Sooo, out of some of the programming on rage goes retro 4 ... I can see that rage are playing some more items from my request list. The 1986 Countdown below is my request as is the Rock Arena with The Dugites live for Rock Arena! ...

I've been requesting both these episodes for a looong time as I wanted I'm Talking with Holy Word live in the studio on Countdown plus I also thought the 1986 has LOTS of studio performances and as rage have hardly covered 1986 Countdown episodes I figured the episode I requested was a good one to choose!

I also wanted The Dugites Rock Arena and the PETER BAUMANN clip amd have been asking for this for years as well.

Amazingly, rage are playing a 1982 Countdown as well which is the episode I pasted right at the bottom of this post! * I requested a 1982 Countdown years ago for the Kim Carnes Voyeur video but I didn't list it on my request list over the last 3 years but it's an old request of mine I'm sure, as I really wanted that video. Some nice RARE items on the 1982 episode which is great that rage got it out.

Year:1982
Date:28/11/1982
Show no:355
Summary: THE SHOW IS HOSTED BY TIM FINN AND MOLLY DISCUSSES THE DISBANDING OF SPLIT ENZ AND FINN'S FUTURE PLANS. THERE ARE NO LIVE ACTS IN THIS SHOW.
LOCAL ARTISTS VIDEO CLIPS:
ICEHOUSE 'HEY LITTLE GIRL'
BIG RED 'THE TRAVELLER'
PERFECT STRANGERS 'QUESTION OF LOVE'
OVERSEAS ARTISTS VIDEO CLIPS:
KIM CARNES 'VOYEUR'
JOE JACKSON 'STEPPIN OUT'
SPANDAU BALLET 'LIFELINE'
SUPERTRAMP 'IT'S RAINING AGAIN'
CHARTBUSTERS:
ANGELS 'STAND UP'
BILLY IDOL 'HOT IN THE CITY'
JOAN JETT 'DO YOU WANNA TOUCH'
HALL & OATES 'MANEATER'
HUMDRUM ITEMS:
DECKCHAIRS OVERBOARD 'THAT'S THE WAY'
PSYCHEDELIC FURS 'LOVE MY WAY'
TOTO 'AFRICA'
JUDAS PRIEST 'YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER THINK COMING'
TOP TEN ITEMS:
HALL & OATES 'MANEATER'
GOANNA 'SOLID ROCK'
REELS 'THIS GUY'S IN LOVE WITH YOU'
SURVIVOR 'EYE OF THE TIGER'
JACKSON/MCCARTNEY 'THE GIRLS MINE'
BANANARAMA 'SHY BOY'
JOHN COUGAR, LATER KNOWN AS JOHN COUGAR MELLENCAMP AND
JOHN MELLENCAMP 'JACK & DIANE'
CLASH 'ROCK THE CASBAH'
MUSICAL YOUTH 'PASS THE DUTCHIE'
DEXY'S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS 'COME ON EILEEN'

Year:1986
Date:10/8/1986
Show no:521
Summary: SHOW INCLS REGULAR USA, UK AND AUSTRALIAN TOP 5'S, PROMO FOR COUNTDOWN MAGAZINE AND HUMDRUM WITH MOLLY WEARING HAT AND SHINY LIGHT BLUE SHIRT. ELTON JOHN IV RE DANCING WITH THE QUEEN TO 'ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK' AT PRINCE ANDREW'S 21ST AND HIS UPCOMING TOUR WITH THE MELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CHARTBUSTERS:
ANDY TAYLOR 'TAKE IT EASY'
ERASURE 'OH L'AMOUR'
DAVID LEE ROTH 'YANKEE ROSE'
MOODY BLUES 'YOUR WILDEST DREAMS'
STUDIO PERFORMANCES:
I'M TALKING 'HOLY WORD'
GEISHA 'PART TIME LOVE AFFAIR'
DRAGON 'DREAMS OF ORDINARY MEN'
VENETIANS 'IF SOMEBODY LOVES YOU'
VIDEO CLIPS:
BOOM CRASH OPERA 'HANDS UP IN THE AIR'
MODELS 'EVOLUTION'
SPANDAU BALLET 'FIGHT FOR OURSELVES'
JEAN BEAUVOIR 'FEEL THE HEAT'
BANANARAMA 'VENUS'
TOP TEN:
AC/DC 'WHO MADE WHO'
MIKE & THE MECHANICS 'ALL I NEED IS A MIRACLE'
GENESIS 'INVISIBLE TOUCH'
EURYTHMICS 'WHEN TOMORROW COMES'
DR & THE MEDICS 'SPIRIT IN THE SKY'
BOYS DON'T CRY 'I WANNA BE A COWBOY'
WHAM 'EDGE OF HEAVEN'
WA WA NEE 'STIMULATION'
SAMANTHA FOX 'TOUCH ME'
MADONNA 'PAPA DON'T PREACH'


