We used to say, ah hell, we're young, but now we see the 17th of November 1994 edition of Top of the Pops!
See you kater
17-11-94: Presenter: Michelle Gayle
(8) M-PEOPLE – Sight For Sore Eyes
Getting the show underway and the song went up two more places.
(18) SUEDE – The Wild Ones
In the studio but the song got no higher.
(3) BABY D – Let Me Be Your Fantasy (video) (and charts)
On their way to the top.
(19) BLUR – End Of A Century
Performing the fourth single from their number one album, Parklife, but it got no higher.
(37) URGE OVERKILL – Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon
Here with their only top 40 hit, and it got no higher.
(9) NEW ORDER – True Faith ’94 (video)
Made number 4 in 1987, this remix peaked at number 9.
(5) SHERYL CROW – All I Wanna Do
Performing her first of four top ten hits, and this was her biggest peaking at number 4.
(26) KATE BUSH – And So Is Love
Performing in the studio for the very last time, this fourth single from her number two album The Red Shoes got no higher. It will be eleven years before her next single.
(1) PATO BANTON – Baby Come Back (video)
Fourth and final week at number one.
(TOTP2) TEARS FOR FEARS – Mad World (clip of TOTP 18-11-82) (and credits)
Their debut single reached number 3 in 1982.
24th of November is next.
TOTP2 19-11-1994 https://we.tl/t-pVw5vjWrzy (no JW commentary again)
ReplyDeleteHmm, having to get used to no DJ commentary, but the music was excellent, especially watching Recorded For Recall 1979 with what was to be Suzi Quatro's last significant hit in the UK in November 1979, and Dr Hook at the No.1 spot with their video.
DeleteThe video stir with the Carpenters had a song title that I think was a Barry Manilow song called Trying To Get That Feeling Again, and the Carpenters with a video made of stills and clips of their classic videos from the 70s, most notably Mr Postman.
On the Tomorrow's hits section, we get to see a clip of the new Boyz II Men video called On Bended Knee which came in as a new entry at No.20 the following week on the main TOTP chart rundown but got no play while in the charts, so at least TOTP2 gave a glimpse of the video, a bit like a Breaker, and the song went on to be No.1 in America over the Christmas 1994 period and beyond into January.
Rounding off the show, we get the whole 6-minute video for Hotel California by The Eagles from 1976. Just loving these TOTP2 repeats thanks to Rob for uploading.
M-People - three years of singles releases and already now on their sixth Top 10 hit, it seems they were on a rollercoaster by 1994, and there's still more up until 1999, so we're in the for the long haul with them if these TOTP repeats take us up until the next millennium.
ReplyDeleteBaby D - first Top 40 single going straight in at No.3, it is less well known that their first two singles in 1993-94 failed to make the Top 40, so this new one which was essentially our introduction to the group, could have done no more, as next week they will be No.1.
New Order - perhaps this was better left in 1987 than coming back in 1994 as a remix. There wasn't even a new video, but hey it made Top 10 second time around.
Pato Banton - the video is still getting short play by TOTP, but full play on sister show TOTP2, so thanks Rob for uploading every week, cos I'm certainly loving these shows if no-one else is, so keep them coming!
One single peaking outside the Top 40 this week is All-4-One with their follow up to I Swear, which seemed to stay at No.2 for so many weeks throughout the summer of 1994 behind Wet Wet Wet, this follow up called So Much In Love was disappointingly falling short of another Top 40 achievement.
Far and away the best episode of late. Really enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteM people - kicking off with a fave of mine. Great vocals .
Suede - liked this at the time, but don’t think it has dated well. Like the guitar.
Baby D - don’t remember this, but like it. Another one with a great vocal.
Blur - in full kinks modes. one of their lesser known singles, but a good tune (though somewhat foreshadowing country life)
Urge overkill - a rare example of good cover version.
New order - love the video fro this
Sheryl crow - another song that still gets plays nowadays (took me a while to realise the flashing BAA sign was actually BAR)
Kate bush - great to see her live, but don’t know the song at all.
Late 1994 is just so good. And I don't think it's just the relief of no more Wet Wet Wet!
ReplyDeleteAnother solid guest presenting turn. Honestly they're much better than I remembered them being with only Angus Deayton so far standing out as being truly awful.
Every single song tonight is good. M People being on twice in a row feels a lot but this might be my favourite of theirs and I don't mind too much.
Suede and Blur both with autumnal slowies. Blur edge this one for me as End of a Century is my favourite of theirs.
Urge Overkill did well to get featured here but I do like this. Pulp Fiction one of those films that has cast a long spell on culture.
Good video showings for Baby D and New Order, a nice return from Sheryl Crow and Kate Bush looking fabulous. Don't remember this one but it's nice if not super memorable. Shame TOTP isn't still on or we might have got to see her Running up that Hill again in 2022.
