A very enjoyable hour of TV - ToTP 1978

axisus

I just flicked the TV on and this was showing. What a wonderful nostalgia trip, I was 15 back then.

In those days The top 40 was so important to me, to everyone as school really, and I think it was quite possibly the best year ever for the singles charts (well, in my opinion!). I'm so glad to have been that age back then. I even like the soppy ballads now! I can appreciate what great voices people like Johnny Mathis and Dan Hill had.  One song in particular is the most wonderfully melancholic throwback to the joys of that time of my life - Rose Royce, Love don't live here any more. The show is just a taster to be honest there was tons of great songs that year, but well worth a look.

You can watch it here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01pmbdy

This was the rundown, a fine collection of music:

• 

Blondie

Picture This

Brotherhood of Man

Figaro

Kate Bush

Wuthering Heights

Odyssey

Native New Yorker

Elvis Costello & The Attractions

(I Don't Want to go to) Chelsea

Manfred Mann’s Earth Band

Davy's On The Road Again

John Travolta & Olivia Newton‐John

Summer Nights

The Boomtown Rats

Rat Trap

The Motors

Airport

Dan Hill

Sometimes When We Touch

Sham 69

Angels With Dirty Faces

Yvonne Elliman

If I Can't Have You

Electric Light Orchestra

Mr. Blue Sky

Bob Marley & The Wailers

Satisfy My Soul

Chic

Le Freak

Jilted John

Jilted John

Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams

Too Much, Too Little, Too Late

Ian Dury & The Blockheads

What A Waste

10cc

Dreadlock Holiday

Rose Royce

Love Don't Live Here Anymore

Boney M.

Rasputin

hollywoodrox

All in all not a bad year for 10-11 year old me  although we did get flooded in cleethorpes from the sea(well river Humber )

Bellycaster

Gotta be worth it for Brotherhood of Man!

hollywoodrox

Bellycaster said:

Gotta be worth it for Brotherhood of Man!

Long ago ,outside a chip shop in Walthamstow . . . 

artiebear

One or two absolute classics there. It does make one sound like an old twat, but it is nice to to be old enough to remember when a single edition of TOTP contained 5 or more songs still considered to be classics. 

Bellycaster

hollywoodrox said:

Bellycaster said:

Gotta be worth it for Brotherhood of Man!

Long ago ,outside a chip shop in Walthamstow . . . 

Lived a Skint Songwriter, Lo and Behold!



I jest, I'd gladly go back. Sherbert Dib Dabs for the win!

breakstuff

I was only seven years old, so probably wouldn't have seen it at the time, however that's a pretty killer run down of the charts at the time.

Compare it to Rick Beatos recent YouTube video highlighting the Global Spotify top ten,



and it comes sadly apparent how far we've fallen. I know he's got his producer head on, and is pretty magnanimous, but even with our most ardent 'old man shouts at clouds' heads on, it's plainly obvious mainstream music nowadays is a pale shadow of what it was.

Caveat - my two sons opinions will wildly vary, and, ironically, I'm sounding like my dad forty years ago when he was moaning about Elvis Costello and Adam And The Ants. 

Dominic

Yes great days.........I was 16 
Amazing to see so many great hit songs that were so different in style and type unlike everything that sounds the same today
Also amazing how Jilted John grew up and became John Shuttleworth

Philly_Q

It makes me realise how important the Top 40 was to me in those days.  I can remember every one of those songs you've listed, even the lyrics (or certainly the choruses - and I know every word of Jilted John).

There was a period of two to three years - although it seemed much longer - where I followed the charts religiously, from late '76 or early '77, then it tailed off as I started buying albums and got into rock music.

Even though I think we were more tribal about music then than kids are now, I like just about everything from that period.

phil_b

breakstuff said:

I was only seven years old, so probably wouldn't have seen it at the time, however that's a pretty killer run down of the charts at the time.

Compare it to Rick Beatos recent YouTube video highlighting the Global Spotify top ten,



and it comes sadly apparent how far we've fallen. I know he's got his producer head on, and is pretty magnanimous, but even with our most ardent 'old man shouts at clouds' heads on, it's plainly obvious mainstream music nowadays is a pale shadow of what it was.

Caveat - my two sons opinions will wildly vary, and, ironically, I'm sounding like my dad forty years ago when he was moaning about Elvis Costello and Adam And The Ants. 

I wonder how many of this top ten will be recognised in 40 years time

Nitefly

Wow, some corkers in there!  What a huge range of styles/genres represented, too!  Dan Hill vs The Motors?!

artiebear

Old twat here again but "Sometimes when we touch" a one hit wonder ballad against later era writing. I will quite happily look to the former if I need inspiration, a lovely song, well written. 

guitars4you

I was 18 - leaving school - gigging in bands - first car - girls and a few pints - So yes very nice memories

roberty

phil_b said:

breakstuff said:

I was only seven years old, so probably wouldn't have seen it at the time, however that's a pretty killer run down of the charts at the time.

Compare it to Rick Beatos recent YouTube video highlighting the Global Spotify top ten,



and it comes sadly apparent how far we've fallen. I know he's got his producer head on, and is pretty magnanimous, but even with our most ardent 'old man shouts at clouds' heads on, it's plainly obvious mainstream music nowadays is a pale shadow of what it was.

Caveat - my two sons opinions will wildly vary, and, ironically, I'm sounding like my dad forty years ago when he was moaning about Elvis Costello and Adam And The Ants. 

I wonder how many of this top ten will be recognised in 40 years time

Objectively the charts now are less varied and lazily written. There's no money in music any more so I think a lot of the best minds go elsewhere. The move to digital non-acoustic production has homogenised the sound somewhat because everyone around the world is using the same or similar software. Also if you stick out too much in a playlist you get skipped and you don't get your £0.0006, as opposed to being on radio where being distinct was an advantage. Having said that I do believe that the artists themselves have as much to say now as any other generation

Deadman

I was 8 with not a care in the world. Great music, special memories and an incredible time to have been alive.

Moominpapa

Agree there are some great songs in that list. I'd be interested to hear which songs from the list people remember disliking the most. For me it has got to be Dan Hill / "Sometimes when we touch" .  I fucking HATED that song when it came out and I hate it now.

axisus

Moominpapa said:

Agree there are some great songs in that list. I'd be interested to hear which songs from the list people remember disliking the most. For me it has got to be Dan Hill / "Sometimes when we touch" .  I fucking HATED that song when it came out and I hate it now.

Yeah, I hated that at the time, but now I think it's a superb song with a heartfelt vocal performance. I also hated Mathis/Williams, but now I just hear his pure, soulful voice (although I do find Denise a tad shrill!). Basically I hated soppy stuff back then, but now I listen and hear the quality of songs/performers. 

The only thing I didn't like on that show was Bob Marley. I've always found Reggae to be terminally boring. 

What does interest me now is the fact that I paid zero attention to 'the band' back then. I really just focussed on the singers, and likewise I never noticed any instrument that was being played, whereas now I'm thinking Oooh a Travis Bean bass, or that's an interesting LP etc.

axisus

The top 100 hits of 1978 - wonderful times for me!

