T - t - t - t - t - t - Top of the Pops

In 1975 the average weekly viewing figures for Top of the Pops was 15 million. In 1985 the average was n - n - n - nine million....

I Feel Top of the Pops

09/05/85  (Janice Long & John Peel)

The Style Council – “Walls Come Tumbling Down” (13)
The Style Council get this live show underway and this first single from their number one album Our Favourite Shop took no crap and peaked at number 6.

Freddie Mercury – “I Was Born To Love You” (11) (video)
Now at its peak.

Steve Arrington – “Feel So Real” (7)
Went up two more places.

Godley & Crème – “Cry” (19) (video)
Despite this eye catching video Cry got no higher in the charts.

Curtis Hairston – “I Want Your Lovin’ (Just A Little Bit)” (16)
Went up three more places.

Bryan Ferry – “Slave To Love” (30) (breaker)
Became his final top ten hit when it peaked at number 10.

Kim Wilde – “Rage To Love” (29) (breaker)
Peaked at number 19.

Divine – “Walk Like A Man” (25) (breaker)
Went up two more places.

Jimmy Nail – “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” (20) (breaker)
The first of three top ten hits for Jimmy, this Rose Royce cover peaking at number 3.

Top Ten Videos:
Phil Collins - "One More Night" (10) (video clip)
DeBarge - "Rhythm Of The Night" (9) (video clip)
Simple Minds - "Don't You (Forget About Me)" (8) (video clip)
Steve Arrington - "Feel So Real" (7) (video clip)
U2 - "The Unforgettable Fire" (6) (video clip)
USA For Africa - "We Are The World" (5) (video clip)
Tears For Fears - "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" (4) (video clip)

Bronski Beat & Marc Almond – “I Feel Love” (3)
A more confident performance this time but the song got ho higher.

Paul Hardcastle – “19” (1) (video)
The first of five weeks at n-n-n-number one.

The Untouchables – “Free Yourself” (31) (audience dancing/credits)
Their only top 40 hit, peaking at number 26.

If you enjoyed Walls Come Tumbling Down on #TOTP, you'll love this clip of @PaulWellerHQ on #OGWT. Stick around for more pop goodness from 9pm on @BBCFour. https://t.co/B6MqEfQX0R pic.twitter.com/ByrQgdUZnT

— BBC Four (@BBCFOUR) February 23, 2018

The Style Council interviewed on The Old Grey Whistle Test

May 16th is next.

No Top of the Pops Rest

Here's another edition of Top of the Pops that will not be shown on BBC4 because Mike Smith did not sign his repeats contract. This one from May 2nd 1985. Once again a huge thanks goes to Neil B if making it available here at We Transfer.

There is no rest for punk

02/05/85  (Richard Skinner & Mike Smith)

Eurythmics – “Would I Lie To You?” (25)
Peaked at number 17.

Paul Hardcastle – “19” (4) (video)
Will get to number one next week.

Chris Rea – “Stainsby Girls” (27)
Went up one more place.

Vikki – “Love Is” (74) (video clip)
Our 1985 Eurovision hopeful. She came fourth and the song peaked at number 49.

U2 – “The Unforgettable Fire” (8) (video)
From their number one album of the same name, this single peaked at number 6.

New Model Army – “No Rest” (30)
Went up two more places.

Toyah – “Don’t Fall In Love (I Said)” (32) (breaker)
Her final top 30 hit, peaking at number 22.

Godley & Crème – “Cry” (29) (breaker)
Their third and final hit, peaking at number 19.

Curtis Hairston – “I Want Your Lovin’ (Just A Little Bit)” (22) (breaker)
His only top 30 hit peaking at number 13.

Top Ten Videos:
David Grant & Jaki Graham - "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" (10) (video clip)
RAH Band - "Clouds Across The Moon" (9) (video clip)
U2 – “The Unforgettable Fire” (8) (video clip)
Simple Minds - "Don't You (Forget About Me)" (7) (video clip)
Phil Collins - "One More Night" (6) (video clip)
Bronski Beat & Marc Almond - "I Feel Love" (5) (video clip)
Paul Hardcastle – “19” (4) (video clip)
Tears For Fears - "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" (3) (video clip)
USA For Africa - "We Are The World" (2) (video clip)

Phyllis Nelson – “Move Closer” (1) (rpt from 04/04/85)
Finally makes it to the top spot, but just for one week.

Debarge – “Rhythm Of The Night” (17) (audience dancing/credits)
Peaked at number 4.


May 9th 1985 is next.

We Are the Top of the Pops

There is a time when we should hear the certain 25th April 1985 edition of Top of the Pops!

We are the ones you've never heard of..

