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 1993 with my verdict on each record:
When it came to peoples Top 10 bands, solo artists were allowed though they rarely featured because rock music was mostly done by bands. One solo artist in many peoples Top 10 around this time was Lenny Kravitz based on this record alone. Then it became apparent this was the same man who did "It Ain't Over Til It's Over" a couple of years prior and he followed this up with the very mellow "Believe". We all still liked this song though, but he was no longer worthy of a place in our Top 10s.
Verdict - Good
This double a-side is often a question on Popmaster and that's how I learned it was a double a-side. "Little Bird" was the one I remember being played at the time and I never really thought much of it. I have no recollection of hearing "Love Song For A Vampire" at the time. I've heard it since and don't think much of it either.
Verdict - Rubbish / Rubbish
The Beloved are one of those acts who I consider to be good without being massively into them. They're good at making chill out music and this is a chill out record. The issue is that this record is more focused on the vocals rather than the actual music but the vocals aren't strong enough for it to work. As a result we have a record that's a bit boring.
Verdict - Rubbish
27. REM - Everybody Hurts (New)
REM were I band I paid attention to in late 1992/early 1993. I remember "Drive", "Man on the Moon" and "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight" being released very well. Yet this record came next and made the Top 10 unlike those mentioned and it completely passed me by. I'd heard it by the summer and was somewhat baffled why I missed it the first time round. Looking at the history books (aka the internet) though I now know I would have been on holiday when this appeared on Top of the Pops. I don't mind it, but I've heard much better from them.
Verdict - OK
I'm sure most people think Mica Paris had a brief pop career in the late 80s and didn't realise she was active through most of the 90s too. I count myself as one of those people. This was her biggest 90s hit. I don't know what it's trying to be but I know whatever it is I don't like it.
Verdict - Rubbish
This was Rod Stewarts 38th Top 40 hit overall and 19th Top 40 hit which was a cover. I'm not completely anti-covers, but that sort of quantity is just ridiculous.
Verdict - Rubbish
Aerosmith formed in 1970 so had been around for 23 years by this point. This was just their 3rd Top 40 hit though. The drew much criticism in the 90s for their ballads but I happen to find their ballads quite good. It's generic crap like this that's more of an issue.
Verdict - Rubbish
I seem to recall Barry Manilow getting a new lease of life after Take That covered "Could It Be Magic" which would explain why one of his 70s records was charting in 1993. This to me though sounds like the sort of rubbish you'd expect to hear at cabaret time at a Haven holiday park.
Verdict - Rubbish
The 2nd and final Top 40 hit to date for Dr Alban. The fact that Mozaic did a cover a couple of years later means I don't know whether I remember this record or just remember the cover. It's got a good hook to it so I guess it's good.
Verdict - Good
The penultimate Top 40 hit for Arrested Development and the last time they'll feature as their final Top 40 hit never made the Top 30. It's not as bonkers as the previous effort "Mr Wendal", but still has that unique Arrested Development sound which makes it a good record.
Verdict - Good
We've finally reached the end of the Stock and Waterman era with this being their final Top 40 hit, though both would be back individually. I heard people singing this before I actually heard it, initially I thought they were singing "Animal Nitrate" by Suede and adding in the Wrestlemania bit themselves. I did finally hear it though, unfortunately.
Verdict - Rubbish
If I had to name a World Party record then this would probably be it. They had 4 Top 40 records overall but this was the only one to reach the Top 30. It's pleasant enough but it lacks anything to make me think good record.
Verdict - OK
This was the 31st Top 40 hit for Madonna but was her first Top 40 hit that was a cover. I don't think I've heard it for 30 years, but I remember people talking about how shit it was at the time. It sounds even worse than I remember it being.
Verdict - Rubbish
Terence Trent D'Arby had more Top 40 his in the 90s than the 80s, just. This was the first of those 90s hits and his first since 1988. He's made the transition from soul to rock music here. It just sounds a bit of a mess though.
Verdict - Rubbish
One of the many Gloria Estefan Top 40 hits of the 90s that I don't remember. This was actually the highest charting of the ones I don't remember. It's a dance record that sounds very much like one for the dancefloor. Well it's certainly not one for my listening pleasure anyway.
Verdict - Rubbish
I would say this is possibly the least remembered East 17 Top 40 hit. It's quite odd in a way because it came at a time when East 17 established themselves as the boy band to rival Take That because their previous single "Deep" basically showed they were no flash in the pan with their debut "House Of Love". The advantage of this though is it hasn't been played to death for the last 30 years.
Verdict - Good
I'd actually heard the original Harry Chapin version which never made the UK Top 40 prior to this cover. As a youngster at the time though I was in favour of the more modern version so was never put off.
Verdict - Good
Duran Duran made a solid start to 1993 with the excellent "Ordinary World" which I described as being the only Duran Duran song I like. This is the follow up and I stand by what I said. It's an improvement on their 80s records but still nothing I'd listen to by choice.
Verdict - Rubbish
In 1993 rave music had all but disappeared from the Top 40 but The Prodigy had one last single from their "Experience" album which is what I'd call the first proper rave tune of the year. It's fair to say that The Prodigy had established themselves as the biggest rave act around by this point.
Verdict - Good
11. New Order - Regret (New)
Indie music by definition is music on an independent record label but by the 90s it was more likely to be used to describe guitar music too soft to be considered rock regardless of what sort of label it was on. In the 80s New Order were basically and indie band but their music style was more synth pop. This was their first Top 40 hit since their "World In Motion" chart topper. The style of music had changed and they were now sounding more like an indie band. It's a borderline record really. It's not a patch on their 80s material but if I try to ignore the comparisons it isn't bad.
Verdict - OK
The tune which knocked Whitney Houston off number one which everybody sang "there's no lyrics" to. I'm terrible at making out lyrics in songs and I remember being criticised for not knowing the words to the other bit she sings and remember other people telling me what the words were. My thoughts were they would have been better of genuinely having no lyrics.
Verdict - Rubbish
Cappella made their Top 40 debut in 1989, but this was just their 3rd Top 40 hit. This is the start of their full on cheesy eurodance era. It's not as bad as I remember it being, but it's still pretty bad.
Verdict - Rubbish
The Top 40 debut for Jade and their biggest hit. It certainly has the 90s nostalgia factor to it. The fact the reunion consisted of just 2 of the 3 members and they added a contestant from "The Voice" to the group tells me I'm nostalgic about something that never really existed. I'll try not to let that put me off the tune though.
Verdict - Good
This is the record Shabba Ranks is best known for. It only made number 23 the first time round but then returned to the charts in 1993 when it made number 3. During the time between this he made his infamous appearance on "The Word" which I thought killed his career but it seemed to have the opposite effect. It's good in a 90s nostalgia sort of way.
Verdict - Good
There are many records that have been played to death over the years and this is definitely one of them. It's been remixed to death too, though this best known version was a remix itself. The remix was by Stonebridge, the same Stonebridge who were putting out cheesy dance records in the 21st century. The issue I have with this being overplayed is that it was nothing special to begin with.
Verdict - OK
With this record entering the charts I know that "Sweat (A La La La La Long)" by Inner Circle is just round the corner. Both take me back to school discos in an era where I loved pretty much everything which was played. It's one of the last Stock and Waterman hits, but according to West End aka Eddie Gordon they just replicated what he'd done previously, which explains why this is good.
Verdict - Good
Sub Sub had just the one Top 40 hit but they would re-emerge in the year 2000 as Doves. Yes that's right, one of the most boring bands ever started off making dance music. This is far from boring though so don't let that put you off.
Verdict - Good
I was yet to enter my phase as a rock purist because when this record came out it was my favourite song. I was such a fan that when I was getting sunglasses to go on holiday I said I wanted sunglasses like Shaggy.
Verdict - Good
I don't think anyone knew the words to this when it came out, but in the chorus people would sing "I'll lick your bum bum now". I always assumed they weren't the real lyrics and with the benefit of the internet I can see it's "A licky boom boom down". It's regarded by many as a bit of a joke record but I always quite liked it and I challenge anyone to singalong word for word, I'm sure most would struggle.
Verdict - Good
This originally made the Top 40 in 1984 but topped the charts when re-released in 1993 after it featured on the Volkswagen Golf advert. It wasn't until years later that I realised this was an old record. It's a great feel good record.
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 15/30, or 50%. Just one good new entry but we still improve over last week.
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