Caught up in your wishing well is the 23rd of January 1992 edition of Top of the Pops!
I wanna sax you up
23-1-92: Presenters: Steve Anderson & Mark Franklin
(9) 2 UNLIMITED – Twilight Zone
Getting the show off to a lively start with their second of eight top ten hits and it peaked at number 2.
(27) SHAKESPEAR’S SISTER – Stay
Two and a half years since their last top 40 hit, the duo return tonight with what will become a blockbuster number one.
(26) CURTIS STIGERS – I Wonder Why
Making his studio debut with what became his first of two top ten hits when it peaked at number 5.
(7) GENESIS – I Can’t Dance (video)
From their number one album We Can't Dance (loving the Michael Jackson parody at the end!) but number 7 was its peak.
(5) KYLIE MINOGUE – Give Me Just A Little More Time
Singing live in the studio and this Chairmen of the Board cover peaked at number 2.
(21) PUBLIC ENEMY – Shut ‘Em Down
Live in the studio tonight but it got no higher.
(31) MARIAH CAREY – Can’t Let Go
Appearing by satellite link from New York and the song peaked at number 20.
(1) WET WET WET – Goodnight Girl
In the studio tonight to perform their first of four weeks at number one.
30th of January is next.
I was quite intrigued about this new Genesis resurgence after the band quit in 1987 for Phil collins to pursue a solo career. Collins seemed to start well with 1988 and 1989 producing one top ten hit after another, but 1990 was the start of his decline with his last four records that year peaking at 15-26-34-57. It was no surprise then that Genesis were back for another go, with their first single back called No Son Of Mine going top 10 in December 1991, and this new follow-up I Can't Dance was now also Top 10 in January 1992 with I must say a great video to go with it!
ReplyDeleteCollins had previous solo stints in the early 80s, but alongside his Genesis work, but the 1988-1990 solo era was a clean break from Genesis, so it was good to now see full commitment to Genesis once again with no solo singles alongside. When he was to go solo gain in mid-1993, it was also a clean break from the group again, until Genesis would return for one final go as a group in 1997-1998. I don't think Genesis returned after that, despite Collins having further solo singles from 1998 onwards.
I think Genesis got back together for concerts recently (like 2 years ago), the Covid happened and they all forgot about it.
DeleteI just noticed that Sky Arts have a feature on Genesis today at 4pm called 'Genesis: The Last Domino?' as the crew prepare to reunite for their first tour in 13 years, so not sure which year this is referring to, but it could be the one from a couple of years ago as you mention. The programme is followed by a concert film at Rome's Circo Massimo during their Turn It On Again Tour.
DeleteDon't forget that the 1997 - 1998 line up featured Ray Wilson in the line up in place of Phil Collins. The line up in concert also featured Anthony Drennan on guitar (who played with the Corrs later) and Nir-Z on drums. I went to the Earls Court show for that tour and despite the best endeavours, something was missing. The 'Calling all Stations' album is pretty good however, particularly the last two tracks.
DeleteThe 2007 reunion tour was excellent and they showed the 'When in Rome' concert on Sky Arts last night.
Didn't know that Collins was not in the late 90's Genesis line up and tour. Was he back with the team in the 2007 reunion tour?
DeleteYes, the 2007 one off 'Turn it on again' tour featured Collins along with longstanding live performers Chester Thompson on drums and Daryl Stuermer on guitar.
DeleteOooh, some proper STARS tonight, including "The AMERICAN Mariah Carey! From AMERICA!!!"
ReplyDelete2 Unlimited's early singles are like a reverse hot dog with this as a boring white bun in between two solid bangers.
Shakespear's Sister - I love it when a) a song comes from the lower reaches to hit the top (NB I reserve the right to change my mind on this in relation to Celine Dion's Think Twice in the future) and b) When something properly weird and quirky hits the top spot. So I love this. And I also love the French and Saunders parody.
Curtis Stigers - Mother's Day is coming, get those albums sold...
Genesis - Oh yes there's a Michael Jackson joke totally hilarious and worth making us watch the whole video for...
Kylie - Now this is more like it. Not a fan of that hairstyle and this cover is from her worst album (and there's another cover to come at the end of the year with Celebration which might be her worst cover ever if we pretend the James Corden duet of Only You never happens), but still a great performance from a great pop star.
Public Enemy - Like Kylie, not their best track but classic pop stars who give good show.
Mariah - DID THEY MENTION SHE'S FROM AMERICA?!?
Wet Wet Wet - Ooh a new number one! Oh, it's this. Bring back Bohemian Rhapsody.
Steve has been the best of the new presenters, he has charisma, good nature and seems professional. Sorry to hear he passed away, and maybe he didn't have the career he should have.
ReplyDelete2 Unlimited with one of two songs I can think of named after Rod Serling's old science fiction TV anthology show. Is it possible for them to be getting samey already? Still a huge hit to come, of course.
Shakespears Sister: every so often something truly strange catches the imagination of the public, and although this duo were not exactly Laurie Anderson, this was very striking at the time. I haven't heard it much since, considering it was such a phenomenon, but it's pretty attention grabbing, though it's obvious here Siobhan couldn't sing and Marcella really could.
Do you know, I had no idea Curtis Stigers was playing his own saxomophone on this. But Michael Bolton must have thought, "Here, what's the big idea?" Candidate for the most middle-aged thing on the show if it hadn't been for...
Genesis, the whole bloody video and making a virtue of their ageing fanbase. Didn't like this at the time, still sounds stark and smug and unfriendly now.
Aw, now they have Kylie doing a Sonia. Bland as you like cover, nothing remarkable about it at all, her career was going into the doldrums here, even if it was a big hit. But it was a big hit in the 1992 chart, so not such an achievement.
Public Enemy, was Terminator X pondering his ostriches as he spun the decks? They were running out of steam somewhat by now, this is fine but it lacks the punch of their earlier stuff. Mind you, I say that but they're still going (I'll assume Flavor Flav hasn't been sacked, but there was an unseemly spat recently). Why the bins on stage?
Mariah's satellite link-up would be more impressive if she didn't look like she'd been filmed on linoleum rather than video. That darned NTSC! As for the song, meh, can't really remember it apart from her trademark squealy bit.
The Wets, nope, not interested. The weird harmonies at the beginning and the end remind me of the underground mutants singing their hymn in Beneath the Planet of the Apes.
Four tunes peaking this week with no TOTP feature or play during their chart run:
ReplyDeleteNo.25 Capella ft Lolita Hollaway - Take Me Away
Good Lord, it seems lots of pop groups wanted Holloway's vocals on their records around this time, and not sure why Capella at peak this week at No.25 were not in the TOTP studio with Holloway, or at least had their video shown.
No.33 Marc Almond - My Hand Over My Heart
Sounds like a Kylie Minogue title, but Almond comes up with a glitzy video in the realms of Soft Cell, with pouring rain just like in the Say Hello Wave Goodbye video.
No.38 Status Quo - Rock Till You Drop
Didn't know they were still releasing new singles at this point, but this was the same title as their 1991 documentary:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvlGJaDm6HE
No.45 The Art Of Noise - Instruments Of Darkness
Had thought they were washed up a few years earlier around 1986 or so, but I see that their last Top 40 single was in 1988 with Tom Jones called Kiss, and any releases post 1988 failed to break the Top 40.
Agree with THX that Steve is the best of the new presenters. He's affable and informative and always clear in his links. Watching some '78 editions on 12th night, In was struck by Peter Powell's tendency to mutter whole sentences while the canned applause was going on. Steve's wardrobe isn't what I would've associated with this era. He looks like he's outbid the whole of Spandau Ballet for ownership of his latest outfit.
ReplyDeleteMark is Mark.
Strong start with for me the best single 2 Unlimited put out. An epic keyboard riff and a 'whoo!' motif that wasn't new by then but you rarely hear one so huge. I'm suprised members of the audience didn't start to evacuate the building every time it appeared. Nice to finally hear Anita Doth as well. Great personality and voice. I suspect I won't be so keen by the end of the year.
The chart then a real moment. The first appearance of a single that will be a defining look and sound of this year. I vividly remember around Christmas '91 laying in bed listening to Mayo doing his shuffle of brief segments of upcoming singles. Up came Marcella eerily trilling the opening chorus of this and it was a complete "what on earth is that?" experience. Yes it did get a bit annoying about 12 weeks later but it's a fabulous single. Magnificent melody and that simple piano part is just mind-blowingly great. Marcella sounds stunning on this appearance. Siobhan a little shaky but playing her doomy role to the max she just about gets away with it. Looks fantastic anyway. '92 is truly here....
...and remains with King of the rangy, sensitive new men Curtis Stigers and 'I Wonder Why'. The sax is the one thing from this record that I could do without. The rest is a great, very of its time piece of white soul and a happy reminder of a moment when you could be cool just for having long, lank hair.
Genesis follow up the long winded but attractive 'No Son of Mine' with the long winded but pretty funny video for 'I Can't Dance'. Good to see the gently mocking end section, a welcome joke stamped on by Mark's following link.
Kylie in the studio with her cover of 'Give Me Just a Little More Time'. A decent version of a tune you can't go wrong with. Her 'Brrrrr' more attractive than the one on the original version. Not very keen on her curly hair after the sexy farm wench look she has in the single's video.
Steve out of shot does a good link, mentioning who did the original of the last thing then whipping up some excitement for our next performers. Was this Public Enemy's only appearance in the studio? Obviously slightly on the descent by now. If this had been two years earlier e would've probably used their laughter at being invited as a sample. This is a brilliant performance though and the crowd at the front (mainly lads) having a great old time.
Next new innovation and for me it's easily the best one of the Appel years; the live satellite link up. It actually carried on right through the Blaxill period. Mariah Carey to start it off following an interview where Mark addresses her like she's a contestant who's just won a fridge. Mark can't you just get a little overexcited once in a while. A predictably strong performance of an understated song and goodness she was pretty in her young days. Hi from across the Atlantic. 'Top of the Pops' has suddenly become a whole lot more enjoyable.
'Goodnight Girl'has made it to No.1 and it's another live appearance. On record it's an antique skylight to a crescent moon. Here it's a dreary edition of'Pebble Mill At One' but pleasant enough. Tommy has to do something I suppose. Video next time please.
The ITV Chart Show Top Ten following this episode, featured the videos for 2 Unlimited and Kylie Minogue, which we never got to see on TOTP cos they made it to the studio:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSET8XrfYmA
Other entries that The Chart Show over-predicted were Blue Pearl at No.10, The Wonderstuff at No.6, and Ce Ce Peniston at No.3, when these only reached No.14, No.8 and No.6 respectively on the official chart.
Blimey, four shows in a week! A bit of a marathon, this. Three editions to critique for at least the next three weeks too.
ReplyDeletePlenty of early spoilers from our hosts as to who’s on the show. Oh well.
2 Unlimited AREN’T a band, Mark! I preferred the Twiglet zone to this. Better and catchier to come from these folk.
Just when you thought Mariah Carey was the only singer who could lure dogs from afar with her high notes, Marcella Detroit turns up and, look, there’s Goth ‘Nana!
Curtis Stigers, the Kenny G it’s sort of okay to like. Versatile lad, singing and saxing, and way better live vocals than Siobhan. Rapturous audience reaction followed by canned cheering.
Genesis. Hahahahailarious. Oh my sides.
Kylie’s cover has more meat and beat than poor old Sonia’s meat and potatoes efforts. I always thought Dexys should have covered this as Kevin Rowland would have nailed that “brrrrrrr” just as well.
No breakers this week, and a right old juxtaposition into Clockface and the lads. “Shut ‘Em Down”? More like Turn ‘Em Down in this house.
Bzz, crackle, splutter – oh dear, my satellite link packed up, so I missed that shreaky woman and a thoroughly wet chart topper.
And breathe and relax, get ready for the next pile to review.
Very sad to learn of the death of Michael Lang, one of the great dreamers, and doers, of the 1960s. Seen a few interviews with him over the years and he seemed completely without ego which is amazing considering what he achieved. One of those people that I would've just loved to have been in the presence of, listening to his memories.
ReplyDeleteHold the front page - first single by Betty Boo for 30 years released later this month!
ReplyDeleteWhat a scoop Arthur, thanks for this news. She’s still great, saw her doin' her do a couple of summers ago. Found this announcement… https://youtu.be/8S15_2fQolY
DeleteSticking to 30 years ago to the day and an actual episode shown on BBC4!
ReplyDelete2 Unlimited are back with a much less memorable number this time. Anita gets to sing but still no rap for Ray! Loved this at the time and it's a great performance.
The first of many appearances for Shakespeare and his weirdly high pitched little Sister. It's like a Goth funeral in Elstree. Stunning tune and performance as well. A deserved massive smash hit.
NYCs finest Guinness drinking sax player with a tune radio stations loved. Soppy valentines hit for 1992. Serious cheese though…
It's that video with the funny walk!.Like the song though and a video where they seem to have a lot of fun not taking themselves too seriously. A jeans ad getting the full piss take and I loved the MJ bit at the end...
A rather hot looking Miss Minogue ignores Pete Waterman's insistence that his acts don't sing live on TOTP and starts singing live. A real performer starts to emerge over the next few years and her voice does improve as she grows older.
Now here's a gear change... public enemy in the studio. Not a fan if I'm honest but this was OK.
Like the high camera angles on this and the whole thing in one shot. Stylishly done.
And a US link up as well. My my we are pushing the production boat out tonight. And this is a rather nice Mariah song as well. Less well known and therefore much more welcome. Really like this one. One point Mariah, its hello "uk" not "england" oh well.
The Wets at the top for a second time. This isn't one of my favourites of theirs unfortunately. Mum has been out buying records again hasn't she...
Best show since the revamp. Well presented, great music and directed very well. This format might work you know….