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.
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