A coloured vinyl disc, that is why. Not sure which colour.
More a picture disc - http://s.pixogs.com/image/R-522746-1128348688.jpeg
The pure white went off-colour pretty quickly to a yellowy cream. You can't see from the pic, but it came iin a transparent sleeve with black edges.
Very thick vinyl, and the sound quality was surprisingly good for a piture disc. The B side 'Moving In Stereo' is a fine, moody piece.
The sales were helped by them touring the UK at the time, (Sussex University, since you asked, C ) and being darlings of NME.
After all, he was the new kid on the block at Radio 1 and not only that but was thrown into the deep end immediately with TOTP too. Someone must have liked him. That was quite a rapid and stratospheric rise. What had he been doing in the immediate period before 1978 that led to this? I bet there were a few backstairs resentments from a few DJ's behind the scenes when newer, younger presenters came along. Mike Read still looks and sounds much the same too, doesn't he.
Yes - I think all of the newer DJs - Mike Read, Peter Powell, Simon Bates ...- must all have felt really priviledged to get a presenting job on TV's top music show! Especially, like you say - others would've been waiting in the wings!
Yes - I think all of the newer DJs - Mike Read, Peter Powell, Simon Bates ...- must all have felt really priviledged to get a presenting job on TV's top music show! Especially, like you say - others would've been waiting in the wings!
I know Simon Bates had already begun doing the Sunday chart show on the radio by this point in 1978 but I don't think he had yet presented his first edition of TOTP. Someone here will probably have the answer to when that comes along.
I don't much care for the Cars track, My Best Friend's Girl. Equally surprising that for a previously uncharted act they crashed straight into the chart at No10 with a rather average song I think, which ended up top three. Much prefer a song that missed the Top 75 seven years later, Heartbreak City. Was there any particular reason this Cars track proved so popular and charted unusually highly for the time?
As mentioned above, I believe it was the first commercially available picture single in the UK.
It was in 1978 that some singles started being released on coloured vinyl; particularly disco and punk singles. At least, I'm not aware of any from earlier. Though most of my coloured vinyl is 12" singles from 1979. I have a pink 7" single by Sylvester.
More a picture disc - http://s.pixogs.com/image/R-522746-1128348688.jpeg
The pure white went off-colour pretty quickly to a yellowy cream. You can't see from the pic, but it came iin a transparent sleeve with black edges.
Very thick vinyl, and the sound quality was surprisingly good for a piture disc. The B side 'Moving In Stereo' is a fine, moody piece.
The sales were helped by them touring the UK at the time, (Sussex University, since you asked, C ) and being darlings of NME.
That explains it. A picture disc. I do remember this from the time, and there was much fuss. It had a big role in the chart position.:)
I agree that Mike Read's debut on TOTP tonight was rather wooden and the interview in the middle was a bit of a cringe, but we can forgive it and put it down to nerves I suppose. After all, he was the new kid on the block at Radio 1 and not only that but was thrown into the deep end immediately with TOTP too. Someone must have liked him. That was quite a rapid and stratospheric rise. What had he been doing in the immediate period before 1978 that led to this? I bet there were a few backstairs resentments from a few DJ's behind the scenes when newer, younger presenters came along. Mike Read still looks and sounds much the same too, doesn't he.
Mike Read started off as a DJ on our local radio station in Reading, Radio 210. (it eventually morphed into yet another Heart clone station). :mad:
Steve Wright also worked at 210; Mike and Steve briefly presented the "Read and Wright show" IIRC. Thy both left for brief stints at Radio Luxembourg before ending up on Radio 1, one after the other. I think the people of Reading were very proud of their two ex DJs becoming household names.
I know Simon Bates had already begun doing the Sunday chart show on the radio by this point in 1978 but I don't think he had yet presented his first edition of TOTP. Someone here will probably have the answer to when that comes along.
December 6th 1979 was Bates's first show so we only have over a year to wait before his BBC Four debut now 1979 looks likely.
It was in 1978 that some singles started being released on coloured vinyl; particularly disco and punk singles. At least, I'm not aware of any from earlier. Though most of my coloured vinyl is 12" singles from 1979. I have a pink 7" single by Sylvester.
BIB - plastic punks Jet Bronx and the Forbidden released their single 'Ain't Doin' Nothin'' on red vinyl in late 1977 which peaked at No. 49 on the official BBC chart.
The song was written by their lead singer and guitarist Loyd Grossman who went on to appear in TV programmes such as 'Through the Keyhole' and 'Masterchef'.
Mike Read started off as a DJ on our local radio station in Reading, Radio 210. (it eventually morphed into yet another Heart clone station). :mad:
Steve Wright also worked at 210; Mike and Steve briefly presented the "Read and Wright show" IIRC. Thy both left for brief stints at Radio Luxembourg before ending up on Radio 1, one after the other. I think the people of Reading were very proud of their two ex DJs becoming household names.
BIB - plastic punks Jet Bronx and the Forbidden released their single 'Ain't Doin' Nothin'' on red vinyl in late 1977 which peaked at No. 49 on the official BBC chart.
Been racking my brains and the interwebthingy trying to think of singles that were on coloured vinyl before 1978 (other than children's records, which had been continually since the 1950s). Plenty of albums (Dave Mason, Saturnalia, Faust ...), but not singles
I've come across two I never knew at the time - ELO 'Mr Blue Sky' (blue vinyl of course) and 'Sweet Talking Woman' (purple), both 1977. And I'd forgotten about Foreigner's 'Cold As Ice' in clear sleeve with 'ice-coloured vinyl', also 1977.
Earliest I've found so far is Little Nell's 'Do The Swim' on bright red vinyl on A&M in 1976.
Been racking my brains and the interwebthingy trying to think of singles that were on coloured vinyl before 1978 (other than children's records, which had been continually since the 1950s). Plenty of albums (Dave Mason, Saturnalia, Faust ...), but not singles
I've come across two I never knew at the time - ELO 'Mr Blue Sky' (blue vinyl of course) and 'Sweet Talking Woman' (purple), both 1977. And I'd forgotten about Foreigner's 'Cold As Ice' in clear sleeve with 'ice-coloured vinyl', also 1977.
Earliest I've found so far is Little Nell's 'Do The Swim' on bright red vinyl on A&M in 1976.
Wasn't there a run of the whole OOTB album on blue vinyl?
So I'm not going mental then? They really DID play the film clips on TOTP back in 1978 and now they're slotting in those horrible cheesy routines to save money in the present day?
Thanks for the explanation because I have very strong memories of sitting in Chemistry on Friday mornings discussing Sandy's black pedal pushers.
Another track we'll lose in 1979/1980 - or tracks - will be a lot of Hazel O'Connor stuff as Eighth Day used the film clip from breaking Glass...
Just caught Chas & Dave on the late edition of tonight's TOTP. They never ever change do they! That's a compliment by the way, as I saw them just a few days ago on Later...with Jools.
Also interesting to see Liquid Gold appearing on TOTP in late 1978. I had no idea they were around this early on, and thought Dance Yourself Dizzy, their No2 smash from spring 1980 was their debut. That is another guilty pleasure on my iPod.
Thanks to Chemical2009 for the date of Simon Bates debut on TOTP, I knew someone would know. Also some nice background about Mike Read pre-his debut 1978 appearance from Darren.
You really couldn't make up the musician's union nonsense over Geldof and pretending to play a sax on his own damned record! A typical 70's sounding anecdote there. Britain may have been the "sick man of Europe" as they said by 1978, but at least the ill country had some damned good music to convalesce to.
Mike Read started off as a DJ on our local radio station in Reading, Radio 210. (it eventually morphed into yet another Heart clone station). :mad:
Steve Wright also worked at 210; Mike and Steve briefly presented the "Read and Wright show" IIRC. Thy both left for brief stints at Radio Luxembourg before ending up on Radio 1, one after the other. I think the people of Reading were very proud of their two ex DJs becoming household names.
Did ex BBC Radio Birmingham Dj Peter Powell get much coverage locally when he joined TOTP?
Just an anecdote to illustrate. I saw the Buzzcocks in New castle, supported by Joy Division no less, in October 1979. They were ranting and rowing on stage, and theirs was a frustrating performance. They were simply losing momentum.:eek:
Just caught Chas & Dave on the late edition of tonight's TOTP. They never ever change do they! That's a compliment by the way, as I saw them just a few days ago on Later...with Jools.
Also interesting to see Liquid Gold appearing on TOTP in late 1978. I had no idea they were around this early on, and thought Dance Yourself Dizzy, their No2 smash from spring 1980 was their debut. That is another guilty pleasure on my iPod.
Thanks to Chemical2009 for the date of Simon Bates debut on TOTP, I knew someone would know. Also some nice background about Mike Read pre-his debut 1978 appearance from Darren.
You really couldn't make up the musician's union nonsense over Geldof and pretending to play a sax on his own damned record! A typical 70's sounding anecdote there. Britain may have been the "sick man of Europe" as they said by 1978, but at least the ill country had some damned good music to convalesce to.
Comments
http://s.pixogs.com/image/R-522746-1128348688.jpeg
The pure white went off-colour pretty quickly to a yellowy cream. You can't see from the pic, but it came iin a transparent sleeve with black edges.
Very thick vinyl, and the sound quality was surprisingly good for a piture disc. The B side 'Moving In Stereo' is a fine, moody piece.
The sales were helped by them touring the UK at the time, (Sussex University, since you asked, C
Yes - I think all of the newer DJs - Mike Read, Peter Powell, Simon Bates ...- must all have felt really priviledged to get a presenting job on TV's top music show! Especially, like you say - others would've been waiting in the wings!
I know Simon Bates had already begun doing the Sunday chart show on the radio by this point in 1978 but I don't think he had yet presented his first edition of TOTP. Someone here will probably have the answer to when that comes along.
As mentioned above, I believe it was the first commercially available picture single in the UK.
It was in 1978 that some singles started being released on coloured vinyl; particularly disco and punk singles. At least, I'm not aware of any from earlier. Though most of my coloured vinyl is 12" singles from 1979. I have a pink 7" single by Sylvester.
I thought it was quadruple two actually; but maybe Daddy Cool charted lower.
Mike Read started off as a DJ on our local radio station in Reading, Radio 210.
Steve Wright also worked at 210; Mike and Steve briefly presented the "Read and Wright show" IIRC. Thy both left for brief stints at Radio Luxembourg before ending up on Radio 1, one after the other. I think the people of Reading were very proud of their two ex DJs becoming household names.
December 6th 1979 was Bates's first show so we only have over a year to wait before his BBC Four debut now 1979 looks likely.
BIB - plastic punks Jet Bronx and the Forbidden released their single 'Ain't Doin' Nothin'' on red vinyl in late 1977 which peaked at No. 49 on the official BBC chart.
The song was written by their lead singer and guitarist Loyd Grossman who went on to appear in TV programmes such as 'Through the Keyhole' and 'Masterchef'.
Good post into their Berkshire backgrounds...
I've come across two I never knew at the time - ELO 'Mr Blue Sky' (blue vinyl of course) and 'Sweet Talking Woman' (purple), both 1977. And I'd forgotten about Foreigner's 'Cold As Ice' in clear sleeve with 'ice-coloured vinyl', also 1977.
Earliest I've found so far is Little Nell's 'Do The Swim' on bright red vinyl on A&M in 1976.
The Musicians Union kicked up a fuss about Bob miming the sax part as he was taking employment away from real sax players.
So in future appearances he "plays" a candelabra instead of a sax.
No candelabra players complained.
Also interesting to see Liquid Gold appearing on TOTP in late 1978. I had no idea they were around this early on, and thought Dance Yourself Dizzy, their No2 smash from spring 1980 was their debut. That is another guilty pleasure on my iPod.
Thanks to Chemical2009 for the date of Simon Bates debut on TOTP, I knew someone would know. Also some nice background about Mike Read pre-his debut 1978 appearance from Darren.
You really couldn't make up the musician's union nonsense over Geldof and pretending to play a sax on his own damned record! A typical 70's sounding anecdote there. Britain may have been the "sick man of Europe" as they said by 1978, but at least the ill country had some damned good music to convalesce to.
Did ex BBC Radio Birmingham Dj Peter Powell get much coverage locally when he joined TOTP?
I was at that one too
It wasn't one of Chas and Daves better efforts.
And was touchy feely with lots of women so he was keeping up with continuity.
Grease was very popular 3 of the top 4 this week.
I was wondering why they needed another singer since they already have about 4.
They had 2 top 10 hits in 1979, and then a number 11 hit in 1980.