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kengeo
Joined: 21 Sep 2010
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Location: Gloucestershire
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 Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 12:33 pm Post subject: TOP of the POPS - Thursday evenings BBC4! |
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I read that starting this Friday with some special shows that BBC4 will be showing an edition of TOTP every Thursday circa 76-81, starting with April 76 on Friday - hosted by our very own Tony Blackburn!
I've been making do with my shabby VHS copies of the UK Gold broadcasts from the early 90's, complete with edited ad breaks, it'll be good to replace them.
Does anyone have any further info as to what format the repeats will take?
Will they start in April'76 and run weekly, or will it be random shows?
One thing is for sure that the unmentionables, G Glitter/J King will be carefully edited out. I recall that Jonathan King appeared in many episodes in the early 80's presenting the US chart. |
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Ian Robinson
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| Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 1:04 pm Post subject: |
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| As far as I know, they're only showing 5 TOTPs from 1976, over the course of 5 days from this Friday. |
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ColinB
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| Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 2:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Good news. I hope they're showing them in their original 4:3 (non widescreen) aspect ratio rather than the letterboxed crops that invariably appear. |
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Helen May
Joined: 10 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Ian Robinson wrote: | | As far as I know, they're only showing 5 TOTPs from 1976, over the course of 5 days from this Friday. |
I think there are to be more than 5 Ian. Will try to find where I read it. Have already set the Sky box.
H
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Ian Robinson
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| Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 4:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Helen May wrote: | | Ian Robinson wrote: | | As far as I know, they're only showing 5 TOTPs from 1976, over the course of 5 days from this Friday. |
I think there are to be more than 5 Ian. Will try to find where I read it. Have already set the Sky box.
H |
I'll be happy to be proved wrong but it was originally announced as a long season from all years then changed to be 5 from 1976. |
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Helen May
Joined: 10 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 6:16 pm Post subject: |
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I've checked a couple of sources I read over the weekend and nothing in there one way or another. We'll just have to wait and see!
H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!
I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005 |
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Schizoidman
Joined: 20 Sep 2010
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Location: Rural West Sussex
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| Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 8:53 pm Post subject: |
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It's a shame that most of the 60s TOTPs were wiped out to save tape.
1976 for me represents the worst era ever in pop music. It was a void between prog rock and punk. Nothing happened, unless you like Save Your Kisses For Me. If they show the 70s why not play the earlier 70s? |
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ColinB
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| Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Schizoidman wrote: | | It's a shame that most of the 60s TOTPs were wiped out to save tape. |
It was really to save money. If a production department didn't set aside the funds to commit the edit/transmission master to archive storage then it was submitted for re-use. With 2" Quad and 2" Helical videotapes costing £200 (or more) per hour, it would have been a hefty overhead for the VT department.
| Schizoidman wrote: | | 1976 for me represents the worst era ever in pop music. It was a void between prog rock and punk. Nothing happened, unless you like Save Your Kisses For Me. If they show the 70s why not play the earlier 70s? |
Yes, I absolutely agree. As a person who was into rock, pub-rock and even progressive rock, I thought the mid-70s chart music was positively disgusting. Come to think of it, it was decidedly uncool for anyone who listened to John Peel on radio One or watched The Old Grey Whistle Test on BBC2 to watch TOTPs!
That said, I look forward to watching the BBC4 re-runs - if only to be reminded just how unbelievably naff it all was. Johnnie Walker did the right thing by refusing to play the Bay City Rollers on his lunchtime show. Top man! |
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Ian Robinson
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| Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Schizoidman wrote: | | 1976 for me represents the worst era ever in pop music. It was a void between prog rock and punk. Nothing happened, unless you like Save Your Kisses For Me. If they show the 70s why not play the earlier 70s? |
Agreed. But it seems to be the favoured era of Radio 2!
Anyway, according to Radiotimes.com there are 2 separate editions showing at various times next week:
| Quote: | Friday 01 April
10:50pm - 11:20pm
BBC4
Tony Blackburn introduces an edition of the pop music show from April 1, 1976, a week which saw the Brotherhood of Man top the charts with Save Your Kisses for Me - which would go on to win the Eurovision Song Contest two days later. The show also features hits by Abba, John Miles, Diana Ross, Sailor and the Beatles, as well as performances by Australian duo Tarney and Spencer and pop band Fox, whose song S-S-S-Single Bed would become a top five hit later that year. |
| Quote: | Thursday 07 April
7:30pm - 8:10pm
BBC4
Noel Edmonds introduces an edition of the pop music show from April 8, 1976, featuring performances by Abba, Hot Chocolate, Brotherhood of Man, Sheer Elegance, Paul Nicholas, Linda Lewis, Frankie Valli, 10CC, and Bay City Rollers. |
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ColinB
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| Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 10:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Ian Robinson wrote: | | Schizoidman wrote: | | 1976 for me represents the worst era ever in pop music. It was a void between prog rock and punk. Nothing happened, unless you like Save Your Kisses For Me. If they show the 70s why not play the earlier 70s? |
Agreed. But it seems to be the favoured era of Radio 2! |
That's because many of Radio 2's production staff aren't old enough to know what went on (in a musical sense) in the period. That's why they always make a dash for the book of musical cliches.
TOTP isn't a fair representation of what what going down at the time, but it's still a giggle watching the old 1970s shows - even if they were really naff! |
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kengeo
Joined: 21 Sep 2010
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Schizoidman
Joined: 20 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:35 pm Post subject: |
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I've just had a look at the relevant chart. There are three very good songs:
I'm Mandy Fly Me, 10CC; Fernando, Abba; and Music by John Miles. The rest is utter crap.
Still as Colin says, it might be worth watching for the dreadful fashions and naff music. |
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ColinB
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| Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 9:57 am Post subject: |
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| Schizoidman wrote: | I've just had a look at the relevant chart. There are three very good songs:
I'm Mandy Fly Me, 10CC; Fernando, Abba; and Music by John Miles. The rest is utter crap.
Still as Colin says, it might be worth watching for the dreadful fashions and naff music. |
I love watching the teenage kids in the audience being shepherded around the sets and pretending to like the songs being performed. Watching them trying to dance enthusiastically (and self-consciously) to "Grandma" is always fun! |
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becky sharp
Joined: 01 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 1:00 pm Post subject: |
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This was appointment TV in our house and I suspect in many households around the country...if I'm right in my remembrances it was it Andi Peters who sounded it's death knell by putting it up against Coronation Street.... 
There was only going to be one winner there...  |
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Ian Robinson
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| Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 1:37 pm Post subject: |
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| becky sharp wrote: | This was appointment TV in our house and I suspect in many households around the country...if I'm right in my remembrances it was it Andi Peters who sounded it's death knell by putting it up against Coronation Street....
There was only going to be one winner there... |
Definitely Andi Peters who killed it - he chose rubbish presenters and filled the programme with poor bands, and pointless filler interviews and features. Which was never what TOTP was about! Pop stars are, generally, boring and stupid so why do I want to hear what they have to say?
But he blames Sting, saying that on his first show Sting appeared, the audience dropped by a million. This may be true, but the fact the audience never came back (as they had done after every other Sting appearance) doesn't seem to struck him as odd. |
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ColinB
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| Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 1:46 pm Post subject: |
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| becky sharp wrote: | This was appointment TV in our house and I suspect in many households around the country...if I'm right in my remembrances it was it Andi Peters who sounded it's death knell by putting it up against Coronation Street....
There was only going to be one winner there... |
As Producer of TOTP at the time, it wouldn't have been Andi Peters who scheduled the programme - that would have been the responsibility of Lorraine Heggessy, who was controller of BBC1 at the time.
After she finally kicked the programme into touch, Peters then went on to become the BBC’s executive editor of music and entertainment. What a joke that turned out to be.
The BBC certainly has a skill in picking its top management, doesn't it (thinks Lesley Douglas and Bob Shennan, to name but two....).  |
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kengeo
Joined: 21 Sep 2010
Posts: 278
Location: Gloucestershire
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| Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 8:37 am Post subject: |
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Agree about Andi Peters, wasn't he responsible for commissioning some of the crap BBC comedies of recent years, a total no mark with no talent and no sense of humour (remember him on Noel Edmonds Gotcha), how the hell did he get the job?
As for saying it was Stings fault, that is typical of today's management and politician types who refuse to accept responsibility for their own failings. Don't forget that Sting and his mates filled the biggest venues around the world a couple of years back.
