I'd run right into hell and back for the 21st of October 1993 edition of Top of the Pops!
I'd do anything for a nail file
21-10-93: Presenter: Tony Dortie
(7) CAPPELLA – U Got 2 Let The Music
Getting tonight's show underway with what became their biggest hit when it peaked at number 2.
(11) INXS – The Gift (video) (and charts)
Got no higher.
(15) LISA STANSFIELD – So Natural
Performing in the studio but the song got no higher.
(24) CHRIS REA – Julia
Here tonight and the song peaked at number 18.
(NEW) JEAN-MICHEL JARRE – Chronologie (via satellite)
The album got to number 11, but the single peaked at number 55.
(25) LENA FIAGBE – Gotta Get It Right
With her only top 40 hit and it peaked at number 20.
(1) MEAT LOAF – I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That) (video)
First of seven weeks at the top for his only number one hit.
28th of October is next.
Accapella - sounding like a rip off something else, immemorable
ReplyDeleteMichael hutchence - don’t remember this, but not a lot different from his day job
Lisa stansfield - dull
Chris rea - a quick saccharine ditty before he drives home for Christmas
Jean michelle jarre - didn’t know this, but it was quite good - bit jeff wayne-y
Lena fiagbe - never heard of her (“destined for big things”, eh?) but it had a tune and a bit of fizz, which is in short shrift in the current reruns
Meat loaf - (almost ) full video. Great ending to the show.
I do like Angelo's naming of this week's blog as I'd Do Anything For Top Of The Pops. Nice one Angelo, but I won't do that!
DeleteCapella - Good Lord how did this get to No.2 the following week after this studio appearance? The lead female vocalist was I think the same girl on the previous record which had the stiff dance moves, but here she appeared more comfortable not dancing in tandem with a male. Also, was she wearing a mini dress or a mini coat? It certainly felt very thermal watching her.
ReplyDeleteChris Rea - apparently this was his last new single until 1996, as the following year 1994 he was diagnosed with cancer at only 43, and had to have major surgery setting back his music career, as the end of 1994 saw only a greatest hits album released with two singles from it.
Jean Michel Jarre - this was a remix of the same single that peaked at No.55 a few months earlier in the summer of 1993. This only got to No.56, and so did not improve on the original. It would not be until 1997 that Jarre was to return with new music with Oxygene 8 and Oxygene 10 which did much better and got to No.17 and No.21 respectively.
Lena Fiagbe - second of five singles released between 1993-1996, and the only one to make the Top 40, so it will be the only single for her on TOTP with this studio appearance. I did like her outfit on this performance, with what looked like trim disco slacks.
Meat Loaf - at the time as it was so long since Meat's last Top 40 single in 1986, that the producers still did not get his name right, not realising that Meat Loaf is two words. At least we got the full 7:15 minutes video in all its operatic glory with pretty girl hero, that would cement its place on the no.1 slot for a another 6 weeks until December.
Another enjoyable edition with some very of its time songs. In a couple of years this one would probably seem like it was from a whole different era.
ReplyDeleteTony his usual ebullient self. Looking forward to the 3D one coming up soon. Only bits of it seem to exist on YouTube.
Capella get things off to a 'start'. Gawd that performance didn't exactly sell the record. The already waning influence of Top of the Pops in that this flat, underwhelming vocal did nothing to stop this blasting to No.2 in the charts. I remember it getting played a lot on the radio and it's a great hook although it sounds very indebted to 'I'm Gonna Get You'.
INXS whip up a bit of a sonic storm to accompany the charts, not quite to the extent of the Velvets track of the same name but pretty powerful. I didn't recognise the song but did recognise that booming bassline. The video reprises the walking moodily towards the camera approach of 'Suicide Blonde'. Moodily strolling away from big explosions. From an Aussie band. I wonder if that inspired the title sequence to 'The Last Leg'?
Next up a gorgeous studio performance. Lisa Stanfield with my favourite single of hers, the hugely undervalued 'So Natural', one of hers that you never ever hear on the radio. So soothing and romantic, that should be played while you're sitting in a dentist's chair. A real delight to hear that again.
A happy and animated Chris Rea in the studio (he smiles at the audience occasionally) with a single dedicated to his daughter Julia. A sweet tune with some charming parts and the standard screechy slide playing.
A few years later Jean-Michel Jarre's satellite concert appearance might've got an onstage introduction from Alan Partridge but here it's Jarre himself doing a 'join me!' to camera. The tune reminded me of something but I was frankly too bored to think hard on what it was. Giving it large to the open air crowd he came over like a cross between Andre Rieu and Mike Read (check later '83 edition).
Lena Fiagabe, another voice and song from the '90s that all '90s look back programmes pass over. She had a great soul voice which on the single is a lot sweeter than on here. An elegant, mid '70s style song of new age co-existence which I'm going to enjoy while I can before all the archness and irony takes over.
It was interesting that all three No. 1s featured this evening (Meat Loaf, Billy Joel and Berlin) were all ones that couldn't miss the No 1 spot and Part 1 of the unassailable chart topping trio gets a near full length appearance. I'm assuming the video will get shorter and shorter as the weeks go on. The woman sings a couple of lines that I didn't recognise and it's good that they didn't go coy over the word 'screwing' which Meat and co seemed to when they did the satellite performance. Stupid and overblown but nothing wrong with that (yet). Only disappointment cutting the video before the end bike scene with the rider's arms outstretched (that must've been taken from the cover of Neil Young's 'Decade' album) which never fails to crack me up.
