I believe it was originally used as a b-side to Computer Love (From their most recent album) but reissued when it got more airplay than the A-side.

No, quite through reverse, but why make Evans the exception? The BBC should at least show a level of consistency, one way or the other. However, that changes when it comes to their own self preservation, and it is then about the highly important, and rather competitive morning breakfast show. Losing their early morning listening figures becomes more important to them than the distaste of the potential crimes Evans may have committed. With the possible exception of Savile, the BBC's argument of withdrawing certain individuals from view, is insincere to the core, because if it comes to the potential of affecting their ratings massively, they simply make an exception. Losing DLT's episodes from the Top Of The Pops repeats is acceptable in their eyes, because the loss isn't likely to effect them too greatly - same with Blackburn with Pick Of The Pops, despite his show doing well for those couple of hours per week. However, the outcry from the sacking of Blackburn, especially, has been huge. There again, of course, Evans alleged crimes were not committed on BBC property, and he wasn't employed by them at the time, so they have nothing to be embarrassed about, because it wasn't to do with any shortcoming of theirs. But there again that shows again that it isn't really the crime itself that they deem as being the important factor, but more about how those perceptions effect them.

Having been distracted with other things in recent weeks I think I've obviously missed some salient news details.

Has Chris Evans actually been charged with something or is it only allegations at the moment?

No, not at all. They all looked nice I thought. Have watched it over and over several times; love the energy in the performance.

Most recent update I can find is "to be quizzed by police within days", which was over a week ago. I would link to a story but wouldn't want to be responsible for directing anyone to the Daily Mail. So the answers to your question are probably "no" and "yes" respectively.

I'm guessing not. During the 1980 episodes, there was one week where they chopped out most of Tommy's final link because he told us DLT was presenting next week.

BIB - I very much appreciate the consideration shown in this matter. Gag reflex and bucket have been saved.


Well I guess it's one of those wait and see things. Right now it seems he's being used as a means to yet again vicariously chide the BBC over the non-broadcasting of DLT's editions of TOTPs when the subject should've been buried some time ago.

It's the bloody Alien of the thread. Just when you think it's gone its acid blood drips through the ceiling grill and just pungently burns through the discussion.

It was because in 1981 Kraftwerk released "Computer Love" as a single and, in the absence of any new material, put "The Model" on the B side. Radio DJs preferred the B side and started playing that, which led to the single being 'flipped' and The Model becoming the A side. Apparently the band were quite annoyed at having to promote a 4 year old track when they had a new album to promote instead!

Perhaps it was simply 4 years ahead of its time and Kraftwerk had to wait for the rest of the music industry to catch up before they hit the mainstream?

A fun fact about Haircut 100's Love Plus One...

When I was about 11 or 12, my Dad used to work as a Plasterer. Mostly ornate stuff, but he did get quite a bit of work on TV sets, mostly for adverts. I would occasionally go with him and help clear up and stuff.

One day we were at Halliford Studios, filming this - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2ltLG0LvQE - As I explored the studio, behind the backdrop was another scene of a tropical island, volcanos etc.

That very evening on TOTP it was there as the Love Plus One video

What about Tony Blackburn?

What has Tony Blackburn got to do with Chris Evans?

Love Forgotten 80s. 7-9pm on a Sunday night. I hear so many forgotten gems each week.

Heard a few corkers past couple of weeks:-

Sat In Your Lap - Kate Bush
Roses - Haywoode
Dear Jessie - Madonna
Duel - Propoganda
Blasphemous Rumours - Depeche Mode
Satellite - The Hooters
Me & the Farmer - The Housemartins
The Specials - Stereotype
Louise - Human League

I've just realised who Heather reminds me of in a very slight way — Caroline Aherne. They must have been about the same age as well.

Indeed. During one of the December 1981 chart rundowns, the name of the song was given as Computer Love rather than The Model.

The success of 'The Model' didn't come from radio originally - it started in the futurist/new romantic clubs of 1980/1981. As electronic pioneers, Kraftwerk were musically at the heart of that and a massive influence on the artists played there, but most of Kraftwerk's tracks were five minutes-plus … so 'The Model' was an obvious choice for DJs.

That was doubtless behind EMI's decision to put it on the B Side of 'Computer Love' in 1981 - but the enduring popularity of 'The Model' in clubs prompted EMI to flip the single later that year and repromote it, especially as by that time the floodgates for electronic music had well and truly burst open (Soft Cell, The Human League, Depeche Mode … and so on).

The band were annoyed at EMI's decision, but didn't actually do anything to promote 'The Model' … the video screened on TOTP was a hotpotch of old film clips and generic (and rather poor quality) footage of the group on stage. And the Computer Love album would have been about eight months old by then - so not new, and only had two singles taken off it, the second being 'Computer Love' … so they couldn't really complain that much.

David Cassidy's 'How Can I Be Sure?', Slade's 'Everyday' and Kate Bush's 'Army Dreamers' all spring to mind …

'Snakehips' Fairbrass was actually quite low-key in the episodes screened last week - compared to some previous weeks. Being relegated to doing the handjive to The Jets was certainly a comedown from his recent screen-hogging turns, although he fared slightly better in the Friday edition with the cheerleaders' routine to Alton Edwards at the end. I'm guessing he will have been planning his revenge - reclaiming centre stage with Toni Basil, which will hopefully feature in a coming episode?

He seems to have had rather a lacklustre 80s before he landed his part in London's Burning … I wonder what he was doing all that time?

I thought Friday's episode was pretty good. FB3/Nanas, Stranglers, Bow Wow Wow, Depeche Mode and Haircut 100 were all good, The Jam at number 1 was just the icing on the cake. Can't wait for this Friday's show and their studio performances.

I don't mind Hall & Oates or J Geils Band and Modern Romance were at least doing something different after their last couple of tunes which were more or less interchangeable. The only real low for me was Adrian Gurvitz. I'm not a fan of the song and I thought it really killed the mood of the show after a great performance from Bow Wow Wow.

Overall, I don't think this was quite as good as Thursday's show although probably only slightly behind. I'll award it 7.5/10

Does Japan's 1982 hit 'Night Porter' fall into this category?

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

Agree with you (and others) about Adrian Gurvitz (sorry, ''Classic' lovers) - but the low point for me was 'Centerfold' … US frat boy tripe sung by a desperate Jagger wannabe, and everything that was wrong about early 80s US rock. There may have been shades of that in the 'Dead Ringer For Love' video, but at least that had Cher to take the curse off it!

Deffo. And Billy Preston & Syreeta's 'With You I'm Born Again'. And Elaine Paige's 'Memory'. And loads of others, I'm sure!

But it had a great tune.

Hmm. All it needed were different lyrics and a different video …

Great tune, great lyrics, great video.
I remember Jonathon Ross subbing for Steve Wright one week stating he'd changed his mind about playing it, something about misogyny!
Anyone think he's got a point? My lady friend loves it. (the tune )

Pedant alert: Nightporter was a track on Japan's 1980 album Gentlemen Take Polaroids. A different version appeared on the live album Oil On Canvas released in 1983 after the band had split up.