Top of the Pops Nobody Better

I tried hard to let you go, I tried hard to say goodbye, but each time I tried I just cried out 'it's the April 20th 1989 edition of Top of the Pops!'

Don't have nightmares kids

20/04/89  (Nicky Campbell & Sybil Ruscoe)

Transvision Vamp – “Baby I Don’t Care” (3)
Getting the show off to a skimpily adorned start but the song was now at its peak.

Inner City – “Ain’t Nobody Better” (20)
Flying into the studio from Detroit to perform what became their thrid of four top ten hits when it peaked at number 10.

De La Soul - "Me Myself & I" (26) (breaker)
Peaked at number 22.

London boys - "Requiem" (24) (breaker)
Peaked at number 4.

Holly Johnson – “Americanos” (4) (rpt from 06/04/89)
At its peak.

Metallica – “One” (18) (video)
Peaked at number 13.

Midnight Oil – “Beds Are Burning” (21) (video)
Their only top ten hit and it peaked at nuber 6.

The Cure – “Lullaby” (12)
Looking less like love cats and more like a dog's dinner but Lullaby became their biggest hit when it peaked at number 5.

Simple Minds – “This Is Your Land” (13) (video)
Got no higher.

Bangles – “Eternal Flame” (1) (video)
Second of four weeks at number one.

The Beatmasters with Merlin – “Who’s In The House?” (23) (video/credits)
Became their second of three top ten hits when it peaked at number 8.


Next up is April 27th.

Eternal Top of the Pops

Close your eyes and give me your hand, darling - let me take you to the 13th April 1989 edition of Top of the Pops!

Gonna make you a Starr

13/04/89  (Mark Goodier)

Cookie Crew – “Got To Keep On” (21)
Getting us underway tonight with a little help from Edwin Starr, this was to be the duo's final top 40 hit and it peaked at number 17.

Ten City – “Devotion” (29)
Their second and final top 40 hit and it got no higher.

T’Pau – “Only The Lonely” (28)
Finally making it into the studio with this slow climber but after all that it got no higher.

INXS – “Mystify” (16) (video)
Went up two more places.

Fine Young Cannibals – “Good Thing” (19)
Taken from their number one album The Raw and the Cooked, this became their fifth and final top ten hit when it peaked at number 7.

U2 & BB King – “When Love Comes To Town” (12) (video)
Peaked at number 6.

Paul Simpson featuring Adeva – “Musical Freedom (Moving On Up)” (22)
Giving it some welly in the studio but it moved up no more.

Bangles – “Eternal Flame” (1) (video)
First of four weeks at number one.

Yello – “Of Course I’m Lying” (23) (video/credits)
At its peak.


Next up is April 20th.

Top of the Pops I Don't Care

You don't have to say you love me and you don't have to say any prayers because it's the 6th April 1989 edition of Top of the Pops!

Beret I don't care

06/04/89 (Simon Mayo & Anthea Turner)

Brother Beyond – “Can You Keep A Secret?” (22)
Getting the show underway but the song got no higher.

Kon Kan – “I Beg Your Pardon” (8) (video)
Went up three more places.

Holly Johnson – “Americanos” (14)
In the studio with the second single from his number one album Blast, and it peaked at number four.

Paula Abdul – “Straight Up” (3) (video)
At its peak.

Cookie Crew (with Edwin Starr) – “Got To Keep On” (37) (Breaker)
Peaked at number 17.

Yello – “Of Course I’m Lying” (32) (Breaker)
Peaked at number 23.

Roy Orbison - "She's a Mystery to Me" (27) (Breaker)
At its peak.

T'Pau - "Only the Lonely" (34) (Breaker)
Peaked at number 28.

Coldcut featuring Lisa Stansfield – “People Hold On” (12)
A second studio performance and the song went up one more place.

Simply Red – “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” (19)
Singing a live vocal once again, and this Harold Melvin cover became their second of ten top ten hits when it peaked at number 2.

Transvision Vamp – “Baby I Don’t Care” (16)
Became their second of two top ten hits and also their biggest hit when it peaked at number 3.

Madonna – “Like A Prayer” (1) (video)
Third and final week at number one.

INXS – “Mystify” (21) (video/credits)
Peaked at number 14.



April 13th is next

Top of the Pops Prayer

Our Bruno and Gary, who art at Television Centre, give us this day the 30th March 1989 edition of Top of the Pops! Amen!

Grab your coat, you've pulled!

30/03/89  (Bruno Brookes & Gary Davies)

Pat & Mick – “I Haven’t Stopped Dancing Yet” (16)
Getting tonight's live show underway with this Gonzalez cover which became the duo's only top ten hit when it peaked at number 9

Bangles – “Eternal Flame” (13) (video)
Will be number one in two weeks time.

Roachford – “Family Man” (25)
Performing live in the studio but the song got not higher.

Brother Beyond – “Can You Keep A Secret?” (34) (breaker)
Peaked at number 22.

