Do You Feel My Top of the Pops?

Here's the edition of Top of the Pops, hosted by DLT, so it won't be shown on BBC4, from November 20th 1980 with many thanks to manorak for uploading this to the excellent Vimeo site.

I wish I could do the splits like Rod...

20-11-80: Presenter: Dave Lee Travis
https://vimeo.com/129770337

 (15) MOTÖRHEAD – Ace Of Spades
Getting the show off to the loudest start possible is Motorhead, but Ace of Spades got no higher than 15 in the charts.

(23) THE BOOMTOWN RATS – Banana Republic (video)
DLT suggested that this single looked for a while like it wouldn't make the top 30, but now it was in there it was heading for the top 3, although it would prove to be their last top ten or even top 20 hit. But another fine video from the Rats.

(18) DIANA ROSS – I’m Coming Out
This week's Legs & Co routine sees them all frilly and white dancing to Diana's third hit of 1980, this one peaking at 13.

(30) EDDY GRANT – Do You Feel My Love?
Over a year after Living on the Front Line, Eddy returns to the charts with what would become his first solo top ten hit when it made number 8.

(22) ROD STEWART – Passion (video)
Wow if Rod did the splits any further he'd do himself an injury I'm sure! This one peaked at 17.

(12) KOOL & THE GANG – Celebration ®
On its way towards the top ten.

(4) DENNIS WATERMAN with THE DENNIS WATERMAN BAND – I Could Be So Good For You ®
Unlucky Dennis keeps popping up on yewtreed editions and this single was now almost at its number 3 peak.

The Top Ten Rundown:

 (10) STATUS QUO – What You’re Proposing (video)
(9) ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES IN THE DARK – Enola Gay (video)
(8) ADAM & THE ANTS – Dog Eat Dog (still picture)
(7) BAD MANNERS – Special Brew (still picture)
(6) STEPHANIE MILLS – Never Knew Love Like This Before (video)
(5) DAVID BOWIE – Fashion (video)
(4) DENNIS WATERMAN with THE DENNIS WATERMAN BAND – I Could Be So Good For You (clip of TOTP 6-11-80)
(3) BARBRA STREISAND – Woman In Love (video)
(2) ABBA – Super Trouper (video)

 (1) BLONDIE – The Tide Is High (video)
The second and final week at the top for Blondie, their third number one of 1980.

 (11) UB40 – The Earth Dies Screaming (crowd dancing) (and credits)
This went one place higher to make it three top ten hits for UB40 in 1980.

To Cut a Long Top of the Pops Short

We leap forward in time again a little this week to November 13th 1980 with Simon Bates hosting what proves to be a quite fabulous edition....

We hereby give permission for the 80's to officially begin....

13-11-80: Presenter: Simon Bates

(35) IRON MAIDEN – Women In Uniform
Getting the show off to a rousing live start is Iron Maiden featuring pre-Bruce Dickinson lead singer Paul Di'Anno. It got no higher than 35.

 (6) DAVID BOWIE – Fashion (video)
Continuing to raise the video stakes here following on from the ground breaking Ashes to Ashes. Fashion peaked at number 5. Then along come Ray and Dennis from Dr Hook as the first of tonight's special guests plugging their latest album.

 (33) GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS – Bourgie Bourgie
This live studio performance helped the song up just one place higher in the charts. Then the second of tonight's special guests turns up in the form of Stu Francis, to tell us that Crackerjack now has 8 million viewers! I could crush a grape!

 (20) JOHN LENNON – (Just Like) Starting Over (danced to by Legs & Co)
When these Top of the Pops reruns began we had narrowly missed out on John Lennon's last hit before he announced his 'retirement' but five years later he returned with this wonderfully apt single. It would peak at number 8 in early December, begin its fall down the charts and then suddenly go to number one in the saddest of circumstances imaginable.

 (32) LIQUID GOLD – The Night The Wine And The Roses
This one got the 7.30pm chop.

 (43) SPANDAU BALLET – To Cut A Long Story Short
I know we've had OMD and Adam & the Ants already, but for me this is where the 80's truly begin ~ the look, the sound and the soon to follow epic videos.

 (13) ABBA – Super Trouper (video)
No one would have believed at the time that this fabulous song would be Abba's final number one hit ~ indeed less than 18 months later they would be struggling to even get into the top 30.

