I'm gonna loosen my lungs and make it bang as I watch the 4th of October 1990 edition of Top of the Pops!
Made in the shades
4-10-90: Presenter: Simon Mayo
(7) TWENTY 4 SEVEN feat. CAPTAIN HOLLYWOOD – I Can’t Stand It
Gettting the show underway for a second time but the song got no higher.
(19) M.C. HAMMER – Have You Seen Her (video)
This Chi-Lites cover became his second of four top ten hits when it peaked at number 8.
(4) PET SHOP BOYS – So Hard
In the studio tonight with their first song in over a year and it peaked at number 4.
(12) TECHNOTRONIC – Megamix (video)
This mash-up became their fourth and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 6.
(5) DEACON BLUE – Circus Light (live clip) (Album Chart)
From their number 3 album Ooh Las Vegas.
(4) MICHAEL BOLTON – Soul Provider (video) (Album Chart)
The title track from his number 4 album.
(3) ELTON JOHN – Club At The End Of The Street (video) (Album Chart)
From his number one album Sleeping With the Past.
(2) GEORGE MICHAEL – Waiting For That Day (video) (Album Chart)
From his number one album Listen Without Prejudice Volume 1.
(1) PAVAROTTI, DOMINGO & CARRERAS – O Sole Mio (live clip) (Album Chart)
From the three tonsils number one album In Concert.
(18) M.C. TUNES versus 808 STATE – Tunes Splits The Atom
Performing in the studio but it got no higher.
(31) THE ADVENTURES OF STEVIE V – Body Language (video) (Breakers)
Went up two more places.
(30) THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH – A Little Time (video) (Breakers)
On their way to number one.
(29) NENEH CHERRY – I’ve Got You Under My Skin (video) (Breakers)
Peaked at number 25.
(28) THE CHIMES – Heaven (video) (Breakers)
Peaked at number 24.
(3) BOBBY VINTON – Blue Velvet (video)
This song failed to chart when originally released in 1963 but thanks to a Nivea advert it now became his only top ten hit and it went up one more place.
(1) MARIA McKEE – Show Me Heaven (video)
Second of four weeks at number one.
(24) HI TEK 3 feat. YA KID K – Spin That Wheel (Turtles Get Real) (video) (and credits)
Peaked at number 15.
October 11th is next.
Album Top 5 - Michael Bolton with his latest single Soul Provider was also a new entry at No.84 in this weeks singles chart, but peaked the following week at no.77, so never got onto TOTP apart from this album chart feature, but unsurprisingly did much better in the US to peak at No.17. However, Bolton did re-release the single in the UK in 1996 and did much better, reaching No.35. It’s just a pity that it did not do as well as his other better-known hits, as this one is my very favourite Bolton number.
ReplyDeleteBobby Vinton – did anyone notice that the graphics at the beginning of the clip said No.31 when it should be No.3??!! Also, anyone know which 1977 US TV show that the clip is from according to Simon Mayo, and if there is a link to the whole show, as I would be interested to watch it in full?
Hi Tek 3 ft Ya Kid K – I must say that this is a much better performance and interaction from the mutant ninja turtles than on their No.1 in July with Turtle Power. Now that’s more like it!
Regarding Bobby Vinton, I think it *may* have actually been the 1981 special, which is on YouTube.
DeleteThe 1981 TV Special does not have Blue Velvet nor the video clip on the TOTP show, so it must be 1977 as Simon Mayo confirmed, but there is no sign of the 1977 show on YouTube.
DeleteMC Hammer - cover time again. Didn’t really do much with it but slow it diwn even slower than original.
ReplyDeletePet Shop Boys - nothing new in the tool box, but I love this (never noticed before but it sounds a bit like Momus...)
Technotronic - recycling already... how much longer do we have these megamixes?....
Top 5 albums
Deacon Blue - poor quality sound, but I quite liked this
Michael Bolton - smooth, but lacking soul
Elton John - seen last time, this is ok
George Michael - ok
Pavarotti etc - ok if you like this sort of thing...
MC Tunes - ping seemed quieter, but the ‘bing bang a bong’ vocal was very annoying...
Breakers (as well as albums!)
Adventures of stevie v - we’ve heard this bog standard dance stuff before (and better)
Beautiful south - always like this, and still do
Nena cherry - oh dear, another slowie slowed down even further.
The chimes - this I quite liked...
Bobby Vinton - re-released due to Nivea advert, it was ok - from the days when they wrote tunes
Hi Tek 3 - another turtle tune. As above, bog standard rap...
Just read your post Charlie. Blue Velvet out due to a Nivea ad. Still amazing though, this rash of pre Beatles US pop in this year.
DeleteAnother mix of the good and the 'oh not this when you could have that!'. This year's repeats really are quite bewildering.
