Top of the Pops and Lights

The good news is that the word on the Top of the Pops vine is that The Story of 1983 is being put together as we speak, or even as we sit down on our sofas to watch July 8th 1982.....

Bananarama's granny wonders where all her bloomers have gone....

8-7-82: Presenter: David Jensen

(5) IMAGINATION – Music And Lights
I'm starting to get the impression that Imagination were just a little OTT.....
Music And Lights was now at its chart peak.

(4) IRENE CARA – Fame (video)
This charted on the back of the tv series which came to our screens in June 1982, though it is the title song from the original movie which came out two years prior. There seems to be more talking (and fighting) in this video than singing! And after causing all that traffic chaos, it went to number one of course.

(6) SHALAMAR – A Night To Remember
Jeff Daniel returns by popular demand - 'hundreds of letters' no less, and perhaps he must've known that his first routine would be yewtreed so was determined to make sure he finally got on BBC4.
The song went up one more place.

(15) AC/DC – For Those About To Rock (We Salute You) (video)
Edited out of tonight's 7.30pm showing.

(30) TRIO – Da Da Da
Shame ~ Trio's memorable studio performance was also edited out.

(3) ODYSSEY – Inside Out
A studio performance here but the Jesse Rae penned Inside Out got no higher than number 3.

(20) BANANARAMA – Shy Boy
Appearing for the first time Fun Boy Three-less, and with a song that wasn't a cover, but written by producers Steve Jolley and Tony Swain, (who also co-wrote Music and Lights) the girls recorded their third top ten hit of 1982, when Shy Boy peaked at number 4.

(13) BUCKS FIZZ – Now Those Days Are Gone (video)
Going back to the 1940's in this video for their first top ten hit that wasn't also a number one, though it seems to me to have a passing resemblance to The Land of Make Believe, peaking instead at number 8.

(1) CAPTAIN SENSIBLE – Happy Talk
Second and final week at number one for the Captain (or is it Wurzel Gummidge?) and the Bunny Mixtures! And yes, the line in the lyrics officially is 'I'm a lucky cuss' but that's not quite what he sings......   Apt, really, considering he took this to number one!

(2) STEVE MILLER BAND – Abracadabra (crowd dancing/video) (and credits)
We play out with some real live rabbits being pulled from a magician's hat with the aid of his very glamorous assistant.

Fame at last! Grab your legwarmers and leap on a car roof, it's #TOTP tonight at 7.30pm on @BBCFour https://t.co/KJrfnmL05b pic.twitter.com/CN5atW4GMy

— BBC Four (@BBCFOUR) October 27, 2016

Next then is July 15th 1982.

Top of the Pops Talk

Well 1982 is gaining ground pretty rapidly now on 2016, and here we are with the edition from the first of July, slightly shorter than normal, due to imminent World Cup coverage from Spain.

Who's a pretty boy, then?

1-7-82: Presenter: John Peel

(34) VISAGE – Night Train
Here's something of a surprise to kick things off, the first ever studio performance from Visage, which unfortunately for them was also to be their final top 20 hit, peaking at number 12.

 (13) THE JAM – Just Who Is The Five O’Clock Hero (video)
A live clip next of one the The Jam's least known hits, which peaked at number 8.

 (22) QUEEN – Las Palabras De Amor ®
Freddy and his twitching moustache went up five more places.

 (30) DOLLAR – Videotheque
Well David has made an effort to dress up and look smart in his suit and trilby, but miss Bazar on the other hand has turned up in an ill fitting string vest and precious little else ~ still, no one's complaining! And the song isn't half bad either, making it to number 17.

 (21) CHERI – Murphy’s Law
Looks like the ladies from Zoo have been rummaging through their predecessors' old costumes, and to not such a bad effect too, for a routine to the Canadian's duo's only hit, peaking at 13.

 (11) MIDGE URE – No Regrets (video)
With his debut solo single, a synth laden cover of course of the Walker Brothers classic, which peaked at number 9.

 (1) CAPTAIN SENSIBLE – Happy Talk
The Captain is understandably in high kicking spirits as he celebrates the first of two weeks at number one.

 (14) NATASHA – Iko Iko (and credits)
She's seen off the Belle Stars, and seemingly the rest of her band, and certainly most of her clothes, and now took Iko Iko up four more places.


July 8th 1982 is next with David Jensen.

So that’s what happened to @ABCFRY’s parrot. #TOTP pic.twitter.com/cGCv2NJEvs

— BBC Four (@BBCFOUR) October 21, 2016

A Top of the Pops to Remember

Sadly BBC4 are still skipping editions of Top of the Pops hosted by DLT, including this much celebrated show from June 24th 1982...

So we're very lucky to have D42 who has kindly uploaded the show to Vimeo

It slowly dawns on Jeff why no one else is standing where the floor has just been polished.....

24-6-82: Presenter: Dave Lee Travis

(31) IMAGINATION – Music And Lights
Became the band's third and final top tenner when it peaked at number 5.