ROCK ARENA
July 10, 1984
A ONE HOUR MUSIC SHOW HOSTED BY SUZANNE DOWLING, WHO GIVES A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO EACH ARTIST. THIS WEEKS PROGRAM FEATURES NEW ORDER, PRINCE, PETER BAUMANN AND WINGS.;0.00 PROMO FOR ROCK ARENA;0.36 PROMO FOR ROCK ARENA;

1.49 PETER BAUMANN 'STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT';

5.48 NEW ORDER 'BLUE MONDAY';9.25 NEW ORDER 'THIEVES LIKE US';

13.09 PRINCE '1999';16.43 PRINCE 'LITTLE RED CORVETTE';19.45 PRINCE 'WHEN DOVES CRY';

24.16 DUGITES 'TAKEN BY SURPRISE';28.42 DUGITES 'ALL I WANT';33.10 DUGITES 'GAY GUYS';41.50 DUGITES 'CUT THE TALKING';46.51 DUGITES 'IT AIN'T LIKE THAT';50.19 DUGITES 'DECIDE';53.26 DUGITES 'NO MONEY';56.56 DUGITES 'SOUL LIMBO';61.37 DUGITES 'YOU GAVE ME THE ANSWER';

Great to see some more Countdown although a total of 6 Countdown's for the month is the worst return in a long time.

The 1986 episode with 4 live studio acts is actually better than the 1982 one. It also has the rarer Jean Beauvoir clip Feel The Heat. Although many people prefer the early 80s Countdown episodes I think the many 1986 ones that they haven't shown yet are on a par with those and would it be great to see more of them, particularly as most of the early ones have been shown now.

The 1982 episode does have the rarer Kim Carnes Voyeur clip and Perth band (I think they were from Perth) Perfect Strangers live as highlights. The Tim Finn episode is one of just 2 episodes from 1982 that I haven't got yet so really happy to fill that hole. I had been asking for the Advance Australia episode, with lots of live acts, for years and that is now the only episode I won't have a copy of for 1982. I don't have much luck with asking so maybe will have to get Jason to request it.

The Rock Arena episode was also one I wanted to see so very happy that is getting aired.

Wow, some great stuff this week.

Looking forward to the studio performances from I'm Talking, Geisha, Dragon etc.

The 1982 episode looks great too, even if the Top Ten is pretty common amongst the repeats on RAGE.

Dugites were a very underated band from Perth, looking forward to seeing them on Rock Arena, and Suzanne Dowling was the best host I thought.

At Armin and Stephen, I do make it a point to request 'SOME' 1986 Countdown episodes even though I am way more 1980 to 1985.

BUT I got a video recorder in 1985, so I used to record A LOT of 1985 and 1986 Countdown pieces.

The episode being played this weekend on rage from 1986, I made a point of requesting as I am a MASSIVE I'm Talking fan and they are my favourite Australian band along with Pseudo Echo. I have requested this 1986 episode for yeaaaaars for yes, I'm Talking BUT also for the amount of live studio acts this episode had! I will FINALLY have this episode !!! *****

I'm Talking, The Venetians, Geisha and Dragon are all GREAT bands **** It has amazing clips in it as well like 'Feel The Heat' which was a FAV of mine in 1986. There are still a few great 1986 episodes to play like the Pseudo Echo live episode and one with Divinyls performing Sleeping Beauty in the studio.

