Here we are still together and baby this is the 13th of June 1991 edition of Top of the Pops!
Belly Kravitz
13-6-91: Presenter: Jakki Brambles
(11) SONIA – Only Fools (Never Fall In Love)
Geting tonight's show underway and the song went up one more place.
(2) AMY GRANT – Baby Baby (video) (and charts)
At her peak.
(22) GLORIA ESTEFAN – Remember Me With Love (video)
Got no higher.
(36) ALL ABOUT EVE – Farewell Mr. Sorrow
In the studio with a more lively number that we're used to hearing from them but it got no higher.
(20) DIVINYLS – I Touch Myself (video)
Went up ten more places.
(28) LENNY KRAVITZ – It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over
Making his studio debut and the song peaked at number 11.
(7) THE DOORS – Light My Fire (video)
Edited out of the BBC4 repeat, and it was now at its peak. With thanks to Anonymous you can see the full show here.
(37) MASSIVE ATTACK – Safe From Harm
In the studio with their full name and full band and the song peaked at number 25.
(27) ROD STEWART – The Motown Song (video) (Breakers)
Peaked at number 10.
(26) EXTREME – Get The Funk Out (video) (Breakers)
Peaked at number 19.
(25) BETTE MIDLER – From A Distance (video) (Breakers)
Became her second of two top ten hits when it peaked at number 6.
(24) LATOUR – People Are Still Having Sex (video) (Breakers)
Their only hit and it peaked at number 15.
(1) COLOR ME BADD – I Wanna Sex You Up
Making it into the studio for their second of three weeks at number one.
(19) SKID ROW – Monkey Business (video) (and credits)
Their third of five top 40 hits but it got no higher.
20th of June is next.
So at last, the new look TOTP, with the presenter being segregated from the studio audience, and with the charts now having their rundown from No.40 straight to No.2 in one go with no mugshots, but rather in type only, and across one of the feature videos, with the first new-look rundown to be on Amy Grant's video now at No.2.
ReplyDeleteBut the good news is that this enables an extra song on the show, which was previously lost due to the chart rundown having mugshots of groups, and taking up the time of one whole tune. The other good news with this new rundown format is that we have the return of the chart fallers!
Sonia - opening the show like a Jim Steinman opening, and not for one minute do I think that Steinman had any involvement in a Sonia single, and I take it as just pure co-incidence!
The Divinyls - I remember their debut being on The James Whale Radio Show on late night ITV on Friday nights, and at least a couple of weeks before breaking the top 40 and arriving at the TOTP stage. Good video I would add.
Rod Stewart - doing an Elton John by having a cartoon video following his last Top 3 effort called Rhythm of My Heart. Elton John the year before, followed up his no.1 Healing of Hands with a cartoon video called Club At The End Of The Street, but failed to break the Top 40, unlike Rod Stewart here who got to No.10 with this new cartoon video.
Bette Midler - Jakki Brambles reminds us that it was second time lucky for this tune, as Middler only achieved no.45 with it first time round, only 9 months earlier in October 1990. Not quite sure how she managed to succeed second time round though, and what gave it more success in 1991.
The new chart rundown format going straight from no.40 to No.2 in one go, and not having the Top 10 on its own, meant that we went straight from The Breakers to the No.1. Takes some getting used to, having no Top 10 feature on its own.
Skid Row - we got the full video from BBC4, thanks to the extra time left by editing out The Doors video in the middle of the show. I don't think BBC1 showed this much of the playout first time round in 1991 though.
I thought the new chart rundown was a really good watch. It didn't distract from the video like the presenter read rundown did in 1986 and actually sort of enhanced it with all the latest hits going across the screen. Conveyed a nice sense of that summer for me as well. Maybe the only issue was that it's rather a lot of info all in one go but as you said it does mean an extra song.
DeleteDory, Jakki said it was second time lucky for From a Distance because Cliff Richard already had a hit with the song fairly recently.
DeleteOh yes, Cliff had the tune first time round in late 1990, but Midler also released her own version at the same time as Cliff, but failed to break the Top 40, but now here in the summer of 1991 Midler was out on her own with it, and seems to be doing just as well as Sir Cliff, achieving top 10 status.
DeleteSonia's usual bouncy self a bit bouncier than usual, but aside from the outfit change this is much as before. Does Jakki's dig at her old record company mean she'd been ditched by SAW?
ReplyDeleteAmy Grant's video again, but I'm concentrating on the charts along the bottom of the screen. Although I did notice Amy and her video pals resorted to doing chicken impressions near the end - big Norman Collier fans?
Gloria Estefan with a boring concert video for a boring song. Prefer her when she's upbeat. I guess that triangle was absolutely essential to the sound?
All About Eve, I remember Mr Strong, Mr Small and Mr Tickle, but Mr Sorrow must have passed me by. Actually, weirdly this reminded me of Sophie Ellis Bextor's old band, theaudience, it's the same kind of thing. Fine as far as it goes.
Divinyls, the strangely horny 90s continue with this ode to masturbation. I remember low level controversy about it being played on the radio, but it's a catchy pop tune at heart, so pop won and we just ignored the joys of frigging in the lyrics. Didn't the Sex Pistols do that one? Video has a serious case of wavy camera.
Lenny Kravitz still gets a lot of stick for his poseur tendencies, but I don't think he's so bad. This, for instance, is a decent little ditty about giving a relationship more of a chance, slickly produced, and Len was a charismatic frontman. Mind you, no wonder he's singing in that high voice with trousers that tight.
The Doors we've seen, so no great loss, and onto Massive with their Attack back with a protective number driven by a monster bassline. Never been quite convinced by the talky bits in this one, but otherwise it's good stuff.
Breakers will all be on again, just as well when we get three nanoseconds each, then Color Me Moustache Free - yes, Mr Badd has shaven it off! Very wise, but he's gone too far and plucked his eyebrows too! Menace II Society didn't have this kind of thing on the soundtrack...
Then quite a lot of Skid Row to end on - how long till grunge arrives and wipes this sort of band out? They seem to have been taking tips from Guns 'n' Roses, some would say rip-off. Video starts in black and white cliche, then colours them bad for the finale.
Fear not, grunge is only 4 months away…..
DeleteAs I sit here in this pub in Bristol, I realise massive attack are my favourite band ever. Shit politics but hey.
DeleteEven better to come with the majestic mezzanine of course.
Just realised, we do indeed plunge into grunge with Nirvana in '91! Seems like it was years later, but nope.
DeleteIt has to be said that grunge actually plays a very small part in the content of 'Top of the Pops' during late '91 and all of '92. At least 2 Nirvana singles, maybe Pearl Jam and Faith No More once or twice but grunge here will be very minimal. Sadly what will be shown regularly is latter day Def Leppard, Kiss, Guns 'n'Roses at every opportunity and other Wayne's World type things that grunge set itself against.
DeleteDarn, I was hoping for at least a couple of Soundgarden and Alice in Chains singles... Though I guess their biggies came a little later. But yeah, Ugly Kid Joe. Oh, great.
DeleteYes unfortunately that whole 'totally radical duuude'! Ugly Kid Joe stuff was ever present. Seems impossible to believe but G'n'R and Extreme were for a while more cool to 16 year olds than Nirvana were despite Kurt, Krist and Dave always mocking those bands in interviews.
DeleteI've had a little look ahead at show listings from Nov '91 to the end of the year of grunge 1992 and all I can say is that if they resume the story of doc and focus on grunge then they are bending the truth massively. Nirvana appear twice but anyone that year with any connection to grunge features as much as WWF Superstars and Daniel O"Donnell.
DeleteWe still haven't had The Story of 1991 and Big Hits 1991, as BBC4 were going to produce these after starting the 1991 TOTP reruns. Anyone know if and when we are going to see these?
DeleteGreat post, THX. Norman Collier had three parts to his routine - the chicken, the dodgy mic, and the chap winding down his driver's side car window. As for theaudience, they were founded by a mate of mine called Billy Reeves who had to give up music after a full car driven by a 16-year-old hit his Morris Minor at 99mph near Hanger Lane and nearly killed him and stpped him from his main band activity of drumming. Billy had 70 bone breaks or fractures. He now works as travel / sports reporter for BBC Radio London. The first theaudience gig, at Staines Town Hall Arts Centre, was memorable for Sophie Ellis-Bextor's mum, that Janet Ellis off "Blue Peter", turning up with two minders (in Staines? Seriously?) and the set being halted midway for a fire alarm.
DeleteI should also say that, from what I've been told, despite two top 30 singles and a top 30 album, due to their deal theaudience were roughly £600,000 in debt when their record company said they'd wipe the slate clean if the band folded so they could sign Sophie as a solo artist. The rest....
DeleteThanks, Arthur! Obviously the lesser-recalled Collier car window was one for the more dedicated fan.
DeleteInteresting about theaudience, horrendous about the crash, though. I mostly remember them for their long song titles, but Sophie's star quality was there too, and difficult to ignore, hence the solo contract.
Agree about the grunge effect. It’ll take a few years to work it’s magic, but “hair metals” days are numbered.
DeleteI think that's right. 'Nevermind' initially made all heavy rock seem acceptable, certainly on TV and Radio 1. Then 'Nevermind' takes hold (I'm sure it wasn't till 'Lithium' came out that daytime Radio 1 really picked up on the album's success) and 'Automatic For The People' comes out and has mass appeal and the alternative becomes the thing.
DeleteAs THX points out this is a very horny year isn't it? Divinyls, Salt'n'Pepa's last and next singles, Color Me Badd, the next Extreme single and more. As an adolescent it made for some squeaky bum time watching TOTP and the Chart Show with parents in the room ;)
ReplyDeleteSonia keeping her head up with a not at all bad track.
Amy Grant mistakenly labelled as a new entry over the new chart. As much as I have nostalgia for the rundown I am very happy to see the whole top 40 reinstated at last, and it's good we get an extra song in.
All About Eve - don't remember this at all but it's pleasant if not super memorable.
Aunty Glo - much as I love her this is a poor man's Don't Wanna Lose You.
Divinyls - great track though poor video.
Lenny K - the only one of his I'm bothered about is Aeroplane but can't deny he's a good looking man and has good pop star energy. And he gave us Zoe Kravitz who is great so hurrah for him.
Massive now with Attack reattached - Classic. Love.
(The Doors get no love from me after cancelling the other week's show)
Breakers - blink and you'll miss but good mix.
CMB - It's not going to be number one for 16 weeks and for that I'm grateful.
Skid Row - OK, but as THX notes, it's very dated.
Overall, though, that was a great episode! Feels like we had loads of songs and they were from a huge variety of genres.
They just have drop The Breakers and Top 5 Albums section, and then we can get three extra songs in, now that the original chart rundown style has been dropped. However it looks like for the rest of 1991 at least, that they persist with The Breakers.
DeleteFour tunes peaking outside the Top 40 this week, and unlucky not to get to the TOTP stage:
ReplyDeleteNo.42 - Sinaed O'Connor - My Special Child
I didn't know that she had a child at this stage, but this song was the second in a row to peak at No.42, after her last release Three Babies. And if that was not enough, her next single was called Silent Night which only got to no.60 at the end of 1991. See a theme progressing here for song titles as well as peak chart positions?........
No. 43 - High Five - I Like The Way
New boy band from America trying to break through in Britain especially after getting to No.1 in America for one week with this tune a month earlier.
No.44 - Gary Clail - Escape
Much anticipated follow-up to his Top 10 hit Human Nature, this was disappointing not to break the Top 40, especially as the song and video was a lot better than Human Nature I thought:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm5C0872bKk
No.47 - Jan Hammer - Crockett's Theme
Re-issue of Hammer's big No.2 single from 1987, and not sure why this got a re-issue in 1991, but still makes for very good Theme music.
Great edition that one with some truly fine songs and a sunny '60s vibe through much of it.
ReplyDeleteJakki on duty and alternates between being up on the gantry and that annoying superimposed thing that I really hope gets dropped soon. Anyway, some way from the crowd which going by most of her previous appearances is probably how she prefers it.
Sonia; I'd like to think Jakki's introduction referring to how SAW dropped her despite all the hits was a dig at that fast falling trio rather than at her. I'm sure it was. This is a great bit of cheery Tamla Motown styling, just love the way that chorus starts. Great hairstyle too which I've never said about her before and good fun all round. A fine start to the show.
Amy Grant; So big change No.1. I enjoyed that combination of hi gloss video and the great and the good and Cubic 22. Maybe the whole chart up to No.2 is a little too much but the idea works for me.
The superimposed idea doesn't work though with all the sliding about and disappearing into the distance which at one point made me think of Tom Baker and Peter Davison vanishing into space at the start of Dr. Who when I was very small.
The regeneration process is not complete. I'm turning into far more amateurish presenters!
Gloria Estefan; Wonderful outfit, not a very memorable song. Can't think of anything else to say about that.
All About Eve, Back in the studio I think for the first time since they were hurried back in the week after THAT appearance and it sounds to me like a live vocal. Hard to tell but it was a joy to see and hear her again. Unusually upbeat that one. Should've been a bigger hit.
Divinyls; Classic 'ooh have you heard this one?' single from the Aussie group and another burst of summer sunshine. The video was very appealing as well.
Lenny Kravitz; More of '91's hazy summery vibes with a debut appearance from groovy Len. Man, this is cool. I'm off for a walk round Golden Gate Park when this show's finished!
Another really special memory of that summer, a single he never came close to bettering. Falsetto, strings, funky shuffling drums, sexy bass solo from very sexy bassist and even Danelectro guitar near the end. The song unusually runs right to the end almost to the point of the group standing about waiting to know what to do next.
Really enjoyed that.
The Doors are remaining closed (Granada TV reference) so we go on to Massive, the attack safely returned and a performance I've been looking forward to for months. Marvellous too with Shara looking as commanding as before. This time 3D from the group is along to do his raps and looks pretty into it as opposed to his usual demeanor on TV which is to sit or stand about with the expression of someone who's just realised he might've left his car window open. Hero and legend though so great to see him here. Single different to the 'Blue Lines' version too so this was a real treat to watch.
Breakers; Too fast to comment on. All I think will be on again.
Colour Me Badd; They're here ladies!!!! A dick in a silly hat, a George Michael impersonator, a bloke from REO Speedwagon and someone else. As long as they don't start delivering their slimy sermon to specific members of the audience....oh God.
Skid Row; Plenty of time to extend the closing video and I'm so glad it's Skid Row that's the lucky beneficiary. Sounds like 'Love In An Elevator' but with the elevator doors being frustratingly slow to open.
Still, a really good edition.
As ye well know, that Lenny Kravitz track's backing got a second wind as the 'bed' for former Sugababes singer Mutua Buena's more than decent solo hit "Real Girl".
DeleteWith I'm sure many of us impressed with Amy Grant getting as high as No.2 this week with Baby Baby, she went one place further in America with two weeks at No.1 with this single a few weeks earlier at the beginning of May, in which 1991 was to be a very fruitful year for female solo artists getting to no.1 in America, including Madonna, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Gloria Estefan, Paula Abdul, and Karyn White, in what was to be a 1991 laden with female No.1's, with interestingly none of them getting to No.1 in Britain.
ReplyDeleteContrastingly in Britain, Cher was the only female No.1, whether solo or group, as apart from her 5 weeks at No.1 with the Shop Shop Song, the rest of 1991 was entirely male No.1's in solo or group. Bryan Adam's being 16 weeks at No.1 did not help the female cause of course, hogging the No.1 spot for a third of the year with is one single.
A sort of new look to the show. Some better lighting and studio performances. Much more "produced" rather than the party feel we had before. Not quite a full revamp though.
ReplyDeleteSONIA – Only Fools (Never Fall In Love)
A much more music focused performance from Little Miss Sonia. Still really like this.
AMY GRANT – Baby Baby
OK. So not a new entry. Oops. Never realised the chart rundown went all the way to the top. Shame not to have the Top Ten countdown separately before the Number One. Didn't hate that as much as I thought I would. I'm guessing everyone that wanted a full chart rundown got it the previous Sunday on R1 so the TOTP rundown not as essential as it used to be.
GLORIA ESTEFAN – Remember Me With Love
I like Gloria but I don't know what it is about this tune but I can't get into it
ALL ABOUT EVE – Farewell Mr. Sorrow
In reverse, not a fan of The Eve but I quite liked this.
DIVINYLS – I Touch Myself
The Bangles with Sass! Awesome tune. Rather rude but who cares. Whatever happened to...etc..
LENNY KRAVITZ – It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over
A real talent up next. This is a beautiful song and he has a gorgeous voice. Really soulful tune. Stood the test of time.
THE DOORS – Light My Fire
Never a fan of The Doors and my word this one goes on a bit.
MASSIVE ATTACK – Safe From Harm
Attack is back. And this is another lovely record. They were such a quality act. Wonderful stuff.
Breakers:
ROD STEWART – Motown Frog Chorus. Why do The Temptations not get a credit?
EXTREME – Of course it's Funk! Love this.
BETTE MIDLER – It's well sung but a very annoying record that goes on and on and on..
LATOUR – People In 1991 Are Obsessed With Sex
COLOR ME BADD – I Wanna Sex You Up
In the studio. Very nice. Still bloody awful though. NKOTB in suits..at least it wasn't live!
SKID ROW – Monkey Business
Would have prefered Extreme. This is...poor.
Chrissy Amphlett of the Divinyls died in 2013 of a horrible combination of MS and cancer, she was only 53. They were a duo, her and her guitarist, so not really Bangles-a-like. Massive in their homeland of Australia.
DeleteThat's very sad to discover. She only had that one moment in the British charts but what a moment! Gorgeous and charismatic and everything you'd want from a pop star, certainly as a nearly 16 year old boy. The guitarist was in a pre 'All Out Of Love' lineup of Air Supply apparently.
DeleteSultry looking rock chick Jakki zooming all over the place on the screen tonight, making me feel seasick, and making a couple of uncharacteristic bloomers.
ReplyDeleteGodd old Sonia, back out of the trailer and in a raunchy outfir for her. It looks like the new label can afford more than a single lanky dancer to accompany her on stage. I prefer this to Phil Collins’ smarmy plastic soul.
Bye bye and RIP, Mugshots. At least we’d seen Amy’s video before so we could focus on them properly if required, or we can rewind unlike in 1991 for full double effect.
Time for Gloria’s monthly new number 20-something hit, this one sounding in parts like “Can’t Stay Away From You”. Unusual cage for the backing vocalists which reminded me of “Tiswas” for some reason.
I get the theaudience comparison for All About Eve’s unusually chirpy and poppy single, which I think deserved to go higher.
Jakki forgets her intro namecheck for Divinyls, who’d actually had nine top 50 hits (ranging from 8 to 50) in Australia prior to this superb over the top track. The Bangles with handcuffs! The single’s sleeve leaves even less to the inagination. I remember Simon Mayo hating this. He would have baulked (like me) at the overly breathy cover version by Rolf Harris. Help!
I never got Lenny Kravitz and couldn’t wait till it was over (see what I did there?) before FF’ing.
Ah, The Doors are chopped neatly out of the show. Good. Wankers.
Oo! Massive Attack with gig lighting and a right old slinky groove. The harder, edgier companion to Soul II Soul.
Breakers in turn – I wonder if Wacko approved of the cartoon, some average funk metal, a “Babe In The Woods” panto setting but nightmare sounding, and a brief snippet of some Speak and Spell waffle.
I think Color Me Badd’s home is Oklahoma City, Jakki, not just the state itself. Should’ve swapped one of the bluer suits for a red one. At least the bloke looking like a pot of Colman’s Mustard has removed that suspect tache.
We finish with some Aerosmith impersonators. Skid Row? More like Skid Mark.
All about Eve - took a while to have something new. Din’t remember this. Nit their usual style. I quite enjoyed it (reminded me of Til Tuesday/Aimee Mann.)
ReplyDeleteLenny Kravitz - this os one I remember. Not a fave, but pleasant enough.
Massive Attack - bog standard rave dance slowie. Was going to say Nicked Dr feelgood lyric ‘I was looking back to see if you were looking back to see…’ but a glance at Wiki tells me the feelgood song was a cover of Johnny Guitar Watson. You learn something every day!
Breakers
Rod stewart - standard fare that he sang in his sleep by now
Extreme - tee hee, almost a rude word. Next..
Bette Midler - she and cliff richard really plugged away trying to get to be a hit for one of them...
Latour - ah the old talkie ‘suncream’ style
(Lot of sex innthe songs tonight)
Skid row - GnR tribute band… [pre post look at comments - so that’s two votes for GnR and two votes for Aerosmith]
Nobody has mentioned that this version of I Wanna Sex You Up has completely different verses, lyrically and melodically, than the one for the video.
ReplyDeleteYet it is this version I remember most, so I assume it’s the version Radio 1 were playing.
‘Interesting’ cover of I touch myself in the Toyah/Robert Fripp lunch series…
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/uQYbrXmJQY4
This was a really good edition with acts on here whose songs I didn’t expect to like. In fact everything was just sur-reee until we got to no1 and that dreadful effort from CMB followed by an awful racket from Skid Row.
ReplyDeleteThe chart rundown over Amy Grant restored the complete top40 albeit with no pictures and in some ways took me back to the 70s format where they started off with a song and showed the chart rundown unannounced. As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, Sonia’s excellent song was co-written by Tony Hillier from Brotherhood of Man.
Jakki looked very nice with her different hairdo (as did Sonia) even if we only saw head and shoulders all show, and once again backgrounds at times seemed super-imposed.
I love the Bette Midler song and look forward to a longer outing.