ReplyDeleteTwenty 4 Seven; A classic example of 'can we just get to the chorus' dance to kick things off. I've always liked the chorus to this and it's not suprising that that's all I can remember from when it was out. The lady delivering the nameless disgruntlement wearing a coat and suspenders combination that would've certainly kept me from my homework for a little bit longer that evening. The other couple of minutes taken up with a rap about 1990 rapping things.
M C Hammer; The most affable of rap stars goes sensitive for a cover that demands nothing else and comes off reasonably well. A couple of marks for even attempting to update this, the original for me being one of the saddest, most beautiful singles ever made. Unlike that masterpiece he doesn't sound particularly bereft and neither do his shiny suited pals (dressed up to sit around a conference table in an empty parking lot, no wonder the lady's wandered off) but there's some softly spoken concerns and it's a nice enough listen.
Pet Shop Boys; Great single with a level of deadpanness that's notable even for them. Some very witty lines and those keyboard parts that I can't hear without thinking of John Shuttleworth. Beautiful tune though and for me the highlight of the show by some distance.
Technotronic; Hearing a medley of theirs set to a video dominated by aerobics was never likely to win me over.
Nothing in the album charts of much interest (I was going to make that ice cream advert cover gag Eggy!) so onto another appearance by the Totp Vision Mixer's best mate at youth club or something, MC Tunes. The 808 State lads play behind him apart from one that seems to be typing a memo or a CV and the ginger chap on the other end that's waiting for his computer game to load. Cool single though with those bleeps that KLF and Nomad will soon incorporate with massive success.
Simon's comment at the end. A fan of the record or not? As always not easy to tell.
Adventures Of Stevie V; A follow up to the fabulous Dirty Cash from Biggleswade's finest and one that I have no memory of at all and tbh haven't got much memory of as I write this.
The Beautiful South; Great single that makes it's first appearance. Brief video clip and one that if you hadn't seen the rest of it would've looked completely nuts.
Neneh Cherry; Will feature in the studio next time.
The Chimes; Will also be on next time. Oh good.
Bobby Vinton; Interesting to see this clip but the reason why this was out is lost in the foggy catalytic converter of time. A connection to David Lynch? Because it's pre Betles America? Who knows. This is a strange year.
Mariah McKee; So the video gets a showing with hazy images all round; Maria performing among curiously placed empty chairs, Nicole being passionate and Tom looking like something urgently needs explaining. Without sound, thankfully. Images that still take me back though.
Hi Tek 3 Feat Ya Kid K, Spin That Wheel!; Yes alright and if it lands on red then none of you involved make any more records.
Blue Velvet was featured in a Nivea advert
DeleteThis edition of TOTP is sponsored by Nivea! :-D
ReplyDeleteTee hee!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72ovXoVM9EU
Doesn't look very happy about it, does she?
DeleteA new group in 1990 The Shamen had just spent three weeks at No.42 with Make It Mine, but alas failed to make to the TOTP chart. It was their second single release in 1990, as the first one called Pro-Gen peaked at No.55 in April.
ReplyDeleteThe Shamen were finally able to make it to the TOTP charts in 1991 with Hyperreal which was the first time I had heard of them, but for the purposes of this week's chart, here is the Make It Mine video peaking at No.42:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8gulG-SizA&t=91s
I started at the University (then Polytechnic) of East London at this time, and I remember somebody coming round with a big pile of Shamen singles giving them away to the students. I didn't want one because I didn't have a record player - but I guess it was probably Make it Mine. Apparently (don't know if its true) members of the Shamen had recently lived in the student accomodation we were in.
DeleteCan't wait to see them appear for the first time in the Top 40 in April 1991 with Hyperreal, cos the 1991-1992 period was awesome for them with several successful releases, even though they kept going up until 1996 chartwise. There's lots to look forward to, even though 1990 was not the breakthrough year they had hoped for with these first two singles releases so far.
DeleteI really loved The Shamen Dory, especially at the start of the 90s (pre-Ebeneezer). I was just buying more singles as I'd started work and I had all their releases.
DeleteDid you get the first couple of singles that narrowly missed out on a top 40 position in their first year in 1990, the two singles being Pro-Gen and Make It Mine? The first I heard of them as in 1991 when they finally charted with the brilliant Hyperreal.
DeleteAlways a joy when Rev Mayo’s on.
ReplyDeleteWahay! Suspender girl’s back. Same schtick as last time, though.
MC Wrapped In Sponge Hammer this time with a subtle spoken rap version of a soul classic and he doesn’t ruin it either.
They’re back! Chris in a puffer jacket three sizes too big and Neil acting the understated Noel Coward of synth pop again.
First Jive Bunny, then Status Quo, now Technotronic. Good grief. So many acts devoid of original ideas and barrel scraping the past. I’d prefer the BBC World Service version to this mush.
