Too Nice to Top of the Pops

And so all too soon we arrive at the final regular edition of Top of the Pops 1980 ~ the 'last Christmas Top of the Pops before the Christmas Top of the Pops' as Simon Bates introduces it....

So whose Xmas jumper is the most special?

18-12-80: Presenter: Simon Bates

(31) THE BEAT – Too Nice To Talk To
A good year for The Beat - this became their fourth top ten hit when it made number 7. Can you spot the imposter from the Specials?

 (2) ST. WINIFRED’S SCHOOL CHOIR – There’s No-One Quite Like Grandma ®
Surely they wouldn't dare to knock John Lennon off the top of the charts for Christmas, would they? So sad, but it was cut from tonight's 7.30 edition.

 (27) THE BARRON KNIGHTS – Never Mind The Presents
It's nearly Xmas so here's another comedy medley from the Barron Knights - but this one was their final top 20 hit. And also cut from the 7.30 edition. But we do get to see 'special' guests Little and Large reminding us how un-pc 1980 comedy still was.

 (34) THE SPECIALS – Do Nothing
Sporting very fashionable Xmas jumpers and having seemingly mugged Madness of their tartan trousers, Do Nothing became the fourth top ten hit of 1980 for The Specials when it reached number 4. Can you spot the imposter from The Beat?

 (35) GARY NUMAN – This Wreckage
Taken from his number one album Telekon, but the single did't do as well, peaking at 20.

 (33) ROBERT PALMER – Looking For Clues ®
Second time on the show but still couldn't make it into the top 30. And cut from the 7.30 showing.

 (18) CHAS & DAVE – Rabbit
Turning the studio into a warren tonight, Rabbit became the boys' first top ten hit when it peaked at number 8. (Rabbit and pork = talk)

 (39) THE NOLANS – Who’s Gonna Rock You
Helped by Santa on the drums, this song became the third hit from their Making Waves album, reaching number 12.

 (3) JONA LEWIE – Stop The Cavalry ®
Couldn't quite march all the way to number one.

The Top Ten Rundown:

 (10) ADAM & THE ANTS – Antmusic (video)
(9) THE STRAY CATS – Runaway Boys (video)
(8) SPANDAU BALLET – To Cut A Long Story Short (video)
(7) THE BOOMTOWN RATS – Banana Republic (video)
(6) MADNESS – Embarrassment (clip of TOTP 11-12-80)
(5) THE POLICE – De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da (video)
(4) ABBA – Super Trouper (video)
(3) JONA LEWIE – Stop The Cavalry (still picture)
(2) ST. WINIFRED’S SCHOOL CHOIR – There’s No-One Quite Like Grandma (clip of TOTP 4-12-80)

 (1) JOHN LENNON – (Just Like) Starting Over  (and credits)
Starting Over had originally peaked at number 8 at the end of November, and had dropped down to last week's 21. Here, Legs & Co pay tribute to the recently murdered John Lennon in a way that only they can, with a final frame over the credits of a shining star on top of a Christmas tree.


Next up should be the two Christmas specials, but sadly both will be skipped by BBC4 because of the presenters involved.

So then instead we move on to 1981 on Friday the 8th of January with 'The Story of' followed by 'Big Hits'.

And don't forget the annual Xmas edition of TOTP2 on BBC2 Saturday 12th December!

Imagine Top of the Pops

He left England on August 31st 1971 for a new life with his wife Yoko Ono in America, to try to help win custody of Yoko's daughter Kyoko, and having maybe fallen out of love a little at the time with his homeland, and although he never returned to us it wasn't until December 8th 1980 that we finally lost forever our unique musical magician that was John Lennon. This edition of Top of the Pops was recorded two days after he had become one more victim of New York gun crime.

Imagine there's no Top of the Pops....

Top of the Pops 11-12-80: Presenter: Richard Skinner

(16) ADAM & THE ANTS – Antmusic
As soon as Dog Eat Dog left the top 30 in came Antmusic which marched on all the way to number 2. There's even a large screen with the lyrics to sing along to, years before karaoke!

(32) SHOWADDYWADDY – Blue Moon ®
At its peak of 32 and cut from the 7.30 edition. But before the next act along comes special guest Jermaine Jackson, who is handed a cake for his 25th birthday. Richard Skinner also informs us there's no Legs & Co this week because they are rehearsing for the Xmas Day and New Years Day specials, neither of which we will get to see on BBC4 sadly. (Instead, they are showing Xmas Day 1975).

