The Top 40 Leaderboard: October 2022

I realised some point this month that I'd forgotten to do a leaderboard for September, but then thought sod it, I may as wait until the end of the month now.

The big news this month is Drake has been knocked off the top by Central Cee. I also predicted in August that it was only a matter of time before Ed Sheeran would overtake Central Cee, shows what I know.

I've heard new Drake music is on it's way, but given how prolific Central Cee, D-Block Europe and Aitch have been in their short careers so far you can't rule any of them out as well as Ed Sheeran who's probably planning on getting the Christmas number one again.

Rap wise we're up to 82 of the 191 records this year coming from that genre or 43%.

Future Top 40 Heavyweights?

When I got the 8th edition of the British Hit Singles book from 1990 I learned which artists had huge singles discographies. Elvis and Cliff were in a league of their own, but beyond that you had the likes of David Bowie, Elton John and Status Quo without much difference between them.

At the time it was clear that Madonna would be up there sooner or later having clocked up 25 Top 40 hits in just under 7 years. She would eventually overtake all except Elvis, Cliff and Elton John.

Fast forward 20 years to 2010 and most of the heavyweights would clock up further Top 40 hits leaving the rest of the pack behind. The only other artist that was now amongst the other heavyweights was Kylie Minogue.

Then came Drake, Justin Bieber and Ed Sheeran who started clocking up lots of Top 40 hits in a short space of time whilst the hits were drying up for the chart heavyweights including Madonna and Kylie. At the time of writing, Drake (76 Top 40 hits) only has Elvis and Cliff ahead of him, Justin Bieber (58 Top 40 hits) is level with David Bowie, and Ed Sheeran (57 Top 40 hits) is level with Status Quo. 

It got me thinking, which newer artists are we likely to see up there in years to come?

The obvious place to start is by looking at which acts who debuted after Ed Sheeran in 2011 have had the most Top 40 hits. 

These are all that debuted after Ed Sheeran and have 15 or more Top 40 hits to their name at the time of writing:

Little Mix (32)

They debuted a few months after Ed Sheeran at the end of 2011. No all female group has more Top 40 hits to their name. They're currently on hiatus, but I'm sure a reunion will happen at some point particularly as their solo careers don't appear to be up to much. Whether they'll still be able to clock up the hits when they reunite remains to be seen.

Ariana Grande (31)

She made her debut in 2014 and has scored Top 40 hits every year since apart from this year so far. With Max Martin writing a sizable number of her songs though, you feel she's not done yet.

The Weeknd (30)

He made his debut in 2012 collaborating with Drake, but didn't return to the Top 40 until 2015 and has been quite prolific since. He also has Max Martin behind several of his hits. All this makes him seem the strongest candidate so far to be a future heavyweight.

Stormzy (26)

He made his debut in 2015, then in 2017 before the 3 songs per artist rule came in he was one of the artists to clock up lots of hits in one go and scored a total of 8 that year. After a quiet 2018 he scored 9 Top 40 hits in 2019, the 3 songs per artist rule almost having the opposite affect. 

D-Block Europe (26)

Who the hell are D-Block Europe? I hear you ask. They're a UK rap duo and made their Top 40 debut just under 4 years ago. Only Elvis and Glee Cast can claim to have had their first 26 Top 40 hits in a shorter space of time. Yet if I didn't look at the Top 40 I wouldn't have heard of them either.

Dave (24)

Dave made his Top 40 debut just under 5 years ago, but it was 2019 where he was most prolific clocking up 11 Top 40 hits that year including one in collaboration with D-Block Europe.

Rita Ora (22)

She made her Top 40 debut in 2012 and was more prolific earlier on in her Top 40 career. Just 3 Top 40 hits in the last year along with the fact she's still always in the news suggests we're probably not getting many more hits from her. Just 8 of those 22 hits were solo efforts.

Dua Lipa (22)

Another one who seems more of a celebrity than a singer. She made her Top 40 debut in 2016 and continues to be prolific, but maybe we'll also see just 3 hits in the next 4 years. Here's hoping.

Sam Smith (20)

He's just reached a decade into his Top 40 career and topped the charts recently after 2 years away. At a rate of 2 Top 40 hits a year on average though it will be at least another 20 years before he's up there with the heavyweights.

Kendrick Lamar (20)

Did you know Kendrick Lamar is a rapper from Compton? Sounds gangsta until you see his hits include collaborations with Taylor Swift and Maroon 5. It's 9 years since he made his Top 40 debut, his last 4 came earlier in the year after 4 years away.

Post Malone (19)

He made his Top 40 debut in 2017 with 11 of his 19 hits being collaborations. I honestly had no idea he's had so many hits.

One Direction (18)

Their Top 40 debut came just 3 months after Ed Sheeran and have not had a Top 40 hit since 2015 when they went on hiatus. Given Harry Styles appears to have a successful solo career they're probably in no hurry to reunite.

Aitch (18)

Aitch made his Top 40 debut in June 2019, so is 3 years 4 months into his Top 40 career. To give an idea, it took D-Block Europe 3 years exactly to score their first 18 Top 40 hits, so he's not far behind.

KSI (17)

KSI made his Top 40 debut in 2015 didn't return until November 2019, so has clocked up 16 Top 40 hits in 3 years. He's primarily a Youtuber rather than a musician so not sure how much further he'll go, but then again I'm not sure there's much difference between a Youtuber and musician these days.

AJ Tracey (17)

Probably another who's that? AJ Tracey is a British rapper who made his Top 40 debut in 2018, but is yet to score a Top 40 hit so far this year. Just 5 of the 17 hits are solo efforts.

Billie Eilish (17)

She made her Top 40 debut just under 4 years ago. The critics seem to love her, but with only 3 of her hits in the 2nd half of her career making the Top 20 the record buying public are probably starting to disagree.

Anne-Marie (16)

She made her Top 40 debut in 2016. Just 5 of her hits are solo efforts including her first 3, so her career will probably last as long as EDM DJs want her.

Fredo (16)

He's just over 4 years into his Top 40 career with 8 of his hits come last year but he's yet to have one this year. 

Becky Hill (15)

She made her Top 40 debut in 2014 and appears to be the default singer EDM DJs have on their next record. Just 2 of her hits have been solo efforts. An average of less than 2 hits a year though means it would be another 24 years until she reaches 60 Top 40 hits by which point David Guetta will be 79, surely he won't still be having hits then.

Camila Cabello (15)

Another singer who can't seem to make a record by herself, though with 6 it's an improvement on Becky Hill. She made her Top 40 debut at the start of 2017.

