funky's journey through the 90s (again, again) (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter funky
- Start date
funky
(OMF)
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2004
- Messages
- 99,801
No @VoR and I keep meaning to do a proper deep dive into Mica's albums at some point. My pandemic UK rerun cropped up a few of her flop singles but that's about it. That sounds lovely, very Anita Baker coded. My memory from that album is the single "I Never Felt LIke This Before" but Spotify tells me that I playlisted this at some point, and I can see why as it's a bop
A
Alla
Guest
I have a Billboard book (found in a second hand shop in London) with the airplay and sales position of every top 40 hit these years, but sadly I'm not at home now, I'll be back in a couple of weeks with any info anyone's interested. But with few exceptions, peak positions for sales and airplay for most songs were very similar, so expect an airplay top 5 for Tom's Diner. I'll check if I remember it, because airplay data is really difficult to find online.
A
Alla
Guest
OMG I have this vinyl, I won it with some other LPs in some competition (I think, I can't remember) and I never played it
I always wondered and have no idea. Just checked wikipedia and it barely made the top 40 in the dance chart. I think maybe it wasn't released as a single. I mean, not promoted and sent to top 40 radio, and only released as a 12" or something like that.
A
Alla
Guest
If There Was (Any Other Way) was actually her second hit in the US after Where does my heart beat now. The song was over one and a half years old, she premiered it in Eurovision in May 89, it took her a while to break in the US, but I guess the album wasn't even released and promoted until late 1990. It's one of my favourite Celine songs.
A
Alla
Guest
This was #1 all over Europe, I got sick of it because of so much airplay in late 1990. It was a hit in the US months later.
jyxz
User
I hate that Stevie B ‘Postman’ song with a passion
Sardonicus
WHADDA YOU MEAN IT'S NOT IN THE COMPUTER
PAT & MICK, OF ALL PEOPLE, getting a US Top 100 entry has got to be the most MIND BOGGLING fact this thread has revealed yet.
My best guess with "Ride On Time" is the sampling scandal & the record company wanting to avoid it all.
Mica Paris is an artist I always forget about, but I always like her stuff on the rare occasions I hear it these days. "My One Temptation" is definitely her signature song & remains
"All The Man That I Need" one of Whitney's best, peaked just outside the UK top 10 but like Janet I don't think she was doing much UK promo back then.
My best guess with "Ride On Time" is the sampling scandal & the record company wanting to avoid it all.
Mica Paris is an artist I always forget about, but I always like her stuff on the rare occasions I hear it these days. "My One Temptation" is definitely her signature song & remains
"All The Man That I Need" one of Whitney's best, peaked just outside the UK top 10 but like Janet I don't think she was doing much UK promo back then.
Shirley
BIG-HEARTED BUNNY
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2004
- Messages
- 35,455
THIS surprisingly is a project of BARRY LENG, whose name always means KNOCK ON WOOD-era AMII STEWART to me, but apparently was also involved in RAGE ('Run To You') and E'VOKE!
funky
(OMF)
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2004
- Messages
- 99,801
Oh now I have a HUGE soft spot for that Rage song! Has anyone else ever taken a rock anthem and turned it into a successful dance track I wonder?
And NO I don’t count those AWFUL EDM remixes you hear at PROVINCIAL GAY BARS that I don’t frequent anymore
And NO I don’t count those AWFUL EDM remixes you hear at PROVINCIAL GAY BARS that I don’t frequent anymore
Sardonicus
WHADDA YOU MEAN IT'S NOT IN THE COMPUTER
East Side Beat with "Ride Like The Wind" around the same time as Rage too.
A
Alla
Guest
I have a Billboard book of #1s with lots of stories about all these #1 songs, damn it I don't have it here. I do remember Clive Davis inviting Luther Vandross to a listening party for the new Whitney album, and after playing All the man that I need:
Luther: that song is familiar to me, where did I hear it before?
Clive: Girl, you recorded it a few years ago
Luther: Oh
Luther: that song is familiar to me, where did I hear it before?
Clive: Girl, you recorded it a few years ago
Luther: Oh
POP!
Good graces
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2007
- Messages
- 49,495
This website has all the Billboard magazines archived. Most weekly charts and formats are included. The magazines also have interesting commentary week to week on who was flopping and succeeding.I have a Billboard book of #1s with lots of stories about all these #1 songs, damn it I don't have it here. I do remember Clive Davis inviting Luther Vandross to a listening party for the new Whitney album, and after playing All the man that I need:
Luther: that song is familiar to me, where did I hear it before?
Clive: Girl, you recorded it a few years ago
Luther: Oh
BILLBOARD MAGAZINE: American music magazine 1894 to Today
Billboard: American music magazine beginning in1894 and now covering music, artists, concerts and the music business.
www.worldradiohistory.com
A
Alla
Guest
Yes, that's where I found them, I downloaded them all. They removed some charts from the magazines and put them together in another documents, it's a bit of a mess but I'm ok with that.
funky
(OMF)
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2004
- Messages
- 99,801
FUCK YES
That came up recently in my review because I’m still ahead a few months in looking at the charts (slowly catching up) and will definitely be covering that
A
Alla
Guest
I'm gonna posts some US hits that missed funky's recap and I like...
As I said, something astonishing happened for the first time ever in the US singles chart. No idea if this has happened again, it's possible in these absurd charts that we have today. What about an artist making the top 40 in the singles chart with 2 different versions of the same song... at the same time?
Thanks to the blockbuster Ghost, Unchained melody by The Righteous Brothers came back to the charts. In late 1990, the original 1965 version was speeding up the singles chart, mostly thanks to airplay, as it was only released as a 7", that hardly had sales. The singers realised they weren't making any money out of it, so they quickly recorded a new 1990 version, that was released as a cassette single. They both charted as different entries and were in the top 30 at the same time. Both failed to make the top 10, because one had basically airplay points and the other one sales points, that were never combined.
