Top of the Pops on BBC Four

[daf]

No more champagne, And the fireworks are through
Here we are, me and you, Feeling lost and feeling blue
It's the end of the party, And the morning seems so grey
So unlike yesterday, Now's the time for us to say...
It's BBC1, and time Top of the Pops!

31 December 2014: Presenters: Dot Cotton & Eddie Yates

(21)   ED SHEERAN – Sing
Suspiciously large amount of the same bands popping up here as was on the Christmas show - are they recorded together?
(-)   JESS GLYNNE – Right Here
Wrist tattoo.
(76)       THE VAMPS – Oh Cecilia (Breaking My Heart)
Pop will eat itself
(-)       PROFESSOR GREEN feat. TORI KELLY – Lullaby
in the library with the lead piping



- - - - - - - - - - (Story of 2014 - part 1) - - - - - - - - - - -
(77)   CHERYL – I Don't Care (video)
(15)   TAYLOR SWIFT – Shake It Off (video)
(7)   MEGHAN TRAINOR – All About That Bass (video)
(50)   CLEAN BANDIT feat. JESS GLYNNE – Rather Be (video)
(-)   ROYAL BLOOD – Ten Tonne Skeleton (footage from T In The Park 2014)
(19)   IDINA MENZEL – Let It Go (video)
(-)   SHAKIRA feat. RIHANNA – Can't Remember To Forget You (video)
(66)   NICKI MINAJ – Anaconda (video)
(14)   ONE DIRECTION – Steal My Girl (video)
(59)   SAM SMITH – Money On My Mind (video)
(22)   SAM SMITH – Stay With Me (video)
(-)   PAOLO NUTINI – Scream (footage from Radio 1's Big Weekend)
(21)   GEORGE EZRA – Budapest (video)
(-)   CALVIN HARRIS – Summer (video)
(27)   ED SHEERAN – Sing (video)
(3)   ED SHEERAN – Thinking Out Loud (video)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

LA ROUX – Sexotheque
Wahey - All pile on down to Stringfellows!
(48)   GEORGE EZRA – Listen To The Man
King of the Weeds
(69)   ARIANA GRANDE – Problem (footage from Radio 1 Teen Awards 2014)
Dad's just perked up (and by 'dad', I mean me).
(31)      ELLA HENDERSON – Yours
A cool off.
(-)    LABRINTH – Let It Be
as reproduced for disc by Phil Spector.

- - - - - - (Story of 2014 - part 2) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
(-)   KATY PERRY – Roar (footage from Radio 1's Big Weekend 2014)
(-)   METALLICA – Enter Sandman (footage from Glastonbury 2014)
(-)   DOLLY PARTON – 9 To 5 (footage from Glastonbury 2014)
(-)   KATE BUSH – Running Up That Hill (video)
(62)   COLDPLAY – A Sky Full Of Stars (footage from Radio 2 In Concert)
(-)   THE WANTED – All Time Low (video)
(-)   TAKE THAT & LULU – Relight My Fire (clip of TOTP 25-12-93)
(-)   S. CLUB 7 – S. Club Party (footage from Children In Need 2014)
(-)   DAVID GUETTA feat. SAM MARTIN – Lovers On The Sun (video)
(73)   IGGY AZALEA feat. RITA ORA – Black Widow (video)
(14)   ONE DIRECTION – Steal My Girl (video)
(48)   GEORGE EZRA – Listen To The Man (video)
(-)   ARCADE FIRE – We Exist (video)
(40)   BAND AID 30 – Do They Know It's Christmas? (video)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

And now a brief word on the current charts from Mr Quentin Crisp :



It would be hard to say whether the i-pod caused the death of human speech or whether music came to fill an already widening void. But unless the music is stopped now, the human race, mumbling, snapping its fingers and twitching it's hips, will sink back into an amoebic state where it will take a coagulation of hundreds of teenagers to make up a single unit of vital force, which, once formed, will only live on sedatives, consume itself on the terraces of football stadia, and die. 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

(81)      CHARLI XCX – Boom Clap
A welcome change from all the identikit skinny jean wearing scruffy Herberts.
(42)      THE SCRIPT – Superheroes
Ooh look - its some identikit  skinny-jean wearing scruffy Herberts!

