Lay All Your Top of the Pops on Me

So onto the 23rd July 1981 we go, and the summer of riots, mass unemployment, royal weddings, and a craze for medleys was now in full swing....

And as a little tribute to Ronnie Corbett, whose death was announced earlier today, here's the Two Ronnies with their very own version of Top of the Pops 1981....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9g-6uA4be4

Boy, it was fun while it lasted..

23/07/81 (hosted by Richard Skinner)

(44) The Vapors – “Jimmie Jones”
Despite their conversion to a New Romantic look and a song that sounded like a mash-up of Wig Wam Bam and Angelo, Jimmie Jones rose no higher in the charts and was the final chart hit for The Vapors.

(16) Sheena Easton – “For Your Eyes Only” (video)
The name's Easton - Sheena Easton! BBC4 seem to have solved their issues about showing movie clips, for here we see Sheena's James Bond opening titles song which made it up to number 8.

(22) Shakin’ Stevens – “Green Door”
Soon to be number one but edited out of tonight's 7.30pm slot.

(28) REO Speedwagon – “Take It On The Run” (video)
This follow up to Keep On Loving You made it to 19. But edited out of tonight's 7.30 showing.

(7) Abba – “Lay All Your Love On Me”
Legs & Co slip into some Victorian underwear as they dance to one of Abba's most modern sounding records to date, released only as a 12 inch single, and which also happened to be their penultimate top ten hit peaking at number 7.

(30) Tight Fit – “Back To The ‘60s”
The first of three medleys on tonight's show ~ and although officially this is the same Tight Fit that went to number one a year later with The Lion Sleeps Tonight, this is a totally different line up. Back To The 60's reached number 4.

(25) Visage – “Visage” (video)
Ah, so that's what the Blitz club looked like. Taken from their top 20 album of the same name, Visage peaked at number 21.

(35) Gidea Park – “Beach Boy Gold”
The second of tonight's medleys, this time the Beach Boys get the treatment. And host Richard informs us that lead singer Adrian Baker (who wrote Dance Yourself Dizzy) had just got back from America touring with said legendary band! Beach Boy Gold peaked at number 11.

(1) The Specials – “Ghost Town” (rpt)
Third and final week at number one, and so its goodbye to the original line-up of The Specials.

(2) Starsound – “Stars On 45 Volume 2”
Legs & Co grab themselves some lucky boys from the audience to dance out the credits to the third of tonight's medleys, currently at its chart peak.


Next up then is July 30th with the return of Steve Wright.

Top of the Pops in Your Lap

And so we come to part four of another epic Top of the Pops 1981 weekend. This time it is the July 16th edition hosted by Peter Powell.

I demand you bring back Whole Lotta Love!

16/07/81 (hosted by Peter Powell)

(26) Saxon – “Never Surrender”
The show opens with another metal number, and Never Surrender became Saxon's final top 20 hit when it peaked at 18.

(10) Third World – “Dancing On The Floor (Hooked On Love)”(video)
Now at its chart peak.

(19) Depeche Mode – “New Life”
Our theme tune still heading towards (almost) the top ten. And quite outrageously edited out of the 7.30pm showing :-(

(30) The Jacksons – “Walk Right Now”
This week Legs & Co do a kind of jungle clad routine to the follow up to Can You Feel It, which also made the top ten when it peaked at number 7.

(33) Dexys Midnight Runners – “Show Me”
1981 was not as successful a year as 1980 had been for Dexys and Show Me became their only top 20 hit of the year when it made number 16.

(15) Kate Bush – “Sat In Your Lap” (video)
When this song peaked at 11 it closed the chapter on Kate's initial chart career. It would be four years until her next top 20 hit.

(3) Bad Manners – “Can Can” (rpt from 02/07/81)
Stuck at number three, and despite Buster's best dance efforts, of which Legs & Co I'm sure would have been proud, it got no higher.

(18) Spandau Ballet – “Chant No.1 (I Don’t Need This Pressure On)”
Featuring of course the brass section of Beggar & Company, Chant No. 1 became their biggest hit to date when it made it to number 3.

