I ain't got no cigarettes, but I do have the 22nd of November 1990 edition of Top of the Pops!
Rising up the chart
22-11-90: Presenter: Anthea Turner
(5) EMF – Unbelievable
Getting the show off to a lively start and the song went up two more places.
(3) VANILLA ICE – Ice Ice Baby (video)
Will be number one next week.
(17) THE PROCLAIMERS – King Of The Road
Looking dapper in the studio in their dinner suits to perform this Roger Miller cover which became their second of three top ten hits when it peaked at number 9.
(12) ROD STEWART & TINA TURNER – It Takes Two (video)
Peaked at number 5.
(11) JULEE CRUISE – Falling
In the studio tonight to perform the weird and haunting theme tune from Twin Peaks and it reached its peak at number 7.
(8) JIMMY SOMERVILLE – To Love Somebody
A repeat showing of this performance but the song got no higher.
(10) 808 STATE – Cubik
In the studio but this Madchester tune was now at its peak.
(1) THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS – Unchained Melody (video)
Fourth and final week at number one.
(NEW) BRUNO & LIZ & THE RADIO 1 D.J. POSSE – Let’s Dance (video) (and credits)
The Children in Need single and it peaked at number 54.
November 29th is next.
Didn’t take long to watch this episode.
ReplyDeleteVanilla Ice - “it’s not an under pressure sample. That goes dum dum dum dum dummy dum dum, but this goes dum dum dum dum dumpty dum dum” - yeah, Vanilla, that argument didn’t stick, did it? Actually, quite like this one
Proclaimers - oh oh, cover alert (continues the trend of slowing down slow tracks). Preferred their own stuff.
Rod and Tina - yet another cover. At least they put some energy into this one
Julee Cruise - strangely preferred the 30 seconds from the previous show..
808 State. Next
Children In Need - ok, its for charity, but please....
I do not remember the charts being so bereft of original music at this period. I suspect I was buying original indie stuff rather than chart stuff at this time
Both the Proclaimers and Rod Stewart/Tina Turner combo had all these performers in smart evening dress, uncharacteristically for all of them when you consider what they would regularly wear in their previous videos through their careers.
DeleteIt was not only for getting in the Christmas spirit up front in November, but more importantly looking for the Christmas No.1 as the main reason for making the dress code effort as it turned out.
I don't recall the full video for Children In Need being played on the playout on the original broadcast by BBC1 in 1990, so if anyone has the original show as it was broadcast, I think BBC4 played more of it, which we would have seen back then in 1990, but good to see Simon Bates and Steve Wright in the video, despite already having left as presenters of TOTP in 1987 and 1989 respectively, but still on the BBC Radio 1 roster in late 1990.
Blimey! I’ve been out for socially distanced takeaway beers with some mates this afternoon / evening and I’m still early doors for this thread!
ReplyDeleteAnthea not only dressed like a court jester but, sadly, regressing to shouty mode tonight. Pardon?
EMF, the polar opposite stagewise of The Beautiful South. The singer is eminently slappable, but I still love this song.
Dear God. FF Baby. I don’t agree with your opinion of this bilge, Shouty. While you're at it, turn those shorts down.
The Proclaimers with a cover which suits their style down to the ground. Such a shame there’s a picture of the reviled Jonathan King on the double bass. Hindsight and all that.
Time now for Tina Turner’s fortnightly single release, this time a bumping uglies duet with Rod. This tune was also murdered by Bruno Brookes and Liz Kershaw for charity. Hold that thought.
Mid-mugshots: Anthea does a great job of getting the Dream Warriors’ name and song title in that space.
She then ruins it by saying Julee Cruise (actual proper spelling of her name, fact fans) is at number 10 having finished that last rundown with her at 11. Bet Lynch’s unusual transatlantic cousin with something they might label as ethereal.
A Jimi re-run followed by “Cubik” (not “Olympic” as mentioned previously by a bespoke forumite) which looks like a lumberjack convention and sounds like a car alarm with, unexpectedly, some guitar for a rave tune.
Back to the number one’s start for a change, and then...
What a load of shit! You’d think Bates was ancient enough to know the words off by heart. If this is charity I’m keeping my hands away from my pockets. If we’re going to get DJ’s making a row, I’d almost ask to hear Laurie Lingo and the Dipsticks again.
EMF with the second and last outing on TOTP for this debut hit, as it peaked the following week at No.3, it may interest us all to know that they got to No.1 in America with it several months later in July 1991, albeit for one week only, but still, what an achievement for a debut single across both sides of the pond.
DeleteGreat to see the Righteous Brothers video from the start once again, and not since it was a new entry at No.3, cos the first 3 weeks at No.1 we started from the middle of the video in order to payout to the ned, such was the restriction that TOTP had placed on itself just to cram in as many tunes as possible in a short 30-minute format.
They still cut off the Righteous Bro's final big note, though!
DeleteProbably because they thought that they would get into trouble for playing more than two minutes of the video on TOTP.
DeleteBit more of a show for the studio audience than last time, kicking off with EMF's microphone abusing antics. Got the idea on their previous appearance, really.
