40 - “It’s Happenin’,” Plus One
I couldn’t find anything about this group. It’s house music with a rap about dancing. Generic genre product.
39 - “Give a Little Love Back to the World,” Emma
We’re still in Eurovision season, and Britain’s entry was this overblown inspirational ballad sung by Welsh teen Emma Booth. I think a sixth-place finish flattered it.
38 - “Don’t Miss the Party Line,” Bizz Nizz
Belgians Jean-Paul de Coster and Phil Wilde would go on to form the ubiquitous dance act 2 Unlimited, but they scored a Top Ten before that with this techno-lite jam. It’s more subtle than their later work, which may be why I like it better.
37 - “Still Got The Blues (For You),” Gary Moore
This Belfast guitarist was an on-and-off member of Thin Lizzy, and he had quite a few hits on his own, including this slick-but-effective blues ballad. The guitar soloing is the highlight. If you like that sort of thing, you’ll enjoy this.
36 - “Don’t Wanna Fall in Love,” Jane Child
Torontonian Child’s only major hit was this dance-rocker about a love you can’t deny even though it’s no good for you. It was a Top Five in North America and a #22 here, and to me, it’s way better than anything Taylor Duane ever did. But sadly, if Child is remembered at all, it’s for her spiky hair and the chain that connected her lef earring and her nose ring.
35 - “It’s My Life,” Talk Talk
The third release of this New Wave staple finally got it into the Top 40 here. Justice at last.
34 - “Radical Your Lover,” Little Angels
The first hit for these Scarborough (UK) hard rockers was this strutter about...something sexual, I think. The title reminds me of Lisa Simpson seeing the theatre marquee reading “Yahoo Serious Festival.” I know what those words mean, but it doesn’t make any sense.
33 - “Doin’ the Do,” Betty Boo
Born in London and of both Scottish and Malaysian extraction, Alison Clarkson picked up her first solo Top Ten with this capable boast rap. Fun dance fluff.
32 - “Joy and Heartbreak,” Movement 98
Rising star DJ Paul Oakenfold teamed up with singer Carroll Thompson on some decent midtempo soul. We’ll hear more from Oakenfold in a bit,
Rising star DJ Paul Oakenfold teamed up with singer Carroll Thompson on some decent midtempo soul. We’ll hear more from Oakenfold in a bit,
31 - “Wild Women Do,” Natalie Cole
Nat’s daughter picked up her first hit of the decade with this pop-rocker about losing inhibitions that came from the huge Pretty Woman soundtrack. This must have made her quite a bit of money, but it probably wasn’t fulfilling, which may explain her switch to old pop standards the following year.
30 - “Give it Up,” Hothouse Flowers
The second Top 40 for this Dublin band was this gospel tinged rocker about being open with your demonstrations of love to others. Not an all-time great band, but one that usually delivers something I like.
29 - “Step On,” Happy Mondays
The track that launched Madchester to national prominence was this Oakenfold-produced cover of John Kongos’ 1971 hit about a smooth-talking con man. It is the perfect melding of indie rock and house. Nothing that followed really touched it.
28 - “Circle Square,” The Wonder Stuff
The fifth hit for the Sturbridge rock eccentrics was this cool ditty about not fitting in. The recurring violin motif is pretty memorable and fantastic.
27 - “What Did I Do to You,” Lisa Stansfield
The fourth hit for the Rochdale singer isn’t quite the perfect marriage of house beats and soul crooning that, say, “All Around the World” was, but it’s still lush and vibrant enough to charm.
26 - “Something Happened on the Way to Heaven,” Phil Collins
This is perhaps Phil’s most effective pop/rock/soul hybrid. The man can write a hook. This was one of four Canadian #1s from the ...But Seriously album, and I must say this is the most deserving.
25 - “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” Was (Not Was)
The eccentric Detroit funk ensemble had their third British hit with this breakbeat cover of the Temptations classic. The rap by G Love E works thematically, but the song still stands best on its own.
24 - “Kissing Gate,” Sam Brown
The third and final Top 40for the London chanteuse was this bit of pop-soul about hoping for a rendezvous with an old flame. Fine, but nowhere near the showstopper that is her biggest hit. “Stop.”
23 - “Angel,” Eurythmics
The final hit of the grouo’s original run was this affecting ballad apparently inspired by the suicide of an aunt of Annie Lennox’s. The use of Elvis as a motif, with him singing religious music in the first verse and performing in Las Vegas in the second, was inspired. A fitting capper to the main chapter of one of pop’s great catalogues.
22 - “Love Thing,” Pasadenas
The fourth hit for this Brit soul group was this uptempo track about how much they enjoy playing music. A bit tepid, although the vocal performances are passionate.
21 - “Softly Whispering I Love You,” Paul Young
His first hit of the 90s was this cover of the 1971 Congregation hit. Very boring.
In Part Two: more covers, another Elvis reference, and I finally get to cover a creepy-bad song I’ve referred to here once or twice.
Nat’s daughter picked up her first hit of the decade with this pop-rocker about losing inhibitions that came from the huge Pretty Woman soundtrack. This must have made her quite a bit of money, but it probably wasn’t fulfilling, which may explain her switch to old pop standards the following year.
30 - “Give it Up,” Hothouse Flowers
The second Top 40 for this Dublin band was this gospel tinged rocker about being open with your demonstrations of love to others. Not an all-time great band, but one that usually delivers something I like.
29 - “Step On,” Happy Mondays
The track that launched Madchester to national prominence was this Oakenfold-produced cover of John Kongos’ 1971 hit about a smooth-talking con man. It is the perfect melding of indie rock and house. Nothing that followed really touched it.
28 - “Circle Square,” The Wonder Stuff
The fifth hit for the Sturbridge rock eccentrics was this cool ditty about not fitting in. The recurring violin motif is pretty memorable and fantastic.
27 - “What Did I Do to You,” Lisa Stansfield
The fourth hit for the Rochdale singer isn’t quite the perfect marriage of house beats and soul crooning that, say, “All Around the World” was, but it’s still lush and vibrant enough to charm.
26 - “Something Happened on the Way to Heaven,” Phil Collins
This is perhaps Phil’s most effective pop/rock/soul hybrid. The man can write a hook. This was one of four Canadian #1s from the ...But Seriously album, and I must say this is the most deserving.
25 - “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” Was (Not Was)
The eccentric Detroit funk ensemble had their third British hit with this breakbeat cover of the Temptations classic. The rap by G Love E works thematically, but the song still stands best on its own.
24 - “Kissing Gate,” Sam Brown
The third and final Top 40for the London chanteuse was this bit of pop-soul about hoping for a rendezvous with an old flame. Fine, but nowhere near the showstopper that is her biggest hit. “Stop.”
23 - “Angel,” Eurythmics
The final hit of the grouo’s original run was this affecting ballad apparently inspired by the suicide of an aunt of Annie Lennox’s. The use of Elvis as a motif, with him singing religious music in the first verse and performing in Las Vegas in the second, was inspired. A fitting capper to the main chapter of one of pop’s great catalogues.
22 - “Love Thing,” Pasadenas
The fourth hit for this Brit soul group was this uptempo track about how much they enjoy playing music. A bit tepid, although the vocal performances are passionate.
21 - “Softly Whispering I Love You,” Paul Young
His first hit of the 90s was this cover of the 1971 Congregation hit. Very boring.
In Part Two: more covers, another Elvis reference, and I finally get to cover a creepy-bad song I’ve referred to here once or twice.
No comments:
Post a Comment