Top of the Pops what I Always Wanted

Simon Bates is the host tonight for the 16th September 1982 edition of Top of the Pops, which was originally watched by 8.5 million viewers.

Mari hopes she hasn't misjudged the height of the Top of the Pops studio ceiling..

16-9-82: Presenter: Simon Bates

(36) MARI WILSON – Just What I Always Wanted
Mari and the boys get the show off to a hair raising start tonight with what became her only top ten hit when it peaked at number 8.

(5) THE JAM – The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had To Swallow) (video)
Lots of snogging and discontented brides in a video that oddly reminds me a little of the one for Wham's Last Xmas, though without all the xmassy stuff. Number 2 was the peak.

(28) SIMPLE MINDS – Glittering Prize
An alarmingly anemic Jim Kerr sings this full blooded follow-up to Promised You a Miracle, which became the band's second top 20 hit of the year when it made it to number 16.

(27) UB40 – So Here I Am ®
Went up two more places, but edited out of tonight's 7.30 pm showing.

(24) SHAKATAK – Invitations
"One of the best live bands around" our host informs us and they certainly get the crowd going, though the song got no higher in the charts.

(6) ABC – All Of My Heart (video)
Sadly edited out of tonight's 7.30 broadcast, it went up one more chart place.

(14) TALK TALK – Today
Also edited out of the early showing, it was at its chart peak.

(22) ADAM ANT – Friend Or Foe (video)
Another great video from Adam Ant, with a tune going back to his earlier sound, this was his penultimate top ten hit, reaching number 9.

(17) CARLY SIMON – Why
Zoo do some quite painful looking ballet pirouettes to Carly's first hit for five years, with Chic lending a helpful hand to get this up to number 10.

(1) SURVIVOR – Eye Of The Tiger (video)
Third of four weeks at number one.

(8) GRANDMASTER FLASH & THE FURIOUS FIVE – The Message (crowd dancing) (and credits)
At its peak.


September 23rd 1982 is up next.

Top of the Pops Investigations

Suddenly it's September 9th 1982 and Peter Powell is presenting this week's Top of the Pops!

Tonight's show is barking mad!

9-9-82: Presenter: Peter Powell

(29) EVELYN KING – Love Come Down
A bubbly start to the show from the champagne queen with what became her only top ten hit peaking at number 7.

(4) DIRE STRAITS – Private Investigations (video)
This first single, taken from their huge number one album Love Over Gold, peaked at number 2.

(40) WONDER DOG – Ruff Mix
Zoo become pampered pooches but Wonder Dog's chart walkies ended at number 31.

(44) NATASHA – The Boom Boom Room
The follow up to Iko Iko but it went no higher than number 44. But edited out of tonight's 7.30 showing.

The edited out JK bit:
(US CHART) MELISSA MANCHESTER – You Should Hear How She Talks About You (video)
(US CHART) JOHN MELLENCAMP – Jack And Diane (video)
(US CHART) CHICAGO – Hard To Say I’m Sorry (video)

(50) GILLAN – Living For The City
This Stevie Wonder cover was Gillan's final hit and number 50 was its peak.

(17) SHALAMAR – There It Is
A second Zoo routine tonight to help Shalamar to their third top ten hit of 1982, reaching number 5.

(19) DAVID CHRISTIE – Saddle Up ®
His only hit, peaking at number 9.

(11) SHAKIN’ STEVENS – Give Me Your Heart Tonight ®
Now at its chart peak.

(1) SURVIVOR – Eye Of The Tiger (video)
Second of four weeks at number one.

(5) ROCKER’S REVENGE – Walking On Sunshine (crowd dancing) (and credits)
This Eddy Grant cover went up one more place.




September 16th 1982 is on next.

Save a Top of the Pops

A very big thanks to Steve H H for making the edition of Top of the Pops 2nd September 1982 available here at 4Shared.

And also an equally big thanks to Robert Thompson for making this available to download here at Filehosting.org

It will not be broadcast of course because the host is Jimmy Savile. So do not click the link if you wish to avoid him.

The Showaddywaddy must go on!

2-9-82: Presenter: Jimmy Savile (Live)

(16) MODERN ROMANCE – Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White
Went up one more place.

(3) DURAN DURAN – Save A Prayer (video)
Also went up one more place.

(47) SHAKATAK – Invitations
Number 24 was its peak.

(33) DEPECHE MODE – Leave In Silence
Peaked at 18.

