THE FRIDAY FIVE – 4.1.2019

1. Lovelytheband – Broken
2. Marc Almond and Jools Holland – Tainted Love
3. Rudimental – These Days
4. Brian May – New Horizons
5. The 1975 – It’s Not Living

Tonight, sees The Story Of 1987 on BBC Four, marking the start of the 1987 repeats of Top Of The Pops on the channel.

As is tradition, when the Top Of The Pops repeats reach a new year, I do a chart. So here, is a chart from 1987.

FIVE SONGS FROM 1987

1. Bee Gees – You Win Again
2. Starship – Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now
3. Madonna – Who’s That Girl?
4. Climie Fisher – Love Changes Everything
5. Curiousity Killed The Cat – Misfit

I’m not suggesting that 1987 was the undisputed year of the banger, but look at some of the songs that weren’t included.

INXS – Need You Tonight
Depeche Mode – Strangelove
Depeche Mode – Never Let Me Down Again
REM – It’s The End Of The World As We Know It
Belinda Carlisle – Heaven Is A Place On Earth
MARRS – Pump Up The Volume
Spagna – Call Me
Bananarama – Love In The First Degree
Madonna – La Isla Bonita
Fleetwood Mac – Little Lies
Glenn and Chris – Diamond Lights
U2 – Where The Streets Have No Name
U2 – I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
Fleetwood Mac – Everywhere
Squeeze – Hourglass

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 11.8.2017

1. Liam Gallagher – For What It’s Worth
2. Calvin Harris – Feels
3. Mike Garry and Joe Duddell – St Anthony
4. Lorde – Perfect Places
5. The Horrors – Machine

First of all, an apology for there being no Friday Five last week. I was busy and didn’t get a chance to do it. As a result, I missed out on celebrating International Twins Day, which was last weekend.

So here, is a chart based on musical twins

FIVE SONGS BY ACTS FEATURING TWINS

1. Bee Gees – You Win Again
2. Doves – Black And White Town
3. Bros – When Will I Be Famous?
4. The Proclaimers – Letter From America
5. Jedward – Lipstick

Yesterday was Duran Duran Appreciation Day. It should be a Public Holiday.

FIVE SONGS BY DURAN DURAN

1. Ordinary World
2. Wild Boys
3. Hungry Like The Wolf
4. Serious
5. Reach Out For The Sunrise

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : SHOOT – 8.9.1979

Joe Jordan of Manchester United is the cover star of Shoot, which had free Team Tabs of England’s 3rd and 4th divisions, which completed the set, enabling you to track teams progress during the 1979-1980 season.

There is a full page dedicated to the qualifiers for Euro 1980, resuming after a summer break. The headline, listed all the group leaders.

They got one spectacularly wrong, having proclaimed Portugal as on their way to Italy. It was Belgium, lying 4th out of 5th, 3 points behind the Portugese (in the era of 2 points for a win) who had a late surge to win the group. Belgium went on the reach the final in Italy.

Ray Clemence’s column sees him talk about veterans he admires, picking out Alan Ball, a World Cup winner in 1966, still playing in the top flight (for Southampton) as the 1980s approached.

In competitions, readers had the opportunity to win a “Referee’s Watch”, if you were that way inclined.

There was a colour photo (A lot of the printing in 1979 was in black/white) dedicated to top flight footballers such as Gordon Hill, Gary Owen, Brian Talbot and Mick Channon taking part in Footballers v Athletes episode of Superstars

There is a profle of West Ham goalkeeper Phil Parkes. If you’re interested, his favourite singers are Johnny Mathis, Rita Coolidge and Bee Gees.

In adverts, Bob Paisley advertises Gola trainers with the headline “Having talent is only half the story”

In posters, there was a colour poster of Charlton Athletic.

50 YEARS OF TOP OF THE POPS : DEC 19 – DEC 24

Our last round-up before Christmas, and not many pop birthdays, but let’s press on anyway.

There’ll be a special Christmas Day edition of this blog is you fancy going online to escape from your family.

Of course, don’t forget, this year’s Christmas editions of Top Of The Pops will be on Christmas Day at 2pm, and New Year’s Eve at 4.15pm.