"Peace!!!!"
I was reading about the INXS video, which dramatised issues ranging from war and terrorism to famine and pollution, with the band appearing to crash through the TV screen in anger, and the video was subsequently banned by MTV for using footage from the Holocaust and the more recent Gulf War.
DeleteThree songs from former 80s chart regulars peaking this week further down the charts, with no TOTP play for them:
ReplyDeleteNo.40 David Bowie - Miracle Goodnight
Strange song title and combination of words? Not sure what exactly this means. Anyway, Bowie was not charting well in the 90s, and apart from Jump They Say, all the subsequent releases were struggling to make the Top 40. A far cry from his 70s chart achievements!
No.42 Alison Moyet - Falling
Despite several singles releases in the last few years, Moyet was last on TOTP in 1987 with her Top 10 hit Love Letters, so like Bowie she was finding it hard to break into the Top 40 since 1987.
No.43 Coverdale Page - Take A Look At Yourself
Second of two singles for the combo of lead singers from Whitesnake and Led Zeppelin trying new projects for the 90s, and apart from the first one getting to No.29 in the summer, this follow up single which stalled outside the Top 40 was the second and last single for them.
Lead singer from Whitesnake, but guitarist from Led Zep.
DeleteI did a write up for last night's '86 one. Enjoyed that edition from a year I really dislike. Hi Angelo, will you be putting up 10/12/77 on here next week?
ReplyDeleteLooks like BBC4 are going with a similar approach to Pick Of The Pops, by showing two TOTP episodes from the same week from selected years past. How this was not thought of in the umpteen years that Pick Of The Pops has been around, I mean to do a TOTP equivalent, is quite astonishing.
DeleteI know, it's a great idea. Although a little annoyingly Potp had this week in '77 on Saturday which is what Totp are showing on Friday! It was a great chart at least.
DeleteOops, anonymous again. Their won't be a better opportunity to show some earlier editions. I really hope they do although I don't think we'll know for a while.
DeleteI've just listened to that 1977 PoTP chart and it is a good one. Annoying that he didn't play Yes and the Stranglers but delighted to hear the full sumptuous version of 'Calling Occupants' by the Carpenters.
DeleteOh, and Danny Mirror didn't get a spin either but I can live with that!
I really like Wondrous Stories. Shame they missed Black Betty as well but some great choices. The Giorgio single sounded far ahead of its time and I've always loved Silver Lady and You're in My Heart. The 10/11/77 edition should be brilliant. Never saw it when first repeated.
DeleteI'll make a section for the '77 edition in the comments next week.
DeleteThanks Angelo
DeleteCo-incidentally that 23/11/78 TOTP will have The Boomtown Rats at No.1, with the news that guitarist and founder of The Boomtown Rats, Garry Roberts, died yesterday aged 72.
DeleteI liked seeing the long Meat Loaf vid (for now...) but I got so used to the radio edit it's weird hearing all the lyrics that got cut from that.
ReplyDeleteRest of the show? Blah.
Cappella made number 2 with that? Christ, it was terrible.
ReplyDeleteI thought Dorky was wearing a kilt at first. Turns out to be an extra garment tied round his trouser tops.
INXS with a gift I’d want to return and get a refund for.
Mugshots “who are they?” time. We’ll get Freak Power in about 18 TOTP months when this track is re-released and makes top three. Didn’t realise this was Lionrock’s second tickertape hit (they’d had their first in May ‘93) with three tickling 30’s and another making number 20. The artists titled Staxx Nelson are actually called Staxx and this was also re-issued to greater effect, reaching number 14 four years later.
Miss Exclusive Car Park Trailer Lisa’s back. Strange outfit, mellow song but not very memorable.
Dorky, watch the clips and you’ll see who Julia is. Jonathan Agnew on keyboards there. Chris Rea’s answer to Thin Lizzy’s “Sarah”, complete with Burundi drum action and slide blues guitar. Nice pace, sentimental without being sloppy. My fave of the show.
Wahay! The return of the keytar as a very smiley JMJ gives us a potential news programme theme.
Great career forecast by Dorky for Lena Fiagbe, facially similar to Seal and soundwise a Brand New Heavies B-side.
Tony announces Meat Loaf as number one surrounded by the most uninterested blokes you could have roped in. Meat’s full-length video (the equivalent of up to 28 breakers) means just seven tracks on the show.
Dorky finishes with another new catchphrase which sinks
Wasn't sure about this one on paper but what a brilliant show that was.
ReplyDeleteTop dance tune from CAPPELLA – "U Got 2 Let The Music" a storming tune but not the strongest of live vocals. Lots of energy though and a solid start to the show.
Fantastic video from INXS next with a song I had completely forgotten about. A real "Gift" this one. Quality song as well and I really liked that.
Standard ballad from LISA STANSFIELD but even a standard ballad from Lisa is worth listening to.
Tony I would put money on "Julia" being CHRIS REAs daughter. Wasn't hard to figure out. Decent song as well with plenty of tap along moments.
Never been a JEAN-MICHEL JARRE fan but this is such a strong performance I am going to have to check this one out further.
Whatever happened to LENA FIAGBE? Based on this performance she should have been a much bigger star.
Finally best Klingon make-up for MEAT LOAF and the full video of "I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)" to which I think the reply is "Kill". It's a really good video and yes I laughed at the chair bit again. Might not be laughing in 7 weeks time.