Life's still a surprise and friends come and go, oh lads it's the 26th of January 1995 edition of Top of the Pops!
Geordiepop
26-1-95: Presenters: Eternal
(11) (M.C. SAR &) THE REAL McCOY – Run Away
Getting the show underway and the tune went up five more places.
(19) DEUCE – Call It Love
With their first of four top 40 hits, and this one peaked at number 11.
(9) SIMPLE MINDS – She’s A River (video) (and charts)
At its peak.
(3) N-TRANCE – Set You Free
Performing their first of five top ten hits, and this one went up one more place.
(13) LET LOOSE – One Night Stand
Here tonight and the song went up one more place.
(7) GREEN DAY – Basket Case (via satellite)
Their first of five top ten hits, and this one was at its peak.
(31) THE WILDHEARTS – Geordie In Wonderland
Performing their third of thirteen top 40 hits, but it got no higher.
(5) NICKI FRENCH – Total Eclipse Of The Heart
Here with her only top top hit, and it was now at its peak.
(1) REDNEX – Cotton Eye Joe
Back for their third and final week at number one.
(TOTP2) THE OSMONDS – Crazy Horses (clip of TOTP 28-12-72) (and credits)
Number 2 from 1972.
2nd of February is next.
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ReplyDeleteAll the best Eddie. Thank you for all your brilliant comments over the years. I wish you and your family the best of health. And you're always more than welcome to drop in again any time you want.
ReplyDeleteReally sad to read this but total respect to you Eddie for making this decision. For me you were the leader of this blog and your posts were unendingly witty and insightful. Certain posts once I was lucky to find them I've gone back to again and again for knowledge and general appreciation of that time. On a personal note, thank you for your kind, encouraging response to my first post. In Autumn '20 that was so valued. All the best to you and your family and thank you! Michael
ReplyDeleteThanks for the regular input. I tend to only comment on the performances of interest in any particular TOTP show, rather than each performance, so possibly you have burnt out a bit Eddie, to have to critique each and every performance per show, which is very noble.
ReplyDeleteIn my case, I was still following the pop charts until sometime in 1996 where I no was no longer interested in pop music, so I'll continue until at least then, but hey ho, who knows, as I can't wait for Chumbawumba in 1997, not to mention Fat Les with Vindaloo in 1998, which are both definitely worth checking in on this blog!
Deuce - highlight of the show for me, and definitely Call It Love with the lead singer. Can't wait for their next three singles, and what she'll be wearing next time!
ReplyDeleteN-Trance - perfect dance floor sound for nightclub goers, but that is about it for this one, and did well to reach No.2 at peak following this TOTP studio performance.
Nikki French - with all respect to French, I always thought that this Bonnie Tyler No.1 from early1983 should have been left alone forever, and not to be brought back in 1995 in a dance track version by someone else. I wonder what Jim Steinman thought of it at the time, considering that it would have been a Meat Loaf single had he and Loaf not fallen out in 1983, with Bonnie Tyler ending up the lucky beneficiary of this fallout to get to pen this one with Steinman.
Rednexx - final week at no.1, and this time without the burning fire on the middle of the stage which was making me nervous in the first two weeks at no.1 in the TOTP studio. This week the lead girl looks to be wearing a nappy underneath the long skirt.
Where's TOTP2 for this week then?
Hello all. Bored waiting for a train so thought I'd add a few thoughts on the re-repeats last night ahead of seeing the (not very exciting looking) shows from '95.
ReplyDeleteYour caption Angelo for the '85 edition had me in stitches!
I thought the Maria Vidal single previously was utter '80s big haired aerobics rubbish but watching it found it and her performance rather endearing.
Had a real Proustian rush back to being 10 watching 'Lean On Me' segue into 'If I Was'. '89s one was an absolute joy like having a bucket of optimism thrown point blank in the face.
Anyway '95. Good to get it underway at last. Turning 20, starting uni. Worrying whether I should get my hair cut. I'd say it was the most exciting '90s year. I would love to share anecdotes from gig going that year but with regard to Britthing...me and a friend stood watching Noel Gallagher jamming on stage with Weller at Phoenix Festival. We got bored and went to dance to Transglobal Underground.
