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COUNTDOWN IS BACK THIS JANUARY, 2019 ...  ON rage !!!!!
Stay tuned below with regular Countdown full archival information for each Countdown episode rage shall be airing every Saturday throughout January ...

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rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th January,

Continuing with the second installment of 'rage goes retro '2' for this Saturday night, 12th January, 2019 ...
rage are playing five 80s Countdown episodes!. I have a timer code copy of the David Sterry episode of Countdown from 0/10/1983 but it is such a GREAAAAT episode so very cool, the 1986 episode is R A T - - - - - S H I T and it's the 500th episode with no studio performances, go figure :-( The 1987 is also not great ... My 1982 request is being played, I have it in timercode but I wanted Rough Trade and Outline with no timer code on the copy ...


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Year: 1983
Date: 9/10/1983
Show no: 391
Summary: THIS SHOW HOSTED BY MEMBERS OF GROUP 'REAL LIFE' WITH MOLLY (WITH HAT) AS CO-HOST. IN HUMDRUM MOLLY SHOWS UK TOP FIVE & US TOP FIVE AND FIRST TV APPEARANCE OF GROUP 'POLICE'. MOLLY WITH DAVID STERRY (OF 'REAL LIFE') RE NEW ALBUM, TOURING, AMERICAN RELEASE, AND COMMENTS FROM JAMES REYNE. SHOW INCLUDES 'AD'S' FOR 'COUNTDOWN FLIPSIDE' SHOW AND 'ROCK ARENA'
LIVE ARTISTS:
REAL LIFE 'OPENHEARTED' (LIVE)
EXPRESSION 'DECISIONS' (LIVE)
ALLNITERS (SYDNEY BAND) 'MONTEGO BAY'
KIDS IN THE KITCHEN 'CHANGE IN MOOD'
DECKCHAIRS OVERBOARD 'SHOUT' (LIVE FROM SYDNEY)
AUSTRALIAN CRAWL 'RECKLESS' (CHARTBUSTER)
OVERSEAS ARTISTS:
STYLE COUNCIL 'LONG HOT SUMMER'
GENESIS 'MAMA'
POLICE 'CANT STAND LOSING YOU' (1ST TV APPEARANCE)
MECO 'EWOK CELEBRATION' (FROM MOVIE 'RETURN OF THE
JEDI')
MICHAEL SEMBELLO 'AUTOMATIC MAN' (LIVE)
UK TOP FIVE:
PAUL YOUNG 'COME BACK & STAY' (NO.5)
ROBERTA FLACK & PEBOE BRYSON 'TONIGHT I CELEBRATE MY
LOVE' (NO.4)
DAVID BOWIE 'MODERN LOVE' (NO.3)
UB40 'RED RED WINE' (NO.2)
CULTURE CLUB 'KARMA CHAMELEON' (NO.1)
US TOP FIVE:
STRAY CATS 'SHE'S SEXY & 17' (NO.5)
SPANDAU BALLET 'TRUE' (NO.4)
POLICE 'KING OF PAIN' (NO.3)
AIR SUPPLY 'MAKING LOVE OUT OF NOTHING AT ALL' (NO.2)
BONNIE TYLER 'TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART' (NO.1)
NATIONAL TOP TEN (ACTUALLY 'TOP TWELVE' AS TWO HITS RE
AMERICA'S CUP WERE INCLUDED):
ALAN CASWELL 'THE AUSTRALIA'S CUP' (NO.17)
MEN AT WORK 'DOWN UNDER' (NO.12)
ELTON JOHN 'I GUESS THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT THE BLUES'(NO.10)
AUSTRALIAN CRAWL 'RECKLESS' (NO.9)
MEN WITHOUT HATS 'SAFETY DANCE' (NO.8)
FREEEZ 'IOU' (NO.7)
GLENN SHORROCK 'WE'RE COMING TO GET YOU' (NO.6)
TACO 'PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ' (NO.5)
DRAGON 'RAIN' (NO.4)
CULTURE CLUB ' KARMA CHAMELEON' (NO.3)
PAT WILSON 'BOP GIRL' (NO.2)
AUSTEN TAYSHUS 'AUSTRALIANA' (NO.1)
COUNTDOWN THEME:
B MILLER 'COUNTDOWN THEME'


