Top of the Pops Fears Two

It's March 11th 1982 and another exciting live edition of Top of the Pops, this time hosted by Simon Bates.

Mmmm.....Betty

11-3-82: Presenter: Simon Bates

(9) BOW WOW WOW – Go Wild In The Country
Getting the show off to a dodgy t-shirt start is Bow Wow Wow with a song that would go up two more places in the charts.

(4) BANANARAMA & FUN BOY THREE – It Ain’t What You Do It’s The Way That You Do It (video)
The boys were in the studio raring to go, but there was no sign of the girls. So it had to be a video, which featured a little nod perhaps to Ghost Town, but the Fun Boy Three's biggest hit was now at its chart peak.

(6) DEPECHE MODE – See You
Also at its chart peak was this Martin Gore penned tune.

(36) PLUTO – Your Honour
Pluto Shervington had reached the top ten in early 1976 with Dat, and six years later here he was with what would become his second and final top 20 hit when Your Honour peaked at 19. But this was edited out of the 7.30pm slot tonight.

(24) JULIO IGLESIAS – Quiereme Mucho (Yours) (video)
With a song even older than that of the Fun Boy 3, this was the Follow up the "Julio Ingreasyarse" number one from last year, peaking at number 3.

(3) HAIRCUT 100 – Love Plus One
Another song that was now finally at its chart peak.

(25) THE ASSOCIATES – Party Fears Two
It looks like Frank Spencer has replaced Billy Mckenzie this week as lead singer for this tune that was still tumbling towards the top ten.

(12) ADRIAN GURVITZ – Classic
Still not coming down from his attic but this song was now almost at its peak of number 8.

(1) TIGHT FIT – The Lion Sleeps Tonight (video)
Second of three weeks at number one. Tight Fit 'singer' Steve Grant didn't of course actually sing this at all, A chap called Roy Ward did, who, I believe, was inside the lion costume in this video!
Then who should turn up to plug The Kenny Everett Show which was on next, but non other than Sid Snot, who "did not rehearse that last line" regarding Julio Iglesias!

(14) STARSOUND – Stars On Stevie (crowd dancing) (and credits)
This final hit for medley sensations Starsound was now at its peak.


Next week then is March 18th 1982.

Top of the Pops for Chameleons

It is March 4th 1982 and a live edition of Top of the Pops hosted by David Jensen.
We also have something extra-special uploaded for us by Steve Burgess, who worked on this show as a broadcast engineer. It is a gallery talkback recording he made "while I was busy "colour-balancing" the six cameras during the live transmission. The recording runs from a couple of minutes before on-air so you can feel the tension build as Tomorrow's World's titles end and BBC1 continuity prepare to take studio TC3 live to the nation!"

He has uploaded it all as an mp3 file here at Soundcloud

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Also a big thanks to Crystal Coates for putting together this week's entire Top 40 on Mixcloud
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Sure, I can do it live, I'm not a kid any more you know....

4-3-82: Presenter: David Jensen

(2) TONI BASIL – Mickey
Toni gets the show off to an unfeasibly energetic start with a new routine and outfit for her only top ten hit which was now at its peak in the charts.

(35) GARY NUMAN – Music For Chameleons
A very dapper Gary Numan shows what a smoothie he has turned into with this number which peaked at 19 in the charts.

(14) MADNESS – Cardiac Arrest (video)
On the buses now with Madness but they couldn't conduct this tune any higher than number 14.

(39) GOOMBAY DANCE BAND – Seven Tears
A soon to be number one. And edited out of tonight's 7.30pm slot.

(40) IMAGINATION – Just An Illusion 
Became the band's biggest hit when it peaked at number 2. Also being saved for later by BBC4.

(US 11) LITTLE RIVER BAND – Take It Easy On Me (video)
(US 4) THE CARS – Shake It Up (video)
(US 1) J. GEILS BAND – Centerfold (video) 
Jonathan King's American segment is edited out once again.

(26) THE JETS – Love Makes The World Go Round
I make this the third time on the show now for this song still edging its way up to number 21.

(30) ABBA – Head Over Heels (video)
The second single from their number one album The Visitors, peaking at number 25 this ended a run of 18 consecutive top ten hits for Abba, which also included 8 number ones.

(13) ADAM & THE ANTS – Deutscher Girls
The Zoo girls slip into their shortest lederhosen for this high kicking, thigh slapping routine. This was not a new song, but one of the very first the band recorded back in 1978. It got no higher than 13 and was the final top 30 hit before Adam left the ants.

(15) ABC – Poison Arrow
Rapidly whizzing towards the top ten.

(1) TIGHT FIT – The Lion Sleeps Tonight
The girls are in serious jungle outfits tonight and we also have a gorilla as well as a couple of lions. The first of a three week run at number one.

(23) ROBERT PALMER – Some Guys Have All The Luck (crowd dancing) (and credits)
Working its way to number 16.


It's March 11th next with Simon Bates.

