Introduced by Jimmy Savile, it opens with the instrumental TSOP by MFSB - that week's #29 - playing while the Top 30 chart rundown is shown (complete with Marvin Hamlisch's name being misspelled). The Bay City Rollers mime to 'Shang A Lang (#12) followed by Limme And Family Cooking singing 'A Walking Miracle' live (#6), then Alvin Stardust mimes to 'Red Dress' even though it was only at #42 on the chart. Savile plays a few notes on a white piano before introducing Pan's People looking sexy in their white flared trousers performing to the Osmonds 1967 recording 'I Can't Stop' (#24). Babs, Cherry, Louise, Dee Dee and Ruth are all credited for this routine but Ruth does not appear. And this is followed by an edited clip from the German music show 'Musikladen' from January with Stevie Wonder singing 'He's Misstra Know It All' live (#17). Next up is Roy Wood and Wizzard miming to 'Rock And Roll Winter' (#9). There is a video (directed by Bruce Milliard) to promote Jim Stafford's novelty hit 'Spiders And Snakes' (#28), but it's with actors doing a scenario trying vaguely to connect with the lyrics and doesn't feature Mr Stafford. Savile then starts to introduce a young unnamed DJ from Carlisle then hits him in the chest and gets him to introduce the Stylistics new release 'Only For The Children' which they sing live but which was never a hit because deejays flipped it over and played the b side 'You Make Me Feel Brand New' which became a classic Top 10 number. This takes us up to this week's #1 which was a sparkly and colourful Abba doing 'Waterloo' live in the studio. As the credits roll, this week's #27 'Sugar Baby Love' - a future # 1 is played and when the credits finish the camera concentrates on the girls with their Chelsea Girl tops and the long haired guys with their denim shirts dancing with not a care in the world. This edition of TOTP still exists so catch it if you can.
Review of Episode #11.18
