Looks like Dave's used the wrong wash setting again
13/09/84 (Bruno Brookes & Dave Lee Travis)
OMD – “Tesla Girls” (33)
The third single from their top ten album, Junk Culture, and it peaked at number 21.
Ray Parker Jr – “Ghostbusters” (3) (video)
Went up one more place.
Aztec Camera – “All I Need Is Everything” (34)
Got no higher.
U2 – “Pride (In The Name Of Love)” (8) (video)
The first single from their mega number 1 album, The Unforgettable Fire, it became their biggest hit up to this point, peaking at number 3.
Shakin’ Stevens – “A Letter To You” (23)
Became Shaky's 12th top ten hit in less than four years when it peaked at number 10.
Depeche Mode – “Master & Servant” (11)
Went up two more places.
Stevie Wonder – “I Just Called To Say I Love You” (1) (video)
Second of six weeks at number one.
Miami Sound Machine – “Dr. Beat” (7) (audience dancing/credits)
Went up one more place.
Back to BBC4 next for September 20th.
I loved Tesla Girls and Pride at the time. I'm not sure how much I knew the Aztec Camera, but obviously a great one too.
ReplyDeleteShaky one not familiar with, but sounds like a typical rock n roll number, not that distinctive for me. Performance is ok though. A brief lively bit for the guitars maybe could have been expanded more in the song.
Big thanks as ever to Neil B. It's virtually a case of out with the old and in with the new this week, as this was DLT's penultimate show as well as BB's first. I thought the veteran Cornflake was on pretty good form, and his face-concealing introduction of the new boy was mildly amusing, but Bruno seemed a little hesitant and his voice still sounded weirdly mannered. I don't remember him talking like that, so maybe it was just nerves.
ReplyDeleteWe begin with one of my least favourite OMD singles. As you would expect from them it has a decent tune, but the production tricks and female backing vocals have always got on my nerves. Andy appears to be in a very pro-American mood here, going by his shirt. A ghostly Ray Parker Jr, aided by cameos from Chevy Chase and John Candy, pops up between clips from the film, including some featuring Slimer the green ghost that got shown incessantly at the time. Sadly no Marshmallow Man here, but perhaps they didn't want to give away his appearance while the film was still new.
This Aztec Camera tune is completely new to me, but while it has a typically pretty tune it does lack the effortless immediacy of their best-known songs, and it isn't really helped by this unmemorable performance. U2 next, now on the cusp of international megastardom thanks to their Martin Luther King tribute. The video is pretty basic, though Bono jumping off the stage does foreshadow his embarrassing antics at Live Aid the following year - having said that, on this occasion the audience looks distinctly threadbare and miserable! While Mr Hewson's earnestness does grate, the song is undeniably powerful and sincere.
You do have to wonder who was buying Shaky records by this point in time, as he is just sticking rigidly to the formula here in terms of both music and performance. I see the Depeche/Depechay Mode wars were still going on at this point, with BB in the latter camp. A rather less suggestive performance from the boys this time, but Dave's crop top and leather trousers look was not a well-advised one - still, he seems to be enjoying whacking that cymbal...
An unsuccessful attempt is made to jazz up Stevie's boring video with some computer graphics which seem to bear no relation to the song, before Dr Beat provides a suitably lively choice of playout. The audience are very much reduced to bit-part players here, continuing a trend that has crept in recently, with the two star cheerleaders enjoying some 360-degree camera pans as they strut their stuff.
If a song is completely new to you maybe it's harder to judge though. For me it's Aztec Camera's finest moment,there's some emotional edge to the melody.
DeleteYes, there are songs which take several listens to fully reveal their charms, and I will certainly be replaying this one. I didn't dislike it, but nor did it instantly grab me like some songs can.
Deletei might have mentioned this before, but i almost immediately loved crowded house's "woodface" album. so when a friend taped the follow up "together alone" i was keen to hear it - despite his advice that it wouldn't be as anywhere as immediate and to bear that in mind. and boy was he right as had to persist in listening to it several times over whilst decorating my flat, trying to make up my mind if it was worth it or not. and then suddenly it just clicked with me, to the point where i preferred it to "woodface"!
DeleteIncidentally, it gave me a bit of a thrill seeing that trailer for The Tripods at the end of the show. I remember watching that at the time and being terrified of the titular villains, though notoriously the Beeb never got around to adapting all the novels, leaving the story unfinished. I also started school in September 1984, and there are some songs from this time, particularly the current and previous number 1, which I very much associate with that milestone.
