If you need me it's alright, come on over baby to the 3rd of October 1991 edition of Top of the Pops!
Glovely lady
3-10-91: Presenters: Tony Dortie & Mark Franklin
(4) ERASURE – Love To Hate You
Following the new titles and theme tune, Erasure get the Year Zero revamp underway but the song got no higher.
(25) VOICE OF THE BEEHIVE – I Think I Love You
Also live in the new Elstree studio tonight but this Partridge Family cover was at its beak, I mean peak.
(22) KENNY THOMAS – Best Of You
In the studio and the song peaked at number 11.
(20) BELINDA CARLISLE – Live Your Life Be Free
Also performing here tonight, after a quick interview with 17 year old Mark Franklin (lucky boy!) and the song peaked at number 12.
(NEW) STEVIE WONDER – Fun Day (video)
An exciting new feaure ~ showing a video. Er....
and this long forgotten song peaked at number 63.
(10) JULIAN LENNON – Saltwater
He's in the studio, he also gets a quick interview, and he was on his way to number 6.
(ALBUM TRACK) STATUS QUO – Let’s Work Together
Another new feature ~ an album track. Taken from their number 10 album Rock Till You Drop.
(31) D.J. CARL COX – I Want You (Forever) (video) (Breakers)
Peaked at number 23.
(30) MONTY PYTHON – Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life (video) (Breakers)
Their only hit single and it peaked at number 3.
(1) BRYAN ADAMS – (Everything I Do) I Do It For You (video)
Some things don't change ~ thirteenth week at number one.
10th of October is next.
Happy New TOTP.
ReplyDeleteTheme (Now Get Out Of That)/Titles:
With no disrespect to the Yellow Pearl/Wizzard themes, I absolutely love this theme by Tony Gibber. I think it's really upbeat, pacey and fresh. The titles still look good today.
I wish they'd stuck with this theme rather than the current Led Zeppelin inspired mash up they use at Xmas.
Studio: Definitely much bigger than before which allows them more variety. Darker lighting as well.
Presenters:
Tony Dortie had previous TV experience with kids TV show UP2U in Summer 88/89. Now he runs his own Entertainment company making TV shows (Million Dollar Babes) and running campaigns for pop stars.
Mark Franklin. A DJ by trade (he was 14 when he started at BBC Wiltshire) and still working today for Greatest Hits Radio South Wales. Name a commercial radio station in Wales/West and he's probably had a gig there.
If rumours are to be believed Tony and Mark hated each other so much they refused to work together after the first few weeks, and tend to only be on the same show at Xmas time.
They are both trying way too hard here. Talking far too quickly...was there no rehearsal? Did they not shoot a pilot for this? Director has to take the blame here.
Dortie does the bulk of the heavy lifting and he's bloody awful. Trying to be cool and failing miserably. Let's hope he improves. Mark is much calmer and shows promise.
Format:
Nice segue between VOB and Kenny. Shame about the rogue cameraman. Rehersals again! Taking to acts something to get used to.
Not sure why the Top Ten is at the start. Odd shaped numbers and no voice-over. My wife looked up and said "what was that for" That will have to change
Breakers as before really. I guess we will see less of the acts in the studio now there are other songs in the show. Not sure why we needed Stevie and Quo. But there's bound to be some trial and error.
I do like putting the Number One as the last tune and having some end titles.
Tunes:
Erasure: Andy Pandy kicks off the new look TOTP with a fairly good vocal of a decent Erasure tune. They are really at their peak now.
Voice Of The Beehive: absolutely love this tune and one of them can sing. who's on the badge?
Kenny Thomas:my eyes were on the fitness instructor. Tune not as good as Outstanding.
Belinda Carlisle: Hi Belinda. She had a lot to say for herself. Us top 10 plug unnecessary really as she was already Top 20 here. Are they marigolds. I thought the whole performance was live for a minute but the middle bit was definitely a record.
Stevie Wonder: what are the rules on blind people driving cars? Nice song. Not sure why we need to hear it. Briefly tickled the charts at Number 63.
Julian Lennon: We need to do something about the environment do we Julian.. let's hope we get that sorted soon. It's a preachy number but I like it. Good performance as well which you'd expect from Lennon.
