Tom Robinson Band - don't take no for an answer
A high energy rock start to proceedings from their new EP. Tom and the band are on fine form. The organist is playing the organ a claw for some reason. Hopefully a rubber prosthetic one and he is not an alien or hideously deformed in some way.
Kate Bush - wuthering heights
Kate's debut on TOTP and what a debut! A song that sounds like nothing else apart from maybe that it has come down from Mount Olympus, or a mysterious world where nothing really makes sense. What does this song and performance really mean apart from SEX?! Its amazing in every single way...
The Darts - come back my love
From the sublime to the ridiculous. I've never got why so many bands over the years have tried to revive doo-wop, it was bad enough first time around. The singer is wearing a lovely fake leopard skin jacket, Bet Lynch was probably waiting impatiently backstage to get it back.
Legs & Co are up next in full classy flowing white robes to prance to Rose Royce's "wish upon a star".
Billy Joel - just the way you are
Film footage of Billy Joel playing his classic hit. A good time for the charts and the show indeed with this and "wuthering heights" on at the same time. Kid reflects on there being so many good singles around at the moment, indeed there is but i'm not sure if the following can be included in that...
Sweet - love is like oxygen
Its nice and inoffensive but no more. Nice guitar break though at the end.
Elkie Brooks - lilac wine
Elkie is here to brighten things up according to Kid, there is plenty of purple or lilac on the screen anyway. A superbly un-pop song to add some contrast. That is the magic of Top Of The Pops.
The Bee Gees - staying alive
This is the highest new entry naturally, it was all about the disco and Saturday Night Fever at the time. Its a fine song but massive overexposure has not done it many favours over the decades.
Magazine - shot by both sides
Another debut and a glorious new wave thrash. The energy is turned up on stage if not the audience who are probably knackered by now.
ABBA - take a chance on me
ABBA are at number 1, well it was pretty common in the late 70s. We get the classic MV with the split screens. Like with the Bee Gees song its one thats been played so often its hard to get much enthusiasm for the track anymore, but its a fine song and a deserving number 1 with its pop thrills.
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