I Think We're Top of the Pops Now

At breaking point because of the tennis? Well this should put the ball back in your court. This edition of Top of the Pops from 28th January 1988 will not be shown on BBC4 because of the Mike Smith contract dispute, but a huge thanks goes to Robert Thompson for making it available to watch here at WeTransfer.

Game, set and mic

28/01/88  (Gary Davies & Mike Smith)
Debbie Gibson – “Shake Your Love” (17)
Beccame her first of two top ten hits when it peaked at number 7.

Billy Idol – “Hot In The City” (18) (video)
Peaked at number 13.

2 Men, A Drum Machine & A Trumpet – “Tired Of Getting Pushed Around” (21)
Peaked at number 18.

Jermaine Stewart – “Say It Again” (25)
His second and final top ten hit, peaking at number 7.

Taylor Dayne – “Tell It To My Heart” (24) (breaker)
Became her first of two top ten hits when it reached number 3.

Jack ‘N’ Chill – “The Jack That House Built” (19) (breaker)
Peaked at number 6.

Elton John – “Candle In The Wind” (16) (breaker)
This live version peaked at number 5.

T’Pau – “Valentine” (33)
This timely release became their third and final top ten hit, peaking at number 9.

Tiffany – “I Think We’re Alone Now” (1)
First of three weeks at number one.

The Beatmasters featuring the Cookie Crew – “Rok Da House” (8) (video/credits)
Went up three more places.



Next up is February 4th, but normal service can still not be resumed because its yet another Mike Smith edition!

When Will I Be Top of the Pops?

It's 7.30pm and tonight's scheduled edition of Top of the Pops from 21st January 1988 on BBC4 seems to have been given the tennis elbow. The midnight repeat is still scheduled, so here's hoping it won't be a double fault.

You cannot be serious!

21/01/88  (Gary Davies & Steve Wright)

Bros – “When Will I Be Famous?” (16)
Became their first of five top ten hits in 1988 when it peaked at number 2.

AC/DC – “Heatseeker” (12) (video)
They'd been having hits for almost ten years by now, and this one was their biggest, and number 12 was its peak.

Joyce Sims – “Come Into My Life” (8)
Her only top ten hit and it went up one more place.

The Christians – “Ideal World” (15)
Also went up one more place.

Motley Crue – “Wild Side” (23) (breaker)
Already their biggest hit but it got no higher.

Bananarama – “I Can’t Help It” (20) (breaker)
Another that got no higher.

The Beatmasters featuring the Cookie Crew – “Rok Da House” (14) (breaker)
Became their first of three top ten hits whent it peaked at number 5.

Dollar – “O L’Amour” (18)
The duo's first 40 hit in over five years, this Erasure cover became their fifth and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 7.

Belinda Carlisle – “Heaven Is A Place On Earth” (1) (US TOTP clip)
Second and final week at number 1.

The Stranglers – “All Day All Of The Night” (7) (rpt from 07/01/88 + credits)
Their seventh and final top ten hit now at its peak.


January 28th is next, but it is one of the few remaining Mike Smith editions, so BBC4 will skip it.

Heaven is a Place on Top of the Pops

Is this the answer to your prayers? It's the 14th January 1988 edition of Top of the Pops!

Going to a Go-Go

14/01/88  (Gary Davies & Simon Mayo)

Climie Fisher – “Rise To The Occasion” (10)
Getting tonight's show underway but this song could rise no further.

Tiffany – “I Think We’re Alone Now” (13) (US TOTP clip)
With her live vocal studio rendition of the song that will be number one in three weeks time.

Krush – “House Arrest” (3)
Their second appearance in the studio but the record was now at its peak.

Morris Minor & The Majors – “Stutter Rap (No Sleep Til Bedtime)” (4) (rpt from 31/12/87)
Also thankfully at its peak.

The Christians – “Ideal World” (22) (breaker)
On their way to number 14.

AC/DC – “Heatseeker” (17) (breaker)
Became their biggest hit when it peaked at number 12.

Terence Trent D’Arby – “Sign Your Name” (8)
In the studio again to perform what became his biggest hit, but also his third and final top ten hit, peaking at number 2.

Belinda Carlisle – “Heaven Is A Place On Earth” (1) (US TOTP clip)
Another live vocal from LA, and Belinda's first of two weeks at number one.

George Michael – “Father Figure” (11) (video/credits)
At its peak.


21st January is next.

Top of the Pops & All of the Night

We might be seven days into the New Year but the party continues with this 7th January 1988 edition of Top of the Pops!

Golden oldie

07/01/88 (Simon Bates & Mike Read)

Sinitta – “GTO” (20)
Getting the New Year underway with a slinky song that peaked at number 15.

Jellybean – “Jingo” (17) (video)
Not much lyrics but quite a rocker and it peaked at number 12.

Depeche Mode – “Behind The Wheel” (32)
Still another two years to wait until their next top ten hit - this one peaked at number 21.

The Stranglers – “All Day & All Of The Night” (19)
This Kinks cover became their seventh and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 7.

