Hi Pop!

 

Thanks for commenting 😁!

 

Yeh some great tracks in the chart from the last two episodes even if sales were poor. Outside the top 10 too we had The Charlatans and Talk Talk, two of my favs! I also see Roxette slipped into the top 40 with their biggest hit!

Top of the Pops 7/6/1990 presented by Mark Goodier

 

Pop Will Eat Itself - Touched By The Hand of Cicciolina No28 NE

Elton John - Sacrifice(Video) No26 NE

D-Shake - Yaaah(Video) No29^

 

 

The Mission - Into The Blue(Video) No32^

Don Pablo's Animals - Venus No4^ (34,000)

Wilson Phillips - Hold On(Video) No23^

 

 

MC Tunes versus 808 Sate - The Only Rhyme That Bites No31 NE

Was(Not Was) - Papa Was a Rolling Stone(Video) No12^

***No1 New Order - Wolrd In Motion(Video)***No1 1st Week (88,000 sales)

Roxette - It Must Have Been Love(Video) No21^

 

 

We have Mark presenting tonight with a typical enthusiastic crowd with alot of white trousers, must have been popular then. First up on the main stage its the likeable lovelies from Pop Will Eat Itself. This is their highest charting single yet and its only a new entry this week. Its their 6th top 75 hit of 15 top 75 entries between January 1988 and September 1994 with their biggest hit yet to come. It is a strange track with shouting in the background and what I see as a mainly instrumental and theres even a bit of opera in the middle.

 

Next up we have the new single by Elton John who hasnt had many new hits in recent years but this ones sure to bring him back to the top 10. The wonderful ballad 'Sacrifice'. The song was written by John and his collaborator, Bernie Taupin. The song appears on the 1989 album Sleeping with the Past. It was first released in October 1989 as the second single from the album. It achieved success in 1990, particularly in France and the United Kingdom, becoming John's first solo chart-topper in both nations. 'Sacrifice' was initially released as a single in 1989, but stalled at number 55 in the UK and at number 18 in the US in March 1990. In mid-1990 BBC Radio 1 DJ Steve Wright began playing the song on his show, soon followed by many more radio DJs. The song was then re-released as a double A-side single, along with 'Healing Hands', and reached number one in the UK in June 1990.

 

Next up have our first look at the top 40 this week with the records from 40-31 with new entries by Bobby Brown, Dusty Springfield, the 49ers and MC Tunes & 808 State.

 

Next up we get another video clip this time of rising dance track 'Yaaah' by D-Shake. A high tempo house beat with the lyric 'come on' and yaah every now and then, this is quite non-commercial to chart in the top 30 in mid 1990 which shows how huge house music was by this stage. Its actually really fab and not one Ive ever heard of.

 

Up a few places this week is the new single by The Mission. We see the video clip this week. This is the gothic rock bands third of 4 top 40 singles in 1990 and they appeared on TOTP twice already, a successful year for the band who first hit the headlines back in 1986.

 

We have another showing of the performance a few weeks back of 'Venus' by Don Pablo's Animals which now enters the top 5. Im really loving this version after hearing it a few times now on the TOPs really funky and dancey and of its time. The 1986 Bananarama version seems a long time ago by this stage musically. When is the last time we had a SAW perforamance? Only a few months ago but you can see how its fading by this stage already and we get more interesting output because of that. Mark obviously tries to pretend this is live in the studio this very week by asking an audience member to point out where they are performing, we arent fooled though Mark!!

 

Next up its the middle part of the chart rundown from 30-11 with new entries by Pop Will East Itself, Elton John and risers by D-Shake, Wilson Phillips, Jane Child, Roxette, Black Box, Talk Talk, Was(Not Was) and Erasure.

 

Back to the video clips next with 'Hold On' by Wilson Phillips. Wilson Phillips is an American pop group formed in Los Angeles in 1989. The group consists of Carnie and Wendy Wilson, the daughters of Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, and Chynna Phillips, the daughter of John and Michelle Phillips of the Mamas & the Papas. 'Hold On' was released on February 27, 1990, as the lead single from their debut studio album, 'Wilson Phillips'. The single topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for a week in June 1990 and was the most successful single of that year in the US. Chynna Phillips wrote the song's lyrics while battling substance abuse as well as being in a "really bad" relationship. She explained, "I just said if I don't change my course, I'm going to be in a lot of trouble." Producer Glen Ballard presented the track to the group, noting it needed lyrics. Phillips based the lyrics off of the principles taught in AA, specifically the idea that things had to be taken "one day at a time." The next day, Phillips returned with 'Hold On' and sang it for the Wilsons and Ballard, who immediately loved it. "I remember one guy I played it for said, 'That's not going to go anywhere. That's not a very good song. It's really corny,'" Phillips recalls. "I just remember thinking to myself, 'God, I hope he's wrong.'"

 

We finally return to the studio on the legendary side stage with MC Tunes who Mark says is going to be huge. Not sure I remember him....but this song sounds like a nice sample. The rapping does sound like something from 1988/89 though but it works. MC Tunes (Nicholas William Dennis Hodgson) is a British rapper from the Moss Side area in Manchester. His name was legally changed to Lockett in 1981, and he also goes by the name Nicky Lockett. Tunes played a significant role in the Madchester-music scene during the 1980s and 1990s. In his early career Tunes took niche music genres into the UK Singles Chart, whilst fronting 808 State, and later achieved cult status with the band Dust Junkys. I have a feeling this sort of thing will sell and rise over the next few weeks. Anyway its the first of 4 top 75 hits in the UK chart and his chart run would only last through 1990.

 

Before the top 10 we get another view of the video of the new single by Was Not Was as it rises closer to the top 10 in the chart.

 

The top 10 countdown next with new entries into the top 10 by The Charlatans, Betty Boo and Chad Jackson and a new song at number one by New Order. And the surprise is having the England team live on a dodgy feed to Sardinia where England are preparing for the big game vs Ireland on Monday in Italia 90. Gazza is his usual fun self but the best bit is the video to the fab 'World In Motion', its a pity New Order didnt perform it in the studio.

 

And to finish a pretty poor outing with loads of video we get the best song on the chart with the hiigh rising new single by Roxettte. One of the most memorable songs from this chart. This should keep rising in the coming weeks.

