Top Of The Pops

[CZB]

The Eurovision entry from Emma was worse than what we send these days!

Neither that, nor its poor chart position, prevented it from getting another play on "Top of the Pops".....


03-05-90 (Presented by Simon Mayo)

(26) SINITTA – Hitchin’ A Ride
(08) SOUL II SOUL – A Dream’s A Dream (video)
( Charts 40 - 31 )
(12) MORRISSEY – November Spawned A Monster
(05) THE ADVENTURES OF STEVIE V – Dirty Cash (video)
Breakers:
- (33) EN VOGUE – Hold On (video clip)
- (34) BILLY IDOL – Cradle Of Love (video clip)
- (38) MICHAEL BOLTON – How Can We Be Lovers (video clip)
(28) B.B.G. feat. DINA TAYLOR – Snappiness (Sweet Inspiration Edit)
( Charts 30 - 11 )
(18) BRUCE DICKINSON – Tattooed Millionaire (video)
(04) ADAMSKI – Killer
( Charts 10 - 01 )
(01) MADONNA – Vogue (video)
(53) EMMA – Give A Little Love Back To The World (video) (and credits)


Morrissey was an act whose singles sales tended to be more front-loaded than most - so it was not surprising that this one came in at its peak and disappeared very quickly. Its full top 100 run was 12-16-43-73. But it was more unexpected that the highest new entry of the week, from Soul II Soul, had much less staying power than their three previous successes, all of them having reached the top five (and including the number one "Back To Life"). "A Dream's A Dream" turned into more of a nightmare, gone from the top 100 after just six weeks there (08-06-09-14-34-47).

[CZB]

The first one tonight:

10-05-90 (Presented by Gary Davies)

(05) KYLIE MINOGUE – Better The Devil You Know
(20) THE WONDERSTUFF – Circlesquare (video)
( Charts 40 - 31 )
(19) MANTRONIX feat. WONDRESS – Take Your Time
(08) NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK – Cover Girl (video)
(18) BEATS INTERNATIONAL – Won’t Talk About It
( Charts 30 - 11 )
(22) MICHAEL BOLTON – How Can We Be Lovers
(14) EN VOGUE – Hold On (video)
( Charts 10 - 02 )
(01) ADAMSKI – Killer
(25) THUNDER – Backstreet Symphony (video) (and credits)

Perhaps inevitably, it was downhill all the way after the excellent opening number - one of my favourites from Kylie Minogue. Instantly her tenth consecutive top five success, this one was going to peak at number two, just as four of the others had already done! Almost ten years later, the song would return to the chart for Steps as a double-A-side with "Say You'll Be Mine" - that version would reach number four.

[CZB]

18-05-90 (Presented by Nicky Campbell )

(31) HOTHOUSE FLOWERS – Give It Up
(25) LISA STANSFIELD – What Did I Do To You (video)
(22) THE PASADENAS – Love Thing
( Charts 40 - 31 )
(16) THE CHIMES – I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
(27) EURYTHMICS – Angel (video)
( Charts 30 - 11 )
(29) SAM BROWN – Kissing Gate
(21) PAUL YOUNG – Softly Whispering I Love You
( Charts 10 - 01 )
(01) ADAMSKI – Killer
(28) DEPECHE MODE – Policy Of Truth (video) (and credits)

This edition was moved to Friday evening because BBC coverage of the FA Cup Final replay occupied the normal Thursday slot.

Although I had bought, or would buy, other singles by Hothouse Flowers and Lisa Stansfield, I didn't think much of their offerings this time....the only one I bought from this line-up was the second most successful of Sam Brown's follow-ups to her top five hit from 1988, "Stop". The Official Charts' write-up for this artist includes:

"Sam Brown was born October 7, 1964 in Stratford, London, and is the daughter of musician Joe Brown and session singer Vicki Brown."

which is perhaps understating the achievements of her mother - still alive at the time of this hit, but who would die of cancer a year later, aged 50. She had released several singles of her own, and reached the top thirty in both Belgium and the Netherlands with this beautiful interpretation of a Mozart composition in 1986:

[Thriller]

What a top 5 with Dirty Cash, Vogue, Opposites Attract, Devil and Killer!

Shame Devil never made #1, it was easily strong enough to be.

[CZB]

Shame Devil never made #1, it was easily strong enough to be.

