Keeping Top of the Pops Alive

Tonight the rain is falling full of memories of people and places and the 12th of January 1989 edition of Top of the Pops!

Hats the way I like it

12/01/89  (Simon Mayo & Sybil Ruscoe)

The Darling Buds – “Hit The Ground” (33)
Transvision Lite get us underway with what became their biggest hit when it peaked at number 27.

Will To Power – “Baby I Love Your Way-Freebird” (10) (video)
Their only top ten hit and it peaked at number 6.

Milli Vanilli – “Baby Don’t Forget My Number” (32)
In the studio with a song that peaked at number 16.

Duran Duran – “All She Wants Is” (9) (video)
This saucy song had already reached a premature climax of number 9.

Boy Meets Girl – “Waiting For A Star To Fall” (12)
In the studio to perform their only hit and it peaked at number 9.

Marc Almond & Gene Pitney – “Something’s Gotten Hold Of My Heart” (19) (breaker)
On its way to number one.

Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock – “Get On The Dance Floor” (30) (breaker)
Peaked at number 14.

Mike & The Mechanics – “The Living Years” (17) (breaker)
Became their biggest hit when it peaked at number 2.

Roachford – “Cuddly Toy” (31) (breaker)
His only top ten hit and it peaked at number 4.

Fine Young Cannibals – “She Drives Me Crazy” (8) (breaker)
Became their biggest hit when it peaked at number 5.

Roy Orbison – “You Got It” (24) (breaker)
He'd died just a month earlier and this song became his first top ten hit since 1966 when it peaked at number 3.

Freiheit – “Keeping The Dream Alive” (14)
It was good to see this pretty tune performed in the studio but it was the band's only hit and it got no higher.

Cookie Crew – “Born This Way (Let’s Dance)” (29)
In the studio doing live vocals and the record peaked at number 23.

Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan – “Especially For You” (1) (video)
Second of three weeks at number one.

Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine – “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You” (16) (video/credits)
At its peak.


19th January is next.

Especially For Top of the Pops

No more dreaming about tomorrow, forget the loneliness and the sorrow - here's the 5th January 1989 edition of Top of the Pops!

Happy New Opening Title Sequence!

05/01/89 (Andy Crane & Mark Goodier)

Erasure – “Stop” (2)
The duo get the new year underway but Stop could go no further.

Kim Wilde – “Four Letter Word” (9) (rpt from 22/12/88)
This was now Kim's eighth and final top ten hit and it went up three more places.

A-ha – “You Are The One” (15) (video)
Went up two more places.

Duran Duran – “All She Wants Is” (25) (breaker)
Became the band's penultimate top ten hit when it peaked at number 9.

Boy Meets Girl – “Waiting For A Star To Fall” (31) (breaker)
Their only hit and it peaked at number 9.

Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine – “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You” (28) (breaker)
Peaked at number 16.

Climie Fisher – “Love Like A River” (37)
A somewhat sweaty performance of their final top 40 hit and it peaked at number 22.

Inner City – “Good Life” (4)
Inner the studio but this good tune went up no higher.

Neneh Cherry – “Buffalo Stance” (6)
A second studio performance and the song went up another three places.

Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan – “Especially For You” (1) (rpt from 22/12/88)
They finally made it to the top and would stay there for three weeks.


The Four Tops – “Loco In Acapulco” (7) (video/credits)
At its peak.


January 12th is next.

Ride On 1989!

Happy New Top of the Pops!

Big Hits!

Big Hits 1989:

Black Box ~ 'Ride on Time'
The year's biggest selling single gets this year's compilation off to a very bouncy start!

Happy Mondays ~ 'Hallelujah'
We get our first glimpse of the 90's here, and yes that is Kirsty Maccoll on backing vocals, and this debut top 40 hit peaked at number 19.

Sonia ~ 'You'll Never Stop Me From Loving You'
With her only number one hit.

Soul II Soul ~ 'Keep On Moving'
With their first of three top ten hits in 1989.

Marc Almond & Gene Pitney ~ 'Something's Gotten Hold of my Heart'
The original had reached number 5 for Gene Pitney in 1967, this new duet version madeit to number one.

Technotronic ~ 'Pump Up the Jam'
This very tasty tune peaked at number 2.

