The Top 40 Leaderboard: November 2022

After being knocked off the top of the leaderboard last month, Drake is back on top this month with a further 3 Top 40 hits giving him a 2 point lead. He brings his collaborator on all 3 of those records, 21 Savage, onto the leaderboard.

It's hard to see Drake not winning it again this year, but you never know. 

Rap wise we're up to 93 of the 208 records this year coming from that genre or 45%. Will it reach 100 by the end of the year?

25 Years Since....November 1997

It's getting dark earlier, a bit like it was this time in 1997. These were the tunes helping me through it:

Fatboy Slim - Everybody Needs A 303

In 1997 Fatboy Slim was just one of several names Norman Cook was using to put out music. He'd had a hit that summer as Da Mighty Dub Katz with "Magic Carpet Ride" whilst he wasn't done with the names Pizzaman and Freak Power yet.

As Fatboy Slim this was his first Top 40 hit which was taken from his debut album "Better Living Through Chemistry" which had came out over a year prior to this.

The mainstream public were still yet to really notice Fatboy Slim at this point, though it wouldn't be too long until they would.

Sundance - Sundance

1997 was the year of speed garage, but there were actually more trance Top 40 hits that year. Most of these got to the lower reaches of the Top 40 and this was one of them which reached 33.

It was their biggest of 3 Top 40 hits, though the second was "Sundance 98" which was basically a remix of this. As far as commercial trance records of the time went, this was amongst the best.

187 Lockdown - Gunman

When it comes to speed garage, it doesn't get much bigger than 187 Lockdown. They scored 3 Top 40 hits and were the only act from the speed garage era to achieve that. This was the first of those.

Like with a lot of garage acts, it's members weren't new to the music scene. Danny Harrison had previous had Top 40 hits as part of Congress and Nush, Julian Jonah had a Top 40 hit as part of East 57th Street shortly before this.

They would have a further Top 40 hit post-187 Lockdown in 2002 as M Factor.

Roni Size/Reprazent - Brown Paper Bag

In the days before internet forums a good outlet to hearing people moaning about the rave scene was via the letters in Dream Magazine. Someone who got much of the criticism was Roni Size for making drum & bass commercial.

To be honest I was inclined to agree, I didn't want to see the music I listened to in the Top 40. Crucially though it annoyed me because it was music I listened to and therefore liked.

Faithless - Don't Leave

When I first heard this, presented as the new single from Faithless my reaction was are you sure? Not only was this nothing like "Insomnia" but also Maxi Jazz was nowhere to be seen.

I was aware of them being experimental though. Initially I thought this was too different and too slow. After hearing it enough times though it grew on me.

UK Number 40s: Edie Brickell - Good Times (1994)

 

The 8.8m views on YouTube at the time of writing shows this isn't exactly an obscure record. It's also a sign that it's likely it was big in America. Although it only reached number 60 over there it was big there for a UK number 40 being only the 5th of the 90s to this point to reach the Billboard 100.

It was the only solo Top 40 hit for Edie Brickell who had a solitary Top 40 hit in 1989 as part of Edie Brickell and the Bohemians with "What I Am" which despite being pretty well known only made number 31.

This song features uncredited vocals from Barry White who was enjoying a resurgence around this time. That said, his UK comeback hadn't quite happened yet. 

One theory as to why it got no higher than number 40 is that it appeared on the Windows 95 companion CD. Given the popularity of Windows 95, maybe lots of people had this so didn't feel the need to buy the single. Except this was 1994, so that wasn't the case.

She continues to perform to this day both solo and as part of Edie Brickell and the Bohemians. She is also the wife of Paul Simon.

Top 30 in 1992 Reviewed: Week 48

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 1992 with my verdict on each record:

30. Tasmin Archer - Sleeping Satellite

I recall a few years ago watching a "Forgotten Gems of the 90s" show on one of the music channels. It was a welcome change to the usual anthem bashing you get on retro channels. If memory serves me correctly this was number one. My initial thought was is this really forgotten, but then I guess I've not heard it much since the 90s. That may be a reason why I still like it.

Verdict - Good

29. Manic Street Preachers - Little Baby Nothing (New)

I find this record a bit frustrating. It sounds promising but doesn't really go anywhere. I quite enjoy the verses so on that basis I'll give it half marks

Verdict - OK

28. Faith No More - Everything's Ruined (New)

This record has a bit of everything in it and I suppose it proves that it's the same person singing on all the Faith No More hits. It's difficult to pick a favourite Faith No More record but this one is definitely up there. I particularly like the 2nd half of the chorus, but the rest of it is a great build up to it.

Verdict - Good

27. Diana Ross - If We Hold On Together (New)

This was already 4 years old by the time it came out having featured in the film "The Land Before Time". I do find that fact a little off putting as songs from animated films tend to be a bit crap. Oddly I think I took a liking to this before I realised it was from an animated film. The fact it's not a male/female duet probably helps too.

Verdict - Good

26. Jason Donovan - As Time Goes By (New)

We've finally reached the end of Jason Donovan's Top 40 career with this forgettable cover being his last Top 40 hit to date. The next thing I heard about his music career following this was that he was doing a gig at a pub in Luton.

Verdict - Rubbish

25. Bizarre Inc ft Angie Brown - I'm Gonna Get You

This is a tune which reminds me of the beginning of a school year. I loved this tune at the time and still do. It was the 3rd Top 40 hit for Bizarre Inc but it was a change in direction compared to it's predecessors. The story is that the record label wanted them to make more of a pop record and this was the result. 

Verdict - Good

24. Cathy Dennis - Irresistible

Cathy Dennis has some great pop songs early on in her career and wrote some crap ones for other people later on. By the time of this record her best days as a pop singer were behind her and I find this effort pretty poor. It almost sounds like she's trying to do her own version of "Baby Baby" by Amy Grant and it doesn't really work.

Verdict - Rubbish

23. EMF - It's You (New)

The way he sings the chorus here is like he's sneezing. I'm sure that was intentional. It doesn't really have enough about it for me to truly like it though. 

Verdict - OK

22. The Pasadenas - Let's Stay Together

This is the final Top 40 hit to date for The Pasadenas. 1992 was the year they basically became a covers group. I loved "I'm Doing Fine Now" because that was the first version I'd heard. I don't recall hearing this one at the time though and I'm familiar with the Al Green record and I'm afraid this just sounds like a karaoke version.

Verdict - Rubbish

21. Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine - The Impossible Dream (New)

Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine were at the peak of their popularity in 1992 and this was their attempt at a Christmas number one. It was never really a contender though and it was said to be the record that killed their career. They weren't finished with the Top 40 yet though. This is a pretty poor effort.

