I give marks out of 10 to every song – based on whatever criteria you like, here’s your opportunity to say what you’d have given more than 6 to from 1976. Tick as many as you like.
Loading ...And use the comments to discuss the year as a whole, if you like.
Tom in FT /Popular • featured content/Pop/popular year poll • 9,617 views
All, 1–25, 26–50, 51–75, 76–100, 101–125, 126–150, 151–175, 176–200, 201–225, 226–250, 251–275, 276–300, 301–325, 326–350, 351–375, 376–400, 401–425, 426–450, 451–475, 476–500, 501–525, 526–551.Back up to post. More comments: All, 1–25, 26–50, 51–75, 76–100, 101–125, 126–150, 151–175, 176–200, 201–225, 226–250, 251–275, 276–300, 301–325, 326–350, 351–375, 376–400, 401–425, 426–450, 451–475, 476–500, 501–525, 526–551.
All the UK number ones since 1952, reviewed in order and rated by whim. As featured on Radio 2, The Times, Metro, Paul Cornell's LiveJournal, etc etc.
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The Tony Burrows Rule was famously broken in 1982 by Steve Archibald, appearing for both Spurs and Scotland on the same night (he couldn’t do that as a footballer but did as a singer!)
Here’s Kevin Godley denying that “Mandy” was about taking Mandrax: http://www.minestrone.org/rm760501.htm
Thanks Erithian! Yes, Mandrax. All makes sense.
Don’t think it’s Frankie on the mid section (prob Don Ciccone), and according to Wiki “Valli’s contribution was limited to harmony vocals at the end of the recording (he was gradually losing his hearing in the 1970s due to otosclerosis)”.
Of course I was forgetting… Frankie’s obviously harmonising all over the thing right at the very end.
Ah right, I see.
They do go out of their way to ‘not show’ the pianist’s face while showing the guy reasonably close up… (as I remember it)
Right, seen it now, so:
Yeah, you can see that it isn’t FValli on the piano, but I stand by that they would have said “no, FValli can’t appear with both acts”. Also, drummer looks a lot like Woody Harrelson.
Also, another one reminds me of that old MU rule that you ‘had’ to re-record your backing track to appear on the show. So, Paul Nicholas gets the BBC Orchestra with The Ladybirds treatment, and the four seasons get to buy the Musician’s Union bloke a drink while they switch the tapes.
This week’s TOTP was more dance oriented with a mixture of the good the bad and the ugly – the latter two qualities personified by DLT.
Fox – Single Bed
I warmed to this performance more than the one two weeks ago. The band seemed more relaxed. I suspect that Alison Goldfrapp was taking notes
Stylistics – Can’t help falling in love
Reminded me how alien these soul groups appeared to me – then and now, with their pastel tuxedoes with lace(?) detailed lapels, synchronised moves, and unearthly falsettos. I don’t think the song suited them as well as some of their other stuff. I was curious why one singer remained sat on a stool – he looked a lot shorter than the rest, was that why?.
Diana Ross – Theme from Mahogany
Lovely tune, bland choreography, costumes by Bev from Abigail’s Party followed by DLT leering at Pans People in a toe curling way
Brass Construction – Movin’
Fantastic – this sounded fresh and compelling
Sailor – Girls,girls,girls
Still enjoyable – there was a mini revival of 30s(?) style stuff – with Bette Midler releasing ‘Songs for the New Depression’ this year for one
Isaac Hayes – Disco connection
Another toetapper, not quite as strong as Brass Connection– slightly diluted by PPs antics
Smokie – Wild, wild angels
I’d forgotten how ubiquitous this lot had been during the 70s – apparently singing variations on the one song
Eric Carmen – All by myself
borrowing from Rachmaninoff, so wiki tells me. Eric had a more brooding intensity about his performance which contrasted with the end of the pier stylings of many of the UK acts
Brotherhood of Man – Save all your kisses for me
Still sounding dire – TOTP seemed to think that a video of BoM ambling through a park might put an end
Rodger Collins -’You Sexy Sugar Plum’
A very short burst of this over the end credits – but Youtube suggests we will get a fuller performance. I can’t remember hearing this at all at the time
My four-month-old daughter giggled with either delight or amusement throughout Pan’s People and Theme from Mahogany, and then kicked along to Brass Construction. She lost interest after that.
Last night’s was the best one so far…I’m not familiar with Dave Lee Travis but his bizarre innuendo-filled links were hilariously weird and had me cringing in a good way. The whole thing was just a surreal joy – The Stylistics must have covered that Elvis track as a joke, surely? The whole thing seemed like a parody of disco music, from the shiny suits to falsettos. Eric Carmen’s ‘All By Myself’ going on for bloody ages, as nice as the song is we didn’t need to hear the whole thing. And as for the Brotherhood of Man video…words fail me.
