I can feel it, I can hear it, I can see it - the 12th of March 1992 edition of Top of the Pops!
Shooting up the charts
12-3-92: Presenters: Tony Dortie & Claudia Simon
(25) GUN – Steal Your Fire
Getting the show off with a bang and the song shot up one more place.
(14) THE WEDDING PRESENT – Three
Releasing a new single every month this year, and number 14 was the peak for this third one.
(18) TOXIC TWO – Rave Generator
Here tonight with their only hit and it peaked at number 13.
(9) NIRVANA – Come As You Are (video)
The second single from their top ten debut album Nevermind, and number 9 was its peak.
(19) CLIVILLES & COLE – A Deeper Love
Aka C & C Music Factory are in the studio and the song peaked at number 15.
(13) ERIC CLAPTON – Tears In Heaven (video)
Peaked at number 5.
(NEW) ANNIE LENNOX – Why
Performing what was to become her first of four solo top ten hits when it peaked at number 5.
(21) MR. BIG – To Be With You (video) (Breakers)
Peaked at number 3.
(7) U2 – One (video) (Breakers)
Got no higher.
(1) SHAKESPEAR’S SISTER – Stay (video)
It's their totally bonkers video for the duo's fourth of eight weeks at number one.
19th of March is up next.
Toxic Two - unusually my favourite track of the show, even though it was their only hit. Such a great beat, vibe, riff, dance monster track, and the type of tune that can wake you up with its energy, just love it, and was so me in 1992. Shame they couldn't choose a better name for their group!
ReplyDeleteClivilles & Cole - quite good at the time, but has deteriorated over the years with so much play. Pity that when they were called C&C Music Factory the year before, they never came to Britain, and we had to make do with their videos. This modified outfit was very secondary to the quality of C&C Music factory's 1991 output of superb dance tracks.
Annie Lennox - having dissolved The Eurythmics after their last hit in 1991 with The King & Queen Of America, Annie was now on this new journey on her own without Dave Stewart, and this first solo single was just not as good as The Eurythmics in my opinion.
Shakespeare's Sister - after The ITV Chart Show had slung them off their no.1 spot after only two weeks at no.1 in favour of Shanice, now Claudia Simon had had enough of them after 4 weeks at no.1, but neither party were on the right track, cos Shakespeare's Sister still had another four weeks at the top and even into April, totalling 8 weeks at No.1.
Gun try a Primal Scream with the blues rock and muster another hit, Top 20 anyway, but it's all very self-important and humourless.
ReplyDeleteWedding Present well into their stunt of releasing a record a month, and who can remember an individual one of them now? This is OK, but quality not quantity was what you wanted from these guys. Watch for David's dad-dancing halfway through.
Toxic Two, hmm, I'm sensing a pattern here. This is given more or less the same treatment as most of the other dance one or two hit wonders on the show, they try bloody hard to make it exciting, but the fact remains it's just two blokes pretending to play samples on keyboards while two dancers have a fit either side.
Oh dear, not a fan of Nirvana are we, Tony? His insult sounds pretty cruel knowing what we do now. Anyway, this was the band ripping off Killing Joke's Eighties, slowing it down and getting miserable with it. There's the actual Nevermind baby in the video, who is now all grown up and suing them for forcing him to appear on the album cover, which he claims is "child pornography". The world's gone mad.
Clivilles & Cole with their organ-riffed, Norman Tebbit-lyric-ed hymn to going to work in the morning, they could do this sort of thing in their sleep, and it's OK as far as it goes. Getting into the dance cliches we've seen before, mind.
Eric Clapton, horrible story behind this one, written as tribute to his dead son, but it's still a pretty boring record to listen to, and he's become such an objectionable individual that there's plenty of reasons not to listen to this one anymore.
Annie Lennox, I hated her solo efforts at the time, it's typical of their thudding, cloying boredom that they were nominated for multiple Brit Awards, so I didn't feel the need to sit through much of Why? again.
