Big Hits 1987
As BBC Four's weekly repeats of Top of the Pops reach 1987, we celebrate this high watermark of hits with some classic TOTP performances from this spectacular year. The programme includes studio appearances from Rick Astley with Never Gonna Give You Up to the godfather of punk, Iggy Pop, whose unforgettable appearance on the show is one not to be missed! The programme also honours Manchester’s finest, New Order, and Scottish soft rockers Wet Wet Wet, along with pop royalty Whitney Houston, Curiosity Killed the Cat, Boy George, The Bee Gees, The Pogues and a rare TOTP sighting of Eric B & Rakim. Pepsi and Shirlie, and many more are also poured into the mix, providing that perfect measure of definitive 80s pop.
More from Specials
Episode 1
25th Anniversary Special
This anniversary episode features new performances and a shedload of clips from the show's 25 years on air, all introduced by an army of past Pops presenters. There are no complete archive performances and the clips are all about 15-30 seconds long and most are accompanied by prototype TOTP2-style scrolling information. In fact the whole show feels a bit like an extended episode of TOTP2, which can only be a good thing. IMHO This show is a much better celebration of TOTP than the dreary '2006 Final Countdown' was. Presented by: David Jacobs, Pete Murray, Alan Freeman, Kenny Everett, David Jensen, Simon Bates, Mark Goodier, Peter Powell, Tony Blackburn, Mike Read, Paul Gambaccini, Jimmy Savile, David Hamilton There are way too many clips to list individually, but the studio performances are: - Swinging Blue Jeans - Hippy Hippy Shake - The Tremeloes - Silence is Golden - Mud - Tiger Feet - Lulu - Shout - Engelbert Humperdinck - Release Me - David Essex - Gonna Make You a Star - Four Tops - Reach Out I'll Be There - Cliff Richard - We Don't Talk Any More - Shakin' Stevens - This Ole House - Status Quo - Rocking All Over the World
Episode 2
1960s
No overview available.
Episode 3
1980s
No overview available.
Episode 15
1978 Christmas Special
Noel Edmonds presents a special Top of the Pops from 1978, with Darts, Abba, Boney M, Brotherhood of Man, Father Abraham, Bee Gees, Brian and Michael, Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band, Wings, Showaddywaddy, Rose Royce, Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta and Legs and Co.
Episode 17
1980 Christmas Special
Peter Powell and Jimmy Savile basically eat their way through the greatest hits of the year. Which are as follows (‘v’ denotes video):- The Nolans – I’m In The Mood For Dancing Dexy’s Midnight Runners – Geno Blondie – Atomic (v) Paul McCartney – Coming Up (v) Barbara Streisand – Woman In Love (Legs & Co) Liquid Gold – Dance Yourself Dizzy David Bowie – Ashes To Ashes (v) Marti Webb – Take That Look Off Your Face Police – Don’t Stand So Close To Me (v) Abba – Super Trouper (v) Lipps Inc.- Funkytown (Legs & Co) Leo Sayer – More Than I Can Say Sheena Easton – 9 to 5 Pink Floyd – Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2) (v) St Winifred’s School Choir – There’s No One Quite Like Grandma
Episode 18
1981 Christmas Special
Presented by – The Radio 1 D.J’s (specifically Jimmy Savile, Kid Jensen, Tony Blackburn, John Peel, DLT, Adrian Juste, Simon Bates, Andy Peebles,Paul Burnett, Paul Gambaccini, Steve Wright, Peter Powell, Richard Skinner, Tommy Vance, Mike Reid) Teardrop Explodes – Reward Ultravox – Vienna Kim Wilde – Kids In America Human League – Love Action Godley & Cream – Under Your Thumb Kirsty McColl – There’s A Guy Works Down The Chipshop Swears He’s Elvis Dave Stewart w/ Colin Blunstone – What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted? Jacksons – Can You Feel It? (danced by Zoo) Linx – Intuition The Beat – Too Nice To Talk To Spandau Ballet – I Don’t Need This Pressure On Toyah – It’s A Mystery Laurie Anderson – O Superman (Zoo) Altered Images – Happy Birthday Depeche Mode – I Just Can’t Get Enough OMD – Souvenir Shakin’ Stevens – You Drive Me Crazy Radio 1 D.J’s – All You Need Is Love (!)