25/04/85  (Gary Davies & Mike Read)

Bronski Beat & Marc Almond – “I Feel Love” (7)
A somewhat awkward looking and slightly self-conscious performance to get the show underway this week. Maybe Jimmy knew that this would be his final single with Bronski Beat? It peaked at number 3.

Phil Collins – “One More Night” (4) (video)
At its peak, and edited out of tonight's 7.30pm showing.

The Rah Band – “Clouds Across The Moon” (6)
Set '2000 years into the future' according to Mike Read, but it went no further up the charts.

New Model Army – “No Rest” (36) (breaker)
Their first of seven top 40 hits, this one peaked at number 28.

Debarge – “Rhythm Of The Night” (34) (breaker)
Their only top ten hit, peaking at number 4.

Eurythmics – “Would I Lie To You?” (31) (breaker)
Peaked at number 17.

Freddie Mercury – “I Was Born To Love You” (23) (breaker)
Featuring a £100,000 video - the song reached number 11.

David Grant & Jaki Graham – “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love?” (5)
At its peak.

USA For Africa – “We Are The World” (1) (video)
It's not as bad as I remembered it. Everyone jostling for the mic and desperately trying to out sing each other is even quite amusing!

Vikki – brief interview ~ This year's Eurovision entry didn't get much of a showcase tonight! Despite her confidence, her song Love Is came fourth, and peaked at number 49 in the charts. Mike Read sounded like he just couldn't care less!

Steve Arrington – “Feel So Real” (20) (audience dancing/credits)
His only top ten hit which peaked at number 5.

Come back in telly time with us to 25 April 1985. But don't watch Street Hawk on "the other side". It's #TOTP on @BBCFour at 7.30pm. pic.twitter.com/e5q6yhjZpo

— BBC Four (@BBCFOUR) February 22, 2018

May 2nd is next and it's yet another Mike Smith one.

Top of the Pops Come Back to Me

This edition of Top of the Pops from April 18th 1985 will not be shown on BBC4 because host Mike Smith did not sign his repeats contract. So a huge thanks goes to Neil B for making it available here at We Transfer.

Not a patch on his previous hit

18/04/85  (Peter Powell & Mike Smith)

Dead Or Alive – “Lover Come Back To Me” (23)
After You Spin Me Round, they never had another top ten hit. This came the closest, peaking at number 11.

Simple Minds – “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” (22) (video)
Became the first of eight top ten hits for the band when it peaked at number 7.

Howard Jones – “Look Mama” (20)
His sixth and final top ten hit peaking at number 10.

Chaka Khan – “Eye To Eye” (40) (breaker)
Peaked at number 16.

Chris Rea – “Stainsby Girls” (39) (breaker)
His first top 30 hit for seven years, peaking at number 26.

Dire Straits – “So Far Away” (38) (breaker)
The first single from their massive number one album Brothers in Arms, it reached number 20.

Bronski Beat & Marc Almond – “I Feel Love” (24) (breaker)
This Donna Summer cover peaked at number 3.

China Crisis – “Black Man Ray” (19)
Peaked at number 14.

Top Ten Videos:
Sarah Brightman & Paul Miles-Kingston - "Pie Jesu" (10) (video clip)
RAH Band – “Clouds Across The Moon” (9) (video clip)
Phil Collins - "One More Night" (8) (video clip)
David Grant & Jaki Graham - "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love" (7) (video clip)
Go West - "We Close Our Eyes" (6) (video clip)
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - "Welcome To The Pleasure Dome" (5) (video clip)
Phyllis Nelson – “Move Closer” (4)
Philip Bailey & Phil Collins – “Easy Lover” (3) (video clip)
Tears For Fears - "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" (2) (video clip)

USA For Africa – “We Are The World” (1) (video)
First of two weeks at number one.

Glenn Frey – “The Heat Is On” (12) (audience dancing/credits)
At its peak.


Next up is April 25th.

Top of the Pops Wants to Rule the World

Be prepared to surrender to the music as this live edition of Top of the Pops from the 11th of April 1985 marches across the television airwaves and invades your western front rooms!

Hello, is it Mars you're looking for?

11/04/85  (Janice Long & John Peel)

Tears For Fears – “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” (3)
The show gets underway and the song went up one more place.

USA For Africa – “We Are The World” (7) (video)
Will be number one next week. But edited out of tonight's 7.30pm broadcast.

The Rah Band – “Clouds Across The Moon” (18)
The second of two eccentric top ten hits, both of which peaked at number 6 - their first one being The Crunch eight years earlier.

Foreigner – “That Was Yesterday” (39) (breaker)
With their final top 30 hit, which peaked at number 28.

Billy Connolly – “Super Gran” (34) (breaker)
His fourth and final top 40 hit, the theme tune for the tv series, it went up two more places.

China Crisis – “Black Man Ray” (32) (breaker)
Peaked at number 14.