As I said, something astonishing happened for the first time ever in the US singles chart. No idea if this has happened again, it's possible in these absurd charts that we have today. What about an artist making the top 40 in the singles chart with 2 different versions of the same song... at the same time?
Thanks to the blockbuster Ghost, Unchained melody by The Righteous Brothers came back to the charts. In late 1990, the original 1965 version was speeding up the singles chart, mostly thanks to airplay, as it was only released as a 7", that hardly had sales. The singers realised they weren't making any money out of it, so they quickly recorded a new 1990 version, that was released as a cassette single. They both charted as different entries and were in the top 30 at the same time. Both failed to make the top 10, because one had basically airplay points and the other one sales points, that were never combined.
funky
(OMF)
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2004
- Messages
- 99,801
Oh I remember seeing that! I wondered why it was counted twice.
I think if that song hadn't appeared in Ghost and was just remembered as a classic 60s blue eyed soul track, I would have a fondness for it. But it was everything I didn't want to hear as a 13 year old in the charts. And it was everywhere. Then a TV act re-recorded it in 1995 and we had to endure it at #1 for several weeks AGAIN, in an inferior format
to our generation the song was a form of PUNISHMENT.
Time has been kinder as I've been able to separate it from the movie and that PAIR and can appreciate it as a 60s classic from afar.
I think if that song hadn't appeared in Ghost and was just remembered as a classic 60s blue eyed soul track, I would have a fondness for it. But it was everything I didn't want to hear as a 13 year old in the charts. And it was everywhere. Then a TV act re-recorded it in 1995 and we had to endure it at #1 for several weeks AGAIN, in an inferior format
to our generation the song was a form of PUNISHMENT.Time has been kinder as I've been able to separate it from the movie and that PAIR and can appreciate it as a 60s classic from afar.
Sardonicus
WHADDA YOU MEAN IT'S NOT IN THE COMPUTER
Don't forget Gareth Gates then taking it back to number 1 AGAIN in 2002. The Righteous Brothers "Unchained Melody" is great but the karaoke covers dominating the charts mean I've no desire to hear it these days.Oh I remember seeing that! I wondered why it was counted twice.
I think if that song hadn't appeared in Ghost and was just remembered as a classic 60s blue eyed soul track, I would have a fondness for it. But it was everything I didn't want to hear as a 13 year old in the charts. And it was everywhere. Then a TV act re-recorded it in 1995 and we had to endure it at #1 for several weeks AGAIN, in an inferior format
Time has been kinder as I've been able to separate it from the movie and that PAIR and can appreciate it as a 60s classic from afar.
funky
(OMF)
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2004
- Messages
- 99,801
January 1991
#1s
JUSTIFY MY LOVE –•– Madonna (2 weeks)
LOVE WILL NEVER DO (WITHOUT YOU) –•– Janet Jackson (1 week)
THE FIRST TIME –•– Surface (2 weeks into February)
Amazing that Madonna was able to go to number 1 with THAT song in early 90s America, I can only image the backlash and the fear that America's youth were fully embracing her new direction. Also amazing that Janet reached number one with the SIXTH song from that album, although I have to say LWNDWY is probably my favourite song from that album and definitely in my Janet Top 10. That Surface track is another slice of bland pap love balladry that isn't even worth discussing, so instead I'll share a really good single of theirs from 1987:
Songs climbing into the Top 10 this month include "Gonna Make You Sweat" by C&C Music Factory (#3 by end of Jan) "Sensitivity" by Ralph Tresvant (#4), Vanilla Ice (#7) and Will To Power (#9). Cathy Dennis is breaking through and scrapes into the Top 10 in the last week of Jan with "Just Another Dream". Whitney Houston, INXS and Celine Dion all break the Top 20 and still climbing.
"Tom's Diner" peaked at #5.
Over in the UK, we are introduced to the enigma that is Enigma, as "Sadeness Part 1" begins its dominance across Europe. It would eventually chart in the US as well. I remember being quite perplexed by this when it came out, and again in hindsight this era was such an exciting time to be a music fan as you were constantly exposed to music you had never really heard before. It took me longer than the UK public who were buying this in droves, but I ended up loving it.
Seal followed up the buzz from his "Killer" hit with Adamski by releasing his solo track "Crazy" and having a huge hit.
Discoveries:
January saw the release of this deep cut - well it was in the UK which is why I hadn't heard of it, but in the US it was a huge smash:
One of the first pop acts to adopt the Soul II Soul sound (smoother grooves with more instrumentation moving away from the synths and industrial sounds of the 80s) in America, this did nothing in the UK surprisingly (#69) which is a shame because I would have been ALL OVER this at the time. Very happy to discover it now though! This ended up launching her career in a big way, reaching #3 (R&B #4, Dance #15) in the US. The album produced three singles but the album wasn't a smash, and she never had a follow up.
So it turns out that Alexander O'Neal was pretty good! My chart reruns have found some minor singles by him that were really good, as I only really knew the big couple of singles. Also the first album as a whole is AMAZING. He was very influenced by the Luther Vandross sound, but that's no bad thing. Late 1990 saw the release of this gorgeous mid-tempo groove from his 3rd album of the same name:
He was actually much bigger success in the UK than the US, where even his signature hit "Criticize" only hit #75. This did better at #43 (#18 UK) but it was his last billboard hit.
Billy Idol is someone I NEVER crossed paths with as a kid - my only memory of him is a very angry punk singer in the early 80s, and while "Hot In The City" was catchy fun, I just didn't gel with his sound at all. My reruns have discovered that not only did his sound expand a lot, but there are still real gems to be found. My biggest one was "Eyes Without A Child" which I now LOVE (so that song was apparently massive but I definitely do not remember that at ALL when it came out). The second favourite would be this, released in early '91 from his 4th album Charmed Life:
It reminds me of a Simple Minds song, and I love them.
So I dismissed Michel'le earlier on with her Top 10 hit when it came out but it turns out (thanks to my moopy correspondents) that she has quite the backstory. Anyway, her follow up ballad is actually REALLY GOOD:
Not your typical gloopy slop, this is early neo-soul and has an incredible vocal here, so I can see now why she was so sought after.