Status Quo: Did someone open an Envelope? It's Da Quo desperately attempting to stay relevant now Radio 1 have ditched them. Practically a covers band now. Coronation Street cameos and Butlins becon.
Breakers: Carl Cox and Monty say a quick hello. They'll be back…
Bryan Adams has a new album out next March "So Happy It Hurts" followed by a tour of the same name.
Summary:
Teething problems will hopefully be ironed out and Dortie needs a tranquiliser. Seeing songs not in chart on the show I hated at the time. I still believe it should be a Top,40 show but I'm interested to see what we get. The whole thing was at least a rehersal away from broadcast.
Catch you laters...
Morgie, of course 'UP2U'. That was a great Saturday morning programme. Tony Dortie was a very good main presenter on that and I was definitely pleased that he was now doing 'Top of the Pops'. A little disappointed by how he was initially on his new programme! As I say he did get much better.
Delete'UP2U' was something of a 'Top of the Pops' presenter prep school wasn't it as it also included Jenny Powell and Anthea Turner. Tony and Jenny at various times presented the show from the main studio. Anthea, er, didn't.
I always liked Jenny Powell as a presenter. Loads of energy and enthusiasm. She's in GHR now.
DeleteWas Up2U where Anthea got taken out by the motorbike?
I believe it was. Conversely I HATED Jenny Powell on that show. Far too chirpy for me ;)
DeleteI thought it was Liberace on the badge, but it was difficult to make it out. That can't be right, can it?
DeleteI actually love Jenny Powell's chirpiness, and she still does presenting duties on one of the music video channels, although I haven't heard her yet on Greatest Hits Radio (GHR), but would love to see more of her on TV these days when compared to some of the rubbish out there presenting shows on TV.
DeleteThe previous significant change to TOTP happened when it got cut to half an hour to partly make way for a depressing new soap opera called "EastEnders". How ironic that TOTP then moved to the same complex where that miserable serial is made, sounding the early death knell for this proud music show.
ReplyDeleteSomehow the BBC choose a producer who's nearly 60 to oversee the revamp, and he regresses to what he probably remembers from his TOTP youth - album tracks, 'not in the shops yet' new releases and interviews. All very well if the show's 40 to 45 minutes long like back in the day, but at this juncture time was tight and the rehashed features wasted valuable chart song time. I'd have much preferred a chart rundown and an established Radio 1 DJ host to an irrelevant interview and a complete tosser presenting - and I don't mean Mark Franklin.
My first thought is to chop my critiques from now on to avoid everything I hate in the shows - which sounds like a lot. I'll hang in here for now, but if this becomes an increasingly challenging watch...
completely agree that the show should be Top 40 focused and have a countdown. The 30 minute format does not have the room.
DeleteThe choice of Dortie as presenter was a terrible move. He thinks he's on a kids TV show.
I remember feeling disappointed at the time with the format change but I'm looking forward to reviewing this with a more adult eye, detached from my rather emotional response at the time. I enjoyed the first show and found performances to love in the second.
I still think the new titles and theme are great!
Arthur, I was thinking the same in that this new style and format was harking back to the early 70s when songs outside the top 40 would be played, and the show was 40-45 minutes long, where you could do this but also have all the climbers shown every second week except the No.1 which was shown in consecutive weeks of course.
DeleteEven better, make the show one hour long, and then they could keep everyone happy, as there would certainly be enough new videos, album tracks and singles chart climbers with top 30 chart rundown, not just the top 10 early in the show.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHere we go! It's all change and although I will miss the old format I look forward to what's coming. '91 to '93 is a period with some of my favourite Totp memories and a new, very '90s look is definitely fine with me as it was at the time.
ReplyDeleteSo it's (very) young Mark Franklin who kicks things off, talking very loudly out of vision as we sweep towards a new big stage to an opener that you really can't fault. It's Erasure with a reliably faultless vocal from Andy and he's brought the dancers in national dress but not the water. Brilliant song and a cracking start. Eddie from 'Bottom' doing a fine Vince Clark impression.
