UK Number 40s: Maroon 5 - This Summer (2015)

 

Whilst Maroon 5's first record to only make number 40 could be regarded as a success due to only being a promo single, the same couldn't really be said of this record.

Their album "V" had been out for a year and a duluxe version of their album was released which included this track on it for the first time. It only made number 23 in their native America too, other singles of theirs from around this time were charting much higher.

The full title of this record is "This Summers Gonna Hurt Like a Motherfucker" which obviously doesn't lend itself well to radio play. It was the last single from their "V" album but their Top 40 career was far from over.

Top 30 in 1999 Reviewed: Week 36

Here's my weekly look at the Top 30 from 26 years ago. The plan is for these posts to go out at 17:30 on a Sunday.

Here is the Top 40 in full.

I've decided against repetition from previous weeks moving forward so will only feature the records I'm reviewing for the first time. I also won't repeat the reviews from the Top 20 in 1999 Reviewed posts.

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 records new to the top 30 from this week in 1999 with my verdict on each record:

24. Caprice - Oh Yeah

Caprice is a model who decided to branch out into music and ended up having 2 Top 40 hits which both made number 24. This was the first of those. When a non-musician decides to release a record you generally expect it to be crap. More often than not it is and this is no exception.

Verdict - Rubbish

23. Mark Morrison And Connor Reeves - Best Friend

You probably didn't think that Mark Morrison was still having hits in 1999. This was his last original Top 40 hit to date. It was also the final Top 40 hit to date for Conner Reeves. I would say that Mark Morrison has done better and Connor Reeves has never made a good record as far as I'm aware.

Verdict - Rubbish

22. Ayla - Ayla

Yet another German trance record in the Top 40 in 1999. This record was originally from 1995 and would end up featuring in the film "Kevin & Perry Go Large", a film that sounds right up my street but I've never watched for some reason.

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 12/30, or 40%. Now we're slipping. 

80s in the 90s: 1984

Continuing the look at whether 80s acts succeeded in the 90s here's a look at the 1984 debutants:

Madonna: This is possibly the easiest verdict I have to give. Madonna kicked of the 90s with a number 1, followed by 2 number 2s followed by 3 number 3s. That alone would make for a successful 90s in the charts. She went onto have 27 Top 40 hits that decade, more Top 40 hits than anyone else in the 90s and more Top 40 hits than she had in the 80s.

Verdict: Hit

Billy Idol: A name you would associate with the 80s as a solo artist. His biggest hits came in 1985 with "White Wedding" and "Rebel Yell" both reaching number 6. He clocked up 8 Top 40 hits in the 80s and then had a further 2 in the 90s, "Cradle Of Love" which made 34 in 1990 and "Shock To The System" which made number 30 in 1993. Not really enough to be considered a 90s act too.

Verdict: Miss

ZZ Top: The 90s Top 40 chart record of ZZ Top is almost identical in the 90s to the 80s. Both decades gave them 5 Top 40 hits of which 2 made the Top 20 and 1 made the Top 10. Their Top 10 hits both made number 10, "Gimme All Your Lovin" in the 80s and "Viva Las Vegas" in the 90s. On that basis I'd say they're just as much a 90s band as an 80s one.

Verdict: Hit

George Michael: It could be argued that out of all the people who have left a band and gone solo George Michael has had the most successful solo career from a UK chart perspective. He topped the charts with his first 3 singles and then in the 90s he managed 3 number ones in a row again and had a total of 4 that decade. He had a total of 16 Top 40 hits in the 90s and 11 of them made the Top 5.

Verdict: Hit

Feargal Sharkey: He only just makes the minimum criteria for this list, 4 Top 40 hits in the 80s and a solitary Top 40 hit in the 90s. His 90s Top 40 hit was "I've Got News For You" which made number 12 which was higher than 2 of his 80s hits. However the other 2 80s hits include the chart topper "A Good Heart". He also called it a day as a singer in 1991.

Verdict: Miss

Scritti Politti: Another act who only just makes the minimum criteria for this list. The sole Scritti Politti Top 40 hit in the 90s was "She's A Woman" and was the lowest charting one. It was a collaboration with Shabba Ranks and afterwards came a lengthy hiatus from frontman Green Gartside which last almost the rest of the decade.

Verdict: Miss

Alison Moyet: She only failed to make the Top 10 once from her 7 Top 40 hits of the 80s. In the 90s she failed to reach the Top 10 with either of her hits, "This House" made number 40 and "Whispering Your Name" made number 18.

