End of January, 1989. John Cleese had just one a libel suit against a tabloid that had claimed he was becoming like his comically overbearing striver character Basil Fawlty. I bet they intentionally set him off by mentioning the war. Meanwhile, in Torquay as well as the rest of Britain, people,were listening to this:
40 - “Fisherman’s Blues,” The Waterboys
The Edinburgh band’s second hit was this traditional folk track about longing for a humbler, working class existence. A rousing rush of organic adrenaline.
39 - “I Only Wanna be With You,” Samantha Fox
The eighth hit by the queen of Page Three was this SAW-produced cover of the 1963 Duaty Springfield hit. Obviously the Tourists did it better, but it’s sad when you can say the same for the Bay City Rollers.
38 - “It’s Only Love,” Simply Red
Mick Hucknall’s outfit had their sixth hit with a sultry cover of a 1978 Barry White track. They do it okay, but I like it a little less just knowing that a certainly sexier version exists. It’s a makeout session, but it doesn’t go all the way.
37 - “After the War,” Gary Moore
This solo hit but the ex-Thin Lizzy guitarist is a lightly metallic tune about the withdrawal military men feel at the end of a major conflict. A 2 on the Headbangometer, and just a lot of pomposity and guitar wankery. Phil Lynott’s effortless cool is greatly missed.
36 - “Hit the Ground,” The Darling Buds
Named for the 1958 novel The Darling Buds of May, this Welsh band had their only Top 40 with this deceptively sunny post-breakup power-pop number.. It might have been bigger if it had come out five or six years later, because it would fit in very well with Britpop.
35 - “Grip ‘89 (Get a) Grip (On Yourself),” The Stranglers
The Surrey vets got eleven places higher than the #44 placing of the original version of their debut single. A nice chugging rocker about being a poor rocker. I like the retro, harmonized “ooooohs” a lot. The saxophone, not so much.
34 - “The Lover in Me,” Sheena Easton
The most recent hit for the Scotswoman sees her turning from Prince and to New Jack Swing auteurs L.A. and Babyface. She retains some of the swagger she learned from her previous collaborator, but she doesn’t quite fit this sound as well.
33 - “Born This Way (Let’s Dance),” Cookie Crew
The second of three hits for the London female rap duo of Debbie “MC Remedee”Pryce and Susan “Susie Q” Banfield was this pretty basic hip-hop/dance boast track. They do a respectable job, but not much more.
32 - “You are the One,” A-ha
The twelfth hit here for the Norwegians was this jaunty, lovey-covey synthpopper. It might be lazy to say it’s a blander xerox of “Take on Me,” but then again, so is blandly xeroxing “Take on Me.”
31 - “Stupid Questions,” New Model Army
The second hit for these Bradford boys was this anthemic takedown of someone who is only pretending to be naive. I think that’s it. It’s singable, big-chorused Rock with a capital R, and there is always a place for that in my ears, as long it’s done right. And this is.
30 - “Break 4 Love,” Raze
The second hit for this American dance act was this more-soulful than most house track. There’s not a lot to it, but that makes it rather refreshing. The sex sounds near the end are a little much, though.
29 - “Rhythm is Gonna Get You,” Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
This did not become the Machine’s third hit here until a year and a half after its American release. As mute title indicates, it could not be denied.
28 - “Tracie,” Level 42
Some funkier than usual stuff from Mark King’s court on his sweet reminiscence of a schoolboy crush. I have to say that I think they got better as their commercial fortunes declined.
27 - “My Prerogative,” Bobby Brown
The first Top Ten here for the ex-New Editionite was this strutting mission statement. Maybe not his best track, but certainly his defining one. He’s really not zooped. Really he isn’t. And I still say that
Seinfeld ripped it off for their closing theme.
26 - “All She Wants Is,” Duran Duran
The Duranies eighteenth hit was this dark rocker with some housey touches. The monotonous chorus burrows into your brain to the point where you get frustrated by the fact that the repeated sentence fragment is never completed. What the fuck does she want?
25 - “Suddenly,” Angry Anderson
Aussie Gary Anderson made his reputation as a hard rocker with the band Rose Tattoo, but his biggest international moment came when this power ballad was used as the weeding song for the nuptials of the Neighbours characters played by Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan. It’s just a little bit over the sappy line, but Anderson’s voice sounds like a less raspy Ozzy Osbourne, so that cuts the treacle a bit. We’ll hear more from those Neighbours kids later.
24 - “Keep the Dream Alive,” Freiheit
Named for the German word for “freedom,” this Munich band had their only international hit with this grand persistence anthem. It was later used in the movie Say Anything..., and it captures that film’s theme of dogged determination. Well over the top, but in an endearing way. You really believe the game will never be over.
23 - “I Live for Your Love,” Natalie Cole
Another boring ballad from Nat’s daughter. At least when she made the big commercial pivot involving duets with her dead dad, she was singing decent songs.
22 - “Loco in Acapulco,” The Four Tops
The Tops’ final hit was this pop lark about trying to escape reality in Mexico. It was co-written by Phil Collins for Buster, his attempt to launch an acting career. It’s actually a pretty good retro-soul track, but a lot of that might be down to the mighty Levi Stubbs. Few can elevate mediocre material higher,
21 - “Big Area,” Then Jerico
The second and biggest hit for this London band was this rock tune about being lonely and frustrated or something. They don’t make it matter enough for me to care. It’s bargain-brand Simple Minds to me.
In Part Two: covers, comebacks, and the new sound of the urban American Midwest.
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