We are the superior popstars
16/06/88 (Gary Davies & Mike Read)
Sabrina – “Boys (Summertime Love)” (4)
Bouncing into the studio to get tonight's show underway with her only top ten tit ~ I mean hit ~ and it went up one more place.
Erasure – “Chains Of Love” (11)
In the studio this week with Andy disguised as a parrot but the song flew no higher.
The Sisters Of Mercy – “Lucretia My Reflection” (20)
Straight into the charts at number 20 but it went up no higher.
The Fat Boys & Chubby Checker – “The Twist (Yo Twist)” (19) (breaker)
Peaked at number 2.
Eurythmics – “You Have Placed A Chill In My Heart” (25) (breaker)
Peaked at number 16.
A-ha – “The Blood That Moves The Body” (26) (breaker)
Went up one more place.
Sade – “Paradise” (29) (breaker)
Went up no higher.
Matt Bianco – “Don’t Blame It On That Girl” (21)
Featuring some energetic dancing this was their biggest hit and also their final top 40 hit and it peaked at number 11.
Bros – “I Owe You Nothing” (2)
In the studio to perform the song that will be number one next week.
The Timelords – “Doctorin’ The Tardis” (1) (rpt from 09/06/88)
Their first and only week at number one.
The Pasadenas – “Tribute (Right On)” (16) (video/credits)
Became their first of two top ten hits when it peaked at number 5.
June 23rd is next, but it won't be shown on BBC4 due to sound issues with it.
23/6/88 BBC Archive copy with audio restoration
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Mike and Gazza are both in good form this week, though when they are on screen together Gazza does look as if he would rather be somewhere else. Anyway, Sabrina gets us off to a memorable start with her low-cut top and "wobbly" performance - presumably she'd left her bra at home! I think there was a song too, not that I noticed it much, but it seemed to be a decent bit of lightweight europop. Erasure next, and Andy couldn't resist donning his multi-coloured top from the video, even though it makes him look a complete prat. Nice to see Vince behind a synth again, rather than strumming a guitar.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've heard this Sisters of Mercy track before, but the opening part with the distinctive bass line predominating actually sounds pretty good; once the guitars fully kick in, it starts to become a bit ragged, but not a bad effort all the same. For some reason snatches of the video are interspersed with the studio performance, perhaps because the black-clad band are not all that appealing visually. We'll see the first two breakers again, but this is it for A-ha, with a track that has nothing distinctive about it whatsoever, and Sade with a summery tune that is typically smooth but doesn't stray out of her musical comfort zone either. Who was that kid in her video supposed to be?
This is a good show for acts that were big in 1984, as after Sade comes the return of Matt Bianco with a very lively tune that still conforms to their musical template, but is more tolerable than some of their earlier hits. The sudden outbreak of frenetic dancing by the spats-wearing backing singer was unexpected, and perhaps a little OTT, but I suppose it did liven up an otherwise unremarkable performance. Bros are back with the record that would finally take them to number 1. Matt looks like a rebellious boy scout here, and there is too much of his trademark growling and grunting for my liking, but this has a decent chorus and has certainly worn the years better than Drop the Boy. The Pasadenas are this week's playout, evidently keen to revive the sound of classic soul vocal groups with modern production, but for some reason deciding to do so in a warehouse. The song sounded quite thin to me, failing to emulate by a big distance the likes of The Temptations.
Matt Bianco would have otherwise been the show opener if not for Sabrina making it in a dash by helicopter to open the show. The Matt Bianco performance was quite a refreshing change on an otherwise heavy show with heavy music.
DeletePity that TOTP did not exactly celebrate the new No.1 this week, showing barely one minute of The Timelords. They could have at least shown the studio performance in full, considering we had just had four weeks of Wet Wet Wet at No.1. Good Lord!
Well, I wonder why Sabrina's tune was a hit? If Dory doesn't make it here soon it's because he's temporarily exploded. As a song, it's a tinny, clunky item of Eurodisco, but catchy if you heard it on holiday. Miss Salerno's lack of ability with carrying a tune in a bucket meant her fame stayed confined to Italy from then on. In a running theme this year, it will not surprise you how easy it is to find pics of her in her birthday suit online.
