Oh my love, let's set sail for the 30th of April 1992 edition of Top of the Pops now!
Skin Fred
30-4-92: Presenters: Claudia Simon & Tony Dortie
(4) MARC ALMOND – The Days Of Pearly Spencer
Getting the show underway with what was to be his fourth and final solo top ten hit but it got no higher.
(US 5) EN VOGUE – My Lovin’ (via satellite)
Performing on the set of Soul Train and the song peaked at number 4.
(2) SL2 – On A Ragga Tip
In the studio with their only top ten hit, and number 2 was its peak.
(3) SISTERS OF MERCY – Temple Of Love (1992)
Here tonight with their second and final top ten hit, and also their biggest, and number 3 was its peak.
(8) MICHAEL JACKSON – In The Closet (video)
Got no higher.
(NEW) THE CURE – Friday I’m In Love (video)
From their number one album, Wish, this single became their fourth and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 6.
(12) METALLICA – Nothing Else Matters (video) (Breakers)
Went up six more places.
(15) CURIOSITY – Hang On In There Baby (video) (Breakers)
Became their third and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 3.
(17) EXTREME – Song For Love (video) (Breakers)
Peaked at number 12.
(18) EMF – Getting Through (video) (Breakers)
Got no higher.
(1) RIGHT SAID FRED – Deeply Dippy
In the studio once more for their third and final week at number one.
7th of May is next.
So far my favourite episode from TOTP 1992,
ReplyDeleteMarc Almond, what a fantastic song with Marc's voice and I loved the orchestra part.
The Sisters Of Mercy Featuring Ofra Haza, really great uplifting track, Ofra's vibrato voice with lead singer Andrew Eldritch really blended well to this great track.
The Cure, I remember singing along to this many times in 1992, great tune.
Right Said Fred, Very catchy and great to sing along to.
Michael Jackson, Excellent song and video.
Definitely one of the better 1992 episodes, for the first half, anyway, I agree.
DeleteYeah, the Sisters Of Mercy track was just superb with the Ofra Haza vocals giving it extra appeal, so a big thumbs up from me, and one of best tunes of 1992 so far.
DeleteThe whole Top 4 in the studio this week, with the US No.5 live by satellite, it doesn't get much better, especially when you add in Claudia Simon on presenting duties, what a treat all round!
ReplyDeleteMarc Almond - at last invited to the TOTP studio, the main background riff by the violins on this studio performance reminds me a 70s tune, but I can't put my finger on it. Anyone know? War Of The Worlds?
En-Vogue - in the Soul Train Studio live by satellite, and I didn't know that Soul Train was still going in 1992, as it started in 1971 around the boom of colour television, but a quick look on Wiki shows it continued until 2006, and closed down in the same year that TOTP came to an end. How coincidental!
Sisters Of Mercy - Good Lord, how did they get Ofra Haha with them in the studio, let alone on the song? Haza being a world phenomenon from the late 80s alternative music scene, with superb singing voice and vocals, this combo with Sisters Of Mercy was some treat for TOTP fans, and turned out to be Sisters Of Mercy's most successful single at No.3.
The original Pearly Spencer was produced by Mike Leander, who in the 1970s was responsible for Gary Glitter's glam rock sound. I think it has more in common with his 1960s classy pop efforts, though.
DeleteMarc Almond very pleased to be here for this cover of the old David McWilliams tune that everyone thinks was a hit, but wasn't. So this was the first time the song had made the charts! Marc doesn't do the singing down the phone bit from the original, but he did add a new slowed down bit for the end (not heard here). Very decent cover, probably because it's so faithful.
ReplyDeleteEn Vogue looking like they'd just got out of bed, with a fun "thanks, but no thanks!" ditty that ushered in the real sound of 90s R&B. Impeccably sung and danced live, what a bunch of pros.
SL2 we've seen, they even have the same dancers back, then Sisters of Mercy with the assistance of Ofra Haza, an unlikely combination that sounds surprisingly appealing, Ofra's vocals soaring and swooping where Andrew Eldritch's growl. Four winners in a row!
Ah well, here's the Smooth Criminal again, because obviously six minutes last week wasn't enough and we had to get most of this all over again.
The members of The Cure who do show up look like Tony Dortie is their teacher and they're offering an excuse about not doing their homework. Anyway, uncharacteristically jolly tune from the boys, still gets played a lot (often on Fridays, funnily enough), not my favourite of theirs but perfectly acceptable.
About two nanoseconds each of the Breakers, I'd forgotten Curiosity Killed the Cat had a name abbreviation and a comeback around this time. Not very good, though. Then the Freds back in the studio for the end of their reign at the top. Not sure what Tony means about them being friends with Mickey Rourke - anyone?
Any news on the 7-5-92 Adrian Rose presented episode, as BBC4 will be going straight on to 14-5-92 on Friday? May be a good idea to get it on this weekend to ease the load next week, and to have only 3 episodes to review instead of 4.
ReplyDeleteA new No.1 too!
Coming up tomorrow
Deletehttps://we.tl/t-wr1GYEpJBo
Delete7th may 1992
Also concur, best episode of ‘92 so far.
ReplyDeleteMarc Almond: what a performance, could probably have done without the constant TOTP audience hand claps. Good to see a mature string quartet getting employment. Days of Early Spencer according to Tony.
