25 Years Since....September 1996

This time 25 years ago The Spice Girls were falling down the chart and I thought that would be the last we'd see of them. Here were the good tunes of the time:

Alisha's Attic - I Am, I Feel

The first thing I thought when I heard this record was that it sounded a bit like "Head Over Feet" by Alanis Morissette. But I thought both records were good in their own way. One memory I do have of this record is it appearing on the radio one morning when I was about to switch it off and go out, but instead I stayed and listened to it.

I've mentioned on this blog before that I became a big fan of Alisha's Attic and I guess this was the start of it.

Pet Shop Boys - Se A Vida E (That's The Way Life Is)

This record more or less sums up why I like to look back a lot at music from yesteryear. It's not just the fact the music was much better 25 years ago than now, which it was. But it's also the fact the world seemed such a better place back then because I was young and unaware of reality.

Listening to it now is bitter sweet. It makes me want to go back to 1996, but then I'm conscious that many of the people who make the world a shit place today were also around in 1996.

Way Out West - The Gift

This was my record of the year for 1996. A breakbeat record that you can both dance to and chill out to. Need I say anymore.

Space - Me And You Versus The World

Although I do like "Female Of The Species", I managed to resist it at the time with it being a brit pop record and me being a raver. However, I couldn't resist this their follow up.

I think I first heard it on the Big Breakfast when they used to extend it in the summer holidays. I certainly associate it with that time anyway. The lyrics are hilarious and it's delivered in a humorous fashion without sounding too cheesy. It's yet another tune that makes me wish it was 1996 again.

Sarah Cracknell - Anymore

I definitely first heard this record on the Big Breakfast. Sarah Cracknell was a guest on the show too. It hadn't really been that long since I'd first heard St Etienne and liked them, but I interpreted this Sarah Cracknell solo hit as St Etienne being no more. Fortunately that wasn't the case.

Bonkers Part 9

 

When Bonkers 9 was released at the end of 2002 I'd more or less given up on modern hardcore music. I'd conceded that the 90s was my era and in the 21st century it was all about rap and R&B for me.

In 2004 when I gave the music another go, this was the only Bonkers album of the 21st century that I didn't buy. The reason was simply because I'd not seen it for a cheap enough price and there was some overlap in tunes with this and the new Hardcore Heaven compilation which came out shortly after this which I owned. Thanks to YouTube though I've been able to listen to it.

First up as always was the Hixxy mix. What stands out on the track list is 4 remixes which are clearly on there with commercial appeal in mind. The opening track is a remix of "Set You Free" by N-Trance, a tune pretty much everyone knows.

Then there's remixes of "Heart Of Gold" by Kelly Llorenna and "Field Of Dreams" by Flip & Fill. The notable thing here is that it's not the Force & Styles versions being remixed, it's the commercial dance versions being converted back into hardcore.

Finally at the end of the mix is a remix of "Wonderful Days" by Charly Lownoise & Mental Theo which was a big hit in Holland in the 90s.

In terms of new original material it's very Raverbaby heavy with all bar 2 of the remaining tracks coming from the label. The first of these is "Connection" by UFO fr MC Marley. If ever you needed proof you shouldn't have an MC on a hardcore track then this is it. 

The only one of these I find half decent is "Fire In The Sky" by Dougal & Gammer but even that seems to be missing something. The "Wonderful Days" remix is the best track on the mix by far.

The Sharkey mix on the other hand is actually a big improvement over what we'd been used to. The music was starting to sound more interesting than the sped up trance sounding music we'd previously been introduced to as freeform. 

Despite this though, I reach the end of the mix wondering what I'd just listened to. It's good in small doses but if it's a whole mix I switch off somewhere along the way.

The final mix came from a Bonkers debutant, Scott Brown. He was arguably the biggest hardcore DJ from Scotland in the 90s and was also successful in Holland. Although his tunes were well known, he never played at the likes of Helter Skelter or Dreamscape. However, in the 21st century he was regularly playing at the likes of Slammin Vinyl.

There are 15 tracks in the mix, the first 10 are hardcore and the last 5 are gabber. To me this is by far the best mix. As expected a lot of it comes from Evolution records, but that's basically why I like it. There is some cheesy vocal crap like a remix of "You're Shining".

But on the whole, the hardcore section is more fun and less cheesy than the Hixxy mix and the gabber part shows that it's not changed much since the 90s which is no bad thing.

Whilst Bonkers 8 was more of a statement that hardcore was back, I'd say Bonkers 9 was forming it's identity for the 21st century. The Hixxy mix is the cheesy commercial sounding mix with mass appeal in mind, the Sharkey mix is freeform for those who want something more serious and the Scott Brown mix shows that its not all cheese and freeform and that gabber still exists.

Next up is Bonkers 10 which I actually own.

UK Charts Best Year Search: 1997

What's this all about?

Top 40

Best Song: Olive - You're Not Alone

Being into underground rave music at the time, I really didn't want to like this record. It was a number one from an act that included a former member of Simply Red. I couldn't help but like it though and I ended up buying the "Extra Virgin" album.

Worst Song: Mr President - Coco Jamboo

This was the only Top 40 hit for Mr President, which had 2 female members and 1 male. I can't help but think this is where the Vengaboys got their inspiration from which makes me hate this record even more. 

Top 40 Review

I was still very much into underground rave music in 1997 and if anything I was even less tolerant of chart music than I was in 1996, but as always there were still records I couldn't help but like.

One of those records was "Bellissima" by DJ Quicksilver. I'd been introduced to that record by a friend a few months prior and wasn't happy about it landing in the Top 40 as I wanted it to stay underground.

Elsewhere, many of the decent records in there are by those who were around before the 90s. You can count Olive in that, but we also have "Somewhere" by Pet Shop Boys, "Home" by Depeche Mode and "Oxygene 10" by Jean Michel Jarre. All 3 records sounded up to date though rather than sounding like the 70s/80s in the 90s.

