Wonderful live
27/08/87 (Gary Davies)
Then Jerico – “The Motive (Living Without You)” (23)
Making their debut on the show with a song that peaked at number 18
Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield – “What Have I Done To Deserve This?” (2) (video)
This was Dusty's first top 40 hit since 1970, and also her 11th and final top ten hit, which was now at its peak.
Wet Wet Wet – “Sweet Little Mystery” (6)
Already becoming studio regulars, this song went up one more place.
Black – “Wonderful Life” (18)
Colin is singing live in the studio again and this fine song became his second of two top ten hits when it peaked at number 8.
T’Pau – “Heart & Soul” (28)
Following their success in America, here they are making their debut on the show with what became their first of three top ten hits when it peaked at number 4.
Rick Astley – “Never Gonna Give You Up” (1)
We have a number one on the show again! And it's Rick's first of five weeks at the top.
Prince & Sheena Easton – “U Got The Look” (13) (video/credits)
Sheena wasn't actually credited on this record, which went up two more places.
September 3rd is next, but Mike Smith is back, so BBC4 will sadly skip it.
A friend of mine texted me just after this repeat went out…then sent me selfies with three of the artists on the show! Mark Shaw from Then Jerico, Black (taken in 2015) and Carol Decker. Wow! It certainly was a better show than last week.
ReplyDeleteThen Jerico – The Motive (living without you) – Not overly impressed with this I have to say. Passed me by at the time.
Pet Shop Boys / Dusty – What have I done to deserve this – Great tune. Didn’t realise Dusty appeared in this video. Much prefer this to the dreadful cover that they released in late ’87.
Wet Wet Wet – Sweet little mystery – Again? Not much to write home about this.
Black – Wonderful Life – Wonderful live performance. I recall this being used in an advert but for what I don’t recall.
T’Pau – Heart and Soul – What a fabulous debut hit. Just insistent ‘get in your head’ stuff. A bit hard to mime though as Carol’s voice is everywhere on the track.
Rick Astley – Never gonna give you up – The year’s biggest seller hits the top. It’s one we’ve all heard a million times but it’s still a worthy dance floor classic.
Prince / Sheena Easton – U got the look – Weird pairing. Just repetitive music though.
A quick check as to who is no1 in the States and its flippin’ Los Lobos!
No breakers and an edit near the end, presumably to airbrush Smitty.
What, no Breakers section this week? Good Lord, it looks like this is the first of four shows in a row with no Breakers. The Breakers are taking a break, haha!
DeleteI did think that the two videos on the show this week, ie, Pet Shop Boys with Dusty Springfield, and then Prince with Sheena Easton, were the highlights fo the show for me, especially as the two videos were played in full to their last frame!
The first of 9 shows that we will have to get through by next Friday, and happily it's a good 'un, one of the best editions of the year for me and justifying Gazza's enthusiastic introduction. However, typically reliable as our host is, I do have to take issue with him over his description of Then Jerico as a "mega-band", which even at this stage of their career was pushing it a bit given they had released a string of flop singles over the previous two years. This effort would actually prove to be their second biggest hit, and they never broke into the Top Ten. This isn't bad, however, a rather boring verse giving way to a dynamic, attention-grabbing chorus. I didn't think much of the band image, the jumpers slung around shoulders and tied round waists presumably meant to suggest effortless sophistication but just looking like a stupid affectation instead.
ReplyDeleteNext up, the song that introduced me to the great Dusty Springfield, and also led to a short but welcome (and PSB-sponsored) revival of her chart career. A typically great tune from the boys, with nice vocal interplay, and the showgirls certainly make it a colourful video, though it's surprising how little Dusty actually appears in it, getting a bit of screen time when she does her first solo bit and then not turning up again until the end. We also get a rare opportunity to see Chris bare-headed here. The Wets put in another shift back in the studio, with Marti coming perilously close to doing the "I feel like Chicken Tonight" dance on occasion...
No breakers this week, but we do have Colin Vearncombe once again singing live, and this time to his most famous record. It's a great performance of this classic too, and rather remarkable to think that this was actually a reissue, as it had stalled at 42 on its original release the year before. Colin actually looks a little bit like Rick Astley here, as both wear black double-breasted jackets and shirts on this show, while also both sporting quiffs. T'Pau were yet another act in this week's line-up who initially struggled for chart recognition, and as Gazza mentions they broke big in the States before finally having success here. I'm glad Carol Decker said that Heart and Soul is her favourite of their songs, as I think it is by far the best thing they did and has been most unfairly eclipsed by the monotonous, overplayed number 1 from a few months later. I love the way the semi-rapped verses build up the vocal layers, before Carol really starts belting it out on the chorus; next to her, the blokes in the band all look pretty anonymous.
Rick hits the top and performs to a very enthusiastic audience, including a lady who pogoes along in a very pronounced manner at one point. We end with a most unlikely pairing, and one I am sure Sheena was grateful for as her chart fortunes had been in decline for quite a while by this point. I think this is one of Prince's better efforts, with a very hooky chorus; an impressive number of costume changes from Sheena in the video too, as the Purple One perves around her...
I was also enthralled by the showgirls costumes on the Pet Shop Boys colourful video. They were just so perfectly toned around the hips and legs, it's beyond belief! And oh yes, wasn't Dusty Springfield also looking good, after nearly 20 years out of the pop scene! I also remember when the video was played on Channel 4's The Chart Show, that they always cut out just before the final curtain scenes, and so missing the last minute of the video. every time.
DeleteIt's amazing how Prince took Sheena's career to a new glamorous level with new sexiness and colourful tones, when we knew her before as a shy Scottish girl on a UK TV programme that brought her to our screens a few years earlier with simple pop like 9 To 5. I wouldn't describe Prince as perving around her John, on the contrary I think she had a popular umbrella figure looking after her, and making her enjoy singing again, his way of course!
And this week's best U2 impersonators award goes to... Then Jericho! Haven't heard this since its release (if you hear one of theirs now it'll be Big Area) and it's fine for what it is, pompous pop rock thing. Mark Shaw was later beaten up by the rest of the band for being an arse, which is why they dwindled on the chart fairly quickly.
ReplyDeletePSB and Dusty, of course a great combination, Neil's deadpanning contrasting with Dusty's impeccable trilling - when she starts to sing it's like a different song, just as good. They did the same trick with Liza Minelli soon after, understandably championing the gay icons. The video's pretty distinctive too.
Remembering now how irksome Marti's diddying about was back then. I see the mysterious fifth member of Wet Wet Wet is getting quite a bit of screen time here. There's a larger lady in a grey jacket who is TOTALLY into this performance.
Something more cool, calm and collected after that, please. Ah, Black fits the bill, another impressive live vocal from Col, and a song about how miserable he was, sarcastically observing how great life's supposed to be. Shame the fame fell away, he was a singular performer with that voice.
Now the teenage girl of 1987's idea of quality pop, my sister was certainly a fan, with Carol "no nostalgia show appearance too insignificant" Decker duetting with herself, rapping and projecting at the top of her lungs simultaneously. It certainly sounded refreshingly different back then.
Little Rick makes it to the top with his debut, not bad going until you factor in the SAW production which the kids couldn't get enough of, and to be fair it's a solid tune. Some girls have their own actions to the lyrics, I noticed!
Prince and Sheena, Sugar Walls wasn't a hit here, possibly because it was filth, but this collaboration deserved to go Top Ten because it's a storming number, highly idiosyncratic (Sheena's "Oh, please!" couldn't sound more Glaswegian) but superbly produced. The video is an extract from the concert film Sign O' the Times, I think, which famously Prince rerecorded all the music for in his studio because he wasn't happy with the live recording. Great end to the show.
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DeleteI think Sheena said "Oh please" in response to Prince saying "here we are, a dream we all dream of, boy versus girl in the world series of love."
DeleteShe did indeed, but it's an American phrase delivered in her Bellshill accent that amuses me!
DeleteWatched "live" again on a sunny Thursday evening. Just like the old days and what a great show this week.
ReplyDeleteThen Jerico up first with The Motive. Title meant nothing to me but recognised the chorus when it appeared. Great tune, why is this not played on the radio more often. Big Area gets all the plays but this is brilliant. Great start to the show.
Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield – “What Have I Done To Deserve This?”
The revival of Dusty with one of PSBs finest songs. Odd that the video doesn't actually show that much of Dusty (much less than I remembered). Should have been Number 1 but was the first thing to get Rick-rolled. 😀
Wet Wet Wet with a very bouncy and smiley performance. Hugely popular with the TOTP crowd already.
Black performing Wonderful Life with a live vocal. Beautiful song this and such a great performance. One of the stand out songs of 87.
T’Pau a hit in America first. How did that happen. Must admit I liked this at the time and still a fan today. Not a "favourite" band of mine but always liked the singles and this is a strong song with a powerful vocal. I love the spoken word verses.
Rick Astley has gained some confidence but not the ability to dance. If you are gonna stick him on stage on his own at least let him sing live, he does have a good voice. A victim of Pete Waterman's "not singing live" mantra. Can't remember what show PW was on but he said something like "we spend ages getting the perfect vocal in the studio and I want people to here the song at it's very best, not sung live under pressure" always thought this was just an excuse for some of less than capable singers but Rick would have been fine.
Prince & Sheena Easton get the video playout and what a fine video it is. One of Princes best songs. And we got to see most of the video as well.
Lots of "live" acts again tonight and a fabulous show. 😀
Sadly, it wasn't just the Pet Shop Boys that were Rick-Rolled at No.2 and denied a deserved No.1, but also The Fat Boys with their new entry this week at no.19, they were then stuck in the top 3 throughout Sep 1987 while Astley and his SAW bosses hogged the number one spot, denying quality music and videos which should have been at the No.1 during that September 1987 period. It was a case of SAW music domination over individual creativity that had arrived, and was becoming a fact of life in the British charts.
DeleteThey dominated the charts massively from 87-90 with 89 suffering particularly badly with the full Kylie / Jason / Sonia onslaught.
DeleteIt will be interesting to see how well some of these tracks have "aged". Rick, Mel and Kim and Bananarama have all started out OK. We have Reynolds Girls to look forward too 😂 😂 😂
The earlier phase of SAW - roughly up to the point we have now reached - is generally fine and often pretty good. However we are now entering the era where their sound became ever more lazy and formulaic, particularly once the Aussie soap stars appeared on the scene.
Deletethen jerico: not only a silly band name, but also silly bracketed title alert! i couldn't remember how this went, and a listen on yt didn't help. nor will i recall anything about it five minutes on from having done so. rather amusingly after their 15 minutes of fame the singer had another couple some years later on that reality/voting show featuring 80's has-beens touring the states with the "losers" clearing their desk each week, and he was the first one off the bus
ReplyDeletepet shop boys/dusty: this was the first thing the boys did that really made me sit up and take notice, and i especially liked the long teased out intro on the extended version. one wonders if they invited dusty to sing on this one not just because they thought she had a good voice and wanted to resurrect her flagging career, but also because like them she had some hazy sexual leanings?
black: i thought the first hit showed a bit of promise, but this was a let down in comparison. however unlike its predecessor it seemed to become a staple of 80's nostalgia and even used in at least one tv ad, thus presumably making sure that mr vearncombe didn't have to sell big issues after his own 15 minutes?
