The Freaky Trigger Top 100 Tracks Of All Time No. 44. The Selecter – On My Radio

On My Radio disc The edition of Top of the Pops on the 8th November 1979 featured The Specials (A Message To You, Rudy), Madness (One Step Beyond), and The Selecter (On My Radio). UK pop buyers officially loved the “2 Tone” label. The distinctive checkered-strip logo was an instantly recognisable label of your pop allegiance — a simple design that was easy to pick out in tippex(r) on an army-surplus school-bag, or in the blocky graphics of home computers at the time (shift-S shift-S shift-S…). I was too young to care (or know) about labels, but I knew the music, and I knew there were special moves at the school disco.

The success of 2 Tone was rapid — their first release, by founding band The Specials, had only been in the summer gone of 79 when the band ‘The Selecter’ didn’t yet exist. They were the label’s first manufactured band, put together from Coventry’s ska scene and given the name of that first release’s (ambiguously attributed) instrumental B-side.

It’s a template pop-ska song, all insistent speed-reggae hooks that get you up and dancing. Elbows and heels. Fun fun fun. Not the overly conscious genre of ska associated with this wave. But it’s not ‘nutty’ Madness either which luckily means it endures beyond adolescense, and (well done them) gets into FT’s legendary top 100 tracks of all time. So listen again. This is the ska version of Tina Charles’ “I Love To Love” — their respective babies just love to dance, and that’s just not enough for a relationship, now is it gents? And you don’t want to be dumped by (Selecter vocalist) Pauline — she’s been in The Bill and everything.

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DJ Punctum

12 Jun 2008 10:01

Punctum content: that postpunk atonality jump and shriek at “It’s just the same old show”…

Billy Smart

12 Jun 2008 10:07

As sampled very effectively by the Basement Jaxx on ‘Same Old Show’

Billy Smart

12 Jun 2008 10:14

TOTP Context watch: In addition to the skatastic 2-Tone trio, also in the studio that week were; Matchbox, Iris Williams, Dan-I, Sham 69 and Lena Martell, plus Legs & Co’s interpretation of ‘Rise’. Presenter was Jimmy Saville. My six-year old self was particularly taken with Sham 69, though I doubt that that would be my reaction if I saw the show again 29 years on.

Alan

12 Jun 2008 10:19

billy – is that (TOTP line up) from memory, or is there an archive of this somewhere?

mike

12 Jun 2008 10:35

Oh, that Basement Jaxx track used to drive me up the wall! To my ears, the Selecter sample was oddly placed in terms of bar structure, so I could never work out what was an up beat and what was a down beat. I used to spend the whole track fretting about it.

Billy Smart

12 Jun 2008 10:44

There’s an invaluable – but hard to come by – reference book ‘The Kaleidoscope British Television Music & Variety Guide II: Top Pop: 1964-2006’, containing details of every edition.

DJ Punctum

12 Jun 2008 10:47

“Monkey Chop” by Dan-I – the Trevor Horn production that everyone forgets (see also “Save Us” by Philip Jap)…

Alan

12 Jun 2008 11:07

http://www.kaleidoscopepublishing.co.uk/ordering.html 36 quid to you guv’nor.

blimey. also covers

http://www.kaleidoscopepublishing.co.uk/books-variety-list.html

Billy Smart

12 Jun 2008 11:41

Careful – I think that those are different volumes. I got mine off Amazon when it was first published for £25. Make sure that yours is by Pete Seaton with Richard Down. The ISBN is 978-1-900203-27-2

Billy Smart

12 Jun 2008 19:47

TOTP Watch SPECIAL! This doesn’t have much to do with The Selecter, but as we’re mentioning the Top Of The Pops database, here are some statistics that I’ve collated from it.

If you’re like me, it might be a question that has always laid at the back of your mind…

“So who did present the most editions of Top of the Pops, then?”

Thanks to the ‘Kaleidoscope British Television Music & Variety Guide Volume II’ we have the data at hand to find out!;

1. Jimmy Savile 261
2. Tony Blackburn 147
3. Gary Davies 114
4. Peter Powell 107
5. Fearne Cotton 105
6. Dave Lee Travis 101
7. Jamie Theakston 98
8. Pete Murray 90
9. Alan Freeman 88
10. Simon Bates 74
11. Noel Edmonds 72
12. Reggie Yates 68
13. Mike Smith 66
14. David Jensen 64
15. Mike Read 61
16. Mark Franklin 59
=. Janice Long 59
18. Tony Dortie 57
19. Jayne Middlemass 56
20. Simon Mayo 55
21. Steve Wright 52
22. Bruno Brookes 48
23. John Peel 47
24. Mark Goodier 46
25. Nicky Campbell 41
26. Tim Kash 37
27. David Jacobs 35
=. Richard Skinner 35
29. Gail Porter 31
30. Ed Stewart 30
31. Sarah Cawood 25
32. Jo Whiley 24
33. Richard Bacon 23
=. Anthea Turner 23
35. Tommy Vance 21
36. Richard Blackwood 19
37. Jakki Brambles 18
=. Stuart Henry 18
39. Claudia Simon 17
40. Rufus Hound 16
41. Adrian Rose 15
=. Lisa Snowdon 15
43. Liz Bonnin 14
44. David Hamilton 11
=. Andy Peebles 11
46. Edith Bowman 10
=. Andy Crane 10
=. Femi Oke 10
=. Dixie Peach 10
=. Kate Thornton 10

Odd how – even though I must have seen Mark Franklin many times between 1991 and 1993 – I have no memory of him, yet I could tell you who David ‘Diddy’ Hamilton was, even though he was before my time.

Also odd that, although his was the heyday of joint presenters, “Oooh!” Gary Davies usually did the show on his own. I wonder why that should have been?

Erithian

13 Jun 2008 09:16

The lower end of this list is what Stephen Fry once called “a veritable Who’s That of British entertainment”.

DJ Punctum

13 Jun 2008 09:20

Dixie Peach!

And Me Andy “I often wonder how hard the unemployed really try to find work” Peebles.

DJ Punctum

13 Jun 2008 09:22

Fearne “Why Am I Pretending To Be Happy?” Cotton at number five is the equivalent of the Arctic Monkeys making the fifth greatest album of all time according to the NME.

admin

13 Jun 2008 09:50

Only 1 person on that list has commented on FT – to our knowledge (Hello Rufus)

Pete Seaton

20 Jun 2008 12:01

Hi guys for the big up on my book, i know its hard to get, as the guys at Kal pulled the plug

this year or maybe next ill get the book out again

Pete Seaton

20 Jun 2008 12:41

thats me registered here now.

Billy Smart

2 Nov 2009 11:06

TOTPWatch EXTRA SPECIAL CHART: Here’s an amended complete (!) list of every TOTP presenter.

If you’re like me, it might be a question that has always laid at the back of your mind…

“So who did present the most editions of Top of the Pops, then?”

Thanks to the ‘Kaleidoscope British Television Music & Variety Guide Volume II’ we have the data at hand to find out!;

1. Jimmy Savile 261 (1964-1984, 2006)
2. Tony Blackburn 147 (1967, 1969-1979, 1983, 2006)
3. Gary Davies 114 (1983-1991)
4. Peter Powell 107 (1977-1988)
5. Fearne Cotton 105 (2003-2006)
6. Dave Lee Travis 101 (1973-1984, 2006)
7. Jamie Theakston 98 (1997-2003)
8. Pete Murray 90 (1964-1969, 1981)
9. Alan Freeman 88 (1964-1969, 1981)
10. Simon Bates 74 (1979-1988)
11. Noel Edmonds 72 (1972-1978)
12. Reggie Yates 68 (2003-2006)
13. Mike Smith 66 (1982-1988)
14. David Jensen 64 (1976-1984)
15. Mike Read 61 (1978-1986, 1988-1989)
16. Mark Franklin 59 (1991-1994)
=. Janice Long 59 (1983-1987, 2006)
18. Tony Dortie 57 (1991-1994)
19. Jayne Middlemass 56 (1997-2001)
20. Simon Mayo 55 (1987-1991, 1994-1996)
21. Steve Wright 52 (1980-1989)
22. Bruno Brookes 48 (1984-1986, 1989-1991, 1994-1995)
23. John Peel 47 (1968, 1982-1987, 1995)
24. Mark Goodier 46 (1988-1991, 1994-1996)
25. Nicky Campbell 41 (1988-1991, 1994-1996)
26. Tim Kash 37 (2003-2004)
27. David Jacobs 35 (1964-1966)
=. Richard Skinner 35 (1980-1985, 1988-1989)
29. Gail Porter 31 (1999-2001, 2003)
30. Ed Stewart 30 (1968, 1971-1972, 1975-1977)
31. Sarah Cawood 25 (1997, 2002-2003)
32. Jo Whiley 24 (1995-1998, 2006)
33. Richard Bacon 23 (2003, 2005-2006)
=. Anthea Turner 23 (1988-1991)
35. Tommy Vance 21 (1980-1984)
36. Richard Blackwood 19 (2000-2001)
37. Jakki Brambles 18 (1989-1991)
=. Stuart Henry 18 (1967-1969)
39. Claudia Simon 17 (1991-1992)
40. Rufus Hound 16 (2005-2006)
41. Adrian Rose 15 (1991-1992)
=. Lisa Snowdon 15 (2002-2003)
43. Liz Bonnin 14 (2002-2003)
44. David Hamilton 11 (1976-1977)
=. Andy Peebles 11 (1979, 1983-1984)
46. Edith Bowman 10 (2003, 2006)
=. Andy Crane 10 (1988-1989)
=. Femi Oke 10 (1992)
=. Dixie Peach 10 (1985-1986)
=. Kate Thornton 10 (1998-1999)
51. Zoe Ball 7 (1997-1998, 2001)
=. Paul Burnett 7 (1975, 1977-1979)
=. Simon Dee 7 (1966-1967)
=. Samantha Juste 7 (1965-1966)
=. Sybil Ruscoe 7 (1988-1989)
56. Kenny Everett 6 (1967, 1973)
=. Paul Jordan 6 (1985-1986)
=. Colin Murray 6 (2003)
=. Margherita Taylor 6 (2003, 2005)
60. Steve Anderson 5 (1991-1992)
=. Dave Cash 5 (1968)
=. Jack Dee 5 (1994-1996)
=. Phil Jupitas 5 (1995,1997, 2005)
=. Lisa L’anson 5 (1995-1996)
=. Scott Mills 5 (1999)
=. Chris Moyles 5 (2004-2006)
=. Bear Van Beers 5 (1996)
68. Josie D’arby 4 (2000-2001)
=. Steve Lamaq 4 (1995-1996)
=. Jenny Powell 4 (1989)
=. Pat Sharp 4 (1983, 2006)
72. Mel B 3 (1996-1997, 2002)
=. Sara Cox 3 (2000-2001)
=. Greg Edwards 3 (1974)
=. Michelle Gayle 3 (1994-1996)
=. Gary Glitter 3 (1994-1996)
=. Geri Halliwell 3 (1996-1997, 2001)
=. Lenny Henry 3 (1984, 1989, 1995)
=. Konnie Huq 3 (2003)
=. Ronan Keating 3 (1995-1996, 2003)
=. Mark Lamarr 3 (1997)
=. Lulu 3 (1968, 1996, 2005)
=. Kylie Minogue 3 (1994-1995,1997)
=. Trevor Nelson 3 (2006)
=. Mark Owen 3 (1994, 1996-1997)
=. Emperor Rosko 3 (1967, 1974-1975)
=. Robbie Williams 3 (1994-1995)
=. Dale Winton 3 (1995-1996)
89. Keith Allen 2 (1995-1996)
=. Peter Andre 2 (1996-1997)
=. Ant & Dec 2 (1995, 1997)
=. Jo Brand 2 (1995, 2006)
=. Ian Broudie 2 (1996-1997)
=. Julia Carling 2 (1996)
=. Julian Clary 2 (1994, 1996)
=. Jarvis Cocker 2 (1994-1995)
=. Chris Denning 2 (1967-1968)
=. Eternal 2 (1995)
=. Lee Evans 2 (1995)
=. Steven Gateley 2 (1995-1996)
=. Mary Ann Hobbs 2 (1997)
=. Noddy Holder 2 (1997, 2005)
=. Adrian John 2 (1983, 1988)
=. Elton John 2 (1977, 1980)
=. Vernon Kay 2 (2001, 2006)
=. Caron Keating 2 (1988)
=. Lee & Herring 2 (1995)
=. Wendy Lloyd 2 (1995)
=. Louise 2 (1995, 1997)
=. Annie Mac 2 (2006)
=. Susie Mathis 2 (1988-1989)
=. Danni Minogue 2 (1997)
=. Tony Mortimer 2 (1994, 1996)
=. Dermot O’Leary 2 (2001-2002)
=. The Osmonds 2 (1975)
=. Simon Parkin 2 (1989)
=. Andi Peters 2 (1994, 1996)
=. Mark Radcliffe & Mark Riley 1 (1997)
=. The Spice Girls 2 (1996-1997)
=. Claire Sturgess 2 (1994)
=. Suggs 2 (1995, 2005)
=. David Symonds 2 (1968)
=. Johnnie Walker 2 (1974)
=. Ian Wright 2 (1996-1997)
125. Russ Abbott 1 (1980)
=. Damon Albarn 1 (1994)
=. Anastasia 1 (2005)
=. Adam Ant 1 (1981)
=. Matt Allwright 1 (2006)
=. Sue Barker 1 (2006)
=. Colin Berry 1 (1980)
=. Bjork 1 (1995)
=. Jocelyn Brown 1 (2006)
=. Rhona Cameron 1 (1997)
=. Nenah Cherry 1 (1994)
=. Jeremy Clarkson 1 (2005)
=. Justin Lee Collins 1 (2005)
=. Julian Cope 1 (1996)
=. Garth Crooks 1 (1982)
=. Pete Cunnah 1 (1995)
=. Roger Daltry 1 (1980)
=. Phil Daniels 1 (1997)
=. Alan Davies 1 (1996)
=. Angus Deayton 1 (1994)
=. Cathy Dennis 1 (1997)
=. Frankie Dettori 1 (1996)
=. Micky Dolenz 1 (1968)
=. Tom Edwards 1 (1968)
=. Joe Elliott 1 (1994)
=. Sophie Ellis-Bextor 1 (2001)
=. Ben Elton 1 (2003)
=. Chris Eubank 1 (1996)
=. Chris Evans 1 (1995)
=. The Fast Show 1 (1996)
=. Justine Frischman 1 (1996)
=. Gina G 1 (1996)
=. Diamuid Gavin 1 (2006)
=. Bob Geldof 1 (1992)
=. Hale & Pace 1 (1989)
=. Richard Hammond 1 (2005)
=. Jeremy Hardy 1 (1996)
=. Brian Harvey 1 (1994)
=. Harry Hill 1 (1996)
=. Katy Hill 1 (1998)
=. Colin Jackson 1 (2006)
=. Jed & Dave 1 (1995)
=. Davy Jones 1 (1968)
=. Peter Kay 1 (2006)
=. Kevin Keegan 1 (1980)
=. Nigel Kennedy 1 (1996)
=. Liz Kershaw 1 (1988)
=. Jonathan King 1 (1985)
=. Cyndi Lauper 1 (2006)
=. Emma Ledden 1 (1999)
=. Mike Lennox 1 (1967)
=. Rod McKenzie 1 (1989)
=. Craig MacLachlan 1 (1995)
=. Malcolm Maclaren 1 (1994)
=. Jas Mann 1 (1996)
=. James May 1 (2006)
=. Meatloaf 1 (1994)
=. MN8 1 (1996)
=. Mark Morrisson 1 (1996)
=. Brittany Murphy 1 (2004)
=. Ardal O’Hanlan 1 (1997)
=. Gary Olsen 1 (1995)
=. Jack Osborne 1 (2003)
=. Sharon Osborne 1 (2005)
=. Dennis Pennis 1 (1996)
=. Preston 1 (2006)
=. Alan Price 1 (1968)
=. Punt & Dennis 1 (1994)
=. Mike Raven 1 (1967)
=. Vic Reeves & Bob Mortimer 1 (1994)
=. Cliff Richard 1 (1980)
=. Shane Ritchie 1 (2005)
=. Jonathan Ross 1 (2003)
=. Shaun Ryder 1 (1996)
=. Lilly Savage 1 (1994)
=. Skin 1 (1996)
=. Dave Smash & Mick Nice 1 (1992)
=. Elayne Smith 1 (1991)
=. Spoony 1 (2006)
=. Keith Stukes 1 (1967)
=. Take That 1 (1994)
=. Peter Tork 1 (1968)
=. Gayle Tuesday 1 (1995)
=. Phil Tufnel 1 (2005)
=. Denise Van Outen (1997)
=. Elfi Von Kalchrueth 1 (1969)
=. Louise Wenner 1 (1996)
=. Whigfield 1 (1995)
=. Tony Wright 1 (1996)

Excluding Samantha “The Disc Girl” Juste in the late sixties, whom I suspect may have been employed for decorative purposes, it took 19 years until ‘Top Of The Pops’ had its first female presenter, Janice Long.

Odd how – even though I must have seen Mark Franklin many times between 1991 and 1994, the golden age of anonymous presenters – I have no memory of him, yet I could tell you who David ‘Diddy’ Hamilton was, even though he was before my time.

Also odd that, although his was the heyday of joint presenters, “Oooh!” Gary Davies usually did the show on his own. I wonder why that should have been?

Alan

9 Nov 2014 12:08

That top of the pops episode (warning, the very bad man presents) http://www.4shared.com/video/KsL5TcqEba/TOTP_081179.html

courtesy
https://twitter.com/ChrisWBarratt/status/531396522194501632

Gareth Parker

23 Jun 2021 18:21

Jaunty stuff from Pauline Black and co. here. Good fun imho.

wpDiscuz

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The Freaky Trigger Top 100 Tracks Of All Time No. 44. The Selecter – On My Radio

Comics: A Beginner’s Guide: War Comics

Europop 2008: Quarter Final 4 – Greece v Italy

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