Here's my weekly look at the Top 30 from 30 years ago. The plan is for these posts to go out at 17:30 on a Sunday.
Here is the Top 40 in full.Obviously some of the records will be the same as last week so therefore the review will be the same for these. I've indicated which ones are new so you can skip the others if you read last weeks post.
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 top 30 from this week in 1991 with my verdict on each record:
30. The Charlatans - Over Rising
My memories of The Charlatans are they were around in 1990 as part of the baggy movement and then disappeared for several years before returning as a brit pop band. They did a lot of instantly forgettable songs in between though beginning with this.
Verdict - Rubbish
29. Definition Of Sound - Wear Your Love Like Heaven (New)
The first of 3 Top 40 hits for Definition Of Sound. You can hear a lot of De La Soul influence in this one but they have enough of their own stamp on it to not sound like a De La Soul clone.
Verdict - Good
28. Joey B Ellis And Tynetta Hare - Go For It! (Heart And Fire)
This is the Rocky song nobody remembers. The previous Rocky songs were all quite catchy, but this one isn't at all. That's probably a bad thing for a movie song, but in terms of music some really good tunes take a few listens before you can get into them. Unfortunately I've not been able to get into this after 30 years, so I probably never will.
Verdict - Rubbish
27. Jesus Loves You - Bow Down Mister (New)
The first Top 40 hit for the Boy George fronted band. Boy George became better known as a DJ in the 90s rather than a singer. This was a crossover of Indian music with dance music. The result is something I find a bit crap.
Verdict - Rubbish
26. Megadeth - Hangar 18
The 2nd single from their "Rust In Peace" album. It has a bit of variety to it, to me there's no obvious bit of the song that defines what it is. Because of that though, it makes it a bit of a nothing song. Maybe it's one of those records you need to listen to 100 times to get it, but I doubt I'm ever going to listen to it that many times.
Verdict - Rubbish
25. Ride - Today Forever (EP)
The track from this EP I'm reviewing is "Unfamiliar". Ride were one of those bands I just remember for being boring. This one perhaps isn't as boring as I expected, but it's definitely not one to get excited about.
Verdict - Rubbish
24. Free - All Right Now
For people of a certain age, this will bring back memories of the Isle of Wight festival amongst other things. For people of my age, it brings back memories of the Wrigley's advert which is why it ended up in the charts again in 1991. Prior to hearing this in full on the chart show though, I do remember watching the advert and thinking good song.
Verdict - Good
23. Feargal Sharkey - I've Got News For You (New)
I remember this appearing on Top of the Pops. Feargal Sharkey's hair was mostly covering his face during the intro so I found it hilarious that the first line of the song was "I can see clearly". Then when I heard there was a TV show called "Have I Got News For You" this song sprang to mind. It was shortly after this that Feargal Sharkey retired from singing completely. It's not the best if I'm completely honest, but the fond memories I have of said Top of the Pops appearance means I can just about declare this ok.
Verdict - OK
22. Queen - I'm Going Slightly Mad
When I first heard the song title to this, I was expecting something quite heavy that you could go mad to. On hearing the record it was a big disappointment, probably one of the lightest songs they've done. Maybe I should have paid more attention to the "slightly" in the title.
Verdict - Rubbish
21. Jesus Jones - Who? Where? Why?
This was the final Top 40 hit from their "Doubt" album. I would say this is much more leaning towards dance music than their previous singles, which is no bad thing. It's a bit more reflective of their future singles which I actually prefer to their earlier ones.
Verdict - Good
20. Banderas - This Is Your Life
This has nothing to do with the TV show of the same name. Banderas were backing singers in the Communards and this was their only Top 40 hit. It's one of those records I could take or leave at the time, but listening to it now for the first time in 30 years I can appreciate it a lot more. It's good advice that I should probably take myself at times.
Verdict - Good
19. REM - Losing My Religion
REM were more than a decade into their existence by this point, but their only UK Top 40 hit to date had been "Orange Crush" which was a minor hit 2 years earlier. They would have 6 Top 40 hits in 1991 though, some old and some new. This was the first of these which was a new one. I don't mind this record but its not one to get excited about.
Verdict - OK
18. Nomad ft MC Mikee Freedom - (I Wanna Give You) Devotion
Here we have the first Top 40 composition for arguably the most successful British songwriter of the modern era, Steve Mac. These days he's co-writer on Ed Sheeran records amongst others. I don't blame him, he's presumably made a lot more money writing rubbish than he would have done making decent music like this. Ironically, this record reached it's peak the day Ed Sheeran was born
Verdict - Good
17. Happy Mondays - Loose Fit
The final Top 40 hit from the "Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches" album. Quite an appropriate title for a song from the baggy genre. The legacy of this record is that it comes into my head whenever I encounter a pair of loose fit jeans.
Verdict - Good
16. Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy
The Top 40 debut for Massive Attack, though at this moment in time they were just known as Massive because of the gulf war. A lot of so called anthems in my opinion are overhyped to be something they're not, but not this one. It is an absolutely unbelievably good tune, one of my all time favourites.
Verdict - Good
15. Living Colour - Love Rears Its Ugly Head
The debut Top 40 hit for Living Colour and the only one that will appear in these reviews as the other 2 fell short of the Top 30. It's a shame because I really like the follow up to this, "Solace Of You". But this is a decent record too, a nice blend of funk and rock.
Verdict - Good
14. Madonna - Crazy For You
Up against The Clash in the battle of re-released in old singles which it looked like it won when it made number two, but then The Clash topped the charts. This was re-released because it didn't appear on any album, just the soundtrack to "Vision Quest", so this gave fans the opportunity to own the song without having to buy a movie soundtrack. Not my cup of tea though.
Verdict - Rubbish
13. Simple Minds - Let There Be Love (New)
Not the best known Simple Minds song but it was their second biggest hit. The fact Simple Minds were a big name and this was the lead single from their yet to be released the album no doubt helped. I remember Simple Minds having hits around this time without really remember the songs themselves. I was therefore ready to write this one off as being boring, but listening to it now it's actually not bad.
Verdict - OK
12. The Bee Gees - Secret Loved
The first time I remember hearing the Bee Gees was in 1989 when I saw "One" on The Chart Show. That record only made number 71. I also remember seeing "When He's Gone" on The Chart Show in 1991, but that never made the charts at all. They did have a solitary Top 40 hit around this time though with this record. It sounds like "Chain Reaction" by Diana Ross, but there was no chance of them getting sued for copyright as the Gibb brothers wrote that. I'm not keen on "Chain Reaction" so therefore I'm not keen on this.
Verdict - Rubbish
Verdict - Rubbish
11. Simpsons - Do The Bartman
This was my first introduction to The Simpsons, but I had no idea what it was all about. In those day's you could only get The Simpsons on Sky One, and I never had Sky at the time, neither did a lot of people. It wasn't until I went on holiday later on that year where Sky One was the only English channel in the hotel room, that I discovered The Simpsons was a TV show. It's a novelty song, which basically means crap, but intended to be crap. Its still crap though.
Verdict - Rubbish
10. Xpansions - Move Your Body (Elevation)
The short lived 1990 girl group Faith Hope & Charity is a name known to people as what TV presenter Dani Behr did before The Word. What perhaps isn't as well known was that fellow group member Sally Ann Marsh provided vocals for this record. It's one of those dance anthems I've probably heard too many times to get excited about, but it's still a decent record.
Verdict - Good
9. The Source - You Got The Love
There's been lots of versions of this record over the years. This isn't the original, but was the first version to make the Top 40. My personal favourite is the 1997 version, but this ones good too.
Verdict - Good
8. Quartz ft Dina Carroll - It's Too Late
A cover of the Carole King song and the first version that I heard. On that basis this one seems more like the original to me. I've not heard it many years and remember it being a lot more uplifting than it actually is, but I still like it.
Verdict - Good
7. Pet Shop Boys - Where The Streets Have No Name/Can't Take My Eyes Off You / How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously? (New)
This is a double a-side, the first being a mash up of the 2 songs listed. Regular readers of this blog will know that Pet Shop Boys are one of my all time favourites. I also consider them one of the best in the business at doing covers. It may therefore surprise you to see that I consider the mash up to be rubbish. It just doesn't work for me and is probably my least favourite Pet Shop Boys single. It is however redeemed by "How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously?" which is much more like it.
Verdict - Rubbish / Good
6. Stevie B - Because I Love You (The Postman Song)
Freestyle music was massive in America in the late 80s/early 90s, but barely got a look in over here. One of the key figures in the freestyle scene, Stevie B, did manage a solitary Top 40 hit over here though with a ballad that isn't really freestyle at all. This is one of those records I loved at the time and still like it today for that very reason.
Verdict - Good
5. Chesney Hawkes - The One And Only
Believe it or not, I've actually seen Chesney Hawkes in concert. He played at the students union at university one Saturday night. The set consisted of a bunch of covers, then he announced he was going to play his last single, not this one though, one that never made the charts. After a few more covers he played this at the end of the set to a massive cheer. It is a bit crap though, but it found it's place at many cheese nights.
Verdict - Rubbish
4. Roxette - Joyride
The lead single from their album of the same name. One thing that stood out to me from this video was Marie Frederiksson playing the guitar. I did wonder whether she was really playing the guitar so looked this up and it doesn't look like she did. It also looks like Per Gessle didn't play guitar on the song either, it was Jonas Isacsson playing it. I don't think I really liked this at the time, but like most Roxette songs I got to like it with age.
Verdict - Good
3. Rod Stewart - Rhythm Of My Heart
I was aware that Rod Stewart had a song called "Sailing" and at the time I thought this was it given it was the last word of the chorus. Like "Sailing" though, this is also a cover and like every Rod Stewart cover I've heard, its shit.
Verdict - Rubbish
2. The Clash - Should I Stay Or Should I Go
The Clash had never had a Top 10 hit prior to this, but then thanks to the Levi's advert they managed to score a number one. It was also up against Madonna in the battle of re-released old singles which it would eventually win. It's definitely the better out of the two in my opinion.Verdict - Good
1. Hale And Pace And The Stonkers - The Stonk
A novelty record made for Comic Relief which is predictably crap. As it's for charity though it can be any old rubbish and people will buy it.
Verdict - Rubbish
If we give the records which were good 1 point each and those which were OK half a point, the final score is 16.5/30, or 55%. We're falling again, but still a respectable score.
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