Heaven is a Place on Top of the Pops

Is this the answer to your prayers? It's the 14th January 1988 edition of Top of the Pops!

Going to a Go-Go

14/01/88  (Gary Davies & Simon Mayo)

Climie Fisher – “Rise To The Occasion” (10)
Getting tonight's show underway but this song could rise no further.

Tiffany – “I Think We’re Alone Now” (13) (US TOTP clip)
With her live vocal studio rendition of the song that will be number one in three weeks time.

Krush – “House Arrest” (3)
Their second appearance in the studio but the record was now at its peak.

Morris Minor & The Majors – “Stutter Rap (No Sleep Til Bedtime)” (4) (rpt from 31/12/87)
Also thankfully at its peak.

The Christians – “Ideal World” (22) (breaker)
On their way to number 14.

AC/DC – “Heatseeker” (17) (breaker)
Became their biggest hit when it peaked at number 12.

Terence Trent D’Arby – “Sign Your Name” (8)
In the studio again to perform what became his biggest hit, but also his third and final top ten hit, peaking at number 2.

Belinda Carlisle – “Heaven Is A Place On Earth” (1) (US TOTP clip)
Another live vocal from LA, and Belinda's first of two weeks at number one.

George Michael – “Father Figure” (11) (video/credits)
At its peak.


21st January is next.

Top of the Pops & All of the Night

We might be seven days into the New Year but the party continues with this 7th January 1988 edition of Top of the Pops!

Golden oldie

07/01/88 (Simon Bates & Mike Read)

Sinitta – “GTO” (20)
Getting the New Year underway with a slinky song that peaked at number 15.

Jellybean – “Jingo” (17) (video)
Not much lyrics but quite a rocker and it peaked at number 12.

Depeche Mode – “Behind The Wheel” (32)
Still another two years to wait until their next top ten hit - this one peaked at number 21.

The Stranglers – “All Day & All Of The Night” (19)
This Kinks cover became their seventh and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 7.

George Michael – “Father Figure” (35) (breaker)
This third single from is number one album 'Faith' peaked at number 11.

GOSH – “The Wishing Well” (34) (breaker)
This charity single for Great Ormond Street Hospital peaked at number 22.

Terence Trent D’Arby – “Sign Your Name” (29) (breaker)
Became his biggest hit when it peaked at number 2.

Pet Shop Boys – “Always On My Mind” (1) (rpt)
Fourth and final week at number one.

Joyce Sims – “Come Into My Life” (21) (video/credits)
Became her only top ten hit when it peaked at number 7.

January 14th is next.

The Only Way is 1988

Uno dos tres cuatro ~ this is a journey into 1988!

Belly Button Stance

Big Hits 1988

Yazz & the Plastic Population ~ 'The Only Way is Up'
Our new blog title, the second biggest seller of the year, and Yazz's only number one hit.

Prefab Sprout ~  'The King of Rock n Roll'
The band's only top ten hit peaking at number 7.

Neneh Cherry ~ 'Buffalo Stance'
Peaked at number 3.

Tanita Tikaran ~ 'Twist in my Sobriety'
Peaked at number 22.

S-Express ~ 'The Theme from S-Express'
Became their only number one hit at the end of April.

Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan ~ 'Especially For You'
A number one of course! But didn't get there until January 1989!

Tiffany ~ 'I Think We're Alone Now'
Singing her only number one live in February.

Maxi Priest ~ 'Wild World'
His biggest hit peaking at number 5.

Ofra Haza ~ 'Im Nin' Alu'
Peaked at number 15.

Everything But the Girl ~ 'I Don't Want to Talk About It'
The duo's joint biggest hit peaking at number 3.

Bros ~ 'When Will I Be Famous?'
Became their first of eight top ten hits when it peaked at number 2.

Womack & Womack ~ 'Teardrops'
The duo's only top ten hit peaking at number 3.

Eurythmics ~ 'You Have Placed a Chill in my Heart'
Performing it live and it peaked at number 16.

The Proclaimers ~ 'I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)
Perhaps their most famous song and it peaked at number 11 in 1988.

Bomb The Bass ~ ' Beat Dis'
Peaked at number 2.

Enya ~ 'Orinoco Flow'
Became her only number one hit at teh end of October.

Fairground Attraction ~ 'Perfect'
With their only number one hit, which got there for one week in May.


7th January 1988 is next Friday!

Top of the Pops Arrest

I know you're gonna dig this! It's the 31st December 1987 edition of Top of the Pops!

Happy House

31/12/87  (Gary Davies & Peter Powell)

Krush – “House Arrest” (20) 
Became their only top ten hit when it peaked at number 3.

Nat ‘King’ Cole – “When I Fall In Love” (4) (old film clip)
Had peaked at number 2 in 1957, this time around number 4 was as high as it got.

