70s was the golden age for ugly blokes, you could still end up in a band on TOTP with groupies galore. Rubettes' (sans caps) song sounded more like the Beatles than the Rutles!
― None'll come and then a lot'll (Tom D.), Friday, 22 April 2011 14:27 (twelve years ago) link
I'm watching this now. LOL at the male members of the Vagabonds miming the female backing vocals. Something massively depressing about second tier disco groups though, like they're trapped in time, it's as if they're composed entirely of all the bits of late 70's disco that don't influence music today.
― grill 'em bake 'em fry 'em burn 'em (snoball), Friday, 22 April 2011 14:57 (twelve years ago) link
Shoeless and carrying a walking stick with a bicycle bell on it? Fucking hell, Harpo could teach Lady gaga a thing or two.
― grill 'em bake 'em fry 'em burn 'em (snoball), Friday, 22 April 2011 15:00 (twelve years ago) link
Sheer Elegance one of the most misnamed bands ever judging by what they were wearing, the uglyness of the Rubettes & their overcocky drummer, the utter WTFness of Harpo. mandatory viewing from now on!
― /人 ◕ ‿‿ ◕人\ (zappi), Friday, 22 April 2011 15:23 (twelve years ago) link
I'm sure Punk would never of happened if Sky+ would of been available in 1976...ended up fast forwarding most of last night's show...bring back Noosha Fox...become a little obsessed with s-s-single bed...
― sonnyboy, Friday, 22 April 2011 16:27 (twelve years ago) link
^^^ same goes for watching it on iPlayer. I don't know if 'compellingly bad' is the term, or just 'bad'.
― grill 'em bake 'em fry 'em burn 'em (snoball), Friday, 22 April 2011 16:50 (twelve years ago) link
the uglyness of the Rubettes & their overcocky drummer
Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sx-aH0oBscw
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 22 April 2011 16:51 (twelve years ago) link
definitely 'compellingly bad' for me. and Fox lady really reminded me of Alison Goldfrapp which is a Good Thing.
― /人 ◕ ‿‿ ◕人\ (zappi), Friday, 22 April 2011 17:10 (twelve years ago) link
Noosha F missing link between Clare Grogan and Goldfrapp. Love that record.
― Michael Jones, Friday, 22 April 2011 17:16 (twelve years ago) link
Ah, been catching up via good old iplayer on the wii.
Old enough to remember these episodes quite clearly in some cases.
Sad that they haven't gone back far enough in time to have Sparks on.
Still, don't recall that Gilbert O'Sullivan song though I must have heard it then.
― Mark G, Tuesday, 26 April 2011 11:30 (twelve years ago) link
Oh, last I heard, they are definitely doing this run for a year.
After that? Who knows...
He was long gone as commercial proposition by 1976. That song sounded like a demo, did artists have to re-record tracks? I know they had to re-record vocals, hence the ubiquity of the Ladybirds. But then other acts obviously just mimed to the record.
― None'll come and then a lot'll (Tom D.), Tuesday, 26 April 2011 11:37 (twelve years ago) link
They did 'have' to.
A lot of them switched the tapes post-session, apparently.
― Mark G, Tuesday, 26 April 2011 11:59 (twelve years ago) link
ooooooo-oooooooooooooh Vienna it's Slik
― grill 'em bake 'em fry 'em burn 'em (snoball), Thursday, 28 April 2011 18:32 (twelve years ago) link
It's Midge Uuuurrrr...
― sonnyboy, Thursday, 28 April 2011 18:35 (twelve years ago) link
And Paul knickerless
― sonnyboy, Thursday, 28 April 2011 18:36 (twelve years ago) link
Jesus Christ, superstar?
― grill 'em bake 'em fry 'em burn 'em (snoball), Thursday, 28 April 2011 18:37 (twelve years ago) link
DLT looks like Badly Drawn Boy.
― grill 'em bake 'em fry 'em burn 'em (snoball), Thursday, 28 April 2011 18:47 (twelve years ago) link
This is sooooo much better than last weeks....
― sonnyboy, Thursday, 28 April 2011 18:50 (twelve years ago) link
Only one novelty act so far.