(1) The Specials – “Ghost Town” (video/credits)
Second of three weeks at number one.


It's July 23rd next then with Richard Skinner.

No Top of the Pops No Cry

July 9th 1981 marks the 900th edition of Top of the Pops, a live show featuring the four original hosts and many special guests, and the beginning of the Yellow Pearl era. A landmark show if ever there was one. But frustratingly and devastatingly for BBC4 it was hosted by Jimmy Savile and so it can't be broadcast. So a huge thanks here to Darnall42 for making it available on Vimeo. Obviously do not click the link if you want to avoid Jimmy Savile ~

https://vimeo.com/154318401

There's a guy works down the chip shop swears he's Jona Lewie

09/07/81 (900th edition) (hosted by Jimmy Savile, Alan Freeman, David Jacobs & Pete Murray)

(16) Kirsty MacColl – “There’s A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He’s Elvis”
Mr 'Thin Lizzy' is thanked for writing the new theme tune and Kirsty MacColl gets the new Top of the Pops era underway with a song that peaked at number 14. We then get a trip down memory lane with some clips from the 1960's:
The Supremes – “Baby Love” (clip from 07/10/64)
Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas – “Little Children” (clip from 26/02/64)
The Dave Clark Five – “Bits & Pieces” (clip from 26/02/64)
The Beatles – “I Want To Hold Your Hand” / “Twist and Shout” (live clips)

(12) Randy Crawford – “You Might Need Somebody”
A new performance from Randy follows with a song that went up one place higher. This is followed by a whole lotta clips from the 70's (and 80's so far) accompanied to "Pop Musik" by M. Pete Murray then briefly interviews (the still quite young looking) Mary Hopkin and Sandie Shaw before introducing ~

(10) Tom Tom Club – “Wordy Rappinghood”
A particularly energetic Legs & Co routine ~ they made it into the new era, just.

(9) Bob Marley & The Wailers – “No Woman No Cry” (live clip)
David Jacobs introduces the song that charted after Bob's death a few weeks earlier, peaking at number 8. Followed by a short interview with Alan Clark & Tony Hicks of the Hollies.

(14) Motorhead – “Motorhead (Live)” (video)
Became the band's third and final top ten hit when it made number 6. Then its (soon to have a solo hit) Bill Wyman's turn to be interviewed and a clip is shown of his well known band:
The Rolling Stones – “The Last Time” (clip from 04/03/65)

(6) Imagination – “Body Talk”
A third studio performance of Body Talk and this time the boys bring along their own harem.
Alan Freeman then gives us the chart rundown from the very first Top of the Pops and then we discover that the new top ten rundown no longer features snippets from the songs. Finally, Adam Ant introduces the new number one....

(1) The Specials – “Ghost Town”
And before our very eyes The Specials break up and the Fun Boy Three are born. This edition really did ring in the new.

(4) Starsound – “Stars On 45 Volume 2” (Legs & Co/credits)
A quick change then for Legs & Co (not that they had too much to change out of or into) for a routine to the follow up to Stars on 45, which also made it to number 2.


Next up is the 16th July 1981 hosted by Peter Powell.

Throw Away the Top of the Pops

Whole Lotta thanks to Meer for making this 899th edition of Top of the Pops from July 2nd 1981 available on Vimeo, as it is hosted by DLT so won't be shown on BBC4. This show marks the end of the Whole Lotta Love era, the CSS cover of the Led Zeppelin song which had been the show's theme tune since November 5th 1970...

https://vimeo.com/160287237

Is that a new theme tune I hear, just around the corner?

 

 

02/07/81 (hosted by Dave Lee Travis)

(3) Bad Manners – “Can Can”
Already at its peak in the charts.

(25) Third World – “Dancing On The Floor (Hooked On Love)” (video)
Became the band's second and final top ten hit when it made number 10.

(2) The Specials – “Ghost Town”
The first of two final studio performances by the original line up of The Specials for a song that was soon to haunt the number one spot (and the band).

