Episode 500 (Top of the Pops)
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| "Episode 500" | |
|---|---|
| Top of the Pops episode | |
| Episode no. | Series 11 Episode 40 |
| Presented by | |
| Produced by | Johnnie Stewart |
| Original air date | October 4, 1973 |
| Guest appearances | |
The five hundredth episode of Top of the Pops was broadcast on Thursday, 4 October 1973, at 7pm.[1]
Overview[edit]
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The show was presented by Jimmy Savile, Tony Blackburn, Noel Edmonds, and Kenny Everett, and produced by Johnnie Stewart.[1][2] The episode starts out with a live performance of "Whole Lotta Love" by CCS, whose recording of the song had been used as the theme song for the show for most of the 1970s.[2][3] The number one song for that week was "Eye Level" by Simon Park Orchestra.[2][4]
A short insert film by glam rock Slade had them showing gratitude towards the show, and ends with them singing "we wish you a happy birthday" in the theme of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas".[3] During Lynsey de Paul's performance of "Won't Somebody Dance with Me", co-host Tony Blackburn approaches de Paul, who is sat down by her piano, and says "may I have the pleasure, of this dance", and for the remainder of the song, the two Slow danced on set, whilst Lynsey continued singing.[3][5]
David Cassidy had flown from the US to England to appear on the show and to perform a few songs; as he is unable to get into the TOTP studios on time, he is instead sang and was interviewed from the airport.[3]
Featured artists[edit]
The songs featured on the episode were (in a partially correct order):[2]
- CCS – "Whole Lotta Love" (studio performance)
- The Osmonds – "Let Me In" (played over the music charts)
- Bryan Ferry – "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall" (studio performance)
- David Bowie – "The Laughing Gnome" (music video)
- Tony Orlando and Dawn – "Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose" (studio performance)
- Tony Orlando and Dawn – "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" (studio performance)
- The Jackson 5 – "Skywriter" (music video)
- Lynsey de Paul – "Won't Somebody Dance with Me" (studio performance)
- The Isley Brothers – "That Lady" (danced to by Pan's People)
- The Sweet – "The Ballroom Blitz" (studio performance)
- David Cassidy – "The Puppy Song" (live performance from airport)
- David Cassidy – "Daydreamer" (live performance from airport)
- The Who – "5:15" (studio performance)
- Simon Park Orchestra – "Eye Level" (studio performance)
Archive status[edit]
The master tapes to the 500th edition of Top of the Pops were wiped, however, a quarter of the show is archived; this 25-minute recording was taped in black and white, whereas the original recording broadcast on television was in colour, but with colour recovery, a few segments of the show (e.g. performances by The Who and David Cassidy and the chart rundown) have had their original colour restored. The show is not fully archived, as a few performances were not recorded and are now considered lost.
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Schedule - BBC Programme Index". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
- ^ a b c d Brazier, Callum. "04/10/1973". Top of the Pops Archive. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
- ^ a b c d Amigo (2024-05-10). Top Of The Pops - 4 October 1973 , 500th edition ( 720p ). Retrieved 2024-06-08 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart on 30/9/1973". Official Charts. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
- ^ "Prints of Tony Blackburn dancing with Lynsey de Paul on 500th edition of Top of the Pops - October". Media Storehouse Photo Prints. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
