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:
30. Lenny Kravitz - Believe (New)
When Lenny Kravitz released "Are You Gonna Go My Way?" he was popular amongst my peers. Then came this which made everyone think what the fuck. We must have not been aware yet that this was the man who'd previously done "It Ain't Over Til It's Over", in our minds he was a hard rocker. This ones a ballad that isn't really rock at all so we were now thinking actually he's not any good. Now I've had 30 years to get over it, this isn't a bad record.
Verdict - OK
Yes that's right Charles & Eddie had another hit. In fact this was their 3rd Top 40 hit, their 2nd didn't make the Top 30. They had a 4th too but that only made 38. This one starts quite promising and the intro appears again in the middle of the song. The rest of it is a bit of an anti climax to it though.
Verdict - OK
Luther Vandross seems a bit out of place in 1993. We're in an era of new jack swing and the emergence of hip hop soul, but Luther Vandross is having none of that and sticking to his roots. That's fair enough, when you've been around a few years and jump on the bandwagon if whatever's in often doesn't work. That said I can't really get into this one, bit slow and boring for my liking.
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
This was the final Top 40 hit from the "Countdown to Extinction" album which I once owned. I believe I mentioned previously what a let down that album was, I was expected it to be really heavy but it wasn't. I'd say this was the most memorable track, but still not one I like.
Verdict - Rubbish
This was the 2nd single where Tears For Fears was Roland Orzabal on his own. It was also their penultimate Top 40 hit of the 90s and final Top 40 hit to date to reach the Top 30. It has a good build up in it and delivers in full.
Verdict - Good
24. Stereo MC's - Creation (New)
The final hit from the "Connected" album. I remember thinking the video to it was weird at the time. It is weird but not that weird. I own the album so haven't needed to watch the video in a long time. This is the most upbeat of their singles. It's difficult to say which singles the best as their all good in their own way.
Verdict - Good
When I was doing my yearly chart reviews and picking a record of the year for each year I picked "Hobart Paving" for 1993. I do question if that was the right choice, I can't help but think there must have been better tunes. Maybe from now on with each record I'll ask the question is it better than "Hobart Paving". Obviously I still like the record though. Likewise the other side "Who Do You Think You Are" is a decent record and features guest vocalist Debsy Wykes who I think has appeared at every Saint Etienne gig I've been to.
Verdict - Good / Good
22. Suede - So Young (New)
Although Britpop isn't one particular style of music and there are some decent Britpop records out there, my overall view of Britpop isn't a positive one. That's because of records like this. I just find it an incredibly boring record.
Verdict - Rubbish
Utah Saints made their Top 40 debut almost 2 years prior to this, but their debut album was only just about to be released. This was also just their 3rd Top 40 hit. It samples "Love Action (I Believe in Love)" by Human League and "You Gave Me Love" by Crown Heights Affair which were both records I'd never heard at the time. I own said album and still regularly listen to it.
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
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
We had the film "The Bodyguard" in late 1992 which resulted in Whitney Houston being at number one for what seemed like an eternity. She followed that up with another record from the film with "I'm Every Woman". Now here we are at the end of April with yet another song from the film which like her chart topper is a dreary ballad.
Verdict - Rubbish
One thing that amazes me when I look at the history books is the number of hits Dina Carroll had before "Don't Be A Stranger". This was her 5th solo Top 40 hit and last hit before said record. Its something I thought I'd find alright at least, but it's nowhere near as good as I remember it and sounds very album filler to me.
Verdict - Rubbish
This was the Top 40 debut for Louchie Lou & Michie One which is basically a cover of the Isley Brothers record done ragga style. I think all that achieved was to remind people that the original was much better.
Verdict - Rubbish
I think the year this was in the Eurovision song contest was the first year I actually watched it and realised what a pile of crap it is. You would expect it to be a cover of the Kylie Minogue record but it isn't. Sounds like it should be a cover though. It's the final Top 40 hit to date for Sonia.
