I've been wanting you for so long, every time I hear the 23rd of August 1990 edition of Top of the Pops!
Silly earrings
23-8-90: Presenter: Nicky Campbell
(29) THE HUMAN LEAGUE – Heart Like A Wheel
Getting tonight's show underway but the song got no higher and it would be five years until their next hit.
(22) MARIAH CAREY – Vision Of Love (video)
Became her first of twenty-four top ten hits, not including her now annual re-entry every Xmas, when it peaked at number 9.
(31) TINA TURNER – Look Me In The Heart (video)
Got no higher.
(14) JIVE BUNNY & THE MASTERMIXERS – Can Can You Party (video)
Became their fifth and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 8.
(34) STEVE MILLER BAND – The Joker (video) (Breakers)
Originally failing to chart in 1973, it will be number one in three weeks time.
(36) WILSON PHILLIPS – Release Me (video) (Breakers)
Got no higher.
(37) SONIA – End Of The World (video) (Breakers)
Peaked at number 18.
(23) LINDY LAYTON feat. JANET KAY – Silly Games
The duo are in the studio with the song that had made number 2 for Janet in 1979, but this new version only made it to 22.
(17) CLIFF RICHARD – Silhouettes (video)
Peaked at number 10.
(11) DEACON BLUE – I’ll Never Fall In Love Again (video)
This Bacharach and David song became their biggest hit when it peaked at number 2
(1) BOMBALURINA – Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
A new studio performance to celebate their first of three weeks at number one.
(32) DEEE-LITE – Groove Is In The Heart (video) (and credits)
Their only top ten hit and it peaked at number 2.
August 30th is next.
Did I hear right as Nicky introduced Lindy and Janet He said it was 30 yrs to the day since Janet Kay was on with Silly Games but as the song was originally out in 1979 ,he should have said 11. can somebody have a listen and confirm I am not loosing it
ReplyDeleteI think he said 13 years, but still wrong!
DeleteIt’s shocking to think that the actual gap is like watching a 2010 cover today.
I noticed that shonky link too, not sure what he was thinking. He looks to have dyed his hair blond, too.
DeleteLindy Layton''s first solo hit, despite inviting Janet Kay to guest on her song. Lindy going it alone without Norman Cook's group Beats International, was not an upward move for her in terms of chart success, and was soon to wittle away. She looks great nowadays at the age of 50 though!
DeleteThe Human League trying hard, and this is a decent enough song, but they were pretty old hat by 1990, as shown by Phil's bizarre quarter jacket. I still quite like this, though, and they weren't a spent force, to their credit.
ReplyDeleteMariah Scary arrives doing a kind of duet with herself, already demonstrating her wide range, or at least her ability to hit comically high notes. Don't know if she still does that.
Then, in contrast, the old guard Mariah was elbowing out of the way as Tina Turner offers a nothing tune that's neither good nor bad, just sits there. Colourful video, mind you.
The bastard Bunny's last gasp, just about, and his sinister handlers have wisely opted to recede into the background in favour of more clips and terrible animation. This one has a 1970s sound, if the 1970s were cut up and mashed together with no feel for the quality of the original material.
Of the Breakers, we won't see Wilson Phillips again, I remembered this once it got to the chorus, nice enough, but my goodness they were overearnest.
It's 1990, so we get another lacklustre cover, this time from Lindy "Can't think of any new material" Layton, with Janet Kay standing there looking a bit useless as her backing singer. Pretty much what you'd expect.
Cliff Richard: lacklustre cover #2, this time of an old pop ditty with some of the stupidest lyrics of its era. How did the guy manage to get the wrong house?! Do all the houses look identical in that area?!
And still they come, lacklustre cover #3 from Deacon Blue, a whole EP of them in fact. Brings new meaning to the phrase "bog standard". Actually, the lyrics here are not Hal David's best either. Black and white in the video? Check.
Well, I don't know if I'd call Bombalurina lacklustre, but it's four in a row for covers nobody needed, and this one made the top.
Then to end on, Deee-Lite with one of the most overplayed records known to humanity, this must be played somewhere in the world every five bloody minutes. Good video, sample mash-up sound, but I can't hear this anymore.
It was clear that Jive Bunny reverted back to the winning formula of 1989 with their first singles going to no.1, with the rock n roll footage, but it did not work this time, as a peak of No.8 for this one meant that 1989 tactics did not work in 1990, and Jive Bunny were on the slide to bow out soon after this single.
DeleteI always wondered why some groups like Deacon Blue insisted on trying some videos in black & white, considering that part of the black & white appeal is the poorer picture quality that goes with it, and so when picture quality is very good, i.e., by 1990, a pop video does not appeal in black & white, so why not keep it in colour, as picture quality improved dramatically from the 1970s when colour had become the norm?
