Hot in the studio
03/08/89 (Jenny Powell & Steve Wright)
Gun – “Better Days” (33)
Getting the show underway with what was their first of eight top 40 hits but it got no higher.
Martika – “Toy Soldiers” (27) (video)
This nursery rhyme flavoured tune became her first of three top ten hits when it peaked at number 5.
Paul McCartney – “This One” (30)
In the studio with his latest band and this second single from his number one album Flowers in the Dirt peaked at number 18.
Alice Cooper – “Poison” (13) (video)
Peaked at number 2.
Transvision Vamp – “Landslide Of Love” (19)
Raising the studio temperature to boiling point and the song peaked at number 14.
Wendy & Lisa – “Satisfaction” (34)
In the studio to perform their only top 40 hit and it peaked at number 27.
Lightning Seeds – “Pure” (32) (video)
Became their (or his!) first of fifteen top 40 hits when it peaked at number 16.
Kylie Minogue – “Wouldn’t Change A Thing” (2)
Looking very sparkly in the studio with what became her fourth of eleven number two hits.
Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers – “Swing The Mood” (1) (video)
Their first of five weeks at number one.
Shakespear’s Sister – “You’re History” (26) (video/credits)
Became the duo's first of three top ten hits when it peaked at number 7.
August 10th is next.
Ah strange to just have one show a week to review, but makes it easier to keep up! Wrighty’s back with Jenny Powell who I don’t recall at all!
ReplyDeleteGun – Better Days – Pretty energetic but that’s all I can say about it.
Martika – Toy Soldiers – Number one in the States! Great T’Pau like sound.
Paul McCartney – This one – Nice to see Macca back in the studio. Now can someone please unearth those lost ToTP Beatles appearances….please?
Alice Cooper – Poison – I recall watching ‘Schools out’ in Summer 72 with my parents as they ranted and raved about how dreadful it was with him brandishing that sword and shouting out such subversive lyrics. I’m surprised the TV didn’t get turned off. I quite like ‘Poison’ as well.
Transvison Vamp - Landslide of Love – Soaring chorus and eye catching outfit from Wendy James. Phew!
Wendy and Lisa – Satisfaction – Another Wendy…popular name this week….but this is not a patch on Ms. James’s effort.
Lightning Seeds – Pure – No Lions on his shirt here. Pleasant enough tune.
Kylie Minogue – Wouldn’t change a thing – Well she did; the gold trousers became gold hot pants some years later. The tune’s predictable enough though. Kylie gets four dancers compared with Sonia’s solo chappie.
Jive Bunny and the Master Mixers – Swing the Mood – Delighted to see this at the top, and I’d like to highlight this excellent video of the 12” version which is longer and features more of the Glenn Miller Band at the start and end including Pennsylvania 6-5000. The compiler has done a very good job of synching in actual footage of the artists. Six minutes of listening pleasure!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygIcyOSITgo
Shakespeare’s Sister – You’re History – “The one from Bananarama” everyone said at the time, and gosh what an irritating chorus this has.
As far as I'm aware, the only surviving clip of the Fabs on TOTP has come down to us courtesy of Doctor Who, which used a snippet of their performance of Ticket to Ride in episode 1 of The Chase.
DeleteThe Beatles only performed in the Top of the Pops studio on one occasion - in 1966 when they did Paperback Writer, and its b side Rain. A home movie clip of Paperback Writer was unearthed last year, but Rain seems lost forever. All their other appearances on the show were via videos (or films or whatever they were called in those days).
DeleteYes, they were called 'films' until 1981, where the first mention of the term 'video' was coined by DLT in a TOTP episode in October of that year. Can't remember who the lucky group were that had the first 'video' on that TOTP show.
DeleteThanks for the Beatles clarity. I always thought that the Beatles 'Ticket to Ride' clip from episode 1 of 'The Chase' (called 'The Executioners') was a ToTP recording, but no, it must have been a film insert.
DeleteAs Angelo rightly points out, it was just for the 'Paperback Writer / Rain' outing that the Fab Four graced the ToTP studio. According to Ian Gittins' excellent ToTP book, George was miming 'Frere Jacques' during this performance.