(4) MADNESS – Embarrassment
John Lennon had mentioned being a fan of this group in the interview he recorded for Radio One on December 6th, even doing an impression of 'don't listen to that, listen to this.....'
Good to see the nutty boys make it into the studio, seemingly paying homage to the Bay City Rollers, with Embarrassment now at its chart peak.

(17) STATUS QUO – Lies (video)
With a video that was hard to distinguish from a TOTPs studio appearance, this follow up to What You're Proposing made it to number 11.

(31) MATCHBOX – Somewhere Over The Rainbow
1980 had been a very good year for Matchbox but this would prove to be their final top 20 hit. It wasn't a good 7.30 edition for them tonight though, they got the chop.

(9) THE POLICE – De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da (video)
The second single from their number one album Zenyatta Mondatta made it to 5 in the charts. Judging from the video, it looks like they turned up for Wham's Last Xmas party about four years too early!

(20) QUEEN – Flash (video)
Taken from their soundtrack album for the Flash Gordon movie, this was perhaps their most peculiar hit, peaking at number 10.

(10) THE STRAY CATS – Runaway Boys ®
The first of their two top ten hits, both of which peaked at number 9.

The Top Ten Rundown:

(9) THE POLICE – De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da (video)
Straight into the charts.

(8) EDDY GRANT – Do You Feel My Love? (still picture)
Peak position.

(7) BLONDIE – The Tide Is High (video)
Not the 'Darth Vader' clip!

(6) SPANDAU BALLET – To Cut A Long Story Short (still picture)
Down from number 5.

(5) THE BOOMTOWN RATS – Banana Republic (video)
Down from number 3.

(4) MADNESS – Embarrassment (clip of TOTP 11-12-80)
It got no higher.

(3) JONA LEWIE – Stop The Cavalry (still picture)
Might have got to number one had events in New York not taken place.

(2) ST. WINIFRED’S SCHOOL CHOIR – There’s No-One Quite Like Grandma (clip of TOTP 4-12-80)
Nothing and no one would stop this lot from grabbing the Christmas number one spot.

(1) ABBA – Super Trouper (video) (and credits)
The final week at number one for Abba, ever.

JOHN LENNON – Imagine (live clip)
A sombre Richard Skinner introduces this Top of the Pops tribute, taken from the April 1975 tv show A Salute to Sir Lew Grade, filmed in New York, this was John Lennon's last ever public performance.



Next week then is the final regular edition of Top of the Pops 1980, from December the 18th.

There's No One Quite Like Top of the Pops

December 1980 arrives all too soon with this getting ready for the festive season edition from the 4th hosted by Peter Powell.

And one day when we're older, we'll look back and say......

4-12-80: Presenter: Peter Powell

(9) EDDY GRANT – Do You Feel My Love? ®
Eddy's first solo top tenner would go up one place higher in the charts.
Then its tonight's first special guests, Maurice and Verdine from Earth Wind and Fire, to tell us they will be touring the UK in August of 1981!

(27) NEIL DIAMOND – Love On The Rocks (video)
From his hugely successful top ten Jazz Singer album, this single peaked at 17.
Edited out of the 7.30 show this week.

 (15) JONA LEWIE – Stop The Cavalry
The follow-up to In the Kitchen at Parties became an almost instant Xmas classic. Peter asks us to look out for well known faces in Jona's band ~ did you spot any?

 (22) KENNY ROGERS – Lady
There's no expense spared this week as Legs & Co go Game of Thrones for this week's dance routine. Written and produced by Lionel Richie, Lady peaked at 12.

 (17) AC/DC – Rock ‘N’ Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution (video)
This second single from their huge number one album, Back in Black, became the band's first top 20 hit, and featured new lead singer Brian Johnson.

 (16) ST. WINIFRED’S SCHOOL CHOIR – There’s No-One Quite Like Grandma
Clive Dunn had got to number one with Grandad ten years earlier, so the only surprise is what took so long for someone to do the same with Grandma!
Before the next act we get our second special guest, Mike Oldfield, lamenting about his new single which wasn't in the charts.

 (3) THE BOOMTOWN RATS – Banana Republic
A typically excitable studio performance from Bob and the boys with Bananana Repuberlic at its peak in the charts now.

