Merry 25th of December 1994 edition of Top of the Pops!
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me... Take That!
25-12-94: Presenters: Take That
(-) D:REAM – Things Can Only Get Better
(-) K7 – Come Baby Come (clip of TOTP 13-1-94)
(-) BRYAN ADAMS, ROD STEWART & STING – All For Love (video)
(-) MARIAH CAREY – Without You (via satellite)
(-) TONI BRAXTON – Breathe Again (video)
(-) CELINE DION – The Power Of Love (clip of TOTP 27-1-94)
(-) DOOP – Doop
(-) BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN – Streets Of Philadelphia (video)
(-) REEL 2 REAL feat. THE MAD STUNTMAN – I Like To Move It (clip of TOTP 14-4-94)
(-) TONY DI BART – The Real Thing
(-) TAKE THAT – Everything Changes (clip of TOTP 24-3-94)
(-) CRASH TEST DUMMIES – Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm (clip of TOTP 21-4-94)
(-) STILTSKIN – Inside
(-) EAST 17 – Around The World (clip of TOTP 19-5-94)
(-) C.J. LEWIS – Sweets For My Sweet (clip of TOTP 5-5-94)
(37) WET WET WET – Love Is All Around
(-) DAWN PENN – You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No) (clip of TOTP 9-6-94)
(-) THE GRID – Swamp Thing (clip of TOTP 16-6-94)
(-) ALL-4-ONE – I Swear
(-) ASWAD – Shine (clip of TOTP 7-7-94)
(-) TAKE THAT – Love Ain’t Here Anymore (clip of TOTP 7-7-94)
(52) LET LOOSE – Crazy For You
(54) CHINA BLACK – Searching (clip of TOTP 18-8-94)
(60) YOUSSOU N’DOUR feat. NENEH CHERRY – 7 Seconds (clip of TOTP 1-9-94)
(22) WHIGFIELD – Saturday Night
(-) LUTHER VANDROSS & MARIAH CAREY – Endless Love (clip of TOTP 15-9-94)
(25) BON JOVI – Always (clip of TOTP 8-9-94)
(17) PATO BANTON – Baby Come Back
(47) MICHELLE GAYLE – Sweetness (clip of TOTP 6-10-94)
(-) CYNDI LAUPER – Hey Now (Girls Just Wanna Have Fun) (clip of TOTP 6-10-94)
(24) ETERNAL – Oh Baby I…
(14) BABY D – Let Me Be Your Fantasy (video)
(20) (M.C. SAR &) THE REAL McCOY – Another Night (clip of TOTP 10-11-94)
5th of January 1995 is next.
30-6-77: Presenter: Noel Edmonds
ReplyDelete(21) T-CONNECTION – Do What You Wanna Do (video)
(5) GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS – Baby Don’t Change Your Mind (video)
(24) JOHN MILES – Slow Down
(29) JESSE GREEN – Come With Me
(17) QUEEN – Good Old Fashioned Loverboy ®
(NEW) CLIFF RICHARD – When Two Worlds Drift Apart
(22) THE DETROIT EMERALDS – Feel The Need In Me (danced to by Legs & Co)
(3) EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER – Fanfare For The Common Man (video)
(1) HOT CHOCOLATE – So You Win Again
(14) BONEY M – Ma Baker (and credits)
Very unusual for TOTP to start the show with a video, but they did intersperse some footage with studio audience dancing to the video to T-Connection. Was also surprised to see a large video screen of that size in the studio, as this seems somewhat advanced for 1977, when people still had primitive TV sets.
DeleteQueen - seems that Queen always insisted in no studio audience around them when performing in the TOTP studio, as this was evident here for Good Old Fashioned Loverboy, and then when they came back in 1982 for Las Palabras Di Amour they performed in a seemingly empty TOTP studio. Is there something wrong with a studio audience dancing around them??
Emerson Lake & Palmer - sadly only the youngest of the trio, Carl Palmer, is still with us, as Emerson and Lake died in 2016, and this huge empty stadium video is an excellent piece of 70s nostalgia.
Love watching these old totps. Looking forward to 1995. Would it possible to post the 31/12/94 again via we transfer please?
DeleteAnother great Noel Edmonds edition and I just love '77. You get such a sense of the wheels of pop moving on, or trying to move on creating some fascinating variety. This was a really good show.
DeleteChart rundown as barmy as ever. Some screen issues with a few of the slides unless they chose to take pictures with the acts shoved to the left and a big expanse of empty space on the right. Robin the frog looks so authoritative in his picture.
T Connection; Unusual start with a video clip on the old screen with the audience dancing in front. Good tune, Osibisa type funkiness and there may've been some attempt to ape 'Soul Train'. Person with the grooviest flares on the platform at the back. Even a few that are in sillouhette. Also a young fella in red trousers who you probably wouldn't want to argue with and a bloke who looks like same period Tom Jones. Ended rather early.
