The Prodigy's Charly must have sounded very unusual to many listening to TOTP at the time. It must have been a big surprise to many at the time that it was such a big hit.

 

Sunshine on a Rainy Day is a rather cheesy pop song I think, but good all the same.

Seems like a long time ago Jason and Kylie were dancing round the stage in Jan 1989 singing ‘Especially For You’ like a different era completely, we must be fully into the 90s now!

It’s been a high quality couple of weeks for new songs in the top 10 - I’m a big fan of those by Metallica, PM Dawn and The Prodigy, great to see the start of the latter now :wub: I also really like the Prince and Bomb The Bass singles - ‘Winter In July’ was a fab discovery on these TOTP episodes!

7TH SEPTEMBER

 

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Bryan Adams makes nine weeks at No 1 easily, the last song to spend longer consecutively was 36 years ago when Slim Whitman’s “Rose Marie” did 11 weeks at the top. The success of the single is now approaching something of a phenomenon, the film has started to drop in the rankings but the single remains strong, in fact the next thing to threaten the ongoing domination of it could be the release of Adams’ new album “Waking Up The Neighbours” out in three weeks. It sold 78,000 copies last week to bring its total to 945,000 and should be a million seller at some point this week.

 

 

Also worth noting is Right Said Fred’s “I’m Too Sexy” which is stuck for a fourth week at No 2 (56,000) and has now sold 301,000 itself in its tenacity though it is fading week on week now. It stays ahead of four climbers, The Prodigy 4-3 (46,000), Prince & The New Power Generation 5-4 (40,000) and Arnee & The Terminators 9-5 (30,000), and Zoe 8-6 (29,000) who are all chasing down the top 2. PM Dawn make way for all these climbers, they stumble 3-7 (23,000) and further down Color Me Badd reverse 6-10 (20,000) but see their album make the top 3.

 

 

Gaining popularity first in the north west before starting to get the nation hooked Oceanic’s “Insanity” is a true example of a song which has grown strongly and slowly over a good few months, appearances on “The Hitman And Her” and “Top Of The Pops” have complemented clubplay and assisted where radio has resisted. It rises slowly 11-8 (23,000).

 

 

 

Starting off as a prayer written by Martika “Love…Thy Will Be Done” was transformed into a single by the fair hand of Prince and serves as her first single from her second album “Martika’s iamspamspamami which debuts at No 18 this week. Her last album produced two top 10 singles in “Toy Soldiers” (#5) and “I Feel The Earth Move” (#7) but led to diminishing returns as last single “Water” faltered at No 59, she starts this campaign off well as the new single advances 12-9 (20,000).

 

 

1- (EVERYTHING I DO)- I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (78,000)

2- I’M TOO SEXY- Right Said Fred (56,000)

3- CHARLY- The Prodigy (46,000)

4- GETT OFF- Prince & NPG (40,000)

5- I’LL BE BACK- Arnee & The Terminators (30,000)

6- SUNSHINE ON A RAINY DAY- Zoe (29,000)

7- SET ADRIFT ON MEMORY BLISS- PM Dawn (23,000)

8- INSANITY- Oceanic (23,000)

9- LOVE....THY WILL BE DONE- Martika (20,000)

10- ALL 4 LOVE- Color Me Badd (20,000)

 

14TH SEPTEMBER

 

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Paula Abdul gets her revenge on Bryan Adams this week in the US, his “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” knocked off her “Rush Rush” in July but this week Abdul’s follow up “Promise Of A New Day” topples Adams after 7 weeks at the top. There’s no repeat here though as the song takes its tenth week at the top with ease selling 74,000 copies over the course of the week which naturally means it is now officially a million seller with total sales at 1,019,000. It’s been around so long now that his follow up “Can’t Stop This Thing We Started” debuts at No 25 enabling him to become the first act to be at No 1 whilst the follow up is also in the top 40 since Phil Collins in early 85, though honourable mention must go to Madonna later that year with her re-issued “Holiday” and “Into The Groove” hogging the top 2.

 

 

What chances a record equalling eleventh week? Very good in fact, Right Said Fred spend an amazing fifth straight week at the No 2 spot, a feat not seen since Wham! did the same in 84/85, sales again dip to 49,000 though just 2,000 ahead of The Prodigy who are making heavy going at overcoming them. A bit of shuffling around below them occurs, Zoe climbs 6-4 (38,000) and Oceanic follow 8-5 (31,000) which is bad news for Prince who recedes 4-6 (30,000).

 

 

Based extensively around the Staple Singers 1972 #30 hit “I’ll Take You There”, Salt N Pepa seem to be back in public favour with a second top 10 hit of the year in “Let’s Talk About Sex”. Dealing with AIDS and the US censorship around the topic in some circles, the tune comes in a more direct mix called “Let’s Talk About AIDS” which has a promo featuring prominent acts doing cameo spots including PM Dawn and Monie Love. The normal version is the one getting the promo here though it is proving hard to generate airplay for the song perhaps because of the S word but in any case it springs 13-7 (26,000).

