Oh my Goodness,
Soft Cell attempting to cover Hendrix!!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLoDVpg8kek
Bizarre. Some things just cannot be improved in any way, shape or form and thus should best be left alone- Hendrix a perfect case in point. Obviously very different style to the originals. Doing a Jimi would be the last thing you'd expect from Marc Almond and you would never associate those two acts together in the imagination. But very intriguing none the less.

Talking of Jimi Hendrix,
isn't his Voodoo Child (Slight Return) one of the less played/less recalled number 1 hit records? I notice it was a hit in late 1970 after Jimi had died in the September, so perhaps more an emotional response, since he certainly had stronger tunes that fared worse in the charts.
I've also been perusing the list of 1970s number 1s and to add to my earlier post about potentially less memorable or less played songs, and how about (another from 1971) the Tams and 'Hey Girl, Don't Bother Me?' Without looking this up on youtube, I wouldn't be able to hum it, but perhaps if I heard the tune I would immediately know it?
From 1972 isn't Slade's 'Take Me Bak Ome' one of their lesser known hits? And how about Donny Osmond's 'Young Love?' (1973) as a lesser known number 1?

Have to say Gary that 'Take me back ome' by Slade is their best single.
'Hey girl don't bother me' is a good shout for lesser known no. 1s.
Although not a number 1, Donny Osmond's 'Too young' rarely gets any airplay nor does David Cassidy's 'Puppy song' a double A with 'Daydreamer'. and a superior track to the latter. Talking of Double A's what about the excellent 'Girls' school' the other side of 'Mull of Kintyre'?

Humble pie time. (Torch will fall off his seat - assuming he is seated when reading this )
I loved the Soft Cell interpretation of 'Hey Joe'. One of their best!
So superior to 'Say hello'.

I'm at it again. No-one will agree with me but I don't care.
Has anyone ever actually found a fly in their ointment?
Can you get banned from DS for having shocking taste?

You don't have shocking taste. No-one on this TOTP thread does really.

Mind you - if they did ban people or 'sack' people from their jobs based on their musical tastes - unemployment would go up from 2 million to about 20 million overnight!!

To be fair, 'Hey Joe' is a much older song than Hendrix's time, apparently, and Hendrix's version is also a cover version. But It's a classic.
Soft Cell's 'Hey Joe' better than their 'Say Hello....'???! Sadly can't agree there Ramraider, but there may be one or two others who might.

As I said Gary ... no-one will agree with me.
I was dumped onto this planet to frustrate the populace.
It's my raison d'être.

Mind you ... I did love Party Fears 2.

Just looked up 'The Puppy Song' on youtube and realised that I knew it, as soon as the words started. It's a good un.
You can't get more of a contrast than Mull of Kintyre and its B-side Girls' School.
McCartney can rock things up when he gets out of slushy sentimental mode.

It's a game of two halves and we've got our ball back, so it's Part 2 of....

The Countdown Capers

Top of the Pops 25th March 1982 (Peter Powell and.....GARTH CROOKS?!)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...-pops-25031982

First Half Analysis
http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showt...51582&page=154
(towards the foot of the table)

Second Half

(44) THE BOOMTOWN RATS – House On Fire

Not written as I first thought about the pyromanic tendencies of Ollie Bennett-Baker-Jacks-Lemon Bendt (delete or add to as appropriate) from the Grim-bay Dance Band & the resulting effect on Bendt's permanent place of residence, Bob & the boys I felt had flogged the dead horse & were a pale imitation of their previously Monday-disliking selves by this point, with some cod-reggae which sounds like 'Banana Republic' on the wrong speed or horror of horrors, a B.A. Robertson B-Side.

Bob Geldof looked like he'd come straight to the Pops from servicing a Vauxhall Chevette, but on the plus side I liked Johnny Fingers' piano bashing (with his fingers surprisingly enough pop pickers!), but there's no Johnny jim-jams present so this one gets the thumbs down, though Freddie Starr is having a damned good 'skank' to it down the front.

The identity of the 17-Year old Louise who's 'as cruel as a pig' but we love her like the song title is unknown. Could be the same one Phil Oakey was talking about getting off the bus. I've heard she gets about a bit. NEXT!