A 90s record by a 90s group that sounded like it could have been from the 80s was "I Want You" by Savage Garden, or as I like to call it "Chica Cherry Cola". 

There was a re-issue of "Feel What You Want" by Kristine W which had first charted in 1994. Aside from those already mentioned, the only other record in there which gets full marks is "Game Over" by Scarface.

Elsewhere, there's quite a few brit pop records and I don't like any of them. The big dance genre of the year was speed garage but there's only one record from that genre in this Top 40, "Closer Than Close" by Rosie Gaines which is ok.

I do still think 1997 was a decent year for music, just not in the charts.

Score: 12

Table

We seem to be going from one extreme to the other in the 90s so far:

The Top 40 Leaderboard: September 2021

What's this all about?

As predicted last month we now have Drake at the top of the leaderboard but he's actually added 4 to his total. He now has 69 Top 40 hits overall which puts him in fourth, just 1 behind Elton John but a long way behind Elvis and Cliff. With Fredo failing to add to his total he is now top on his own. I've also decided this is a good time of year to cull those with just 3 Top 40 hits so far this year from the table.

More than half the top 40 hits in the last months have been rap with the year to date total now being 84/191 or 44%. 

21st Century Music

I was on Twitter during Popmaster yesterday and there were 2 tweets that got me thinking. The first was someone stating Anne-Marie was too young for tracks of my years because she's only 30 and wouldn't remember The Spice Girls. The second was a reply to that saying Fearne Cotton shouldn't be presenting "Sounds of the 90s" because she was born until 1981 and therefore wasn't 18 until 1999.

As someone who's similar in age to Fearne Cotton I completely disagree with the second tweet. The 90s was definitely my era when it comes to music. I remember the start of the 90s well and even recently saw home video footage of my young self in 1990 pretending to be a radio DJ. 

Aside from being too young for clubbing or raving I don't really see what turning 18 has to do with it. If you're not into music by the time you're 18 then you probably never will be. As kids though we had school discos or even just local discos for kids. 

As we're talking about decades though, the implication is presumably that a show about the 00s would be more appropriate for someone of Fearne Cotton's age. For me though I'd be OK with the early part of the decade but by 2009 I'd completely lost interest in modern music. The only modern mainstream music I was really listening to at the time was the new Prodigy album, an act I first got into in the 90s.

What distorts the picture though is going into the 21st century. Even though I've spent nearly 22 years of the my life in the 21st century it does in some ways feel like its all the same entity. Quite strange considering I wasn't even 22 when the 21st century began. 

Someone who I guess would have been in his 50s at the time once told me the music you listen to when you're between 16-25 is the music that will stay with you forever. Personally I reached the "modern music is rubbish" stage of my life long before I was 25 but at the same time I became a music fanatic long before I was 16.

The 21st century though was the beginning of the end. This is when the rave scene had more or less died. This was when a lot of dance music had gone commercial to the point we had Sophie Ellis-Bextor vs Victoria Beckham battling for number one and pop music was making it's way into Ibiza club nights.

Don't get me wrong, there were still positives and it didn't all go shit overnight. But gradually I was finding less new acts were taking my interest and some of the established acts I did like started making rubbish music. I could probably count on one hand the number of acts I have albums of who became established after 2005.

Perceptions on how old or new music changed too. By 2009 I was finding myself labelling anything from the 90s as old but if it was from the year 2000 it was new. I also remember back in 1989 and discovering Queen I was told they'd been around a long time. They made their Top 40 debut in 1974 which is the equivalent of an act now who made their Top 40 debut in 2006. I would consider someone who made their debut in 2006 to be modern though.

This brings my onto that first tweet about Anne-Marie. At first glance I kind of agree but really it's not so much the lack of years that she'd remember, more that it's the wrong years. She may remember the tail end of the 90s, but it would mostly be the 21st century which is all the same thing. 

Would people have been saying the same about Suggs, The Edge or Martin Kemp if they were doing the same in 1991? Possibly not because they'd have the tail end of the 60s, 70s and 80s and even the start of the 90s to pick from which are all different in their own way.

UK Number 40s: Blancmange - What's Your Problem? (1985)

 

A common pop career consists of a debut hit that becomes your anthem that will always be associated with you followed by a bunch of records few people remember no matter how successful they are, followed by years in the wilderness and then finally the comeback where nobody notices your new music because they're only interested in your one song.

This basically sums up the career of Blancmange. Their debut was "Living On The Ceiling" which made number 7. They would have a further 6 Top 40 hits including 2 Top 10s and ended with this record, a number 40.

It was the lead single from their 3rd and final 80s album "Believe You Me". It came at the time when several of the early 80s synth pop acts were either hitting the lower reaches of the Top 40 or not making the Top 40 at all. The other 2 singles from that album failed to reach the Top 40 and they called it a day shortly after.

They made a comeback in 2011 and have released 8 albums since.

Top 30 in 1991 Reviewed: Week 39

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. Roxette - The Big L

We're now entering the era of Roxette singles that few people remember. This was their first Top 40 hit to chart outside the Top 20, something the majority of their singles would do from here onwards. This means the only times I've heard it in the last 30 years is by playing it myself.

Verdict - Good

29. Ned's Atomic Dustbin - Trust

The 2nd Top 40 hit for Ned's Atomic Dustbin. At the time I think I paid more attention to the name than to the music, but they're quite a band. After listening to this and their debut "Happy" properly I feel I should seek out more music of theirs. Basically if you find Blink 182 a bit American high school but like the varying speed of their music, listen to Neds Atomic Dustbin as it fulfills that aspect without sounding the slightest bit American.

Verdict - Good

28. Crystal Waters - Makin' Happy

The follow up to "Gypsy Woman" and I was trying to figure out if this is basically a "Gypsy Woman" mark 2. That's more to do with the number of dance follow ups that sound the same as their predecessor though. I think this is it's own record but you can tell it's by the same artist who did "Gypsy Woman".

