The History Of Jop Part 10 aka I had a feeling I could be someone

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

1988 - and it's a winner! (Also possibly your only chance ever to vote, vote, vote for the Wilburys in a Poptimists Poll)


[Poll #835009]

1987 - What The Jop Was Going On?

1=. Sign O The Times (33 votes)
1=. Pump Up The Volume (33 votes)
1=. Bring The Noise (33 votes)
4. Faith (29)
5=. U Got The Look/Housequake (24)
5=. It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) (24)
5=. I Know You Got Soul (24)
8. The One I Love (22)
9. Don't Dream It's Over (19)
10. Luka (18)

MARRS and PE got 6 'best' votes each, Prince got 8.

Comments

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

this is a pretty good list! whatever happened to tracy chapman?

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

see The Primitives song here for clue

[nicolars.livejournal.com]

I had trouble picking only nine.

Question which has mystified me for my entire life

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Why do people like Guns'n'Roses?

From the very first moment I became aware of them they struck me as being utterly repellent.

Also, 'Push It' = best song ever made.

Re: Question which has mystified me for my entire life

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Even though I like Push It more, I want G'n'R to win this poll - S'n'P have had their turn.

Re: Question which has mystified me for my entire life

[juror8.livejournal.com]

"From the very first moment I became aware of them they struck me as being utterly repellent."

That was the point! Rock music is meant to be scary and offend people and etc etc etc etc.

"Sweet Child of Mine" still amazing even today. Not as much as "My Michelle" though, which is the best love song ever written.

At the Next Poptimists

[koganbot]

At the next Club Poptimists, it is imperative that (after the Sinker-Skidmore version of "Je T'Aime") you all reenact The Rare Remix Video of Galbi, in costume. Imperative.

Urgent Question

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

What on earth is "Da Butt"?? Promising title!

Re: Urgent Question

[koganbot]

Fairly so-what go-go track; used in one of Spike Lee's films.

Re: Urgent Question

[lockedintheatti.livejournal.com]

He is also the male vocalist (uncredited on this poll) on Salt N Pepa's "Shake Your Thang"

Re: Urgent Question

[nicolars.livejournal.com]

It's awesome! I don't think I currently own a copy in any form or I would upload it.

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

the patti smith song is officially "not bad" in an anthemic kind of way

i interviewed ofra haza round this time, but don't think i can have written it up -- i don't recall a thing she said, tho she was very charming

Have you watched that Galbi video yet?

[koganbot]

The Patti Smith song was weighed-down by its accompaniment; she seemed to be wanting that "Born To Run" wall-of-sound effect.

Mark, have you watched that "Galbi" video yet?

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

i like 'People Have The Power' enough to tick it but I think its rather obvious LOOK AN ANTHEM feel is actually what lets it down compared to most P Smith works - she seems to be better when she's being less, um, is earthy the word? More abstract? I don't even know what my favourite Patti Smith song is.

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

ah 1988, GNR (third gen tape copy of Appetite) came along and LO, my hair did grow and my jacket did become made of denim (ok, i didn't actually get the denim jacket for another year, no denim at school you see).

BUT, i was still listening to a lot of pop radio, and my sister had just started getting Smash HIts (in its POMP in my opinion), so i could still hold forth on the !P!O!P! issues of the day.

AND THEN d-mob came along and it ALL WENT A BIT ACIIIIIIIIIEEEED as well...

blimey, what 1 x year!

My Pazz & Jop ballot, 1988

[koganbot]

1. Debbie Deb "I'm Searchin'" (Jam Packed)
2. Sequel "It's Not Too Late" (?--some indie, pre-Capitol)
3. Judy Torres "Come Into My Arms" (Profile)
4. Phuture "Slam!" (b-side of "We Are Phuture") (Trax)
5. Giggles "Hot Spot" (Atlantic)
6. Guns N' Roses "Welcome to the Jungle" (Geffen)
7. Rob Base & D.J. E-Z Rock "It Takes Two" (Profile)
8. L'Trimm "The Cars With The Boom" (Time-x)
9. EPMD "Strictly Business" (Fresh)
10. Teena Marie "Surrealistic Pillow" (Epic)

(Near misses: Bam Bam "Give It To Me," Eric B. & Rakim "Follow the Leader," Spoonie Gee "I'm All Shook Up"/"Spoonie's Rap," Michael Jackson "Dirty Diana," Sweet Sensation "Take It While It's Hot," plus Latifah, Raze, Orange Lemon, Def Leppard, Chip Chip, Latee, Midnight Oil, Nitro Deluxe, J.V.C.F.O.R.C.E., M.C. Lyte, S Express, Public Enemy, the It, and half a million others.)

