Top of the Pops on BBC Four

[non capisco]

Yer man behind that track got in touch with me last year through my blog, actually.  He recently recorded a concept album about the break-up of his marriage called "Now That's What I Call Divorce!" Nothing like sticking to a theme.

His follow-up single to this was banned by the BBC and is genuinely a bit disturbing.

Ha, that's interesting and doesn't surprise me in the slightest. I've just started watching these repeats and most of the joy isn't gleaned from seeing hoary old favourites again, it's the shit that no-one remembers that's keeping me entertained. Driver 67 started out seeming like a jokey novelty single, a drippy lovelorn ballad constantly interrupted by a Brummie taxi controller, but by the end it definitely seemed like something a bit more, well...anguished. The way it ended with him playing the controller looking slumped and dejected behind his bank of telephones. It was still a load of old shit but it suddenly felt REAL, man. What are the details of the banned follow-up single? I'm imagining the taxi being used as an impacting instrument of vengeful death but I bet it's something creepier and less prosaic than that.

ALSO...that fucking Racey song. In the keyboard led instrumental bit where they all dance in a row the singer looks exactly like Mike Smash.

[Catalogue Trousers]

Re the banned follow-up single "Headlights", here for non capisco is a neat little piece from (I think) 23 Daves's very own blog. As can be seen, it appears to have been banned for being lyrically somewhat, ah, creepily rapey.

http://left-and-to-the-back.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/driver-67-headlights.html

[23 Daves]

I stand by "Car 67" as being a really good single, actually - there are so many twists and turns in it, both lyrically and musically, that it remains interesting. It's also one of the first singles I ever bought, straight after seeing that TOTP appearance as a small child. 

"Headlights" is a different matter, being something even The Auteurs and David Cronenberg's Wife might have rejected as going a bit too far.  Interesting that Radio One banned it while Jimmy Savile and DLT actually did more than is suggested in the lyrics in real life, mind you. Paul Phillips (aka Driver 67) said to me that everyone at the record label thought "Headlights" was a sure-fire hit at the time, which makes me wonder if the past really was as much of a foreign country as everyone suggests. Or maybe he's misremembering things. 

[GoochDogHigh5s]

Yer man behind that track got in touch with me last year through my blog, actually.  He recently recorded a concept album about the break-up of his marriage called "Now That's What I Call Divorce!" Nothing like sticking to a theme.

His follow-up single to this was banned by the BBC and is genuinely a bit disturbing.

I put a search on Google for the song as your blog was about 3 down.
More importantly, I found out that Mike Leander was born in Walthamstow

[GoochDogHigh5s]

Hello, This Is Joannie is considered a song about death, but there is no where in lyrics that say that she is dead.

It maybe that she is a bit shaken up

[xxxx xxx x xxx]

It doesn't exactly say she's dead, but the last verse makes it sound pretty final:

My phone rang and my heart sang, my baby's called at last
Instead it was a friend who said that Joannie's car had crashed
I never should've let her drive home angry from my place
I'd never hold her again and kiss that funny face
But still there was a way to hear her voice again
The phone rang once, the phone rang twice
And then I heard her say

[Gavin M]

Since seeing TOTP on Thursday I'm become a little obsessed with Car 67.  It's amazing to think that after all these years there are still good songs that made the Top 10 that I've never even heard of before.  Many thanks go to Daves for his excellent blog entries on Driver 67.  As for Headlights....in a parallel universe there is a mid-70s Kinks concept album about driving that's missing its 'dark' track.

[GoochDogHigh5s]

It doesn't exactly say she's dead, but the last verse makes it sound pretty final:

Ah yes!
I stand corrected

[23 Daves]

I put a search on Google for the song as your blog was about 3 down.
More importantly, I found out that Mike Leander was born in Walthamstow

Yeah, I've tried to interest the MP for Waltham Forest Stella Creasy in that, because she's always on about trying to find out about culturally important people from the area.  She never replied - she probably realised his links with Gary Glitter wouldn't play well with her constituents. 

[GoochDogHigh5s]

Yeah, I've tried to interest the MP for Waltham Forest Stella Creasy in that, because she's always on about trying to find out about culturally important people from the area.  She never replied - she probably realised his links with Gary Glitter wouldn't play well with her constituents.

If it was Gedge, she would have been interested

[daf]

18-1-79: Presenter:

Spoiler alert

Peter Powell

[close]

(30)   

Spoiler alert

SHALAMAR – Take That To The Bank

[close]

(and charts)
Containing some of the best finance-based love metaphors ever spot-welded on to a disco beat.
(53)   

Spoiler alert

OLYMPIC RUNNERS – Sir Dancealot

[close]

It's the tracksuit Showaddywaddy. Hmm, bit of a foggy lens - somebody get a cloth!
(28)   

Spoiler alert

ANNE MURRAY – You Needed Me

[close]

(video)
"Tonight Matthew . . Karen Carpenter, is Mrs McClusky from Grange Hill".



(3)   

Spoiler alert

RACEY – Lay Your Love On Me

[close]

A rare outing for a 'no-Sue' variant here (a.k.a 'Champagne version').
(27)   

Spoiler alert

DAN HARTMAN – This Is It

[close]

(danced to by String Vest & Co)
Nice to see Lulu back up front for some tip-top pin-swinging action (shame the screen's still a blurry mess, though).
(54)   

Spoiler alert

FRANKIE MILLER – When I'm Away From You

[close]

Hoping to tap into some of that elusive 'We Are Sailing' magic. Better luck next time.
(5)   

Spoiler alert

OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN – A Little More Love

[close]

Another mention of the O.B.E. - Get over it Powell, she's never going to go out with you!
(2)   

Spoiler alert

IAN DURY & THE BLOCKHEADS – Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick

[close]

Thanks to the party streamers and the snow in a tin, this feels like a special recording for the Christmas show.
(18)   

Spoiler alert

THE THREE DEGREES – Woman In Love

[close]

Toilet break.
(26)   

Spoiler alert

BILLY JOEL – My Life

[close]

(video)
49% Elton John + 51% Rocky II = 100% Stone cold Knockout!
(7)   

Spoiler alert

CHIC – Le Freak

[close]

Ooh look - it's Chic in the studio for the first time! (Though Nile Rogers claimed in 'The Story of 1979' to have been on the show before - on the same edition as Mike Reid's 'Ugly Duckling' back in 1975, possibly with The Tymes.)
(1)   

Spoiler alert

VILLAGE PEOPLE – Y.M.C.A.

[close]

(video)
Your secret password is . . . 'Ramrod'.
(11)   

Spoiler alert

CHAKA KHAN – I'm Every Woman

[close]

(and credits)
Awkward Leif Garrett interview, and clearly in the wrong place - he should be introducing number 1, surely!

[daf]

Delving once more into the darnall42 archives :
http://vimeo.com/84939936#at=0   

25-1-79: Presenter:

Spoiler alert

Dave Lee Travis

[close]

(6)   

Spoiler alert

BLONDIE – Heart Of Glass

[close]

(and charts)
This song was seen as a sellout (by massive idiots). Hard to see what all the fuss was about - just sounds like normal 'Classic Blondie' to me.
(27)   

Spoiler alert

DR. FEELGOOD – Milk And Alcohol

[close]

Lee's white suit must have completely fallen apart by this point.
(26)   

Spoiler alert

BARRY MANILOW – Could It Be Magic

[close]

(video)
Take That have ruined this for me. Sorry Baz.
(21)   

Spoiler alert

THIRD WORLD – Cool Meditation

[close]

(danced to by The Goat of Mendes, The Devil Himself & Co)
Luckily, (according to Occult expert and Hot Crumpet fan Dennis Wheatley), the swastikas in the background are the 'good' sort, phew!
(12)   

Spoiler alert

BARRY WHITE – Just The Way You Are

[close]

(video)
Look at the muck all over this - Didn't they have ashtrays in film developers in the 70's?
(28)   

Spoiler alert

THE DOLL – Desire Me

[close]

Leopard-print Lil sensibly repositioned front and centre this time.