Tion Wayne (15)

He made his Top 40 debut at the start of 2019. Just a solitary solo effort though.

Central Cee (15)

It's taken Central Cee just 2 years to clock up his first 15 Top 40 hits. Even D-Block Europe took 2 years 4 month to reach that total. Still not as quick as Elvis or Glee Cast though.

Based on performance so far, Central Cee, D-Block Europe, Aitch and Dave look most likely to clock up enough hits to join the heavyweights. Central Cee would reach 60 hits in just 6 years time at the rate he's going.

That said, all 4 of these acts are UK rappers. Rap has been the dominant genre in the UK Top 40 since 2017 but the history books will tell you that won't be the case forever. Remember how big indie was in the Top 40 in the mid-00s, but there's barely any indie in the charts these days. Simply put, once rap falls out of favour so will these artists. 

I would be surprised if rap is still the dominant genre in 6 years time. On that basis I would say the most likely artist to clock up enough hits to join the heavyweights is The Weeknd.

If anything, the fact he started his Top 40 career collaborating with Drake is a sign alone. He's learned from the master of excessive Top 40 hits.

25 Years Since....October 1997

Time to go back to 1997 once again:

Propellerheads With David Arnold - On Her Majesty's Secret Service

The Propellerheads were big in 1997 and then completely disappeared off the face of the earth never to be heard of again. Their "Decksandrumsandrockandroll" album is excellent and of all the singles to be released from it I would say this is the best one.

I would say as far as anything James Bond themed goes it doesn't get any better than this either.

Adam F - Circles

It's more accurate to say this was a record I was enjoying 27 years ago as that's when it started getting played at raves. When this became a Top 40 hit I was quick to tell everyone that I'd know this record for 2 years.

At the same time I wasn't too happy about it being a Top 40 hit because I wanted all the music I liked to stay underground. 

Bellini - Samba De Janeiro

I was surprised to read on Wikipedia that Bellini are a German girl group. Not so surprised that they're not Brazilian, I kind of assumed they weren't but definitely surprised to learn they're a girl group.

A lot is said about girl groups miming to the music, but with this record there isn't even any singing to mime to. Instead they just dance to the music, though I've no idea who the actual members are from watching the video because there's loads of people dancing.

All Saints - I Know Where It's At

There was never any doubt that the All Saints were a girl group when they made their Top 40 debut with this single. As a result I really didn't want to like this song.

I couldn't help but like it though and eventually bought their album which was the first album I'd bought in a long time that wasn't rave.

The Sundays - Summertime

Releasing a song about the summer when summer has just ended is quite a clever move really. I do however recall the summer of 1997 was pretty miserable, it was my last summer of riding a bike and remember getting drenched a lot from the rain.

That makes releasing this just after the summer of 1997 an even better move to bring back nostalgic memories of the summer of 1996. It did the trick with me anyway.

Top 30 in 1992 Reviewed: Week 44

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 1992 with my verdict on each record:

30. Therapy? - Teethgrinder (New)

The Top 40 debut for Therapy? and only Top 40 hit from their "Nurse" album. Whilst it has heavy guitars in it, the singing is a lot calmer than your typical Therapy? record. Comparing to the "Troublegum" album this isn't as good, but taking comparisons out of the equation it's still a decent enough record.

Verdict - Good

29. The Shamen - Ebeneezer Goode

One memory I have of this record is that someone who I would regularly get lifts from would turn the radio off when this would come on. At the time I thought they simply could stand it but it's more likely they knew what the lyrics meant and didn't want kids listening to it. I still managed to hear it a lot though not knowing what the lyrics really were. I liked it because it's a good tune.

Verdict - Good

28. Undercover - Baker Street

Being a London resident, I pass though Baker Street a lot and still to this very day I get this record going through my head more often than not when I do so. It was the Top 40 debut for Undercover and their best known. I'd not heard the Gerry Rafferty original at the time so this is my default version. 

Verdict - Good

27. Bjorn Again - Erasure-Ish (A Little Respect/Stop!)

After Erasure did their Abba covers, here's an Abba tribute band doing Erasure covers in the style of Abba. It really is as awful as it sounds, but in a way I think that was the whole point.

Verdict - Rubbish

26. Annie Lennox - Cold (New)

I've just discovered this was the first record to reach the Top 40 that wasn't released on vinyl. Whether that fact contributed to it being the lowest charting single from her "Diva" album I don't know. I would say the fact it's a boring record would have contributed. 

Verdict - Rubbish

25. The Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (New)

The Smiths had long split up by this point, but this hadn't previously been released as a single. It was released to promote a greatest hits album. It's a fans favourite, but I can't claim to be a fan. I don't mind it, but it's nothing special.

Verdict - OK

24. Gloria Estefan - Always Tomorrow

Yet another Gloria Estefan hit of the 90s I have no recollection of. It was a charity single where proceeds were donated to victims of Hurricane Andrew. It's a ballad and a pretty boring one.

Verdict - Rubbish

23. Lionel Richie - My Destiny

This record seems a bit out of place in 1992. It's one of those I feel I've always known but it's most likely that when I first heard it in 1992 I just assumed it was an old record. It was the 2nd single released for his greatest hits album, the first not making the Top 40 and prior to that he hadn't been in the Top 40 since 1986. Quite surprisingly he was still having Top 40 hits as late as 2004 but this is the last one I actually remember. It's your typical naff Lionel Richie record.

Verdict - Rubbish

22. Simple Minds - Love Song / Alive And Kicking

To promote their greatest hits album Simple Minds released this double a-side of older songs. "Love Song" was first released in 1981 but failed to make the Top 40 the first time round. "Alive and Kicking" made number 7 when released in 1985 but goes one place better here. Given that their 1991 efforts were nowhere near as good as their earlier efforts, this re-issue is very much welcome. "Alive and Kicking" is amongst my favourite Simple Minds record.

Verdict - Good / Good

21. Sunscreem - Perfect Motion

Sunscreem weren't your typical dance act. Normally it would be one or two people using the latest technology to make a tune whereas Sunscreem were a group who played instruments. With technology changing the way it does, many dance tunes from 1992 were already sounded dated by the late 90s. This tune though doesn't even sound dated now. It's a great example to show those into EDM nonsense what proper dance music is. 

Verdict - Good

20. Michael Bolton - To Love Somebody (New)

This was the 3rd version of this record to reach the Top 40. The original by the Bee Gees wasn't one of them though. It came 2 years after Jimmy Somerville's cover. It's done in a typical Michael Bolton ballad type way therefore it's shit.