They sing frere jacque on the record. Listen also to Girl where they have backing vocals of 't*t t*t t*t'. They could be very naughty....
DeleteYes, the Ticket to Ride performance was a film insert, but I think it was done especially for TOTP.
Deletefor me alice cooper's finest moment by far was "elected". and i remember actually watching a pre-"bohemian rhapsody" promo video for it on the show, where alice's running mate for president is a chimp!
DeleteThis one wilberforce?
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSvy8HpxFxo
I recall being totally blown away by this 'film' when I saw it on ToTP. Myself, I prefer 'Hello Hurray'. More tune in that.
yes sct, that's the one. by strange coincidence a woman in the video is carrying a sign saying "boycott lettuce" - perhaps prophesising the meeting of alice and geoffrey many years later?
DeleteWhat a shambolic, amateur half-hour hosting effort that was from this week’s duo (both shorts-clad, inevitably). Wrighty looked like he had never been in a TV studio before, despite at this point being the longest-serving TOTP presenter, and as for Jenny, what can you say? I do like her, but stuff like “I think they are called Gun” is unforgivable really. When she later told us that nobody knew anything about the Lightning Seeds, I strongly suspect she just meant herself…
ReplyDeleteSeemingly not put out by Jenny’s intro, Gun give a confident, head and hair-shaking debut performance, but they are not the most attractive bunch, the singer especially. Their chart peak would come a few years after this, and they are still going today, but this isn’t a bad first effort, a reasonably catch chorus just falling short of being truly memorable. On to video for Martika, yet to invite us into her kitchen but musing on toy soldiers instead. This is a well-produced song, though the nursery rhyme bits irritate and Martika’s vocals grate a little. Still, she undeniably looks good and the video makes sure to put her into various sultry poses to capitalise on the fact.
A magnificently-mulleted Macca deigns to grace the studio with his presence, and this is actually something of a forgotten gem, a cheery and melodic little ditty ideal for summer; however, I could have done without him acting out the lyrics in that hammy, slappable fashion. The Vamp are back with one I don’t remember, but it’s actually quite good, slightly reminiscent of early Blondie but with a strong, anthemic chorus undermined slightly by the limitations of Wendy’s voice. She dresses in her normal modest, understated manner, but thankfully leaves the vaseline at home this time.
We get another Wendy straight after, as Prince’s big-haired former employees enjoy a hit in their own right. This is pleasingly funky, and clearly displays the influence of the Purple One, though it never really gets out of first gear. A portent of the 90s next, as Ian Broudie makes it on TOTP for the first time, albeit only on video. This is the best song on the show – I have never been keen on Ian’s voice, but this is a great little pop tune that overcomes his vocal limitations. An appropriately simple video to go with it too, as Ian gets showered by what looks like sparks from a Catherine wheel.
Strictly production line SAW fare follows from Kylie, in gold lame trousers and once again accompanied by a group of male dancers all considerably taller than her. Both song and performance are lacklustre, with the trousers the only memorable thing, but of course Kylie could no wrong chartwise at the time. As the Bunny begins his reign of terror at the top, we do get a pleasing playout from Shakespears Sister, with Siobhan almost unrecognisable from her Nanas days thanks to her new vampy persona, and Marcella playing the role of a helium-voiced Louise Brooks. This song is now completely overshadowed by their later, monster number 1, but it works a treat, thanks in part to the vocal contrast. The original intention was that SS would be a solo project for Siobhan, with Marcella employed as a session singer, but she made such an impression in the studio that they became a duo, at Dave Stewart's urging. This unplanned development doubtless played its part in fuelling the tensions that eventually led to their acrimonious split, but happily they are friends again now and performing together once more.
Yes, I thought it was very odd that the producers of this episode didn't do another take when Jenny Powell said "Gun I think...." I mean it was something like out of a chitchat in a cafe rather than being a presenter on the most watched pop show on TV! Shambolic indeed John. She was much better on her TOTP debut a couple of months back as presenter when she was being flirty with her co-presenter. This next outing with Steve Wright was a bit of a downturn by her.
