Smokie’s “It’s Your Life” released as a single in the early summer of 1977 and a few months later appeared on the band’s Bright Lights & Back Alleys LP. This reggae-flavored tune was written by the hit machine duo Mike … Continue reading →
Here’s a fascinating three minutes of must-watch footage for David Bowie fans. On October 15, 1977 Bowie visited the TopPop studios in the Netherlands for a round of local promotion and to shoot an appearance singing “Heroes.” I found Bowie’s … Continue reading →
Blondie recorded their version of Randy & the Rainbows’ “Denise” for the Plastic Letters L.P. in 1977 (released in ’78). The “Denis” single climbed all the way to #2 on the UK charts. Here’s Deborah Harry and the band performing … Continue reading →
The Bryan Ferry-penned “All I Want Is You” appeared on Roxy Music’s Country Life L.P. in 1974. The single reached #12 on the UK charts. Soak up Roxy Music in their prime performing on the Dutch music show TopPop on … Continue reading →
As a sort of pre-Valentine’s Day treat, here’s Nazareth performing “Love Hurts” on Dutch music show TopPop in November of 1974. Nazareth’s version of “Love Hurts” appeared on the group’s Hair of the Dog album and hit #8 on the … Continue reading →
Well, hey, it’s The Brothers Johnson serenading us with their hit, “Strawberry Letter 23.” “Strawberry Letter 23” was written by (the ahead-of-his-time) Shuggie Otis in 1971 while still a teenager. The Brothers Johnson’s version appeared on their 1977 L.P., Right … Continue reading →
One of the finest pop singles of the ’70s is gracing Playback! today. Tune in for XTC performing “Making Plans For Nigel” on Dutch TV’s TopPop in October of 1979. “Making Plans For Nigel” appeared on XTC’s Drums and Wires … Continue reading →
When Rufus and Chaka Khan get together you know something good is going to happen. Here they are on TopPop in 1975 performing “Once You Get Started.” “Once You Get Started” (written by Gavin Christopher) originally appeared on the Rufusized … Continue reading →
Here’s Al Stewart performing “Year Of The Cat” for TopPop in 1977. “Year of the Cat” originally appeared on the L.P. of the same name in 1976. The song clawed its way to #8 on the US Hot 100 and … Continue reading →
Since we can never have enough Bob Marley in our lives, here’s the artist, along with the Wailers, performing “Positive Vibration.” The clip below aired on the Dutch TV show TopPop in November 1978. It was filmed, like the “Roots, … Continue reading →