Here's my weekly look at the Top 30 from 28 years ago. The plan is for these posts to go out at 17:30 on a Wednesday.
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 1995 with my verdict on each record:
30. Soul Asylum - Misery (New)
The 4th and final Top 40 hit to date for Soul Asylum. They were still popular enough to have their Glastonbury performance shown on the TV around this time and I have to say I quite enjoyed that performance.
Verdict - Good
The Rolling Stones became quite prolific with the Top 40 hits in the mid-90s. Whilst they were able to match the quantity of their 60s heyday they weren't able to match the quality. This one just sounds like they're putting out any old rubbish because they can.
Verdict - Rubbish
Michael Jackson first made a name for himself singing with his brothers. Now here he is singing with his sister. The issue I have with this record is it's over the top like a lot of his records are. If I put that to one side though and concentrate on the music alone then I like it if I'm in the right mood.
Verdict - Good
27. La Bouche - Be My Lover (New)
There were many more eurodance records that charted much higher than this record that you never hear any more, but this has proved to have much more longevity. This is perhaps helped by the fact it was successful in America. There's nothing stand out about it really, but that makes it more tolerable.
Verdict - OK
The 3rd and final Top 40 hit for Amy Grant who had last been in the Top 40 in 1991. It's a cover of the Joni Mitchell record and I believe this was the first version of this record that I heard. I remember thinking it was good to see the singer of "Baby Baby" back in the charts.
Verdict - Good
It's difficult to pin point a record that M People are best known for but I'd say this record is definitely a candidate. It's inclusion on the Peugeot advert would probably be a factor, that's what I think of when I hear this record. Not to my liking.
Verdict - Rubbish
This was originally a Top 40 hit in 1991 and was remixed for a 1995 re-release. I wouldn't really say this remix was 1995 style though but then again the music had moved on so much that a 1995 style remix may not have worked.
Verdict - Good
It had only been a few months since the original version of this by The Cranberries had been in the Top 40. This eurodance cover is just about as bad as it gets, a truly awful record.
Verdict - Rubbish
The Top 40 debut for Junior Vasquez. Despite the name he was far from junior, he was 45 at the time of this release which would have put him at the older end of Top 40 debutants. It came after Sound Factory, the club he was resident DJ at closed down.
Verdict - Good
The follow up to the chart topping "Let Me Be Your Fantasy" which is a rave version of the Korgis record. There were other rave versions of the same record also going round at the same time. It lends itself well to it though I have to say.
Verdict - Good
"Sweet Harmony" first made the Top 40 in 1992. This is a remix, there were plenty of remixes or records using the same samples over the years. "One Love Family" was in the Top 40 for the first time. I bought this single so that should tell you what I think of it.
Verdict - Good / Good
19. Dana Dawson - 3 Is Family (New)
I have a memory of listening to the Chris Evans Breakfast Show one day on Radio 1 at the time and liking everything he was playing on it. I remember this record being one of those that he played. It was the Top 40 debut for Dana Dawson and was her biggest hit.
Verdict - Good
Pulp formed in the 70s but it took until 1994 for them to get their first Top 40 hit. It was this record though that made them a household name. I wasn't keen on this record at first, then it grew on me a bit but it's taken quite a few years for me to concede that I do quite like it.
Verdict - Good
17. Cast - Finetime (New)
The Top 40 debut for Cast who were fronted by John Power who had previously been a member of The La's. The intro to this record sounds the same as the intro to "Paradise City" by Guns n Roses. It does take on its own identity once we get further into it.
Verdict - Good
16. Brownstone - Grapevyne (New)
This was the 2nd Top 40 hit for Brownstone and the follow up to their big hit "If You Love Me". I do think that their big hit was easily their best one, but this one is still decent enough.
Verdict - Good
Whigfield is best known for her chart topping debut "Saturday Night" which is an irritating record. Then came "Another Day" which is basically the same tune with different lyrics. Then came this which made me think what the fuck, I like this Whigfield record. It's still cheesy don't get me wrong, but in a good way. Those who remember it are likely to remember it for the line "I need you inside me tonight".
Verdict - Good
14. Seal - Kiss From A Rose / I'm Alive (New)
"Kiss From A Rose" was originally a Top 40 hit in 1994 but was given a new lease of life when it featured in the "Batman Forever" soundtrack. I'd never heard "I'm Alive" until I bought the CD single of this.
Verdict - Good / Good
Throughout 1989 and into early 1990 Bobby Brown had a new single every 5 minutes it seemed. Then there was nothing until this record. It continues the new jack swing sound of its predecessors with Babyface, LA Reid and Daryl Simmons on songwriting duties again. It has a more aggressive sound than previous efforts which I guess went with Bobby Browns bad boy persona.
Verdict - Good
Just when you thought that D:Ream were finished they were back with a new single and album. This would however be the final original Top 10 single for the band who would only just be scraping into the Top 40 by the end of the year.
Verdict - Rubbish
11. Jinny - Keep Warm (New)
This record originally came out in 1991 but was remixed and made the Top 40 for the first time in 1995. I remember going to a disco at the time and the person putting it on assured me there would be plenty of rave/dance music. This was playing as I walked in and I thought it was a good start. I can't remember much else about the disco if I'm honest.
Verdict - Good
This record was famously featured on the soundtrack to "Batman Forever". It's a crap film like all the Batman films are but the music is good. I love the intro/outro riff to this.
Verdict - Good
The solo Top 40 debut for Edwyn Collins who had previous been in the Top 40 as part of Orange Juice. This record is all about the guitar, I love the way it basically repeats the lines that he sings. The rest of the guitaring is great as well.
Verdict - Good
8. MN8 - Happy (New)
The 3rd Top 40 hit for MN8 and the 3rd to make the Top 40 which I find quite surprising. I'm not surprised to find that they never made the Top 10 again after this. It's a cover of a record by American R&B group Surface. I guess the 1995 I get from it makes me like it.
Verdict - Good
It had been over 2 years since Shaggy topped the charts with "Oh Carolina" but took until this record for him to score his 2nd Top 40 hit. It's based on the Mungo Jerry record of the same name and features extensive vocals from Rayvon, the first act from Barbados to have a Top 40 hit. A fun record.
Verdict - Good
This was the highest charting Top 40 hit for Clock. It's a eurodance cover of the Tag Team record. I do remember this being pretty big at the time but it's never worked in my opinion. The again very generic eurodance music sold records.
Verdict - Rubbish
EMF had a total of 3 Top 10 hits, "Unbelievable", "I Believe" and "I'm A Believer". A bit of a theme going on with that. This would be their final Top 40 hit to date and teaming up with comedians Reeves and Mortimer probably didn't do much for their music credibility. It's crap but that's probably the point.
Verdict - Rubbish
Whilst I generally have a favourable opinion of music from 1995 I'm also conscious that there was also rubbish in the charts that year with Robson & Jerome in particular that springs to mind. This was their Top 40 debut which came about after their Soldier Soldier characters sang it on the show.
Verdict - Rubbish / Rubbish
The Top 40 debut for Diana King and the record she is best known for. It was from the soundtrack to "Bad Boys", a film that has Will Smith in it. The fact it wasn't Will Smith making the record for the film might have indicated that he'd given up on music. Maybe that's why I like this.
Verdict - Good
2. Supergrass - Alright / Time (New)
The biggest hit for Supergrass and the one they're best known for. I was already familiar with Supergrass courtesy of their previous hits and had them down as a bit of a moody band. I was therefore surprised at how uplifting "Alright" was. They're back to their moody selves on "Time" but are sounding a bit poundland Rolling Stones for my liking.
Verdict - Good / Rubbish
If I had to pick a record to sum up the summer of 1995 then this would probably be it. This was also my favourite of The Outhere Brothers hits.
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 22.5/30, or 75%. The good scores keep coming.
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