The end of '73.
20 - "And I Love You So," Perry Como
The laid back one's last U.S. top 40 and final U.K. Top Five. I'd better move on from this while I'm still awake.
19 - "Good Grief Christina," Chicory Tip
Named for a coffee additive, this Kent band had a handful of hits in the early 70s, including this pop-rocker about a girl who just can't get into rock music. If the stuff she's exposed to is like this sub-Bay City Rollers blob, I can't say I blame her.
18 - "The Twelfth of Never," Donny Osmond
1972 and 1973 were the peak of Osmond-mania in Britain, as Donny was a constant presence on the charts both alone and with his brothers. His second of three #1s was this cover of a Johnny Mathis hit about undying love. I definitely prefer him at this stage, after the voice changed. I'll be reminded of what a prepubescent Osmond sounds like a little later.
17 - "Amanda," Stewart Gillies
Don't know much about this guy, accept that he was discovered on a talent show called Opportunity Knocks, he had a hit with this Andy Williams-ish orchestral ballad, and you can book him through a company called Champions Music and Entertainment. News you can use. Oh, and the beginning reminds me a lot of the theme from The Young and the Restless, aka "Nadia's Theme."
16 - "Big Eight," Judge Dread
Alex Hughes was born in Kent in 1945, and as a teenager moved to the Brixton section of London, where he was exposed to the burgeoning reggae scene. In the late 60s, he became a DJ, and worked as a debt collector for the British reggae label Trojan, and soon afterward he tried his hand at music himself (using a name inspired by a popular British comic book character), going on to become the first white artist to have a reggae hit in Jamaica. His third Top 40 hit (following "Big Six" and "Big Seven") follows the pattern of its predecessors in taking nursery rhymes and turning them into thinly veiled sexual innuendoes. So thinly veiled, in fact, that these songs reached their lofty chart positions entirely due to sales, as they were banned from airplay. And even by modern standards, they're pretty raunchy. You may never think of Mary, Mary quite so contrarily again. Anyway, this was my introduction to another piece of pop history I knew nothing about, and the good Judge (who died of a heart attack shortly after a performance in 1998) gets this charts Uneasy Rider. And I'm sure he's having a good chuckle somewhere about the name of that particular honor.
15 - "Crazy," Mud
These London glam-rockers had their biggest success in the mid-70s, beginning with this single, a fuzzy, catchy tune about being in love with a younger girl. Bigger hits were to come, and this one intrigues me enough to eventually want to look those up.
14 - "Pyjamarama," Roxy Music
Known for their stylishly-dressed singer Bryan Ferry and their penchant for putting attractive women on their album covers, this band had their second Top Ten with this catchy, pre-New Wave pop shuffle that features some odd yet somehow perfect saxophone work. No mention of pyjamas, but that doesn't really affect the song one way or another.
13 - "No More Mr. Nice Guy," Alice Cooper
Vincent Furnier and his tale of becoming a pariah. I'd like to think that the vast majority of pastors wouldn't punch a parishioner regardless of what they did, a la Reverend Smithee.
12 - "My Love," Paul McCartney and Wings
Paul and his flight aids, singing about someone who "does it good." Cheeky.
11 - "Giving it All Away," Roger Daltrey
The Who frontman's first solo single was this ballad co-written by the then-unknown Leo Sayer. It's about regretting youthful mistakes. I can certainly relate, which is probably why I like it so much.
10 - "I'm a Clown/Some Kind of a Summer," David Cassidy
TV's Keith Partridge was becoming a teen idol in his own right at this time, and his following was even more rabid in Britain than it was at home. This double-sided hit was the third of his four U.K. Top Fives. The A side is a ballad based on the Pagliacci archetype of the funny man masking his pain. Song's okay, but his breathy heartthrob delivery makes it come across less serious than it should. The B is a little more upbeat, reminiscing about a road trip across America he took with a former lover during the hottest season. Better, and it's the one of the two that I could have imagined being incorporated into the show. You can almost see Shirley Jones at a keyboard while you listen to it.
9 - "Brother Louie," Hot Chocolate
These guys again, this time with the Top Ten original version of the song Stories would take to #1 in the U.S. later this year. Sounds very similar, except for a soulful vocal opposed to a Rod Stewart-sounding one, and a couple of spoken word parts that portray racism from the families of both sides of the couple. Both versions are well worth listening to.
8 - "Get Down," Gilbert O'Sullivan
The second U.K. #1 for one of the most unlikely pop stars anyway. Still can't figure out if it's about a woman or a dog, still don't care.
7 - "All Because of You," Geordie
Named after the nickname for residents of their hometown of Newcastle, this band had the second and biggest of their four hits with this blues-rock stomper about a man changed for the better by love. At first the singer sounds kind of like a British John Fogerty, but then in the parts when he lets loose he becomes fully identifiable as Brian Johnson, the man who, seven years later, would take over from the late Bon Scott in AC/DC. And now Johnson himself has been replaced, at least temporarily, with none other than Axl Rose. The circle of rock.
6 - "See My Baby Jive," Wizzard
Founded in Birmingham by Roy Wood, who had co-founded The Move and later Electric Light Orchestra, these glam rockers went to #1 with their second hit, a heavily arranged, early-60s-ish pop song purposely crafted to sound like one of Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound" production. The lyric and overall sound make it a very good homage. I think had I grown up in Britain, my two-year-old ears would have ben quite drawn to a lot of the glam rock of the day.
5 - "Tweedle Dee," Little Jimmy Osmond
Osmond-mania was so big in Britain that even the main brothers' ten-year-old sibling became a superstar, hitting #1 with the old-fashioned trifle "Long-Haired Lover from Liverpool." The follow-up was this too cute cover of a 1954 LaVern Baker R&B hit. I actually get pain in my teeth listening to this stuff.
4 - "Hell Raiser," Sweet
One of the biggest glam rock bands of the era, these Londoners had the fourth of a run of six straight Top Fives with this fast catchy rocker about a very hot lady. It inspires me to break out the Headbangometer again, on which it registers three and a half stars.
3 - "Drive-In Saturday," David Bowie
Bowie's third U.K. Top Five was this midtempo rocker that's apparently about a future where people have forgotten how to reproduce, and thus have to watch porn from the past to learn how it's done. Strange subject matter for most, but par for the course for Bowie. Of course it's great.
2 - "Hello Hello I'm Back Again," Gary Glitter
Paul Gadd was a glam superstar during this period. Now he's a convicted and incarcerated pedophile. Hopefully he never gets a chance to say this again. We don't miss you now you're gone.
And on top over there 43 years ago was...
1 - "Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Ole Oak Tree," Tony Orlando and Dawn
Tony and his lady friends with their song about a returning prisoner who finds that his lover has indeed waited for him. How I'm sure the guy from the Tom Jones song hopes things will turn out.
Another done. But I'm not. I'm a pop cockroach, and I'll crawl back with more soon.
Thursday, May 12, 2016
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Gloves Across the Water: UK Top 40 May 3, 1973 Part One
Great Britain, early May, 1973. On the 5th, Sunderland, a team not even in the top flight of English football, won the FA Cup final, an upset not matched or exceeded in the British game until what happened a couple of days ago. Congratulations to Leicester City. Meanwhile, on the charts...
40 - "Whatever Happened to You," Highly Likely
This was the theme song to Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, a BBC sitcom about two working class friends that was a sequel to a 60s show called simply The Likely Lads. It's a piano-driven uptempo tune about wanting to live in the past, written by Mike Hugg of Manfred Mann and performed by a studio group. I'm sure it worked better as an abbreviated TV theme than it does as a full song.
39 - "20th Century Boy," T. Rex
The last of Marc Bolan's glam stars nine consecutive Top Threes was this grinding rock party. It grooves, Bolan swaggers, you rock out. Absolute genius.
38 - "Feel the Need in Me," The Detroit Emeralds
Formed in Little Rock, Arkansas, this vocal group moved to the Motor City and found success, picking up two U.S. Top 40 hits as well as three in Britain. Their highest charting record in either country was this one, which went to #4 here despite not even cracking the U.S. Hot 100. It's a funky strut about desire. Pretty cool, and reminiscent of the best of the Spinners.
37 - "Bad Weather," The Supremes
The group's final single with lead singer Jean Terrell would also be their last U.K. Top 40. Funky, uptempo pop-soul about a dissolving relationship. An overlooked gem of the post-Diana era.
36 - "Killing Me Softly With His Song," Roberta Flack
Covered it before, still a classic. Only #6, Britain? Pity.
35 - "Wam Bam," The Handley Family
These three sisters and two brothers from the London district of Bermondsey were briefly promoted as a British answer to American acts like the Jacksons and the Osmonds, but they only managed one minor hit in this cheesy bit of faux-ragtime. The fact that all the information I could find on this group was from a blog called "The World's Worst Records" should tell you something.
34 - "One and One is One," Medicine Head
The Staffordshire duo of John Fiddler and Peter Hope-Evans were discovered by influential BBC DJ John Peel, and the biggest of their four hits was this springy blues rocker about finding someone who is the other half of you. A nice little shuffle, with a little tinge of reggae.
33 - "Hey Mama," Joe Brown
A Lincolnshire native, Brown first found success as a teen-idol rocker in the early 60s, but was well past his commercial peak when he managed one more hit with this mournful ballad of appreciation for a dying mother. It walks a line between sincerity and melodrama, but mostly ends up on the right side of that line.
32 - "Cum On Feel the Noize," Slade
This Wolverhampton band were formed in the mid-60s. first as the N'Betweeners, then as Ambrose Slade, and finally Slade. Their first charted single in 1971 reached #16, then their next twelve all reached the Top Five, with six of them hitting #1. Their fourth charttopper was this raucous celebration of partying, with a misspelled title that was their trademark. One listen to this and you realize how pale an imitation the Quiet Riot version was.
31 - "Letter to Lucille," Tom Jones
The Welsh superstar was at the beginning of fifteen year dry spell during which none of his singles cracked the British Top 30. The closest he came was with this dramatic bit of protodisco on which Jones portrays a prisoner asking any of his fellow inmates who might be about to be released to deliver a letter to his lady asking her to wait for him. The arrangement is peppier than you'd think it should be, but it still works.
30 - "Could it Be I'm Falling in Love," The Spinners
#4 in the U.S., #12 here, #1 in your hearts. Listen and there will be no doubt you're falling in love with it.
29 - "The Right Thing to Do," Carly Simon
The ballad that followed up "You're So Vain" hit #17 on both sides of the Atlantic. A good example of her reliable early 70s output.
28 - "Heart of Stone," Kenny
Named for Irish singer Tony Kenny, these London-based glam rockers picked up the first of six U.K. hits with this tale of being betayed by an unfaithful lady named Ramona. One might assume that along with petrifying Kenny's heart, she also removed his testicles, judging by the highness of his voice. Still, pretty fun glam pop.
27 - "Mean Girl," Status Quo
The Quo's sixth Top 40 was this boogie-rocker about an unkind lady that the singer regrets becoming involved with. Decent enough example of its kind
26 - "Power to All Our Friends," Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff again, this time with Britain's entry in the 1973 Eurovision Song Contest. It's a ballad about appreciating people and the things they employ and enjoy. It's catchy and anthemic. I like it. But it only came third in the contest. Who won? Well, since you asked...
