Dream tripping, that's where I want to be, with the 6th of September 1991 edition of Top of the Pops!
Rave on
6-9-91: Presenter: Jakki Brambles
(8) OCEANIC – Insanity
Getting Jakki Braambles' final show off to a lively start and it went up to number 3.
(3) THE PRODIGY – Charly (video) (and charts)
At its peak.
(24) SONIA – Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy
In the studio tonight and the song went up two more places.
(13) SALT-N-PEPA – Let’s Talk About Sex (video)
Became their fourth of five top ten hits when it peaked at number 2.
(6) ZOË – Sunshine On A Rainy Day
A second time in the studio and her only top ten hit went up two more places.
(9) MARTIKA – Love…Thy Will Be Done (video)
At its peak.
(14) UTAH SAINTS – What Can You Do For Me
Mkaing their studio debut and the tune went up four more places.
(18) KYLIE MINOGUE – Word Is Out
Also in the studio tonight but this was to be her first single to fail to make the top ten, peaking at number 16.
(32) MÖTLEY CRÜE – Primal Scream (video) (Breakers)
Got no higher.
(31) SABRINA JOHNSTON – Peace (video) (Breakers)
Her only top ten hit and it peaked at number 8.
(29) CRYSTAL WATERS – Makin’ Happy (video) (Breakers)
Peaked at number 18.
(26) ROXETTE – The Big L. (video) (Breakers)
Peaked at number 21.
(1) BRYAN ADAMS – (Everything I Do) I Do It For You (video)
Ninth week of sixteeen at number one.
(25) RUNRIG – Hearthammer (video) (and credits)
Their first of eight top 40 hits but it got no higher than number 25.
12th of September is next.
Alas, the last time we will see Jackie Brambles presenting TOTP, as we enter the final month of the show at BBC TV Centre in Shepherds Bush, West London, before moving to Elstree Studios in Herts when the famous TOTP reboot came in October 1991.
ReplyDeleteUtah Saints - highlight of the show for me, with the band in the TOTP studio following the video being shown on debut a couple of shows before. They seemed to release only one song per year between 1991-1995, except for 1993 when they released two.....lucky us.
Kylie Minogue - new entry at No.18, with Kylie wearing a sexy outfit and enjoying the company of her two dancers on stage with her. The song went up only two places the following week, so she was clearly struggling with chart position compared to her first couple of years where she was regular Top 3 material.
Chart rundown - Status Quo with a new entry at no.37 got no showing, as they fell out of the Top 40 the following week. First single for 9 months since The Anniversary Waltz at around Christmas 1990, and was to be their only single in 1991, so its a pity there was no TOTP for them in 1991 at all, but here is the tune performed as back to the classic Status Quo sound:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bylOOHPoPC4
One song to peak outside the top 40 this week was Texas with their first single for two years called Why Believe In You, and the fourth single in a row to fail to break the top 40, considering their debut hit in 1989 was Top 10 with I Don't Want A Lover. They were however to fare a lot better from 1992 onwards for another 10 years or so, so their best is still to come, and we're in for the long haul with Texas.
Status Quo are in the studio for the first of the revamped shows so not long to wait Dory.
DeleteThere's Something About Jakki's hair tonight...
ReplyDeleteWe're back down the rave up tonight with returns from several acts who were on a couple of weeks ago, and we're due my favourite two acts of all time with some of their mid-tier singles that everyone forgets about but us hardcore (boy did I get excited when I heard The Big L as the studio backing track this week Breakers, pah).
Oceanic - The dancing is quite questionable but I still live it
The Prodigy - with a song and video that couldn't be more The Ultimate Rave! (a CD compilation I had that we played nonstop at our youth club) if it tried.
Sonia with her hair and makeup looking the best they've ever done. Slightly pointless cover, just like Jason. Tell me SAW stopped caring about most of their roster without telling me etc.
Salt'n'Pepa - Another revisit and another very 1991 track. The video is quite fun.
Zoe - I wish they'd spread the repeated songs out a bit cos even though I like them all, I'm just here impatiently waiting for Kylie and Roxette. Her dancing is very Bez. Just imagine her in baggy clothes with some maracas.
Martika - What did I just say about repeats, show? I do love this one and it's weird how it's barely ever played these days given it was a decent sized hit and had the Prince factor.
Utah Saints - Are we SURE they aren't just reshowing the episode from 2 weeks ago? I don't know if I like the gimmick of blending video and studio performance. It would be fun if an act was only likely to appear once so you got to see both, but they did that with Uncle Bry and then they had nowhere interesting to go for 16 weeks.
