Ever So Top of the Pops

It's April 29th 1982 already and Richard Skinner is this week's host of Top of the Pops!

My appendix, right, was well swelled

29-4-82: Presenter: Richard Skinner

(26) HOT CHOCOLATE – Girl Crazy
Getting an 80's Jane Fonda's Workout makeover, Hot Chocolate return to the studio after almost two years away, with a tune that peaked at number 7.

(2) BARDO – One Step Further
They lost to the Germans (and 5 others) at Eurovision and couldn't quite go one step further and top the charts. And also edited out of tonight's 7.30pm showing.

(17) SUZI QUATJOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS – I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll (video)
Crikey, these American videos are getting even worse, someone needs to put another dime in the electric meter! This Arrows cover peaked at number 4.

(31) YAZOO – Only You
The debut of the fabulous Yazoo and our first sighting of post Depeche Mode Vince Clarke. This gorgeous song made it to number two and was the first of three top ten hits for the all too short lived duo.

(19) SIMPLE MINDS – Promised You A Miracle ®
Peaked at 13.

(NEW) NICOLE – A Little Peace
Nicole Hohloch was just 17 when she became 1982's Eurovision winner and her song was soon to become the UKs 500th number one.

(22) SPANDAU BALLET – Instinction (video)
On its way to number 10.

(16) MONSOON – Ever So Lonely
Former Grange Hill actress Sheila Chandra was another 17 year old on tonight's show, forming some lovely Indian dance shapes as Ever So Lonely made its way up to number 12.

(1) PAUL McCARTNEY & STEVIE WONDER – Ebony And Ivory (video)
Second of three weeks at the top for the 499th number one.

(34) ROCKY SHARPE & THE REPLAYS – Shout Shout (Knock Yourself Out) (and credits)
Our first sighting of this rockabilly lot for over three years performing what would be their final top 30 hit, peaking at 19.


It's May 6th 1982 next.

Top of the Pops from a Bridge

Peter Powell hosts this week's Top of the Pops from April 22nd 1982!

Have we done enough to get banned yet?

22-4-82: Presenter: Peter Powell

(3) PIGBAG – Papa’s Got A Brand New Pigbag
Last time we saw these naughty boys they closed the show, this time they open it, with their record now at its peak in the charts.

(17) BANANARAMA & FUN BOY THREE – Really Saying Something (video)
This cover version of the Velvelettes non-charter from 1964 fared better for this duo of bands when it peaked at number 5.

(8) ELTON JOHN – Blue Eyes
Live in the studio and (I do believe) a live vocal too, giving the performance that extra bit of edge. Though it got no higher in the charts.

(11) ENGLAND WORLD CUP SQUAD – This Time (We’ll Get It Right) (video)
Well they got it wrong again didn't they, and it was edited out of the 7.30pm showing!

(30) KIM WILDE – View From A Bridge
Peter was very keen to stress that this was Kim's fifth hit, wasn't he! And she'd ditched the tight jeans in favour of a little black dress too, as View from a Bridge reached number 16.

(12) HAIRCUT 100 – Fantastic Day (video)
Having fun in the haystack here on their way to number 9.

(34) PhD – I Won’t Let You Down
Jim Diamond's debut also falling victim to the 7.30pm edit.

(26) DAVID BOWIE – Cat People (Putting Out Fire)
Zoo get to clamber over a climbing frame tonight that keeps bursting into flames! This Bowie single was from the 1982 movie, Cat People, and peaked at 26.

(22) SHAKIN’ STEVENS – Shirley
Flying in all the way from Canada to do a pretty feeble cartwheel in the studio, before falling into the audience at the end, this cover of the John Fred and the Playboys Band non-charter from 1959 reached number 6 for Shaky.

(1) PAUL McCARTNEY & STEVIE WONDER – Ebony And Ivory (video)
The first of three weeks at number one for this often derided and unjustly underrated song.

(10) SHALAMAR – I Can Make You Feel Good (crowd dancing) (and credits)
Peter wishes Bardo all the best for the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday, and we play out with Shalamar's first top ten hit, which finally peaked at number 7.


Next up then is April 29th 1982 with Richard Skinner.

Promised You a Top of the Pops

It's April 15th 1982 and David Jensen once again presents another live edition of Top of the Pops!

You won't forget about me!

15-4-82: Presenter: David Jensen (Live)

(42) SPANDAU BALLET – Instinction
Getting the live show underway is Spandau Ballet with what would become the first of two top ten hits for them in 1982, when it peaked at number 10. Produced by Trevor Horn.

(6) ROXY MUSIC – More Than This (video)
That stage looks quite hot, Bryan! More Than This didn't get more than 6 in the charts, and was Roxy's final top ten hit.

(15) SHAKATAK – Nightbirds
This chirpy tune was flying on its way towards number 9.