25 - "Wonderful Dream," Ann-Marie David
This French pop singer first got attention when she played Mary Magdalene in a production of Jesus Christ Superstar, then rose to greater fame when she sang Luxembourg's winning entry in the 1973 Eurovision Song Contest. The English version was this ballad about a couple trying to hold on to their dreams. Dramatic but typical MOR. Cliff totally should have won.
24 - "Love Train," The O'Jays
The Philly soul stars' only U.S. #1 was also their sole U.K. Top Ten. Nothing to say but "Get on board."
23 - "Duelling Banjos," Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell
The cover of a 1955 bluegrass instrumental used in the movie Deliverance hit #2 in the U.S., but only #17 here. I'm surprised, given the British capacity for exotica and novelty.
22 - "God Gave Rock and Roll to You," Argent
The band formed by ex-Zombie Rod Argent are best known in America for "Hold Your Head Up," but in their homeland they had two hits after that, the second being this power ballad anthem about how rock was granted to humanity by the Creator to make us feel young and alive. I don't know if that's true, but it makes sense to me.
21 - "Never Never Never," Shirley Bassey
Born in Wales to a Nigerian father and a British mother, Bassey grew up in an area of Cardiff that would inspire her later nickname "The Tigress from Tiger Bay." Her career began in earnest in the late 50s, and between 1957 and 1967 she had 21 Top 40 singles, including her lone American hit, the theme from the James Bond film Goldfinger. She had another run of five Top 40s between '70 and '73, the last of which being this dramatic ballad cover of an Italian song called "Grande Grande Grande." It's about being in love with someone in spite of yourself, and Bassey sings it beautifully. She is a voice I should go out of my way to hear more of.
In Part Two: Join me at sunrise for some cocoa in your PJs. (Trust me, it makes sense.)
40 - "Whatever Happened to You," Highly Likely
This was the theme song to Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, a BBC sitcom about two working class friends that was a sequel to a 60s show called simply The Likely Lads. It's a piano-driven uptempo tune about wanting to live in the past, written by Mike Hugg of Manfred Mann and performed by a studio group. I'm sure it worked better as an abbreviated TV theme than it does as a full song.
39 - "20th Century Boy," T. Rex
The last of Marc Bolan's glam stars nine consecutive Top Threes was this grinding rock party. It grooves, Bolan swaggers, you rock out. Absolute genius.
38 - "Feel the Need in Me," The Detroit Emeralds
Formed in Little Rock, Arkansas, this vocal group moved to the Motor City and found success, picking up two U.S. Top 40 hits as well as three in Britain. Their highest charting record in either country was this one, which went to #4 here despite not even cracking the U.S. Hot 100. It's a funky strut about desire. Pretty cool, and reminiscent of the best of the Spinners.
37 - "Bad Weather," The Supremes
The group's final single with lead singer Jean Terrell would also be their last U.K. Top 40. Funky, uptempo pop-soul about a dissolving relationship. An overlooked gem of the post-Diana era.
36 - "Killing Me Softly With His Song," Roberta Flack
Covered it before, still a classic. Only #6, Britain? Pity.
35 - "Wam Bam," The Handley Family
These three sisters and two brothers from the London district of Bermondsey were briefly promoted as a British answer to American acts like the Jacksons and the Osmonds, but they only managed one minor hit in this cheesy bit of faux-ragtime. The fact that all the information I could find on this group was from a blog called "The World's Worst Records" should tell you something.
34 - "One and One is One," Medicine Head
The Staffordshire duo of John Fiddler and Peter Hope-Evans were discovered by influential BBC DJ John Peel, and the biggest of their four hits was this springy blues rocker about finding someone who is the other half of you. A nice little shuffle, with a little tinge of reggae.
33 - "Hey Mama," Joe Brown
A Lincolnshire native, Brown first found success as a teen-idol rocker in the early 60s, but was well past his commercial peak when he managed one more hit with this mournful ballad of appreciation for a dying mother. It walks a line between sincerity and melodrama, but mostly ends up on the right side of that line.
32 - "Cum On Feel the Noize," Slade
This Wolverhampton band were formed in the mid-60s. first as the N'Betweeners, then as Ambrose Slade, and finally Slade. Their first charted single in 1971 reached #16, then their next twelve all reached the Top Five, with six of them hitting #1. Their fourth charttopper was this raucous celebration of partying, with a misspelled title that was their trademark. One listen to this and you realize how pale an imitation the Quiet Riot version was.
31 - "Letter to Lucille," Tom Jones
The Welsh superstar was at the beginning of fifteen year dry spell during which none of his singles cracked the British Top 30. The closest he came was with this dramatic bit of protodisco on which Jones portrays a prisoner asking any of his fellow inmates who might be about to be released to deliver a letter to his lady asking her to wait for him. The arrangement is peppier than you'd think it should be, but it still works.
30 - "Could it Be I'm Falling in Love," The Spinners
#4 in the U.S., #12 here, #1 in your hearts. Listen and there will be no doubt you're falling in love with it.
29 - "The Right Thing to Do," Carly Simon
The ballad that followed up "You're So Vain" hit #17 on both sides of the Atlantic. A good example of her reliable early 70s output.
28 - "Heart of Stone," Kenny
Named for Irish singer Tony Kenny, these London-based glam rockers picked up the first of six U.K. hits with this tale of being betayed by an unfaithful lady named Ramona. One might assume that along with petrifying Kenny's heart, she also removed his testicles, judging by the highness of his voice. Still, pretty fun glam pop.
27 - "Mean Girl," Status Quo
The Quo's sixth Top 40 was this boogie-rocker about an unkind lady that the singer regrets becoming involved with. Decent enough example of its kind
26 - "Power to All Our Friends," Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff again, this time with Britain's entry in the 1973 Eurovision Song Contest. It's a ballad about appreciating people and the things they employ and enjoy. It's catchy and anthemic. I like it. But it only came third in the contest. Who won? Well, since you asked...
25 - "Wonderful Dream," Ann-Marie David
This French pop singer first got attention when she played Mary Magdalene in a production of Jesus Christ Superstar, then rose to greater fame when she sang Luxembourg's winning entry in the 1973 Eurovision Song Contest. The English version was this ballad about a couple trying to hold on to their dreams. Dramatic but typical MOR. Cliff totally should have won.
24 - "Love Train," The O'Jays
The Philly soul stars' only U.S. #1 was also their sole U.K. Top Ten. Nothing to say but "Get on board."
23 - "Duelling Banjos," Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell
The cover of a 1955 bluegrass instrumental used in the movie Deliverance hit #2 in the U.S., but only #17 here. I'm surprised, given the British capacity for exotica and novelty.
22 - "God Gave Rock and Roll to You," Argent
The band formed by ex-Zombie Rod Argent are best known in America for "Hold Your Head Up," but in their homeland they had two hits after that, the second being this power ballad anthem about how rock was granted to humanity by the Creator to make us feel young and alive. I don't know if that's true, but it makes sense to me.
21 - "Never Never Never," Shirley Bassey
Born in Wales to a Nigerian father and a British mother, Bassey grew up in an area of Cardiff that would inspire her later nickname "The Tigress from Tiger Bay." Her career began in earnest in the late 50s, and between 1957 and 1967 she had 21 Top 40 singles, including her lone American hit, the theme from the James Bond film Goldfinger. She had another run of five Top 40s between '70 and '73, the last of which being this dramatic ballad cover of an Italian song called "Grande Grande Grande." It's about being in love with someone in spite of yourself, and Bassey sings it beautifully. She is a voice I should go out of my way to hear more of.
In Part Two: Join me at sunrise for some cocoa in your PJs. (Trust me, it makes sense.)
Sunday, April 24, 2016
Gloves Across the Water: UK Top 40 April 21, 1984 Part Two
Before we continue, I of course have to acknowledge the death of Prince Rogers Nelson. I am just stunned. He was a musical force of nature that could just sweep you up at the height of his powers, and fortunately that lined up with the time that I was just really understanding the power of music. RIP to one of the absolute greatest.
So now we complete our journey through a week in what happens to be the year Prince truly became a cultural phenomenon, 1984.
20 - "Lucky Star," Madonna
Madge's second hit in the land she would later adopt as home. Bubbly perfection.
19 - "Locomotion," Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
OMD's fifth Top Ten is a somewhat Caribbean-flavored pop tune that seems to be about travelling the world trying to find oneself. Their poppiest tune to date, and still catchy as all get out.
18 - "It's Raining Men," The Weather Girls
Plus-sized singers Martha Wash and Izora Rhodes were brought together by disco singer Sylvester in 1977, who dubbed them Two Tons o' Fun. In 1982, the ladies recorded this song about an occasion when Mother Nature decides to help out her fellow single women and arranges for a deluge of attractive males to flood the Earth. The song inspired a meteorological name change, and while at the time it was only a minor sub-Top 40 hit in the U.S., it went to #2 here, and it has since become a popular song in gay culture and at bachelorette parties worldwide. It's also, apparently, Homer Simpson's favorite song. Separated from its current familiarity, it's just a joyous dance tune, regardless of how much you would enjoy the weather event it describes. And I'm sure no one will be surprised that I am bestowing upon it an Uneasy Rider. Hallelujah!
17 - "Someday," The Gap Band
Another U.K. hit from the American soul-funk outfit, a semi-cover of a Donny Hathaway song about a brighter future for African-Americans. Stevie Wonder's contributions on backing vocal and harmonica lift it above being just very good. A solid earwormy jam.
16 - "It's a Miracle," Culture Club
The sixth home Top Five for the Boy and his band. This one is uptempo pop-soul about dreams and people and places that lack authenticity. It was originally written about the group's first U.S. tour and originally titled "It's America" Make of that what you will.
15 - "Don't Tell Me," Blancmange
Formed in 1979 and named after a milky gelatin dessert, this Middlesex synthpop trio picked up three Top Tens in the early 80s, the last of which being this jaunty breakup song that sounds a lot like early Depeche Mode. Catchy nostalgia, but inessential.
14 - "The Caterpillar," The Cure
The previous year, Robert Smith and his gothy new wavers had scored their first U.K, Top Ten with the deceptively cute "The Lovecats." Their immediate follow-up single was also inspired by the animal kingdom, comparing a lover to the insect that eventually becomes a butterfly and flies away.
Again, kind of silly on the surface, but there's depth below.
13 - "Just Be Good to Me," The SOS Band
This Atlanta funk band had their only U.S. Top 40 in 1980 with "Take Your Time (Do It Right)," but their biggest British success would come here with this synth-heavy blast about not caring if a lover has others as long as he's treating you right. I think both of their personal bests are very worthy hits.
12 - "Robert De Niro's Waiting...," Bananarama
The London trio had already scored two Top Tens alongside Fun Boy Three and three on their own when they released their biggest hit to date, in which the ladies state that their preferred alternative to dating is watching the films of the star of Raging Bull and Mean Streets. Though I'm guessing their favorite would be The Godfather Part II, because it's the one that features him "talking Italian." One of their better offerings.
