Another Nail in my Top of the Pops

Thanks to Neil B for the upload of the 6th March 1980 hosted by DLT, but it doesn't seem so easy to view this file as previous ones ~ if you want to give it a try the link is here

And a new alternative link from Neil B is here at We Transfer

I've not been able to get it to work for me unfortunately, so can't really comment too much on the show other than to say it seems a fairly short edition and some obvious standouts are Squeeze, Martha and the Muffins and the Lambrettas. Anyhow, here's how it lined up (with a few links to youtube clips):

Play me that song....

6-3-80: Presenter: Dave Lee Travis

(19) THE GIBSON BROTHERS – Cuba (and charts)
(44) THE LAMBRETTAS – Poison Ivy
(25) CAPTAIN & TENILLE – Do That To Me One More Time (video)
(42) U.K. SUBS – Warhead WATCH (though not sure if this is right clip?)
 (16) THE BEAT – Hands Off She’s Mine
(39) MARTHA & THE MUFFINS – Echo Beach WATCH
 (30) SHAKIN’ STEVENS – Hot Dog WATCH
 (40) SQUEEZE – Another Nail In My Heart WATCH
(2) FERN KINNEY – Together We Are Beautiful (danced to by Legs & Co) WATCH
(41) TONY RALLO & THE MIDNIGHT BAND – Holdin’ On
(1) BLONDIE – Atomic (video)
(23) LIQUID GOLD – Dance Yourself Dizzy (and credits)

Top of the Pops Yourself Dizzy

So the Lake Placid Winter Olympics are over and Top of the Pops can return to its regular Thursday slot once more, but maybe there is still one final gold medal to hand out.....

Has he put his clothes back on yet?

Top of the Pops 28-2-80: Presenter: David Jensen

(21) JEFFERSON STARSHIP – Jane (and charts)
A second outing on the chart rundown for Jane, now at its chart peak

 (5) ELVIS COSTELLO & THE ATTRACTIONS – I Can’t Stand Up For Falling Down
Elvis literally takes off in the studio for the second of his three top ten hits.

 (6) MARTI WEBB – Take That Look Off Your Face ®
A repeat showing of Marti's debut performance here ~ I hope they are not going to leave in lots of things we've seen before and edit out stuff we haven't yet seen....

(34) THE VAPORS – Turning Japanese
Looks like Keith Michell has been busy with his drawings again! Turning Japanese became the band's only top ten hit.

 (7) MICHAEL JACKSON – Rock With You (video)
The third of four top ten hits from his album Off the Wall. And edited out of the 7.30 showing.

 (47) LIQUID GOLD – Dance Yourself Dizzy
A quick sip of champagne for singer Ellie Hope before performing Liquid Gold's big breakthrough single and first of two top ten hits in 1980. And I think the drummer really wanted to be noticed!

 (40) THE GIBSON BROTHERS – Cuba
With a catchy song that just failed to make the top 40 for them a year earlier, but this time, and with a little help from a carnival of Legs & Co, it made the top 20.

 (17) PETER GABRIEL – Games Without Frontiers (video)
So is it Kate Bush singing the 'Jeux sans frontieres' part? Well we'll have to wait for the later showing because astonishingly it was edited out of the 7.30 slot.

 (25) STIFF LITTLE FINGERS – At The Edge
Also edited out of the 7.30 showing.

 (28) DAVE EDMUNDS – Singing The Blues ®
A repeat of the Rockpile boys from a couple of weeks back, with Singing the Blues now at its chart peak for them.

(19)  Legs & Co – dance to So Lonely by The Police, a third single from their 1978 debut album Outlandos d'Amour, despite having recently released their second album, Regatta de Blanc.

 (22) RAINBOW – All Night Long (video)
The second of Rainbow's three top ten hits. And another one edited out of tonight's 7.30 show.

 (12) THE SHADOWS – Riders In The Sky
Hank and the gang smile their way through this cover of the Ramrods top ten 1961 hit, though number 12 was a high as it got for the Shadows, and it was also their final top 30 hit.

 (1) BLONDIE – Atomic (video)
Blondie blow Kenny Rogers out the number one spot. Was this the single mix - it seems to have quite an extended instrumental break?

 (23) DAVID BOWIE – Alabama Song (and credits)
Bowie plays us out this week with his cover of Alabama Song, made famous by the Doors, at its chart peak.


Next week then should be the 6th March 1980, but here we meet our first obstacle of the year, as this is a DLT edition and it would seem he's still off limits as far as BBC4 goes, so instead we skip to the 13th March hosted by Steve Wright.

DLT hosted six editions in 1980, seven if you include the New Years Day special on January 1st 1981. Jimmy Savile hosted four editions which includes the Christmas Day special.

