People, people all over town, it's the 2nd of September 1993 edition of Top of the Pops!
Big hits
2-9-93: Presenter: Mark Franklin
(10) 2 UNLIMITED – Faces
Getting the show underway and the duo's latest hit went up two more places.
(12) TINA TURNER – Disco Inferno (video) (and charts)
At its peak.
(16) CARTER – THE UNSTOPPABLE SEX MACHINE – Lean On Me I Won’t Fall Over
A strong studio performance but the song got no higher.
(17) KENNY THOMAS – Trippin’ On Your Love
Here tonight but the song got no higher.
(18) TERENCE TRENT D’ARBY – She Kissed Me (via satellite)
This meaty number went up two more places.
(27) NEW ORDER – World (The Price Of Love) (video) (Breakers)
Peaked at number 13.
(26) MARY J. BLIGE – Real Love (video) (Breakers)
Got no higher.
(24) STONE TEMPLE PILOTS – Plush (video) (Breakers)
Went up one more place.
(14) PAUL WELLER – Wild Wood (video) (Breakers)
At its peak.
(2) BITTY McLEAN – It Keeps Rainin’ (Tears From My Eyes)
A third time in the studio but the song was now at its peak.
(NEW) CILLA BLACK – Through The Years
In the studio performing her first chart hit for nineteen years, but number 54 was as high as it got.
(1) CULTURE BEAT – Mr. Vain (video)
Second of four weeks at number one.
9th of September is next.
2 Unlimited - seemed to be falling away at this point after their earlier success, and could really get into this one like their previous singles.
ReplyDeleteTina Turner - deserving of being the chart rundown video this week, but I would say that Billy Joel still going up at No.3 was unlucky not to get another play as chart rundown video, and also UB40 stuck at No.8 for the third week could also quite easily have got the chart rundown video slot as well this week, as they were last on the show two on their first week at No.8.
Culture Beat - at last the video, and if people on here were saying that the song sounded like Snap's Rhythm Is A Dancer, then the video was similar to Leila K's Open Sesame which also charted well before Culture Beat, and at the beginning of the year:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GV_5dRrWH4
2 unlimited - I don’t remember this, mostly because it is totally immemorable.
ReplyDeleteCarter - energetic but vocal not a patch on the record
Kenny thomas - didn’t quite catch what it was called as he only repeated it 100 times. Ah, tripping on your love, thanks mark
Terence trent Darby - don't remember this either, but it was… quite good
Cilla in the Daniel o’Donnell slot. Zzzzzzzzz (forced to FF)
Four songs peaking lower down the charts this week with no TOTP for them this time round:
ReplyDeleteNo.34 Soul Asylum - Somebody To Shove
Second single in 1993, and follow up to their top ten single Runaway Train, this had no impact at all on the top 40 somehow.
No.42 Gwen Guthrie - Ain't Nothing Going On But The Rent
Re-release of Guthrie's 1986 smash hit on the 80s dance floors, this is one of the classic dancefloor singles of all time, and not sure why it was released here in 1993, as she released her last single in 1987.
No.44 Tony!Toni!Tone! - If I Had No Loot
This group although not successful in the UK, were a regular on Paul Gambaccini's American Chat Show on Saturdays on Radio 1 at the time which is the only way I had heard of them.
No.48 Rick Astley - The Ones You Love
He who rocketed to fame in 1987 on the Stock Aitken Waterman label I think, couldn't cut it with the 90s pop audience who were looking for other types of music, and Astley was struggling to get on TOTP since the 80s cos he couldn't chart high enough in the 90s. this was his penultimate single, with only more to go in November 1993 before calling it a day.
Well this was a crash landing after the high of the previous episode.
ReplyDeleteIn 1993 - 1993!!! - we're getting a Cilla exclusive. Was this when Hearts of Gold was on the Beeb? Can't think of any other reason why it'd be.
Of the rest, Carter alright but not their best. Bitty M is fine, Culture Beat good, breakers all decent. 2U and Kenny T each have their least memorable hits.
A Cilla Black exclusive though.
It was a right ruddy racket and all.
Rad, the TV Cream website explains that Cilla had seen other singers from days gone by, like Lulu, make the charts again and she thought, or was persuaded, that she should have a go at a comeback as well.
DeleteMy my, Anita, that’s an outfit and a half. There was apparently some midtempo rave in the background.
ReplyDeleteTina’s broken into the zoo’s zebra enclosure for a bop and a wail.
Weird to see Jim not guitaring in Carter. Was he reading the lyrics from the floor? Enjoyed that, mind you.
Car park trailer Kenny’s back with another weird shirt and some more anonymous fake soul.
Terence Trent D’Arby gives us the best ever Lenny Kravitz impersonation. Very impressive.
Breakers: Not enough of New Order to give an opinion / superb track from Mary / ”Plush”? More like flush / Jam fella goes hippfied.
Bitty is as Bitty does. Great chart topping forecast by our host.
Poor Mark. Having to introduce Daniel O’Donnell recently and now Cilla, who obviously enjoyed every second of that. I didn’t. Meanwhile Carter are banging the ceiling with a broom downstairs – “Turn it down!”
Bookend rave pop at each end of this edition.
Just had a look at the bbc4 schedule. Next Friday evening they will also be showing 2 extra Totps from the same week in previous years. 1979 and 1987. Sounds like a good bonus. I wonder if that will be continuing? I didn't see many late '77 or late '78 editions so that would be good. Maybe it's just for next week.
ReplyDeleteAlso very good to know that there's an Olivia Newton John compilation tomorrow. I wonder if there are any Cliff Richard Show clips that survive as I don't think I've ever seen her on that.
Sorry it's Friday 28th. Nice to get a couple of extra editions. Again hopefully that will be ongoing.
DeleteBBC2 showed the 21st January edition of TOTP last Saturday night, so this is not a new practice, but I agree it's good to have more episodes repeated from the 70s and 80s, on top of the current 1993 run.
DeleteSort of Pick of the Pops meets Top of the Pops. Good Idea and a chance to see ones missed or great ones a second time. I'd love to see at least one from Jan/Feb '78 again which was a fantastic period for songs. Also summer '79 which got shoved about due to the Proms, though a long time to wait for that if this is an ongoing thing.
DeleteI guess this one's mainly for Sct353, that BBC2 have an Olivia Newton John night tomorrow, starting with ONJ at the BBC, followed by as this week's Radio Times puts it, a "rare network showing of the cult musical fantasy Xanadu from 1980, which will be followed by her first ever UK Special called Only Olivia. Good Lord, popcorn and cocoa at the ready for Saturday night telly on BBC2!
ReplyDeleteI hadn’t spotted Only Olivia - Thanks
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete2 UNLIMITED – Faces
ReplyDeleteSaw the title but couldn't bring this one to mind before hearing it again. I think I was in France when this hit the charts and I would have missed this performance. It's a good opener to the show but nothing new in this track.
TINA TURNER – Disco Inferno
Said last time I loved this version and still think that now. Never seen the film but I think I've mentioned the recent Sky documentary which is a harrowing tale and well worth digging out if you haven't seen it.
CARTER – THE UNSTOPPABLE SEX MACHINE – Lean On Me I Won’t Fall Over
Easily the best thing they've ever done and clearly missed this first time around. Imagine if they'd been around a few years later, we would be rightly celebrating them as a great Brit Pop band.
KENNY THOMAS – Trippin’ On Your Love
He's still plugging away and I liked this one. Best since "Thinking About Your Love".
Did you know that before he became Sananda Maitreya, TERENCE TRENT D’ARBY turned into Lenny Kravitz?" She Kissed Me" is all the evidence we need. Great song and a strong performance, and another track I missed by being away at the time.
Breakers:
NEW ORDER – Solid but unremarkable
MARY J. BLIGE – Like this and a lot of her early stuff
STONE TEMPLE PILOTS – Pass
PAUL WELLER – Once again not in the studio for the rather poetic "Wild Wood". Shame.
BITTY McLEAN – It Keeps Rainin’ (Tears From My Eyes)
Seen this twice already and a real summer vibe. Way too much echo on the mic.
CILLA BLACK has been on TOTP "loads of times" - Top research Mark! My ears hurt on that last note which not even Mariah has managed. Dull tune that will get what it deserves.
CULTURE BEAT – Mr. Vain still Number One. Only CD and Cassette hey, how times have changed. Assuming we are in Vinyl's death throws, but like Jesus, Doctor Who and Gladiators apparently, it will have a revival.
I bought my last vinyl 7-inch singles in 1994, namely Doop by Doop, and Reel 2 Real with I Like To Move It. I think that was the last year of vinyl singles produced for the consumer market, whereupon the CD single then took over as the only way to buy singles.
Delete