With a Little Top of the Pops From My Friends

Lend me your ears and I'll give you the 26th May 1988 edition of Top of the Pops!

Wet a little help from my friends

26/05/88  (Mark Goodier & Steve Wright)

Debbie Gibson – “Out Of The Blue” (19)
Girl next door Debbie gets tonight's show underway but the song got no higher.

LA Mix – “Check This Out” (13) (video)
With some nice touches of humour this was their only top ten hit and it peaked at number 6.

Ofra Haza – “Im Nin’Alu” (15)
Bringing some eastern promise (and a stack load of tellies) into the studio but like Debbie before her the song got no higher.

Climie Fisher – “This Is Me” (22) (breaker)
Got no higher.

Aswad – “Give A Little Love” (25) (breaker)
Peaked at number 11.

The Style Council – “Life At A Top People’s Health Farm” (28) (breaker)
Got no higher.

Hothouse Flowers – “Don’t Go” (11)
Making their studio debut but this was another song already at its peak.

Mica Paris – “My One Temptation” (17)
Another studio debutante and this song became her only top ten hit when it peaked at number 7.

Scritti Politti – “Oh Patti (Don’t Feel Sorry For Loverboy)” (18)
This understated little number peaked at number 13.

Wet Wet Wet – “With A Little Help From My Friends” (1) (rpt from 12/05/88)
Second of four weeks at number one.

Heart – “What About Love” (14) (video/credits)
And another song at its peak.


Next up is June 2nd.

She's Leaving Top of the Pops

Thursday evening at seven o' clock and the show begins - it's the 19th May 1988 edition of Top of the Pops!

What did we do that was wrong?

19/05/88  (Simon Bates & Gary Davies)

Prefab Sprout – “The King Of Rock ‘N’ Roll” (14)
Getting tonight's show underway with what became their biggest hit when it peaked at number 7.

Kylie Minogue – “Got To Be Certain” (4) (video)
Went up two more places.

Derek B – “Bad Young Brother” (16)
Gives it some energy in the studio but the record was at its peak.

Aztec Camera – “Somewhere In My Heart” (17)
Performing their only top ten hit - it was a great tune and it peaked at number 3.

Heart – “What About Love” (19) (breaker)
Peaked at number 14.

Ofra Haza – “Im Nin’Alu” (25) (breaker)
Peaked at number 15.

Hothouse Flowers – “Don’t Go” (22) (breaker)
They got their big break as the interval act on this year's Eurovision, and this song was their biggest hit peaking at number 11.

Debbie Gibson – “Out Of The Blue” (27) (breaker)
Peaked at number 19.

Belinda Carlisle – “Circle In The Sand” (12) (video)
On its way up to number 4.

Billy Bragg with Cara Tivey – “She’s Leaving Home” (1)
Bravely performing totally live in the studio, this was the flip side of the Childline charity single, and was Billy's (and Cara's) only number one.

Wet Wet Wet – “With A Little Help From My Friends” (1) (rpt from 12/05/88)
And here's a snippet of the other side - the first of four weeks at number one.

Liverpool FC – “Anfield Rap (Red Machine In Full Effect)” (3) (video/credits)
The Crazy Gang of Wimbledon had beaten them in the FA Cup final, and thankfully the record got no higher in the charts.


May 26th is next.

Top of the Pops Emotions

You just won't know whether to laugh or cry when you watch the 12th of May 1988 edition of Top of the Pops!

Wad of the Pops!

12/05/88  (Simon Mayo & Mike Read)

Harry Enfield – “Loadsamoney (Doin’ Up The House)” (4)
Cashing in on his popular Friday Night Live comedy character, this was Harry's only hit and number four was its peak.

Prince – “Alphabet Street” (9) (video)
Got no higher.

The Adventures – “Broken Land” (23)
Making their studio debut and the song went up three more places.

Narada – “Divine Emotions” (16)
He'd had a number 8 hit in 1980 with I Shoulda Loved Ya, and now here he was in the studio eight years later with his second and final top ten hit, which also peaked at number 8.

Liverpool FC – “Anfield Rap (Red Machine In Full Effect)” (13) (breaker)
Peaked at number 3.

Belinda Carlisle – “Circle In The Sand” (31) (breaker)
Peaked at number 4.

Derek B – “Bad Young Brother” (26) (breaker)
Peaked at number 16.

Prefab Sprout – “The King Of Rock ‘N’ Roll” (28) (breaker)
Became their only top ten hit when it peaked at number 7.

Star Turn On 45 Pints – “Pump Up The Bitter” (12)
In the studio and they do seem to be doing live vocals, but the record got no higher, thank goodness!

Wet Wet Wet – “With A Little Help From My Friends” (5)
Will be number one next week.

Fairground Attraction – “Perfect” (1)
First and only week at number one.

Kylie Minogue – “Got To Be Certain” (15) (video/credits)
On her way to number 2.




May 19th is next.

Start Talking Top of the Pops

Quiet at the back please! It's time for the 5th May 1988 edition of Top of the Pops!

The ice-cream of the crop

05/05/88 (Bruno Brookes & Adrian John)

Joyce Sims – “Walk Away” (24)
Joyce gets the show off to a frilly dress start but the song got no higher.

