Who's Leaving Top of the Pops

All the Mike Smith shows are behind us now, so we can look forward to an uninterrupted run on BBC4 starting with this 7th April 1988 edition of Top of the Pops!

When your skirt is a lampshade

07/04/88  (Gary Davies & Simon Mayo)

Taylor Dayne – “Prove Your Love” (15)
The press had been chasing her everywhere apparently but she's in the studio to get tonight's lively show underway with what became her second and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 8.

Fleetwood Mac – “Everywhere” (13) (video)
Nice video, but it's a shame they couldn't haul themselves into the studio with what became their tenth and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 4.

Glen Goldsmith – “Dreaming” (16)
Making his studio debut with what became his biggest hit and it peaked at number 12.

Hazell Dean – “Who’s Leaving Who” (20)
Four years on from her last hit Hazell's back with what became her third and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 4.

Natalie Cole – “Pink Cadillac” (24) (breaker)
Became her first of two top ten hits when it peaked at number 5.

AC/DC – “That’s The Way I Wanna Rock ‘N’ Roll” (22) (breaker)
Got no higher.

Pebbles – “Girlfriend” (23) (breaker)
Her only top ten hit, peaking at number 8.

Scott Fitzgerald – “Go” (not in chart)
This year's Eurovision offering - and it came within a whisker of winning, missing out by just one point to Celine Dion! It didn't do so well in the charts though, peaking at number 52.

Pet Shop Boys – “Heart” (1)
First of three weeks at the top for their fourth and final number one.

Jellybean featuring Adele Bertei – “Just A Mirage” (21) (video/credits)
His final top 40 hit and it peaked at number 13.



Next up is April 14th.

Top of the Pops Changes Everything

This edition of Tops of the Pops from 31st March 1988 will not be shown on BBC4 due to the Mike Smith contract dispute. It is also the final edition that Mike Smith hosted. So a huge thanks goes to Robert Thompson for making it available here at WeTransfer. And a huge thanks also to Neil B and everyone else who has ensured we never had to miss out on a single one of these Mike Smith editions.

Climie up the charts

31/03/88  (Nicky Campbell & Mike Smith)

Eighth Wonder – “I’m Not Scared” (10)
Went up three more places.

Climie Fisher – “Love Changes (Everything)” (11)
Peaked at number 2.

Debbie Gibson – “Only In My Dreams” (13) (video)
Went up two more places.

Jellybean featuring Adele Bertei – “Just A Mirage” (28) (breaker)
Peaked at number 13.

Fleetwood Mac – “Everywhere” (29) (breaker)
Became their tenth and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 4.

Glen Goldsmith – “Dreaming” (24) (breaker)
Peaked at number 12.

Taylor Dayne – “Prove Your Love” (25) (breaker)
Became her second and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 8.

Status Quo – “Ain’t Complaining” (22) (video)
Peaked at number 19.

Wet Wet Wet – “Temptation” (17)
Went up five more places.

Aswad – “Don’t Turn Around” (1) (rpt from 17/03/88)
Second and final week at number one.

Pet Shop Boys – “Heart” (7) (video/credits)
Will be number one next week.



Next up is 7th April.

Cross My Top of the Pops

The secret's out - it's the 24th March 1988 edition of Top of the Pops!

Short and sweet

24/03/88  (Simon Bates & Peter Powell)

Sinitta – “Cross My Broken Heart” (14)
Getting tonight's show underway and on her way to number 6.

A-ha – “Stay On These Roads” (18)
Became their eighth and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 5.

Simon Harris – “Bass (How Low Can You Go)” (16)
In the studio and the record went up four more places.

Wet Wet Wet – “Temptation” (25) (breaker)
Peaked at number 12.

Debbie Gibson – “Only In My Dreams” (22) (breaker)
Peaked at number 11.

Climie Fisher – “Love Changes (Everything)” (26) (breaker)
Their biggest hit, peaking at number 2.

Iron Maiden – “Can I Play With Madness?” (4) (video)
Began a run of seven consecutive top ten hits for the band when it peaked at number 3.

Tiffany – “Could’ve Been” (5) (video)
Went up one more place.

Aswad – “Don’t Turn Around” (1)
First of two weeks at number one.

Whitney Houston – “Where Do Broken Hearts Go?” (15) (video/credits)
Went up one more place.


Next up is March 31st - the final edition hosted by Mike Smith.

I'm Not Top of the Pops

Don't be scared, it's just the 17th March 1988 edition of Top of the Pops!

Cross my heart

17/03/88  (Gary Davies & Mike Read) 

Bros – “Drop The Boy” (17)
Getting the show underway with what became their second of eight top ten hits, and their second of four number twos, when it peaked at number 2.

Heart – “These Dreams” (12) (video)
Peaked at number 8.

Erasure – “Ship Of Fools” (6) (rpt from 03/03/88)
Went up no higher.

Sinitta – “Cross My Broken Heart” (30) (breaker)
Became her third of four top ten hits when it peaked at number 6

Simon Harris – “Bass (How Low Can You Go)” (29) (breaker)
Peaked at number 12.

Keith Sweat – “I Want Her” (31) (breaker)
Peaked at number 26.

David Lee Roth – “Just Like Paradise” (27) (breaker)
The Van Halen frontman's biggest solo hit, but it got no higher.

Eighth Wonder – “I’m Not Scared” (20)
It's Patsy Kensit in the studio performing what became Eighth Wonder's only top ten hit and it peaked at number 7.

Aswad – “Don’t Turn Around” (4)
Will be number one next week.

Kylie Minogue – “I Should Be So Lucky” (1) (video)
Fifth and final week at number one.

Eric B & Rakim – “I Know You Got Soul” (13) (video/credits)
Their biggest hit, but it got no higher.



Next up is 24th March.

Top of the Pops is Contagious

This edition of Top of the Pops from 10th March 1988 will not be shown on BBC4 due to the Mike Smith contract dispute. So a huge thanks goes to Robert Thompson for making it available here at WeTransfer.

Going up in smoke

10/03/88  (Mike Smith & Steve Wright)
 
Vanessa Paradis – “Joe Le Taxi” (4)
A second studio performance and la chanson went up one more place.

Johnny Hates Jazz – “Heart Of Gold” (23)
The fourth and final single from their number one album Turn Back the Clock, and it became their final top 40 hit when it peaked at number 19.

Eric B & Rakim – “I Know You Got Soul” (21) (breaker)
Their biggest hit, peaking at number 13.

Heart – “These Dreams” (20) (breaker)
Peaked at number 8.

Eighth Wonder – “I’m Not Scared” (26) (breaker)
Peaked at number 7.

Afrika Bambaataa & UB40 – “Reckless” (27) (breaker)
Peaked at number 17.

Belinda Carlisle – “I Get Weak” (13) (video)
Peaked at number 10.

Primitives – “Crash” (9)
A second studio performance and the song went up four more places.

Taja Sevelle – “Love Is Contagious” (17)
Making her studio debut and the song went up ten more places.

Kylie Minogue – “I Should Be So Lucky” (1) (video)
Fourth and five weeks at number one.

Aswad – “Don’t Turn Around” (22) (video/credits)
Will be number one in two weeks time.


Next up is 17th March.

Top of the Pops Of Fools

All aboard! It's time to weigh anchor and set sail on the March 3rd 1988 edition of good ship Top of the Pops!

Do you think I'm saxy?

03/03/88 (Gary Davies & Simon Mayo)

Coldcut featuring Yazz & The Plastic Population – “Doctorin’ The House” (9)
Getting tonight's show off to an energetic start and the record went up three more places.

Rick Astley – “Together Forever” (4) (video)
Went up two more places.

The Sisters Of Mercy – “Dominion” (13)
In the studio with their white suits but the song was at its peak.

Belinda Carlisle – “I Get Weak” (17) (breaker)
Became her second of seven top ten hits when it peaked at number 10.

Johnny Hates Jazz – “Heart Of Gold” (32) (breaker)
Their final top 40 hit, peaking at number 19.

Taja Sevelle – “Love Is Contagious” (28) (breaker)
Became her only top ten hit when it reached a high of number 7.

Aztec Camera – “How Men Are” (33) (breaker)
Peaked at number 25.

Erasure – “Ship Of Fools” (20)
This first single from their huge number one album The Innocents peaked at number 6.

Derek B – “Goodgroove” (19)
Making his studio debut and rapping his way up three more places.

Kylie Minogue – “I Should Be So Lucky” (1) (BBC video)
Third of five weeks at number one.

Mel & Kim – “That’s The Way It Is” (16) (video/credits)
The duo's fourth and final hit - they surely would have gone on to have many more if it were not for Mel's illness - it peaked at number 10.


March 10th is next, but it is a Mike Smith edition.

Joe Le Top of the Pops

Bonsoir tout le monde, j'espère que vous avez envie de faire
de gros succès car ce soir, vous serez transporté
dans l'édition du 25 février 1988 de Top of le Pops!

Sax appeal

25/02/88  (Mark Goodier & Peter Powell) 

Primitives – “Crash” (29)
Making their debut with what was to be their only top ten hit when it peaked at number 5.

Morrissey – “Suedehead” (6) (video)
It went up one more place and was his first of ten solo top ten hits.

Vanessa Paradis – “Joe Le Taxi” (14)
Ooh La La! Joe Le Taxi became her first of two top ten hits when it peaked at number 3.

Rick Astley – “Together Forever” (9) (breaker)
Already his fourth top ten hit and it peaked at number 2.

The Sisters Of Mercy – “Dominion” (17) (breaker)
Peaked at number 13.

Eddie Cochran – “C’mon Everybody” (19) (breaker)
Had been a number 6 hit in 1959, this re-issue made it to number 14.

George Harrison – “When We Was Fab” (25) (breaker)
Second single from his Cloud Nine album but it went up no higher.

The Mission – “Tower Of Strength” (12)
A second studio performance but the song was now at its peak.

Eddy Grant – “Gimme Hope Jo’anna” (8)
And a second studio performance from Eddy, and the song went up one more place.

Kylie Minogue – “I Should Be So Lucky” (1) (video)
Second of five weeks at number one.

Bangles – “Hazy Shade Of Winter” (20) (video/credits)
This Simon & Garfunkel cover peaked at number 11.


Next up is March 3rd. Au revoir!