Verdict - Rubbish

19. Vanessa Paradis - Be My Baby (New)

I'd pretty much forgot about this record until I watched a Classic Chart Show episode which this appeared on. I don't know if I ever know who did it at the time, but when I saw it was Vanessa Paradis I was quite surprised. I was also surprised to learn this was written by Lenny Kravitz. It certain has that 90s nostalgia to it.

Verdict - Good

18. The Farm - Don't You Want Me

The Farm are best known for "Groovy Train" and "All Together Now" and many would struggle to name a 3rd record of theirs. Chart wise this was the 3rd most successful and yes it's a cover of the Human League record. On paper this should be awful and listening to it I can confirm it is awful.

Verdict - Rubbish

17. Chris Rea - Nothing To Fear

I remember this one being played on Top of the Pops and having a ridiculously long guitar intro. Once the singing finally happened I realised that the guitar intro was the best bit of the song. 

Verdict - OK

16. John Lee Hooker - Boom Boom (New)

Levi's weren't the only jeans company who's adverts were giving old songs a new lease of life. This was originally recorded in 1961 but charted for the first time after appearing on the Lee advert giving John Lee Hooker his first Top 40 hit in 28 years. 

Verdict - Good

15. Zucchero With Luciano Pavarotti - Miserere

This was the 2nd Top 40 hit for both artists and perhaps an unlikely Top 40 hit too. I can only imagine this was riding on the success of the opera influenced Olympic records which had recently charted. Not the sort of thing I would normally listen to, but I quite like it.

Verdict - Good

14. Ambassadors Of Funk ft MC Mario - Supermarioland (New)

Simon Harris was one of the first DJs to bring Hip House to the charts in the late 80s. It was more or less dead as a genre in the charts by 1992 and instead Simon Harris was doing this. Why you would turns computer game music into an actual tune I don't know, in the days when I played computer games I'd often turn the sound off because the music irritated me so much.

Verdict - Rubbish

13. Go West - Faithful

This is a song my memory places in 1993 for some reason. Quite strange seeing how this is an 80s band doing a song that sounds like it belongs in the 80s. Go West are one of those bands who have always irritated me and this record is no exception.

Verdict - Rubbish

12. Dr Alban - It's My Life

This was the beginning of Sweden taking over the music world. Dr Alban was a Nigerian based in Sweden and wrote this with Denniz Pop who founded Cherion Studios. There were a number of songwriters who have since been very prolific with their songwriting including Max Martin who at the time of writing only has Paul McCartney ahead of him in terms of most Top 40 hits as songwriter. Given how much dreadful music has been created as a result of this I should hate it. However it probably would have still happened with or without this record and I do like it in a 90s nostalgia sort of way.

Verdict - Good

11. Felix - It Will Make Me Crazy

The 2nd Top 40 hit for Felix which isn't as well remembered as his first. It has more of a eurodance feel to it than its predecessor which may explain why it enjoyed more success on the continent. Fortunately it doesn't cross the line into annoying cheesy territory that many eurodance records do. 

Verdict - Good

10. Rage - Run To You (New)

When I first heard people talking about Rage Against the Machine in 1993 I thought surely they can't be talking about the group who had a hit with "Run to You" not so long ago. They weren't as this group were simply called Rage. It's a eurodance cover of the Bryan Adams record which on paper should be dreadful. It's actually not bad though.

Verdict - OK

9. Erma Franklin - (Take A Little) Piece Of My Heart

A record from 1967 which was given a new lease of life in 1992 when it featured on the Levi's advert. Erma Franklin was the sister of Aretha and had more or less retired from the music business long before this. It's the only record of hers I've ever heard so my impression of her as a singer is a positive one.

Verdict - Good

8. Doctor Spin - Tetris

The era of toytown techno in the Top 40 was now over and rave was giving way to eurodance. The theme for the novelty side of eurodance was versions of computer game music with this being the first. Quite surprisingly the man behind this record was Andrew Lloyd Webber. I prefer this to pretty much everything else he's done but that's because I really don't like his music.

Verdict - Rubbish

7. Take That - A Million Love Songs

I think we're reaching the point here where the rules were getting established in that if you were female you liked Take That and if you were male you didn't. I should point out I no longer subscribe to that way of thinking, I like what I like. What I will say about this song is that it showcases Gary Barlow's credentials as a songwriter. It's a proper song, nothing particularly cheesy about it unlike their previous efforts. That doesn't mean I like it though.

Verdict - Rubbish

6. Arrested Development - People Everyday

In 1992 there were just 2 rap records which made the Top 10, "Jump" by Kris Kross and this record. It was the Top 40 debut for Arrested Development. It was the weird noises that I always liked about this record at the time.

Verdict - Good

5. Bon Jovi - Keep The Faith

This was the comeback single for Bon Jovi after 3 years away from the Top 40. The big news surrounded this at the time though was that Jon Bon Jovi had a haircut. Music wise I loved this record at the time and there came a point when Bon Jovi were my 2nd favourite band.

Verdict - Good

4. Bizarre Inc ft Angie Brown - I'm Gonna Get You

This is a tune which reminds me of the beginning of a school year. I loved this tune at the time and still do. It was the 3rd Top 40 hit for Bizarre Inc but it was a change in direction compared to it's predecessors. The story is that the record label wanted them to make more of a pop record and this was the result. 

Verdict - Good

3. Madonna - Erotica

This was single number 28 for Madonna which was the lead single off what was only her 5th album. It somehow manages to be both irritating and boring. It was controversial at the time and the video was banned on MTV, but it's really a nothing song.

Verdict - Rubbish

2. Tasmin Archer - Sleeping Satellite

I recall a few years ago watching a "Forgotten Gems of the 90s" show on one of the music channels. It was a welcome change to the usual anthem bashing you get on retro channels. If memory serves me correctly this was number one. My initial thought was is this really forgotten, but then I guess I've not heard it much since the 90s. That may be a reason why I still like it.

Verdict - Good

1. Boyz II Men - End Of The Road

When it comes to Boyz II Men I can't look past the comparison that's often made between them and Jodeci which is basically Jodeci were the bad boys of R&B whereas Boyz II Men were the clean cut group. Behind the scenes though Babyface was one of the writers and he has also written for K-Ci & Jojo of Jodeci. That doesn't mean this song is good though.

Verdict - Rubbish

If we give the records which were good 1 point each and those which were OK half a point, the final score is 16.5/30, or 55%. Keeping our heads above 50%, but I get the feeling we're getting close to it dropping below.

