Top of the Pops Can Only Get Better

The post Xmas lull is finally over, lots of new records are breaking into the top 40, it's February 7th and things can only get better because it's Top of the Pops!

When you actually turn into a chess piece

07/02/85  (Gary Davies & Richard Skinner)

King – “Love & Pride” (2)
King get the show underway in high kicking style, but Love & Pride could go no higher.

Bryan Adams – “Run To You” (11) (video)
At its peak.

Phil Collins – “Sussudio” (12)
In the studio with his new backing band, but again the song was at its peak.

Kirsty MacColl – “A New England” (13) (video)
On her way to number 7.

Killing Joke – “Love Like Blood” (32) (breaker)
Became their biggest hit when it reached number 16.

Chicago – “You’re The Inspiration” (34) (breaker)
Their final hit, peaking at number 14.

George Benson – “20/20” (39) (breaker)
It didn't quite zoom up the chart but it did make it to number 29.

Dead Or Alive – “You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)” (40) (breaker)
The next number one in waiting.

Howard Jones – “Things Can Only Get Better” (18)
No live vocal this time for what would be his penultimate top ten hit when it reached number 6.

Billy Ocean – “Lover Boy” (16) (video)
Going all Star Wars in this video, and the force took Lover Boy up one more place.

The Top Ten Videos:
The Art Of Noise - "Close (To The Edit)" (10) (video clip)
Strawberry Switchblade - "Since Yesterday" (9) (video clip)
Tears For Fears - "Shout" (8) (video clip)
Russ Abbot - "Atmosphere" (7) (video clip)
Bruce Springsteen - "Dancing In The Dark" (6) (video clip)
Prince - "1999" (5) (video clip)

Ashford & Simpson - "Solid" (4) (video)
They played most of this one, and it went up one more place.

Foreigner - "I Want To Know What Love Is" (3) (video clip)
King - "Love & Pride" (2) (video clip)

Elaine Paige & Barbara Dickson – “I Know Him So Well” (1)
The first of four weeks at number one for the big haired duo.

Pat Benatar – “We Belong” (23) (audience dancing/credits)
Went up one more place.



Next up is February 14th.

Thinking of Top of the Pops

You come home from school, your head hurting with quadratic equations and endothermic reactions, but you have your tea, get your homework done and before you know it, it's 7.50 pm and now all you need to think about is who will be on this week's edition of Top of the Pops!

Terry can barely contain his excitement at being back on Top of the Pops

31/01/85  (Janice Long & Peter Powell)

Big Sound Authority – “This House (Is Where Your Love Stands)” (36)
We begin with an overly enthusiastic guitarist in a band who want to be The Style Council, but this was their only top 30 hit, peaking at number 21.

Art Of Noise – “Close (To The Edit)” (21)
A mixture of studio performance and video here, and the tune made it to number 8.

Bryan Adams – “Run To You” (18) (breaker)
His debut UK hit made it to number 11.

Phil Collins – “Sussudio” (19) (breaker)
The first single from his number one album, No Jacket Required. Peaked at number 12.

Pat Benatar – “We Belong” (25) (breaker)
Her breakthrough UK hit peaked at number 22.

The Commodores – “Nightshift” (32) (breaker)
Their first post Lionel hit, and also their final top ten hit, reaching number 3.

The Colour Field – “Thinking Of You” (31)
Terry Hall returns to the studio with his new band, but this was their only top 30 hit, peaking at number 12.

The Top Ten Videos:
Bruce Springsteen – “Dancing In The Dark” (10) (video)
On his way to number 4.

Madonna - "Like A Virgin" (9) (video clip)
Russ Abbot - "Atmosphere" (8) (video clip)
Strawberry Switchblade - "Since Yesterday" (7) (video clip)
Ashford & Simpson - "Solid" (6) (video clip)
Tears For Fears - "Shout" (5) (video clip)
King - "Love & Pride" (4) (video clip)
Prince - "1999" (3) (video clip)
Elaine Paige & Barbara Dickson - "I Know Him So Well" (2) (video clip)

Foreigner – “I Want To Know What Love Is” (1) (video/credits)
Third and final week at number one.

Your very own cut out and keep Art of Noise mask!

Next up is February 7th.

This Is My Top of the Pops

This edition of Top of the Pops from 24th January 1985 will not be shown on BBC4 due to Mike Smith, so a huge thanks to whoever (once again Neil B probably?) has uploaded here at WeTransfer.

This is my swimsuit!

24/01/85 (Mike Smith & Steve Wright)

Chaka Khan – “This Is My Night” (18)
In the studio at last! And it bounced up four more places.

Ashford & Simpson – “Solid” (13) (video)
With their only top ten hit which peaked at number 3

Strawberry Switchblade – “Since Yesterday” (5)
At its blog title peak.

James Ingram – “Yah Mo B There” (21)
Made it to number 12.

Top 40 Breakers:
Imagination – “Thank You My Love” (22) (breaker)
Their final top 40 hit, and it went no higher.

Billy Ocean – “Loverboy” (24) (breaker)
Peaked at number 15

Big Country - "Just a Shadow" (26) (breaker)
At its peak already.

Art of Noise - "Close (To The Edit)" (30) (breaker)
The first of three top ten hits, this one reaching number 8.

Bucks Fizz - "I Hear Talk" (34) (breaker)
They had of course suffered their terrible coach crash a month earlier, which kept them out of action for quite some time. And this tune went no higher.

The Top Ten Videos:
Russ Abbot - "Atmosphere" (10) (video clip)
Band Aid - "Do They Know It's Christmas?" (9) (video clip)
Wham! - "Last Christmas" (8) (video clip)
Madonna - "Like A Virgin" (7) (video clip)

King – “Love & Pride” (6)
Their first of two top ten hits, this one peaking at number 2.

Strawberry Switchblade - "Since Yesterday" (5) (video clip)
Tears For Fears - "Shout" (4) (video clip)

Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson "I Know Him So Well" (3) (video)
Getting closer to the number one spot.

Prince - "1999" (2) (video clip)

Foreigner – “I Want To Know What Love Is” (1) (video)
Second of three weeks at number one

Kirsty MacColl – “A New England” (38) (audience dancing/credits)
Four years after the Chipshop, a second hit for Kirsty. It was her only solo top ten hit, peaking at number 7.



Next up then is January 31st.

I Want to Know What Top of the Pops Is

It's 17th January 1985, we've still got the top ten videos, there's still no change at number 9, but at last there is a new number one!

Own up! Who overwound the clockwork Amii?

17/01/85 (Gary Davies & Peter Powell)

The Limit – “Say Yeah” (19)
We get underway with a tune that certainly passed my by at the time, it peaked at number 17 and that was then the end for The Limit.

Prince – “1999” (13) (video)
This song had peaked at number 25 two years earlier, but wasn't featured on the show then, now it was back and this time it went all the way to number 2.

Amii Stewart – “Friends” (17)
Looks like Amii was trying to replace Legs & Co all by herself here, with some quite individual dance shapes, and the song went up five more places.

Jonathan King – US chart rundown: edited out.
Pat Benatar – “We Belong” (video clip)
Bryan Adams – “Run To You” (video clip)
Philip Bailey & Phil Collins – “Easy Lover” (video clip)
Chicago – “You’re The Inspiration” (video clip)

Smiley Culture – “Police Officer” (12)
At his peak now and also edited out of tonight's 7.30 showing.

Russ Abbot – “Atmosphere” (18) (video)
This really should have been in the Christmas chart, but as it was it still made it to number7, but was Russ's only top ten hit.

Time for the ten ten videos:
Strawberry Switchblade - "Since Yesterday" (10) (video clip)
At least we get to see a little bit of it on BBC4!

Paul Young -"Everything Must Change" (9) (video clip)

Grandmaster Melle Mel & The Furious Five – “Step Off” (8)
Live in the studio to mime their rap, but it got no higher.

Ray Parker Jr - "Ghostbusters" (7) (video clip)
Elaine Paige & Barbara Dickson - "I Know Him So Well" (6) (TOTP clip)
Tears For Fears - "Shout" (5) (video clip)
Madonna - "Like A Virgin" (4) (video clip)
Wham! - "Last Christmas" (3) (video clip)
Band Aid - "Do They Know It's Christmas?" (2) (video clip)

Foreigner – “I Want To Know What Love Is” (1) (video)
The first of three weeks at number one.

Bruce Springsteen – “Dancing In The Dark” (36) (audience dancing/credits)
Like 1999, this song had also previously been in the top 30, reaching number 28 in 1984. Second time around it did much better and peaked at number 4.


Its January 24th next, but its a Mike Smith so won't be shown on BBC4.

Sharp Dressed Top of the Pops

Incredibly disappointingly, the Mike Smith hosted editions of Top of the Pops are still not being shown on BBC4. I really had hoped that they would have sorted this out by now, but clearly not so! So a huge thanks goes to the kind soul who has made this available, probably once again Neil B?, here at WeTransfer.

But alas tomorrow will never come....

10/01/85 (Mike Read & Mike Smith)

Strawberry Switchblade – “Since Yesterday” (32)
Sadly, I don't think we'll get to see our blog theme tune on BBC4. It was the duo's only top ten hit, peaking a number 5.

ZZ Top – “Sharp Dressed Man” (33) (video)
Peaked at number 22.

Alison Moyet – “Invisible” (21)
Peaked at number 21.

Thompson Twins – “Lay Your Hands On Me” (13) (rpt from 20/12/84)
Peaked at number 13.

Elaine Paige & Barbara Dickson – “I Know Him So Well” (34)
The second single from Chess, and a number one hit of course.

Bronski Beat – “It Ain’t Necessarily So” (19)
Peaked at number 16.