Album charts (again?) – Deacon Blue with arguably the most unattractive lead singer ever, Michael Bolton apparently a bit of a pudding according to Si, then two no comments before we get “Just one Cornetto”!
MC No Tunes next with the pre-Crazy Frog dingadingadinganding noise.
Breakers – Stevie V looking ugly and giving us an unattractive track, The Beautiful South channeling their inner Fields of the Nephilm with all that flour, Neneh Cherry goes underground Cole Porter, and The Chimes give us purgatory rather than Heaven.
Here we go! Bobby Vinton surrounded by the American Pan’s People, lucky sod. Second number 31 on the show after Stevie V according to the graphics.
Maria McKee sings “Flashing fever from your eyes”. Cut to Tom Cruisewearing shades. Duhhh.
More turtlehead rubbish to finish, complete with that sodding woo yeah noise again.
I noticed that the dancers on 24/7 ft Captain Hollywood put less energy in their dance moves than a couple of shows ago when they were on the main stage and could do the full travel across the stage for their feet. The smaller stage this week did not do them justice, and you could see that the 'suspender girl' was not as vibrant on stage with her dancing as last time on TOTP, as she had much less space to dance!
DeleteAgreed about the Technotronic Megamix, as it seemed obvious that the Jive Bunny success over the last year or so, gave other groups the idea to do a montage/mash up of their own hits and see where it goes, whether rock 'n' roll or techno. So who's next? I mean Good Lord we still got the Grease Megamix to come shortly!
Still looking for the original 1977 American TV show where this Bobby Vinton clip came from, just to see the whole video from start to end, as TOTP always misses the beginning and end bits, so anyone know how to find it?
Good knock about the smaller stage this time for Suspenders Girl. I hadn't noticed that.
DeleteA quick Google on Bobby Vinton reveals he performed at the 4th Annual American Music Awards (TV Special) in 1977, so I bet that's where the clip's from. Also interested to see that Bobby Vinton never wore his wedding ring as his record company said he'd sell more records if his fans thought he was single.
It's shame that the whole show is not on YouTube, and the only performance from the 1977 AMA TV Special is Livin' Thing by ELO when they were in America that year, and TOTP only had the video to show now on two 1977 wiped shows.
DeleteI did see that the whole 1975 AMA TV special is on YouTube, so hopefully the 1977 one with Bobby Vinton will turn up soon, as it will not be on a second time on TOTP, just the one showing on this show!
Is that a sample of Kraftwerk's We Are the Robots in that 24/7 single? I would have thought Ralf and Florian would have come down on them like a ton of bricks for that, they're notoriously protective of their material.
ReplyDeleteMC Hammer - yeah, if she's at The Cosby Show, "Ham", tell her not to drink anything! This week's tepid cover with a bunch of would-bes doing the chorus. Bit silly.
PSB, not sure if they were trying to sound tough and mean, and not sure if those keyboard stings were really up to it, but it's nice to have them back. Very arch, of course, and that's the way we like it.
Technotronic rustle up their best Stars on 45, and the effect is shrug-inducing, then the Album Top 5 - Ooh Las Vegas sounds very camp for a title. The rest I wasn't listening to back then either. Then straight into the Breakers, but we'll see them again apart from Steven V, but no great loss there.
"Mommy! Mommy! Baby wants to f-" well, anyway, it's not that. Fun fact: the day Bobby Vinton's Blue Velvet finally entered the UK charts, I saw the film of the same name in the cinema (on a revival, obvs). The opening of the film which uses that tune is a small masterpiece of slightly off-kilter wholesomeness that goes sinister when the insects are seen. But divorced from those images, this doesn't do much for me.
Maria's still there, but it's not the video I recognise - I was sure there was one with her in a desert, maybe The Chart Show broadcast it?
Then another tune from a film, though somewhat less prestigious. Fine as a bit of filler.
to the best of my knowledge, even kraftwerk allowed some talentless oiks to maul their recordings. has there ever been a well-known artist who has steadfastly refused to allow the hip hop and (c)rap brigade sample their intellectual property (regardless of losing out on money for in effect doing fuck-all plus gaining street cred wiv da kidz as a result)?
DeleteI suppose the biggest "no sample" act would be ABBA, but even they relented when Madonna came knocking.
DeleteI'd forgotten the electronic male choir sound on New Order's Blue Monday is a Kraftwerk sample. For some reason they allowed that, but have gone to court over other acts. Who knows the minds of Kraftwerk?
Gary Numan, on the other hand, fully endorsed The Sugababes' Freak Like Me (sampling Are "Friends" Electric?) and Armand Van Helden's Koochy (sampling Cars) because he thought they improved his originals!
And of course the JAMMs, prior to becoming KLF, got into trouble with sampling ABBA on their first album.
