From the field of weeds the heroes rescue the flower, because they possess the 26th of July 1990 edition of Top of the Pops!
Jak-ki-bun-ga
26-7-90: Presenter: Jakki Brambles
(8) BLUE PEARL – Naked In The Rain
Getting the show off to a steamy start and the song went up four more places.
(9) TECHNOTRONIC feat. YA KID K – Rockin’ Over The Beat (video)
Got no higher.
(13) D.N.A. feat. SUZANNE VEGA – Tom’s Diner (video)
The original had peaked at number 58 in 1987, this re-mix did much better and became Suzanne's (and DNA's) only top ten hit when it peaked at number 2.
(10) THE SOUP DRAGONS feat. JUNIOR REID – I’m Free
A second stduio performance and the song went up five more places.
(29) BELL BIV DEVOE – Poison (video) (Breakers)
Peaked at number 19.
(31) SINEAD O’CONNOR – The Emperor’s New Clothes (video) (Breakers)
Got no higher.
(33) BANANARAMA – Only Your Love (video) (Breakers)
Peaked at number 27.
(21) PAULA ABDUL – Knocked Out
She's in the studio with a ringside of dancing boxers but the song got no higher.
(5) M.C. HAMMER – U Can’t Touch This (video)
Went up two more places.
(16) RIVER CITY PEOPLE – California Dreamin’
A second time in the stuio and the song went up three more places.
(1) PARTNERS IN KRYME – Turtle Power (video)
First of four weeks at number one for these one hit wonders.
(23) LFO – L.F.O. (video) (and credits)
Their only top 40 hit and it peaked at number 12.
2nd of August is next.
As Arthur pointed out, Durga McBroom sounds like she should be living next door to The Broons, but she doesn't look like it. Still not convinced by this, it's too self-consciously racy without actual substance. So to speak.
ReplyDeleteHearing this Technotronic tune again it's really grown on me, nice, simple production that gets in and out and has the job done. The ideal plumbers of techno rap. Video looks very old hat, though.
I wasn't keen on the DNA remix of Tom's Diner because the acapella version of the original was so striking it didn't need the painfully 1990 backing. I suppose we should be glad they didn't get the funky drummer sample and "Ah yeah!" in as well. This didn't need the remix, as is often the case with a remix.
Well done, Junior, you got the cue this time! Obviously concentrating. But get your hand out of your pocket, Mr Dragon, you look distracted, if you get my meaning.
Breakers, and Bel Biv Devoe seem to have a mix on the video I don't recognise, it's not as good as what I'm familiar with. Did Poison record a song called Bel Biv Devoe? Sinead was back with a really good, energetic ditty, but it didn't have the emotional pull of her biggie, so faltered early. She's even dancing in the video! What more do you want?! Then the Nanas with a tune-free attempt at staying relevant. Massive shades ahoy! Trying for anonymity?
Paula Abdul makes it to the studio for one of her patented dance routines, it's like Raging Bull never happened, I swear. I suppose it's lively, but the song remains ho-hum.
No, Jakki, MC Hammer's album was called Please Hammer, DON'T Hurt 'Em, not the opposite. Apparently he ended up shilling DIY equipment in the States when his money ran out. Fickle fame.
River City People, anyone have any idea what Carry the Blame sounded like, then? Thought not.
Then the Turtles claim the top spot. They say you're not really getting old until the latest youth craze means nothing to you, and I suppose The Turtles was my "what's the big deal?" moment. I did see the film (on VHS!), which at the time was the most successful indie movie ever made. It was... fine.
The highlight of the show to end on, techno classic LFO by LFO. Shame he's not around anymore to appreciate his royalties. Great, atmospheric item, maybe a little sinister with it. Video is one of those "flashing images warning" things.
It was a little strange to see Sinead O'Connor going from weepy ballad at No.1 to a follow-up disco release here, and it was more a case of Sinead's new disco clothes rather than The Emperor's New Clothes!
DeleteI counted three different MC's in the chart this week:
MC Hammer, MC Tunes, MC Parker. Hope no other MC's got left out. Good Lord!
You'll hear that bloody "Ah yeah" refrain aplenty soon when Timmy F###ing Mallett takes over at number 1!
DeleteDory, you could possibly include Blue Pearl's singer Durga McBroom as an MC!
DeleteI think Timmy and Andy killed the "Ah yeah" once and for all.
DeleteAforementioned Mallet has just entered the chart at Number 50!
DeleteIt's like the shark's fin breaking the surface in Jaws!