Top 10 videos:
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - "The Power Of Love" (10) (video clip)
Paul Young - "Everything Must Change" (9) (video clip)
Ray Parker Jr - "Ghostbusters" (8) (video clip)
Tears For Fears - "Shout" (7) (video clip)
The Toy Dolls - "Nellie The Elephant" (6) (TOTP clip)
Paul McCartney & The Frog Chorus - "We All Stand Together" (5) (video clip)

Foreigner – “I Want To Know What Love Is” (4) (video)
On its way to number one.

Madonna - "Like A Virgin" (3) (video clip)
Wham! - "Last Christmas" (2) (video clip)

Band Aid – “Do They Know It’s Christmas” (1) (video)
Final week at number one.

Council Collective - "Soul Deep" (26) (audience dancing/credits)
Went up two more places.


Next up then is January 17th.

Top of the Pops Must Change

It's 1985 and a new year brings a new look to Top of the Pops with 'more top hits' including the entire top ten!

Happy Nellie Year!

03/01/85 (John Peel & Richard Skinner)

Smiley Culture – “Police Officer” (34)
Ello Ello Ello! Smiley Culture gets 1985 off to an arresting start with his only top 40 hit, which peaked at number 12.

Sal Solo – “Sam Damiano (Heart & Soul)” (37)
A choir of school children arrive in the studio. Didn't anyone tell them that Christmas was over now! Nevertheless, this still became a number 15 hit for the former Classix Nouveaux frontman, although he never had another make the top 40. And now the new format, the whole of the top ten, though some are just snippets:

Foreigner – “I Want To Know What Love Is” (10) (video clip)
On its way to number one.

Paul Young – “Everything Must Change” (9) (video)
At its peak.

Tears For Fears – “Shout” (8)
Went up four more places.

Frankie Goes To Hollywood – “The Power Of Love” (7) (video clip)
The former number one.

Ray Parker Jr – “Ghostbusters” (6) (video clip)
The former number two.

The Toy Dolls – “Nellie The Elephant” (5)
Their only hit, but they certainly made the most of it, and the audience joined in the party, and it went up one more place.

Madonna – “Like A Virgin” (4) (video)
Went up one more place. Shame they didn't re-show her studio performance instead of the video.

Paul McCartney & The Frog Chorus – “We All Stand Together” (3) (video clip)
At its peak.

Wham! – “Everything She Wants” (2)
George and the gang make it into the studio to perform this fabulous flip side to Last Christmas, but it got no higher.

Band Aid – “Do They Know It’s Christmas” (1) (video)
Penultimate week at number one.

Grandmaster Melle Mel & The Furious Five – “Step Off” (30) (audience dancing/credits)
Their third and final top ten hit, peaking at number 8.

Tonight's BBC1 schedule

Next up is January 10th but sadly, and despite the teasing clip of host Mike Smith in the Story of 1985, this edition will not be shown on BBC4.

You Spin Me Round Like Top of the Pops 1985

Featuring samples of randy dogs, incredibly expensive videos, big hair, even bigger power ballads, a little bit of politics, and even an encouraging clip of Mike Smith, welcome to Top of the Pops n-n-n-1985!

Pete just can't wait for 1985 to start!

Dead or Alive ~ You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)
With their only number one hit, indeed their only top ten hit.

Tears For Fears ~ Everybody Wants to Rule the World
Made it to number two in the spring.


Aha ~ Take on Me
Their ear splitting debut which made it to number two.

Eurythmics ~ There Must be an Angel (Playing With My Heart)
The duo's only number one hit.

The Smiths ~ How Soon is Now?
Their albums all made the top ten, but they fared less well in the singles chart, How Soon is Now peaked at number 24.

Wham ~ Everything She Wants
The flip side of Last Christmas - the biggest number two hit of all time.

Kate Bush ~ Running Up That Hill
After four years away Kate returned to the charts with this fabulous number 3 hit.

Doug E Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew ~ The Show
Their only hit which peaked at number 7.

Jennifer Rush ~ The Power of Love
The biggest selling single of 1985. And the last million seller of the 80's too.

Colonel Abrams ~ Trapped
His only top ten hit peaking at number 3

The Cure ~ In Between Days
Didn't get as high as you might think - peaking at number 15

Bonnie Tyler ~ Holding Out For a Hero
Her final top ten hit and it reached number 2

Sister Sledge ~ Frankie
This song about Frank Sinatra was the girls' only number one hit

Fine Young Cannibals ~ Johnny Come Home
Their debut hit which peaked at number 8

Phyllis Nelson ~ Move Closer
A genuine one hit wonder.

The Cult ~ She Sells Sanctuary
They somehow never had a top ten hit, this one peaked at number 15

Feargal Sharkey ~ A Good Heart
We finish with Feargal a long way from the Undertones with his only number one hit.


Next up then is January 3rd 1985.

What was on your Christmas list in 1985? These were the top-selling toys of the year in the UK. #TOTP pic.twitter.com/SGOhYbut2A

— BBC Four (@BBCFOUR) January 5, 2018