She's got her keys, money and fags and the 10th of February 1994 edition of Top of the Pops!
Britpop invasion
10-2-94: Presenter: Mark Goodier
(23) D-MOB & CATHY DENNIS – Why
Getting the show underway but the song got no higher.
(20) ELASTICA – Line Up
Making their studio debut with their first of three top 40 hits but somehow this terrific song got no higher.
(5) ARETHA FRANKLIN – A Deeper Love (video) (and charts)
Her fifth and final top ten hit and number 5 was its peak.
(16) THE CRANBERRIES – Linger
Making their debut with their first of nine top 40 hits and this classic tune went up two more places.
(27) CARLEEN ANDERSON – Nervous Breakdown
Performing her first of five top 40 hits but this one go no higher. (except perhaps right at the very end!)
(Brits 1994) DINA CARROLL – Don’t Be A Stranger (video)
(Brits 1994) STEREO M.C.’S – Connected (video)
(Brits 1994) SUEDE – Animal Nitrate (video)
(Brits 1994) M-PEOPLE – Moving On Up (video)
(Brits 1994) GABRIELLE – Dreams (video)
(Brits 1994) BILLY JOEL – River Of Dreams (video)
(Brits 1994) MARIAH CAREY – Dreamlover (video)
(Brits 1994) NIRVANA – Smells Like Teen Spirit (video)
(Brits 1994) THE SPIN DOCTORS – Two Princes (video)
(Brits 1994) PET SHOP BOYS – Go West (video)
(Brits 1994) TAKE THAT – Pray (video)
(19) SHARA NELSON – Uptight
Here tonight with her third of five top 40 hits but it got no higher.
(NEW) SUEDE – Stay Together
The Britpop invasion continues tonight and this song became the band's second of eight top ten hits when it peaked at number 3.
(1) D:REAM – Things Can Only Get Better
Fourth and final week at number one.
(NEW) SAINT ETIENNE – Pale Movie (studio montage) (and credits)
Some more britpop to end this week's show and this one peaked at number 28.
17th of February is next.
26-1-78: Presenter: David Jensen
ReplyDelete(3) DONNA SUMMER – Love’s Unkind (and charts)
(29) RICH KIDS – Rich Kids
(2) ALTHIA & DONNA – Uptown Top Ranking
(30) GORDON GILTRAP – Heartsong ®
(8) BILL WITHERS – Lovely Day (danced to by Legs & Co)
(21) TERRY WOGAN – The Floral Dance
(11) BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS – Jamming (video)
(NEW) YELLOW DOG – Just One More Night
(22) BACCARA – Sorry I’m A Lady
(NEW) GALLAGHER & LYLE – Showdown
(1) WINGS – Mull Of Kintyre (video)
(16) T-CONNECTION – On Fire (and credits)
The only part of the show that still stands out and hasn't wavered in the ravages of time is the Legs & Co routine to Lovely Day by Bill Withers. OK, I'll add Wings to the standout songs.
DeleteI also thought that Bacarra were our modern-day Cheeky Girls lookalikes a generation earlier. They could easily have sung "We are the cheeky girls......."
(3) DONNA SUMMER – Love’s Unkind (and charts) – This one always reminded me of ‘And then she kissed me’ but otherwise a good tune to start the show. Great to see Yannis Markopolis in at No19. This was the theme to the excellent Michael J Bird Thriller ‘Who pays the Ferryman?’ (not to be confused with a Chris de Burgh hit).
Delete(29) RICH KIDS – Rich Kids – An almost unrecognisible Midge along with Glenn and Rusty and someone else with their glorious one hit wonder. I think Midge left to join Thin Lizzy on tour.
(2) ALTHIA & DONNA – Uptown Top Ranking – Ugh! Horrible record.
(30) GORDON GILTRAP – Heartsong - Theme song from the Holiday Programme in the early 80s. A very Tony Banks like twiddly keyboard solo near the end makes this quite a ‘proggy’ number to feature on the show. Somehow the BBC got to use the Beatles version of ‘Here comes the Sun’ as the theme for one series of ‘Holiday’ but for me the memory of Sunday teatime in front of the telly is always Gordon’s theme.
(8) BILL WITHERS – Lovely Day (danced to by Legs & Co) – Lovely dayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. Oh my it was a painful listen I know I know I know I know I know I know I know… Ideal one to dance to in slinky dresses however.
(21) TERRY WOGAN – The Floral Dance – Quality from Tel! Love the way he tosses the flowers away at the end. I think Tel repeatedly playing the Brass Band recording got it into the charts actually.
(11) BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS – Jamming (video) – Another one I’m certainly not keen to hear again.
(NEW) YELLOW DOG – Just One More Night – Great underrated hit with a Fox connection c/o Kenny Young (in the black ‘Yellow Dog’ T Shirt) who was also Clodagh Rodgers’ producer for the early part of her career. Love the end part of this.