It was certainly one of the best records in the charts at this time!

The first show tonight:


24-05-90 (Presented by Anthea Turner)

(20) THE B52’S – Roam
(10) MANTRONIX feat. WONDRESS – Take Your Time (video)
( Charts 40 - 31 )
(05) EN VOGUE – Hold On
Breakers:
- (32) MOVEMENT 98 feat. CARROLL THOMPSON – Joy And Heartbreak (video clip)
- (33) BETTY BOO – Doin’ The Do (video clip)
- (34) LITTLE ANGELS – Radical Your Lover (video clip)
- (35) TALK TALK – It’s My Life (video clip)
(09) BEATS INTERNATIONAL – Won’t Talk About It
( Charts 30 - 11 )
(11) MICHAEL BOLTON – How Can We Be Lovers
(12) DON PABLO’S ANIMALS– Venus
( Charts 10 - 01 )
(01) ADAMSKI – Killer (video)
(25) WAS (NOT WAS) – Papa Was A Rolling Stone (video) (and credits)


Again, nothing here that I liked - and some that I didn't remember at all! Among the few that I still hear getting radio airplay is the Talk Talk hit - it was third time lucky for this one, which had first peaked at 46 in January 1984, then at 93 when re-released in September 1985. A remake involving "Liquid People" later reached number 64, in 2003 - but this 1990 release was on its way to the best peak, number thirteen. I must admit, my flawed recollection was that when No Doubt did their version of this song, it had gone higher - but I was wrong. The first release of theirs only made number twenty, then a few months later a re-release got to number seventeen.

[CZB]

And the last 1990 repeat we're getting in 2020:


31-05-90 (Presented by Simon Mayo )

(22) BLACK BOX – Everybody Everybody
(20) TALK TALK – It’s My Life (video)
( Charts 40 - 31 )
(23) SAM BROWN – Kissing Gate
(19) ERASURE – Star (video)
(25) JANE CHILD – Don’t Wanna Fall In Love (video)
( Charts 30 - 11 )
(12) CHAD JACKSON – Hear The Drummer (Get Wicked)
(15) BETTY BOO – Doin’ The Do (video)
(02) ENGLAND/NEW ORDER – World In Motion (video)
( Charts 10 - 01 )
(01) ADAMSKI – Killer
(24) THE CHARLATANS – The Only One I Know (video) (and credits)


We've already seen several of these, albeit only as breakers in some cases. Not surprisingly, the World Cup song making the highest new entry at number two was on its way to number one - while the new Black Box single certainly wasn't going to give them a second chart-topper. It would only climb to number 16 the following week, then dive rapidly downwards....

[CZB]

Over the festive period, there were two new episodes of "Top Of The Pops" on BBC ONE - I saw the first but forgot entirely about the second, though I expect that it consisted of basically the same performers (some of whom had never ever reached the top forty throughout the year) in a slightly different order. More interestingly, BBC FOUR aired something never seen before - an alternative version of the Christmas show from 1995 in which a different number one was announced and performed, not the one that actually was the Christmas number one that year! Elsewhere there was speculation that this was a mistake and the wrong programme had been located and transmitted - but as this "alternative universe" version is still available to view on the I-player for another week or so, here.....

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episod...s-special-1995

.....maybe it was intentional that this time viewers could see:

Spoiler!

"Wonderwall" by Mike Flowers Pops getting to number one instead of "Earth Song" by Michael Jackson !

Now, tonight we return to 1990 with the next two editions from that year, this being the first::


07-06-90 (Presented by Mark Goodier)

(28) POP WILL EAT ITSELF – Touched By The Hand Of Cicciolina
(26) ELTON JOHN – Sacrifice (video)
(29) D-SHAKE – Yaaah (video)
( Charts 40 - 31 )
(32) THE MISSION – Into The Blue (video)
(04) DON PABLO’S ANIMALS– Venus
( Charts 30 - 11 )
(23) WILSON PHILLIPS – Hold On (video)
(31) M.C. TUNES versus 808 STATE – The Only Rhyme That Bites
(12) WAS (NOT WAS) – Papa Was A Rolling Stone (video)
( Charts 10 - 02 )
(John Barnes and Paul Gascoigne interviewed by satellite link)
(01) ENGLAND/NEW ORDER – World In Motion (video) WATCH
(21) ROXETTE – It Must Have Been Love (video) (and credits)


The closing track by Roxette, which was on its way to a peak of number three, then back into the top ten three years later, was the only one I bought from this otherwise generally absolutely dreadful collection.....

