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 (seven 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 (seven 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 (seven 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 (seven 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 (seven 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 (seven years ago) Permalink
32
― Mark G, Monday, 4 April 2011 10:09 (seven years ago) Permalink
xpost - Aaargh, so it was!
― mike t-diva, Monday, 4 April 2011 10:25 (seven 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 (seven 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 (seven 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 (seven 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 (seven 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 (seven 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 (seven years ago) Permalink
Interviews on TOTP? that's a rarity...
― Mark G, Friday, 8 April 2011 09:12 (seven 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 (seven 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 (seven 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 (seven years ago) Permalink
My god that it horribly formed.
― ridic beau (NickB), Friday, 8 April 2011 09:22 (seven 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 (seven 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 (seven years ago) Permalink
Sounds likely
― Tom D (Tom D.), Friday, 8 April 2011 10:23 (seven years ago) Permalink
10CC, "Mandy Fly Me" was on too. Fantastic!
― Tom D (Tom D.), Friday, 8 April 2011 10:34 (seven years ago) Permalink
NEdmonds always had his love of singer-songwriters, to be fair.
― Mark G, Friday, 8 April 2011 10:48 (seven years ago) Permalink
Big fan of Harry Chapin, yer Edmonds.
― mike t-diva, Friday, 8 April 2011 14:40 (seven 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 (seven 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 (seven 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 (seven 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 (seven 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 (seven 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 (seven 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 (seven 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 (seven 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 (seven 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 (seven 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 (seven years ago) Permalink
Noosha F missing link between Clare Grogan and Goldfrapp. Love that record.
― Michael Jones, Friday, 22 April 2011 17:16 (seven 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 (seven 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 (seven 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 (seven years ago) Permalink
ooooooo-oooooooooooooh Vienna it's Slik
― grill 'em bake 'em fry 'em burn 'em (snoball), Thursday, 28 April 2011 18:32 (seven years ago) Permalink
It's Midge Uuuurrrr...
― sonnyboy, Thursday, 28 April 2011 18:35 (seven years ago) Permalink
And Paul knickerless
― sonnyboy, Thursday, 28 April 2011 18:36 (seven years ago) Permalink
Jesus Christ, superstar?
― grill 'em bake 'em fry 'em burn 'em (snoball), Thursday, 28 April 2011 18:37 (seven years ago) Permalink
DLT looks like Badly Drawn Boy.
― grill 'em bake 'em fry 'em burn 'em (snoball), Thursday, 28 April 2011 18:47 (seven years ago) Permalink
This is sooooo much better than last weeks....
― sonnyboy, Thursday, 28 April 2011 18:50 (seven years ago) Permalink
Only one novelty act so far.
― grill 'em bake 'em fry 'em burn 'em (snoball), Thursday, 28 April 2011 18:51 (seven years ago) Permalink
Shit Brotherhood Of Man are still number one...
― sonnyboy, Thursday, 28 April 2011 18:52 (seven years ago) Permalink
My theory is that Falco looks cool because he's not afraid to come across as a fool. Everyone else so far this episode has been far too worried about seeming credible.
― the battering ram's rolling (snoball), Thursday, 27 December 2018 19:38 (two months ago) Permalink
John Peel on TOTP is this guy basically
https://local.theonion.com/awful-man-offers-witty-acerbic-take-on-everything-he-s-1819570846
― piscesx, Thursday, 24 January 2019 19:53 (two months ago) Permalink
That was his last edition supposedly for years, you can see why.
― piscesx, Thursday, 24 January 2019 19:59 (two months ago) Permalink
Gary Davis: "One of the hottest disco records around" - he's just not trying to be cool at this point. Or maybe trying too hard?
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 31 January 2019 19:45 (one month ago) Permalink
Also why is he dressed like a scout leader?
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 31 January 2019 19:47 (one month ago) Permalink
Also I remember watching Man 2 Man Meets Mann Parrish when it was first broadcast but the obvious gay subtext went completely over nearly-13-year-old snoball's head.
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 31 January 2019 19:50 (one month ago) Permalink
Astonishingly, i never even twigged from the sleeve
https://img.discogs.com/DmILqIJcPvd_qpuLAnfPaiuubG4=/fit-in/600x600/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-782778-1158280435.jpeg.jpg
― piscesx, Thursday, 31 January 2019 20:04 (one month ago) Permalink
As a kid at the time if you weren't aware of gay subcultures it could be mistaken for that Athena poster aesthetic?
― Chewshabadoo, Friday, 1 February 2019 08:45 (one month ago) Permalink
I had said at the time, it was the one record "since" that actually reminded me of the Velvet Underground!
― Mark G, Friday, 1 February 2019 09:30 (one month ago) Permalink
"With the full support of the British record industry" here's another completely unknown singer representing the UK at Eurovision. This song only reached 96 in the UK singles chart.
― just another country (snoball), Friday, 15 February 2019 19:54 (one month ago) Permalink
Which one was that?!
― piscesx, Saturday, 16 February 2019 02:42 (one month ago) Permalink
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAi1UfpXi-Y
― just another country (snoball), Saturday, 16 February 2019 10:41 (one month ago) Permalink
Yeah I have no memory of this either.
Still, the current entrant would dream of getting to 96 in the chart
― Mark G, Saturday, 16 February 2019 13:32 (one month ago) Permalink
I'd completely forgotten how awesome 'Meet El Presidente' is.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6CLWV0JBU4
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 21 February 2019 19:48 (one month ago) Permalink
Tom Jones looking like Gene Simmons taking a dump.
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 21 February 2019 19:49 (one month ago) Permalink
Has any pop star in history had more bad haircuts than Howard Jones?
― Chequers Plays Pop (snoball), Friday, 23 November 2018 19:52 (two months ago)
Chris Waddle?
― the salacious inaudible (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Friday, 23 November 2018 22:50 (two months ago)
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 21 February 2019 19:50 (one month ago) Permalink
'Diamond Lights' is bad but still miles better than Robson & Fucking Jerome.
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 21 February 2019 19:52 (one month ago) Permalink
I bought Meet El Presidente. And Diamonds Lights, I'm slightly embarrassed to admit. Not that I've seen these yet - I'm still working my way through all the 1986 ones I recorded.
― the salacious inaudible (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Friday, 22 February 2019 00:06 (one month ago) Permalink
snoball hates Johnny Hates Jazz
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 28 February 2019 19:34 (three weeks ago) Permalink
...although child snoball liked 'Wishing I Was Lucky' by Wet Wet Wet so something something narcissism of small differences something something
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 28 February 2019 19:49 (three weeks ago) Permalink
Also I really liked Marillon's 'Incommunicado' but holy shit does Fish really look like someone I work with wearing a wig.
― just another country (snoball), Friday, 1 March 2019 19:35 (three weeks ago) Permalink
From Erasure with 'Victim Of Love' to Victim Of Fashion featuring Gary Davies in one of Jonathan Ross's cast-offs.
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 7 March 2019 19:36 (two weeks ago) Permalink
Breakdance on the street with Andy Warhol carrying your boombox.
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 14 March 2019 19:51 (one week ago) Permalink
Also "Star Trekkin'" is also the worst #1 for a while.
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 14 March 2019 19:55 (one week ago) Permalink
Soooooooooooo bad that I used 'also' twice in the same sentence. Also (cough) my father had a copy of The Firm's album on cassette. Wikipedia simply lists them as The Firm (novelty band). Even fucking Black Lace don't get called that.
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 14 March 2019 20:06 (one week ago) Permalink
Broken English, tho!
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Thursday, 14 March 2019 20:33 (one week ago) Permalink
In addition to 'Diamond Lights', I also bought 'Star Trekkin'. I was on a bit of a roll in 1987.
― the salacious inaudible (Nasty, Brutish & Short), Friday, 15 March 2019 16:55 (one week ago) Permalink
OK so again it's the time where I roll out the story where I was so enamoured with PSB's 'It's A Sin' that I recorded it off the radio again and again until it filled up the entirety of one side of a C90 cassette.
― just another country (snoball), Friday, 15 March 2019 19:39 (one week ago) Permalink
Chris Lowe rocking the PPG Wave 2.3 and Emulator combo. Going from Bruce Willis murdering 'Under the Boardwalk' to this is the very definition of one extreme to the other quality-wise.
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Friday, 15 March 2019 19:39 (one week ago) Permalink
Past-their-prime Simple Minds now murdering 'Promised You a Miracle' ... what an awful version. Awful mullet, too.
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Friday, 15 March 2019 19:48 (one week ago) Permalink
Seriously now, who the fuck was buying Cliff Richard records in 1987?
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Friday, 15 March 2019 19:49 (one week ago) Permalink
"'I Want' from George Michael" ... HA!!
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Friday, 15 March 2019 19:53 (one week ago) Permalink
Pet Shop Boys and George Michael basically rescue an otherwise grim Top 10. As for the number one - it took three years to get from 'Relax' to this!?
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Friday, 15 March 2019 19:55 (one week ago) Permalink
WTF is with John Farnham's keyboard player?
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Friday, 15 March 2019 19:56 (one week ago) Permalink
I'm pretty sure I watched this episode when it was on, at least I remember seeing the Pet Shop Boys doing It's A Sin on TOTP. obviously I would've seen other TOTP before this but we're now getting to the time when I was actually paying attention to it (I was 10 when this first aired). really looking forward to 1988 tbh, house music was my favourite music when I was 12
― Colonel Poo, Friday, 15 March 2019 20:06 (one week ago) Permalink
I remember bits of this one from first time round as well, mainly because I had the 'Lookin' mag with Star Trekkin on the cover and then it was on telly. Super vivid memory considering I was 6. Probably explains subliminally why I liked hard house for a bit at the end of the next decade too (for shame).
― raise my chicken finger (Willl), Friday, 15 March 2019 20:22 (one week ago) Permalink
Ben Beret-Voluvent looking like a poor man's Bill Mackenzie, with only a fraction of the talent.
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Thursday, 21 March 2019 19:45 (five days ago) Permalink
I keep saying this about various singers, but the singer of Black looks like someone I work with wearing a bad wig. Also all of Black's songs kind of sound the same - record company pressure to make every single sound like their first hit?
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 21 March 2019 19:50 (five days ago) Permalink
a-ha with a pretty good Bond theme - video is all edited up to bobbins though.
xxp Ben has that unfortunate thing some pop stars do of wearing the same clothes now that they used to wear when they first became famous.
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 21 March 2019 19:53 (five days ago) Permalink
After all that crap, I'm finding myself wanting to cheer at PSB knocking The Firm off #1...
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Thursday, 21 March 2019 19:54 (five days ago) Permalink
eep saying this about various singers, but the singer of Black looks like someone I work with wearing a bad wig. Also all of Black's songs kind of sound the same - record company pressure to make every single sound like their first hit?
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, March 21, 2019 12:50 PM (five minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
black is an artist name
― ( ͡☉ ͜ʖ ͡☉) (jim in vancouver), Thursday, 21 March 2019 19:57 (five days ago) Permalink
TOTP director and camera operators clearly had no idea how to shoot t'Boys, who resolutely stood completely still rather than jump around all over the stage like basically everyone else.
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 21 March 2019 19:58 (five days ago) Permalink
xp I always thought Black were a band for some reason.Also, Simon Bates interviewing Genesis is PEAK 1-9-8-7.
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 21 March 2019 20:00 (five days ago) Permalink
Ha, that Genesis interview. Phil looking cream-crackered but still capable of having a laugh, Tony looking as insufferable as ever.
I don't need to see past their prime Simple Minds... *click*...
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Thursday, 21 March 2019 20:00 (five days ago) Permalink
Jim Kerr showing Bono how to really look and act like a pretentious cock on stage.
― just another country (snoball), Thursday, 21 March 2019 20:02 (five days ago) Permalink
While murdering one of their classics! I wish they'd had an argument over musical differences circa Sparkle in the Rain and broke up then.
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Thursday, 21 March 2019 20:03 (five days ago) Permalink
OK so they can say the full title of George Michael's 'I Want Your Sex' now that it's going down (unintentional pun) the charts?
― just another country (snoball), Friday, 22 March 2019 19:40 (four days ago) Permalink
The 'larking about backstage' video for 'Throwing It All Away' making me wish I was watching a contemporaneous Dire Straits video instead.
― just another country (snoball), Friday, 22 March 2019 19:46 (four days ago) Permalink