Verdict - Rubbish
Around 18 months after the dreadful UK Mixmasters version of "Bare Necessities" we get this Jungle Book megamix which includes this record. Incidentally this reached the same position. Again it's dreadful.
Verdict - Rubbish
Now Shabba Ranks had become a household name off the back of "Mr. Loverman" this record was back in the Top 40 having originally made 31 in 1991. Despite being the featured artist Maxi Priest appears to have the lions share of the vocals on this one. Can't really get into it though.
Verdict - Rubbish
There was a period of time in 1993 when The Spin Doctors were my 10th favourite band and it was because of this record alone. The rest of my Top 10 was always changing and they dropped out when I could easily name 10 bands who were better. I would say their placing at number 10 was more symbolic of me thinking this is a solid decent record but only a nitwit would think it's the best song ever.
Verdict - Good
It had been almost 2 years since the "Use Your Illusion" albums had been released and this was the 7th and final single to be released from them. I always liked it and I've grown to like it more over the years. I also love to sing it at karaoke but at almost 8 minutes long it's not a good one to do when you're cramming as many songs as you can into 2 hours which seems to be the way karaoke works these days.
Verdict - Good
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
The 3rd single from the "Keep the Faith" album. Bon Jovi were my 3rd favourite band at the time behind Guns N Roses and INXS. This was one of my favourites from said album. What I like the most about this record is the drumming into the chorus.
Verdict - Good
"Jump Around" is of course the best known House of Pain record and was enjoying greater success the second time round having originally charted at 32 the previous year. I still like it, but it has been overplayed over the years. I recall this being played on a Saturday night out and my mate saying wow tune. I on the other hand couldn't get excited about hearing a tune I was hearing every Saturday night being played on a Saturday night. I would say "Top O' The Morning To Ya" is less radio friendly, but that's a good thing.
Verdict - Good / Good
At this point Lulu had a Top 40 career spanning 29 years and 14 hits, but she had no hits as songwriter until this record. It sounds nothing like a Lulu record, but as she hadn't written any of her hits to this point I guess you couldn't really determine what she'd be like as a songwriter. Anyway, not my cup of tea.
Verdict - Rubbish
This was the biggest Janet Jackson solo hit and arguably her best known record. Once again Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are on songwriting duties. I've never understood the hype about this record though, it's pretty poor in my opinion. Sounds very much like background music.
Verdict - Rubbish
In the early part of the 21st century there were lots of cheesy eurodance records that came under the trance banner. This is possibly where all that started as this is essentially trance music of the cheesy eurodance variety. To be fair it's better than many of those 21st century records but it's still crap.
Verdict - Rubbish
When this topped the charts several people pointed this out to me thinking I was still a Queen fan. I'd reply I don't care, I'm a Guns n Roses fan now. I also recall a school assembly where the headmaster asked one of the younger teachers who was at number one in the charts and she said The Bluebells which prompted most of the kids to say no it isn't, it's Queen. It also appeared as a question on a quiz at youth club, if we answered George Michael and Queen or just George Michael we got the points, if we just answered Queen we didn't. Anyway I may have tried avoiding it at the time but it's a pretty decent cover.
Verdict - Good
This one reminds me of school discos. Everyone would sing along to this and I don't think too many of us really knew what it was about. Another thing I didn't know at the time was that Inner Circle formed in 1968 and had previous been in the Top 40 in 1979. Despite that, this tune has early 90s written all over it.
Verdict - Good
At the time I recall someone accusing me of only liking this record because it was at number one. If anything that would have been a reason for me to not like it. UB40 do divide opinion, some say how can you take a reggae band from Birmingham who do lots of covers seriously whereas others say doesn't it really matter it's good to listen to. I fit the latter category.
Verdict - Good
I remember hearing this for the first time on the Big Breakfast and then hearing other singing it later on that day. It's a pretty catchy record and now I know it was produced by Denniz Pop that was clearly the point. I loved this record at the time and still like it even though I've perhaps heard it too many times.
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 15.5/30, or 52%. We're back above 50%, I do feel like the good ones are sticking around for longer.
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