Top of the Pops Town

A huge thanks here to Stephen Murphy and his team for painstakingly recreating this edition of Top of the Pops from June 5th 1980. You can imagine the time and effort it must have taken.
This was the first of nine shows lost to the musicians strike at the BBC throughout June and July, but now thanks to a great deal of skill and perhaps even a little bit of actual magic, we can now watch the show in full as hosted by Simon Bates.......

Better late than never......

 

 

Top of the Pops 5/6/80

 

http://www.4shared.com/video/6OxVx-jqba/TOTP_05_06_80.html

 

 

(29) Teena Marie - Behind the Groove (and charts)

This week's chart rundown song became Teena's only top ten hit in the UK

 

(35) Siouxsie and The Banshees - Christine

The second single from her top ten album, Kaleidoscope, Christine peaked at 22.

 

(22) ELO - I'm Alive

The first of the Xanadu soundtrack singles, this one peaked at 20.

 

(3) Lipps Inc - Funky Town (danced to by Legs & Co)

You may recognise the funky town set that Legs & Co are using for their routine this week.....

 

(23) Judas Priest - Breaking the Law

The follow up to Living After Midnight, and their final top 20 hit.

 

(19) Jona Lewie - You'll Always Find me in the Kitchen at Parties

This one peaked at 16 in the charts, and then it started to sink......

 

(27) The Korgis - Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime

Became their only top ten hit when it made number 5.

 

(47) Elvis Costello - New Amsterdam

The third single from his number 2 album, Get happy.

 

(49) Darts - Let's Hang On

This became the band's final top 20 hit.

 

(57)  The Stranglers - Who Wants the World

It was three years now since their last top ten hit, and this one peaked at 39.

 

(5) The Specials - Rat Race

Now at its peak in the charts.

 

(1) The Mash - Suicide is Painless (danced to by Legs & Co)

Its second of three weeks at number one.

 

(14) Robert Flack and Donny Hathaway - Back Together Again (and credits)

On its way to number 3 in the charts.

 

 

Next week then, the 12th of June 1980 shall be revealed....

(Actually, I'll be away next week, so you'll have to wait for week commencing 10th August!)

 

 

Game of Top of the Pops

Since we will now be bereft of Top of the Pops 1980 for the duration of the summer, I hope this blog will at least provide a little entertainment until the show returns to BBC4 in late September.

As we all know, between June 5th and August 7th 1980 a musicians union strike at the BBC kept Top of the Pops off the air. That's nine editions, although one of them is accounted for, the pilot made on July 9th.

So, in those other eight shows who did we miss out on? Who would have been in the studio? Who on video? Who would Legs & Co have danced to? Who played over the charts? Who played over the credits? Which flop records would have made it onto the show? Who would the hosts have been? This is where we can all speculate a little on who would have been the winners and losers in the Game of Top of the Pops......

Here are the rules: we'll assume these shows would still have been the old style Top of the Pops, so we need a song for the chart rundown and one for the end credits.
In between we've got room for 10 more songs, plus the number one. So that's 13 songs in all.

Post your suggestions in the comments, and then here's the amazing twist in the tale.....

Most of the missing summer editions have been 'found' and will get their first ever public airing right here on this blog.

Yes, that's right! You will get to see most of these missing shows in full!
Will your suggestions match up? Each week we'll find out as each edition gets posted on Turn it on Again, Top of the Pops 1980!

The missing shows are:

June 5th ~ Submissions for this edition are now closed. The TOTPs points system is as follows: Getting the No.1 correct = 1 point; Naming the correct host = 2 points; Picking the correct chart rundown song = 3 points; Getting a main show song correct = 2 points; Naming the over the credits song = 3 points; Picking the Legs & Co routine song = 4 points; Naming a correct song but in the wrong part of the show = 1 point.

We have a Top 8 contributors chart then for June 5th 1980:
8. Wilberforce
7. shaky shakerson
6. jackh
5. Arthur Nibble
5. sct353
3. Noax
2. Dory
1. bama boogie-woogie

Congratulations to bama boogie woogie who is this week's Number One!

June 12th ~ We have a top 7 for this week:
7. Noax
6. Arthur Nibble
5. Dory
4. Wilberforce
3. sct353
2. Chris Cooper
1. bama boogie-woogie


June 19th ~ We have a new Number One this week! Deposing bama boogie-woogie from the Top of the Pops throne is........
4. Wilberforce - 14 points (out of 36)
3. bama boogie-woogie - 15 points
2. Arthur Nibble - 20 points
1. Dory - 23 points

June 26th ~  It's all change again at the top of the pops charts this week: ~
4. Dory - 9 points (out of 35)
4. Wilberforce - 9 points
2. bama boogie-woogie - 13 points
1. Arthur Nibble - 14 points

July 3rd ~ We have a new entry going straight in at Number One this week! ~
3. Dory - 13 points (out of 31)
3. Wilberforce - 13 points
2. Arthur Nibble - 14 points
1. Paul Major - 18 points!

