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 only Top 40 hit for Big Mountain which is a cover of the Peter Frampton record. There was no avoiding this record at the time, I remember some people loving this. I do like a bit of reggae pop myself but have never liked this one.
Verdict - Rubbish
The 2nd Top 40 hit from DJ Jazzy Jeff And The Fresh Prince which came around 5 years after their first. It's not as bad as your average Will Smith record, but whilst Jazzy Jeff is a decent enough DJ, Will Smith is a terrible rapper. It has potential, put a decent rapper on their we could have a decent tune. But it has Will Smith on it, therefore it's crap.
Verdict - Rubbish
We're reaching the end of Erasures commercial peak with this being their last Top 10 hit of the 90s though they would return to the Top 10 in the 21st century. This just sounds like a typical Erasure record which is a good thing.
Verdict - Good
I remember being shocked to find out this record was by Seal. I didn't find out until it was re-released in 1995 for the Batman movie. Once I'd got over the initial shock I realised that I liked it and ended up buying the single
Verdict - Good
After having 3 covers in a row in the Top 40 Elton John is back with an original composition. Bernie Taupin is nowhere to be seen though with lyrics coming from Tim Rice instead with this coming from "The Lion King" movie. Again I question why Disney music has to be so depressing, but I actually don't mind this record.
Verdict - OK
The final Top 40 hit to date for Whitesnake which is a double a-side of their joint biggest hit from 1987 and the b-side to "The Deeper The Love" from 1990. It does sound a bit out of place in 1994 understandably but this was released to promote their greatest hits which was an opportunity to relive the good old days.
Verdict - Good / Good
The 3rd Top 40 hit for Carleen Anderson and she's gradually improving her peak chart position each time. It took a while for her to reach the bit of the song I remember to the point I questioned whether I remembered it correctly. When it got there I was getting into the groove.
Verdict - Good
Oh dear! It's a eurodance record but without the usual male rapper female singer formula. In fact it's largely instrumental. That doesn't mean it's any good though. It's a country inspired eurodance record. That's right country mixed with eurodance, is there a worse combination? Probably, but lets not get away from the fact this is dreadful.
Verdict - Rubbish
I feel like this record had potential. It sounds promising from the intro but it never quite delivers. James Dean Bradfield wasn't happy with the results so maybe he could see the potential too but just couldn't produce the goods
Verdict - Rubbish
Status Quo were now 26 years and 44 hits into their Top 40 career at this point. Distinguishing between most of those 44 hits is quite a challenge. Giving the year of a said record would also be a challenge as this could have been from any point in Status Quos history. It's a formula that's worked well for them though and it's not bad.
Verdict - OK
CJ Lewis was able to pull off his 90s remake of "Sweets For My Sweet" but he should have really just left it at that. This is a very poor remake of the Stevie Wonder record and I can only imagine people bought this on the strength of his debut only to be disappointed.
Verdict - Rubbish
EYC seem to have calmed down a lot on this record compared to their previous hits, something I remember thinking at the time. I also remember one of the members having an actual black book with him on stage when performing. Now sounding the usual boy band fodder.
Verdict - Rubbish
18. Public Enemy - Give It Up (New)
The penultimate Top 40 hit of the 90s for Public Enemy which became their joint highest charting single to this point. You can't go wrong with a bit of Public Enemy who just do their own thing regardless of what's going on elsewhere. Proper rap music.
Verdict - Good
It had been 26 years since Joe Cocker made his Top 40 hit debut. Here he is with his penultimate Top 40 hit and last to make the Top 30. The 90s were his most prolific period for Top 40 hits with 5 of his 9 Top 40 hits coming in the decade.
Verdict - Rubbish
After Aswad topped the charts with their Top 40 debut "Don't Turn Around" their following singles did chart so well until this record over 6 years later. The fact Ace of Base had their own version of "Don't Turn Around" out around this time would have reminded people of Aswad and that may have helped this single become a success. It's written by the band itself and it's a decent record that I liked at the time even it I wouldn't admit it.