KYLIE - Let's Get To It - this is from the worst ever Kylie album and I'm not going to pretend thus is classic Kylie or classic SAW (and even she's getting lumbered with a couple of covers very soon, no wonder ahe left). She looks great though, moving more into the Sex!Kylie era and for the first time tonight something new (given Sonia did a cover).
Breakers: Kind of annoying all the new stuff is here even though all the repeated stuff is good.
Motley Crue - Kind of fun, but Primal Scream the band are also knocking about in 1991 so that's just confusing, frankly.
Sabrina Johnston - One that was everywhere.
Crystal Waters - And one that wasn't.
Roxette - PLAY THE WHOLE SONG DAMN YOU. (I know it's a big ball of cheese and not going to claim it's their best work but I actually love this one more as time goes on cos it's just so happy)
Things to say about that thing 9/16. We're over halfway there! (Wo-oah livin' on a prayer etc). Erm, it's the UK's 15th best selling single of all time.
Runrig - well, it's a bit different from Utah Saints and The Prodigy. Also has a similar opening to The Big L so I'm not going to hate on it.
Another 2 madly eclectic editions. God I love this year! A sad one too as it's goodbye to Jakki Brambles. She won't return and I think she was the one presenter who should've been kept on for the revamp. Her Radio 1 show was where I heard lots of new rock music between '91 and '94. She looks great tonight as well and is in the breeziest and most affable mood. There won't be another presenter like her for a long time.
ReplyDeleteOceanic; I heard this so many times that Autumn that this 2nd showing is quite enough. Good though and yes pretty exhausting to watch. The singer's in '60s patterns and a guy throwing hilariously dated dance shapes.
The Prodigy, Enjoyed once more. That is a great Top 39 as well.
Sonia; Jakki gives her a big and very complimentary introduction before her run through The Tams classic. It's Ok but sounds like she's accepted that her best pop days are behind her. There will only be covers and one awful Eurovision entry from now on. I still think she was a fine singer.
Salt 'N' Pepa; Brilliant single and video. '91's sex obsession gets its own humorous discussion show although in truth it was actually released on 'Blacks' Magic' in March 1990.
Zoe; Back again, still looking and sounding fantastic. The guitarist still looking like David St. Hubbins. Fine single but I do think the opening 20 seconds are a lot better than the rest of it.
Martika; I had no idea till last week that it was a Prince song. I should've guessed as it does certainly resemble certain things of his, most notably 'The Cross'. Brilliant still. Was this Martika's 'Chill Out' record? She does have a 'Bloody Annoying' record to follow which Radio 1 seemed to play on a near continual loop for weeks.
Utah Saints; I was definitely in watching this edition at the time as I clearly remember this appearance. Not that there's that much to remember. It might've been the lead saint's hair.
All in all belting but not Beltram.
Kylie Minogue; Looking particularly sultry here though the song isn't up to much. Large parts leaning very heavily on Stevie Wonder's 'I Wish'. Love the cap the suited guy next to her is wearing.
Breakers time. Funny that Jakki's introduction to Motley Crue is about 4 times longer than the clip. A song called 'Primal Scream'. In September 1991 which is surely like Freddie and the Dreamers being in the charts in April 1967 with a single called 'The Jimi Hendrix Experience'. On for about 8 seconds which is way too long. Sabrina Johnson is almost absurdly more like it and given a decent enough spot. Fantastic joyous video as well. If the video is shown in full as well as the live appearance in the studio, this will be my favourite repeats year.
Crystal Waters; An equally kaleidoscopic video and she looks stunning but it's the same musical formula as 'Gypsy Woman'. Na na noos for La da dees. Someone pinched that melody but I just can't remember who. Roxette; Fun I suppose.
Bryan Adams; Jakki tells us some of the things she's done while this has topped the charts all of which are nonsensical but not that far off. I'd finished my G.C.S.Es, gone through my whole first job and was more than 2 months into 6th form by the time this single left the Top 10. Do I have to say anything else about it? The 47th leaf from the left during the 2nd verse looked a brighter green than the others.
Jakki gives a final smile and a wave suggesting a job very well done.
Runrig; 3 or so mins of visual cliche. 3 or so mins of reasonably good song.
For some reason, every time I try to comment on this episode, the comment disappears, so... testing...
ReplyDeleteThis is really weird! Can't think why this particular comment won't show up. Oh well, if at first you don't succeed... give up!
DeleteHow was Jakki to know in 30 years time we'd all be thinking of a certain 1998 comedy movie?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunate for her last appearance.
All very energetic this episode, but as mentioned it's all been heard before, if not all seen before, if you see what I mean. Oceanic do much as they did last time, except someone's had a word about the jokey T-shirt.
The Prodge vid we've seen, and Sonia may be a new performance, but it's yet another "Will this do?" karaoke cover. Was she basically a covers artist by now? Gives it her all, nonetheless.
