
1978 - Big Hits
Top of the Pops performances from 1978, with Sham 69, Ian Dury, Elvis Costello, Blondie, The Boomtown Rats, Kate Bush, Dan Hill, Boney M, Bob Marley, 10cc, ELO and Manfred Mann.
A pick 'n' mix of Top of the Pops classics from 1978, when in-yer-face punk and new wave rebellion co-existed with MOR suburban pop, disco fever, soul balladry, reggae and prog rock, and when two mega-successful movie soundtracks in the shape of Grease and Saturday Night Fever squared up on the dancefloor. Featuring shouty Sham 69, the cool rebellion of Ian Dury, Elvis Costello and Blondie, the media-savvy clowning of The Boomtown Rats, Kate Bush's debut with Wuthering Heights, alongside Brotherhood of Man's perky Figaro, Dan Hill's sentimental Sometimes When We Touch and the high camp of Boney M's Rasputin. Bob Marley shares chart space with 10cc's Dreadlock Holiday, and ELO and Manfred Mann's Earth Band keep on rockin'.
Last on
Music Played
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
![]()
Blondie
Picture This
![]()
Brotherhood of Man
Figaro
![]()
Kate Bush
Wuthering Heights
![]()
Odyssey
Native New Yorker
![]()
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
(I Don't Want to go to) Chelsea
![]()
Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
Davy's On The Road Again
![]()
John Travolta & Olivia Newton‐John
Summer Nights
![]()
The Boomtown Rats
Rat Trap
![]()
The Motors
Airport
![]()
Dan Hill
Sometimes When We Touch
![]()
Sham 69
Angels With Dirty Faces
![]()
Yvonne Elliman
If I Can't Have You
![]()
Electric Light Orchestra
Mr. Blue Sky
![]()
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Satisfy My Soul
![]()
Chic
Le Freak
![]()
Jilted John
Jilted John
![]()
Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams
Too Much, Too Little, Too Late
![]()
Ian Dury & the Blockheads
What A Waste
![]()
10cc
Dreadlock Holiday
![]()
Rose Royce
Love Don't Live Here Anymore
![]()
Boney M.
Rasputin
Credit
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Producer | Serena Cross |
Broadcasts
- Fri 4 Jan 201321:50
- Sat 5 Jan 201301:10
- Mon 7 Jan 201300:45
- Sun 20 Jan 201300:20
- Fri 22 Feb 201302:50
- Thu 21 Mar 201323:45
- Sat 23 Mar 201302:10
- Sun 5 May 201323:55
- Sun 22 Dec 201300:55
- Sat 15 Aug 201522:50
- Tue 18 Aug 201500:30
- Sat 1 Apr 201700:20
- Fri 17 Nov 201721:00
- Sat 18 Nov 201701:30
- Fri 8 Jun 201820:00
- Sat 9 Jun 201801:30
- Fri 10 May 201922:30
- Sat 23 May 202023:45BBC Two except Scotland
- Fri 18 Sep 202020:00
- Sun 20 Sep 202000:35
- Sun 7 Mar 202100:45BBC Two except Scotland
- Sat 30 Jul 202219:00BBC Two except Scotland
- Fri 5 Jan 202422:30
Featured in...
![]()
ABBA & Sounds of the 70s
A look at the most memorable songs of ABBA and the music that surrounded them in the 70s.

