Top of the Pops Around the Christmas Tree

I'm still away from home, so this blog for the 17th December 1987 edition of Top of the Pops is being compiled before I have had a chance to watch.

Happy Christmas you 'ass'

17/12/87 (Gary Davies & Mike Read)

Wet Wet Wet – “Angel Eyes (Home & Away)” (21)
Became their third top ten hit of 1987 when it peaked at number 5.

Mel & Kim – “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” (6) (video)
Peaked at number 3.

Simply Red – “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye” (17)
Peaked at number 11.

The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl – “Fairytale Of New York” (8)
Arguably the best ever Christmas record, but it couldn't quite get to number one.

Level 42 - "Children Say" (22) (breaker)
Got no higher.

Nat King Cole - "When I Fall In Love" (20) (breaker)
Had peaked at number 2 in 1957, 30 years later it made it to number 4.

Belinda Carlisle – “Heaven Is A Place On Earth” (19) (US TOTP clip)
Her first solo single and in the new year it will become her only number one hit.

Pet Shop Boys – “Always On My Mind” (1) (rpt from 10/12/87)
First of four weeks at number one, and this year's Xmas number one.

Madonna – “The Look Of Love” (9) (video/credits)
At its peak.



Christmas Day 1987 is next, but Mike Smith co-presented it, and so sadly BBC4 will skip it.

Top of the Pops On My Mind

This edition of Top of the Pops from 10th Decmber 1987 will not be shown on BBC4 due to the Mike Smith contract dispute. But it can be streamed here at YouTube.

The Pet Shop Boys are in the building

10/12/87 (Mike Smith)

Pet Shop Boys – “Always On My Mind” (4)
Will be the Christmas number one.

Michael Jackson – “The Way You Make Me Feel” (3) (video)
At its peak. And another bullet dodged by BBC4!

Rick Astley – “When I Fall In Love” (2)
Just missed out on the top spot, despite the harp.

Johnny Hates Jazz – “Turn Back The Clock” (27)
Peaked at number 12.

Madonna – “The Look Of Love” (15) (breaker)
This lesser known hit peaked at number 9.

Mel & Kim – “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” (13) (breaker)
This second Comic Relief single peaked at number 3.

Alison Moyet – “Love Letters” (9)
Her sixth and final top ten hit peaking at number 4.

T’Pau – “China In Your Hand” (1) (rpt)
Fifth and final week at number one.

Jellybean featuring Elisa Fiorillo – “Who Found Who” (11) (video/credits)
Went up one more place.


December 17th is next.

Once Upon A Top of the Pops

Once upon a time, long, long ago, on the 3rd of December 1987, there was an edition of Top of the Pops. Many people fell in love with it at the time, but afterwards it lay forgotten on a long lost shelf gathering dust, until 32 years later when it was shown once again, to live happily ever after!

A Hard Day's Knight

03/12/87 (Gary Davies & Janice Long)

The Hooters – “Satellite” (22)
Went up no higher.

Alexander O’Neal – “Criticize” (4) (video)
Also at its peak.

The Proclaimers – “Letter From America” (3)
A second studio performance but the song went up no higher.

Def Leppard – “Hysteria” (26) (breaker)
Another song already at its peak.

Cutting Crew – “I’ve Been In Love Before” (24) (breaker)
Their final top 40 hit and number 24 was its peak.

Jellybean featuring Elisa Fiorillo – “Who Found Who” (18) (breaker)
Became Jellybean's only top ten hit when it peaked at number 10.

Michael Jackson – “The Way You Make Me Feel” (16) (breaker)
This third single from his number one album Bad peaked at number 3.

Paul McCartney – “Once Upon A Long Ago” (14)
Performing in the studio for the first time since 1974, this became Macca's final solo top ten hit when it peaked at number 10.

T’Pau – “China In Your Hand” (1)
Fourth of five weeks at number one.

Maxi Priest – “Some Guys Have All The Luck” (12) (+ credits)
At its peak.

December 10th is next but it is a Mike Smith edition so BBC4 will skip it.

I Want To Be Your Top of the Pops

I'm going to be away from home for the next week, so the next few blogs will have to be written before I get a chance to watch the shows, starting with this edition from 26th November 1987.

My Sweet George

26/11/87  (Simon Bates & Gary Davies)

Blue Mercedes – “I Want To Be Your Property” (24)
Their only top 40 hit and it went up just one more place.

Boy George – “To Be Reborn” (18) (video)
Peaked at number 13.

The Communards – “Never Can Say Goodbye” (4)
In the studio again but the song was now at its peak.

Shakin’ Stevens – “What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For?” (27)
Became Shaky's 15th and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 5.

The Hooters – “Satellite” (28) (breaker)
Their only hit and it peaked at number 22.

Paul McCartney – “Once Upon A Long Ago” (23) (breaker)
Became his final solo top ten hit when it peaked at number 10.

The Housemartins – “Build” (19)
Peaked at number 15.

T’Pau – “China In Your Hand” (1) (rpt from 05/11/87)
Third of five weeks at number one.

George Harrison – “Got My Mind Set On You” (2) (video/credits)
Third of four weeks at number 2 for George. It's a shame he didn't make it into the studio to perform it.


December 3rd is next

Dinner With Top of the Pops

Yum, yum! On the menu is a delicious treat for your tastebuds with a feast of hits on tonight's 19th November 1987 edition of Top of the Pops!

Top of the Hot Stuff

19/11/87  (Simon Mayo & Steve Wright)

Maxi Priest – “Some Guys Have All The Luck” (18)
Tonight's starter is a live vocal with a song that had already been a top 20 hit for both Robert Palmer and Rod Stewart, but Maxi's version was the biggest hit of the three peaking at number 12.

Whitney Houston – “So Emotional” (9) (video)
Peaked at number 5.

The Proclaimers – “Letter From America” (25)
The main course begins with Charlie and Craig making their debut on the show to perform what would be their first of three top ten hits - it wasn't to be the Christmas number one but it did make it to number 3. But the big question of the night is - was it a sock?

Barry White – “Sho’ You Right” (20)
Still hungry? Perfoming in the studio with his first top 40 hit for nine years, it's 'the hippopotamus of love' and the song peaked at number 14.

Boy George – “To Be Reborn” (26) (breaker)
Peaked at number 13.

The Smiths – “I Started Something I Couldn’t Finish” (23) (breaker)
Went up no further.

Donna Summer – “Dinner With Gershwin” (17)
And for a mouthwatering dessert, the legendary queen of disco Finally makes it into the studio, and the song went up one more place.

T’Pau – “China In Your Hand” (1) (video)
Second of five full weeks at number one.

Whitesnake – “Here I Go Again” (11) (video/credits)
It's a second chart helping for this song and it went up two more places.


November 26th is next.

My Baby Just Cares For Top of the Pops

My baby don't care for Eastenders or Ever Decreasing Circles, my baby just cares for the 12th November 1987 edition of Top of the Pops!

I'm Alright, Jack!

12/11/87  (Gary Davies & Peter Powell)

The Communards – “Never Can Say Goodbye” (6)
Getting tonight's show off to a vibrant start and the song went up two more places.

Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes – “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life” (10) (US TOTP clip)
Singing live in the LA studio, this famous song from Dirty Dancing was number one in America, and it peaked at number 6 over here.

Mirage – “Jack Mix IV” (13)
Performing what would soon become their second of two top ten hits when this bouncy medley of new and old hits peaked at number 8.

Donna Summer – “Dinner With Gershwin” (23) (breaker)
Peaked at number 13.

Marillion – “Warm Wet Circles” (22) (breaker)
Went up no higher.

Whitney Houston – “So Emotional” (20) (breaker)
Peaked at number 5.

Alexander O’Neal – “Criticize” (28)
In the studio tonight to perform his biggest hit, becoming his second of two top tenners when it peaked at number 4.

T’Pau – “China In Your Hand” (1) (rpt from 05/11/87)
First of five weeks at number one.

Nina Simone – “My Baby Just Cares For Me” (11) (video/credits)
Another old song propelled into the charts on the back of a tv advert, this became Nina's third of three top ten hits when it peaked at number 5 - which was very apt, because the tv advert was for Channel No.5!


November 19th is next.

Top of the Pops in Your Hand

This edition of Top of the Pops from November 5th 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.

Do you remember remember this song?

05/11/87 (Janice Long & Mike Smith)

T’Pau – “China In Your Hand” (5)
Getting the show underway with a bang, this will be number one next week.

George Harrison – “Got My Mind Set On You” (7) (video)
Rocketing up the charts, from his top ten album Cloud Nine, this narrowly missed out on the top spot, peaking at number 2.

Heartbeat – “Tears From Heaven” (32)
A sparkling performance, but this was their only top 40 hit, and number 32 was its peak.

Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballe – “Barcelona” (12) (video)
Peaked at number 8.

Whitesnake – “Here I Go Again” (17) (breaker)
It had peaked at number 34 in 1982, this time around it made it to number 9.

The Communards – “Never Can Say Goodbye” (15) (breaker)
Became their third and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 4.

Eric B & Rakim – “Paid In Full” (28)
Peaked at number 15.

The Bee Gees – “You Win Again” (1) (video)
Fourth and final week at number one.

Was (Not Was) – “Walk The Dinosaur” (10) (rpt from 22/10/87 + credits)
At its peak.


November 12th is next.