Althea & Donna--Upton Top Ranking

[k12robert]

Who could possibly not like this?

[almubeeb]

I remember this being on totp2 almost every single week. I absolutely love it!

[fredlovesrosie]

MY ROSE WANTS HER SPECS BACK FROM THAT SHEBOON

[dw198]

Fantastic song, awful performance - it's pretty obvious the girls barely knew the lyrics! Timing out all over the place, tuning issues, bad harmonies. I absolutely love it! :)

[lexluthornumber1]

Excellent tune..Brings back lots of old memories.......

[Rachy0000]

Ever wondered what Upton bottom ranking looked like?

[bonesstorage]

no pop, no style, I'm strictly roots

[Blackstarguitar]

so sexy 

[wimbutler1]

great pop song ... and its live !

[davidzof]

ah those old Top Rank nightclubs

[ghiking]

ironic how it says "back in the day" haha

[checkavanz101]

@ghiking lmao i was sayin the same thing 2 maself

[julivgs]

fuck me ..I love this song!

[2ambrokennail]

Love that they were singing this live, very unusual for TOTP . They obviously had a great time, you can hear the laughter in the song. But why did you cut the end off?

[Brunozaire]

love these sistas!

[zionv01]

18 people are going missing

[Chr1ss71]

18 people dislike this ? WTF???

[MOONST0MP]

@MisterSea7 Id do the one on the right too!!!!

[tangerineskyline1]

ha ha my friend sue merrit used to sing see me in me pants and bra lol lol

happy carefree teen days :-)

[clazza01]

haha i was listening to this on the car radio on big city

made me smile

[ThinkPink118]

choon x

[jetrotman]

wicked tune x

[FredPerryLtd]

*Uptown - Sorry

[peterthepainter]

This is poetry...innit!

[Nw06051]

The problem was that they werent high...watch the other live version of this, and soo much different because, they are high!!!

[MOONST0MP]

@Nw06051 HA! I see what you mean mate. They Are enjoyin it so much better when they are stoned.

[Kaddsishit]

change the speed from normal to 2x speed :D

[EternityinTransiency]

Wonderful tune, these two seemed to have so much fun performing :D

[mrmikespence1964]

HONKY! REGGAE SUCKS!!!!!!!

[geoffbro2001]

no diss! main ting is they is ENJOYIN' , and spreading theit lyrical happiness, innit what that all 'bout??? and they look great and move god. so enuf from haters, pleaase>

[oldm]

don't knock on their singing and dancing too much guys, it's pretty obvious that they're both absolutely wasted!

[spadge321]

dey cant dance or sing ting,, pair of twats ting

[bazoogaby]

Deirdre musta had dat ting dat turned Michael Jackson white......an ting.

[IRIEBOYAJAY]

irie ladies

[soulsolution99]

no pop no style..love is all I bring inna me khaki suit an ting - seriously blowing off the cob webs love it! lol

[HaloItachi95]

I like her squeals.

[donepearce]

I always thought black chicks were supposed to have a sense of rhythm. Their jigging is bad as their singing

[leaspayne]

@donepearce jamaican uptown girls jus cant dance

[morningsnoopy]

they look so young, & diggin da deidre barlow glasses xc

[Flashstick2005]

@morningsnoopy they are young. they must have been 17 and 18. that turn.

[costadancer]

I love this song so much :)

[GojuBob]

@costadancer You "love this song so much"???? Two females who can't sing, can't dance and apparently haven't mastered intelligible English. Why is this good?

[costadancer]

@GojuBob They're both about 17 years old... I'm guessing you can speak perfect Jamaican if you're complaining about how they can't speak perfect English, right? The girls are singing about their Rastafarianism religion and how women are not supposed to be flash or show a lot of flesh and are gently poking fun at this while saying they're still true to their roots.

[costadancer]

@GojuBob They are also the youngest female duo who reached the top of the UK music charts. And I just like the song, and the beat and their voices. Why is that so awfully offensive to you?

[GojuBob]

@costadancer Hell, of course it's not "awfully offensive"! This kind of thing is hardly important, is it? Each to his own; but this just isn't my cup of tea. You like the song? Fine: enjoy it. Personally I don't; and when it comes to saying so, it's a free country. Putting things on YouTube is usually an invitation to others to make comments. I never understand why people get angry and offended if the comments are unfavourable.