_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Year:1986
Date: 16/3/1986
Show no: 500
Summary: THIS 500TH SHOW IS HOSTED BY TIM FINN AND MOLLY WHO IV TIM RE ALBUM, SINGLE AND SOLO TOUR. ALL NOMINATIONS FOR THE COUNTDOWN MUSIC AND VIDEO AWARD ARE ANNOUNCED.
VIDEO CLIPS:
HOODOO GURUS 'DEATH DEFYING'
THE JOHNNYS 'SHOWDOWN'
DIANA ROSS 'CHAIN REACTION'
WATERBOYS 'THE WHOLE OF THE MOON'
VIOLENT FEMMES 'CHILDREN OF THE REVOLUTION'
CLEMONS/BROWNIE 'YOU'RE A FRIEND OF MINE'
PRINCE 'KISS'
DAVID BOWIE 'ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS'
ROLLING STONES 'HARLEM SHUFFLE' AND IV RE ALBUM AND TOUR
JOHN TAYLOR 'I DO WHAT I DO'
CHARTBUSTERS (EXCERPTS):
MIKE & THE MECHANICS 'SILENT RUNNING'
WHITNEY HOUSTON 'HOW WILL I KNOW'
STEVIE NICKS 'TALK TO ME'
STING 'RUSSIANS'
HUMDRUM (EXCERPTS):
C O C K ROBIN 'THE PROMISE YOU MADE'
ROBERT PALMER 'ADDICTED TO LOVE'
TOP TEN:
TALKING HEADS 'AND SHE WAS'
DAVID BOWIE 'ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS'
STARSHIP 'WE BUILT THIS CITY'
FEARGAL SHARKEY 'YOU LITTLE THIEF'
PSEUDO ECHO 'LOVE AN ADVENTURE'
FEARGAL SHARKEY 'A GOOD HEART'
MARTIN PLAZA 'CONCRETE AND CLAY'
BRONSKI BEAT 'HIT THAT PERFECT BEAT'
DIONNE & FRIENDS 'THAT'S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR'
BILLY OCEAN 'WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GET GOING'


_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Year:1987
Date:1/3/1987
Show no:543
Summary:
POPULAR MUSIC SERIES FEATURING OVERSEAS AND LOCAL TALENT, THIS SHOW HOSTED BY DAVE STEWART, NATIONAL TOP TEN ARE READ WITH BRIEF CLIPS ONLY, WITH FULL CLIP OF NUMBER 1 KIM WILDE 'YOU KEEP ME HANGIN' ON' (53.29) MOLLY MELDRUM'S SEGEMENT (WITH HAT) RECORDED FROM THE HIPPODROME RE REVIEW OF NEW ABULMS AND AUSTRALIAN BANDS OVERSEAS.
LOCAL ARTISTS:

THE COCKROACHES 'SHE'S THE ONE' (LIVE) (1.01)

V SPY V SPY 'SALLIE-ANNE' (11.02)

MODELS 'HOLD ON' (23.52)

THE REELS 'LOVE GROWS' (32.13)

THE PONY 'I LIED' (LIVE) (39.30)

OVERSEAS ARTISTS:

EURYTHMICS 'MIRACLE OF LOVE' (4.12)

KISSING THE PINK 'NEVER TOO LATE TO LOVE YOU'(7.48)

THE PRETENDERS 'MY BABY' (16.30)

THE D A M N E D 'GIGOLO' (20.23)

STACEY Q 'WE CONNECT' (28.05)

HEAVEN 17 'CONTENDERS' (34.50)

GEORGE MICHAEL & ARETHA FRANKLIN 'I KNEW YOU WERE WAITING' (44.24)

NATIONAL TOP TEN 10-2

CROWDED HOUSE 'DON'T DREAM IT'S OVER' (50.45)

THE ANGEL 'WE GOTTA GET OUT OF THIS PLACE' (51.08)

DEBBIE HARRY 'FRENCH KISSIN' IN THE USA (51.26)

ARETHA FRANKLIN/GEORGE MICHAEL 'I KNEW YOU WERE WAITING' (51.39)

PSEUDO ECHO 'FUNKYTOWN' (51.50)

NEW ORDER 'BIZARRE LOVE TRIANGLE' (52.08)

JOHN FARNHAM 'PRESSURE DOWN' (52.25)

BORIS GARDINER 'I WANNA WAKE UP WITH YOU' (52.42)

BANGLES 'WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN' (52.53)



