Top 30 in 1995 Reviewed: Week 42

Here's my weekly look at the Top 30 from 28 years ago. The plan is for these posts to go out at 17:30 on a Wednesday.

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 1995 with my verdict on each record:

30. TLC - Waterfalls

I've already mentioned a memory of listening to the Chris Evans Breakfast Show one day on Radio 1 around this time and liking everything he was playing. This was another of those records that he played. It became the biggest hit to that point for TLC.

Verdict - Good

29. Red Hot Chili Peppers - My Friends (New)

The Red Hot Chili Peppers were just about the last guitar band I was still listening to before I started listening to nothing but rave. This was the last of those Red Hot Chili Peppers records I was liking at the time. It's certainly the best single from the "One Hot Minute" album.

Verdict - Good

28. The Shamen - Transamazonia (New)

The penultimate Top 40 hit to date for The Shamen and the last time they'll feature as their final Top 40 hit didn't make the Top 30. It came shortly before Mr C opened The End nightclub but I can't imagine this record getting played in there. Still decent enough though.

Verdict - Good

27. 20 Fingers ft Gillette - Short Dick Man

With a title like this it presumably didn't get much radio play. I have to say I do find the lyrics to this one quite funny. It's and American dance record which fitted in well with the hardbag scene, though not sure it was technically part of it. I like it whatever it is.

Verdict - Good

26. Berri - The Sunshine After The Rain

This was originally a Top 40 hit in 1994 but fared better on it's return to the Top 40 in 1995. Around the same time there was a happy hardcore record called "Rainbow in the Sky" by Paul Elstak that was based on the same tune but with different lyrics.

Verdict - Good

25. Eurogroove - It's On You (Scan Me) (New)

The 3rd and final Top 40 hit to date for Eurogroove. They found a formula that worked for 3 Top 40 hits but may have started to get tedious if they carried on for too long. For now though it was still good.

Verdict - Good

24. PJ And Duncan - U Krazy Kats

PJ And Duncan are definitely one of those acts who had more hits than you'd think. This was Top 40 hit number 7 and they were only just half way through their Top 40 career. The novelty of having a couple of ex Byker Grove actors in the charts had long worn thin by this point.

Verdict - Rubbish

23. Scooter - The Move Your Ass EP (New)

Scooter didn't really become a household name in the UK until 2002 but they made their Top 40 debut in 1995 with this record. If you were a raver though you'd know who Scooter were. You also knew what you were getting from them, cheesy as fuck but brilliant at the same time.

Verdict - Good

22. Bon Jovi - Something For The Pain

A criticism I had of Bon Jovi during this era at the time was that their songs were either ballads or acoustic numbers. Then came this record which is neither. In fact I found it hard to pick a fault with this record.

Verdict - Good

21. Nick Cave And Kylie Minogue - Where The Wild Roses Grow

This was perhaps the biggest move away from the Stock Aitken & Waterman era for Kylie Minogue. It's an unlikely collaboration and to be fair you can't really fault Kylie Minogue's contribution to the record, just a shame the records not very good.

Verdict - Rubbish

20. The Lightning Seeds - Lucky You (New)

This record failed to reach the Top 40 when first released in 1994 but then The Lightning Seeds had a surge in popularity in 1995 and this record fared better. It's a good uplifting number with a great singalong chorus.

Verdict - Good

19. Cliff Richard - Misunderstood Man (New)

This would have been one of those records where the DJ would have to reassure listeners that they were listening to Radio 1 after it got played in the Top 40 countdown. No memory of the actual Cliff Richard songs though and I'm happy with that.

Verdict - Rubbish

18. Wet Wet Wet - Somewhere Somehow

The run of Top 10 hits continued for Wet Wet Wet with this record. Marti Pellow's ponytail had gone but it would seem he lost none of his power. Once again I feel like I shouldn't like this record but I do.

Verdict - Good

17. Soul II Soul - I Care (New)

The penultimate Top 40 hit to date for Soul II Soul and the last time they'll feature as their final Top 40 hit never made the Top 30. It does feel too late for Soul II Soul still being active in the charts, but they hadn't forgotten how to make a good tune.

