Tank fly boss walk jam nitty-gritty, you're listening to the boy from the big bad city, this is the 8th of February 1990 edition of Top of the Pops, this is the 8th of February 1990 edition of Top of the Pops!
Jam hot
8-2-90: Presenter: Gary Davies
(10) YELL! – Instant Replay
Getting the show underway for a second time but the song got no higher.
(27) JANET JACKSON – Come Back To Me (video)
Peaked at number 20.
(15) BEATS INTERNATIONAL feat. LINDY LAYTON – Dub Be Good To Me
Making their debut in the studio and Gary was spot on with his number one prediction.
(11) DEL AMITRI – Nothing Ever Happens
Their first of fifteen top 40 hits but it was now at its peak.
(19) LISA STANSFIELD – Live Together (video)
Peaked at number 10.
(24) THE BELOVED – Hello (video)
This Madchester sound peaked at number 19.
(7) PHIL COLLINS – I Wish It Would Rain Down
At its peak.
(12) SKID ROW – 18 And Life (video)
The Bon Jovi juniors were also at their peak.
(1) SINEAD O’CONNOR – Nothing Compares 2 U (video)
Second of four weeks at number one.
(29) EURYTHMICS – The King And Queen Of America (video) (and credits)
Entertaining video but the song was now at its peak.
15th of February is next.
Gazza’s back, wearing a shirt that he looks to have borrowed from Nicky Campbell; with the Commonwealth Games now over, the show is also back in its normal Thursday slot. Yell start us off again, making the most of their fifteen minutes while it lasted, and swapping the uniforms for red jackets and shirts that appear to have hoods attached to them. Janet Jackson’s in Paris, but her elegant surroundings can’t disguise the fact that this slower effort is deeply dull. Things liven up back in the studio, as Norman Cook and chums begin their climb to the top with this fine record, enhanced by its laid-back groove and Morricone harmonica sample from Once Upon a Time in the West. I would imagine Fatboy must have taken some satisfaction from becoming the first ex-Housemartin to reach number 1…
ReplyDeleteOh no, here comes Gracie again, with a typically dreary song and a drab video filmed around a nondescript railway station – was she keen to remind everyone of her northern roots? The constantly flickering light rapidly gets on the nerves too. Much better follows from The Beloved, with their curious Duran Duran-meets-Madchester sound. They beat Madge to the punch here with this name-dropping single, and she never incorporated Cannon and Ball into Vogue! Singer Jon Marsh’s poncho continues this show’s spaghetti western theme.
We get to see some more of Sinead’s famously tear-stained video this week, but it gets cut brutally short. That leaves us with Annie and Dave, and another satirical attack on the US of A to follow Fish’s effort a few weeks previously. By coincidence, I heard this on the radio for the first time in 30 years just the other day; it is hardly one of their classics, but it chugs along nicely enough, and the video gives Annie free rein to raid the dressing-up box, as she always loves doing. They had actually split by this point, though their was one further Top 30 hit to come from the We Too Are One LP.
What an ironic title for that Eurythmics album!
DeleteThey left out the G in the last word.
DeleteThey called their comeback album in 1999 Peace, perhaps to indicate they had kissed and made up by then...
DeleteWas the album after the comeback one called Peace Off?
DeleteThey never made another album, but I would like to think so!
DeleteEurythmics still going in 1990? Don't remember this song, but it's very good, and I always thought that Annie Lennox boasted a great figure in those evening dresses when she dressed up similarly in previous videos during the 80s.
DeleteOf course, yes. There was 'Vogue' with its list of screen icons just about to make the charts as well. You could say 'Hello' is midway between 'We Didn't Start The Fire' and Smith and Jones' pisstake of 'Vogue'. Similar names if you've seen it.
DeleteThere's also 'Endless Art' by A House which takes celebrity name dropping to a whole other level of drollness!
A House did indeed do Endless Art, and when someone pointed out all the talents they namechecked were male, they did an all-female version (which you never hear).
