Top of the Pops 21/12/1989 presented by Anthea Turner & Bruno Brookes

 

FPI Project present Rich In Paradise 'Going back To My Roots No30

Duran Duran Burning The Ground(Video) No31

 

 

Sonia Listen To Your Heart No32

De La Soul The Magic Number(Video) No25 NE

Silver Bullet 20 Seconds To Comply(Video) No26

 

 

**Breakers Bon Jovi Living A Sin(Video) No40 NE

**Breakers The beautiful South Ill Sail This Ship Alone(Video) No39 NE

**Breakers 49ers Touch Me(Video) No36 NE

**Breakers All About Eve December(Video) No34

 

 

Bros Sister No 12^^

***No1 Band Aid Do They Know Its Christmas II(Video) No1*** NE 1st Week

The Christians Words(Video) No33

 

 

First up tonight we have The FPI Project who are a trio consisting of Marco Fratty, Corrado Presti, and Roberto Intrallazzi who, according to John Bush, of AllMusic introduced Italo house to the world in the early 1990s. Two versions of the song were released; one featuring the vocals of Sharon D. Clarke, the other of Paolo Dini. Both versions sample Richie Havens' version of the song, as well as T99's "Too Nice to Be Real", Honesty 69's "Rich in Paradise", and the Yeah! Woo! drumbeat. The song itself is a sample of the song most famously sang by Odyysey which got them a top 5 hit in 1981. Its was originally written by Lamont Dozier in 1977.

 

Duran Duran return to the top 40 and the new video is shown on the show tonight. The last time the boys appeared on totp in person was in November 1989 for the promotion of the new single of that time 'Notorious'. 'Burning The Ground' is the 20th single by Duran Duran. It was created as a stand-alone single to promote the compilation album Decade: Greatest Hits. However, its music video was included on the band's audiovisual compilation Greatest, released in 1999 (VHS) and 2003 (DVD). The song is essentially a megamix of Duran Duran's history, featuring tidbits of all of the band's hits of the previous ten years

 

"The Magic Number" is a 1989 single by De La Soul, originally recorded in 1988 and first released on their 1989 album, 3 Feet High and Rising, with the chorus based on a segment from the children's show Schoolhouse Rock!, written by Bob Dorough. In the song, the trio state that the number three is the magic number. The song heavily samples songs and vocal samples originally sampled in "Lesson 3" by Double Dee and Steinski, as well as sampling "Lesson 3" itself. The song also samples "The Crunge" by Led Zeppelin, "Three is a Magic Number" by Schoolhouse Rock, "Five Feet High and Rising (song)" by Johnny Cash, "Different Strokes" by Syl Johnson, and "Is this the Future?" by the Fatback Band.

 

Silver Bullet aka London rapper Richard Brown. Bullet's frantic rapping against samples from the film RoboCop and, in particular, a sample of ED-209 (from which the track took its name) (the track took its name from a run-in Bullet and his posse had with the law in Notting Hill Carnival). This is a fairly typical rap sound from this time but the production is quite unique for me.

 

Bros new single 'Sister' is a lovely festive ballad but they now have to work to gain a top 10 single compared to 1988 when they continually entered the charts in that position. 'Sister' is the third single from Bros second album 'The Time'. This is the bands first album as a duo following the departure of Craig Logan due to illness.

 

In at number one and the second number one in a row which is a brand new entry - a sign of the times going forward perhaps - is Band Aid II. With appearances from Chris Rea, Cliff Richard, Sonia, Lisa Stansfield, Bros, Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Jimmy Somerville and Bananrama appearing for the second time. This effort isn't heard anywhere near as much these days so its a nice change to hear it and see the video but the song itself is nowhere near as good as the already by 1989 classic original which you still hear today and it again went top 10 this Christmas.

 

We end with lucky Bruno getting a Christmas kiss by Anthea and the new Christians record 'Words'.

Edited January 17, 20214 yr by steve201

Burning The Ground is the best of the many megamixes that were in the charts in the late 80s/early 90s.

Yeh it helps for me when the band are as fab as Duran Duran are!

Top of the Pops 25/12/1989 presented by Gary Davies, Bruno Brookes & Jakki Brambles Christmas Day 1989

 

January

 

Erasure Stop No2 x 3

Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan Especially For You(Video) No1 x3 weeks

Mike & The Mechanics The Living Years No2

Marc Almond & Gene Pitney Somethings Got A Hold Of My Heart No1 x 4

 

 

February

 

Michael Ball Love Changes Everything(Video) No2

Michael Jackson Leave Me Alone(Video) No2

Simple Minds Belfast Child(Video) No1 x 1

 

 

March

 

Madonna Like A Prayer(Video) No x3

Jason Donovan Too Many Broken Hearts No1 x 2

 

April

 

Simply Red If You Don't Know Me By Now(Video) No2 x 3

The Bangles Eternal Flame(Video) No1 x 3

 

 

May

 

Natalie Cole Miss You Like Crazy(Video) No2

Mersey Aid Ferry Cross The Mersey(Video) No x 4

Kylie Minogue Put Your Hand On Your Heart(Video) No2

 

June

 

Cliff Richard The Best Of Me(Video) No2

Prince Bat Dance(Video) No2

Soul II Soul Back To Life(Video) No1 x 3

Jason Donovan Sealed With A Kiss(Video) No2

 

 

July

 

Bros Too Much No2

London Boys London Nights No2

The Beautiful South Song For Whoever No2

Kylie Minogue Wouldn't Change A Thing(Video) No2

Jive Bunny & The Master Mixers Swing The Mood(Video) No1 x 5

Sonia You'll Never Stop Me Loving You No1 x 2

 

 

August

 

Alice Cooper Poison(Video) No2

Lil Louis French Kiss(Video) No2

 

September

 

Richard Marx Right here Waiting(Video) No2

Jason Donovan Every Day (I Love You More) (Video) No2

Black Box Ride On Time No1 x 6 weeks

 

 

October

 

Milli Vanilli Girl I'm Gonna Miss You(Video) No2

Technotronic Pump Up The Jam(Video) No2

Jive Bunny & the Master Mixers That's What I Like(Video) No1 x 3

 

November

 

Lisa Stansfield All Around The World No 1 x 2

Phil Collins Another Day In Paradise(Video) No2

Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville Don't Know Much(Video) No2

New Kids On The Block You Got It (The Right Stuff) (Video) No1 x 3

 

 

December

 

Jason Donovan When You Come Back To Me(Video) No2

Jive Bunny & the Master Mixers Lets Party(Video) No1 x1

Band Aid II Do They Know It’s Christmas?(Video) No1 x 2

 

 

So we reach the penultimate show of the whole decade and its Christmas Day 1989 with a trio of presenters, two old hands in Gary Davies and Bruno Brookes and one relative newbie in Jakki, who will be the Christmas number one of this year?