Delete... as did harry enfield i think, thanks to the "loadsamoney" hit. i hated it when talentless twats sugarbabes mauled "are "friends" electric" about 20 years ago, despite always thinking the original was a dirge. however i have always loved "cars", so am grateful i have not been exposed to mr van helden doing something similar to that!
DeleteDid anyone watch The Story of 1980 last week on BBC2? The Human League and OMD were insistent that neither of them were copying Kraftwerk in making their debut that year.
DeleteI actually really liked The Sugababes (all 50 of them), they were part of the mini golden age of pop that happened in the early 2000s, some great tunes from them.
DeleteWe seem to have moved past pop tunes being big hits unless they're by real megastars like Taylor Swift. The catchiest pop song out at the moment is I'm Glad We Broke Up by Du Monde, it's great but I don't expect it to get within a sniff of the Top 10. Not that anyone knows what's in the Top 10 anymore either.
@Dory: I'd frankly be sceptical if OMD or The Human League didn't have a couple of Kraftwerk albums in their respective collections! "Copying" would be too strong a term, though.
Delete'Push the Button' and 'About you now' were great slices of pop from the Babes!!! Rather that than some of the tuneless stuff on this 1990 edition!
DeleteWell now, a lot of old tosh in the main….
ReplyDeleteSome thoughts….
M C Hammer – Have you seen her – Does anyone recall watching the show in early 1972 when the Chi Lites version of this was featured? They showed a film….it isn’t on Youtube, but it was definitely shown on at least the 27/01/72 show which is wiped. Did the film survive though? It told the story of the song and really stuck in my mind. Funnily enough I can recall that show was the first one I ever saw T Rex on with ‘Telegram Sam’. My parents thought he was awful then. Neil Reid was on too with ‘Mother of Mine’…in fact I’d rather watch that show than this 1990 one!
Pet Shop Boys – So Hard – The keyboard player looks like he is really enjoying this. It’s no ‘West End Girls’ and is more or less a drone.
Album chart – Pavarotti and his mates in it yet again – haha!
Bobby Vinton – Blue Velvet – Following hot on the heels of the Steve Miller Band this looks even more out of place. We’ve had Black Velvet, now it’s time for Blue, not to mention Velvet Goldmine!
Maria McKee – Show me Heaven – Ah! Thank goodness…now this the video I recall with Cruise and Kidman on top form. Boy this was great. A shining bright light amongst all the darkness of the October 1990 chart.
The ITV Chart Show top ten this week had 24/7 at No.6, although No.7 was its peak in the end, and Bassomatic at No.7 when they only got to no.9 in the end, and wait for it......Bobby Vinton as the new Number No.1, whereas Maria McKee held on to the no.1 position for a further two weeks:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJlhrMYUIUs
Talk about wrong predictions!
That could be why I always recall Bobby Vinton being Number One. Was surprised he didn't make it.
DeleteBoy Mayo in a cheeky mood this evening..
ReplyDeleteTWENTY 4 SEVEN feat. CAPTAIN HOLLYWOOD – I Can’t Stand It
Bust-a-Move, they've gone top ten and I'm enjoying seeing this a second time.
M.C. HAMMER – Have You Seen Her?
Hammer time again with this rather nice cover version with added 90s rap. I wonder who the backing band were on this. Anyway it's a rather decent tune, although anything he released in 1990 would have been a hit he was such a huge star.
PET SHOP BOYS – So Hard
Welcome back to a suited and harder sounding PSB. Behaviour a real mix of dance and more ballad type tunes that is probably their finest piece of work. Stunning tune this.
TECHNOTRONIC – Megamix
Pay attention all. This is how to do a megamix. A proper mix of tracks and my go-to Technotronic song (12" of course) if I feel like a 90s boogie.
M.C. TUNES versus 808 STATE – Tunes Splits The Atom
Well what a racket this is, crap of the highest order. Shame as "bites" was a great tune, Bye MC Tunes...
Breakers:
THE ADVENTURES OF STEVIE V – Body Language a fairly decent dance tune.
THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH – "A Little Time" the first time I paid attention to TBS. A lovely back and forth tune and I remember the video well, One of their best tunes.
NENEH CHERRY – A very blue video for a very average cover.
THE CHIMES – Dull and forgettable
BOBBY VINTON – Blue Velvet
CHEESE ALERT! A song from a man in a blue velvet suit sung to a group of girls in blue nighties. OMG. All together now "she wore......"
MARIA McKEE – Show Me Heaven
Video time so we get to see Old Cruise looking more like a kid-man! Sorry. Boy-Mayo liked the film then!
HI TEK 3 feat. YA KID K – Spin That Wheel (Turtles Get Real)
Average dance song without the Turtles, annoying with them. Pass.