With a cherry on top of the pops
18/05/89 (Mark Goodier & Anthea Turner)
Shakin’ Stevens – “Love Attack” (28)
Getting tonight's show underway but the song got no higher.
Bobby Brown – “Every Little Step” (20) (video)
Peaked at number 6.
Roxette – “The Look” (10) (rpt from 04/05/89)
Went up three more places.
Alyson Williams - "My Love Is So Raw" (34) (Breaker)
Got no higher.
Sam Brown - "Can I Get A Witness" (31) (Breaker)
Peaked at number 15.
Diana Ross - "Workin' Overtime" (32) (Breaker)
Got no higher.
Paul McCartney – “My Brave Face” (22) (video)
From his number one album Flowers In The Dirt, this first single peaked at number 18.
Neneh Cherry – “Manchild” (26)
Back in the studio minus the bump and the song peaked at number 5.
Stefan Dennis – “Don’t It Make You Feel Good” (17) (video)
Went up one more place.
Deacon Blue – “Fergus Sings The Blues” (25)
Live in the studio and the song peaked at number 14.
Gerry Marsden, The Christians, Paul McCartney, Holly Johnson, and Stock Aitken Waterman – “Ferry Cross The Mersey” (1) (video)
The charity record for the Hillsborough Disaster Fund. First of three weeks at number one.
Cappella – “Helyom Halib” (23) (video/credits)
Peaked at number 11.
25th May is next
It is nice to take one's mind off the current depressing news by watching old TOTP, even if, as is the case with this one, it's not the strongest show ever. Christ Anthea, what are you wearing? She evidently thinks she looks great, though I doubt many other people did. Mark continues to look more confident in front of the camera, but still can't shake off that inherent cheesiness.
ReplyDeleteIt almost beggars belief that Shaky was still getting on the show at this point, but here he is with yet another nondescript offering and a large band in tow, which rather limits his room to do his normal moves. Even now, I don't think we have seen the last of him! The odious Bobby Brown may not have much in common with Shaky, but his record also smacks of "will this do?" There's a bit of a Mr Motivator vibe to his skin-tight get-up in the video, and he takes a leaf out of Erasure's book by displaying the song title in big letters.
The breakers are back, but Alyson Williams and Miss Ross will not feature again. The former was forgettable, the latter seemed embarrassingly desperate to get down wiv da kidz, falling flat on her face as a result with this generic dance number.
Macca returns with this Elvis Costello co-write, a reasonable enough tune that never quite hits the heights. Flowers in the Dirt was the first of many Macca albums to be hailed as a stunning return to form before being forgotten about, the hype doubtless being fuelled by the Costello collaboration, which would not last long as the two of them apparently did not get on. The video plays very heavily on the Fabs heritage with some nicely nostalgic archive footage. Neneh looks svelte and stylish, oversize medallion apart, as she performs her second hit. The sung parts are quite pleasant, but the rapping spoils things, and it's not as memorable as Buffalo Stance.
After another burst of aural torture from Stefan, Deacon Blue try to convince us that white men can sing the blues. Instrumentally this is quite lively, and sung by somebody else it might have been good, but Ricky's tedious voice drains the life out of it and suggests a negative answer to the question posed in the chorus. At least he'd had a haircut, I suppose.
Yet another all-star charity record makes number 1, though at least this one breaks away from the normal "stars in the studio" video to give us some intriguing - if sentimentalised - archive footage of Liverpool. For the second time in four years, Gerry Marsden supplied one of his old hits for the cause, though SAW make a right hash of it, replacing the delicate arrangement of the original with nasty synths and bellowing vocals. Anonymous dance fare with the normal epilepsy-inducing video closes the show, Cappella being an Italian dance act who could be seen as paving the way here for the chart-topping success of Black Box later in the year. Anyone know what Helyom Halib actually means?
john i totally concur that macca has been "returning to beatles form" for the last 30 years now before being conveniently forgotten about - can anyone hum or even name a single song of his between then and now?
Deletei see they are using a pic of a pretty ravaged and frail-looking macca to publicise that glasto 2020 has been cancelled as part of cr pandemonium - in it i see he still likes to affect a mullet as was his way back in the 80's, but at least he's given up on the henna/hair dye now!
@wilberforce: I'm sad to say the terrible Macca tune Put It There, It Weighs a Ton pops into my mind far more than it should.
DeleteI wonder if Macca is self-isolating, as he falls into the vulnerable age category? Just about the only song of his from the last 30 years that sticks in my mind is the intensely repetitive and irritating Hope of Deliverance, which got played a lot on the radio at the time (must have been about 1993), and drove me mad!
