Only their Top Of The Pops TV Studio appearances between 1968 and 2005

Top of the Pops (TOTP) was a British record chart television programme, made by the BBC and broadcast weekly between 1 January 1964 and 30 July 2006. The programme was the world's longest-running weekly music show. For most of its history, it was broadcast on Thursday evenings on BBC One. Each show consisted of performances of some of the week's best-selling popular music records, usually excluding any tracks moving down the chart, including a rundown of that week's singles chart. This was originally the Top 20, though this varied throughout the show's history. The Top 30 was used from 1969 and the Top 40 from 1984.

The show would include the highest new entry, and (if not featured in the previous week) the highest climber on the charts, and omit any song going down in the chart. Tracks could be featured in consecutive weeks in different formats. For example, if a song was played over the chart countdown or the closing credits, then it was acceptable for the act to appear in the studio the following week.

These rules were sometimes interpreted flexibly. It was originally based on the Top 20. By the 1970s, the Top 30 was being used and the show was extended from thirty to forty-five minutes duration and songs that were featured outside the charts were chosen to personal taste and judgement. The rules were more formally relaxed from 1997 when records descending the charts were featured more regularly, possibly as a response to the changing nature of the Top 40; in the late 1990s and early 2000s climbers in the charts were a rarity, with almost all singles peaking at their debut position.

When the programme's format changed in November 2003, it concentrated increasingly on the top 10. Later, during the BBC Two era, the top 20 was regarded as the main cut-off point, with the exception made for up and coming bands below the top 20. Singles from below the top 40 (within the top 75) were shown if the band were up and coming or had a strong selling album. If a single being performed was below the top 40, just the words "New Entry" were shown and not the chart position.

The first edition of Top of the Pops was broadcast on Wednesday, 1 January 1964 at 6:35 pm. It was produced in Studio A at Dickenson Road Studios in Rusholme, Manchester. Later in 1964, the broadcast time was moved to one hour later, at 7:35 pm, and the show moved from Wednesdays to what became its regular Thursday slot. Additionally its length was extended by 5 minutes to 30 minutes.

For the first three years Alan Freeman, David Jacobs, Pete Murray and Jimmy Savile rotated presenting duties, with the following week's presenter also appearing at the end of each show, although this practice ceased from October 1964 onwards.

The show was taped 52 weeks a year with no breaks. The chart came out on Tuesday mornings and the show aired live on Thursday evenings.This led to a process of difficult weekly planning, rescheduling, booking, and rebooking, as well as pre-recording of acts, particularly of American artists who might be advancing up the chart the following weeks, to ensure that each weeks top 20 would be able to appear on the show.

Initially acts performing on the show would mime (lip-sync) to the commercially released record, but in 1966 after discussions with the Musicians' Union, miming was banned. After a few weeks during which some bands' attempts to play as well as on their records were somewhat lacking, a compromise was reached whereby a specially recorded backing track was permitted, as long as all the musicians on the track were present in the studio and singing live vocals.

With the birth of BBC Radio 1 in 1967, new Radio 1 DJs were added to the roster like Dave Lee Travis, Stuart Henry, Emperor Rosko, Simon Dee, Tony Blackburn, John Peel, Kenny Everett, Noel Edmonds and later Tommy Vance, Mike Read, Steve Wright, David Jensen, Peter Powell, Gary Davies and Janice Long. 

After two years at the Manchester Dickenson Road Studios, the show moved to London (considered to be better located for bands to appear), initially for six months at BBC Television Centre Studio 2 and then to the larger Studio G at BBC Lime Grove Studios in mid-1966 to provide space for the Top of the Pops Orchestra, which was introduced at this time to provide live instrumentation on some performances (previously, acts had generally mimed to the records). In November 1969, with the introduction of colour, the show moved to BBC Television Centre, where it stayed until 1991, when it moved to Elstree Studios Studio C.

For a while in the early 1970s, non-chart songs were played on a more regular basis. To reflect the perceived growing importance of album sales, there was an album slot featuring three songs from a new LP, as well as a New Release spot and a feature of a new act, dubbed Tip for the Top. These features were dropped after a while, although the programme continued to feature new releases on a regular basis for the rest of the decade.

During its heyday, it attracted 15 million viewers each week. The peak TV audience of 19 million was recorded in 1979, during the ITV strike, with only BBC1 and BBC2 on air.

On 20 June 2006, the show was formally cancelled and it was announced that the last edition would be broadcast on 30 July 2006.

