Well, sort of. You know the circumstances, let's just get to this one and try to ride out the inevitable flamewar together, shall we?
Dr Feelgood – She's A Wind Up
Despite their previous album success we'll have to wait until 1979 before they crack the top 30 but they'll make a good handful of appearances before then. Lee's bought a new, specially patterned jacket for the occasion.
Yvonne Elliman – I Can’t Get You Out Of My Mind
The video again.
The Dooleys – Think I’m Gonna Fall In Love With You
Don't know whether this is a repeat or not, but if the latter I can't imagine it's going to look or sound all that different.
David Soul – Silver Lady
Video, repeated in time.
Donna Summer – Down Deep Inside (Theme From The Deep)
This Legs & Co routine was on YouTube literally days ago but the account has been closed. Hmm. I can tell you it's Sue's turn for a holiday and the standard seems to be "floaty dresses".
Danny Mirror – I Remember Elvis Presley
Philips, the label which put this out, must have put all leave on hold, Elvis died on August 16th and this entered the top 50 for week beginning 11th September. Mirror was actually a Dutchman by the name of Eddy Ouwens and had co-written 1975 Eurovision winner Ding A Dong. Unfortunately this will be on again.
Elkie Brooks – Sunshine After The Rain
Repeat.
Generation X – Your Generation
Another sole appearance for the song, but far from Billy Idol's only visit (or the band's, come to that) Would the lighting effects here clash with modern strobe/epilepsy warnings?
Patsy Gallant – From New York To L.A.
It seems this is pretty much a French-Canadian equivalent of Cliff going disco. It's said Gallant turned up to introduce this herself, which seems sporting to give someone such a lift on their first and only hit the week it entered the top 30, though it's possible she arrived at the studio and only then found her work permit didn't allow her to perform. She can't have made much of an impression as despite peaking at number 6 we don't see it again. I don't think this is the actual video but it's the best YouTube can do.
Elvis Presley – Way Down
Via One For The Dads. For some reason they're wearing their Roadrunner outfits.
That Danny Mirror slop was the official Elvis Presley Fan Club tribute record. I can't believe they agreed to such a tribute, let alone one as horrendous as that. It makes Roxy Music's cash-in version of "Jealous Guy"...er, touching tribute to John Lennon seem saintly by comparison. "Remember" was released in the UK by a subsidiary of Scandinavian label Sonet, whose only hits over here were by Pussycat and Hank C. Burnette. I'll get my coat.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteSeems we miss "Tulane" (AGAIN?) over the chart rundown, and another plea if anyone knows the fadeout track if there was one.
We'll have to guess whether that Dooley gal wore another chillblain-inducing outfit, but at least Angelo should be happy..."Telephone Man" ahoy!
Actually, there's been a weird truncated cut-and-paste version of Meri's video on YouTube - don't know why the whole clip wasn't downloaded in the first place.
The brilliant thing about the Danny Mirror track is the fact that he's singing it in the style of Elvis. The resulting effect is Elvis Presley (if you squint a bit, admittedly) singing about the death of Elvis Presley.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever seen the real video for Silver Lady, so I need to see that. This is always my go-to clip for Silver Lady. It's David singing it a few years back on the Spanish version of Surprise Surprise. I love the will-this-do presence of a red Peugeot 205 on the set, in an attempt to invoke the high-octane thrills of Car Keys and Clutch.
There is a TOTP performance of I Remember Elvis Presley on YouTube but I don't know whether it's from this show or not, but I can't imagine the second appearance is much different.
ReplyDeleteOh, before I forget, I'm going to be away for a few days so it's another open thread come Thursday. Quite a remark-worthy show too, with the debut of a future number one and another BOTSOR.
Intriguing – for the second week in a row, an artist (and, again, one whose first language was French) has a chat in the studio but doesn’t perform while their single’s shown. One of ten children, Patsy’s still gigging and acting.
ReplyDeleteUpdate on Sonet (no-one spotted my deliberate mistake, then). They actually had at least three other chart singles - two by Sylvia (the holiday souvenir smash “Y Viva España” and top 40 scraper “Hasta La Vista”) and a rarity, a hit on the same label with the same tune
but different lyrics – “Viva El Fulham” by Tony Rees and the Cottagers, commemorating the team’s 1975 FA Cup final appearance and reaching number 46. Judge Dread also used the same tune for his top 30 entry “Y Viva Suspenders”.
Looks like it's open season this week - I'm out on Thursday evening and I might not get to watch tne next edition until Sunday, so plenty of chances for forumites to second-guess my quips and pith.
in the wake of this show being pulled because of what's been happening (even though nothing on it is of much appeal to me), i'm going to have to fill the void by asking: have any other DJ's who appeared on these shows made any comments over "s*vilegate"? have any of his staff been interviewed (either by the media and/or the police) with regard to the allegations? and has louis theroux (who once famously tried to get to the bottom of what made the man tick, with only limited success) given his thoughts on the affair, or made reference to any footage that ended up on the cutting room floor at the time?
ReplyDeleteTurns out we haven't missed much here then, thankfully.
ReplyDeleteDr Feelgood I quite like, not a bad tune and better than the 'real' punk on later, as is often the case.
David Soul - I think I can remember the video (David wandering around in the desert, no?) but that Spanish clip is a real doozy.
I hope the show was presented by someone akin to The Fast Show's 'Johnny Disco'.
Not one but two terrible looking cars as well, and someone went to the trouble of painting a red stripe down the other one (which is an Audi I think?)
Danny / Eddy I can forgive the Elvis dirvel for given that he co-wrote my favourite Eurovision song ever. I don't care what anyone says about 'Ding A Dong' I think it's magnificent. So much so that it was played at my wedding disco (back to back with Bardo, should anyone care)
Generation X - Terrible.
Patsy Gallant's song isn't great, though it is odd that it's another big hit that's only on once. That's her introducing Elvis surely?
I'm playing 'Fadeout Roulette' and I reckon it would have been "Black Betty" by Ram Jam.
Let's hope "Quack Quack Oops" materializes on Thursday after DLT was added to the Witches Bonfire today
ReplyDeleteThese Savile editions should be referred to as "The Disallowed" instead of "The Disappeared" in the blog for easy reference in the future. I wonder what we'll make of all this in 10 years' time.
ReplyDeleteDisappointed we didn't get to see 'From New York To LA' I loved it when I was 12.But then I like 'Angelo'too!
ReplyDeleteIncidentally Patsy Gallant had a latin-jazz type tune on one of her albums (can't remember the title)that was big on the jazz-funk scene in about 1983 - I remember hearing it in the jazz room at the Caister Weekender and it was supposedly very hard to get hold of.
Besides that and David Soul and Donna Summer I agree that this one doesn't look very enticing.
On the above comment it should say 'LIKED' Angelo not 'like'! sort of destroys what I was trying to say with the latter!
ReplyDeleteNever heard the word "flamewar" before. Simon's obviously much younger than me (I know this, he said at the very start of the blog he wasn't born when the originals were aired) and he definitely knows his internet streetcred terma. What would "Call My Bluff" make of it were it on now? Frank Muir!
ReplyDeleteLoved the Dr. Feelgood track and also Lee's jacket! Must be one of the shortest appearances on TOTP, well below two minutes. The single entered at 34, dropped to 43, went back up to 34 and skedaddled sharpish. For anyone interested, ex-member Wilko Johnson's son is a real chip off the old block, currently the manic guitarist for a Southend band called Eight Rounds Rapid.
Patsy really gave it some, fair play to her, but can you imagine how powerful that song could have been if Donna Summer had covered it?
Gen X were a bit raw, probably inexperienced compared to the Dr., and the song (which reached 36) dragged in comparison especially as we were served nearly a minute more than Canvey's finest, but it was interesting to see the debut of William Broad, half of the celebrated Bromley punk contingent who made it big, the other half being Susan Dallion, aka Siouxsie, chatted up by Bill Grundy in THAT TV interview.
I misread the mention of Legs & Co's Roadrunner outfits and expecte the to be dressed in 'meep meep' fashion! Nice to see the costumes have apparently shrunk in the wash a tad. The gals seemed to really enjoy the routine too, always a bonus.
As for David Soul, that's a fantastic clip, Chris. Scorchio! Fair play to Dave for singing live while the single was played behind him. I wished they'd done that on TOTP. It would have been better for so many acts - Althia and Donna being an easy example.
Simon perhaps you should call 'these' shows 'The Dispossessed'
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't bother me which artists are on I love watching all of them for their nostalgia value and it's a real pity to miss some acts in this way but luckily a lot here are repeats.
Tulane got a lot more exposure than I remember at the time but this was it's last appearance on the show even if it's only for the rundown which was unusual as they usually used a new entry to accompany it.
I don't recall the Doctor Feelgood song at all but it stalled at number 34 so that's not surprising. I can't believe it's another two years before they have a Top 30 hit as they seemd to be on the show a lot.
Not sure I could stomach seeing The Dooleys again anyway, so every cloud has a silver lady's lining.
I quite liked the David Soul song at the time but didn't buy it. Not everyone was a fan despite his success. I remember a reviewer in the NME for his later single It Sure Brings Out The Love In Your Eyes simply said: 'It sure brings up the puke in my mouth'.
Shame to miss a Legs routine, it would have been nice to see how they'd interpret Donna's song which is a bit saucy.
What always irritated me about Danny Mirror (apart from his stupid name and his fat smug face) was the title 'I remember Elvis Presley'. Yes we all remember Elvis Presley you twerp, he only died a month earlier and was world famous. The single was on the Stone label not Sonet (which funnily enough is an anagram of Stone) unless it was one of those singles that got released on multiple labels. Anyone?
Generation X. It always bugged me when groups use the same word in the title of their first hit song as in their name (see Living In A Box, Public Image, Freeeze, etc), it's like they can't think any further than themselves. If call your band Generation X - which is a great name for a punk band - then what's the point in singing about Your Generation. Which generation would that be Billy? X perhaps? I wonder if they thought about changing their name when they had their next single?
I never knew Patsy Gallant was French-Canadian, I always assumed she was American. Well I say always I don't think it bothered me at all but I just assumed the song's title ed me to believe she was American. She should have been on last week with her Gallic cousins Jean Michelle Jarre and La Belle Epoque.
I don't think there was a separate play out song this wee, it looks like they ended with Elvis like they did with ABBA and Pussycat last year (1976). Ah 1976, if only we could all go back there...
Danny Mirror's single was indeed released on Stone, whose only other hit was by Gidea Park (session man Adrian Baker, who was so good at impersonating The Beach Boys on record that he got invited to join them and accepted).
ReplyDeleteWith all further JS-helmed editions being skipped, we'll now see the 24/11/77 show on 20/12/12. That leaves us 3 regular December episodes (not counting the JS-helmed 22/12/77) plus the two Christmas episodes to show over the festive season. BBC4 can manage to fit five shows into the Crimble schedule, shirley?
ReplyDeleteDidn't Patsy Gallant have lovely hair? And then she ruined it by overenthusiastically grooving.
ReplyDelete80'sbloke: i think the patsy gallant track you may be referring to is "it'll all come around" that is indeed a sophisticated funk groove... although i was well into disco and funk in the 70's, i went off in a new romantic/electro/synth-pop direction in the early 80's so never experienced the rare groove/soulboy weekender scene of the time (other than attending a few level 42 gigs ha ha), therefore this one has only recently and belatedly come to my attention...
ReplyDeleteregarding her hit, like the carol bayer sager song my younger sister liked it... therefore of course i had to hate it!
malmo: thanks for bringing to my attention that in the wake of s*vilegate, the axing of associated shows has solved the totp 77 backlog problem - you see, every cloud has a silver lining!
ReplyDeleteJust to sort out that record label muddle, as I didn't make it clear - "Remember" was on Stone (which had 2 UK hits), and Stone was actually a subsidiary of Sonet (5 UK hits).
ReplyDeleteThe funny thing about the missing Savile's is that we will actually start to catch up in terms of parallel time. Surely the Beeb will merely bring forward the ones that can be shown rather than "postpone" the Savile editions and replace then in the schedule with summat else...
ReplyDeleteI've checked...that's exactly what they've done! I bet the BBC4 schedulers are quite relieved in a weird way because we were heading for quite a pile up come the year's end.
ReplyDeleteFor the record I reckon this TOTP run is on borrowed time...
Someone needs to stand up and make a statement to stop all of the tirade of crap that's filling the tabloids. It's poisoning everything. Mr Savile is dead so they can all say what they like about him and turn into a bogey man figure and that's exactly what they are doing as if it were proven fact. It isn't. According to the tabloids he not only liked teenage girls but 9 year old boys and now (according to The Sun) dead bodies - they 'reported' that at the weekend!
ReplyDeleteHe clearly liked teenage girls and exploited his various jobs in the entertainment industry to get what he wanted. There certainly needs to be an investigation, especially into the children's homes, but in the meantime the newspapers need to stop all these ridiculous stories because its distracting from the truth.
I thought it was ludicrous that rags like The Sun and The Mail have had to resort to reading Jimmy's autobiography and old interviews in Q Magazine to find 'shocking revelations' as if they had uncovered some secret - if they were in his book in published in 1974 and in a national magazine from 1990 they're hardly a secret.
If the tabloids were approached with stories about Jimmy Savile over the years (and many have said they were) then why not reveal that evidence now rather than desperately muck raking through old books, etc. Also if they knew all about his activities then why didn't they hack his phone and investigate him instead of picking of the likes of Steve Coogan and Heather Mills.
The real truth is out there somewhere, someone please find it.
Sorry, I just needed to get that off my chest.
Bama – that David Soul review in NME saying “it sure brings up the puke in my mouth” – unless both papers had the same idea, that review was in Record Mirror and was by their guest reviewer of the week. Step forward Bob Geldof again!
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with Bama too about Danny Mirror’s stupid name and smug fat face! “I remember the disc jockey was playing “Jailhouse Rock” when I had my first night out with a beautiful girl” – bloody hell, I don’t think I’ve heard that song in the last 35 years but its sheer awfulness stays with you.
Patsy Gallant – anyone else remember her appearance on Swap Shop? To keep costs down the Cheggers outside broadcast swaps usually took place somewhere the BBC was doing an outside broadcast anyway, so this particular Saturday morning Patsy found herself in a playing field just down the road from Barrow rugby league ground, where Eddie Waring would be doing a commentary during the afternoon. For her “swap” she requested, and got, a Barrow rugby league shirt in exchange for a copy of her album. She was one of life’s enthusiasts – the Record Mirror interview with her was headlined “Jonathan Richman’s not the only one who’s in love with the modern world…”
Arthur, there was another hit record on the Stone label which you've missed although it was their only 80s hit and a reissue at that, namely Andy Stewart's "Donald, Where's Your Troosers" (SON 2353) which first entered the Top 75 in December 1989. I believe that Sonet was still independent until relatively recently but it may now be part of Universal Music's Swedish operations.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, as for this week's "dispossessed" (surely the best term for these editions?), the only casualty from my perspective appears to be Legs & Co's routine to the Donna Summer single, which has anyway been uploaded again by the One For The Dads crew:
http://legsandco.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/legs-co-down-deep-inside.html
And as for you-know-who naturally solving the TOTP backlog problem, I strongly suspect that BBC Four's scheduling department must be run by a team of psychics...
may i say, good on you bama for speaking your mind on the ongoing saga of s*vilegate - although i appreciate simon's concern that the blog will lose its original focus of just commenting on the old totp programmes because of what's happening, i suspect that this one is going to run for at least a while longer yet (possibly unlike the shows themselves thanks to the hoo-haa), and i'm sure bama is not the only one who wants to add his views to the debate, therefore i suggest this as a compromise:
ReplyDeletethat simon sets up a blog specially devoted to this subject (maybe under the title "S*vilegate: have your say"?) and all further comments on the matter be left there, but unless it's relevent to the subject matter of each consequent show, that we agree not to mention the man again...
just read david h's comment when the above one was updating: hey, maybe it was a mole in BBC4's scheduling department that spilled the beans on JS in order to solve their backlog problem...?
ReplyDeletebama - well said, I think most of us will agree with that.
ReplyDeletewilberforce - maybe the separate blog is a reasonable idea, but I think that most of us regulars have said our piece at some point now anyway.
I suppose there's also a risk that random idiots will join in to make 'hilarious' comments if they find it via Google or something.
Perhaps THIS entry should become the focal point for chat about him, once we've all finished talking about the songs that is!
Wilberforce: that's a coincidence as I was too young for the club scene in the 70s start of the 80s but was into electronic stuff from about 1980 (the "first" music I was into and by late 1981/1982 was a fully fledged New Romantic though still a bit young to try to get into the central London clubs - I had to make do with going to my local mainstream nightclubs -and in retrospect wonder how looking like we did we hadn't got our heads kicked in because those places could be a bit rough!). Then gradually started hanging out with all the jazz-funkers and left the synthpop behind (it was dying a bit by then anyway) and got into the end of the jazz-funk/soul scene - which to be honest just about everyone who'd been at school with me/everyone in the pubs I used to drink in was into.
ReplyDeleteSad That We Dont get to see this episode,but at least the repeats will be continuing(Hopefully)The generation X Performance was On The Punk Britainia At The BBC Programe But It's sads we Dont get A TV Broadcast Of The Feelgood's Performance
ReplyDeleteThe Man and Wilberforce : relax, JS only helmed six editions in 1978, not even enough to overcome the Sky at Night lag, so - touch wood - I really can't see S*vilegate causing problems for TOTP 1978.
ReplyDeleteDavid H, thanks for the info. I'd got my previous info from both memory (not that good) and the 7tt77 website which lists the majority of UK labels and releases during the 70's (better than my memory), hence my missing Andy Stewart.
ReplyDeleteAs mentioned previously, I think the missing episodesfrom now on should be "The Disqualified".
i'll follow noax's suggestion and just add something else about s*vilegate that people might find of interest:
ReplyDeleteas i've said in an earlier post, i've had more to lose than most with the guy being exposed as a pervert and becoming public enemy number one - a friend of mine encouraged me to start up a professional "tribute" act and even supplied me with the costume (i was originally only going to do it for a laugh at my school reunion which took place recently - it won't surprise you to hear that he was "cancelled"), and i actually did a showcase gig and was all set to take it to the next level i.e. make some money from it... and then the storm broke mere days later! anyway, i might not as badly-off financially as a result (well, not immediately anyway) as the guy who paid £160 grand for JS's roller at his auction, but i still feel i've had a great opportunity denied me (whatever i or anyone else may think of his alleged activities). so now i have a JS costume on my hands that i don't know what to do with... other than knowing that anytime i want to end it all, i can just put it on and stroll down to the city centre where the baying mob will make short work of tearing me limb from limb!
http://news.sky.com/story/996611/buyer-of-jimmy-saviles-rolls-royce-gutted
anyway, just out of interest i thought i'd check ebay to see in the unlikely event if anyone was still selling JS costumes, and against my expectations not only are there plenty evailable, but people are actually trying to outbid each other for them! what is possessing them to do that? have they got a death wish? do they think they will become collector's items in the wake of the furore? or maybe this is the start of the backlash against the guy being crucified (deservedly or not) by the media...??