Verdict - Rubbish

20. Kylie Minogue - Celebration (New)

We've now reached the end of the Stock Aitken & Waterman era of Kylie Minogue's career, though this particular record wasn't produced by them and it was a cover but was on PWL records. It's just as poor as your typical Stock Aitken & Waterman output though.

Verdict - Rubbish

19. Brian May - Back To The Light (New)

I owned the album of the same name at the time. At the same time my music tastes quickly moved on so I never really got into it. As it's long forgotten I've not heard this for 30 years but do remember how it goes. I'm finding it a bit cringeworthy to be honest, it's a bit like those American 80s soft rock songs that only really work in America.

Verdict - Rubbish

18. Ambassadors Of Funk ft MC Mario - Supermarioland

Simon Harris was one of the first DJs to bring Hip House to the charts in the late 80s. It was more or less dead as a genre in the charts by 1992 and instead Simon Harris was doing this. Why you would turns computer game music into an actual tune I don't know, in the days when I played computer games I'd often turn the sound off because the music irritated me so much.

Verdict - Rubbish

17. Shabba Ranks ft Johnny Gill - Slow And Sexy (New)

I remember Shabba Ranks being around and having more hits than "Mr. Loverman" without remembering specifically what they were. This must have been one of those records but it's not ringing any bells. It could grow on me, but hasn't had an instant impact.

Verdict - OK

16. En Vogue - Free Your Mind / Giving Him Something He Can Feel

I'm surprised this record only got to number 16. It's hard to pin point one record as being the one En Vogue are best know for but "Free Your Mind" is definitely a candidate. Both tunes are from the "Funky Divas" album and influenced my decision to buy that album.

Verdict - Good / Good

15. Erma Franklin - (Take A Little) Piece Of My Heart

A record from 1967 which was given a new lease of life in 1992 when it featured on the Levi's advert. Erma Franklin was the sister of Aretha and had more or less retired from the music business long before this. It's the only record of hers I've ever heard so my impression of her as a singer is a positive one.

Verdict - Good

14. Deacon Blue - Your Town (New)

Although Deacon Blue are known as an 80s band they actually had more Top 40 hits in the 90s. This particular record has a 90s sound to it as well and has more of a rock sounds that their previous efforts. It's good though.

Verdict - Good

13. Rage - Run To You

When I first heard people talking about Rage Against the Machine in 1993 I thought surely they can't be talking about the group who had a hit with "Run to You" not so long ago. They weren't as this group were simply called Rage. It's a eurodance cover of the Bryan Adams record which on paper should be dreadful. It's actually not bad though.

Verdict - OK

12. Vanessa Paradis - Be My Baby

I'd pretty much forgot about this record until I watched a Classic Chart Show episode which this appeared on. I don't know if I ever know who did it at the time, but when I saw it was Vanessa Paradis I was quite surprised. I was also surprised to learn this was written by Lenny Kravitz. It certain has that 90s nostalgia to it.

Verdict - Good

11. Simply Red - The Montreux EP

The lead song on this EP is "Lady Godiva's Room". Given their "Stars" album was the biggest selling album of both 1991 and 1992 I guess it didn't make sense to release any more singles from it given how many people would have owned the album. I find this record quite soothing.

Verdict - Good

10. Genesis - Invisible Touch (Live)

When this record was first released in 1986 it reached number 15. This live version 6 years later reached number 7. It was the penultimate Top 40 hit to date of the Phil Collins era of Genesis with their final one only making number 40. If you asked me to name one Genesis record then this one would probably be it. Quite appropriately for a record with Phil Collins on it, the best thing about this record is the drumming.

Verdict - Good

9. The Shamen - Boss Drum

I mentioned in the "Ebeneezer Goode" review the the person who gave me a lift to school would always turn off the radio when that tune came on. When this one appeared on the radio that person said they actually liked this record. So did I.

Verdict - Good

8. Guns N' Roses - Yesterdays

This was the 6th single to be released from the "Use Your Illusion" albums which had been out for over a year by this point. I'm pretty sure Guns N' Roses were my favourite band by this point so I liked pretty much everything they did. 

Verdict - Good

7. Arrested Development - People Everyday

In 1992 there were just 2 rap records which made the Top 10, "Jump" by Kris Kross and this record. It was the Top 40 debut for Arrested Development. It was the weird noises that I always liked about this record at the time.

Verdict - Good

6. The Prodigy - Out Of Space / Ruff In The Jungle Bizness

I would say "Out Of Space" is the record The Prodigy are best remembered for from this particular era. The beats in this tune are really something, which is easy to forget when you hear it so much. "Ruff In The Jungle Bizness" is one of those tunes that just goes to another level once the piano kicks in. 

Verdict - Good / Good

5. Undercover - Never Let Her Slip Away

When this came out I was yet to hear the original so this was the first version I heard. I loved this record at the time and I was was very pro modern music I probably would have still loved it had I heard the original. Because of these fond memories I still like it today.

Verdict - Good

4. Heaven 17 - Temptation (Brothers In Rhythm Remix)

This was the first time I'd heard Heaven 17 and I had no idea this was a remix of an 80s record. One stand out memory about this record is it being the first one they played at a school disco and everyone was singing along so loudly that I couldn't hear myself singing along. When I finally heard the original I found it a bit of a disappointed because I like this remix so much.

Verdict - Good

3. Boyz II Men - End Of The Road

When it comes to Boyz II Men I can't look past the comparison that's often made between them and Jodeci which is basically Jodeci were the bad boys of R&B whereas Boyz II Men were the clean cut group. Behind the scenes though Babyface was one of the writers and he has also written for K-Ci & Jojo of Jodeci. That doesn't mean this song is good though.

Verdict - Rubbish

2. Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You

You couldn't escape this record at the time, it was everywhere. I recall "The Bodyguard" film which this was taken from being massive as well. Let's just say the film was much better than the song.

Verdict - Rubbish

1. Charles And Eddie - Would I Lie To You?

Literally everyone I knew at the time loved this record. Some even went as far as saying Charles & Eddie were their favourite band based on this record alone. I was no exception, I loved this record too. 

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 19/30, or 63%. Unusually it's the ones at the top end keeping the score up.

Dance Paradise @ Great Yarmouth Seafront, Great Yarmouth 25/11/1995

 

Druid

One of the eye openers of 1995 which I'm sure I've mentioned before is how often we come to the end of an era, or the end of the era is in sight. In the case of this particular event it's the penultimate Dance Paradise event as we knew it.