Salt N Pepa talking about sex but not really, you would have to go elsewhere if you wanted anything pornographic. They were the kind of triple Dr Ruths of rap on this one.
Zoe's back to do her wading through custard dance, though her guitarist has better hair than she does. Then Martika we've seen.
Well, I got most of it there, before the blog told me yesterday I'd tried to post too many times and try again tomorrow!
DeleteAnyway, I just said Kylie looked like Shirley MacLaine in Irma La Douce and Runrig were rubbish. That was about it!
We can safely say that the presenter changes were known by September as Jakki says that she's going to the "Derby and Joan club" during her last link.
ReplyDeleteSo long Jakki Brambles. See you on ITV when you've learned to spell your name..used to love her lunchtime show on R1.
ReplyDeleteOCEANIC – Insanity
Deserved top ten hit for this tune. Loads of energy. Great start to the show.
THE PRODIGY – Charly
Morgie says "done with this tune now.."
SONIA – Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy
Loving Sonia's return as a sixties pop star.. this is great fun. I remember when she could only afford one person on stage with her..how things change.
SALT-N-PEPA – Let’s Talk About Sex
Another summer 91 earworm. Cheeky, fun. Rather good actually.
ZOË – Sunshine On A Rainy Day
Naughty schoolgirl Zoe back again. Bet she broke a few hearts. Wonderful tune. Nice dress 😜
More love for MARTIKA's video.
UTAH SAINTS – What Can You Do For Me
Loved to have seen this done live if it had been a hit a few weeks later. Do you think Annie would have popped in. No, maybe not. Great dance tune. Not a vintage TOTP performance. Have they raided a branch of Dixons on the way in?
KYLIE MINOGUE – Word Is Out
How the mighty have fallen. After a superb 3rd album of dance/pop classics Kylie follows up with her worst album. A real backwards step and she clearly needed to break away from SAW at this point. This is a nice enough tune but she be getting the best not the rest. Looking as hot as ever though in her underwear.
Breakers:
MÖTLEY CRÜE – making my ears bleed..
SABRINA JOHNSTON – awesome.
CRYSTAL WATERS – nice dance tune
ROXETTE – Side 2, Track 1 if I recall correctly.
BRYAN ADAMS 9 - This is only his 5th UK Top 40 hit. His previous best was Run To You at Number 11. Another 22 Top 40 hits to come...
Quick dig at Boy Mayo then onto Irish sounding Scottish rockers RUNRIG..Not my sort of thing and this dirge is not going to change my mind.
A few repeats here but welcome ones. I am gutted that this is Jakki’s final show. She’s easily the best host(ess). I don’t mind reboots/revamps but to quote Tenpole Tudor this feels like throwing the baby out with the bath water.
ReplyDeleteOceanic – Insanity- Another rendition that makes me feel tired watching!
The Prodigy – Charly – Hypnotic isn’t it? Just can’t help liking this one.
Sonia – Be young, be foolish, be happy – Certainly looking a more mature star now and an augmented band to accompany her. Song not much to write home about.
Salt n’Pepa – Let’s talk about sex – Jakki just manages to say the title with a straight face. Loathe this song – 4th of 6 to be stuck at No2 due to Bryan, but in this case a blessed relief.
Zoe – Sunshine on a Rainy Day – Another unusual outfit but the song is a stonker. Nice to see Zoe unwind in the background when Jakki introduces the next song from the Gantry above.
Martika – Love…thy will be done – Grown on me this one. Really nice tune.
Utah Saints – What can you do for me – On the other hand the continual Lennox vocal really annoys me on this…FF
Kylie Minogue – Word is out – Check out the video as Kylie is wearing exactly the same stocking and suspender/split skirt outfit. You get a brief glimpse of Kylie and her dancers in the background as Jakki does her intro….and then you switch to the stage and see Jakki abandon the front of the Gantry to let audience members gather at the front. Not one of Kylie’s best.
Breakers – Nothing grabs me here at all. Maybe Roxette will grown on me if I hear it again.
Bryan Adams – (Everything I do) I do it for you – This is good isn’t it? Each week we seem to hear less and less it seems…by week 16 perhaps we’ll get the instrumental intro then no more?
Runrig – Hearthammer – Runrig were huge, but their record sales less so. I knew people who thought they were the best thing ever but funnily enough they all hailed from Scotland. Their first single released in 1983 was a ditty called ‘Loch Lomond’ (a tune used by Marillion – fronted by a Scot - as their encore ‘Margaret’). This was in fact the ‘Hearthammer’ EP with four tracks, including, you guessed, ‘Loch Lomond’. Anyway, I can think of worse ways to close out an edition of ToTP.
