I'm certainly not implying that "If You Can't Stand The Heat" is poor, but i do believe it was perhaps Bucks Fizz least effective single up to that point in time. The production values to their songs seem to take on greater importance as time went on, but i certainly wouldn't say the song was dictated simply by the production. That would come more into play a little later. I don't believe "If You Can't Stand The Heat" is better than "Making Your Mind Up", which seemed to have a less contrived feel to my ears, and a more infectious swing.

Yes, "Our House" lyrically is pretty observational, without much of a trace of humour, so i agree with you. Musically, i think it does possess humorous overtones in its typically general English music hall feel. Not that matters, of course, but i do feel Madness early music possessed a little more bite. "Our House" certainly appears far superior to "Driving In My Car", and does work well on its own terms.

Madness had their only number one in this year.

Oh look - there's a Madness singles poll...

New Year Madness!

Is there a reason why Our House is not in the poll?

Redone it.

Here's the re-issue...

New Year Madness!

Yes, i was hoping that the BBC had unearthed the Top Of The Pops performance to ''Ruby Tuesday'', which also related to 1967. Instead it was a promo film to ''2000 Light Years From Home'', which i don't ever recall being released as a single, at least not in the UK. It was shown, though, on Top Of The Pops according to Popscene on 28/12/67. It certainly isn't a rare clip like was advertised. I have had a colour copy in my possession for at least a couple of decades in excellent quality, i may add. I can only think that the clip shown was actually originally taken from part of the missing 28/12/67 episode, so it is a find in a sense, but the actual performance can be found everywhere. Still, there may be more rare material available where that came from.

Just caught up with the second edition from Friday - at Jay Aston's outfit!

Funniest moment was in the playout over 'Young Guns (Go For It)' (how appropriate), where the young woman in the white top and hat and red skirt was standing very still, gawping at the monitor, then suddenly screamed when she realised she was on it. Hilarious!

Top Of The Pops: The Story Of 1983 : Friday 6th Jan : 9pm
TOTP Big Hits 1983 : 10pm

So, Zoo will be appearing less frequently in 1983 before bowing out altogether due to everyone having a pop video. Who is going to miss them? (I understand some will stay on as cheerleaders though)

Also, dumb question time... why can't the BBC edit-out the links from the Mike Smith (vetoed) editions so they can be shown? Simplistic view, I know, but it seems a real shame to lose some of the performances from those episodes due to this issue.

The rundown would still function without a voiceover. Seems like a reasonable compromise to me...

Bucks Fizz IMHO suffered from being over produced with many of their songs compared to ABBA the melodies of many of their hits was simplicity itself

Thank you

BBC Four has announced they will do a George Michael tribute night this Friday (30th December)

Is anyone else watching Pop Quiz with Mike Reid, a selection of 80s celebs on, including the much liked on here Leee John and Toyah, as well as members of OMD, Spandau, Mari Wilson and Tom Bailey... 80s cheesefest!

Yes - although it seemed to have a pretty narrow definition of the 80s. I don't think any question involved anything after 1985? Mind you, that's one more year than I would give the 80s.

A bit of nostalgia, and and a pleasant way to pass half an hour.
Not seen Marie Wilson for years, and I was impressed by Toyahs new teeth.

Most of the questions should be bread & butter to the regular pop pickers to this fine forum, with a thickly sliced layer of 80's pop Cheddar contained within, which is just the way I like it Chef.

DOH! I mean sheff.

I thought it was great fun.

I'm thankful our genial host didn't sing the UKIP Calypso to finish, but if he'd have recreated some of his hokey dancing featured on past Pops episodes it would've been my TV highlight for the whole of 2016.

What will it comprise?

Does anyone have any links to good copies of the 1982 Xmas episodes?

*Edit - Just found one on Vimeo - https://vimeo.com/196902816 which bizarrely seems to have a BBC4 intro, I don't remember this being on - anyone else?

TBC - but I really hope someone is frantically putting together a 'George Michael at the BBC'-type compilation, so we aren't subject to the TOTP2 Wham! special with 'I'm so witty' commentary by Mark Radcliffe (who really isn't witty and should be kept well away from anything TOTP-related) … *crosses fingers*

Just watching that Xmas '82 episode I linked there and it's very curious, a BBC4 logo throughout but features DLT and Mike Smith in it. where has it come from?

It was shown in 2008 as part of a season about pop music called, 'Pop On Trial'. Each week a different decade was focused on from the 60s, through to the 70s, 80s and then 90s. The broadcast of the Top Of The Pops 1982 Christmas special in the link is from 23rd January 2008.

This was before the repeats of all available Top Of The Pops editions in order from 1976 onwards which started in 2011. Clearly there was no issue of showing it with Mike Smith at that point.

Cheers for that link, a high quality xmas special there...

I enjoyed it, light years away from what Buzzcocks descended into towards the end, good fun and after the last couple of years watching TOTP on BBC4, a lot of the answers were straight there.

I heard them say it's on again next week I think? I think with Toyah and Leee John as captains, it could easily do a series just on the 80s.

Can only presume it came from BBC4 prior to 2012 when it all kicked off Yewtree style, but it's even more curious considering the Mike Smith decision, which must have been known about in BBC circles for a long time.

Perhaps the episode you link was shown without clearance by the Beeb pre-2012 & afterwards MS reminded the Beeb in no uncertain terms they had no right to show his Pops presented episodes without express permission?

The original BBC statement posted a Month or so ago said 'the BBC is continuing to respect his (Mike Smith's) wishes' for his episodes not to be shown.

Fair enough you might think with BBC's stance on the matter & 'respecting his decision' following his passing, but curiously this afternoon I was catching up with some previous BBC4 recordings & decided to give Mark Radcliffe's documentary on Indie 'Music for Misfits' a whirl (shown September 2016). Part way through the 'Alternative 80s' episode was a section dedicated to PWL, considered an 'Indie' label in the 80s.

Given the BBC are 'respecting Mike Smith's decision', I was more than a little surprised to see footage directly taken from a 1987 Top of the Pops episode where Mike Smith introduces Kylie's 'I Should Be So Lucky'.

Given Wham's debut was also featured on 'Big Hits-1982' with Mike Smith jigging away at the start in the background, it does beg the question WHAT THE BLOODY HELL ARE THE BBC PLAYING AT?

If I was a cynic, I might conclude this has diddly squat to do with the Beeb respecting anyone's wishes, but more to do with the absence of Smithy episodes fitting nicely into BBC's scheduling plans for 2017, allowing for Sky At Night & more Proms coverage.

Thankfully I'm not normally a cynic, but answers on a postcard pop pickers!

I think the BBC have the rights to show Smiths episodes,as well as all others.
I wonder if some office toady found some older paperwork about Smiths issues and panicked,causing a shitstorm ,and the bosses just took Smiths episodes off the list.
People started asking/hassling Sarah on her twitter,then the BBC felt boxed in and gave us all the polite,but nonsense reasons for dropping Smith episodes.