There would be another Dance Paradise in early 1996 before it would disappear until the end of 1997. At the end of 1997 they would make a brief return which lasted into 1998, but had changed their music policy to club music with a dress code to match.

One thing I did read about this event was that police search a large number of people which in turn lead to a large number of arrests and was covered by BBC and ITV TV crews. This may have influenced their decision to change their direction, obviously people would be just as likely to do drugs at these future events but raves had bigger reputations for that sort of thing than clubs.

There were multiple arenas at this event, but just the hardcore sets that made it onto tape. Not the first time this had happened at an event but I understand there was more pressure to pay royalties to drum & bass producers who's tunes appeared on tapes so some promoters thought it wasn't worth the hassle.

I've gone with the Druid set for the simple fact it was the first tape I listened to and deemed it good enough to post plus the fact I don't think I've posted a Druid set yet.

The 2nd half of the set is very much geared towards Dutch and Scottish tunes, but interestingly around half way through the set he opts for "Juicy Cuts Vol.1" by Juicy Cuts rather than "Love U More" by Paul Elstak i.e. the English version which is more or less the same.

These are the new for 1995 tunes:

D.J. Mix It - Just Take Your Time

Uranus - Flowed On A Vibe

DJ Ham - Is Anybody Out There

Scott Brown with Bass-D & King Matthew - The People Love It

DJ Force & The Evolution - Simply Electric

Sonicdriver - Standing On Top

2 Left Feet - Reggy's Nightmare

Billy "Daniel" Bunter - Voyage

The Vampire - Clap 2 This

Juicy Cuts - Vol.2

I don't ever recall hearing "Flowed On A Vibe" by Uranus before. It's a Dutch record on the Druid set and I like it. Another record of note is "Simply Electric" by Force & the Evolution. To my knowledge it was the final Force & the Evolution record and there was a new mix in 1996 which was credited to Force & Styles.

Elsewhere we have HMS and Clarkee playing back to back which is as mad as it sounds. Also a Dougal and Vibes back to back set which would no doubt have been the first set I would have listened to back in the day. 

Also a Mastervibe set where he features a few drum & bass tunes. I would say proof the 2 genres could still mix together at the time, but I've read in an interview that Mastervibe always wanted to play drum & bass but resorted to hardcore sets because he struggled to get drum & bass bookings so this was clearly a statement of intent.

UK Number 40s: Ace Of Base - Happy Nation (1994)

In 1993 Ace of Base came from out of nowhere to top the charts with their debut hit "All That She Wants". Their less remembered follow up "Wheel Of Fortune" only managed to get to number 20. Then came this which didn't even make the Top 40. One may have thought that was them finished and largely remembered for one song.

Then in 1994 they reached number 2 with "The Sign" and followed this up with the number 5 "Don't Turn Around". They were back in business it seemed, so this record was re-released. It fared better than the original release, but only by 2 places.

Why this only made number 40 is a mystery. It certainly got its fair share of radio play. It also came from a chart topping album of the same name. Maybe that's why, people bought the album instead.

All of their hits to that point had come from the "Happy Nation" album and they had a further one in early 1995 with "Living In Danger".

They had several more hits with the last to date coming in 1999. The most successful of these was the number 5 "Life Is A Flower" in 1998.

Top 30 in 1992 Reviewed: Week 47

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 1992 with my verdict on each record:

30. PM Dawn - I'd Die Without You (New)

Prince Be of PM Dawn had both rapped and sung on their previous efforts, but there is no rapping on this one, just singing. It's and R&B ballad that perhaps takes a while to get into, but I've heard it enough times to have got into it.

Verdict - Good

29. Enya - The Celts (New)

I'm not sure I remember this one at the time, but I remember there being a happy hardcore version in the late 90s which I liked. As the main riff is the same and this one sounds more authentic I guess I like this one too.

Verdict - Good

28. East 17 - Gold (New)

This was the 2nd Top 40 hit for East 17. This was much more low key than their debut as it only reached 28. My own memory of East 17 was "Deep" being their 2nd hit, but once East 17 were a big name you'd hear all their other hits retrospectively which is possibly how I first got to know this. 

Verdict - Good

27. Electroset - How Does It Feel (New)

This is basically a rave version of "Blue Monday" and also has similarities with "Everybody In The Place" by The Prodigy. Electroset are the same people as Hyper Go Go. Good to hear at a time when the rave tunes were dying out in the Top 40.

Verdict - Good

26. Cathy Dennis - Irresistible (New)

Cathy Dennis has some great pop songs early on in her career and wrote some crap ones for other people later on. By the time of this record her best days as a pop singer were behind her and I find this effort pretty poor. It almost sounds like she's trying to do her own version of "Baby Baby" by Amy Grant and it doesn't really work.

Verdict - Rubbish

25. Elton John - The Last Song

When Elton John rereleased "Sacrifice" and "Healing Hands" as a double a-side charity record he scored his first solo number one. He was unable to repeat that success with this record though which was for his AIDS foundation. It was a Freddie Mercury tribute song so it's quite surprising it wasn't more successful. It does take a few listens to get into though. I thought it was pretty non descript when I first heard it but now I've heard it a few times it's not bad.

Verdict - OK

24. The Pasadenas - Let's Stay Together (New)

This is the final Top 40 hit to date for The Pasadenas. 1992 was the year they basically became a covers group. I loved "I'm Doing Fine Now" because that was the first version I'd heard. I don't recall hearing this one at the time though and I'm familiar with the Al Green record and I'm afraid this just sounds like a karaoke version.

Verdict - Rubbish

23. Michael Bolton - To Love Somebody

This was the 3rd version of this record to reach the Top 40. The original by the Bee Gees wasn't one of them though. It came 2 years after Jimmy Somerville's cover. It's done in a typical Michael Bolton ballad type way therefore it's shit.

Verdict - Rubbish

22. Take That - A Million Love Songs

I think we're reaching the point here where the rules were getting established in that if you were female you liked Take That and if you were male you didn't. I should point out I no longer subscribe to that way of thinking, I like what I like. What I will say about this song is that it showcases Gary Barlow's credentials as a songwriter. It's a proper song, nothing particularly cheesy about it unlike their previous efforts. That doesn't mean I like it though.

Verdict - Rubbish

21. INXS - Taste It

My memory of what happened when is a bit hazy but I know INXS were my 2nd favourite band by 1993. No doubt this record contributed to that though I do prefer "Baby Don't Cry" which came before and "Beautiful Girl" which came after.

Verdict - Good

20. Tasmin Archer - Sleeping Satellite

I recall a few years ago watching a "Forgotten Gems of the 90s" show on one of the music channels. It was a welcome change to the usual anthem bashing you get on retro channels. If memory serves me correctly this was number one. My initial thought was is this really forgotten, but then I guess I've not heard it much since the 90s. That may be a reason why I still like it.

Verdict - Good

19. Erasure - Who Needs Love (Like That)

After doing their Abba covers, here is Erasure going back to their roots literally. This failed to make the Top 40 when first released in 1985 but succeeded when released in 1992. I remember hearing it at the time and thinking that's more like it. 

Verdict - Good

18. Shakespear's Sister - Hello (Turn Your Radio On)

This is the last Top 40 hit to date for Shakespear's Sister as a duo, with Marcella Detroit leaving the following year. She sings so little in this record though that it may as well have been Siobhan Fahey on her own. The thing is though, Marcella Detroit can sing and Siobhan Fahey can't.

Verdict - Rubbish

17. En Vogue - Free Your Mind / Giving Him Something He Can Feel

I'm surprised this record only got to number 16. It's hard to pin point one record as being the one En Vogue are best know for but "Free Your Mind" is definitely a candidate. Both tunes are from the "Funky Divas" album and influenced my decision to buy that album.

Verdict - Good / Good

16. Bizarre Inc ft Angie Brown - I'm Gonna Get You

This is a tune which reminds me of the beginning of a school year. I loved this tune at the time and still do. It was the 3rd Top 40 hit for Bizarre Inc but it was a change in direction compared to it's predecessors. The story is that the record label wanted them to make more of a pop record and this was the result. 

Verdict - Good

15. Erma Franklin - (Take A Little) Piece Of My Heart

A record from 1967 which was given a new lease of life in 1992 when it featured on the Levi's advert. Erma Franklin was the sister of Aretha and had more or less retired from the music business long before this. It's the only record of hers I've ever heard so my impression of her as a singer is a positive one.

Verdict - Good

14. The Prodigy - Out Of Space / Ruff In The Jungle Bizness (New)

I would say "Out Of Space" is the record The Prodigy are best remembered for from this particular era. The beats in this tune are really something, which is easy to forget when you hear it so much. "Ruff In The Jungle Bizness" is one of those tunes that just goes to another level once the piano kicks in. 

Verdict - Good / Good

13. Ambassadors Of Funk ft MC Mario - Supermarioland

Simon Harris was one of the first DJs to bring Hip House to the charts in the late 80s. It was more or less dead as a genre in the charts by 1992 and instead Simon Harris was doing this. Why you would turns computer game music into an actual tune I don't know, in the days when I played computer games I'd often turn the sound off because the music irritated me so much.

Verdict - Rubbish

12. Guns N' Roses - Yesterdays (New)

This was the 6th single to be released from the "Use Your Illusion" albums which had been out for over a year by this point. I'm pretty sure Guns N' Roses were my favourite band by this point so I liked pretty much everything they did. 

Verdict - Good

11. Simply Red - The Montreux EP (New)

The lead song on this EP is "Lady Godiva's Room". Given their "Stars" album was the biggest selling album of both 1991 and 1992 I guess it didn't make sense to release any more singles from it given how many people would have owned the album. I find this record quite soothing.

Verdict - Good

10. Rage - Run To You

When I first heard people talking about Rage Against the Machine in 1993 I thought surely they can't be talking about the group who had a hit with "Run to You" not so long ago. They weren't as this group were simply called Rage. It's a eurodance cover of the Bryan Adams record which on paper should be dreadful. It's actually not bad though.

Verdict - OK

9. Heaven 17 - Temptation (Brothers In Rhythm Remix) (New)

This was the first time I'd heard Heaven 17 and I had no idea this was a remix of an 80s record. One stand out memory about this record is it being the first one they played at a school disco and everyone was singing along so loudly that I couldn't hear myself singing along. When I finally heard the original I found it a bit of a disappointed because I like this remix so much.

Verdict - Good

8. Vanessa Paradis - Be My Baby

I'd pretty much forgot about this record until I watched a Classic Chart Show episode which this appeared on. I don't know if I ever know who did it at the time, but when I saw it was Vanessa Paradis I was quite surprised. I was also surprised to learn this was written by Lenny Kravitz. It certain has that 90s nostalgia to it.

Verdict - Good

7. Genesis - Invisible Touch (Live) (New)

When this record was first released in 1986 it reached number 15. This live version 6 years later reached number 7. It was the penultimate Top 40 hit to date of the Phil Collins era of Genesis with their final one only making number 40. If you asked me to name one Genesis record then this one would probably be it. Quite appropriately for a record with Phil Collins on it, the best thing about this record is the drumming.

Verdict - Good

6. The Shamen - Boss Drum

I mentioned in the "Ebeneezer Goode" review the the person who gave me a lift to school would always turn off the radio when that tune came on. When this one appeared on the radio that person said they actually liked this record. So did I.

Verdict - Good

5. Undercover - Never Let Her Slip Away

When this came out I was yet to hear the original so this was the first version I heard. I loved this record at the time and I was was very pro modern music I probably would have still loved it had I heard the original. Because of these fond memories I still like it today.

Verdict - Good

4. Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You

You couldn't escape this record at the time, it was everywhere. I recall "The Bodyguard" film which this was taken from being massive as well. Let's just say the film was much better than the song.

Verdict - Rubbish

3. Arrested Development - People Everyday

In 1992 there were just 2 rap records which made the Top 10, "Jump" by Kris Kross and this record. It was the Top 40 debut for Arrested Development. It was the weird noises that I always liked about this record at the time.

Verdict - Good

2. Boyz II Men - End Of The Road

When it comes to Boyz II Men I can't look past the comparison that's often made between them and Jodeci which is basically Jodeci were the bad boys of R&B whereas Boyz II Men were the clean cut group. Behind the scenes though Babyface was one of the writers and he has also written for K-Ci & Jojo of Jodeci. That doesn't mean this song is good though.

Verdict - Rubbish

1. Charles And Eddie - Would I Lie To You?

Literally everyone I knew at the time loved this record. Some even went as far as saying Charles & Eddie were their favourite band based on this record alone. I was no exception, I loved this record too. 

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%. Quite a jump from last week and possibly ensures every week in 1992 will get a score of over 50%.

Doncaster Warehouse @ Doncaster Warehouse, Doncaster 18/11/1995

  

DJ Demand

Early this year we saw Carl Cox bid farewell to the rave scene at Doncaster Warehouse. Now we're close to bidding farewell to 1995 I thought it was time to return to Doncaster Warehouse.