Deletesimple minds had had a go a few years earlier with "up on the catwalk"
DeleteMic - yes, I well remember the Smith & Jones Vogue send-up. Patrick Moore, Virginia Wade...
DeleteJust seen that Bobby Ball has died - the curse of the repeats strikes again!
DeleteHighlights of this episode follow:
ReplyDeleteYell! - Their remake of the Dan Hartman 1978 classic, it was SAW-inspired all over, they've kicked off the show the same as last time round just like when Big Fun did with their first two hits.
Janet Jackson - The third track from her Rhythm Nation 1814 album, whilst the U.S. had to wait for this ballad to be released in August, i'd assume this was the fifth in the U.S. market whereas 'Escapade' and 'Alright' soon followed for the U.K. market, the song reached number two in the U.S. Hot 100 in August held off by a new diva called Mariah Carey with her very first hit 'Vision of Love' in which we will be seeing in January of next year in the TOTP re-runs.
Beats International - Norman Cook's second dance project made their TOTP debut for the first of two hits only to feature Lindy Layton, as this was based on The Clash's 'The Guns of Brixton' and S.O.S. Band's 1984 hit 'That Sounds Good to Me', clearly Mr Davies got his prediction right it would be number one in 3 weeks time.
Lisa Stansfield - Couldn't make it to the studio, she'd had to be on video in monochrome mode for the second single on her Affection album.
The Beloved - They didn't make it to the studio sadly, so they'd have to a 2 minute snippet of the video as to namecheck a few celebrity mentions as it least they've been different songs called 'Hello' during the years.
Phil Collins - His first TOTP appearance of the 90s and the second track taken from his ...But Seriously album.
Skid Row - We get a 2 minute snippet of the video than the previous week's play-out, sadly the BBC's decision was to cut that murder scene out which was included in it and as you'd may see the full length video through YouTube.
Sinead O'Connor - Finally the video makes its full appearance (was over 2 minutes) as we'd just seen it as a breaker on the 18/01/90 episode, after two weeks of studio performances, this had already topped the chart in some countries as the U.S. followed suit in April.
Eurythmics - Play-out time, entertaining video althoughly as it was soon to be their first hit of the '90s, their next hit would be a re-release of the 'Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)' and their next studio album would be another nine years as Annie had to concentrate on her solo career as she began writing songs for Diva which would be the following year.
The Beloved Were in the studio but the BBC infax system (used by Popscene For Their Episode Guide) had it listed as a video airing.
DeleteSorry to be pedantic, especially as I'm not always right to put it mildly and I constantly forget to use Spellcheck, but the Beats International song cribbed "Just Be Good To Me" by The S.O.S. Band, whereas "That Sounds Good to Me" was a future ear-hurter in this re-run (and sadly in about a month's time for us) by Jive Bunny!
DeleteEurythmics’ next single will actually be Angel, which we may see in a few weeks’ time. I’ve always thought it was one of their best, despite being their final single (until the reunion, barring reissues).
Deletethat's the third eurythmics song with "angel" in the title (after "i've got an angel" and "there must be an angel"). either annie was getting obsessive, or running out of lyrical ideas?
DeletePerhaps Annie being born on Christmas Day led to her angel obsession?
DeleteOh Hell, it's Yell! Just watch those 15 minutes of fame evaporate boys, you hitched your wagon to the wrong SAW horse.
ReplyDeleteJanet Jackson with her Paris signifier, La Tour Eiffel, just to let us know she spent a bit of dosh on her video (we wouldn't have known otherwise). A sweet ballad with a lovely chorus, one of the slower, catch your breath songs on the Rhythm Nation album.
How come Norman didn't mention the matching breeks in the Story of...? Did he get them run up especially, or was it someone else's idea? Anyway, a lot more innovative take on a classic ditty than Sybil's last week, but I did hear this too often at the time, it really stuck around.
