Mary, a girl at a party, little did she know it was the 20th of December 1990 edition of Top of the Pops!
Snappy Christmas!
20-12-90: Presenter: Bruno Brookes
(8) SNAP – Mary Had A Little Boy
Getting the final regular show of the year underway but this tune got no higher.
(26) THE CARPENTERS – (They Long To Be) Close To You (video)
Went up one more place.
(21) INXS – Disappear (video)
At its peak.
(6) ENIGMA – Sadness Part 1 (video)
Will get to number one in four weeks time.
(14) JOHN TRAVOLTA & OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN – The Grease Megamix (video)
Er... sounded just like Summer Nights to me. But at least we got to see the footage at last. And it peaked at number 3.
(10) M.C. HAMMER – Pray (video)
Went up two more places.
(20) STATUS QUO – The Anniversary Waltz Part 2 (video)
Now this is how to do a megamix! Went up four more places.
(2) CLIFF RICHARD – Saviour’s Day
Will be number one for Christmas.
(1) VANILLA ICE – Ice Ice Baby
Fourth and final week at the top.
(25) JIVE BUNNY & THE MASTERMIXERS – The Crazy Party Mixes (video) (and credits)
Peaked at number 13.
25th of December is next.
It’s been a long wait... was it worth it?
ReplyDeleteCarpenters - not sure why this is in the charts, but I can listen to that golden voice all night. [later... ah, double a side with Merry Christmas Darling]
INXS - not a great fan of INXS, but this was quite melodic.
Enigma - interesting video. Gregorian chants made listenable (I am obviously in a good mood tonight). For no really valid reason, it reminded me a little of I’m Not In Love.
Grease Megamix - wedding disco favourite. Is a single track a megamix?... :-)
Status Quo - cf Anniversary Waltz 1 - they boogie along fine but were they struggling for new material?
Jive Bunny - oh, dear we fall at the last hurdle...
Well it was ok, but only 2 new songs in the entire show.
The constant plethora of 50's, 60's and 70's hits rereleased throughout 1990 surely got to a head this week with The Carpenters, The Grease Megamix, Status Quo having to release an Anniversary Waltz, and down to the new Jive Bunny playout, and it feels like the music industry was trying to protect itself from a house music barrage since 1988 that threatened to take away proper music, as the likes of Paul McCartney, Fleetwood Mac, Dave Stewart, Shakin Stevens and many 80s established regulars could not break the top 40 with their new releases in 1990, while songs by Snap were regularly making the top 10 on every release.
DeleteIt certainly felt like a clash of old protecting themselves from new by resorting to bringing back the 50s, 60s, 70s in megamix, total mix, remix or full re-release. It was non-stop during 1990, but in the end the new defeated the old as 1991 saw the oldies revival subsiding for good, and the future was with the new generation of fast electronic-assisted 'music'.
That's very much how I remember this exact point in the decade. As 1990 came to a close there was a sudden change with the craze for remixes and megamixes stopping and a rise in new dance sounds. For me this is a brief but really interesting period of creativity of which Enigma was a starting point.
DeleteSnap, despite being on a global tour as Bruno tells us, always make room for TOTP, but they needn't have bothered for this vaguely homoerotic performance. Does the nursery rhyme Mary Had a Little Lamb even have a tune to go with it?
ReplyDeleteThe Carpenters get their cash-in rerelease, I find their records are better to listen to than watch, partly because Karen looks so forlorn even when she's smiling, and also because she resembled E.T. Not my favourite of theirs, either.
Another prematurely dead pop star with this INXS video, though that was in his future. Although they get lumped with the reputation as a pub band made good, they did have a few decent tunes, and this isn't so bad. Cliche black and white video, mind you.
Enigma, the sound of a million hangovers, bringing religion to the charts in a way Sir Clifford must have approved of. The mix of chants and nose flute obviously struck a chord, but it's a novelty tune at heart.
Finally, we see the Summer Nights video, but this broadcast had Pete Waterman nowhere near it, no idea why. Dodgy lyrics, 30 year olds pretending to be teenagers, the lot. Never warmed to it.