The Top Ten Rundown:

 (10) JOHN LENNON – (Just Like) Starting Over (still picture)
 (9) EDDY GRANT – Do You Feel My Love? (clip of TOTP 20-11-80)
(8) KOOL & THE GANG – Celebration (still picture)
(7) STEPHANIE MILLS – Never Knew Love Like This Before (video)
(6) DENNIS WATERMAN with THE DENNIS WATERMAN BAND – I Could Be So Good For You (still picture)
(5) SPANDAU BALLET – To Cut A Long Story Short (still picture)
(4) MADNESS – Embarrassment (video)
(3) THE BOOMTOWN RATS – Banana Republic (video)
(2) BLONDIE – The Tide Is High (video)

 (1) ABBA – Super Trouper (video)
Second of three weeks at the top for Agnetha's armpits and Abba's final number one.

 (13) DIANA ROSS – I’m Coming Out (crowd dancing) (and credits)
At its peak.


Next week then we move on to the 11th December 1980 for what proves to be an historic edition.

Looking for Top of the Pops

It's November 27th 1980 and Tommy Vance, who seems to be having issues locating the camera, is our Top of the Pops host tonight, introducing the show with a (very) little help from audience member Ann-Marie.

Just make sure you don't come in late with that xylophone at the end......

27-11-80: Presenter: Tommy Vance

(50) SHOWADDYWADDY – Blue Moon
The by now somewhat out of place looking teddy boys get the show(addywaddy) underway with a cover of Blue Moon which peaked at 32.

(10) UB40 – Dream A Lie (video)
Now here's a video...... a black and white minstrel show parody makes for an eye catching presentation of this flip double A side of The Earth Dies Screaming, but nevertheless it got no higher than 10.
Then along come the first of tonight's special guests, Hall & Oats, doing their best to look as gloomy as Robert Palmer had managed to be a couple of weeks earlier....

(42) ROBERT PALMER – Looking For Clues
But it seemed to work for him because here he was now performing his song on the show, but it wouldn't quite make the top 30.
ELO drummer Bev Bevan then becomes the second special guest of the night, and he introduces Legs & Co....

(26) ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA – Don’t Walk Away
And here said girls are with a somewhat pedestrian routine to the fifth and final single from Xanadu, which peaked at 21.

(49) THE STRAY CATS – Runaway Boys
Tommy Vance predicts success for this new band who'd moved to London from New York, and sure enough this single, produced by Dave Edmunds, was heading for the top ten.
Then its Top of the Pops tongue twister time when Marty and Martha from the Motels become the third special guests of the show. But they are far too pleased to be here to have any chance of a hit.

(11) SPANDAU BALLET – To Cut A Long Story Short ®
Was cut from the 7.30pm edition.

(12) MADNESS – Embarrassment (video)
Soon to become the band's fourth top ten hit of 1980 when it reached number 4, what a year this had been for Madness.

The top ten rundown:

(10) UB40 – Dream A Lie (video)
At its peak.

(9) THE BOOMTOWN RATS – Banana Republic (video)
Still rising towards the top 3.

(8) JOHN LENNON – (Just Like) Starting Over (still picture)
Now at its initial peak, his first top ten hit for five years, and his first with new material for eight.

(7) KOOL & THE GANG – Celebration (still picture)
Also now in peak position.

(6) BARBRA STREISAND – Woman In Love (video)
Falling down the charts.

(5) DAVID BOWIE – Fashion (video)
Stuck at number five, and got no higher.

(4) STEPHANIE MILLS – Never Knew Love Like This Before (video)
Didn't turn up in the studio after all, and now at its peak.

(3) DENNIS WATERMAN with THE DENNIS WATERMAN BAND – I Could Be So Good For You (still picture)
Another record in peak position.

(2) BLONDIE – The Tide Is High (video)
Down from number one.

(1) ABBA – Super Trouper (video)
Tommy tells us that this is Abba's 9th chart topper, maybe he somehow knew that it would also be their last. He also thinks it has a good chance of being the Xmas number one..... Meanwhile, Agnetha really wants to show us her su-per-per arm per-pits.

(20) YOUNG & COMPANY – I Like (What You’re Doing To Me) (crowd dancing) (and credits)
Another song at its peak as Tommy and the special guests wave good night.

Next week we enter the final month of the year with the edition from December 4th 1980.

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.