ReplyDeleteVanilla Ice was actually very well thought of as one of the best rappers around by the hip-hop community, and then he has a worldwide smash with this and that credibility disappeared in a puff of smoke. Reality TV beckoned. It's OK as far as it goes, but you can see why it's regarded as a novelty record now.
This week's first tepid cover, The Proclaimers put their stamp on Roger Miller's hymn to peripatetic living which was a great song from an artist who was also thought of as a bit of a novelty, though his songwriting skills were superb. Anyway, the song survives this rendering, but it's about as essential as their fellow countrymen Deacon Blue's EP earlier in the year.
I hesitate to call Rod and Tina's bellowing tepid but all the overemphasis in the world doesn't improve this "force it down their throats" cover. Just a lot of shouting and blaring.
Hey, here's Julee Cruise to creep us out, thanks for that Julee, with the spooky theme tune to the show I was glued to at the time. No, don't ask me to explain it. Rockin' Back Inside My Heart should have been a hit too. Nice that they revived the theme tune for the revival a couple of years ago too, didn't even remix it.
Repeat of Jimmy's tepid cover, then something to get our teeth into as 808 State grace the stage. We've seen the video, but the boys were always happy to turn up in person, not that anyone could actually name a band member, of course. Anyway, top techno.
The Righteous Bro with his last week at the top, but not, alas, the last time we will hear this song there, then one of many nadirs of the charity record. The trouble with this is, they think they're being funny, but are trying to sing it sincerely with soul as well, and the results are horrible. A charity single that actively put off people buying it and contributing: Bruno and Liz's other attempts did the same. I was never even sure they liked each other given the palpable tension in the studio when they were doing their weekend breakfast show.
Vanilla Ice already had a No.1 in America with this same tune, and about a couple of weeks before this new entry at No.3 in Britain, so it was already old hat in the US of A, and falling down the chart by now in mid-November. The British public loved it so much that it was No.1 for 4 weeks till just before the Christmas No.1, eventually losing out to Cliff Richard getting the Christmas No.1 of 1990 with Saviours Day.
DeleteThis week's near misses that were unlucky not to get a top 40 placing, and that peaked just outside:
ReplyDeleteNo.45 - State Of Independence (1990) - Donna Summer - not sure why this was re-released for 1990 when it was originally a No.14 hit in late 1982, but Summer's only performance of it in the UK seemed to be first time in November 1982 on the Late Late Breakfast Show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBCs1HEAHk0
No.48 - Serious - Duran Duran - 22nd overall single and first Duran single to fail to make the Top 40; the only other single to have the same flop status was their 30th and last single in June 2000 called Someone Else Not Me, and so not a bad overall charting success in a 20 year chart career from 1981-2000 that saw 28 out of 30 single releases comfortable chart in the UK Top 40.
No.77 - Inside Out - Electribe 101 - an interesting cover of the all time classic by Odyssey that made No.3 in 1982, and video in slower than usual Electribe 101 fashion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0lYlBcapyg
Anthea’s wardrobe department have let her down again on this one…
ReplyDeleteEMF – Unbelievable – You’re not drawn to the lead singer but it’s suitably different and catchy to appeal.
Vanilla Ice – Ice Ice Baby – I recall when I first heard this abomination thinking I hope John Deacon and Queen and David Bowie are given suitable credit as without John’s memorable bass riff this is a nothing record. Anthea either hadn’t heard ‘Under Pressure’ or she forgot to mention it. Dreadful record. Four weeks at No1?
Proclaimers – King of the Road – I thought I was going to hate this as so good is Roger Miller’s 1965 No1 hit version of it, but actually it’s quite good. I wonder why the double bass player has a picture of JK on his instrument? Surprised they showed that or didn’t ‘fuzzy’ it out.
Rod and Tina – It takes two – Agree with the comments above; loud and shouty. FF
Julee Cruse – Falling – Unusual sound…doesn’t really go anywhere. Single is an edit at 4:12….I wonder how long the uncut version is? I never watched ‘Twin Peaks’ so it means nothing as a theme, but then I never watched ‘Prisoner Cell Block’ and that theme by Lynne Hamilton is sooo much better than this.
Jimmy Somerville – To love somebody – I thought this was a repeat but Anthea introduces as if he’s there in the studio.
808 State – Cubik – FF
Bobby Hatfield – As observed above, we almost get the whole song, and what singer Bobby is. Puts some of the other acts on the show to shame.
Bruno and Liz etc. – Let’s Dance – Just had this on Quo’s Anniversary Waltz so not the best song to choose. Enjoyed seeing the likes of Steve Wright and Simon Bates but couldn’t see if Jakki was anywhere?
As I mentioned earlier, Vanilla swore blind it wasn’t a sample of under pressure, but ‘based’ on it. I think they eventually got a credit.
DeleteLooking in the Guinness Book of No1 Hits, they are credited there....and rightly so!
Deletesct, The Proclaimers' double bass photo is a pun on the word "King" in the song title. Shame they didn't go for a mugshot of Paul King (of "Love And Pride" fame) instead.
