I Want To Be Your Top of the Pops

I'm going to be away from home for the next week, so the next few blogs will have to be written before I get a chance to watch the shows, starting with this edition from 26th November 1987.

My Sweet George

26/11/87  (Simon Bates & Gary Davies)

Blue Mercedes – “I Want To Be Your Property” (24)
Their only top 40 hit and it went up just one more place.

Boy George – “To Be Reborn” (18) (video)
Peaked at number 13.

The Communards – “Never Can Say Goodbye” (4)
In the studio again but the song was now at its peak.

Shakin’ Stevens – “What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For?” (27)
Became Shaky's 15th and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 5.

The Hooters – “Satellite” (28) (breaker)
Their only hit and it peaked at number 22.

Paul McCartney – “Once Upon A Long Ago” (23) (breaker)
Became his final solo top ten hit when it peaked at number 10.

The Housemartins – “Build” (19)
Peaked at number 15.

T’Pau – “China In Your Hand” (1) (rpt from 05/11/87)
Third of five weeks at number one.

George Harrison – “Got My Mind Set On You” (2) (video/credits)
Third of four weeks at number 2 for George. It's a shame he didn't make it into the studio to perform it.


December 3rd is next

Dinner With Top of the Pops

Yum, yum! On the menu is a delicious treat for your tastebuds with a feast of hits on tonight's 19th November 1987 edition of Top of the Pops!

Top of the Hot Stuff

19/11/87  (Simon Mayo & Steve Wright)

Maxi Priest – “Some Guys Have All The Luck” (18)
Tonight's starter is a live vocal with a song that had already been a top 20 hit for both Robert Palmer and Rod Stewart, but Maxi's version was the biggest hit of the three peaking at number 12.

Whitney Houston – “So Emotional” (9) (video)
Peaked at number 5.

The Proclaimers – “Letter From America” (25)
The main course begins with Charlie and Craig making their debut on the show to perform what would be their first of three top ten hits - it wasn't to be the Christmas number one but it did make it to number 3. But the big question of the night is - was it a sock?

Barry White – “Sho’ You Right” (20)
Still hungry? Perfoming in the studio with his first top 40 hit for nine years, it's 'the hippopotamus of love' and the song peaked at number 14.

Boy George – “To Be Reborn” (26) (breaker)
Peaked at number 13.

The Smiths – “I Started Something I Couldn’t Finish” (23) (breaker)
Went up no further.

Donna Summer – “Dinner With Gershwin” (17)
And for a mouthwatering dessert, the legendary queen of disco Finally makes it into the studio, and the song went up one more place.

T’Pau – “China In Your Hand” (1) (video)
Second of five full weeks at number one.

Whitesnake – “Here I Go Again” (11) (video/credits)
It's a second chart helping for this song and it went up two more places.


November 26th is next.

My Baby Just Cares For Top of the Pops

My baby don't care for Eastenders or Ever Decreasing Circles, my baby just cares for the 12th November 1987 edition of Top of the Pops!

I'm Alright, Jack!

12/11/87  (Gary Davies & Peter Powell)

The Communards – “Never Can Say Goodbye” (6)
Getting tonight's show off to a vibrant start and the song went up two more places.

Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes – “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life” (10) (US TOTP clip)
Singing live in the LA studio, this famous song from Dirty Dancing was number one in America, and it peaked at number 6 over here.

Mirage – “Jack Mix IV” (13)
Performing what would soon become their second of two top ten hits when this bouncy medley of new and old hits peaked at number 8.

Donna Summer – “Dinner With Gershwin” (23) (breaker)
Peaked at number 13.

Marillion – “Warm Wet Circles” (22) (breaker)
Went up no higher.

Whitney Houston – “So Emotional” (20) (breaker)
Peaked at number 5.

Alexander O’Neal – “Criticize” (28)
In the studio tonight to perform his biggest hit, becoming his second of two top tenners when it peaked at number 4.

T’Pau – “China In Your Hand” (1) (rpt from 05/11/87)
First of five weeks at number one.

Nina Simone – “My Baby Just Cares For Me” (11) (video/credits)
Another old song propelled into the charts on the back of a tv advert, this became Nina's third of three top ten hits when it peaked at number 5 - which was very apt, because the tv advert was for Channel No.5!


November 19th is next.

Top of the Pops in Your Hand

This edition of Top of the Pops from November 5th 1987 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.

Do you remember remember this song?

05/11/87 (Janice Long & Mike Smith)

T’Pau – “China In Your Hand” (5)
Getting the show underway with a bang, this will be number one next week.

George Harrison – “Got My Mind Set On You” (7) (video)
Rocketing up the charts, from his top ten album Cloud Nine, this narrowly missed out on the top spot, peaking at number 2.

Heartbeat – “Tears From Heaven” (32)
A sparkling performance, but this was their only top 40 hit, and number 32 was its peak.

Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballe – “Barcelona” (12) (video)
Peaked at number 8.

