I tell you I'm here again, where have you been? Babe, I'm the 16th of December 1993 edition of Top of the Pops!
Top Mark
16-12-93: Presenter: Tony Dortie
(4) CHAKA DEMUS & PLIERS – Twist And Shout
Getting tonight's show underway and on their way to number one.
(11) MEAT LOAF – Bat Out Of Hell (video) (and charts)
Had peaked at number 15 in 1979, this time around it made it to number 8.
(7) EAST 17 – It’s Alright
A second studio performance and the song went up four more places.
(29) DIANA ROSS – Your Love (via satellite)
Peaked at number 14.
(40) EYC – Feelin’ Alright (video) (Breakers)
Peaked at number 16.
(37) K7 – Come Baby Come (video) (Breakers)
Peaked at number 3.
(35) MICHAEL JACKSON – Gone Too Soon (video) (Breakers)
Went up two more places.
(27) CLIFF RICHARD – Healing Love (video) (Breakers)
Peaked at number 19.
(26) REGINA BELLE & PEABO BRYSON – A Whole New World (Aladdin’s Theme) (video) (Breakers)
Peaked at number 12.
(24) ICE-T – That’s How I’m Livin’ (video) (Breakers)
Peaked at number 21.
(22) NEW ORDER – Spooky (video) (Breakers)
Got no higher.
(15) FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD – The Power Of Love (Remix) (video) (Breakers)
Went up five more places,
(34) HADDAWAY – I Miss You (via satellite)
Became his third of four top ten hits when it peaked at number 9.
(1) TAKE THAT – Babe
In the studio for their only week at number one with this song.
23rd of December is next,
Chaka Demus & Pliers - apparently this was not their real names according to the notes on Big Hits 1993 following this TOTP show last night. Chaka Demus is John Taylor, and Pliers is Everton Bonner. Anyway this new single brought in a third singer who started off proceedings before the other two regulars came in for their parts. Interesting that when they got to No.1 with this in the first two weeks of 1994, TOTP only played the video for both weeks at No.1!
ReplyDeleteMeat Loaf - also with real name Marvin Lee Aday, this was an unsurprising re-release of the 1979 original UK chart release, and made Top Ten this time round, and what was more interesting is that it was introducing Meat Loaf to a new generation of pop fans in 1993 that were born in the 70s & 80s, and would not have remembered Meat Loaf first time round in the 70s with the new Bat Out Of Hell album.
The Breakers - disappointed that the Peabo Bryson/Regina Bell song on the Breakers was the only showing for it during its whole chart run, as the following week it rose handsomely to No.12 and did not get a full play, and after that it was too late cos the song fell down the charts. It's one of those classic love songs that still holds well 30 years later.
Some jovial reggae from Chaka Demus & Pliers to start. Fake palm trees and Carribbean beach scenes make up the set and it's a great, sunny opening. And to think the most famous version of this was recorded in the depths of the big freeze of 1963 with a vocal by a severe cold afflicted John Lennon. I wish there was more reggae in pop music these days. Or any reggae. Tony's right, you can't not move to that one.
ReplyDeleteMeat Loaf going back into hell after 'Back Into Hell' with a reissue of the brilliant title track of the '77 album. Impossible not to like. Blimey, did you notice Nirvana's cheery double A-side in the chart rundown?
East 17 with a more animated performance of 'It's Alright' and this featured in a TOTP2 Christmas edition due to the Santa costumes. Nice and Wintry and still love it. Brian still a smidgen off key in places and refusing to pronounce his THs and Tony the surliest volunteer Santa in the shopping centre grotto. I have a memory of this being used as music for trailers on the upcoming Winter Olympics in Lillehammer.
Diana Ross by satellite from a very posh hotel with lots of very posh outside scenes. Warm and seasonal but oddly remote, as if it was filmed on zoom. Was the proper camera not working?
Breakers (and lots); EYC; Toss. K7; Big single from the first part of '94. Good to hear again. Michael Jackson; odd to have so fleeting a glimpse of so profound a video. Cliff Richard; lots of him on BBC this Christmas. Regina Belle & Peabo Bryson; Quite an animated performance. ICE-T; Seasons greetings. New Order; Doesn't sound very spooky. Frankie Goes To Hollywood; brief clip of the video for 'The Power of Love', a moment of which scared the crap out of me as a 9 year old (the angel). Always good to see and hear but still much prefer the version they did live on the show.
A second satellite clip and the clear highlight of the show for me. From Disney world in Florida which doesn't suit this fireside dance classic but whatever, I love this single and Haddaway sings it beautifully. Great soul bursts from his co-singer too. Brilliant single and a great memory of the time. I don't know how big he was in the US but the passers-by don't seem especially starstruck.
Take That get an honourary interview in the mistaken belief that they'll be the Xmas No.1. Like the gentle Blobby mickey take but Blobby will be back.
Good Lord, I see what you mean about Nirvana, who was not included in this week's Breakers at No.32, considering they had 8 Breakers on one show, going as far down as No.40. Could they not have used just the first track on the double A-Side for The Breakers, or was there only a video for the second track which was the unacceptable song title?
DeleteRant first… appalled to hear that fcuking Mariah Carey shite is back at number one in December again.
ReplyDeleteOkay, here we go, two more TOTPs till Christmas (I never do the festive issues)…
Chaka and Pliers have brought along their mate Screwdriver for this hit. Nice idea with those T-shirts. Not just thrown together, you see. Still prefer The Beatles’ version to this, though.
