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Top Of The Pops 1982 - BBC4 |
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#12801 |
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Incidentally, if anyone is wondering who Graduate were (that are listed in my post above) they included both members of Tears For Fears who were formed in 1981 after Graduate split up. The Elvis mentioned that should be playing ska is Elvis Costello.
Anyone else remember this great song that missed the top 75 in March 1980? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oUqRXz9KkA |
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#12802 |
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Join Date: Jan 2014
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The channel "Yesterday" had an old top of the pops the other day so keep an eye on their schedules too.
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#12803 |
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Join Date: Dec 2007
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I must have 'Amercian ears' as that top 10 features some brilliant songs...Heartlight, Who Can It Be Now, You Can Do Magic and especially I Keep Forgettin' are such well made pop songs. Did virtually nothing here...instead we got the Pinkees, Barry Manilow and the Kids From Fame.
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#12804 |
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Join Date: Sep 2006
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"It’s hard to believe now, but when Michael Jackson’s Thriller was released in the UK in time for Christmas 1982, there was an initial sense of misfire. In choosing the album's most lacklustre track, The Girl Is Mine, as its lead single, the postcard delivered was mildly disappointing. The playful duet with Paul McCartney, chosen no doubt to emulate the success McCartney had had earlier the same year with Stevie Wonder on Ebony and Ivory, was simply not what the listeners were expecting. It reached number eight on the UK chart, and the album sold well, but certainly not in the manner that the man who’d delivered Off the Wall should have done."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/649p/ |
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#12805 |
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Join Date: Dec 2012
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Quote:
Alan Jones (of Music Week) once revealed that the OCC / Millward Brown database was able to produce a top 10,000 (!) chart each week. That was as far down as a chart could be produced. There are however about 4 to 5 million tracks each week that register a sale so it is probably theoretically possible to tweak the database to list every title that records a sale. Most tracks only sell one or two copies per week. Many are most likely streamed rather than downloaded these days.
Since 13 May 1978 a top 200 has been compiled each week (prior to that, back to February 1969 it was a top 100) apart from a period in 2007 and 2008 when it briefly extended to a top 250. However the OCC only publish the top 100 part on their website while Music Week only publish the top 75. At one time only the top 75 was ever acknowledged (in publications such as British Hit Singles) from 13/05/78 and the top 50 prior to that. The larger top 200 chart is meant for industry eyes only but the chart is published in the weekly newsletter UKChartsPlus (of which I am a subscriber). I wouldn't have thought there'd be more than one or two hundred songs released each week up & down the country by various acts - I could be wrong though. I also would've thought that if these artists are barely scraping into the Top 100 with their songs that they wouldn't hold on to a record contract for too long! Even big name bands and X Factor winners have been dropped when they fail to make the Top 40 consistently.
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#12806 |
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I still don't believe 'Thriller' to be an exceptional album, for all its success. There is probably one truly exceptional song, and that is "Billie Jean", although there is little doubt many of the tracks are pretty catchy and work to a large degree. I quite like "Human Nature", too. However, it was the combination of Jackson blending R+B with rock, and making music that was multi faceted racially, that made MTV feel that it was impossible for them to overlook (and i am especially referring to "Beat It"), and then also Jackson being able to blend a storyboard type video, with his choreographed dance moves that really sealed the deal (the American Werewolf style video to "Thriller" the title track in particular). "Thriller" is still a better album for me, than the follow up, 'Bad'
The power of the music video became all important like never before after 'Thriller' set the trail. Madonna's success especially, owes so much to it. Billie Jean, Thriller & Human Nature are the only real stand out tracks on 'Thriller' - the rest is "filler" as they say. Out of all the 50+ million sales of the album - I have never owned a copy, nor ever had the urge to buy a copy either! ![]() Regarding Michael Jackson & Madonna (the King & Queen of Pop music through the 80s and beyond) - I always thought one - Michael - started off with really strong singles, at the start of the decade, that got worse & worse over time, whereas Madonna - started off with teeny bubblegum pop which mainly became more mature & advanced over time - well up until the Noughties anyway!
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#12807 |
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Join Date: May 2005
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Ironic given that 2 of the 3 examples of bad music you mentioned are American! Alternatively we got ABC, Yazoo and Tears for Fears. And i know what i'd prefer to that American snooze fest. And so did the Yanks considering the second British invasion of their charts was about to start
Of course, 'I Keep Forgettin'' isn't a complete stranger to the UK singles charts - it would subsequently appear as a sample in Warren G and Nate Dogg's 1994 Top 5 hit 'Regulate'. |
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#12808 |
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The channel "Yesterday" had an old top of the pops the other day so keep an eye on their schedules too.
Incidentally watching the 2015 TOTP christmas and the 2013 edition both showed the exact same showing of Shakin Stevens 1985 No.1. Bit sad that TOTP2 seems only restricted to christmas now. |
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#12809 |
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Posts: 411
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For fans of Squeeze, this poll is in the Music section...
Packet Of Three: Vote for your favourite Squeeze singles |
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#12810 |
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Join Date: Nov 2002
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They are playing TOTP 1978 and the TOTP2 2013 Christmas editions about 25 times each other the Holidays, heck they showed them both 4 times each this past weekend
Incidentally watching the 2015 TOTP christmas and the 2013 edition both showed the exact same showing of Shakin Stevens 1985 No.1. Bit sad that TOTP2 seems only restricted to christmas now. |
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#12811 |
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Join Date: Sep 2015
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Fast Forward time with Clannad. I don't mind the their theme from Robin Hood their Theme From Harry's Game just sends me to sleep which you don't want to do when watching TOTP! http://i4.liverpoolecho.co.uk/incomi...JS72834296.jpg |
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#12812 |
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Join Date: Sep 2015
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Move over Vince Clarke, you've just lost out in the worst hairstyle on TOTP 82 award! As amazingly bad as Mike Score's hair is, it's a shame it takes away some credit from what a great song Wishing (If I Had A Photograph Of You Is.) This was only the Flock Of Seagulls song I knew until fairly recently when I heard I Ran which should also have been a hit. |
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#12813 |
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Join Date: May 2005
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"I Ran" flopped as a single due to a typo in the press release calling it "Iran". With the Sha of Iran having just been toppled and the rise of Ayatollah Khomeini, many radio and tv stations thought a chorus of "Iran, Iran so far away" was too political so they didn't play it.
Are you sure that's not an urban myth?'I Ran' may only have got to Number 43 here, but it was a massive hit in the US and Australia … and I can't imagine the Americans being too worried about political sensitivities in this instance. In fact, I'm sure I read somewhere that the word play (I Ran/Iran) helped the track's success in the States - along, of course, with the heavy rotation it received courtesy of MTV. |
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#12814 |
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Join Date: Sep 2016
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Quote:
Incidentally, if anyone is wondering who Graduate were (that are listed in my post above) they included both members of Tears For Fears who were formed in 1981 after Graduate split up. The Elvis mentioned that should be playing ska is Elvis Costello.
Anyone else remember this great song that missed the top 75 in March 1980? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oUqRXz9KkA
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#12815 |
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,270
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I've not watched TOTP2 for many years now but can remember that they were beginning to show clips that weren't even featured on TOTP towards the end of the regular run of the programme.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYPBF4s8m_Y In the same month this OGWT clip was originally broadcast (October 1971) John Peel appeared on TOTP miming to Ray Jackson's mandolin on 'Maggie May'. Quote:
The older I get & the more music forums I read - the more I find out that a lot of our childhood songs are not just innocent pop songs.
In 2006 Paul Weller covered the song at a charity event in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGXYNtFfDgU Quote:
If you fancy a whimsical distraction, here's a great photographic project with a music theme - album covers fitted into their original locations...
https://www.indy100.com/article/phot...-taken-7456566 http://www.popspotsnyc.com/forthcomi..._800_TRANS.jpg .... and this black and white pic of the New York Dolls (in 1973) superimposed over a recent colour photo of the Gem Spa on 2nd Avenue where the shot for the back of their first album was taken. http://www.popspotsnyc.com/forthcomi...k_Doll_800.jpg The link below shows the Gem Spa in September 2016. https://www.instantstreetview.com/@4...877,270h,0p,1z |
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#12816 |
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,813
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Quote:
"I Ran" flopped as a single due to a typo in the press release calling it "Iran". With the Sha of Iran having just been toppled and the rise of Ayatollah Khomeini, many radio and tv stations thought a chorus of "Iran, Iran so far away" was too political so they didn't play it.
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#12817 |
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 11,011
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Marks like this seem to be prevalent on this thread of late and yet posters claim to have 'eclectic' taste.
![]() Off the Wall has some tracks like It's The Falling in Love, I Can't Help It, Get on the Floor and Workin' Night and Day which don't seem that catchy or amazing. Other stuff is fine but I like more consistent albums. Ironically those who think Thriller is overhyped tend to hype up Off the Wall. And the whole 'king of pop' stuff is just record company hype. And considering he can be as much funk as pop it's even more stupid. |
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#12818 |
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Join Date: Feb 2015
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I don't think it's even about taste. Taste is just taste, people will differ and people couldn't care less about another's taste unless they are the same, though some never get that. It's about just accepting different styles of music instead of saying they aren't as artistic just because they aren't in someone's preferred style. Having the humility to look at music for what it is aiming to do. Most forum talk on the internet tends to be either flagrantly just about taste (fine I guess) or people using taste to masquerade as a more considered judgement when it just isn't.
Off the Wall has some tracks like It's The Falling in Love, I Can't Help It, Get on the Floor and Workin' Night and Day which don't seem that catchy or amazing. Other stuff is fine but I like more consistent albums. Ironically those who think Thriller is overhyped tend to hype up Off the Wall. And the whole 'king of pop' stuff is just record company hype. And considering he can be as much funk as pop it's even more stupid. |
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#12819 |
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Join Date: Dec 2012
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Anyone else remember this great song that missed the top 75 in March 1980? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oUqRXz9KkA Quote:
Wow, I guess everyone has to start somewhere but TFF look majorly cringey there
![]() - just seen this now! How old were Curt & Rowland then?!! They look like they've just stepped off the school bus & still in their uniforms!
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#12820 |
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Join Date: Apr 2016
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Really?
Are you sure that's not an urban myth?'I Ran' may only have got to Number 43 here, but it was a massive hit in the US and Australia … and I can't imagine the Americans being too worried about political sensitivities in this instance. In fact, I'm sure I read somewhere that the word play (I Ran/Iran) helped the track's success in the States - along, of course, with the heavy rotation it received courtesy of MTV. |
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#12821 |
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,472
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Ironically those who think Thriller is overhyped tend to hype up Off the Wall. And the whole 'king of pop' stuff is just record company hype. And considering he can be as much funk as pop it's even more stupid.
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#12822 |
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Join Date: May 2005
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That is really not true at all. People are entitled to have an opinion and a preference. 'Off The Wall' still displays a more genuine 70s soul/disco/funk approach, whereas 'Thriller' begins to have that more forced, and mannered vocal delivery by Jackson in places, which i believe manifests itself even more with 'Bad', and 'Dangerous' (and beyond). I suppose you could say that 'Off The Wall' is more generally soulful and mellow, whereas what Jackson begins to do later seems more mechanical, and a little more forced, or contrived. That is the reason i like 'Off The Wall' better. It is a much warmer sounding album to my ears, and i like Jackson's singing more.
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#12823 |
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Join Date: Jun 2004
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Of course people can have a preference, but it's merely taste. I could easily say that people who like Thriller can like that too. Off the Wall is a smooth sounding album which generally flows. Maybe it has more unity in a sense. But then again variety is also sometimes held to be a great thing isn't it? As in what some claim with early Spandau. In which case Thriller is probably held up higher for variety, and overall it might be catchier which could also explain its success. Having greater unity isn't something I put at the top of what I want from an album, at the top I put consistency, I want to be able to play an album from start to end. I wouldn't want to play all of Off the Wall. I could stomach playing all of Thriller easier. The high points of Off the Wall are very high, but I am judging it as a full album.
It's also easy to put things into some historical story and to say something leads to something else, or that something earlier is more 'genuine' (normally a questionable comment), but I prefer to look at things on their own than trying to construct a story. Rather than wanting to something to be something it obviously doesn't want to be. And all music uses technology/engineering to get a sound, some want to accept different styles and some don't. The same with vocals. Billie Jean probably relates more to the earlier album, though I can't say it's ever been among my particular favourites from it, he'd moved on to something else. If it was on Off the Wall I'd put it behind several other tracks. |
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#12824 |
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Billie Jean probably relates more to the earlier album, though I can't say it's ever been among my particular favourites from it, he'd moved on to something else. If it was on Off the Wall I'd put it behind several other tracks.
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#12825 |
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Join Date: Dec 2012
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Quote:
I don't think it's even about taste. Taste is just taste, people will differ and people couldn't care less about another's taste unless they are the same, though some never get that. It's about just accepting different styles of music instead of saying they aren't as artistic just because they aren't in someone's preferred style. Ironically those who think Thriller is overhyped tend to hype up Off the Wall. And the whole 'king of pop' stuff is just record company hype. And considering he can be as much funk as pop it's even more stupid.
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That is really not true at all. People are entitled to have an opinion and a preference. 'Off The Wall' still displays a more genuine 70s soul/disco/funk approach, whereas 'Thriller' begins to have that more forced, and mannered vocal delivery by Jackson in places, which i believe manifests itself even more with 'Bad', and 'Dangerous' (and beyond). I suppose you could say that 'Off The Wall' is more generally soulful and mellow, whereas what Jackson begins to do later seems more mechanical, and a little more forced, or contrived. That is the reason i like 'Off The Wall' better. It is a much warmer sounding album to my ears, and i like Jackson's singing more.
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FWIW, I'd agree. The ingredients that made Thriller so big are there for all to see - embracing new genres that would send shockwaves through black music, and pushing visuals to a new level - but, lyrically, it's also marks the start of MJ's paranoia ('Billie Jean') that would grow to such an extent that it overshadowed so much of his later work … so it's not just the music that didn't have the same warmth (although I'd say that 'Billie Jean' is indeed brilliant).
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I don't think ''Billie Jean'' relates especially closely to the 'Off The Wall' album, and particularly not as Servalan pointed out so accurately, in a lyrical sense. Jackson by this time was very much reflecting the paranoia that was part of his life, which to a large degree would manifest itself with a harder edge in the way he began presenting his songs, both lyrically and vocally. True, the song doesn't display the rocky elements of say, ''Beat It'', but i still believe it to be a long way from the soul/funk/disco sound of his previous record.
- All the singles from that album were superb & really made Michael Jackson stick out within the soul & disco crowd! - I think if 'Thriller' had had more songs like 'Billie Jean' on it, it would have been a great album too. Instead I think it was overexposed & many of its average songs hyped up by the use of MTV etc. To be honest I'm surprised it was the massive seller it was!
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Billie Jean, Thriller & Human Nature are the only real stand out tracks on 'Thriller' - the rest is "filler" as they say. Out of all the 50+ million sales of the album - I have never owned a copy, nor ever had the urge to buy a copy either! 
Are you sure that's not an urban myth?