I Have a Top of the Pops

A very merry thanks to Steve H for uploading the final edition of Top of the Pops of 1979, and indeed of the 70's. It won't be broadcast on BBC4 because it is co-hosted by DLT, but fingers crossed his shows will be reinstated next year.

Here's to 1980!

Top of the Pops 27-12-79: Presenters: Dave Lee Travis & Mike Read

   THE BOOMTOWN RATS – I Don’t Like Mondays (video)
(2) ABBA – I Have A Dream (video)
(3) THE POLICE – Walking On The Moon (video)
VILLAGE PEOPLE – In The Navy (video)
GLORIA GAYNOR – I Will Survive (danced to by Legs & Co ~ Patti gets her skates on!)
ART GARFUNKEL – Bright Eyes (video)
(26) QUEEN – Crazy Little Thing Called Love (video)
THE POLICE – Message In A Bottle (video)
VILLAGE PEOPLE – Y.M.C.A. (danced to by Legs & Co)
SQUEEZE – Up The Junction
BLONDIE – Heart Of Glass (video)
(1) PINK FLOYD – Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2) (video)

So that completes a whole year of Top of the Pops 1979 blogs ~ a huge thanks from me to everyone who takes time to contribute, your words and observations are always a pleasure to read, and of course a special thank you to Darnall42, Neil B and Steve H for uploading the missing episodes. Looking into 1980 it seems we'll get off to quite a good uninterrupted run until March, but the real problems will start in the summer, though nothing to do with presenters this time!

Best wishes for the rest of Xmas and the New Year and see you back here for the January 3rd 1980 edition hosted by Peter Powell.

Hark Now Hear it's Top of the Pops

This Christmas Day special from 1979 is where we say goodbye to the 70's on BBC4 (although there is one more special from the 27th December 1979, hosted by Mike Read and DLT, which is almost entirely comprised of videos). But apart from Legs & Co dancing to Anita Ward and (a repeat) the Bee Gees, this show was brimming with studio appearances. But one thing did seem to be missing.......

Do you think anyone will notice there's no audience?

25-12-79: Presenters: David Jensen & Peter Powell

BONEY M – Mary’s Boy Child – Oh My Lord (clip of TOTP 25-12-78)
IAN DURY & THE BLOCKHEADS – Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick
JANET KAY – Silly Games
GARY NUMAN – Cars
ROXY MUSIC – Dance Away
ANITA WARD – Ring My Bell (danced to by Legs & Co)
BUGGLES – Video Killed The Radio Star
B.A. ROBERTSON – Bang Bang
BLONDIE – Sunday Girl
M – Pop Muzik
THE BEE GEES – Tragedy (danced to by Legs & Co) ®
ELVIS COSTELLO & THE ATTRACTIONS – Oliver’s Army
(40) LENA MARTELL – One Day At A Time
SQUEEZE – Cool For Cats
(21) DR. HOOK – When You’re In Love With A Beautiful Woman
BLONDIE – Dreaming
TUBEWAY ARMY – Are ‘Friends’ Electric?
RACEY – Some Girls
CLIFF RICHARD – We Don’t Talk Anymore


Boney M ~ began the year with this million selling Christmas hit but by the end of 1979 their time as top 20 regulars was over.

Ian Dury & the Blockheads ~ topped the charts for just one week with this, their only number one hit, performed here as road workers.

Janet Kay ~ her only hit, which reached number two in the summer.

Gary Numan ~ another record which topped the charts for just one week, and also his second and final number one, though more top tens were to follow in the 80's.

Roxy Music ~ a number two from the summer, held off the top spot by Sunday Girl. Finally making it into the studio, which they didn't manage to do earlier in the year.

Legs & Co ~ with a very jangly dance to Anita Ward's one hit wonder.

Buggles ~ perform their only number one, which topped the charts for just one week, with the Top of the Pops cameras doing their best to recreate the feel of the video.

BA Robertson ~ another of the number two gang, this time held off the top spot by Cliff. Here he gets a couple of the Legs girls to march up and down banging drums.

Blondie ~ perform the second of two number ones for the band in 1979, with more to follow in 1980.

M ~ with their only major hit which was held off the top spot by Art Garfunkel and some rabbits.

The Bee Gees ~ still no live appearance on the show from the brothers, even at Christmas. So it's a repeat of the Legs & Co routine from the Spring.

Elvis Costello ~ and here's the song that was held off that number one spot by the Bee Gees.

Lena Martell ~ a one hit wonder in the singles chart with the surprise number one of the year.

Squeeze ~ the first of two number twos for the band in 1979, this was also held off the top by Art and his rabbits. Poor old Chris has to do a live vocal again to keep it Christmas friendly.

Dr Hook ~ still in the top 30 this was the band's only number one hit, with two more top ten hits just around the corner in 1980.

Blondie ~ performing for a second time, with Debbie in the same outfit, and yet another number two, this time held off the top by The Police and Message in a Bottle.

Tubeway Army ~ Gary Numan's breakthrough smash, what a year 1979 was for him, with two number one singles and two number one albums.

Racey ~ were a band already on their way out by now, here they are with another song that couldn't quite dislodge Art Garfunkel from the top spot. Here we are also treated to a montage of Legs routines from the year, although they don't actually join the band on stage this time.

Cliff Richard ~ brings the show to a close with his 10th number one, and his only number one of the 70's, though amazingly two more would follow in the 80's and two more in the 90's.

The next edition then should have been from the 27th December 1979 but that one is hosted by DLT and therefore won't be broadcast. So the next show on BBC4 should be the one from January 3rd 1980.

I'm in the Mood for Top of the Pops

It's the 20th December 1979 and the final regular edition of Top of the Pops of the 70's. Sadly, it can't be shown on BBC4 due to the host being Jimmy Savile. But if you click on the link below you'll find that Neil B has once again come to the rescue and uploaded it for us. So thank you very much Neil for this one and all the others this year, and have yourself a very merry jingle Xmas :-)

It's the Thin Pistols

Top of the Pops 20-12-79: Presenter: Jimmy Savile (don't click if you will be offended)

 (29) THE CLASH – London Calling (and charts)
(47) THE GREEDIES – A Merry Jingle
(9) THE THREE DEGREES – My Simple Heart ®
(24) THE SKIDS – Working For The Yankee Dollar
(43) BILLY PRESTON & SYREETA – With You I’m Born Again
(28) K.C. & THE SUNSHINE BAND – Please Don’t Go (video)
(72) THE REGENTS – 7 Teen
(13) DAVID BOWIE – John I’m Only Dancing (Again) (video)
(30) MIKE OLDFIELD – Blue Peter (danced to by Legs & Co)
(17) ROSE ROYCE – Is It Love You’re After (video)
(73) THE NOLANS – I’m In The Mood For Dancing
(1) PINK FLOYD – Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2) (video)
(25) ELVIS PRESLEY – Merry Christmas Baby (and credits)


So that just leaves the two Xmas specials, one of which will be on BBC4 and one of which won't, so here's wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy 1980 :-)

Day Trip to Top of the Pops

December the 13th 1979, the penultimate regular edition of Top of the Pops of the 1970's, and the last one we will get to see on BBC4, but Christmas has come a little bit early nevertheless......

Didn't we have a luverley time..