At Stephen * YES * The Dugites are TOTALLY UNDERRATED! They are another of my very FAVOURITE Australian bands. I have been asking for this Rock Arena for sometime as wel'! It not only features the fabulous Dugites at the end of their career with their last album from 1983 which is full of such FABULOUS material but it featured some great video clips, one being PETER BAUMANN which is so TOTALLY fantastically synth 1983.

The Rock Arena being played is really PROPER 80s which is why I put it on my request list. The Dugites usually get played every 'rage goes retro' season on Countdown but I wanted this episode played so Australia can see how AMAZING they are live! I finally will have this episode in FULL! ****

And the 1982 Countdown looks amazing to me, I welcome ANY early 80s episodes not played and 1982 is my FAVOURITE Countdown year, so I am so PLEASED to get this episode especially for the more RARE material. That photograph rage have profiled with Tim Finn sitting on the Countdown couch with the COUNTDOWN logo set looks SOOOOOOOO utterly TO D!E for! **** I am SO excited!!!!!

Good episodes. Live acts on the 1986 episode means a studio audience and we all love that! Think I'll be staying up and watching for this one. I love The Dugites too, Kim Carnes 'Voyeur' track and video is a highlight. Wow, been a while we've gone out with a bang.

No 'The Factory' this year, I guess I'll just keep watching the 8 May 88 episode yet again for another year! Week 4 makes up for it so not complaining.

I reckon this is probably the other Rock Arena:



8. ID: 188418 - ROCK ARENA - PROGRAM Email Sales about this item

Duration: 60.15

Location: MELBOURNE,VIC,AUSTRALIA

Summary: SUZANNE DOWLING PRESENTS ROCK ARENA WITH FEATURED GROUP 'HOODOO GURUS' RECORDED LIVE IN CONCERT IN 1984 SINGING 'LET'S ALL TURN ON','TOJO','ARTHUR','BE MY GURU'&'BITTERSWEET'.NEW AUSTRALIAN BAND THE SHINDIGGERS SING 'HANGING IT UP',OTHER VIDEO CLIPS ARE DREAM ACADEMY 'LIFE IN A NORTHERN TOWN',HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS 'POWER OF LOVE'&'WALKING ON A THIN LINE',THE BEAT 'HANDS OFF,SHE'S MINE',FINE YOUNG CANNIBALS 'JOHNNY COME HOME',DOOBIE BROTHERS 'TAKE ME IN YOUR ARMS'&'WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES',MICHAEL MCDONALD 'NO LOOKIN BACK' AND FEARGAL SHARKEY 'LISTEN TO YOUR FATHER'&'LOVING YOU'

More details

Personalities: SUZANNE DOWLING,ABC HOST;HOODOO GURUS,ROCK GROUP;SHINDIGGERS,ROCK GROUP;DOOBIE BROTHERS,ROCK GROUP;MICHAEL MCDONALD,SINGER;HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS,ROCK GROUP;BEAT,ROCK GROUP;FINE YOUNG CANNIBALS,ROCK GROUP;DREAM ACADEMY,ROCK GROUP;FEARGAL SHARKEY,ROCK GROUP

Shotlist: NONE

Okay, thanks Nathan. I've been wondering what the other Rock Arena with Hoodoo Gurus would be. I'm not a fan on the Hoodoo Gurus, I only like them as Le Hoodoo Gurus and their first few singles were okay but generally they became absolutely awful for me.

Not a mega great Rock Arena but better than GTK and Hitscene, better than that awful 1989 Rock Arena on week two and better than Recovery!

I don't know THE SHINDIGGERS SING with 'HANGING IT UP'

Is the Gurus Rock Arena from 1984? Some of those other songs didnt come out until 1985

rage did list that the two Rock Arena's are from 1984.

