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The Story of 1978

In 1978, despite the biggest-selling singles coming from the likes of Boney M and Rod Stewart, Top of the Pops turned the credibility corner and showed punk and new wave bands.

In 1978, Top of the Pops began to turn the credibility corner. As the only major pop show on television, Top of the Pops had enjoyed a unique position in the nation's hearts since the 1960s - the nation's teenagers who were now fed up with the show's predominantly light entertainment blend still tuned in every week in the hope of seeing one of the new young outfits thrown up by punk, new wave and disco. In 1978 it seemed the kids' time had come again for the first time since glam rock. Yet the biggest-selling singles of 1978 were by the likes of Boney M, John Travolta & Olivia Newton John, Rod Stewart, The Bee Gees and Abba.

Punk never quite fitted in with the mainstream - it had been treated with disdain by Top of the Pops and largely ignored by the show. Britain's teenagers had to endure the all-round family entertainment on offer when all they wanted was teenage kicks. Along came a generation of young post-punk and new wave bands armed with guitar and bass, ready to storm the Top of the Pops stage - from The Undertones, The Buzzcocks, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Skids and Ian Dury and the Blockheads to The Boomtown Rats, Elvis Costello, The Jam and Squeeze - some weeks teenagers would get to see one of their bands, very rarely they got two, but there they were on primetime TV.

With contributions from The Boomtown Rats, Squeeze, Boney M, Sham 69, Brian & Michael, The Barron Knights, Mike Read, Kid Jensen, Kathryn Flett, Richard Jobson, Ian Gittins and Legs & Co.

50 minutes

Last on

Sat 6 Jan 2024 02:00
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1978 - Big Hits

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Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:00

    CCS

    Whole Lotta Love

  • 00:00

    Blondie

    Picture This聽

  • 00:03

    Brotherhood of Man

    贵颈驳补谤辞听

  • 00:05

    Kate Bush

    Wuthering Heights

  • 00:08

    Odyssey

    Native New Yorker

  • 00:10

    Elvis Costello & The Attractions

    (I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea聽

  • 00:13

    Manfred Mann鈥檚 Earth Band

    Davy's on the Road Again聽

  • 00:19

    The Boomtown Rats

    Rat Trap聽

  • 00:23

    The Motors

    础颈谤辫辞谤迟听

  • Dan Hill

    Sometimes When We Touch

  • 00:25

    John Travolta & Olivia Newton鈥怞ohn

    Summer Nights

  • 00:28

    Sham 69

    Angels With Dirty Faces聽

  • 00:30

    Yvonne Elliman

    If I Can't Have You聽

  • 00:33

    Electric Light Orchestra

    Mr. Blue Sky

  • 00:36

    Bob Marley & The Wailers

    Satisfy My Soul聽

  • 00:39

    Chic

    Le Freak

  • 00:41

    Jilted John

    Jilted John聽

  • 00:43

    Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams

    Too Much, Too Little, Too Late

  • 00:46

    Ian Dury & the Blockheads

    What A Waste

  • 00:49

    10cc

    Dreadlock Holiday聽

  • 00:52

    Rose Royce

    Love Don't Live Here Anymore聽

  • 00:56

    Boney M.

    搁补蝉辫耻迟颈苍听

Credits

Producer Dione Newton
Director Dione Newton

Broadcasts

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