11 - "In the Heart," Kool and the Gang
From their poppy 80s period, this lite-funker about expressing love wasn't released as a single at home, but went Top Ten here. Snooze-inducing. "Cherish" at least inspires annoyance. This inspires nothing.
10 - "Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)," Scritti Politti
The breakthrough hit by former Leeds art student Green Gartside was this catchy synthpop tune about longing. The title was inspired by the Burt Bacharach classic "I Say a Little Prayer," which was Aretha's biggest U.K. solo hit. This song would scrape into the Hot 100 Stateside, but his follow-up, "Perfect Way" would be the one that would give him the most success there. I'd say the latter is better, but not by much. Both are terrific.
9 - "Nelson Mandela," Special AKA
After three members of Coventry ska stars The Specials left to form Fun Boy Three, the rest of the group carried on with new additions and a slightly modified name. Their biggest hit in that incarnation was this horn-laden anthem that was the first time many people around the world (including me when I was exposed to it on an episode of Friday Night Videos) were made aware of South Africa's most famous anti-apartheid leader and political prisoner. The song mentions his then-"Twenty-one years in captivity" and his leadership of the African National Congress, and helped make the anti-apartheid movement a cause celebre in pop, which would lead to the all-star song "Sun City" and a 1988 concert celebrating Mandela's 70th birthday that was broadcast worldwide. So this song did a lot of good, and it's a good song too.
8 - "Ain't Nobody," Rufus and Chaka Khan
Chaka and company had scored several hits over a decade in America, but their only hit in Britain came at the end of their run with this slick funk about finding true love. It's pretty obvious here why Melle Mel wanted to rock ya, Chaka.
7 - "Glad it's All Over," Captain Sensible
London-born Raymond Burns adopted a new moniker when he joined the punk band The Damned in 1976. In 1982, he picked up a solo #1 with a cover of "Happy Talk" from the musical South Pacific. His only other Top Ten was this poppy anti-war song inspired by the end of the Falklands war. This is what I find interesting about the British charts. There can be some incredibly silly stuff that makes you mock their taste, and yet at the same time they contain some truly bold political statements that would not get very far on American radio.
6 - "People are People," Depeche Mode
The first U.K. Top Five, and eventual American breakthrough, for the synthpop legends. Still an effective anti-prejudice message. Somehow I don't think this will ever be on the playlist at a Donald Trump rally.
5 - "I Want to Break Free," Queen
Freddie and company had their lucky thirteenth U.K. Top Ten with this pop-rock tune about trying to carry on after a breakup. It's one of their best, but it fell short of the Top 40 in the States, because its video, which featured the band in women's clothing, was deemed too controversial by MTV, and many radio stations followed that lead by banning the song. A damn shame. Your loss, America.
4 - "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)," Phil Collins
The song everyone remembers from a movie no one does. It went #1 in the States, but only #2 here. But two subsequent covers would make it to the top 16 and 21 years later. I think Phil got the shaft here.
3 - "A Love Worth Waiting For," Shakin' Stevens
The last of the Welsh retro-rockers three #2s (to go with his four #1s) was this Latin-tinged midtempo ballad about being willing to let a lover go until she figures out that you're the best thing she could ask for. Not sure that works out very often, but I like the song. Reminds me of Marty Robbins.
2 - "You Take Me Up," Thompson Twins
Although this didn't make the Top 40 in the U.S., it was the band's highest-charting U.K hit, just missing the top spot. It's a slightly Caribbean-flavored love song with some intetesting instrumentation, featuring as it does solos on both harmonica and the keyboard/wind instrument known as a melodica. I hadn't heard it before, and I found it really cool. It might be my new favorite of theirs.
And topping the charts in the Home Countries 32 years ago was...
1 - "Hello," Lionel Richie
Apparently the world was looking for Lionel, as this song topped charts around the world, even if the blind girl's bust of him wasn't the best likeness. Unfortunately, I think his claim to having the biggest hit of all time with that title was just usurped. But Adele has broken so many records and will probably break many more, so he shouldn't feel too bad.
Another one down. The time machine will spin again soon.
So now we complete our journey through a week in what happens to be the year Prince truly became a cultural phenomenon, 1984.
20 - "Lucky Star," Madonna
Madge's second hit in the land she would later adopt as home. Bubbly perfection.
19 - "Locomotion," Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
OMD's fifth Top Ten is a somewhat Caribbean-flavored pop tune that seems to be about travelling the world trying to find oneself. Their poppiest tune to date, and still catchy as all get out.
18 - "It's Raining Men," The Weather Girls
Plus-sized singers Martha Wash and Izora Rhodes were brought together by disco singer Sylvester in 1977, who dubbed them Two Tons o' Fun. In 1982, the ladies recorded this song about an occasion when Mother Nature decides to help out her fellow single women and arranges for a deluge of attractive males to flood the Earth. The song inspired a meteorological name change, and while at the time it was only a minor sub-Top 40 hit in the U.S., it went to #2 here, and it has since become a popular song in gay culture and at bachelorette parties worldwide. It's also, apparently, Homer Simpson's favorite song. Separated from its current familiarity, it's just a joyous dance tune, regardless of how much you would enjoy the weather event it describes. And I'm sure no one will be surprised that I am bestowing upon it an Uneasy Rider. Hallelujah!
17 - "Someday," The Gap Band
Another U.K. hit from the American soul-funk outfit, a semi-cover of a Donny Hathaway song about a brighter future for African-Americans. Stevie Wonder's contributions on backing vocal and harmonica lift it above being just very good. A solid earwormy jam.
16 - "It's a Miracle," Culture Club
The sixth home Top Five for the Boy and his band. This one is uptempo pop-soul about dreams and people and places that lack authenticity. It was originally written about the group's first U.S. tour and originally titled "It's America" Make of that what you will.
15 - "Don't Tell Me," Blancmange
Formed in 1979 and named after a milky gelatin dessert, this Middlesex synthpop trio picked up three Top Tens in the early 80s, the last of which being this jaunty breakup song that sounds a lot like early Depeche Mode. Catchy nostalgia, but inessential.
14 - "The Caterpillar," The Cure
The previous year, Robert Smith and his gothy new wavers had scored their first U.K, Top Ten with the deceptively cute "The Lovecats." Their immediate follow-up single was also inspired by the animal kingdom, comparing a lover to the insect that eventually becomes a butterfly and flies away.
Again, kind of silly on the surface, but there's depth below.
13 - "Just Be Good to Me," The SOS Band
This Atlanta funk band had their only U.S. Top 40 in 1980 with "Take Your Time (Do It Right)," but their biggest British success would come here with this synth-heavy blast about not caring if a lover has others as long as he's treating you right. I think both of their personal bests are very worthy hits.
12 - "Robert De Niro's Waiting...," Bananarama
The London trio had already scored two Top Tens alongside Fun Boy Three and three on their own when they released their biggest hit to date, in which the ladies state that their preferred alternative to dating is watching the films of the star of Raging Bull and Mean Streets. Though I'm guessing their favorite would be The Godfather Part II, because it's the one that features him "talking Italian." One of their better offerings.
11 - "In the Heart," Kool and the Gang
From their poppy 80s period, this lite-funker about expressing love wasn't released as a single at home, but went Top Ten here. Snooze-inducing. "Cherish" at least inspires annoyance. This inspires nothing.
10 - "Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)," Scritti Politti
The breakthrough hit by former Leeds art student Green Gartside was this catchy synthpop tune about longing. The title was inspired by the Burt Bacharach classic "I Say a Little Prayer," which was Aretha's biggest U.K. solo hit. This song would scrape into the Hot 100 Stateside, but his follow-up, "Perfect Way" would be the one that would give him the most success there. I'd say the latter is better, but not by much. Both are terrific.
9 - "Nelson Mandela," Special AKA
After three members of Coventry ska stars The Specials left to form Fun Boy Three, the rest of the group carried on with new additions and a slightly modified name. Their biggest hit in that incarnation was this horn-laden anthem that was the first time many people around the world (including me when I was exposed to it on an episode of Friday Night Videos) were made aware of South Africa's most famous anti-apartheid leader and political prisoner. The song mentions his then-"Twenty-one years in captivity" and his leadership of the African National Congress, and helped make the anti-apartheid movement a cause celebre in pop, which would lead to the all-star song "Sun City" and a 1988 concert celebrating Mandela's 70th birthday that was broadcast worldwide. So this song did a lot of good, and it's a good song too.
8 - "Ain't Nobody," Rufus and Chaka Khan
Chaka and company had scored several hits over a decade in America, but their only hit in Britain came at the end of their run with this slick funk about finding true love. It's pretty obvious here why Melle Mel wanted to rock ya, Chaka.
7 - "Glad it's All Over," Captain Sensible
London-born Raymond Burns adopted a new moniker when he joined the punk band The Damned in 1976. In 1982, he picked up a solo #1 with a cover of "Happy Talk" from the musical South Pacific. His only other Top Ten was this poppy anti-war song inspired by the end of the Falklands war. This is what I find interesting about the British charts. There can be some incredibly silly stuff that makes you mock their taste, and yet at the same time they contain some truly bold political statements that would not get very far on American radio.
6 - "People are People," Depeche Mode
The first U.K. Top Five, and eventual American breakthrough, for the synthpop legends. Still an effective anti-prejudice message. Somehow I don't think this will ever be on the playlist at a Donald Trump rally.
5 - "I Want to Break Free," Queen
Freddie and company had their lucky thirteenth U.K. Top Ten with this pop-rock tune about trying to carry on after a breakup. It's one of their best, but it fell short of the Top 40 in the States, because its video, which featured the band in women's clothing, was deemed too controversial by MTV, and many radio stations followed that lead by banning the song. A damn shame. Your loss, America.
4 - "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)," Phil Collins
The song everyone remembers from a movie no one does. It went #1 in the States, but only #2 here. But two subsequent covers would make it to the top 16 and 21 years later. I think Phil got the shaft here.
3 - "A Love Worth Waiting For," Shakin' Stevens
The last of the Welsh retro-rockers three #2s (to go with his four #1s) was this Latin-tinged midtempo ballad about being willing to let a lover go until she figures out that you're the best thing she could ask for. Not sure that works out very often, but I like the song. Reminds me of Marty Robbins.
2 - "You Take Me Up," Thompson Twins
Although this didn't make the Top 40 in the U.S., it was the band's highest-charting U.K hit, just missing the top spot. It's a slightly Caribbean-flavored love song with some intetesting instrumentation, featuring as it does solos on both harmonica and the keyboard/wind instrument known as a melodica. I hadn't heard it before, and I found it really cool. It might be my new favorite of theirs.
And topping the charts in the Home Countries 32 years ago was...
1 - "Hello," Lionel Richie
Apparently the world was looking for Lionel, as this song topped charts around the world, even if the blind girl's bust of him wasn't the best likeness. Unfortunately, I think his claim to having the biggest hit of all time with that title was just usurped. But Adele has broken so many records and will probably break many more, so he shouldn't feel too bad.
Another one down. The time machine will spin again soon.
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Gloves Across the Water: U.K. Top 40 April 21, 1984 Part One
Spring 1984. The big news in Britain was the miners' strike, with workers in Britain's coal mines taking action against the Thatcher government. The strike would last a year, but in the end, it was a victory for the Iron Lady. Meanwhile, on the charts:
40 - "Somebody Else's Guy," Jocelyn Brown
Originally from North Carolina, Brown has been a familiar voice on many disco and dance records (including Musique's "In the Bush" and Snap's "The Power"). Her biggest hit under her own name was this song about pining after someone who belongs to another. It's jazzy funk, and she sings the hell out of it. And a really cool synth solo. Very good.
39 - "S.O.S.," ABC
The sixth Top 40 for the laid-back Sheffield New Wavers was this ballad that seems to suggest a cure for loneliness with what a decade later might have been called an Indecent Proposal ("One cool million for one cool caress"). Maybe not quite as slick as Robert Redford, but not bad.
38 - "Automatic," The Pointer Sisters
The ladies' biggest U.K. hit, the song about lust turning one into malfunctioning machinery, featuring Ruth pointer singing very, very low. Maybe their best non-"Fire" hit.
37 - "When You're Young and in Love," The Flying Pickets
Predating Glee and the Pitch Perfect films, this group of left-wing theatre actors broke big in 1983 when their a capella cover of Yazoo's then recent "Only You," topped the U.K chart. They followed it up with an older cover of a 1964 Ruby and the Romantics R&B hit, which went Top Ten. It's decent, but not special. The group's fortunes declined, coincidentally or not, with their support of the miners' union during the strike, which may have caused mixed feelings for Thatcher, who was apparently a big fan of "Only You."
36 - "To All the Girls I've Loved Before," Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson
Smooth Spanish lothario and rough-hewn American pothead country star sing about all the ladies they've bedded. I'm betting Julio wins that contest by a landslide. Plus he had bigger hits in Britain without Willie, while the opposite wasn't true.
35 - "One Love/People Get Ready," Bob Marley
This call to "give thanks and praise to the Lord" became a posthumous Top Five for Marley when it was re-released to promote the Legend compilation, which would become one of those records that winds up in almost everyone's collection. And there's no reason why it shouldn't be.
34 - "Street Dance," Break Machine
Following the death of disco, and by extension the relevance of their most famous creation, The Village People, French producers Jacques Morali and Henri Belolo were looking for the next big musical trend, and they found it in hip-hop. So they formed a group around New York disc jockey Keith Rogers, and they scored an international hit with this celebration of what would come to be known as breakdancing. It's sung rather than rapped, but it still captures the spirit of what was happening, if in a calculated commercial way. Better as an artifact of the time than as a song.
33 - "Heartbeat," The Psychedelic Furs
This London postpunk band led by brothers Richard and Tim Butler had more album than singles success on both sides of the Atlantic, but this one managed to get into the Top 40. Atmospheric rock that I think is about feeling connected to someone when you're physically isolated. And unlike in many cases in the 80s, the saxophone sounds like it belongs.
32 - "Silver," Echo and the Bunnymen
The second of three hits from the Ocean Rain album was this string laden alt-rocker about finding truth and love in a chaotic world. Sounds like them, and I mean that in a good way.
31 - "Baby You're Dynamite," Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff is here, as he so often is. Basic synth-rock about an explosive lover who has "the power of thunder and lightning." I don't hear it on this one. But in case I've never said so here, "Devil Woman" has grown on me quite a bit. She did indeed get me.
30 - "Your Love is King," Sade
The first single released in her adopted homeland by the Nigerian-born songstress and her eponymous band. Sultry jazz-soul that all but spells out that it's about really good sex (she even sings "I'm coming" a couple times. For the U.S., her label decided to launch her with "Smooth Operator," which seem to have been the right call, as it went Top Ten there while this missed the Top 40 for reasons I can't begin to fathom.
29 - "Relax," Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Here it is, the then-scandalous ode to delaying orgasm packaged in an S&M-depicting sleeve and accompanied by a video with men in leather, drag queens, and a debauched Roman emperor. It was doing ok, then the BBC banned it and, shockingly, turned it into a massive #1. Still holds up as a song. But I never had any of the T-shirts, or even a button.
28 - "Cherry Oh Baby," UB40
The Brit reggae stars again, this time with a cover of a sunny love song from Jamaican star Eric Donaldson. Happy stuff that makes me smile
27 - "Dr. Mabuse," Propaganda
The first of three U.K. hits by these synthpoppers from Dusseldorf, Germany way this tribute to a fictional hypnotist/criminal made famous in films by director Fritz Lang. The song seems to be in the voice of one of Mabuse's disciples, who tell the listener to "sell him your soul." Hauntingly cool.
26 - "I'm Falling," The Bluebells
These Scottish pop-rockers, led by and named after guitarist Bobby Bluebell, scored the first of three Top 40s with this song that seems to be about a couple that doesn't seem to be able to sufficiently help each other through hard times. Catchy and affecting.
25 - "Dancing Girls," Nik Kershaw
The second Top 40 for the synthpop star from Bristol, a burbly number about living a dull life and hoping for some excitement to come along. This song isn't quite it, though.
24 - "Give Me Tonight," Shannon
Washington, D.C. singer Shannon Greene had burst on the scene on both sides of the pond the previous year with the dance-funk classic "Let the Music Play." This follow-up is musically similar, and features Greene asking a lover for one no-strings-attached evening together. Not as good as "Let the Music Play," but that leaves plenty of room for it to be considered very, very good.
23 - "What Do I Do," Galaxy
This was the pseudonym used by Jamaican-born, London-raised producer and multi-instrumentalist Phil Fearon on his five U.K. Top 20s in the mid-80s. His second-biggest hit was this bit of pop-funk about trying to win over a lover. Pretty okay.
22 - "That's The Way (I Like It)," Dead or Alive
The future creators of "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" picked up their first Top 40 with this cover of the K.C. and the Sunshine Band disco staple. This version has a more aggressive sexuality to it, and I must say, I like it, uh huh uh huh.
21 - "P.Y.T.," Michael Jackson
The forgotten Thriller single. Relatively speaking, at least. Would be much more than an afterthought on anyone else's CV.
In Part Two: dessert, political protest, and some rather unusual precipitation.
40 - "Somebody Else's Guy," Jocelyn Brown
Originally from North Carolina, Brown has been a familiar voice on many disco and dance records (including Musique's "In the Bush" and Snap's "The Power"). Her biggest hit under her own name was this song about pining after someone who belongs to another. It's jazzy funk, and she sings the hell out of it. And a really cool synth solo. Very good.
39 - "S.O.S.," ABC
The sixth Top 40 for the laid-back Sheffield New Wavers was this ballad that seems to suggest a cure for loneliness with what a decade later might have been called an Indecent Proposal ("One cool million for one cool caress"). Maybe not quite as slick as Robert Redford, but not bad.
38 - "Automatic," The Pointer Sisters
The ladies' biggest U.K. hit, the song about lust turning one into malfunctioning machinery, featuring Ruth pointer singing very, very low. Maybe their best non-"Fire" hit.
37 - "When You're Young and in Love," The Flying Pickets
Predating Glee and the Pitch Perfect films, this group of left-wing theatre actors broke big in 1983 when their a capella cover of Yazoo's then recent "Only You," topped the U.K chart. They followed it up with an older cover of a 1964 Ruby and the Romantics R&B hit, which went Top Ten. It's decent, but not special. The group's fortunes declined, coincidentally or not, with their support of the miners' union during the strike, which may have caused mixed feelings for Thatcher, who was apparently a big fan of "Only You."
36 - "To All the Girls I've Loved Before," Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson
Smooth Spanish lothario and rough-hewn American pothead country star sing about all the ladies they've bedded. I'm betting Julio wins that contest by a landslide. Plus he had bigger hits in Britain without Willie, while the opposite wasn't true.
35 - "One Love/People Get Ready," Bob Marley
This call to "give thanks and praise to the Lord" became a posthumous Top Five for Marley when it was re-released to promote the Legend compilation, which would become one of those records that winds up in almost everyone's collection. And there's no reason why it shouldn't be.
34 - "Street Dance," Break Machine
Following the death of disco, and by extension the relevance of their most famous creation, The Village People, French producers Jacques Morali and Henri Belolo were looking for the next big musical trend, and they found it in hip-hop. So they formed a group around New York disc jockey Keith Rogers, and they scored an international hit with this celebration of what would come to be known as breakdancing. It's sung rather than rapped, but it still captures the spirit of what was happening, if in a calculated commercial way. Better as an artifact of the time than as a song.
33 - "Heartbeat," The Psychedelic Furs
This London postpunk band led by brothers Richard and Tim Butler had more album than singles success on both sides of the Atlantic, but this one managed to get into the Top 40. Atmospheric rock that I think is about feeling connected to someone when you're physically isolated. And unlike in many cases in the 80s, the saxophone sounds like it belongs.
32 - "Silver," Echo and the Bunnymen
The second of three hits from the Ocean Rain album was this string laden alt-rocker about finding truth and love in a chaotic world. Sounds like them, and I mean that in a good way.
31 - "Baby You're Dynamite," Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff is here, as he so often is. Basic synth-rock about an explosive lover who has "the power of thunder and lightning." I don't hear it on this one. But in case I've never said so here, "Devil Woman" has grown on me quite a bit. She did indeed get me.
30 - "Your Love is King," Sade
The first single released in her adopted homeland by the Nigerian-born songstress and her eponymous band. Sultry jazz-soul that all but spells out that it's about really good sex (she even sings "I'm coming" a couple times. For the U.S., her label decided to launch her with "Smooth Operator," which seem to have been the right call, as it went Top Ten there while this missed the Top 40 for reasons I can't begin to fathom.
29 - "Relax," Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Here it is, the then-scandalous ode to delaying orgasm packaged in an S&M-depicting sleeve and accompanied by a video with men in leather, drag queens, and a debauched Roman emperor. It was doing ok, then the BBC banned it and, shockingly, turned it into a massive #1. Still holds up as a song. But I never had any of the T-shirts, or even a button.
28 - "Cherry Oh Baby," UB40
The Brit reggae stars again, this time with a cover of a sunny love song from Jamaican star Eric Donaldson. Happy stuff that makes me smile
27 - "Dr. Mabuse," Propaganda
The first of three U.K. hits by these synthpoppers from Dusseldorf, Germany way this tribute to a fictional hypnotist/criminal made famous in films by director Fritz Lang. The song seems to be in the voice of one of Mabuse's disciples, who tell the listener to "sell him your soul." Hauntingly cool.
26 - "I'm Falling," The Bluebells
These Scottish pop-rockers, led by and named after guitarist Bobby Bluebell, scored the first of three Top 40s with this song that seems to be about a couple that doesn't seem to be able to sufficiently help each other through hard times. Catchy and affecting.
25 - "Dancing Girls," Nik Kershaw
The second Top 40 for the synthpop star from Bristol, a burbly number about living a dull life and hoping for some excitement to come along. This song isn't quite it, though.
24 - "Give Me Tonight," Shannon
Washington, D.C. singer Shannon Greene had burst on the scene on both sides of the pond the previous year with the dance-funk classic "Let the Music Play." This follow-up is musically similar, and features Greene asking a lover for one no-strings-attached evening together. Not as good as "Let the Music Play," but that leaves plenty of room for it to be considered very, very good.
