25 Years Since....December 1996

Time for our final trip back to 1996:

East 17 ft Gabrielle - If You Ever

Without looking back through all these posts it's quite possible that East 17 have featured more than anyone else. 

This was released ahead of their greatest hits album which was sub-titled "the journey so far". Little did we know that journey was nearing the end. 

Chicane - Offshore

This was the Top 40 debut for Chicane, though he had been in the Top 40 the previous year as Disco Citizens. I must admit I don't remember this one being at the end of the year as it's very much a summer tune. Then again I may have heard it long before it charted.

It's one of those tunes you can chill out to or dance to. I'm certain this won't be the last time Chicane will feature in these posts either.

The Prodigy - Breathe

When The Prodigy did "Firestarter" earlier on in the year after much excitement of a new Prodigy tune it was a big disappointment. However, despite follow up "Breathe" taking a similar direction I actually like this one and bought the single.

Whilst "Firestarter" only had Keith's vocals on it, "Breathe" also featured vocals from original Prodigy MC Maxim. I don't think it's because of the vocals I like it though, the beats are so much better.

I remember this being the first tune of the night when I went to see them at Wembley Arena a few years ago and getting straight into it. That was one amazing show.

Mark Morrison - Horny

This was one of those records that I didn't really want to like but I couldn't help but like it. Mark Morrison may only be remembered for one song now, but this was pretty big at the time.

Another thing I remember around this time was Mark Morrison being the Wanker of the Week on The Girlie Show, the only feature worth watching on that show truth be told.

Faithless - Salva Mea

The intro to this record features vocals by a then unknown Dido who is the sister of Faithless member Rollo. It was the debut Top 40 hit for Faithless the previous year, but I never heard it until this re-issue.

After the release of "Insomnia" a couple of months prior I was ready for the Maxi Jazz rapping this time. Again the way it breaks down for the Maxi Jazz vocals is fantastic and then the complete change in sound when the beat kicks in following the vocals just makes the tune. I bought this single as well.

Top of the Pops New Year 2021

Top of the Pops is back once again for New Year. You can watch it on the iPlayer if you missed it, here's what happened: 

Becky Hill - Remember

David Guetta was back in the Top 40 this year and this was one of those hits, but it's just singer Becky Hill on her own today. It's therefore EDM crap minus the DJ.

Rag n Bone Man - All You Ever Wanted

We've started with the EDM record so inevitably we have a dreary ballad to follow up. I do actually know this record and it's normally more uplifting, but we're getting the acoustic version.

Mabel - Let Them Know

Now we have the EDM crap minus the DJ once again. Given that we always seem to have Mabel on these Christmas and new year Top of the Pops these days she's probably appeared on the show more times than her mother Neneh Cherry now. This is a truly dreadful record.

Time for a look back at the year:

Wham! finally got to number one

Olivia Rodirgo came from nowhere to top the charts

A postman did the Wellerman and everyone jumped on the bandwagon

Rupauls Drag Race and It's a Sin were on the TV

Griff became the rising star

Barry Gibb and Tom Jones topped the albums chart

Queens greatest hits sells even more

Years & Years - Starstruck

When I first heard Years & Years on TFI Friday I thought the tune they played wasn't bad. The ones I've heard since though have been terrible. I've heard worse, but this ones not to my liking either.

Sam Fender - Seventeen Going Under

It's a rare sight seeing electric guitars on Top of the Pops these days. If you're an indie music fan then this is pretty much all you've got in the Top 40 this year. 

Lola Young - Fake

More electric guitars, this time it's Lola Young who's never had a Top 40 hit. All the performances so far had been Top 40 record. This is fuckin miserable.

Another look back at the year:

Festivals got cancelled, but then a gig happened

Eurovision happened, Italy won 

We had a rap number one

A rapper joined Duran Duran on stage

Females won awards

Radio 1 big weekend happened

The World Cup happened

Dave and Billie Eilish had albums

Festivals happened and clubs opened

Billie Eilish - I Didn't Change My Number

Billie Eilish had Top 40 hits this year but not with this record. It's from Radio 1's Live Lounge, something I've always hated and I see it's still as shit as ever.

Mahalia ft AJ Tracey - Roadside

Another non-Top 40 hit. Mahalia has never had one and AJ Tracey has had several this year. Why not have AJ Tracey do one of his Top 40 hits instead.

Dermot Kennedy - Better Days 

Time for a dreary ballad. At least it made the Top 40 though.

Arlo Parks - Too Good

Never heard of Arlo Parks and she's never had a Top 40 hit. The music itself isn't bad but the singing is annoying me.

Another look back at the year:

Drake had a new album

Arlo Parks won the mercury music prize

Coldplay, Adele and Ed Sheeran had new albums

Elton John had his first number one in years

Abba made a comeback

25 years since the Spice Girls 

Ardee - Flowers (Say My Name)

I'm not going to pretend I like this record because I don't. To me though this is the sort of thing the youth of today should be listening to rather than bland rubbish like Ed Sheeran.

Ed Sheeran - Shivers

Just as I mention Ed Sheeran, here he is. I stand by what I said, this is bland rubbish.

Dreamscape 15 vs 16 @ The Sanctuary, Milton Keynes 31/12/1994

 DJ Pilgrim

With my Bonkers series of posts now finished and my best year of the charts posts nearing the end it's time for a new series of posts on Thursdays for 2022. 

1995 was my first full year as a raver but unfortunately I wasn't old enough to actually go raving. Instead of moaning about being born too late though, I thought it would be interesting to see where I would have gone raving in 1995 had I done it every weekend. As this is something that never happened I'm not going to think of practical considerations such as location (though I'll stick to the UK), price or other commitments I may have had.

At the same time I'll be listening to tapes from said events if I can find any to talk about the music being played.

We begin by looking at Dreamscape 15 vs 16. Had I been old enough there is little doubt this is where I would have been to see in 1995. It was just over 3 years since Dreamscape 1 had been held at The Sanctuary in Milton Keynes, but at this event they were using the adjacent Rollers building for the first time.

There were 2 tape packs for this event and each pack had half the picture on the cover. I became quite familiar with the 2nd pack without owning it via listening to other peoples tapes on their walkman. The tape which stood out to me in particular was the Pilgrim tape.

In those days acquiring the tapes was easier said than done. No internet to buy them from and you couldn't get them from the local Our Price either. Some time later the opportunity came to buy both packs from someone who was no longer into rave. There was another person interested in those packs, but I was determined to own the 2nd pack for the Pilgrim tape alone so I offered more money for the 2nd pack whilst the other person bought the first pack.

The rave scene had already split into happy hardcore and jungle by this point and there were tapes which were firmly either in the happy hardcore or jungle camp. The Pilgrim tape though was in both camps and Pilgrim himself would become more of an old skool DJ as opposed to a happy hardcore or jungle one in years to come.

The best tune on the Pilgrim tape is the first one "Easin On" by A Sense Of Summer. This was the other side of the much more popular "On Top" and I've not heard it on any other set. I played the Pilgrim tape so much over the years that it eventually broke. Fortunately the internet was a thing by then so I've still been able to listen to it since.