DeleteI was about to mention Hope of Deliverance too! Presumably written after waiting to see what Burt Reynolds movie was on TV that night.
DeleteAnother Macca of recent vintage: I liked Queenie Eye, but then I saw the video which gave me second thoughts about it.
Deleteas the richest man in rock, i wonder if macca finds it easier to self-isolate than anyone else? does he employ an army of flunkies to get his shopping in, and leave it outside his front door?
DeleteFlaming Pie I thought was a pretty good album - and Chaos & Creation in the Back Yard seems to be highly thought of.
Deletewell does it really matter? macca could have retired half a century ago and have been content to have not only been seem as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, but also probably the richest!
DeleteFlaming Pie was pretty good, likewise Memory Almost Full, but even being a Macca fan I'd say most of his albums over the last 30 years have contained one or two good songs and a lot of filler.
DeleteHelyon Halib is a noise I sometimes make when I accidentally eat some goat cheese.
ReplyDeleteDifferent animal cheese, but maybe you could calm yourself down by watching an old episode of "The Roquefort Files"!
DeleteIncredibly Status Quo were still getting on the show in 1989 - no, wait a minute, it's Shaky doing a facsimile of ver Quo, and not sounding any more vital than they had over the past couple of years. He also has two of the oldest guitarists we've ever seen on this. Anyone identify them?
ReplyDeleteMr Blobby is next - no, wait, it's Bobby Brown looking like a prize berk with his name on his cycling shorts, presumably his mum put that there so he wouldn't lose them. This is an upbeat number that skips along with an insouciance not really shared by its performer.
Anthea gives her look to Roxette, though what she was actually looking at is a mystery because this was a repeat. Struck me that this was basically Let's Go All the Way by Sly Fox in slightly different form.
Breakers, I sort of remember Alyson's effort, but couldn't whistle it for you, and Diana was trying to remain relevant before descending into Vegas balladry in the following decade.
Paul McCartney and the other Elvis Costello hit they did, though this was more of a success and I do prefer it, it has a neat little wistful tune and lyrics, somewhat buried under full on production. Video seems to have it in for memorabilia collectors.
Then the best thing on the show, Neneh Cherry's Manchild, an atmospheric and sweeping item with a smart hip-hop backing, a terrific meld of old style and new with her idiosyncratic lines. She's dropped the entourage for this one, but commands the stage nevertheless. Terrible video, though.
Even more of Stefan's video, which like a stick of rock is exactly the same all the way through. Like watching a supply teacher try to be cool in front of his class.
Deacon Blue don't sing the blues in this hit, it's more of their mid-range qualiddy pop, energetically delivered but as usual, difficult to get excited about. "Oh, Sid James, my biggest influence!" Fellow Scots The Shamen must have been taking notice.
Urgh, a charity record again hits the top, and this is about as atrocious as most of them were. Still, with these it's about the money they raised more than providing musical excellence. Just as well.
Capella not acapella, generic Italo-house right down to the piano sound. At least they recruited Norman Wisdom for the video.
Agree that Nenah Cherry was the best studio performance on the show, and at least for the super figure in that great dress, whether or not the song had much clout, but yes, a great performance in the TOTP studio.
DeleteThe Stefan Dennis video looked quite intriguing to want to watch the whole video, and although his part was not exactly riveting, the lonely-looking hotties somewhat saved the video. The best part part of the lyrics was "Don't it make you feel good when you found somebody to love," which goes to show that those hotties won't be lonely for too long.
Helyom Halib appears to mean... absolutely nothing. Maybe Bill and Ben the Flowerpot Men were involved?
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like some kind of Hebrew phrase, but maybe drugs were also involved in its creation...
DeleteDrugs?! On a house music track? Heaven forfend!
Deletethe most amusing reference to musicians being under the influence of drugs whilst being musically creative was when greg ham of men at work was accused of ripping off an old aussie tune for the flute solo in "down under". in the legal brouhaha that came about many years after it was a worldwide hit, the band admitted that they were under the influence of recreational substances when they recorded the track. and as a result may not have realised that greg was subconsciously copying an old copyrighted tune that was apparently well-known to that generation of aussies!
DeleteApparently Helib is Arabic for milk.
DeleteShakey with a track I thought i didnt remember from its title, but recognised it when it got going.. is this the first time he had a backing band? That thumpety drum sound again !
ReplyDeleteBobby Brown FF (after the ladies had gone)...
Cheesy smile from Anthea on the chart link...
