What did people think of the Ramones record at the time I wonder?

 

Yeah, it was weird that they missed out Iron Maiden as I think the announcer even mentioned them before it started. They should have cut Cliff as he was on a couple of weeks ago.

What did people think of the Ramones record at the time I wonder?

 

Yeah, it was weird that they missed out Iron Maiden as I think the announcer even mentioned them before it started.

 

 

Yes they did and Maiden and Shaky were also listed on the Freeview summary for last night's episode. I was annoyed that they cut Shaky as I think he's great. As you say, Cliff should have got the chop instead.

The repeat episode features the full complement as far as I recall so watch out for that for the Maiden and Shaky.

 

Looking up on polyhex, I see that it was 'Hot Dog' that Shaky had out - not heard that in ages, I'll look forward to seeing the full show.

What did people think of the Ramones record at the time I wonder?

 

Yeah, it was weird that they missed out Iron Maiden as I think the announcer even mentioned them before it started. They should have cut Cliff as he was on a couple of weeks ago.

 

The ramones track at the time seemed an odd choice as it had been a big hit in 1973 for Dave Edmunds who out-Spector'd Spector leaving the New version sound limp and whimsical. It was great the rambles got a hit but do you remember rock n roll radio was way better....

That is the single worst Ramones track released as a single.

 

It was completely showed up when they played Rockaway Beach on Scooby Doo of all places(?)

 

As for the rest, a very mixed bag.

But why play the same songs for the umpteenth time and not play two newcomers to the chart/show.

 

Oh and Shaky always was absolutely shit.

 

With the Winter Olympics over, TOTP was back in its usual Thursday slot, just after Tomorrow’s World. It was followed by alleged comedians Lennie Bennett and Jerry Stevens.

 

Jefferson Starship over the chart.

 

Elvis Costello gets us off to a good start.

 

Marti Webb making her contribution to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s coffers.

 

The Vapors with a song that was everywhere at the time. It’s not creepy at all. Lead guitatrist Ed Bazalgette is the great-great-great-grandson of Joseph Bazalgette who played a major part in designing London’s sewers. Another Bazalgette gave us Big Brother.

 

The Michael Jackson video has been edited out.

 

On to some rubbish from Liquid Gold.

 

The rubbish continues with a re-release from the Gibson Brothers.

 

Unforgivably, the Peter Gabriel version is for viewers of the late-night repeat only.

 

Stiff Little Fingers have also been cut again.

 

Dave Edmunds with a rather plodding cover. This is no I Hear You Knocking.

 

Legs & Co do their thang to The Police’s tribute to Sue Lawley. None of them have dressed accordingly. Sue Lawley was on Nationwide earlier in the evening.

 

Rainbow are also victim’s of the editor’s knife.

 

The Shadows with one of their uninspiring covers. The syndrums don’t exactly help.

 

Good news - Kenny Rogers is no longer number one. Even better news - he is replaced by Blondie.

 

And, over the end credits, a cover of a Bertolt Brecht / Kurt Weill song from David Bowie.

Blonde really was on fire in this era.

 

I find myself using Polyhex a lot watching TOTPs 1980, that's cos I didn't live at the time lol. We must be nearly out of the Saville era now are we?

Blonde really was on fire in this era.

 

I find myself using Polyhex a lot watching TOTPs 1980, that's cos I didn't live at the time lol. We must be nearly out of the Saville era now are we?

Good to see that some people are giving themselves a history lesson :D We skip a week before next week's which will probably mean several repeat performances. There will be a long gap in the summer because there was a strike at the BBC. I assume this will roughly coincide with the Proms.

 

After the strike, the programme got a bit of a revamp. That may be when Savile ceased to be a regular presenter. He was still on the programme but his appearances may not have been so frequent. Perhaps somebody else can provide more info.

alleged comedian Lennie Bennett

 

What!? One of my favourites growing up - and not just for Lucky Ladders either!

 

Theres a good song to remember for Pointless, The Alabama song by David Bowie, had to check didn't even know it was a hit single. (#23)

 

Elvis Costello the best song of the night

Good to see that some people are giving themselves a history lesson :D We skip a week before next week's which will probably mean several repeat performances. There will be a long gap in the summer because there was a strike at the BBC. I assume this will roughly coincide with the Proms.

 

After the strike, the programme got a bit of a revamp. That may be when Savile ceased to be a regular presenter. He was still on the programme but his appearances may not have been so frequent. Perhaps somebody else can provide more info.

 

I love heading songs I know well and hear nowadays but didn't know they were either in the chart at one stage or were massive hits. One recent example is the bit by the Piranhas loved when I heard it on TOTPs a few weeks back.

We have skipped a week as the intervening show was hosted by DLT so there will be some repeats from last week. With luck, some of them will have been cut from the short version. For some reason, there’s a Moody Blues clip from the 60s. Which song was cut to accommodate this? And now more flippin’ trailers. TOTP will be down to about ten minutes soon.

 

Four minutes late and we’re finally underway. A good start to the show this week with some Rush over the chart.

 

Then it all goes horribly wrong with the Dooleys. Oh, and there’s a proper intro rather than going straight to the “song”.

