (and credits)

On its way to number 3 in the charts.

 

 

Next week then, the 12th of June 1980 shall be revealed....

(Actually, I'll be away next week, so you'll have to wait for week commencing 10th August!)

 

 

Game of Top of the Pops

Since we will now be bereft of Top of the Pops 1980 for the duration of the summer, I hope this blog will at least provide a little entertainment until the show returns to BBC4 in late September.

As we all know, between June 5th and August 7th 1980 a musicians union strike at the BBC kept Top of the Pops off the air. That's nine editions, although one of them is accounted for, the pilot made on July 9th.

So, in those other eight shows who did we miss out on? Who would have been in the studio? Who on video? Who would Legs & Co have danced to? Who played over the charts? Who played over the credits? Which flop records would have made it onto the show? Who would the hosts have been? This is where we can all speculate a little on who would have been the winners and losers in the Game of Top of the Pops......

Here are the rules: we'll assume these shows would still have been the old style Top of the Pops, so we need a song for the chart rundown and one for the end credits.
In between we've got room for 10 more songs, plus the number one. So that's 13 songs in all.

Post your suggestions in the comments, and then here's the amazing twist in the tale.....

Most of the missing summer editions have been 'found' and will get their first ever public airing right here on this blog.

Yes, that's right! You will get to see most of these missing shows in full!
Will your suggestions match up? Each week we'll find out as each edition gets posted on Turn it on Again, Top of the Pops 1980!

The missing shows are:

June 5th ~ Submissions for this edition are now closed. The TOTPs points system is as follows: Getting the No.1 correct = 1 point; Naming the correct host = 2 points; Picking the correct chart rundown song = 3 points; Getting a main show song correct = 2 points; Naming the over the credits song = 3 points; Picking the Legs & Co routine song = 4 points; Naming a correct song but in the wrong part of the show = 1 point.

We have a Top 8 contributors chart then for June 5th 1980:
8. Wilberforce
7. shaky shakerson
6. jackh
5. Arthur Nibble
5. sct353
3. Noax
2. Dory
1. bama boogie-woogie

Congratulations to bama boogie woogie who is this week's Number One!

June 12th ~ We have a top 7 for this week:
7. Noax
6. Arthur Nibble
5. Dory
4. Wilberforce
3. sct353
2. Chris Cooper
1. bama boogie-woogie


June 19th ~ We have a new Number One this week! Deposing bama boogie-woogie from the Top of the Pops throne is........
4. Wilberforce - 14 points (out of 36)
3. bama boogie-woogie - 15 points
2. Arthur Nibble - 20 points
1. Dory - 23 points

June 26th ~  It's all change again at the top of the pops charts this week: ~
4. Dory - 9 points (out of 35)
4. Wilberforce - 9 points
2. bama boogie-woogie - 13 points
1. Arthur Nibble - 14 points

July 3rd ~ We have a new entry going straight in at Number One this week! ~
3. Dory - 13 points (out of 31)
3. Wilberforce - 13 points
2. Arthur Nibble - 14 points
1. Paul Major - 18 points!

July 10th - It's all change at the top of the charts again this week......
4. Arthur Nibbel ~ 22 points (out of 33)
3. Alison Fresco ~ 23 points
2. Wilberforce ~ 28 points
1. Dory ~ 29 points

July 17th ~ There is no show for the 17th July so we have time for a bit of a breather from the Game before returning for the final two shows to see who can become the ultimate Number One!

July 24th ~ The new Top Four this week is.......
4. Wilberforce ~ 10 points (out of 47)
3. Paul Major ~ 24 points
2. Dory ~ 26 points
1. Arthur Nibble ~ 29 points

July 31st ~ And so now The Winner Takes it All! And what a battle this final game has been, with  very high scores all round, but now here's our top 4 rundown for the ultimate Game of Top of the Pops.........
4. wilberorce ~ 17 points (out of 37)
3. Paul Major ~ 20 points
2. Dory ~ 25 points
1. Arthur Nibble ~ 30 points!

You know nothing, Mike Read!

Top of the Pops and Majors

Olivia Newton John is our glamorous co-host this week alongside the not quite so glamorous Simon Bates, but in any case due to 'problems at the BBC' there's no studio audience for them to interact with (although the canned applause is still there), and indeed there are no bands in the studio either, or any sign or mention of Legs & Co, just repeats and videos.....

Was it something I said?

18-9-80: Presenters: Simon Bates & Olivia Newton-John

(32) XTC – Generals And Majors (video)
A whole year after Making Plans for Nigel, XTC return with another fine Colin Moulding tune but despite Richard Branson's best acting it got no higher than 32.

 (2) RANDY CRAWFORD – One Day I’ll Fly Away ®
This eye-opening performance was a repeat from the DLT/Keegan show from September 4th, and was now at its peak in the charts.

(4) STEVIE WONDER – Masterblaster (Jammin’) (video)
This homage to Bob Marley was the first of two top ten hits for Stevie Wonder in 1980 from his Hotter Than July album. ~ Here's the Xanadu segment BBC4 edited out

 (8) SHEENA EASTON – Modern Girl ®
Now at its peak in the charts.

 (20) NICK STRAKER BAND – A Walk In The Park ®
Another song now at its chart peak. Afterwards, Simon is joined by non other than Jonathan King who has brought something back from America with him ~ a new craze called ............. a Rubik's Cube!

 (21) MADNESS – Baggy Trousers (video)
Here's another of 1980's iconic videos, maybe not for the size of the budget but certainly for Lee Thompson playing saxophone whilst flying through the air! Simon is now joined by yet another special guest, this time it's Wonder Woman actress Lynda Carter, who it turns out also has a new single out.....

 (15) BILLY JOEL – It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me (video)
This one went up one place higher to peak at 14. Next stop ~ Uptown Girl...

The Top Ten rundown:
 (10) QUEEN – Another One Bites The Dust (video)
The fourth single from their number one album The Game.

 (9) CLIFF RICHARD – Dreamin’ (clip of TOTP 4-9-80)
Peaked at 8.

 (8) SHEENA EASTON – Modern Girl (clip of TOTP 21-8-80)
Now at its peak.

 (7) DAVID BOWIE – Ashes To Ashes (video)
Former number one with ground breaking video.

 (6) HAZEL O’CONNOR – Eighth Day (clip of TOTP 21-8-80)
Peaked at 5.

 (5) THE JAM – Start (video)
Had been number one for one week.

 (4) STEVIE WONDER – Masterblaster (Jammin’) (video)
Made it to number 2.

 (3) ELVIS PRESLEY – It’s Only Love (clip of Legs & Co TOTP 11-9-80)
At its chart peak and his last top ten hit until A Little Less Conversation.

 (2) RANDY CRAWFORD – One Day I’ll Fly Away (clip of TOTP 4-9-80)
At its peak.

 (1) KELLY MARIE – Feels Like I’m In Love ®
A second and final week at number one for Kelly and her golden hat.

 (10) QUEEN – Another One Bites The Dust (and credits)
Well at least the swirly effects are back this week!


The next edition then is the 25th September 1980 presented by Mike Read and Russ Abbot, but we will have to wait until the 24th September 2015 to see it, because for the next two months its The Proms.