(25)   

Spoiler alert

LEIF GARRETT – I Was Made For Dancin'

[close]

(video)
Coo! What a dish!
(44)   

Spoiler alert

JUDAS PRIEST – Take On The World

[close]

THIS is the single? Imagine how tuneless the album tracks must be!
(37)   

Spoiler alert

PHOEBE SNOW – Every Night

[close]

Look at the size of that mic - it's like a stick of rock!
(9)   

Spoiler alert

THE SHADOWS – Don't Cry For Me Argentina

[close]

Twangy!
(NEW)   

Spoiler alert

DONNY & MARIE OSMOND – On The Shelf

[close]

Like the White Stripes, they're either married, or brother and sister (possibly both?).
(1)   

Spoiler alert

IAN DURY & THE BLOCKHEADS – Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick

[close]

Can't get any better than this!
(3)   

Spoiler alert

EARTH, WIND & FIRE – September

[close]

(and credits)
"Crisis what crisis?" - Little bit of politics there - cheeky!

[daf]

Blighted by a surfeit of DOGs - the 7:30 edition gets a CBeebies one during The Pointers Sisters, while the late edition gets two side by side for the first 22 minutes.  WAKE UP IDIOTS!

1-2-79: Presenter:

Spoiler alert

Mike Read

[close]

(27)   

Spoiler alert

EDWIN STARR – Contact

[close]

(and charts)
(Puts on dancing trousers) . . .
(51)   

Spoiler alert

NAZARETH – May The Sun Shine

[close]

. . . (promptly removes dancing trousers).
(3)   

Spoiler alert

THE THREE DEGREES – Woman In Love

[close]

Momentarily enlivened by a bit of free-jazz oboe in the middle.
(37)   

Spoiler alert

THE MEMBERS – The Sound Of The Suburbs

[close]

Featuring the world's highest cymbals.
(19)   

Spoiler alert

SALLY OLDFIELD – Mirrors

[close]

Floaty.
(39)   

Spoiler alert

UFO – Doctor Doctor

[close]

Spot the member who wants to be in a skinny-tie new wave band.
(14)   

Spoiler alert

BILLY JOEL – My Life

[close]

(video)
Extra bit of 'acting' on the start of the video here :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3JFEfdK_Ls
(52)   

Spoiler alert

TWO MAN SOUND – Que Tal America

[close]

You'd have thought this lot would provide enough spectacle all on their own without the addition of Rosie and Beryl - what with the Belgian John Belushi on congas, and old 'Legs-akimbo' on bass!



(28)   

Spoiler alert

GENERATION X – King Rocker

[close]

Keep an eye on that bass . . .
(61)   

Spoiler alert

THE POINTER SISTERS – Everybody Is A Star

[close]

Nice set of Ba-ba-baa's there.
(7)   

Spoiler alert

DRIVER 67 – Car 67

[close]

Blog Here : http://driver67.com/
. . . And there's that bass. (I think that's Tony James with his head in his hands behind Mike).
(1)   

Spoiler alert

BLONDIE – Heart Of Glass

[close]

(danced to by The Ministry of Silly Walks & Co)
Has some NTSC filter been applied here? Looks a bit grotty.
(8)   

Spoiler alert

ABBA – Chiquitita

[close]

(and credits)
Not one of their best : Fernando > Angelo/Figaro > Chiquitita.

[daf]

8-2-79: Presenter:

Spoiler alert

David Jensen

[close]

(17)   

Spoiler alert

DAN HARTMAN – This Is It

[close]

(and charts)
Very pleasing to see the late night edition had no distracting 'DOG' in the corner - well done chaps, keep it up!
(58)   

Spoiler alert

MICK JACKSON – Weekend

[close]

Mick and Michael Jackson in the studio at the same time? Come on lads . . . Scrap! Scrap! Scrap! Scrap!



