23 March 1983 (TOTP)

== Show ==
; Name
*Top Of The Pops
; Station
*BBC One (TV)
; YYYY-MM-DD
*1983-03-23
; Comments
*This was the fourth program hosted by David Jensen and John Peel during 1983. This was the week's singles chart. The show was live, according to John on 21 March 1983 and also said he was dreading it. The show went out on a Wednesday evening to allow for A Song For Europe 83 in the usual Thursday evening slot. 
*Many artists that had been championed by Peel were now in the charts and on the show. New Order were a new entry at 24 with Blue Monday, notwithstanding the single was only available as a 12". The group would give a somewhat disastrous, yet almost legendary, performance of the song live on TOTP the following week. Altered Images were another new entry at no. 12 with "Don't Talk To Me About Love" although the performance was introduced by Jensen rather than Peel. This was their only appearance in 1983 and their last appearance on TOTP. Also on the show were Orange Juice at no. 9 and David Bowie at no. 5 (second highest new entry). Big Country had just recorded their one and only session for Peel which had been aired on his the radio show the night before this TOTP, 22 March 1983, and JP makes a reference to this when presenting the performance of "Fields of Fire". Also in the Top 30 were Blancmange at no. 19 with "Waves" which had originally been recorded for their one and only session for Peel over a year earlier.
*JP: After Big Country: "Fields of Fire, a chart-bound sound!"
*JP chart rundown (he apparently has the chart written on a piece of paper which he produces):
**at 28 Foster & Allen by Maggie, oh that should be the other way round.
**at 24 seven and half minutes of New Order - that's Blue Monday
**..23 Africa and Toto - what a cute bunch of guys!
**..22 Love On Your Side - uncomfortable but fun..
*JP: "This is Nick Heyward and Whistle Down the Wind, a rather futile activity in my book.."
*After Altered Images: JP "Well I don't know who those people were but I thought the little lad was good, I think I could get them a gig and our local youth club". DJ: "It would be nice to think so".
*Top 10 countdown: At no.10: ..the profoundly ethnic sounds of Modern Romance.
*Duran Duran were straight in at no. 1 with "Is There Something I Should Know". DJ: And here's another band we'd like to see at our village youth club. JP: That's right, Duran Duran straight in at no.1, what's it called again? DJ: Is there something I should know? JP: that's right, OK. Take it away!
*Show repeated on 17 February 2017 on BBC Four.
== Tracklisting ==
*JoBoxers – “Boxerbeat” (21) 
*David Bowie – “Let’s Dance” (5) (video) 
*Orange Juice – “Rip It Up” (9)
*Leo Sayer – “Orchard Road” (27) (clip from his TV series)
Jonathan King – US chart rundown:
*After The Fire – “Der Kommissar” (video clip)
*Frida – “I Know There’s Something Going On” (video clip)
*Golden Earring – “Twilight Zone” (video clip)
*Styx – “Mr Roboto” (video clip)
*Michael Jackson – “Billie Jean” (video clip)
Back To The Top Of The Pops Studio:
*Big Country – “Fields Of Fire (400 Miles)” (31)
*Nick Heyward – “Whistle Down The Wind” (26)
*Altered Images – “Don’t Talk To Me About Love” (12)
*Duran Duran – “Is There Something I Should Know?” (1)
*David Joseph – “You Can’t Hide (Your Love From Me)” (13) 
== Video ==
thumb|left|335px|Orange Juice 'Rip It Up'thumb|left|335px|Altered Images 'Don't Talk To Me About Love'thumb|left|335px|Big Country - Fields of Fire (400 Miles)
Category:TV
Category:1983