(16) Quincy Jones – “Razzamatazz”
The follow up to Ai No Corrida became Quincy's biggest hit when it made number 11, and Legs & Co also follow up their Ai No Corrida routine with another BBC4 melter....

(53) Barry Biggs – “Wide Awake In A Dream”
Became Barry's final hit peaking at 44.

(21) Linx – “Throw Away The Key”
Now at peak position in the chart.

(29) Rainbow – “Can’t Happen Here” (video)
Ended a run of three top ten hits when it peaked at 20.

(1) Michael Jackson – “One Day In Your Life” (Legs & Co) (rpt from 04/06/81 + credits)
Second and final week at number one.

The next edition is a major one ~ not only is it the 900th show but also the one that introduces the new opening titles and the launch of the Yellow Pearl era. The trouble is that one of the hosts is Jimmy Savile and so won't be shown on BBC4.

There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Top of the Pops

It's the start of yet another very busy Top of the Pops 1981 weekend, with four editions to squeeze in over two days! The first of them takes us to June 25th where we get our first sighting of this year's blog title song....

Can't wait for the New Life blog in (not quite) 35 years time!

25/06/81 (hosted by Simon Bates)

(32) Gillan – “No Laughing In Heaven”
Gillan get us underway with a song that would have been perfect for Halloween. As it was in June it went up just one place higher.

(9) Elaine Paige – “Memory” (pre-recorded insert) (rpt from 11/06/81)
Now just a whisker or two away from its number 6 peak.

(40) Kirsty MacColl – “There’s A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He’s Elvis”
Kirsty's Top of the Pops debut as a solo artiste though not, like Simon Bates said, her debut on the show - she was of course last year a member of Jona Lewie's backing group for In the Kitchen at Parties. This song made it to number 14.

(31) The Evasions – “Wikka Wrap”
The group's only hit - I suppose there is only so far you can journey with an Alan Whicker tribute band ~ it peaked at number 20.

(28) Randy Crawford – “You Might Need Somebody” (rpt from 11/06/81)
Climbed all the way to number 11.

(43) Depeche Mode – “New Life”
So our blog song makes its debut on the show, just missing out on the top ten when it peaked at 11. But the band went on to much greater successes throughout the 80's, 90's and 00's charting 14 top ten hits and a further 29 which made the top 30.

(1) Michael Jackson – “One Day In Your Life” (rpt from 04/06/81)
A new routine from Legs & Co this week for One Day in Your Life's first of two weeks at number one.

(26) Quincy Jones - "Razzmatazz"
The credits roll out to what will become Quincy Jones's biggest hit when it reaches number 11.

It's July 2nd next, hosted by DLT so it won't be on BBC4.

Top of the Pops to my Roots

And so after all the thrill and excitement of downloading another yewtreed edition, one that looked like it had escaped us, (the 11th June) we are back on BBC4 with Peter Powell hosting June 18th, at which point we find that we are already at the halfway mark for 1981!

We are going to be big!

18/06/81 (Peter Powell) (rpt UK Gold)

(32) Linx – “Throw Away The Key”
Linx get the show off to a Britfunk start with the follow up to Intuition, though it wasn't as successful, peaking at number 21.

(27) Phil Collins – “If Leaving Me Is Easy” (rpt from 04/06/81)
On its way to number 17.

(6) Odyssey – “Going Back To My Roots”
A lively studio performance of the trio's penultimate top ten hit, now almost at its number 4 peak.

(22) Kool & The Gang – “Take It To The Top” (Legs & Co)
Legs & Co 'are still with us' after their week off, and are sporting a sort of gypsy look for their routine to Take it to the Top, which made it to number 15.

(5) Champaign – “How ‘Bout Us” (video)
At its chart peak now. And edited out of tonight's 7.30pm showing.

(23) Siouxsie & The Banshees – “Spellbound” (rpt from 04/06/81)
Went up just one place more. Also edited out of the 7.30pm slot.

(21) The Specials – “Ghost Town” (video)
Few songs capture their time as successfully as this one ~ the summer of 1981, the riots, the unemployment, the doom, the despair - this record is a time capsule, a reminder of how bleak this period actually was. It would go all the way to number one of course.

