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March 29, 2024, 11:47:24 AM

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Topic: Top of the Pops on BBC Four - Thread Two.

Started by Dr Rock, August 26, 2018, 02:21:41 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

buzby

Quote from: Phil_A on May 02, 2019, 01:28:10 PM
Remember when Belle & Sebastian won a Best New Band phone in vote at The Brits over Steps, leading to a massive strop from Waterman? He made such a stink over it they had to invent a new award the following year called something like The Steps Award for Best Band Called Steps just to appease him. What a baby.
Just a bit more on the Steps/B&S BRITs farrago. The 1999 Best Newcomer award was voted on by Radio 1 listeners and was one of the first that allowed votes via the internet as well as phone lines. B&S polled 9109 votes versus Steps' 9038 (with Gomez in 3rd with 6588). After the result was announced, Waterman claimed that 12% of the B&S votes were via the internet from 2 IP addresses at Strathclyde and Cambridge Universities, and demanded an investigation into vote rigging. The BBC said it was all above board, as the internet voting system only allowed two votes per PC to be counted (presumably the PCs at the universities were mapped to NAT addresses, hence why only 2 IP addresses were listed).

Waterman also moaned that B&S shouldn't have even been in the category in the first place, as to qualify as a newcomer the artist's first Top 75 single or album had to have been released after 11/08/97. The B&S single Dog On Wheels had charted at #59 on 24/05/97, and the follow-up Lazy Line Painter Jane had charted at #41 on 09/08/97. Waterman wrote an article in The Sun, demanding the result be overturned, saying 'For the sake of the industry, it's time to hold an official investigation and make a statement'.

To keep Waterman happy, the BPI invented the 'Biggest Selling Live Act of 1999' category for the 2000 BRITs specifically for Steps.

Quote from: buzby on May 02, 2019, 11:50:58 PM
A bit of investigation and an email conversation seems to confirm they belong to a rental company called Octave Hire. .

Bet you're glad to put that one to bed buzby.

Do we know if a similar story surrounds The Spice Girls winning Outstanding Contribution To Music award at the Brits in 2000. Even at the time it seems a little strange to me.

boki

Quote from: Better Midlands on May 03, 2019, 10:37:06 AM
Bet you're glad to put that one to bed buzby.
It's definitely something that'd keep you up.

buzby

Quote from: boki on May 03, 2019, 12:06:49 PM
Quote from: Better Midlands on May 03, 2019, 10:37:06 AM
Bet you're glad to put that one to bed buzby.
It's definitely something that'd keep you up.
Have you seen the timestamps on some of my posts? Thirty-year-old instrument rental labels are exactly the sort of thing that keeps me awake.

daf

22 October 1987: Presenters: Simon Bates & Gary Davies

(12) WAS (NOT WAS) – Walk The Dinosaur
Tyrannosaurus Rocks
(21) LOS LOBOS – Come On Let's Go (US TOTP clip)
The Great Stoneface
(17) PET SHOP BOYS – Rent
Sitting Tennant



(4) KISS – Crazy Crazy Nights (US TOTP clip)
Yes, you've got a long tongue, well done, have a peanut!
(7) ERASURE – The Circus
Bell's Frisky
- - - - - - - - - - - - (breakers) - - - - - - - - - - - -
(29) THE CURE – Just Like Heaven
(24) RAY PARKER JR – I Don't Think That Man Should Sleep Alone
(10) GEORGE MICHAEL – Faith
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
(1) THE BEE GEES – You Win Again
BOSH! - BOSH! - BOSH! - BOSH!
(5) BANANARAMA – Love In The First Degree (video / credits)
Jailhouse Pop

Sebastian Cobb

Walk the Dinosaur is a banger. This is a hill I am prepared to die on.

famethrowa

Glenn Shorrock from LRB once told a story that he was invited to the Bee Gees house in LA in the mid-80s, and went along expecting a right old rock star party night. But all he got was an excited Maurice who played him 3 hours of his garage trashcan demos, which eventually got condensed down into the intro of You Win Again. good song tho

Quote from: Sebastian Cobb on May 03, 2019, 10:27:36 PM
Walk the Dinosaur is a banger. This is a hill I am prepared to die on.

The whole album, What Up Dog?, while a product of its time, is a banger!

Gulftastic

Quote from: Sebastian Cobb on May 03, 2019, 10:27:36 PM
Walk the Dinosaur is a banger. This is a hill I am prepared to die on.

