Top of the Pops week by week through '79

Mark L · Loudmouth

Top of the Pops week by week through '79

Mark L · Loudmouth

The above comment about the Rats was substantially correct. Couple of weeks ago, watched the show where Simon Crowe was stand-in drummer for Thin Lizzy.

Mark L · Loudmouth

Simon on again last night trying to replicate the part of Brian Downey (does anyone know the reason for his absence?)

What a great track though, Lynott literally blinding us with his talent at the end. And then...Peter Powell.

Lisa · Mondo Bongo

Missed it last night ... will it be repeated?

On the plus side I'm seeing Limehouse Lizzy tonight

The vocalist/bassist is absoloutely wonderful though it would be great to see Simon as the drummer with them!

Mark L · Loudmouth

Yes Lisa, Saturday night/Sunday morning 00:50. BBC4.

Suggest fast forward through Violinski.

Lisa · Mondo Bongo

Thanks, Mark - thought it was repeated in the early hours at the w/e but too lazy to check it out! I don't seem to remember Violinski - I'm now intrigued - is it very bad?

Lisa · Mondo Bongo

Just that some things are so bad that they're good - if you know what I mean!

Mark L · Loudmouth

Violinski were a one hit wonder with their instrumental single, "Clog Dance", which made Number 17 in March 1979.

Not great but then each to his own!

Mark L · Loudmouth

Lisa:

Just that some things are so bad that they're good - if you know what I mean!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I know! I remember a track by Haysi Fantayzee called John Wayne is big leggy. I thought it awful and yet couldn't get it out of my head for weeks in 1982 and then came to regard it more favourably strangely.

-- Edited by Mark L on Friday 21st of March 2014 02:29:30 PM

Mark L · Loudmouth

Great song from Sparks on last night (ish) called The Number 1 Song in Heaven. The keyboard player did not generate the same fear in me in 1979 as he had done in 1974 but still somewhat spooky.

Mark L · Loudmouth

David 'Kid' Jensen presents another edition of the weekly pop chart show, including performances from the Skids, Roxy Music, ELO, Tubeway Army, Liner, David Bowie, Blondie and Elvis Costello and the Attractions. With dance sequences by Legs & Co. Accidents will hopefully not happen.

On 3 times over the Bank holiday weekend, starting tonight 7.30pm on BBC4.

Probably around 7 weeks now until the Rats storm in at 15 with Mondays. Isn't '79 flying by? !

-- Edited by Mark L on Thursday 22nd of May 2014 02:02:15 AM

manatthetop · In the Long Grass

July really here Happy days the Rats Big day has come Roll on Mondays

Mark L · Loudmouth

Yesterday's show had them at 15 but no performance.

So next week number one.........

Strangely ABBA and the Korgis appear yet again, having been on yesterday. I thought you couldn't appear twice running unless you were at No. 1........

noelindublin · Loudmouth

Mark L wrote:
David 'Kid' Jensen presents another edition of the weekly pop chart show, including performances from the Skids, Roxy Music, ELO, Tubeway Army, Liner, David Bowie, Blondie and Elvis Costello and the Attractions. With dance sequences by Legs & Co. Accidents will hopefully not happen.

On 3 times over the Bank holiday weekend, starting tonight 7.30pm on BBC4.

Probably around 7 weeks now until the Rats storm in at 15 with Mondays. Isn't '79 flying by? !

-- Edited by Mark L on Thursday 22nd of May 2014 02:02:15 AM

Was Legs and Co's finest hour stepping in for the mighty Clash to perform Bankrobber? It probably gave some the wrong idea of life behind bars. smile

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhv2lhGZsNU

-- Edited by noelindublin on Tuesday 8th of July 2014 02:50:37 PM

Mark L · Loudmouth

Yesterday's show featured the Rats at number one for week 2, so assume an undesirable fronted the show where they reached the top spot. No show next week, so assume we pick up in 2 weeks time whilst at number 1 for week 3. Synch-wise it doesn't matter much as the repeat is weeks ahead of where we actually where in '79.

Don't like Mondays, don't mind Thursdays...

