Top of the Pops 15th August 1974: Pan’s People dance to You Make Me Feel Brand New by The Stylistics.
From a show guest-presented by The Osmonds. Pan’s People are so stunning in these lovely backless frocks, it’s hardly surprising that they even tempt a goody-two-shoes like Donnie into impure thoughts.
Update, 17 August 2018: Thanks to forum-regular Vintage Videos, here’s a much-improved, timecode-free version of this routine.
Top of the Pops, 8 August 1974: Pan’s People dance to The Three Degrees’ When Will I See You Again.
Classically glamourous posh black sequinned frocks for our dancers here: which is entirely apt for this sophisticated pop gem, performed by the Three Degrees – who were themselves no strangers to classy showbiz couture.
From the old blog, Saturday, 5 September 2009
Another improved version of a previously posted clip: Pan’s People dance to the Three Degrees’ When Will I See You Again on TOTP.
Thanks to Andeebee for the YouTube post, and German satallite channel EinsFestival for the broadcast.
comments:
Some Guy said…
Right where do i start with this one. First of all great song. Now the impotant stuff. Which period of time does Sue look the best in. Could be this pre RF/L&CO time. She makes Babs and the others look rather old, don’t you thin?. She’s just 18, and on the way to 7 glorious years as the best dancer on the box, and of course the sexiest. Look out for the final scene as this young goddess is the last to approach the camera, sheer bliss for me, my fave Sue moment ever.
13 November 2010 23:32Some Guy said…
UPDATE. I watch this performance at least once a day every day. I never tire of it, i just am so grateful to the goddess that is Sue Menhenick for giving us 7 years of her life to blokes like me, so that we can just stare into a computer screen and marvel at her beauty. I will never tire also of writing these small tributes: so sorry you lot out there, thats the way of things.
5 February 2011 20:08
Top of the Pops, 3 August 1973: Pan’s People dance to You Can Do Magic by Limmie & Family Cookin’.
Hooray! Here’s another rare Pan’s People performance, Thanks to one of my generous anonymous donors.
A happy, energetic performance, with simple video overlay effects multiplying the dancers, invoking the “Magic” in the song title. This clip is only black & white, where the original broadcast would have been in colour: but the limited dark background, and the strong geometric diamond pattern of their off-the-shoulder dresses makes the performance easily watchable.
There are a few seconds missing from the end of the number (and perhaps one or two at the start): but since we’ed probably never get a chance to see this performance otherwise, I’m most grateful to the nameless provider. Many thanks.
Top Of The Pops 31 July 1975:
Pan’s People dance to It’s Been So Long by George McCrae
Thanks to SuPaLu for the Youtube post.
Top of the Pops, 24 July 1975:
Pans People dance to “Barbados” by Typically Tropical.
A surprise Summer number one for Typically Tropical: and here they are on Top of the Pops. The producers have decide to mix in some clips from Pan’s People’s performance to the song on the previous week’s episode. And a good thing too, since that 17 July 1975 episode has since been wiped, and these fragments are all that remain: in the BBC’s archive, anyway.
So we should be grateful, I suppose.
Top of the Pops 20 July 1973: Pan’s People dance to Spanish Eyes by Al Martino
Here’s a rare Pan’s People routine that I posted to the old blog in August 2014. A mixture of conventional camera-angle shots in big flouncy laura-ashley style flowery fabric evening gowns, with Busby Berkeley-esque bird’s-eye view mandala shots in skimpier outfits.
With lots of lingering close ups of Louise. Why Louise? Well I don’t have any colour pictures of her that are good enough for definitive evidence, but I believe she might be the only member of PP with blue eyes and dark (i.e. typically Spanish) hair: so she would fit the song lyric best. Can any experts out there confirm her eye colour?
Many thanks again to the anonymous donor.
Top of the Pops 1 July 1971: Pan’s People dance to River Deep, Mountain High by The Supremes & The Four Tops.
Top of the Pops 26 June 1975: Pan’s People dance to The Hustle by Van McCoy
Here’s a classic routine that I’ve been seeking out for years: Pan’s People dance to the instrumental (well, with occasional choral shouts) that was absolutely the “Sound of The Summer” of 1975: Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony’s “The Hustle”.
Many thanks to the anonymous contributor who sent me this marvellous performance.
Top of the Pops 6 June 1974: Pan’s People dance to the Isley Brothers’ Summer Breeze.
In 2014, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of this, Sue Menhenick’s debut performance as a member of Pan’s People, forum member Pans Legs sent me this rare clip.
Sue discussed her memories of that day on our old forum:
It was a fantastic experience for a very young and naive 18-year-old dancer who was so terrified and nervous that she was going to muck up, make a huge mistake and fall flat on her face! With the amazing support and back up from the other girls, Flick and also Louise who was so kind to me as I started to try and fill her shoes, I managed to get through that first show. I remember that day very clearly, and will always be grateful to them for helping me.
My thanks again to the generous Pans Legs for this contribution.
The Lulu Show, 1969: Pan’s People & Lulu dance to Willie Mitchell’s Mercy.
From the old blog, Tuesday, 1 July 2014:
Thanks to my anonymous contributor, here’s another Pan’s people performance from The Lulu Show. This time Lulu herself is dancing with them, along with two blokes whose names I don’t have.
As Lulu says in her (slightly cheesy) introduction, the funky instrumental they’re dancing to here is Willie Mitchell’s Mercy.
Lots of forum regulars have help this site out, with contributions of rare video, cash, and their erudite knowledge.
So many thanks to my generous benefactors:
...amongst others.
And a particular thank you must go to Ryan, who has single-handedly kept the forum alive, building a community of enthusiasts and supporting this site.
Video for the Top 20 Pan's People Routines Forum Choice was broken: now it's fixed.
My old One for the Dads blog was shut down by the Kopyright Kops. So here's a new one. Still showing performances from Legs & Co., Pan's People and Ruby Flipper, amongst others. But no more downloads. Sorry.
A TOTP rarity.