R&B

In July this year Steve Lacy scored a Top 40 hit with "Bad Habit". What was perhaps quite surprising about this is it was the first R&B record to make the Top 40 this year. Since then there's been just one further R&B Top 40 hit in "Under the Influence" by Chris Brown.

How did R&B became virtually extinct in the Top 40?

It's existed in some form in the charts since the 50s. Genres like soul and funk would fall under the R&B banner but by the 90s anything under the banner was being described as R&B. 

It became more closely aligned with rap music. Collaborations were happening between rappers and R&B singers and some of these records made could legitimately be described as both rap and R&B. Such was the similarity, the way some records would fall under the rap or R&B banner was dictated by whether the record was rapped or sung.

At the same time though, the term R&B started being used to describe pop music to give it a bit more credibility. Even the Spice Girls single "Holler" in the year 2000 was being described as R&B. 

The Spice Girls example though showed how the lines were being blurred between R&B and pop. It was written by Rodney Jerkins, Fred Jerkins and LaShawn Daniels, who have written many R&B records too. You had other producers such as The Neptunes and Timbaland who were making both pop and R&B records. these producers had a certain sound that could be heard across all these records.

As we got further into the 21st century, the more commercial rappers and R&B singers started making electropop music and EDM. 

Coming out the other side of this, rap music has gone from strength to strength from a chart perspective but R&B hasn't quite recovered. Many of the R&B hits from the last few years have come from Justin Bieber which doesn't do much for it's credibility. 

Who knows though, this time next year the charts could be full of R&B

Slammin Vinyl & Tazzmania @ Hastings Pier, Hastings 27/10/1995

 

Easygroove

We're now into a new era for both Slammin Vinyl and Tazzmania. Both had now held their final events at the Rhythm Station in Aldershot. Hastings Pier was the new home of Tazzmania with the first event held with Slammin Vinyl.

The line up consists of a solitary drum & bass DJ with Grooverider and the rest of the line up being hardcore. The tape pack doesn't contain the Grooverider set though.

The tapes aren't entirely free from drum & bass though with the Easygroove set being a mixture of hardcore and drum & bass and this is why I've posted his set.

Quite a few new for 1995 drum & bass tunes appear on his set which are:

DJ Rap - Fuze 1+2

J'ia Francis - How Many Ways

DJ Sparks - Your Mind

A Touch Of Jazz - Between The Lines

B-Jam - Scandalous

DJ Phantasy - Just Waiting

Hardcore wise these are the new for 1995 records:

Druid & Heatwave - Music for the 90's

Druid & Heatwave - Round and Round

Phoenix - Who's In Control

DJ Psycangle - Smile, Fuck Up

DJ Supreme vs. Billy Bunter & D-Zyne - Outside World

Elation - The Anthem

DJ Ratty - Unknown Title

Dy-Sector - Free Your Mind

E-Logic - The Sorcerer

Marc Smith - Feeling

Diss Reaction - DJ Lan

DJ Creator & Shardy.L - Heaven Sent

Billy Bunter & D-Zyne - Rock To The Beat

DJ Sub-State - Boom!

DJ Psycangle - Parallel Worlds

Eye On Life - Got 2 Feel Good

Sensi-Tize - I Do

Party Animals - Have You Ever Been Mellow 

A couple of significant ones here. "Have You Ever Been Mellow" by the Party Animals would be a Dutch number one the following year.

Another significant one is "Smile, Fuck Up" by DJ Psycangle. It's an alias of Luna C, a man who keeps breakbeat hardcore going to this very day. This tune though was very much the Dutch sound. Given the success hardcore was having in Holland at the time I guess it made sense to make a record like this.

There are 3 tunes that make 4 appearance each across the tapes. There's "Toytown" by Hixxy & Sharkey, no surprise there. Also appearing 4 time is "Ride Like The Wind" by Billy Bunter & D-Zyne which was one of the big records of the time. Finally there's "Rock This Place" by DJ Chewy who may have passed away by this point, it was 1995 when it happened.

One of the surprises on the tapes was the appearance of MC Massive. He was resident MC at Helter Skelter and this is the first time I've known him to appear at any rave apart from Helter Skelter.

It's the final event of the year for both Slammin Vinyl and Tazzmania. From this point onwards Tazzmania would carry on at this venue with the odd rave elsewhere before calling it a day in 1998. Slammin Vinyl would find a new home in Bagleys the following year where they held most of their events for the rest of the 90s.

UK Number 40s: Mr V - Give Me Life (1994)

 

When Dido first became known to the world it was off the back of being sampled in an Eminem record. It was therefore safe to assume she'd been round for a bit, at least long enough to have made a record for Eminem to sample.

Then we discovered she was sister of Rollo from Faithless and had been involved with their music. Both Rollo and Sister Bliss of Faithless had enjoyed Top 40 success prior to Faithless.

Going back even before that though we find a record which involves Dido, Rollo and Sister Bliss which is this record. Rollo was producer, Dido and Sister Bliss both provided vocals and Dido was also co-writer of the record.

Rollo had been behind the scenes with Top 40 records prior to this, but this was the first Top 40 hit to my knowledge that Dido and Sister Bliss had been involved with.

But what about Mr. V himself?

His real name is Rob Villiers hence the name Mr. V but aside from that the only thing I can find about him on the internet is that he is presumably the horrible ex boyfriend of Dido who she started out making music with.

Top 30 in 1992 Reviewed: Week 43

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 1992 with my verdict on each record:

30. Go West - Faithful (New)

This is a song my memory places in 1993 for some reason. Quite strange seeing how this is an 80s band doing a song that sounds like it belongs in the 80s. Go West are one of those bands who have always irritated me and this record is no exception.

Verdict - Rubbish

29. Gloria Estefan - Always Tomorrow (New)

Yet another Gloria Estefan hit of the 90s I have no recollection of. It was a charity single where proceeds were donated to victims of Hurricane Andrew. It's a ballad and a pretty boring one.

Verdict - Rubbish

28. Liberation - Liberation (New)

Liberation was an alias of The Rapino Brothers who would go on to have success as pop music producers most notably for Take That. Don't let that put you off though, this is a house record and a pretty good one too.

Verdict - Good

27. Zucchero With Luciano Pavarotti - Miserere (New)

This was the 2nd Top 40 hit for both artists and perhaps an unlikely Top 40 hit too. I can only imagine this was riding on the success of the opera influenced Olympic records which had recently charted. Not the sort of thing I would normally listen to, but I quite like it.

Verdict - Good

26. Patty Smyth With Don Henley - Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough

A collaboration between John McEnroe's wife and the drummer from the Eagles. There was a place I once worked at that would have the same tape on repeat for a period of time and this was on that tape. I'm not sure I'd heard it prior to that, but I don't think I've heard it since said job and have no desire to hear it ever again.

