Some things in life are bad, they can really make you sad, but this'll help things turn out for the best, it's the 17th of October 1991 edition of Top of the Pops...
And now for something completely different
17-10-91: Presenters: Tony Dortie & Mark Franklin
(33) SLADE – Radio Wall Of Sound
Getting tonight's show off to a banging start, 20 years after their first hit, with Jimmy Lea taking a rare lead vocal, this terrific song was to be their 24th and final top 40 hit, barring xmas re-releases, and it peaked at number 21.
(27) ENYA – Caribbean Blue
Also performing in the studio (was she really singing live though?) this first single from her number one album, Shepherd Moon, peaked at number 13.
(14) LISA STANSFIELD – Change
Definitely singing live tonight and this tune became her third of eight top ten hits when it peaked at number 10.
(NEW) U2 – The Fly (video)
The song that will finally replace Bryan Adams.
(15) DANNII MINOGUE – Baby Love
Performing live tonight and the song went up one more place.
(2) THE SCORPIONS – Wind Of Change (video)
At its peak.
(ALBUM TRACK) PAUL YOUNG – Don’t Dream It’s Over
From his number one greatest hits album, From Time to Time, this single peaked at number 20.
(32) CE CE PENISTON – Finally (video) (Breakers)
Will peak at number 29 this first time around. But next year it will get to number 2.
(26) MOBY – Go (video) (Breakers)
Became his first of three top ten hits when it peaked at number 10.
(3) MONTY PYTHON – Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life
Totally brilliant live performance from Eric Idle and his entourage (I think Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones were in there somewhere). From the 1979 movie, Life of Brian, it had recently become a popular chant on the football terraces, and number 3 was its peak.
(1) BRYAN ADAMS – (Everything I Do) I Do It For You (video)
Nearly there! Fifteenth of sixteen weeks at number one.
24th of October is next.
Slade - we come to the end of a 20-year singles catalogue for Slade, and this one did not resonate with me, and I don't recall it at all, but farewell and so long Slade.
ReplyDeleteEnya - the best thing about this was the studio set that they had prepared for her, I mean the wall background, but the song was nothing of note I'm afraid.
Dannii Minogue - hottest outfit yet for Dannii, and like Kylie seemed to be lost without the male side dancers a la Stock Aitken Waterman stylee which was more of a late-80s thing, but somehow the Minogue sisters insisted on carrying over this nonsense into the 90s.
The Breakers - so Moby finally makes it with his debut single, after the same single peaked at No.45 on first release in July, so whoever had the idea of releasing it again only three months later, somehow came up trumps. "Go, yeahehehe....."
I think Ce-Ce Peniston preceding Moby on the Breakers was singing Finally for Moby making it into the Top 40 on the second attempt with Go.
Monty Python - using 70s attire in a next generation 90s audience, and this performance on stage with props was more suited to The Kenny Everett Show than TOTP, but you got to hand it to them for making No.3 in the chart with this, although I don't know quite how they did it.
Slade think, hmm, We Built This City by Starship was a big hit, wasn't it? And so we get their version of it, complete with cod US DJ interruptions and stompalong chorus, which is at least in the Slade tradition. For a band at this stage in their career, a hell of a lot better than what Status Quo were up to a couple of weeks ago.
ReplyDeleteEnya with Orinoco Flow Part 2, even the studio performance is almost identical (minus the flowers). All right if you like that kind of thing, but overproduced and bland for everyone else.
Midtempo into midtempo, what is Lisa wearing? Which branch of the military is that? Anyway, song, eh, sort of OK but sounds like an album track. Did OK, though.
U2, well, at least it has some energy about it, I'll never be a U2 fan but I don't mind this one, possibly because of what it will achieve in two weeks' time. The Zoo TV stuff was irksome, however, Noel Edmonds never made that kind of fuss about his prank calls.
Dannii Minogue, eesh, a bit flat there, Dannii, and noticeably not doing her previous energetic dancing because she couldn't sing and dance at the same time. Song rips off the Supremes' title, but nowhere near as memorable tunewise.
Skip over The Scorpions, or just one Scorpion according to Mark, then unnecessary cover time as Paul Young wrestles Don't Dream It's Over into submission. Looks like Paul Carrack on BVs and keyboard. This adds nothing, and might take something away.
