Saturday, 29 February 2020

25 Years Since....February 1995

We're already at the end of February, time to look back at the tunes I was enjoying in February 1995:

Perfecto Allstarz - Reach Up (Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag)


I question I would often ask myself at this point in time was whether a tune was rave or not. I thought this may pass the rave criteria, though if the definition of rave is Happy Hardcore or Drum & Bass then this is neither.

If you widen the horizon to dance music in general though, this definitely fits the criteria. The man behind the record is Paul Oakenfold, one of the 4 DJs who went to Ibiza in 1988 and invented rave apparently.

Regardless of the question of whether this is rave or whether Paul Oakenfold invented rave, it's a great tune.


Green Day - Basket Case


Despite my new found love for rave music, I wasn't ready to let rock music go just yet. Ok the purists will say rock and punk are different, so lets just say guitar music instead. By the way I learned how to play this on the guitar pretty quickly.

This record isn't about the guitar though, it's about the drums. I didn't notice so much at the time, but in later years I realised just how good the drumming was.


The Offspring - Self Esteem


There were a few Offspring tunes going around at the time, but this was the only one that made the Top 40.

Years later when they had their big hit with "Pretty Fly For A White Guy", not only was I disappointed by the fact it was shit, I was also disappointed by the fact lead singer Dextor Holland no longer had his dreads.


Alex Party - Don't Give Me Your Life


This was basically everything I hated about music a few months prior, but then I realised if you make a commercial dance record right, it's pretty damn good.

Moby - Every Time You Touch Me

Now we're talking. There were happy hardcore versions of this around the time, this is a bit slower but still quick enough to get my approval.

Thursday, 27 February 2020

The Top 40 Leaderboard: Week 8

What's this all about?

For the second week in a row Justin Bieber has made up ground bringing himself to joint 2nd on the leaderboard with his 47th Top 40 single. I suspect we haven't seen the last of him this year:

Artist No. of Hits
J Hus 4
Eminem 3
Justin Bieber 3
Roddy Ricch 2
Camila Cabello 1
Dababy 1
D-Block Europe 1
Don Toliver 1
Mist 1
Future 1
Drake 1
Stormzy 1
Selena Gomez 1
Halsey 1
Juice Wrld 1
Ed Sheeran 1
Digdat 1
Aitch 1
Jonas Brothers 1
1975 1
Burna Boy 1
Icee TGM 1
Koffee 1
Andre Rieu 1
M Huncho 1
Saint Jhn 1
KSI 1
Trippie Redd 1
Dua Lipa 1
Joel Corry 1
Doja Cat 1
Becky Hill 1
Shift K3y 1
Quavo 1
Dermot Kennedy 1
Pussycat Dolls 1
Tobi & Manny 1
Janelle 1
M24 1
Tion Wayne 1
Khalid 1
Disclosure 1
Anne-Marie 1
YNW Melly 1
Mustard 1
Billie Elish 1
Post Malone 1
Clever 1
B Young 1

Tuesday, 25 February 2020

UK Number 40s: Long and the Short - Choc Ice (1965)


The first week of 1965 brought us perhaps the most obscure Number 40 we've had so far in the series. It's so obscure that it isn't even listed on everyhit.com

Long and the Short made their chart debut in September 1964 with "The Letter" (not a Box Tops cover) which reached 35. That's as good as it got for them as this was their follow up and final hit.

They don't even have a Wikipedia page and I found very little on them on the internet, but the songwriter of this song was Mike Leander who would have much more successful songs he wrote.

The song itself is randomly singing about different foods and ending with mentioning the Peppermint Twist. Given that whole twist craze was in 1962 and this was 1965 it was perhaps a bit outdated, which may explain why it only made 40.

Sunday, 23 February 2020

Top 30 in 1990 Reviewed - Week 8

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.

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 1990 with my verdict on each record:

30. Halo James - Could Have Told You So


In 1991, when "Sit Down" by James was a big hit, I thought that James were originally called Hello James, but had dropped the "Hello" part of their name, a bit like MC Hammer dropping the "MC" part to be simply called Hammer. As James made a name for themselves in the 90s, I found nothing to suggest they were previously called Hello James, nor did I encounter any other bands of that name. However, when trawling through the Top 40 archives on the internet years later I discovered I was actually thinking of Halo James, who were a completely different band. Having got to know the distinctive voice of Tim Booth and given the Halo James singer sounds nothing like him its pretty obvious now that they are different bands, though I do think the music style is quite similar. This was the only Top 40 hit for Halo James, I'd say it's pretty average.