Verdict - Good

27. Marky Mark And The Funky Bunch ft Loleatta Holloway - Good Vibrations

Marky Mark is Mark Wahlberg before he became an actor. This was his only Top 40 hit, but prior to this he was in New Kids On The Block before they made it big along with his brother Donnie. I guess this record is proof Will Smith wasn't the only movie actor who started out as a dreadful rapper.

Verdict - Rubbish

26. Arnee And The Terminaters - I'll Be Back

The comment from writer Richard Easter who was on Steve Wright in the Afternoon on Radio 1 sum this record up nicely. He says of course it was a shit song but hit wrote it for the radio 1 roadshow and was then offered money from a record label to release it, so he did. I'd have done the same myself.

Verdict - Rubbish

25. PJB ft Hannah And Her Sisters - Bridge Over Troubled Water (New)

PJB stands for Pete John Bellotte, who previously had numerous hits as a songwriter alongside Giorgio Moroder. Quite ironic that the only Top 40 hit he has as an artist is a cover. It's a dance version of the Simon & Garfunkel record. Not sure what to make of it really, on one hand it sounds a bit cheesy and crap but on the other hand I don't actually mind it.

Verdict - OK

24. Marc Almond - Jacky (New)

I liked this one at the time, unaware it was a cover. I don't think much of the original though, it's one of those records that needs a dance beat to sound any good.

Verdict - Good

23. Tina Turner - Nutbush City Limits (90s Version) (New)

A dance version of what was originally an Ike & Tina Turner record. The remix was done by former members of M/A/R/R/S CJ Mackintosh and Dave Dorrell. Sounds quite unusual for a Tina Turner record of that era, but not a bad one.

Verdict - OK

22. Marc Bolan & T.Rex - 20th Century Boy

Another old record getting a new lease of life thanks to it's inclusion on a Levi's advert. Generally speaking I'm not a fan of 70's glam rock, but T Rex for some reason seem a bit better than the other glam rock bands. 

Verdict - OK

21. Martika - Love... Thy Will Be Done

The lead single from the "Martika's Kitchen" album which was co-written and produced by Prince. This apparently introduced a more mature sounding Martika but I think that does her previous hits a disservice. 

Verdict - Good

20. REM - The One I Love

The 4th Top 40 hit in 1991 for REM having had just a solitary Top 40 hit prior to the beginning of the year. Unlike the other 3 though, this is a re-issue of a record that failed to make the Top 40 when first released in 1987. 

Verdict - Good

19. The Scorpions - Wind Of Change (New)

The biggest hit to date for The Scorpions who had last been in the Top 40 in 1979 with their debut. My memories of this record at the time was that whenever it got played it never seemed to get played till the end and I was always intrigued as to how it ended. 

Verdict - Good

18. Prince And The New Power Generation - Gett Off

This was the lead single from the "Diamonds & Pearls" album. Prince wrote some great tunes and some that are questionable. This one fits the latter, but as I listen to it for the first time in years it's starting to grow on me. Only taken 30 years.

Verdict - OK

17. Guns N' Roses - Don't Cry

The first single from "Use Your Illusion 1". Initially I found the song to be a bit soft, but it was all part of the build up and once the final verse/chorus comes in it's fantastic. I also love watching the video, a reminder of just how fucked up the band were. The part where Slash crashes the car and then plays the guitar before throwing it up in the air is amazing.

Verdict - Good

16. Brothers In Rhythm - Such A Good Feeling

The only Top 40 hit for Brothers In Rhythm as artists, but they had other hits as producers and remixers. Member Dave Seaman (not the footballer) is also a big name house DJ who I've seen play before. 

Verdict - Good

15. Prince And The New Power Generation - Cream

A bit like it's predecessor "Gett Off", this is a record that had no impact on me at the time and has sounded a bit boring when I've heard it since but listening to it 30 years later it's starting to grow on me.

Verdict - OK

14. Bizarre Inc - Such A Feeling

The Top 40 debut for Bizarre Inc and not to be confused with the Brother In Rhythm record with a similar name that entered the Top 40 the same week. This is the Bizarre Inc hit I've most likely heard the least for the simple fact its not on any of their albums, the rest are either on "Energique" or "Surprise", both of which I own. It's a shame it's not on "Energique" really.

Verdict - Good

13. Julian Lennon - Saltwater

The 3rd and final Top 40 hit for Julian Lennon which came 6 years after his previous effort. People give Julian Lennon stick for not being John, but with records like this does it really matter? I loved this record at the time and it still sounds great 30 years later. 

Verdict - Good

12. Bryan Adams - Can't Stop This Thing We Started

Bryan Adams was still at number one when this, his follow up entered the Top 40. He was also still at number one when this left the Top 40. The title suggests it could almost be about not being able to stop the reign of "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" at the top of the charts. It's alright but nothing special.

Verdict - OK

11. Simply Red - Something Got Me Started

This was the first single from the hugely successful "Stars" album. My memories of hearing this for the first time was seeing Mick Hucknall's hair had got much longer and loving the bit that follows the chorus. The best single from that album in my opinion. In fact probably the best Simply Red single ever.

Verdict - Good

10. Utah Saints - What Can You Do For Me

The Top 40 debut for Utah Saints, the so called "Stadium House" act. It samples "There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)" by Eurythmics and "Ain't Nothin' Goin' on But the Rent" by Gwen Guthrie. A common criticism of samples in dance music is they sometimes sound nothing more than the original song with a dance beat on it. This though is a prime example of how sampling should be done in dance music. 

Verdict - Good

9. The Prodigy - Charly

The Top 40 debut for The Prodigy. This has been ridiculed over the years along with other "Toytown Techno" records because of the samples. I will concede that whenever I listen to this tune I listen to the album version where the sample doesn't go beyond "Charly says". But I'm sure if the album version didn't exist I'd listen to this, it really isn't as bad as it's made out to be.

