This Ole Top of the Pops

Already then we reach the final edition of Top of the Pops of March 1981, how time flies, eh? And what a particularly bouncy show this one is, it certainly has got a real 'spring' in its step :-)

What you talking about, Pauline's left?

26/03/81 (hosted by Richard Skinner)

(36) Polecats – “John I’m Only Dancing”
The show gets off to an energetic start with the Polecats leaping about with this rockabilly Bowie cover and the now Paulineless Legs & Co doing their audience cheerleading again ~ but despite all this effort the song only went up one place higher in the charts.

(2) Kim Wilde – “Kids In America” (video)
At its peak now and edited out of the 7.30pm show tonight.

(43) Graham Bonnet – “Night Games”
This was also edited out but we will get to see it on a future edition because it made it to number 6.

(23) Hazel O’Connor – “D-Days”
Not many performers turn up disguised as one of the girls (or granny!) around the presenter but Hazel soon reveals herself and is quickly outbouncing the Polecats with her rendition of D-Days, which peaked at number 10 and was the first of two top ten hits for her in 1981.

(10) Tony Capstick – “Capstick Comes Home”
The bouncing takes a bit of a break here as popular Radio Sheffield DJ and comedian/actor/folk singer Tony Capstick does one of those records that the kids of today just don't understand... and it would peak at number 3.

(37) Gillan – “New Orleans”
The show cranks up a gear or five now as Gillan offers this heavy rock version of New Orleans, taken from his number 2 album Future Shock.

(53) Lene Lovich – “New Toy”
Edited out of tonights 7.30pm show ~ and it got no higher than number 53.

(13) Linx – “Intuition” (13) (video)
Linx were still stealing apples and bouncing towards the top ten.

(54) Bad Manners – “Just A Feeling”
Looking alarmingly like a hotdog about to have a heart attack, Bad Manners up the bouncing stakes with their first of three top 20 singles in 1981, this one peaking at number 13.

(20) The Whispers – “It’s A Love Thing”
So Legs & Co are reduced to five members for the time being, and that time ended up being about two months before Anita joined them. Dancing here to the second and final top ten hit for the Whispers, Its a Love Thing made it to number 9.

(11) Landscape – “Einstein A Go-Go” (video)
Soon to become the band's only top ten hit when it peaked at number 5.

(1) Shakin’ Stevens – “This Ole House” (rpt from 05/03/81)
And so the Shaky phenomenon begins with his first of two number ones in 1981. And look ~ Pauline's back already!

(24) Bucks Fizz - "Making Your Mind Up" (credits)
Sounding promising for the Eurovision Song contest, which would be held on April 4th in Dublin.


We get a little bit of a breather next week because Thursday has a Sky at Night episode on BBC4, but we're back on Friday with Top of the Pops from April 2nd 1981.

Top of the Pops Your Mind Up

There are lots of big changes to Top of the Pops coming up during the course of 1981, and tonight's edition sees one of them (though not a mention is made of it by Peter Powell) ~ after nearly four and a half years on the show we come to the end of the original line up of Legs & Co, with Pauline Peter's final (two) performances..

So if you want to see some more of Pauline, tonight's your last chance....

19/03/81 (hosted by Peter Powell)

(28) The Jacksons – “Can You Feel It?” (background)
Whilst Peter introduces the show we get a few seconds of Can You Feel It, which was the third single from The Jacksons late 1980 album 'Triumph' and became by far the most successful of the three when it peaked at number 6.

(33) Sharon Redd – “Can You Handle It?”
The question is can that podium handle Sharon's gyrating? And around her we also see Legs & Co in their new regular role of audience cheerleader dancers. The song peaked at number 31 for Sharon, though eleven years later she would re-record it and take it to number 17.

(2) Shakin’ Stevens – “This Ole House” (video)
Shaky packs his things and prepares to move into the number one spot. But he was edited out of the 7.30pm broadcast tonight.

(30) Dave Stewart & Colin Blunstone – “What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted?”
The first of two top 20 cover version hits for keyboardist Dave Stewart in 1981, this first offering, featuring Zombie Colin Blunstone on vocals, making it to lucky number 13....

(9) The Who – “You Better You Bet”  (rpt from 05/03/81)
Now at its peak, the first single from their number 2 album Face Dances.

(18) Stevie Wonder – “Lately”
Quite an appropriate goodbye song for Pauline's final Legs & Co performance, which later made it to number 3 in the charts.

(14) Phil Collins – “I Missed Again”  (rpt from 05/03/81)
At its peak. And edited out of the 7.30pm showing.