Mark L · Loudmouth

They were on the original show when at 15 but I gather from elsewhere on the net, some shows are being edited from the usual 38 mins to fit the 30 mins repeats on BBC4. The Rats got the snip:

19-7-79: Presenter: David Jensen

(3) THE SEX PISTOLS Cmon Everybody (and charts)
(50) THE REAL THING Boogie Down (Get Funky Now)
(4) DAVE EDMUNDS Girls Talk (video)
(22) DONNA SUMMER Bad Girls (danced to by Legs & Co)
(42) DARTS Duke Of Earl
(26) U.K. SUBS Stranglehold
(38) THE PRETENDERS Kid
(24) THE KNACK My Sharona ®
(49) SPARKS Beat The Clock
(15) THE BOOMTOWN RATS I Dont Like Mondays (video)
(10) THE DOOLEYS Wanted
(25) THE KORGIS If I Had You
(23) ABBA Voulez-Vous (video)
(1) TUBEWAY ARMY Are Friends Electric? ®
(5) CHIC Good Times (and credits)

Mark L · Loudmouth

Mark L wrote:
Yesterday's show featured the Rats at number one for week 2, so assume an undesirable fronted the show where they reached the top spot. No show next week, so assume we pick up in 2 weeks time whilst at number 1 for week 3. Synch-wise it doesn't matter much as the repeat is weeks ahead of where we actually where in '79.
Don't like Mondays, don't mind Thursdays...

It was Jimmy Savile when they leapt from 15 to 1. It was the 800th show but can be seen elsewhere on the net. BBC4 are Yewtreeing out some shows and so not sure if DLT show (3rd week at No 1) will go same way.

-- Edited by Mark L on Saturday 12th of July 2014 07:06:31 PM

Mark L · Loudmouth

The late night repeats on a Saturday night often show the full original 38 mins show.

-- Edited by Mark L on Saturday 12th of July 2014 02:27:04 PM

Mark L · Loudmouth

The show is getting way ahead of itself - the DLT show has been axed and there was a strike in week 4 of the Rats' tenure at the top.

Therefore this Thursday, we see Cliff Richard toppling the Rats. Me and Cliff? We don't talk anymore.

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

Mark, how do you know so much about all these old TOTPs? You've either got the most incredible memory or you have a catalogue

.

Mark L · Loudmouth

I go to a site called Popscene, TOTP episode guide. I remember some bits but generally my memory gets worse as I approach 50. I just looked at my Sky planner for what's on this Thursday.

http://z6.invisionfree.com/popscene/index.php?showforum=50

Mark L · Loudmouth

Tomorrow 7.30pm presented by David Jensen, with performances from Secret Affair, Dollar, Nick Lowe, the Gibson Brothers, Gary Numan, Johnny Mathis, the Stranglers and Cliff Richard, and a dance sequence by Legs & Co.

Also on Friday and Sunday morning 1.30.

Rats now at 2 as this is the 30th August '79 show.

Mark L · Loudmouth

David Jensen this coming Thursday with performances from XTC, Blondie, Matumbi, Buggles, Sad Cafe, Squeeze, the Jags and the Police and dance sequences by Legs & Co.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Now the DLT episodes are not been shown, this will be on less frequently...

www.theguardian.com/media/2014/oct/08/bbc-top-of-the-pops-dave-lee-travis

BBC bans Top of the Pops episodes featuring Dave Lee Travis, move follows corporation pulling shows featuring Jimmy Savile and Gary Glitter but not convicted sex offender Jonathan King.

Mark L · Loudmouth

I'm in two minds about it. I can sense it could be upsetting for victims, but this would have meant airbrushing Hitler out of the past. My great Uncle was a prisoner in a Japanese camp and suffered unimaginably. He would never talk about it. That upset us for years. But it didn't stop Mr Armitage's History lessons!

diffbrook · House on Fire

Do they get royalties for repeats? If so, maybe that's reason enough? Otherwise, I think its daft. Its also penalising those acts appearing on the show - for some one hit wonders maybe their only appearance.

still cant get my head around why lots of rock/pop acts haven't been caught up in this sex offences of the past. There must be countless episodes of underage groupies etc.

Mark L · Loudmouth

diffbrook wrote:
Do they get royalties for repeats? If so, maybe that's reason enough? Otherwise, I think its daft. Its also penalising those acts appearing on the show - for some one hit wonders maybe their only appearance.

still cant get my head around why lots of rock/pop acts haven't been caught up in this sex offences of the past. There must be countless episodes of underage groupies etc.

Good point re the royalties.

I think if there was no coercion and around age of consent, there would not be much point. I remember a German group saying on a documentary that touring Europe was a minefield. Liaisons with 15 year old girls were perfectly lawful in France but illegal in the UK. In some countries, astonishingly, the law was even more liberal than France's.

I don't know what the answer is and the authorities have a difficult call between protection of the young and vulnerable and protecting liberal values.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

diffbrook wrote:
still cant get my head around why lots of rock/pop acts haven't been caught up in this sex offences of the past. There must be countless episodes of underage groupies etc.

They have, but no one is bothered about prosecuting. Bill Wyman even went to the cops but they weren't interested.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2301867/Bill-Wyman-Police-interested-Rolling-Stones-affair-13-year-old-Mandy-Smith-claims-slept-14.html

I won't libel anyone, but there are plenty of known liaisons out there that the cops could investigate all the way back to Jerry Lee Lewis and maybe beyond.

Mark L · Loudmouth

In that particular case, maybe it's correct the Police weren't too bothered this far down the line. They did marry within a few years and she hardly looks coerced in the wedding photos. Then again, he must have known it was wrong to get involved at 13/14. I don't care which country you're in, that just seems plain wrong. They should have acted at the time. They hardly kept it secret.

I love the phrase 'ageing rock star'. Is there a human being alive who's not ageing?

Mark L · Loudmouth

Andy Peebles' first ever TOTP this Thursday in which he presents performances by the Dooleys, the Headboys, Chic, Dr Hook, Viola Wills, Errol Dunkley, the Charlie Daniels Band, Cats UK, Dave Edmunds, Dana and the Police. Dance sequences by Legs & Co.

We're on 11/10/79 so not long til Diamond Smiles.

Mark L · Loudmouth

We're not going to see Diamond Smiles. This week's show was a strange strike-ridden affair with Peter Powell doing a voice over job and the chart countdown captions all in black and white. Rats at 13 peak.

Mark L · Loudmouth

Reruns of 1980 shows are confirmed. New presenters Steve Wright and Tommy Vance join the roster and Jimmy Savile presented far less in 1980 so missing shows should diminish. There was however a 9 week gap in the summer of '80 due to the musicians union strike.

Mark L · Loudmouth

Diamond Smiles fell 1 to 16 this week, after falling from 13 to 15 the previous week. Elsewhere, the future number one by the Pretenders rose slowly from 33 to 30. The excellent Brass in Pocket was a slow burner in the guise of Rat Trap to some extent.

suss · In the Long Grass

Thanks for the continued mine of info Mark. Set me wondering what it is about some bands 'clicking' and not others amongst us. Never really got The Pretenders and found Brass In Pocket especially mundane, bordering on irritating. Don't ask me why!! Guitar on verses a little too repetitive maybe?

Same with Police, Simple Minds, U2....few good tracks between them but never hooked me.

Apologies for veering off topic a little.

Mark L · Loudmouth

It's odd, isn't it? I've always quite liked the Pretenders and enjoy 2000 miles around this time of the year. With you re U2 and Simple Minds.

Mark L · Loudmouth

The original Christmas Top of the Pops from 1979 was shown a few nights ago. Blondie and Gary Numan both performed 2 songs, but the Rats didn't feature at all. Most peculiar.

Mark L · Loudmouth

Thursday 27th December 1979 however also had a lookback TOTP show. I doubt we will ever see it courtesy of the BBC:

27-12-79: Presenters: Dave Lee Travis & Mike Read

THE BOOMTOWN RATS I Dont Like Mondays (video)

ABBA I Have A Dream (video)

THE POLICE Walking On The Moon (video)

VILLAGE PEOPLE In The Navy (video)

GLORIA GAYNOR I Will Survive (danced to by Legs & Co in the studio)

ART GARFUNKEL Bright Eyes (video)

QUEEN Crazy Little Thing Called Love (video)

THE POLICE Message In A Bottle (video)

VILLAGE PEOPLE Y.M.C.A. (danced to by Legs & Co in the studio)

SQUEEZE Up The Junction (studio)

BLONDIE Heart Of Glass (video)

PINK FLOYD Another Brick In The Wall (video)

Lisa · Mondo Bongo

Mark L wrote:
Yes Lisa, Saturday night/Sunday morning 00:50. BBC4.
Suggest fast forward through Violinski.

Finally got around to watching this! Always behind the times You were right - should have fast forwarded through Violinski!! But enjoyed Thin Lizzy ... Couldn't help noticing Peter Powell's teeth though - sign of the times when dental care was low on the list of priorities for everybody! Also so cringey watching the links showing presenter with arms around female audience members, just seems so wrong now!

Mark L · Loudmouth

Well done, better late than never!

It is a bit cringeworthy here and there, but most of it is harmless. I think because some of them obviously took it too far afterwards, simple 'arm round the waist' shots take on a life of their own!

Recently, one of them solicited a kiss from an audience member no more than 15/16/17 sort of age. Cue thousands of curled toes.

Lisa · Mondo Bongo

Yes, sad that in the light of recent events in media you find yourself questioning situations which are usually just innocent ... also sad that society now values perfect teeth so much, having 2 children "needing" the services of an orthodontist is proving very costly! The orthodontist has a very nice house though

Watching the old TOTPs is really fascinating when you view as a 40 something year old! When I was 13 or 14 you just get so involved in the music and really believe in it whereas I find myself questioning some of it nowadays and being more cynical about whether some of the performers are really into the music they are playing or just seeing it as a vehicle for becoming famous. I guess that's still very true, maybe more so ... A very useful piece of history though, just seeing the bands, and the clothes and the way the audience look. Ahh, getting all nostalgic now!