 

Its basically a review of the year like most Christmas Day editions are right to this year and there's a full hour for your enjoyment so plenty to get through. And there's a slight update for the on screen writing. We start with the wonderful 'Stop' by Erasure to start, a big hit in January of this year from the 'Crackers International EP'. Next up the video of 'Especially For You' which I haven't seen before actually. I usually just seen the cheesy Christmas TOTP performance from last December.

 

The next studio performer is the song that was number two for three weeks in January 'The Living Years' followed by one of my favourite number ones of 1989 'Somethings Got A Hold Of My Heart'. Fantastic vocals here!!

 

Next up into February properly now with the video for 'Love Changes Everything' Michael Balls debut UK hit, followed up by videos for Michael Jacksons umpteenth hit from multi million seller 'Bad' and Madonna with her big number one of the year 'Like A Prayer. We go back to the studio next with 'Too Many Broken Hearts' by Aussie neighbour Jason Donovan. Catchy SAW at its best.

 

Into springtime and April next with Simply Red with another big number two hit. Don't worry Mick you will get your time on the top spot in the next decade. This is followed by the best pop song of the year with 'Eternal Flame' by The Bangles, one of their last big hits unfortunately.

 

Quickly into May next with the videos for the charity record in aid of the Hillsborough tragedy 'Ferry Across the Mersey', the wonderful soul ballad 'Miss You Like Crazy' by Natalie Cole and of course Kylie! Into June and we have videos from the big hits from Cliff Richard who followed up his Christmas number one of 1988 with number two hit 'The Best Of Me', Soul II Souls huge summer number 1 and Jason Donovan again with his hit 'Sealed With A Kiss'.

 

Finally we return to the studio with Bros returning with (only) a number two hit with 'Too Much' which started their second era which was slightly less successful than the huge 1988. Some nice guitar solos on this performance!! They were on last weeks show too with the third hit from that era and have the same outfits so maybe the Christmas edition was filmed together....

 

We get a second studio performance in a row this time with the big number two hit from the London Boys 'London Nights'. They were in the TOTP studios half a dozen times so no surprise they garnered two top 5 hits and another top 20 hit in 1989. And a third studio performance this time another number two peak for the genius that is The Beautiful South with 'Song For Whoever'. They would have plenty for great releases to come in the next decade too. Paul Heaton is one of the great UK songwriters imo. He's sporting a very 90s haircut here nearly like curtains I used to have when I went to school.

 

We get a great range of videos from July next with Kylie and Jive Bunny with one of the longest running chart toppers of the year and the most if you combine their three number one hits. We end the July which was packed with hits with a studio performance of Sonia's big summer hit 'You'll never Stop me From Loving You'. More SAW magic here.

 

Into August now with legend Alice Cooper having arguably his biggest hit ever with 'Poison’ and then one of my favourite dance tunes of the year with 'French Kiss'. Love how the beats and drums build on this. What a random video though!!

 

Into the autumn now with two huge number twos a third top 5 hit for Jason Donovan of the year and Richard Marx with the wonderful ballad 'Right Here Waiting'. Those two were stopped from hitting the top spot by the longest running number one of the year by Italian House DJs Black Box with the still wonderful 'Ride On Time'.

 

Into October now with Milli Vanilli setting the stage for all the B Class boybands over the next decade. The quality goes up a notch with the wonderful classic 'Pump The Jam' but then they tease us with the biggest song of the month with number one hit number two by Jive Bunny.

 

We head into the darker nights with the wonderful soulful voice of Lisa Stansfield finally getting her deserved big number one - what a voice and song 'All Around the World' is, thankfully she's back performing it for us in the studio to please everyone else's Christmas lunch. Next up the also rans of the month with the wonderful 'Another Day In Paradise' and the wonderfully soppy 'Don't Know Much' by Linda Ronstandt & Aaron Neville.

 

Into the festive season now with current hits by New Kids On The Block and a third number one of the year for Jive Bunny. We of course have to end with the big Christmas chart topper by of course Band Aid II as history repeats itself in the decade.

 

We end with a scary scene with Gary and Bruno dressed up as if they are ready for panto and Jason Donovan the lucky man who led Jakki away, god knows what happened to her!!

 

So into the 1990s next, what a decade its been though and the review of the decade can be seen in the next episode dated 28/12/1989.

Edited January 24, 20214 yr by steve201

Top of the Pops 31/12/1989 Review of the 1980s presented by Mike Read & Paul Gambaccini

 

So after a loooonng time of watching the classic TOTPs on BBC 4 we finally reach the last show of the decade and what could be better than one of the classic presenters from the 10 years Mike Read and part time presenter from the early 80s Paul Gambaccini the chart stats man returning to host one final show, his first from my memory in over 12 months.

 

We have a cool new start with a countdown of the years and glimpses of the previous starts to the show from throughout the decade.

 

We start with one of the decades most sucessful groups - Status Quo and their 1988 number 5 hit 'Burning Bridges'. It was included on the album Ain't Complaining. The tune is based on the traditional English folk song "Darby Kelly". I knew Id heard this somewhere before - its the 'Come On You Reds Man united theme tune.

 

 

A review of the number ones of 1981 - The Specials 'Ghost Town' interesting number one the week of the Royal Wedding (already a big moment even a few years after it), John Lennon 'Woman' one of 3 posthumous number ones for the beatles legend, Adam & The Ants 'Prince Charming', Bucks Fizz 'Making Your Mind Up' and Soft Cell 'Tainted Love' the biggest seller of the year.

 

Next up the biggest solo male artist of the 80s its the one and only Shakin Stevens who performs one of his biggest number ones of the decade from 1981 'This Ole House'.

 

 

Heres the idols of the decade - Haircut 100 'Love Plus 1'(1981), Duran Duran 'Is There Something i Should Know' (1983), Kylie 'I Should Be So Lucky (1988), Bros 'I Owe You Nothing' (1988), Jason Donovan 'Too Many Broken Hearts' (1989), A-Ha 'The Sun Always Shines On TV' (1986).

 

Next up in the studio one of the big 70s artists with their biggest hit of the 1980s 'David Essex with 'A Winters Tale'. A strange choice of performer, quite an 'of its time' hit. He must have been available to perform and i guess it was christmas week. Hadnt changed much in the 7 years since it was released, Im pretty sure it was his last true big single when it was number 2 in january 1983.