One of the jungle tunes on the Pilgrim set is "Champion Sound" by Q Project which was one of my favourite jungle records at the time. Clearly I was not alone as I've counted that it appears 9 times across the 2 packs.

We're in an era where the distinction between happy hardcore and jungle isn't as clear cut as it would become. The happy hardcore music was still breakbeat for a start.

An example of this is a tune that appears on the Ramos mix is "Sweet Memories" by Rhythm For Reasons. Ramos was a happy hardcore DJ and most of the tunes on his set are clearly happy hardcore. Rhythm For Reasons though is an alias of DJ SS, a jungle DJ and released on Formation Records, a jungle label and has been played in jungle sets. It doesn't firmly sit in either camp though.

On the first pack we have sets from Clarkee and Scorpio both of whom are known for playing hard techno. There is less of a distinction though at this point in time, the notable difference between their sets and the others is there's more Dutch music on them.

An incident that did happen that night was that someone let off CS gas, something which really pissed off MC Joker. All I can really find about MC Joker on the internet is a reference to him calling the person who let off the CS gas and their mother an arsehole.

There will be more Dreamscape events that will feature this year, they were pretty much the biggest rave at the time. There will no doubt be other events at The Sanctuary that will feature too and this is a venue I did actually end up going to once I did start raving.

UK Charts Best Year Search: 2010

What's this all about?

Top 40

Best Song: Eminem - Not Afraid

Picking the best song for 2010 was more a case of which Eminem record do I choose. He was in that unique position of still making music that I liked and still getting into the Top 40. This one beats his other hit "Love The Way You Lie" because whilst it is a good record, it doesn't get ruined somewhat with Rihanna singing on it. 

Worst Song: Lady Gaga ft Beyonce - Telephone

Destiny's Child were probably the worst group around the turn of the century and Beyonce as a solo artists was even worse. Lady Gaga was probably the biggest culprit in doing shitty electropop music in this era. Combine the 2 together and you get something that is inevitably shit.

Top 40 Review

I'd been writing off chart music for some time by 2010. To ensure I wasn't missing any hidden gems I started the year by listening to all the new entries to see if there's anything I like. I quickly started losing the will to live by hearing the terrible music that was charting and gave up by around February.

I also recall when I was picking the record of the year I found there to be very few records I actually liked. It does however seem most of those records are in this chart.

We have "Nothin On You" by BoB ft Bruno Mars which was the debut for both artists. They've both been responsible for some pretty terrible records since, but I like this one.

Most R&B singers had moved onto electropop by this point, but Alicia Keys stuck with R&B and did "Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart". I'm surprised this was charting in 2010, I thought it was earlier than that.

From the EDM world I do quite like "Stereo Love" by Edward Maya ft Vika Jigulina. The rest of the EDM records from David Guetta and co are crap though.

Electropop is the biggest genre in this Top 40 which is mostly crap but there are a couple of records which I think are OK. They're "Fire With Fire" by Scissor Sisters and "Dancing On My Own" by Robyn.

The only other record not to get a zero is "Passout" by Tinie Tempah which gets half marks. 

We end up with a score that's higher than expected, but still pretty poor.

Score: 6.5

Table

You need to go back to 2005 to find a better year than 2010:

UK Number 40s: River City People - (What's Wrong With) Dreaming (1990)

 

If you read the comments on the video you'll find a lot of people say it's a shame they never really made it. River City People were a folk rock band from Liverpool and this was their debut single. It was first released in 1989 but failed to make the Top 40, reaching 70.

The following year they did make the Top 40 with a cover of "California Dreamin" which was a double a-side with "Carry the Blame". It made number 13 which is the highest they've charted to date.

On the back of this they re-issued "(What's Wrong With) Dreaming" which made the Top 40 this time round, just. 

The next 2 singles failed to reach the Top 40 in 1991 and by the end of the year they'd called it a day. However the story doesn't quite end there. They had one final Top 40 hit in 1992 with "Standing In The Need Of Love" which made number 36.

Top 30 in 1991 Reviewed: Week 52

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. Simon And Garfunkel - Hazy Shade Of Winter / Silent Night (New)

Both records were 25 years old by this point but neither had been Top 40 hits before. It was released to promote a greatest hits album. I don't mind either record but nothing to get excited about.

Verdict - OK/OK

29. Cathy Dennis - Everybody Move

Cathy Dennis has teamed up with Terry Britten and Mick Leeson to write this record. Prior to this Terry Britten had written hits for Tina Turner and BA Robertson and Mick Leeson had written hits for Sheena Easton and Mica Paris. The result of this effort is a record that sounds like a Cathy Dennis record. That's no bad thing.

Verdict - Good

28. U2 - Mysterious Ways

In the 90s so far we've seen rock mix with dance music from the Madchester bands and rock mix with funk from bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Faith No More. This song seems to be mixing all of that together. whilst still very much sounding like a U2 record.

Verdict - Good

27. Pet Shop Boys - Was It Worth It?

Pet Shop Boys doing house music divides opinions amongst fans. Some believe they should stick to synth pop but I believe Pet Shop Boys longevity has been in part down to the fact they didn't stay stuck in the 80s. This was their first Top 40 hit not to make the Top 20 and didn't appear on "PopArt: The Hits" so it clearly wasn't that well received but I actually like it.

Verdict - Good

26. Altern 8 - Activ 8 (Come With Me)

One of the biggest rave tunes ever and deservedly so. Altern 8 were arguably bigger than The Prodigy at the time.

Verdict - Good

25. Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit

Grunge has arrived, its the debut Top 40 hit for Nirvana. On a personal level, Nirvana were really the first band I listened to because it was cool rather than because I particularly liked it. As a result I absolutely resented Nirvana once I'd moved onto other things. But I never really disliked it at the same time. 

Verdict - OK

24. New Kids On The Block - If You Go Away

New Kids On The Block had a much more low key 1991 than they had the previous year. Having tried to shed their boy band image at the beginning of the year with "Games" this very much sounds like a boy band record. Although this wasn't their final Top 40 hit, it's the last one from their glory days. Take That had made their debut 3 weeks earlier with a minor hit which probably made New Kids On The Block surplus to requirements in this country at least.

Verdict - Rubbish

23. Lisa Stansfield - All Woman (New)

I'm surprised that this is amongst the lowest charting Lisa Stansfield Top 40 hits as I'd have this down as one of her better known records. Not my cup of tea though, I find it a bit boring.

Verdict - Rubbish

22. Vic Reeves And The Wonder Stuff - Dizzy

It amazes me how many people I've met who don't remember The Wonder Stuff, particularly given they had a number one with this. They did alienate some of their fans by collaborating with Vic Reeves, but I do wonder if they'd think the same had Vic Reeves not been a famous comedian. To me there is absolutely nothing wrong with this song, I've always liked it.

Verdict - Good

21. Digital Orgasm - Running Out Of Time

1991 was a great year for rave music. It's been that great that it's taken until December until we have a rave record I don't actually like. It makes quite a promising start, those beats would have sounded quite something in 1991. But then when it breaks down into the vocals it just sounds too namby pamby for my liking and completely ruins the tune. 