[CZB]

Continuing with this one:


14-06-90 ( Presented by Bruno Brookes )

(32) GURU JOSH – Whose Law (Is It Anyway)?
(38) MAUREEN – Thinking Of You
( Charts 40 - 31 )
(13) SNAP – Oops Up (video)
(36) MAXI PRIEST – Close To You
(22) BOBBY BROWN – The Free Style Mega-mix (video)
( Charts 30 - 11 )
(09) THE CHARLATANS – The Only One I Know (video)
(07) BETTY BOO – Doin’ The Do
(02) NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK – Step By Step (video)
( Charts 10 - 01 )
(01) ENGLAND/NEW ORDER – World In Motion (video)
(31) 49ers – Girl To Girl (video) (and credits)


Getting off to a promising start this time with not a bad follow up to the big hit "Infinity" - but this one was only going to climb to a peak of number 26 the following week, and would then go into freefall, disappearing from the top 100 after only two more weeks there.

After that, there were several acts by whom I had bought, or would buy, other singles - but I didn't like any of these ones!

[CZB]

In an earlier time slot than usual, tonight's first.....


22-06-90 (Presented by Jakki Brambles)

(35) MAGNUM – Rockin’ Chair
(04) ROXETTE – It Must Have Been Love (video)
( Charts 40 - 31 )
(19) BIG FUN AND SONIA – You’ve Got A Friend
(08) WILSON PHILLIPS – Hold On (video)
Breakers:
- (29) RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS – Taste The Pain (video clip)
- (32) BRUCE DICKINSON – All The Young Dudes (video clip)
- (37) DOGS D’AMOUR – Victims Of Success (video clip)
(30) YAZZ – Treat Me Good
(20) CRAIG McLACHLAN & CHECK 1-2 – Mona (video)
( Charts 30 - 11 )
(03) LUCIANO PAVAROTTI – Nessun Dorma (video)
(12) M.C. TUNES versus 808 STATE – The Only Rhyme That Bites (video)
( Charts 10 - 02 )
(01) ELTON JOHN – Sacrifice
(25) M.C. HAMMER – U Can’t Touch This (video) (and credits)


It would seem that the Luciano Pavarotti song had first been released as a single a couple of decades earlier, but only became a hit when used as the theme to the BBC's coverage of the World Cup (some coverage of which caused this edition to be moved to Friday instead of occupying the usual Thursday slot).

Meanwhile, Elton John achieved his first solo number one in the UK, with a double-A-side single - both of whose tracks had flopped on their own in the previous year! "Healing Hands" had peaked at number 45, and "Sacrifice" had only reached number 55 - but the latter seemed to get much more of the radio and tv airplay in 1990.

[CZB]

And tonight's second.....


28-06-90 (Presented live by Gary Davies)

(05) SNAP – Oops Up
(21) JASON DONOVAN – Another Night
( Charts 40 - 31 )
(17) MAUREEN – Thinking Of You
Breakers:
- (32) DOUBLE TROUBLE – Love Don’t Live Here Anymore (video clip)
- (35) GLENN MEDEIROS feat. BOBBY BROWN – She Ain’t Worth It (video clip)
- (39) DEL AMITRI – Move Away Jimmy Blue (video clip)
(25) BOB GELDOF – The Great Song Of Indifference
(23) BRUCE DICKINSON – All The Young Dudes (video)
( Charts 30 - 11 )
(08) MAXI PRIEST – Close To You
( Charts 10 - 01 )
(01) ELTON JOHN – Sacrifice
(24) POISON – Unskinny Bop (video) (and credits)


Two singles that I bought in this one - the biggest of Bob Geldof's five solo hits, and one of only two that reached the top forty - and the highest new entry from Jason Donovan, which I thought was one of his best singles. However - surprisingly - it would be his first to miss the top ten, climbing only three spots to a peak of number eighteen!

[CZB]

Another week, another two episodes....


