Top of the Pops & Soul

Not even an ocean of time can keep us apart from the 10th September 1987 edtion of Top of the Pops!

Double Decker

10/09/87  (Simon Bates & Peter Powell)

T’Pau – “Heart & Soul” (5)
Making a second studio appearance, this first single from their number one album Bridge of Spies went up one more place.

Level 42 – “It’s Over” (24)
With Mark in his vest showing off his guns, this became their sixth and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 10.

W.A.S.P. – “Scream Until You Like It” (32)
Went up no further for the Rocky Horror extras.
 
Wax – “Bridge To Your Heart” (12)
Also making a second studio appearance but this song was at its peak.

Jonathan Butler – “Lies” (29)
Became his biggest, and final, hit when it peaked at number 18.

Rick Astley – “Never Gonna Give You Up” (1) (rpt from 13/08/87)
Third of five weeks at number one.

U2 – “Where The Streets Have No Name” (4) (video/credits)
At its peak.


Ok, so now we reach the point where there are four Mike Smith editions on the trot! None will be shown on BBC4, but we will of course blog them here, starting with September 17th.

Never Gonna Give You Top of the Pops

This edition of Top of the Pops from 3rd September 1987 will not be shown on BBC4 due to the Mike Smith contract dispute, so a huge thanks goes to Robert Thompson for giving it to you here at WeTransfer.

Rick n roll

03/09/87 (Mike Smith)

Squeeze – “Hourglass” (21)
Returning with their first top 40 hit for six years, the excellent Hourglass peaked at number 16.

Levert – “Casanova” (20)
His only hit, and it peaked at number 9.

The Housemartins – “Me & The Farmer” (27)
Peaked at number 15.

Cliff Richard – “Some People” (15)
Peaked at number 3.

The Cult – “Wild Flower” (30) (video)
Got no higher.

Johnny Hates Jazz – “I Don’t Want To Be A Hero” (34)
Peaked at number 11.

Rick Astley – “Never Gonna Give You Up” (1) (rpt)
Second week at number one.

The Fat Boys & The Beach Boys – “Wipeout” (3) (video/credits)
Went up one more place.


September 10th is next.

Wonderful Top of the Pops

With five studio performances tonight there's plenty to enjoy in this 27th August 1987 edition of Top of the Pops!

Wonderful live

27/08/87  (Gary Davies)

Then Jerico – “The Motive (Living Without You)” (23)
Making their debut on the show with a song that peaked at number 18

Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield – “What Have I Done To Deserve This?” (2) (video)
This was Dusty's first top 40 hit since 1970, and also her 11th and final top ten hit, which was now at its peak.

Wet Wet Wet – “Sweet Little Mystery” (6)
Already becoming studio regulars, this song went up one more place.

Black – “Wonderful Life” (18)
Colin is singing live in the studio again and this fine song became his second of two top ten hits when it peaked at number 8.

T’Pau – “Heart & Soul” (28)
Following their success in America, here they are making their debut on the show with what became their first of three top ten hits when it peaked at number 4.

Rick Astley – “Never Gonna Give You Up” (1)
We have a number one on the show again! And it's Rick's first of five weeks at the top.

Prince & Sheena Easton – “U Got The Look” (13) (video/credits)
Sheena wasn't actually credited on this record, which went up two more places.


September 3rd is next, but Mike Smith is back, so BBC4 will sadly skip it.

Top of the Pops to Your Heart

It's always a Good Friday when you watch the eggs-ellent 20th August 1987 edition of Top of the Pops!

Sax

20/08/87  (Janice Long & Steve Wright)

Wax – “Bridge To Your Heart” (20)
Nine years had passed since either of this duo had last featured on the show, and Andrew Gold was making his studio debut. This song was their only top 40 hit and it peaked at number 12, although perhaps deserved to go higher.

Five Star – “Whenever You’re Ready” (18)
In the studio again with another song and dance routine, this one peaking at number 11.

Sherrick – “Just Call” (23)
His only top 40 hit and it went no higher.

Bon Jovi – “Never Say Goodbye” (21)
Also in the studio tonight, with a bit of a Bruce Springsteen look and sound going on, but this tune went up no further.

Prince & Sheena Easton – “U Got The Look” (19) (breaker)
Peaked at number 11.

The Smiths – “Girlfriend In A Coma” (13) (breaker)
This first single from their number 2 album Strangeways Here We Come went no higher.

Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield – “What Have I Done To Deserve This?” (10) (breaker)
Peaked at number 2

Sinitta – “Toy Boy” (4)
Back in the studio again but this song was now at its peak.

Spagna – “Call Me” (2) (+ credits)
For the second week running there's no video to show for the number one (Five Star were in the studio - why not get them to perform it - no one would have been any the wiser!). Spagna is on hand to close the show, but Call Me was at its peak. At least there's a new number one next week.


August 27th is next.

Sweet Little Top of the Pops

Yum, yum, is your appetite ready for this very tasty 13th of August 1987 edition of Top of the Pops?

Monster hit

13/08/87  (Simon Bates & Peter Powell)

Def Leppard – “Animal” (9)
Making their studio debut and getting tonight's show off to a rockin start with what became their first of three top ten hits when it peaked at number 6.
 
Motley Crue – “Girls Girls Girls” (26) (video)
A very raunchy video but the song went no higher.

Rick Astley – “Never Gonna Give You Up” (14)
Making his debut on the show with a song that will be number one in two weeks time.

Wet Wet Wet – “Sweet Little Mystery” (12)
The girls in the audience are clearly getting over excited to hear what became Wet Wet Wet's second of three top ten hits in 1987 when it climaxed at number 5.

Wax – “Bridge To Your Heart” (34) (breaker)
Became the allstar duo's only top 40 hit when it peaked at number 12.

Kim Wilde – “Say You Really Want Me” (33) (breaker)
Kim's getting rather saucy in this video but the song peaked at number 29.

Sherrick – “Just Call” (31) (breaker)
His only top 40 hit, peaking at number 23.

The Jesus & Mary Chain – “Happy When It Rains” (30) (breaker)
Peaked at number 25.

Pseudo Echo – “Funky Town” (24)
Fronting what Simon claims to be an imminent 'Australian invasion' of the charts, this Lipps Inc cover was their only hit, peaking at number 8.

Hue & Cry – “Labour Of Love” (6) (video/credits)
Wot? No number one this week? And no, it's not a BBC4 edit, they really did skip Michael Jackson's I Just Can't Stop Loving You in 1987 because they had no video to show, and had long since ditched the show's resident dance troupe. Even so, it was a bizarre decision - surely they could have shown the audience dancing to it at least? But, given the situation thirty two years later, maybe it's just as well they didn't! It was the first of two weeks at number one for MJ. The Hue & Cry tune by the way was at its peak.



Next up is 20th August.

Call Top of the Pops

If there's a tune, in your neighbourhood, who you gonna call? ~ the 6th August 1987 edition of Top of the Pops!

Hairy-tale princess

06/08/87 (Gary Davies)

New Order – “True Faith” (7)
Getting tonight's show underway with a totally live performance of what became their second of seven top ten hits when it peaked at number 4.

Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram – “Somewhere Out There” (23) (video)
From the animated movie An American Tail, this song became Linda's first of two top ten hits, and James's one and only, when it peaked at number 8.

Sinitta – “Toy Boy” (22)
In the studio to perform what became her second of four top ten hits when it peaked at number 4.

Samantha Fox – “I Surrender (To The Spirit Of The Night)” (29) (video)
Already a number one in five countries according to  Oooh Gary, but over here it peaked at number 25.

Wet Wet Wet – “Sweet Little Mystery” (31) (breaker)
Peaked at number 5.

Motley Crue – “Girls Girls Girls” (28) (breaker)
Peaked at number 26.

Def Leppard – “Animal” (16) (breaker)
Their breakthrough hit, and first single from their massive number one album Hysteria, and it peaked at number 6.

Spagna – “Call Me” (8)
In the studio to perform her only top ten hit which peaked at number 2

Los Lobos – “La Bamba” (1) (video)
Second and final week at number one.

Stock, Aitken & Waterman – “Roadblock” (17) (video/credits)
Peaked at number 13.


13th August is next

Top of the Pops of Love

It's a nice time for a summer wedding, but not before watching the 30th July 1987 edition of Top of the Pops!

Lapels of love

30/07/87  (Gary Davies)

Hue & Cry – “Labour Of Love” (13)
Getting tonight's show underway (before heading straight off to Glasgow to support U2) with what will be their only top ten hit when it peaks at number 6.

Heart – “Alone” (5) (video)
The American number one. I went up two more places over here.

Freddie McGregor – “Just Don’t Want To Be Lonely” (9)
In the studio (before heading off to Jamaica) with his only top 40 hit which was now at its peak.

Bananarama – “I Heard A Rumour” (14) (video)
Not in the studio tonight because Siobhan was about to marry Dave Stewart, and this song got no higher.

Stock, Aitken & Waterman – “Roadblock” (30) (breaker)
They were taking over the charts as producers, and this song became their first of two top 40 hits as artists when it peaked at number 13.

Spagna – “Call Me” (28) (breaker – Montreux clip)
Peaked at number 2.

The Gap Band – “Oops Upside Your Head” (20) (breaker)
It had peaked at number 6 in 1980, this remix stalled at number 20.

New Order – “True Faith” (19) (breaker)
Became their second of seven top ten hits when it peaked at number 4.

Marillion – “Sugar Mice” (22)
Newly married Fish was looking very colourful in the studio, but this song was at its peak.

Los Lobos – “La Bamba” (1) (video)
First of two weeks at number one.

Beastie Boys – “She’s On It” (10) (video/credits)
At its peak.


August 6th is next.