There you go flashing fever from your eyes, hey baby come over here because it's the 13th of September 1990 edition of Top of the Pops!
Tonsils of thunder
13-9-90: Presenter: Gary Davies
(27) LONDONBEAT – I’ve Been Thinking About You
Getting the show underway with became their only top ten hit when it peaked at number 2.
(15) JANET JACKSON – Black Cat (video)
Peaked at number 15.
(18) SONIA – End Of The World
A second studio performance but the song was now at her peak.
(16) INXS – Suicide Blonde (video)
Peaked at number 11.
(22) BASS-O-MATIC – Fascinating Rhythm
This was William Orbit's band and the song peaked at number 9.
(5) THE KLF – What Time Is Love
A repeat showing and the song was now at its peak.
(26) MARIA McKEE – Show Me Heaven
Making her studio debut with a terrific live vocal of the song that will be her only number one when it gets there in two weeks time.
(1) STEVE MILLER BAND – The Joker (video)
First of two weeks at number one.
(29) FAITH NO MORE – Epic (video) (and credits)
Peaked at number 25.
20th of September is next
Janet Jackson - although Black Cat peaked in Britain at No.15, it did manage one week at No.1 the following month in the USA. She certainly did many better singles than this one.
ReplyDeleteINXS - one of their better videos this one, and just loved the sexy blondes in the video which came in threes every time. Was this the time that Michael Hutchence was going out with Kylie Minogue?
The KLF - I make it three studio appearances for this song by now, and quite an achievement for not reaching no.1. Still, a No.5 single for a debut hit is good going, and thankfully they would improve further on this a few months later with 3am Eternal reaching No.1, and more hits through to 1992 all also making top 5. Brilliant group!
The Steve Miller Band - surprised that this usurped DeeLite to the No.1 spot, considering it was a 1974 hit first time round, and now in a dance-led 1990s chart. The mind boggles!
The Joker was a flop in the UK first time round, did get a lot of radio play in the intervening 16 years though.
DeleteFrom EveryHit.com:
Delete" For the week ending 15 Sep 1990, two records tied for number one - "The Joker" by Steve Miller Band and Dee-lite's "Groove Is In The Heart". Based on sales in the shops which contributed to the chart there was absolutely no difference between the two; it was a dead heat. But a rule introduced in the '80s was invoked; "The Joker" was given the number one as its sales had increased more from the previous week. Though they had sold sufficient copies to be a joint number one, Deee-lite were relegated to number two. Eager to deflect the flack which flew when this came to light, the chart compilers subsequently announced that "The Joker" had, in fact, on review of the figures, sold eight more copies than "Groove Is In The Heart."
"Chi-bow-wow!" Londonbeat look like they have a collective age of about 300, but this is nice enough, even if the lead vocal's hoarseness makes your eyes sting a bit. The kind of group endorsed by Bruno Brookes at the time.
ReplyDeleteJanet we've seen, then Sonia's back to grin her way through a tale of emotional devastation. She really does have a huge mouth.
INXS with the song best not played as tribute when Michael Hutchence passed away. Fun video, but the asthmatic harmonica is annoying, though overall it's like most of their stuff, perfectly fine without touching brilliance.
Heard this Bass-O-Matic track on the radio this week. I wouldn't have known who William Orbit was at the time, of course. Haven't heard of him for a while, he was massive for a bit. Anyway, good chorus to this one, very 1990 production and unrelated to the Gershwin oldie from the 1920s it cheekily lifts its title from.
Repeat of the KLF, with Echo and the Bunnymen fact from Gaz, then Maria McKee with a song that did a lot better than the film it came from. Days of Thunder has a ghastly production history, should you care to look it up, and as a movie it's rubbish, but the theme tune is nicely put across by Maria, though a bit of a plodder. Preferred her Lone Justice material.
Steve Miller with one of the most self-satisfied songs of the 70s, made a hit by one of the most self-satisfied ads of the 90s. How did he turn his motorcycle around in the lift, anyway? Someone actually offers Steve a joint halfway through this video.
Faith No More, that's more like it, like a more valid Red Hot Chili Peppers on this track, muscular beats and production, solid melody, just a good show all round.
A joint? I thought he was offering him a plectrum? Sheltered life me...
DeleteThey call him the toker?....
DeleteThere was controversy between Steve Miller and Deee-Lite, in that nobody seemed very sure who was Number 1 because they looked to have sold exactly the same amount of records. So those old fuddy-duddies at Gallup made Steve the top seller (there was some flim-flam about discovering him selling slightly more some time after the fact).
ReplyDeleteMiller now aged 77 is still going strong with his Steve Miller Band, as they had planned a 2020 summer tour which got cancelled due to covid. The website Stevemillerband.com gives up to date news for fans.
DeleteSounds a must to avoid! I'm guessing the audience pass him medical marijuana pills rather than joints these days.
DeleteThat’s an..interesting take on what happened, THX!
