#78 (Pt 2): 16.2.78 – Paint Along With Nancy Spungeon

#78 (Pt 2): 16.2.78 – Paint Along With Nancy Spungeon

Author: Chart Music May 5, 2026 Duration: 1:33:51

Simon PriceDavid Stubbs and Al Needham begin their odyssey through this episode of The Pops, and what a opening! We get a blast of a tune none of us have heard before, followed by Tom Robinson not being allowed to self-admit his Gayness upon the nation, and then we get the British television debut of Kate Bush, trying to beguile the surly youth of Albion as the TOTP Orchestra demonstrate they’re more than a red-hot Reggae band...


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Chart Music: the Top Of The Pops Podcast is a deep, often hilarious dive into the archives of the iconic BBC television show. Each episode focuses on a single, random broadcast of Top of the Pops, subjecting it to a forensic and affectionate analysis that only a panel of former Melody Maker critics could provide. Hosted by Al Needham alongside creators Sarah Bee, Neil Kulkarni, Taylor Parkes, Simon Price, and David Stubbs, this podcast dissects the performances, fashion, and cultural moment of each show with a unique blend of expertise and nostalgia. Listeners will hear detailed commentary that treats pop history with both seriousness and irreverence, uncovering the stories behind the hits and the oddities that defined Thursday night viewing for generations. It’s more than a recap; it’s a critical reappraisal of a pop institution, exploring how music, television, and memory intertwine. The conversation is insightful, witty, and packed with the kind of context only insiders can offer, making each episode a time capsule opened with care and a sharp eye. For anyone fascinated by the evolution of pop culture and the specific alchemy of a weekly chart show, this podcast provides an endlessly engaging listen.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Chart Music: the Top Of The Pops Podcast
Podcast Episodes
#72 (Pt 1): 3.10.85 – Rod Vicious [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:12:34
Simon Price, Rock Expert David Stubbs and Al Needham prepare for a punishing slog through a post-Live Aid episode of The Pops – but first, a good hard shill of their new books, which are out NOW/SOON. We leaf through tha…
#71: March 19th 1981 – Shaky Of The Dorm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:16:56
The latest episode of the podcast which asks; Whoops Scotties, Tasty Tarts Foster Grants or Allied For Carpets For You?Oh yes – it’s back to the Eighventies we go, Pop-Crazed Youngsters, to a year where everyone was load…
#71 (Pt 4): 19.3.81 – Shaky Of The Dorm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:46:17
Neil Kulkarni, Taylor Parkes and Al Needham finally stumble upon the real 1981 – Strange The Clock, and the New Street Station Dolls – while Al deals with an industrial dispute over Toyah by locking Neil and Taylor out a…
#71 (Pt 3): 19.3.81 – Shaky Of The Dorm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:09:14
Neil Kulkarni, Taylor Parkes and Al Needham plough on through this episode from the tail-end of the Eighventies, stopping for a deep, deep, deep dive on the post-Moon Who. Legs & Co say farewell to Pauline by sitting abo…
#71 (Pt 2): 19.3.81 – Shaky Of The Dorm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:38:17
Neil Kulkarni, Taylor Parkes and Al Needham commence their odyssey into the March 19th 1981 episode, and are horrified to discover that the Top Of The Pops Orchestra are still knocking about, and The Kids – who are suppo…
#71 (Pt 1): 19.3.81 – Shaky Of The Dorm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:50:18
Neil Kulkarni, Taylor Parkes and Al Needham prepare the stage for a late-Eighventies episode of The Pops – but first, it’s a flick through that week’s NME, Rod Hull and Emu pay tribute to Rolls-Royce, Neil speaks of his…
#70: April 17th 1986 – The Rishi Sunak Of Top Of The Pops [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:08:07
The latest episode of the podcast which asks; has Rock Expert David Stubbs come from The Sky?After all the lovely Pop trifle we’ve had in recent episodes, Pop-Crazed Youngsters, it’s time for some necessary roughage, as…
#70 (Pt 4): 17.4.86 – The Rishi Sunak Of TOTP [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:39:51
Neil Kulkarni, Sarah Bee and Al Needham finally claw their way up the final furlong on an episode of TOTP that’s been better than any episode set in 1986 has a right to be. Neil issues a come-and-get-me statement to Jane…
#70 (Pt 3): 17.4.86 – The Rishi Sunak Of TOTP [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:30:27
Sarah Bee, Neil Kulkarni and Al Needham plunge deeper into the 17.4.86 episode as we hit the Breakers section. Suzanne Vega slaps it about with assorted extras from Bonfire Of The Vanities, and then we get hit with REAL…
#70 (Pt 2): 17.4.86 – The Rishi Sunak Of TOTP [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:35
Neil Kulkarni, Sarah Bee and Al Needham get stuck into the hellscape of 1986, and discover that it’s not that rammel, actually. We gaze upon the even-toed ungulate splendour of Gary Davies – a man who divides his time be…