Top of the Pops Machine

 Sitting in the cheap seats underneath the stars, I'm heading back to the 28th of August 1998 edition of Top of the Pops!

Looky star

28-8-98:   Presenter:  Jamie Theakston

(5) SWEETBOX – Everything’s Gonna Be Alright

Now at its peak.

(13) KAVANA – Special Kind Of Something

In the studio tonight but got no higher.

(7) ALDA – Real Good Time

Performing her only top ten hit and it got no higher.

(8) SPICE GIRLS – Viva Forever  (via satellite)

Another repeat showing of the former number one.

(NEW) SHERYL CROW – My Favourite Mistake

Here with what will become her fourth and final top ten hit when it peaks at number 9.

(20) FOO FIGHTERS – Walking After You

In the studio tonight but got no higher.

(3) THE CORRS – What Can I Do

Here tonight with their second of six top ten hits but it got no higher.

(NEW) ROBBIE WILLIAMS – Millennium

Performing what will soon become his first of seven number one hits.

(ALBUM TRACK) ROBBIE WILLIAMS – Man Machine

From his forthcoming number one album, I've Been Expecting You.

(1) BOYZONE – No Matter What  (and credits)

Third and final week at number one.

Top of the Pops Sounds Better With You

 Ooh baby, I feel like the 21st of August 1998 edition of Top of the Pops!

Hair & Co

21-8-98:   Presenter:  Jamie Theakston

(6) SIMPLY RED – The Air That I Breathe

Getting tonight's show underway with the third single from their number one album, Blue, but this Hollies cover got no higher.

(7) SWEETBOX – Everything’s Gonna Be Alright

With their only hit and it will go up two more places.

(4) CLEOPATRA – I Want You Back

Performing their third of four top ten hits but this Jackson 5 cover got no higher.

(3) SAVAGE GARDEN – To The Moon And Back

Here with their second of four top ten hits, this was their biggest and it was at its peak.

(28) BABYBIRD – If You’ll Be Mine

With their sixth of eight top 40 hits but it got no higher.

(5) SASH! feat. TINA COUSINS – Mysterious Times

Had already peaked at number 2.

(2) STARDUST – Music Sounds Better With You  (montage of TOTP clips with dancer)

Their only top ten hit but it could get no higher.

(1) BOYZONE – No Matter What  (and credits)

Second of three weeks at number one.

Top of the Pops No Matter What

 I can't deny that I believe it's the 14th of August 1998 edition of Top of the Pops!

Lloyd-zone

14-8-98:   Presenter:  Jayne Middlemiss

(6) APOLLO 440 – Lost In Space

Had already peaked at number 4.

(14) HINDA HICKS – I Wanna Be Your Lady

With her third of four top 40 hits, this being her biggest but it got no higher.

(2) SASH! feat. TINA COUSINS – Mysterious Times

In the studio with their fourth of five number 2 hits.

(20) SOLID HARMONIE – I Wanna Love You

Performing their third and final top 40 hit, and it got no higher.

(4) PLACEBO – Pure Morning

Here with their second of three top ten hits, and it was at its peak.

(12) WILL SMITH – Just The Two Of Us  (via satellite)

Had already peaked at number two.

(18) FUN LOVIN’ CRIMINALS – Love Unlimited

Performing their fifth of eight top 40 hits but it got no higher.

(1) BOYZONE – No Matter What  (and credits)

First of three weeks at number one.

Top of the Pops In Space

 Mission control, this is the 7th of August 1998 edition of Top of the Pops!

Drum and space

7-8-98:   Presenter:  Jo Whiley

(5) ACE OF BASE – Life Is A Flower

Getting the show underway but the song could get no higher.

(7) LUCID – I Can’t Help Myself

Performing their only only top ten hit and it was at its peak.

(13) BRANDY & MONICA – The Boy Is Mine  (video)

Finally featured on the show, it had long since peaked at number 2.

(17) BABY BUMPS – Burning

Here with their first of two top 40 hits, this one being the biggest but it got no higher.

(2) PUFF DADDY & JIMMY PAGE – Come With Me  (video)

At its peak.

(4) APOLLO 440 – Lost In Space

Here with their second of three top ten hits, this was the biggest but it got no higher.