- - - - - - - - - - - (Bangin' Dance Gubbins) - - - - - - - - - -
(-)   CALVIN HARRIS – Summer (video)
(-)   DAVID GUETTA feat. SAM MARTIN – Lovers On The Sun (video)
(53)   SIGMA feat. PALOMA FAITH – Changing (video)
(-)   ANDY C & FIORA – Heartbeat Loud (video)
(-)   DVBBS & BORGEOUS feat. TINIE TEMPAH – Tsunami (Jump) (video)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

(16)      CLEAN BANDIT feat. JESS GLYNNE – Real Love
As reproduced for disc by Jeff Lynne.
(1)   MARK RONSON feat. BRUNO MARS – Uptown Funk (video)
Classic!

[Hypodeemic Nerdle]

And now a brief word on the current charts from Mr Quentin Crisp:

No. He already ruined Miniatures & Pillows & Prayers with that bull. Blaming music for footie violence, ferfuxache.

[daf]

3 January 1980: Presenter: Peter Powell

(29)    THE CLASH – London Calling (and charts)
The invisible men.
(54)    MADNESS – My Girl
Tiny plastic saxophone!
(6)    PAUL McCARTNEY – Wonderful Christmastime (video)
Festive Minimalism.
(5)    THE PRETENDERS – Brass In Pocket
How does he reach that cymbal?
(12)    DAVID BOWIE – John I'm Only Dancing (Again) (video)
Muffle-tastic!
(36)    BONEY M – I'm Born Again
Having missed the Christmas boat, this is left twisting slowly in the wind.



(17)    THE BEAT – Tears Of A Clown
Groovy Rubberlegs.
(3)    FIDDLER'S DRAM – Day Trip To Bangor (Didn't We Have A Lovely Time)
Tiddly-pom Ta-ra-ra.
(30)    KURTIS BLOW – Christmas Rappin'
Excellent pun, excellent suit.                                                                                                                       
(24)    BILLY PRESTON & SYREETA – With You I'm Born Again
It's a two-for-one Born Again Take-over - POW! POW! POW!
(21)    CHIC – My Feet Keep Dancin' (danced to by Nothing Left to the Imagination & Co)
Nudey Rainbow Revue.
(58)    DR. HOOK – Better Love Next Time
Set maracas to . . . inaudible.
(1)    PINK FLOYD – Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2) (video)
Hey! Peter! (thump-thump) Leave that kid alone!
(15)    ROSE ROYCE – Is It Love You're After (and credits)
The Spirit of Ecstacy.

[Egyptian Feast]

The girl who rolled her eyes with great disdain when Peter awkwardly kissed an audience member was the star of the show for me. 

[daf]

10 January 1980 : Presenter: David 'Kid' Jensen

(14)    MADNESS – My Girl (and charts)
'Good Evening, and Good Welcome!'
(63)    UFO – Young Blood
Ludicrous set-up with the singer shoved right at the back - reducing the rest of the band to a bunch of fuzzy blobs as the camera attempts to winkle him out.
(2)    ABBA – I Have A Dream (video)
Bleaugh - Blow your nose chum!
(13)    ROSE ROYCE – Is It Love You're After (video)
Well-oiled disco machine.
(50)    JOE JACKSON – It's Different For Girls
Massive forehead.
(28)    SHEILA & B. DEVOTION – Spacer (video)
Being pedantic Kid, it's Sheila AND B. Devotion (though it's unmistakably Chic lurking behind the velvet curtain).



(21)    THE SKIDS – Working For The Yankee Dollar
Prancing leather ninny.
(7)    K.C. & THE SUNSHINE BAND – Please Don't Go (danced to by Beam Me Up Scotty & Co)
A general float-about.
(30)    DOLLAR – I Wanna Hold Your Hand
Klink-Klank-Bonk.
(20)    THE NOLANS – I'm In The Mood For Dancing
Bonus point for impressive display of booty-shaking from the two bouncing blokes on the mini podium.
(1)    PINK FLOYD – Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2) (video)
A slice of sunshine pop.
(26)    BOOKER T. & THE M.G.'S – Green Onions (and credits)
No 'Good Love' for us, Kid?