(New) Bucks Fizz – “Making Your Mind Up”
And now we introduce The UKs Eurovision song contest entry for 1981 ~ fingers crossed.......

(24) Visage – “Mind Of a Toy” (video)
The follow up to Fade to Grey peaked at number 13. Somewhat disappointingly, this was edited out of the 7.30pm slot tonight.

(20) Duran Duran – “Planet Earth” (rpt from 05/03/81)
Still heading up the charts on its way to number 12.

(8) Toyah – “It’s a Mystery” (8)
A new performance of Its a Mystery from Toyah on its way to a high of number 4.

(1) Roxy Music – “Jealous Guy” (video/credits)
The second and final week for Roxy's only number one hit. And looking down the credits it seems the Maggie Stredder Singers were back again tonight, backing Sharon Redd maybe?


Next (tomorrow!) we move on to March 26th 1981 with Richard Skinner.

(Top of the Pops) Help Me Out

Well bless my cotton socks Top of the Pops certainly needed helping out on March 12th 1981 because everyone had downed tools again ~ all except that is for Tommy Vance who got to present his very own strike edition....

A Game of Top of the Pops, anybody?

12/03/81 (hosted by Tommy Vance and invisible audience)

(13) The Teardrop Explodes – “Reward”  (rpt from 19/02/81)
Two consecutive showings then for the Teardrop Explodes, but it works out quite well for us because this clip is from a yewtreed DLT edition so hadn't yet been shown on BBC4 :-)

(6) Kim Wilde – “Kids In America” (video)
The video that was purposely made to look a bit like her recent Top of the Pops appearance, where she was nervous of being in the near vicinity of Madness!

(41) Linx – “Intuition”  (video)
A lucky break this for Linx, without the strike it was unlikely they would have been on this week's show ~ afterwards Intuition leapt up the charts and became their only top ten hit making number 7. Not so lucky tonight though ~ edited out of the 7.30pm broadcast.

(22) Kelly Marie – “Hot Love”  (rpt from 26/02/81)
I make this the third time on the show for Kelly's final top 30 hit, now at its peak. But also edited out.

(8) Freeez – “Southern Freeez”  (rpt from 12/02/81)
Also now at its chart summit. And edited out of the 7.30pm slot.

(9) Status Quo – “Something ‘Bout You Baby I Like” (video)
And again, a song at its chart peak that was edited out of tonight's 7.30pm showing.

(15) Beggar & Co – “(Somebody) Help Me Out”  (rpt from 12/02/81)
Guess what? This one had now reached its chart peak. But it was left in the 7.30 show!

(38) Landscape – “Einstein A Go-Go”  (video)
Another band perhaps benefitting 'relativity' well from the strike, Einstein was about to a go-go towards the top ten, making it to number five. And its easy to see why they chose to show this genius video!

(14) Talking Heads – “Once In A Lifetime” (rpt from 19/02/81)
Two shows on the bounce for Talking Heads too, but again it means we get to see this previously yewtreed Legs & Co routine on BBC4 ~ but despite their best efforts Once in a Lifetime somehow got no higher in the charts.
.
(17) Kiki Dee – “Star”  (rpt from 26/02/81)
Still heading towards its high of number 13.

(5) Coast To Coast – “(Do) The Hucklebuck” (rpt from 12/02/81)
One more showing for Coast to Coast now at their peak.

(1) Roxy Music – “Jealous Guy” (video/credits)
A fine cover of this John Lennon album track from Imagine, which must have been put together very quickly, and now here was becoming Roxy's only number one hit.

Next up then is March 19th with Peter Powell, notable for being the final time we will see the original line up of Legs & Co.....

Planet Top of the Pops

BBC4 really are 'marching' through these editions this year aren't they, with a sixth of 1981 already gone! Indeed, these shows are loading faster than a Sinclair ZX81 computer - which came out the week this edition was first broadcast :-)

Today Top of the Pops - tomorrow the world!

05/03/81 (hosted by Mike Read)

(47) Duran Duran – “Planet Earth”
A major debut on the show tonight with a song that made 'new romantic' an official term, and also the first of four top 40 hits for Duran Duran in 1981, this one peaking at number 12.

(14) Talking Heads – “Once In A Lifetime” (video)
Now at its chart peak. But edited out of tonight's 7.30pm showing.

(6) Adam & The Ants – “Kings Of The Wild Frontier” (rpt from 19/02/81)
1981's chart kings were heading towards the number 2 spot with this re-issue of the first single from their album of the same name.

(16) Toyah – “It’s A Mystery” (rpt from 19/02/81)
The first of three top ten hits in 1981 (and ever) for Toyah ~ this one made number four. But where was she on tonight's 7.30pm broadcast?? - it's no mystery, she was edited out.

(29) Shakin’ Stevens – “This Ole House”
Who could have foreseen the phenomenal success that was about to come Shaky's way? This would become the first of four top ten hits, including two number ones, he would have in 1981. But not on tonight's 7.30 showing.

(5) Headgirl (Motorhead & Girlschool) – “Please Don’t Touch” (rpt from 19/02/81)
This Johnny Kidd and the Pirates cover was now at its peak. It's good this one was shown tonight, because last time it was on a yewtreed DLT show.

(45) Phil Collins – “I Missed Again”
The follow up to In the Air Tonight was perhaps a more conventional sounding song, and not as big a hit, but still got to number 14. And he's still got that tin of paint with him, maybe for a second coat?

(31) Kool & The Gang – “Jones Vs Jones”
The first of four top 20 hits in 1981for Kool & the Gang provides this week's Legs & Girl routine, with three of the girls as brides and the other three as their bridegrooms!

(25) The Teardrop Explodes – “Reward” (video)
Became the band's only top ten hit. Here they drive around a very bleak looking seaside town trying to cheer things up by playing their trombones.

(35) The Who – “You Better You Bet” (35)
About to become this legendary band's 14th and final top ten hit, when it reached number 9, but sadly they never managed the number one they surely merited. And this was their first studio appearance on the show since 1973, and I do believe it was also their last?

(1) Joe Dolce Music Theatre – “Shaddap You Face” (rpt from 05/02/81)
The third and final week at number one for Joe's only hit.

(7) Coast to Coast - "(Do) The Hucklebuck (credits)
Mike Read displays his dance skills with the audience as Coast to Coast edge closer to peak position.

Next up is the 12th of March with Tommy Vance, and there's something just a little unusual about this edition.....

Something 'Bout Top of the Pops I Like

So, here we are at the end of January 2016, and we're already at the end of February 1981!

Are Madness still staring at me?

26/02/81 (hosted by Peter Powell)

(19) Status Quo – “Something ‘Bout You Baby I Like”
The first of two top ten hits in 1981 for the Quo, this one peaking at number 9.

(6) Roxy Music – “Jealous Guy” (6) (video)
This John Lennon tribute went on to become Roxy Music's one and only number one hit.

(22) Beggar & Co – “(Somebody) Help Me Out” (rpt from 12/02/81)
Still on its way up the charts. But edited out of tonight's 7.30pm slot.

(43) Kim Wilde – “Kids In America”
Kim's debut on the show with her first single which became her joint biggest hit, just missing the number one spot.

(25) The Passions – “I’m In Love With A German Film Star” (rpt from 05/02/81)
Now at its peak in the charts. And then we never heard from them again.

(7) Madness – “The Return Of The Los Palmas 7”
A non-mover at number seven and even turning up in the studio couldn't push it any higher. Still, an easy night out for Suggs though!

(31) Kelly Marie – “Hot Love”
A second time on the show for Kelly's final top 30 hit, which eventually made it to number 22. Edited out of the 7.30pm showing.

(8) Coast To Coast – “(Do) The Hucklebuck”  (rpt from 12/02/81)
Their only top ten hit peaking at number 5. Lots of dancing going on but Legs & Co have gone Awol again!

(2) Ultravox – “Vienna” (video)
I make this five times on the show now for Vienna, and why not its a great song! BBC4 obviously thought five was too many times so it got the 7.30pm chop.

(9) Freeez – “Southern Freeez” (rpt from 12/02/81)
The first of two top ten hits for Freeeze, this one finally froze at number 8.

(40) Kiki Dee – “Star”
Her first hit since 1977, Star reached number 13, and then Kiki had to wait until the end of 1993 for her next (and final) top 20 hit.

(1) Joe Dolce Music Theatre – “Shaddap You Face” (video/credits)
The second of three weeks at numero uno for Joe Dolce.


Next up then is the 5th March 1981 with Mike Read.

The Oldest Top of the Pops in Town

Massive thanks to Meer for uploading this edition of Top of the Pops from the 19th of February 1981, which won't be shown of BBC4 due to it being hosted by DLT.

And I was so looking forward to being on BBC4....

