You're so young and you know so much, heaven help us all it's the 11th of January 1990 edition of Top of the Pops!
Big Fish in a small studio
11-1-90: Presenter: Simon Mayo
(14) F.P.I. PROJECT feat. SHARON DEE CLARKE – Going Back To My Roots
Sharon's turned up at last to get the show underway tonight and the song peaked at number 9.
(24) JIMMY SOMERVILLE – You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) (video)
This cover of Sylvester's classic disco song became Jimmy's first of two solo top ten hits when it peaked at number 5.
(16) D-MOB feat. NUFF JUICE – Put Your Hands Together
In the studio to perform what was to be their third and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 7.
(12) MANTRONIX feat. WONDRESS – Got To Have Your Love (video)
Became their first of two top ten hits when it peaked at number 4.
(25) FISH – Big Wedge
In the studio dressed up as Big Sam to perform his biggest solo hit but number 25 was as good as it got.
(17) THE MISSION – Butterfly On A Wheel
Also in the studio tonight and this dramatic song peaked at number 12.
(21) DEACON BLUE – Queen Of The New Year
Perfoming this lively new year number in the studio but it got no higher.
(1) NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK – Hangin’ Tough (video)
First of two weeks at number one.
(30) HALO JAMES – Could Have Told You So (video) (and credits)
Became their only top ten hit when it peaked at number 6.
January 18th is next.
Right, let's roll up our sleeves and get on with it. FPI and Shazza first, sounds a bit more substantial with a vocal, but it's never going to be the best version. Cameraman seems... "distracted" by one of the dancers.
ReplyDeleteI'd forgotten Jimmy had such a big hit with this Sylvester cover, which is nothing special in comparison with the original, but I suppose it was an obvious choice for his falsetto to tackle. Sylvester and Harvey Milk in the video, for top
(US) gay credentials.
D-Mob are back, though without Cathy it's underwhelming overall. Generic rap, generic beat, he was out of ideas by now, though the performance is energetic as usual.
Ah, Mantronix, a genuinely good dance hit with an infectious riff offset by plaintive vocals, you still hear this one today and I have no problem with that, it's a solid tune. Don't recall the video at all, and I'm not surprised.
Fish next, or Big Fish as Simon calls him. Seems to have some "beef" with America, presumably he's not singing about a hairdo. Ironic Uncle Sam costume heralds the approach of overwhelming 90s irony. Sounds like the theme tune to a TV show.
The Mission groaning their way through another Goth rock effort, can't get excited about this, and they seem to have got their metaphor well and truly mixed, or muffed. Thought the drummer wasn't going to bother at the start, there.
Deacon Blue, hey, if your song's going nowhere in particular, just speed it up! Very much on autopilot, and putting "New Year" in the title meant nobody was interested a couple of weeks into January.
New Kids on the Block, this record made it sound as if they were suffering from chafing. They certainly don't look tough. There's a reason none of their massive hits have lasted long in the memory.
Halo James, the band named after the classic Halo Jones comic strip in 2000AD until the lawyers were phoned, so they had to change it. But this is a great slice of wistful pop that should have signalled a long series of hits in Gary Davies-endorsed qualiddy music style, yet it never happened. Maybe they were just too clean cut. Ah well, one hit's better than none.
The Halo James/Jones story reminds me of Manfred Mann's Semi-Detached Suburban Mr James, changed from its original title as they did not want anyone to think they were having a dig at the recently-departed Paul Jones...
Delete1990 gets properly underway with a slew of new tracks, helmed with rather less assurance than usual by Mr Mayo, perhaps due to his eye injury - I wonder what he had done? Still, the leather jacket and shades look suits him quite well.
ReplyDeleteHaving closed last week's show, FPI Project open this one, but at least Sharon has turned up this time. Her imposing figure makes this performance more notable than the previous one, and her vocals improve the record, though it will never beat Odyssey's version. Wee Jimmy with a camp video next, offering us a lively but rather pointless cover which sounds very similar to the original - it was a nice touch however to include a quick glimpse of the by now-deceased Sylvester.
D-Mob and his new pals do their best to put on a lively studio performance, but this effort is highly generic and forgettable. The Mantronix tune is better, even if the video isn't up to much, and still stands up pretty well today. The same can't be said of Uncle Fish's bizarre effort, a poppier sound than he tended to produce with Marillion but lacking a decent tune. He seemed to be having a pop at the Land of the Free in the lyrics, but I couldn't really make out what his beef was.
Interesting intro from Mayo to The Mission, saying that the song title was inspired by William (father of Jacob) Rees-Mogg's famous 1967 Times editorial headlined "who breaks a butterfly on a wheel", which condemned the imprisonment of Mick and Keef after the infamous Redlands drug bust. Sadly the song is of far less interest than the inspiration, more ponderous sub-U2 rock which never really manages to get out of first gear - the singer's fiddling with the mic stand is also annoying.
Ricky Ross borrows Gracie Stansfield's headgear as his dreary band return, and it makes him look even more ugly. They certainly chose the right time of year to release it, but it sounds like a bizarre Scottish take on Motown that never really gels. NKOTB are back on top, and we finish with comfortably the best song of the night, a soulful and melodic little ditty from Halo James which unfortunately never led on to greater things. Style-wise, you have to say that they were not setting a bold new direction for the new decade.
Yeah, I thought the opener to the show was really good. Just love the two cute dancers on this, and was some tonic for a song that I agree was not as good as the Odyssey original from 1981.
DeleteGod, those two shows were dull. The early 80s 'party' shows seem a life time ago.
ReplyDeleteBoy Mayo looking cool.
ReplyDeleteAnd we start where we left off last week. Where did the woman in gold come from? I do like this dance tune. That cameraman is crap at hide and seek. I can see you under the keyboard.
Jimmy goes all Disco with a rollicking version the Sylvester hit. This was my introduction to this song so Jimmy's version wins for me. Video made on the entire special effects budget for a season of Doctor Who.
DMOB still churning out the hits...and I'm still loving them. Very catchy,
Mantronix. Now this was a huge radio hit at the time and has aged really well. Beautiful vocal, nice beat. Like this one.
Big Fish up next. Styled that out nicely Simon. Speaking of style, it's competely lacking from the fish outfit. Why has he comes as an American flag? Is the big wedge meant to mean America? Not keen on this one. Musically a bit of a mess
The Mission. Well this is dreary and repetitive. Next.
Deacon Blue. More like it. Tune of the night. Having a blast.
Watch out UK. NKOTB are coming in April. I'll be busy, sorry.
Halo James. Come and gone in a flash. A very 80s sounding tune and all the better for it. A bit Wet Wet Wet, a bit Hue and cry. Nice.
Much better show.
I’m gonna cut straight to the chase for this one as I was on FF for most of it.
ReplyDeleteFP! Project – Going back to my Roots – Just to say why was this on again after we dozed off to it last week?
Fish – Big Wedge – His former bandmates were about to release the wonderful ‘Easter’ as a single which I much prefer to this. Taken from the pretentiously titled ‘Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors’ album. Likewise, I am confused as to what the ‘message’ is in this song.
Halo James – Could have told you so – Never heard of Halo James before (I definitely didn’t watch these editions), I checked out their releases and the first was a minor hit in 1989 called ‘Wanted’. A quick check and it wasn’t the Dooleys classic, but I find this song the best this about this dire show.
Blimey. Two days late with my comments and I still make the top ten.
ReplyDeleteAy up, it’s biker boy Mayo impersonating Mike Read by the look of it first off.
Sharon’s found her bus pass to join FPI Project on stage but all she adds to this dirge is a bright spangly jacket.
An obvious pink pound cover choice for Jimi Somerville, utilising back editions of Blake’s Seven for good measure.
The second yellow jacket of the evening next, accompanied by Nuff Of That Racket.
Ah. Now. THIS is how you master this genre of music. Mantronix with beat, tune, lyrics and fine vocals by Wondress (not ‘one dress’ as you called her last week, Gaz) all present and correct. Marvellous. Strange video depicting a night out in a pub in Dagenham, though.
Do you want a big wedge of lemon with that Fish, Simon? Shame you got that difficult album title right and then goofed. Those stripey trousers make Fish look like he’s eight feet tall or on stilts. Still, a change from his usual kilted garb. He really doesn’t like that Big Reg character, does he?
Wayne Mission wearing a butterfly print shirt to match the song, which really should have been released on Chrysalis for full effect. Great action shot of the drummer when all the unseen synths break loose.
