Day 19, and we’ve reached 25th March 1991.
Let’s see what was on the radio at the time!
Track 1: The Clash – Should I Stay Or Should I Go
No idea why this early ’80s classic was back in the charts, but I love it – one of my favourite Clash songs – and as chart music quality was rapidly declining at this point, I’ll take what I can get!
Track 2: Scritti Politti and Shabba Ranks – She’s A Woman
Nice tune, but there’s a bit too much going on throughout the track, so it sounds a bit messy.
Track 3: The Source and Candi Staton – You Got The Love
…and my heart just sank as I realised that the Florence & The Machine song from 2009, which I always quite liked, is a pointless ’00s cover of this track. The lesson: never become complacent about your level of music knowledge.
(This is why I hate pointless covers so much, incidentally – I’ve always felt really aggrieved to learn that chart songs I adored when I was growing up in the ’90s were actually bland, unimaginative, nothing-new, cash-in covers of ’70s and ’80s songs. While I typically transfer my affection to the original in such cases, I still feel pretty cheated.)
Track 4: The KLF and The Children Of The Revolution – 3AM Eternal
Nice stormy-atmosphere intro, nice vocals, nice chillout track. Good stuff.
The version I found on Spotify has some random sampling of The Blue Danube in, for some bonus relaxation points.
Track 5: C&C Music Factory and Freedom Williams – Gonna Make You Sweat
One of those ‘ohh, it’s this one!’ moments. I always just assumed this track was called Everybody Dance Now. Classic dance tune, anyway, and I’ll be up on the wedding dancefloor for this.
Track 6: Nomad and MC Mikee Freedom – (I Wanna Give You) Devotion
Dull and repetitive dance song with boring sung vocals and uninspired rapping. Not for me.
Track 7: EMF – I Believe
I really like EMF, and this is a great guitar-driven dance track. Happily nodding along here.
Track 8: 808 State – In Yer Face
Nice electro track, love the instrumentals on this.
Track 9: Massive Attack – Unfinished Sympathy
Massive Attack were really killing it during this period – really like this one. The way it builds is beautiful.
Track 10: MC Hammer – Pray
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
This one’s not bad – I quite like the melody on the sung vocals and it’s nice and upbeat. Could do without the sampling of When Doves Cry, though (I do NOT like it when brilliant classic pop tunes are sampled as backing music in newer songs).
Track 11: Kim Appleby – GLAD
Nice piece of solid pop, a welcome breather from all the dance and hip-hop. Lovely.
Track 12: Kylie Minogue – What Do I Have To Do?
Another great upbeat pop track from the ever-reliable Kylie (who’s still having chart hits in 2018, incidentally, but we won’t talk about that just yet).
Incidentally, I’m sure most people realise that Kylie Minogue guest starred in an episode of Doctor Who (Voyage of The Damned, 2007), but the only reason I’m pointing that out…
Track 13: Hale & Pace and The Stonkers – The Stonk
…is that Hale & Pace did too (Survival, 1989). Nice bit of prophetic track-listing there, Now! compilers!
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Daft novelty track from the comedy duo, which, judging by the lyrics and video, I’m guessing was for Comic Relief. I actually quite like those guitar instrumentals.
Track 14: 2 In A Room – Wiggle It
Quite like the backing track and the chorus, but the verse is a bit repetitive.
Track 15: Vanilla Ice – Play That Funky Music
I wasn’t aware that Vanilla Ice did an awful cover of the Wild Cherry classic, but I’m not exactly surprised. It’s very different to the original, so not a pointless cover, but there’s nothing good about all the stuff that’s different, especially not the typically bad rapping.
Track 16: Jesus Loves You – Bow Down Mister
Not a fan of the all-over-the-place vocals in the intro, or the folky guitar bit that follows. Apparently this was Boy George’s project post-Culture Club. It’s very different to his previous stuff, and not my cup of tea, unfortunately.
Track 17: Enigma – Sadness [Part 1]
Always love that monastic chanting. Great classic chillout track.
Track 18: Praise – Only You
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM)
Another nice chillout track – lovely vocals.
Track 19: Oleta Adams – Get Here
For some reason, they always played this one on the radio on ferries in the early ’90s when I was travelling with my family, so I strongly associate it with cabin bunk beds and pristine white sheets. Classic ballad, lovely tune.
Track 20: Rick Astley – Cry For Help
Who knew Rick Astley was still having hits into the ’90s? Wow.
The track’s got a nice tune and a good atmospheric chorus – quite like this one.
Track 21: Robert Palmer – Mercy Mercy Me/I Want You
Good, interesting track from Robert Palmer – great vocals, nice tune.
Track 22: Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes – (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life
The Dirty Dancing soundtrack classic, back in the charts for some reason (I’d like to think that reason was that none of the new stuff being released was anywhere near as good, but I know that music taste is subjective, blah blah boring blah, and so others will disagree. They’re wrong though – this feelgood singalong number complete with epic sax solo is worth a million repetitive house tracks).
Track 23: The Righteous Brothers – You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’
Another old track back in the charts, this time from the ’60s. A bit saccharine for me, but it’s such a classic I’ll forgive it.
Track 24: Seal – Crazy
Great epic atmosphere, brilliant tune. A classic in my book.
Track 25: Banderas – This Is Your Life
Bit of a repetitive dance number, though the vocal melody is quite interesting.
Track 26: Stevie B – Because I Love You (The Postman Song)
Slow track, but it’s got a great atmosphere – I really quite like this.
Track 27: Chris Rea – Auberge
Could do without the ‘music video’ whistling and car noises on the intro. Just start the track, please.
Once it gets going, it’s quite interesting, if a bit slow.
Track 28: Chris Isaak – Blue Hotel
Typical dramatic atmosphere from Chris Isaak, with some great Spanish-tinged guitar. Great tune.
Track 29: Free – All Right Now
Slightly annoying chorus, but it is a good chant-along track, especially after a few pints.
Incidentally, an old uni mate whose surname is Allwright once told me that her dad had declared this their official family song. I did do some googling to see if I could find a good equivalent for mine, but in all honesty I don’t think I’m into the family song thing.
Track 30: INXS – Disappear
Great solid pop song, nice tune, good rockier chorus. I like this one.
Track 31: Belinda Carlisle – Summer Rain
Really interesting tune with a great atmosphere on the verses – big fan of this.
Track 32: The Railway Children – Every Beat Of The Heart
A little saccharine for me, but the tune is quite nice.
Track 33: Thunder – Love Walked In
Bit more acoustic-y than I usually go for, but I really like the tune and the atmosphere, especially when it goes full-on rock ballad a couple of minutes in.
Track 34: Queen – Innuendo
You can always rely on Queen for a nice dramatic tune. Good track to end today’s compilation.