Verdict - Good
The 3rd Top 40 hit for Grid and their highest charting hit that many people only know them for. It's a classic biggest hit is nowhere near their best music sort of situation. It has a catchy hook and isn't a bad record but it is a little irritating at the same time.
Verdict - OK
The 3rd Top 40 hit for The Future Sound Of London which became their highest charting Top 40 hit to that point. I've struggled to really get into this record but thought maybe by listening to it this time I may finally get into it, but no it still does nothing for me.
Verdict - Rubbish
I remember finding it somewhat amusing that a record called "Midnight At The Oasis" was being released just as the band Oasis were establishing themselves. It became the highest charting Brand New Heavies single to that point and I remember not being able to get it out of my head at the time. Must have been something about it.
Verdict - Good
The Top 40 debut for Shampoo and the record they're best known for and also their highest charting. I'm actually quite surprised to learn this got not higher than 11 given how big it seemed to be at the time. At the same time thought who would really want to buy this record? It's absolutely dreadful.
Verdict - Rubbish
Neneh Cherry has often been said to be edgy and cool and here she is collaborating with African singer Youssou N'Dour in an attempt to back up these credentials. To me though she's just a pop singer and the only positive thing I have to say about her is that she isn't as bad as her god awful daughter.
Verdict - Rubbish
10. DJ Miko - What's Up (New)
One of the worst records of 1993 was "What's Up" by 4 Non Blondes. A year later we get this eurodance cover from DJ Miko which pretty much ensured we'd be hearing it on the dancefloor for years to come. Still a terrible record.
Verdict - Rubbish
When PJ & Duncan started their music career it was probably just the viewers of Byker Grove who noticed. When this record came out though everybody else did. I used to live in Newcastle and there was a 90s bar there where you were pretty much guaranteed to hear this record. It is shit though.
Verdict - Rubbish
The title of this record pretty much sums up my feelings about all these eurodance records coming off the production line. It's the 2nd Top 40 hit for German eurodance act Maxx and isn't that different to their first.
Verdict - Rubbish
One memory of this song that particularly stands out for some reason is it being on the car radio when it was my friends birthday in the middle of August. What does it for me with this song is what I assume to be the steel drums. I also like the 2 different styles of Brian and Tony Gold (not their real names).
Verdict - Good
There's a video I've seen of someone trying to listen to modern rap music but the facial expressions implies they find it all shit. They eventually resort to this record and breath a sigh of relief. That pretty much sums up how I feel.
Verdict - Good
This is the B-52s under a different name with this cover of The Flintstones theme tune which was done for The Flintstones movie. They have some decent tunes to their name and it's a shame their biggest hits are the worst records I've heard them do.
Verdict - Rubbish
The Top 40 debut and biggest hit for China Black. It was one of those records that I hated at the time but have grown to like via nostalgia for the 90s. I do remember at the time hearing someone singing that and saying what the fuck are you doing? to him. It's easy on the ears I guess.
Verdict - Good
The Top 40 debut for Let Loose and the record they're best known for. I remember this being universally hated at the time and rightfully so because this is an absolutely dreadful record. It's annoying and cringeworthy and hopefully I'll never hear it again.
Verdict - Rubbish
When Big Mountain hit the charts I knew this record would be just around the corner because there was also no avoiding this record at the time and it used to annoy me in equal measure. It was originally a country song by John Michael Montgomery. It wasn't the only Top 40 hit for All-4-One though, they would return with another John Michael Montgomery cover but fortunately that never made the Top 30 so I won't have to listen to it.
Verdict - Rubbish
Aside from a chart topper in 1992, the 90s hadn't been a great decade to this point for Wet Wet Wet from a Top 40 perspective with the rest of their singles of the decade so far failing to reach the Top 10. This was all about to change with this record after it spent 15 weeks at number one and could have beaten Bryan Adams record had they not pulled it from sale. Obviously this topped the charts due to it being from "Four Weddings and a Funeral" but it's also a decent song and definitely revitalised them after some pretty poor singles.
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 12.5/30, or 42%. Will we make it to 50% this time?
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