funky's journey through the 90s (again, again) (4 Viewers)

[funky]

I didn't know that about Londonbeat/Eurovision! I remember Love City Groove, I loved that song at the time

 

[funky]

Lily Was Here was surely a bit "after the fact" in the US. I'm sure that was a hit in the UK much earlier - 1989 or 1990.

 

[Sardonicus]

Shit I forgot to cover Nikki D in my discoveries section as it was also charting this month. Thank you. This is GREAT.

First female rapper signed to Def Jam

 

[Sardonicus]

I didn't know that about Londonbeat/Eurovision! I remember Love City Groove, I loved that song at the time

I'm no Alla (RIP) but I've got the odd HOT POP FACT up my sleeve here & there

Lily Was Here was surely a bit "after the fact" in the US. I'm sure that was a hit in the UK much earlier - 1989 or 1990.

Early 1990.

 

[dmlaw]

Londonbeat’s Eurovision entry was terrible and so was Love City Groove really. Who would have thought that you wouldn’t get authentic rap music from a white public schoolboy named Beanz?

 

[Sardonicus]

Londonbeat’s Eurovision entry was terrible and so was Love City Groove really. Who would have thought that you wouldn’t get authentic rap music from a white public schoolboy named Beanz?

I know it's a bit RUBBISH really & I'd probably be chased out of the Eurovision forum with a PITCHFORK for admitting it but I also loved Love City Groove

 

[dmlaw]

I know it's a bit RUBBISH really & I'd probably be chased out of the Eurovision forum with a PITCHFORK for admitting it but I also loved Love City Groove

The Eurovision forum tolerates much more defective opinions than that.

 

[funky]

The Eurovision forum tolerates much more defective opinions than that.

Does it though?

 

[POP!]

It does make me wonder though, what she had that Kylie Minogue didn't, because Kylie released a fairly similar album in 1990 and it did nothing in the US. And Kylie's album is a lot better! I do like Cathy Dennis though and it's a strong run of singles that are coming up. Maybe the US just saw Kylie as the Tiffany / Debbie Gibson type of act from her "Locomotion" success and didn't understand the sexbomb transition? Her 1990 sound is really not that much different to Deee-Lite, and that did well.

I don’t think they released Rhythm of Love here. They tried a bit with Enjoy Yourself, which had alternate American artwork and a couple singles but it made zero impact. I agree ROL could’ve been a hit here if they tried though.

 

[old spice]

May 11

36 — RUSH RUSH –•– Paula Abdul

Omg this bloody song!! Paula's brief flirtation with relevance in the UK had long since ceased by the time I was growing up, so I didn't even know OF 'Rush Rush' until a Texan Gen Xer tried to SEDUCE me with it at one point in my mid-20s which was extremely upsetting because a) they were meant to be a good friend, and b) what the FUCK kinda signal was I emitting at that age which could make anyone in their right mind think that PAULA ABDUL would be the way into my pants JFC!!!

(And in typical spicey fashion, if the above weren't indignity enough, it turns out I actually quite like that stupid song in spite of everything. I also unironically enjoy 'I Wanna Sex You Up' - excoriated earlier in the thread - which makes me think that my inner 'dime store tart' which I tried to kill off many moons ago is still lurking somewhere within, bleurgh!! )

I've always thought that the US charts were far superior to the UK ones around this era, but this exercise is making me doubt that. Thoroughly unimpressed by almost everything that's in the upper echelons atm. Also, I did a deep dive into Rod Stewart's discography last year and, honestly, for a guy whose commercial success spans several decades, his back catalogue is fucking ABYSMAL. How nonsense like 'Rhythm of My Heart' was a hit in fucking 1990 is well beyond me. He peaked with 'Maggie May' very early on and it was all downhill thereafter with rare exception.

I'm enjoying the discoveries and recommendations from further down the charts, however. I'd shamefully never heard the Yo-Yo choon and it's a corker for me. Not sure what's being sampled but it's a heck of a background groove. I'm also really enjoying the K-Klass and Katherine E and both will be getting added to this week's workout playlists anon. Muito obrigado!