(5) DOLLAR – Give Me Back My Heart
Looking like the couple on top of the wedding cake tonight, with another Trevor Horn production. It peaked at number 4 and was the duo's penultimate top ten hit, though they would have to wait another five long years for their final one.

Jonathan King's USA section was edited out of the 7.30 showing, and presumably the later one too:
(US 7) HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS – Do You Believe In Love (video)
(US 3) VANGELIS – Chariots Of Fire – Titles (video)
(US 2) THE GO GO’S – Our Lips Are Sealed (video)
(US 1) JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS – I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll (video)

(40) SIMPLE MINDS – Promised You A Miracle
It's always exciting to watch a major act make their debut on the show, and Simple Minds had been knocking on the door since 1979 to no avail, until finally they had a breakthrough with the aptly titled Promised You a Miracle, which peaked at 13.

(28) MONSOON – Ever So Lonely
Zoo go all eastern and get their routine on the show this week, helped perhaps by Monsoon singer Sheila Chandra being unwell. The song peaked at number 12 and was the band's only top 30 hit.

(16) BARDO – One Step Further
The duo were still warming up for the Eurovision Song Contest, now just over a week away. One Step Further peaked at number 2 in the charts ~ if only they had taken the advice of their own song.....

(1) BUCKS FIZZ – My Camera Never Lies
Meanwhile, last year's winners triumphantly return to the studio with their third (and final) number one hit, sporting a look that can perhaps be described as sci-fi kitchen.

(11) ALTERED IMAGES – See Those Eyes (crowd dancing) (and credits)
Clare and the boys play us out this week, with See Those Eyes at its chart peak.


We move on to April 22nd next, hosted by Peter Powell.

Papa's Got a Brand New Top of the Pops

Simon Bates, with his best bunny girl by his side, introduces the Top of the Pops easter special!

And now its time for Our Carrot...

8-4-82: Presenter: Simon Bates

(32) HAIRCUT 100 – Fantastic Day
Nick and the boys get easter off to a bouncy start with the third top ten hit (reached number 9) taken from their number 2 album, Pelican West.

(2) BUCKS FIZZ – My Camera Never Lies (video)
Next week's number one but edited out of tonight's 7.30 slot.

(4) CHAS & DAVE – Ain’t No Pleasing You
The rockneys bring their sophisticated new look into the studio but narrowly miss out being next week's number one to the act who preceded them.

(24) THE BOOMTOWN RATS – House On Fire ®
With their final top 30 hit, now at its chart peak. They were one of the hottest bands just two years prior, but new wave was now old news.

(23) ELTON JOHN – Blue Eyes (video)
Looks like Elton has somehow half inched Chas's white piano and is tinkling its ivories up some exotic mountain somewhere sunny, landing himself his first top ten hit of the 80's for his troubles, when Blue Eyes made number 8.

(27) SHALAMAR – I Can Make You Feel Good (danced to by Zoo)
They would never have edited out a Legs & Co routine from the 7.30 slot would they, not even one of the more saucy ones, but this Zoo routine suffers the indignation of being edited out tonight.

(19) PAUL McCARTNEY & STEVIE WONDER – Ebony And Ivory (video)
Our first sighting of Paul since John Lennon's death, and he's looking pretty perky, and no wonder, he's about to get to number one for the 19th time, taken from his quite excellent album Tug of War, which was also a number one.

(18) FOSTER & ALLEN – A Bunch Of Thyme ®
Their biggest hit, now at its peak in the chart.

(1) GOOMBAY DANCE BAND – Seven Tears
After three weeks at number one, we get a new studio performance, this time minus the fire eating!

(30) PIGBAG – Papa’s Got A Brand New Pigbag (and credits)
We had a bouncy start to the show, and here's an even bouncier ending, and we do also get to see a bit of Zoo after all! Pigbag's only top ten hit, peaking at number 3.

Next up then is April 15th 1982, which will be on BBC4 next Friday.

More Than Top of the Pops

No fooling about, it really is April 1st 1982 already! The eve of the Falklands War no less.

..........you're standing on my foot!

1-4-82: Presenter: John Peel

(33) MOTÖRHEAD – Iron Fist
Only Motorhead could get the show off to a start this loud ~ and was that a live vocal from Lemmy in amongst it? But sadly it was the band's final top 30 hit when it peaked at 29.

(2) IMAGINATION – Just An Illusion ®
Now at its chart peak.

(18) ROXY MUSIC – More Than This
'Live in the studio for the first time in over a year' with what would become their final top ten hit when it made it to number 6.

(16) CLASSIX NOUVEAUX – Is It A Dream ®
Getting closer to its number 11 peak.

(15) DOLLAR – Give Me Back My Heart
The first of tonight's 7.30pm edits, but we'll see it on the 15th April edition .......... probably.

(14) LEO SAYER – Have You Ever Been In Love (video)
Also edited out of the 7.30 slot.

(NEW) BARDO – One Step Further
As was 1982's rather good Eurovision entry, though again it pops up on April 15th.

(NEW) CHAMPAGNE D’ORANGE – C’est Seulement Une Wynd Oop (video)
It's April 1st and this song translates as 'its only a wind up'...... but it was edited out of tonight's 7.30pm showing! Maybe at the insistence of Buck's Fizz!

(25) STATUS QUO – Dear John
Taken from their number one album, 1982, Dear John became the Quo's 15th top ten hit when it peaked at number 10.

(9) JAPAN – Ghosts ®
The first of two top ten hits for Japan, this one being their biggest hit reaching number 5.

(1) GOOMBAY DANCE BAND – Seven Tears ®
This was actually their second week at number one, but they will still be there for one more week.

(37) SHAKATAK – Nightbirds (and credits)
Taken from their top four album of the same name, this became the first of two Shakatak top ten hits, both of which made number 9.


Next then is April 8th 1982.

My Top of the Pops Never Lies

Do I see an avalanche of Team GB medals spinning and flying across my tv screen tonight? ~ or is it the return of Top of the Pops 1982!

So Garth, which one of us will still have a tv career in 2016?

25-3-82: Presenters: Peter Powell & Garth Crooks


(41) ALTERED IMAGES – See Those Eyes
Under starters orders and its Altered Images who get away first this week with a tune that would race all the way to number 11.

(3) JULIO IGLESIAS – Quiereme Mucho (Yours) (video)
This frey bentos ballad was now at its chart peak, thankfully.

(33) BUCKS FIZZ – My Camera Never Lies
The boys are dressed for a wedding but the girls look ready for the beach! And how do you follow up at number one as good as The Land of Make Believe? Well, with a number one as good as My Camera Never Lies, that's how!

(28) FOSTER & ALLEN – A Bunch Of Thyme
Edited out of tonight's 7.30pm slot. Shame...

(44) THE BOOMTOWN RATS – House On Fire
Also edited out of tonight's 7.30pm slot was this final top 30 hit for the Boomtown Rats.

(26) THE NOLANS – Don’t Love Me Too Hard (video)
And this completes a trio of Irish acts edited out of the early showing!

(43) KILLING JOKE – Empire Song
Even with the help of Jacques Cousteau on keyboards, Empire Song could rise no higher in the charts.

(22) PLUTO – Your Honour ®
Does anybody remember this song from the time? Soon to peak at number 19.

(14) CHAS & DAVE – Ain’t No Pleasing You (video)
Looking all dapper in their white dinner jackets and tidy trims, and featured on video no less, here's the rockney boys' with their greatest moment, and it took last year's Eurovision winners to prevent this one from going all the way to number one.

(1) GOOMBAY DANCE BAND – Seven Tears
First of three weeks at number one for the German fire eaters.

(9) THE ASSOCIATES – Party Fears Two (crowd dancing) (and credits)
Now at its chart peak.


Next weeks then it's April 1st 1982 hosted by John Peel.

Have You Ever Been in Top of the Pops

We've got that classix 1980's combination of two DJs hosting the show tonight. It was the 18th March 1982, and the beginning of the Falklands conflict was just one day away.

18-3-82: Presenters: Richard Skinner & Steve Wright

I'm too sexy for the 80's..

(36) CLASSIX NOUVEAUX – Is It A Dream
Getting the show underway with what would be their only top 30 hit when it peaked at 11.

(6) ABC – Poison Arrow (video)
Now at its peak.

(35) LEO SAYER – Have You Ever Been In Love
His final top ten hit peaking at 10. But edited out of tonight's 7.30pm slot.

(8) IMAGINATION – Just An Illusion (video)
This haunted house video would have been just perfect for Halloween! On its way to number 2.

(16) DEREK & THE DOMINOES – Layla
Originally a number 7 hit in 1972, this reissue made it to number 4. And Maureen's interpretation of this as a solo Zoo performance was also edited out tonight.

(2) GOOMBAY DANCE BAND – Seven Tears ®
About to take over at number one. Also a victim of the 7.30 editor.

(42) JAPAN – Ghosts
Another Halloween classic here and the first of two top ten hits for Japan, This one peaking at number 5.

(21) GARY NUMAN – Music For Chameleons
Went up two more places.

(23) VISAGE – The Damned Don’t Cry (video)
Continuing with the Halloween theme, a ghostly train this time, and it peaked at number 11.

(1) TIGHT FIT – The Lion Sleeps Tonight
It seems the group had now made enough money to splash out on a new outfit for Steve Grant, which I'm sure would have made even Tarzan blush! Third and final week at number 1.

(30) KOOL & THE GANG – Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It) (crowd dancing) (and credits)
Went up just one more place.


The re-runs will take a little rest for a couple of weeks now whilst the Rio Olympics takes place. Next up is March 25th 1982.