Then the most pointless Breakers ever, and that's saying something, a few seconds of two bands we'd seen via satellite. Real "Will this do?" material. And Shakespears Sister to close. Still half expecting Dawn French to show up in this video.
Four songs peaking INSIDE the Top 40 this week with no TOTP full play or breaker slot:
ReplyDeleteNo. 17 - Barbara Streisand - Places That Belong To You
First single since 1988, and this was done for the soundtrack of The Prince Of Tides, and I guess TOTP may have found this too slow to play on the show, as it was most unusual to ignore a single comfortably inside the Top 20:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVlC3TRL1Tw
No.26 Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Under The Bridge
In this 1990-92 period for them, they seemed to be not taken seriously by TOTP as their more successful phase from was from 1994 onwards, but a little surprised that this new one for 1992 called 'Under The Bridge' only managed No.26.
No.30 The Beautiful South - We Are Each Other
Peak position here for this one, and another of the Paul Heaton fronted songs, with no sign of Dave Hemmingway on the video, but still including Brianna Corrigan, and this a year-and-a-half since she fronted on their No.1 single A Little Time.
No.35 M People - Colour My Life
Second single in their 1991-92 period of four singles only getting to No.29 at best. It was only a year later in 1993 that the public stood up and took notice of them with five Top 10 singles in a row, so at this point they were not stars yet, but just knocking on the door.
Under the Bridge may be regarded as a rock classic now, but the All Saints cover version that reached No.1 in the charts a few years later has been totally forgotten! It was incredibly controversial at the time, too.
DeleteOh wow, some great tunes there! Should have been the Breakers. Sigh.
DeleteI've never understood Barbra's appeal but Under The Bridge missing out is a shame as it's a great tune. All Saints version is very good as well.
DeleteAll Saints' version may be best remembered now (if at all) for having indie-cool professional Northerner Richard Hawley playing guitar on it.
DeleteTerrible presenting tonight. I normally don't mind Claudia but being next to Tony D has kind of knocked any presenterly ability out of her tonight!
ReplyDeleteGun - eh. Sounds almost the same as their yet-to-exist cover of Word Up. It's fine, but it's just kind of there.
Wedding Present - another one that I don't mind at all but have also already forgotten.
Toxic Two - kind of fun, but another one that doesn't stand out for me.
Nirvana - Shame we haven't got a studio performance (do they ever come back?) Probably the weakest of their big hits (Lithium is my personal fave) but it's good to have them actually in an episode.
C&C - much better than their previous dropped-the-music-factory single, though the Aretha cover of this next year will have a much bigger reach.
Eric C - Still remember feeling desperately sad when this came out given the real life tragedy that inspired it. The tune has become a bit of a cliché over the years but I can't knock its simple effectiveness.
Annie Lennox - Grr stop with the pre-releases. Nice performance (not my favourite song, but she's always good value).
Breakers - pffft. Hardly breakers if they've been on before, there were plenty of new entries that deserved attention.
Shakespear's Sister - Am not bored of it yet...
Some songs peaking OUTSIDE the Top 40 this week from previous chart regulars that deserve a mention:
ReplyDeleteNo.42 Tony Hadley - Lost In Your Love
Sounds like Tony is still stuck in the 80s, as this first of four solo singles after leaving Spandau Ballet was also the first of three to fail to break the Top 40, so you would think was it really worth going solo?
No.43 Robert Palmer - Every Kinda People
Into the final phase of his career by now, and found it hard going to get any more Top 40 entries, as the rest of the singles catalogue to come, largely failed to reach the top 40 on the whole, but he was still sticking in there.
No.49 Jeff Beck & Rod Stewart - People Get Ready
Interesting combo here, but checking out the video shows it was largely an American style of music with Jeff Beck merely featuring Rod Stewart, and the whole sound didn't do Rod any favours, so unsurprisingly failed to make the Top 40.