_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Year:1985
Date:3/11/1985
Show no:486
Summary:MOLLY AND BOB GELDOF HOST THIS SHOW FROM SYDNEY AND THERE IS NO STUDIO AUDIENCE. MOLLY TALKS TO GELDOF ABOUT LIVE AID, MONEY RAISED AND AUSTRALIA'S INVOLVEMENT IN LIVE AID CONCERT. EXCERPTS SHOWN OF GELDOF DURING LIVE AID CONCERT, ELTON JOHN IN VIDEO MADE FOR SCHOOLS TO SUPPORT LIVE AID AND AUSTRALIAN BANDS PERFORMING DURING LIVE AID CONCERT.
CHARTBUSTERS (EXCERPTS):

MIDGE URE 'IF I WAS'

DIVINYLS 'PLEASURE & PAIN'

PREFAB SPROUT 'APPETITE'

JENNIFER RUSH 'POWER OF LOVE'

VIDEO CLIPS:

REAL LIFE 'FACE TO FACE'

AUSTRALIAN CRAWL 'TROUBLE SPOT ROCK'

MODELS 'COLD FEVER'

THE ADVENTURE 'OVER THE WALLS'

THE HOOTERS 'AND WE DANCED'

ELTON JOHN 'NIKITA'

STING 'LOVE IS THE SEVENTH WAVE'

COREY HART 'BOY IN A BOX' INTERCUT WITH IV RE
SONGWRITING

STEVIE WONDER 'PART TIME LOVER'

DEAD OR ALIVE 'MY HEART GOES BANG'

HUMDRUM EXCERPTS:

INXS 'THIS TIME'
TRANS X 'LIVING ON VIDEO'

NATIONAL TOP 10:

THE HOOTERS 'AND WE DANCED'

JENNIFER RUSH 'POWER OF LOVE'

KATE BUSH 'RUNNING UP THAT HILL'

JOHN PARR 'ST ELMO'S FIRE'

TIME BANDITS 'ENDLESS ROAD'

DIRE STRAITS 'MONEY FOR NOTHING'

STEVIE WONDER 'PART TIME LOVER'

A-HA 'TAKE ON ME'

BOWIE/JAGGER 'DANCING IN THE STREET'

UB40/CHRISSIE HYNDE 'I GOT YOU BABE'

SHOW ENDS WITH LIVE AID VERSION OF BAND AID 'DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS'




_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Year:1982
Date:12/09/1982
Show no:345
Summary:
THIS SHOW IS HOSTED BY JOHN FARNHAM & LRB'S DRUMMER AND LIVE ACTS ARE LRB, OUTLINE,INXS AND AUSTRALIAN CRAWL. MOLLY PRESENTS MUSIC NEWS IN 'HUMDRUM' & APPEARS WITH FARNHAM & LEAD SINGER OF AUSTRALIAN CRAWL TO ANNOUNCE TOP SONG FOR THE WEEK. A GORILLAGRAM IS READ TO MOLLY WHO IS WEARING 'STAR' ANTENNAE GIVEN TO HIM BY A MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE BECAUSE IT 'MAKES HIM LOOK LIKE A FAIRY'.
LIVE STUDIO ITEMS:

LRB 'DOWN ON THE BORDER'

OUTLINE 'MAYBE IT'S A GAME'

INXS 'ONE THING'

AUSTRALIAN CRAWL 'DAUGHTERS OF THE NORTHERN COAST'

VIDEO CLIPS:

ROUGH TRADE 'ALL TOUCH'

MENTAL AS ANYTHING 'I DIDN'T MEAN TO BE MEAN'

ICEHOUSE 'GREAT SOUTHERN LAND'

CLIFF RICHARD 'THE ONLY WAY OUT'

DEXY MIDNIGHT RUNNERS 'COME ON EILEEN'

OLIVIA NEWTON JOHN 'HEART ATTACK'

SHEENA EASTON 'MACHINERY'

TRIO 'DA DA DA'

DURAN DURAN 'RIO'

MADNESS 'DRIVING IN MY CAR'

HUMDRUM:

COLD CHISEL 'BOW RIVER'

STRANGLERS 'STRANGE LITTLE GIRL'

YAZOO 'DON'T GO'

TOP TEN ITEMS:

YAZOO 'ONLY YOU'

MADNESS 'HOUSE OF FUN'

LRB 'DOWN ON THE BORDER'

CHICAGO 'HARD TO SAY I'M SORRY'

MEMBERS 'RADIO'

JOHN COUGAR, LATER KNOWN AS JOHN COUGAR MELLENCAMP AND
JOHN MELLENCAMP 'HURTS SO GOOD'

RAY PARKER JNR 'THE OTHER WOMAN'

CHEAP TRICK 'IF YOU WANT MY LOVE
'
SURVIVOR 'EYE OF THE TIGER'

STEVE MILLER BAND 'ABRACADABRA'



_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

Thanks, Jason.

