Don't have nightmares kids
20/04/89 (Nicky Campbell & Sybil Ruscoe)
Transvision Vamp – “Baby I Don’t Care” (3)
Getting the show off to a skimpily adorned start but the song was now at its peak.
Inner City – “Ain’t Nobody Better” (20)
Flying into the studio from Detroit to perform what became their thrid of four top ten hits when it peaked at number 10.
De La Soul - "Me Myself & I" (26) (breaker)
Peaked at number 22.
London boys - "Requiem" (24) (breaker)
Peaked at number 4.
Holly Johnson – “Americanos” (4) (rpt from 06/04/89)
At its peak.
Metallica – “One” (18) (video)
Peaked at number 13.
Midnight Oil – “Beds Are Burning” (21) (video)
Their only top ten hit and it peaked at nuber 6.
The Cure – “Lullaby” (12)
Looking less like love cats and more like a dog's dinner but Lullaby became their biggest hit when it peaked at number 5.
Simple Minds – “This Is Your Land” (13) (video)
Got no higher.
Bangles – “Eternal Flame” (1) (video)
Second of four weeks at number one.
The Beatmasters with Merlin – “Who’s In The House?” (23) (video/credits)
Became their second of three top ten hits when it peaked at number 8.
Next up is April 27th.
I wasn't looking forward to the Campbell-Ruscoe team-up, but they are both OK here and make a better partnership than I was expecting. A new performance from the Vamp starts us off, and I wonder if the blokes were ordered by Wendy to all dress in black so that there was no danger of them taking any of her limelight? Simple Minds return with a song that is thankfully less pompous than Belfast Child, but it fails to come to life. Peculiar video too, with what looks like a Greek Orthodox priest given a prominent role for obscure reasons.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised to discover Inner City came from Detroit, as I thought their sound was quite British. Anyway, they're in the studio for a nondescript performance of a decent tune much in the vein of their previous hits, if not as memorable as Good Life. The breakers we will see again, and after another welcome viewing of Holly's lovely guitarist it is on to Metallica, still very much in their hardcore phase here before the shift into balladry in the 90s. Sybil politely ducks her co-host's enquiry about her view of this song, so presumably she wasn't a fan, and in truth you would have to be a hardcore metalhead to like this; I suppose the sparse, austere video is quite striking, however.
Midnight Oil's rousing rock anthem is much more to my liking, though again I never knew before watching this show that they were campaigning for aboriginal land rights, which the promo then makes clear. Robert Smith takes his demented clown impersonation to new extremes as The Cure reappear after a lengthy absence, perhaps out of fear of being upstaged by a couple of his bandmates who adopt a milder variation of his own look. Not sure why this was such a big hit - I suppose it does have quite an atmospheric production, but the inaudible, muffled lyrics grate after a while. The Beatmasters and Merlin offer up a playout video that is far from magical, but there is undeniable energy and a catchy, shouty "chorus" to this dance-rap hybrid - still not my cup of tea, though.
The bouncing bosoms of Wendy James herald another episode of TOTP, the world's most pretentious woman opting to sex up her raucous vocal, but aside from a different outfit this was much as before. Not that her fans would have minded.
ReplyDeleteInner City with one of their other hits, not that anyone really remembers it, and the hooks of the ones people do remember are missing. Still, a nice enough tune, and Paris is always a welcome sight. Very shoogly keyboard, adding tension to the performance.
After the Breakers, a repeat of Holly Johnson, and I wonder if he was dressed as the lost member of Showaddywaddy here? Don't think they had a gold one, did they?
Metallica on video (though they did make it to the studio eventually) - is there any band who have put their fans through as much heartache? This is them in their pomp, which the aficionados far prefer, and if it was all a bit, well, pompous for me, there's no denying they were a tight outfit.
Another video, and no surprise the lead singer of Midnight Oil became a politician, because all the songs I've heard of theirs were couched in politics. Mind you, songs like this could be legitimately said to have done some good, as they did raise the profile of First Nation's issues, and it's a pretty muscular tune too, so not to bad to listen to. I did prefer the follow-up, however.
Woooh, scary, it's The Cure with their biggest hit, an atmospheric little number that's determined to creep you out, miles away from Lovecats. The pizzicato strings and shuffling bass sound like Goth clichés, and I bet Tim Burton loved it, but it wasn't like anything else in the charts and it's cheering the record buying public responded to it. I do wish an actual Spider-Man film would use it on their soundtrack, because "The Spider-Man is having you for dinner tonight" sounds like an invitation to a pleasant evening of anecdotes at a dinner party at Peter Parker's place.
Groo, Simple Minds, I was going to say thank goodness we didn't hear too much of this self-important dirge, then Gary Davies played the whole bloody thing on Sounds of the 80s last night. Bah! At least the video resists being in black and white.
Bangles still at the top, doing sterling work in keeping Simply Red at bay, then Beatmasters to end on, but I'll keep my anecdote about that for the next instalment.
Transvision Vamp being introduced by Sybill Ruscoe as "bringing the raunch back into TOTP", did she mean the first time since Legs & Co? Certainly there probably wasn't anything quite as good as Wendy James since Legs & Co retired in 1981, so possibly Ruscoe was right. Pity we only got two minutes of the Midnight Oil video, cos this was the next best thing on the show!
DeleteHow soon we forget Sabrina...
DeleteAh the memories (I think that I misspelt that)
DeleteOh yes Sabrina, how could we forget? And then there was Samantha Fox. Good Lord!
DeleteActually, Patsy Kensit and Kylie Minogue were much more my style, not raunchy but still lovelies.
This is going to be a short summary – didn’t like the hosts nor much of the music. Thank goodness for the Bangles, or should it be The Bangles featuring Susannah Hoffs to go with the current ‘featuring’ fad? (how about Genesis featuring Phil Collins or Queen featuring Freddie Mercury….).
ReplyDeleteTransvision Vamp – Baby I don’t care – Wendy gets us off to an energetic and eye catching start wearing a black bra – I guess this must have been quite shocking in 1989?
Inner City- Ain’t nobody better – FF
Breakers – both rubbish – hope to never see either again. Where was Barry?
Holly Johnson – Americanos – So this got as high ‘Love Train’? Not a patch and no Brian May guitar solo.
Metallica – One – The delightfully melodic sound of men headbanging and screaming out lyrics. Not for me.
Midnight Oil – Beds are burning – This isn’t bad. Don’t recall it but a pleasant surprise.
Cure – Lullaby – Mr red lipstick is back and so is my FF
Simple Minds – This is your land – Not a patch on the storming ‘Belfast Child’.
Bangles – Eternal Flame – Sublime.
Beatmasters with Merlin – Who’s in the House – FF – my word, didn’t take me long to watch that!
the first act that used the "featuring" thing in their name was probably maze featuring frankie beverly from the late 70's onwards. although why they weren't frankie beverly & maze (or simply maze as myself and i suspect many of their fans choose to call them) is beyond me. their logo sort-of demonstrated frankie's special status, as it was a hand where he was the "thumb" to the other member's "fingers"!
Deletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maze_Featuring_Frankie_Beverly_(album)
The Beatmasters seemed to be at it again. First featuring The Cookie Crew with Rock Da House in 1988, then featuring PJ Arnold with Burn It Up, and now featuring Merlin with Who's In The House. Can't wait to see who their next guests are, or will they indeed be back at all after this latest 'featuring' performance.
DeleteColdcut were the other ones on the 'featuring' bandwagon recently, with first Yazz, then now Lisa Stansfield, and I probably missed someone out in between.
We've recently enjoyed 'What I am' by Edie Bricknell and the New Bohemians. But the song was covered by Tin Tin Out featuring Emma Bunton in 1999. Tin Tin Out liked to feature other artists, notably featuring Shelly Nelson on the excellent 'Here's where the Story ends' in 1998.
DeleteTin Tin Out's version of Here's Where the Story Ends wasn't a patch on the original by The Sundays - which is 30 years old this year, incredibly!
DeleteAh, it’s Campbell thinking he’s hilarious (again) and Headlight Teeth Ruscoe.
ReplyDeleteWe start with Wendy demonstrating the most cleavage for an intro song since Sabrina. Again, I got this in vision and not sound. We had a black bra in full display on TOTP back in the day, of course, with Hazel O’Connor and “D-D-Decadent Days”. Erm, allegedly.
The Simple Minds as Campbell calls them three times in the show, with McBono and the lads treating us to a through-the-ears dirge.
You almost took that bloke’s eye out with your flailing intro arm, Sybil! Sadly, by this stage Inner City had gone all identikit singles-wise. Note how Sybil almost misses the last word of the song title during the mugshots.
Thoughful mid-tempo stuff from De La Soul, and a song title very similar to that of a Joan Armatrading hit from 1980.
London Boys, all glowing muscles and camper than a campsite image-wise. Nice “Avengers “ style hatstand action there.
Good to see Holly Johnson repeated. Not necessarily for Holly, you understand.
Who was that sole non-host on the podium before Metallica? All toghether with the chorus. Obviously sponsored by Head and Shoulders. Oo, a Motorhead-style double bass drum kit!
Very sincere motives from Midnight Oil and a singer who looks like he could take Crocodile Dundee out in the third round.
The Cure’s slinkiest hit by far, with a nightmarish looking singer for “Lullaby”. If only Robert Smith had auditioned for “Joker”...
After the summit video, it’s another ha-ha-hilarious track with “House” in the title. Short catchy chorus but same old same old in the verses.
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ReplyDeleteWell certainly a bit of variety on tonights show with Smooth Campbell and Shouty Sybil. Not all of it good.
ReplyDelete1989 is treating us this month with first Vickie Fuzzbox and now Wendy Vamp. “Baby I Don’t Care” about the song (although it's a good 'un), Just show us that performance every week..
Simple Minds disappear up their own pretentious arses, maybe that's where all their tunes went?
Looking at the countdown from 40-31 there are quite a few tunes there we may never get to see.
Swing Out Sister, Natalie Cole, Barry Manilow, Aswad, Blow Monkeys, Jody Watley - all decent tunes...
Nice to have Inner City back but this is the weakest of their 4 hits. Sounds good but forgotten it already. Hope the journey home isn't too long...
Breakers: Just the 2 this week!
De La Soul - Surprised "Me Myself & I" only got to Number 22. Seemed like a bit hit at the time. Don't mind this at all.
London boys - Here we go then... Ultimate cheese time with the 2 butch boys who aren't from London. I seem to recall it doesn't end well for them. "Requiem" is an end of school disco singalong for the uncool...
Holly Johnson on repeat. Still love “Americanos” Note to golden girl - you are meant to mime all the female bits, not just the chorus...
Metallica up next and he must be really pissed of that someone had "taken his sweets" (that's what it sounded like) to create this utter racket. “One” to FF...
Now this is better. Missed the charts in 88 but deservedly a hit now for Midnight Oil. I remember how striking and unusual the frontman was. Never realised at the time what “Beds Are Burning” was about but it's a very powerful song once you know. Easily the best thing on the show tonight.
Sideshow Bob back again to sing us a “Lullaby”, although this is more likely to give you nightmares...Eddie Izzard was clearly watching as he stole the look. Decent tune though.
Bangles still burning the Flame at the top.
Playing out with The Beatmasters and one of their lesser hits. No magic made here with Merlin. Dated very badly. When it first came on the charts I thought it was called "Ooozing out" and it was only the TOTP countdown that put me right with “Who’s In The House?
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DeleteGlad it's not just me surprised at Barry's omission.
DeleteMum is a huge fan. And I actually quite like Please Dont Be Scared. She's brainwashed me.
DeleteIndeed...it's on Barry's seminal compilation double CD 'The Songs 1975 -1990' where Barry comments "One of the most important songs I've ever sung. I once told Mindy Sterling (who wrote the song) that I thought she was given the gift of songwriting in order to write this song for the world to hear".
DeleteCertainly a better listen than most of the dross in the current chart, but perhaps a tad long at 5'32
Barry Manilow's greatest tune in my opinion is Read 'Em And Weep, written for him by the great Jim Steinman, and around a similar time to the Meat Loaf Loaf Version, and there is little in it between the two, but videowise, Manilow's was much better:
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUtDL_mIA4c
The full length 5'24 version of 'Read 'em and Weep' is also on 'The Songs 1975 - 1990' compilation. As you say, a fine song.
DeleteTransvision vamp - ahhhhh...
ReplyDeleteSimple minds - after the surprisingly good Belfast Child, we are back to the dull band that I remember
Inner City - standard rhythm beat gets the FF treatment
Breakers - ok fairy tale rap, then good lord -take that meet Village people
Metallica - never really saw the appeal of the grunge metal bands. Took ages to get going, then seemed to go on forever
Midnight Oil - like this with its strange talking singing...
Cure - another one that took ages to get going. The bish drum got on my nerves FF
Beatmaster - better than I remember...
Simple Minds - I think this track has aged rather well and I like the laid back vibe. It's probably the best track from the album, and I assume they chose the segment of the video that we saw because it had the Lou Reed spoken bits in!
ReplyDeleteInner City - A very under-rated song, not as immediately commercial as the previous couple so it did well to make the Top 10.
Metallica - There aren't many metal bands that I really like but I do have a soft spot for Metallica. It's such a long song that you need to hear the whole thing rather than a couple of minutes out of context though.
Midnight Oil - The voice is an acquired taste, but you can't argue with the quality of the song.
The Cure - It's all about the arrangement of the song here, as Robert Smith could be singing about anything given how low in the mix the vocals are. Luckily, it's a very catchy tune.
Beatmasters / Merlin - A great tune with a decent rap. Sadly we don't get to see the bit of the video where Ford Timelord (presumably on loan from Cauty & Drummond) appears.