Together we are Top of the Pops

For the second week running we have an edition of Top of the Pops that was originally broadcast on a Friday due to the BBCs coverage of the Winter Olympics. Let's hope that Peter's opening joke isn't the start of a slippery slope.....

Hello and welcome from Lake Placid...

Top of the Pops 22-2-80: Presenter: Peter Powell

(30) RAINBOW – All Night Long (and charts)
The follow-up to Since You've Been Gone plays over the chart rundown this week.

 (40) SHAKIN’ STEVENS – Hot Dog
Making his debut on the show here an act who went on to an unfathomably successful chart career in the 1980's...... But perhaps equally unfathomably, considering there are three repeat performances tonight, he was edited out of the 7.30 showing!

 (3) BLONDIE – Atomic (video)
The third and most successful single from their album Eat to the Beat.

 (48) THE BEAT – Hands Off She’s Mine
And talking of the Beat, here they are with their bouncy follow-up to Tears of a Clown.

 (18) BUGGLES – The Plastic Age ®
Now getting just as much, if not more, airtime on Top of the Pops than they did with Video Killed the Radio Star.

(10) THE TOURISTS – So Good To Be Back Home Again ®
A repeat showing of their performance of So Good to be Back Home Again, now just two places short at its chart peak of number 8.

(23) FERN KINNEY – Together We Are Beautiful
On her way to one hit wonderdom, with the help here of the Top of the Pops orchestra, but she did do better with this song than Steve Allan had done a year earlier, his version only reaching 67 despite his appearance on the show.

 (8) THE RAMONES – Baby I Love You ®
A big leap up the charts from last week's number 20 to number 8, but it was all downhill thereafter.

(2)  Legs & Co – go club dancing upon their own medal podiums this week to And The Beat Goes On by the Whispers

 (6) CLIFF RICHARD – Carrie (video)
Cliff certainly had his finger on the musical pulse of the time with this fine Joe Jacksonesque tune.

 (46) IRON MAIDEN – Running Free
The debut here of one of the most successful heavy metal groups named after a medieval torture device of all time, but of course it was edited out of the 7.30 showing, despite the repeats of Buggles/Tourists/Ramones.

 (1) KENNY ROGERS – Coward Of The County (video)
His second and final week at number one with this "soft and sentimental" song.

 (25) PETER GABRIEL – Games Without Frontiers (and credits)
On his way to his first top ten hit.

Next week then we move on to the 28th February 1980 hosted by David Jensen.

Off Your Top of the Pops

This edition of Top of the Pops, from the 15th February 1980, was originally broadcast on a Friday evening due to the BBCs coverage of the Winter Olympics from Lake Placid. So which acts will be winning the medals tonight?

Well I'll be blowed, Hissing Sid has swallowed Toad..

Top of the Pops 15-2-80: Presenter: Simon Bates

(23) KOOL & THE GANG – Too Hot (and charts)
Get us underway with Too Hot (perfect for the Winter Olympics!) at its peak.

 (22) MATCHBOX – Buzz Buzz A Diddle It
Are leaping on the double bass once again with Buzz Buzz A Diddle lt now also at its peak in the charts.

 (5) KEITH MICHELL – Captain Beaky
Surely a medal winning performance here with from Keith and his banner waving gang with Captain Beaky reaching his chart peaky.

 (55) THE FLYING LIZARDS – T.V.
A truly bizarre performance here from the Lizards with their follow-up to Money (which never quite made it onto the BBC4 repeats last year) but sadly it only got to 43 in the charts.

 (17) ELVIS COSTELLO & THE ATTRACTIONS – I Can’t Stand Up For Falling Down (video)
The aptly named follow-up to Accidents Will Happen featuring some slightly awkward looking dance moves from Elvis and the boys in their holiday video.

 (12)  Legs & Co  – the girls show Elvis how its done as they go ballroom this week to Michael Jackson's Rock With You.

 (39) DAVE EDMUNDS – Singing The Blues
1979 had been a very successful year for Dave and the Rockpile guys but this cover of Guy Mitchell's (and Tommy Steele's) 1957 number one Singing the Blues was his only chart single of 1980.

 (8) JON & VANGELIS – I Hear You Now (video)
Now at its peak in the charts.

 (21) THE SHADOWS – Riders In The Sky
This single was the band's 28th and final top 30 hit. (not including the ones they had with Cliff). It was edited out of the 7.30 show.

 (49) MARTI WEBB – Take That Look Off Your Face
From the latest Lloyd Webber musical, Tell Me on a Sunday, performed live in all its big note glory by Marti here with the Top of the Pops orchestra in clear view.

 (45) STIFF LITTLE FINGERS – At The Edge
This was their only top 20 hit, but it was also edited out of tonight's 7.30 showing.