En Vogue: For once no complaints with this one including a non-UK chart related performance. Shame the usual Soul Train crowd weren’t in the house to dance along.
SL2: On a Ragga Trip (according to Tony in the rundown). Great live energetic performance, the main toaster (?) seemed to be enjoying his appearance more this week.
Sisters of Mercy: Back in 1983 when this was originally released I was in a bit of a goth-punk-indie phase, so fantastic to hear this doing so well a (near) decade later. From their self-released early singles compilation album “Some Girls Wander by Mistake” that had just been released. Alice is my fave tune and this video works well, https://youtu.be/lWKhYCr6wVw
Michael Jackson: why no cancel culture here? Just cancelling this showing then would have freed up time for two or three other videos.
The Cure. More goth, in hairstyle only these days. Got the answer to my earlier question as to why they didn’t get a studio appearance. Presume this was recorded earlier in the week as The Cure did a great performance in Portsmouth on 30/04/92. The full gig is on YouTube, a similar Wish bookending set list to when I saw them a few years ago.
Breakers, should have gone with The Mission’s Never Again to have made it a goth hat trick, and Flowered Up Weekender deserved an airing.
Presumably Michael Jackson isn't cancelled because he wasn't convicted of anything. Or he escaped justice, if you prefer.
DeleteJust to say the highlight for me was Marc Almond's cover of 'The Days of Pearly Spencer'. I first heard the original David McWilliams version on one of those spin off CD's from the TV series 'Heartbeat' called 'Heartbeat Summer'. It resides on disc 2 between the Shadows 'Atlantis' and Canned Heat's 'On the Road again'. It really caught my attention when I first heard it. ...love the strings on Marc's cover which replicate the original perfectly!
ReplyDeleteBlimey, Cloudia! Legs! Can we keep you and ditch Dorky? Ah.
ReplyDeleteMarc Almond in the round gives us a beautiful and faithful recreation with an unheard upbeat new ending. Wonderful. Why have we never secured Marc for Eurovsion?
Rundown: Boo to Cloudia for not giving Carter’s full name.
Back when we started the re-runs it was all Drifetsr and Stylistics. Now it’s En Vogue (in longer dresses than the video - seriously) with pinsharp moves and vocals. I can imagine people asking when this would be released over here. And now it’s time for the breakdown...
SL number 2 with another enjoyable excursion into reggae rave. The black trousered dancer ballses up early doors, resets herself and goes again.
Get in! Sisters Of Mercy’s best track with superb juxtaposition vocals which go as well together as honey on Manchego cheese. No drummer, and band sponsored by Marshall amps.
Fuck’s sake! Weirdo on AGAIN???
Comedy goth follows one of TOTP’s better interviews which isn’t a high bar. Love this track. The bass drum advert misnames the band, who were on their third monicker by this time anyway, having previously been Malice and Easy Cure.
Oo, a metal ballad next. Not heavy metal. Aluminum, maybe?
Cat Killers with an utter shitting on a superb track. Always hated those bastards.
Extreme, hot, Cloudia? Don’t agree.
EMF again complete with that jester’s hat.
Number one time and... put them away, Richard! Or wear something darker. Iggy Pop and L7 almost spring to mind. Mention of Cockfosters at the end (rude boy) which reminded me of an old Paul Hogan advert for Fosters lager.
Oops forgot to comment on this one last week. A pretty enjoyable episode all told. I love The Cure (although less so it being a pre-release obviously), not my favourite of theirs but one that will give them deserved success.
ReplyDeleteEn Vogue - see above.
Marc Almond, Sisters of Mercy, SL2 - unusual to have all of the top 4 hits on the show, and even more so in the studio And what corkers they all are. Sisters of Mercy especially (RIP Ofra Haza).
The breakers are a high charting selection from old faves, although the Extreme one is a bit rubbish.
Then the Freds bowing out just as the song is moving from fun to a bit grating.
Good work tonight TOTP!
Oh yeah, apart from Michael Jackson. I'm kind of tuning the endless plays of his videos out.
DeleteWell we can safely say nothing is going to beat this Marc Almond opening number tonight. Loved this and Jacky when they came out and I'm starting to realise I do love a big orchestral arrangement in my pop music, eventually leading me to The Divine Comedy (who I'm seeing again in May). This is just glorious. That's Mr Almond on my playlist for the rest of the month.
ReplyDeleteA very good quality Top Ten this week.
LA time for the gorgeous En Vogue. Channelling the Supremes. A real touch of class this. I do remember buying this at the time. So catchy.
2 great songs to start tonight..then the rave anthem that is On A Ragga Tip. Good job Thursday night was my Dads Squash night, he'd of had this straight off!
Now this amazed me at the time. Not my thing at all but Sisters and Ofra make a wonderful combination and this is superb. It's like 1988 all over again.
MJ back as he's now come out of the closet and into the charts. It's still a crap video for a great song.
The Cure can't perform as Sideshow Bob is poorly. A chance to watch this rather fun video instead. This is their "shiny happy people" isn't it. Love it.
Breakers:
Metallica: Decent rock ballad alert.
Curiosity: Have you seen this cat?
Extreme: Poor rock ballad alert.
EMF: Forgotten it already
I'm assuming there was no KWS video yet?
RSF: New studio performance and tonight he's come as a walking condom.
When people criticise the revamp it's shows like this one that show how well the format could work. Just so hit and miss normally but this was the best show so far