Say I'm Your Top of the Pops

Its August 8th 1985, but there's no holiday for Simon and Richard as they host this live edition of Top of the Pops!

Just like that!

08/08/85  (Simon Bates & Richard Skinner)

Amazulu – “Excitable” (25)
Getting this live show underway with their debut hit which peaked at number 12.

Dire Straits – “Money For Nothing” (4) (video)
With a little vocal help from Sting, this second single from their huge number one album Brothers in Arms was now at its peak.

Princess – “Say I’m Your Number One” (31)
Making her debut with what be her only top ten hit when it peaked at number 7.

Maze featuring Frankie Beverly – “Too Many Games” (36) (breaker)
His biggest hit but it got no higher.

Phil Collins – “Take Me Home” (28) (breaker)
The video was shot in 'every capital of the world' apparently ~ and it got to number 19.

UB40 & Chrissie Hynde – “I Got You Babe” (7) (breaker)
On its way to number one.

Go West – “Goodbye Girl” (30)
It seems Go West were no too keen to release this as a single, and I can't say I blame them! But it did plod to number 25.

The Top Ten Videos:
Sister Sledge - "Frankie" (10) (video clip)
Opus - "Live Is Life" (9) (video clip)
Kool & The Gang - "Cherish" (8) (video clip)
UB40 & Chrissie Hynde - "I Got You Babe" (7) (video clip)
Billy Idol - "White Wedding" (6) (video clip)
Madonna - "Holiday" (5) (video clip)
Dire Straits – “Money For Nothing” (4) (video clip)
Tina Turner – “We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)” (3) (video clip)
Eurythmics - "There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart)" (2) (video clip)

Madonna – “Into The Groove” (1) (video)
Second of four weeks at number one.

Madonna – “Holiday” (5) (audience dancing/credits)
And Madge gets the rare honour of having a second song played on the same show. It had been her debut hit peaking at number 6 a year earlier, but this time it went up to number 2.


August 15th is next.

In Between Top of the Pops

This edition of Top of the Pops from August 1st 1985 will not be shown on BBC4 because of the ongoing dispute between Mike Smith and the BBC. But have no fear, your Good Friday has just got even better with thanks to Crystal who has made it available here at WeTransfer

There's only one 'F' in Five Star

01/08/85  (Mike Read & Mike Smith)

Five Star – “Let Me Be The One” (18)
In the studio at last but the song got no higher.

Tina Turner – “We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)” (3) (video)
At its peak.

Gary Moore – “Empty Rooms” (29)
Peaked at number 23.

Prince – “Raspberry Beret” (33) (breaker)
Peaked at number 25.

Nik Kershaw – “Don Quixote” (23) (breaker)
His final top ten hit, peaking at number 10.

Bruce Springsteen – “Glory Days” (21) (breaker)
Peaked at number 17.

The Cure – “In Between Days” (20)
Went up five more places.

The Top Ten Videos:
Jaki Graham - "Round & Around" (10) (video clip)
Trans X - "Living On Video" (9) (video clip)
DIre Straits - "Money For Nothing" (8) (video clip)
Kool & The Gang - "Cherish" (7) (Montreux clip)
Opus - "Live Is Life" (6) (video clip)
Harold Faltermeyer - "Axel F" (5) (video clip)
Sister Sledge - "Frankie" (4) (video clip)
Tina Turner – “We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)” (3) (video clip)
Eurythmics - "There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart)" (2) (video clip)

Madonna – “Into The Groove” (1) (video)
First of four weeks at number one.

Billy Idol - "White Wedding" (11) (audience dancing/credits)
His first of three top ten hits, this one peaking at number 6.


August 8th is next.

Living on Top of the Pops

It's summertime and the living on Top of the Pops 1985 is easy!

When you forget to bring your semaphore flags

25/07/85  (Gary Davies & Dixie Peach)

Arrow – “Long Time” (36)
After a little edit to snip Gary Davies' suntan joke we get off to a very summery start to tonight's show and Long Time became Arrow's only top 30 hit when it peaked at number 30.

Madonna – “Into The Groove” (4) (video)
Following Live Aid, Madonna's career went into orbit and Into the Groove became her first of 13 number ones.

Feargal Sharkey – “Loving You” (30)
Swished his hair all the way to number 26.

The Cure – “In Between Days” (35) (breaker)
Peaked at number 15.

The Pointer Sisters – “Dare Me” (23) (breaker – Montreux clip)
Their final hit, peaking at number 17.

Dire Straits – “Money For Nothing” (15) (breaker)
Another act who got a huge live Aid boost - this tune peaked at number 4.

Trans X – “Living On Video” (10)
Sounding very European, although they were from Canada, the song went up one more place and was their only hit.

The Top Nine:
Jaki Graham - "Round & Around" (9) (video clip)
Denise LaSalle - "My Toot Toot" (8) (TOTP clip)
Opus - "Live Is Life" (7) (video clip)
Madonna - "Crazy For You" (6) (video clip)
Kool & The Gang - "Cherish" (5) (Montreux clip)
Madonna - "Into The Groove" (4) (video clip)
Harold Faltermeyer - "Axel F" (3) (video clip)
Sister Sledge - "Frankie" (2) (video clip)

Eurythmics – “There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart)” (1) (rpt from 11/07/85)
Shame they couldn't make it into the studio for a new performance of what would be their only week ever at number one.

Opus – “Live Is Life” (7) (audience dancing/credits)
Went up one more place.



August 1st is next but its another Mike Smith one.

All Night Top of the Pops

This edition of Top of the Pops from July 18th 1985 will not be shown on BBC4 because Mike Smith did not sign his repeats contract. So a huge thanks goes once again to Neil B for making it available here at We Transfer.

The shirt must go on

18/07/85  (Peter Powell & Mike Smith)

Simply Red – “Money’s Too Tight (To Mention)” (13)
Making their studio debut with a live vocal but the song got no higher.

Steve Arrington – “Dancin’ In The Key Of Life” (23) (video)
Peaked at number 21.

The Cool Notes – “In Your Car” (15)
Peaked at number 13.

Russ Abbot – “All Night Holiday” (25)
Making his debut in the studio as a performer, this song peaked at 20.

The Cult – “She Sells Sanctuary” (19)
Another studio debut, and the song peaked at number 15.

Jaki Graham – “Round & Around” (12)
Peaked at number 9.

Tina Turner – “We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)” (37) (breaker)
Peaked at number 3.

Billy Idol – “White Wedding” (34) (breaker)
Peaked at number 6.

Feargal Sharkey – “Loving You” (31) (breaker)
Peaked at number 26.

Trans X – “Living On Video” (18) (breaker)
Their only hit, peaking at number 9.

The Top Ten Videos:
Marti Webb - "Ben" (10) (video clip)
Fine Young Cannibals - "Johnny Come Home" (9) (video clip)
Opus – “Live Is Life" (8) (video clip)
Bruce Springsteen - "I'm On Fire" (7) (video clip)
Denise LaSalle – “My Toot Toot” (6) (TOTP clip)
Madonna - "Crazy For You" (5) (video clip)
Kool & The Gang - "Cherish" (4) (Montreux clip)
Eurythmics – “There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart)” (3) (video clip)
Harold Faltermeyer - "Axel F" (2) (video clip)

Sister Sledge – “Frankie” (1) (video)
Fourth and final week at number one.

Five Star – “Let Me Be The One” (40) (audience dancing/credits)
Peaked at number 18.


July 25th is next.

Live is Top of the Pops

Alright! Alright! Calm down! Calm down! John is back tonight to help Janice host this 11th July 1985 live edition of Top of the Pops!

Eh? Eh? Eh? Dey do do dat dough don't dey dough?

11/07/85  (Janice Long & John Peel)

The Conway Brothers – “Turn It Up” (18)
This one hit boy band get tonight's live show underway, and considering there was four of them they could have done with turning up the vocal volume a notch! The song peaked at number 11.

Eurythmics – “There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart)” (10)
Would become the duo's only number one hit in two weeks time.

Opus – “Live Is Life” (15)
With those perms and tashes they looked more like a scouse version of Black Lace than an Austrian one! The song peaked at number 6.

Russ Abbot – “All Night Holiday” (35) (breaker)
This follow up to Atmosphere was Russ's final hit and it peaked at number 20.

Steve Arrington – “Dancin’ In The Key Of Life” (34) (breaker)
His second and final hit, peaking at number 21.

Jaki Graham – “Round & Around” (27) (breaker)
Peaked at number 9.

The Top Ten Videos:
Eurythmics - "There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart" (10) (video clip)
Mai Tai - "History" (9) (video clip)
Fine Young Cannibals - "Johnny Come Home" (8) (video clip)

Denise LaSalle – “My Toot Toot” (7)
Live in the studio, looking like the love child of Tina Turner and Divine, performing her only hit, and it reached number 6.

Marti Webb - "Ben" (6) (video clip)
Bruce Springsteen - "I'm On Fire" (5) (video clip)
Kool & The Gang - "Cherish" (4) (Montreux clip)
Madonna - "Crazy For You" (3) (video clip)
Harold Faltermeyer - "Axel F" (2) (video clip)

Sister Sledge – “Frankie” (1) (rpt)
Third of four weeks at the top.

Animal Nightlife – “Love Is Just The Great Pretender” (37) (audience dancing/credits)
Their second and final top 40 hit, it peaked at number 28. And we are reminded in big letters that Live Aid is happening on Saturday.


July 18th is next, but its a Mike Smith edition.

Top of the Pops Over Heels

It might have been Independence Day in America but on this side of the Pond the 4th July 1985 was Top of the Pops day!

Pete grows a pair

04/07/85  (Simon Bates & Richard Skinner)

Dead Or Alive – “In Too Deep” (19)
This third single from their top ten album Youthquake peaked at number 14.

Tears For Fears – “Head Over Heels” (12) (Montreux clip)
Now at its peak.

The Damned – “The Shadow Of Love” (25)
Performing a kind of gothic cowboy song which did not get any higher up the charts.

Fine Young Cannibals – “Johnny Come Home” (11)
On its way to number 8.

Simply Red – “Money’s Too Tight (To Mention)” (33) (breaker)
The first of 32 top 40 hits for the band.

The Cult – “She Sells Sanctuary” (30) (breaker)
Their first of 12 top 40 hits.

The Style Council – “Come To Milton Keynes” (27) (breaker)
Er....... well it somehow made it to number 23.

Opus - "Live Is Life" (26) (breaker)
Oh my word, BBC4 let a mention of Jonathan King slip through the net! Let's pray the world doesn't come to an end! Anyhow, this was the only hit for Opus, and it peaked at number 6.

The Top Ten Videos:

Marillion - "Kayleigh" (10) (video clip)
Mai Tai - "History" (9) (video clip)
Bruce Springsteen - "I'm On Fire" (8) (video clip)
Billy Ocean - "Suddenly" (7) (video clip)
The Crowd - "You'll Never Walk Alone" (6) (video clip)
Marti Webb - "Ben" (5) (video clip)
Kool & The Gang - "Cherish" (4) (Montreux clip)
Madonna - "Crazy For You" (3) (video clip)
Harold Faltermeyer - "Axel F" (2) (video clip)

Sister Sledge – “Frankie” (1) (rpt)
Second of four weeks at number one.

Glenn Frey – “Smuggler's Blues” (28) (audience dancing/credits)
His second and final solo hit, it peaked at number 22.


11th July is next.

Top of the Pops of Memories

This edition of Top of the Pops from 27th June 1985 will not be shown on BBC4 unfortunately because Mike Smith refused to sign a repeats contract. So a huge thanks once again goes to Neil B for making it available here at WeTransfer.

n-n-n-nice sweater

27/06/85  (Peter Powell & Mike Smith)

Paul Young – “Tomb Of Memories” (17)
Went up one more place.

Kool & The Gang – “Cherish” (5) (Montreux clip)
Also went up one more place.

The Commentators – “N-N-Nineteen (Not Out)” (23)
The perfect chart peak for this Rory Bremner spoof would have been number 19 of course, but alas it was not to be, and the pesky thing made it to number 13 instead!

Bruce Springsteen – “I’m On Fire” (11) (video)
On its way to number 5.

Marti Webb – “Ben” (9)
Also on its way to number 5.

Elton John & Millie Jackson – “Act Of War” (32) (breaker)
Got no higher.

The Damned – “The Shadow Of Love” (29) (breaker)
Went up four more places.

Howard Jones – “Life In One Day” (22) (breaker)
Peaked at number 14.

Sister Sledge – “Frankie” (1)
We appear to be one sister short for this first of four weeks at number one.

The Conway Brothers – “Turn It Up” (30) (audience dancing/credits)
Their only hit and it peaked at number 11.

July 4th is next.

Top of the Pops Come Home

Here boy! Here Boy! Sit! 

Time for the 20th June 1985 edition of Top of the Pops! 

Good Boy!

All the other acts were wondering where their keyboards had gone....

20/06/85  (Gary Davies & Janice Long)

Fine Young Cannibals – “Johnny Come Home” (15)
Roland and his flesh eating friends get the show underway this week and the song went up ten more places.

Sting – “If You Love Somebody Set Them Free” (28)
This first single from his top 3 album 'The Dream of the Blue Turtles' only went up two more places.

Mai Tai – “History” (9)
A second appearance in the studio for the trio and History went up one more place.

Paul Young – “Tomb Of Memories” (30) (breaker)
Peaked at number 16.

Tears For Fears – “Head Over Heels” (24) (breaker)
Peaked at number 12.

Marti Webb – “Ben” (12) (breaker)
This charity record in aid of the Ben Hardwick Memorial Fund peaked at number 5.

China Crisis – “King In A Catholic Style (Wake Up)” (26)
Performing their final top 30 hit, peaking at number 19.

Harold Faltermeyer – “Axel F” (10)
In the studio with all his keyboards to mime this instrumental which peaked at number 2.

The Top .. er .. 9:

Mai Tai - "History" (9) (video clip)
Animotion - "Obsession" (8) (video clip)
Kool & The Gang - "Cherish" (7) (Montreux clip)
Scritti Politti - "The Word Girl" (6) (video clip)
Billy Ocean - "Suddenly" (5) (video clip)
Marillion - "Kayleigh" (4) (video clip)
Madonna - "Crazy For You" (3) (video clip)
Sister Sledge - "Frankie" (2) (video clip)

The Crowd – “You’ll Never Walk Alone” (1) (video)
Final week at number one.

Prince - "Paisley Park" (22) (video/credits)
Peaked at number 18.


27th June is next, but it's a Mike Smith one so BBC4 won't be showing it.

Crazy For Top of the Pops

Maybe you need to be in a straitjacket not to watch this peach of an edition from 13th June 1985 of Top of the Pops!

Busting up the charts

13/06/85  (Dixie Peach & Mike Read)

Scritti Politti – “The Word Girl” (8)
With Dixie Peach making his presenting debut to introduce tonight's opening act who went up two more places.

Madonna – “Crazy For You” (9) (video)
From the movie Vision Quest (never heard of it!) and on its way to number 2.

Sister Sledge – “Frankie” (11)
The sisters squeeze into the studio with a song that will be number one in two weeks time.

Harold Faltermeyer – “Axel F” (30) (breaker)
From the movie Beverley Hills Cop this was Harold's only top 40 hit, peaking at number 2.

Bruce Springsteen – “I’m On Fire” (23) (breaker)
Double 'A' side with Born in the USA,  - it peaked at number 5.

Fine Young Cannibals – “Johnny Come Home” (16) (breaker)
Their first of five top ten hits, this one reaching number 8.

Billy Ocean – “Suddenly” (4)
A second studio performance from Billy but Suddenly was now at its peak.

Marillion – “Kayleigh” (2)
Fish has got his full dress kilt on this time but Kayleigh was another song also at its peak.

The Crowd – “You’ll Never Walk Alone” (1) (video)
We didn't get to hear very much of it, did we? First of two weeks at number one.

Animotion – “Obsession” (5) (audience dancing/credits)
Now at its peak.


20th June is next.

Top of the Pops in the Fields

It's the summer of 1985, the sky is blue, the meadows are lush and green and the 6th June edition of Top of the Pops is here!

Fresh air guitar

06/06/85 (Simon Bates & Richard Skinner)

Gary Moore & Phil Lynott – “Out In The Fields” (5)
The Thin Lizzie duo get the show underway this week but the song went up no higher.

The Crowd – “You’ll Never Walk Alone” (4) (video)
It was a dark time for football, and this charity record was in aid of the Bradford City fire. It would be next week's number one.

Mai Tai – “History” (16)
On its way to number 8.

Kool & The Gang – “Cherish” (22) (Montreux clip)
With their final proper top ten hit, discounting remixes and samples, which peaked at number 4.

Propaganda – “Duel” (21)
Got no higher.

Sister Sledge – “Frankie” (29) (breaker)
A future number one.

Madonna – “Crazy For You” (25) (breaker)
A future number two.

David Bowie – “Loving The Alien” (23) (breaker)
A future number 19.

Paul Hardcastle – “19” (remix) (1) (video/credits)
Fifth and final week at number one!


June 13th is next.

Top of the Pops on the Cake

Janice is all dressed up pretty as a birthday cake but John has gone and stood her up in the studio on this very very live edition of Top of the Pops from 30th May 1985!

It's my Top of the Pops and I'll introduce Stephen Tin Tin Duffy if I want to!

30/05/85  (Janice Long)

Stephen Tin Tin Duffy – “Icing On The Cake” (20)
The birthday boy gets tonight's show underway and his song went up six more places.

Animotion – “Obsession” (12) (video)
On its way to number 5.

Billy Ocean – “Suddenly” (19)
Live in the studio with his own version of Lionel Richie's Hello which peaked at number 4.

Propaganda – “Duel” (36) (breaker)
Peaked at number 21.

Mai Tai – “History” (32) (breaker)
Their first of two top ten hits, this one reaching number 8.

Gary Numan – “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” (27) (breaker – live clip)
Got no higher.

OMD – “So In Love” (28)
He'll never be a scout with that shirt! And this song went up just one more place.

Scritti Politti – “The Word Girl” (15)
On its way to number 6.

The Top Ten Videos:
Bryan Ferry - "Slave To Love" (10) (video clip)
Katrina & The Waves - "Walking On Sunshine" (9) (video clip)
Gary Moore & Phil Lynott - "Out In The Fields" (8) (video clip)
Bronski Beat & Marc Almond - "I Feel Love" (7) (video clip)
Phyllis Nelson - "Move Closer" (6) (TOTP clip)
DeBarge - "Rhythm Of The Night" (5) (video clip)
Marillion - "Kayleigh" (4) (video clip)
Jimmy Nail - "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" (3) (video clip)
Duran Duran - "A View To A Kill" (2) (video clip)

Paul Hardcastle – “19” (remix) (1) (video)
Fourth week at number one.

Five Star – “All Fall Down” (30) (audience dancing/credits)
The beginning of an incredibly successful three years for the group, this debut hit peaked at number 15.


June 6th is next.

Top of the Pops on Sunshine

Forget all about the beast from the east for a while and instead warm your cockles up with this May 23rd 1985 edition of Top of the Pops!

Something fishy going on

23/05/85  (Mike Read & Steve Wright)

Go West – “Call Me” (17)
The show starts enthusiastically and Call Me peaked at number 12.

Katrina & The Waves – “Walking On Sunshine” (20) (video)
A somewhat grim video to accompany this spring time song that peaked at number 8.

Marillion – “Kayleigh” (7)
Getting rid of the weird make-up and going all mainstream paid off for Fish and the boys and Kayleigh went up five more places.

The Power Station – “Get It On” (24) (video)
Their second and final top 40 hit, this homage to T-Rex went up two more places.

Gary Moore & Phil Lynott – “Out In The Fields” (18)
Peaked at number 5 but edited out of tonight's 7.30 broadcast.

Stephen Tin Tin Duffy – “Icing On The Cake” (35) (breaker)
Could have been such a perfect name for his final hit had it not peaked at number 14.

Scritti Politti – “The Word Girl” (29) (breaker)
His second and final top ten hit, peaking at number 6.

Animotion – “Obsession” (28) (breaker)
Their only hit, peaking at number 5.

Depeche Mode – “Shake The Disease” (21)
Looking suitably moody and the tune went up three more places.

Paul Hardcastle – “19” (remix) (1) (video)
A freshened up version for its third of five weeks at number one.

Skipworth & Turner – “Thinking About Your Love” (36) (audience dancing/credits)
Peaked at number 24.


May 30th is next.

Slave to Top of the Pops

What better master could possibly own you tonight? So give your chains a thankful rattle and enjoy this 16th May 1985 edition of Top of the Pops!

Love don't live here why aye pet!

16/05/85  (Gary Davies & Peter Powell)

Kim Wilde – “Rage To Love” (22)
Kim gets her Suzi Quatro leathers on to get tonight's show off to a rockabilly start with a song that peaked at number 19.

Bryan Ferry – “Slave To Love” (14) (video)
As you might expect Bryan serves up a sexy video to go with his sophisticated final top ten song, (taken from his number one album Boys and Girls) that peaked at number 10.

Loose Ends – “Magic Touch” (20)
Peaked at number 16 but edited out of tonight's 7.30 showing.

Duran Duran – “A View To A Kill” (7) (video)
Le Bon, Simon Le Bon and the gang get up to all manner of secret agent stuff up the Eiffel Tower with this Bond theme that peaked at number 2.

Jimmy Nail – “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” (8)
Making his studio debut with this Rose Royce cover that reached an impressive number 3.

Depeche Mode – “Shake The Disease” (25) (breaker)
It would be five long years before their next top ten hit. This one peaked at number 18.

Go West – “Call Me” (24) (breaker)
Made it ti number 12.

Marillion – “Kayleigh” (15) (breaker)
Now this one really was a breaker. Peaking at number 2, it was the band's biggest hit and their first of three top ten hits.

Top Ten Videos:
Simple Minds - "Don't You (Forget About Me)" (10) (video clip)
Tears For Fears - "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" (9) (video clip)
Jimmy Nail – “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” (8) (video clip)
Duran Duran – “A View To A Kill” (7) (video clip)
The Style Council – “Walls Come Tumbling Down” (6) (video clip)
Steve Arrington - "Feel So Real" (5) (video clip)
DeBarge - "Rhythm Of The Night" (4) (video clip)
Bronski Beat & Marc Almond – “I Feel Love” (3) (video clip)
Phyllis Nelson – “Move Closer” (2) (TOTP clip)

Paul Hardcastle – “19” (1) (video)
Second of five weeks at the top.

Divine – “Walk Like A Man” (23) (audience dancing/credits)
Got no higher.


May 23rd 1985 is next.