We dream the same dream, all we want is to see the 25th of October 1990 edition of Top of the Pops together!
Heaven is Top of the Pops
25-10-90: Presenter: Jakki Brambles
(14) BELINDA CARLISLE – (We Want) The Same Thing
Flying in specially to get tonight's show underway and the song peaked at number 6.
(3) THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS – Unchained Melody (video)
More like the Righteous Brother really. But this old tune had been a number 14 hit for the duo in 1965, but now thanks to the movie, Ghost, it would soon become their second and final number one.
(22) PUBLIC IMAGE LTD – Don’t Ask Me (video)
Their seventh and final top 40 hit, and 22 was as high as it got.
(8) BERLIN – Take My Breath Away (video)
Had been a number one in 1986, this time it made it to number 3.
(26) THE SOUP DRAGONS – Mother Universe (video)
Their second and final top 40 hit, and it got no higher.
(35) JASON DONOVAN – I’m Doing Fine
He's ditched the guitar and gone for a zany, sixties style dance routine instead and this Beatle-esque tune peaked at number 22.
(23) PAUL SIMON – The Obvious Child (video)
From his number one album Rhythm of the Saints, and it peaked at number 15.
(32) GEORGE MICHAEL – Waiting For That Day (video) (Breakers)
Peaked at 23.
(33) ELTON JOHN – You Gotta Love Someone (video) (Breakers)
Got no higher.
(29) PAUL McCARTNEY – Birthday (video)
At its peak.
(1) THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH – A Little Time
A second studio performance to celebrate their first and only week at number one.
(31) ROXETTE – Dressed For Success (video) (and credits)
Peaked at number 18.
November 1st is next.
The Righteous Brothers - coming back into the chart with this one, 25 years after it was first in the charts in 1965. Bobby Hatfield singing on this beautifully, sadly died in 2003 at the age of only 63 while on a Righteous Brothers tour.
ReplyDeleteBerlin - I don't remember this having a second birth in 1990 after getting to No.1 for 4 weeks in 1986, and not sure why it was re-released only 4 years after its first run, but pleased to see it again, as it one of my very fave 80s No.1s, and an all time classic, and already up to No.8 this week!
Elton John - he didn't do very well in this second follow-up single after his summer no.1 with Sacrifice. The first follow-up called Club At The End Of The Street only got to No.47, and now this one only making no.33 this week before tumbling down and out of the charts. I did like his new alternative to the customary hat worn since 1977 to cover up his baldness. The hat was now evolving to a hairpiece made of leather, and it can't be too long until the final hair metamorphosis.
Gotta say, didn't expect this but Belinda sounded fantastic on these shows, what an exultant blast of pop, I was ready to take to the streets after hearing this (but still under Lockdown here, so, er, didn't). What a nice surprise to be reminded of this one.
ReplyDeleteThe Righteous Bro with a song from a film nobody has ever seen - no, not Ghost, Unchained. Retooled for the big pottery romance scene, it touched the hearts of the world, though nobody mentions that technically Demi Moore is snogging Whoopi Goldberg as far as the plotting goes. Rather this than any cover.
Yes, PIL with an excellent pro-environment ditty, chiming guitars, the production is terrific. "A crap in a clingwrap!" This prompted me to buy their greatest hits on cassette, which introduced me to everything from Death Disco to Disappointed. Video a bit Hider in the House - never realised that was the late Glenne Headley as the wife in it.
Berlin, eesh, this again. Expect to hear more of it if the Top Gun sequel ever gets released. Not that it ever really went away. Moby will be pleased.
See? The Soup Dragons were not one-hit wonders. Liked this better than I'm Free, strong chorus, though they're overdoing the psychedelics in the video. Deserved better.
Jase with technically his first flop, where he seems to have gone completely insane in his and Pete Waterman's attempt to prove The Beatles would sell to pop kids. Which they would, but not like this pastiche. Backing singers hilarious, especially the one on the right, she truly committed. So stupid you kind of admire it, but it's very Saturday night Light Entertainment show music interval.
Although I didn't buy the album, I did very much enjoy the single from Paul Simon with its South American flavour, it's one of his best songs even taking into account the earlier classics. Anyone get the album? Was the rest as good?
Breakers, with George emoting over The Funky Drummer in sorry for himself manner, and Elton needing to go back to the drawing board if he thought this was going to follow up his No.1.
Macca racing through the Beatles' Birthday, as if to show Jason Donovan how to do it properly. Goofy video, but hey, it's a good song and as live versions go, not bad.
Always forget this Beautiful South tune made it to the top, if only for one week. They show up to the studio again, crowding the stage, not their best for me, but it obviously struck a chord in many.
Roxette with Dross for Success, never appealed to me, though they were very pleased with themselves. The epitome of going through the rock but not really motions.
Jakki does the honours and looks very stylish this evening. A guy in a ponytail that appears next to her more than once also looks stylish but in a way that demands a slap.