Verdict - Rubbish

25. Bjorn Again - Erasure-Ish (A Little Respect/Stop!) (New)

After Erasure did their Abba covers, here's an Abba tribute band doing Erasure covers in the style of Abba. It really is as awful as it sounds, but in a way I think that was the whole point.

Verdict - Rubbish

24. Bob Marley & The Wailers - Iron Lion Zion

Having very much heard of Bob Marley and seeing he had quite a few hits from looking in my British Hit Singles book, I'd not knowingly heard a Bob Marley record until this song came out. There was something oddly familiar about it. Obviously it was recorded long before it came out but this was the first time it had seen light of day. 

Verdict - Good

23. Felix - It Will Make Me Crazy (New)

The 2nd Top 40 hit for Felix which isn't as well remembered as his first. It has more of a eurodance feel to it than its predecessor which may explain why it enjoyed more success on the continent. Fortunately it doesn't cross the line into annoying cheesy territory that many eurodance records do. 

Verdict - Good

22. Dina Carroll - Special Kind Of Love

This was the 2nd solo Top 40 hit for Dina Carroll which peaked at the same position as the first. This time the songwriting duties went to Robert Clivilles and David Cole. The result is something that doesn't sound all that different to her previous effort.

Verdict - OK

21. Erma Franklin - (Take A Little) Piece Of My Heart

A record from 1967 which was given a new lease of life in 1992 when it featured on the Levi's advert. Erma Franklin was the sister of Aretha and had more or less retired from the music business long before this. It's the only record of hers I've ever heard so my impression of her as a singer is a positive one.

Verdict - Good

20. Lionel Richie - My Destiny

This record seems a bit out of place in 1992. It's one of those I feel I've always known but it's most likely that when I first heard it in 1992 I just assumed it was an old record. It was the 2nd single released for his greatest hits album, the first not making the Top 40 and prior to that he hadn't been in the Top 40 since 1986. Quite surprisingly he was still having Top 40 hits as late as 2004 but this is the last one I actually remember. It's your typical naff Lionel Richie record.

Verdict - Rubbish

19. The Farm - Don't You Want Me

The Farm are best known for "Groovy Train" and "All Together Now" and many would struggle to name a 3rd record of theirs. Chart wise this was the 3rd most successful and yes it's a cover of the Human League record. On paper this should be awful and listening to it I can confirm it is awful.

Verdict - Rubbish

18. Sunscreem - Perfect Motion

Sunscreem weren't your typical dance act. Normally it would be one or two people using the latest technology to make a tune whereas Sunscreem were a group who played instruments. With technology changing the way it does, many dance tunes from 1992 were already sounded dated by the late 90s. This tune though doesn't even sound dated now. It's a great example to show those into EDM nonsense what proper dance music is. 

Verdict - Good

17. Prince - My Name Is Prince

It's funny that Prince wrote a record called "My Name Is Prince" and then the following year he would change his name to a symbol. This is the closest I've heard Prince come to making a rap record. He seems pretty angry in it too. Somehow it works.

Verdict - Good

16. Chris Rea - Nothing To Fear (New)

I remember this one being played on Top of the Pops and having a ridiculously long guitar intro. Once the singing finally happened I realised that the guitar intro was the best bit of the song. 

Verdict - OK

15. Undercover - Baker Street

Being a London resident, I pass though Baker Street a lot and still to this very day I get this record going through my head more often than not when I do so. It was the Top 40 debut for Undercover and their best known. I'd not heard the Gerry Rafferty original at the time so this is my default version. 

Verdict - Good

14. AC/DC - Highway To Hell (Live)

Believe it or not, this record failed to reach the Top 40 when first released in 1979. The original recording had Bon Scott on vocals but this live version had been recorded at Donington the previous year and therefore had Brian Johnson on vocals. I personally think his singing sounds like a cat being strangled therefore this version is worse than the original, and I don't like the original.

Verdict - Rubbish

13. Megadeth - Skin O' My Teeth (New)

I used to own the "Countdown to Extinction" album this was on, but always found the album to be a disappointment because for a band who were supposed to be really heavy didn't sound heavy at all. 

Verdict - Rubbish

12. The Orb - Assassin

In 1992 The Orb released the album "UFOrb" but this tune wasn't on it or any of their albums for that matter. Given the standard of dance music in the charts in the modern era it's hard to believe that interesting tunes like this could make the Top 40 back in the day.

Verdict - Good

11. Simple Minds - Love Song / Alive And Kicking

To promote their greatest hits album Simple Minds released this double a-side of older songs. "Love Song" was first released in 1981 but failed to make the Top 40 the first time round. "Alive and Kicking" made number 7 when released in 1985 but goes one place better here. Given that their 1991 efforts were nowhere near as good as their earlier efforts, this re-issue is very much welcome. "Alive and Kicking" is amongst my favourite Simple Minds record.

Verdict - Good / Good

10. Arrested Development - People Everyday (New)

In 1992 there were just 2 rap records which made the Top 10, "Jump" by Kris Kross and this record. It was the Top 40 debut for Arrested Development. It was the weird noises that I always liked about this record at the time.

Verdict - Good

9. Take That - A Million Love Songs

I think we're reaching the point here where the rules were getting established in that if you were female you liked Take That and if you were male you didn't. I should point out I no longer subscribe to that way of thinking, I like what I like. What I will say about this song is that it showcases Gary Barlow's credentials as a songwriter. It's a proper song, nothing particularly cheesy about it unlike their previous efforts. That doesn't mean I like it though.

Verdict - Rubbish

8. The Shamen - Ebeneezer Goode

One memory I have of this record is that someone who I would regularly get lifts from would turn the radio off when this would come on. At the time I thought they simply could stand it but it's more likely they knew what the lyrics meant and didn't want kids listening to it. I still managed to hear it a lot though not knowing what the lyrics really were. I liked it because it's a good tune.

Verdict - Good

7. Dr Alban - It's My Life

This was the beginning of Sweden taking over the music world. Dr Alban was a Nigerian based in Sweden and wrote this with Denniz Pop who founded Cherion Studios. There were a number of songwriters who have since been very prolific with their songwriting including Max Martin who at the time of writing only has Paul McCartney ahead of him in terms of most Top 40 hits as songwriter. Given how much dreadful music has been created as a result of this I should hate it. However it probably would have still happened with or without this record and I do like it in a 90s nostalgia sort of way.