Verdict - OK

29. Aerosmith - Dude (Looks Like A Lady) (New)


Aerosmith formed in 1970, but it took until 1989 for them to score their first UK Top 40 single, which was "Love In An Elevator". This was their second Top 40 hit, but it was originally released in 1987 but failed to reach the Top 40. It features on their "Permanent Vacation" album, which came before "Pump" which "Love In An Elevator" appears on. Despite it being a well known song, there's really nothing to it in my opinion.

Verdict - Rubbish

28. Eric Clapton - Bad Love


After Eric Clapton played the guitar on "I Wish It Would Rain Down", Phil Collins returned the favour and played the drums on this record. This was intended to be the new "Layla" and knowing that I can see how, not that it sounds the same but it has that same sort of flow to it and I like it.

Verdict - Good

27. Guru Josh - Infinity (1990's Time For The Guru) (New)


I remember this record at the time without really knowing what it was. However I found out when an excellent remix in 1994 appeared on a techno compilation I bought. I do prefer that remix, but the original version is still an excellent tune. The less said about that awful 2008 version the better.

Verdict - Good

26. And Why Not? - The Face


This was the 2nd of 3 hits for And Why Not? and was also their biggest. All their Wikipedia page says is they were round for a year and supported UB40. They don't have the most Google friendly name so hard to find out anything else about them, but this song is actually quite good.

Verdict - Good

25. The Beloved - Hello


The 2nd Top 40 hit for The Beloved, following "The Sun Rising". This is quite similar in style to the Madchester music happening at the time, i.e. a dance/rock crossover. Perhaps not as good as it's predecessor but I still like it.

Verdict - Good

24. Chris Rea - Tell Me There's A Heaven (New)


The album Chris Rea is best known for is "The Road to Hell" and one of his best known hits is the title track of the album, but this was the other Top 40 hit from said album. Not really my cup of tea to be honest, but I guess it's not too bad.

Verdict - OK

23. Skid Row - 18 And Life


This was the debut hit for Skid Row. It's about an 18 year old called Ricky who got life imprisonment for shooting dead his friend with a gun he didn't think was loaded, and was actually based on a true story. I love the way this begins quite mellow and then suddenly the heavy guitar and screaming comes in. I've always wanted to sing this at karaoke because of the screaming bits, but I never found it on a karaoke playlist until last year when I went to a Korean restaurant in London, so I finally got to sing it.

Verdict - Good

22. Adam Ant - Room At The Top (New)


I remember this one as the "18th Century Brain" song, but don't think I remember it being by Adam Ant. It was his first Top 40 hit for 6 years and doesn't really sound anything like his early 80s material, whether solo or as part of Adam & the Ants, which is a good thing in my book. However whilst this song sounds more musical than his previous material, it's still not really to my liking.

Verdict - Rubbish

21. Janet Jackson - Come Back To Me


A bit like her brother Michael, Janet Jackson used to release many singles from the same album. This was the 3rd single from her "Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814" and like the previous 2, was written and produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. Janet Jackson has always been one of those singers I'd love to hate, guess it's because she's there thanks to her siblings rather than her own merit. That said, it allowed her to work with some great songwriters and end up with some pretty good tunes.

Verdict - Good

20. Del Amitri - Nothing Ever Happens


Believe it or not, "Kiss This Thing Goodbye" by Del Amitri never made the UK Top 40 so this was their debut Top 40 hit. It was also their highest charting hit, peaking at number 11. I find a lot of their music quite boring to be honest, but this ones alright.

Verdict - OK

19. Cliff Richard - Stronger Than That (New)


An observation I've made in looking at the hits of 1990 so far is there are quite a few acts who started in the 70s or earlier having hits. It was only a matter of time before I'd encounter a Cliff Richard hit.

Verdict - Rubbish

18. 49ers - Touch Me


An Italo House record that samples "Rock-A-Lot" by Aretha Franklin and the Alisha Warren record of the same name. It's one of those records that's appeared on loads of old skool rave compilations and I've probably heard it too many times in my life, but it's still a good record.

Verdict - Good

17. The Stranglers - 96 Tears (New)


A cover of the ? and the Mysterians record. I didn't realise that at the time, nor did I realise that The Stranglers had been going as long as they had. This would be their final hit before Hugh Cornwell would leave the band, and it would be 14 years until their next hit. You wouldn't think having an organ on rock record would work, but in the case of this record, not only does it work but it makes the record.

Verdict - Good

16. Rod Stewart - Downtown Train


Rod Stewart is one of the richest musicians of all time, and I find that somewhat baffling. Don't get me wrong, I've no doubt he's sold a lot of records, it's just pretty much every song of his seems to be a cover. This is one of them, which was originally by Tom Waits. Much like every Rod Stewart cover I've heard, it's poor.

Verdict - Rubbish

15. Kylie Minogue - Tears On My Pillow


The final number one for Stock Aitken & Waterman, but not the last for Kylie Minogue. This was originally by Little Anthony & the Imperials but it was never a UK Top 40 hit. It sounds a bit different to the previous Kylie Minogue, or indeed Stock Aitken & Waterman songs, but that doesn't make it good.

Verdict - Rubbish

14. Yell! - Instant Replay


I remember hearing this for the first time, I heard the opening line "You set my lips on fire" and I though ouch, I was too young to realise he didn't mean someone had literally set his lips of fire. This was the only hit for Yell! who were signed to Simon Cowells record label. It's a cover of the Dan Hartman song. Their time was up when it was revealed member Daniel James was the grand old age of 32. Unless you somehow remember life as a baby, if you remember 1990 you'll be older than that now. The music was crap though.

Verdict - Rubbish

13. Tina Turner - Steamy Windows 


This was the 3rd single from the "Foreign Affair" album which was written by Tony Joe White who had his only UK Top 40 hit in 1970 with "Groupie Girl". Not that this sounded 70s, it was very much of it's time. The catchy bit of the song is where the chorus comes in, but not much really happens in the rest of the song. Giving it an ok because of the catchy bit.

Verdict - OK

12. Mantronix ft Wondress - Got To Have Your Love


This is the record Mantronix are most famous for, but it's not their first. They first hit the charts in 1986 with "Bassline" and then in 1987 with "Who Is It" which were both Hip Hop records. This was a change in direction and member Kurtis Mantronik said he wrote this because he wanted a song played on the radio. I could imagine people who liked the Hip Hop records by Mantronix would have hated this, but this was the first Mantronix record I heard and I liked it.

Verdict - Good

11. Cher - Just Like Jesse James


Cher at the start of the 90s was very different from Cher at the end of the 90s and there's a simple explanation for that, different songwriters. This was written by Desmond Child and Diane Warren, who both wrote other Cher hits from around this period. Cher is known to hate this song, but it's quite possibly the only Cher song I actually like.

Verdict - Good

10. Lisa Stansfield - Live Together


This was the follow up to the number one hit "All Around the World". It seems a bit of a nothing song if I'm honest.

Verdict - Rubbish

9. Phil Collins - I Wish It Would Rain Down


When you hear the intro to this song, it sounds like it could be an Eric Clapton song. That's because Eric Clapton does play the guitar on this. Phil Collins has been ridiculed by many over the years for being a bit cheesy, but the reality is that a lot of his songs are actually pretty dark and not cheesy at all. This is a great example of these songs. Once I started to notice that myself I realised I actually quite like Phil Collins and bought his greatest hits.

Verdict - Good

8. Sybil - Walk On By


The 3rd Top 40 hit for Sybil, and 2nd Dionne Warwick cover with her previous hit being "Don't Make Me Over". This has been given a New Jack Swing makeover and it's not bad.

Verdict - OK

7. Lonnie Gordon - Happenin' All Over Again


The chart debut for Lonnie Gordon, yet another artist from the Stock Aitken & Waterman camp. This was originally intended to be a Donna Summer song. Pete Waterman will be the first to admit that their music was just one big marketing campaign to make them a lot of money, but there was the odd good song in there and this is one of them.

Verdict - Good

6. Depeche Mode - Enjoy The Silence


Depeche Mode are a band who have always existed in my living memory, but they were a band I didn't really get as a kid. Later on in life though I started to realise just how good they are, and I think it started with this particular tune. I cannot think of a single way to make this better, it is almost perfect. The way it's a dancey record, but a dark record at the same time, the balance between the 2 is spot on.

