Printable version of thread

Posted by: Gezza 8th May 2021, 04:29 PM

Posted by: Jester 8th May 2021, 06:42 PM

Looking forward to discussing another year!

Posted by: Bjork 8th May 2021, 07:34 PM

but wait what about the last one from 1990, we're still missing that one, right?

Posted by: Gezza 8th May 2021, 07:39 PM

Yes this Friday

Posted by: steve201 16th May 2021, 03:36 PM

Looking forward to following this again Gezza and the Story Of 1991 will be fascinating with the old sets and presenters we are familiar with move into the history books as TOTP gets taken over by a radical producer!

Posted by: Jade 18th May 2021, 10:34 PM

Ready for all things KLF *.*

Posted by: Gezza 21st May 2021, 04:38 PM

12TH JANUARY




The first chart of the year is traditionally one that sees not much action at all and 1991 is not upsetting that trend. Iron Maiden’s smash and grab on the No 1 spot sees “Bring Your Daughter….To The Slaughter” retain the pole position though sales are off 29% to 29,000 and the song almost certainly won’t be No 1 next week.





Naturally sales are off all around with all tracks except two recording a decrease, and those two are new entries to the big 10. First up is Seal who you may recall as the vocalist on Adamski’s “Killer”, he’s gone to solo and enrolled Trevor Horn to produce his debut solo single “Crazy” which deals with the rather weighty topic of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Tiananmen Square and the major world events of the last few years. Whilst Adamski’s career seems to have slipped in reverse with his last single “Flashback Jack” faltering at No 46 it seems that Seal may end as the bigger act as “Crazy” moves 11-4 (19,000). In less glamorous news that’s the first time that a top 4 single has sold under the 20,000 mark certainly since 1980- a note of things to come?





With a name taken from their initials, Robert Clivilles and David Cole are C & C Music Factory who together with Freedom Williams are responsible for one of the hottest dance records around, “Gonna Make You Sweat”. It also features the vocals of Martha Wash on the chorus though she’s uncredited and doesn’t appear in the promo a fact which is becoming a regular occurrence after the singer was similarly slighted on all Black Box’s 1990 hits though not “Ride On Time” which of course was rather “forgetful” to Loleatta Holloway. Regardless the track soars 25-10 (13,000)



Everything is in the mire this week, so though Enigma climb 4-2 (25,000) sales are actually off by a quarter, similarly John Travolta & Olivia Newton John move 5-3 (24,000) but with a decrease of 22% in sales, The Farm rebound 7-6 (16,000) but are hit by a 30% sales loss, and MC Hammer climbs 10-8 (14,000) but even he’s down by 17%. Some real losers are Vanilla Ice who drops 2-5 (19,000), the Righteous Brothers who dip 6-7 (15,000) and Snap! who hold at No 9 (14,000) but there should be a heap of new entries next week when 1991 really starts. Incidentally The Righteous Brothers pass New Kids On The Block as the biggest selling singles act of the 90s so far and it took just 2 singles!


1- BRING YOUR DAUGHTER TO THE SLAUGHTER- Iron Maiden (29,000)
2- SADNESS PART ONE- Enigma (25,000)
3- THE GREASE MEGAMIX- John Travolta & Olivia Newton- John (24,000)
4- CRAZY- Seal (19,000)
5- ICE ICE BABY- Vanilla Ice (19,000)
6- ALL TOGETHER NOW- The Farm (16,000)
7- YOU’VE LOST THAT LOVING FEELING/ EBB TIDE- Righteous Brothers (15,000)
8- PRAY- MC Hammer (14,000)
9- MARY HAD A LITTLE BOY- Snap! (14,000)
10- GONNA MAKE YOU SWEAT (EVERYBODY DANCE NOW)- C & C Music Factory (13,000)

Posted by: Jester 21st May 2021, 04:44 PM

Are they not showing the review of 1991 first or have I missed it?

Posted by: Gezza 21st May 2021, 05:15 PM

Not being shown until the autumn apparently. Presumably held up by Covid?

Posted by: Jester 21st May 2021, 05:29 PM

Fair enough, at least we get the shows in the meantime!

Posted by: dandy* 21st May 2021, 07:24 PM

Wow sales are low. Dread to think what it will be next week :/

Posted by: Doctor Blind 21st May 2021, 07:36 PM

1991 *.*

Going to really enjoy this year- by the way, missed this in 1990 but sad that while Vanilla Ice was at number 1 LL Cool J was peaking at #41 with the iconic (don't call it a comeback!) “Mama Said Knock You Out”.

Posted by: steve201 21st May 2021, 08:34 PM

He already had a top 40 hit back in 1987/88 if I remember rightly?!

Posted by: dandy* 21st May 2021, 10:41 PM

Next week sees one of my favourite chart toppers of the entire decade

Posted by: Bjork 22nd May 2021, 07:30 AM

I remember that week in 91 with the super low sales and Iron Maiden releasing and getting the #1
good newies from Seal and C&C Music Factory

Posted by: Colm 24th May 2021, 09:03 PM

A bigger surprise than Iron Maiden hitting number 1 is staying there. 😮

Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn 25th May 2021, 01:54 PM

'Crazy' is an absolute tune.

Posted by: dandy* 25th May 2021, 04:30 PM

I agree! I'm slightly surprised that it wasn't as big a hit as I assumed it was, I think it peaks next week if I remember correctly and it was clearly not really selling that well if it didn't make #1 in this sales climate.

Posted by: King Rollo 27th May 2021, 08:21 PM

I was expecting Enigma to be no.1 that week. I had forgotten that Iron Maiden held on for a second week.

Posted by: Gezza 28th May 2021, 04:38 PM

19TH JANUARY



Sales are much better this week though hardly stellar, but that means we have a new No 1 and Germany’s Enigma can celebrate as “Sadness Part One” makes its expected rise 2-1 but it sold a measly 40,000 to take the crown, that’s even less than the 45,000 posted by “Hangin Tough” this time last year! Seal is the new challenger, “Crazy” threatens 4-2 (34,000) and could take any advantage of an Enigma slip next week, but watch out also for C & C Music Factory, they power 10-3 (27,000) and stand an outside chance of taking pole position.







Rapidly gaining a devoted fanbase The KLF struck gold last year with “What Time Is Love” which peaked at No 5, it was a reworking of an earlier 12” single, and in much the same way they’ve reworked a further old 12” only track “3AM Eternal”, another song which failed to impact the charts when issued this time in May 1989. It’s been substantively retweaked for a mainstream release and finds itself debuting instantly at No 5 (22,000) to become a second top 5 hit on the trot, this version contains a rap by Ricardo Da Force and vocals by Maxine Harvey, and judging by the reworkings we should see a pop version of “Kylie Said To Jason” as their next single- that should be something of an event.






Indie band Jesus Jones are another act that grown steadily with their first 3 singles just missing the top 40 before “Real Real Real” made No 19 last May. They’ve taken advantage of the new year sales slump to release new single “International Bright Young Thing” which has easily and quickly become their biggest hit as it rises 15-7 (19,000) following a TOTP slot. You can pick up their second album “Doubt” next month which will feature their last three singles.





Following on from the terrestrial TV first showing of “Dirty Dancing” on New Year’s Day we’ve got the re-issue of “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life” from Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes, it was only a hit three years ago when it peaked at No 6 but is back again moving 13-10 (17,000) For Medley it marks his third top 10 appearance in just two months after the two recent Righteous Brothers singles.



John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John drop back 3-4 (27,000) whilst Vanilla Ice continues to fade 5-6 (19,000), The Farm collapse 6-8 (18,000) but the big news of the week comes from the outgoing chart topper by Iron Maiden who experience the biggest drop from the No 1 position in 7 years. That was delivered by The Flying Pickets who fell 1-10 in January 1984, now “Bring Your Daughter….To The Slaughter” plummets 1-9 (18,000) and has only sold 88,000 copies in total so far, unless its fall isn’t arrested soon it may fail to trouble even the 100,000 mark, a feat not seen yet by a chart topper since 1980.

1- SADNESS PART ONE- Enigma (40,000)
2- CRAZY- Seal (34,000)
3- GONNA MAKE YOU SWEAT (EVERYBODY DANCE NOW)- C & C Music Factory (27,000)
4- THE GREASE MEGAMIX- John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (27,000)
5- 3 AM ETERNAL- The KLF (22,000)
6- ICE ICE BABY- Vanilla Ice (19,000)
7- INTERNATIONAL BRIGHT YOUNG THING- Jesus Jones (19,000)
8- ALL TOGETHER NOW- The Farm (18,000)
9- BRING YOUR DAUGHTER TO THE SLAUGHTER- Iron Maiden (18,000)
10- (I’VE HAD) THE TIME OF MY LIFE- Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes (17,000)

Posted by: Gezza 28th May 2021, 04:59 PM

26TH JANUARY



“Innuendo” is Queen’s 19th top 10 hit, only two of those track ever made it to the top “Under Pressure” and “Bohemian Rhapsody” and neither of them debuted there, but now “Innuendo” becomes their fastest seller and their first to ever debut at No 1. It is the first release from the album of the same name due next month and comes with a rather epic promo to support its 6 minute + soundtrack, all of which makes it a rather triumphant return to the charts for the group who have been absent for 2 years. The fact that the song enters at the top on a sale of 55,000 owes a large debt of thanks to events in the Middle East which of course escalated to a full war on Thursday causing BBC to dedicate several hours to the coverage and meant that TOTP got delayed until Saturday night thusly denying airtime to both KLF and Enigma who would otherwise have had exposure and a sales boost, in the event “3AM Eternal” rises 5-2 (54,000) whilst Enigma drop 1-3 (52,000) in spite of that 30% sales increase, so it really was a close fought race, Enigma can console themselves on the album charts with MCMXC.AD” toppling Madonna after 9 weeks at the top of the charts.





Currently tearing up the clubs, 2 In A Room have one of the hottest tracks around at present in “Wiggle It” which arrives instantly at No 6 (28,000) to warm up the cold winter. The duo had only previously got a No 66 hit to their name with “Somebody In The House Say Yeah!” but the clubs are now an equally valid entry point into the charts these days, and to some extent more influential than radio airplay for dance records.





And speaking of dance records, here’s German Production duo Off-Shore and their track “I Can’t Take The Power” which flies 11-7 (24,000) to deliver them a top 10 smash. The song samples Class Action’s “The Weekend” and Jocelyn Brown’s “Love’s Gonna Get You”, the latter sample was of course also sampled on Snap!’s chart topper “The Power” so has already has chart credentials.



For the second time in his career Robert Palmer has back to back top 10 hits, he follows his No 6 hit “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight” with the medley of Marvin Gaye tracks “Mercy Mercy Me- I Want You” neither of which were ever UK hits though they are familiar to many. The single floats 13-9 (20,000) as the parent album “Don’t Explain” rebounds 21-16 with sales of over 100,000 to date.



Outside of the new songs Jennifer Warnes & Bill Medley are the only climbers 10-8 (23,000) as everything else falls away, that includes songs that many thought were future chart toppers such as Seal 2-4 (39,000) and C & C Music Factory 3-5 (33,000) who both see sales increases as they fall. John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John complete the ten as they fall 4-10 (19,000). Next week should see top 10 debuts for the new Vanilla Ice and Kylie Minogue singles- Can they challenge Queen?


1- INNUENDO- Queen (55,000)
2- 3 AM ETERNAL- The KLF (54,100)
3- SADNESS PART ONE- Enigma (52,000)
4- CRAZY- Seal (39,000)
5- GONNA MAKE YOU SWEAT (EVERYBODY DANCE NOW)- C & C Music Factory (33,000)
6- WIGGLE IT- 2 In A Room (28,000)
7- I CAN’T TAKE THE POWER- Offshore (24,000)
8- (I’VE HAD) THE TIME OF MY LIFE- Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes (23,000)
9- MERCY MERCY ME- I WANT YOU- Robert Palmer (20,000)
10- THE GREASE MEGAMIX- John Travolta & Olivia Newton John (19,000)

Posted by: Jester 28th May 2021, 08:57 PM

900 sales difference between Queen and the KLF? Woah!

Posted by: Colm 28th May 2021, 10:13 PM

Sadness/Innunedo/SPOILER

is one of my favorites triplets of number 1 singles.

That top 4 is quality. 1991 is an underrated year for singles. Probably because the biggest sellers were mostly awful.

Posted by: Doctor Blind 28th May 2021, 10:16 PM

At 36 on the chart this week (20 Jan 1991) is a new entry by Mark Summers - “Summers Magic” - which remixes the theme tune from The Magic Roundabout. One of the first to sample a children's TV show on a breakbeat/dance track in a mini trend that would start to become big with the Prodigy later in 91 and culminate the following year.
Sadly it doesn't climb much higher.

Posted by: dandy* 28th May 2021, 10:51 PM

Wow at Enigma gaining sales for the second week in a row after the post Xmas slump. It doesn’t feel like such a fluke #1 in retrospect as it’s had a good sales run.

Posted by: Colm 28th May 2021, 11:01 PM

I didn't know Sadness increased sales while dropping a place. I wonder how common that is.

It and Crazy ended up in the top 40 best sellers of the year (outselling Innuendo) so they weren't default top 2 singles. They earned it.

Posted by: Bjork 29th May 2021, 06:12 AM

not the biggest fan of Queen or Innuendo
actually my fav out of all these newies was the Jesus Jones one, for some reason I was a big fan and I even bought the album. crazy how they were much bigger in the US, If I remember well Right Here right now was a #2 in the US while being a very small UK hit

Posted by: dandy* 29th May 2021, 07:38 AM

Interesting that Queen probably wouldn’t have made #1 in a usual week, I wasn’t the biggest fan of Queen so I would definitely have been rooting for an extra week for Enigma or for KLF to make it.

Posted by: Popchartfreak 29th May 2021, 09:25 AM

I was also in the KLF/Enigma camp, and thought innuendo underwhelming in it's Bo-Rap ambitions - but in retrospect I actually love it these days, very much a grower. Given what we now know was going on, Freddie's last songs are full of pathos and sadness.

Posted by: Popchartfreak 29th May 2021, 09:27 AM

Also into Jesus Jones, too, but the BJSC entrants have spoken and they said "No" to their best record (Info Freako), bah, humbug!

Posted by: Colm 29th May 2021, 12:14 PM

Innunedo is my favourite Queen song. It's basically Muse's whole career squeezed into 6 minutes.

Posted by: steve201 29th May 2021, 05:48 PM

Ha so true Colm!

Posted by: sn👠ke 29th May 2021, 10:14 PM

That Off-Shore dance track is great only just discovered it. Seal - Crazy brilliant - it was great seeing it a few days ago on the TOTP reruns. The new genre of trip hop and its production certainly was popular at this time with this and Enigma in the charts. Innuendo by Queen a great #1 too.

Marvyn Gaye cover by Robert Palmer - more nostalgia and there was loads of it in 1990 and the first two months of 1991 with The Righteous Brothers, Patsy Cline, The Carpenters, Steve Miller Band The Joker all charting.

The Jesus Jones track is great, quite Madchester I think in style even though they aren't from Manchester!

Its great hearing Enigma Sadness Part 1 again too havent heard it in ages, reminds me a bit of Visage - Fade To Grey because it has a the French language spoken word vocal and because of the whole chillout vibe of the track.