July 10th - It's all change at the top of the charts again this week......
4. Arthur Nibbel ~ 22 points (out of 33)
3. Alison Fresco ~ 23 points
2. Wilberforce ~ 28 points
1. Dory ~ 29 points

July 17th ~ There is no show for the 17th July so we have time for a bit of a breather from the Game before returning for the final two shows to see who can become the ultimate Number One!

July 24th ~ The new Top Four this week is.......
4. Wilberforce ~ 10 points (out of 47)
3. Paul Major ~ 24 points
2. Dory ~ 26 points
1. Arthur Nibble ~ 29 points

July 31st ~ And so now The Winner Takes it All! And what a battle this final game has been, with  very high scores all round, but now here's our top 4 rundown for the ultimate Game of Top of the Pops.........
4. wilberorce ~ 17 points (out of 37)
3. Paul Major ~ 20 points
2. Dory ~ 25 points
1. Arthur Nibble ~ 30 points!

You know nothing, Mike Read!

Top of the Pops and Majors

Olivia Newton John is our glamorous co-host this week alongside the not quite so glamorous Simon Bates, but in any case due to 'problems at the BBC' there's no studio audience for them to interact with (although the canned applause is still there), and indeed there are no bands in the studio either, or any sign or mention of Legs & Co, just repeats and videos.....

Was it something I said?

18-9-80: Presenters: Simon Bates & Olivia Newton-John

(32) XTC – Generals And Majors (video)
A whole year after Making Plans for Nigel, XTC return with another fine Colin Moulding tune but despite Richard Branson's best acting it got no higher than 32.

 (2) RANDY CRAWFORD – One Day I’ll Fly Away ®
This eye-opening performance was a repeat from the DLT/Keegan show from September 4th, and was now at its peak in the charts.

(4) STEVIE WONDER – Masterblaster (Jammin’) (video)
This homage to Bob Marley was the first of two top ten hits for Stevie Wonder in 1980 from his Hotter Than July album. ~ Here's the Xanadu segment BBC4 edited out

 (8) SHEENA EASTON – Modern Girl ®
Now at its peak in the charts.

 (20) NICK STRAKER BAND – A Walk In The Park ®
Another song now at its chart peak. Afterwards, Simon is joined by non other than Jonathan King who has brought something back from America with him ~ a new craze called ............. a Rubik's Cube!

 (21) MADNESS – Baggy Trousers (video)
Here's another of 1980's iconic videos, maybe not for the size of the budget but certainly for Lee Thompson playing saxophone whilst flying through the air! Simon is now joined by yet another special guest, this time it's Wonder Woman actress Lynda Carter, who it turns out also has a new single out.....

 (15) BILLY JOEL – It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me (video)
This one went up one place higher to peak at 14. Next stop ~ Uptown Girl...

The Top Ten rundown:
 (10) QUEEN – Another One Bites The Dust (video)
The fourth single from their number one album The Game.

 (9) CLIFF RICHARD – Dreamin’ (clip of TOTP 4-9-80)
Peaked at 8.

 (8) SHEENA EASTON – Modern Girl (clip of TOTP 21-8-80)
Now at its peak.

 (7) DAVID BOWIE – Ashes To Ashes (video)
Former number one with ground breaking video.

 (6) HAZEL O’CONNOR – Eighth Day (clip of TOTP 21-8-80)
Peaked at 5.

 (5) THE JAM – Start (video)
Had been number one for one week.

 (4) STEVIE WONDER – Masterblaster (Jammin’) (video)
Made it to number 2.

 (3) ELVIS PRESLEY – It’s Only Love (clip of Legs & Co TOTP 11-9-80)
At its chart peak and his last top ten hit until A Little Less Conversation.

 (2) RANDY CRAWFORD – One Day I’ll Fly Away (clip of TOTP 4-9-80)
At its peak.

 (1) KELLY MARIE – Feels Like I’m In Love ®
A second and final week at number one for Kelly and her golden hat.

 (10) QUEEN – Another One Bites The Dust (and credits)
Well at least the swirly effects are back this week!