 (1) KENNY ROGERS – Coward Of The County (video)
Grabbing the gold medal from under the noses of the Specials to make it to number one this week.

 (20) THE RAMONES – Baby I Love You (and credits)
Play over the credits this week as they head towards the top ten.

Next week it's Peter Powell hosting another Friday edition from the 22nd February 1980.

So Good to Be Top of the Pops Again

I'm not able to be in front of a tv set this Thursday to watch young Steve Wright make his 7th February 1980 hosting debut on Top of the Pops, so I'll have to cheat a little by using the running order (thanks so much as always to the wonderful Popscene website) to write this post before the edition goes out on BBC4. I don't know what will be edited out ~ it could be the Rats since we've seen that one before, and maybe the Nolans, the Regents and the Buggles.......

Love the show...?

7-2-80: Presenter: Steve Wright

(30) JEFFERSON STARSHIP – Jane (and charts)
They began life as Jefferson Airplane back in 1969 but had become a Starship by the time Jane became their fist hit single, peaking at 21.

 (46) THE TOURISTS – So Good To Be Back Home Again
This follow up to I Only Want to Be With You was the band's second and final top ten hit.

 (27) CLIFF RICHARD – Carrie (video)
This was the first of two top ten hits for Cliff in 1980.

 (18) THE WHISPERS – And The Beat Goes On (danced to by Legs & Co)
Something for them to shout about here, this was a number 2 hit.

 (8) THE BOOMTOWN RATS – Someone’s Looking At You ®
Though it seemed unlikely at the time, this was in fact the penultimate top ten hit for the Rats.

(3) THE NOLANS – I’m In The Mood For Dancing
The sisters now at their peak in the charts.

 (44) THE CHORDS – Maybe Tomorrow
This one could fall victim to the 7.30 edit, at 40 this was The Chords biggest hit.

 (11) THE REGENTS – 7 Teen
Now at its chart peak.

 (20) QUEEN – Save Me (video)
A second single from their forthcoming number one album, The Game.

 (21) THE SELECTER – Three Minute Hero
The follow up to On My Radio, peaked at 16 in the charts.

 (47) AC/DC – Touch Too Much
The first of seven singles released in 1980 by the Aussie Rockers, though only the very last of them made the top 20. Back in Black was a big number one album though in the summer.

 (28) BUGGLES – The Plastic Age
On its way to number 16 in the charts.

 (1) THE SPECIALS – Too Much Too Young (video)
Final week at number one.

 (5) JOE JACKSON – It’s Different For Girls (and credits)
His first of two career top ten hits, now at its chart peak.


Next week is a Sky At Night Week, so Top of the Pops returns in two weeks time with the edition from February 15th 1980.

If You Like Top of the Pops at Midnight...

So we've escaped to the final evening of January 1980.....

Welcome to 50 Shades of Top of the Pops

 

 

31-1-80: Presenter: David Jensen

(29) THE SELECTER – Three Minute Hero (and charts)
(56) THE REVILLOS – Motorbike Beat
(10) KENNY ROGERS – Coward Of The County (video)
(19) AZYMUTH – Jazz Carnival (danced to by Legs & Co)
(47) JOHN FOXX – Underpass
(3) MADNESS – My Girl ®
(52) THE SHADOWS – Riders In The Sky
(27) RUPERT HOLMES – Escape (The Piña Colada Song) ®
(36) THE RAMONES – Baby I Love You
(15) JON & VANGELIS – I Hear You Now (video)
(46) BILLY OCEAN – Are You Ready
(20) NEW MUSIK – Living By Numbers ®
(40) KEITH MICHELL – Captain Beaky
(1) THE SPECIALS – Too Much Too Young (video)
(30) QUEEN – Save Me (and credits)

The Selector ~ play over the 'colourful' chart rundown with their follow up to On My Radio

 

The Revillos ~ were first seen on the show two years earlier singing a song called Top of the Pops, although they called themselves the Rezillos back then. Motorbike Beat wasn't quite as successful and stalled outside the top 40.

 

Kenny Rogers ~ straight into the top ten and soon to be the next number one, and co-written by Roger Bowling who'd also co-written Kenny's 1977 chart topper, Lucille.

 

Azymuth ~ it's ironic that Legs & Co would be replaced a year or so later by a troupe by the name of Zoo - for here they are as a menagerie escaping from their cages.

 

John Foxx ~ no he's not singing 'underpants' - but the original lead singer of Ultravox made it to 31 in the charts with his first solo single.

 

Madness ~ another showing of their 3rd January performance with My Girl now at its peak.

 

The Shadows ~ were the first victims of tonight's 7.30 edit.