Climie Fisher – “Rise To The Occasion” (31)
Became the duo's first of two top ten hits when it peaked at number 10.

Belinda Carlisle – “Heaven Is A Place On Earth” (5) (video)
Will be number one in two weeks time.

Morris Minor & The Majors – “Stutter Rap (No Sleep Til Bedtime)” (23)
About to become a bigger hit than the Beastie Boys ever had when it peaked at number 4.

Cher – “I Found Someone” (21) (video)
Became her first solo top ten hit since 1971 when it peaked at number 5. And just what isn't she wearing?

Wet Wet Wet – “Angel Eyes (Home & Away)” (10)
Their third top ten hit of 1987 and it peaked at number 5.

Pet Shop Boys – “Always On My Mind” (1) (video)
Third of four weeks at number one.

Mel & Kim – “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” (3) (video/credits)
At it peak.


Next up is 7th January 1988.

Turn Back Top of the Pops

This edition of Top of the Pops from Christmas Day 1987 will not be shown on BBC4 due to the Mike Smith contract dispute. I'm still away from home but hopefully some kind person will post a link to the show in the comments for everyone :-)

Happy Gibbmas!

25/12/87 (Gary Davies & Mike Smith)


The Bee Gees – “You Win Again”
Rick Astley – “Never Gonna Give You Up”

Jackie Wilson – “Reet Petite” (video clip)
Ben E King – “Stand By Me” (video clip)
M/A/R/R/S – “Pump Up The Volume” (video clip)
Starship – “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” (video clip)
The Firm – “Star Trekkin’” (video clip)
Ferry Aid – “Let It Be” (video clip)

Pet Shop Boys – “It’s A Sin”
T’Pau – “China In Your Hand”

Steve ‘Silk’ Hurley – “Jack Your Body” (video clip)
Aretha Franklin & George Michael – “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” (video clip)
Madonna – “Who’s That Girl?” (video clip)
Madonna – “La Isla Bonita” (video clip)
Whitney Houston – “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” (clip from 21/05/87)

Johnny Hates Jazz – “Turn Back The Clock”
Pet Shop Boys – “Always On My Mind”
Spagna – “Call Me” (Montreux clip/video/clip from 20/08/87/audience dancing/credits)


Next up is 31st December.

Top of the Pops Around the Christmas Tree

I'm still away from home, so this blog for the 17th December 1987 edition of Top of the Pops is being compiled before I have had a chance to watch.

Happy Christmas you 'ass'

17/12/87 (Gary Davies & Mike Read)

Wet Wet Wet – “Angel Eyes (Home & Away)” (21)
Became their third top ten hit of 1987 when it peaked at number 5.

Mel & Kim – “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” (6) (video)
Peaked at number 3.

Simply Red – “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye” (17)
Peaked at number 11.

The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl – “Fairytale Of New York” (8)
Arguably the best ever Christmas record, but it couldn't quite get to number one.

Level 42 - "Children Say" (22) (breaker)
Got no higher.

Nat King Cole - "When I Fall In Love" (20) (breaker)
Had peaked at number 2 in 1957, 30 years later it made it to number 4.

Belinda Carlisle – “Heaven Is A Place On Earth” (19) (US TOTP clip)
Her first solo single and in the new year it will become her only number one hit.

Pet Shop Boys – “Always On My Mind” (1) (rpt from 10/12/87)
First of four weeks at number one, and this year's Xmas number one.

Madonna – “The Look Of Love” (9) (video/credits)
At its peak.



Christmas Day 1987 is next, but Mike Smith co-presented it, and so sadly BBC4 will skip it.

Top of the Pops On My Mind

This edition of Top of the Pops from 10th Decmber 1987 will not be shown on BBC4 due to the Mike Smith contract dispute. But it can be streamed here at YouTube.

The Pet Shop Boys are in the building

10/12/87 (Mike Smith)

Pet Shop Boys – “Always On My Mind” (4)
Will be the Christmas number one.

Michael Jackson – “The Way You Make Me Feel” (3) (video)
At its peak. And another bullet dodged by BBC4!

Rick Astley – “When I Fall In Love” (2)
Just missed out on the top spot, despite the harp.

Johnny Hates Jazz – “Turn Back The Clock” (27)
Peaked at number 12.

Madonna – “The Look Of Love” (15) (breaker)
This lesser known hit peaked at number 9.

Mel & Kim – “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” (13) (breaker)
This second Comic Relief single peaked at number 3.

Alison Moyet – “Love Letters” (9)
Her sixth and final top ten hit peaking at number 4.

T’Pau – “China In Your Hand” (1) (rpt)
Fifth and final week at number one.

Jellybean featuring Elisa Fiorillo – “Who Found Who” (11) (video/credits)
Went up one more place.


December 17th is next.