Some 90s rare grooves to explore here thanks to my UK rerun:
All acts part of the exploding UK dance/soul scene, which I was heavily into at the time, but even to this day I'm still discovering more and more of the deeper cuts as I was only really focused on the songs that you buy in Woolworths (ie the major label stuff) or featured on compilation albums (ie the major label stuff!)
The Tongue n Cheek track is indeed a cover of the Patrice Rushen classic, and was produced by DNA, who were quite prolific at the time. Tongue n Cheek's album is actually on Spotify, and it's really good - again in a very Soul II Soul kind of way.
Someone else following the Soul II Soul playbook was Lindy Layton, who attempted to follow up her "Dub Be Good To Me" momentum some a solo project, and it produced some great singles that didn't really do much. January saw this release:
This limped in at #42. The album was produced by Normal "Fatboy Slim" Cook and Driza Bone but did nothing, and none of it is on Spotify sadly.
Notable new entries (US):
January 5
85 — HERE COMES THE HAMMER –•– M.C. Hammer
95 — DON’T HOLD BACK YOUR LOVE –•– Daryl Hall & John Oates
96 — POWER OF LOVE –•– Deee-Lite
January 12
92 — SOMETHING IN MY HEART –•– Michel’le
January 19
37 — SOMEDAY –•– Mariah Carey
66 — ALL THIS TIME –•– Sting
68 — WAITING FOR THAT DAY –•– George Michael
84 — HOLD YOU TIGHT –•– Tara Kemp
92 — WHEN WILL I SEE YOU SMILE AGAIN? –•– Bell Biv Devoe
96 — JEALOUSY The Adventures Of –•– Stevie V
99 — CLOSE TO ME –•– The Cure
100 — SURE LOOKIN’ –•– Donny Osmond
January 26
55 — COMING OUT OF THE DARK –•– Gloria Estefan
82 — CHASIN’ THE WIND –•– Chicago
92 — NIGHT AND DAY –•– Bette Midler
Big new entry for Mariah there and you can see that even at this early stage, Sony were hitting all the right notes in their launch strategy. She was already THE act to beat in early 91.
"Waiting For That Day" is possibly my favourite George Michael song ever, definitely in my Top 3, but for whatever reason it didn't land the same way as his previous solo efforts and was the beginning of the rift with the label in which direction to go next. With this coming out straight after "Freedom 90", and "Justify My Love" at #1 it's amazing how many acts were adopting the drum-loop sound in their music at this time.
Gloria Estefan makes a big return with one of my favourites of hers, and this was a notable time as it was her big glorious comeback after the helicopter crash that almost ended her life right at the peak of her career. This was a huge smash worldwide, but the album actually didn't really live up to expectations as the follow ups were not as successful, and to be fair you can understand why, as the album lacks the depth of single opportunities that made the previous two albums such a success.
#1s
JUSTIFY MY LOVE –•– Madonna (2 weeks)
LOVE WILL NEVER DO (WITHOUT YOU) –•– Janet Jackson (1 week)
THE FIRST TIME –•– Surface (2 weeks into February)
Amazing that Madonna was able to go to number 1 with THAT song in early 90s America, I can only image the backlash and the fear that America's youth were fully embracing her new direction. Also amazing that Janet reached number one with the SIXTH song from that album, although I have to say LWNDWY is probably my favourite song from that album and definitely in my Janet Top 10. That Surface track is another slice of bland pap love balladry that isn't even worth discussing, so instead I'll share a really good single of theirs from 1987:
Songs climbing into the Top 10 this month include "Gonna Make You Sweat" by C&C Music Factory (#3 by end of Jan) "Sensitivity" by Ralph Tresvant (#4), Vanilla Ice (#7) and Will To Power (#9). Cathy Dennis is breaking through and scrapes into the Top 10 in the last week of Jan with "Just Another Dream". Whitney Houston, INXS and Celine Dion all break the Top 20 and still climbing.
"Tom's Diner" peaked at #5.
Over in the UK, we are introduced to the enigma that is Enigma, as "Sadeness Part 1" begins its dominance across Europe. It would eventually chart in the US as well. I remember being quite perplexed by this when it came out, and again in hindsight this era was such an exciting time to be a music fan as you were constantly exposed to music you had never really heard before. It took me longer than the UK public who were buying this in droves, but I ended up loving it.
Seal followed up the buzz from his "Killer" hit with Adamski by releasing his solo track "Crazy" and having a huge hit.
Discoveries:
January saw the release of this deep cut - well it was in the UK which is why I hadn't heard of it, but in the US it was a huge smash:
One of the first pop acts to adopt the Soul II Soul sound (smoother grooves with more instrumentation moving away from the synths and industrial sounds of the 80s) in America, this did nothing in the UK surprisingly (#69) which is a shame because I would have been ALL OVER this at the time. Very happy to discover it now though! This ended up launching her career in a big way, reaching #3 (R&B #4, Dance #15) in the US. The album produced three singles but the album wasn't a smash, and she never had a follow up.
So it turns out that Alexander O'Neal was pretty good! My chart reruns have found some minor singles by him that were really good, as I only really knew the big couple of singles. Also the first album as a whole is AMAZING. He was very influenced by the Luther Vandross sound, but that's no bad thing. Late 1990 saw the release of this gorgeous mid-tempo groove from his 3rd album of the same name:
He was actually much bigger success in the UK than the US, where even his signature hit "Criticize" only hit #75. This did better at #43 (#18 UK) but it was his last billboard hit.
Billy Idol is someone I NEVER crossed paths with as a kid - my only memory of him is a very angry punk singer in the early 80s, and while "Hot In The City" was catchy fun, I just didn't gel with his sound at all. My reruns have discovered that not only did his sound expand a lot, but there are still real gems to be found. My biggest one was "Eyes Without A Child" which I now LOVE (so that song was apparently massive but I definitely do not remember that at ALL when it came out). The second favourite would be this, released in early '91 from his 4th album Charmed Life:
It reminds me of a Simple Minds song, and I love them.