ReplyDeleteBelinda Carlisle; Flying in just for this performance which is a nice detail as this record actually sounds like it requests permission to land. Great to see her do this in the studio, brilliant record although it ends during the instrumental break, a curious place to stop which is not the only time that happens on this edition. Still, bless you Belinda, see you in '91.
The Righteous Brothers; Morten Harket's hair was the first visual indication of 'Ghost' on the show and here is the mega hit from the soundtrack. This could only get to No.1, the definitive version of a pop standard. Those quivering strings are highly ghostly for me and Bobby Hatfield's heavenly croon. As spot on a movie soundtrack as you could get.
Public Image Ltd; Thought I disliked this one until hearing it last night and remembered how good it is. Remarkably approachable effort for the guy that howled 'Death Disco' 11 years earlier. Some humourous and still relevant lyrics and a great chorus. Should've been top 20.
Berlin; A reissue and video that's as relevant to 1990 as Two Tone must've been to 1986 but it's just a great single and marvellous to see here.
The Soup Dragons; No you can't do another cover! A dreary anvil around neck effort that some psychedelic effects all through the video can't brighten up. I would've met that with a shrug aged 15 if I heard it at all.
Jason Donovan; Hmmm. Is this his Beatles number Jakki? I don't think so. Full of overly happy tricks where the likes of 'Every Day I Love You More' sounded effortlessly joyous. The tune is pretty fun but his hyperactive dancing is a demeaning addition (The dancer on the left looked great though!) and his hair having one of its odd vampiric phases. Through the grins the thought clearly apparent; maybe the theatre?
Paul Simon; My dad cycled to the 1st Cambridge Folk Festival in 1965 and cycled home before the end so missed the last minute headliner, one Paul Simon. I stood the other side of the fence at Hyde Park in 2018 and listened to Paul Simon's last ever show in Britain. One of the most incredible gigs I've ever heard and just about the only big song I don't remember him doing was this!
Love this one but another pull away at a strange moment.
George Michael; A snippet that was barely worth showing (the whole of Belinda's single could've been on otherwise) but a great song with one of those 'me laying it down in the studio' videos.
Elton John; An even more barely worth showing snippet (this could've been shown solely to allow my Dad to say, "What's the title of this one then"?) and very suprising this was such a flop. Maybe it was because so many had already bought his best of released that year. Beautiful song, for me one of his best.
Paul McCartney; Good to see the video again. Is this perhaps the only video ever for a live recording that doesn't have the live images all the way through it? Very unusual but that's Paul for you.
The Beautiful South; At No.1 and they celebrate with the most standing around aimlessly studio performance you could imagine. At least Dave bought that new jacket.
Roxette; To close, a fun one with Roxette though done with the necessary sternness.
It’s Jakki “I’m so Scottish “ Brambles. Actually born in Harlow, Essex. Wearing the same colour combo as Goodiebags last time, but not so Trekky.
ReplyDeleteBelinda with brash bombastic pop and matching female coiffures. If you have to mime, just go for it like they did.
Righteous Brother with a jacket colour which knocks Bobby Vinton into a cocked hat.
John Lydon at least 20 years ahead of his time with that ‘save the planet’ message. I agree, this should have been a bigger hit.
A quick FF of that film song re-issue to The Soup Dragons’ uninspiring farewell. Let me get this right, an old TOTP re-run edition got dropped for strobe lighting above Nik Kershaw, while this video, way more likely to induce epileptic fits, got the go-ahead?
First KNOB do a weird Beatles pastiche and now Jase. No wonder this flumped in at number 35. Please please me and get this off quick.
Next year Paul Simon will unveil his Inuit music concept double album “Greenlands” complete with noseflutes. I bet the neighbours loved the row from all those drums.
Next up two more big stars slumming it with low level chart entries. Still trying to work out what Elton’s Home Counties gospel track was called.
Oh God, it’s a re-run of Macca. If we’re going to have some sub-Beatles, can we have Jason Donovan back, please?
No facial interaction between chart toppers Dave and Briana, but this was still frenetic compared to their library turn last time out. Why was the audience clapping along at the start and out of time, even during the almost a capella vocals?
We finish with Roxette’s formulaic Nordic pop, and a grainy video which reminds me of my old home 20 years ago, when I could sometimes tune in and get a grainy reception with perfect sound on my telly for southern England ITV company TVS whose region border was about 15 miles west.
Further down the chart, peaking at No.56 this week was FAB Featuring MC No.6, as a follow up single to FAB ft MC Parker, with the only change in line up being MC No.6 taking over from MC Parker, because Thunderbirds was replaced by The Prisoner for FAB's follow-up single, and this time we get to see the FAB rapper in person in the video:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVG9uGVKdt8
Meanwhile on the ITV Chart Show top ten this week, they had AHA at No.10, whereas their peak was No.13, and The Happy Mondays at No.3, whereas they peaked at No.5:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYJePcJu7SU
It's good to know that FAB's follow up peaked so low in the charts and that all that 'yeah whoo!' arse is falling away. Timmy Mallett has one more thing to come. You wonder if all the joke cash ins stung the dance fraternity, caused them to go away and work harder and think deeper with their music. From Dec '90 and through '91 there are some truly classic dance singles in the charts and a big change generally.
