And if I wish upon a star, some day it'll be the 19th of December 1997 edition of Top of the Pops!
Doing it for you
19-12-97: Presenter: Jayne Middlemiss
(8) NATALIE IMBRUGLIA – Torn
Getting the last regular edition of 1997 underway with a song that was going back up the charts after having already peaked at number 2.
(5) ROBBIE WILLIAMS – Angels
A second studio performance and the song will go up another place.
(18) BRYAN ADAMS – Back To You
Here tonight but the song got no higher.
(4) ALL SAINTS – Never Ever
A third studio performance and the song will get to number one in the new year.
(12) U2 – If God Will Send His Angels (video)
At its peak.
(NEW) CHICKEN SHED – I Am In Love With The World
Performing their only hit and it will peak at number 15.
(11) CELINE DION – The Reason
In the studio tonight but the song got no higher.
(17) STING & THE POLICE – Roxanne ‘97
Sting with a live studio performance of the Police song that had peaked at number 12 in 1979, but this time around number 17 was as high as it got.
(1) TELETUBBIES – Teletubbies Say “Eh-Oh” (video) (and credits)
Second and final week at number one.
20-5-76: Presenter: David Hamilton
ReplyDelete(NEW) MARMALADE – Walking A Tightrope
(28) TINA CHARLES – Love Me Like A Lover
(5) SUTHERLAND BROTHERS & QUIVER – Arms Of Mary ®
(11) ROBIN SARSTEDT – My Resistance Is Low
(NEW) SHOWADDYWADDY – Trocadero
(7) THE ROLLING STONES – Fool To Cry (video)
(16) WINGS – Silly Love Songs (danced to by Ruby Flipper)
(33) PETER FRAMPTON – Show Me The Way (footage from Midnight Special 19-3-76)
(25) MUD – Shake It Down
(3) THE FOUR SEASONS – Silver Star ®
(21) CLIFF RICHARD – Devil Woman
(1) ABBA – Fernando (video)
(NEW) THE O’JAYS – Living For The Weekend (and credits)
Marmalade cut due to drums displaying a "golly"
DeleteBBC4 have really spoiled us with Totp repeats in the last year and they go the extra yard by treating us to an edition from late Spring 1976 that doesn't feature 'No Charge'. Thanks BBC4. No really, thanks!
DeleteOnce past Diddy's initial welcome (1976 visual gag stuff that wouldn't have worked even if he hadn't moved away from the camera immediately after talking) it's a strong edition with some big hits and things i didn't know but enjoyed.
Tina Charles; Maybe unique to these repeats, the opening number is cut, this being Marmalade (ha, ha...er) thanks to the presence of a gollywog on the drums. An abrupt edit then from theme to Diddy introducing Tina Charles who is full of smiles and vibrancy in front of a giant star because she is (awww). Never heard that one before but good. Has some of the feel of Lulu's 'I'm a Tiger'.
Sunderland Brothers and Quiver; Always loved 'Arms of Mary' with it's sweet , slightly melancholy tune and slightly risqué lyrics. Nice to see that the lead singer made it back safely from the Battle of Bosworth.
Anonymous band member who looks like someone famous #47: The lead guitarist > Bob Willis.
Robin Sarstedt; Oh this. Unbelievably lightweight piece that somehow went way up the charts. A clanking BBC colour camera protruding through the evergreen plants is the most modern thing on show in the lightest of light entertainment sets. Patti's disconcertingly close up face superimposed over the scene (my she must've been thrilled) makes it more watchable. A final pay off "low" is worthy of Arthur Mullard and he did look noticeably embarrassed by that. Stopping, starting again and doing an odd 'yeah' silently at the end. Diddy being in that sort of mood, chimes in with a "low" of his own. That's how you do it. Even at extreme close up I can't think who this man looks exactly like.
Showaddywaddy; 'Trocadero' sounded like an original and Diddy confirms this and considering they are known for relentless retroism the soft refrain of that song sounded remarkably ahead of it's time, almost a '90s sound. Weird. Good to see Dave Bartram's curious bemused/fed-up expression is clear even in mirrored shades.
The Rolling Stones; Couldn't help but laugh at Mick's mannerisms there. Good song, cut a little too soon.
Wings; Only Cherry, Patti and Lulu's which is fair enough. All 7 of them might have been a hazard with the array of candles just behind them. A complex routine with each Flipper doing their own set of expressive hand gestures. Lulu doing hers wearing little more than a sash.
Peter Frampton; Never seen this clip from 'Midnight Special' before, only the clip from Hemel Hempstead Pavillion. Both clips don't make it any more clear what exactly was the point of the thing he's got in his mouth. Would it be that much different if he'd just played a guitar solo? Still great single and he's really enjoyable to watch.
Pt.2;
DeleteMud; Good fun of course and a pretty decent attempt at disco. Helped enormously by Cherry gyrating and flinging her long hair wildly around. What she's wearing looks like it's come from the highest end of the wardrobe budget but unlikely it would've cost as much as Ray Stiles' gloves.
The Four Seasons; 'Silver Star' really sounds good and gets better everything I've heard it. The song changing into some completely different song then back to the first song suggests they must've heard The Moody Blues 'Question' and this time I did notice the switch of drumsticks. Impressively quick all the same. Drumming doesn't usually engage me but man he walloped them appealingly during the middle section. Also you may notice that just before they sing the title phrase for the 2nd time a studio light hits a tuning peg on Don Ciccone's bass creating a big silver star!
