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Post by Windy Miller on Dec 11, 2015 9:46:51 GMT
A very entertaining run through of all the songs in the charts during my last full year in education.... yes I did do some!! It's a shame the last two shows can't be shown; if you can cut out the presenters Del I'd love to see them again. I shall try to get them sorted DD. Its a bit crap to have to leave it on the 18th of Dec editon. This year 1980 has been the worst for all the holes in the coverage. Next year is still going to suffer. DLT lost his appeal against his conviction this week so they wont show his ep's. The strike at the BBC impacted a lot of the summer Top Of The Pops in 1980, along with the Yewtree'd episodes. There are 54 episodes in 1981 and 17 of them will not be shown because they are hosted by Saville or Travis - that's a third that we're not going to be able to watch.
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Del Boy
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Post by Del Boy on Dec 11, 2015 15:09:26 GMT
1981 i believe brought about a rise in the singles sales figures after its gentle glide down from the charts record breaking 1979 peak.
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Post by Windy Miller on Dec 11, 2015 19:44:06 GMT
A great way to end the run of 1980 Top Of The Pops with the pre Christmas edition, broadcast on 18/12/1980. Simon Bates hosts and fluffs his way through the show, his opening line setting the benchmark, “It's the last Christmas Top Of The Pops before the Christmas Top Of The Pops, if you see what I mean." Err... ??? The party atmosphere is turned up to the max with the audience bopping about in appropriate paper hats throwing balloons around. Mr Bates is joined on stage by a trio of TOTP t-shirt wearing, gum-chewing, peace-sign giving, face-pulling delightful young ladies. One up for the atmosphere already, Mr Hurll ? First on stage are The Beat, singing “Too Nice To Talk To”, a song about struggling to pluck up the courage to approach an attractive member of the opposite sex at the local dance establishment before lights-up at Twenty past Two. Oh, I wish I could change my 1980 Top 20 list to include this. In fact, there’s nothing from The Beat is the selection to vote on – what were we all thinking ? The bass player from The Specials is on stage with The Beat, having swapped places with The Beat’s bass player, who turns up in the “Do Nothing” performance wearing the Christmas jumper his Gran probably knitted for him (“Grandma, We Love You”). Little & Large make a guest appearance and provide great hilarity with that witty, fast paced banter that they both share. The laughs didn't stop there though, as The Barron Knights take stage to sing “Never Mind The Presents”. Pink Floyd's 'Another Brick In The Wall', 'Day Trip to Bangor (Didn't We Have a Lovely Time)' by folky Fiddler's Dram and (from the Abbey Hey Junior School) The Ramblers with The Sparrow are the songs receiving alternative lyrics all in the name of amusement. Robert Palmer “Looking For Clues” is a repeat showing. Mr Bates in his introduction reminds us of one of Palmer’s previous hits, “John and Mary” – No, I don’t remember it either Chas & Dave's “Rabbit” song title originates from Cockney rhyming slang - Rabbit and Pork => Talk - abbreviating the slang for actual London authenticity, ‘Guv. The song mentions the supermarket chain Sainsburys, whose shelves are apparently stocked full of game. Yes, whenever I want a rabbit for dinner, Sainsburys is always my first choice John Lennon “(Just Like) Starting Over” is at No. 1, and not a surprise following the fatal circumstances from ten days previous. Legs & Co. have changed the routine this time round, and it’s treated with deserved respect, the dance performed in a sombre, reflective mood.
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Del Boy
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Post by Del Boy on Dec 11, 2015 21:44:23 GMT
Good review as ever Windy .. thanks pal Here's how i saw it TOTP December 18th 1980
Picking up on previous conversations we've had re-50's revival stuff, its been alive and kicking all through 1980 with acts such as Matchbox ,Showaddywaddy, Shakin Stevens and Stray Cats . This style has been a regular feature in the charts from aprx 1978 onwards. For me i don't like most of it but if you're going to do it the Stray Cats - Runaway Boys that was played on the intro is the way to go about it. THE BEAT – Too Nice To Talk ToAnother good sounding track from the beat who have had a good year. Gets a ST. WINIFRED’S SCHOOL CHOIR – There’s No-One Quite Like GrandmaWe love a novelty record in this country and the music moguls know how to get the record buying the public to part with their cash. I remember the mums and nans liking this one back in the day. And this single as a christmas prezzie for them propelled this song high up the chart. How many times did they spin it after Crimbo 1980 ? yeah probably never THE BARRON KNIGHTS – Never Mind The PresentsSee above comments The links between sections of this song were so Sloooooow that i thought it had finished twice before it did. THE SPECIALS – Do NothingThis ones ok. Nothing too Special but not a classic GARY NUMAN – WreckageOops Gal had a bit of a nervy interview before playing this hit. Wreckage continues the previous good work of the Numan ROBERT PALMER – Looking For CluesAn ok effort from RP here. I don't remember this one but you can see Rob has grown into the pop direction he took after the rock based 70's part of his career. CHAS & DAVE – RabbitWhats not to like about a bit of Rockney This is a great little singalong number guaranteed to p*** the girls off if you look their way while you sing it. Even though Chas and Dave are Tottenham fans i'll give em a THE NOLANS – Who’s Gonna Rock You
Oh dear, dreary number from this dreary band. Such weak little voices and even weaker dance routines. JONA LEWIE – Stop The CavalryAlthough Jona's fairly lazy kind of delivery can grate a bit this track is a decent effort at a christmas record JOHN LENNON – (Just Like) Starting OverThe nation was shocked at the terrible news of John's untimely death and bought the single which propelled it back up the charts from number 21 just before his death to number 1. RIP John Lennon Thanks for the excellent music you left us with. >>>> Remembering John Lennon Thread <<<<
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Post by Windy Miller on Dec 17, 2015 20:55:09 GMT
If the last episodes are available online i will see if i can edit them for us to review. Thanks Windy for your work on this thread and to all the other regular contributors Steve Austin, Dirty Epic, Arthur, Gene. Yes Del, if you can put an edit in, then that would be good. Jimmy Saville is all over Coleen Nolan again, and it's just disgusting. Worth watching is the Legs & Co "Funky Town" routine where the girls are back on form in every way. It's a travesty to human justice that John Lennon did not hold the Christmas No. 1 position. It was taken from him by The St. Winifred's School Choir
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Post by Windy Miller on Dec 17, 2015 21:23:16 GMT
If the last episodes are available online i will see if i can edit them for us to review. Thanks Windy for your work on this thread and to all the other regular contributors Steve Austin, Dirty Epic, Arthur, Gene. And to superclassic, Ronnie Kray, Sam Tyler, Vienna, Perfect Pseudonym, Tyne Tees Colour, The Saint, Bronson and Cartman who also contributed to the chat over the year
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Post by Arthur Pringle on Dec 17, 2015 22:31:34 GMT
The 7" of 'Never Mind The Presents' used to get an airing in past Christmases when we had a record player ( along with the Spinners Christmas album ), it's been in the loft for the last 20 yrs now.
Snuff ( punk group from North London area ) did a good cover of 'Do Nothing'
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Post by Dirty Epic on Dec 18, 2015 8:38:52 GMT
It's a travesty to human justice that John Lennon did not hold the Christmas No. 1 position. It was taken from him by The St. Winifred's School Choir Yeah FFS was going on back then.... VERY Father Ted that crap mate.
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Post by Arthur Pringle on Dec 18, 2015 14:44:40 GMT
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Post by Windy Miller on Dec 18, 2015 17:30:41 GMT
Dirty Bertie Appropriate on so many levels Arthur. I don't knowhow you find all these newspaper clips.
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