Then Eric Idle gets high concept with his staging of one of those hits that made it big thanks to Simon Mayo playing it on his Radio 1 Breakfast Show. To his credit, he does raise some chuckles, and as it's live he doesn't need to sing "Life's a piece of shit!", which he rerecorded for Mayo as "Life's a piece of spit!" Unfortunately for commercial stations, he chats away to Simon on the outro so they have to cut that bit. As for the song, it's a brilliant way to end a film, but away from that it does scream novelty record. Idle was a terrific comic song writer, though.
And to end, the anticlimax of... you know.
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DeleteThe Slade song sounds like a Def Leppard B side
DeleteWell those two chappies are back for the third week in a row! Does anyone else get to present this now?
ReplyDeleteSlade – Radio Wall of Sound – Jimmy’s vocals only leave us waiting for Noddy to burst in and he surely does. Typical Slade sound and a nice segue into my postscript below when Slade first appeared on ToTP in 1971 *
Enya – Caribbean Blue – I always felt that ‘Shepherd Moons’ was the lesser of her three big albums – ‘Watermark’ and ‘The Memory of Trees’ always appeal more to me, but there was no escaping the novel Enya sound in 1991 and even this insipid effort was a hit.
Lisa Standsfield – Change – At first I thought Lisa was in a tight pair of trousers then I realized it was tight shorts over leggings. At the end she answers the interview question in the host’s mike, so was she singing live?
U2 – The Fly – Great little tune to hum along to… No1 material? Apparently a marketing wheeze where the single was rapidly deleted hence the really short chart run.
Danni Minogue – Baby Love – I thought it was the Supremes song but no, not one I recall at all.
Scorpions – Wind of Change – Delighted to see this again even if prematurely chopped.
Paul Young – Don’t dream its over – Written by Neil Finn and featuring some vocals from Paul Carrack as well. Could have been billed as Paul & Paul.
Breakers – The first one finally got to No2 next year. Moby’s ‘Go’ was such a short clip I couldn’t tell much about it.
Monty Python – Always look on the bright side of life – I don’t think any other Pythons were there in this appearance although one man was dressed as an old lady a la Terry Jones. Nice to see the offending word omitted in a way in keeping with the wacky performance….Eric’s back with a custard pie right at the end of the show too. Like Dory I’m struggling to see how this became so popular 12 years after the film came out.
Bryan Adams – (Everything I do) I do it for you – This week I’m saying nothing about this!
* Britain’s Biggest 70s Hits
https://www.channel5.com/show/britains-biggest-70s-hits/
Did anyone watch this? I wholeheartedly recommend it. They’re doing a top30 of every year in the 70s starting off with 1970. Lots of clips I have not seen before and the usual bunch of celebrities, music buffs giving opinions and insights on each of the 30 records. Paul Gambaccini is good value as always. I don’t know where the top30 is sourced from as a book I have only shows the 10 best selling records in 1970….and the record at No1 in this chart is different to the one on the show. So if you enjoy early 70s eclectic music such as Mr Bloe, Gerry Monroe, Freda Payne, Jimi Hendrix, Deep Purple, Dana, Mary Hopkin….and a wonderful clip of Simon and Garfunkel then what are you waiting for? I’m looking forward to 1971 next week which is where I came in with Slade.
Monty Python was a hit because Simon Mayo played it every day on the Radio 1 Breakfast Show. Call it the Donald Where's Your Troosers? effect.
DeleteI think Tony and Mark are supposed to be the permanent presenting team at this stage? Won't last thankfully.
DeleteI don't think Donald ever got on ToTP! A bit like Red Sovine and (dare I say it) An Innocent Billy Joel...
DeleteAbout Britain's Biggest 70s hits, The information comes from the Official Charts company.
DeleteThanks HEW....my book of reference is obviously an alternative (and quite different) Chart.
DeleteMore new presenters are phased in from November '91 then get phased out to leave Mark and Tony the only presenters till early '94.