(29)   

Spoiler alert

ROD STEWART – Ain't Love A Bitch

[close]

(video)
Well as far as swears go, surely nobody's going to be able to top this one tonight . . .
(2)   

Spoiler alert

ABBA – Chiquitita

[close]

(danced to by El ingenioso hidalgo don Quijote de la Mancha & Co)
Well no swears here. Yes, I should think were pretty safe for the rest of the show now . . .
(45)   

Spoiler alert

ELVIS COSTELLO & THE ATTRACTIONS – Oliver's Army

[close]

Oh Elvis, how could you . . . and to think Chas & Dave had all that bother over 'cowson'!
(5)   

Spoiler alert

THE SHADOWS – Don't Cry For Me Argentina

[close]

Giving the whammy bar a good workout.
(13)   

Spoiler alert

DR. FEELGOOD – Milk And Alcohol

[close]

Impressively minimal drum set from 'The Big Figure'. Available on both white (milk) or brown (Alcohol) vinyl.
(7)   

Spoiler alert

LEIF GARRETT – I Was Made For Dancin'

[close]

(video)
Somebody's been rooting around in Olivia Newton John's trouser cupboard!
(50)   

Spoiler alert

DARTS – Get It

[close]

After getting a bit bogged down in ballads, Darts go uptempo again - with a Motown twist.
(20)   

Spoiler alert

JUDAS PRIEST – Take On The World

[close]

Hm, wonder what's under that cap? . .  Aha - it's John Simm!
(39)   

Spoiler alert

THE JACKSONS – Destiny

[close]

The bizarre sight of Michael Jackson actually being normal.
(1)   

Spoiler alert

BLONDIE – Heart Of Glass

[close]

(video)
In their pomp.
(21)   

Spoiler alert

GENE CHANDLER – Get Down

[close]

(and credits)
'Get down, baby bubba, Get Down'!

[GoochDogHigh5s]

How come that Mick Jackson single cover has Blame it On The Boogie mentioned. Did he put it on the b side, even though it had only just gone out of the charts?

[daf]

For some reason two different labels released 'Weekend' in Gemany - Atlantic and Global Records And Tapes (which is the one featured above).

The 'proper' b side everywhere else (and on the Atlantic version) was 'You're a Dream'.

Here's the Atlantic version of the single sleeve (no picture sleeve in the UK or US!):

[GoochDogHigh5s]

Thanks daf.
Old Mick was such a dream boat

[daf]

15-2-79: Presenter:

Spoiler alert

Peter Powell

[close]

(7)   

Spoiler alert

THE BEE GEES – Tragedy

[close]

(and charts)
It's Mike Smash!
(54)   

Spoiler alert

THE DOOLEYS – Honey I'm Lost

[close]

Cobbled together from bits of Todd Rundgren's 'I Saw the Light'.
(11)   

Spoiler alert

GENERATION X – King Rocker

[close]

Hail to he : Punk Narcissus.
(6)   

Spoiler alert

EDWIN STARR – Contact

[close]

(danced to by Vega Capella Hadar Rigel Barnard's Star & Co)
Aye Aye!
(39)   

Spoiler alert

ALAN PRICE – Baby Of Mine

[close]

A welcome return from the 'The Trimdon Grange Explosion' hitmaker.
(30)   

Spoiler alert

PEACHES & HERB – Shake Your Groove Thing

[close]

(video)
Set lens star filter to : maximum STUNNN!!
(46)   

Spoiler alert

THE PRETENDERS – Stop Your Sobbing

[close]

Still sounds fresh today thanks to Nick Lowe's classic production fairydust (Happy Birthday Nick!)
(21)   

Spoiler alert

GLORIA GAYNOR – I Will Survive

[close]

(video)
Hope they drop that stripey video frame next time - What on earth were they thinking?
(62)   

Spoiler alert

LENE LOVICH – Lucky Number

[close]

Ooh-Eeh Ooh-Eeh! >(Dad spits tea out)< Flaming Nora!



(3)   

Spoiler alert

THE THREE DEGREES – Woman In Love

[close]

(video)
Despite being produced by Disco Genius Giorgio Moroder, this is pretty thin gruel.
(50)   

Spoiler alert

THE SKIDS – Into The Valley

[close]

Petulant child!
(1)   

Spoiler alert

BLONDIE – Heart Of Glass

[close]

(video)
All that time in the studio paid off - As proof, here's the original demo : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS_6LLam0Qs
(17)   

Spoiler alert

THIRD WORLD – Cool Meditation

[close]

(and credits)
Ah, glittering doughnut - how we missed ye.

[non capisco]

Peter Powell's terrible aborted attempt to imitate Lene Lovich's 'EOOH-OOH-AHH-AHH' noise made me laugh this week. As did Richard Jobson's dancing. If in doubt, just kick your legs in the air.