 

 

13-12-79: Presenter: Mike Read

(23) DAVID BOWIE – John I’m Only Dancing (Again) (and charts)
(26) FIDDLER’S DRAM – Day Trip To Bangor (Didn’t We Have A Lovely Time)
(20) PAUL McCARTNEY – Wonderful Christmastime (video)
(4) THE TOURISTS – I Only Want To Be With You
(21) ABBA – I Have A Dream (video)
(31) THE BEAT – Tears Of A Clown
(18) STATUS QUO – Living On An Island (danced to by Legs & Co)
(60) THE INMATES – The Walk
(13) BLONDIE – Union City Blue (video)
(63) THE BARRON KNIGHTS – Food For Thought
(30) THE PRETENDERS – Brass In Pocket
(1) PINK FLOYD – Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2) (video)
(24) ROSE ROYCE – Is It Love You’re After (and credits)

 

 

David Bowie ~ plays over the credits with a remake of a song that had reached number 12 for him seven years earlier, and this new one would peak in exactly the same position.

 

Fiddler's Dram ~ with a brilliant drinking song for big hair Xmas parties everywhere, this was there one and only hit.

 

Paul McCartney ~ and this year's biggest festive song - and although other members of Wings appeared in the video, it was Paul who played all the instruments on this record, and this ding dong tune marked the beginning of his 80's solo career.

 

The Tourists ~ now at their peak of 4 in the charts with this the first of two top ten hits for the group.

 

Abba ~ with their 5th top 4 hit of 1979, and another song from their Voulez Vous album.

 

The Beat ~ make their debut as a 2-Tone act, though like Madness they would soon sign elsewhere. Their excited leaps at the end show how much this meant to them.

 

Legs & Co ~ dance upon a map of Britain to Status Quo's Living on an Island, dressed up as various female British historical figures. If only all history lessons were like this.....

 

The Inmates ~ do their best Mick Jagger impressions but can't walk into the top 30.

 

Blondie ~ reaching a peak of 13 in the charts with Union City Blue, but their next three singles would all get to number one.

 

The Barron Knights ~ someone had to be cut from the 7.30 repeat and it was this band of comedy Christmas regulars, though this one failed to make the top 40.

 

The Pretenders ~ are back to perform what was to become the first new number one of the 80's.

 

Pink Floyd ~ a surprise number one, and it couldn't be less festive if it tried, but what a fabulously bleak record, and video, with which to bring the 1970's to a close.

 

Rose Royce ~ roll over the credits this week.

 

 

The last regular edition of Top of the Pops of the 70's, the 20th December 1979, is hosted by Jimmy Savile and so of course will not be broadcast on BBC4. So our next show will be the Christmas Day 1979 edition, hosted by David Jensen and Peter Powell, to be shown on BBC4 at 9.30pm on Christmas Eve (so Santa might be late this year, he'll be staying in first to watch it).

Then, on the 2nd January 2015, it's The Story of 1980, followed by Big Hits 1980.

It's My Top of the Pops

It's the 6th December 1979, the strike at the BBC is over at last and Top of the Pops celebrates with a confident new presenter....

They're playing our tunes

 

 

6-12-79: Presenter: Simon Bates

(5) THE GIBSON BROTHERS – Que Sera Mi Vida (If You Should Go) (and charts)
(54) DARTS – Reet Petite
(57) DOLLAR – I Wanna Hold Your Hand
(36) U.K. SUBS – She’s Not There
(26) THE THREE DEGREES – My Simple Heart
(64) M – Moonlight And Muzak
(41) THE STRANGLERS – Don’t Bring Harry
(22) MICHAEL JACKSON – Off The Wall (danced to by Legs & Co)
(12) THE SUGARHILL GANG – Rapper’s Delight (footage from Soap Factory)
(46) THE DAMNED – I Just Can’t Be Happy Today
(50) STORM – It’s My House
(42) MOTÖRHEAD – Bomber
(48) MARIANNE FAITHFULL – The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan
(1) THE POLICE – Walking On The Moon (video)
(2) PINK FLOYD – Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2) (and credits)

 

 

The Gibson Brothers ~ at their peak now of number 5, play over the charts (in colour!)

 

Darts ~ with the first of three golden oldies, but this wasn't such a glistening version and didn't make the top 50.

 

Dollar ~ fare much better with their slightly odd Beatles cover set to become one of the first top ten hits of the 80's

 

UK Subs ~ a punk 60's cover next but it got no higher than 36 after this performance.

 

The Three Degrees ~ looking sophisticated in their white suits, My Simple Heart would be their final top ten hit.

 

M ~ with their overdue follow-up to Pop Muzik, but edited out of the 7.30 show.

 

The Stranglers ~ didn't bring Harry, and it was just as well because they were also edited out.

 

Legs & Co ~ after a two week lay off the girls return with a performance in front of a more enthusiastic audience than usual, especially one chap who seemed to be leaping out of his seat with excitement. The blueprint for the 80's was here.

 

The Sugarhill Gang ~ the fastest climber of the week, in a time when rap music was still a very new thing, but again the 1980's (and beyond) were arriving now.

 

The Damned ~ were cut from the 7.30 show.

 

Storm ~ another sophisticated group in white suits, Its My House was their only chart hit but it didn't enter the top 30, despite knocking on the door.

 

Motorhead ~ in sharp contrast Bomber exploded from the stage, their biggest hit to date but still not a top 30.

 

Marianne Faithfull ~ Simon informs us that Dr Hook tried and failed to have a hit with this song, which was now Marianne's first chart hit for 12 years, but it got no higher than 48 after this Top of the Pops performance.

 

The Police ~ walked to number one for just this week, because Simon's prediction that they could be replaced by Pink Floyd proved to be correct.

 

Pink Floyd ~ who also happened to be the ones to play out over the credits.

 

 

Next week then, the 13th December 1979, is the last regular edition we will see on BBC4 of the 70's, because the edition from the 20th December is a Jimmy Savile.

 

 

 

 

I Only Want to be with Top of the Pops

It's the 29th November 1979 and the second week of strike action at the BBC, which means that for some reason the chart rundown features black and white mug shots whilst host Peter Powell, like DLT the week before, can only be heard but never seen.....

Now listen, honey......

29-11-79: Presenter: Peter Powell

(25) MICHAEL JACKSON – Off The Wall (and charts)
(12) THE GIBSON BROTHERS – Que Sera Mi Vida (If You Should Go) (video)
(5) THE POLICE – Walking On The Moon (video)
(22) THE TOURISTS – I Only Want To Be With You ®
(36) STATUS QUO – Living On An Island (video)
(21) BLONDIE – Union City Blue (video)
(24) THIN LIZZY – Sarah ®
(34) ROSE ROYCE – Is It Love You’re After (video)
(23) THE MOODY BLUES – Nights In White Satin ®
(32) THE SKIDS – Working For The Yankee Dollar (video)
(3) DONNA SUMMER & BARBRA STREISAND – No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) (danced to by Legs & Co) ®
(26) PINK FLOYD – Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2) (video)
(1) DR. HOOK – When You’re In Love With A Beautiful Woman (video)
(14) THE ISLEY BROTHERS – It’s A Disco Night (Rock Don’t Stop) (and credits)


Michael Jackson ~ does the chart rundown this week with the title track from his top five hit album.

The Gibson Brothers ~ are next with the first of eight videos featured on tonight's show.

The Police ~ they might not have quite made it to the moon as such, but they were well on their way to next week's number one.

