Top of the Pops Removal Machine

This edition of Top of the Pops from 26th February 1987 will not be shown on BBC4 due to the issue with Mike Smith's contract. So a huge thanks once again goes to the uploader for making it available here at We Transfer.

Tongue of the Pops

26/02/87  (Mike Smith & Steve Wright)

The Jets – “Crush On You” (9)
Peaked at number 5.

Simply Red – “The Right Thing” (15) (video)
Peaked at number 11.

The Cult – “Love Removal Machine” (18)
Performing in the studio but the song went no higher.

Level 42 – “Running In The Family” (7)
Went up one more place.

The Communards – “You Are My World” (21) (breaker)
This song had peaked at number 30 in 1985 - this remix made it to number 21.

A-ha – “Manhattan Skyline” (17) (breaker)
Became their first single not to make the top ten when it peaked at number 13.

Mental As Anything – “Live It Up” (8)
Peaked at number 3.

Ben E. King – “Stand By Me” (1) (video)
Second of three weeks at number one.

Duran Duran – “Skin Trade” (24) (+ credits)
Went up one more place.


March 5th is next.

Top of the Pops Stripper

You can take off your coat, you can take off your shoes and you can rip off your hot cop drag ~ but you can leave on your 19th February edition of Top of the Pops!

Strip Off the Pops

19/02/87  (Gary Davies)

Westworld – “Sonic Boom Boy” (22)
Getting this giddy show off to a hillbilly start are Westworld with their debut and biggest hit, which peaked at number 11.

Carly Simon – “Coming Around Again” (14) (video)
Became her fourth and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 10. I remember buying this single at the time, but mainly for the cute B-side ~ Itsy Bitsy Spider!

Curiosity Killed The Cat – “Down To Earth” (3)
In the studio once again but the song would go no higher.

Man 2 Man Meets Man Parrish – “Male Stripper” (6)
Teasing all the screaming ladies in the audience into a frenzy, this dance floor filler went up two more places.

Duran Duran – “Skin Trade” (25) (breaker)
Peaked at number 22.

Simply Red – “The Right Thing” (23) (breaker)
Peaked at number 11.

Mental As Anything – “Live It Up” (19) (breaker)
Their only hit and it peaked at number 3.

The Jets – “Crush On You” (18) (breaker)
Not the same Jets we saw doing Yes Tonight Josephine back in 1981, but a different group and this became their only top 40 hit when it peaked at number 5.

Eric Clapton – “Behind The Mask” (15)
In the studio for the first time since his Cream days, but this song was now at its chart peak.

Ben E. King – “Stand By Me” (1) (video)
First of three weeks at number one.

Europe – “Rock The Night” (17) (video/credits)
Went up five more places.


Next up is February 26th but it is another Mike Smith edition.

Top of the Pops in the Family

Brothers and sisters, welcome home! You're just in time for the 1200th edition of Top of the Pops!

Thumb of the pops

12/02/87  (Simon Mayo & Peter Powell)

Level 42 – “Running In The Family” (18)
Getting tonight's show underway are Level 42 and the song peaked at number 6.
 
Ben E. King – “Stand By Me” (19) (video)
It had peaked at number 27 in 1961, this time around it would get to number one.

Pepsi & Shirlie – “Heartache” (2)
The duo couldn't quite pip their former boss to the number one spot.

Five Star – “Stay Out Of My Life” (11)
Another studio dance routine and the song went up two more places.

Timbuk 3 – “Future’s So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades” (25) (breaker)
Their only hit and it peaked at number 21.

Carly Simon – “Coming Around Again” (22) (breaker)
Became her fourth and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 10.

Europe – “Rock The Night” (20) (breaker)
Peaked at number 12.

Vesta Williams – “Once Bitten Twice Shy” (14) (video)
Her only hit and it was now at its peak.

Aretha Franklin & George Michael – “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” (1) (video)
Second and final week at number one.

Taffy – “I Love My Radio” (6) (video/credits)
At its peak.



February 19th is next.

Top of the Pops of the Night

These winter nights are long and dark so gather round and warm your hands with this 5th February 1987 edition of Top of the Pops!

All I mask of you

05/02/87 (Janice Long & John Peel)

The Blow Monkeys – “It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way” (11)
Getting John Peel's penultimate show underway with their only top ten hit, which peaked at a floppy haired number 5.

Randy Crawford – “Almaz” (4) (rpt from 22/01/87)
At its peak.

The Smiths – “Shoplifters Of The World Unite” (12)
In the studio and despite Morrissey specially oiling his hips the song stole no higher up the charts.

Curiosity Killed The Cat – “Down To Earth” (5)
It didn't make it to number one but it did go up two more places.

