All Those Top of the Pops Ago

It seems no sooner have we reached May 1981 that we are already leaving it behind with this edition from the 28th. This is however a notable show in that we get a brand new member of Legs & Co, Anita, who was chosen to replace Pauline who left two months ago (it just doesn't seem that long does it?). At this point the girls future on the show must not yet have been in doubt, indeed they were busier than ever what with their weekly routine and extra cheerleading duties too.

Thanks for the welcome, ladies

28/05/81 (Simon Bates)

(36) Polecats – “Rockabilly Guy”
Getting the show off to a rockabilly start like they did last time they were on doing John I'm Only Dancing, and just like last time their song peaked at number 35.

(11) Champaign – “How ‘Bout Us” (video)
Looking and sounding like a 1976 raid into 1981! But it proved a successful one with How Bout Us making it to number 5, though it was the group's only hit.

(16) UB40 – “Don’t Let It Pass You By”
The first single the band released that failed to make the top ten, getting no higher than number 16.

(6) Tenpole Tudor – “Swords Of A Thousand Men” (rpt)
At its chart peak and edited out of tonight's 7.30pm slot.

(25) Vangelis – “Chariots Of Fire”  (video)
This fabulous piece of movie music only reached number 12, and was also edited out of tonight's 7.30pm showing.

(17) Enigma – “Ain’t No Stopping”
So this week's Legs & Co routine is the first to feature Anita Chellamah, the troupe's only change of personnel whilst on the show. There's no mention of this from host Simon Bates, but the other girls, adorned in costumes not too far away from Ai No Corrida, give her a line of honour to introduce her. The song by the way, another of 1981's many medleys, reached number 11.

(23) Hazel O’Connor – “Will You?”
A quick follow up to D-Days, Will You was actually the third single taken from her 1980 movie soundtrack, Breaking Glass, but on the back of the success of D-Days it reached number 8.

(30) Coast To Coast – “Let’s Jump The Broomstick”
More rockabilly in the studio tonight, this follow up to Do the Hucklebuck wasn't nearly as successful, and peaked at 28, and was the band's final hit.

(10) Kim Carnes – “Bette Davies Eyes” (video)
Such a new romantic influenced video for this American number one hit, though number 10 was its peak in the UK.

(1) Adam & The Ants – “Stand & Deliver” (video)
The fourth of five weeks at number one, with the hanging scene still edited out!

(13) George Harrison - "All Those Years Ago" (audience dancing/credits)
This tribute to John Lennon was George's first top 20 hit for eight years, and of course featured Paul McCartney on bass and Ringo Starr on drums, and was produced by the late and great George Martin. Number 13 though was as high as it got.


So into June 1981 we go next with the edition from the 4th hosted by Richard Skinner.

You Top of the Pops Me Cwazy

It's May 21st 1981 and another edition of Top of the Pops that won't be shown on BBC4 because the host this time was DLT..

Adam & the Ants drive me cwazy!

21/05/81 (hosted by Dave Lee Travis)

Part One ~ https://youtu.be/sRDigQkNSBM

Part Two ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv6_XNDdBaw


(21) The Undertones – “It’s Going To Happen”
Now almost at it chart peak of 18.

(2) Shakin’ Stevens – “You Drive Me Crazy”
Held off the number one spot of course by a highway man!

(23) Smokey Robinson – “Being With You” (video)
Soon to become something of a surprise number one hit.

(13) Toyah – “I Want To Be Free”
Following up 'It's a Mystery' with another top tenner, this one making it to number 8.

(5) Tottenham Hotspur FA Cup Final Squad/Chas & Dave – “Ossie’s Dream (Spurs Are On Their Way To Wembley)”  (rpt from 07/05/81) 
Now at its Cup winning peak.

(18) The Teardrop Explodes – “Treason (It’s Just A Story)”  (rpt from 30/04/81)
Now at its peak.

(11) Stray Cats – “Stray Cat Strut” (Legs & Co)
Legs & Co in denim shorts this week strutting around to another record at it peak in the charts.

(15) The Human League – “The Sound Of The Crowd” 
Went up three more places in the chart.

(4) Kim Wilde – “Chequered Love” (video)
Another one now at its peak.

(25) The Beat – “All Out To Get You” (rpt from 30/04/81) 
Number 22 was its final destination.

(37) Duran Duran – “Careless Memories”
The follow up to Planet Earth got no higher than 37.

(1) Adam & The Ants – “Stand & Deliver” (video)
Third of five weeks at number one.

(14) Quincy Jones - "Ai No Corrida" (audience dancing/credits)
Number 14 was as far as it went.

Back on BBC4 then we get the 28th May 1981 with Simon Bates.

Top of the Pops and Deliver

And so we come to the fifth and ultimate instalment of this mammoth Top of the Pops weekend, and most aptly it is the Cup Final edition from May 14th 1981.

Is Ricky Villa there?

14/05/81  (Cup Final Special hosted by Tommy Vance)

Thin Lizzy – “Are You Ready?” (24)
Peaked at 19 to become the band's 11th and final top 30 hit.