MC Hammer, so called because he was a big fan of Peter Cushing, harangues various people to listen to the word of God in more of the video for Pray. He didn't even wait till his career was on the skids before he got religion.
Status Quo running on fumes here, the songs don't even flow together! Pretty horrible but the all-male concert crowd don't mind.
Repeat of Harry, inexorably advancing on the top spot, then Vanilla Ice ends his four weeks of glory (for himself). But what does it say on his top? Is the blue writing a brand?
Jive Turkey and the Bastardmixers still plugging away, if anything this the worst so far. What the hell have they done to George Formby? Oh, and let's have a laugh at some racehorses breaking their legs, why don't we?
Snap with Turbo B's verses from meeting a girl at party to target her for plucking up the nerves to ask her out for romantic dinner and music and wishing to get more intimate afterwards was surely a feminists worst nightmare, and took the Mary Had A Little Lamb nursery rhyme to sexy proportions. Fittingly it was at its peak this week at No.8 to end off a very successful 1990 for Snap in their debut year.
DeleteThe Carpenters famous video for Close To You, now at its 20-year anniversary in 1990 was the original 1970 video in the early years of colour, and one of the first colour pop videos in the days where alphabet letters were frequently made into seats or swings or draped over walls as soft cushions, and this was a blast from the past even in 1990 terms, and now in 2021, already 51 years since the Close To You video first came out.
Not sure why you think feminists wouldn't like the Snap tune, the lyrics clearly state Turbo is faltering and floundering in the face of trying to talk to a powerful woman. It's not my favourite song, but it's not problematic.
DeleteQuite a high religious quotient on this edition..oh Lord forgive us our continual featuring of reissues and covers.
ReplyDeleteObviously all for christmas, underlined by the lad next to Bruno wearing a Santa hat although he looks like he wouldn't hesitate to smack you in the mouth if you tried to pull it off.
Snap; In the studio for their curious mix of nursery rhyme / nativity / rave with their dancers shedding the colourful suits. Why. Was it too hot in mid December? I do still like this one. An endearing concept and a catchy tune.
The Carpenters; Issued with 'Merry Christmas Darling'. Fair enough. I think there was a best of out around that time. Certainly my sister bought one around that christmas. I would've preferred 'Superstar' instead but this is still a lovely listen with a charming video.
'Love those old clothes' Bruno says faintly dismissively, himself dressed as boringly as you can get.
INXS; More of this one though the video isn't exactly the most gripping. Good single though and I remember how much I liked it at the time. When doing those 'do do dos' Hutchence sounds exactly like Phil Collins.
Enigma; I guess the best reaction to the sea of Yeah Whoos would be, 'Inyaddianeanolayaahbehhh'. When I first heard this I probably thought it was another jokey cash-in. It didn't take many listens to think it was the hippest, coolest, newest thing around. It still sounds gorgeous and atmospheric and the perfect soundtrack to an especially wintry winter. It certainly was in Hertfordshire.
John Travolta & Olivia Newton John; Ok, not the Megamix but the original of 'Summer Nights'. With the film clip! That's interesting. Can we repeat some Spring '79 editions then and get more than 40 secs of 'Bright Eyes' this time?
MC Hammer; More religious fervour with a bit of Prince in the mix. His best single in my opinion.
Status Quo; Part 2. Oh great. The video set in a big concert so that's thousands this time who have to grin and bear it. Bruno makes no comment on Francis and Rick's clothes.
Cliff Richard; A song that starts off with some horribly evangelical lines but settles into a perfectly pleasant Cliffmas offering. I do still love the chord changes going into the choruses.
I wonder how many addled ravers lost their shit to the flute riff.
Vanilla Ice; I didn't see this last time so good to see the studio performance here. That was a good, lively way to end its run at the top. It sounded like one of his crew had secretly whacked the volume up higher than it was meant to be. You could launch motorbikes off of that hairstyle.
