Review
For the third successive year, the Smash Hits team released a single volume summer compilation. 1992’s instalment was tagged as Party On!, a most apt description of the spring’s chart action. On a personal level the tunes resonate strongly, soundtracking an era of partying hard. The tail end of 88 Harolds Cross Road.
Just over one third of the tracks will be familiar from Now That’s What I Call Music 21 – the opening epic Bohemian Rhapsody (re-released in Freddie’s memory), Crowded House’s natural beauty Weather With You, Right Said Fred’s Ard Na Greine earworm Deeply Dippy, Shakespear’s Sister Stay, the glorious Justified And Ancient, the joyous Pasedenas’ I’m Doing Fine Now. And topping it all off; the future stars of Féile ’92, the Wonderstuff with Welcome To The Cheap Seats. Oh in another world etc. End of night vibes to KWS for Please Don’t Go with booby prizes to Nick Berry’s desperate Heartbeat and The Shamen’s disappointing L.S.I.
Introductions or debutant: that’s Des’ree and the moody yet gorgeous Feel So High. Smokers’ delights: there’s Ce Ce Peniston’s triumphant Keep On Walking. Ravers will lap up Sesame’s Treet hardcore appropriation of the children’s television workshop favourite along with Altern-8’s absolutely brutual Hypnotic ST-8 and Urban Hype’s sample heavy A Trip To Trumpton. “Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble & Grubb!” Elsewhere there’s Kylie Minogue at her most rhythmic on Finer Feelings (remixed by the Brothers in Rhythm) and DNA’s rather low-key Can You Handle It. Nearby: Rozalla’s day-glo banger Are You Ready To Fly and Ten Sharp’s plaintive sophisti-pop You. The final tune goes to The Sugarcubes and the forceful groove of Hit. “Sun, planet, the universe and me.”
Favourite tracks
Ten Sharp – You
Des’ree – Feel So High
The Sugarcubes – Hit
Lest we forget
Kylie Minogue – Finer Feelings
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