We cut back to Poptastic Pete who's joined by Alexander Armstrong to his right, who's impressed Bob & the boys flew in from Athens specially to do the Pops. Presumably the flight path was adjusted to avoid Julio Lothario's hazmat incident in Iberia. This may also explain the absence of the lead singer of Killing Joke who'd got 'wind' of the unfolding disaster & was on his heels like a shot to Reykjavik.

(26) THE NOLANS – Don’t Love Me Too Hard (video)

With a title & lyrics that can be misinterpreted on so many levels, some water-treading from the sistas musically who are none too chuffed with being loved too hard & as a result are definitely not in the mood for dancing.

In the video they unfairly gang up on a young 'Bell Boy' at what looks like Eynsham Garden Centre & Palm Cafe (other Garden-based Retail Outlets are available).

The lad's first troubleshooting assignment is trying to sort out Linda's complaint, as she's been served a toxic cocktail of what looks like Milk & Anti-Freeze by Dr. Feelgood.

The management can only be contacted via their customer service helpline so when Linda's handed an early 1980's mobile phone with cord attached to contact them & give them a piece of her mind (no doubt with some expletives gratis), she gives the Bell Boy a filthy look & at the last minute decides she can't be arsed with the hassle, so replaces the receiver and her complaint goes unaddressed.

The girls are on a tight budget with this video, so Polly the manky looking parrot complete with a percentage of mange is employed to scratch furiously, whilst the director has delusions of grandeur trying to make the Palm Cafe look like Kew Gardens or the jungle, the mighty jungle where Renton isn't sleeping tonight now he's secured funding for his housing association flat on 'Fantasy Island'.

Maureen needs 'warming up' according to the lyrics but misses her chance to order a Cappucino or the Soup of the Day from the Bell Boy when he hands Mo a letter from some Ambulance Chasers or that lot from Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away.

Either way, It's not RSVP so Mo chucks it on the Palm Cafe deck & carries on shivering.

At this point, all Nolans become nervous & seek refuge in the Palm Cafe foliage, presumably in a ploy to avoid a repeat performance of being loved too hard or to avoid paying the bill. They're no masters of concealment, so give up that lark quite quickly.

Meanwhile the Bell Boy tries to secure a decent tip, trying to butter up Coleen by cobbling together a bouquet from the off-cuts the parrot's had a decent knaw at, but with a nice bow & plastic to disguise the contents. Following an initial burst of joy, Coleen sees through the ploy (literally) and is less than impressed, chucking the flowers on the Palm Cafe floor in disgust.

That's another Nolan complaint that needs addressing.

'We might make out, who knows?' sings Coleen. As closing time at the Palm Cafe is in 5 minutes, the Nolans had better settle the bill & make out otherwise they'll be escorted from the premises forcibly by the boys in blue.

'Bernie the basher's patience at the lack of progress with the various Nolan complaints finally runs out at this point & she takes direct action, assaulting the Bell Boy whilst grimacing.

Don't shoot the messenger you big bully!

BOOOOOO! HISSSSSSSS!

The Parrot's not impessed, neither am I & has a damn good scratch in protest (the parrot not me, nit pickers!).

The Bell Boy never did get a tip and as a consequence of their bad behaviour, the Nolans were barred from entering Garden Centres within a 20 mile radius of Eynsham Garden Centre & Palm Cafe. And quite right too.

Happily Polly the Parrot was cured of her mange infestation, and after a short break at 'Fantasy Island', she suffered no lasting effects of coming into contact with the Nolan mafia.

Polly returned to the Palm Cafe to recommence her employment which involved putting the kettle on, but annoyingly for Polly her colleague Sukey had other ideas as the Palm Tree Cafe customers had all gone away.

(43) KILLING JOKE – Empire Song

Truth is more often stranger than fiction, none more so with the story of our next turn's Pops performance which led to lead singer Jaz Coleman doing a bunk to Iceland in preparation for the visit of four horsemen complete with Apocalypse.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_Song

Why he chose Iceland rather than somewhere like Bermuda to try to avoid meeting his maker only he could answer, but to be fair to him he was right to be nervous as the Superpowers were on a hair trigger with Rocket Ronnie & Mrs. Thatch at the helm. At the time the threat of impending Armageddon wasn't far from the nation's psyche, not helped in the slightest by cold-war paranoia and potentially catastrophic near-misses such as these....

http://futureoflife.org/background/n...ls-a-timeline/

In the absence of Jaz Coleman, the band soldier on making the best of what they've got & if you need reminding what group produced this racket it's there in HUUUUUUUGE Black & White letters at the back, but in this case the Killing Joke would most certainly be on the purchaser.

I think the Deep-sea Diver/Beekeeper/Spaceman (Delete as appropriate) might be a cheerleader put there as punishment by Herr Hurll for not yelping to order, or Mr. Benn in one of his various, ahem, 'fantasy' outfits, but we'll never know the identity of the mysterious visitor from another world or whether 'the shopkeeper' appeared as if by magic.

A right din, the back story is pure rock 'n' roll but fair play for not replacing Killing Joke with the two Gurvitzii.

Poptastic then suggests the previous track by Killing Joke is, and I quote, 'a real calm down'. I think after all the pressure of tonight's debacle, Poptastic needs a real calm down, a real lie down and a real co-presenter, but before he does Peter informs us of Crocked's deceptive feigned 'injury' by revealing Garth's colleagues at Spurs haven't reported him AWOL, but when they find out they'll 'Freak Out', presumably with Chic.

(22) GOOFY – Your Honour

There seemed to be an awful lot of court-based cod reggae demonstrated in '82 & '83. I'm thinking of the The Rats effort displayed earlier, the video for Culture Club's number 1 later 'this Year', & Musical Youth's debut video the next, the pre-cursor seemingly is this infidelic offering with a violent twist, one which ended up in a military court from the sounds of it.

Pluto Shervington chose the wrong closet to come out of when he exited the wardrobe of the object of his lusty desires, then got a good pasting from her husband when he found him there with Goofy's (Red) hands filled with, and I quote, "me shirt in me left and me pants in me right".

Whether the jury would accept this as evidence enough to prosecute the husband with ABH/GBH after beating Goofy to a pulp in a case of potential mistaken identity seems uncertain at this this point in proceedings, as Pluto's evidence is based on being circumstantial much like popular haunted house visitor Shaggy in the infamous episode of Scooby Doo, "It Wasn't Me".

The case seemed to rest on the testimony of Agatha the downstairs maid, as the Goofster describes on the stand his prowess in the bedroom department by referring to himself as 'a better man than he'.

The bloke's obviously a bighead, not quite in the League of Fairbrass but probably on a par with Julio Lothario, but thankfully I'm immune to the charms of toasting legends, Fairbrass and Spanish ex-goalkeepers.

The outcome of the trial is never revealed, but as the viewing populace is being employed as jurors we're left to draw our own conclusions. The ending leaves the viewer unsatisfactorily in the dark not knowing the outcome, but from the evidence presented I'd say the husband was Guilty of assault but in mitigating circumstances.

Would've been better as a half-hour episode of Crown Court, or more likely Judge Rinder.

During Goofy's performance, a punky tyke in the crowd gives Camera 3 the V-Sign and it's not for victory, then tries to disrupt proceedings by gurning at every available opportunity whilst his pogoing mate practices being Zebedee from the Magic Roundabout.

With some relief these two borstal baiters seem to be kept largely in check by one of Herr Hurll's 'brown jackets' in nonshelant mode, furnishing a dodgy 'Sweeney' moustache and a pair of Reactolite glasses whilst on patrol & offering dismissive looks to them rather than the restorative justice they probably need to stop the blighters going off the rails.

At least Little Miss Show-off is happy as she hogs the limelight behind Pluto (without her supply of Lemsip for Servalan's Summer cold), Bobby Ball has a bit of a 'skank' to this one whilst Fairbrass cuts a rather forlorn figure in a tux jacket at the back.

CASE ADJOURNED! (slightly revised Rpt.)

(14) CHAS & DAVE – Ain’t Not Never No Pleasing You No Not Ever There Ain't (video)

Every so often a track shines brightly as a jewel amongst the roughest of diamonds on the Pops & in my opinion this is such an occasion.

Whilst I struggle to like Chas & Dave's proper end of the pier stuff (their Medleys a particular bugbear), the planets seemed to align in perfection when this track was conceived and executed.

Slightly jarring but well-discussed grammar issues aside ('Everything I ever done was only done for you') and later covered by Bryan Adams, this really should've been a number 1. It certainly deserved to be.

The lyrics tell the story of a bloke at the end of his tether with 'er indoors. Lyrical gauntlets fall like confetti, and the woman in the song sounds extremely high maintenance & Chas is getting some serious 'earache' & 'ag' round the gaff.

I've got to sympathise as I went through exactly the same thing with that Mariah Carey bird. She was always insisting to be first in the queue at Battersea Dogs Home every morning to adopt more chihuahua's than were practical in a one bed flat, demanding ridiculous amounts of jewellery from Elizabeth Arden at Argos & wanting fresh salmon delivered from Scotland, which she thought was a county in England.

The worst bit was when she was practicing her 'scales' on a Saturday night which used to set the chihuahuas off a treat. Bloody annoying when you're trying to watch Match of the Day, especially with a lounge full of her collection of butterflies flying in front of the plasma.

I was glad when she buggered off to America & I could get finally some relief from the 'ag', but I think she should've stuck to her part-time job in the Kebab shop with her mate Celine Dion rather than pursuing a career in song. The World would've been a less musically excruciating place.

Any road up, well done Chas & Dave.

You've played a blinder with nice neckwear too. Maybe we'll see Chas playing his tie in a future instalment...that would be the icing on the Grogan cake doily. Delicious!

Poptastic has some fun with Patricia from Belfast (steady pop pickers...), which gives Pete the opportunity to morph seamlessly into Mike Yarwood doing a Frank Carson impression and therefore having the upper hand on Crocked who can only manage a Potteries-based impression, which limits his repertoire somewhat to either Wedgwood or Thomas Twyford (which might be more appropriate given the fayre on offer), but it's unlikely to be a successful mimic so its 'one nil to the Poptastic' when nearing the final whistle.

Please feel free to chant 'ONE NIL TO THE POPTASTIC' if you feel the urge.

(1) GOOMBAY DANCE BAND – Seven Tears

Well, they got there despite the very real risk of razing the studio the ground.

A fresh performance of surely no-one's favourite 'flame-boyant' fire eating-based musical ensemble the Grimsby Dance Band, the Floor Manager's given the thumbs up to lower the fire-retardent shields previously employed when Bendt Goombay first appeared. I'm not sure I'd share the floor manager's optimism, but I'd imagine there's some backup similar to this example if the worst came to the worst...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLz5KgBTqPY

Once again Lennie Bennett-Baker-Jacks-Lemon Bendt irresponsibly shares the naked flames amongst his colleagues, the bloke in the middle nearly having his Soul-glo™ combusted this time. Lennie's a bloody liability and it needs the Nolan mafia to 'ave a word with an ultimatum he can carry on fire-eating outdoors just as long as he stops making records.

Nervous looks abound throughout the performance as before, with a cursory check on the location of the exits by members of the studio audience should they become nauseous from overexposure to the musical effects of the Goombay Dance Band.

A relief when it's finished really, not least for Lennie's colleagues although I don't find the track as offensive as some fellow forumites. Carrie Grant was really 'getting down' to it whilst Freddie Starr does some lacklustre 'if I must' clapping.

On the plus side, we've only a couple more Goon-bay Weeks with our German God of Fire to suffer pop pickers before we can have some champagne with orange juice and 'rip it up and start again'. HURRAH!

The number one is celebrated with an exhuberant 'Oh yes!' from Crocked and therefore our suspicions regarding Garth's love for pop music are confirmed as negative.

Poptastic questions Crocked on his feigned 'injury' further, Garth cracks under the pressure of interrogation and spills his guts (thankfully not literally like Julio Lothario).

The Crock's had a miraculous recovery second only to a visit to Lourdes, and is back in action thanks to the 'Keep Fit with Peter Powell' album on the Can't Tell it's not Butter label, available in no good record shops & Lynott's Independent Traders priced uncompetitively at £99.99.

https://www.discogs.com/Various-Unkn...elease/3340337

Iechyd da! (Revised Rpt.)

(9) THE ASSOCIATES – Party Fears Two (crowd dancing) (and credits)

Those hoping for a Fantasy finish with the Associates at number 1 are left with a big disappointment as Billy McKenzie Associates are relegated to the playoffs for this Week's show, but as some compensation the assortment of cheerleaders are having a giddy old time, perv-cam taking a particular shine to the photogenic Carrie Grant & her next-door neighbour with the micro-dress.

Freddie Starr tries some Northern Soul flailing, the bloke who gets the Blue Peter gig for a while dances himself dizzy as per, whilst Fairbrass employs his snake hips whilst skulking around the back looking for a bunch of thyme he can rob off an unsuspecting woman.

Unbelievable following the previously high scoring episode, but this one can have no more than a somewhat overgenerous 5.5/10, highlights of the lowlights being Chas & Dave, The Associates, Altered Images and ver Fizz.

Pnawn da pop pickers

After Servalan mentioned Steely Dan's No. 17 UK hit single Haitian Divorce on Sunday I checked it out on YouTube the following day as I hadn't heard it in ages - I enjoyed listening to it again so much I thought I would post the link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWYchJI0Cv8

It strikes me in retrospect that 1976 was the "Year of the Talk Box". Off the top of my head I can't think of any other examples of it appearing on a hit single post 1976. Fox was the first act I recall using one on S-S-S-Single Bed in April of that year; the device subsequently featured on Peter Frampton's Show Me The Way in June and the effect can be heard extensively throughout Haitian Divorce which entered the chart in December 1976.


In the three years between October 1971 and October 1974 Slade achieved a straight run of 12 consecutive Top 5 hit singles which peaked at No. 1 - 4 - 1 - 1 - 2 - 1 - 1 - 2 - 1 - 3 - 3 - 2 respectively (six No. 1's, three No. 2's, two No. 3's and one No. 4).

Their biggest flop during this period was Look Wot You Dun which stalled at No. 4 in February 1972 and is arguably their most overlooked single - the piano and vocal remind me of John Lennon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeFkKbxznH4

Pedant alert: Girl's School is not Mull of Kintyre's B side.

Doesn't it sound a bit like David Essex on the vocals?

S-S-S-Single bed was one of the catchy and memorable little gems in the first few weeks of the 1976 chart run we were watching when the repeats started on BBC4 back in April 2010. Noosha Fox gave some captivating performances, I recall, with an idiosyncratic dress sense.

I've still yet to see the very first episode of the reruns with 'S S Single Bed' from 1976. I started watching the week after with Noel presenting & Abba doing 'Fernando' in the studio (I believe?). But that first one, that I missed, sounds like a good one.

Regarding the 'Talk Box' that Faversham mentioned - was that some 70s gimmick? I remember it in the mid 70s - but then it seemed to die a death after that!

April 2011.

Is it right the Fluff 1969 edition as returned by Lulu is now out on the collectors circuit?

Is it online anywhere?

Anyone watch the Mavis Nicholson programme from Bbc Wales?

Interesting section about Savile around 35 mins in.

The Talk Box was certainly in vogue in 1976 - I mentioned earlier that Fox, Peter Frampton and Steely Dan used the gadget on hit singles from that year but after posting I remembered the guitarist in 5,000 Volts could also be seen using one while the bass player was examining the lead singer with a stethoscope when they performed Dr Kiss Kiss on TOTP in July 1976 (at 1.50 in the clip below).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgobLFgkR9M

It was still going strong in the 80s - Richie Sambora famously used one on Livin On A Prayer. Aerosmith, Motley Crue and Guns 'n' Roses also used it. Must have been something about Hair Metal.

Oat-based snackery is my default preference, but in celebration of Biscuits and partly off-topic (alright totally off topic), here's my Top 5 'everyday' varieties...

5) Chocolate Chip Cookies
4) Malted Milk
3) Fig Rolls (Whole packet in one sitting a normal occurrence)
2) Hob-Nobs (any flavour but Orange Chocolate ones are food for the Gods)
1) Shortbreads (the more buttery the better)

'Bubbling Under'
Rich Tea (sorry buddy)
Digestives (all varieties) Chocolate preferred obvs

Apologies to Gary also, but Garibaldi didn't even make it to the checkout.

You mean Star Trek isn't real? I thought it was a documentary

I stuck about 3 minutes of 'Are You Being Served' & couldn't bring myself to watch 'Porridge' on Sunday.

What made the originals special was the actors cast in the character roles, pure magic.

'Are You Being Served' looked promising on paper due to the talent line up, but shortly after it started I quickly realised the lines felt forced & the actors shoehorned into the roles, a bit like the curse of most cover versions. The track is always going to be compared with the original & unless they're a markedly different arrangement or concept it's going to be a tough ask.

The best analogy I can describe is if Hi-De-Hi was re-made in Centerparcs

PS: Don't you go choking on us Sir Richard of Pagnell....there'll be no one to wind up with speculation on your Gazebo, chimenea or other assorted patio paraphernalia

I like discussions like this Gary. For what it is worth here is my own list of what I perceive to be the forgotten or overlooked 1970's No1 hits;

From 1970;

Yellow River, Christie.
Woodstock, Matthews Southern Comfort.

From 1971;

Baby Jump, Mungo Jerry.
Double Barrel, Mike & Ansel Collins.
Knock Three Times, Dawn.

From 1972;

Son Of My Father, Chicory Tip.
Amazing Grace, The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.
My Ding-A-Ling, Chuck Berry,

From 1973;

The Twelfth Of Never, Donny Osmond.
Skweeze Me Pleeze Me, Slade.
Angel Fingers, Wizzard.

From 1974;

You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me, New Seekers.
Jealous Mind, Alvin Stardust.
Always Yours, Gary Glitter.
Sad Sweet Dreamer, Sweet Sensation.

From 1975;

Ms Grace, Tymes,
If, Telly Savalas.
Give A Little Love, Bay City Rollers.

From 1976;

Forever And Ever, Slik.
No Charge, JJ Barrie.
Forever And Ever, Demis Roussos.

From 1977;

Free, Deniece Williams.
Lucille, Kenny Rogers.
Show You The Way To Go, Jacksons.
Float On, Floaters.
Yes Sir I Can Boogie, Baccara.

From 1978;

Uptown Top Ranking, Althea & Donna.
Matchtstalk Men & Matchstalk Cats And Dogs, Brian & Michael.
Dreadlock Holiday, 10cc.

From 1979;

Ring My Bell, Anita Ward.
One Day At A Time, Lena Martell.
Walking On The Moon, Police.


I was sitting by a lit chiminea from 11pm to 12.30am just chillin' as they say. That's one old wooden fence trellis up in smoke and cremated. This is not something I usually do may I add. Probably used the chiminea about 5 times in a decade. I know I shouldn't have done so but to make it go up nice and quick I dribbled some white spirit onto the wooden pieces. It went up like a dream!

I'll give your Countdown Capers a browse during Thursday sometime. Thanks for the PM to let me know Andy.

Hair Metal! Don't think I've heard that before!! - The name is certainly better than the music though!!


My dad loves Garibaldis! - For me - Jaffa Cakes have to be top!


The storyline of Porridge was actually quite good on Sunday (it had the original writers) - although yes - there will never be another Ronnie Barker!!

Regarding Rich Tea's overlooked No 1s - 'Yellow River' (1970) & 'Yes Sir I Can Boogie' (1977) still get a lot of airplay on my local radio station.

I agree about 'Uptown Top Rankin' & 'Free' though. I thought 'Free' would get a lot more airplay!

Even better than Jaffa Cakes are Jaffa Cake muffins though I've not been able to find them on sale around here for a few years now. I'm not even sure if McVities still make them.