 

 

Arnee & The Terminators will, in all likelihood, not be back in the top 10 as they collapse 5-8 (21,000) and Martika holds at No 9 (18,000) but a mixed week for PM Dawn as the single drops 7-10 (17,000) but the album arrives at No 8.

 

 

1- (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (74,000)

2- I’M TOO SEXY- Right Said Fred (49,000)

3- CHARLY- The Prodigy (47,000)

4- SUNSHINE ON A RAINY DAY- Zoe (38,000)

5- INSANITY- Oceanic (31,000)

6- GETT OFF- Prince & NPG (30,000)

7- LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX- Salt N Pepa (26,000)

8- I’LL BE BACK- Arnee & The Terminators (21,000)

9- LOVE...THY WILL BE DONE- Martika (18,000)

10 –SET ADRIFT ON MEMORY BLISS- PM Dawn (17,000)

 

Oceanic - Insanity is rather cheesy compared to the other dance hits at the time.

It's terrible.

Absolutely adore 'Love...Thy Will Be Done' :wub:

we love the staying power of Bryan! :)

 

really like both newies, always liked Martika, didn't know this started as a prayer written by her... I always thought it was just a Prime song that he gave to her...

 

always liked the Oceanic song too, actually much more than other dance songs from that time from Prodigy or Shamen

This week (8 September 1991) there are two debuts by songs with “Such A Feeling” in the title - both bangers - “Such A Feeling” by Bizarre Inc. in at 28 and “Such A Good Feeling” by Brothers In Rhythm in at 34. Incidentally they ended up having very similar chart runs and ended up next to each other when they peaked at 13 and 14 respectively. *.*

 

 

But my personal fave is Saint Etienne with their debut Top 40 hit - in at 39 with “Only Love Can Break Your Heart”.

 

 

Also - Tommy Vance was on presenting duties for 8 September 1991 - the man has the greatest voice in radio! he also spent more time giving little facts and figures about all the new entries so it was a more interesting listen than Bruno Brookes IMO.

 

It’s been a high quality couple of weeks for new songs in the top 10 - I’m a big fan of those by Metallica, PM Dawn and The Prodigy, great to see the start of the latter now :wub: I also really like the Prince and Bomb The Bass singles - ‘Winter In July’ was a fab discovery on these TOTP episodes!

 

“Winter In July” is GORGEOUS. Made my 1991 compilation: https://i.imgur.com/DL1K5IV.png

Will listen to Tommy Vance doing the chart, didn’t realise he was still on radio 1 at this point!

“Winter In July” is GORGEOUS. Made my 1991 compilation

 

This week (8 September 1991) there are two debuts by songs with “Such A Feeling” in the title - both bangers - “Such A Feeling” by Bizarre Inc. in at 28 and “Such A Good Feeling” by Brothers In Rhythm in at 34.

 

Also - Tommy Vance was on presenting duties for 8 September 1991 - the man has the greatest voice in radio! he also spent more time giving little facts and figures about all the new entries so it was a more interesting listen than Bruno Brookes IMO.

 

I only discovered Winter In July recently from the TOTP episodes - cool sounding trip hop and sounds great for its time - its like a less well known '7 seconds'.

 

I listened to Tommy Vance's shows from the 80s on the mixcloud a while back and yes the facts about the songs he gives made it more interesting to listen to.

 

I like the use of the 'Oi' crowd shout sounds from the Bizarre Inc Such a Feeling. The Brothers In Rhythm track is more mainstream house sounding, it could have equally been a hit in 1990 or in 1995 when piano house made a revival.

 

always liked the Oceanic song too, actually much more than other dance songs from that time from Prodigy or Shamen

 

I like the follow-up Controlling Me considerably better, it doesn't have such a cheesy sounding repetitive chorus with key changes! Sadly it didn't make top 10.

Edited October 5, 20213 yr by sn👠ke

Sunshine on a Rainy Day :wub: :wub:

 

Oceanic :wub:

21ST SEPTEMBER

 

 

Records are equaled this week in the top 2 as Bryan Adams and Right Said Fred again combine to roadblock the top 2 for a sixth week. For Adams the 71,000 sold of “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” give it an 11th week at the top which equals the record by Slim Whitman in terms of most consecutive weeks at the top. Next target is the 18 weeks in total spent by Frankie Lane’s “I Believe” in 1953 though that was in three stints.

 

 

Meanwhile “I’m Too Sexy” holds at No 2 on a sale of 39,000, that’s the sixth straight week in the runner up spot equaling Father Abraham & The Smurfs “Smurf Song” in 1978 when it was held off by John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John. For the Fred’s it seems unlikely that it will be a record maker as it was just 2,000 ahead of Salt N Pepa this week and took TOTP to overcome the girls in the end- they won’t have that boost this week. Oceanic are also on TOTP on Thursday as “Insanity” expands 5-4 (36,000) and may progress further.

