TOTP montage

[William Martin]

yes these leads must be followed up it seems that a large number of people in the industry had these early VTRs and may hev been forgotten about, we can't assume that anybody has been in touch and that they know about the missing material, Steptoe and son writers Gaulton and simpson video taped all their S&S episodes from about 1965 onwards and it is thanks to them that all the episodes exist, they did it so that they could have their own copies as there was a problem getting them from the bbc. Interesting thing about the DC5.
there is huge scope for surviving material, apart from the private owneres ie members of the public, there are the employees of the video companies, tv employees, the artists themselves and family, record companies and artists agents
owners of lost recordings may not be aware of what they have or are unaware of just how much material is missing and how much interest there is in recovering it. we often underestimate the value of our own property perhaps they consider their recordings not to be of good enough quality.

some letters are called for, otherwise we will never know. it would be intersesting to know if other performers had the DC5 arrangement and what exactly does DC himself have.

[William Martin]

Guest-Serendipity said:

Thanks, William.

Temma Harbour rarely gets any airplay on the radio. For that matter, neither do any of Mary's other songs. It's probably got something to do with the fact that some DJs are overparticular that "I don't like this, so I won't play it", which is selfish to the listeners who want to hear them but anyway, there are Mary Hopkin Greatest Hits CDs around so I might buy one of those. Temma Harbour is one of my favourite songs, which might have been an influence on Co-Co by The Sweet, going by the style of the song. I think Pan's People to Mary Hopkin's Temma Harbour exists in both colour and black and white from 25 February 1970 but where the Colour recordings of songs existing in black and white from the same editions, eg Badfinger (29 January 1970) come from is a mystery to me.

The colour recording of Come and Get It by Badfinger comes from 29 January 1970 and was featured on the 1000th edition of TOTP on 5 May 1983. I hope the BBC haven't lost it, as I've not seen it for some time.

It would be good if Bill Wyman recorded editions of Top of the Pops in the 1960s. Unfortunately though, it may be possible that Bill and most others won't have kept the recordings, due to not knowing then that the BBC had wiped them. I could be wrong, I hope I am in fact but if on a positive note, some performers have private recordings of their songs or complete shows of Top of the Pops, let's hope they come forward.

So Apple was around as early as the late 1970s! Blimey! A shame their computers aren't the leaders in the market. The first computer I'd heard of was a BBC model and the first one I owned was a Commodore 64, which has been obsolete for almost 15 years. I had the Tape version, as I couldn't afford the Disk version then. The only fault I found was occasional freezing in the middle of a program that I hadn't saved to tape!, which nowadays can be saved with a quick click but it was stable on the whole.

the first apple computer came out in 1976(apple was formed in 1974/5) but you had to build it yourself, the first home computer(not apple) actualy came out in late 1974 this was the altair(the altair company), no keyboard no monitor just switches and a board of diodes.
yes unfortunaly video can be rubbed over at any time, a proper search is needed as I doubt that the bbc has the time to do this for specific programs such as totp. DR Who yes , Dads Army yes but not things that they can't sell.

[Pete]

Surely we can get this post up to 2000 views

[Serendipity]

William said:

the first apple computer came out in 1976(apple was formed in 1974/5) but you had to build it yourself, the first home computer actualy came out in late 1974 this was the altair, no keyboard no monitor just switches and a board of diodes.
yes unfortunaly video can be rubbed over at any time, a proper search is needed as I doubt that the bbc has the time to do this for specific programs such as totp. DR Who yes , Dads Army yes but not things that they can't sell.

Thanks, William.

Blimey!, Apple was formed early! and was very different to the Apple I've seen at a friend's house.

I'm gradually getting through the TOTP Database and I'm sure someone said that 22/6/72 is incomplete (it was either Krystyna or Vicky Williams who said the first 10 minutes had been lost) but according to the Database, it's Complete.

