You have to hand it to Slade
29/11/84 (Janice Long & Peter Powell)
Nik Kershaw – “The Riddle” (4)
Nik gets tonight's live edition underway, and The Riddle went up one more place.
Eurythmics – “Sex Crime (1984)” (6) (video)
Went up two more places.
Slade – “All Join Hands” (15)
All the scarves come out for this one but unfortunately for Slade they just peaked too early this year!
Tina Turner – “Private Dancer” (31) (video)
She's a strictly come dancer in this video for the title track from her number 2 album, the single peaked at number 26.
Kool & The Gang – “Fresh” (19)
In the studio, with their Feed the World t-shirts, and Fresh peaked at number 11.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood – “The Power Of Love” (3) (video)
With their Christmas card nativity scene video for their third single and soon to be their third number one.
Madonna – “Like A Virgin” (27) (video)
Shame we'll miss seeing her studio performance of this on BBC4 due to them not screening the 13th December edition. Her second top ten hit of 1984, it peaked at number 3.
Alvin Stardust – “I Won’t Run Away” (11)
Alvin's gone for a bit of a pirate look with his Feed the World t-shirt. The song peaked at number 7.
Jim Diamond – “I Should Have Known Better” (1)
It was good to see all of tonight's studio acts supporting Band Aid, and Jim was no exception, clearly enjoying his one week at the top.
Black Lace – “Do The Conga” (26) (+ credits)
Well, Christmas really is just around the corner! And here are the duo themselves in the studio to play us out, but this was their final top ten hit, peaking at a festive number 10.
In 1984, immediately before tonight’s live edition of #TOTP, @BBCOne broadcast the world premiere of the Band Aid video. Watch how @DavidBowieReal introduced it. pic.twitter.com/z3asNCAd7p— BBC Four (@BBCFOUR) November 10, 2017
Bowie introduces Band Aid
So, we come to two more editions that BBC4 won't be screening ~ December 6th hosted by Mike Smith, and equally annoyingly, December 13th because for some reason they can't edit out Gary Glitter!
PP is looking happy, and that’s no great surprise considering his co-host is his new girlfriend. Janice has sensibly ditched the blonde look, though I’m wondering if her otherwise inexplicable decision to don 80s office wear was a deliberate attempt to cool PP’s ardour - he certainly seemed to find it a challenge keeping his hands off her…
ReplyDeleteBob Geldof had presumably turned up in the studio with a job lot of Feed the World t-shirts, and the vast majority of the studio acts dutifully don them, Dave Hill being a notable exception. Nik Kershaw gets proceedings off to a good start, before Slade turn up again with the scarves and some fake hands - even if this isn’t their best song, they could certainly still work the crowd. We then finally get something new, with Tina Turner covering a Mark Knopfler song to good effect, though as with Smooth Operator it’s surprising in retrospect that it didn’t chart much more highly, given its familiarity. Knopfler had originally intended this for the Love Over Gold album, but decided the lyrics demanded a female singer, and Tina certainly makes it her own. The video is visually striking, but perhaps suffers from having too many ideas, as it degenerates into an incoherent mess.
Kool and the Gang return to the studio, and for me this is one of their better hits, uptempo and very danceable. The lurid nature of their trousers makes me wonder what tops they might have worn if Bob’s t-shirt delivery hadn’t intervened! I’ve never really understood why The Power of Love is always regarded as a Christmas song to the extent that it never seems to get played outside of December. OK, it was a festive hit, and the video isn’t exactly subtle in its use of nativity imagery, but the song itself has nothing specifically to do with Christmas. It’s still a good tune anyway, and the best of the three hits that would bear this title over the ensuing 12 months.
As PP coyly notes, we then move on to a very different Madonna, and her “provocative” video. Truth be told her Venetian antics look pretty tame nowadays, my main source of unease coming from Madge just ducking under those bridges before her head bashes into them. This is still an excellent song though, enhanced greatly by Nile Rodgers’ production, which counteracts any irritation generated by Madge’s helium-filled vocals. Back in the studio Alvin unwisely puts his t-shirt over a proper shirt, but he moves around the stage skilfully enough once again - I’m not sure, but I think this may have been his final TOTP performance. Jim celebrates his number 1, which was probably the least expected of the year, with yet another studio turn, though his obvious pleasure at reaching the top slightly undercuts his intensity this time. Black Lace lower the tone to finish things off - I’d forgotten all about this one, but I suppose it’s a harmless enough bit of fluff, and certainly more tolerable than Agadoo or Superman. Ironically, nobody in the studio actually does the conga during this performance…
If Tina Turner's record was indeed a Mark Knopfler number, which I never knew was the case, it certainly is somewhat weird in its roll-out with Mrs Turner. The lyrics take on the theme of private dancing for money alone and no emotions, making as much money as possible, dreaming of becoming a millionaire, before "I guess I want a husband and some children". Pity that the video was cut short just as Tina takes a big sigh. The video was only about halfway through!