 

More reviews now with 1982 The Jam 'Beat Surrender', Madness 'House Of Fun' from the band with 20 straight top 20 hits, Wham 'Young Guns', Eddy Grant 'I Dont Wanna Dance',

 

How could we do a review of the 80s without including one of Vince Clarkes classic bands - in this show we have the first Erasure UK chart hit from 1986 'Sometimes'. It peaked at number 2 near the end of that year. it typifies the Erasure sound — an uptempo, dance-oriented pop tune accentuated by Clarke's phase distortion and analogue synthesizers and Bell's lyrics about being in love.

 

 

 

Next up we have a review of the classic acts that have stayed the course through the decade - Bee Gees 'You Win Again' number one from 1987, Abba 'Super Trooper' (1980), Rod Stewart 'Baby Jane' number one in the summer of 1983, Elton John 'Nikita' (1985), Queen 'Radio Gaga'(1984), Bowie & Jagger 'Dancing In The Street' (1985), Diana Ross 'Chain Reaction'(1986), Bob Marley 'One Love' (1981), Stevie Wonder 'I Just Called To Say I Love You' (1984),

 

Next up one of the biggest love songs of the decade and one of the most schmultziest track of the 80s 'Lady In Red' by Chris De Burgh. It is Valentines weekend folks....By far Chris' biggest hit although he had been releasing music since the early 70s. This was a huge 3 week chart topper in 1986.

 

1983 - Big hits include The Eurythmics 'Sweet Dreams', Bonnie Tyler 'Total Eclipse of the Heart', UB40 'Red Red Wine' incidentally a UK number one in 1983 and US number one in 1988, Howard Jones 'New Song', Culture Club 'Karma Cameleon' the biggest seller of the year.

 

Next up one of the most successful females of the decade Kim Wilde with her 1986 number 2 hit 'You Keep Me Hanging On' a Hi-NrG cover of The Supremes classic. Rememner when she first performed in March 1981 a scared looking short haired teenager, how times have quickly moved on.

 

Next we have Aswad and the biggest hit of their career 'Dont turn Around' number one in 1988.

 

We go back to 1981 next in the studio with Phil Collins and his solo career defining hit from that year 'In The Air Tonight'. It was released as the lead single from Collins's debut solo album, Face Value, in January 1981. Collins co-produced the single with Hugh Padgham, who became a frequent collaborator in the following years. The song climbed to No. 2 on the UK Singles chart, but was held off the top spot by the posthumous release of John Lennon's "Woman". "In the Air Tonight" remains one of Collins' best-known hits, often cited as his signature song, and is especially famous for its drum break towards the end, which has been described as "the sleekest, most melodramatic drum break in history" and one of the "101 Greatest Drumming Moments". One of the biggest hit makers of the decade its nice to see him coming on the TOPs followin ghis appearence in November 1989 of his current hit 'Another Day In Paradise'.

 

 

We take a look at the big synth tracks that defined the decade including Pet Shop Boys 'West End Girls'(1985), Depeche Mode 'Just Cant Get Enough' (1981), OMD 'Souvenir' (1982), New Order 'Blue Monday', Human League 'Dont You Want Me'(1981), Ulravox 'Vienna' (1981),

 

 

 

We finish with this weeks number one with Band Aid 2 getting its third week at the top!

 

 

Edited February 13, 20214 yr by steve201

Thanks for all the in-depth reviews Steve! Much appreciated :)

 

One of my mates has been watching the recent episodes and getting annoyed by all the cover versions (his era is more early to mid 80's) :lol: There's always stuff in the charts that is fluff, but it's the gems that make it great, and there are always gems...

Your welcome, I enjoy doing them albeit find it hard to find time to do them.

 

I’m more of a early 80s fan tbh but enjoy seeing the evolution of the music and presenters.

 

That was the final Mike Reed episode after his stint lasting from 1979-89, quite a long time!!

Top of the Pops 4/1/1990 presented by Gary Davies

 

The Quireboys - Hey You No24 NE

Madonna - Dear Jessie(Video) No5 = (27,000)

Silver Bullet - 20 Seconds to Comply(Video) No20 ^

 

 

Latino Rave - Deep Heat 89(Video) No12 ^

Sonia - Listen To Your Heart No 20^^

De La Soul - The Magic Number(Video) No8 ^ (18,000)

 

 

The 49ers - Touch Me(Video) No23 ^

New Kids On The Block - Hangin Tough(Video) No9 NE* (13,000)

Rob N Raz Featuring Leila K - Got To Get(Video) No11 =

***No1 Band Aid II - Do They Know Its Christmas?(Video)***No1 3rd Week 59,000

F.P.I Project - Going back To My Roots No25^

 

 

So we enter the 1990s with an 80s old hand Gary Davies presenting the first show of the decade with a lovely red waistcoat to celebrate TOTPs entering its 26th year broadcasting.

 

We start with a bit of metal to blow the cobwebs of the new year away with The Quireboys performing in the studio. The Quireboys are an English rock band formed in 1984 in London, with strong ties to Newcastle. When the band formed they were originally known as The Queerboys and later as the London Quireboys in the United States and Canada, settling at last with their current name. 'Hey You' is their biggest hit from their debut album 'A Bit What Of What You Fancy' and their second of 6 top 75 hits in the Uk between November 1989 and February 1993. The Quireboys are the first act to perform on TOTP in the 1990s following on from Madness performing 'My Girl' to start the decade that has just passed.

 

Next up Gary introduces another play of the current Madonna single 'Dear Jessie' and lovely stuff it is too. Her year would get alot bigger in the coming months, her decade wouldnt be bad either to be honest. I love the video for 'Dear Jessie' and as Gary says afterwards thats Madonna’s 20th top 5 hit in the UK - Just WOW!!

 

The 40-31 countdown now with new entries for D Mob, Mantronix & a re-entry for Happy Mondays. Next we have the video for one of the biggest dance tracks of the moment with Silver Bullet. AKA Richard David Brown who was a british rapper born in London and formerly part of the group 'Triple Element'. Bullet's frantic rapping was on this single put up against samples from the film RoboCop and, in particular, a sample of ED-209 (from which the track took its name) (the track took its name from a run-in Bullet and his posse had with the law in Notting Hill Carnival). This single was the second of 3 top 75 singles in the UK under this name and one re-release.

 

Next up we get another play for Latino Rave mixing all the big dance hits of last year. I am getting bored of all these repeated video performances now, we need new music in the studio...hope this doesnt highlight the state of things to come in trhe 1990s.

