Whenever You Need Top of the Pops

When you're all alone and feeling down, I'll bring my 29th October 1987 edition of Top of the Pops to you!

Captain Scarlet

29/10/87  (Gary Davies & Steve Wright)

The Style Council – “Wanted” (26)
Getting tonight's show underway with a tune that peaked at number 20.

George Michael – “Faith” (2) (video)
This fabulous title track single from his number one album was now at its peak.

Rick Astley – “Whenever You Need Somebody” (11)
Became his second of eight top ten hits when it peaked at number 3.
 
Ray Parker Jr – “I Don’t Think That Man Should Sleep Alone” (15)
Mr Ghostbusters is in the studio and his final hit went up two more places.

Eurythmics – “Beethoven (I Love To Listen To)” (25) (breaker)
This odd little tune went up no higher.

George Harrison – “Got My Mind Set On You” (22) (breaker)
His first hit for six years and it peaked at number 2.

T’Pau – “China In Your Hand” (19) (breaker)
Will be number one in two weeks time.

Scarlet Fantastic – “No Memory” (30)
I don't remember this one at all! It was their only top 40 hit and it peaked at number 24.

The Bee Gees – “You Win Again” (1) (video)
Third of four weeks at number one.

Fleetwood Mac – “Little Lies” (5) (video/credits)
Their ninth of ten top ten hits was now at its peak.


November 5th is next but it is a Mike Smith edition so BBC4 will skip it.

The Top of the Pops Dinosaur

It was a night like this thirty two years ago when we watched the 22nd October 1987 edition of Top of the Pops!

Bum, bum, acka lacka lacka bum!

22/10/87  (Simon Bates & Gary Davies)

Was (Not Was) – “Walk The Dinosaur” (12)
Getting this monster show off to a roaring start and the song went up two more places.

Los Lobos – “Come On Let’s Go” (21) (US TOTP clip)
Introduced by Nia Peeples and performing live in the LA studio, this song peaked at number 18.

Pet Shop Boys – “Rent” (17)
Not their most energetic of studio performances but Rent became their fifth top ten hit when it peaked at number 8

Kiss – “Crazy Crazy Nights” (4) (US TOTP clip)
Also performing completely live in the LA studio, but the song was at its peak.

Erasure – “The Circus” (7)
Andy's concertina has been dumped and replaced with a Salvation Army band, and The Circus went up one more place.

The Cure – “Just Like Heaven” (29) (breaker)
Went up no higher.

Ray Parker Jr – “I Don’t Think That Man Should Sleep Alone” (24) (breaker)
Became his final top 40 hit when it peaked at number 13.

George Michael – “Faith” (10) (breaker)
The title track from his number one album, and it peaked at number 2.

The Bee Gees – “You Win Again” (1) (rpt from 01/10/87)
Second of four weeks at number one.

Bananarama – “Love In The First Degree” (5) (video/credits)
Went up two more places.


Ocotober 29th is next.

You Win Top of the Pops

Congratulations! All tonight's numbers are on your ticket making you the lucky winner of the 15th October 1987 edition of Top of the Pops!

They sing again

15/10/87  (Gary Davies & Peter Powell with brief appearance from Liz Kershaw & Ro Newton)

UB40 – “Maybe Tomorrow” (29)
Getting us underway tonight, banjo and all, with a song that peaked at number 14.

Five Star – “Strong As Steel” (16) (video)
At its peak.

The Alarm – “Rain In The Summertime” (20)
Went up two more places.

Terence Trent D’Arby – “Dance Little Sister” (30)
Went up ten more places.

Los Lobos – “Come On Let’s Go” (26) (breaker)
Their final hit and it peaked at number 18.

Bananarama – “Love In The First Degree” (22) (breaker)
Peaked at number 3.

Fleetwood Mac – “Little Lies” (21) (breaker)
Peaked at number 5.

Was (Not Was) – “Walk The Dinosaur” (18) (breaker)
Became their first of two top ten hits when it peaked at number 10.

The Fatback Band – “I Found Lovin’” (7)
Their first top ten hit since 1976, and their second of two top tenners, and number 7 was its peak.

The Bee Gees – “You Win Again” (1) (rpt from 01/10/87) 
First of four weeks at number one.

Billy Idol – “Mony Mony” (17) (video/credits)
Billy curls his lip around his third and final top ten hit.

October 22nd is next.

Crazy Crazy Top of the Pops

This edition of Top of the Pops from 8th October 1987 is the fourth in a row that will not be shown on BBC4 due to the Mike Smith contract dispute, so once more a huge thanks goes to Robert Thompson and Neil B for making it available here at WeTransfer.

Squeezing into the charts

08/10/87  (Gary Davies & Mike Smith)

Jellybean featuring Steven Dante – “The Real Thing” (29)
Making his studio debut and peaking at number 13.

Kiss – “Crazy Crazy Nights” (12) (video)
Became their first of two top ten hits when it peaked at number 4.

Jan Hammer – “Crockett’s Theme” (5) (rpt from 24/09/87)
Peaked at number 2.

Erasure – “The Circus” (21)
Became their third of sixteen top ten hits when it peaked at number 6.

LL Cool J – “I Need Love” (9) (US TOTP clip)
Went up one more place.

Steve Walsh – “I Found Lovin’” (22)
Became his only top ten hit when it peaked at number 9.

M/A/R/R/S – “Pump Up The Volume” (1) (video/credits)
Second and final week at number one.


Back to BBC4 next week with October 15th. Phew!

Top of the Pops Corrosion

This edition of Top of the Pops from 1st October 1987 will not be shown on BBC4 due to the Mike Smith contract dispute, so a huge thanks goes to Robert Thompson for making it available here at WeTransfer.
It is also available to stream here at YouTube.

Sister of hairspray

01/10/87  (Gary Davies & Mike Smith)

The Sisters Of Mercy – “This Corrosion” (13)
Became their first of two top ten hits when it peaked at number 7.

Michael Jackson – “Bad” (3) (video)
At its peak.

The Bee Gees – “You Win Again” (22)
Performing in the studio for the first time since 1972, this became their fifth and final number one hit.

Gary Numan – “Cars (E Reg Model)” (16)
At its peak.

Steve Winwood – “Valerie” (36)
Originally peaked at number 51 in 1982, this remix did better and made it to number 19.

Shakin’ Stevens – “Come See About Me” (27)
Peaked aat number 24.

M/A/R/R/S – “Pump Up The Volume” (1) (video/credits)
First of two weeks at number one.


8th October is next.

The Night You Murdered Top of the Pops

This edition of Top of the Pops from 24th September 1987 will not be shown on BBC4 due to the Mike Smith contract dispute. So a huge thanks goes to both Robert Thompson and Neil B for making it available here at WeTransfer.

Moves Like Jagger

24/09/87  (Gary Davies & Mike Smith)

Johnny Hates Jazz – “I Don’t Want To Be A Hero” (11)
At its peak.

ABC – “The Night You Murdered Love” (31)
Went up no higher.

Madonna – “Causing A Commotion” (4) (video)
At its peak.

Jan Hammer – “Crockett’s Theme” (19)
Became his second and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 2.

Gary Numan – “Cars (E Reg Model)” (26) (breaker)
Peaked at number 16.

LL Cool J – “I Need Love” (16) (breaker)
Peaked at number 8.

Michael Jackson – “Bad” (5) (breaker)
This title track from his number one album went up two more places.

Mick Jagger – “Let’s Work” (41)
Making his first studio appearance since 1971? The song peaked at number 31.

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


1st October is next.

Pour Some Top of the Pops on Me

This edition of Top of the Pops from 17th September 1987 is the first of four in a row that feature Mike Smith, so will not be shown on BBC4. A massive thanks goes to Robert Thompson for making it available here at WeTransfer.

Jumpering up the charts

17/09/87  (Gary Davies & Mike Smith)

Def Leppard – “Pour Some Sugar On Me” (31)
Getting the show undeway with a song that peaked at number 18.

Luther Vandross – “Stop To Love” (24) (video)
Went up no higher.

House Master Boyz & The Rude Boy Of House – “House Nation” (12)
Their only hit and it peaked at number 8.

Cliff Richard – “Some People” (6)
Clocking up his 54th top ten hit, this one peaking at number 3.

The Communards – “Tomorrow” (25)
Went up two more places.

Karel Fialka – “Hey Matthew” (20)
Apparently he had a bucket list that included things like publishing a novel, climbing Everest and having a top ten hit - so he was able to tick one of those off when this song peaked at number 9.

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

M/A/R/R/S – “Pump Up The Volume” (2) (video/credits)
And here's our blog title tune that we won't ever get to see on BBC4.


September 24th is next.