Top of the Pops on Film

Even the BBC4 announcer sounded like they couldn't quite believe it was the 13th August 1981 already!

Has anyone seen my knitting needles?

13/08/81 (hosted by Simon Bates)

(6) Duran Duran – “Girls On Film”
Getting the show underway for a second time with Girls on Film, with Simon Le Bon sporting a sort of sailor look this time. The song went up one chart place more.

(2) Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – “Hooked On Classics” (video)
The first of two black and white 'films' tonight, this one featuring lots of eccentric people and animals dancing in perfect time to the classical music medley, now at its peak in the chart.

(26) Soft Cell – “Tainted Love”
And so we reach the song that would become the biggest selling single within 1981, host Simon Bates did predict that Marc and David from Leeds would have a big hit with this Gloria Jones cover, and he was spot on, it would make it to number one in three weeks time.

(13) Kim Wilde – “Water On Glass”  (rpt from 30/07/81)
Almost at its number 11 peak now. And the only edit to this week's 7.30pm showing.

(22) Bill Wyman – “(Si Si) Je Suis Un Rock Star” (rpt from 30/07/81)
A second showing for Bill, still rising towards number 14 and his only top 30 solo hit.

(27) Startrax – “Startrax Club Disco”
Just the two medleys on this week's edition, and Legs & Co get the second one, which features the hits of the Bee Gees, where at one point they recreate their Tragedy routine from 1979, and once again a lucky boy is grabbed from the audience for a dance (with Gill I think?). The record made it to number 18. And unusually this week there was no number 28 because this record and Starsound's Stars of 45 vol 2 were both tied at number 27!

(19) Aneka – “Japanese Boy”
The second future number one on tonight's show - with Simon Bates pointing out that for a Japanese lady Aneka was rather tall and had a Scottish accent!

(9) ELO – “Hold On Tight” (video)
Tonight's second (mainly) black and white 'film' is a celebration of olden days action movie heroes with the occasional glimpse of Jeff Lynne's smart new hair and beard cut. Hold On Tight peaked at number 4 and was ELOs 15th and final top ten hit.

(1) Shakin’ Stevens – “Green Door”
Backed by an all green Legs & Co in another audience extravaganza, this was the third of four weeks at number one for Shaky's cover of the 1956 Frankie Vaughan number 2.

(23) UB40 – “One In Ten” (audience dancing/credits)
And the show ends with the fresh faces of 1981's youth sound tracked by UB40's mass unemployment lament.

Top of the Pops 1981 takes a well earned rest now for a couple of weeks on BBC4, returning with the edition from August 27th. Before then though for us there is the 20th August hosted by DLT.

For Your Top of the Pops Only

Many thanks here to both Manorak and Darnall 42 for making the edition from August 6th 1981 available on We Transfer. Here is the link, it is hosted by Jimmy Savile so obviously do not click it if you wish to avoid seeing him ~


 https://we.tl/2T4QjKa868

 

 

Darn it - Yewtreed yet again!

 

 

 

06/08/81 (hosted by Jimmy Savile)

(16) Dexys Midnight Runners – “Show Me”
At its peak now in the charts.

(8) Sheena Easton – “For Your Eyes Only” (video)
Sheena's third and final top ten hit, now at its peak.

(36) Tenpole Tudor – “Wunderbar”
The follow up to Swords of a Thousand Men, made it to number 16 but was their final top 40 hit.

(27) Lobo – “The Caribbean Disco Show”
Again there are three medleys on this edition, Legs & Co take on the first of them, making pretty much their own video for the song, and it was obviously quite hot on set....
The record by the way made it to number 8 and was the band's only hit.

(29) The Human League – “Love Action (I Believe In Love)”
We've been so unlucky this year with the Human League constantly appearing on these yewtreed shows. One of the songs of the year, this became the band's first top ten hit when it made number 3.

(25) REO Speedwagon – “Take It On The Run” (live clip)
Nudging up to its number 19 peak.

(20) Gidea Park – “Beach Boy Gold”
The second of this week's medleys, still heading towards number 11.

(10) Tight Fit – “Back To The ‘60s” (rpt from 23/07/81)
And here's medley number 3, heading towards number 4.

(1) Shakin’ Stevens – “Green Door” (video)
Second of four weeks at number one.

(21) Visage – “Visage” (audience dancing/credits)
We end with Visage at its chart peak.


So next up then on BBC4 will be August 13th 1981 with Simon Bates.

(Si Si) Je Suis Un Top of the Pops

It's not an April Fool ~ we really have reached the end of July 1981 already!

Why won't you show our video?

 

30/07/81 (hosted by Steve Wright)

(23) Duran Duran – “Girls On Film”
Getting the show underway was the follow up to the relative failure Careless Memories, but this tune which is famed for its outrageous video, became the band's first top ten hit when it made it to number 5.

(35) Kim Wilde – “Water On Glass”
The third and final single from her top three debut album, Water on Glass made it to number 11.

(12) Depeche Mode – “New Life”
Our theme tune now just one place below its far too low chart peak.