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ReplyDeleteTwo singles inside the Top 30 at peak position this week with no TOTP at all for them:
ReplyDeleteNo.21 New Order - Nineteen63
This was originally the B-side of the True Faith single in 1987, and the song now as a new release A-side for 1995 relates to the 1963 assassination of JF Kennedy.
No.23 Morrissey - Boxers
Another of several Morrissey singles not to be featured on TOTP since going solo, but No.23 sadly was not usually high enough a chart position to guarantee a TOTP invite or even video clip by 1995. A Top 20 placing was more guaranteed for an appearance of any sort.
The curtain falls then on TOTP in its ever changing guise as initiated by the Stanley Appel revamp in 1991. The endless changing sets are from next week to be replaced by a single set and format and everything gets a little more sensible and grown up. I do remember the change and it was good and right and the sharper look suits the changes in music and the satellite links remain but I will miss the waywardness and imagination we've had. Aside from the lavish xmas sets there's been, from memory; a leafy park (Sophie B Hawkins), a cruise ship (East 17), some sort of pumping station (Phil Collins) a graduation ball marquee (Jade), Wonderland with Alice and her friends (The Shamen), a fake snowstorm (Erasure) and a full woodland by moonlight (Enya). All mad and marvellous.
ReplyDeleteEternal helm the show this week and they do a fine job. All very bubbly and likeable with Vernie in the head girl role. I like the moment when she asks the other girls if the show is going great and they each in unison say something completely separate. Vernie is the best (of course) and all are great together though Kelly interrupted Louise's link not once but twice. Maybe some overexcitement there. For me though the most enjoyable guest turn so far.
(MC Sar &) the Real McCoy; Some anonymous curtains in formation behind a singer in proto 'Austin Powers' attire. They line up behind her then appear gesturing and smiling before promply disappearing again, like a routine from 'Play Away'. Good chorus and a decent start.
Deuce; The old set is having a good final parade. This act have some mysterious hieroglyphics behind them possibly representing each member. If only each member was that interesting. The music a sort of troubled Whigfield with similar formation jumping about though one guy does a bit of vocal. They do look striking at least being all similarly plaid. The Kursall Ravers perhaps?
Simple Minds; A repeat of the woozy Eiffel Tower performance from silly hat and the boys. It does look very impressive which it couldn't really fail to be and plenty of (hand held) somersaulting camerawork to make you feel that little bit more queasy.
N Trance; Just classic. Silvery backdrop and 'Set You Free' a dance masterpiece. The singer loses the braids and is very glamorous and charismatic. Fantastic few minutes.
Let Loose; Fairly dull. Liked the Byrdsy spiral image behind them. The drummer wearing a shiny waistcoat as if he's in Brother Beyond.
Green Day; New satellite clip and Green Day thrashing and twitching to 'Basket Case' . The drummer exited as soon as was allowed. Still can't get up much enthusiasm for this band.
The Wildhearts; Another great performance though far different to 'Caffeine Bomb'. A stately celtic strum with some fantastically regional vocals. Ginger looks very smart.
Nicki French; Awful how this cuts to the chorus just before the section where it goes into full bombast mode. And for me it just isn't 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart' without the male voice at the start. Very poor.
Rednex; Fitting that the old look should end with Rednex, a single I still hate, but with a great over the top set. Still some great music to look forward to.
The male voice at the start of Total Eclipse (original version) is that of Jim Steinman who unusually opted out of appearing with Bonnie Tyler on the video or on any studio performances, considering that he had his own album and videos for Bad For Good a couple of years earlier, but he can be seen here in a rare interview and rehearsal of the Total Eclipse song song with Tyler:
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Or6-rLe4ESA
Thanks Dory, that was fascinating to see Bonnie working through the song with Jim Steinman. I didn't know it was him doing the opening call and response. One of the highlights of the re-repeats was an edition from Feb '83 with Peelie and Kid where they played the whole of the opening part of the single with both verses which I don't think gets played on the radio often. I just find the call and response between them very powerful. Also the first few seconds with 'Lost In France'. I wonder where that clip came from as it looked like a more extravagant version of a '70s TOTP end credit sequence with audience members whizzing about instead of the lights.