Edited August 6, 20213 yr by steve201

Top of the Pops 14/6/1990 presented by Bruno Brookes

 

 

Guru Josh - Whos Law(Is It Anyway?) No32 NE

Maureen - Thinking of You No38 NE

Snap - Oops Up(Video) No13 NE

 

 

Maxi Priest - Close To You No36 NE

Bobby Brown - The Free Style Mega-Mix(Video) No22^^

The Charlatans - The Only One I Know(Video) No9^ (20,000 sales)

 

 

 

Betty Boo - Doin The Doo No7^(31,000 sales)

New Kids On The Block - Step By Step(Video)No2 NE* (65,000 sales)

***No1 New Order - World In Motion(Video)***No1= (71,000 sales)

The 49ers - Girl To Girl(Video) No31^

 

 

We are in the studio tonight with regular presenter Bruno Brookes as we return to 1990 on TOTPs and the UK charts. And Bruno introduces Guru Josh back to the studio with his new single at 32 this week and the follow up to mega hit 'Infinity' from a couple of months ago. 'Whos Law Is It Anyway is the second single from Josh's debut album 'Infinity'. This follow up is nowhere near as good as the debut smash and was following on the momentum of 'Infinity' more than anything. Its a slower house beat which builds with the help of the famous sax he loved in his tracks. I do love the breakdown in the middle section though with a bit of a rap added for good measure.

 

Next up Bruno introduces another studio performance with a song written by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards and first released by Sister Sledge in 1984 peaking at number 11. This version is quite similar but has an early 90s rap in the middle like most tracks in the chart at this time and also has an added heavier house beat to it, it sounds fab to me.

 

Next up its the first part of the chart countdown from 40-31 with new entries by Maureen, Diana Brown and Barrie K Sharpe, Maxi Priest and Guru Josh.

 

Next up its the first video clip of the show with the new single from Snap to follow up the huge number one 'The Power'. 'Oops Up' enters the chart at number 13 and is the second single from the German dance groups first album 'World Power'. The song is a re-working of 'I Don't Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Ooops!)'; a 1980 hit by The Gap Band, with which band member Penny Ford was a former backing singer. The single was a world-wide hit and reached number-one in Greece. Lyrically the song is about Murphy's Law. The narrator talks about it and everything that went wrong during his day.

 

Next up we return to the studio with yet another performance of a new entry this time by Maxi Priest. 'Close To You' is the opening single from Priests fifth album 'Bonafide'. This would go on to be a number one record in the US Billboard charts with Maxi Priest one of only two British raggae artists to hit the top spot stateside, the other being UB40. Have to say i love Maxi Priest, especially his last hit the cover of 'Wild World' but wow theres some amazing miming going on here, I do like it though!

 

Finally Bruno hits us with a chart riser in the shape of the new video by Bobby Brown 'The Free Style Mega-Mix' which is up 17 places this week. As usual this is all upbeat late 80s sounding pop-r&b to get the young ladies on the dance floor.

 

We are back to the chart countdown next with the middle part of the chart from 30-11 with new entries from Luciano Pavarotti and Snap and risers by Bobby Brown, D-Shake & MC Tubes vs 808 State. From here we instantly go into our next video clip this time another play of the new video by The Charlatans. Always worth a play or a spin this classic can stay in the top 40 as long as it wants for me. Loving the Madchester take over in 1989/90!!

 

Next up we finally get a studio performance of the new Betty Boo song 'Doin the Doo'. Its pure cheese this but its absolutely fab at the same time. 'Doin' the Doo’ is a song by English singer, songwriter and pop-rap artist Betty Boo. The song is included on her debut album, ‘Boomania’, and was released as a single in May 1990. 'Doin the Do' was Boo's debut solo single, and second overall release, following her collaboration with the Beatmasters on their song ‘Hey DJ/I Can't Dance (To That Music You're Playing)’ in 1989. The song samples portions of the 1968 single ‘Captain of Your Ship’ by the American girl group Reparata and the Delrons and ‘I'm a Believer’ by The Monkees.

 

Of course we have to show the weeks highest new entry and this week its by New Kids On The Block with new single 'Step By Step'. My these boys didnt stop releasing between 1989-91 as they tried breaking the UK market. This is standard boyband drosh for me with not much that is remarkable or memorable. 'Step By Step' is the first single from the album of the same name. It is the group's biggest-selling hit single. The lead vocals were sung by Jordan Knight. Danny Wood sang "Step 1", Donnie Wahlberg sang "Step 2", Jordan Knight sang "Step 3", Joey McIntyre sang "Step 4", and Jonathan Knight sang "Step 5". 'Step by Step' was initially recorded by one of Maurice Starr's other groups, The Superiors. It was released as a single in 1987 on Motown Records but it was not successful. The New Kids cover of the song on the other hand was a huge worldwide hit, becoming one of the biggest selling singles of 1990. The New Kids on the Block's cover spent three weeks at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and was eventually certified platinum. You might notice from the video clip we are treated to that Donnie's brother, and future Hollywood film star Mark Walhberg who appears in the video.

 

 

We enter the top 10 countdown next with new entries into the ten biggest sellers by Wilson Phillips, Roxette, Elton John and we've just seen them New Kids On The Block which means New Order get a second week at number one with 'World In Motion' no doubt the fanfare around the first England game during this chart week helped New Order retain the top spot as they sold consistently throughout the week compared to the pent up demand by people looking the brand new New Kids single. What a great song!

 

We end with the video for the new single by the 49ers. 'Girl To Girl' is a standard disco house track with bright colours in the flashy standard 1990 style video. This is the third of 6 top 75 hits in the UK chart.

Edited August 21, 20213 yr by steve201

Some fab choons in the last 2 shows - Sacrifice, healing hands and Hold On had already topped my charts before becoming UK hits, I also think Maxi Priest is great, love laid-back reggae, Betty Boo was great fun and I loved the choice of samples from my boyhood, The Charlatans were fab, Roxette also topped my charts, though it's been a bit overplayed over the years. Sacrifice of course back in the charts this week! Great in-depth rundowns as always!

Thanks for the comments Pop!

 

Nice to see ‘Sacrifice’ topped your charts before June 1990, was it when it came out in mid 89?