ReplyDeleteErasure, pretty much covered this one last night, but I still like it even if Andy's Brazilian carnival outfit doesn't quite fulfil its promise in this performance.
The Sisters of Mercy with another winner from their canon, this builds menacingly (no drummer? Or is the keyboard player supposed to be the drummer?!) and then unleashes a growl of rawk guitars and vocals.
Re: The Breakers, I didn't think I knew the A-ha one until we heard a snatch of the chorus, and then it was like "Oh yeah..." Couldn't sing it or anything, but there was a melody there. Nice to see Sade smiling, I guess, but not a very vital song and it didn't make much of an impact.
Matt Bianco with that odd phenomenon where their biggest hit was their last (not counting bands who have hits with reissues). Jolly little thing, lightweight but not so bad for all that, and congratulations to the cameraman who almost completely missed the lead singer's dance moves in the instrumental break.
Bros with probably their best song, an energetic performance (I suppose it had to be to avoid that mad cameraman), and a devil may care mood to the lyrics, though it would soon turn out they owed their fans an awful lot when said fans deserted them.
In my roundup of musical Doctors last episode I forgot Patrick Troughton played the recorder, though that's a bit before my time. Anyway, soon we will see Edelweiss, who studied Drummond and Cauty's book to find out how to have a number one and did indeed do that - just not in the UK.
Pasadenas, a wholesome bunch of lads with their self-confessed tribute. No, not up to the standards of the acts they namecheck, but a decent danceathon all the same, in a pop soul vein. Maybe more at home as the interval act on The Little and Large Show or something, however.
You missed out Peter Capaldi, who played some electric guitar during his TARDIS tenure and was in a punk band called The Dreamboys while a student, with Craig Ferguson on drums.
DeleteHe did, didn't he? Someone get Jodie a tuba for next year.
DeleteWhen you think of all those people having boob jobs, you have to just admire Sabrina's completely opposite situation with those fine assets. Interesting that they flew in by helicopter at the last minute to appear in the TOTP studio as revealed by Gary Davies at the beginning of the show.
DeleteThe Sisters of Mercy seemed to be interchangeable with Fields Of The Nephilim, as though they were one of the same in music style and voice, if not in stature. Don't know what everyone else thinks.
The Fields of the Nephilim were more of a drone rock, whereas The Sisters of Mercy were more... operatic, I want to say? Not that Andrew Eldritch sounds like an opera singer, but they have that bombast. Both Goth bands, though.
DeleteJust going back to musical Doctors, Colin Baker did also dip his toe in the waters of pop, but let's not revive traumatic memories of Doctor in Distress...
DeleteChart rundown - new entry at No.28 this week, and unlucky not to get a Breakers slot were Rose Royce. No doubt this classic tune being re-released some 12 years or so after the mid-70s disco revolution would have been on the back of the recent No.1 success of S-Express, as I cannot think of any other reason to release this now, when 70s disco was essentially replaced by different music styles in the 80s.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right - I wondered if they were remixes, but apparently they were simply reissues to cash in on the revival of the disco sound in samples.
DeleteNotice how the link to Campbell and Goodier on next week's show is left in, despite the fact we're not going to see it! Every time Smith was on next week they edited it out.
ReplyDeleteTwitter says the broadcast version exists so fingers crossed they find it in time.
ReplyDeleteIt will be fab if they have found a decent copy of 23/06/88. I would not read too much into them leaving the DJ names in for next week though. They left them in the show during the repeat of 14/06/84 knowing full well that the following week's edition would be skipped as they could not edit out Gary Glitter from 21/06/84.
DeleteTwitter talk mentions 23.6.88 eurythmics footage from that ep was used for big hits 88 complete with caption onscreen and applause which is missing from mute links version. Seems after making big hits 88 they have forgot the episode exists as broadcast.
ReplyDeleteNot a bad show this..and in fact most of the top10 isn’t bas at this point in time.