Gladys Knight and the Pips; This was one of my hoped for things to get another showing. One of my favourite ever singles and it's always great to see a working it up in the studio video especially when the act are absolute legends and the single is as brilliant as this. Back with Van McCoy and the euphoria is so evident. I like how Eddie Patten is wearing a t shirt with the group picture from the '2nd Anniversary' album. An absolute joy to see and hear that.
John Miles; Some extremely dated, tight trouser voiced stuff with Frampton voice / guitar tube thing. A little pleased with itself.
Jesse Green; Looking very cool in the shades and suit. Grown on me this song. He must've been happy to be performing in front of another form of union jack, this time one that doesn't look like it's been cut out of a plastic bag.
Queen; Pity they never did more Top of the Pops as no-one mimes quite like Freddie Mercury. Very entertaining as is Brian May's miming to the guitar solo.
Cliff Richard; One you never hear and sounds very good. I remember his Radio 1 interview in '89 for his 100th single and he made a special mention of the failure of 'When Two Worlds Drift Apart'. Certainly does have some style.
Detroit Emeralds; Another soul/disco classic for the Legs & Co routine. Split screen with Rosie and Gill the more prominent members which is meant to look stylish but just resembles one of those instructive video clips from 'Sesame Street'. They look gorgeous though and Rosie smiling in close up I'm not complaining about. Patti's birthday it is (cue silly Noel pun) so why is she one of the two that's on the screen the least?
Emerson, Lake and Palmer; Marvellous and for them remarkably catchy version of 'Fanfare For The Common Man'. In the Olympic stadium, Montreal and my god that looks cold. Carl Palmer breathing miniature igloos but still looking cool.
Hot Chocolate; Curious intro from Noel and slightly rude although he may've been suggesting they were good salt of the earth chaps. Another fantastic song from the pen of Russ Ballard. Harvey Hinsley his usual chatty while performing self while wearing an unpleasantly nipple revealing semi sleeveless top. Award for coolest band member during these repeats could very possibly go to their percussionist who looks fantastically self assured even though he's only playing bongos and singing a bit.
Ma Boney? Very subtle wordplay from Noel or a remarkable cock-up. It must be the former. Brilliant song to end.
has anyone uploaded the final TOTP2 of the year that was broadcast on New Year's Eve 1994. Despite there wasn't one airing on Christmas Eve.
ReplyDeleteTOTP2 - 31-12-94
ReplyDeletehttps://mega.nz/folder/h0snQACa#uiNNqosfbdrfzODHsE1clw/folder/sp9BBb7Y
Wetransfer for TOTP2 31-12-94 https://we.tl/t-kGK5MdjRni
ReplyDeleteSuperb Rob, thanks for uploading.
DeleteIn the 1994 videos of the year, TOTP included Gallows Pole by Page & Plant which was in the singles Top 40 lower end only a couple of weeks back but got left out by TOTP, so here it is in its fullness whoever mentioned it as a non-mug shot in a recent show, as the video was shot exclusively for TOTP2 in Wales.
i'd imagine Shane Meadows was watching this video with Page & Plant back in 1994 as it inspired to write him a drama about it set in the 19th century which would be in 29 years time.
DeleteWould it possible to post this 31/12/94 again via we transfer please?
DeleteDidn't find much to comment on this Xmas 1994 show, apart from the fact that Take That seemed to be enjoying presenting it, especially rivals East 17 being at No.1 for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteReally liked the Doop performance in the studio, and poor old Pato Banton left on his own in the studio to do his lines on Baby Come Back with UB40 still stuck in their video, and then TOTP didn't play the full song for Banton to see out, finishing it about half way through. Good Lord, what a mess!
Will comment on the show in a bit but as it's Xmas I should probably share my Crackers of 1994.
ReplyDeleteI think 94 improved as it went one and most of my favourite tunes come later on in the year.
Tune of the Year: Youssou N'Dour and Neneh Cherry - Seven Seconds.
Honourable mentions to:
D:Ream - Things Can Only Get Better
Blur - Girls and Boys
Primal Scream - Rocks
Big Mountain - Baby, I Love Your Way
Aswad - Shine
Sophie B. Hawkins - Right Beside You
Kylie Minogue - Confide In Me
Corona - Rhythm Of The Night
Pet Shop Boys - Yesterday, When I Was Mad
Pato Banton/UB40 - Baby, Come Back
Beautiful South - One Last Love Song
Celine Dion - Think Twice
East 17 - Stay Another Day
And a couple that I love (but probably shouldn't):
BC52's - (Meet) The Flinstones
Whigfield - Saturday Night
Rather a fine show as it happens.
DeleteOnly duff act on was Take That who should never be allowed to present the show again.