 

Rupert Holmes ~ David Jensen pointed out that this had been a number one hit in the USA but it ultimately peaked at 23 in the UK.

 

The Ramones ~ were over from New York for a rare visit to the Top of the Pops studio to perform what would become their only UK top ten hit ~ and was that a 'Blitz Kid' we saw dancing in the audience?

 

Jon and Vangelis ~ I thought we were going to get nothing but the transparent dancing man all the way through this video so was relieved when Jon popped up to do a bit of singing. Maybe if Jon had left Jon & Vangelis we'd have got Trevor & Vangelis?

 

Billy Ocean ~ it had been going on for 3 years now since Billy's last hit, the excellent Red Light Spells Danger, but the top 40 was not ready for this latest effort, indeed Billy would have to wait another four years for his next success.

 

New Muzik - were edited out of the 7.30 show thereby cruelly scuppering my plans to call this post 'Top of the Pops By Numbers'

 

Keith Michell ~ I can't believe they edited out the bravest animals in the land after Legs & Co had gone to all that effort earlier.

 

The Specials ~ and now we have one of those 'revealing the new presenter' moments ~ and it's a very thin and slightly sardonic Steve Wright to introduce the Specials at number one.

 

Queen ~ play us out this week with Save Me, the first of four top 20 hits for the band in 1980.

 

 

Next week then it's February 7th 1980 and our host is Steve Wright.

 

The Top of the Pops Age

Mike Read is the host this week for the 24th January 1980 edition of Top of the Pops. The big changes are yet to happen but the show is already beginning to hint at the direction in which the new decade is heading .....

The 80's are all about having your name in lights

 

 

 

 

24-1-80: Presenter: Mike Read

(21) AZYMUTH – Jazz Carnival (and charts)
(54) BUGGLES – The Plastic Age
(4) THE NOLANS – I’m In The Mood For Dancing
(45) THE BOOMTOWN RATS – Someone’s Looking At You (video)
(16) THE BEE GEES – Spirits (Having Flown) (danced to by Legs & Co) 
(12) JOE JACKSON – It’s Different For Girls ®
(50) SUZI QUATRO – Mama’s Boy
(9) DOLLAR – I Wanna Hold Your Hand
(15) THE SPECIALS – Too Much Too Young (video)
(53) BARBARA DICKSON – Caravan Song
(30) MATCHBOX – Buzz Buzz A Diddle It
(20) SHEILA B. DEVOTION – Spacer (video)
(22) THE REGENTS – 7 Teen
(1) THE PRETENDERS – Brass In Pocket ®
(29) KOOL & THE GANG – Too Hot (and credits)

 

 

Azymuth ~ from Brazil give us quite a chilled chart rundown this week with their only UK hit.

 

Buggles ~ are in the studio to perform their follow up to Video Killed the Radio Star, it wasn't as big a hit but did still make the top 20. Weirdly, lead man Trevor Horn and keyboard player Geoff Downes would soon join the band Yes, now that Jon Anderson had run off with Vangelis.

 

The Nolans ~ look most at home with the TOTPs orchestra behind them, with I'm in the Mood for Dancing just one place below its peak in the charts.

 

The Boomtown Rats ~ go for an army look for this noisy rocker interspersed with a freaky green eyed vampire Bob swinging around in an office chair.

 

Legs & Co ~ are delicate spirits this week swirling around to the no show Bee Gees.

 

Joe Jackson ~ this repeat showing was edited out of the 7.30 BBC4 broadcast.

 

Suzi Quattro ~ was also sadly edited out but you can watch it later tonight on BBC4 or on iplayer.

 

 

Dollar ~ a new performance of I Wanna Hold Your Hand from the lovey dovey couple, and brave of BBC4 not to edit out Mike Read's Jimmy Savile name check.

 

The Specials ~ this live video of Too Much Too Young was recorded at London's Lyceum, and was now poised to take over the number one spot.

 

Barbara Dickson ~ was edited out at 7.30 so you'll need to stay up late or catch it on iplayer.

 

Matchbox ~ perform a double bass leaping cover version of Freddy Cannon's rock n roll number Buzz Buzz A Diddle It.

 

Sheila B Devotion ~ another showing for the Spacer video, and Mike introduces her as Sheila and B Devotion, she seemed to go with both versions of her name at this time.

 

The Regents ~ had been slowly climbing the charts for over a month and now here they were for a second time on Top of the Pops with their only hit 7 Teen.

 

The Pretenders ~ and a final week at number one for Brass in Pocket.

 

Kool and the Gang ~ are Too Hot for the credits this week, on their way to 23 in the charts with this follow up to Ladies Night.

 

 

Next week then we reach the 31st of January 1980 in the company of David Jensen.