Oh-oh, it's a passion, oh-oh, you can feel it in the 13th of August 1992 edition of Top of the Pops!
Let me entertain you
13-8-92: Presenter: Tony Dortie
(16) TAKE THAT – I Found Heaven
Getting tonight's show underway and the song went up one more place.
(17) UNDERCOVER – Baker Street
This Gerry Rafferty cover became their first of two top ten hits when it peaked at number 2.
(2) FREDDIE MERCURY & MONTSERRAT CABALLE – Barcelona (video)
Had peaked at number 8 in 1987, this time around it made it to number 2.
(21) BETTY BOO – Let Me Take You There
A second studio performance and the song wnet up to number 12.
(22) 2 UNLIMITED – The Magic Friend
In the studio tonight and the tune peaked at number 11.
(18) QUEENSRYCHE – Silent Lucidity (video) (Breakers)
Got no higher.
(10) THE SMITHS – This Charming Man (video) (Breakers)
Had peaked at number 25 in 1983, this time it made it to number 8.
(9) FELIX – Don’t You Want Me (video) (Breakers)
Went up three more places.
(8) JON SECADA – Just Another Day (video) (Breakers)
Peaked at number 5.
(7) LUTHER VANDROSS & JANET JACKSON – The Best Things In Life Are Free (video) (Breakers)
Peaked at number 2.
(NEW) ANNIE LENNOX – Walking On Broken Glass
From her number one album Diva and it peaked at number 8.
(1) SNAP – Rhythm Is A Dancer (video)
Second of six weeks at number one.
20th of August is next.
Take That - back so soon after their first single to be shown on TOTP, this was actually their fourth single release, considering their first two didn't even get a sniff on TOTP, peaking at No.38 and No.47, so now at the fourth single release they seemed to be here to stay and 'back for good' at this point.
ReplyDeleteMercury & Caballe - second time round in 1992, and doing better than the first time in 1987, Freddie Mercury was not around in 1992 to see this tune going 5 places further than it did when he was alive. Glorious video which looks fabulous to this day and timeless in production style.
Betty Boo - figure of the year, and having dropped the girls in the group, she now goes fully solo, and just love the outfit this week, so more Betty Boo please. Boo recently released a new single in January 2022 called Get Me To The Weekend, her first single since 2007, and she recently turned 52 just this month.
The Breakers - The Smiths' single from 1983 re-released in 1992, the video looked so 1983 in quality of video and out of place with more high quality 90s film available to producers, but I don't think The Smiths reformed in the 90s to make a new video, and it was still Morrissey on his own.
Annie Lennox - first of three consecutive weeks on TOTP, with two separate studio performances on week 1 and 3, with the video in full on week 2, it makes you sick that all those performers who couldn't get onto the show had to hope that they got a breakers slot as high up as the Top 10. Good Lord!
I Found Heaven has to be one of the most forgotten Take That singles, so in a way it's nice to hear it instead of one of the overdone ones. On the other hand, it's rubbish.
ReplyDeleteA workable cover of Baker Street with a singer who looks like Michael Ball if he was a brickie.
Then a trip to 'Ba-celona' as per Laters. (Got to admit he's aged well and came across well on The Story Of 1991 though). The video is an interesting watch, I remember those handful of gold medals in the 92 Olympics being A BIG DEAL, followed by a dreadful Atlanta in 96, but the last few Olympics are such a transformation from those times. I'm not a sports fan but you can really see the difference of the investment that was made in athletics and I think that's a good thing. Although Sheffield has benefited from aaid investment so maybe I'm biased. Anyway, best song of the 92 Olympics even though it predates them and starts a bit slowly.
Betty Boo looks a bit lost on that stage without dancers or musicians. It's alright, better than the 2 Unlimited song, which is one of their least memorable but I quite like the matching tracksuits, very early 90s.
Breakers - Queensryche are dull. Anyone know why This Charming Man was rereleased? Felix is a soon to become dance classic, and Secada will have a long afterlife on radio. Luther and Janet with a cute duet that deserved more than a breaker. Not going to be a number one though, presenters saying that always curses records!
Then yet another not in the charts exclusive, sigh. I quite like Walking on Broken Glass, and the staging for it is nice, but still. Annie's dancing is a bit, um, possibly the inspiration for David Brent's moves in The Office. The brown hair is different. Makes her look like Sue Devaney (from Johnny Briggs, Spatu, Dinnerladies etc... and also apparently Corrie but the first three are my frames of reference).
Then the Top 10 back in a sensible place before the number one.
So weird not to have had a show when Snap hit number one, it feels all wrong to have a 'second week' at the top when the last time we were here, Jimmy Nail was still up there Who's storylining this show? ;)
Rad, This Charming Man was, along with two subsequent singles, released to promote the 'Best' greatest-hits compilation.
DeleteSeems they were all at it in 1992, releasing singles from a new Greatest hits album, but could only offer the original 80s videos - Madness, ZZ Top, and now The Smiths!
DeleteSue Devaney is back in Corrie at the moment for a longer stint and when she had a row with a neighbour recently they snapped at her "calm down Annie Lennox" so obviously she's well known for being a bit of a look-a-like
DeleteTake That with a little-revived minor hit, and apparently they hated making it, but they seem enthusiastic here. Robbie takes co-lead vocals with Barry, Robbie a curious man who appears to want to project vulnerability but often comes across as obnoxious, a weird combination. Oh, the song, well, we're knee-deep in mediocre covers, and here's another.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of which what looks like a bunch of session musicians with the charisma of a pair of carpet slippers drain the life and mystique out of Gerry Rafferty's admittedly overplayed 70s hit. That's 1970s, Tony, not 1980s.
"Oh, love this song, they stopped it before they sang 'Barcelona', I love that bit. Anyway, here's your question: which city was - oh nooooo!!!"
Betty Boo looking oddly nervous without her Boo-ettes, and dressed for the beach, apart from her shoes. Still not convinced by this one, it lacks the cheek of her early hits.
2 Unlimited, if it wasn't for the energy in the performance I'd say they just weren't trying anymore. This is barely a riff repeated to a drum machine, must have taken them five minutes to make.
Breakers: pretentious, moi, Queensryche? No idea why The Smiths were back in the public consciousness, but this rerelease gave them their biggest hit.
Annie Lennox gets deep into her arch phase with this irritatingly poised tune, but she is always keen to appear in the studio, so kudos for that.
Unlike... Snap's video must be one of the most indifferently directed videos to hit the top spot.
The Magic Friend reminded me of Don't Miss The Partyline from Bizz Nizz (where half of the group came from)
DeleteRad, I'll raise you with KWS's video masterpiece which must have cost pence to make.
DeleteEr, I'm not Rad, Arthur! But the Snap video obviously had some money behind it, it's just that the direction seems to have been left to the apprentice fresh from the Job Centre.
DeleteFour songs at peak position further down the chart, with no TOTP for them:
ReplyDeleteNo.23 Shabba Ranks - Mr Loverman
Surprised this missed out on TOTP considering its enormous airplay on the radio and music video channels - what a classic tune and pity we got no play for them on TOTP. This was Shabba's fourth single release since arriving on the scene on 1991, and none of these got to TOTP, despite two of them getting into the Top 40 comfortably.
No.33 Prefab Sprout - If You Don't Love Me
Three singles so far in the 1991-92 period which all got into the lower reaches of the Top 40, still could not make it on to the show for a group that never really went deep into the charts, but had a sweet sound I always thought.
No.44 En Vogue - Giving Him Something He Can Feel
Not sure what this was all about, but this lot were still churning out the singles, as this song was then re-released a couple of months later as a double-A side with Free Your Mind which did much better, getting to No.16 before the year was out.
No.50 Rozalla - In 4 Choons Later
Second song in a row to fail to break the Top 40, it seems Rozalla was out of fashion with the record buyers so soon after making a splash with her first couple of singles which did really well in 1991.
I'm surprised we never got Mr Loverman! That song wad everywhere. I do have a soft spot for that Prefab Sprout track. Kylie's about to cover it as a B side to one of her deConstruction singles (maybe Confide in Me? I forget which even though I own them all somewhere) and will eventually do it live on one of her tours. I like her version too.
DeleteI just had another look at Mr Loverman, and it was released in early 1993 and got to No.3, so this is where we all remember it, and not on first release here in the summer of 1992 where it peaked this week at No.23 and was not featured on TOTP.
DeleteGood knock, Rad! A quick net check confirms that "If You Don't Love Ne" was indeed the flip-side to "Confide In Me".
DeleteWho’s presenting tonight? Is it Cloudia? Femi? Sheesh, Dorky at the start of a long and tedious run of hosting.
ReplyDeleteTake That sounding like a Poundland Tavares. Someone take that mousetrap off Gary’s nadgers.
Undercover? Unnecessary, more like.
Obviously not enough Letraset to spell Freddie’s and Montserrat’s first names? A quick look at the new entries tickertape and then boing the FF.
I’m going to miss Betty Boo. If I had (a) a time machine, (b) charisma, (c) good looks and (d) the opportunity to hook up with a gorgeous pop star, it would be a coin toss between Agnetha and Betty. Shame she appeared to mime the on this mellow groove again.
2 Unlimited with continental rave disco by numbers. Heard better from them.
Queensryche with Emma Raducanu on vocals by the look of it.
Love love love “This Charming Man”, a superb Smiths song from the days before we realised Morrissey was always going to sound miserable.
Is Felix the only man in Essex then, Dorky? If this effort’s anything to go by, just as well. Not my tankard of tea but I get why people like it.
A reprieve for Jon Secada’s sad yet uplifting sounding chorus.
No lack of Letraset to spell out Luther and Janet for their harmless soul-pop.
Oh dear, here comes one of the relentness ‘trailer in the car park for the new single’ exclusive bores along with Wacko and Adams. Annie sounds earnest but it leaves me cold.
Dorky uses that fucking “crisp biscuits” line before the countdown AGAIN. What a prick.
Sorry, can’t listen to Snap’s biggie due to that abhorrent line.
Retype alert re Betty Boo...
DeleteShame she appeared to mime the choruses on this mellow groove again.
Do you mean Agnetha from ABBA? I think Betty Boo would be my choice.
DeleteIndeed I did.
DeleteBehind the scenes, Stan is back at the producing helm after a month off, Michael Hurll having stepped in for three weeks which explains some of the changes. Anywho, the top ten is now in its rightful place! But for how long? Presenter visibility is still at a low. The swirling cameras whooshing around and focusing their attention along the front row of the audience was noticeable. I very much cared for both the 2 Unlimited and Betty Boo performances.
ReplyDeleteAn odd show where there was little that was great (highlight the Betty Boo track which I do not remember at all), but I didn’t FF once!….
ReplyDeleteRobbie gets to take the lead as TT's star continues to ascend. Don't think is one their best but the audience seem to be having fun.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to see most of the small format changes made over the last 4 shows completely undone. Shame as I thought they were improvements.
Undercover with an 70s(?) cover. Basic dance cover really but infectious and a big hit.
Barcelona! It's back. And already Number 2. Wonderful tune.
Betty Boo again. Oh go on then. Looking hot as always. Absolute teenage crush.
2Unlimited have found a magic friend on tour and are back with more euro pop nonsense. These tunes are getting worse unfortunately. Who's the Dad dancing wally front and centre of the audience?
Breakers:
Queensryche: never knew they were German. Sound nice enough.
The Smiths: why? Madness bandwagon?
Felix: Quality dance tune. Bought this.
Jon Secada: Glenn Medeiros wants his video back.
Janet and Luther: cheesy but fun, so forgiven even though neither star have bothered to turn up for the video (replaced by the stars of Mo' Money).
One of my all time favourite tunes next. Absolutely adore "Walking on broken glass". Pop perfection from Ms Lennox and a stunning perfomance as well.
Top Ten before the Number One, finally, then SNAP! Still on video. Thankfully it's a great video.
Er, Queensryche were not from Germany. They were a Seattle band (and not of the grunge variety). Silent Lucidity was a re-release having previously got to no.34 in April 1991
Delete