Isn't it a shame TOTPs is no more....
Discussion
Just watching the Top Of The Pops night on BBC 4. To see all these "Live" performances 40 year later is great. Their archive must be huge.
Yes I know it's all a bit mimed and false but as a record of popular music surely it better than big production videos.
The BBC archive is amazing, with Old Grey Whistle Test, TOTP, and Later.
These days "Later" when it's on seems to be concentrate on 'World Music' a bit to much.
Are we losing a huge chunk of music history by the BBC not having a mainstream program anymore. Although yes a lot of the current crop is questionable shouldn't it still have a place.
Yes I know it's all a bit mimed and false but as a record of popular music surely it better than big production videos.
The BBC archive is amazing, with Old Grey Whistle Test, TOTP, and Later.
These days "Later" when it's on seems to be concentrate on 'World Music' a bit to much.
Are we losing a huge chunk of music history by the BBC not having a mainstream program anymore. Although yes a lot of the current crop is questionable shouldn't it still have a place.
Hoonabator said:
Just watching the Top Of The Pops night on BBC 4. To see all these "Live" performances 40 year later is great.
Yes I know it's all a bit mimed and false
IIRC, all the singing during the Television Studio (TC8) recordings each Wednesday was 'live'. If it was a group ('band' for you youngsters Yes I know it's all a bit mimed and false
) performing, they pre-recorded the backing (the previous day?)at a sound studio for that particular show. If it was a solo artiste in the studio, they would be backed 'live' by the TOTP Orchestra during the TV studio recording of the show.The show was recorded as 'live' with a minimum number of re-takes afterwards.
Oh happy days
Elderly said:
IRC, all the singing during the Television Studio (TC8) recordings each Wednesday was 'live'. If it was a group ('band' for you youngsters ) performing, they pre-recorded the backing (the previous day?)at a sound studio for that particular show. If it was a solo artiste in the studio, they would be backed 'live' by the TOTP Orchestra during the TV studio recording of the show.
Oh no it wasn't.) performing, they pre-recorded the backing (the previous day?)at a sound studio for that particular show. If it was a solo artiste in the studio, they would be backed 'live' by the TOTP Orchestra during the TV studio recording of the show.Nearly everyone mimed to their singles. A handful of acts who wanted to play 'live' would do a single live take in a studio beforehand and mime to that, vocal included. There was a brief period when they tried insisting on actual live takes in the studio but some of them were dire and it didn't last - I think the Shakespear's Sister disaster that I think is still on youtube
otherman said:
Oh no it wasn't.
Nearly everyone mimed to their singles. A handful of acts who wanted to play 'live' would do a single live take in a studio beforehand and mime to that, vocal included. There was a brief period when they tried insisting on actual live takes in the studio but some of them were dire and it didn't last - I think the Shakespear's Sister disaster that I think is still on youtube
I can only speak for the period 1970 - 1979 when I was employed at Television CentreNearly everyone mimed to their singles. A handful of acts who wanted to play 'live' would do a single live take in a studio beforehand and mime to that, vocal included. There was a brief period when they tried insisting on actual live takes in the studio but some of them were dire and it didn't last - I think the Shakespear's Sister disaster that I think is still on youtube
and worked on TOTP many times (The OP talks about "40 years later", isn't 'Sheakspear's Sister' a band from today?) and I recall too many vocal disasters during the show's recordings for it to have been mimed, I also remember well having to write out crib cards for some American singers, many of whom didn't know their lyrics and were prevented by UK unions from bringing their own crib cards writers (on whom they were dependent) with them to this country; there would have been little need for crib cards if they were miming
.Edited by Elderly on Tuesday 5th April 08:50
Elderly said:
I can only speak for the period 1970 - 1979 when I was employed at Television Centre
and worked on TOTP many times (The OP talks about "40 years later", isn't 'Sheakspear's Sister' a band from today?) and I recall too many vocal disasters during the show's recordings for it to have been mimed, I also remember well having to write out crib cards for some American singers, many of whom didn't know their lyrics and were prevented by UK unions from bringing their own crib cards writers (on whom they were dependent) with them to this country; there would have been little need for crib cards if they were miming.
No Shakespears sister was 1992. That might sound recent but its also 20 years ago. I still can't understand what you are saying about the 70s era. I appeared on TOTP twice and nothing like you describe was happening.and worked on TOTP many times (The OP talks about "40 years later", isn't 'Sheakspear's Sister' a band from today?) and I recall too many vocal disasters during the show's recordings for it to have been mimed, I also remember well having to write out crib cards for some American singers, many of whom didn't know their lyrics and were prevented by UK unions from bringing their own crib cards writers (on whom they were dependent) with them to this country; there would have been little need for crib cards if they were miming
.otherman said:
I still can't understand what you are saying about the 70s era. I appeared on TOTP twice and nothing like you describe was happening.