(28) ABC – All Of My Heart (video)
The band's final top ten hit, reaching number 5.

(29) CAPTAIN SENSIBLE – Wot
Went up three more places.

(41) SIMPLE MINDS – Glittering Prize
The second of two top 20 hits in 1982, peaking at number 16.

(49) SHOWADDYWADDY – Who Put The Bomp (In The Bomp-A-Bomp-A-Bomp)
Their final chart hit, and with it their farewell to Top of the Pops, thanks for the great memories lads! And number 37 was its peak.

(36) UB40 – So Here I Am
Peaked at 25.

(5) THE KIDS FROM FAME – Hi-Fidelity (video)
Now at its peak.

(19) GRANDMASTER FLASH & THE FURIOUS FIVE – The Message (danced to by Zoo)
The first of three top ten hits for the Grandmaster, this one making number 8.

(9) HAIRCUT 100 – Nobody’s Fool (video)
Their final top 30 hit now at its peak.

(1) SURVIVOR – Eye Of The Tiger (video)
The first of four weeks at number one.

(25) TOM TOM CLUB – Under The Boardwalk (crowd dancing) (and credits)
Their final hit, peaking at number 22.


Back to BBC4 next for September 9th 1982.

Top of the Pops is Big Leggy

Very many thanks to D42 for making the edition of Top of the Pops 26th August 1982 available here on vimeo. It is not being shown on BBC4 even though the host has now completed his sentence.

Well bugger me, another yewtreed show!

26-8-82: Presenter: Dave Lee Travis

(11) HAYSI FANTAYZEE – John Wayne Is Big Leggy
The slightly controversial song was now at its peak.

(28) SHAKIN’ STEVENS – Give Me Your Heart Tonight
Like John Wayne and his oversized leg, this Shaky tune also peaked at number 11.

(42) DAVID CHRISTIE – Saddle Up
His only top ten hit peaking at number 9.

(4) BOYSTOWN GANG – Can’t Take My Eyes Off You
At its peak.

(30) STING – Spread A Little Happiness (video)
From the movie Brimstone and Treacle, this was Sting's first solo hit, reaching number 16.

(19) ROCKER’S REVENGE – Walking On Sunshine (danced to by Zoo)
Strolled its way to number 4 in the charts.

(20) GARY NUMAN – White Boys And Heroes (video)
He's gone back to his pre-fame white hair here, but the song got no higher in the charts.

(9) TOTO COELO – I Eat Cannibals
Went up one more place.

(1) DEXY’S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS with THE EMERALD EXPRESS – Come On Eileen (video)
Final week at number one.

(14) KOOL & THE GANG – Big Fun (crowd dancing) (and credits)
At is peak.


Next will be September 2nd hosted by Jimmy Savile.

Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom Top of the Pops

Now we reach August 19th 1982 with a Top of the Pops hosted by David Jensen!

Geoff got dressed in a bit of a hurry for his final hit with Modern Romance

19-8-82: Presenter: David Jensen

(34) MODERN ROMANCE – Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White

Sailing into the studio to launch this week's show are Modern Romance with this 1955 Perez Prado cover which peaked at 15.

(2) SURVIVOR – Eye Of The Tiger (video)

This punchy theme tune from Rocky III was soon to be the next number one.

(33) HAIRCUT 100 – Nobody’s Fool

Performing their fourth and final top ten hit, which peaked at number 9.

(26) THE KIDS FROM FAME – Hi-Fidelity (video)

The first of two top ten hit for the tv spin off Kids, this one reaching number 5. But edited out of tonight's 7.30 showing.

(36) CAPTAIN SENSIBLE – Wot

The first of two alternative versions of spelling the same word on tonight's show, this one making it to number 26. And also edited out of tonight's 7.30 slot.

(28) TALK TALK – Today (video)

The breakthrough hit for the band peaking at number 14.

(56) THOMAS DOLBY – Windpower 

Mr. Techno in the studio here, setting a template for the likes of Howard Jones and Nick Kershaw, but Windpower didn't quite make the top 30, falling one place short.

(27) DURAN DURAN – Save A Prayer (video)

Still in Sri Lanka with the video for what became their biggest hit to this point, reaching number 2.

(13) SOFT CELL – What?

The last of a run of five top ten hits for the duo, and more successful both in spelling and chart position then the Captain, peaking at number 3. 

(1) DEXY’S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS with THE EMERALD EXPRESS – Come On Eileen ®

Third of four weeks at the top.