Verdict - Good

16. 2 Unlimited - Do What's Good For Me (New)

The penultimate Top 40 hit to date for 2 Unlimited and the final one from the Ray & Anita era. I guess the record buying public were getting pretty sick of them by this point

Verdict - Rubbish

15. Suggs - Camden Town

I'm not sure I even knew there was such a place as Camden Town at the time, but now I've long since lost count of the number of times I've been to Camden. That's certainly made me understand this record more and as a result give me a more favourable opinion of it.

Verdict - Good

14. Ash - Angel Interceptor (New)

This is just about the only Ash hit of this era that you never really hear about anymore. Yet it is by far the best record they've ever done. It's helped by the fast drum beat, but it's more than that it's simply an all round great record.

Verdict - Good

13. N-Trance ft Ricardo Da Force - Stayin' Alive

After the impact that "Set You Free" had on me I was excited to hear a follow up record which was this. This quickly turned to disappointment, this wasn't rave at all, it was a cheesy remake of the Bee Gees record.

Verdict - Rubbish

12. The Rembrandts - I'll Be There For You

This of course was the theme song for the TV show Friends. I used to watch Friends back in the 90s and I liked it but I have to say it's not aged very well. The theme music though was always shit, but it was probably intended to be that way.

Verdict - Rubbish

11. Wildchild - Renegade Master (New)

This record made the Top 40 earlier on in the year under the name "Legends of the Dark Black pt2" but fared better under it's name changed to "Renegade Master". Wildchild sadly passed away a month or so after this so probably never saw the true impact of this record.

Verdict - Good

10. Louise - Light Of My Life

1995 was the year that Louise left Eternal and this was her solo debut. Simon Climie from 80s pop duo Climie Fisher was on songwriting duties. It's a dreary ballad that I don't think I've heard since 1995 anf hopefully I'll never hear it again.

Verdict - Rubbish

9. Mariah Carey - Fantasy

When this record came out I remember being shocked at Mariah Carey making a record that was so upbeat. It's based around a sample of "Genius Of Love" by Tom Tom Club which is a great record. However the last thing it needs is Mariah Carey's whiny voice over the top of it.

Verdict - Rubbish

8. Josh Wink - Higher State Of Consciousness (New)

Listen to this tune and watch the video and this record would appear to be as British as they come. I was therefore surprised to discover a few years later that Josh Wink is American. It's a classic for sure.

Verdict - Good

7. Michael Jackson - You Are Not Alone

This record was written by R Kelly. It's a ballad and R Kelly was one of those people who knew how to write a ballad well.

Verdict - Good

6. Pulp - Mis-Shapes / Sorted For E's And Wizz

"Sorted For E's and Wizz" is the better known song on this double a-side and it's a decent enough record. I would however say that "Mis-Shapes" is miles better and is the best Pulp song I've heard. I love the attitude this record has.

Verdict - Good / Good

5. Eternal - Power Of A Woman (New)

Louise had left Eternal and this was their first record without her. It was also the best record they've ever made. Admittedly the singing does grate on me a little but musically it's great. As you might imagine with it being about the power of a woman, this song was written by men.

Verdict - Good

4. Shaggy - Boombastic

After this record appeared on the Levi's advert it became Shaggy's second number one out of his first three Top 40 hits. It's a silly record really but great fun to listen to.

Verdict - Good

3. Smokie ft Roy 'Chubby' Brown - Living Next Door To Alice (Who The Fuck Is Alice)

This was originally a Top 40 hit for Smokie back in 1976. Then there was a cover by Gompie that was big in Europe where the audience would reply "Alice, who the fuck is Alice". Smokie therefore decided to revive this song and get comedian Roy 'Chubby' Brown to add the "Alice, who the fuck is Alice" bit. I think it's great.

Verdict - Good

2. Def Leppard - When Love And Hate Collide

This single was from their greatest hits album "Vault". A relative who clearly knew nothing about my music tastes bought me that album as a Christmas present that year. At the time I was listening to nothing but rave, even when I was into guitar music I never really thought much of Def Leppard. The fact Joe Elliott had gone for the Kurt Cobain look in the video may have been misleading in that respect. That all said, this is the best song I've ever heard from Def Leppard and I did grow to like it. To this very day though I've never listened to the "Vault" album and its never really been in my possession. 

Verdict - Good

1. Simply Red - Fairground

It had been 3 years since we'd last seen Simply Red in the Top 40 and this comeback single gave them their only number one record to date. The not very musical verses followed by a really catchy chorus works really well.

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 22/30, or 73%. On the rise again.