Verdict - Good

5. Michael Bolton - How Am I Supposed To Live Without You


For me, it's impossible to hear this song without thinking about Zack and Kelly's breakup on Saved by the Bell. Except it was Jessie and Slater singing it on the show rather than Michael Bolton. It was the debut UK Top 40 hit from Michael Bolton, so would have come before people would generally by ridiculed for liking Michael Bolton. I remember thinking at the time that he must be cool because he had long hair. He would gain a bit of a reputation for doing covers, and this was also a cover, it was originally by Laura Branigan but didn't chart in the UK. The difference was that Michael Bolton actually wrote it. I've always wanted to hate this song, but I actually quite like it.

Verdict - Good

4. Black Box - I Don't Know Anybody Else


I loved "Ride on Time" as a kid, I used to sing it all the time. This was their follow up single, it didn't have the same sort of impact on me as it's predecessor but I do remember liking it. A number of years ago I bought their greatest hits, and looking at the track list brought back memories of their other singles. After a few listens though, I concluded maybe it would have been better if they only did "Ride on Time". The other singles, including this one were just starting to make me cringe, mainly to do with the vocals. So I'm just giving this one an ok.

Verdict - OK

3. Technotronic ft Ya Kid K - Get Up (Before The Night Is Over)


Technotronic are of course best remembered for their debut hit "Pump Up The Jam", but this follow up was just a successful in the charts. I don't know how well remembered this is, but I certainly remember it. I liked it at the time, it's not a clone of it's predecessor and it's not been played to death like it's predecessor, but I cant quite bring myself to call this record good.

Verdict - OK

2. Beats International ft Lindy Layton - Dub Be Good To Me


When "Praise You" by Fatboy Slim made number one at the end of the 90s, it pretty much set Norman Cook up for life. However, this record, his first number one of the decade had the opposite effect. It's essentially a mash up of "Just Be Good To Me" by SOS Band and "Guns of Brixton", which he got sued for and started to lose money on every record sale and he ended up bankrupt. It's a great record, I loved it back then and still do. I also highly recommend the "Let Them Eat Bingo" album.

Verdict - Good

1. Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U


It's the record Sinead O'Connor is most famous for that was famously written by Prince. I don't think I particularly liked it at the time, I recall finding it boring except for the line about eating dinner in a fancy restaurant. However I did start to like it at some point and it is a good song. Years ago I mentioned to my housemate at the time that I liked this song and he asked whether I owned any Sinead O'Connor albums to which I said know. He owned "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got" which featured this song and I took a listen, I didn't like any of it apart from this song. In fact I don't like any other Sinead O'Connor songs I've ever heard, this is the only good one. But as mentioned, it was written by Prince.

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 19.5/30, or 65%. Slight improvement on last week.

Thursday, 20 February 2020

The Top 40 Leaderboard: Week 7

What's this all about?

A whopping 9 new entries in the Top 40 this week and even more artists scoring their first hit of the year thanks to collaborations. Scoring their 2nd hits this week are Justin Bieber and Roddy Ricch, I would expect at least one of them to be near the top come the end of the year:

Artist No. of Hits
J Hus 4
Eminem 3
Justin Bieber 2
Roddy Ricch 2
Camila Cabello 1
Dababy 1
D-Block Europe 1
Don Toliver 1
Mist 1
Future 1
Drake 1
Stormzy 1
Selena Gomez 1
Halsey 1
Juice Wrld 1
Ed Sheeran 1
Digdat 1
Aitch 1
Jonas Brothers 1
1975 1
Burna Boy 1
Icee TGM 1
Koffee 1
Andre Rieu 1
M Huncho 1
Saint Jhn 1
KSI 1
Trippie Redd 1
Dua Lipa 1
Joel Corry 1
Doja Cat 1
Becky Hill 1
Shift K3y 1
Quavo 1
Dermot Kennedy 1
Pussycat Dolls 1
Tobi & Manny 1
Janelle 1
M24 1
Tion Wayne 1
Khalid 1
Disclosure 1
Anne-Marie 1
YNW Melly 1
Mustard 1

Tuesday, 18 February 2020

UK Number 40s: Merseybeats - Last Night (1964)


There were a number of bands from Liverpool who followed The Beatles into the mainstream, and they were known as Merseybeat bands. One of them were actually called The Merseybeats.

For pretty much all these bands except The Beatles, chart success was short-lived. The Merseybeats made their chart debut in September 1963 with a cover of "It's Love That Really Counts" by The Shirelles which made 24. They hit the big time though with their 2nd single, "I Think Of You" which was their biggest single making 5 in February 1964.

At the same time though, band member Billy Kinsley left the group. The 2 singles which followed both reached 13, but then came this which reached 40 in November of the same year. It would be their last single before Billy Kinsley returned to the group.

It didn't reverse their fortunes though, the next single wouldn't chart at all, though they'd have 2 more minor hits in 1965 which made 22 and 38 respectively.

The band then split, but members Billy Kinsley and Tony Crane would return in 1966 as a duo called The Mersey's. They reached 4 with the single "Sorrow", better than any Merseybeats single charted, though it would be their only Top 40 hit.

Billy Kinsley would return to the charts in the 70s as a member of Liverpool Express where one of their singles would reach number 40, but more on that when it's time to post about that record.

Sunday, 16 February 2020

Top 30 in 1990 Reviewed - Week 7

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.

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 1990 with my verdict on each record:

30. Jimmy Somerville - You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)


This was the first version of this record that I heard, though I don't think it sounds that different to the original. It was also the 2nd solo hit for Jimmy Somerville who I assumed to be foreign after his first solo hit "Comment te dire adieu" and I was kind of disappointed this was being sung in English. I guess it's not bad.

Verdict - OK

29. Martika - More Than You Know


Martika is best known for doing "Toy Soldiers", but she had 5 Top 40 hits in total and this was the 3rd. It's surprisingly uplifting given how dark "Toy Soldiers" is, being more of a freestyle sounding record. As a result though it sounds a bit too generic.

Verdict - OK

28. House Of Love - Shine On


I have absolutely no recollection of this song existing at the time, but reading such a song existed in the years that followed I had always assumed this to be the one with the same title that's actually by Degrees of Motion. It's however nothing like Degrees of Motion, not even a dance record, but one by a band that's inspired by Jesus & Mary Chain, so is therefore instantly forgettable.

Verdict - Rubbish

27. Tina Turner - Steamy Windows (New)


This was the 3rd single from the "Foreign Affair" album which was written by Tony Joe White who had his only UK Top 40 hit in 1970 with "Groupie Girl". Not that this sounded 70s, it was very much of it's time. The catchy bit of the song is where the chorus comes in, but not much really happens in the rest of the song. Giving it an ok because of the catchy bit.

Verdict - OK

26. New Kids On The Block - Hangin' Tough


Entering the charts at number 9 when "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" was at number 10, showing that multiple Top 10s by the same act was already happening before Ed Sheeran was even born. Whilst I liked "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" at the time, I always found this one a bit crap. To me it was like they were doing a poor job of trying to be a rock band but seeming a bit wimpy in doing so. My opinion hasn't really changed since then.

Verdict - Rubbish

25. Eric Clapton - Bad Love (New)


After Eric Clapton played the guitar on "I Wish It Would Rain Down", Phil Collins returned the favour and played the drums on this record. This was intended to be the new "Layla" and knowing that I can see how, not that it sounds the same but it has that same sort of flow to it and I like it.

Verdict - Good

24. The Wedding Present - Brassneck (New)


The Wedding Present were a band I'd always put in the same category with the Madchester bands. Mainly because the band name sounded like they should be a Madchester band, plus they were a guitar band with a miserable lead singer standing there with his hands in his pockets. I also discovered later on that David Gedge, the only band member who's been in it throughout, hails from Manchester. From a music perspective though, it's not very Madchester at all. I remember hearing The Wedding Present in 1990 and this was 1 of 2 Top 40 hits they had this year so highly likely I heard this song, but it's not very memorable.

Verdict - Rubbish

23. Gino Latino - Welcome


This was actually from 1988 but didn't chart until 1990, presumably due to the recent success of fellow Italo acts such as Black Box. One notable difference though is the lack of piano, but in a way that's a good thing as I'd imagine it to sound more cheesy if it did have the pianos. It's good in parts, but I don't think I quite like it enough to consider it to be good.

Verdict - OK

22. Michael Bolton - How Am I Supposed To Live Without You (New)


For me, it's impossible to hear this song without thinking about Zack and Kelly's breakup on Saved by the Bell. Except it was Jessie and Slater singing it on the show rather than Michael Bolton. It was the debut UK Top 40 hit from Michael Bolton, so would have come before people would generally by ridiculed for liking Michael Bolton. I remember thinking at the time that he must be cool because he had long hair. He would gain a bit of a reputation for doing covers, and this was also a cover, it was originally by Laura Branigan but didn't chart in the UK. The difference was that Michael Bolton actually wrote it. I've always wanted to hate this song, but I actually quite like it.