Mike & the Mechanics ~ 'The Living Years'
Their only top ten hit and it peaked at number 2.

Lisa Stansfield ~ 'All Around the World'
This very classy song went all the way to number one.

R.E.M. ~ 'Orange Crush'
Making their debut on the show with a song that peaked at number 28.

Phil Collins ~ 'Another Day in Paradise'
He's back with his piano and paint pot, and this song peaked at number 2.

Rebel Mc and Double Trouble ~ 'Street Tuff'
His only top ten hit and it peaked at number 3.

Jason Donovan ~ 'Too Many Broken Hearts'
With his second of four number ones in 1989.

Sydney Youngblood ~ 'If Only I Could'
His only top ten hit and it peaked at number 3.

Kylie Minogue ~ 'Hand On Your Heart'
With her second of three number ones in 1989.

Beautiful South ~ 'You Keep It All In'
The original lineup with their second top ten hit of the year and it peaked at number 8.

Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville ~ 'Don't Know Much'
Peaked at number 2.

Transvision Vamp ~ 'Baby I Don't Care'
Performing their biggest hit which peaked at number 3.

Tina Turner ~ 'The Best'
Not quite leaving the best till last, and it peaked at number 5.

Paula Abdul ~ 'Straight Up'
Peaked at number 3.

Stone Roses ~ 'Fools Gold'
And here we say goodbye to the 80's and hello to the 90's, with a tune that peaked at number 8.


January 5th is next.

The 25th Anniversary Top of the Pops

This edition of Top of the Pops from December 31st 1988 will not be shown on BBC4 because one of the hosts is Jimmy Savile. So obvioulsy don't click on any links if you wish to avoid him. Otherwise a big thanks goes to xrayfour for finding a link where you can stream it here, and a link where you can download an mkv file version here on WeTransfer.

Silver haired jubilee!

25th Anniversary, 31/12/88  (Radio 1 DJs)