When I got my first house in 1988 (2 up 2 down, 22 feet long and 12 feet wide), Mum and Dad bought me a four-way turntable / radio / CD / cassette player which lasted until this year. They also bought me my first CD, the compilation “Hits Out Of Hell”. Always liked the track we heard tonight, but “You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth” was a classic which deserved way better than number 33.
Mugshots: Cypress Hill got their sweary hit changed, so why not remove or amend that awful Nirvana track name?
Big up and respect due to Brian Harvey. Watch and shrivel Brett, Gabrielle, Tasmin, Carter (did the latter get tanked up and obnoxious instead?) and other inglorious others. Fine performance. East 17, U 2.
So many hits for La Ross, including one shown on the very first edition of these re-runs nearly 12 BBC4 years / 17 actual years back. Performance fine, looks fine, song wouldn’t trouble Dina Carroll.
Breakers one over the eight (actually, no, just the eight!). EYC ZZZ. K7 join L7 in the ‘letter then 7’ lists of hit acts. Weird how we’ve gone from a third of the programme taken up by Wacko to a mere video snippet – thank goodness. Tennis link for Cliff – a load of balls. Next, the song Jordan assassinated. No 3D fairground video this time for an act who performed “Cop Killer” then spent 20 years on US telly as a detective. New Order by numbers. Frankie’s best but I prefer the original.
A second exclusive from Disney World, forgotten who the first was. Blimey, Haddaway does a ballad, and does a good job of it too.
Dorky gives another crap chart topper forecast before some unfortunate satire by The Thats at the end.
On Hits Out Of Hell, there was a VHS Video to go with the CD, and the video for You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth had chopped off the Steinman/Foley rant at the beginning "On A Hot Summer Night......", but I guess it was included on the CD. In any case worth a watch of the whole video with the Hot Summer Night intro:
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wO8toxinoc
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteFour songs at peak position this week outside the Top 40, with no TOTP for these previous chart regulars:
ReplyDeleteNo.51 Brian May - Last Horizon
Final single of a run of six singles solo since the death of Freddie Mercury, and this failure to chart in the Top 40 was the last output from May in dedication to Mercury, so well done indeed.
No.55 Gloria Estefan - Montuno
Not sure what this song title is, and must be something in Spanish, but anyway Estefan would take nearly a year out after this one to come back in late 1994 with a couple of real disco cover crackers for some serious Top 40 action, so lots to look forward to.
No.57 Aerosmith - Amazing
Rare Top 40 failure, but would be a better 1994 for them when they would return in the summer for some solid Top 40 action.
No.58 The Cocteau Twins - Winter Wonderland/Frosty The Snowman
Rare double A-Side from the Twins, and had another three years of new music until 1996 with little or no success in terms of Top 40 action.
I looked up "Montuno" and it's a right old curiosity. it was a single taken from a Spanish-language album Gloria released called "Mi Tierra" ("My Land"). Muntono is a type of Cuban musical arrangement. The single was an EP with a track called "My Christmas" as one of the B-sides. Both sides of the single were pressed at 33 1/3 rpm despite sole A-side track "Montuno" lasting just four and a half minutes.
DeleteCliff's 'Healing Love' was co-written by Nik Kershaw who also features on backing vocals.
ReplyDeleteBlobby and TT our first one week only number ones in a couple of years. I kind of love how they think Blobby has been vanquished, it's like watching a horror film.
ReplyDeleteE17 with their best track to date, always love this one and love how next year they get the Xmas no 1 TT never did.
I'd forgotten about EYC. Thry weren't the best, though K7 are about to have a monster hit.
I have a random soft spot for the Haddaway ballad even though it's a bit off brand.
Tune of the night goes to CHAKA DEMUS & PLIERS with their superb "Twist And Shout". Just such a fun, uplifting record. Huge fan of this one and a great performance as well. Glad this is sticking around for a few weeks.
ReplyDeleteVintage MEAT LOAF with Bat Out Of Hell back in the charts. Would never pick this a fave but it's nice to reminded every now and again that's it's such a good song.
"It’s Alright" Brian, I'm sure all your (non-chemist) drugs will help with the flu. I was harsh on this East 17 tune 2 weeks ago but I enjoyed it tonight so maybe I just wasn't in the mood last time. Nice touch with the Santa outfits.
DIANA ROSS is in Paris (at the Ritz of course). Couldn't pick "Your Love" out of a line-up as it's so generic but I enjoyed it.
8 Breakers!
EYC – Feelin’ Cheesy
K7 – Love this tune.
MICHAEL JACKSON – Was this on "Dangerous"?. I'm assuming the boy didn't make it. Happy Christmas.
CLIFF RICHARD – Sounding better on video
REGINA BELLE & PEABO BRYSON – Peabo dragged out for a Disney tune that is just dull
ICE-T – Criminally underrated
NEW ORDER – Remixed the tune out of this one
FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD – Not a Christmas tune my arse!
There was a third HADDAWAY song? It went top ten? How did "I Miss" this? Another Disneyland hook-up and I enjoyed the song.
TAKE THAT straight in at Number One with "Babe" Seriously amazed this wasn't the Christmas Number One. Good tune. Nice Blobby reference at the end but be careful what you wish for boys.
Morgie, Haddaway actually managed six hits, all peaking lower or no higher than the previous one - four top 10, one just in the top 20 and one nudging the 40.
Delete