ReplyDeleteI was 1
DeleteI don't remember The Tripods then, but I remember seeing some of V.
DeleteI loved John Christopher's Tripods books (he was a master of sci-fi dystopias), but the TV version padded them out with boring stuff about French vineyards. I tuned in every week regardless, and was disappointed they didn't make the last in the trilogy. A movie version has been in development Hell for years.
DeleteYeah, V was pretty scary, always remember that bloke smashing his frozen arm off and Diana swallowing a rat. I even watched the 20-odd episode series that resulted, but the novelty had worn off by then.
DeleteThe Tripods was unfortunately a series that never ran to its conclusion with the third book, so left us waiting in vain. I did buy the single of the theme music by Ken Freeman.
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zkZPzeqyt8
The same guy that did the Casualty theme - ooh, you'd never guess, would you?
DeleteIt was shown on the day after my first birthday
ReplyDeleteOMD arse about with the Fairlight to amusing effect on Tesla Girls, presumably a reference to the scientist and not an incredible prediction about Elon Musk's cars. This is more lively than their recent business, and brightens up the show.
ReplyDeleteRay Parker Jr getting uncomfortably stalker-ish in his Ghostbusters video, I'd forgotten this was more than just a bunch of clips strung together. This movie was my 1984, I recall yelling out "GHOSTBUSTERS!" during the end credits at my local fleapit. It still looks tremendously exciting even in these reduced circumstances.
Aztec Camera with the best song of the episode, a Mark Knopfler production so a bit twiddly, but the melody is so wistful and the lyrics so longing that it doesn't really matter. Roddy has a strange way of holding his guitar, though.
U2 were far too bombastic to achieve anything like as good as the previous track, Pride in the Name of the Wee Man as it always turns into in my mind. Boring video, too.
Shaky, once again, didn't recognise the title but did recognise the chorus. He could do this sort of thing in his sleep by now. Anyone else hoping that was a trampoline he jumped onto, then was disappointed?
So Bruno says Depech-ay, does he? Fancy. Not much different performance-wise from the last one, except Dave is showing off his tummy. They miss out my favourite bit at the end.
Ah, here's Stevie's toast! More on this later, when I have the stomach for it.
Anyone else think the Miami Sound Machine playout was a tad slow? Didn't sound quite right. Maybe it was the recording.
Bruno became notorious for searching for people mentioning his name in the early days of the internet. If you still do that, Bruno, hi there.
Yes, I thought Dr Beat didn't sound quite right - not sure what the issue was, though.
DeleteWhat was Bruno's issue?
DeleteI've no idea what Bruno's issue was, maybe a touch of ego? Don't think he does it anymore.
DeleteDr Beat never sounded right to me!
DeleteJohn, it could have been Neil B's original VHS recording, i.e., I remember some VHS tapes playing back slower than normal depending on what brand of VHS cassette purchased, and I remember some really dodgy brands out there in the 80s!
DeleteWith regard to Stevie Wonder's toast, I always thought it was a square piece of foam, not a piece of bread that was floating in the video!
Deletehosts: i'm sure peter powell was chomping at the bit to present the show with latest recruit bruno brookes, as he would actually dwarf someone for a change instead of being dwarfed himself. i always thought of brookes as powell's "mini me" back then (media whore anthea turner presumably had similar feelings, as she shagged both of them), and listening to him here for the first time in many years he has nothing that makes him stand out aurally whatsoever - coming over as some kind of hydrid of powell and mike read, with a touch of slimy thrown in for bad measure! as for dlt, was that woman he had his arms around after aztec camera one of those who accused him of groping decades later?
ReplyDeleteomd: all i remember about this was the chorus, and having watched it again now i can't remember any more of what was (chorus apart) quite a meandering thing that took an age to get going. of course i had no idea what a tesla girl was at the time (nor do i still, despite trying to listen more closely to the lyrics), but at least i am now aware of who (nikolai) tesla was (a brilliant scientist whose earnest genius was blighted to some extent by that rogue edison - he was actually played by none other than david bowie in a film a few years back)
ray parker jr: is this what one would think of as a "h**sew*fe cl*ss*c"? whatever, i never liked it at the time, and nor do i now. i recently read that after parker was sued by huey lewis for plagiarism with this, after lewis let slip some details of the out-of-court settlement parker counter-sued! i've never seen the film in question by the way - possibly because of my dislike of this tune?