See, no GTK yet :laughing:

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

Haven't fully absorbed it yet but 5 eighties episodes seems promising.

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

I'll be happy enough to get :
John Taylor - I Do What I Do
Real Life - Face To Face
LRB - Down On The Border

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Jan,

ohnoitisnathan
Thanks, Jason.

See, no GTK yet :laughing:
I looked at the Sunday morning programming and rage are playing the very exact retro videos which I posted below as they are on Saturday morning, this could have been another Countdown or Rock Arena or even GTK. Interesting thatrage are keeping the retro them going up until 6:00 am on Sunday morning.

5:00am
THE BOOMTOWN RATS I Don't Like Mondays (Sony)
BOOMTOWN RATS Banana Republic (Polydor)
BOB GELDOF The Great Song Of Indifference (Polydor)
REAL LIFE Send Me An Angel (BMG)
REAL LIFE God Tonight (BMG)
JOHN FARNHAM Pressure Down (Sony)
EURYTHMICS Here Comes The Rain Again (BMG)
EURYTHMICS There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart) (BMG)
5:30am
EURYTHMICS Sweet Dreams (Universal (MCA))
LITTLE RIVER BAND Help Is On Its Way (EMI)
SPLIT ENZ I See Red (Fest/Mush)
SPLIT ENZ Late Last Night (Festival)
SPLIT ENZ Stranger Than Fiction (March 24th, 1975) ()

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

Very happy- five countdowns each from a different year.

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Jan,

Brad
I'll be happy enough to get :
John Taylor - I Do What I Do
Real Life - Face To Face
LRB - Down On The Border
The only saving grace of the 1986 episode is John Taylor, the rest is just ghastly. The 1985 episode is quite good, looking forward to that one. Nice to get Real Life with Face To Face. Pity rage don't have the video for Babies ...

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

A couple of GTK's following the 1982 Countdown

CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL on GTK Interview by Jeune Pritchard and live perfomances, Sydney (ABC)
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL Looking Out My Back Door (Festival)
4:30am
DADDY COOL Interview From GTK (Festival)
DADDY COOL Flip - live on GTK (Independent)
DADDY COOL Come Back Again (Live at Ridgetop Pop Festival, 1974) ()
DADDY COOL Lollipop (Live on Eyeforce, 1971) ()

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

ohnoitisnathan
Thanks, Jason.

See, no GTK yet :laughing:
There is some GTK after Countdown but no full show.

CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL on GTK Interview by Jeune Pritchard and live performances, Sydney (ABC)
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL Looking Out My Back Door (Festival)
4:30am
DADDY COOL Interview From GTK (Festival)
DADDY COOL Flip - live on GTK (Independent)
DADDY COOL Come Back Again (Live at Ridgetop Pop Festival, 1974) ()
DADDY COOL Lollipop (Live on Eyeforce, 1971) ()



Credence Clearwater Revival always seem to get a look in during Retro Month, go figure ...

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

Eleven Countdown episodes in 2 weeks of Retro Month ... I'm happy! Very happy! I just hope the Countdowns keep coming in the second half of the month.

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

RetroTragic
Eleven Countdown episodes in 2 weeks of Retro Month ... I'm happy! Very happy! I just hope the Countdowns keep coming in the second half of the month.
I think on rage goes retro 3 there will be a vast amount of GTK and probably only 2 or =3 Countdown's or even worse Recovery. I would love a few Rock Arena's on weekend 3.

On rage goes retro 4, rage usually play a vast amount of Countdown episodes so hopefully that will be the case again this year.

I hope after this weekend rage play more episodes with Studio Performances as the 1985 and 1986 episodes this weekend are very video clip orientated. Looking forward to Corey Hart with the interview and of course Real Life with Face To Face, which should have been a massive hit!

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Jan,

Jason "The Moderator"
Brad
I\'ll be happy enough to get :
John Taylor - I Do What I Do
Real Life - Face To Face
LRB - Down On The Border
The only saving grace of the 1986 episode is John Taylor, the rest is just ghastly. The 1985 episode is quite good, looking forward to that one. Nice to get Real Life with Face To Face. Pity rage don't have the video for Babies ...
I remember watching that 1986 episode at the time. I was in a country area and Countdown was almost the only access I had to music videos, so it was a disappointment in weeks like this where most were quite dull, almost alternative and lacking the usual vibrancy of Countdown choices.