The Top Ten Rundown:

 (10) ODYSSEY – If You’re Looking For A Way Out (video)
(9) STEPHANIE MILLS – Never Knew Love Like This Before (video)
(8) ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES IN THE DARK – Enola Gay (video)
(7) ADAM & THE ANTS – Dog Eat Dog (still picture)
(6) DAVID BOWIE – Fashion (video)
(5) STATUS QUO – What You’re Proposing (video)
(4) DENNIS WATERMAN with THE DENNIS WATERMAN BAND – I Could Be So Good For You (still picture)
(3) BAD MANNERS – Special Brew (still picture)
(2) BARBRA STREISAND – Woman In Love (video)

 (1) BLONDIE – The Tide Is High (video)
At the dawn of the era of amazing videos, Blondie come up with something that looks like it was thrown together in five minutes. Still, a great song and the first of two weeks at number one.

 (30) YOUNG & COMPANY – I Like (What You’re Doing To Me) (crowd dancing) (and credits)
Their one and only hit which made it to number 20.


The next edition should be November 20th but it is hosted by DLT so it will be skipped in favour of the 27th. However, next week is a Sky at Night Week so we'll have to wait until the 19th of November to see it.

I Could be so Top of the Pops for You

Our thanks goes here to Robert Thompson for uploading the November 6th edition of Top of the Pops, which won't of course be broadcast on BBC4 due to it being hosted by Jimmy Savile. I've found the best way to access the file is via the 4Shared app for phones, it works without any bother at all on there.

er.... how tall do you think I am?

6-11-80: Presenters: Jimmy Savile O.B.E. & Richard Skinner

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.4shared.com%2Ffile%2FLFPUMqMXce%2Ftotp_061180.html&h=QAQE588o8

Or use this alternative link thanks to Neil B:
http://www.4shared.com/video/XKqERb_cba/TOTP_061180.html

 (33) KOOL & THE GANG – Celebration
A studio appearance for this classic song soon to become their second top ten hit when it made number 7.

 (2) STATUS QUO – What You’re Proposing ®
Now at its peak position.

(19) DENNIS WATERMAN with THE DENNIS WATERMAN BAND – I Could Be So Good For You
A fine live vocal from Dennis here with the theme tune from Minder which became his only top ten hit reaching number 3. Then comes a guest appearance from a somewhat unenthusiastic Robert Palmer giving away his latest record to a very polite girl.

 (18) STEPHANIE MILLS – Never Knew Love Like This Before (video)
Making its way up the charts towards number 4.

 (NEW) NEIL DIAMOND – Love On The Rocks (video)
A taster from his movie The Jazz Singer, this became Neil's final top 20 hit.

 (29) ROXY MUSIC – The Same Old Scene
A very sparkly dressed Legs & Co do Bryan and the boys proud here with their routine.

 (25) UB40 – The Earth Dies Screaming
Another 1980 nuclear bomb song which gave UB40 their third top ten hit of the year.

 (21) MOTÖRHEAD – Ace Of Spades
Perhaps their best known tune, though surprisingly it only made it to number 15.

The top ten rundown:
 (10) OTTAWAN – D.I.S.C.O. (video)
(9) ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES IN THE DARK – Enola Gay (video)
(8) DAVID BOWIE – Fashion (video)
(7) ODYSSEY – If You’re Looking For A Way Out (video)
(6) MATCHBOX – When You Ask About Love (video)
(5) BLONDIE – The Tide Is High (video)
(4) ADAM & THE ANTS – Dog Eat Dog (still picture)
(3) BAD MANNERS – Special Brew (still picture)
(2) STATUS QUO – What You’re Proposing (clip of TOTP 23-10-80)

 (1) BARBRA STREISAND – Woman In Love (video)
The final week at number one for Barbra.

 (30) JOHN LENNON – (Just Like) Starting Over (crowd dancing) (and credits)
Oh boy, it's that time already. But we'll have to wait a little longer to hear this one as its missing from the end of this recording.

Top of the Pops Brew

I'm away from home this week so I've prepared this blog before actually watching this edition on BBC4, so I don't know who if anyone got the 7.30 chop. One thing to note though is that this marks the point where Legs & Co enter into their final twelve months on the show....

What's another year?

30-10-80: Presenters: Peter Powell & Colin Berry

(13) ADAM & THE ANTS – Dog Eat Dog
Barking its way to number 4 in the charts.

 (6) ODYSSEY – If You’re Looking For A Way Out (video)
Now at its peak.

 (5) BAD MANNERS – Special Brew ®
About to go two place higher and become their joint biggest hit.

 (20) DAVID BOWIE – Fashion (danced to by Legs & Co)
The follow-up to Ashes to Ashes, from his Scary Monsters album.

 (17) SHEENA EASTON – One Man Woman (video)
Her third single already, peaking at number 14.