DeleteIt may be no coincidence that after this Wrighty only hosted one further show, and Jenny just two more!
DeleteA case of easing them out gently!
DeleteGlasgow's Gun start us off (a starting Gun?) with a chugging rocker that either wasn't heavy metal enough or power pop rock enough, and falls between two stools. It's OK as far as it goes, and they were very young, so it's an achievement of sorts.
ReplyDeleteMartika makes her chart debut with a song about the ravages of drug addiction, which ironically she would know all too much about in the following years. Was it Brits '90 where she presented an award in a much-mocked state of dishevelment? Anyway, this is by far the best thing she ever did (spare us her Carole King cover!), with a children's choir chorus ("Pretentious, moi?") accompanying her on a plaintive tune that evidently impressed a young Eminem.
Paul McCartney mugs his way through This One as if he did not quite have enough confidence in it on its own, but it's a perfectly decent little ditty, even if it sounds like a throwaway Beatles' B-side at best. Funnily enough I got a packet of his wife's sausages this week.
Alice headed for Top Ten Wonderland, and the first reference to black lace since the days of Agadoo. Then (yes!) the best Transvision Vamp song, it is, don't argue, with a Phil Spector turned punk production and a melody that Wendy can't quite make all the notes of. Seriously underrated, this one. Wendy has been on Sounds of the 80s tonight picking her favourite four 80s tracks, and she chose Iggy Pop's theme to Repo Man as one, excellent choice and she's a fan of the film too - I'm warming to her!
Prince's cohorts with one of the singles off their Sideshow album, for some reason though this was fine, the far stronger Waterfalls wasn't as big (or a bigger) hit. But this grooves along pleasingly, if anything their strength was on the production side as you can hear, er, here. Underrated album too.
The Lightning Seeds, who fittingly took their name from Prince's Raspberry Beret lyrics (misheard), had been around for years in various capacities, but finally broke through to the charts with their trademarked sadvoiced pop. Though I was never moved to buy one of their records, I did like hearing them on the radio, they played the music game very well.
Kylie with one of my favourite of her SAW songs, maybe it's the way it jumps to the "Had!" in the chorus and winds down from there in sweet, reflective fashion, but this was one I didn't mind at all when it was a hit, and would have far preferred it at number one.
Alas, what we got was the dread Bunny for over a month, bought by people who complained about Pump Up the Volume with no hint of irony. And the no.1 after it wasn't much better.
Shakespeare's Sister to end on with You're Histovvy, I'm always reminded of The Mary Whitehouse Experience's pisstake of them which must have really rankled with Siobhan. But I quite like this, despite Marcella steamrollering her bandmate vocally. It has a nice "I'm over it!" empowerment theme.
Yes indeed, warming to Wendy James too following her breathtaking appearance and performance on this show in her jeans shorts. I guess it was a very hot summer, if added to this we had Steve Wright and Jenny Powell also coming in somewhat longer shorts.
DeleteWendy & Lisa were famously on the Prince video for the song 1999 which got to No.2 in 1985, although the video and song was first released in 1983. You can see Wendy & Lisa looking amazing on backing vocals and keyboards on this Prince video (well at least Lisa if not both). Have always been a fan ever since:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rblt2EtFfC4
I think Wendy was the bleach blonde in the video for '1999' by Prince & The Revolution, but now back to her natural brunette colour in Wendy and Lisa, with Lisa as naturally brunette across both The Revolution and Wendy & Lisa. Anyone correct me otherwise.
Deletethe wendy & lisa album in question was actually called "fruit at the bottom" (a real "ooh er missus" title, and i suspect a coded attempt to notify their audience they were sapphic lovers at the time). and indeed there are several decent tracks on it (if unsurprisingly not-disimilar to that of their previous employer), with my pick being the wistful but beaty ballad "always in my dreams". this year really has been a non-event for me with regard to what has been in the charts and on the show. but tracks like the above remind me that there was still some damn fine music being produced!
