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PODCAST

Chart Music: the Top Of The Pops Podcast

The podcast that takes one random episode of Top Of The Pops - the greatest TV Pop show ever - and breaks it down to its very last compound. Created by Sarah Bee, Neil Kulkarni, Taylor Parkes, Simon Price and David Stubbs (who all wrote for Melody Maker) and hosted by Al Needham (who didn"t), it"s an unflinching gaze into the open wound of pop culture and a celebration of Thursday evenings past. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

music music commentary

All Episodes

6:01:27

Chart Music #76: August 12th 1982 – Humpty Dumpty Is...

Chart Music: the Top Of The Pops Podcast ·

2025/07/31

The latest episode of the podcast which asks; do wereallyneed a Chart Music Heritage Chart?Never have we needed Simon Bates at the top of the show warning of explicit content as much as we do for this episode, Pop-Crazed Youngsters, for it pains us to say that this one is absolutelysoppingwith the musk of Percy Filth. We’re combing through the grot-encrusted underbelly of the last days of the Eighventies here, and this episode is an uncompromising stare at it. You might want to finish your tea

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1:25:10

#76 (Pt 4): 12.8.82 – Humpty Dumpty Is Big Eggy

Chart Music: the Top Of The Pops Podcast ·

2025/07/30

David Stubbs,Taylor ParkesandAl Needham– still far too young, still far too clever –finish off this outstanding episode of The Pops, and are delighted to learn that at this point even Michael Hurll has had enough of Zoo, as he’s pushed them to the side to make way for some Moroccan tumblers. The Fun Boy 3 attempt to land the summer hit of the year, The Firm put themselves onto a nice little earner, and the Number One single of the week could not be more perfect.AINCHER GOT THE KETTLE ON YET,

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1:31:10

#76 (Pt 3): 12.8.82 – Humpty Dumpty Is Big Eggy

Chart Music: the Top Of The Pops Podcast ·

2025/07/29

Taylor Parkes,David StubbsandAl Needhamcontinue their odyssey through this massively enjoyable TOTP, and we finally get to see the Chocolate Guitar incident. Sheena Easton becomes Gertie Numan, then Haysi Fantayzee perform some ACTUAL BUMHOLE LOVE while kids are watching, before Wavelength cash in on the Falklands and throw a wet tea towel over the chip pan of Fizzy Pop Excitement. OK? YEAH! SHOWDOWN!Video Playlist|Facebook|Twitter|Bluesky|The Chart Music Wiki|PatreonGet your tickets for Chart Music

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1:32:47

#76 (Pt 2): 12.8.82 – Humpty Dumpty Is Big Eggy

Chart Music: the Top Of The Pops Podcast ·

2025/07/28

David Stubbs,Taylor ParkesandAl Needhamgleefully ram their fists into a TOTP from the late summer of ‘82. John Peel oversees the well-supervised fun, unaware that a year from now Noel Edmonds is going to try to get him decapitated on live TV, and he introduces us to some Cannibal-Eating Sensuality. Then Yazoo – who look like the right-on young couple next door who would always be up for lending you a cup of Sosmix – continue their astonishing rise. And the Boys Town Gang take a night off from their

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1:40:15

#76 (Pt 1): 12.8.82 – Humpty Dumpty Is Big Eggy

Chart Music: the Top Of The Pops Podcast ·

2025/07/27

Taylor Parkes,David StubbsandAl Needhamprepare to tuck into a gloriously succulent episode of Top Of The Pops from the Silver Age - but first, they have a leisurely trawl of that week’s NME, express disgust at the inability of AI to create graphic erotic fiction about aliens on crisp packets, and pull apartPrivate Spy –quite possibly the grimmest artifact of the Eighventies...Video Playlist|Facebook|Twitter|Bluesky|The Chart Music Wiki|PatreonGet your tickets for Chart Music at the London Podcast

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6:21:20

Chart Music #75: August 15th 1974 – Could YOU Be...

Chart Music: the Top Of The Pops Podcast ·

2024/12/14

The latest episode of the podcast which asks; The Osmonds – who’s the Sex King?We’re BACK, Pop-Crazed Youngsters, and to commemorate this we’ve only gone and picked out one of the maddest episodes of Top Of The Pops ever. It’s the late Summer of 1974, Robin Nash has just bedded in, and he’s got big plans for our Thursday evening fizzy Pop treat. Sadly, one of them – a massive splurge on David Cassidy’s farewell tour – has been shagged up by a BBC technician’s strike. But this week, the BBC has taken

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1:31:43

Chart Music #75 (Pt 4): 15.8.74 – Could YOU Be...

Chart Music: the Top Of The Pops Podcast ·

2024/12/13

Sarah Bee,Taylor ParkesandAl Needhamconclude their investigation into this episode of Top Of The Pops, and are left shaking their heads at the success of the Bay City Rollers. The Osmonds take their final stand against the Tartan Gimmicks, the grown-ups enter the room for a properly decent No.1, and then it gets all Sunday Night At The London Palladium. RUN IN THE SUN HAVING FUN, POP-CRAZED YOUNGSTERS!Video Playlist|Subscribe|Facebook| Bluesky |Twitter|The Chart Music Wiki|Patreon Hosted on Acast

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1:46:00

Chart Music #75 (Pt 3): 15.8.74 – Could YOU Be...

Chart Music: the Top Of The Pops Podcast ·

2024/12/12

Sarah Bee,Taylor ParkesandAl Needhamcontinue their odyssey through one of the strangest TOTP episodes ever, with a right bunch of Egg n’ Chippers, a chance to see if you’re marriage material for Donny Osmond, a necessary blast of Dadisfaction, a foreshadowing of an advert 14 years from now, and the most Different Times incident we’ve ever come across...Video Playlist|Subscribe|Facebook| Bluesky |Twitter|The Chart Music Wiki|Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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1:39:47

Chart Music #75 (Pt 2): 15.8.74 – Could YOU Be...

Chart Music: the Top Of The Pops Podcast ·

2024/12/11

Sarah Bee,Taylor ParkesandAl Needhambegin their quest through the dungeons of Castle Osmond. It’s August, it’s 1974, and the BBC have given an entire week over to Ken, Ken, Ken, Ken, Donny, MarieandLittle Jimmy for six nights of Mormonised Borscht Belt Wisecracks, karate demonstrations and Barbershop Raga, live from the BBC Television Theatre. And tonight they’ve taken over our Thursday Evening Fizzy Pop Treat...Video Playlist|Subscribe|Facebook| Bluesky |Twitter|The Chart Music Wiki|Patreon Hosted

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1:31:42

Chart Music #75 (Pt 1): 15.8.74 – Could YOU Be...

Chart Music: the Top Of The Pops Podcast ·

2024/12/10

We’re BACK, Pop-Crazed Youngsters, and we’ve foolishly decided to tuck into one of the strangest episodes of Top Of The Popsever. But first,Sarah Bee,Taylor ParkesandAl Needhamhave a massive catch-up, which means tangents, a big flick through that week’s NME, and alarming news about the most Plastic item of clothing ever...Video Playlist|Subscribe|Facebook| Bluesky |Twitter|The Chart Music Wiki|Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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1:37:03

Bonus: Chart Music Live 2022

Chart Music: the Top Of The Pops Podcast ·

2024/08/18

We’re doing the London Podcast festival on September the 7that Kings Place, Kings Cross! But Al never got round to mentioning it on Chart Music!So – as a taster for those who have never experienced the thrill of people doing a podcast, but in front of other people – here’s the audio of our first ever gig, asSarah Bee,David StubbsandTaylor ParkesjoinAl Needhamin a heroic attempt to squish a typical episode into 90 minutes.Fortunately, the episode we covered – from the glory days of 1981 – has been

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4:35:32

Chart Music #74 - Neil

Chart Music: the Top Of The Pops Podcast ·

2024/06/20

Our mate Neil Kulkarni died in January. This episode is dedicated to him.Subscribe|Facebook|Twitter|The Chart Music Wiki|PatreonSimon’s Quietus piece on Neil|Sofia’s Gofundme pageSpecial thanks to Lily Wilde for cover art. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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6:53:24

Chart Music #73: March 4th 1993 – Frank Bald

Chart Music: the Top Of The Pops Podcast ·

2024/01/07

The latest episode of the podcast which asks; do wereallyhave to hug?Andrub-a-dub?The Chart Music time sofa descends upon March of 1993, Pop-Crazed Youngsters – the Forgotten Nineties, if you will. A time where the only options available to The Kids were having their heads filled with rubbish by trampy Americans, or being exploited by Ian Beales in Hypercolor t-shirts who can’t playrealmusic and want you to take loads of drugs. Your panel – ligging their way around London, ensconced in an Isleworth