Top of the Pops 28/6/21 presented by Gary Davies

 

Snap - Ooops Up No5^ (47,000 sales)

Jason Donovan - Another Night No21 NE*

Maureen - Thinking Of You No17^

 

 

**Breakers Double Trouble - Love Dont Live Here Anymore(Video) N32 NE

**Breakers Glenn Mederios & Bobby Brown - She A'int Worth It(Video) No35 NE

**Breakers Del Amitri - Move Away Jimmy Blue(Video) No39 NE

 

 

Bob Geldof - The Great Song of Indifference No25 NE

Bruce Dickenson - All The Young Dudes(Video) No23^

Maxi Priest - Close To You No8^ (25,000 sales)

***No1 Elton John - Sacrifce***No1 2nd week (97,000 sales)

Poison - Unskinny Bop(Video) No24 NE

 

 

We missed a week for the 21st June episode as it appears to have went missing from my guide unfort! But we have TOTP stallwart Gary Davies presenting this episode from 28th June with a snazzy purple shirt. We start the show with the current Snap! single. ‘Ooops Up" is a song by German Eurodance group Snap!. It was released in May 1990 as the second single from their debut studio album, World Power. The song is a re-working of "I Don't Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Ooops!)"; a 1980 hit by The Gap Band, with which band member Penny Ford was a former backing singer. Really like this track, not as instant and 'pop' as their previous singles but a nice follow up where they slow the pace down and nice to see them in the studio again.

 

Fair play as well to Jason Donovan for continuing to come into the studio to perform as his singles begin to become new entries further down the chart, he needs to give them a boost. 'Another Night' is the third single from Donovan's second album 'Between The Lines'. As you can hear Jason was still in the hands of PAW records with this is again produced by SAW. Thankfully he and most other artist would be coming to the end of their time with these producers as the industry moved onto new sounds having totally rinsed the market since 1984 becoming more generic each year after the beauty of tunes like 'You Spin Me Round' by Dead Or Alive.

 

We get our first look at the charts next with the rundown from 40-31 with new entries by Inspiral Carpets, Del Amitri, Glenn Mederios & Bobby Brown and Double Trouble. I also noticed a faller from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers at 37 'Taste The Pain', their first entry in the UK Top 40.

 

Next up its another studio performance from Maureen with her single 'Thinking Of You' rising up to 17, really love this soulful R&B track, its an absolute classic. Hope it can rise into the top 10 in the coming weeks. Next up sees the return of the breakers with new entries from Double Trouble, Glenn Mederios & Bobby Brown and the wonderful new track by Del Amitri all on video.

 

Next up in the studio its the return of former Irish punker Bob Geldof for the first time since maybe 1984 at a guess or 1982 before that with the final top 40 hit by Boomtown Rats? Or maybe his only previous solo hit in November 1986 'This Is The World Calling'. Someone let me know if they can remember. This is quite the song being an old irish folk jig with an Irish dancer for good measure long before Riverdance became a thing. The song itself kind of reminds me of the song Rose and Jack danced to in the under deck in Titanic in 1998. This is the first single from Geldoffs second album 'The Vegetarians Of Love'.

 

Next up we get a video clip fo the new single by Bruce Dickenson, formerly of Iron Maiden. 'All the Young Dudes' is a song written by English singer-songwriter David Bowie, originally recorded and released as a single by the English rock band Mott the Hoople in 1972 by Columbia Records. Produced by Bowie, he gave the song to the band after they rejected Bowie's "Suffragette City". Bowie would subsequently record the song himself. Regarded as an anthem of glam rock, the song has received acclaim and was a commercial success. 'All the Young Dudes' is a glam rock song in the key of D. With its dirge-like music, youth suicide references and calls to an imaginary audience, the song bore similarities to Bowie's own "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide",the final track from Ziggy Stardust. Described as being to glam rock what "All You Need Is Love" was to the hippie era, the lyrics name-checked contemporary stars T. Rex and contained references to the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. NME editors Roy Carr and Charles Shaar Murray have described the track as "one of that rare breed: rock songs which hymn the solidarity of the disaffected without distress or sentimentality". Bruce recorded this version for his first solo album 'Tattooed Millionaire'.

 

We are back to the charts next with the countdown from 30-11 with new entries by Bob Geldoff, Poison and the highest new entry by Jason Donovan plus risers by Massivo Featuring Tracey, Magnum, Bruce Dickenson, Yazz, Maureen, Big Fun & Sonia & M.C Hammer.

 

Next up Gary points to the other side of the studio which usually means we are getting a repeat performance this time its worth it though as we get another viewing of Maxi Priest's new single 'Close To You' as it rises into the top 10.

 

We enter the top 10 countdown next with risers into the UKs 10 biggest sellers by Maxi Priest & Craig McLaughlin. Craig is this week highest climber up 13 places. We end up with 'Sacrifice' by Elton John securing the top spot for a second week and the first time Ive seen the studio performance after missing last weeks, Elton will always come onto TOTPs when he has a hit! What more is there to say about Elton, absolute legend and 'Sacfice' is a great record. Nice to see a remix version climbing the top 40 in 2021 with Dua Lipa.

 

As per usualy with a band like Poison we have the video clip closing the show, these metal bands were hard to get on the TOPs. Unskinny Bop" is a song by American glam metal band Poison, which was released as the first single from their 1990 Flesh & Blood album. This would be the band's second highest success, after 'Every Rose Has Its Thorn'. The music video for the song has Bret Michaels, dancing with a couple of animated neon cowgirls next to him. The meaning of "Unskinny Bop" has always been shrouded in obscurity. C.C. DeVille later confessed that the phrase "unskinny bop" has no particular meaning: he invented it as a temporary measure while writing the song, before vocalist Bret Michaels had begun working on the lyrics. The phrase was used on the basis that it was phonetically suited to the music. The song was later played to producer Bruce Fairbairn, who stated that, although he did not know what an "unskinny bop" was, the phrase was perfect.

Edited September 7, 20213 yr by steve201

I think I remember Bob Geldof performing This Is The World Calling in the studio in 1986.

Ah thanks KR, wasn’t sure as I couldn’t remember. Also didn’t realise the Boomtown Rats didn’t split up until 1986!