George Michael – “Father Figure” (35) (breaker)
This third single from is number one album 'Faith' peaked at number 11.

GOSH – “The Wishing Well” (34) (breaker)
This charity single for Great Ormond Street Hospital peaked at number 22.

Terence Trent D’Arby – “Sign Your Name” (29) (breaker)
Became his biggest hit when it peaked at number 2.

Pet Shop Boys – “Always On My Mind” (1) (rpt)
Fourth and final week at number one.

Joyce Sims – “Come Into My Life” (21) (video/credits)
Became her only top ten hit when it peaked at number 7.

January 14th is next.

The Only Way is 1988

Uno dos tres cuatro ~ this is a journey into 1988!

Belly Button Stance

Big Hits 1988

Yazz & the Plastic Population ~ 'The Only Way is Up'
Our new blog title, the second biggest seller of the year, and Yazz's only number one hit.

Prefab Sprout ~  'The King of Rock n Roll'
The band's only top ten hit peaking at number 7.

Neneh Cherry ~ 'Buffalo Stance'
Peaked at number 3.

Tanita Tikaran ~ 'Twist in my Sobriety'
Peaked at number 22.

S-Express ~ 'The Theme from S-Express'
Became their only number one hit at the end of April.

Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan ~ 'Especially For You'
A number one of course! But didn't get there until January 1989!

Tiffany ~ 'I Think We're Alone Now'
Singing her only number one live in February.

Maxi Priest ~ 'Wild World'
His biggest hit peaking at number 5.

Ofra Haza ~ 'Im Nin' Alu'
Peaked at number 15.

Everything But the Girl ~ 'I Don't Want to Talk About It'
The duo's joint biggest hit peaking at number 3.

Bros ~ 'When Will I Be Famous?'
Became their first of eight top ten hits when it peaked at number 2.

Womack & Womack ~ 'Teardrops'
The duo's only top ten hit peaking at number 3.

Eurythmics ~ 'You Have Placed a Chill in my Heart'
Performing it live and it peaked at number 16.

The Proclaimers ~ 'I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)
Perhaps their most famous song and it peaked at number 11 in 1988.

Bomb The Bass ~ ' Beat Dis'
Peaked at number 2.

Enya ~ 'Orinoco Flow'
Became her only number one hit at teh end of October.

Fairground Attraction ~ 'Perfect'
With their only number one hit, which got there for one week in May.


7th January 1988 is next Friday!

Top of the Pops Arrest

I know you're gonna dig this! It's the 31st December 1987 edition of Top of the Pops!

Happy House

31/12/87  (Gary Davies & Peter Powell)

Krush – “House Arrest” (20) 
Became their only top ten hit when it peaked at number 3.

Nat ‘King’ Cole – “When I Fall In Love” (4) (old film clip)
Had peaked at number 2 in 1957, this time around number 4 was as high as it got.

Climie Fisher – “Rise To The Occasion” (31)
Became the duo's first of two top ten hits when it peaked at number 10.

Belinda Carlisle – “Heaven Is A Place On Earth” (5) (video)
Will be number one in two weeks time.

Morris Minor & The Majors – “Stutter Rap (No Sleep Til Bedtime)” (23)
About to become a bigger hit than the Beastie Boys ever had when it peaked at number 4.

Cher – “I Found Someone” (21) (video)
Became her first solo top ten hit since 1971 when it peaked at number 5. And just what isn't she wearing?

Wet Wet Wet – “Angel Eyes (Home & Away)” (10)
Their third top ten hit of 1987 and it peaked at number 5.

Pet Shop Boys – “Always On My Mind” (1) (video)
Third of four weeks at number one.

Mel & Kim – “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” (3) (video/credits)
At it peak.


Next up is 7th January 1988.

Turn Back Top of the Pops

This edition of Top of the Pops from Christmas Day 1987 will not be shown on BBC4 due to the Mike Smith contract dispute. I'm still away from home but hopefully some kind person will post a link to the show in the comments for everyone :-)

Happy Gibbmas!

25/12/87 (Gary Davies & Mike Smith)


The Bee Gees – “You Win Again”
Rick Astley – “Never Gonna Give You Up”

Jackie Wilson – “Reet Petite” (video clip)
Ben E King – “Stand By Me” (video clip)
M/A/R/R/S – “Pump Up The Volume” (video clip)
Starship – “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” (video clip)
The Firm – “Star Trekkin’” (video clip)
Ferry Aid – “Let It Be” (video clip)

Pet Shop Boys – “It’s A Sin”
T’Pau – “China In Your Hand”

Steve ‘Silk’ Hurley – “Jack Your Body” (video clip)
Aretha Franklin & George Michael – “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” (video clip)
Madonna – “Who’s That Girl?” (video clip)
Madonna – “La Isla Bonita” (video clip)
Whitney Houston – “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” (clip from 21/05/87)

Johnny Hates Jazz – “Turn Back The Clock”
Pet Shop Boys – “Always On My Mind”
Spagna – “Call Me” (Montreux clip/video/clip from 20/08/87/audience dancing/credits)


Next up is 31st December.