The next edition then is the 25th September 1980 presented by Mike Read and Russ Abbot, but we will have to wait until the 24th September 2015 to see it, because for the next two months its The Proms.

Two Little Top of the Pops

I can't remember a time we had to skip two consecutive editions before, but that's what we have to do this week, with both the 4th September 1980 (DLT) and the 11th September 1980 (Savile) falling foul of Yewtree. Luckily, many of the featured songs we've either seen before or will get another chance to see, but sadly once again we do miss out on Splodgenessabounds...

We should be playing in the Permier League!

4-9-80: Presenters: Dave Lee Travis & Kevin Keegan

Huge Thanks to Neil B for making this whole edition available at 4Shared.com

(45) SECRET AFFAIR – Sound Of Confusion YouTube
(3) KELLY MARIE – Feels Like I’m In Love
(22) NICK STRAKER BAND – A Walk In The Park
(5) HAZEL O’CONNOR – Eighth Day ®
(20) BILLY JOEL – It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me (danced to by Legs & Co) YouTube
(10) CLIFF RICHARD – Dreamin’
(13) SHEENA EASTON – Modern Girl ®
(27) THE BEAT – Best Friend (video) YouTube
(26) RANDY CRAWFORD – One Day I’ll Fly Away YouTube
(10) CLIFF RICHARD – Dreamin’ (clip of TOTP 4-9-80)
(9) MIKE BERRY – The Sunshine Of Your Smile (clip of TOTP 14-8-80)
(8) ABBA – The Winner Takes It All (video)
(7) THE PIRANHAS – Tom Hark (clip of TOTP 7-8-80)
(6) GARY NUMAN – I Die You Die (video)
(5) HAZEL O’CONNOR – Eighth Day (clip of TOTP 21-8-80)
(4) SHEENA EASTON – 9 To 5 (clip of TOTP 7-8-80)
(3) KELLY MARIE – Feels Like I’m In Love (clip of TOTP 7-8-80)
(2) DAVID BOWIE – Ashes To Ashes (video)
(1) THE JAM – Start (video)
(12) THE CLASH – Bankrobber (crowd dancing) (and credits)

Two little boys and a Top of the Pops please!

 

11-9-80: Presenters: Jimmy Savile O.B.E. & Richard Skinner

Huge thanks here to Manorak for making the whole of this edition available to watch at Vimeo

(32) THE SKIDS – Circus Games
(17) BLACK SABBATH – Paranoid (video)
(25) IAN DURY & THE BLOCKHEADS – I Want To Be Straight
(7) ELVIS PRESLEY – It’s Only Love (danced to by Legs & Co)
(21) SHAKIN’ STEVENS – Marie Marie
(26) JUDAS PRIEST – United ®
(40) SPLODGENESSABOUNDS – Two Little Boys
(27) SPLIT ENZ – I Got You
(10) SHEENA EASTON – Modern Girl (clip of TOTP 21-8-80)
(9) THE PIRANHAS – Tom Hark (clip of TOTP 21-8-80)
(8) CLIFF RICHARD – Dreamin’ (clip of TOTP 4-9-80)
(7) ELVIS PRESLEY – It’s Only Love (clip of Legs & Co TOTP 11-9-80)
(6) SHEENA EASTON – 9 To 5 (clip of TOTP 7-8-80)
(5) HAZEL O’CONNOR – Eighth Day (clip of TOTP 21-8-80)
(4) RANDY CRAWFORD – One Day I’ll Fly Away (clip of TOTP 4-9-80)
(3) DAVID BOWIE – Ashes To Ashes (video)
(2) THE JAM – Start (video)
(1) KELLY MARIE – Feels Like I’m In Love ®
(18) QUEEN – Another One Bites The Dust (crowd dancing) (and credits)

I Want to Be Top of the Pops

Hosts Peter Powell and goofy BA Robertson are having lots of summer fun but they seem to have forgotten to bring Legs & Co with them this week as we make it to August 28th 1980......

I want to be not cut from the show.......

 

 

28-8-80: Presenters: Peter Powell & B.A. Robertson

(37) THE BARRACUDAS – Summer Fun

The one and only chart success for this Anglo-American punk surf band, now at its peak.

 (8) GARY NUMAN – I Die You Die (video)

The second top ten single from Gary Numan's soon to be third number one album, Telekon. Was it me or did there seem to be some sound quality issues with this video?

 (44) THE SELECTER – The Whisper

Here's a band that went out with a whisper, reaching 36 this was their final hit.

 (10) MIKE BERRY – The Sunshine Of Your Smile

A second performance on the show for Mike, it peaked at number 9.