So I dismissed Michel'le earlier on with her Top 10 hit when it came out but it turns out (thanks to my moopy correspondents) that she has quite the backstory. Anyway, her follow up ballad is actually REALLY GOOD:
Not your typical gloopy slop, this is early neo-soul and has an incredible vocal here, so I can see now why she was so sought after.
Some 90s rare grooves to explore here thanks to my UK rerun:
All acts part of the exploding UK dance/soul scene, which I was heavily into at the time, but even to this day I'm still discovering more and more of the deeper cuts as I was only really focused on the songs that you buy in Woolworths (ie the major label stuff) or featured on compilation albums (ie the major label stuff!)
The Tongue n Cheek track is indeed a cover of the Patrice Rushen classic, and was produced by DNA, who were quite prolific at the time. Tongue n Cheek's album is actually on Spotify, and it's really good - again in a very Soul II Soul kind of way.
Someone else following the Soul II Soul playbook was Lindy Layton, who attempted to follow up her "Dub Be Good To Me" momentum some a solo project, and it produced some great singles that didn't really do much. January saw this release:
This limped in at #42. The album was produced by Normal "Fatboy Slim" Cook and Driza Bone but did nothing, and none of it is on Spotify sadly.
Notable new entries (US):
January 5
85 — HERE COMES THE HAMMER –•– M.C. Hammer
95 — DON’T HOLD BACK YOUR LOVE –•– Daryl Hall & John Oates
96 — POWER OF LOVE –•– Deee-Lite
January 12
92 — SOMETHING IN MY HEART –•– Michel’le
January 19
37 — SOMEDAY –•– Mariah Carey
66 — ALL THIS TIME –•– Sting
68 — WAITING FOR THAT DAY –•– George Michael
84 — HOLD YOU TIGHT –•– Tara Kemp
92 — WHEN WILL I SEE YOU SMILE AGAIN? –•– Bell Biv Devoe
96 — JEALOUSY The Adventures Of –•– Stevie V
99 — CLOSE TO ME –•– The Cure
100 — SURE LOOKIN’ –•– Donny Osmond
January 26
55 — COMING OUT OF THE DARK –•– Gloria Estefan
82 — CHASIN’ THE WIND –•– Chicago
92 — NIGHT AND DAY –•– Bette Midler
Big new entry for Mariah there and you can see that even at this early stage, Sony were hitting all the right notes in their launch strategy. She was already THE act to beat in early 91.
"Waiting For That Day" is possibly my favourite George Michael song ever, definitely in my Top 3, but for whatever reason it didn't land the same way as his previous solo efforts and was the beginning of the rift with the label in which direction to go next. With this coming out straight after "Freedom 90", and "Justify My Love" at #1 it's amazing how many acts were adopting the drum-loop sound in their music at this time.
Gloria Estefan makes a big return with one of my favourites of hers, and this was a notable time as it was her big glorious comeback after the helicopter crash that almost ended her life right at the peak of her career. This was a huge smash worldwide, but the album actually didn't really live up to expectations as the follow ups were not as successful, and to be fair you can understand why, as the album lacks the depth of single opportunities that made the previous two albums such a success.
Last edited:
A
Alla
Guest
Ok I could post a lot more, but let's keep this as a funky's thread Some 1990 US hits that are still on heavy rotation on Alla's ipod:
Empty beach - Tricia Leigh Fisher
Actress Tricia Leigh Fisher released only one album as far as I know, and had her only hit in 1990 with Empty beach, that peaked around #50. She never bothered with a video and I think she wasn't even trying to be a singer. Btw I found the album in a bargain bin (in Spain for once!) and it has some great songs, better than Empty beach, that would have been pop hits with some promotion. Btw as some probably know, her father is Eddie Fisher, who had several US & UK #1 hits in the 50s.
Everything - Jody Watley
In January, Jody had her 6th top 10 in a row (and last) with Everything. I love miss Watley's music so much.
The secret garden (Sweet Seduction Suite) (Part I) - Quincy Jones
Featuring 4 great male singers (uncredited, as Babyface in that Pebbles' hit, quite common these days): Barry White, Al. B. Sure!, El Debarge & James Ingram, this was a top 40 hit for Quincy Jones in early 1990, I believe his last (at least pop) hit. If you enjoy r&b from these years you should love this, it's fantastic.
Sittin' in the lap of luxury - Louie Louie
Who knew the legendary jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie was featured in a pop hit? You can hear him talking and playing the trumpet in this Louie Louie #19 hit. Even if you never heard of him, I'm sure most of Moopy has seen this Puerto Rican dude before; he's the guy in Madonna's Bordeline video. A few years later he had his only hit with this. He was Martika's BFF at some point.
Edit: checking wiki I found out this guy had a top 40 hit in UK 3 years later! I had no idea.
Concrete blonde - Joey
I love this song! Another one hit wonder. I know this son was a big hit in Australia (@Marilyn to confirm if this became a classic over there) and it barelay made the top 20 in USA.
My love is a fire - Donny Osmond
As I said, Donny Osmond still managed a last hits in the 90s. It sounds very Soldier of love, his big comeback hit. There is only a terrible live version on Spotify, I think he doesn't give a shit about this one. Well I do like it.
Here and now - Luther Vandross
After so many years Luther finally had a proper crossover hit, his first pop top 10 with Here and now, what a great song, and my introduction to Luther Vandross. Avoid the single version, it removes half of the song
Think - Information Society
Probably not Moopy'd cup of tea, but I love Think. They had 2 or 3 hits with their previous album, including a top 5, and this was the last time they made the US chart.