The Tourists ~ having come close with The Loneliest Man in the World, Annie and the gang finally breakthrough with this Dusty Springfield cover.

Status Quo ~ Rick takes control of the lead vocals for this one, helped out by Francis of course and quite a few penguins.

Blondie ~ are somewhere deep in the New York docks to perform this most atmospheric of songs from their album Eat to the Beat, though the next single from it would be a much bigger hit.

Thin Lizzy ~ another chance to hear Sarah, now at its peak in the charts.

Rose Royce ~ with the tune that was later sampled all the way to number one by S-express, but, 90's remixes of Car Wash excluded, this would be their final top 20 hit.

The Moody Blues ~ were the only act edited out of a packed 7.30 pm show tonight.

The Skids ~ were these video clips so short on the original transmission? Or is this how they fitted almost everything into half an hour tonight? Anyway, a belting tune and video which proved to be the band's final top 30 hit.

Legs & Co ~ with a repeat showing of their Summer and Streisand routine. Maybe the girls were on the picket line?

Pink Floyd ~ with a 'surprise' single release and iconic accompanying video, Another Brick in the Wall was their first single since 1967, choosing instead to release albums only from that point until this.

Dr Hook ~ watch their friends for a final week at number one.

The Isley Brothers ~ at their peak in the charts play over the credits.

Next week we reach 6th December 1979, normal Top of the Pops service is resumed, and a new host makes his debut.

Top of the Pops Rebel

Many thanks again to Neil B for coming to the Top of the Pops rescue by making this unusual edition from 22nd November 1979 available ~ it won't be shown on BBC4 due to it being hosted by DLT, but due to a BBC strike at the time he only appears in the form of a ghostly voice-over. For the chart rundown were are treated to Whole Lotta Love (hurray!) and the only new studio performance, albeit without an audience, comes from The Pretenders.

I'm a Top of the Pops rebel, from head to toe

Top of the Pops 22-11-79: Presenter: Dave Lee Travis

 (26) MATCHBOX – Rockabilly Rebel ®
(4) THE COMMODORES – Still (video)
(23) THE BOOMTOWN RATS – Diamond Smiles (video)
(48) THE PRETENDERS – Brass In Pocket
(17) ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA – Confusion (video)
(10) MADNESS – One Step Beyond ®
(2) QUEEN – Crazy Little Thing Called Love (video)
(20) DYNASTY – I Don’t Want To Be A Freak (But I Can’t Help Myself) (video)
(13) HERB ALPERT – Rise (danced to by Legs & Co) ®
(15) GARY NUMAN – Complex (video)
(30) DAN-I – Monkey Chop ®
(1) DR. HOOK – When You’re In Love With A Beautiful Woman (video)

A Night at Top of the Pops

The 15th November 1979 is now upon us, and this is the last show where we'll see a presenter until Simon Bates makes his debut on the 6th December!

Now you see me.....

15-11-79: Presenter: David Jensen

(26) DYNASTY – I Don’t Want To Be A Freak (But I Can’t Help Myself) (and charts)
(4) THE JAM – The Eton Rifles
(46) CLIFF RICHARD – Hot Shot
(14) DONNA SUMMER & BARBRA STREISAND – No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) (danced to by Legs & Co)
(27) THIN LIZZY – Sarah ®
(43) THE TOURISTS – I Only Want To Be With You
(15) B.A. ROBERTSON – Knocked It Off
(11) SUZI QUATRO – She’s In Love With You ®
(41) THE MOODY BLUES – Nights In White Satin
(16) KOOL & THE GANG – Ladies Night (footage from Soap Factory)
(38) SECRET AFFAIR – Let Your Heart Dance
(13) THE RAMBLERS – The Sparrow ®
(48) SHOWADDYWADDY – A Night At Daddy Gee’s
(1) DR. HOOK – When You’re In Love With A Beautiful Woman (video)
(24) THE ISLEY BROTHERS – It’s A Disco Night (Rock Don’t Stop) (and credits)

Dynasty ~ play over the charts with their only UK top 20 hit

The Jam ~ are back in the studio for a second performance of The Eton Rifles, the only single to be released from their latest album, Setting Sons.

Cliff Richard ~ hoping to follow up his huge hit We Don't Talk Anymore, but Hot Shot misfired and got no higher than 46.

Legs & Co ~ after some initial high heel balancing issues the girls soon find their feet in the disco part of this top 3 Donna Summer & Barbra Streisand hit.

Thin Lizzie ~ some major 7.30pm culling now, with this repeat showing of Sarah being the first victim.

The Tourists ~ they only want to be on the late edition, this one was also 7.30 chopped!

BA Robertson ~ also found himself knocked off the 7.30 show.

Suzi Quatro ~ was edited out too, with She's in Love with You at her peak in the charts.

The Moody Blues ~ "amazingly it's 12 years ago since they first appeared on the show with this song" says host David ~ and 12 years into the pop past seemed a long long time back in 1979.

Kool and the Gang ~ perform their disco classic in a Soap Factory full of ladies, of course. Ladies Night was the first of a long string of hits for Kool and the Gang over the next 8 years or so.

Secret Affair ~ with the mod follow up to Time for Action, but Let Your Heart Dance didn't make the top 30.

The Ramblers ~ another showing for the girls of Abbey Hey Junior school, now nearing their peak of number 11.

Showaddywaddy ~ this single ended a run of 9 consecutive top 20 hits for the group stretching back to 1976.

Dr Hook ~ finally made it to number one, but it was hard.

The Isley Brothers ~ play over the credits this week, with their last ever top 20 hit.


The next show is the 22nd November 1979. Due to a strike at the BBC at the time, this show was made up mostly of videos and repeats, and presented by voice over. Unfortunately for us, the voice is that of DLT and so BBC4 are skipping it. This means that next Thursday we will see the (still on strike) edition from the 29th November, which was voiced over by Peter Powell.

The 2-Tone Top of the Pops

There doesn't seem to be any Top of the Pops on BBC4 next Thursday, so it's a very timely big thank you again to Neil B for making (most of) this famous edition from the 8th November 1979 available ~ it's the one that features Madness, the Specials and the Selector all in the studio ~ the 2-Tone Top of the Pops. It won't be broadcast on BBC4 because it was hosted by Jimmy Savile, so do not click on the link if you are going to be offended......

er..... haven't we just left 2-Tone for Stiff?

Top of the Pops 8-11-79: Presenter: Jimmy Savile

 (21) KOOL & THE GANG – Ladies Night (and charts)
(44) MATCHBOX – Rockabilly Rebel
(29) IRIS WILLIAMS – He Was Beautiful (Cavatina) (The Theme From ‘The Deer Hunter’)
(2) DR. HOOK – When You’re In Love With A Beautiful Woman (video)
(51) MADNESS – One Step Beyond
(10) THE COMMODORES – Still (video)
(19) THE SPECIALS feat. RICO – A Message To You Rudy
(3) ABBA – Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight) (video)
(50) DAN-I – Monkey Chop
(26) HERB ALPERT – Rise (danced to by Legs & Co)
(5) QUEEN – Crazy Little Thing Called Love (video)
(53) SHAM 69 – You’re A Better Man Than I
(9) THE SELECTER – On My Radio ®
(1) LENA MARTELL – One Day At A Time
(27) DONNA SUMMER & BARBRA STREISAND – No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) (and credits)

I'm Only a Poor Little Top of the Pops

November 1979 arrives and this 30 minute edition of Top of the Pops means that nothing needs to be edited out of this week's 7.30pm slot on BBC4....

Don't mess with us, St. Winifreds!

 

1-11-79: Presenter: Mike Read

(3) SAD CAFÉ – Every Day Hurts (and charts)
(45) SPARKS – Tryouts For The Human Race
(26) THE RAMBLERS – The Sparrow ®
(50) DARTS – Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love
(29) THE JAM – The Eton Rifles
(46) LENE LOVICH – Bird Song
(16) EARTH, WIND & FIRE – Star (danced to by Legs & Co)
(43) THIN LIZZY – Sarah
(20) SUZI QUATRO – She’s In Love With You
(42) B.A. ROBERTSON – Knocked It Off
(1) LENA MARTELL – One Day At A Time ®
(8) FLEETWOOD MAC – Tusk (and credits)


Sad Café ~ play over the charts, now at their peak of number 3.

Sparks ~ get the show underway with their own brand of Californian euro-disco, but this particular 45 got no higher than 45 in the charts.

The Ramblers ~ flying up the charts, and playing their own guitars, it's the Abbey Hey Junior School choir tweeting a song written by Maurice Jordan.

Darts ~ Rita Ray takes the lead vocal for this follow-up to Duke of Earl, but it couldn't get any further than number 43.

The Jam ~ Host Mike Read points out that this is their 9th single, but it was to become the first to make it into the top ten, and although The Jam had been Top of the Pops regulars since 1977, this was their big breakthrough, with a song that was just a different level to any of their previous eight.

Lene Lovich ~ continuing the feathered theme this week, a wonderfully eccentric performance by Lene was enough to see The Bird perch at number 39.

Legs & Co ~ go space disco this week for a silver caped routine to Star by Earth Wind and Fire.

Thin Lizzy ~ a more mellow effort than usual here from Thin Lizzy, which perhaps didn't quite pay off for them with Sarah stalling at 24.

Suzie Quatro ~ now here's someone who doesn't really do mellow, it's Suzie Quatro with another raucous performance of Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman's She's in love with You.

BA Robertson ~ follows up his unusual hit Bang Bang with something even more unusual, but standing out from the crowd like this knocked him off a second top ten hit.

Lena Martell ~ with a second of three weeks at number one, but we won't see her again on BBC4.

Fleetwood Mac ~ drum us out this week with Tusk nearing its peak of number 6 in the charts.


The next episode, the 8th November 1979, is the famous 'two-tone' Top of the Pops, featuring Madness, The Specials and the Selector! Unfortunately, it was hosted by Jimmy Savile. So that means the next edition on BBC4 will be the 15th November 1979 hosted by David Jensen.

Crazy Little Thing Called Top of the Pops

Sporting a new short haircut, a now slightly more sophisticated Peter Powell hosts the 25th October 1979 edition of Top of the Pops, the last one before Halloween, but Halloween wasn't such a big deal back in 1979, but Grease still was......

Just call me Freddie Travolta

 

25-10-79: Presenter: Peter Powell

(26) THE SELECTER – On My Radio (and charts)
(41) THE SPECIALS feat. RICO – A Message To You Rudy
(16) VIOLA WILLS – Gonna Get Along Without You Now ®
(21) QUEEN – Crazy Little Thing Called Love (video)
(24) CATS UK – Luton Airport
(15) CHARLIE DANIELS BAND – The Devil Went Down To Georgia (video)
(18) CHIC – My Forbidden Lover (danced to by Legs & Co)
(3) DR. HOOK – When You’re In Love With A Beautiful Woman (video)
(48) IRIS WILLIAMS – He Was Beautiful (Cavatina) (The Theme From ‘The Deer Hunter’)
(7) THE DOOLEYS – The Chosen Few ®
(NEW) JANET BROWN – The Iron Lady
(11) ERROL DUNKLEY – O.K. Fred
(1) LENA MARTELL – One Day At A Time
(6) ABBA – Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight) (and credits)


The Selector ~ are selected to be the chart run down song this week.

The Specials ~ completing a two-tone takeover of the beginning of the show, this would soon become a second top ten single of 1979 for the Specials.

Viola Wills ~ was well on her way to number 8 in the charts.

Queen ~ turning up a bit too late for a part in Grease this song nevertheless got to number 2 in the UK and was the band's first number 1 in America.

Cats UK ~ not so cool for them - they were cut out of the 7.30pm broadcast tonight.

Charlie Daniels Band ~ maybe this one got a Halloween mention from Peter? ~ but it was also edited out from the 7.30pm showing on BBC4.

Legs & Co ~ go disco again this week with a routine to My Forbidden Lover by Chic.

Dr Hook ~ another showing for a video that we'll get to see quite a few more times yet.

Iris Williams ~ there had already been two instrumental hit versions of this tune in 1979, now here was Iris adding some lyrics and a lot of vibrato and joining forces with the Top of the Pops orchestra.

The Dooleys ~ another showing for this performance of a song that is seeming to split opinion a little, personally I quite like it.

Janet Brown ~ ok I take it back about Halloween not being so big in 1979 ~ because this was a real horror show which even made Dame Edna's woeful Disco Matilda look good in comparison.

Errol Dunkley ~ a new performance of OK Fred which was now at its chart peak.

Lena Martell ~ not many British acts have ever managed to get to number one with a country song, in fact I can't think of any off hand, but love it or loath it Lena did it and here she is doing it live with the Top of the Pops orchestra, who, as they had for several other performances this year, were once again in full view.

Abba ~ give us give us give us the play out song this week.

Next week then is the edition from November 1st 1979 hosted by Mike Calypso Read.

She's In Love with Top of the Pops

Once more our poptastic thanks must go to Neil B for coming to the rescue with another unmissable edition of Top of the Pops 1979, featuring debuts by New Muzik and the Selector, a final top 20 hit for glam rocker Suzi Quatro, Legs & Co as unicorns, Buggles with their only week at number one, a most eccentric song over the credits and lots of sparrows, that will be skipped by BBC4, this time for being hosted by DLT.  So as before do not click on the link if you are going to be offended.....


Top of the Pops 18-10-79: Presenter: Dave Lee Travis

Eat your hearts out Mud and Sweet!

 

 (25) EARTH, WIND & FIRE – Star (and charts)
(46) SUZI QUATRO – She’s In Love With You
(6) SAD CAFÉ – Every Day Hurts
(30) ABBA – Gimme Gimme Gimme (A Man After Midnight) (video)
(61) NEW MUSIK – Straight Lines
(5) LENA MARTELL – One Day At A Time ®
(64) THE UNDERTONES – You’ve Got My Number (Why Don’t You Use It?)
(18) FLEETWOOD MAC – Tusk (danced to by Legs & Co)
(17) THE JAGS – Back Of My Hand ®
(51) THE RAMBLERS – The Sparrow
(28) XTC – Making Plans For Nigel
(47) THE SELECTER – On My Radio
(1) BUGGLES – Video Killed The Radio Star (video)
(21) THE SEX PISTOLS – Rock Around The Clock (and credits)

My Forbidden Top of the Pops

Well, it's not exactly a forbidden show this week, being hosted for the first time by Andy Peebles (who wouldn't be seen again on the show for over two years!)

See you at Christmas............ 1981!

Top of the Pops 11-10-79: Presenter: Andy Peebles

(15) AL HUDSON & THE PARTNERS – You Can Do It (and charts)
(16) THE DOOLEYS – The Chosen Few
(52) THE HEADBOYS – The Shape Of Things To Come
(4) MICHAEL JACKSON – Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough (danced to by Legs & Co)
(51) CHIC – My Forbidden Lover
(26) DR. HOOK – When You’re In Love With A Beautiful Woman (video)
(47) VIOLA WILLS – Gonna Get Along Without You Now
(27) CHARLIE DANIELS BAND – The Devil Went Down To Georgia (video)
(23) ERROL DUNKLEY – O.K. Fred
(54) CATS UK – Luton Airport
(18) DAVE EDMUNDS – Queen Of Hearts ®
(NEW) DANA – I Can’t Get Over Getting Over You
(1) THE POLICE – Message In A Bottle (video)
(30) FLEETWOOD MAC – Tusk (and credits)


Al Hudson & the Partners ~ prove they can do it over the charts, but they couldn't do it again, this was their only top 20 hit.

The Dooleys ~ with a colourful performance of their terrific follow up to Wanted, the band were at the peak of their success now, but The Chosen Few would prove to be their final top tenner.

The Headboys ~ got the chop from the 7.30 show.

Legs & Co ~ just had to dance to Don't stop 'Til you Get Enough, and were quite striking in black dresses set against a whiteout background.

Chic ~ another trip to the Top of the Pops studio, this time to perform a single from their second album of the year, Risqué, but their impressive run of top ten disco hits was over.

Dr. Hook ~ with a single that had 'been around for six months' according to Mr Peebles, although I have its release date as 22nd September 1979 ~ maybe it got radio play a long time before it came out? ~ but anyway it would soon be the number one.

Viola Wills ~ braves the Top of the Pops Orchestra this week for a rendition of her only top ten hit.

Charlie Daniels Band ~ the devil came and cut this one from the 7.30 show.

Errol Dunkley ~ gives a yagga yagga performace of Ok Fred, on its way into the top 20.

Cats UK ~ here we get a female Chris Difford, complete with sassy girl backing singers, telling a tale of a holiday to Malaga, with a rather large nod to Squeeze and Lorraine Chase.

Dave Edmunds ~ the Rockpile lads had all but moved into the Top of the Pops studio at this point, such was the frequency of their appearances.

Dana ~ a change of pace now, as Dana impressively slows things down with the TOTPs orchestra, but sadly a bit too slow to make it into the charts.

The Police ~ a third and final week at number one ~ but we won't get to see the Buggles replace them next week, not on BBC4 anyway.

Fleetwood Mac ~ drum us out this week with Tusk.

So next week then, the 18th October will be skipped, it's obviously still deemed too soon to show DLT again, so we will leap to the 25th October hosted by Peter Powell, with what is pretty much a repeat of tonight's edition.

Making Plans for Top of the Pops

October 1979 arrives but there's nothing autumnal about this edition of Top of the Pops which offers some of the most perfectly ripe tunes to pick from the charts....

I bet The Tubes wish they'd thought of this...

Top of the Pops 4-10-79: Presenter: David Jensen

(16) MADNESS – The Prince (and charts)
(42) XTC – Making Plans For Nigel
(2) BLONDIE – Dreaming (video)
(54) MATUMBI – Point Of View
(6) BUGGLES – Video Killed The Radio Star (video)
(21) SAD CAFÉ – Every Day Hurts
(24) SQUEEZE – Slap And Tickle
(11) KATE BUSH – Them Heavy People (danced to by Legs & Co)
(8) RAINBOW – Since You’ve Been Gone (video)
(27) THE JAGS – Back Of My Hand
(28) LENA MARTELL – One Day At A Time
(1) THE POLICE – Message In A Bottle (video)
(12) NICK LOWE – Cruel To Be Kind (and credits)


Madness ~ now at their princely peak of number 16.

XTC ~ perform their breakthrough hit Making Plans for Nigel, with Colin Moulding again doing the lead vocal, as he had done for Life Begins at the Hop earlier in the year.

Blondie ~ a first showing for Dreaming which had already bounced up the charts to its peak position of number 2.

Matumbi ~ the lead singer had a snake around his neck, but it wasn't enough to make Point of View slither into the top 30.

Buggles ~ this will be the only time on BBC4 we get to see this amazing song that would prove almost impossible to follow up for Buggles, and the video was arguably the most sophisticated yet seen, the 1980's are not so very far away now....

Sad Café ~ a second performance for Every Day Hurts - I'm sure it didn't hurt too much when it climbed into the top 3.

Squeeze ~ this was actually the 4th and final single from their Cool for Cats album, and it reached its Chris Difford dad dancing peak here at 24 in the charts.

Kate Bush ~ gets the Legs & Co treatment this week - it looked like they were going to copy her dance from the video at one point, but they thought better of it.

Rainbow ~ were edited from the 7.30 show, but we've seen the video previously.

The Jags ~ are not edited out this week so we get to see them perform this Rolls Royce of a tune which was to be their only top 20 hit.

Lena Martell ~ was edited out of the 7.30 show ~ shame ~ but we will get to see this unlikely chart topper on shows in the very near future.

The Police ~ a second week at number one for Message in a Bottle, with our host David informing us that their excellent new album Regatta de Blanc is out on Monday.

Nick Lowe ~ just before the credits this week, David turns the figure standing next to him around and reveals a new presenter for next week ~ Andy Peebles!

So, next week then is the 11th October 1979 and is indeed hosted for the first time by Andy Peebles.

Ok Fred it's Top of the Pops 27th September 1979!

Here's the edition of Top of the Pops from 27th September 1979 that will be skipped by BBC4 on Thursday due to it being hosted by Jimmy Savile. In keeping with most of the shows from this period in time it's an excellent one featuring classic hit after classic hit, including a live performance by Frantique with the TOTPs orchestra, studio performances from the likes of Dave Edmunds and the Dooleys, classic videos from Michael Jackson, Status Quo and the Police, but most of all ~ it has the debut of the Nolans!

We were the first New Romantics, yes, us and the Skids...

Top of the Pops 27-9-79: Presenter: Jimmy Savile O.B.E.

 (7) BLONDIE – Dreaming (and charts)
(10) FRANTIQUE – Strut Your Funky Stuff
(48) ERROL DUNKLEY – O.K. Fred
(45) THE SKIDS – Charade
(44) THE DOOLEYS – The Chosen Few
(16) MICHAEL JACKSON – Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough (video)
(46) JOHN DU CANN – Don’t Be A Dummy
(31) DAVE EDMUNDS – Queen Of Hearts
(29) AL HUDSON & THE PARTNERS – You Can Do It (danced to by Legs & Co)
(12) STATUS QUO – Whatever You Want (video)
(NEW) THE NOLAN SISTERS – Spirit Body And Soul
(1) THE POLICE – Message In A Bottle (video)
(24) BUGGLES – Video Killed The Radio Star (and credits)

If I Said You Had a Beautiful Top of the Pops

Yee Haw ~1979 surely is catching up with 2014 real fast now cowboys and cowgirls, just take a look at this here edition from the 20th September, doggone it.....

