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 1990 with my verdict on each record:
Who charted the highest with "Venus"? Was it Shocking Blue or Bananarama? Well actually it was neither, it was Don Pablo's Animals who reached 4 whereas Shocking Blue and Bananarama both reached 8. This is the best version in my opinion, guess the lack of vocals helps. I remember this coming out around the same time I learned about the city of Venice, when telling someone else about it, they said don't you mean Venus? I wasn't sure, I didn't know planets yet.
Verdict - Good
It's quite a well known fact amongst music fans that 50s/60s artists Joe Brown and Marty Wilde had daughters who would become pop stars in the 80s. Whilst Kim Wilde is known to be ever present throughout the 80s, Sam Brown is known to many for just one song, which isn't this one. It's a shame in a way because Sam Brown clearly seems to be the more talented musician. That said, it isn't enough to make this song good, but I guess it's ok.
Verdict - OK
When you compare Depeche Mode at the start of the 80s to the end of the 90s it's almost like it's a completely different group. Ok one key difference is that Vince Clarke was chief songwriter in the beginning before leaving and Martin Gore taking on that role. But they didn't suddenly change over night, there was a transition and this was it. It gives the best of both worlds, the synth pop sound is still there but it is notably darker. But if you want to hear this record in all it's glory, go and see them live.
Verdict - Good
This was the final Eurythmics Top 40 hit before breaking up, though Dave Stewart's solo career had already started and Annie Lennox had already had a solo hit a couple of years earlier. This record showcases what a great vocal range Annie Lennox has. This came at a point where Eurythmics simply weren't popular anymore so isn't very well known, would have made a great farewell record if they were still at the height of their popularity though.
Verdict - Good
Thunder are a band I've always regarded as an 80s band, but this record from 1990 is their debut Top 40 hit, so they're not really an 80s band at all, although they did form in 1989. I guess part of the reason is because anyone who I met that was into Thunder was over a certain age. I don't mind this song, it perhaps lacks that ingredient that makes it a good song, but for a generic no nonsense hard rock song it's not bad.
Verdict - OK
The fourth and final Top 40 single from her "Affection" album, the lead track from this EP is a song of the same title. It's a bit of a nothing song if I'm honest, the bits after she sings the chorus stand out a little, but it's not enough.
Verdict - Rubbish
Technotronic weren't the only Belgians having UK hits in 1990, we also had this, the only hit for Bizz Nizz. This sounds more like what you'd expect a dance record from Belgium in the early 90s to sound like, much better than Technotronic in my opinion. The story of Bizz Nizz doesn't end with this tune though, the following year they would return with 2 Dutch vocalists and become known as 2 Unlimited. Don't let that put you off though, this really is a good tune.
Verdict - Good
Natalie Cole has had quite an interesting Top 40 career. It began with a minor hit in 1975, then nothing for 13 years until she reached 5 with "Pink Cadillac", then 3 minor hits followed before she reached 2 with "Miss You Like Crazy" in 1989. Her following 2 singles failed to make the Top 40, but then came this, her penultimate hit which extended her Top 40 career to 15 years across 3 different decades. It's a bit crap though to tell you the truth.
Verdict - Rubbish
I'd never heard of The Pasadenas until 1992 when they did "I'm Doing Fine Now" which I loved. They'd already had a Top 40 career prior to that though, with this being their 4th Top 40 hit. Unfortunately the disadvantage they had was the fact they were a British R&B group. We were in the era of New Jack Swing and this was a lame British attempt at doing New Jack Swing which failed abysmally.
Verdict - Rubbish
I absolutely love "Softly Whispering I Love You" by Congregation. The choir, the man with the rough voice taking over, just such a great tune. This cover is fuckin abysmal. Anything good about the original has been taken out, it's been replaced with what sounds like a band rehearsing and some lazy vocals have been added on top. Terrible tune.
Verdict - Rubbish
What differentiates The Wonder Stuff from other alternative bands from the same era is having a violin player. This was their 5th Top 40 single and probably the first where the violin takes centre stage. It was their first single after Rob "The Bass Thing" Jones left the group. The violin effect works, it makes the record.
Verdict - Good
My memory of this record is that I liked it when I first heard it. Then the person who used to give me a lift into school would play Now 18 every day which meant I heard this every day for a period of time and got pretty sick of it. Years later I'd forgot what this was called, but remembered it was a good song. I actually discovered what it was before the days of YouTube, I managed to find the video on the internet somewhere.
Verdict - Good
This is the record that the Happy Mondays are best known for, but what is perhaps not as well known is that this was a cover. It was originally by John Kongos and was titled "He's Gonna Step on You Again" and peaked at number 4 in 1971, one place higher than this managed. Production on this record was by Paul Oakenfold and Steve Osborne, the same team behind Grace in the mid to late 90s. Like many records from the Madchester scene at the time, it's one of those great dance/rock crossover records.
Verdict - Good
The only UK Top 40 hit for Family Stand which was given the remix treatment by Jazzie B and Nellee Hooper of Soul II Soul. It does sound a cross between Soul II Soul and Massive Attack, which makes sense as Nellee Hooper was also a member of The Wild Bunch alongside members of Massive Attack. It's a great formula to have.
Verdict - Good
A cover of the U2 record that Bono himself likes. It's also the debut Top 40 hit for Chimes. when singer Pauline Henry mixed rock and soul in her solo career I think it worked quite well, and it seems like this is what they are trying to do here, but it doesn't really work for me.
Verdict - Rubbish
I always thought this record was older than it actually is, it definitely sounds like it belongs in the 80s. It was written by Robert John "Mutt" Lange and apparently Heart themselves don't like it and don't play it live. It would be their penultimate UK Top 40 hit with their final one 3 years later also being written by Robert John "Mutt" Lange. I'm inclined to agree with Heart, I don't like it either.
Verdict - Rubbish
A Michael Bolton song that isn't a cover, yes they do exist. It's written by Michael Bolton himself, along with Desmond Child and Diane Warren. I don't think I've ever met anyone who likes Michael Bolton, or at least admits to liking him. I did once walk past a workman on the street singing this out loud, which I found quite amusing. This isn't the sort of record I'd go out and by, but I don't mind it.
Verdict - OK
Everyone was singing this at the time, well the chorus anyway. It's hard to hear this now though without picturing Phil "The Power" Taylor doing his walk on in the darts. I don't think it's aged very well at all and apart from the hook it's a bit of a nothing tune, so I'm afraid this gets the thumbs down.
Verdict - Rubbish
My understanding of reggae music at the time was that most of it came from Jamaica, but I was unsure whether UB40 came from Jamaica or not (as mentioned previously, I was still of primary school age in 1990). This song though suggested to me that they were as Kingston is the capital of Jamaica. I would eventually find out they came from Birmingham and this was a cover. However, Lord Creator, the songwriter and original artist, isn't from Jamaica himself, he's from Trinidad and Tobago. Do I like it though? Well yes, I like a bit of UB40, both covers and non-covers.
Verdict - Good
The other Top 10 single for Mantronix which is one you never hear anymore. Whilst it's the same style as it's predecessor it's not a clone of it by any means. I think I actually prefer this record, it's got that blend of soul and dance pretty much spot on.
Verdict - Good
The second and final Top 40 hit for Beats International. This had been a hit the previous year for Norman Cook as part of a double a-side with "Blame It On The Bassline" and with Billy Bragg on vocals, which both appear on the "Let Them Eat Bingo" album. This version features Lindy Layton on vocals, the same singer on "Dub Be Good To Me". I prefer the album version but I like this version too.
Verdict - Good
The 4th Top 40 hit for Soul II Soul, one I think of as being called "I Can See" rather than the actual title. It perhaps takes a bit more effort to get into than the previous 3 hits, but once you do it's great.
Verdict - Good
Interesting fact, there have been 2 Top 40 hit's who's titles have been a colour followed by "Velvet", both released in 1990 and both reached number 2. This is the first of these which was the only Top 40 hit for Alannah Myles. If you read her biography on Wikipedia it describes her as being a singer-songwriter, but despite this she didn't actually write this song, that duty went to Christopher Ward and David Tyson. It's one of these song's I've always found irritating truth be told.
Verdict - Rubbish
The first of 2 Top 40 hits in 1990 named "Hold On" and the debut Top 40 hit for En Vogue. It's how a vocal group should be, the a cappella at the start of this showing their vocal talents and ability to harmonise with each other. Unfortunately most vocal groups that have formed since have no vocal talent to showcase. This record is definitely getting the thumbs up from me, but what I find a bit of a shame is the follow up single "Lies" is much better but it failed to make the Top 40.
Verdict - Good
Madonna had been on a bit of a roll in late 1989 with the singles "Cherish" and "Dear Jessie" which were both records I particularly liked at the time. I never liked this one though.
Verdict - Rubbish
When it comes to female pop singers from America who emerged in the late 80s, such as Tiffany, Debbie Gibson and Taylor Dayne, the word dreadful springs to mind. Paula Abdul though was actually alright. This was her biggest Top 40 hit in the UK and is best remembered for the video of here dancing with a cartoon character. The songs not bad.
Verdict - OK
The 4th Top 40 hit for New Kids On The Block and the final one from the "Hangin Tough" album. I think this is a good illustration of the boy band concept, one person is there to sing it and the rest are there just to make up the numbers. It does sound more single than album filler, but that doesn't mean it's any good.
Verdict - Rubbish
I remember seeing this on Top of the Pops and there were 2 things that confused me. First I was expecting with a name like that it would be a man singing, not realising Stevie can also be a woman's name, but more to the point not realising the singer was Melody Washington and that Stevie V was in the background. The second thing was seeing just one singer, but hearing multiple voices on the track, but of course being Top of the Pops they were miming. I don't mind this record, but it's never been one I've been particularly fond of.
Verdict - OK
I was reading the Wikipedia entry on this record and it described it as the song that re-invented Kylie Minogue. Really? It sounds just like all her other hits up to that point, ok they don't necessarily sound the same, but they follow the same sort of formula. The only positive thing I can say about this record is that it isn't Steps singing it.
Verdict - Rubbish
The 2nd Top 40 hit for Adamski and the first for Seal, though he wasn't credited and many thought he was Adamski at the time. It's the tune Adamski is best known for, but he has done much better tunes in my opinion, but I do still like this one.
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 16.5/30, or 55%. Back above 50% again.