Just the one tape from this event which comes from DJ Demand, a DJ who appeared to play much more up north than he did down south.

The tape is just 45 minutes, but still time for 5 new for 1995 tunes which are:

Billy “Daniel” Bunter, Rob Vanden, D’Zyne - Movement

DJ Technotrance - The Y.R.S. Stomp II

Powerphase - Hi Time

DJ Demand - Party People

Clock - Everybody (The Visa Treatment)

The last one on the list is a hardcore version of a commercial dance record, with Clock and Visa both being names used by Stu Allan. In the week of Blur vs Oasis in the charts, the Clock record was the 3rd highest new entry that week.

I don't think we will venture this far north for the remainder of the year, but I haven't fully decided the remaining raves of the year yet so you never know.

UK Number 40s: Naomi Campbell - Love And Tears (1994)

 

In 1995 I received a music quiz which included a question asking which supermodel had made a record the previous year. Despite the fact it happened what was quite recently at the time, I had no recollection of Naomi Campbell making a record, but have remembered that fact since.

Perhaps the reason I didn't remember it is because it only reached number 40 and is the only Top 40 hit to date for Naomi Campbell.

She was hugely popular as a supermodel at the time but in some ways that can make the transition into music more difficult. When someone famous for something other than music makes a record it's often something terrible.

This was no novelty record though. I was a cover of a record by rock band Maggies Dream and was produced by Tim Simenon aka Bomb the Bass. Again though, that was likely the problem. Those who wanted the novelty of a Naomi Campbell record would have been disappointed it wasn't catchy pop whereas the purists wouldn't entertain it because it was Naomi Campbell.  

UK Singles Chart is 70

 

Today is the 70th birthday of the UK Singles Chart. The first ever chart was a Top 12 with 15 songs due to some records jointly holding positions. The number one single was "Here In My Heart" by Al Martino.

The standard chart for most of it's existence has been the Top 40, but it was never a Top 40 in its entirity. It went from a Top 30 to a Top 50 in 1960.

On a personal level I don't really remember learning about the Top 40 as such, it was just always there. As a kid I remember listening to the countdown on a Sunday night, reading it in the local newspaper the following day and of course Top of the Pops.

My interest notched up a gear when I got the 8th edition of the British Hit Singles book. It was a great history lesson in music I'd largely never heard before and much of it remained unheard until the internet made it easier to access.

Even in the days when I would regularly watch the music channels and still listen to Radio 1, the Top 40 would still produce new entries I'd never heard of and had no way of hearing.

Once YouTube became an established source for music it made it possible to listen to the entire Top 40 at your own leisure. Unfortunately this coincided with the time I started to lose interest to the point that for the first time in living memory I had no idea who was number one.

In recent years for me it's come full circle. I check the charts every week but generally have no idea what the music itself is and don't really have the desire to listen to it because I'm certain it will be dreadful.

Historically though it's a great tool for discovering older music. Around 23,000 records have charted in the Top 40 at the time of writing. That's a lot of music to explore and I've found a number of hidden gems that way. 

I'll leave you with the first ever number one, "Here In My Heart" by Al Martino.

Top 30 in 1992 Reviewed: Week 46

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 1992 with my verdict on each record:

30. INXS - Taste It (New)

My memory of what happened when is a bit hazy but I know INXS were my 2nd favourite band by 1993. No doubt this record contributed to that though I do prefer "Baby Don't Cry" which came before and "Beautiful Girl" which came after.

Verdict - Good

29. Zucchero With Luciano Pavarotti - Miserere

This was the 2nd Top 40 hit for both artists and perhaps an unlikely Top 40 hit too. I can only imagine this was riding on the success of the opera influenced Olympic records which had recently charted. Not the sort of thing I would normally listen to, but I quite like it.

Verdict - Good

28. Roxette - Queen Of Rain (New)

Before I played this I tried to think of how it went, but I couldn't. I do like a bit of Roxette and would have likely listened to this at some point. On listening to it though it does ring a bell, but is a bit boring. Definately the poorest Roxette single I've heard so far.

Verdict - Rubbish

27. Rotterdam Termination Source - Poing (New)

Whenever I mention gabber music to people they usually respond with what's that? Well here we have the one and only gabber record to make the UK Top 40. As the name suggests they are Dutch which is where a lot of gabber comes from.

Verdict - Good

26. Doctor Spin - Tetris

The era of toytown techno in the Top 40 was now over and rave was giving way to eurodance. The theme for the novelty side of eurodance was versions of computer game music with this being the first. Quite surprisingly the man behind this record was Andrew Lloyd Webber. I prefer this to pretty much everything else he's done but that's because I really don't like his music.

Verdict - Rubbish

25. Little Angels - Too Much Too Young

This was the 7th Top 40 hits for Little Angels who hadn't been higher than number 21 prior to this. It was the lead single from their yet to be released chart topping "Jam" album. They also had Bryan Adams doing backing vocals. On paper you'd think this would give them a bigger hit, but it got no higher than 22. The better records are often found in the lower reaches of the Top 40 though.

Verdict - Good

24. Go West - Faithful

This is a song my memory places in 1993 for some reason. Quite strange seeing how this is an 80s band doing a song that sounds like it belongs in the 80s. Go West are one of those bands who have always irritated me and this record is no exception.

Verdict - Rubbish

23. The Wedding Present - The Queen Of Outer Space (New)

This months effort from The Wedding Present sounds like pretty much all the other months effort. I like the YouTube regarding their monthly hits "The  whole  thing  exposed  how  worthless  the  singles  chart  had  become  as  a  measure  of  real  popularity. Do  you  think  the  band  had  a  single  new  fan  at the  end  of  the  year ?". Less than 9k YouTube views in almost 13 years suggests probably not.

Verdict - Rubbish

22. Extreme - Stop The World (New)

This is the penultimate Top 40 hit to date for Extreme and one of their best in my opinion. It's one of those records you need to listen to all the way through to really appreciate and it builds up to be quite something at the end.

Verdict - Good

21. Elton John - The Last Song

When Elton John rereleased "Sacrifice" and "Healing Hands" as a double a-side charity record he scored his first solo number one. He was unable to repeat that success with this record though which was for his AIDS foundation. It was a Freddie Mercury tribute song so it's quite surprising it wasn't more successful. It does take a few listens to get into though. I thought it was pretty non descript when I first heard it but now I've heard it a few times it's not bad.

Verdict - OK

20. En Vogue - Free Your Mind / Giving Him Something He Can Feel

I'm surprised this record only got to number 16. It's hard to pin point one record as being the one En Vogue are best know for but "Free Your Mind" is definitely a candidate. Both tunes are from the "Funky Divas" album and influenced my decision to buy that album.