23 - "What Do I Do," Galaxy
This was the pseudonym used by Jamaican-born, London-raised producer and multi-instrumentalist Phil Fearon on his five U.K. Top 20s in the mid-80s. His second-biggest hit was this bit of pop-funk about trying to win over a lover. Pretty okay.
22 - "That's The Way (I Like It)," Dead or Alive
The future creators of "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" picked up their first Top 40 with this cover of the K.C. and the Sunshine Band disco staple. This version has a more aggressive sexuality to it, and I must say, I like it, uh huh uh huh.
21 - "P.Y.T.," Michael Jackson
The forgotten Thriller single. Relatively speaking, at least. Would be much more than an afterthought on anyone else's CV.
In Part Two: dessert, political protest, and some rather unusual precipitation.
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Gloves Across the Water: UK Top 40 April 12, 1997 Part Two
The end, my friend
20 - "Gotta Be You," 3T featuring Herbie
Taj, Taryll, and TJ Jackson, sons of Jackson 5 punchline Tito, were signed to their Uncle Michael's MJJ label, and they're debut album produced one American hit in "Anything." But they did much better in Europe, and in Britain in particular they scored five hits, the last of which was this bland bit of boy band pop produced by the then-masters of the genre, Swedes Max Martin and Denniz Pop. It is livened up a bit when rapper Herbie chimes in with a rhyme that drops the word "nymphomaniac," but still, it's your basic disposable radio fodder of the time.
19 - "Where Can I Find Love," Livin' Joy
The "European dance production team with African-American singer" template was one followed by many during the 90s, and this Italian group was another example. And an average one at that. I don't know if any of their four other hits are better, but my curiosity is not at all piqued.
18 - "Can We," SWV featuring Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliot
The New York trio whose name stands for Sisters With Voices had about as many hits here as they did at home, but while this one, featuring rhymes from Elliot, who was then known mainly for her behind the scenes work (she also co-wrote and co-produced the track), didn't hit the U.S. Top 40. It's a request for a booty call, which is probably why it ended up on the soundtrack of, uh, Booty Call. It's good for what it is, and Missy's appearance bumps it up even more.
17 - "Fired Up," Funky Green Dogs
This Miami house group, also known as Murk, had their biggest hit with this song. It has the stereotypical "boom-cha boom-cha" beat, and lyrics about the effect someone has on them. A little above average for the genre.
16 - "Free Me," Cast
More Britpop, this time from a Liverpool band who had 11 Top 40s in the second half of the 90s. Their sixth was this rocker about trying to be oneself, or something. Sounds a lot like Oasis, down to singer John Power's vocals. Not bad, but nothing special.
15 - "D.I.S.C.O." N-Trance
The Oldham duo of Dale Longworth and Kevin O'Toole had most of their 90s success with rap-laced covers of disco hits such as "Stayin' Alive," "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy," and this Europe-only 1980 hit by French duo Ottawan. The initials stand for different words in different verses, except for the O, which always stands for "Ohhhhhhh." Creative. The rap is about sex and stuff. My enjoyment of these guys seems to be proportional to how much I like the originals, so this one is meh.
14 - "North Country Boy," Charlatans
This band emerged in the baggy/Madchester days, but managed to fit in well in the era of Britpop. This was their second and last Top Five single, this pop rocker about not feeling you measure up to an old boyfriend or something like that. It's okay, but I give it a bit more love for a mention of "Itchy and Scratchy," which I shall assume is a Simpsons reference, whether it is or not.
13 - "Hit 'Em High," Monstars
This rap track features B-Real, Busta Rhymes, Coolio, LL Cool J, and Method Man, rapping as the Monstars, the villainous mutant basketball team that battles Warner Brothers cartoon characters and Michael Jordan in the movie Space Jam. The lyrics are kid-friendly but not dumbed down, and the beats are nice. I like it. But I've never seen Space Jam, and I don't intend to. I liked my Michael Jordan in real games, and I liked my Looney Tunes in their classic adventures. Any other iterations of either have been disappointing. But this is good, and weird enough to be this week's Uneasy Rider.
12 - "We Have Explosive," The Future Sound of London
Ever wonder who the second most famous Cobain in 90s music was? Well, that honor went to an Mancunian named Garry, who with Brian Dougans formed this electronic act. This was the highest-charting of their nine hits, peaking right here. It's good, hard techno that was used on the soundtrack of the second Mortal Kombat movie. Much more distinctive than a lot of the other dance stuff on this chart.
11 - "Sometimes," Brand New Heavies
This London jazz/funk group were pretty successful in the 90s, scoring thirteen Top 40s. This was the first with singer Siedah Garrett (best known as Michael Jackson's duet partner on "I Just Can't Stop Loving You"), who was in the group for one album only. Garrett gives a very good performance of a lyric about how trusting yourself is the best was to happiness. Solid, sophisticated funk.
10 - "To Live and Die in L.A.," Makaveli
Makaveli was apparently the nom de rap that Tupac Shakur was going to begin recording under for the rest of his career, but that career, and his life, was cut short after he was shot in Las Vegas in September of 1996. His one completed Makaveli album was released two months later, and it produced this single, a laid back tribute to his adopted hometown, his friends and colleagues, with some criticism of the justice system and then-governor Pete Wilson thrown in. Obviously, his premature death has added to his legend, but there is no doubt that the guy could write and rhyme like no other, and is truly one of the best the hip-hop genre has seen or will ever see.
9 - "Encore Une Fois," Sash!
More electronic stuff, this time from a German team that began a string of ten U.K. Top 40s from now until 2000 with this techno house tune featuring French lyrics (the title means "One More Time" Is it ironic that I much prefer an electronic dance song called "One More Time" (in English) by a French group (Daft Punk)? Someone go ask Alanis for me.
8 - "Block Rockin' Beats," The Chemical Brothers
The Manchester duo of Ed Simons and Tom Rowlands were one of the big stars of the late 90s "electronica" boom, and the second of their two #1s was this big-beated, rockish track that melds hip hop and techno in a very entertaining way. This is the good stuff.
7 - "Bellissima," DJ Quicksilver
More techno dance stuff, this time from a guy born in Turkey and raised in Germany. More instrumental noodling with computers and such, but kind of charming in a "Popcorn" sort of way. But really, I had no idea how dominant this stuff was on the British pop chart at the time.
6 - "Mama/Who Do You Think You Are," The Spice Girls
The fourth straight #1 for the ladies was a double-sided hit. The A was a midtempo ballad about how we grow to appreciate our mothers as we age. Bonus points for that Talking Heads sample. The B is perfectly fine disco about conceit. They weren't geniuses, but the formula worked.
5 - "It's No Good," Depeche Mode
The eleventh of their thirteen Top Tens was this rumbly synth-goth tune about waiting for a lover to realize their life sucks without you. Fits right in with the best of their 80s output. I'm happy to say this doesn't live up to its title.
4 - "Underwater Love," Smoke City
This London group's only hit combines trip-hop and bossa nova into a catchy concoction that reminds me that there could be real artful pop done with all those machines. Another welcome new discovery.
3 - "Don't Speak," No Doubt
The smash ballad that made Gwen Stefani and company superstars would become the band's only U.K. charttopper. Written by Stefani and her brother Eric about Gwen's breakup with bassist Tony Kanal, it's one of the great heartbreak-breakup ballads in all of pop. And the video, which depicts the media focusing way more on Gwen than the rest of the band, was self-aware to say the least, as this issue was reportedly bringing the group to the brink of disbanding at the time.
2 - "Richard III," Supergrass
This Oxfordshire trio found themselves square in the middle of the Britpop wave when they emerged, and their debut album, I Should Coco, was a huge U.K. #1. It didn't do much in the States, but one of their videos caught the eye of Steven Spielberg, who offered to create a television sitcom about the band in the style of The Monkees (or for you kids, think maybe Flight of the Conchords). The band declined, opting to instead focus on their second album, whose first single, an urgent rocker that has nothing to do with royalty or Shakespeare, became the last of their two #2 singles. These guys didn't quite get lifted to the heights the Blur and Oasis did, but they unquestionably had their shining moments, and this is one.
And on top of old Blighty a mere 19 years ago was...
1 - "I Believe I Can Fly," R. Kelly
The only British charttopper from the (alleged) urine-and-underage-girl enthusiast was this inspirational ballad from Space Jam. Well-produced and nicely performed, but it now seems like the aural equivalent of one of those self-esteem-raising memes that get posted on Facebook all the time. Makes you feel good for a minute, but then you move on and resume your misery. And Mr. Kelly's history doesn't help
Another down. Haven't done much on Twitter lately, but I'm up to two followers, so it's a growing concern. I will be back to it, and to find out when, look me up @MrBGlovehead. Otherwise, watch this space for my next communication. Aloha.
20 - "Gotta Be You," 3T featuring Herbie
Taj, Taryll, and TJ Jackson, sons of Jackson 5 punchline Tito, were signed to their Uncle Michael's MJJ label, and they're debut album produced one American hit in "Anything." But they did much better in Europe, and in Britain in particular they scored five hits, the last of which was this bland bit of boy band pop produced by the then-masters of the genre, Swedes Max Martin and Denniz Pop. It is livened up a bit when rapper Herbie chimes in with a rhyme that drops the word "nymphomaniac," but still, it's your basic disposable radio fodder of the time.
19 - "Where Can I Find Love," Livin' Joy
The "European dance production team with African-American singer" template was one followed by many during the 90s, and this Italian group was another example. And an average one at that. I don't know if any of their four other hits are better, but my curiosity is not at all piqued.
18 - "Can We," SWV featuring Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliot
The New York trio whose name stands for Sisters With Voices had about as many hits here as they did at home, but while this one, featuring rhymes from Elliot, who was then known mainly for her behind the scenes work (she also co-wrote and co-produced the track), didn't hit the U.S. Top 40. It's a request for a booty call, which is probably why it ended up on the soundtrack of, uh, Booty Call. It's good for what it is, and Missy's appearance bumps it up even more.
17 - "Fired Up," Funky Green Dogs
This Miami house group, also known as Murk, had their biggest hit with this song. It has the stereotypical "boom-cha boom-cha" beat, and lyrics about the effect someone has on them. A little above average for the genre.
16 - "Free Me," Cast
More Britpop, this time from a Liverpool band who had 11 Top 40s in the second half of the 90s. Their sixth was this rocker about trying to be oneself, or something. Sounds a lot like Oasis, down to singer John Power's vocals. Not bad, but nothing special.
15 - "D.I.S.C.O." N-Trance
The Oldham duo of Dale Longworth and Kevin O'Toole had most of their 90s success with rap-laced covers of disco hits such as "Stayin' Alive," "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy," and this Europe-only 1980 hit by French duo Ottawan. The initials stand for different words in different verses, except for the O, which always stands for "Ohhhhhhh." Creative. The rap is about sex and stuff. My enjoyment of these guys seems to be proportional to how much I like the originals, so this one is meh.
14 - "North Country Boy," Charlatans
This band emerged in the baggy/Madchester days, but managed to fit in well in the era of Britpop. This was their second and last Top Five single, this pop rocker about not feeling you measure up to an old boyfriend or something like that. It's okay, but I give it a bit more love for a mention of "Itchy and Scratchy," which I shall assume is a Simpsons reference, whether it is or not.