Position	Artist	Title
01	Boney M	Rivers Of Babylon / Brown Girl In The Ring
02	John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John	You're The One That I Want
03	John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John	Summer Nights
04	The Bee Gees	Night Fever
05	The Commodores	Three Times A Lady
06	Brian & Michael	Matchstalk Men And Matchstalk Cats And Dogs
07	Father Abraham & The Smurfs	The Smurf Song
08	Abba	Take A Chance On Me
09	Kate Bush	Wuthering Heights
10	The Boomtown Rats	Rat Trap
11	Wings	Mull Of Kintyre / Girl's School
12	10cc	Dreadlock Holiday
13	Brotherhood Of Man	Figaro
14	Blondie	Denis
15	Clout	Substitute
16	Darts	Come Back My Love
17	Gerry Rafferty	Baker Street
18	Boney M	Mary's Boy Child
19	Darts	The Boy From New York City
20	Althia & Donna	Uptown Top Ranking
21	Marshall Hain	Dancin' In The City
22	Rose Royce	Wishing On A Star
23	John Travolta	Sandy
24	Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams	Too Much Too Little Too Late
25	Darts	It's Raining
26	A Taste Of Honey	Boogie Oogie Oogie
27	Boney M	Rasputin
28	Rod Stewart	Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?
29	James Galway	Annie's Song
30	Showaddywaddy	I Wonder Why
31	Andrew Gold	Never Let Her Slip Away
32	Rose Royce	Love Don't Live Here Anymore
33	Suzi Quatro	If You Can't Give Me Love
34	Olivia Newton-John	Hopelessly Devoted To You
35	Frankie Valli	Grease
36	David Essex	Oh What A Circus
37	Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keely	If I Had Words
38	Donna Summer	Love's Unkind
39	The Rolling Stones	Miss You
40	Eruption	I Can't Stand The Rain
41	Jilted John	Jilted John
42	Dean Friedman	Lucky Stars
43	The Bee Gees	Stayin' Alive
44	The Motors	Airport
45	Yvonne Elliman	If I Can't Have You
46	The Boomtown Rats	Like Clockwork
47	Electric Light Orchestra	Mr Blue Sky
48	Justin Hayward	Forever Autumn
49	The Village People	YMCA
50	Frankie Miller	Darlin'
51	Patti Smith Group	Because The Night
52	John Paul Young	Love Is In The Air
53	Genesis	Follow You Follow Me
54	Odyssey	Native New Yorker
55	The Jacksons	Blame It On The Boogie
56	Showaddywaddy	A Little Bit Of Soap
57	Electric Light Orchestra	Sweet Talkin' Woman
58	Electric Light Orchestra	Wild West Hero
59	Donna Summer	MacArthur Park
60	Samantha Sang	Emotions
61	Sylvester	You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)
62	The Cars	My Best Friend's Girl
63	Manfred Mann's Earth Band	Davy's On The Road Again
64	The Brighouse & Rastrick Brass Band	Floral Dance
65	The Bee Gees	Too Much Heaven
66	Bonnie Tyler	It's A Heartache
67	Exile	Kiss You All Over
68	Smokie	Oh Carol
69	Cerrone	Super Nature
70	The Barron Knights	A Taste Of Aggro
71	Showaddywaddy	Pretty Little Angel Eyes
72	Dee D Jackson	Automatic Lover
73	Kate Bush	Man With The Child In His Eyes
74	Leo Sayer	I Can't Stop Lovin' You
75	Plastic Bertrand	Ca Plane Pour Moi
76	Sarah Brightman & Hot Gossip	I Lost My Heart To A Starship Trooper
77	Tavares	More Than A Woman
78	Blondie	Hanging On The Telephone
79	The Michael Zager Band	Let's All Chant
80	Lindisfarne	Run For Home
81	Dan Hartman	Instant Replay
82	City Boy	5-7-0-5
83	Heatwave	Always And Forever / Mind Blowing Decisions
84	Wings	With A Little Luck
85	Bill Withers	Lovely Day
86	Crystal Gayle	Talking In Your Sleep
87	Raydio	Jack And Jill
88	Sheila & B Devotion	Singin' In The Rain
89	Goldie	Making Up Again
90	Abba	Summer Night City
91	Raffaella Carra	Do It Do It Again
92	Bob Marley & The Wailers	Is This Love
93	Crystal Gayle	Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue
94	The Sweet	Love Is Like Oxygen
95	Hi Tension	British Hustle
96	Blondie	Picture This
97	Rod Stewart	Hot Legs / I Was Only Joking
98	Child	It's Only Make Believe
99	Ian Dury	What A Waste
100	Yellow Dog	Just One More Night

ICBM

Moominpapa said:

Agree there are some great songs in that list. I'd be interested to hear which songs from the list people remember disliking the most. For me it has got to be Dan Hill / "Sometimes when we touch" .  I fucking HATED that song when it came out and I hate it now.

Jilted John or Brotherhood Of Man.

On the other hand, Picture This and especially Rat Trap are two of my favourite songs of all time by any artist. Rat Trap might be a serious contender for the best 'pop' song ever written - as a piece of social commentary it's almost timeless (even with the '50p' line, just)... a work of absolute genius.

Devil#20

roberty said:

Objectively the charts now are less varied and lazily written. There's no money in music any more so I think a lot of the best minds go elsewhere. The move to digital non-acoustic production has homogenised the sound somewhat because everyone around the world is using the same or similar software. Also if you stick out too much in a playlist you get skipped and you don't get your £0.0006, as opposed to being on radio where being distinct was an advantage. Having said that I do believe that the artists themselves have as much to say now as any other generation

Rick Beato also did  a video entitled "Has every song been written" and it's worth a look. He explains very well why music now is less varied than it used to be. Hitting targets to produce something means many tunes use the standard chord progressions. It's also quite depressing that extending those arguments, along with the ease of digital productions, it looks like we'll never go back to those times of great music around. We all had our favourite bands and we considered a lot of the rest of the stuff rubbish. When you listen to it now you realise it wasn't rubbish at all if you use current music as the yardstick. I've never understood, for instance, why hip-hop has been around far longer than any other genre ie. heavy rock, punk, new-wave, prog rock etc. It has no musical merit in my opinion. There are obviously no shortage of talented musicians out there but the environment isn't there for them to thrive. They are drowning in a sea of mediocrity.   

ICBM

Devil#20 said:

I've never understood, for instance, why hip-hop has been around far longer than any other genre ie. heavy rock, punk, new-wave, prog rock etc. It has no musical merit in my opinion.

Because it isn't about the 'music' as much as about the words. It has more in common with the old tradition of rhythmically accompanied spoken performance that goes back to the ancient poets, than it does to 'music' as we think of it in the Western tradition from religious music via classical to rock, where the melody and chord structure is the primary focus and the lyrics are often secondary.

Sorry to be so pretentious , but I really think that's the more accurate comparison.