I also vividly remember the 1985 episode, but was disappointed when 'Boy In The Box' was interrupted by a Corey Hart interview, as I wanted the full song and that was the only time I ever saw it. The same happened a bit later with the only airing of "Say I'm Your Number One' interrupted by a Princess interview.

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

Jason "The Moderator"
Credence Clearwater Revival always seem to get a look in during Retro Month, go figure ...
As does 'Six Month In a Leaky Boat'. It is being aired again on Saturday morning. I remember joking about it getting aired every retro month in about 2012, and it's on yet again.

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

No Rock Arenas for me so far :worried: ... 2 weeks to go

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Jan,

Jason "The Moderator"
Brad
I\'ll be happy enough to get :
John Taylor - I Do What I Do
Real Life - Face To Face
LRB - Down On The Border
The only saving grace of the 1986 episode is John Taylor, the rest is just ghastly. The 1985 episode is quite good, looking forward to that one. Nice to get Real Life with Face To Face. Pity rage don't have the video for Babies ...
Hi Jason,

Do you want Babies, or do you have it already? It is a very rare video!

And do you know if your time-coded episode of Rough Trade is the full clip or is it missing a few seconds from the start and finish? I am hoping it is the full video!

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

Great taste in music there Brad! John Taylor's only solo hit is awesome from '86, Down on the border is great and Face to Face is Real Life's best song in IMHO...

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

Thanks Matt73. All three very solid songs that are underplayed.
Brings back memories of great compilation albums like 1986 Out Now and 1986 Way To Go.

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

Clip Magnet
No Rock Arenas for me so far :worried: ... 2 weeks to go
I don't think there were any Rock Arena's last year as well. I miss Suzanne :slightly_frowning_face: I might request a few for Retro 2020.

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

There were two Rock Arena shows played on the 2018 final Saturday/Sunday morning of Rage Retro Month January 27. Shows from June 1983 with The Angels and later a 1985 show from April. Only two from memory in that final weekend. I too would like to see some more Rock Arena shows though not bothered if there are not any played this year as Countdown is my first preference to see again first.

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

The '83 episode was ordinary although kind of liked the "Eat City" clip

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

agreed, Face to Face was a great song.

Such a shame, the band werent able to maintain any decent amount of success.

They had to re-release and remixed Send Me Angel in '89 if I recall correctly.

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

Random observations of retro 2

The '83 countdown was amazing except for the dreadful Genesis video

The '87 countdown is the worst Countdown ever. What were they thinking with that awful voice over guy?

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

Its great watching artists perform their songs either in the studio or in video, that ended up going nowhere, or were one hit wonders.

I have the Kent chart report book, and Sembello for example only ever had the Maniac hit. Automatic Man only made it to the bottom of the top50. He was gone after that.

The expression were also another band who disappeared after 1983, without major chart success.

Bop Girl hasnt aged well.. Urgh!

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

COUNTDOWN October 9, 1983 (391: David Sterry / Real Life)

Interesting to see another Real Life song (and in the studio). Montego Bay by The Allniters was good to see. Remember when Kiss removed their makeup? Classic! Australian Crawl live in the studio, with Reckless, was good. And Bop Girl .... stick to hosting, Molly ... ha ha :)

COUNTDOWN March 16, 1986 (500: Tim Finn)

Good to see Tim Finn hosting. He did seem desperate for more appearances in the future, though. The cheesy "You're A Friend Of Mine" was so 80s! I hadn't seen that David Bowie film clip before.

COUNTDOWN March 1, 1987 (543: Dave Stewart (Eurythmics)

Yeah, nah! What were they thinking in 1987?

COUNTDOWN November 3, 1985 (486: Bob Geldof)

Loved the Bob Geldof interview in front of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. And the Band Aid Concert footage at the end was good, so many famous faces.

COUNTDOWN September 12, 1982 (345: John Farnham and Derek Pellicci (Little River Band)

There's so much to like about the early Countdown episodes, compared to the later ones, in that there were more live performances in the studio. John Farnham and his band were great. I was excited to see Cliff Richard's 'The Only Way Out', very memorable. He had so many hits and songs over the years, and so prolific in the 70s and 80s. Ended with a great Australian Crawl performance.

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

Yeah, the way the 87 episodes were produced was horrendous.

Not really retro for me. Gavin Wood and Molly were barely sighted. Hated the voice over they had in their place.

75-82 period are the best of Countdown.

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

I enjoyed the whole night. I know some episodes are better than others but I ultimately hope that Rage show every single episode they have in their archives. So as long as they are episodes that Rage have not shown before then I am more than happy with anything they pull out of their vaults - I thought the 1983 and 1985 episodes were particularly good examples of those years.

