1978 Top of the Pops

[Cartman]

I cant remember which channel it was on now, one of the satellite ones, but over Christmas there was a compilation programme from 1978 Top of the Pops, showing some of the best from what is my favourite musical year.

Some great stuff on it, both Disco and New Wave, both of which I was a fan of. Some of the songs/artists on it from memory were Ian Dury - What a Waste, Blondie, Picture This, Yvonne Elliman, If I cant have you, Boomtown Rats, Rat Trap, Elvis Costello, Radio Radio, Chic, Everybody Dance, Motors, Airport

One thing which struck me was that at that time, I felt the music and talent were more important at that time than how you looked, in contrast to today. With the exception of Debbie Harry, who looked amazing in 78, and was also a fantastic talent, the other female artists on it were pleasant looking, but looked like the kind of girls you might run into on the bus on the way to work, or working at Boots/WH Smiths, or in the accounts department at work, rather than like superstars. 

[Joe Soda]

could it be "Top of the Pops - Story of 1978".

[Windy Miller]

This would have been Top Of The Pops 1978 - Big Hits.
In addition to Debbie Harry, also on that show are Olivia Newton-John and Kate Bush.
If girls like them are working in your local WH Smith, can I have the address please?

[Cartman]

Didn't remember Olivia and Kate being on, I think it was on a channel called Yesterday. Fair point too on those two lovely ladies! I was thinking of Yvonne Elliman and the two girls in Chic, they looked nice, but not like superstars.

[Arthur Pringle]

I think the reason that many female & male artists looked more 'ordinary' back then compared to today is that, in recent years, we've become obsessed ( or at least the media has ) with body image. In the 70's no one bothered too much about their teeth being perfect, men looking 'buff' or women having a fashionably big arse. Today it's the tabloid's national sport to analyse & judge anyone & everyone in the public eye in minute detail & unfortunately much of the public goes along with it. Women also looked more natural in the 70's as invasive cosmetic procedures were not commonplace as they are today. As for men, it's practically compulsory to have abs & pecs unless you want to be outed by the body fascists as having 'moobs' or a 'dad bod'.