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:
The Top 40 debut for Juliet Roberts who had previously sung on the Funk Masters record "It's Over" a decade earlier. Than man behind this record is Daniel Poku aka D-Mob, so it's an all English affair but sounds very much like a US garage record. It's no poor imitation either.
Verdict - Good
29. D:Ream - Unforgiven (New)
The 3rd Top 40 hit for D:Rream who were yet to be household names as this was still before the re-issue of "Things Can Only Get Better". It's basically the usual generic dance pop rubbish we would come to expect from them.
Verdict - Rubbish
The final Top 40 hit from the "Automatic for the People" album and I dare say the least remembered. If you are going to do what is basically an acoustic ballad you have to do it well. I think they've achieved that here.
Verdict - Good
When searching for the best year for the singles chart I decided this was the worst record in the Top 40 I sampled. Taylor Dayne is a singer I've always found irritating and here she is doing a piss poor cover of the Barry White record. Hopefully this is the last time I'll ever have to hear it.
Verdict - Rubbish
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
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
Yet another cover by Rod Stewart. This was originally by Van Morrison and is pretty well known but never made the Top 40. I like the original version, but this karaoke effort from Rod Stewart is shit.
Verdict - Rubbish
23. Janet Jackson - If (New)
When I got into R&B one thing I struggled with was there being some records which sounded a whole lot of nothing but were hailed by some as being masterpieces. I made the effort to get into these records as I thought I might be missing something but I eventually concluded that I wasn't. This is one of those examples.
Verdict - Rubbish
When it comes to early 90s Manic Street Preachers I would put this down as being their best known record, though it was nowhere near their highest charting. I've not heard this for a long time, but the first thing that strikes me when listening to it now is that I don't remember it being so mellow. As such I'm finding it a frustrating listen, but has potential if it was heavier.
Verdict - OK
One thing I remember when this record was out was that I'd learned the rules that if you were a rock and metal fan you weren't supposed to like anything that wasn't rock and metal. I remember that because I couldn't help but like this record despite those rules. I like the way the pause in the record gets longer each time.
Verdict - Good
It had been over 6 months since Whitney Houston had spent forever at the top of the charts with a dreary ballad from "The Bodyguard". Now here she is with yet another dreary ballad from "The Bodyguard".
Verdict - Rubbish
After making her name as singer on some Massive Attack records, this was the Top 40 debut of Shara Nelson as a solo artist. I can't say this record does anything for me, I find it rather boring.
Verdict - Rubbish
This was the biggest hit for Oui 3. They were very flash in the pan, but years later I came across their album at HMV in Oxford St and bought it after remembering I quite liked them. They were also a big influence on Faithless.
Verdict - Good
Much like "Heal the World", I thought this record was acceptable at the time but as I've gotten older and more bitter I have little tolerance for soppy music like this anymore. It's the 8th Top 40 hit from his "Dangerous" album and wasn't his last.
Verdict - Rubbish
My memory of Kim Wilde in the 90s is that Chris Evans was a fan and she appeared on "Don't Forget Your Toothbrush". Looking at the timings though, this would have been before that. This is however her last Top 40 hit to date. It's a pointless cover.
Verdict - Rubbish
After Sister Sledge returned to the Top 40 in 1993 with remixes of their old records it was now the turn of Gloria Gaynor. The original of this is a record I've always hated and is a perfect example of why disco was seen as a bit of a joke in the end. The remix doesn't improve it at all.
Verdict - Rubbish
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
This would be the last time we'd see both Craig McLachlan and Debbie Gibson in the Top 40. It's a cover of the Grease record and they were both in a London stage show version at the time. It was crap the first time round, this cover is even worse.
Verdict - Rubbish
12. Robin S - Luv 4 Luv (New)
The Robin S singles discography is basically "Show Me Love", the "Show Me Love" remix, another "Show Me Love" remix, well you get the picture. She did however have another hit that wasn't called "Show Me Love" though. Listening to it though the "Show Me Love" remix with different lyrics would have been a suitable title.
Verdict - Rubbish
If memory serves me correctly (and it does tend to mislead me) this was the last dance record I truly got into before I became strictly rock and anti-pop. It treads that fine line where it's clearly a commercial dance record but is credible at the same time.
Verdict - Good
Even though this wasn't the biggest hit for Dannii Minogue I would say this one is the best known. It came at a time when Kylie Minogue had left Stock Aitken & Waterman and was yet to launch her post-Stock Aitken & Waterman career. It's a pointless cover.
Verdict - Rubbish
The melody to this record was basically taken from "Highwire" by Linda Carr. Given that M People called their debut album "Northern Soul" I would say that was deliberate too. Aside from that it's that generic dance sound that's a bit rubbish.
Verdict - Rubbish
This is the last Top 10 hit to date for Roxette. It was made for the Super Mario Bros film and has Tony from Hollyoaks in the video before he was Tony from Hollyoaks. It's since been disowned by Roxette themselves. I think they have a point.
Verdict - Rubbish
7. Madonna - Rain (New)
Back in the late 80s when Madonna did "Cherish" and "Dear Jessie" I had quite a positive impression of Madonna. In the early 90s though I absolutely couldn't stand her. Shit like this reminds me of why I couldn't stand her.
Verdict - Rubbish
This is an iconic 90s record that everybody remembers. My memory of this record was having a teacher called Mrs Hathaway who we started calling Mrs Haddaway which led to people randomly singing it in her lessons. That said, I've always considered it to be a bit crap and still think the same.
Verdict - Rubbish
When this record topped the charts I remember somebody saying to me that I must be pleased, unaware I'd long moved on from being a Queen fan by this point. Even if I was still a Queen fan though I'm not sure I would have liked this. It's basically Freddie Mercury's voice put over some generic eurodance crap.
Verdict - Rubbish
The Top 40 debut for Chaka Demus & Pliers. This was one of many more radio friendly reggae records that charted in 1993. It's almost the blueprint on how to make a record reggae style.
Verdict - Good
The Top 40 debut for Gabrielle and perhaps her best known hit. I remember being in 2 minds about this record at the time. It didn't make a good impression on me initially but it grew on me. Neither a good or bad record really.
Verdict - OK
I remember someone at school at the time listing 4 Non Blondes in their Top 10 bands and we all reacted by saying what the fuck? None of us liked it, even it's composer Linda Perry doesn't like it.
Verdict - Rubbish
Take That were undoubtedly the most popular group amongst females at school in early 1993, but one thing I could smile and say was they were yet to have a number one. Then the inevitable happened with this going straight in at number one. It's a terrible record.
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 10/30, or 33%. The joint lowest score of the 90s so far.
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