ReplyDeleteWe still have Toytown Techno to come, mind you - even The Prodigy did one.
DeleteThat is true, there will be some very silly stuff coming along in a while. Before that though dance music takes an amazing upward curve with some truly fine singles, right up there for me with the best disco. Can't wait for Enigma, Seal, Alison Limerick, more KLF, Young Disciples, Xpansions etc
DeleteXpansions have already arrived. Albeit stuck at Number 49 before trying again next year.
DeleteBest episode for ages...
ReplyDeleteBelinda - good start.
Righteous Brothers - brother singular more like.
Public Image - best thing since his first (almost) eponymous single. Reminiscent of B52s...
Soup Dragons - wasn't impressed as it started, but it grew on me as it played. The drum beat was bit intrusive
Jason Donovan - another month, another release. Actually quite enjoyed this. More Stones than Beatles IMHO
Paul Simon - another like. I’m on a roll. Will it last?....
Breakers:
George Michael - standard GM tune. Not a fan, but pleasant enough
Elton - was a fan, but this was a bit repetitive in the clip we heard
Beautiful South - nice number one.
Roxette - and I get to the end without a single FF.
another late review….sorry!
ReplyDeleteBelinda Carlisle – (We want the) same thing – Great performance of a surprise hit from an album that seemed past its prime. I saw Bel at Wembley on the ‘Runaway Horses’ tour and found her performance of ‘Vision of You’ the highlight.
Bobby Hatfield (sort Righteous Brothers) – Unchained Melody – Yes I saw ‘Ghost’, yes I loved it, yes this fitted very well with the potter wheel scene. Best version ever – eat your heart out Robson and Jerome.
PIL – Don’t ask me – I won’t, but I will ask why Johnny was looking like Phil Collins from the cover of his ‘Face Value’ album.
Berlin – Take your breath away – I can live with hearing this again and again…
Breakers – Surprised George Michael featured given they ignored his last hit. Elton – You gotta love someone was also from ‘Days of Thunder’. The outfit with that hat featured on the cover of ‘The Very Best of Elton John’ released soon after. Not sure why this was included and something like ‘Island Girl’ wasn’t.
Macca – Birthday – Keep thinking ‘Yer Blues’ will start up. Decent cover of a song from a timeless album.
Beautiful South – A little Time – This was pleasant enough without being a particular favourite….I’ve just remembered they released another song a few years later with ridiculous use of a swear word in it.
Roxette – Dressed for success – OK way to play out.
Jakki Brambles up tonight with a presenting style that can best be described as "never done this before" crossed with "can't be bothered"
ReplyDeleteSo this week we really do Step Back In Time...
BELINDA CARLISLE – (We Want) The Same Thing
From the constantly re-forming Go-Go's its half of We Want The Same Thing from Belinda. Great tune. Great performance. More please...
THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS – Unchained Melody
A live and completely different version (from the record) from one of the Righteous Brothers. Where was the other one? Had they fallen out?
Only thing to say about the tune is it's a classic. Still never seen "Ghost"
PUBLIC IMAGE LTD – Don’t Ask Me
How 80s is the video? Classy stuff and this should have been a much much bigger hit. Proper singalong chorus as well. Fabulous stuff.
BERLIN – Take My Breath Away
Speaking of the 80s....
THE SOUP DRAGONS – Mother Universe
Trying to follow up "I'm Free" was always going to be hard so why not go all 60s (The Who want their set back). Great vibes, quality chorus. Enjoyed this.
JASON DONOVAN – I’m Doing Fine
More 60s style pop from the floppy haired JD. Boasted at the time this was his Beatles tribute but it has a more Motown feel to it for me. Whose idea were the trousers? Nice backing singers.
Confession time: I like this...I'll leave now...
PAUL SIMON – The Obvious Child
And Bucks Fizz lose the award for most drums on a Top 40 hit to Paul Simon. Great drum middle section (that we don't get to see) but the whole song is class.
Breakers:
GEORGE MICHAEL – Yes George you will make a video....You can see the GM/Sony rift appearing in front of your eyes. "Waiting For That Day" a nice enough tune.
ELTON JOHN – Elton goes gospel. Nice hat.
PAUL McCARTNEY – Birthday
More of the birthday video this week. I want the scaletrix.
THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH – A Little Time
How may are coming in? Let's put them on that small stage in the corner shall we and get the audience to clap along to the silent bits. D'oh.
ROXETTE – Dressed For Success
It's a bog standard rock/pop song. But as it's Roxette it's also brilliant.