Posted by: Gezza 3rd June 2021, 06:55 PM

2ND FEBRUARY



For the second time in their career’s The KLF are No 1, the first time they were billed as The Timelords on 1988’s “Doctorin’’ The Tardis” but now they have their official title (to be technical the song is also credited to “The Children Of The Revolution”) as “3AM Eternal” lifts 2-1 (53,000) although its sales are off 2% in actual fact. They were in the lead from the off but Queen did narrow the gap post TOTP on Friday and Saturday but in the end decline 1-2 (51,000) they must now be concentrating on their album due in a fortnight. In debuting at No 1, and failing to hold the top spot for a second week, “Innuendo” becomes the second single after Jive Bunny’s “Let’s Party” to fail to extend its run after the debut initial success.





With backing vocals by Michael Jackson (and some say he might have written it) The Simpsons are a cartoon family from the US who quickly become part of the national consciousness after starting life as an mini series on the “Tracy Ullman Show” in 1987 before securing their own series in 1989 and are now available in the UK on Sky TV only. They’re also now a chart act with “Do The Bartman” powering 11-3 (44,000) and a full album of the family’s thoughts will be available next month.





He’s back with a new image, long hair, and a new sound, yes Rick Astley has shrugged off S/A/W and returns with “Cry For Help” which is co-written and Co-produced by the man himself and precedes his third album “Free” which is doubtless how he must now feel. A more soulful and gospel approach reaps rewards with the song moving 14-7 (26,000) to keep his string of his top 10 singles intact with the count standing at 8, the song is also co-written by Rob Fisher one half of Climie Fisher.





Featuring a sample of The Smiths “How Soon Is Now?” Soho are sisters Jacquie and Pauline Cuff along with Tim London and their single “Hippy Chick” only made No 67 when first released last May. Come the new year and the song has been given a second chance and responds 16-8 (24,000), it’s already been a top 20 US hit at the end of last year.





EMF have been busy recording their debut album but second single “I Believe” arrives straight into the charts at No 9 (21,000) this week. Last Single “Unbelievable” hit No 3 on the way to sales of 280,000 and that from a lowly debut of No 55, this is therefore a bright start for the single as it beats new entries from Kylie Minogue and Vanilla Ice.



2 In A Room advance 6-4 (38,000) while Seal and Enigma are finding it hard to separate as they fall 4-5 (34,000) and 3-6 (31,000) respectively as C & C Music Factory dive 5-10 (20,000).

1- 3AM ETERNAL- The KLF (53,000)
2- INNUENDO- Queen (51,000)
3- DO THE BARTMAN- The Simpsons (44,000)
4- WIGGLE IT- 2 In A Room (38,000)
5- CRAZY- Seal (34,000)
6- SADNESS PART ONE- Enigma (31,000)
7- CRY FOR HELP- Rick Astley (26,000)
8- HIPPYCHICK- Soho (24,000)
9- I BELIEVE- EMF (21,000)
10- GONNA MAKE YOU SWEAT (EVERYBODY DANCE NOW)- C & C Music Factory (20,000)

Posted by: Bjork 3rd June 2021, 07:36 PM

oh love Hippychick, such a clever use of the sample, forgot it had been a US hit too
Cry for Help was nice enough, and I Believe was decent although quite a step down from Unbelievable
but ouch at the Simpsons song debuting so high :/

Posted by: Jester 3rd June 2021, 08:06 PM

The Simpsons song was a debut at 11 the week before.

Posted by: sn👠ke 3rd June 2021, 08:28 PM

It is certainly closer to the sort of indie music I like, like early 80s style new wave, than most early 90s indie. Although it is perhaps a bit too obvious in being influenced by 60s psychedelic music with its title and the flowers in their TOTP performance!

I like EMF - I Believe, sort of continuing the stadium rock mixed with dance sound that Frankie Goes To Hollywood started in the mid 80s.

Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn 3rd June 2021, 10:52 PM

I totally forgot about 'Hippychick'! What a slice of sheer brilliance.

'Wiggle It' is also a bit of a guilty pleasure.

Posted by: Bjork 4th June 2021, 05:43 AM

found this on Hippychick and the story behind its US success (peaked at #14 in the US):

Hippychick moved into the lower reaches of the charts, although it hit #1 in most of the general dance charts at the time. A woman at Savage/Tam Tam, our record company at the time, sent a hundred copies to various radio stations in the USA, including one to a big station in Houston, Texas, where a DJ played it once and had such a good response from listeners, he played it again, eventually being inundated with requests and, over a couple of weeks Hippychick became a big hit in, first Houston, then Texas, until it had spread around the States. At that time, The Smiths were a fairly unknown group in America, beloved mainly by Anglophiles. Hippychick, with its bizarrely UK-centric lyrics was an unlikely hit, but it eventually sold the best part of a million, at the time outselling Deee-Lite's 'Groove Is in the Heart' which was #1 (due to the charts depending on radio-play, not sales, in those days in the USA) and often being lumped in with the groovy New Yorker's single as another kooky, almost new agey-hippy thing, when it's message was something far tougher.

Posted by: Gezza 4th June 2021, 03:57 PM

9TH FEBRUARY



The KLF increase sales to 56,000, and they had to in order to retain the top spot from the fast climbing Simpsons who were chomping at their heels, “Do The Bartman” ending up just 4,000 copies behind “3AM Eternal” once the dust had settled. The two tracks are now way ahead of the rest of the field so much so that 2 In A Room continue to climb 4-3 (37,000) but are further away from the top than they were last week.





Climbing 14-4 (35,000) this week are duo Nomad which is Damon backwards reflected one of the members Damon Rochefort along with Steve McCutcheon, they’ve enlisted Sharon D Clarke into the mix whom you might recall as the vocalist on FPI Project’s “Going Back To My Roots” last year, and Mc Mikee Freedom for “(I Wanna Give You) Devotion”. It’s already a sizeable dance hit and continues to provide evidence that 1991 is turning into the year that Dance becomes the predominate force in the singles chart.





Making an even bigger climb of 19-5 (35,000) are Praise, a trio whose new single “Only You” will already sound very familiar to most as it features in the current ad for Fiat Tempra being aired. Vocalist Miriam Stockley is a pretty busy backing vocalist having already featured on many top 10 singles produced by S/A/W including some chart toppers by Kylie and Jason, could she grab another for her band?





Speaking of Kylie she’s back with her 12th single and a 12th Top 10 hit “What Do I Have To Do” and is another S/A/W written and produced composition, it pounces 11-7 (32,000) which must come as a relieve to the ailing producers who have lost their deft touch of previous times. It was originally intended as the second single from “Rhythm Of Love” until bypassed by “Step Back In Time” but is certainly evidence that S/A/W are trying to adapt their sound to the changing market. The video features her little sister Dannii, who is already a popstar herself down under and will be hitting our shores shortly though you can already see her in “Home And Away” nightly, and model Zane O’Donell who is popularly rumoured to be her new boyfriend!





Pushed in the US as his first single “Play That Funky Music” was eventually flipped to its B-side “Ice Ice Baby” for Vanilla Ice and well the rest is now pop history. His cover of the Wild Cherry 1976 No 9 hit springs 17-10 (19,000) to prove those that thought he was a one hit wonder wrong. Curiously Ice’s version of the song doesn’t credit Robert Parissi as a writer and yet it’s a cover……a mystery.



Last week’s new tracks all seem to struggle slightly, EMF move 9-6 (34,000) but Soho are stuck at No 8 (27,000) whilst Rick Astley surprisingly falls 7-9 (27,000).


1- 3 AM ETERNAL- The KLF (56,000)
2- DO THE BARTMAN- The Simpsons (52,000)
3- WIGGLE IT- 2 In A Room (37,000)
4- (I WANNA GIVE YOU) DEVOTION- Nomad (35,000)
5- ONLY YOU- Praise (35,000)
6- I BELIEVE- E.M.F (34,000)
7- WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO- Kylie Minogue (32,000)
8- HIPPYCHICK- Soho (27,000)
9- CRY FOR HELP- Rick Astley (27,000)
10- PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC- Vanilla Ice (19,000)

Posted by: Doctor Blind 4th June 2021, 04:30 PM

KLF at #1. *.*

Peter Robinson / Popjustice put a great thread together about meeting the band 30 years ago which was really enjoyable to read: https://twitter.com/popjustice/status/1354730437868978176

I must admit I didn't really know about them until “It’s Grim Up North” (5 year old me had very good taste!) which was on NOW!20 that my Uncle had on CD and I was obsessed with when I went over to his.. so much so that he bought me a copy on cassette which I've still got to this day. I've also got the CD single of “It’s Grim Up North” somewhere with the extended 10 minute version on, but more on that in November 91 I guess.

Posted by: sn👠ke 4th June 2021, 08:47 PM

I remember reading on the dance number 1s of the 90s thread on Buzzjack that I Wanna Give You Devotion was kind of the start of the proper warehouse rave sound in the charts. I especially like the synths in the middle part of it and the euphoric backing vocals.

More panpipe sounds in Praise - Only You, continuing the trend after Cliff Richard and Enigma. Good, if rather repetitive lyrically, song anyway. I think I have heard it before.

And The KLF 3am Eternal is a very good #1, the heavy synth riff in it I like especially.

Posted by: Bjork 5th June 2021, 06:02 AM

Too bad Hippychick is stalling

Not crazy about any of the newies, I remember liking Praise back in the day and Nomad wasn't half bad
I thought the Kylie one was disappointing and one of her weakest in the SAW era

Posted by: gooddelta 5th June 2021, 08:37 AM

What Do I Have To Do is one of my top three Kylie songs, I think it’s absolutely brilliant and have always found it to be one of SAW’s finest 90s songs, especially this radio mix, the album version was more flat in comparison.

I never cared much for the Nomad song as far as 90s dance goes. The Praise song is decent, hadn’t actually heard it until a couple of years back when it appeared on Now Forgotten 90s, it doesn’t get much residual airplay although I guess the pan pipes influence was a very early 90s sort of passing trend in the UK. I think Miriam Stockley was the vocalist on quite a few of these new age influenced hits.

Posted by: Jade 8th June 2021, 10:26 PM

FINALLY up to date with this thread after catching up on the TOTP episodes

So a belated for Enigma, The KLF, Queen and Seal!

Posted by: Gezza 10th June 2021, 07:33 PM

16TH FEBRUARY



Even the very cold weather conditions (which see an overall 23% reduction in sales this week) cannot dampen demand for The Simpsons single “Do The Bartman” which romps 2-1 and sells 60,000 in the process, that’s a new high for 1991 which has, admittedly, been poor so far. It’s the first instance of an animated act hitting the top since The Archies back in 1969. The KLF dip 1-2 (45,000) but “3 AM Eternal” has now sold 230,000 copies and is the best seller of the year thus far.





A US single for composer Brenda Russell (better known for her single “Piano In The Dark” over here) the song “Get Here” has been covered by Oleta Adams which has gained added significance given the events in the Middle East at present. Her version is co-produced by Tears For Fears member Roland Orzabal and is building up interest in the re-issue of her debut international album “Circle Of One” which only made No 49 last year, the single powers 15-7 (23,000)





It’s been almost 3 years since Aswad were last in the top 10 when “Don’t Turn Around” made it to the top, but lead vocalist Brinsley Forde performs the rap on Kim Appleby’s second solo single “G.L.A.D” which this week manoeuvres 21- 10 (17,000). The single is once again co-penned by former Bros guitarist Craig Logan but also features the penmanship of her late sister Mel though that doesn’t seem to be salvaging the album which sinks to a new low of No 65 this week.



Nomad rise 4-3 (39,000) this week and carry Praise with them 5-4 (28,000) as both move above the falling 2 In A Room 3-5 (27,000). Kylie seems to be struggling with “What Do I Have To Do” inching 7-6 (26,000) but it loses sales and could be her first single to miss the top 5, meanwhile EMF retire 6-8 (20,000) and Soho lose ground 8-9 (20,000).


1- DO THE BARTMAN- The Simpsons (60,000)
2- 3 AM ETERNAL- The KLF (45,000)
3- (I WANNA GIVE YOU) DEVOTION- Nomad (39,000)
4- ONLY YOU- Praise (28,000)
5- WIGGLE IT- 2 In A Room (27,000)
6- WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO- Kylie Minogue (26,000)
7- GET HERE- Oleta Adams (23,000)
8- I BELIEVE- EMF (20,000)
9- HIPPYCHICK- Soho (20,000)
10- G.L.A.D- Kim Appleby (17,000)

Posted by: sn👠ke 10th June 2021, 08:36 PM

With a lot of upbeat dance and rap tracks in the top 10 for January and the first half of February, I suppose it was about time for an MOR ballad. Get Here is very nice enough until the ending which is a bit oversung in my opinion.

Not a fan of G.L.A.D it is a bit cheesy for my tastes but good to see Kim Appleby back in the top 10 after the sad death of Mel. The first two Mel and Kim songs were very good back in the 80s.

Posted by: Gezza 11th June 2021, 03:59 PM

23RD FEBRUARY



No doubt this week who was going to be the country’s No 1, The Simpsons were out in front from the off and created another 1991 record sale of 83,000, a whole 37,000 clear of Nomad who do progress 3-2 (46,000) but are way too far behind to pose anything approaching a challenge.





Here’s a convoluted story, The Source were originally an amalgamation of writers (Anthony B. Stephens, Arnecia Michelle Harris and John Bellamy) who composed the song “You Got The Love” in 1986 and got Candi Staton to record the track. Three years later London DJ Eren mixed the track with the Jamie Principle dance track “Your Love” and the record was put out commercially by another DJ John Truelove. Truelove then adopted the name The Source and the current version of “You Got The Love” was born, the song moves 12-8 (20,000) to become Staton’s third top 10 single and first in 14 years.





808 State’s new album “Ex:El” and can now boast two top ten singles with “In Yer Face” moving 16-9 (19,000) this week. A strike rate of four top tenners in just 18 months is enviable and a good answer to critics of faceless dance acts that can’t form a career albeit that the song is in part a remix of their first hit “Pacific”.



The KLF drop 2-3 (43,000) just outstripping a climbing Oleta Adams 7-4 (35,000) with three fallers immediately beneath her, Praise (4-5, 28,000), 2 In A Room (5-6, 21,000) and Kylie Minogue (6-7, 21,000). Kim Appleby holds down anchor place at No 10 (19,000) but next week sees a new Madonna single which is an old one……….


1- DO THE BARTMAN- The Simpsons (83,000)
2- (I WANNA GIVE YOU) DEVOTION- Nomad (46,000)
3- 3 AM ETERNAL- The KLF (43,000)
4- GET HERE- Oleta Adams (35,000)
5- ONLY YOU- Praise (28,000)
6- WIGGLE IT- 2 In A Room (21,000)
7- WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO- Kylie Minogue (21,000)
8- YOU GOT THE LOVE- The Source Ft Candi Staton (20,000)
9- IN YER FACE- 808 State (19,000)
10- G.L.A.D- Kim Appleby (19,000)

Posted by: Bjork 11th June 2021, 06:09 PM

never got the appeal of Do the Bartman, one of the worst #1s ever in my opinion

Posted by: fiesta 11th June 2021, 06:12 PM

So used to hearing the Florence & the Machine version of You Got The Love I'd almost forgotten how the original went. It's strange but its always seems to be the songs you least expect that go on to be most enduring decades later.