(19) Imagination – “Body Talk”
A new and a little more modest studio performance here of Body Talk, still heading towards the top ten.

(1) Smokey Robinson – “Being With You” (video/credits)
Second and final week at number one for Smokey, taken from his top 20 album of the same name.

Next up is the edition from June 25th 1981.

You Might Need Some Top of the Pops

It's June 11th 1981 and here we are with another yewtreed edition that can't be shown on BBC4 ~ the host this time being Jimmy Savile. The very bad news though is that there isn't a copy of this edition in general circulation - not even Neil B has it! All we have is a handful of links to clips from the show, so at least we get a flavour of it ~ obviously do not click if you want to avoid Jimmy Savile:


###Huge thanks to daf, who has now uploaded a copy of this edition to dropbox!###

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/25173419/music/11%20June%201981.mpg

####And huge thanks also to Darnall42 for uploading dafs copy to WeTransfer### ~

  http://we.tl/wwYAiRkWtl

Only a little piece of the action for us tonight I'm afraid!

11/06/81 (hosted by Jimmy Savile)

(25) Bucks Fizz – “Piece Of The Action” YouTube Clip
A quick follow up to Making Your Mind Up, and a fairly successful one too as far as Eurovision winners go, making it to number 12.

(9) Hazel O’Connor – “Will You?” (rpt from 28/05/81)
Her final top ten, indeed her final top 40 hit, almost at its peak of number 8.

(44) Landscape – “Norman Bates”
In the studio to perform the follow up to the hugely successful Einstein A Go Go ~ and the second single from their top 20 album From the Tearooms of Mars to the Hell Holes of Uranus, Norman Bates peaked at number 40.

(34) Elaine Paige – “Memory” (pre-recorded insert) YouTube Clip
From the new Lloyd Webber musical Cats of course, Memory became Elaine's first top ten hit peaking at number 6.

(28) Coast To Coast – “Let’s Jump The Broomstick” rpt from 28/05/81)
Still hanging around the lower reaches of the top 30, but 28 was its peak.

(17) Ultravox – “All Stood Still”  YouTube Clip
The official follow up to Vienna (island records had released the John Foxx fronted Slow Motion which made number 33 in March) - All Stood Still made it to number 8.

(47) Randy Crawford – “You Might Need Somebody”
This follow up to One Day I'll Fly Away made it to number 11.

(11) Enigma – “Ain’t No Stopping”
Now at its chart peak.

(1) Smokey Robinson – “Being With You” (video/credits)
First of two weeks at number one for Smokey.



Next up then and back on BBC4 is the 18th June 1981, with Peter Powell.

One Top of the Pops in your Life

Well the days seem to be getting a wee bit warmer now so winter must be almost over ~ indeed in BBC4 Top of the Pops 1981 land it's June already!

You'd better show my video in full this week ~ or else!

04/06/81 (hosted by Richard Skinner)

(29) Siouxsie & The Banshees – “Spellbound”
What a spellbinding start to the show from Siouxsie ~ how did this fabulous song only get to number 22?

(2) Shakin’ Stevens – “You Drive Me Crazy”
Edited out of tonight's 7.30pm showing.

(13) Kate Robbins & Beyond – “More Than In Love”
Paul McCartney's cousin Kate from Crossroads with her only hit, though it did make it to number 2. But edited out of tonight's 7.30pm slot.

(40) Squeeze – “Is That Love?”
A whole year since they were last on the show, and now post-Jools, here's another terrific song that wasn't as big a hit as it deserved to be, somehow this one stalled at number 35.

(43) Imagination – “Body Talk” 
'Leaving nothing to the imagination' says Richard Skinner referring to the band's outfits! Even Legs & Co would have blushed! But Body Talk was on its way to number 4.

(4) The Jam – “Funeral Pyre” (video)
'Setting the charts on fire' The Jam straight in a number 4 but it rose no higher.

