TOTP week by week through '78

Mark L · Loudmouth

TOTP week by week through '78

suss · In the Long Grass

It's exciting for the veterans smile

Mark L · Loudmouth

All credit to the BBC for renewing its commitment to screen TOTP from 35 years ago, despite the Savile controversy, because these repeats provide an invaluable cultural document and a rush of nostalgia - if you are old enough to remember the shows from the first time around!

or as Suss would say - it's exciting for the veterans!

Mark L · Loudmouth

Sky Planner Alert : This coming Thursday sees the Rats on with She's so Modern.

suss · In the Long Grass

Priceless! Never get tired of that song, and will always be held in high esteem as the track that cemented Rats as the band to follow for me. May even have been that very performance. I know I went out and bought single, but knowing me would have been a bit later than most. Never that trendy. Never had the readies.

But WTF was Pete done up like? Was it just my tele or did he look like Rodney when he was left asleep under sun lamp in Fools and Horses, or even one of the wallahs from It Ain't Half Hot Mum?

Was it just me/my tv??

Squeeze just on now. Bet Diffbrook is glued to it smile

Silverbantam · Mary of the 4th Form

Pete was definitely blacked up on TOTP for She's so Modern, why ?

diffbrook · House on Fire

Absolutely. I was glued to it. Two of my fav bands. Loved shes so modern. Gary was so OTT anx what was Pete doing painted black? Cant recall that performance even though I tended to watch all TOTP at that age.

Loved seeing Squeeze too. Tilbrook looked very young I think he was just 20. Both terrific songs and I think both hadnt charted at thst stage.

suss wrote:
Priceless! Never get tired of that song, and will always be held in high esteem as the track that cemented Rats as the band to follow for me. May even have been that very performance. I know I went out and bought single, but knowing me would have been a bit later than most. Never that trendy. Never had the readies.
But WTF was Pete done up like? Was it just my tele or did he look like Rodney when he was left asleep under sun lamp in Fools and Horses, or even one of the wallahs from It Ain't Half Hot Mum?
Was it just me/my tv??
Squeeze just on now. Bet Diffbrook is glued to it

Mark L · Loudmouth

Excellent stuff. Spoiled only slightly by the inappropriate zone-in on Garry rather than Simon during the the middle drum thumps. Gerry and Fingers seemed rather excluded. Seems they got on whilst only being at position 44. I was sure TOTP had rules that you had be within the top 40 and not going down to qualify.

Pete looked fried; just a bit of fun in make-up?

Also, the link by Noel into Hot Chocolate seemed edited - do you think something was said that is 'deemed' unacceptable these days. I know on these lines someone at the Beeb has now deemed Oliver's Army unfit for broadcast after all these years because of the line 'one less white .....'

It's a great series and one which will provide lots of interest to us here as we relive the climb to glory over the next eighteen months - Beeb-willing.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark L wrote:
... Oliver's Army unfit for broadcast after all these years because of the line 'one less white .....'

Does the profanity filter stop n!gg3r? Oliver's Army is one of the great songs of that era, unbelievable it is not broadcast whilst you could hear a host of pornographic contemporary songs all day long on Radio one.

Adrian · She's So Modern

totally agree arrgee, classic song from a great songwriter..some of the stuff you hear nowadays (I sound like an old git) spew out profanities & sexual comments on a regular basis

Mark L · Loudmouth

TOTP from this week in '78 saw the Rats fall from 12 to 14 with She's so Modern

Next up will be Like Clockwork in 4 weeks time, debuting at 26 and continuing a steady climb to 6 where it stayed for 3 weeks

I think the Savile filter will block a studio performance

Mark L · Loudmouth

TOTP from this week in '78 saw the Rats enter at 26 with Like Clockwork, but no performance.

It's not on next week because I suspect the Savile filter is in operation.

It had a relatively long chart life, including 3 weeks at number 6, so hopefully we will get to see it, introduced by a more palatable presenter.

Interesting that Clockwork and Graveyard both stood at 26 in a given week, with no accompanying TOTP performance in that week or in the previous week. Both had been in the 40's in the previous week. Both are excellent radio-friendly singles in their own way, but each had significantly different outcomes chart-wise. By '81, the Rats had 2 number ones under their belt and Graveyard passed Banana Republic on the way down, which had reached 3. It continues to mystify me....

Mark L · Loudmouth

Next Thursday, Tony Blackburn introduces the Rats whilst at their first of three weeks at number six with Like Clockwork.

BBC4 7.30pm, set your Sky boxes...

suss · In the Long Grass

Cheers Mark. Will do.

Already evoking memories of summer 78, mainly painful ones when I think of what I was wearing I have to admit. Swear I bought the last pair of flares sold in Croydon for about 12 years. Can still see the sales assistants' smirks now, which puzzled me at the time. And this this was in Millet's of all places. The shame of it....