Posted by: dandy* 11th June 2021, 07:02 PM

You Got The Love Such a great track in any form. My dad loved the 1991 version that charted and he bought it, I remember thinking at the time that he was so cool for liking a club song

I actually don't mind Do The Bartman, yes it's novelty but I think it's done right and actually has a pretty strong tune to it and it's very true to the show also - plus it's very MJ/Quincy Jones which is no bad thing.

Posted by: Bjork 11th June 2021, 07:51 PM

You Got the Love is amazing, not crazy about Florence's version (and I love Florence)

Posted by: Jester 11th June 2021, 08:07 PM

I prefer the 1997 version of You’ve Got The Love, but it’s wonderful in any form really.

Posted by: steve201 11th June 2021, 10:44 PM

Assume it wasn’t released in 1986?

Posted by: Doctor Blind 11th June 2021, 10:52 PM

The 1991 version of 'You Got The Love' is by far my favourite. Least favourite is the soulless mess that Florence + The Machine released in 2009 retitled as 'You've got the love' ... *shudder*

Posted by: Gezza 11th June 2021, 11:29 PM

Yes I think this is the original

Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn 12th June 2021, 01:16 AM

What Do I Have to Do

What a masterpiece.

Posted by: Bré 12th June 2021, 02:48 AM

I like the original and Florence versions of YGTL about the same - although perhaps my favourite version of the song is The xx's remix of the Florence version (which is for all intents and purposes basically an entirely separate cover by The xx).

Posted by: Bjork 12th June 2021, 06:12 AM

the worst version by far is the duet version between Florence and Dizzie Rascal they did at the Brits,
and that even charted at #2

Posted by: fiesta 13th June 2021, 03:54 PM

Having watched totp there was a brilliant song they played that is further down the chart that I had'nt heard for ages. Love rears its ugly head by Living Colour, how this never peaked higher I'll never know.

Posted by: Bjork 13th June 2021, 07:48 PM

to be fair, Living Colour were kinda uncommercial, I liked them but I could see why they were not massive

Posted by: Jade 16th June 2021, 10:06 PM

'You Got The Love' is a fantastic addition to the top 10 this week *.* was never crazy about the Florence rendition either despite enjoying her in general

Posted by: Gezza 17th June 2021, 07:33 PM

2ND MARCH




“Do The Bartman” continues to thrill buyers enough to part with their money though it definitely cools to 62,000, but that’s 319,000 overall which means it rises to No 1 on the YTD list as well. It powers past The KLF who themselves drop 3-7 (25,000) and have sold 298,000 by way of comparison.





Officially it’s a remix though the casual listener may struggle to tell any difference but hey its Madonna so the new version of her 1985 hit “Crazy For You” debuts at No 2 (41,000) instantly matching its previous peak. It’s been re-issued to help promote “The Immaculate Collection” not that the album really needs it as it has already sold 1.5 million and hasn’t left the top 10 since its release in November though it actually falls 7-10 this week, its lowest position to date. Singlewise it also matches the debut of “Like A Prayer” as her most instant hit.





Another re-issue enters at No 5, much higher than its No 17 peak in 1982, The Clash’s “Should I Stay Or Go” has gone better than any of their previous 19 singles entries and given them a top ten hit. No act has had as many chart entries before finally getting into the big ten, and of course it’s all thanks to that new Levi Ad which yet again provides the springboard needed to turn an old track into a modern smash. It arrives at No 5 with a sale of 28,000 and was originally intended as a double A-Side with Big Audio Dynamite II’s “Rush” but that idea seems to have fallen by the wayside in the end.





Another oldie getting a remix and a re-issue is Free’s 1970’s No 2 hit “All Right Now” which got stuck behind Mungo Jerry and Elvis Presley during its 5 week tenure at the runner up spot. It’s now been used on an advert for Wrigley’s chewing gum and bingo it rockets up the chart 11-8 (22,000), a new best of album also debuts at No 16 which could detract sales from the single but overall a strong return for the rockers.





Xpansions are the newest dance act to score a top ten hit as “Move Your Body (Elevation)” flies 28-10 (18,000) much better than its No 49 peak last October. The group’s female vocalist is Sally Ann Marsh who was formerly in girl group Faith Hope & Charity along with Dani Behr who is currently co-fronting “The Word” on Channel 4. It seems that finally a member of the band has got a hit on their hands.



Creating a spot of chart history this week Oleta Adams becomes the first act to place a re-issued album straight at the No 1 spot with “Circle Of One” impacting big time and condemning “Get Here” to a 4-6 (28,000) drop. Nomad slip 2-3 (32,000) while The Source and Candi Staton power 8-4 (31,000) and 808 State linger at No 9 (19,000).


1- DO THE BARTMAN- The Simpsons (62,000)
2- CRAZY FOR YOU (REMIX)- Madonna (41,000)
3- (I WANNA GIVE YOU) DEVOTION- Nomad (32,000)
4- YOU GOT THE LOVE- The Source Ft Candi Staton (31,000)
5- SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO- The Clash (28,000)
6- GET HERE- Oleta Adams (28,000)
7- 3 AM ETERNAL- The KLF (25,000)
8- ALL RIGHT NOW- Free (22,000)
9- IN YA FACE- 808 State (19,000)
10- MOVE YOUR BODY (ELEVATION)- Xpansions (18,000)

Posted by: Bjork 18th June 2021, 06:11 AM

never understood why they went with Crazy for You
but kinda shows how popular Madonna was, that s song that had already been a #2 just a few years back, it re-enters at #2 again

I loved Should I Stay and even went thru a short-lived Clash-fan phase where I listened to a lot of their old stuff

Posted by: Gezza 18th June 2021, 03:09 PM

9TH MARCH



Six years ago Madonna’s “Crazy For You” topped the midweek charts before surrendering on the Sunday to Sister Sledge’s “Frankie”. Fast forward to 1991 and the song gets a re-issue and again tops the midweek charts and again it cedes the top before the chart week ends, this time The Clash’s “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” storms 5-1 (66,000) to give Levi’s a third No 1 after their backing of Ben E King and The Steve Miller Band. Madonna is meanwhile left out in the cold on 64,000 with what looks like her 5th No 2 (depending on your view of this remix) but certainly her third on the trot following “Hanky Panky” and “Justify My Love” meanwhile “The Immaculate Collection” reverses 10-4 so I suppose job done., she does have the "honour" of having the only single (that I know of) to have lost the midweek crown on two occasions during separate chart runs.





A four week chart topper in the US at the end of last year, Stevie B’s “The Postman Song (Because I Love You)” launches 18-6 (26,000). He’s more known in the US for his dance music but it is this song which has broken him on the international stage though some find it a bit too syrupy.





Red nose day falls on the 15th this year and the record this year is co-written by comedy duo Hale & Pace who also perform the song. “The Stonk” dutifully debuts at No 10 (20,000) and is produced by Queen’s Brian May, it features a promo utilising several TV stars and is officially, a double A-Side with “The Smile Song” by Victoria Wood






The Simpsons tumble 1-3 (53,000) which means that even despite a 50% sales increase The Source & Candi Staton remain at No 4 (46,000), well ahead of Nomad who drop 3-5 (27,000). Xpansions improve 10-7 (25,000) while Free hold at No 8 (25,000) and Oleta Adams drops 6-9 (21,000).


1- SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO?- The Clash (66,000)
2- CRAZY FOR YOU (REMIX)- Madonna (64,000)
3- DO THE BARTMAN- The Simpsons (53,000)
4- YOU GOT THE LOVE- The Source Ft Candi Staton (46,000)
5- (I WANNA GIVE YOU) DEVOTION- Nomad (27,000)
6- BECAUSE I LOVE YOU (THE POSTMAN SONG)- Stevie B (26,000)
7- MOVE YOUR BODY- Xpansions (25,000)
8- ALL RIGHT NOW- Free (25,000)
9- GET HERE- Oleta Adams (21,000)
10- THE STONK- Hale & Pace (20,000)

Posted by: dandy* 18th June 2021, 03:17 PM

I have never heard that Victoria Wood single before but I quite liked the video, definitely better than other parodies that I've seen try to do the same sort of thing.

Posted by: Jester 18th June 2021, 04:21 PM

I have never heard Smile either. Loved Victoria Wood!

Posted by: Gezza 18th June 2021, 05:02 PM

Yes it wasn't much played at the time but Wood was on tour at the time when I think Hale & Pace were more "available" for TV shows and promotion.

Posted by: Bjork 18th June 2021, 06:30 PM

poor Crazy for You :/ just missed by 2K

Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn 21st June 2021, 11:43 PM

Poor Madonna I do like 'Should I Stay Or Should I Go' but she really should have got that!

Posted by: Bjork 22nd June 2021, 07:22 AM

Crazy for you has to be then the unluckiest #2 ever
released twice, both times hitting #2, both times #1 in the mids
and here losing by such narrow margin

Posted by: King Rollo 22nd June 2021, 10:03 AM

I loved the performance of Unfinished Sympathy with the string section filling the stage.

Posted by: Jester 22nd June 2021, 02:09 PM

Yes! I have never seen that performance before so was great to see. Classic.

Posted by: Doctor Blind 22nd June 2021, 09:36 PM

Also - I missed it here but great to see The Railway Children appearing with Every Beat Of The Heart.

Posted by: Jade 23rd June 2021, 11:03 PM

The Clash *.* it took me years to find out that ‘Should I Stay Or Should I Go?’ dated back to 1982, that suddenly made so much sense sonically.

I caught up on the last two TOTP episodes and the ‘Unfinished Sympathy’ performance was indeed breathtaking <3 I noticed they were referred to as ‘Massive’ rather than ‘Massive Attack’.

‘The Stonk’ is so bad I know it’s supposed to be a novelty record but yeah

Posted by: King Rollo 23rd June 2021, 11:11 PM

The words "massive attack" were being used on the news a lot as the Gulf War was going on so their name was shortened for a while. I can't remember if it was just a BBC decision or more widespread.

Posted by: Doctor Blind 24th June 2021, 07:09 AM

It was actually more widespread I think, the https://www.discogs.com/Massive-Unfinished-Sympathy/release/27279 just had 'massive' on it.

The other decision was to remove the gunshots from the start of the KLF #1 - 3 AM Eternal. This is what I wrote for the 90s Dance thread:



Yeah, The Stonk has to be one of the worst #1s ever - just no redeeming features whatsoever. It's not even funny, I would far rather listen to the Crazy Frog.

Posted by: Gezza 24th June 2021, 08:20 PM

16TH MARCH



No sooner have The Clash finally ended their long wait for a No 1 single that it looks to be in trouble, “Should I Stay Or Should I Go?” holds the top slot but sales drop 18% to 54,000 and it doesn’t look like it will develop into the one of the year’s big smashes. The writing is on the wall as Hale & The Pace rise 10-2 (47,000) with “The Stonk” and with Comic Relief day this Friday it looks unstoppable in becoming the second chart topper for the comedic cause. The remainder of the top 5 are all fading badly in the sales department and will pose no further threat, The Simpsons hold at No 3 (42,000- 20%) Madonna falls 2-4 (37,000- 42%) and The Source & Candi Staton slide 4-5 (28,000- 38%). For “Do The Bartman” it now passes the 400,000 mark, way out in front of the rest of the field.





With a title inspired by an interview with Paul McCartney where he talked about writing with John Lennon as a joyride, Roxette are back with their second international album and title track “Joyride” which pays homage to “The Magical Mystery Tour” in its opening lines. It’s already a major hit on the continent and is topping the charts in Norway and Sweden as we speak, here it flies 18-8 (22,000) to become their 4th top 10 single in under 2 years giving them the honour of being the second most successful Swedish act on the UK charts, after ABBA naturally.





Dance duo Ronnie Herel and Dave Rawlings go by the name of Quartz and have been knocking around for the last few years with only the No 65 single “We’re Comin At Ya” to show for it. They’ve now got themselves a vocalist in the form of Dina Carroll who herself has been a singer of some years on the club scene without breaking into the big time. Proving that the group is greater than the sum of the parts their version of Carole King’s 1971 No 6 hit “It’s Too Late” could go even better than the original as it powers 40-21-9 in the last few weeks with 20,000 takers in its latest frame.



Stevie B surprisingly halts at No 6 (28,000) similarly stopping Xpansions climbing at No 7 (27,000) but they have bigger trouble this week as two former members of the outfit have issued proceedings over ownership of the song and it appears that Sally Ann Marsh is not the voice you hear on the track, a common error these days! Nomad meanwhile drop 5-10 (20,000).


1- SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO- The Clash (54,000)
2- THE STONK- Hale & Pace (47,000)
3- DO THE BARTMAN- The Simpsons (42,000)
4- CRAZY FOR YOU (REMIX)- Madonna (37,000)
5- YOU GOT THE LOVE- The Source Ft Candi Staton (28,000)
6- BECAUSE I LOVE YOU- Stevie B (28,000)
7- MOVE YOUR BODY- Xpansions (27,000)
8- JOYRIDE- Roxette (22,000)
9- IT’S TOO LATE- Quartz Ft Dina Carroll (20,000)
10- (I WANNA GIVE YOU) DEVOTION- Nomad (20,000)

Posted by: dandy* 24th June 2021, 09:26 PM

Joyride! That was a huge fave of mine at the time, I loved the album too.

Posted by: Bjork 25th June 2021, 06:25 AM

for me Joyride was just ok, not as good as the singles from Look Sharp.

Posted by: Gezza 25th June 2021, 03:48 PM

23RD MARCH



It was heading to No 1 way before Friday’s Comic Relief event but more copies were sold of “The Stonk” on Saturday than any other record in any individual day so far in 1991, it sold 93,000 copies in the end, a new record for the year. With the event now over and promotion for the song much less prominent we’ll see if it can hold for a second week. It deposes The Clash 1-2 (45,000) as they confirm the re-release of “Rock The Casbah” will follow next month.





Rod Stewart’s 20th solo hit is up next as it rockets 20-3 (35,000) and has all the hallmarks of a future chart topper depending on Hale & Pace maintain their…erm…pace. Written for Rene Shuman’s 1986 eponymous debut album. It’s been brushed down by Rod who’s got Trevor Horn in to update the sound and what do you know it becomes Stewart’s biggest hit in 5 years, the melody incidentally is an adaptation of “Loch Lomond” with a bagpipe thrown in for good measure.





Son of former Tremeloes front man Les Hawkes, Chesney Hawkes is the latest teenager to be plucked from obscurity to the pages of “Smash Hits” courtesy of his lead part in the film “Buddy’s Song” with Roger Daltrey. The first single lifted from the soundtrack is “The One And Only” which is penned by 80 popstar Nik Kershaw, the film has met with moderate success but the single can’t be stopped by the look of things as it accelerates 18-5 (30,000) and may yet pose a threat to the top.





That will depend on how the record that debuts at No 7 performs. One of the longest titles to become a top 40 hit the new Pet Shop Boys single “Where The Streets Have No Name (Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You)/ How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously” is on the one side a medley of those two hits that works very well, and on the reverse a third track to be taken from the “Behaviour” album. Last single “Being Boring” only made No 20 breaking a run of top 10 singles dating back to 1986 but they seem back on track with this single selling 28,000 copies in its first 6 days. It’s prompted a response from Bono who stated “What have we done to deserve this” but it’s unclear exactly whether that was tongue in cheek or not. With regards to “seriously” it is apparently about a female popstar in 1989 so get your guessing hats on!