Verdict - Good

8. Sabrina Johnston - Peace

This record reminds me of when me and a friend quite ambitiously decided to compile a Top 200 following the realisation that the charts went up to a Top 100. We didn't know who this was by at the time so simple listed it as "Peace". It's not one you really hear anymore but this was definitely as big as the Rozalla record at the time. The Top 200 never did get compiled in the end due to many disagreements between me and my friend regarding what songs should be in it.

Verdict - Good

7. Rozalla - Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)

This is one of several records I associate with starting a new year at school. It was the Top 40 debut for Rozalla and by far the best known. It's been played to death over the years but I've never stopped liking it.

Verdict - Good

6. Zoe - Sunshine On A Rainy Day

At the time I thought of this as being a poor mans "Hippy Chick" but there isn't much resemblance really. Years later there was a happy hardcore version by Slipmatt & Eruption which all the DJs seemed to play but I couldn't stand it. You may have gather I don't think much of this.

Verdict - Rubbish

5. Right Said Fred - I'm Too Sexy

I remember being at some kids club on holiday at the time and we had to dance along to this multiple times. I thought why, this song is fuckin shit. My opinion still hasn't changed.

Verdict - Rubbish

4. Erasure - Love To Hate You

I remember Simon Mayo playing this pretty much every day on the breakfast show when on my way to school but I never got bored of it. 

Verdict - Good

3. Oceanic - Insanity

There was a happy hardcore version of this in the mid-90s by DNA, Breeze & Munchie which I listened to quite a bit. When I heard this for the first time in years it seemed so slow given I'd got used to the happy hardcore version. That was a long time ago though, nowadays I can take the relative slowness.

Verdict - Good

2. Salt-N-Pepa - Let's Talk About Sex

This record really irritated me at the time. My view hasn't really changed, it's a truly awful record. It was one that Bryan Adams kept off number one.

Verdict - Rubbish

1. Bryan Adams - (Everything I Do) I Do It For You

Summer holidays are on the way, this so reminds me of the summer holidays of 1991 where it was number one the whole time and beyond. Quite remarkable for a 31 year old 80s singer who'd failed to even make the Top 40 with most of his prior singles. I got pretty sick of this at the time like most people, but I actually quite like it.

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 22/30, or 73%. Same as last week but not surprising with only 4 new records.

Bonkers Part 8

 

In 2001 I went into a random record shop and the nearest they had to happy hardcore was a United Dance 92-97 anthems record. I did however get chatting to the owner and one of his regular customers and they were optimistic that happy hardcore was on it's way back with Hixxy starting a new label called Raverbaby.

By the end of the year I'd more or less lost all interest in the scene but then in 2002 it was growing in popularity which led to the return of Bonkers. When it was released I was very much out of the loop. I'd not been to a rave for around a year and it had been even longer since I'd bought my last tape pack. I therefore saw Bonkers as an opportunity to get back into it.

What we now had what was a big 6 of record labels. The longstanding ones were Evolution which was run by Scott Brown, Quosh which was run by SY & Unknown and Next Generation which was run by Brisk & Ham. All things freeform were on Nu Energy which had several labels within it. Hixxy had Raverbaby and Dougal relaunched Essential Platinum. 

The Hixxy mix had 14 tracks on it, 11 on Raverbaby and 3 on Evolution. The opening track was a remix of "Get Into Love" which just seems pointless. The 2nd track tells us Force & Styles are no more with Styles now collaborating with Breeze with "You're Shining" which is basically a "Heart Of Gold" for the 21st century except nowhere near as good. 

The mix doesn't really come to life until track 4 which is a remix of "Elysium" called "Elysium Plus". It was now starting to remind me of the most recent raves I'd been to where "Elysium" stands out head and shoulders above the rest despite being played in pretty much every set.

Speaking of which, we have "Just Accept It" by MC Storm. I was at the Slammin Vinyl where this tune made it's debut with MC Storm himself MCing along to it. Doesn't work for me though, MCs should stick to MCing at raves.

The next tune to grab my attention was "Black Magic Bad Magic" by Styles & Breeze but we're now 3 tracks from the end of the mix. But these 3 tracks are the best in the set except perhaps "Elysium Plus".

Onto Sharkey and given freeform isn't my thing I didn't have great expectations about this set. It was filled with mostly Nu Energy records. Freeform had evolved from just sounding like sped up trance, but was still a bit on the boring side.

The final mix came from DJ SY which was an old skool set, or more precisely a set of tunes which appeared on the first 2 Bonkers albums. It was because of this that DJ SY never mixed another Bonkers album, he wasn't happy about the fact he didn't get a choice in what tunes he played.

I think this shows, despite this being from my era it was a bit disappointing. The inclusion of "Toytown" and "Steam Train" obviously didn't help.

What had become apparent from this album was that the new era of happy hardcore, or UK hardcore as it was now known wasn't really for me. The fun had been taken out of it but tunes like "You're Shining" showed it was still as cheesy as ever.

After a handful of listens this album sat un-played for almost 2 years. Then in 2004 hardcore seemed to be rising in popularity again and was getting played by John Peel on radio one. I also went to my first up front rave in years so dug out this album to listen to as a warm up to that as it was the newest hardcore I owned.

The Hixxy mix started to grow on me and I bought some newer Bonkers albums. One I didn't buy though was Bonkers 9, but thanks to the internet I've now given it a listen. More on that next week.

UK Charts Best Year Search: 1996

What's this all about?

Top 40

Best Song: Pianoman - Blurred

The record gets it's title due to the sample of "Girls & Boys" by Blur. Whilst its the most obvious bit that's been sampled, it's far from being just a blatant rip off. It's basically it's own tune with the vocal sample thrown in and I do remember considering it more or less the best commercial record out there at the time.

Worst Song: Louise - Naked

When Louise left Eternal in 1995, it didn't seem to make much difference at all. They would have a further 9 Top 40 hits of which all but the last made the Top 10. I'd speculate most people remember Louise having 1 or 2 hits before becoming best known as Jamie Redknapps wife. Unbelievably, she had 12 Top 40 hits spanning 8 years. This is probably the only one most remember and it's fuckin awful.

Top 40 Review

In 1996 I was mainly listening to underground rave music and the only commercial records I'd really entertain were dance records. The closest rival for best song was "There's Nothing I Won't Do" by JX.

Stretching that definition somewhat by including cheesy eurodance music, I always quite liked "Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit" by Gina G. The only other records in this Top 40 I liked at the time were "Vicious Circles" by Poltergeist and "Dreamtime" by Zee.

However, if I was to be honest with myself there were many more records in this Top 40 that I like. I hated "Surprise" by Bizarre Inc at the time because of how different it was to their earlier material, but I grew to like it and even bought the album. Likewise, I hated "Fable" by Robert Miles for being an inferior follow up to "Children" but again I grew to like it and bought the album.

There was the debut hit for The Divine Comedy "Something For The Weekend" which I've always liked really and I own the album it's on. The R Kelly record "Thank God It's Friday" completely passed me by at the time but I now own the album that's on too.

Even with brit pop which I absolutely hated at the time, I've always quite liked "Female Of The Species" by Space. After not hearing it for 25 years, I'm finding myself liking "Tattva" by Kula Shaker.

There's also records I hated at the time that I still think are crap. With Euro 96 being around the same time, there are 3 football records in there and I've said before that football and music don't mix. There's dreary crap from Celine Dion and Mariah Carey and the novelty record "Tell Him" by Quentin & Ash aka Dorothy and Deborah from Men Behaving Badly.

The good does outweigh the crap though resulting in a decent score for the year.

Score: 21

Table

At least half the 90s years will get at least half marks, no prizes for guessing which decade I grew up in:

UK Number 40s: Brooklyn Bronx & Queens (BB & Q Band) - Genie (1985)

 

Normally a singer starts out as part of a group and then goes onto a solo career. In the case of this group, it was the opposite. The singer in question was Curtis Hairston who had his only solo Top 40 hit earlier on in 1985 with "I Want Your Lovin' (Just A Little Bit)".

Behind BB & Q Band was Jacques Fred Petrus and Mauro Malavasi, the same people who were behind the group Change. Their self titled debut album came out in 1981 and they narrowly missed out on the Top 40, making 41 with the single "On The Beat".

By 1985 they were on their 4th album, also called "Genie", with a completely different line up which included Curtis Hairston. This was their debut Top 40 hit, but the band was coming towards the end of it's existence. 

They would have their 2nd and final Top 40 hit in 1986 with "(I'm A) Dreamer". The band ended in 1987 when Jacques Fred Petrus was murdered. Curtis Hairston died himself in 1996.

Top 30 in 1991 Reviewed: Week 38

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. Color Me Badd - All 4 Love

We're definitely in the summer holidays now, this so reminds me of that summer. It topped the charts in America and did quite well here, but in this country at least it will always be their other hit. I loved this record though at the time and was one I started listening to again in the early days of YouTube, except I'd listen to it on Google Videos because it wasn't on YouTube.

Verdict - Good

29. Julian Lennon - Saltwater (New)

The 3rd and final Top 40 hit for Julian Lennon which came 6 years after his previous effort. People give Julian Lennon stick for not being John, but with records like this does it really matter? I loved this record at the time and it still sounds great 30 years later. 

Verdict - Good

28. REM - The One I Love (New)

The 4th Top 40 hit in 1991 for REM having had just a solitary Top 40 hit prior to the beginning of the year. Unlike the other 3 though, this is a re-issue of a record that failed to make the Top 40 when first released in 1987. 

Verdict - Good

27. Roxette - The Big L

We're now entering the era of Roxette singles that few people remember. This was their first Top 40 hit to chart outside the Top 20, something the majority of their singles would do from here onwards. This means the only times I've heard it in the last 30 years is by playing it myself.

Verdict - Good

26. Extreme - More Than Words

The song everyone knows Extreme for, so much so that people don't realise they're a rock band. This didn't go down well with the purists, ballads were very much frowned upon but an acoustic ballad was viewed as criminal. I'm not a purist though, I do think Extreme have better songs but I've always quite liked this one even if I haven't always admitted it.

Verdict - Good

25. Brothers In Rhythm - Such A Good Feeling (New)

The only Top 40 hit for Brothers In Rhythm as artists, but they had other hits as producers and remixers. Member Dave Seaman (not the footballer) is also a big name house DJ who I've seen play before. 

Verdict - Good

24. Cliff Richard - More To Life

No idea this song existed and will probably forget it's existence tomorrow.

Verdict - Rubbish

23. PM Dawn - Set Adrift On Memory Bliss

A sign the summer holidays will soon be coming to an end, this reminds me of the journey to school but the weather still being warm. I should hate it given that association, but I actually quite like it. Samples "True" by Spandau Ballet and a great use of the sample in my opinion.

Verdict - Good

22. Crystal Waters - Makin' Happy

The follow up to "Gypsy Woman" and I was trying to figure out if this is basically a "Gypsy Woman" mark 2. That's more to do with the number of dance follow ups that sound the same as their predecessor though. I think this is it's own record but you can tell it's by the same artist who did "Gypsy Woman".

Verdict - Good

21. Ned's Atomic Dustbin - Trust (New)

The 2nd Top 40 hit for Ned's Atomic Dustbin. At the time I think I paid more attention to the name than to the music, but they're quite a band. After listening to this and their debut "Happy" properly I feel I should seek out more music of theirs. Basically if you find Blink 182 a bit American high school but like the varying speed of their music, listen to Neds Atomic Dustbin as it fulfills that aspect without sounding the slightest bit American.

Verdict - Good

20. Bizarre Inc - Such A Feeling

The Top 40 debut for Bizarre Inc and not to be confused with the Brother In Rhythm record with a similar name that entered the Top 40 the same week. This is the Bizarre Inc hit I've most likely heard the least for the simple fact its not on any of their albums, the rest are either on "Energique" or "Surprise", both of which I own. It's a shame it's not on "Energique" really.

Verdict - Good

19. Prince And The New Power Generation - Cream (New)

A bit like it's predecessor "Gett Off", this is a record that had no impact on me at the time and has sounded a bit boring when I've heard it since but listening to it 30 years later it's starting to grow on me.

Verdict - OK

18. Bryan Adams - Can't Stop This Thing We Started

Bryan Adams was still at number one when this, his follow up entered the Top 40. He was also still at number one when this left the Top 40. The title suggests it could almost be about not being able to stop the reign of "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" at the top of the charts. It's alright but nothing special.

Verdict - OK

17. Marky Mark And The Funky Bunch ft Loleatta Holloway - Good Vibrations

Marky Mark is Mark Wahlberg before he became an actor. This was his only Top 40 hit, but prior to this he was in New Kids On The Block before they made it big along with his brother Donnie. I guess this record is proof Will Smith wasn't the only movie actor who started out as a dreadful rapper.

Verdict - Rubbish

16. Simply Red - Something Got Me Started (New)

This was the first single from the hugely successful "Stars" album. My memories of hearing this for the first time was seeing Mick Hucknall's hair had got much longer and loving the bit that follows the chorus. The best single from that album in my opinion. In fact probably the best Simply Red single ever.

Verdict - Good

15. Marc Bolan & T.Rex - 20th Century Boy

Another old record getting a new lease of life thanks to it's inclusion on a Levi's advert. Generally speaking I'm not a fan of 70's glam rock, but T Rex for some reason seem a bit better than the other glam rock bands. 

Verdict - OK

14. Arnee And The Terminaters - I'll Be Back

The comment from writer Richard Easter who was on Steve Wright in the Afternoon on Radio 1 sum this record up nicely. He says of course it was a shit song but hit wrote it for the radio 1 roadshow and was then offered money from a record label to release it, so he did. I'd have done the same myself.

Verdict - Rubbish

13. Rozalla - Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)

This is one of several records I associate with starting a new year at school. It was the Top 40 debut for Rozalla and by far the best known. It's been played to death over the years but I've never stopped liking it.

Verdict - Good

12. Martika - Love... Thy Will Be Done

The lead single from the "Martika's Kitchen" album which was co-written and produced by Prince. This apparently introduced a more mature sounding Martika but I think that does her previous hits a disservice. 

Verdict - Good

11. Prince And The New Power Generation - Gett Off

This was the lead single from the "Diamonds & Pearls" album. Prince wrote some great tunes and some that are questionable. This one fits the latter, but as I listen to it for the first time in years it's starting to grow on me. Only taken 30 years.

Verdict - OK

10. Utah Saints - What Can You Do For Me

The Top 40 debut for Utah Saints, the so called "Stadium House" act. It samples "There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)" by Eurythmics and "Ain't Nothin' Goin' on But the Rent" by Gwen Guthrie. A common criticism of samples in dance music is they sometimes sound nothing more than the original song with a dance beat on it. This though is a prime example of how sampling should be done in dance music. 

Verdict - Good

9. Sabrina Johnston - Peace

This record reminds me of when me and a friend quite ambitiously decided to compile a Top 200 following the realisation that the charts went up to a Top 100. We didn't know who this was by at the time so simple listed it as "Peace". It's not one you really hear anymore but this was definitely as big as the Rozalla record at the time. The Top 200 never did get compiled in the end due to many disagreements between me and my friend regarding what songs should be in it.

Verdict - Good

8. Guns N' Roses - Don't Cry (New)

The first single from "Use Your Illusion 1". Initially I found the song to be a bit soft, but it was all part of the build up and once the final verse/chorus comes in it's fantastic. I also love watching the video, a reminder of just how fucked up the band were. The part where Slash crashes the car and then plays the guitar before throwing it up in the air is amazing.

Verdict - Good

7. Erasure - Love To Hate You (New)

I remember Simon Mayo playing this pretty much every day on the breakfast show when on my way to school but I never got bored of it. 

Verdict - Good

6. The Prodigy - Charly

The Top 40 debut for The Prodigy. This has been ridiculed over the years along with other "Toytown Techno" records because of the samples. I will concede that whenever I listen to this tune I listen to the album version where the sample doesn't go beyond "Charly says". But I'm sure if the album version didn't exist I'd listen to this, it really isn't as bad as it's made out to be.

Verdict - Good

5. Zoe - Sunshine On A Rainy Day

At the time I thought of this as being a poor mans "Hippy Chick" but there isn't much resemblance really. Years later there was a happy hardcore version by Slipmatt & Eruption which all the DJs seemed to play but I couldn't stand it. You may have gather I don't think much of this.

Verdict - Rubbish

4. Oceanic - Insanity

There was a happy hardcore version of this in the mid-90s by DNA, Breeze & Munchie which I listened to quite a bit. When I heard this for the first time in years it seemed so slow given I'd got used to the happy hardcore version. That was a long time ago though, nowadays I can take the relative slowness.

Verdict - Good

3. Salt-N-Pepa - Let's Talk About Sex

This record really irritated me at the time. My view hasn't really changed, it's a truly awful record. It was one that Bryan Adams kept off number one.

Verdict - Rubbish

2. Right Said Fred - I'm Too Sexy

I remember being at some kids club on holiday at the time and we had to dance along to this multiple times. I thought why, this song is fuckin shit. My opinion still hasn't changed.

Verdict - Rubbish

1. Bryan Adams - (Everything I Do) I Do It For You

Summer holidays are on the way, this so reminds me of the summer holidays of 1991 where it was number one the whole time and beyond. Quite remarkable for a 31 year old 80s singer who'd failed to even make the Top 40 with most of his prior singles. I got pretty sick of this at the time like most people, but I actually quite like it.

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 22/30, or 73%. Not a bad new entry this week.

UK Charts Best Year Search: 1995

What's this all about?