[Egyptian Feast]

From the Twitter account @TOTPFacts:

Bernie Nolan recalls bumping into The Skids while filming this #TOTP, as The Nolans left their dressing room...

"'Urggh, The Nolans,' said the lead singer Richard Jobson, spitting on the floor by our feet.'" #TOTP

So when The Nolans hit no 3, Bernie was delighted: "'Take that, Richard Jobson!' I thought to myself. 'You can sod off!'" #TOTP

Not hugely surprising but still, what a colossal bellend. Sod off indeed, Jobson. The Nolans are better than you.

That 'Spacer' video was gold.

When are Pink Floyd going to fuck off?

[gilbertharding]

There has been some TERRIFYING dancing in recent weeks.

Jobson, of course, but also the bass player for The Beat.

It's fascinating the way you can see The Future coming from odd places, with little hints which come and go like waves on the shore... but then thunking great gobs of The Past land on the beach, like that bloody awful UFO nonsense.

Is the writing on the wall for Legs and Co soon?

[gilbertharding]

The girl who rolled her eyes with great disdain when Peter awkwardly kissed an audience member was the star of the show for me.

She should have her own show. With Kid Jensen's shiny brown leather jacket.

[gilbertharding]

10 January 1980 : Presenter: David 'Kid' Jensen

(14)    MADNESS – My Girl (and charts)
'Good Evening, and Good Welcome!'

No 'Good Love' for us, Kid?

I was wondering when he dropped that shit. He's an angry punk now though. Didn't he do a couple of ToTPs as joint host with John Peel later on?

[daf]

Didn't he do a couple of ToTPs as joint host with John Peel later on?

Quite a few - 'The Rhythm Pals'  team notched up 11 shows together in 1983, but only 5 in 1984 - as The Kid left the BBC to join Capital Radio.

[Gulftastic]

Is the writing on the wall for Legs and Co soon?

October '81 was their final Pops.

[23 Daves]

October '81 was their final Pops.

Don't we get to see the "modern dance troupe" Zoo for a couple of dozen shows after they depart, though? Even less fondly remembered. http://youtu.be/OUIe8eZ9gl0

A total disarray of modern dancing, robotics, mime and the throwing off of many mental chains, with a casually dressed man dancing frivolously like Robbie Williams alongside them for no apparent reason. What were all that about, eh?

[daf]

17 January 1980 : Presenter: Simon Bates

(26)    THE BEE GEES – Spirits (Having Flown) (and charts)
Hideous yellow background.
(52)    NEW MUSIK – Living By Numbers
Descends into prime 'Toast of London' musical interlude madness at the end (I picture Toast as the sulky bass player who's just burnt his fingers on a piping-hot pastie backstage).
(2)    BILLY PRESTON & SYREETA – With You I'm Born Again
30% of the European Bead Mountain allocated to Syreeta's bonce.
(53)    SAD CAFÉ – Strange Little Girl
Creepy.
(47)    SISTER SLEDGE – Got To Love Somebody
The fat-fingered Pops Orchestra struggle to recreate that Chic magic.
(4)    MADNESS – My Girl
One step further? Oh, well done old chap, have a peanut.
(32)    POSITIVE FORCE – We Got The Funk
. . . and the saucy long-johns too!
(60)    DEXY'S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS – Dance Stance
Re-recorded as 'Burn it Down' for the LP - though this version sounds perfectly fine to me.
(14)    DR. HOOK – Better Love Next Time
Sucker!
(58)    AMII STEWART – Paradise Bird
Living round the corner to Simes, apparently (yeah - chinny reckon, churn on, golden churn, bee-ards!)
(17)    STYX – Babe (video)
Hahaha, bloody hell.
(12)    BOOKER T. & THE M.G.'S – Green Onions (danced to by Two-tone's Ascending Hemline & Co)
Ready Steady Go!
(38)    RUPERT HOLMES – Escape (The Piña Colada Song)
Making love at midnight - in the sand dunes? Ew, good luck with that.
(1)    THE PRETENDERS – Brass In Pocket
Another ludicrous set-up with Chrissie plonked down into a little hole at the front.


https://www.flickr.com/photos/51106326@N00/sets/72157623053264621/

(25)    JON & VANGELIS – I Hear You Now (and credits)
Real name: Frank Ellis.

