BBC Radio Feature: "Top of the Pops Playback" with Shaun Tilley
Just to let everyone know that Shaun Tilley will be presenting a series to be broadcast on BBC regional radio stations entitled "TOTP Playback", in which, he says: "we pick a random edition of the show and get the memories of the original host or somebody who performed on it. We've interviewed 20 or so DJs and roughly the same amount of pop stars." The programme is due to run for 52 weeks.
I put him in touch with some of the dancers, and Sue and Lulu were interviewed last week for the show. Shaun will plug PP.com on those programmes by way of thanks, which is very kind of him! So hopefully after exposure on BBC radio, we'll get some more members!
He's also promised me a pre-broadcast copy of the programmes featuring the dancers, which I'll make available here. Another exclusive for us!
Thanks, Shaun!
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Thanks for the info on that Justin. I never encountered this until listening to the Radio Bristol programme on Dee Dee last week, and now this. I never have problems listening to the likes of Radio 4, or Radio Scotland via iplayer: I presume Radio Scotland's stream doesn't emanate from London, as a regional station, so there's one that's escaped the problem.
My pleasure for making it
My pleasure for making it available outside the UK, Rusty, glad you enjoyed it. I'll have to add it to my mobile so I can listen more conveniently.
But remember guys, whether or not any more of the series is broadcast depends in no small way on our action now. We have to contact Radio Devon asking for more. I'll send out a message to members encouraging this, and please do spread the word anywhere you will find a receptive audience. I posted a message on Popscene, and maybe the OFTD regulars can do the same there. I know Shaun will be highly appreciative of all the support we can give him.
I'll post contact details for Radio Devon when I get a chance.
I listened particularly
I listened particularly carefully at the end, trying not to be distracted by the cacophony going on in the background, to see if Shaun would tell us when the next TOTP Playback edition would be broadcast, but he didn't say, I think he just said "see you soon", or words to that effect!
Justin
Sadly there is no scheduled
Sadly there is no scheduled date yet for any more episodes, Justin. When, or even whether it continues relies on the decision of Radio Devon, which is why it is so necessary to ensurethey get lots of feedback and requests to hear the whole series!
Playback
I enjoyed that show.Esspecially good to hear Lindsey De Paul,i've still got a couple of her records.DLT mentioned the variety of music you could get then,and it's so true.
Glenn
Contact details for Radio Devon
Here's a page giving the following contact details, which I copy below for convenience:
Get in touch with BBC Devon
If you want to contact the BBC Devon website or BBC Radio Devon, here is all the information you need.
If you have a story, photo, video or comment, please get in touch.
By telephone:
Contacting the BBC Radio Devon newsroom
You can send your email on radio.devon@bbc.co.uk
Contacting the BBC Devon News Website
You can send your email and news stories to bbcnewsonline.plymouth@bbc.co.uk
Contacting BBC Radio Devon
On-air numbers
Send a text message to BBC Radio Devon:
You can contact our on-air shows by sending a text to 81333 and starting your message with a keyword, given out by the presenter, to make sure it arrives at the correct programme.
The keywords will be DEVON (throughout the day) or STUDIO (from 1900 - 0100) or LOVE (for Graham Torrington's show on Sundays 2200-0100).
The keyword should be the first thing you type, then leave a space before your message.
When you text 81333 you will be charged at your standard message rate.
By post
BBC Radio Devon, PO Box 1034, Plymouth
Or use this form to contact us
Crackle free upload
I'm uploading a crackle free version, which you can hear/download via this URL:
www.panspeople.com/files/totp_playback/totp_playback_1_dlt_09_04_12.mp3
It's only just started uploading now, so wait till the morning before trying to download it, or you'll get an error message.
BBC Devon replies!
I e-mailed Radio Devon this morning asking them to broadcast the rest of the series, shortly afterwards I got an automated reply, saying that my e-mail will be read later, but there was no guarantee of that due to their high volumes of correspondence, later on thought I got a personal reply from the RD "editor" Mark Grinnell, saying that it was "an Easter Special" & that they "may run some more in the future", apparently he's going to pass on my comment to Shaun & his production team.
