Look into my eyes and you will see the 11th of July 1991 edition of Top of the Pops!
Merry man
11-7-91: Presenter: Bruno Brookes
(28) D.J.H. feat. STEFY – I Like It
Getting this live show underway with what became their second and final top 40 hit when it peaked at number 16.
(7) PAULA ABDUL – Rush Rush (video) (and charts)
Went up one more place.
(26) ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES IN THE DARK – Pandora’s Box
In the studio to perform what became their seventh and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 7.
(18) C & C MUSIC FACTORY – Things That Make You Go Hmmm (video)
Peaked at number 4.
(3) GUNS N’ ROSES – You Could Be Mine (video)
From the much anticipated movie Terminator 2, it went straight in at number 3 but it got no higher.
(27) BILLY BRAGG – Sexuality
In the studio tonight but the song went no higher.
(30) INXS – Bitter Tears (video)
Got no higher.
(12) BROS – Are You Mine?
Also in the studio tonight to perform what was to be their penultimate hit and number 12 was its peak.
(31) LISA LISA & CULT JAM – Let The Beat Hit ‘Em (video)
Her second and final top 40 hit peaking at number 17.
(1) BRYAN ADAMS – (Everything I Do) I Do It For You
I don't suppose anyone at this time could have possibly imagined that this song would still be number one come October, and would go on to sell over one and a half million copies. But it was and it did, and he's here in the studio tonight to perform his first of sixteen weeks at number one.
(36) CHER – Love And Understanding (video) (and credits)
Peaked at number 10.
18th of July is next
DJH ft Stefy - more like ft Sexy, and what a superb way to start the show with the panache, elegance and style of a tall leggy German girl with a great body. I don't recall this appearance, probably cos I never saw this episode first time round.
ReplyDeletePaula Abdul - as I mentioned two shows ago, this tune was sitting at No.1 in America, and also on this very week, as she enjoyed 5 weeks on the top of the US Billboard chart during June/Jluy 1991, and one of the best and smoothest songs of the year.
OMD - this song reminds me of the American group called Pandora's Box which was another Jim Steinman vehicle for his music, and was a group of sexy girls singing their way to heaven:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_cCwwXu5RM
Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam - sadly the last we will see of Lisa Lisa on TOTP as this was her last Top 40 hit in the UK, and not one of her best tunes, having lost Full Force to their project with Samantha Fox in 1988 on their combined album. Lisa Lisa will always be remembered for her two hits 'Head To Toe' and 'Lost In Emotion', which were her finest moments:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51Iq8JmmfxY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=If8by9Df4wM
Surely Lisa Lisa will be best remembered for her 1985 hit I Wonder If I Take You Home?
DeleteQuite possibly THX, but I think that was her debut hit and somehow did well over here, but the above other two tracks were just sublime, and a lot better and more sing-along, which is why they did a lot better in America.
DeleteBoth 'Head to Toe' and 'Lost in Emotion' topped the US charts in 1987. The former baffingly failed to trouble the scorers here whilst the latter managed No58.
DeleteDJH - quite enjoyed this. At least it had a bit of variety.
ReplyDeleteOMD - Dont remember but it, but also enjoyed this.
CandC Music - yep, still like this. Shame it faded out so soon. On a roll this week…
Guns n Roses - top notch theme from Terminator 2. Again too little…
Billy Bragg - again, still like this.
INXS - my word, i even enjoyed this. Must be in a good mood.
Bros - didn’t realise that they were still around. Don’t remember it, and first letdown of the show. Dull.
Lisa Lisa - oh dear, any other week this might have been ok, But this week bit boring.
Cher - I had forgotten this little gem, abd certainly don’t remember it being by Cher. Great end to a mostly great show.
Chart rundown - the perfect week for TOTP whereby having now released one extra slot for an extra song on the show since the chart rundown was shown over a playing video (Paula Abdul this week), it was also a show where all the climbers in the whole Top 40 could get a main slot, down to Cher on playout at No.36 with her new single, and obviously no need for a Breakers section this week, and no need to go to any records outside the Top 40.
ReplyDeletePeakers outside the Top 40 this week that deserve a mention:
No.57 - Siouxie & The Banshees - Shadowtime
A new entry and a very quick follow-up to Kiss Them For Me, but very quickly out of the Top 75 the following week.
No.66 - John McEnroe & Pat Cash - Rock 'n' Roll
Two former Wimbledon champions still playing at the time in 1991, got together to release this new single a week after the end of Wimbledon 1991, and unfortunately also fell out of the Top 75 the following week along with Siouxsie & The Banshees. A quick look at the video, and the tennis players were only on guitar, as all the vocals were by Roger Daltrey:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC_OULrL5m0
I favour the Bryan Adams appearance due to the TV sets and the video transition, I don't mind that it was No.1 for so long, probably my most favourite TOTP clip from 1991.
ReplyDeleteI like the OMD track too, it has similarities to SOTSS, not as big as fan of the Cher track than I am of Save Up All Your Tears, Bros just missing out on Year Zero with their final top hit. The rest of the tracks I haven't heard of before.
DeleteWow, Aretha Franklin in the studio! She's lost a lot of weight, and has she been ill? She's looking very pale - hey, waidaminnnit! An example of something you'd never be able to get away with these days, a pasty white girl pretending to sing with the voice of a black gospel singer. Bit dodgy, but hey, that's the Italians for you.
ReplyDeletePaula Abdul we've seen, again with the charts along her bottom (er), so onto OMD with a teary-eyed tribute to silent movie Star Louise Brooks. Do you still get girls with the Louise Brooks bob hairstyle? Seems a timeless look. Anyway, strong single from Andy and the boys, and I liked the audience cheering his dancing (you'll only encourage him).
C&C cruelly cut short before we got the punchline to the second verse, but this was one of those songs where you find yourself listening to the lyrics almost despite yourself. "Hey, why you guys always ask me that?!" Excellent video, too, justifiably a big hit.
Guns 'n' Roses, they cut off the excellent intro and get on with it, but you get the measure of the track here. Hearing this kick in over the end credits of Terminator 2 was really something in the cinema. Why wasn't this at No.1 for 16 weeks instead? T2 was a bigger movie than Robin Hood, wasn't it? Lax door policy at GnR concerts if you can get in with a shotgun.
Billy Bragg may be an unlikely lothario but this makes a very tuneful plea for tolerance and caution in the age of safe sex. Or it was supposed to be. Not sure about Fake Kirsty MacColl on the left.
Another mid-placed hit for INXS, they certainly plugged away, didn't they? More of the same from them, they've ditched the models in the video this time, though. Sounds an awful lot like Disappear, mind you.
Oh, Bros have gone all serious. In fact they seem to be trying to be Sade. Pretty boring, and no wonder they were dumper-bound if this was their idea of a comeback. Luke (or is it Matt?) seems to be trying to cultivate a beard.
Lisa Lisa is only on about half of this record, from what we hear, but she gives it a darn good try. Big in the States, she is trying to raunch up her goody-two-shoes image here, but we only really see her face so it's all in the expressions, somewhat ridiculously.
So the reign of terror commences as Brian groans his way to the top. Then to finish, Cher shows off her growing collection of wigs in this plea for tolerance which is a bit needy, but the sentiment is appreciated. The tune, eh, it'll do, verging on the bombastic.
Guns 'n' Roses were brilliant on this track, and I remember it being one of the best action records of the time in 1991, and probably the decade, and perfectly positioned for a movie soundtrack. By going straight in at No.3 as a new entry, it couldn't outdo Jason Donovan and Bryan Adams who got in their way of what would have been a great No.1.
DeleteBros go in too as a new entry, but only at No.12, and they too got no higher despite a TOTP main slot this week, however Lisa Lisa in contrast went up 14 places after her video was shown this week, and it will be sad not see her in our charts again, considering how successful she was in America over the years.
Weird that GnR had one of their best records with a movie tune, I wonder if they had outside assistance with it? They still had that terrible Dylan cover to go, which was quite a big hit (somehow). In fact, they did quite a few terrible covers before they imploded, didn't they?
DeleteKnockin' On Heaven's Door by Guns 'n' Roses is just as good as Dylan's original, and I guess would have appealed more to a 1990's young generation in their 20's at the time (like me), as Dylan was a generation older, and that I could not really associate with in 1991.
DeleteDJH - It's very rare for me to hear a song on this and not eventually remember it once it's got going, but this is one. I must have heard it because I religiously listened to the Top 40 and watched TOTP every week. But no recall at all.
ReplyDeletePaula Abdul - I love it and it's a great video but we did only have it recently for the chart rundown so maybe should have swapped places with one of the other videos tonight - especially as some of them seem to have got short shrift.
OMD - Another one that's fallen into the memory hole. Andy's jacket is way too big for him. But then the early 90s were all about baggy clothes.
C&C/G'n'R - Both good tunes that could have had a longer play.
Billy Bragg - In my head, Billy Bragg has justs always been a middle aged man so it's weird to recognise he actually looks very baby faced here.
INXS - Not their finest track by a long stretch but it's alright. Another very clipped video.
Bros - Aww look at Bros still having hits in 1991, good for them. (This is a dirge though)
Lisa Lisa - another one I barely recognised. Maybe I missed this episode somehow back then.
Thing to say about that thing, 1/16. Bet they go on to regret splicing the studio performance with the video given how many times they're going to have to make this interesting. Space your options out, TOTP team, it's a marathon, not a sprint!
Cher - Another classic summer 91 track from my lost mix tape. That red wig looks rubbish though.
The ITV Chart Show following this TOTP show had Bros at No.10, Cola Boy still going up to No.5, and Incognito with Jocelyn Brown still going up to No.4, whereas in fact all three tunes fell the following week in the TOTP chart, and didn't get that high in the charts. Here's The Chart Show Top 10 of 13th July:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wGa_SwFP20
An interesting piece from Facebook about the 'new' number one artist...
ReplyDelete"Bryan Adams bought a house just off Cheyne Walk in Chelsea. It was next door to one of the few remaining working class pubs in the area, serving the World’s End estate. He bought the pub in order to close it down, so he wouldn’t be disturbed on the odd occasions each year when he would actually stay there".
Sounds like Bryan was the pandemic of his day, pubs-wise.
DeleteHi folks. A quick heads up here. Not a protest - depending on when BBC iPlayer gets next week’s shows up and also the availability of a PC to me, I’ll miss one week’s fill of TOTP re-runs and possibly two. Feel free to enjoy yourselves without my waffle!
ReplyDeleteNot that we had an inkling at the time, but harrowing to think that Bryan Adams’ chart topper will outlast all the Radio 1 DJ hosts on the show. By the time Adams gets knocked off the perch, we’ll have been subjected to the Year Zero revamp, presented by some unknown teenage regional DJ from Swindon and Tony f#cking “Laters” Dortie. Watching that last clown in particular will make watching the show feel like swimming in treacle.
Anyway...
It’s “Trendy” Trev, who I won’t miss in the slightest, giving us a dreadful error-strewn performance, starting with more or less telling us who was number one at the start, as Bryan Adams was number two last week and he’s on the show.
As for that first track, in the style of Andy Pipkin from Little Britain, “I don’t like it”. SteFFi in my home, and Trev compounds it by calling Italy “Italiano” in the outro.
The chart rundown does a Trev by mis-spelling “Sheriff” in Carter’s rush rush across the screen (see what I did there?) while Paula changes costumes more times than we had sunny days this May.
One of OMD’s backing vocalists doesn’t start singing the first chorus. In fact, she almost refuses to do so. I still can’t envisage Andy ‘teacher dancing’ without holding a bass.
Trev tops and tails the next act by calling them CC Music factory – no ‘&’ at all. Unusual graphics, MC Hammer troupe style dancing and a rap story song like “Funky Cold Medina”. Thumbs up.
Next we get Guns AND Roses (you sense a theme here) with one of their better songs, despite the vocal use of “my-eee-ine” and li-eee-ine”. I wish it had terminated Acne Canuck at the top.
This week’s Divinyls style track next as Billy Bragg thoroughly enjoys himself while delivering a chirpy tune which was this week’s studio feelgood song. Shame Kirsty wasn’t there, though.
Oh dear. INXSFF next, naturally called “Australia’s finest” by our dipstick host (Erm, Kylie maybe?), who then decides the next act are a welcome return. Speak for yourself.
Sheesh, that Bros track was a chore. More like Dross. A Kwiksave Rick Astley “Cry For Help” if you ask me. I must watch that documentary again, though.
What with the annoying in and out of focus / subject video, the ‘this is a journey into sound’ variation and that bloody James Brown screech again, I gave up before Lisa Lisa had even started singing.
Picture the scene - Bryan says to his group “This might be our only week at the top, lads, let’s go into the studio and make a day of it”. Ahem.
Trev completes his zero out of ten offering by waffling about some concert and then forgetting to namecheck Cher. Complete and utter tit. As well as her usual demure dress sense, Cher debuts her tomato soup coloured wig, shown on the sleeve of unfortunately low charting future single “Save Up All Your Tears”. I much prefer “Love And Understanding” to her weak tea chart topping prequel. As for the video’s attempt to audition a new Zoo or Hot Gossip, the last second we see of the video shows a chap running his face down a female dancer and very close to the region that Divinyls cyber graphic touched!
Ruh roh, I'd scrubbed the Tony Dortie revamp from my brain until now. Is that when the live performance edict comes in too or is that a bit later when the presenting lineup changes again?
DeleteYes, the live performances were introduced with Year Zero, I remember Insanity by Oceanic being particularly punishing. Might be entertaining for all the wrong reasons!
DeleteThree years of this until Rick Blaxill rescues us and makes the show good again... then the dreaded Coronation Street looms and the show's slow death begins.
As mentioned in a previous thread ages back, of all the years for the "Story Of..." prequel to go missing before the year in question started, this was the most important one thus far and probably in the entire re-run for as long as it continues.
DeleteI noticed that one OMD backing singer struggling to join in at the chorus. Maybe her part is the echo vocal as she seems to open her mouth then.
DeleteYep, still waiting for BBC4 to produce The Story Of 1991 and Big Hits 1991. We're already just over halfway through 1991 in these excellent TOTP reruns, and it could be that BBC4 have now called it a day with the 1990 Story Of and Big Hits compilations, unless anyone on here knows otherwise??
DeleteBilly Bragg. Yawn. I loved it when Nicky wire called him
ReplyDeleteA big nosed cunt at Glastonbury 99. Well, he did try and use their toilet.
RIP Don Everly, a real legend though he was a bit pre-TOTP and certainly pre-the repeats eras. Wonderful harmonies with Phil, yes, they hated each other as everyone knows, but the sibling rivalry just made their story more poignant. Hugely influential.
ReplyDeleteSadly we've lost both Everly brothers in the last few years, but their memory lives on. Their music was still being played in the 70s on mainstream radio quite a lot, but from the 80s onwards you would have to tune into specialist pop gold radio stations to hear them.
DeleteIronic that the other artist to put out a song about Louise Brooks was Phil Everley in 1982 with the single 'Louise' (not to be confused with the Human League song).
DeleteRIP Don
This show I can also recall watching in Cornwall in a cottage near Bodmin (it was our second week). Sticks in the mind for many reasons, none more so than a drama series that made a huge impact on me at the time – ‘Chimera’. Boy that first episode was a real shocker! Every time I see John Lynch, Christine Kavanaugh, Pippa Heywood, David Calder, Kenneth Cranham, George Costigan (recently in ‘Line of Duty’) I think ‘Chimera’!! I digress… this show had some real highlights.
ReplyDeleteDJH feat Steffi – I like it – I don’t. Gerry and the Pacemakers anyone?
Paula Abdul – Rush Rush – Now I really like this. As discussed on the show two weeks ago a real grower. Ian Rush indeed!
OMD – Pandora’s Box – Wow! Two goodies in a row from OMD. As mentioned above, a tribute to silent movie star Louise Brooks who starred in the film of the same name. Procol Harum also released a song of the same name in 1975 which was not about Louise, but I prefer this one.
C&C Music Factory – Things that make you go hmmm.. – Like “Hmmm…what on earth was all that?!”
Guns N’ Roses – You could be mine – I don’t really get what all the fuss is about G&R and why kids who weren’t born when they started out wear t-shirts with G&R on….but this track is pretty good and along with the T2 tie-in is an excellent combination.
Billy Bragg – Sexuality – FF
INXS – Bitter Tears – More preening from Hutchence but song has no substance.
Bros – Are you mine - Thought this was a girl band at first. Not a bad effort however.
Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam – Let the beat hit ‘em – UK woke up to LL a little late. Surprised the record company didn’t have another shot at ‘Head to toe’ which knocks spots off this.
Bryan Adams – Everything I do (I do it for you) – Hey this is an excellent song to reach No1! Probably the best No1 of the year. I really enjoyed it. Great to intersperse the studio appearance with clips from the ‘Prince of Thieves’ film and the song’s video, shot in a similar forest. Shame it was cut short at the end of the guitar solo.
Cher – Love and Understanding – Another great Diane Warren song. Not sure what was going on that stage however!
john lynch starred in a film as the manchester united legend george best, when ironically he is a dead ringer for best's rival as "greatest united player ever" eric cantona!
DeleteWow I remember being completely baffled by Chimera. I still don't know if I enjoyed it?
DeletePs, couple of Led Zeppelin tracks in the nether region of the charts;
ReplyDeleteStairway to Heaven - Dread Zeppelin (No62)
Rock n' Roll - McEnroe and Cash with the Full Metal Rackets (No66).
The latter is seriously good !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYDsPmJYqDQ
Had already mentioned the McEnroe and Cash tune further up this blog Sct353, but good call on Dread Zeppelin, as I did see that but it didn't appeal much.
Deletejohn mcenroe once said although he loved playing music, he was grateful his true talent was as a tennis player - as (unlike wannabe pop stars) he knew that as long as he had the ability, then he was always likely to succeed!
DeleteGood grief, what a dreadful week. First Don Everly, then UB40's Brian Travers (the first UB40 musician we ever heard due to his sax intro to debut single "Food For Thought") and now the great Charlie Watts.
ReplyDeleteRIP Charlie.
DeleteHard to argue with these five choices of Charlie's best beats...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-58323536
Yes, RIP Charlie, one of the most brilliantly unimpressed-looking men in history. And more than that, an incredible drummer, his timing was impeccable.
DeleteRIP Brian too.
One of my favourite listening to experiences was hearing 'Midnight Rambler' on headphones for the first time from my Dad's 'Rolled Gold' compilation. The moment when Charlie's drums suddenly shift gear before the creepy middle part is just thrilling. What a sound and feel he had.
DeleteDon. The sound of him and his brother I think you can genuinely call perfection. He wrote some fabulous songs too. 'So Sad' was in my head all day when I heard the news.
It looks like I should be able to critque the next two weeks after all, albeit picking up my bat in the tail order of comments a few days late. According to TV Cream there's only one TOTP next week and none at all the week after next. We're going to have Bryan Adams for sixteen weeks' duration in this re-run the way things are going!
ReplyDeleteCombined with BBC One airing Robin Hood:Prince Of Thieves and BBC Radio Two airing a documentary about Everything I Do's Sixteen Week Run this Saturday, we can't escape from Bryan!
DeleteI dread to think that they'll do something similar with that Wet Wet Wet slop!
DeleteTalking of TV Cream, can anyone get onto their website anymore? All I get is a warning message they're trying to steal my passwords (I'm almost certain they're not).
DeleteI know it's not a secure https site like Angelo's blog is, but I can read other http ones with no problems. Any ideas?
Bruno with the last "live" TOTP for nearly 3 years (June 94 for the next one). Still seems odd Bruno not in with the crowd.
ReplyDeleteD.J.H. feat. STEFY – I Like It
I liked it more in 1991 than I do now.
Decent Italian House tune though but another non-singer. I feel a change coming..
Nice idea to mix in the crowd dancing. Very retro
PAULA ABDUL – Rush Rush
Still a beautiful record.
ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES IN THE DARK – Pandora’s Box
Great 7" remix of the album track making it much more uplifting and radio friendly.
B&W dress for a song about a B&W silent film star (Lousie Brooks) and the less glamorous side of fame. She popularised the bob hairstyle apparently and was also a semi-nude dancer during harder times and a lesbian to boot!
C & C MUSIC FACTORY – Things That Make You Go Hmmm
This should not work. But it does and its incessantly catchy. Clever video as well. Very original.
GUNS N’ ROSES – You Could Be Mine
Terminator 2 responsible for 2 Top Ten hits this year but before the rather fabulous "I'll Be Back" we have a great rock song from GnR. This is a really great tune. Love the drums on this.
T2 was a huge film that summer and Edward Furlong a bit of a Smash Hits, Just 17 star! Whatever happend to him?
BILLY BRAGG – Sexuality
1991 does sex again! We were Obsessed!!!
This is catcy and clever and a bit different. Robert De Niro / Mitsubishi Zero a great rhyme. A classic tune. Why is Kirsty not here though?
INXS – Bitter Tears
Disappear, sorry Bitter Tears...or is it Disappear?.
SAW didn't have the monopoly on every song sounding the same. Second video of the nite with subtitles.
BROS – Are You Mine?
Not sure it's a welcome return Bruno. They really milked their 15 minutes didn't they? Hopefully the last dross from Bros.
LISA LISA & CULT JAM – Let The Beat Hit ‘Em
A bit of RnB/Dance that I can take or leave. I like it when I hear it but would never deliberately seek it out.
BRYAN ADAMS – (Everything I Do) I Do It For You
Thankfully due to TOTP rules we are spared the full 6:28 version of Eveything I Do….
It's actually a great (Grammy winning) rock ballad and a deserved number one but I have no idea why it spent so long at the top. Gave Bryan a second bite of the cherry in the UK and turned him into a bit of a superstar. "Waking Up The Neighbours" became a Number One album and followed up by a Greatest Hits album and one of the finest MTV Unplugged albums in 1997.
I'm glad this holds the record at 16 consecutive weeks and not The Wets or Drake. Ed Sheeran currently having a go at the title sitting on 11 weeks so far...come on ABBA!
CHER – Love And Understanding
I like all of Cher's hits from this period. Nice Pop/Rock songs that are great to sing along to.
See you Saturday for the INXS gig...