2005: The End? - September

For the 3rd month in a row we have slightly more new entries from the rap/R&B camp than the indie/garage rock camp. This time though we have one more indie/garage rock record appear on Top of the Pops than rap/R&B. Part of the reason was because Oasis scored a number one so they had no choice but to play that. They also played the only record from that genre that scores any points in "Rebellion (Lies)" by Arcade Fire which gets half marks.

One of the R&B records they played was the one which is the worst record this month. It's the Rihanna debut single "Pon De Replay". I made a real effort to like this one, she was a new signing for Def Jam. This was the label that gave us Public Enemy amongst others. Eventually I thought who am I trying to kid, this is shit. Not only is her voice dreadful, she's inspired a whole generation of female singers to sing just as badly.

The only record from the rap/R&B camp to get any points is "Playa's Only" by R Kelly & The Game. It was taken from "TP3" reloaded which is quite possibly the newest R&B album that I own.

It was better in the dance music world but that was in part to do with recycling of older tunes. There was "Insomnia 2005" by Faithless, a decent enough remix 10 years after it was first released. Then we had "Doctor Pressure" by Mylo & Miami Sound Machine, a mash up of "Drop the Pressure" by Mylo and "Dr Beat" by Miami Sound Machine.

We also had "Jacques Your Body (Make Me Sweat)" by Les Rythmes Digitales, originally released in 1997 but given a new lease of life from being featured on the Citroen C4 advert. Sticking with car adverts, there was also "Singin in the Rain" by Mint Royale that was on the VW Golf advert. This one just gets half marks though.

The best record though comes from Transplants with "Gangsters and Thugs", which could be described as a blend of punk, rap and drum & bass. 

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

Score: 15%

Here's a look at the chart:

Maybe August was one last swan song and now the end is near.

Snoop Dogg - Bush (2015)

 

The Snoop Dogg album I picked as one of my favourites was his debut "Doggystyle". Of all the artists I picked, Snoop Dogg was by far the most prolific album wise. There was also I time when I had every Snoop Dogg album but that ended in 2009 with "Malice N Wonderland". 

One main criticism of Snoop Doggs follow up albums to his debut in the 90s was that he didn't have the best producers behind him. His career picked up again when he reunited with Dr Dre but then when he released 2002s "Paid That Cost To Be Da Bo$$" he made a point of not having Dr Dre produce any tracks to show he was just as capable of making a good record without him.

Enter The Neptunes who produced several tracks on that album. They were just about the hottest producers at the time so it was almost inevitably a success.

On his "Bush" album he's reunited with The Neptunes who this time have produced every track. You may therefore be thinking it must be a good album then. I on the other hand am thinking no, bad album.

Back in 2002 we had Nerd, essentially The Neptunes as a band, who were pushing music boundaries and Pharrell was the face of this as well as being known to pop up on various Neptunes productions with the odd noise or throwaway line. By 2015 Pharrell had become best known for the god awful "Happy". I recall listening to his follow up singles at the time, all I really remember are pointless appearances from the likes of Kelly Osbourne and Miley Cyrus on them as well as the fact they were fuckin awful.

This serious downfall in terms of quality for Pharrell is reflected on this album. I did think maybe Chad Hugo was the talented one and that Pharrell couldn't make a decent record without him. The presence of Chad does little to enhance the quality, but given the success of the shit music Pharrell was making maybe this was intentional.

Of course Snoop Dogg isn't a rapper you're supposed to take too seriously. He can get away with things other rappers can't because it's just Snoop being Snoop. This album is poor though and I don't think I'll be listening again.

25 Years Since.... February 1999

Wow 25 years since the last year of the 20th century, these were the tunes I was enjoying then:

Cassius - Cassius 1999

France had given us the biggest dance record of 1998 with "Music Sounds Better With You" by Stardust. This no doubt opened the gates for other French acts to make their mark in the UK.

The first of these French acts to have a hit in 1999 were Cassius. This record was quite groundbreaking really, I'd never heard anything like it before. It felt like one of those records I'd been waiting to hear all my life.

Armand Van Helden ft Duane Harden - U Don't Know Me

This chart topper was a sign of just how popular dance music was becoming. At first I thought it was George Michael singing on the record but it isn't, it's Duane Harden.

I recall discussing this record with someone who'd only just got into dance music, again another sign of the growing popularity of dance music given I couldn't imagine this person listening to dance music previously.

Armand Van Helden was one of the biggest DJs at this point. 

The Divine Comedy - National Express

The biggest hit for The Divine Comedy. I found it hilarious that there was a record about a bus company. It also made me question which National Express routes do they serve crisps and tea on? None of the routes I've ever used.

Inner City - Good Life (Buena Vida)

Generally speaking I'm not a fan of remixes. More often than not they ruin the original and very rarely are they an improvement on the original. This record is an exception to that rule.

Originally coming out in the acid house days in 1988, the music had evolved a lot in the decade that followed. This remix ensured it would sound out of place on a dancefloor in Ibiza in 1999.

Roger Sanchez presents Twilight - I Want Your Love

Roger Sanchez was already a big name on the DJ circuit but this was his Top 40 debut. It heavily samples the Chic record of the same name.

I'm pretty sure I first heard this in 1998 and associate it more with 1998 than 1999.

Top 30 in 1998 Reviewed: Week 9

Here's my weekly look at the Top 30 from 26 years ago. The plan is for these posts to go out at 17:30 on a 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 1998 with my verdict on each record:

30. Stereophonics - Local Boy In The Photograph

This was the first single for the Stereophonics but failed to make the Top 40 when first released. With the band now gaining in popularity it fared better when rereleased and was their highest charting single to this point. It was written about someone who was killed by a train which sums up how depressing their music is.

Verdict - Rubbish

29. The Dandy Warhols - Every Day Should Be A Holiday (New)

This way the Top 40 debut for The Dandy Warhols which came 3 years before their big hit. It was from the film "There's Something About Mary" which I recall being a big film at the time, so the fact this wasn't a big hit tells you all you need to know.

Verdict - Rubbish

28. Air - Sexy Boy

This was the Top 40 debut and biggest hit for French electronic duo Air. I own the "Moon Safari" album on which this appears and it's one of my all time favourite albums. I was different to anything else I'd heard at the time and was possibly a door to more great electronic music from France. That does not include David Guetta by the way.

Verdict - Good

27. Bamboo - Bamboogie

Clock weren't the only ones doing covers of KC and the Sunshine Band records. Andrew Livingstone aka Bamboo was also charting with this take on "Get Down Tonight" by KC and the Sunshine Band. This time though it was a decent record.

Verdict - Good

26. Aaron Carter - Crazy Little Party Girl

The 2nd Top 40 hit for the younger brother of Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys. I remember the adverts for his album, it would begin with his debut "Crush on You" and seamless went into this record to the point they could have easily been the same record.

Verdict - Rubbish

25. DJ Quicksilver - Planet Love

I remember hearing this record the the first time on the Judge Jules show on Radio 1. He introduced this by saying DJ Quiksilver's first two hits were a bit stilton but this one is the cream. It certainly does sound more credible, but it would also be his lowest charting and final Top 40 hit to date under his DJ Quiksilver alias.

Verdict - Good

24. Wes - Alane

It's fair to say that with some of the low scores we get for weeks in the 90s I question were the charts much better back in the 90s. Then I hear something like this and decide yes they were. I'd never heard anything like this before and regardless of whether it's to your taste or not, it's the fact such an unusual record could have made the Top 40 at the time. I happen to like it.

Verdict - Good

23. Milk Incorporated - Good Enough (La Vache) (New)

Milk Inc were one of the big eurodance/trance acts in the early 00s but before they became a familiar name they were Milk Incorporated and had this Top 40 hit in 1998. There's something rather irritating about this record.

Verdict - Rubbish

22. Catatonia - Mulder And Scully

Catatonia made their Top 40 debut in 1996, but it was this their 3rd Top 40 hit that made them a household name. The X Files references may have helped boost sales of this record, but that factor put me off if anything. It's a good record overall but I like the quick guitar intro going straight into the song.

Verdict - Good

21. Martha Wash ft RuPaul - It's Raining Men... The Sequel (New)

Martha Wash was part of the Weathergirls who had the original of this back in 1984. Here she is teaming up with drag queen RuPaul for a remake. I can't say I was a fan of the original and this remake sounds very what the fuck.

Verdict - Rubbish

20. Sandy B - Make The World Go Round (New)

This originally made the Top 40 in 1997 but only made number 35. It returned to the charts in 1998 following Camisra "Let Me Show You" charting which sounds similar. They have enough differences to be good in their own way though.

Verdict - Good

19. Usher - You Make Me Wanna

With teenage female R&B singers like Aaliyah, Brandy and Monica all established, Jermaine Dupri decided to give the world a teenage male R&B singer in Usher. Jermanie Dupri was the man who brought the world Kris Kross when he was still a teenager himself. It worked, but that doesn't mean that I like it.

Verdict - Rubbish

18. Lighthouse Family - High

When it comes to Lighthouse Family singles they don't get any better than this. I always found it a really soothing record. I once worked somewhere that had music playing that didn't have the original singers on the tracks. This was one of those tracks on there and the different singer made it not as good. Then I bought a compilation that had this on it and was such a relief to hear it with the proper singer again.

Verdict - Good

17. Janet Jackson - Together Again

When this record came out I was shocked. It was a Janet Jackson song that I actually liked. Remember I was listening to nothing but rave at the time so I really didn't want to like this record even though it is a dance record. Then a friend of mine who was into rap and drum & bass bought this single which made me feel a bit better about liking it.

Verdict - Good

16. N-Tyce - Telefunkin' (New)

The 3rd Top 40 hit for N-Tyce who to be fair did well to make it this far. This sounds like they're trying to make a TLC record but really badly. A complete joke of a record, not sure whether it was supposed to be like that or not.

Verdict - Rubbish

15. Backstreet Boys - All I Have To Give

The 2nd number 2 for the Backstreet Boys, but Max Martin is nowhere to be seen on this record. Instead it was written by Full Force. It was apparently an attempt to differentiate themselves from the pop and R&B genre. I'll let you decide when genre this fits.

Verdict - Rubbish

14. Rest Assured - Treat Infamy (New)

The Verve had a big hit in 1997 with "Bitter Sweet Symphony" which was a record I didn't like. However if you take the main hook and put it into a dance record it works a treat. This is exactly what this record does.

Verdict - Good

13. Cleopatra - Cleopatra's Theme

Yet another girl group jumping on the bandwagon following the success of the Spice Girls. They literarily were a girl group with their ages ranging from 13-17. They were also described as the female Hanson but I think I prefer Hanson if I'm honest, that's how bad this is. 

Verdict - Rubbish

12. Ocean Colour Scene - It's A Beautiful Thing (New)

This record ended a run of Top 10 hits for Ocean Colour Scene and they haven't returned to the Top 10 since. Like it's predecessor it features vocals from PP Arnold. She must have had the most Top 40 hits as uncredited vocalist, she's had a few. It's a ballad and a bit boring if I'm honest.

Verdict - Rubbish

11. Camisra - Let Me Show You

This was the Top 40 debut for Tall Paul under his Camisra alias and the hit he is best known for. I'm pretty sure I heard this record long before 1998, this does certainly feel too late for it to be charting. Anyway it's one of the classics.

Verdict - Good

10. Shania Twain - You're Still The One (New)

This was the Top 40 debut for Shania Twain which she wrote with her than husband Robert John "Mutt" Lange, the man who cowrote a number of Bryan Adams records. I hated this at the time, too much of a soppy ballad for my liking. However it appears on a compilation album I bought a couple of years later and I grew to like it.

Verdict - Good

9. Robbie Williams - Angels

This was the turn around point of Robbie Williams solo career which went from strength to strength after this. I was dismissive of him as a solo artist least of all because I didn't like Oasis who he was trying to imitate. This record though is completely different and I had to concede it's actually quite good.

Verdict - Good

8. Will Smith - Gettin' Jiggy Wit It

Rumor has it that this record was ghost written by Nas. It's something he denies and I can understand why. At the same time though I don't blame him for writing it at all. If I was asked to write a crappy record for Will Smith in the knowledge I could make a shit load of money from it then I would.

Verdict - Rubbish

7. All Saints - Never Ever

When the All Saints first came about I was amazed to find that I liked their debut Top 40 hit. I was even more amazed to find I also liked this, their follow up. It's one of those records I'd felt I'd heard before but hadn't. As a result of me liking these first 2 singles I went on to do something I'd not done in a long time, bought an album that wasn't rave which was their debut album.

Verdict - Good

6. Another Level - Be Alone No More (New)

Damage had a pretty successful 1996 and first half of 1997, but the wheels fell off in the second half of 1997 with a number 33 single. The start of 1998 was therefore a good time for Another Level to make their move with this their debut Top 40 hit. It's writers included Andrea Martin and Ivan Matias who wrote "Don't Let Go (Love)" by En Vogue so they really meant business. It's actually not bad.

Verdict - OK

5. Will Mellor - When I Need You (New)

We'd had Top 40 hits from people from Neighbours, Home & Away, Coronation Street, Eastenders and Emmerdale. Now it was time for Hollyoaks. Will Mellor wasn't actually the first Hollyoaks actor to have a Top 40 hit as Alvin Stardust was originally in it, but he was the first to have a hit after Hollyoaks. It's predictably crap.

Verdict - Rubbish

4. Savage Garden - Truly Madly Deeply (New)

At the time I remember this being this opening song of Top of the Pops for a few weeks in a row. At least that's what it felt. There also seemed to be a lot of people on the stage so I assumed they were a band with many members, but it turned out there were only 2 of them in Savage Garden. Never before have I seen a song contradict a band name so much. I do like some of their music, but not the soppy ballads.

Verdict - Rubbish

3. Aqua - Doctor Jones

Aqua topped the charts with their debut hit "Barbie Girl" and did the same again with this follow up record. Once again it's a novelty record and I'm pretty sure everyone with the surname Jones who held a PhD got some stick for this record.

Verdict - Rubbish

2. Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On

The 2nd and final chart topper to date for Celine Dion which was take from "The Titanic" movie. I remember how big that film was so it was almost inevitable that this would get to number one. It's also a depressing film given that people die at the end so I guess it's appropriate to have a depressing song for it. Musically though its just another Celine Dion record.

Verdict - Rubbish

1. Cornershop - Brimful Of Asha (New)

When I first heard this I was amazed that a rock band could make such a record. Then I recall them playing the original version of TFI Friday which was miserable. It then became clear when I discovered than the version we all know and love was the Norman Cook remix. 

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 14.5/30, or 48%. Even closer to 50%.

UK Number 40s: Leilani - Do You Want Me? (1999)

 

Leilani was a British pop singer who had 2 Top 40 hits in 1999 and then pretty much disappeared off the face of the earth afterwards.

Her Top 40 debut was "Madness Thing" which made number 19 and in pop music terms would have been seen as a flop. This was the follow up single and there's no doubt this would have been considered a flop. An album was planned but never got released.

The reality was there were a lot of pop artists trying to get a piece of the action in 1999 and ultimately some of these wouldn't reach the heights they were hoping for.

Top 30 in 1994 Reviewed: Week 9

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 1994 with my verdict on each record:

30. Sasha - Higher Ground

This was the Top 40 debut for Sasha. He had already been a big name DJ for some time by this point and was credited alongside John Digweed as being a pioneer of progressive house. Quite what qualifies a record as progressive house I don't know, but this is a good record whatever you call it.

Verdict - Good

29. Haddaway - I Miss You

I'm not a fan of the first two Haddaway hits but will concede they were fun records so could understand the appeal to others. I therefore found it baffling that his next hit would be this depressing number. It still managed to reach the Top 10 though. 

Verdict - Rubbish

28. Gabrielle - Because Of You (New)

The 4th Top 40 hit for Gabrielle which was the last one from her debut album. I'd say we're very much into album filler territory. It's following the same formula as her previous hits but just less catchy and not really having much to it.

Verdict - Rubbish

27. Atlantic Ocean - Waterfall

This is one of my all time favourites. I'll always remember the moment Carl Cox dropped this in one of his sets which if anything showed me how much I love this record. It was the Top 40 debut for Atlantic Ocean who hail from Holland, a country where loads of great music has come from. 

Verdict - Good

26. Deep Forest - Sweet Lullaby

The Top 40 debut for Deep Forest and their highest charting hit. I always liked this tune but had no idea what it was for years. Once I did find out what it was it didn't take long for me to go out and buy the album, though the strength of other records of theirs also contributed to that decision. 

Verdict - Good

25. Urban Cookie Collective - Sail Away

The 3rd Top 40 hit for Urban Cookie Collective and the last time they'll feature as their 4th and final Top 40 hit of the 90s didn't reach the Top 30. For their first 2 hits I praised them making commercial records with a bit of credibility. I do feel the wheels have come off somewhat with this one, but it isn't bad.

Verdict - OK

24. The Proclaimers - Let's Get Married

The Proclaimers in 1994? This was the first time The Proclaimers has been in the Top 40 since 1990 and was just their 4th Top 40 hit. They had one further Top 40 hit in the 90s that didn't reach the Top 40. Had they stopped in 1990 they could have said all their Top 40 hits are well remembered, but with this record they can no longer claim that. It's not very good either. 

Verdict - Rubbish

23. Crowded House - Locked Out

You won't be surprised to hear that the highest charting Crowded House record is "Weather With You", but what about the 2nd highest? It's jointly this record along with "Instinct". I would say this is my favourite Crowded House hit. I loved it at the time and haven't changed my mind.

Verdict - Good

22. Level 42 - Forever Now (New)

Level 42 in 1994? That's right and this wasn't their last Top 40 hit either. This record was co-written by Richard Darbyshire of Living In A Box so is very much 80s in the 90s. It's fair to say Level 42 were past their commercial peak by this point and it sounds like they're past their best too.

Verdict - Rubbish

21. Cypress Hill - Insane In The Brain (New)

This was the debut Top 40 hit for Cypress Hill in 1993 but only made number 32. It fared better when re-issued in 1994. It's their best known single but it's also the lowest charting single from their "Black Sunday" album surprisingly. It's a classic.

Verdict - Good

20. Soundgarden - Spoonman (New)

Soundgarden were considered to be one of the big four grunge bands along with Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Alice In Chains. They were yet to have much impact on the UK Top 40 until 1994 having just a solitary number 30 hit to their name prior to that. This came at a time when Nirvana were finished from a Top 40 perspective. Not my cup of tea.

Verdict - Rubbish

19. SWV - Downtown (New)

The 4th Top 40 hit for SWV and first not to be written by Brian Alexander Morgan. I have a version of this on an R&B compilation that I think's particularly good and was in the part of the compilation I'd listen to if I didn't have time to listen to the whole CD. The single mix is decent enough too.

Verdict - Good

18. Aretha Franklin - A Deeper Love

This had been a Top 40 hit for Clivilles & Cole a couple of years earlier and they produced this Aretha Franklin cover. So what we basically have is Clivilles & Cole redoing their record but having Aretha Franklin sing on it instead. Can't go wrong with that.

Verdict - Good

17. K7 - Come Baby Come

I remember this being on my list of non-rock records I liked at the time. Its one of those records that has a great sing along chorus which pretty much makes the record. It's very much of its time too which is also a good thing given it was the 90s.

Verdict - Good

16. Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Two Tribes (New)

After re-issuing "Relax", "Welcome To The Pleasuredome" and "The Power Of Love" in 1993, Frankie Goes To Hollywood went the whole hog by re-issuing "Two Tribes" in 1994. The remix was done by Fluke who were yet to have a Top 40 hit of their own at this point. It has their sound to it and isn't bad.

Verdict - OK

15. The Cranberries - Linger

The Top 40 debut for The Cranberries and their joint highest charting single. It also gave them their only American Top 10, something they never managed to achieve in the UK. I guess its a catchy enough record but I can't say I've ever liked it. The singing in particular is not to my taste

Verdict - Rubbish

14. Wendy Moten - Come In Out Of The Rain

The Top 40 debut for Wendy Moten and the only one to reach the Top 30. It was taken from her self titled debut album which had come out 2 years earlier. I feel like this record should be from a movie but it appears not to be. It's a slow R&B ballad, records like this do have their place and probably worked best in the 90s but it's just not my cup of tea.

Verdict - Rubbish

13. Elton John And RuPaul - Don't Go Breaking My Heart (New)

Elton John collaborating with other artists to do crappy EDM remakes of his older hits is nothing new. He was doing a similar thing in 1994 with this record which had originally been a chart topper for him and Kiki Dee in 1976. This is truly awful.

Verdict - Rubbish

12. Reel 2 Real ft The Mad Stuntman - I Like To Move It

I always thought this record was shit at the time. Then I heard it again a couple of years later and it sounded even worse as it was slower than I remembered. Then I discovered the man behind Reel 2 Real was Erick Morillo, a credible DJ and thought maybe this is credible music. Who was I trying to kid, it was cheesy commercial rubbish that was made to sell by the bucket loads. 

Verdict - Rubbish

11. Meat Loaf - Rock And Roll Dreams Come Through

This was when we realised that the comeback of Meat Loaf wasn't a one off and that he was here to stay. One thing I remember about this record was thinking how soft it sounded. I have to say the backing vocals are fun to sing along to and on that basis I'll give this record half a mark.

Verdict - OK

10. Cappella - Move On Baby

In 1993 and 1994 all of Cappellas Top 40 hits had either "U" or "Move" in the title. This was the first of the "Move" hits. I have to say I'm find all of these eurodance records very tedious already whoever it's by.

Verdict - Rubbish

9. Celine Dion - The Power Of Love

This was the 2nd Top 40 hit for Celine Dion and is a cover of the Jennifer Rush record. I almost feel like this record was made for Celine Dion to cover. It doesn't really sound any different to the original at all. I don't like the original, or any version I've heard for that matter.

Verdict - Rubbish

8. 2 Unlimited - Let The Beat Control Your Body

This was the 5th and final Top 40 hit from their "No Limits" album which came around a year after they topped the charts with the first. I can't say I like any of those records, but this one isn't even catchy and is very much going into album filler territory. 

Verdict - Rubbish

7. Ace Of Base - The Sign (New)

The 3rd Top 40 hit for Ace Of Base which many regard as their other hit. It didn't quite match the success of debut "All That She Wants" in the UK making number 2 but it did top the charts in America. Like "All That She Wants", "The Sign" was produced by Denniz Pop, the man who started the Swedish revolution in the songwriting world. A good bit of reggae pop.

Verdict - Good

6. Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart And Sting - All For Love

I found it quite odd to see these 3 artists collaborate on this record but at the same time it seemed a logical collaboration in part because all 3 artists have had their fair share of bland records. It should therefore be no surprise to find this is a bland record.

Verdict - Rubbish

5. Toni Braxton - Breathe Again

The Top 40 debut for Toni Braxton and her joint highest charting single to date. It was written by Babyface who wrote the majority of her hits. It's not a bad record, just a bit slow and too much of a ballad for my liking. It has the proper 90s music factor to it though.

Verdict - OK

4. Enigma - Return To Innocence

It had been 3 years since Enigma topped the charts with "Sadeness (Part 2)" and this was their next Top 40 hit. I would say this is a more radio friendly record than it's predecessor, it has a pretty catchy hook and really easy on the ears.

Verdict - Good

3. Suede - Stay Together (New)

Believe it or not, this is the joint highest charting Suede single. It's by no means their best know, though the fact it didn't appear on an album may have helped it. It's since been disowned by the band and I'm inclined to agree with them.

Verdict - Rubbish

2. D:Ream - Things Can Only Get Better

If I was to pick the most bland and generic dance record of the 90s then this would be a strong candidate. It was the Top 40 debut for D:Ream and their biggest hit and possibly the only hit many people remembered. They had a few more equally bland hits though.

Verdict - Rubbish

1. Mariah Carey - Without You

This was originally a Badfinger song that was made famous and taken to the top of the charts by Nilsson. Shortly before this Mariah Carey version topped the charts Harry Nilsson sadly passed away. This is by far the worst version of the song, done in a typically bland Mariah Carey style.

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 12/30, or 40%. An improvement, but still not great.

Top 30 in 1997 Reviewed: Week 8

Here's my weekly look at the Top 30 from 27 years ago. The plan is for these posts to go out at 17:30 on a Friday.

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 1997 with my verdict on each record:

30. George Michael - Older / I Can't Make You Love Me

The 20th Top 40 hit for George Michael which was also the title of the album this was taken from. I certainly considered George Michael to be old at the time, but he was only 33. Most people old enough to remember this would be over 33 now. Anyway like "Jesus To a Child" a year prior to this, it's slow and boring.

Verdict - Rubbish / Rubbish

29. Amen! UK - Passion

Amen! UK was one of many aliases of Paul Masterson who had previously charted as Candy Girls and Dorothy. I loved the main riff to this, it made up for the fact it wasn't as fast as a typical tune I would listen to at the time.

Verdict - Good

28. Skunk Anansie - Hedonism (Just Because You Feel Good)

Even Skunk Anansie were going soft in 1997. This was probably the softest hit they'd had but at the same time appropriate for the dark theme of the record. Not a bad record but does lack a little something to make me truly like it.

Verdict - OK

27. Gabrielle - Walk On By

Gabrielle had written all of her Top 40 hits prior to her collaboration with East 17 when she did a cover. She then followed of with another cover with this being a cover of the Dionne Warwick song. It goes without saying that it's not as good as the original, but it's actually a decent cover and probably the best hit Gabrielle has ever had.

Verdict - Good

26. Mansun - Five (EP) - She Makes My Nose Bleed

I mentioned on their previous Top 40 hit "Wide Open Space" that it was the only Top 40 hit of theirs I remember. Despite this one getting to the Top 10 it completely passed me by, but given how much I hated "Wide Open Space" I probably trained myself to avoid them. Doesn't sound like I've missed out on much.

Verdict - Rubbish

25. Whitney Houston - Step By Step

Here's Whitney Houston with yet another song taken from a movie. This time it's "The Preachers Wife" which Whitney Houston was also in herself. It's a cover of an Annie Lennox record. There was also a happy hardcore version of this which I thought was dreadful, much like what I think of this.

Verdict - Rubbish

24. Michelle Gayle - Do You Know

Just when you thought Michelle Gayle's pop career was over, here she is back in the Top 10 with the lead single from her 2nd album. A big talking point about this record at the time was Michelle Gayle appearing topless (but covered) in the video. That possibly helped boost sales, I can't imagine the music itself did.

Verdict - Rubbish

23. Depeche Mode - Barrel Of A Gun

I remember this comeback of Depeche Mode. It had been 3 years since they had last been in the Top 40 and came after a time when Dave Gahan was having drug problems which resulted in him briefly dying which I remember him talking about on the "The O-Zone". As you could imagine then, this is a pretty dark record but if anyone knows how to make a dark record it's Depeche Mode.

Verdict - Good

22. The Wonders - That Thing You Do! (New)

At first listen this raises the question, was this a 60s record that has made it's way back in the Top 40 for some reason? Turns out the answer is no, it's taken from a film of the same name that was set in the 60s and this was the band in the movies song. It's therefore a cheesy crap imitation of a 60s record.

Verdict - Rubbish

21. Eels - Novocaine For The Soul

When I first came across this record I thought wow Will from TFI Friday has made a record. Of course it wasn't really Will from TFI Friday, just a lookalike. It was one of those tunes I quietly enjoyed. I don't remember anyone talking about it, or Eels at the time. When I got to university they seemed to be everyone's favourite band.

Verdict - Good

20. Backstreet Boys - Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)

The 4th Top 40 hit for the Backstreet Boys and 2nd penned by Max Martin and Herbie Crichlow, but no Denniz Pop with them this time. It became their highest charting hit to that point, a sign that American pop singers backed by Swedish songwriters were here to stay. Unfortunately it's mostly crap.

Verdict - Rubbish

19. Spice Girls - 2 Become 1

What had become apparent by this point was that not only were the Spice Girls here to stay, but they were almost inevitably going to top the charts with everything they release. I knew someone who bought this single because you could see Geri's legs on the cover, that's how effective their marketing seemed to be. It even made its was onto the Christmas episode of "Only Fools And Horses". Musically though it's really poor. 

Verdict - Rubbish

18. OTT - Let Me In

Boyzone had pretty much established themselves as the leading boy band by this point, with Take That split up and East 17 in turmoil. Their formula consisted mostly of doing shit covers. Now we have some poundland Boyzone in the shape off OTT. This was the Top 40 debut for Irish boy band OTT which like Boyzone begin their Top 40 career with a shitty Osmonds cover.

Verdict - Rubbish

17. Barbra Streisand And Bryan Adams - I Finally Found Someone

This seems quite an odd collaboration in a way, but then when you consider that both Bryan Adams and Barbra Streisand seemed to make songs for films a lot it almost made sense for them to collaborate. As you might expect, its from a film which was "The Mirror Has Two Faces". Also as you might expect, it's shit.

Verdict - Rubbish

16. Texas - Say What You Want

This was the big comeback single for Texas after being in the wilderness since 1989. They had a few hits in-between, but none that anyone remembers. Chris Evans was a big fan of this as I recall and helped put Texas back in the limelight. Judging by a lot of the music that appeared on TFI Friday though taught me that Chris Evans didn't have the best taste in music.

Verdict - Rubbish

15. White Town - Your Woman

Although there are many resources on the internet these days about White Town, at the time it was a bit of a mystery who White Town actually was. It was also an unlikely number one. It's an experimental tune made by someone who was anonymous but at the same time it was a tune that could be liked by fans of various genres.

Verdict - Good

14. Space - Dark Clouds (New)

Space had a pretty decent 1996 with all 3 of their Top 40 hits being pretty decent. This 4th Top 40 hit from them is taken from the same album. If I was to rank all 4 songs then this would definitely be 4th. It's not a bad record but lacks the excitement of the other 3 records.

Verdict - OK

13. Apollo 440 - Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Dub

One reservation I had about this record at the time was seeing them on Top of the Pops with a drum kit. I was basically anti-instruments at the time and thought all good music should have programmed drums which were impossible to play on an actual drum kit. It wasn't enough to stop me from liking the tune though, was definitely one of the best commercial records of its time.

Verdict - Good

12. Mark Owen - Clementine

After starting his solo career with one of the most namby pamby songs I've ever heard with "Child", he followed up with this Britpop record. Still not convincing though, Britpop didn't exactly mean credible and it sounds more like a record for a Take That fan than a Britpop one.

Verdict - Rubbish

11. LL Cool J - Ain't Nobody

For the first decade or so of LL Cool J's career his Top 40 record was a solitary Top 10 hit and 3 hits that made the 30s. Then he had 3 Top 20 hits in 1996 alone and then he topped the charts at the start of 1997 with this. It was from the Beavis & Butthead soundtrack which would have helped. Does seem odd for a record like this to be on a soundtrack for 2 characters who are into metal though. Can't say I'm a fan of this myself.

Verdict - Rubbish

10. The BlueBoy - Remember Me

My one reservation about this record was it being too slow. It wouldn't have really worked as a fast tune though. I remember this and "Your Woman" by White Town being out around the same sort of time. I guess there are similarities between the two.

Verdict - Good

9. James - She's A Star (New)

It had been 3 years since James had last been in the Top 40. At the time I remember thinking that James were a band that could capitalise on the popularity of Britpop so made sense for them to come back. I also thought they sounded like they were turning into Suede on this record, which isn't a good thing.

Verdict - Rubbish

8. DJ Kool - Let Me Clear My Throat (New)

There appears to be a lot of dating shows on the TV these days and I have no interest whatsoever in watching any of them. This record though reminds me there was a dodgy dating show I used to watch in the 90s called "Streetmate" with Davina McCall and this was the theme music. I do remember this record initially grabbing my attention because it was by a DJ, but was disappointed when I actually heard it.

Verdict - Rubbish

7. Daft Punk - Da Funk / Musique (New)

This was the first UK Top 40 hit for Daft Punk. As they were newcomers in that respect I originally thought they were called Da Funk and the tune was called "Daft Punk" and furthermore I thought that was in reference to the man with the dogs head in the video. It wasn't long before I realised it was the other way round and thought why would you call yourselves Daft Punk. I like the tune but I also like the video to the point I almost forget the tune is playing.

Verdict - Good / Good

6. U2 - Discotheque

When this record came out I realised just how big U2 were at the time. There was so much hype about this comeback single and it seemed inevitable it would get to number one. At the same time, those who I know who are U2 fans consider this to be their dodgy period. I'm inclined to agree based on this record, it's a dance record but not really one for dance music fans like myself.

Verdict - Rubbish

5. En Vogue - Don't Let Go (Love)

It had been 3 years since En Vogue had last been in the Top 40 and they came back here with what I consider to be their best record. It was also the beginning of the end for En Vogue as we knew them with lead singer Dawn Robinson leaving the group shortly after. They still carry on today but nothing they've done since has been as good as this.

Verdict - Good

4. 911 - The Day We Find Love (New)

The 4th Top 40 hit for 911 and their first Top 5. Only 2 of their remaining 10 Top 40 hits would peak outside of the Top 5. I did say their previous hit was a guilty pleasure of mine, but this one isn't. It's the usual boy band fodder, the formula needed to succeed that compromises on quality of music. 

Verdict - Rubbish

3. No Mercy - Where Do You Go

I seem to recall the blurb about this record on The Chart Show saying that No Mercy were waiters at a Gloria Estefan owned restaurant prior to becoming singers. Can't find any mention of that on the internet so The Chart Show were probably just taking the piss. It does make a convincing story though.

Verdict - Rubbish

2. Warren G - I Shot The Sheriff (New)

I remember this record at the time. It seemed big enough, but not as big as it's predecessor "What's Love Got To Do With It". I was therefore surprised this go as high as number 2 matching it's predecessor. Another solid effort from Warren G.

Verdict - Good

1. No Doubt - Don't Speak (New)

No Doubt seemed to just come out of nowhere with this record. I remember thinking who the fuck are No Doubt and suddenly they were number one. Turns out they'd had a number 38 prior to this. I think they did their best stuff later on in their career, but this ones not bad.

Verdict - OK

If we give the records which were good 1 point each and those which were OK half a point, the final score is 11.5/30, or 38%. Slight drop from last week.