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Post by williammcgregor on May 29, 2013 20:04:40 GMT
Hi, This is another batch of the famous readers letters series From You to Us from the pages of the NME (published verbatim)
FEBRUARY 15TH 1969
The past few weeks of "Top of the Pops" has been very good music wise but the DJ's are past it. I am fed up with switching on every Thursday night and seeing the same faces. Alan Freeman. Pete Murray, Jimmy Saville. How come Emperor Rosko can't get on this show?
Please do you think we could have less of "Evenin' pop pickers." etc and have a bit of Rosko "socking it to us!" PETER HARRISON (Crowie, Lincs)
MARCH 1ST 1969
Why did Dick Emery get the "tipped for the top" spot in "Top of the Pops." I don't object to people like Des O'Connor and Emery getting on the programme when they're in the charts, but fancy putting them in when there's no real need! SALONGE CHRISTIAN (London W9)
15TH MARCH 1969
"Top of the Pops" seems to go from bad to worse each week! Recently on the new release spot we were treated to the latest disc by Dick Emery.
Moby Grape were in the country at the time and also had a single released, so why did'nt we get a chance to see them on the programme?
Even if they were unavailable there were new singles around by the Locomotive, Neil McArthur and Tyrannosaurus Rex among others.
These sort of people never seem to appear on television and Dick Emery has his own weekly series and thus has ample opportunity for plugging his disc. Auntie (or Grannie) BBC certainly looks after her own!
I must add that I am not getting at Dick Emery personally but at the whole idea of promoting an average run-of-the-mill ballad when there are far more interesting and progressive sounds around. ED WALSH (Barnet, Herts)
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2013 20:43:16 GMT
Interesting comments there regarding Dick Emery... the BBC certainly looked after their own performers judging from the various appearances by the likes of Cilla Black, Lulu and Dana performing dreadful pieces of drivel that were not hits... Ronnie Corbett in 1974 then Ken Dodd in 1981?
The first person grumbling about Alan Freeman and Pete Murray did have a point... those two were looking a bit past it by 1969... maybe they or the BBC took notice since they were both gone by the end of the year.
The thought of Locomotive performing the almighty "Mr Armageddon" on the show... we sure missed out on a treat there!
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Post by Peter Stirling on May 29, 2013 22:45:48 GMT
Interesting comments there regarding Dick Emery... the BBC certainly looked after their own performers judging from the various appearances by the likes of Cilla Black, Lulu and Dana performing dreadful pieces of drivel that were not hits... Ronnie Corbett in 1974 then Ken Dodd in 1981? The first person grumbling about Alan Freeman and Pete Murray did have a point... those two were looking a bit past it by 1969... maybe they or the BBC took notice since they were both gone by the end of the year. The thought of Locomotive performing the almighty "Mr Armageddon" on the show... we sure missed out on a treat there! Even the title 'Top of the Pops' sounded naff, as if it was put together by a few old men who were grudgingly catering for the new explosion of popular music - Oh I forgot it was. Shame ITV did not exploit this and let Mike Mansfield do his stuff on Mr Armageddon. ..and what a lost opportunity not have put TOTPs in colour after The Beatles our world, instead of some old bloke wandering around relics and a few tennis matches. |
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Post by Chris Barratt on May 30, 2013 0:25:40 GMT
On the evidence of the existing shows, TOTP does seem to have gone downhill in early 69 - though for my money Fluff was still good on the show with good rapport (more than can be said for Square Pete) and was easily as good as Tony "Gaffe" Blackburn, but no presenter could do much when dishing Donald Peers, Dick Emery and John Rowles on a show featuring only a few tracks.
Which makes everything about the changes made for 1970 all the more admirable. The theme tune. iconic cage set, the funky music during links, swirly background patterns, greater scope of artists and styles when a few months earlier it had been a short show lacking dynamics. In keeping with the grumbles in 1970 about the audience, I saw a bit back someone had said much the same about "The Witches Promises" but to me the fact that "dolly birds" were dancing to that kind of thing - and that they were big hit singles too - is proof how healthy the charts were then.
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Post by robchapman on May 30, 2013 7:53:24 GMT
Interesting comments there regarding Dick Emery... the BBC certainly looked after their own performers judging from the various appearances by the likes of Cilla Black, Lulu and Dana performing dreadful pieces of drivel that were not hits... Ronnie Corbett in 1974 then Ken Dodd in 1981? *******It was a light entertainment show - not a music show, made by the light entertainment dept. always remember that! ********* The thought of Locomotive performing the almighty "Mr Armageddon" on the show... we sure missed out on a treat there! Mr Armageddon was the much maligned Mr Blackburn's record of the week on his breakfast show, so why not! |
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Post by Liam Joseph on May 30, 2013 8:08:55 GMT
William, thanks again for your efforts it’s great reading these. My earliest memories of the show are towards the end of 1969, and I remember getting really annoyed that Sugar Sugar by the Archies seemed to be permanently at number one! It was barmy that they played the number one twice, with such a limited running time.
I agree about 1970 being the best year - if I could have just one year of TOTP complete that would be the one. There was a terrific mix of music with great soul hits (Jackson 5, Freda Payne, Chairman of the Board), classy pop (Edison Lighthouse, White Plains, Vanity Fair), bubblegum (Steam), the beginnings of Glam (Ride a White Swan), and heavy “underground” bands like Jethro Tull, Free, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, and Ten Years After, plus Pan’s People were getting into their stride. The groovy audience fashions and dancing made for the perfect ambience.
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Post by Alan Turrell on May 30, 2013 8:20:38 GMT
Slightly off topic , but i can well remember listening to the Tony Blackburn show in the summer of 1973 and he absolutely condemed the current Nazareth single Bad Bad Boy he said he hated it , just for the record i thought it was a great single and Nazareth were one of my many favourite 70s bands and went out and bought it.
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Post by Deleted on May 30, 2013 8:25:58 GMT
Mr Armageddon was the much maligned Mr Blackburn's record of the week on his breakfast show, so why not! Blimey! Would never had guessed Tony going for a heavy record like that. Easily one of the most audacious singles ever released since it sounded like a totally different band to the one heard on the previous single "Rudi's In Love" Yes, there is something magical about the 1970 shows, where everything came together beautifully. As great as the 1971 shows are, they seem more flatter and reserved by comparison. |
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Post by williammcgregor on May 30, 2013 8:45:04 GMT
Hi, This is another batch of the famous readers letters series From You to Us from the pages of the NME (published verbatim) FEBRUARY 15TH 1969The past few weeks of "Top of the Pops" has been very good music wise but the DJ's are past it. I am fed up with switching on every Thursday night and seeing the same faces. Alan Freeman. Pete Murray, Jimmy Saville. How come Emperor Rosko can't get on this show?
Please do you think we could have less of "Evenin' pop pickers." etc and have a bit of Rosko "socking it to us!" PETER HARRISON (Crowie, Lincs)MARCH 1ST 1969Why did Dick Emery get the "tipped for the top" spot in "Top of the Pops." I don't object to people like Des O'Connor and Emery getting on the programme when they're in the charts, but fancy putting them in when there's no real need! SALONGE CHRISTIAN (London W9) 15TH MARCH 1969"Top of the Pops" seems to go from bad to worse each week! Recently on the new release spot we were treated to the latest disc by Dick Emery.
Moby Grape were in the country at the time and also had a single released, so why did'nt we get a chance to see them on the programme?
Even if they were unavailable there were new singles around by the Locomotive, Neil McArthur and Tyrannosaurus Rex among others.
These sort of people never seem to appear on television and Dick Emery has his own weekly series and thus has ample opportunity for plugging his disc. Auntie (or Grannie) BBC certainly looks after her own!
I must add that I am not getting at Dick Emery personally but at the whole idea of promoting an average run-of-the-mill ballad when there are far more interesting and progressive sounds around. ED WALSH (Barnet, Herts)
13TH SEPTEMBER 1969I could'nt believe my eyes when I saw Dusty Springfield on "Top of the Pops" last week singing "Am I the Same Girl." The answer is a big NO! Dusty, you've no idea how ridiculous you looked in those old rags and wig. I'm sorry to say it's the worst appearance and record I've seen and heard. Get back to the Dusty your fans want. MR R. NEWALL, Burnbank, Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland.20TH SEPTEMBER 1969RHUBARB! To anyone who does'nt like Dusty's new record-it's beautiful. As for her appearance on "Top of the Pops." I'd be the first to admit it was'nt the Dusty we know, in fact it was'nt the same girl! But she did have the courage to try something different. At least let's give her credit for that. CAROLE COCKETT, Nelson, Lancs.25TH OCTOBER 1969Do ITV and BBC really credit the general public with so little intelligence, or are we all supposed to have poor eyesight? I refer of course to the question of miming. Yes! it still goes on.
Anyone unfortunate enough to watch "The Saturday Crowd" or "Top of the Pops" will, I'm sure agree that it looks idiotic.
If we must have singers miming in a dance routine, let's make it look convincing. Bad timing gives the whole show a tatty, could'nt care less image.
Bring back "Ready Steady GOES LIVE." It may have lacked polish but at least it was honest. T.D.H. FOSTER, London, NW10.Well, unfortunately, that's all for 1969 Folks! see you soon! |
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Post by Dale Rumbold on May 30, 2013 9:41:38 GMT
... the BBC certainly looked after their own performers judging from the various appearances by the likes of Cilla Black, Lulu and Dana performing dreadful pieces of drivel that were not hits... Ronnie Corbett in 1974 then Ken Dodd in 1981? Dana was not a BBC performer ; and she never released any drivel ... not in my opinion anyway! |
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