MISSING Top of the Pops performances by pop group Showaddy Waddy are heading back to the BBC after being spotted on YouTube.
The clips feature the colorful band playing 1970s singles “Heartbeat”, “Under the Moon of Love” and “When” on the iconic pop show.
They were found, along with an as-yet unidentified performance on children’s weekend show Swap Shop, by missing episodes enthusiast Ray Langstone among the collection of poster Chris Dabbs.
DVD copies of the clips – recorded at time of broadcast by a member of the band using a N1500 VCR – are now being forwarded to Classic TV organisation Kaleidoscope and then returned to Andrew Martin at BBC Archives.
The Top of the Pops clips in question are:
Heartbeat (tx 25/09/1975; show presented by Tony Blackburn)
Under the Moon of Love (tx 18/11/76; show presented by Kid Jenson)
Under the Moon of Love (tx 02/12/76; show presented by Ed Stewart)
Under the Moon of Love (tx 16/12/76; show presented by Dave Lee Travis)
When (tx 3/3/77; show presented by Jimmy Savile)
Speaking about the finds, Ray said: “The poster of the clips on YouTube is a member of the Missing Episodes Forum, and was very keen to see this return happen.”
British band Showaddy Waddy made their name with a string of hit rock and roll covers between 1974 and 1982.
Under the Moon of Love, originally a U.S. hit for Curtis Lee in 1961, reached number one in the UK charts in December 1975 while When, originally by the Kalin Twins, got to number three.
The group, once described as an “explosion in a paint factory” owing to their bright suits, had their last hit in 1982 but still perform today. You can find out more, including what survives of their numerous TV appearances, over at the band’s official site: www.showaddywaddy.net
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