Five Star – “Stay Out Of My Life” (24) (breaker)
Became their penultimate top ten hit when it peaked at number 9.

Eric Clapton – “Behind The Mask” (23) (breaker)
Became his first top 20 hit with a new recording since 1975 when it peaked at number 15.

Michael Crawford & Sarah Brightman – “Music Of The Night” (19) (video)
This Halloweeny song became Michael's only top ten hit, and despite her not singing a note (although she did look wonderully other-worldy in the video) it also became Sarah's fifth of six top tenners, when it peaked at number 7.

Aretha Franklin & George Michael – “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” (1) (video)
The first of two weeks at number one for Aretha's only chart topper, but for George it was already his third of seven outside of Wham.

Hot Chocolate – “You Sexy Thing” (remix) (14) (video/credits)
It had peaked at number 2 in 1975, this time around this gallopy version made it to number 10.


February 12th is next.

I Knew You Were Waiting (For Top of the Pops)

This edition of Top of the Pops from 29th January 1987 will not be shown on BBC4 due to the Mike Smith contract dispute. So a huge thanks once again to the uploader for making it available here at WeTransfer.

Top of the Pepsi & Shirlie

29/01/87  (Mike Smith)

Pepsi & Shirlie – “Heartache” (7)
On their way to number 2.

Aretha Franklin & George Michael – “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” (2) (video)
On their way to number one.

Raze – “Jack The Groove” (20)
Their biggest hit, but it go no higher than number 20.

Robbie Nevil – “C’est La Vie” (3)
At his peak.

Vesta Williams – “Once Bitten Twice Shy” (25)
Her only hit and it peaked at number 14.

The Blow Monkeys – “It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way” (27) (breaker)
Became their only top ten hit when it peaked at number 5.

Michael Crawford & Sarah Brightman – “Music Of The Night” (24) (breaker)
Became the third top ten hit from The Phantom of the Opera when it peaked at number 7.

Taffy – “I Love My Radio” (15) (+ brief interview)
Peaked at number 6.

Steve ‘Silk’ Hurley – “Jack Your Body” (1) (video/credits)
Second and final week at number one.


Next up is February 5th.

Top of the Pops In Mi Kitchen

Yum yum, I can smell some very tasty tunes cooking tonight in this 22nd January 1987 edition of Top of the Pops!

Top of the Pots and Pans

22/01/87  (Gary Davies & Steve Wright)

Dead Or Alive – “Something In My House” (12)
Getting the show underway to a Halloweeny start with their final top 40 hit, barring re-issues, and number 12 was as high as it got.

UB40 – “Rat In Mi Kitchen” (13) (video)
Featuring Astro on lead vocals and Herb Alpert on trumpet, the song went up one more place.

Randy Crawford – “Almaz” (20)
Performing a live vocal in the studio, Almaz was her second and final solo top ten hit, peaking at number 4.

Curiosity Killed The Cat – “Down To Earth” (15)
Making their debut with their first of three top ten hits, this one peaking at number 3.

Taffy – “I Love My Radio” (24) (breaker)
Became her only top ten hit when it peaked at number 6.

Pepsi & Shirlie – “Heartache” (22) (breaker)
Became their first of two top ten hits when it peaked at number 2.

Siouxsie & The Banshees – “This Wheel’s On Fire” (14)
Looking sizzlingly hot and tasty in the studio, but this Dyaln cover was at its peak.
 
Steve ‘Silk’ Hurley – “Jack Your Body” (1) (video)
It's an amusing video, and the first of two weeks at number one for Steve's one and only solo hit.

Swing Out Sister – “Surrender” (7) (video/credits)
At its peak.


Next up is January 29th but it is a Mike Smith edition.

Real Wild Top of the Pops

This edition of Top of the Pops from 15th January 1987 will not be shown on BBC4 due to the host being Mike Smith, so a huge thanks once again to the uploader for making it available here at WeTransfer.

Top of the Iggy Pops

15/01/87  (Mike Smith)

Iggy Pop – “Real Wild Child (Wild One)” (18)
At least we got to see this bizarre performance on the Big Hits compilation on BBC4 ~ and it peaked at number 10.

The Mission – “Wasteland” (24) (video)
Became their biggest hit when it peaked at number 11.

Robbie Nevil – “C’est La Vie” (6)
On its way to number 3.

The Style Council – “It Didn’t Matter” (15)
Became the band's seventh and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 9.

UB40 – “Rat In Mi Kitchen” (31) (breaker)
Peaked at number 12.

Siouxsie & The Banshees – “This Wheel’s On Fire” (30) (breaker)
Peaked at number 14.

Dead Or Alive – “Something In My House” (29) (breaker)
Peaked at number 12.

Bangles – “Walking Down Your Street” (28) (breaker)
Peaked at number 16.

Elkie Brooks – “No More The Fool” (5)
At its peak.

Jackie Wilson – “Reet Petite” (1) (video)
Fourth and final week at number one.

Alison Moyet – “Is This Love?” (3) (video/credits)
At its peak.


Next up is January 22nd.

The Top of the Pops of Confusion

It's ok, you're not seeing double, it really is Oooh Gary Davies again hosting this January 8th 1987 edition of Top of the Pops!

Trunk of the Pops

08/01/87 (Gary Davies)

Swing Out Sister – “Surrender” (38)
Getting tonight's show underway with the follow up to Breakout, and it became their second and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 7.

Lionel Richie – “Ballerina Girl” (24) (video)
Not one of his better known hits, and it peaked at number 17.

The Gap Band – “Big Fun” (9) (rpt from 18/12/86)
Their second and biggest and final top ten hit, peaking at number 4.

The Pretenders – “Hymn To Her” (19) (video)
Became their penultimate top ten hit when it peaked at number 8.

Iggy Pop – “Real Wild Child (Wild One)” (36) (breaker)
Shame we didn't get the whole song to spice up this edition a bit! Peaked at number 10.

Robbie Nevil – “C’est La Vie” (32) (breaker)
His only top ten hit, peaking at number 3.

Paul Simon – “The Boy In The Bubble” (31) (video)
This second single from his massive number one album Graceland peaked at number 26.

Jackie Wilson – “Reet Petite” (1) (video)
Third of four weeks at the top.

Genesis – “Land Of Confusion” (14) (video/credits)
At its peak.



Next up is January 15th, but it's the first of 16 Mike editions in 1987.

Over the Hills & Top of the Pops

Pop your cork and raise your glass to welcome in the 1st January 1987 edition of Top of the Pops!

Gary New Year!

01/01/87  (Gary Davies)

Status Quo – “Dreamin’” (15)
The Quo get tonight's live New Year's Day celebrations off to an upbeat start, but the song got no higher.

A-ha – “Cry Wolf” (5) (video)
Also at is peak.

Alison Moyet – “Is This Love?” (8)
She was stuck at number 8 but this studio performance got the song on its way to number 3.

Elkie Brooks – “No More The Fool” (18) (video)
Became her third and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 5.

Gary Moore – “Over The Hills & Far Away” (31)
A lively blast of celtic rock from Gary and the song peaked at number 20.

Spitting Image – “Santa Claus Is On The Dole” (22) (video)
Their second and (thankfully!) final hit, now at its peak.

Jackie Wilson – “Reet Petite” (1) (video)
Second of four weeks at number one.

Madonna – “Open Your Heart” (4) (video/credits)
At its peak.


Next up is January 8th.

A Fairytale of Top of the Pops

Big suits, yuppies and Stock Aitken and Waterman ~ welcome to Top of the Pops 1987!

Rock n Rickroll

Big Hits 1987:

Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up
With the biggest hit of the year and his only number one.

Curiosity Killed the Cat - Down to Earth
Peaked at number 3.

Iggy Pop ~ Real Wild Child (Wild One)
Looking like he doesn't know where he is or even what song he's singing, but it became his only top ten hit peaking at number 10.

Pepsi and Shirlie - Heartache
The Wham girls are looking good and get to number 2.

Bee Gees - You Win Again
Appearing in the studio for the first time since 1972, with their fifth and final number one.

New Order - True Faith.
Performing live in the studio again and the song peaked at number 4.

Belinda Carlisle - Heaven is a Place on Earth
Singing her mega number one power ballad live in the new Top of the Pops LA studio.

Terence Trent D'Arby - If You Let me Stay
This debut of the now Sananda Maitreya peaked at number 7.

T'Pau - China in Your Hand
Another mega number one power ballad.

Mel & Kim - Respectable
Such a tragic story about Mel, and a terrific number one hit.

Wet Wet Wet - Wishing I Was Lucky
Their debut hit, peaking at number 6.

Donna Summer - Dinner With Gershwin
In the studio at long last, and the song peaked at number 13.

Pet Shop Boys - It's a Sin
A big year for the duo, the first of two 1987 number ones.

Boy George - Everything I Own
His solo debut, and his only solo number one hit.

Eric B and Rakim - Paid in Full
Pumping up the volume all the way to number 15.

Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)
Singing this number one hit live in the studio.

Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale of New York
You've heard it a million times but it always sounds fabulous! And it peaked at number 2.


Next up is January 1st 1987.