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.
Pity we didn't get to see this one on BBC4, some good pop here.
ReplyDeleteThe Blow Monkeys with one of the finest blue-eyed soul tunes of the decade, still sounds great with a real swing to it. The song's all about the AIDS crisis, but you'd never know it from the laid back sound.
Bangles with their handheld camera-tastic video, spoiled by the text scroll all over it. I suppose it crams more music in, but not many songs are improved by Mike Smith.
Hipsway, yes, the Scottish pop influence still persists, and rather this than Wet Wet Wet. Very acceptable bit of light rock with a repetitive chorus designed to burrow into the ears. McEwan's Lager ads awaited, but this was probably their finest moment.
David Bowie from a film that was a notorious flop - except it wasn't, it made its money back. What it was turned out to be far from the blockbuster it was hyped as, so plenty of people went to see it, just not enough to justify the hype. This was the best track on it, but there were some decent ditties there, Ray Davies' Quiet Life is a favourite of mine. Anyway, a majestic song from the Dame, better than the one he sings on the giant typewriter, with Kate Bush on backing vocals too.
Freddie Jackson, who I mostly know as a very amusing punchline in the 90s comedy Friday, but an old school smoothie soul man doing his thing isn't the worst thing ever, though presumably he had better output than this anonymous melody, no matter what he does with it live.
Breakers, I remember the cartoon cat in the Stones' video, but this is second rate karaoke from a band who didn't need to stoop to that. Howard Jones' last chart-botherer was pleasant in a plaintive way, but no more than that.
Culture Club, the cracks beginning to show, a nice little track but not very exciting from the band who were making so many headlines previously. Lyrics suggest a desire to be away from the limelight. George a big Elvis fan, apparently.
Diana's still there, and the classic video for Prince to end on, overplayed now both on TV and radio, but a terrific, cheeky little number with a real swagger about it. There were few who looked so cool in a video to such a silly song.
I remember the Hispway debut here with The Honey Thief, and loved hearing it on the radio at regular intervals. It was definitely a catchy tune and easy to sing to, if there ever was karaoke at time. They didn't seem to do very much after this debut single, as I don't recall anything else from them, but if this was indeed a one-hit wonder, then it was one of the very best.
DeleteI didn't think that Culture Club were still going in 1986, as I thought they packed up in early 1985, but clearly Boy George had not started his solo career at this point, but it couldn't have been much longer afterwards. Still, it seems that they ditched Helen Terry from their line-up, and even any female vocal was now out of fashion for them.
blow monkeys: does anyone actually know what a blow monkey is? i still don't as i didn't have the curiosity to find out at the time, and they disappeared soon afterwards. i also had no idea what scene dr robert (presumably qualified in the same way as the colonels parker and sanders were?) was going on about either, although in more recent times i read somewhere it was the gay one that he apparently admired but felt concerned about being a gatescrasher as he was (perhaps surprisingly) not of that persuasion himself. that reminds me of a guy i once know who told me "i like and envy gays in that they always seem to have a great social life, but i just don't like what they do to each other"! then as now, i find this perfectly listenable but without ever getting excited about it
ReplyDeletehipsway: like the blow monkeys they were a bunch of sharp-suited purveyors of white dance music who didn't outstay their welcome. but it was simply a stop-gap for the bassist, who had previously been in altered images and the went on to more-lasting success with texas. again nothing special to my ears, but a nice modulation half way through
bowie: the title track of the much-hyped yoof movie featuring patsy kensit (whose so-called sexual appeal was completely lost on me) and her on-screen boyf who then went down the toilet the same way as the film itself did. there are couple of nice chord changes in the verse, but other than that it's far from bowie's best and goes on for far too long
freddie jackson: i remember there being a slew of "laydeez man" black singers at this point, with alexander o'neal and this guy to the fore. to me it sounds like a re-hash of marvin gaye's "sexual healing" - which also didn't have much a tune beyond the chest-beating vocal stylings
culture club: after the double-debacle that was "the war song" and "the medal song" this was actually a return to form of-sorts and preferable to the above similar efforts by the blow monkeys and hipsway, although george's personal problems meant the band would implode soon after. he actually looks quite trim here, although i suppose if you give up food in favour of smack then at one point you are going to look disgusting healthy before descending into living dead territory?
Doctor Robert was named after the Beatles song because he would carry a briefcase to school instead of a schoolbag. Ranks up there with Sting's stripy jumper as "mebbes aye, mebbes naw" nickname origins, for me.
DeleteAccording to www.urbandictionary.com, a blow monkey is a cokehead.
Deletethanks for that john. i have a vague recollection of wondering if it was some kind of sexual slang at the time. and if so, i bet i was far from alone in that regard?
DeleteThe Gruesome Twosome are together again, Smitty obsessing about shoulder pads while Wrighty's NBC jumper is an indicator of his long-time obsession with all things American. In fairness, neither man is at his most annoying here, and the lack of an in-vision link into the first song means we don't see quite as much of them as we would normally do!
ReplyDeleteA classy, sophisticated tune from The Blow Monkeys gets us underway. However, the band definitely fall into the category of better heard than seen, with an annoying bequiffed lead singer and sax player who both clearly fancy themselves. Not sure if that was a bowler hat on the guitarist, but if so I think it might be the first we've seen on TOTP since Lindsey De Paul and Mike Moran in 1977. The Bangles next with their artily composed but rather sombre video, sadly blighted by the new look, but thankfully short-lived, Top 40 rundown.
Hipsway are one of those bands who are probably better remembered for their name than their music. This is OK, with a reasonably catchy chorus, but it lacks a truly memorable hook; unfortunately they also provide us with the second annoying singer of the night. I have never seen Absolute Beginners, though from what I've heard it is terrible. That charge cannot be levelled against this majestic, soaring title song, second only to Ashes to Ashes as my favourite Bowie tune of the 80s, and also arguably his last great single. Good video too, with atmospheric b/w filming and Bowie fitting the gumshoe guise well.
No surprise that Wrighty was so enthusiastic about Freddie Jackson, as he has a thing for this kind of glutinous, overwrought soul ballad. The song isn't up to much in the first place, and goes on far too long, but the strangely-dressed Freddie makes it worse with his incessant emoting, a disease that would inflict an increasing number of soul/R&B singers in the years to come. The breaker clip is as much as we will see of this typically worthy but dreary Howard Jones number, with an equally forgettable promo. I am tempted to speculate that the title was a comment on his faltering career, but this actually did become his biggest American hit, reaching number 4, and he would enjoy a couple more Top 20 hits over there - however, I think this is almost certainly the last we will see of him on TOTP.
Move Away is very much Culture Club's forgotten hit, and I am struggling to remember ever hearing it before. It is a definite improvement on The War Song, but lacks the spark of their best work. George was heavily addicted to smack by this time, and definitely looks pale and wan here; he would be busted four months later, and after one further Top 40 hit the band split. Prince plays us out this week, perving his way through a decidedly risqué video. I don't mind Kiss, and the original is certainly preferable to the Tom Jones version, but the Purple One's high-pitched vocal does grate a bit.
If you think fighting's a bit like dancing, you'll love Absolute Beginners!
DeleteTo do a chart rundown over the no.2 video in the charts is a little disappointing. I mean the week before, it was ok over The Tavares, as it was not a new single but previously released 10 years earlier, but I mean a first top 40 single in the UK for the Bangles now at No.2, well I think that was not necessary by TOTP, and could have been the factor in not getting to No.1 for the American girls.
DeleteBoth the Bangles and David Bowie videos were predicted as future no.1's by the hosts this week, so incidentally, neither of the tunes made it to No.1
However, the five or so videos played in part or full this week, ie, The Bangles, David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, Diana Ross, and Prince, were all crackers and typical 80s indulgence songs, that it made for a fantastic show, if you add in the superb Hipsway in the studio with their Honey Thief!
John G - Yes, the new look chart rundown, thankfully, is incredibly fleeting. There are now just two TOTP editions remaining under the Yellow Pearl format before the revamp takes effect and, since Mike Smith is one host of the latter, only one old-style show still to air on BBC4 before the changes from 03 April. The first April edition followed a bank holiday weekend when Gallup's chart was always released a day later on the Tuesday which means the relaunch will also be a live show.
DeleteIt seems odd in retrospect that Michael Hurll didn't combine the various changes made to the show in the spring of '86 so they happened at once, rather than being spread out rather messily over several weeks. Still, he did seem to favour a state of semi-permanent revolution throughput his tenure, which does make his TOTP era stand in sharp contrast to the relentlessly static format of the Robin Nash years.
DeleteHow long was Hurll in charge?
DeleteDory - Hurll was at the helm from 1980-87.
DeleteThe David Bowie video straight in at no.8 this week was a very good one, and I particularly liked the girl actress in the stripey catsuit at the beginning and end of the video, and they way she moved like an alley cat in the alleys during the video. Meoowwww! I wonder who was she, as she had that look of a very good actress, and quite tasty too!
ReplyDeleteIt was also around this time that Bowie was evolving into Bryan Ferry attire, with suit-and-tie-and-hat, as he was now edging 40, and the future in middle age was approaching, so I guess the Ziggy Stardust look was not appropriate at this point in his life. How times change, but in the case of Bryan Ferry, he always had the suit-and-tie look from beginning to end of career!
It's also interesting that as well as Bowie, we had The Rolling Stones video on the breakers, and very coincidental that the last time we saw Bowie and The Rolling Stones in the charts, was their joint no.1 a few months earlier in 1985 with Dancing In The Street, and here this week they were presenting their follow up single, back with their own bands separately and simultaneously in the charts this week.
Good Lord, I see we got three shows to blog next week, as BBC4 marches on to April 1986 already, and into British SummerTime (BST)!
ReplyDeleteWrighty and Smithy presenting pretty well I thought… Thanks D42 and Robert Thompson.
ReplyDeleteBlow Monkeys – Digging that scene – Artic or Blow? Not fussed really, but quite a pleasant sound even if it’s not really up there with my favourites.
Bangles – Manic Monday – I could listen to this over and over on the other hand, and a nice video too, even if interrupted by the roller blind and Smithy’s attempts to get all the words out in time! He seemed shocked that Nana had gone up a couple of places, but not to worry mate, she’d gone way down to no66 next week!
Hipsway – The Honeythief – I recall neither the song nor the band. What it did bring to mind however was Cliff’s ‘Never say die’.
The Jam, sorry David Bowie – Absolute Beginners – Yep, you guessed, I thought that this was a cover when I first saw it listed but actually it’s a big improvement. The video has snatches of London’s Southbank and a girl presumably from ‘Cat People (putting out fire)’ or maybe just ‘Cats’? Thought I spotted Alan ‘Fluff’ Freeman briefly too. Anyway, a great Bowie hit, featuring Rick Wakeman on ‘additional keyboards’.
Freddie Jackson – Rock me Tonight (for old times sake) – Brackets or no brackets it warrants a swift FF.
Breakers – Rolling Stones – Harlem Shuffle – Prefer Bob and Earl’s original, Howard Jones – No one is to blame – Fairly insipid last hit.
Culture Club – Move away – This was premiered on Noel’s ‘Late, late Breakfast Show’. I recall the hype…”We have the brand new single from Culture Club etc. etc.”. I recall turning to someone that I was with after hearing it and saying simply “Was that it?”.
Diana Ross – Chain Reaction – I’ve praised this to the skies previously…
Prince – Kiss – Great song, but predictably strange video.
p.s. another re-entry I see, this time the Real Thing. I believe that this was also remixed too…
Is it the next edition, the Rolling Stones video gets nobbled by the chart rundown?
ReplyDeleteI haven't watched this show yet, but a few random comments anyway.
ReplyDeleteThe Blow Monkeys definitely featured a member with a bowler hat - he wore it on the picture sleeve of this single for starters. This was their first hit, with their sixth single for RCA. Nowadays you'd get dumped if you didn't chart with your first three. Singer Robert Howard was apparently a very good footballer who nearly got signed by Norwich City.
Hipsway only had one mugshot hit, which was sandwiched between five singles which peaked between 50 and 72.
The balloon's burst big time for poor old Howard Jones, once a regular studio performer but now relegated to breaker snippets. He did reach the top 40 once more, with "All I Want" which only made 35. He managed four more minor hits which peaked between 43 and 70.
The same fate happened to The Thompson Twins at around this time, not even making the top 30 or top 40 any more, and with Howard Jones they seemed to be forgotten about after 1986, despite still being around making music.
DeleteThanks to Robert and D42. The sound on that WeTransfer grab surpassed anything I’ve heard on BBC4 during the re-runs.
ReplyDeleteOh Christ, it’s those two again, but at least we’re spared their fizzogs early doors.
Blow Monkeys with an irritating singer and bassist, a sax about to sneeze, and a wonderful record.
They thought running the chart over a video you wanted to watch and hear properly was such a good idea it lasted more than the one week? Dickheads!
Hipsway with the sound of Simple Minds three years ago and another irritating singer.
That’s right, start Bowie’s song with its second line. Absolute amateurs! That typewriter key he stood on should really move downwards with his weight but, hey, a Susannah Hoffs lookalike in a tight zebra outfit. Wahay!
Nodding Dog gets Freddie’s song title wrong as you’d expect. I know Teddy Pendergrass was the inspiration for Lenny Henry’s Theophilus T. Wildebeest character, but Alex and Freddie kept the joke running with these sort of songs and performances.
Keith Richards leaning on the wall showing how much effort was probably put into that dreadful cover.
The very last we see of Howard Jones, once a stage regular and, lest we forget, the darling of the live railway show, now reduced to mere breaker seconds. “No-One Is To Blame” became his biggest US hit, peaking at 4, and he managed two more top 20’s, a top 30 and a top 40 over there after his star had waned here. He was of his time, sure, but I’ll miss him. Thanks, Howard.
Boy George looking like a ghost of his former self. His jewellery must have weighed more than him. An okayish but unremarkable winter of career single for the Clubbers there.
I’m pretty sure Steve Wright’s lookalike would be more likely called Ponce. A typically understated and liberal video there from Mister Nelson.
To have the chart rundown over a video at no.2 and challenging for the no.1 spot, was quite awful. I mean I can understand doing it the week before on The Tavares at No.12 which was not a new song, but one from 1976, but please, not on The Bangles debut top 40 single in the UK, so close to making no.1!
DeleteSome fairly good stuff in this one, mixed with standard 86 issue dross of course.
ReplyDeleteBlow Monkeys - I was never a massive fan of their stuff, but this song has been in my head all day since watching the show, so they're doing something right.
Hipsway - A good pop song, and as with many of my favourites in 86, a one hit wonder act.
David Bowie - I know lots of people regard this song very highly but I've always found it extremely average I'm afraid.
Freddie Jackson - A good singer? Yes. Balladry of the most tedious kind? Also yes.
Both breakers are awful, the Howard Jones song always sends me to sleep...
Culture Club - Not the best thing they've ever done but it's a pretty good tune and they certainly needed a big hit (make up your own Boy George drugs joke here)
Prince - Overplayed to death on both radio and TV but obviously very good indeed. Who remembers the cover by Age Of Chance?
okay, how about: "culture club's track is not at all bad, but it's not smack on the money either"?
Deletei remember the (late 80's?) age of chance cover of "kiss" now you mention it, but not retained how their version goes in my memory. didn't they also cover a madonna song under the alias ciccone youth?
I remember the Age of Chance cover. My best mate had recently needed to move home and was renting a room with a family who had no humour, likeability or redeeming features. He'd just bought this single, enthused about it wildly and played it to us all in the lounge. Afterwards, you could have cut the atmosphere with a chainsaw.
DeleteYes, Age of Chance in their cycling gear? Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Noise was a decent bit of shouting from them too, though it didn't trouble the charts.
DeleteWilberforce, Ciccone Youth were Sonic Youth doing a Madonna cover (Into the Groove, I think?). Caused much grumbling amongst the noise rock community at the time!
thanks for the correction thx - sonic youth were one of those late 80's bands that were totally wanked over by the NME and suchlike, but what little i heard by them was unlistenable noise and thus to me "emperor's new clothes" music. ditto the pixies and my bloody valentine
DeleteThe Pixies were the greatest band in the world when I was 17! Then they begat grunge... can't win 'em all.
DeleteAgree with you re Sonic Youth wilby. I would add The Wedding Present to your list (though also have to admit to liking a couple of Pixies songs!)
DeleteI once heard Pixies without seeing them. There was a celebrated venue called "The Old Trout" right next to the Thames at Windsor, which was used for secret / final rehearsal gigs by bands playing the Reading Festival 15 miles away the next day. I turned up with some mates to Pixies' gig at the venue and it was a one-in one-out policy, as so many wanted to get in but it was so hot and sweaty inside that punters were being let out by a side door once they couldn't take the heat and moshing! We stayed outdoors the whole gig and enjoyed it!
DeleteFirstly a big thanks to D42 for the Vimeo upload. Great sound and picture quality.
ReplyDeleteQuite a fast paced, packed show tonight and all the better for it. Apart from the chart 40-11 which would be better along the bottom of the screen with the song titles, a good format for the show.
Hosts - Wrighty bearable with Smithy doing most of the work and doing a good job.
Welcome to The Blow Monkeys with a quality tune. This has really stood the test of time and sounds just as good today. A good performance as well.
Manic Monday - as I have said before, great band, great song. The video is OK but nowt special.
Now for a song, and a band I have never heard of. This has managed to pass me by for the last 32 years.
Hipsway with probably the best performance of the night. Cracking tune as well.
Bowie up next with another fabulous record.
"Absolute Beginners" is one of his best 80s songs.
Great video too.
Freddie Jackson sings live and does a brilliant job. Unfortunately the song is instantly forgettable.
Shame the audience refused to wave their hands in the air as prompted.
Breakers:
The 60s revival continues with the Rolling Stones cover of Harlem Shuffle which is frankly awful, as is the video.
Howard Jones (forgot about him) with a last hurrah maybe? Need to check out the full song as we don't get much to listen to here.
Who knew Culture Club were still going through the motions in 86. Song is actually quite a good one but they do look like they are just turning up for the cheque.
Diana gets a second week and Prince plays us out with far too few clothes on for a pale skinny man.
A solid show this week.