The Swinging Blue Jeans – “Hippy Hippy Shake”
Manfred Mann – “Mighty Quinn” (clip from 15/02/68)
Procol Harum – “A Whiter Shade Of Pale” (clip from 26/12/67)
The Dave Clark Five – “Bits & Pieces” (clip from 19/02/64)
The Kinks – “Lola” (clip from 18/06/70)
The Animals – “House Of The Rising Sun” (clip)
The Hollies – “I Can’t Let Go” (clip)
The Beach Boys – “Good Vibrations” (clip)
Mike Love – brief interview
The Tremeloes – “Silence Is Golden”
Slade – “Merry Xmas Everybody” (clip from 25/12/74)
Gary Glitter – “I Love You Love Me Love” (clip from 15/12/73)
The Jam – “Going Underground” (clip from 27/03/80)
The Police – “Don’t Stand So Close To Me ‘86” (video clip)
Adam & The Ants – “Stand & Deliver” (video clip)
Frankie Goes To Hollywood – “Two Tribes” (TOTP clip)
Duran Duran – “Is There Something I Should Know?” (clip from 23/03/83)
Village People – “YMCA” (video clip)
Showaddywaddy – “Under The Moon Of Love” (TOTP clip)
Free – “All Right Now” (clip from 04/06/70)
The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown – “Fire” (clip from 18/07/68)
Benny Hill – “Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West)” (film clip)
Ray Stevens – “The Streak” (clip from 27/12/74)
Sylvia – “Y Viva Espana” (clip from 15/08/74)
Mud – “Tiger Feet”
Moira Stewart – brief interview
Sandie Shaw – “Long Live Love” (rehearsal clip)
Cilla Black – “Anyone Who Had A Heart” (clip)
Madonna – “Like A Virgin” (clip from 13/12/84)
Olivia Newton-John – “A Little More Love” (clip from 07/12/78)
Kate Bush – “Wuthering Heights” (video clip)
Dusty Springfield – “Son Of A Preacher Man” (clip)
Lulu – brief interview
Lulu – “Shout”
Errol Brown – brief interview
Hot Chocolate – “So You Win Again” (TOTP clip)
T.Rex – “Hot Love” (clip from 25/03/71)
Roxy Music – “Virginia Plain” (clip from 24/08/72)
The Jacksons – “Blame It On The Boogie” (video clip)
Abba – “Waterloo” (clip from 25/12/74)
Sex Pistols – “Pretty Vacant” (video clip)
ELO – “Mr Blue Sky” (video clip)
John Denver – “Annie’s Song” (clip)
St Winifred’s School Choir – “There’s No One Quite Like Grandma” (clip from 04/12/80)
Terry Jacks – “Seasons In The Sun” (Musikladen clip)
Glenn Medeiros – “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You” (clip from 07/07/88)
Engelbert Humperdinck – “Release Me”
The Rolling Stones – “Jumping Jack Flash” (clip)
The Rolling Stones – “The Last Time” (clip from 04/03/65)
The Rolling Stones – “Brown Sugar” (clip from 15/04/71)
The Rolling Stones – “Let’s Spend The Night Together” (clip from 26/12/67)
Les McKeown – brief interview
Bay City Rollers – “Bye Bye Baby” (TOTP clip)
Donny Osmond – “Puppy Love” (clip)
Kajagoogoo – “Too Shy” (TOTP clip)
A-ha – “The Sun Always Shines On TV” (video clip)
Bros – “When Will I Be Famous?” (TOTP clip)
David Essex – “Gonna Make You A Star”
Petula Clark – brief interview
Cliff Richard – brief interview
Lulu – brief interview
Maurice & Robin Gibb – brief interview
The Bee Gees – “Massachusetts” (clip from 26/12/67)
Fleetwood Mac – “Albatross” (clip)
Madness – “Our House” (video clip)
The Monkees – “I’m A Believer” (film clip)
The Shadows – “Don’t Make My Baby Blue” (clip from 12/08/65)
The Three Degrees – “When Will I See You Again?” (clip from 15/08/74)
Blondie – “Denis” (video clip)
The Who – “My Generation” (clip)
Dire Straits – “Sultans Of Swing” (video clip)
Gladys Knight & The Pips – “Midnight Train To Georgia” (clip from 29/04/76)
The Four Tops – “Reach Out I’ll Be There”
Brian May & Roger Taylor – brief interview
Queen – “Bohemian Rhapsody” (video clip)
John Lennon – “Imagine” (film clip)
Sonny & Cher – “I Got You Babe” (clip from 12/08/65)
U2 – “Pride (In The Name Of Love” (video clip)
Ultravox – “Vienna” (clip from 25/12/81)
The Boomtown Rats – “I Don’t Like Mondays” (video clip)
Cliff Richard – brief interview
Cliff Richard – “We Don’t Talk Anymore”
Rod Stewart – “Maggie May” (TOTP clip)
Elton John – “Daniel” (clip from 25/01/73)
David Bowie – “Starman” (clip from 06/07/72)
Phil Collins – “You Can’t Hurry Love” (video clip)
Stevie Wonder – “I Just Called To Say I Love You” (video clip)
Marvin Gaye – “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” (video clip)
Lionel Richie – “Hello” (video clip)
Michael Jackson – “Billie Jean” (video clip)
Bruce Springsteen – “Born In The USA” (video clip)
Roy Orbison – “Oh Pretty Woman” (film clip)
Tom Jones – “Delilah” (clip from 07/03/68)
Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder – “Ebony & Ivory” (video clip)
Elvis Presley – “The Wonder Of You” (stills)
Shakin’ Stevens – “This Ole House”
Lulu – brief interview
Tom Jones – brief interview
Don McLean – “American Pie” (live clip)
The Righteous Brothers – “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” (clip from 28/01/65)
10cc – “I’m Not In Love” (live clip)
The Supremes – “Baby Love” (clip from 07/10/64)
Whitney Houston – “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” (clip from 21/05/87)
George Michael – “Careless Whisper” (video clip)
Band Aid – “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” (clip from 25/12/84)
Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards – brief interview
Dexys Midnight Runners – “Come On Eileen” (clip from 25/12/82)
Eurythmics – “You Have Placed A Chill In My Heart” (clip from 23/06/88)
Wham! – “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” (video clip)
Culture Club – “Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?” (clip from 25/12/82)
Genesis – “Turn It On Again” (clip from 13/03/80)
Soft Cell – “Say Hello Wave Goodbye” (video clip)
Spandau Ballet – “True” (TOTP clip)
The Human League – “Don’t You Want Me” (video clip)
Depeche Mode – “Just Can’t Get Enough” (clip from 24/09/81)
The Beatles – “Daytripper” (clip)
The Beatles – “Hello Goodbye” (clip)
The Beatles – “We Can Work It Out” (clip)
The Beatles – “Hey Jude” (clip)
Petula Clark – brief interview
Cliff Richard – brief interview
Lulu – brief interview
Status Quo – “Pictures Of Matchstick Men” (clip from 15/02/68)
Status Quo – “Rockin’ All Over The World” (with credits)


So that's it for 1988 ~ many many thanks once again to all who read and contribute to this blog, have a great Xmas and we will see you back here in 1989!

My Christmassy Sort of Tune

I'd just like to take this chance to wish everyone who reads and contributes to this blog a very Merry Christmas!

I have to admit I'm slightly nervous about posting this, but since it's without a doubt the closest I'll ever get to being on Top of the Pops myself, here is (performed by yours truly in front of the Only Way Is Up laptop) my Christmassy Sort of Tune :-)

Top of the Pops and Wine

We wish you a merry Christmas Day 1988 edition of Top of the Pops!

We Three DJs

25/12/88  (Bruno Brookes, Gary Davies & Anthea Turner)

S-Express – “Theme From S-Express”
Pet Shop Boys – “Always On My Mind”

Belinda Carlisle – “Heaven Is A Place On Earth” (video clip)
Tiffany – “I Think We’re Alone Now” (video clip)
Kylie Minogue – “I Should Be So Lucky” (video clip)
Whitney Houston – “One Moment In Time” (video clip)
Enya – “Orinoco Flow” (rpt from 20/10/88)

Aswad – “Don’t Turn Around” 
Fairground Attraction – “Perfect”

Climie Fisher – “Love Changes (Everything)” (video clip)
Bros – “When Will I Be Famous?” (video clip)
Rick Astley – “Together Forever” (video clip)
Bobby McFerrin – “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” (video clip)
Brother Beyond – “The Harder I Try” (video clip)

Pet Shop Boys – “Heart”
Yazz – “”The Only Way Is Up”

The Timelords & Gary Glitter – “Doctorin’ The Tardis”~ edited out.

Bros – “I Owe You Nothing” (video clip)
Glenn Medeiros – “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You” (video clip)
Phil Collins – “Groovy Kind Of Love” (clip from 08/09/88)
Robin Beck – “The First Time” (rpt from 10/11/88)

Wet Wet Wet – “With A Little Help From My Friends”
The Hollies – “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother”

Cliff Richard – “Mistletoe & Wine” (rpt from 08/12/88)
Bros – “Silent Night” (with credits)


Next up is the 31st December.

Loco In Top of the Pops

You won't be pulling out your hair or drowning in despair tonight with the 22nd December 1988 edition of Top of the Pops!

The Four Tops of the Pops

22/12/88  (Nicky Campbell & Steve Wright)

The Four Tops – “Loco In Acapulco” (15)
All the way from Heathrow to get tonight's show underway with what became their eleventh and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 7.

A-ha – “You Are The One” (20)
Also in the studio tonight and on their way to number 13.

Kim Wilde – “Four Letter Word” (19)
Looking very respectable and grown up this evening in a very fetching 1940's style frock performing a song that would peak at number 6.

Shakin’ Stevens – “True Love” (28) (breaker)
Peaked at number 23.

Freiheit – “Keeping The Dream Alive” (27) (breaker)
Their only hit and it peaked at number 14.

Neneh Cherry – “Buffalo Stance” (13)
There can't be too many performers who made their studio debut just weeks away from giving birth, and this song became her first of five top ten hits when it peaked at number 3.

Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan – “Especially For You” (2)
Topping off an impressive night in the studio to perform the song that was patiently waiting in line to be number one after Christmas.

Cliff Richard – “Mistletoe & Wine” (1) (rpt from 08/12/88)
Third of four weeks at number one.

Status Quo – “Burning Bridges (On & Off & On Again)” (7) (rpt from 08/12/88 + credits)
Went up two more places.


December 25th is next.