2000: The Good Old Days? - September

In September I would have described my main music taste as being dance music but here we see the origins of me getting into R&B. I was really into garage at this point in time and one of my favourites from my garage tapes was "Tell Me It's Real" by K-Ci & Jojo which this the best record this month. I would later find out this started life as an R&B record and was by the same people who did "All My Life" a couple of years earlier. If I had to pick a favourite R&B act then they would probably be it.

All the UK garage this month was good. Happy hardcore DJ's Sy & Unknown started doing garage under the name Trick or Treat and did a garage remix of "Let Me Be Your Fantasy" by Baby D. There was also the best version of "Freak Like Me" which came from Tru Faith & Dub Conspiracy.

House music was pretty good this month too. We had the excellent "Scorchio" by Sasha and Darren Emerson. The latter was a member of Underworld when they did "Cowgirl" which was originally made in 1994 but wasn't a Top 40 hit until this month. The only house record I don't like this month is "Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" by Modjo.

There were 2 techno new entries this month, "Kernkraft 400" by Zombie Nation and "Ubik" by Timo Maas & Martin Bettinghaus and again both are decent records.

It's the trance music that's letting down the dance genre this month generally speaking. The decent ones are "Hudson Street" by Agnelli & Nelson and "Bullet In The Gun 2000" by Planet Perfecto whilst "On The Level" by Yomanda is OK. The rest are either vocal rubbish e.g. "Ordinary World" by Aurora & Naimee Coleman or lazy e.g. "Big Brother UK TV Theme" by Element Four.

The R&B tunes were generally solid this month. We had "Wifey" by Next and "Unleash the Dragon" by Sisqo which are both good and "Whatever" by Ideal US & Lil Mo which is OK. The only one letting the genre down is "Most Girls" by Pink.

Rap wise it's those mixing with rock music that are good. They are the double a-side "Can't Get The Best Of Me / Highlife" by Cypress Hill and the excellent "American Bad Ass" by Kid Rock. I have the feeling I owned "The Marshall Mathers LP" album by Eminem because I remember seeing Richard Blackwood on Top of the Pops and identifying it as the sort of rap music that I don't like.

I was really into Green Day at the time who had seemed to disappear some point in the 90s but this month they were back with the single "Minority". I like it but found the album to be very disappointing. 

I also hadn't heard anything from the Foo Fighters since the 90s but they were back with "Breakout" this month which is possibly the best thing they've ever done.

Onto the worst record then which comes from Vanessa Amorosi. Who's that? I hear you say. She's one of those short lived pop acts from around this time where I seem to be the only one to remember them. Her one and only Top 40 hit was "Absolutely Everybody" and I'm jealous of all those people who have forgot it.

Here's a list of the records with the best on top, worst at the bottom and the good ones in green, OK ones in amber and rubbish ones in red (and in no particular order):

Score: 44%

Here's a look at the chart:

The best month so far and it certainly is feeling more like the good old days.

January Charts: 1972

Here are the new entries ranked from best to worst:

1. The Chi-Lites - Have You Seen Her

2. Don McLean - American Pie

3. Fortunes - Storm In A Teacup

4. Al Green - Let's Stay Together

5. The Bee Gees - My World

6. Martha Reeves And The Vandellas - Bless You

7. Donnie Elbert - Where Did Our Love Go

8. Stevie Wonder - If You Really Love Me

9. Sly And The Family Stone - Family Affair

10. Pioneers - Give And Take

11. Badfinger - Day After Day

12. Bread - Baby I'm A Want You

13. Greyhound - Moon River

14. T.Rex - Telegram Sam

15. Chicory Tip - Son Of My Father

16. Barry Ryan - Can't Let You Go

17. Shirley Bassey - Diamonds Are Forever

18. Sonny And Cher - All I Ever Need Is You

19. Melanie - Brand New Key

20. Cat Stevens - Morning Has Broken

21. Neil Reid - Mother Of Mine

The first week of 1972 gave us 3 new entries which end up being the bottom 3 in this list. At the bottom we have Neil Reid with "Mother Of Mine". He was a 12 year old who had just won opportunity knocks, so the 70s equivalent of an X Factor winner who sings a dreary winners record and is never seen again.