By my approximate count there were still 103 episodes to screen coming up to this year and now, after we have had 11 episodes in the first two nights, there are 92 episodes to go. I hope they continue to show a broad range of them each year to allow for variety. If they only end up with 1986 episodes left to air (which currently comprise 23 of the non-repeated shows) then we may struggle to see them all. I am actually hoping for 3-4 1986 episodes each year for that reason.

If we get about 15 episodes per year then we should see the remaining shows in the next 6 years, which is better than I had originally thought in the early 2000s.

Rage have been really good over the last 10-12 years to avoid repeats of episodes, removed that January concert (forgotten what it was called) and have still included a few requests as well. They now show more episodes than ever other than maybe 1997 when we had that huge run of 1979 episodes.

The Saturday morning clips tend to be common, although the Split Enz GTK clip was interesting with its introduction with clapper board from the master tape. They do show quite a few good vault segments during the year to more than make up for it.

As they had such definitive and different formats from 1983-87, each episode takes me back to that year as I remember almost every single show and what I was doing around that time.

I had asked for the 1987 episode as I had wanted to see the live version of The Pony - I Lied which had the added bonus of being introduced by Suzanne Dowling. The Countdown CDPTV concept was woeful but it is still an episode of Countdown which I haven't seen for over 30 years so I am happy to have another one for the collection.

I still have the single for The Pony
 photo The Pony_zpslgfrtgw8.png

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

Without having read the recent comments in this thread yet... all of the Countdown episodes last night were stretched beyond the 4:3 screen area, again. The first and fourth episodes shown, from memory (though I'm pretty certain), overlapped with the watermark. The other episodes did not touch the watermark, but were still stretched :white_frowning_face:

I recorded all of last night rather than watch it live, but have fast forwarded through to check the aspect ratio.

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

It's weird to think that rage could get through all of the remaining Countdown episodes in the next 5 or so years (maybe even 4 at a stretch with a few 5-weekend Januarys), if they keep churning through them as they have been recently. 2021 and 2022 are 5-Saturday Januarys, followed by a hatrick of them in 2026, 2027 and 2028 - though they should have gotten through all of the Countdowns by then.

It's funny that there are still 23 episodes from 1986 left to air. They could devote a whole retro month to just 1986 episodes of Countdown :laughing:

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

That's okay with me as I like the '86 episodes! Still hundreds? of Rock Arena's to air so plenty of options to mix things up. Then start over again. Those of us who are missing episodes could start requesting episodes to complete their collection.


Oh and loved the Bop Girl video with Molly:smile:

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

I certainly hope, that after all the Countdowns have been played on Rage (whenever that may be), the ABC replay episodes, especially the ones aired in the 1990's when we either didn't know about it, or we recorded on VHS with non-digital reception. Just keep playing Countdown for EVER, please Rage. :)

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

RetroTragic
I certainly hope, that after all the Countdowns have been played on Rage (whenever that may be), the ABC replay episodes, especially the ones aired in the 1990's when we either didn't know about it, or we recorded on VHS with non-digital reception. Just keep playing Countdown for EVER, please Rage. :)
Yes forever just to annoy the recovery crowd :smile: I remember the early days of recording off analogue and often the reception was average at best. But thanks to some savvy trading I have a lot of those early episodes in digital. Still there are some gaps that need filling. Countdown / Rock Arena forever!

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

Gary
Clip Magnet
No Rock Arenas for me so far :worried: ... 2 weeks to go
I don't think there were any Rock Arena's last year as well. I miss Suzanne :slightly_frowning_face: I might request a few for Retro 2020.
There were two Rock Arena's last year. One amazzzing one from 1985 with Kam Sha, FLoy Joy, Aztec Camera e.t.c...

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

Certainly does! I was given Out Now for Christmas in '85 & for some reason, rather than Easter Eggs in 1986, although I probably got some of those as well ;) - I ended up with Way To Go. Still have both LP's to this day both are fantastic compilations.

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

Haha at "instead of easter eggs".
My brother and I got '1982... Out Of The Blue' as a reward from our parents for passing the half year school term.

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

That's funny! So how did you share the LP, one side each, LOL :joy:

1982 Out of the blue is awesome as well and so is With A Bullet, but then again there weren't many Oz compilations from that era that weren't great - although they all had a few dull moments too...

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

The last compilation album like those I got (new, anyway) was 'Hit Machine 8' at Easter '95 :laughing: The 90s compilations had such dull names (all 100% Hits Volume X/Hit Machine X after '91/'93 respectively) by comparison.