[daf]

24 January 1980 : Presenter: Mike Read

(21)    AZYMUTH – Jazz Carnival (and charts)
He no Michael Rodd!
(54)    BUGGLES – The Plastic Age
Thought this was a duffer till Mr. Magoo pulled out his plum and the glorious chorus kicked in.
(4)    THE NOLANS – I'm In The Mood For Dancing
Johnny 'Fifth Nolan' Pearson rocking out in the background - get back in your box!
(45)    THE BOOMTOWN RATS – Someone's Looking At You
Turn to page 5 for a paranoid weirdo singalong :


https://www.flickr.com/photos/51106326@N00/sets/72157623104053463/

(16)    THE BEE GEES – Spirits (Having Flown) (danced to by Garden Trellis & Co)
Winds (having blown), we're treated to a quick bum-flash - much to dad's delight.
(12)    JOE JACKSON – It's Different For Girls
Ooh look, there's the Kid. Good welcome and Good love to you sir!
(50)    SUZI QUATRO – Mama's Boy
Her last outing on the show - Bye-bye Leather Tuscadero.
(9)    DOLLAR – I Wanna Hold Your Hand
Mike detonating the toxic Jimmy-bomb in more innocent times.
(15)    THE SPECIALS – Too Much Too Young (video)
The superior live version.
(53)    BARBARA DICKSON – Caravan Song
Now hogging the middle lane having missed their turnoff for Clacket Lane services.
(30)    MATCHBOX – Buzz Buzz A Diddle It
Honk! Parp! Honk!
(20)    SHEILA & B. DEVOTION – Spacer (video)
Ooh la-la, what a ('ow you say?) delightful French accent.
(22)    THE REGENTS – 7 Teen
Wearing a seatbelt in case the girls . . erm . . 'pull him off'. Tsk, naughty Mike!
(1)    THE PRETENDERS – Brass In Pocket
Two cravats in a row! Can we make it a full house? . . .
(29)    KOOL & THE GANG – Too Hot (and credits)
No - it's the credits.

[daf]

31 January 1980 : Presenter : David 'Kid' Jensen

(29)    THE SELECTER – Three Minute Hero (and charts)
Radioactive yellow countdown.
(56)    THE REVILLOS – Motorbike Beat
60's retro ramshackle punk.
(10)    KENNY ROGERS – Coward Of The County (video)
Grim.
(19)    AZYMUTH – Jazz Carnival (danced to by Animal Magic & Co)
Rosie eagerly chows down on the Kid's chubby carrot.
(47)    JOHN FOXX – Underpass
I . am . a . robot . . bzzt . . I . am . a . robot  . . bzzt . . I . am .  a . robot . .
(3)    MADNESS – My Girl
This one again.
(52)    THE SHADOWS – Riders In The Sky
TWANNNNGG!!
(27)    RUPERT HOLMES – Escape (The Piña Colada Song)
Featuring the world's weediest air guitar solo.
(36)    THE RAMONES – Baby I Love You
Clearly miming, but the string section seem to be playing live.
(46)    BILLY OCEAN – Are You Ready
. . . To stop till he gets enough? Hee-haw - jambon!
(20)    NEW MUSIK – Living By Numbers
Aw, they cut off the best bit.
(15)    JON & VANGELIS – I Hear You Now (video)
And next on Brookside, a harlequin plays an invisible violin.
(40)    KEITH MICHELL – Captain Beaky
Hissing Sid is Innocent!



(1)    THE SPECIALS – Too Much Too Young (video)
Now with added 'rhubarb-rhubarb' crowd noise dubbed on.
(30)    QUEEN – Save Me (and credits)
Experimenting with some lovely pulsating diamonds.

[Hypodeemic Nerdle]

(15)    JON & VANGELIS – I Hear You Now (video)
And next on Brookside, a harlequin plays an invisible violin.

Perfect.

[daf]

7 February 1980 : Presenter: Steve Wright

(30)    JEFFERSON STARSHIP – Jane (and charts)
Hi Steve, welcome along and help yourself to a Piña Colada (but kindly refrain from making love in the dunes).
(46)    THE TOURISTS – So Good To Be Back Home Again
Dave in full Ziggy mode.
(27)    CLIFF RICHARD – Carrie (video)
Some lovely unusual chord changes in the chorus - nice work chaps!
(18)    THE WHISPERS – And The Beat Goes On (danced to by PSSST & Co)
BOH! Who left the trousers in the wash again?
(8)    THE BOOMTOWN RATS – Someone's Looking At You
The man with the golden eyeball.
(3)    THE NOLANS – I'm In The Mood For Dancing
He's in the mood for awkward shuff-lin' . . rebuff-rin' . . he's shufflin' alone tonight.



(44)    THE CHORDS – Maybe Tomorrow
We are the Modern Jam!! . . We are the Modern Jam!!
(11)    THE REGENTS – 7 Teen
The gerbil cushions taped to his shoulders are clearly a cry for help.
(20)    QUEEN – Save Me (video)
Great bit of squealing from May's golden sixpence.
(21)    THE SELECTER – Three Minute Hero
And the crowd fail to go wild - Bounce you buggers!
(47)    AC/DC – A Touch Too Much
Coo - look at the beef on that!
(28)    BUGGLES – The Plastic Age
Downes on washing up duty.
(1)    THE SPECIALS – Too Much Too Young (video)
On the other hand, you could try wearing a rubber johnny - sexist nit!
(5)    JOE JACKSON – It's Different For Girls (and credits)
Bye Steve, loved the show!

[Head Gardener]

~ spooky ~
the episode of TOTP broadcast yesterday with AC/DC on the 19th Feb was the same day that Bon Scott died in 1980

[boki]

(27)    CLIFF RICHARD – Carrie (video)

Quite similar to The Waterman's theme for Minder, isn't it?  Can't believe I never noticed that before last night.

(1)    THE SPECIALS – Too Much Too Young (video)

After back-announcing this, Wrighty said "I know the feeling" - IS HE NEXT?

[Beagle 2]

Haha! Yes, I noticed that. He seemed to get progressively more 70s as the show went on. By the end I thought he was just going to turn into a massive sideburn.

[Beagle 2]

~ spooky ~
the episode of TOTP broadcast yesterday with AC/DC on the 19th Feb was the same day that Bon Scott died in 1980

I fucking said that, I knew he died in London, and it must have been around this time, and he looked fucked enough anyway - I said 'I bet this was pretty much the day he died'.

I said it.

I did.

[Captain Poodle Basher]

Paul Weller must have listened to The Chords and thought "I don't remember writing that."

I was mentally ticking off the Wellerisms in the song - they pretty much got them all in there bless them.

[georgetaylor]

(47)    AC/DC – A Touch Too Much
Coo - look at the beef on that!

They cut several lines from the song!
Was this done at the time, way back in them eighties, or is this a recent so called politically correct yew tree teenies thing?

It was one of those nights when you turn off the lights
And everythin' comes into view
She was takin' her time I was loosin my mind
There was nothin' that she wouldn't do
It wasn't the first, it wasn't the last
She knew we was makin' love
I was so satisfied, deep down inside
Like a hand in a velvet glove
Seems like a touch, a touch too much
Seems like a touch, a touch too much
Too much for my body
Too much for my brain
This damn woman's gonna drive me insane
She got a touch
A touch too much

She had the face of an angel smilin' with sin
The body of Venus with arms
Dealin' with danger strokin' my skin
Like a thunder and lightnin' storm
It wasn't the first, it wasn't the last
It wasn't that she didn't care
She wanted it hard, wanted it fast
She liked it done medium rare
Seems like a touch, a touch too much
Seems like a touch, a touch too much

[daf]

They cut several lines from the song!
Was this done at the time, way back in them eighties, or is this a recent so called politically correct yew tree teenies thing?

I've found the clip (with the same edits) which was uploaded to youtube in 2013 - so it wasn't done recently.

