Much as it pains me to say it, stuff like the Wurzels, Mud, Showaddywaddy & Tony Orlando I think are probably more representative of the early to mid 70s. Late 70s Punk, New Wave & Disco.

No doubt I'll at least in part be held to the sword for this view, but I think there can be a certain amount of rose-tinted spectacles for what should be popular in hindsight rather than what was actually the case.

A sweeping generalisation perhaps, but that's the way I remember it.

Having said that, my interest in music really only kicked in later in the 70s so I suppose it instantly devalues my argument! DOH!

Marginally connected to censorship (a forum groans but bear with), we've got Blancmange coming up soon in '82 with the famous line 'up the bloody tree'.

As I remember, the media at the time found the word 'bloody' so offensive Blancmange had to record a broadcastable version with the replacement line 'up the Cuckoo Tree'.

Just goes to show in my view how the English language changes, as I think most wouldn't be offended by the use of 'bloody' now.

Maybe not in front of the children, but I'm sure they hear far worse in the primary school playground.

Social history & music in one post, I'm really spoiling you today pop pickers!

Bizarre that "bloody" wasn't allowed in late 1982, especially when you consider the likes of John Wayne Is Big Leggy, although, as we discussed before, it wasn't immediately obvious what the latter was about.

It looks like are edited out of the early one tonight. survives the cull thanks to being featured in between the charts.

OK, thanks, sorry if I mis-interpreted!

Pretty much how I see it, essence and representation. On that basis I can be guilty of omitting Tie A Yellow Ribbon from my list.

No mention of two of the biggest acts around? Sweet? Slade? Honestly!

Again, speaking of censorship, Mel (Smith) and Kim (wild)'s version of 'Rockin' Around The Xmas Tree' was on one of the musical channels this morning, and there seemed to be a big edit in the midde. Took me a couple of seconds to remember the reference to Rolf Harris that used to be there.

Disappointing about the two edits, with those two only having otherwise featured in a Yewtreed episode.

Shaky was really churning out the singles at this stage!

2016 claims another victim. Just read about the passing of Greg Lake

I wonder if there will now be a campaign to make "I Believe in Father Christmas" this year's Christmas number 1?

Or Showaddywaddy, Mud, Wizzard, Sailor, Pilot...

I'm pretty sure I read that the BBC did do a deal with the MU that enable the repeats to happen. But I have no idea if they then had to do deals with the presenters. If that's the case, how come Noel Edmonds agreed to that when he blocked his episodes being shown on UK Gold?

Smith clearly had issues with his television presenting history but I wonder if Jedikiah has hit the nail on the head with the Michael Lush incident on The Late, Late Breakfast Show. That must have left a really odd aftertaste for anyone involved, and Smith may have had issues with the BBC over the way they handled that case. I suspect we will never know, but I'd add my voice to those concerned about Sarah Greene being badgered on social media - not a good way to go.

T Rex. David Bowie. Roxy Music.

Need I say more?

I knew the moment that whistle-stop & completely incomplete tour of the 1970's was posted, I'd be in trouble with my peers

Ah well, another trip to Guantanamo Bay with the Goombay Dance Band Box Set awaits yours truly.

Guantanamo Bay (next to Colwyn Bay) I can handle, as for the other....well let's just say justice can be harsh, but in the circumstances likely proportionate.

No worries Boz & enjoy tonight's Poptastic Pete's Pops pop pickers!

I think the early seventies period generally gets a very raw deal on this thread, undeservedly. It almost comes across at times that popular music didn't really begin until the advent of punk rock in 77. Maybe that has something to do with the general age range of the contributors, but i believe the first three years of the seventies, may actually represent the best three years, although 1979 runs them pretty close. Also there is nothing wrong with the odd novelty song here and there. It shows pop still had the potential to be diverse.

Pop music didn't begin until 1980 and then died in 88 when SAW killed music off,

And then finally Cowel and X Factor dug pop music up and killed it off again. just for good measure.

Mike Smith,musical snobbery - Hilarious

If his refusal to sign any repeat agreement was meant to "stick it to his employers" then perhaps he should have realised that his employers were the general public,via the licence fee.
That's the same general public that watch and enjoy classic Top of the Pops on BBC4.
I've said it before,but, no single person should be able to block repeat fees for other artistes in any way.
Smithy certainly earned his fortune,mostly from the BBC,so why should he be able to deny other,less well off people a few quid from repeat fees.

Whenever I saw Mike Smith being interviewed on TV in his post-media period, he always struck me as being a complicated man.

I also think there is good cause - most of it being posted on this - to suggest that he did indeed become bitter with television.

Take this, for instance:


HIs blog is still up on the internet as well.

If the BIB is true it would appear that an unreasonable Smith inexplicably took out his frustration with the BBC on long suffering TV licence fee payers by blocking repeats of his TOTP shows out of sheer spite because he was unhappy about the way the corporation dealt with the Lush incident on The Late, Late Breakfast Show.


... and a good number of those shows were co-presented on multiple occasions with fellow Radio One DJs including Tommy Vance, Steve Wright, Bruno Brookes, John Peel, Gary Davies, Janice Long, Mike Read, Peter Powell, Richard Skinner, Simon Bates, Nicky Campbell, Dixie Peach and Paul Jordan, many of whom may now have grown up families including children, grandchildren and possibly great-grandchildren who thanks to Smith (who I believe was childless) will now be deprived of the chance to watch their parents/grandparents/great-grandparents on television in their prime. What a way to treat your former work colleagues.


You call it widow bugging.

I call it killjoy bugging.

I haven't had chance to read through it all by any means but of what I have read, that appears to sum it up very aptly!

Pretty poor looking line up tonight.

Evening Pop Pickers.

What the f*** is Peter wearing??

Now that's a Christmas jumper.

Pete dressed for hunting seal.