Hopefully all of our requests for the continuation of TOTP Playback will come to fruition!
Justin
Goodfor you, Justin! I've
Goodfor you, Justin! I've still to write mine, so will do this evening. It wouldn't do to encourage everyone but forget myself! I wonder if I'll get the same response?!
Did anyone try downloading the mp3? I haven't had a chance to check on the computer yet.
Shaun greatly appreciates all the help and says that 16 shows have been mixed and are ready for transmission. The rest are in production and he'll crack on with them regardless as he's very confident he'll get BBC stations on board this year, aided by listener feedback.
Thanks for the mp3 file
Thanks for the mp3 file Panfan. It works fine and sounds ok. Have just emailed Radio Devon and received the standard initial reply. Word has gone out over on OFTD's as well so fingers crossed RD will be bowled over by the favourable response to the show.
Radio Devon
I've also e-mailed RD,and got the same response as Justin.So they're hearing us loud and clear.
Glenn
Great stuff! Someone posted
Great stuff! Someone posted re Playback on Digitalspy too, so I posted a request there. I wonder if they'll think something's afoot, lol.
Message to Feedback
I've sent a message to the BBC's Radio 4 Feedback programme too. I notice in the current programme there's discussion of the "crackle and pop" local iplayer interference.
i really enjoyed shauns totp
i really enjoyed shauns totp radio show ,thanks for posting it on here ,i must e mail radio devon myself ,and give shaun praise for doing this show
BBC local radio audio problems now fixed!
As from this morning, the audio problems on BBC local radio on-line streaming appear to have been rectified, although bear in mind, everything that appeared on the BBC iplayer before today still has the wonky audio, unfortunately this includes TOTP Playback!
Hopefully the recording can be re-encoded an it'll sound crystal clear on-line!
Justin
Good news, Justin. Someone
Good news, Justin. Someone recorded it locally from FM, and you can get it as an interference free mp3, link above.
I was just checking my email: not so much as an automated response from Radio Devon yet (yes, spam folder checked)! Maybe they got fed up with the emails by the time mine arrived, lol.
Still no email from Radio
Still no email from Radio Devon. I wonder if they got it?! Anyone recently sent an email and got a response? Maybe they've got so many emails, they've stopped bothering to reply?
'TOTP Playback' for Thurs 8th
'TOTP Playback' for Thurs 8th November 1973 with DLT as special guest.Wonderful!.Thanks Panfan for uploading it & making it available.I really look forward to the future editions.Many thanks to Shaun & Radio Devon.
Yes it was a great programme,
Yes it was a great programme, wasn't it? When I saw the title of your comment I thought for a moment another was scheduled!
Suzy Q
DLT's comments about Suzy Quatro brought back memories of the Royal Standard in Walthamstow. I saw Suzy gigging their at least once in the 1990s along with many others including Arthur Brown of the Crazy World fame.
I have heard Suzy over the last few years on Radio 2, but does anybody know if she is still gigging?
Also does anybody know if the Royal Standard still has gigs? I suspect not as the last time I passed it was painted bright orange.
A problem with a program like this is that statements are not backed up by citations. So although we assume that the research is spot on for PP dancing to the Wings number, without a citation we cannot guage how reliable the source is.
Barry Blue's Do You Wanna
Barry Blue's Do You Wanna Dance, was played, so one assumes that this track featured on this particular TOTPs, was it definitely not the week that Pan's People did a routine to DYWD?
I'm assuming that, PP only did one routine for the TOTPs in question!
Justin
Ruth and Babs to appear on TOTP Playback!
I just got this from Shaun:
Ruth Pearson and Babs Powell from Pan's People are to be guests on the BBC radio series 'Top Of The Pops Playback'. During May, they will be recording a programme with host Shaun Tilley in which they'll be discussing an edition of TOTP from 26th August 1971. On that particular show, the girls performed routines to Curtis Mayfield's Move On Up and I'm Still Waiting by Diana Ross. However, the programme also features hit songs from The Tams and The Supremes which the ladies would also dance to three weeks later. This will be more good news for all fans of the various dance troupes following recent guest appearances on Top Of The Pops Playback by Dee Dee Wilde as well as Sue and Lulu from Legs & Co. The programme is also in discussions about members of Legs & Co featuring in another future episode!!
With two bank holiday's
With two bank holiday's coming up next month, there's a good opportunity for BBC Radio Devon to continue their TOTPs Playback series!
Babs & Ruth, I'm sure will have some interesting things to say, maybe Ruth will answer some of the queries from certain posters on here or on OftDs about whether Pan's People danced to certain songs, & on what dates!
Justin
New dates for 1971 Routines list?
Glad that Babs and Ruth are going to be appear on the show as well.
Popscene also have Move On Up and I'm Still Waiting as Pan's People routines for the 26th August 1971, and Nathan Jones (The Supremes) and Hey Girl Don't Bother Me (The Tams) for 16th September, which tallies with the information in that message.
It has got me thinking though
It has got me thinking though where shaun has done his research for the show ,im wondering if he has done it on popscene ,as the run down of the show with dlt from nov 1973 is exactly in the same order as the info popscene have listed for the show ,and as for the pp routines listed on popscenes database ,well mark left a message on oftds to ask if any mistakes are spotted on the dancers routines on popscene ,then to leave a message , i think he has already ammended 4 from 1974 so far that were incorrect ,so like ive said before i dont think all the pp routines on the database are 100 percent accurate ,so im hoping really that shaun has got the dancers track info on the shows he is covering ,from the dancers info themselves
The only mistake I can make
The only mistake I can make out on PS is that they say that Pan's People danced to Simon Says on April 4th 1968, when actually it was The Gojo's dancing to that song, according to the information on the Routines page here!
Justin
apparantley ruth and dee dee
apparantley ruth and dee dee danced to simon says along i think with 2 other dancers but not credited as pp in march 68 as well as the gojos who also danced on the show another week to simon says ,ryan contacted me to confirm some of pp errors from 1974 ,he then left popscene a message on their site ,s popscene have now ammended those songs to the correct ones
I think they, ie-Popscene
I think they, ie-Popscene are most grateful for any help we can give them regarding Pans People dances on their TOTPs listings. Take 1975 for example, and January of that month. They seem to have 2/1/75 & 30/1/75 listed correctly, put the other 3 weeks in that month dont seem right.
I think now they have got their Legs & Co listings correct, i found one error last week and they have now rectified that. But naturally Pans listings with be a lot harder to decipher. My good friends Jez and SF and with the help of some of the ex-dancers have done a great job listing Pans over on the other place. Its work that is on going, but the mist is clearing slowly regarding certain dates.
RYAN
TOTP Playback: Your Questions for Ruth and Babs?
Shaun has very kindly asked if any members would like to put forward questions for the interviews with Ruth and Babs.
Of course, he can't promise he'll use every question, but if you post here asap, he'd be more than happy to use some.
Since the shows are TOTP related, it's probably best to keep them more music/dance/TOTP related.
I'm sure everyone here will echo my thanks to Shaun for this wonderful opportunity!
Radio 2 in 2014?
As lots of people are wondering about the series one day going out on Radio 2, apparently R2 wants to wait till 2014, the 50th anniversary of TOTP, before they do anything TOTP related, so fingers crossed Playback will get a national audience then. If we don't see it in the listings, we'll have to write to them and tell them to get it listed!
Members might like to hear Shaun on 16th May in a Radio 2 documentary on Radio Luxembourg. One for you especially, LMF?
Radio Luxembourg
Although it was a shame that Radio Luxembourg closed down in 1992, I am not that interested in the station, if it was a documentry about Radio Caroline, Radio Mi Amigo or Laser, then I would be very interested.
However, I am VERY interested in the TOTP Playback documentry series.
I would love Ruth & Babs to
I would love Ruth & Babs to refer to one month earlier- 1st July 1971 - with one of my favourite Pantastic dances (in my top 5 !!) : 'River Deep - Mountain High' by The Supremes & The Four Tops.