Jive Bunny; Oh sod off.
I remember this Enigma debut single being played a lot over Xmas 1990 on the radio which no doubt helped it get to No.1 at the turn of the year, albeit for one week only in January 1991, and seeing it as a form of welcome relaxing music to the ears, and then being impressed by the follow-up releases from this new album over the next couple of years in 1991-1992, including The Principles Of Lust which had its own video.
DeleteI thought the MC Hammer hit sounded perfectly fine and just as impactful without the Prince background of When Doves Cry in the mix, so I'm not sure why the Prince element was needed here by MC Hammer to be successful?
You'll be pleased to know that the Jive Bunny phenomenon was now drawing to close, as there would be only one more appearance on the TOTP chart when they followed up this hit with Over To You John in March 1991 which only reached No.28, and then two further new releases in 1991 failed to break the Top 40, so the game was up and there was to be no more for the Bunny after 1991.
My issue with the flute solo on Cliff's offering is that it's clearly a synth, so there's some subterfuge going on. Plus Cliff is in Bacofoil, apt for a Christmas turkey.
DeleteCliff mimics a mime of a flute solo when it's not actually a flute. He's doing his own vers Black Box!
DeleteA peak position of No.51 this week for Kim Wilde's third single from her new 1990 album, was a sad reflection of her sliding success in the British charts, as she would continue on until the mid-90s with releasing new singles, with only a couple more that made top 20, but certainly for now this new tune aptly name I Can't Say Goodbye, was her last until 1992, making 1991 a complete no-show by her.
ReplyDeleteThere didn't seem to be a video released for this last one of 1990, but she did manage to sing it here on Pebble Mill At One, and looking amazing to say the least, having not made it into the top 40 for a TOTP appearance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGs3f_9CIrk
I see actress Tawny Kitaen has died aged 59. She didn't sing, but she did boost Whitesnake's career by gyrating on sports car bonnets in their videos, and was married to singer David Coverdale for a while. She messed herself up with substance abuse, sadly.
ReplyDeleteReally sad that, I remember the Is This Love video in 1987 which was top 10 for Whitesnake and by then she was married to Coverdale and appeared in an all-white sexy number as he pulled her towards him on the bed, and I thought what a lucky man.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTop Of The Gods this time, with a highly annoying Trev. A very quick watch and critique.
ReplyDeleteSnap’s follow-up “Humpty Dumpty Rumpy Pumpy” failed to chart. Right, who’s next up in the studio tonight? Ah.
Doesn’t Richard Carpenter remind you of Jilted John? Why the pics of Miss Fecking Piggy? Pork roast for Boxing Day!
INXS disappeared quickly for me, but not before spotting someone looking like one of The Proclaimers early doors.
We’ve gone from Craig Mclachlan’s “Mona” to Enigma’s monastery. First non-English chart hit for how long?
The Summer Nights Megamix. Why?
Followed by “When Hammers Cry”.
Another Quo on 45. Dear God. Talking of which...
NO, Trev, Cliff ISN’T over there. Prick!
Here ARE Vanilla Ice, Trev? I give up.
I never watched more than a few seconds of any Jive Bunny video but, from a previous comment, now they’ve gone from car and plane crashes to footage of animals breaking legs meaning they’d be put down? Vile bastards.
SNAP – Mary Had A Little Boy
ReplyDeleteSome seriously heavy boots going on there Mr SNAP! Song is still crap, not that I'd tell him to his face. Plenty of flesh on show and a song that seems to be about stalking.
THE CARPENTERS – (They Long To Be) Close To You Close to you. And she's sitting in a giant "u". Hilarious. Seventies naffness at it's worst.
Freedom Williams gets a credit as F.Williams this week which is an improvement on "Willia" last week. Why can no-one say "C and C". It's not CC - 2 weeks in a row now.
INXS – Disappear
Some more of the fabulous INXS video. This is more like it.
ENIGMA – Sadness Part 1 (video)
Already Number 6 and going to be Number 1 at the start of 91. Gregorian chanting getting it's 15 minutes.
(14) JOHN TRAVOLTA & OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN – The Grease Megamix (video)
Not the 80s but the 70s again as we get "Summer Nights" from the end of the megamix. Thanks Pete for giving us the last song to EVERY 90s party!
Only started these repeats in 79 so missed the chance to say how much I love the film "Grease". So I'll say it now.
M.C. HAMMER – Pray
Still a decent tune amazingly. Still a rubbish video.
STATUS QUO – The Anniversary Waltz Part 2
A Medley again. All the decent tunes used in Part One obviously. There are actually young people in that concert audience. Dull video.
CLIFF RICHARD – Saviour’s Day
Not "over there" it's Sir Clifford of Christmas ready for his big number one.
VANILLA ICE – Ice Ice Baby
Seriously great live performance gets a second showing so I watched it this week.
JIVE BUNNY & THE MASTERMIXERS – The Crazy Party Mixes
Enough now. This is seriously poor.
Xmas special this Friday and then on 21st May we will enter 1991.
The TV Guide for next week can't decide if we are getting 2 regular episodes (as in the listing for 8.00 and 8.30) or a documentary about 1991 (as it says in the write-up). We shall just have to wait and see.
I'm really looking forward to 1991. With The KLF forging ahead to greater heights, and the emergence of The Shamen with their first top 40 hit, there's certainly lots to look forward too!
DeleteBig fan of both those dance groups. 1991 I think is a big leap forward in quality from 1990
DeleteThe Sky TV guide by Skybox as of 14th May when the Xmas 1990 episode is broadcast, is showing that for 21st May it will be the first two episodes of 1991, so it looks like there will be no Story Of and no Big Hits 1991 as is customary before each TOTP year being rerun by BBC4.
DeleteDance certainly was never better than in 1991 in terms of hits. So much originality and diversity. As well as some great rock and indie and not many covers. Of the few that come to mind, one by Kate Bush is one of the best covers of all time and another introduced one of Britain's best soul singers.
DeleteAnother show with some definite highlights…..
ReplyDeleteSnap – Mary had a little Boy - ….this is not one of them. Prefer ‘Mary had a little Lamb’ by Wings.
Carpenters – (They long to be) Close to you – OK, I own every single Carpenters album. There are so many highlights. For me the ‘Now and Then’ album is the very best. I already alluded to the Carpenters cover of ‘The End of the World’ earlier in the 1990 reruns when Sonia had the hit with it. On here it is part of the 60s Medley on what was side 2 of the LP. Bookended by the timeless ‘Yesterday once more’ it’s a treat….you never hear the reprise of that song anywhere….just fades in like a busker down a tunnel and then disappears in a harmonic haze.
INXS – Disappear – I wish they would.
Enigma – Sadness Part 1 – Hits you a bit like Enya did with ‘Orinoco Flow’ as it is such an ethereal original sound. Reminds me of the intro to Abba’s ‘My love, my Life’, the highlight of ‘Mamma Mia 2’.
Travolta & Newton-John – Summer Nights – Wow! X number of years after the 1978 repeats didn’t show it we get it when we’re not supposed to. I hated ‘Grease’ and all that when it was out and was so relieved when the Commodores hit no1 at the time. Nowadays I’ll concede it wasn’t bad.
MC Hammer – Pray – Prefer Take That’s song of the same name. Bored with MC Hammer already.
Status Quo - Anniversary Waltz Part 2 – I thought this was the one with Maddie Prior doing ‘All around my Hat’ but no, it’s 50s/60s stuff. I recall Quo being regarded as so heavy in the 70s but this is pretty light.
Cliff Richard – Saviour’s Day – Repeat showing or was he really in the studio?
Vanilla Ice – Ice Ice Baby – Please go – this is unlistenable despite Deacon’s superb riff.
Jive Bunny – The Crazy Party Mixes – You get more of JB on a playout than you did when they were No1 ! Diminishing returns in terms of memorability.
p.s. I’m with Mic on ‘Bright Eyes’.