I Don't Want To Talk About Top of the Pops

But if I stay here just a little bit longer, I'll be listening to the 21st July 1988 edition of Top of the Pops!

Sabrina? Who's she?

21/07/88  (Andy Crane & Peter Powell)

S Express – “Superfly Guy” (20)
Andy Crane's first show gets underway with what became the second of three top ten hits for S-Express when it peaked at number 5.

Def Leppard – “Love Bites” (12) (video)
Went up one more place.

Everything But The Girl – “I Don’t Want To Talk About It” (3)
A second studio performance, and this time they have brought their string section along, but the song was now at its peak.

The Mac Band featuring the McCampbell Brothers – “Roses Are Red” (8)
Making their studio debut here but this song was also at its peak.

Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers – “Tomorrow People” (22)
And another studio debut, but again the song went up no higher.

Michael Jackson – “Dirty Diana” (4) (video)
Yet another song at its peak.

Kim Wilde – “You Came” (16)
Did she record this the other week when she gave the birthday cake to Glenn Medeiros? The song was a big hit for her and it peaked at number 3.

Glenn Medeiros – “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You” (1) (video)
Third of four weeks at number one.

George Michael – “Monkey” (13) (video/credits)
The fifth single from his number one album Faith, and number 13 was as high as it climbed.


July 28th is next.

I Want Your Top of the Pops

This edition of Top of the Pops is not being shown on BBC4 because of sound issues, so a massive thanks goes to Acer Ben and xrayfour for making it available here at WeTransfer.

Transvision Amp

14/07/88 (Simon Bates & Bruno Brookes)

Transvision Vamp – “I Want Your Love” (15)
Cooooooor! Peaked at number 5.

Salt ‘N’ Pepa – “Push It” (2) (video)
At its peak.

UB40 & Chrissie Hynde – “Breakfast In Bed” (7) (rpt from 23/06/88)
Went up one more place.

Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers – “Tomorrow People” (28) (breaker)
Peaked at number 22.

Def Leppard – “Love Bites” (20) (breaker)
Went up to number 11.

Pat Benatar – “All Fired Up” (30) (breaker)
Her final top 40 hit and it peaked at number 19.

Debbie Gibson – “Foolish Beat” (18) (video)
Became her second and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 9.

The Wee Papa Girl Rappers – “Heat It Up” (29)
Peaked at number 21.

Tracy Chapman – “Fast Car” (5) (video)
At its peak.

Glenn Medeiros – “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You” (1) (rpt from 07/07/88)
Second of four weeks at number one.

Michael Jackson – “Dirty Diana” (14) (video/credits)
Peaked at number 4.




July 21st is next.

Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For Top of the Pops

Not even Kim Wilde personally delivering me a birthday cake could keep me away from this 7th July 1988 edition of Top of the Pops!

Number one in the charts, just turned 18, and getting a kiss from Kim Wilde - am I jealous? Yes.

07/07/88 (Janice Long & Simon Mayo)

The Communards – “There’s More To Love” (20)
Getting the show underway with what was to be their final hit and it got no higher.

The Mac Band featuring the McCampbell Brothers – “Roses Are Red” (16) (video)
Their only top ten hit and it peaked at number 8.

Everything But The Girl – “I Don’t Want To Talk About It” (23)
This sumptuous Crazy Horse cover became the duo's first of four top ten hits when it peaked at number 3.

INXS – “Never Tear Us Apart” (24) (video)
This dramatic song was their biggest so far but somehow it got no higher than number 24.

Eighth Wonder – “Cross My Heart” (22)
The whole band are here this time but this was to be their final top 40 hit and it peaked at number 13.

Glenn Medeiros – “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You” (1)
Performing a live vocal in the studio on his 18th birthday, this was his first of four summer weeks at number one.

Transvision Vamp – “I Want Your Love” (32) (video/credits)
Became their first of two top ten hits when it peaked at number 5.


Next up is July 14th, but it's another one with dodgy sound issues, so it seems BBC4 are skipping it.

Top of the Pops Will Be With You

Summer's here and the time is right for the 30th June 1988 edition of Top of the Pops!

When I Knees You

30/06/88  (Gary Davies & Peter Powell)

Hazell Dean – “Maybe (We Should Call It A Day)” (18)
Hazell gets this live show off to a high energy start and the song went up three more places.

Bruce Springsteen – “Tougher Than The Rest” (15) (video)
And The Boss went up two more places.

Tracy Chapman – “Fast Car” (10) (video)
Taken from her eponymous mega number one album, Fast Car peaked at number 5.

Matt Bianco – “Don’t Blame It On That Girl” (14)
Their final top 40 hit and it peaked at number 11.

Salt ‘N’ Pepa – “Push It” (7) (video)
With their debut hit and it went all the way to number two.

T’Pau – “I Will Be With You” (17)
This storming power ballad was the fifth and final single taken from their number one album Bridge of Spies, and it peaked at number 14.