DeleteKool & The Gang seemed to reduce their stage personnel from about 11 on 'Ooo La La Lets Go Dancing in 1982, to about 7 here on Fresh in 1984. This headcount reduction must have been in order to fit on a TOTP stage, but anyway, I always like the intro to Fresh, before the lyrics come in. It is one of the best disco intros I have ever heard, but alas TOTP went straight to the lyrics, somewhat a bit unfairly like on the Murray Head single a week earlier in the studio. Certainly one of Kool's best dance numbers by a distance!
dory i think you'll find being a "private dancer, dancing for money" is mark knopfler's euphemistic way of saying the person in question is a prostitute/hooker/whore/tart/lady of the night/any other way of describing such practitioners without getting into hot water (i have long-thought it should be legalised by the way). what is biarre is that apparently originally wrote the lyrics to sing himself. but then again perhaps by then he was seeing himself as some kind of musical prostitute?
DeleteIf Knopfler had recorded this himself, I wonder if he might have sung it in the third person?
Deleteah yes, i hadn't thought of that - may mr knopfler was a "john" (sorry john!), or at least had some experience of that kind of thing?
Deleteeurythmics apart, this is another complete duffer for me. and although they've already got the t-shirts, the "feed the world" song (which changed the landscape of pop forever as far as i'm concerned - and not in a good way, either) itself hasn't even appeared yet!
ReplyDeleteI think at the time that this edition of TOTP was made, the Band Aid Feed The World Song was already completed, and waiting to make the video, which probably accounts for Kool & The Gang being in the Feed The World Video as the only American group. I expect that because Kool & The Gang where in this edition of TOTP donning the Feed The World T-Shirts, Bob Geldof must have pulled them in for the Band Aid video while they were in town and at striking distance, as they were slightly out of the mould of the rest of the eventual performers on Feed The World.
DeleteI wonder why Noddy Holder covered up the Feed The world T-Shirt on his performance on TOTP this week with his usual checked shirt. And his bandmate Dave Hill the only performer not wearing the Feed The world T-Shirt at all, and going for his Slade outfit in protest?
well done dave hill i say for not apparently not being browbeaten into wearing a t-shirt by the "feed the world" faschists!
DeleteThe Band Aid single was released on the very day this show was first broadcast. It had been recorded (and the video shot) the previous Sunday.
DeleteThat would explain why Kool & The Gang appeared in the Band Aid video, as they seemed the odd ones out in an all-British pop group cast. They just happened to be on TOTP the same week!
DeleteFrankie Goes To Hollywood took about 3 months to return after the huge 9-week summer No.1 Two Tribes. It was quite a long time wasn't it? And as if to surprise us, they come out with a nativity number and Christmas card tune to completely change direction from their supposedly vile lyrics on Relax, and controversial video of Two tribes, to come back as a squeaky clean group with Christmas and the power of love on their mind, and baby born to two lovers, going straight in at No.3 this week, and jostling for the Christmas No.1.
ReplyDeleteHowever, they and Jim Diamond's eventual tenures at No.1 were surprisingly cut short to a week each, by the tidal wave of Band Aid in early December with Feed The World, and it seemed that there was just too much going on with new singles releases in the lead up to Xmas, that it got this messy in the end, and so if not for Band Aid, Jim Diamond or Frankie Goes To Hollywood may have got a few weeks at No.1 with this nativity number.
Erm, in the case of this particular birth Dory, the usual reproductive methods did not (supposedly) apply! If it hadn't been for Band Aid, Wham's Last Christmas would almost certainly have been 1984's festive chart-topper.
DeleteI like the idea of God putting Barry White on the hi-fi, pouring a couple of Cinzanos and stretching out on the sheepskin rug before a roaring hearth with Mary, though.
DeleteThat's an arresting image, THX!
DeleteIt's definitely a different kind of song to what Frankie normally did, but it still features a strong Holly Johnson vocal as usual.
DeleteThe song that suffered because of the charity record was Last Christmas.
"Come on, wear this T-Shirt, you'll be judged on it in three decades time if you don't!"
ReplyDeleteNik still displaying a reluctance to play (or mime) his guitar, seems to be a running theme with his appearances. Don't know why it goes all flute band in the middle eight.
