Michael Hurll, TOTP producer for most of the 1980s has died. RIP :(

Thanks Fiesta, that means that I liked both sides of that particular Fleetwood Mac record. Personally, I tended to like their Peter Green inspired songs more than their later Stevie Nicks/Lindsay Buckingham era records, especially tracks like "Oh Well", a great song. A bit punky as well, in its attitude, when you think about it.

 

I missed the first ten minutes or so of last night's edition, will have to watch it again on the interactive service. Seemed like a good edition from what I did see, good soul from Danny Williams - his song was based on a Martini advert, was it not? Or maybe it was the other way around.

 

Great record from The Jam, All Around The World, again, like Eddie And The Hotrods Do Anything You Wanna Do, summed up the punk philosophy perfectly.

 

Good songs from top quality female singers like Candi Staton and Carly Simon as well, although I could have sworn Carly Simon's Nobody Does It Better - the theme from The Spy Who Loved Me - was a hit a bit later in that year.

 

Was it a group called Mink De Ville who did "Spanish Stroll"? I missed the name of the group. I remember the actual record oh so well, though.

 

On the down side, Donna Summer replaced at number one by Brotherhood Of Man. :angry:

 

The freshness and originality of I Feel Love toppled by Brotherhood of Man's watered down version of ABBA's classic Fernando. In my view, anyway.

 

But all in all, a decent episode from what I seen of it.

 

Trivia question for this week - Carly Simon's song was from The Spy Who Loved Me. So, I think this question might be fun to try - as many UK hits as one can think of that have been James Bond themes over the years.

 

The modern James Bond theme songs should be easy enough to recollect. But what about the Sean Connery early Bond films from the sixties? They might prove more of a stumbling block.

 

All the best,

 

bc B-)

 

 

Michael Hurll, TOTP producer for most of the 1980s has died. RIP :(

 

 

RIP how old was he? Sad news, eighties were a great decade for the programme.

Michael Hurll was 75.

 

Yes, Spanish Stroll was by Mink Deville. I ;oved it at the time and it still sounds good today.

 

I'm not very good at Bond themes beyond the obvious ones like Diamonds Are Forever and Goldfinger (both Shirley Bassey). There was also The Living Daylights (A-Ha), Duran Duran did A View To A Kill and Wings did Live And Let Die.

Off the top of my head (coz I could easily look it up on the Bond themes album I have):

 

From Russia With Love - Matt Monroe

Thunderball - Tom Jones

Moonraker - Shirley Bassey

 

My absolute favourite - Nancy Sinatra - You Only Live Twice

 

All Time High was dreadful but I can't remember who did it now. Think it was Rita Coolidge.

 

The Man With The Golden Gun - Lulu

Goldeneye - Tina Turner

Licence To Kill - Gladys Knight

Pretty sure Sheena Easton did one.

Carly Simon's bond theme is the only one that was a hit not to have the films name in its title, however it is mentioned within the lyrics of the song. My fave bond theme is License To Kill by Gladys Knight, probably closely followed by Live & Let Die by Wings

Edited September 26, 201212 yr by fiesta

Oh yeah Sheena Easton did For Your Eyes Only

loved this week's TOTP episode, for me it was the week the music changed noticeably, with electronic/ dance music (Space/Jean Michel jarre/Donna Summer) & punk (Adverts/Rods, Boomtown Rats) heralding in a new age of music. I went off to College shortly after for the first time with new exciting pop music picking up considerably as we said goodbye to old heroes Elvis & Marc Bolan.

Thank you for your Bond themes, popchartfreak has beaten me to it this week.

 

Was a good edition, one of the best for a long while, loved almost every record featured in it.

 

Was going to set a trivia question regarding Elvis, but naming his UK hits over the years would cause this thread to lengthen to the size of an encyclopaedia!

 

I have set one for Scottish and Welsh artists in the past, and The Boomtown Rats and Thin Lizzy were featured this week. So, question has to be - name some Irish acts to have graced the UK charts over the years. Will accept acts from both sides of the Irish border.

 

 

Should be a long long list.

 

All the best,

 

BC B-)

Let's ignore the dross such as the Nolans, Terry Wogan, Westlife and Boyzone and concentrate on the quality such as Ash and the Undertones (also Feargal Sharkey and Assembly) and the quirky such as The Frank And Walters and Sultans of Ping FC. Two Door Cinema Club haven't had a top 40 single :( but Alex Trimble now has courtesy of Underworld and the Olympic opening ceremony. Snow Patrol were formed in Scotland but the members are from Northern Ireland. And I suppose we should mentioin U2 as they have done quite well over the years. Also worthy of a mention

 

Stiff Little Fingers

The Pogues

Therapy?

 

His real name of Declan Patrick McManus gives away Elvis Costello's Irish ancestry but it's probably best to draw a veil over Declan Donnely.

Little fact about one of the songs on this weeks show-

The Adverts hit Gary Gilmores Eyes was inspired by the mass murderer who asked for his eyes to be donated to science after his execution.

Edited September 30, 201212 yr by fiesta

Thank you for your list, Suedehead, and your contribution Feista, I did know that about The Adverts record, but most would not.

 

 

When talking about Northern Irish pop music I would always add Van Morrison/Them in there as well, of course. A fantastic singer/songwriter, is Van.

I know Feargal got a mention up there but how can you not mention The Undertones? And the post break up band That Petrol Emotion, surely one of the most under-rated bands ever.

I know Feargal got a mention up there but how can you not mention The Undertones? And the post break up band That Petrol Emotion, surely one of the most under-rated bands ever.

 

 

I think Suedehead DID mention the Undertones, Grebo. :mellow:

 

That Petrol Emotion were a great band as well, agreed.

 

Some more Southern Irish acts that maybe we should pay lip service too, like Sinead O'Connor, The Corrs, Clannad, Enya. (I think that they are all from the Irish republic, I stand to be corrected) :unsure:

 

Maybe reference should be made to one of the highest rated films ever about pop music, a film that was set in Dublin, and featured some terrific soul sounds, all sung by an Irish "act". The Commitments, of course.

 

Should also be noted that The Beatles - who are in the news a lot at the moment - were of primarily Irish extraction. Both John and Paul, during their solo years, released records about the Irish situation, and John probably considered himself more Irish than English.

I think Suedehead DID mention the Undertones, Grebo. :mellow:

 

That Petrol Emotion were a great band as well, agreed.

 

Some more Southern Irish acts that maybe we should pay lip service too, like Sinead O'Connor, The Corrs, Clannad, Enya. (I think that they are all from the Irish republic, I stand to be corrected) :unsure:

 

Maybe reference should be made to one of the highest rated films ever about pop music, a film that was set in Dublin, and featured some terrific soul sounds, all sung by an Irish "act". The Commitments, of course.

 

Should also be noted that The Beatles - who are in the news a lot at the moment - were of primarily Irish extraction. Both John and Paul, during their solo years, released records about the Irish situation, and John probably considered himself more Irish than English.

Doh! Must have been more tired than I thought!

Did not enjoy this week's edition quite as much, still good records about from the likes of Elvis Costello, good soulish sounding records from Rita Coolidge and The Jacksons, and I thought that Way Down by the other Elvis was actually a good record, shame it needed such tragic circumstances to propel it to number one.

 

Interesting that older acts like David Essex were still appearing on top of the pops at this time.

 

Lots of Legs & Co this week, okay by me! :dance: :yahoo: Not particularly taken with David Soul's Silver Lady, Don't Give Up On Us was a much better sound, if a bit grinding on the ears after so many plays.

 

Carly Simon's Nobody Does It Better was class, though - Carly Simon seemed to average a big hit in the UK charts once every five years starting from 1972 over a period of about 15 to 20 years! Bizarre!

 

Trivia for this week concerns that postumous Elvis Presley number one. Simply, name some other postumous records to have topped the UK charts over the years after an act's death. I reckon at least half a dozen is achievable by most pop fans with a knowledge of pop history.

 

All the best.

 

BC B-)

 

 

I actually saw it this week, well most of it.

 

The only word to describe that Jacksons record was slight. Terrible song.

Costello was class and I do like the cover of Chuck Berry's Tulane although Joan Jett's version was better.

 

Never liked the Mink DeVille song and Nobody Does It Better was an ace Bond theme.

 

As for posthumous No 1s - John Lennon, Aaliyah, George Harrison, Buddy Holly(?), Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Cochran will do for starters.

Jackie Wilson, Freddy Mercury, Eva Cassidy, 2 Pac, Notorious B.I.G.

Edited October 5, 201212 yr by richie

I think John Lennon is the only act to achieve more than one posthumous number one. I cant think of any others. Buddy Holly did have one with It Doesnt Matter Anymore. Which was a bit of insensitive title for someone who had just died!

 

I watched the one from 1973 aswell, however I wasnt keen on Kenny Everett as a presenter.

Edited October 7, 201212 yr by fiesta

Buddy Holly did have one with It Doesnt Matter Anymore. Which was a bit of insensitive title for someone who had just died!

Not quite as apt as Eddie Cochran's - Three Steps To Heaven.