 

The first repeat of the week comes from The Police. No Legs & Co this time.

 

A two-song medley from the Detroit Spinners, accompanied by Legs & Co. Can they do an interpretative dance to two different songs? Apparently it’s all to do with road works. Ho hum.

 

This week’s forgotten song would have been a top-ten hit from Brothers Johnson. However, it has been cut. Does this mean another repeat has survived?

 

The “Blimey, they had a third hit” slot is filled by Secret Affair. It’s actually not a bad song but I don’t remember it at all.

 

Liquid Gold are cut, for which many thanks.

 

After failing to make the cut last time, Rainbow are axed again. There doesn’t seem to be any logic to determine what gets cut.

 

The Vapors are another repeat. Even Steve Wright’s racist introduction hasn’t consigned them to the cutting-room floor. A bit like the Jam? They were managed by Paul Weller’s dad and Bruce Foxton. And don’t forget the dropped drumstick.

 

On to Siouxsie and the Banshees sounding very much like Siouxsie and the Banshees. Not that that is a bad thing, of course.

 

Gibson Brothers next - another repeat that should have been binned.

 

Good sense is restored as Peter Gabriel’s video is shown this time. Not that they showed much of it. I suppose it could have been worse. If Stuart Hall had been in the video for Jeux Sans Frontieres, they wouldn’t have shown any of it.

 

The Dooleys and Sue Lawley are now trending on Twitter!

 

Marti Webb has been cut.

 

Peter Gabriel’s old mates from Genesis are next with their first TOTP appearance. They would never have done anything so commercial while he was in the band. Sadly, they went on to do a lot worse.

 

Sadly, we missed Blondie’s second week at number one. We have to put up with Fern Kinney instead.

 

Now Steve Wright is trending - and not in a good way.

 

Finally, we get The Captain & Tennille over the end-credits. This was their only top ten hit.

love that Moody Blues track, though not sure why it's on. Love most of the tracks, to be honest, Secret Affair is a forgotten gem along with some others, and the rest I like.

 

I'm just so full of love for music :lol:

There was nothing wrong with the Moody Blues track per se. However, I don't know why they showed it. Maybe they realised at the last minute that the editor had been a little too enthusiastic :lol:

Hmm, I have the full show taped but I'm debating whether to watch it having read that review! Maybe just fast forward to Siouxsie...

When I turned over for TOTP's and The Moody Blues was on I thought they'd moved Sounds Of The Sixties from Friday to Thursday at the last minute :lol:

 

Secret Affair and Genesis my fave tracks this week

 

I like Peter Gabriel but never been keen on Games.. I imagine the line "Jane plays with Willy, Willy is happy again" must have got a few giggles in the school playground :lol:

I imagine the line "Jane plays with Willy, Willy is happy again" must have got a few giggles in the school playground :lol:

 

Not just the playground, I still smirk when I hear it.

The general election hasn’t led to UKIP’s Mike Read being banned, so this week’s episode survives. As usual, it followed Tomorrow’s World. Later in the evening, a former TW presenter, James Burke, had a new series on BBC1.

 

Detroit Spinners over the chart.

 

The Bodysnatchers get the first full performance. Another ska band trying to keep the unemployment figures down. Oh, and a sexist comment from UKIP’s Mike Read. There’s a surprise.

 

Squeeze up next with another one of their tales. They seem to be keeping Jools Holland away from the cameras this time.

 

Some good Canadian rock from Rush, accompanied by Legs & Co and some awful vvisual effects. Only on TOTP.

 

Sad Cafe with a song that isn’t Every Day Hurts. This made the top twenty, but I’ve forgotten it.

 

The Lambrettas with some harmless fun.

 

It’s now March (in 1980 TOTP-land), so here’s Barbara Dickson with January February. Still, she gets extra points for pronouncing both Rs in February.

 

Shakin’ Stevens survives the editor’s axe this time. Who knew that he would end up having so many hits? The other Michael Barratt had left Nationwide by now. He was 87 in January.

 

Ab guest appearance from David Soul followed by the debut appearance for UB40, another act who ended up with a large collection of hits.

 

More good stuff from Canada with Martha and the Muffins. Two good songs from Canada. That must be a record for a single programme. It should have been David Jensen doing this programme wearing his national flag.

 

BA Robertson, with another song completely overshadowed by his first hit, is the only act cut from the short version. See him later tonight if you wish.

 

After the slush of Fern Kinney, quality returns to the top in the form of The Jam. Going Underground was, of course, famously released on a Monday so that the first week’s sales coincided with the chart week. Eventually, all releases were scheduled for Monday, then Sunday when downloads became the dominant form. That era comes to an end in the summer.

 

Somebody needs to give UKIP’s Mike Read a dictionary and explain what unique means. You cannot achieve something unique and join a list of other people who have done the same thing.

 

Finally, another play for The Vapors over the closing credits brings to an end a fairly decent programme this week.

love them all except for Shaky's Hot Dog. Ooeerrr....

Man, who cuts the legendary BA Robertson? Will be watching the extended version tonight - ta for a good rundown!