(22) BACCARA – Sorry I’m A Lady – Definitely a more refined version of the Cheeky Girls. This was almost ‘Yes Sire I can Boogie’ part 2 but I loved it. Sadly Maria Mendiola (the one in white) passed away aged 69 in 2021 but lived to see ‘Yes Sir I can Boogie’ get adopted as an anthem by Scottish Football Fans.
(NEW) GALLAGHER & LYLE – Showdown – This was one of the many records featured on the show that didn’t make the chart. G&L seemed to be regulars around this time but this tune did not ‘rain all over the world’. Some larking around in evidence from the keyboard player in a strange costume!
(1) WINGS – Mull Of Kintyre (video) – Sheer quality!! But…. Did they ever play the other side of the double ‘A’ – ‘Girls School’? I don’t think so. Timeless video. Love the pan at the start and the sweep down to the pipers on the beach.
(16) T-CONNECTION – On Fire (and credits) – never heard of this and its not much good.
I discovered that the original theme to 'Holiday' was Love's flamenco tinged weird-out 'The Castle', presumably the jaunty guitar and harpsichord section. Now that really would've been something to see on Top of the Pops! That line-up however barely ever left LA hence their poor sales in America.
DeleteAnother good one from the archives. Madly eclectic and very entertaining. Any show, like any Pick of the Pops, from '78 is special to me. The year is clearly just getting going but it's exciting to see the clash between the old and new. Just ashame that they didn't pick the following week's edition as it contains 'Wishing On a Star'. Oh well, we've got Terry Wogan.
DeleteNever very keen on 'Love's Unkind' though it goes very well with a right menagerie of photos.
Rich Kids; A lively start with a lively audience. Like how Glen Matlock has made himself up to look like he's got a bit of money now.
Althia & Donna; I must say I love this one. So charming and unselfconscious. There's at least one complete mess up in the vocals from the girl in the glasses (sorry, I don't know which one is which) but it only adds to its appeal. I love how the camera does a sudden close up on the other girl when she does her "ooh!", making a hook out of virtually nothing.
Gordon Giltrap; After two teenagers having a good time over a reggae backing, it of course should follow with a folk club stalwart having a stab at pop. Brilliant tune which instantly brings back some childhood TV memories. Sun and Cliff Mitchelmore. Gordon looks like he's having a great time and strums that acoustic like the conquering folkie that he is.
Bill Withers; Legs & Co get a rather anonymous routine to 'Lovely Day'. The sun rising or setting near the end, could be either. Rosie gets a solo half a minute of extremely complex moves and negotiates them all with a smile. Maybe Flick could've got one of them to balance on one foot for the duration of Bill's long notes.
Terry Wogan; Cashing in on a single that won't budge from the top 3 is brave at least and Terry Wogan gets away with it by, well, just being Terry Wogan. ""What are you doing madam?" half spoken vocals, frequent mild corpsing and a lot of confused gesturing with a bunch of flowers. Almost handing them out, taking them back, rubbing a girl's head with them and eventually throwing them at the crowd. Still I loved that. That tune like a number of things from '78 give me a wonderful far off feeling. Terry had a Vic Reeves quality about him in this performance.
Bob Marley & The Wailers; "not wailing but jammin'" says Kid Jensen which is a nice breezy bit of Kid wit but he probably wouldn't have said it if he'd thought too long about it. The clip is the famous gig at the Rainbow on 4th June 1977 released in full on double LP a couple of years ago. Magnificent concert which builds to the most intense final 20 minutes. Can't recommend it enough.
Pt.2;
DeleteYellow Dog; A single like Rupert Holmes' 'Escape' that is slightly diminished by finally seeing the performer, 'One More Night' I assume is a UK send up of 'Spanish Stroll'. It sounds equally cool but doesn't look it. The singer looks more like Dick Emery's biker character than Mink DeVille. Humourous single though which gets a full Kid Jensen comic routine at the end. He plays it very well.
Baccara; How many screeching gear changes can you get on one show? I can't deny I'm a fan of this sort of single. Incredibly close miked vocals, strings and harps wafting around, so dated but sounds so good. Corny as hell but beautiful voices. They don't have to apologize.
Gallagher & Lyle; Not taking themselves too seriously here; hairy gloves, Graham Lyle's funny T- Shirt slogan, the keyboardist at a glance resembling the nutter that appeared on TV representing 'The Albion Free State'. Good song like all of theirs.
Wings; "What more can you say...?" Heard so much, mocked so often but there's no getting away from the fact that 'Mull Of Kintyre' is just a bloody great song. The film clip.
I must admit I do like Elastica very much. Their debut album from '95 is an absolute banger!
ReplyDeleteSaw Elastica at the much missed Old Trout in Windsor. An enjoyable band to watch live.