(12) Michael Jackson – “One Day In Your Life”
This week the Leggers have a very dark and dramatic set, a bit of a thriller you could say, on which to perform their routine to this six year old Michael Jackson song that would make it all the way to number one.

(8) Toyah – “I Want To Be Free” (video)
Trying to break out of the confines of her own video I think is Toyah here, with this follow up to Its a Mystery now at its chart peak.

(44) Phil Collins – “If Leaving Me Is Easy”
Phil's back in the studio with his tin of paint to perform the third single from his huge number one album Face Value. If Leaving Me is Easy made it to number 17.

(1) Adam & The Ants – “Stand & Deliver” (video)
'The new full version' of the Ants' video, with the hanging scene replaced by Adam repeatedly smashing through the window, in time for its fifth and final week at number one.

(23) Odyssey – “Going Back To My Roots” (audience dancing/credits)
We play out this week with Odyssey who were going back to the top ten all the way to number 4.

The next edition is the 11th June 1981, but it's a Jimmy Savile so won't be on BBC4. Instead they will show the 18th June 1981 hosted by Peter Powell.

All Those Top of the Pops Ago

It seems no sooner have we reached May 1981 that we are already leaving it behind with this edition from the 28th. This is however a notable show in that we get a brand new member of Legs & Co, Anita, who was chosen to replace Pauline who left two months ago (it just doesn't seem that long does it?). At this point the girls future on the show must not yet have been in doubt, indeed they were busier than ever what with their weekly routine and extra cheerleading duties too.

Thanks for the welcome, ladies

28/05/81 (Simon Bates)

(36) Polecats – “Rockabilly Guy”
Getting the show off to a rockabilly start like they did last time they were on doing John I'm Only Dancing, and just like last time their song peaked at number 35.

(11) Champaign – “How ‘Bout Us” (video)
Looking and sounding like a 1976 raid into 1981! But it proved a successful one with How Bout Us making it to number 5, though it was the group's only hit.

(16) UB40 – “Don’t Let It Pass You By”
The first single the band released that failed to make the top ten, getting no higher than number 16.

(6) Tenpole Tudor – “Swords Of A Thousand Men” (rpt)
At its chart peak and edited out of tonight's 7.30pm slot.

(25) Vangelis – “Chariots Of Fire”  (video)
This fabulous piece of movie music only reached number 12, and was also edited out of tonight's 7.30pm showing.

(17) Enigma – “Ain’t No Stopping”
So this week's Legs & Co routine is the first to feature Anita Chellamah, the troupe's only change of personnel whilst on the show. There's no mention of this from host Simon Bates, but the other girls, adorned in costumes not too far away from Ai No Corrida, give her a line of honour to introduce her. The song by the way, another of 1981's many medleys, reached number 11.

(23) Hazel O’Connor – “Will You?”
A quick follow up to D-Days, Will You was actually the third single taken from her 1980 movie soundtrack, Breaking Glass, but on the back of the success of D-Days it reached number 8.

(30) Coast To Coast – “Let’s Jump The Broomstick”
More rockabilly in the studio tonight, this follow up to Do the Hucklebuck wasn't nearly as successful, and peaked at 28, and was the band's final hit.

(10) Kim Carnes – “Bette Davies Eyes” (video)
Such a new romantic influenced video for this American number one hit, though number 10 was its peak in the UK.

(1) Adam & The Ants – “Stand & Deliver” (video)
The fourth of five weeks at number one, with the hanging scene still edited out!

(13) George Harrison - "All Those Years Ago" (audience dancing/credits)
This tribute to John Lennon was George's first top 20 hit for eight years, and of course featured Paul McCartney on bass and Ringo Starr on drums, and was produced by the late and great George Martin. Number 13 though was as high as it got.


So into June 1981 we go next with the edition from the 4th hosted by Richard Skinner.

You Top of the Pops Me Cwazy

It's May 21st 1981 and another edition of Top of the Pops that won't be shown on BBC4 because the host this time was DLT..

Adam & the Ants drive me cwazy!

21/05/81 (hosted by Dave Lee Travis)

Part One ~ https://youtu.be/sRDigQkNSBM

Part Two ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv6_XNDdBaw


(21) The Undertones – “It’s Going To Happen”
Now almost at it chart peak of 18.

(2) Shakin’ Stevens – “You Drive Me Crazy”
Held off the number one spot of course by a highway man!

(23) Smokey Robinson – “Being With You” (video)
Soon to become something of a surprise number one hit.

(13) Toyah – “I Want To Be Free”
Following up 'It's a Mystery' with another top tenner, this one making it to number 8.

(5) Tottenham Hotspur FA Cup Final Squad/Chas & Dave – “Ossie’s Dream (Spurs Are On Their Way To Wembley)”  (rpt from 07/05/81) 
Now at its Cup winning peak.

(18) The Teardrop Explodes – “Treason (It’s Just A Story)”  (rpt from 30/04/81)
Now at its peak.

(11) Stray Cats – “Stray Cat Strut” (Legs & Co)
Legs & Co in denim shorts this week strutting around to another record at it peak in the charts.

(15) The Human League – “The Sound Of The Crowd” 
Went up three more places in the chart.

(4) Kim Wilde – “Chequered Love” (video)
Another one now at its peak.

(25) The Beat – “All Out To Get You” (rpt from 30/04/81) 
Number 22 was its final destination.

(37) Duran Duran – “Careless Memories”
The follow up to Planet Earth got no higher than 37.

(1) Adam & The Ants – “Stand & Deliver” (video)
Third of five weeks at number one.

(14) Quincy Jones - "Ai No Corrida" (audience dancing/credits)
Number 14 was as far as it went.

Back on BBC4 then we get the 28th May 1981 with Simon Bates.

Top of the Pops and Deliver

And so we come to the fifth and ultimate instalment of this mammoth Top of the Pops weekend, and most aptly it is the Cup Final edition from May 14th 1981.

Is Ricky Villa there?

14/05/81  (Cup Final Special hosted by Tommy Vance)

Thin Lizzy – “Are You Ready?” (24)
Peaked at 19 to become the band's 11th and final top 30 hit.

Sheena Easton – “When He Shines” (23) (rpt from 30/04/81)
This may well be one of Sheena's least remembered hits but it did manage to get to number 12.

Department S – “Is Vic There?” (22)
22 was the peak for Vic.

Kim Carnes – “Bette Davies Eyes” (20) (video)
This American number one became Kim's only UK top ten hit when it peaked at number 10.

Tenpole Tudor – “Swords Of A Thousand Men” (10)
A second studio performance, helped out by Legs & Co in their pirate gear of course, for this rousing tune about to reach number 6.

Tommy then treats us to quite an extended top ten rundown where we do at least get to see a few of the songs from the shows that BBC4 has skipped this week, including Chas & Dave's cup final song!

Adam & The Ants – “Stand & Deliver” (1) (video/credits)
Second week at number one, and a great video, a shame its first showing on BBC4 was this truncated version that finished in time for kick off at Wembley ~ Ricky Villa just warming up and soon to score THAT goal!


Would you believe that the next edition, the 21st May 1981, is a DLT one! So the next we will see on BBC4 will be the final May show from the 28th May. But that can wait till next week. Because right now, I'm off for a beer!

Spurs Are On Their Way to Top of the Pops

As if it wasn't bad enough to lose 17 editions to yewtree, here's a Peter Powell hosted show from May 7th 1981 that can't be shown on BBC4! The reason being that it was originally broadcast live and there were technical difficulties in recording a good copy of it!
So thanks here of FA Cup Final proportions to Neil B for posting a copy of this show into Dropbox!
(Maybe BBC4 should have asked him nicely for a copy of it!!)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/94ibxs9592iyuo0/T...-05-07.mp4?dl=0

On Top of de Pops with Tottingham..

07/05/81 (hosted by Peter Powell)

Alternative link~ https://www.wetransfer.com/downloads/1940e6...04072942/60a2f5

(32) Kim Wilde – “Chequered Love”
A cracking follow up to Kids in America, this one making it to number 4.