Just above we have "Morning Has Broken" by Cat Stevens. I just can't get my head round the fact an artist who sung quite ground breaking records like "Matthew & Son" and "I'm Gonna Get Me A Gun" in the 60s thought it would be a good idea to cover a song I used to sing in school assembly and at church.

Then we have Melanie with "Brand New Key". The fact it inspired "Combine Harvester" by The Wurzels don't do it any favours, but even on it's own it's very much a novelty record that's rather irritating.

On a more positive note we have the excellent "Have You Seen Her" by The Chi-Lites at the top of the table. It could be argued that the spoken verses provided some inspiration for rap music a few years later. 

In 2nd place we have "American Pie" which I listened to the whole almost 9 minutes of because I like it. I remember the rerelease in 1991 and I didn't know it was an old record but it's one I'd sing along to.

The 3rd placed record "Storm In A Teacup" by the Fortunes also holds some nostalgia circa 1991 for me thanks to a 70s compilation that was often played at home at the time. They were primarily a 60s band who had this as their final Top 40 hit.

Motown was still producing the goods in 1972. Martha Reeves & the Vandella had their final Top 40 hit with "Bless You" whilst Stevie Wonder had a solid record with "If You Really Love Me". We also have a Motown cover but this time it's a decent one. Donnie Elbert recorded a cover of "Where Did Our Love Go" in the 60s and became part of the Northern Soul movement in the 70s.

When I think early 70s one of the first think that springs to mind is glam rock. We have our first example here from T Rex with "Telegram Sam" but to be honest I find it average at best.

A record of note in this batch is "Son Of My Father" which was the first chart topper to use a synthesizer. Unfortunately I just can't get into it.

I'll end with an interest chart stat for you. Badfinger had precisely 3 Top 40 hits, each one a year apart from each other, all released in January and all reached the Top 10. The one in this batch was their final hit "Day After Day" and I'd say are 3 a decent records.

After a terrible start to the year the records generally improved as the month went on.

Score: 43

UK Number 40s: Paolo Nutini - Better Man (2014)

 

Paolo Nutini was a big name in the mid to late 00s. His biggest hit was his debut "Last Request" in 2006 which made number 5. By the end of 2009 he'd clocked up 6 Top 40 hits.

5 years later he came back with "Scream (Funk My Life Up)" which became his 2nd highest charting single reaching number 12. Then came this which is his final Top 40 hit to date.

On paper it looks as if his hey day was over by this point and that's why this only made number 40. However, this was not officially released as a single so reached number 40 via enough people downloading it as an individual track so therefore this could be considered a success.

UK Number 40s: Nina Nesbitt - Selfies (2014)

 

We all know that success in music in a mainstream sense is more to do with who you are than the music itself. Sometimes who you are can be seen as both a help and hinderance at the same time which looks to be the case for Nina Nesbitt.

Just about the biggest name in modern music by 2014 was Ed Sheeran. Nina Nesbitt was Ed Sheeran's girlfriend at the time, so association with the biggest current name in music no doubt helped but at the same time some will say the only reason she's made it is because she's Ed Sheeran's girlfriend.

Her Top 40 debut came almost a year prior to this with "Stay Out" which made number 21. She was only 18 at the time. Her follow two singles failed to make the Top 40 and then came this which is a final Top 40 hit to date.

She's still remained active in music and has released many non-charting singles since.

80s in the 90s: 1981

Continuing the look at whether 80s acts succeeded in the 90s here's a look at the 1981 debutants:

Phil Collins: His solo career is certainly something you'd place in the 80s but precisely half of his Top 40 hits came in later years. He didn't have any chart toppers in the 90s but he had 3 Top 10 hits that were all quite memorable. Additionally you have "Something Happened On The Way To Heaven" which seemed big at the time and "You'll Be In My Heart" on the Tarzan soundtrack. 

