25 Years Since....August 1996

Let's not get too carried away, The Spice Girls were number one for the whole of August 1996. Here's what I was listening too instead:

E'Voke - Arms Of Loren

E'Voke had previously had a hit with "Runaway" which was a blatant rip off of "Set You Free" but I still loved it. Then they disappeared for almost a year until they reappeared with this.

I remember them appearing on The Big Breakfast around the time of it's release and I thought this seemed pretty decent too. Then they disappeared again, though an internet search tells me they have had further tunes but none I've noticed.

Alanis Morissette - Head Over Feet

Whilst The Spice Girls were harping on about girl power despite being a group manufactured by men singing a song written by men, here's a female who was in no way manufactured and wrote her own music.

As a raver at the time I couldn't be seen to be buying anything that wasn't rave but there was no denying I loved this tune. A couple of years later I saw the CD single in Cash Convertors and bought it.

OMC - How Bizarre

The song title more or less describes the song. The tunes quite melodic but the vocals are anything but. It's not really singing or rapping, but somehow it works.

It was also proof that Crowded House wasn't the only music to come out of New Zealand. As Crowded House were about to break up here was someone to fill that void. It wasn't to be though and they never had another hit.

OMD - Walking On The Milky Way

Yes that's right, OMC and OMD were both in the charts at the same time. At the time I never really paid close attention to the lyrics and dismissed it as being some fantasy space nonsense. I love the tune itself though.

Later on in life I paid a bit more attention to the lyrics and they started to make sense to me. You're young and have your dreams but then reality hits and I particularly liked the last line in the 2nd verse "I don't believe that anything can recreate your youth".

Even later on in life I met Andy McCluskey (the sole member of OMD on this single) and unfortunately I thought he was a bit of a prick. But then he was the man who gave the world Kerry Katona.

East 17 - Someone To Love

This was the final single from the "Up All Night" album. They were ever present throughout my music tastes even if I wouldn't admit it at the time.

The Top 40 Leaderboard: August 2021

What's this all about?

Fredo still tops the leaderboard having added 1 to his total in the last month. It's a 3 way tie in 2nd place, but look how far Drake and Justin Bieber have slipped. However Drake has a new album out in September which I fully expect to add 3 to his total.

No change in the proportion of rap this month with the year to date total being 72/169 or 43%. 

UK Number 40s: Roman Holliday - Motormania (1983)

 

This was the only Top 40 in 1983 to peak at number 40. Roman Holliday made their Top 40 debut a few months earlier with "Don't Try To Stop It" that made number 14. Earlier in the year they failed to reach the Top 40 with the single "Stand By" which reached 61 and did slightly better in America reaching 54, quite unusual for a British group.

This single failed to chart in American though. It was one of those 50s style records in the 80s, but by this point Shakin Stevens was the only other one still doing it and reaching the Top 40.

The band split in 1985 and songwriter Brian Bonhomme left the music industry all together, moving to America and becoming a professor in Russian History. Perhaps the biggest success story music wise after the breakup of the group is Adrian York who has written music for commercials amongst other things. 

Top 30 in 1991 Reviewed: Week 35

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. Young Disciples - Apparently Nothin'

The only Top 40 hit for Young Disciples, though lead singer Carleen Anderson would have a few solo hits in the 90s and also provided vocals for the Brand New Heavies cover of this which charted in 2000. This is one of those tunes that I like but not listened to of my own accord. I think I've mostly heard clips of the chorus because the rest of it doesn't sound that familiar.

Verdict - Good

29. Marky Mark And The Funky Bunch ft Loleatta Holloway - Good Vibrations (New)

Marky Mark is Mark Wahlberg before he became an actor. This was his only Top 40 hit, but prior to this he was in New Kids On The Block before they made it big along with his brother Donnie. I guess this record is proof Will Smith wasn't the only movie actor who started out as a dreadful rapper.

Verdict - Rubbish

28. EMF - Lies (New)

The fourth Top 40 hit for EMF and final single from their "Schubert Dip" album. Whilst the first 3 singles were written by the band, this one was solely written by guitarist Ian Dench who would become a successful songwriter for other acts such as Beyonce later on in life. It's not a bad record but doesn't have the same appeal as the earlier hits.

Verdict - OK

27. C&C Music Factory ft Freedom Williams - Things That Make You Go Hmmm...

There are some records that I really cannot stand, ones that just irritate me and make me angry. This is one of those records. I don't know what it is, maybe the stupid lyrics has something to do with it.

Verdict - Rubbish

26. Sophie Lawrence - Love's Unkind

Another soap star launching a pop career. This time it's Sophie Lawrence from Eastenders with this Donna Summer cover, produced by Simon Cowell. Quite predictably it's crap. She would follow up with a Kylie Minogue cover that never got released and that was the end of her pop career.

Verdict - Rubbish

25. Voice Of The Beehive - Monsters And Angels

The 3rd of 5 Top 40 hits for Voice Of The Beehive and the 2nd best in my opinion. It was the lead single from their "Honey Lingers" album. My personal favourite was their final hit "Perfect Place" but that never made the Top 30.

Verdict - Good

24. Salt-N-Pepa - Let's Talk About Sex (New)

This record really irritated me at the time. My view hasn't really changed, it's a truly awful record. It was one that Bryan Adams kept off number one.

Verdict - Rubbish

23. Guns N' Roses - You Could Be Mine

The first Top 40 hit from the "Use Your Illusion" albums, this one coming from the second one. If you love screaming your head off at karaoke like I do then this is a great one to sing. The bit at 4 minutes 15 seconds into the song is particularly good to sing.

Verdict - Good

22. Deacon Blue - Twist And Shout

This isn't a cover of the Isley Brothers record, it's a Ricky Ross composition. I'd forgotten what this was called, something that irritated me when I heard it for the first time in years in 2004. Its a great record, one of the better Deacon Blue ones.

Verdict - Good

21. Dire Straits - Calling Elvis (New)

Dire Straits broke up in 1988 and reformed in 1991. This was the comeback single which was the final Top 40 single for the band excluding a live ep which charted a couple of years later. The band have a bit of a reputation for being boring which I think is a bit harsh, some of their songs are far from boring. But songs like this justify that boring tag.

Verdict - Rubbish

20. Marc Bolan & T.Rex - 20th Century Boy (New)

Another old record getting a new lease of life thanks to it's inclusion on a Levi's advert. Generally speaking I'm not a fan of 70's glam rock, but T Rex for some reason seem a bit better than the other glam rock bands. 