ReplyDeleteSabrina – Boys (Summertime love) – Off to a great start with this memorable bouncy performance. What was she doing with that zip near the end I wonder? Trying to give us a taste of the video perhaps? Anyway I have to say that this is a guilty pleasure of mine with that synth riff really making this a danceable feel-good tune.
Erasure – Chains of Love – Goodness me, what is that guy wearing? Looks plain ridiculous. The song is still a little unremarkable for me.
Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia my Reflection – Weird and dreary. Not one to rise the spirts. Yes, I find this lot similar to the other lot on the breakers last week whose name I can’t even remember.
Breakers – Fat Boys and Chubby (not Chubbie as on the caption) Checker – Amusing take on a classic. Eurythmics – Weird looking video and the song seems quite downbeat. A-ha – Now this is interesting; this song ‘The Blood that moved my Body’ is quite good and yet didn’t get very high and was not included on the ‘Headlines and Deadlines’ compilation which only runs to 68 minutes. I like the enigmatic lady walking the dog and had to check out the video on YT to see if she ever met up with the A-Ha boys… Sade – Paradise – usual unremarkable sound (although I thought ‘By your Side’ a number of years later was superb).
Mat Bianco – Don’t blame it on that Girl – Nice bit of dance music. Enjoyed hearing that again.
Bros – I owe you nothing – A no1 yes, but for me pretty average. I always felt this reached the top on the back of the then current Bros mania rather than any musical merit. It’s Ok, just nothing special.
Timelords – Doctorin’ the Tardis – Thanks to the comment on last week’s show by Matt Spires, all I can look at is the torch carrying guy in the braces on the far left and think on Matt Smith. Definitely a resemblance although you don’t seem him close up. I quite enjoyed watching the lady in the wide belt fifth from the left also. Shame that this is cut short when no1 as we don’t get to hear the Sweet again.
Pasadenas – Tribute (right on) – Tribute happens to be one of my favourite tipples, but it didn’t exist back then. All I could think of then is the Temperance Seven which is ironic given the alcoholic connection now. As for the song, nope, didn’t really grab me at all.
The Blood That Moves The Body is on the 'Headlines and Deadlines' collection - Track 6!
DeleteTwo good hosts but not interacting much there.
ReplyDeleteThe next “Points Of View” must have been fun. I bet the cameramen played paper scissors stone to see who’d cover Sabrina. As for her transport, insert large chopper joke here. Almost a nipple poking out and her zip started loosening near the end. Still, not complaining. Was there any sound on this? I didn’t notice.
Is it Notting Hill Carnival weekend, Andy? Still, beats seeing that boring old white T-shirt again. Have you left your guitar at home, Vince?
After eight and a half minutes of Patricia’s insistent thudding bass, the rest of the Sisters of Mercy join in for what feels like another eight and a half minutes. Repetitive yet emphatic stadium goth.
The Fat Boies with a new twist on Chubby’s ‘classic’ (ho ho).
Bloody Hell, Annie Lennox looked scary with that eye make-up! The song wasn’t exactly warm and chummy either.
The blood may move the body, lads, but it couldn’t move “Living Daylights Part 46” much higher up the chart.
“Paradise”? Sounded more like cocktail bar purgatory. Sade smiles shock! And again!
The return of Matt Bianco and the unusual cheek, with a neat piece of salsa disco whose chorus reminded me of “Let’s Hear It For the Boy”, a hyper dancer and an absence of synth players. Talking of which...
Didn’t Matt Bianco or Matt Goss fancy hauling Vince Clarke on stage to mime the synth bits for them? Oh dear, another singer trying to sound like Michael Jackson. Go and join Five Star!
Just two minutes of The Timelords at number one? Two fornicating minutes? Was someone wobbly about the use of Gary Glitter’s old tune? Ar$eholes.
There should have been someone playing tea-chest bass in the Pasadenas video with all those stacked up. Might have livened up this ersatz soul which just left me cold.
Continuing the run of ‘pleasant’ episodes
ReplyDeleteSabrina with a top of the popper performance... I confess to having an album by her with some obvious covers, Kiss, Ladey Marmalade and Do Ya Think I’m Sexy, and the less obvious, My Sharona.
Andy Bell reminded me that I need to dust the kitchen...
Sisters of mercy - I guess that there was a but of a goth movement going around at the time, as we have had few of these bands recently. Interesting cutting to the video durns the performance. I wonder if the audience saw the video in full on the monitors, or saw what went out in the broadcast...
‘Pans People’ style literal interpretation video for the Eurythmics...
Don’t remember the Matt Bianco track, but it was pleasant enough,
I do remember the Bros track, and it is also pleasant enough, although the urgh-aoh grunts are a bit annoying. One wonders how many musicians were on the backing track.
Wilberforce mentioned in last week's blog that he'd heard an alternative Radiophonic version of the Who title theme. This could be the version commissioned for season 10 but then dropped because nobody liked it. It can be found on the DVD or Blu-Ray releases of the very wonderful "Carnival Of Monsters."
ReplyDeleteIndeed...those drashigs were quite fearsome!
DeleteI love the way that, for an edition which involved an overly pneumatic singer who may have been expected to be more of a talking point, there have been far more comments regarding Doctor Who! :-D
ReplyDeleteHey, we're not as young as we used to be!
DeleteDoctor Who has probably aged better than Sabrina's....assets...
DeleteActually I saw a picture of her recently. She still looks pretty good - especially to an old timer like myself
DeleteI agree with you, Charlie!
DeleteRead and Ooh Gary to keep us abreast of the charts this week. A nice bouncy number to get us started that we can safely blame Europe and teenage boys watching ITVs chart show for.
ReplyDeleteNot a great tune it must be said but frankly who cares..
Next up Andy Bell making a right tit of himself in a feathered top. Still think this is their finest tune but like the PSB their studio performances are all the same.
Here's a band with a set of lungs on em. Sister of Mercy I was not into at the time however I've liked every song so far and am tapping my feet to this one. Good video as well by the looks of it.
Breakers:
Some Fat Boys doing the twist with old Chubby Checker. I must admit I like this remix.
Eurthymics. Annie has caught a chill. Maybe she needs a new coat or a wooly bra.
A.Ha give us a medical lesson. I actually think the muscles help move the body boys. Right Charlie's they made of themselves there.
Sade is in Paradise. I was earlier in the show but this not the best from her. Very talented though so I shouldn't knocker.. 😀 😀 😀
Matt Bianco. Love love love this. More birthday money well spent although the other side Wap-Bam-Boogie got more airplay in my house. A couple of proper summer belters here. 😀 Did the dancing prat just knacker his knee. Some very poor Bongos miming on show.
Here's a nice pair of twins (and the spare part) about to get their first Number One. Matt in his full denim, badged glory and really going for it.
Not a bad little number either. Deserved chart topper.
Ladies and Gentlemen I give you the 50th biggest selling single of the year and the years lowest selling Number One. God bless The Time Lords...looking like a pair of Melons. 😀 😀 😀
The Pasadena to play us out. Seriously they look like they should be on sixth form. Right On indeed. Decent tune though. Got overplayed at the time so I quickly grew to hate it but time has healed that wound and I don't mind it now. Probably the boobie prize on tonight's show.
Sabrina - Boing boing boing. Oh sorry, lost track a bit there. The (SAW assisted) follow-up is a better song but the tune doesn't really matter in this case, does it?
ReplyDeleteSisters Of Mercy - Starts off well, but soon becomes a bit turgid. I recall that the Hits 8 album closed with this followed by The Jesus & Mary Chain's Sidewalking for that special jolly feel.
Breakers - The a-ha song has to be one of their weakest singles, and as for Sade its the same old professional but dull fare.
Matt Bianco - Oh god, who allowed them back in the chart? My feelings on them are quite well known by now probably, so let me just say that this is probably their least dreadful single.
Bros - A good pop song, though I was annoyed at the time when it knocked The Timelords at the top. In retrospect it was amazing that they kept Bros from going straight in at No.1!
The Pasadenas - Nothing to get excited about here.
Well if Bros had not had this one in the chart, either the Timelords would have had more than one week at No.1, or can you imagine, The Fat Boys with a UK No.1!
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