The Videotheque

Remember on the 10 August 1980 show, when we played the Angelic Upstarts and Cliff Richard back-to-back and vaguely suggested that they were unlikely to be seen together in any other context? Well, incredibly, back in January 1980 Cliff and the Upstarts’ frontman Mensi could be found engaged in healthy discussion on ATV’s religious programme Something Different. Huge thanks to Neil Barker for unearthing this, which won’t embed properly but is definitely worth a click.

Well now. From the 27 July 1984 show, the video for the Thompson Twins’ Sister of Mercy (not the Sisters of Mercy’s Thompson Twin) which, according to the splendid Colm O’Rourke, stars solid, dependable Simon Bates as a solid, dependable corspe. He’s in there around the 1:52 mark, but with no glasses on so you won’t recognise him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H2k9pi9pXs

As discussed on the 16 February 1987 show. At least Lou didn’t black up for the video.

As also played on the 11 August 1984 show, a quite spectacular video and the first ever Stock/Aitken/Waterman production to reach the UK chart.

As discussed on the 11 August 1984 show, today’s episode of Channel 4’s pop show Ear Say, including a bizarre Elton John interview (is there any other kind) and all sorts of mid-80s pop nonsense. Can’t embed the video here though, annoyingly, so you’ll have to click this link to enjoy it.