Verdict: Miss

Cyndi Lauper: It may come as a surprise to hear Cyndi Lauper had more Top 40 hits in the 90s than the 80s. She only had 4 in the 80s, "Girls Just Want To Have Fun", "Time After Time", "True Colors" and "I Drove All Night" which are all pretty well known. The same can't be said for her 7 90s hits with the biggest of these being "Hey Now (Girls Just Want To Have Fun)" which was a remake of her 80s hit and reached number 4. 4 of them charted outside the Top 30 whilst the other 2 failed to reach the Top 10. This is a difficult one but I'd say she just about gets a pass.

Verdict: Hit

Sade: The biggest Sade hit was her debut "Your Love Is King" which made number 6 and was her only Top 10. Her 2nd biggest hit was her only 90s Top 40 hit "No Ordinary Love" which made number 14. I'd say the lower charting 80s ones are better known and I wouldn't say this is enough to be considered a 90s chart act.

Verdict: Miss

Freddie Mercury: As a solo artist Freddie Mercury had 5 Top 40 hits in the 80s and 2 in the 90s. Both of his 90s ones came after he died, "In My Defence" was originally recorded in 1985 and "Living On My Own" was originally released as a single in 1985 but failed to make the Top 40. The latter gave Freddie Mercury his only solo number one. In theory a 90s number one should make you a 90s chart act. but given they were 80s records charting after his death in this case I don't think it does.

Verdict: Miss

Dutch Top 40 1995: Week 36

These were the new entries in the Dutch Top 40 that never made the UK Top 40:

Rene Froger & Friends - You've Got A Friend

Rene Froger's friends here are Marco Borsatto, Ruth Jacott and the Frogettes. I get the impression that Rene Froger and Marco Borsatto were just about the biggest names in Holland at the time and this collaboration would have number 1 written all over it but it only managed number 3. Maybe because they're singing in English. As you might have guessed it's a cover of the Carole King record.

Paul Elstak - Rainbow In the Sky

Some more happy hardcore from Paul Elstak. This was played a lot at the raves at the time, one set in particular that I remember was DJ Vibes at Helter Skelter NYE 96 where he opened with this and as a result I think of what Live Lee was saying over it when I'm listening.

Henny Huisman - Snuit Je

Here we have one of many examples of a non-musician getting into the Dutch Top 40. Henny Huisman is a TV presenter most notably for Soundmixshow which is a Dutch version of Stars in their Eyes. He also presented Surpriseshow which is the Dutch version of Surprise Surprise. I gather this is supposed to be a novelty record about a horse.

2000: The Good Old Days? - July

This month saw Artful Dodger and Craig David reunite on what was both artists 3rd Top 40 hit with "Woman Trouble". Truth be told Craig David doesn't sing much on this record with the bulk of the vocals coming from Robbie Craig. It's a great record and good enough to be the best record this month.

Ever since the acid house days of the late 80s the holiday destination that went hand in hand with dance music was Ibiza. The rapid rise of UK garage in the year 2000 meant Ayia Napa was now being talked about just as much. One garage record that you can't help but think of Ayia Napa when hearing is "Summer of Love" by Lonyo. Another decent garage record this month was "Neighbourhood" by Zed Bias. As with any genre that's hugely popular there's some cheesy rubbish too. This month is comes from Shanks & Bigfoot who followed up their previous years chart topper with "Sing A Long" which sounds just as silly.

There wasn't a bad trance record this month and this includes vocal tracks from Matt Darey with "Beautiful" and Alice Deejay with "Will I Ever". Chicane had the double a-side "No Ordinary Morning / Halcyon" and Mauro Picotto had "Iguana" which are the best trance records this month.

Not a bad rap record this month either, in fact they all get full marks. There's "The Real Slim Shady" by Eminem which was the lead single from his "The Marshall Mathers LP" album. De La Soul returned teaming up with Redman on "Oooh". Ol Dirty Bastard charted with "Got Your Money".

R&B was looking pretty good too. We had the final Top 40 hit for En Vogue with "The Riddle". There was the Top 40 debut for Lucy Pearl whose members included former En Vogue member Dawn Robinson. Aaliyah charted with "Try Again" which was decent and even British group Damage had an alright single with "Ghetto Romance". The only record letting the genre down was "Jumpin Jumpin" by Destiny's Child which is predictably crap.

Speaking of crap it's time to name the worst record for this month. It comes from Girl Thing who were being heavily promoted as the next Spice Girls at the time even though I'm the only one who seems to remember them. Their debut single "Last One Standing" flopped (i.e. didn't top the charts) and this pretty much spelt the end for them.

Here's a list of the records with the best on top, worst at the bottom and the good ones in green, OK ones in amber and rubbish ones in red (and in no particular order):

Score: 38%

Here's a look at the chart:

This isn't the best July of the 21st century because July 2001 was better, just.

January Charts: 1974

Here are the new entries ranked from best to worst:

1. Stevie Wonder - Living For The City

2. Clifford T Ward - Scullery

3. The Isley Brothers - Highway Of My Life

4. Harold Melvin And The Bluenotes - The Love I Lost

5. Ronnie Lane & Slim Chance - How Come

6. Alice Cooper - Teenage Lament '74

7. Diana Ross - All Of My Life

8. Billy Paul - Thanks For Saving My Life

9. Barry White - Never Never Gonna Give Ya Up

10. Stealers Wheel - Star

11. The Stylistics - Rockin' Roll Baby

12. Prelude - After The Gold Rush

13. Wombles - Wombling Song

14. The Sweet - Teenage Rampage

15. Mud - Tiger Feet

16. Lulu - The Man Who Sold The World

17. Bubble Rock - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

When I reached the end of the 2nd week I thought we could be on for the best year so far. After the following 2 weeks though I had my doubts.

There is a clear winner in this batch which comes from Stevie Wonder with "Living For The City". In the interests of time I listen to the radio edit of each record, but for this one after listening to the radio edit I went on to listen to the full 7 minute version. The best thing he's ever done and hard to believe it's the same person who did "I Just Called To Say I Love You".

A surprise record occupies 2nd place. It was the 2nd and final and lesser known hit for Clifford T Ward. I was vaguely aware of this record but this was the first time I had a proper listen and found it a real joy to listen to.

In 3rd place are The Isley Brothers with "Highway Of My Life". They had left Motown by this point but were still producing the goods.

Then we have an early example of disco in the Top 40 with "The Love I Lost" by Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes. This was a time before the popularity of disco exploded and everyone jumped on the bandwagon and as a result it's a decent record.

Folk isn't a genre I think of when it comes to 70s music but we have a few in this batch. In addition to Clifford T Ward we have former Small Faces and Faces member Ronnie Lane with "How Come" which is up in 5th place. We also have "Star" by Stealers Wheel which is also alright and "After The Goldrush" by Prelude which is also alright but suffers somewhat from being acapella.

Alice Cooper is a name I think of when it comes to the harder side of rock in the 70s. His record "Teenage Lament 74" still fits that description but is a bit different to his typical sound and I like it.

Some soul records follow, I find "Rockin Roll Baby" by Stylistics pretty average and they've done better but the records from Diana Ross, Billy Paul and Barry White are all decent.

Down the bottom we have Jonathan King doing a novelty cover of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" under the name Bubblerock and is awful. Lulu made one of many comebacks with a cover of "The Man Who Sold The World" by David Bowie but it doesn't work for me. Despite Lulu being a 60s singer coming back in the 70s and David Bowie very much being of the 70s Lulu is the younger of the 2. In fact Lulu is one of the youngest of all these artists.

Glam Rock isn't really my thing and I've never liked "Tiger Feet" by Mud. Above that is "Teenage Rampage" by The Sweet which was the reason I got 36 instead of 39 on Popmaster because I couldn't identify some lyrics from the first verse. Even now the lyrics still don't stand out.

We've now reached the mid-point of the 70s and we've not seen the nosedive in quality I was expecting.

Score: 47

UK Number 40s: Luke Friend - Hole in my Heart (2015)

 

There were just two Top 40 hits to come out of the 2013 series of The X Factor. Winner Sam Bailey reached number one with her only Top 40 hit "Skyscraper" and then 3rd placed Luke Friend reached number 40 with this, his only Top 40 hit.

Although most X Factor contestants have no longevity in their chart career they do often get off to a solid start before fading away. This wasn't to be the case with Luke Friend. The fact the 2014 series had also been and gone by the time this was released may have also been a factor.

One of the songwriters on this record is Roy Stride from Scouting For Girls. Their Top 40 career was finished by the point, but Roy Stride would be back with further Top 40 hits as a songwriter.