(1) SPICE GIRLS – Viva Forever  (via satellite)  (and credits)

Second and final week at number one.

Viva Top of the Pops

 Live forever for the 31st of July 1998 edition of Top of the Pops!

Viva Four-ever

31-7-98:   Presenter:  Jayne Middlemiss

(18) FIVE – Got The Feeling

Had already peaked at number 3.

(3) PRAS MICHEL feat. O.D.B. & MYA – Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)

Had already peaked at number 2.

(14) LOVESTATION – Teardrops

In the studio but this Womack and Womack cover got no higher.

(25) THE SUPERNATURALS – I Wasn’t Built To Get Up

With their fifth and final top 40 hit and it got no higher.

(12) CHARLI BALTIMORE – Money

She's here tonight but got no higher.

(11) CATATONIA – Strange Glue

Performing the fourth single from their number one album, International Velvet, but it got no higher.

(2) WILL SMITH – Just The Two Of Us  (via satellite)

At its peak.

(1) SPICE GIRLS – Viva Forever  (via satellite)  (and credits)

First of two weeks at number one.

Deeper Top of the Pops

 I'm going, I'm going. I'm going to the 24th of July 1998 edition of Top of the Pops!

Hood Friday

24-7-98:   Presenter:  Jayne Middlemiss

(3) PRAS MICHEL feat. O.D.B. & MYA – Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)

Getting the show underway but the song had already peaked at number 2.

(14) ULTRA NATÉ – New Kind Of Medicine

In the studio but got no higher.

(9) PETER ANDRE – Kiss The Girl

Performing what will be his last hit for six years but it got no higher.

(10) ECHOBEATZ – Mas Que Nada

With their only hit and it was at its peak.

(2) ANOTHER LEVEL – Freak Me

Last week's number one.

(28) BILLIE MYERS – Tell Me

Here with her second and final top 40 hit and it got no higher.

(5) ACE OF BASE – Life Is A Flower

Performing their fourth of five top ten hits and it was at its peak.

(1) JAMIROQUAI – Deeper Underground  (and credits)

With their only number one and it topped the charts for one week.

Top of the Pops Immortality

 We don't say goodbye to the 17th of July 1998 edition of Top of the Pops!

My song will go on

17-7-98:   Presenter:  Jamie Theakston

(3) BILLIE – Because We Want To

Last week's number one gets the show underway.

(5) CELINE DION & THE BEE GEES – Immortality

Together in the studio tonight performing what was the Bee Gee's nineteenth and final top ten hit, and it got no higher.

(2) PRAS MICHEL feat. O.D.B. & MYA – Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)

In the studio at last with this new take on Islands in the Stream, but it could get no higher.

(6) EAGLE-EYE CHERRY – Save Tonight

A third studio performance but number 6 was its peak.

(13) FIVE – Got The Feeling

Had already peaked at number 3.

(11) MOUSSE T. feat. HOT ‘N’ JUICY – Horny

Had already peaked at number 2.

(9) GARBAGE – I Think I’m Paranoid

Performing their fourth of six top ten hits, but it got no higher.

(1) ANOTHER LEVEL – Freak Me  (and credits)

Here with their only number one hit and their only week at the top.

Top of the Pops Because We Want To

 Why you gotta play that song so loud? Because it's the 10th of July 1998 edition of Top of the Pops!

Top of the Billie

10-7-98:   Presenter:  Zoë Ball

(3) B*WITCHED – C’est La Vie

Getting Zoe Ball's last show as a regular host underway with the former number one.

(13) MATTHEW MARSDEN – The Heart’s Lone Desire

The Emmerdale and Corrie actor with his first of two top 40 hits, this was the biggest but it got no higher.

(26) THE JUNGLE BROTHERS – I’ll House You ’98

It peaked at number 22 in 1988, ten years later and it made number 26.

(8) KAREN RAMIREZ – Looking For Love

A second studio performance and the song was now at its peak.

(19) DESTINY’S CHILD – With Me

In the studio tonight but got no higher.

(7) MANSUN – Legacy

Performing their third of four top ten hits, this was their biggest but it got no higher.

(6) EAGLE-EYE CHERRY – Save Tonight

A second time in the studio but the song was at its peak.

(1) BILLIE – Because We Want To  (and credits)

Making her studio debut with her first of three number one hits.