I’ll be using clips from those shows in 2024 when I rehash this blog for 60 Years Of Top Of The Pops.

Limahl turned 56 this week.

Sad Anniversary time …… Maurice and Robin Gibb would have been 65 this week.

Richey Edwards would have been 47 this week.

And now, some Motorhead to get you in the mood for Christmas.

But there are pop stars born on Christmas Days as well, such as Annie Lennox, born in a stable in Aberdeen.

And Robin Campbell of UB40, born in a stable in Birmingham

As well as Shane Magowan and Bob Stanley, who we’ll see tomorrow.

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 19.12.2014

Yes, a day late, I know, but ….. it’s Christmas, which is a handy excuse.

1. James Bay – Hold Back The River
2. AC/DC v Bee Gees – Staying Alive
3. Charli XCX – Need Ur Love
4. Embrace – Beautiful Day
5. Lisa Loeb – Light

In case you hadn’t noticed, this is the last Friday Five before Christmas, so here’s five songs to get you in the mood.

FIVE CHRISTMAS SONGS

1. Robert Goulet – Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
2. The Waitresses – Christmas Wrapping
3. John Lennon – Happy Xmas (Ware Is Over
4. The Ramones – A Punk Rock Christmas
5. Bruce Springsteen – Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

50 YEARS OF TOP OF THE POPS : AUG 29 – SEP 4

Summer is almost over and Winter is coming, but don’t feel down, here’s some classic TOTP for you.

Michael Jackson would have been 56 this week. Sadly, there isn’t that many TOTP performances, especially as an adult.

Turning 55 this week is noted perfectionist, Eddi Reader.

John Phillips of Mamas and Papas would have been 79 this week.

Glenn Tilbrook is still cool for cats at 57 this week.

Manx Manc Barry Gibb turned 68 this week.

Now, for a bit of Jam

Anyone else remember Lucie Silvas?

And finally, a bit of Beyonce …..

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 8.8.2014

1. Family Of The Year – Hero
2. Kasabian – Bumblebee
3. Bombay Bicycle Club – Luna
4. Royal Blood – Figure It Out
5. 3D Shark – Spuds

Last week, was the Twins Day Festival in Twinsburg, Ohio. Unsurprisingly, it was a celebration of twins and all their twinniness. There have been some bands that have featured twins. So, in celebration, here is a chart for you.

FIVE SONGS BY BANDS FEATURING TWINS

1. Bee Gees – You Win Again
2. Bros – When Will I Be Famous?
3. Tegan and Sara – Closer
4. The Proclaimers – Letter From America
5. Doves – Black and White Town

50 YEARS OF TOP OF THE POPS : JAN 10 – JAN 16

We begin this week with John Peel playing Mandolin and Football at the same time. I imagine you’ve already guessed who turned 69 this week.

Like Top Of The Pops, Brad Roberts of Crash Test Dummies was born in 1964. It took him 30 years, but eventually he got to appear on Top Of The Pops.

Also celebrating a birthday on 10th January is Vicky Peterson of The Bangles. One of their biggest hits was written by a gentleman called Christopher Nevermind. Who? I hear you ask. It was Prince under an assumed name.

Fast forwarding to more recent times, Jamelia turns 33 this week. Here she is performing Superstar in 2004

And now, rewind to 1991, Roxette (It’s Per Gessle’s birthday) performing Joyride. Remember, we are all magic friends.

Incidentally, that was the year Pixie Lott was born, and in a tenuous link that any TOTP presenter would be proud of …….

This week is the 11th anniversary of the death of Maurice Gibb. Born on Isle Of Man and growing up Manchester made the Bee Gees Manx Mancs.

53 this week, Suggs might be known to some as the guy from Night Fever, but to many more, he’ll be known as the guy from Madness.

He was also one of the captains on A Question Of Pop, a music version of a Question Of Sport. 13 years on, we’re still waiting for a second series.

He also had a briefly successful solo career you know.

Meanwhile, someone has went to the effort of doing a montage of all of Madness TOTP appearances.

Madness split up before I started school, so imagine how excited I was when they made a comeback in 1999. The lead single of their comeback, Lovestruck is fantastic, classic Madness.