DeleteDuran Duran actually had a couple more top 40 hits in 2004 and 2005 getting to number 5 & 11 in the charts.
DeleteArthur - maybe guitarist/singer Mark King of Level 42 would have been a better choice?
DeleteMark King, bass - good knock!
DeleteArthur, on the Duran Duran count, I should have counted 30 out of 32 singles releases between 1981 and 2005 that made the Top 40, as I forgot another two Top 40 singles in 2004-2005.
DeleteI note Patrick Juvet, Swiss Eurodisco star of the 1970s and one-time Eurovision entrant, died on April Fool's Day. Best known over here for I Love America, which was pretty much his only hit in Britain, featured on TOTP. It's a bit of fluff, but fun.
ReplyDeleteThere's also an amusing video for it on YT where Patrick obviously had a day trip to New York, sat on the back of a car and was driven very slowly around the congested streets! RIP, Patrick.
i only ever liked "i love america", but i bought the album with that on all the same when i was at school. as you can imagine, i copped a shedload of flak from the punk, prog and metal contingents when i played it on the 6th form common room record deck - especially f they caught a glimpse of the cover, where patrick looked somewhat androgynous to put it mildly. sadly though the pretty boy looks disappeared after what i suspect was a lifelong party, and he ended his days as a classic advert for the old rock n roll adage "die young, and leave a good-looking corpse"!
Deletei forgot to mention that the full LP version of "i love america" was 15 minutes long - which wound up the anti-disco brigade even more, and they certainly didn't love me for subjecting them to it ha ha
Deletemind you, for it was a case of being on the other end of the stick whenever the interminable "war of the worlds" album got a spin - which i seem to remember was fairly frequently!
DeleteNo TOTP tonight as BBC4 is joining BBC1 and BBC2 in blanket coverage of the death of the Duke of Edinburgh!
ReplyDeleteTalking of the subject of mortality, a performer much derided by me (admittedly) and mentioned on this forum very recently has passed away - Eddie Rothe, the usually topless drummer of Liquid Gold, who was also cruise singer / documentary presenter Jane McDonald's fiance.
By Blanket Coverage you mean closing down completely.
DeleteI didn't realise BBC4 was simply closed for business, I guess as a mark of respect. Not trying to be cynical, but the two main BBC channels with blanket coverage (plus ITV1) and BBC4 off the air is a trifle over the top, methinks.
DeleteI guess as BBC4 is the BBC's dedicated entertainment channel with Friday night in particular being music night, it would not be appropriate to show programmes music and dancing like TOTP on a day where someone as high profile as the Duke of Edinburgh has just passed away, so it is not at all a surprise really, but like Arthur, I'm a little disappointed not to have my regular dose of TOTP on a Friday night!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteJust been watching 9th November 1978, as two people who appeared on this episode have passed away in the last week or so.
DeletePatrick Juvet appeared on video with "I love America", he died on 2nd April. Wally Rothe was also in this episode performing "Anyway you do it", as mentioned previously.
The postponed 29th of November and 6th of December 1990 editions are now confirmed on BBC4 for Friday, beginning at 8.30pm. ~
ReplyDeletehttps://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl6b/2021/04/16
Being catching up with recordings of other music, and just watched the 1982 episode of greatest songs of the 80s - I had forgotten how good the year was!
ReplyDeleteI've been really enjoying this series and it used sales data up to the present day (including streams and downloads) so 1981 had Human League at Number One instead of Soft Cell who sold the most records in that calendar year.
DeleteAlways fun to see what fashion Anthea is going to share with us and this week does not disappoint.
ReplyDeleteEMF – Unbelievable
Drop the mic (literally) and I must say I had never noticed the swear word on this until I saw the warning on Spotify and I still struggle to find it.
VANILLA ICE – Ice Ice Baby (video)
It's catchy and it was everywhere. Single-handedly solving the problem of how to sell rap music to the masses, put a white boy in front and make it granny safe. Street cred NIL. Mr Van-Winkle last seen Dancing On Ice...
That is a LOW new entry for PSB with one of their finest tunes "Being Boring" and then Mallett is back!
THE PROCLAIMERS – King Of The Road
Speaking of cool, it's David Tennants favourite band with a cover of King Of The Road that sounds rather fabulous with these Scottish accidents. I must admit a huge love for this tune. But alas not the Christmas Number One Anthea. They are looking very smart in their suits as well.
ROD STEWART & TINA TURNER – It Takes Two (video)
Now here's a Xmas cash in if ever I saw one. 2 big hitters with a decent version of a classic tune.
(11) JULEE CRUISE – Falling
Odd TV show, Odd song, Odd singer. Is this the most over-rated TV theme in history - Yes.
(8) JIMMY SOMERVILLE – To Love Somebody
Nice to see again.
(10) 808 STATE – Cubik
Dig out the BBC Micro is Techno Time with Orbital. Did they get those chequered shirts in a job lot. Decent dance tune.
THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS then best to mention the RADIO 1 POSSE ever again!