 

[Shirley]

That Katherine E record is what we used to call a BANGER or something

Can't believe it wasn't a big chart hit here

 

[jyxz]

I knew 'Daddy's Little Girl' from the film 'Just another girl on the I.R.T'

 

[jyxz]

Are you aware of this @funky?

You name checked Q-Tip earlier and this track shares a sample with PKA 'Temperature Rising'....

 

[AGinAg (38)]

Lying dead on the floor (husband and dog also dead), after realising I've never heard that Katherine E record before.

 

[funky]

Are you aware of this @funky?

You name checked Q-Tip earlier and this track shares a sample with PKA 'Temperature Rising'....

Omg! That acid-jazzness of THAT!

Saving that.

What IS the sample?

 

[funky]

Jungle Brothers came up a lot in my UK chart deep dive in lockdown - they had a fair few minor chart hits. I remember my uni friend being a big fan. They also turned me on to Jurassic 5 and Digable Planets. 90s jazzy hip hop is just the best.

 

[jyxz]

What IS the sample?

Sampled many a time over the years



One of my absolute favourite tracks of all time

 

[funky]

Oh god yes. Tune. I can hear about 17 different songs listening to that

 

[funky]

June 1991

#1s

I DON’T WANNA CRY –•– Mariah Carey (2 weeks)
MORE THAN WORDS –•– Extreme (1 week)
RUSH RUSH –•– Paula Abdul (5 weeks into July)

In a time of fading popularity for most rock genres in general (and very swiftly too - even up to late 1990 the charts were loaded with metal, hair metal, pop-metal and rock & roll acts) a few new rock acts with a fresh sound were pushing through. This is still at a time when Grunge was still quite underground and limited to certain regions like Seattle and Portland. It would be coming up very soon, but in the meantime the likes of Extreme and Red Hot Chili Peppers were blowing up with a hyper new rock-funk sound, while the likes of Metallica and Guns & Roses were still enduring with their heavier take on mainstream metal. That being said this global smash "More Than Words" is nothing like any of that, with Extreme taking a moment of stripped back acoustic soul to give them the biggest hit they would ever have - a bit like what Mr Big did with "To Be With You" (more on that song in a few months).

Paula Abdul getting to #1 in a relatively swift 6 weeks and then staying there for 5 weeks was quite a feat back in 1991, and she really was killing it. Unfortunately as documented in another thread by @Sardonicus, a few ropey live performances was all America needed to put the brakes on her career. This was of course a time of contention for live vocals after the recent scandals of the likes of Milli Vanilli and Black Box, and with the likes of Mariah Carey, Celine Dion and En Vogue emerging, Paula went from A list to D list in rapid fashion.

I'm surprised Color Me Badd only peaked at #2 with "I Wanna Sex You Up" but it was leapfrogged by the untouchable Abdul. It was still a massive smash though, staying at #2 for a number of weeks and lasting over 3 months in the Top 10.

Seeing as we covered Curtis Stigers in the vinyl thread, let's talk Michael Bolton! He reaches #4 with "Love Is A Wonderful Thing" from his 7th album Time Love & Tenderness. This was the midst of his peak popularity, and he really was absolutely massive - his breakthrough album Soul Provider in 1987 went 6x platinum and this follow up 8x platinum. He would have 2 more multi-platinum albums after this (3 including a compilation in 1995 which was the end of his imperial era). This album would yeild 3 top ten hits including his only #1 which is coming up soon. His career massively relied on cover songs and it's mostly gloopy and overblown ballads, but I do REALLY like this album's title track, which is also coming up soon.

REM peak at #4 towards the end of the month with "Losing My Religion" which feels like a big deal for an alternative band in a time when alternative music hadn't really broken through yet. Certainly not when said alternative act doesn't rely on gimmicks or diluted sounds unrepresentative of their music to force a radio hit.

Whitney Houston stalls at #9 with "Miracle" in June which must have been a huge disappointment, coming off two #1s and a lot of media attention from the Star Spangled Banner performance. It must have stung as Mariah Carey and Paula Abdul had both just hit #1 with a ballad. The problem is, "Miracle" just isn't that good, and doesn't come close to measuring up to the ballads from the first 2 albums.

