It's a "Top Of The Pops" Wednesday in The Dungeon tonight!
I'm no authority, but to me "Top Of The Pops" was the British equivalent to "American Bandstand!"
I never have felt like people in America understood how the music scene in Britain was pretty much entirely different than in the U.S. and I think this TV show will kind of show what I mean!
"Top Of The Pops" chose a handful of the top charters of the time in a dance party format!
Distinguished marathon runner and MENSA member, Jimmy Savile was the host of "Top Of The Pops" for 255 episodes from 1964 to 2006!
This episode of "Top Of The Pops" started off with "Back On My Feet Again" by The Foundations, which peaked on the British charts at number 18, and was basically unheard of in the United States. The following year they would hit it big with a number 5 song on the Billboard charts in the U.S. called "Build Me Up Buttercup!
Alan Price had a lot more success with American audiences when he was in The Animals, who he left to form the Alan Price Set. This song, "Don't Stop The Carnival" reached number 13 in the UK, and never saw the light of day in the U.S.
After this, The Move's song "Fire Brigade" moved all the way up to number 3 on the UK charts.
Personally, I like The Move, but they had very limited popularity in the U.S, and I don't think this song was ever played on American radio. I think The Move were just too English for America, and people here didn't even know what a fire brigade was!
"Pictures Of Matchstick Men" was the only hit single that the Status Quo had in America when it reached number 12. After this show, in the British charts it made it all the way to number 7.
I don't remember this song at all, but it supposedly made it to number 22 in the U.S. but Herman and the boys sure had a lot of other big hits!
They've got it here as being number 9, but everything else I've read, says it only made it to number 11 in the UK.
Louisiana born Brenton Wood's "Gimme A Little Sign" hit number 8 in the UK, and number 9 on the U.S. Billboard Charts!
Like American Bandstand, It looks like most of these performers are miming their tunes!
In the truth is stranger than fiction department, the 78 year old Brenton Wood will be performing here in my town as part of an R&B revue show in a couple of weeks!
The Amen Corner's version of "Bend Me, Shape Me," reached number 3 in the UK. I don't think it ever got any airplay, or very little, in the U.S.
"Bend Me, Shape Me" by The American Breed was a big hit in the U.S. where it made it to number 5, but that version only made it to number 24 in the UK.
The original recording of "Bend Me, Shape Me," was recorded by The Outsiders which never charted.
The number one tune for the week was Manfred Mann's "The Mighty Quinn." The album this song came from, also had another hit on it called "Ha! Ha! Said The Clown," but the album itself, which was called "Might Garvey" in the UK, never charted!
"The Might Quinn" only got as far as number 10 in the American Billboard Charts, but it probably played on the radio much longer!
I'll leave you with this shot of Jimmy Savile doing his impression of Yertle the Turtle while Pirate and BBC radio DJ, Dave Cash prattles on!
In 1969, recording as Microbe, Dave Cash had a minor novelty hit himself that reached number 29 on the British charts called
"Groovy Baby!"
Be afraid, be very afraid!
I never have felt like people in America understood how the music scene in Britain was pretty much entirely different than in the U.S. and I think this TV show will kind of show what I mean!
Distinguished marathon runner and MENSA member, Jimmy Savile was the host of "Top Of The Pops" for 255 episodes from 1964 to 2006!
Personally, I like The Move, but they had very limited popularity in the U.S, and I don't think this song was ever played on American radio. I think The Move were just too English for America, and people here didn't even know what a fire brigade was!
They've got it here as being number 9, but everything else I've read, says it only made it to number 11 in the UK.
Like American Bandstand, It looks like most of these performers are miming their tunes!
In the truth is stranger than fiction department, the 78 year old Brenton Wood will be performing here in my town as part of an R&B revue show in a couple of weeks!
"Bend Me, Shape Me" by The American Breed was a big hit in the U.S. where it made it to number 5, but that version only made it to number 24 in the UK.
The original recording of "Bend Me, Shape Me," was recorded by The Outsiders which never charted.
"The Might Quinn" only got as far as number 10 in the American Billboard Charts, but it probably played on the radio much longer!
In 1969, recording as Microbe, Dave Cash had a minor novelty hit himself that reached number 29 on the British charts called
"Groovy Baby!"
Be afraid, be very afraid!