Tony joins the fun and the two shout to each other for a bit. You're not in a nightclub chaps although Stanley Appel clearly thinks that a sound that's as close as possible is a good thing. They introduce the charts, for so long the centerpiece of the programme, here tossed away as if it's some extraneous bit of the opening titles that they forgot to snip off. Oh dear. Easily the worst thing on the show since April 1976. Get that fixed IMMEDIATELY!!!
Nothing to fix about the next number, a great fun performance by Voice of the Beehive who fill the new stage with colour and smiles and good vibes. A great song I didn't know at the time. The guitarist on the left is indeed the greasy leather jacketed hair monster from '88. He's obviously found some responsibilities.
Another subtle change as the camera sweeps over to Kenny Thomas, ready and waiting with his band, followed by an introduction. The single, well I suppose it is the best of him but that's still the worst of pretty much everyone else in Brit Soul/Dance. A nice enough tune. I'd forgotten that he pinches Al Jarreau's high note from the 'Moonlighting' theme.
Another studio performance! We already know the priority of the new shows. Mark has a brief interview with Belinda Carlisle who acts strangely coy considering she's an internationally recognised pop star and he's a complete rookie TV presenter who's only just left school. But what a performance! Stunning, pitch perfect. Brilliant anthemic single and the next release for me is even better. That performance alone justifies the change of format.
Yes, the amazing 'video' section! Is it 1974? I suppose a big hitter was required for the first show so Stevie we get although a 'big hit' it clearly isn't. Still it's nice to know that one of the greatest albums artists of all time enjoys dodgems.
Julian Lennon is another that gets a pre song mic in the face and responds affably and informatively. I actually remember from the time his gentle pratful over the keyboard. What a genuinely nice bloke he seems. Again a really fine, affecting song beautifully sung. His dad would've been very proud.
The album section. As night follows day. Do Status Quo have to be on EVERY landmark edition?? They might well have been on this section when it last featured in about 1971. They do the uniform sound and moves, ironically to a song by Canned Heat, a right pirate ship of disparate personalities if ever there was one.
And of course RIP to Quo's Alan Lancaster, for me the most charismatic member of the band. He used to scare me a little as a child. Not sure why.
So the Breakers remain and Tony introduces them from behind a drum kit. So much for the year zero. I think that's the sort of thing Noel Edmonds did around 1977. Both singles will feature again.
No 1; You're not revamping me says Bryan! Sorry I can't be bothered to say anything else.
A loud excitable farewell from the two presenters who will get better. Mark as I recall almost immediately. Tony I think will take a while but he'll get there. He could be very serious when the need arose. Memo to Stanley Appel. Could you enable it so the presenters are at least slightly louder than the audience?
Overall though a good (re)start.
I must say that I did like the dancers on the Erasure stage, and it looked to be the same girls with same dresses as on the video we saw last week on the show. The white and red contrast reminded me of the England flag colours.
DeleteThe Julian Lennon video on the playout a couple of shows ago was much better than the Julian Lennon studio appearance on this new show. I miss the high skyline buildings in a desert background. Need more of the video really.
So it's here. Good. Er, I like the new graphics for introducing the performances. I am ambivalent on the new theme tune, logo and sets. Bad - Some of the choices of song, which we'll get to; The lack of a closing track; The presenters are poor (but actually not quite as bad as my memory of them) especially as they've been given an absolutely abysmal script to work with. But most egregious, WHERE IS THE CHART? AND WHY IS THE TOP 10 AT THE START?!
ReplyDeleteAnyway.
Erasure - Kind of suprised the blog wasn't called Love to Hate The Pops today ;) A very good start to the new era, a decent live vocal and a fab track.
VOTB - Again another great song, even if one of them sounds better live than the other.
Kenny T - Remains inoffensive and unexciting.
Belinda Carlisle - I did not get the spiel at the start about 'now songs from the US top 10 are eligible but she's not British but here she is at number 20'. Just say she's at 20 and be done with it.
Stevie Wonder - it's not in the charts, it's not in the studio, it has no place here.
Julian Lennon - another decent live performance. Can't decide if I'm pleasantly surprised or slightly disappointed we've not had any huge car crash lives yet although I know there are plenty to come in the next few years.
An bad cover that's an album track from Status Quo? In the bin with that.
I miss the chart. *Sob*
Breakers: I have no strong opinions on either track but we could have had them in full instead of two non chart tracks. And with only two Breakers this segment feels even more superfluous than usual. Poor Carl Cox had less screen time than the Breakers jingle.
Thing to say about that thing 13/16: The algorithm has obviously been paying attention to me watching this show as I've been getting loads of ads for Bryan live this week.
I'm just as disappointed as you about the absence of the chart rundown, as we didn't get to see this extraordinary situation on this week's chart:
DeleteNo.13 - Such A Feeling - Bizarre Inc
No.14 - Such A Good Feeling - Brothers In Rhythm
Finally these two similar sounding songs come face-to-face, head on, in adjacent chart positions. Love it, and pity that the show didn't keep the chart rundown for just one more week in order to see this extraordinary occurrence.
An example of the new format not helping rising chart acts, is that Brothers in Rhythm still climbing at No.14, and who had only one previous appearance on the show when at No.25 a couple of weeks ago, were not invited back this week, because we had bands outside the top 40 like Stevie Wonder and Status Quo filling up the precious 30 minute limit to the show, and I somewhat agree with Arthur Nibble in that it is not my cup of tea, and will try and persevere during this new format.
I thought the 'here is a VIDEO!' section with Stevie Wonder was a real misstep especially as videos weren't exactly lacking in originality and sophistication by this point. I'm guessing that Stanley Appel was trying to define the show as being against the wholly video based 'Chart Show'. Good for them but one more video in full would've been good. I did think the old format had perhaps too many videos. I suppose a better balance will come in the weeks ahead.
DeleteI didn’t catch many shows during this period - we were without a video recorder following a burglary and still at the stage in life where the pub would be frequented in the evening rather than our rented room in Whalley Range.
ReplyDeleteI remember the discussion at the time was that the change in the show towards live performances was aimed at demoting youthful dance acts in favour of more traditional guitar based artists. Therefore, seems strange that the thrust of Year Zero was to actually make the show more appealing to a younger generation (new kids TV presenters) while at the same time giving unjustified screen time to Status Quo and Stevie Wonder.
Yeah, this episode was super MOR and it jars a lot with the gimmick presenters. I only remember the 'good' bit of the gimmick as being able to tell my dad 'look they're all singing live' when we had our weekly obligatory parent/child 'not proper music like in my day, it's all computers' chats.
DeleteBring back the Radio 1 presenters!
DeleteOpening titles knocked up in metalwork class, theme tune someone squeaking a balloon - welcome to the all-new TOTP!
ReplyDeleteAt least Erasure are guaranteed to get the party started, and Andy's here in his onesie to prove he can hit those notes live. Guarded response: not as bad as I'd feared.
Then a barely audible Tony introduces Voice of the Beehive with a bog standard cover of a classic manufactured pop song, it's OK, but the guitar licks seem superfluous.
Straight into Kenny Thomas without pausing for breath, though the soporific tune gives you plenty of time for that. Dancer looks to be throwing shapes to something completely different.
Belinda Carlisle comes over all shy and retiring, when we know she isn't. These interviews are like those pre-match exchanges where nobody has anything to say because nothing's happened yet. Anyway, this wakes us up, strong performance of an inspirational tune where Belinda sounds very available. And she'll do your washing up.
This week's movie song (apart from the obvious) from Stevie Wonder, Stanley Appel showing his age already if he thought this kids TV-style pop soul would be a hit. Weirdly, it's from a film still rated 18 in the UK (Jungle Fever). Would Stevie get the full effect of paragliding?
Julian Lennon looks a bit embarrassed about the subject of his song, but 30 years later Greta Thunberg would be right behind him, so he was more forward looking than we expected. Anyway, he doesn't glue himself to the TOTP studio.
Status Quo, seriously? Is the idea we get something for all members of the family, so this is for the grandads? Lumpen cover of the old rawk ditty, whatever way you look at it. For a minute I thought they were doing two songs, but it was only the key change.
Breakers will be on again, and then more Bry for a damp squib of an ending. Not quite as terrible as I thought it would be, but it did flounder in places, I have to admit. No real atmosphere.
Hey, everyone, stick with this for a couple of years, Rik Blaxill takes over as producer, and it gets good again!