aztec camera: i never got roddy frame at all i'm afraid. a musician friend of mine who lives in roddy's home town of east kilbride (the other famous local resident is susan boyle!) was telling me recently that the function band he plays in took the opportunity to sign up roddy's bassist chum campbell (who is still seen as a big noise locally), but that he wasn't actually too hot as a player so they had to ditch him!
u2: sadly another one of theirs that i used to like but can no longer listen to (and i'm not going to this time either) thanks to their singer becoming a king-sized prick. still, at least the musical shark-jumping moment isn't too far-off now
shakin' stevens: i while back i told readers about my shakin' stevens challenge whereby i ask people to name more than three of his many hits (and most fail to do so). i don't think anybody has ever mentioned this one
Shakin' Stevens hits would be a great subject on "Pointless"!
Deletei'd like to have seen shakin' stevens done as a question on "family fortunes" i.e. "we asked a hundred people to name one of his hits - this would be my forecast result:
Delete"this ole house": 45%
"green door": 35%
"merry christmas everyone" 15%
others: 5&
"If it's there I'll give you the money myself!"
DeleteShaky's 'Blue Christmas' made it onto the first 'Now the Christmas Album' which sold bucket loads. I was also rather partial to 'You drive me crazy'. But yes, the rest have faded from memory.
DeleteI think You Drive Me Crazy is probably his finest moment. Lipstick, Powder and Paint definitely isn't, but for some reason it is one that lodged in my mind and stayed there!
DeleteI thought Merry Christmas Everyone is likely his most famous as it would get played at Christmas every year, and it is one of his best.
DeleteOther East kilbridian illumini are available as well As Roddy Frame.
DeleteJesus and Mary chain. Lorraine kelly.
Er, that’s probably it....
my above-mentioned chum no doubt sounds like a serial name-droppper, but he has links with most if not all famous east kilbridians: he was once invited to audition for the jesus & mary chain, but when he heard them rehearing he didn't even bother because he thought they were complete crap (and has no regrets despite them becoming famous afterwards) and also went to the same school as lorraine kelly who is a near peer. and was actually in the same class as the one local sleb not yet mentioned: tory mp liam fox!
DeleteI was away and missed the download of this ep which has been removed. Does anyone else have it?
ReplyDeleteIt's on 4Shared too - not sure why the WeTransfer link got deleted so quickly, as they normally last a week:
Deletehttps://www.4shared.com/video/Aht_I10-ei/TOTP_1984-09-13.html
Thanks!
DeleteThis new link on Wetransfer totp 13th September 1984:https://we.tl/yzVNnNqF7P
ReplyDeleteTa!
DeleteDLT and Bruno Brookes this week. Is it just me or does Bruno resemble Cheggers?
ReplyDeleteOMD – Tesla Girls – Like others, I’m in the dark as to what a Tesla Girl actually is, or who the girl singer is on this lively track. Is this the same band that gave us ‘Messages’?
Ray Parker Jnr – Ghostbusters – OK, so we’re allowed to see this movie footage but not the likes of ‘Watership Down’. Great video with the girl being chased by ghosts in her night clothes!
Aztec Camera – All I need is everything – Knopfler’s trademarks are there in terms of the production but not his guitar playing which so characterised Kate and Anna McGarrigle’s ‘Love over and over’ which he absolutely dominated. On the B Side of this is a surprisingly good cover of Van Halen’s ‘Jump’ in a very different vein. If Trevor Walters could score with a recent cover then maybe the Aztecs should have made this a double A Side?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COtZZmWKcRI
U2 – Pride – Forget the lead singer, this is one the best songs of this era and despite me only really liking a handful of U2 tracks this tops the lot. Interesting video, somewhat understated with some bored onlookers.
Shakin’ Stevens – A Letter to you – Not written by Shaky and posted in the dark recesses of my memory.
Depeche Mode – Master and Servant – Pleasant sound textures, slightly strange presentation on this appearance with some strobe lighting at the start.
Stevie Wonder – I just called to say I love you – Next
Miami Sound Machine – Dr Beat – No room for the excellent (rising) Malcolm Mclaren single ‘Madame Butterfly’ which surely the folks could have danced out to, but instead we get this (non-mover) again. FF.
despite thinking malcolm mclaren was a dick who had next-to-nothing to do with his records, i really likeed the flip of "madame butterfly" at the time which was basically trevor horn letting loose his bag of tricks. it's very dated now though!:
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02cTc4YrL3I
Yeah sct353, the Ghostbusters superb video redeemed the song somewhat, and I think was instrumental in the song's overall success on both sides of the Atlantic, getting to No.1 in the US and No.2 in Britain.