DeleteI always preferred Sleeper
DeleteThe return of Goodiebags, soon to be shoved aside in the Greatest Hits Radio schedule to make way for the new boy Ken Bruce.
ReplyDeleteA shorter watch than usual for obvious reasons.
Good grief. It’s the bloke from “We Call It Acieed”!
Damon AllBran’s girlfriend next. Fine track and a real intro to Britpop sullied by the pretend vomiting down the mic by the drummer.
Not Aretha’s best by a long chalk. Aiming for the Rozilla market if you ask me.
Non-Mugshots: The first of two top 40 scrapers for Urban Species, and as for Garth Brooks’ double A-side “Ain’t Going Down”… you are, mate!
Ah, “Lingerrrrrrr”. Such a shame Dolores left us so young. For some unfortunate reason I was reminded of “Kinda Lingers”, deliberately pronounced to sound like a physical act, the last song played on “Not The Nine O’Clock News”.
Carleen Anderson with some earnest soul with hip’n’B tinges but not my bag.
Brits snippets. Waste of time. FF.
My my, Shara not dressed completely in black for a change. Love the mid 70’s Stevie Wonder keyboard setting. Not Shara’s best but Carleen should still have been taking notes.
EXCLUSIVE! A Britpop disco last dance slowie, and a sort of indie torch song. Yes, I know… sorry!
A repeat of the chart topper so FF apart from… TOTP chart predictions? Have they been liaisng with the record company pluggers?
Mark doesn’t reveal next week’s exclusive act. A first for a TOTP host. We’ve got to know and mainly love the act in question over the past two TOTP years but the exclusive totally bombed, didn’t even make the top 75, and that’s all I’ll say.
I liked what I heard (very briefly) of that Saint Etienne track. Not a fan of the cut and paste montage idea.
A bit of reseach suggests the next episode's exclusive was an album track and never released as a single. All I'm saying.... apart from it isn't Kenny Thomas!
DeleteWell this is more like it (and nice to have a very demale heavy episode after the bloke fest two weeks ago).
ReplyDeleteWonder why Cathy D has suddenly rejoined with D:Mob? I had totally forgotten this one and doubt I'll remember it much later.
Elastica are going to have better singles than Line Up, but such a great band, even though they burned short and fast.
Aretha - Love this one, I still have a soft spot for Sister Act.
Cranberries - one of my favourite songs of all time. Still miss you Dolores.
Carleen A - A talented artist though this song is a wee bit dull.
Brits - shrug. I mis the breakers. Also Toni Braxton and Enigma (among others) have the right to feel a bit cheated by the lack of play.
Shara N - another talent in need of better songs. It's alright.
Suede - if we must have exclusives then this is more like it. Unashamed Britpop fan (despite being much more aware now of the problems of that era). Were Justine and Brett in the studio on the same recording then?
D:Ream - glad it's done, ready for a new number one now.
I quite like playing out with a lesser hit (albeit not as lesser as last week!). I love Saint Etienne so it's a shame we don't at least get a video with thia.
If The Breakers were on this week, they would likely have had Reel To Real ft The Mad Stuntman as a new entry at No.9 which unusually was not on the studio line up this week. I would also have had Texas at No.28, and Captain Hollywood Project at No.29 as my two other Breakers this week.
DeleteIn fact none of these would get played at all on TOTP, except for Reel To Real, 6 weeks later while still in the Top 10. Good Lord!
A cracking show this one, three classic studio performances for me (Cranberries, Elastica and Suede) in one episode. I’d have to go back to 1980 for that to be bettered when Dexy’s, Madness, Selecter and Lambrettas all turned up for one show. Just a coincidence, or a rebalancing of acts away from soft rock, now aged, dinosaurs to young and emerging acts?
ReplyDeleteThis Cranberries song is also one of my favourite all time singalong songs. So good, and yet so sad, to see Dolores here.
I wonder what happened when Suede met Elastica in the TOTP green room with all that history between the band members.
Loads of notable indie acts lower down the charts this week: an early Sleeper EP, Cud, Slo Moshun (as in half of vics ravers Altern-8), Pavement, trip hop Tricky, Intastella and at the giddy heights of number 98, the Tindersticks.
Another passing. RIP Tom Verlaine
ReplyDeletehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64442824
... and, typically, we missed Television's sole groundbreaking TOTP appearance in this re-run due to some idiot wiping the tape.
Delete
ReplyDeleteDmob - fairly placid start to the show…
Elastica - loved this at the time, still do. (The first album is ace as well) Britpop starts here.
Aretha - difficult to criticise anything by her. What a voice
Cranberries - all ladies so far. Another great track.
Carlene anderson - nice voice, dull song
Shara nelson - again voice doesn’t deserve this sub-supremes ramble
Suede - cant believe it got to 3 - dont remember it all. Thought I wouldn’t like it when it started but it grew on me.
This edition did feel like a proper launch for the Ric Blaxill era and it was a show crackling with energy and excitement. Great to see Mark Goofier back. Still a friendly soul but not quite as smiley as he used to be. On with it.
ReplyDeleteD-Mob & Cathy Dennis; I don't remember them returning at this point but it was a good opener and Cathy's performance is as strong as ever and Danny D clearly loving the collaboration as he did back in 1989.
Elastica; Mark please show some respect and don't talk while a man is belching.
A definite change comes next with Elastica's debut appearance and I still like it though I never really took to them. Heads too far into the sullenness manual, too keen to impress the music papers. I liked 'Connection', hated 'Waking Up' but, yes, right now they do sound like a welcome shake up for the charts. Good as well that they disappeared before they got too repetitive.
Aretha Franklin; Out to coincide with a hits collection, any Aretha is fine with me and this has a chorus that is made for her voice.
The Cranberries; Another debut with the late Dolores O"Riordan and her band and the still beautiful 'Linger'. We catch them just before an image change. By the time they're on 'Later' in I think June, it's short hair and suits for the guys. Still love that curious sudden change at the start as one song seems to get recorded over by another and many happy memories attached to this one.
Carleen Anderson; Mark emphasises this lady's pedigree which is impressive and she's always worth hearing but a pity that this fairly unmemorable tune gets a studio turn while the Brand New Heavies marvellous 'Dream On Dreamer' will get no showing at all.
The Brits are on their way and from the singles on offer it must've been a very good show. A few thoughts. Great to see a tiny bit more of Dina's Prague video. Interesting that 'Wild Wood' was in contention for best single but wouldn't argue with that. Good also to get a snippet of the 'Metal Mickey' video, played a few times on 'The Chart Show'.
Shara Nelson; So glad that 'Uptight' got a studio appearance. I think that's a belting number with a fantastic chorus and tons of opportunity for Shara to sing as only Shara can. One of the best UK voices. In an ideal world she'd have headlined Glastonbury.
Suede; Ah this is getting very good! 'Stay' I think has always been dismissed by the band as a bit of a mistake but for me it's them at their best. What an incredible guitar intro and just a killer tune. I bought the 45 as soon as I first heard it and will always play it loud. Imperious performance from them. I think beacons are meant to be a little further apart.
D Ream; After Suede, they were always going to be an anticlimax no matter how enthusiastically he waves his arms about. An ok No 1.
Mark and his flock wave goodbye then the not so fantastic end sequence. 'Pale Movie' great choice but the end result was a very pale trailer. I hope that gets put to bed soon.
Mark Goofier was a typo of course!
DeleteBack with D-MOB it's CATHY DENNIS. Why? Maybe they both needed a hit single. Not a bad tune either.
ReplyDeleteIndie/Brit Pop has well and truly arrived now with ELASTICA. "Line Up" not one of their best but they look and sound great don't they.
One of 5 songs at their peak this week (a trend TOTP will have to get used to over the next few years) and its a fairly faithful cover of Clivillies and Cole's version of "A Deeper Love". I wonder who produced this? Hmmm. Great song and ARETHA adds some serious welly to the vocal. Sister Act a huge hit at the cinemas as well and a very funny film.
What more can be said about Dolores and THE CRANBERRIES. Pure joy listening to this again. It can "Linger" as long as it likes.
CARLEEN ANDERSON's Mum not only sang with James Brown she's pilfered one of his cast-offs and given it to her Daughter by the sounds of it. Not a JB fan and I'm not a fan of this either, does nothing for me.
A pause for the Brits meaning Reel 2 Real miss out on a slot (and still no sign of Enigma either).
I hope that was a live vocal SHARA NELSON. I've been disappointed with her TOTP performances so far but tonight was belter. What a catchy number "Uptight" is, and the highlight of the show for me. Really enjoyed that.
I was always more a fan of SUEDE later on and at the time I thought "Stay Together" was OK. Now I think it's a good tune but nowhere near their best stuff for me. Others will likely disagree.
The D:REAM video is so awful we get to break all the rules and re-run last weeks performance. Clearly Things Couldn't Get Any Better.
Always love a bit of SAINT ETIENNE and I was ready for the closing sting this week!
Because I am sure you are all dying to know:
ReplyDeleteBrits 1994 was the one with the Take That Beatles Medley. Yes everyone thought they would be THAT BIG!
Stereo MC's took home Best British Album and Best British Group! Not sure how.
Take That won Best Single and Video
Sting and Dina Carroll took the British Male and Female awards.
Gabrielle won Breakthrough and M-People Dance Act
Lenny Kravitz, Bjork and Crowded House won the International Awards and Van Morrison picked up the Outstanding Contribution Award.