Glad to Be Alive - Teddy Pendergrass & Lisa Fisher
And finally, this was a flop but I like it. Featured in the soundtrack of (also flop)movie The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (like Billy Idol's Cradle of love), it managed to reach #31 in the r&b chart and that was it. I only knew of this song because I picked up (years later) a 7" in a bargain shop because of Lisa Fischer, a backing vocalist for Janet and that will have her ,uch deserved breaktrough next year, I'm sure funky will bring her here. Well this song is pure joy and it makes me happy. @Ellie you might like this one; as I believe you don't use Spotify, here's the video:
Some 1990 US hits that are still on heavy rotation on Alla's ipod:Empty beach - Tricia Leigh Fisher
Actress Tricia Leigh Fisher released only one album as far as I know, and had her only hit in 1990 with Empty beach, that peaked around #50. She never bothered with a video and I think she wasn't even trying to be a singer. Btw I found the album in a bargain bin (in Spain for once!) and it has some great songs, better than Empty beach, that would have been pop hits with some promotion. Btw as some probably know, her father is Eddie Fisher, who had several US & UK #1 hits in the 50s.
Everything - Jody Watley
In January, Jody had her 6th top 10 in a row (and last) with Everything. I love miss Watley's music so much.
The secret garden (Sweet Seduction Suite) (Part I) - Quincy Jones
Featuring 4 great male singers (uncredited, as Babyface in that Pebbles' hit, quite common these days): Barry White, Al. B. Sure!, El Debarge & James Ingram, this was a top 40 hit for Quincy Jones in early 1990, I believe his last (at least pop) hit. If you enjoy r&b from these years you should love this, it's fantastic.
Sittin' in the lap of luxury - Louie Louie
Who knew the legendary jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie was featured in a pop hit? You can hear him talking and playing the trumpet in this Louie Louie #19 hit. Even if you never heard of him, I'm sure most of Moopy has seen this Puerto Rican dude before; he's the guy in Madonna's Bordeline video. A few years later he had his only hit with this. He was Martika's BFF at some point.
Edit: checking wiki I found out this guy had a top 40 hit in UK 3 years later! I had no idea.
Concrete blonde - Joey
I love this song! Another one hit wonder. I know this son was a big hit in Australia (@Marilyn to confirm if this became a classic over there) and it barelay made the top 20 in USA.
My love is a fire - Donny Osmond
As I said, Donny Osmond still managed a last hits in the 90s. It sounds very Soldier of love, his big comeback hit. There is only a terrible live version on Spotify, I think he doesn't give a shit about this one. Well I do like it.
Here and now - Luther Vandross
After so many years Luther finally had a proper crossover hit, his first pop top 10 with Here and now, what a great song, and my introduction to Luther Vandross. Avoid the single version, it removes half of the song
Think - Information Society
Probably not Moopy'd cup of tea, but I love Think. They had 2 or 3 hits with their previous album, including a top 5, and this was the last time they made the US chart.
Glad to Be Alive - Teddy Pendergrass & Lisa Fisher
And finally, this was a flop but I like it. Featured in the soundtrack of (also flop)movie The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (like Billy Idol's Cradle of love), it managed to reach #31 in the r&b chart and that was it. I only knew of this song because I picked up (years later) a 7" in a bargain shop because of Lisa Fischer, a backing vocalist for Janet and that will have her ,uch deserved breaktrough next year, I'm sure funky will bring her here. Well this song is pure joy and it makes me happy. @Ellie you might like this one; as I believe you don't use Spotify, here's the video:
funky
(OMF)
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2004
- Messages
- 99,801
Did I really miss on commenting on Jody Watley? I'm making dinner now but let's come back to her - I can recall off the top of my head 1991 is quite busy with Jody, Karyn White, Vanessa Williams and Paula so I'll be covering all that stuff shortly...
funky
(OMF)
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2004
- Messages
- 99,801
Was that really Luther's first Top 10 hit in the US? Wow. He was definitely overeshadowed in the UK by Lionel Richie and Billy Ocean, but he had more longevity than Billy and more consistency of success than Lionel. He may not have had many massive hits, but he did have many minor hits, and actually he was a big eye opener for me as I only knew him as a balladeer. His 1986 album in particular is INCREDIBLE.
The title track alone is surely one of the best R&B songs of the 80s.
The title track alone is surely one of the best R&B songs of the 80s.
Last edited:
jyxz
User
Stop to love is PERFECTION
ps - Gloria wasnt in a helicopter crash….
ps - Gloria wasnt in a helicopter crash….
funky
(OMF)
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2004
- Messages
- 99,801
Of course that's forgetting his smash anthem "Never Too Much" which seemed to happen so early on his career that it was almost a different singer... crazy that that wasn't a big hit in the US. It's now probably one of the most recognisable songs of the entire decade.
funky
(OMF)
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2004
- Messages
- 99,801
Oh a bus crash! Getting my artists mixed up...
Sardonicus
WHADDA YOU MEAN IT'S NOT IN THE COMPUTER
Marge & Janet both hitting the top spot with 2 career highlights, both songs & both videos were absolutely 
too. I bet Marge was FUMING at Jan pushing her out of the top slot
Never heard of Surface or that song before, but after a quick listen to it on YouTube I'm in FULL AGREEMENT with you - the sort of gloopy R&B SOP I can't stand - the Happy Shopper version of Boyz II Men, to all intents & purposes.
Enigma I have always unironically loved. It's so evocative of early 1991 for me as well, such happy memories
Seal is a classic. 2 great albums then he fell off a cliff with album number 3
Shocked that Alexander O'Neal seems to have been a mostly European success. I thought his music, especially the amazing "Criticise", would have fitted in well with all the other American R&B hits of that time. Maybe he was considered too similar to Luther? I've always lumped the 2 of them together in my mind for some reason.
@funky that Billy Idol song you're thinking of is "Eyes Without A Face" ()
MAUREEN was great I loved the Soul II Soul stylings on her cover of "Thinking Of You" - ICONIC pop star name too
That Gloria song was quite underwhelming. I don't think it would have topped the charts without the whole comeback narrative. I love some of her songs but I do find her later ballads to be very HIT OR MISS.
too. I bet Marge was FUMING at Jan pushing her out of the top slot Never heard of Surface or that song before, but after a quick listen to it on YouTube I'm in FULL AGREEMENT with you - the sort of gloopy R&B SOP I can't stand - the Happy Shopper version of Boyz II Men, to all intents & purposes.