[costadancer]

@GojuBob Of course, each to their own, I agree! The reason I replied was because I thought you were taking the piss and that you wanted a response ;) My bad! I find it's better to spread the love, not the hate (Sorry for sounding like a bloody hippy)

[GojuBob]

@costadancer No bad at all; please feel free to say what you like. But of course I wasn't spreading hate!! I guess I was taking the piss to a certain extent - but only out of a song! It's no big deal, you know. If I hate anything, it's things like injustice and cruelty - not daft girls singing a daft song. Let's keep it in proportion, eh?

[costadancer]

@GojuBob Yeah, it's better to keep grounded... Glad we agree then! :)

[EssexBoy696969]

Catchy song from the great era of 70's music but let's be honest - they'd both have problems winning a karaoke competition with this performance! Their timing together was woeful - but it's still bloody great!

[t0mme1981]

@EssexBoy696969: Problem now is that everyone mimes. You've been fooled by X Factor and all thart dross.

Go and see any live gig, U2, Coldpalay and they mess up somewhere during a track.

[EssexBoy696969]

@t0mme1981

Mate I don't watch the XFactor - nor for that matter any similar dross or reality shite - so I've hardly been fooled by any of it.

I still live in the 70's - and really happy to do so. ;-)

[krs1915]

yes it did make me smile its relly hot i love it love it first time i herd it thanks to watching snowboarding vids

[dineen68]

I didn't remember the Deirdre barlow glasses!

[stormin300]

@hnm3000 Ya man, me a Doctor, I prescribe two beautiful Jamican Girls and one fat spliff.

[ScottiB2]

@ miss jadie the riddim is "Still In Love" from "I'm Still In Love With You" by the great Alton Ellis.

[vinylrichie66]

is that Althia or Donna that looks like Su Pollard with a 'fro?

[rastazebful]

I Love this song, You alls have a Great Day.

[kafcin]

Who's the cutie with the short hair... Is that Althea or Donna? Man, she was good lookin... Jus a coupla kids from Jamaica right? Awesome track too....

[kafcin]

wow... great reggaae track!!!!

[soggynesssabine]

Check out Strictly Rude- Big D & the kids table if you havent already

much better version

[Kwales66]

Amazing

[missjadiie2010]

whats that song called that uses the same backing track 

[MonounsaturatedBliss]

Love this.

Skate 2, anyone?

[8minaa8]

i love the 'oh!'

[alfie0202]

love this wonder what there upto now

[KMGEAST1986]

ALWAYS LOVED DISSSS

[britturk123]

AHHHHHHHHHHHH what memmories.A time when music was fun and not a bloody nightmare.

[xlilxmissxsexiix]

love it



[kzo80jap]

I LIKE !!



[pauljrchef]

I agree with both stormin300 and GlasgowCelticPat1888

[ninsun1]

Thanks for that wonderful blast from the past!

[fyabun]

In those days the music union had rules to ensure that only union members could play behind artists on Top of the Pops and backing tapes were not allowed (strictly live music). So Althea & Donna had to rehearse with the BBC band. They said it took them a whole day coz the band just couldn't get the feel right. Anyway it was a great attempt & back then who cared. It was the days when if you saw a black face on TV you called the whole family to watch & even ran next door to tell the neighbours

[IamAbillionaireNow]

Sweetest moments @ :28, :46 oogh! See mi in mi Benz an' ting, oogh! a dally through Constant Spring.....dem no know sey wi 'Top Rankin' oogh! Uptown Top Rankin....This song's a beautiful Classic that heralded the days when Reggae began to become more mainstream in the media and more accepted by the Middle to Upper Classes. "Uptown" girls singing Reggae, truly barrier-breaking They're Queens Girls Alum, think they were in their last year of high school at the time. Big up di Queens Girls Massive

[salimah1972]

see me in me benz and ting ow!

[deanosoul]

JANET

[kc1ize]

SKATE 2

[Stormking39]

bloody brilliant, bless em both lol

gimme little bass let me wind up me waist .. lol

[Stormking39]

bloody brilliant, bless em both lol

[Procharmo]

We rushed down stairs to see this on TOP OF the POPs and were so disappointed by the BBC orchestra! But loved seeing them perform. Then we immediately put on the 7" record on our Mums Blue Spot Radiogram and sang, danced and had fun....Memories!!

[0LiViN0S]

wow, está padríiísima la canción, ¡¡¡me encANTA!!! La oí en el radio, Qué nice discover!

[asa1973100]

Love it !!!

[JoeAverage000]

This was there one hit wonder. great song though

[JEFFMETAL666]

@JoeAverage000 their

[JoeAverage000]

@JEFFMETAL666 Oh, ok word police lol

[letragique909]

14 dumbasses are DEAD

[RichBV70R]

@ GlasgowPat....Ditto Brother. Pure Class.