(11) THE BELLE STARS – The Clapping Song (crowd dancing) (and credits)

At is peak.

BBC4 will now skip two editions ~ 26th August hosted by DLT and 2nd September hosted by Jimmy Savile.

So next up will be September 9th 1982.

18 Carat Top of the Pops

August 12th 1982 arrives and a bin bag adorned John Peel is the host of tonight's Top of the Pops! And what are the three most popular programmes on BBC1 this week, I hear you ask? Well (feel free to hum Yellow Pearl here):

in at number three with 9.4 million viewers is Fame
and yes still at number two with 9.55 million viewers it's Top of the Pops!
but straight in at number one, with 9.8 million viewers, is Friday's edition of The Nine O Clock News!

What do you think of the show so far.......?

12-8-82: Presenter: John Peel

(34) TOTO COELO – I Eat Cannibals
And the show begins with Barry Blue's multicoloured bin bag amazons Toto Coelo, who included former replacement Leg and occasional Zoo member Anita in their line up, performing their only top ten hit which peaked at number 8.

(3) YAZOO – Don’t Go
The top four were all non-movers this week, but it's a treat to see Yazoo in the studio.

(21) BOYSTOWN GANG – Can’t Take My Eyes Off You (clip from Top Pop – Dutch T.V.)
Ok, so here we get a former Dutch number one hit, which features a fine lady singer flanked by two male extras from some second rate porn movie! This Frankie Valli cover was the Gang's only top ten hit peaking at number 4.

(25) THE ASSOCIATES – 18 Carat Love Affair
The groups final top 30 hit, somehow reaching number 21.

(38) SHEENA EASTON – Machinery
Sheena goes a bit Hazel O'Connorish here with a quite impressive offering that surely deserved to get higher than number 38.

(22) HAYSI FANTAYZEE – John Wayne Is Big Leggy
First of two top 20 hits. Made it to number 11. Can't believe they edited this one out of the 7.30pm slot ~ what a bummer!

(27) WAVELENGTH – Hurry Home
Only hit, peaking at 17. Also edited out of the 7.30pm showing.

(23) KOOL & THE GANG – Big Fun
Well, the acrobatics here by the Moroccan tumblers are certainly impressive, if somewhat random, I don't quite know what Zoo are doing though. The song reached number 14.

(26) FUN BOY THREE – Summertime
The FB3 go all Gershwin, in their own unique way, with their fourth and final hit of 1982, peaking at 18.

(16) THE FIRM – Arthur Daley (‘E’s Alright) ®
Went up two more places. Would rather have seen the Haysi Fantayzee performance.

(1) DEXY’S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS with THE EMERALD EXPRESS – Come On Eileen (and credits) ®
Second of four weeks at the top.


Next up is August 19th 1982 which will be shown next Friday (Sky at Night on Thursday).

Top of the Pops Pigeon

Tonight it's August 5th 1982 and Kid Jensen hosts another live edition of Top of the Pops, and once again we have a wonderfully kind fan of the show to thank for sending their own VHS copy to the BBC so that the Kid's links could be re-dubbed for broadcast!

'A lovely bunch of coconuts!'

5-8-82: Presenter: David Jensen

(4) MADNESS – Driving In My Car
Madness drive into the studio, sporting the white suits this week (I hope Kevin hasn't got a sour face later on) but this record had come to the end of the road of its chart run.

(25) JUNIOR – Too Late
Mr Live himself is here again tonight, and Too Late went up there more places.

JK's bit here, edited out of course:
(US 12) THE GO GO’S – Vacation (video)
(US 9) THE MOTELS – Only The Lonely (video)
(US 4) FLEETWOOD MAC – Hold Me (video)
(US 1) SURVIVOR – Eye Of The Tiger (video)

(20) THE BRAT – Chalk Dust (The Umpire Strikes Back)
Also edited out of tonight's 7.30pm show ~ good call!

(22) DONNA SUMMER – Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger)
Zoo go all Mad Max and strut their stuff while Donna's video plays on the big screen in the background, she still hadn't made it into the studio at this point, and this song became her first top 20 hit for three years, peaking at number 18.

(19) THE BELLE STARS – The Clapping Song
A flashy performance, in more ways than one, of The Clapping Song on its way to number 11.

(8) KID CREOLE & THE COCONUTS – Stool Pigeon
Here's the aptly named August with his exceptionally sparkling coconuts, albeit with some slightly weird dance moves, and this terrific party tune went up one more place.

(21) BAD MANNERS – My Girl Lollipop (My Boy Lollipop)
Keeping the party going, in their own special manner, with what would soon become their final top ten hit when it reached number 9.

(11) THE STRANGLERS – Strange Little Girl
Another studio performance helping this tune up to number 7.

(1) DEXY’S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS with THE EMERALD EXPRESS – Come On Eileen ®
The first of four weeks at number one.

(29) SURVIVOR – Eye Of The Tiger (crowd dancing) (and credits)
And we end the show with Zoo springing back onto the floor to dance to the tune that would eventually replace Eileen at number one.


Next up is August 12th 1982

Me and my Top of the Pops

Well its the end of July 1982 already with this edition of Top of the Pops from the 29th!

'Ere, hold on Terry ~ we're not due on till next year!

29-7-82: Presenter: Mike Read

(2) DEXY’S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS with THE EMERALD EXPRESS – Come On Eileen
This week's show begins with the record that was about to take over the number one spot and become the biggest selling single of 1982.

(3) YAZOO – Don’t Go (video)
A somewhat silly Halloween video here to accompany Yazoo's second top ten hit of 1982 which was now at its chart peak.

(7) HOT CHOCOLATE – It Started With A Kiss
Sorry Kevin but Hot Chocolate got the nod for the white suits this week and It Started with a Kiss went up two more places.

(14) CLIFF RICHARD – The Only Way Out ®
Went up four more places.

(33) ELKIE BROOKS – Nights In White Satin
At its chart peak but edited out of tonight's 7.30 showing.

(28) THE FIRM – Arthur Daley (‘E’s Alright)
Another comedy record that was (perhaps) funnier at the time, featuring the chap who really sang on the Rubettes records, Tony Thorpe. This Chas & Dave soundalike tune peaked at 14 but a much bigger hit was a five year mission away.....

(20) PAUL McCARTNEY – Take It Away (video)
A terrific video from Macca here featuring enough star names to fill Adam Ant with envy. The song made it to number 15.

(15) DAVID ESSEX – Me And My Girl (Night-Clubbing)
A second studio performance from David to help him and his girl up two more places.

(1) IRENE CARA – Fame (video) (and credits)
And we end the show with a third and final week of Fame.


Next up is August 5th 1982.

Strange Little Top of the Pops

July 22nd 1982 was a live edition, but there was a problem recording host Simon Bate's links, and it looked likely that this edition would not be broadcastable, until some kindly person (very recently) sent the BBC their own VHS copy of the show, which has enabled the links to be dubbed onto the master tape!

Hello mother, can you hear me?

22-7-82: Presenter: Simon Bates (Live)

(36) THE BELLE STARS – The Clapping Song
Having lost out to Natasha's version of Iko Iko, the Belle Stars had much more luck with this cover of Shirley Elis's 1965 hit. And like the original it peaked at number 6.

(6) MADNESS – Driving In My Car (video)
Revving up their video are the Nutty Boys, with their follow up to House of Fun, which parked at number 4.

(4) BANANARAMA – Shy Boy
At its chart peak and edited out of the 7.30pm showing.

(30) THE BRAT – Chalk Dust (The Umpire Strikes Back)
I guess this John McEnroe parody was seriously funny at the time, and it certainly made for one of the more bizarre studio performances helping it on its way to number 19 in the charts.

(2) TRIO – Da Da Da (video)
Someone at BBC4 really does not like Trio! Edited out again of the 7.30pm showing.

(28) JUNIOR – Too Late
A live vocal on a live show here from the confident Junior, and Too Late made it to number 20.

(35) THE STRANGLERS – Strange Little Girl
The new mellow Stranglers are back in the studio with their follow up to Golden Brown, although it was actually quite an old unreleased song of theirs, which they had re-recorded. And it worked, landed them a number 7 hit.

(21) DOLLAR – Videotheque
It looks at first like a repeat of the string vest performance, but we soon discover it's the big screen, and the real Dollar are back for a new, more covered up, performance of Videotheque, which went up four more places.

(1) IRENE CARA – Fame (video)
We get a mixture of movie clips and Irene's video this week for Fame's second of three weeks at number one.

(26) KID CREOLE & THE COCONUTS – Stool Pigeon (crowd dancing) (and credits)
Zoo get on the floor and give us a show ending routine to Kid Creole's follow up to Wonder Thing, which flew up the charts before perching at number 7.



Next up is July 29th 1982.