Phil Collins – “One More Night” (27) (breaker)
The fifth of thirteen top ten hits for busy Phil Collins, this one peaking at number 4.

The Dream Academy – “Life In A Northern Town” (25)
This atmospheric anthem was their only top 40 hit and it peaked at number 15.

King – “Won’t You Hold My Hand Now” (24)
An energetic follow up to Love and Pride but it got no higher than number 24.

Philip Bailey & Phil Collins – “Easy Lover” (1) (video)
Fourth and final week at number one.

Pat Benatar – “Love Is A Battlefield” (23) (audience dancing/credits)
Peaked at number 17.

#TOTP tonight from 7.30pm features @TearsforFears and The Dream Academy. But what did @curtsmith and @rolandtff think of Kate St John? pic.twitter.com/6EEmMMfFXM

— BBC Four (@BBCFOUR) February 16, 2018

Tears and Frankie talk Life in a Northern Town 

Next up is April 18th, but its a Mike Smith edition, so won't be shown on BBC4.

Could it be I'm Top of the Pops?

Well, if you've managed to keep count of how many editions BBC4 have skipped since yesterday, you should find that we've now ended up at April 4th 1985!

The drool notes

04/04/85  (Simon Bates & Richard Skinner)

Glenn Frey – “The Heat Is On” (17)
Glenn get this week's show off to a flying start and his song moved up five more places.

Phyllis Nelson – “Move Closer” (14)
Will get to number one next month.

ABC – “Be Near Me” (36) (breaker)
Went up ten more places.

Bryan Adams – “Somebody” (35) (breaker)
Got no higher.

Pat Benatar – “Love Is A Battlefield” (29) (breaker)
Became her biggest hit when it peaked at number 17.

REO Speedwagon – “Can’t Fight This Feeling” (28) (breaker)
Their third and final hit, making it to number 16.

The Cool Notes – “Spend The Night” (18)
Their biggest hit, peaking at number 11. And Simon obviously had his eyes on those figure hugging dresses.

David Grant & Jaki Graham – “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love?” (12)
A second and final top ten hit for David, the first of three top ten hits for Jaki, the biggest hit for both of them, it peaked at number 5.

The Top Ten Videos:
Stephen Tin Tin Duffy - "Kiss Me" (10) (video clip)
Nik Kershaw - "Wide Boy" (9) (video clip)
Jermaine Jackson - "Do What You Do" (8) (video clip)
Paul Young - "Every Time You Go Away" (7) (video clip)
Go West - "We Close Our Eyes" (6) (video clip)
Tears For Fears - "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" (5) (video clip)
Alison Moyet - "That Ole Devil Called Love" (4) (video clip)
Sarah Brightman & Paul Miles-Kingston - "Pie Jesu" (3) (video clip)
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - "Welcome To The Pleasure Dome" (2) (video clip)

Philip Bailey & Phil Collins – “Easy Lover” (1) (video)
Third of four weeks at number one.

Third World – “Now That We’ve Found Love” (22) (audience dancing/credits)
At its peak.

We couldn't let David Cassidy's #TOTP go without sharing this ace clip of @RealSarahGreene fangirling in 1985. Watch the performance via @BBCiPlayer. https://t.co/1mcUYX2JUe pic.twitter.com/C46V4q79gY

— BBC Four (@BBCFOUR) February 9, 2018

Sarah meets David 

This concludes our Top of the Pops weekend marathon!
Next up is 11th April.

Welcome to the Top of the Pops

It's March 28th 1985 and yet another Mike Smith edition of Top of the Pops that can't be shown on BBC4. But once again (thanks to Neil B again?) here it is on We Transfer

Holly shows why he's head and shoulders above the rest

28/03/85  (Peter Powell & Mike Smith)

Frankie Goes To Hollywood – “Welcome To The Pleasure Dome” (5)
This title track from their number one album peaked at number 2.

Alison Moyet – “That Ole Devil Called Love” (2)
At its peak.

The Damned – “Grimly Fiendish” (33) (breaker)
Peaked at number 21.

The Cool Notes – “Spend The Night” (31) (breaker)
Their biggest hit, peaking at number 11.

King – “Won’t You Hold My Hand Now” (26) (breaker)
Went up two more places.

David Grant & Jaki Graham – “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love?” (24) (breaker)
Peaked at number 5.

Tears For Fears – “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” (16)
From their number 2 album, Songs From the Big Chair, this single also peaked at number 2.

Go West – “We Close Our Eyes” (8)
Went up three more places.

Philip Bailey & Phil Collins – “Easy Lover” (1) (video)
Second of four weeks at number one.

Bruce Springsteen – “Cover Me” (18) (audience dancing/credits)
Went up two more places.


Phew!
And back to BBC4 next for April 4th 1985.