Totally agree Rad. '94 took so long to get going but these last couple of months it's gone up a whole other level and become the year that is always talked about in documentaries. Michelle Gayle gets the honours which is fair enough. She does a fine job and is very bubbly and enthusiastic. She goes on about Kate Bush maybe a little too much though.
ReplyDeleteM People; Already a little conveyor belt sounding this one from the same assemblies crate as 'Moving On Up'. Will be less fussed with every successive single.
Suede; Great great tune! Shame that they couldn't do it entirely live as the closing coda is absolutely stunning. Not sure if he was miming, his live vocals are always incredible. Another very cool performance.
Baby D; Total dance classic with the charts. At last a single bound for the top this year that isn't dull or fun but facile or outright shit. A couple of years old at this point I think but a real moment. Still love the slightly spooky video.
Blur; Yes Ric, yes!! Another great single. One of my favourites of Blur and a single where they got their thing absolutely right. For me they didn't do that very often but 'End Of a Century' is both fun and very charming. Alex adopting a Brian Jones image sitting down and looking serious and no smarminess from Damon.
Urge Overkill; The effect of 'Pulp Fiction' meant this cover would make the charts but it's fine in its own right. Always enjoyed it on Radio 1 with its slightly comic delivery.
New Order; A video with some updated images for an updated 'True Faith'. Brilliant tune and another good addition to the show. I think an updated '1963' is coming soon.
Sheryl Crow; Oh good! She was on again. A new performance of 'All I Wanna Do' with Sheryl already ditching the grunge look. My memory of her early appearance in 'Vox' magazine was of being dressed as a cowgirl. Another great vocal though couldn't catch what she said at the start. The cuteness with the audience seemed genuine.
Kate Bush; Alright Michelle she's here now. She deserves the big up of course but I have to say that was the fullest thing on the show. Good enough, it was Kate Bush but sounded pretty workmanlike.
Charts. Well done. Except.
Pato Banton; Thanks Pato. Now for something great at the top.
Michelle Gayle, certainly the most underdressed host of the re-runs. Probably thought it best to take into account all that hot lighting. Overly pointy in her links but bubbly and enthusiastic.
ReplyDeleteQuick FF for the first song, then Brett pretends to look fed up early doors before leading a sublime Britpop ballad classic.
Choooon! Baby D with a party banger.
Non-mugshots: The only top 40 week for the economically named Mike (a dance chart number one which featured three ex-members of Kissing The Pink), and the first of two single sightings of The Spirits, not Spirits.
Oh God, as implied earlier it’s a proto-type “Country House” complete with pearly king bloke on stage. Certainly pearls before this swine.
Urge Overkill, with the most un-rock star looking group leader yet and a drummer horribly screwing up a couple of camera shot mimes. Nice cover, mind you.
I preferred New Order’s original version of “True Faith” but was happy to hear this again. Sign language in the video as well as, sadly, the soon to be self-appointed saviour of music for four years or so if you watched the “Story of” episodes, Keith Wanker Allen.
You wait ages for a double bass on the show and, after Sting, Sheryl Crow’s troupe gives us the second in a couple of weeks. By the Way, Sheryl you can’t fool us, this is Elstree and not LA.
Kate Bush in a row with her backing vocalists. Different. Unfortunately, she’s miming and the song wasn’t memorable. A duff way to end her studio turns on the show.
Top Ten rundown: No mention of the bracketed MC Sar at number two. What had he done to deserve this?
Paxo’s last week at the top followed by Tears for Fears’ finest, which I remember being hugely enthusiastically introduced on the show by John Peel.
Great show tonight and Michelle Gayle a great host as well. Very likeable and does a good job. Two weeks in a row for Heather and the People but not complaining as this is a quality tune.
ReplyDeleteThe Wild Ones is my favourite early SUEDE tune and I think one of their best tunes full stop. Some real quality on the show tonight.
Odd one this BABY D tune. I really wasn't a fan when this first came out. It took quite a while before I could really tolerate it at all. Really not sure what it was about the tune that bothered me to be honest, just couldn't get on with it. I much prefer it now but it's not a huge dance favourite of mine. Celine Watch: Up two to Number 28 this week.
Another excellent BLUR number. "End Of A Century" nicely staged and very "cockney" from the posh Essex kid.
URGE OVERKILL should buy one of those new lottery ticket things after getting on The Pops whilst only at number 37. "Girl, You’ll Be A Woman Soon" from Pulp Fiction which is a brilliant movie. Not a fan of gangster/mob movies but the pure style of Pulp Fiction wins me over every time. I thought this was a strong version of the tune as well.
Assuming this NEW ORDER remix is Greatest Hits related. My favourite New Order track so happy to hear it again,
KATE BUSH with the tune I liked very much. "And So Is Love" beautifully staged with the similar looking backing singers all the same height. Such a talent.
Poor PATO stuck on video. Boo UB40!