Verdict - Rubbish

20. Salt-N-Pepa - You Showed Me

It seems like there's been a lot of Salt-N-Pepa hits since I started doing these posts. This is the fourth one of the 90s which isn't that many really. It's back to that original formula of covering an old record in the chorus and rapping the verses. It's just as crap.

Verdict - Rubbish

19. Kate Bush - Rocket Man

Kate Bush had written all her solo Top 40 hits on her own prior to this, a cover of the Elton John record. I find the Elton John record a bit dull if I'm honest, but this cover livens it up somewhat and is done reggae style which is a bit unexpected. It's no doubt an improvement over the original but still suffers from the fact the original wasn't very good.

Verdict - OK

18. Human Resource - The Complete Dominator

Human Resource debuted in September with "Dominator" which made number 36. They followed up with this which is a remix of the same record. Human Resource are from Holland where rave music tends to be harder and faster and you can tell with this record bearing in mind it was 1991.

Verdict - Good

17. Martika - Martika's Kitchen

This is the final Top 40 hit to date for Martika. It was composed by Prince and you can tell. With the track title being what it is, it was obviously written for Martika but I could imagine Prince doing this record himself. I do prefer "Toy Soldiers" but this is a pretty solid finish to a Top 40 career.

Verdict - Good

16. East Side Beat - Ride Like The Wind

Billy Bunter & D-Zyne had a happy hardcore record in the 90s called "Ride Like The Wind" which was excellent in my opinion. I thought it was a rip off of this, but this is a rip off of a Christopher Cross record of the same name. It's a bit cheesy and commercial sounding but I like it.

Verdict - Good

15. Jason Donovan - The Joseph Mega-Remix

Jason Donavan had now left Stock Aitken & Waterman but hearing this you'd question why he bothered. It's basically a bunch of songs from the Joseph musical with a dance beat behind it that really doesn't sound out of place amongst Stock Aitken & Waterman hits. 

Verdict - Rubbish

14. UK Mixmasters - The Bare Necessities Megamix

This was on the local radio station at breakfast time on what seemed a daily basis at the time. In fact it was played so much that it's now reminded me of what I used to eat for breakfast at the time. It's also just reminded me of something we did at school at the end of term before breaking up for Christmas. Maybe its symbolic that it's reminding me of pretty tedious things, it's a truly awful record. 

Verdict - Rubbish

13. Simply Red - Stars

The 2nd and highest charting single from the album of the same name. Although the number 8 position this peaked at isn't exactly setting the charts on fire, the album was the biggest selling album of both 1991 and 1992 so people were clearly buying that instead. It doesn't really fit in with other popular music at the time, but then variety is the spice of life and music like this was most welcome.

Verdict - Good

12. Cliff Richard - We Should Be Together

After singing on the previous 3 Christmas number ones, here's Cliff Richard with another hit in the run up to Christmas. Fortunately it didn't pose much threat to the top spot and is now long forgotten. I don't remember it myself and will have probably forgotten it by the time you read this.

Verdict - Rubbish

11. Michael Jackson - Black Or White

I honestly can't remember what I made of this record at the time. It was one that divided opinion but I think I was sat on the fence. Now I've had 30 years to reflect and even though this is the first time I've ever listened to it of my own accord I do quite like it.

Verdict - Good

10. Shaft - Roobarb And Custard

The third so called "Toytown Techno" record to make the Top 40. I'll concede the kids TV samples are a bit cringeworthy but if you take them out you've got a decent record that doesn't sound particularly cheesy. In fact the samples are only a small part of the overall tune, they just stand out when you hear them.

Verdict - Good

9. Hammer - Addams Groove

The first hit for MC Hammer after he became simply Hammer. I liked this at the time and remember irritating the teacher by rapping it in the classroom. I don't think I've heard it since then. Hearing it now I can't say I feel the same, it is a bit rubbish.

Verdict - Rubbish

8. Brian May - Driven By You

After hearing this numerous times on the Ford adverts this single release revealed to me that the man behind that music was the guitarist of Queen. This was released the day after Freddie Mercury died. Not only did I become a Queen fan following this, but I also acquired Brian May's "Back to the Light" album.

Verdict - Good

7. Kym Sims - Too Blind To See It

Steve 'Silk' Hurley gave us the first house number one in 1987 and as an artist he never had another Top 40 hit. As a composer though he was back in the Top 40 in 1991 with this record. It was the debut Top 40 hit for Kym Sims and her best known. I would also say it was her best hit.

Verdict - Good

6. Guns N' Roses - Live And Let Die

This record brings back memories of running up and down playing the air guitar in the playground at school. I wasn't alone in doing this either. I would say of all the "Use Your Illusion" singles this was probably the one that had the biggest impact on me at the time.

Verdict - Good

5. Right Said Fred - Don't Talk Just Kiss

I don't think I've heard this one for 30 years, it's very much overshadowed by "I'm Too Sexy" and "Deeply Dippy". I was ready to dismiss this as cheesy crap but on listening to it again I've changed my mind. Don't get me wrong, it is Right Said Fred and is therefore still cheesy but it feels more of a song than their other records. The vocals of Jocelyn Brown in this probably help. 

Verdict - OK

4. KLF ft Tammy Wynette - Justified And Ancient

I remember watching this on Top of the Pops at the time. I absolutely loved it. Little did we know at the time that this would be their final completely original Top 40 hit. I mishear lyrics all the time and was convinced I misheard the lyrics "They're justified and they're ancient and they drive an ice cream van" but I didn't.

Verdict - Good

3. George Michael And Elton John - Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me 

I used to regularly go to karaoke night at a crappy town centre pub and there was an unwritten rule not to sing this song because it's one the landlord sang every week. I wasn't aware at the time that this was originally a hit for Elton John on his own in the 70s. When Elton John started singing his part on this though I thought he was much more suited to the song than George Michael. At the same time I find this cover better than the original.

Verdict - Good

2. Diana Ross - When You Tell Me That You Love Me

I'm a big fan of Motown and like many Diana Ross records both as a solo artist and with The Supremes. Unfortunately this isn't one of them. It's quite an achievement for someone who's been around since the 60s to have a number two hit in 1991 and had Freddie Mercury not died this would have likely been Christmas number one. It's just too much of a ballad for my liking.

Verdict - Rubbish

1. Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody / These Are The Days Of Our Lives

Following the death of Freddie Mercury "Bohemian Rhapsody" returned to top the charts and became the first record to be Christmas number one twice. I've mentioned before on this blog that I don't consider it the masterpiece it's made out to be and I've heard it far too many times in my life, but it's not a bad record. The other side of this double a-side "These Are The Days Of Our Lives" was a new song and would have probably topped the charts without being aided by "Bohemian Rhapsody" given the circumstances. It's definitely the better of the two in my opinion.

Verdict - OK / Good

If we give the records which were good 1 point each and those which were OK half a point, the final score is 19/30, or 63%. A solid end to what's been a pretty decent year.

