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:
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
29. Goodmen - Give It Up (New)
This was the only Top 40 hit for Goodmen, but they would return to the charts as Chocolate Puma, Rhythm Killaz and Riva. It's not very tuneful, but that's all part of it's appeal.
Verdict - Good
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
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
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
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
24. Culture Beat - Mr Vain (New)
I remember when this record came out it created a divide at school between the rock crowd and everyone else. It was singled out as an example of a crappy pop record by the rock crowd but everybody else seemingly loved it. Putting all that aside, my first thought when hearing this was have Snap changed their name to Culture Beat.
Verdict - Rubbish
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
I'm pretty sure when this came out Bon Jovi had become my 2nd favourite band. I also remember this came before "In These Arms" on their "Keep the Faith" album, but for the wrong reasons. It's because years later I was making a compilation and included the songs I particularly liked from the "Keep the Faith" album. "In These Arms" was one of them, but I captured the fading outro of this song when taping it, but this wasn't one I thought was good enough for that compilation.
Verdict - OK
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
When this record first came out, not only did I think this was a great song, I also thought Bitty McLean was a great name. This led me incorporate his name into the lyrics when I sang along just so I could acknowledge what a great name it is.
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
Yet another person making the transition from a soap to the music world. Michelle Gayle was on Eastenders and this was her Top 40 debut. You can tell they've tried to make it sound more credible than other soap stars music by going down the R&B route. Being British though it sounds like it could easily be a Mica Paris record which is never a good thing.
Verdict - Rubbish
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 10.5/30, or 35%. Slight improvement over the joint worst week of the 90s to date.
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