05-07-90 (Presented by Nicky Campbell)

(30) INSPIRAL CARPETS – She Comes In The Fall
(29) JANET JACKSON – Alright (video)
( Charts 40 - 31 )
(17) POISON – Unskinny Bop (video)
(25) DOUBLE TROUBLE – Love Don’t Live Here Anymore
(10) M.C. TUNES versus 808 STATE – The Only Rhyme That Bites (video)
Album chart:
- (05) NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK – Step By Step (video clip)
- (04) TALK TALK – Life’s What You Make It (video clip)
- (03) JASON DONOVAN – Another Night (video clip)
- (02) SOUL II SOUL – A Dream’s A Dream (video clip)
- (01) LUCIANO PAVAROTTI – Nessun Dorma (video clip)
(12) F.A.B. feat. M.C. PARKER – Thunderbirds Are Go (video)
(04) CRAIG McLACHLAN & CHECK 1-2 – Mona (video)
( Charts 30 - 11 )
(27) MASSIVO feat. TRACY – Loving You
(09) M.C. HAMMER – U Can’t Touch This (video)
( Charts 10 - 01 )
(01) ELTON JOHN – Sacrifice (video)
(21) GLENN MEDEIROS feat. BOBBY BROWN – She Ain’t Worth It (video) (and credits)


I had forgotten that "Loving You" had returned to the chart this year in a new version - as Nicky Campbell mentioned, it had previously been a hit for Minnie Riperton.

I think this was the first time for quite a few years that an album chart rundown had been included....

[CZB]

And the next one:


12-07-90 (Presented by Anthea Turner)

(35) GUN – Shame On You
(27) RIVER CITY PEOPLE – California Dreamin’
( Charts 40 - 31 )
(34) BLUE PEARL – Naked In The Rain
(13) GLENN MEDEIROS feat. BOBBY BROWN – She Ain’t Worth It (video)
(38) THUNDER – Gimme Some Lovin’
( Charts 30 - 11 )
(28) THE SOUP DRAGONS feat. JUNIOR REID – I’m Free
(04) THE STONE ROSES – One Love (video)
( Charts 10 - 01 )
(01) ELTON JOHN – Sacrifice
(26) TECHNOTRONIC feat. YA KID K – Rockin’ Over The Beat (video) (and credits)


Another cover version of an old hit this week - and River City People were on their way to a peak of number thirteen, ten places higher than the Mamas and the Papas had reached in 1966. However, that older version would return to the charts and achieve a new peak of number nine in 1997, when it was used in a lager commercial!

[CZB]

Tonight's first....


19-07-90 (Presented by Mark Goodier)

(02) CRAIG McLACHLAN & CHECK 1-2 – Mona
(04) PARTNERS IN KRYME – Turtle Power (video)
( Charts 40 - 31 )
(21) DIANA ROSS – I’m Still Waiting (video)
(27) INSPIRAL CARPETS – She Comes In The Fall
(32) PAUL YOUNG – Oh Girl
( Charts 30 - 11 )
(05) F.A.B. feat. M.C. PARKER – Thunderbirds Are Go (video)
(14) MADONNA – Hanky Panky (video)
(31) DREAM WARRIORS – Wash Your Face In My Sink
( Charts 10 - 01 )
(01) ELTON JOHN – Sacrifice (video)
(28) PAULA ABDUL – Knocked Out (video) (and credits)


Along with many cover versions of old hits, a few of them returned in 1990 for the original artists - including Diana Ross. This was a "Phill Chill remix" of a song that had previously reached number one nineteen years earlier - but this time around was going no higher than the position it occupied this week.

My favourite by a long way from this edition was the latest Madonna single - on its way to peak at number two a fortnight later. The track that would prevent it from reaching number one was elsewhere in tonight's line-up....

[CZB]

And tonight's second....


26-07-90 (Presented by Jakki Brambles)

(08) BLUE PEARL – Naked In The Rain
(09) TECHNOTRONIC feat. YA KID K – Rockin’ Over The Beat (video)
( Charts 40 - 31 )
(13) D.N.A. feat. SUZANNE VEGA – Tom’s Diner (video)
(10) THE SOUP DRAGONS feat. JUNIOR REID – I’m Free
Breakers:
- (29) BELL BIV DEVOE – Poison (video clip)
- (31) SINEAD O’CONNOR – The Emperor’s New Clothes (video clip)
- (33) BANANARAMA – Only Your Love (video clip)
(21) PAULA ABDUL – Knocked Out
( Charts 30 - 11 )
(05) M.C. HAMMER – U Can’t Touch This (video)
(16) RIVER CITY PEOPLE – California Dreamin’
( Charts 10 - 02 )
(01) PARTNERS IN KRYME – Turtle Power (video)
(23) LFO – L.F.O. (video) (and credits)


The M.C. Hammer song sampled a single from 1981 by Rick James - who, quite remarkably and maybe uniquely, managed to have eleven top 100 entries in the UK between 1978 and 1988, none of which ever reached the top forty! Perhaps surprisingly - as it did pretty well in other countries - the sampled song "Super Freak" wasn't among them.

The original Suzanne Vega release of "Tom's Diner" had only reached number 58 when released in 1987 - but the new remix was going to spend three weeks at a much-improed peak of number two....

[CZB]

Tonight's first:

02-08-90 (Presented by Bruno Brookes)

(21) LITTLE ANGELS – She’s A Little Angel
(17) NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK – Tonight (video)
( Charts 40 - 31 )
(14) LFO – L.F.O. (video)
(20) BELL BIV DEVOE – Poison
Album chart:
- (5) MADONNA – Vogue (video clip)
- (4) THE BEACH BOYS – Wouldn't It Be Nice (video clip)
- (3) THE ROLLING STONES – Paint It Black (video clip)
- (2) LUCIANO PAVAROTTI – Nessun Dorma (video clip)
- (1) ELTON JOHN – Healing Hands (video clip)
(02) MADONNA – Hanky Panky (video)
( Charts 30 - 11 )
(11) PRINCE – Thieves In The Temple (video)
(16) DREAM WARRIORS – Wash Your Face In My Sink
(23) DURAN DURAN – Violence Of Summer (video)
( Charts 10 - 01 )
(01) PARTNERS IN KRYME – Turtle Power (video)
(22) TRICKY DISCO – Tricky Disco (video) (and credits)

Bruno predicted that we would we seeing and hearing a lot more of tonight's opening act - and to some extent he was right, as this would be the first of nine top forty hits for the band. On the other hand, none of them would reach the top ten! One further top 100 entry would miss the top forty - as four more had already done.

Despite having followed the singles charts of the UK and several other countries for over twelve years by the time this episode originally aired - and for almost forty-three years now - albums charts have never really aroused even the tiniest flicker of interest in me. However, this was a year in which the top five albums were frequently featured in"Top Of The Pops" - such as in this week's programme, and in four more still to come in the weeks ahead.....

[CZB]

And the second one tonight....

09-08-90 (Presented live by Gary Davies)

(11) BOMBALURINA – Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
(02) D.N.A. feat. SUZANNE VEGA – Tom’s Diner (video)
( Charts 40 - 31 )
(04) BLUE PEARL – Naked In The Rain (video)
(23) CRAIG McLACHLAN & CHECK 1-2 – Amanda
Breakers:
- (21) ROXETTE - Listen To Your Heart (video clip)
- (24) JON BON JOVI - Blaze Of Glory (video clip)
- (26) STING - Englishman in New York (video clip)
(15) TRICKY DISCO – Tricky Disco (video)
(05) THE SOUP DRAGONS feat. JUNIOR REID – I’m Free (video)
( Charts 30 - 11 )
(03) M.C. HAMMER – U Can’t Touch This (video)
(29) HOTHOUSE FLOWERS – I Can See Clearly Now
( Charts 10 - 01 )
(01) PARTNERS IN KRYME – Turtle Power (video)
(17) TOGETHER – Hardcore Uproar (video) (and credits)

A rare week in which al1 of the top five were featured - although I suppose it wasn't often that the numbers 02, 03, 04 and 05 were all climbing at the same time. None of them were going to continue to number one, though - as the next chart-topper was elsewhere in this week's show.....

The Hothouse Flowers' cover of a well-known song was the third of just four top forty hits in the UK for the Irish band - seven more of their singles would grind to a halt between 41 and 100. But in their homeland they had twelve top thirty hits, nine of which reached the top ten. "Don't Go" and "The Rose" peaked at number two, and "Feet On The Ground" went to number one in 1988.

This week's breakers weren't listed in the Popscene archive - I've added them in above.