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

I had The Winners and Up In Lights, but alas never got Out Of The Blue.
I trust you are aware of this site?...
http://ozdrdj.com/ozdrdjscompilationzone.html

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

I'm wondering why I spent so much $$ on singles when about four or five of these comps came out each year. And I wasted money on dud albums like Spirit Of Place by Goanna!

One of my favourites is ..with a bullet. Has "Come Back Suzanne" which is very hard to find on any format.

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

The compilations are one of my favourite things ever. I have everything that was released on CD ('Summer' 87' was the first) through to the Hit Machines and 100% Hits in about 1997.
The eighties compilations are the best though. I'm working on getting them on CD too (albeit unofficial copies).

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

Thanks for the link to the website with all the compilation albums, I have seen other similar sites, but that one gives so much more detail. I would have about 80% of those compilations (from 1978 onwards) all on LP, up until Summer '87 which was the first compilation of these sorts available on CD in Dec. '86. Also have 87 Right on track and a few more through to the early 90's, but again most on vinyl. For me, Nothing Compares to the hits of 1990 & 1990 All the Rage (which I have both on LP) are the end of a fine era of these compilations.

It's worth looking up on YouTube, there are a lot of old compilation ad's like 1982 Up In Lights, 1984 The Music, Rocktrip '82, Smash Hit's 87, '87 Right On Track, TWO different ad's for Hit's Hot '84/'85 & more - they are awesome to re-live.

COME BACK SUZANNE is an awesome song and has a very funny video. You would swear that Charlie Watts was playing the drums, as it has his sound and style of playing. A Classic indeed.

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

Some of those compilation albums in the late 80s also were released as VHS tapes with the promo videos for the same songs. I’m pretty sure “1987 Let’s Party” came out on VHS.

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

Yes it did! I recall hiring it from the local video store back in the day. It's interesting that Summer '87 was not released on VHS, but was the first compilation like this to be released on CD & Let's Party wasn't, however Summer '87 wasn't released on VHS. It was on Polystar though, whereas Let's Party was Fes/EMI, so maybe that was the reason.

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

Matt73
Yes it did! I recall hiring it from the local video store back in the day. It's interesting that Summer '87 was not released on VHS, but was the first compilation like this to be released on CD & Let's Party wasn't, however Summer '87 wasn't released on VHS. It was on Polystar though, whereas Let's Party was Fes/EMI, so maybe that was the reason.
Yes, the EMI/Festival compilations were much more likely to be released on VHS.

1987 Let's Party
1987 Into the Groove
Hit City 1987
Celebrate '88
Hit Pix '88
Hit Pix '88 Volume 2
1988 What's Hot
1989 Be Happy
Hits of '89 Volume 1
Hits of '89 Volume 2
Hits of '89 Volume 3
Hits of 1990 Volume 1
Hits of 1990 Volume 2
Hits of 1990 Volume 3
U Can't Touch This
1991 The Gun Hits

were all on EMI or Festival, and all were released on VHS.


But then the other (CBS/Polygram/BMG) compilation took the mantle.

Take 40 Australia #1
Hits 4 U '92
Can't Beat the Music Volume 1
Can't Beat the Music Volume 2
Can't Beat the Music Volume 3
Give It Some '93
Sweat It Out '93
Hit Machine '93
Hit Machine Volume 3
Hit Machine Volume 6

were all released on VHS.

There may be others that I've missed.

There was also Smash Hits '88, but that was more of a year retrospective.

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

Matt73
Thanks for the link to the website with all the compilation albums, I have seen other similar sites, but that one gives so much more detail. I would have about 80% of those compilations (from 1978 onwards) all on LP, up until Summer '87 which was the first compilation of these sorts available on CD in Dec. '86. Also have 87 Right on track and a few more through to the early 90's, but again most on vinyl. For me, Nothing Compares to the hits of 1990 & 1990 All the Rage (which I have both on LP) are the end of a fine era of these compilations.

It's worth looking up on YouTube, there are a lot of old compilation ad's like 1982 Up In Lights, 1984 The Music, Rocktrip '82, Smash Hit's 87, '87 Right On Track, TWO different ad's for Hit's Hot '84/'85 & more - they are awesome to re-live.

COME BACK SUZANNE is an awesome song and has a very funny video. You would swear that Charlie Watts was playing the drums, as it has his sound and style of playing. A Classic indeed.