DeleteThe rules of the time were followed, and as The Joker had shown a bigger weekly increase than GIITH, it was declared the Number One.
For the record, for The Joker’s second week at the top, there was no dispute as it clearly sold more.
Here is a explanation about The Joker/Dee-Lite Situation.
Deletehttps://chart-watch.uk/james-blog/songs/asking-for-another-sale
As autumn was on its way in September 1990, a couple of near misses just outside the top 40 this week at their peak position:
ReplyDeleteNo.55 Hard Up - Awesome 3 - this was a similar tune to Hardcore Uproar by Together, but by some Dutch outfit trying to do similar:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUE0Lz4WTUM
No.66 - Way Down Now - World Party - quality track that strangely got no higher, and would knock the socks off many top 20 singles. It has a background riff of Sympathy For The Devil by The Rolling Stones, and an impressive video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZrIdbumFiI
Oh good, Mister Reliable’s hosting tonight.
ReplyDeleteAnother hit on David A. Stewart’s label for Londonbeat, complete with a lad doubling on bongos and stage front backing vocals.
Let’s rock! A definite change from the norm for Janet, even down to eschewing one of her usual choreographed snoozefests for a venue vid.
Sonia just about winning the bet not to burst into a smile during her heartbreak ballad, and a second good studio mime of the song.
Cutting remark about “Suicide Blonde” which I laughed at. I never warmed to INXS. Too up themselves for my liking.
Ah. I remember this one! Apart from the obligatory rap, I’d forgotten how much I liked that Bass-O-Matic track. It stood out from the rest of the crowd.
Seconded, nice Echo and the Bunnymen fact prior to KLF.
An absolutely briliant live vocal from Maria McKee.”I’ve shivers down my spine” indeed.
Chart topper – fix!
We finish with a metal rapped verse / sung chorus track from Faith No More. I enjoyed this, and enjoyed it more just istening and not watching that gimp of a singer.
Oh 'Way Down Now' brilliant single that one and a great album it's from. Another one that I recall seeing only once on TV, the video shown somewhere or other. It wasn't 'The Chart Show' as I recall watching it in my bedroom late at night. 'James Whale' maybe or perhaps 'The Late Show'? But great video. Loved the flamboyant drumstick twirling! Should've been way high then. I thangyew!
ReplyDeleteYou're most welcome Mic1,2,1,2. There are the occasional nuggets that miss out on a top 40 position which exclude them from a TOTP listing, and their videos never get shown, and the World Party one was one of very best non-charters I have found so far in 1990. Love the gorgeous blonde in the video!
DeleteThanks Dory. I really like it that you add all this info about singles outside the Top 40. This month also saw Prefab Sprout's glorious 'We Let The Stars Go' stall just outside the Top 50. Also does anyone else remember Londonbeat's follow up to 'I've Been Thinking About You', 'A Better Love'? I haven't checked but I'd be suprised if that even made the Top 75. I think I heard it once on the Breakfast Show and it was in the flog bin at Our Price by the time I'd gone there the next day. Absolutely beautiful record.
ReplyDeleteMic, "A Better Love" spent five weeks in the top 75 and peaked at number 52.
DeleteOh thanks. Didn't know that. A little more successful than I thought. I could probably count on 1 hand how many times I heard that on the radio. Love that record particularly the guitar phrase.
DeleteA big, big improvement on the editions shown over the last month or so. Some great singles and a good variety. Sept '90 to May '91 was school 5th year for me and a period I would revisit in an instant. Will it be as good as I thought it was. We'll see.
ReplyDeleteGary on presenting duties wearing a white shirt and blue jeans combination. Top one Gaz.
Londonbeat; A great start, this dizzy blend of dance, soul and Duane Eddy is one I've never tired of hearing. Good lads, they always seemed to be having enormous fun when they were performing this on the show but when you consider that singer George Chandler was the frontman for 'Stopwatch' presenter attired disco funsters Olympic Runners that's no great suprise. Actually I remember them being more larksome, pointing at the camera in unison during the 'cha-ba-bas' and matey on guitar hammily grinning during the solo. That must've been on the xmas day edition. A record that fully deserved it's eventual No. 2 spot, possibly one place too low. My favourite performance of the year so far.
Janet Jackson; Adopting Gary's white shirt look for another of those on a mile wide stage videos. Good sound but tries a little too hard to be raunchy. 'Nasty' was perfectly nasty enough. That didn't need a wanky guitar solo.
Sonia; Our Son is in the studio and NOT smiling. Well I detected a faint ruefull smile at one point. A classic heartbreak song but the arrangement a bit 'Ferry Aid' to these ears.
I've always found Sonia rather maligned as a singer actually. If there was a better voice on the SAW roster then I certainly never heard it and with the right material she could have held her own alongside Dina and Lisa and Shara. Maybe that wasn't where she wanted to be. The follow up is a great joyous finger to her detractors.
INXS; Like this one still and a good video. Enjoyed the glamourous women strutting past the camera and the Bond like sillouettes (watching are you Cliff?). Still don't like the harmonica part though.
Bass-O-Matic; Oh what a great single! Fascinating and thrilling when played loud. A real ear burrower of a chorus. I love that scene in a xmas 'Only Fools and Horses' where Del and Raquel are in a nightclub discussing Rodney's marriage issues and this comes on and Del just sagely shakes his head and they leave the dancefloor. Still a great record and a 5th year favourite.
The KLF; Good to see this performance get a repeat showing. It's more, um, KLFy!
I love the close up of the girls in the audience. The 2 nearest the camera seem to be having some personal rave epiphany while the girl next to them in yellow looks completely disinterested!
Just great to revisit this. Can't wait for their next one.
Maria McKee; Favourite performance of the year so far No. 2! Maria with the storming live version that rightly got a mention on the documentary. I definately remember Simon Mayo being very gushing about it on the Breakfast show the next morning though I can't remember if he was more taken with how she looked than how she sang. A soundtrack that deserved far, far better than the film it accompanied but then it didn't really need anyone's help to zoom up up the charts. Classic single.
Steve Miller Band; So the one that shouldn't have reached No.1 makes No. 1. I'm over it. No it's a good one and I have no grudge against the man. 'Sailor' is a classic West Coast album and 'Rock 'n' Me' is fantastic hit the road fun. Perhaps could be a little less pleased with himself when he does the slide part.
Faith No More; A little taste of what's to come to end the show. Fun video from the grungesters that were always the most prone to drop the seriousness.
Londonbeat - mostly harmless...
ReplyDeleteINXS - never really liked them, and this doesn’t change my mind - bit repetitive
Bass o tronic - backing track selection 3... next... [pre post look at comments, I seem to be in the minority here :-) ]
Maria mckee - highlight of the show so far...
Faith no more - I liked this at the time. No more. (See what I did there?) (found myself humming Hey Jude afterwards - my second least favourite Beatles track)
Not much to write home about on this show…some forgettable acts.
ReplyDeleteWorthy of note from me are;
Londonbeat – I’ve been thinking of you – After Colourfield’s ‘Thinking of you’ this is quite infectious and you can’t help but like it. Wouldn’t have begrudged this a no1 spot.
Maria McKee – Show me Heaven – One of the best no1s of 1990 for me. Love this soaring melody. It’s songs like this that keep me hanging on here amongst the likes of Janet Jackson, Bass-o-matic, KLF, INXS, Faith no More etc. which do nothing for me whatsoever.
Steve Miller Band – The Joker – It would never ever have even charted in a million years were it not for tv advertising; something that ‘the Pops’ decided not to make anything of which gives it a kind of anachronistic feel…..plenty of levis in the crowd no doubt.
….yes and that World Party track was quite good!
It actually did get to No.1 in the USA for Londonbeat a few months later in April 1991, even though for only one week!
DeleteJust reading a book about Godley and Creme, and I stumbled across the fact that three of Londonbeat sang backing vocals on Goodbye Blue Sky, and that was how they met.
DeleteOne of the best shows of the year (with the exception of the number one). All held together by the wonderful Ooh Gary (we'll forgive him forgetting quite how far Bass-O-Matic had gone up "a lot")
ReplyDeleteLONDONBEAT – I’ve Been Thinking About You
Dutch favourites Londonbeat sounding like a 90s version of The Commodores. Great tune and deserved No2 hit.
JANET JACKSON – Black Cat
Hit 6 for Janet from "Rhythm Nation" with a very energetic live video. Very happy to see more of this.
SONIA – End Of The World
Still a fan of this and she manages to avoid being "Smiley Sonia" this week. Maybe she should have tried a live vocal?
INXS – Suicide Blonde (video)
No sign of Kylie but a lot of blondes on show in a fast paced stylish video to a very decent tune. Proper rock band.
BASS-O-MATIC – Fascinating Rhythm
This is one of my all time favourite tunes. I just adore it. Always close my eyes and sway to this. The other main reason (KLF as well) that I purchased Now Dance 903, was for the 12" version.
THE KLF – What Time Is Love
A repeat showing - why not. Storming stuff.
SERIOUS GEAR CHANGE into...
(26) MARIA McKEE – Show Me Heaven
An absolutely stunning live vocal from Ms McKee. This is a wonderful tune. Tom Cruise films could really pick a decent song or two couldn't they. And just to prove it Berlin will be back in the top ten later in the year as Top Gun gets a video release.
STEVE MILLER BAND – The Joker
Boring.....
FAITH NO MORE – Epic (video) (and credits)
Now this is a rock tune. Shades of Linkin' Park in style here. I really took notice of this at the time, so much better than all the Vixen, Anthrax, Megadeath stuff that was around the charts at this time. Peaked way too low in my opinion. Great video as well.