Verdict - OK

19. Heavy D And The Boyz - Now That We've Found Love

This is one of a number of records Bryan Adams stopped from topping the charts. It's American rap music, but it doesn't sound out of place amongst the British dance records that were coming out at the time. 

Verdict - Good

18. Utah Saints - What Can You Do For Me

The Top 40 debut for Utah Saints, the so called "Stadium House" act. It samples "There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)" by Eurythmics and "Ain't Nothin' Goin' on But the Rent" by Gwen Guthrie. A common criticism of samples in dance music is they sometimes sound nothing more than the original song with a dance beat on it. This though is a prime example of how sampling should be done in dance music. 

Verdict - Good

17. Midge Ure - Cold Cold Heart

The final original Top 40 hit to date from Midge Ure including the various groups he had chart success with. It had also been nearly 5 years since he was last in the Top 40 which was with Ultravox. He has moved with the times with this record, but the result is a pretty average record.

Verdict - OK

16. The Shamen - Move Any Mountain

I've always know this record to be by The Shamen but don't remember hearing of them until "Ebeneezer Goode" which was just over a year later. Maybe my memory is playing tricks on me. It was after the shooting of this video that member Will Sinnott died. 

Verdict - Good

15. Bomb The Bass - Winter In July

This was my record of the year for 1991. It's such a great record all I can say is give it a listen if you haven't already.

Verdict - Good

14. DJ Jazzy Jeff And The Fresh Prince - Summertime

The 2nd Top 40 hit from DJ Jazzy Jeff And The Fresh Prince which came around 5 years after their first. It's not as bad as your average Will Smith record, but whilst Jazzy Jeff is a decent enough DJ, Will Smith is a terrible rapper. It has potential, put a decent rapper on their we could have a decent tune. But it has Will Smith on it, therefore it's crap.

Verdict - Rubbish

13. Simple Minds - Stand By Love (New)

Another 1991 Simple Minds single I vaguely remember existing but no memory of the song itself. This time I understand why I don't remember the actual song, it's basically a nothing song that I've almost forgotten already. 

Verdict - Rubbish

12. Martika - Love... Thy Will Be Done

The lead single from the "Martika's Kitchen" album which was co-written and produced by Prince. This apparently introduced a more mature sounding Martika but I think that does her previous hits a disservice. 

Verdict - Good

11. Oceanic - Insanity

There was a happy hardcore version of this in the mid-90s by DNA, Breeze & Munchie which I listened to quite a bit. When I heard this for the first time in years it seemed so slow given I'd got used to the happy hardcore version. That was a long time ago though, nowadays I can take the relative slowness.

Verdict - Good

10. Jason Donovan - Happy Together

The final Top 40 hit for Jason Donovan from the Stock, Aitken & Waterman era, though by this point it was just Stock & Waterman. A cover of the Turtles record and predicitably crap.

Verdict - Rubbish

9. Arnee And The Terminaters - I'll Be Back (New)

The comment from writer Richard Easter who was on Steve Wright in the Afternoon on Radio 1 sum this record up nicely. He says of course it was a shit song but hit wrote it for the radio 1 roadshow and was then offered money from a record label to release it, so he did. I'd have done the same myself.

Verdict - Rubbish

8. Zoe - Sunshine On A Rainy Day

At the time I thought of this as being a poor mans "Hippy Chick" but there isn't much resemblance really. Years later there was a happy hardcore version by Slipmatt & Eruption which all the DJs seemed to play but I couldn't stand it. You may have gather I don't think much of this.

Verdict - Rubbish

7. Extreme - More Than Words

The song everyone knows Extreme for, so much so that people don't realise they're a rock band. This didn't go down well with the purists, ballads were very much frowned upon but an acoustic ballad was viewed as criminal. I'm not a purist though, I do think Extreme have better songs but I've always quite liked this one even if I haven't always admitted it.

Verdict - Good

6. Color Me Badd - All 4 Love

We're definitely in the summer holidays now, this so reminds me of that summer. It topped the charts in America and did quite well here, but in this country at least it will always be their other hit. I loved this record though at the time and was one I started listening to again in the early days of YouTube, except I'd listen to it on Google Videos because it wasn't on YouTube.

Verdict - Good

5. Prince And The New Power Generation - Gett Off (New)

This was the lead single from the "Diamonds & Pearls" album. Prince wrote some great tunes and some that are questionable. This one fits the latter, but as I listen to it for the first time in years it's starting to grow on me. Only taken 30 years.

Verdict - OK

4. The Prodigy - Charly

The Top 40 debut for The Prodigy. This has been ridiculed over the years along with other "Toytown Techno" records because of the samples. I will concede that whenever I listen to this tune I listen to the album version where the sample doesn't go beyond "Charly says". But I'm sure if the album version didn't exist I'd listen to this, it really isn't as bad as it's made out to be.

Verdict - Good

3. PM Dawn - Set Adrift On Memory Bliss

A sign the summer holidays will soon be coming to an end, this reminds me of the journey to school but the weather still being warm. I should hate it given that association, but I actually quite like it. Samples "True" by Spandau Ballet and a great use of the sample in my opinion.

Verdict - Good

2. Right Said Fred - I'm Too Sexy

I remember being at some kids club on holiday at the time and we had to dance along to this multiple times. I thought why, this song is fuckin shit. My opinion still hasn't changed.

Verdict - Rubbish

1. Bryan Adams - (Everything I Do) I Do It For You

Summer holidays are on the way, this so reminds me of the summer holidays of 1991 where it was number one the whole time and beyond. Quite remarkable for a 31 year old 80s singer who'd failed to even make the Top 40 with most of his prior singles. I got pretty sick of this at the time like most people, but I actually quite like it.

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 17/30, or 57%. A great score considering none of the new entries were good.

Bonkers Part 7

 

It's October 1999 and things weren't looking good for happy hardcore. Demo was long gone as were events such as Vibealite and Pleasuredome. Eruption had moved onto more commercial dance music with Ruff Driverz and had sold United Dance to Slammin Vinyl. Seduction had recently played his last set at Helter Skelter before retiring and sold Hardcore Heaven to Slammin Vinyl. Billy Bunter was still around but now playing hard house. Slam was still around but had played a drum & bass set at his last Helter Skelter. Dreamscape had gone from the huge Shepton Mallet venue to The Pleasure Rooms which had a capacity similar to Milwaukee's which was the venue they outgrew in 1991. 

