The Firm - Arthur Daley 'E's Alright. Top of the Pops, 29th July 1982

The Firm - Arthur Daley 'E's Alright. Top of the Pops, 29th July 1982

[@od64]

RIP, COLE AND WATERMAN 🙏

[@gevans28]

This is why Top of the Tops used to be great...!

[@awolwakefieldyorkshire]

Lead singer is called Tony Thorpe who was a member of the 70's band The Rubettes

[@BeasleyStreet]

Cheers, I love a bit of info ...👍

[@gcpc1]

RIP George Cole. Legend.

[@glen7318]

gcpc1 He's one of the best... and his big role will always be Arfur Daley

[@KenFromBeara]

Tel is with him now.

[@fluorosco]

@@KenFromBeara large g&t with Dave at the Winchester

[@steve-bk1qd]

A great blast from the past. A great track and a classic TV series. Minder was the best. Absolutely hilarious. Genius stuff. RIP George and Dennis. National treasures.

[@outtayardstudio]

What a banger....rip Tel....up there with ya ole mukker...arfur!!!! 🙏💥👌

[@TheQ-Continuum]

35 years on and and still sounds good !

[@patrickmorrison6253]

these guys used be in jail

[@unclegeorge5162]

Minder...The best program on TV, ever. George Cole AKA Arthur Daley, great character...great actor. Still watch it whenever it comes on ITV4. You Will always make me laugh, you will always be remembered. RIP.

[@rjjcms1]

@Monty Python the Flying Circus I was going to say they never got round to making one of these about Del Boy Trotter.

[@brentpatterson5715]

R.I.P. Dennis Waterman

[@MrJames19676]

Spot on mate 👌

[@gavhinds8190]

R.i.p. Arthur.. terry and dave..

[@jalabi99]

RIP Dennis Waterman, George Cole's co-star in the iconic show _Minder_

[@tonyshields2000]

Didn't get the credit it deserved, good song and a great performance.

[@TheLeedsAppreciationSociety]

I bought that record in 1982, and I've still got it somewhere.

[@SonicJCG]

RIP George Cole xxx

[@Brentford-rf5sh]

This is 1st Class!!! I love the ol Cockney dance this geezer does when he sings the chorus.

[@Bonkers4Hex]

Tony Thorpe (of the Rubettes) singing, my guitar teacher from Blackburn College 2003

[@kevinwebb2480]

Cheers everyone up. And great nostalgia for TV as it was.

[@robertevans4165]

absolutely bloody terrific performance from this underrated band from 1982, bloody hell is it that long ago. I left school in the July and was on a YTS scheme in Bridgend South Wales which I hated with a passion and some of the people I worked with weren't much cop either. Sorry for sounding harsh. Robert

[@TheQ-Continuum]

The same "Firm" who went on to have a UK number one in 1987 with Star Trekkin !! This effort that never gets played today on the radio, got to number 14 in July 1982:

[@jimwantsaliens]

They had an album Serious Fun I recall

[@bobwallacejnr6852]

no it didnt

[@louwisa1962]

No sorry that's another band

[@TheQ-Continuum]

@@louwisa1962 - Sorry, you are wrong ! It is the same firm. They line up may have changed over five years. However, if you still don't believe me, check out the Guinness book of hit singles, they will confirm this !

[@louwisa1962]

@@TheQ-Continuum Sorry but you are not right, I know Tony Thorpe personally and when I confronted him with Startrekkin', he had never heard about about it. Like you I was so sure it was the same band but it just isn't so

[@DarthMundane]

I remember this from my youth. This episode aired the day before my 2nd birthday. 80's rule

[@eva2314369]

George Cole was the one person I would have loved to meet! Amazing life and amazing actor!!!!! Loved him since I was a kid, hes my hero even though I never met him xxxxx ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@TheQ-Continuum]

Sadly, Arthur (George Cole) is no longer with us. He passed away this week age 90 ! Gone to that porta cabin in the sky. Arthur Daley was made for George Cole, could anyone else have played this role as good as he did ?

