Sunday, 4 August 2024

Top 30 in 1994 Reviewed: Week 32

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:


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

Verdict - Rubbish


Gun were a band that caught my attention quite early on due to the similarity with their name and Guns N' Roses. I also happened to find the music I heard of theirs quite good. I therefore find it a bit of a shame that their biggest hit was this, a cover of the Cameo record. It really doesn't do the band any justice.

Verdict - Rubbish


I did like this record at the time and included it in my "25 years since...." series of posts. However there is no getting around the fact this is nowhere near as good as the Aswad version. It therefore raises the question why bother listening to it. It's not a bad record though so it gets half marks.

Verdict - OK


What I remember about this record was thinking how namby pamby it sounded compared to their boy band rivals EYC. Such a pathetically weak single and it somehow sounds worse now than it did back then.

Verdict - Rubbish


I feel there should be an updated version of this record which seems even more relevant today than it did back then. For the benefit of those who don't know it, the people in question they want to kill were politicians at the time.

Verdict - Good


The final Top 40 hit to date for Whitesnake which is a double a-side of their joint biggest hit from 1987 and the b-side to "The Deeper The Love" from 1990. It does sound a bit out of place in 1994 understandably but this was released to promote their greatest hits which was an opportunity to relive the good old days.

Verdict - Good / Good


Lucian Pavarotti made the Top 40 back in 1990 thanks to the World Cup. Fast forward 4 years to the next world cup and he's back again for the same reason but he's brought his mates with him this time. Not my cup of tea.

Verdict - Rubbish


Take That's run of number ones ended with this record. With Wet Wet Wet occupying top spot it seemed unlikely they would top the charts with this but at the same time it didn't even make number 2. It may have been more appropriate for it to make number 3 though because it's shit.

Verdict - Rubbish


Status Quo were now 26 years and 44 hits into their Top 40 career at this point. Distinguishing between most of those 44 hits is quite a challenge. Giving the year of a said record would also be a challenge as this could have been from any point in Status Quos history. It's a formula that's worked well for them though and it's not bad.

Verdict - OK


Blur weren't the only act to have a hit with this song title in 1994. This was part of the hardbag scene but had nothing to do with Felix or Rollo. It's members were Brad Hed and Gavin Hed and this was their only Top 40 hit. I do like a bit of hardbag.

Verdict - Good


I remember being shocked to find out this record was by Seal. I didn't find out until it was re-released in 1995 for the Batman movie. Once I'd got over the initial shock I realised that I liked it and ended up buying the single

Verdict - Good


The only Top 40 hit for Big Mountain which is a cover of the Peter Frampton record. There was no avoiding this record at the time, I remember some people loving this. I do like a bit of reggae pop myself but have never liked this one.

Verdict - Rubbish


Neneh Cherry has often been said to be edgy and cool and here she is collaborating with African singer Youssou N'Dour in an attempt to back up these credentials. To me though she's just a pop singer and the only positive thing I have to say about her is that she isn't as bad as her god awful daughter.  

Verdict - Rubbish


After having 3 covers in a row in the Top 40 Elton John is back with an original composition. Bernie Taupin is nowhere to be seen though with lyrics coming from Tim Rice instead with this coming from "The Lion King" movie. Again I question why Disney music has to be so depressing, but I actually don't mind this record.

Verdict - OK


Oh dear! It's a eurodance record but without the usual male rapper female singer formula. In fact it's largely instrumental. That doesn't mean it's any good though. It's a country inspired eurodance record. That's right country mixed with eurodance, is there a worse combination? Probably, but lets not get away from the fact this is dreadful.

Verdict - Rubbish


We're reaching the end of Erasures commercial peak with this being their last Top 10 hit of the 90s though they would return to the Top 10 in the 21st century. This just sounds like a typical Erasure record which is a good thing.

Verdict - Good


The Top 40 debut for Shampoo and the record they're best known for and also their highest charting. I'm actually quite surprised to learn this got not higher than 11 given how big it seemed to be at the time. At the same time thought who would really want to buy this record? It's absolutely dreadful.

Verdict - Rubbish


EYC seem to have calmed down a lot on this record compared to their previous hits, something I remember thinking at the time. I also remember one of the members having an actual black book with him on stage when performing. Now sounding the usual boy band fodder.

Verdict - Rubbish


One memory of this song that particularly stands out for some reason is it being on the car radio when it was my friends birthday in the middle of August. What does it for me with this song is what I assume to be the steel drums. I also like the 2 different styles of Brian and Tony Gold (not their real names).

Verdict - Good


CJ Lewis was able to pull off his 90s remake of "Sweets For My Sweet" but he should have really just left it at that. This is a very poor remake of the Stevie Wonder record and I can only imagine people bought this on the strength of his debut only to be disappointed. 

Verdict - Rubbish


The title of this record pretty much sums up my feelings about all these eurodance records coming off the production line. It's the 2nd Top 40 hit for German eurodance act Maxx and isn't that different to their first.

Verdict - Rubbish


When PJ & Duncan started their music career it was probably just the viewers of Byker Grove who noticed. When this record came out though everybody else did. I used to live in Newcastle and there was a 90s bar there where you were pretty much guaranteed to hear this record. It is shit though. 

Verdict - Rubbish


The 3rd Top 40 hit for Grid and their highest charting hit that many people only know them for. It's a classic biggest hit is nowhere near their best music sort of situation. It has a catchy hook and isn't a bad record but it is a little irritating at the same time.

Verdict - OK


After Aswad topped the charts with their Top 40 debut "Don't Turn Around" their following singles did chart so well until this record over 6 years later. The fact Ace of Base had their own version of "Don't Turn Around" out around this time would have reminded people of Aswad and that may have helped this single become a success. It's written by the band itself and it's a decent record that I liked at the time even it I wouldn't admit it.

Verdict - Good


There's a video I've seen of someone trying to listen to modern rap music but the facial expressions implies they find it all shit. They eventually resort to this record and breath a sigh of relief. That pretty much sums up how I feel.

Verdict - Good


The Top 40 debut and biggest hit for China Black. It was one of those records that I hated at the time but have grown to like via nostalgia for the 90s. I do remember at the time hearing someone singing that and saying what the fuck are you doing? to him. It's easy on the ears I guess.

Verdict - Good


The Top 40 debut for Let Loose and the record they're best known for. I remember this being universally hated at the time and rightfully so because this is an absolutely dreadful record. It's annoying and cringeworthy and hopefully I'll never hear it again.

Verdict - Rubbish


This is the B-52s under a different name with this cover of The Flintstones theme tune which was done for The Flintstones movie. They have some decent tunes to their name and it's a shame their biggest hits are the worst records I've heard them do.

Verdict - Rubbish


When Big Mountain hit the charts I knew this record would be just around the corner because there was also no avoiding this record at the time and it used to annoy me in equal measure. It was originally a country song by John Michael Montgomery. It wasn't the only Top 40 hit for All-4-One though, they would return with another John Michael Montgomery cover but fortunately that never made the Top 30 so I won't have to listen to it.

Verdict - Rubbish


Aside from a chart topper in 1992, the 90s hadn't been a great decade to this point for Wet Wet Wet from a Top 40 perspective with the rest of their singles of the decade so far failing to reach the Top 10. This was all about to change with this record after it spent 15 weeks at number one and could have beaten Bryan Adams record had they not pulled it from sale. Obviously this topped the charts due to it being from "Four Weddings and a Funeral" but it's also a decent song and definitely revitalised them after some pretty poor singles.

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 12/30, or 40%.  Back in the right direction.
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Friday, 2 August 2024

Top 30 in 1997 Reviewed: Week 31

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:


I would say this is the first sign of the wheels falling off for the solo career of Gary Barlow with this record not making the Top 10. It's a cover of a country record by Joe Diffie. As he was the main songwriter in Take That it is baffling that he didn't write 2 of his first 3 solo hits. I get the feeling this was providing Ronan Keating with inspiration for his solo career.

Verdict - Rubbish


It had been 6 years since Omar made his Top 40 debut and took this long for him to score his 2nd Top 40 hit with this. He had one further Top 40 hit, also in 1997 but won't feature as it didn't make the Top 30. I vaguely remember this appearing on The Chart Show at the time but don't really remember the record itself. Not very memorable I have to say.

Verdict - Rubbish


Shena has sang on many dance records over the years, but this was her only Top 40 hit that was simply credited to Shena. Prior to this she had sang on JX hits but as uncredited vocalist. For me though it's all about the main riff. I could listen to it all day.

Verdict - Good


Despite this record making the Top 10, the wheels were also started to fall off Robbie Williams solo career at this point. It was his first of many that he wrote in collaboration with Guy Chambers. Although not as blatant as it's predecessor, it does still sound like he's trying to make an Oasis record.

Verdict - Rubbish


When I was doing my search for the best year this appeared in the Top 40 I looked at in 1997 and I picked this as the worst song. It's almost like The Vengaboys before The Vengaboys and even has a name that implies the members would be male but has female members too.

Verdict - Rubbish


This was the first of 2 Top 40 hits for Changing Faces and the only time they'll feature as their other hit never made the Top 30. It was written and produced by R Kelly and I think you can tell. He sure knew how to write a good record.

Verdict - Good


This record was actually from 1995 and the man behind Da Mighty Dub Katz was Norman Cook before he became better known as Fatboy Slim. By 1997 Fatboy Slim had been established, but was yet to be a household name. In the summer of 1997 came the TV show Ibiza Uncovered and this was the theme music. I watched every episode and recorded them onto video. As a result I can't listen to this tune without thinking about the TV show.

Verdict - Good


This is a cover of a disco record from 1982 by Inner Life. It was pretty common for house covers of disco records, some work well and some don't. I have to say this one doesn't really work, almost sounds like a karaoke version of the original.

Verdict - Rubbish


I believe Hanson were the first band younger than me to top the charts. The fact the lead singers voice was yet to break gave that one away. It was the only song most people remember from them, but unfortunately they did have others.

Verdict - Rubbish


I have to admit I was quite ageist when it came to music at the time. I remember being critical of house DJs being over 30 which really wasn't that old in hindsight now I'm over 40. I guess what I'm trying to say is I found this relatable at the time to sing to other people but now in a way it's being sung about me. It's not a very good record though.

Verdict - Rubbish


The 2nd Top 40 hit for a band who completely passed me by at the time. The guitar riff that takes you from the intro to the verse is actually quite good. I can't say the same for the rest of the song. It sounds like the riff is taking you into something exciting, but it isn't.

Verdict - Rubbish


Universal were a short lived Australian boy band who were brothers and it appears they only charted in the UK. This was the first of 2 Top 40 hits for them and only one to make the Top 30. It's done reggae style, no doubt inspired by Peter Andre.

Verdict - Rubbish


Yet another late 90s Michael Jackson record that charted pretty high despite having little impact in the grand scheme of things. It would however be his last Top 40 hit of the 90s. He's teamed up with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, the usual writers for his sister Janet on "History" and with Teddy Riley on "Ghosts". Both are instantly forgettable though.

Verdict - Rubbish / Rubbish


It had been nearly 4 years since Eternal had made their Top 40 debut but it took until this, their 13th Top 40 hit to top the charts. It did sound like they'd finally cheered up in this record have had a string of rather miserable hits. All was not well behind the scenes though as this would be the penultimate Top 40 hit with Kelle Bryan in the group. Still a rubbish song though.

Verdict - Rubbish


This was the 20th solo Top 40 hit for Morrissey and will be the last time he'll feature as it's his penultimate Top 40 hit of the 90s and his final one never made the Top 30. It's therefore my final opportunity to say it's Morrissey doing his song again.

Verdict - Rubbish


This was the 3rd Top 40 hit for Todd Terry under his own name and the first one that's not a cover. It's also the highest charting Top 40 hit to date for Todd Terry. It's the same sort of soulful house music as it's predecessor but clearly a different record.

Verdict - Good


After scoring his first number one with a hit from a movie, R Kelly was back in the Top 10 again with a hit from another movie which this time is "Batman & Robin". That fact it's a song about a fictional city from Batman makes it a bit difficult to take seriously, but R Kelly pulls this off really well to the point you can easily forget that fact.

Verdict - Good


This was the final Top 40 hit of the 90s for Shaggy before his wilderness years which even brought about rumours he had died as I recall. It's a cover of the Erma Franklin record with Shaggy adding a few more bits to it. It bit cheesy but decent nonetheless.

Verdict - Good


The Verve had been around since 1990, released their first album in 1993 and first hit the Top 40 in 1995. This record though was the beginning of their commercial peak. It's got a famous video of Richard Ashcroft walking down the street barging into everybody. That's about as exciting as this record gets.

Verdict - Rubbish


The 2nd Top 40 hit for Sash! and the 2nd to make number 2. Whilst it's predecessor was in French, this one was in Spanish. I always found this one a bit annoying, the shouting of the word "Ecuador" in particular.

Verdict - Rubbish


The 3rd single from the "Pop" album which is considered the dodgy period for U2 by some. My interpretation of this is based on the album title and the fact lead single "Discotheque" was a dance record. However this is probably the heaviest U2 record I've ever heard.

Verdict - OK


This was the Top 40 debut for The Mamas and the Papas back in 1966 but re-entered the charts and did better in 1997 after it appeared on a Carling advert. One of those classic 60s hits that makes me nostalgic about a decade I never lived in.

Verdict - Good


There was absolutely no avoiding this record at the time. I remember it appearing on Club Nation and then an advert for the single appeared in the advert break. It didn't take me too long to get absolutely sick of it. Not a bad record by any means but I thought this record was just alright in the first place and that's my view of it now.

Verdict - OK


I was such a rave purist in 1997 that I specifically remember pretending to people at the time that I didn't like this record because it wasn't rave. In reality I loved this record and ended up buying the single. I just gets better as it goes on, I love the final verse to it.

Verdict - Good


This was a record that made an impact from it's title alone. It had all been done several times before though, first by the Rolling Stones with a song of the same title back in 1971. It sounds like it could be an Alanis Morissette record.

Verdict - Rubbish


It had been over a year since Oasis had last been in the Top 40. In that time we had an Oasis tribute band plus many other acts try to make their own Oasis songs. They were so big that the record shops would open at midnight to enable people to buy this single. The actual record though is just a noise, the worst thing I'd heard Oasis do and that's really saying something.

Verdict - Rubbish


My biggest memory of this record was watching a TV show that I think was called "Holidays From Hell". It documented the holiday of 2 old ladies taking a holiday to Ibiza and their hotel was right in the middle of San Antonio amongst the Club 18-30 crowd and this was being blasted out repeatedly to the point that one of them was pointing out it was that song again. To be fair as a youngster at the time I would have hated hearing this all the time as well as I've never liked it.

Verdict - Rubbish


As the title might suggest, this was a comeback single for the Backstreet Boys even though it had been just 5 months since they'd last been in the Top 40. It was however the lead single from their 2nd album. I was written by Denniz Pop and Max Martin and the way the Backstreet Boys were marketing themselves in this record tells you what this was all about.

Verdict - Rubbish


This was the 9th Top 40 hit for Boyzone and just the 2nd that wasn't a ballad. It was from the Mr Bean movie so it would have been odd for them to do a ballad for a movie like that. Whilst a relief from the usual dreary rubbish they'd usually come out with, it's still crap.

Verdict - Rubbish


We've had the first posthumous hit for The Notorious BIG. Now we have the tribute record by his label boss and his widow. It interpolates "Every Breath You Take" by The Police. I would say this topped the charts because of what it was rather than how it sounds, it's a pretty poor record.

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 9/30, or 30%. Bigger drop this week.
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Thursday, 1 August 2024

2007: The End? - July

Once again approximately a third of the new entries for the month come from the indie/garage rock genre. It can't be long until the quantity significantly reduces. Not that this will have a negative impact on the quality. However this month we have a half mark from the genre which goes to Hadouken with "Liquid Lives". To be honest I've now forgotten how it goes but enjoyed it enough to give it half mark immediately after listening.

What may perhaps negatively impact the quality of Top 40 hits is the end of the Galaxy Chart on MTV Dance at the end of the year. Many of the points this month come from records I remember being on the show.

One thing the 3 records from the Galaxy Chart which get full marks have in common is they're great tunes but have iffy vocals. Picking the best is tough on that basis but I've decided to go with "Counting Down the Days" by Sunfreakz on the simple fact I listen to it more than the other tunes. 

The other 2 records from the Galaxy chart getting full marks are "Song 4 Mutya (Out Of Control)" by Groove Armada which was their final Top 40 hit to date and "Bigger Than Big" by Super Mal which if anything gives me a bit of Galaxy Chart nostalgia.

Elsewhere in the dance music world we have "Sexual Healing" by Alibi vs Rockefeller which is generic commercial nonsense and "Ice Cream" by New Young Pony Club which just strikes me as posh celebrities jumping on the bandwagon.

In the rap and R&B world it's once again R Kelly coming up with the goods with "Same Girl" which sounds better than I remember it. This would be his final Top 40 hit as lead artist. The rest are all crap.

Four Seasons had a new entry with "Beggin" which wasn't a Top 40 hit the first time round so counts as a new entry and gets full marks.

Onto the worst record then which goes to Amy Macdonald with "Mr Rock And Roll". She's one of those artists I know the name but don't know the music and based on this it sounds like I'm not missing out.

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: 19%

Here's a look at the chart:


Better than any month in 2006, there's little consistency in 2007.

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