And here are two partial ads for Hits Now '89 Volume 2 and Hits of '89 Volume 2 I uploaded:

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Jan,

Lee
Jason "The Moderator"
Brad
I\\'ll be happy enough to get :
John Taylor - I Do What I Do
Real Life - Face To Face
LRB - Down On The Border
The only saving grace of the 1986 episode is John Taylor, the rest is just ghastly. The 1985 episode is quite good, looking forward to that one. Nice to get Real Life with Face To Face. Pity rage don't have the video for Babies ...
Hi Jason,

Do you want Babies, or do you have it already? It is a very rare video!

And do you know if your time-coded episode of Rough Trade is the full clip or is it missing a few seconds from the start and finish? I am hoping it is the full video!
I do indeed need the Babies video from Real Life!

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Jan,

Just chiming in on the Rough Trade video. Here's also hoping it's the full length with the AWESOME extended instrumental intro that is unique to the video, but can't be found as audio only unfortunately.

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

Thanks Nathan, have seen these videos on YT before, love them:grinning:

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

REPLY TO STEVEN:"Yeah, the way the 87 episodes were produced was horrendous.

Not really retro for me. Gavin Wood and Molly were barely sighted. Hated the voice over they had in their place".

I was watching the 1/3/87 episode with my wife last night, and whilst '87 was generally an excellent year music wise and the show was (sort of) hosted by the genius David A. Stewart, plus had some first class videos like "Hold On" & "We Connect" - the voice over CDPTV thing is just horrible and mono-tone. My wife's comment is like "Where's Gavin Wood"?? I realise he was no longer working there by that stage, but John Peters was still writing the scripts & perhaps John Peters should have been doing the voice over's and intro's instead of that awful "voice". John did voice quiet a few shows in '87, but the ones he didn't like the 1/3/87 show were just wrong. 1986 was a great year for Countdown, as was 1985. IMO, CDPTV probably spelt the demise of the show. I get that they were trying to "update" the format somewhat as they were now appealing to a new audience generation than those that were young and watching in the mid to late 70's through the early 80's. But they went so far down the wrong path it is ridiculous. The way Gavin Wood announced and back announced songs and did the intro's and the outro's was brilliant & surely was one of the highlights of the shows popularity - why change that?

Anyway.... That's my rant. :sunglasses:

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Jan,

Matt73
Just chiming in on the Rough Trade video. Here's also hoping it's the full length with the AWESOME extended instrumental intro that is unique to the video, but can't be found as audio only unfortunately.
Such an incredible song and video. It's a shame it took so long to take off, only peaking at #40, but spending the same amount of weeks on the chart.

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Jan,

Yes it is unfortunate it wasn't a more substantial hit, all I can put it down to is that there was some seriously high quality competition on the charts back in late 1982.

Re: rage goes retro '2' - FULL 'COUNTDOWN' ARCHIVE DETAILS ON EACH EPISODE - Saturday 12th Janua

Matt73
REPLY TO STEVEN:"Yeah, the way the 87 episodes were produced was horrendous.

Not really retro for me. Gavin Wood and Molly were barely sighted. Hated the voice over they had in their place".

I was watching the 1/3/87 episode with my wife last night, and whilst '87 was generally an excellent year music wise and the show was (sort of) hosted by the genius David A. Stewart, plus had some first class videos like "Hold On" & "We Connect" - the voice over CDPTV thing is just horrible and mono-tone. My wife's comment is like "Where's Gavin Wood"?? I realise he was no longer working there by that stage, but John Peters was still writing the scripts & perhaps John Peters should have been doing the voice over's and intro's instead of that awful "voice". John did voice quiet a few shows in '87, but the ones he didn't like the 1/3/87 show were just wrong. 1986 was a great year for Countdown, as was 1985. IMO, CDPTV probably spelt the demise of the show. I get that they were trying to "update" the format somewhat as they were now appealing to a new audience generation than those that were young and watching in the mid to late 70's through the early 80's. But they went so far down the wrong path it is ridiculous. The way Gavin Wood announced and back announced songs and did the intro's and the outro's was brilliant & surely was one of the highlights of the shows popularity - why change that?

Anyway.... That's my rant. :sunglasses:
It was like someone turned off the lights and colour at the end of 1986 and forgot to turn them back on in 1987. So dark & lifeless. The horrid voice over and Dave Stewart's(and I'm a big fan) "hosting" were the worst parts. How many were made with this exact format? Because the 1987 episodes I've seen so far didn't have that voice over and have been enjoyable. I'm one of those that is okay with the 1987 episodes but that one was terrible except for a few videos

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