In 1966 the M.U. banned artists from miming to their records (this ended in 1980). What do you think the T.O.T.P. orchestra and Johnny Pearson were doing in the studio? Do you remember the Ladybirds who provided all the live backing vocals?I certainly remember writing crib cards for some U.S. artists, once going to the make-up room in the next studio (Jackanory in TC7) to see if I could get help from any make-up girl; she became my wife.
My memories of maybe 100 TOTP shows (that's hundreds of artists) differs from your 2.
Edited by Elderly on Monday 21st January 16:15
I missed the TOTP evening on BBC4, but from memory it was always rather disappointing, and think Old Grey Whistle Test was a better show. I guess OGWT is now represented by the Jools Holland show, which I also missed tonight. Shame it now appears to be only 30 minutes.
I do think a new pop show would be good though. Perhaps TOTP could be revived in a new format, much like they did with Top Gear.
I do think a new pop show would be good though. Perhaps TOTP could be revived in a new format, much like they did with Top Gear.
bass2rez said:
...... I do remember clearly that it was a rare occurance that a guitar was plugged in, which would indicate that the music was not live in the studio.
As explained in my first response in this thread regarding Bands only: "If it was a group ('band' for you youngsters ) performing, they pre-recorded the backing (the previous day?) at a sound studio for that particular show."
Elderly said:
otherman said:
I still can't understand what you are saying about the 70s era. I appeared on TOTP twice and nothing like you describe was happening.
In 1966 the M.U. banned artists from miming to their records (this ended in 1980). What do you think the T.O.T.P. orchestra and Johnny Pearson were doing in the studio? Do you remember the Ladybirds who provided all the live backing vocals?I certainly remember writing crib cards for some U.S. artists, once going to the make-up room in the next studio (Jackanory in TC7) to see if I could get help from any make-up girl; she became my wife.
My memories of maybe 100 TOTP shows (that's hundreds of artists) differs from your 2.
Here is Blockbuster by the Sweet Performed 'Live' on totp. Dig out the single. Its 100% identical.
Here is Blockbuster an actual live performance
Repeat procedure for any totp performance you like.
'Allegedly' some bands cheated by swapping their pre-recorded tracks for their records
but the MU rule regarding miming stood, and was the norm.
This is quite amusing: http://www.alwynwturner.com/glitter/totp.html
but the MU rule regarding miming stood, and was the norm.
This is quite amusing: http://www.alwynwturner.com/glitter/totp.html
Edited by Elderly on Wednesday 6th April 21:29
I was watching the 1964/65 compliation earlier this evening and would make the following points -
where the shots were from a recording of a TOTP broadcast, ALL the artists were miming
Most of the footage was NOT of TOTP broadcasts as most of the footage from that era was wiped. Before the era of the "pop video", many singers and groups produced promotional films (or "promos") which were issued to various TV broadcasters around the world so that the song could be seen on TV even if the artist wasn't available to be in the TV studio.
A lot of the clips I saw were these "promos" ( The Righteous Brothers, The Dave Clark 5 etc).
Still great music though.
where the shots were from a recording of a TOTP broadcast, ALL the artists were miming
Most of the footage was NOT of TOTP broadcasts as most of the footage from that era was wiped. Before the era of the "pop video", many singers and groups produced promotional films (or "promos") which were issued to various TV broadcasters around the world so that the song could be seen on TV even if the artist wasn't available to be in the TV studio.
A lot of the clips I saw were these "promos" ( The Righteous Brothers, The Dave Clark 5 etc).
Still great music though.
Eric Mc said:
I was watching the 1964/65 compliation earlier this evening and would make the following points -
where the shots were from a recording of a TOTP broadcast, ALL the artists were miming
You are quite correct Eric, as the M.U. ban on miming was not introduced until July 1966.where the shots were from a recording of a TOTP broadcast, ALL the artists were miming
ollygogs, you are also correct - I presume you are talking about the Martha's Harbour 'technical incident' in 1988,
which was AFTER the miming ban was lifted some time in the early 1980's.
But between these two dates ....................................
.
.. having watched a few progs I get a feeling the rodad is being paved for a new totps .... I could be wrong, I am an old giffer who doesn't like alot of modern s
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