Our group declare to be trueOur first Top of the Pops Mystery Year saw pop star Gary Kemp in court, alleging that a disc featuring him was a criminal record. Chrysalis released Spandau Ballet's "Greatest Hits" LP. Kemp, the songwriter with the band, secured an injunction preventing Chrysalis from advertising or promoting the disc. His effort to imprison the label's heads for contempt of court failed.
We start with A-ha, "Take on me".
This first appearance established the band's personalities. Pål on the keyboards, plinking out the distinctive opening melody with one finger, and giving a cheeky smirk at the camera later on. Mags Furlhomethingie on guitars, earnest and dedicated to his job.
And then Morton Torton Forton Harkett, finds the camera, connects with the viewer, and seduces her with images of passion and those floopy eyes.
The Far Corporation and "Stairway to heaven". Put together by Frank Farian, he's answering the question "what if I do for rock music what Boney M did for pop?"
Lots of guitars and drums and backing folk, all fronted by a very sweaty lead singer. The clip looks like it's come from Formel Eins, the German-language equivalent to Top of the Pops.
Frank, mate, what you need is some new tunes and a couple of pretty guys, don't matter if they can sing or not...
#TOTP breakers, none of them made it to the studio.
The Simon May Orchestra with "Theme from Howard's Way", an excuse to show lots of yachts sailing, because that's all the show was about.
Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin do their bit for girl power on "Sisters are doin' it for themselves". Tina Turner turned it down as "too feminist", and one of the blokes in the background is Benmont Tench.
Talking Heads "Road to nowhere", quite the most bizarre of arty-farty clips. Love it.
UB40 do "Don't break my heart" in the studio. This is laidback and light reggae, the main point of the song is carried by the knocking percussion and the ominous keyboard swooshes in the chorus.
Which, of course, means the camera will concentrate on singer Ali Campbell as usual. (shakes head ruefully)
Feargal Sharkey with the video for "A good heart", the one with the wheel going around in the background, and with the absolutely fierce drummer.
The song's written by Maria McKee about her breakup with Eurythmics backing singer Benmont Tench; followup "You little thief" was written by Benmont about his breakup with Maria.
Elton John does his bit for east-west relations in the clip for "Nikita" at 3. Anya Major plays the border guard in East Berlin.
Elton was fully aware that "Nikita" is usually a lad's name in Russian. He explained it to his wife, which just feels *wrong* to type.
Jennifer Rush still at number one with "The power of love".
The opening shot is [chef's kiss]: a figure sways in a bright spotlight. As we near, it turns out to be Jennifer. The pull has lasted the entire first verse and the start of the chorus, and they complete the song with just a handful of cuts through the song. Jennifer always makes the connection to the viewer.
Jennifer's at number one with 103k sales to A-ha's 90k, Elton John has 80k.
Dance-out is Paul Hardcastle's "Just for money", the follow-up to "19" was about the Great Train Robbery.
No, don't watch this edition Phil Collins, you'll get bad ideas.
Our first Mystery Year was 1985.
You asked for it: Doug E Fresh will appear in two weeks' time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tat5OeG9G68
Phil! Head! Paintpot! Now!
Doug E Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew The Show TOTP 21 11 1985
"It's grim up north" from The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu.
Promoted by some graffiti on the northbound carriageway of the M1 somewhere down south.
Contains tonight's oldest lyric, "Jerusalem" was written by William Blake in 1804, for Status Quo's latest touring theatrical performance.
"Fall at your feet" from Crowded House. The moment of abject bliss, of one soul meeting another.
[contented sigh]
From Manchester's Haçienda, it's the biggest band from Wrexham, it's K-Klass with "Rhythm is a mystery".
Russ and Paul were impressed with Andy and Carl's kit and instruments, and bashed them together with these very satisfying results.
Bobbi Depasois sings a placeholder lyric, cribbed from things in newspapers and magazines, so still more comprehensible than "Setting sun".
K-Klass are in at 8; their sale would only have got them to number 16 in 1985.
"Do you feel like I feel?" asked Belinda Carlisle.
Second single from album "Live Your Life Be Free". More consistent than her last album "Runaway Horses", though without the brilliant singles.
Still, any excuse to get Belinda on our telly...
"Shining star" from INXS, in a video that may have inspired the subsequent dating series Man 'O' Man where women push rejected men into a swimming pool.
Promoted their live album, cunningly entitled "Live Baby Live". Backing vocals on the single are from Keith Urban, who's since become a massive country music star.
Presenters for this edition are Mark Franklin and Elayne Smith.
"Dance with me" from Control. There is a Big Book of Faceless Dance Music Acts from late 1991, and Control would be the cover stars if anyone knew who they were.
Kevin Barry, Mark Cooper, Simon Riley and vocalist Jo-An completely evaded the detective work of @[email protected] three years back, and I've done little better.
Er... their song originally had the lyric "I'm on XTC", which changed to "I'm your esctasy". That's *literally* all I've got.
Breakers o'clock! "The unforgiven", Metallica at their most radio-friendly, a slow and serious track that Gary Davies picked up for his "Let's Do Lunch" show. Apocalyptica made the definitive version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke3oc6MSNVI
"Winter song" from Chris Rea, the traffic jam on the road to hell stretches into its third year.
Apocalyptica - 'The Unforgiven' (Official Video)
"Love's sweet exile" is the Manic Street Preachers' debut, next single will bring them into the studio.
"Me, in time" proved The Charlatans had an audience, but not necessarily a big one. A lightweight non-album single.
Such was the audience reaction that "Miracle song" was released as a single from "Timeless, The Very Best Of Neil Sedaka".
Such was the song's popularity that it failed to trouble the top 75, reaching number 80, and sold about 7000 copies in total. That's barely a third of K-Klass's sale this week!
And we finish with "Dizzy", Vic Reeves and the Wonder Stuff.
They'd been on #TOTP two weeks earlier, slammed a tequila shot before every take, got so drunk they couldn't find the washing machine with a camera inside, and Mariah Carey got jealous because there was more dry ice on their stage than on hers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbUQUnxBYhs
Our second Mystery Year was 1991, and Elayne Smith thought she was rubbish. No! Far better than Nigel Kennedy!
Vic Reeves And The Wonder Stuff – Dizzy - TOTP - 1991
Blimey, that was an exhilarating few episodes!
Coming next on BBC4: concerts from Stevie Wonder, Randy Crawford, and Marvin Gaye.
BBC2 tomorrow night has Ultimate Cover Versions, and Pixies are on Later.
I *think* I'm out next Friday, so hope to see you in a fortnight.
Whatever you're doing this weekend, #TOTP hashtag, have a great one!
Tracey S@daweaver I hope you have a great time next Friday