Now we're in the spring of 1991. The Gulf War was essentially over, with Saddam Hussein's troops vacating Kuwait. Meanwhile, in Britain, six men who were jailed for the 1975 for the IRA bombing of two pubs in Birmingham had their convictions overturned. In that climate, these were the hits.
40 - "Wear Your Love Like Heaven," Definition of Sound
The first and biggest of two U.K. Top 40s by this London hip-hop group wasn't, to my surprise, a cover of Donovan's 60s hit, but rather a double-entendre-filled rap come-on. It's pretty good, as these things go. Extra points for the opening sample of the preacher decrying "Long John Barleycorn, nicotine, and the temptations of Eve."
39 - "Cherry Pie," Warrant
This single and video was one of the defining moments of hair metal. The song is basic hard rock, with lyrics that are pretty much thematically the same as Poison's "Talk Dirty to Me," but more coded, and thus dirtier. The video is pretty blatant, including a scene where the band turns a fire hose on a scantily clad woman. It definitely throws the pie right in your face, so to speak. It's big and dumb and loud and raunchy, and there are times and places for that. And it was the band's only hit in Britain. Don't know what, if anything, it says about our friends across the pond.
38 - "I've Got News for You," Feargal Sharkey
This Northern Irishman first found success in the late 70s with the punk-pop band The Undertones, then began a solo career in the mid-80s. The last of his hits was this soul ballad about still loving someone who's with another and promising that you'll be there if she's available again. Well done, but I'd much rather listen to his biggest hit "A Good Heart," or The Undertones' "Teenage Kicks."
37 - "Not a Minute Too Soon," Vixen
Made up of two Minnesotans, a Michigander, and an Alaskan who met up in Los Angeles, this band was one of the few major female presences on the hair metal scene. Interestingly, they had twice as many Top 40s in Britain as they did at home (4 to 2.) Their last was this poppy rocker about love coming just in time. Listening to it makes it obvious why some called them "the female Bon Jovi."
36 - "Around the Way Girl," LL Cool J
Long before he was chasing bad guys on NCIS: Los Angeles, the man born James Todd Smith was one of rap's first superstars, and his third U.K. hit was this rhyme about his ideal woman, who among other things, should have "extensions in her hair" and "bamboo earrings, at least two pair." And when he finds this lady, he plans to "eat her like a cookie." Also, her name is likely either Lisa, Angela, Pamela or Renee. Or maybe that's her full name. Anyway, this is all right. And apparently, he's found time to make another album which is scheduled to come out this year. Not high on my future listening priority list, but good for him.
35 - "Here Comes the Hammer," MC Hammer
The fourth single from the monster that was Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em missed the Top 40 in America, but managed to hit #15 here. I think his countrymen were right. It's pretty basic and uninspired.
34 - "People are Strange," Echo and the Bunnymen
These Liverpudlians, led by singer Ian McCulloch and guitarist Will Sergeant, were big stars at home in the 80s, racking up four Top Ten albums and ten Top 40 singles. They had broken up by the time this Doors cover from the soundtrack of The Lost Boys returned to the charts as a reissue. It sounds too much like the original to be at all necessary. Better to look up their originals, like "The Killing Moon," or "Bring On the Dancing Horses," to name just two.
33 - "In Yer Face," 808 State
This Mancunian electronic group broke through in 1989, and ended up being kind of a bridge between late-80s acid house and the early-90s "Madchester" dance-rock scene. Their biggest hit was this bit of trippy techno. It's probably make good workout music. Or it would be something to play if you were making some kind of getaway.
32 - "Bow Down Mister," Jesus Loves You
After his post-Culture Club solo career began to peter out, Boy George founded a new band, and their biggest hit was this track that combines acoustic folk, dance beats, and Indian sounds in a celebration of worship inspired in particular by his recent embrace of Hare Krishna. Not "My Sweet Lord" by any means, but actually pretty good for what it is. Plus he didn't get sued because of it, which is always a plus.
31 - "Outstanding," Kenny Thomas
London soul man Thomas carved out a decent career in the 90s, picking up eight Top 40s. His first was this Gap Band cover. Okay loverman lite-funk, but I'm sure the original is better.
30 - "Hangar 18," Megadeth
Dave Mustaine could have been a footnote in rock history a la Pete Best after he was fired by Metallica during the recording of their first album. Instead, he formed his own thrash metal band and became successful in his own right. Megadeth weren't much of a singles band in America, but in more metal-friendly Britain they found the Top 40 seven times. Their third such hit was this stomping five-minute mini-epic about the alleged government cover-up of an alien landing in Roswell, New Mexico in 1947, and the subsequent hiding of the evidence in an Ohio Air Force base. A solid 4.5 on the Headbangometer (I wonder if I could trademark that), with an ending that involves plenty of guitar shredding.
29 - "Adrenalin," N-Joi
From Essex, the duo of Nigel Champion and Mark Franklin managed four hits in the early 90s. Their first was this zippy house track that reminded me a bit of Daft Punk, which is always good.
28 - "Don't Go Messin' With My Heart," Mantronix
This New York duo blended hip-hop and electro-funk into a concoction that, as we've seen before, was much more popular in Britain than at home. Straightforward lyrics, decent beats, a typical-for-the-time rap. The whistling was a nice touch, though.
27 - "3 AM Eternal," The KLF
We encountered these guys and this song about rocking you and Mu Mu and all that stuff when it hit in the States later in the year. It's still quirky dancefloor fun. And it's still hard to believe these guys were crazy enough to burn a million pounds sterling in the name of art.
26 - "This is Your Life," Banderas
The sole major hit by this female duo is this dance track about taking charge of your destiny instead of letting life pass you by. Good message, good song. Reminds me of the stuff fellow Brits Lisa Stansfield and Cathy Dennis were putting out at the time.
25 - "Loose Fit," Happy Mondays
Remember when I mentioned "Madchester" earlier? Well these guys, led by the Ryder brothers, Shaun and Paul, were at the centre of that scene, emerging from the Hacienda club and the Factory Records label (both of which were owned by TV presenter-turned-music mogul Tony Wilson, whose life was depicted in the film 24 Hour Party People). The peak of their success was between the springs of '90 and '91, during which they scored three Top 20 singles. The last of these was this spare dance tune that seems to be about doing your own thing whatever it may be, even if it involves purchasing military bases or committing genocide. I'm sure that last part was metaphorical or in character or something, not an endorsement. Anyway, after this, the band would go to Barbados to do lots of drugs and bankrupt their record label while recording a career-killing album in their spare time. They've since cleaned up and reunited a few times. And it always impressed me that this band had a member who did pretty much nothing but dance like a maniac.
24 - "I'm Going Slightly Mad," Queen
From Innuendo, their final album released before Freddie Mercury's death, this midtempo track is basically Freddie reciting a bunch of euphemisms for impending insanity ("one wave short of a shipwreck," "only knitting with one needle," etc.) Not one of their greats, but fun and charming.
23 - "Who Where Why," Jesus Jones
These Wiltshire techno-rockers had two Top Fives in America with "Real Real Real" and the sappily serious "Right Here Right Now." At home, they would have eight Top 40s, but none would reach higher than #7. This one shows some Indian influences and is about uncertainty and confusion. You almost forget it before it's even over.
22 - "Secret Love," The Bee Gees
The brothers Gibb continued their late-80s revival with this midtempo ballad about a clandestine love affair. It went Top Five
here, but I'm not sure why. It's nothing special. Very phoned in.
21 - "Go For It," Joey B. Ellis and Tynetta Hare
I really don't know much about either of these two people, but apparently this was the theme from Rocky V. It's basically the kind of dance-rap that was being peddled by Snap! and C+C Music Factory at the time, only not as well-crafted or catchy. Sly, you should have called Survivor again. But congrats on the Oscar nod for Creed.
No comments:
Post a Comment