Chris Cowley, his predecessor had done a great job in the late 90's early 2000's in making TOTP watchable again, creating a world wide brand being sold around the world. He reinstated the earlier but updated Led Zep theme tune and used an intro and graphics that were memorable.
There is still a place for a modern TOTP, but it needs to be a hybrid between the original format and TOTP2, as today's artists are just not visual enough.
It would be good for a programme that kids and their parents could sit down and enjoy and discuss the merits of each generations music. I remember My Dad back in the 70's describing all the acts as long haired gits! |
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ColinB
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| Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 9:27 am Post subject: |
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| kengeo wrote: | | There is still a place for a modern TOTP, but it needs to be a hybrid between the original format and TOTP2, as today's artists are just not visual enough. |
I think it would also have to absorb some of feel of the Old Grey Whistle Test, or at least its modern-day incarnation - Later With Jools.
There's plenty of very good live performing acts around these days who deserve a good national or international showcase but they're over-shadowed by the dross that is churned out by the Simon Cowell (and co) sausage machine.
Killing off TOTP was a stupid decision by the BBC and made by people who either didn't care or didn't have a clue (or, knowing the way that the BBC does things, probably both). Rather than cancelling it they should have looked at how to reshape it for the 21st century. Alas they're too dim to do that and they're missing a big opportunity - not just in programming terms but also as a big commercial opportunity through overseas sales and franchising. That's where the real money is, as we've seen with many other successful formats. |
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undiscovered
Joined: 15 Sep 2010
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Location: Peterborough
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| Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 1:34 pm Post subject: |
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I would rather watch the 80's editions with John Peel and Janice Long
I remember him saying about Relax, if you don't like this I going to come round your house and break wind in your kitchen, while in the background Long cracking up, golden age of totp with him on it
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kengeo
Joined: 21 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 1:50 pm Post subject: |
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I've got a couple of editions I recorded in 1983 (not UK Gold reruns), with John Peel and David 'Kid' Jensen presenting, I thought they were the best presenters at the time.
I skimmed through the tape the other day, notable for the appearance of Kissing The Pink, never heard them on the radio since.
By my estimation TOTP on BBC4 will hit the 80's in 2015, that's if BBC4 lasts until then, Pink Floyd will be at the top of the charts! |
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Ian Robinson
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| Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2011 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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| kengeo wrote: | | By my estimation TOTP on BBC4 will hit the 80's in 2015, that's if BBC4 lasts until then, Pink Floyd will be at the top of the charts! |
Yeah, if they're going to run them all in order they could at least do two or three (or more) a week. It'll take ages to get to the good stuff! |
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aviddiva
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| Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 9:17 am Post subject: TOP of the POPS - Thursday evening |
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Was Noosha Fox the inspiration for the singer who dubbed Jodie Foster in 'Bugsy Malone'?
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Schizoidman
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| Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 9:37 pm Post subject: |
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I watched some of TOTP from this week in 1976 this evening. It was absolute garbage, with the exception of 10CC and The Four Seasons of course. As the following documentary on the year said, TOTP in those days was more like a variety show.
I do enjoy the fact that it's broadcast on Thurdays at 730, the original time. |
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ColinB
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| Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 10:45 pm Post subject: Re: TOP of the POPS - Thursday evening |
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| Schizoidman wrote: | | I watched some of TOTP from this week in 1976 this evening. It was absolute garbage |
It was indeed. What used to annoy me about TOTP at that time was that it seemed to completely ignore the real music that was being toured around the country by real bands. It's no wonder that Malcolm McLaren decided to detonate the nuclear bomb that was punk - come 1976 we needed it.
| aviddiva wrote: | | Was Noosha Fox the inspiration for the singer who dubbed Jodie Foster in 'Bugsy Malone'? |
There's a name from the past - Noosha Fox. I was at Plymouth's ILR station as it was preparing to go on air when she came and recorded a promotional PA. Very sexy lady............ bit weird though. |
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Schizoidman
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| Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 9:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Colin: to be fair to TOTP, though, it never was meant to be anything other than a singles chart show. It's just that the charts in 1976 were crap. I can't think, off the top of my head, of any good albums from that year either, except for the brilliant 'Presence' by Led Zeppelin. |
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nod
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Schizoidman
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| Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2011 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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Some of those are OK but no better than any other year.