I've even got the original Tamla-Motown 45rpm vinyl record from 1970.It's an amazing dance routine.At 2:37 watch them & particularly Flick shake rhythmically like Tribal Dancers -utterly s u p e r b ! ! ! :
Here's a quick link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRiXJoixWIE
I'd like to know if Babs,
I'd like to know if Babs, would've liked a cameo appearance playing herself in Porridge meeting Fletch who had a particularly soft spot for her!
Justin
Good questions, guys!
Good questions, guys! Remember they're recording in just a few weeks, so there's not much time if anyone else wants to ask a question.
A few questions for Ruth and Babs..
Questions:
1. For both Ruth & Babs: Do you both enjoy watching TOTP -Pans People routines? Also..do you have your own collections of these from original TOTP tapes?
2. For both Ruth & Babs: It's been related that none of Pans members gained alot, financially, from their time in Pans People on TOTP. If that's so, would you like, somehow, some fairer return from that period- and somehow one or more "Pans People on TOTP DVDs" being made available officially- (its been expressed before that at least one whole generation of men-probably more- would inevitably get these in their Christmas stockings !!) ?
3. For Ruth & Babs: There seemed to be a colour code on TOTP Pans People routines..,whereby each dancer wore generally a certain colour..is that right?..for example it seemed Ruth always used to get the yellowish tones, Babs the blue tones..is that true, and if so were these favourite colours chosen by each member?
4. For both Ruth & Babs: On a video interview it was revealed that in general your favourite dance music on TOTP was Soul/Tamla Motown. Could each of you give your favourite Tamla/Soul dance number ? Also your favourite routine of all, if not the same ?
5. For Both Ruth & Babs: Does each of you recall your last dance, on TOTP, in Pans, and -at the time- do you recall any significant sadness associated with that, at all, or was there a sense of relief, or both?
Thanks for all the great memories from all those Thursday nights, and many thanks for taking the time to answer questions
-Ian (pastpanfan)
Deadline for Ruth & Babs
Just to let you know that the deadline for submitting questions for Babs and Ruth will be a week today: Thursday 03 May.
Lime In The Coconut
Hi Babs & Ruth,
Please can you share some of your memories from my favourite Pans People Routines Running Away, Lime In The Coconut and Everthings Tuesday.
I think you all looked amazing in those routines, Babs, you were really amusing in Lime In The Coconut.
I bet you had some fun filming the routine Running Away at night in the department store and did you enjoy dancing to Everthings Tuesday, this is my favourite routine, I love the fashions and those Floppy hats and your lovely early 1970s hairstyles.
How do you both feel about your work being remembered and still enjoyed by your fans to this day?.
Babs & Ruth, Thank You both so much for your great work and for all the enjoyment.
Much Love from
Lee & Mary Fan ( PJ )
I would like to say to babs
I would like to say to babs and ruth ,ive been a fan of pans people since 1973 when i first saw pans dance to you can do magic on totp ,i was aged 8 then ,and i think the routines you did look just as good if not better when i view them now in 2012 ,so many thanks for all your wonderful work you did on totp ,as shaun is covering 1971 with babs and ruth ,i wonder if shaun would ask the ladies if they could confirm if they can remember if pans dancedto any of these 1971 chart hits ,
what are you doing sunday -dawn
im still waiting -diana ross
hey girl dont bother me -tams
heaven mustve sent you -elgins
i would be most grateful to shaun ,if he gets the chance to ask the lovely ladies about if any of these songs from 1971 ,bring any memories back to babs or ruth that they might have done one of those wonderful classic pans routines to on totp,many thanks
Questions for Ruth and Babs pretty please
Question for Ruth
Sue Menhenick mentioned that your Mum styled her hair while she was in Pan's People- who did yours ?
Question for Babs
You've said that you were supposed to become an actress but were side-tracked into dancing (and I'm pleased you were).
Do you ever regret this as you married an actor?
Question for Ruth and Babs
Do you ever hear from Andi Rutherford and if you do is she ok and what's she up to ?- we often wonder on the forum.
Question for Ruth and Babs ?
What was your favourite Pan's Routine ?
xtra question
Question for Babs and Ruth
Do you think the time was right for Pans People to finish in 1976 and if so why ?