20-9-79: Presenter: Mike Read

(22) RACEY – Boy Oh Boy (and charts)
(51) THE STARJETS – War Stories
(27) KATE BUSH – Them Heavy People (video)
(23) MADNESS – The Prince
(4) THE BELLAMY BROTHERS – If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me (video)
(24) THE JAGS – Back Of My Hand
(45) THE TOURISTS – The Loneliest Man In The World
(8) THE POLICE – Message In A Bottle (video)
(55) SAD CAFÉ – Every Day Hurts
(26) RAINBOW – Since You’ve Been Gone (video)
(3) ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA – Don’t Bring Me Down (danced to by Legs & Co)
(1) GARY NUMAN – Cars
(12) BILL LOVELADY – Reggae For It Now (and credits)


Racey ~ do the chart rundown honours this week with Boy Oh Boy now in its peak position.

The Starjets ~ pay homage here to the Ramones both in sound and t-shirts ~ but War Stories came to an end at 51 in the charts.

Kate Bush ~ how timely is this? This performance was from a live e.p. which featured songs from her first two albums ~ but this sounded and looked so amazingly polished was it really live?

Madness ~ due to the 13th September being skipped we get to see the Nutty Boys for a second week running, and I do believe we'll hear them next week too.

The Bellamy Brothers ~ no mistakin this is a live rendition, pardners, and they seem to have not had a hair cut since the last time we saw them back in good old 1976, when they were letting their love flow.

The Jags ~ were the only act to be chopped from the 7.30pm showing this week.

The Tourists ~ I don't remember this song at all, but if you take away the guitars and replace them with synths then I reckon you've got yourself a pretty good Eurhythmics record.

The Police ~ now I do definitely remember this one, and the accompanying video. Message in a Bottle was the first single from their second album, Reggatta de Blanc, and was about to deservedly become the band's first number one hit.

Sad Café ~ this fantastic tune was a long awaited breakthrough for the band but it would ultimately be their only top ten hit.

Rainbow ~ another band enjoying a breakthrough hit, Since You've Been Gone was the first of three consecutive heavy rock top tens spread over two years.

ELO ~ Legs & Co are supplied with scaffold towers on which to perform their dance routine to Don't Bring me Down.

Gary Numan ~ proves its not easy to look mean and moody whilst jingling a tambourine, and Cars would only be parked at the top of the charts for one week.

Bill Lovelady ~ plays us out with Reggae For it Now at its peak.


Next week, the 27th September 1979, is a Jimmy S edition, and so will obviously be skipped. Fingers crossed it becomes available online. So BBC4 will be moving on to October 4th hosted by David Jensen.

Gone Gone Gone its Top of the Pops 13th September 1979

Huge thanks once more to Neil B for uploading this edition of Top of the Pops from 13th September 1979 which BBC4 will be skipping this week due to it being hosted by Dave Lee Travis....

Top of the Pops 13-9-79: Presenter: Dave Lee Travis

 (17) SISTER SLEDGE – Lost In Music (and charts)
(26) NICK LOWE – Cruel To Be Kind
(24) THE COMMODORES – Sail On (video)
(23) FRANTIQUE – Strut Your Funky Stuff (danced to by Legs & Co)
(2) GARY NUMAN – Cars ®
(27) SECRET AFFAIR – Time For Action
(30) GERRY RAFFERTY – Get It Right Next Time (video)
(9) DOLLAR – Love’s Gotta Hold On Me
(32) SQUEEZE – Slap And Tickle
(21) JOHNNY MATHIS – Gone Gone Gone (with Gill from Legs & Co) ®
(28) U.K. SUBS – Tomorrow’s Girls
(1) CLIFF RICHARD – We Don’t Talk Anymore ®
(14) THE STRANGLERS – Duchess (and credits)

Here Here Here

Strut Your Funky Top of the Pops!

After two months off the air I think we will all agree the return of Top of the Pops 1979 is most welcome! And, with this edition from 6th September, we're getting closer to being back in sync with 2014. On the down side of course we are now certain to miss the four remaining 1979 shows hosted by DLT. But hopefully, surely, once he serves whatever sentence he gets, his editions will be reinstated. Not to do so would be madness.....

6-9-79: Presenter: Peter Powell

(26) FRANTIQUE – Strut Your Funky Stuff (and charts)
(45) THE RUTS – Something That I Said
(9) RANDY VANWARMER – Just When I Needed You Most (danced to by Legs & Co) ®
(52) MADNESS – The Prince
(4) ROXY MUSIC – Angel Eyes (video)
(7) THE CRUSADERS – Street Life
(11) ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA – Don’t Bring Me Down (video)
(19) THE BELLAMY BROTHERS – If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me (danced to by Legs & Co)
(28) RACEY – Boy Oh Boy ®
(27) BILL LOVELADY – Reggae For It Now
(13) BONEY M – Gotta Go Home (video)
(1) CLIFF RICHARD – We Don’t Talk Anymore
(5) THE FLYING LIZARDS – Money (and credits)


Frantique ~ provide a funky soundtrack over the charts this week with their only UK hit.

The Ruts ~ loaded with attitude and graffiti Something That I Said was the follow up to their only top ten hit, Babylon's Burning ~ but 29 was all it had to say for itself.

Randy Vanwarmer ~ almost at its peak of number 8 in the charts now for Mr Randall Van Wormer's only hit, helped out in the studio here by Legs & Co.

Madness ~ who could have guessed that this eccentric group from Camden, seen making their stand out debut here, would go on to be one of the biggest UK groups of the 80's? So many amazing hits to come from them over the next few years.

Roxy Music ~ An eye catching video for this worthy follow up to Dance Away, taken from their comeback album, Manifesto ~ although the single version of Angel Eyes is not the same as the album version.

The Crusaders ~ was it a coincidence that a band with a song called Street Life was on immediately after Roxy Music (who had previously had a hit with a song of the same title)? Anyhow, unlike Roxy, the Crusaders had just the one top ten hit, and this fine record was it.

ELO ~ the third single from their album Discovery, and the biggest hit ~ seen colourfully performed here in an energetic video.

The Bellamy Brothers ~ and Legs & Co were the victim of a not so beautiful 7.30pm edit.

Racey ~ were also edited out of the early showing.

Bill Lovelady ~ an enthusiastic performance from Bill and his band of what was to be his only hit.

Boney M ~ with a clip that was due to be shown on that Saturday's Seaside Special, it peaked at 12 and was their final top 20 hit together.

Cliff Richard ~ with a new performance, clearly recorded for the show but not in front of an audience, though there were some mysterious sightings of people in the background, of his number one hit, featuring a trademark t-shirt sporting his latest album Rock n Roll Juvenile.

The Flying Lizards spend a little time with us playing over this week's credits, but that's all we'll get to hear of them on BBC4, their other appearances were on shows hosted by JS and DLT.

Talking of DLT, the next show from the 13th September was one of his, so I guess that won't be shown now, so we'll be skipping to the 20th September and Mike Read.

Time for Top of the Pops Action

It looks like tonight's edition, from the 30th August 1979, could be the last for the duration of the BBC Proms season. Since we're about to enter September from 35 years ago, it will at least give 2014 a chance to catch up with 1979! And if the show is to be off the air for a few weeks, what a sensational one to leave us with........

er........who's playing drums?

30-8-79: Presenter: David Jensen

(22) THE BELLAMY BROTHERS – If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me (and charts)
(67) SECRET AFFAIR – Time For Action
(23) DOLLAR – Love’s Gotta Hold On Me
(44) NICK LOWE – Cruel To Be Kind
(24) SISTER SLEDGE – Lost In Music (danced to by Legs & Co)
(10) THE GIBSON BROTHERS – Ooh! What A Life ®
(20) GARY NUMAN – Cars
(3) B.A. ROBERTSON – Bang Bang
(48) THE COMMODORES – Sail On
(6) THE SPECIAL AKA – Gangsters
(28) JOHNNY MATHIS – Gone Gone Gone (with Gill from Legs & Co)
(25) THE STRANGLERS – Duchess
(1) CLIFF RICHARD – We Don’t Talk Anymore ®
(15) BONEY M – Gotta Go Home (and credits)


The Bellamy Brothers ~ over three years since they let their love flow, here they are back in the charts heading towards an even bigger hit.

Secret Affair ~ A debut on the show for the Mod revivalists, and Time for Action was to be their biggest hit.

Dollar ~ a first lead vocal here for Thereza Bazar, and just like the Brotherhood of Man and the Dooleys before them, the switch to a girl lead paid off, Love's Gotta Hold on Me becoming the duo's first top ten hit. Nice Carpenters-like backing vocals too.

Nick Lowe ~ I guess this in a way was the follow up to Girl's Talk, it's the same band, Rockpile, and here they all are in the studio, Dave Edmunds happy to take the roll of rhythm guitarist whilst Nick sings.

Sister Sledge ~ a perfect song for a Legs routine, this time the girls do their thing trapped inside various cages.

The Gibson Brothers ~ a repeat showing for Ooh What a Life, now at its peak position.

Gary Numan ~ the week's highest new entry, on it's way of course to number one. Cars sounded amazing in the arcades of Pontins, Morecambe in September 1979 - whilst playing that game where those two cowboys have a shoot out as a wagon pulls away, with the loser floating off to heaven. Anybody else remember that one?

BA Robertson ~ edited from the 7.30 show, catch it at 1.30 am ~ looks like a new performance.

The Commodores ~ also edited from the 7.30 show - this would become the first of two top ten hits for the band in 1979.

The Specials ~ also edited from the 7.30 show ~ now at its peak in the charts.

Johnny Mathis ~ After 21 years of hits, Gone Gone Gone was aptly to be Johnny's final top twenty hit - here he performs live in the studio, with Gill from Legs & Co dancing prettily in the background.

The Stranglers ~ in the studio but making it obvious they were not quite performing live, Duchess was their only top twenty hit in 1979, and they would get there again until 1982.

Cliff Richard ~ had also clocked up 21 years of hits by this point, but unlike Johnny Mathis this would be far from his last - indeed, We Don't Talk Anymore sparked a major revival in his fortunes that would see him carry on having hits for another 21 years!

Boney M ~ play us out this week, and we essentially say goodbye to them ~ it seems like only 2 and a half years ago we were watching their, er, interesting, debut on the show with Daddy Cool.

Well, that's got to be one of the best shows we've had so far in the reruns, with arguably the best of 1979 still yet to come. Next up is the 6th September 1979 (didn't August just seem to fly by!) - I'm not sure when it will be broadcast, but when it is we'll be back here too.

Top of the Pops 23rd August 1979 ~ Just when I needed you most

Once again thanks to Neil B for uploading another edition of Top of the Pops that we would otherwise not get to see in full. This one is hosted by Jimmy Savile so obviously do not click on the link if you are going to be offended.


Top of the Pops 23-8-79: Presenter: Jimmy Savile

(30) SISTER SLEDGE – Lost In Music (and charts)
(25) THE JAM – When You’re Young
(22) BONEY M – Gotta Go Home (video)
(13) JOE JACKSON – Is She Really Going Out With Him? ®
(44) RACEY – Boy Oh Boy
(18) THE FLYING LIZARDS – Money
(35) BILL LOVELADY – Reggae For It Now
(12) ROXY MUSIC – Angel Eyes (video)
(46) THE PLANETS – Lines
(15) SHOWADDYWADDY – Sweet Little Rock ‘N’ Roller ®
(27) RANDY VANWARMER – Just When I Needed You Most (danced to by Legs & Co)
(17) SPYRO GYRA – Morning Dance ®
(1) CLIFF RICHARD – We Don’t Talk Anymore
(23) THE CRUSADERS – Street Life (and credits)


There's quite a few acts on here that were also on the 9th August show ~ how unlucky especially for The Flying Lizards and Joe Jackson, but we get some good new tunes from Bill Lovelady (sounding like a reggae David Essex), The Planets, and sharing screen time with a Legs routine, the somewhat dubiously named Randy Vanwarmer, plus Cliff ensuring that nobody misses noticing that he's just got to number one.

Yes, actually, I'm number one

Top of the Pops 9th August 1979 ~ that's what I want

Huge thanks to Neil B for uploading this edition of Top of the Pops from 9th August 1979, hosted by DLT, which will not be repeated on BBC4 next week. This one was never shown on UK Gold so this must have been taped from the original broadcast, perhaps accounting for the missing intro and outro. Thanks also to John G for providing the link:


Top of the Pops 9-8-79: Presenter: Dave Lee Travis


 (6) IAN DURY & THE BLOCKHEADS – Reasons To Be Cheerful (Part 3) (and charts)
(41) KANDIDATE – Girls Girls Girls
(2) CLIFF RICHARD – We Don’t Talk Anymore ®
(47) THE FLYING LIZARDS – Money
(29) SHOWADDYWADDY – Sweet Little Rock ‘N’ Roller
(48) ME & YOU feat. WE THE PEOPLE BAND – You Never Know What You’ve Got
(8) ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA – The Diary Of Horace Wimp (video)
(23) SPYRO GYRA – Morning Dance (danced to by Legs & Co)
(43) THE MERTON PARKAS – You Need Wheels
(30) JOE JACKSON – Is She Really Going Out With Him?
(44) ANGELIC UPSTARTS – Teenage Warning
(18) JUDIE TZUKE – Stay With Me Till Dawn
(1) THE BOOMTOWN RATS – I Don’t Like Mondays (video)
(3) ABBA – Voulez-Vous (and credits)


A show notable for no less than five acts making their debut including The Flying Lizards and Joe Jackson, and also for a rather large and eccentric guitar near the end.

Top of the Pops 1979 ~ Bang Bang!

We're almost a month ahead now as we reach the 2nd August 1979, and despite a few repeats due to skipping a week there's still plenty of great new songs for Peter Powell to introduce......

 

Bringing something a bit special to the show tonight

2-8-79: Presenter: Peter Powell

(3) THE DOOLEYS – Wanted (and charts)
(23) SHAM 69 – Hersham Boys
(37) OLYMPIC RUNNERS – The Bitch
(13) THE KORGIS – If I Had You
(5) ABBA – Voulez-Vous (video)
(44) B.A. ROBERTSON – Bang Bang
(4) DAVE EDMUNDS – Girls Talk (video)
(26) EARTH, WIND & FIRE – After The Love Has Gone (danced to by Legs & Co)
(10) SPARKS – Beat The Clock
(41) THE SPECIAL AKA – Gangsters
(22) DARTS – Duke Of Earl
(30) THE GIBSON BROTHERS – Ooh! What A Life
(1) THE BOOMTOWN RATS – I Don’t Like Mondays (video)
(11) PATRICK HERNANDEZ – Born To Be Alive (and credits)

The Dooleys ~ do the chart run down honours this week with Wanted at its number 3 peak.

