Come on and spit out your hearty party moon everywhere ~ it's the 21st of November 1991 edition of Top of the Pops!
Top 30 hat
21-11-91: Presenters: Steve Anderson & Mark Franklin
(9) BIZARRE INC - Playing With Knives
Became their first of two top ten hits when it peaked at number 4.
(31) M-PEOPLE - How Can I Love You More?
Making their studio debut, this song peaked at number 29 for now, but will make it to number 8 in 1993.
(5) BASSHEADS - Is There Anybody Out There?
Their only top ten hit and number 5 was its peak.
(10) MICHAEL BOLTON - When A Man Loves A Woman (video)
Peaked at number 8.
(21) LOVE DECADE - So Real
Their first of three top 40 hits and it peaked at number 14.
(Exclusive) THE SCORPIONS - Send Me An Angel
In the studio tonight to perform their third and final top 40 hit and it peaked at number 27.
(24) ANTICAPPELLA - 2/231 (video) (Breakers)
Got no higher.
(23) ROXETTE - Spending My Time (video) (Breakers)
Peaked at number 22.
(20) SKID ROW - Wasted Time (video) (Breakers)
Got no higher.
(15) EXTREME - Hole Hearted (video) (Breakers)
Peaked at number 12.
(13) SONIA - You To Me Are Everything
Performing this Real Thing cover and it peaked at number 13.
(1) MICHAEL JACKSON - Black Or White (video)
First of two weeks at number one.
28th of November will be posted next.
Bizarre Inc - this new single was re-released after initially peaking outside the Top 40 in March at No.43. I guess unsurprisingly that following the success of their second single Such A Feeling, they re-released the debut single Playing With Knives, with a greater chance of success second time round, and hey presto it makes the Top 10 already!
ReplyDeleteBassheads - highlight of the show for me, and following the previous show where they were at No.8 with only a Breakers slot, it was quite some relief to see them for the first time on the show when at No.5. I remember really liking this tune at the time, and I missed several episodes of TOTP at the back end of 1991 as I was going out with a nice girlie at the time, and had little time for watching TV, and it was more on the radio that I was hearing all these new techno singles.
The Breakers - the Anticapella video looked intriguingly weird, and I'll need to watch it in full this weekend to see what it is all about. Also the Roxette's single on The Breakers is my all time favourite of theirs, and tearfully the only time we see them on TOTP with this new single. I recommend you watch the whole video, and you will be hooked on Roxette just from this song!
Another newbie presenter, he seems keen but rather callow. But he did sign the repeats contract, so he's fine by me.
ReplyDeleteBizarre Inc deploy the tactic of miming to their record and have a singer sing the samples over it. Sounds like a dog's breakfast, frankly. It's difficult to remember if I liked it or not at the time, hearing it in this form.
M People, they get a lot of stick now as the epitome of middle of the road, unadventurous party tunes, but this one is not too bad and they had a decent pedigree. A bit unexciting, mind you.
Bassheads, ah, trying to fool us by putting their rapper in the audience, but he obviously wasn't here through the Ticket Unit. Presumably named after the Public Enemy track? It's OK, mid-division dance ditty.
Unlike Michael Bolton bulldozing Percy Sledge by hoarsely shrieking his way through When a Man Loves a Woman. Because what Perce left out was a key change, obviously, Michael.
No memory of Love Decade at all, and yet another performance where anonymous white guys play keyboards at the back. Nice to see the return of the visual effects which make you think your TV has gone on the blink.
Scorpions, is this still going? Bloody awful quasi-inspirational would-be anthem from a band with a collective age of about 500 years. Can't say they haven't dressed up for the occasion, though.
Sonia is basically a covers artist now, and this was her latest karaoke, seemingly chosen because the originals were Scousers too. Maybe her audience of under-10s hadn't heard the source and liked it?
One thing I'll say about Whackson's video, I was amazed the first time I saw the morphing stuff with the various heads transforming. Doesn't look so impressive now, however. From the album called Dangerous. He was hiding in plain sight!
Steve Anderson died in 2012 so it would be his estate who signed the contract.
DeleteThat's a shame, what did he die of?