Top 40

Best Song: Jodeci - Freek 'N You

I never paid much attention to this record at the time, but a few years later Jodeci would become one of my favourite groups. By the end of 1995 I was only really listening to rave music, then towards the end of the 90s UK garage was making it's way into the raves. One particular garage I liked was "Tell Me It's Real" by K-Ci & Jojo. I then discovered that started out as an R&B record and that K-Ci & Jojo were part of Jodeci which then brought me back to this record and I realised that I liked it.

Worst Song: ADAM ft Amy - Zombie

It had been less than a year since The Cranberries were in the chart with "Zombie" and already it was getting the cheesy eurodance makeover. A truly terrible record.

Top 40 Review

1995 is a year I've always looked back upon with fond memories. It was the year I finished my transition from grunger to raver and found myself liking music both sides of the fence in-between whilst also opening myself up to other music too. I'm also conscious there were some big acts of the time I couldn't stand such as Oasis, Take That and Robson & Jerome. After the disaster that was 1994, I'm only too aware 1995 could go the same way.

Fortunately of those acts I listed, only Robson & Jerome had a record in this particular Top 40, the number one record. The man behind Robson & Jerome was Simon Cowell and there was another novelty act in the Top 40 he was behind, Zig & Zag. There was also Ultimate Kaos, a boyband who were formed by Simon Cowell.

Away from the manufactured pop rubbish there was a pretty good spread of music. There is no single genre that really dominates. It's often remembered by critics as the year of brit pop thanks to the Blur vs Oasis battle, but I count only 3 records that fall under that category. There's "Yes" by McAlmont And Butler which is good, "Common People" by Pulp which is OK and "Daydreamer" by Menswear, a band that even brit pop fans didn't like.

The closest rival to Jodeci for best song was Jamiroquai with "Stillness In Time", the sort of music that can appeal to both rock and dance music fans. The most ravey record in there is "I Need Your Loving (Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime)" by Baby D.

There are a number of records that are a bit cheesy but good. There's "Boom Boom Boom" by The Outhere Brothers and "Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)", both 90s anthems I don't actually mind being played to death in a 90s bar. We also have a long forgotten Whigfield record "Think Of You" which I can't help but like. Then there's East 17 with "Hold My Body Tight", one of many records I like to sing at karaoke.

I could go through all the other records I like, but then this post could go on forever if I do that so I won't. Let's just say more than half the records get full marks.

Back when I reviewed 1969 I said it would be difficult for any year to beat that score. I also thought if any year could beat it, 1995 would be one of the most likely candidates. It falls one good record short though. 

Score: 25

Table

1995 sits comfortably in 2nd place:

UK Number 40s: Marilyn - You Don't Love Me (1984)

 

Marilyn is probably best remembered as being mates with Boy George and having a pop career on the back of that. He debuted in 1983 with "Calling Your Name" which became his biggest hit reaching number 4.

His Top 40 career only lasted 6 months and 3 singles though, with this being the final one. He would appear on "Do They Know It's Christmas" by Band Aid at the end of the year, but his own singles failed to reach the Top 40. 

He released the album "Despite Straight Lines" which contained all his singles in 1985, but this failed to chart in the UK but had minor chart success in Australia.

Top 30 in 1991 Reviewed: Week 37

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. Bomb The Bass - Winter In July

This was my record of the year for 1991. It's such a great record all I can say is give it a listen if you haven't already.

Verdict - Good

29. Midge Ure - Cold Cold Heart

The final original Top 40 hit to date from Midge Ure including the various groups he had chart success with. It had also been nearly 5 years since he was last in the Top 40 which was with Ultravox. He has moved with the times with this record, but the result is a pretty average record.

Verdict - OK

28. Bizarre Inc - Such A Feeling (New)

The Top 40 debut for Bizarre Inc and not to be confused with the Brother In Rhythm record with a similar name that entered the Top 40 the same week. This is the Bizarre Inc hit I've most likely heard the least for the simple fact its not on any of their albums, the rest are either on "Energique" or "Surprise", both of which I own. It's a shame it's not on "Energique" really.

Verdict - Good

27. Runrig - Hearthammer (EP)

Runrig formed in 1973 but this was their first Top 40 hit. It's probably fair to say their chart record doesn't reflect their popularity, but then they're probably a bit niche for the charts. Not really my thing, but it's not bad.

Verdict - OK

26. Rozalla - Everybody's Free (To Feel Good) (New)

This is one of several records I associate with starting a new year at school. It was the Top 40 debut for Rozalla and by far the best known. It's been played to death over the years but I've never stopped liking it.

Verdict - Good

25. Bryan Adams - Can't Stop This Thing We Started (New)

Bryan Adams was still at number one when this, his follow up entered the Top 40. He was also still at number one when this left the Top 40. The title suggests it could almost be about not being able to stop the reign of "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" at the top of the charts. It's alright but nothing special.

Verdict - OK

24. The Shamen - Move Any Mountain

I've always know this record to be by The Shamen but don't remember hearing of them until "Ebeneezer Goode" which was just over a year later. Maybe my memory is playing tricks on me. It was after the shooting of this video that member Will Sinnott died. 

Verdict - Good

23. Cliff Richard - More To Life (New)

No idea this song existed and will probably forget it's existence tomorrow.

Verdict - Rubbish

22. Sonia - Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy

Sonia make have parted ways with Stock Aitken & Waterman, but with crappy covers like this you do question what was the point in parting ways? It wouldn't be the last crappy cover she'd do either.

Verdict - Rubbish

21. Roxette - The Big L

We're now entering the era of Roxette singles that few people remember. This was their first Top 40 hit to chart outside the Top 20, something the majority of their singles would do from here onwards. This means the only times I've heard it in the last 30 years is by playing it myself.

Verdict - Good

20. The Stone Roses - I Wanna Be Adored (New)

It had been over 2 years since their self titled debut album had been released when this, the opening track hit the Top 40. I've said before that I've never understood the fuss about The Stone Roses, they weren't bad but hardly groundbreaking in my book.

Verdict - OK

19. Jason Donovan - Happy Together

The final Top 40 hit for Jason Donovan from the Stock, Aitken & Waterman era, though by this point it was just Stock & Waterman. A cover of the Turtles record and predictably crap.

Verdict - Rubbish

18. Crystal Waters - Makin' Happy

The follow up to "Gypsy Woman" and I was trying to figure out if this is basically a "Gypsy Woman" mark 2. That's more to do with the number of dance follow ups that sound the same as their predecessor though. I think this is it's own record but you can tell it's by the same artist who did "Gypsy Woman".

Verdict - Good

17. Sabrina Johnston - Peace (New)

This record reminds me of when me and a friend quite ambitiously decided to compile a Top 200 following the realisation that the charts went up to a Top 100. We didn't know who this was by at the time so simple listed it as "Peace". It's not one you really hear anymore but this was definitely as big as the Rozalla record at the time. The Top 200 never did get compiled in the end due to many disagreements between me and my friend regarding what songs should be in it.

Verdict - Good

16. Kylie Minogue - Word Is Out

The lead single from Kylie Minogue's 4th album and her first single not to reach the Top 10. It's crap.

Verdict - Rubbish

15. Extreme - More Than Words

The song everyone knows Extreme for, so much so that people don't realise they're a rock band. This didn't go down well with the purists, ballads were very much frowned upon but an acoustic ballad was viewed as criminal. I'm not a purist though, I do think Extreme have better songs but I've always quite liked this one even if I haven't always admitted it.

Verdict - Good

14. Marky Mark And The Funky Bunch ft Loleatta Holloway - Good Vibrations

Marky Mark is Mark Wahlberg before he became an actor. This was his only Top 40 hit, but prior to this he was in New Kids On The Block before they made it big along with his brother Donnie. I guess this record is proof Will Smith wasn't the only movie actor who started out as a dreadful rapper.

Verdict - Rubbish

13. Marc Bolan & T.Rex - 20th Century Boy

Another old record getting a new lease of life thanks to it's inclusion on a Levi's advert. Generally speaking I'm not a fan of 70's glam rock, but T Rex for some reason seem a bit better than the other glam rock bands. 

Verdict - OK

12. Color Me Badd - All 4 Love

We're definitely in the summer holidays now, this so reminds me of that summer. It topped the charts in America and did quite well here, but in this country at least it will always be their other hit. I loved this record though at the time and was one I started listening to again in the early days of YouTube, except I'd listen to it on Google Videos because it wasn't on YouTube.

Verdict - Good

11. Utah Saints - What Can You Do For Me

The Top 40 debut for Utah Saints, the so called "Stadium House" act. It samples "There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)" by Eurythmics and "Ain't Nothin' Goin' on But the Rent" by Gwen Guthrie. A common criticism of samples in dance music is they sometimes sound nothing more than the original song with a dance beat on it. This though is a prime example of how sampling should be done in dance music. 

Verdict - Good

10. PM Dawn - Set Adrift On Memory Bliss

A sign the summer holidays will soon be coming to an end, this reminds me of the journey to school but the weather still being warm. I should hate it given that association, but I actually quite like it. Samples "True" by Spandau Ballet and a great use of the sample in my opinion.

Verdict - Good

9. Martika - Love... Thy Will Be Done

The lead single from the "Martika's Kitchen" album which was co-written and produced by Prince. This apparently introduced a more mature sounding Martika but I think that does her previous hits a disservice. 

Verdict - Good

8. Arnee And The Terminaters - I'll Be Back

The comment from writer Richard Easter who was on Steve Wright in the Afternoon on Radio 1 sum this record up nicely. He says of course it was a shit song but hit wrote it for the radio 1 roadshow and was then offered money from a record label to release it, so he did. I'd have done the same myself.

Verdict - Rubbish

7. Salt-N-Pepa - Let's Talk About Sex

This record really irritated me at the time. My view hasn't really changed, it's a truly awful record. It was one that Bryan Adams kept off number one.

Verdict - Rubbish

6. Prince And The New Power Generation - Gett Off

This was the lead single from the "Diamonds & Pearls" album. Prince wrote some great tunes and some that are questionable. This one fits the latter, but as I listen to it for the first time in years it's starting to grow on me. Only taken 30 years.

Verdict - OK

5. Oceanic - Insanity

There was a happy hardcore version of this in the mid-90s by DNA, Breeze & Munchie which I listened to quite a bit. When I heard this for the first time in years it seemed so slow given I'd got used to the happy hardcore version. That was a long time ago though, nowadays I can take the relative slowness.

Verdict - Good

4. Zoe - Sunshine On A Rainy Day

At the time I thought of this as being a poor mans "Hippy Chick" but there isn't much resemblance really. Years later there was a happy hardcore version by Slipmatt & Eruption which all the DJs seemed to play but I couldn't stand it. You may have gather I don't think much of this.

Verdict - Rubbish

3. The Prodigy - Charly

The Top 40 debut for The Prodigy. This has been ridiculed over the years along with other "Toytown Techno" records because of the samples. I will concede that whenever I listen to this tune I listen to the album version where the sample doesn't go beyond "Charly says". But I'm sure if the album version didn't exist I'd listen to this, it really isn't as bad as it's made out to be.

Verdict - Good

2. Right Said Fred - I'm Too Sexy

I remember being at some kids club on holiday at the time and we had to dance along to this multiple times. I thought why, this song is fuckin shit. My opinion still hasn't changed.

Verdict - Rubbish

1. Bryan Adams - (Everything I Do) I Do It For You

Summer holidays are on the way, this so reminds me of the summer holidays of 1991 where it was number one the whole time and beyond. Quite remarkable for a 31 year old 80s singer who'd failed to even make the Top 40 with most of his prior singles. I got pretty sick of this at the time like most people, but I actually quite like it.

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 18/30, or 60%. This score seems quite common for 1991.