Verdict - Good

21. Rod Stewart - Downtown Train (New)


Rod Stewart is one of the richest musicians of all time, and I find that somewhat baffling. Don't get me wrong, I've no doubt he's sold a lot of records, it's just pretty much every song of his seems to be a cover. This is one of them, which was originally by Tom Waits. Much like every Rod Stewart cover I've heard, it's poor.

Verdict - Rubbish

20. Janet Jackson - Come Back To Me


A bit like her brother Michael, Janet Jackson used to release many singles from the same album. This was the 3rd single from her "Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814" and like the previous 2, was written and produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. Janet Jackson has always been one of those singers I'd love to hate, guess it's because she's there thanks to her siblings rather than her own merit. That said, it allowed her to work with some great songwriters and end up with some pretty good tunes.

Verdict - Good

19. The Beloved - Hello


The 2nd Top 40 hit for The Beloved, following "The Sun Rising". This is quite similar in style to the Madchester music happening at the time, i.e. a dance/rock crossover. Perhaps not as good as it's predecessor but I still like it.

Verdict - Good

18. Halo James - Could Have Told You So


In 1991, when "Sit Down" by James was a big hit, I thought that James were originally called Hello James, but had dropped the "Hello" part of their name, a bit like MC Hammer dropping the "MC" part to be simply called Hammer. As James made a name for themselves in the 90s, I found nothing to suggest they were previously called Hello James, nor did I encounter any other bands of that name. However, when trawling through the Top 40 archives on the internet years later I discovered I was actually thinking of Halo James, who were a completely different band. Having got to know the distinctive voice of Tim Booth and given the Halo James singer sounds nothing like him its pretty obvious now that they are different bands, though I do think the music style is quite similar. This was the only Top 40 hit for Halo James, I'd say it's pretty average.

Verdict - OK

17. Depeche Mode - Enjoy The Silence (New)


Depeche Mode are a band who have always existed in my living memory, but they were a band I didn't really get as a kid. Later on in life though I started to realise just how good they are, and I think it started with this particular tune. I cannot think of a single way to make this better, it is almost perfect. The way it's a dancey record, but a dark record at the same time, the balance between the 2 is spot on.

Verdict - Good

16. And Why Not? - The Face


This was the 2nd of 3 hits for And Why Not? and was also their biggest. All their Wikipedia page says is they were round for a year and supported UB40. They don't have the most Google friendly name so hard to find out anything else about them, but this song is actually quite good.

Verdict - Good

15. Cher - Just Like Jesse James


Cher at the start of the 90s was very different from Cher at the end of the 90s and there's a simple explanation for that, different songwriters. This was written by Desmond Child and Diane Warren, who both wrote other Cher hits from around this period. Cher is known to hate this song, but it's quite possibly the only Cher song I actually like.

Verdict - Good

14. Del Amitri - Nothing Ever Happens


Believe it or not, "Kiss This Thing Goodbye" by Del Amitri never made the UK Top 40 so this was their debut Top 40 hit. It was also their highest charting hit, peaking at number 11. I find a lot of their music quite boring to be honest, but this ones alright.

Verdict - OK

13. Skid Row - 18 And Life


This was the debut hit for Skid Row. It's about an 18 year old called Ricky who got life imprisonment for shooting dead his friend with a gun he didn't think was loaded, and was actually based on a true story. I love the way this begins quite mellow and then suddenly the heavy guitar and screaming comes in. I've always wanted to sing this at karaoke because of the screaming bits, but I never found it on a karaoke playlist until last year when I went to a Korean restaurant in London, so I finally got to sing it.

Verdict - Good

12. 49ers - Touch Me


An Italo House record that samples "Rock-A-Lot" by Aretha Franklin and the Alisha Warren record of the same name. It's one of those records that's appeared on loads of old skool rave compilations and I've probably heard it too many times in my life, but it's still a good record.

Verdict - Good

11. Yell! - Instant Replay


I remember hearing this for the first time, I heard the opening line "You set my lips on fire" and I though ouch, I was too young to realise he didn't mean someone had literally set his lips of fire. This was the only hit for Yell! who were signed to Simon Cowells record label. It's a cover of the Dan Hartman song. Their time was up when it was revealed member Daniel James was the grand old age of 32. Unless you somehow remember life as a baby, if you remember 1990 you'll be older than that now. The music was crap though.

Verdict - Rubbish

10. Lisa Stansfield - Live Together


This was the follow up to the number one hit "All Around the World". It seems a bit of a nothing song if I'm honest.

Verdict - Rubbish

9. Kylie Minogue - Tears On My Pillow


The final number one for Stock Aitken & Waterman, but not the last for Kylie Minogue. This was originally by Little Anthony & the Imperials but it was never a UK Top 40 hit. It sounds a bit different to the previous Kylie Minogue, or indeed Stock Aitken & Waterman songs, but that doesn't make it good.

Verdict - Rubbish

8. Mantronix ft Wondress - Got To Have Your Love


This is the record Mantronix are most famous for, but it's not their first. They first hit the charts in 1986 with "Bassline" and then in 1987 with "Who Is It" which were both Hip Hop records. This was a change in direction and member Kurtis Mantronik said he wrote this because he wanted a song played on the radio. I could imagine people who liked the Hip Hop records by Mantronix would have hated this, but this was the first Mantronix record I heard and I liked it.

Verdict - Good

7. Phil Collins - I Wish It Would Rain Down


When you hear the intro to this song, it sounds like it could be an Eric Clapton song. That's because Eric Clapton does play the guitar on this. Phil Collins has been ridiculed by many over the years for being a bit cheesy, but the reality is that a lot of his songs are actually pretty dark and not cheesy at all. This is a great example of these songs. Once I started to notice that myself I realised I actually quite like Phil Collins and bought his greatest hits.

Verdict - Good

6. Sybil - Walk On By


The 3rd Top 40 hit for Sybil, and 2nd Dionne Warwick cover with her previous hit being "Don't Make Me Over". This has been given a New Jack Swing makeover and it's not bad.

Verdict - OK

5. Black Box - I Don't Know Anybody Else (New)


I loved "Ride on Time" as a kid, I used to sing it all the time. This was their follow up single, it didn't have the same sort of impact on me as it's predecessor but I do remember liking it. A number of years ago I bought their greatest hits, and looking at the track list brought back memories of their other singles. After a few listens though, I concluded maybe it would have been better if they only did "Ride on Time". The other singles, including this one were just starting to make me cringe, mainly to do with the vocals. So I'm just giving this one an ok.

Verdict - OK

4. Lonnie Gordon - Happenin' All Over Again


The chart debut for Lonnie Gordon, yet another artist from the Stock Aitken & Waterman camp. This was originally intended to be a Donna Summer song. Pete Waterman will be the first to admit that their music was just one big marketing campaign to make them a lot of money, but there was the odd good song in there and this is one of them.

Verdict - Good

3. Beats International ft Lindy Layton - Dub Be Good To Me


When "Praise You" by Fatboy Slim made number one at the end of the 90s, it pretty much set Norman Cook up for life. However, this record, his first number one of the decade had the opposite effect. It's essentially a mash up of "Just Be Good To Me" by SOS Band and "Guns of Brixton", which he got sued for and started to lose money on every record sale and he ended up bankrupt. It's a great record, I loved it back then and still do. I also highly recommend the "Let Them Eat Bingo" album.

Verdict - Good

2. Technotronic ft Ya Kid K - Get Up (Before The Night Is Over)


Technotronic are of course best remembered for their debut hit "Pump Up The Jam", but this follow up was just a successful in the charts. I don't know how well remembered this is, but I certainly remember it. I liked it at the time, it's not a clone of it's predecessor and it's not been played to death like it's predecessor, but I cant quite bring myself to call this record good.

Verdict - OK

1. Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U


It's the record Sinead O'Connor is most famous for that was famously written by Prince. I don't think I particularly liked it at the time, I recall finding it boring except for the line about eating dinner in a fancy restaurant. However I did start to like it at some point and it is a good song. Years ago I mentioned to my housemate at the time that I liked this song and he asked whether I owned any Sinead O'Connor albums to which I said know. He owned "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got" which featured this song and I took a listen, I didn't like any of it apart from this song. In fact I don't like any other Sinead O'Connor songs I've ever heard, this is the only good one. But as mentioned, it was written by Prince.

Verdict - Good

If we give the records which were good 1 point each and those which were OK half a point, the final score is 18.5/30, or 62%. Standards have slipped, worst week of 1990 so far. Still a solid score though.