I like good black and white photography, it can be very atmospheric, after all, but around this time it was a real cliche that was being used to class up some not very exciting music.
DeleteA great show this one with lots of great videos and studio performances, and best of all gorgeous girls galore.
ReplyDeleteHuman League - long awaited comeback I thought was just superb, especially now that the two girls had grown up from the 18-year-old girls on Don't You Want Me in 1981, to now at 27 years old, a gorgeous Susan Sully in an equally gorgeous minidress to start of the show. Move over Sinitta and En Vogue, cos we got some nice Sheffield legs here! It's just a pity that this new single fell by one position to No.30 the following week after this studio appearance, and as Angelo mentions, we don't see them again on TOTP until 1995.
Mariah Carey - wow, the new girl making her debut single count, as she was this week at No.1 in America with this song and indeed for the whole of August 1990, despite only peaking at No.9 over here in Britain, but still, a top ten charting in a any country for a debut single is a great achievement. Love Mariah in this video!
Breakers - more gorgeous girls on the show, with Wilson Philips at No.36 and at peak position, we only get a snippet of the video, and Chynna Phillips leading the girls again, this tune was just as good if not better than Hold On, and got two weeks at No.1 in America the following month in September 1990. With these girls my age, I wish I was 22 again in 1990!
Soupy again, auditioning for “The Good Old Days” with that early drivel. I just can’t warm to him.
ReplyDeleteWell, that was dreadful. Probably the quickest show I’ve ever ‘watched’. I saw more of the mugshots than most of those tracks. A cracking false start but, apart from the outro track, the rest of the show literally fell off a Cliff.
Wahay! The return of Big Phil with his sawn-off leather jacket and the disco divas with their Sheffield sassiness. Welcome back, gals! This tune was written by two of The Rezillos, fact fans. The actual single’s one-minute pre-vocals intro was too long and could have been halved for more pow factor. Heartless / wheel-like by the record buying public to peak this at 29. Soupy’s post-song comments were correct. Sadly, this was as good as it got for The League at the time. The follow-up didn’t claw the top 75, a mooted third self-pitying single (all about the band losing their fame) from the album was shelved, the album peaked at 24, the band were dropped by their label and, as mentioned earlier, they only resurfaced in the singles UK chart five years later.
Oh, Christ, our first suffering of the poor man’s Minnie Riperton, screeching her way through her career and dumping on us the worst ever Christmas track in my opinion.
A weird video and bland tune from the 15 seconds I gave Tina Turner.
Dear God, Jive and the Mastermyxamatosis are back.
“The Joker”? I don’t find it funny how this borefest reached the top.
Lindy Layton with a pointless, in fact, silly cover.
Wilson Phillips with earnest AOR which went in one ear etc. .
Cliff missed a trick here. He should have recorded “Silhouettes” with The Shadows. Harumph.
Deacon Blue go the whole hog and decide to suck the lifeblood out of not one but four Bacharach and David songs on an EP.
Remind me, Timmy Mallett’s mush peaked 28 places higher than The Human League? Sacrilege.
We end with the third track on the show with “Heart” in its title and the only other worthwhile piece of the show for me though, sadly, we get the rap version. A fizzy tune which deserved the top spot more than “The Snorer”. Robbed of a joint number one placing seeing as it sold only eight copies less.
I forgot to mention Sonia, looking sombre for once in keeping with the song's premise.
Deletearthur: sorry to recycle the joke, but cliff should have covered "hey girl, don't bother me"
DeleteHuman League - don’t remember this, but I quite enjoyed this.
ReplyDeleteMariah Carey - the sort of vocal scale leaping that Whitney made her own, but... I quite liked this. That’s two in a row...
Tina Turner - still no FF as we get a third likeable track. This sounded like something from the 60s (Roy Orbison, maybe...)
Jive Bunny - still going strong (sort of). Past their sell by date now. Finger hovered on FF, but I was interested in what they has stuck together - didn’t seem to be a theme...
Breakers:
Steve Miller - a rerelease. I assume that this sin’t the version that was actually on the record as it was a weak version
Wilson Phillips - a bit drum heavy
Sonia - the end of her hits? Sorry, karaoke (thought she would never actually SAY goodbye)
Linda Layton - jeez this was awful! Barely recognisable from the original.
Cliff Richard - real rocker, nicky? Not really. Fairly straight cover, more in the style of the original than the Hermits cover. A couple of fairly clunky edits. Were they in the original or did BBC cut it?...
Deacon Blue - 3 covers in a row. Could they have done it any slower? Almost as bad as Linda Layton (I will need to get the Carpenters version out.) Argh! Just finished typing this when the female screech owl came in. Delete ‘almost’ from above...
Deelite - still played these days. As the genre goes this is one of the best (but don’t remember the rap, which rather weakened its likeability)
Soupy was taking the mickey about Cliff's soporific track. He'd see that as irony or sarsacm.