(26) Stray Cats – “Stray Cat Strut” (video)
The second of four singles from the Stray Cats in 1981, this one peaking at number 11.

(5) Shakin’ Stevens – “You Drive Me Crazy”
Following up his number one hit This Ole House with this number two hit.

(12) Keith Marshall – “Only Crying”
Now at its peak.

(45) Tottenham Hotspur FA Cup Final Squad/Chas & Dave – “Ossie’s Dream (Spurs Are On Their Way To Wembley)”
Chas and Dave with what would soon become their biggest hit so far when it made number 5.

(13) Eddy Grant – “Can’t Get Enough Of You”
At its peak.

(2) Starsound – “Stars On 45”
A full Legs & Co routine this week to the Starsound record which was now at its chart peak.

(21) REO Speedwagon – “Keep On Loving You” (video)
The band's only top ten hit when it made number 7.

(9) The Nolans – “Attention To Me”
The sisters' final top ten hit now at its peak.

(36) The Undertones – “It’s Going To Happen”
Reached number 18 to become the band's final top 20 hit.

(1) Adam & The Ants – “Stand & Deliver” (video)
Straight to the top of the charts for the first of five weeks at number one.

Starsound? - "Stars on 45" (reprise with credits) ??


The Cup Final Special is up next, from May 14th 1981.

Is Top of the Pops there?

So the third of our five edition Top of the Pops-athon is this show from April 30th 1981 and of course it won't be shown on BBC4 because the host is Jimmy Savile.

I went to RADA you know...

30/04/81 (hosted by Jimmy Savile ~ warning: do not click link if offended!)

https://vimeo.com/147392301


(46) Thin Lizzy – “Are You Ready?”
From the e.p Killers Live ~ became the band's final top 20 hit when it made number 19.

(5) Madness – “Grey Day” (video)
Peaked at number 4.

(22) The Beat – “All Out To Get You”
22 was as high as it got.

(42) Sheena Easton – “When He Shines”
The follow up to relative chart failure Take My Time, which made 44, but this one peaked at 12.

(28) Department S – “Is Vic There?” (rpt from 16/04/81)
Made it to 22.

(2) Ennio Morricone – “Chi Mai” (video)
At its chart peak.

(13) Spandau Ballet – “Musclebound” (rpt from 02/04/81)
Went up three more places.

(27) Quincy Jones – “Ai No Corrida”
Its Legs & Co with THAT routine! BBC4 viewers don't know what they are missing! The song, if anyone was listening, made it to number 14.

(56) The Teardrop Explodes – “Treason (It’s Just A Story)”
The follow up to Reward was not as successful, reaching number 18.

(37) Tenpole Tudor – “Swords Of A Thousand Men”
Officially this would become his second top ten hit when it made number 6 (his first being Who Killed Bambi in 1979, though really it was the flip side of Silly Thing by the Sex Pistols)

(53) The Human League – “The Sound Of The Crowd”
Ah this is such a loss for BBC4 viewers, our first sighting of the classic Human League line up, one of THE new romantic bands of 1981, this breakthrough single made number 12.

(1) Bucks Fizz – “Making Your Mind Up” (video)
Third and final week at number one.

?? unknown credits....


Ok so next is the 7th of May. Such a shame that it is a Peter Powell edition that this technical failing has happened to, rather than a JS or DLT show, that would have been yewtreed anyway.

And Top of the Pops Played On

The second edition of our five show marathon is the 23rd of April 1981 hosted by DLT, so it won't be shown on BBC4. So it's a huge thanks to Neil B for making this one available at Dropbox.


https://www.dropbox.com/s/ah6f0h3esfs9p2x/T...-04-23.mp4?dl=0

And many thanks to Meer the show is now also available on Vimeo ~

https://vimeo.com/157662274

You don't need nobody else but me......and Freddy, Brian and John.

23/04/81 (Dave Lee Travis)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ah6f0h3esfs9p2x/T...-04-23.mp4?dl=0

(48) Level 42 – “Love Games”
Making their debut on the show, a band who went on to have six top ten hits in the 80's ~ this one though peaked at 38.