[CZB]

Just one episode this week, and in the earliest possible time-slot:


16-8-90 (Presented by Anthea Turner)

(24) GO WEST – The King Of Wishful Thinking
(18) STING – An Englishman In New York (video)
( Charts 40 - 31 )
(25) THE KLF – What Time Is Love?
(06) NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK – Tonight (video)
(12) TOGETHER – Hardcore Uproar (video)
( Charts 30 - 11 )
(17) BETTY BOO – Where Are You Baby
(13) JON BON JOVI – Blaze Of Glory (video)
(09) ROXETTE – Listen To Your Heart
( Charts 10 - 01 )
(01) PARTNERS IN KRYME – Turtle Power (video)
(26) PRIMAL SCREAM – Come Together (video) (and credits)


My highlight of this one by a long way was the latest hit for New Kids On The Block - the only single they ever released that I liked! Radio programmers nowadays perhaps agree, as it's pretty much the only one of their many successes that I still ever hear played. Going on to a peak of number three, it would give them their sixth consecutive top five hit - then five more singles would prove less popular, albeit all of them still reaching the top fifteen. But then they disappeared from the UK charts until 1994 and 2008, when new material ground to a halt at 27 and 42 / 34 and 81.....

[CZB]

Tonight's first episode:


23-8-90 (Presented by Nicky Campbell)

(29) THE HUMAN LEAGUE – Heart Like A Wheel
(22) MARIAH CAREY – Vision Of Love (video)
( Charts 40 - 31 )
(31) TINA TURNER – Look Me In The Heart (video)
(14) JIVE BUNNY & THE MASTERMIXERS – Can Can You Party
Breakers:
- (34) STEVE MILLER BAND – The Joker (video clip)
- (36) WILSON PHILLIPS – Release Me (video clip)
- (37) SONIA – End Of The World (video clip)
(23) LINDY LAYTON feat. JANET KAY – Silly Games
(17) CLIFF RICHARD – Silhouettes (video)
( Charts 30 - 11 )
(11) DEACON BLUE – I’ll Never Fall In Love Again (video)
( Charts 10 - 02 )
(01) BOMBALURINA – Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
(32) DEEE-LITE – Groove Is In The Heart (video) (and credits)


In complete contrast with another recent edition, the number one is the only track featured from this week's top ten.....and, elsewhere, there is an interesting anecdote from someone who was present at the original recording thirty and a half years ago. They recalled that there was almost a punch-up between Timmy Mallet and Nicky Campbell, because the latter wanted to unprofessionally introduce the former's hit with a "particularly sneery" link!

As well as the number one, I bought the Cliff Richard, Jive Bunny, Sonia and Wilson Phillips singles featured in this edition - although I think I probably waited for them all to hit the bargain bins. "Silly Games" first charted for Janet Kay in 1979 - I hadn't liked it then either. She may well have performed it on "Top Of The Pops" on the very same date in that year, as Nicky Campbell claimed - but, if so, that would have been eleven rather than thirteen years previously!

[CZB]

And the second one tonight.....


30-8-90 (Presented live by Mark Goodier)

(25) ASWAD – Next To You
(24) SONIA – End Of The World
( Charts 40 - 31 )
(11) THE KLF – What Time Is Love?
(14) STEVE MILLER BAND – The Joker (video)
(04) BETTY BOO – Where Are You Baby
( Charts 30 - 11 )
(03) NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK – Tonight (video)
(23) JASON DONOVAN – Rhythm Of The Rain
( Charts 10 - 01 )
(01) BOMBALURINA – Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
(31) WHITESNAKE – Now You’re Gone (video) (and credits)


There seemed to be quite a lot of cover versions of old hits charting in 1990 - the Jason Donovan one in this edition being another that I liked. Apparently the audience in tonight did too, judging from the way they were shrieking through much of it! It was about to go nine places higher than his previous success, to a peak of number nine.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in this line-up was a single that was two weeks away from becoming the next number one.....

[Plym]

Every week they play that NKOTB song, I find myself embarrassingly loving it more and more.

[CZB]

Tonight's first....


06-09-90 (Presented by Jakki Brambles)

(23) ADAMSKI – The Space Jungle
(14) MARIAH CAREY – Vision Of Love (video)
( Charts 40 - 31 )
(31) TALK TALK – Life’s What You Make It (video)
(28) THE FARM – Groovy Train
Album chart :
- (05) MADONNA – Vogue (video clip)
- (04) LUCIANO PAVAROTTI – Nessun Dorma (video clip)
- (03) PHIL COLLINS – Something Happened On The Way To Heaven (video clip )
- (02) NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK – Step By Step (video clip)
- (01) ELTON JOHN – Club At The End Of The Street (video clip)
(29) CARON WHEELER – Livin’ In The Light
( Charts 30 - 11 )
(04) DEEE-LITE – Groove Is In The Heart (video)
(21) LOOSE ENDS – Don’t Be A Fool
( Charts 10 - 01 )
(01) BOMBALURINA – Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini (video)
(32) JANET JACKSON – Black Cat (video) (and credits)


Nothing very interesting to me in this one - among a few Talk Talk hits that charted in more than one year, "Life's What You Make It" was only going to climb eight places to a peak of 23 this time. It had previously had a longer chart run back in 1986, when it reached number 16.

[CZB]

And the second one.....


13-09-90 (Presented by Gary Davies)

(27) LONDONBEAT – I’ve Been Thinking About You
(15) JANET JACKSON – Black Cat (video)
( Charts 40 - 31 )
(18) SONIA – End Of The World
(16) INXS – Suicide Blonde (video)
(22) BASS-O-MATIC – Fascinating Rhythm
( Charts 30 - 11 )
(05) THE KLF – What Time Is Love?
(26) MARIA McKEE – Show Me Heaven
( Charts 10 - 02 )
(01) STEVE MILLER BAND – The Joker (video)
(29) FAITH NO MORE – Epic (video) (and credits)


It was interesting that Gary Davies began by mentioning that the Londonbeat single had been at number one for three weeks in the Netherlands - he must have been referring to the Nationale Hitparade rather than the longer-running, more official Nederlandse Top 40, in which it didn't get there until a week later.

The highlight for me by a long way from this one was the Maria McKee hit, from the soundtrack to the Tom Cruise film "Days of Thunder". That was going to be a number one in the Netherlands too - and in Belgium, and in Norway....and in the UK.

[CZB]

This week's first....


20-09-90 (Presented by Nicky Campbell)

(28) TWENTY 4 SEVEN feat. CAPTAIN HOLLYWOOD – I Can’t Stand It
(23) THE STONE ROSES – Fool’s Gold (video)
( Charts 40 - 31 )
(21) SNAP – Cult Of Snap
(16) AC/DC – Thunderstruck (video)
Breakers:
- (32) S-EXPRESS – Nothing To Lose (video clip)
- (34) DNA – La Serenissima (video clip)
- (35) MONIE LOVE feat. TRUE IMAGE – It’s A Shame (My Sister) (video clip)
(19) THE CHARLATANS – Then
( Charts 30 - 11 )
(03) IRON MAIDEN – Holy Smoke (video)
(09) THE FARM – Groovy Train
( Charts 10 - 01 )
(01) STEVE MILLER BAND – The Joker (video)
(31) M.C. TUNES versus 808 STATE – Tunes Splits The Atom (video) (and credits)


Two here that I bought when they reached the bargain bin - the opening track, which had been a major hit all around continental Europe (although I much preferred their 1993 and 1994 later releases in which Nance was joined by Stay-C, but whose chart success became less widespread!) and the instrumental by DNA. This had originally been recorded by Rondo Veneziano in 1981, but their version had only reached number 58 in the UK in 1983 and number 99 in 1988.

[CZB]

And the next one.....


27-09-90 (Presented by Anthea Turner)

(21) MONIE LOVE feat. TRUE IMAGE – It’s A Shame (My Sister)
(28) DEPECHE MODE – World In My Eyes (video)
( Charts 40 - 31 )
(04) LONDONBEAT – I’ve Been Thinking About You
(29) THE WEDDING PRESENT – Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)
(15) THE CURE – Never Enough (video)
( Charts 30 - 11 )
(31) STATUS QUO – The Anniversary Waltz Part 1
(09) BASS-O-MATIC – Fascinating Rhythm
( Charts 10 - 02 )
(01) MARIA McKEE – Show Me Heaven
(34) RIDE – Taste (video) (and credits)


Nothing new here that was of interest to me - the two featured hits from the top five were my favourites by far of this week, especially my second favourite number one of the whole year....

I had completely forgotten that one of the many short-stay hits for the Wedding Present (twelve of them appearing at regular intervals during 1992) was a cover version of the 1975 number one from Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel !