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:
30. Duke Baysee - Sugar Sugar (New)
"Sugar Sugar" was a novelty record that topped the charts for The Archies in the 60s. This is Duke Baysee covering it in the same manner CJ Lewis was covering "Sweets For My Sweet" earlier on in the year. This isn't as good though and doesn't really hold any nostalgia for me.
Verdict - Rubbish
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 penultimate Top 40 hit to date for Robert Palmer and the last time he'll feature as his last hit never made the Top 30. It sounds a bit out of place in 1994 and sounds pretty bland if I'm honest. Not my cup of tea.
Verdict - Rubbish
The only Top 40 hit for Lisa Loeb and also the only record of hers that I've ever heard. I don't want to ruin my perception by hearing any of her other songs. A great bit of 90s pop and they don't make them like this anymore.
Verdict - Good
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
My memory tells me that this was the follow up to "Oblivion" but they had another hit in between that. I do recall a lot of people were going off Terrorvision by this point but I do remember liking this record. The middle bit where it calms down before getting back into it is great.
Verdict - Good
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
23. R Kelly - Summer Bunnies (New)
The 2nd Top 40 hit for R Kelly which samples "Outstanding" by The Gap Band. This one has a rapped verse and sung chorus which happens on a few R Kelly tunes. It's on the "12 Play" album which I own.
Verdict - Good
Soundgarden were one of the big four Seattle grunge bands but I would say their name was better known than their music to the mainstream public. This changed with this record which was their best known hit. I happen to like it.
Verdict - Good
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
The final Top 40 hit to date for Chaka Demus And Pliers. They were a breath of fresh air when they first hit the Top 40 but were going stale by this point. All their Top 40 hits came from the same album and as I mentioned when reviewing their last hit we are into album filler territory.
Verdict - Rubbish
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
18. Livin' Joy - Dreamer (New)
The Top 40 debut and only chart topper for Livin Joy which is also the hit they're most famous for. It's a commercial dance record no doubt and I've perhaps heard this too many times in my life by now. It does however push the right buttons to make it great fun to listen to.
Verdict - Good
It was 3rd time lucky for Oasis who reached the Top 10 for the first time with their 3rd Top 40 single. One thing I remember was this appearing on Now 33 which didn't come out until 1996. Not sure why they felt the need to include a song from 1994 on it. I've said before that I was never a fan of Oasis but what I will say is this is a bit more musical than most of their other hits but I still don't like it.
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
This record was apparently written by the members of Eternal themselves. It became their first Top 40 hit not to make the Top 10, a classic example of things going downhill when they start writing their own music except this is still pretty early on in their career. It's crap.
Verdict - Rubbish
The Top 40 debut for Eastenders actor Sean Maguire. I would say this would be the best remembered because of the Eastenders does pop music novelty. Unfortunately he went on to have more Top 40 hits than you'd think.
Verdict - Rubbish
This is a song that gets better with age. I do remember liking it at the time but a few years ago I heard it for the first time in years and realised just how good it was. It's 90s pop music at its finest and records like this which made the 90s great.
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
Another sort of tribute to Kurt Cobain with a dance record that blatantly rip off "Smells Like Teen Spirit" without directly ripping it off. This was regularly played on the Essential Mix back in the day and even the Nirvana song itself would make it into the mixes too. I like it.
Verdict - Good
10. Blur - Parklife (New)
A lot is said about the Blur vs Oasis chart battle in 1995 but what you don't hear about is the time Blur knocked Oasis off number 10 with this record. This is a great sing along record and good fun to listen to. I would say this marks Blur at the height of their popularity.
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
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 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
This was really "End Of The Road" part 2. Once again it's a Babyface penned ballad and know by many as their other hit. I guess it worked wonders for them the first time round so why not do the same again. It didn't quite hit the same heights as "End Of The Road" in the UK but it topped the charts in America.
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
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
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
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
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 14.5/30, or 48%. So close to 50%.
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