Not trying to knock the Database, if this is a mistake, which songs have been wiped? Does anyone know? This would be useful to Laurence.

I haven't gone through the entire Database yet, as there's a lot to go through and I have to fit in time but what I've seen of it so far, yes there are several errors and omissions and some details are in the wrong place, eg 1975 below 1990 but Laurence has said in his own words that these will be ironed out in time and it's a useful reference guide. I just wish there weren't so many "No"s next to so many performances, some of which can hopefully be recovered in due course.

You've made another good point. It's very good that the BBC has searched for Dr Who and Dad's Army but they ought to also look for programmes that they can't sell, both Top of the Pops and other programmes, as different programmes are of interest to various people and music and drama are two of the most popular types of entertainment.

Talking of Dad's Army, what a superb quality recording of the two 1969 episodes!

[Serendipity]

Guest-Peter said:

Many performers did indeed record their own tv appearances; Dave Clark used to make it a condition of his band's tv appearances that he receive a copy of the complete show, plus a copy of the DC5's clip on it's own. Now for the real bummer; Ringo Starr had copies of every tv show the Fabs performed on,or showed their promo films- TOTP,RSG!,People And Places,Thank Your Lucky Stars,Juke Box Jury etc. He had all these shows on film until the late '70s until a fire at his home in Monte Carlo destroyed everything in it. Maurice Gibb also had a home vtr in the late sixties, as he recorded the Lulu show which starred The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and after the live transmission, everyone went back to his house to watch it. Paul McCartney was GIVEN an early vtr by the BBC for his opinion on it (never heard anything else about it, though-maybe he still has it).
So, somewhere, SOME totp's must exist-never give up hope.[/quote]

Thanks, Peter. I'm hopeful that more TOTPs exist. I just wish that among them, that the owner of the 1969/1970 TOTP montage would come forward, either handing in his/her recording of these editions or keep them but send a copy of them to the BBC. Even though the quality would be less clear, with good quality equipment, it should be of broadcastable quality and would please many music and Top of the Pops fans.

I'm afraid I don't know anything more about Dave Clark's recordings other than that he owns the rights to several existing Ready Steady Gos, which he kindly allowed to be broadcasted in the mid-1980s. It's a shame so little of his group's TOTP performances exist - Just Bits and Pieces and Everybody Get Together (recovered b/w) seems to be it.

I'll have to check further but I'm sure someone said that Andy Scott did some recordings of Sweet performances, including one for Lift Off. I've never seen these private recordings nor Lift Off but it looks very promising that more is out there. Let's hope some can be found in time for the 40th anniversary edition of TOTP in December 2003 or January 2004.

What a catastrophe about Ringo Starr's film recordings from 1960s television broadcasts.

As for Maurice Gibb, sadly he's since passed on but maybe the surviving 2 brothers Robin and Barry will have inherited Maurice's recordings, hoping he still had them before his untimely death.

It makes me wonder if the surviving Bee Gees know that most of their TOTP studio performances have been wiped. I would imagine so but then again, this would depend on how many singers are aware of the TOTP Database. When they were the subjects of an edition of This is Your Life, up to a few years ago, they showed the familiar Massachusetts performance from 26/12/67. I have since checked the TOTP Database and it's confirmed I disagreeumptions that, at the BBC their appearances for all their other hits and early 1970s, including New York Mining Disaster, Words and Run to Him, etc are long since gone.

Maurice apparently appeared solo on Top of the Pops in 1970. Once again, this is sadly wiped but let's hope someone has a private copy. You never know.

I never knew that the surviving Jimi Hendrix recordings from the Lulu show originated from Maurice's own collection. It was very thoughtful of him to come forward. Based upon this fact, it seems very likely indeed that all the Bee Gees will know that most of their performances have been wiped. The 1960s, 1970 and 1972 are the worst affected for lack of complete editions but let's hope more from all years - 1964 to 1977 turn up, as there is a lot that would be lovely to see for the first time and for others who saw Top of the Pops in the early days to see again. Keeping my fingers crossed...

[Serendipity]

William said:

another possible source would be from the stores and shops that sold video recorders, there would be demo recordings and test recordings to play in the shop, these may have been of popular programming, does anyone know of any electronics stores that sold videos in the 1960s (preferably UK but Australia, Canada etc could also yeald lost british tv )it may be a start in tracing leads

Thanks, William. How many demo and test recordings would have been kept to this day is difficult to tell, probably very few but this is a very good avenue.

[Serendipity]

William said:

he looks much the same as he did then, he was the star of many of the confession films driving instructor had an almost full frontal from linda"oxo"bellingham they were rather strange films not at the time but now they do have a certain surreal quality.

Thanks, William. Ah yes, Lynda Bellingham. I'm sure that bloke with the moustache who accompanied her was in a Two Ronnies sketch in which he was the barman serving a drunk Ronnie Barker with a bizarre choice of drinks!

Robin Askwith seems to be doing theatre work, which would explain why he's not on television very much nowadays, although he did appear in some overseas holiday drama, sporting averagely long hair with Michelle Collins. The photo of him with quite short hair and a very long fringe was in the Daily Mail about 2 years ago. In the article he said about how he had a slight limp from having polio as a kid. He also appeared on one edition of Noel's House Party, around 1998, when he had very long hair and a differently shaped fringe. I can't remember which theatre show he was appearing in but Noel mentioned it at the time.

Now that I come to mention it, I have some recollection of him appearing in a mid 1980s comedy series in which he was a milkman. Richard Davies, from Please Sir! and Eve Ferret were also in it. He also had quite long hair around 1985 or 1986 when he advertised for something like Car-Mart or What Car? magazine but that advert hasn't been shown in some time.

[Serendipity]

Guest-Alan said:

If anyone ever gets to read `The Radio One Annual` from 1969, inside as one of the features Chris Denning (He of child porn notoriety) mentions how he would set his video for Top Of The Pops to watch when he gets in late at night. I wonder if he kept the tapes? We'll probably never know. A.S.M

This Chris Denning bloke, I can't picture him but it's a shame some of these TV personalities get involved in child porn activities, taking part in them or viewing them through the Internet, like Gary Glitter, which puts their reputations in tatters.

On a positive note, hoping he kept some or all of his tapes and porn hasn't been added on them, he could hold the key to some missing editions but due to his activities, it would probably be very wishful thinking, sadly to get these back to the BBC. It's probably widespread news to many that several Top of the Pops recordings are missing but how many who do own them know they have ones which the BBC no longer has or where to send them to is something that can hopefully become available information to the owners in time.

[Serendipity]

David said:

Askwith was the runner-up ro Robin Stewart during casting the part for the TV series and was given some small roles as "Mike's friend" as compensation.

When the movie version came along, the producers recast the part as by this point Stewart was being very difficult and disruptive - showing up late for the TV recordings, etc. They went back to the original casting choices and signed Askwith for the role he just missed out on a couple of years earlier.

Thanks, David.

So Robin Askwith was the runner-up to Robin Stewart. I don't know where you, William and the others get your information from but it's very useful to know the background of how the casting was chosen.

I didn't know Robin Stewart was being awkward at the time of the movie version auditions. Was he drunk? It's a wonder Robin Askwith wasn't brought back for the remainder of the Series of Bless This House.

[Adam James Smith]

I never knew that the surviving Jimi Hendrix recordings from the Lulu show originated from Maurice's own collection. It was very thoughtful of him to come forward. Based upon this fact, it seems very likely indeed that all the Bee Gees will know that most of their performances have been wiped.

unfortunately, I don't think the Hnedrix clip does come from Maurice's collection: while it is known that he recorded it at home, (although I'd like to know the source for this information) I do believe that the clip of that show that the BBC have was found at the end of an engineers tape and first re-broadcast on a 1970s edition of the "Old Grey Whistle Test"

[Adam James Smith]

"I never knew that the surviving Jimi Hendrix recordings from the Lulu show originated from Maurice's own collection. It was very thoughtful of him to come forward. Based upon this fact, it seems very likely indeed that all the Bee Gees will know that most of their performances have been wiped. "

unfortunately, I don't think the Hendrix clip does come from Maurice's collection: while it is known that he recorded it at home, (although I'd like to know the source for this information) I do believe that the clip of that show that the BBC have was found at the end of an engineers tape and first re-broadcast on a 1970s edition of the "Old Grey Whistle Test"

[David Brunt]

So Robin Askwith was the runner-up to Robin Stewart. I don't know where you, William and the others get your information from but it's very useful to know the background of how the casting was chosen.

That one came from Askwith's autobiography...

I didn't know Robin Stewart was being awkward at the time of the movie version auditions. Was he drunk?

Just believing his own publicity and acting like the big star he clearly wasn't...

[William Martin]

Guest-Pete said:

Surely we can get this post up to 2000 views

if dave clark had this arrangement with the bbc then all the totp they performed on should still exist including the first colour 27/11/69 but only in b/w, it will be worth following up all these leads and checking if any other performers, managers, record companies etc had a similar arrangement.

[Serendipity]

Guest-Adam said:

I never knew that the surviving Jimi Hendrix recordings from the Lulu show originated from Maurice's own collection. It was very thoughtful of him to come forward. Based upon this fact, it seems very likely indeed that all the Bee Gees will know that most of their performances have been wiped.

unfortunately, I don't think the Hnedrix clip does come from Maurice's collection: while it is known that he recorded it at home, (although I'd like to know the source for this information) I do believe that the clip of that show that the BBC have was found at the end of an engineers tape and first re-broadcast on a 1970s edition of the "Old Grey Whistle Test"

Thanks, Adam. The Jimi Hendrix must have been a coincidence after all, so it was first rebroadcast on a 1970s Old Grey Whistle Test! I've been led to believe that some of the OGWT recordings come from private collections. It seems they've succeeded in finding more of these than Top of the Pops editions and performances but we can all live in hope for both and other music shows.

These engineers deserve a lot of credit. If it wasn't for them, there would be even less recovered material. Everything counts and you never know, more will hopefully turn up in time.

[Serendipity]

David said:

That one came from Askwith's autobiography...

Just believing his own publicity and acting like the big star he clearly wasn't...

Thanks, David. So this comes from Robin Askwith's autobiography. He's now 53! I've since remembered that he was one of the audience guests to Frazer Hines on a This is Your Life from the mid-1990s, when he made a reference to Richard O'Sullivan, who was also in the audience.

The earliest television I've seen Robin in was a repeat of the 1971 film Bless This House but according to french.imdb.com/name/nm0039498/ his first role was in 1968 and this lists the comedy series whose name previously escaped me that Robin starred in, which I remember watching at the time but couldn't place the name of - Bottle Boys, from 1984.

Here's a film guide on Robin Askwith. He apparently stared in a horror film called Asylum - Never heard of it but it was released in 2000 - entertainment.msn.com/celebs/celeb.aspx?c=131642

As to Robin Stewart, "Just believing his own publicity and acting like the big star he clearly wasn't..." - This may explain why he got little or no UK work after Bless This House finished. He emigrated to Australia in the 1970s or early 1980s, as he appeared in 2 Australian serials, one as a doctor. He sported his famous very long hair but at one point had it parted on one side, I think in 1984 episodes. I've seen nothing since of him since then and very little exists about him on the Internet. How he'd look today - long hair, short hair, medium hair remains to be seen but if he's still acting, I'd guess now also in his 50s, he'd be seen only on Australian television. Matthew K Sharp may know more, who's given some very invaluable information in previous months on Australian broadcasting.