Sheena Easton – “When He Shines” (23) (rpt from 30/04/81)
This may well be one of Sheena's least remembered hits but it did manage to get to number 12.

Department S – “Is Vic There?” (22)
22 was the peak for Vic.

Kim Carnes – “Bette Davies Eyes” (20) (video)
This American number one became Kim's only UK top ten hit when it peaked at number 10.

Tenpole Tudor – “Swords Of A Thousand Men” (10)
A second studio performance, helped out by Legs & Co in their pirate gear of course, for this rousing tune about to reach number 6.

Tommy then treats us to quite an extended top ten rundown where we do at least get to see a few of the songs from the shows that BBC4 has skipped this week, including Chas & Dave's cup final song!

Adam & The Ants – “Stand & Deliver” (1) (video/credits)
Second week at number one, and a great video, a shame its first showing on BBC4 was this truncated version that finished in time for kick off at Wembley ~ Ricky Villa just warming up and soon to score THAT goal!


Would you believe that the next edition, the 21st May 1981, is a DLT one! So the next we will see on BBC4 will be the final May show from the 28th May. But that can wait till next week. Because right now, I'm off for a beer!

Spurs Are On Their Way to Top of the Pops

As if it wasn't bad enough to lose 17 editions to yewtree, here's a Peter Powell hosted show from May 7th 1981 that can't be shown on BBC4! The reason being that it was originally broadcast live and there were technical difficulties in recording a good copy of it!
So thanks here of FA Cup Final proportions to Neil B for posting a copy of this show into Dropbox!
(Maybe BBC4 should have asked him nicely for a copy of it!!)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/94ibxs9592iyuo0/T...-05-07.mp4?dl=0

On Top of de Pops with Tottingham..

07/05/81 (hosted by Peter Powell)

Alternative link~ https://www.wetransfer.com/downloads/1940e6...04072942/60a2f5

(32) Kim Wilde – “Chequered Love”
A cracking follow up to Kids in America, this one making it to number 4.

(26) Stray Cats – “Stray Cat Strut” (video)
The second of four singles from the Stray Cats in 1981, this one peaking at number 11.

(5) Shakin’ Stevens – “You Drive Me Crazy”
Following up his number one hit This Ole House with this number two hit.

(12) Keith Marshall – “Only Crying”
Now at its peak.

(45) Tottenham Hotspur FA Cup Final Squad/Chas & Dave – “Ossie’s Dream (Spurs Are On Their Way To Wembley)”
Chas and Dave with what would soon become their biggest hit so far when it made number 5.

(13) Eddy Grant – “Can’t Get Enough Of You”
At its peak.

(2) Starsound – “Stars On 45”
A full Legs & Co routine this week to the Starsound record which was now at its chart peak.

(21) REO Speedwagon – “Keep On Loving You” (video)
The band's only top ten hit when it made number 7.

(9) The Nolans – “Attention To Me”
The sisters' final top ten hit now at its peak.

(36) The Undertones – “It’s Going To Happen”
Reached number 18 to become the band's final top 20 hit.

(1) Adam & The Ants – “Stand & Deliver” (video)
Straight to the top of the charts for the first of five weeks at number one.

Starsound? - "Stars on 45" (reprise with credits) ??


The Cup Final Special is up next, from May 14th 1981.

Is Top of the Pops there?

So the third of our five edition Top of the Pops-athon is this show from April 30th 1981 and of course it won't be shown on BBC4 because the host is Jimmy Savile.

I went to RADA you know...

30/04/81 (hosted by Jimmy Savile ~ warning: do not click link if offended!)

https://vimeo.com/147392301


(46) Thin Lizzy – “Are You Ready?”
From the e.p Killers Live ~ became the band's final top 20 hit when it made number 19.

(5) Madness – “Grey Day” (video)
Peaked at number 4.

(22) The Beat – “All Out To Get You”
22 was as high as it got.

(42) Sheena Easton – “When He Shines”
The follow up to relative chart failure Take My Time, which made 44, but this one peaked at 12.

(28) Department S – “Is Vic There?” (rpt from 16/04/81)
Made it to 22.

(2) Ennio Morricone – “Chi Mai” (video)
At its chart peak.

(13) Spandau Ballet – “Musclebound” (rpt from 02/04/81)
Went up three more places.

(27) Quincy Jones – “Ai No Corrida”
Its Legs & Co with THAT routine! BBC4 viewers don't know what they are missing! The song, if anyone was listening, made it to number 14.

(56) The Teardrop Explodes – “Treason (It’s Just A Story)”
The follow up to Reward was not as successful, reaching number 18.

(37) Tenpole Tudor – “Swords Of A Thousand Men”
Officially this would become his second top ten hit when it made number 6 (his first being Who Killed Bambi in 1979, though really it was the flip side of Silly Thing by the Sex Pistols)

(53) The Human League – “The Sound Of The Crowd”
Ah this is such a loss for BBC4 viewers, our first sighting of the classic Human League line up, one of THE new romantic bands of 1981, this breakthrough single made number 12.

(1) Bucks Fizz – “Making Your Mind Up” (video)
Third and final week at number one.

?? unknown credits....


Ok so next is the 7th of May. Such a shame that it is a Peter Powell edition that this technical failing has happened to, rather than a JS or DLT show, that would have been yewtreed anyway.

And Top of the Pops Played On

The second edition of our five show marathon is the 23rd of April 1981 hosted by DLT, so it won't be shown on BBC4. So it's a huge thanks to Neil B for making this one available at Dropbox.


https://www.dropbox.com/s/ah6f0h3esfs9p2x/T...-04-23.mp4?dl=0

And many thanks to Meer the show is now also available on Vimeo ~

https://vimeo.com/157662274

You don't need nobody else but me......and Freddy, Brian and John.

23/04/81 (Dave Lee Travis)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ah6f0h3esfs9p2x/T...-04-23.mp4?dl=0

(48) Level 42 – “Love Games”
Making their debut on the show, a band who went on to have six top ten hits in the 80's ~ this one though peaked at 38.

(49) Matchbox – “Babes In The Wood”
Unable to repeat their success of 1980, this tune peaked at 46.

(22) Eddy Grant – “Can’t Get Enough Of You” (rpt from 09/04/81)
Heading towards number 13.

(55) Roger Taylor – “Future Management”
Taken from his top twenty album 'Fun in Space' this first solo single from Queen's drummer made it to number 49.

(18) Gillan – “New Orleans”  (rpt from 26/03/81)
Went up one place higher.

(23) Barry Manilow – “Bermuda Triangle”
I think this routine by 'AquaLungs & Co' might have sent BBC4 into meltdown had it been shown! As for the song, Bermuda Triangle became Barry's biggest UK hit since Mandy six years earlier, reaching number 15.

(12) Saxon – “And The Bands Played On”  (rpt from 09/04/81)
At its chart peak now.

(21) Keith Marshall – “Only Crying” (rpt from 09/04/81)
Still rising towards number 12.

(45) Freeez – “Flying High”
The follow up to Southern Freeez, but not as successful peaking at 35.

(1) Bucks Fizz – “Making Your Mind Up”  (rpt)
Second of three weeks at number one.

(17) Starsound – “Stars On 45” (Legs & Co/credits)
The first of many medley hits in 1981, this one being the first of two number 2s for Starsound. And after a quick rub down with a towel, Legs & Co dance over the credits this week.


Its April 30th next, another not to be shown on BBC4 because the host was Jimmy Savile.

Top of the Pops (Till You Burn)

So we begin a very busy period of Top of the Pops 1981 re-runs with the edition from April 16th....

You know nothing, Tony Hadley

16/04/81 (hosted by Peter Powell)


(15) Bad Manners – “Just A Feeling”
With Buster Bloodvessel's best Suggs impression and Legs & Co's Hawaiian costumes Just a Feeling managed to go up two more chart places.

(18) Spandau Ballet – “Musclebound” (video)
The video stakes are upped a little further with this epic, cinematic proto-Game of Thrones offering with Musclebound still heading towards a number 10 peak.

(33) Girlschool – “Hit & Run”
Following up their huge hit with Motorhead, but Hit & Run went up just one more place. And was edited out of tonight's 7.30pm show.

(7) Sugar Minott – “Good Thing Going (We’ve Got A Good Thing Going)” (rpt from 02/04/81)
Getting closer to its number 4 peak. And also edited out tonight.

(40) Department S – “Is Vic There?”
Reached number 22. And edited out of the 7.30pm broadcast tonight.

(53) The Beat – “Drowning”
Also reached number 22, and clearly a favourite of Peter Powell.

(29) Whitesnake – “Don’t Break My Heart Again” (video)
Peaked at number 17. Not in the country so 'our cameras were sent out to catch them in concert'.

(54) UK Subs – “Keep On Running (Till You Burn)”
This was the band's final chart entry and made it to number 41. And also edited out of tonight's 7.30pm slot. But what the hell, they still get to title tonight's blog!

(4) Ennio Morricone – “Chi Mai”
Legs & Co are suffragettes for this week's routine to the theme from the tv series 'The Life and Times of Lloyd George' which won enough votes to get to number 2.

(46) The Cure – “Primary”
Peter Powell says this is the Cure's Top of the Pops debut but a whole year earlier they had appeared on the show with their last hit 'A Forest'. So Primary was their second time in the studio, but this one failed to make the top 40, peaking at 43.

(14) The Nolans – “Attention To Me”
An impressive live vocal performance from The Nolans of the fourth and final single from their album 'Making Waves'. Attention to Me peaked at number 9.

(1) Bucks Fizz – “Making Your Mind Up” (rpt from 19/03/81)
The first of three weeks at number one and the first of four top 20 hits for the band in 1981.

(8) The Jacksons – “Can You Feel It?” (video/credits)
Making for a very eye catching credits experience, Can You Feel It was now almost at it peak of number 6.

Next up for us then is the DLT hosted edition from April 23rd 1981.