(36) Bill Wyman – “(Si Si) Je Suis Un Rock Star”
He'd been on the 900th show as a guest, now here was one fifth of the Rolling Stones with a somewhat controversial song to say the least which made it to number 14.

(7) Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – “Hooked On Classics”
This week's Legs & Co routine, in nothing much of course, to the latest medley, and another that peaked at number 2.

(45) The Undertones – “Julie Ocean”
Their penultimate chart hit, peaking at number 41. Nice jumpers.

(4) Stevie Wonder – “Happy Birthday” (video)
Peaked at number 2. And when we got bored of the video there was the audience and Legs & Co!

(3) Spandau Ballet – “Chant No.1 (I Don’t Need This Pressure On)” (video)
Now at its chart peak. Sweaty.

(1) Shakin’ Stevens – “Green Door” (rpt from 23/07/81)
The first of four weeks at number one.

(15) The Jacksons - "Walk Right Now" (credits)
Still climbing the charts.

Next up is August 6th 1981, but it was hosted by Jimmy Savile. So the next edition on BBC4 will be the one from August 13th.

Lay All Your Top of the Pops on Me

So onto the 23rd July 1981 we go, and the summer of riots, mass unemployment, royal weddings, and a craze for medleys was now in full swing....

And as a little tribute to Ronnie Corbett, whose death was announced earlier today, here's the Two Ronnies with their very own version of Top of the Pops 1981....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9g-6uA4be4

Boy, it was fun while it lasted..

23/07/81 (hosted by Richard Skinner)

(44) The Vapors – “Jimmie Jones”
Despite their conversion to a New Romantic look and a song that sounded like a mash-up of Wig Wam Bam and Angelo, Jimmie Jones rose no higher in the charts and was the final chart hit for The Vapors.

(16) Sheena Easton – “For Your Eyes Only” (video)
The name's Easton - Sheena Easton! BBC4 seem to have solved their issues about showing movie clips, for here we see Sheena's James Bond opening titles song which made it up to number 8.

(22) Shakin’ Stevens – “Green Door”
Soon to be number one but edited out of tonight's 7.30pm slot.

(28) REO Speedwagon – “Take It On The Run” (video)
This follow up to Keep On Loving You made it to 19. But edited out of tonight's 7.30 showing.

(7) Abba – “Lay All Your Love On Me”
Legs & Co slip into some Victorian underwear as they dance to one of Abba's most modern sounding records to date, released only as a 12 inch single, and which also happened to be their penultimate top ten hit peaking at number 7.

(30) Tight Fit – “Back To The ‘60s”
The first of three medleys on tonight's show ~ and although officially this is the same Tight Fit that went to number one a year later with The Lion Sleeps Tonight, this is a totally different line up. Back To The 60's reached number 4.

(25) Visage – “Visage” (video)
Ah, so that's what the Blitz club looked like. Taken from their top 20 album of the same name, Visage peaked at number 21.

(35) Gidea Park – “Beach Boy Gold”
The second of tonight's medleys, this time the Beach Boys get the treatment. And host Richard informs us that lead singer Adrian Baker (who wrote Dance Yourself Dizzy) had just got back from America touring with said legendary band! Beach Boy Gold peaked at number 11.

(1) The Specials – “Ghost Town” (rpt)
Third and final week at number one, and so its goodbye to the original line-up of The Specials.

(2) Starsound – “Stars On 45 Volume 2”
Legs & Co grab themselves some lucky boys from the audience to dance out the credits to the third of tonight's medleys, currently at its chart peak.


Next up then is July 30th with the return of Steve Wright.

Top of the Pops in Your Lap

And so we come to part four of another epic Top of the Pops 1981 weekend. This time it is the July 16th edition hosted by Peter Powell.

I demand you bring back Whole Lotta Love!

16/07/81 (hosted by Peter Powell)

(26) Saxon – “Never Surrender”
The show opens with another metal number, and Never Surrender became Saxon's final top 20 hit when it peaked at 18.

(10) Third World – “Dancing On The Floor (Hooked On Love)”(video)
Now at its chart peak.

(19) Depeche Mode – “New Life”
Our theme tune still heading towards (almost) the top ten. And quite outrageously edited out of the 7.30pm showing :-(

(30) The Jacksons – “Walk Right Now”
This week Legs & Co do a kind of jungle clad routine to the follow up to Can You Feel It, which also made the top ten when it peaked at number 7.

(33) Dexys Midnight Runners – “Show Me”
1981 was not as successful a year as 1980 had been for Dexys and Show Me became their only top 20 hit of the year when it made number 16.

(15) Kate Bush – “Sat In Your Lap” (video)
When this song peaked at 11 it closed the chapter on Kate's initial chart career. It would be four years until her next top 20 hit.

(3) Bad Manners – “Can Can” (rpt from 02/07/81)
Stuck at number three, and despite Buster's best dance efforts, of which Legs & Co I'm sure would have been proud, it got no higher.

(18) Spandau Ballet – “Chant No.1 (I Don’t Need This Pressure On)”
Featuring of course the brass section of Beggar & Company, Chant No. 1 became their biggest hit to date when it made it to number 3.

(1) The Specials – “Ghost Town” (video/credits)
Second of three weeks at number one.


It's July 23rd next then with Richard Skinner.

No Top of the Pops No Cry

July 9th 1981 marks the 900th edition of Top of the Pops, a live show featuring the four original hosts and many special guests, and the beginning of the Yellow Pearl era. A landmark show if ever there was one. But frustratingly and devastatingly for BBC4 it was hosted by Jimmy Savile and so it can't be broadcast. So a huge thanks here to Darnall42 for making it available on Vimeo. Obviously do not click the link if you want to avoid Jimmy Savile ~

https://vimeo.com/154318401

There's a guy works down the chip shop swears he's Jona Lewie

09/07/81 (900th edition) (hosted by Jimmy Savile, Alan Freeman, David Jacobs & Pete Murray)

(16) Kirsty MacColl – “There’s A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He’s Elvis”
Mr 'Thin Lizzy' is thanked for writing the new theme tune and Kirsty MacColl gets the new Top of the Pops era underway with a song that peaked at number 14. We then get a trip down memory lane with some clips from the 1960's:
The Supremes – “Baby Love” (clip from 07/10/64)
Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas – “Little Children” (clip from 26/02/64)
The Dave Clark Five – “Bits & Pieces” (clip from 26/02/64)
The Beatles – “I Want To Hold Your Hand” / “Twist and Shout” (live clips)

(12) Randy Crawford – “You Might Need Somebody”
A new performance from Randy follows with a song that went up one place higher. This is followed by a whole lotta clips from the 70's (and 80's so far) accompanied to "Pop Musik" by M. Pete Murray then briefly interviews (the still quite young looking) Mary Hopkin and Sandie Shaw before introducing ~

(10) Tom Tom Club – “Wordy Rappinghood”
A particularly energetic Legs & Co routine ~ they made it into the new era, just.

(9) Bob Marley & The Wailers – “No Woman No Cry” (live clip)
David Jacobs introduces the song that charted after Bob's death a few weeks earlier, peaking at number 8. Followed by a short interview with Alan Clark & Tony Hicks of the Hollies.

(14) Motorhead – “Motorhead (Live)” (video)
Became the band's third and final top ten hit when it made number 6. Then its (soon to have a solo hit) Bill Wyman's turn to be interviewed and a clip is shown of his well known band:
The Rolling Stones – “The Last Time” (clip from 04/03/65)

(6) Imagination – “Body Talk”
A third studio performance of Body Talk and this time the boys bring along their own harem.
Alan Freeman then gives us the chart rundown from the very first Top of the Pops and then we discover that the new top ten rundown no longer features snippets from the songs. Finally, Adam Ant introduces the new number one....

(1) The Specials – “Ghost Town”
And before our very eyes The Specials break up and the Fun Boy Three are born. This edition really did ring in the new.

(4) Starsound – “Stars On 45 Volume 2” (Legs & Co/credits)
A quick change then for Legs & Co (not that they had too much to change out of or into) for a routine to the follow up to Stars on 45, which also made it to number 2.


Next up is the 16th July 1981 hosted by Peter Powell.

Throw Away the Top of the Pops

Whole Lotta thanks to Meer for making this 899th edition of Top of the Pops from July 2nd 1981 available on Vimeo, as it is hosted by DLT so won't be shown on BBC4. This show marks the end of the Whole Lotta Love era, the CSS cover of the Led Zeppelin song which had been the show's theme tune since November 5th 1970...

https://vimeo.com/160287237

Is that a new theme tune I hear, just around the corner?

 

 

02/07/81 (hosted by Dave Lee Travis)

(3) Bad Manners – “Can Can”
Already at its peak in the charts.

(25) Third World – “Dancing On The Floor (Hooked On Love)” (video)
Became the band's second and final top ten hit when it made number 10.

(2) The Specials – “Ghost Town”
The first of two final studio performances by the original line up of The Specials for a song that was soon to haunt the number one spot (and the band).

(16) Quincy Jones – “Razzamatazz”
The follow up to Ai No Corrida became Quincy's biggest hit when it made number 11, and Legs & Co also follow up their Ai No Corrida routine with another BBC4 melter....

(53) Barry Biggs – “Wide Awake In A Dream”
Became Barry's final hit peaking at 44.

(21) Linx – “Throw Away The Key”
Now at peak position in the chart.

(29) Rainbow – “Can’t Happen Here” (video)
Ended a run of three top ten hits when it peaked at 20.

(1) Michael Jackson – “One Day In Your Life” (Legs & Co) (rpt from 04/06/81 + credits)
Second and final week at number one.

The next edition is a major one ~ not only is it the 900th show but also the one that introduces the new opening titles and the launch of the Yellow Pearl era. The trouble is that one of the hosts is Jimmy Savile and so won't be shown on BBC4.