If all that wasn't enough, it had also just been announced that the Helter Skelter on new years eve will be the last. There was one silver lining though, Bonkers 7 had just come out and it was there to listen to on the listening post at Our Price. 

In reality though it was another nail in the coffin. I listened to it at the listening post and decided it wasn't good enough to buy. What I remember more than a lot of the music from that experience was noticing that there was less hair on the Dougal picture on the cover than usual. Then I went to Helter Skelter to see he'd had a haircut.

Hixxy was back instead of Vibes and it was the Hixxy mix which drew the most criticism. The track list may have implied several previously unheard of artists were getting tunes in the mix but the man behind all of these aliases was Hixxy, either on his own or with UFO.

What Hixxy and UFO had done was make a bunch of brand new tracks for the album which were deliberately different to previous efforts. Given what had been happening at the time, this didn't seem a bad approach because clearly something needed to change.

The problem was it was essential a trance mix. I personally like trance and I don't think this is a bad set. However, at the time happy hardcore was on it's last legs whereas trance was massive. To try and save happy hardcore by doing a trance set is a bit like trying to save Porsche by buying a Ferrari and sticking a Porsche badge on it.

I do however think it was a bit harsh to aim the criticism of Bonkers 7 to Hixxy when you consider the other 2 CDs. At least the Hixxy mix is trance and the music doesn't sound like it's trying to be anything else. Both the Dougal and DJ SY mixes on the whole sound like trance being done happy hardcore style or vice versa.

9 of the 16 tracks in the Dougal mix are on Essential Platinum, but only 3 of them were released. Most of them were poor but I do like "Night Breeze" which was one of the released ones and the last Essential Platinum release before the label went on hiatus. The stand out track though is "Lost Generation" by Scott Brown, not the first time one of his tunes has burst a Bonkers mix into life.

No such luck with the other Scott Brown tune "Healing Mind" which is Binary Finary sped up. It's not all trancey though, we have "Sunshine" by Force & Styles which was unreleased and "Another Day" by Frisky, but they're both irritating. The latter is followed by the surprise inclusion of a remix of "Shooting Star", the same one which appeared on Bonkers 5. What that did though was illustrate how poor the rest of the set was.

11 of the 16 tracks in the DJ SY set were either by or remixed by the man himself and the majority of these did get released. But again the only redeeming thing about the set is another Scott Brown tune "Basic Nature". 

Elsewhere in the set we have 3 tunes that feature MCs which is a big no no for me. Generally speaking I'm pro MCs at a rave if they know when to shut up, but recording a crowd hyping line on a record is just awful. Then we have a rip off of "Beautiful Stranger" which is one of the worst happy hardcore rip offs I've ever heard. The following track "We Can Do This" samples "No Scrubs" and is also a bit crap.

After Bonkers 7 came out the final Helter Skelter happened where Vinylgroover made the transition from happy hardcore DJ to hard house DJ and Slipmatt played his last hardcore set at Hardcore Heaven before moving onto house.

Although they continued to play happy hardcore, SY and Unknown started doing garage as Trick or Treat, Brisk and Ham started doing house as Stimulant DJs and Vibes did garage under his own name Shane Levan. 

Dreamscape dropped happy hardcore from it's raves and at Slammin Vinyl and United Dance they would have hard house and trance in the same arena as happy hardcore. Then came the news that Bonkers was no more.

But once something has ended the next thing that happens is a comeback. Bonkers would return in 2002 after a 3 year absence. To reflect this, these posts will return in 3 weeks time.

UK Charts Best Year Search: 1992

What's this all about?

Top 40

Best Song: Messiah - Temple Of Dreams

My 25 years since feature started off going back to 1992 and this record appeared in it. I wrote: It was that perfect combination of a dreamy sound with hardcore beats. Ok the beats may not sound so hardcore now, but back in 1992 they really did.

Worst Song: Mariah Carey - I'll Be There

Mariah Carey really did make some dreary crap, but the covers she did such as this are amongst the worst. I remember watching this on Top of the Pops and getting really irritated by it.

Top 40 Review

1992 was the year I was probably the biggest advocate for modern music. It was also the last year that I was both up to date and not devoted to a particular scene.

It was the most commercially successful year for rave music. In this chart we have the final Top 40 hit for Altern 8 with "Hypnotic St-8" and for Oceanic with "Controlling Me". There was also the only Top 40 hit for Urban Shakedown with "Some Justice". 

My favourite number one of all time is also in there which is "Game Boy" by KWS. This was the lesser known track of the double a-side with "Please Don't Go". Utah Saints are in there with "Something Good" and The Orb have the longest single to enter the Top 40 with "Blue Room" which is just under 40 minutes long. Londonbeat have their final hit with "You Bring On The Sun" which I was surprised to find only got to 32.

On the rock side of things the records I like are "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" by Guns N Roses, "Everything About You" by Ugly Kid Joe and "Motorcycle Emptiness" by Manic Street Preachers. 

Then there are other great tunes that are neither rave of rock such as "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover" by Sophie B Hawkins, "Disappointed" by Electronic and "Hazard" by Richard Marx.

Of course there's also crap in there too. Take That are in there with their breakthrough hit "It Only Takes A Minute" and we also have Sinitta somehow still having hits with "Shame Shame Shame" and also Kim Wilde with "Heart Over Mind".

Fortunately the good stuff outweighs the crap plus we also have records such as "Good Stuff" by The B-52s which are OK and this is reflected in the overall score.

Score: 21.5

Table

The 90s are certainly the winning decade wise so far, not a surprise given it was my era:

UK Number 40s: Young Steve & The Afternoon Boys - I'm Alright (1982)

 

This was the first of 3 charting singles by former Radio 1 DJ Steve Wright, but it was the only one to make the Top 40. It's a novelty record done in the style of Chas & Dave.

Young Steve was 28 at the time of this record which isn't very young in pop music terms. This was the time he was doing the afternoon show on Radio 1.

Years later a member of his Radio 1 show posse would have greater success in the charts with a novelty record called "I'll Be Back" by Arnee & The Terminators which made the Top 5. 

Elton John at 70 (Top 40 hits)

Elton John scored his 70th Top 40 hit on Friday after a 12 year hiatus. We may be somewhat stretching the definition of an Elton John single here, it's basically some EDM crap that samples Elton John songs sung by him and Dua Lipa. But it is credited to Elton John and Dua Lipa so it counts. It goes to show you never truly know when someone's Top 40 career is over.

Back in 1989 my chart knowledge was more or less limited to what had happened in the couple of years prior. Then Cliff Richard had his 100th hit single. A landmark yes but I also thought it may have been a landmark many would have already reached.

I also learned that Queen had been around for a long time and wondered whether they had reached 100 yet. When I discovered later on in 1989 that Queen had just reached 35 hits it sounded quite pathetic.

Then came my first British Hit Singles book which went to the end of 1990 and Cliff Richard was listed as having 99 hit singles and he'd had a few since his 100th. Basically they hadn't included collaborations but it also counted Top 75 singles rather than Top 40. Incidentally including collaborations and just the Top 40 Cliff Richard was still stuck on 99. He would reach 100 in 1991 though.

At the time the only act to pass the 100 mark was Elvis Presley. Over 30 years later the only 2 acts to have passed the 100 mark are Elvis Presley and Cliff Richard.

Although Queens 35 Top 40 hits didn't sound impressive, they were actually 8th overall for most Top 40 hits at the time. In 3rd place was David Bowie with 44, but throughout the 90s the person who looked most likely to be next to hit the 100 mark was Elton John who was in 4th place at the end of 1990 with 41 and in 3rd place at the end of the decade with 58.

The reality is that Elton John was old hat by the 90s, but he still kept having Top 40 hits so there seemed no reason why he couldn't continue to have them into the 21st century. If he kept having Top 40 hits at the same rate he did in the 90s then we would have been talking about his 100th Top 40 hit around about now.

He had 3 Top 40 hits from his "Songs From The West Coast" album in 2001 and 2002, but since then his ability to have a Top 40 hit of his own accord seems to have faded away. 

He's had a total of 9 since but in addition to his latest effort they include a rerecording of "Your Song" as a duet, featuring on Blue's cover of "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word", an Ashley Beedle remix of 70s flop single "Are You Ready For Love?", having "Indian Sunset" sampled on "Ghetto Gospel" by 2Pac and having "Tiny Dancer" sampled on "Tiny Dancer" by Ironik ft Chipmunk. 

Only 3 of them have been what I would call proper Elton John releases, the last of which came in 2005 which was a year that seemed to have several older artists back for one final hit. 

After it looked a question of when rather than if Madonna overtakes Elton John into 3rd place he's now got a bit of breathing space by being 2 ahead of her. With just 2 Top 40 hits in the last decade and the last coming 6 years ago it's not looking like Madonna will have another Top 40 hit, but you never know.

It does however seem almost inevitable that he will get caught by Drake who currently sits on 65.

Top 30 in 1991 Reviewed: Week 34

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. Metallica - Enter Sandman

The lead single and opening track on their self titled album also known as "The Black Album". This was when Metallica alienated the purists by making music that was softer and more commercial. Granted it's not as heavy as their earlier stuff, but it's hardly namby pamby either. In fact when I first heard it I remember thinking how aggressive James Hetfield sounded when he started singing. Anyway their quest to make something that appeals to the non-metal purists like myself worked because I like it.

Verdict - Good

29. REM - Near Wild Heaven

One of the more obscure REM hits from this era, which is a good thing in that it doesn't get played to death. Not enough to it for my to like it though.

Verdict - OK

28. De La Soul - A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays

The second and final Top 40 hit from the "De La Soul Is Dead" is album. Loads of samples in this one which makes the tune. De La Soul only had one further Top 40 hit in the 90s which only made 39 so that won't feature. 

Verdict - Good

27. Jason Donovan - Any Dream Will Do

The final number one for Jason Donovan. It was taken from "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" which he was starring in at the time. By the time I saw it a couple of years later he'd been replaced by Phil Schofield. Anyway, like pretty much every other song from a musical it's shit.

Verdict - Rubbish

26. Utah Saints - What Can You Do For Me (New)

The Top 40 debut for Utah Saints, the so called "Stadium House" act. It samples "There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)" by Eurythmics and "Ain't Nothin' Goin' on But the Rent" by Gwen Guthrie. A common criticism of samples in dance music is they sometimes sound nothing more than the original song with a dance beat on it. This though is a prime example of how sampling should be done in dance music. 

Verdict - Good

25. Amy Grant - Every Heartbeat

The less known follow up to "Baby Baby" in this country at least, it fared much better in America reaching number 2. This is how a pop record should be, a good sounding catchy song. Admittedly I do prefer "Baby Baby" and haven't listened to this in a long time, maybe I should listen to it more.

Verdict - Good

24. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Pandora's Box

Another Top 10 hit for OMD with just Andy McCluskey in the group. The lyrics are described as dealing with the less glamourous side of celebrity which is quite ironic from the man who introduced the world to Kerry Katona. I won't let that fact cloud my judgement of this record though.

Verdict - Good

23. Karyn White - Romantic

The final Top 40 hit for Karyn White which was also an American number one. You could almost imagine Janet Jackson singing on a track like this, partly because it was composed by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis who penned a number of Janet Jackson records. Those are the ones I tend to like.

Verdict - Good

22. Oceanic - Insanity (New)

There was a happy hardcore version of this in the mid-90s by DNA, Breeze & Munchie which I listened to quite a bit. When I heard this for the first time in years it seemed so slow given I'd got used to the happy hardcore version. That was a long time ago though, nowadays I can take the relative slowness.

Verdict - Good

21. Sophie Lawrence - Love's Unkind

Another soap star launching a pop career. This time it's Sophie Lawrence from Eastenders with this Donna Summer cover, produced by Simon Cowell. Quite predictably it's crap. She would follow up with a Kylie Minogue cover that never got released and that was the end of her pop career.

Verdict - Rubbish

20. Level 42 - Guaranteed

Level 42 in 1991? Yes, and this wouldn't be the last we'd see of them in the charts. I have a memory of seeing Level 42 on Pebble Mill some time in the 90s, can't remember what song it was though but as we were in the school holidays it would make sense for it to be this. It's a pretty forgettable song to be fair.

Verdict - Rubbish

19. Midge Ure - Cold Cold Heart (New)

The final original Top 40 hit to date from Midge Ure including the various groups he had chart success with. It had also been nearly 5 years since he was last in the Top 40 which was with Ultravox. He has moved with the times with this record, but the result is a pretty average record.

Verdict - OK

18. Guns N' Roses - You Could Be Mine

The first Top 40 hit from the "Use Your Illusion" albums, this one coming from the second one. If you love screaming your head off at karaoke like I do then this is a great one to sing. The bit at 4 minutes 15 seconds into the song is particularly good to sing.

Verdict - Good

17. Voice Of The Beehive - Monsters And Angels

The 3rd of 5 Top 40 hits for Voice Of The Beehive and the 2nd best in my opinion. It was the lead single from their "Honey Lingers" album. My personal favourite was their final hit "Perfect Place" but that never made the Top 30.

Verdict - Good

16. C&C Music Factory ft Freedom Williams - Things That Make You Go Hmmm...

There are some records that I really cannot stand, ones that just irritate me and make me angry. This is one of those records. I don't know what it is, maybe the stupid lyrics has something to do with it.

Verdict - Rubbish

15. Young Disciples - Apparently Nothin'

The only Top 40 hit for Young Disciples, though lead singer Carleen Anderson would have a few solo hits in the 90s and also provided vocals for the Brand New Heavies cover of this which charted in 2000. This is one of those tunes that I like but not listened to of my own accord. I think I've mostly heard clips of the chorus because the rest of it doesn't sound that familiar.

Verdict - Good

14. Zoe - Sunshine On A Rainy Day (New)

At the time I thought of this as being a poor mans "Hippy Chick" but there isn't much resemblance really. Years later there was a happy hardcore version by Slipmatt & Eruption which all the DJs seemed to play but I couldn't stand it. You may have gather I don't think much of this.

Verdict - Rubbish

13. Martika - Love... Thy Will Be Done (New)

The lead single from the "Martika's Kitchen" album which was co-written and produced by Prince. This apparently introduced a more mature sounding Martika but I think that does her previous hits a disservice. 

Verdict - Good

12. Jason Donovan - Happy Together (New)

The final Top 40 hit for Jason Donovan from the Stock, Aitken & Waterman era, though by this point it was just Stock & Waterman. A cover of the Turtles record and predicitably crap.

Verdict - Rubbish

11. Deacon Blue - Twist And Shout

This isn't a cover of the Isley Brothers record, it's a Ricky Ross composition. I'd forgotten what this was called, something that irritated me when I heard it for the first time in years in 2004. Its a great record, one of the better Deacon Blue ones.

Verdict - Good

10. Heavy D And The Boyz - Now That We've Found Love

This is one of a number of records Bryan Adams stopped from topping the charts. It's American rap music, but it doesn't sound out of place amongst the British dance records that were coming out at the time. 

Verdict - Good

9. The Prodigy - Charly (New)

The Top 40 debut for The Prodigy. This has been ridiculed over the years along with other "Toytown Techno" records because of the samples. I will concede that whenever I listen to this tune I listen to the album version where the sample doesn't go beyond "Charly says". But I'm sure if the album version didn't exist I'd listen to this, it really isn't as bad as it's made out to be.

Verdict - Good

8. DJ Jazzy Jeff And The Fresh Prince - Summertime

The 2nd Top 40 hit from DJ Jazzy Jeff And The Fresh Prince which came around 5 years after their first. It's not as bad as your average Will Smith record, but whilst Jazzy Jeff is a decent enough DJ, Will Smith is a terrible rapper. It has potential, put a decent rapper on their we could have a decent tune. But it has Will Smith on it, therefore it's crap.

Verdict - Rubbish

7. Bomb The Bass - Winter In July

This was my record of the year for 1991. It's such a great record all I can say is give it a listen if you haven't already.

Verdict - Good

6. The Shamen - Move Any Mountain

I've always know this record to be by The Shamen but don't remember hearing of them until "Ebeneezer Goode" which was just over a year later. Maybe my memory is playing tricks on me. It was after the shooting of this video that member Will Sinnott died. 

Verdict - Good

5. Color Me Badd - All 4 Love

We're definitely in the summer holidays now, this so reminds me of that summer. It topped the charts in America and did quite well here, but in this country at least it will always be their other hit. I loved this record though at the time and was one I started listening to again in the early days of YouTube, except I'd listen to it on Google Videos because it wasn't on YouTube.

Verdict - Good

4. Extreme - More Than Words

The song everyone knows Extreme for, so much so that people don't realise they're a rock band. This didn't go down well with the purists, ballads were very much frowned upon but an acoustic ballad was viewed as criminal. I'm not a purist though, I do think Extreme have better songs but I've always quite liked this one even if I haven't always admitted it.

Verdict - Good

3. PM Dawn - Set Adrift On Memory Bliss

A sign the summer holidays will soon be coming to an end, this reminds me of the journey to school but the weather still being warm. I should hate it given that association, but I actually quite like it. Samples "True" by Spandau Ballet and a great use of the sample in my opinion.

Verdict - Good

2. Right Said Fred - I'm Too Sexy

I remember being at some kids club on holiday at the time and we had to dance along to this multiple times. I thought why, this song is fuckin shit. My opinion still hasn't changed.

Verdict - Rubbish

1. Bryan Adams - (Everything I Do) I Do It For You

Summer holidays are on the way, this so reminds me of the summer holidays of 1991 where it was number one the whole time and beyond. Quite remarkable for a 31 year old 80s singer who'd failed to even make the Top 40 with most of his prior singles. I got pretty sick of this at the time like most people, but I actually quite like it.

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 21/30, or 70%. Big improvement on last week and amongst the highest scores we've had.

Bonkers Part 6

 

As mentioned in the Bonkers 5 post, the happy hardcore scene wasn't in a good place going into 1999 and something needed to change. I was therefore encouraged by the change in DJs for Bonkers 6. Hixxy and Sharkey were out and DJ SY and DJ Vibes were in.

As I was yet to hear Bonkers 5, this seemed a positive change based on Bonkers 4. At the time I hadn't been impressed with the Hixxy mix and I just couldn't get into the freeform music that Sharkey was playing. 

Despite this, Bonkers 6 was the only Bonkers to be released in the 20th century that I never listened to at all in the 20th century. Not sure why as I was starting to buy new happy hardcore again around this time, I bought the Helter Skelter "Lost In Music" tape pack as soon as I could which would have been April 1999, the same month this came out.

Dougal has now been promoted to CD1 and his mix gets off to a good start with "Shelter From A Dream" which is labelled as "Captured". He also played this tune in his back to back set with Hixxy at "Lost In Music" after they dedicated the set to a Helter Skelter regular who'd recently passed away and I instantly liked the tune. Decent follow up with "Sitar" by TKM but then it starts to go somewhat downhill.

The tune "Higher Ground" by Innovate is irritating. But it does come back to life with "The Chant" by Dougal & TKM. Just 8 of the 18 tracks in this mix are from Essential Platinum, the fact there were very few tunes coming out on the label by this point may have had something to do with that. Oddly the stand out tunes later on in the mix are the remixes of "Eye Opener", "See Me Climb" and "Space Invader". 

Overall the Dougal mix is a mixed bag which I guess is to be expected. Generally speaking it's the tunes that got played at the raves which are the better ones.

Onto the DJ SY mix and if there was ever any evidence we were running out of tunes in 1999 then this is it. There are 16 tracks and 11 of them are remixes. We also have the tune "Movin On" by SY and Demo which was never released but I suspect it's older than 1999 because Demo had seemingly left the scene by then. I do think it's the best tune in the mix though. 

What I will say is that despite it being so remix heavy, the overall mix isn't bad. I've found the first part growing on me with "Flowers In The Rain" being the highlight. The middle bit is the best bit, but then it goes down hill from the "What Is A DJ?" remix before slightly redeeming itself with the last track.

The Vibes mix as one would expect is unashamedly cheesy. In an era when DJs started going more trancey and trying to be taken more seriously, Vibes stuck to his guns. For me this was a welcome addition but at the same time if you want happy hardcore to get taken seriously by the masses then a Vibes mix probably isn't the best idea.

Overall it's an enjoyable mix and includes an unreleased Dougal track called "Look At The Stars" but I can see how it would suit a Vibes mix more than a Dougal one. I do however draw a line with "Clearly Now" which is followed by a remix of "Techno Wonderland" which has always been too cheesy for my liking.

A common complaint about DJs who mix compilations is the fact they predominantly play their own records. You can't have that complaint with the Vibes mix though with only one record credited to the man himself which is "Techno Wonderland". One could say even that isn't by Vibes as the original is by Steve Smeeth, someone nobody seems to know anything about and who only made that record which itself is just a sped up version of "Techno Wonderland" by Zoee.

This reached number 10 in the compilations chart which was pretty good for a scene that was dying. By this point people were saying they remember happy hardcore like it was a thing of the past. There were clubs hosting rave nights that took you back to the early 90s. I wasn't having any of it though, I was determined to prove that happy hardcore was still alive and well.

I couldn't deny the old nemesis that was commercial house and commercial trance was getting better. I'd previously complained it was too slow, but it was certainly getting faster on the trance side of things. The hard trance of Mark EG and M Zone at Helter Skelter had become a big attraction and wasn't really much faster than the commercial trance. But first and foremost I was still a raver.

Towards the end of the year something happened which I used as a point to prove that happy hardcore was still alive and well. Bonkers 7 was on the listening post at Our Price. More on that next week.

UK Charts Best Year Search: 1991

What's this all about?

Top 40

Best Song: Quadrophonia - Wave Of The Future

The follow up to their self titled debut Top 40 hit and the lesser known of the 2 having only reached number 40. 

Worst Song: C&C Music Factory - Things That Make You Go Hmmm... ft Freedom Williams

I've never been able to tolerate this record and it's bad enough to be worst song. 

Top 40 Review

I've recently reviewed the Top 30 of this chart here

The Top 30 score was the same as 1990, but this time I like all 3 records between 31 and 40 that never made the Top 40 which in addition to the Quadrophonia record are "Best I Can" by Queensryche and "Generations Of Love" by Jesus Loves You.

I do remember 1991 as being a particular good year for music and this is reflected in a very good score.

Score: 23.5

Table

I'm starting to think 1969 is going to win if even 1991 can't beat it:

UK Number 40s: Evelyn 'Champagne' King - Back To Love (1982)

 

When I hear the name Evelyn 'Champagne' King the song I think of is "Shame" which was her 1978 debut. That wasn't her biggest hit though, it only just missed out on being a number 40 but managed one place better at 39.

It took her until 1981 to follow up with another Top 40 hit with "I'm In Love" which made 27 and was an American number 40. Then in 1982 came her biggest hit "Love Come Down" which was her only Top 10 hit.

This was the follow up to that, written by the same songwriter, Kashif. It was also from the same album, "Get Loose". It was the only one of her UK Top 40 hits not to make the Billboard 100. 

She had one more Top 40 hit with the number 37 "Your Personal Touch" in 1985, though she'd have several more singles chart outside the Top 40 with the last of those to date coming in 1996.

Top 30 in 1991 Reviewed: Week 33

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. Karyn White - Romantic (New)

The final Top 40 hit for Karyn White which was also an American number one. You could almost imagine Janet Jackson singing on a track like this, partly because it was composed by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis who penned a number of Janet Jackson records. Those are the ones I tend to like.

Verdict - Good

29. Paula Abdul - Rush Rush

I remember the video for this appearing on Top of the Pops and the presenter saying that Ian Rush would be in the video, but he wasn't. This was 30 years ago say I may have misremembered or misunderstood what was said. It's not a bad record.

Verdict - OK

28. Michael Bolton - Time Love And Tenderness (New)

The second single from the album of the same name and first Michael Bolton single that wasn't written by Michael Bolton himself. It wasn't a cover though, it was written by Diane Warren who wrote other hits in collaboration with Michael Bolton. This just seems too American for my liking.

Verdict - Rubbish

27. REM - Near Wild Heaven (New)

One of the more obscure REM hits from this era, which is a good thing in that it doesn't get played to death. Not enough to it for my to like it though.

Verdict - OK

26. Sophie Lawrence - Love's Unkind (New)

Another soap star launching a pop career. This time it's Sophie Lawrence from Eastenders with this Donna Summer cover, produced by Simon Cowell. Quite predictably it's crap. She would follow up with a Kylie Minogue cover that never got released and that was the end of her pop career.

Verdict - Rubbish

25. Amy Grant - Every Heartbeat

The less known follow up to "Baby Baby" in this country at least, it fared much better in America reaching number 2. This is how a pop record should be, a good sounding catchy song. Admittedly I do prefer "Baby Baby" and haven't listened to this in a long time, maybe I should listen to it more.

Verdict - Good

24. Blur - Bang

A long forgotten Blur song that the band themselves hate and it's not included on their greatest hits albums. They have a point, it's not the worst song I've ever heard but it's not great. It was written in 15 minutes and I think it shows, just lacks any substance.

Verdict - Rubbish

23. De La Soul - A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays

The second and final Top 40 hit from the "De La Soul Is Dead" is album. Loads of samples in this one which makes the tune. De La Soul only had one further Top 40 hit in the 90s which only made 39 so that won't feature. 

Verdict - Good

22. Vanilla Ice - Satisfaction (New)

The fourth and final original Top 40 hit for Vanilla Ice. It samples the Rolling Stones record and the beginning of the first verse seems a play on "Funky Cold Medina". It's a very commercial record that wasn't that commercially successful, it never charted in America. Probably because its crap.

Verdict - Rubbish

21. Dannii Minogue - Jump To The Beat

A cover of the Stacy Lattisaw song, this is probably the best known Dannii Minogue hit from this particular era. That doesn't mean it's any good though.

Verdict - Rubbish

20. Cher - Love And Understanding

Diane Warren is back to songwriting duties for Cher after the god awful "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)". It's an improvement, but that's not saying much really.

Verdict - Rubbish

19. Cathy Dennis - Just Another Dream

This was originally the follow up to her debut hit "C'mon and Get My Love" but failed to make the Top 40 when released in 1989. It once again failed to make the Top 40 again in 1990, but 3rd time lucky it got into the Top 40 finally in 1991. Her debut was credited to D Mob with Cathy Dennis, but although D Mob co-wrote and provided backing vocals to this it's credited to just Cathy Dennis. It's simple no nonsense pop music.

Verdict - Good

18. Voice Of The Beehive - Monsters And Angels

The 3rd of 5 Top 40 hits for Voice Of The Beehive and the 2nd best in my opinion. It was the lead single from their "Honey Lingers" album. My personal favourite was their final hit "Perfect Place" but that never made the Top 30.

Verdict - Good

17. Level 42 - Guaranteed (New)

Level 42 in 1991? Yes, and this wouldn't be the last we'd see of them in the charts. I have a memory of seeing Level 42 on Pebble Mill some time in the 90s, can't remember what song it was though but as we were in the school holidays it would make sense for it to be this. It's a pretty forgettable song to be fair.

Verdict - Rubbish

16. Guns N' Roses - You Could Be Mine

The first Top 40 hit from the "Use Your Illusion" albums, this one coming from the second one. If you love screaming your head off at karaoke like I do then this is a great one to sing. The bit at 4 minutes 15 seconds into the song is particularly good to sing.

Verdict - Good

15. Jason Donovan - Any Dream Will Do

The final number one for Jason Donovan. It was taken from "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" which he was starring in at the time. By the time I saw it a couple of years later he'd been replaced by Phil Schofield. Anyway, like pretty much every other song from a musical it's shit.

Verdict - Rubbish

14. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Pandora's Box

Another Top 10 hit for OMD with just Andy McCluskey in the group. The lyrics are described as dealing with the less glamourous side of celebrity which is quite ironic from the man who introduced the world to Kerry Katona. I won't let that fact cloud my judgement of this record though.

Verdict - Good

13. Young Disciples - Apparently Nothin'

The only Top 40 hit for Young Disciples, though lead singer Carleen Anderson would have a few solo hits in the 90s and also provided vocals for the Brand New Heavies cover of this which charted in 2000. This is one of those tunes that I like but not listened to of my own accord. I think I've mostly heard clips of the chorus because the rest of it doesn't sound that familiar.

Verdict - Good

12. C&C Music Factory ft Freedom Williams - Things That Make You Go Hmmm...

There are some records that I really cannot stand, ones that just irritate me and make me angry. This is one of those records. I don't know what it is, maybe the stupid lyrics has something to do with it.

Verdict - Rubbish

11. Deacon Blue - Twist And Shout

This isn't a cover of the Isley Brothers record, it's a Ricky Ross composition. I'd forgotten what this was called, something that irritated me when I heard it for the first time in years in 2004. Its a great record, one of the better Deacon Blue ones.

Verdict - Good

10. DJ Jazzy Jeff And The Fresh Prince - Summertime

The 2nd Top 40 hit from DJ Jazzy Jeff And The Fresh Prince which came around 5 years after their first. It's not as bad as your average Will Smith record, but whilst Jazzy Jeff is a decent enough DJ, Will Smith is a terrible rapper. It has potential, put a decent rapper on their we could have a decent tune. But it has Will Smith on it, therefore it's crap.

Verdict - Rubbish

9. Metallica - Enter Sandman

The lead single and opening track on their self titled album also known as "The Black Album". This was when Metallica alienated the purists by making music that was softer and more commercial. Granted it's not as heavy as their earlier stuff, but it's hardly namby pamby either. In fact when I first heard it I remember thinking how aggressive James Hetfield sounded when he started singing. Anyway their quest to make something that appeals to the non-metal purists like myself worked because I like it.

Verdict - Good

8. Heavy D And The Boyz - Now That We've Found Love

This is one of a number of records Bryan Adams stopped from topping the charts. It's American rap music, but it doesn't sound out of place amongst the British dance records that were coming out at the time. 

Verdict - Good

7. Bomb The Bass - Winter In July

This was my record of the year for 1991. It's such a great record all I can say is give it a listen if you haven't already.

Verdict - Good

6. Color Me Badd - All 4 Love

We're definitely in the summer holidays now, this so reminds me of that summer. It topped the charts in America and did quite well here, but in this country at least it will always be their other hit. I loved this record though at the time and was one I started listening to again in the early days of YouTube, except I'd listen to it on Google Videos because it wasn't on YouTube.

Verdict - Good

5. PM Dawn - Set Adrift On Memory Bliss (New)

A sign the summer holidays will soon be coming to an end, this reminds me of the journey to school but the weather still being warm. I should hate it given that association, but I actually quite like it. Samples "True" by Spandau Ballet and a great use of the sample in my opinion.

Verdict - Good

4. The Shamen - Move Any Mountain

I've always know this record to be by The Shamen but don't remember hearing of them until "Ebeneezer Goode" which was just over a year later. Maybe my memory is playing tricks on me. It was after the shooting of this video that member Will Sinnott died. 

Verdict - Good

3. Extreme - More Than Words

The song everyone knows Extreme for, so much so that people don't realise they're a rock band. This didn't go down well with the purists, ballads were very much frowned upon but an acoustic ballad was viewed as criminal. I'm not a purist though, I do think Extreme have better songs but I've always quite liked this one even if I haven't always admitted it.

Verdict - Good

2. Right Said Fred - I'm Too Sexy

I remember being at some kids club on holiday at the time and we had to dance along to this multiple times. I thought why, this song is fuckin shit. My opinion still hasn't changed.

Verdict - Rubbish

1. Bryan Adams - (Everything I Do) I Do It For You

Summer holidays are on the way, this so reminds me of the summer holidays of 1991 where it was number one the whole time and beyond. Quite remarkable for a 31 year old 80s singer who'd failed to even make the Top 40 with most of his prior singles. I got pretty sick of this at the time like most people, but I actually quite like it.

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 18/30, or 60%. Quite a drop from last week, but then last week was quite something.

Retro Radio Limitations

As someone who's introduction to music was basically 80s pop a bit of 80s music is always welcome. Many would no doubt agree given the amount of 80s nostalgia there is whether it's radio stations or 80s themed bars.

For me though it's not so much hearing "Karma Chameleon" for the 10 millionth time that I liked, it's more hearing an 80s song that I haven't heard since the 80s or even hearing an 80s song I've never heard before.

When music channels like Magic came along it was great. I was hearing a number of songs for the first time since the 80s. However it wouldn't be long until I'd hear said songs more than I'd heard them in the 80s.

Then there came a point in my life where I wanted to explore more 80s music and also found myself in a job where we could listen to music on our headphones. That's when I discovered Absolute 80s and started listening to that at work. In the beginning it was great, I was discovering some songs I'd never heard before. They also had a no repeat guarantee so I'd never hear the same song twice on a given day.

However, whilst I wouldn't hear said song for the rest of the day, I was more or less guaranteed to hear it again the next day. It soon became apparent they were basically playing the same bunch of songs in a different order every day. I soon got sick of it.

These days I'm in an office where the radio is on and it tends to be one of the retro stations. The first day I heard Smooth Radio I was surprised to hear them playing "The Longest Time" by Billy Joel which isn't one of his bigger hits. But that one seems to get played on a daily basis on that station. Each station may have the odd one or two songs that are a bit out of the ordinary but essentially they play the same thing every day.

Taking the 80s as an example, the problem is that it's a 10 year period of time that happened over 30 years ago. All 80s music has now been made.

There were a total of 3324 Top 40 hits in the 80s. If we say on average a song is between 3 to 3 and a half minutes long that means around 18 songs can be played an hour. Therefore if you played every 80s Top 40 hit back to back it would take 179 hours which is just under 7.5 days. Or if we look at it another way, if we work 40 hour weeks it would take us 4.5 weeks to listen to every Top 40 hit of the 80s at work.

Obviously there was much more to 80s music than what was in the Top 40. But for an 80s station to work there needs to be a degree of familiarity. There are some acid house records that were big in the rave scene but got nowhere near the charts, but only ravers are going to appreciate it and would probably be more inclined to find an acid house radio station than an 80s one to listen to it.

Bonkers Part 5

 

One soppy love song too many amongst other things meant that towards the end of 1998 I was completely disillusioned with happy hardcore. I was still listening to other styles of dance music and had started listening to non-dance music too.

I did however think this was just a blip and that things will change and it will get better again. Fast forward to 1999 and having encountered one stuck up twat too many who listens to house music I started to get back into happy hardcore again.

That's how I ended up purchasing Bonkers 5 which I bought 2nd hand on cassette from Cash Converters. The problem was that this was from 1998 which I still considered a bit of a dark period, but more importantly it was 1999 and I was more interested in what was happening at that moment in time. A year really made a difference in those days.

As a result this never really got much of a listen. The fact I had it on tape rather than CD didn't help as if I was going to listen to a tape I was more inclined to listen to one from a rave. 

A decade or so later this was the only cassette I had which was also available on CD. I tried giving it away to a charity shop but they no longer accepted cassettes. I ended up giving it away to a Cash Convertors equivalent where the person behind the counter thought it was a computer game initially.

Onto the music then and once again we have the Hixxy, Sharkey and Dougal line up. This time though Hixxy was no longer on Essential Platinum. Instead he had a label called Legendary Music and 6 tracks in his mix were from that label. The only one of these records to get released was "Back In Business" by Hixxy & UFO which ended up coming out on a different label.

Also amongst these 6 tunes was a vocal version of "Legends" from the Bonkers 3 album which naturally wasn't as good, but not bad. The record "New Day Dawning" on the other hand is cringeworthily bad.

Having rarely featured on any of the Bonkers albums to this point, there are 3 Vinylgroover records in the Hixxy mix with 2 of them as part of Elevate. Me and a mate used to call him Mr Cheese and the tunes "Bright Eyes" and "Together Again" certainly live up to the name but are amongst the better tunes in the mix. The other is "Virtual Dreams" which is a fantastic record and gets the balance right of being not too cheesy and not too freeform.

Speaking of freeform, the Sharkey mix is somehow a big improvement on his previous 2 efforts. The tunes "Warped Reality" by DJ Energy and "Distant Dreams" by Sharkey himself are the standout records in the mix. I still wouldn't buy it as a stand alone mix though.

Dougal is very much flying the flag again for Essential Platinum in his mix with 9 of the 16 tunes coming from the label including 8 of the first 9 tracks. Of these, 4 are remixes of older records and to me they illustrate how the music had changed in that time. Confusingly there is also a tune called "Back To The Future" by Dougal & Mickey Skeedle which is a different tune to the one of the same that Dougal & Mickey Skeedle released in 1996. The best one from Essential Platinum in the mix in my opinion is "Peace Of Mind" which features Jenna on vocals, but this wasn't released until 2002 and was seemingly never played at raves.

Outside of Essential Platinum it's really the good and bad of cheesy vocal tracks. There's the Unique (aka Styles) remix of "Shooting Star" which I think is better than the original and I do like "Higher Ground" by Unique. I get irritated with "Better Day" by Faber though because of the autotune vocals that Cher was doing around that time on it.

Bonkers 5 had to battle with the fact this wasn't a good time for happy hardcore. I quickly became obsessed with all things rave in the mid-90s and it was a big part of my youth. As a result I grew to like some of the cheese that came out later on that perhaps I wouldn't have otherwise. If this album was my introduction to happy hardcore I probably wouldn't have ever got into it.

It was clear that something needed to change and by the time Bonkers 6 came out something did change. More on that next week.