Top of the Pops = MC²

Get ready to wave your wands in the air for this wizard edition of Top of the Pops from April 3rd 1986!

Abracadabra!

03/04/86 (Janice Long & John Peel)

Big Audio Dynamite – “E=MC²” (20)
Peaked at number 11.

George Michael – “A Different Corner” (4) (video)
Became his second of seven number one hits.

A-ha – “Train Of Thought” (23)
Their third of eight top ten hits.

Paul Hardcastle – interview

The Real Thing – “You To Me Are Everything” (5)
Got to number one in 1976, but this re-mix was now at its peak.

Falco – “Rock Me Amadeus” (10)
Will get to number one next month!

Cliff Richard & The Young Ones – “Living Doll” (1) (video)
Second of three weeks at number one.

The Style Council – “Have You Ever Had It Blue?” (27) (video/audience dancing/credits)
Peaked at number 14.

April 10th is next but it's yet another Mike Smith one so won't be shown on BBC4.

Top of the Pops Darling

This edition of Top of the Pops from 27th March 1986 will not be shown on BBC4 due to the contract dispute with Mike Smith. I'm away this weekend but I'll post any available download link when I get back. In the meantime, here's the (almost) full show on Youtube.

And a huge thanks to Neil B for the WeTransfer download here

Big hits

27/03/86  (Bruno Brookes & Mike Smith)

Samantha Fox – “Touch Me (I Want Your Body)” (4)
Making her debut with her first of three top ten hits, this one peaking at number 3.

Atlantic Starr – “Secret Lovers” (24) (video/chart)
Their first of two top ten hit, this one peaking at number 10.

Tippa Irie – “Hello Darling” (33)
His only top 30 hit, peaking at number 22.

Bronski Beat – “C’mon C’mon” (40) (breaker)
Their final top 30 hit, peaking at number 20.

Big Audio Dynamite – “E=MC2” (34) (breaker)
Peaked at number 11.

Falco – “Rock Me Amadeus” (27) (breaker)
Will go all the the way to number one.

Queen – “A Kind Of Magic” (16) (video)
Peaked at number 3.

The Art Of Noise & Duane Eddy – “Peter Gunn” (12)
Became their second of three top ten hits when it peaked at number 8.

Cliff Richard & The Young Ones – “Living Doll” (1) (video)
First of three weeks at number one.

Stevie Wonder – “Overjoyed” (25) (video/audience dancing/credits)
Peaked at number 17.


Next up is April 3rd.

Hi Ho Top of the Pops

Away! The March 20th 1986 edition of Top of the Pops rides again!

Feeling flash

20/03/86  (Simon Bates & Janice Long)

Jim Diamond – “Hi Ho Silver” (5)
At its peak.

The Rolling Stones – “Harlem Shuffle” (13) (video/chart)
Also at its peak.

Pet Shop Boys – “Love Comes Quickly” (21)
This follow up to West End Girls peaked at number 19.

Stevie Wonder – “Overjoyed” (36) (breaker)
Peaked at number 17.

Siouxsie & The Banshees – “Candyman” (34) (breaker)
Got no higher.

Cliff Richard & The Young Ones – “Living Doll” (4) (video)
The first 'Comic Relief' single and it will be number one next week.

The Real Thing – “You To Me Are Everything” (19)
Another re-mix making the 1986 charts, this one peaking at number 5.

Diana Ross – “Chain Reaction” (1) (video)
Final week at number one.

Mr Mister – “Kyrie” (15) (video/audience dancing/credits)
Peaked at number 11.


March 27th is next but it features Mike Smith so will not be shown on BBC4.

Digging Your Top of the Pops

This edition of Top of the Pops from March 13th 1986 will not be shown on BBC4 due to the contract dispute with Mike Smith. So a huge thanks goes to Robert Thompson for making it available here at WeTransfer.

And also thanks to D42 for making it available to stream here at Vimeo

The cut and blow dry monkeys

13/03/86  (Mike Smith & Steve Wright)

The Blow Monkeys – “Digging Your Scene” (20)
Their debut hit, it peaked at number 12.

Bangles – “Manic Monday” (2) (video/chart)
At its chart rundown peak.

Hipsway – “The Honeythief” (22)
Their only top 40 hit, it peaked at number 17.

David Bowie – “Absolute Beginners” (8) (video)
His final top ten hit of the 80's, it peaked at number 2.

Freddie Jackson – “Rock Me Tonight (For Old Time’s Sake)” (26)
His only top 20 hit, it peaked at number 18.

The Rolling Stones – “Harlem Shuffle” (27) (breaker)
Peaked at number 13.

Howard Jones – “No One is To Blame” (23) (breaker)
His final top 20 hit, it peaked at number 16.

Culture Club – “Move Away” (17)
Their final top ten hit of the 80's, peaking at number 7.

Diana Ross – “Chain Reaction” (1) (video)
Second of three weeks at number one.

Prince – “Kiss” (13) (video/audience dancing/credits)
Peaked at number 6.


March 20th is next.

Hounds of Top of the Pops

Had a rough day? Feeling hot under the collar? Well then, you'd have to be barking mad to miss this March 6th 1986 edition of Top of the Pops! Now sit!

Leading lady

06/03/86 (Gary Davies & Dixie Peach)

Mike & The Mechanics – “Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground)” (25)
The debut hit for this Genesis spin off band, featuring Phil Collins soundalike (and lookalike!) Paul Carrack on lead vocals and it peaked at number 21.

Tavares – “Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel” (12) (video/chart)
We interrupt this song to bring you the new chart rundown! Not one of the show's better ideas, and the song itself was now at its re-mixed peak.

Kate Bush – “Hounds Of Love” (18)
In the studio to perform the title track from her monster number one album, but this terrific single could get no higher than number 18.

Frank Sinatra – “Theme From New York New York” (10) (live clip)
It had peaked at number 59 when originally released in 1980, but this time around it made it to number 4, becoming Frank's eleventh of twelve top ten hits and his first top ten hit since 1969.

Jim Diamond – “Hi Ho Silver” (16)
The theme song from the tv series Boon, this was Jim's final hit, peaking at number 5.

Mr Mister – “Kyrie” (29) (breaker)
Their second and final hit, peaking at number 11.

Prince – “Kiss” (27) (breaker)
One of his most famous songs and videos, Kiss peaked at number 6.

Whistle – “(Nothing Serious) Just Buggin’” (14)
With their only hit, which peaked at number 7.

Diana Ross – “Chain Reaction” (1) (video)
First of three weeks at number one.

Huey Lewis & The News – “Power Of Love” (11) (video/audience dancing/credits)
It had peaked at number 11 less than a year before, this time around it made it to number 9 to become the band's only top ten hit.


March 13th is next but it's a Mike Smith edition so BBC4 will skip it.

Top of the Pops Missile F1-11

The engine has ignited and it's time to launch the February 27th 1986 edition of Top of the Pops!

Testing, testing, one, two, three

27/02/86  (Paul Jordan & Steve Wright)

Sigue Sigue Sputnik – “Love Missile F1-11” (7)
Getting tonight's show off the ground with what was to be their only top ten hit when it reached its peak of number 3.

Talking Heads – “And She Was” (19) (video)
Another imaginative video and this time we get to see all the Heads rather than just David's, but this would be their final top 40 hit, peaking at number 17.

Audrey Hall – “One Dance Won’t Do” (27)
Her first of two top 20 hits, this one peaking at number 20.

Alexander O’Neal – “If You Were Here Tonight” (24)
With his first solo hit and it peaked at number 13.

Kate Bush – “Hounds Of Love” (26) (breaker)
Peaked at number 18.

Tavares – “Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel” (25) (breaker)
We saw it get to number 4 in 1976, this time around it made it to number 12.

Bangles – “Manic Monday” (10)
In the studio to perform their first of three top ten hits, this one peaking at number 2.

Billy Ocean – “When The Going Gets Tough The Tough Get Going” (1) (video)
Fourth and final week at number one.

Colonel Abrams – “I’m Not Gonna Let You” (29) (audience dancing/credits)
His final top 40 hit, peaking at number 24.

Next up is March 6th.

Top of the Pops Reaction

It's time for the February 20th 1986 edition of Top of the Pops!

When you electrocute Worzel Gummidge

20/02/86 (Janice Long & Mike Read)

Paul Hardcastle & Carol Kenyon – “Don’t Waste My Time” (13)
On its way to number 8.

Diana Ross – “Chain Reaction” (4) (video)
On its way to number one.

Depeche Mode – “Stripped” (23)
On its way to number 15.

Survivor – “Burning Heart” (8) (video)
On its way to number 5.

Public Image Ltd – “Rise” (11)
It didn't rise any further.

Billy Ocean – “When The Going Gets Tough The Tough Get Going” (1) (rpt)
Third of four weeks at number one.

The Damned – “Eloise” (3) (audience dancing/credits)
At its peak.


February 27th is next.

Top of the Pops Together

Good evening campers! Is there anything better after enjoying a nice dip in the Olympic size swimming pool than to settle down in the family lounge to watch the 13th February 1986 edition of Top of the Pops?

Hit de Hit!

13/02/86 (Gary Davies & Steve Wright)

Belouis Some – “Imagination” (22)
On its way to number 17.

Whitney Houston – “How Will I Know?” (10) (video)
Went up five more places.

Latin Quarter – “Radio Africa” (24)
Their only top 40 hit, it peaked at number 19.

Su Pollard – “Starting Together” (9) (video)
Her only top ten hit, peaking at number 2. Ho De Ho!

Paul Hardcastle & Carol Kenyon – “Don’t Waste My Time” (25) (breaker)
His final top ten hit, it peaked at number 8.

Survivor – “Burning Heart” (15) (breaker)
Almost four years after Eye of the Tiger, this was their second and final hit, peaking at number 5.

Diana Ross – “Chain Reaction” (14) (breaker)
Will become her second and final solo number one.

Shakin’ Stevens – “Turning Away” (23)
Peaked at number 15.

Billy Ocean – “When The Going Gets Tough The Tough Get Going” (1)
Second of four weeks at number one.

Madonna – “Borderline” (2) (audience dancing/credits)
At its peak.


Next up is February 20th.

Top of the Pops Addict

Time for another fix of Top of the Pops with this edition from February 6th 1986!

When your thumb looks like a guitar

06/02/86 (Simon Bates & Paul Jordan)

The Damned – “Eloise” (18)
Their only top ten hit, it peaked at number 3.

Five Star – “System Addict” (6) (video)
Their first of six top ten hits, this one peaked at number 3.

Ozzy Osbourne – “Shot In The Dark” (21)
Went up one more place.

Belouis Some – “Imagination” (25) (breaker)
Became his only top 20 hit when it peaked at number 17.

Public Image Ltd – “Rise” (20) (breaker)
Peaked at number 11.

Whitney Houston – “How Will I Know?” (19) (breaker)
Peaked at number 5.

Double – “The Captain Of Her Heart” (14)
Their only top ten hit, peaking at number 8.

Billy Ocean – “When The Going Gets Tough The Tough Get Going” (1) (video)
First of four weeks at number one.

James Brown – “Living In America” (8) (audience dancing/credits)
Went up three more places.


Next up is February 13th.