All we wanted was a home and the 30th of September 1993 edition of Top of the Pops!
Hit girls
30-9-93: Presenter: Mark Franklin
(12) BELINDA CARLISLE – Big Scary Animal
A second studio performance but the song was now at its peak.
(9) GABRIELLE – Going Nowhere
Straight in at nine but it got no higher.
(6) FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD – Relax (video) (and charts)
This re-issue went up one more place.
(15) MANIC STREET PREACHERS – Roses In The Hospital
Here tonight but the song got no higher.
(23) US3 feat. RAHSAAN – Cantaloop (video) (Breakers)
Got no higher.
(21) PAUL YOUNG – Now I Know What Made Otis Blue (video) (Breakers)
Peaked at number 14.
(16) ETERNAL – Stay
Making their studio debut with what became their first of twelve top ten hits when it peaked at number 4.
(4) CHAKA DEMUS & PLIERS – She Don’t Let Nobody (video)
At its peak.
(NEW) THE SPIN DOCTORS – Jimmy Olsen’s Blues
In the studio with the third single from their number 2 album Pocket Full of Kryptonite and it peaked at number 40.
(1) D.J. JAZZY JEFF & THE FRESH PRINCE – Boom! Shake The Room (video)
Second and final week at number one.
7th of October is next.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - this was actually one of three videos for Relax, but not the original, and it seems the one shown tonight was the most acceptable for family viewing.
ReplyDeleteChart rundown - considering that the Breakers this week only went down to No.23, we had Dannii Minogue at a peak position this week of No.27 with her new single, and no Breakers or main slot for her before falling down the charts next week, and also Cliff Richard with his new entry at No.32 missed out completely on any feature on TOTP.
Also Roxette were at peak position of No.10 and were climbing for two weeks after their breakers slot, but would not get a main slot, probably cos we got this tune three years earlier when first in the charts.
Chala Demás & Pliers - with Demus unwell and not able to perform in the studio when the group was invited back in this week, the showing of the new video was the next best thing, and a break from TOTP tradition of not showing any videos on the show unless as the chart rundown video or at No.1, and they only did this for last minute dropouts from a studio slot, rather than show a different group, which could have been Worlds Apart who were unlucky not to get invited in at No.20 this week climbing 7 places after their Breakers slot last week.
Bloody Hell! Ten o’clock on Sunday night and I still make second place in this thread. What’s going on?
ReplyDeleteA third straight week plug for Belinda’s second tier hit with its awful chorus ‘hook’.
Gabrielle live, Mark? Why no straight cut to her and no in-vision outro, then? She’s obviously just got out of or got ready for bed judging by her attire. Higher but muddier in the mix vocally this time for her so-so RnB lite.
A pointless re-release and video for Frankie. Non-mugshots: The Cocteau twins’ first top 40 single for three years, and Staxx very unlucky not to get on the show seeing as their track went up for the next two weeks, though it was re-issued four years later and reached number 14… and I predicted censorship for that Cypress Hill hit title some weeks back!
Not the Manics’ best by a long coal seam. Nickey Mouse on bass. James tries his best to dismantle the mic stand (see that connecting bit snap off?) but fails.
US3 sort of copy Herbie Hancock’s classic “Cantaloupe Island”, then we get colour booboo number one as Paul Young gets an orange backdrop for “… Otis Blue”. Should’ve been blue, that.
Blimey! Eternal rip some pages out of the RnB handbook by being British, a four-piece instead of a trio, and including a white girl. Suggestive back-to-audience start, good groove throughout.
Chaka & Pliers follow Carter, Suede and Tasmin onto the EP of TOTP ‘sicknote’ video songs. Sunshiny video, the tune smoulders more.
Colour booboo number two next as we get a red and mauve backdrop for “Jimmy Olsen’s Blues”. Should’ve been blue, that. Anonymous rock which never takes off from Catweazle and the gang.
Last regular week on the show for the chart topper (good) followed by a nailed-on yet ultra-accurate number one forecast by Mark.
Ah yes. “Nicky Mouse”. Was actually a roadie as mr Wire was away on his honeymoon. He’s been married for 30 years!
DeleteThanks! I didn't know that fact.
DeleteI did listen up when the show introduced The Spin Doctors this week as their debut in the TOTP studio, and at the third single release. The first and most successful one called Two Princes strangely didn't get a full play until at No.3 when used for the chart rundown, despite going up for a few weeks after their Breakers slot, because of the no videos policy on the show outside of the No.1 slot, the chart rundown video, or as Arthur puts it, the sick note video.
ReplyDeleteStill don't understand why The Spin Doctors didn't perform in the studio for the Two Princes single, and left it late until now for this new less successful single Jimmy Olsen's Blues which peaked at only No.40 as Angelo mentions.
Also noticed that Peter Gabriel peaked outside the Top 40 this week at No.46 with Kiss That Frog, which was the second follow-up single to his recent No.10 single Steam, and second to flop outside the Top 40 in this his comeback year, and little presence on TOTP at all, with only a Breakers slot for Steam.
Another edition that I wasn't excited about watching that turned out to be full of pleasant surprises. Mark's fashion sense seemingly channeling Spitting Image's portrayal of John Major. Still he's his normal affable self and he's got some good things to introduce.
ReplyDeleteBelinda Carlisle's single I've rather enjoyed on these repeats although I don't think folk style strummalongs really suit her. It's a jolly melody with a backing that sounds a little like The Lightning Sees 'Life Of Riley' but still, pretty embarrassing lyrics. An awful flat note in the first bridge but she recovers and is lovely as always.
Gabrielle gets the reception marquee curtains for her follow up to 'Dreams' and is dressed like she's sneaked away from the KLF for the evening. It can't equal her No.1 for me but 'Going Nowhere' is a fine follow up with a great chorus. Arrangement and melody struck me as a bit late '80s surprisingly.
Mark gives us a good bit of info about the Frankie reissue which you can just about hear over the audience cheering. Don't know why 'Relax' was redone, especially with such an un-'90s sound and it sounds very out of place. The video doesn't look like it was made in 1993. Did they do a different version soon after the original came out? A mystery that. Good to watch though with plenty of unruly fans invading the stage, very like an early Manic Street Preachers gig.
Speaking of which...
The Manics back in the studio (they don't seem to have ever passed up the opportunity to appear) with 'Roses In The Hospital' which I certainly remember watching because of the profoundly weird bassist. The figure behind the Minnie Mouse mask was a roadie deputising for Nicky Wire but I assumed at the time it was Wire and remember concluding that not only was he bafflingly horrible he was also officially a complete and utter lunatic.
Song's rather pedestrian but it's a passionate performance with James, as ever, threatening to do something really aggressive. He flings something off the stage then raises the mic stand right above himself but only manages to nearly hit himself in the face with it.
Breakers; Some recording studio vibing from US3. Enjoyed what little was played.
Paul Young; Good title and nice tune but 'Otis Blue' is a hundred times more vital than anything Paul's singing about.
Aaah, Eternal! Yes another very well remembered appearance and for me the highlight of the show. Really love 'Stay', a perfect debut which I don't think they ever bettered. Louise sweetly smiling in her jacket, gorgeous Vernie in her leather cap. Also maybe the first time since the early '80s that you see an actual crowd bundle; a bunch of girls charging to the front of the stage during the instrumental and many clapping long before the end. Really great performance.
We have another Ill pop star so it's the video for 'She Don't Let Nobody'. Some pleasant beach side sunnyness.
The Spin Doctors get a NEW slot with Chris Barron arriving via the Battle of Naseby to do his funky thing. Enjoyed it. Guitarist miming with a broken string.
No.1; Fast forwarded
Mark speaks but initially can't be seen through a blinding array of studio lights then the camera whizzes towards him as he an announces an appearance next week from 'Right Said Fred'. Oh good.
Good news! Just seen the latest editions to be added in the rerun of repeats. 10th November 1977 and 15th November 1984. Missed both on BBC4 so great to see them. The latter has my favourite ever No 1; 'I Feel For You'. Thanks BBC4.
ReplyDeleteIt's probably way too much to hope for (although the announcer's excited tone may suggest otherwise) but it would be a truly great bonus to finally see some pre April '76 editions. You'll probably have to wait a while to find out. I don't think there are any from an equivalent week that can be shown until January. Still I like the whole "what might be next?" approach.
I was expecting 'we don't want your FUCKING love' to be replaced by some other word rather than a repeat of the title. It doesn't work without that line really, that's the whole bite of the track.
ReplyDeleteI share everyone's befuddlement at the Spin Doctors hardly ever being on with their massive hit yet getting an exclusive for this.
Great start for Eternal, such a shame they are all going to fall out quite bitterly because we've got several great tracks from them to come, they look fantastic and they're a good UK answer to Jade and SWV.
Everything else is pretty decent, too, even if too many top 10s crowd out the possibility of Roxette getting a longer IMHBL clip despite also climbing to the 10. Ah well, Frankie's probably enough rerelease for one of episode.
BELINDA CARLISLE – Big Scary Animal
ReplyDeleteSecond time around and a strong opening to the show. Loving the drums on this one.
GABRIELLE – Going Nowhere
Really starting to see the trend towards high new entries at their peak that will completely revamp the chart in about 18 months time. Gabrielle has decided to come as Marley's ghost and seems to be struggling to get her vocal to shine over the heavy production on this one.
FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD – Relax
I thought song this was banned?
This isn't the original version of this song? (listed on the sleeve as the Classic 1993 Version)
This isn't the original video either! Not that I'm surprised by that one.
MANIC STREET PREACHERS – Roses In The Hospital
This is why I love these repeats. Songs from years gone by that I had completely forgotten about. Not sure what the Minnie mouse mask is for. James clearly angry about something but no idea what. More of a protest than a tune unfortunately.
Breakers:
US3 feat. RAHSAAN – Too brief to make a call on this one
PAUL YOUNG – 80s Soul in the 90s
ETERNAL – Stay
Welcome Eternal. Remember that logo with the 4 girls in silhouette very well. I had this album and I was a big fan. I remember trekking up to Capital FM in London to see them mime to some tunes sometime in 93/94. Great tune.
CHAKA DEMUS & PLIERS – She Don’t Let Nobody
Another of those tunes I had forgotten all about until a few weeks ago and this is so good. One of the highlights of 93 for me. Nice video as well.
THE SPIN DOCTORS – Jimmy Olsen’s Blues
Going for the Psychedelic serial killer look it's the pocket full of kryptonite song that is weirdly called something completely different. I remember this from the time and being disappointed it wasn't a big hit. I really like this.
Take That next week then. BOOM!