I'll be there for the 31st of August 1995 edition of Top of the Pops!
Belly of the ball
31-8-95: Presenter: Dale Winton
(5) BERRI – Sunshine After The Rain
Had previously peaked at number 26 last year, this time around the remix did much better and went up to number 4.
(9) DE’LACY – Hideaway
In the studio with their only top ten hit and it got no higher.
(3) MICHAEL JACKSON – You Are Not Alone (video) (and charts)
On his way to number one.
(6) THE REMBRANDTS – I’ll Be There For You
Here tonight with the theme from Friends and it went up three more places.
(ALBUM TRACK) BOYZONE – Father And Son
Performing this Cat Stevens cover from their number one album, Said and Done, and it will later peak at number 2 as a single.
(15) MONTELL JORDAN – Something For Da Honeyz
With his second of five top 40 hits, but this one got no higher.
(13) ECHOBELLY – Great Things
Making their studio debut with their second of five top 40 hits, this one being their biggest but it got no higher.
(NEW) MICHAEL BOLTON – Can I Touch You...There
Performing what will become his fourth and final top ten hit when it peaks at number 6.
(1) BLUR – Country House
Second and final week at number one.
(10) SCATMAN JOHN – Scatman’s World (video) (and credits)
Second and final top ten hit was at its peak.
7th of September is next.
Again, I couldn't find anything I liked on this week's TOTP roster, but I did notice a new entry at peak position on the chart rundown at No.31, and not featured on the show, but worth a mention was Red Hot Chilli Peppers with Warped, and first single in about 18 months since their re-issue of Under The Bridge got to No.13 in early 1994. Good Lord, that is a long time out of the charts for these Chilli Peppers.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this too! The rhcp were on the previous ep so guess that explains the omission especially as 31 isn't super high.
ReplyDeleteTwo great dance openers, one of MJ's better ballads and THE iconic theme tune of the 90s (well, that and X Files).
The Boyzone cover is dumb as heck, Ronan pretending to be old and singing both roles never worked.
Montell J is fine, I guess.
Love Echobelly, they never got enough recognition.
MB - bleurgh. Then Blur.
To be fair, a young Cat Stevens sang both roles too!
DeleteThree new entries peaking outside the Top 40 this week from previous chart regulars, and worth a mention, as they could not quite make it to the TOTP stage this time round:
ReplyDeleteNo.42 Utah Saints - Ohio
Didn't know this one, but it's the last single for now, coming off a four year run since 1991 with around one single per year, as there would then be a gap of five years until 2000 with a brief comeback with two singles managing to reach the Top 40.
No.47 Sunscreem - When
First single not to make the Top 40 since coming on to the scene in 1992, but there was more to come, and one of the better 90s groups out there.
No.51 Mike Oldfield - Let There Be Light
Having already had his last Top 40 single in 1992, this was the fourth single in a row to fail to make the Top 40, but he was still soldering on in 1995, since his debut single released in 1974, so now over 20 years of releasing new singles.
Lisa I'Anson has had some work done and become Dale Winton overnight.
ReplyDeleteIt's great rediscovering what a great year 1995 was for dance music, tying in with the peak of my clubbing days in my early 20s. Two absolute dance classics to open up tonight!
Sophie Ellis-Bextor lookalike BERRI gets a second stab at the charts and this time "Sunshine After The Rain" is a BIG hit. Then what's not love about DE’LACY? Proper singer. Bloody awesome tune. Great beats. "Hideaway" a stone cold 90s classic.
Don't actually mind this MICHAEL JACKSON tune but could do without having to look at the pasty bugger in the video. I'm sure I'm not alone in that.
THE REMBRANDTS get their 15 minutes of fame with a tune that never grows old.RIP Matthew Perry. My 17 year old son just walked past and asked why the friends theme was on TOTP.
Here come the stools (insert own joke here) and this is probably BOYZONE's biggest hit and they do a good job of "Father And Son". Louis Walsh now thinking, a ballad Boyzone, what a good idea. If I had a time machine this is the moment I would go back to and take Louis out!
MONTELL is crap so onto something much more classy from ECHOBELLY. "Great Things" about this...1) quality tune; 2) singer looks hot!; 3) everything really.
Pure filth from MICHAEL BOLTON. "Can I Touch You...There" No you can't Michael. Song is cheesy as....
Repeated BLUR and the less said about SCATMAN JOHN the better.
But hit and miss this week. De'Lacy and Echobelly steal the show.
TOTP Presenter and Radio Legend Steve Wright has passed away.
ReplyDeleteHe WAS afternoon radio for many many years.
RIP Steve
Very sad news. Hearing him on the way home from school in the afternoon are such fond memories and it's been great to see hiis Top of the Pops shows again.
DeleteAlso I really liked him on Pick of the Pops in recent months. He was always funny and informative. Rip Steve.