Roxette power 8-4 (35,000) which means no moving again for Stevie B at No 6 (29,000) though he has increased sales in each of the last three weeks!, Quartz Featuring Dina Carroll continue to nudge north 9-8 (21,000) whilst The Source and Candi Staton drop 5-9 (17,000) and Xpansions deflate 7-10 (16,000).

1- THE STONK- Hale & Pace (93,000)
2- SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO- The Clash (45,000)
3- RHYTHM OF MY HEART- Rod Stewart (35,000)
4- JOYRIDE- Roxette (35,000)
5- THE ONE AND ONLY- Chesney Hawkes (30,000)
6- BECAUSE I LOVE YOU- Stevie B (29,000)
7- WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME/ HOW CAN YOU EXPECT...- Pet Shop Boys (28,000)
8- IT’S TOO LATE- Quartz Ft Dina Carroll (21,000)
9- YOU GOT THE LOVE- The Source Ft Candi Staton (17,000)
10- MOVE YOUR BODY- Xpansions (16,000)

Posted by: fiesta 26th June 2021, 01:04 PM

Joyride great song!

Posted by: steve201 26th June 2021, 02:37 PM

93,000 is a huge sale for 1991!

Posted by: Bjork 26th June 2021, 03:34 PM

wiki claims the inspiration behind the PSB track was Wendy James from Transmission Vamp

Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn 28th June 2021, 07:18 PM

I adore that PSB track Possibly one of the campest things ever put to record.

Posted by: Doctor Blind 28th June 2021, 07:48 PM

Aw, with “Unfinished Sympathy” and “Love Rears Its Ugly Head” both retreating from their peak positions of 13 and 12 respectively this is a very unhappy update indeed. That and “The Stonk” going to #1 and Rod Stewart charging into the Top 3. It's times like these when you realise that the chart has always had horrific injustices and that the glorious moments where this standard is punctured by a truly great record at #1 are vanishingly small. Hey ho.

Posted by: Gezza 1st July 2021, 09:00 PM

30TH MARCH



Hale & Pace started off very brightly but as the week progressed “The Stonk” lost impetus and even TOTP couldn’t give a sufficient bolster so it sinks 1-2 (47,000) but it doesn’t make room for Rod Stewart who holds at No 3 (38,000) with only a minimal sales increase. Same too for The Pet Shop Boys who can only climb 7-4 (35,000) and so instead it falls to Chesney Hawkes whose climb 5-1 (51,000) heralds the birth of a new pop sensation. In making No 1 it marks the first father/son combo to have separate chart toppers on the UK charts (honourable mention to Zak Starkey’s session musicianship on The Crowd), he’s also the first teenager to top the charts since Sonia in 1989 and the first male teenager since Glenn Medeiros a year earlier, however he’s the youngest British male soloist ever. The album and film that feature the song have not been the success they were expected to be and so a new video for the single will be released this week in an attempt to distance the song from the concept- an interesting move.





The last time Simple Minds had a new album out they previewed it with the chart topper “Belfast Child”, this time around lead single “Let There Be Love” has had a more stilted beginning debuting at No 13 last week and now moving to No 6 (27,000). In all fairness the single was only released on CD and 12” last week and now gets another CD, cassingle and 7” release, enough to give it the lift it needed. Album “Real Life” is out in a few weeks.





Written by lead singer Tim Booth as a tribute to Doris Lessing and Patti Smith, James released the single “Sit Down” back in 1989 when it could only make No 77, but the group scored three top 40 singles in 1990 causing the record label to give “Sit Down” another shot at the big time in a remixed shortened version to the original. It has paid off spectacularly as it debuts at No 7 (26,000), though it should be noted that the original was released on Rough Trade before they released the band to sign with Mercury so it has a major label to push it now.





Back with an incredible 19th studio album, the Bee Gees have been missing from the top 10 for over three years with their last appearance at No 1 with “You Win Again”. They now score their 16th top 10 single of a 24 yr long career in “Secret Love” a first single from new album “High Civilisation”. Of course they’ve been in the top 10 in the interim as writers most recently with Jimmy Somerville’s cover of “To Love Somebody” at the end of last year but it’s nice to have them back in person with the new single moving 12-10 (18,000).



Elsewhere Roxette fall back 4-5 (30,000) and The Clash tumble 2-9 (21,000), Quartz do however hold at No 8 (21,000). This week’s top 10 is the first to not feature any US acts since way back in March 1988 by way of trivia.


1- THE ONE AND ONLY- Chesney Hawkes (51,000)
2- THE STONK- Hale & Pace (47,000)
3- RHYTHM OF MY HEART- Rod Stewart (38,000)
4- WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME/ HOW CAN YOU...- Pet Shop Boys. (35,000)
5- JOYRIDE- Roxette (30,000)
6- LET THERE BE LOVE- Simple Minds (27,000)
7- SIT DOWN- James (26,000)
8- IT’S TOO LATE- Quartz Ft Dina Carroll (21,000)
9- SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO- The Clash (21,000)
10- SECRET LOVE- Bee Gees (18,000)

Posted by: Bjork 2nd July 2021, 06:42 AM

yay at Chesney Hawkes going to #1 even if sales are not spectacular
out of the newies, I really liked Sit Down, an indie classic, good the song got a 2nd chance
the Simple Minds and Bee Gees tracks were a bit boring, too AOR

Posted by: dandy* 2nd July 2021, 09:01 AM

Stevie B gone already! Good! I always remember that being a huge hit so I'm delighted to see it vanish so soon.

That Chesney song is one of the better pop songs from this era so it was a deserved #1

Posted by: Jester 2nd July 2021, 09:07 AM

I really like that Simple Minds song - clearly I’m in a minority?

Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn 2nd July 2021, 10:12 AM

A fair bit of garbage in that top 10. This is fab though:

8- IT’S TOO LATE- Quartz Ft Dina Carroll (21,000)

Also, I really thought 'Sit Down' was a lot earlier than this.

Posted by: Gezza 2nd July 2021, 07:21 PM

06TH APRIL



Easter arrives and it produces no change at the top with Chesney Hawkes “The One And Only” making it 2 weeks at the summit, it has a new challenger though and that is James’ “Sit Down” which motors 7-2 (48,000), Chesney hasn’t really lifted off but that’s in part to a day’s lost sales from Good Friday (expect a repeat of that next week) but his new "Buddy's Song" free promo is now winning new fans.





There’s only one new song in the top 10 and that’s from Snap! proving that anything the likes of Technotronic or Black Box can do so can they. That means producing a “Megamix” and making a hit of songs that only been hits over the course of the previous year! It rises 13-10 (19,000) to give the outfit the perfect start of 5 top 10 tenners from 5 releases. They are in the studio over the summer drumming up something new up for us.



Rod Stewart holds at No 3 (31,000) and Roxette rebound 5-4 (29,000) though you’ll note they continue to lose sales in the process and indeed Stewart’s album debuts at No 2 to assist with that. Better news for the Gibb Brothers as they rise 10-5 (27,000) ahead of the falling Pet Shop Boys 4-6 (26,000) matching the peak of both U2 and Boystown Gang (their version at least) who were responsible for the originals of their amalgamation, and Simple Minds dip 6-7 (24,000) whilst Hale & Pace drop dramatically 2-9 (20,000). Quartz Featuring Dina Carroll spend a third week at No 8 (24,000) but have their best week sales wise.

So with the first quarter of the year done time to see who’s been shifting those copies January-March:

1- DO THE BARTMAN- The Simpsons 453,000
2- 3AM ETERNAL- The KLF Featuring The Children Of The Revolution 331,000
3- (I WANNA GIVE YOU) DEVOTION- Nomad Featuring MC Mikee
Freedom 239,000
4- SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO- The Clash 230,000
5- THE STONK- Hale & Pace 227,000
6- YOU GOT THE LOVE- The Source Featuring Candi Staton 203,000
7- SADNESS PART ONE- Enigma 187,000
8- CRAZY- Seal 187,000
9- WIGGLE IT- 2 In A Room 180,000
10- CRAZY FOR YOU (REMIX)- Madonna 172,000

You’ll see there is no room for chart toppers from Iron Maiden, Queen, or Chesney Hawkes though the latter is already on 160,000 and should make it next week.

1- THE ONE AND ONLY- Chesney Hawkes (53,000)
2- SIT DOWN- James (48,000)
3- RHYTHM OF MY HEART- Rod Stewart (31,000)
4- JOYRIDE- Roxette (29,000)
5- SECRET LOVE- Bee Gees (27,000)
6- WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME/ HOW CAN YOU EXPECT...- Pet Shop Boys (26,000)
7- LET THERE BE LOVE- Simple Minds (24,000)
8- IT’S TOO LATE- Quartz Ft Dina Carroll (24,000)
9- THE STONK- Hale & Pace (20,000)
10- SNAP! MEGAMIX- Snap! (19,000)

Posted by: Doctor Blind 2nd July 2021, 10:23 PM

and the classic lingering at the bottom of this week's chart is Alison Limerick's “Where Love Lives” (#39).. we'd have to wait another FIVE years for it to rightfully become a Top 10 hit (it only climbs to #27 in 1991).

It kicks off the retro chart too: https://www.mixcloud.com/Graftoi/radio-1-uk-top-40-31-march-1991-with-mark-goodier-song-selection-and-clips/

Posted by: Bjork 3rd July 2021, 06:04 AM

oh James sold pretty well and they were rather close to #1

Posted by: Popchartfreak 3rd July 2021, 08:52 AM

great summaries and tidbits of stuff going on at the time

PS as my 1991 chart rundown didn't feature The Stonk, a quick comment. I couldn't bring myself to buy this heat of crap not even for charity (which I usually did buy), quite possibly the worst number one ever, possible exception of Br Blobby and some more recent monstrosities....

Posted by: Jester 3rd July 2021, 10:35 AM

The Stonk is truly awful even for a charity record!

Posted by: Bjork 3rd July 2021, 10:46 AM

looking just outside of that top 10
Banderas - This is Your Life is a great song

Posted by: Gezza 8th July 2021, 07:21 PM

13TH APRIL



Six new songs in the top 10 this week means we’ve got much to discuss but not right at the top, that remains a stalemate with Chesney Hawkes holding off James again. The two tracks are both in decline but only gently, Hawkes down to 48,000 off 9% and James to 44,000 down 8%, technically James therefore reduced the gap but not by enough or quickly enough to prevent new challenges arising.






None more so than from The Waterboys whose re-issued “The Whole Of The Moon” moves menacingly 11-3 (31,000) this week, it was originally a No 26 hit in 1985 but has become a fan favourite and something of a signature song over the intervening years. It previews a new greatest hits compilation due in a few weeks.





Debuting straight into the charts at No 4 is the new Madonna single “Rescue Me” which is lifted from the “Immaculate Collection” album, it’s already created chart history in the US by debuting at No 15, the highest ever debut by a female soloist over there but only ultimately reached No 9. Here it becomes her 25th top 10 single (or 26th depending on how you see the remix of “Crazy For You” which only leaves the top 40 this week) and her 14th to debut inside the top 10- a record by any act. It also reunites her with Shep Pettibone as writer and producer and only the astonishing sales of the parent album could work against this becoming her 8th chart topper. Regardless, with this week’s sale Madonna moves past the 1.1 million total sales of singles in the 90s and simultaneously she sails past both New Kids On The Block and former leaders Righteous Brothers into the decade’s biggest selling singles act.





Growing in critical appreciation and fanbase since their first album back in 1988, The Wonder Stuff are ready with their third album “Never Loved Elvis” and first single to be cut from it “The Size Of A Cow”. Nominated although not winners of a BRIT award they’ve certainly entered the big time now as the single debuts at No 6 (23,000) to easily become the Stourbridge based band’s biggest hit.





N-Joi’s “Anthem” was first issued last year making only No 45 but is making greater waves this time around as it climbs 19-8 (22,000). The track is actually an amalgamation of vocal lines lifted from Gwen Guthrie’s “Peanut Butter” and Darlene Davis “I Found Love” with a splash of Soul II Soul, and put to a rave backing, it’s another example of dance tracks doing greater business in 1991 than ever before. Incidentally you may note that the woman who fronts the outfit is called Saffron who also appears in the Chesney Hawkes video for the current No 1.






For those who thought that “Do The Bartman” was a one off well they were wrong, moving 22-9 (20,000) this week is “Deep Deep Trouble” the second single by the cartoon act The Simpsons. It’s co-written by DJ Jazzy Jeff (one half of rap outfit with The Fresh Prince) and the album has responded well and moves back into the top ten 12-9 in unison.





A No 4 hit in her native Australia last year Kylie’s little sister finally makes it over here with a remixed version of “Love & Kisses”, the remix coming courtesy of Dancin Danny D (of D Mob). Dannii was actually famous in Australia before Kylie thanks to her performances in “Young Talent Time” which led to her pop career and a role in “Home And Away” which enabled her to reach the UK audience. The single climbs 15-10 (18,000) and enables the Minogue sisters to be the first to have separate solo top ten singles in chart history.




So with that big clearout what has stuck around? Rod Stewart falls 3-5 (25,000), Roxette dip 4-7 (22,000) but do arrive at No 2 on the album charts behind Eurythmics.


1- THE ONE AND ONLY- Chesney Hawkes (48,000)
2- SIT DOWN- James (44,000)
3- THE WHOLE OF THE MOON- The Waterboys (31,000)
4- RESCUE ME- Madonna (26,000)
5- RHYTHM OF MY HEART- Rod Stewart (25,000)
6- THE SIZE OF A COW- Wonder Stuff (23,000)
7- JOYRIDE- Roxette (22,000)
8- ANTHEM- N-Joi (22,000)
9- DEEP DEEP TROUBLE- The Simpsons (20,000)
10- LOVE & KISSES- Dannii Minogue (18,000)

Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn 9th July 2021, 09:52 AM

Anthem

I adore Dannii but 'Love + Kisses' is a total cringefest.

Posted by: dandy* 9th July 2021, 12:51 PM

Rescue Me One of Madonna's most underrated singles, absolutely love it.

Waterboys, N-Joi and Wonderstuff also all great new additions to that top 10.

Posted by: Gezza 9th July 2021, 05:11 PM

20TH APRIL




After last week’s glut of new entries there’s nothing new in the top 10 this week at all!

Again it was a two horse race for the top spot with Chesney Hawkes once again managing to hold off James though the gap is now down to just 3,000 copies but both are, once again, in retreat salewise. “The One And Only” sold 44,000 copies (-8%) with “Sit Down” posting 41,000 (-5%) but in all fairness nothing looks like it will seriously challenge them, Madonna climbs 4-3 (33,000) and The Wonder Stuff 6-5 (25,000) both move in the right direction but they aren’t gaining substantively enough to be evident future chart toppers.



The Waterboys fall 3-4 (33,000) despite registering a sales increase and may I suppose stand an outside chance at best, but further down both The Simpsons 9-7 (20,000) and Dannii Minogue 10-8 (20,000) are on the way up but way too far away to threaten.

