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:
30. Sam Brown - Kissing Gate
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
29. New Kids On The Block - Cover Girl
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
28. Pop Will Eat Itself - Touched By The Hand Of Cicciolina
Whilst New Order had the official song for the World Cup, Pop Will Eat Itself had the unofficial one. The World Cup was held in Italy and Cicciolina is an Italian porn actress. It's a bit of an odd record, but a good one.
Verdict - Good
27. Madonna - Vogue
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
26. Michael Bolton - How Can We Be Lovers
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
25. The B-52s - Roam
For the casual listener, The B-52s are best known for "Love Shack" and "(Meet) The Flintstones" and on that basis, some would see them as being a bit of a novelty act. But they do proper music too and this is an example of that. Perhaps it helps that this hasn't been played to death since, but it's a good record. I remember hearing it at the time and kept expecting Fred Schneider to start singing, but he doesn't on this track. You still can't help noticing he's there though.
Verdict - Good
24. Jane Child - Don't Wanna Fall In Love
The only UK Top 40 hit for Jane Child which was much bigger in America, but was her only Top 40 hit there too. Allegedly what prevented this from succeeding over here was her refusal to perform it on Top of the Pops. Could also be because it's crap.
Verdict - Rubbish
23. Black Box - Everybody Everybody
The 3rd Top 40 hit for Black Box, and my view on it is much like there 2nd. Basically whilst I remember Black Box having other hits apart from "Ride On Time", after buying their "Hits & Mixes" album and listening to it quite a few times I concluded whilst the other hits are alright, perhaps they'd have been better off having just the one single. That said, having not heard this since perhaps the last time I listened to "Hits & Mixes" it's not making me cringe as much, but my opinion remains the same.
Verdict - OK
22. Bobby Brown - The Free Style Mega-Mix (New)
Bobby Brown left New Edition in 1986, but his first solo album didn't produce any UK Top 40 hits. His second album looked to be doing the same in 1988 with "Don't Be Cruel" failing to reach the Top 40 and "My Prerogative" climbing to 51 and sliding down the charts in the first week of 1989. But then it started to climb again, eventually to 6 and gave Bobby Brown his first UK Top 40 hit. A further 5 Top 40 singles would follow for him that year. Towards the end of the year a remix album called "Dance!....Ya Know It!" was released and featured all 6 singles. This mega-mix was released to promote the album and featured 4 of the singles, "On Our Own", "Don't Be Cruel", "Every Little Step" and "My Prerogative". I loved Bobby Browns music back in 1989, I was too young to know about him being a bad boy or any of that, to me he was a cool dude. All 6 singles except "My Prerogative" were written by Babyface which is surely a factor in why this was the golden era of Bobby Browns solo career. I like all 4 tunes in the mega-mix, therefore I like the mega-mix.
Verdict - Good
21. Luciano Pavarotti - Nessun Dorma (New)
A record that charted 18 years after it was recorded thanks to it being used for the BBCs coverage of the World Cup. At the time I didn't know what an opera was, I just saw it as the genre of music where they sing it funny. I can't say I'm a fan of opera, but I guess thanks in part to my childhood memories of this song and watching the World Cup I thought this is a song I quite like. Listening to it now though, I'm not actually sure if I've listened to it from beginning to end before. Basically if you want to hear the good bit then just listen to the last 30 seconds. The good bit is enough to make this song good though, in the same way I like "Layla" but always stop listening when the outro comes in.
Verdict - Good
20. D-Shake - Yaaah / Techno Trance
Holland has become quite a powerhouse over the years when it comes to dance music. The first dance act from Holland to hit the UK Top 40 was Hithouse in 1988. The second was D-Shake, an alias of Aad De Moy. This double a-side was his only Top 40 effort. Both tracks were the harder side of dance music for 1990. Both great tracks, but if I was to pick a favourite out of the two I'd say "Techno Trance".
Verdict - Good / Good
19. Chimes - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
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
18. MC Tunes Vs 808 State - The Only Rhyme That Bites (New)
When I went to see 808 State in concert, one thing I praised the concert for was the lack of vocalists. However, had MC Tunes appeared to do this tune I wouldn't have objected. This is the way dance and rap crossover music should be done, not the crap Pitbull and co have been doing in recent years.
Verdict - Good
17. Was (Not Was) - Papa Was A Rollin' Stone
A cover of the song made famous by The Temptations, which itself was a cover of a song originally by The Undisputed Truth. This is actually pretty good for a cover, they've put their own mark on it and brought it into the 90s. The problem is that it's always been one of my least favourite Temptations tracks, so because of that it was always going to suffer no matter how well it's done.
Verdict - OK
16. Talk Talk - It's My Life
Believe it or not, this record was released twice in the 80s and failed to make the Top 40 on both occasions. It was 3rd time lucky when it was released again in 1990 to promote their greatest hits. It was a bit of a slow burner for me too, it took a No Doubt cover in 2003 for me to realise what a great record it is.