― grill 'em bake 'em fry 'em burn 'em (snoball), Thursday, 28 April 2011 18:51 (twelve years ago) link
Shit Brotherhood Of Man are still number one...
― sonnyboy, Thursday, 28 April 2011 18:52 (twelve years ago) link
They were there for 6 weeks.
― grill 'em bake 'em fry 'em burn 'em (snoball), Thursday, 28 April 2011 18:57 (twelve years ago) link
The guy without the 'tasche wants to die.
― grill 'em bake 'em fry 'em burn 'em (snoball), Thursday, 28 April 2011 18:58 (twelve years ago) link
I still fucking hate the last line of that song...not for the paedo connotations...just cos i hate it...
― sonnyboy, Thursday, 28 April 2011 19:00 (twelve years ago) link
So, there isn't a TOTP this week, but there is a "Primal Scream" themed evening coming up on Friday.
― Mark G, Tuesday, 3 May 2011 15:44 (twelve years ago) link
AAAAAAAAAAARGH
― lloyd banks knew my father (history mayne), Tuesday, 3 May 2011 15:49 (twelve years ago) link
No, the band, not the Janov therapy.
― Mark G, Tuesday, 3 May 2011 15:50 (twelve years ago) link
You could kind of see why Midge Ure ended up in Ultravox, I mean "Requiem", the title sounds an like Ultravox song. Slik were a pretty cool looking band by 1976 standards.
― Tom D has taken many months to run this thread to ground (Tom D.), Thursday, 5 May 2011 10:49 (twelve years ago) link
Oh, it was very Ultravox, for sure.
I got tickets to see them live in 1978, Top Rank, Reading, thanks to being at the Radio210 offices at the right time: The whole band were there, I met them all, and got the signed piccies, and for some reason that escapes me two free tickets and a bunch of discount vouchers. It wasn't full to say the least, and the support band, "Screemer", were perfectly competent early seventies pophairies that would lose their career path in the wake of punk...
― Mark G, Thursday, 5 May 2011 10:55 (twelve years ago) link
That 1978 should be (Nov) 1976 (oops), timings at that point in history are crucial.
― Mark G, Thursday, 5 May 2011 10:58 (twelve years ago) link
Mud go disco, urgh...
― got a whole lotta gloves (snoball), Thursday, 12 May 2011 18:33 (twelve years ago) link
Didn't the guitarist write 'Can't get you out my head' by Kylie...sounds a bit like it...
― sonnyboy, Thursday, 12 May 2011 18:37 (twelve years ago) link
Frankie Valli's tired performance there. He really got a boost from appearing in Grease in '78, didn't he.
― got a whole lotta gloves (snoball), Thursday, 12 May 2011 18:38 (twelve years ago) link
Sometimes I think Elvis died just to avoid crappy cover versions like this.
― got a whole lotta gloves (snoball), Thursday, 12 May 2011 18:39 (twelve years ago) link
DEVIL WOMAN!!!http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_LP_YP0I7zZY/SoFziAfbpiI/AAAAAAAAC-c/RoLUJLbssFU/s200/RikMayall.png
― got a whole lotta gloves (snoball), Thursday, 12 May 2011 18:53 (twelve years ago) link
the shadows have let themselves go...
― koogs, Thursday, 12 May 2011 19:27 (twelve years ago) link
Mud go disco
Surreal
― Que sera sera... (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Thursday, 12 May 2011 20:14 (twelve years ago) link
Even by 1976 standards that was one ugly backing band.
Was there anything good in this episode? Apart from Cliff?
― Tom D has taken many months to run this thread to ground (Tom D.), Friday, 13 May 2011 08:16 (twelve years ago) link
The iplayer only has the 30 min version!
― Mark G, Friday, 13 May 2011 08:19 (twelve years ago) link
Blimey, Robin Sarstedt, what was that all about? Sutherland Brothers/Quiver was quite nice, not enough guys with combovers in the charts these days.
― Tom D has taken many months to run this thread to ground (Tom D.), Friday, 13 May 2011 08:24 (twelve years ago) link
Guessing Annie Lennox has superseded the Sutherland Brothers as Aberdeenshire's biggest chart act though
― Tom D has taken many months to run this thread to ground (Tom D.), Friday, 13 May 2011 08:26 (twelve years ago) link
The Sutherland Brothers and Quiver were pretty great, a lot of quality 70s country rock/AOR tunes. Never heard the Suths on their own tho.
― wanking on the moon (Noodle Vague), Friday, 13 May 2011 08:33 (twelve years ago) link
odd that they chopped the Stones out of the longer version.
Robin Sarstedt song was familiar. probably from Jane Russell in The Las Vegas Story.
i think claire grogan has heard that fox single.
― koogs, Friday, 13 May 2011 08:46 (twelve years ago) link
The Sutherlan Brothers did the original of "Sailing", and I knew it before Rods version thanks to a k-tel compilation.
― Mark G, Friday, 13 May 2011 08:52 (twelve years ago) link
Well....'punk had to happen' is a tired old theme, but IF it was ever true then this weeks shows why. Robin Sarstedt - just die you seedy bastard. Sutherland Brothers and Quiver - a soundtrack for cruisin' down the Gateshead bypass in your Hillman Avenger. The singer (Gavin Sutherland?) had great hair though. Frankie Valli, who I maintain it is impossible to dislike looked like he hadn't slept for a year. Manilow - unspeakably awful, and why did he have the piano stool so high? He could barely reach the keys. JJ Barrie - nothing can really describe the horror of this record, although he looked like a decent enough bloke. The Mud record was utterly bizarre - I have no memory of this at all. Even though it was a bit of a disco death-rattle from the bubble-glam stalwarts, they at least seemed enthusistic about it. And bonus marks go to Dave Mount for doing the 'let's arse about on the telly' walk around his drum-kit. What else was there? Ruby Flipper - what did Pan's People do to deserve this fate? Only bright spot was Cliff - crackin' song that with a lovely electric piano sound. The band were hod-carriers even by TOTP session-men standards. They made Sutherland Brothers and Quiver look like arch sex gods in comparison. Oh and of course Abba. But they faded it in verse 2 - bastards. A dire week but at least they didn't show Hank Mizell or John Miles. And how bored was Noel throughout?
Back in 76, I was still watching TOTP as a 14yr old, along with OGWT, but I don't think I was listening to anything much from the charts. I had some Pink Floyd albums, I think I'd just discovered the Syd era LPs. I had a couple of Status Quo albums (Piledriver, Hello) some Bowie and T-Rex, Story of The Who, some K-Tel comps. Within a year I'd be spending my pocket money on scratchy singles in home-made sleeves made by bands barely older than myself from Belfast, Manchester, Deptford and Ladbroke Grove. Happy days, and yeah they did HAVE to happen.
― Dr.C, Friday, 13 May 2011 08:52 (twelve years ago) link
(Imagine a bootmix of "Give peace a chance" with the lyrics of "Sailing" over the top of it)
― Mark G, Friday, 13 May 2011 08:53 (twelve years ago) link
xpost obviously, blimey thread's suddenly busy.
― Mark G, Friday, 13 May 2011 08:54 (twelve years ago) link
Two of SB and Quiver played with Pink Floyd - Tim Renwick and Willie Wilson.
― Dr.C, Friday, 13 May 2011 08:56 (twelve years ago) link
And Bruce Thomas was in Quiver!! But not in SB&Q, I think.
Tim Renwick? Something to do with Bowie too?
― Tom D has taken many months to run this thread to ground (Tom D.), Friday, 13 May 2011 08:57 (twelve years ago) link
one of joboxers did a lot of interesting stuff - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_McLusky
― stirmonster, Friday, 29 December 2023 23:18 (two months ago) link
Normal service resumed tonight from 7pm.
― you gotta roll with the pączki to get to what's real (snoball), Friday, 2 February 2024 18:20 (one month ago) link
Agent Smith from The Matrix takes a break from chasing hackers to perform a cover of The Beatles' 'I'm Only Sleeping'. Or it might by Suggs (Suggs... Suggs...). The album this track is taken from ('The Lone Ranger') is actually pretty good.