Top of the Pops Christmas 2021

Top of the Pops is back once again for Christmas. You can watch it on the iPlayer if you missed it, here's what happened: 

Anne-Marie - Kiss My (Uh Oh)

This samples the Lumidee record "Never Leave You" with a load of modern crap thrown in. It's a dreadful record and a dreadful singer. Presenters said in the intro is there no end to this woman's talents, clearly singing isn't one of them.

Joel Corry ft Mabel - I Wish

It didn't take long for the first crap DJ ft crap singer EDM record to come on. These are both artists I feel you can absolutely guarantee will be on Top of the Pops at Christmas. 

Coldplay - Higher Power

This is a performance at Radio 1s big weekend. I would have thought Coldplay would be a bit old for Radio 1 by now. Quite an uplifting record for Coldplay, maybe this is the sound the kids dig these days. Not me though.

Time for the Top 10 records of the year from 10-6, 2 of which are from 2020:

10. Russ Millions & Tion Wayne - Body
9. Weeknd - Blinding Lights
8. Glass Animals - Heat Waves
7. Kid Laroi ft Justin Bieber - Stay
6. Dua Lipa - Levitating


Sigrid - Home To You (This Christmas)

This one never made the Top 40. I get the feeling she was on last year with a non-Top 40 hit too, maybe even the year before. Boring is the best word to describe this.

Lil Nas X - Montero (Call Me By Your Name)

This ones from Radio 1 live lounge. In a year where rap music has been the dominant genre in the Top 40 it's good to see a rap record on even if it isn't my cup of tea. It was a number one as well.

Tom Grennan - A Little Bit Of Love

I thought this show had been missing an Ed Sheeran clone so far but here he is.  

Griff - One Night

Griff hit the Top 40 for the first time this year but instead of singing that record she sings one that didn't make the Top 40. That really makes no sense to me. 

Glass Animals - I Don't Wanna Talk (I Just Wanna Dance)

This ones from Abbey Rd studios. They had the 8th biggest single of the year, but here they are doing a record that didn't make the Top 40.

Mimi Webb - Good Without

At least this one made the Top 40. Just as boring as the Sigrid record though.

Time for the Top 10 records of the year from 5-1:

5. Lil Nas X - Montero (Call Me By Your Name)
4. Weeknd - Save Your Tears
3. Olivia Rodrigo - Driving Licence
2. Olivia Rodrigo - Good 4 U
1. Ed Sheeran - Bad Habits

KSI - Holiday

KSI normally raps, but not on this record. They really don't like rap at Top of the Pops. This one is very namby pamby.

Ed Sheeran - Leave Your Life

OK this is getting ridiculous now. Ed Sheeran has had several Top 40 hits this year including number ones but here he is doing a non-Top 40 hit. There was a time when even going down the charts meant you couldn't get on Top of the Pops. It's predictably boring.

Clean Bandit ft Wes Nelson - Drive

It isn't a Christmas Top of the Pops these days without Clean Bandit on. This time they have a Love Island contestant singing for them. To be fair this is only the 2nd EDM record on the show and it's nowhere near as bad as that Joel Corry ft Mabel nonsense. 

Time for the biggest selling Christmas number ones:

5. Human League - Don't You Want Me

4. Boney M - Mary's Boy Child

3. Ed Sheeran - Perfect

2. Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody

1. Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas?

Ladbaby ft Ed Sheeran & Elton John - Sausage Rolls For Everyone

Ladbaby is the new X Factor it seems with his 4th Christmas number one in a row. It sounded like he would face stiff competition this year from Ed Sheeran but he had the perfect solution, have Ed Sheeran on the song. 

UK Charts Best Year Search: 2009

What's this all about?

Top 40

Best Song: Prodigy - Warriors Dance

I was of the opinion that the Prodigy had little worth listening to after 1994. I'm not a fan of their change of direction with "Fat Of The Land" and "Always Outnumbered Never Outgunned" was nothing special. They were the only albums they had in those 15 years, but then came "Invaders Must Die" which gave them a new lease of life. This was amongst the better tracks on the album and is also their penultimate Top 40 hit to date.

Worst Song: Beyonce - Halo

In my student days I had many arguments about music with friends. One thing we could all agree on though was that Destiny's Child were dreadful. Then Beyonce went solo and made even worse music. Yet her popularity went through the roof with some thinking she's some sort of royalty and I just don't get it. This particular record reminds me of a barbecue where we had to suffer Capital Radio all day. Then one of the youngsters started playing their music starting with this. Other youngsters were singing along but I was thinking this is the biggest pile of crap ever.

Top 40 Review

In looking at the first week of July my intention was to get a Top 40 that was representative of the year in question. A combination of all downloads counting and the death of Michael Jackson meant there were 6 old Michael Jackson records in this Top 40. Unfortunately I'm not a big fan of Michael Jackson and I've heard all of these records far too many times which results in just a half mark for "Smooth Criminal".

I was making the effort to seek out new music in 2009 conscious of the fact my 20s were fast running out. I did find some, but none of it got anywhere near the Top 40.

The Prodigy weren't the only dance heavyweights who were just about still having Top 40 hits. Basement Jaxx had their last Top 40 hit to date with "Raindrops" which is solidly the 2nd best record in this Top 40.

Things were changing in the world of chart dance music though. The Prodigy and Basement Jaxx were on their way out but on their way in to chart domination were David Guetta and Calvin Harris. I've let my feelings be known on EDM many times on here so needless to say I don't like either of their records.

Electropop had now replaced indie as the dominant chart genre. It's a collective zero for all the electropop records and a collective half mark for the indie ones courtesy of "Fire" by Kasabian.

An album I did buy on the day of release in 2009 was "Relapse" by Eminem and he had a single off that album in the Top 40 with "We Made You". That's that albums equivalent of "Just Lose It" and "Without Me" i.e. a cheesy look at me I'm back sort of record that isn't my cup of tea. The only other rap record in this Top 40 was "Kiss Me Thru The Phone" by Soulja Boy Tellem ft Sammie which is shit.

In fact I can say the rest of the chart that I'm yet to mention is shit. 2 good and 2 ok records doesn't add up to a very good score.

Score: 3

Table

It's taken 47 years, but 1962 is finally off the bottom:

The Christmas Charts - 2011

A common complaint I often hear in the run up to Christmas is that it seems to begin earlier every year. This became evident on October 17th 2011 when "Mistletoe" by Justin Bieber was released. It was still in the Top 40 by Christmas time but got no higher than number 21.

Stacey Solomon who had previously been an X Factor contestant with no Top 40 hits did a cover of "Driving Home For Christmas" for the Iceland adverts. It was then released as a single due to popular demand. Quite where the demand was coming from I don't know as it only reached 27, but it gave Stacey Solomon her only Top 40 hit to date.

Another Christmas cover came from the Cast Of The Only Way Is Essex with "Last Christmas" which made number 33. 

The most successful Christmas record of the year from a chart perspective was "Dominick The Donkey" by Lou Monte. Originally recorded in 1960, this charted for the first time in 2011 thanks to a campaign by Chris Moyles to make it Christmas number one. It didn't quite make it though, it peaked at number 3.

The Christmas number one campaigns were to prevent the X Factor winner getting Christmas number one. However X Factor winners Little Mix topped the charts the week prior to Christmas and were knocked off by "Wherever You Are" by Military Wives ft Gareth Malone.