13 - "Hit 'Em High," Monstars
This rap track features B-Real, Busta Rhymes, Coolio, LL Cool J, and Method Man, rapping as the Monstars, the villainous mutant basketball team that battles Warner Brothers cartoon characters and Michael Jordan in the movie Space Jam. The lyrics are kid-friendly but not dumbed down, and the beats are nice. I like it. But I've never seen Space Jam, and I don't intend to. I liked my Michael Jordan in real games, and I liked my Looney Tunes in their classic adventures. Any other iterations of either have been disappointing. But this is good, and weird enough to be this week's Uneasy Rider.
12 - "We Have Explosive," The Future Sound of London
Ever wonder who the second most famous Cobain in 90s music was? Well, that honor went to an Mancunian named Garry, who with Brian Dougans formed this electronic act. This was the highest-charting of their nine hits, peaking right here. It's good, hard techno that was used on the soundtrack of the second Mortal Kombat movie. Much more distinctive than a lot of the other dance stuff on this chart.
11 - "Sometimes," Brand New Heavies
This London jazz/funk group were pretty successful in the 90s, scoring thirteen Top 40s. This was the first with singer Siedah Garrett (best known as Michael Jackson's duet partner on "I Just Can't Stop Loving You"), who was in the group for one album only. Garrett gives a very good performance of a lyric about how trusting yourself is the best was to happiness. Solid, sophisticated funk.
10 - "To Live and Die in L.A.," Makaveli
Makaveli was apparently the nom de rap that Tupac Shakur was going to begin recording under for the rest of his career, but that career, and his life, was cut short after he was shot in Las Vegas in September of 1996. His one completed Makaveli album was released two months later, and it produced this single, a laid back tribute to his adopted hometown, his friends and colleagues, with some criticism of the justice system and then-governor Pete Wilson thrown in. Obviously, his premature death has added to his legend, but there is no doubt that the guy could write and rhyme like no other, and is truly one of the best the hip-hop genre has seen or will ever see.
9 - "Encore Une Fois," Sash!
More electronic stuff, this time from a German team that began a string of ten U.K. Top 40s from now until 2000 with this techno house tune featuring French lyrics (the title means "One More Time" Is it ironic that I much prefer an electronic dance song called "One More Time" (in English) by a French group (Daft Punk)? Someone go ask Alanis for me.
8 - "Block Rockin' Beats," The Chemical Brothers
The Manchester duo of Ed Simons and Tom Rowlands were one of the big stars of the late 90s "electronica" boom, and the second of their two #1s was this big-beated, rockish track that melds hip hop and techno in a very entertaining way. This is the good stuff.
7 - "Bellissima," DJ Quicksilver
More techno dance stuff, this time from a guy born in Turkey and raised in Germany. More instrumental noodling with computers and such, but kind of charming in a "Popcorn" sort of way. But really, I had no idea how dominant this stuff was on the British pop chart at the time.
6 - "Mama/Who Do You Think You Are," The Spice Girls
The fourth straight #1 for the ladies was a double-sided hit. The A was a midtempo ballad about how we grow to appreciate our mothers as we age. Bonus points for that Talking Heads sample. The B is perfectly fine disco about conceit. They weren't geniuses, but the formula worked.
5 - "It's No Good," Depeche Mode
The eleventh of their thirteen Top Tens was this rumbly synth-goth tune about waiting for a lover to realize their life sucks without you. Fits right in with the best of their 80s output. I'm happy to say this doesn't live up to its title.
4 - "Underwater Love," Smoke City
This London group's only hit combines trip-hop and bossa nova into a catchy concoction that reminds me that there could be real artful pop done with all those machines. Another welcome new discovery.
3 - "Don't Speak," No Doubt
The smash ballad that made Gwen Stefani and company superstars would become the band's only U.K. charttopper. Written by Stefani and her brother Eric about Gwen's breakup with bassist Tony Kanal, it's one of the great heartbreak-breakup ballads in all of pop. And the video, which depicts the media focusing way more on Gwen than the rest of the band, was self-aware to say the least, as this issue was reportedly bringing the group to the brink of disbanding at the time.
2 - "Richard III," Supergrass
This Oxfordshire trio found themselves square in the middle of the Britpop wave when they emerged, and their debut album, I Should Coco, was a huge U.K. #1. It didn't do much in the States, but one of their videos caught the eye of Steven Spielberg, who offered to create a television sitcom about the band in the style of The Monkees (or for you kids, think maybe Flight of the Conchords). The band declined, opting to instead focus on their second album, whose first single, an urgent rocker that has nothing to do with royalty or Shakespeare, became the last of their two #2 singles. These guys didn't quite get lifted to the heights the Blur and Oasis did, but they unquestionably had their shining moments, and this is one.
And on top of old Blighty a mere 19 years ago was...
1 - "I Believe I Can Fly," R. Kelly
The only British charttopper from the (alleged) urine-and-underage-girl enthusiast was this inspirational ballad from Space Jam. Well-produced and nicely performed, but it now seems like the aural equivalent of one of those self-esteem-raising memes that get posted on Facebook all the time. Makes you feel good for a minute, but then you move on and resume your misery. And Mr. Kelly's history doesn't help
Another down. Haven't done much on Twitter lately, but I'm up to two followers, so it's a growing concern. I will be back to it, and to find out when, look me up @MrBGlovehead. Otherwise, watch this space for my next communication. Aloha.
Saturday, April 2, 2016
Gloves Across the Water: U.K. Top 40 April 12, 1997 Part One
April 1997 in Britain. The campaign that would result in the election of Tony Blair as Prime Minister was under way. And Teletubbies had just debuted, to the delight of toddlers and stoners everywhere. This was the soundtrack.
40 - "U16 Girls," Travis
This Scottish band was formed in 1990, but didn't release their debut album, Good Feeling, until '96. It produced five Top 40 singles, the second being this guitar rocker about the perils of females who look older than they are. It's catchy and cool. But it was when they turned down and went more introspective on their next album, The Man Who, that they became U.K. superstars, and many feel that their success paved the way for Coldplay. So depending on your view, they're to thank/blame.
39 - "Alone," The Bee Gees
Not only did this midtempo pine for companionship go Top Five here, it helped spark another comeback for the Gibbs in the U.S., cracking the Top 40 and helping their Still Waters album go platinum. Say what you want about them, they were certainly adaptable to multiple eras and styles.
38 - "Remember Me," Blue Boy
The biggest hit for British DJ Lex Blackmore was this trip-hop adaptation of the 1969 song "Woman of the Ghetto," by soul singer Marlena Shaw, primarily employing the line "Remember me? I'm the one who had your babies." Pretty great.
37 - "Hush," Kula Shaker
Formed in London by Crispian Mills, the song of actress Hayley Mills (known to one generation as the star of the original version of The Parent Trap and to another as Miss Bliss, the teacher in the early episodes of Saved by the Bell), this band burst onto the scene the previous year with a psychedelic rock sound with more than a little East Indian influence (their third Top Ten single, "Govinda," is sung entirely in Sanskrit). Following up their multi-platinum debut album, they released this cover of Deep Purple's 1968 breakthrough hit, which became the last of their two #2s. It's pretty much a carbon copy, down to that familiar organ riff. Mills' adds a little swagger, but not enough to make this essential.
36 - "Consideration," Reef
From Glastonbury, namesake of one of the world's most famous music festivals, this four-piece, one of the many disparate bands lumped under the mid-90s catchall label "Britpop," scored nine Top 40s between 1995 and 2000. Their sixth was this ballad that seems to ask the listener to examine his or her capacity for kindness and inner strength. It's okay, but not quite the anthem it aims to be.
35 - "Love Guaranteed," Damage
Formed by students at a London performing arts school, this R&B boy band picked up nine Top 40s, and this was the second of their three Top Tens. Unremarkable modern uptempo pop-soul. Good singers, but not a great song.
34 - "Footprint," Disco Citizens
The second and last Top 40 by this incarnation of British DJ Nicholas "Chicane" Bracegirdle is your standard trance house track. I didn't hear anything special about it, but maybe certain chemicals would change my opinion. But I think Nicholas Bracegirdle is an awesome name.
33 - "Flash," B.B.E
More instrumental electronic dance stuff, this time from a French-Italian trio. Again, a lot of this stuff blends together in my mind. No hook.
32 - "Where Do You Go," No Mercy
The biggest hit for a German Eurodance boy band who were produced by Frank Farian of Boney M./Milli Vanilli fame. But he actually let these guys sing for themselves, for once. Anyway, a Top Five on both sides of the Atlantic, but just blandness to these ears.
31 - "Mr. Big Stuff," Queen Latifah, Shades, and Free
Before she became a sitcom star, a movie star, a singer of jazz standards, and a talk show host, New Jerseyite Dana Owens was a rapper, and that is her role on her second British Top 40, a teamup with vocal quartet Shades and fellow female MC Free on this reworking of the 1971 Jean Knight hit. The lyrics line up with the plot of the Whoopi Goldberg finance comedy The Associate. It's okay.
30 - "Rumble in the Jungle," Fugees featuring A Tribe Called Quest, Busta Rhymes, and John Forte
The last major single by the combination of Wyclef Jean, Pras Michel, and Lauryn Hill (and friends)was this song that contains references to the titular 1974 Muhammad Ali-George Foreman championship fight in Zaire that was depicted in the documentary the song was recorded for, When We Were Kings. Solid rhymes from all involved, with the only hiccup being Rhymes' possibly erroneous reference to Zimbabwe. And the movie is terrific, my favorite documentary ever.
29 - "Forever," Puff Johnson
The second of L.A. soul singer Ewanya Johnson's two U.K. Top 40s was this nice ballad of devotion. Immediately following this, she opened for Michael Jackson on a European tour, then pretty much disappeared from mainstream consciousness, eventually moving to South Africa, where she succumbed to cancer three years ago at 40.
28 - "If I Never See You Again," Wet Wet Wet
This quartet from Clydebank, Scotland broke through at the tail end of the "sophisti-pop:" movement, and would have a whopping 28 Top 40s and three Number Ones, the last being their massive cover of The Troggs' "Love is All Around" from the Four Weddings and a Funeral soundtrack. This one's a pretty good thanks-for-the-memories ballad, with a quality performance from singer Marti Pellow. They broke up shortly after this, but got back together in 2004, and they're still at it.
27 - "2 Become 1," The Spice Girls
Having debuted the previous July, Ginger, Posh, Sporty, Baby and Scary were already a culture-spanning phenomenon in their homeland and making "girl power" part of the vernacular. Their third of nine #1s, (and the 1996 Christmas charttopper) was this sultry sex ballad. It's actually a pretty good song, and they sing it quite well. It's probably the song of theirs that holds up the best with the passage of time.
26 - "Hondy (No Access)," Hondy
I can find neither lyrics to this song nor background on the artist. The song is a house track over which a female singer sings about wanting a flower and testifying her desire, and the chorus consists of her simply howling the word "Hondy." It's better than average, and the lack of info I could find intrigues me.