Del Amitri whingeing - did Angry from Manchester complain about this repeat performance? Then a brief snippet of Lisa Stansfield, taking her inspiration from Norman Wisdom judging by that sideways cap. Mr Grimsdale! Song, eh, nothing special, but inoffensive.
After the Altered States-style video last week, we get The Beloved in person with a pretentious version of Tribe of Toffs' John Kettley is a Weatherman. Always a bit too pleased with itself, this one, though the namechecks are rather remarkable.
Phil pissing down, then Skid Row taking the surly teenager theme of half the metal records around at the time just too far. If it wasn't for the subject matter it would look like a shampoo commercial. Nirvana didn't spring from nowhere!
More videos to end on, as we get a snippet of Sinead moping, then Eurythmics arseing about with another grudge against America. People are too scared of current events to make these kinds of
pop records now, I think. Smug, not much of a melody, you could tell inspiration was thin on the ground, though they would both bounce back in different ways.
I watched yesterday the second half of The Story of 1990, and Lindy Layton 30 years on looks a hottie at age 49 now. Suffice to say she was only 19 on this TOTP performance in 1990 with Norman Cook, and will be performing at the Toogether concert weekend at the Isle of Wight at the end of July as Lindy Layton (Beats International):
Deletehttps://www.toogether.co.uk/line-up
I remember reading in a record paper that Steve and Claire, namechecked in the Beloved's "Hello", were apparently a real-life couple who performed a live sex show nightly at some club in the Balearics.
ReplyDeleteI heard the same thing about Zippy, Bungle and Jeffrey Archer.
DeleteIn their latter years, both Keith Harris and Geoffrey from Rainbow did "adult" shows for the students who had watched them as kids. Thankfully, I never witnessed one of those...
DeleteAnd there are still people in this world who will argue staunchly the "twangers" clip was a real episode and not part of a Thames Christmas tape.
DeleteYouTube also has a small clip of an adult "Rainbow" tape with everyone's favourite well-balanced comedian Jim Davidson, though he doesn't throw the 'F" word.
ReplyDeleteIf it's the clip I'm thinking of, it's Zippy who gets foul-mouthed.
DeleteCorrect!
DeleteJanet Jackson - sssssllllooowwwwww ballad...
ReplyDeleteBeats international - regular radio spots even these days, but not one of my favourites...
Lisa Stansfield - pleasant enough, but again, lisa was never my cup of tea.
Beloved - vocals weren’t so quiet last week, and it seemed slower (beginning to think my PVR is playing slow!)
Quality audience participation from Gaz at the start there.
ReplyDeleteSqueak! are back. Bye, Colin and Brian. No more instant replays for you chancers.
I like Janet Jackson’s mellow, plaintive ballad. The video needed a Mica Paris cameo for full effect. Janet’s double seemed happy to get rid of the bloke ‘late bins’, so why would he come back?
Early mugshots: Oh my God, The Cramps! The late Lux Interior and his wife Poison Ivy with a song whose X-rated lyrics would have set Robin Nash ablaze.
Good idea for a hit there, Belinda, and fine chart topping forecast by Gaz. Looks like Quentin... er, Norman Cook gave Lindy orders as to what to do when they reached the summit. Song title on the right leg of the troupe’s trews – neat advertising idea.
Del Amitri with a track from an album accidentally titled “Wanking Hours” in one paper. I’d forgotten that singer Justin was the bass player and mimed guitar here for lead honcho effect. Great song, though I never liked the line about burning synagogues down.
Gracie Stansfield with multiple kiss curls, a blue and white vid and an anonymous plastic soul track. The Rochdale Whitney.
Great “Say Hello” link by Gav to the Camberwell Poncho and pretend Bobby Gillespie on guitar. An early cut – goodbye!
More rain from Phil Divorce-By-Fax, followed by the dull clouds of Skid Row’s story-telling Bon Jovi light.
Sinead obviously singing and not miming in her video, and interpreting each line beautifully.
Ah, right, we discover Anthea Turnoff’s married PeTER PoWELL, and she’s on next. Feck! Bring back Jenny Powell!