Verdict - Good
15. Kylie Minogue - Better The Devil You Know
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
14. En Vogue - Hold On
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
13. Snap! - Oops Up (New)
After Snap! had a number one with "The Power" they didn't disappear until "Rhythm Is A Dancer" in 1992, they had hits in-between. I remember this coming out at the time, but for some reason I don't remember the sound of a squeaky child's toy appearing throughout the tune. I can't help but notice it's presence now and it's bloody irritating which means no matter how good the rest of the music might be, it's unlistenable. As it happens the rest of the music isn't up to much either.
Verdict - Rubbish
12. Erasure - Star
The final single from the "Wild" album. Their previous single "Blue Savannah" was always going to be tough to follow up, whilst this is nowhere near as good it's still a decent record. Instead of its proper title though I think of this as being "From Moscow To Mars". I think that would have been a better title actually.
Verdict - Good
11. The Adventures Of Stevie V - Dirty Cash
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
10. Wilson Phillips - Hold On
This is one of the songs I remember hearing on a daily basis thanks to the person giving me a lift to school playing Now 18 every day. It was the Top 40 debut for Wilson Phillips, 2 of whom are Brian Wilsons daughters and the other is John and Michelle Phillips daughter, hence the name. It's also the 2nd Top 40 hit of 1990 called "Hold On" and entered the Top 40 whilst the first song was still in it. It quite an uplifting song with a dark subject matter, not that I paid attention to that or really knew what it was about at the time. I do remember the reference to being locked in chains though. Anyway despite getting sick of this record at the time, I do quite like it.
Verdict - Good
9. The Charlatans - The Only One I Know
When it comes to crap bands of the 90s, The Charlatans are up there. I just find their music mind numbingly boring. Looking at the list of their 22 Top 40 hits, I remember hardly any of them, that's how boring they were. They weren't always that bad though, this their debut Top 40 hit is actually alright.
Verdict - OK
8. Don Pablo's Animals - Venus
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
7. Betty Boo - Doin' The Do
My biggest memory of this record, and I'm sure many others biggest memory too, is the alternative lyrics of "Betty Boo just doing a poo". It was the debut solo effort of Betty Boo, and what else can I say apart from this is dreadful.
Verdict - Rubbish
6. Roxette - It Must Have Been Love
The 2nd Top 40 hit for Roxette, which came over a year after their first, though they tried and failed to reach the Top 40 with a couple of single in between. Their first hit "The Look" was mainly sang by Per Gessle, but in this one Marie Fredriksson takes the lead with just the occasional backing vocals from Per. This was another song I used to hear on a daily basis thanks to the person giving me a lift to school playing Now 18 every day. I like a bit of Roxette though.
Verdict - Good
5. Elton John - Sacrifice / Healing Hands
I once went to a quiz on holiday where we were asked what Elton Johns first number one was. I knew this was his first solo number one, but said "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" because he never said solo, but the official answer was "Sacrifice", whether he'd have taken "Healing Hands" as an answer, who knows. Anyway enough of crap quizmasters, what about the songs? Both were released as separate singles in 1989 and both failed to reach the Top 40, but the double a-side made number one. This was actually the record that taught me what a double a-side was. The most played of the two was "Sacrifice" and I always quite liked that record. I got a bit confused when one week on Top of the Pops when they played "Healing Hands" instead, but that's how I learned about double a-sides. Not too keen on "Healing Hands" though to be honest.
Verdict - Good / Rubbish
4. Adamski - Killer
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
3. Chad Jackson - Hear The Drummer (Get Wicked)
The main vocal part of this record has already featured in the Top 30 in 1990, being taken from "Welcome to the Terrordrome" by Public Enemy. Lots of other samples in this record too, which was the only Top 40 hit for Chad Jackson. It sums up how sampling should be done.
Verdict - Good
2. New Kids On The Block - Step By Step (New)
We're not even half way through the year yet and here are New Kids On The Block with their 4th hit of the year, and 5th to appear in these reviews given "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" was still in the Top 40 at the start of the year. This is the first single to be taken off the album of the same name, but it's not their 2nd album, it's their 4th. Their 1st album came long before they were known over here, their 2nd was the one with all the prior hits on it, and their 3rd was a Christmas album. This song was originally recorded by The Superiors, another Maurice Starr group. I guess it's not bad.
Verdict - OK
1. Englandneworder - World In Motion
The official song for the England football team at the 1990 World Cup. It is of course New Order with their name temporarily changed for the occasion and would be their only number one record. It's best known though for the John Barnes rap, which is quite frankly terrible, but then what do you expect from a footballer. Despite that though, its a great record. Best football song ever written in my opinion, but then that's not saying much.
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%. Not as good as last week, but still a decent score.
No comments:
Post a Comment