Black Box reach the Top 10 with "Strike It Up", despite the backlash from previous releases about credited artists (this one again features Martha Wash but I don't know if she was credited at this point or not). It's a great tune but feels odd that this is their hit in the US, because in Europe they were already on the 6th single from Dreamland, and this limped in at #16 in the UK - 2 years after "Ride On Time". They really did milk that album, but it's a GREAT album.

Luther Vandross gets himself another huge hit as "The Power Of Love/Love Power" from his 7th solo album Power Of Love. This would end up being his most successful album in terms of singles, with two Top 10s and 3 charting hits altogether. This song also went to #1 on the US R&B chart, but stalled at #46 in the UK. He was never really a big singles artist in the UK, with the two duets with Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey being his only Top 10 hits.

Speaking of the UK, this month Kenny Thomas breaks through with "Thinking About Your Love"



A lovely piece of UK soul, this hit #4 in the UK and his debut album Voices gave him 4 hit singles, and eventually went platinum. I also love his cover of "Outstanding" by The Gap Band.

Massive Attack released their follow up to "Unfinished Sympathy" with "Safe From Harm", also featuring Shara Nelson, and it's almost as good - a huge compliment -



Given the absolutely gigantic influence that they had on the following decade of music it's odd really that those 2 singles only went to #13 and #25 respectively. I do wonder whether their temporary name change in light of the Gulf War had an impact on their ability to cross over - for a short period they became known simply as Massive. They changed it back when the war ended.

The UK was also having a temporary love affair with German rock band Scorpions, who had a massive global hit with "Winds Of Change". It was everywhere at the time and even 13 year old me liked it.


Discoveries:

Speaking of early 90s female hip-hop, do you know this @jyxz ?



It's great! Very Queen Latifah. It reached #73 in the UK. The UK was much quicker than the US to support up and coming rap acts!

Titiyo is back!



This is so good and I no awareness of this at all. "After The Rain" and "Flowers" are two songs I discovered earlier as they were minor UK hits, but this song, which didn't chart in the UK, actually went to #42 in the US, her only hit.

I've covered Kym Mazelle already here and it's been a joy discovering her early work. Here's a freestyle bop that is really good!



I'm not normally a fan of freestyle but this is great, but she has a voice that elevates anything. This went to #62 in the UK, on a remix version of her 1989 debut album Crazy, which was renamed Brilliant! in reference to what the album was called in the US.

I have been opened up to many more hip-hop acts thanks to my project, particularly jazz rap acts, and this track is great



I was already very familiar with Gang Starr member Guru, who has a big following in the UK.

I have absolutely no memory of this, but another lovely Soul II Soul descendent:



Can't even find anything about it/them on Wiki, but it must have charted somewhere as I would have found it when doing my UK 90s runthrough.

Kirsty MacColl was never someone I really followed (other than being featured heavily as a guest singer on French & Saunders episodes. But I took notice when I stumbled upon this song:



It's pretty good! This hit #23 in the UK and parent album Electric Landlady was her highest charting album at #17.

Notable new entries (US):
June 1

71 — THE DREAM IS STILL ALIVE –•– Wilson Phillips
73 — P.A.S.S.I.O.N. –•– Rhythm Syndicate
88 — ELEVATE MY MIND –•– Stereo MC’s
89 — LOVE DESIRE –•– Sandee
91 — WIND OF CHANGE –•– Scorpions

June 8

64 — IT AIN’T OVER TIL IT’S OVER –•– Lenny Kravitz
85 — MY BODY SAYS YES –•– Titiyo
87 — FOREVER AMO’R –•– D’Zyre
90 — CAN’T FORGET YOU –•– Gloria Estefan

June 15

53 — EVERY HEARTBEAT –•– Amy Grant
59 — FADING LIKE A FLOWER (EVERY TIME YOU LEAVE) –•– Roxette
60 — LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING –•– Cher
63 — MOTOWNPHILLY –•– Boyz II Men
85 — SUMMERTIME –•– D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
91 — YOUR LOVE –•– Keith Sweat

June 22

77 — I CAN’T WAIT ANOTHER MINUTE –•– Hi-Five
83 — CRAZY –•– Seal
85 — MOVE RIGHT OUT –•– Rick Astley
94 — 3 A.M. ETERNAL –•– The KLF
98 — LET THE BEAT HIT ‘EM –•– Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam

June 29

53 — (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU –•– Bryan Adams
87 — LEARNING TO FLY –•– Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
93 — NOW THAT WE FOUND LOVE –•– Heavy D & The Boyz

GOD, the amount of songs I'm now having major high school flashbacks about is insane

This month's inclusion of the "Wait, they were a hit in the US?" - Stereo MC's and the KLF.

Sandee is/are, according to the internet, a freestyle act, but this song isn't really - it sounds like an attempt to cross "Justify My Love" with Enigma. Which I know makes it sound quite interesting so judge for yourself



I find a lot of these fresstyle minor club hits from this time quite cheap and nasty honestly, case in point another June new entry:



It's quite possible that these rare songs have never been remastered and that's why they sound so cheap and unfinished.

Amy Grant follows up "Baby Baby" with another smash that peaks at #2 (#25 UK).

Cher returns with her next album Love Hurts and this is the lead single, which peaked at #17, disappointing coming off the huge Heart Of Stone album and the Mermaids movie and soundtrack. It only gave her 2 US singles, and it was really Europe that would keep her career going through the 90s until the Believe album. This album gave her 4 Top 40 hits in the UK, and this lead single went to #10.

This month sees the arrival of Boyz II Men. They were pretty unknown in the UK until "End Of The Road" at the end of the following year, but in the US they opened big with this debut album CooleyHighHarmony, which gave them 4 hit singles and 2 R&B #1s. This debut single eventually went to #3.

"It Ain't Over Til It's Over" is Lenny Kravitz's breakthrough hit - I LOVE this song and I had no idea until recently but this was huge in the states, going to #2 and helping the parent album Mama Said to platinum after his first album in 1989 was only a moderate success. Oddly he wouldn't get another big hit in the US until "Fly Away" in 1999 - his other signature tune "Are You Gonna Go My Way" was not released physically in America.

Sadly that Hi-Five song is not a Five Star cover.

I was curious to learn whether that Bryan Adams song was as big and as ubiqutious as it was everywhere else, and judging by the upcoming charts, yes. Yes it was.

That Tom Petty song isn't really a discovery, but it is a song I love a million times more than I did back then. Same as the artist really. He was never massive in the UK, but he's right in my lane when it comes to modern Americana.

"Now That We Found Love" is just me bopping at the youth club and having crushes on girls at school. Good times, I guess

 

[funky]

God these are getting longer. The density of good music in 1991 is just RIDICULOUS!

 

[dmlaw]

I can’t stand ‘More Than Words’. On a hypothetical ‘Songs I Hope Never To Hear Again’ compilation, it would be a strong contender for Track 1, Disc 1.

 

[Joseph]

*reminder to dig in to this after work*

 

[Sardonicus]

I always forget just how HUGE Michael Bolton was back then. I figure his audience was mainly WOMEN OF A CERTAIN AGE.

Kenny Thomas I do like & is an artist I associate almost entirely with 1991. It's his only really successful year, rather like Curtis Stigers in 1992. Was OUR KEN a HOMO? I'm not sure.

Massive Attack's entire album was amazing - I hear "Safe From Harm" ON THE REGULAR as it's one of Mr S's all-time favourite songs.

"Walking Down Madison" might just be Kirsty McColl's best song & shows how she was always willing to be musically innovative & experiment with different styles. I do appreciate the puntastic "Electric Landlady" album title too

Amy Grant really is having a MOOPY MOMENT, isn't she? I wonder if she was already HAVING AN AFFAIR when this one was climbing the charts. The Lord DOES move in mysterious ways.

 

[funky]

We haven't heard the last from Sapphic Amy because there's a song I've recently discovered on her next album (I'm still a bit ahead) that I actually quite like too!