(12) STEVE MILLER BAND – Abracadabra (video)
With his first hit since Rock n Me in 1976, this one made it to number 2.

(38) LEO SAYER – Heart (Stop Beating In Time)
His penultimate top 30 hit peaking at number 22.

(7) ODYSSEY – Inside Out (danced to by Zoo)
Their fifth and final top ten hit.

(36) STATUS QUO – She Don’t Fool Me
Got no higher in the charts than 36.

(33) CAPTAIN SENSIBLE – Happy Talk
On holiday from The Damned here, with a summer number one about to be.

(18) THE BEATLES – Beatles Movie Medley (video)
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the charts, here's another great white medley! At least it's the real deal this time, and the first of two top ten hits for the Beatles in 1982, this one peaking at number 10.

(37) BUCKS FIZZ – Now Those Days Are Gone
Going a capella and making it to number 8.

(25) SHALAMAR – A Night To Remember
Oh such a terrible shame that BBC4 are skipping Jeffrey Daniel's amazing routine, a true classic Top of the Pops moment! The song peaked at number 5.

(10) STEVIE WONDER – Do I Do (video)
At its peak.

(1) CHARLENE – I’ve Never Been To Me ®
One week at number one for Charlene's only hit.

(8) DIANA ROSS – Work That Body (crowd dancing) (and credits)
Went up one more place.


Next up is July 1st 1982 with John Peel.

Las Palabras de Top of the Pops

Summer is in the air, it's 17th June 1982 and Simon Bates is the host of this week's Top of the Pops!

er...... has anybody seen my guitar by any chance?

17-6-82: Presenter: Simon Bates

(24) NATASHA – Iko Iko
We begin this week with blonde Scottish singer, ironically named Natasha England, and her cover of Iko Iko, which was also in the charts at the same time for the Belle Stars. Natasha's version, with a touch of an Adam and the Ants feel about it, won out and reached number 10, whilst the Belle Stars languished at 35.

(4) ABC – The Look Of Love (video)
What an absolute spiffing video! But the Look of Love got no higher in the charts.

(33) ROXY MUSIC – Avalon
Bryan, looking dapper even for him, in a white dinner jacket, performs a personal favourite of mine, which became Roxy Music's final top 20 hit when it peaked at number 13.

(14) BOW WOW WOW – I Want Candy (video)
Annabella and the ex-Ants head to the beach to perform this Strangeloves cover which became their second and final top ten hit, peaking at number 9.

(32) QUEEN – Las Palabras De Amor
A rare studio appearance from Queen, with Freddy proudly displaying his famous moustache, though with seemingly no audience there to appreciate it, for this third single from their top 4 album, Hot Space. Las Palabras De Amor (the words of love) peaked at 17.

(3) CHARLENE – I’ve Never Been To Me
.......But about to go to number one. And edited out of the 7.30 showing.

Presumably this was the JK section?? It was also edited out:

(SWEDISH 1) NICOLE – A Little Peace (video)
(FINNISH 1) THE HUMAN LEAGUE – Don’t You Want Me (video)
(SWISS 1) TRIO – Da Da Da (video)
(ITALIAN 1) PHOEBE CATES – The Theme From Paradise (video)
(DUTCH 1) BOYSTOWN GANG – Can’t Take My Eyes Off You (video)

(9) GARY NUMAN – We Take Mystery (To Bed) (video)
His 7th and final top ten hit, from his 6th and final top ten album, I Assassin, but it got no higher than number 9. And it was also edited out of tonight's 7.30 broadcast.

(6) DURAN DURAN – Hungry Like The Wolf ®
Went up one more place.

(21) TOYAH – Brave New World (video)
Her hair was now getting so big there was barely enough room for it on the tv screen! At its chart peak.

(19) ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN – The Back Of Love
Looks like they managed to lose the stilt stalker! Another song now at its peak.

(1) ADAM ANT – Goody Two Shoes (video) (and credits)
The final week at number one for Adam's third and final number one hit.



The next edition is June 24th 1982. Sadly, BBC4 are still not showing DLT hosted shows, so will move on to July 1st with John Peel.

I'm a Wonderful Top of the Pops Baby

June 10th 1982 will not be shown on BBC4 due to the host being Jimmy Savile. So we must give a very big thanks to Neil B for uploading this edition onto 4Shared:

Top of the Pops 10th June 1982

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Thanks due also now to Erik Threlfall who has uploaded this edition to WeTransfer
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(Do not click the link if you wish to avoid Jimmy Savile!)

I say, has anyone seen my lovely coconuts?

10-6-82: Presenter: Jimmy Savile

(17) KID CREOLE & THE COCONUTS – I’m A Wonderful Thing Baby YouTube Clip
Making their Top of the Pops debut,with the first of three top ten hits in 1982, taken from top three album Tropical Gangsters. This one peaked at number 4.

(3) SOFT CELL – Torch
Went up one more place.

(13) THE ASSOCIATES – Club Country YouTube Clip
At its peak.