Heading south this week are Rod Stewart 5-6 (22,000), N-Joi 8-9 (18,000) and Roxette 7-10 (17,000)


1- THE ONE AND ONLY- Chesney Hawkes (44,000)
2- SIT DOWN- James (41,000)
3- RESCUE ME- Madonna (33,000)
4- THE WHOLE OF THE MOON- Waterboys (33,000)
5- THE SIZE OF A COW- Wonder Stuff (25,000)
6- RHYTHM OF MY HEART- Rod Stewart (22,000)
7- DEEP DEEP TROUBLE- The Simpsons (20,000)
8- LOVE AND KISSES- Dannii Minogue (20,000)
9- ANTHEM- N-Joi (18,000)
10- JOYRIDE- Roxette (17,000)

Posted by: Bjork 10th July 2021, 08:18 AM

The Whole of the Moon is my favourite from all those newies

Posted by: Jester 10th July 2021, 10:58 AM

I always loved Size Of A Cow - great tune!

Posted by: Doctor Blind 10th July 2021, 08:38 PM

The Shamen peaking at 29 this week with “Hyperreal” - that was actually only their first T40 hit surprsingly.

RIP to Will Sinnott (bassist/keyboardist) who died on 23 May 1991 whilst in the Canary Islands recording the music video for the follow-up single*. : (



*The lyrics of which were used in the marriage vows for Super Hans in Peep Show.

Posted by: Colm 10th July 2021, 08:42 PM

I love Hyperreal. I have it on 12". The William Orbit edit is my fave.

Posted by: King Rollo 12th July 2021, 09:02 PM

When you mentioned Saffron, I thought of the lead singer of Republica who had some hit singles later in the 90s and I see now that it's the same person.

The Whole Of The Moon and Sit Down are both great singalong anthems. And talking of singalong anthems, it was also good to see Mike & the Mechanics performing Word Of Mouth. I'd forgotten it got as high as number 13.

Posted by: sn👠ke 15th July 2021, 08:32 PM

Sounds more like mid 90s Britpop than 1991 I think! As does James- Sit Down.

Posted by: dandy* 15th July 2021, 09:49 PM

I always assumed Chesney was more popular than it was, I’m surprised to see it not selling more than 50K ish in a week, probably quite lucky that it had so long at the top

Posted by: Gezza 16th July 2021, 04:08 PM

27TH APRIL



Chesney does it again- but only just, “The One And Only” is flagging badly selling just 42,000 copies in its latest frame to top the charts for a fifth week. In total the track has now done 294,000 copies, a poor showing for a No 1 for that length of time, in fact we are now 16 weeks into the year and no track has topped the 100,000 copy mark on a weekly basis, that’s unprecedented since at least 1979 and shows no threat of ending soon. Regardless it is the 3rd biggest single of the year so far trailing both The KLF and The Simpsons in the rankings, and at least the song now shares the honour of being the longest running No 1 of the 90s with Elton John’s “Sacrifice/ Healing Hands”.





Hope is in sight though from a song which jets 23-2 this week, and it’s the biggest solo hit ever for Cher! “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss)” is taken from her new film “Mermaids” and is as song that dates back to 1963 when it was recorded by Merry Clayton after it was turned down by the Shirelles. That version bombed but was picked up by Betty Everett a year later and made into a US No 6 hit but only made No 34 here when re-issued in 1968, the only version to be a substantial hit in the UK was by Linda Lewis in 1975 which peaked at No 6 in a disco version. The single is only Cher’s 6th solo top 10 single though it’s a 9th if you include the hits with Sonny whom she of course topped the charts with on “I Got You Babe” in 1965, her current single shifted 40,000 last week and surely must be the next chart topper?!





It’s been 7 years since Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark were in the top 10 but they make an unlikely return to the fray this week with “Sailing On The Seven Seas” which is an homage to both the The Who and Velvet Underground. Eighth studio album “Sugar Tax” is out next month and looks like making it a successful comeback for the outfit with the single bolstering 19-8 (18,000) to become their 6th top 10 hit.





Unless you’re very familiar with the Italian Charts then chances are you haven’t heard of Zucchero Fornaciari but he’s certainly news over there with million selling albums and a devoted fanbase. He’s taken the decision to expand into other markets and started recording in English which is where Paul Young comes in to perform on the duet “Senza Una Donna (Without A Woman)” to re-record one of his 1987 tracks and give him that international hit. The song floats 22-9 (17,000) to become Young’s 7th top 10 single but the first in 6 years, it’s certainly been a good week for 80s comebacks.





He was a roofer in Bristol until a few months ago but now Gary Clail has a top 10 hit, the unusual “Human Nature” which inches 11-10 (15,000). It was lucky to make it given its sales, only in one week of 1991 were less sales required and that was the first week of the year! An album will follow next month for those interested.



A little re-arranging in the remaining positions, James are shunted down 2-3 (39,000) whilst The Waterboys hold at No 4 (28,000) forcing Madonna down 3-5 (25,000), The Wonder Stuff drop 5-6 (23,000) and The Simpsons manage to hold at No 7 (19,000) but all singles are down in sales.


1- THE ONE AND ONLY- Chesney Hawkes (42,000)
2- THE SHOOP SHOOP SONG (IT’S IN HIS KISS)- Cher (40,000)
3- SIT DOWN- James (39,000)
4- THE WHOLE OF THE MOON- Waterboys (28,000)
5- RESCUE ME- Madonna (25,000)
6- THE SIZE OF THE COW- Wonder stuff (23,000)
7- DEEP DEEP TROUBLE- The Simpsons (19,000)
8- SAILING ON THE SEVEN SEAS- O.M.D (18,000)
9- SENZA UNA DONNA (WITHOUT A WOMAN)- Zucchero & Paul Young (17,000)
10- HUMAN NATURE- Gary Clail On U Sound System (15,000)

Posted by: dandy* 16th July 2021, 04:17 PM

James really were very unlucky not to hit #1 with Sit Down, that’s a lot of consecutive weeks to be so close

Posted by: Gezza 16th July 2021, 04:54 PM

4TH MAY



Cher celebrates her first solo No 1 this week as “The Shoop Shoop Song” becomes the 8th chart topper of 1991 and now dominates the chart selling a very healthy 64,000 copies last week, that’s exactly double the 32,000 sold by Chesney Hawkes as he slips 1-2, but that track has sold over 300,000 copies at least.





Is trouble on the horizon for Cher already? Well The KLF are back with their new single “Last Train To Trancentral” debuts at No 3 (30,000) and is the follow up to “3AM Eternal” which was of course a chart topper and the second biggest seller of the year so far. Like their last two big hits this is a reworking of a previously issued 12” single this time dating back to early last year (it appears that sequentially speaking they’ve overlooked “Kylie Said To Jason”) with added vocals and a more poppier feel. Indeed though the song is also found the KLF album “The White Room” it is refined further for the single release ensuring sales it seems. It should provoke an interesting battle next week for the top spot.





Pretty much everyone is familiar with the song “Born Free”, featuring in the 1966 film of the same name with lyrics by Don Black and music from John Barry it was never a hit single until now. It’s been recorded by comic Vic Reeves who is more famous for his Channel 4 series “Big Night Out” which has become a cult hit but he was a singer first back in the mid 80s albeit unsuccessfully but he’s now running these two careers simultaneously as “Born Free” expands 16-6 (24,000).





Formed by New Order’s Bernard Sumner and ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr when Sumner took a break from his band to record music with a more dance orientation, first fruits resulted in the No 12 hit “Getting Away With It” featuring Neil Tennant on vocals. 18 months later and here’s single number two “Get The Message” which features Sumner on lead with some vocals by Primal Scream’s Denise Johnson at the end, the album is ready to go next month and can at least boast a top ten single as “Message” moves 14-9 (21,000).





De La Soul attracted considerable critical appreciation for their first album and they’ll be hoping for more of the same when second LP “De La Soul Is Dead” is released in a few weeks, first single “Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Ha Hey)” shimmy’s 16-10 (17,000) to become just their second top 10 hit. It samples various tracks and lifts its chorus from Curiosity Killed The Cat’s “Name & Number” a No 14 hit in 1989, a more unlikely combo is hard to imagine but it seems to work.



James continue their slow descent 3-4 (30,000) as they move comfortably over the 200,000 mark, the parent album “Gold Mother” gets a re-issued new entry at No 2 becoming another victim of The Eurythmics , OMD climb 8-5 (24,000), Zucchero & Paul Young rise 9-7 (23,000) as the Waterboys collapse 4-8 (23,000)


1- THE SHOOP SHOOP SONG (IT’S IN HIS KISS)- Cher (64,000)
2- THE ONE AND ONLY- Chesney Hawkes (32,000)
3- LAST TRAIN TO TRANCENTRAL- The KLF (30,000)
4- SIT DOWN- James (30,000)
5- SAILING ON THE SEVEN SEAS- OMD (24,000)
6- BORN FREE- Vic Reeves (24,000)
7- SENZA UNA DONNA (WITHOUT A WOMAN)- Zucchero & Paul Young (23,000)
8- THE WHOLE OF THE MOON- Waterboys (23,000)
9- GET THE MESSAGE- Electronic (21,000)
10- RING RING RING (HA HA HEY)- De La Soul (17,000)

Posted by: dandy* 16th July 2021, 04:58 PM

KLF, OMD, Electronic and De La Soul!

Posted by: Bjork 17th July 2021, 07:14 AM

How did De La Soul even know who CKTC were?

not a fan of retro-Cher, I like rock-Cher and disco-Cher but not when she pretends she's still in the 60s not a fan of the song but at least she did it with good sales...

Posted by: sn👠ke 18th July 2021, 12:51 AM

I do like that Cher song, its good fun and at least its not yet another ballad at #1.

Last Train to Trancentral is my favourite KLF song, an epic sounding tune.

Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn 19th July 2021, 12:36 AM

I looove the Cher song. It's tacky as hell but great fun.

Also, my favourite KLF single!

Posted by: Colm 19th July 2021, 10:33 PM

I'm slightly surprised that Last Train is so many people's favourite KLF song.

Posted by: Gezza 23rd July 2021, 05:45 PM

11TH MAY



Cher cements her position at No 1 this week selling 93,000 copies, equaling the best weekly tally with Hale & Pace but without the latter’s blanket promo that week so quite some achievement and with the film “Mermaids” only just released it means it must be doing it on the strength of the song alone. The expected battle with The KLF never materialised in part because the album “White Room” advanced 16-5 to steal sales away, the single does rise 3-2 but sold just 46,000 copies in doing so, half the total of Cher. As for OMD who climb 5-3 (30,000) they are so far away from the top that it’s barely worth noting though it’s a spectacular comeback for them and matches the highest peak of any of their singles (“Souvenir”).





Currently No 5 in the US Cathy Dennis is a name you may recall for her feature on the D.Mob single “Come On And Get My Love” back in 1989, she’s gone solo and her Second UK single is a cover of a 1984 release by Fonda Rae which featured in “Nightmare On Elm Street 2” but did nothing when released. Dennis has done some additional lyrics and updated the sound to find her version hurtle 25-7 (24,000) ahead of her debut album due this summer.





Blur’s first single “She’s So High” faltered at No 48 last year but they’ve struck gold with second single “There’s no Other Way” finds itself climbing 11-10 (19,000). The band have teamed with producer Stephen Street to produce their debut album and “Leisure” sees its release this year.



Elsewhere Zucchero & Paul Young aren’t done yet as they move 7-4 (29,000) and lower down Electronic nudge 9-8 (22,000). Vic Reeves holds at No 6 (25,000) but old adversaries Chesney Hawkes and James are both falling this week, Hawkes drops 2-5 (26,000) as it moves over 350,000 and overtakes The KLF in the process to become the year’s second biggest hit. James meanwhile drop 4-9 (22,000).


1- THE SHOOP SHOOP SONG (IT’S IN HIS KISS)- Cher (93,000)
2- LAST TRAIN TO TRANCENTRAL- The KLF (46,000)
3- SAILING ON THE SEVEN SEAS- OMD (30,000)
4- SENZA UNA DONNA (WITHOUT A WOMAN)- Zucchero & Paul Young (29,000)
5- THE ONE AND ONLY- Chesney Hawkes (26,000)
6- BORN FREE- Vic Reeves (25,000)
7- TOUCH ME (ALL NIGHT LONG)- Cathy Dennis (24,000)
8- GET THE MESSAGE- Electronic (22,000)
9- SIT DOWN- James (22,000)
10- THERE’S NO OTHER WAY- Blur (19,000)

Posted by: Gezza 23rd July 2021, 05:57 PM

18TH MAY



Cher is No 1 again though she takes a big hit in sales of 33% to 62,000, but if you think that means she’s in imminent danger then think again, The KLF hold at the runner up spot on 37,000 so unlikely to threaten.





Instead the great threat comes from the song that enters at No 3 and it equals the record for the highest entry by a debut act currently held by Vanilla Ice in November last year. Crystal Waters is a 27 year old American vocalist who wrote “Gypsy Woman” for another dance act Ultra Nate but her demo was so good that the record company gave her a contract instead and her portrayal of a homeless woman was born. It debuts on sales of 36,000 and should seriously challenge Cher next week with its catchy “la da dee” refrain which seems already to be a bit of a marmite track with consumers.





It finally seems to be happening for Beverley Craven, her two releases last year both missed the charts and her album went by unnoticed. In 1991 however she’s re-released “Holding On” making No 95, her album finally charted at No 53 and now another re-issue “Promise Me” is a major hit moving in 15-6 (22,000). The self titled album is getting another push and is being re-issued in a fortnight with a view to breaking her properly.





A new forthcoming greatest hits collection is the impetus for a new mix of Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love” by Julian Mendelson which debuts at No 10 (16,000) this week. The song of course made No 1 ten years ago and went on to sell a million copies in the course of the decade, it also comes with a new promo featuring a solo Almond as Dave Ball doesn’t seem on board with the comeback efforts.



OMD’s new album “Sugar Tax” enters at No 5 as the single dips 3-4 (30,000) in response, and Cathy Dennis rises 7-5 (28,000), Blur improve 10-8 (18,000) and Electronic slip into reverse 8-9 (18,000). Paul Young and Zucchero fall 4-7 (21,000) amid news that Young will be releasing a greatest hits album this year, Zucchero’s album also debuts at No 29 this week.


1- THE SHOOP SHOOP SONG (IT’S IN HIS KISS)- Cher (62,000)
2- LAST TRAIN TO TRANCENTRAL- The KLF (37,000)
3- GYPSY WOMAN (LA DA DEE)- Crystal Waters (36,000)
4- SAILING ON THE SEVEN SEAS- OMD (30,000)
5- TOUCH ME (ALL NIGHT LONG)- Cathy Dennis (28,000)
6- PROMISE ME- Beverley Craven (22,000)
7- SENZA UNA DONNA (WITHOUT A WOMAN)- Zucchero & Paul Young (21,000)
8- THERE’S NO OTHER WAY- Blur (18,000)
9- GET THE MESSAGE- Electronic (18,000)
10- TAINTED LOVE- Soft Cell/ Marc Almond (16,000)

Posted by: Jester 23rd July 2021, 05:58 PM

Blur’s first time in the top 10

Posted by: Bjork 23rd July 2021, 06:21 PM

not a bad top 10, lots of great songs
love Beverly Craven and Promise Me, one of the best ballads ever in my opinion

Posted by: steve201 26th July 2021, 07:32 PM

Wow quite the moment with Blurs first top 40 single ❤️

Posted by: Gezza 29th July 2021, 06:47 PM

25TH MAY



For the first time since it rose to the top Cher’s “Shoop Shoop Song” was under genuine pressure this week as it sold 54,000 just 3,000 more than Crystal Waters who rises to No 2, the two should swap places next week given the 12% decrease for Cher and the 42% increase for “Gypsy Woman”



The rest of the market isn’t really in with a shout to be honest, Beverley Craven rises 6-3 (37,000) but is way off pace however her ascension marks an all female top 3 for the third time in chart history and the first since November 1988, The KLF drop 2-4 (33,000) and Marc Almond/ Soft Cell rise 10-5 (30,000) with Cathy Dennis down 5-6 (30,000) despite a sales increase.



The first of two new hits arrives 27-7 (20,000) for US band Color Me Badd whose new hit “I Wanna Sex You Up” features in the new film “New Jack City” which isn’t out here until August though the US got it in March. The distinctive “Tick Tok” start is sampled from the Doug E Fresh song “La Di Da Di” in case you wondered, they’ve certainly come a long way since supporting Bon Jovi.





If 1991 will be remembered for anything it will be the year of the re-issue, Amy Grant’s “Baby Baby” did nothing at retail when issued earlier this year, since then it’s topped the US chart which allowed for a re-issue and the song responds by racing 26-9 (16,000) to become a smash here. Originally titled “Heart In Motion” (that’s now being used as the album title instead) it marks a continual evolution from US Christian music which is where she first found fame, and in hitting the top in the US “Baby Baby” becomes her second No 1 there after a duet with peter Cetera in 1986 called “Next Time I Fall” which bombed here.



OMD fall 4-8 (18,000) and Paul Young & Zucchero slump 7-10 (15,000).


1- THE SHOOP SHOOP SONG (IT’S IN HIS KISS)- Cher (54,000)
2- GYPSY WOMAN (LA DA DEE)- Crystal Waters (51,000)
3- PROMISE ME- Beverley Craven (37,000)
4- LAST TRAIN TO TRANCENTRAL- The KLF (33,000)
5- TAINTED LOVE- Soft Cell/ Marc Almond (30,000)
6- TOUCH ME (ALL NIGHT LONG)- Cathy Dennis (30,000)
7- I WANNA SEX YOU UP- Color Me Badd (20,000)
8- SAILING ON THE SEVEN SEAS- OMD (18,000)
9- BABY BABY- Amy Grant (16,000)
10- SENZA UNA DONNA (WITHOUT A WOMAN)- Zucchero & Paul Young (15,000)

Posted by: dandy* 29th July 2021, 08:38 PM

Baby Baby takes me back! My family loved that album, probably biased through it being a christian artist but never the less it has some happy memories attached to it for me.

The less said about the other new top 10 single the better

Posted by: steve201 30th July 2021, 09:46 AM

Didn’t realise I knew the Amy Grant song, really nice!

Posted by: Gezza 30th July 2021, 05:22 PM

1ST JUNE




Cher triumphs again but only just and it took a late boost to overturn Color Me Badd’s challenge, in the end “The Shoop Shoop Song” sold 48,000 to “I Wanna Sex You Up”’s 45,000, it was helped by “Mermaids” going on general release and the soundtrack only debuting at No 14. Some theories have been advanced as to why the expected takeover by Crystal Waters didn’t take place mainly centering round the idea that the song is too divisive and has become irritating to many already, this week it falls back 2-3 (41,000) with its chance looking to have passed.





It seems that 1991 is the year that R.E.M have arrived, a constantly growing fanbase has been matched with improved chart position for the US group and last single “Losing My Religion” became their first top 20 single helping parent album “Out Of Time” become their first chart topper. Second single to be lifted from it “Shiny Happy People” has gone even better shooting 13-9 (23,000). It features co-vocals by The B52’s Kate Pierson and helps the album remain in the top 10 where it’s been for the first 11 weeks of its chart life.





Sisters Dannii & Kylie Minogue narrowly fail to become the first sisters to have simultaneous top 10 solo hits as “$uccess” holds at No 11 for Dannii whilst Kylie’s “Shocked” debuts straight in at No 10 (21,000). It’s a 13th single for Kylie and a 13th top 10 single the best start to any chart career ever! The single version has been remixed by DNA and marks the first time that a Kylie single has been issued which is not mixed by S/A/W in its main format, it’s also the first single to be available in picture disk by the star, neither fact is helping the album which is still missing from the top 75, it will be re-issued in a fortnight in a gold edition with additional mixes including this one.




Talking of albums Beverley Craven’s album re-enters at No 3 whilst “Promise Me” drops 3-4 (35,000) just holding off a climbing Amy Grant 9-5 (33,000). Three tracks are also falling, Soft Cell/ Marc Almond dip 5-6 (29,000) impacted by the compilation best of arriving at No 8, The KLF tumble 4-7 (26,000) and Cathy Dennis trips 6-8 (24,000).


1- THE SHOOP SHOOP SONG (IT’S IN HIS KISS)- Cher (48,000)
2- I WANNA SEX YOU UP- Color Me Badd (45,000)
3- GYPSY WOMAN (LA DA DEE)- Crystal Waters (41,000)
4- PROMISE ME- Beverley Craven (35,000)
5- BABY BABY- Amy Grant (33,000)
6- TAINTED LOVE- Soft Cell/ Marc Almond (29,000)
7- LAST TRAIN TO TRANCENTRAL- The KLF (26,000)
8- TOUCH ME (ALL NIGHT LONG)- Cathy Dennis (24,000)
9- SHINY HAPPY PEOPLE- REM (23,000)
10- SHOCKED- Kylie Minogue (21,000)

Posted by: Jester 30th July 2021, 07:57 PM

For some reason TOTP skipped Cher’s last week at number 1 and we are now a week further on?!

Posted by: gooddelta 30th July 2021, 08:01 PM

They seem to have skipped an episode here. They just showed the 25th May edition followed by 8th June (which was full of filler with No.41 and No.42 played and with Mark Goodier on some weird green screen setup). I wonder what the reason for missing out an episode was?

Also, Promise Me is such a stunning ballad and Baby Baby, Shocked and Shiny Happy People are great too. I Wanna Sex You Up always has been and remains horrific.

Posted by: Jester 30th July 2021, 08:07 PM

I wondered why the episode was so weird. Wonder why one was skipped and why we had the fillers at number 41 and 42 and the weird green screen?

Intriguing!

Posted by: gooddelta 30th July 2021, 08:10 PM

Such a bizarre episode, it’s like they couldn’t entice anyone of note over to play live that week! It was a badly edited video show with a few live flops. I enjoyed the Kirsty MacColl song though at least!

Posted by: Jester 30th July 2021, 08:18 PM

Yes, Mark only mingled with the crowd twice! Very odd all round.

Posted by: gooddelta 30th July 2021, 08:31 PM

Apparently it was due to The Doors being played over the credits of the missing episode and the BBC have to pay some sort of extra licensing fee to play their music!

A shame to miss Kylie’s performance!

Posted by: Gezza 30th July 2021, 10:26 PM

The missing episode

Posted by: Jester 31st July 2021, 08:15 AM

What changes are coming up then? New presenters, just showing the top 10, more songs outside the top 40, new credits?

Posted by: steve201 31st July 2021, 11:34 AM

No in October 1991 new producers or something take over so they move to a different studio (after being in this studio I think since the beginning in 1964) and the radio 1 presenters are replaced with a load of randomers so the link with radio 1 is removed for the first time since the late 60s. It didn’t go down well though as we are back by 1994!

Posted by: steve201 31st July 2021, 11:35 AM

What a weird reason to not show an episode lol thought for a moment S**** or the likes were back. But know there shouldn’t be any of that disruption until Xmas 94 when a certain singer presents.

Posted by: Bjork 31st July 2021, 03:29 PM

Does anyone know in which TOTP episode they had Beverly Knight live singing Promise Me?
Wonder if she also had breathing issues like in the single

Posted by: Jester 31st July 2021, 03:57 PM

Do you mean Beverly Craven?

If so, the weird episode had her singing live.

Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn 31st July 2021, 09:36 PM

Shame Crystal Waters couldn't quite make it.

Posted by: Bjork 1st August 2021, 07:11 AM

ye4s yes Beverly Craven, I mixed my Beverlies ;D

Posted by: Jade 4th August 2021, 06:14 PM

Oops I eventually binged the 9 episodes I missed and this recent string of #1s has been poor - The KLF and Crystal Waters would’ve been a much better alternate reality! The ‘Last Train To Trancentral’ performance was a real moment as a show-opener. In terms of the favourite KLF song discourse, I think mine is ‘Justified & Ancient’, but all of their hits are brilliant *.*

Posted by: steve201 4th August 2021, 10:25 PM

Mine is probably The Timelords number one in 1988!

Posted by: King Rollo 4th August 2021, 11:35 PM

I've just watched the second episode from last week. It was certainly curious that the bands at numbers 41 and 42 managed to get onto the programme. I knew this was Marillion's final TOTP appearance but didn't realise it was before Cover My Eyes had made its way into the top 40. I'll be interested to see if more songs from outside the top 40 get shown or if that episode was an exception.

Posted by: steve201 5th August 2021, 07:28 AM

I think it starts to happen quite a bit from now onwards! Always thought Marillion appeared in the noughties when they had a couple of top 40 hits?!

Posted by: Colm 5th August 2021, 08:38 AM

KLF TOTP performances were always ridiculous in the best possible way.

Posted by: King Rollo 5th August 2021, 10:12 AM

They had a couple of top 20 hits in 2004 including one that got to number 7 but by that time, the producers would only invite cool bands that would appeal to the younger audience to perform rather than whoever happened to be the highest new entries.

Posted by: Gezza 5th August 2021, 08:01 PM

8TH JUNE



Color Me Badd are the nation’s favourite track this week “I Wanna Sex You Up” nudging Cher aside after 5 weeks making some chart history, it’s the first time that three consecutive chart toppers have come from current film soundtracks. It sold 47,000 copies last week, only a marginal increase which doesn’t suggest a long stay, Cher is deposed 1-2 (42,000) but is still selling well thanks to the movie being on general release finally, Total sales of “The Shoop Shoop Song” now stand at 416,000 as it moves to No 2 on the YTD list behind The Simpsons and indeed should surpass them before the half yearly update in 4 weeks.






Also in cinema’s at the moment is the new Oliver Stone biopic “The Doors” which has seen the band have two albums in the top 20, the soundtrack at No 16 and a best of at No 18. One of their most famous singles “Light My Fire” has also been given a re-release, the original incredibly only made No 49 when released in 1967 (US No 1) though it was subsequently taken into the top 10 by both Jose Feliciano (No 6, 1968) and Amii Stewart (No 5, 1979, and No 7, 1985) which helped its fame. For a group of the stature of the Doors it is surprising to note they haven’t had a Top 10 single here, until this week anyway. The re-issued single flies 29-10 (19,000) almost 20 years after Jim Morrison’s death.



The rest of the top 10 just rearranges itself, Amy Grant lifts 5-3 (36,000), Beverley Craven holds at No 4 (29,000), Kylie rockets 10-6 (28,000) and R.E.M inch 9-8 (24,000). All heading the wrong way are Crystal Waters 3-5 (29,000), Marc Almond/ Soft Cell 6-7 (26,000) and The KLF drive 7-9 (21,000).


1- I WANNA SEX YOU UP- Color Me Badd (47,000)
2- THE SHOOP SHOOP SONG (IT’S IN HIS KISS)- Cher (42,000)
3- BABY BABY- Amy Grant (36,000)
4- PROMISE ME- Beverley Craven (29,000)
5- GYPSY WOMAN (LA DA DEE)- Crystal Walters (29,00)
6- SHOCKED- Kylie Minogue (28,000)
7- TAINTED LOVE- Marc Almond/ Soft Cell (26,000)
8- SHINY HAPPY PEOPLE- REM (24,000)
9- LAST TRAIN TO TRANCENTRAL- The KLF (21,000)
10- LIGHT MY FIRE- The Doors (19,000)

Posted by: Bjork 5th August 2021, 08:11 PM

ouch CMB at #1, what a terrible song

I remember there was a lot of buzz about the Doors after the movie, so good to see Light my Fire finally being their first belated top 10, great track. The movie made me discover them too and bought their Best Of.

Posted by: Gezza 5th August 2021, 08:13 PM

15TH JUNE



It holds at No 2 Stateside but in the UK Color Me Badd effortlessly take a second week at the top selling a healthy 59,000 into the bargain and actually stretching its lead over Amy Grant to 12,000 copies despite “Baby Baby”’s climb 3-2. Cher drops 2-3 (31,000) just above the very persistent Beverley Craven at No 4 (26,000) who is still losing sales every week albeit slowly.





The first of two new tracks this week comes from Madonna, it’s her 7th top 10 single of the 90s matching the current leaders NKOTB in that respect. It’s “Holiday”’s third release and a third appearance in the top 10, simply incredible and equaled only by the Righteous Brothers “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” in that respect, it made No 6 in 1984, then No 2 a year later and now a climber 13-5 (25,000) thanks to being used to continue to promote “The Immaculate Collection” which is still floating around just outside the top 20. It comes with a picture disk and an additional “Holiday Collection EP” version which brings together some hits not included on the album most notably the chart toppers “Who’s That Girl” and “True Blue”, an ingenious idea to lure fans into buying.






Former Boxer and BT Technician Kenny Thomas has been touted in some circles as Britain’s new voice of soul, his first single, a cover of the Gap Band’s “Outstanding”, made No 12 on re-issue back in February and his new single “Thinking About Your Love” performs fantastically jumping 22-10 (16,000) this week, it previews his debut album due in the autumn and is produced by ex-Dead Or Alive members Tim Lever and Mike Percy



R.E.M continue northward 8-6 (24,000) beating The Doors who rise 10-7 (22,000) whilst Crystal Waters tumbles 5-8 (19,000). A big week in the Minogue household, Kylie’s “Shocked” falls 6-9 (18,000) as her re-issued “Rhythm Of Love” re-enters at a lowly No 62, 54 places below her sister Dannii’s album “Love & Kisses”.



1- I WANNA SEX YOU UP- Color Me Badd (59,000)
2- BABY BABY- Amy Grant (47,000)
3- THE SHOOP SHOOP SONG (IT’S IN HIS KISS)- Cher (31,000)
4- PROMISE ME- Beverley Craven (26,000)
5- HOLIDAY- Madonna (25,000)
6- SHINY HAPPY PEOPLE- REM (24,000)
7- LIGHT MY FIRE- The Doors (22,000)
8- GYPSY WOMAN (LA DA DEE)- Crystal Waters (19,000)
9- SHOCKED- Kylie Minogue (18,000)
10- THINKING ABOUT YOUR LOVE- Kenny Thomas (16,000)

Posted by: Colm 5th August 2021, 08:25 PM

I love that Kenny Thomas song.

Posted by: Gezza 6th August 2021, 07:05 PM

22ND JUNE





Just 200 copies separated the top two this week but Color Me Badd just hold on to the top slot selling 52,000 copies of “I Wanna Sex You Up” bringing its haul to 231,000 enough to place it in the top 10 for the year.






The song it was under threat from comes from someone who many had written off as yesterday’s popstar, Jason Donovan. The decision by Donovan to accept a role in the west end production of “Joseph And His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat” was seen by many as an admittance that his pop star days were over, but he turns it around with the release of a single “Any Dream Will Do” a song already familiar to millions who’ve seen the production in the 20 odd years the musical has been performed. It’s never been a hit before however and Donovan has deserted S/A/W for Nigel Wright on production credits and sees himself debut at No 2 (51,800), not bad when you consider his last two singles peaked at No 22 and 17.





We’ve not heard much from Salt N Pepa since their 1988 success but they return with a greatest hits this year and a remix of “Do You Want Me” a single which was a US release only last year. The single features a sample of James Brown’s “Say It Loud, I’m Black, I’m Proud” and becomes the trio’s third top 10 single as it rushes 13-6 (23,000).





Last year there were two competing versions of “From A Distance” in the chart which pitted Cliff Richard against Bette Midler with Richard running out the winner peaking at No 11 to Midler’s No 45. Since then Midler’s version went on to hit No 2 in the US at the end of last year and with Richard’s version out of the way the record company have given it another whirl and it powers 25-7 (21,000) to end up the bigger version after all, it was first recorded by Nanci Griffith in 1987 but this is the first time it’s hit the top 10. Midler’s album “Some People’s Lives” will be getting a re-issue in a few weeks time as has become the norm in recent times, but this single is boosted by the appearance of both “Wind Beneath My Wings” and “The Rose” on the CD version.





We’ve already seen that leaving the S/A/W stable can revitalise a career with Jason Donovan, also see: Sonia, she secured five top 20 singles from her first album (a record for a UK Female Act) before splitting with her record company and S/A/W as producers. She’s back though with the song “Only Fools (Never Fall In Love)” which was originally penned with Diana Ross in mind but secured for Sonia, she’s not parted entirely with her old friends at PWL though, this is remixed by Pete Hammond, it extends her top 20 run as it scuttles 11-10 (17,000).



Jason’s arrival means that Amy Grant is knocked 2-3 (37,000) and Cher moves 3-4 (31,000) but “The Shoop Shoop Song” is now the best seller of the year!. Kenny Thomas rises 10-5 (27,000) but it’s all over for Beverley Craven as she drops 4-8 (20,000) and R.E.M who reverse 6-9 (18,000).

Finally from now on the maximum number of formats allowed per position on the charts gets reduced from 5 to 4 which accounts for why a mighty 23 new entries were on the chart this week in a last gasp attempt by record companies to get out the larger number of formats.


1- I WANNA SEX YOU UP- Color Me Badd (52,000)
2- ANY DREAM WILL DO- Jason Donovan (51,800)
3- BABY BABY- Amy Grant (37,000)
4- THE SHOOP SHOOP SONG (IT’S IN HIS KISS)- Cher (31,000)
5- THINKING ABOUT YOUR LOVE- Kenny Thomas (27,000)
6- DO YOU WANT ME- Salt N Pepa (23,000)
7- FROM A DISTANCE- Bette Midler (21,000)
8- PROMISE ME- Beverley Craven (20,000)
9- SHINY HAPPY PEOPLE- REM (18,000)
10- ONLY FOOLS (NEVER FALL IN LOVE)- Sonia (17,000)

Posted by: Bjork 7th August 2021, 07:51 AM

forgot I Wanna Sex You Up "only" peaked at #2 in the US
pretty adult-oriented top 10

Posted by: dandy* 7th August 2021, 10:29 AM

Glad we’ve very quickly skimmed over the Color Me Badd reign at the top.

Nothing in the new ones to really write about for me. Kenny Thomas is okay but most of the others are pretty forgettable

Posted by: fiesta 7th August 2021, 11:16 AM

I hope they skim over Bryan Adams when he's number one

Posted by: steve201 7th August 2021, 11:49 AM

There’d be some cream on that skim

So was the format change something that made record companies like SAW start to panic and hold things back going forward in the later 90s?

Posted by: Bjork 7th August 2021, 02:07 PM

No spoilers

Posted by: Gezza 7th August 2021, 03:15 PM

I'm not sure what you mean? SAW were producers, their label was PWL. In respect of your question it wasn't that records were held back but that promotion was pushed forward but that precedent was established by a certain record which we'll cover when it happens! Gallup were continually trying to address tricks that the record companies were coming up with, releasing different formats to get fans to buy more and increase their position so to keep it as fair as possible they started limiting formats that contributed to a chart position. There was a previous change in April 1990 when five format rule was introduced- previously there had been no limits.

Posted by: Colm 7th August 2021, 05:15 PM

If I remember correctly, Any Dream Will Do got more pre-release airplay than usual.

Posted by: Jade 12th August 2021, 09:50 PM

Not massively feeling the songs that have entered the top 10 since I last commented, well, minus the older hits coming back - ‘Holiday’ and ‘Light My Fire’

Posted by: gooddelta 13th August 2021, 08:57 AM

I've always liked Any Dream Will Do, it reminds me of primary school. We did our own production of Joseph and I so badly wanted the lead role, and wasn't chosen. I did later play the lead in Moses though

I've become a bit obsessed with Promise Me and Baby, Baby all over again these last few weeks. I've realised the latter never seems to be on any 90s compilation weirdly, I must have hundreds and don't think I own it anywhere.

Posted by: Doctor Blind 13th August 2021, 09:03 AM

I think “Promise Me” has a great opening lyric:

You light up another cigarette
And I pour the wine
It's four o'clock in the morning
And it's starting to get light

Posted by: gooddelta 13th August 2021, 09:33 AM

I love it too, what a great, classy ballad.

A few lines from the track were also sampled on an old trance song from the early 00s, which had been buried at the back of my memory until recently but I enjoyed it at the time:

Posted by: Bjork 13th August 2021, 10:39 AM

Can't recall that one, did it chart?

Always been the biggest fan of Promise Me, personally might even my favourite ballad ever

I even learned to play it on piano back in the day, and I realise now that I was singing it doing the same weird breathing that she does like being out of air

Posted by: gooddelta 13th August 2021, 10:52 AM

Nope, but I believe it was quite popular on the northern club scene and was one of the first few tracks on the big Clubland 2 compilation in 2002, and was also more recently on the Ultimate Clubland retrospective.

Posted by: Colm 13th August 2021, 11:24 AM

2002 was a real low point for dance music. Trance had reduced down to bland backing tracks with charisma-free anonymous female singers. And the spate of covers of 80s and 90s songs was very distressing.

But we still had Scooter

Posted by: Gezza 13th August 2021, 04:50 PM

29TH JUNE




We’ve had to wait a whole 25 weeks into 1991 before any single sold over 100,000 in a week but FINALLY it’s happened! Jason Donovan’s “Any Dream Will Do” sold a sterling 106,000 copies last week to hold a massive advantage over the rest of the field almost as much as the rest of the top 4 combined! Indeed you have to go back to Vanilla Ice last year to find a bigger weekly seller, and among his individual songs only “Especially For You” can boast a bigger 7 day tally and that had Christmas to help it. Outgoing chart topper by Color Me Badd sold a mere 44,000 in its 1-2 drop.





The highest new entry of the week comes from a returning Erasure, their fifth album will be called “Chorus” and the lead single is also the titular track which sold 34,000 to debut at No 3. That’s the highest ever debuting Erasure single and 9th top 10 hit, it is so far behind Jason Donovan that it may not challenge him seriously and if it doesn’t it means that Vince Clark has had more top 5 hits without a No 1 than anyone else if you include his hits with Depeche Mode, Yazoo, and Assembly.





Taken from the forthcoming film “Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves” Bryan Adams new single “Everything I Do (I Do It For You)” debuts at No 8 (21,000) immediately outpeaking all his previous singles in the UK. It’s produced and co-written by Robert “Mutt” Lange who has been helming Def Leppard and Heart in recent years so is well versed in modern day AOR.






Written and recorded for the film “Quicksilver” in 1986 by Larry John McNally, Rod Stewart has once again plucked an obscure record and made it into a hit with some help from the Temptations on backing vocals. “The Motown Song” comes with a part animated video courtesy of the same people that did Madonna’s “Dear Jessie” promo, she incidentally appears in the video albeit animated. The track improves 12-10 (18,000) to give Rod his 4th straight top 10 hit something he’s not done since 1978.




Kenny Thomas is still climbing 5-4 (30,000) and keeps ahead of the improving Salt N Pepa 6-5 (25,000) and Bette Midler 7-6 (22,000). Amy Grant is pushed back 3-7 (22,000) and Cher plummets 4-9 (18,000) as her album “Love Hurts” arrives at No 1 selling over 80,000 in the process.


1- ANY DREAM WILL DO- Jason Donovan (106,000)
2- I WANNA SEX YOU UP- Color Me Badd (44,000)
3- CHORUS- Erasure (34,000)
4- THINKING ABOUT YOUR LOVE- Kenny Thomas (30,000)
5- DO YOU WANT ME- Salt N Pepa (25,000)
6- FROM A DISTANCE- Bette Midler (22,000)
7- BABY BABY- Amy Grant (22,000)
8- (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (21,000)
9- THE SHOOP SHOOP SONG (IT’S IN HIS KISS)- Cher (18,000)
10- THE MOTOWN SONG- Rod Stewart (18,000)

Posted by: dandy* 13th August 2021, 05:00 PM

Chorus!!! The beginning of my favourite Erasure era, it’s easily the best thing in the top 10 for me

Posted by: Gezza 13th August 2021, 05:15 PM

6TH JULY



As expected Jason Donovan retains the top spot this week, “Any Dream Will Do” can’t maintain its frenetic pace of last week and trails off 25% to a still impressive 79,000, that makes total sales of 239,000 after just three weeks on sale, as we’re half way through the year let’s see if that’s enough for the YTD Top 10:

1- THE SHOOP SHOOP SONG (IT’S IN HIS KISS)- Cher 506,000
2- DO THE BARTMAN- The Simpsons 458,000
3- THE ONE AND ONLY- Chesney Hawkes 386,000
4- 3AM ETERNAL- The KLF Featuring The Children Of The Revolution
331,000
5- I WANNA SEX YOU UP- Color Me Badd 306,000
6- SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO- The Clash 246,000
7- SIT DOWN- James 242,000
8- THE STONK- Hale & Pace 240,000
9- (I WANNA GIVE YOU) DEVOTION- Nomad Featuring MC Mikee Freedom
239,000
10- ANY DREAM WILL DO- Jason Donovan 239,000

So Jason sneaks in at No 10, meanwhile Cher sells her 500,000th copy of “The Shoop Shoop Song” and Color Me Badd move over 300,000 as they drop 2-4 (31,000).



Erasure cannot progress any further and stall at No 3 (37,000) and Kenny Thomas drops 4-5 (28,000) but much better news for Bryan Adams as he rockets 8-2 (60,000) and could topple Jason next week. Further down Salt N Pepa slip 5-6 (24,000) and Bette Midler is fading 6-8 (20,000).



Three new hits to discuss, firstly Paula Abdul who has gone with her first ballad to make it as a single. “Rush Rush” comes with an expensive promo featuring Keanu Reeves in which they try to recreate the film “Rebel Without A Cause”, the single is currently No 1 in the US, it’s also written by two members of The Family Stand who were in the top 10 last year with “Ghetto Heaven”. The song races 14-7 (21,000) to become her 3rd top 10 hit as she seems to be only able to score a big hit once every year. Second album is out in three weeks.





Incognito were formed when the group Light Of The World disbanded in the early 80s with some members forming Beggars & Co and others going into the aforementioned Incognito but their only hit was the No 73 song “Parisienne Girl” in 1980. They’ve gotten Jocelyn Brown in to record vocals on the 1975 Ronnie Laws track “Always There” and it has become the hit they sought all these years and even credited Brown this time around as they climb 26-9 (17,000)





Australian act Divinyls have been going strong for 11 years with little international success until the release of “I Touch Myself” which despite its rather suggestive lyrics seems to be a hit at airplay and even made it past the censors in the US where the song made No 4, it now nudges 12-10 (16,000) here. It’s taken 8 weeks to make the top 10 which is unusual in a chart which is becoming increasingly focused around songs peaking 2 or 3 weeks after release.



This week sees the release of a new Bros single with the press gunning for the twins can they pull it out of the bag?


1- ANY DREAM WILL DO- Jason Donovan (79,000)
2- EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (60,000)
3- CHORUS- Erasure (37,000)
4- I WANNA SEX YOU UP- Color Me Badd (31,000)
5- THINKING ABOUT YOUR LOVE- Kenny Thomas (28,000)
6- DO YOU WANT ME- Salt N Pepa (24,000)
7- RUSH RUSH- Paula Abdul (21,000)
8- FROM A DISTANCE- Bette Midler (20,000)
9- ALWAYS THERE- Incognito Ft Jocelyn Brown (17,000)
10- I TOUCH MYSELF- Divinyls (16,000)

Posted by: Bjork 13th August 2021, 05:38 PM

Kinda slow climb for Bryan Adams, I kinda thought he had arrived straight at the top

love the Divinyls song, great track

Rush Rush was a weir one for Paula Abdul, nice enough song but really would have preferred a poppier uptempo like the ones from her debut

Posted by: Colm 13th August 2021, 06:52 PM

Chorus increased its sales in the second week.😮 I kinda assumed it dropped off.

Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn 19th August 2021, 11:36 PM

Divinyls is a classic!

Had no idea Erasure's 'Chorus' did quite this well.

Posted by: Gezza 20th August 2021, 04:47 PM

13TH JULY



Congratulations to Bryan Adams who secures himself his first UK No 1 hit as “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” ascends 2-1 even though it only increases sales slightly to 63,000. That was still enough to overcome Jason Donovan who slides 1-2 (59,000) which also sees the song rise to No 6 on the YTD list.







In case you hadn’t noticed songs from films are doing particularly well at the moment, and the latest in this line is the new Guns N Roses single “You Could Be Mine” which is featured in the new “Terminator 2: Judgement Day” film, you’ll have to wait a month for that though. The song dates back to the 80s in conception and will be from a third album which is probably one of the most anticipated of the year, it’s also the 4th top 10 single from 5 releases for the group but instantly becomes their biggest hit as it smashes in at No 3 (36,000)- expect it to rise next week.





The boys from St Etienne have been playing away from the main band producing “7 Ways To Love” under the name Cola Boy with lead vocalist Janey Lee Grace who is a former backing singer for George Michael and Kim Wilde among others. The band are quick to point out that this is just a side project and that St Etienne will be releasing their debut album next month though it won’t feature this track. It rises 17-8 (21,000) this week.





Hip Hop brigade Heavy D & The Boyz have been pluggin away since 1986 with some US success and two UK hits though neither made the top 60. Heavy D himself (the main rapper) has rapped on Janet Jackson’s 1990 hit “Alright” but until “Now That We Found Love” they were without a big hit to their credit, now their cover of the O’Jays track lifts 30-9 (20,000). It was a never hit for them though, instead it was left to Third World in 1978 to score a No 10 hit with it thusly making Heavy D’s version the biggest one.



