Because, the first one (tonight) is 1976, where we get :
01/04/1976 With Abba, the Brotherhood of Man, the Beatles, Fox, John Miles, Diana Ross and Sailor. (R).
Then after that they are on Thursday night, 7:30pm, and basically are running weekly, each episode being from (exactly) 35 years ago (near enough)..
Until BBC4 sack it.
― Mark G, Friday, 1 April 2011 15:36 (eight years ago) Permalink
Brilliant idea. I can relive my childhood. My earliest musical memories (from pre-school days) are stuff like Abba, The Wurzels, Showaddywaddy and Hot Chocolate.
― in a wonderful balloon! (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Friday, 1 April 2011 20:50 (eight years ago) Permalink
This docu that's on now makes grim viewing.
― did you notice "you spin me round" was playing in the background? (snoball), Friday, 1 April 2011 21:18 (eight years ago) Permalink
The docu made some interesting points, and for all that I'd have loved if they'd started in 1964 (or whenever), 1976 is a good year to kickoff from.
The big point made was that the charts had become a 'variety' show source, as opposed to the 'teen hit parade' of the sixties. So, loads of Mathis, Roussos, BroMan, Abba and Radio DJs having comedy send-up hits.
It'll be like this for a while, but one I do remember being somewhat of a life changing moment was when Eddie and the Hot Rods did "Get out of Denver",and I went straight out and bought the (expensive) ep the next day.
I know, thesedays peopple decry the rods as being "not as seminal as Dr Feelgood", but I saw a repeat on TOTP2 and it was as good as I remembered. So, soon come, that show which showed the juxtaposition of this band against the other acts on that night.
(also, it means that the quality of dodgy Punk TOTP compilation DVDs are going to shoot up. If they get that far, of course)
― Mark G, Monday, 4 April 2011 09:27 (eight years ago) Permalink
What tickled me most was the former TOTP producer saying that they didn't get the Pistols on for "Anarchy In The UK" (which peaked at #38) because it didn't chart high enough, very important that we always stuck by the rules etc etc... followed by an April 1976 show featuring two (useless) acts which never charted at all.
The Hot Rods did well to get a TOTP appearance for "Get Out Of Denver", as a) the Live At The Marquee EP peaked at #43 and b) it was the lead track on the B-side.
― mike t-diva, Monday, 4 April 2011 09:43 (eight years ago) Permalink
It was track 2 on the a-side, but yeah.
Also, the funny was having Dave Bartram saying "yeah, a TOTP appearance guaranteed you a top 10 hit" and demonstrating this with a screening of their massive top (fillinasecond) hit "Trocadero"...
― Mark G, Monday, 4 April 2011 10:08 (eight years ago) Permalink
32
― Mark G, Monday, 4 April 2011 10:09 (eight years ago) Permalink
xpost - Aaargh, so it was!
― mike t-diva, Monday, 4 April 2011 10:25 (eight years ago) Permalink
Am I misunderstanding? cos the 60s had big hits for Ken Dodd, Englebert Humperdinck, the Barron Knights etc etc
― Boobage Dirtbag (Noodle Vague), Monday, 4 April 2011 10:32 (eight years ago) Permalink
Oh sure, but the theory being that those were in the minority, show-content wise.
― Mark G, Monday, 4 April 2011 10:42 (eight years ago) Permalink
oh on the show. yeah probly fair enough. chartwise it was variety a-go-go
― Boobage Dirtbag (Noodle Vague), Monday, 4 April 2011 12:00 (eight years ago) Permalink
Yeah, I don't think the point was that the charts had become (more) like a variety show, but that TOTP had.
― in a wonderful balloon! (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Monday, 4 April 2011 12:09 (eight years ago) Permalink
fuck Noel Edmonds and his 'comedy' links
― did you notice "you spin me round" was playing in the background? (snoball), Thursday, 7 April 2011 18:37 (eight years ago) Permalink
I know, what a dick. Still we had the Four Seasons doing "Silver Star" this week. Also Eric Carmen's "interview" with Noel Edmonds, where you couldn't hear a word he was saying, don't be shy Eric!
― Tom D (Tom D.), Friday, 8 April 2011 08:50 (eight years ago) Permalink
Interviews on TOTP? that's a rarity...
― Mark G, Friday, 8 April 2011 09:12 (eight years ago) Permalink
"Inteview" not really the word.
"You wrote a song for Dana didn't you?""Mumble mumble mumble""What's the best song you've ever written?""Mumble mumble mumble All By Myself""Well all the best with the new single""Mumble"
― Tom D (Tom D.), Friday, 8 April 2011 09:15 (eight years ago) Permalink
Don't know what song he wrote for Dana
Oh and Noel was saying what a good album "Eric Carmen" was: a rare display of good taste from Edmonds there!
― Tom D (Tom D.), Friday, 8 April 2011 09:17 (eight years ago) Permalink
Noel had to say he liked it cos he didn't want to blow a raspberry.
― ridic beau (NickB), Friday, 8 April 2011 09:21 (eight years ago) Permalink
My god that it horribly formed.
― ridic beau (NickB), Friday, 8 April 2011 09:22 (eight years ago) Permalink
*is*
OK so Google tells me Dana covered "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again" from the aforementioned "Eric Carmen" album
― Tom D (Tom D.), Friday, 8 April 2011 09:26 (eight years ago) Permalink
Is Dana the one who did some religious kids programme called 'Wake Up Sunday'?
― in a wonderful balloon! (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Friday, 8 April 2011 10:18 (eight years ago) Permalink
Sounds likely
― Tom D (Tom D.), Friday, 8 April 2011 10:23 (eight years ago) Permalink
10CC, "Mandy Fly Me" was on too. Fantastic!
― Tom D (Tom D.), Friday, 8 April 2011 10:34 (eight years ago) Permalink
NEdmonds always had his love of singer-songwriters, to be fair.
― Mark G, Friday, 8 April 2011 10:48 (eight years ago) Permalink
Big fan of Harry Chapin, yer Edmonds.
― mike t-diva, Friday, 8 April 2011 14:40 (eight years ago) Permalink
Balderdash certainly describes droll Noel's career.
― did you notice "you spin me round" was playing in the background? (snoball), Friday, 8 April 2011 15:04 (eight years ago) Permalink
This was easily the most WTF song on this week's show:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iISUroWbu2U
― in a wonderful balloon! (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Saturday, 9 April 2011 22:17 (eight years ago) Permalink
I watched last night's 1976 episode, it was amazingly and compellingly bad. Lots of odd-looking folks I've never heard of awkwardly performing novelty songs, and one of Pan's People doing some remarkably gratuitous ass-shaking in the direction of the camera. I need more.
― Antoine Bugleboy (Merdeyeux), Friday, 22 April 2011 14:22 (eight years ago) Permalink
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 (eight years ago) Permalink
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 (eight years ago) Permalink
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 (eight years ago) Permalink
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 (eight years ago) Permalink
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 (eight years ago) Permalink
^^^ 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 (eight years ago) Permalink
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 (eight years ago) Permalink
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 (eight years ago) Permalink
Noosha F missing link between Clare Grogan and Goldfrapp. Love that record.
― Michael Jones, Friday, 22 April 2011 17:16 (eight years ago) Permalink
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 (eight years ago) Permalink
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 (eight years ago) Permalink
They did 'have' to.
A lot of them switched the tapes post-session, apparently.
― Mark G, Tuesday, 26 April 2011 11:59 (eight years ago) Permalink
ooooooo-oooooooooooooh Vienna it's Slik
― grill 'em bake 'em fry 'em burn 'em (snoball), Thursday, 28 April 2011 18:32 (eight years ago) Permalink
It's Midge Uuuurrrr...
― sonnyboy, Thursday, 28 April 2011 18:35 (eight years ago) Permalink
And Paul knickerless
― sonnyboy, Thursday, 28 April 2011 18:36 (eight years ago) Permalink
Jesus Christ, superstar?
― grill 'em bake 'em fry 'em burn 'em (snoball), Thursday, 28 April 2011 18:37 (eight years ago) Permalink
DLT looks like Badly Drawn Boy.
― grill 'em bake 'em fry 'em burn 'em (snoball), Thursday, 28 April 2011 18:47 (eight years ago) Permalink
This is sooooo much better than last weeks....
― sonnyboy, Thursday, 28 April 2011 18:50 (eight years ago) Permalink
Only one novelty act so far.
― grill 'em bake 'em fry 'em burn 'em (snoball), Thursday, 28 April 2011 18:51 (eight years ago) Permalink
Shit Brotherhood Of Man are still number one...
― sonnyboy, Thursday, 28 April 2011 18:52 (eight years ago) Permalink
wax were good
― findom haddie (jim in vancouver), Friday, 26 April 2019 18:59 (three weeks ago) Permalink
(I'm assuming the song was bridge to your heart)
― findom haddie (jim in vancouver), Friday, 26 April 2019 19:00 (three weeks ago) Permalink
It was. He didn't do much wrong, Graham Gouldman, when all's said and done.
― Freddie Starr (Hitler in shorts) (Tom D.), Friday, 26 April 2019 19:01 (three weeks ago) Permalink
The Alarm in 'desperately wanting to be U2' action.
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 2 May 2019 18:37 (two weeks ago) Permalink
Serious mullet action.
― Ned Caligari (Tom D.), Thursday, 2 May 2019 18:38 (two weeks ago) Permalink
One of my favourite ILX posts of all time is where another ILXor talked about hearing the most exciting brutal industrial beat they'd ever heard while tripping on acid, only for them to find out later that it was The Bee Gee's 'You Win Again'.
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 2 May 2019 18:55 (two weeks ago) Permalink
Also the oblong gadget Maurice Gibb was playing is a Stepp digital guitar. I used to know someone in the mid 90s who owned one, despite being a student, because they were going cheap on the second hand market on account of not being very good.
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 2 May 2019 19:03 (two weeks ago) Permalink
Wow did Neil Tennant lose a bet and have to wear that 3-sizes-too-big jacket?
― just another country (snoball), Friday, 3 May 2019 19:39 (two weeks ago) Permalink
Also his hairstyle on tonight's show closely resembles one of my bad hair days.
― just another country (snoball), Friday, 3 May 2019 19:40 (two weeks ago) Permalink
Okay, Kiss, I fucking get it, these are crazy nights!
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Friday, 3 May 2019 19:44 (two weeks ago) Permalink
Pet Shop Boys and Erasure on the same episode. Awesome 😎
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Friday, 3 May 2019 19:46 (two weeks ago) Permalink
As Kiss songs go, 'Crazy Nights' isn't bad, but that live version was a mess.
― just another country (snoball), Friday, 3 May 2019 19:46 (two weeks ago) Permalink
I'd go as far as saying that it's the only Kiss song that I like in any way!
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Friday, 3 May 2019 19:48 (two weeks ago) Permalink
Y'know, if you squint, Maurice Gibb looks just like Mark King!
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Friday, 3 May 2019 19:53 (two weeks ago) Permalink
Sounds like a not-shit week this week.
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 9 May 2019 18:31 (one week ago) Permalink
It seems to have started off well enough!
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Thursday, 9 May 2019 18:35 (one week ago) Permalink
Considering this George Michael video probably cost about £20 to make, it's incredibly cool.
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 9 May 2019 18:37 (one week ago) Permalink
Ah, spoke too soon, here's Stock Aitken Waterman puppet Rick Astley with one of his songs that isn't the one that everyone remembers. Unfortunately, the peak era of Stock Aitken Waterman with Kylie and Jason etc. is still yet to come, so we've all got that to look forward to.
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Thursday, 9 May 2019 18:38 (one week ago) Permalink
To be fair this isn't one of the really terrible SAW singles, but it's clear that it was written before they decided who in their roster would actually sing it. Astley makes the song work here, but he's bordering on SHOUTING! IS! EMOTION! style of Tony Hadley.
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 9 May 2019 18:39 (one week ago) Permalink
That chart rundown shot of Bryan Ferry makes it look like he's peering through your patio doors.
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 9 May 2019 18:41 (one week ago) Permalink
Two Rick Astley songs in the Top 40. TWO!
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Thursday, 9 May 2019 18:42 (one week ago) Permalink
Fashion disaster area Steve Wright (in the afternoon evening).
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 9 May 2019 18:43 (one week ago) Permalink
I can't seem to get warm enoughEven with four blankets and a sheet
Every tried a duvet, Ray?
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 9 May 2019 18:45 (one week ago) Permalink
With (ooh) Gary Davies (on the radio)
(xpost)
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Thursday, 9 May 2019 18:46 (one week ago) Permalink
I had a feeling George Harrison and T'Pau might make an appearance on this when I saw 'em in the rundown... wish they'd shown more of that Eurythmics track!
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Thursday, 9 May 2019 18:47 (one week ago) Permalink
Oh god, what the fuck is this bollocks!?!
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Thursday, 9 May 2019 18:49 (one week ago) Permalink
Yeah, it's just such a weird song and video at a point where you'd expect most acts to play it safe (although Lennox did later).
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 9 May 2019 18:49 (one week ago) Permalink
Hahahaha, the guitar guy with the red cowboy hat is blatantly trying to upstage the singer here!
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Thursday, 9 May 2019 18:50 (one week ago) Permalink
Actually, the Top 10 really isn't all that bad considering!
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Thursday, 9 May 2019 18:53 (one week ago) Permalink
Clearly they didn't film enough footage of the Bee Gees and had to throw in everything. There might even be a kitchen sink in there somewhere (with a solarising filter and shown upside-down).
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 9 May 2019 18:56 (one week ago) Permalink
This Fleetwood Mac video might be a bit heavy on the Quantel Paintbox but at least I don't feel like I'm having a seizure watching it.
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 9 May 2019 18:58 (one week ago) Permalink
Half the fun is waiting for the bits with Mick Fleetwood in, so you can see how off his fucking tree he is.
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Thursday, 9 May 2019 18:59 (one week ago) Permalink
Also it's funny how there's nothing for John to do in this video except walk across the frame.
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 9 May 2019 19:00 (one week ago) Permalink
Jack Mix... 4? WTF?
― just another country (snoball), Friday, 10 May 2019 18:40 (one week ago) Permalink
Don't worry, there's only seven of them (as far as I can ascertain).
― just another country (snoball), Friday, 10 May 2019 18:45 (one week ago) Permalink
Also 'Criticise' is the best Alexander O'Neal single, at least for my money.
― just another country (snoball), Friday, 10 May 2019 18:46 (one week ago) Permalink
Have we skipped an episode or two? Because the jump in chart position for both T'Pau and George Harrison between the last episode and this one was huge!
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Friday, 10 May 2019 18:54 (one week ago) Permalink
I suppose it's worth pointing out that at this point in time it had only been 20 years since the release of Sgt. Pepper's, but 1967 and 1987 feel fucking worlds apart to me.
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Friday, 10 May 2019 18:56 (one week ago) Permalink
Whereas 20 years ago from now, people were still waiting for the follow up to OK Computer.
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Friday, 10 May 2019 18:58 (one week ago) Permalink
Yesterday's episode was 29th October 1987, tonight's is 12th November, so they've only skipped a week. Although back then that was enough for a record to seemingly appear out of nowhere, like this Nina Simone track. Although IIRC it did more or less arrive nearly at the top of the charts on release.
― just another country (snoball), Friday, 10 May 2019 19:00 (one week ago) Permalink
5th November episode - it's not being shown because Mike Smith is one of the presenters and he didn't sign the license extension.
Presenters: Janice Long & Mike Smith Playlist: (5) T’Pau – China In Your Hand (7) George Harrison – Got My Mind Set On You (video) (32) Heartbeat – Tears From Heaven (12) Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballe – Barcelona (video) (28) Eric B & Rakim – Paid In Full (1) The Bee Gees – You Win Again (video) (10) Was (Not Was) – Walk The Dinosaur (and credits)
― just another country (snoball), Saturday, 11 May 2019 10:45 (one week ago) Permalink
We're not going to see the 10th December 1987 episode for the same reason.
― just another country (snoball), Saturday, 11 May 2019 10:46 (one week ago) Permalink
Maxi Priest "Some Guys" - the 1984 Rod Stewart version is way better, particularly because it's one of those Rod songs where you can't believe that someone like Rod (or at least the kind of character Rod usually performs in his songs) would ever have problems getting into a relationship.
― just another country (snoball), Friday, 17 May 2019 18:37 (five days ago) Permalink
If you've ever wondered why there's no Scottish-based contributors to this thread it's because BBC4 is not available on Freeview in Scotland anymore.
― Ned Caligari (Tom D.), Friday, 17 May 2019 18:40 (five days ago) Permalink
The non-guitar playing Proclaimer carrying on the Wham! shuttlecock tradition here.
― just another country (snoball), Friday, 17 May 2019 18:41 (five days ago) Permalink
That'll be a shinty ball, not a shuttlecock.
― Ned Caligari (Tom D.), Friday, 17 May 2019 18:45 (five days ago) Permalink
Simon Mayo's stripey sweartshirt and chinos combo is basically how I dressed for every family party / barbecue / event at the time.
― just another country (snoball), Friday, 17 May 2019 18:48 (five days ago) Permalink
I didn't notice this back in 1987, probably because our TV had mono sound, but for the last few weeks the sound quality has been noticeably worse. They've mixed in some of the crowd noise from the studio and maybe done something else because the music sounds flatter and tinnier and <insert audiophile equivalent of wine taster language here>.
― just another country (snoball), Friday, 17 May 2019 18:54 (five days ago) Permalink
That's not true – it's on channel 82 (SD) and 106 (HD). Though now you mention it I never end up seeing TOTP just because I'm unlikely to casually flick up to these numbers as I would've gone up to BBC4 in the past.
― Eyeball Kicks, Saturday, 18 May 2019 00:14 (four days ago) Permalink
Ah,I see, just after Talking Pictures!
― Ned Caligari (Tom D.), Saturday, 18 May 2019 08:46 (four days ago) Permalink