Verdict: Hit

Depeche Mode: Just over a decade ago I went to see Depeche Mode in concert. They had a new album out so that was the one that provided the most songs. The album that provided the 2nd most was 1990 album "Violator" which includes arguably their signature tune "Enjoy The Silence". Overall the concert had 9 songs from 90s albums and just 3 from 80s ones. The fact they can sell out stadiums would imply demand for their 90s material is there.

Verdict: Hit

Kid Creole & The Coconuts: They debuted in 1981 with minor hit "Me And Pop I" and then in 1982 came their 3 Top 10 hits. By 1983 they looked to be finished from a Top 40 perspective until in 1990 when they returned for the first time in 7 years with "The Sex Of It" which made number 29 and then they were finished.

Verdict: Miss

New Order: Although they were big in the 80s their Top 40 record doesn't exactly suggest this. Only "Blue Monday" and "True Faith" made the Top 10 and amazingly "Bizarre Love Triangle" didn't even made the Top 40. In 1990 they had their only number one with "World In Motion" under the name Englandneworder and had a Top 10 with "Regret" in 1993. Although their remaining 90s hits didn't have too much impact on the charts you can't really overlook a chart topper and an equal number of Top 10s for both decades.

Verdict: Hit

Duran Duran: This is a tough one to judge. They were one of the big four pop groups of the early 80s along with Wham!, Culture Club and Spandau Ballet and the popularity of all of them declined after 1986. However Duran Duran had a solitary Top 10 in the 90s with "Ordinary World" which many say was their finest moment. It's also worth noting that they were on the final episode of youth TV show The Word in 1995. On the other hand by the end of the 90s Nick Rhodes was the only original member left and it wasn't until 2001 when the classic line up reunited. If it wasn't for "Ordinary World" then it would be a miss.

Verdict: Hit

Human League: Another group whose popularity went into decline after 1986. They also had a solitary Top 10 in the 90s, "Tell Me When". It raises the question should 1 big hit equate to a successful decade? Another perspective is that in the case of Depeche Mode, New Order and Duran Duran their big 90s hits sounded like they belonged in the 90s, "Tell Me When" seems more 80s nostalgia. I'm really torn on this, I remember this big if short lived comeback at the time but it just doesn't seem quite enough.

Verdict: Miss

Kirsty MacColl: A much easier one to judge. She had 4 Top 40 hits spread between 1981 and 1989 with the biggest being "Fairytale Of New York". In 1991 she adopted the Madchester sound and had a number 23 with "Walking Down Madison" which was co-written by Johnny Marr. No more Top 40 hits followed and of her 5 Top 40 hits this ones easily the most obscure.

Verdict: Miss

Level 42: You may be thinking "Level 42 had Top 40 hits in the 90s?" They had 4 and got no higher than 17. I remember a comedy show called Early Doors where 2 characters who would of been young adults in the 80s telling a character who would of been a teenager in the 90s about Level 42 and he'd never heard of them. Although I'm a 90s teenager myself I get the point.

Verdict: Miss

U2: They had more Top 40 hits in the 90s than 80s, just. They also had 2 number ones in the 90s but only had 1 in the 80s. I don't think you ever need to look at their chart stats to figure out that they were pretty big in the 90s.

Verdict: Hit

Sharon Redd: Her biggest hit came in the 90s which should in theory make her 90s chart career a hit. However this is more to do with her 80s hits not charting particularly high. Also her solitary 90s hit was her providing vocals for the DNA cover of her Top 40 debut "Can You Handle It". 

Verdict: Miss

Bruce Springsteen: Once again we ask the question can one big hit equate to a successful decade? Bruce Springsteen had his biggest hit in 1994 with "Streets Of Philadelphia" which made number 2. It was his only Top 10 of the 90s but then he only had 3 in the 80s. Couple that with the fact his non-Top 10 90s hits include "Secret Garden" and "Human Touch" which I'd say are better remembered than his cover of "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town" which was one of his 80s Top 10s I'd say he had a pretty successful decade.