― you gotta roll with the pączki to get to what's real (snoball), Friday, 2 February 2024 19:21 (one month ago) link
Oh yes, the h-h-h-h-hilarious performance of 'Roll With It' where Noel and Liam swap places.
― you gotta roll with the pączki to get to what's real (snoball), Friday, 2 February 2024 19:53 (one month ago) link
just catching up and lol what happened in that Tina Arena perf? Voice insanely louder than the backing track, feels like she's doing karaoke of her own song
― Daniel_Rf, Monday, 5 February 2024 22:08 (one month ago) link
all Steve Wright all of the time
― koogs, Friday, 16 February 2024 19:07 (one month ago) link
Couldn't the BBC have picked an episode without Black Lace?
― you gotta roll with the pączki to get to what's real (snoball), Friday, 16 February 2024 19:33 (one month ago) link
Tonight's first programme, starts with Roy Chubby Brown, ends with Mick Hucknall.
― you gotta roll with the pączki to get to what's real (snoball), Friday, 23 February 2024 19:30 (one month ago) link
Did no-one tell you we would over-act this way?Our show's a hit. It's shit. You watch it anyway...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Exe7T9TpJZo
― you gotta roll with the pączki to get to what's real (snoball), Friday, 23 February 2024 19:47 (one month ago) link
The Rembrandt's singer looks like Guy Pearce in Memento. No wonder he wanted to forget.
― you gotta roll with the pączki to get to what's real (snoball), Friday, 23 February 2024 19:48 (one month ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9IDDLXcrMA
BEAT ft General Levy - Incredible - TOTP - 1994
― corrs unplugged, Monday, 26 February 2024 08:40 (one month ago) link
Would love to know how Iron Maiden ended up thrashing through ‘Man on the Edge’ on top of an ancient hill fort in Israel
― Agnes, Agatha, Germaine and Jack (Willl), Friday, 8 March 2024 20:33 (two weeks ago) link
The pieces are beginning to slowly drift into place as we approach Spiceageddon. The shiny metallic look of the studio bathed in big washes of colour from the lights. Bryan Adams turning up to do odd duets with various people. East 17 looking like they might actually win the war of the boybands against Take That. Somehow even fewer people in the studio audience than before, and they have enough space to all do this non-commital sway-y/shuffle-y dance. Suggs keeps popping up either as the presenter or performing a song.
― you gotta roll with the pączki to get to what's real (snoball), Friday, 22 March 2024 19:20 (six days ago) link
I'm behind. Hale & Pace's attempt at satire in their presenting capacity was hugely confused, to be charitable.
― chap, Saturday, 23 March 2024 00:45 (five days ago) link
Camp ageing rockers in Blur and Oasis tees, for some reason? Still less loathable than Keith Allen's joke presenting a few months back.
― chap, Saturday, 23 March 2024 00:49 (five days ago) link
Fairground's a pretty odd number one really. I kind of like it, Hucknall's obvious off-putting qualities aside. Nice groove in the verses, huge chorus drop.
― chap, Saturday, 23 March 2024 01:02 (five days ago) link
Were they pre existing H&P characters? That would make more sense.
― chap, Saturday, 23 March 2024 01:05 (five days ago) link
As much as I despise the human rodent that is mick hucknall, I really love 'fairground'
― Bernard Quidbins (NickB), Saturday, 23 March 2024 01:06 (five days ago) link
It's a good song! Actually come across more decent 'Red tracks than expected over the TOTP repeats.
Next episode, Ant & Dec invent electroswing.
― chap, Saturday, 23 March 2024 01:09 (five days ago) link
Enjoying the well curated TOTP2 snippets at the end
― chap, Saturday, 23 March 2024 01:24 (five days ago) link
My longstanding in-joke with a friend was that jazz was a genre floundering until PJ & Duncan dropped "Krazy Katz" in the autumn of 1995, at which point sales for jazz records increased 100,000% overnight, much as sales for Western classical music did in the wake of the Toy Dolls' Orcastrated earlier in the year, and luminaries like Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller and Dexter Gordon were disinterred and paraded in celebration of the new music.
― you can see me from westbury white horse, Saturday, 23 March 2024 01:29 (five days ago) link