The Rolling "Top of the Pops" BBC4 Revival thread.

Who the fuck is this Paul Jordan character?

A mid-80s Radio 1 DJ who wasn't at the station very long. Mainly filling in for other DJs. He doesn't have that irritation factor that most Radio 1 DJs of the time had, and that perversely caused them to stay around.

I mean if I behaved at work like Bruno Brookes in the mid 80s, I'd either get chinned by someone or probably fired. Although I don't work for the BBC, especially not the BBC in the 80s.

mid-80s Radio 1 DJ who wasn't at the station very long. Mainly filling in for other DJs. He doesn't have that irritation factor that most Radio 1 DJs of the time had, and that perversely caused them to stay around.

He certainly looked the part.

From the website of Sandgrounder Radio (Local Radio for Southport, Sefton and the Liverpool City Region),

Paul has been a big part of radio across the North West for as long as anyone can remember. Initially as a presenter, Paul has managed some of the biggest stations on the dial. Winning a few awards along the way too! He’s presented on Radio 1 and hosted ‘Top of the Pops’ on the telly. Paul is thrilled to be back where he belongs, behind the microphone on Sandgrounder Radio.

'Back where he belongs' - that's a low blow.

Yeah, some real Partridge-level desperation in that blurb.

Shakin' Stevens looks like he's performing 'Merry Christmas Everyone' at gunpoint.

Fuck me that key change.

Gary Davis: "Well that could be the Christmas #1" SPOILERS it was.
Shaky at number 10 followed by the Pet Shop Boys at number 9 - this is the turning point for young snoball musically. I'd become a bit bored with music at this point in 1985 but everything was about to change.

https://78.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljl17sqgyX1qzujsgo1_400.gif

Mark Knopfler really wished he was Bruce Springsteen here, didn't he?

There's a Spitting Image parody song called 'Born In The UK of A' or something, but I can't it anywhere.

Mr Mister - ably demonstrating how to look like complete wankers in early 1986. Particularly the lead singer and his white cowboy boots.

Pet Shop Boys' video for 'West End Girls': Neil looks 16 while Chris looks like someone who might be able to sell you drugs, or possibly an undercover policeman who will arrest you for trying to buy drugs from him.

Very late with this but I had no idea Paul Jordan made it to TotP. He was one of those slick local commercial radio guys (on 194 Radio City in Liverpool around 1981-83) who had a kind of garrulous, flirty, self-deprecating schtick... weirdly I remember him only because he used to refer to himself as “Wally” Jordan...and that was the name of the Cabbage Patch Kid doll we bought my cousin in the US that Xmas.

Memories, eh?

Here's Ozzy Osbourne dressed like someone's gran.

I always remember the lyrics to Belouis Some's 'Imagination' as being "Emasculation... could make a man of you".

Paul Hardcastle here showing Jan Hammer how to really look like a nobhead with a keytar.

1986 hits 'peak 1986' early with Sigue Sigue Sputnik.

Alexander O'Neil modelling the must-have fashion disaster item of 1986, the combination tweed trench coat / boiler suit.

That sounds so incredible I don't want to watch and spoil it.

Not recommended for the fuller figured man tbh. Nice to see reggae was still getting in the charts in '86.

I remember that Sigue Sigue Sputnik performance, and I remember likening it to a hit of poppers: fantastic for the first minute, then you're just left with a numbed-out headache.

I remember that it should have been lots of flash bang wallop riz riz boom. And it was four or five blokes standing around, plus two drummers.

Some national newspapers around the time were all 'this band is terrible' mock outrage kind of thing, which got 12 year old snoball interested because I remembered similar media coverage with Frankie Goes To Hollywood two years previously. But the reality was that Frankie genuinely were exciting while SSS were just a bit dull and repetitive.

'Love Missile F1-11' is a 30 second song repeated six times to make a 3 minute single, and '21st Century Boy' is basically the same basic backing track with some rockabilly guitars and a Billy Idol impersonation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6fudSHb0js
Even Bowie can't make this song sound repetitive.

I mean can't make this song not sound repetitive

Tonight's episode, featuring Simon Bates as a your friendly late night bigoted taxi driver.

That dark brown leather jacket screams "I'm a wanker and it's 1986".

Despite recently not turning out to be an Operation Yewtree suspect, Cliff ironically looks like Gary Glitter in this video for 'Living Doll'.

Some national newspapers around the time were all 'this band is terrible' mock outrage kind of thing
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/IUgAAOSw0fFZe6Yt/s-l500.jpg

As if Paul Morley was in any place to judge SSS.

I remember the video for 'A Different Corner' but I'd forgotten about that fuck-awful mullet. It's like George went to Noel Edmonds' barber.

Criminally this might be Falco's only UK TV appearance.

Although this week they play the excellent video. Pity Gary Davis is prattling on over the top of it.

Just Say No smoke up in a bathroom in the White House (allegedly)

"George Michael and 'A Different Corner'" although apparently not a different photo because it's the BBC and they'll just use a still from the video to 'Careless Whisper' like it's still 1984.

Sly Fox - "Let's Go All The Way" – Classic or Dud?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bXIL0DTJGo

"My Favourite Waste Of Mime"

Quite a trajectory in UK pop during these years. Until about 78 - when punk had caught up with the charts - TOTP was mostly a parade of appalling novelty records and MOR. Then for a few years we had an injection of experimental, interesting pop records - until 83/4, then mostly trash again. I generalise of course. Watching these re-runs is like a graph of my interest in pop music during the late 70s/80s.

Pete Cetera looks like a serial killer in this video.

Oh my god

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVR9JykPC-0

Steve Wright: "OK, so this week I'm going to dress like a complete tosser by wearing jeans, a shirt, and a jumper."
Peter Powell: "Hold my beer..." (grabs tie)

Peter Powell: "Also I won't bother to shave for extra creep points."

https://78.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljl17sqgyX1qzujsgo1_400.gif

I think Holiday Rap could be my favourite novelty record.

Has any pop star in history had more bad haircuts than Howard Jones?

Chris Waddle?