[Registering to lurk]

They cut several lines from the song!
Was this done at the time, way back in them eighties, or is this a recent so called politically correct yew tree teenies thing?

I think it was probably done at the time. Too Much Too Young in the same edition is also, kind of, edited in that the video always fades out before the last verse to avoid the "try wearing a cap" line. I'm sure there's been a couple of other occasions where songs were obviously edited at the time. The only one that springs to mind is You Make Me Feel by Sylvester where the Top of the Pops version of the video was cut to keep as much of the vocals as possible while snipping out the instrumental.

[daf]

Something odd with the late night showing - as it was all film-ised (ie a juddery 25 frames a second rather than the smooth 50 frames of the original video). Possibly some mix up with the version prepared for the i-player? Hopefully the Saturday version will be back to normal.

15 February 1980: Presenter: Simon Bates

(23)    KOOL & THE GANG – Too Hot (and charts)
Introducing the 'Big-pic / Little-pic' variant.
(22)    MATCHBOX – Buzz Buzz A Diddle It
Turn to back page for mini Pin-up poster in colour :


https://www.flickr.com/photos/51106326@N00/sets/72157623317138044/

(5)    KEITH MICHELL – Captain Beaky
Stop gabbling man!
(55)    THE FLYING LIZARDS – T.V.
Oho - Weirdo Alert!
(17)    ELVIS COSTELLO & THE ATTRACTIONS – I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down (video)
Grey chips and half a lemon - That's livin' alright!!
(12)    MICHAEL JACKSON – Rock With You (danced to by Ample Ballroom & Co)
Poor Lulu - up half the night sewing on those sequins.
(39)    DAVE EDMUNDS – Singing The Blues
Classy all-Gretsch special.
(8)    JON & VANGELIS – I Hear You Now (video)
Chunk-tastic wooden synth.
(21)    THE SHADOWS – Riders In The Sky
Twang-Twang-Twang-Twang RAWHIDE!!
(49)    MARTI WEBB – Take That Look Off Your Face
Tubular Bell : Freeze Frame!
(45)    STIFF LITTLE FINGERS – At The Edge
Apparently they got told off for not 'miming properly' here.
(1)    KENNY ROGERS – Coward Of The County (video)
Conspicuously NOT wearing a Stetson (though to be fair, that is quite a large hairdo he's got on).
(20)    THE RAMONES – Baby I Love You (and credits)
Presenting the Fabulous Ramottes.

[gilbertharding]

Something odd with the late night showing - as it was all film-ised (ie a juddery 25 frames a second rather than the smooth 50 frames of the original video). Possibly some mix up with the version prepared for the i-player? Hopefully the Saturday version will be back to normal.

15 February 1980: Presenter: Simon Bates

Never made it to the iPlayer. So, among other things, I missed the Stiff Little Fingers. *sad face*

[gilbertharding]

Carrie Doesn't Live Here... Is an odd song, isn't it? A brilliant tune, but:

All the Americanisms in it: "...Carrie used to room on the second floor...".

The awkward syntax demanded by making it fit the music: "... Sorry that she left no forwarding address that was known to me."

"Just another missing person... One of many, we presume." Ugh.

Which brings me to the ick-factor of young Bongo's 'acting' in the video. All his usual slow-motion dance moves, and 'doesn't he look young' close ups (he was only 40 for crying out loud!). The subject matter, given what we are now hearing about the circles in which he was mixing.

"The young wear their freedom..." *makes halfhearted peace-sign* "...like cheap purfume." *mimes applying purfume behind ear... closes eyes*

[Gulftastic]

That's part of why I can't stand Sir Clifford Of Richard. He oversells worse than a amateur wrestler.

And 'Carrie' isn't as good as 'We Don't Talk Anymore', but it's a hell of a lot better than the soon to come 'Daddy's Home'.

[Norton Canes]

The awkward syntax demanded by making it fit the music: "... Sorry that she left no forwarding address that was known to me."

That's weird, I always heard it as "Sorry that she left no forwarding address, it's a mystery", which sounds a bit more natural.

Geared up to suit American tastes, I guess.