Enigma I have always unironically loved. It's so evocative of early 1991 for me as well, such happy memories
Seal is a classic. 2 great albums then he fell off a cliff with album number 3
Shocked that Alexander O'Neal seems to have been a mostly European success. I thought his music, especially the amazing "Criticise", would have fitted in well with all the other American R&B hits of that time. Maybe he was considered too similar to Luther? I've always lumped the 2 of them together in my mind for some reason.
@funky that Billy Idol song you're thinking of is "Eyes Without A Face" (
)MAUREEN was great
I loved the Soul II Soul stylings on her cover of "Thinking Of You" - ICONIC pop star name too That Gloria song was quite underwhelming. I don't think it would have topped the charts without the whole comeback narrative. I love some of her songs but I do find her later ballads to be very HIT OR MISS.
Sardonicus
WHADDA YOU MEAN IT'S NOT IN THE COMPUTER
Great album & "Give Me The Reason" really is an amazing song. CRIMINAL that it missed the UK top 20.
That Madonna/Janet combo is glorious to see
Enigma was an odd addition to radio but it was massive hit and was played constantly. We had our French teacher listen to it and he was appalled about the subject matter. It also helped usher in the Gregorian Chant CD madness over here.
Enigma was an odd addition to radio but it was massive hit and was played constantly. We had our French teacher listen to it and he was appalled about the subject matter. It also helped usher in the Gregorian Chant CD madness over here.
funky
(OMF)
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2004
- Messages
- 99,801
Enigma and Enya exploding at the same time must have surely been accidental because they’re quite different acts but they helped usher in an era of what was often referred to as “world music” with the Gregorian chants, Celtic pop and Native American influenced pop, and endless compilations of different acts doing electic sounds with experimental electronic music. One label struck big with an album called Pure Moods which sold gazillions and led to endless sequels and copycats.
Trip-hop ruled the mid 90s in the U.K., ambient music took over Ibiza and the ‘chillout’ boom in the early 00s was a massive commercial success, so it’s weird to think that Enya and Enigma did it all first…
Trip-hop ruled the mid 90s in the U.K., ambient music took over Ibiza and the ‘chillout’ boom in the early 00s was a massive commercial success, so it’s weird to think that Enya and Enigma did it all first…
A
Alla
Guest
It was actually the 7th single from Rhythm Nation, incredible. There were initial plans to release State of the world as an 8th single, it was reported as I heard it on American radio, but they probably decided it was enough, or wanted to push the sales of RN, as if it didn't sell enough. It will peak at #5 on airplay, it would have been an 8th top 10 from the album.
A
Alla
Guest
The video being banned on MTV and the scandal around it was the HOT FREE PROMO she needed to push the song to #1.
I hope everyone knows that Sandra (Maria Magdalena and other hits) is the female voice in this project created by her husband, Michael Cretu. He was living in Ibiza, enough reason to be a massive here too. I think he had to pay a fortune to those monks because he borrowed those latin chants without asking.
Hold you tight is amazing, absolutely! Obsessed with it back in the day
Finally justice for QOL Michel'le. Her debut album is amazing, and Something in my heart is incredible indeed.
funky
(OMF)
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2004
- Messages
- 99,801
February 1991
#1s
THE FIRST TIME –•– Surface (2 weeks)
GONNA MAKE YOU SWEAT –•– C&C Music Factory (2 weeks)
ALL THE MAN THAT I NEED –•– Whitney Houston (2 weeks)
C&C Music Factory really were absolutely massive for a short time in the early 90s, and it all started with this global megasmash hit. Clivilles & Cole were one of the first "producer acts" to make it big, illustrative of a time when dance music was starting to shift the norms. It wasn't without its backlash however, as the industry rejected faceless acts in fear of what it might do to the business, which on one hand is strange based on today's standards but in this case they have only themselves to blame for the backlash, as they were also caught up in the lawsuits scandal of uncredited performers. Martha Wash's voice was again chopped up and sampled without permission, and she won a lengthy court case to get her payday and her credit. To be fair the lack of rules or precedent at the time probably meant that everyone thought it would be okay - until common sense prevailed. Sony took the unusual step of giving two separate credits on the track - vocals for Martha and "visualisations" for video model Zelma Davis. The group were also guilty of relying on the successful sound of the original to rehash it into various alternatives to release more singles, similar to the likes of Technotronic, which probably stifled their success in the long run. Despite all this they managed 4 chart hits from the debut - three Top 10. In 1995 David Cole sadly died but in those 5 years, C&C had a big impact on American (and global) dance music, and pop music - producing songs for a number of artists not least Mariah Carey, as well as countless remixes.
At this point Whitney Houston was still the all-conquering megastar, following her second album's four #1s with a second #1 single from ther third album I'm Your Baby Tonight. I LOVE this song, and has always been in my Whitney Top 5. I still maintain that the album lost legs after this release, as the following 3 singles - while successful - struggled to maintain the world beating momentum she had achieved thus far. The album had major highs but lacked depth. If only she could find herself a movie project in the coming months to turn that back around again.
Cathy Dennis ending up peaking at #9 in early February, a huge smash for this little know British pop singer.
In a sign of the decade to come, newcomers Mariah Carey and Celine Dion are storming up the charts, peaking at #4 and #5 respectively by the end of the month and looking to challenge Whitney for #1.
INXS get their seventh and final Top 10 hit with "Disappear":
Love this song. Credit to them for not falling off a cliff after the all-conquering previous album Kick. This album and to a lesser extent the 8th album Welcome To Wherever You Are were still global hits.
In what must have been notable at the time, George Michael's "Waiting For That Day" is stalling and climbing just a few notches each week - by end of February it has reached #31, albeit still climbing. This must have sent alarm bells ringing at Sony, who were coming off Faith with its six Top10 singles and five #1s. He had, to be fair a #1 with the lead single "Praying For Time" but big second single anthem "Freedom 90" 'only' reached #8, and now the third single is hovering in the 30s. By March it would peak at #27. They never bothered with a fourth single (the UK got five). It wouldn't be the end for George, as there was another #1 coming and the Older album was still a relative smash, but he would never repeat the monumental run he had with Faith in 1987/1988.
Over in the UK, just a quick reminder of two songs that SCREAM 1991 to me...
The latter there being another staple of the "Pure Moods" explosion of the early 90s.
Discoveries:
More of those girl groups I knew nothing about- this is great by The Cover Girls!
This feels very fresh for 1991, and definitely for a US girl group as you can't easily categorise it under any of the typical pop sounds of the day. It feels more influenced by Snap! or C&C Music Factory. It's also mostly vocal loops and cuts rather than a full melody. This only reached #55 and the album would only be saved by a cover of "Wishing On A Star" later in the year.
This is a lovely slice of US house:
Jellybean obviously has a storied career, and has remixed and produced some stonking songs, but I find his own stuff to be mostly quite basic. Again a pioneer of the "producer as the artist" act (apparently he's the first known DJ to be credited as an artist in the Top 100, with the Madonna-penned "Sidewalk Talk" in 1984). So this deep cut was a lovely find - it only reached #90 (#98 in the UK) and although she's not credited, the vocal is by a certain Miss Niki Harris.
In the UK, Mica Paris makes it 2 for 2 from the Contribution album with this smooth groove:
This was vaguely familiar to me, but I'm definitely more aware of this now and I now consider it one of her best tracks. This reached #43 in the UK.
More drum loops! Time for this very unusual song - and certainly a very unusual single choice...
Despite enjoying Tears For Fears's bigger singles when I was younger, I wasn't familiar with their album work and they have been one of my biggest awakenings in recent years - I really love them now. That all being said, this was a strange choice of single because it's like an extended interlude - a chopped up compilation of other songs from the Seeds Of Love album, remixed with added vocals. It's almost avant-pop in style, combining hip-hop, orchestral, opera, rap and gospel, and I absolutely love it! It started out as an album b-side but was remixed and released as a single, but only reached #70.
Notable new entries (US):
February 2
81 — I’LL BE BY YOUR SIDE –•– Stevie B
83 — WHO SAID I WOULD –•– Phil Collins
87 — MOTHER’S PRIDE –•– George Michael
88 — MY SIDE OF THE BED –•– Susanna Hoffs
89 — SECRET –•– Heart
February 9
52 — I’VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT YOU –•– Londonbeat
64 — YOU’RE IN LOVE –•– Wilson Phillips
89 — JUST THE WAY IT IS, BABY –•– The Rembrandts
91 — WHAT’S IT GONNA BE –•– Jellybean Featuring Niki Haris
93 — SADENESS PART 1 –•– Enigma
98 — FUNK BOUTIQUE –•– The Cover Girls
February 16
77 — MERCY MERCY ME (THE ECOLOGY)/I WANT YOU –•– Robert Palmer
86 — CRY FOR HELP –•– Rick Astley
93 — ANOTHER SLEEPLESS NIGHT –•– Shawn Christopher
99 — HOW CAN YOU EXPECT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY? –•– Pet Shop Boys
February 23
75 — BABY BABY –•– Amy Grant
81 — LET’S CHILL –•– Guy
85 — STONE COLD GENTLEMAN –•– Ralph Tresvant
89 — ALL TRUE MAN –•– Alexander O’Neal
90 — I LIKE THE WAY (THE KISSING GAME) –•– Hi-Five
94 — I LOVE YOU –•– Vanilla Ice
That George Michael entry is some sort of anomoly because it's not officially recognised as a single and it doesn't feature in his discography. Maybe an import or limited promo of some sort, @Alla ?
Susanna Hoffs is someone you would have expected to be bigger- she had the looks and talent but she never really took off. This single did reach #30 but the follow up singles failed to chart and the album limped in at #83.
Can we talk about that Rick Astley song - his career was on the wane at this point, but that song is a lovely slice of blue-eyed soul. And I HATED his big first album stuff.
"Another Sleepless Night" another dance classic that I didn't know was a hit in the US.
Pet Shop Boys were coming to the end of their dominance in the US - this single only reached #93. They had one more lowly charting hit after this and they were done as a chart force.
That Amy Grant song is literally one of the greatest singles of the 90s.
#1s
THE FIRST TIME –•– Surface (2 weeks)
GONNA MAKE YOU SWEAT –•– C&C Music Factory (2 weeks)
ALL THE MAN THAT I NEED –•– Whitney Houston (2 weeks)
C&C Music Factory really were absolutely massive for a short time in the early 90s, and it all started with this global megasmash hit. Clivilles & Cole were one of the first "producer acts" to make it big, illustrative of a time when dance music was starting to shift the norms. It wasn't without its backlash however, as the industry rejected faceless acts in fear of what it might do to the business, which on one hand is strange based on today's standards but in this case they have only themselves to blame for the backlash, as they were also caught up in the lawsuits scandal of uncredited performers. Martha Wash's voice was again chopped up and sampled without permission, and she won a lengthy court case to get her payday and her credit. To be fair the lack of rules or precedent at the time probably meant that everyone thought it would be okay - until common sense prevailed. Sony took the unusual step of giving two separate credits on the track - vocals for Martha and "visualisations" for video model Zelma Davis. The group were also guilty of relying on the successful sound of the original to rehash it into various alternatives to release more singles, similar to the likes of Technotronic, which probably stifled their success in the long run. Despite all this they managed 4 chart hits from the debut - three Top 10. In 1995 David Cole sadly died but in those 5 years, C&C had a big impact on American (and global) dance music, and pop music - producing songs for a number of artists not least Mariah Carey, as well as countless remixes.
