Top Gun of the Pops
27/11/86 (Gary Davies)
Frankie Goes To Hollywood – “Warriors (Of The Wasteland)” (19)
Getting tonight's show underway with this hard edged sound, but it got no higher than number 19.
Debbie Harry – “French Kissing In The USA” (9) (video)
Not much snogging going on in the video, but the song slithered up one more place.
Five Star – “If I Say Yes” (15)
Their fifth top 20 hit of 1986, but this was the least successful of them, peaking at number 15.
Roger Whittaker & Des O’Connor – “The Skye Boat Song” (17)
Christmas must be on its way! This eccentric offering became Roger's third and final top ten hit, and Des's fourth and final top ten hit, when it whistled up to number 10.
Iron Maiden – “Stranger In A Strange Land” (22) (breaker)
Got no higher.
Genesis – “Land Of Confusion” (21) (breaker)
Peaked at number 14.
Nick Kamen – “Each Time You Break My Heart” (8)
In the studio with his band to perform this song written and produced by Madonna, and it went up three more places.
Berlin – “Take My Breath Away” (1) (video)
Fourth and final week at number one.
Anita Baker – “Sweet Love” (13) (audience dancing/credits)
At its peak.
December 4th is next, but it is yet another Mike Smith edition.
Gazza is wearing a loud jacket tonight, and the studio lighting gives his face a weird ghostly pallor in the opening link. He is generally assured again, though does trip over his words a couple of times.
ReplyDeleteFrankie commence proceedings with their last TOTP appearance. This isn't a bad effort, but they were still very much following the same musical and production template as they had at the height of their success, and I don't think it's very surprising that the public were getting bored of it. Holly doesn't seem all that interested here either, with his exaggeratedly nonchalant performance, and indeed his relations with his bandmates were deteriorating rapidly by this time; the band would split after the upcoming tour Gazza mentions. After several years of nursing Chris Stein back to health, Debbie gets back into the charts with probably her best solo record, possessed of a slinky and seductive feel. Debs was still looking good at this time, and it's a nice touch to see Stein on guitar at the end of the video. As Angelo says, we don't see any snogging, but it is certainly implied!
After the welcome change of pace of their previous single, Five Star are back with this release to an up-tempo sound and highly drilled dance moves, complete this time with sparkly blue outfits. While they are not doing anything new here, this did have quite a lot of energy and I have definitely heard worse. What twisted mind came up with the idea of putting Roger and Des together? This was pretty horrible, not so much for Des's crooning as for Roger's interminable seagull-style whistling. I don't recall this at all from the time, and we can only be thankful it didn't make Christmas number 1 - in truth, I think they released it a bit too early. Incidentally, I read elsewhere that Roger is sitting down in this performance because he had managed to run a lawnmower over his foot!
No great loss that this is all we will see of the Iron Maiden track, as it is strictly business as usual. Nick Kamen, meanwhile, demonstrates that all you need to do to gain a recording contract is look good and take your jeans off in a launderette. Madge's involvement was presumably intended as a way of giving greater credibility to the venture, but the slick production cannot disguise the weediness of Nick's vocals, or the repetitive, boring nature of the song - the quiff and the old-school golden mic, meanwhile, invite distinctly unflattering comparisons with Elvis. I wonder where Nick is now? Anita Baker to finish, a singer who critics have raved about over the years but never achieved singles success on a par with the acclaim - her albums, admittedly, did better. This is a decent song, but she has one of those very big voices that can overwhelm whatever it is she is singing, and I think she comes close to that here. The video is dull, and seems to rely heavily on Anita making weird arm movements.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood in their second phase of 1986/87 was in a different and downward direction to their more dynamic 1984/85 first album which caught the viewers imagination right up until Welcome To The Pleasuredome.
DeleteThis new second album in late 1986 didn't even inspire holly Johnson on the basis of the studio performance this week. No wonder we didn't see any more of them after this effort, and the song Warriors climbed no higher as Angelo correctly mentions. FrankieGTH will always be remembered for their first album which was entirely inventive at the time.
Frankie GTH for the last time, more like Frankie GTFO, with a tune taking on bankers, it sounds like, about a year too early for Black Friday (or was it Black Monday? It happens so often!). The title to this snarky bit of bombast suggests they were in their local video shop and were looking for something to take out, settling on the not very good post-apocalypse movie Warriors of the Wasteland. At least they were impressed. How come Holly goes over to the guitarist and has a threatening word in his shell-like? Save it for the dressing room!
ReplyDeleteDebbie Harry with a slickly produced slice of saucy pop, though I believe the Americans call it Freedom kissing these days. Video is baffling in places, with no apparent relation to the song aside from the models sticking out their tongues and theatrically licking their lips. I feel a little ill...
Five Star with one of their lesser tunes, again, slick production seems to be a theme this episode, and it's not so bad, just lacking in the melody department. The enormous shoulder pads make them look like parodies of themselves.
Rog and Des, say what you like about the former, that muddyfunster can whistle. Whether his seagull impersonations were appropriate for this version of the old Scots ditty is more questionable, but they're still preferable to Rod Stewart's most recent effort on this show. Funnily enough, they're both still alive, though I haven't seen Rog in years, Des was on Harry Hill's Alien Fun Capsule a few months ago, looking spry but ancient.