Deletei actually thought m people showed promise with this single (i think i saw them doing it on "the word", and looked forward to more of the same. sadly though it was all downhill after that, with main man mike pickering ditching street cred for the dough. also m people woman reminds me of when forest striker jason lee was ridiculed on "fantasy football league" because of his peculiar hairstyle. cue (sung to the tune of "he's got the whole world in his hands") "he's got a pineapple on his head"! they don't make 'em like that any more...
DeleteChart rundown (in the absence of one) and those firmly rising in the Top 40, not getting a sniff on TOTP this week, and also one previous regular in the charts, now peaking just outside the Top 40 with their last ever single:
ReplyDeleteNo.17 Crowded House - Fall At Your Feet
Unlucky not to get a second invite, as it was still rising this week, and two weeks after appearing on TOTP when new at No.26, so they would only get one appearance in the end.
No.29 Belinda Carlisle - Do You Feel Like I Feel
Also two weeks or more since last appearing on TOTP with this one, and still rising this week, but no re-invitation to the TOTP studio, and no video shown.
No. 32 Bryan Adams - There Will Never Be Another Tonight
Second follow up to his eternal No.1, and this one seemed to pass by TOTP completely, especially as he went down the charts the following week.
No.38 Take That - Promises
At last we reach the debut of Take That, but this first single was at peak at No.38, and we never got to see it at all on TOTP, considering what they would go on to achieve from 1992 onwards! They did however perform this on another TV shows, like this one on Wogan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVXt2gd5V-w
No.48 Jive Bunny & The Master Mixers - Rock 'n' Roll Dance Party.
The second of two singles to fail to break the Top 40 in 1991, and this spelled the end for Bunny, as their last ever single. Not a bad video though:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7wb6g1SuBA
Weird to have The Scorpions instead of Belinda, Crowded House or indeed any of the breakers. They had a lot to choose from this week!
DeleteIt's exactly my point about the new format. They would rather invite the Scorpions as a new release and not even charted yet in the Top 75, than give some help to Crowded House and Belinda Carlisle still rising handsomely and who had not been on the show for two weeks, and even a video showing would have been a nice touch.
DeleteGood Lord, this new format is not performer-friendly, and really needed a longer show to 45 or 60 minutes, in order to be fair to everyone.
This was actually Take Thats second single. the first "Do What You Like" thankfully flopped. The video has to be seen to be believed!
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpqAXZI0s0s
Such a better show than last week's. Not that that would be hard.
ReplyDeleteBizarre Inc - classic of that era, good to see it.
M People - two years before the 93-95ish era of M People chart domination. It's kind of weird to see them here in their fledgling state. The bongo player is no Shovel.
Bassheads should have been here last week (as should Kylie and Keith for that matter, who were still #4 then) but continue a very dancey opening with black talent front and centre, a nice change from how MOR this show's been post-revamp.
...Speaking of, here's white MOR writ large with a pointless cover from Michael B. I had a soft spot for his last single but this is a nah.
Love Decade - don't remember this at all, but fits well with the dance party in the studio tonight.
Gatecrashing said party... the Scorpions. You should have been over more when Wind of Change was number 2 for an eternity. It's not in the charts so be off with you. Also it's kinda dreary.
Breakers
Anticapella - shrug.
Roxette - Preach, Dory, Spending My Time is sooooo underrated. One of my absolute favourites too, and the 30th anniversary Joyride boxset is finally coming later this month Already have it on pre-order and can't wait. God this would have been so good in the studio.
Skid Row - I don't remember this at all but it's alright.
Extreme - This one was always a bit too naff for me.
Sonia - Quite an uninspired cover.
MJ - At least it's shorter this time. We could probably have played all 17 appearances of that Bryan song during last week's video.
Thanks Rad. Ordering my Roxette CD now..
DeleteThe ITV Chart Show Top Ten, two days after this TOTP show, predicted correctly that Altern-8 would be at No.3, and so it was here:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIfC5Et8spQ
However, its predictions for Rozalla at No.10, Seal at No.8, and Bassheads at No.2, showing them all still rising, were all wrong, as they crashed down to No.21, No.16, and No.7 respectively.
Another new presenter. Steve Anderson who I can't remember at all from the time but I thought he was good. Sad to hear that he passed away some years ago. Full respect and thanks to his estate for permitting his editions to be shown.
ReplyDeleteGreat single to start with. Bizarre Inc's best one for me. Love the piano chord changes for this. Catchy but with that discernible element of unease. Fine vocal too. Award for most clichéd dance moves of the year must surely go to the bloke on the left who looks quite a bit older than your usual bigging up dancer.
Next is M People. Amazing. Had no idea this was out over a year before it was a big hit. In '93 reissued as a remix by DJ Sasha (who I saw at The Glade at Glastonbury 2014. Brilliant set) and the version that blew me away when I heard it at the time. This original version is perfectly pleasant, it's such a euphoric tune, but it doesn't equal the majestic later version. To be honest I've rarely been so disappointed by a group. Their follow up big hit was ok and from the 3rd hit on I barely gave them a second thought. But the '93 remix of this is one of the singles of that year for me and I can't wait to see it on the show. Heather looks fantastic here.
Mark is dressed for a walk around the park. His new co-presenter most certainly isn't. I haven't looked in advance but Steve Anderson must've had some presenting role on 'The Clothes Show'. He's very posh too but affable and smiley. I like him. He introduces another great dance single, this time from Bassheads. Like this and good to hear again. Actually the look of the show seems to have gone back to the previous format with the camera close in on the performers, zooming past the front of the crowd and those shots looking through the gantry. The camera work in the first revamped editions seemed a little remote but now it's much brighter and more involved. Crowd really excitable here.
What could've been mistaken for a pretty edgy dance show is put right with some very Top of the Pops grown up stuff. No I am not bothered about seeing or hearing Michael Bolton do this especially with regular camera angles almost going up his nose but he was always more likely to cover this sort of song than something by Kraftwerk.
I don't know this one at all and after the first watch didn't think there was anything to it but loved it on the second watch. Great chorus to that and another fully geed up audience. Liked the banner above them offering a response to the JAMMs appearance 2 weeks before.
Jones the Steam and his gang are back and he shows again that he would apparently rather see the cold war return than keep the microphone stand on the floor. Another frustrating exclusive when there are plenty of other great things in the chart but I actually quite liked that.
Breakers; Anticappella making Source's video from February look like Jacko's latest. Roxette, I agree, a great single that one with a belter of a chorus. Skid Row pretty powerful and the video gets respectfully cut before Sebastian spontaneously combusts. Much prefer the King's of Leon single with the same title. More hard rock but rootsy maaan. Extreme going further down the unplugged route. This single was all over the radio at the time, I'm suprised it didn't reach the top 10.
Sonia returns with another weak '70s cover. A shame. The most striking thing about that was the bracelet she was wearing which looked pretty sinister.
Michael Jackson at No 1 then which had to happen and it's good to see the song section again. The other parts I can happily miss. I agree the song really isn't strong enough to merit a video like that but I always admire the man's voice. Going back to the full length version I was sure The Simpsons appeared at the start as well.
Mark and Steve give a smiley goodbye. Another good pairing. Steve seems to pull a humourous "are we done?" face as the end credits take a little while to appear.
Second show in a row that didn’t take long to watch! Not much to write home about here at all….
ReplyDeleteA few random thoughts.
Can we have a separate thread for the ‘Britain’s Biggest Hits of the 70s’ discussions from next week please Angelo? Another six shows to go and as we head nearer to 1976 we’re going to overlap from where these ToTP runs started from and I’m sure they’ll be lots of comment (I’m enjoying those shows more than the current 1991 era actually!).
M-People – How can I love you more? - Quiet beginnings for this outfit who grew in stature. Prefer the remix of this as has been noted already.
Scorpions – Send me an Angel – Pretty mediocre. After the exposure that ‘Wind of Change’ gave them perhaps it would have been the right time to rush out a re-release of their best ever single ‘Still loving you’?
Michael Bolton – When a Man loves a Woman – Nope, still don’t get the appeal. Topped the US charts with this.
Sonia – You to me are everything -Well I guess composer Ken Gold was happy with the royalties but never any danger of this eclipsing the Real Thing’s version. Missing the counter melody at the end.
Jacko – Black or White – Nope, still don’t get the appeal. Topped the US charts with this. (have I said that already?!).
Interesting regarding US No.1 status for Michael Bolton, albeit for only one week in the same month of November, and also interesting that he was knocked off the No.1 by PM Dawn's Set Adrift On Memory Bliss who also got only one week at the top.
DeleteThese two No.1's were then superseded at the US top spot by the current Michael Jackson UK No.1 Black Or White, and Jackson then hogged the US No.1 spot for seven weeks across December & January!