The JK bit:
(US 8) ASIA – Heat Of The Moment (video)
(US 4) TOMMY TUTONE – 867-53091/Jenny (Video)
(US 2) RICK SPRINGFIELD – Don’t Talk To Strangers (video)
(US 1) PAUL McCARTNEY & STEVIE WONDER – Ebony And Ivory (video)

(22) DIANA ROSS – Work That Body (video) YouTube Clip
Peaked at number 7 and was Diana's last top ten hit until Chain Reaction in 1986.

(27) STEVIE WONDER – Do I Do (danced to by Zoo)
Peaked at number 10.

(10) GENESIS – Paperlate ®
At its peak.

(1) ADAM ANT – Goody Two Shoes (and credits) ®
Adam had queued up patiently for his first of two weeks at number one.



Next then is June 17th 1982.

I've Never Been to Top of the Pops

June 1982 is upon us already and David 'Kid' Jensen is once again the choice to host a live edition of Top of the Pops!

Oi! Watch out. Do NOT set fire to @CarrieGrant1! #TOTP pic.twitter.com/MrfFRbNF2r

— BBC Four (@BBCFOUR) October 14, 2016

Carrie gets the idea for a change of hair colour....

3-6-82: Presenter: David Jensen (Live)

(5) ABC – The Look Of Love
Martin and his boy band get the show underway with pretty much the same routine as last time, and The Look of Love went up one more chart position.

(2) ADAM ANT – Goody Two Shoes (video)
A case here perhaps of an expensive video not being quite as eye catching as the studio performance? And  Goody Two Shoes was still being stamped on by Madness, but not for much longer...

(27) ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN – The Back Of Love
Making their Top of the Pops debut here with a song produced by a young Ian Broudie, which became their breakthrough hit peaking at number 19. And a certain member of their audience was obviously born in a greenhouse!

(22) SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES – Fire works
Susan's transformation from punk to goth seems complete now, though fire works didn't quite set the chart alight, peaking at 22.

(21) FUN BOY THREE – The Telephone Always Rings
It looks like Neville and Lynval were doing their own version of Jane Fonda's workout here, with Terry doing his slightly embarrassed to be here routine. The song peaked at 17.

(15) CHARLENE – I’ve Never Been To Me
This was quite a story ~ a long forgotten record from 1976 is suddenly rediscovered and soars up the charts, whilst the singer is working in a newsagents in Ilford! It sounds like the TOTPS orchestra came out of retirement here to back her live vocal, missing out that talky bit on the record, and putting Charlene in the queue for number one.

(1) MADNESS – House Of Fun (video)
The Nutty Boys, live from Japan, introduce their second and final week at number one.

(7) JUNIOR – Mama Used To Say (and credits)
And another terrific live vocal here from Junior to end the show.

June 10th 1982 was hosted by Jimmy Savile and so obviously BBC4 will skip it in favour of June 17th with Simon Bates.

Top of the Pops of Lost Souls

It is May 27th 1982 and John Peel is hosting a shorter than usual edition of Top of the Pops, to make room for the FA Cup Final replay that is soon to kick off between Spurs and QPR.

Here’s something to look at during the gaps in these interviews. #TOTP pic.twitter.com/lkDBnfAEwT

— BBC Four (@BBCFOUR) October 13, 2016

So who do you think will win the soccer cup, Roger? Rangers or Chas and Dave?


 27-5-82: Presenter: John Peel

(21) GENESIS – Paperlate
Getting us underway then are now Top of the Pops studio regulars Genesis performing Paperlate, the lead track from their e.p. 3x3, which peaked at number 10.

(14) BLONDIE – Island Of Lost Souls (video)
Debbie Harry is in the studio to introduce her own somewhat trippy video, which she informs us was shot in the Scilly Isles. The tune peaked at number 11 and was effectively the end of Blondie, for the 1980's at least. Later in the show, Debbie goes on to 'interview' Roger Taylor.

(24) JAPAN – Cantonese Boy
In the studio with the follow up to Ghosts, but it got no higher in the charts than 24. John Peel asks some 'teenagers' just behind him, who happen to look a lot like Bucks Fizz, for their Cup Final predictions. 2 go for Spurs and 2 go for Rangers.

(12) DURAN DURAN – Hungry Like The Wolf (video)
This Grammy winning video, shot at some considerable expense on location in the jungles of Sri Lanka, helped this record up to a peak of number 5.

(16) SOFT CELL – Torch
There's three of them this time, as the boys are joined by Cindy Ecstasy, who looks pretty ecstatic to be there! Torch peaked at number 2 and was the 4th of five top ten hits for the band (excluding re-releases!)

(1) MADNESS – House Of Fun (video)
Beating Adam Ant to the number one spot, and holding him off for two weeks, with a video shot in the exotic location of Brown's chemists in London W9.

(28) FUN BOY THREE – The Telephone Always Rings (crowd dancing) (and credits)
On its way up to a peak of 17.

Next up is a live edition from June 3rd 1982.