Good to be back. Loved Meat Loaf and The Creatures in the earlier show; double Spandau Ballet was not my style.
Alphaville were at number 43, but there's no video for the highest new entry. It's their one hit.
The newlywed Elton John sings about the evils of apartheid-era South Africa in a way even Mike Read can't object to.
#TOTP #Alphaville #EltonJohn
Break Machine, then. Three guys in bright jackets doing some anaemic breakdance moves while miming to a tinny disco tune.
They've done better, "Street dance" was deservedly a top ten hit in spring 1984.
I guess these guys did their moves so that the London Boys could backflip.
#TOTP #BreakMachine
[glares at the TOTP editor]
Cut for time: "Dr beat" from Miami Sound Machine, the first (and, for many years, only) studio appearance by Gloria Estefan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j70kjzb2cX4
#TOTP #GloriaEstefan
"Sunglasses" from Tracey Ullman, her last appearance on #TOTP.
If I remember correctly. I was on holiday at a Pontins' camp near Portsmouth. Closed down a couple of years later, on the grounds of being completely crap.
"Parade" came through my bedroom wall a lot in late 1984: thanks, sis.
"I'll fly for you" is an absolute corker. Sax solo, brooding verse, slightly menacing pre-chorus, and an instantly catchy chorus.
The band has co-ordinated its outfits, Tony Hadley in red shirt and black trews, everyone else is in combinations of red, black, and white.
Tony always knows where to find the camera, even when it's at his feet and being obscured by balloons in the crowd.
#TOTP
#SpandauBallet
Triple Spandau Ballet on #TOTP may be bad, but
- we've missed gender traitor Hellen Lewjs on HIGNFY
- there is no video for the highest new entry at number 3
We can all be grateful for small mercies.
"Some guys have all the luck", tax fugitive Rod Stewart covers Robert Palmer. Maxi Priest had the biggest hit version of this song in 1987.
And here's the reason we see this ep again so soon: George Michael is in the studio to perform the number 1 song "Careless whisper".
Through the crowd surround him, George can emote alone on the stage, pristine in his white shirt and jeans. Much more restrained than his celebrations with Wham! - and just as effective.
More from George after 10 on BBC4.
#TOTP #GeorgeMichael
The speed record? They got it, but the show didn't get repeated on BBC4 for personnel reasons.
Laura Branigan's "Self control". Here's the clip, in memory of director William Friedkin who died last year.
#TOTP #LauraBranigan #WilliamFriedkin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP0_8J7uxh
Six more TOTPs next week: two from 96, two from 84, two mystery ones in the middle.
Whatever you're doing this weekend, may the aurora glow bright, and have a wonderful time.
Our group declare to be true