 (25) OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN & CLIFF RICHARD – Suddenly (video)
The fifth single from Xanadu, this one peaking at 15. Although the movie flopped, a stage version become a surprise hit on Broadway in 2007, and the show has recently opened in London at the Southwark Playhouse Theatre.

 (22) SHOWADDYWADDY – Why Do Lovers Break Each Other’s Hearts ®
This was now the peak position for their final top 30 hit.

The Top Ten Rundown:
(10) THE POLICE – Don’t Stand So Close To Me (video)
(9) THE NOLANS – Gotta Pull Myself Together (video)
(8) ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES IN THE DARK – Enola Gay (still picture)
(7) MADNESS – Baggy Trousers (video)
(6) ODYSSEY – If You’re Looking For A Way Out (video)
(5) BAD MANNERS – Special Brew (still picture)
(4) MATCHBOX – When You Ask About Love (still picture)
(3) OTTAWAN – D.I.S.C.O. (video)
(2) STATUS QUO – What You’re Proposing (clip of TOTP 23-10-80)

 (1) BARBRA STREISAND – Woman In Love (video)
The second of three weeks for Barbra's only number one.

 (26) STEPHANIE MILLS – Never Knew Love Like This Before (crowd dancing) (and credits)
This one reached number 4 to become Stephanie's only top ten hit.


The next show should be the 6th November, but it was hosted by Jimmy Savile and so won't be shown, so instead BBC4 will move on to November 13th 1980.

All Out of Top of the Pops

It's October the 23rd 1980, and we reach another edition that won't be broadcast on BBC4 due to the host being DLT...

So a huge thanks to Manorak for making it available on Vimeo

Top of the Pops 23-10-80: Presenter: Dave Lee Travis
https://vimeo.com/130003915

(4) STATUS QUO – What You’re Proposing
On its way to number 2.

 (9) THE NOLANS – Gotta Pull Myself Together (video)
Now at its chart peak.

 (27) GILBERT O’SULLIVAN – What’s In A Kiss? ®
Would make it to 19.

 (37) KELLY MARIE – Loving Just For Fun
The follow up to Feel Like I'm In Love, made it to number 21.

 (20) AIR SUPPLY – All Out Of Love (video)
The group's only top 30 hit, peaked at number 11.

 (26) KATE BUSH – Army Dreamers (video)
The third single from her Never Forever album, made it to number 16.

 (12) ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES IN THE DARK – Enola Gay ®
On its way to number 8 in the charts.

(2) OTTAWAN – D.I.S.C.O. (danced to by Legs & Co)
At its peak position.

The Top Ten Rundown:
 (10) GEORGE BENSON – Love X Love (video)
(9) THE NOLANS – Gotta Pull Myself Together (video)
(8) SWEET PEOPLE – Et Les Oiseaux (And The Birds Were Singing) (still picture)
(7) ODYSSEY – If You’re Looking For A Way Out (video)
(6) MATCHBOX – When You Ask About Love (still picture)
(5) MADNESS – Baggy Trousers (video)
(4) STATUS QUO – What You’re Proposing (clip of TOTP 23-10-80)
(3) THE POLICE – Don’t Stand So Close To Me (video)
(2) OTTAWAN – D.I.S.C.O. (video)

 (1) BARBRA STREISAND – Woman In Love (danced to by Legs & Co)
A new number one, and Barbra's only number one in the UK.

 (13) COFFEE – Casanova (crowd dancing) (and credits)
At its peak in the charts.

Top of the Pops Eat Dog

We have seen some decade milestone debuts so far in 1980 ~ the Human League, OMD, but could it be that this edition from October 16th is where the 80's New Romantics movement truly went mainstream, with the debut of Adam and the Ants......

Well I certainly didn't expect Michael Palin

16-10-80: Presenter: Tommy Vance

(3) MADNESS – Baggy Trousers ®
Now at its peak in the charts. Then along comes the first of tonight's special guests, Suzi Quatro, to plug her new song, Rock Hard, which just about made the top 70.

(36) SHOWADDYWADDY – Why Do Lovers Break Each Other’s Hearts
For a moment it looked like Dave Bartram had joined the 80's with a mullet haircut, but it turned out to be only a wig! Maybe that's why this was their final top 30 hit.

(9) BARBRA STREISAND – Woman In Love
Six Cinderellas in the shape of Legs & Co do their routine to what will be next week's number one.
Then along comes the second of tonight's special guests, Michael Palin, to plug the new banned Monty Python album, and to introduce.....