[@glen7318]

chesspiece1000 No I don't think so. I can't see anyone else making him so lovable, and still a terrible spiv

[@louiebyas9168]

chesspiece1000 i think david jason could have done it but you cant beat george cole (RIP)

[@TheQ-Continuum]

To Louis Byas - Yes I have to agree with you. David Jason may have been able to pull this off, he was well qualified as Del Boy. Another candidate, but unfortunately he died in 1973 was James Beck. He played Private Joe Walker in Dad's Army. I am sure he could have done it and would have been about the same age as George Cole when Minder was filmed !

[@trevormatthews6005]

He played a similer character called flash harry in the st trinian's films so yes he most likley was made for the part

[@brentpatterson5715]

and today Dennis Waterman passed away too

[@marke9699]

similar to Chas and Dave stuff. brilliant

[@terrylingwood]

R.I.P ARFUR

[@AndRewUK24]

R.I.P John Peel

[@michealbarone]

Cool music and wonderful memories of my childhood !!!

[@AMUSband]

Haha! That's my dad sitting at the table. :-D

[@themoonraker8720]

What a sad sad day, a try gent. Always mad me smile. God Bless you Arfur

[@simonprice3484]

So gutted we've lost after,,, hang up her titfer my son you've deserved the rest. R.I.p george

[@lindahughes4409]

Poor old tel

[@SuzanneWilliams-or5yj]

Great enjoyed that

[@gowjer]

Fantastic, Thanks for posting. Never knew this had been on top of the pop's! Always used to play the track at parties in my 20s, great memories!

[@kevinwebb2480]

Great Stuff. lyrics and storyline incomparable.

[@fluorosco]

Just got boxset Dennis Waterman years . Brilliant

[@lakmeister]

Love the Minder at 9 on ITV Monday 80 -84

[@kayhunter7939]

Brilliant Arthur

[@likebigg]

A very clever song

[@raypurchase801]

Arthur's in 'eaven now, selling cut-price wings to angels in under-the-counter deals with no VAT. Pairs unavailable. Mix n match only.

[@douglasgreen437]

"How dare you Terrance , the bleedin liberty"...😂

[@bobwallacejnr6852]

Minder was always the George Cole show.Thanks Arfur

[@philnewstead5388]

It certainly ended up that way but it was originally conceived as a vehicle for Denis Waterman after the Sweeney. ITV produced some wonderful programmes back then, so much better than anything the BBC were doing at the time.

[@audreyperrin320]

My auntie was married to a man who was a lot older than her he never went out when he finished work I called him in does

[@keithwaites9991]

I seem to recall (I was in the business in a small way back then) that it was written for Chas and Dave but they turned it down. The fact it sounds like Chas etc is no coincidence

[@whitikeith]

the lead singer of this track is tony Thorpe of Rubettes fame

[@brentpatterson5715]

He was my guitar tutor at Blackburn College. the man is salt of the earth :)

[@littlepouser2]

tony was a damned good guiter player

[@louwisa1962]

Still is

[@christianekrug2880]

Great 😎

[@christianekrug2880]

@@littlepouser2 yes he is....🤣

[@christineohara6647]

Love it.

[@266srm]

I'm guessing that the lyrics to this are unintelligible to most Americans.

[@Dave-Rough-Diamond-Dunn]

Do wot Jon? Leave it out, knock it on th' 'ead!

[@kevinfitzsimons41]

@@Dave-Rough-Diamond-DunnLol. Brilliant

[@boomboxbadboy1]

number 19!!! classic

[@dannyboylegend]

Shocking only acceptable in the 80s

[@kevinwebb2480]

A very clever song and it never dates. 'Done a bit of bird when 'e wuz a saucepan; just cos e's got a couple of nelson riddles goin' Who ain't ?

[@MrPeterpiper1969]

Fun from my youth and mystifying my son at the same time. What a great way of spending five minutes :-)

[@fluorosco]

Super whites army!

[@user-ux9bx8kc5y]

Gary Wilson from Maddy Prior on drums.

[@Mishima505]

I recall reading somewhere that this song was offered originally to Chas ‘n’ Dave who turned it down…

[@IJ215]

Chas Hodges RIP

[@bartlettandbosc]

This is better than my child brain remembers. 😂

[@patrickmorrison6253]

i remember of tellymann 8-10 rohoda st of brick lane london barry daley

[@christineohara6981]

Crazy; but fun.

[@mightyquinn62]

Tony Thorpe, the main singer in The Firm was in The Rubettes from 1974 to 1980 I believe. Can anyone verify that?

[@MrClitheroe]

Just reading his book at the mo ("Bride's Nightie"). Interesting look at the realities of "stardom".

[@mudrocker]

Ten years on from your comment, I've only just discovered it is indeed Tony Thorpe :-)

[@endwhitegenocide5688]

🤠👍🏻

[@WiseOwlOfGallifrey]

You've obviously never seen the famous Two Ronnies sketch with cockney rhyming vicar. "Elephant's trunk and Mozart"

[@solcutta3661]

Hahah and the small Richard the third flew back to its nest.. Lol

[@TheSlighty]

What What a legend post thank you, I genuinely thought I had imagined this song. Meanwhile the childhood memories come flooding back. Loved minder and love that chas n dave sound

[@MrUAV100]

I reckon one of the super DJ's maybe Tiesto, should drip this in the middle of a banging set. I wonder how it would go down??

[@ZEUSDAZ]

Well he's up there now, probably sold God a dodgy motor ;-D

[@kevanhubbard9673]

The Arfur Daly version of Madness!

[@chrisboyle7994]

This episode is incorrectly dated: the episode was broadcasted in 12 August 1982. The audience are enjoying the performance, but they appear to be seen not watching it.

[@OlymPigs2010]

....just remember...yer earning see.. yer earning!

[@TheGenreman]

You can see Peel hated doing TOTP

[@letmeouttamycage]

I wonder what Arthur Daley thought of this song

[@littlepouser2]

Tony Thope was great. There thanks tony

[@TheQ-Continuum]

The late John Peel, who bears a resemblance to the late Kenny Everett !

[@richardcooper9167]

Nice bit o’ cockney rap.

[@Autopsy6]

It would be great to have a song in the same style about The Walking Dead.

[@ajs41]

I think this is 12th August 1982.

[@markcharnock3131]

First performance was on TOTP, 29th July & repeated on 12th Aug 82 edition.

[@cryingonion2]

looks like larry grayson on the piano!

[@bradjones1977]

The Firm?! As in "Star Trekkin"?

[@iaincowell9747]

Yep, same guys.

[@neilwalsh4058]

John Peel, utter legend. The gobsh**es on Radio 1 these days should listen to some of his sessions, they might learn the necessary skills that qualifies them for what they're paid handsomely for, to be a DJ!

[@pinkyman5155]

I don't think Radio one have any presenters who are straight.

[@elcroz]

Err’ indoors actually hates this song. Who knew.

[@ianeyre3590]

At the end, what does ‘ the eight stones sit on his Daley’ mean?

[@Captain-Cardboard]

Sit on his _Daily._ Daily Mail - Tail. No idea about the eight stone, though. Was wondering about that myself.

[@Sfantoff]

can someone transcribe the lyrics? please D:

[@lordbeezer]

this guy is OK(get it)

[@ZXC5000]

Isn't it about time it was "Sir" George Cole?

[@JoeyXSmith]

I thought Chas and Dave did this song.

[@Dave_H834]

Not sure Chas and Dave were big fans of this.

[@andywilliamson]

They dont write'em like they used to

[@West.Ham1964]

I'm surprised the bbc allowed brahms and liszt unless their knowledge of rhyming slang was non existent

[@andypandy4078]

The idea that the BBC banned loads of stuff is rubbish most of the ""banned"' records were either just not on the playlist; never actually banned (people say they were but anyone who was there knows they were played all the time) or the record company tried for a ban in the hope of a bit of publicity. They didn't ban records as in having a panel that actually banned things officially from on high since the early 1960s. The BBC wasnt quite the pompous PC organisation back then we know and hate today.

[@bigguys45s29]

Wasn’t this the same band who made, “Radioactive” with Jimmy Page? 🤡

[@soldierloz]

This ain’t a Chas & Dave rip off is it!

[@specialj1987]

arthur daley a little dodgy but es alright

[@chrisman99]

Why does this just sound like a rip-off of Chas & Dave

[@chrisman99]

Like sideboard song

[@chrisman99]

But not as good

[@stephenpritchett7920]

Chas & Dave rip off

[@silverfox1963]

Awful

[@shonamccallum6539]

Why ?what a load of rubbish