Remember Calvin and Frankie from S Club Juniors? Well, you’ll never guess what Frankie did next …..

Meanwhile, Aaliyah would have been 35 this week. Here she is performing Try Again a year before her death.

Another singer born this week in history is Preston, erm, from The Ordinary Boys. I used to like them before he went on Big Brother.

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 13.7.2012

1. Katy Perry – Wide Awake
2. Florence and the Machine ft Calvin Harris – Spectrum
3. The Killers – Runaways
4. Josh Osho – Redemption Days
5. Gym Class Heroes ft Ryan Tedder – The Fighter

Last Sunday, ITV launched a three part series titled ‘The Nation’s Favourite Number One’ which will probably have some crap Robbie Williams or Spice Girls song as the winner.

To commemorate this (The UK Singkes chart turns 60 this year) i’m going to do a Top Five for every decade from the 60s on.

I have three editions of the Guinness Book Of British Hit Singles (1999, 2001, 2003) and read them from cover to cover, so I know which songs were and weren’t Number One off by heart.

I had to use Wikipedia for this decade, whatever it’s called. A marked departure from when I would check the charts on Ceefax on a Sunday night (It’s still on page 528, if you’re interested)

FIVE NUMBER ONES FROM THE 60s

1. Small Faces – All Or Nothing
2. Rolling Stones – Get Off My Cloud
3. Tommy Roe – Dizzy
4. The Beatles – Ticket To Ride
5. Bee Gees – I Just Gotta Get A Message To You

FIVE NUMBER ONES OF THE 70s

1. Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights
2. Tina Charles – I Love To Love
3. Blondie – Heart Of Glass
4. Sweet – Blockbuster
5. Status Quo – Down Down

FIVE NUMBER ONES OF THE 80s

1. Wham – Freedom
2. Nena – 99 Red Balloons
3. Blondie – Call Me
4. Joe Dolce – Shaddap You Face
5. The Jam – Going Underground

FIVE NUMBER ONES OF THE 90s

1. U2 – The Fly
2. Queen – Innuendo
3. Chesney Hawkes – the One And Only
4. Blur – Country House
5. Babylon Zoo – Spaceman

FIVE NUMBER ONES OF THE 00s

1. Tatu – All The Things She Said
2. Stereophonics – Dakota
3. Nelly Furtado – Maneater
4. Cheryl Cole – Fight For This Love
5. Billie Piper – Day And Night

FIVE NUMBER ONES OF THE 10s

1. Owl City – Fireflies
2. Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe
3. Rihanna ft Calvin Harris – We Found Love
4. Gotye ft Kimbra – Somebody That I Used To Know
5. Diana Vickers – Once

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : Q – JUNE 1997

Paul McCartney, promoting his new album ‘Flaming Pie’ is the cover star of this edition of Q, from the summer of 1997.

Former Primer Minister Ted Heath also features, being the subject of the monthly “Who the hell does ……..” column.

In news, there is an interview with the country’s biggest band, Swing Out Sister. Not this country, but Japan about how unappreciated they are in their home country and their love of Japan.

Louise Wener, lead singer of Sleeper, gets a double page spread as she sits online, answering questions from fans via a chatroom on the Q website.

How primitive, seeing as celebrities do this everyday now via Twitter.

Tipped for greatness was Fountains Of Wayne ……… only the seven years before they had their only big hit “Stacey’s Mom”

A whopping twelve pages gets dedicated to an interview with Paul McCartney, including a buyers guide to his back catalogue, both as a Beatle and a solo artist.

In chart news, Chemical Brothers top the album chart, beating off competition from Spice Girls and Wet Wet Wet. Bee Gees have two albums in the top twenty.

In other news, Channel 5 is launched and Q dedicates two pages to this by looking back at the launches of the four other terrestrial channels.

Gary Barlow, then trying to make his name as a solo artist, is featured in a short interview at the end where he reveals that Adam and the Ants was his first concert, that he was the hardest boy in his year at school, and that he doesn’t like Reggae.

Gary Barlow also stated that “I like a girl who can dance and really knows how to move her body”

Something to bear in mind if you are entering X-Factor 2012.