Old TOTP (BBC4) (3 Viewers)

WTF is going on with this Trans-X thing??? It's odd enough without all the smoking beakers and fake science gear...
 
Sadly, I mostly remember Amazulu for being on the Young Ones but this song appears to be about coping with an emotionally unstable, occasionally violent, partner. Ooft.
 
I’d love to carry on with the Trans-X chat but I’m SUR UN FAISCEAU DE LUMIÈRES :disco:
 
Watching the downloaded ones now, thanks again @Robbie - much appreciation to thee.

No recollection of Russ Abbot or The Cool Notes - I know we'd have been on holiday at some point but I remember coming home from said holiday with The Cure's "In Between Days" on 12" and Gary's Moore's "Empty Rooms" on a 7" double pack so I think I'm too early for both of those...
 
It easy to forget, I think, how utterly out-of-sync The Cult both looked and sounded. At another time, they'd have been massive but they bewildered too many in a mid 80's high on My Toot Toot, Live Is Live and Frankie.
 
Aw man, The Cure. Classic line-up. Love the "wearing suits but slept in them for a week" era.
 
Man, Laibach are an absolute hoot. Music for people who "get" Boyd Rice and Douglas P but still think the pair of 'em are pure shite.
 
God's CUNT but I love TRANS-X MORE THAN LIFE ITSELF

Arrow were not very HOT HOT HOT in that perf I must say. Although I do remember having a lovely pair of white SLACKS in 85. The STAINS Muriel THE STAINS
 
We were so poor that I was always denied the pleasure :(

I did look ever so much like Steve Strange in those green trousers from C&A though, OR SO I THOUGHT
 
I remember my brother having quite a thing for Farah, so I had no choice but to HATE them. Although I DO remember trying a pair of his on once and they were rather ITCHY. Mother had enough work to do sewing cotton pyjama bottoms inside my school uniform trousers before I'd wear them, so I don't think she would have been best pleased if I asked her to do it for casual wear as well.
 
octophone said:
Aw man, The Cure. Classic line-up. Love the "wearing suits but slept in them for a week" era.
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It was close to this time in 1985 that I saw Robert Smith in a nightclub in Newcastle. Strangely he was standing at the bar by himself and looked thoroughly miserable. And I have to say, something of a mess, possibly wearing a suit that he had selpt in for a week! A check reveals The Cure played a concert in Whitley Bay on North Tyneside on Monday 16 September 1985 and I often went to said nightclub on a Monday night so I assume it was then and that Robert Smith had gone to the club afterwards.

https://vintagerock.wordpress.com/2012/07/10/the-cure-whitley-bay-ice-rink-1985/
 
octophone said:
Watching the downloaded ones now, thanks again @Robbie - much appreciation to thee.

No recollection of Russ Abbot or The Cool Notes - I know we'd have been on holiday at some point but I remember coming home from said holiday with The Cure's "In Between Days" on 12" and Gary's Moore's "Empty Rooms" on a 7" double pack so I think I'm too early for both of those...
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In the "I wonder how many people know that" category, 'Empty Rooms' was produced by Peter Collins, a former producer for Magnet Records and the business partner for Pete Waterman (they formed Loose Ends Productions in 1979 before Waterman left in 1984 to form PWL / SAW). Collins produced numerous hits for Alvin Stardust, The Lamrettas, Musical Youth, The Belle Stars, Tracey Ullman, Matt Bianco, Nik Kershaw and... Shakin' Stevens. In 1984 Collins had an about turn and started to produce rock acts instead (Shaky must have been more than he could take), such as Gary Moore, Rush, Alice Cooper, Queensryche and then his biggest success, Bon Jovi (including the mega-hit 'Always'). And to think it all started with Pete Waterman co-financing his early moves into record production...
 
Robbie said:
A check reveals The Cure played a concert in Whitley Bay on North Tyneside on Monday 16 September 1985 and I often went to said nightclub on a Monday night so I assume it was then and that Robert Smith had gone to the club afterwards.

https://vintagerock.wordpress.com/2012/07/10/the-cure-whitley-bay-ice-rink-1985/
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An ice rink feel like an oddly appropriate venue for The Cure. Everyone could huddle inside their mis-shapen cardigans and could always set light to their own hair to keep arm as the sheer amount of hairspray involved would probably burn for a good two or three hours without presenting any real danger to the hair underneath...
 