Big Fun & Sonia (yes I'm serious, it's Northern Soul/ Motown Jr Walker-inspired), Elton & Maxi Priest for my faves amongst the show, though the original versions of Thinking Of You and All The Young Dudes are faves too :)

 

 

I caught The Boomtown Rats on their final tour in 1985 when they couldn't sell singles or albums anymore, a shame as they were still good.

I loved the Boomtown Rats it’s really annoyingly weird how acts can only be huge for 4 years max then that’s it!

Top of the Pops 5/7/1990 presented by Nicky Campbell

 

Inspiral Carpets - She Comes In The Fall No30^

Janet Jackson - Alright(Video) No29 NE

Poison - Unskinny Bop(Video) No17^

 

 

Double Trouble - Love Dont Live Here Anymore No25^

MC Tunes versus 808 State - The Only Rhyme That Bites(Video) No10^ (18,000 sales)

F.A.B Featuring M.C.Parker - Thunderbirds Are Go(Video) No12 NE*

Craig McLachlan and Check 1-2 - Mona(Video) No4^ (51,000 sales)

 

 

Massivo Featuring Tracy - Loving You No27^

MC Hammer - U Cant Touch This(Video) No9^ (19,000 sales)

***No1 Elton John - Sacrifice***No1 3rd week (94,000 sales)

Glenn Mederios & Bobby Brown - She Aint Worth It(Video) No21^^

 

 

 

We have Nicky presenting tonights episode talking about World Cup and Wimbledon fever, not much has changed in the past 30 years. But we start with a studio performance from those indie new boys Inspiral Carpets with their second hit of the year and second single from debut album 'Life'. This is the third of 15 Top 75 singles in the UK chart for the band. I do love some the indie nstarting to make its way into the charts during this era, its like theyve started again following all the SAW guff and arer starting afresh for the 90s with great bands like The Stone Rose, The Charlatans and these guys. A bit like Spandau, Duran Duran and Culture Club in the early 80s.

 

Next up we get a video clip of the new Janet Jackson as is the norm in this era of TOTP the biggest US artists get a video play as they inevitably get a hit. Janet looks very like her brother Michael in this video, the suit reminds me of him in the 'Smooth Criminal' video. 'Alright' is a song by American singer Janet Jackson from her fourth studio album, Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 released in 1989. Written by Jackson and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, the song was released on March 4, 1990, by A&M Records as the fourth single from Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814.

 

Next up we get the first part of the chart countdown from 40-31 with new entries by World Party, River City People, Diana Ross, James & The Rolling Stones.

 

Next up we get another view of the video by Poison 'unskinny Bop. Its quite the earworm as I have been singing it every day since I heard it in last weeks episode. This is the metal bands 7th of 11 top 75 singles in the UK chart from May 1987 until April 1993.

 

We return to the studio next for the performance of 'Love Dont Live Here Anymore' by Double Trouble. Have to say I expected a standard dance rap track but this is chilled out soul with a massive attack style production and the vocals are classy, reminds me of Soul II Soul. Love Don't Live Here Anymore" is a song written by Miles Gregory and originally recorded by Rose Royce. It was produced by former Motown songwriter and producer Norman Whitfield for Whitfield Records. Lead vocals were sung by Gwen Dickey and the song was released as the second single from their third studio album Strikes Again. Apart from Double Trouble Jimmy Nail also released a version in 1985, really impressed by this version though after singles like 'Street Tuff featuring the Rebel MC in 1989. A nicer vibe and it sounds fab!

 

We are back to the video clips next with MC Tune and 808 State combining with the single 'The Only Rhyme That Bites'. MC Tunes (Nicholas William Dennis Hodgson) is a British rapper from the Moss Side area in Manchester, England. His name was legally changed to Lockett in 1981, and he also goes by the name Nicky Lockett. Tunes played a significant role in the Madchester-music scene during the 1980s and 1990s. In his early career Tunes took niche music genres into the UK Singles Chart, whilst fronting 808 State, and later achieved cult status with the band Dust Junkys. 'The Only Rhyme That Bites' video was recorded in the basement of the old Express Newspapers building on Ancoats Lane. It contains a sample of “The Big Country” by The City Of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra in the chorus and has now equaled the peak of “Pacific” from 1989 for 808 state though of course it is MC Tunes first hit.

 

 

Next up Nicky announces a new monthly feature on the show counting down the biggest albums of that month. For June 1990 the top 5 includes 'Step By Step' by New Kids On The Block, 'The Very Best of Talk Talk by Talk Talk building on the success of 'Its My Life' in the singles chart, at 3 its Jason Donovans 2nd LP 'Between The Lines', at 2 Soul II Soul 'Volume 2 A New Decade' and the number one is 'The Essential Pavarotti' as people fell in love with the man who sang the BBCs World Cup Theme tune.

 

Its yet another video clip next this time a dance mix of the Thunderbird theme tune. I dont know about anyone else but the Thunderbirds used to scare me a bit when I was younger. MC Parker is doing a fine job here though!!

 

From Thunderbirds puppets to Australian Soap stars, a tricky transition as Nicky announces but not when the soap star releases this cracker guitar pop song by Craig McLachlan aka Henry from Neighbours. He was always one of my favourite characters in the show at that time.He had left the show in February 1990 to join Home and Away but would remain on UK screens until early 1991. Craig is the 4th star from the soap to get a top 40 single in the past 3 years. 'Mona (I Need You Baby)' is a song written by Ellas McDaniel (Bo Diddley) and was the B-side to his 1957 single "Hey! Bo Diddley". According to Diddley's obituary in The New York Times, 'Mona' was a song of praise he wrote for a 45-year-old exotic dancer who worked at the Flame Show Bar in Detroit. The song also became the template for Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away".

 

 

We get the middle part of the chart rundown next with new entries by Janet Jackson and F.A.B Ft MC Parker being the weeks highest new entry and alot of risers including Inspiral Carpets, Massivo Ft Tracy, Double Trouble, Glen Mederious Ft Bobby Brown is the highest climber up 13, Jason Donovan, Poison, Bob Geldof & Maureen.

 

Next we finally return to the studio for a performance of one pof those risers from above Massivo Featuring Tracy. 'Loving You' is a perfect example of ambient house at the time and Tracy gives it some vocals an amazing dance cover of the Minnie Riperton song from 1974.