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1:58:30

Chart Music #73 (Pt 4): 4.3.93 – Frank Bald

Chart Music: the Top Of The Pops Podcast ·

2024/01/06

Simon Price,Sarah BeeandAl Needhamhit the final stretch of this episode of TOTP with the chance to hear 20 seconds of a Xmas Number One, Bryan Ferry going through the motions, some Americans who want to weld you into a chair and Dead Madonna, then Diana Ross gets all excited at the sight of an oiled-up saxman, and we continue our ongoing mission to praise the Belgians. REACH FOR THE SKIES, POP-CRAZED YOUNGSTERS!Video Playlist|Subscribe|Facebook|Twitter|The Chart Music Wiki|PatreonGet your tickets

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1:32:56

Chart Music #73 (Pt 3): 4.3.93 – Frank Bald

Chart Music: the Top Of The Pops Podcast ·

2024/01/05

Sarah Bee,Simon PriceandAl Needhamend up having amassivelydeep dive on Suede, before being whipped over to Hawaii to watch the Lower-Case Canadian sit on a box for a bit. Oh, and Runrig!Video Playlist|Subscribe|Facebook|Twitter|The Chart Music Wiki|PatreonGet your tickets for Chart Music at Birmingham Town Hall on Jan 13thHERE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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1:45:18

Chart Music #73 (Pt 2): 4.3.93 – Frank Bald

Chart Music: the Top Of The Pops Podcast ·

2024/01/04

Simon Price,Sarah BeeandAl Needhambegin their slog through an early-Nineties episode of The Pops with an examination of the changes Stanley Appell wrought upon our fave Thursday Evening Pop Treat. Then we’re immediately assailed by the sight of someone grabbing one of Right Said Fred’s arse as they do a bit for Comic Relief, followed by SuperMuso and Some Rap. STICK IT OUT, POP-CRAZED YOUNGSTERS!Video Playlist|Subscribe|Facebook|Twitter|The Chart Music Wiki|PatreonGet your tickets for Chart Music at

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1:47:38

Chart Music #73 (Pt 1): 4.3.93 – Frank Bald

Chart Music: the Top Of The Pops Podcast ·

2024/01/03

#73 (Pt 1):4.3.93 – Frank BaldSarah Bee,Simon PriceandAl Needhamgird their loins for a plunge into a TOTP from the early Nineties, but before all that there’s a comprehensive leaf through that week’s NME. a heartrending discussion about the misery of gym knickers and hair loss, and a massive plug for our live show in Birmingham…Video Playlist|Subscribe|Facebook|Twitter|The Chart Music Wiki|PatreonGet your tickets for Chart Music at Birmingham Town Hall on Jan 13thHERE Hosted on Acast. See

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6:41:12

Chart Music #72: October 3rd 1985 – Rod Vicious

Chart Music: the Top Of The Pops Podcast ·

2023/08/25

The latest episode of the podcast which asks; so howdoyou set fire to a trophy?Like a man in a cage, we find ourselves trapped in the mid-Eighties, imprisoned in a lurid enclosure of neon and rolled sleeves and appalling Number Ones, with Gary Davies – fresh from a birthday party in a garage in Cumbria and lookingwellBisto – in the Mr McKay role. Oh, it’s a grim time to be young, Pop-Crazed Youngsters, when the only thing the youth can look forward to is a Giro, a chance to see the frontwoman of All

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1:26:26

#72 (Pt 4): 3.10.85 – Rod Vicious

Chart Music: the Top Of The Pops Podcast ·

2023/08/24

Simon Price,Rock Expert David StubbsandAl Needhamhit the final stretch of this episode of TOTP, and pick through the ‘delights’ of the Top Ten. It’s a meaty fist in the air for Billy Idol, King of the Quincy Punks, before being subjected to a cult indoctrination video. We savour Midge Ure’s Sympathy Number One, and then it’s on to the dancefloor for some well-supervised fun with Five Star, before your Mam finds out who’s gotMeeeshell in the club…Video Playlist|Subscribe|Facebook|Twitter|The Chart

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1:43:38

#72 (Pt 3): 3.10.85 – Rod Vicious

Chart Music: the Top Of The Pops Podcast ·

2023/08/23

Simon Price,Rock Expert David StubbsandAl Needhamplunge ever-onwards into a post-Live Aid episode of The Pops, and it turns out that 1985 is SKILL – well, it is when Cameo are slinking about on TOTP stage. Then we’re reminded of the dark times when John Parr pitches up to do a film advert. But then! It’s a double-barrelled blast of Our Bands, as the Smiths are forced to do a video, and Lol Tolhurst stinks out a wardrobe. And them some bloke starts going about thinking he’s Prince. GO FOR IT,

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