 (33) THE SKIDS – Circus Games

They had the right look for the 80's here but Circus Games was their final top 40 hit, and probably the first for those kids singing the chorus...

 (48) ELTON JOHN – Sartorial Eloquence

Getting his reward for co-hosting the show at the beginning of August, Elton performs a song co-written by Tom Robinson, but it only made it to 44.

 (25) SUE WILKINSON – You Gotta Be A Hustler If You Wanna Get On

The first of tonight's 7.30 casualties, she obviously didn't hustle quite enough.

 (39) IAN DURY & THE BLOCKHEADS – I Want To Be Straight

How could they cut tonight's inspiration for the blog title? But they did.

 (17) VILLAGE PEOPLE – Can’t Stop The Music (video)

Also chopped.

 (49) JUDAS PRIEST – United

Performing their third and final top 30 hit of the year - they may have expected this black leather anthem to get higher than 26 though.

 

The Top Ten Rundown:

 (10) MIKE BERRY – The Sunshine Of Your Smile (clip of TOTP 14-8-80)

Will peak at number 9.

 (9) THE GAP BAND – Oops Upside Your Head (video)

Had peaked at 6.

 (8) GARY NUMAN – I Die You Die (video)

Straight in at 8.

 (7) DIANA ROSS – Upside Down (video)

Had peaked at 2.

 (6) THE PIRANHAS – Tom Hark (clip of TOTP 7-8-80)

At its chart peak.

 (5) KELLY MARIE – Feels Like I’m In Love (clip of TOTP 7-8-80)

Still heading towards the top.

 (4) ABBA – The Winner Takes It All (video)

Had been number one for two weeks.

 (3) SHEENA EASTON – 9 To 5 (clip of TOTP 7-8-80)

At its chart peak.

 (2) THE JAM – Start (video)

Next week's number one.

 (1) DAVID BOWIE – Ashes To Ashes (video)

Final week at the top.

 (30) THE BEAT – Best Friend (crowd dancing) (and credits)

A double A side with Stand Down Margaret.....

 

 

Somehow next week we reach September 18th 1980! To get there we have to miss the 9th of September (hosted by DLT and Kevin Keegan) and the 11th of September (hosted by Jimmy Savile and Richard Skinner).

It's Still Top of the Pops to Me

It's August 21st 1980 and this week's guest co-presenter is Cliff Richard ~ surely he can't be as miserable as the previous two?

If you behave yourself Cliff, we'll let you sing......

21-8-80: Presenters: Steve Wright & Cliff Richard

(28) NICK STRAKER BAND – A Walk In The Park
It's unusual for the opening song to be cut from the 7.30 show, but it happened tonight.

 (25) SHEENA EASTON – Modern Girl
This had been Sheena's debut single earlier in the year, but it had failed to make the top 50, but following her appearance on The Big Time it had re-entered and was on its way to the top ten to keep her other single, 9 to 5, company. The audience are really leaping around to this one but I get the feeling one or two are doing it in an ironic manner.

 (3) THE JAM – Taxman Start (video)
The follow-up to Going Underground goes straight in to the charts at number 3, but they'll have to do better with future videos, because there's a game changer in town.

 (32) SHAKIN’ STEVENS – Marie Marie
Also cut from the 7.30 show ~ someone at BBC4 doesn't like him much I think.....

 (24)  LEGS & CO – they've danced to the Sex Pistols now here they are stealing the show with their routine to Bank Robber by The Clash.

 (30) BILLY JOEL – It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me (video)
Billy's first top 20 hit since My Life nearly two years earlier, and his last until Uptown Girl made it to number one three years later. It was also evidently very thirsty work making this video...

 (27) HAZEL O’CONNOR – Eighth Day
Hazel really has the audience rocking here on her studio debut with the first song released from her film, Breaking Glass.

 (9) THE PIRANHAS – Tom Hark
Edited out of the 7.30 show.

 (8) KELLY MARIE – Feels Like I’m In Love
A second and particularly bouncy studio performance from Kelly, with her two dancers this time in top hats and tails.

 (20) CLIFF RICHARD – Dreamin’
So Cliff becomes the first of the celeb presenters to actually get to sing on the show, with a song co-written by Leo Sayer, and soon to be his second top ten hit of the year.

The Top Ten rundown:

(10) GEORGE BENSON – Give Me The Night (video)
Had peaked at number 7.

 (9) THE PIRANHAS – Tom Hark (clip of TOTP 7-8-80)
On its way to number 6.

