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Top of the Pops on BBC4, Part Three - Now into 1990

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Suedehead2 View member profile	Jan 6 2018, 10:06 AM Post #1
BuzzJack Legend Joined: 13 April 2007 Posts: 36,647 User: 3,272	As the last thread was almost up to 50 pages the move into 1985 seems to be a good time to start a new thread. The regular Story Of and clips show were shown last night (I haven't seen them yet) and the first 1985 repeat is on Friday. The good news is that Friday's early evening show is the full 40 minutes. Whether that is a permanent change remains to be seen.


fiesta View member profile	Jan 6 2018, 11:37 AM Post #2
BuzzJack Enthusiast Joined: 15 March 2006 Posts: 1,630 User: 232	watched the story of 1985, didnt realise Holding out for a hero was released in 1984, just checked it was released in April 1984 and didnt chart until August 1985, without a reissue- so it took 16 months to chart that must be a record.. as for Dead Or alive I have found a Big Ben Mix, Performance mix and a Murder mix...but no TDF mix? funny story though


TheSnake View member profile	Jan 7 2018, 03:39 PM Post #3
Say that hiss with your chest, and... Joined: 24 May 2016 Posts: 18,420 User: 23,308	So many songs I like from from 1985 just from looking at the top 10 singles of the year. Tarzan Boy is probably my favourite of the top 10 hits from the year! This post has been edited by The Snake : Jan 7 2018, 03:39 PM


Steve201 View member profile	Jan 11 2018, 01:48 AM Post #4
Shakin Stevens Joined: 29 December 2007 Posts: 46,114 User: 5,138	Why was there 2 episodes of totps 1981 on BBC 4 tonight?? Are we officially having one episode per week now or two? I assume Mike Smith introduces a lot of episodes this year? So we miss out on the final months of Peter Powell?


King Rollo View member profile	Jan 11 2018, 11:00 AM Post #5
BuzzJack Platinum Member Joined: 3 January 2017 Posts: 10,128 User: 23,961	They've been showing 1981 episodes all week. A bit of spare airtime to fill I suppose. I think 1985 episodes will only be on Friday nights.


Steve201 View member profile	Jan 11 2018, 11:24 PM Post #6
Shakin Stevens Joined: 29 December 2007 Posts: 46,114 User: 5,138	Good so they must be only showing one a week and we will hopefully get a full year, although I'm aware there's a lot of Mike episodes this year. I was quite surprised to see a clip of him in The Story of last week!


house.martin View member profile	Jan 12 2018, 01:41 PM Post #7
BuzzJack Enthusiast Joined: 7 March 2006 Posts: 529 User: 68	Was in two minds about following TOTP from 1985 onwards. I started to find a fair bit of pop music that came out from 1985 onwards, to be somehow less exciting. I don't know why, I can't quite put my finger on it. And it seemed to happen almost overnight. Perhaps it's just me


King Rollo View member profile	Jan 12 2018, 02:36 PM Post #8
BuzzJack Platinum Member Joined: 3 January 2017 Posts: 10,128 User: 23,961	It's not just you. 1979 to 1984 was the golden era for top 40 music. While the rest of the 80s were still very good,there was less innovation.


Steve201 View member profile	Jan 12 2018, 07:20 PM Post #9
Shakin Stevens Joined: 29 December 2007 Posts: 46,114 User: 5,138	I know what you mean - the beats just got harder as the years went by, but there still life in it yet. Watched a 1981 episode this week and the changes in the studio were huge in just 4 years!


Suedehead2 View member profile	Jan 12 2018, 08:06 PM Post #10
BuzzJack Legend Joined: 13 April 2007 Posts: 36,647 User: 3,272	Yes, the TOTP repeats are back and were are in to 1985. As a special treat we get the full 40-minute version this evening. John Peel gets the new year started along with Richard Skinner. Smiley Culture gets things under way. A later encounter with a police officer proved more controversial. The first part of the chart rundown already. Apparently we will be told why soon. Up next is Sal Solo, away from Classix Nouveaux with a rather lovely single. Second bit of the chart. Oh, now we get clips from the whole of the top ten - by popular demand apparently. What a shame it starts with a dirge from Foreigner. The rundown pauses at number nine for the whole of Paul Young’s song. He’s on again later. Tears For Fears time now as they are at number eight. Not their best song by any means, but still a good ‘un. Back to top ten clips with Frankie Goes To Hollywood and Ray Parker Jr. From the (relatively) sublime to the ridiculous with The Toy Dolls at number five. The word trump has a rather different meaning now. Next up is Madonna at number four. Like a virgin? I’m not convinced. I think we’d soon get bored of a modern- day TOTP devoting most of the programme to the top ten today. Clip time again with The Frog Chorus. Here’s the cunning part of Wham’s double a-side ploy. Now that Christmas is over, they can just play the other side. You know, the one everybody has forgotten. Not content with breaking all sorts of records, Band Aid are still number one. We play out with Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five. I wonder if they’ve calmed down by now.


TheSnake View member profile	Jan 12 2018, 10:27 PM Post #11
Say that hiss with your chest, and... Joined: 24 May 2016 Posts: 18,420 User: 23,308	QUOTE(King Rollo @ Jan 12 2018, 02:36 PM) It's not just you. 1979 to 1984 was the golden era for top 40 music. While the rest of the 80s were still very good,there was less innovation. I do think there was innovation certainly in pop looking at the chart archives, any cheesy dated sounding tracks from the early 80s such as the Bucks Fizz type stuff had gone and there was more sensible tracks like If I Was, Everybody Wants To Rule The World, Tarzan Boy, Don't You Forget About Me etc. Then of course in about two years or so the Stock Aitken Waterman cheesefest would begin But the early songs they produced like 'You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)' are good. There seems to be less electronic dance tracks than 1984 though in the chart which is disappointing, although there was arguably the danciest song up to that time to make the chart at the end of the year with 'Hit That Perfect Beat'. Electronic music innovators Depeche Mode also seemed to away from electronic dance and more towards indie later in 1985 too. This post has been edited by The Snake : Jan 13 2018, 12:13 AM


Steve201 View member profile	Jan 12 2018, 11:17 PM Post #12
Shakin Stevens Joined: 29 December 2007 Posts: 46,114 User: 5,138	We skip 10/1/85 and next week have 17/1/85 - think there will be a lot of this in 1985 due to Mike Smith unfort - has DLT totally left by this stage?


King Rollo View member profile	Jan 13 2018, 10:24 PM Post #13
BuzzJack Platinum Member Joined: 3 January 2017 Posts: 10,128 User: 23,961	I do like that Sal Solo song. I wonder how many of the boys choir were watching themselves last night. They would be in their 40s now.


TheSnake View member profile	Jan 13 2018, 10:27 PM Post #14
Say that hiss with your chest, and... Joined: 24 May 2016 Posts: 18,420 User: 23,308	QUOTE(Steve201 @ Jan 12 2018, 11:17 PM) We skip 10/1/85 and next week have 17/1/85 - think there will be a lot of this in 1985 due to Mike Smith unfort Why can't they just cut out the Mike Smith bits and just show the performances without introduction. This post has been edited by The Snake : Jan 13 2018, 10:28 PM


Steve201 View member profile	Jan 14 2018, 03:43 PM Post #15
Shakin Stevens Joined: 29 December 2007 Posts: 46,114 User: 5,138	They showed a Mike Smith clip in the story of last week as well which makes it stranger. By all accounts there's a lot in 1985 with him in it!


Suedehead2 View member profile	Jan 14 2018, 03:58 PM Post #16
BuzzJack Legend Joined: 13 April 2007 Posts: 36,647 User: 3,272	QUOTE(Steve201 @ Jan 14 2018, 03:43 PM) They showed a Mike Smith clip in the story of last week as well which makes it stranger. By all accounts there's a lot in 1985 with him in it! I assume that is not covered by the rules governing repeats - in the same way that they were able to show clips of his work when he died.


King Rollo View member profile	Jan 21 2018, 07:33 PM Post #17
BuzzJack Platinum Member Joined: 3 January 2017 Posts: 10,128 User: 23,961	There are two episodes this week,one on Thursday,one on Friday.


Steve201 View member profile	Jan 21 2018, 10:09 PM Post #18
Shakin Stevens Joined: 29 December 2007 Posts: 46,114 User: 5,138	That'll speed things up along with the missing episodes we could still do two years this week!


fiesta View member profile	Jan 26 2018, 08:28 PM Post #19
BuzzJack Enthusiast Joined: 15 March 2006 Posts: 1,630 User: 232	Cant believe skinner said springsteen was usa's answer to russ abbott!


Suedehead2 View member profile	Jan 26 2018, 09:12 PM Post #20
BuzzJack Legend Joined: 13 April 2007 Posts: 36,647 User: 3,272	QUOTE(fiesta @ Jan 26 2018, 08:28 PM) Cant believe skinner said springsteen was usa's answer to russ abbott! I think (hope) it was just a feeble attempt at John Peel-like humour.. Hard too believe looking at them that Abbot is only two years older than Springsteen (almost to the day).