Thanks for all the questions!
Thanks for all the questions! I'm compiling the list for Shaun now, so if you want to get a last minute question in, you've got about half an hour before I email them off!
Ruth
I am the new boy on this site and joined after watching with a lot of enjoyment Pan's people on you tube and so joined as you have an interview with Ruth soon.
I have read a lot on the net about ruth because as a teen I loved seeing her on totp on tele and was some what surprised she never married and thinks it's to late now at her age, well let me tell her it is never to late and she could walk into tesco one day and bump into Mr right....so ruth pearson get your finger out .......
P.S. still my first love..x x
Welcome, glass man!
Welcome, glass man!
If you want to ask Ruth a question, click her photo in the banner above for her question page.
I will do that now.......t.t.f.n.
I loved the DLT edition :)
Will any more of these TOTP Playback shows be broadcast on Radio Devon or any other stations?, and
I have a puzzle, Panfan.
I notice that Popscene has Ringo Starr listed at the end of 8/11/73, but he was played as the penultimate song on the DLT / Shaun Tilley interview edition of Playback.
Which source is right?
Claire
Maybe Popscene is wrong, it
Maybe Popscene is wrong, it could be that the crowd were dancing to the Ringo Starr track, but then another song played out over the closing credits, & that's what Shaun was playing!
Justin
You could be right, Justin
I was surprised, but pleased that Shaun Tilley had been given information on the running order for 8/11/73, which is hopefully 100% or 99% accurate, in reference to the uncertainty of which source is correct about the placing of Ringo Starr, but I'm inclined to agree with you that Popscene may be wrong.
This is why it's so frustrating when so much footage is wiped and audio and paperwork isn't available for all editions, as sometimes the number 1 was played over the credits, but with the limited or non-existent data available, it's not always easy to tell. :(
I'd first thought Ringo Starr, danced to by the crowd was on a par with them dancing alone to Only Sixteen on 28/2/74, but when I saw him placed after David Cassidy, this is when I couldn't be sure.
Popscene is very good generally, but especially with Disc info, they're not always spot on, but do correct things when updated info becomes available. I'm intrigued how they knew an almost identical running order line-up as on TOTP Playback, way before the show was ever broadcast, but an excellent show.
Fancy having Max Bygraves and Nazareth back to back! :D An amusing thought, as their music is completely contrasting! lol :)
Claire
TOTP Playback listings
I'm afraid about everyone here knows far more about TOTP listings than me, Claire, so I can't really help. Jez et al are the ones to help there.
All I can add is that I was queried before about where Shaun got his TOTP listings from, and this is what he said:
"As our show is being produced for the BBC it comes under the TOTP umbrella, therefore my producer works very closely with the department within the Beeb who look after the TOTP brand. They have been brilliantly helpful in providing us with crucial elements such as the original 70s and 80s canned applause plus (most importantly) running orders for our featured editions."
Sorry I can't be more helpful.
No worries, Panfan. You've
No worries, Panfan. You've been very helpful, as always, among others answering my questions and those of other members per section. :)
I agree about Jez. He's one a few people who've found out or been given info on more and more unidentified dance routines, and possibly he also knows some of the other Disc info, such as for the crowd dancing and charts, etc, as it's a complete mystery as to which source is correct regarding the correct order of Ringo Starr on 8/11/73.
Having him played over the credits is always possible, like for Back Off Boogaloo on 28/12/72, but also the crowd dancing by themselves, as to Only Sixteen on 28/2/74, so either are very logical, it's just difficult to know which source is accurate.
It also seems very logical that there is some justification in the running orders between Popscene and TOTP Playback though, due to them being completely identical, apart from where Ringo Starr appeared.
It was a brilliant show. Let's hope more of these TOTP Playback shows are aired in the not too distant future. :)
Claire
shaun tilley
Shaun Tilley has interviewed Lulu and Sue,along with Ed Stewart, about the 29.09.77 TOTP show.They danced to 'Waiting In Vain' by Bob Marley,and to the number one 'Way Down'.Here are three photos from Shaun's Facebook page.
Glenn
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