I am still surprised that 'How The Heart Behaves' did nowt chart wise.It's great.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBFDPGk2rZg

Sebastian Cobb

My untrained ears hear dx7 parpers and Seinfeld bass; buzby will disapprove of this or correct my tin ears.

daf

Quote from: Gulftastic on May 05, 2019, 07:12:49 PM
I am still surprised that 'How The Heart Behaves' did nowt chart wise.It's great.

That's not Don Was!!



And neither is he . . . but I did think it (was) until only a few years ago! *

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
* Back in 1992, you couldn't just google images, so when I noticed the name "Don Was" (as producer) on a couple of B-52's albums, I just assumed it was that "funny Dinosaur feller".

buzby

#1092
Quote from: Sebastian Cobb on May 05, 2019, 07:51:25 PM
My untrained ears hear dx7 parpers and Seinfeld bass; buzby will disapprove of this or correct my tin ears.
Korg M1 and Akai-sourced samples all over that track, including a copy of the Fairlight 'ORCH5' sample. You can even see Jeff Lorber playing the piano solo on the M1 in the video. By 1990 the DX7 was deader than disco, killed off the Roland's D- series (and U-series rack module equivalents) and the M1.

There's no Seinfeld slap bass on that W(NW) track, though the M1 famously has it was one of its presets (Jonathan Wolff, the composer of the theme music, can be seen here playing it on the Korg Wavestation)

By 1990 the M1, and especially it's piano and organ patches could be heard on pretty much everything in the charts

Quote from: daf on May 05, 2019, 09:13:13 PM
That's not Don Was!!



And neither is he . . . but I did think it (was) until only a few years ago! *
Although Donald Ray Mitchell handles the bulk of the vocals on that track, Sir' Harry Bowens (with a hip-hop fade haircut) does sing the last verse.


Rizla

Quote from: Sebastian Cobb on May 03, 2019, 10:27:36 PM
Walk the Dinosaur is a banger. This is a hill I am prepared to die on.

Absolutely. I loved it at the time, and when it came on this episode I felt a genuine urge to get up and boogie, this has not happened to me much since those towers fell.

buzby

Quote from: daf on May 02, 2019, 10:58:31 PM
15 October 1987: Presenters: Gary Davies & Peter Powell (with brief appearance from Liz Kershaw & Ro Newton)

(29) UB40 – Maybe Tomorrow
A fucking banjo? UB40's contiuued descent into cheap keyboard autoaccopaniment style continues. Standard DX7 & Emulator II plus Simmons drums (Ii'm pretty sure that's the same Simmons drum sound used on the Eastenders theme).
Quote
(16) FIVE STAR – Strong As Steel (video)
What an odd concept for the video - taking the phrase 'strong as steel' literally. Presumably the targa-topped Ferrari 308 GTS (the 'Magnum P.I.' Ferrari) Denise trades for the Jag XK150 was one of their actual cars (which all went when they were declared bankrupt). The video was clearly shot with the scrapyard scene last, as the Jag has been partially dismantled and made to look rough, but without any actual damage. I'm a bit worried about that scene in the garage with the gas axe though, as it really looks  like he's cutting through the bonnet support bridge.

Steadman's dropped the ball on those costumes - he's been down to Waldmans and bought their entire stock of curtain swag tassels and it looks ridiculous. Denise's balaclava and cap combo must have been the inspiration for a young Gregory Porter.

The song was the lead single off their third album Between The Lines and was written by uber-writer Dianne Warren and produced by top US soul/R&B producer Dennis Lambert, but it just sounds flat and boring. Five Star worked best when they kept well clear of ballads, in my opinion.
Quote
(20) THE ALARM – Rain In The Summertime
Even Better than the Rhyl Thing
Very good daf
It's all a bit like a U2 tribute act really , isn't it? They were U2's support act on a number of tours in the 80s (including Cardiff Arms Park in July 1987), so it's not surprising it rubbed off on them, I suppose. This is just embarrassing, both visually and sonically.
(30) TERENCE TRENT D'ARBY – Dance Little Sister
[/quote]
Another banger from T-TD. The director missed the first time he did the splits!
Quote
(7) THE FATBACK BAND – I Found Lovin'
Infinitely better than that Steve Walsh abomination.
Quote
(17) BILLY IDOL – Mony Mony (video / credits)
What a prat. Could do without the close-up of his groinal thrusting, thanks, and that close-up of him at the end looks like a pop-shot from a porn film. There's a bit of a #metoo moment going on with the reach-around on keyboard player Susie Davis during her vocal part too..