Paul Simpson featuring Adeva – “Musical Freedom (Moving On Up)” (30) (breaker)
Also peaked at number 22.

Transvision Vamp – “Baby I Don’t Care” (33) (breaker)
Peaked at number 3.

The The – “The Beat(en) Generation” (26)
Making their studio debut and the song peaked at number 18.

Guns N’ Roses – “Paradise City” (6) (video)
Their first of three top ten hits in 1989 and it was now at its peak.

Fuzzbox – “International Rescue” (11)
A second studio performance but the song was now at its peak.

The Cult – “Fire Woman” (22)
Also in the studio tonight and the song peaked at number 15.
 
Madonna – “Like A Prayer” (1) (video)
Second of three weeks at number one.

Kon Kan – “I Beg Your Pardon” (10) (video/credits)
The duo's only hit and it peaked at number 5.

April 6th is next.

Hold On, Top of the Pops

Everybody's looking for the 23rd March 1989 edition of Top of the Pops!

Cool Cut

23/03/89  (Andy Crane & Mark Goodier)

The Reynolds Girls – “I’d Rather Jack” (10)
Getting us underway for a second time and the song went up two more places.

Alyson Williams – “Sleep Talk” (18)
Making her studio debut and her tune went up one more place.

Donna Summer – “This Time I Know It’s For Real” (3) (video)
At is peak.

Coldcut featuring Lisa Stansfield – “People Hold On” (24)
Lisa makes her studio debut and this tune became her first of seventeen top 40 hits when it peaked at number 11.

Pat & Mick – “I Haven’t Stopped Dancing Yet” (34) (breaker)
The duo's only top ten hit and it peaked at number 9.

Roachford – “Family Man” (29) (breaker)
Peaked at number 25.

Bangles – “Eternal Flame” (33) (breaker)
A future number one.

Kym Mazelle – “Got To Get You Back” (35) (breaker)
Peaked at number 29.

Kim Wilde – “Love In The Natural Way” (32)
In the studio tonight but this one got no higher.

Paula Abdul – “Straight Up” (4) (rpt from 09/03/89)
Went up one more place.

Madonna – “Like A Prayer” (1) (video)
First of three weeks at number one.

Bobby Brown – “Don’t Be Cruel” (27) (video/credits)
Peaked at number 13.

30th March is next.

Top of the Pops Rescue

There's danger on the way, but you won't need to pray, because the 16th March 1989 edition of Top of the Pops are go!

Fab tune, Milady

16/03/89  (Simon Mayo, Sybil Ruscoe & Rod McKenzie)

New Order – “Round & Round” (22)
Getting us underway tonight and the song went up one more place.

Gloria Estefan – “Can’t Stay Away From You” (7) (rpt from 16/02/89)
They're getting their value for money with this clip, aren't they? This is its third outing. But the song was now at its peak.

Chanelle – “One Man” (25)
Her only hit and it peaked at number 16.

Fuzzbox – “International Rescue” (23)
They shortened their name from We've Got A Fuzzbox And We're Gonna Use It, and this song became their biggest hit when it peaked at number 11.

Madonna – “Like A Prayer” (2) (video)
Will be number one next week.

Soul II Soul featuring Caron Wheeler – “Keep On Movin’” (15)
Making their studio debut and the song peaked at number 5.

Jason Donovan – “Too Many Broken Hearts” (1) (video)
Second and final week at number one.

Guns N’ Roses – “Paradise City” (21) (video/credits)
Became their first of twelve top ten hits when it peaked at number 6.


23rd March is next.

I'd Rather Top of the Pops

Golden oldies, Rolling Stones,we don't want them back, I'd rather the 9th March 1989 edition of Top of the Pops!

They never play the songs we nose

09/03/89 (Nicky Campbell, Lenny Henry and Hale & Pace)

The Reynolds Girls – “I'd Rather Jack” (17)
Getting this Red Nose Day special underway their only hit and it peaked at number 8.

Dusty Springfield – “Nothing Has Been Proved” (16)
In the studio performing the theme song from the Christine Keeler movie 'Scandal' this Pet Shop Boys composition was at its peak.

Womack & Womack – “Celebrate The World” (24)
Singing live in the studio this final top 40 hit for the duo peaked at number 19.

Deacon Blue – “Wages Day” (18)
Perhaps not their best ever tune but this was an absolute storming live performance but the song went up no higher.

Paula Abdul – “Straight Up” (15)
Making her studio debut with her first of three top ten hits and it peaked at number 3.

Bananarama & Lananeeneenoonoo – “Help” (3) (video)
This year's Comic Relief single was now at its peak.

Donna Summer – “This Time I Know It’s For Real” (11)
Performing in the studio and the song peaked at number 3.

Jason Donovan – “Too Many Broken Hearts” (1) (video)
First of two weeks at number one.

WASP – “Mean Man” (21) (video/credits)
At its peak.

And for a little bit of extra-time fun tonight, can you work out what songs Pan's People are dancing to here without the sound?

16th March is next.