 

Finally we get a studio performance from the lovely Sonia this weeks highest climber and looking like it will roar into the top 10 next week after the underperformance of her second single. Its more lovely SAW production which is simplistic and basic to the extreme by the early weeks of 1990, they were fianlly running out of ideas. But they will be around for a while yet to dilute all our most loved genres that developed in the 80s. After all two of the top 5 are still from the label. As for Sonia herself this was the third of 12 top 75 hits between the summer of 1989 and July 1994.

 

Next up we have the middle part of the countdown from 30-11 with new entries from Deacon Blue, Fish & as we have seen in the studio The Quireboys.

 

We are back to the videos next but who cares whens its quality hip hop from the ever improving De La Soul boys who have got their first top 10 hit with each single from their current critically aclaimed album performing better than the last as their fan base grew. Released on their 1989 album, '3 Feet High and Rising', with the chorus based on a segment from the children's show Schoolhouse Rock!, written by Bob Dorough. In the song, the trio state that the number three is the magic number. The song heavily samples songs and vocal samples originally sampled in "Lesson 3" by Double Dee and Steinski, as well as sampling "Lesson 3" itself. The song also samples "The Crunge" by Led Zeppelin, "Three is a Magic Number" by Schoolhouse Rock, "Five Feet High and Rising (song)" by Johnny Cash, "Different Strokes" by Syl Johnson, and "Is this the Future?" by the Fatback Band.

 

The next video is by the dance act The 49ers and as Gary tells us featuring vocals from the wonderful Dawn Mitchel and of course the Italo-house band got their name as Dawn was the 49th vocal audition for the track. Italo house really was huge in 1989-91 so many great tracks moving house into a more professional groove which would set it up for the rest of the decade.

 

We stick to the video performances for the next track which is the weeks highest new entry by the big teenage sweetheart boyband of the moment New Kids, this is their second track to be in the top 10 as the former pre-christmas chart topper is still in there at 10 also. The first act since Wham 4 years previous to achieve the feat. Thankfully they wont ever be as iconic as George, Andrew, Pepsi and Shirley ever were. This was the 2nd of 12 top 75 UK chart hits between November 1989 and September 2008. This was their imperial phase though with 8 top 10 hits in 1990 alone, no wonder people had enough of them by 1991.

 

We get a fourth video in a row next with Rob and Raz getting yet another showing this time in video form after studio performances before christmas but the song stubbornly refuses to enter the top 10 which it probably deserves as its stubbornly grown on me over the past month with the classy beat an earworm I can’t get out of my head.

 

The top 10 biggest selling singles of the week are coming next with Band Aid 2 getting a third and final week on top with sales down over 50% as we leave the christmas market. This would be the final week at number one for the charity for 14 years until November 2004 when the 20th anniversary edition would hit the top spot.

 

We finish the show with a repeat performance from F.P.I Project with their cheesy piano house rendition of the Odyssey classic from 1981. It feels like 1990 is taking its time to get into its stride after one of the most underwhelming shows from TOTP in a while.

.

Edited February 20, 20214 yr by steve201

Top of the Pops 11/1/1990 presented by Simon Mayo

 

F.P.I Project - Going Back To My Roots(Ft Sharon Dee Clarke) No14^

Jimmy Somerville - You Make me Feel(Mighty Real) (Video) No 24 NE

D Mob - Put Your Hands Together(Ft Nuff Juice) No16^

 

 

Mantronix - Got To Have your Love(Ft Wondress) (Video) No12^^

 

 

Fish - Big Wedge No25^

 

 

The Mission - Butterfly On A Wheel No17 NE*

 

 

Deacon Blue - Queen Of The New Year No21^

 

 

***No1 New Kids On The Block - Hanging Tough(Video)***No1 1st week 28,500

Halo James - Could Have Told You So(Video) No 30 NE

 

 

We have Simon presenting solo tonight with some cool shades on while presenting, he must have a black eye.

 

We start the show in the studio with yet another play for F.P.I Porject this time featuring Sharon Dee Clarke on vocals which sound great. This is the third time we have seen this song performed on TOTP now since December but this is a new recording with these vocals. Maybe itll finally reach the top 10 with all the promo?

 

Next up its the video for the new Jimmy Somerville single. 'You Make Me Feel' is a Hi-NRG remix of the Sylvester number 8 disco hit from 1978. Jimmy has a history of remaking old disco classics though most noteably the five week chart topper for 'Dont Leave Me This Way' with the Communards in 1986. This is the second of 10 top 75 singles in the UK as a solo artist for the former Bronski Beat frontman.

 

 

We have the first part of the chart countdown next with new entries for Lil Louis, Martika & Megadeath.

 

D Mob AKA Daniel Kojo Poku is back with his 4th UK top 40 single. Although none of them will beat the legendary 'We Call It Accidd' from 1988 which is what he will be remembered by this is a nice house/rap track typical of the late 80s and early 90s. The song heavily sampled a song by The O'Jays, though not their 1973 hit of the same name, but in fact a 1983 recording ‘Put Our Heads Together’ from their album When Will I See You Again

 

 

Mantronix was an influential 1980s hip hop and electro funk music group from New York City. The band was formed by DJ Kurtis Mantronik (Kurtis el Khaleel) and rapper MC Tee (Touré Embden). The group is primarily remembered for its pioneering blend of old school hip hop, electronic, and club music.This song was released by Capitol Records in December 1989 as the lead single from Mantronix's fourth studio album ‘This Should Move Ya’ (1990) . It is recognized as the group's signature song. Definately one of the highlights of the chart this week this is now a funk/soul classic with the amazing soulful rift and amazing sultry vocals of Wondress.

 

Next up in the studio a first for TOTP as Fish performs his new single(yes thats the artist name) and funnier still its called 'Big Wedge'. Hes dressed to impress with a white top hat and all but the song itself is surprisingly listenable a bit of indie/metal/pop, not what i expected but wasnt sure what i expected anyway. Fish AKA Derek Dick is a former member of progressive rock band 'Marillion' whom he left in 1988.

 

Next the middle part of the chart from 30-11 with new entries for Halo James, Jimmy Somerville & The Mission. The later is our next studio performer. The Mission (known as The Mission UK in the United States) are an English gothic rock band formed in 1986.

Initially known as The Sisterhood, the band was started by frontman Wayne Hussey and bassist Craig Adams (both from The Sisters of Mercy), soon adding drummer Mick Brown (Red Lorry Yellow Lorry) and guitarist Simon Hinkler (Artery and Pulp). Aside from Hussey, the lineup has changed several times during the years and the band has been on hiatus twice. 'Butterfly On A Wheel' was the first of three singles to be released from their third studio album 'Carved in Sand'. The overriding theme in the song was the break up of a romance and the lyrics telling the person that they would be healed in time. Many have stated that the song was written about Julianne Regan, the singer with All About Eve, who had recently broken up with The Mission's guitarist, Simon Hinkler. This was later confirmed by Hussey himself in the liner notes for their Anthology compilation album released in 2006 by Phonogram. This was the 8th of 17 UK top 75 singles between June 1986 and February 1995. This is rather good as well, but doesnt beat their best song for me which is 'Wasteland' from their first album.

 

We are being spoilt this week with some great studio performances taking us away from constant video recordings of the week before. And appropriately on the 11th day of the year Deacon Blue come on with their new year single rising up the chart currently. 'Queen of The New Year’ is the fifth and final single from Deacon Blues sophomore album 'When The World Knows Your Name'. Deacon Blue are definately one of my favourite late 80s bands.

 

Into the top 10 countdown next begining with Sonia and ending with a new number one as Band Aid falls 3 to number 4 in the post christmas slump and New Kids On The Block with their second number one in a matter of two months. 'Hangin Tough' climbs 8 places up the chart to grab the first new number one of the year and the decade. Its doesnt do much for me, the debut number one at least is memorable and I can say Ive heard it, this one seems to jump on their growing bandwagon.

 

We end the show with Simon finally revealing to the British public why hes wearing the shades and Im not sure why as he looks grand. No black eye as far as i could see. We end the show with the video for the Halo James new entry 'Could Have Told You So'. More to come from that next week.

 

Edited February 22, 20214 yr by steve201

Good to see Fish in the studio. There were much better tracks on his debut solo album but Big Wedge was the most commercial song on there so it was the right choice for a single.

It’s a really good track and I had no idea who or what he was until I researched for the episode overview. It’s a solid track, some outfit he had on too!

Top of the Pops 18/1/1990 presented by Nicky Campbell

 

Halo James - Could Have Told You So No13^

Lil Louis & The World - I Called U(Video) No20^

Martika - More Than You Know No23^

 

 

The 49ers - Touch Me(Video) No3

Megadeath - No More Mr Nice Guy(Video) No18^

 

**Breakers Neneh Cherry - Inna City Mama(Video) No30^

**Breakers Sinead O'Connor Nothing Compares To You(Video) No30 NE

 

 

The Quireboys - Hey You No19^

Kylie Minogue - Tears On My Pillow(Video) No2 NE*

***No1 New Kids On The Block - Hangin Tough(Video)No1***

Adamski - N-R-G(Video) No27 NE

 

 

We have Nicky Campbell going solo tonight and he introduces Halo James to start us in the studio with a big jump from last weeks 30. This is a nice new waves style pop track which sounds a bit like album 2 Tears For Fears, indeed the production sounds very like the fab 'Everybody Wants To Rule The World'. Halo James formed in London. Named after the main character from the comic strip The Ballad of Halo Jones, the band were fronted by session musician/vocalist Christian James and included Ray St. John on guitar; formerly of Latin soul band Pride and Neil Palmer on keyboards; formerly of short-lived synth-rock act Atomage and dance duo Two People among its members. This is the 1st of 5 top 40 singles for the band. Have to say love the jacket he has on!!

 

Next up we have the video for 'I Called U' by Lil Louis. This video is in black and white as it tries to creat atmosphere to the piano driven dance track. Lil Louis was a Chicago house DJ and is following up the previous summers classic house track 'French Kiss'.

 

Next up Nicky introduces the first part of the chart countdown from 40-31 with new entries by And Why Not?, Wreck-N-Effect & Quincy Jones.

 

Next up in the studio is the return of Martika for the 3rd time in the last year to promote her new single 'More Than You Know'. This is the third single from her debuit album 'Martika' and the 3rd of 7 top 75 singles in the UK chart. 'Toy Soldiers' is definately the highlight for me from what I have heard from her. This track is kind if Taylor Dayne or Tiffany style teen pop, differientiating from the UK style of SAW with an American sounding production.

 

We are due a video performance next and its the already established big house hit of the moment by the 49ers. As Nicky says they are riding the wave of the huge italo-house movmenmt from 1989. Love the beat of this, quite of its time but sounding fab, it does kind of reminds me of something like Shane Codd from the 2021 top 10.

 

We continue our look at the chart next with the countdown from 30-11 and what a way to start with what would become the huge hit of the year and decade with a new entry by Sinead O'Connor and also newbies from Public Enemy & Adamski.

 

We follow this up with the one of the higest climbers in the chart by Megadeath and as Nicky jokes they woulda been performing only they were helping down the local church. These guys...where to start, they tick every sterotypical box of mid to late 80-s mental bands and are nearly verging in novelty but who am I to argue when the great British public have been buying the record alot this week in 1990 with it rising 18 places to number 18. 'No More Mr Nice Guy' is a cover of the Alice Cooper track first released in 1973 on the album 'Billion Dollar Babies' and reached number 10 in the UK that year. Megadeath covered the track for the horror film 'Shocker'. The song didnt feature on an album until they released a B-Side compilation in 1995 'Hidden Treasures'.

 

The breakers return this week with two videos by the stunning Swedish girl Neneh Cherry and the famous video for 'Nothing Compares to You' which enters the chart at 30. I do wonder if that can rise in the coming weeks.....

 

Next up we return to the studio for a second performance of the month for The Quireboys. I really like this track, they are a bit like a metal band in the form of Megadeath but their song has some melody and its quite a uplifting performance, they must have felt this could be a top 10 hit with the return visit to the TOTP studios. It actually reminds me of a Slade track.

 

They trick me this week with the 10-3 countdown before playing the highest new entry before the number one as Kylie enters straight in at number 2 with 'Tears On My Pillow', we are getting used to these high new entries by this stage, still only by the big fan base acts at this stage. 'Tears On My Pillow' is the fourth and final single from Kylies second album 'Enjoy Yourself'. It was also included in the soundtrack to the film 'The Delinquents' which Miss Minogue also starred. "Tears on My Pillow" is originally a doo-wop song written by Sylvester Bradford and Al Lewis in 1958. The composition was first recorded by Little Anthony and the Imperials on End Records and was that group's debut recording under that name. The music was arranged by the great arranger Belford "Sinky" Hendricks who also arranged "Two People in the World", "Hurts So Bad", and "Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop".

 

That means its a second week at the top spot for New Kids On The Block and 'Hangin Tough'. We finish with an artist who would have a big year but slips in at 27 in this weeks chart with his first charting track. The wonderful Adamski acid house track ‘N-R-G'.