Verdict: Hit

Kim Wilde: All I really remember about Kim Wilde in the 90s was that Chris Evans was a big fan. She did however have 3 Top 40 hits with the biggest one being the final one with her cover of "If I Can't Have You" making number 12. Not sure too many people remember that one.

Verdict: Miss

Lionel Richie: Another one who seemed done after 1986 but had a solitary big hit in the 90s. That big hit was "My Destiny". I remember being surprised when I retrospectively saw it came out in 1992 as I would of had it down as being from the 80s. I have no recollection of his 3 other 90s Top 40 hits. It's a tough one but I don't think that one hit is quite enough.

Verdict: Miss

Echo & The Bunnymen: When I hear the name I think of Chris Evans introducing them on TFI Friday. This was my introduction to them, I wasn't aware of their string of hits in the 80s at the time. "Nothing Lasts Forever" came out in 1997 and was their joint biggest hit. 2 more Top 40 hits followed but didn't have the same impact on the charts. The way they blended in with the other TFI Friday bands at the time makes me inclined to think this was a successful comeback.

Verdict: Hit

Top 30 in 1999 Reviewed: Week 33

Here's my weekly look at the Top 30 from 26 years ago. The plan is for these posts to go out at 17:30 on a Sunday.

Here is the Top 40 in full.

I've decided against repetition from previous weeks moving forward so will only feature the records I'm reviewing for the first time. I also won't repeat the reviews from the Top 20 in 1999 Reviewed posts.

Once again my opinions are inevitably going to differ from other people, but I'm not trying to convince anyone something is good or rubbish, I'm simply giving my opinion.

So this is the records new to the top 30 from this week in 1999 with my verdict on each record:

26. Ellie Campbell - So Many Ways

Ellie Campbell won a competition on GMTV to find the next big pop singer. The fact you're probably thinking Ellie who? will tell you it didn't quite work out that way. She failed to make the Top 40 with her debut and this became her only Top 40 hit. It was written by Pete Waterman, need I say anymore.

Verdict - Rubbish

25. Eclipse - Makes Me Love You

Eclipse were an Italian house duo and this was their only Top 40 hit. It samples "Thinking Of You" by Sister Sledge. That record lends itself very well to be sampled in house music and there is also minimal vocals in this which makes for a good record.

Verdict - Good

If we give the records which were good 1 point each and those which were OK half a point, the final score is 15.5/30, or 52%. Back above 50%, will this be the last time?

Dutch Top 40 1995: Week 33

These were the new entries in the Dutch Top 40 that never made the UK Top 40:

Marco Borsato - Je Hoeft Niet Naar Huis Vannacht

Marco Borsato was one of the most prolific artists in the Dutch Top 40 in the 90s and into the 21st century. He had 2 records in the Top 40 at the start of the year so I'm surprised it's taken till August until we see him again. This ones not as catchy as the other 2 records mentioned and the record buying public probably agreed as this failed to top the charts. He'll be back later in the year though.

Playahitty - The Summer Is Magic

I'm inclined to agree with this record given the era because 1995 is possibly the best summer there has ever been. There's a very 90s video to remind us how much better the world was back then and I can almost guarantee we'll never have a summer as good again. Playahitty were an Italian Eurodance act and their only other Dutch Top 40 effort was a 2008 version of this. I can almost guarantee that version will be shit so I'm not going to listen to it.

Michele - I Can Feel

Michele is a Dutch singer and this was her 2nd and final Dutch Top 40 hit. I guess this record is best described as a Eurodance ballad, similar in style to "Nothing Like The Rain" by 2 Unlimited which charted in Holland earlier on in the year but not the UK. These days Michele is the female vocalist for 2 Unlimited.