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&_from=R40&_nkw=jimmy+saville+fancy+dress&_nkwusc=jmmy+savile+fancy+dress&_rdc=1
Wilberforce, get in touch with one of the Lewes bonfire societies. Bonfire night's a massive event in the Sussex town, with many displays, some of which are all-ticket and for those you must buy your ticket in person before the day of the event. Every year they have a big effigy burning at the main Lewes bonfire. Your tracksuit could be very useful this year! They might even use a cigar to light the fire!
ReplyDeleteHere's the Legs and Co Donna Summer Routine :
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umlQUG62QL4
thanks for your suggestion arthur, i'll consider that - hey, maybe the lewes bonfire societies spilt the beans on JS so they could get a load of his now-surplus-to-requirements fancy-dress costumes to burn as the "guy"? if so, then good timing on their part...
ReplyDeletejust letting everone know the 1/9/77 edition (with elvis costello et al) currently has 98 comments - perhaps people should take another look at it and try and add something of relevence just so we can make another century...?
ReplyDeletehttp://yesitsnumberone.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/totp-1977-tx-41012-long-one.html
@Erithian - you're right I would have read that review in Record Mirror, I used to get that and my older brother used to get the NME. I had forgotten that it was Mr Geldof who was the reviewer.
ReplyDelete@wilberforce - re your JS costume dilemma, perhaps you could ditch the cigar and do a tribute to Boris Johnson, they have the same haircut. Or sell it on eBay. I too noticed Savile stuff on there going for silly prices including a signed autobiography at 25 quid the last time I looked. Bizarre.
Trust the Jilted John lookalike emploted by Jim'll to get the name of Donna's song wrong. Maybe due to nerves, but "Deep Down Inside" indeed"!
ReplyDeletewith reference to the above, i wonder if any of legs & co were ever "invited" back to JS's dressing room when they recorded totp together? lulu was barely legal at the time, and i don't think rosemary (or is it gill?) was much older...
ReplyDeleteerithian: yes, having looked at ebay and seeing that JS costumes are selling like hot cakes (for reasons i cannot fathom), maybe i should try and pull something out of the fire and get rid of mine that way... although if i did, i would somehow feel dirty!
arthur: "emploted by jim'll"? is that what they're calling his methods now?
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I read somewhere that either Legs and Co or Pans People described most of the presenters as creepy and kept away from them, with the exception of Jimmy Savile who was the only one who was 'vaguely friendly'....
ReplyDeleteNote to self - I must double-check what I type or use spellcheck before hitting 'send'!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure one or two of the presenters coudn't have been creepy. Ed Stewart? David Hamilton? I wish they'd kept the Savile editions and replaced him at the start with those spoof Diddy chart rundowns!
It's a real shame circumstances have deprived us of seeing this one, though I have to say there aren't many acts on it that I am desperate to watch. The Feelgood song wasn't bad, I suppose, and the Patsy Gallant tune is a bit of a guilty pleasure.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to tomorrow night's show, if only to see if it will be sombre DLT on parade again - after all, it was the first TOTP after Marc Bolan's death. Doubtless DLT is also feeling pretty subdued this week, as the Mail aims mud in his direction...
Anyone remember the 'fly jetsave USA' tv adverts that used the LA to New Ykrk song? Getting worried that TOTP 1978 could be decimated by more revelations of stone aged DJs with wandering hands. The hairy cornflake's in a spot of bother at the moment!
ReplyDeleteThought i would pop in to wave the lonely flag for punk once again: at the time, i played 'your generation' 45 constantly. Reading this blog, it occurs that one either loved pub rock or punk/ new wave but not both (despite the likes of strummer and stranglers crossing over) I detested pub rock (except 'back in the night') and recall with horror being dragged along to a wilko johnson band gig
ReplyDeleteRe saville. Anyone think that this mighr yet scale down to just to a seedy bloke as some accustions become doubtful?