I thought this edition was a good mix of styles with some great songs in the 2nd half. Tony and Claudia. Oh good. I have to wear ear plugs in the evening as well then.
ReplyDeleteGun; Hmmm ok. The cover of 'Word Up' is still the only thing of theirs that was notable.
Tickled by seeing 'High' next to 'Why' in the Top 10. Pity 'The Fly' and 'My Oh My' wasn't also in there.
The Wedding Present; Item No.2 with 'Three'. Appropriate title though being third in their one single a month assault on the uk charts, though out of the 12 I only remember 'Love Slave'. An enjoyable indie noise and Gedge seems to be having a nice time.
Toxic Two; Fairly forgettable techno with people on stage making hand movements apart from those that aren't. Main backing sounded like a one speed take on 'French Kiss' but without the, er, memorable bits.
Nirvana; Right something strong now please and here it is. Finally the grunge legends get on BBC4. For me 'Come As You Are' is better than 'Teen Spirit' and right and proper that it should be on the show and not just a breaker but almost the entire video. Just looks and sounds so iconic. Kurt's arms must've ached after the filming was completed. Big humourous Krist actually looks pretty hard in the video. Yes the riff is very similar to Killing Joke's 'Eighties' but it really works alongside that brilliant melody.
Ps, no Tony they don't need a wash.
Civilles and Cole; An instantly memorable chorus on this one. Has to be pretty good to get Aretha Franklin's attention.
Eric Clapton; '92 hasn't been big on laughs so far and we now get a double bill of particularly deep and meaningful numbers. First up is the video for 'Tears in Heaven' which I've heard enough times but it still has the power to move. Haunting and effective.
Annie Lennox; Then a studio performance for a single that I have to say is a big favourite. Weird how some things never fade when they become a momentary soundtrack. Me and my dad were bombing down a dual carriageway listening to the Top 40 on Radio 1. I saw a huge flaming sunset out of the side window while 'Why' was playing. I'd say a pretty early '90s moment! Still sounds very atmospheric and the chord into the bridge is truly transcendent. She gives a fine performance. Well done also to Tony for a noticeably sober introduction. Even he won't gabble before this.
Mr. Big; Wasn't looking forward to hearing this again but it's not bad. At least it's not self important like the acoustic efforts of Bon Jovi or Poison though you do want to pull it along a bit. We're spared the annoying "aren't I talented!" routine from the lead guitarist in the video and the song (annoyingly) stayed in my head for quite a while afterwards.
U2; Some Buffalos move for a few seconds. Thanks for that. Love the single though.
Shakespeare's Sister; The video gets a 2nd showing and first time on BBC4. Whenever it got shown on 'The Chart Show' they would always cut it while they were fighting over the man on the bed and it took weeks before I knew how it concluded which is actually a rather poignant scene. Siobhan definitely the star here.
Claudia gives an opinion. The public ignore it.
It's interesting that Siobhan Fahey was married to Dave Stewart of The Eurythmics at this point, and Shakespeare's Sister were on the same TOTP show as Annie Lennox this week, as she and Stewart both went solo in 1991 after The Eurythmics ended. It's a small world!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteSmall world indeed Dory. I realised after you posted that that there's another link on the show. Marcella Detroit formerly sang with Eric Clapton and co-wrote 'Lay Down Sally'!
DeleteYeah, it seemed that Shakespeare's Sister disbanded when Fahey divorced Dave Stewart in 1996, and she rejoined Bananarama for some work in 1998.
DeleteSince then she resurrected Shakespeare's Sister in 2009, but also joined Bananarama on live tours as recently as 2017, and most recently reunited with Marcie Detroit on Shakespeare's Sister in 2019, performing Stay live on The Graham Norton show together that year:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOkL4mEbzMI
The ITV Chart Show Top 10 this week had New Atlantic at No.10, when they only peaked at No.12. Also Nirvana still going up to No.6, when they went down to No.12. U2 and The KLF still going up to No.5 and No.2 respectively, when they actually went down to No.7 and No.4 respectively.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC56ZnN-7lQ
Most surprising of all, having only given Shakespeare's Sister two weeks at No.1, Shanice was already on her third week at No.1, when Shakespeare's Sister was on their 5th week at No.1 on the official chart!