Verdict - Good

6. Doctor Spin - Tetris

The era of toytown techno in the Top 40 was now over and rave was giving way to eurodance. The theme for the novelty side of eurodance was versions of computer game music with this being the first. Quite surprisingly the man behind this record was Andrew Lloyd Webber. I prefer this to pretty much everything else he's done but that's because I really don't like his music.

Verdict - Rubbish

5. Bon Jovi - Keep The Faith (New)

This was the comeback single for Bon Jovi after 3 years away from the Top 40. The big news surrounded this at the time though was that Jon Bon Jovi had a haircut. Music wise I loved this record at the time and there came a point when Bon Jovi were my 2nd favourite band.

Verdict - Good

4. Madonna - Erotica

This was single number 28 for Madonna which was the lead single off what was only her 5th album. It somehow manages to be both irritating and boring. It was controversial at the time and the video was banned on MTV, but it's really a nothing song.

Verdict - Rubbish

3. Bizarre Inc ft Angie Brown - I'm Gonna Get You

This is a tune which reminds me of the beginning of a school year. I loved this tune at the time and still do. It was the 3rd Top 40 hit for Bizarre Inc but it was a change in direction compared to it's predecessors. The story is that the record label wanted them to make more of a pop record and this was the result. 

Verdict - Good

2. Boyz II Men - End Of The Road

When it comes to Boyz II Men I can't look past the comparison that's often made between them and Jodeci which is basically Jodeci were the bad boys of R&B whereas Boyz II Men were the clean cut group. Behind the scenes though Babyface was one of the writers and he has also written for K-Ci & Jojo of Jodeci. That doesn't mean this song is good though.

Verdict - Rubbish

1. Tasmin Archer - Sleeping Satellite

I recall a few years ago watching a "Forgotten Gems of the 90s" show on one of the music channels. It was a welcome change to the usual anthem bashing you get on retro channels. If memory serves me correctly this was number one. My initial thought was is this really forgotten, but then I guess I've not heard it much since the 90s. That may be a reason why I still 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 17/30, or 57%. I thought the score would go down given some of the new entries, but its stayed the same.

Hysteria 9 @ The Sanctuary, Milton Keynes 21/10/1995

 

Jimmy J

It was back in January when we did Hysteria at The Sanctuary in Milton Keynes, but given how many raves were happening in 1995 it's taken until October to return.

There were 2 tape packs from this event, a happy hardcore one and a drum & bass one and I owned both. The happy hardcore one in particular brings back lots of memories making it difficult to pick a single one to post. There were 6 tapes in the pack and each one has a story.

I've decided though to pick my old favourite, Jimmy J. He was the hardcore DJ keeping the breakbeat alive as we head towards the end of 1995. I have to give the MC on the tape a mention too. His name is MC QC and appeared to just play a handful of events in late 1995 before disappearing and there is nothing I can find about him on the internet. If you listen to him though you'll understand why the bookings may have dried up. He just spouted random nonsense out of time in a weird voice. That said I've listened to this tape so much that I find myself saying his MC lines when I listen to the tunes featured individually.

Someone else I've found nothing about on the internet is DJ Degree. Anyone I knew who'd heard the set thought it was good, but this is the one and only event I've seen evidence of him playing at and he wasn't even on the flyer.

The reverse side of the Jimmy J tape is 15 minutes of Dougal followed by 15 minutes of Hixxy. The final tune of the Dougal set was "Toy Town" and the point the tape joins the Hixxy set is when he's playing "Toy Town". I do remember "Toy Town" appearing a lot in this pack, but "On Top" by A Sense of Summer was played an equal number of time.

Looking at the tracklisting of the Hixxy set I see something interesting I've not thought of before. The final 2 tunes he plays are "Happy Vibes" by Scotchman and "Hardcore Vibes" by Dune.

Speaking of Vibes, he also features in this pack. Unfortunately I didn't keep onto that tape long. A friend at school wanted to borrow it so I lent it to him. Next thing he's dropped out of school and I've not seen him since. No internet or mobile phones to keep in touch at the time.

The Seduction tape has a tune at the end which appears to be from a different set and uses the same sample as "Above the Clouds" by Sunshine Productions and is really good, but it's still not been identified on the internet.

The first tape I listened to in the pack was the DJ SY one and I have to say despite MC QC again in all his glory, this is possibly the best DJ SY set I've ever heard.

These are the new for 1995 hardcore tunes:

Eruption - Let The Music

Eruption - Don't Stop

Frenzy - Lets Work

Stripey J & Eff - Get’cha Some More

Dymension - Move Into The Rhythm

Eye On Life - Going All The Way

2 Xperience feat Cru L T - Never Give Up

Happy Tunes - Rush Me Tonight

Rebel Alliance - Flying High

Cartoon Capers - Dreema

Mixmatt vs. Rebel Alliance - Do You Love Your Hardcore

DJ Rush Gee - Innovator

I'd say the most notable of these is "Let The Music" by Eruption. I know that Eruption was quite prolific with his tunes, but I didn't realise he had so many in 1995.

Drum & bass wise we have 8 tapes, a sign that Hysteria was more about the drum & bass. I particularly liked the Brockie set, just seemed to flow very well. The Roni Size set is decent too, interesting how he played in the 2nd room and was yet to reach the heights he would go on to reach.

Plenty of new for 1995 drum & bass tunes too:

L Double - Rock Dat Shit

Hot Steppers - Volume 2

Bad Influence Ft. DJ Rush Puppie - Time & Time

City Connection - Impact

Smokey Joe - Smokin Hornz

Roni Size - Box Of Tricks

Serious Intent - Easy Dred

Mask - One People

The Outlaw - O.G. Call

Roni Size - Caspar

L Double - Music For The 90's

Bizzy B & Agent K - Original Gangster

P-Funk – Return Of The Funksta

D-Power - Self Control

Tarzan - Hold Up

Joint Venture - Sunrise

X-Clusive - No War Business

John B - Green

Special K - Deep In Space

The Essence - Intelligence

Keen - Vol 1 A

Decoder - 8 Tap

Concept 2 - Soon Come

DJ Krust - Angles

Roni Size - Dayz

Potential Bad Boy - Bass Rumble

Lion Of Judah - Set It

DJ SS (Ft. Mental Power) - Highly Recommended

Renegade - Tear Out

Dr Wootang - Wootang Re Lick

Benny Blanco - Remember Me

The Dream Team - Just A Little Hip Hop

DJ Krust - Not Necessarily A Man

L Double & Liccle D - Dubplate Special

Eternal Bass - A Piece Of Drum n Bass

45 Roller - Shotz

Clayton - Pot Fiction

Blackstar feat Top Cat – Champion DJ 

One again whilst "The Lighter" and "Hearing Is Believing" both appear, it's "This Style" by Shy FX that appears most on the tapes, appearing 7 time including a few seconds of the Hype set that can only be heard of the happy hardcore pack.