New Order – “Blue Monday ‘88” (10) (video)
It only seems like yesterday that this song was first in the charts, and then once again, and now here it is for a third time! This remixed version actually did best of all, and peaked at number 3.

Magnum – “Start Talking Love” (29)
Making their debut next are Birmingham's answer to Bon Jovi, performing what becam their biggest hit, and it peaked at number 22.

Harry Enfield – “Loadsamoney (Doin’ Up The House)” (17) (breaker)
On its way to number 4!

The Adventures – “Broken Land” (30) (breaker)
Their biggest hit, peaking at number 20.

Narada – “Divine Emotions” (22) (breaker)
Peaked at number 8.

Prince – “Alphabet Street” (18) (breaker)
Peaked at number 9.

The Christians – “Born Again” (26)
They were studio regulars by now, and this song went up one more place.

Primitives – “Out Of Reach” (25)
Also in the studio tonight but this one got no higher

S-Express – “Theme From S-Express” (1)
A new performance tonight for their second and final week at number one.

Star Turn On 45 Pints – “Pump Up The Bitter” (15) (video/credits)
Er.... this comedy medley peaked at number 12.



12th May is up next.

A Top of the Pops Supreme

Oh, that's bad ...... no, that's good ...... it's the 28th April 1988 edition of Top of the Pops!

I got the top of the hots for you

28/04/88  (Nicky Campbell & Gary Davies)

Pat & Mick – “Let’s All Chant” (15)
Getting us underway tonight is a former presenter, but it's all for charidee and it went up four more places.

James Brown – “The Payback Mix” (14) (video)
This weird medley went up two more places.

Fairground Attraction – “Perfect” (12)
Making their group debut in the studio with a song that will be number one in three weeks time.

Brenda Russell – “Piano In The Dark” (23) (breaker)
Got no higher.

Primitives – “Out Of Reach” (26) (breaker)
Went up one more place.

Luther Vandross – “I Gave It Up (When I Fell In Love)” (28) (breaker)
Got no higher.

Joyce Sims – “Walk Away” (29) (breaker)
Peaked at number 24.

Bananarama – “I Want You Back” (5)
In the studio again for a second performace but the song was now at its peak.

Will Downing – “A Love Supreme” (16)
Making his studio debut and this John Coltrane cover went up two more places.

S-Express – “Theme From S-Express” (1) (rpt from 21/04/88)
First of dos weeks at number one.

Scott Fitzgerald – “Go” (not in chart) (rpt from 07/04/88 + credits)
Came second in Eurovision but only made it to number 52 in the charts.


May 5th is next.

Top of the Pops's Prayer

Our father, who art at BBC TV Centre, give us this day the 21st April 1988 edition of Top of the Pops! Amen!

Ian gets his teeth into the song

21/04/88  (Simon Bates & Peter Powell)

S-Express – “Theme From S-Express” (3)
Will be number one next week.


George Michael – “One More Try” (14) (video)
This fourth single from his Faith album peaked at number 8.

Danny Wilson – “Mary’s Prayer” (15)
The group's only top ten hit, peaking at number 3.


Pat & Mick – “Let’s All Chant” (19) (breaker)
Peaked at number 11.

Will Downing – “A Love Supreme” (21) (breaker)
Peaked at number 14.

James Brown – “The Payback Mix” (25) (breaker)
Peaked at number 12.

Patrick Swayze & Wendy Frazer – “She’s Like The Wind” (24) (breaker)
Peaked at number 17.

Jermaine Stewart  -“Get Lucky” (17)
Peaked at number 13.


Hazell Dean – “Who’s Leaving Who” (6)
Went up two more places.


Pet Shop Boys – “Heart” (1) (video)
Third and final week at number one.

Michael Jackson & Jackson Five – “I Want You Back ‘88” (10) (video/credits)
Peaked at number 8.


Next up is April 28th

Top of the Pops Cadillac

Pulling up into the studio tonight is the 14th April 1988 edition of Top of the Pops!

New girl on the block

14/04/88  (Bruno Brookes & Steve Wright)

Bananarama – “I Want You Back” (14)
Featuring new member Jacquie O'Sullivan, this song became their ninth of ten top ten hits when it peaked at number 5.

Natalie Cole – “Pink Cadillac” (11) (video)
Driving up the charts to number 5.

Climie Fisher – “Love Changes (Everything)” (3)
Went up one more place.

Def Leppard – “Armageddon It” (20) (breaker)
Got no higher.

S-Express – “Theme From S-Express” (25) (breaker)
Will be number one in two weeks time.

T’Pau – “Sex Talk” (23) (breaker)
Got no higher.

Jermaine Stewart  -“Get Lucky” (22) (breaker)
His final top 40 hit and it peaked at number 13.

Jellybean featuring Adele Bertei – “Just A Mirage” (15)
Went up two more places.


Pebbles – “Girlfriend” (13)
Peaked at number 8.


Pet Shop Boys – “Heart” (1) (rpt from 07/04/88)
Second of three weeks at number one.

Bros – “Drop The Boy” (2) (video/credits)
Couldn't get any higher.


Next up is April 21st