Friday 10 November 2023

Top of the Pops Unchained

 Oh my love, my darling, I've hungered for the 18th of May 1995 edition of Top of the Pops!


Melody makers


18-5-95:   Presenter:  Lisa I'Anson

(10) BILLIE RAY MARTIN – Your Loving Arms
Getting tonight's show underway with her only top ten hit and it peaked at number 6.

(11) CELINE DION – Only One Road
A second studio performance and the song went up to number 8.

(15) ALI CAMPBELL – That Look In Your Eye  (video)  (and charts)
Became his only solo top ten hit when it peaked at number 5.

(NEW) McALMONT & BUTLER – Yes
Performing what became the duo's only top ten hit when it peaked at number 8.

(3) PEREZ ‘PREZ’ PRADO & HIS ORCHESTRA – Guaglione  (video)
Went up one more place.

(20) JOSHUA KADISON – Jessie
A second studio performance and the song peaked at number 15.

(28) ELTON JOHN – Made In England  (via satellite)
Went up ten more places.

(NEW) PULP – Common People
Performing a strong contender for best ever britpop song, this became the band's first of five top ten hits when it peaked at number 2.

(1) ROBSON & JEROME – Unchained Melody
Making their studio debut with their first of three number one hits, this being their first of seven weeks at the top.

(17) BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS – Keep On Moving  (video)  (and credits)
At its peak.


25th of May is next.

9 comments:

  1. Really liked the show opener this week, not to mention presenter Lisa L'Anson gorgeous chest which made this show very watchable. Celine Dion's choice of minidress just continued the wow factor. Good Lord!

    Ali Campbell's first solo single away from UB40, brought back the gorgeous girl from the UB40 video a few years back in 1990 on the collaboration with Robert Palmer, if anyone remembers the Top 10 hit I'll Be Your Baby Tonight. Yes please!

    Chart rundown - three singles at peak position in this week's Top 40 chart with no TOTP play were Rod Stewart at No.19 with You'reThe Star, Everton FC at No.24 with All Together Now, and Vanessa Mae at No.37 with her second single called Red Hot, all unlucky not to get a feature on the show.

    I did like the studio props on Pulp's single with a girl dancing in a huge larger-than-life supermarket shopping trolley on the stage. Good Lord!

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    Replies
    1. Had to tune in to catch Celine Dion with 'Only One Road'. Great stuff. Now for an afternoon of watching 'Titanic'....

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  2. A pleasant surprise that they're repeating the strike hit edition from 29/11/79. I missed it on 1st repeat and I didn't expect it to be selected for another showing. Thanks BBC4 and thanks for 11/11/82 last night. Brilliant edition. I will get back on track with 1995.

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  3. Pretty poor error on the countdown where Love And Devotion is attributed to Snap instead of The Real McCoy

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  4. We are clearly in the midst of peak Britpop now with Yes and Common People featuring in the same episode. But when does the term 'Britpop' become a thing? No presenter has used the phrase yet...

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    1. Talking of presenters, it's great that TOTP is still using Radio 1 DJs to present TOTP in mid-1995, a tradition dating back to the 60s when the show started out.

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    2. I think the term 'Britpop' was being widely used by this point, and we're only a few months away from the Battle of Britpop which was all over the media at the time.

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  5. I think Britpop was being used in the magazines a lot but I really remember the term taking off with the BBC doing a special called something like Britpop Now which featured a lot of the big names. Has that ever been repeated?

    And what performances from Pulp and McAlmont and Butler - absolutely gold five star Pops there


    Lisa I'Anson was much better than I remember but maybe the more irritating quirks of her style haven't developed yet. Or I've seen so many worse presenters over the years (cough Fearne Cotton) that she doesn't seem that bad in hindsight.

    Lots of revisit acts, Ali Campbell's track is alright and I have a soft spot for Made in England. Billie Rae Martin is a good opener too. let's just ignore the number one and this would be a good episode.

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  6. Lisa "went to Ibiza and never came back" I'Anson holds the golden rod tonight and a fine presenting job she does as well.

    Don't blink BILLIE RAY MARTIN. A stage of weeping angels and a live vocal for "Your Loving Arms" which is not great. Shame as it's a great tune but she ruins it here.

    ALI CAMPBELL without UB40, sounding like Ali Campbell with UB40. Why is the female singer not credited, she sings half the song? "That Look In Your Eye" a nice tune as well. Video filmed miles apart by the looks of it, I wonder if they have ever even met.

    YES! It's McALMONT & BUTLER with one of the tunes of the year. Stunning live vocal as well. An absolute triumph. Why was David not a bigger star?

    Cool video for "Guaglione". Remember it well.

    Double ELTON now with Catman Elton up first in the form of JOSHUA KADISON. This "Jessie" tune is really growing on me. "Made In England" ELTON follows (strangely in France). Subtle TOTP branding on the piano there. Another fine tune from the album of the same name.

    Iconic 90s tune number 2 comes from PULP. Anthem! "Common People" such a clever tune and a really memorable performance with the shopping trolley. Jarvis is a great frontman and I love the awkward dance moves.

    ROBSON & JEROME are number one. My Mum liked Soldier Soldier so this is entirely her fault. Proper karaoke version of "Unchained Melody". Apparently Flynn hated being a pop star, you're not the only one mate.

    Never heard the BOB MARLEY tune before. Probably never will again.

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