16 July 1981

Thursday 16 July

1981-07-16

Events

• Cricket: Third Test England v. Australia, first day.[1]

Top of the Pops

presented by Peter Powell

review here

1. Saxon – “Never Surrender” (26)
2. Third World – “Dancing On The Floor (Hooked On Love)” (10) (video)
3. Depeche Mode – “New Life” (19) (second of three performances)

   

   Depeche Mode - New Life ( Tops Of The Pops ) 1981 - Lyrics

4. The Jacksons – “Walk Right Now” (30) (Legs & Co)
5. Dexys Midnight Runners – “Show Me” (33)

   

   Dexys Midnight Runners - Show Me -totp-

6. Kate Bush – “Sat In Your Lap” (15) (video - first and only showing)
7. Bad Manners – “Can Can” (3) (rpt.)
8. Spandau Ballet – “Chant No.1 (I Don’t Need This Pressure On)” (18)

   

   Spandau Ballet - Chant No 1. 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On) TOTP 1981

9. The Specials – “Ghost Town” (1) (video/credits)

• this edition repeated on BBC Four, 14 July 2023:
  • TV Cream, 2023 "And then it’s back to 1981, and the first episode we saw on BBC4 with Yellow Pearl as the theme, and also the last one with the top ten video countdown which wasted a bit of time during Michael Hurll’s first year in charge, not that it stopped him bringing it back to equally underwhelming effect a few years later. Pete even says goodbye before he does it, which is just weird. A fun line-up, though, carbon-dated to 1981 with new romantics and NWOBHM, plus a cracking Dexys track".