I take it the 39 peak for A Spaceman Came Travelling was simply on the back of the success of Lady In Red and we don't have a totp performance in the coming two weeks to look forward to?

It was. It had been released a few years earlier without success. I suppose the one advantage of LIR’s existence was that it gave me a chance to buy Spaceman. I can’t remember whether it was on TOTP. It’s been on TOTP2, hasn’t it?

It was. It had been released a few years earlier without success. I suppose the one advantage of LIR’s existence was that it gave me a chance to buy Spaceman. I can’t remember whether it was on TOTP. It’s been on TOTP2, hasn’t it?

 

I think Chris actually wrote the song in 1973!

I've just watched the second of last Friday's episodes. John Peel was in great acerbic form. The Bon Jovi,Europe and Berlin songs are all still played a lot now. I saw the singer from Swing Out Sister interviewed on one of those BBC4 music docs recently and she still has exactly the same hairstyle.

 

I also saw the Madness performance from the missing Mike Smith episode on youtube which was their final TOTP appearance. They had already decided to split up so they lined up at the end of the song and two of their guitars were turned around with "The End" written on them. One of them looked as if he was about to cry. At least they got back together eventually.

Haven't watched it yet but take advantage of Peelie, won't be long til he's gone :(

 

Must watch the missing Madness performance, they were on 4/5 times a year between 1979-84

There's only one more John Peel episode left from February 1987, looks like a good one so looking forward to it. The Christmas 1986 ep doesn't look too great though, both Chris De Burgh and Boris Gardiner have performances in that one :manson: not a good representation of that year at all

 

Today's was pretty lacklustre, no real standouts to me. Definitely a downslide from last weeks, hope tomorrow's is better.

Oh cool I wasn't sure if Chris would perform so glad he is!! Mike Smith must have had a lot of shows this year missed out plenty.

 

Didn't realise Peelie went as soon as Feb - sad times!!

Mike Smith was the presenter with the most appearances in both 1985 and 86, so it has been really annoying. Was checking the episode guide for TOTP in 87 and it does look like Gary Davies has more episodes than him that year so we should get a few more shown next year, especially with MS finally leaving in April 88-ish!

Edited December 21, 20186 yr by Tedward

Cant wait to see the reet petite video if they show it

Mike Smith was the presenter with the most appearances in both 1985 and 86, so it has been really annoying. Was checking the episode guide for TOTP in 87 and it does look like Gary Davies has more episodes than him that year so we should get a few more shown next year, especially with MS finally leaving in April 88-ish!

 

Didn't realise Mike left as early as April 1988. Did he leave radio 1 as well?

 

Do you have a link to the episode guide again? I lost mine.

 

Sorta feel like we are moving into the modern era a lot more especially when people like Mike and John peel leave. Nearly into the time I can remember which is bad. Wish they'd show the repeats late at night like they did this year!

Didn't realise Mike left as early as April 1988. Did he leave radio 1 as well?

 

Do you have a link to the episode guide again? I lost mine.

 

Sorta feel like we are moving into the modern era a lot more especially when people like Mike and John peel leave. Nearly into the time I can remember which is bad. Wish they'd show the repeats late at night like they did this year!

Zero clue on what he did at R1 mate but he was very on/off with it iirc. He leaves TOTP around the same point Michael Hull stops producing so thinking those two could be related!

 

Here's the episode guide I always use for TOTP, not many inconsistencies from what I've seen on it. All years covered + Christmas editions listed under extras!

 

https://episodecalendar.com/en/show/top-of-...ps-uk/season/43

Thanks that's the one I was looking for!!

 

Yeh Simon Bates and Steve Wright seem to go on until 1990 or so and them along with Peter Powell seem to have been there since 1977/78 which is a long time music wise and by the look of the show!

Thanks that's the one I was looking for!!

 

Yeh Simon Bates and Steve Wright seem to go on until 1990 or so and them along with Peter Powell seem to have been there since 1977/78 which is a long time music wise and by the look of the show!

Gary Davies, Simon Mayo, and Bruno Brookes also hang on until the 1991 relaunch of TOTP, in fact the latter two return in 1994 after Ric Blaxill takes over as producer!

Doesn't surprise me about Simon Mayo and Bruno as they were only really starting to present around 1985!

I saw the singer from Swing Out Sister interviewed on one of those BBC4 music docs recently and she still has exactly the same hairstyle.

 

'Break Out' is really the start of the cheesy pop sound that would dominate the late 80s that would culminate in the likes of Boy Meets Girl, isn't it! Good song though.

 

Cant wait to see the reet petite video if they show it

 

'Reet Petite' followed by 'Jack Your Body' at #1 at the start of 1987 though....both very random and unexpected #1s

Edited December 23, 20186 yr by SnowflakeSnake❄️

Things like Five Star are quite cheesy which started in late 85 are similar too imo!

I do quite like Five Star's run of singles from Silk & Steel, yes they're all cheesy but great pop songs imo. Don't care much for everything else that they did though, can definitely see why they started going down after 86!

"Stay out of my life" is criminally underrated, Denise Pearson doesn't get enough credit as a great vocalist. Also the middle-8 from "The Slighest touch" is just pop heaven!

Christmas edition, as I thought, was terrible. 1986 wasn't a completely terrible year for chart music, but it certainly was for #1's, and it was reflected by that episode. Lady In Red and that Boris Gardiner song are shite, When The Going Gets Tough is average at best + incredibly overplayed, and Spirit In The Sky is an average at best cover of the original imo. I only really liked West End Girls (which wasn't even released in 86) and Holding Back The Years (wasn't a #1!). Way too many songs only shown on video as well, surely they could've gotten some more acts in.

 

It's a shame they weren't doing the new years episodes at this point, if there was one this year it could've been great with lots of records that missed out on #1, was a lot of good ones that only peaked at #2.

Christmas edition 25/12/1986 presented by Peter Powell, Simon Bates, Janice Long & Gary Davies

 

Songs performed

 

Billy Ocean When The Going Gets Tough

The Communards Don't Leave Me This Way (Video)

A-Ha The Sun Always Shines on TV (Video)

Europe The Final Countdown (Video)

Dr & The Medics Spirit In The Sky

Cliff Richard & The Young Ones Livin Doll (Video)

Spitting Image The Chicken Song (Video)

Boris Gardiner I Wanna Wake Up With You

Diana Ross Chain Reaction (Video)

Berlin Take My Breath Away (Video)

Simply Red Holding Back The Years

Nick Berry Every Loser Wins (Video)

Falcao Rock me Amadeus (Video)

George Michael A Different Corner (Video)

Pet Shop Boys West End Boys

Madonna True Blue (Video)

Madonna Papa Don't Preach (Video)

Chris De Burgh Lady In Red

The Housemartins Caravan of Love (Video)

Jackie Wilson Reel Petite (Video) **Christmas No1**

Wham! The Edge of Heaven (Video)

 

Edited December 29, 20186 yr by Christmasteve201

I do quite like Five Star's run of singles from Silk & Steel, yes they're all cheesy but great pop songs imo. Don't care much for everything else that they did though, can definitely see why they started going down after 86!

 

Speaking of great 80s pop songs, there is a certain eponymous song I am looking forward to on TOTP 1987 which is one of my faves!

Edited December 29, 20186 yr by The Snake