What on Earth has Plug come as tonight? You’ll catch your death in that top, Lorraine! Deacon Blue’s effort with its “Come On Eileen” speed-up at the end probably went down best at Hogmanay hootenannies.
Ah, KNOB. FF.
Self-effacing Si shows us his slitty-eyed complaint (uurgh! Miss!) before introducing the new and briefer Johnny Hates Jazz, with Mr. James dressing like Bros who, as we know but he probably didn’t, were no more flavour du jour. Still, at least those flyers managed to pack the venue after all.
arthur i agree that the mantronix track is a relative shining beacon in this sea of mediocrity thus far. what with the far-superior follow-up to "ride on time", against expections i probably already have a fifth of this year's top 10 crackers!
DeleteHi Anonymous! I see there's not much enthusiasm for 1990 yet! Anyway i'm on with my request. This week they're all from 1984. They are 2/02, 28/06, 20/09, 18/10 and 13/12. Cheers!
ReplyDeletehere they are brie, the 2 lower quality ones im trying to source better ones, so please revisit those at some point.
Deletehttps://we.tl/t-hH8PKSl2Qe
Great stuff, mate! Thanks for these. A big improvement on the versions i've got. I'll try again later for the lower res pair.
Deletenow have two 84 replacements, upload soon
DeleteThanks mate! That didn't take you long to get them. I look forward to them. By the way, Meer, you'll find the unedited bit of 14/12/89 on Neil B's Popscene page for his review of 14/12/89. It'll take a bit of scrolling down though.
Delete1984 brie, 1989 bbc ones below uncut.
Deletehttps://we.tl/t-uKUE5H2nX0
Great stuff, mate! Sorry about the above comment. Didn't know you'd uploaded the original as I haven't looked at it. Cheers!
Deletehi just wondering if Drykid or one of the other guys managed to put the complete edition of 14.12.89 together as jive bunny was edited and end video cut short also I was looking for the full 28.12.89 show from bbc4 as skybox did not record it. thanks
ReplyDeletehere are bbc copies meer.
Deletehttps://we.tl/t-tYvQl3kWQF
Thank you Anonymous - another year complete
DeleteDon't suppose there's original archive versions of 1/6/89 and 22/6/89? Working my way thru the 89 editions and BBC Four for some reason broadcast these both in mono?
Deleteyep here they are Wayne.
Deletehttps://we.tl/t-9xp3eNSXi1
Thankyou so much for these! It does appear though that these originals are also unfortunately in mono so I'm guessing an issue when they were transfered to master tape back in 1989 they somehow lost the stereo soundtrack. But really kind of you to upload them so quickly.Thankyou!
Deletewayne i believe the bbc def do not have 01/06 in stereo at all as it may well have been a mistake made at the time during the recording of the live show, however 22/06 show wasn't live + was indeed stereo when shown on uk gold in 90s, so strange stuff
Deletealso of note is how 04/08, 25/08 and 22/12/88 all had their audio mixed down to mono on the repeat showings, despite clips of them broadcast on TOTP2 definitely having stereo sound. i think BBC4 themselves are at fault for these, whoever oversees these repeats before they go to broadcast must've done this
and just to be certain over them i would like to request archive files of those three 1988 shows + 31/08/89 seeing as that had its first 8 mins in mono. thanx anonymous
As far as I'm aware.. back in the early 90s the BBC still had a lot of their archive still stored on the original 1" C-Type video format and when it came to 'lending' them out to various broadcasters like UK Gold they may have either lent them the original tape or more likely a copy was made for them for repeat broadcast.
DeleteIn the intervening years and more recently the BBC has begun the arduous task of digitising all their archive to preserve the programs due to those original 1" C-type tapes starting to lose their transmission quality.
Its more than likely that these digital versions are what BBC Four are using for their broadcasts today and most likely where our very helpful anonymous friend gets his versions from too.
Either way..with all this transferring and digitising it could be an error on the part of the engineer copying the material over to not check the correct soundtrack is in place and where we occasionally lose the original stereo and are left with just mono.
These digital copies we have today would had been made well after the UK Gold repeat era back in the early 90s which is why a lot of the shows back on that channel would had still had their original stereo sound as it was stored on the master tape at the BBC at the time.
