Obvioulsy, don't click it if you want to avoid Jimmy Savile!
Nick can't hide his disappointment at Limahl's departure...
15/09/83 (Janice Long & Jimmy Savile)
Kajagoogoo – “Big Apple” (33)
Their first single post Limahl was also their final top ten hit, peaking at number 8.
Culture Club – “Karma Chameleon” (3) (video)
On its way to being a massive number one.
Genesis – “Mama” (4) (video)
At its evil laughter peak.
David Essex – “Tahiti” (36)
Became his final top ten hit when it peaked at number 8.
Big Country – “Chance” (12) (video)
Went up three more places.
The Truth – “A Step In The Right Direction” (32)
Got no higher.
Cliff Richard – “Never Say Die (Give A Little Bit More)” (20) (video)
Went up five more places.
Modern Romance – “Walking In The Rain” (9) (rpt)
Their last ever hit, went up two more places.
UB40 – “Red Red Wine” (1) (rpt from 25/08/83)
Final week at number one, taken from their huge number one album, Labour of Love.
Monyaka – “Go Deh Yaka (Go To The Top)” (30) (audience dancing/credits)
Their only hit, peaking at number 14.
Back to BBC4 next for September 22nd 1983.
It's the turn of poor old Janice to act as minder/carer for Jim'll on this occasion, but the Jangly One is actually in pretty good form this time. Not sure if having a female co-host has anything to do with it, but he does seem to like Janice and is much more enthusiastic than on his last couple of outings - he even manages to get through the interview with Boy George without any major mishaps. Janice herself has fully settled into the presenting role by now and is solid throughout.
ReplyDeleteHaving unceremoniously dumped Limahl, Kajagoogoo present their latest offering. It's not bad, but the chorus is a bit dreary and Nick isn't the greatest singer in the world, though he tries his best to fill the frontman role and even has an early example of a headset mic. Doubtless the band hoped that the Top 10 success of this proved that they could survive without Limahl, but they would soon be disabused of that notion...
I vividly remember Karma Chameleon being number 1 at the time, in part no doubt because it was there for so long, and the video is also etched in my brain. Far from being filmed on the Mississippi, the location was actually Weybridge, but it is still a colourful and fun promo. The song has suffered greatly from overplaying down the years, but while it isn't one of their best it does have an infectious, earwormy quality to it that makes its success understandable. Looking suave in a suit, David Essex is back in the studio with this song from the musical Mutiny!, in which he played Fletcher Christian. David had a hand in writing this, and it has a rather similar vibe to Oh What a Circus. It's jaunty enough, but the talky bit should have been left out and the Tahitian lyrics (at least, that's what I assume they are), sound a bit clunky set to the music.
Big Country opt for a very simple video for Chance, which is growing on me the more I listen to it - unfortunately, it is cut off before the guitars really kick in at the end. The Truth then continue their quest to prolong the Mod Revival, but this song sounds overly derivative and, while perfectly pleasant, lacks any distinct identity of its own.
Cliff tries his best to be mean and moody in his video, and goes down the Jacko path by hiring some dancers. This is one of his lesser-known hits, and while there is nothing especially wrong with it he does sound as if he is trying a little too hard to be contemporary here. Monyaka play us out with their undistinguished brand of reggae, the dancing chiefly notable for the guy in the tailcoat who really seems to be getting into the music, and the other chap in the yellow shirt who gamely, but nervously, does a couple of spins...
There was a strange two-girl dance on the podium in front of our screen on the Kajagoogoo song. That sort of dance should be a male-female one, and very un-TOTP like.
DeleteCliff's song and video was quite un-Cliff like, and seemed a bit complicated, as I could not understand the storyline, and nor can I remember it from the time. Just as well really!
hosts: one has to wonder if jimmy the pervert actually pestered the producers to get on the show at this point, or whether they were just afraid of what might happen to them if they didn't ask him - regardless of his total lack of interest and knowledge of the contemporary pop scene? and what his younger co-hosts thought about being lumbered with the ignoramous. still, at least he's made an effort sartorially this time. strangely enough he introduces the truth without the definitive article (as opposed to his usual custom of announcing the likes of "the status quo")
ReplyDeletekajagoogoo: i remember actually liking this at the time. sadly that's no longer the case as it just sounds like a poor man's version of level 42 (who i still do like very much). john has answered what exactly those brown things in front of nick beggs' ears are, but at first glance i thought it was natural-coloured sideburns!