[This pulled in a couple of ringers from 1987 that I'd just discovered: Judy Torres and Sequel. The Torres is the song whose alternate title is "People, This Is WAY WAY BETTER Than The Pet Shop Boys' 'It's A Sin.'"]

[My comments began, "You know that Public Enemy are punk rockers because they're addicted to their own oppression."]

Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince

[awesomewells.livejournal.com]

I have NEVER HEARD of this record before. I had no idea they were even around this early. Please tell me this features a squeaky-voiced Will Smith.

Re: Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince

[koganbot]

YouTubed, but mediocre transfer. Deserves more ticks here (though I'd run out of ticks myself).

Re: Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

it's good but it's no 'I Think I Can Beat MIke Tyson'

Pazz & Jop once again embarrassed themselves

[koganbot]

Pazz & Jop embarrassed themselves by leaving off "Pour Some Sugar On Me." (And I embarrassed myself in the identical manner.)

Re: Pazz & Jop once again embarrassed themselves

[nicolars.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that is an oversight for sure.

At the time...

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

My top 15:

1. My Bloody Valentine - Feed Me With Your Kiss
2. Cocteau Twins – A Kissed Out Red Floatboat
3. The Fall – Guest Informant
4. My Bloody Valentine – Soft as Snow (But warm inside)
5. Coldcut feat. Yazz & The Plastic Population – Doctorin’ the House
6. Eric B & Rakim - Follow The Leader
7. All About Eve - Martha's Harbour
8. My Bloody Valentine - You Made Me Realise
9. Coldcut – Stop This Crazy Thing (original mix feat. Junior Reid / remix feat. Roots & Sugarfree)
10. The Fall – Bremen Nacht (LP version)
11. Was (Not Was) – Dad, I’m In Jail
12. The Primitives – Crash
13. The Flatmates – Shimmer
14. My Bloody Valentine – Slow*
15. Cocteau Twins – Blue Bell Knoll

*originally “River Euphrates” by Pixies, which got bumped down to #29 for some reason.

This is a very indie list (heavily influenced by reading Melody Maker I guess, about which more in a separate post). The rest of my Top 75 has more colour to it, but I'll spare you.

Meanwhile in Britain

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

The NME top 50 singles (first copy of the NME I ever bought IIRC!) (Crossovers in bold)

The Mercy Seat - Nick Cave (Mute)
Everyday Ls Like Sunday - Morrissey (Hmv)
Alphabet Street - Prince (Paisleypark)
Suedehead Morrissey (Hmv)
Destroy The Heart - The House Of Love (Creation)
Big Fun - Inner City (Lo)
Freak Scene - Dinosaurjr(Blastfirst)
Crash - Theprimitives'(Lazy)
Sidewalkin' - The Jesus & Mary Chain (Blanco Y Negro)
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah - The Pogues (Pogue Mahone)
Anchorage - Michelle Shocked (Cookingvinyl)
Someday - Ce Ce Rodgers (Atlantic)
Follow The Leader - Eric B &Rakim (Mca)
Left To My Own Devices - Pet Shop Boys (Parlophone)
Don't Believe The Hype - Public Enemy (Def Jam-
Can You party - Royal House (Champion)
Reachin' - Phasell (Republic)
Weekend - Todd Terry (Sleepingbag)
You're Going To Miss Me - Turntable Orchestra (Republic)
Fast Car - Tracy Chapman (Elektra)
Teardrops - Womack & Womack (4th & Broadway)
People Have The Power - Patti Smith (Arista)
What's The Matter Here - 10,000 Maniacs (Elektra)
Beat Dis - Bomb The Bass (Rhythm King)
Distant Relatives - Megacity4 (Decoy)
Buffalo Stance - Neneh Cherry (Circa)
Goon Girl - Roxanne Shante (A&M)
Gigantic - Pixies(4ad)
Prize - Kitchens Of Distinction (One Little Indian)
Cold Metal - Lggy Pop (A&M)
Sometimes In Vain - The Parachute Men (Fire)
Theme From S' Express S'express (Rhythm King)
I'll House You - Jungle Brothers (Gee Street)
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - The Proclaimers (Chrysalis)
Defcon One - Pop Will Eat Ltself (Chapter22)
Heart - Pet Shop Boys (Parlophone)
Plane Crash Ep - Lnspiral Carpets (Playtime)
Rumours - Gregory Isaacs (Greensleeves)
Collision - Loop (Chapter 22)
Love And Mercy - Brian Wilson (Warners)
Kidney Bingos - Wire (Mute)
Just Got Paid - Johnny Kemp (Cbs)
Perfect - Fairground Attraction (Rca)
Nobody's Twisting Your Arm - The Wedding Present (Reception)
Christine - The House Of Love (Creation)
Voodoo Ray - A Guy Called Gerald (Deconstruction)
Map Of The World - Corn Dollies (Medium Cool)
What Is Soul - Stereo Mcs (Gee Street)
Victoria - The Fall (Beggars Banquet)
The Race - Yello (Phonogram)