You have to remember that in the 80s MANY bands would feature NEW tracks in their set to test them on audiences just as Alex Smith said on their 1984 Countdown played on Week 1 of 'rage goes retro' - 3 weeks ago.

They probably had many tracks kicking around which they put in their 'LIVE' set.

The Shindiggers were an alternative band, I think from Melbourne. They showed Hanging It Up on the 1985 Vault that they showed in June 2020. I doubt it is your style of music.

I don't know particular details on the Hoodoo Gurus Rock Arena but the following are options:
September 18 1984
A MUSIC VIDEO PROGRAM HOSTED BY SUZANNE DOWLING WHO BRIEFLY INTRODUCES EACH ARTIST;ARTISTS/TITLES:;00.16 BOX OF FROGS, BACK WHERE I STARTED;04.32 FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD, LOVE HAS GOT A GUN;07.30 FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD, WAR;11.04 ELO, ROCKARIA;14.16 JEFF LYNNE, VIDEO;17.35 LINDSAY BUCKINGHAM, GO INSANE;20.41 FLEETWOOD MAC, YOU MAKE LOVING FUN;24.56 HOODOO GURUS, LET'S ALL TURN ON;27.54 HOODOO GURUS, TOJO;31.09 HOODOO GURUS, ARTHUR;34.11 HOODOO GURUS, 1 WANT YOU;36.56 HOODOO GURUS, MY GIRL;40.12 HOODOO GURUS, THAT'S COOL;43.12 HOODOO GURUS, BY MY GURU;45.56 HOODOO GURUS, KAMIKAZE PILOT;49.25 RANK AND FILE, RANK AND FILE;54.18 RANK AND FILE, SOUND OF THE RAIN;58.03 NO NONSENSE, CHANGES MUST BE MADE

August 20 1985
SUZANNE DOWLING PRESENTS ROCK ARENA WITH FEATURED GROUP 'HOODOO GURUS' RECORDED LIVE IN CONCERT IN 1984 SINGING 'LET'S ALL TURN ON','TOJO','ARTHUR','BE MY GURU'&'BITTERSWEET'.NEW AUSTRALIAN BAND THE SHINDIGGERS SING 'HANGING IT UP',OTHER VIDEO CLIPS ARE DREAM ACADEMY 'LIFE IN A NORTHERN TOWN',HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS 'POWER OF LOVE'&'WALKING ON A THIN LINE',THE BEAT 'HANDS OFF,SHE'S MINE',FINE YOUNG CANNIBALS 'JOHNNY COME HOME',DOOBIE BROTHERS 'TAKE ME IN YOUR ARMS'&'WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES',MICHAEL MCDONALD 'NO LOOKIN BACK' AND FEARGAL SHARKEY 'LISTEN TO YOUR FATHER'&'LOVING YOU'

February 22 1986
THIS WEEK'S SHOW FEATURES VIDEOS FROM VARIOUS ARTISTS SUCH AS THE CLASH, TALKING HEADS AND MELBOURNE BAND NOT DROWNING WAVING. EACH GROUP IS INTRODUCED BY SUZANNE DOWLING WHO GIVES A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE GROUP AND THEIR LATEST WORK;ARTISTS:;BIG AUDIO DYNAMITE 'THE BOTTOM LINE'(0.19);THE CLASH 'LONDON CALLING'(5.25);THE CLASH 'ROCK THE CASBAH'(8.40);THE CLASH 'SHOULD I STAY'(12.17);NOT DROWNING WAVING 'THE SAME HEAT'(15.43);NONA HENDRYX 'KEEP IT CONFIDENTIAL'(21.30);NONA HENDRYX 'ELECTRICITY'(25.45);NONA HENDRYX 'I SWEAT'(30.05);TALKING HEADS 'LADY DON'T MIND'(35.17);TALKING HEADS 'ROAD TO NOWHERE'(38.47);TALKING HEADS 'AND SHE WAS'(42.47);HOODOO GURUS 'I WANT YOU BACK'(47.18);HOODOO GURUS 'BITTERSWEET'(50.00);HOODOO GURUS 'LIKE WOW, WIPE OUT'(53.31)