Iron Maiden with their usual video, and indeed their usual song, you'd think with them raking it in from the world's teenage boys they'd splash out on something more expensive. Get that bloke in the Eddie mask back!
Pretty boy Nick Kamen - can't think why he caught Madonna's attention - mimes his way with a special gold mic through a gyrating routine but a forgettable song. Still better than the dreadful cover of Grapevine they put on the ad that made him famous, mind you.
Berlin, they did have another hit, but I can't remember if it was featured here. Probably the best thing about a rancid blockbuster, but that shot of the jet fighter spinning away from the aircraft carrier is rather nice. Just noticed Terri's flying suit is ripped at the hip, revealing she's not wearing pants - oh dear.
Anita Baker with one of those classy but boring ballads I never took to in the 80s, and those candles are surely a fire hazard. Her booming vocals don't sound very romantic, imagine waking up next to that foghorn.
Debbie Harry's video was just lovely with those tall American models posing perfectly in their swimming costumes and lingerie. Made my day, and easily the best song and video on the show, along with the soothing Anita Baker to play us out.
DeleteCan't believe that Des O'Connor was last on TOTP in 1967 before this show in 1986. It's probably one of the wiped 60s editions that he was last on. And then Whittaker's last appearance was in 1975, also wiped I wonder? If that is is the case, then this 1986 show would be the only surviving show with either of these two performers.
In any case, they seemed to be looking to contend for the Xmas no.1 this time round, when we are more used to seeing Des O'Connor introducing music performers on his own show!
Gazza was wrong about Des O'Connor - his last appearance on the show had been in 1970. He was right about Roger Whittaker though, and one performance of his from '75 does survive, though it isn't his final one:
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF4RxfdfUsQ
frankie: listening to this vaguely-remembered track makes me think it's a shame they hadn't already had their big hits as this is actually quite good on a stand-alone basis once it gets going. however in context it was never going to be seen as anything else other than diminishing returns on the likes of "relax". talking of diminishing returns, guitarist nasher puts in a bit of a half-hearted effort here - maybe he's just realised that despite all their success, financially he still hasn't got a pot to piss in?
ReplyDeletedebbie harry: was she still billed as debbie at this point? i ask because she was at least 40 by now and she did insist in being called the more mature "deborah" soon enough as a result. after the failure of her much-ballyhoo'd debut album collboration with the chic organisation (apparently the pic of her face being skewered on the cover didn't help with regard to sales) she finally gets her solo chart career off the ground with some pleasant-enough synth pop. although i have to say i feel her vocal style doesn't really suit it
roger whittaker/des o'connor: i couldn't find a clip of this nana/sue "one for the grannies" appearance to watch on yt, and i'm all broken up over it... not!
5 star: i really did hate this lot at the time, but seeing them have their 15 minutes again many years later they don't irritate me in the way they once did - maybe that's because unlike back then i now know of their sudden and sad consequent decline? even this relatively-lesser offering still has moments of decentness about it
maiden: despite the standard "on stage" video, if i had to choose one track from this edition to listen to again i think it would actually be this - it's quite restrained by their standards (well at least until the obligatory squealing guitar solo kicks in), and production-wise it's very crisp. seeing one of them wearing a t-shirt for their own band reminds of the infamous appearance of opera singer elisabeth schwarzkopf on "desert island discs", where most of the tracks she chose were her own recordings
nick kamen: that advert with him taking his jeans off in the launderette really was the talk of the nation at the time, so small wonder a record contract beckoned as a result. yes, he's no great shakes vocally if adequate enough on what is a functional piece of synth pop/dance, but then again the same could be said about his mentor and song provider - and she outstayed her welcome far longer than he did
I think Ms Harry had become "Deborah" by the time I Want That Man hit the charts in 1989. Her birth name was Angela Trimble, but she was soon renamed by her adoptive parents, perhaps fortunately for her future career...
Deletei forgot to comment on anita baker: i got hold of the album "sweet love" came from and taped it back in the 80's and thought it was really soulful and sophisticated at the time, but when i listened to it again 20 years later i realised that i really could no longer handle her over-egged wailing and the mostly soporific wine bar backing - the only track still worth keeping was "caught up in the rapture"
DeleteThere's a lot of competition, but this must be one of the worst editions of 86 musically.
ReplyDeleteFGTH - No surprise that this wasn't a big hit given that it sounds like a watered down version of their first 2 hits.
Debbie Harry - Merely average, I wouldn't turn it off it came on the radio but it doesn't excite me either.
Five Star - Not exactly one of their memorable singles.
Roger & Des - As someone who detests whistling at all times, let alone in song, I was never going to be a huge fan of this one.
I can remember nothing about the Iron Maiden one.
Nick Kamen - Extremely weedy indeed. He did a fantastic pop song in 1990 called 'I Promised Myself' which was a hit all over Europe but not here.
Anita Baker - This kind of thing just sends me to sleep.
Quick watch this one…a succession of unappealing acts for me, so like Noax, I agree this is a low point in 1986 ToTP.
ReplyDeleteFrankie – Warriors of the Deep – Well maybe not quite, but certainly as bad as that Dr Who story! Hadn’t the Frankie craze ended by now?
Debbie Harry – French kissing – Sassy video but rather lightweight song that I haven’t missed hearing.
Five Star – If I say yes – I say ‘no’. FF
Roger Whittaker & Des O-Connor – Skye Boat Song – OK I like this. I guess probably few do. Roger released a great single in 1975 called ‘The Last Farewell’ and another classic five years earlier called ‘I don’t believe in If any more’ and Des topped the charts in 1968 with ‘I Pretend’ as well as being the butt of many ‘Morecambe and Wise jokes.
Breakers – Iron Maiden – sounded and looked just like Iron Maiden and was surely not seriously hoped to be a big hit? Genesis – More from this to come but suffice to say I loathed the Spitting Image connection.
Nick Kamen – Each time you break my heart – Another lightweight song, but surprisingly written and produced by Madonna and Stephen Bray. Obviously one they didn’t rate much.
Berlin – Take my breath away – Yep, cut again at the same spot. Perhaps the tape had been damaged? Is it still legal to ride motorbikes with no helmet in the States?
Anita Baker – Sweet Love – I hated this at the time. Now I think it’s quite good. Nice way to end the disappointing show.
regarding riding motorbikes without helmets in the states: i remember reading that the law was changed (circa early 90's) at least in part due to the actor gary busey (who regularly played biker-types early on in his career) nearly dying as a result of an accident he had whilst riding without one on
Deletethat reminds me of when i rode motorbikes in the late 70's and early 80's: i hated the modern close-fitting helmets as they really messed my hair up, so i usually used an old-fashioned cork one with a leather chinstrap. strictly speaking it was of course illegal by then, but thenever plod stopped me (as they always did if they saw me) i used to take it off to show them the british safety standard kite mark inside - which completely flummoxed them, and they felt obliged to let me go on my way!
The video to the Five Star track, was Denise getting ready for a date with 'Dracula'!
ReplyDelete(Well the bit I remember seeing on Superstore at the time, as they never showed the entire video!)
Odd line up on the show tonight and a very subdued Gary Davies as well.
ReplyDeleteFirst up Frankie still having hits and I really enjoyed this. Never heard it before but I thought it was rather good. Holly being a bit naughty with the guitarist there...
...speaking of naughty, Debbie Harry and a lot of pouting women appear in a rather naff video which is trying to be sexy and failing miserably. Don't mind the song though but it's no classic
Next up is Five Stars best performance to date. Still got the blokes in the background in shadow though. I had forgotten all about this song as you hardly ever hear it now but I really enjoyed it. Quite an American sound and moves at a good pace.
I have nothing good to say about Roger and Des so I will move on.
Breakers:
Iron Maiden - same as always. Nothing special.
Genesis - Not a great video but an Ok one. Might of had more impact if it didn't just remind us of the chicken song. The actual Genesis number is very good indeed.
Nick Kamen up next- Great song, loved the backing singers really getting into it. Reminds me of the time I was DJ of the day on the Radio 210 Breakfast Show (aged about 12). Had to get up ridiculously early on a school day but got to sit in the studio and watch the Breakfast show go out and introduce a song by Curiosity Killed The Cat.
As a thank you I got given a selection of Radio 210 tat and a Nick Kamen single. Unfortunately it was one of his follow up flops and I have no idea what it was..
Berlin still at the top and the now over played Sweet Love which I had to FF.
morgie did you have to send in some kind of audition tape in order to win a "dj of the day" radio spot?
DeleteI don't really remember but I may of done as I used to make my own (rather bad) shows at the time.
DeleteThe 1980’s encapsulated there in Gazza’s jacket. Let’s just say this wasn’t the best edition from the year.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realise we don't get to see FGTH's top 28 smash follow-up. Alliteration going on with Frankie’s last two minor hits, with “Watching The Warriors” and “Watching The Wildlife”. Prospective efforts “Where’s Wally” and “What A Wanker” never got made. Times were hard for the band - Paul needed to pawn his moustache.
A rather phallic Debbie Harry video with a man's parts depicted as plane fuselage, lots of women eating and slurping, and double entendre lyrics. All we need was someone squiring a hand gel pump for the whole shebang.
The Romford Jacksons are back, with ‘er up front doing lead vocals yet again. Yawn.
Hot rocking tonight! Roger and Des were 50 and nearly 55 at this time. For full effect we really needed some shaving foam dropped from above as pretend seagull shite, Percy Edwards for a ‘bird-off’ and a bucket of seaweed filled salty water over Des, caught joshing with an audience member on the stairs early doors.
Iron Maiden on autopilot (again), though I liked Bruce’s Kermit trousers.
One of Genesis’s more bearable songs to these ears. I loved the ‘hands within hands’ part of the video.
Nick Kamen! What a rich voice, such charisma, I see a bright future for this lad.
Anita Baker finishes us off with a song just made these days for the late night love songs stint on Jazz FM.
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ReplyDelete