There were also of course several old Christmas records that re-entered the Top 40. These were:

Pogues ft Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale of New York

Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You

Wham - Last Christmas

Slade - Merry Xmas Everybody

Wizzard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday

Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas

Chris Rea - Driving Home For Christmas

UK Number 40s: Plus One featuring Sirron - It's Happenin' (1990)

 

This is a record where reaching 40 in the charts would be considered a success. It was a big tune in the rave scene that crossed over into the charts.

Plus One were brothers Dexter and Samuel Roberts and Sirron was Norris Miller and they come from Huddersfield. It was the only Top 40 hit for them.

A look at Discogs tells me that Plus One made two other records, "The Song Will Always Be The Same" in 1991 and "The Awakening" in 1992. It was the only record listed under Sirron.

Dexter and Samuel Roberts went onto become studio engineers and Sirron now runs a Caribbean takeaway in Huddersfield called "LoveLight Kitchen".

The Christmas Charts - 2001

The 2001 Christmas charts is one that throws me somewhat because what I remember happening and what actually happened are two different things.

In terms of actually Christmas music the one record I remember from the time was "8 Days of Christmas" by Destiny's Child. This didn't make the Top 40 though, it only made number 185.

The only Christmas record to make the Top 40 that year was "I Believe In Christmas" by the Tweenies and I have no recollection of that record whatsoever but it made the Top 10.

I also remember "Gotta Get Thru This" by Daniel Bedingfield topping the charts, but this was knocked off the top for Christmas by Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman with "Somethin Stupid". I do remember said record but I do try to block it out my memory.

Top 30 in 1991 Reviewed: Week 51

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. Cathy Dennis - Everybody Move (New)

Cathy Dennis has teamed up with Terry Britten and Mick Leeson to write this record. Prior to this Terry Britten had written hits for Tina Turner and BA Robertson and Mick Leeson had written hits for Sheena Easton and Mica Paris. The result of this effort is a record that sounds like a Cathy Dennis record. That's no bad thing.

Verdict - Good

29. Queen - The Show Must Go On

This was the final Top 40 hit for Queen during Freddie Mercury's lifetime. Interestingly Leo Sayer, who's vocals have previously been mistaken for being Freddie Mercury, made his Top 40 debut with a different record called "The Show Must Go On". Furthermore the final week "The Show Must Go On" by Leo Sayer was in the charts, Queen were making their chart debut with "Seven Seas Of Rhye". Anyway what do I think of this record? I like it, one of the better Queen singles in my opinion

Verdict - Good

28. James - Sound

This is jointly the second highest charting hit for James which was the follow up to their biggest hit "Sit Down" earlier on in the year. It was the lead single from their album "Seven" which confusingly was their fourth album. It's not a bad record but lacks that something to be a good record. 

Verdict - OK

27. Digital Orgasm - Running Out Of Time (New)

1991 was a great year for rave music. It's been that great that it's taken until December until we have a rave record I don't actually like. It makes quite a promising start, those beats would have sounded quite something in 1991. But then when it breaks down into the vocals it just sounds too namby pamby for my liking and completely ruins the tune. 

Verdict - Rubbish

26. Human Resource - The Complete Dominator (New)

Human Resource debuted in September with "Dominator" which made number 36. They followed up with this which is a remix of the same record. Human Resource are from Holland where rave music tends to be harder and faster and you can tell with this record bearing in mind it was 1991.

Verdict - Good

25. Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit

Grunge has arrived, its the debut Top 40 hit for Nirvana. On a personal level, Nirvana were really the first band I listened to because it was cool rather than because I particularly liked it. As a result I absolutely resented Nirvana once I'd moved onto other things. But I never really disliked it at the same time. 

Verdict - OK

24. Pet Shop Boys - Was It Worth It? (New)

Pet Shop Boys doing house music divides opinions amongst fans. Some believe they should stick to synth pop but I believe Pet Shop Boys longevity has been in part down to the fact they didn't stay stuck in the 80s. This was their first Top 40 hit not to make the Top 20 and didn't appear on "PopArt: The Hits" so it clearly wasn't that well received but I actually like it.

Verdict - Good

23. Altern 8 - Activ 8 (Come With Me)

One of the biggest rave tunes ever and deservedly so. Altern 8 were arguably bigger than The Prodigy at the time.

Verdict - Good

22. Vic Reeves And The Wonder Stuff - Dizzy

It amazes me how many people I've met who don't remember The Wonder Stuff, particularly given they had a number one with this. They did alienate some of their fans by collaborating with Vic Reeves, but I do wonder if they'd think the same had Vic Reeves not been a famous comedian. To me there is absolutely nothing wrong with this song, I've always liked it.

Verdict - Good

21. U2 - Mysterious Ways

In the 90s so far we've seen rock mix with dance music from the Madchester bands and rock mix with funk from bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Faith No More. This song seems to be mixing all of that together. whilst still very much sounding like a U2 record.

Verdict - Good

20. Jason Donovan - The Joseph Mega-Remix

Jason Donavan had now left Stock Aitken & Waterman but hearing this you'd question why he bothered. It's basically a bunch of songs from the Joseph musical with a dance beat behind it that really doesn't sound out of place amongst Stock Aitken & Waterman hits. 

Verdict - Rubbish

19. Martika - Martika's Kitchen

This is the final Top 40 hit to date for Martika. It was composed by Prince and you can tell. With the track title being what it is, it was obviously written for Martika but I could imagine Prince doing this record himself. I do prefer "Toy Soldiers" but this is a pretty solid finish to a Top 40 career.

Verdict - Good

18. Kate Bush - Rocket Man

Kate Bush had written all her solo Top 40 hits on her own prior to this, a cover of the Elton John record. I find the Elton John record a bit dull if I'm honest, but this cover livens it up somewhat and is done reggae style which is a bit unexpected. It's no doubt an improvement over the original but still suffers from the fact the original wasn't very good.

Verdict - OK

17. Salt-N-Pepa - You Showed Me

It seems like there's been a lot of Salt-N-Pepa hits since I started doing these posts. This is the fourth one of the 90s which isn't that many really. It's back to that original formula of covering an old record in the chorus and rapping the verses. It's just as crap.

Verdict - Rubbish

16. Hammer - Addams Groove (New)

The first hit for MC Hammer after he became simply Hammer. I liked this at the time and remember irritating the teacher by rapping it in the classroom. I don't think I've heard it since then. Hearing it now I can't say I feel the same, it is a bit rubbish.

Verdict - Rubbish

15. New Kids On The Block - If You Go Away

New Kids On The Block had a much more low key 1991 than they had the previous year. Having tried to shed their boy band image at the beginning of the year with "Games" this very much sounds like a boy band record. Although this wasn't their final Top 40 hit, it's the last one from their glory days. Take That had made their debut 3 weeks earlier with a minor hit which probably made New Kids On The Block surplus to requirements in this country at least.

Verdict - Rubbish

14. UK Mixmasters - The Bare Necessities Megamix

This was on the local radio station at breakfast time on what seemed a daily basis at the time. In fact it was played so much that it's now reminded me of what I used to eat for breakfast at the time. It's also just reminded me of something we did at school at the end of term before breaking up for Christmas. Maybe its symbolic that it's reminding me of pretty tedious things, it's a truly awful record. 

Verdict - Rubbish

13. Shaft - Roobarb And Custard (New)

The third so called "Toytown Techno" record to make the Top 40. I'll concede the kids TV samples are a bit cringeworthy but if you take them out you've got a decent record that doesn't sound particularly cheesy. In fact the samples are only a small part of the overall tune, they just stand out when you hear them.

Verdict - Good

12. East Side Beat - Ride Like The Wind

Billy Bunter & D-Zyne had a happy hardcore record in the 90s called "Ride Like The Wind" which was excellent in my opinion. I thought it was a rip off of this, but this is a rip off of a Christopher Cross record of the same name. It's a bit cheesy and commercial sounding but I like it.

Verdict - Good

11. Simply Red - Stars

The 2nd and highest charting single from the album of the same name. Although the number 8 position this peaked at isn't exactly setting the charts on fire, the album was the biggest selling album of both 1991 and 1992 so people were clearly buying that instead. It doesn't really fit in with other popular music at the time, but then variety is the spice of life and music like this was most welcome.

Verdict - Good

10. Cliff Richard - We Should Be Together

After singing on the previous 3 Christmas number ones, here's Cliff Richard with another hit in the run up to Christmas. Fortunately it didn't pose much threat to the top spot and is now long forgotten. I don't remember it myself and will have probably forgotten it by the time you read this.

Verdict - Rubbish

9. Right Said Fred - Don't Talk Just Kiss

I don't think I've heard this one for 30 years, it's very much overshadowed by "I'm Too Sexy" and "Deeply Dippy". I was ready to dismiss this as cheesy crap but on listening to it again I've changed my mind. Don't get me wrong, it is Right Said Fred and is therefore still cheesy but it feels more of a song than their other records. The vocals of Jocelyn Brown in this probably help. 

Verdict - OK

8. Michael Jackson - Black Or White

I honestly can't remember what I made of this record at the time. It was one that divided opinion but I think I was sat on the fence. Now I've had 30 years to reflect and even though this is the first time I've ever listened to it of my own accord I do quite like it.

Verdict - Good

7. Kym Sims - Too Blind To See It

Steve 'Silk' Hurley gave us the first house number one in 1987 and as an artist he never had another Top 40 hit. As a composer though he was back in the Top 40 in 1991 with this record. It was the debut Top 40 hit for Kym Sims and her best known. I would also say it was her best hit.

Verdict - Good

6. Brian May - Driven By You

After hearing this numerous times on the Ford adverts this single release revealed to me that the man behind that music was the guitarist of Queen. This was released the day after Freddie Mercury died. Not only did I become a Queen fan following this, but I also acquired Brian May's "Back to the Light" album.

Verdict - Good

5. Guns N' Roses - Live And Let Die (New)

This record brings back memories of running up and down playing the air guitar in the playground at school. I wasn't alone in doing this either. I would say of all the "Use Your Illusion" singles this was probably the one that had the biggest impact on me at the time.

Verdict - Good

4. Diana Ross - When You Tell Me That You Love Me

I'm a big fan of Motown and like many Diana Ross records both as a solo artist and with The Supremes. Unfortunately this isn't one of them. It's quite an achievement for someone who's been around since the 60s to have a number two hit in 1991 and had Freddie Mercury not died this would have likely been Christmas number one. It's just too much of a ballad for my liking.

Verdict - Rubbish

3. KLF ft Tammy Wynette - Justified And Ancient

I remember watching this on Top of the Pops at the time. I absolutely loved it. Little did we know at the time that this would be their final completely original Top 40 hit. I mishear lyrics all the time and was convinced I misheard the lyrics "They're justified and they're ancient and they drive an ice cream van" but I didn't.

Verdict - Good

2. George Michael And Elton John - Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me 

I used to regularly go to karaoke night at a crappy town centre pub and there was an unwritten rule not to sing this song because it's one the landlord sang every week. I wasn't aware at the time that this was originally a hit for Elton John on his own in the 70s. When Elton John started singing his part on this though I thought he was much more suited to the song than George Michael. At the same time I find this cover better than the original.

Verdict - Good

1. Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody / These Are The Days Of Our Lives (New)

Following the death of Freddie Mercury "Bohemian Rhapsody" returned to top the charts and became the first record to be Christmas number one twice. I've mentioned before on this blog that I don't consider it the masterpiece it's made out to be and I've heard it far too many times in my life, but it's not a bad record. The other side of this double a-side "These Are The Days Of Our Lives" was a new song and would have probably topped the charts without being aided by "Bohemian Rhapsody" given the circumstances. It's definitely the better of the two in my opinion.

Verdict - OK / Good

If we give the records which were good 1 point each and those which were OK half a point, the final score is 20/30, or 67%. Same as last week, looks like 1991 will end much more positively than 1990 did.

The Christmas Charts - 1991

After 3 consecutive years of Christmas number ones which were all Christmas songs and involved Christmas it looks like the record buying public had enough of Christmas records in 1991.

Funnily enough though the highest charting Christmas record once again came from Cliff Richard with "We Should Be Together" which made number 10. It was because of the Top of the Pops reruns that I discovered this record existed.

Simon & Garfunkel were in the Top 40 with the double a-side "Hazy Shade Of Winter / Silent Night - The 7 O Clock News", the latter being the Christmas record. It was original recorded in 1966 and was basically a mash up of the Christmas carol and the 7 O Clock News being read out.

Shakin Stevens was back with yet another Christmas record with "I'll Be Home This Christmas". It's his last Christmas Top 40 hit to date and he's only had 2 original Top 40 hits since.

The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl returned to the Top 40 with "Fairytale Of New York" which made number 36 on this occasion and was the first time it had re-entered the Top 40.

The Christmas number one was the double a-side "Bohemian Rhapsody/These Are The Days Of Our Lives". This was the 2nd time "Bohemian Rhapsody" had been Christmas number one, previously doing so in 1975. It was re-released following the recent death of Freddie Mercury. 

UK Charts Best Year Search: 2008

What's this all about?

Top 40

Best Song: Ironik - Stay With Me

I was actually surprised this record charted. My memory of this record at the time was it appearing on Channel U quite often and I'd generally give it a listen when it was played. The chipmunk vocals are an acquired taste but as a happy hardcore fan I'm in no position to criticise. 

Worst Song: Alphabeat - Ten Thousand Nights

It had been over a decade since Aqua began inflicting us with their novelty pop and 8 years since they'd last troubled the charts. A new crappy Danish novelty act was long overdue. I do remember Alphabeat at the time and remember it only taking a few seconds to realise just how dreadful their music was. It's beaten off plenty of competition to be crowned worst song.

Top 40 Review

My memories of the singles chart begin in 1987. I think 2008 may have been where they ended. I have no recollection of the number one record at the time, "Closer" by Ne-Yo. I do remember Ne-Yo but never properly listened to any of his music. Whenever he'd appear on a music channel I'd change channels. I had nothing against Ne-Yo as such, there was just nothing about his music that made me want to listen to it till the end.