DeleteIfound this chart online, though again it seems to differ slightly from the tv program:
Delete01 Elvis Presley The Wonder Of You
02 Mungo Jerry In The Summertime
03 Freda Payne Band Of Gold
04 Simon & Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water
05 Rolf Harris Two Little Boys
06 Lee Marvin Wand'rin' Star
07 Norman Greenbaum Spirit In The Sky
08 England World Cup Squad Back Home
09 Free All Right Now
10 Christie Yellow River
11 Edison Lighthouse Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Grows)
12 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles Tears Of A Clown
13 Dave Edmunds I Hear You Knocking
14 Matthew's Southern Comfort Woodstock
15 Dana All Kinds Of Everything
16 Deep Purple Black Night
17 Andy Williams Can't Help Falling In Love
18 Mr Bloe Groovin' With Mr Bloe
19 The Kinks Lola
20 Shirley Bassey Something
21 Hotlegs Neanderthal Man
22 Clarence Carter Patches
23 Desmond Dekker You Can Get It If You Really Want
24 Kenny Rogers & The First Edition Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town
25 The Beach Boys Cottonfields
26 Jimi Hendrix Experience Voodoo Chile
27 Peter Paul & Mary Leavin' On A Jet Plane
28 Canned Heat Let's Work Together
29 Glen Campbell Honey Come Back
30 The Tremeloes Me And My Life
Thanks Angelo. Strange how there are different 1970 charts. No Gerry Monroe in this one. 24, 27 and 30 weren't in the TV Chart. My book with just the top10 has the order (from the numbers above) as 1, 10, 2, 3, 20, 6, 7, 5, 9, 25
DeleteSlade, in the 90s?? I do quite like this one, hadn't remembered it was so recent though.
ReplyDeleteCharts. Still miss them. Still don't understand why there is no voiceover for the top 10. And the Top 10 is looking quite, um, 'mature' this week.
Enya - Gorgeous set and piano. Not as memorable as Boadicea, Orinoco Flow, Only Time etc but something different to a lot of this year's crop.
Lisa Stansfield - she was always a better personality than comes across in this little interview. Most of her songs other than People Hold On and All Around The World are a bit of a snooze though.
U2 - We still don't need a pre-release. It's still dumb to show a video and not run the charts over it. But we'll obviously all be glad to this song in a couple of weeks. I wasn't a huge fan at the time but I enjoy it more now, I quite like the baggy thing going on.
Dannii - good timing, she was 50 this week and looks a lot better now than then. Could they have found a bigger microphone? Her face is so obscured. Not her best track, though I had to laugh at TD calling it 'drum and bass'. I can just see it on playlists with Goldie and co.
Scorpions - Feel like this has been played than it should have, perhaps cos it's a video? We only got a little bit tonight too. All of the #2s under BA's reign have felt like they were #2 for an eternity themselves.
Paul Young - Didn't even realised he'd covered this. Still not into the album track thing. Dannii aside, this episode feels very much one for the parents rather than the kids. Is this cos of the live situation or just how the charts are this week? (WHICH WE CAN'T KNOW BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T SHOW THE CHART)* *Obviously I could Google this in 2021, but not in 1991 I can't.
Breakers - Finally some young people's music. Two dance classics, either of which I'd have taken over two non-chart tracks.
Monty Python (or Eric Idle) - aaaand it's back to the older folks. Isn't this being at least partially mimed? The sound is a bit weird compared to everyone else tonight so hard to tell, although the talky bits at the end are clearly live. Very fun studio performance though.
Thing to say about that thing 15/16. When you Google it sometimes the Spanish name comes up first (Todo Lo Que Haga). Thank heavens only one more thing to say about it.
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ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteA number of songs in this week's chart that failed to get a showing, either still on the rise, or peaking this week and not securing a Breakers invitation the following week.
No.12 Belinda Carlisle - Live Your Life Be Free
Although in the TOTP studio a couple of shows ago for its first showing, she was still going up this week at No.12, so in the old style TOTP format she would have got a second TOTP outing this week, but due to the new format where there were other features on the show, I guess you would have to be going up more than two places in the charts to get another showing, even just the video.
No.37 Cher - Save Up All Your Tears
Peak position this week, before falling the following week, and The Breakers on the new show format didn't go up to No.37, so Cher gets no TOTP for this one at all, despite what looks like another high-spend video with new mop:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDJKWf4y6WQ
No.39 - Union ft The England World Cup Rugby Squad - Swing Low (Run With The Ball)
Now then, after all these years of football songs on TOTP, dating back around 20 years, someone had the thought of muscling in with a rugby teams for a new pop single, but thankfully it got no higher than No.39 and was not called up for a TOTP cap. Doesn't appear to be a video for this.
No.40 Beverly Craven - Woman To Woman
Seems to be the year of Beverly Craven, and although at peak position this week, the video was somewhat late 80's in style, but worth a watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myewnnUhK4g
We're certainly missing the chart rundown from No40..
Delete'Woman to Woman' was the title of the album and tour that Beverley undertook with Judie Tzuke and Julia Fordham a few years ago.
I prefer Robin Beck's version of 'Save up all your Tears' - a real belter!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiTlgyzIuvI
Yes makes no sense not to play the chart over a video. The Top 40 was so eclectic at the time; Don McLean, Enya, Nirvana, KLF, Genesis, 2 Unlimited etc. It's main competitor 'The Chart Show' only I think had Top 10s from different genres. Saw Ozric Tentacles on the Indie Chart around this time.
DeleteSlade - their heavy metal era, with a record recorded to promote a greatest hit compilation. Ok, but not a patch on their glory years. [loved the noddy upstaging during the next link]
ReplyDeleteEnya - as someone else mentioned, not a lot different from Orinoco…
Lisa stansfield - don’t remember this, but rather liked the beginning, before it went into the slow dance track. [ yet another in depth interview. Good to know she’s doing atour which is… erm.. going on a long time, and going to lots of places]
U2 - a future number one that has been a ‘Pointless’ answer on several occasions. I liked it at the time, and liked it even more now.
Danni minogue - thought it was going to be another cover - ended up wishing it had been
Paul young - another pointless (in this case, lacking in point) cover. [beaten tot he Paul Carrack spotting, and yet more detailed tour information]
Breakers
Cc peniston - I remember, and like, this
Moby - I remember, and don’t like, this
Monty Python - another future number one. Very silly performance…
Does anyone else get the impression Mark Franklin has only one question: "When's the tour?"?
ReplyDeleteNew look pt. 3 and for me easily the best new show so far. Some great performances, 3 (yes 3!!!!) full videos and our two presenters now apparently using working microphones allowing them to talk rather than bellow.
ReplyDeleteA rollicking start with Slade who were never going to be troubled by the need to sing live. It is shameless daytime radio arselicking but a good rousing song that is pleasingly Sladeish. I think it's Mike Read doing the daft DJ speak. So another ex presenter who's found some way on to the show in recent weeks.
I like the gunslinger long coats and hats though Jim Lea's bird of prey t-shirt really shouldn't be worn on TV by anyone of any age.
Bryan Adams?? No it's Mark Franklin to give a hushed, respectful intro to Enya. He seems to have acquired Gary Davies's incapacity for presenter falsity. Liking this lad more with every appearance.
Enya sits at a piano or harpsichord that looks like it's been made from a section of the Royal Albert Hall. An ambient moonlit setting that makes the stage look about 4 times bigger than it is. She does look slightly ill at ease here with some noticeably forced smiles. Maybe it's singing live. I think she does here, in amongst the chorus of recorded Enyas. I must say I just love this one still, played it a great deal that Autumn and the new format does it justice in a way the old format probably couldn't.
The crowd then play beat the camera or possibly recreate an edition of 'Runaround' for Lisa Stansfield. Modelling sort of sexy secret service chic with a dash of Star Trek, she replaced Cathy Dennis in my affections for quite a while, possiblity due to this one performance. I still love that hairstyle. Fine vocal and we'll see far more of her in the coming months.
Hilarious that Bryan sorry Mark allows her about a second between finishing the song and putting a microphone in her face. She instantly switches to interviewee mode for the necessary 10 or so seconds. She had to present 'Razzmatazz' with Adrian Pirie so she isn't going to get easily phased.
New video which should probably have been captioned 'Single that will be the next No.1'. Still think it's a fabulous comeback and 'Achtung Baby' will always be one of my favourite albums. All about The Edge this one. And Larry's drums. The slackest ever on a No 1 single?
Dannii Minogue does her best but is found out a little by the live set up. Pleasant chorus for this one. Distracted by the cameras for most of it, one of which thunders past like an express train.
Scorpions video. A lot of history on show there.
Paul Young gets the honour of an Album feature, in this case a best of that my older sister bought. Surprising to represent it with this considering this is also his current single. Perhaps his ethereal duet with Marie from Clannad on 'Both Sides Now' for same album would've been a bolder choice but I genuinely like this cover. I hadn't heard of Crowded House at the time and the little bass motif is still my favourite thing from either version. The dreamy opening sounds very similar to Seal's 'Show Me' so another star for that.
Breakers; Both on again thankfully, one a lot sooner than the other. What a video for 'Go'! Like Queen's 'Bicycle Race' re staged for the Tate Modern.
Eric Idle shows up to create some merry havoc. Love the spot on custard pie throw and him getting in a taxi, hilariously filled with dry ice. A favourite TV memory of that year. Equally funny Mark's link at the end where instead of heading back to the studio, he seems to be continuing out towards the bins!
No.1, Almost there. Did Mike McShane ask not to be featured in the video?
Tony and Mark say goodbye and give a plug to the seminal BBC series 'Sounds of the Sixties' then on episode 3. Tony rolls his eyes at something, presumably an approaching custard pie from a returning Python. Funny end to a great edition.
A pretty decent show despite the obvious (to me) problems.
ReplyDeleteSlade start us off with a song written by Jimmy Lea which was too low for Noddy’s vocal range. This was one of two singles released by their first label who promised them a new album deal if they had two consecutive hits. The follow-up “Universe” flopped. It is indeed Mike Read annoyingly overused on the track.
A nice bit of soothing ambient pop from Enya which menacingly starts with the first note of “Nothing Compares 2 U”.
Space stewardess Lisa gives us a slow burner which sounded like it could easily have suited Yazz.
A pointless interview and exclusive next as I can’t stand Bono. The message on that TV set should have read “Everything you know about this show is wrong”.
Madozza’s back with a boring track, some slightly off key notes, and laughingly nothing like drum and bass. Dorky’s on the funny ciggies again.
Scorpion’s Euro lighter ballad preceds the worthless album track slot. Can’t stand Paul Carrack either.
If only Mark had misprounced Ce Ce Peniston’s surname. Tee hee.
Moby with some microwave and fridge rave stuff, and too much of it, thanks.
Ah, the irony as Python’s novelty hit, championed by one of the cruelly jettisoned Radio 1 DJ hosts, becomes a hit. Mark Franklin was in kindergarten when the accompanying film was released, and Dorky couldn’t tell a novelty hit if it slapped him round the face. That pretend keyboardist goes for a right old burton down the stairs. A fine Adam Ant style stages domination by Eric there.
If you have a look at the video for Caribbean Blue you can spot a young Martine McCutcheon.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteOpening up in 1973 with Slade. Their first Top 40 hit since 1984. And their last! Where the hell did this come from? Great performance as you'd expect and I quite like this. Never knew anyone but Noddy sang? Great fun. Bet this got turned into a few radio jingles!
Enya takes 3 years to give us Orinoco Flow Part 2. Gorgeous is right for this song Mark (and he's getting the hang of this presenting lark). I ended up buying Enya's Greatest Hits and it's quite lovely. I really like the staging of this.
Little Miss Rochdale is back. Nice new hair do. Lovely tune. Another Greatest Hits album I own.
A video exclusive from U2 who seems to have entered a hard rock phase. Been listening to too much INXS by the sounds of it. Shades of Depeche Mode as well here. Average Tune. Crap video. I will forgive all as they are about to take down Mr Adams.
Dannii Minogue. 20. That's why Kylie wished her Happy 50th on Instagram the other day then.
Rather fetching outfit. Is this a cover? Lacks the hook of her previous hits. Forgettable. The beat on this I think is used in every 1992 dance record.
The Scorpions promised a Wind Of Change but Bryan is STILL number one so they lied!
Paul Young with a pointless cover of the Crowded House tune that briefly tickled the chart in 1987 but became a 90s radio standard thanks to their huge Greatest Hits CD in 1996. This version adds nothing and is nowhere near as good. A rare misfire from Mr Young. I own the Crowded House and Paul Young Greatest Hits album from 1991. It's my night...
Breakers: Ce Ce Peniston with the 1991 version of Finally. This will be back in it's better known 1992 version very soon. She had another 6 Top 40 hits unbelievably. Couldn't name one myself without looking..can you? Followed by the fabulous "GO" from Moby. Even greater things to come from him.
Following on from Donald Troosers and Kinky Boots its Mayo's latest chart assault from Monty Python. Fabulously funny record and the Radio Clean Edit that is nowhere on streaming so the sweary film version will have to go on my playlist instead. The performance a health and safety nightmare. And completely bonkers. Love it.
I give up with Bryan facts.
Taxi……..