My bets would be on the August 20 1985 episode with the live concert as mentioned by Nathan. I would prefer the 1984 episode for other material shown, including Melbourne Ska band No Nonsense who had a great single with Simple Needs in 1985 which they performed live on Countdown. Richard from No Nonsense also hosted Countdown a couple of times and was a regular on Hey Hey in 1984-85.

I really hope it's the February 22nd as I remember looking at the Rock Arena archives and loving all the Nona Hendryx videos listed in the show!

And at least the September 18th, 1984 episode has Frankie Goes To Hollywood, No Nonsense, ELO and Jeff Lyne. I don't know Rank And File ....

rage did mention a 1984 Episode so it may not be the one Nathan mentioned!

I really think it's this one as rage said two 1984 Rock Arena's! A much better one than the 1985 episode! ... BUT ... then again, the 1985 Episode also says Hoodoo Gurus recorded in 1984. But I am going for the 1984 Episode as it's actually from 1984 and Rock Arena state 'Suzanne Dowling will be back on your screens this Saturday night to take you back to the 1984 music scene with full episodes of Rock Arena featuring Hoodoo Gurus, The Dugites and more' ... Hmmmmmm ... I REALLY hope it will be the 1984 Episode and not the 1985 Episode. I am not a Hoodoo Gurus fan and the 1984 material besides the Hoodoo Gurus is actually rather good! ... So my bet is September 18, 1984 :-)


September 18 1984
A MUSIC VIDEO PROGRAM HOSTED BY SUZANNE DOWLING WHO BRIEFLY INTRODUCES EACH ARTIST;ARTISTS/TITLES:;00.16 BOX OF FROGS, BACK WHERE I STARTED;04.32 FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD, LOVE HAS GOT A GUN;07.30 FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD, WAR;11.04 ELO, ROCKARIA;14.16 JEFF LYNNE, VIDEO;17.35 LINDSAY BUCKINGHAM, GO INSANE;20.41 FLEETWOOD MAC, YOU MAKE LOVING FUN;24.56 HOODOO GURUS, LET'S ALL TURN ON;27.54 HOODOO GURUS, TOJO;31.09 HOODOO GURUS, ARTHUR;34.11 HOODOO GURUS, 1 WANT YOU;36.56 HOODOO GURUS, MY GIRL;40.12 HOODOO GURUS, THAT'S COOL;43.12 HOODOO GURUS, BY MY GURU;45.56 HOODOO GURUS, KAMIKAZE PILOT;49.25 RANK AND FILE, RANK AND FILE;54.18 RANK AND FILE, SOUND OF THE RAIN;58.03 NO NONSENSE, CHANGES MUST BE MADE

Fine Young Cannibals, Dream Academy, Huey Lewis all came out in 85

The 84 ep looks better

The 1984 episode looks WAAAAY better, I hope it's that 1984 episode and not the 1985 Episode ad the 1985 one looks rather ghastly.

Finally, an August 1986 episode of Countdown on Rage, Long Overdue.

Upside of not playing that many 1986 episodes is that they have to be played sometime. So coming up we'll likely have quite a few 1986 heavy Retro months.

Anyway looks like a great night and more Rock Arena's which is always a good thing. Well nearly always..

August 1986 was when i first started watching Countdown. I think this may be 'the episode'!!!!

Looks like everyone had a mullet in 1986!

One of my favorite things with Countdown is seeing the bands that never made it. Perfect Strangers were interesting and couldn't have been more influenced by Bowie. The start of the video even reminded me of the video for Heroes!

Perfect Strangers were so AMAZING! I so died over it last night *****

The video also reminded me of John Foxx at the end as well from the Dancing Like A Gun video.

And yes, very Bowie - Heroes video!