 

[Sardonicus]

Heavy D's song always comes up on YouTube for me, & I usually pick the cat up to sing "now that you're my favourite cat, what are we going to do - WITH YOU" much to her CHAGRIN

 

[Sheena]

Oh funky, not KENNY THOMAS

 

[Sheena]

The best thing Kenny Thomas ever did was inspire Saint Etienne, whose seminal hit People Get Real was, before the record company told them to change it, called Kenny Get Real and based around what a complete PILE OF SHITE WHITE SOUL FRAUDSTER he was.

 

[funky]

I did not know that

Kenny Thomas is actually QUITE REVERED in UK soul circles. He was often featured on compilation albums next to the likes of Brand New Heavies and Carleen Anderson. Maybe he just had a very savvy record label who were trying to position him as the male Lisa Stansfield.

 

[Joseph]

I swear (and I know it’s very old man to say) that this era of music was amazing. So many excellent songs coming out in succession.

June really was a ballad heavy month with those #1s. IDWC is one of my fave Mariah songs and I adore Rush Rush. More Than Words is a good song but not one I ever near to hear again

Michael Bolton was never my thing but he was all over the radio back then. My mom LOVED him.

I guess I never realized Losing My Religion wasn’t a #1. That video was massive on MTV and was played constantly on the radio. This is an absolute classic.

Miracle is a fave of mine from Whitney. It was always thought to be a song about abortion which got quite a bit of press back then which didn’t help it I’m sure.

 

[POP!]

Love Rush Rush. Although I loved Blowing Kisses in the Wind too. For having such a piss poor voice she knew her way around a ballad.

I can’t even remember how Miracle by Whitney goes. And I have listened to that parent album loads. “Lover for Life”, “We Didn’t Know”, or better yet, “Higher Love” (which served as a bonus track) would have delivered as third single instead.

 

[straightorbroken]

The video is also fabulous. Love her street strutting with the side point around the 1:10 point.

 

[Joseph]

Yes to ALL of these

Notable new entries (US):
June 1

71 — THE DREAM IS STILL ALIVE –•– Wilson Phillips
73 — P.A.S.S.I.O.N. –•– Rhythm Syndicate
88 — ELEVATE MY MIND –•– Stereo MC’s
89 — LOVE DESIRE –•– Sandee
91 — WIND OF CHANGE –•– Scorpions
64 — IT AIN’T OVER TIL IT’S OVER –•– Lenny Kravitz
85 — MY BODY SAYS YES –•– Titiyo
90 — CAN’T FORGET YOU –•– Gloria Estefan
59 — FADING LIKE A FLOWER (EVERY TIME YOU LEAVE) –•– Roxette
60 — LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING –•– Cher
63 — MOTOWNPHILLY –•– Boyz II Men
85 — SUMMERTIME –•– D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
91 — YOUR LOVE –•– Keith Sweat
77 — I CAN’T WAIT ANOTHER MINUTE –•– Hi-Five
83 — CRAZY –•– Seal
94 — 3 A.M. ETERNAL –•– The KLF
98 — LET THE BEAT HIT ‘EM –•– Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
53 — (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU –•– Bryan Adams
93 — NOW THAT WE FOUND LOVE –•– Heavy D & The Boyz

 

[old spice]

June 8

64 — IT AIN’T OVER TIL IT’S OVER –•– Lenny Kravitz

June 15

63 — MOTOWNPHILLY –•– Boyz II Men
85 — SUMMERTIME –•– D.J. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince

June 22

94 — 3 A.M. ETERNAL –•– The KLF

Tunes! Count me in as another that didn't realise the KLF charted Stateside. I hope this won't be the last of them. Am shocked to read that 'Are You Gonna Go My Way?' - my Lenny jam of choice - didn't chart in the States! I'm a complete sucker for 'End of the Road', and I get that Boyz II Men's main shtick was being a vocal group, but I'd generally have found their material a lot more interesting had they stuck with the 'Motownphilly' sound. They came out the gates strong and quickly allowed themselves to be blandified imo.

I'm Your Baby Tonight was the correct move for Whitney at this time, but as with all of her albums it suffers from not leaning hard enough into its strengths and instead trying to cover all commercial bases. Aside from the title track and 'I Belong to You' (which was never going to set charts alight) I'm not into the singles at all, and 'Miracle' - a drab pro-life gloopfest - might be amongst the worst crimes she ever committed to record imo. Gross.