 

 

Highest new entry of the week comes from Erasure and their second single from next month’s “Chorus” album, “Love To Hate You” ramps up the camp factor by using the instrumental break in “I Will Survive” to great effect. It becomes their 10th top 10 single in 5 years as it crashes straight in at No 7(26,000), that’s their equal third highest debut ever after “Chorus” (#3) and “Drama!” (#6) but they’re yet to have that elusive chart topper.

 

 

 

Debuting one place lower than Erasure is the new Guns N Roses single “Don’t Cry” which previews two new albums by the band “Use Your Illusion” volumes I & II which are both out this week and go head to head for top honours. The single is unusually available on both albums though in different versions with different verses, and perversely the single edit is actually a third version! It becomes the band’s fifth top 10 hit but only their second to arrive instantly there, they are arguably the biggest band in the world at present and sold 21,000 last week.

 

 

 

Currently creating waves on the dancefloor Sabrina Johnston’s “Peace” is the latest dance track to become a top 10 hit floating 17-9 (19,000). The 22 yr old was born in the Germany but calls the US her home now, she auditioned to become a backing singer on the Rolling Stones “Steel Wheels” tour but instead opted to record her debut album, not looking like a bad move at present.

 

 

 

Some call them dance pioneers but the use of pop samples on techo and rave backings is a new and innovative development in the genre’s and Utah Saints are a duo who are much revered in certain circles. The first single “What Can You Do For Me” samples Gwen Guthrie’s 1986 #5 hit “Ain’t Nothing Going On But The Rent”, Eurythmics “There Must Be An Angel” (1985, #1) and a spot of Queen and Kiss, the mish mash nudges 11-10 (17,000).

 

 

 

1- (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (71,000)

2- I’M TOO SEXY- Right Said Fred (39,000)

3- LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX- Salt N Pepa (37,000)

4- INSANITY- Oceanic (36,000)

5- SUNSHINE ON A RAINY DAY- Zoe (30,000)

6- CHARLY- The Prodigy (27,000)

7- LOVE TO HATE YOU- Erasure (26,000)

8- DON’T CRY- Guns N Roses (21,000)

9- PEACE- Sabrina Johnston (19,000)

10- WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ME- Utah Saints (17,000)

 

28TH SEPTEMBER

 

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A great week to be Bryan Adams with “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” creating a new chart record by being No 1 for a 12th straight week but the follow up “Can’t Stop This Thing We Started” also climbs from No 18 to, appropriately enough, No 12. His album “Waking Up The Neighbours” is out this week and may spell the end for the single but it still sold 65,000 copies last week, 16,000 clear of the fast increasing Salt N Pepa who themselves are up 3-2 with Oceanic still in hot pursuit 4-3 (44,000).

 

 

 

The only new song in the chart is from Zambian singer Rozalla, she moved to London in 1988 where she recorded her first UK single “Born To Love Ya” last year. It became, as they say, a big hit in the clubs though that didn’t translate into chart sales. Second release "Faith" made No 56 back in April but “Everybody’s Free (To Feel Good)” is just the ticket it appears as it rides in 13-7 (26,000) and with TOTP supporting her this week this could rocket yet.

 

 

Erasure climb 7-4 (40,000) but not so good for Right Said Fred as they tumble 2-5 (31,000) but they have now sold over 400,000 in the process, a tidy return for their bank manager. Zoe falls 5-6 (28,000) and The Prodigy are out in the cold 6-9 (20,000) but both Sabrina Johnston and Utah Saints hold steady at No 8 (21,000) and No 10 (16,000) respectively.

 

 

1- (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (65,000)

2- LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX- Salt N Pepa (49,000)

3- INSANITY- Oceanic (44,000)

4- LOVE TO HATE YOU- Erasure (40,000)

5- I’M TOO SEXY- Right Said Fred (31,000)

6- SUNSHINE ON A RAINY DAY- Zoe (28,000)

7- EVERYBODY’S FREE (TO FEEL GOOD)- Rozalla (26,000)

8- PEACE- Sabrina Johnston (21,000)

9- CHARLY- The Prodigy (20,000)

10- WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ME- Utah Saints (16,000)

 

Pretty good newbies

love Don't Cry, great ballad, one of the best from GNR

Love to Hate You is one of Erasure's finest too

PJB ft. Hannah & Her Sisters, on the show with a decent enough cover of Bridge Over Troubled Water. Never knew this before but looking this up on the net PJB is actually songwriter / producer Pete Bellotte. If your not familiar with the name, he worked with Giorgio Moroder creating all of Donna Summers 70's hits including I Feel Love.

Are the above two editions of TOTP the last in the traditional studio and presenters?

Are the above two editions of TOTP the last in the traditional studio and presenters?

Yep. All change from next week!

 

I have these 4 on 12" :wub: