Gonna make you a Starr
13/04/89 (Mark Goodier)
Cookie Crew – “Got To Keep On” (21)
Getting us underway tonight with a little help from Edwin Starr, this was to be the duo's final top 40 hit and it peaked at number 17.
Ten City – “Devotion” (29)
Their second and final top 40 hit and it got no higher.
T’Pau – “Only The Lonely” (28)
Finally making it into the studio with this slow climber but after all that it got no higher.
INXS – “Mystify” (16) (video)
Went up two more places.
Fine Young Cannibals – “Good Thing” (19)
Taken from their number one album The Raw and the Cooked, this became their fifth and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 7.
U2 & BB King – “When Love Comes To Town” (12) (video)
Peaked at number 6.
Paul Simpson featuring Adeva – “Musical Freedom (Moving On Up)” (22)
Giving it some welly in the studio but it moved up no more.
Bangles – “Eternal Flame” (1) (video)
First of four weeks at number one.
Yello – “Of Course I’m Lying” (23) (video/credits)
At its peak.
Next up is April 20th.
A show served with a slice of fromage de Goodier, first up we have The Cookie Crew and Edwin Starr, which reminds me of when Radcliffe and Maconie mentioned the great man at the start of one of their 6Music shows and spent the rest of the 3 hours getting Edwin Starr anecdotes about him from the listeners. Even a friend of mine has an Edwin anecdote - anyone here encounter him? Anyhoo, must admit I really like this, it's kind of clunky but a lot of fun, with bonus points for confusing Adrian Juste who took the record off quarter of the way through because he thought it was warped (!). Pity the Cookies disappeared after this, really.
ReplyDeleteHey, Ten City had another hit! And the reason nobody remembers it is down to it sounding almost identical to their biggest success in the charts. Nothing special, but not offensive either.
T'Pau, bizarrely one place below Roy Orbison, with an example of the perils of using a title of an infinitely more famous song. One of the band's plodders, no wonder they slipped out of the limelight with material like this. Carol's jacket too big, too.
INXS and one of the cheapest videos we've seen yet for a major act. But we've more or less seen this one before, this seems to be Ciani's latest thing, showing a bit more of the previous episode's playout track.
FYC with a track that had been on the soundtrack to the film Tin Men two years before. Not sure why it was revived now, but it gets the crowd clapping along and Roland's cartwheeling and piano hammering antics liven things up. Not bad.
The trouble with U2 and BB's collaboration is that it just didn't have a tune, it went through the bluesy motions without adding a single thing to them, except cool by association for Bongo and company. Goodier seems very excited there's exclusive footage not in Rattle and Hum, but I bet nobody would have noticed even if they knew.
Paul Simpson isn't as exciting a showbiz name as Adeva, is it? Anyway, though she's obviously miming, she sells what sounds like bits and pieces of other house hits, were You Got the Love and M People's Moving On Up influenced? (I know Candi's song predated what The Source did to it with their Frankie Knuckles sample).
Finally The Bangles are top of the tree, well deserved for a great ballad. Some say they were underrated because they were essentially a girl band, or viewed as such, but tunes like this proved their musical worth.
Then about 30 seconds of Yello - I checked out the full video on YT and this is a really sweet song, reminds me of Pilot of the Airwaves. I'd completely forgotten it, but how nice to be reacquainted by the repeats. I'm guessing those are the Swiss Alps we're seeing.
This was indeed The Bangles biggest hit in Britain, and also their last Top 20 hit, as although they released two more singles in 1989, both failed to reach the top 20, and that was just about it from a group that was a late-80s success thanks to the good looks and voice of their lead singer.
DeleteBut hey, there are still a few more weeks at No.1 with this one, so no doubt more comments and debate on the blog, so we're not done just yet with The Bangles, at least for April 1989!
In early this week. Trouble with seeing it live is no FF...
ReplyDeleteCookie Crew - forgot to write a tune...
Ten City - and I thought 5 star were bad...
TPau - after a few clunkers, they return with a clone of the tune that broke them. it worked though.
FYC - a jaunty tune, that always remind me of something. Hope someone will spot it...
U2 - everything INXS isn’t. Love this song, and the parent album
Paul,Simpson - back to bifty bifty drums, but at least it has a tune over the top
Bangles - nice to hear a melody. Must have taken them minutes to storyboard the video...
...Whilst Yello seemed to have 4 stories in one, and that was in 60 seconds we saw...
Mark presides over a largely uninspiring set of tunes on this one..
ReplyDeleteCookie Crew – Got to keep on – FF
Ten City – Devotion – FF
T’Pau – Only the Lonely – Short black skirt as usual from Carol (bar ‘I will be with you’) fails to lift this one above the mediocre.
INXS – Mystify – FF
Fine Young Cannibals – Good Thing – Not a bad thing.
U2 and BB King – When Love comes to Town – Despite being a non-U2 fan I really liked this duet (and the next single) very much. BB adds a real punch to this. Interesting B&w video too. I haven’t watched ‘Rattle and Hum’ (and never will) so really couldn’t tell you which are the extra bits.
Paul Simpson / Adeva – Musical Freedom – FF
Bangles – Eternal Flame – The mark of a great song is when it tops both the UK and US charts. I’ll never get tired of the gentle lilt of this track nor the totally appropriate video that accompanies it. When the Kittens covered it in 2001 I recall one of them saying they’d never heard the original which astounded me at the time. The Kittens actually made a good job of slightly updating this song and Natasha’s husky voice fitted well too. But give me this original any day.
Yello – Of course I’m lying – Weird video. OK song I guess…and yep sound’s a bit like Charlie Dore’s ‘Pilot of the Airwaves’.
Can't believe that T'Pau were still going at this point, as I thought they were done by now chartwise, but clearly not. Not that I am complaining of course with Carol Dekker's fine pins, but really, this sort of music was not really moving with the times I thought.
DeleteOne of our former contributors used to refer to PP having a smile in his voice, but he had nothing on the always upbeat, perma-grinning Goodier, here allowed to fly solo in a move that would help pave the way for the phasing out of dual presenters by the end of the year. Mark doesn't do a bad job, but he is hampered by a mediocre set of tunes that for me made this the weakest show of '89 so far.
ReplyDeleteIt's a bit sad to see a soul legend like Edwin Starr reduced to playing second fiddle to a pair of tedious rappers, but that's the way music was going at the time. A UK resident by this point, Edwin does give this performance his all, lustily miming his sampled vocal, which derives (I think) from his 70s hit Contact. Needless to say, the sample is the only good thing about this. More mediocrity to follow from Ten City with a lifeless, wholly forgettable tune married to high-pitched, incomprehensible vocals. I wonder if the big coat worn by the lead singer helped inspire the fashion choices of 90s boy bands?
Things don't improve with a horribly clunky, leaden offering from T'Pau, confirming that they had now lost the musical plot. Carol tries her best to sell this mess, but it's a lost cause. At least things liven up a bit with FYC, not least when Roland engages in his unexpected but of gymnastics. This bouncy number is pleasant, but like the previous single has been overplayed, and I prefer their earlier work anyway.
Yet another U2 video next featuring moody b/w images of Americana, plus a well-fed BB King for good measure. I get the strong impression that the band were egotistically trying to position themselves here as natural heirs to BB and the other pioneers of blues and rock 'n' roll, but the song itself is decent enough, though nothing that special. Back in the studio, Adeva takes centre stage to belt out an upbeat dance number which I suspect must have had some influence on M People. At least it's more lively than some of the tracks on this show, but I'd more or less forgotten how it went as soon as it finished.
The one really good record on display is deservedly at number 1, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much of the video got shown - my memory from watching these first time around is that it always got cut just as the backing vocals kick in at the end, which for me is the best bit of the song, but we actually got a decent chunk of that part here. Yello play us out, with a memorable video that effortlessly eclipses the rather stilted song.
The Edwin Starr sample was from his minor 60s hit 25 Miles, which is a storming tune.
DeleteI think there was a big copycat trend in the 1988/89 season of brining on a Legend into your own single, with the trend started by The Pet Shop Boys to bring in Dusty Springfield on their hit What Have I Done To Deserve This in 1987, followed by The Fat Boys bringing back The Beach Boys first, and then Chubby Checker on their second hit, and then Marc Almond bringing back Gene Pitney, and now The Cookie Crew bringing back the great Edwin Starr. Have I missed out any other examples, as I'm sure there were a few more in this late-80s period?
DeleteCertainly Edwin Starr had lost none of his energy from the 70s disco era by 1989 judging by this superb performance with The Cookie Crew, and I do not recall him ever appearing in the TOTP studio in his 1970s chart career, if anyone can confirm this?
Sadly the great disco king is no longer with us, having died in 2003 at the age of only 61 from a heart attack, but the legend still lives on. "Eye to eye, Contact.....", and "H.A.P.P.Y. Radio...." (UK Top 10 singles 1979)"
Oh yes, also on this show, U2 bringing back BB King. Good Lord, everybody seemed to be at it. Gene Pitney, Edwin Starr, BB King. Who else is round the corner? Can't anyone be original instead of copying other people's ideas to have a past legend to bolster their cause, and record sales?
DeleteAretha Franklin has already been on with Eurythmics & George Michael
DeleteGood Lord, this was before The Pet Shop Boys with Dusty Springfield, so your example is possibly the first in the trend which must have been around 1986?
DeleteTHX - thanks for the correction. I'm not familiar with 25 Miles, so will have to give it a listen.
DeleteI don't think you'll be disappointed, it's a great 60s soul tune from an era when there seemed to be a classic released every week, big hit or not.
DeleteI've listened to it now, and realised it is something I have heard before without knowing the song title or artist. It is definitely an underappreciated Motown classic.
DeleteWill comment later on but wanted to share something TOTP related.
ReplyDeleteThe new album from The Fizz (Cheryl, Mike and Jay from Bucks Fizz) is out this week and they have just released a very cheesy tribute to our favourite show.
A TOTP tribute video as well with choreography from one of Cheryl's kids along with a sample of Mike Read and a fake chart run-down.
Of the singles so far it's easily the weakest song but I thought it was worth sharing...
https://youtu.be/rsMuoji_U0c
I enjoyed the Fizz track. Thanks for that.
DeleteNot a bad little tune, but it does sound like something off a 90s Nintendo game. Think that's actual Mike Read, rather than an old sample, he and Jay must be besties over at UKIP headquarters.
DeleteMark Goodier goes solo this week and does a reasonable job. An odd show this week with hardly any of the songs featured being massive 89 hits..
ReplyDeleteCookie Crew start us off with Edwin Starr joining in the fun. As I said on the previous show I really like this. A great energetic start to the show and the rapping is fine on this. “Got To Keep On” listening to this one I think.
It's obvious from tonights show that the studio audience are seeing more of some of these acts than we are. I have thought this before but tonights editing makes it plainly obvious we missed the end of Cookie Crew and the next act...
Who are Ten City with “Devotion”. Average song and 2/3 of them didn't even need to be there. Why did we get the slow intro to the song and miss out some at the end. Poorly edited. Glad we won't be seeing this lot again.
T’Pau up next and I must admit “Only The Lonely” sounds a lot better in full than from the breakers clip last week. Decent tune from them but their days of being Top 10 material were well and truly over.
No breakers this week so we can get two video in (almost) full, the first of which is INXS with “Mystify”. Really like this one and the video is not too bad.
Back in the studio for F Y C and what a “Good Thing” this tune is. Catchy, poppy, foot-tapping, Absolutely brilliant. Great performance as well although I hope he hasn't damaged that piano with his size 10s
Second (almost) full video of the night as U2 team up with BB King (I'd never heard of him when this came out). “When Love Comes To Town” is, I assume, a cover and it's decent enough.
Adeva seriously channelling Grace Jones and giving it some in the studio. Easily the best performance of the night, even if the guy miming the male sample looked embarrassed to be there. Certainly made an average song look good.
People seriously went out and bought that Simply Red song didn't they...but no Number 1 yet for old ginger spice thanks to...
The Bangles. And we get a sizeable chunk of the “Eternal Flame” video. Very simple but effective. Great tune. thoroughly deserved Number 1. Four weeks hey Angelo? Let's see if I still like it then...
Finally the crap Yello.
“Of Course I’m Lying” and I really like them and this song. Copied THX and went on YouTube for the full video which is rather impressive. Song is very chilled out and the whole thing works really well. Highlight of the show.
Liked tonights show more than I thought I would.
Hi Anonymous! Another request for shows you probably haven't got! Have you got the original archive versions of these, all from 1979? They are 15/03, 28/06, 2/08, 20/09 and 29/11. Cheers!
ReplyDeletesorry brie, no luck with any of those, keep asking though.
DeleteThanks for trying, mate. I'll get some you've got one day!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSurely it should be Better, not Goodier? Say “Cheese”, Mark - it matches your performance!
ReplyDeleteHome and away hooped kits on the inferior Salt ‘n’ Pepa – maybe ketchup and mayo. No offence, Simon! Luckily we get Edwin Starr and not Freddie Starr, and his sample outweighs the rapping in this track.
We follow with another American band, ay, Mark? What state are Cookie Crew from, then? Tsk. It’s the return of Cheese Wedge Hairdo Bloke and the other two. Not a patch on their big hit but, ahem, that’s the way charts is.
Do T’Pau all live in the same house, then, Mark? It’s Ginger Pins, her guitarist boyfriend and the other four with a song whose early chorus part reminded me of “Drift Away”.
Fancy something Australian? Oo, have you got Elle MacPherson? Oh no, it’s BonOz and his cohorts. FF.
Rubberlegs guitarist Cannibal on piano this time, leaving elasticlegs guitarist Cannibal looking like a spare tit in a nudist colony. Leave that keyboard alone, Roland. It isn’t a Roland! As for the song, it’s a good thing. Boom boom tish!
Oh dear, U2 with “When Hooking Up With A Blues Legend To Try And Get Some Street Cred Comes To Town”.
Man City player (okay, maybe a different) Paul Simpson lays low on a track where a letter from Candi Staton’s solicitiors is in the post. Some people can pull off the thin black leather and round glasses look. Erm...
We get almost the entire Bangles video, and glad for it. See, Madge? Do nothing controversial and you get the whole thing on air.
We finish with a mere slice of sublime Yello. Could they not have stuck one of the videos with smug frontmen here and let us enjoy this smooth as Toblerone tune earlier?
The Cookie Crew - I love it, and it's even better for Edwin Starr gamely joining in. This jogged a memory that I own a remix of '25 Miles' which was rather pointlessly released off the back of this.
ReplyDeleteTen City - Completely anonymous song, I can remember nothing about it now. We will be seeing lead singer Byron Stingily again if we get a bit further in the repeats though.
T'Pau - Their plugger must have been working overtime to get this on given how slowly it was crawling up the charts. Given that it got no higher, perhaps allowing everyone to witness how rubbish it is wasn't such a great idea.
Fine Young Cannibals - My least favourite single from the album, the Yanks loved it which says it all really....
U2 & BB King - A hoary load of old nonsense.
Paul Simpson & Adeva - I don't mind this one, the edit makes it sound more piecemeal than the 7" version actually is, and the 12" version is also good. Thank goodness Adeva's.....erm..assets were a bit more strapped in than in the video or the front row would've got an eyeful!
Yello - A song that I thought was alright at the time, completely forgot about, then rediscovered last year. It's aged really well, a nice chilled tune. I assume from the video that it was released around Christmas in other parts of Europe though!