25 - "Naked Eye," Luscions Jackson
This New York alt-rock band was signed to the Beastie Boys' Grand Royal label (and featured drummer Kate Schellenbach, who was in the Beasties when they were a punk band in the early 80s). They're biggest hit, a Top 40 on both sides of the Atlantic. was this joyful dance rocker about finding clarity and joy. A definite favorite of mine. It feeeeels...allllllll riiiiiiiight.
24 - "Anywhere for You," Backstreet Boys
The Orlando based boy band were still unknown at home at this time, but they had gotten huge in Europe, as this was their fifth huge hit in the span of a year. It's your standard assemblage of sincerely crooned pleas and promises, which are apparently the kind of things a certain young female demographic always craves. It's a gap in the market that always seems to be filled, and these guys were pretty successful at supplying that demand.
23 - "Isn't it a Wonder," Boyzone
The major reason why the Backstreets hit in Europe first was because their boy band scene was already thriving, and these five from Ireland were among the leaders of the pack. This was their eighth U.K. hit, and to this point none of them had charted lower than #4. It's a ballad about appreciating the world around you and hoping that your true love can be part of it again. I think that's it. Anyway, for some reason I feel like there's a little more to it than a lot of American boy band stuff. Or maybe I'm just deluded.
22 - "My Love is Deep," Sara Parker
Another artist I wasn't able to find much out about. Again, it's house/dance, with some decent singing over a bed of bleeps and bloops. This is a genre that I seem to have a lot of trouble finding much interesting in. Maybe it's me.
21 - "Fresh," Gina G
Australian-born Gina Gardner moved to England in 1995, and the next year won the right to represent Britain at the Eurovision Song Contest. She didn't win, but the song, "Ooh Aah...Just a Little Bit," went to #1. She followed it up with two Top Tens, the last of which was this flirty dance popper that uses the title word in the old timey euphemistic sense. It's fun and throwaway.
In Part Two: more spice, ballin' monsters, and silence.
40 - "U16 Girls," Travis
This Scottish band was formed in 1990, but didn't release their debut album, Good Feeling, until '96. It produced five Top 40 singles, the second being this guitar rocker about the perils of females who look older than they are. It's catchy and cool. But it was when they turned down and went more introspective on their next album, The Man Who, that they became U.K. superstars, and many feel that their success paved the way for Coldplay. So depending on your view, they're to thank/blame.
39 - "Alone," The Bee Gees
Not only did this midtempo pine for companionship go Top Five here, it helped spark another comeback for the Gibbs in the U.S., cracking the Top 40 and helping their Still Waters album go platinum. Say what you want about them, they were certainly adaptable to multiple eras and styles.
38 - "Remember Me," Blue Boy
The biggest hit for British DJ Lex Blackmore was this trip-hop adaptation of the 1969 song "Woman of the Ghetto," by soul singer Marlena Shaw, primarily employing the line "Remember me? I'm the one who had your babies." Pretty great.
37 - "Hush," Kula Shaker
Formed in London by Crispian Mills, the song of actress Hayley Mills (known to one generation as the star of the original version of The Parent Trap and to another as Miss Bliss, the teacher in the early episodes of Saved by the Bell), this band burst onto the scene the previous year with a psychedelic rock sound with more than a little East Indian influence (their third Top Ten single, "Govinda," is sung entirely in Sanskrit). Following up their multi-platinum debut album, they released this cover of Deep Purple's 1968 breakthrough hit, which became the last of their two #2s. It's pretty much a carbon copy, down to that familiar organ riff. Mills' adds a little swagger, but not enough to make this essential.
36 - "Consideration," Reef
From Glastonbury, namesake of one of the world's most famous music festivals, this four-piece, one of the many disparate bands lumped under the mid-90s catchall label "Britpop," scored nine Top 40s between 1995 and 2000. Their sixth was this ballad that seems to ask the listener to examine his or her capacity for kindness and inner strength. It's okay, but not quite the anthem it aims to be.
35 - "Love Guaranteed," Damage
Formed by students at a London performing arts school, this R&B boy band picked up nine Top 40s, and this was the second of their three Top Tens. Unremarkable modern uptempo pop-soul. Good singers, but not a great song.
34 - "Footprint," Disco Citizens
The second and last Top 40 by this incarnation of British DJ Nicholas "Chicane" Bracegirdle is your standard trance house track. I didn't hear anything special about it, but maybe certain chemicals would change my opinion. But I think Nicholas Bracegirdle is an awesome name.
33 - "Flash," B.B.E
More instrumental electronic dance stuff, this time from a French-Italian trio. Again, a lot of this stuff blends together in my mind. No hook.
32 - "Where Do You Go," No Mercy
The biggest hit for a German Eurodance boy band who were produced by Frank Farian of Boney M./Milli Vanilli fame. But he actually let these guys sing for themselves, for once. Anyway, a Top Five on both sides of the Atlantic, but just blandness to these ears.
31 - "Mr. Big Stuff," Queen Latifah, Shades, and Free
Before she became a sitcom star, a movie star, a singer of jazz standards, and a talk show host, New Jerseyite Dana Owens was a rapper, and that is her role on her second British Top 40, a teamup with vocal quartet Shades and fellow female MC Free on this reworking of the 1971 Jean Knight hit. The lyrics line up with the plot of the Whoopi Goldberg finance comedy The Associate. It's okay.
30 - "Rumble in the Jungle," Fugees featuring A Tribe Called Quest, Busta Rhymes, and John Forte
The last major single by the combination of Wyclef Jean, Pras Michel, and Lauryn Hill (and friends)was this song that contains references to the titular 1974 Muhammad Ali-George Foreman championship fight in Zaire that was depicted in the documentary the song was recorded for, When We Were Kings. Solid rhymes from all involved, with the only hiccup being Rhymes' possibly erroneous reference to Zimbabwe. And the movie is terrific, my favorite documentary ever.
29 - "Forever," Puff Johnson
The second of L.A. soul singer Ewanya Johnson's two U.K. Top 40s was this nice ballad of devotion. Immediately following this, she opened for Michael Jackson on a European tour, then pretty much disappeared from mainstream consciousness, eventually moving to South Africa, where she succumbed to cancer three years ago at 40.
28 - "If I Never See You Again," Wet Wet Wet
This quartet from Clydebank, Scotland broke through at the tail end of the "sophisti-pop:" movement, and would have a whopping 28 Top 40s and three Number Ones, the last being their massive cover of The Troggs' "Love is All Around" from the Four Weddings and a Funeral soundtrack. This one's a pretty good thanks-for-the-memories ballad, with a quality performance from singer Marti Pellow. They broke up shortly after this, but got back together in 2004, and they're still at it.
27 - "2 Become 1," The Spice Girls
Having debuted the previous July, Ginger, Posh, Sporty, Baby and Scary were already a culture-spanning phenomenon in their homeland and making "girl power" part of the vernacular. Their third of nine #1s, (and the 1996 Christmas charttopper) was this sultry sex ballad. It's actually a pretty good song, and they sing it quite well. It's probably the song of theirs that holds up the best with the passage of time.
26 - "Hondy (No Access)," Hondy
I can find neither lyrics to this song nor background on the artist. The song is a house track over which a female singer sings about wanting a flower and testifying her desire, and the chorus consists of her simply howling the word "Hondy." It's better than average, and the lack of info I could find intrigues me.
25 - "Naked Eye," Luscions Jackson
This New York alt-rock band was signed to the Beastie Boys' Grand Royal label (and featured drummer Kate Schellenbach, who was in the Beasties when they were a punk band in the early 80s). They're biggest hit, a Top 40 on both sides of the Atlantic. was this joyful dance rocker about finding clarity and joy. A definite favorite of mine. It feeeeels...allllllll riiiiiiiight.
24 - "Anywhere for You," Backstreet Boys
The Orlando based boy band were still unknown at home at this time, but they had gotten huge in Europe, as this was their fifth huge hit in the span of a year. It's your standard assemblage of sincerely crooned pleas and promises, which are apparently the kind of things a certain young female demographic always craves. It's a gap in the market that always seems to be filled, and these guys were pretty successful at supplying that demand.
23 - "Isn't it a Wonder," Boyzone
The major reason why the Backstreets hit in Europe first was because their boy band scene was already thriving, and these five from Ireland were among the leaders of the pack. This was their eighth U.K. hit, and to this point none of them had charted lower than #4. It's a ballad about appreciating the world around you and hoping that your true love can be part of it again. I think that's it. Anyway, for some reason I feel like there's a little more to it than a lot of American boy band stuff. Or maybe I'm just deluded.
22 - "My Love is Deep," Sara Parker
Another artist I wasn't able to find much out about. Again, it's house/dance, with some decent singing over a bed of bleeps and bloops. This is a genre that I seem to have a lot of trouble finding much interesting in. Maybe it's me.
21 - "Fresh," Gina G
Australian-born Gina Gardner moved to England in 1995, and the next year won the right to represent Britain at the Eurovision Song Contest. She didn't win, but the song, "Ooh Aah...Just a Little Bit," went to #1. She followed it up with two Top Tens, the last of which was this flirty dance popper that uses the title word in the old timey euphemistic sense. It's fun and throwaway.
In Part Two: more spice, ballin' monsters, and silence.
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Gloves Across the Water: UK Top 40 March 25, 1978 Part One
Welcome to late March 1978. In America, a rock festival called California Jam II had just drawn over 350,000 people to a speedway in the town of Ontario. The lineup featured Heart, Ted Nugent, Santana, Aerosmith, and more. None of these bands, however, were having an impact on the British charts at the time. What was? Well...
40 - "We've Got the Whole World," Nottingham Forest and Paper Lace
As you may be aware of, soccer is quite popular in Britain, and its impact has been felt over the years on the pop chart, with songs not only about the sport, but with vocal contributions by players and teams, appearing with some regularity over the years. The first example we come across is this collaboration between the band best known for "The Night Chicago Died" and their local club, who were in the midst of the most successful period in their history. The team sings as a chorus a modified versions of the spiritual "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands," featuring lyrics about how great they are and how they're going to win. Simple, but effective. Football songs and chants are one of the things I like about British culture that I wish could somehow be adapted to sports here. But singing players...not so much. You get stuff like the near-Top 40 from 1985 "The Super Bowl Shuffle" by The Chicago Bears Shufflin' Crew. Not good. And I say that as a Bears fan.
39 - "Too Much Too Little Too Late," Johnny Mathis and Deneice Williams
The breakup duet between Mr. "Misty" and the future Ms. "Let's Hear it for the Boy," went to #1 in the States and Top Five here. Covered it a long time ago. Smooth and okay. I still prefer their Family Ties theme.
38 - "Too Hot ta Trot/Zoom," The Commodores
Double-sided hit from the pride of Tuskegee, Alabama. The A is good solid sex-funk. The B is a Lionel Richie-fronted ballad about longing for a place where "people can be what they wanna be." I think these guys are underrated.
37 - "Figaro," Brotherhood of Man
This two-man, two-woman British vocal group first gained world attention with the transatlantic 1970 hit "United We Stand." They didn't do much more until 1976, when they had a run that featured three U.K. #1s, the last of which was this disco pop song about a lothario who wows women when he "plays guitar at the disco bar." It's in the same genre as ABBA, but they are the monarchs, and this effort is below their standard, and that of Bucks Fizz, the group that would soon usurp them as the nation's leaders in this field.