We finish with a couple from Aberdeen and Sunderland mocking American culture to superb effect. Shame the song wasn’t as strong as the visuals, but I understand that was the least of Annie and Dave’s worries at the time. Much thanks and bye-bye, Eurythmics.
The Cramps' Bikini Girls with Machine Guns doesn't have X-rated lyrics, does it? Just a drugs reference or two. What a tune, though!
DeleteGary’s back and a much better show than the last one he hosted, except got off to a bad start…
ReplyDeleteYell – Instant Replay – Didn’t particularly want a replay of this one.
Janet Jackson – Come back to me – FF
Beats International featuring Linda Layton – Dub be good to me – It’s pretty hypnotic actually. Haven’t heard it for a very long time. I wonder if viewers even knew who Norman Cook was at the time? Linda would be back later in 1990 with a duet with Janet Kay of one of my 1979 favourites ‘Silly Games’.
Del Amitri – Nothing ever happens – Nice little singalong number this one.
Lisa Standsfield – Live together –
Nondescript. OK I suppose.
The Beloved – Hello – Not Lionel’s hit but instead a namechecking type song.
Phil Collins – I wish it would rain down – I don’t; had far too much lately! Enjoyed seeing Eric Stuermer and Lee Sklar again, and I think the drummer was Genesis tour sticks man Chester Thompson.
Skid Row – 18 and Life – Not sure of the appeal here.
Sinead O’Connor – Nothing compares 2 U – Great seeing the video, but not so thrilled that it was cut short! Don’t No1 hits warrant a complete play through these days? They used to…imagine J J Barrie not given the full chance to explain why there was ‘no charge’ for instance? Or Brotherhood of Man not allowed to clarify that they were requesting kisses be saved ‘even though you’re only three’?
Eurythmics – King and Queen of America – Ah dressing up time again! I am sure that there must be some kind of message in this video.
Actually I think both JJ Barrie and The Brotherhood of Man's Number 1s would be immeasurably improved by cutting them short (!). That last line in Save Your Kisses for Me hasn't aged well!
DeleteI only heard the name of Norman Cook in more recent years, as at the time in 1990 he must have kept a low profile in the background of the title artists, although he did get into the lower reaches of the charts in the 30-40 section with his own single in late 1989, but that was it for him as his own artist I think.
DeleteI knew Norman from The Housemartins, he's a fairly distinctive-looking guy. I remember seeing a late 80s documentary about them, where Stan Cullimore was complaining about Norman's love of dance music! If only he'd known...
DeleteDaryl stuermer?
DeleteYep....Daryl miming to Eric Clapton's guitar solo!
DeleteHi Anonymous! Here's my weekly request for original archive shows that BBC4 made cuts in or didn't show at all. This week I'm after 16/01/86, 29/01/87, 12/03/87, 28/05/87, 10/09/87 and 27/10/88. Cheers!
ReplyDeletebrie, here they all are
Deletehttps://we.tl/t-hUTtPyN6qr
Great stuff again, mate! Many thanks.
DeleteHi Anonymous! Maybe you have these original archive shows that BBC4 didn't show at all: 30.08.1984, 01.11.1984 and 10.01.1985. Cheers! Gabriela.
ReplyDeleteYep here they are
ReplyDeletehttps://we.tl/t-xWWPQd6bsN
Many thanks for uploading those rare and great TOTP episodes Anonymous!
DeleteDo you also have: 24.01.1985; 28.02.1985; 14.03.1985; 28.03.1985 and 27.03.1986?
Cheers,
Gabriela
yep here they are https://we.tl/t-LTMxlrDiqW
ReplyDeleteAnonymous! Most grateful! Many thanks!!!
DeleteIt's so difficult to find Mike Smith shows with good picture quality such as that!!!
Do you also have these Mike Smith episodes: 18.04.1985; 02.05.1985; 27.06.1985; 05.09.1985 and 10.10.1985?
Cheers.
Here they are.
ReplyDeletehttps://we.tl/t-CPoNPCO8FG
Fantastic upgrades on previous versions Anonymous! Brilliant stuff!
DeleteLove the extra footage from the infamous live train edition!
I dont want to be too cheeky in pushing my luck in asking if you have a better copy of 8/8/85? It's the one BBC Four edited due to Richard Skinners mike not working! One of the strangest reasons they've ever made an edit in my opinion! The uncut version I have is pretty ropey. Much appreciated if you do!
Many thanks again Anonymous!!! Fantastic quality!!! Amazing upgrades for the 1985 TOTP season!!!
DeleteMaybe you also have these TOTP episodes with Mike Smith: 18.07.1985; 24.10.1985; 14.11.1985; 05.12.1985 and 19.12.1985?
Cheers,
Gabriela
Yep here they are https://we.tl/t-nQpK8zLlaj
DeleteDid you find 8/8/85 anonymous?
DeleteThanks Anonymous! Fantastic quality!
DeleteWayneb sorry no only copies i have are old copy and bbc4 copy.
DeleteOk no worries. Thanks for the reply and having a look.Really appreciate all the uploads you provide!
DeleteThanks for the uploads Anonymous!
DeleteAmazing quality!!!
Cheers!
Gabriela
Bang goes another to Covid... comedian Bobby Ball, namechecked in The Beloved's "Hello".
ReplyDeleteProbably the only person in the UK thats actually officially died of the fucking thing.
DeleteSo late for this edition that I'm not only on after the show requests but also the obituary section...
ReplyDeleteJanet Jackson - I'm afraid that I always found her ballads very boring and this is no exception.
Beats International - One of the songs of the year, and Lindy Layton certainly had some star quality. Unlike Dory I found her a bit scary looking 30 years later though....
Lisa Stansfield - I was trying to play 'spot the station' as I'm sure it looked familiar. This distracted me from the extremely average song on offer. Not terrible, but not memorable enough.
The Beloved - 'Happiness' is one of my favourite albums ever, and it's now available in 2 disc expanded form and the remastered songs sound better than ever. This is probably not the best track on it, but is still great fun.
Not sure what happened at the end with the captions, with Sinead supposedly climbing to No.1, and Eurythmics at...No.11?! Annie and Dave's song is not too bad, at least the video is fun.
A quick word on the breakers that weren't - it was a shame not to see a little of the Kym Mazelle song (a good cover version) and Raze (OK, only a remix but it sounds very different)
Oops..bit late to the 8th February party. And hang on what's that noise? It's a YELL of excitement from Smash Hits as they've found some new pop pinups for their front cover. They look like two CBBC presenters on day release. Off to the States next, can they stay there?
ReplyDeleteNext up it's the serious Janet Jackson ballad from Rhythm Nation. Probably the weakest track from the album but nice to see some of Paris. Could easily have heard Michael singing this one.
Faith No More title/song the wrong way round on the countdown - Epic fail!
Beats International, one of the sounds of 1990. Lindy Layton amazingly cute. Loving the DBGTM trackie bottoms. Sound is really low in the mix on this one and you can hear the crowd chatting.
Del Amitri we've seen before so onto the return of Little Miss Rochdale (although not for long if she doesn't watch out for those trains). She's really found her niche now, pleasant balladry over a nice beat but this one's a bit forgettable.
The Beloved follow up The Sun Rising with the name-dropping Hello. Nice mention of Bobby Ball who we lost last week. Great album "Happiness". Nice line in woollen tops, shame he's still not around to save the Edinburgh Woollen Mill.
A repeat for the perennially popular PC. That's one hell of a power suit on the female backing singer, even if she has forgotten the trousers.
More from Bon Jovi's less talented neighbours next. bet that street is a blast to live on. Wonder if the street is called Skid Row? It should be.
Video time for Sinead. A hauntingly simple video. Wonderful. Followed by a bit more of Annie and Dave playing dress up.
Decent show.