Whitesnake – “Here I Go Again” (17) (breaker)
It had peaked at number 34 in 1982, this time around it made it to number 9.

The Communards – “Never Can Say Goodbye” (15) (breaker)
Became their third and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 4.

Eric B & Rakim – “Paid In Full” (28)
Peaked at number 15.

The Bee Gees – “You Win Again” (1) (video)
Fourth and final week at number one.

Was (Not Was) – “Walk The Dinosaur” (10) (rpt from 22/10/87 + credits)
At its peak.


November 12th is next.

Whenever You Need Top of the Pops

When you're all alone and feeling down, I'll bring my 29th October 1987 edition of Top of the Pops to you!

Captain Scarlet

29/10/87  (Gary Davies & Steve Wright)

The Style Council – “Wanted” (26)
Getting tonight's show underway with a tune that peaked at number 20.

George Michael – “Faith” (2) (video)
This fabulous title track single from his number one album was now at its peak.

Rick Astley – “Whenever You Need Somebody” (11)
Became his second of eight top ten hits when it peaked at number 3.
 
Ray Parker Jr – “I Don’t Think That Man Should Sleep Alone” (15)
Mr Ghostbusters is in the studio and his final hit went up two more places.

Eurythmics – “Beethoven (I Love To Listen To)” (25) (breaker)
This odd little tune went up no higher.

George Harrison – “Got My Mind Set On You” (22) (breaker)
His first hit for six years and it peaked at number 2.

T’Pau – “China In Your Hand” (19) (breaker)
Will be number one in two weeks time.

Scarlet Fantastic – “No Memory” (30)
I don't remember this one at all! It was their only top 40 hit and it peaked at number 24.

The Bee Gees – “You Win Again” (1) (video)
Third of four weeks at number one.

Fleetwood Mac – “Little Lies” (5) (video/credits)
Their ninth of ten top ten hits was now at its peak.


November 5th is next but it is a Mike Smith edition so BBC4 will skip it.

The Top of the Pops Dinosaur

It was a night like this thirty two years ago when we watched the 22nd October 1987 edition of Top of the Pops!

Bum, bum, acka lacka lacka bum!

22/10/87  (Simon Bates & Gary Davies)

Was (Not Was) – “Walk The Dinosaur” (12)
Getting this monster show off to a roaring start and the song went up two more places.

Los Lobos – “Come On Let’s Go” (21) (US TOTP clip)
Introduced by Nia Peeples and performing live in the LA studio, this song peaked at number 18.

Pet Shop Boys – “Rent” (17)
Not their most energetic of studio performances but Rent became their fifth top ten hit when it peaked at number 8

Kiss – “Crazy Crazy Nights” (4) (US TOTP clip)
Also performing completely live in the LA studio, but the song was at its peak.

Erasure – “The Circus” (7)
Andy's concertina has been dumped and replaced with a Salvation Army band, and The Circus went up one more place.

The Cure – “Just Like Heaven” (29) (breaker)
Went up no higher.

Ray Parker Jr – “I Don’t Think That Man Should Sleep Alone” (24) (breaker)
Became his final top 40 hit when it peaked at number 13.

George Michael – “Faith” (10) (breaker)
The title track from his number one album, and it peaked at number 2.

The Bee Gees – “You Win Again” (1) (rpt from 01/10/87)
Second of four weeks at number one.

Bananarama – “Love In The First Degree” (5) (video/credits)
Went up two more places.


Ocotober 29th is next.

You Win Top of the Pops

Congratulations! All tonight's numbers are on your ticket making you the lucky winner of the 15th October 1987 edition of Top of the Pops!

They sing again

15/10/87  (Gary Davies & Peter Powell with brief appearance from Liz Kershaw & Ro Newton)

UB40 – “Maybe Tomorrow” (29)
Getting us underway tonight, banjo and all, with a song that peaked at number 14.

Five Star – “Strong As Steel” (16) (video)
At its peak.

The Alarm – “Rain In The Summertime” (20)
Went up two more places.

Terence Trent D’Arby – “Dance Little Sister” (30)
Went up ten more places.

Los Lobos – “Come On Let’s Go” (26) (breaker)
Their final hit and it peaked at number 18.

Bananarama – “Love In The First Degree” (22) (breaker)
Peaked at number 3.

Fleetwood Mac – “Little Lies” (21) (breaker)
Peaked at number 5.

Was (Not Was) – “Walk The Dinosaur” (18) (breaker)
Became their first of two top ten hits when it peaked at number 10.

The Fatback Band – “I Found Lovin’” (7)
Their first top ten hit since 1976, and their second of two top tenners, and number 7 was its peak.

The Bee Gees – “You Win Again” (1) (rpt from 01/10/87) 
First of four weeks at number one.

Billy Idol – “Mony Mony” (17) (video/credits)
Billy curls his lip around his third and final top ten hit.

October 22nd is next.