david essex: i normally skip anything he's involved in, but i thought i'd give him a chance with this. however that was a fatal error, as it's horrendous even by his low standards
culture club: i have a friend who unlike me actually likes this drivel, but he keeps asking me what a karma chameleon is. as one who runs from cover whenever it's in earshot, i'm probably the last person to ask. there was a claim in more recent years that this ripped off an old 50's tune called "handy man" - i listened to the original for the first time today, and i can't really say there's much of a resemblance myself
(the) truth: original motown is bad enough as far as i'm concerned, but it's even worse when whiteys try and copy it
cliff: yet another one that passed me by, even though my memory tells me i knew every single song that was in the charts in the early 80's. the rhythm track sounds like a slightly-funkier version of "eye of the tiger", and even the lyrics are fight-related!
monyaka: quite a nice mix of reggae and post-disco, and certainly the best thing on the show. i like the way they spell their name in the chorus. sadly they disappeared after this, although a quick scan on yt suggests their usual output was far more reggae-oriented than dance
Agreed regarding Monyaka as the best song of the show, as the studio audience on this playout were looking like they were really enjoying it, with some nice pins on show too, in a programme that was quite video-heavy, and little to compliment on the new studio performances.
DeleteJim was definitely a bit better this time (not hard to improve on the endless 'hey hey hey's of his last effort mind you) and strangely the pairing with Janice worked OK. Mind you, take a look at the lady to Jim's left as he introduces Modern Romance - she does NOT look happy. We can guess why that might be....
ReplyDeleteKajagoogoo - I quite like 'Big Apple', in fact I probably enjoy it more than I did then.
Culture Club - The best thing ever at the time but I would gladly never hear it again due to complete oversaturation. Then unusually, another video, albeit only about 2 minutes of it.
David Essex - What an awful song this is, I can't think of anything good to say about it.
The Truth - Derivative, yes. Still hanging on desperately to Mod revival, yes. However.....I thought this was a much better song than their first hit single, it had a certain something.
Cliff Richard - I have no recollection of this whatsoever, and once again to my surprise, I didn't actually mind it at all!
After 2 helpings of drivel, we then get to Monyaka which again I don't really recall. It's alright I suppose but I'll probably forget it again in about 5 minutes.
Unusual for TOTP to show two consecutive songs as videos, as they usually alternate between videos and studio performances, so this week the fact the the No.3 and No.4 in the chart were played as videos back to back in the early part of the show was probably a first:
ReplyDeleteI did like the Karma Chameleon video with all its colours and costumes, even though it was filmed in Weybridge, Surrey (as John G mentions which I really didn't know) even though I knew it was unlikely to be the Mississippi!
The video is definitely one of the top ten videos of the 80s and is a classic one too, resonating the 80s decade more perfectly than many other 80s songs, and I never tire of it. I particularly liked how the video went from daytime to nighttime fun, like a constant outdoor party with no end.
Genesis to follow Culture Club was no match, as Phil Collins' howling didn't really come off well, despite it being such a big hit.
I don't think the BBC Four audience missed much not getting this one, aside from one world famous video it wasn't much to write home about. Maybe Jim'll had been quietly told to buck up his ideas, but he was OK with Janice, though her grin looked a little fixed as he insisted on putting his arm around her.
ReplyDeleteKajagoogoo, I quite liked this at the time, at least it had an actual tune unlike their previous two singles, and it still comes across as a fair pop approximation of the FM rock from America. But not surprising no one has really thought about it in decades.
Two skippable videos, then a song from that Bounty musical by Dave which sounded like a try at an Andrew Lloyd Webber style without the ability to secure his services. Am I right in saying the stage show was a massive flop, and there was controversy about the topless female "natives"? I think Sinitta was one of them (this is from my dodgy memory, I could be wrong).
Boring video for a good song from Big Country, then a boring song (no idea if they ever made a good video) from mod revivalists about two years too late. Their sartorial choices suggest they were not particularly committed to the movement.
Cliff Richard spending a bit more money than on Wired for Sound, but not as enjoyable and neither is the song, it resembles a game show theme tune.
Were Modern Romance ever called the Mods? Probably not. Then a repeat of UB40 and a nondescript Caribbean ditty to close. Now I just notice the Chinese girl has been there all along! Well, I'm not watching it again.
This was the last ever appearance on TOTP for Modern Romance, at least their last ever hit made the top ten. The public did not seem to tire of them at this stage, but my guess is that there was no more music they could offer after two long and hard-working years for them between 1981-1983. Goodbye and goodnight!
Deletei also have a recollection that sinitta was involved with "mutiny!" (also the excamation mark styling a la "oliver!"), but i can't be bothered to get that confirmed. oh why can't human brains have recycle bins, so one doesn't end up retaining such useless piffle?
Deleteto use a well-worn phrase: as far as modern romance and i are concerned it's a case of "good riddance to bad rubbish"!
DeleteSinitta was indeed involved in Mutiny! As a result, she also became romantically involved with Mr Essex, ending her relationship with Simon Cowell as a result...
DeleteI am beginning to wonder what the hell I was up to during August/Sept of 83 because over the past couple of weeks there have been a startling number of songs that I have no recollection of whatsoever. And there's more here again tonight.
ReplyDeleteKajagoogoo. Now I did know THIS song and while it is a bit naff and boring, it is much better than their last effort. But Beggs is no front man and you can see just why this lot where heading for the exit door.
Culture Club. Never heard of this. Ha! Just kidding - one of the most overplayed songs of all time and whatever sheen it once had has long since been tarnished.
David Essex. Third-rate musical number with an ill-advised talkie bit. The one-time heart throb still has the looks and the voice, but this is a nothing tune.
The Truth. I am convinced I have never heard this before. I am also convinced that I never want to hear it again. The Truth are what The Jam could have been if Paul Weller couldn't write songs, had no taste in clothes, and had a face like an extra from a Carry On film. Dire.
Cliff. No recollection of this one either. And I don't have the first clue what the video was about? Ill-conceived guff of the highest order which does nothing to promote a song which needed all the help it could get.
Monyaka. Nope, no idea about this either although, on first hearing, it didn't sound too bad.
Scores. Sister Cheggars continues to lay claim to the ToTP mic with another solid performance, although her chart rundown was a bit lacking in spark. He-Who-Cant-Be-Shown was merely average this week, which is a huge improvement on just about every one of his other appearances. Gobbleydook was kept to a minimum, his interview with George wasn't eye-gougingly awful (despite addressing him as 'Boy') and there was even signs of life in his countdown bits. 6.
Musically, this was all a bit boring. The Genesis and Big Country vids were fine but the rest..... oh dear. 4.
shakey i have the same issue as you in that an alarmingly high number of hits from this period seem to have passed me by. however in my defence m'lud i have said before that i hardly watched totp throughout 1983 due to rehearsing with a band every thursday evening (and we were particularly focused on gigs by this point). and i actually had an office job by now so (other than mike read's breakfast show, and that wasn't for very long as i was always in a rush to try to get to work in time) i never listened to radio 1 in the day during the week either. so that must explain why?
DeleteWell that gives YOU an excuse Wilbs, but alas and alack I can't say the same for me. Maybe its just the fact that these songs are forgettable and, when compared to some of the fantastic stuff floating around at the time, had no chance of making headway through my brain and staying there.
DeleteI have the same issue with regard to a few blanks in my music knowledge at this time, Shakey. In my case I can link it to something specific though as in September 1983 I started Secondary School and in all honesty found it rather traumatic. It took me the best part of the first term to feel comfortable.
DeleteKajagoogoo's best song, much better than the rather weedy chorus of Too Shy.
ReplyDeleteJanice and Jim c/o of loader upper of this show so we can watch it – many thanks, this one really was worth seeing and I watched it virtually right through….
ReplyDeleteKajagoogoo- Big Apple - …but wait! This is quite awful and we were all slagging off ‘Ooh to be ah’ a while back which sounds magnificent compared to this! It proved that Kajagoogoo were certainly not a never ending story…
Culture Club – Karma Chameleon – Now this is the only hit from Boy George and co that I can stomach and it’s really quite good. Love the video too.
Genesis – Mama – They still won’t show the bit after the drums come in!!!! Included in the 2007 ‘Turn it on again’ tour set list it went down a storm at Twickenham when I saw it. Nearly TEN years ago – sigh!
David Essex – Tahiti – I bought his greatest hits album a while back and it includes this track as a duet with a female singer and backing chorus and sounds better than this solo effort. A bit of 80s cheese comments somebody on 45cat. Probably. The single between this and ‘A Winter’s Tale’ called ‘The Smile’ written by Mike Batt was quite good but flopped.
Big Country – Chance – Quite pleasant if uninspiring.
The Truth – Step in the right direction – What? Not making the top30 this time? Someone on ToTP obviously liked The Truth.
Cliff Richard – Never say die – I was wondering if this would ever make ToTP as it had been in the charts for few weeks. Quite a catchy, edgy tune from Cliff.
Modern Romance – Walking in the Rain – I know I have harked on about the Partridge Family track of the same name that I prefer, but this is quite good as well. Produced by Tony Visconti. Bye bye Modern Romance, Good Friday the next single would prove not to be…
UB40 – Red Red Wine – Yep, still good.
Monyaka – Go deh etc.. – What on earth?
Chart rundowns from JS once again leave us hungry for more but Elton gets his song name checked.
Looks like I've missed the WeTransfer :(
ReplyDelete