 (8) KELLY MARIE – Feels Like I’m In Love (clip of TOTP 7-8-80)
Feels like a future number one....

 (7) THE GAP BAND – Oops Upside Your Head (video)
Had peaked at number 6.

 (6) ROXY MUSIC – Oh Yeah (On The Radio) (clip of TOTP 7-8-80)
Had peaked at number 5.

 (5) DIANA ROSS – Upside Down (video)
Had peaked at number 2.

 (4) SHEENA EASTON – 9 To 5 (clip of TOTP 7-8-80)
Down from number 3, but would go back up to number 3 again next week.

 (3) THE JAM – Start (video)
Straight into the front of the queue for the number one spot.

 (2) ABBA – The Winner Takes It All (video)
Down from last week's number one.

 (1) DAVID BOWIE – Ashes To Ashes (video)
'His best ever song' suggests Steve Wright, but Cliff seems a little grave, and he's more interested in telling us about his upcoming tours to Germany and South Africa. Meanwhile, Ashes to Ashes was Bowie's second number one hit, five years after Space Oddity had become his first.

 (11) ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA – All Over The World (crowd dancing) (and credits)
Now at its peak in the charts.


Next week then we reach August 28th 1980 already ~ my oh my this year is whizzing by!

Can't Stop the Top of the Pops

So the new era enters its second week hosted by Tommy Vance and 'McVicar himself' - the Who's Roger Daltrey, who seems to have turned up hoping to see The Clash ~ he'd have a long wait........

Do you mind if I smoke?

14-8-80: Presenters: Tommy Vance & Roger Daltrey

(29) ULTRAVOX – Sleepwalk
Another major 80's legends debut here, this time Ultravox, featuring new lead singer Midge Ure, who we'd first seen back in 1976 when he was a foetus singing for Slik, with Sleepwalk already at its chart peak.

 (4) DAVID BOWIE – Ashes To Ashes (video)
Costing an astonishing (for the time) £40,000 to make, this marks the beginning of the video era which would set the 1980's apart, and helped pave the way for the New Romantics and MTV. Ashes to Ashes was the first single from Bowie's Scary Monsters and Super Creeps album, and would rise to number one in a week's time.

 (18)  LEGs & CO  –  wear mini-national costumes for their routine around a giant globe to ELO's All Over The World, the third single from the Xanadu movie.

 (22) MIKE BERRY – The Sunshine Of Your Smile
This became Mike's second and final top ten hit, though he had to wait a while after his first one, Don't You Think its Time, which reached number 6 in 1963.

 (24) GRACE JONES – Private Life
Another debut, this time of scary Grace Jones with her Pretenders cover, which she took to 17 in the charts.

 (27) VILLAGE PEOPLE – Can’t Stop The Music (video)
Roger Daltrey's somewhat dodgy 'watch your backs' comment was edited out here as he introduced the Village People's last real hit, other than remixes of YMCA.

 (30) SUE WILKINSON – You Gotta Be A Hustler If You Wanna Get On
Sue's one and only hit, which peaked at 25 in the charts, had a Flying Lizards feel to it, with a touch of Noel Coward thrown in too.

The Top Ten Rundown:

 (10) TOM BROWNE – Funkin’ For Jamaica (clip of Legs & Co TOTP 7-8-80)
Now at its peak.

 (9) ODYSSEY – Use It Up And Wear It Out (clip of Legs & Co TOTP 7-8-80)
Had spent two weeks at number one during the strike.

 (8) LEO SAYER – More Than I Can Say (video)
Had peaked at number 2 during the strike.

 (7) GEORGE BENSON – Give Me The Night (video)
His first of three top ten hits, now at its peak.

 (6) THE GAP BAND – Oops Upside Your Head (video)
Also now at its peak in the charts, the first of two top ten hits for the Gap Band.

 (5) ROXY MUSIC – Oh Yeah (On The Radio) (clip of TOTP 7-8-80)
The second of three singles from their huge number one album, Flesh and Blood.

 (4) DAVID BOWIE – Ashes To Ashes (video)
Straight into the charts at number 4, on its way to the very top.

 (3) SHEENA EASTON – 9 To 5 (clip of TOTP 7-8-80)
Now at its peak position and remains her biggest hit to date.

 (2) DIANA ROSS – Upside Down (video)
Now at its peak.

 (1) ABBA – The Winner Takes It All (video)
The first single from their number one album, Super Trouper, in its second and final week at the top of the pops.

 (2) DIANA ROSS – Upside Down (crowd dancing) (and credits)

Next week then we get to see the edition from August 21st 1980.