At this point Whitney Houston was still the all-conquering megastar, following her second album's four #1s with a second #1 single from ther third album I'm Your Baby Tonight. I LOVE this song, and has always been in my Whitney Top 5. I still maintain that the album lost legs after this release, as the following 3 singles - while successful - struggled to maintain the world beating momentum she had achieved thus far. The album had major highs but lacked depth. If only she could find herself a movie project in the coming months to turn that back around again.
Cathy Dennis ending up peaking at #9 in early February, a huge smash for this little know British pop singer.
In a sign of the decade to come, newcomers Mariah Carey and Celine Dion are storming up the charts, peaking at #4 and #5 respectively by the end of the month and looking to challenge Whitney for #1.
INXS get their seventh and final Top 10 hit with "Disappear":
Love this song. Credit to them for not falling off a cliff after the all-conquering previous album Kick. This album and to a lesser extent the 8th album Welcome To Wherever You Are were still global hits.
In what must have been notable at the time, George Michael's "Waiting For That Day" is stalling and climbing just a few notches each week - by end of February it has reached #31, albeit still climbing. This must have sent alarm bells ringing at Sony, who were coming off Faith with its six Top10 singles and five #1s. He had, to be fair a #1 with the lead single "Praying For Time" but big second single anthem "Freedom 90" 'only' reached #8, and now the third single is hovering in the 30s. By March it would peak at #27. They never bothered with a fourth single (the UK got five). It wouldn't be the end for George, as there was another #1 coming and the Older album was still a relative smash, but he would never repeat the monumental run he had with Faith in 1987/1988.
Over in the UK, just a quick reminder of two songs that SCREAM 1991 to me...
The latter there being another staple of the "Pure Moods" explosion of the early 90s.
Discoveries:
More of those girl groups I knew nothing about- this is great by The Cover Girls!
This feels very fresh for 1991, and definitely for a US girl group as you can't easily categorise it under any of the typical pop sounds of the day. It feels more influenced by Snap! or C&C Music Factory. It's also mostly vocal loops and cuts rather than a full melody. This only reached #55 and the album would only be saved by a cover of "Wishing On A Star" later in the year.
This is a lovely slice of US house:
Jellybean obviously has a storied career, and has remixed and produced some stonking songs, but I find his own stuff to be mostly quite basic. Again a pioneer of the "producer as the artist" act (apparently he's the first known DJ to be credited as an artist in the Top 100, with the Madonna-penned "Sidewalk Talk" in 1984). So this deep cut was a lovely find - it only reached #90 (#98 in the UK) and although she's not credited, the vocal is by a certain Miss Niki Harris.
In the UK, Mica Paris makes it 2 for 2 from the Contribution album with this smooth groove:
This was vaguely familiar to me, but I'm definitely more aware of this now and I now consider it one of her best tracks. This reached #43 in the UK.
More drum loops! Time for this very unusual song - and certainly a very unusual single choice...
Despite enjoying Tears For Fears's bigger singles when I was younger, I wasn't familiar with their album work and they have been one of my biggest awakenings in recent years - I really love them now. That all being said, this was a strange choice of single because it's like an extended interlude - a chopped up compilation of other songs from the Seeds Of Love album, remixed with added vocals. It's almost avant-pop in style, combining hip-hop, orchestral, opera, rap and gospel, and I absolutely love it! It started out as an album b-side but was remixed and released as a single, but only reached #70.
Notable new entries (US):
February 2
81 — I’LL BE BY YOUR SIDE –•– Stevie B
83 — WHO SAID I WOULD –•– Phil Collins
87 — MOTHER’S PRIDE –•– George Michael
88 — MY SIDE OF THE BED –•– Susanna Hoffs
89 — SECRET –•– Heart
February 9
52 — I’VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT YOU –•– Londonbeat
64 — YOU’RE IN LOVE –•– Wilson Phillips
89 — JUST THE WAY IT IS, BABY –•– The Rembrandts
91 — WHAT’S IT GONNA BE –•– Jellybean Featuring Niki Haris
93 — SADENESS PART 1 –•– Enigma
98 — FUNK BOUTIQUE –•– The Cover Girls
February 16
77 — MERCY MERCY ME (THE ECOLOGY)/I WANT YOU –•– Robert Palmer
86 — CRY FOR HELP –•– Rick Astley
93 — ANOTHER SLEEPLESS NIGHT –•– Shawn Christopher
99 — HOW CAN YOU EXPECT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY? –•– Pet Shop Boys
February 23
75 — BABY BABY –•– Amy Grant
81 — LET’S CHILL –•– Guy
85 — STONE COLD GENTLEMAN –•– Ralph Tresvant
89 — ALL TRUE MAN –•– Alexander O’Neal
90 — I LIKE THE WAY (THE KISSING GAME) –•– Hi-Five
94 — I LOVE YOU –•– Vanilla Ice
That George Michael entry is some sort of anomoly because it's not officially recognised as a single and it doesn't feature in his discography. Maybe an import or limited promo of some sort, @Alla ?
Susanna Hoffs is someone you would have expected to be bigger- she had the looks and talent but she never really took off. This single did reach #30 but the follow up singles failed to chart and the album limped in at #83.
Can we talk about that Rick Astley song - his career was on the wane at this point, but that song is a lovely slice of blue-eyed soul. And I HATED his big first album stuff.
"Another Sleepless Night" another dance classic that I didn't know was a hit in the US.
Pet Shop Boys were coming to the end of their dominance in the US - this single only reached #93. They had one more lowly charting hit after this and they were done as a chart force.
That Amy Grant song is literally one of the greatest singles of the 90s.
Ellie
Super talented triple threat
A
Alla
Guest
Mother's Pride was the b side for Waiting for that day, I think only in US and maybe Canada. It had to get enough airplay to chart on its own. I think they've changed the rules a few times, but if I'm not wrong, a b side in 91 needed to make the top 75 airplay to qualify for a Hot 100 debut; which makes sense because sales points would go to the A side, so you would need a significant amount of airplay.
Last edited by a moderator: