One Night in Top of the Pops

It's 7.20pm on November 22nd 1984 and tonight Tommy Vance will be hosting Top of the Pops for one final time.

I Fall For You

22/11/84 (John Peel & Tommy Vance)

Nick Heyward – “Warning Sign” (34)
Getting this live edition underway is Nick Heyward performing what would become his final top 30 hit when it reached number 25.

Chicago – “Hard Habit To Break” (8) (video)
At its peak and edited out of tonight's 7.30 broadcast.

The Kane Gang – “Respect Yourself” (38)
Peaked at number 21. And also edited out of tonight's 7.30 showing.

The Human League – “Louise” (26) (video)
It's a busy time for Phil in the charts at the moment, this third and final single from their top three album Hysteria made it to number 13.

Billy Ocean – “Caribbean Queen” (6)
A second bout of dad dancing from Billy but the song was stuck at number 6.

Murray Head – “One Night In Bangkok” (27)
It's always brave and admirable when somebody performs a live vocal in the studio, especially on a live show, though this seemed somewhat shaky in places, and although the verses were live, the chorus was mimed! But this first song from the Tim Rice/Abba boys musical Chess peaked at number 12.

Shakin’ Stevens – “Teardrops” (24)
Talking of shaky .... here he was with yet another top ten hit, peaking at number 5.

Chaka Khan – “I Feel For You” (1) (video)
Third and final week at the top.

Limahl – “Never Ending Story” (4) (audience dancing/credits)
At its peak.

Before his performance on tonight’s #TOTP, watch @NickHeyward on Pop Quiz in 1984 and see if you can beat him to the answer. pic.twitter.com/7Ffd0G3Xos

— BBC Four (@BBCFOUR) November 9, 2017

Nick Heyward does Pop Quiz

It's November 29th next.

Top of the Pops Won't Run Away

If you're chasing after the 15th November 1984 edition of Top of the Pops, there's no need to get all out of breath, because it's waiting for you right here!

Top hat of the pops!

15/11/84 (Bruno Brookes & Mike Read)

Matt Bianco – “Half A Minute” (34)
The show gets off to a sophisticated start this week with Matt Bianco's Half a Minute, which peaked at number 23.

Duran Duran – “The Wild Boys” (2) (video)
There's an urban myth that Simon le Bon nearly drowned whilst filming this video! There's dedication for you, but the song couldn't quite make it to the top of the charts.

Slade – “All Join Hands” (38)
Coming in a little too early for Christmas this year, the song peaked at number 15 and was Slade's final top twenty hit. And edited out of tonight's 7.30 showing.

Eurythmics – “Sex Crime (1984)” (24) (video)
I half expected BBC4 to edit this one out of the early showing, but they bravely left it in! And it made it to number 4.

Jim Diamond – “I Should Have Known Better” (3)
But this future number one was edited out.

The Dazz Band – “Let It All Blow” (28) (video)
And so were the Dazz Band. The song peaked at number 12 and was their only hit.

Alvin Stardust – “I Won’t Run Away” (31)
In the studio showing Billy Ocean how the dad dancing should be done, this was Alvin's seventh and final top ten hit, aptly peaking at number 7.

Nik Kershaw – “The Riddle” (17)
Taken from his top ten album of the same name, The Riddle found its solution at number 3.

Chaka Khan – “I Feel For You” (1) (video + brief interview)
Second of three weeks at the top. And she's even in the studio, though for some reason didn't perform her number one song, not even for showing next week.

The Pointer Sisters – “I’m So Excited” (14) (audience dancing/credits)
Went up three more places.

Tonight's BBC1 lineup

November 22nd is next.

Never Ending Top of the Pops

And so 1984 has now overtaken 2017 as we welcome this live edition from November 8th.

Strictly Come Dad Dancing

08/11/84 (Simon Bates & Richard Skinner)

Limahl – “Never Ending Story” (10)
Limahl (and Mandy Newton) get us off to a dreamy start this week, and the song went up to number 4.

Status Quo – “The Wanderer” (7) (video)
Wandering around in the back of a truck here, but the song wandered no higher in the charts.

Depeche Mode – “Blasphemous Rumours” (29)
Peaked at number 16, but edited out of tonight's 7.30 showing.

Alison Moyet – “All Cried Out” (8) (video)
At its peak and also edited out of 7.30 tonight.

Billy Ocean – “Caribbean Queen” (9)
We get the first of a mini 1976 invasion now, with Billy showing off his smoothest moves in the studio,and the song went up three more places.

Chicago – “Hard Habit To Break” (21) (video)
And then Chicago with their fifth and final top ten hit, taken from their top 30 album Chicago 17, it peaked at number 8.

Gary Numan – “Berserker” (32)
Gary's suit had more colour than this song, which got no higher in the charts.

Eugene Wilde – “Gotta Get You Home Tonight” (22)
It went up four more places and was Eugene's biggest hit.

Chaka Khan – “I Feel For You” (1) (video)
The first of three weeks at number one for Chaka..Chaka...Chaka Kkan

ZZ Top – “Gimme All Your Lovin’” (11) (audience dancing/credits)
Went up one more place.

Before his performance on tonight’s #TOTP, watch @Limahl_Official reveal his haircare secrets to @MikeReadUK on Saturday Superstore in 1984. pic.twitter.com/LTcaUdPTqc

— BBC Four (@BBCFOUR) November 2, 2017

Limahl talks hair on Saturday Superstore 

Next up is November 15th.

This Top of the Pops is Mine

This live edition of Top of the Pops from November 1st 1984 will not be shown on BBC4 because of Mike Smith. So a huge thanks goes to Gia for making it available here at WeTransfer

I'm glad this hat's not mine!

01/11/84 (Gary Davies & Mike Smith)

Heaven 17 – “This Is Mine” (36)
Their final top 40 hit, aside from re-mixes, peaking at number 23.

Chaka Khan – “I Feel For You” (2) (video)
Soon to be number one.

Julian Lennon – “Too Late For Goodbyes” (6)
At its peak.

The Pointer Sisters – “I’m So Excited” (28) (video)
Peaked at number 11.

Duran Duran – “The Wild Boys” (5)
Following up The Reflex with this atmospheric tune that reached number 2.

Iron Maiden – “Aces High” (32) (video)
The perfect Halloween band made it to number 20 with this effort.

Jim Diamond – “I Should Have Known Better” (40)
His first solo hit after leaving PhD, quite a standout song which made it to number one.

Ultravox – “Love’s Great Adventure” (13) (video)
Went up one more place.

Wham! – “Freedom” (1)
A new performance for their third and final week at number one.

Meat Loaf – “Modern Girl” (17) (audience dancing/credits)
At its peak.



So back to BBC4 next for November 8th.

Gimme All Your Top of the Pops

This edition of Top of the Pops from October 25th 1984 features DLT and so will not be shown on BBC4, despite them having no problem showing him last night on Christmas 1977 With the Sex Pistols! So a huge thanks goes to Neil B for making it available here at WeTransfer

Will the real Limahl please stand up

25/10/84 (Peter Powell & (for the final time) Dave Lee Travis)

Feargal Sharkey (with Madness) – “Listen To Your Father” (30)
His first solo hit, peaking at number 23.

Lionel Richie – “Penny Lover” (22) (video)
Went up four more places.

Alison Moyet – “All Cried Out” (8)
At its peak.

ZZ Top – “Gimme All Your Lovin’” (34) (video)
The first of two top ten hits for ZZ Top, both peaking at number 10.

Limahl – “Never Ending Story” (40)
His only solo top ten hit was also his final hit, peaking at number 4.

Billy Ocean – “Caribbean Queen” (25) (video)
Seven long years after his last top ten hit (Red Light Spells Danger) this one made it to number 6.

Eugene Wilde – “Gotta Get You Home Tonight” (32)
His only top 30 hit, peaking at number 18.

Status Quo – “The Wanderer” (23)
Became their 18th top ten hit when it wandered to number 7.

Wham! – “Freedom” (1) (rpt)
Second of three weeks at number one.

Kim Wilde - "The Second Time" (29) (audience dancing/credits)
At its peak.


Next up is November 1st.

Top of the Pop's Great Adventure

Once upon a time, on the night when BBC1 finally, after eleven long years of planning and deep thought, launched its successor to Top of the Pops, lots of time travelling people had to wait a whole extra hour on BBC4 to join the 9.95 million who watched the real thing from October 18th 1984.

Glove out of hell!

18/10/84 (Gary Davies & Janice Long)

Spandau Ballet – “Highly Strung” (25)
Almost four years after their debut on the show, Spandau Ballet get us underway with Highly Strung, which peaked at number 15.

Paul McCartney – “No More Lonely Nights” (4) (video)
Went up two more places. And edited out again from the 7.30 showing!

Julian Lennon – “Too Late For Goodbyes” (30)
His first of two top ten hits, and featuring his invisible harmonica, Too Late For Goodbyes peaked at number 6.

Chaka Khan – “I Feel For You” (22) (video)
This Prince cover, featuring Stevie Wonder on harmonica and rapping by Melle Mel, would become Chaka's only number one hit.

Jonathan King – US chart rundown: Edited out of course.
The Pointer Sisters – “I’m So Excited” (video clip)
Chicago – “Hard Habit To Break” (video clip)
Billy Ocean – “Caribbean Queen” (video clip)

John Waite – “Missing You” (10) (video)
Went up one more place.

Meat Loaf – “Modern Girl” (26)
Making his Top of the Pops studio debut, and Modern Girl went up to number 17.

Ultravox – “Love’s Great Adventure” (23)
Their final top 20 hit, re-issues aside, and it peaked at number 12.

Wham! – “Freedom” (1) (rpt from 11/10/84)
First of three weeks at number one.

Giorgio Moroder & Philip Oakey – “Together In Electric Dreams” (5) (audience dancing/credits)
Went up two more places.

Tonight on BBC1

Two banned shows coming up next, the first from October 25th featuring DLT, and the second from November 1st featuring Mike Smith.

Shout To the Top of the Pops

HELLO HELLO HELLO EVERYBODY! I HOPE YOU ARE ALL HAVING A HAPPY EVENING. WELL HERE WE ARE THEN WITH THIS EDITION OF TOP OF THE POPS FROM OCTOBER 11TH 1984! CAN YOU HEAR ME?

Kim suddenly remembers what she's wearing

11/10/84 (Mike Read & Tommy Vance)

Kim Wilde – “The Second Time” (52)
Getting the show underway, despite not even being in the top 50, but she was wearing a rather tight outfit, and the song did get up to number 29.

Sade – “Smooth Operator” (22) (video)
Went up three more places.

Wham! – “Freedom” (3)
Stevie Wonder had replaced George Micheal at number one five weeks prior, and now George was about to return the favour. But edited out of the 7.30 showing.

Stephanie Mills – “The Medicine Song” (29) (video)
At its peak. And also edited out.

Paul Young – “I’m Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down” (20)
He'd been quiet all year so far, but this would become the first of two number nines for him in 1984. But where were the Fabulously Wealthy Tarts?

Alison Moyet – “All Cried Out” (35)
Became her second top ten hit of the year, reaching number 8. Any more naughty references in this one?

The Style Council – “Shout To The Top” (13)
Became their third top ten hit of the year, reaching number 7.

Stevie Wonder – “I Just Called To Say I Love You” (1) (video)
With his sixth and final week at number one.

Bruce Springsteen – “Cover Me” (38) (audience dancing/credits)
He'd been around for a long time already but just couldn't quite make a breakthrough in the singles chart. This one got no higher for now, but in 1985 it would reach number 16.

TV📺11/10/84 BBC1 6.55:Tomorrow's World 7.20:TOTP 8.0:The Magnificent Evans 8.30:Checkpoint 9.0News 9.25:Morgan's Boy pic.twitter.com/6QN2APBw6g

— Graeme Wood (@woodg31) October 11, 2017

Next is October 18th.