So far Armin and I have made out lists ready to email rage soon for January, 2017. Here is my Countdown Episodes suggestions list and underneath I have copied and pasted Armin's which he posted yesterday



Jason's COUNTDOWN Episode requests:

COUNTDOWN: Date: 16/03/1980
Show no: 231
Summary: GUEST PRESENTER IS STEVE GILPIN FROM MI –SEX.
LIVE STUDIO ITEMS:
MI-SEX – PEOPLE
RADIO ACTIVE – TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT
THE POLICE – WALKING ON THE MOON
DARRYL COTTON – SAME OLD GIRL
OVERSEAS ARTISTS VIDEO CLIPS:
CLASH – LONDON CALLING
GODLEY & CRÈME – AN ENGLISHMAN IN NEW YORK
PEARL HARBOUR & THE EXPLOSIONS – DRIVIN
MICHAEL JACKSON – ROCK WITH YOU
_______________________________________________________________________________


COUNTDOWN: Date: 04/05/1980
Show 238:
JON ENGLISH HOSTS THE SHOW.

LIVE STUDIO ITEMS:
SHARON O’NEAL – WORDS
JAMES FREUD & THE RADIO STARS – MODERN GIRL
SINCLAIR BROTHERS – IT MUST BE AUTUMN
JON ENGLISH – CARMILLA
TOMMY SHAW – BOAT ON THE RIVER

OVERSEAS ARTISTS VIDEO CLIPS:
CRAZE – MOTIONS
GARY NUMAN – ON BROADWAY
GODLEY & CRÈME – AN ENGLISHMAN IN NEW YORK AND MORE….

______________________________________________________________________________

COUNTDOWN: Date:17/08/1980
Show no: 253
Summary:CHERRY RIPE INTERVIEWS JAMES FREUD IN LONDON AND DJ'S FROM 6PM,5AD,7HT,3XY,4BC AND 2WS HOST THE SHOW AS A LEAD UP TO THE XANADU DANCING CONTEST.
LIVE STUDIO ITEMS:
VAPORS 'TURNING JAPANESE','WAITING FOR THE WEEKEND'
JO JO ZEP & THE FALCONS 'PUPPET ON A STRING'
LOCAL ARTISTS VIDEO CLIPS:
MENTAL AS ANYTHING 'COME AROUND'
OVERSEAS ARTISTS VIDEO CLIPS FROM:
ROLLING STONES, JONA LEWIE, KATE BUSH,
ROCKY BURNETTE, GRAHAM PARKER 'STUPEFACTION'

HUMDRUM ITEMS:
XANADU 'DANCIN'
CURE 'THE FOREST'
DEVO 'FREEDOM OF CHOICE'
MI-SEX 'IT ONLY HURTS WHEN I'M LAUGHING'


__________________________________________

COUNTDOWN: Date:22/06/1980
Show no: 245
Summary:SHOW IS HOSTED BY JAMES REYNE AND INCLS REGULAR SEGMENTS, CHARTBUSTERS AND HUMDRUM MUSIC NEWS, DURING WHICH MOLLY IV'S JANIS IAN RE HER SONGWRITING, GRAMMYS AND WORKING WITH GIORGIO MORODER.
STUDIO PERFORMANCES:
AUSTRALIAN CRAWL 'DOWNHEARTED'
CHRIS PELCER 'YOU CAN BE MY SLAVE'
JOHN FARNHAM 'HELP'
JANIS IAN 'FLY TOO HIGH'
JANIS IAN 'THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SUN'
VIDEO CLIPS FROM:
THE ROMANTICS, JUDIE TZUKE, SPARKS,
BROTHERS JOHNSON, THE VETERANS,
CHRISTOPHER, GARY NUMAN
______________________________________________


COUNTDOWN: Date:23/08/1981
Show no: 298
Summary:GUEST PRESENTER IS PAUL NORTHAM,LEAD SINGER FROM MEO245.
LIVE STUDIO ITEMS:
TOYSHOW 'THEN I KISSED HIM'
GILLIAN EASTOE 'ANYONE WHO HAD A HEART'
SERIOUS YOUNG INSECTS 'TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING WORDS'
LOCAL ARTISTS VIDEO CLIPS:
SWANEE 'IF I WERE A CARPENTER'
MEO245 'OTHER PLACES'