36 - "Baby Come Back," Player
This very familiar U.S. #1 soft rocker was also their only U.K hit. But here it only made it to #32. I tend to side with the Brits.
35 - "5 Minutes," The Stranglers
The band's fourth hit was this blast of anger from bassist Jean-Jacques Burnel toward the men who raped a woman who lived in his neighborhood. You feel his conflicted feelings about his desire for revenge. A good example of the urgency punk brought to rock.
34 - "Singin' in the Rain," Sheila B. Devotion
French singer Annie Chancel, who took the stage name "Sheila," had been having hits at home for over a decade when she was paired with a disco group of singers and dancers called "B.Devotion." For much of the world, they were known together as Sheila B. Devotion. Anyway, they had two U.K. hits, the first and biggest of which was this dance cover of a 1929 song that was popularized in 1952 in a 1952 Gene Kelly musical. Interesting, but inconsequential.
33 - "Never Let Her Slip Away," Andrew Gold
The late Californian, best known in the States for "Lonely Boy," and writing the eventual Golden Girls theme "Thank You for Being a Friend," had a Top Five here with this jaunty pop love song inspired by the moment he met his then-girlfriend, Saturday Night Live "Not Ready for Prime Time Player" Laraine Newman. It also features background vocals from Gold's buddy Freddie Mercury. Yet another gem I've discovered.
32 - "Love is Like Oxygen," Sweet
The last major hit on both sides of the Atlantic for the British glam stars. I always like to breathe in its goodness.
31 - "The Ghost of Love," Tavares
The last non re-release U.K Top 40 for these funky Rhode Island brothers is vibrant disco about how a man's memories of a previous lover scare future prospects away. They sound a little too happy about what seems like a depressing predicament, but I guess disco helps the medicine go down.
30 - "Sometimes When We Touch," Dan Hill
The timeless sapfest. Again, his only U.K. hit, and it didn't hit as big. I definitely think British tastes match up more with my own.
29 - "Just the Way You Are," Billy Joel
Billy's American breakthrough was his first hit here, but it only got this high. If it were up to me, I'd probably split the difference between this and its U.S peak of #3.
28 - "I'll Go Where Your Music Takes Me," Tina Charles
The last Top 40 for the former Tina Hoskins was this bit o'disco about being really in love with a musician. There's xylophone on it, which is nice. Otherwise, irrelevant.
27 - "News of the World," The Jam
The legendary band's fourth hit (and the only one written solely by bassist Bruce Foxton) was this snarling punk roar at the British tabloid media. It doesn't have the impeccable pop hooks of the band at their best, but still a very good song.
26 - "I Don't Want to Go to Chelsea," Elvis Costello
The son of a London bandleader, Declan Patrick McManus took on a stage surname Dad had used and an iconic first name when he began his career as punk's bespectacled poet laureate. His second hit was this rubbery rock song about flirting girls, dirty old men, violent thugs, and other reasons he doesn't want to visit a certain section of London. I think that's it. Anyway, great stuff. It's hard to go wrong with EC from this period.
25 - "I Wonder Why," Showaddywaddy
This eight-piece from Leicester racked up 23 Top 40s between 1974 and 1982, including a #1 and four Number Twos. The last of the latter was this pretty faithful cover of a 1958 hit by Dion and the Belmonts. Covering songs from that era without changing much was their style, and it worked for them. I prefer more adventurousness, but good for them for succeeding with their thing. But I must say they have a contender for my dream all-name band in drummer Romeo Challenger. And speaking of Leicester, it's amazing what their doing in the Premiership this year. They could actually win the league, which would be the stuff of legend. I'm kind of rooting for them, but I can't go all the way, because their closest pursuers are my club, Tottenham Hotspur, and I don't know when we'll ever get another chance this good to win the league.
24 - "Walk in Love," The Manhattan Transfer
The New York jazz-pop vocal group had twice as many hits here than they did at home. They had a #1 with "Chanson D'Amour," but their second-biggest, this ballad about falling in love and having sex on a beach, only hit #12. It's okay romantic mood-setting.
23 - "All Right Now," Free
Here it is again. It must have been re-released for some reason in '78. Oh well, it's always good for a rock-out.
22 - "Follow You Follow Me," Genesis
The first U.S. Top 40 and first U.K. Top Ten for the now Gabriel-less ones. Slick pop sung by Phil Collins. We had no idea how much more of that there would be to come.
21 - "Just One More Night," Yellow Dog,
The only hit by this British band, fronted by American Kenny Young, had their only hit with this pop-rocker about a woman who keeps extending her stand beyond a single evening with sweet talk and promises. Silly fun. The false ending that resumes with a ringing telephone and a continuation of the pledges of chore-doing was a nice touch.
In Part two: art, literature, and more football.
40 - "We've Got the Whole World," Nottingham Forest and Paper Lace
As you may be aware of, soccer is quite popular in Britain, and its impact has been felt over the years on the pop chart, with songs not only about the sport, but with vocal contributions by players and teams, appearing with some regularity over the years. The first example we come across is this collaboration between the band best known for "The Night Chicago Died" and their local club, who were in the midst of the most successful period in their history. The team sings as a chorus a modified versions of the spiritual "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands," featuring lyrics about how great they are and how they're going to win. Simple, but effective. Football songs and chants are one of the things I like about British culture that I wish could somehow be adapted to sports here. But singing players...not so much. You get stuff like the near-Top 40 from 1985 "The Super Bowl Shuffle" by The Chicago Bears Shufflin' Crew. Not good. And I say that as a Bears fan.
39 - "Too Much Too Little Too Late," Johnny Mathis and Deneice Williams
The breakup duet between Mr. "Misty" and the future Ms. "Let's Hear it for the Boy," went to #1 in the States and Top Five here. Covered it a long time ago. Smooth and okay. I still prefer their Family Ties theme.
38 - "Too Hot ta Trot/Zoom," The Commodores
Double-sided hit from the pride of Tuskegee, Alabama. The A is good solid sex-funk. The B is a Lionel Richie-fronted ballad about longing for a place where "people can be what they wanna be." I think these guys are underrated.
37 - "Figaro," Brotherhood of Man
This two-man, two-woman British vocal group first gained world attention with the transatlantic 1970 hit "United We Stand." They didn't do much more until 1976, when they had a run that featured three U.K. #1s, the last of which was this disco pop song about a lothario who wows women when he "plays guitar at the disco bar." It's in the same genre as ABBA, but they are the monarchs, and this effort is below their standard, and that of Bucks Fizz, the group that would soon usurp them as the nation's leaders in this field.
36 - "Baby Come Back," Player
This very familiar U.S. #1 soft rocker was also their only U.K hit. But here it only made it to #32. I tend to side with the Brits.
35 - "5 Minutes," The Stranglers
The band's fourth hit was this blast of anger from bassist Jean-Jacques Burnel toward the men who raped a woman who lived in his neighborhood. You feel his conflicted feelings about his desire for revenge. A good example of the urgency punk brought to rock.
34 - "Singin' in the Rain," Sheila B. Devotion
French singer Annie Chancel, who took the stage name "Sheila," had been having hits at home for over a decade when she was paired with a disco group of singers and dancers called "B.Devotion." For much of the world, they were known together as Sheila B. Devotion. Anyway, they had two U.K. hits, the first and biggest of which was this dance cover of a 1929 song that was popularized in 1952 in a 1952 Gene Kelly musical. Interesting, but inconsequential.
33 - "Never Let Her Slip Away," Andrew Gold
The late Californian, best known in the States for "Lonely Boy," and writing the eventual Golden Girls theme "Thank You for Being a Friend," had a Top Five here with this jaunty pop love song inspired by the moment he met his then-girlfriend, Saturday Night Live "Not Ready for Prime Time Player" Laraine Newman. It also features background vocals from Gold's buddy Freddie Mercury. Yet another gem I've discovered.
32 - "Love is Like Oxygen," Sweet
The last major hit on both sides of the Atlantic for the British glam stars. I always like to breathe in its goodness.
31 - "The Ghost of Love," Tavares
The last non re-release U.K Top 40 for these funky Rhode Island brothers is vibrant disco about how a man's memories of a previous lover scare future prospects away. They sound a little too happy about what seems like a depressing predicament, but I guess disco helps the medicine go down.
30 - "Sometimes When We Touch," Dan Hill
The timeless sapfest. Again, his only U.K. hit, and it didn't hit as big. I definitely think British tastes match up more with my own.
29 - "Just the Way You Are," Billy Joel
Billy's American breakthrough was his first hit here, but it only got this high. If it were up to me, I'd probably split the difference between this and its U.S peak of #3.
28 - "I'll Go Where Your Music Takes Me," Tina Charles
The last Top 40 for the former Tina Hoskins was this bit o'disco about being really in love with a musician. There's xylophone on it, which is nice. Otherwise, irrelevant.
27 - "News of the World," The Jam
The legendary band's fourth hit (and the only one written solely by bassist Bruce Foxton) was this snarling punk roar at the British tabloid media. It doesn't have the impeccable pop hooks of the band at their best, but still a very good song.
26 - "I Don't Want to Go to Chelsea," Elvis Costello
The son of a London bandleader, Declan Patrick McManus took on a stage surname Dad had used and an iconic first name when he began his career as punk's bespectacled poet laureate. His second hit was this rubbery rock song about flirting girls, dirty old men, violent thugs, and other reasons he doesn't want to visit a certain section of London. I think that's it. Anyway, great stuff. It's hard to go wrong with EC from this period.
25 - "I Wonder Why," Showaddywaddy
This eight-piece from Leicester racked up 23 Top 40s between 1974 and 1982, including a #1 and four Number Twos. The last of the latter was this pretty faithful cover of a 1958 hit by Dion and the Belmonts. Covering songs from that era without changing much was their style, and it worked for them. I prefer more adventurousness, but good for them for succeeding with their thing. But I must say they have a contender for my dream all-name band in drummer Romeo Challenger. And speaking of Leicester, it's amazing what their doing in the Premiership this year. They could actually win the league, which would be the stuff of legend. I'm kind of rooting for them, but I can't go all the way, because their closest pursuers are my club, Tottenham Hotspur, and I don't know when we'll ever get another chance this good to win the league.
24 - "Walk in Love," The Manhattan Transfer
The New York jazz-pop vocal group had twice as many hits here than they did at home. They had a #1 with "Chanson D'Amour," but their second-biggest, this ballad about falling in love and having sex on a beach, only hit #12. It's okay romantic mood-setting.
23 - "All Right Now," Free
Here it is again. It must have been re-released for some reason in '78. Oh well, it's always good for a rock-out.
22 - "Follow You Follow Me," Genesis
The first U.S. Top 40 and first U.K. Top Ten for the now Gabriel-less ones. Slick pop sung by Phil Collins. We had no idea how much more of that there would be to come.
21 - "Just One More Night," Yellow Dog,
The only hit by this British band, fronted by American Kenny Young, had their only hit with this pop-rocker about a woman who keeps extending her stand beyond a single evening with sweet talk and promises. Silly fun. The false ending that resumes with a ringing telephone and a continuation of the pledges of chore-doing was a nice touch.
In Part two: art, literature, and more football.
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