The other problem with the stereo sound at this point in the shows history is that it was only being transmitted that way via FM Radio One as the presenters like to remind us of week in week out!
That stereo audio track may have on the odd occasion not been recorded onto the studio tape for archiving and instead we were left with the mono television track.
This is also where the issue of 'mute DJ links' occur when different audio feeds from the studio on the day are not correctly mixed and saved onto the master tape and this mostly occurred during a live show so they couldn't go back and re-record the links..and indeed there wasn't any point as these shows were never meant to be repeated in their original format.As long as the performances were correctly recorded and could be edited into future editions for repeats of a song still in the charts..there really was no reason to go back and re-record the DJ links.
When you think about it we're so lucky that so many of these shows remain intact as broadcast as it was only meant to be seen completely uncut with the Djs and chart rundown just the once on that Thursday of transmission and the BBC could so very easily just archived the performances and junked the rest! I'm so glad they didn't!
Getting back with the stereo/mono issue..with the advent of Nicam stereo broadcasts later on in the 90's..I think we will see less and less of these type of problems as everything would had been produced and recorded with stereo at the forefront and with a show like Top of The Pops..hearing your favourite chart hits on the TV in a crystal clear stereo digital format was a big deal back then.
I usually watch and listen to these shows late at night with a good pair of Sony headphones on and I'm terribly impressed with the quality of the stereo sound on these classic shows which is why when one is shown in mono now it really does stand out for me!
I also just want to add how much I enjoy this blog and although not a regular poster I do follow it and its one of my go to places after a show has aired to get the views and opinions of other fans. Long may the repeats (with stereo sound hopefully!) and the blog continue!
what i don't get is why they don't bother dubbing the stereo audio from radio 1's simulcast in the case that they genuinely only do have them in mono; unless of course they've binned a lot of their radio programming archive over the years, it wouldn't be that hard to do, they made the effort dubbing an off-air source for those mute links shows after all
DeleteGreat insight both of you!
DeleteWell, that didn't take Long to watch....
ReplyDeleteFBI Project FF
Jimmy Somerville - didn’t really add to the Sylvester version, but at least he didn’t kill it.
DMob - and another tuneless rap dance track FF
mantronix - dull, but at least it had a tune. Didn’t make it to the end though...
Fish - leaves Marillion to become another Phil Collins. Pleasant enough. Managed to avoid the FF
Mission - fairly dreary - sounds like a U2 45 single played at 33...
Deacon Blue - best thing so far.
NKOTB FF
Halo James - don’t remember this. Flashback to early 80s (go west, wax). Again, can’t raise my enthusiasm beyond ‘pleasant‘.
** recap of the previous comments before posting makes me feel smug about my U2 comment :-)
most (still) commenting here are a bit long in the tooth in relative terms, thus were already fondly looking back at "the good old days" to at least some extent at this point in time. so perhaps no surprise that a lot of FF-ing is going on now. which i don't remember happening too often when they firsted started showing the re-runs, as even most stinkers were endured as a form of "so bad it's good" to my recollection
Deletehowever: it seems that morgie apart, no one who was in their teens or early 20's in this totp era seems interested in commenting on what were "the best years of their lives". assuming they even follow this blog in the first place? which suggests that they were indeed the "beat(en) generation" that the the/matt johnson cast scorn upon back then? that in turn spawned the teenaged herd clones of today?
I was in my teens in 1990! And the TOTP repeats are one of the most popular music shows currently on TV (which might say a lot about modern music shows).
DeleteIt's just that Twitter is the place to hang out and comment on the episodes now, as they're being broadcast, so blogs are kind of passé. I'm not on social media, so I'm happy with Angelo's sterling efforts here.
thx as one of that generation (although you have always seemed old and wise beyond your years), thanks for letting me know. however if twitter is the new blog (as arthur would say: "see what i did there?") then i am glad i am not part of it, as no doubt (going from chatrooms on other sites i have had the misfortune to witness) it suits the imbecilic "hi u ok?" "i'm good thanks" culture that prevails now
DeleteDon't mention it! Twitter, like any social media, is what the participants make it. The reason I think it's not for me is because too many participants make it a hellscape of rabid insults, misinformation, bad faith arguments and intolerance. There are good people on there, and Facebook, but the bad outweighs the good as far as I can see. I'm willing to be proven wrong, but I sincerely doubt I'd ever join.
DeleteI've been watching these repeats since 79 and it's introduced me to so many songs I'd never heard before.
DeleteWatching now it's strange seeingvsome songs I loved at the time have aged badly buy some songs that passed me by have grown on me.
As for Twitter, it's more of an instant reaction thing really rather than thinking about what you are saying and sparking a discussion.
I like the debate on here.. but I may be using the FF button a lot less than anyone else..
Not sure how I will cope with Timmy Mallet at Number One later in the year but I will console myself that The KLF are on the way.
The Facebook version of this page has 35 responses but none as in depth as on here. Might post on both...
DeleteI wouldn't regard myself as long in the tooth even though I'm 58, it's just there are certain types of music I just don't like or get, and house / rave / Italo fits that category. It'll be the same when we get to Blur and Oasis as I can't stand either of them. If people don't like my constant FF's I'll just comment on the other acts in the show.
DeleteMy thoughts exactly on the rave/dance scene. I also find a lot of modern dance tracks repetitive (I used to buy the now compilations religiously, until one of the 90s when I got fed up with a track droning on, went to skip it, and found that it was actually 3 tracks later. Disagree on the britpop era - last era of decent distinct acts.
DeleteOh, don't get me wrong, there are plenty of decent Britpop bands to look forward to, but I could never warm to the two monoliths, mainly because of their singers.
DeleteI was 22 in 1990, so well in the group that Wilberforce is referring to, and I remember in 1990 that there was still enough in the charts to keep listening, and the whole early 90s era up until 1995 had the best dance music in history, highlights of which were The KLF, Rednexx, Reel to Real, Leila K, Captain Hollywood Project, Usura and so on.
DeleteIt was an era where I was growing up fast, and in my first few years after university trying to establish myself in the working world, and the music at the time was quite inspiring, like "Open Your Mind" by USURA in 1993 which was my go-to track for motivating myself during stressful times at work, and overturning problems to keep moving forward, and it seemed to help:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPFAYIr8z2I
i was actually still (just about) in my twenties at this point. but unlike many of my peers i had not grown up in the sense of having wife, kids, mortgage etc. so as such still felt compelled to follow the chart scene as as i had done since the early 70's. but as such, even back then i think i realised that the pickings were getting a lot slimmer than they had been in my younger days. despite that, i still clung on until the britpop era. at which point i realised that my musical future laid in the past!
DeleteI was 18 in 1990 and consider it probably the best year of my life. As a consequence, there are loads of tracks from that year that I love. However, I recall TOTP being a less essential watch for me by then - The Chart Show was a much better watch at the time.
DeleteAgreed. I loved the Chart Show as they showed a lot of variety. Pity that they don’t get repeated.
DeleteI was 10 at the start of the 90s and 20 by the end, but at no stage during the decade was I especially interested in the charts or what was going on in contemporary pop music. I spent the 90s discovering the music of the 60s and 70s and hardly ever saw TOTP, so I am watching these repeats out of curiosity for what passed me by at the time, rather than for nostalgic purposes. However, I doubt my curiosity will be enough to take me all the way to 1999, if we ever get that far...
DeleteFPI Project - It's Doctor Who's Sharon Dee Clarke! She was a vocalist for hire back then, and I expect she'll be back with Nomad a year later. Her voice is brilliant, and it definitely lifts this song.
ReplyDeleteJimmy Somerville - A meat and potatoes cover of a disco classic, with an incredibly cheap video.
D-Mob - Probably the least interesting of their big hits, it's based on an O'Jays flop single called 'Put Our Heads Together'.
Mantronix - A fantastic song that's really stood the test of time. This isn't the video I recognise though, the one they show now features Wondress so either they did another when it was a hit or recorded a different one for the US market?
This video features a very young Sophie Okonedo btw!
Fish - Poppier than most of his other solo efforts, as a result I don't mind it. I know there was a big anti-George Bush (Senior) movement at the time, perhaps that informed the song?
The Mission - Wayne Hussey's theatrics are really distracting, and the song's only middling anyhow.
Deacon Blue - Not much love for this on here, but I rather like it!
Halo James - Goodness me, the record company put loads of money into this lot to make them big, and while this is a perfectly fine pop tune, you can see that they weren't offering anything wildly different from similar groups.