Born To Be My Top of the Pops

Rainy night and we worked all day, we got something they can't take away - the 15th December 1988 edition of Top of the Pops!

Andy Bells

15/12/88  (Gary Davies & Mark Goodier)

Bon Jovi – “Born To Be My Baby” (22)
They're studio regulars by now and they get tonight's show underway but the song got no higher.

Petula Clark – “Downtown ‘88” (13)
She'd already been around for 34 years by now, and she's doing a live vocal in the studio, and what was to be her final hit went up three more places.

U2 – “Angel Of Harlem” (10) (video)
This second single from their massive number one album Rattle and Hum went up one more place.

New Order – “Fine Time” (15)
Also performing completely live in the sudio tonight - but how was he doing that weird, robotic vocal? But anyway it peaked at number 11.

The Four Tops – “Loco In Acapulco” (23) (breaker)
Became their 11th and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 7.

Kim Wilde – “Four Letter Word” (28) (breaker)
Peaked at number 6.

Londonbeat – “9 AM (The Comfort Zone)” (29) (breaker)
Peaked at number 19.

Erasure – “Stop” (4)
In the studio to perform the lead song from their Crackers International ep and it went up two more places.

Inner City – “Good Life” (6)
Also in the studio tonight and the song also went up two more places.

Cliff Richard – “Mistletoe & Wine” (1) (video)
Second of four weeks at number one.

A-ha – “You Are The One” (25) (video/credits)
Peaked at number 13.


December 22nd will be up here next.

Mistletoe & Top of the Pops

Dreams of Santa, dreams of snow, it's the 8th December 1988 edition of Top of the Pops!

Crimbo Richard

08/12/88  (Nicky Campbell & Caron Keating)

Status Quo – “Burning Bridges (On & Off & On Again)” (20)
The Quo get things underway tonight with a belter of a  party tune which became their penultimate top ten hit when it peaked at number 5.


Angry Anderson – “Suddenly” (3)
All the way from Scott & Charlene's wedding into the studio but the song couldn't get any higher.


Phil Collins – “Two Hearts” (6) (video)
Another tune from his Buster movie but it was now at its peak.

Petula Clark – “Downtown ‘88” (24) (breaker)
It had peaked at number 2 in 1964, this remix became Petula's twelth and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 10.

New Order – “Fine Time” (23) (breaker)
Peaked at number 11.

Inner City – “Good Life” (22) (breaker)
Peaked at number 4.

Erasure – “Stop” (7) (breaker)
Peaked at number 2.

Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan – “Especially For You” (2) (video)
The Neighbours are taking over the chart. And it will get to number one, but not in time for Christmas.

Cliff Richard – “Mistletoe & Wine” (1)
That's because Cliff has moved in to Christmas number one town, and he'll be there for the next four weeks. And a live vocal I think, or at least a re-recording for the studio.

Bananarama – “Nathan Jones” (15) (rpt from 24/11/88 + credits)
At its peak.


15th December is next

Top of the Pops Among the Pigeons

And so Top of the Pops 1988 is finally about to synchronise with 2019 with this edition from 1st December 1988.

The very last time

01/12/88  (Bruno Brookes & Mike Read)

Rick Astley – “Take Me To Your Heart” (12)
Rick gets the festive month underway and the song peaked at number 8.

Michael Jackson – “Smooth Criminal” (8) (video)
Got no higher.

George Michael – “Kissing A Fool” (24) (breaker)
His sixth single from his number one album Faith, and it peaked at number 18.

Angry Anderson – “Suddenly” (16) (breaker)
His only hit and it peaked at number 3.

Cliff Richard – “Mistletoe & Wine” (7) (breaker)
Will be this year's Christmas number one of course.

Phil Collins – “Two Hearts” (6) (breaker)
At its peak.

Pet Shop Boys – “Left To My Own Devices” (4)
The dynamic duo are in the studio once more but this lastest hit got no higher.

Bros – “Cat Among The Pigeons” (2)
This contender came straight in at number 2, but it is perhaps one of their least memorable tunes, and it got no higher. Craig was ill with ME at this point in time and this was to be his final record with the band.

Robin Beck – “The First Time” (1) (rpt from 10/11/88)
Third and final week at number one.

Humanoid – “Stakker Humanoid” (18) (+ credits)
Some energetic dancing but this was their only top 40 hit and it went up one more place.


8th December is next.

Radio of the Pops

The DJ knows my voice now, he even knows my choice now - it's the 24th November 1988 edition of Top of the Pops!

Map of the Pops

24/11/88  (Andy Crane & Simon Mayo)

Tiffany – “Radio Romance” (21)
After Andy and Simon reveal their slightly peculiar map of Radio One's latest state of the art stereo transmitters, Tiffany gets us underway with an aptly titled song, and it became her final top 40 hit when it peaked at number 13.

Bomb The Bass featuring Maureen – “I Say A Little Prayer” (19)
I wonder if the Fugees were watching this? And it became their third of four top ten hits when it peaked at number 10.

Deacon Blue – “Real Gone Kid” (8) (rpt)
A third showing for this song, but it got no higher.

Michael Jackson – “Smooth Criminal” (12) (breaker)
Peaked at number 8.

Pet Shop Boys – “Left To My Own Devices” (7) (breaker)
Peaked at number 4.

Iron Maiden – “The Clairvoyant” (6) (breaker)
A breaker? It was already at its peak!

Bananarama – “Nathan Jones” (20)
The girls were looking particularly chic tonight and the song peaked at number 15.

Chris De Burgh – “Missing You” (3) (video)
At its peak.

Robin Beck – “The First Time” (1) (rpt from 10/11/88)
Second of three weeks at number one.

Hithouse – “Jack To The Sound Of The Underground” (25) (video/credits)
His only top 40 hit and it peaked at number 14.


December 1st is next!

Twist In My Top of the Pops

Look my eyes are just holograms, look your love has drawn red from my hands, from my hands you know you'll always be the 17th November 1988 edition of Top of the Pops!

See you in 2008?

17/11/88  (Gary Davies & Susie Mathis)

Yazz – “Stand Up For Your Love Rights” (2) (rpt from 03/11/88)
A repeat showing of Yazz to get tonight's show underway but the song could go no higher.

All About Eve – “What Kind Of Fool” (29)
A silky live vocal in the studio but the song was at its peak.

INXS – “Need You Tonight” (4) (video)
Went up two more places.

Mica Paris – “Breathe Life Into Me” (28)
Went up two more places.

Tanita Tikaram – “Twist In My Sobriety” (22)
Tanita is in the building, but the song went up no higher.

Robin Beck – “The First Time” (1) (rpt from 10/11/88)
First of three weeks at number one for this one hit wonder.

Salt ‘N’ Pepa – “Twist & Shout” (12) (video/credits)
On their way to number 4.


24th November is next.

Real Gone Top of the Pops

And maybe now baby, maybe now baby, it's the 10th November 1988 edition of Top of the Pops!

Top of the Woh Ooh Woh Ooh Wohs!

10/11/88  (Bruno Brookes & Sybil Ruscoe)

Brother Beyond – “He Ain’t No Competition” (8)
Became their second and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 6.

Bryan Ferry – “Let’s Stick Together” (12) (video)
At its 1988 peak.

Robin Beck – “The First Time” (5)
In the studio and on her way to number one.

Salt ‘N’ Pepa – “Twist & Shout” (22) (breaker)
Became their second of five top ten hits when it peaked at number 4.

INXS – “Need You Tonight” (18) (breaker)
Became the band's only top ten hit when it peaked at number 2.

Chris De Burgh – “Missing You” (15)
In the studio to perform what became his second and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 3.

Deacon Blue – “Real Gone Kid” (10)
A second studio performance and the song went up two more places.

Enya – “Orinoco Flow” (1) (rpt from 20/10/88)
Third and final week at number one.

Prince – “I Wish U Heaven” (26) (video/credits)
Went up two more places.

 
November 17th is next.

Stand Up For Your Top of the Pops

Do it, do it, do it, now don't be afraid, don't let things stand in your way of the 3rd November 1988 edition of Top of the Pops!

Hurrying up the charts

03/11/88  (Nicky Campbell & Mark Goodier)

Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine – “1-2-3” (24)
Getting tonight's show off to a lively start with a live vocal in the studio and the song peaked at number 9.

Robert Palmer – “She Makes My Day” (8) (video)
Went up two more places.

Tanita Tikaram – “Twist In My Sobriety” (26)
This song reminds me a little bit of Elvis Presley's Fever, and it went up four more places, but was Tanita's final top 40 hit.

Bryan Ferry – “Let’s Stick Together” (28) (breaker)
It got to number 4 in 1976, this remixed version made it to number 12.

Robin Beck – “The First Time” (17) (breaker)
Will be number one in two weeks time.

Kylie Minogue – “Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi” (2) (video)
At its peak.

Yazz – “Stand Up For Your Love Rights” (4)
Another energetic performance in the studio and the song went up two more places.

Enya – “Orinoco Flow” (1) (rpt from 20/10/88)
Second of three weeks at number one.

Guns N’ Roses – “Welcome To The Jungle” (25) (video/credits)
Went up just one more place.




10th November is next.