Erasure’s challenge is over with “Chorus slipping 3-4 (35,000) just ahead of Kenny Thomas who holds at No 5 (27,000), meanwhile Incognito Featuring Jocelyn Brown climb 9-6 (26,000). Paula Abdul sticks at No 7 (21,000) and it’s all over for Color Me Badd who hurtle 4-10 (17,000).


1- (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (63,000)
2- ANY DREAM WILL DO- Jason Donovan (59,000)
3- YOU COULD BE MINE- Guns N Roses (36,000)
4- CHORUS- Erasure (35,000)
5- THINKING ABOUT YOUR LOVE- Kenny Thomas (27,000)
6- ALWAYS THERE- Incognito Ft Jocelyn Brown (26,000)
7- RUSH RUSH- Paula Abdul (21,000)
8- 7 WAYS TO LOVE- Cola Boy (21,000)
9- NOW THAT WE’VE FOUND LOVE- Heavy D & The Boyz (20,000)
10- I WANNA SEX YOU UP- Color Me Badd (17,000)

Posted by: Gezza 20th August 2021, 04:56 PM

20TH JULY



Bryan Adams’ “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” sold 96,000 copies last week to easily retain the top spot and with the film “Robin Hood” going on general release this week you can see that it should be good for a few weeks to come. Threats to its crown are remarkably thin on the ground with Jason Donovan clinging onto the No 2 spot (47,000) but suffers a sales decline and the expected challenge from Guns N Roses seems to not be forthcoming as they complete a static top 3 with a slight sales improvement to 36,000.





Inspired by a regular segment on the “Arsenio Hall Show” C & C Music Factory have re-hooked up with Freedom Williams to give us “Things That Make You Go Hmmm” which charges 18-7 (24,000), it contains a few samples including James Brown who is certainly the sample artist of choice in the last few years. Their last single “Here We Go” disappointed at No 20 but you’ll be pleased to hear that the album is getting, yes, a re-issue next week now that it has a new hit to support it, let’s see if it can outpeak the No 34 position it attained back in February.




Heavy D & The Boyz advance 9-4 (34,000) displacing Erasure down to No 5 (29,000) and Paula Abdul finally rises 7-6 (27,000). Three fallers to conclude, Kenny Thomas falls 5-8 (23,000), Incognito featuring Jocelyn Brown drop 6-9 (21,000) in a nice spot of symmetry and Cola Boy slip 8-10 (19,000).


1- (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (96,000)
2- ANY DREAM WILL DO- Jason Donovan (47,000)
3- YOU COULD BE MINE- Guns N Roses (38,000)
4- NOW THAT WE FOUND LOVE- Heavy D & The Boyz (34,000)
5- CHORUS- Erasure (29,000)
6- RUSH RUSH- Paula Abdul (27,000)
7- THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO MMMM- C & C Music Factory (24,000)
8- THINKING BOUT YOUR LOVE- Kenny Thomas (23,000)
9- ALWAYS THERE- Incognito ft Jocelyn Brown (21,000)
10- 7 WAYS TO LOVE- Cola Boy (19,000)

Posted by: Doctor Blind 20th August 2021, 05:37 PM

Unless you count their Paul Van Dyk feature in 2000, Saint Etienne never had a T10 hit in their own right and yet side-project Cola Boy managed to get there with ease. Closest they got otherwise was with “He's On The Phone” in November 1995 (#11) and that was thanks mainly due to the Motiv8 mix.

I like it but I've never been able to love “7 Ways To Love”, always feels like I should love it more than I do.

Posted by: dandy* 20th August 2021, 06:34 PM

Sales for Chorus held up so much better than I’d have ever imagined in its first month. Good going!

Not a massive fan of any of the new tracks in the latest updates, although I did enjoy C&C Music Factory at the time.

Posted by: Jester 20th August 2021, 08:44 PM

They only showed one episode tonight

Posted by: Bjork 20th August 2021, 08:56 PM

love that Cola Boy single!

Posted by: Colm 24th August 2021, 09:15 AM

It still wasn't enough to be in the Top 40 selling singles of the year which I had hoped/expected.

Posted by: Doctor Blind 24th August 2021, 09:36 AM

I hadn't ever properly heard “Chorus” before (only knew “Love To Hate You” from 1991) and it's actually really great. Was listening back to the Top 40 from 7 July with Mark Goodier: https://www.mixcloud.com/Catweazle78/bbc-radio-1-official-uk-top-40-mark-goodier-7th-july-1991/

Not much else of note in the Top 40 this week sadly, though obviously did enjoy Lisa Lisa/Cult Jam, Cubic 22 and Lenny Kravitz!

Posted by: Colm 24th August 2021, 06:21 PM

You've never heard Chorus before?


Dandy*, we need to administer some sort of punishment here

Posted by: sn👠ke 28th August 2021, 08:39 PM

Oh we are on to the Bryan Adams record #1 era already. Must start watching the TOTP reruns again soon.

Who sampled the opening lines of Beverley Craven's Promise Me in their 2012 track 4AM.

Posted by: Colm 29th August 2021, 07:48 AM

That's a neat little loop closed off. 😁

Posted by: Bjork 30th August 2021, 06:36 AM

that 4am track had one of the worst vocals I've ever heard like ever :/ was no Beverly

Posted by: Jester 30th August 2021, 04:35 PM

I think you are one behind now Gezza (when you get back from your holiday!)

Posted by: Gezza 31st August 2021, 04:12 PM

27TH JULY



Responding well to the release of the movie it’s from, Bryan Adams’ “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” spends a third week at the top and is incredibly still improving sales wise to 106,000, the second highest weekly tally of the year with a total sale of 346,000. That puts the track in the top 5 already for 1991 with Cher firmly in its sights, it also rises to the US No 1 spot. No real competition around either, Heavy D & The Boyz climb 4-2 but sold just 36,000 in the process, the difference of 70,000 is the largest gap of the year.






For the first time in 9 years OMD have managed back to back top 10 singles, last single “Sailing On The Seven Seas” made No 3 in April and now “Pandora’s Box” charges 13-7 (25,000). The song takes its name from the 1929 film of the same name which features in the promo and starred Louisa Brooks who provides the inspiration for the song. Parent album “Sugar Tax” remains buoyant lifting 22-14 in response and has sold over 70,000 since its release 11 weeks ago.





Released just 7 weeks after their debut hit “Get The Funk Out” made the charts and peaked at No 19, Extreme get a second top 20 and it’s also a song that made No 1 in the US last month, “More Than Words”. It marks a departure from their normally rock based approach and broke them in their homeland, the album “Extreme II: Pornograffitti” has been available for 9 weeks but has a new peak this week at No 22, the single “More Than Words” debuts impressively at No 8 (23,000) after substantial radio support.






Pulling something positive out of a tragic situation The Shamen’s Will Sinnot died in May whilst filming the video for “Move Any Mountain” which this week crashes straight into the chart at No 9 (20,000). The song has been available on the album “En-Tact” since late last year and peaked at No 55 in its original form as “Progen” but has been remixed by the Beatmasters for this release and continues the trend of each of their previous hits by peaking higher than the last (No’s 55, 42, and 29). The group have been developing their sound over the last 3 years and are starting to see real rewards at a difficult time personally, if you like the sound then there will be an album due in a month containing 15 remixes the track!



Jason Donovan’s former chart topper slips 2-3 (33,000) and has total sales of 375,000 thusly placing it at No 4 on the YTD charts keeping ahead of Bryan Adams if only for a week. C & C Music factory bounce 7-4 (26,000) ahead of a tumbling Guns N Roses 3-5 (26,000) and Paula Abdul holds at No 6 (25,000) but is losing sales.



Cher remains No 1 on the album charts for a fifth week with “Love Hurts” and a second single “Love & Understanding” arrives 15-10 (16,000) this week. It is penned by Diane Warren and is a substantially bigger hit than when the two paired up previously on “You Wouldn’t Know Love” which made No 55, Cher’s never had back to back solo top 10 singles until now so it’s quite some achievement so far into her career. It is of course the follow up to the best selling single of the year so far “Shoop Shoop Song” which is also present on the “Love Hurts” though not on US editions of the album interestingly where this serves as the introductory release.




1- (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (106,000)
2- NOW THAT WE’VE FOUND LOVE- Heavy D & The Boyz (36,000)
3- ANY DREAM WILL DO- Jason Donovan (33,000)
4- THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO MMM- C & C Music Factory (26,000)
5- YOU COULD BE MINE- Guns N Roses (26,000)
6- RUSH RUSH- Paula Abdul (25,000)
7- PANDORA’S BOX- OMD (25,000)
8- MORE THAN WORDS- Extreme (23,000)
9- MOVE ANY MOUNTAIN- The Shamen (20,000)
10- LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING- Cher (16,000)

Posted by: steve201 31st August 2021, 09:12 PM

I love the OMD comeback in the early 90s!! Fantastic to see, such an amazing band!

Posted by: Bjork 1st September 2021, 06:39 AM

great to have OMD and The Shamen in the top 10

funny how all those US rock bands could only get hits with ballads!

Posted by: dandy* 1st September 2021, 09:20 PM

Great week for new ones in the top 10. Love OMD and Shamen whilst Love and Understanding is my favourite Cher track. Extreme is okay too, if a little generic.

Posted by: steve201 2nd September 2021, 07:20 PM

Probably the reason why grunge broke through!

Posted by: Doctor Blind 2nd September 2021, 09:46 PM

I don't want a Cherry Bakewell thank u very much.

Peaking at 13 this week, Cathy Dennis:



and new at 26 was Frankie Knuckles with what would become his only UK Top 20 hit - “The Whistle Song”

Posted by: Gezza 3rd September 2021, 03:49 PM

3RD AUGUST



“Robin Hood” sits atop the movie charts and Bryan Adams simultaneously tops the singles chart for a 4th week and sold 119,000 copies last week, that’s a new 1991 record. It also charges 5-2 on the YTD list and should topple Cher as early as next week at its current rate, for a song to be increasing its sales in its fourth week at No 1 the song is highly unusual, the last time it happened? Well all the way back in December 1988 when “Mistletoe & Wine” had some Christmas help to do it.





Originally a No 3 hit 11 years ago for 13 yr old Stacy Lattisaw, “Jump To The Beat” is now issued as the third Dannii Minogue single and she gets a second top 10 hit with it as it rushes 14-8 (24,000). Dannii’s album has been only a moderate success so far spending only one week in the top 20 (at its No 8 peak) but does revive 38-28 this week and has yet to sell 50,000 in total.



Experiencing a 95% sales hike this week, Extreme charge 8-2 (44,000) but More Than Words” is further behind Bryan Adams than Heavy D was last week! Speaking of Heavy D he falls 2-3 (38,000) whilst gaining sales, and The Shamen jet in 9-4 (34,000) with the top 3 seemingly assured next week. C & C Music Factory fall back 4-5 (28,000) also gaining sales but must be affecting by their album soaring 55-9 to reach a new peak as it gets re-advertised. OMD hold at No 7 (25,000) and Cher similarly holds at No 10 (18,000) but Guns N Roses are down 5-9 (18,000). Also falling is Jason Donovan 3-6 (25,000) but “Any Dream” has now sold its 400,000th copy as it climbs above Chesney Hawkes on the YTD but is immediately leapfrogged in turn by Bryan Adams.


1- (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (119,000)
2- MORE THAN WORDS- Extreme (44,000)
3- NOW THAT WE FOUND LOVE- Heavy D & The Boyz (38,000)
4- MOVE ANY MOUNTAIN- The Shamen (34,000)
5- THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO MMM- C & C Music Factory (28,000)
6- ANY DREAM WILL DO- Jason Donovan (25,000)
7- PANDORA’S BOX- OMD (25,000)
8- JUMP TO THE BEAT- Dannii Minogue (24,000)
9- YOU COULD BE MINE- Guns N Roses (18,000)
10- LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING- Cher (18,000)

Posted by: sn👠ke 3rd September 2021, 06:32 PM

I love Move Any Mountain by The Shamen, their best song imo (although I really like Boss Drum too) and one of their most indie influenced I would say. Now That We Found Love by Heavy D is a great tune. Things To Make You Go Mmm and Jump To The Beat are good too. I didn't know until now that Dannii's version is a cover. Pandora's Box I am not very familar with but it sounds good on listening to it now - also more modern sounding than Sailing on the Seven Seas I think.

Love and Understanding is one of my favourite Cher songs. Extreme More Than Words is very nice but is it as good as Mr Big - To Be With You? Yes rock ballads seem to have been very popular in 1991.

Good tune. I reckon Bob Sinclar might have been influenced by one of the flute melodies in this.

Posted by: Bjork 3rd September 2021, 07:57 PM

I much preferred the rock ballads from the late 80s like Heart-Alone or Whitesnake-Is this love

Bryan Adams with bigger sales than I anticipated!

Posted by: sn👠ke 4th September 2021, 08:04 PM

I don't find Mr Big - To Be With You saccharine, to me it just sounds like a few guys drunkenly singing a song in the pub lol. Extreme - More Than Words meanwhile with its harmonies seems influenced by the Righteous Brothers and is another 60s nostalgia track I think.

Jump To The Beat with its Stock Aitken Waterman style late 80s style production does sound a bit dated for 1991.

I haven't minded hearing Everything I Do on the last few totp (I particularly liked the cool graphic they did with the live screen appropriately turning into an arrow on one of the episodes to introduce the Robin Hood themed video). Despite not being born until 1992, there was a time I really disliked Everything I Do because iirc VH1 music channel which my parents put on the TV as background music quite a bit back then were still overplaying it in the late 90s and early 00s. But it is undoubtedly a track with quite a bit of emotion to it especially the first verse so I can see why it was so popular, actually more popular than the film it was associated with I would say - unlike Wet Wet Wet/4 weddings where both were equally popular.

Posted by: Jade 12th September 2021, 11:51 PM

I’ve now caught up on the past 6 episodes of TOTP - from the first one ‘Chorus’ by Erasure was such a good discovery, added it straight to my 90s playlist! Oops, I know some of their stuff but clearly not enough of it. On the other hand, my dad was/is a big fan of The Shamen so I'm very familiar with their music, looove 'Move Any Mountain'

I’m also into the top 10s for: Divinyls, Cola Boy, Cher & Extreme! This one was a huge step up in quality from 'The Shoop Shoop Song' for Cher.

Getting very familiar with that Bryan Adams video and accompanying performance

Posted by: dandy* 13th September 2021, 08:14 AM

Yes at the new found love for Chorus in this thread

Posted by: Shoat 13th September 2021, 11:52 AM

We simply must expand this beyond Buzzjack to become a full-blown "Chorus Public Awareness" campaign.

But perhaps we should ask Andy and Vince not to step out into public sight whilst we do so. It might ruin it all. Best they remain either enigmas or known as the Abba drag act.

I'm looking forward to seeing if up-and-rising star MC Kinky might appear in a future countdown. Maybe.

Posted by: Bjork 13th September 2021, 02:15 PM

I'm surprised, thought Chorus was an Erasure classic, sure it's in their top 5 best known songs, maybe even top 3
I'd say Sometimes and A Little Respect, and then maybe Chorus would be the next most popular

Posted by: Shoat 13th September 2021, 05:20 PM

If Spotify is any measure, Chorus doesn't even feature in their top 10 sadly!

01. A Little Respect
02. