Some quality songs on today, but it seems the plague of 1981 - the medley - has been replaced in 1982 by middle aged hairy white blokes and their self-indulgent efforts...

After the fantastic Soft Cell song on yesterday, to open up with Fun Boy 3 / Bananarama with such an irritatingly catchy tune, and the wonderful Golden Brown, and the Go Wild in the country... looked like a 10/10 episode...! Until Mr Gurvitz dragged it down. Loser!

Loved the Hall & Oates song, and don't mind the Elkie Brooks song either... H100 was bearable - if if they do like they should be doing weddings instead of hit singles. Much preferred Fantastic Day to this... Is that someone in the band's dad on the sax?

Then - arguably the single of 1982, and straight in at the top, A Town Called Malice - still sounds as brilliant now as 34 years ago! Just really odd that they borrowed the same tin of Mr Sheen to polish their instruments that H&O had earlier...

With the excellent start and the number 1, at least an 8.5/10 - just that 'Classic' letting it down really.

The bassline on 'Precious', the AA side to 'A Town Called Malice' by The Jam always sounded like a bit of a rip-off of the bassline from 'Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag' by Pigbag. I think The Jam got away with it because, despite being released the previous May, the Pigbag single hadn't (as yet) charted. I'd bought the Pigbag single in October 1981 so picked up on it straight away as soon as I heard 'Precious'.

'Precious' will feature on the next edition of TOTP 1982 but for those who can't wait till next time to compare the two tracks... (obviously a spoiler for the first link as it is The Jam's performance of both sides of their single from the next edition of TOTP).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmzFzNecv44 (The Jam)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMEwVrFXMjM (Pigbag)

Thanks for the info - glad it's not just me.

Yeah, we've kind of done that now....

You had to be there.

I have the same problem too, I always have to turn up the volume on the TV when Top Of The Pops comes on. I sometimes also have the same problem on some programmes that are shown on (UK) Gold.

I think the more important question here is "Should 'Does your mother know' be Yewtreed"?

Golden Brown must be one of the few hit singles ever in 3/4 (waltz) time, apart from Elgelbert's "The last waltz" and Lou Reed's "Perfect Day", although I seem to remember it was only a charity cover version of that which charted. Can anybody think of any others(and possibly prove me wrong?

Old programmes with mono soundtracks? That's the point I was trying to make in my original post. Perhaps I'd be better off posting a question in one of the more technical forums. Thanks for your reply.

Wondered where you were tonight young man. Set your alarm next time! Only one episode on next week by the look of it and that's on Friday, Sky At Night's back taking up the Thursday slot.


Blimey! I knew she was young but didn't realize she was only 15!!


What about 'Fantastic Day' and (for me anyway) the Haircut's best song (and final single I think prior to Nick's departure), 'Nobody's Fool'. You must remember them.


Was a bit 'turning up at the party long after everyone else has gone home' wasn't it.

Yes, now you mention it, I do remember "Fantastic Day", and I suspect I would remember "Nobody's Fool" if I heard it - I wasn't saying that H100 had no more hits, it was more a case of memory problems.

Yeah, fair do's. I sort of suffer the same on occasion these days. Nobody's Fool was, I believe, supposed to be a Nick Heyward solo single, but they delayed doing that and released it as H100 song instead. Good song and video also https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVQSmW6klew notable perhaps for young Patsy Kensit's appearance prior to her brief stint as a pop star herself and when, unlike her somewhat botoxed appearance now, she looked pretty darn good.

'Nobody's Fool' is a great song if you look it up & so are some of Nick's solo songs afterwards! - Great songwriter!

Anyone know who the blonde girl dancing with Zoo yesterday was?

Ha - sorry - but I've never been a fan of 80s Abba - so I have to blame it on something & Agnetha's haircut is as good as any reason to use!!

I don't hate it but I don't like it much either.

And Being Boiled got to number 6 and only had a play-out!

I haven't watched these old totp episodes for a while due to working when they are on. Having changed my hours maybe I'll be able to watch more of them in future. I think the last time I remember watching it was up to '78 I think? I can remember Dee D Jackson's dancing robot, I think that may have been the last time I watched.
Anyway as others have said first three songs were top notch & songs I remember fairly well from '82 even though I was a little boy at the time.

Alton Edwards at number 20 again? I think this is the third week, although not consecutively.

So you didn't like 'One Of Us' either? Your sending a shiver down my spine now Ursula!

Aggie's forever a goddess in my eyes, irrespective of an occasional umm,well frankly 'dubious' hairstyle choice. That's all.

Having just watchted the "Nobody's Fool" video, I have to say that I don't remember it - and that it's a good enough song that I would have remembered it, had I heard it before. And, yes, Patsy Peapod lookks absolutely gorgeous in it, too.

Yes, Nick Heyward was(is?) a great songwriter, as proved by the link above your original post. These days I'm more into rock and blues, but I still like well written pop, played by real people!

- If it makes you feel better - I do like the songs 'On & On & On', 'The Piper' & 'The Visitors' (all from the 80s)!!

And Agnetha Faltskog will always be the most beautiful pop star, long hair or short!

Well, yeah again...fair do's! I think chart position and sales wise it was actually the least successful H100 single. So, probably its actually their least well known one. Personally, I thought it was their best one though, but each to their own as always. Patsy K does look good in it though doesn't she.

That'll be one of two appearances she made that were shown on BBC4 that featured that dodgy looking Cyberman with the wonky headpiece!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzO14B1ifxk

The episodes with her appearances were shown in April and May 2013 so it's been over three years since you last watched the old TOTP's!

Though only a minor hit, 'Friends' by the Beach Boys is in waltz time.