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 1994 with my verdict on each record:
The 2nd Top 40 hit for The Smashing Pumpkins who were a band I remember a lot of people being into at the time. This record was banned by the BBC but that never stopped people listening to it. I like the way this is a pretty haunting record and even though I did like it back then I like it more now.
Verdict - Good
This was when we realised that the comeback of Meat Loaf wasn't a one off and that he was here to stay. One thing I remember about this record was thinking how soft it sounded. I have to say the backing vocals are fun to sing along to and on that basis I'll give this record half a mark.
Verdict - OK
The penultimate Top 40 hit to date for Pop Will Eat Itself. As always their music appears to be getting darker as time goes on. That's no bad thing, I do like a lot of dark music. However I can't say I'm too keen on this record, just sounds a bit lazy.
Verdict - Rubbish
Chaka Demus And Pliers had a good run with their first 3 Top 40 hits, all making the Top 5 and with the 3rd topping the charts. This 4th hit for them though is where the decline begins with this getting no higher than 27. I do feel the fun has all gone with this record.
Verdict - Rubbish
They had their best days behind them by this point, but they still kept on having hits in the lower reaches of the charts. They're one of those band who's best material I've heard is the most commercially successful ones. Not liking this one at all.
Verdict - Rubbish
The Top 40 debut for Wendy Moten and the only one to reach the Top 30. It was taken from her self titled debut album which had come out 2 years earlier. I feel like this record should be from a movie but it appears not to be. It's a slow R&B ballad, records like this do have their place and probably worked best in the 90s but it's just not my cup of tea.
Verdict - Rubbish
Credit To The Nation were a bit of a rarity at the time, a British rap act in the Top 40. This was their only Top 40 hit. I vaguely know the tune, but after listening to it just now I'm finding it still going round my head. I guess I like it then.
Verdict - Good
This was the first Top 40 hit by The Beautiful South with Jacqui Abbott in the group. I do feel this record should have been called "Carry On Regardless" as that's what they sing the most. It's not my cup of tea.
Verdict - Rubbish
22. Therapy? - Trigger Inside (New)
With the "Troublegum" album finally out, this was the track on the album everyone was singing so perhaps no surprise it becomes their next single. Like I said previous I love the "Troublegum" album and don't think there's a bad track on there.
Verdict - Good
This was the 2nd Top 40 hit for Celine Dion and is a cover of the Jennifer Rush record. I almost feel like this record was made for Celine Dion to cover. It doesn't really sound any different to the original at all. I don't like the original, or any version I've heard for that matter.
Verdict - Rubbish
Believe it or not, this is the joint highest charting Suede single. It's by no means their best know, though the fact it didn't appear on an album may have helped it. It's since been disowned by the band and I'm inclined to agree with them.
Verdict - Rubbish
I liked her previous hit "Again", but can't say the same for this one. It's written by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis who wrote the bulk of Janet Jackson hits. When you're as prolific as Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis though some of your records will turn out to be generic crap and this is one of them.
Verdict - Rubbish
I found it quite odd to see these 3 artists collaborate on this record but at the same time it seemed a logical collaboration in part because all 3 artists have had their fair share of bland records. It should therefore be no surprise to find this is a bland record.
Verdict - Rubbish
This was the solo Top 40 debut for Marcella Detroit after she'd left Shakespear's Sister. As she was the one who could sing in the group she should in theory work better as a solo artist and not have the horrid singing from Siobhan Fahey on the record. It is an improvement and it's not bad, but it's not the best either.
Verdict - OK
The Top 40 debut for The Cranberries and their joint highest charting single. It also gave them their only American Top 10, something they never managed to achieve in the UK. I guess its a catchy enough record but I can't say I've ever liked it. The singing in particular is not to my taste
Verdict - Rubbish
The Top 40 debut for Beck which was different to anything else at the time. I have to say I find a lot of Becks music questionable but I do like this one. It's the one we all know, it's catchy enough and proves the theory that most people have one good song in them.
Verdict - Good
This was the 2nd Top 40 hit for boy band EYC. They've calmed down somewhat from the racket that was their debut Top 40 hit. That doesn't mean this records any good though. It's still sounds namby pamby whilst trying to have a hard edge at the same time.
Verdict - Rubbish
If I was to pick the most bland and generic dance record of the 90s then this would be a strong candidate. It was the Top 40 debut for D:Ream and their biggest hit and possibly the only hit many people remembered. They had a few more equally bland hits though.
Verdict - Rubbish
In 1993 and 1994 all of Cappellas Top 40 hits had either "U" or "Move" in the title. This was the first of the "Move" hits. I have to say I'm find all of these eurodance records very tedious already whoever it's by.
Verdict - Rubbish
Elton John collaborating with other artists to do crappy EDM remakes of his older hits is nothing new. He was doing a similar thing in 1994 with this record which had originally been a chart topper for him and Kiki Dee in 1976. This is truly awful.
Verdict - Rubbish
I always thought this record was shit at the time. Then I heard it again a couple of years later and it sounded even worse as it was slower than I remembered. Then I discovered the man behind Reel 2 Real was Erick Morillo, a credible DJ and thought maybe this is credible music. Who was I trying to kid, it was cheesy commercial rubbish that was made to sell by the bucket loads.
Verdict - Rubbish
This was the 5th and final Top 40 hit from their "No Limits" album which came around a year after they topped the charts with the first. I can't say I like any of those records, but this one isn't even catchy and is very much going into album filler territory.
Verdict - Rubbish
This was the only Top 10 hit of the 90s from Morrissey and also his only record to make the Billboard 100. I think the description NME gives it sums it up nicely which is "formless neutered ramble".
Verdict - Rubbish
7. Primal Scream - Rocks / Funky Jam (New)
Primal Scream liked to change their sound. As a result it's unlikely that I would like every record they make and this is what happens with "Rocks". It became their first Top 10 hit but it's one I've never really liked. The lesser known "Funky Jam" though is much better and does what it says on the tin i.e. it's funky.
Verdict - Rubbish / Good
It had been 3 years since Enigma topped the charts with "Sadeness (Part 2)" and this was their next Top 40 hit. I would say this is a more radio friendly record than it's predecessor, it has a pretty catchy hook and really easy on the ears.
Verdict - Good
5. M People - Renaissance (New)
Given Mike Pickering was best known as a resident DJ at The Hacienda prior to M People I did wondering whether this record has anything to do with the Renaissance the club. It doesn't appear to. Again it's a typical M People record, a very commercial sounding dance record that's not to my liking.
Verdict - Rubbish
The Top 40 debut for Toni Braxton and her joint highest charting single to date. It was written by Babyface who wrote the majority of her hits. It's not a bad record, just a bit slow and too much of a ballad for my liking. It has the proper 90s music factor to it though.
Verdict - OK
3. Doop - Doop (New)
I've often been full of praise for the music coming out of Holland in the 90s, but it can't always be good. That was the case with this record which is far too cheesy for my liking. I remember pretty much everyone I knew hated this at the time, but then it topped the charts.
Verdict - Rubbish
The 3rd Top 40 hit for Ace Of Base which many regard as their other hit. It didn't quite match the success of debut "All That She Wants" in the UK making number 2 but it did top the charts in America. Like "All That She Wants", "The Sign" was produced by Denniz Pop, the man who started the Swedish revolution in the songwriting world. A good bit of reggae pop.
Verdict - Good
This was originally a Badfinger song that was made famous and taken to the top of the charts by Nilsson. Shortly before this Mariah Carey version topped the charts Harry Nilsson sadly passed away. This is by far the worst version of the song, done in a typically bland Mariah Carey style.
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 8.5/30, or 28%. Not good is it.
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