OVERSEAS ARTISTS VIDEO CLIPS FROM:
TOYAH, RAINBOW, PHD, QUICK,KIM CARNES,
KIM WILDE, DEVO
___________________________________________________

COUNTDOWN: Date – 11/04/1982
Episode:323
Summary: HOSTED BUY JO KENNEDY & ROSS O’DONOVAN ANS IS THE WEEK LEADING UP TO THE ROCK AWARDS. MOLLY INTERVIEWS JOAN ARMITRADING AND MEMBERS OF THE HUMAN LEAGUE

VIDEO CLIPS:
BLUE RONDO A LA TURK – ME & MR SANCHEZ
ROSS O’DONOVAN – I WANT TO LIVE IN A HOUSE
CHILLIWACK – GONE GONE GONE
DIVINYLS – ONLY LONELY
WENDY & THE ROCKETS – YOUR PLACE OR MINE
SHARON O’NEAL – ALL THE TEA IN CHINA
RICHARD CLAPTON – STRANGE

_________________________________________________

COUNTDOWN FRIDAY
Friday 13th August, 1982
MADNESS – HOUSE OF FUN
THE HONEYMOON – BREAK YOUR HEART
DADDY COOL – EAGJUICE NEWTON – LOVE’S BEEN A BIT HARD ON ME
ASIA – ONLY TIME WILL TELL
DONNA SUMMER – LOVE IS IN CONTROL
GREG KIHN BAND – HAPPY MAN
THE GLOBOS – TINTARELLA DI LUNA
THE DUGITES – NO MONEY
THE QUICK – THE RHYTHM OF THE JUNGLE
THE LITTLE HEROES – YOUNG HEARTS
PATRICE RUSHEN – FORGET ME NOTS
HAIRCUT 100 – FANTASTIC DAY

_______________________________________________


COUNTDOWN: Date:22/05/1983 Show no: 371
Summary:THIS EDITION OF COUNTDOWN FEATURED NO HOST OR STUDIO PERFORMANCES AND HUMDRUM WAS TAPED AT THE MIGHTY MUSIC MACHINE SHOP WHERE MOLLY IV'D OWNER RE HOW ALTERNATIVE, DANCE AND DISCO CHARTS ARE COMPILED. SHOW ENDED WITH MICHAEL JACKSON'S 'BEAT IT' VIDEO.
VIDEO CLIPS:
VENETIANS 'SOUND ON SOUND AND CLIPS FROM REAL LIFE, PRINCE, TEARS FOR FEARS, ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN, THOMAS DOLBY, SPANDAU BALLET AND MORE


________________________________________________

COUNTDOWN: Date:14/10/1984
Show no: 438
Summary:Summary: THIS SHOW IS HOSTED BY COMEDY DUO LOS TRIOS RINGBARKUS WHO ARE PERFORMING SKETCHES BETWEEN CLIPS. MOLLY AND MEATLOAF PRESENTING HUMDRUM VIA SATELLITE FROM LONDON.
LIVE STUDIO PERFORMANCE:
EUROGLIDERS - MAYBE ONLY I DREAM
VIDEO CLIPS:
KAM SHA 'HE WILL SLEEP PLUS TINA TURNER, COREY HART
MADONNA, MODELS, BRONSKI BEAT, CULTURE CLUB, LOS TRIOS AND MORE
__________________________________________________

COUNTDOWN: Date: 19/08/1984
Show no: 430
Summary: THIS SHOW WAS HOSTED BY DAVID REYNE
LOCAL ARTISTS:
THE TAKEAWAY’S - SWEET & SOUR
LE CLUB FOOTE – WARNING
VERTICAL HOLD – USA
NXS – BURN FOR YOU
OVERSEAS ARTISTS:
GUY DELANDRO - DRIVING ME WILD
BERLIN – NO MORE WORDS AND MORE …

_______________________________________________________________________________


COUNTDOWN: Date: 27/10/1985
Show no: 485
Summary: THIS SHOW IS HOSTED BY MEMBERS FROM KIDS IN THE KITCHEN AND PRESENTS FTG OF MICHAEL JACKSON IN PERTH. MOLLY IV SCOTT FROM KIDS IN THE KITCHEN RE ALBUM.;
LIVE STUDIO PERFORMANCES:;
PSEUDO ECHO 'DON'T GO';
KIDS IN THE KITCHEN 'NOT THE WAY';
JOHN SWAN & BAND 'SAY YOU'LL DO SOMETHING';
VIDEO CLIPS FROM:
MARK EDWARDS, THE CURE, KATE BUSH, ICEHOUSE, RED BOX, SIMPLE MINDS AND MORE ...

