Evening all.
Break Machine kick us off with "Break dance party". Three of them, with a beat and some very telegenic moves.
The whistle bit is almost (but not entirely) distinct from their last hit, and it's the only bit I'll ever remember. Well, that and the neon flashes on the clothes, high fashion for this Mystery Year.
Deniece Williams does "Let's hear it for the boy".
She's got her hair in a coat-hanger, and struts across the stage. Doesn't quite do this record justice, this song deserves better than milquetoast direction.
"Lots of people are tipping it for the top", says Peter Powell. "That one is gonna go to number one," says Simon Bates, all predictions wrong or your money back.
The video for Marillion's "Assassing" is a piece of Quantel magic, high-tech at the time.
Hazell Dean finally has a hit, "Searchin' (I gotta find a man)".
It's the famous silver coat, short haircut, and four gentlemen gyrating around the stage with her.
Gay clubs made this a hit, pounding bass and drum fill allows for the lads to thrust their bits, and there's a strobe lighting effect for people who like that kind of thing.
Bit like Eurovision, then.
The rumour is that Hazell Dean was a late booking, replacing Everything But the Girl, who were sitting university exams.
It would be four years before EBTG return, by which time Hazell's hit career will be over.
"Naff off" sing Womack and Womack. What? It's actually "Love wars"? If you say so, chuck.
They're in the studio, but suffer some shonky direction: an extreme close-up of the keyboardist, then lots of shots of the crowd's heads bobbing.
When we finally see them, Mr. Womack is in a purple suit, Mrs. W is in a purple dress with teal cardigan. It's sweet and uptempo soul.
In the news this week, Oldbury station was renamed Sandwell and Dudley, and turned into a major stop on the intercity line.
All trains between London and Wolverhampton will now stop at S&D.
All of them? Tell that to the 0636 from Shrewsbury to London, which wizzed through the new station at 75mph.
Local dignitaries and BR brass were left on the platform as the grand opening train -- didn't stop.
Still at number one: Duran Duran and "The reflex".
They're in the studio, dressed in various arrangements of red and white, a stark look and one that only the greatest bands can pull off.
Of course the Duran make it work.
Audience clap-out is Kenny Loggins with "Footloose".
The second mystery year was 1984.
(The first was why anyone would willingly employ Anthea Turner when Simon Parkin was available. Oh, and 1989)
More #TOTP next, two from 1985.
"We've got a great show! Before that..." promises Paul Jordan.
It's a Liverpool double bill, he presents with The Queen of England Janice Long.
Madness kick off tonight, "Uncle Sam" is in the studio.
There comes a point where the zany performance becomes forced and not credible, and I fear this is the tipping point.
Wham! are back! "I'm your man" is the new one, the first release for Yog and Andy since "Last Christmas" last Christmas.
Only now do we realise how homoerotic the clip is.
The arty video is on-stage at the Marquee club, the focus is almost entirely on George, Andy, and backing musician Dion Estus.
Clips from the crowd are of young men dancing, and the kissing scene is of a man and a person of unclear gender presentation.
How did we all miss it?!
Former Wham! backing singer D C Lee is storming up the charts with icy ballad "See the day".
She's not alone on stage, it's a very Eurovision performance with a complete backing band and loads of dry ice.
The soul ballad was an instant classic, and I wonder how it might have fared in Bergen '86 - ach, probably still lost to The Belgian Kid.
Who is Paul Jordan?
Radio 1's new rising star of 1985, he'd joined at Easter, took loads of swing shifts and the Friday afternoon show (coz Steve Wright did Sunday mornings).
He was pretty much eclipsed by the shinier younger and better Simon Mayo, and left Radio 1 in late 1986.
Spent some time at Radio City in Liverpool, and programmed Rock FM in Blackpool around the turn of the century. Currently broadcasting on Dune Radio, a community station in Southport.
We don't know it yet, but all three #TOTP breakers will be massive Yankee number ones...
Whitney Houston's "Saving all my love for you", her first week on the chart over here...
Dionne Warwick and Friends are also in the studio recording "That's what friends are for"...
Another ice ballad comes from Lionel Richie, "Say you, say me" is from a film set in a dance class.
No studio performances for any of these.
Doug E Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew are zooming up with "The show"
A short introduction to hip-hop, rap, scratching, and everything hot in black music.
The record is left behind as Doug banters with the crowd - great way to edit the six-minute single to the three-minute #TOTP slot.
Some non-slick shot direction, Doug and Slick Rick are just more lively than in rehearsal.
Performance of the night.
Feargal Sharkey at number one for a second and final week with "A good heart". We're treated to the video clip in full, featuring that fierce woman drummer.
Dance-out is Midge Ure with "That certain smile", an under-rated track of his.
Up next is a #TOTP they showed last August, so here's my thread from then.
"The Boys in the Boat" and "The Untouchables" on BBC2 tomorrow night, as the music moves over to BBC1.
Whatever you're doing this weekend, have a great one!
Evening all. Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam with Full Force start #TOTP with "I wonder if I take you home". In a balanced programme tonight, Lisa Lisa represents the Junior Anti-Sex League. "It's an easy song to relate to, for females. Sexually, we've been put on the spot all our lives. And what with teenage pregnancy on the rise, there are more young girls wondering, 'Should I do it?' They're starting to think twice before they jump in." #LisaLisa
Our group declare to be true
Ian K Tindale
Third spruce tree on the left