In its extensive history, Top of the Pops has featured many artists, many of whom have appeared more than once on the show to promote many of their records.

Cliff Richard appeared the most times on the show, with almost 160 performances and Status Quo were the most frequent group with 106 performances in total (includes repeats of performances, video clips, Audience dancing to the song and Legs & Co. Routine...)

`PICTURES OF MATCHSTICK MEN`

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Alan Lancaster, John Coghlan, Roy Lynes

Broadcasted: 8.2.1968 [mimed performance] / 15.2.1968 [live vocals]

Presenters: Pete Murray & Stuart Henry | Jimmy Savile & Dave Cash

Highest UK Chart Position: No. 7

`ICE IN THE SUN´ 

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Alan Lancaster, John Coghlan, Roy Lynes

Broadcasted: 1.8.1968 [mimed performance] / 19.9.1968 [mimed performance] / 10.10.1968 [mimed performance]

Presenters: Jimmy Savile | Jimmy Savile | Alan Freeman

Highest UK Chart Position: No. 8

`ARE YOU GROWING TIRED OF MY LOVE´

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Alan Lancaster, John Coghlan, Roy Lynes

Broadcasted: 22.5.1969 [mimed performance] 

Presenter: Tony Blackburn

Highest UK Chart Position: No. 46

`DOWN THE DUSTPIPE´

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Alan Lancaster, John Coghlan, Bob Young

Broadcasted: 11.6.1970 [mimed performance] 

Presenter: Tony Blackburn

Highest UK Chart Position: No. 12

`IN MY CHAIR´

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Alan Lancaster, John Coghlan

Broadcasted: 22.10.1970 [mimed performance] 

Presenter: Jimmy Savile

Highest UK Chart Position: No. 21

`PAPER PLANE´

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Alan Lancaster, John Coghlan

Broadcasted: 4.1.1973 [mimed performance] / 18.1.1973 [mimed performance]

Presenters: Jimmy Savile | Tony Blackburn

Highest UK Chart Position: No. 8

`CAROLINE´

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Alan Lancaster, John Coghlan

Broadcasted: 20.9.1973 [mimed performance] / 27.9.1973 [mimed performance] / 18.10.1973 [mimed performance]  

Presenters: Jimmy Savile | Noel Edmonds | Tony Blackburn

Highest UK Chart Position: No. 5

`BREAK THE RULES´

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Alan Lancaster, John Coghlan, Roy Lynes

Broadcasted: 16.5.1974 [mimed performance]

Presenter: Dave Lee Travis

Highest UK Chart Position: No. 8

`DOWN DOWN´

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Alan Lancaster, John Coghlan

Broadcasted: 2.1.1975 [mimed performance]

Presenter: Jimmy Savile

Highest UK Chart Position: No. 1

`WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING´

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Alan Lancaster, John Coghlan, Andy Bown

Broadcasted: 9.10.1980 [mimed performance] / 23.10.1980 [mimed performance]

Presenters: Peter Powell | Dave Lee Travis

Highest UK Chart Position: No. 2

`SOMETHIN' BOUT YOU BABY I LIKE´

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Alan Lancaster, John Coghlan, Andy Bown

Broadcasted: 26.2.1981 [mimed performance]

Presenter: Peter Powell

Highest UK Chart Position: No. 9

`ROCK 'N' ROLL´

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Alan Lancaster, John Coghlan, Andy Bown

Broadcasted: 3.12.1981 [mimed performance]

Presenter: David Jensen

Highest UK Chart Position: No. 8

`DEAR JOHN´

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Alan Lancaster, Andy Bown, Pete Kircher

Broadcasted: 1.4.1982 [mimed performance]

Presenter: John Peel

Highest UK Chart Position: No. 10

`SHE DON'T FOOL ME´

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Alan Lancaster, Andy Bown, Pete Kircher

Broadcasted: 24.6.1982 [mimed performance]

Presenter: Dave Lee Travis

Highest UK Chart Position: No. 36

`OL' RAG BLUES´

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Alan Lancaster, Andy Bown, Pete Kircher

Broadcasted: 9.8.1983 [mimed performance]

Presenters: Peter Powell & Andy Peebles

Highest UK Chart Position: No. 9

`A MESS OF BLUES´

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Andy Bown, Pete Kircher (Alan missing)

Broadcasted: 3.11.1983 [mimed performance]