Final word on Dire Straits heading down the charts with ‘Calling Elvis’. The next three singles ‘Heavy Fuel’, ‘On Every Street’ and ‘The Bug’ all bombed and won’t be troubling the chart rundown, let alone the breakers. The final hurrah is the ‘Encores EP’ (from the live album ‘On the Night’) which briefly brushes the top40 in May 1993 and then that’s it as Knopfler disbands the group…seemingly for ever. Thanks guys for some classic albums and singles – you’ll be missed.
On the reverse with Jakki Brambles and Zoe, you could also see towards the end of the Zoe performance Jakki brambles on the balcony getting ready in front of the camera to introduce the next song when the Zoe performance finishes.
DeleteAgreed regarding Dire Straits. Calling Elvis is effectively their Swansong right here right now, as I don't think the final single The Encores EP in 1993 got as far as TOTP.
This is only my second post on this excellent blog, but I have to say how fantastic Jakki Brambles has been. PP was always my favourite for his enthusiasm, but Jakki runs him a close second. Disappointing to see her go and why this talented presenter is not a regular presenter on a national broadcaster like Radio 2 now, I will never know.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with you.... I was always keen on most of the 70s Presenters (with one exception) but after that the two best for me were Gary Davies and Jakki Brambles. Maybe like Gary, Jakki will get a guest spot on 'Pick of the Pops' - now that would be good.
DeleteNobody did Pick Of The Pops better than Alan Fluff Freeman RIP, and Paul Gambaccini is second best, but not sure about Gary Davies and Jakki Brambles doing it. It's like comparing chalk and cheese.
DeleteI’m going to miss Cameron... er, Jakki. To think Anthea Turner hosted more editions. Sacrilege.
ReplyDeleteWatching Oceanic made me feel knackered.
Yet another ‘turn off the sound while the chart’s on’ occasion.
Car Park Trailer Girl Sonia’s back with some happy karaoke.
Everyone singing about sex. All those other Latin numbers are getting mighty jealous.
Zoe was one of the plusses of this show. Actually, there were ten plusses on her dress.
I noticed Martika’s track featured the lines “I can no longer hide / I can no longer run”, as used six years later in a Texas hit.
Utah Saints, what can you do for me? Feck off, that’s what.
I loved the situation on Jakki’s gantry at the start of the next song, where some punters move in front of her to get a good view of Kylie. Maybe they were polite and asked. I’m in the minority as I quite liked Kylie’s track.
Did Primal Scream ever record a song called “Motley Crue” as a thank you?
Luckily only a small ‘piece’ of Sabrina Johnston’s video.
I bet those actors were dyeing to appear in Crystal Waters’ video. Ahem.
Best thing about that Roxette song was the trapeze artist’s outfit.
We end with some fine scenery and Runrig’s Scottish outdoor stadium rock. Again I’m in the minority as I didn’t mnd that at all.
Bye Jakki. We wish you could come back.
Not been watching for a few weeks, life has been stressful, so thought I would work backwards through the weeks. What a corker of an episode to return to!
ReplyDeleteOceanic - don’t remember this, but loved it. Finally a dance track with a tune.
Prodigy - not as good as oceanic, but sufficiently differently keep my finger off the FF. [in the mid eighties I was in a band and we released a single. Recently, out of the blue, it got remixed, and generated a little interest. I produced a video using old charley says and Petunia videos]
Sonia - she put everything into her appearance, but the track is only a step up from a karaoke performance.
Salt n pepa - crikey this is still hanging around from my last watch. Catchy chorus.
Zoe - oh dear, remix sucks tune out a pleasant original
Martika - don’t remember this. You can tell it is a Prince song when told…
Utah Saints - love this! I remember buying this. Love the loop - eurythmics? I liked their maginative use of sampling - I think they did a status quo loop in a later single.
Kylie - well this is a step up from her last few singles.
Breakers (didn’t get much of each track)
Motley crue - very shouty
Sabrina johnson - another dancetrack with a tune
Crystal waters - ok
Roxette - don’t remeber this, but liked it
Bryan Adams - i’ve not been away long enough to miss this then….
Runrig - I have a friend who swears by this band, can’t see the appeal myself, but it is pleasant enough..
Correct, Charlie, Utah Saints used a mash-up of the vocal intro to "There Must be An Angel". It was mentioned before their previous showing that, while Annie Lennox wasn't overly pleased, David A. Stewart of Eurythmics gave the single the thumbs up thus, I assume, avoiding copyright problems or deletion of the single.
DeleteThank goodness for Dave A. Stewart, so that we have been able to enjoy this single for the last 30 years, otherwise it would never have never seen the light of day, and it sounds just as good all these years later.
Delete