Cliff Richard; A humorous link with some girls itself links to an unintentionally hilarious moment where one of them goes to the edge of a platform clearly at some height and her friend clumsily knocks into her almost sending her flying off. Their look of sudden shock straight at camera is a classic! To Cliff and 'Devil Woman' so it's the back stepping, ominous
reversing finger pointing business while promoting the attendant album and shades of an impressively undateable nature. The big candelabra returns for suitably 'demonic' effect. Always liked the xylophone sound on that.
Enjoyed Cliff's little exchange with Diddy at the end then the camera goes to the presenters face in extreme close up which probably never happened when he was doing his job on Thames TV (would've scared my infant self to death if it ever did) but makes sense here because it's '76 and it's a serious sounding intro to the big, big single of the moment....
Abba; By them. Seen enough but still very worthy.
Diddy perhaps anticipating a future career in game shows (which he did get eventually, something on LWT called 'All Clued Up') and he closes with the acts gathered on stage (didn't see Cliff there). A question aimed at Tina Charles which didn't make any sense and someone at the back yelling "yeah" loud enough to be heard in the offices of BBC2. Im guessing a Showaddywaddy member. Lights dancing about to The O'Jays which is no 'Backstabbers' or indeed anything on that brilliant album but still good and as usual ended too quick.
I’m with Mic here…what a superb edition of the show. I’ve seen this one several times before but it does bear repeated viewing. I recall the Marmalade performance – this was the follow up to ‘Falling apart at the Seams’ but didn’t chart. Marmalade were the only artist I can recall on the Target label.
DeleteTina Charles – Nice live rendition full of energy. I’m sure someone in my class told me that she was their cousin.
Sutherland Brothers and Quiver – Nice tune and band enjoying themselves. Sutherland wrote ‘Sailing’ of course…
Robin Sarstedt – (real name Clive). There was a bit of a 40s revival around this time with Glenn Miller back in the charts earlier in 1976 and later Maureen McGovern. Love the set for this and final ‘lowwwww’.
Showaddywaddy – ‘Trocadero’ – One of their lesser-known singles. Nice refrain from something else in the middle (I can’t place it).
Rolling Stones – ‘Fool to Cry’ was out of character. Don’t think Bill Wyman appears in this video but you can hear the bass rumbling. Jagger, Richards and Wood take centre stage. Even Watts only shows briefly.
Wings – Every time I hear this song I think of this routine…. Perhaps they can repeat the 20/04/1978 edition with ‘Night Fever’ as well?
Peter Frampton – I actually bought the ‘Frampton Comes alive’ album recently to see what all the fuss was about as people keep saying it’s the best ever live album etc. It’s not bad but I would rate ‘Seconds Out’, ‘Strangers in the Night’ and ‘Live and Dangerous’ above it.
Mud – I love this unusual release! I also love their cover of ‘Lean on Me’ and prefer it to Bill Withers (perhaps I’m in the minority there).
Four Seasons – I recorded this on the Tom Browne chart show when it entered the top20 and he actually played the unedited version which is on the B Side…or at least he played it up to the resume of the fast section. Great song…one of the first 45s I ever bought.
Clif Richard – One of his best ever singles! Then he went all falsetto on the follow up which I wasn’t so keen on.
Abba – For some reason ToTP rarely showed all of ‘Fernando’. Every week I watched and waited when it was No1 and that applause would cut in just before verse 2. Duh!
O’Jays – Don’t recall this one, but cut very short.
Technically the episode was 40 minutes long originally - it was safe in 2011 when it got repeated, well thanks to 'BLM' controversial and Yew Tree in recent years. with Ian Dury (Rhythm Stick with 'Black Face') is one of those we won't see again.
DeleteA great lot of music tonight especially with All Saints, Robbie Williams and The Police,I remember buying Roxanne 97.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have TOTP2 9th Nov 1996, please
TOTP2 - 20th December 1997
ReplyDeletehttps://fromsmash.com/TOTP2-20-12-1997
(there was also a TOTP Spice Girls special on 24/12/1997 but that has not shown up)
Thanks Rob!!!
DeleteThe Spice Girls one is on you tube
DeletePlease could upload 27/12/97?
DeleteGood to see the wonderful U2, Sting and Bryan Adams in a 1997 edition when it was good they were still making the Top 40. Also all three appeared on Live Aid which is 40 this year.
ReplyDeleteSome good things in that one. It's been good to revisit 'Torn'. Just a great little single and I thought it seemed to hang around in the spotlight longer than most but i'd forgotten it actually went back up again. Going back up after it had reached No.2 was an incredible feat for any period never mind for that one. They've made more of an effort with the set but I think those days are numbered. Anyway the double projection of Natalie behind the band was a nice effect.
ReplyDeleteSame effect also for Sting (further off, well who would you rather look at?) and a moody ambience for this reworking of 'Roxanne' which i don't remember at all. Always good to see him show off his acoustic skils and it was appprox 1 million times more listenable than the re-working of 'Don't Stand So Close To Me'. The crowd in now regulation all around the act mode seemed into that and the camera lens survived the even closer muted trumpet.
Robbie Williams; Sick of 'Angels' at the time but again very pleasant to re-visit as it originally featured in the charts and enjoyed the beautiful, starry projections. Yes he's here. I noticed someone at the front doing that strange hand gesture dance that looks like they've deluded themselves that they're the performer's dance instructor. While wearing festival headgear.
Teletubbies; I wasn't the right age or ironic enough to buy this. Kids TV theme that should've been a hit for me; 'Jamie & The Magic Torch'. A dream double A side would've been that with the theme to 'Cockleshell Bay' on the flipside.
Jayne Middlemiss one of the main reasons I haven't followed these repeats so much lately isn't as annoying as I remembered though she could dial down the sub Spice Girls "what are you lookin' at?" delivery just a tad. Im looking forward to Jamie Theakston's endlessly droll delivery which i think is just around the corner.