Eurythmics in an episode with a lot of repeats, and it's the video again, presumably because they couldn't convincingly do the vocal effects in the TOTP studio. Sadly the title of the song couldn't be more relevant right now!
And here's a very handsy Slade, although in a more benevolent manner than current events. Very much anthem by numbers, and what did Dave have against Band Aid? That's what we're all wondering, Dave!
Tina Turner with definitely one of her best solo songs, her throaty, jaded delivery matching the prostitution theme very well. Video looks a bit like someone saw the Chaka Khan one and thought they'd have a go too.
Kool & the Gang, not too bad late effort for this lot, though how many of them were actually playing on the record? There's about five of them standing about like lemons!
Frankie Goes to Hollywood, apparently they thought they'd do a Bad News-esque Cashing In On Christmas then realised they didn't have any Yuletide references in the song, so had the video do all the heavy lifting. It was certainly a departure, it's a nice enough song that leans towards bombast but doesn't quite cross the line, though the Frankie boys as Cherubim are a bit hard to believe!
Madonna with her secret weapon Nile Rodgers, who tells a very worrying story about her in his autobiography - if it was a man saying that to a woman, it would be a sexual harassment case for sure! Anyway, sauce upon sauce for the lyrics and delivery, picturesque locations for the vid, and a catchy melody: superstardom beckoned.
Alvin's back and demonstrating he has no idea how to wear a T-shirt properly. Bit of audience interaction with this reassuring number, but it's very paternal, lyrics notwithstanding. Or maybe withstanding.
Jim Diamond barely managing to keep from punching the air throughout his number one achievement, it's still all too nakedly emotional for me, but well done, it was a cheering success story.
Black Lace to end on, and they saved the best for last, a masterpiece that, um... Yeah, it was another party record for Butlin's discos to play, except they'd probably still be playing Agadoo. Audience: "Conga? Who, me?"
James2001 has kindly made both the 6 and 13 December shows available on WeTransfer:
ReplyDeletehttps://we.tl/bRFgRir9qS
The 6 December show is missing the Kane Gang playout, but that can be seen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMJ9V8JYWJM
Good Lord, it's like dinner is served already. Shall we say Grace After meals?
DeleteI combined the youtube playout for 6-12-84 with the James2001 upload to make a complete show:
Deletehttps://www.4shared.com/video/eCuSNidRca/TOTP_1984-12-06__restoration_.html
There's a tiny gap of maybe a couple of frames between where one starts and the other ends, so it very briefly fades to black to compensate (but you probably wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't said...)
Thanks for that drykid!
DeleteI've always liked Cherish much more than Fresh. The chorus isn't that great for me.
ReplyDeleteI also like Do the Conga more than Black Lace's famous hit, though I don't think I knew it back then.
Like A Virgin, while the production is decent I think the vocal makes the song. She seems to have so much fun with it, teasing one minute, more passionate the next. Didn't like it much at the time, too much Madonna hype probably. In retrospect I like Lucky Star and Borderline more (though Like a Virgin was my intro to her), but this song is still good.
Wasn't into Tina Turner back then (more into British music normally), though What's Love Got To Do With It I quite like now. Private Dancer isn't as good but alright, better when she opens her voice out. Her album peaked at no2 at the start of September, though it did re-enter the top 10 the following March.
Welcome to the sartorial edition. So, how does everyone wear THAT T-shirt?
ReplyDeletePeter Powell wears his authoritatively and in tactile fashion. Watch out, Janice. Oh, too late.
Nik wears his under braces. I still think “The Riddle” sounds like something Level 42 could have recorded. The real riddle is Dave Hill’s fashion refusal.
Jim wears his with leather trousers, Noddy wears his under a shirt and Dave...ah.
The thought of Mark Knopfler singing “Private Dancer”? Urrrgh.
Kool and the Gang wear them in unison and replace The Dazz Band, and even Showaddywaddy, as the largest band with the highest percentage of non-musicians.
I love Frankie’s third single, easily their best in my opinion. I see the first half of the first verse was cut – was it due to the band posing as naked cherubs around the edge of the arch or was that an urban myth?
I honestly can’t think of anything at all to say about the Madonna video.
Alvin wears his in knotted hanky style over a shirt and in frenetic fashion for our Alv.
Jim covers the World with clasped hands but mimes one of the most unexpected number ones of the time superbly.
Black Lace wear them like the prats they are and give us a song Modern Romance would probably have given their eye teeth for.
Broadcast on my Birthday no less, there is plenty of ‘Feed the World’ on show here supporting a certain massive single. This is a really good selection of hits with just one exception for me…
ReplyDeleteNik Kershaw – The Riddle – Good start to the show and first sight of the iconic t-shirt!
Eurythmics – Sexcrime – Still sounds good and ironic that this was about 1984 and we were in it and it wasn’t like the book/film!
Slade – All join hands – The Slade scarves remind me of the ‘We are the Campions’ Queen video and this is another barnstorming stadium anthem that I just love. Dave Hill once more epitomises his quote “you write ‘em , I’ll sell ‘em' quote.
Tina Turner - Private Dancer – This was my exception. I don’t know if Mark Knopfler (who wrote two songs starting with the word ‘Private’ – is that a record?) ever recorded this himself but it is another awful sound from one of my least favourite artists. The B Side is a version of ‘Nutbush City Limits’ which is in my bottom 30. At least ‘Magic’ never seem to play it (just things like’ What’s love go with it’ and ‘We don’t need another Hero’…yawn….).
Kool and the Gang – Fresh – My best K&TG hit bar none! Only a no11 hit. A travesty. Great dance record. Kool would go on to appear on a certain charity record and is in the group photo on the reverse of the sleeve.
Frankie goes to Hollywood – The Power of Love – Wow! How can a band go from one extreme to another? I make no secret that I detest ‘Two Tribes’ but this is just sublime and has stood the test of time and is certainly one of my favourites of 1984. Everything about this song is wonderful and the video is pretty good too.
Madonna – Like a Virgin – I assume that the studio performance that Angelo refers is the pink wig one? Just had a sneak preview on YT and yes, this did make quite an impression at the time! A landmark single for Madonna and it still sounds great.
Alvin Stardust – I won’t run away – Bernard looks like he’s really enjoying performing this unlike (say) the moody rendition and image of ‘My coo-ca-choo’ when I always felt that he was slightly menacing.
Jim Diamond – I should have known better – Classy number one, shame the band aren’t there but hey, one of the best no1s of 1984 for me. Jim apparently wanted to make way at the top for Bob’s charity record as soon as possible but in the event its release was such that Frankie took over for a single week.
Black Lace – Do the Conga – Nobody seemed to be doing it here (as John G also observes). I kept waiting for the audience to kick off. Good record for the time of year I guess.
Hosts – Looking now, their body language says it all. What a thrill, to host TOTP with your partner!
Also my favourite Kool & The Gang hit, primarily for the superb intro/disco sound just before the first lyrics. The first beats just send a shiver down my disco spine, and makes me want to dance.
DeletePity that TOTP went straight to the lyrics with no intro, and a bit like the Murray Head tune. I wish TOTP would have a listen to the intros before deciding to chop them off some these studio performances, as sometimes the intro is what makes the tune successful, for example Two Tribes for Frankie Goes To Hollywood.
With regard to Black Lace doing the Conga, well, you know what the sequel to this was? The Locomotion by Kylie Minogue a few years later, haha. I'm just going by the steam train line dancing in the studio on Black Lace's return visit on the 13th Dec TOTP edition.
The Dave Hill quote I remember was when he was discussing his old outfits and people would say to him, "You must look back and think, coo, what a berk!" to which he replied, "No - what an entertainer!"
DeleteIncidentally, it's an article of faith with a friend of mine that everyone likes Nutbush City Limits, so I'd better not shatter his illusions!
Some good stuff on here, including some that we haven't had on BBC4 previously. Which is nice.
ReplyDeleteSlade - Based on what Jim Lea said when I met him, Dave often went against the grain on things so no surprise to see him not bother with the T-shirt here. This song is a bit too long and way too derivative both of 'My Oh My' and 'Auld Lang Syne' to be that great.
Tina Turner - For a No.26 hit (and I'd forgotten that it only got as high as that) this used to get tons of airplay. These days you hardly ever hear it, which is a shame as although I'm not a big fan of hers I think she does a good job delivering this one.
Kool & The Gang - Average in the extreme. If that's not a contradiction in terms....
FGTH - I absolutely love this song, and I agree that there is no reason at all why you couldn't hear this all year round. I think that the video shown IS the proper version and that the clunky edit at the start was always there and not a TOTP invention. Didn't Paul Morley say that Frankie had done a hat-trick with this? Songs about sex, war and religion!
Madonna - Perfectly good pop of course, I've just heard (and seen) it far too often.
Alvin - It's really growing on me, this one. Which is a little embarrassing. Can't remember if anyone said previously but did Mike Batt write it?
Black Lace - Oh dear. I suppose it's marginally less annoying than their other 2 Top 10 singles.
John David Williams wrote it, according to discogs "the most successful Welsh songwriter since Ivor Novello".
DeleteAgadoo definitely improved, maybe they got down to basics, no longer ag-a-do, now it's just do-do-do