[MrPnisHead]

Wasn´t this the UK´s first ever reggae number one?

[OhMyGoog]

thanks diplo

[lianjie1963]

I always liked the line 'See me in me halter back, see me gi'ya heart attack'. Great rhyme, fantastic song.

[OcLL]

oddly attracted to donna (the one in the glasses)....

this is a very sexy track... top rankin'

[playyourbass100]

I dragged my size 8s round the dance floor to this in 78 I love it.

[jonessg3]

Proof that somehow, somewhere there is a song and producer that can get anybody to #1 in the charts.

[Slimdagremlin]

song makes me wanna light up, get blazed and make sweet love to a beautiful lady and Althea looks kinda cute right NOW

[GRAHAM5020]

wonderfull

[JungletteEzmeSE]

Legendary tune!!

[123tomot321]

One of my favourite tracks of all time but they don't sing in time with each other!

[eslamarcetravelina]

i love this video, its so funky, jajaj i really loved and little more when she´s dance it!! oo its cool! jaja I love ya!!

[Planetklauer]

Best Reggae Track EVER :-) xD i love this Lyric ...

[lewisner]

Remember walking down Greek Street in London in 1977 hearing this blast out and feeling really cool at 18 "sigh".

[Bacalao2929]

This song is so important to me, it reminds me of all the adventures that I had in Jamaica, it reminds me of all the great times I had in Jamaica with all my amazing friends, IT reminds me of that beautiful Indian girl named Ann Maire from Sav who got away, the silly dreams of a romantic against the bitter realities of life.

[lilashash0]

this song just makes you want to dance, i love it :)

[danpage79]

I had this song in my head.and I had to post it.

[mariano75784]

bad tune love this song

[montyxxrlzxx4eva]

NO idea what this song is on about. But i like it :)

[micmends]

Sean Paul am still in love with you!

[RenatoFreyre]

@micmends Alton Ellis

[inofaith]

Just heard this on the radio.. this stuff rocks :D

[ganyarana]

The coolest looking women I've seen in a while...

[4t0m9]

Wonderfully cheerful girls and music. I cannot remain still when this plays. Wonder which is their best album?

[TEXBATES]

Me love it!!

[northbanksy]

The one on the right is a black Derdrie Barlow and ting.

[MrMatstar]

@northbanksy hahahahaha

[admontigny]

@northbanksy If only She could sing like that!

[RussRubens]

@northbanksy PMSL Class.........

[RussRubens]

@northbanksy

PMSL.........

[TheLisalush]

@northbanksy lol it is ennit

[brandon2k96]

SKATE 2 lool

[greekhop]

I never thought there would be video material to this song. Cool to finally see these two after listeing to this over and over many years back. It would be funny to see these two dressed in todays dancehall fashion LOL. Theyre kinda like the 1977 misteeq haha

[antomac07]

is this my wife??? wes gibson you showed me the way ...great tune

[alanlovedog]

imagine if you went on a double date - and got the one on the right

[justinbieberislife99]

i heard this in skate 2

[paully1969]

absolutely fantastic genuine talent... raw, fresh unadulterated and pure... thanks for posting xx

[Strabizmus]

I was born whilst this song was being played (as the U.K #1 in the charts)

It remains, forever, the anthem & theme of my life

[ABisopht]

I was brought here by Time Magazine- told me to search "althea and donna" on youtube for "gems just waiting to be discovered."

[dommywaddle]

Still a great song. I love the contrast in hair height. And top marks for going on Top of the Pops wearing Dennis Taylor's glasses!

[MrsDrugaddict]

I dig the one with the big hair and specs, is she Althia or Donna?

[BelizeHunni]

woooooooooooyyyy

this reminds me of brixton in the 80's

:)

[peterkin1010]

I was 15 when these Ladies were top of the charts-well I delighted I've found this video.Althea and Donna still cut it over thirty years on. GREAT STUFF!

[HeyMacarony]

Loved this when I was boy still good today

[MADAZALI]

Sweeeeeeet!!

[henrypeckstv]

UPTOWN NERD RANKING....the best!!!!!

[Landlordbloke]

Catchy song and tune that brings back happy memories. Good stuff.

[Annamandabella]

I could cry, this is so awesome.



[Annamandabella]

This is hands down the greatest video on YouTube right now. I had never geard the term ranking before The Beats "Ranking Full Stop" with Ranking Roger of course though this to me seems like the catalyst for the 2 tone movement. I t gives me chills every time I listen to it

[MrJamestuart]

one of da best songs of all time !!!!

[chequeryard]

in london 30 years ago I was told 'uptown ranking'  meant going up west to go out and that was connected to J. Arthur Rank who owned Odeon cinemas - I agree with Lcr2003

[WillShakespeare2007]

@chequeryard Nice idea but not true. The song was written in Jamaica and they are only talking about Jamaica. They mention driving through Constant Springs and Cosmo Springs and the song is about getting dressed up and going out on the town in Jamaica.

[chequeryard]

@WillShakespeare2007  thanks Will- you're right - maybe the London kids (not born Jamaica) associated it with Rank Odeon - I remember early on, the Odeon cinemas was always advertised with the name Rank mentioned - I might be talking to myself here- enough of all that, such a happy song performed by two great women!

[WillShakespeare2007]

@chequeryard I know what you are talking about - Rank owned night clubs up until the end of the 90's and still own Mecca bingo and casinos. The explanation I got was it was a Jamaican saying like "putting on your glad rags" i.e. getting tarted up to go out on the town. You're right though the main thing is it is brilliant and having discovered it again I have had it one all week. Only problem is I can't play it in my car without getting my groove on - which just looks funny these days.

[chequeryard]

@WillShakespeare2007 - you have my sympathies and it's still stuck in my head-

[steveffc]

was listenin to this in my car today on a CD called Grange Hill (hits whilst Grange Hill was popular) I blast it out so everyone has the privelidge to listen to it. It brings back memories of going to my school by Old Kent Road

[stormin300]

I really love this tune! If this track doesn't make you smile, your dead!

[JEFFMETAL666]

@stormin300 you're

[M0rr15she]

@stormin300  Is that a threat?

[dragonfx310]

I'm glad I bought Skate 2. Their soundtrack is one of the most diverse I've ever seen. It's not all just rock/rap/hip-hop. I've looked up several of their songs, including this one, and they date back to the 70's-80's. Now that's variety.

[yaniska100]

THIS SONG IS NOT ..(UPTON)... AS IT IS SPELT!!!!

The name of this song is UpTown Top Ranking!!!!

The meaning of the song' is about a girl who goes 'UP THE TOWN'... and TOP RANKING'.. meaning High scoring' in dress sence!

Upton Top Ranking- needs to be corrected!

[pneumaticstarsailor]

love is all i bring, inna me khaki suit and ting

[pneumaticstarsailor]

love is all i bring, inna me khaki suit and ting

[uglyblackjohn]

Thanks for posting this.

I used to hear it on KROQ way back in the day but never knew who sang it until I rewatched "Sid and Nancy" and heard it when Sid put this record on at Linda's house.

[fellon01]

love this tune

[cefacibaiboule]

Excelent!

[BertHigginbottom]

Dunno what they're on about! it might as well be a foreign language.

[ProjectedIdea]

@BertHigginbottom It is in a foreign language.... the language of fucking gods!

[BertHigginbottom]

@ProjectedIdea

What you mean ProjectedIdea ? what the language of the gods mean man ?

[haitipi]

@BertHigginbottom

It's more of a dialect of a dialect. It is a British version of Jamaican Patois. While very musical, it is difficult for most non-English as a First language speakers and probably most primary speakers.

Uptown Top Ranking, is kind of like going out on the town in style. The phrase " 'n' ting" is literally "and things", somewhat like the American "'n' stuff" or "so on and so forth". When I stayed in JA in the early 80s that phrase drove me nuts n ting.

[icebat]

this is the best song in the world

[eemmah]

I never realised this song was so old!!!! Its so timeless..

[webje]

used to listen to this on a very very old record in my teenage bedroom! love love it!

[unclezuck]

Awesome! So cute when she goes "Oh"!

[veerlechristiaens]

Loovely ladiess

[GlasgowCelticPat1888]

classssic.

wish this stuff came out today instead of lady gaga etc...

[20sanfoe]

@GlasgowCelticPat1888 AMEN!

[Flashstick2005]

@GlasgowCelticPat1888 I and I support that to the fullest

[cloningprocess]

@GlasgowCelticPat1888

...and justin bieber

[m1zzunderstood]

'Gimme likkle bass, make me wine up me waist ' LUV IT!!!!!

[thekatie40]

Classic, still going strong this TUNE !!!

[etfonetone85]

khaki suit and ting

[hielho3]

you miss the "W" in your title ....utpon?

[sahajad]

This is quite an old song. I used to like it then but this is the first time I am seeing the singers .

Thanks for uploading it !

[DJjizzle2811]

ha ha check the hair! tuuune!