Sham 69 ~ a typically rowdy performance here of what would become their biggest but also their final top ten hit.

Olympic Runners ~ here's a band we've seen on the show a number of times now during the past couple of years without them ever breaking into the top 30, and despite the presence of a 'bitch' on stage to help out this one fared no better.

The Korgis ~ a new performance here of 'the sound of summer' now at its peak in the chart. I can't stop singing this tune now.

Abba ~ the Voulez Vous video again on its way to number 3 in the charts.

BA Robertson ~ something of a hero of mine here ~ he wrote the theme tune to Swap Shop! Here is his Top of the Pops debut with the first of two top ten hits in 1979, indeed Bang Bang was to be (or not to be?) his biggest hit.

Dave Edmunds ~ ok what's the deal here BBC4 - does somebody not like this one or what? Edited out yet again from the 7.30 broadcast.

Earth Wind and Fire ~ get the Legs & Co routine this week inside a giant sand pit no less.

Sparks ~ back in the studio again for another performance of Beat the Clock ~ no attempt by Ron to sing along this time, but we do get lots and lots of rather nice clocks.

The Special AKA ~ I always thought they were called The Specials at this point, but anyhow this is a major debut, introducing a genre of music that would become a phenomenon over the next year or so. Gangsters was the first of two top ten hits for the band in 1979.

Darts ~ edited out of the 7.30 show, it looks like a new performance, catch it later tonight at 1.45am!

The Gibson Brothers ~ another debut here and very energetically performed too! Ooh What a Life was the first of two top ten hits for the boys from Martinique in 1979.

The Boomtown Rats ~ here they are at number one, now very much liking Thursdays, with a video that was a step up in sophistication from many we have been seeing so far.

Patrick Hernandez ~ brings the credits to life this week, just one place away from his peak of number 10.


So surely next week must be a Sky at Night break, and we've hit a problem really regarding August: the 9th is hosted by DLT, there was no show for the 16th due to a strike, and the 23rd is hosted by Jimmy Savile. That just leaves the 30th August, hosted by David Jensen, as the only remaining broadcastable show for August 1979. Christmas might come early this year!

Sweet Little 800th Top of the Pops

Ok before you get too excited, the whole edition of the 800th Top of the Pops from 26th July 1979 hasn't as yet materialised anywhere online, if it does I will of course post the link right here. Needless to say, it is of course a Jimmy Savile.

Here's the running order, courtesy as always of Popscene, with the links to as many individual performance clips as I can find on Youtube..............

You can't start the party without us!

Edit...... the link for the full show 800th has now arrived, and it's at Vimeo - please bear in mind that Jimmy Savile is the host so don't click if you will be offended:

Top of the Pops 26th July 1979


26-7-79: Presenter: Jimmy Savile   (800th TOTP)

(was there a chart rundown on this show?)
Yes there was, with the music provided by the Top of the Pops theme, Whole Lotta Love :-)

 (50) SHOWADDYWADDY – Sweet Little Rock ‘N’ Roller

 (30) JUDIE TZUKE – Stay With Me Till Dawn

 (35) BUZZCOCKS – Harmony In My Head

 (27) ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA – The Diary Of Horace Wimp (video)

 (39) THE UNDERTONES – Here Comes The Summer

 (10) SUPERTRAMP – Breakfast In America (video)

 (41) TELEX – Rock Around The Clock

 (13) PATRICK HERNANDEZ – Born To Be Alive (danced to by Legs & Co in nappies)

 (23) CLIFF RICHARD – We Don’t Talk Anymore

 (15) THE POLICE – Can’t Stand Losing You ®

(43) SPYRO GYRA – Morning Dance

 (1) THE BOOMTOWN RATS – I Don’t Like Mondays (video)

 (18) RICKIE LEE JONES – Chuck E.’s In Love (and credits)

 

If I had Top of the Pops

If I had longer legs....

We're deep into the summer of 1979 now, the 19th of July no less, and our host this week is David Jensen....

19-7-79: Presenter: David Jensen

(3) THE SEX PISTOLS – C’mon Everybody (and charts)
(50) THE REAL THING – Boogie Down (Get Funky Now)
(4) DAVE EDMUNDS – Girls Talk (video)
(22) DONNA SUMMER – Bad Girls (danced to by Legs & Co)
(42) DARTS – Duke Of Earl
(26) U.K. SUBS – Stranglehold
(38) THE PRETENDERS – Kid
(24) THE KNACK – My Sharona ®
(49) SPARKS – Beat The Clock
(15) THE BOOMTOWN RATS – I Don’t Like Mondays (video)
(10) THE DOOLEYS – Wanted
(25) THE KORGIS – If I Had You
(23) ABBA – Voulez-Vous (video)
(1) TUBEWAY ARMY – Are ‘Friends’ Electric? ®
(5) CHIC – Good Times (and credits)


The Sex Pistols ~ shame we never got to see the video on BBC4, the group's final top ten hit now at its peak of number 3.

The Real Thing ~ with their follow up to Can You Feel the Force, but this one was not quite so powerful and failed to boogie into the top 30.

Dave Edmunds ~ they are really keeping us waiting to see this one - edited out of the 7.30 show.

Donna Summer ~ still no sign of Donna anywhere near the studio, so here's Legs and Co, putting on the red lights by the looks of things, the bad girls. (but why the dog?)

Darts ~ another band about to have their final top ten hit, signing off in regal fashion, though they were just never quite as top class after Den Hegarty left.

UK Subs ~ a new studio performance here, with Stranglehold now at its peak of 26.

The Pretenders - taking a break from their tour to be in the studio, here's a band yet to have their first top ten hit - but it wasn't to be with Kid, which didn't make the top 30. Nice hair though.

The Knack ~ their retro 1960s Beatles look worked wonders for My Sharona, taking it into the top ten in the UK and all the way to number 1 in America.

Sparks ~ they couldn't beat the BBC4 clock tonight with this one as it was edited out of the 7.30 show.

The Boomtown Rats ~ were also edited out - I bet they are not too keen on Thursdays now, never mind Mondays. Maybe being next week's number one will placate them.

The Dooleys ~ a new performance here, still climbing the charts, and this time with a third sister in the background, dressed up like the main two, clearly desperate to be wanted. Did anyone notice, half way through, the next act just warming up on the other stage....

The Korgis ~ shades of Graham Parker here with lead singer height issues, but the song, I felt, stood tall, on its way into the top 20.

Abba ~ the Voulez Vous video with Agnetha wearing a trouser suit that was seemingly even tighter than the one worn by Olivia Newton John in Grease. This was the third of five top 4 singles for Abba in 1979.

Tubeway Army ~ with Are Friends Electric now in its final week at number one, signalling the end of this band's name - all further releases would now be credited to Gary Numan.

Chic ~ (and featuring some very good timesing, David Jensen) play us out this week.

Next week I guess will be a break for the Sky at Night, and then frustratingly it's the 26th July, which happens also to be the 800th edition of Top of the Pops, but guess what, it's a Jimmy Savile. It was shown on UK Gold though, so fingers crossed.....

As for BBC4, the next available show will be from the 2nd of August 1979, presented by Peter Powell.