I think the Stiltskin performance was the best.
Happy Junemass everyone, see you in 1995!
My Top 10 of 1994 in no special order:
DeleteBoyz II Men - I'll Make Love To You
All 4 One - I Swear
Pato Banton & UB40 - Baby Come Back
Doop - Doop
Real 2 Reel - I Like To Move It
2-Unlimited - No-one
Rednexx - Cotton Eye Joe
The Grid - Swamp Thing
Warren G & Nate Dogg - Regulate
Tinman - 18 Strings
Anyone know when TOTP 1995 gets underway on BBC4, as I see there is no start this week cos of Wimbledon on the BBC1 pushing out other shows to BBC2 and BBC4, in our case the Test match highlights taking up the position of TOTP 1995 at 7-8pm.
ReplyDeleteThe week after. But then Proms stop it the week after that!
DeleteAn interesting review of the year with no appearance of Pulp, Blur, Suede, Oasis or Elastica. My head nodding appreciation goes to D:Ream, Reel 2 Real, Tony di Bart, The Grid, Corona, Whigfield, Baby D and East 17 Another Day. That would have been a cracking half hour show, with replacement presenters, as Take That were over the top terrible for this one.
ReplyDeleteThe TOTP years seem be passing at an increasing rate, doesn’t seem like six months since the 1993 review (or indeed Jan 2023!).
Looking at my Top 10 of 1994, put together nearer the time, it looks like this. Not in order but the list suggesting a move back to indie from dance, although I was a big fan of drum ‘n’ bass and trip hop over the next few years coming.
De’Lacy - Hideaway
Underworld - Cowgirl
Goldie - Inner City Life
Orbital - Are We Here
Saint Etienne - Like a Motorway
Portishead - Glory Box
Pulp - Do You Remember the First Time?
Suede - The Wild Ones
Oasis - Cigarettes & Alcohol
Elastica - Connection
I agree it's weird having no real indie on the show. I get that they were focusing on high sellers but it made the episode somewhat unrepresentative of the year. Enjoyable episode though, apart from Take That's awful presenting. I wonder what rankles Gary Barlow more, that East 17 have a Christmas number one or that Robbie Williams does? And hurray for Pato Banton finally getting in the studio. Why they couldn't have done that when he was at the top I don't know.
ReplyDeleteDespite a rocky patch in the early-middle of the year, this has been a great year for the Pops. 95 should be even better (although perhaps a bit less diverse in terms of genres) except for the the endless Boyzone and Robson and Jerome.
As I was 14 then, here's a top 14 though I'm focusing just on songs that were in the show:
The Cranberries - Linger
Roxette - Sleeping in My Car/Run to You
Kylie - Confide in Me
Elastica - Connection
Pulp - Babies
Youssou N'Dour and Neneh Cherry - 7 Seconds
Oasis - Whatever
Marcella Detroit - I Believe (every year there's a song that surprises me with how much I like it now, this was 94's)
Blur - End of a Century
China Black - Searching
East 17 - It's Alright
M People - Search for the Hero
Corona - Rhythm of the Night
Waren G and Nate Dogg - Regulate
with honourable mentions for Suede, BC 52s, Primal Scream and Eternal.
Hello, sorry I've been so late with these shows. I still haven't seen all of the Xmas show or the July '77 one yet. I'll watch it tomorrow. I saw the Jul '87 edition which was great and I didn't see it on its first repeat. I'll share a handful of thoughts on that here if it's ok;
ReplyDeleteGary Davies did his usual good job. Why was he presenting alone?
Shakin' Stevens arguably the worst opener to the show in the repeats so far. Though that's not the only contender from that year. Blue Mercedes anyone?
I had a Thames special on the premier of The Living Daylights for quite a while which had (to revert to my self at the time, wicked intro section with this playing over the slides of LL the previous Bond films. It was presaged by Nick Owen welcoming Timothy Dalton who spluttered some smiley hellos as if he was the chauffeur and had just wandered into shot by mistake. That's the new Bond?, I recall asking myself.
Gary alone introduces the Breakers including 'Alone'. Fabulous to see the video again if only in part. Day to day life can only be enhanced by seeing Ann Wilson in a designer veil and an exploding piano.
Class on a stick from The Christians like everything they released in '87. The man in the grey suit pogoing and doing entirely arrythmic clapping may've been a rather embarrassed viewer on Friday.
Total respect to Neil Tennant but he looked a right wally in that ridiculous coat. That must've been some sort of piss take. I'd obviously forgotten how cold Julys were back then.
Ps thankyou BBC4 for showing more '79 and '81 editions.
