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The Story of 1976

Documentary exploring Top of the Pops in 1976 as a barometer of the state of pop and light entertainment TV, when the charts belonged to Showaddywaddy and Brotherhood of Man.

The nation grew up with Top of the Pops and it was always a talking point, but 35 years ago a particular kind of Top of the Pops programme and tone held sway. This documentary explores Top of the Pops in 1976 - as a barometer of the state of pop and light entertainment TV.

It celebrates the power of the programme and observes British society of the mid 70s, British TV and the British pop scene. In 1976, glam was over and nothing had replaced it - the charts belonged to Showaddywaddy, Brotherhood of Man and the Wurzels, all to be found on Top of the Pops hosted by the Radio 1 DJs. If you wanted rock you looked to the Old Grey Whistle Test, while outside the charts a new scene was rumbling.

Contributors include Tony Blackburn, David 'Diddy' Hamilton, Paul Morley, Toyah Willcox, Showaddywaddy, Brotherhood of Man, the Wurzels and Dave Haslam.

50 minutes

Last on

Sat 6 Jan 2024 00:30
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1964 to 1975 - Big Hits

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Christmas 2011

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Music Played

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

  • Led Zeppelin

    Whole Lotta Love

  • Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel

    Here Comes the Sun

  • Paul Nicholas

    Reggae like it used to be

  • The Rolling Stones - Let's spend the night together

  • T. Rex

    Get It On

  • Roxy Music

    All I Want Is You

  • David Bowie

    Starman

  • T. Rex

    Metal guru

  • The Osmonds

    Crazy Horses

  • Bay City Rollers

    Bye Bye Baby

  • Manfred Mann - Blinded by the light

  • Sailor

    Glass of champagne

  • Showaddywaddy

    Trocerdero

  • Peter Frampton

    Show me the way

  • Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band

    A fifth of Beethoven

  • Hot Chocolate

    Don't stop it now

  • Queen

    Bohemian Rhapsody

  • Cliff Richard

    Devil woman

  • ABBA

    Fernando

  • ABBA

    Mamma Mia

  • Brotherhood of Man

    Save all your kisses for me

  • The Wurzels

    Combine Harvester (Brand New Key)

  • Rick Dees & his Cast

    Disco Duck

  • J.J. Barrie

    No charge

  • Demis Roussos

    Forever and ever

  • Our Kid

    Just might see me cry

  • The Real Thing

    You to me are everything

  • Bay City Rollers

    I only wanna be with you

  • Showaddywaddy

    Under the moon of love

  • Can

    I want more

  • The Sensational Alex Harvey Band

    Boston tea party

  • Sailor

    Girls, girls, girls

  • Foxx

    Single Bed

  • The Four Seasons

    December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night)

  • The Andrea True Connection

    More More More

  • Elton John & Kiki Dee

    Don't Go Breaking My Heart

  • Leo Sayer

    You Make Me Feel Like Dancing

  • Mistura

    The Flasher

  • The New Seekers

    It's so nice to have you home

  • Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band

    Upon the my oh my

  • Focus

    Hocus Pocus

  • Little Feat

    Rock n Roll doctor

  • Laurie Lingo and The Dipsticks

    Convoy

  • Buzzcocks

    Boredom

  • The Clash

    White Riot

  • Sex Pistols

    Anarchy in UK

  • Sex Pistols

    Pretty Vacant

  • The Damned - A Love Song

  • Siouxsie and the Banshees

    Hong Kong Garden

  • Johnny Mathis

    When A Child Is Born

Credit

Producer Dione Newton

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