Thursday 25 August 2016

My Top of the Pops Never Lies

Do I see an avalanche of Team GB medals spinning and flying across my tv screen tonight? ~ or is it the return of Top of the Pops 1982!

So Garth, which one of us will still have a tv career in 2016?



25-3-82: Presenters: Peter Powell & Garth Crooks


(41) ALTERED IMAGES – See Those Eyes
Under starters orders and its Altered Images who get away first this week with a tune that would race all the way to number 11.

(3) JULIO IGLESIAS – Quiereme Mucho (Yours) (video)
This frey bentos ballad was now at its chart peak, thankfully.

(33) BUCKS FIZZ – My Camera Never Lies
The boys are dressed for a wedding but the girls look ready for the beach! And how do you follow up at number one as good as The Land of Make Believe? Well, with a number one as good as My Camera Never Lies, that's how!

(28) FOSTER & ALLEN – A Bunch Of Thyme
Edited out of tonight's 7.30pm slot. Shame...

(44) THE BOOMTOWN RATS – House On Fire
Also edited out of tonight's 7.30pm slot was this final top 30 hit for the Boomtown Rats.

(26) THE NOLANS – Don’t Love Me Too Hard (video)
And this completes a trio of Irish acts edited out of the early showing!

(43) KILLING JOKE – Empire Song
Even with the help of Jacques Cousteau on keyboards, Empire Song could rise no higher in the charts.

(22) PLUTO – Your Honour ®
Does anybody remember this song from the time? Soon to peak at number 19.

(14) CHAS & DAVE – Ain’t No Pleasing You (video)
Looking all dapper in their white dinner jackets and tidy trims, and featured on video no less, here's the rockney boys' with their greatest moment, and it took last year's Eurovision winners to prevent this one from going all the way to number one.

(1) GOOMBAY DANCE BAND – Seven Tears
First of three weeks at number one for the German fire eaters.

(9) THE ASSOCIATES – Party Fears Two (crowd dancing) (and credits)
Now at its chart peak.


Next weeks then it's April 1st 1982 hosted by John Peel.

Thursday 4 August 2016

Have You Ever Been in Top of the Pops

We've got that classix 1980's combination of two DJs hosting the show tonight. It was the 18th March 1982, and the beginning of the Falklands conflict was just one day away.

18-3-82: Presenters: Richard Skinner & Steve Wright


I'm too sexy for the 80's..



(36) CLASSIX NOUVEAUX – Is It A Dream
Getting the show underway with what would be their only top 30 hit when it peaked at 11.

(6) ABC – Poison Arrow (video)
Now at its peak.

(35) LEO SAYER – Have You Ever Been In Love
His final top ten hit peaking at 10. But edited out of tonight's 7.30pm slot.

(8) IMAGINATION – Just An Illusion (video)
This haunted house video would have been just perfect for Halloween! On its way to number 2.

(16) DEREK & THE DOMINOES – Layla
Originally a number 7 hit in 1972, this reissue made it to number 4. And Maureen's interpretation of this as a solo Zoo performance was also edited out tonight.

(2) GOOMBAY DANCE BAND – Seven Tears ®
About to take over at number one. Also a victim of the 7.30 editor.

(42) JAPAN – Ghosts
Another Halloween classic here and the first of two top ten hits for Japan, This one peaking at number 5.

(21) GARY NUMAN – Music For Chameleons
Went up two more places.

(23) VISAGE – The Damned Don’t Cry (video)
Continuing with the Halloween theme, a ghostly train this time, and it peaked at number 11.

(1) TIGHT FIT – The Lion Sleeps Tonight
It seems the group had now made enough money to splash out on a new outfit for Steve Grant, which I'm sure would have made even Tarzan blush! Third and final week at number 1.

(30) KOOL & THE GANG – Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It) (crowd dancing) (and credits)
Went up just one more place.


The re-runs will take a little rest for a couple of weeks now whilst the Rio Olympics takes place. Next up is March 25th 1982.