this was actually the third time he had released a version of this track - it was included on his debut solo EP 'Dont Stop' in 1981, then re-released the 'Downtown' remix as a radio promo single to promote the vital Idol compilation in 1985, and now this 'live' version (though heavily retouched in the studio by Tim Lord-Alge). There was no corresponding live album or bet-of that it was released to support (the Wki article claims it was for the Vital Idol compilation, but as mentioned above that was released in 1985 and doesn't feature the live version), so maybe it was just to keep him in the public consciousness. I

n fact, if you look at his discography there's the same few songs getting regularly re-released during the 80s for no particular reason. He made a little material go a long way, it seems.

blackcockerel

Weird that this 'live version' by Idol knocked Tiffany off the top of the US charts, meaning Tommy James got royalties for two number ones in a row.


buzby

Quote from: Better Midlands on May 07, 2019, 09:57:39 AM
Auto correct got the better of you there.
The keyboard on my laptop is shite - misspelling his name is the least of my crimes in that post!

Natnar

Quote from: Delete Delete Delete on May 03, 2019, 10:57:02 AM
Do we know if a similar story surrounds The Spice Girls winning Outstanding Contribution To Music award at the Brits in 2000. Even at the time it seems a little strange to me.

Rumour has it that that was the year it was offered to Kate Bush but she turned it down so they went for someone they knew they could get to perform at the ceremony.

Norton Canes

Depeche Mode claimed in 2013 that they were offered the 'Outstanding Achievement' award, but turned it down when they were told ITV wouldn't show their performance live.

Norton Canes

Quote from: daf on May 03, 2019, 10:14:53 PM
(17) PET SHOP BOYS – Rent

An oft-overlooked PSB gem; coming in the midst of their Imperial Phase glut of no.1 and 2 singles, this is arguably the best of the Actually-era releases. Memorably performed on 'Live from the London Palladium' with Chris sporting an Issey Miyake inflatable rubber jacket. Make sure you keep watching after they've left the stage for some priceless Tarby - clearly unsure what to say about a homosexual band singing about sex for financial remuneration he gives a little shrug, makes a jacket gag, tags it with a textbook instant "No but I'll tell you..." follow-up and with an almost palpable sense of relief moves rapidly back into his comfort zone to talk about golf. 

Quote from: daf on May 03, 2019, 10:14:53 PM
(7) ERASURE – The Circus

Erasure go for a cheeky fourth release from the Circus and it does better then their last two singles. Now, I might be imagining this - except I'm not, it definitely happened - there was a campaign to have this single banned, or at least de-playlisted, due to its lack of quality. I'm not sure who was behind it (a publicity-hungry Radio 1 DJ, perhaps?), or on what criteria they were judging the song (I think the fact that Andy sounded out of tune was mentioned?), and I can't find any evidence, but... it's not a Mandela effect thing, it did happen. It did


Quote from: Norton Canes on May 07, 2019, 11:28:32 AM
An oft-overlooked PSB gem; coming in the midst of their Imperial Phase glut of no.1 and 2 singles, this is arguably the best of the Actually-era releases. Memorably performed on 'Live from the London Palladium' with Chris sporting an Issey Miyake inflatable rubber jacket. Make sure you keep watching after they've left the stage for some priceless Tarby - clearly unsure what to say about a homosexual band singing about sex for financial remuneration he gives a little shrug, makes a jacket gag, tags it with a textbook instant "No but I'll tell you..." follow-up and with an almost palpable sense of relief moves rapidly back into his comfort zone to talk about golf. 


I have a fondness for the live version Tennent recorded with Suede, released as a B-side to Filmstar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zw7gtiIjI5o

MiddleRabbit

Quote from: Sebastian Cobb on May 03, 2019, 10:27:36 PM
Walk the Dinosaur is a banger. This is a hill I am prepared to die on.

Not heard it for years but isn't it basically a rip off of I Want To Take You Higher, by Sly & The Family Stone?

buzby

#1104
Quote from: daf on May 03, 2019, 10:14:53 PM
22 October 1987: Presenters: Simon Bates & Gary Davies

(12) WAS (NOT WAS) – Walk The Dinosaur
The second single from What Up Dog?, the third album of Weiss & Fagenson's occasional band of all-star jazz and funk musicians. The lead single Spy In The House Of Love never reached the Top 40, peaking at #51 at the beginning of August (it would get another chance in the wake of their later singles chart success).