______________________________________________________________________________

COUNTDOWN: Date: 10/02/1985
Show no; 449

HOSTED BY KATE CEBERANO AND IAN COX

FEATURING:
I’M TALKING – TRUST ME
CULTURE CLUB – MISTAKE NO.3
COREY HART – IT AIN’T ENOUGH
NIK KERSHAW – THE RIDDLE
TEARS FOR FEARS =- SHOUT AND MORE …


_______________________________________________________________________________

COUNTDOWN: Date: 21/07/1985
Show no: 471

DAVE AND BRAD FROM HOODOO GURUS ARE THE HOSTS OF THIS SHOW.

LIVE STUDIO PERFORMANCES:
SCRITTI POLITTI – THE WORD GIRL (PRE RECORDED)
DO RE MI – MAN OVERBOARD (PRE RECORDED)

VIDEO CLIPS:

YELLO – VICIOUS GAMES
STEPHEN DUFFY – ICING ON THE CAKE
STING – IF YOU LOVE SOMEBODY (SET THEM FREE)
TINA TURNER – WE DON’T NEED ANOTHER HERO (IV RE SINGLE AND VIDEO CLIP) AND MORE …


___________________________________________________________________________

COUNTDOWN
Date: 10/08/1986
LIVE STUDIO PERFORMANCES:
I’M TALKING – HOLY WORD
GEISHA – PART TIME LOVE AFFAIR
VENETIANS – IF SOMEBODY LOVE’S YOU
DRAGON – DREAMS OF ORDINARY MEN
VIDEO CLIPS:
JEAN BEAUVOIR – FEEL THE HEAT
SPANDAU BALLET – FIGHT FOR OURSELVES
BOOM CRASH OPERA – HANDS UP IN THE AIR
BANANARAMA – VENUS
MODELS – EVOLUTION

_____________________________________________________________________________

COUNTDOWN:
Date: 09/01/1986 …. Show no: 3

THIS SHOW IS HOSTED BY MOLLY MELDRUM:
LOCALS ARTISTS:
KOO DE TAH – BODY TALK
MODELS – KING OF KINGS
MARK EDWARDS – WORLDS AWAY
OVERSEAS ARTISTS:
MATT BIANCO – YEH YEH
PLATINUM BLONDE – CRYING OVER YOU
NENA – IT’S ALL IN THE GAME
YIL TUESDAY – LOVE IN A VACUUM
ARCADIA – ELECTION DAY
THOMPSON TWINS – KING FOR A DAY
THE CURE – CLOSE TO ME
MICK JAGGER – HARD WOMAN
FERGAL SHARKEY – A GOOD HEART IS HARD TO FIND


___________________________________________________________________________


COUNTDOWN:
Date:09/11/1986
Show:534

MOLLY IV’S DAVID SYLVIAN, EX JAPAN RE SOLO ALBUM, POSSIBLE TOUR AND FUTURE PROJECTS INTERCUT WITH CLIP FOR ‘SILVER MOON’

PRE RECORDED STUDIO PERFORMANCE;
ICEHOUSE – CROSS THE BORDER

VIDEO CLIPS:
DEAD OR ALIVE – BRAND NEW LOVER
JOAN JETT – GOOD MUSIC
JANET JACKSON – WHEN I THINK OF YOU (INTRODUCED BY JANET JACKSON)
DURAN DURAN – NOTORIOUS
POLICE – DON’T STAND SO CLOSE AND MORE …

__________________________________________________________________________

COUNTDOWN: Date – 28/06/1987
SHOE HOSTED BY DAVE DOBYN

LIVE STUDIO PERFORMANCES:
THAT’S THAT – GIVE ME RHYTHM
BOOM CRASH OPERA – CITY FLAT
PAINTERS & DOCKERS – NUDE SCHOOL
DAVE DOOBYN – YOU OUGHTA BE IN LOVE

VIDEO CLIPS:
THE BIG SUPREME – PLEASE YOURSELF
JIM KEAYS – UNDECIDED
DAVID BOWIE – TIME WILL CRAWL
CAROL HBITCHCOCK – GET READY
THE CURE – WHY CAN’T I BE YOU
GO WEST – I WANT TO HEAR IT FROM YOU
BILLY IDOL – SWEET SIXTEEN

Armin's COUNTDOWN Episode requests: Post below copied and pasted from Armin *

The 4 main ones were:

March 16 1980 hosted by Steve Gilpin - One of the oldest surviving Countdown episode in broadcast quality that has never aired on Rage, not seen for 37 years with The Police live in the studio.

April 11 1982 (ep 323) hosted by Ross O'Donovan and Jo Kennedy from Starstruck. This episode was much anticipated when advertised last summer but unfortunately there is another Countdown episode also numbered 323 which was a Duran Duran Special (which had been shown before) which was played instead, presumably due to a mix up. It would be great if the Starstruck episode could be shown.

October 31 1982 - Advance Australia themed show full of Aussie live acts. This is one episode I often requested on the old forum. I think I first asked for this in about 2004 for the Australia Day weekend.

One episode that I suggested when Joe Cocker passed away but which I would like to see anyhow is October 19 1986 hosted by Angry Anderson and Cocker. The brilliant Jean Beauvoir performance of Feel The Heat, the debut of Noiseworks and a whole episode of clips that never get aired from Cutting Crew, Rose Tattoo, Icehouse, Jenny Morris, Do Re Mi, The Angels, Elton John, Joe Cocker and the Miami Vice man Don Johnson.



Others I wouldn't mind seeing:

June 28 1981 hosted by Daryl Cotton with 5 live acts in the studio.

January 3 1982 Summer Special - NZ Invasion. I know Nicholas has been asking for this episode for years as well.

December 4 1983 - hosted by Ross Wilson with some great clips by Mondo Rock, Dear Enemy, INXS, Little Heroes and Tim Finn. Computer One, Bon Voyage and Staring At The Embers clips have not aired on the ABC for over 30 years now - although being 1983 they are all likely to be Countdown produced clips and the Dear Enemy one did appear on the 1983 Christmas show but a different version was shown on October 16 so this may be a version not shown on Rage. Is that a good enough reason to show it? It's as good as any.

August 19 1984 hosted by David Reyne of ABC music show Sweet & Sour. Biggest cross promotion since Jesus but who cares.

February 17 1985 - hosted by Richard Bruce from Melbourne ska band No Nonense and Eric McCusker from Mondo Rock - 4 live acts and rare clips from Julian Lennon and Thompson Twins. Richard also hosted September 8 1985 - another episode not seen on Rage (where No Nonsense perform a lost classic in Simple Needs - I actually still have all 3 vinyl release versions, sad but true) and he was also a regular on Hey Hey panels for those that remember.

February 24 1985 or June 2 1985 hosted by Brian Mannix - I know Bwian is an acquired taste but I love his hosting which was always entertaining, which is no doubt why he hosted twice in one year....either that or he was cheap and available (don't answer that). 50 Years was the first song to knock We Are The World from No.1 in Melbourne after about 2 months (...at least that's how I remember it and I can't be bothered googling it to find out if it's true) and it is one of my favourite tracks from 1985. He asked where he was going to be in 50 years, well after 32 years he is struggling to get on to Rage.

April 28 1985 hosted by Ben who was chosen by Molly - if for no other reason than the rare Cats Under Pressure song Let Me Be which is an underrated classic Oz ballad. But if you do need another reason then Gang Gajang, Kids In The Kitchen and Pookah Makes Three should suffice.

1986, a most under represented year in the annals of Rage Countdown repeats, perhaps because the show was no longer at its peak. Probably best they start airing some of these before they have nothing left in the vaults apart from 1986.

August 10 1986 with I'm Taking, Geisha, Dragon and Venetians all live in the studio and rarer clips of Boom Crash Opera, Models, Spandau Ballet and Jean Beauvior.

September 7 1986 - 5 studio performances by Wa Wa Nee, Barry Michael, Geisha, Pseudo Echo and Boom Crash Opera. If that doesn't grab you then clips that never see the light of day by Queen, Peter Cetera (of Chicago), Daryl Hall (of Hall & Oates), Robert Palmer and Euro Disco queen Sinitta should be enough to help this over the line. Can't remember if they had a clip for Sinitta or Countdown Dancers but I did record it to cassette and the evidence still exists....or did I get that off the Australian Top 40 radio show on Fox FM on a Saturday night. Can't remember, obviously 31 years is too long ago so time to show it again.

March 30 1986 - another episode that Mr Mannix hosted that has not been aired. Rare clips from The Black Sorrows and FX, Chris Isaak's debut single Dancin' and few others that sound so 1986 due to the fact they haven't been heard since.

Heading into 1987 there are some decent offerings, never shown on Rage, still available:
March 1 1987 hosted by Dave Stewart has a great Aussie track by The Pony. Spy v Spy with Sallie-Anne (story of murder victim Sallie-Anne Huckstepp) and some clips from Kissing The Pink, The D.amned and Heaven 17 that I cannot recall....were they any good? Maybe not but we will never know if we don't see them (OK, we could check YouTube but where's the fun in that).

March 29 1987 hosted by Mondo Rock who appear live along with Chantoozies and clips from Aussie acts Jenny Morris, Colin James Hay and Talk That Walk which included ex-Pseudo Echo keyboardist Tony Lugton.

I've listed that many that even if they pay no attention to my email, law of averages says something from there might make it as they do aim to play non repeated episodes.

Good move, it needs it's own thread. Hopefully others will also make suggestions.

The Rage email for anyone interested is - rage@abc.net.au

I imagine we may have a good Countdown season if the new Countdown show revives interest again.

Just added this one as I a desperate for the video of CRAZE with MOTIONS, KILLLLLER track and video

COUNTDOWN: Date: 04/05/1980
Show 238:
JON ENGLISH HOSTS THE SHOW.

LIVE STUDIO ITEMS:
SHARON O’NEAL – WORDS
JAMES FREUD & THE RADIO STARS – MODERN GIRL
SINCLAIR BROTHERS – IT MUST BE AUTUMN
JON ENGLISH – CARMILLA
TOMMY SHAW – BOAT ON THE RIVER

OVERSEAS ARTISTS VIDEO CLIPS:
CRAZE – MOTIONS
GARY NUMAN – ON BROADWAY
GODLEY & CRÈME – AN ENGLISHMAN IN NEW YORK AND MORE….

I would love to see some Countdown Fridays with rare videos.

I'd also love to see some The Factory, which hasn't been shown since 2012, and a couple of Countdown Revolution episodes.

I also want retro go through until 7am/whenever it finishes on Sunday morning, instead of finishing at 5 so they can repeat slabs of the Saturday morning segments, as has happened in the last couple of years.

I looked ahead on the calendar, and next January is another 4 Saturday one. We don't get a 5 Saturday January again until 2021, then 2022. But 3 Januarys in a row with 5 Saturdays in 2026, 2027 and 2028. Hopefully rage and retro month are still going then, though I'm guessing they might have aired all of the Countdowns by then?

If I remember correctly, there is a slab of 1986 episodes yet to be screened, so no doubt a few of those will crop up in coming years.

There are a slab of 1986 Countdown Episodes to be played which is why I included 3 episodes from 1986 for January 2018's request list. I figure that if rage have to get through a chunk of 1986 episodes that I may as well request some at least interesting quality episodes so they don't just chose any random 1986 junk.

Here's my Countdown requests for Rage 2018 Retro season and there were:
September 29 1981 Wendy Stapleton (Wendy & The Rocketts) (standby program)
January 3 1982 Molly (Summer Special #3 New Zealand Invasion)
January 10 1982 Molly (Summer Special #4 Export bands)
28-Sep-1986 and 04-Oct-1986 Episode 528
I've still and still been waiting for my requests to be on Rage in ages.

I have emailed rage today my Countdown suggestions with a note e.t.c...

I will be pleased to have any of them played, it is a long list of 17 episodes but it gives them options.

My suggestions are filled with Countdown Studio Performances and the more RARER side of video clips.

If I get at least 5 episodes played out of the 17 I will be very pleased, will see what happens

The good thing about emailing rage a longer list of Countdown's is that is they chose to play episodes from certain years like 1986 which they haven't played a lot of. At least I have suggested episodes that has more studio performances and RARE clips.

Same goes for all the other years. Instead of choosing random episodes that haven't been played with a majority of common videos, suggesting Episodes with more RARE clips and most of all lots of Studio Performances means better episodes in a short period of 4 Saturday nights.

There is nothing worse in January than rage choosing Countdown episodes with common Video Clips that are mainly in the Top 15 with 1 or no Studio Performances, seeing we only have such a limited time to get to see Countdown Episodes. Waiting another 12 months and getting more boring episodes of Countdown is not great. Luckily over the past years rage have played more interesting episodes thanks to requests from myself, Patrick, Armin e.t.c...

The ABC are not about to continue releasing The Wonder Years DVD's with Studio Performances so best to get as many episodes as possible showcasing Countdown rather than generic videos that are easy to obtain ...

I'm gradually sorting out which ones to suggest for next January.

It's hard trying to balance which ones would be best but that's correct about avoiding anything with common clips in it- something rare is the way to go.

But there'll be a few 82/83 episodes (unaired before of course) chosen so far and I'll email my suggestions later this month.

Hopefully Rage will avoid any Recovery stuff and certainly no full episodes of The Factory like they played one year (an edited version maybe).

I definitely do NOT want Rage to air common clips in between Countdowns, etc - just play shows back to back to maximize the allotted timeslot - it's only once a year this happens so I want them to make the most of it.

Ok, I have now emailed Rage and left the same message on their Facebook page re: my Countdown requests. None of these have aired on Rage. I haven't asked for any 80/81/86 episodes as I'll leave that to others - as always with me there are lots of 82/83 episodes....


11 July 82 - James Reyne
19 September 82 - Globos
22 May 83 - no host
26 June 83 - Greedy Smith
18 September 83 - James Reyne
4 December 83 - Ross Wilson
19 August 84 - David Reyne
2 March 85 - Marc Hunter
27 October 85 - Kids in the Kitchen
16 April 87 - Underground Disco.


As usual the 87 Underground Disco show is in there - hopefully after (I think) 5 or so years of asking Rage might play it? I don't normally like 87 episodes like most people but am curious to see what the Underground Disco looked like - sounds like a good show.

Here's hoping for LOTS of Countdown and a great January season in 2018.

Well done Armin, Jason, Patrick and the rest of you - I fully concur with all the episode choices. Let us hope many of these are aired as January aint too far away. It comes around quick now which is pleasing. Nearly time to awaken from my hibernation. Although I believe there was a segment of very rare 70s stuff shown on one of the Rage vault specials during the year. Must have missed that one.

I've emailed rage to show us The Factory episode with Bros and Transvision Vamp. Hopefully the consider it with the new Bros tour.

I've emailed rage to show us The Factory episode with Bros and Transvision Vamp. Hopefully they consider it with the new Bros tour.

I did not know it was cancelled! Oh well, still a good episode though. Never was a Bros fan, but love 'I Owe You Nothing'. They were huge in '88 which is why I want to see this episode. I agree 3 hours is a bit long, but i don't think snippets woul cut it. Maybe a 3am start in Week 1? I too would love to see mmore stuff from '88 & '89. If only Countdown lasted until the end of the 80's.

Do we know for sure that Countdown is being repeated again in January?

Given the recent specials that were aired on Sunday Nights, and the fact that RAGE has being doing the January retro specials since 1993 now.

I think they might scale back to 1 or 2 episodes now, and put more Recovery etc into the playlists.

Retro Month is definitely back. My TV guide states:

rage Retro Month
11:52PM - 5:00AM
January is retro month on rage as we take our annual look back on the classic videos from the rage archive.

Not sure yet what they are going to show, but Countdown, as we know, is most popular amongst Rage watchers.

I think rage do keep their requests/suggestions list forever, as e.g. there were quite a few videos I'd suggested years earlier that were shown on the 2016 Saturday night Vault special. I also remember the moderator of the website forum saying once that you don't need to request things multiple times, as they keep a list.

As for email responses, don't expect them. But I think all the emails still get read, e.g. when I emailed them about the overscan lines issue in 2017, it was fixed for the next episode of rage that aired (it had been happening for months at that point), but I never received a reply.