t'pau: like then jerico a "band" although the majority of members remained utterly anonymous. also like them this was nothing to get excited about. but it's pleasant enough i suppose, other than that singer (the female equivalent of mick hucknall ha ha) being a bit annoying both visually and aurally
prince: this week a chum of mine got into hot water on a funk fb group site by suggesting that the guy never actually did any. this is a good example of what those not well-versed on the genre would call funk, although i wouldn't classify it as that. however i like the energy and bouncyness of it, so it's still one of his best efforts to my ears. but as usual things go a bit awry at some point (in this case the silly talky bit in the middle) thanks to a lack of producer/advisor having a steadying hand on the tiller. but despite that, due to the dearth of decent tunes on the show this year it will still probably be in my top 10 crackers list. as for sheena: not only was she really looking good by this point, but her voice wasn't nearly as screechy on this as it was on her early uk hits. i note that as well as ms easton he's also got fellow beauties sheila e and cat (the latter doing a bez ha ha) on board in the video, so perhaps not surprisingly he has a really amusing smirk on his face at one point
Long time lurker first time poster here.
ReplyDeleteGoing back a bit - I'm hopelessly behind with this; can't keep up with two a week! - I don't suppose anyone has a download of either of the 23/04/87 or 30/04/87 editions? My set top box completely failed to record them when they were on in February..
Many thanks, Will
I will put them up later on for you
DeleteWill here they are
Deletehttps://we.tl/t-0EpON1XAHX
Many thanks Meer! Much appreciated!
DeleteWill
Bruce Willis STILL in the Top 40 this week! According to my Book of Hit Singles, he had 15 weeks in the chart with Boardwalk, but it seems longer.
ReplyDeleteAt least he never "graced" the Top 40 again after this...
DeleteFunnily enough I had the same thought on the chart rundown! Seems more like six months!
DeleteThank goodness this show arrived before the Mike Smith onslaught as there were plenty of songs I liked on it.
ReplyDeleteThen Jerico - I didn't really know this song at the time, but liked it once I discovered it much later. Mark Shaw is, however, a very silly man indeed as he proves here by prancing around like a major rock star.
PSB / Dusty - One of their very finest, a shame really that it didn't get a shot at No.1.
Black - He loved his live performances, didn't he? And this is another good one.
T'Pau - A good song from a band I don't care for very much, which rises above Carol Decker's not particularly great vocals. Feb 88 isn't far away in TOTP terms, and when we get there we'll be treated by Carol to one of the worst vocals of all time. And she looks bloody scary now.
Prince / Sheena - Here's the one on the show that I really don't care for at all.
Is that on the song ' Valentine' by any chance Noax?
DeleteThat's the one!
DeleteOne of the many reasons I adore these reruns is listening to the music in a new light over 3 decades on. I've never particularly liked/disliked "U got the look" but listening here for the first time in ages I thought it was one of this year's highlights. Sheena looks and sounds amazing. Can't believe I didn't notice this before. Anyway, I'm 6 shows behind so I'll crack on here!
ReplyDeleteI must admit that when this record and video was shown on TOTP in 1987, it made me sit up and look at Sheena Easton is a completely different light. The fresh sexy influence of Prince on her seemed to completely change her look, style and fortunes for the better, and made her much more marketable. A life-changer really.
DeleteCompletely agree Sonny. Not really a song I have listened to much but the video on playout was amazing.
DeleteLove discovering/re-discovering these tunes on these repeats
Not many sings this week...
ReplyDeleteThen Jericho; - don't remember this. I must confess that i thought their first hit was Big Area. Not memorable....
PSB and Dusty - still love this, but those shoulder pads... (i recall that when PSB covered ‘where the streets have no name’, Bono was quoted as saying ‘what have i done to deserve this?’
Loved the single ‘hooray’ in the background when jive talkin mentioned in the rundown...
Not sure i’ve seen the whole Prince video before - didn’t realise Sheen Easton was so so short - wonder if Prince picked his co-vocalists on condition they were as ahort as him...