This is indeed a banger ,and features their typical daft lyrics which form the extremely catchy hook.However, like Timbuk2's The Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades, the lyrics are actually about nuclear armageddon and was co-written with Don's friend, the band's guitarist Randy Jacobs.
Quote from: MiddleRabbit on May 07, 2019, 06:28:29 PM
Not heard it for years but isn't it basically a rip off of I Want To Take You Higher, by Sly & The Family Stone?
The 'Boom-Shaka-Laka' vocals in the chorus are 'borrowed' from the Sly track.

The success of this album propelled Don Was/Fagenson itnto a career as a 'hot' producer (as mentioned by daf, he produced half od the B52's Cosmic Thing album) on a number of Grammy-winning albums, which ultimately led to the demise of the band.

The band's first releases were on the New York-based arthouse indie ZE Records, and they contributed Christmas Time In Motor City to the label's 1981 'A Christmas Record' compilation album, which also gave us The Waitresses' Christmas Wrapping. ZE had a licencing deal with Island in the UK, which is how Christmas Wrapping ended up on every Christmas compilation despite never actually being a hit single (they also produced and co-wrote Things Fall Apart for the label boss's wife Cristina on the album).
Quote
(17) PET SHOP BOYS – Rent
Another cracker from the Boys - they really were on fire for those first two albums. Often thought to refer to gay prostitution, according to Tennant's notes in the booklet for the 2001 expanded reissue he actually wrote it about a kept woman, such as the mistress of a powerful married man. The track was one of those produced by Julian Mendelsohn on Actually, but was remixed by Stephen Hague for the single release. Unsurprisingly, it was not released as a single in the US, and was only included in Francois Kevorkian remix form as a nominal double A-side on the What Have I Done To Deserve This? remix 12"

The video, directed by Derek Jarman, combines both interpretations, with Lowe playing a male prostitute in Kings Cross, and Tennant as the chauffeur for Margi Clarke, playing a mistress who is being ignored by her lover (the real Marquess of Bath, he of the 'wifelets') at a dinner party who eventually storms out and is driven to meet Lowe.

For the TOTP performance we get a Fairlight Series 3 (I suspect the same one rented in for Jan Hammer a couple of weeks ago) and the Emulator II 'Plus' with the distinctive diamond logo rental sticker in front of the 'E', almost certainly the same one rented in for Jellybean on the same episode and Jan Hammer.
Quote
(4) KISS – Crazy Crazy Nights (US TOTP clip)
Fucking hell, Paul Stanley's vocals are shite. Did everyone on TOTP USA have to sing live? (I noticed it with Los Lobos earlier too)
Quote
(7) ERASURE – The Circus
A DX7, Vince? For shame!

[img=http://www.muzines.co.uk/images_mag/articles/mm/MM_86_05_erasure_large.jpg[/url]http://He was actually a paid endorser for Casio in the mid-80s, and was a big fan of the CZ-101.

Quote
(5) BANANARAMA – Love In The First Degree (video / credits)
See ,the rot has set in with SAW - the arrangement on this sounds far too similar to I Heard A Rumour. It was apparently inspired by Guilty, a June 1974 Top 10 hit by The Pearls (a couple of ex-Vernons Girls), which Waterman had been involved with promoting in his soul DJ days.

The Culture Bunker

Vince carrying the 80s cliche of 'emotionless keyboard player' into his offstage life as well, I see.

buzby


Sebastian Cobb

What's the BBC micro for in that? Sequencing?

Norton Canes

Quick game of Elite during the acapella numbers.

Norton Canes

Quote from: buzby on May 06, 2019, 10:39:08 PM
The song was the lead single off their third album Between The Lines

Wasn't that 'Whenever You're Ready'? Sorry, I haven't been fact-checking your posts! Just that I remembered them doing it on one of the recent shows, before the latest Smith-gap.

Anyway, I was at a Manchester Metropolitan undergraduate art exhibition last night - 'Substance: a series of exhibitions responding to songs by Joy Division and New Order.' Most of the stuff had a tenuous at best link to the bands' output but I thought you might like to see this, which features lyrics from Blue Monday...



(Click to enlarge)