DeleteThe ITV Chart Show a couple of days after this TOTP show, had feature plays for Technotronic, The Soup Dragons, and then Partners In Kryme at No.1, but interestingly already had Suzanne Vega at No.3 with more of the video than on TOTP:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFAJsQzX1eg
I haven't been able to see these two shows this week due to work (Mum and Dad have recorded the 2nd one along with about 100 others!) but yes I agree with you, LFO would be easily the highlight. The programme has been very conservative with it's choice of closers lately but my god they've taken a diversion for this one.
DeleteI do certainly remember around this time seeing something dance related end an edition and not having a clue what to make of it. It must've been LFO. The kind of thing John Peel would've introduced on national radio, that one will never date. Still an enthralling record. Still a question mark. Still like something from the future.
I always think LFO's material sounds like what you would hear dialling around the shortwave band on a radio late at night, and stumbling across one of those numbers stations broadcasting mysterious coded messages.
DeleteI must hear the whole album now which I've long understood to be a British techno classic. Or 'Bleep' as it came to be known. For me there's such magic in those phased strings. As you say it's like a mystery code. Spooky stuff. I will definately get round to hearing it this year.
DeleteI always enjoy Jakki presenting the show.
ReplyDeleteBlue Pearl with a cracker, though I wish Durga had worn blue pearls as part of her outfit. She was obviously cold or maybe excited. Eat that, Black Box!
Technotronic featuring Yawwwnnnn... Enjoyable video, forgettable tune.
Great DNA facts early doors there by Jakki, and I reckon the first remix I’ve enjoyed. The video made me thirsty for Kestrel Lager.
No band intro part one for The Soup Dragons and
a close but still late to the intro Junior Reid.
Next it’s Bell End Biv Devout Of Talent. Sub-Bobby Brown, and that’s saying something.
Sinead O’Connor dancing like a Thunderbirds puppet to an unremarkable rack. Emperor’s New Clothes indeed.
Christ, That Bananarama effort was rough. Never mind bananas, this got the raspberry.
Janet Jackson’s nemesis next with a track which lost in the 4th round due to boredom. Paula Abdul licked round the ring there. Oy oy!
Mid-mugshots: Oo! Pixies!
I remember once going by train with a mate to Harrogate and doing an MC Hammer skit when the train stopped en route at a place called Hammerton. You can guess what I said.
Cover version snoresville next from the ”Silas” presenter.
Oh dear, a right old turtlehead at number one. To think we never heard “Healing Hands” yet get subjected to this shite.
No band intro part two for LFOs’s speak and spell rave disco. Around my way, LFO stood for “last f###king orders!”
LFO stood for Low Frequency Oscillation, I believe.
DeleteYes, Pixies was what I was listening to in 1990, when I wasn't listening to the radio. Their videos were always rubbish, though, so no surprise we never saw them on TOTP (I think they were on The Chart Show and Snub TV, briefly).
early 80's analog synths had various knobs and sliders marked with acronyms like LFO. i had no idea what they meant even when i knew what they stood for, so i just used to get different sounds out of them through using my ears and trial and error!
DeleteNinjas into pepperoni and cheese...It's Top of the Tops this week..
ReplyDeleteNice blouse Jakki.
Ms Pearl back again in a very nice top too..
Oh yes, great tune as well.
Rockin over the old clips its Ya Kid K and her Technotronic mates.
Wicked shell suits, how many of these low new entries will we actually get to see?
Adore this DNA tune. Such a chilled out summer vibe. Great songwriting from Suzanne Vega as well. Quality stuff. Shame she couldn't be persuaded to record the video.
Top of the Scots this weeks it's the Soup Dragons back again with one of the tunes of the year. I'd just left school as well and I was FREE!
Breakers:
Bel Biv Devoe: Didn't mind this at the time. Aged badly.
Sinead: She did a pop song? Don't remember this at all.
Bananarama. One of their weaker tunes. Better to come from them.
Ms Adbul brings the boxing theme to the studio. Did she do the choreography first then write the tune? Not her best. There's a serious amount of hair on that stage, hairspray bill must have been massive!
Hammer 🔨 Time. That dance is so funny.
Why didn't RCP do "Carry The Blame"? Probably because it got zero radio play. Never even heard it before.
Top of the Turtles and I can promise you all I didn't shell out on this one. Nice to see Jakki making a turtle fool of herself 😂 Cowabunga!
L
F
O
Suzanne Vega had nothing to do with that Tom's Diner hit, she recorded an acapella song as an album track, and these DNA chancers took it and added some pretty basic dance beats, earning a hit. The original is so much more compelling with just her voice, and I say that not being a huge Suzanne Vega fan.
DeleteI will have to have a listen.
Deletei believe her original version was used for this remix without her permission. but despite it giving her a career boost as a result, apparently as such she made sure she copped all the royalties!
Deletei'm not keen on solo acapella singing myself, so much prefer some of her other recordings from this era. interestingly, she claimed that they were used as the test subjects for the development of the mp3
Just outside the top 40 this week, three songs reached their peak, but didn't make the TOTP chart rundown:
ReplyDelete47 - Heart - I Didn't Want To Need You (concert video)
55 - Shut Up & Dance - Lamborghini (dance outfit sampling Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This by The Eurythmics)
85 - Bruce Hornsby & The Range - Across The River (Hornsby still going in the 90s).
Not much new..
ReplyDeleteDNA - finally a remix that adds to the original
Breakers:
Bel biv devoe - started out promising, then turned to poison
Sinead o’connor - didn’t realise she did happy. Wait to see what I think if we get the full version
Bananarana - don’t remember this. Reminiscent of gimme shelter
LFO - much have taken seconds to programme this. Made last weeks Dream Warriors seem tuneful...
i've just realised that the LFO hit is eponymous, but i'll leave it to others here to mention acts that have also achieved that feat:
ReplyDeleteThere was Talk Talk and 'Talk Talk'.
ReplyDeleteAlso Split Enz when they were called Split Ends had as the b side of their first release, a song called 'Split Ends'!
Jilted john - "Jilted john"
ReplyDeleteHere we go, including the first act with a hit album and single named after them, living in A Box....
ReplyDeletehttps://forums.doyouremember.co.uk/forum/music/songs/1243-singles-that-are-the-same-name-as-the-group-who-wrote-them
Hope I’m not too late. Love Jakki presenting. Such a great style and no histrionics.
ReplyDeleteBlue Pearl – Naked in the Rain – Interesting outfit Durga!
Technotronic – Rockin over the beat – Supporting Madonna? Could this lot play live?
BNA / Suzanne Vega – Tom’s Diner – Love the original compared to this but at least it got the song some recognition.
Soup Dragons – I’m Free – Loved the Clangers! Roger Daltry’s ‘I’m free’ (which I haven’t heard for years) is certainly worth checking out….wow what a video!!! It was shown on ToTP but I have not seen it since 1973. I’m out of breath!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGa70tVYVKo
Breakers – Sinead’s song title was repeated by Elton on his ‘Songs from the West Coast’ as the first track which is a great opening to one of his very best albums.
Paula Abdul – Knocked out – Paula and Pan’s Boxers presumably?
MC Hammer – U can’t touch this – (not ‘you’) as in the chart rundown. Too much of a good thing sometimes as it is on an advert at the moment.
River City People – California Dreamin’ – Double A side supposedly, but I think ‘Carry the blame’ (about abortion) was the actual A Side. It’s here for those who have not heard it.
https://www.45cat.com/record/em145
Partners in Kryme – Turtle Power – Awful record to hit no1.
LFO – LFO – Tuneless bit of noise to play out with. Give me UFO any day.
I was only 5 years old in 1973, and certainly not following the music charts to remember Daltrey's record, but I have only vague memories of The Osmonds on so many TV shows, and having a soft spot for Marie Osmond who was the only girl among a family of brothers, and such a lovey.
DeletePeople like Roger Daltrey would not have struck a cord with a 5-year old then, as you would have to be The Banana Splits, Mary Mungo & Midge, or The Osmonds way back in 1973 to appeal to children of that age! The Wombles and Pipkins arrived a year later in 1974 I think, and I remember those well on TV all the time, being only 6 then!
Good video by Daltrey though, and towards the end seemed to slide into his I Can See For Miles and Miles, which was a main feature in the Tommy movie with Elton John. Certainly The Soup Dragons had no link to Daltrey's classic I'm Free, but good shout Sct353, as it is a good video, and never seen it before.
Probably too late to add this further Who like observation/memory... 'Join Together' came out as a single in June 1972. On Top of the Pops they showed a video (film in those days) of the band riding bicycles along with the host of that edition of Top of the Pops...Jimmy Saville. I wonder if anyone else recalls this? It is not on Youtube. 13/07/1972 edition I reckon as Saville was the host.
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