One of the MCs appearing at this night was MC Free & Easy. He's better known these days as Terry Turbo, the man who used to run One Nation. By this point One Nation had become a purely drum & bass event and even when happy hardcore DJs had previously featured you'd tend to get just 1 or 2 at a given night. 

Terry Turbo would also take over Dreamscape later on and drop happy hardcore from its line ups. Despite this, as MC Free & Easy he was MCing to happy hardcore sets at this night.

It does however remind me that One Nation is yet to feature in these posts so I'll try to do something about that before the end of the year. 

UK Number 40s: Nina Simone - Feeling Good (1994)

 

It's fair to say this record is pretty well known so you may be thinking how did this record only make number 40. You may also be thinking did this really come out as late as 1994.

The song was written by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse in 1964 for the musical "The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd". It was then recorded in 1965 by Nina Simone. As a side note that same year Leslie Bricusse had a number 40 as songwriter with "If I Ruled the World" by Tony Bennett.

At this point Nina Simone was yet to have a UK Top 40 hit. Her debut came in 1968 with "Ain't Got No - I Got Life". In January 1969 when her debut was still in the Top 40 she released the single "To Love Somebody" and "I Put A Spell On You" on the same day. "To Love Somebody" entered the Top 40 straight away and "I Put A Spell On You" entered the Top 40 a week later meaning she had 3 singles in the Top 40 at the same time.

"I Put A Spell On You" was from her 1965 album of the same name which also had "Feeling Good" on it. The next time we'd see her in the Top 40 would be in 1987 with "My Baby Just Cares For Me" which came from her debut album "Little Girl Blue". This was a result of it appearing on the "Chanel No 5" advert and gave her a number 5.

We were now into an era where old songs were being given a new lease of life after featuring on an advert. A prime example of this came in 1993 when "Young At Heart" by the Bluebells topped the charts after appearing on the Volkswagen advert.

Then in 1994 "Feeling Good" appeared on the Volkswagen advert and the single had a photo of a Volkswagen Golf on the cover. Given Nina Simone succeeded before from appearing on an advert and Volkswagen ensured an old record topped the charts, this sounded like a recipe for success but it wasn't to be.

Nina Simone wasn't done with the Top 40 yet though. A remix of "Ain't Got No I Got Life" by Groovefinder in 2006 gave Nina Simone her final Top 40 hit to date which perhaps unsurprisingly appeared on an advert, this time being Muller. 

Top 30 in 1992 Reviewed: Week 42

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 1992 with my verdict on each record:

30. Erma Franklin - (Take A Little) Piece Of My Heart (New)

A record from 1967 which was given a new lease of life in 1992 when it featured on the Levi's advert. Erma Franklin was the sister of Aretha and had more or less retired from the music business long before this. It's the only record of hers I've ever heard so my impression of her as a singer is a positive one.

Verdict - Good

29. M People - Excited

I guess you could say this was the calm before the storm as far as M People were concerned. It was their 4th Top 40 hit but so far they hadn't got any higher than 29. They would mostly have Top 10s after this. Yet this early period of M People produced better music than what followed. Don't get me wrong, it's still essentially pop music but it isn't the full on cheese we'd come to know them for.

Verdict - OK

28. The Cure - A Letter to Elise (New)

After clocking up hits at least every other year since 1980 we wouldn't see The Cure in the Top 40 for another 4 years after this record charted. I can appreciate The Cure as musicians and do like some of their record, but I find this one boring.

Verdict - Rubbish

27. REM - Drive

This was the lead single from the "Automatic for the People" album which is arguably the album they're best known for. It was quite a low key introduction to the album though, I don't remember too many people acknowledging "Drive" at the time and the other singles are much better remembered. That means it hasn't been played to death so I still like it. 

Verdict - Good

26. Stereo MC's - Connected

We were at the beginning of the school year at this point and I can tell you that we were studying electricity in science. My reason for remembering that is because in our experiments we used connectors and at the same time this record was out. It's their Top 40 debut and lead track off their 3rd album of the same name. It also played it's part in my decision to buy the album.

Verdict - Good

25. Billy Ray Cyrus - Could've Been Me

Yes that's right, Billy Ray Cyrus had another song. Whilst the one we all know is a bit of a joke song that nobody can really take seriously, he's trying to be more serious on this record. It doesn't work. On a more positive note, it's better than anything his daughter has ever done.

Verdict - Rubbish

24. The Farm - Don't You Want Me (New)

The Farm are best known for "Groovy Train" and "All Together Now" and many would struggle to name a 3rd record of theirs. Chart wise this was the 3rd most successful and yes it's a cover of the Human League record. On paper this should be awful and listening to it I can confirm it is awful.

Verdict - Rubbish

23. Sunscreem - Perfect Motion (New)

Sunscreem weren't your typical dance act. Normally it would be one or two people using the latest technology to make a tune whereas Sunscreem were a group who played instruments. With technology changing the way it does, many dance tunes from 1992 were already sounded dated by the late 90s. This tune though doesn't even sound dated now. It's a great example to show those into EDM nonsense what proper dance music is. 

Verdict - Good

22. Patty Smyth With Don Henley - Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough

A collaboration between John McEnroe's wife and the drummer from the Eagles. There was a place I once worked at that would have the same tape on repeat for a period of time and this was on that tape. I'm not sure I'd heard it prior to that, but I don't think I've heard it since said job and have no desire to hear it ever again.

Verdict - Rubbish

21. Status Quo - Roadhouse Medley (Anniversary Waltz Part 25)

There's something quite amusing about the fact this was recorded at Radio 1 in the park given by the mid-90s Radio 1 refused to play their music. I saw them do something similar at Radio 2 in the park a couple of years ago. It works well even, though the fact their songs are known to sound the same helps. 

Verdict - OK

20. Snap! - Rhythm Is A Dancer

In my college days I bought an old rave compilation from Cash Converters and put it on in the common room. Several people in the common room weren't into rave and weren't familiar with most of the tunes. I was there saying they were missing out, this was good stuff. Then this tune came on which everyone did know, but I had to concede that this one was shit. Think that was the only one we all agreed on.