Breakers -alyson Williams forgot her backing track; sam smith karaoke cover: diana ross also forgot her backing track
McCartney - pleasant enough, but I couldn’t hum it 5 seconds after it finished. The tune has elvis costello written all over it.
Neneh cherry - theres a good song trying to get here, but it doesn’t manage it. Chorus sounds like the Spice Girls
Deacon Blue - finally a tune! Not their greatest track, but better than anything so far
Hard to bash a charity record, but it is a bit flaccid
Accapelli - surprisingly, I liked this...didn’t play much though
I don't think Sam Smith was born yet! Believe you meant Sam Brown...
DeleteMaybe...
DeleteThis show shows that older 70s musicians were still pushing the boat out as late as 1989, albeit trying to evolve with the times and adjusting the changing music styles, which in some cases did not really work at all. On this show alone, Diana Ross trying to move it like Bobby Brown, and Paul McCartney with his song title alone, nuff said.
ReplyDeleteHowever I did think that Macca was just brilliant on the Ferry Cross The Mersey charity record at No.1 this week. I mean that chilling, heartwarming new line/addition for 1989 in the second half of the song just really did it for me:
"This land's the place we love, Ferry Cross The mersey.....this land is the place we love......."
Macca loves Liverpool so much, of course, that he left in 1963 and never went back...
DeleteI didn't know that, so yeah, ironic for him to have the new line addition for 1989 singing about 'this land is the place' he loves. Good Lord!
Deletei have read that the population of liverpool has decreased by 50% in the last half-century or so - presumably due to all those becoming famous leaving the place at the earliest opportunity?
DeletePoor Mark, coupled with Turnoff assualting both the ears and the eyes this time. What on Earth is she wearing, and why does she sit down inside that podium?
ReplyDeleteMore questions. What decade are we in? Why are the crowd screeching for Shaky? No room to do his trademark moves to this through-the-ears pop rock. On shaky ground.
Bobby Brown with Jimmy Cricket-style jacket and Ten City-style skislope hair. I actually quite liked this up to the (c)rap and bare chests.
Alyson Williams with the same look and noise as last time – safari, so baddy.
I can’t believe no-one picked up that it’s the second TOTP appearance of Reg Hollis from “the Bill”! First seen in the audience, now doing the Mickey Pearce in Sam’s tongue-in-cheek video for her karaoke blues by numbers.
Gran dancing by Diana Ross with a track trying to keep with the kids in the ‘hood and embarrassing herself in the process.
Paul Costello next, with a definitive Scouse Elvis sound and a nostalgic video trying to play on the punters’ memories to push an okayish song.
It’s Mabel’s Mum! I much prefer “Buffalo Stance” but this is smooth and stylish, twinned with an alluring mime. Agreed, highlight of the night.
This ran it close though! Joking, really. Stefan Dennis was on the Sublime label – yes, seriously – and had two UK chart hits. The follow-up made number 67.
Ricky Ross reminding me of “Back To The Future” era Christopher Lloyd for some reason, and Lorraine’s had the snip too. One of Deacon Blue’s best, with a clever way of sneaking James and Bobby Purify of “I’m Your Puppet” fame into the lyrics, and mentioning driving on the left which the Yanks don’t do, hence probably answering his blues-singing question.
A good cause for the number one but an average cover to put it mildly.
We finish with “Halloumi Kebab” or “Horrible Helib” and some bloke wearing Pet Shop Chris’s cap. I’d rather hear Stefan Dennis again!
I recall reading an interview with Shakin' Stevens last year in which he claimed that he'd notched up possibly more appearances on Top of The Pops down the years than any other performer. (Apparently, he was always the show's first port of call when they were struggling to book studio acts).
ReplyDeleteHe did relate an occasion in 1982, though, when for once he was unavailable to appear. A little-known band called Culture Club got the slot instead, the song (Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?) went on to be their first UK Number 1 and the rest is history.
The Capella song is another one of those I'd forgotten until watching this. And I'd also forgotten the Diana Ross and Shaky singles. As an avid Neighbours fan, Don't It Make You Feel Good never fails to make me laugh. Still, always here for The Look and Manchild, and Deacon Blue makes this episode at least a bit stronger than the next one.
ReplyDeleteWell, a few more comments than previous weeks already..it's almost like we are all at a loose end.
ReplyDelete"Turn-off" is her usual shouty excitable self and she even brings Mr Goodier out of his shell a bit, this is by far his best performance.
80s best seller Shaky is back again with a more polished up 50s sound. "Love Attack" is a storming start to the show. Gonna be the odd one out here and say I really like this but the public disagreed and this is his fall from chart success.
"I Might" also charts but the album doesn't come out for another year. We missed out on some moves as the Director clearly thinks the guitars are more important.
“Every Little Step” Bobby Brown takes in those shorts is a crime. This is by far his best tune up until the rap. He really loves himself doesn't he!
Roxette on repeat.
Breakers:
Alyson Williams - Nice Russian hats. Forgotten the tune already.
Sam Brown - Now I remember the video to "Can I Get A Witness" Didn't realise Pc Reg Hollis was in it.
Song is quite catchy as well.
R&B Diana Ross - "Workin' Overtime" Well the production is but the song is terrible. Go back to the ballads Diana.
Home video time with the only Beatle you'd take home to your Mum (Happy Mothers Day). Macca putting on a “Brave Face” in the video to an average but cheerful song.
Now this is more like it from Neneh, “Manchild" is an amazing song and shows how to mix rap/pop music (pay attention Bobby Brown). Just really happy to hear this again.
Stefan creeping slowly up the chart. “Donitmakeyafeelgood"? Nope...
Deacon Blue back with tune of the night. “Fergus Sings The Blues” another one of their upbeat tunes like "Real Gone Kid". Good stuff.
Gerry Marsden, Paul McCartney, Holly Johnson, and The Christians – “Ferry Cross The Mersey” is the full credit but "Various Artists" seems to be TOTP idea. Nice that the stars are not in the video. As for the SAW version - it's for a good cause.
Come On Let's Work - does that translate as “Helyom Halib”??? Bet this would sound odd (A)Cappella. Liked this dance tune at the time. It's dated terribly though.
As noted by John in the first review of this pretty awful show, it’s a distraction from current events and gives us the opportunity to critique far less important matters. Hope all the regulars are keeping well btw.
ReplyDeleteShakin’ Stevens – Love Attack – I watched this thinking if this had been the follow up to (say) ‘Green Door’ it would surely have got higher than no28. It’s pretty standard Shaky material really.
Bobby Brown – Every little step – Just what was the appeal of Bobby Brown? No6? Sheesh.
Roxette – The look – Thought it was a repeat.
Breakers – I would say nice to see the breakers back, but….
Paul McCartney – My brave face – Enjoyed the nostalgic video more than the song.
Nenah Cherry – Manchild – FF
Stefan Dennis – Don’t it make you feel good – Not at all
Deacon Blue – Fergus sings the blues – Pretty ordinary.
Ferry ‘Cross the Mersey – Still painful watching the images and seeing the aftermath of what happened that day. No matter the musical merit of this (and the original was a great song), this was a deserved no1.
Cappella – Helyom Halib – Conveniently placed at the end for a quick exit. Hold on, don’t they normally feature the playout track the next week if it is still going up? zzzzz
Even in this current climate where there's plenty of time to watch TV, I still find myself a week behind. Oh well...
ReplyDeleteShakin' Stevens - I vaguely recall this from the time, but it's not very good and he's still got a few more hits yet to come!
Bobby Brown - This is the only song of his I actually like, and is now seen as one of the trailblazers of the New Jack Swing sound, for better or worse.
Breakers - I was hoping for PIL as 'Disappointed' is a very under-rated song. Sadly not. The Alyson Williams one is as average as I remembered, and the Diana Ross track is awful.
Paul McCartney - As Mrs. Noax points out whenever this song plays, the line 'as I push away another untouched TV dinner' is a little unrealistic since he's probably never had one in his life! I like the song more than she does though.
Neneh Cherry - A great song which even persuaded a rap and dance music hating friend of mine at school to buy the album on the strength of this single. Which he then unsurprisingly hated, so I ended up buying it from him.
Deacon Blue - One of their finest singles.
Ferry 'Cross The Mersey - I remember when the Chart Show played this they rather disgracefully credited this to 'Scouse Aid'. I thought there was a scrolling caption of those who lost their lives over the video, but that's not present here.
As charity records ago, I think it's one of the better ones. According to Pete Waterman's book, Macca's rather strained vocal at the end was left in at Linda's request as she liked the emotion in his voice.
Cappella - As the resident Italian House lover I...well...love it. The first of many hits over the next few years for producer Gianfranco Bortolotti.
Disappointed was a great, anthemic track, I agree. Should have done better (as with a lot of PIL stuff after Rise).
Deletenever heard the PIL track in question, but for me "disappointed" is one of the greatest-ever pet shop boys tracks in all-but-name
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