Here's my Top 20 for '94:
ReplyDelete20. Deep Forest, Sweet Lullaby
19. Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting, All 4 Love
18. The Brand New Heavies, Dream On Dreamer
17. Bruce Springsteen, Streets Of Philadelphia
16. Kylie Minogue, Put Yourself In My Place
15. Pulp, Babies
14. Manic Street Preachers, Faster
13. Suede, The Wild Ones
12. Oasis, Cigarettes and Alcohol
11. East 17, Around The World
10. Blur, End Of a Century
9. China Black, Searching
8. Sinead O'Connor, Thankyou For Hearing Me
7. Michelle Gayle, Sweetness
6. Kylie Minogue, Confide In Me
5. The Stone Roses, Love Spreads
4. Corona, Rhythm of the Night
3. Baby D, Let Me Be Your Fantasy
2. Suede, Stay Together
No 1: Tough one but I've gone with;
The Crash Test Dummies, Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
It's so unique and somehow manages to be both daft and moving. The end section always gets me. Also just something so of its time about it though I've never been sure why.
I found this top 20 a hard one to compile as there were so many great singles. I wondered about 'Right Beside You' in place of 'All For Love' but went with Bryan, Rod and Sting as it reminds me so much of college.
ReplyDeleteLike Rad mine was also only things featured on TOTP otherwise Supergrass 'Caught By The Fuzz' would be in my Top 10.
One of the weakest Christmas shows for me but being one of the most mediocre years for chart toppers meant it was always going to be patchy viewing. Still there were enough fine top 3 singles to give the show plenty of quality but I found the emphasis on TOTP clips a little flat making it more of a review of the show than a review of the year. At least a truly brilliant end performance. Our hosts were generally good value with a funny start. I assumed Robbie would've been the star presenter but he was far too hammy and got annoying very quickly. Jason was pretty amateurish, Mark seemed to have had a few sherrys and Gary was Gary. The unexpected star was Howard who despite looking an absolute sight was a natural presenter and served up a tour de force of quizzical facial expressions as well as much shaking of the hair on both ends of his head.
ReplyDeleteNo Britpop then.
D; Team; Boring start
A nice diverse Jan selection. K7 really innovative. Bryan, Rod and Sting, a film soundtrack that deserved to be a No.1.
Mariah Carey; Calm down lads. She does look good though in this satellite clip for Christmas Day and with some seasons greetings as well. Disappointing that she's miming which is shown up by being immediately followed by a couple of storming live vocals. Her vocal style can't be easy to mime to and it shows early on. Still good to see her make a special appearance.
The video for 'Return To Innocence' an interesting minute or so. Enjoy the Christmas dinner while watching someone reverse plucking a chicken.
Toni Braxton with the world's least intimate candleabra arrangement.
Doop; Mark and Robbie's link to this when it was No.1 was comedy gold and the link here is also pretty funny. Fun but prefer the giant soap powder boxes.
Toni Di Bart; Some poignancy from Bruce Springsteen then we have to endure 'The Real Thing' again. Still a dull and humourless single but Tony still a likeable performer.
A good selection for April. Prince's video sparkling and a classic one off from the Dummies.
Stiltskin; Oh this. At least the singer's made a real effort with the costume and some smiley exchanges with band mates and audience so obviously this wasn't to be seriously after all. The stage set ensuring that there won't be any rock child antics this time.
Wet Wet Wet; A good dose of East 17's utterly charming single then another No.1 to deal with. I actually turned this down after 30 seconds. I just couldn't listen to it again but it's a great watch. Even more plush than anything on the film it comes from. Is it over now?
All 4 One; Now a set that looks like the medieval zone in 'The Crystal Maze' which doesn't make much sense either for Christmas or for this song but this is still TOTP 1994 so lighted torches must be featured. Still a good tune.
Let Loose; Good to see a bit of Aswad's brilliant 'Shine' then another very festive set for 'Crazy For You'. One of the show highlights.
A great sunny double bill in the next selection. Red Dragon and China Black are always side by side when I think of that summer.
Whigfield; Same as usual.
Pato Banton; He finally got to do 'Baby Come Back' in the studio but has to give up half the time to watching his no show pals on TV. Odd performance. He's good fun though and this edition certainly can't be faulted for festiveness.
Eternal; Back to Fort Elstree for a lovely performance of the charming 'Oh Baby I'. Glad it got one feature on BBC4. Maybe the most plainly dressed string section in the show's history.
East 17; A very good selection for December then Take That join together to introduce the Christmas No.1. Good drum roll Howard. The last song and it may be the best performance of the year. A truly moving rendition of 'Stay Another Day' surrounded by the mother of seasonal sets with glorious sweeping camera shots. Brian not always pitch's best friend puts in a fabulous performance and a perfect end to the show.
Hello! Does anyone know where I can see the eps 17/11/94 and 24/11/94? Clumsy me accidentally deleted them off my PVR and they're not on iPlayer; if anyone knows that'd be awesome!
ReplyDelete