She drives me shady
19/01/89 (Bruno Brookes & Richard Skinner)
Roachford – “Cuddly Toy” (11)
Getting us underway tonight with what became his only top ten hit when it peaked at number 4.
Roy Orbison – “You Got It” (7) (clip from other TV show)
Peaked at number 3.
Robert Howard & Kym Mazelle – “Wait” (22)
Became the duo's only top ten hit when it peaked at number 7.
Marc Almond & Gene Pitney – “Something’s Gotten Hold Of My Heart” (10)
Together in the studio with what will be number one next week.
Ten City – “That’s The Way Love Is” (33) (breaker)
Peaked at number 8.
Mica Paris & Will Downing – “Where Is The Love?” (28) (breaker)
Peaked at number 19.
New Model Army – “Stupid Questions” (31) (breaker)
Got no higher.
Brother Beyond – “Be My Twin” (29) (breaker)
Peaked at number 14.
Natalie Cole – “I Live For Your Love” (30) (breaker)
Peaked at number 23.
Mike & The Mechanics – “The Living Years” (4) (video)
On its way to number 2.
Holly Johnson – “Love Train” (21)
Looking rather individual in the studio getting his solo career underway with a song that will peak at number 4.
Fine Young Cannibals – “She Drives Me Crazy” (5)
In the studio but the song got no higher.
Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan – “Especially For You” (1) (rpt from 22/12/88)
Third and final week at number one.
Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock – “Get On The Dance Floor” (17) (video/credits)
Went up three more places.
January 26th is next.
Grrrreat Show tonight. Richard and Bruno had a great time introducing this lot. Gosh, to think I even considered stopping watching!
ReplyDeleteRoachford – Cuddly Toy – Appearing on the same show (although not the studio) with M&tM is quite ironic given that Roachford is now a member of that band. Great lively song to open show with some very powerful vocals and drumming.
Roy Orbison – You got it – very truncated exert of this classic. No sign of Tom and Jeff in this video though. Used as one of the jingles on ‘Pick of the Pops’ when hosted by Alan Freeman.
Robert Howard and Kim Mazelle – Wait – Not quite in the league of Hank’s ‘Jungle Rock’ (who can forget those Legs and Co. ‘dressing up’ dance routines!!). I got bored with this very rapidly.
Marc Almond & Gene Pitney – Something’s gotten hold of my Heart – Originally not intended as a duet, but Gene loved it so much it turned out to be. Rogers Cook and Greenaway wrote a whole host of wonderful songs and this was certainly one of them. Shame this studio live performance complete with strings gets clipped though. When this came out I checked out Gene’s original at a Record Fair and its pretty good too.
Breakers – I found the whole lot not really to my liking.
Mike and the Mechanics – The Living Years – If this is the only showing of this all-time classic on the show then it’s an absolute travesty. Not only do they chop out the intro, they chop out the second verse (“crumpled bits of paper…”) and then just chop. I was so upset I went and watched the entire video on YT and very moving it is to. I think Paul Young is on the video on the left hand side playing the Yamaha keyboards. How this never made no1 is on a par with that Ultravox track in my book.
Holly Johnson – Love Train – Love this! Hated most of Frankie’s output but Holly is really on the right track here. Brian May seems to be in disguise whilst treating us to his trademark solo.
Fine Young Cannibals – She drives me crazy – Ironic that ‘The Trial of Christine Keeler’ is on TV at the moment as Roland starred in the original ‘Scandal’ film….and of course we’ll be seeing Dusty/PSB soon. Great song this.
Kylie and Jason – Especially for you – Well deserved three weeks at the top.
Rob Base etc. – Get on the Dance Floor – Handily placed for a swift exit!
M&tM - is that martha and the muffins?
DeleteSct, the two videos shown on this show, only got 1 minute 20 seconds each, and it seemed that new people in charge of this show since the revamp at the start of 1989 must have wanted a greater emphasis on performers in the studio than videos, yet they got rid of the main stage at the end of 1988, which doesn't seem to add up!
DeleteDickie bows out for good, and on this evidence it's a shame his comeback didn't last longer, as he is full of good humour and enthusiasm for the music on offer and easily upstages a rather stiff and self-conscious Bruno. This show gives good grounds for such enthusiasm as well, given that there is plenty of decent stuff here. Alas, the new fast-paced format spoils things again by giving us such short bits of the Orbison and Mike & the Mechanics videos as to make it hardly worth featuring them at all - it felt as if we got more of the breakers.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, we get off to a fine start with Roachford's big hit, which still stands as a great example of how to blend rock, pop and soul into a memorable concoction. Andrew looks the part of a pop star too, easily commanding the small TOTP stage and looking as if he was all set for bigger things, but of course it never happened. The Big O next, in a poignant live performance of a great song that was one of Fluff Freeman's favourites. It's such a shame Roy died when he did, given that his career was taking off again thanks to his involvement in the Wilburys and the excellent new solo material he was recording with Jeff Lynne, of which this is a prime example.