An edition festooned with banners behind the acts, and a new presenter who was miles better than Dorky. Steve was the best thing on the show in my view.
ReplyDeleteBizarre Inc start us off with some Black Country Box. Is that Ross Noble sort of dancing at the back?
Everybody’s free to feel good! Welcome back, Terry Waite, though I’d be hard pressed to think he was watching this.
Oh God no. Heather Small. One of those voices I can’t stand. FF.
If you turned the sound down next, the crap telly effects and stage visuals would have screamed anonymous rave at you anyway.
Christ, now it’s Bellow Bolton. Another quick FF.
Nice banner there for Love Decade. Shame about the tune.
I agree, The Scorpions couldn’t be arsed to get over here for “Winds Of Change” so they shouldn’t have got this ‘prestige’ slot. The Flying V guitar, leather kecks and singer looking like AC/DC’s entice you to some heavy rock and trick you with lighter fuel slop instead.
Anticapella. Crushed velvet catsuit, the props department have raided the same showroom as Vic Reeves, and yet more sampled vocal rave. Ho-hum.
Despite the singer’s posture, Roxette’s song isn’t exactly a right old knees-up. Boom boom tish!
“Wasted Time” showing Skid Row’s rubbish.
Extreme with a jaunty follow-up to their earnest ballad. I hated them both.
They’ve got Sonia out of the trailer! 20? I thought she was approaching 35 with all the TOTP turns she’d done. What an awful cover. Made me yearn for her early days and that lanky dancer.
Had enough of the number one last week when it took up 87 per cent of the show. Away with ye!
Not much to add to this TOTP episode conversation. Sorting through my vinyl realised I have the first three (12”) singles from this episode, must be a first. I was surprised to see I had bought the M-People one, although I was a fan of everything Factory Records related so was still giving Mike Pickering the nod. Speaking of which, if you’re visiting Manchester I can recommend the Factory Records exhibit at the Science and Industry museum if you’re an obsessive of Joy Division and the like.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBizarre inc - don’t recall this at all. Couldnt decide if I liked it or not, but it was interesting watching the singer sing what were presumably samples in the actual track.
ReplyDeleteM people - this I remember, and a good performance.
Basshead - yet another dance track, please can we have something else dull.. FF
michael Bolton - argh, this wasn’t what I meant. Even duller…FF
Love decade - the programme is heading for most quickly qatxhed… FF
Scorpions - Wind of Change Clone. Nearly made IT to the end, but… FF
BREAKERS
Antipella - at least it had a tune…
Roxette - a welcome relief
Skid Row - waste of time (did you see what I dis there)
Extreme - hmm, jury out
A real dance orientated show tonight, and the chart at this point was really heavy on these dance tracks. Some better than others. A new presenter as well. Steve had some real timing issues tonight, crashing vocals and the breakers. Hopefully he will relax a bit but he could show promise. Mark an old pro now.
ReplyDeleteFirst up Bizarre Inc with a song that probably would get it's title banned from the radio these days. This is more memorable than Such A Feeling but its very of it's time. Very shouty/reverb vocal which does the tune no favours.
Next up a rather fabulous performance from M-People. Lovely vocal from Heather Small and a star is born. Easily the highlight of the show.
Bassheads up next with the Spotify dodging "Is There Anybody Out There?". I really like this dance tune and enjoyed the performance as well. The crowd is quite lively tonight too.
So good it's unruinable, even by Hairy Bolton. When A Man...decent version, Ok video.
Love Decade, don't remember this at all but I think it's great. Really enjoyed that. Singer in the audience really shows what a white. middle class, crowd they have in the studio. Will be intrigued to see if we see this lot again.
The Scorpions with another ballad. Quite enjoyed it. Would have enjoyed it more if it was still 1986.
Breakers:
Capella. Now called AntiCapella. No idea why but a decent dance tune.
Roxette. Second ballad from Joyride and an awesome tune. Big fan of this.
Skid Row. Not my thing, Pass.
Extreme. Much prefer this to More Than Words. Easily the best of their hits so far.
Sonia is back. And whilst on record (and on last weeks breakers) I wasn't a fan, the girl can sing and I liked this a lot. Fair play.
MJ at Number One and rightly so.
Smiling.....