The 'indiefication' of the NME starting to reach critical mass here. But notice the very strong showing for house music, pretty much totally absent from the noisenik Melody Maker 20:

The mercy seat - Nick Cave
You made me realise - My bloody valentine
Freak scene - Dinosaur Jr.
Gigantic - Pixies
Destroy the heart - The house of love
L'amourir - The young gods
Christine - The house of love
Sidewalking - Jesus and Mary chain
Feed me with your kiss - My bloody valentine
Martha's harbour - All about eve
Follow the leader - Eric B & Rakim
Alphabet street - Prince
UP home EP - AR Kane
Crash - The primitives
Teardrops - Womack & womack
Collision EP - Loop
O Patti - Scritti Politti
The race - Yellow
Revolution - Spaceman
Headhunter - Front 242

It was partly on the basis of these two polls that I started reading the NME, not MM.

Re: Meanwhile in Britain

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

One thing I didn't expect from 80s canon lists is how popcentric they are - I am beginning to wonder when trad rockism actually crept into the music media, the assumption that certain forms (guitars, rock and so on) had gravitas and were therefore superior to dancey dancey pop.

Billboard's Top 26 Singles of 1988

[koganbot]

Billboard Top 26 Pop Singles of 1988 - * Song went #1

*1... FAITH, George Michael (Columbia) (#1, Dec 1987)
*2... NEED YOU TONIGHT, INXS (Atlantic) (#1, Jan)
*3... GOT MY MIND SET ON YOU, George Harrison (Dark Horse) (#1, Jan)
*4... NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP, Rick Astley (RCA) (#1, March)
*5... SWEET CHILD O' MINE, Guns N' Roses (Geffen) (#1, Sept)
*6... SO EMOTIONAL, Whitney Houston (Arista) (#1, Jan)
*7... HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH, Belinda Carlisle (MCA) (#1, Dec 1987)
*8... COULD'VE BEEN, Tiffany (MCA) (#1, Feb)
9... HANDS TO HEAVEN, Breathe (A&M) (#2, Aug)
*10.. ROLL WITH IT, Steve Winwood (Virgin) (#1, July)
*11.. ONE MORE TRY, George Michael (Columbia) (#1, May)
*12.. WISHING WELL, Terence Trent D'Arby (Columbia) (#1, May)
*13.. ANYTHING FOR YOU, Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine (Epic) (#1, May)
*14.. THE FLAME, Cheap Trick (Epic) (#1, July)
*15.. GET OUTTA MY DREAMS, GET INTO MY CAR, Billy Ocean (Jive) (#1, April)
*16.. SEASONS CHANGE, Expose (Arista) (#1, Feb)
17.. IS THIS LOVE, Whitesnake (Geffen) (#2, Dec 1987)
*18.. WILD, WILD WEST, The Escape Club (Atlantic) (#1, Nov)
19.. POUR SOME SUGAR ON ME, Def Leppard (Mercury) (#2, July)
20.. I'LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU, Taylor Dayne (Arista) (#3, Sept)
*21.. MAN IN THE MIRROR, Michael Jackson (Epic) (#1, March)
22.. SHAKE YOUR LOVE, Debbbie Gibson (Atlantic) (#4, Dec 1987)
23.. SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE, Robert Palmer (EMI-Manhattan) (#2, Sept)
*24.. HOLD ON TO THE NIGHTS, Richard Marx (EMI-Manhattan) (#1, July)
25.. HUNGRY EYES, Eric Carmen (RCA) (#4, Feb)
26.. SHATTERED DREAMS, Johnny Hates Jazz (Virgin) (#2, May)

Re: Billboard's Top 26 Singles of 1988

[blue-russian.livejournal.com]

Somehow I missed "Hands to Heaven" - everything else I remember (much of it with a shudder).