We've reached the point where indie music passes the baton to electropop for the dominant music genre. Another eye opener though is the number of artists who appear in this Top 40 more than once. Chris Brown appears 3 times and Coldplay, Ting Tings, Duffy, Madonna, Flo Rida and Nickelback all appear twice. It's zero's all around for those mentioned artists.

We have Scooters last Top 40 hit top date with "Jumpin All Over The World" which was contender for best song. It had been their first Top 40 hit in 5 years and I'm actually surprised other records of there's didn't chart.

Mint Royale are back in with "Singin In The Rain" courtesy of someone dancing to it on Britain's Got Talent. Given that association and that it's a cover of an old musical record it should be awful but I actually quite like it.

I'm hearing a lot of records for the first time and in most cases hopefully the last time. I have found one hidden gem. The record is "Hurricane Jane" by Black Kids. I'd never heard of them before and apparently they had another Top 40 hit too. 

Unfortunately that's as good as it gets. 

Score: 5.5

Table

2008 is slightly better than 2007 thanks in part to Britain's Got Talent. Never thought I'd say that:

The Christmas Charts - 1981

For the 2nd year in a row "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" by John And Yoko And The Plastic Ono Band re-entered the Top 40. It would only make number 28 on this occasion but that's not bad considering the number of people who would have bought it the previous year.

Also re-entering the Top 40 was "Merry Xmas Everybody" by Slade. This was the first time it re-entered the Top 40 and made number 32 on this occasion.

1981 was the year of the medley with the likes of "Stars On 45" and at Christmas time we had the record "Christmas On 45" by Holly And The Ivys which made number 40.

Also Christmas related we had "Hokey Cokey" by Snowmen. Not technically a Christmas song but given it's by the Snowmen and came out around Christmas time it was clearly one for the Christmas market.

The Christmas number one was "Don't You Want Me" by the Human League. They had made their Top 40 debut earlier on in the year and this was their 4th Top 40 hit and final single to be taken from their "Dare" album.

The Christmas Charts - 1971

Not really much to report on the Christmas charts in 1971. No records in the Top 40 that could be considered Christmas records. The Christmas number one was the novelty record "Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West)" by Benny Hill. In some ways we've come full circle in that respect with the novelty records from Ladbaby making Christmas number one.

UK Number 40s: Belinda Carlisle - Runaway Horses (1990)

 

1989 was the first year since 1969 not to have any records peak at 40, so here we go straight into the 90s which starts with this record.

The singles career of Belinda Carlisle is a bit up and down and as a member of the Go-Go's prior to her solo career she had no Top 40 hits at all. Her debut Top 40 hit "Heaven Is A Place On Earth" topped the charts and she made the Top 10 with her following 2 singles. She enjoyed similar success in her native America with those 3 singles.

Her next single "World Without You" only made 34 and wasn't released in America. Then came "Love Never Dies" which was a UK only release and didn't even make the Top 40.

She returned to the Top 10 with "Leave A Light On" which was the lead single from her "Runaway Horses" album but just missed out on the Top 10 in America. Follow up "La Luna" was another single not released in America and only managed 38 here.

Then came this single "Runaway Horses" which was yet another single not to be released in America. Around the same time "Summer Rain" was released over there which is her last American Top 40 hit to date. We would get that single over here until the end of 1990.

The failure of this record to get any higher than 40 would appear to be because more effort was being made to promote "Summer Rain" in America. It would also appear that if a single wasn't released in America then little effort was made to promote it.

However next single "Vision Of You" failed to chart in America and only made 41 in the UK. Then "(We Want) The Same Thing" wasn't released in America but made the Top 10 here.

Her Top 40 hit career lasted until 1997 which over that time was a further mixture of Top 10s and singles in the lower reaches of the charts. She also scored her only Top 40 hit to date with a reunited Go-Go's in 1995 with "The Whole World Lost Its Head" which made number 29.

The Christmas Charts - 1961

1961 was one of those transition years where the 50s rock and roll was in the past but The Beatles were yet to arrive. 

One of the biggest charting acts from this period was Connie Francis and she had the only Christmas record to make the Top 40 that year with "Baby's First Christmas". I was the beginning of the end of her Top 40 career though making only number 30 which was her lowest charting Top 40 hit to this point. Even in her native America where she enjoyed huge chart success around this time it only made number 26.

The Christmas number one was "Moon River" by Danny Williams. 

Top 30 in 1991 Reviewed: Week 50

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. Bassheads - Is There Anybody Out There?

Lots of samples in this one which got them into trouble, quite common for dance records which got bigger than anticipated. One of the samples is the Pink Floyd record of the same name but the most notable is "Just Get Up and Dance" by Afrika Bambaataa. 

Verdict - Good

29. Kenny Thomas - Tender Love

This was originally a hit for Force MDs in 1986. It was the fourth Top 40 hit for Kenny Thomas and his third cover. It's basically a karaoke version of the original. 

Verdict - Rubbish

28. Shades Of Rhythm - Extacy

The Shade Of Rhythm many people know is "Sound Of Eden" but that only made number 35 earlier on in the year. This is the lesser known of the 2 singles but the higher charting one. This is one of the all time greats, definitely a contender for best charting rave tune ever.

Verdict - Good

27. Queen - The Show Must Go On

This was the final Top 40 hit for Queen during Freddie Mercury's lifetime. Interestingly Leo Sayer, who's vocals have previously been mistaken for being Freddie Mercury, made his Top 40 debut with a different record called "The Show Must Go On". Furthermore the final week "The Show Must Go On" by Leo Sayer was in the charts, Queen were making their chart debut with "Seven Seas Of Rhye". Anyway what do I think of this record? I like it, one of the better Queen singles in my opinion

Verdict - Good

26. Prince And The New Power Generation - Diamonds And Pearls

I'm shocked this record only got to number 25. I would have had this down as a bigger hit than "Gett Off" and "Cream", his other 1991 hits but it wasn't. Then again maybe this was the record that had the biggest impact on me personally. It's difficult to pick what my favourite Prince single is but this one would definitely be up there.

Verdict - Good

25. Jason Donovan - The Joseph Mega-Remix (New)

Jason Donavan had now left Stock Aitken & Waterman but hearing this you'd question why he bothered. It's basically a bunch of songs from the Joseph musical with a dance beat behind it that really doesn't sound out of place amongst Stock Aitken & Waterman hits. 

Verdict - Rubbish

24. Tina Turner - Way Of The World

This is a bit of a strange one for me. It's a bit of a generic nothing song on one hand. At the same time it reminds me of late 1991 and all the good music that was around then which makes me think it's alright.

Verdict - OK

23. Martika - Martika's Kitchen

This is the final Top 40 hit to date for Martika. It was composed by Prince and you can tell. With the track title being what it is, it was obviously written for Martika but I could imagine Prince doing this record himself. I do prefer "Toy Soldiers" but this is a pretty solid finish to a Top 40 career.