Verdict - Good / Good

19. Felix - It Will Make Me Crazy

The 2nd Top 40 hit for Felix which isn't as well remembered as his first. It has more of a eurodance feel to it than its predecessor which may explain why it enjoyed more success on the continent. Fortunately it doesn't cross the line into annoying cheesy territory that many eurodance records do. 

Verdict - Good

18. Bon Jovi - Keep The Faith

This was the comeback single for Bon Jovi after 3 years away from the Top 40. The big news surrounded this at the time though was that Jon Bon Jovi had a haircut. Music wise I loved this record at the time and there came a point when Bon Jovi were my 2nd favourite band.

Verdict - Good

17. Madonna - Erotica

This was single number 28 for Madonna which was the lead single off what was only her 5th album. It somehow manages to be both irritating and boring. It was controversial at the time and the video was banned on MTV, but it's really a nothing song.

Verdict - Rubbish

16. Michael Bolton - To Love Somebody

This was the 3rd version of this record to reach the Top 40. The original by the Bee Gees wasn't one of them though. It came 2 years after Jimmy Somerville's cover. It's done in a typical Michael Bolton ballad type way therefore it's shit.

Verdict - Rubbish

15. Take That - A Million Love Songs

I think we're reaching the point here where the rules were getting established in that if you were female you liked Take That and if you were male you didn't. I should point out I no longer subscribe to that way of thinking, I like what I like. What I will say about this song is that it showcases Gary Barlow's credentials as a songwriter. It's a proper song, nothing particularly cheesy about it unlike their previous efforts. That doesn't mean I like it though.

Verdict - Rubbish

14. Shakespear's Sister - Hello (Turn Your Radio On)

This is the last Top 40 hit to date for Shakespear's Sister as a duo, with Marcella Detroit leaving the following year. She sings so little in this record though that it may as well have been Siobhan Fahey on her own. The thing is though, Marcella Detroit can sing and Siobhan Fahey can't.

Verdict - Rubbish

13. Tasmin Archer - Sleeping Satellite

I recall a few years ago watching a "Forgotten Gems of the 90s" show on one of the music channels. It was a welcome change to the usual anthem bashing you get on retro channels. If memory serves me correctly this was number one. My initial thought was is this really forgotten, but then I guess I've not heard it much since the 90s. That may be a reason why I still like it.

Verdict - Good

12. Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You (New)

You couldn't escape this record at the time, it was everywhere. I recall "The Bodyguard" film which this was taken from being massive as well. Let's just say the film was much better than the song.

Verdict - Rubbish

11. Erma Franklin - (Take A Little) Piece Of My Heart

A record from 1967 which was given a new lease of life in 1992 when it featured on the Levi's advert. Erma Franklin was the sister of Aretha and had more or less retired from the music business long before this. It's the only record of hers I've ever heard so my impression of her as a singer is a positive one.

Verdict - Good

10. Erasure - Who Needs Love (Like That)

After doing their Abba covers, here is Erasure going back to their roots literally. This failed to make the Top 40 when first released in 1985 but succeeded when released in 1992. I remember hearing it at the time and thinking that's more like it. 

Verdict - Good

9. Bizarre Inc ft Angie Brown - I'm Gonna Get You

This is a tune which reminds me of the beginning of a school year. I loved this tune at the time and still do. It was the 3rd Top 40 hit for Bizarre Inc but it was a change in direction compared to it's predecessors. The story is that the record label wanted them to make more of a pop record and this was the result. 

Verdict - Good

8. Ambassadors Of Funk ft MC Mario - Supermarioland

Simon Harris was one of the first DJs to bring Hip House to the charts in the late 80s. It was more or less dead as a genre in the charts by 1992 and instead Simon Harris was doing this. Why you would turns computer game music into an actual tune I don't know, in the days when I played computer games I'd often turn the sound off because the music irritated me so much.

Verdict - Rubbish

7. Undercover - Never Let Her Slip Away (New)

When this came out I was yet to hear the original so this was the first version I heard. I loved this record at the time and I was was very pro modern music I probably would have still loved it had I heard the original. Because of these fond memories I still like it today.

Verdict - Good

6. Vanessa Paradis - Be My Baby

I'd pretty much forgot about this record until I watched a Classic Chart Show episode which this appeared on. I don't know if I ever know who did it at the time, but when I saw it was Vanessa Paradis I was quite surprised. I was also surprised to learn this was written by Lenny Kravitz. It certain has that 90s nostalgia to it.

Verdict - Good

5. Rage - Run To You

When I first heard people talking about Rage Against the Machine in 1993 I thought surely they can't be talking about the group who had a hit with "Run to You" not so long ago. They weren't as this group were simply called Rage. It's a eurodance cover of the Bryan Adams record which on paper should be dreadful. It's actually not bad though.

Verdict - OK

4. The Shamen - Boss Drum

I mentioned in the "Ebeneezer Goode" review the the person who gave me a lift to school would always turn off the radio when that tune came on. When this one appeared on the radio that person said they actually liked this record. So did I.

Verdict - Good

3. Arrested Development - People Everyday

In 1992 there were just 2 rap records which made the Top 10, "Jump" by Kris Kross and this record. It was the Top 40 debut for Arrested Development. It was the weird noises that I always liked about this record at the time.

Verdict - Good

2. Charles And Eddie - Would I Lie To You?

Literally everyone I knew at the time loved this record. Some even went as far as saying Charles & Eddie were their favourite band based on this record alone. I was no exception, I loved this record too. 

Verdict - Good

1. Boyz II Men - End Of The Road

When it comes to Boyz II Men I can't look past the comparison that's often made between them and Jodeci which is basically Jodeci were the bad boys of R&B whereas Boyz II Men were the clean cut group. Behind the scenes though Babyface was one of the writers and he has also written for K-Ci & Jojo of Jodeci. That doesn't mean this song is good though.

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 18/30, or 60%. Same as last week.

Dance Planet @ The Sanctuary, Milton Keynes 11/11/1995

  

DJ Vibes

So far this year we've visited Dance Planet in Cornwall, Dance Planet in Birmingham and now we have Dance Planet at The Sanctuary in Milton Keynes.

It wasn't the first time they'd held an event there, the first was in 1993 and was actually before the first Helter Skelter event was held there.

We've seen the end of an era for several things in 1995, but I would say this event was heading towards the end of an era for Dance Planet. This was their final event of 1995 and they had big plans for 1996 including a big outdoor event. That never happened though and they only did 3 events in 1996. They started a weekly club night in Wolverhampton at the start of 1997 but by February they were finished.

When I looked at the tape pack and it's track listings I saw there was a set from Carl Cox in there and he was playing hardcore. I thought did they manage to bring him out of retirement one last time to play a hardcore set. It turns out they didn't, it's a set from 1994.

The set I've posted is the DJ Vibes one because I just think it illustrates how the music has changed throughout 1995. The breaks haven't gone completely but it certainly feels more of a kick drum led set.

Most of the tapes are hardcore ones, just a DJ SS tape, a Mastervibe tape with a couple of hardcore tracks and a part Groovrider set provide the drum & bass.

As a result not too many new for 1995 drum & bass tunes which are:

D-Power - Beef

Apollo 13 - Wobble

Phyzix - Down Wid Da Lights

DJ Rap - I Can't Stop

Maldini - Wake Up Call 

Plenty of new for 1995 hardcore tunes though:

Ultimate Buzz - Rock Da Bass

Casio Brothers - Partytime

GSI - Power Up

Two Ruff - I Want You

Piano City Productions - Set Me Free

DJ Isaac & Pagan - Up, My Way

DJ Isaac - Pump Up The Party

El Bruto - Heaven

Ferocious - Listen To Me

Jack D - Get Down

JDS - Rock The Disco

Ultra-Sonic - Make That Move

Bill & Ted - Rhythm

DJ Ham - So Damn Tuff

Renegade & Static - Scotland Is Rockin

Force & Styles - Fireworks

DJ Demand - 31 Seconds

Force & Styles - Get On Up

High Flyers Feat DJ Fade - Take Me Higher

High Flyers Feat DJ Fade - Can You Feel It

DJ Ten - Turn Up The Music

Happy Tunes - Volume 7

Jack Speed - Everybody Here Tonight

The 4 Beater - Let Go

DJ Ten - Rock The Discotek / You Make Me Happy

One of note is "31 Seconds" by DJ Demand which is essentially a hardcore version of "Valley of the Shadows" by Origin Unknown. Not the only time something like that has happened, but it doesn't work for me.

It's the last visit to Dance Planet for the year, but not the last visit to The Sanctuary. More on that when the time comes.

UK Number 40s: Sugar - Your Favorite Thing (1994)

 

This is a number 40 I dare say would be considered a success given it actually reached the Top 40. Personally speaking as someone who mainly listened to rock music at the time, I don't remember them. I don't ever recall hearing anyone acknowledging their existence either.

No doubt they had a good following though and technically they were a supergroup. Their members were Bob Mould from Huskur Du, David Barbe from Mercyland and Malcolm from Human Sexual Response. I'll add the none of these ex groups had a Top 40 hit.

Sugar formed in 1992 and had their first Top 40 hit in 1993 with "If I Can't Change Your Mind" which made number 30. This record was their 2nd and final Top 40 hit to date. It came from their 2nd album "File Under: Easy Listening".

By 1995 Sugar were finished and look like they haven't reunited at all since.

Top 30 in 1992 Reviewed: Week 45

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 1992 with my verdict on each record:

30. Jon Secada - Do You Believe In Us (New)

Yes that's right, Jon Secada had another Top 40 hit. In fact he had 5 UK Top 40 hits in total with this being his 2nd. Like it's predecessor he changes the tone of the record as soon as he starts singing which makes it interesting. It also benefits from the fact nobody remembers it therefore it doesn't get played to death like it's predecessor. 

Verdict - Good

29. The Farm - Don't You Want Me

The Farm are best known for "Groovy Train" and "All Together Now" and many would struggle to name a 3rd record of theirs. Chart wise this was the 3rd most successful and yes it's a cover of the Human League record. On paper this should be awful and listening to it I can confirm it is awful.

Verdict - Rubbish

28. Chippendales - Give Me Your Body (New)

With a title like that and the fact it's by Chippendales you just know it's going to be shit. It doesn't fail to disappoint in that respect. It's a cheesy dance record and probably inspired the current crop of EDM DJs like David Guetta who are more famous for going to the gym than making music.

Verdict - Rubbish

27. Elton John - The Last Song (New)

When Elton John rereleased "Sacrifice" and "Healing Hands" as a double a-side charity record he scored his first solo number one. He was unable to repeat that success with this record though which was for his AIDS foundation. It was a Freddie Mercury tribute song so it's quite surprising it wasn't more successful. It does take a few listens to get into though. I thought it was pretty non descript when I first heard it but now I've heard it a few times it's not bad.

Verdict - OK

26. Saint Etienne/Flowered Up/Rockingbirds - The Fred EP (New)

This is 3 groups doing covers of the first 3 Right Said Fred singles. All were on independent record label Heavenly records. On the face of it you may ask why would they do that? but Right Said Fred were on an independent record label themselves which technically makes them an indie band. Anyone I'm sure these covers are shit on purpose, and they are shit.

Verdict - Rubbish

25. Metallica - Wherever I May Roam (New)

It had been over a year since their self titled album aka the black album and been released, but the singles kept coming with this being the 4th. This one upset the purists with it's use of Asian instruments but like with the orchestra on "Nothing Else Matters" it's not that obvious they are there with the guitars dominating again. 

Verdict - Good

24. En Vogue - Free Your Mind / Giving Him Something He Can Feel (New)

I'm surprised this record only got to number 16. It's hard to pin point one record as being the one En Vogue are best know for but "Free Your Mind" is definitely a candidate. Both tunes are from the "Funky Divas" album and influenced my decision to buy that album.

Verdict - Good / Good

23. Shakespear's Sister - Hello (Turn Your Radio On) (New)

This is the last Top 40 hit to date for Shakespear's Sister as a duo, with Marcella Detroit leaving the following year. She sings so little in this record though that it may as well have been Siobhan Fahey on her own. The thing is though, Marcella Detroit can sing and Siobhan Fahey can't.

Verdict - Rubbish

22. Little Angels - Too Much Too Young (New)

This was the 7th Top 40 hits for Little Angels who hadn't been higher than number 21 prior to this. It was the lead single from their yet to be released chart topping "Jam" album. They also had Bryan Adams doing backing vocals. On paper you'd think this would give them a bigger hit, but it got no higher than 22. The better records are often found in the lower reaches of the Top 40 though.

Verdict - Good

21. Dr Alban - It's My Life

This was the beginning of Sweden taking over the music world. Dr Alban was a Nigerian based in Sweden and wrote this with Denniz Pop who founded Cherion Studios. There were a number of songwriters who have since been very prolific with their songwriting including Max Martin who at the time of writing only has Paul McCartney ahead of him in terms of most Top 40 hits as songwriter. Given how much dreadful music has been created as a result of this I should hate it. However it probably would have still happened with or without this record and I do like it in a 90s nostalgia sort of way.

