I got the top of the hots for you
28/04/88 (Nicky Campbell & Gary Davies)
Pat & Mick – “Let’s All Chant” (15)
Getting us underway tonight is a former presenter, but it's all for charidee and it went up four more places.
James Brown – “The Payback Mix” (14) (video)
This weird medley went up two more places.
Fairground Attraction – “Perfect” (12)
Making their group debut in the studio with a song that will be number one in three weeks time.
Brenda Russell – “Piano In The Dark” (23) (breaker)
Got no higher.
Primitives – “Out Of Reach” (26) (breaker)
Went up one more place.
Luther Vandross – “I Gave It Up (When I Fell In Love)” (28) (breaker)
Got no higher.
Joyce Sims – “Walk Away” (29) (breaker)
Peaked at number 24.
Bananarama – “I Want You Back” (5)
In the studio again for a second performace but the song was now at its peak.
Will Downing – “A Love Supreme” (16)
Making his studio debut and this John Coltrane cover went up two more places.
S-Express – “Theme From S-Express” (1) (rpt from 21/04/88)
First of dos weeks at number one.
Scott Fitzgerald – “Go” (not in chart) (rpt from 07/04/88 + credits)
Came second in Eurovision but only made it to number 52 in the charts.
May 5th is next.
Pat & Mick - not as good as the 1978 original by the Michael Zager Band, but it is a decent effort from the Capital Radio DJs turned popstars, and a nice upbeat start to the show, even if it was a SAW production.
ReplyDeleteJames Brown - Good Lord, this one was quite backbreaking to watch, and my back still hurts from it. Awful song. Brown should have retired after his big top 5 hit in 1986, Living In America.
Bananarama - sounding too much like Kylie Minogue in style of music. If they were in the SAW stable at this stage of their career, it was a move in the wrong direction in my opinion, considering their earlier 80s success. Not sure about the new brunette member's impact, but she was no Siobhan by any stretch of the imagination.
Thankfully Nicky Campbell was much less annoying this time, toning down the cleverdickery and playing it straight, even on the chart rundown - maybe Gazza was a good influence on him! Just a shame that he decides to adopt Wrighty's yuppie look here, plus a truly awful tie...
ReplyDeleteNearly five years after hosting his last TOTP, Pat Sharp is back with his mullet now in its full glory, and a so-so cover of a disco classic for charidee. Our two stars look rather awkward here, remaining behind their record deck for most of the time before tentatively joining in the dancing - I do wonder if they actually feature on the song at all, as no doubt deliberately you can't hear their voices in the mix. I don't recall Mick Brown, but presumably he worked with Pat at Capital. The James Brown medley was awful, peppered with 80s production gimmicks and, in the segment we heard, only featuring about two clearly discernible tracks by Soul Brother Number One amid the general aural stodge. I suppose the video at least was quite inventive in the way it melded archive footage of Brown with modern graphics.
Next, Fairground Attraction make their debut as they commence a brief chart career. There has always been something a little smug about this jaunty tune, but it was refreshing at the time to listen to something performed with analogue instruments, and Eddi Reader (with a performance here that makes her look like the India rubber woman) does have a fine set of pipes - I do prefer the follow up single, however. Nice to see guitarist Mark E. Nevin sporting a classic Gibson, but even though he is wearing tartan he was actually born in Ebbw Vale! Brenda Russell and Mr Dross will not be detaining us any further with their breaker offerings, and I can't say I am too sorry in either case. The former is a pretty enough ballad but too bland for me, the latter is thuddingly anonymous and generic.
The Nanas are back, but Keren has ignored the all-black dress code. Still, they were certainly slicker and more coordinated by this time, which I suspect is part of the reason Siobhan wanted out. Telling that only now were they about to embark on their first live dates, some seven years after beginning their recording career! Our hosts seemed keen on Will Downing's track, but I can't think why as it was largely a repetitive dirge, and a dull performance to boot. I don't generally like jazz anyway, though the lively sax solo was the one element of the song that did engage my interest. Unusually, we get two studio repeats to finish with, and Scott Fitzgerald could count himself very fortunate to get a second showing for a record that wasn't in the charts, not that it would do him much good anyway. Still, that's the power of Eurovision for you...
Mick Brown was indeed a Capital DJ. I suspect the lack of close ups and 'Mick & Pat' references were because they were seen as competition to Radio 1 in London and the South East, and Simon Mayo's new breakfast show at the time used the zoo radio format Chris Tarrant was enjoying success with on Capital.
DeleteThat said, focusing on the dancers made this performance a lot more bearable.
I suspect you're right, Steve - must have been awkward for the Beeb to have to give air time to the opposition, even if it was in a good cause.
DeletePat and Mick (or Mick and Pat, according to Nicky) very much the twin Bobby Farrells of the SAW stable judging by this watery cover of the disco fave. If they're singing on the recording I'd be very surprised, and I'm not shocked to see their dad dancing is largely ignored in favour of the professionals down the front.
ReplyDeleteJames Brown was the Godfather of the Sample as well as the Godfather of Soul, so it made sense to string some of his popular breaks together, but it loses a lot of what made those originals distinctive in the process. But you could dance to it, which was all that mattered - somehow we don't see many clips of Brown doing his dancing, a missed opportunity.
Fairground Attraction, perfectionists all, with Eddi's first appearance on TOTP since her backing vocals with The Eurythmics. I liked this well enough at the time, but it sounds very wedding disco now, and her loose limbed performance is very pleased with itself. I agree with John G, Find My Love was superior.
Breakers, and Brenda Russell had been hanging around for ages so you might have thought her slice of Gary Davies-approved "qualiddy" music would have enjoyed a boost from this clip, but it just ran out of steam. Not a terrible song, but a bit silly in its attempts to be sophisticated (how does he see the keys?). As for Luther, a ho-hum tune from him that sees him with another Breaker slot that proves to be the kiss of death to any progress higher up the chart.
Bananarama, with Sara and Keren waving at the camera and the wasp-waisted Jacquie nearly colliding with her new bandmate during the instrumental break. Aside from that, much as before, but they were planning for the long haul, just as the success began to peter out.
Will Downing, more qualiddy soul, though if this is a cover of John Coltrane I'll eat my hat. Must have taken him ages to learn that chorus. Grumbles aside, this was pretty slick and good material to hear on the radio at the time.
A repeat of the S-Express tune, where I noticed the bloke behind in the lemon shirt just didn't know what to do with himself. Haven't seen anyone that awkward in the audience for ages!
Scott Fitzgerald not taking his own advice there. Now Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams are starring in a comedy film about Eurovision. Any bets it won't be as funny as the real thing?
Presumably Eurovision is enough of a "thing" in the States these days to make studio bosses confident the film will find an audience there? No doubt they are banking on a good international box office taking.
Deletei really liked the will downing track at the time, as it bore more resemblance to the dance music of an earlier era than the sample-based stuff that was proliferating by now (it still sounds like decent-if-not-top-drawer 80's dance music btw). however although i've never heard the john coltrane original, i very much suspect that title apart it bore no resemblance to that whatsoever!
Delete@John G: I'm not sure, it is broadcast there on some minor channel I think, but the press release takes pains to mention ABBA and Celine Dion got their breaks on it, not exactly up to the minute news.
DeleteIt's a Netflix film anyway, so maybe this is one of their attempts to look international and not 95% American as they usually do. After Holmes & Watson, Ferrell's popularity took a bit of a knock, so it's probably an Adam Sandler-style signing.
@Wilberforce: As I say, Will's song was pretty slick and well-produced, but the melody was nothing like the jazz improv it took its name from. At the time more than one person mentioned the title sounded like an ice cream flavour!
DeleteWill Ferrell was a guest at Portsmouth v Tranmere Rovers last Saturday. I don’t think either side wore a (Ron) burgundy kit in tribute!
DeleteNot a lot to write home about here, although the hosts seem enthusiastic about what’s on offer.
ReplyDeletePat and Mick – Let’s all chant – I played this through out of curiosity value. Take a few dancers, a couple of DJs dancing behind some record decks and throw in some Dr Who ‘time scoop’ effects for good measure. Unlike the original, the slower mid-section is missing, so this is just a repetitious series of ‘Ohh ohhh lets’ all chant’. Very uninspiring and boring.
James Brown – Playback Mix – It’s hard to fathom out who this is aimed at; the oldies market or the dance folks. Both ways it’s horrific and I gave it a couple of seconds before hitting FF.
Fairground Attraction – Perfect – No quite, but not bad however and one of the more palatable no1’s of 1988. It’s hard to see this title and not think Ed Sheeran however.
Breakers – Gosh there’s some duds here! Brenda Russell’s ‘Piano in the Dark’ finally gets an airing after hanging around in the 20s for weeks and it’s one of those truly irritating ‘slowies’ that isn’t. Just like Lionel Richie’s ‘Say you say me’ it abruptly launches into a much faster tempo leaving you and your dancing partner thinking “should we be smooching or boogie’ing?’. Years later Steve Wright used to play this practically every week on his ‘Sunday Love Songs’ show. Otherwise, the only interest I had in the other breakers was, which beach was the Primitives video shot at?
Bananarama – I want you back – Sorry girls, not one of your best.
Will Downing – A love supreme – Gave this a rapid miss. Session musician? Not in the Pino Palladino league methinks.
S’Express – Ugh! The moment has finally arrived. Gary introduces this as a ‘song’. Not quite sure this matches the description of ‘song’ in my book. Lots of no1’s could be deemed unworthy or novelty and this fits in the former category for me. One no1 often derided is Typically Tropical’s ‘Barbados’ from August 1975. Personally I loved it and my neighbours have just flown off for a holiday in Barbados, so I’ve had ‘whoaa!’ on the brain for the past couple of days.
Scott Fitzgerald – Go – For me this was the show’s highlight. Lovely song given a second outing despite not charting. In the words of Vanessa Williams; ‘Saving the best for last’.
i would imagine that "barbados" doesn't get much if any airplay on nostalgia radio in our pc times of today due to the cod-west indian accent heard on it...?
DeleteThe Vengaboys 'Going To Ibiza' update from 1999 is more worthy of derision than the original. I had the 'pleasure' of contributing to its sales because at the time I was record librarian at my local hospital radio station and it was getting a lot of requests.
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DeleteThat's an interesting point about whether 'Barbados' would get played nowadays wilberforce. I certainly don't recall hearing it for ages now. Looking at Paul Gammbercini's Radio 2 'Pick of the Pops' shows, the last 1975 chart was aired on 6th July where the w/e 29th June chart was featured with Typically Tropical languishing at no37 (i.e. not played nor mentioned). Its nine week top20 run concluded on 9th September. The shows since 6th July have not featured the 1975 chart (and its not billed for tomorrow (Sat 10th August)). So a few more weeks to go, but I suspect the next time we'll hear the sounds of '75 will be mid September. Coincidence?
DeleteAnyway, here's a memorable live performance from TT accompanied by Pans People in hostess uniforms and bikinis. Whoa!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjUJNvU4xn4
It was a case of which is your favourite bikini girl from that Pans People clip? I quite liked Patti's full on shot, but Sue who followed with removing her t-shirt to show her bikini top, seemed to be disappoint a little by being flat in that department, and so Patti took top honours. The clip was too short, and only towards the end of the song, so we couldn't see more of these gorgeous girls in their holiday gear, but it's at least something.
DeleteI think Tony Blackburn has played Barbados on his current Friday night Golden Hour show on Radio 2, but don't quote me.
Deleteif a nostalgia radio show features a countdown of an old chart (didn't tony blackburn do such a show on radio 1 fairly recently?), then i presume something like that would get played. but i suspect probably not otherwise, for fear of offending the pc brigade. what i do wonder is: if they do a chart rundown of stuff that was banned from airplay as it was considered too lewd for public consumption at the time, would they play it now in this world of today where as long as it's not racist or sexist then anything goes? judge dread would of course be a good case in point, as his ooh-er-missus euphemisms (the phrase "sniggering schoolboys at the back of the class" comes to mind) are hardly likely to shock most listeners nowadays. but would it now fall foul because of being considered demeaning to women?
DeleteI have heard Judge Dread songs being played recently by internet radio stations, though whether the Beeb would give them a spin has to be open to question.
DeleteWilberforce, I think the Tony Blackburn show you're thinking of is 'Pick of the Pops' now hosted by Paul Gammercini (on Saturday afternoon, Radio 2). That is what I was referring to above. Today's edition featured 1968 and 1979 and kicked off with the superb 'Yesterday has gone' by Cupid's Inspiration.
DeleteI have recordings of Tom Browne shows from Sunday evenings at the time of transmission. He certainly missed out any Judge Dead track as well as Donna Summer's 'Love to love you Baby'. Nowadays, Gambercinni would have to miss out a few more additional songs from undesirables, but the jury is out on whether Typically Tropical would be deemed appropriate listening for 2019.
...just checked today's show. He started 1979 by announcing Janet Kay with 'Silly Games' at no20 and 'Are Friends Electric' by Tubeway Army at no19 (and playing neither), then kicked straight in at no18 which was the superb 'Stay with me 'til Dawn' by Judie Tzuke (a song Judie always refers to as "my hit"). So I think it would be normal on any chart rundown to not play all the top20.
DeleteBy a curious coincidence, I have just been listening to a Year In Rock episode on the radio, and it featured judge Dread’s debut! (Along with Magic Roundabout, and... Funky Gibbon)
Deleteso does that mean that gary numan is a pedo? although maybe that particular track gets overlooked because of a reference to smoking a cigarette? i can't think of an explanation why janet kay gets the cold shoulder - maybe she should accuse gambo of racism as the reason for not playing her hit?
DeleteDon't worry, there's no conspiracy, Paul Gambaccini just doesn't have enough time to play every record in each Top 20 in an hour so he plays a selection.
Deleteunless they're going to play the chart countdown in its entirety, then i don't really see the point. however i suppose the selective format gives them a convenient excuse to overlook both records banned at the time, plus ones that have now been airbrushed out of pop history thanks to the artists concerned being pedos or suchlike?
Deleteby the way, has the beeb now given an amnesty to the many records that were banned in the past for fear of offending listeners with their suggestive lyrics or similar innuendo? do they now play "je t'aime" for example?
Yes, they do play Je t'aime sometimes, and I suppose George Formby is allowed now too!
DeleteMy show features charts from this week in history and to give you some idea of what I consider acceptable: Typically Tropical - yes. Judge Dread - no. I also play the version of 'Oliver's Army' with the word that might be considered offensive. My rue of thumb is - in context, is it fine? If so I play it (barring obviously no-go artists such as Rolf and Gary Glitter of course)
Deletewith regard to the fairground attraction song, as anyone noticed this horrible new trend for people to react in a positive way to something by saying "perfect"? i assume it's yet-another manifestion of the american culture upon our green and pleasant land, but whatever its origins it's fucking annoying!
ReplyDeletei was doing a pub quiz a couple of months ago, and the host asked for our team's score after a round. we told him we got 18 out 20, and he responded by saying "perfect". to which i pointed out: "if it had been perfect, it would have been 20 out of 20!". sadly but perhaps not surprisingly the observation went straight over the guy's head...
Reminds me of the US use of 'hello' which still makes me laugh every time I think of 'Nigels Golden Years' write up of Dana's 'Please tell him that I said hello' and references to Buffy the Vampire Slayer!
Deletehey! (pass the sick bucket...)
DeleteDon't start me on people who start a sentence these days with "So"!
DeleteThe totally superfluous word 'kinda' is another one. I recall a Senior peep at a company I used to work for using this in practically every sentence. You totally lost the meaning of what he was saying as you were just waiting for the 'k' word!
DeleteI think the use of "perfect" stems from the David Jason character's catchphrase in The Darling Buds Of May.
ReplyDeleteTypically Tropical - there was a follow up, best forgotten but there's a link below - in which Tobias Wilcox and his dodgy accent has upgraded from Coconut Airways to NASA....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7iGYm0XUqE
that show was on the telly nearly three decades ago now to my recollection (and i believe he said "perfick" in a carrot-cruncher accent anyway *), but it seems this annoying trend has only started in the last year or so
Delete* not that i actually heard the character say it, as like all things that david jason has done since "only fools and horses" i avoided it like the plague due to what i call "the del boy syndrome" i.e. actors getting chance after chance to try and shake off the role that made them famous in the first place and failing miserably. others that fall into that category are: john "regan" thaw, martin "doyle" shaw, robert "wolfie" lindsay and trevor "shoestring" eve...
Er, wilberforce, what about 'Inspector Morse' for Regan, 'Judge John Deed' for Shaw, 'My Family' for Lindsay and definitely 'Waking the Dead' for Boyd, sorry Eve?
Deletethe other thing about all the above is that i wouldn't have watched the shows concerned even with other actors playing the roles, as in my view they're strictly in the "telly for people who don't like telly very much" category. oh yes, and i'd forgotten to mention the female version of the delboy syndrome: sarah "racquel in coronation street" lancashire, who also went on to star in various snorefest drama tv series (and who now has some serious competition from olivia "sophie in peep show" colman)
DeleteOlivia Colman will always be Pam Bachelor to me. Although now she's the Oscar-winning Olivia Colman. Thanks, Oscars. Thoscars.
DeleteInteresting watching this out of sequence for the breakers that made the next show...
ReplyDeleteAnd we start with a totally pointless cover...
...And then a pointless remix. There seems to have been a period of remixing a house type version everything ever recorded. I don”t remember it being so relentless at the time.
Thank you THX for explaining WHO in fairground had been on TOTP before, as Nicky failed to say!
No, Nicky, not ‘great dancing’ from the Nanas which bore no resemblance to the lyrics (other than the curious ‘walking away’ mime)
Amazing shoulder pads on Mr Downing...
I saw most of this show in the witching hours yesterday. Luckily I missed the awful sounding and looking intro song and a medley of one of the most overrated and meanest soul singers ever, which I’m glad about.
ReplyDeleteEddi Reader looked to me like the female Morrissey you’re allowed to like. One of those unusual ‘novelty’ hits which isn’t actually a novelty, e.g. pared back backing with slightly different instrumentation, and a very hooky chorus.
I Love “Piano In The Dark”. I agree its tempo is betwixt ballad and medium pace groover, but Brenda’s vocals and the keyboard work are supreme (pun on later song intended).
Primitives showing us life’s a beach when the follow-up doesn’t follow up chartwise. Nice song but rather on the brief side.
Luther Vandross with something not as good as his bigger and better hits.
Joyce there, grinny as ever but the tune’s not as good as her last one.
Never mind “I Want You Back”, on this airing I want Keren! Andrew Ridgeley showed impeccable taste. A midtable SAW offering, catchy and not irritating while not troubling the horrid producers’ top table of triumphs.
Will Downing with a fine, smooth soul / jazz song but it bears next to no resemblance to its supposed parent track.
S-Express with some of that new fangled sound, and a leader happy to let others take the limelight. Fair play.
How on Earth was Scott Fitzgerald allowed a second Eurovision plug, let alone that the song didn’t even make our top 50, and especially when previous years had seen our Euro entry either reduced to 90 seconds’ coverage on video or blanked completely? Were there really no other acts in the top 40 who could appear or had a video ready to rumble? Nil points!
By the way, Nicky Campbells' tie looked like it had the biggest bird shit ever in the middle.
Yes, I'm further behind than Arthur now!
ReplyDeleteMick and Pat - Yes everyone, they really were billed that way round on the first single! You have to assume that if the Roxy was still on TV, they would have got the exclusive.
James Brown - This isn't really a medley, or a remix. It's a megamix guys, even if not branded as such! Get used to them, there'll be loads more if we get to the 90s. I actually think this is one of the better ones. It was put together by Coldcut by the way.
Fairground Attraction - My 3 stages of pop songs rule applies here. Liked it for a bit, got bored of hearing it on the radio, got bored of playing it on the radio.
Breakers - Brenda Russell breaks the record for longest number of consecutive chart climbs before featuring. I know this is mean, but....her features probably didn't help it climb any higher. The songs alright though, which is more than can be said for the Luther one.
Bananarama - This is going to sound 'a bit Dory' but Keren is looking really hot here. I always did have a crush on her, and at my first office workplace there was someone who looked a bit like her so that was awkward.
Will Downing - Why the long face, Will? Average stuff really, does very little for me.
Surprised to see Scott Fitzgerald again, soneone must have really loved it! The Eurovision juries sadly didn't.
My take on Bananarama is that before this particular single, Karen as the only brunette dressed fairly modestly, track suits or nothing eye-catching, as she stood out as the only brunette, but now with a second brunette Jacqui having recently joined the group with generally better curves than Karen, with a fine 'north and south' as one of our regulars has termed in the past, it seemed that Karen had to stand out as the lead brunette, and the outfit on this showing was not entirely surprising. Girls can be quite competitive you know!
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ReplyDeleteWell I'm amazed the Beeb let Capital DJs into the studio. Mind you Pat is ex radio one.. The first of 3 charity singles from these 2 and this is the best of the 3. Dad dancing alert. Hopefully it raised lots of money..
ReplyDeleteDo like the female dancer on the left.
Is Pat the only presenter to appear as an act?
The Pointless Mix is next and this was my first introduction to James Brown. I can't say I was impressed. Was he dead by this point?
Fairground Atraction and the fabulous Eddie Reader who looks like a school teacher. This is a very nice little song that has been massively overplayed. Very different at the time and an unusual number one. Tapping my feet to this one. Wifey pipes up that she's bought this.
Breakers :
Brenda Russell. Lovely song this. 😀
The Primitives back for more and still very post punk. Not such a fan of this one. Don't remember it at all.
Luther Vandross. About 6 years out of date. 1982 called and wants it's song back.
Joyce Sims. Another follow up I have no recollection of. Seems a bit dull from this clip.
Bananas take 2. Outfits are better. Dance moves the same. A huge worldwide hit. I wonder how many times they've performed this over the years...
Will Downing plugging his 15 minutes of fame for all its worth and making sure he's free for TOTP. A pleasant enough sounding song but not one I'd deliberately search out. The drummer looks rather out of place in his t-shirt. Did he miss the memo...
New Number One.
S express stun everyone by making it to the top of the tree. The fact this isn't the most unlikely number one of the year is down to a song we will see in about 6 shows time. Wasn't Starlight Express the musical about at this time as well.
Scott about to finish 2nd
I like the current TOTP format. It's settled into a nice regular groove
Dave Lee Travis and Paul Burnett were on in the 1970s as Convoy GB, a spoof of the American country song (which inspired dad-tastic Kris Kristofferson movie Convoy).
DeleteSteve Wright's "Posse" were on in the 1990s as Arnee and the Terminators, but I don't think Steven joined them.
Oh, and James Brown famously (maybe not that famously) died on Christmas Day, 2006.
DeleteTony Blackburn performed on the show once or twice in the 60s, but perhaps mercifully those performances are long since wiped! Noel of course got on the show with his Swap Shop cohorts as Brown Sauce.
DeleteStarlight Express had premiered in 1984, so was very much around by this time.
I had forgotten about Brown Sauce.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding me about Arnee and the Terminators,
Will have to check out Convoy GB ...