Verdict - Good

22. Bizarre Inc - Playing With Knives

This failed to make the Top 40 when released earlier on in the year but following the success of "Such A Feeling" it ended up making the Top 10. This is the big Bizarre Inc hit that was made for the dancefloor rather than the charts. I love it.

Verdict - Good

21. 2 Unlimited - Get Ready For This

The Top 40 debut for 2 Unlimited, though they had a Top 40 hit the previous year as Bizz Nizz. I did like this at the time, but my memory has been somewhat tainted by the crap they released after this. I also remember hearing it a few years later for the first time in a while and it sounded much slower than I remembered. 

Verdict - OK

20. UK Mixmasters - The Bare Necessities Megamix (New)

This was on the local radio station at breakfast time on what seemed a daily basis at the time. In fact it was played so much that it's now reminded me of what I used to eat for breakfast at the time. It's also just reminded me of something we did at school at the end of term before breaking up for Christmas. Maybe its symbolic that it's reminding me of pretty tedious things, it's a truly awful record. 

Verdict - Rubbish

19. Cliff Richard - We Should Be Together

After singing on the previous 3 Christmas number ones, here's Cliff Richard with another hit in the run up to Christmas. Fortunately it didn't pose much threat to the top spot and is now long forgotten. I don't remember it myself and will have probably forgotten it by the time you read this.

Verdict - Rubbish

18. Erasure - Am I Right?

Erasure had set the bar high with their previous single "Love To Hate You". Following that up with a ballad sounds a terrible idea on paper but what we have is a great record. I wasn't that impressed when I first heard it but after a few listens it grew on me.

Verdict - Good

17. Right Said Fred - Don't Talk Just Kiss (New)

I don't think I've heard this one for 30 years, it's very much overshadowed by "I'm Too Sexy" and "Deeply Dippy". I was ready to dismiss this as cheesy crap but on listening to it again I've changed my mind. Don't get me wrong, it is Right Said Fred and is therefore still cheesy but it feels more of a song than their other records. The vocals of Jocelyn Brown in this probably help. 

Verdict - OK

16. James - Sound

This is jointly the second highest charting hit for James which was the follow up to their biggest hit "Sit Down" earlier on in the year. It was the lead single from their album "Seven" which confusingly was their fourth album. It's not a bad record but lacks that something to be a good record. 

Verdict - OK

15. Salt-N-Pepa - You Showed Me

It seems like there's been a lot of Salt-N-Pepa hits since I started doing these posts. This is the fourth one of the 90s which isn't that many really. It's back to that original formula of covering an old record in the chorus and rapping the verses. It's just as crap.

Verdict - Rubbish

14. Vic Reeves And The Wonder Stuff - Dizzy

It amazes me how many people I've met who don't remember The Wonder Stuff, particularly given they had a number one with this. They did alienate some of their fans by collaborating with Vic Reeves, but I do wonder if they'd think the same had Vic Reeves not been a famous comedian. To me there is absolutely nothing wrong with this song, I've always liked it.

Verdict - Good

13. U2 - Mysterious Ways (New)

In the 90s so far we've seen rock mix with dance music from the Madchester bands and rock mix with funk from bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Faith No More. This song seems to be mixing all of that together. whilst still very much sounding like a U2 record.

Verdict - Good

12. Kate Bush - Rocket Man

Kate Bush had written all her solo Top 40 hits on her own prior to this, a cover of the Elton John record. I find the Elton John record a bit dull if I'm honest, but this cover livens it up somewhat and is done reggae style which is a bit unexpected. It's no doubt an improvement over the original but still suffers from the fact the original wasn't very good.

Verdict - OK

11. Altern 8 - Activ 8 (Come With Me)

One of the biggest rave tunes ever and deservedly so. Altern 8 were arguably bigger than The Prodigy at the time.

Verdict - Good

10. Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit

Grunge has arrived, its the debut Top 40 hit for Nirvana. On a personal level, Nirvana were really the first band I listened to because it was cool rather than because I particularly liked it. As a result I absolutely resented Nirvana once I'd moved onto other things. But I never really disliked it at the same time. 

Verdict - OK

9. New Kids On The Block - If You Go Away (New)

New Kids On The Block had a much more low key 1991 than they had the previous year. Having tried to shed their boy band image at the beginning of the year with "Games" this very much sounds like a boy band record. Although this wasn't their final Top 40 hit, it's the last one from their glory days. Take That had made their debut 3 weeks earlier with a minor hit which probably made New Kids On The Block surplus to requirements in this country at least.

Verdict - Rubbish

8. Simply Red - Stars

The 2nd and highest charting single from the album of the same name. Although the number 8 position this peaked at isn't exactly setting the charts on fire, the album was the biggest selling album of both 1991 and 1992 so people were clearly buying that instead. It doesn't really fit in with other popular music at the time, but then variety is the spice of life and music like this was most welcome.

Verdict - Good

7. Kym Sims - Too Blind To See It

Steve 'Silk' Hurley gave us the first house number one in 1987 and as an artist he never had another Top 40 hit. As a composer though he was back in the Top 40 in 1991 with this record. It was the debut Top 40 hit for Kym Sims and her best known. I would also say it was her best hit.

Verdict - Good

6. Brian May - Driven By You

After hearing this numerous times on the Ford adverts this single release revealed to me that the man behind that music was the guitarist of Queen. This was released the day after Freddie Mercury died. Not only did I become a Queen fan following this, but I also acquired Brian May's "Back to the Light" album.

Verdict - Good

5. East Side Beat - Ride Like The Wind

Billy Bunter & D-Zyne had a happy hardcore record in the 90s called "Ride Like The Wind" which was excellent in my opinion. I thought it was a rip off of this, but this is a rip off of a Christopher Cross record of the same name. It's a bit cheesy and commercial sounding but I like it.

Verdict - Good

4. Michael Jackson - Black Or White

I honestly can't remember what I made of this record at the time. It was one that divided opinion but I think I was sat on the fence. Now I've had 30 years to reflect and even though this is the first time I've ever listened to it of my own accord I do quite like it.

Verdict - Good

3. KLF ft Tammy Wynette - Justified And Ancient

I remember watching this on Top of the Pops at the time. I absolutely loved it. Little did we know at the time that this would be their final completely original Top 40 hit. I mishear lyrics all the time and was convinced I misheard the lyrics "They're justified and they're ancient and they drive an ice cream van" but I didn't.

Verdict - Good

2. Diana Ross - When You Tell Me That You Love Me

I'm a big fan of Motown and like many Diana Ross records both as a solo artist and with The Supremes. Unfortunately this isn't one of them. It's quite an achievement for someone who's been around since the 60s to have a number two hit in 1991 and had Freddie Mercury not died this would have likely been Christmas number one. It's just too much of a ballad for my liking.

Verdict - Rubbish

1. George Michael And Elton John - Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me 

I used to regularly go to karaoke night at a crappy town centre pub and there was an unwritten rule not to sing this song because it's one the landlord sang every week. I wasn't aware at the time that this was originally a hit for Elton John on his own in the 70s. When Elton John started singing his part on this though I thought he was much more suited to the song than George Michael. At the same time I find this cover better than the original.

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 20/30, or 67%. Not great on new entries this week, but existing records keep the score decent.