Top of the Pops Called Malice

Very big thanks goes to Glenn Marshall for uploading the 25th February 1982 edition of Top of the Pops which won't be shown on BBC4 due to the host being Dave Lee Travis ~

Top of the Pops 25th February 1982

https://vimeo.com/174855283

And so The Jam pass the chequered shirt in first place once more

25-2-82: Presenter: Dave Lee Travis

(10) DEPECHE MODE – See You
A new audience friendly performance to get the show underway this week, on its way to number 6.

(3) J. GEILS BAND – Centerfold (video)
Now at its peak.

(25) MIKE POST feat. LARRY CARLTON – Theme From ‘Hill Street Blues’ 
Anita and a huge gaggle of Zoo do a kind of West Side Story routine for this tune at its chart peak.

(23) BOW WOW WOW – Go Wild In The Country ®
Heading towards the top ten.

(8) DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES – I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do) (video)
Now at its peak.

(46) THE ASSOCIATES – Party Fears Two
Making their debut on the show with what would become their only top ten hit when it peaked at number 9.

(4) HAIRCUT 100 – Love Plus One (video)
A volcanic performance here to help this song up one more place in the charts.

(22) ADRIAN GURVITZ – Classic ®
On its way to number 8.

(19) IRON MAIDEN – Run To The Hills (video)
With what would become the band's first top ten hit when it peaked at number7.

(9) BANANARAMA & FUN BOY THREE – It Ain’t What You Do It’s The Way That You Do It
Here's the gangway performance that was featured on the recent Big Hits 1982, and soon to be the Fun Boy Three's biggest hit when it peaked at number 4.

(1) THE JAM – Town Called Malice ®
Final week at number one.

(20) STARSOUND – Stars On Stevie (crowd dancing) (and credits)
The final hit for the medley specialists, this one reaching number 14.

Next then is March 4th hosted by David Jensen.

Some Guys Have all the Top of the Pops

I'm having to write up this edition before I actually get to see it this week, due to going out tonight to watch a school production of Grease! Shame it couldn't coincide with the 1978 re-runs but it's equally fitting anyway now to be way out of sync!

From the start, Martin wanted to be remembered as a golden oldie

18-2-82: Presenter: Mike Read

(26) MADNESS – Cardiac Arrest
This ended a run or nine consecutive top ten his for Madness when it peaked at number 14.

 (14) GEORGE BENSON – Never Give Up On A Good Thing (video)
Oddly enough, this one also peaked at number 14. And my first guess to be a victim of the 7.30pm edit!

 (42) UB40 – I Won’t Close My Eyes
Their least successful single to this point, peaking at 32.

 (52) ABC – Poison Arrow
This follow up to Tears Are Not Enough became the band's first of three top ten hits to emerge from their huge number one album, The Lexicon of Love, when it made number 6.

 (28) THE JETS – Love Makes The World Go Round ®
Cruising towards a height of number 21 in the charts ~ and my second guess for the 7.30pm edit.

 (47) ROBERT PALMER – Some Guys Have All The Luck
A breakthrough at last for Mr Palmer, this record became his first top 30 hit and it peaked at number 16.

 (6) TIGHT FIT – The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Not quite a week away from the number one spot. A week away? No, two week away.

 (24) TONI BASIL – Mickey
Dancer Toni Basil was pushing 40 years old when she took this Racey cover (originally titled Kitty) to number 2.

Now, for one week only, we get a late 1980 style top ten rundown:

 (10) XTC – Senses Working Overtime (clip of TOTP 21-1-82)
(9) MEAT LOAF – Dead Ringer For Love (video)
(8) CHRISTOPHER CROSS – Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do) (video)
(7) SHAKIN’ STEVENS – Oh Julie (video)
(6) TIGHT FIT – The Lion Sleeps Tonight (video)
(5) KRAFTWERK – The Model (video)
(4) ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES IN THE DARK – Maid Of Orleans (The Waltz Of Joan Of Arc) (video)
(3) SOFT CELL – Say Hello Wave Goodbye (video)
(2) THE STRANGLERS – Golden Brown (video)

 (1) THE JAM – Precious
(1) THE JAM – Town Called Malice (and credits)
And so not only had The Jam entered the chart at number one last week, they also get the ultra rare honour of performing two songs on the same show! When was the last time that had happened? And when would be the next?


The next edition is February 25th, but that one is hosted by DLT so will be skipped by BBC4.  So next up then is the live edition from March 4th 1982.

Town Called Top of the Pops

Returning to host tonight's show after the best part of a year away is Richard Anthony Crispian Francis Prew Hope-Weston, also known as Tommy Vance!

Anything that Clare Grogan can do, I can do louder!

11-2-82: Presenter: Tommy Vance

(43) BANANARAMA & FUN BOY THREE – It Ain’t What You Do It’s The Way That You Do It
This follow up to The Lunatics Have Taken Over the Asylum, and featuring the debut of Bananarama, became a big success reaching number 4 in the charts.

 (2) THE STRANGLERS – Golden Brown (video)
Had the number one spot snatched from under the nose.

 (46) BOW WOW WOW – Go Wild In The Country
Also making their debut on the show the explosively controversial Bow Wow Wow with what became their biggest hit when it made number 7.

 (50) ADRIAN GURVITZ – Classic
His only top ten hit reaching number 8.