19/02/81 (hosted by Dave Lee Travis)

https://vimeo.com/152881265


(41) The Teardrop Explodes – “Reward”
A Top of the Pops debut for moptop Julian Cope and the trumpet boys enthusiastically performing what would prove to be their biggest hit by far when it reached number 6.

(4) Rainbow – “I Surrender” (video)
The third and final top ten hit for Rainbow, and also their biggest hit, peaking at 3.

(6) Fred Wedlock – “The Oldest Swinger In Town”
Well Fred really has won the jackpot here hasn't he! Not only has he reached a top ten peak of number 6 in the charts but he also gets Legs & Co all to himself too!

(15) Headgirl (Motorhead & Girlschool) – “Please Don’t Touch”
A suave looking Lemmy sporting a white dinner jacket performs a track from the St. Valentines Day Massacre ep which made it all the way to number 5, becoming Motorhead's (and Girlschool's) biggest hit.

(42) Toyah – “It’s A Mystery”
Another moptop debut on tonight's show, bright orange this time, and another ep 'Four From Toyah', which became the first of three top ten hits for Toyah in 1981.

(9) Stray Cats – “Rock This Town”
It looks like the Cats had been raiding the New Romantics' makeup box, but they couldn't rock this tune any higher up the charts.

(35) Talking Heads – “Once In A Lifetime”
Such an unusual song, it really stood out at the time, and Legs & Co here give it an appropriately offbeat routine to a background of watery visual effects, but it didn't get quite as high in the charts as you might think, making it to number 14.

(12) Visage – “Fade To Grey”  (video)
The classic 'snake' video again, still slithering slowly towards the top ten.

(39) Adam & The Ants – “Kings Of The Wild Frontier”
This one had originally been released during the summer of 1980, but failed to make the top 40, but by February 1981 there was no stopping the march of the Ants, and this re-entered the charts and went all the way to number 2.

(1) Joe Dolce Music Theatre – “Shaddap You Face” (rpt from 05/02/81)
Not only displacing John Lennon, but of course leapfrogging Vienna to the top of the charts too!

(7) Madness – “The Return Of The Los Palmas 7” (credits)
At its peak but not quite the last we'll see of it.

Next up then is the edition from February 26th 1981.

Just When I Needed Top of the Pops Most

So another (very) busy couple of Top of the Pops 1981 days, with three editions to squeeze in before the weekend, begins with the 12th of February 1981.

You won't see us horsing around, Dolce!

12/02/81 (hosted by Richard Skinner)

(28) Pretenders – “Message Of Love”
Their first single for about a year, and it almost made the top ten, peaking at 11.

(2) Ultravox – “Vienna” (video)
Ah, at last, the much celebrated Vienna video, with next week's number one spot there for the taking, but of course it was a just notta to be.

(31) Barbara Jones – “Just When I Needed You Most”
Her only chart hit, a cover of the Randy Vanwarmer top ten hit from 1979, but this one got no higher than 31.

(39) Coast To Coast – “(Do) The Hucklebuck”
The first of two top 30 hits for Coast to Coast - this one being the more successful of them, reaching number 5. But edited out of tonight's 7.30pm showing.

(32) Gillan – “Mutually Assured Destruction”
The first of four top 40 hits for Gillan in 1981, but this one has already peaked at 32. Also edited out of the 7.30pm broadcast.

(50) George Benson – “What’s On Your Mind”
Legs & Co return from last week's unexplained absence, but this routine could only get What's On Your Mind up to a peak position of 45.

(34) Freeez – “Southern Freeez”
I bet singer Ingrid preferred doing Top of the Pops to being a social worker in Hackney! And she took this Brit funk classic to number 8.

(17) Slade – “We’ll Bring The House Down” (rpt from 29/01/81)
Soon to become the first of three top ten hits in the 1980's for Slade when it peaked at number 10. But edited out of the 7.30pm showing.

(53) Beggar & Co – “(Somebody) Help Me Out”
Perhaps the first of several songs to bring a touch of social commentary to the charts this year, this second Brit funk tune of the night was on its energetic way to number 15.

(54) Kelly Marie – “Hot Love”
Became the third and final top 30 hit for Kelly. She seemed a little subdued compared to last year, but I did like the little nod towards T-Rex in the chorus.

(1) John Lennon – “Woman” (video/credits)
The final week at number one for John Lennon, ever. And was that the temporary return of the Maggie Stredder Singers I noticed in the credits...?


The next edition is from February 19th 1981, though it is hosted by DLT so won't be shown on BBC4. (But Meer to the rescue!) Instead on BBC4 we will see February 26th hosted by Peter Powell.