DeleteThe pick of this week's TOTP2 from 28 Jan 1995 (Thanks Anonymous for posting) was Leif Garrett's video I Was Made For Dancing in Recorded For Recall 1979. I remember when it came out at the time in 1979 it was huge, but peaked too low outside the Top 10 I think, but was one of the best dance tunes of the year, and still love it 44 years on.
ReplyDeleteAlso a mention to Carter USM's new video in the Video Stir section, which included the 70s actor Stephen Lewis in their video, who famously played Blakey in On The Buses.
Good Lord, looks like BBC4 is skipping the 9 Feb TOTP on Friday, and only showing the 2nd and 16th, so we will have three episodes of TOTP, plus three of TOTP2, so it will be a busy weekend for this blog!
ReplyDeletethey'll be uploaded through Wetransfer later on and tomorrow.
DeleteAngelo has link ready for 9th Feb 95, it prob be up tonight
DeleteFrom a longtime lurker I just want to say I'm really sad to hear you're hanging up your boots, Arthur (you'll always be Arthur to me 🙂). With respect to all the other regular posters, you and Shaky Shakerson were always my standout favourites. I hope things get better for you and your family soon and many thanks for all your brilliant writing over the years.
ReplyDeleteTechnically TOTP had no video's in the final 1991-94 era of this show on the 26/01/1995 which had two performances from via satellite - one repeat, one new.
ReplyDeleteEddie, I figured out that you have gone out side by side with two milestones in pop music history:
ReplyDelete1. January 1995 marks the end of the 1991-1994 TOTP revamp with same style and graphics on the show, before the radical overhaul in Feb 1995.
2. January 1995 hosts the last ever vinyl No.1 with Rednexx, as Celine Dion going into Feb 1995 as the new No.1 was the first non-vinyl No.1 according to Jonnie Walker on the first TOTP2 in February.
Apologies for being late on this episode. Eddie (/Arthur) I'm sorry to hear about your tough times. Sending love, you'll be missed.
ReplyDeleteEternal did a good job, pop acts are generally better than the guest presenters trying to be cool/funny (Cunnah and Allen looking at you).
Poor Deuce, someone out there is watching and about to invent Steps to steal their schtick. I liked them though, and Lisa Armstrong has done well for herself.
N Trance - Set you free
is a perfect 90s dance tune.
Actually almost everything is good in this episode. Except middle aged Let Loose banging on about 71 year olds. Get lost pervy grandpas!
Haha 17 year olds. 71 would be more appropriate
DeleteThere's a lot of miming going on tonight starting with (M.C. SAR &) THE REAL McCOY. Loved "Run Away" so much I bought the album. Don't think many of us did that.
ReplyDeleteHere come the miming DEUCE, this missing link between BUCKS FIZZ and STEPS! "Call It Love" a decent pop song and I seem to recall they had a stab at Eurovision at one point but missed out.
Fast becoming my favourite SIMPLE MINDS tune it's another chance to see the excellent Paris performance of "She’s A River"
Prepare to be eN-Tranced by 2 minutes of miming. "Set You Free" the sound of early 1995.
LET LOOSE did some decent tunes but I had forgotten this "One Night Stand", It's a really decent pop song. Enjoyed that.
A live performance form GREEN DAY is very welcome indeed. "Basket Case" a great tune. A mix of punk and new wave. Best still to come from them. Show highlight for me.
We do love a random band from lower down the charts so welcome THE WILDHEARTS. Full on "Geordie In Wonderland" with heavy Irish influences. Bet they were a great live band. I enjoyed this but not sure I'd buy the record.
Seriously who bought this NICKI FRENCH version of "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" Own up. Nicki still dragged out every May and at least she's singing live so fair play.
REDNEX Number One in 9 countries. That's some Christmas hangover!
So long then 1991 version of TOTP. Been a gradual shift in how things are done since 1994 so this final show unrecognisable from the first show in November 91. Best version of the theme tune? I think so...shoot me!