I couldn't (and still can't) believe it when I heard the dreadfully sad news. As a 'Pick of the Pops' addict I was thrilled when Steve took over from Gambo. An inspired replacement. As always Steve was upbeat, slightly wacky and very knowledgeable about the various artists and songs. I had literally just listened to the 1978 and 1986 rundowns the day before on catch up. The last 'Pick of the Pops' track Steve played was therefore Billy Ocean and 'When the going gets tough (the tough get going)'. RIP and thanks for the memories Steve
DeleteGary Davies is presenting 'Pick of the Pops' on Saturday 17th February - 1980 and 1996. Going to be a tough listen... good person to take the reigns though.
DeleteI remember one episode of Steve Wright In The Afternoon, where he played Paul Young's Every Time You Go Away, he gave his own take of the song "Every Time You Go Away, You Take A Piece Of Meat With You......."
DeleteTomorrow four episodes of TOTP presented by Steve Wright in tribute from 1980, 84, 86 & 89 so the 1995 repeats take a break. https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl6b/2024/02/16
ReplyDeleteThat's a very fitting tribute to have 4 of his editions tomorrow. I've been thinking back to hearing him on the school coach in the afternoons. One little thing came back to me. His cheery voice saying "It's Springtime! 1989". It just sums up his style. Really cheery and friendly and just what you wanted to hear on the way home. Wonderful broadcaster.
DeleteI caught three of the Steve Wright editions yesterday and the end of the '89 show. A fine tribute to him with some great music and classic Wrighty links.
DeleteGreat to see the 13th December 1984 edition on BBC4. Yes the Gary Glitter cut led to an awkwardly long chart rundown with sudden bursts of applause from and to nowhere but a real treat to see the show. Steve's overexcited link to Madonna remains a comic classic and the performance itself is a classic pop moment. The girl in the big hat at the front arguably the most striking audience member in Totp history. Who was she? Also the delightful exchange at the end where Steve playfully and affectionately refers to Peter's relationship with Janice Long.
Steve's first edition from 1980 was full of warm and funny links. Liked his link to Legs and Co and Joe Jackson the perfect end number. The video for 'Save Me' I've always found moving and it was particularly so last night. 'Pick Of The Pops' from this week in 1980 was fantastic listening with a magnificent Top 20.
I'm always the first to disparage 1986 but I liked a lot of Steve and Gary's edition last night. Never thought I'd enjoy hearing Belouis Some ever again but so I did. Su Pollard. Um, yes. Quite a nice voice she had and yes I do remember 'The Marriage'. I think my Mum and sister got very into it. 'How Will I Know' far and away my favourite Whitney tune. October '89's edition looked like a very fun goodbye for Steve. The 'If I Could Turn Back Time' video still both stirring and bonkers in equal measure. A fantastic couple of hours and hopefully plenty more Steve hosted repeats to come.
I'm gonna watch these Mic. Meanwhile, I've checked out Lisa Tarbuck's tribute to Steve programme today (18/02) on the Love Songs slot. Unbearably emotional to hear all the lovely tributes and memories. Even though I never wrote in with a dedication or was even lucky enough to meet the man, there's enough connection for me to feel very sad that his voice and personality have gone. My late parents enjoyed Sunday Love songs too.
DeleteMy parents said it was a marvellous show and that Liza Tarbuck was perfect as a presenter and there were some emotional moments. Maybe she'll be the main presenter from now on. Gary Davies was brilliant at the helm of Pick Of The Pops yesterday. How good was 1980?
DeletePs, did anyone else (of a similar age to myself of course) watch the dove turn into Freddie Mercury and think of the bit at the beginning
Deleteof 'Battle Of The Planets' when the spaceship turned into a very forbidding looking bird?
The narrative for Elton John’s first solo No1 hit in the ‘Guinness Book of No1 Hits’ states; “6 months later, Steve Wright, apparently not as tied to strict playlists as many other national DJs began replaying’ Sacrifice’ on his Radio 1 afternoon programme. He reported great listener reaction to Rocket Records who re-released the two mini-hits (‘Sacrifice’ and ‘Healing Hands’) as a double A Side. This time with 95% of attention being paid to ‘Sacrifice’, the two titles moved strongly into the top40. By mid-summer a solo Elton was at the very top for the first time”. This reminds me of Steve’s other show on TV that I used to enjoy; TOTP2. As well as a selection of vintage tunes, Steve would finish the show with a recent release he liked and give it a welcome plug. I’m pretty sure ‘Amazed’ by Lonestar was one of these. Hopefully the BBC will repeat some TOTP2 editions too.
DeleteDon't normally watch the TOTP repeats live or the older ones but I watched all 4 last Friday. A lovely tribute.
DeleteHoping to catch up this week with some of the R2 bits