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Top Of The Pops 1982 - BBC4 |
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#12501 |
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Popular music is a business, too, and there became a bigger emphasis by 1983, in appearing accessible, or increasingly more user friendly, so to speak. It has to do in part with the increased importance of the MTV pop package. Those pop stars don't exist in their own little bubble. Spandau Ballet's 'True' album is perhaps the most listenable of their career in many ways, so I'm not attempting to knock it, but the general musical climate does dictate certain things, and pop was certainly becoming more conservative sounding as we approach the mid eighties. Spandau Ballet's single releases in 1980/81, showed them willing to really challenge themselves in terms of them doing the unexpected. I am especially referring to the jazz/funk influenced "Chant No 1", after initially adopting that more New Romantic/futuristic style. In fact it is possible to claim many of their early singles included variety, and changing the musical angle somewhat. Once Spandau adopted the more smooth style of 'True', and it became ultra successful, that was that, there was no need for further changes.
I think songs of this period are still dependent on sounding good on the radio. My favourite songs when I was following the charts up till 85 were definitely more familiar to me as radio songs than as videos. Chant No 1 isn't a big favourite of mine, but I wouldn't say it's more complex and inaccessible than later music they did. The lead vocal I don't like so much, and it feels more bitty at times than some later songs they did. Later vocals and songcraft might even be considered better rather than just smoother. Also I don't think True fully reflects their sound. They still had a very energetic funky sound at times, like the song Highly Strung, so they had some variety then. The True album is good, though a couple of songs I remember not liking as much. The following album I thought was slightly more consistent. But with these two albums I think we can see a group that has developed enough to put together lps which are better than the earlier ones. They started off with some good songs, but now they have plenty. So that could be a reason for any greater popularity rather than simply smoother productions. |
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#12502 |
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Join Date: Apr 2016
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I've gotta stick up for the late, great Sharon Redd here …
You may not have liked her outfit - I can't say it did that much for me - but Sharon had her own style and she totally could move, as both that clip plus her earlier performance of 'Can You Handle It' in the TOTP studio prove. I grant you that her movement in both performances may be not what might be expected - it wouldn't surprise me if she'd had some kind of ballet training - but she is in total control of her body and also in time with the music. Contrast with Melba Moore's studio performance of 'Love's Comin' At Ya' - in which Melba has rhythm, but really doesn't have the moves … she shuffles around the stage and lurches from side to side occasionally. Whoever put the Zoo/cheerleaders male dancers in front of her under coloured lighting was very smart, as if they'd been spotlit, it would really have shown up that Melba, while a great singer, did not possess the dancing skills to match … ![]() I liked the Sharon Redd song as well, although I probably prefer both Melba Moore and Evelyn King's 1982 singles. Does anyone know whether Evelyn King's 1981 hit I'm In Love was shown on Top of the Pops? It reached number 27 in the charts. Somehow I hadn't heard it until the other day and it's one of the funkiest tracks I've ever heard. It was of course written by Kashif (who sadly died in September this year). |
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#12503 |
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I got the impression Melba was deliberately giving a slightly robotic performance on Love's Comin' At Ya since that style was very much in vogue in 1982. I'm sure she could have danced conventionally to the song if she'd wanted to.
I liked the Sharon Redd song as well, although I probably prefer both Melba Moore and Evelyn King's 1982 singles. Does anyone know whether Evelyn King's 1981 hit I'm In Love was shown on Top of the Pops? It reached number 27 in the charts. Somehow I hadn't heard it until the other day and it's one of the funkiest tracks I've ever heard. It was of course written by Kashif (who sadly died in September this year). ![]() Although it didn't become a massive pop hit here, it was successful enough to cement Kashif's reputation as a producer - and also generated a few tracks that ploughed a similar furrow, notably the brilliant 'This Beat Is Mine' by Vicky D, which stalled just outside the Top 40 earlier in 1982 … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CpfZfyTClY |
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#12504 |
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Yes a lot of these bands from yesteryear, who do 'reunion' gigs or go out & tour every Christmas are doing it for their annual income & provided their gigs aren't too overpriced it is nice to go out to see and support them.
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#12505 |
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I don't think it did. I don't recall seeing Evelyn in the TOTP studio before 'Love Come Down', and I'm pretty sure the video for 'I'm In Love' was never shown … nor did Legs & Co shake their thing to it, unless my memory is mistaken. Shame (sorry)!
![]() Although it didn't become a massive pop hit here, it was successful enough to cement Kashif's reputation as a producer - and also generated a few tracks that ploughed a similar furrow, notably the brilliant 'This Beat Is Mine' by Vicky D, which stalled just outside the Top 40 earlier in 1982 … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CpfZfyTClY ![]()
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#12506 |
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Join Date: Jul 2016
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Is there a One-Hit Wonders At The BBC thread? Anyway I stayed up for this and so far have been treated to The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, Where Do You Go To My Lovely (can't remember the singer now, Sarstedt?) and Eye Level which got to number one in the UK I think - not many instrumentals do that, oh and here's Kung Fu Fighting, now I didn't include this in my recent 60-song 70's compo but think most would have a place for it as an iconic seventies track?
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#12507 |
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I'm with you as far as "I'm In Love", one of Kashif's finest moments. Would have been great if she had appeared on TOTP with this one as I think it could have propelled it into the top 20 at least as it didn't do too badly on radio airplay as far as I recall. If you like this then check out 'Take My Love' by Melba Moore from also from '81, also written and produced by Kashif. Dance Music from a golden age embracing the new sounds coming through making soulful grooves that are as funky and as bright as a button
![]() ![]() https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdzvu6bt37w |
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#12508 |
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Join Date: Jul 2016
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Ralph McTell there, young-looking too with the typical open-shirted appearance followed now by the wonderful Althia and Donna... now which is which?! The one on the right with the large Afro and Dierdre Barlow glasses might be Donna but I'm guessing. At the time the lyrics were just alien, to us white anyway, "see me in me pants and ting" or something or other
"wind up me waist" and the like was used in Pass The Dutchie I think, originally Pass The Koutchie by the Mighty Diamonds, I know that.Now it's M and Pop Musik. I bought all the follow up singles I remember, That's The Way The Money Goes and Moonlight And Muzak, the extended mix of this is known for ending where it sounds as though the record is stuck! I don't care for horrid endings, to that end Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick would be another offender. And so to Kelly Marie, don't recall having seen her before although I must have seen her on TOTP back then, nope, this is one of those songs I really don't like and sorry for these ramblings but I'm watching and there's no-one here also watching it or is there? If there isn't I will bid goodnight with Charlene's "Never Been To Me". ![]() PS. And Trio's "Da Da Da" is one of the dullest and silliest songs ever? |
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#12509 |
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Join Date: Feb 2015
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Is there a One-Hit Wonders At The BBC thread? Anyway I stayed up for this and so far have been treated to The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, Where Do You Go To My Lovely (can't remember the singer now, Sarstedt?) and Eye Level which got to number one in the UK I think - not many instrumentals do that, oh and here's Kung Fu Fighting, now I didn't include this in my recent 60-song 70's compo but think most would have a place for it as an iconic seventies track?
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#12510 |
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Join Date: Jul 2016
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This misnomer of a programme has been discussed on one of these threads before, when it was first broadcast. Repeated from then, to all the pathetic researchers at the BBC, who are too lazy to check the OCC website and earning an unjustified living from our licence fee payments, in what way does someone with two Top 10 hits (Sarsetdt) actually qualify as a One Hit Wonder?
Well quite, the old 'what truly defines a one-hit wonder?' chestnut and your Sarstedt point is of course succinct. You explain the reasons for your dislike of this programme, that's fine and thank you, it's the first time I have watched one of these and was not aware of the background to it. |
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#12511 |
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Join Date: Feb 2015
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Hi Boz,
Well quite, the old 'what truly defines a one-hit wonder?' chestnut and your Sarstedt point is of course succinct. You explain the reasons for your dislike of this ptogramme, that's fine and thank you, it's the first time I have watched one of these and was not aware of the background to it. that's fine. The performances are good and worth watching. What really annoys me though, and about TOTP2 as well, is that the captions contain so many basic errors which OUR British Broadcasting Corporation just should not make. It is just so lazy and inept, if I made such basic errors in my job I couldn't complain if I was sacked. People moan about things like the Daily Mail having a go at the BBC but when the BBC's standards are so low that is no surprise. |
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#12512 |
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Join Date: Jul 2016
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Hi Kid
that's fine. The performances are good and worth watching. What really annoys me though, and about TOTP2 as well, is that the captions contain so many basic errors which OUR British Broadcasting Corporation just should not make. It is just so lazy and inept, if I made such basic errors in my job I couldn't complain if I was sacked. People moan about things like the Daily Mail having a go at the BBC but when the BBC's standards are so low that is no surprise. Back in the programme itself, well here's something now that I have completely never heard of before which is kind of great, no matter which show it is seen on - something called Nizlopi by an outfit called JCB? Wait, I think I have that the wrong way around, the song may be called JCB. Before that I knew this song but didn't know it was by the New Radicals, Don't Give Up or Don't Let Go it might be called, I can't tell what the lead singer looks like because he has a green floppy hat that comes down past his nose. And there was a case for Oh for heaven's sake - now it's the much-mentioned recently on these pages, Gary Jules annihilating Mad World! Anyway, nice chatting AND it's just finished.
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#12513 |
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,472
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On Wikipedia it says they moved towards a rock sound in 86, after that they seemed on their last legs anyway.
I think songs of this period are still dependent on sounding good on the radio. My favourite songs when I was following the charts up till 85 were definitely more familiar to me as radio songs than as videos. Chant No 1 isn't a big favourite of mine, but I wouldn't say it's more complex and inaccessible than later music they did. The lead vocal I don't like so much, and it feels more bitty at times than some later songs they did. Later vocals and songcraft might even be considered better rather than just smoother. Also I don't think True fully reflects their sound. They still had a very energetic funky sound at times, like the song Highly Strung, so they had some variety then. The True album is good, though a couple of songs I remember not liking as much. The following album I thought was slightly more consistent. But with these two albums I think we can see a group that has developed enough to put together lps which are better than the earlier ones. They started off with some good songs, but now they have plenty. So that could be a reason for any greater popularity rather than simply smoother productions. |
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#12514 |
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,158
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Yes, as i commented previously, ''Heartbreaker'' does work, and ''All The Love In The World'' too, melodically especially, but they both veer a little too far into blandness, for me. The Gibb brothers work with Barbra Streisand, and especially on the singles ''Woman In Love'' and Guilty'', tend to stay on the right side of the line, in appearing very credible songs, and not straying into appearing quite so wishy washy. I don't think the brothers ever bettered their collaboration with Streisand, with any of their later pop star associations.
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#12515 |
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Join Date: Feb 2015
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Ah yes, the captions, now I could half-see those because my laptop is obscuring the view a bit. Are you talking about typo's or factual inaccuracies?
Back in the programme itself, well here's something now that I have completely never heard of before which is kind of great, no matter which show it is seen on - something called Nizlopi by an outfit called JCB? Wait, I think I have that the wrong way around, the song may be called JCB. Before that I knew this song but didn't know it was by the New Radicals, Don't Give Up or Don't Let Go it might be called, I can't tell what the lead singer looks like because he has a green floppy hat that comes down past his nose. And there was a case for Oh for heaven's sake - now it's the much-mentioned recently on these pages, Gary Jules annihilating Mad World! Anyway, nice chatting AND it's just finished. ![]() |
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#12516 |
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For me i think Heartbreaker and Woman In Love have strong hooklines, especially Heartbreaker which has far more passion put into the vocal than Barbara Streisand does. Guilty and All The Love In The World both just drift in out without going anywhere
![]() I don't think many would agree with that! I do like Heartbreaker a lot, but I don't hear much emotion from Dionne, it seems just a sing-a-long. Barbra puts far more emotion into Woman in Love, especially when she holds the note at the end of the second verse. As I've said before totally disagree about Guilty as well. |
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#12517 |
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Factual inaccuracies - and lots of them!
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#12518 |
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![]() I don't think many would agree with that! I do like Heartbreaker a lot, but I don't hear much emotion from Dionne, it seems just a sing-a-long. Barbra puts far more emotion into Woman in Love, especially when she holds the note at the end of the second verse. As I've said before totally disagree about Guilty as well. But then this is the woman who recorded the brilliant 'Then Came You' with the Detroit Spinners in the 70s and placed a bet on it not being a hit …!
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#12519 |
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Join Date: Jun 2012
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Slightly off topic: I noticed the other day that the 10th March 1983 edition of TOTP has been uploaded to YouTube and since it's presented by Mike Smith and Tommy Vance I decided to watch it since it probably won't be shown on BBC4. One song that stood out for me was David Joseph with You Can't Hide Your Love. It's in the same sort of category as the recent singles by Evelyn King, Melba Moore and D Train.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdzvu6bt37w
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#12520 |
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What a splendid dance record this David Joseph recording is, and it sounded very US sounding and a big departure away from the jazz-funk/disco of Hi-Tension, David's old group! It's a shame the TOTP performance won't be shown as it's a good, energetic performance with Zoo (Pinky, Tony, Julie & Eve) and the cheerleaders strutting their stuff all around David and his band. A highlight dance record of 83 for me without a doubt!
![]() ) that the definitive version for me is the US remix by New York DJ legend Larry Levan, which I think may be easier to find now than it was at the time (there are also some dreadful 90s remixes - avoid like the plague!).
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#12521 |
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I share your vexation with the standard of research on that and many other music compilations. It's clearly done by someone on work experience who just looks at a Wikipedia page if you're lucky. I've seen more music knowledge on these threads than I do quoted on there. We are lucky to have the BBC, but it does need to sort out this particular problem. It's very rare that any of their music documentaries feel 100% authentic - the recent Jazzie B one being a recent exception … so they can get it right occasionally!
![]() These captions that we see on the TOTP programmes are there and I think many people might also go with 'wow, never knew that, must tell friends at work tomorrow' and so the misinformation spreads. I'll view them more with caution from now on and may even test a few of them out to see if the proclamations are indeed true. |
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#12522 |
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Join Date: Dec 2012
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Factual inaccuracies - and lots of them!
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I share your vexation with the standard of research on that and many other music compilations. It's clearly done by someone on work experience who just looks at a Wikipedia page if you're lucky. I've seen more music knowledge on these threads than I do quoted on there. We are lucky to have the BBC, but it does need to sort out this particular problem. It's very rare that any of their music documentaries feel 100% authentic - the recent Jazzie B one being a recent exception … so they can get it right occasionally!
![]() Reading some of the TOTP 2 caption notes that appear on screen, they look like they have been thrown together by a school leaver or as you say somebody on work experience. The other thing I find is the same pieces of information tend to come up on various artists year after year - or maybe I'm just a superfan who knows everything already!
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#12523 |
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Join Date: Oct 2004
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30 Dec 1982 show
Gary Davies and Pat Sharp Won't this be shown ??. |
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#12524 |
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30 Dec 1982 show
Gary Davies and Pat Sharp Won't this be shown ??. |
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#12525 |
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Join Date: Oct 2004
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Thanks
Not credited on the BBC list as a presenter I have just started a new 1983 thread ready for January 6th !! |
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) that the definitive version for me is the US remix by New York DJ legend Larry Levan, which I think may be easier to find now than it was at the time (there are also some dreadful 90s remixes - avoid like the plague!).