A better episode than many in recent weeks, and aside from perhaps David Christie's ''Saddle Up'', and Dollar's ''Some Kind Of Magic'', a pretty solid array of songs.
I have always had a liking for Fat Larry's Band ''Zoom'', which i believe works extremely well. Funnily, when i hear that song today, it reminds me of the Only Fools And Horses episode, 'Diamonds Are For Heather', where the track is heard, while Del is dating this woman he is becoming serious about. Shalamar's ''There It Is'' seems to work better without those Zoo dancers, although i don't think it is quite as memorable as their previous 1982 hits, ''A Night To Remember'' and ''I Can Make You Feel Good''. I possibly find their style of soul in this period a little too slick for my taste. I couldn't make out if Shalamar were actually appearing in the Top Of The Pops studio, or not.
Musical Youth's ''Pass The Dutchie'' is an instantly infectious song, which i can remember being given a lot of fuss at the time with the group being such a young age, on the regional programme, Midlands Today, and i think for a while they were treated as the toast of Birmingham. Pete Waterman had a hand in the group's success, and the song was based on two previous tracks, ''Pass the Kouchie'', and ''Gimmie The Music''. I think it was considered a priority to take out any of the previously used drug references.
I also really do rate Culture Club's ''Do You Really Want To Hurt Me'' as one of the standout singles of the year, and a song that, for me, the group have never quite managed to equal, in terms of quality, and genuine charm. I wonder how many of us seriously believed George to be a girl on first impressions? I have to admit i was very unsure what he was! Evelyn King's ''Love Come Down'' strikes me also as being one of the standout dance tracks of the year.
Depeche Mode's ''Leave In Silence'' may lack the commercial appeal of their previous singles, but i think it is a very good track, which must have seemed like quite a change of direction for the single buying public at the time. Maybe not the most ideal choice as a single, perhaps.
I am not a particular fan of Chicago's ''Hard To Say I'm Sorry'', and as a love song i don't think it is anywhere close in quality to ''If You Leave Me Now''. It seems to veer a little too much into blandness, although it is certainly doesn't lack working as a more typical power type ballad. Songs like this, and ''Hard Habit To Break'' and not forgetting Peter Cetera's ''Glory Of Love'', do have a habit of blending into one.
Dollar's track ''Give Me Some Kinda Magic'' appears instantly forgettable, without Trevor Horn's full involvement, and it is easy to surmise there was little chance of longevity, without effective collaborators, who could give their career some careful guidance.
Not a bad episode overall, though, although to be honest, i didn't find the show as engaging as it initially appeared on paper. Possibly it could have benefited from a little more variety. I am always looking out for those alternative type sounds, to give the music a little more balance.
6.5/10
I have always had a liking for Fat Larry's Band ''Zoom'', which i believe works extremely well. Funnily, when i hear that song today, it reminds me of the Only Fools And Horses episode, 'Diamonds Are For Heather', where the track is heard, while Del is dating this woman he is becoming serious about. Shalamar's ''There It Is'' seems to work better without those Zoo dancers, although i don't think it is quite as memorable as their previous 1982 hits, ''A Night To Remember'' and ''I Can Make You Feel Good''. I possibly find their style of soul in this period a little too slick for my taste. I couldn't make out if Shalamar were actually appearing in the Top Of The Pops studio, or not.
Musical Youth's ''Pass The Dutchie'' is an instantly infectious song, which i can remember being given a lot of fuss at the time with the group being such a young age, on the regional programme, Midlands Today, and i think for a while they were treated as the toast of Birmingham. Pete Waterman had a hand in the group's success, and the song was based on two previous tracks, ''Pass the Kouchie'', and ''Gimmie The Music''. I think it was considered a priority to take out any of the previously used drug references.
I also really do rate Culture Club's ''Do You Really Want To Hurt Me'' as one of the standout singles of the year, and a song that, for me, the group have never quite managed to equal, in terms of quality, and genuine charm. I wonder how many of us seriously believed George to be a girl on first impressions? I have to admit i was very unsure what he was! Evelyn King's ''Love Come Down'' strikes me also as being one of the standout dance tracks of the year.
Depeche Mode's ''Leave In Silence'' may lack the commercial appeal of their previous singles, but i think it is a very good track, which must have seemed like quite a change of direction for the single buying public at the time. Maybe not the most ideal choice as a single, perhaps.
I am not a particular fan of Chicago's ''Hard To Say I'm Sorry'', and as a love song i don't think it is anywhere close in quality to ''If You Leave Me Now''. It seems to veer a little too much into blandness, although it is certainly doesn't lack working as a more typical power type ballad. Songs like this, and ''Hard Habit To Break'' and not forgetting Peter Cetera's ''Glory Of Love'', do have a habit of blending into one.
Dollar's track ''Give Me Some Kinda Magic'' appears instantly forgettable, without Trevor Horn's full involvement, and it is easy to surmise there was little chance of longevity, without effective collaborators, who could give their career some careful guidance.
Not a bad episode overall, though, although to be honest, i didn't find the show as engaging as it initially appeared on paper. Possibly it could have benefited from a little more variety. I am always looking out for those alternative type sounds, to give the music a little more balance.
6.5/10
His makeup & hair was very well done. However, I think Dana International confused people even more in 1998!