 

Next up we again get yet another video clip, is this just a video MTV show now....this time its the classic 'Cant Touch This' by MC Hammer an absolute classic now and one of the defining tracks of 1990. It moves into the top 10 this week up to number 9. Stanley Kirk Burrell (born March 30, 1962), known professionally as MC Hammer (or simply Hammer), is an American rapper, dancer, and record producer who had his greatest commercial success and popularity from the late 1980s until the early 1990s. Remembered for his rapid rise to fame, Hammer is known for songs (such as "U Can't Touch This" and "2 Legit 2 Quit"), flashy dance movements, choreography and eponymous Hammer pants. 'U Can't Touch This' is a song co-written, produced and performed by MC Hammer from his 1990 album Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em. It is considered to be his signature song. Along with Hammer, Rick James shares songwriting credits with Alonzo Miller because the song samples the prominent opening riff of "Super Freak". It has been used or referenced in television shows, films, commercials and other forms of media. It has also received awards and recognitions. The song samples the prominent opening riff of the Rick James song "Super Freak", which is repeated throughout the recording. The lyrics describe Hammer as having "toured around the world, from London to the Bay" and as being "magic on the mic", which he says coincides with James' "beat that you can't touch". Additionally, the lyrics "You can't touch this" and "Stop! Hammer time!" became pop culture catchphrases. Hammertime was later used as the title of a reality show starring Hammer on the A&E Network in the summer of 2009

 

 

The top 10 countdown is next with new entires into the biggest sellers list of the week by MC Tune vs 808 State, MC Hammer and Craig McLachlan with Elton John remain at number one for a 3rd week with 'Sacrifice/Healing Hands', this week we get the video clip. It is fantastic how Elton rose above all challengers with this song for 5 weeks even with world cup fever and classics by Roxette and MC Hammer around!

 

We end the show with youve guessed it abnother video clip from the highest climber this week by Glenn Mederios and Bobby Brown, 'She Aint Worth It' at number 21. This is quite the change of pace for Glenn as the last time we saw him was in the TOTP studio in 1988 with his soppy love ballad at number one that summer. This sounds more like a Bobby Brown inspired track.

Edited September 12, 20213 yr by steve201

all good stuff here, I love the way dance culture was referencing my childhood with Thunderbirds, fab tune, fab show, no I was never scared by them, I loved the 5 Thunderbirds rescue ships and the 5 brothers named after the first 5 USA astronauts, and of course Lady penelope and Parker were icons. I still have the sweet cigarette cards....! (Yes sweet manufacturers tried to get us into smoking early)!

 

Then the sample of The Big Country, a theme song that was famous in the 60's and beyond, and the more up to date fab tracks from Janet Jackson, Elton and Hammer - Rick James deserved half the credit though, along with 80's sitcom non-PC edgy Sledge Hammer. MC Hammer can have the credit for the Sinbad pants though - or middle eastern historic culture, one or the other. :D

My only real encounters with Thunderbirds when I was younger was Blue Peter making the model each year, but I could never get it right 😂! I was scared of Spitting Image too!

 

Loved sweet cigarettes ❤️

Top of the Pops 12/7/1990 presented by Anthea Turner

 

Gun - Shame On You No35 NE

River City People - California Dreamin/Carry The Blame No27^

Blue Pearl - Naked In The Rain No34 NE

 

 

Glenn Mederios & Bobby Brown - She Ain't Worth It(Video) No13^

Thunder - Gimme Some Lovin N38 NE

The Soup Dragons Ft Junior Reid - Im Free No28 NE

 

 

The Stone Roses - One Love(Video) No4 NE* (43,000 sales)

***No1 Elton John - Sacrifice/Healing Hands***No1 (92,000 sales)

Technotronic Ft Ya Kid K - Rockin Over The Beat(Video) No26 NE

 

 

We have Anthea in the studio presenting tonight with quite the colourful dressand we start with Gun who are new at 35 with new single 'Shame On You' and have been supporting Guns N Roses on tour. Gun are a hard rock band from Glasgow, Scotland. This was the final single from the bands debut album 'Taking On The World'. Three other singles were released, "Money (Everybody Loves Her)", "Inside Out" and the title track "Taking on the World". All three made the UK Top 100. 'Better Days' was the other single which reached the top 40 along with this. i love the frontman vocal by lead singer Mark Rankin.

 

Next up we introduce a second studio performance which I think is a repeat performance or recorded earlier the way it was introduced. River City People were a folk rock quartet formed in Liverpool, in 1986, by vocalist Siobhan Maher, guitarist Tim Speed, his drummer brother Paul Speed, and bassist Dave Snell. Siobhan, Tim and Dave had all been with Liverpool Band "Peep Show" until summer 1987 - at one point both bands co-existed. 'Say Something Good' is the debut studio album by the band. Six singles were released from the album,the first of which, '(What's Wrong With) Dreaming?', was released in July 1989 and peaked at No. 70 in the UK. The follow-up, 'Say Something Good', failed to chart and the third, 'Walking On Ice', reached No. 62. The double A-side, 'Carry the Blame'/'California Dreamin'', was released in June 1990 and gave the band a No. 13 hit. A remixed version of '(What's Wrong With) Dreaming?' peaked at No. 40 and the final single, 'When I Was Young', peaked at No. 62. This is a fab version of the Mama's & Papas classic and again I love the lead singer, Siobhan Mahers, vocals. Its interesting in this era of the charts that this wasnt a house version of the original.

 

Next up we have the chart rundown from 40-31 with new entries by Paul Young, Thunder, Gun & Blue Pearl.

 

The final new entry mentioned there by Blue Pearl is our next studio performer with her new single 'naked In The Rain'. Blue Pearl are an English electronic music duo, consisting of American female singer Durga McBroom and British musician Youth (Martin Glover). I really like this and it is a house track I definately recall. 'Naked In The Rain' is featured on their album 'Naked'. Graham Massey from English electronic music group 808 State was the track's remixer. This is the first of 6 UK top 40 singles for the group.

 

Act 4 of the night and we finally get our first video clip and of course its a third play in a row for the new Glen Mederos and bobby brown dance floor filler. The record company clearly felt this should be a top 10 hit but it doesnt look like out peaking the number one ballad from 1988 'Nothing Is Gonna Change My Love For You'.

 

Next up we are back to the studio and according to Anthea Thunder have flown into the studio all the way from LA to perform. Thunder are an English hard rock band from London. Formed in 1989, the group was founded by former Terraplane members Danny Bowes (lead vocals), Luke Morley (guitar, backing vocals) and Gary "Harry" James (drums), along with second guitarist and keyboardist Ben Matthews and bassist Mark "Snake" Luckhurst. 'Gimme Some Lovin' is a heavy rock version of the song written by Steve Winwood, Spencer Davis and Muff Winwood. This was a single of the album 'Backstreet Symphony' is the debut studio album by English hard rock band Thunder. Recorded in 1989 at Great Linford Manor Studios in Milton Keynes, it was produced by former Duran Duran and The Power Station guitarist Andy Taylor, then mixed by Mike Fraser at AIR Studios in London.

 

Next we have the middle part of the chart rundown with new entries by The Soup Dragons and Technotronic and risers by Inspiral Carpets, The River City People, Massivo, Diana Ross, Double Trouble, Janet Jackson, Adamski, Poison and Glen Mederios & Bobby Brown.

 

One of the new entries above by The Soup Dragons & Junior Reid are our next studio performers. The Soup Dragons were a Scottish alternative rock band of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Named after a character in the 1970s children's television series Clangers, the group is best known for this cover of the Rolling Stones' song ‘I'm Free’ and ‘Divine Thing’, a Top 40 hit in the United States in 1992. The line up was Sean Dickson (vocals, lead guitar), Jim McCulloch (guitar, second voice) who replaced Ian Whitehall, and Sushil K. Dade (bass). The original drummer, Ross A. Sinclair, left the group after the first proper album, This Is Our Art, to pursue a career in art, and was replaced by Paul Quinn. Most of their songs were written by Sean Dickson. Scottish alternative rock/dance band the Soup Dragons covered the song by the Rolling Stones 'Im Free' and their version featured a toasted verse by Junior Reid who performs here. The single became the band's biggest hit and is their signature song. Its a madchester version of the Rolling Stones classic and sounds fab.

 

We are back to the video clips next for the highest new entry in this weeks chart from The Stones Roses, its a pity they havent returned to the studio since the iconic performance last November. ‘One Love’ is a non-album single by The Stone Roses. This was one of the reasons for the high new entry and their highest peaking single to date in the UK. Definately not my favourite track by the band by a long way. Surprised given their standing by this points this non album single didnt top the charts but number 4 isnt to be sniffed at by an indie act for the time and showed how times had changed in 18 months in the UK music scene.

 

Next up we have the top 10 countdown with new entries in there by who we have just seen the Stone Roses at 4 and a riser by FAB Ft MC Parker the thunderbirds song. That means for a 4th week Elton John is number one with 'Sacrifice/healing Hands’. This week we get a repeat of the studio performance.

 

We end the show with the video for the new single by Technotronic, doesnt seem like too long ago they were on the show with the previous single! 'Rockin' Over the Beat' is a song that first appeared on their debut album ‘Pump Up the Jam’ in 1989 and was released as a fourth single. It is accredited to "Technotronic featuring Ya Kid K", who co-wrote the track with Jo Bogaert (aka Thomas De Quincey). The song is an upbeat house tune espousing the pleasures of dancing. It is representative of the positive and melodic feel of the Pump Up the Jam album.

 

Edited September 15, 20213 yr by steve201

Top of the Pops 19/7/1990 presented by Mark Goodier

 

Craig McLachlan & the Check 1-2 - Mona No2^ (48,000)

PartnerS In Kryme - Turtle Power(Video) No4 NE* (40,000)

Diana Ross - Im Still Waiting(Video) No21^

 

 

Inspiral Carpets - She Comes In The Fall No27^

Paul Young - Oh Girl No32^

F.A.B Ft MC Parker - Thunderbirds Are Go(Video) No5^ (38,000)

 

 

Madonna - Hanky Panky(Video) No14 NE

Dream Warriors - Wash Your Face In My Sink No31 NE

***No1 Elton John - Sacrifice/Healing Hands(Video)***No1 5th Week (82.000)

Paula Abdul - Knocked Out(Video) No28 NE

 

 

 

Its great to have Mark Goodier back in the studio tonight for this evenings edition from the summer of 1990. And what on earth are the two girls on each side of him wearing on their heads? They must have hand picked them to be alongside him. Anyway our first performance of the show is by a song thats nearing the top spot in the chart over the past few weeks and he finally gets a studio perforamance. Its former neighbours star Craig McLachlan and the Check 1-2 and their version of 'Mona'. I really like this track its so easy to listen to and tap your foot to. 'Mona (I Need You Baby)' is a song written by Ellas McDaniel (Bo Diddley) and was the B-side to his 1957 single 'Hey! Bo Diddley'. According to Diddley's obituary in The New York Times, 'Mona' was a song of praise he wrote for a 45-year-old exotic dancer who worked at the Flame Show Bar in Detroit. The song also became the template for Buddy Holly's 'Not Fade Away'. McLachlan's version was their second single from their album, Craig McLachlan & Check 1-2. Its the first of 8 Top 75 hits in the UK for Craig only 3 of which entered the top 40, this by far the best seller. A quick check of polyhex tells me this is the only version to chart in the UK even though it was covered by many artists including the Beach Boys in their 1977 album 'The Beach Boys Love You'.

 

Next up we get a video clip of the highest new entry and I have a feeling we will be hearing this alot over the next month with a Ninja Turtles being so huge with youngsters in the summer of 1990 with a TV show, as toys and now the new film which is helping push this novelty rap record. Partners in Kryme (or Partnerz in Kryme) was an American hip hop duo from New York City. Its members were James Alpern and Richard Usher, using the stage names of DJ Keymaster Snow and MC Golden Voice, respectively. They are most famously known for their debut single, "Turtle Power", which was written for and featured in the movie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 1990, and became an international hit, reaching Number 13 in the US Billboard chart. I do find it weird how this song was so huge at the time but the film itself is never really shown as a repeat on TV nowadays, it must have been of its time.

 

Next up as ever we get the first part of the chart rundown from 40-31 with new entries by Bell Biv Devoe, LFO and Dream Warriors.

 

Next up we get another video clip this time of the climber by Diana Ross at 21. 'I'm Still Waiting' is a popular song, written and produced by Deke Richards and recorded by Diana Ross; it first appeared on Ross's 1970 album 'Everything Is Everything'. The song reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart in August 1971.It also reached number one in Ireland. 'I'm Still Waiting' continued the vein of sophisticated soul as heard on Ross's breakthrough solo hit 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough'. However, it was only a modest success in the US, reaching No. 63 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. The track was remixed by DJ Phil Chill in 1990 and was released as a single, reaching No. 21 in the UK Singles Chart. It is one of the few Ross remix songs to be released as a single.

 

Next up we get a repeat performance by the current Inspiral Carpets single 'She Comes In The Fall' which is up 2 places in this weeks chart. This is the third anf final single from the bands debut long player 'Life' released in April 1990. This is the 4th of 17 Top 75 singles in the UK from September 1989 to 2003.

 

Next up in the studio is English blue eyed chrooner Paul Young with his second hits single and fourth single overall from fourth studio album 'Other Voices'. This is a cover of the Chi-Lites hit first released of the groups 'A Lonely Man' album in 1972. This is a really nice cover by paul and great to see him in the studio for a second time in 1990 as his singles chart career seemed to have stalled in the late 80s.

 

We get the middle section of the chart rundown next from 30-11 with new entries by Paula Abdul and Madonna and risers by Inspiral Carpets, Diana Ross, River City People and the highest climber by Blue Pearl, Technotronic, The Soup Dragons and Glenn Mederios & Bobby Brown.

 

Next another viewing of a track that can only be on video as the thunderbirds move into the top 5 biggest sellers. I think I have said all there is to say about this track!!

 

The new Madonna song 'Hanky Panky' is the charts second highest new entry. Its a lower new entry than she is used to. Lets see how high she climbs. I admit I can say this is a Madge single I have heard before. 'Hanky Panky' is a song by American recording artist Madonna from her soundtrack album 'I'm Breathless'. It was released on June 12, 1990, by Sire Records as the album's second and final single. Written and produced by Madonna and Patrick Leonard, the song was developed from a line in the parent film, Dick Tracy, talking about a woman who enjoys being spanked by her partner. Performed in an almost comical style, 'Hanky Panky' is a jazz and swing song with a changing bassline and minor to major key-shift in the chorus. It caused some controversy in Ireland because of its innuendo and racy lyrics, with women's groups deeming them as harmful; Madonna later clarified that the lyrics were intended as a joke. You also may have heard it being performed in US TV Show Ally McBeal in the late 90s.

 

The final performance of the night comes from the Dream Warriors. Dream Warriors were a Canadian hip hop duo from Toronto, Ontario, comprising King Lou and Capital Q. Described as "a pair of deft, intelligent rappers" by John Bush of AllMusic, they were major contributors to the jazz rap movement of the early 1990s. Their 1991 debut album, 'And Now the Legacy Begins', was cited by Bush as one of the finest alternative hip hop records of the golden era. This group remind me alot of De La Soul.

 

We have the top 10 singles countdown next with new entries into the top 10 by Partners In Kryme and for the 5th week at number one with the wonderful 'Sacrifice' and we see the video clip this week in what will surely be its final week at the top spot. Its the longest running number one of 1990.

 

We finish the show with the video of the new Paula Abdul single 'Knocked Out'. 'Knocked Out' is the debut single by American singer Paula Abdul, released on May 4, 1988. It was the first song from her first album, 'Forever Your Girl', consisting of a pop/R&B sound. It was written by Babyface, L.A. Reid and Daryl Simmons and produced in 1987 by the former two. In the UK, 'Knocked Out' was released three times. It was Abdul's first single and charted on September 24, 1988, peaking at a lowly #98. Following the success of 'Straight Up' and its follow-up, 'Forever Your Girl', 'Knocked Out' was reissued and peaked at #41 on 19 August 1989. Finally, after the huge success of 'Opposites Attract' earlier in 1990, the single was extensively reworked by Shep Pettibone and it entered the UK Top 30. The original 'Knocked Out' video was directed by Danny Kleinman. It showed Abdul and a large number of dancers working out dance routines on the dance floor. For the second release, a revamped video was made and released without Abdul actually in it. This video was plotted around a boxing match, while screen caps of Abdul's other videos were played in the background.

Edited September 17, 20213 yr by steve201

I'm now itching for BBC Four to hurry up and get to October relaunch!

 

 

I always felt the relaunch was the end of the classic TOTP era!

faves in these episodes are Blue pearl (and I'd forgotten Youth was behind it! Starting in Killing Joke, forming the brilliant Brilliant dub funk, part of the duo with paul mcCartney as The Fireman, co-producer of Urban Hymns, and producer of a very long list of pop music greats of the 80's and 90's), Dream Warriors, Soup Dragons.

 

There's a couple that I'm not fond of: Madonna at her worst, Turtle Power. I saw Madonna on tour and she insisted on wasting a few minutes on Hanky Panky when she could have done much better tracks from Dick Tracy, like Sooner Or Later.

I didnt realise that about Blue Pearl to be honest!!

 

Yeh I had never heard of the Madonna song untio now, which says alot!!

Top of the Pops 26/7/1990 presented by Jackie Brambles

 

Blue Pearl - Naked In The Rain No8^ (23,000)

Technotronic Ft Ya Kid K - Rockin Over The Beat(Video) No9^ (21,000)

D.N.A Featuring Suzanne Vega - Toms Diner(Video) No13 NE*

The Soup Dragons Ft Junior Reid - I'm Free No10^ (20,000)

 

 

**Breakers Bel Biv Devoe - Poison(Video) No29^

**Breakers Sinead O'Connor - The Emperors new Clothes(Video) No31 NE

**Breakers Bananarama - Only Your Love(Video) No33 NE

 

 

Paula Abdul - Knocked Out No21^

MC Hammer - You Cant Touch This(Video) No5^ (27,000)

River City People - California Dreamin/Carry The Blame No16^

***No1 Patners in Kryme - Turtle Power(Video)***No1^ 1st week (67,000)

LFO - LFO(Video) No23^

 

 

Great to see the lovely Jackie Brambles back in the studio tonight for this summery edition of TOTP from 1990. And we start with Blue Pearl in the studio for a second performance the the fantastic house track 'Naked In The Rain' enters the top 10. House music had become so amazing by this stage, some absolute dancefloor classics and plenty more to come in 1990. This was the first of 6 top 75 hits in the Uk for the group between now and the remix of this track in July 1998.

 

Next up another dance song entering the top 10 this week is the current single by Technotronic 'Rockin Over The Beat'. This band are on a roll currently with hit after hit following the massive breakthrough 'Pump Up The Jam' last year. This is the 4th of 11 top 75 hits in the UK chart from 1989 - 2005 and the 3rd top 10 hit of this era.

 

Next up as is tradition Jackie counts down the first part of the top 40 countdown from 40-31 with new entries by The Jungle Brothers, Dan Reed Network, Innocence, Vixen, ZZ Top, Bananrama, Tricky Disco and Sinead O'Connor. Wow quite the busy week then with 8 new entries in the first 10 places of the chart countdown. Why did Bananrama chose such a busy week to re;lease their first new single in 18 months?!

 

Next up we have a new entry at 13 with the fantastic 'Tom's Diner' by DNA and Suzanne Vega. 'Tom's Diner' is a song written in 1982 by American singer and songwriter Suzanne Vega. It was first released as a track on the January 1984 issue of Fast Folk Musical Magazine. When first featured on one of her own studio albums, it appeared as the first track of her 1987 album Solitude Standing. It was later used as the basis for a remix by the British group DNA in 1990, which reached number 1 in Austria, Germany, Greece and Switzerland. The 1991 compilation Tom's Album includes the DNA version as well as cover versions by artists such as After One, Nikki D and Bingo Hand Job (R.E.M. and Billy Bragg). It was also used as the background soundtrack for the opening scene of the 1993 film Untamed Heart. The 'Tom's Diner' of the song is Tom's Restaurant in New York City, a mid-20th-century diner on the corner of Broadway and 112th Street. Singer and songwriter Suzanne Vega was reputedly a frequent patron during the early 1980s when she was a student at nearby Barnard College. The diner later became famous as the location used for the exterior scenes of Monk's Café in the popular 1990s television sitcom Seinfeld. The song begins with the narrator stopping at a diner for a cup of coffee. The song mentions reading a newspaper as well as seeing two women, one who enters the diner and one who stands outside in the rain. The ringing of bells at a nearby cathedral causes the narrator to reminisce about an unnamed companion and a midnight picnic. At the end of the song, the narrator leaves the diner to catch the train after the coffee is finished. Vega wrote the song based on a comment by her friend Brian Rose, a photographer, who mentioned that in his work, he sometimes felt as if "he saw his whole life through a pane of glass, and [...] like he was the witness to a lot of things, but was never really involved in them". She attempted to think and write in this fashion (including a male perspective) while sitting at Tom's Restaurant. The "bells of the cathedral" that she remarks hearing in the song are those of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, located one block to the east. In 1990, two British record producers under the name DNA remixed 'Tom's Diner', grafting Vega's vocals onto a dance beat from Soul II Soul ("Keep On Movin'") and turning her simple ad-libbed outro – "Da da da duh, doo da-doo doo" – into the song's driving hook. It was impossible to get a whole song into a sampler, so they spent evenings and weekends cutting Vega's vocals into little bits. Without permission from Vega, her record label, or publisher, the duo released the remix on a limited basis for distribution to clubs as "Oh Suzanne" by "DNA featuring Suzanne Vega". Vega's record company of the time, A&M, decided to buy and release the remix rather than take DNA to court for copyright infringement. A&M struck the deal after consulting with Vega, who liked the interpretation, and DNA, who conducted the transaction through intermediaries without revealing their true identities. The remix became a much larger hit than Vega had with the song originally.

 

Its great to hear the fab 'Im Free' by The Soup Dragons get another play as it enters the top 10 this week, what a great version, sounds very early 90s!! This is the 3rd of 5 top 75 singles in the uk chart between 1987 - 1992. Its also the second of 4 top 75 singles for junior Reid, the first of which was a track with Coldcut in 1988 and the last as recently as 2006 with rapper The Game.

 

Tonights show sees the return of the breakers with video clips by rapper Bel Biv Devoe, Sinead O'Connor coming back following the huge 'Nothing Compares' with her next single & the new single by Bananarama.

 

Next up in the studio its big hitting American pop star Paula Abdul with her new single, think this is her second time in the TOPs studio which is nice to see and quite the mega star for TOTP, I like the dancers dressed as boxers in this performance mimicing the video we saw a couple of weeks ago, its a fairly standard Paula Abdul pop track other than that. This the a remixed reissue of the track as it was first released and charted in August 1989. This is as far as she would climb with it though as its a faller in next weeks chart. Its the 6th of 12 top 75 singles in the UK for her between March 1989 and June 1995, she did seems to be hit or miss for UK chart buyers.

 

Next up its the middle part of the chart countdown with new entries by The Pixies & DNA & Suzanne Vega and risers from Bel Biv Devoe, Paul Young, LFO, Paula Abdul & Dream Warriors.

 

Next up we get another view of the fab signature tune for MC Hammer with culturally defining song 'You Cant Touch This' as it edges up the top 10!

 

Back to the studio then we get another second studio performance by River City People and their lovely version of The Mamas and Papas classic. I really love this version after hearing it over the past few weeks. Hoepfully this can rise to the top 10 eventually. Speaking of the top 10 we have the countdown next with risers in the biggest 10 sellers from The Soup Dragons, Technotronic, Blue Pearl & Madonna. After 5 weeks at number one legend Sir Elton is down 1 and the new number one is the Teenage Mutnant Ninja Turtles who are in the studio with Jackie. It must be the beginning of the school holidays in 1990 what with all the new entries and this dross at number one as the kids go and watch it in the cinema!! This would influence the charts alot in the 1990s.

 

We end the show with house track LFO which I think could be my favourite track of the show!! LFO was a British electronic music act formed in 1988 consisting of Mark Bell and Gez Varley. They released their acclaimed debut LP Frequencies in 1991 on Sheffield label Warp. After Varley left the group in 1996, Bell continued solo to release Advance (1996) and Sheath (2003). Bell died in October 2014, effectively ending the project. LFO are considered to be pioneers of the bass-heavy "bleep techno" style. AllMusic called them "one of British techno's most important, agenda-setting groups."

Edited October 1, 20213 yr by steve201