The Fat Boys & Chubby Checker – “The Twist (Yo Twist)” (2) (video)
Now at its peak, this was the second and final top ten hit for the Fat Boys, and the third and final top ten hit for Chubby Checker.

Bros – “I Owe You Nothing” (1) (rpt from 16/06/88)
Second and final week at number one.

Glenn Medeiros – “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You” (11) (video/credits)
It couldn't really fail to get to number one, and it will get there next week.

July 7th is next.

I Owe You Top of the Pops

Unfortunately this edition of Top of the Pops from June 23rd cannot be broadcast on BBC4 due to issues with the sound quality, so a huge thanks to xrayfour and Robert Thompson for putting this restored version up here at WeTransfer.
And a newer link here.

And now here it is on Google Dive.

After the screaming starts

23/06/88  (Nicky Campbell & Mark Goodier) 

The Pasadenas – “Tribute (Right On)” (6)
Went up one more place.

Phil Collins – “In The Air Tonight” (8) (video)
The original version got to number 2 in 1981, this remix made it to number 4.

UB40 & Chrissie Hynde – “Breakfast In Bed” (9)
Peaked at number 6.

Tracy Chapman – “Fast Car” (26) (breaker)
Peaked at number 5.

The Communards – “There’s More To Love” (27) (breaker)
Their final hit and it peaked at number 20.

Salt ‘N’ Pepa – “Push It” (24) (breaker)
Peaked at number 2.

Bruce Springsteen – “Tougher Than The Rest” (21) (breaker)
Peaked at number 13.

Maxi Priest – “Wild World” (5) (rpt from 09/06/88)
At its peak.

Eurythmics – “You Have Placed A Chill In My Heart” (18)
Went up two more places.

Bros – “I Owe You Nothing” (1) (rpt from 16/06/88)
First of two weeks at number one.

The Fat Boys & Chubby Checker – “The Twist (Yo Twist)” (4) (video/credits)
Went up two more places.


Next up is June 30th.

Top of the Tardis

Thankfully the Daleks couldn't exterminate this 16th June 1988 edition of Top of the Pops!

We are the superior popstars

16/06/88  (Gary Davies & Mike Read)

Sabrina – “Boys (Summertime Love)” (4)
Bouncing into the studio to get tonight's show underway with her only top ten tit ~ I mean hit ~ and it went up one more place.

Erasure – “Chains Of Love” (11)
In the studio this week with Andy disguised as a parrot but the song flew no higher.

The Sisters Of Mercy – “Lucretia My Reflection” (20)
Straight into the charts at number 20 but it went up no higher.

The Fat Boys & Chubby Checker – “The Twist (Yo Twist)” (19) (breaker)
Peaked at number 2.

Eurythmics – “You Have Placed A Chill In My Heart” (25) (breaker)
Peaked at number 16.

A-ha – “The Blood That Moves The Body” (26) (breaker)
Went up one more place.

Sade – “Paradise” (29) (breaker)
Went up no higher.

Matt Bianco – “Don’t Blame It On That Girl” (21)
Featuring some energetic dancing this was their biggest hit and also their final top 40 hit and it peaked at number 11.

Bros – “I Owe You Nothing” (2)
In the studio to perform the song that will be number one next week.

The Timelords – “Doctorin’ The Tardis” (1) (rpt from 09/06/88)
Their first and only week at number one.

The Pasadenas – “Tribute (Right On)” (16) (video/credits)
Became their first of two top ten hits when it peaked at number 5.


June 23rd is next, but it won't be shown on BBC4 due to sound issues with it.

Everyday Is Like Top of the Pops

Is everyday silent and grey? Not when we've got the 9th June 1988 edition of Top of the Pops!

Ear we go

09/06/88  (Simon Mayo & Peter Powell) 

The Timelords – “Doctorin’ The Tardis” (4)
Tonight's show gets underway with the record that will be number one next week.

Five Star – “Another Weekend” (18) (video)
Looking and sounding like five Michael Jacksons, but the song got no higher.

Voice Of The Beehive – “Don’t Call Me Baby” (23)
Making their debut on the show and the song peaked at number 15.

Mica Paris – “My One Temptation” (7)
Making a second studio appearance but the song got no higher.

Fields Of The Nephilim – “Moonchild” (28) (breaker)
Their biggest hit but it got no higher.

Sabrina – “Boys (Summertime Love)” (24) (breaker)
This bouncy number peaked at number 3.

James Brown – “I’m Real” (31) (breaker)
Got no higher.

Maxi Priest – “Wild World” (15)
Singing a live vocal in the studio, this Cat Stevens cover became his first of three top ten hits when it peaked at number 5.

Morrissey – “Everyday Is Like Sunday” (12)
In the studio to perform his second single from his number one album Viva Hate, and it peaked at number 9.

Wet Wet Wet – “With A Little Help From My Friends” (1) (rpt from 12/05/88)
Fourth and final week at number one.

Erasure – “Chains Of Love” (19) (video/credits)
The second single from their number one album The Innocents, and it peaked at number 11.


June 16th is next.