DeleteAnd yes, great to see the lead girl in the video starting off in a coat entering the haunted house on a cold stormy night, and then being brave enough to wear the sexy underwear/night clothes and walk around the house like that, being chased by a ghost. You'd think she would have found her dressing gown to put on, but hey, not in the world of Ray Parker Junior!
Sct353 - I made the Bruno-Cheggars connection last week so it's not just you.
DeleteOops I meant to reply in this thread before, anyway a point on the U2 video, it reminds me at the start and end of the video for Union City Blue. Big rock song with some big shots of what looks an industrial port area.
DeleteWell spotted Starry, I have also seen the Blondie video countless times, but would you believe, overlooked this connection with the U2 video.
DeletePride wasn't a typical song I liked at the time, I wasn't into rock, but it had a wider appeal, and is also my favourite song of theirs. And that's the case for quite a few people in 84 for me. Obviously the more you hear something the less fresh it will be, but I still like to treasure that moment when something was fresh too.
ReplyDeleteNot a bad b side from Malcolm McClaren, I always loved Madam Butterfly.
On the internet it says Maureen Humphreys (wife of Paul) is the female voice on Tesla Girls.
Another edition with no place for Malcolm McLaren or Heaven 17, though we do get a rather nervous sounding Bruno (he didn't deserve being captioned with the wrong name, but then Nik Kershaw was called 'Nick'....) who is paired with old hand DLT. Fortunately, the bit of business with the clipboard at the end is actually not bad schtick compared to the 'wacky hat' stuff Dave sometimes gave us. Anyway, onto the songs....
ReplyDeleteOMD - I seem to be the only one here who really loves this. In fact, it's one of my favourite singles of theirs!!
Ray Parker Jr. - I bought this single, though I can't remember if that was before or after Christmas. I don't think it really is a 'housewife classic' as it gets surprisingly little radio airplay (maybe a little more at this time of the year as Halloween approaches)
Aztec Camera - A pretty good pop song this, deserved to do a little better in the chart I reckon.
U2 - Bono auditioning for Band Aid here, essentially. A bit over familiar these days maybe, but I still wouldn't turn this off if it came on the radio.
Shaky - I have no recollection of this whatsoever, either from the time or indeed 36 hours since I watched this edition of TOTP!
And the rest we've all seen before....
First post at the top, I said I liked Tesla Girls. :D Of course I still do, I rarely grow to dislike something, if I overplay I see that as my fault.
DeleteTalking Loud and Clear I underrated at the time though. Maybe a big favourite can end up obscuring another song by the same group/singer sometimes.
So you did! Apologies for missing that. Talking Loud And Clear I definitely like more now than I used to. Telegraph from the same period is a great little pop song which somehow missed the Top 40.
DeleteBig thanks again to Neil B, though it took four goes for this show to download on my steam-driven PC and, having watched it, I’d have preferred to see Kenny Everett instead.
ReplyDelete‘Brunoe’ was a mixture of stiltedness and over-active “Go!” before his part of the chart rundown. I though the clipboard joshing worked well.
Wearing a shirt similar to DLT’s, it seems OMD’s Andy can’t play bass and Dad Dance simultaneously any more. Our mate Malcolm the drummer was on that stage somewhere.
Ray Parker Jr.’s tune didn’t stand a ghost of a chance of making number one. Boom boom tish!
“All I Need Is Everything”… or a move up the chart. Oh well.
U2 – FF.
You couldn’t write Shakin’ Stevens song now – it would have to be “An Email To You”.
It’s The Mode with “The Master and The Servant” according to ‘Brunoe’. Dave, that top’s shrunk in the wash!
“Dr. Beat” appeared to be playing at 40 rpm, you could say with an irregular heartbeat!
One of the best episodes for a while If only it didn't have Stevie Tedious at the end.
ReplyDeleteTesla Girls is one of my favourite OMD tracks - they certainly picked some unusual subjects!
Also love Master and Servant.
Even the Shakey tracks was OK...
just seen an article on local news that the phone box OMD sang about (red frame white light) is being restored.
ReplyDelete