octophone said:
An ice rink feel like an oddly appropriate venue for The Cure. Everyone could huddle inside their mis-shapen cardigans and could always set light to their own hair to keep arm as the sheer amount of hairspray involved would probably burn for a good two or three hours without presenting any real danger to the hair underneath...
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It really was cold in that ice rink. I never went there myself but friends who did all remarked that the temperature must have been close to freezing. Whoever had the idea of putting on concerts in an ice rink must have been mad. The problem was that until the Newcastle (now Metro Radio) Arena was built in the mid 90s the only decent sized venue in Newcastle, the City Hall, was just too small. At one time the City Hall was the place bands played in but by the early 80s as touring became a more commercial venture it just wasn't big enough for the more popular bands. Personally I preferred to see bands with a smaller following who would play the smaller nightclubs like Tiffany's and the Mayfair (the latter sadly now demolished), bands such as Killing Joke (in February 1985) and the Cocteau Twins (in April 1984 and who were disappointingly dreadful. Elizabeth Frazer seemed to be completely out of it and then refused to do an encore telling us all to fuck off before walking off stage never to return). I even had a free ticket to see an up and coming band by the name of The Smiths in March 1984 but turned it down as I didn't care that much for them at the time! What an idiot... I also turned down two free tickets to see Japan at the City Hall in December 1981 because my girlfriend at the time didn't like them. Yup, what an idiot (again). Though I did get to see Hazell Dean doing a PA in 1984 (and Tight Fit in 1982! They ended up having drinks thrown at them by some of the crowd)...
 
This is where Glasgow has been continually fortunate - we always had the Barrowlands and the Kelvin Hall was often used for bigger gigs as was the odd football stadium. The Apollo was legendary but took 3000. When the SECC was built, it soon got a reputation for having poor sound but after a wee bit of work, it seemed to find its feet. It has massively lost out to The Hydro now. I was that bit too young for most of the 80's bands; I hadn't quite turned 14 when the Smiths split was announced but at least I can comfort myself a wee bit that the Cocteaus were rubbish live :D .
 
So glad to have this back. Am I at utter wrong un to think Tarzan Boy isn't that bad for a novelty hit?
 
Ag said:
So glad to have this back. Am I at utter wrong un to think Tarzan Boy isn't that bad for a novelty hit?
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It’s legit brilliant.

A fucking stellar episode all round.

Princess <333
 
The top 10 is mostly great. Rather tired of the overplay of boring I Got You Babe. I hate UB40. Also fuck Dire Straits. But Madonna, Madonna, Cars, Kate Bush, Tina Turner, Eurythmics and Princess :disco:
 
lolly said:
King really were utterly fucking horrific, weren't they?
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I remember Paul King from VH-1 in the 1990s and he annoying. I didn't know how annoying he was as a pop star. Utter prick. I don't know if I hate him or Peter Cox more.

Love and Pride wasn't a bad bad song though.
 
'Tarzan Boy' is a marvel. Shame we only got the CRAPPY NOVELY end of ITALO though. I was AGOG to find out that that GINGER NORN IRISH QUEEN (RIP FROM THE AIDS x) wasn't actually singing in that STRANGULATED ITALO-ENGLISH though! Who'd have THOUGHT!
 
A fairly weak episode but D-Train's You're The One For Me is an utter banger and new to me! :o
 
Moving on to the next episode of Top Of The Pops... as the show is co-hosted by Mike Smith it means once again we won't get to see it on BBC4. But...

https://wetransfer.com/downloads/79201b0ce0b9b180437642a97d6287e920180427185532/3c731b


05/09/85 (Peter Powell & Mike Smith)
Baltimora – “Tarzan Boy” (3)
Bryan Ferry – “Don’t Stop The Dance” (26) (Montreux clip)
Rebecca Storm – “The Show” (28)
Madness – “Yesterday’s Men” (21)
Huey Lewis & The News – “The Power Of Love” (31) (breaker)
Marillion – “Lavender” (23) (breaker)
Bonnie Tyler – “Holding Out For A Hero” (10)
Dire Straits - "Money For Nothing" (9) (video clip)
King - "Alone Without You" (8) (video clip)
Princess - "Say I'm Your Number One" (7) (video clip)
The Cars - "Drive" (6) (video clip)
Kate Bush - "Running Up That Hill" (5) (video clip)
Madonna - "Into The Groove" (4) (video clip)
Baltimora – “Tarzan Boy” (3) (video clip)
UB40 & Chrissie Hynde - "I Got You Babe" (2) (video clip)
David Bowie & Mick Jagger – “Dancing In The Street” (1) (video)
Stevie Wonder - "Part Time Lover" (20) (audience dancing/credits)
 
Nothing doing so time for a TOTP catch-up...

I don't remember this King record at all. It's wretched mind you so maybe I just blotted it out.
 
I do not know how 1981 UB40 became 1985 UB40. How were they not disgusted with themselves?
 
Phil Collins is pretty bewildering in that regard too... 1975 - drummer in outre prog rock band, 1985 - jumped up pop singer in the worst suit money can buy. Dick.
 
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