Long Hot Top of the Pops

And so we reach the final edition of Top of the Pops 1983, but what a Christmas cracker it is, and 9.7 million viewers tuned in, making it the 10th most popular show on BBC1 this week.

Robert can barely contain his Christmas spirit

29/12/83 (Gary Davies, Adrian John, Peter Powell, Richard Skinner & Tommy Vance)

JoBoxers – “Boxerbeat”
Mike Oldfield – “Moonlight Shadow” (video)
Thompson Twins – “Love On Your Side”
Tracey Ullman – “They Don’t Know” (video)
The Cure – “The Love Cats”

Jonathan King – US chart rundown ~ edited out
Michael Sembello – “Maniac” (video clip)
The Police – “Every Breath You Take” (live clip)

Phil Collins – “You Can’t Hurry Love” (video)
The Belle Stars – “Sign Of The Times”
Paul Young – “Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home)” (video)
Siouxsie & The Banshees – “Dear Prudence”
Spandau Ballet – “True”
Howard Jones – “New Song”
Rod Stewart – “Baby Jane” (video)
The Style Council – “Long Hot Summer”
Culture Club – “Karma Chameleon”
Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson – “Say Say Say” (audience dancing/credits)

Today's festive schedule

Next up, it's the Story of 1984 followed by Big Hits 1984!

Top of the Pops 'N Boots

The Christmas Day edition of Top of the Pops 1983 will not be shown on BBC4 because one of the hosts is Mike Smith. So a huge festive thanks goes to Xrayfour for making it available here at Vimeo.

Just can't think why Mike wouldn't want anyone to see this show again......

25/12/83 (Simon Bates, Janice Long, Andy Peebles & Mike Smith)

Freeez – “IOU”
Michael Jackson – “Billie Jean” (video)
Shakin’ Stevens – “Cry Just A Little Bit”
Men At Work – “Down Under” (video)
Bonnie Tyler – “Total Eclipse Of The Heart” (video)
Eurythmics – “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)”
Irene Cara – “Flashdance (What A Feeling)” (video)
Adam Ant – “Puss ‘N Boots”
Duran Duran – “Is There Something I Should Know?” (video)
Bucks Fizz – “When We Were Young”
Lionel Richie – “All Night Long (All Night)” (video)
Heaven 17 – “Temptation”
David Bowie – “Let’s Dance” (video)
UB40 – “Red Red Wine”
Billy Joel – “Uptown Girl” (video)
The Flying Pickets – “Only You”
KC & The Sunshine Band – “Give It Up” (audience dancing/credits)

Back to BBC4 next for December 29th 1983.

Merry Top of the Pops Everybody

It's December 22nd 1983 and exactly ten million viewers, not one more not one less, are singing 'we wish you a merry top of the pops-mas and a happy new .... er .. top of the pops!

We all know how this will end ~ the Germans will win on penalties after extra-time!

22/12/83 (David Jensen & John Peel)

Slade – “Merry Christmas Everybody” (20)
Slade officially declare Christmas 1983 open but number 20 was as high as this ten years after re-entry got.

Culture Club – “Victims” (3) (video)
Also now at its chart peak.

Tears For Fears – “The Way You Are” (29)
Weirdly stuck at number 29 but edited out of tonight's 7.30 slot.

Billy Joel – “Tell Her About It” (7) (video)
Still heading towards its peak of number 4.

Dennis Waterman & George Cole – “What Are We Gonna Get ‘Er Indoors?” (26)
Sounds like someone's sold Arthur a slightly dodgy mic, and on a live show too, but Terry comes to the rescue as usual and this festive Minder offering, written by George and Dennis, made it to number 21.

Paul McCartney – “Pipes Of Peace” (22) (video)
Aside from appearances on various charity records, this song marks the final time Paul would make it to number one, indeed the final time for any Beatle, and personally, I think its a mighty fine one to sign off with.

Howard Jones – “What Is Love?” (11)
Looking like he's just finished a shift at Kwikfit, here's Howard on his way to number two.

The Flying Pickets – “Only You” (1)
They formed a picket line around the Christmas number one spot and kept Slade out, My Oh My.

Roland Rat Superstar – “Rat Rapping (Brilliant Isn’t It?)” (27) (audience dancing/credits)
Peaked at number 14.

Today's BBC1 lineup

The Christmas Day edition should be next, but Mike Smith is one of the hosts, so BBC4 will skip to December 29th 1983.

Marguerita Top of the Pops

Rub your rim with lime juice (ooh er missus!) and sprinkle on some salt, then shake a shot or two of tequila and triple sec over the ice in your cocktail glass and sit back and relax in your comfiest chair because you are about to watch the second most popular show on BBC1 this week (just behind the Two Ronnies) along with 11.35 million others ~ the December 15th 1983 edition of Top of the Pops!

When Christmas makes you happy from your toes to your dandruff

15/12/83 (Simon Bates & Janice Long)

Status Quo – “Marguerita Time” (25)
The Quo get the party underway and Alan's back on bass, although he looks like he'd rather be anywhere else! The song peaked at number 3.

UB40 – “Many Rivers To Cross” (24) (video)
Going a bit gospel with this third single from their number one album, Labour of Love, and it peaked at number 16.

Slade – “My Oh My” (3)
Looking confident of being the festive number one, but ten years on from Merry Xmas Everybody, Slade had to settle for number two.

Barry Manilow – “Read ‘Em & Weep” (20) (video)
Manilow the sad clown covers Meatloaf and makes it to number 17.

Pretenders – “2000 Miles” (23)
Chrissie has seemingly borrowed Noddy's sparkly top hat to perform this year's 'proper' xmas song which made it to number 15.

Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton – “Islands In The Stream” (11) (US TV clip)
Ah, at last we get to see Kenny and Dolly perform the Bee Gee's best country song! And it peaked at number 7.

The Flying Pickets – “Only You” (1)
The might have melted at the end but they were going nowhere just yet!

Kool & The Gang - "Straight Ahead" (30) (audience dancing/credits)
Peaked at number 15.

No.1 magazine, 17th Dec. 1983

It is December 22nd next.

What is Top of the Pops?

Have you ever wondered what is a hit anyway? What makes a soul want to sing along to a song? Dance to it? Tell their friends about it? What makes someone want it in their lives so much they are willing to go out and splash their hard earned cash on a round plastic disc? Well, all you have to do is join the 10.65 million viewers who tuned into Top of the Pops on December 8th 1983, and all will be revealed.....

Quick lads, back to the Tardis!

08/12/83 (Mike Read & Tommy Vance)

Thompson Twins – “Hold Me Now” (4)
Getting the show underway with the first single from their forthcoming massive number one album, Into the Gap, and it was now at its chart peak.

Billy Joel – “Tell Her About It” (22) (video)
This second single from his top two album, An Innocent Man, peaked at number four.

Paul Young – “Love Of The Common People” (2) (rpt from 24/11/83)
Now at its peak, but edited out of tonight's 7.30 showing.

Tina Turner – “Let’s Stay Together” (6) (video)
Also at its peak and also edited out.

Tears For Fears – “The Way You Are” (31)
With perhaps one of their least known hits, The Way You Are peaked at number 24.

Howard Jones – “What Is Love?” (23)
This Jed-less follow up to New Song made it to number 2.

Culture Club – “Victims” (11) (video)
What a sumptuous and hypnotic video for this captivating song which peaked at number 3.

The Flying Pickets – “Only You” (1)
The first of five weeks at number one for this A capella cover of the Yazoo number two.

Wham! – “Club Fantastic Megamix” (18) (audience dancing/credits)
George and Andy hated this so much they refused to promote it! But it still reached number 15.

Saturday shopping list

December 15th is next.

Top of the Pops in the Stream

Top of the Pops from December 1st 1983 will not be shown on BBC4 because one of the hosts is DLT. So a massive thanks to the uploader for making the show available here at WeTransfer

And also here at Vimeo.

It's nearly CHRISSSSSSSSSSSTMAAAAASSS!

01/12/83 (Dave Lee Travis & Steve Wright)

Slade – “My Oh My” (15)
With their biggest hit of the 80's, just failing to clear those melting snowmen off the number one spot!

Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton – “Islands In The Stream” (26) (US TV clip)
A final top ten hit for both these two, and what a great one to sign off with! Peaked at number 7.

The Flying Pickets – “Only You” (9)
The battle for the Xmas number one could have only one winner, or rather six of them in this case! You can just imagine the big smile on Vince Clarke's face ...

Genesis – “That’s All” (23) (video)
Peaked at number 16.

Ozzy Osbourne – “Bark At The Moon” (24)
Ozzy's first solo top 30 hit, peaking at number 21.

Cliff Richard – “Please Don’t Fall In Love” (20) (video)
Cliff's christmas offering peaked at number 7.

Tracey Ullman – “Move Over Darling” (21) (video)
Rounding off a great year with her third and final top ten hit, reaching number 8.

Aztec Camera – “Oblivious” (18)
At its peak.

Billy Joel – “Uptown Girl” (1) (video/credits)
Final week at number one for Billy's only number one.


Back to BBC4 next for December 8th.

This Charming Top of the Pops

Well hello, how frightfully nice to see you, do come in and make yourself at home. How delightful that you are here, all 9.55 million of you, to enjoy this quite exquisite live edition of Top of the Pops from 24th November 1983!

I'm feeling gladioli all over

24/11/83 (Simon Bates & Richard Skinner)

Paul Young – “Love Of The Common People” (5)
Paul's already got his festive jumper out to perform this wonderfully atmospheric cover of  the Nicky Thomas hit from 1970. Helped out here by the simply gorgeous Fabulously Wealthy Tarts, Paul's version made it to number 2.

Tina Turner – “Let’s Stay Together” (16) (video)
Tina Turner was just two days short of her 44th birthday would you believe! This cover of Al Green's 1972 original was famously produced by Martyn Ware and Greg Walsh of Heaven 17, and it peaked at number 6 and totally re-ignited Tina's career beyond her wildest possible dreams.

The Smiths – “This Charming Man” (30)
Making their studio debut before rushing straight off back to Manchester to perform at the Hacienda that night, This Charming Man went up five more places.

Thompson Twins – “Hold Me Now” (14)
Peaked at number 4 but edited out of tonight's 7.30 showing.

Marilyn – “Calling Your Name” (9)
That's quite a pair of goggles he's sporting there and he saw the song go up to number 4.

Simple Minds – “Waterfront” (25)
Jim Kerr looking very smart in his suit here and the excellent Waterfront made a splash in the charts and peaked at number 13.

The Style Council – “A Solid Bond In Your Heart” (11) (video)
Originally this was going to be the Jam's final single, but Paul Weller changed his mind, and now it was already at its chart peak.

Billy Joel – “Uptown Girl” (1) (video)
Fourth week at number one for this clever Four Seasons homage.

Eurythmics – “Right By Your Side” (15) (audience dancing/credits)
Peaked at number 10.

The first ever Now album was released four days after this edition of Top of the Pops

Next up should be December 1st, but it's a DLT edition, so BBC4 will skip it in favour of December 8th.