ReplyDeleteI remember a TOTP show in 1994 where Meat Loaf was presenter, and also performed at the end of the show, and one of the performers he presented was Reel to Real with I like To Move It, as well as The Pet Shop Boys who were on the show, so there's lots to look forward to.
DeleteIt's a long way off, in fact right at the end of Tony's stint as presenter, but one favourite memory from the new format is from the 6th Jan 1994 edition. It coincides with the 30th anniversary. Tony chats to all of Pans People in the studio then they show a clip of them (had a check; 'Mama's Pearl', Jackson 5, 29/04/71). The dance obviously is available to see but as far as I can tell, the interview isn't so that will be a pleasant turn up.
DeleteNo scrapped editions before Feb '94 either as far as I can tell.
Peak positions inside and outside the Top 40 this week with disappointingly no feature on TOTP, so we don't get to see them at all:
ReplyDeleteNo.33 Gloria Estefan - Live For Loving You
Recommend watching the video, with Gloria in lots of different holiday outfits, including a sexy bikini top covered with fruits at the beginning of the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXZoBvygp4U
I would rather have had this new video on the show instead of the Stevie Wonder video, as there were more interesting things to see on Gloria's holiday travels.
No.46 Heavy D & The Boyz - It Is Good To You
For those that thought that they were one hit wonders, this was the much anticipated follow up to their Tip ten hit Now That We Found Love, and the Boyz take on a totally different sound, more like Color Me Badd, and go all romantic with sexy girls with sexy outfits and in bath tubs to lure them in:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RZUuw5m6UM
Erasure - spirited start to the new look show
ReplyDeleteTop 10 video rundown was a bit odd as they didn’t play any of the tunes, and revealing the number one is a bit of a spoiler
Voice of the beehive - fairly straight cover of the cassidy song
Kenny thomas - well that brought the energy down with a bump. Bit dreary.
Belinda carlisle - a great song, but this performance had a rather flat vocal
Stevie wonder - nowhere near as bad as I just called to say i loved you, but a close second…
These interviews are riveting aren’t they?
Status quo - interesting that they play an album track, but bit dull it is a cover. They really lost their way in this period didn’t they. Rather clunky key change just to do an outro - reminded me of the hee bee gee bees status quid outro..
Breakers (shame they didn’t drop this ridiculous top dipping)
Dj carl cox - yawn,,,,
Monty python - bit dull picking a repetitive bit of the song
So.., quite action packed, quite enjoyed the new format (mostly). And Interesting they don’t go out with a song any more - perhaps trying to package the new format with the theme bookending the show.
Status Quid...."The final verse, the final verse, the final, final verse...Oh not again, not again....". Still cracks me up.
DeletePleased that The ITV Chart Show on this week did NOT follow suit and change format like TOTP. Not one bit of it, as the graphics were the familiar funfair wheel and the coloured balloons.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzJmRnvZqTY
The Top Ten rundown had gregariously put the ever-theatrical Marc Almond into the Top 10 at No.9 with his extraordinary operatic video, whereas the peak for him in the official BBC chart was No.17, so The Chart Show got this one very wrong as a predictor.
I look forward to seeing at least a couple more videos on the show mainly because most at the time were so darned good. I didn't mind missing the odd Top of the Pops but I never tried to miss The Chart Show. 'Rocket Man' by Kate Bush is absolutely burned into my memory from this time and I don't think it was shown once on Totp. Same with the 'Go' and 'Stars' bids.
ReplyDeleteWhat I am really looking forward to seeing is so many female singers singing live. I think '91 to '94 is something of a classic time for female vocalists with Shara Nelson, Dina Carroll, KD Lang, Lisa Stansfield and Tori Amos having hits and of course Bjork making her first steps as a soloist. Tori doing 'Crucify' completely live on the show was a huge one for me. Those women shouldn't have to mime and the new format meant they didn't.
New look at Elstree….funny I always think of the Buggles when I hear that placename. Presenters…. Who on earth were they?!
ReplyDeleteErasure – Love to hate you – Surprisingly good start to the show although I am unsure of the relevance of the Spanish dancers and Andy is premiering a onesie years before they became more popular.
Voice of the Beehive – I think I love you – Good cover. The Partridge Family topped the US charts in November 1970 with this with Shirly Jones (David Cassidy’s real-life stepmother and mother in the show) admitting her involvement was minimal. The song featured in the first episode where the family recorded the song and it became a No1 hit!
Kenny Thomas – Best of you – I quite liked this. Fascinated by the girl in the yellow trousers who did nothing but dance energetically and the bass player who had clearly modelled himself on Mark King.
Belinda Carlisle – Live your life be free – Great interview! Not one of Rick Nowels better songs but nice performance.
Stevie Wonder – Fun Day – Gosh this was so boring! No wonder it wasn’t a hit.
Julian Lennon – Saltwater – Very relevant 30 years later. Nice lilting song with touches of the intro to ‘Strawberry Fields forever’ (or was that deliberate?).
Status Quo – Let’s work together – Great (live?) performance. Prefer the Bryan Ferry version of this with Jerry Hall in the middle but hey. Francis Rossi’s green guitar lives on!
Breakers – DJ Carl Cox I can live without. Monty Python released some great singles that never troubled the charts although the ‘Spam Song’ was regularly played on the likes of ‘Junior Choice’. This one was a surprise hit but nice to see some famous clips.
Bryan Adams – (Everything I do) I do it for you – So we continue with Bryan and once again they chop it. I don’t think they ever played the full song. I always used to watch these editions thinking ‘please don’t chop!’ but that applause always cut in.
Playout – Where’s it gone? What a waste.
Musical highlight of the week for me strangely enough was on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’. Adam Peaty (the Olympic swimmer) and hits partner Katya chose Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Tango in the Night’. A great track and one you don’t hear very often, but the house band made a very decent stab at it including Lindsey Buckingham’s guitar solo.
The 29-year-old me would have watched this in a state of appalled shock. Not much change 30 years on.
ReplyDeletePointless – ditching the Radio 1 DJs (at least Gary, Simon, Mark and Jakki), the ‘new release’ slot, the album track slot, the useless interview section, allowing songs from another country’s top 10 on the show. What medication was Stanley Appel on at this point?
Awful – the new theme tune, not once but twice in the show, and Tony Dorky. “Laters” my arse.
At least somone showed some sense and showcased the new live singing element by booking acts who they probably knew wouldn’t let them down – Andy Pandy Bell with Vince as a sinister bank manager, Kenny Thomas with his travelling salesman soul, Belinda who’d raided Voice Of The Beehive’s dressing-up box, and Quo. The Beehives weren’t quite up there and I didn’t like that version of the song, but nice heart mtoifs on their clobber to go with the song title, and we got “Strawberry Fields Forever” again though you can’t agrue with the sentiments in Julian’s lyrics.
The track advertising the Stevie Wonder Driving School was just bland (and had no place on the show) I didn’t want Carl Cox, apparently according to Mark it was Bryan Adams’ 13th week at the top, and Monty Python provide the most ironic song title for the first edition of this crap revamp.
I forgot to mention...
ReplyDeleteDreadful - the loss of the chart rundown, and showing non-sound video clips of just the top 10, referred to as 'crispy biscuits'(!!!) by Dickhead Dortie.
It will improve over time Arthur.
DeleteFinally watched it (I'm five months behind).
ReplyDeleteActually, it wasn't as bad as I remember. It did help that all the studio performers could sing (as we'll see this became a serious handicap for some acts).
For the life of me I still can't fathom why they ditched the Radio 1 DJs for a bunch of unknowns. In the 21st Century the previous Radio 1/TOTP partnership would be what's now called 'synergy', but in 1991 the BBC, for all their wisdom, decided to chuck it down the plughole.
Just a few months later there was an item on Radio 1's Newsbeat show decrying 'what has happened to Top Of The Pops', complete with a Simon Mayo interview bemoaning the amateurish new presenters - with the notable exception of Tony Dortie.
All in all the new format was a bit of a dog's dinner, trying to appeal to older viewers with Quo, SWonder and the insistence on live vocals, but with youthful presenters for the 'kids'.
I seem to recall TOTP got worse - with dubious 'exclusives', usually 'via satellite' - before it got a bit better in the mid 90s.
But the full chart never returned, which I thought was odd, given that it was very much the possession of the BBC in 1991.