Edited March 6, 20214 yr by steve201

Top of the Pops 26/1/1990 presented by Simon Mayo & Jackie Brambles

 

Yell! - Instant Replay No24^

Public Enemy - Welcome To The Terrordome(Video) No18^

Del Amitri - Nothing Ever Happens No23 CE

 

 

**Breakers Lonnie Gordon - Happenin' All Over Again(Video) No32 NE

**Breakers Wrecks -N-Effect - Juicy(Video) No30 ^

**Breakers And Why Not? - The Face(Video) No31^

 

F.P.I Project - Going Back To My Roots(Ft Sharon Dee Clarke) No9 ^

Quincy Jones - I'LL Be Good To You(Feat Ray Charles & Chaka Khan) (Video) No27^

Phil Collins - I Wish It Would Rain Down No26 NE

 

 

Adamski - N.R.G No12^

Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares To You No3^^ 40,600

***No1 Kylie Minogue - Tears On My Pillow(Video)***No1 1st week 61,000

Gino Latino - Welcome(Video) No19^

 

 

So we have Smon and Jackie as hosts tonight with the later having a new hairstyle. Another thing thats new is the credits introducing the hosts and bands as they go with a coloured theme. The show also seems to be on at a later time (in 1990) mainly due as Simon says to BBC coverage of the commonwealth games. Wonder why they dont push it over to BBC 2? Maybe wait a few years for that....

 

We start the show with a studio performance from Yell! With their cover of the Dan Hartman song 'Instant Replay' from 1978 which got to number 8 in November of 78 in the UK chart, this one starts at number 24 this week.Yell! consisted of singers Daniel James and Paul Varney and were signed by Simon Cowells Fanfare label in 1989. This would be their only top 75 hit in the UK. I swear they always have the cheesiest bands to start the show with their sailor outfits and novelty style SAW production, any wonder Cowell signed them!

 

Next up and the quality increases alot with the video forn the current top 40 single from rap band Public Enemy 'Welcome To The Terrordome'. Public Enemy is an American hip hop group formed by Chuck D and Flavor Flav on Long Island, New York, in 1985. The group came to attention for their music with a heavy political message alongside strong criticism of the media of the United States, with many of their works also revolving around frustrations and concerns of the African American community. 'Welcome to the Terrordome' was the first single from the bands third album 'Fear Of A Black Planet' set to be released in April 1990. It was written after the band was criticized by Jews for Professor Griff's anti-semitic comments, "911 Is a Joke", which criticized emergency response units for taking longer to arrive at emergencies in the black community than those in the white community. Bands like Public Enemy really did set the field for all rap bands in the next 3 decades.

 

Next up Jackie counts down the first part of the chart from 40-31 with new entries by Sybil, Raze & Cher.

 

Next in the studio its the debut performance on the TOPs for a classic band Del Ametri. This ensures the quality stays high with this folk style melody to their music. Del Amitri are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in Glasgow in 1980. Del Amitri's founding member and main songwriter, Justin Currie, explained in 2010 that the band's name "was invented to be meaningless – basically a corruption of the Greek name 'Dimitri'." In 2018, Currie clarified that 'Del Amitri' is a bast*rdisation of the name of a film producer who appeared in the closing credits of a film he saw in 1979 – "probably Dimitri-something, but we couldn't remember... so eventually through osmosis or maybe Chinese Whispers 'Dimitri' became 'Del Amitri'." Many sources have repeated a claim that the name was chosen because it is Greek for "from the womb",but this is untrue. 'Nothing Ever Happens' is the third single from the bands second album 'Waking Hours' which reached the top 10 of the albums chart when released in July 1989. This is their biggest hit in the UK chart.

 

And next up we have three breakers this week from Lonnie Gordon, Wrecks-N-Effect & And Why Not with video clips of them all. Following this we have a repeat perfformance from 2 weeks ago from a song thats been around since christmas by FPI Project. This time its a repeat of the Sharon Dee Clarke vocal version which is my favourite. Not sure why we needed another viewing of this albeit it did climb one place this week so can be shown as its not a chart faller, maybe the record company wanted a top 5 challenge.

 

Next up we have three music legends combining with Michael Jackson producers from the late 70s/early 80s in Quincy Jones alongside Ray Charles and Chaka Khan, interestingly the most contemporay figure on the record. Its a fairly unimaginatve late 80s number with some nice funky beats and vocals(unsurprising from those involved). An obvous choice for TOTP to show on video as the record slowly climbs the chart.

 

Next up Jackie again takes on the task of counting down the middle riff of the chart with numbers 30-11 with new entries for Phil Collins, Yell & Del Amitri.

 

Next up in the studio is another performance from legend Phil Collins with Eric Clapton on guitar with the second single from his album 'But Seriously' which has been top of the chart since its Christmas release.

 

As I said last week there would be bigger things to come from Adamski in 1990 in later months but this TOTP debut performance is nice enough to start as the studio is bouncing to this pianio driven house banger. Adamski also known as Adam Paul Tinley and by different stage names Sonny Eriksson is an English DJ.

 

Its been a great show this week, probably one of the best of the year so far and yet another fab studio performance from soon to be chart topper 'Nothing Compares To You' from Sinead O'Connor. What a fantastic song this is as jackie says penned by Prince for his side project 'The Family'. This was Sineads second single from her second album 'I Do Not Wants What I Havent Got'. One of the biggest talking points was the hugely popular video(one of the most played on MTV through 1990) when Sinead cried during the lyrics which are about feelings of longing from an abandoned lover. Prince released his own rendition of "Nothing Compares 2 U", with Rosie Gaines on guest vocals in 1993. This live version of the song was included on his compilation album The Hits/The B-Sides. His original 1984 studio recording of the song was eventually released in 2018 as a single and later on the 2019 posthumous compilation Originals.

 

We have a new number one this week as the New Kids become old quickly which aint a bad thing as pop starlet Kylie Minogue bags herself a 4th number one single in the UK.

 

The show ends with the video for the riser by Gino Latino with the house number 'Welcome'.

Edited March 8, 20214 yr by steve201

The Del Amitri song is very good. When I hear it, I think of it being from from the 96-98 era so it's a reminder here that it's actually from 1990. I Wish It Would Rain Down is my favourite single from the 'But Seriously' album although the best song on there is Colours which, at 9 minutes in length, was too long to be released as a single. I like Nothing Compares 2 U more now than I did at the time.

Yeh it’s a fantastic track, surprised they had been around so long and they are a band I knew and heard a lot about but couldn’t name any of their songs or encountered them!

Top of the Pops 2/2/1990 presented by Bruno Brookes

 

Lonnie Gordon - Happenin All Over Again No9^^ (18,000 sales)

Wreck-N-Effect- Juicy No29 ^

And Why Not - The Face No20 ^

Sybil - Walk On By No19 ^

 

 

**Breakers Birdland - Sleep With Me(Video) No32 NE

**Breakers Beloved - Hello(Video) No36 NE

**Breakers Eurythmics - The Queen & King Of America(Video) No34 NE

 

 

House Of Love - Shine On No22 NE

Mantronix - Got To Have Your Love (Ft Wondress)(Video) No4 ^ (40,000 sales)

Cher - Just Like Jessie James(Video) No25 ^

Technotronic Featuring Ya Kid K - Get Up(Before The Night Is Over) No3 NE* (44,000 sales)

***No1 Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares To You***No1 1st week at number one (85,000 sales)

Skidrow - 18 & Life(Video) No23 NE

 

 

Tonights show is presented by Bruno Bookes going solo once again in his fairly old fashioned(even for 1990) grey suit and tie. He starts of introducing the fab new tune by Lonnie Gordon which is this weeks highest climber up a huge 23 places into the top 10 sellers. A fairly nice sounding hi-nrg style pop track. I think its the first time hearing it so musnt be one thats recurrent but it has a beat I am familiar with so maybe it still gets played a bit. 'Happenin' All Over Again' is a song written and produced by Stock Aitken & Waterman for Lonnie Gordon's first album 'If I Have to Stand Alone' not released until 1991. It was released as the album's second single. The song mixed Stock Aitken & Waterman's Europop sound with the blooming Italo house music which was becoming big in the UK charts at the time. The song had been originally written for Donna Summer, but due to a falling-out with the producers, she never recorded it and instead was given to Gordon. The Stock, Aitken & Waterman version was mixed by Phil Harding.

 

As we return to Bruno he finally lets us know what the wee high up balcony is known as - 'the bridge'. Alwasy wanted to know that since it first appeared at the start of 1989. Anyway enough of my curious little info bits about the TOTP studio and onto the next studio performance from Wreck-N-Effect, yes we get two studio performances in a row to start, Im shocked. I really like 'Juicy'. Sounds like something LL Cool J would have released with its soulful hip hop sound. Apparently this sound is called 'new swing' as a mix of dance/pop and hip hop. This was the first of 4 top 75 singles in the UK for the duo, albeit one was a re-release.

 

Next up the studio audience seem to be fascinated with Brunos lovely tie we have the first part of the chart countdown from 40-31 with new entries for Janet Jackson, Beloved & Eurythmics. Following this we get our third studio performance in a row from the great And Why Not? and their new single The Face. And Why Not? were a British pop trio, from Birmingham, Their only album, 'Move Your Skin'was produced by Alan Shacklock a guitarist in the 1970s rock band Babe Ruth and engineered by Bryan Smith and Harry Sutcliffe, This was the second of only 3 top 75 hits in the UK chart.

 

Next up another studio performance from the wonderful voice of Sybil AKA Sybil Lynch, who is an American R&B and pop singer–songwriter. She is the cousin of former En Vogue singer Maxine Jones. The track 'Walk On By' is a cover of the Dionne Warwick track first released in 1963. There are also versions by Booby Kris & The Imperials in 1965, a disco version by Gloria Gaynor in 1975 and also a punk version by The Stranglers in 1978. This is Sybils 5th and biggest hit so far of 14 top 75 UK chart hits. For me it sounds like a standard early 90s soul/rnb style production and sounds fairly nice now too.

 

We are back in the studio for a band I had not heard of before the show 'House of Love' with the sound at number 22 in the chart. House of Love are an English alternative rock band, formed in London in 1986 by singer-songwriter-guitarist Guy Chadwick and co-founder and lead guitarist Terry Bickers. This sounds really good and even from the look of the band performing you can see a change from the new wave bands of the late 80s, this sounds, feels and looks an awful lot more like the 1990s and the start of Brit pop sounding stuff. Despite the fact this particular single was made and first released for the bands first album in 1987. The song itself sounds pretty cool too, definately must check out some of their stuff after this. It does have some past feel to it, like all music does it always takes something from the past. Its kinds of reminds me of The Cure or Echo and the Bunnymen.

 

Next up we have our first video which is a non-breaker on the show - the wonderful Mantronix track in the top 5 now 'Got To Have Your Love'. One of the classic songs in the current chart still well known 30 years later.

 

Next up its the second part of the chart rundown with new entries by Skid Row & House Of Love.

 

Following this we get a viewing of the video for the new Cher track ‘Just Like Jesse James'. Quite a nice track by Cher though not one I remember well personally, more of a country track from her.

 

We are back in the studio next for the performance by the weeks highest new entry by Technotronic.And its a change in atmosphere from the smooth ballad of Cher with some house thumiping dance beats which turn the TOTP studio into a night club. This is possibly the hardest house track I have heard in the chart since the 'new sound' from Chicago broke through and would become popular in the years ahead. This takes the Italo piano beats and house and turns the volume up to 100!! But I really like this and its a sound I have heard before, a classic dance track you might say. This sound would be popular in years ahead as I mentioned and similar beats would produce classics by Snap soon in the early part of the decade.

 

Into the top 10 next with us landing at the top spot with a new number one inevitably it’s from the wonderful Sinead O'Connor. What a classic!! Pretty sure its been quite some time since the number one was performed in the studio. Just from memory I think it was Lisa Stansfield in November. Anyway Kylie only grabs the one week at the top spot, the last time she would be here for 10 years.

 

We finish with the video for the new entry at 23 from metal band Skid Row, this is rock music more like the late 80s, not a classic like some of the bands of that era. Time for some grunge to shake these American bands up please!!

 

Really enjoyed this episode, loads of studio performances for a change and some classics and new songs I love that I have never heard before which is why I love watching every week.

 

 

* Highest New Entry

** Breaker

*** Number One

^ Riser

^^ Highest climber

 

Sales info custody of Gezza

Edited March 21, 20214 yr by steve201

I loved the Cher track, a thumping Western ballad, and Sinead is classic of course. House Of Love is the other highlight for me, as songs start to have nostalgia for my first holiday in Florida in March.

 

Very thorough analysis! :cheer:

Thanks for commenting Pop 😁!

 

Yeh I had never heard that Cher track before watching and it’s quite nice and completely different for her imo. She really did start increasing the amount of hits she had in the UK from 1989 onwards until the obvious peak in 1999.

 

Yeh House Of Love sounded amazing very like Echo & The Bunnymen and felt very Brit pop with the dress sense and all.

Sinead O'Connor Nothing Compares 2 U and 49ers Touch Me are such highlights from this turn of the decade time.

Tops of the Pops 8/2/1990 presented by Gary Davies

 

Yell!- Instant Replay No10 ^ (19,000)

Janet Jackson - Come Back To Me(Video) No27 ^

Beats International - Dub Be Good To Me No15 NE*

 

 

Del Amitri - Nothing Ever Happens No11 ^

Lisa Stansfield - Live Together(Video) No19 NE

The Beloved - Hello No24 ^^

 

 

Phil Collins - I Wish It Would Rain Down No7 ^ (25,000)

Skid Row - 18 & Life(Video) No12

***No1 Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares To You(Video)***No1 2nd week =(119,000 sales)

Eurythmics - King & Queen Of Ameerica(Video) No29 ^

 

 

Tonight show presented by Gary on solo duty and what an amazing shirt that is!! As the audience roll out Garys lines for whos coming up on the show we start with a studio performance from Yell! and their current hit '”Instant Replay”. Its a fairly cheesy fare which before checking sounds very like a stereotypical SAW fare before even researching, this production team have basically created euro pop for me. Yell! consisted of singers Daniel James and Paul Varney. In 1989, they both met manager Jeff Chegwin and decided to form the group. They were signed by Simon Cowell to Fanfare Records. This is the group's first single, a cover version of Dan Hartman's 1970s hit, "Instant Replay", was produced by Nigel Wright and re-mixed by Pete Hammond from PWL. So not quite SAW but knew Simon Cowell had his hand in there somewhere. In January 1990, it entered the UK singles chart and peaked at No.10 in February, giving the duo attention from the pop press. The hits dried up pretty quickly after this though and their 1991 album debut 'Lets Go' would be their only release.

 

Next up as usual we go to the video for our next performance and its the new single from Janet Jackson. "Come Back to Me" is a song by the American singer from her fourth studio album Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 in 1989. It was written and produced by Jackson in collaboration with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The R&B ballad talks about a lover trying to rekindle a romance that faded away a long time ago. The music video we are watching was set in Paris and features her former husband René Elizondo, Jr.

 

Next up its the first part of the chart with the numbers from 40-31 including new entries for Epic, Cramps, Eric Clapton & Rod Stewart.

 

Next up my favourite new song of the week by Beats International and future big hit "Dub be Good To Me". "Dub Be Good to Me" is by British dub group Beats International featuring singer Lindy Layton, released on 24 January 1990. It was a number-one hit in the United Kingdom, and hit number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play in the United States. It is generally considered the band's signature song. "Dub Be Good to Me" was written by Beats International frontman Norman Cook who of course broke through 4 years earlier with The Housemartins. It interprets The SOS Band's "Just Be Good to Me" (1983), which it is named after. It also samples the songs "The Guns of Brixton" by The Clash, the Once Upon a Time in the West theme by Ennio Morricone, and the song "Jam Hot" by Johnny Dynell.

 

Next up in the studio we get another viewing from last week by rising song "Nothing Ever Happens' by Del Amitri. This must run Beats International as one of my favouriter sounds in the chart, what a great tune. Deserves to move into the top 10 next week.

 

We get a new video from Lisa Stansfield next with her follow up to her huge pre-christmas number one "All Around The World". I hope we get a studio performance in the weeks ahead as this is one of my favouriter Lisa hits with the great dance production, sounds a bit like Massive Attack for me. So chilled out! Its the third single from her debut album 'Affection'.

 

We have the second part of the chart run down next with new entries risers by Beloved, Janet Jackson & as we heard Lisa Stansfield.

 

Next up the song at number 24 "Hello" by The Beloved in the TOTP studio for the first time. "Hello" is a song by The Beloved, released as the second single from their album 'Happiness'.As well as the names of some of the band members' friends, the song mentions a number of famous people (some of them fictional), chosen to loosely fit a "saints and sinners" theme. In alphabetical order, the people listed in the song are: Jeffrey Archer (politician and novelist), Fred Astaire, Bobby Ball (comedian), Charlie Brown, Tommy Cannon (comedian), Billy Corkhill (soap opera character), Leslie Crowther (TV presenter), "Freddie" Flintstone, Paris Grey (singer), Brian Hayes (broadcaster), Vince Hilaire (footballer), Barry Humphries, The LSO, Kym Mazelle (singer), Mork and Mindy, Little Neepsie (often misheard as Little Nietzsche), Little Nell, Charlie Parker, André Previn, Little Richard, Salman Rushdie, Jean-Paul Sartre, The Supremes ("Mary Wilson, Di and Flo"), William Tell, Sir Bufton Tufton, Desmond Tutu, Willy Wonka, Zippy and Bungle (TV characters). There are also references to "Peter" and "Paul", presumably the Christian apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul. "Chris and Do" are friends of the band while "Steve and Claire" are guitarist Steve Waddington and his girlfriend. They originally formed in 1983 as a new wave band but went move house post 1987. They do sound quite like Happy Mondays or The Stone Roses. I imagine we have alot of this in the early 90s.

 

Next up we have the new single by Phil Collins whos album 'But Seriously' has been number one in the album chart for 10 weeks, or basically since Christmas. He has another top 10 single here to keep it selling.I really love the bluesy sound on this and it really is a classic. Also who can resist a gospel choir in a song.

 

We get another view of the video by metal band Skid Row. I love a bit of metal as much as the next person but by thuis stage of the 1990s we need grunge to shake this scene up which has moved towards what basically are power ballads.

Skid Row is an American rock band, formed in 1986 in Toms River, New Jersey. The title of the song alludes to its subject, 18-year-old Ricky, receiving a sentence of life imprisonment for the murder of another teen. The song paints Ricky's youth as his undoing. It was believed for a long time that guitarist Dave Sabo got the idea from a newspaper article about an 18-year-old named Ricky who was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering his friend with a gun, that due to alcohol, he most likely guessed wasn't loaded. However, in an interview with the Professor of Rock, Sabo states that the original inspiration was his brother Rick's life after coming home from Vietnam. The writing process eventually lead the song to being about an accidental murder. The music video also alludes to this. MTV refused to air the video due to that scene.

 

We have the top 10 rundown next ending up with a second week at the top for Sinead O'Connor with the wonderful “Nothing Compares To You". It has a big increase this week to well over 100,000 sales.

 

We end the show the fab video from the Eurythmics, one of my favourite videos by the Scottish pop duo.

Edited April 7, 20214 yr by steve201