The artist formerly known as Dr Robert teams up with Kym Mazelle - who grew up in Gary, Indiana on the same street as the Jacksons - for a likeable enough duet, though they do make a slightly odd couple. Speaking of which, Almond and Pitney are not the most obvious candidates to sing a duet, but they certainly made a big success of this new version of Gene's old hit. I have always liked this, though nowadays I prefer the original as it has a more dramatic production and arrangement. Marc looks like a Gene Vincent wannabe here, while Gene maintains the clean-cut look of his heyday. I think this may well have been his first appearance on TOTP since he first brought this song out 21-and-a-bit years before.
Breakers next, and this will be our lot for New Model Army's anonymous offering and Natalie Cole's overly shouty ballad. The blink-and-you'll-miss-it clip of the Mike & the Mechanics promo next, looking as if it had been designed for the Christmas market but released a bit too late. In any case, a fine, emotional record that stands in the tradition of great songs written to commemorate a deceased father - Everything I Own and Justin Hayward's masterful Moody Blues classic New Horizons being earlier examples.
Holly Johnson, looking a bit like the Mad Hatter, gives us a first solo hit that makes up in energy and Holly's delivery for what it lacks by way of a decent tune - I like the comely guitarist too. FYC next, with the song that briefly made them stars in the States but which has never done that much for me. The driving chorus is decent, but Roland's falsetto on the verses irritates and it has been overplayed down the years. We get the normal kind of wobbly-legged FYC performance here, with added drummer. The show then throws up another Jacksons connection thanks to the sample of Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground) that is all over the closing track, and is the only decent thing about this bog-standard rap offering - tedious video too.
i actually read a biography of "the big O" about 20 years ago as part of a university assignment, and it was intimated that the reason he keeled over was (like wacko) as a middle-aged guy he tried to get himself back into physical shape too quickly due to the revived media interest in him...
DeleteThat may well be the case - he had certainly been overweight and out of condition for many years before his demise.
DeleteIf this was the last show with Richard Skinner, who presented the show since I think 1980, then it would leave Mike Read as the longest standing presenter at this point, who started out on TOTP in the late 70s. Have I missed anyone out who would have started before Skinner and still presenting in 1989?
DeleteMike Read's last show is on this Friday. It's a new broom!
DeleteIt is indeed Mike's last regular show coming up on Friday, though he did turn up again at the very end of '89 to present a special edition reviewing the 80s. We also lose Wrighty later this year, so by the time the 90s begin Gary Davies will be the longest-serving host.
DeleteSo we can conclude that no-one from the 70s presenters made it to the 90s, with 1989 (Mike Read) being the last of the 70s presenters to fall. It must be that new-look studio for 1989 without the main stage that was so iconic between 1980-1988. Good Lord!
DeleteTo start, a song that for many years was a well-remembered 80s pop hit, but now is indelibly associated with Alan Partridge. "You've got your fog lights on!" Anyway, comedy connections aside, this is a terrific number about a lothario who just wants to be loved for who he is (but not really) and although Roachford is still performing, he didn't have staying power in the charts, though I think we see another hit from him soon.
ReplyDeleteRoy Orbison, though with the new video rules, more like Roy Orb as we don't get very much of this. Nice enough, though not sure The Big O's voice really suits Jeff Lynne's bombastic production on this occasion. Poor old Roy, he had a really tragic life, and just as his career was being revived, he died, in typical bad luck fashion.
Robert and Kym next with a zippy little effort about taking your time, odd to see the house piano actually being played and in my memory Kym was absolutely enormous, but seeing this she was pretty average-sized, so sorry Kym.
Cheesy wink from Marc with his duet with Gene, one of the few cover versions that's better than the original. I never thought they were singing to each other, though, despite what the Americans reputedly believed. Get used to this one.
The clips of the Breakers are so brief now it's hardly worth trying to review the ones we don't get to hear in full (or as full as they get now), but I do remember NWM, was never a fan, and have no recall of Natalie's tune.
Holly Johnson's solo debut, no thanks Richard for making him sound a million years old, and what a cracker, just a great pop song, upbeat, plasticky but it just cheers you up and he's obviously enjoying himself. Just nudges it as the best thing on the show.
Fine Young Cannibals make a comeback too, in the year Roland kicked off his worldbeating acting career with Scandal (topical!). Well, he tried his hand at acting, anyway. He looks very self-regarding here, but it's not a bad little ditty, distinctively produced.
Kylie and Jason for their last week at the top, but not this song's last week at the top. I am pleased to see they've sorted out the non-mover graphic so it flashes too.
Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock we shall see again shortly, hence presumably why they barely get a cough and a spit here.
NWM?! NMA, I mean! Should have mentioned Mr Army seems to have lost a tooth since we last saw him.
DeleteGawd, not doing very well tonight, missed out Mike as well! Anyway, no wonder, one of the most mawkish records of the 80s, Dieter Meier reviewed this on Round Table and called it "Worse than pornography!", though at least porn is entertaining on a base level. To think All I Need is a Miracle never even made the Top 40 and this garbage nearly made No.1!
DeleteNoisy audience annoyed!
ReplyDeleteDidn’t play much of Roy Orbison...
Wait - Good acting, but dull tune (I seem to have a thing about that currently)
Whiooping Especially annoying on marc and Gene...
Breakers - dull, dull, ok, dull, dull - doesn’t auger well for next episode...
Mike - Another video cut short. Is then when they started to two minute limit?
Holly - must have been hot in that outfit. I couldn’t help wondering what this would have sounded like if it had been FGTH...
FYC - dry ice machine went mad. I remember liking this at the time, but seems a bit dull now.
Hardly had time to reach for FF before Rob Base was mercifully cut off
It will be interesting to see how long this new approach of only giving about a minute or so on videos will last, until people hopefully complained to get videos shown in most of their length as did before 1989 on the show. It really was awful how Roy Orbison and Mike & The Mechanics were not given a better airing than this, considering they were not available to come to the TOTP studio.
Delete'89 was a fine year for British bands who went on to dominate international hit parades. Both Fine Young Cannibals and Mike & The Mechanics would soar to No.1 in the US, Canada and Australia with the British Top 5 smashes showcased in this week's edition, FYC even scoring a second North American chart-topper with their follow-up hit 'Good Thing'. The latter song was the second single to be culled from Cannibals' multi-platinum second album, 'The Raw and the Cooked'.
ReplyDeleteCannibals' fall from the big league was as meteoric as their rise: they would go their separate ways in '92 after failing to complete a third album. Like Tears For Fears and Bananarama, they were seemingly stricken by the curse of scoring a No.1 single in the US but not at home.
This was also a vintage year for classy R&B, with the Paris/Downing duet (a remake albeit, but what a classic song), Dr Robert and Kym making one of the first successful recordings in the genre of UK garage, and Roachford becoming the only act in the history of the listings to turn one of Brucie-dear's catchphrases into a Top 10 smash.
Both Holly's and Brother Beyond's offerings were pleasant enough but hardly cutting-edge. The same nearly went for the Big O's 'You Got It', which is essentially 'Oh Pretty Woman' in ELO's clothing - but with that legendary voice at the front, it could not miss. Both this and 'I Drove All Night' would prove to be glittering postscripts to Roy's illustrious career.
Bye and thanks, Dickie. From acting as Jim’ll’s album chart straightman to becoming, erm, other hosts’ straightman, you ploughed a solid and amicable furrow. Any way we can persuade you to stay and ditch Trevor instead?
ReplyDeleteMaybe we should have had Bruce Forsyth hosting, if only to introduce Roachford’s boisterous starter. Sadly, Andrew’s follow-up “You’ve Got Thirty Seconds Starting From Now” failed to chart. Slinky side of stage move at the end there by Dickie. Didn’t he do well?
It’s Roy Orbison, complete with ponytail (!!) with “You Go”... ah, is that all we get? He wasn’t overly confident with the audience there, standing well away from the edge of that pontoon.
The zebra and the leopard next, with a decent effort but not enough to make me ‘wait’ for a re-run with much anticipation. See what I did there?
From one incongruous duo to another, Winking Gene Almond accompanied by Starchy Gene Pitney who at least got more into it late doors. Anyone else notice the unusual lip shape and sound Gene makes when singing the “ar” sound as in “heart” and “scarlet”?
Loved Ten City’s hit. Looking forward to hearing more of it. From memory, it was this B-side mix which became the hit version.
Mica and Will adding nothing to the original. Beige soul, I’m afraid.
New Model Army with old model sound and, yes, I’d agree Justin’s more toothless than before.
Brother Beyond with a vapid mickey-take, and Natalie Cole left me cold.
Next comes one of the most depressing songs ever, “The Livi”... oh. Is that all we get? Maybe this new slice and dice programme routine does have its benefits after all.
WTF was Holly’s outfit? And why were those gnarled old backing vocalists wearing T-shirts emblazoned with Dove and Angel? Detracted from a song which took a while to get to its station but made it.
I’m sure the FYC dry ice was meant to obliterate those now old hat stupid leg movements. Not a favourite song of mine either. I could never work out what colour hair Roland was singing about.
“See you soon”, Richard? You smooth talking liar. I like the way you mouth Trevor’s outro announcement as if you think he’ll balls it up. Talking of balls, FF that last row.
I remember at the time liking The Living Years by Mike & The Mechanics, but over the last 30 years or so, this song has been so overplayed that it lost its appeal entirely, and became quite morbid to listen to, especially when you keep hearing the line "every generation blames the one before." Good Lord, cheer up man!
DeleteSo with a couple of professional hosts (Mr Charts and Dickie) the show rattles along at some pace. Yes it's at the victim of the videos and breakers but I really enjoyed tonights offering. Some great tunes as well.
ReplyDeleteRoachford kicks off having missed the charts in 88 he finally hits gold with “Cuddly Toy” A deserved Top Ten hit for a real quality pop song that has stood the test of time well. Such a shame he couldn't follow it up.
A snippet of the late, great Roy Orbison – No-one like him in the vocal stacks and “You Got It" is a strong song if not in the league of his 60s hits.
Robert Howard & Kym Mazelle up next with one of my favourite 89 tracks. Bought this at the time and still love it. Couldn't “Wait” for this to appear.
Kym will be back of course with various other acts including a version of "Raining Men" with Jocelyn Brown which was the first CD single I ever bought.
A very chopped up Marc Almond & Gene Pitney. “Something’s Gotten Hold Of My Heart” about to take hold at the top thanks to R2 and my Mum and her friends who all bought this. I think my younger brother had this as well so a real multi generational hit - that's what you get with a quality song.
Breakers: Snippets of -
Ten City – Remember this well and I'm sure we will see it again. Not as good as I remember from this clip.
Mica Paris & Will Downing – Nice ballad.
New Model Army – Pass. Not my cup of tea.
Brother Beyond – Whose bright idea was this? What a cheesy piece of crap!
Natalie Cole – Nice voice, average song. forgettable.
Mike & The Mechanics should have had a week or two at the top but we must have got all of a minute of “The Living Years” video. I really like this song but I know it's a bit marmite.
Welcome back Holly Johnson. Riding the “Love Train” and having a "Blast!" in the studio. I purchased this album on cassette and I have a lot of love for this, Americanos and Atomic City. Looking rather stylish as well. Fabulous stuff.
Another great song next, this time from FYC – “She Drives Me Crazy” as does this record. Crazy happy of course. Love this. Never get bored of hearing it.
So a great 25 minutes followed by the last 4 minutes of Kylie & Jason (bored now) and
Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, not making me want to Get On The Dance Floor but Turn Off The TV instead. Thankfully the show stopped very quickly tonight.
Should also add - so long Dickie - one of TOTP best presenters. Will be missed.
Best show of the 2 so far and a reminder that 89 had some real quality in amongst all the dance/SAW stuff.
Just outside the chart and tickling the Top 50 (but failing to get any further) is a couple of treats and a couple of oddments.
ReplyDeleteTanita Tikaram stalling at 48 with Cathedral Song and the rather fine Strange Kind Of Love from Love and Money.
The less said about Chris deBurgh with "tender hands" and Sandra's (WHO?) dodgy cover of Everlasting Love the better.
Sandra's minor hit was a PWL remixing of a single which completely flopped the previous year. Says it all, really.
DeleteIt does sound a bit saw but I'd never heard of her
DeleteSandra was (inevitably) very popular in Europe but never had any hits here.
DeleteDid anyone else notice the cut in lyrics during Roachford's bridge passage? The single goes "If I told you once, I told you three times / If I told you three times, I told you five times". The "three times" parts got chopped in the studio.
ReplyDeleteRoachford - Another example of 'name of the band, not the singer'! A good song of course, and now immortalised by Alan Partridge.
ReplyDeleteRoy Orbison - Another good tune, not that we get to hear much of it. Did no-one point out to that genius Ciani that if you didn't chop 2 videos to buggery, you could show one in full?
Howard / Mazelle - I absolutely adore this song, I always have done. Now this song is just over 3 minutes long and it STILL gets a significant chop, which means we don't get to hear the magnificent outro. Ridiculous.
Almond / Pitney - I know I adored it at the time, I'm less taken by it now and certainly will be skipping the many other plays we'll be getting.
Breakers - New Model Army are utterly dreadful, this is probably the only one of their singles that even approaches a tune. The Natalie Cole song had been released in mid-November and seemed to take forever to get to its peak spot. Oh, and it's dull.
Mike & The Mechanics - Brilliantly parodied by Brian Pern with his song 'I Wish I'd Told My Father How Much I Loved Him Before He Died', I can find nothing to love in this whatsoever. The previous single 'Nobody's Perfect' was brilliant, got plenty of airplay and reached....No.80.
Holly Johnson - A great pop song and I see Holly was practising his slidy shoe dance and wearing gloves, both of which would feature heavily in the video for his next single!
Fine Young Cannibals - Always over-rated and overplayed, the best single from the album was the one that missed the Top 40....
Don't forget the punchline to Brian Pern's parody - his dad's not even dead!
Delete