Verdict - Rubbish

19. AC/DC - Highway To Hell (Live) (New)

Believe it or not, this record failed to reach the Top 40 when first released in 1979. The original recording had Bon Scott on vocals but this live version had been recorded at Donington the previous year and therefore had Brian Johnson on vocals. I personally think his singing sounds like a cat being strangled therefore this version is worse than the original, and I don't like the original.

Verdict - Rubbish

18. Luther Vandross And Janet Jackson - The Best Things In Life Are Free

When I saw the video to this I thought Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson looked different to how I remember them. That is of course because it's not Luther Vandross or Janet Jackson in the video, it's Damon Wayans and Stacey Dash from the film "Mo Money" which this record is from. 

Verdict - Good

17. The Wedding Present - Sticky (New)

The 10th single of the year for The Wedding Present and finally they have one I actually quite like. The "get along get along get out" bits make it interesting and it's got enough of a tempo to it to keep me interested. Proof that almost everyone has at least one good tune in them.

Verdict - Good

16. Dina Carroll - Special Kind Of Love

This was the 2nd solo Top 40 hit for Dina Carroll which peaked at the same position as the first. This time the songwriting duties went to Robert Clivilles and David Cole. The result is something that doesn't sound all that different to her previous effort.

Verdict - OK

15. The Orb - Assassin (New)

In 1992 The Orb released the album "UFOrb" but this tune wasn't on it or any of their albums for that matter. Given the standard of dance music in the charts in the modern era it's hard to believe that interesting tunes like this could make the Top 40 back in the day.

Verdict - Good

14. Lionel Richie - My Destiny

This record seems a bit out of place in 1992. It's one of those I feel I've always known but it's most likely that when I first heard it in 1992 I just assumed it was an old record. It was the 2nd single released for his greatest hits album, the first not making the Top 40 and prior to that he hadn't been in the Top 40 since 1986. Quite surprisingly he was still having Top 40 hits as late as 2004 but this is the last one I actually remember. It's your typical naff Lionel Richie record.

Verdict - Rubbish

13. Bob Marley & The Wailers - Iron Lion Zion

Having very much heard of Bob Marley and seeing he had quite a few hits from looking in my British Hit Singles book, I'd not knowingly heard a Bob Marley record until this song came out. There was something oddly familiar about it. Obviously it was recorded long before it came out but this was the first time it had seen light of day. 

Verdict - Good

12. Mike Oldfield - Sentinel

This is the opening track to his "Tubular Bells II" album which is is the sequel to his "Tubular Bells" album in the 70s. I listened to that album years ago after hearing about what a masterpiece it was. I can't say I was a big fan if I'm honest, but I didn't mind it. I can say the same about this record too.

Verdict - OK

11. Madonna - Erotica (New)

This was single number 28 for Madonna which was the lead single off what was only her 5th album. It somehow manages to be both irritating and boring. It was controversial at the time and the video was banned on MTV, but it's really a nothing song.

Verdict - Rubbish

10. Undercover - Baker Street

Being a London resident, I pass though Baker Street a lot and still to this very day I get this record going through my head more often than not when I do so. It was the Top 40 debut for Undercover and their best known. I'd not heard the Gerry Rafferty original at the time so this is my default version. 

Verdict - Good

9. Take That - A Million Love Songs

I think we're reaching the point here where the rules were getting established in that if you were female you liked Take That and if you were male you didn't. I should point out I no longer subscribe to that way of thinking, I like what I like. What I will say about this song is that it showcases Gary Barlow's credentials as a songwriter. It's a proper song, nothing particularly cheesy about it unlike their previous efforts. That doesn't mean I like it though.

Verdict - Rubbish

8. Doctor Spin - Tetris

The era of toytown techno in the Top 40 was now over and rave was giving way to eurodance. The theme for the novelty side of eurodance was versions of computer game music with this being the first. Quite surprisingly the man behind this record was Andrew Lloyd Webber. I prefer this to pretty much everything else he's done but that's because I really don't like his music.

Verdict - Rubbish

7. Prince - My Name Is Prince

It's funny that Prince wrote a record called "My Name Is Prince" and then the following year he would change his name to a symbol. This is the closest I've heard Prince come to making a rap record. He seems pretty angry in it too. Somehow it works.

Verdict - Good

6. Simple Minds - Love Song / Alive And Kicking

To promote their greatest hits album Simple Minds released this double a-side of older songs. "Love Song" was first released in 1981 but failed to make the Top 40 the first time round. "Alive and Kicking" made number 7 when released in 1985 but goes one place better here. Given that their 1991 efforts were nowhere near as good as their earlier efforts, this re-issue is very much welcome. "Alive and Kicking" is amongst my favourite Simple Minds record.

Verdict - Good / Good

5. Dr Alban - It's My Life

This was the beginning of Sweden taking over the music world. Dr Alban was a Nigerian based in Sweden and wrote this with Denniz Pop who founded Cherion Studios. There were a number of songwriters who have since been very prolific with their songwriting including Max Martin who at the time of writing only has Paul McCartney ahead of him in terms of most Top 40 hits as songwriter. Given how much dreadful music has been created as a result of this I should hate it. However it probably would have still happened with or without this record and I do like it in a 90s nostalgia sort of way.

Verdict - Good

4. Bizarre Inc ft Angie Brown - I'm Gonna Get You

This is a tune which reminds me of the beginning of a school year. I loved this tune at the time and still do. It was the 3rd Top 40 hit for Bizarre Inc but it was a change in direction compared to it's predecessors. The story is that the record label wanted them to make more of a pop record and this was the result. 

Verdict - Good

3. The Shamen - Ebeneezer Goode

One memory I have of this record is that someone who I would regularly get lifts from would turn the radio off when this would come on. At the time I thought they simply could stand it but it's more likely they knew what the lyrics meant and didn't want kids listening to it. I still managed to hear it a lot though not knowing what the lyrics really were. I liked it because it's a good tune.

Verdict - Good

2. Boyz II Men - End Of The Road

When it comes to Boyz II Men I can't look past the comparison that's often made between them and Jodeci which is basically Jodeci were the bad boys of R&B whereas Boyz II Men were the clean cut group. Behind the scenes though Babyface was one of the writers and he has also written for K-Ci & Jojo of Jodeci. That doesn't mean this song is good though.

Verdict - Rubbish

1. Tasmin Archer - Sleeping Satellite

I recall a few years ago watching a "Forgotten Gems of the 90s" show on one of the music channels. It was a welcome change to the usual anthem bashing you get on retro channels. If memory serves me correctly this was number one. My initial thought was is this really forgotten, but then I guess I've not heard it much since the 90s. That may be a reason why I still 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 17/30, or 57%. Standards are slipping but still a decent score.