DeleteJust to mention three singles that peaked this week outside of the top 40 by recent charters earlier in the year that could not get any traction with their follow up singles:
ReplyDeleteNo.47 - Whispers - Elton John
The follow up to Sacrifice/Healing Hands, and again going for a double A-Side with Club At The End Of The Street, Elton didn't make it this time into the top 40, but did appear on The Wogan Show to perform Whispers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gR5w__39cY
No.59 - Pink Champagne - Shakin Stevens
This was his first flop, not making the top 40, and effectively the end of his chart career with two more singles in 1990 also failing to make the top 40, and resigning him to concentrate only on the Christmas market thereafter in 1990 and 1991, so Shaky was also on the way out in 1990:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkyLAsF2I_U
No.61 - Channel Z - The B52's
Follow up to the two Top 20 singles Roam and Love Shack, this new one could only make No.61, but worth a mention, as the team are back with their fun positive feel good style:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB4G9WBYMFo
Sorry, anorak alert...
DeleteShakin' Stevens had actually been relasing singles since as far back as 1970, and his first hit "Hot Dog" was the fourth release on that particular major label. His career was peppered with complete non-charters such as "Hey Mae" and "Shooting Gallery", and Shakin' had followed up "I Might" with "Yes I Do" which stalled at 60.
Right, time to take the anorak off. It's hot in here!
Shame for Shakey as I've always rather liked Pink Champagne.
DeleteAmazed you didn't mention Donnie (of NKOTB) and Japanese singer Seiko covering The Right Combination at Number 46....ha ha
I looked at the Donnie & Seiko video before deciding which ones to choose to mention, and I felt that Seiko had such an awful accent next to her English co-singer on the single, and I thought no thanks.
DeleteTHE HUMAN LEAGUE – Heart Like A Wheel
ReplyDeleteI like this band, but this wasn't in my top ten, but still a good song.
DEACON BLUE – I’ll Never Fall In Love Again (video)
They were a great band, Raintown being my favourite track.
BOMBALURINA – Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini Everyone remembers Timmy Mallett from The Wide Awake Club (Wacaday), one of his dancers Dawn Andrews married Gary Barlow in 2000.
Nicky Campbell with us tonight and he gets to use all his cheesy charm to full effect for the Number One...and the show is a proper 80s throwback tonight.
ReplyDeleteTHE HUMAN LEAGUE – Heart Like A Wheel
80s throwback 1 - a rather nice but not remarkable number from a vamped up version of The League. It's been 9 years now and Joanne still has zero stage presence and seems utterly bored.
This one always reminds me of our family holiday to France in late August 1990. Had a copy of the chart show on my walkman to take with me so this got a LOT of plays on the car journey and overnight ferry.
MARIAH CAREY – Vision Of Love
One of my Dad's favourite singers (and he didn't listen to much new after 1977), I remember buying him one of her CDs for Xmas. I mention my Dad as I've been behind with the viewing as he passed away on 8th February after a battle with cancer so I am going to dedicate this song to him if nobody minds. He hated TOTP of course and any music I liked so seems fitting.
Mariah touted at the time I recall as one of Whitney's backing singers but now more known for her diva tendencies. Cheap looking video as she professes her love for a CSO tree, she could afford a whole forest now.
TINA TURNER – Look Me In The Heart
80s throwback 2 - A very colourful Tina with a forgettable number, video sponsored by Dulux.
JIVE BUNNY & THE MASTERMIXERS – Can Can You Party (video)
Soviet Despots now make Jive Bunny video fodder...same old standard here and you will all be delighted to know we have 3 more Top 40 hits to go...
Breakers:
STEVE MILLER BAND – Hated this then, hate it now, controversially kept Dee-Lite off Number One (more of that later)
WILSON PHILLIPS – Nice tune, bit too American in style to be a big UK hit
SONIA – End Of The World is a lovely song and Sonia doesn't ruin it - in fact (and this will be controversial) I really like it. The video is rubbish though.
Now does anyone know what Nicky is on about, 1979. 30 Years???
LINDY LAYTON feat. JANET KAY – Silly Games
80s throwback 3- Those jackets!!!!! Green Goddess throwing herself around in the background, And whilst Lindy looks fab the song really isn't up to much.
CLIFF RICHARD – Silhouettes
It's not his worst song, but it's close. Even his stage show looks naff.
DEACON BLUE – I’ll Never Fall In Love Again (video)
An odd video to the "The Four Bacharach and David Songs" as it was always called however "I'll Never..." was the only song the radio ever played (The Look of Love, Are You There and Message to Michael being the other three). It's a wonderful version and a shame this couldn't topple the Mallet from the chart summit.
BOMBALURINA – Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
Don't know what to say...is this the most ridiculous number one ever? He's even got a Number One badge!