(37) ADAM & THE ANTS – Dog Eat Dog
Tommy Vance predicts this band will do quite well. Dog Eat Dog became the first of 7 top ten hits for the band over the next two years, and the sound of the early 80's has well and truly arrived.
Then along comes Dollar to plug their new song, Takin a Chance on You, which didn't quite make the top 60. Thereza was also keen to show Tommy her ring. She'd just got engaged to David.

(21) GEORGE BENSON – Love X Love (video)
This became George's second top ten hit of 1980 when it peaked at number 10.

(10) MATCHBOX – When You Ask About Love
This was the band's biggest hit by far, making it to number 4.

(25) BAD MANNERS – Special Brew
Fell victim to the 7.30 edit!

The top, er... 9 rundown:

 (9) BARBRA STREISAND – Woman In Love (still picture)
(8) DIANA ROSS – My Old Piano (video)
(7) ODYSSEY – If You’re Looking For A Way Out (video)
(6) STEVIE WONDER – Masterblaster (Jammin’) (video)
(5) STATUS QUO – What You’re Proposing (still picture)
(4) SWEET PEOPLE – Et Les Oiseaux (And The Birds Were Singing) (still picture)
(3) MADNESS – Baggy Trousers (video)
(2) OTTAWAN – D.I.S.C.O. (video)

 (1) THE POLICE – Don’t Stand So Close To Me (video)
Final week at number one.

(2) OTTAWAN – D.I.S.C.O. (crowd dancing) (and credits)
Penultimate week at number 2.

Next up on BBC4 should have been October 23rd, but it is hosted by DLT, so instead we will move on to October 30th with Peter Powell and Colin Berry.

What's in a Top of the Pops

With the studio audience already dancing to D.I.S.C.O. by Ottawan, Peter Powell gets the 9th October edition underway.....

Arfur Daley, you should be proud of your little Terry today....

9-10-80: Presenter: Peter Powell

(27) STATUS QUO – What You’re Proposing
Is this the first time we've seen the Quo in the studio since these reruns began? What You're Proposing became the first of ten top ten hits for the group in the 80's. And I propose what a great way to start a show!

(5) DIANA ROSS – My Old Piano (video)
Now at its peak in the charts. And edited out of the 7.30 show. Instead we get guest Dennis Waterman going all coy about plugging his new 'sing the theme tune' single. But we don't mind.

(35) ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES IN THE DARK – Enola Gay
This iconic follow-up to Messages became the first of five top ten hits in the 80's for OMD.

(9) BLACK SLATE – Amigo
A new studio performance here, and a smaller hat, but Amigo was at its peak and this was their only time in the top 30.

(19) COFFEE – Casanova
Legs & Co do a sort of period drama can-can with lots of adlibbed 'Ooohs' to Casanova which then peaked at 13.

(25) THE NOLANS – Gotta Pull Myself Together (video)
This became the second of three top ten hits for the sisters. Dennis Waterman seemed to approve. And then up pops guest number two Paul Jones to plug his new Blues Band album.

(23) LINX – You’re Lying ®
On its way to a peak of 15, this is a repeat performance from two weeks previous.

(36) GILBERT O’SULLIVAN – What’s In A Kiss?
Gilbert's first chart hit for five years, but it was also to be his final time in the top 30. And what's in a Top of the Pops? Well not Gilbert, he was edited out of the 7.30 showing!

(10) THIN LIZZY – Killer On The Loose (video)
Their final top ten hit now at its peak.

(9) BLACK SLATE – Amigo (clip of TOTP 25-9-80)
Also at its peak.

(8) RANDY CRAWFORD – One Day I’ll Fly Away (clip of TOTP 4-9-80)
Had been at number 2.

(7) ODYSSEY – If You’re Looking For A Way Out (video)
Got one place higher.

(6) THE SPECIALS – International Jet Set (still picture)
This one seems to have passed the show by ~ and now at its chart peak.

(5) DIANA ROSS – My Old Piano (video)
Also at its peak.

(4) STEVIE WONDER – Masterblaster (Jammin’) (video)
Had been a number 2 and was the 25th biggest selling single of 1980.

(3) MADNESS – Baggy Trousers (video)
Three was as high as this one got, though it was the thirteenth biggest seller of 1980.

(2) OTTAWAN – D.I.S.C.O. (video)
Despite being the fifth biggest selling single of the year, this could get no further than number 2.

 (1) THE POLICE – Don’t Stand So Close To Me (video)
Third week at the top for the number one biggest selling single of 1980.

(2) OTTAWAN – D.I.S.C.O. (crowd dancing) (and credits)


Next up is the 16th of October hosted by Tommy Vance, in two weeks time, due to the Sky at Night.