Crimbo Richard
08/12/88 (Nicky Campbell & Caron Keating)
Status Quo – “Burning Bridges (On & Off & On Again)” (20)
The Quo get things underway tonight with a belter of a party tune which became their penultimate top ten hit when it peaked at number 5.
Angry Anderson – “Suddenly” (3)
All the way from Scott & Charlene's wedding into the studio but the song couldn't get any higher.
Phil Collins – “Two Hearts” (6) (video)
Another tune from his Buster movie but it was now at its peak.
Petula Clark – “Downtown ‘88” (24) (breaker)
It had peaked at number 2 in 1964, this remix became Petula's twelth and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 10.
New Order – “Fine Time” (23) (breaker)
Peaked at number 11.
Inner City – “Good Life” (22) (breaker)
Peaked at number 4.
Erasure – “Stop” (7) (breaker)
Peaked at number 2.
Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan – “Especially For You” (2) (video)
The Neighbours are taking over the chart. And it will get to number one, but not in time for Christmas.
Cliff Richard – “Mistletoe & Wine” (1)
That's because Cliff has moved in to Christmas number one town, and he'll be there for the next four weeks. And a live vocal I think, or at least a re-recording for the studio.
Bananarama – “Nathan Jones” (15) (rpt from 24/11/88 + credits)
At its peak.
15th December is next
A second and final appearance from Caron Keating, once again very confident but wearing a terrible skirt and a little bit too shouty for my liking - I am guessing she was dropped from the roster after this because the Beeb decided it wasn't "appropriate" for a Blue Peter presenter to be hosting TOTP. Campbell has borrowed Wrighty's yuppie gear, but despite this he actually plays it straight and gives perhaps his least annoying turn thus far.
ReplyDeleteYou couldn't ask for a more energetic start than that provided by Quo - I do wonder if Francis Rossi had had some lines of coke before the show, given how hyper he seems. This is a great party record, and virtually the last good thing they ever did. I notice regular keyboardist Andy Bown is absent, but perhaps he was unwell. I don't know if Campbell was being serious comparing Angry Anderson to Robert Palmer, but Buster Bloodvessel would have been closer to the mark! I think it's safe to assume this turgid, badly sung power ballad would have sunk without trace if it wasn't for the Neighbours association.
Phil continues to flog his movie in a video that effectively rips off the promo for Macca's Coming Up by having Phil play all the members of his own band. The song is a blatant Motown homage, but it's none the worse for that and is at least far more listenable than his previous hit. More from the breakers next time, so it's on to Kylie and Jason and official confirmation that Neighbours mania was now reaching its peak. I don't remember seeing the video on TOTP at the time, just the studio performance, but this is quite a sweet variation on the theme of the lovers being kept apart until the climax. Blatant cash-in that it was, I do actually think this is a good ballad, and a welcome departure from the SAW norm.
It certainly deserved to be Christmas number 1 more than Cliff's gauche festive offering. While it is just about listenable, it could be argued that this is the point he began his descent into irredeemable naffness, not helped by his cringeworthy imitation of a figurine on top of a music box in this performance, or the cheesy mulleted backing singers. Another repeated Nanas studio performance to finish - TOTP at this time seemed to have a real aversion to playing their videos.
Incidentally, I think Angelo is right that the TOTP version of Mistletoe and Wine was a re-record. A choir boy is featured at the end of the original recording - either that, or it was Cliff in very tight trousers!
DeleteIt's quite interesting that the Angry in Anderson is the opposite of happy, which is the Neighbours wedding that he is singing about. Funny that! Besides, Kylie is only 20 years old in 1988, and already getting married. Steady on!
DeleteWith regard to Bananarama, I preferred seeing them in the studio anyway, not videos. How they have changed since the new member went for the smart evening dressy look, that it kicked the other two in gear very noticably to dress just as nice. Compare this to the early 80s when the original lineup were in their early phase, coming on to TOTP in slacks, joggers and trainers!
At this point, I must say that The Beach Boys at No.25 on this chart with Kokomo is at its peak this week, and another one getting the cold shoulder from TOTP, with not even a Breaker or playout slot. Considering as the presenter mentions that it is a former US No.1, I found this quite disappointing that The Beach Boys were treated the same way as The Travelling Willburys by TOTP, as though all of these people were old timers and were not in the realms of the new age of house music and soap music like Neighbours.
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing the Kokomo video every week on Kasey Kasem's America's Top Ten shown late night on ITV at the time, while in the American chart a few weeks earlier, but it was disappointing that it could only make No.25 in Britain, considering this was also the soundtrack for the big movie of the year, Cocktail.
Anyway, as we are not going to see the romantic Kokomo beach video on these TOTP episodes, here it is in all its glory. Still love it to this day ,considering it was one of the coolest and best pop videos of the year, and the Beach Boys were not done just yet:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJWmbLS2_ec
With Kokomo the Mike Love-ification of The Beach Boys was complete. Could he really play the saxophone?! It's a crime this pandering single did far better than Brian Wilson's Love & Mercy.
DeleteOh how much I wanted the Cruiser to drop one of those bottles in Cocktail...
maybe cruise did drop bottles many times when filming those scenes, the same way ryan giggs was filmed all day long attempting mostly without success to score the "wonder" goal in that manchester united-related advert that was on the telly about 20 years ago?
DeleteI think 'Kokomo' is dreadful quite honestly, but even so, releasing what should obviously be a Summery song at the end of the year did for it chartwise I suspect.
DeleteWell the Americans didn't seem to think so, going all the way to No.1 in the US Billboard chart a month earlier in November 1988, so the song and video seemed to have a huge impact on the American record buyers.
DeleteI liked Kokomo but I didn't hear it until I picked up "Summer hits" CD sometime in the 90s and I assumed it was a 60s hit.
DeleteR1 obviously gave this a wide berth...
Qup open with a song that marked the return of Andy Bown's 'Fairground organ' - played here by a stand-in session keyboardist. Their brand of unoriginal boogie rock had become threadbare by this time, and the arrangement was all too obviously influenced by Chas & Dave's 'Margate', in which a Prophet-5 had been used to conjure up images of the seaside. Quo would score only one more top ten single, with the rock and roll medley 'The Anniversary Waltz' in 1990, before degenerating into a semi-cabaret covers band and heading for the ITV light entertainment circuit.
ReplyDeleteAngry Anderson...now THAT'S more like it. Having previously scored a minor Top 40 album and scraped the singles Top 75 back in '81 as lead singer of Rose Tattoo, the Australian heavy metal star rightly stormed the British Top 10 with this sizzling power ballad. I remember watching Scott & Charlene's wedding in 'Neighbours', which the Bevan family followed avidly at that time. 'Suddenly' is the sort of record that makes me want to emigrate to Australia...it's THAT good. Also an actor and broadcaster, Gary Stephen Anderson was made an AM (Member of the Order of Australia - an honour also held by Icehouse frontman Iva Davies) for services to the community, especially as a youth advocate. Additionally, Rose Tattoo have been inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame down under.
Didn't Lamont Dozier make a tremendous chart comeback in the late 80s? With both 'Two Hearts' and 'Loco In Acapulco' charting high around the world, and a couple of composer credits on Simply Red's second album to follow, the Motown legend could do not wrong...except for one criminally underrated single. Despite garnering considerable airplay, especially on Radio 1, this stunning songwriting collaboration with former Yes frontman Jon Anderson failed to chart. 'Hold On To Love' is its title, and here's the relevant link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KukiH2IesNU
Such a shame it was never a hit - agreed?
In fairness to Quo, by the turn of the millennium they did come to realise that they had badly lost their way during the 90s by turning into a covers band, and they did try to get back to a heavier rock sound from that point. I think the 2004 single You'll Come Round was their best effort for many years, and it even managed to get into the Top 20 after picking up quite a bit of radio airplay.
DeleteTypo above: the Motown legend could do NO wrong.
DeleteDidn't think I remembered the Anderson track, but your link proved otherwise, JJB. There were worse things in the charts from the 60s and 70s survivors that year. They obviously had high hopes for it judging by the pricey-looking video.
DeleteIt narrowly missed the Top 75, peaking at No.81 in the Gallup 'Next 25' (at that time, Britain's equivalent of the Billboard Bubbling Under chart).
DeleteFarewell, then, Caron, we hardly knew ye. I think the reason the female presenters had to shout was because everything in the background was so loud, it was the only way they could be heard.
ReplyDeleteStatus Quo start us off with an irksome Irish jig, can't hear this without hearing "Come on you Reds!" over it. It was a hit, but not a great way to cap off a decade that had been surprisingly good to them considering how unfashionable they had been for most of it. Yet again Francis and Rick sharing a joke - wait till the performance is over, can't you?!
Then, because Neighbours, the hilariously overwrought wedding ballad with Mr Angry (from Purley?) emoting for all he's worth. Absolute kitsch, there's no way this would even have had a sniff at the charts if it hadn't been for Kylie and Jason. It's a lot like Ozzy Osborne's attempts at balladry, only even more out of tune. At least the cold sore from the video has cleared up by this studio performance. I prefer to remember Angry as the Wile E. Coyote character from Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.
Phil Collins tries to reclaim the spirit of Motown yet again, only not with a cover this time. Bland as you like, one for the wedding discos, but tainted by the shitey film it was plugging. As John G notes, total Paul McCartney rip-off in the video, but Phil had done it before with Can't Hurry Love, which I assume was the reference intended.
Breaker, breaker, then the kootchy-koo video for the aforementioned K&J (always Kylie first in that arrangement). Pete Waterman got the idea for this song from a greetings card, and it certainly sounds it. They must have been seething for the whole of December because of...
Sir Clifford capping off a particularly cheesy episode with one of the cheesiest Christmas records of all time. Totally ridiculous, but not exactly offensive unless you're a rabid atheist. I imagine the nation's grannies were out in force to ensure this was at the top on the big day.
After that, a different kind of 'nanas to end on, but we've seen it before.
I'd forgotten Phil also duplicated himself on the Can't Hurry Love video - obviously something he liked to do when playing in the Motown sandbox!
DeleteHi Anonymous! Have you got the original archive editions of the following shows? They are a mix of Smith shows and links to him that BBC4 didn't show. They are 7/03/85, 10/10/85, 13/03/86, 19/06/86, 25/09/86 and 18/12/86. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteHere are three eps
Deletehttps://we.tl/t-sjheHzYHXI
Many thanks again for these, Anonymous. Great stuff!
DeleteAnonymous, please, have you got 16/12/76 This wiped episode but all performances survive
DeleteNo sorry.
DeleteOK, never mind
Deletegia, xrayfour had it on his popscene page a few weeks ago. Maybe he'll put it up for you?
DeleteMany thanks to you brie for the information. If anyone is interested this wiped 16/12/76 episode ( no dj links) here:https://we.tl/t-QMKqXu4yw4
DeleteThis was a quick watch and no mistake.
ReplyDeleteAs pointed out earlier, Campbell’s raided Nodding Dog’s wardrobe, and Caron looks like one of those toilet roll cover dollies.
Quo with an attempt at a rock Christams disco hoedown song. Never mind “On And Off And On Again”, this was off my PC after one chorus.
Could you imagine Bruck Dickenson doing a soppy wedding ballad for “Eastenders”? Caron was right, there were tears in my eyes after Ugly Anderson (well, the 30 seconds I gave it) but not for the right reasons.
A horrible Shithouse rehash of Petual Clark’s best tune.
Festive fun from New Order’s Paul Morley style video.
I love “Good Life”. They must have spent pounds on Inner City’s video, mind you.
For some reason, one of Erasure’s road signs reminded me of a story about a heterosexual non-League footballer who had the “no entry” sign tattooed on his arse. Ahem. I could hear the “Then He Kissed Me” refrain Depeche Mode nicked for “See You” in this tune.
It sounded like Caron said Phil’s song was from the film “Bastard”. Apt, though.
Midterm mughsots, and Caron shows how easy it is to name Humanoid and his hit correctly. Take 100 lines, Brookes.
More syrup from ”Neighbours”. Just about keeping my dinner down. Surely the programme can only go uphill from here...
Oh God, NO! The hand in the air from the very start of this shite. Still, it’s not as cringeworthy as “Millennium Prayer”.
We play out with a re-run which, like every other non-breaker on this show, got the FF treatment.
Bye, Caron. I just partly watched something you made earlier. Boom boom tish!
Tsk, should've checked my spellings properly.
DeleteBruck Dickenson indeed!
I saw Petula recently in 'Mary Poppins'. My favourite track of hers is this which never sounded better than here:-
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga65mHCuCR4&list=RDga65mHCuCR4&start_radio=1
Never seen the New Order Fine Time video before as featured in this week's breakers. Always recall their superb (some might say shambolic) performance in the TOTP studio when I hear this track. Presumably this is coming up in next week’s show.
ReplyDeleteRIP Roxette singer Marie Fredriksson. We're due 'The Look' shortly but 'It must have been love' will forever be associated with Jukia Roberts in the back seat of that car.
ReplyDeleteI loved Roxette so much and am devastated - but am very much looking forward to good quality versions of their TOTP performances as the YT ones are terrible vhs rips.
DeleteI'm not a fan of Roxette at all, but Don't Bore Us, Get To the Chorus was a superb title for a compilation album.
DeleteNice to see Caron again although I don’t go much on the puff ball dress.
ReplyDeleteStatus Quo – Burning Bridges – Francis Rossi has just sold that green Fender I believe. Lively song which Japan recorded a version of on the ‘Gentlemen take Polaroids’ album….nah only kidding, their’s was a completely different tune which displaced the song ‘Some kind of Fool’ which to my knowledge has never been released. Anyway, why did Quo put a boxer on the picture sleeve of this single?
Angry Anderson – Suddenly – I prefer Billy Ocean’s ‘Suddenly’. This song sounds, well an angry ballad actually. The guy in the church with the thick glasses was in ‘Neighbours’ a lot at that time.
Phil Collins – Two Hearts – Ah wonderful. Co-written with Lamont Dozier this is one of Phil’s best singles and the video is a delight with the snatches of ‘Buster’ and the multi Phil images on all instruments. You don’t have to buy the soundtrack album for this as Phil has put it on compilations. Phil was everywhere in the late 80s.
Breakers – Petula Clark – Pet took the original recording of ‘Downtown’ to the no1 position in the States, but here in the UK it stalled at no2 due to ‘I feel fine’ by know-you-who….and that’s not a bad song to be pipped by. Petula did reach the no1 over here with ‘This is my Song’ (written by Charlie Chaplin) and the lesser known ‘Sailor’ which is not a particular favourite. Pet sings ‘Feed the Birds’ in the current stage production of ‘Mary Poppins’ which I can’t recommend highly enough – Zizi Strallen in the lead role is superb. New Order – sounds just like New Order. Inner City – interesting only for spotting the, um, inner city locations. Erasure – Stop right now, thank you very much, need somebody with the human touch….no, not a patch on that nor ‘A little Respect’.
Kylie and Jason – Especially for you – class class class. Why did this not top the charts for years?? Love it.
Cliff Richard – Mistletoe and Wine – No Aled here, so Cliff has to sing the end bit himself, so must be either a live or recorded version. Grannies bough this in their droves.
Bananarama – Nathan Jones – Curious to end on a repeated studio outing.
japan's "gentlemen take polaroids" album has some fantastic tracks on it, but i had to concur with the press critics that panned "burning bridges" as a "warszawa" knock-off!
Deletei have never understood the enduring appeal of petula clark, as neither her voice or looks were anything special in my opinion. was there any particular reason for this re-hash?
As far as I know, it was only the rampant, late 80s remix culture that brought Downtown back to the Top Ten (this time from the Hithouse chap). Either that or Philip Schofield's championing of Pet was influencing ver kids.
DeleteI remember wondering at the time if the Philip Schofield factor played a part in Downtown's return to the charts, but given that a year or so had gone by since he championed the song, I don't know.
DeleteNot sure why anyone thought Downtown 88 was a good idea (and I assume it had nothing to do with Pip) but the remix was by Peter Slaghuis from Hithouse so possibly that song becoming successful helped the other get a release?
DeleteBy 'that song' I meant Jack To The Sound Of The Underground, just in case that wasn't clear!
DeleteThis episode was so good, as a Neighbours fan! And I'd forgotten how much I liked Caron Keating.
ReplyDeleteStatus Quo - I am a fan, but this was their ‘treading water’ phase (Sounds like two songs badly stuck together)...
ReplyDeleteAngry - i wonder how he got this gig! he looked very embarrassed standing there, but I bethe made a few bob out of it...
Breakers - Pet starts us with another pointless remix, xmas video for New Order (sounds like Blue Monday with the tune removed), Inner City struggle with coming up with many lyrics, and finally Erasure give us a tune.
Phil Collins - are the musicians supposed to be known musicians as the keyboardist looks like it is meant to be Dave Clark...?
Minogue and Donovan - fresh from their wedding. Not one of my favourite SAW tracks..
Cliff - after all these years, he still doesn't know what to do with his hands. Not a fan, but this was his Xmas hit’ phase...
Nanas - ok track to finish with... i think other bloggers have discussed the Supremes chart hits (non-)coincidence
Nicky and Karen tonight. Both hosts do OK but Karen still seems a bit scripted and tends to be a bit shouty, but she's getting there.
ReplyDeletePeople have a go at SAW records for all sounding the same but the masters of sameness Status Quo are back with their 95th version of the same tune, albeit with what sounds like a nursery rhyme cd stuck in the middle of it. Burning Bridges with the R1 audience only I feel.
Next, following a completely inaudible link we have Angry Anderson who has “Suddenly” appeared in the UK, without his band, or a mic, in what is a quite a shocking performance. Luckily we get to play "spot the neighbour" as the video is cut in for most of the song.
Phil Collins up next and nice to see the full video to “Two Hearts” which is rather good. I like this one.
Breakers:
Petula Clark: Downtown another of my Mums 7" singles so I was well aware of this tune before it was murdered in 1988. Why????? Video is bloody awful too.
New Order : “Fine Time” grows on you as it gets going. Not catchy at all and I can never remember it until I hear it, and then I end up liking it by the end of the song. Video is quite good as well.
Inner City: "Good Life" is a proper classic dance tune. Very funky. A definite highlight of the year.
Erasure: There's no stopping them this year and they are at their very best with this tune from the Crackers International EP (as it was listed in the charts).
Kylie & Jason haven't quite made it in at the top this week, and they will have to hang around for about another 3 weeks yet. One of the most overplayed 80s tracks, videos and performances. Song is a lot cheesy but does it's thing well.
Yes Nicky, Daphne did just give birth...and she even kept her tights on!
Cliff Richard takes root for December with a re-recorded “Mistletoe & Wine”. Sorry Cliff but it sounds like a karaoke version of the song. And if your are going to have a "live" mic for the "Merry Christmas" bit why not sing the whole bloody song... I like this record but that was awful.
Hooray Bananarama get another showing for “Nathan Jones”. Should have been Top Ten this. Brilliant.
Not a bad one tonight...