 (11) DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES – I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do) (video)
They had their first top 50 UK hit as far back as 1976 with She's Gone, but this American number one was the duo's breakthrough over here and the first of their two top ten hits when it made number 8.

 (40) DEPECHE MODE – See You
The post Vince Clarke era begins but there was no stopping Depeche Mode now and See You became their biggest hit to date when it peaked at number 6.

 (26) J. GEILS BAND – Centerfold (video)
Another American number one benefitting from Top of the Pops exposure, this one peaking at number 3 in the UK.

 (53) MODERN ROMANCE – Queen Of The Rapping Scene (Nothing Ever Goes The Way You Plan)
The follow up to Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey, but not a successful, peaking at 37.

 (29) ELKIE BROOKS – Fool If You Think It’s Over ®
Slowly crawling towards an eventual peak of number 17.

(12) HAIRCUT 100 – Love Plus One
Another one taking its time to reach its peak position, number 3 for this one.

 (1) THE JAM – Town Called Malice (video)
No procrastinating for the Jam, who once again went straight into the charts at number one, this being the first of a three week run.

 (20) ALTON EDWARDS – I Just Wanna (Spend Some Time With You) (crowd dancing) (and credits)
Now at its peak.


Its February 18th 1982 next, with Mike Read.

Top of the Pops Working Overtime

Making his BBC4 debut tonight is the legendary John Peel, who had last hosted the show some 14 years earlier on the 1st of February 1968!

At this rate you might see me again in 1996!

4-2-82: Presenter: John Peel

(40) THEATRE OF HATE – Do You Believe In The Westworld?
The show gets off to a spikey blonde hair and perfect teeth cowboy song this week. A somewhat bizarre record for sure, but I think it deserved to get higher than its number 40 peak.

 (6) ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES IN THE DARK – Maid Of Orleans (The Waltz Joan Of Arc) ®
Went up two more chart places.

(47) THE JETS – Love Makes The World Go Round
This Perry Como rock n roll cover became the Cotton brothers biggest of their string of hits when it peaked at number 21.

 (20) SOFT CELL – Say Hello Wave Goodbye (video)
A deliciously over the top dramatic video for this deliciously over the top dramatic song, which became the first of three top 3 hits for the duo in 1982, when it made it to number 3.

 (25) GILLAN – Restless ®
(12) SHAKATAK – Easier Said Than Done
(14) AC/DC – Let’s Get It Up (video)
These three songs were all edited out of tonight's 7.30pm slot.

 (15) XTC – Senses Working Overtime
A new studio performance here, this time with a slicked back hair Andy Partridge, and the song went up another five places.

 (21) GEORGE BENSON – Never Give Up On A Good Thing
Zoo do a Legs style video performance here to George Benson's only hit of the year, which peaked at number 14.

 (7) CHRISTOPHER CROSS – Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do) (video)
At is peak now.

 (1) KRAFTWERK – The Model (video)
Some strange ups and downs in the chart this week culminating in The Model making it to number one but it won't be there next week....

 (5) MEAT LOAF – Dead Ringer For Love (crowd dancing) (and credits)
Also going back up the charts this week, but 5 was the peak.


Next then is February 11th 1982 with Tommy Vance.

Top of the Pops Plus One

Already we are at the end of January 1982, but then I do suppose we have a bit of ground to cover if we are to get to our second Christmas in time :-)

Excuse me, has anyone seen our gorilla?

28-1-82: Presenter: Simon Bates

(43) TIGHT FIT – The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Here's the debut of the second incarnation of Tight Fit, performing one of the 80's most famous soon to be number ones.

 (29) OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN – Landslide (video)
A sort of 9 to 5 meets Forbidden Planet video this, for what would become, barring Grease megamixes, Olivia's final top 20 hit when it peaked at 18.

 (36) HAIRCUT 100 – Love Plus One
The follow up to Favourite Shirts, and the band's biggest hit when it made number 3.

 (4) THE STRANGLERS – Golden Brown ®
Simon Bates was clearly a big fan of this judging by his introduction, and rightly so it's a great record and became the Strangler's biggest hit reaching number 2.

 (34) STIFF LITTLE FINGERS – Listen
Sounding, to my ears anyway, a bit like very early Blur. But number 33 was as high as it got and it was also the group's final top 40 hit.

 (US 14) THE ROLLING STONES – Waiting On A Friend (video)
(US 3) J. GEILS BAND – Centerfold (video)
(US 1) DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES – I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do) (video)
This section was unsurprisingly edited out.

 (30) ELKIE BROOKS – Fool If You Think It’s Over
A second studio performance from Elkie of this Chris Rea cover that she took to number 17.

 (20) ALTON EDWARDS – I Just Wanna (Spend Some Time With You)
And a second studio performance for this non-mover, this time Alton bringing an entire disco with him!

 (1) SHAKIN’ STEVENS – Oh Julie ®
Shaky's third number one, although it only stayed there for a week.

 (16) THE FOUR TOPS – Don’t Walk Away (crowd dancing) (and credits)
Now at its chart peak.


Next up then is February 4th 1982, hosted by John Peel.