(49) Matchbox – “Babes In The Wood”
Unable to repeat their success of 1980, this tune peaked at 46.

(22) Eddy Grant – “Can’t Get Enough Of You” (rpt from 09/04/81)
Heading towards number 13.

(55) Roger Taylor – “Future Management”
Taken from his top twenty album 'Fun in Space' this first solo single from Queen's drummer made it to number 49.

(18) Gillan – “New Orleans”  (rpt from 26/03/81)
Went up one place higher.

(23) Barry Manilow – “Bermuda Triangle”
I think this routine by 'AquaLungs & Co' might have sent BBC4 into meltdown had it been shown! As for the song, Bermuda Triangle became Barry's biggest UK hit since Mandy six years earlier, reaching number 15.

(12) Saxon – “And The Bands Played On”  (rpt from 09/04/81)
At its chart peak now.

(21) Keith Marshall – “Only Crying” (rpt from 09/04/81)
Still rising towards number 12.

(45) Freeez – “Flying High”
The follow up to Southern Freeez, but not as successful peaking at 35.

(1) Bucks Fizz – “Making Your Mind Up”  (rpt)
Second of three weeks at number one.

(17) Starsound – “Stars On 45” (Legs & Co/credits)
The first of many medley hits in 1981, this one being the first of two number 2s for Starsound. And after a quick rub down with a towel, Legs & Co dance over the credits this week.


Its April 30th next, another not to be shown on BBC4 because the host was Jimmy Savile.

Top of the Pops (Till You Burn)

So we begin a very busy period of Top of the Pops 1981 re-runs with the edition from April 16th....

You know nothing, Tony Hadley

16/04/81 (hosted by Peter Powell)


(15) Bad Manners – “Just A Feeling”
With Buster Bloodvessel's best Suggs impression and Legs & Co's Hawaiian costumes Just a Feeling managed to go up two more chart places.

(18) Spandau Ballet – “Musclebound” (video)
The video stakes are upped a little further with this epic, cinematic proto-Game of Thrones offering with Musclebound still heading towards a number 10 peak.

(33) Girlschool – “Hit & Run”
Following up their huge hit with Motorhead, but Hit & Run went up just one more place. And was edited out of tonight's 7.30pm show.

(7) Sugar Minott – “Good Thing Going (We’ve Got A Good Thing Going)” (rpt from 02/04/81)
Getting closer to its number 4 peak. And also edited out tonight.

(40) Department S – “Is Vic There?”
Reached number 22. And edited out of the 7.30pm broadcast tonight.

(53) The Beat – “Drowning”
Also reached number 22, and clearly a favourite of Peter Powell.

(29) Whitesnake – “Don’t Break My Heart Again” (video)
Peaked at number 17. Not in the country so 'our cameras were sent out to catch them in concert'.

(54) UK Subs – “Keep On Running (Till You Burn)”
This was the band's final chart entry and made it to number 41. And also edited out of tonight's 7.30pm slot. But what the hell, they still get to title tonight's blog!

(4) Ennio Morricone – “Chi Mai”
Legs & Co are suffragettes for this week's routine to the theme from the tv series 'The Life and Times of Lloyd George' which won enough votes to get to number 2.

(46) The Cure – “Primary”
Peter Powell says this is the Cure's Top of the Pops debut but a whole year earlier they had appeared on the show with their last hit 'A Forest'. So Primary was their second time in the studio, but this one failed to make the top 40, peaking at 43.

(14) The Nolans – “Attention To Me”
An impressive live vocal performance from The Nolans of the fourth and final single from their album 'Making Waves'. Attention to Me peaked at number 9.

(1) Bucks Fizz – “Making Your Mind Up” (rpt from 19/03/81)
The first of three weeks at number one and the first of four top 20 hits for the band in 1981.

(8) The Jacksons – “Can You Feel It?” (video/credits)
Making for a very eye catching credits experience, Can You Feel It was now almost at it peak of number 6.

Next up for us then is the DLT hosted edition from April 23rd 1981.