My pick from the discoveries that I hadn't heard before is Gang Starr, unsurprisingly (love Guru!). Also enjoy that Kenny Thomas song, though perhaps I should be more sheepish about that confession! And I had no idea that Black Box had hits other than 'Ride on Time' oops.

Tom Petty is the kind of artist (staid White rock star from decades ago) that should be totally in my wheelhouse, but his late 80s/early 90s successes leaves me utterly cold. 'Learning to Fly' might just be the most lyrically insipid song I know, and his overall acclaim baffles me (beyond 'American Girl' which is undeniable). One of my fave aspects of that legendary 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' performance at the R&R HoF is Prince casually strutting in and effortlessly upstaging the DREARY OLD FARTS on stage with a panache that only TRUE genius could conjure.

Blue Lines is such a great record and I'm glad it launched other hit singles. Crazy to think they'd better it just a few years later (imo) with Mezzanine.

 

[Sheena]

I did not know that

Kenny Thomas is actually QUITE REVERED in UK soul circles. He was often featured on compilation albums next to the likes of Brand New Heavies and Carleen Anderson. Maybe he just had a very savvy record label who were trying to position him as the male Lisa Stansfield.

Was he really REVERED? I remember him getting a critical DRUBBING at the time. I think it was probably the latter.

 

[Joseph]

Tunes! Count me in as another that didn't realise the KLF charted Stateside. I hope this won't be the last of them. Am shocked to read that 'Are You Gonna Go My Way?' - my Lenny jam of choice - didn't chart in the States!

The KLF had a few chart hits here. My fave should be coming up in a few months in Funky’s journey.

Are You Gonna Go My Way is one of those weird “let’s not release a single” songs. It was HUGE here and would have easily hit #1. You couldn’t escape it.

 

[funky]

Miracle is a fave of mine from Whitney. It was always thought to be a song about abortion which got quite a bit of press back then which didn’t help it I’m sure.

I did not know "Miracle" had an AGENDA. Then again, I don't even remember it. The UK didn't bother with it as a single - we pushed ahead with My Name Is Not Susan and we continued with "I Belong To You" as a replacement for a 4th single once the US had moved on. I was a huge Whitey fan in the 80s so my ignorance towards this era does map with the UK's general apathy as well. Only the title track went Top 10!

The Bodyguard was a miraculous career move. Pun intended.

 

[funky]

Love Rush Rush. Although I loved Blowing Kisses in the Wind too. For having such a piss poor voice she knew her way around a ballad.

I can’t even remember how Miracle by Whitney goes. And I have listened to that parent album loads. “Lover for Life”, “We Didn’t Know”, or better yet, “Higher Love” (which served as a bonus track) would have delivered as third single instead.

The original "Higher Love" was only several years old at the time so it probably felt too soon, but yes, that was the best non-single on there by a country mile.

 

[funky]

And I had no idea that Black Box had hits other than 'Ride on Time' oops.

Actually, they had SEVEN hits in the UK from the debut album, which was very rare here if your surname isn't Jackson, and I'm not talking minor hits either - all but one went Top 20!

Ride On Time - 1
I Don't Know Anybody Else - 4
Everybody Everybody - 16
Fantasy - 5
The Total Mix - 12
Strike It Up - 16
Open Your Eyes - 48

I don't think the Total Mix was on the original pressing of the album, but it is made up entirely of songs from the album.

 

[funky]

Was he really REVERED? I remember him getting a critical DRUBBING at the time. I think it was probably the latter.

I am of course referring to my close friends' BOOK OF STATS from the time, but the more ON TREND crowd and for whatever reason, Kenny Thomas's first album was definitely passed around the classrooms a lot.

My older cousin who got me into acid jazz and hip-hop was a big fan of his first album.

 

[funky]

Blue Lines is such a great record and I'm glad it launched other hit singles. Crazy to think they'd better it just a few years later (imo) with Mezzanine.

Blue Lines, Protection and Mezzanine is the most ridiculous run of quality albums on the trot that might not have been repeated since.