Presenters: Peter Powell & Mike Read

Highest UK Chart Position: No. 15

`MARGUERITA TIME´

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Alan Lancaster, Andy Bown, Pete Kircher - Guest: Jim Lea* (Alan missing*)

Broadcasted: 15.12.1983 [mimed performance] / 5.1.1984* [mimed performance]

Presenters: Simon Bates & Janice Long | John Peel & David Jensen

Highest UK Chart Position: No. 3

`GOING DOWN TOWN TONIGHT´

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Alan Lancaster, Andy Bown, Pete Kircher

Broadcasted: 24.5.1984 [mimed performance] 

Presenters: Mike Smith & Janice Long

Highest UK Chart Position: No. 20

`THE WANDERER´

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Alan Lancaster, Andy Bown, Pete Kircher

Broadcasted: 25.10.1984 [mimed performance] 

Presenters: Peter Powell & Dave Lee Travis

Highest UK Chart Position: No. 7

`ROLLING HOME´

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, John Edwards, Andy Bown, Jeff Rich

Broadcasted: 15.5.1986 [mimed performance] 

Presenters: Simon Bates & Mike Smith

Highest UK Chart Position: No. 9

`RED SKY´

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, John Edwards, Andy Bown - Guest: Kenny Jones (Jeff Rich missing)

Broadcasted: 7.8.1986 [mimed performance] 

Presenter: Mike Smith

Highest UK Chart Position: No. 19

`IN THE ARMY NOW´

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, John Edwards, Andy Bown, Jeff Rich 

Broadcasted: 2.10.1986 [mimed performance] 

Presenter: Mike Smith

Highest UK Chart Position: No. 2

`DREAMING´

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, John Edwards, Andy Bown, Jeff Rich 

Broadcasted: 1.1.1987 [mimed performance] 

Presenter: Gary Davies

Highest UK Chart Position: No. 15

`BURNING BRIDGES´

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, John Edwards, Jeff Rich - Guest: Josh Phillips* (Andy missing)

Broadcasted: 8.12.1988* [mimed performance] / 28.12.1989 [mimed performance]

Presenters: Nicky Campbell & Caron Keating | Paul Gambaccini & Mike Read

Highest UK Chart Position: No. 5

`ROCKIN'ALL OVER THE WORLD´ Christmas Special

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, John Edwards, Andy Bown, Jeff Rich 

Broadcasted: 24.12.1988 [mimed performance] 

Presenters: Introduced by past and present Radio 1 DJs, including Jimmy Savile, Mike Read & Paul Gambaccini.

Highest UK Chart Position: No. /

`THE ANNIVERSARY WALTZ Pt. 1´

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, John Edwards, Andy Bown, Jeff Rich 

Broadcasted: 27.9.1990 [mimed performance] / 25.12.1990 [mimed performance]

Presenters: Anthea Turner | Mark Goodier & Anthea Turner

Highest UK Chart Position: No. 2

`LET'S WORK TOGETHER´

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, John Edwards, Andy Bown, Jeff Rich 

Broadcasted: 3.10.1991 [live vocals] 

Presenters: Tony Dortie & Mark Franklin

Highest UK Chart Position: No. /

`ROADHOUSE MEDLEY´

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, John Edwards, Andy Bown, Jeff Rich 

Broadcasted: 1.10.1992 [live performances via Satellite from Amsterdam TV Studio] 

Presenters: Mark Franklin & Claudia Simon

Highest UK Chart Position: No. 21

`I DIDN'T MEAN IT´

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, John Edwards, Andy Bown, Jeff Rich 

Broadcasted: 4.8.1994 [live vocals] 

Presenter: Mark Goodier

Highest UK Chart Position: No. 21

`JAM SIDE DOWN´

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, John Edwards, Andy Bown, Matt Letley

Broadcasted: 16.8.2002 [live vocals] 

Presenter: Richard Blackwood

Highest UK Chart Position: No. 17

`ROCKIN'ALL OVER THE WORLD´  2000th Special Show

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, John Edwards, Andy Bown, Matt Letley

Broadcasted: 13.9.2002 [live performance] 

Presenters: Jamie Theakston & Sarah Cawood 

Highest UK Chart Position: No. /

`THE PARTY AIN'T OVER YET´  

Bandmembers: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, John Edwards, Andy Bown, Matt Letley

Broadcasted: 19.8.2005 [live vocals] 

Presenters: Fearne Cotton & Richard Bacon

Highest UK Chart Position: No. 11