DEEE-LITE – Groove Is In The Heart
No George Michael video obviously so we get the fabulous "Groove Is In The Heart" with added Rap that always got removed from the radio version.
Very sorry to hear the news about your dad, Morgie. Very difficult times. Love to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteOld forumites may recall I totally missed three months of the shows four years back due to visiting my dad in hospital and care homes every day. Sometimes it's impossible to fit in the relaxation you probably need.
Funny thing about The Human League is that it was Joanne who kept them together and told them to keep going after the lack of hits and being dropped by their label caused Phil and Susanne to suffer depression and mental breakdown.
It's amazing how long some of these 80s bands have kept going and still producing great music today.
Deletei remember when the "here and now" package tours that featured has-beens who'd had their 15 minutes in the 80's were doing the theatre circuit about 20 years ago, and phil oakey was very keen to ascert that even though the league were involved, they were still very much a going concern in their own right!
DeleteSome of those 'Here and Now' gigs were really good, with some excellent acts like The League and ABC for starters. At the other end of the scale, the only act I deliberately missed to drink at the bar was that Curiosity lot, the worst act was Visage (Steve Strange was like a pissed tramp who'd won a raffle to get on stage), the dullest was Paul Young (a nine-song headliner who clearly didn't want to be there) and the unintentionally rudest was China Crisis, one of whom started their act with "We're from f##king Liverpool, us!"
DeleteDespite the host, this was a really enjoyable edition!
ReplyDeleteHuman League – Heart like a Wheel – Haven’t heard this one before. Whilst it is no ‘Mirror Man’ it’s a pretty good song and we see a very raunchy League in the studio to promote it! Surprised it didn’t go higher actually. The video the ‘The League Trio’ and features lots of wheels and aching glances along with the song’s near minute intro.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-Oq3ORqAC0
Mariah Carey – Vision of Love – A US no1 and we didn’t know at the time that Mariah would become so huge nor the singer of arguably one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time.
Tina Turner – Look me in the heart – Simply the worst.
Jive Bunny – Can Can you Party – Hello, back again? Enjoyed this very much actually.
Breakers – Steve Miller – ‘The Joker’ Never charted in the UK before although reached No1 in the US in 1973 and hence broke the record for the longest gap between a US and UK No1. It’s here now due to that Levis advert. Steve had two other US chart toppers of course, one of which, the excellent ‘Abracadabra’ was denied over here c/o Captain Sensible – arghhhhh!! Wilson Phillips – ‘Release Me’ not the Englebert song of course but another US No1 (common theme here) – great song actually. Finally Sonia with a classic. For those who haven’t heard Karen Carpenter sing it, checkout the 60s medley on the ‘Now and Then’ album….sublime…..Mark Rudolf, you are wrong!!!!
Lindy Layton feat Janet Kay – Silly Games – One of my favourites from 1979. I often watch Janet’s Christmas ToTP appearance where Kid Jensen and Peter Powell introduced it from a balcony and the camera swings round during the intro and you see them standing there. Such a hypnotic and mesmerizing tune with great key changes but this mish mash does it no justice at all. Over to you Kid…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCVR5XR04Mo
Cliff Richard – Silhouettes – Still laughing at your Shadows joke Arthur! This word must have French origin it suddenly struck me whilst watching this. Preferred Herman’s Hermits original which was in a faster tempo, but quite pleasant from Cliff.
Deacon Blue – I’ll never fall in love again – The definitive version for me will always be Bobby Gentry. This is an odd one with a really strange and unappealing video. Wonder what ‘The look of love’ sounded like covered by the Deacs?
Bombalurina – Its witsy – Yes it is cheesy but compared to those Turtles comes like a breath of fresh air to me.
Deee- lite – Groove is in the Heart – Believe it or not I have heard this many times but never knew the song title nor the artist! It just gets in your head but makes no lasting impression afterwards.
Finally, a word about this week’s ‘Pointless Celebrities’. Mike Read made it to the final round and he had to think of artists who released top40 songs with one of these words in the title. ‘Who’, ‘Where’ or ‘Why’. I came up with Hurricane Smith ‘Who was it?’, Jackie Trent ‘Where are you now my love’ and ‘Gilbert O’Sullivan ‘Why oh why oh why’. Would you believe it Mike chose Gilbert and it was pointless!
I would thoroughly recommend the Wilson Phillips album that these 1990 songs came from. The songs are so good and love attracting, that one can't help falling in love with these girls. Songs like Eyes Like Twins, Release Me (on this week's Breakers), You're In Love, Hold On, Impulsive......the list goes on.
DeleteBeen listening to the album and watching all their videos over the weekend. Just awesome and had to mention them again, cos we won't see them again until the May 1991 chart in a few months time when they will peak at No.29 with You're In Love, so hopefully it's just a short break.