It’s cLOUDia again. Dorky starts off with a Norman Lamont joke, but Julian Clary aces him.
ReplyDeleteGun? More like Water Pistol, or even Dead Leppard.
Forgotten the name of Madness’s top 10 hit, cLOUDia?
“Three” is the magic number, yet Dave Gedge wears an inappropriately numbered top. At least he’s happier there than for “Brassneck”. Top bit of indie, that. I fully recommend their “George Best” album.
Toxic Two with quite possibly the worst thing on the re-runs yet. Unexpected but welcome satire beforehand from Dorky about the lyrics.
Unplayed hits rundown number 2: The Fall at number 40 with “Free Range”!
Nirvana, shy lads in front of the camera. Oo, some baby baiting album cover re-enactment there. Nice slice of mellow grunge.
Ex-C&C with something almost as boring as Toxic Two. “A Deeper Love”? Shallow end of the rave disco pool.
Eric Clapton’s song wasn’t my bag but you can’t knock the sentiment.
A very respectful intro by Tony into almost five minutes of Annoe Lennox. Follow-up “Zed” didn’t do as well.
Mr. Big continue their role as soft metal peddlers.
I enjoyed the bison more than Bonio’s warbling.
cLOUDia, you want someone else at number one? You didn’t suffer the Bryan Adams years. Tsk!
“Laters” again. Christ!
Good spot of The Fall at number 40 this week Arthur, another reason to have brought back the full Top 40 rundown! This was their biggest hit with a song that wasn’t a cover version. Having said that these two cover version hits barely dented the charts. The follow up to Free Range, also contained two covers, shame they went for Grudgeful as the lead (a dub reggae cover discussed here https://thenewvinylvillain.com/2022/01/30/the-wonderful-and-frightening-series-for-sundays-part-32/) instead of their inspired reworking of Sister Sledge’s Lost in Music.
DeleteNot much to note on the show, enjoyed a baggy looking Gedge. Currently listening to their Hit Parade album that compiles the twelve 1992 singles (and b-sides) as missed them the first time around (and missed TOTP appearances as was still without a TV in 1992). I saw the Weddoes live in the summer just gone, a very similar George Best era focused set to the last time I saw them 33 years previous!
Is The Fall's "Grudgeful" the track John Peel played twice in a row (first the original, then The Fall) when he did the Radio 1 lunchtime show for a week as a bet?
DeleteHa ha, sounds like Peel. Not heard that tale, could have been that one or Kimble which is another Lee Scratch Perry tune covered at roughly the same time in a slightly more radio-friendly manner!
DeleteHi Troops? Must be budget week if there are Norman Lamont jokes about. Assume we are still pre-92 crash.
ReplyDeleteGreat opener from Gun. Remember liked this at the time but don't think I've heard it since. Really enjoyed that.
Wedding Present back with Single Three. I really am having trouble liking any of these so far.. just so instantly forgettable.
Some Rave next. Yippee. Prefer Britney's Toxic if I'm honest. A tune made for having the Top 40 chart running over it..hint hint
Nirvana back again and showing The Wedding Present how it's done. Great tune this. Probably their best.
C+C.. second of their two hits from the Greatest Remix Album. I was a huge huge fan of these tunes at the time. Awesome stuff.
One of my all time favourite albums is Diva by Annie Lennox. This is just glorious. Astonishingly good performance. Bought a tear to my eye.
Breakers:
Mr Big: seen it. Live version was better
U2: seen it. Live version was better.
SS video again and we're done. Laters….an election you say???