Verdict - Good

20. John Lee Hooker - Boom Boom

Levi's weren't the only jeans company who's adverts were giving old songs a new lease of life. This was originally recorded in 1961 but charted for the first time after appearing on the Lee advert giving John Lee Hooker his first Top 40 hit in 28 years. 

Verdict - Good

19. Go West - Faithful

This is a song my memory places in 1993 for some reason. Quite strange seeing how this is an 80s band doing a song that sounds like it belongs in the 80s. Go West are one of those bands who have always irritated me and this record is no exception.

Verdict - Rubbish

18. Zucchero With Luciano Pavarotti - Miserere

This was the 2nd Top 40 hit for both artists and perhaps an unlikely Top 40 hit too. I can only imagine this was riding on the success of the opera influenced Olympic records which had recently charted. Not the sort of thing I would normally listen to, but I quite like it.

Verdict - Good

17. Michael Bolton - To Love Somebody

This was the 3rd version of this record to reach the Top 40. The original by the Bee Gees wasn't one of them though. It came 2 years after Jimmy Somerville's cover. It's done in a typical Michael Bolton ballad type way therefore it's shit.

Verdict - Rubbish

16. Doctor Spin - Tetris

The era of toytown techno in the Top 40 was now over and rave was giving way to eurodance. The theme for the novelty side of eurodance was versions of computer game music with this being the first. Quite surprisingly the man behind this record was Andrew Lloyd Webber. I prefer this to pretty much everything else he's done but that's because I really don't like his music.

Verdict - Rubbish

15. Felix - It Will Make Me Crazy

The 2nd Top 40 hit for Felix which isn't as well remembered as his first. It has more of a eurodance feel to it than its predecessor which may explain why it enjoyed more success on the continent. Fortunately it doesn't cross the line into annoying cheesy territory that many eurodance records do. 

Verdict - Good

14. Charles And Eddie - Would I Lie To You? (New)

Literally everyone I knew at the time loved this record. Some even went as far as saying Charles & Eddie were their favourite band based on this record alone. I was no exception, I loved this record too. 

Verdict - Good

13. Vanessa Paradis - Be My Baby

I'd pretty much forgot about this record until I watched a Classic Chart Show episode which this appeared on. I don't know if I ever know who did it at the time, but when I saw it was Vanessa Paradis I was quite surprised. I was also surprised to learn this was written by Lenny Kravitz. It certain has that 90s nostalgia to it.

Verdict - Good

12. Erma Franklin - (Take A Little) Piece Of My Heart

A record from 1967 which was given a new lease of life in 1992 when it featured on the Levi's advert. Erma Franklin was the sister of Aretha and had more or less retired from the music business long before this. It's the only record of hers I've ever heard so my impression of her as a singer is a positive one.

Verdict - Good

11. Bon Jovi - Keep The Faith

This was the comeback single for Bon Jovi after 3 years away from the Top 40. The big news surrounded this at the time though was that Jon Bon Jovi had a haircut. Music wise I loved this record at the time and there came a point when Bon Jovi were my 2nd favourite band.

Verdict - Good

10. Erasure - Who Needs Love (Like That) (New)

After doing their Abba covers, here is Erasure going back to their roots literally. This failed to make the Top 40 when first released in 1985 but succeeded when released in 1992. I remember hearing it at the time and thinking that's more like it. 

Verdict - Good

9. Ambassadors Of Funk ft MC Mario - Supermarioland

Simon Harris was one of the first DJs to bring Hip House to the charts in the late 80s. It was more or less dead as a genre in the charts by 1992 and instead Simon Harris was doing this. Why you would turns computer game music into an actual tune I don't know, in the days when I played computer games I'd often turn the sound off because the music irritated me so much.

Verdict - Rubbish

8. Take That - A Million Love Songs

I think we're reaching the point here where the rules were getting established in that if you were female you liked Take That and if you were male you didn't. I should point out I no longer subscribe to that way of thinking, I like what I like. What I will say about this song is that it showcases Gary Barlow's credentials as a songwriter. It's a proper song, nothing particularly cheesy about it unlike their previous efforts. That doesn't mean I like it though.

Verdict - Rubbish

7. Madonna - Erotica

This was single number 28 for Madonna which was the lead single off what was only her 5th album. It somehow manages to be both irritating and boring. It was controversial at the time and the video was banned on MTV, but it's really a nothing song.

Verdict - Rubbish

6. The Shamen - Boss Drum (New)

I mentioned in the "Ebeneezer Goode" review the the person who gave me a lift to school would always turn off the radio when that tune came on. When this one appeared on the radio that person said they actually liked this record. So did I.

Verdict - Good

5. Bizarre Inc ft Angie Brown - I'm Gonna Get You

This is a tune which reminds me of the beginning of a school year. I loved this tune at the time and still do. It was the 3rd Top 40 hit for Bizarre Inc but it was a change in direction compared to it's predecessors. The story is that the record label wanted them to make more of a pop record and this was the result. 

Verdict - Good

4. Tasmin Archer - Sleeping Satellite

I recall a few years ago watching a "Forgotten Gems of the 90s" show on one of the music channels. It was a welcome change to the usual anthem bashing you get on retro channels. If memory serves me correctly this was number one. My initial thought was is this really forgotten, but then I guess I've not heard it much since the 90s. That may be a reason why I still like it.

Verdict - Good

3. Rage - Run To You

When I first heard people talking about Rage Against the Machine in 1993 I thought surely they can't be talking about the group who had a hit with "Run to You" not so long ago. They weren't as this group were simply called Rage. It's a eurodance cover of the Bryan Adams record which on paper should be dreadful. It's actually not bad though.

Verdict - OK

2. Arrested Development - People Everyday

In 1992 there were just 2 rap records which made the Top 10, "Jump" by Kris Kross and this record. It was the Top 40 debut for Arrested Development. It was the weird noises that I always liked about this record at the time.

Verdict - Good

1. Boyz II Men - End Of The Road

When it comes to Boyz II Men I can't look past the comparison that's often made between them and Jodeci which is basically Jodeci were the bad boys of R&B whereas Boyz II Men were the clean cut group. Behind the scenes though Babyface was one of the writers and he has also written for K-Ci & Jojo of Jodeci. That doesn't mean this song is good though.

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 18/30, or 60%. OK the predicted decline hasn't happened, we've improved over last week.