Even 1975 had better albums: Wish You Were Here, Ommadawn, Physical Graffiti, Night At The Opera, the Original Soundtrack etc. |
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kengeo
Joined: 21 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 11:32 am Post subject: |
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It seems that the run of TOTP has already come to an end, as there is no show on this week.
Is it the fact that Mr Edmonds had a hair out of place and had vetoed the programme, or is there a rights issue?
I also note that apart from the May 1st 76 edition, all shows shown since have been edited down to 30mins (from 40). |
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Ian Robinson
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| Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 12:01 pm Post subject: |
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| kengeo wrote: | | It seems that the run of TOTP has already come to an end, as there is no show on this week. |
No, it's back next week. Maybe they just got fed up of playing Brotherhood of Man every week! |
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kengeo
Joined: 21 Sep 2010
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Location: Gloucestershire
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| Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 12:24 pm Post subject: |
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| One play of the Motherhood of Bran is enough, but that's not the reason as Abba were No.1 this week........ |
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graham b
Joined: 23 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Watching Slik on tonight's show I surprised that Midge Ure has not applied for a super-injunction to stop the broadcast. Oh no- it's now the Wurzels. |
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ruddlescat
Joined: 16 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 7:00 pm Post subject: |
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Nothing wrong with The Wurzels Graham
They were all top blokes with a great sense of humour and I imagine the surviving ones still are
A certain Mr Cutler will be looking down and loving it 
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kengeo
Joined: 21 Sep 2010
Posts: 278
Location: Gloucestershire
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| Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 10:16 pm Post subject: |
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The Wurzels are superb live, I've seen them many times, its a good night out, they are very popular round these ere parts!
I was more shocked at the fact that Andrea True was sporting a (dare I say it) 'camels hoof'  not that I was looking!
And this on the BBC at 7.30, obviously Mary Whitehouse wasn't watching that night! |
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Lord Evan Elpuss
Joined: 10 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 9:05 am Post subject: |
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| kengeo wrote: | The Wurzels are superb live, I've seen them many times, its a good night out, they are very popular round these ere parts!
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I'll bet they are! Weren't the survivors on The One Show not so long ago?
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kengeo
Joined: 21 Sep 2010
Posts: 278
Location: Gloucestershire
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| Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 9:24 am Post subject: |
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They were, the chap who formed the Wurzels, Adge Culter died in a car crash in the early 70's before they hit big.
From the three that made it to number one, two remain, ironically the accordion player is from Scotland, hardly a yokel local!
Have a listen to Never Mind The Bullocks on Spotify! |
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aviddiva
Joined: 11 Oct 2008
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Location: Wakefield, West Yorkshire
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| Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 1:24 pm Post subject: Top Of The Pops - Thursday evenings BBC-4 |
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Bill Bailey and Kevin Eldon do a great Kraftwerk-style version of Combine Harvester on the 'Dandelion Mind' DVD!
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aviddiva
Joined: 11 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 7:47 am Post subject: Top Of The Pops - Thursday evenings BBC-4 |
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What was that dance to 'The Wanderer' (Dion) all about? Flexing one hand and opening and shutting your mouth - yeah, very artistic. 
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aviddiva
Joined: 11 Oct 2008
Posts: 1135
Location: Wakefield, West Yorkshire
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| Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 7:51 am Post subject: Top Of The Pops - Thursday evenings BBC-4 |
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'A Butterfly For Bucky' (Bobby Goldsboro) should have been in Kenny Everett's World's Worst Record shows!
The miraculous return of Bucky's eyesight makes 'Dr. Quinn - Medicine Woman' look like a gritty BAFTA-award nominated turn!
Glamourpuss's 'Superman' was very poor. Thank goodness for Status Quo's 'Mystery Song'!
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Ian Robinson
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| Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 11:06 am Post subject: Re: Top Of The Pops - Thursday evenings BBC-4 |
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| aviddiva wrote: | | Glamourpuss's 'Superman' was very poor. |
Bad song, badly sung, by people dressed very badly. Loved it! |
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Lord Evan Elpuss
Joined: 10 Dec 2006
Posts: 3414
Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land
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| Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 2:39 pm Post subject: |
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8/7/76 wasn't a bad edition, one day left to watch as I type: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b012s2bf
A good Sutherland Brothers opening track 'When The Train Comes', An interesting cover of Mike Oldfield's 'Tubular Bells' by The Champs Boys.
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