Top 30 in 1991 Reviewed - Week 15

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 1991 with my verdict on each record:

30. The Shamen - Hyperreal (New)

The Top 40 debut for The Shamen which was a William Orbit remix. The singer on this is Plavka who would go on to sing for Jam & Spoon. A pretty solid debut.

Verdict - Good

29. Alison Limerick - Where Love Lives (Come On In) (New)

The Top 40 debut for Alison Limerick. I always thought she was American but it turns out she's English. The involvement of America DJs David Morales and Frankie Knuckles is probably why I thought that. I've heard this far too many times in my life now, but I still like it.

Verdict - Good

28. REM - Losing My Religion

REM were more than a decade into their existence by this point, but their only UK Top 40 hit to date had been "Orange Crush" which was a minor hit 2 years earlier. They would have 6 Top 40 hits in 1991 though, some old and some new. This was the first of these which was a new one. I don't mind this record but its not one to get excited about. 

Verdict - OK

27. Monie Love Vs Adeva - Ring My Bell (New)

One of those records where the vocals are far too irritating for it to be good. It's not a bad backing track and Adeva is a decent singer, but I've always found Monie Love to be annoying. 

Verdict - Rubbish

26. Hale And Pace And The Stonkers - The Stonk

A novelty record made for Comic Relief which is predictably crap. As it's for charity though it can be any old rubbish and people will buy it.

Verdict - Rubbish

25. Banderas - This Is Your Life

This has nothing to do with the TV show of the same name. Banderas were backing singers in the Communards and this was their only Top 40 hit. It's one of those records I could take or leave at the time, but listening to it now for the first time in 30 years I can appreciate it a lot more. It's good advice that I should probably take myself at times.

Verdict - Good

24. The Clash - Should I Stay Or Should I Go

The Clash had never had a Top 10 hit prior to this, but then thanks to the Levi's advert they managed to score a number one. It was also up against Madonna in the battle of re-released old singles which it would eventually win. It's definitely the better out of the two in my opinion.

Verdict - Good

23. Mike And The Mechanics - Word Of Mouth (New)

When I first heard this I thought this was a melody I'd had going round my head for a long time. Not sure if that was because I'd heard a song with a similar melody before or whether I'd come up with the same melody in my head. As I'm still yet to hear a song with a similar melody I suspect its the latter. 

Verdict - Good

22. Mock Turtles - Can You Dig It? (New)

I loved this record at the time and me and a friend at school used to sing it all the time. It was the only Top 40 hit for the Mock Turtles. I did however get pretty sick of it years later when it was used as the holding music for Vodafone and I was on hold for a long time listening to this over and over. 

Verdict - Good

21. Scritti Politti ft Shabba Ranks - She's A Woman

This Beatles cover completely passed me by at the time. To me, 1991 seems too late for Scritti Politti and too early for Shabba Ranks. It just so happens this was the last Top 40 hit for Scritti Politti and the Top 40 debut for Shabba Ranks. Seems a bit of an odd collaboration but I actually quite like it.

Verdict - Good

20. C&C Music Factory ft Freedom Williams - Here We Go

This is the classic music act has a big hit and then follow it up with a record that sounds pretty much the same. You really could just sing "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" over the top of this.

Verdict - Rubbish

19. Definition Of Sound - Wear Your Love Like Heaven

The first of 3 Top 40 hits for Definition Of Sound. You can hear a lot of De La Soul influence in this one but they have enough of their own stamp on it to not sound like a De La Soul clone. 

Verdict - Good

18. Black Box - Strike It Up

I used to like this until I bought their greatest hits when I realised just how annoying the singing is on Black Box tunes in general, but particularly on this one. Also the rapping is cringeworthily bad. We all know the singer we saw in Black Box was different to the singer who actually sang and the more I think about that the more I think why?

Verdict - Rubbish

17. Pet Shop Boys - Where The Streets Have No Name/Can't Take My Eyes Off You / How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously?

This is a double a-side, the first being a mash up of the 2 songs listed. Regular readers of this blog will know that Pet Shop Boys are one of my all time favourites. I also consider them one of the best in the business at doing covers. It may therefore surprise you to see that I consider the mash up to be rubbish. It just doesn't work for me and is probably my least favourite Pet Shop Boys single. It is however redeemed by "How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously?" which is much more like it.

Verdict - Rubbish / Good

16. Quartz ft Dina Carroll - It's Too Late

A cover of the Carole King song and the first version that I heard. On that basis this one seems more like the original to me. I've not heard it many years and remember it being a lot more uplifting than it actually is, but I still like it.

Verdict - Good

15. Simple Minds - Let There Be Love

Not the best known Simple Minds song but it was their second biggest hit. The fact Simple Minds were a big name and this was the lead single from their yet to be released the album no doubt helped. I remember Simple Minds having hits around this time without really remember the songs themselves. I was therefore ready to write this one off as being boring, but listening to it now it's actually not bad.

Verdict - OK

14. Snap! - Snap! Megamix

After what seemed like loads of Snap! hits in 1990 (for the record there were 4), in 1991 they give us a megamix. It would be over a year until we'd see them back in the Top 40 so I guess this was a farewell for now type record. Not for me though.

Verdict - Rubbish

13. Feargal Sharkey - I've Got News For You

I remember this appearing on Top of the Pops. Feargal Sharkey's hair was mostly covering his face during the intro so I found it hilarious that the first line of the song was "I can see clearly". Then when I heard there was a TV show called "Have I Got News For You" this song sprang to mind. It was shortly after this that Feargal Sharkey retired from singing completely. It's not the best if I'm completely honest, but the fond memories I have of said Top of the Pops appearance means I can just about declare this ok.

Verdict - OK

12. Gary Clail On-U Sound System - Human Nature

I've not heard this one for a very long time. What strikes me hearing it again after all this time is how slow it is, I remember it being quicker than this. Fortunately I no longer have that mindset that a record must be fast in order to be good so therefore I like it. I still think it would be better if it was a bit quicker though.

Verdict - Good

11. The Bee Gees - Secret Love 

The first time I remember hearing the Bee Gees was in 1989 when I saw "One" on The Chart Show. That record only made number 71. I also remember seeing "When He's Gone" on The Chart Show in 1991, but that never made the charts at all. They did have a solitary Top 40 hit around this time though with this record. It sounds like "Chain Reaction" by Diana Ross, but there was no chance of them getting sued for copyright as the Gibb brothers wrote that. I'm not keen on "Chain Reaction" so therefore I'm not keen on this. 

Verdict - Rubbish

10. Dannii Minogue - Love And Kisses

First we had Kylie Minogue appear on Neighbours before becoming a singer. Then her sister Dannii Minogue starting appearing on Home & Away so it seemed almost inevitable that she'd end up being and singer too and here she is with her Top 40 debut. It was also inevitable that her music would be crap, which it is.

Verdict - Rubbish

9. Simpsons - Deep Deep Trouble

The 2nd Top 40 hit from the Simpsons which entered the Top 40 before "Do the Bartman" had dropped out. My memories of this record was thinking great video but rubbish song. I've since discovered this was written by Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince which explains a lot.

Verdict - Rubbish

8. N-Joi - Anthem

This was originally released in 1990 but didn't make the Top 40 until it was reissued in 1991. Not sure whether anthem bashing was a thing at the time, but a title like that is almost pleading for it to be played in the many anthem bashing sets that would come later on. Still a decent tune though.

Verdict - Good

7. Roxette - Joyride

The lead single from their album of the same name. One thing that stood out to me from this video was Marie Frederiksson playing the guitar. I did wonder whether she was really playing the guitar so looked this up and it doesn't look like she did. It also looks like Per Gessle didn't play guitar on the song either, it was Jonas Isacsson playing it. I don't think I really liked this at the time, but like most Roxette songs I got to like it with age.

Verdict - Good

6. The Wonder Stuff - The Size Of A Cow (New)

This song partly reminds me of 1991 and partly reminds me of discovering YouTube for the first time as this was a song I'd listen to quite regularly at the time. The line "you know that I've been drunk a thousand times" made me question whether I'd been drunk a thousand times. At the time I'm not sure I had, but 15 years later I'm pretty sure I've been drunk over a thousand times now.

Verdict - Good

5. Rod Stewart - Rhythm Of My Heart

I was aware that Rod Stewart had a song called "Sailing" and at the time I thought this was it given it was the last word of the chorus. Like "Sailing" though, this is also a cover and like every Rod Stewart cover I've heard, its shit.

Verdict - Rubbish

4. Madonna - Rescue Me (New)

This was taken from "The Immaculate Collection", her first greatest hits album. I remember this record but don't think I've heard it for 30 years so listening to it now, it's not quite the same as I remember it. I think its pretty boring.

Verdict - Rubbish

3. The Waterboys - The Whole Of The Moon

This originally came out in 1985 but was rereleased in 1991 ahead of their upcoming greatest hits album and ended up being their biggest hit. This is one of those records I've heard plenty of times without really taking any notice, but listening to it just now I realise that I quite like it.

Verdict - Good

2. James - Sit Down

At the time I thought the band Hello James had shortened their name to just James. Turns out I was thinking of Halo James who were a completely different band. This is one of those records everybody seems to like except me. To me it manages to be both annoying and boring at the same time.

Verdict - Rubbish

1. Chesney Hawkes - The One And Only 

Believe it or not, I've actually seen Chesney Hawkes in concert. He played at the students union at university one Saturday night. The set consisted of a bunch of covers, then he announced he was going to play his last single, not this one though, one that never made the charts. After a few more covers he played this at the end of the set to a massive cheer. It is a bit crap though, but it found it's place at many cheese nights. 

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 16.5/30, or 55%. An improvement on last week.