[23 Daves]

Peter Powell's terrible aborted attempt to imitate Lene Lovich's 'EOOH-OOH-AHH-AHH' noise made me laugh this week. As did Richard Jobson's dancing. If in doubt, just kick your legs in the air.

When I was a kid, I actually met someone who had a pet mynah bird which had picked up on that Lene Lovich noise and would repeat it endlessly with uncanny accuracy, all day. It's fair to say that his owners were pretty bloody sick of Lovich in the end.  If the bird is still alive, God knows what they think if it's still doing it now.

Still, more skilled than Peter Powell.

[daf]

Thanks to the mysterious darnall42 :
http://vimeo.com/87485174#at=0

Luckily most of the songs here turn up on other editions.

22-2-79: Presenter:

Spoiler alert

Dave Lee Travis

[close]

(14)   

Spoiler alert

JUDAS PRIEST – Take On The World

[close]

(and charts)
"Settle back in your armchair" . . . Who does he think is watching this show - Malcolm Muggeridge?
(18)   

Spoiler alert

THE REAL THING – Can You Feel The Force

[close]

The now obligatory disco opener. Good clapping breakdown bit
(11)   

Spoiler alert

ROD STEWART – Ain't Love A Bitch

[close]

(video)
'Maggie May' part 2?
(2)   

Spoiler alert

THE BEE GEES – Tragedy

[close]

(danced to by Pierrot Paolo Pasolini's Salò o le 120 giornate di Sodoma & Co)
Nice Charlie Cairoli reference - you're not going to get that from Peter Powell!



(5)   

Spoiler alert

ELVIS COSTELLO & THE ATTRACTIONS – Oliver's Army

[close]

Dancing Queen, of course.
(12)   

Spoiler alert

GENE CHANDLER – Get Down

[close]

(footage from Soul Train 20-1-79)
What ladies?
(13)   

Spoiler alert

THE MEMBERS – The Sound Of The Suburbs

[close]

Look out, it's The Bash Street Kids!
(25)   

Spoiler alert

DARTS – Get It

[close]

Seem to be doing fine without Den.
(22)   

Spoiler alert

NAZARETH – May The Sun Shine

[close]

Top gong action.
(1)   

Spoiler alert

BLONDIE – Heart Of Glass

[close]

(video)
He's been sacked . . . and him.
(15)   

Spoiler alert

MEAT LOAF – Bat Out Of Hell

[close]

(and credits)
And here it is - the only song not repeated elsewhere.

[Gulftastic]

Top notch early-death special tonight. I think David Essex was the only act that escaped unscathed.

[daf]

1-3-79: Presenter:

Spoiler alert

Mike Read

[close]

(29)   

Spoiler alert

THE CARS – Just What I Needed

[close]

(and charts)
Ah yes, that'll be the famous 'current 20' then.
(20)   

Spoiler alert

THE SKIDS – Into The Valley

[close]

Big Country 'bagpipe guitar' in embryo form.
(4)   

Spoiler alert

GLORIA GAYNOR – I Will Survive

[close]

(video)
Originally the B side to Substitute (as done by the toothsome Clout a few months ago)
(46)   

Spoiler alert

THIN LIZZY – Waiting For An Alibi

[close]

Own up - who put the comedy boot-polish binoculars in Phil's dressing room!
(23)   

Spoiler alert

GARY'S GANG – Keep On Dancin'

[close]

(danced to by A Touch of Glass & Co)
Excellent squidgy cheese-wiz solo.



(28)   

Spoiler alert

QUEEN – Don't Stop Me Now

[close]

(video)
Ooff! Looks like this was spliced together with a roll of masking tape!
(25)   

Spoiler alert

CHIC – I Want Your Love

[close]

Sheer class - and they're the actual studio again, fair play!
(40)   

Spoiler alert

VIOLINSKI – Clog Dance

[close]

Look out - It's 'Old Matey' from ELO.
(8)   

Spoiler alert

LENE LOVICH – Lucky Number

[close]

Addy-addy-addy-addy-addy-addy-addy-ahhh . . . .
(26)   

Spoiler alert

BONEY M – Painter Man

[close]

(video)
Inspired choice of cover - that managed to improve on the original :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmxMqV00cUE
(55)   

Spoiler alert

DAVID ESSEX – Imperial Wizard

[close]

Possibly about the KKK, or Cold War USSR possibly?  One or the other, or both (or neither).
(1)   

Spoiler alert

THE BEE GEES – Tragedy

[close]

(danced to by Théâtre des Funambules & Co)
Favourite bit : . . . (pause) . . .  >BOOM< . . . TRAGEDY!
(24)   

Spoiler alert

THE SEX PISTOLS – Something Else

[close]

(and credits)
The sound of the punk coffin being nailed shut.

[daf]

9-3-79: Presenter: David Jensen

(19)    HERBIE HANCOCK – You Bet Your Love (and charts)
Moved to a Friday (due to either 'A Song for Europe', or a technicians strike?)
(46)    INNER CIRCLE – Everything Is Great
Lengthy shot of the Kid and chums preparing for the next link in the background here.
(2)    ELVIS COSTELLO & THE ATTRACTIONS – Oliver's Army
Unlike all his previous singles, this one doesn't seem to have been re-recorded specially for the show.
(7)   THE SEX PISTOLS – Something Else  (danced to by Sheep Farming in Barnet & Co)
Wahey - They've all come as Toyah!
(44)    BUZZCOCKS – Everybody's Happy Nowadays
Possibly spawning Altered Images 'I Could Be Happy'.
(26)    DENNIS BROWN – Money In My Pocket
Bongo #1
(47)    LATE SHOW – Bristol Stomp
Splinters from the bottom the Showaddywaddy/Darts/Rocky Sharpe barrel.
(5)    THE REAL THING – Can You Feel The Force
Bongo #2
(NEW)    CLIFF RICHARD – Green Light
Written by Alan Tarney of Tarney & Spencer 'fame' - as seen on the first BBC4 show (1 April 1976)
(27)    THE DOOLEYS – Honey I'm Lost
Far too much of 'Old Pa Dooley' for my liking. Lens hog!
(63)    MOTÖRHEAD – Overkill
Surprisingly thin and weedy sound - even The Dooleys had more bass than this!
(11)    GENE CHANDLER – Get Down (footage from Soul Train 20-1-79)
Inexplicably cut even from the later showing - can't the shows go over 40 minutes now?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAPN5H_pr9A
(66)    LEYTON BUZZARDS – Saturday Night (Beneath The Plastic Palm Trees)
The missing link between Jilted John and Pulp.

(1)    THE BEE GEES – Tragedy (danced to by Is this a Bare Bodkin I see Before Me & Co)
There's a video of The Bee Gees recording this -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e1Lz829grk
(14)    GARY'S GANG – Keep On Dancin'  (and credits)
Nice bit of Disco Xylophone to finish on - Thanks Sooty!

[Howj Begg]

daf, man, love your posts on this thread, but can i just say that hovering over the spoilers is a pain in the arse?[nb]Even worse reading them on my iphone with tapatalk in bed[/nb] You don't need the spoilers! Anyway, apologies for being a grumpy get, and if I get barracked for it by everyone else, fair enough!

[daf]

No problem - just a habit I got into.

I've de-spoilered it - hope it's a bit more readable now.

[Howj Begg]

Thanks man! I think it's a lot better personally, allows instant comparison, etc.

[lazyhour]

Agreed, death to the spoilers! I too love your updates on what's clearly an item of cultural detritus that's very close to your heart, daf.

[GoochDogHigh5s]

On the 1-3-79 show, did anyone else notice that Brian Downey was missing from the Lizzy performance?
Looked a lot like Simon Crowe from The Boomtown Rats
Hmm, maybe I am being a bit too anal here

[GoochDogHigh5s]

A couple of other observations.
Are we going to get episodes with DLT in now?

Legs and Co once again show how far behind the times they (or rather Flick Corby) are.
Two and a half years after the start of punk, they finally recognise it. Sadly in a cartoon version with their outfits and to a song that has a band that had lost any credibility and a song that is a straight cover of an old rock n roll standard.

And that version of Lucky Number is terrible. The expect massive cymbal smash near the beginning is a weak hand clap