Bonsoir tout le monde, j'espère que vous avez envie de faire
de gros succès car ce soir, vous serez transporté
dans l'édition du 25 février 1988 de Top of le Pops!
de gros succès car ce soir, vous serez transporté
dans l'édition du 25 février 1988 de Top of le Pops!
Sax appeal
25/02/88 (Mark Goodier & Peter Powell)
Primitives – “Crash” (29)
Making their debut with what was to be their only top ten hit when it peaked at number 5.
Morrissey – “Suedehead” (6) (video)
It went up one more place and was his first of ten solo top ten hits.
Vanessa Paradis – “Joe Le Taxi” (14)
Ooh La La! Joe Le Taxi became her first of two top ten hits when it peaked at number 3.
Rick Astley – “Together Forever” (9) (breaker)
Already his fourth top ten hit and it peaked at number 2.
The Sisters Of Mercy – “Dominion” (17) (breaker)
Peaked at number 13.
Eddie Cochran – “C’mon Everybody” (19) (breaker)
Had been a number 6 hit in 1959, this re-issue made it to number 14.
George Harrison – “When We Was Fab” (25) (breaker)
Second single from his Cloud Nine album but it went up no higher.
The Mission – “Tower Of Strength” (12)
A second studio performance but the song was now at its peak.
Eddy Grant – “Gimme Hope Jo’anna” (8)
And a second studio performance from Eddy, and the song went up one more place.
Kylie Minogue – “I Should Be So Lucky” (1) (video)
Second of five weeks at number one.
Bangles – “Hazy Shade Of Winter” (20) (video/credits)
This Simon & Garfunkel cover peaked at number 11.
Next up is March 3rd. Au revoir!
Another week, another new host as Mark Goodier makes his bow. He's clearly nervous, and grins too much at the camera like a puppy anxious for praise, but his links are professional and informative and, unlike Nicky Campbell, he is likeable. Mark does struggle a bit to build a rapport with PP, but the show's longest serving presenter is in decent form himself, a couple of word stumbles aside.
ReplyDeleteI thought this was probably the best show of the year so far overall, which makes it all the better that BBC4 didn't skip it, as we originally thought they would. Paul Ciani sensibly splits the 40-11 rundown into two parts, which gives a better flow to proceedings, and we start with an excellent pop-rock tune from The Primitives that would not have disgraced the Blondie catalogue. Singer Tracy Tracy (so good they named her twice), puts on her best Marilyn Monroe impersonation and pulls it off impressively, but sadly the band couldn't sustain the momentum and would rapidly fade from view, with their rivals Transvision Vamp ultimately enjoying more chart success. One of those who helped push The Primitives into the limelight was Mozza, after he wore one of their t-shirts. Here he is with his first solo hit, a very pleasant song which ironically entered the charts higher than any Smiths record ever did. Presumably Mozza had a James Dean fixation, as he spends most of the downbeat video wandering around Dean's home town before arriving at his grave. I gather that "suedeheads" were a less well known offshoot of the skinhead subculture.
We return to the studio and to Johnny Depp's future squeeze, who had just turned 15 at the time and thus made Tiffany and Debbie Gibson both look over the hill. As PP says, a rare example of a French song making it into our charts, and it is quite a catchy little tune, if rather slight. Vanessa seems overmanned in the sax department, but at least they have coordinated their moves. Breakers next, and we get another dead 50s icon in the shape of Eddie Cochran. Presumably this was back in the charts because of an advert? It's an evergreen record, anyway, and amusing to see the stereotypically clean-cut and gawky 50s American teenagers in this clip, presumably taken from something like Dick Clark's American Bandstand. We won't see this George Harrison track again either, which is a shame as this wry reflection on his Fab days, with various sly nods to his old band present in Jeff Lynne's production, is an amusing and pleasant listen. A good video too, with George sprouting extra arms and Ringo making his presence felt.
Not much to say about the return performances for The Mission and Eddy Grant, though I do have an obviously mistaken memory that TOTP showed the video for the latter; also notable that when introducing Eddy PP gets a bit political by volubly endorsing the song's message. We finally see the official Kylie video, but it's a bit dull compared to the BBC's more scenic effort. Still, it's worth it for that rather cute moment where Kylie blows the bubbles in her bath and breaks out in that big grin. The Bangles play us out with a very creditable rocked-up version of a Simon & Garfunkel gem. A straightforward "in performance" video features clips of the now forgotten film from which it was taken, meaning that Andrew McCarthy gets to make another TOTP appearance.
Peter Powell had by now done well over 10 years presenting the show since 1977 I think (or was it 1976?), and clearly the longest standing, which was now approaching its end in the summer of 1988, but he has less than a handful of shows still to go.
DeleteI did like the chart rundown being fragmented to three parts instead of two, as that long stretch from 40-11 in one go was very cumbersome for the presenters, and I'm surprised it held up for so long through the 80s when it was introduced.
The American teenagers on the Eddie Cochrane video were all chewing bubble gum, and yes, I mean all of them, so it must have been a publicity stunt of some some sort, as bubble gum is rarely chewed or stocked in sweetshops these days, in favour of chewing gum. Those teenagers would be around 80 years old now, and I wonder how many of them show this video to their children and grandchildren, as part of the family heritage. I'll definitely watch the whole video over the weekend if it is at all on YouTube.
I also preferred the other Kylie video, ie, the one made specially for TOTP, not the official video as shown on this week's show. Kylie looks more natural and fun outdoors, and this indoor video just didn't make much impression.
I actually thought that The Bangles video had a lot of likeness to the Street Of Fire soundtrack video "Tonight Is What It Means To Be Young", some four years earlier in 1984, with the theme of young love, competitive suitors and fast cars. Great to see the Bangles video played in full this week by BBC4 on the playout, as it was one of their very best videos, and did not do as well in Britain as it did over in the USA where these girls were from.
PP first presented TOTP in 1977 - he has seven shows left now, according to Popscene.
Deletemorrissey's james dean obsession is hardly surprising given that not only did dean have the quiff and cool 50's style that mozzer endeavoured to imitate, but he was rumoured to be sexually ambigious as well
DeleteAngelo - I was impressed by your French introduction to this post, but I'm glad you reverted to English after that!
ReplyDeleteMerci beaucoup :-)
DeleteC'est extra et c'est tres chouette!
DeleteI find it confusing some believe there is a link between Kylie Minogue and music. The duet with Nick Cave is the only example I am aware of.
ReplyDeleteHere the tune felt randomly generated, the quality of the lyrics could have been matched by anyone with a basic understanding of English and the video looked like a junior school project.
The gimmick was the Australian TV show which was a mixture of American blandness and British economy.
My theory for the popularity was in the late 1980s' North Sea oil and privatizations were pumping money into the economy and the success of the SAW business project was part of the froth.
I was a fan of The Primitives at the time, or at least I bought their album Lovely, and Crash was a storming single that somehow never generated much more success for them, though they did have other, minor hits off the LP. Nowadays it's such an indie disco staple that I'd rather hear Through the Flowers or Way Behind Me instead, but presumably the band latterly made a bit of profit when this was on the soundtrack to Dumb and Dumber. Oh, and Tracy Tracy's surname? Spencer!
ReplyDeleteMorrissey, I liked Suedehead a lot too, though the New English Library paperback-reminiscent title now looks suspect in light of his far right leanings that his diehard fans were denying up until recently. At least James Dean never sullied his own legacy, eh, Moz? Anyway, as the indie hits were growing in strength, this was one of the gems.
Ecoutez et repetez… The boys in my class were certainly impressed with Vanessa Paradis, though it's her second Top Ten hit I prefer. She looks very waiflike here, like a strong breeze would blow her from the stage. Thanks to this song I know "Embouteillage!" means traffic jam, it really is a song about a taxi driver. Vanessa is currently in British cinemas starring in a slasher movie set in the world of hardcore gay porn (called Knife + Heart) - and she looks like butter wouldn't melt here, as well! No idea why Joe Le Taxi caught on in this country, and it's a bit of a novelty record, but nice enough. I like her co-ordinated sax players.
Eddie Cochrane, how d'you get to Eddie Cochrane? As asked in every commercial break in The Chart Show at this time. On a James Dean tip, another 1950s star who died young, seems to be a theme. Anyway, classic rock 'n' roller, his guitar sound is epic, and he was in a Mamie Van Doren movie, but let's remember him in The Girl Can't Help It.
Really liked this George Harrison tune at the time, and at that age was beginning to get the Beatles references. Had to mention the income tax, didn't he? He had a real beef with the taxman. The off-kilter piano blended with the strings makes this sound like nothing else around at the time, even with the Jeff Lynne template production.
The Mission and Eddy we've seen before, but Kylie reminds me of one of those Sunday afternoon Channel 4 music shows like Wired or APB, where Robert Plant was on and there was a clip of him in concert chanting "I should be so lucky! So lucky, lucky, lucky!" followed by him informing us it was a football chant. I don't know if that means he liked the song or not, but I bet he doesn't include it in his concerts now.
Bangles to end on, and a very respectable cover of the old Simon and Garfunkel tune, given a rockier edge. From Less Than Zero, based on a Bret Easton Ellis novel. The only book if his I've read is American Psycho, which in between the carnage devotes chapters to essays on how great Phil Collins is. He doesn't mention The Bangles, though (probably just as well).
OK, no1 in the States was ‘Seasons Change’ by Expose…. Yep, me neither, I’ll have to look it up as it didn’t trouble the scorers here. Don’t recall Mark Goodier at all.
ReplyDeletePrimitives – Crash – Surprisingly good, but oh don’t they remind me of Blondie.
Morrissey – Suedehead – This isn’t bad either. A very intriguing video ending with supposedly James Dean’s grave. Better than a lot of the Smiths stuff we’ve been served up recently.
Vanessa Paradis – Joe le Taxi – Novelty hit. A big ‘non’ from me.
Breakers – Rick Astley – another facsimile hit destined to be the 700th no1 in the US. Sisters of Mercy – Just keep thinking of the Thompson Twins. Eddie Cochran – Timeless oldie. George Harrison – This has Jeff Lynne written all over it; could have been an ELO hit.
The Mission – Tower of strength – This has grown on me a little, even though it’s never gonna make my Desert Island Discs.
Eddie Grant – Give me hope Joanna – This has not grown on me and I rapidly hit FF.
Kylie Minogue – I should be so lucky – Amazing video! All those costume changes. Is that the same backing track as Rick Astley?
Bangles – Hazy shade of Winter – Lively S&G cover with lots of fast moving scenes in the video – the original has a nice bit of brass on it after the line “hear the Salvation Army band” but on here it’s a little bit of lack lustre synth.
I remember the Expose US No.1, as it was played on Paul Gambaccini American Chart Show on Radio 1 in the late 80s, and when he announce them at the top spot. A very good single too, and I don't recall it being released in Britain, despite it being such a good song.
DeleteAt this point in George Harrison's career, Jeff Lynne was a key contributor to his music, so unsurprisingly the ELO factor was there. However, this was not the best of follow-ups to the big No.2 hit Got My Mind Set On You, but the pair went onto bigger things later in the year with their new project The Travelling Wilburys, which I must admit I liked a lot more than George Harrison solo.
https://www.45cat.com/record/109742
DeleteSeasons Change did get a UK release...seems nobody cared.
morrissey: carrying on where the smiths left off by getting producer stephen street to bring in vini reilly of durutti column legend to basically do a johnny marr impression. i remember being really impressed with the clean, robust and energetic sound of the musical backing at the time, although it's quite clear mozzer only has one gear (lyrically as well as melodically) regardless of who he works with. so not surprisingly as far as i was concerned it was all downhill from then on. i did know what a suedehead was at the time, although i don't remember any mention of them in the actual lyrics. so presumably moz used that as the title simply because he was infatuated with that particular retro fashion trend?
ReplyDeleteeddie cochran: presumably only re-released because of a jeans advert or similar? despite his early death cochran left a substantial legacy, as he was not only a prolific songwriter and talented guitarist but also an enthusiastic pioneer of recording techniques of the era as well. the fact is that none of the original surviving rock n roll heroes managed to keep up with the times once said era was over (never mind lead them), and i don't think other casualties like buddy holly or richie valens would have done so either. however in my view cochran certainly had the potential to have moved forward as time went on, although in the end the world would have to be content with his influence on the likes of the sex pistols
I prefer to think Morrissey called his solo debut Suedehead because he liked Richard Allen paperbacks as a 70s kid.
DeletePretty sure Stephen Street also played bass on "Suedehead" as well as producing it.
ReplyDeleteFinally made it after a few computer issues this week – it didn’t recognize me and I’ve had to re-set loads of stuff!
ReplyDeleteGoodiebags is a bit too keen and eager to please here, but full marks for being the first host to namecheck The Cookie Crew for their co-hit.
The Primitives, simple and effective with a superb song. It’s the Coventry Marilyn Monroe! The camera’s over here, love! Ah. This was re-mixed with a horrible keyboard part which is all over YouTube like a nasty rash instead of this sublime original.
The first of two people in a bath on the show though, thankfully, we only get a couple of seconds of Morrissey bubble bath action. A ha-ha-hilarious video where Stephen’s dressed more like a goth in that cold. Who missed the apostrophe out in “Can’t” on that wall, then? Strange echoey vibrato near the end of the song on iPlayer. A wonderful solo debut. If only we could remember him this way.
Tremendous saxmen choreography which completely diverted my attention from the waif-like Vanessa. Still find this a very catchy song.
Rick Faxley with a virtual replica, certain backing-track wise, of his first hit.
Take two sticks to the pyramids with you? Have Mercy. Boom toom tish! Two pints of milk please while you’re at it.
That girl front row slap bang in the middle of Eddie Cochran’s audience was clapping out of time to everyone else. Smurfing out of key if you ask me.
George Harrison with an arms version of “Jake The Peg” (erm) and a song I forgot as soon as the clip finished.
Please put that chest away, Wayne. Smiling as well! You’ll be drummed out of the goth club. Still, at least you wore regulation black.
Mugshots - couldn’t someone have wiped down Terry Darby’s picture? Looked like it had been used as a placemat.
Johannesburg’s in South Africa. The country’s flag is known as the “Y-Front”. By coincidence, Eddy Grant’s song is pants.
No expense paid for Kylie’s video, complete with horrible graffiti backgrounds. “I luv you” indeed! She looks nicer with tousled hair in my opinion.
A nicely interspersed band / film clip video for The Bangles. Hear those, Bananarama? They’re called harmonies. You should try them some time.
The Primitives - A good song, and some of their lesser hits and non-hits were good too.
ReplyDeleteMorrissey - Ah, the daft racist! All his first 3 solo singles were decent, it's a shame that very little afterwards was.
Vanessa Paradis - JAILBAIT! A few friends of mine had 'feelings' watching this but she's not my type. And I don't mean French. THe song is pleasant enough, not that I'd want to hear it very often.
The Eddie Cochran song was back because of a Levi advert I think, I remember them making a big thing about it being the shortest song ever on a NOW album (I imagine it still is) and I like the George Harrison one a lot, surprising that they didn't play the video in full as it was highly regarded at the time.
The Bangles cover improves on the original for me.
ReplyDeleteAh The Primitives, along with the Darling Buds who should be along soon, were a band I couldn’t get enough of.
Mr Morrissey - a pity about his politics, cos his songs can be quite foot tappy
FF..
George Harrison video - not exactly cutting edge cgi was it? Quaint though...
Mission - chug chug...
Bangles - nice cover...
Another week, another newbie and this time it's Mr Now himself Mark Goodier. Mark and Bruno were the sound of the charts during the late 80s and 90s so it always added an air of authority to TOTP for me when they appeared on the show. Nice suit Mark.
ReplyDeleteThe Primitives Crash into the studio with this very likeable bit of late 70s pop/punk. White peroxide hair for the Blondie wannabe as well. Rememner this well, really like this and a great start to the show if a little short.
Morrisey. I HATED Morrisey as a kid. Thought all his songs were just dull and Sueudehead was no exception. That changed with his next single which I will talk about later on.
I don't mind this song now at all but will never be a favorite.
Think he needs a bigger coat.
Did we just hear the studio feed.. Ooops..
Hello. We've changed the chart run down.
Now as a 13 year old I quite liked Vanessa Paradis. Think people a lot older than me did as well which is kinda uncomfortable to think about nowadays. Must actually translate these lyrics one day. Liked the song at the time, happily never hear it again now.
Like the sax bit in the middle though.
Breakers :
Rick with my favourite of his songs. Together Forever was a massive fave for me. Still love it.
Sisters of Mercy. Heavy stuff and this passed me by at the time. Wouldn't mind hearing the full thing.
Eddie Cochran. This is amazing. No idea why it was back but started a bit of a 50s rock n roll love for me. Had several compilation albums on cassette I recall.
George Harrison. When We Was sounding a bit like the Beatles but not as good.
Where's that 3rd hand coming from.
US stars The Mission back again. They've done well with this hit.
Eddy Grant back again. Foot tapping time. 😀 😀 😀
The proper Kylie video. Bubbles and all. How many times have I seen this video I wonder.. 😀 That hair though. Wild.
Bangles play us out. Obviously from a film then but I don't recognise it.
Nice enough cover.
Like the splitting up of the chart. Works well and the show has more pace.
Mark did well on his first time out. He can chill out a bit now.