Deletei too also fondly remember the "mary whitehouse" piss-take of shakespeare's sister (for fuck's sake, when is that pretentious git rob newman going to relent and allow dvd's of the series to be released?). however even though most of us had no idea who marcy was, she was already pretty rich at this point as a result of co-writing the american FM radio staple "lay down sally" with clappo
By the way, I know the punk Phil Spector album is technically End of the Century by The Ramones, and I like that too.
ReplyDeleteOh God, is Nodding Dog back? Really? Wearing a tie with shorts at least two sizes too tight and looking like a very dodgy scout camp leader!
ReplyDeleteJenny had the looks but, sadly, not the hosting skills. Great intro there for Gun.
The intro track reminded me of “The Look” by Roxette but not as good. All those fireworks for a bit of a damp squib, complete with overly posing bassist.
An irritating waterfall video effect for “Ring A Ring A Martika”. Nice moment in the vid where a bit of spittle stretches bewteen the gal’s lips during a close-up. Num num.
Jenny screws up the mugshots with no number given for Dogs D’Amour and Gun being branded funky.
A quite pleasant and sweet track from Macca which surprised me. Stick to miming the song, though.
Alice Cooper’s supposedly surprise hit was less surprising than seeing Skislope Nose back on the show after a long and welcome break. Did Poison ever record a tribute track called “Alice Cooper” in return? Cuh. Same part of the video as last week, same eye candy, same cracking track.
Wendy’s back with her ‘Big D Nuts’ pub picture mission of less clothing with each hit. That annoying drummer’s still mugging it. The singer had way more appeal than the song, and band for that matter.
Inferior Lisa with Wendy for a Prince B-side or album track with no distinction between verse and chorus. No satisfaction here for me.
Nodding Dog catches the curse of Jenny (and indeed Noel Edmonds) by forgetting The Lightning Seeds’ name after “Pure” , which sounds like the start of the theme tune to Johnny Ball’s kids’ show “Think Of A Number” but is actually quite lovely. Certainly lovelier than the scary image of Ian Broudie’s lugholes reflected in that water. Watch out for that welder to your right!
Four dancers for Kylie. Eat that, Sonia! Sounds like the sort of track Big Fun would do. Oh, hang on, look over there on the horizon...
The chart topper. Music fine, nostalgia okay, mascot KILL!!!
Shakespear’s Sister with “Goodbye” according to Nodding Dog. Note the unusual spelling of “Shakespeare’s” to avoid copyright issues with the Smiths track of the same name. I’m reminded of French and Saunders savaging “Stay”. This was certainly different to The Nanas. Expect “Crying” or “Free” as the follow-up.
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DeleteWatching the Paul McCartney studio performance, it seemed that 1989 was the year that a number 1970s hanging-oners hoping to keep their popularity going into yet another decade, with their popularity now waning in their forties, were coming up against a new fresh generation born in the 60s and 70s now performing on TOTP and getting the lions share of chart single purchases.
DeleteThese old timers who would previously have had no time for TOTP, like McCartney, Stevie Nicks, Donna Summer, Robert Palmer, and later in 1989 Tina Turner, Debbie Harry, had to come down to earth from previously filling stadiums or big arenas, to now having to do TV shows like TOTP, in dressing rooms alongside Kylie Minogue, Sonia, Sinitta, Samantha Fox, etc, it was a sad fall from grace, and in desperation to keep their careers going, having to accept almost any invitations by now, however small it seemed, having to muck in somehow with the newcomers old enough to be their kids.
You know, I wonder... did the Jive Bunny crew watch Salt 'n' Pepa do "Twist And Shout" and The Fat Boys with Chubby Checker and think "We can take this retro idea and roll with it"?
ReplyDeleteHi xrayfour! I'm on to ask if you've got any parts of the following shows that Popscene says are wiped but the shows still exist in the BBC archives. I've already asked Anonymous ages ago and he hasn't got them. They are 3/04/75, 17/07/75 and 19/02/76. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteExcellent show this week
ReplyDeleteGun - good start, but dreadful miming of the guitars. Pyrotechnics must have cost pounds...
Martika - Slower than I remember , but I like it. Sampled later by Eninem(?)
Macca - one of his better later hits.
Alice Cooper - same video. I found the X video earlier this week (on a german video channel!) Less naughty than I remembered.
Transvision Vamp - they certainly churned them out didn’t they. Chorus sounds like a sixties song, but can’t place it...
Wendy and Lisa - sounds like a Prince B Side, but pleasant enough (first time for that phrase this week)
Lightning Seeds - big fan of Broudie, and Pure is one of the best. (Did the FGTH link give him a bunk up I wonder). Guitar solo sounds like it was stolen off New Order, which is ironic...
Kylie - SAW/Kylie bandwagon starting to run out of steam now - wouldnt change a thing indeed. Audience a little over the top.
Jive Bunny - first FF of the week
Big of a cock up on the final link. Did Jenny think there was more to come?
Shakespears Sister - like thus. Looking forward to seeing a full performance
Interestingly, I didn't think that Transmission Vamp had this many chart releases and appearances on TOTP over the 1988-1989 period. Before these reruns, I would only have named I Want Your Love and Baby I Don't Care which were both top 5 hits, so it figures.
Delete3 more hits to come, but poor chart placings. Not sure if they will qualify for an appearance.
DeleteShame, I'll miss Wendy on these reruns, it's like we've got to know her well over the last few months on these shows, anticipating what she will wear (or not wear) next. There's no-one quite like her really.
DeleteThat's the last we'll see of Wendy (literally) in the studio. The Vamp get an outro slot later in 1989 and, after not making the chart the next year, they get a breakers slot in 1991 as their swansong.
DeleteGood Lord, I didn't think The Breakers section was still going in 1991. That is quite a long time since this section was launched in 1986!
DeleteChrist. Now Stranglers keyboard wizard Dave Greenfield has succumbed to the virus.
ReplyDeleteJust read that in the paper today. Dave's classic keyboard sound really made those early 'Rattus Norvegicus' tracks such as 'Sometimes' and 'Hanging around'. RIP Dave
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DeleteJust heard that the co-founder of Kratwerk, Florian Schneider, has died aged 73. RIP
DeleteThey don't call Kraftwerk the Electronic Beatles for nothing. Ralf and Florian changed the sound of music forever. RIP genius.
DeleteDoes anyone remember Trans-X who got to No.9 in August 1985 with Living On Video. I think they were a British Group that may have taken inspiration from Kraftwerk's synth style, as it sounds so similar:
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9xBAtCsCTQ
They were Canadian, and I can see some inspiration there, especially in the original version which didn't chart.
DeleteAlthough she was hardly brilliant herself, I did feel sorry for Jenny Powell here - Steve Wright was doing his usual act of not bothering to finish links properly ('over there!' etc.) and completely missing her cues to him, most notably at the end when Jenny cued him to give the title of the track. He must've been a bloody nightmare to work with.
ReplyDeleteGun - Surprisingly melodic for a rock song, this one has grown on me over the years and I'd certainly rather hear it than 'Word Up' which in contrast has aged badly.
Martika - I loved this at the time. Not as keen on it now maybe, but I did get a bit wistful watching the video, she certainly new how to present herself...
Paul McCartney - For some reason, I've never liked this and I find it overly twee. Give me 'My Brave Face' any day.
Transvision Vamp - It's alright, but I'm not as excited about it as others here seem to be!
Wendy & Lisa - A good song, if unsurprisingly derivative of the purple one's sound. I preferred the singles that didn't become hits - 'Waterfall' and 'Strung Out'.
The Lightning Seeds - Ian Broudie certainly knew his way around a pop hook, and this is one of his very best.
Kylie - One of those forgotten SAW songs I would say, even though it was only a cartoon bunny away from topping the chart. I like it.
Shakespear's Sister - What a great debut hit this is. It always mystified me how the other singles from their first album (particularly 'Run Silent') missed the Top 40. I saw them last year at one of their reunion gigs and they were briliant.
Sweet Pea Atkinson of Was Not Was has died too (he was the taller singer). What a week!
ReplyDeleteSweet Pea was the one who always wore a hat in the Was Not videos, the singer with older and deeper voice. His finest work with Was Not Was, was a remake of the classic Papa Was A Rolling Stone, which in my opinion was the best version of them all, and wearing his usual hat:
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubAYXWrO9R8
A week late but a rather fine edition of TOTP this week only spoiled by Wrighty and Jenny P trying to outdo each other in fluffing up their links.
ReplyDeleteThe boys from Gun get us off to a great start but unfortunately “Better Days” did not await them as they appear to have been erased from any type of radio play or recognition these days. Amazed they managed 8 Top 40 hits. A decent chorus to this one and a nice start to the show.
I was a huge fan of Martika in 89 and “Toy Soldiers” sounds very fresh and original. The video is not up to much but a deserved Top Ten hit. Eminem was listening too.
Nice to see Paul McCartney in the studio although he is in a band Jenny (he isn't a band himself).. “This One” is a nice little pop number and I quite enjoyed this performance. Will check this one out again I think.
A bit more of Alice Coopers finest hour next. Superb.
Wendy James wouldn't look out of place in the Alice Cooper video as she's forgotten her shirt. Song isn't too bad, nice chorus, although as usual I was somewhat distracted. Miss James has a new album out today...I may give that a miss.
What a funky little tune this is from Wendy & Lisa. “Satisfaction” indeed and I really enjoyed this. Quality stuff.
Next up the most unlikely "pop pinup" of the day (oh those ears). Maybe that's why he disguised himself as a band. Lightning Seeds had much success of course and “Pure (and simple)” is a fine start.
A pre-filmed Kylie Minogue up next with “Wouldn’t Change A Thing (except murder a Bunny for a Number One single)”. SAW really struck lucky with her as she gives a great performance with her dancers. Always steals the show despite her size (I laughed at the dancers having to duck as they danced in front of her). Compare her stage presence to Jason, or even Sonia. Class of her own. Decent song as well. She's on the up!
A bit less of Jive Bunny this week. Had a quick sing-a-long though.
I never knew Shakespear had a Sister. Maybe “You’re History” lessons were better than mine Siobhan. Ex-Banana and screechy (Canadian?) Marcella make a perfect pop combo, This really is a great pop song. Shame it faded out so quickly, I wanted more..
Shoot the Bunny and we would of had a 10/10 tonight. Fabulous.
Shakespeare actually had four sisters, though only one survived to adulthood...
DeletePerfect librarian work John
DeleteCheers John. 😀
DeleteEvery day is a school day
presumably macca's band included hamish stuart as this point? despite having perhaps the greatest-ever white soul voice (something his employer could only dream of). it was rather tragic seeing the ex-average white band singer and guitarist reduced to being macca's fill-in! and i've not even mentioned the ignomity of having to put up with the presence of the talentless mrs macca in the band (i have now ha ha). still, i assume it far more likely paid for his home extensions than the AWB back catalogue could at this point?
DeleteAh, Wilby, Hamist Stuart recently teamed up with an act to record "Black Cow" as a 40th anniversary tribute to Steely Dan's seminal album "Aja". You might enjoy this...
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gf847tBw27U
thanks for the link arthur - i'll have a listen once i get my laptop udgraded to W10
Deletemy first exposure to the dan (and "the don") was when i heard "do it again" being played in a record shop when i was about 16. as a result i decided to blow my summer job wages on the "aja" album that had recently been released on spec, but as soon as i started to listening to the first track on it "black cow" i realised it was money well-spent. and indeed it became a seminal album in terms influencing not only my listening but also my own consequent creative musical efforts!
so i don't know if you remember this arthur, but a few years back as a fagen disciple i was umming and aahing whether to listen to "sunken condos" as i was concerned he might have shot his creative bolt. however partly on your advice i took the plunge when a chum gave me the album on mp3. and it turned out to be well worth it as there are several excellent tracks (even if he wasn't exactly re-inventing the wheel), with "miss marlene" a real standout