If I didn’t know better I’d think from these repeats that the 1970s was a hilariously naff decade for music. Unbelievable to think that the likes of glam, punk and early synthpop went on in the surrounding few years.
Russell Thompkins Jr. and Orville – no difference. Apart from their vocal range.
I don’t think I’d ever heard Movin’ before – anyone remember it getting Radio 1 airplay?
On the other hand it felt like the BBC LOVED All By Myself, even if it did only reach no.12. An “important” record. Like Eye Level. It might have done better if this performance wasn’t backed by the usual MU hired hands – where’s the guitar solo gone?
Disco Connection still sounds great played out, esp. if you pitch it down -3. Fastest disco record ever?
“The 1970s was a hilariously naff decade for music”, obv.
I first heard “Movin’” in 1988 when it made the charts again in a remixed/updated version. Wonder if anyone else with access to the relevant lists can check, but I seem to recall that it got on TotP (Must have been May or possibly June ’88) then. (Had the group reformed to promote a remixed greatest hits compilation? Can’t remember. I do recall that they followed up “Movin 1988″ with another remake/remix of “Ha Cha Cha”, I think)
Strange how Brass Construction have maintained a conspiciously low profile all along, though.
Yes I heard Movin’ in 88 due to the remix and loved it. It was later sampled by The Bucketheads on ‘Got Myself Together’, their follow up to ‘The Bomb’.
re 30 The ’40s revival of 1975/76 was started at the Goldmine Club in Canvey Island where Chris Hill was resident, he started dropping a lot of big band swing stuff (Glenn Miller etc)amongst the funk, soul and ’70s jazz there and the clubbers started turning up in 40s clothes etc. And it eventually went overground and ended up with more of the music on the radio and re-released records etc.
Coincidentally the same club (or it could have been the Lacy Lady in North London which was his other residency around that time)was where I’ve read that he played ‘Movin’ about 10 times in one night when he first got hold of the import.
The nearly 9 minute version on the album is even better.
Brass Construction stayed massive on that London/Home Counties underground club scene and were still having big floorfillers up until the mid-80s – stuff like ‘Walkin The Line’/'Partyline’/'International’.
‘Movin” and ‘Changin” (also off the first album) were always the absolute monsters though.
Not sure last night’s repeat was quite so good, really. Although David Hamilton much less annoying (and looking less relaxed) than DLT, as you might reasonably expect.
Jimmy James & The Vagabonds – I’ll Go Where the Music Takes Me
Seeming something of a rather second-rate relative of 70s disco. Some backing vocals a bit grating. A bit “by numbers”.
John Miles – Music
As discussed elsewhere round here lately. (Was it the “No Charge” thread). Certainly worth the time of day
Harpo – Movie star (Studio)
Completely unknown to me; a Swedish guy with a bicycle bell. A bit self-consciously wacky; kind of like the uncle of Per from Roxette was preparing the way for him. A bit twee, but not dislikeable. At least, until the gratuitous key change
Abba – Fernando (vid)
Well, everybody knows this…
Sheer Elegance – Life Is Too Short Girl
More identical pastel-coloured clothing (yellow suits with orange-dominated tartan waistcoats) and co-ordinated dance moves. Some nice humming bits. Never heard this before but I strongly suspect it would improve on further listening.
Rubettes – You’re The Reason Why
Bus-conductor outfit with cap-wearing guy (another mid-70s thing). Bloke in dungarees over a red shirt with a big hankie tied round his neck. Evidently not a hit, and really a bit dull, if inoffensive.
Hank Mizel – Jungle Rock (with Pan’s People)
Dancers in chimpanzee and dinosaur suits & those of the many animals mentioned in the song while PP go all colonial and khaki. Very 50′s revivalish rockabilly, I think. Rather odd. (Edit: I see – it was from 1958)
Gilbert O’Sullivan – Doing what I know
Piano-based midtempo number that gets duller the longer it last. A bit like Beautiful South on a fairly off-par day, mostly supremely banal. Another one that failed to even graze the charts. (And “And it’s amazing when you think of it how many people smoke, despite all the risks that are invoked”…OMG. Actually with “smoke” changed to “drink” I could readily imagine Paul Heaton singing that). Far too long, far too little substance.
Brotherhood Of Man – Save your kisses for me
No comment required. It’s all been said here already. Although one positive consequence of this group was that the thought of that style of moustache, combined with mutton-chop sideburns has been so repulsive that there is no danger of that look returning. Also probably a better song than the Gilbert O’Sullivan one beforehand.
Andrea True Connection – More more more (over credits)
Can’t go wrong with that one, really. Pity it cut off so soon..
I was struck by how many of the performers were wearing cravats on last night’s show.
Jimmy James at least gave an animated performance that lifted an otherwise lightweight tune.
I learned from Wiki that Harpo was subsequently kicked in the face by a horse – losing the sight in one eye and his sense of smell.
Hank Mizell still sounded great.
The Rubettes were one pot ugly bunch
I enjoyed the Gilbert O’Sullivan performance – Punctum’s response to Back to Front over at Then Play Long had made me more curious about his music.
I too would have enjoyed more Andrea True Connection.
I don’t hardly remember the GO’S (relevent acronym: When will I be not famous?) song, I’m assuming it missed. I’ve never heard a song as blatantly “here’s another one just like the usual rubbish I always do because you’d hate it if I did anything different or better” song ever.
Anyway, a large no of repeats this time (Miles, Abba, Sheereleg, Pan’s Jungle)
The rubes would have had a longer career with the new-wave sounds around the corner, if the singer (not the usual one) looked less like an untrendy Buggle.
I see they finally found a pic of Hank for the rundown.
Harpo: Yep.
Oh, and if I recall correctly, the forthcoming ‘performance’ looked like an excerpt from a ‘non-porn’ musical section of a porn movie (which it might well have been)
I missed the week before’s episode, is someone collecting these I wonder?
Actually, check his final sequence of singles for MAM, who he later sued:
“You never listen to reason”
“I’ll believe it when I see it”
“Doing what I know” / “I of course replied”
“You got me going” / “As long as I can”
“He” (i.e. MAM) released a “Greatest Hits” late in 1976, none of these were on it.
Latest news: The BBC are definitely doing this TOTP run for a year.
Surely ‘public demand’/ratings will keep it going for longer?
You’re The Reason Why is an excellent update of the Beatles’ ’65 country-pop sound but didn’t even make the Top 20 – baffled me then, baffles me now, esp. when there were so many Beatles singles in the chart. Doesn’t anyone else like it? Really?? Oh…
And Gilbert O with a proto Balearic thing I have no recollection of… Good spot, Mark! Consequently, out of MAM’s grip in ’77, he recorded The Best Fun I Ever Had . Which I’m very fond of.
A rather less dancy edition this week. Although I am informed that Gladys Knight and the Pips were among artists cut from the re-run so it would fit in the 30 mins slot…
Slik – Requiem
Never heard this before. Starts off very promisingly, atmospherically, sinks a bit. But, superior pop music that rises above the pub-rock feel that also slips into a couple of place, I think so. (Prefer it to their big hit)
Paul Nicholas – Reggae Like It Used To Be
Curious, not unpleasant, lively and singalong and danceable, but a Judge Dread appearance on TOTP (or even, just once, on the BBC airwaves) might well have been preferable…
Andrea True Connection – More More More
with Pans People in grass skirts. Fab song anyway,
Electric Light Orchestra – Nightrider
(non-chart single). Not their best. Really. Obligatory good harmonies & instrumentation in evidence though.
Diana Ross – Love Hangover
Just a classic, no?
Laurie Lingo & The Dipsticks – Convoy GB
Hmmm. Not a classic, I think it’s fair to say, even if Spaghetti Junction were on the M1. Not the worst “comedy” record ever made by Radio 1 DJs though. (I think several of Steve Wright’s are worse, for starters…)
Eric Carmen – All By Myself
Pretty much a classic too.
Bellamy Brothers – Let Your Love Flow
Unpretentious, at least. surely only a matter a time before Britney Spears nicks the lyrics from the chorus of this and puts them over a beat just to show how we have come full circle and back to the 70s.
Brotherhood Of Man – Save Your Kisses For Me
see above
Stylistics – I Can’t Help Falling In Love (over end credits)
as previously discussed
Slik were refreshing because they looked young and so didn’t radiate that quality of eagerness to please born of a lifetime on a circuit of club nights and ends of piers that I pick up from acts like Brotherhood Of Man and Smokie. Very few of the British pop acts over the last few weeks (apart from the Rollers) have appeared that youthful – maybe another reason why PUNK HAD TO HAPPEN, etc.
For a tenth of a second, it sounded like “we will fall”, but no. Also, LLingo looked a lot like Badly Drawn Boy in a mask…
“Reggae Like it used to be” 2 questions:
1) Who was Stevie and Paul?
2) What kind of reggae is he on about that he dislikes in favour of how it ‘used to be’? He mentions “Reggae Beethoven” which wasn’t exactly a huge strand of reggae, and goes no further than “Reggae everything you see” which seems a bit general.
re 46
1) I assume Stevie Wonder – possibly for ‘Boogie on Reggae Woman’ and Paul could be Paul Simon for ‘Mother and Child reunion’ – although it could be McCartney
2) judging by his performance he misses a particular flaccid version of reggae which bears little or no relation to the real thing
Ah, I suppose M&CReunion is the closest to “RHIUTB” (at least, in the backing track on the record) than anything on Treasure Island or Melodisc, ta.
#43 Aha! I knew they were cutting stuff!
So, is that “Andrea True” appearance coming up, or has that gone the way?
they are going to start showing the full unedited programmes from 12 May apparently – in the late at night repeat slot