You can walk my path, you can wear my shoes, now I've found the 20th of January 1994 edition of Top of the Pops!
D:Ream believer
20-1-94: Presenters: Tony Dortie & Joe Elliott
(20) INSPIRAL CARPETS – Saturn 5
Getting Tony's 57th and final show off to a britpoppy start but the song got no higher.
(14) DEF LEPPARD – Action (video) (and charts)
This Sweet cover was not at its peak.
(7) TORI AMOS – Cornflake Girl
Performing her first of three top ten hits and this one peaked at number 4.
(9) HADDAWAY – I Miss You
In the studio but the song was at its peak.
(13) TONI BRAXTON – Breathe Again (via satellite)
Became her first of five top ten hits when it peaked at number 2.
(25) JOE – I’m In Luv (video) (Breakers)
Peaked at number 22.
(22) GARTH BROOKS – The Red Strokes (video) (Breakers)
Peaked at number 13.
(18) DEPECHE MODE – In Your Room (video) (Breakers)
Peaked at number 8.
(16) WHITNEY HOUSTON & BOBBY BROWN – Something In Common (video) (Breakers)
Got no higher.
(15) PHIL COLLINS – Everyday
In the studio but the song got no higher.
(1) D:REAM – Things Can Only Get Better
Here to celebrate their first of four weeks at number one.
27th of January is next.
Chart rundown - first time I think that the chart rundown video was introduced by the same group in the studio thanks to Joe Elliot of Def Leppard. I must admit I don't remember this group in the 90s, after their best work came in 1988 with the Hysteria album.
ReplyDeleteAlso noticed on the chart rundown that Daryl Hall was at peak position of No.30 with Stop Loving Me Stop Loving You, just missing out on a Breakers slot as The Breakers only went down to No.25 this week, so we don't get to see Hall at all with this new solo single.
Two songs peaking this week outside the Top 40 for previous 80s regulars:
No.50 Coldcut - Autumn Leaves
The group that introduced us to Yazz in 1988 with their first single Doctorin' The House, did not seem to do as well on their own in the 90s, as this was the fifth single in a row since 1989 to fail to break the Top 40, with their next single coming in 1997.
No.66 The Pogues - Once Upon A Time
Last ever single from The Pogues, bringing down the curtain on a chart career career going back to 1985 with A Pair Of Brown Eyes which peaked at No.72, and a group that will always be remembered for their biggest hit Fairytale Of New York with Kirsty McColl.
(sorry about the deletion below - I misposted as a new comment rather than a reply).
Delete'Autumn Leaves' should have been huge! I have this CD single in my collection with its very autumnal sleeve (and video). The tune in instrumental form was taken all the way to the top of the US charts in 1955 by Roger Williams.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteInspirals - a return to their early keyboard led tunes. Trivia point: several years later, I was at kennedy visitor centre and Saturn 5 was amongst their records for sale.
ReplyDeleteDef leppard - fairly straight cover of one of Sweet’s underrated singles
Tori Amos - tapping her inner kate bush to sing about a fairly heavy subject of genital mutilation.
Garth Brooks (breaker) - I was a closet garth Brooks fan, but he had lost his uniqueness by now
Sct353 - 'Action' was penned by Conolly, Priest, Scott and Tucker unlike most of their hits which were Chinn/Chapman compositions.
DeleteSo, we’ve come to the end of an ear’ole. Tony repeatedly telling us it’s his last show. The first announcement got a gasp of joy, the more he repeated it the happier I was that he was off.
ReplyDeleteInspiral Carpets dressed like a late 60’s beat combo. A fine start to the show though it always grates with me how the word ‘rocket’ is phrased.
The philistine Spurs freak joined by an oh so dapper looking Leppard, saying his band are the joint best thing from Sheffield (sorry, loser, The Human League and Pulp knock you completely off the podium for starters) introducing his band’s vapid Sweet cover.
Chart rundown: Cher with Beavis and Butthead??? The first sighting of Apollo 440 (three hits in the 30’s followed by two that did better), chart peak for Domino who had two chart entries reaching 35 and 42, and Loni Clark with the shortest ever title for a hit record.
Peak of the week as Tori Amos side-saddles her stool ferociously and gives us what sounded in parts a bit like the theme to the Hywel Bennett comedy series “Shelley” with absolutely weird lyrics. I never realised the subject matter until Charlie explained. My wife popped her head round the corner at this point, saw three seconds of Tori, grunted “Kate Bush rip-off” and disappeared.
Poor scheduling as we then get two ballads in a row. Unusual to see Haddaway giving us a slowie, first line crashed by Dorky, and I preferred his to the admittedly fine voice of Toni Braxton with a forgettable track.
Breakers in order: anonymous R‘n’ hop with Dorky going for it comments-wise re the ‘ladeez’ in his swansong, country doing what it says on the tin, unusual seeing Depeche Mode miming instruments other than synths and…. that relationship ended well, didn’t it? That was incredibly sad to watch knowing what we do now.
It seems it was in Phil Collins’s TOTP contract that, every time he or Genesis were on, we’d be ‘treated’ to at least four and a quarter minutes of Mogadon.
Dorky name changes Pete Cornelius when introducing D:Ream. Erm, the singer’s Peter Cunnah. Great research there.
Probably to be expected, a rather hacked off Tony fails to finish his final show with a “Laters”.
“Nevers!”
I remember Beavis and Butthead constantly on TV at the time, I think Channel 4, and they looked like they were the next big animated show after The Simpsons, and not sure if they are still going to this day, but a little baffled how they teamed up with Cher to do I Got You Babe.
DeleteI mean UB40 went with Chrissie Hynde rather than asking Cher when they did the famous cover in 1985 and took it to No.1, as did Sonny with Cher on the original in 1965 of course.
You're right Arthur that little hook in Cornflake Girl does call to mind the theme to 'Shelley'. Sorry for making lazy Kate Bush comparisons but it's funny that Tori has a part that reminds us of a Thames TV show and Kate Bush referred to 'The Sweeney' in 'Wow'. Something in the ether there.
DeleteA very strange music related coincidence happened last spring when I was listening to Bat For Lashes magnificent album 'The Bride' when walking towards and past a secondary school in Chorleywood. I had no idea where she grew up until after. Turns out she went to that very school!
Bye Tony! I guess you vaguely improved over time but I shan't really miss you, sorry.Was Joe E here to test out the getting pop stars to host model?
ReplyDeleteDecent episode overall, I love Saturn 5. Decent enough mid tier Leppard, then a great Tori Amos turn.
In spite of myself I like both the Haddaway and Braxton ballads.
Several things in the breakers I don't really remember (Depeche Mode the highlight) and oof is it uncomfortable seeing the Bobby/Whitney duet.
Not into Phil C but he has his place and D:Ream has worn out with age but at the time it was a good number one.
Late to this one. A decent end to Tony's long stint as a presenter. Quite why he had to co-present with Joe Elliott (What the heck does he look like?) I've no idea. Maybe the Totp staff member who seems to be obsessed with Def Leppard had a say in proceedings before the new producer takes over.
ReplyDeleteTony seems happy enough, a touch relieved but also there are traces of frustration. I noticed that the end link had as many frowns as grins. He should be happy. He got better and as I said before he never sent the show up or trivialised it. Give me him over Gayle Tuesday any Friday of the year.
A sort of early glimpse of things to come with the Inspirals 'Saturn 5'; still '60s fixated but not as much the psyche end now. Aside from Clint's organ the sound is tougher and, dare one say it, more laddish. Haircuts as well. Even Clint's had a crop. Brilliant song though, love that opening line and a thumping start to the show.
Joe Elliott gets the honour of introducing Def's video. Awful earbusting crud.
Ah much better! Tori Amos, finally gets a studio appearance on BBC4 with the brilliant 'Cornflake Girl'. Not quite on the same level as 'Crucify' which is breathtaking but any live Tori is worth seeing. Thankyou Joe for allowing your presenting stint to be shown.
Tony can't resist saying that he was busy watching the co-singer during Haddaway's performance. He wasn't the only one I have to say. The song? Oh yes, a real favourite, beautifully performed and another that just blasts the intervening years away.
There's something in my eye.
Satellite with a serene looking Toni Braxton between two large candelabras. They make me think of a marvelous Beatles LP cover of Hamburg era songs called 'Very Together!', issued at the time of the Paul is Dead madness. This had 4 lit candles with one snuffed out!
Breakers poor (as an acoustic guitar player I flinched when Garth Brooks smashed his on the cymbals) though good to see a bit of the Depeche Mode video.
Phil Collins could be in a skill game in the 'future zone' section of 'The Crystal Maze'. Is he worth a crystal? Occasionally. Not this time for me.
Tony's final link to a song and he may have been flawed in some respects but his links were almost always impressive. Sad that this one is to a title that could almost be a taunt to him and Mark. Still not very keen on this single.
Tony and Joe share a tough goodbye. "No more cheesy grins". Is that a broadside at his detractors? Maybe. I'll miss you dude. Joe has the last word strangely. It's.....Bye!
So here we come to the end of the 1991 revamp which had finally found it's feet in 1992. But before the new producer comes in both hosts get one last stand.
ReplyDeleteINSPIRAL CARPETS open the show Sixties style with "Saturn 5". Easily their best tune and a great start to the show.
DEF LEPPARD – Action
The most American looking anyone from Sheffield has ever looked as along comes Joe to co-host and introduce a dull concert video to a very cheesy tune that I didn't realise was a glam-rock cover (having not been around in those days). Sure it goes down a storm at gigs.
TORI AMOS up next striding the piano with one of the finest performances for a long time. No idea what a "Cornflake Girl" was but what an amazing song this is. Such a talent.
HADDAWAY and a strange woman failing to mime in time to the "ooh" bits. Surprisingly I quite liked "I Miss You"
I had actually forgotten what TONI BRAXTON looked like. "Breathe Again" shows she has a fine voice but I've never been overly taken with this tune. Just a bit flat for me.
Breakers:
JOE – Tony likes the ladies. Didn't hear enough of the tune to make a judgement.
GARTH BROOKS – I hate country music and this is it at it's worst
DEPECHE MODE – Decent tune. odd video.
WHITNEY HOUSTON & BOBBY BROWN – Walk away now Whitney
PHIL COLLINS – Everyday is just dull so onto the brilliant Number One from D:REAM. "Things Won't Get Any Better" for them and I loved the tune and performance here.
So bye then Tony. I will miss your presenting as you've always been a very enthusiastic presenter and brought each show lo life. Laters....