Another memory is next door neighbours having a party (think we were too geeky to be invited, can't fathom why) and hearing Clockwork through the adjoining wall, and feeling strangely proud. I'd have shown them how to dance if I was there smile .

Guess all this answers the question on another thread as to why Rats were never cool though biggrin

Mark L · Loudmouth

I have a photo of me and a mate taken in the Mander Centre, Wolverhampton in July '78 and am wearing flared jeans and a tank top (remember them?) and I am clearly oblivious to how dreadful I look. But like anything, ties, suits, hairstyles... you think at the time you look fine.

Thankfully Like Clockwork has not dated much and yes, I feel a certain pride when the Rats are aired/admired. What's that about?!

Adrian · She's So Modern

ha ha I had a tank top with a lovely stripey pattern!...strange how you think clothes were the height of fashion, I was a young skinny tank top wearing Liverpudlian

now I'm a late forties balding yorkshire based Liverpudlian with equally garish fashion taste (according to my mrs)!

Mark L · Loudmouth

Great performance of Like Clockwork in an otherwise poor show last Thursday. Massively fed up of YTOTIW after 6 weeks at the top and the show-off male studio dancer and others who must have been there because the video was too dear to show?

and Tony must have used 'fabulous' 167 times

Mark L · Loudmouth

For some reason, the BBC show the 5/10/78 edition next Thursday featuring the debut TOTP performance of Rat Trap. Suspect we may be about to lose the odd show where Jimmy S was presenter, thus correcting the out of synchedness as we go through the Autumn.

One for the planner anyway. Kid Jensen introduces.

Mark L · Loudmouth

BBC4 7.30pm tomorrow

suss · In the Long Grass

Don't think I'll ever tire of seeing or hearing that. Thanks for the reminder.

Didn't realise there was a TOTP edit though, where the "Rat Trap" repeat to fade comes in much sooner after the guitar....if you saw it you'll know what I mean.

Mark L · Loudmouth

I've spotted this when it was shown on TOTP2 in the past; think they took the opportunity to edit it down at that point, when the 'Pus and grime' was rewritten for TOTP as 'Blood and tears' etc earlier in the song. 4:50 odd was long for a single.

Simply billed tonight as 'the new single from the Boomtown Rats', think this got shown along with others which were outside the top 40 or about to be released.

I never tire of it either Suss. A great studio performance, even if Bob does seem to be constantly trying to locate the active camera!

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark L wrote:
I've spotted this when it was shown on TOTP2 in the past; think they took the opportunity to edit it down at that point, when the 'Pus and grime' was rewritten for TOTP as 'Blood and tears' etc earlier in the song. 4:50 odd was long for a single.

The pus and grime wasn't on the original 7" single version. Hence the "NO GRIME HERE PADDY" scratched in the run off. I think "blood and tears pour down the drains and the sewers" is a better lyric anyway.

Mark L · Loudmouth

Prefer 'pus and grime' personally with Geldof's emphasis on 'Ooze' and feel 'sores' fits better with 'doors' as opposed to 'sewers'

Long ago got rid of my record player to check this, but thought there were two 7" versions of Rat Trap and the version with 'Blood and dirt' was for TOTP consumption and 'sensitive' radio stations who were twitchy about 'pus and grime' etc - incredible to think this is how it was in '78 given what gets past the censors these days.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark L wrote:
... thought there were two 7" versions of Rat Trap

I think there was only ever one version in the UK without grime. Does anyone have one with grime?

Lisa · Mondo Bongo

Managed to get the repeat of the repeat recorded - always throws me when posts are at 1.26 am and refer to tomorrow!

Just watched it - a very mixed bag admittedly. Enjoyed Rat Trap enormously - and even Boney M! Must admit Rasputin is brilliant, very energetic and quite different. Sham 69 were great too - whatever happened to them?

suss · In the Long Grass

Lisa wrote:
Enjoyed ......Boney M! Must admit Rasputin is brilliant, very energetic and quite different.

Aha! A woman of taste smile

Mark L · Loudmouth

Sorry Lisa! This is due to me being careless and regarding tomorrow as after I have been to bed and slept. Should have said 'later today' - glad you caught it anyhow, which was the general intention.

Lisa · Mondo Bongo

That's ok, Mark. It's not the first time I've nearly been caught out, so hopefully next time I will remember! It's just that I struggle to know what day it is sometimes, so need all the help I can get

Lisa · Mondo Bongo

suss wrote:
Lisa wrote:
Enjoyed ......Boney M! Must admit Rasputin is brilliant, very energetic and quite different.
Aha! A woman of taste

Thank you, I'm renowned for it actually ..

Mark L · Loudmouth

Rat Trap was the chart countdown music Thursday just gone, with the Rats at position 9.

Next week, at position 7, Tony Blackburn introduces them in the studio so one of those rare times when a song gets played one week and then the next without being at number one. Although, Thursday just gone, we only just about got 'Young Billy watches it all under the yellow streets lights' before an 'excitable' Peter Powell introduced the first act.

From memory, they then go from 7 to 3, so still a couple of weeks off the number 1 spot. What a slog to number 1 this was!

manatthetop · In the Long Grass

The rats are on TOTPs now Rat trap the rewritten one

Mark L · Loudmouth

Same clip as a couple of weeks ago but still great to see. We still have 3 further showings of this to look forward to, next time when Mike Read, making his TOTP debut, introduces them when the Rats will be at 2.

A week later, Kid Jensen introduces them when they spend week 1 at the top and then Readie returns for week 2 at the top's introduction.

I was surprised to see that Jonathan King was on last night, but then found out he gets shown after he complained to the BBC that they were rewriting history by previously editing him out of TOTP reruns.

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

Mark L wrote:

I was surprised to see that Jonathan King was on last night, but then found out he gets shown after he complained to the BBC that they were rewriting history by previously editing him out of TOTP reruns.

Interesting they listened to him. Doubt if he could sue them.

Mark L · Loudmouth

It's a tricky issue but the puzzling thing is they will not show episodes showing DLT and/or others, yet they have not been convicted of anything.

DLT introduced the Rats a few times in '79 and '80 and so if the series continues there's the prospect we are going to be episode-deprived again. Not saying this is right or wrong, but what's the point if the convicted can lodge the 'Stalinist revision' of history complaint with the BBC and get shown anyway?

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

Guilty to proven...

Mark L · Loudmouth

Your responses to forum comments are now regularly phrased in Rats' song titles Jules! In fact you could say they're getting to be....

Like Clockwork!

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

It's too late in the evening for me to respond to that.

.

suss · In the Long Grass

I'm amazed! Bob talking on TV and Jules on here.

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

I was in bed, just about to go to sleep (or maybe even was asleep). Bob has been Sky+'d. Don't worry I haven't missed him

.

noelindublin · Loudmouth

Not sure if anyone has seen this spoof version of TOTP countdown, with the Rats at number one. We get 'treated' to a spoof Rats song called 'Sunday Is a Bummer Too, with a fairly good takeoff of Geldof's voice,and a pastiche Rats tune (sort of).

'Rats' bit starts about 15.30 but whole thing is good fun, and worth watching.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enbMF-ISeF8

Mark L · Loudmouth

Thanks Noel - not bad as spoofs go!

This coming Thursday, the Rats are on with X-Ray Spex and I think their top 20 single Germfree Adolescents. An oxymoron surely?

Mark L · Loudmouth

Reminder: Mike Read introduces the archived pop chart show featuring Dandy, Patrick Juvet, Darts, the Cars, Liquid Gold, Chas & Dave, X-Ray Spex and Legs & Co dance sequences from 09/11/78 on BBC4 at 7.30pm tonight.

Oh and some group from the Fort of Laoghaire at number 2.

See what I dun there to promote a little historical interest?

Lisa · Mondo Bongo

Thanks for the early reminder, Mark! Have set the recorder

Now just have to find time to watch it - still haven't managed to watch Bob's interview ...

Mark L · Loudmouth

Great to see the Rats get to number 1 on Thursday night just gone. If you missed it and want to see it, it's on Sunday morning, tomorrow, at 1.25am finishing at 1am.

How'd I do Lisa?!

Mark L · Loudmouth

2nd week at number one with Rat Trap and was on earlier on tonight and again 12.50am Sunday morning on BBC4

Lisa · Mondo Bongo

Oops, missed the one last w/e - but then I did see the real thing at the Roundhouse so not too upset! But will try to catch this week's one - so thank you for reminder, Mark!

Have also watched the BG intereview (at last) - very interesting. Friends who came to see London gig (non-Rat fans) saw it and said how engaging he was. And they also loved the gig!

Mark L · Loudmouth

No more Rats until we're well and truly infested again next July (presuming BBC4 continue the series through 1979)

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark L wrote:
No more Rats until we're well and truly infested again next July (presuming BBC4 continue the series through 1979)

When do they appear in the flesh? From what I remember they didn't show up for Mondays nor Diamond Smiles. I have a vague recollection of Someone's Looking in 1980, but that may have been a video as well, and then nada until House on Fire.

Mark L · Loudmouth

Yep, think it's videos only for the next 2 tracks but possibly studio performances for SLAY and Banana Republic.

SLAY was specially recorded for TOTP, as it was for Kenny Everett, with the official video being a recording from the Surfacing tour.

Mark L · Loudmouth

Nothing yesterday (DJ issues?) but no altogether bad thing as we would have had to endure Rod's optimistic- in- the- extreme titled chart topper deposing Rat Trap from the top.