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Weird hit singles from the 1970s/1980s

ThirstyDog [Edit] [Delete] 26 replies 03:54 February 18th, 2013

Stuff that we simply took for granted at the time, but in hindsight seems amazing that it charted & wouldn't get within a million miles of the charts today. Post examples with TOTP appearances if you can find them:

Bowie - Space Oddity (Pan's People performance with lecherous introduction from Savile & DLT):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQxMcJzjLNc

Can - I Want More (yes this is Can being introduced by Noel Edmonds on TOTP):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l2K9Zigc0w

Sparks - This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both Of Us:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-He2fGkvGE

Laurie Anderson - O Superman (hilariously bad dance routine from Zoo):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djyusgCuUiI

Japan - Ghosts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKbyocZZE2U

OMD - Maid of Orleans:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUOr4ap1EcU

Siouxsie & the Banshees - Spellbound:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfBXgXsT8yA

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Stan Ridgway - Camouflage

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=ZFYxCIr-Byo

badgertastic | 18 Feb '13, 08:29 | X | ^ This | Reply
- Came on here specifically to post this
  
  He was an awfully big marine.
  
  Teepee_uk @badgertastic | 18 Feb '13, 09:04 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - Yeah
    
    Great example.
    
    ThirstyDog @Teepee_uk | 18 Feb '13, 11:00 | X | ^ This | Reply
It's Immaterial

Driving Away from Home

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6Nclc1693w

ThirstyDog | 18 Feb '13, 11:00 | X | ^ This | Reply
Harry Chapin - W.O.L.D.

Melancholic tale of a fading middle aged radio DJ with excellent use of delay on the vocal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SubLzRKYuo4

minicab_adi | 18 Feb '13, 11:18 | X | ^ This | Reply

Markjwinter86 this'd this
D

D D D D D D D D

Markjwinter86 | 18 Feb '13, 11:24 | X | ^ This | Reply
Space - Magic Fly

Mynci2000 | 18 Feb '13, 12:17 | X | ^ This | Reply
That Japan track is fucking brilliant.

justanothersheeldz | 18 Feb '13, 12:40 | X | ^ This | Reply

ThirstyDog, shimmetry, and sartana this'd this
- Reached the top 10 too
  
  It's like something off Bish Bosch or The Drift being a hit single.
  
  ThirstyDog @justanothersheeldz | 18 Feb '13, 13:57 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - One of the best damn songs ever made
    
    Just brilliant.
    
    sartana @ThirstyDog | 19 Feb '13, 08:54 | X | ^ This | Reply
Paul Hardcastle - 19 (this was number one!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjuP4-3jGUg

Karel Fialka - Hey Matthew
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1Jb9aTSoSc

The_Cosh | 18 Feb '13, 12:48 | X | ^ This | Reply
Althea & Donna--Upton Top Ranking

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iD_qZ3hTDo

disconottechno | 18 Feb '13, 13:12 | X | ^ This | Reply
- ^West Ham Utd FA Cup song
  
  NoahVale @disconottechno | 18 Feb '13, 15:14 | X | ^ This | Reply
Lots of novelty hits I should imagine

Remember you're a Womble
Hole in My Shoe
Grandma

slavestate | 18 Feb '13, 14:18 | X | ^ This | Reply
Trio - Da Da Da

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoZNbVGYl8o

ThirstyDog | 18 Feb '13, 14:30 | X | ^ This | Reply
Aside of the rash of novelty songs in the 70s, all of these were No.1:

Lieutenant Pigeon - Mouldy Old Dough
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vy32skBSHs0

Telly Savalas - If
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNVvlLAvswg

And, let's be honest - this:
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ9rUzIMcZQ

NoahVale | 18 Feb '13, 15:31 | X | ^ This | Reply
Timbuk 3

The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UMUSxBZhjA

Teepee_uk | 18 Feb '13, 15:43 | X | ^ This | Reply
Karel Fialka - Hey Matthew

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1Jb9aTSoSc

Capitalwow | 18 Feb '13, 16:03 | X | ^ This | Reply
- doh! just saw someone else posted this.
  
  Capitalwow @Capitalwow | 18 Feb '13, 16:04 | X | ^ This | Reply
Hollywood Beyond - What's the Colour of Money

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aKC44sZSik

ThirstyDog | 19 Feb '13, 01:25 | X | ^ This | Reply
Malcolm McLaren - Double Dutch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX9nscEJWVw

ThirstyDog | 19 Feb '13, 07:25 | X | ^ This | Reply
Adam Ant...

...and all his eighties output.

that Banshees track is a gem.

sunstroke_house | 19 Feb '13, 07:57 | X | ^ This | Reply
- How could I forget Adam Ant
  
  Amazing to recall how massive Prince Charming was, given what a completely mental song it is.
  
  ThirstyDog @sunstroke_house | 19 Feb '13, 08:02 | X | ^ This | Reply
Soft Cell

Just their mere existence & the fact they were massive pop stars is bizarre enough in itself, before you even get to the tunes.

Down in the Subway:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNK_Dzuy4A8

ThirstyDog | 19 Feb '13, 08:04 | X | ^ This | Reply
Grandmaster Melle Mel - Step Off

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IidMif7zYLY

sartana | 19 Feb '13, 08:52 | X | ^ This | Reply
Plastic Bertrand

Ca Plane Pour Moi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jVfswmBc74

ThirstyDog | 19 Feb '13, 09:07 | X | ^ This | Reply

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Boards

Weird hit singles from the 1970s/1980s

Stan Ridgway - Camouflage

Came on here specifically to post this

Yeah

It's Immaterial

Harry Chapin - W.O.L.D.

D

Space - Magic Fly

That Japan track is fucking brilliant.

Reached the top 10 too

One of the best damn songs ever made

Althea & Donna--Upton Top Ranking

^West Ham Utd FA Cup song

Lots of novelty hits I should imagine

Trio - Da Da Da

Aside of the rash of novelty songs in the 70s, all of these were No.1:

Timbuk 3

Karel Fialka - Hey Matthew

doh! just saw someone else posted this.

Hollywood Beyond - What's the Colour of Money

Malcolm McLaren - Double Dutch

Adam Ant...

How could I forget Adam Ant

Soft Cell

Grandmaster Melle Mel - Step Off

Plastic Bertrand

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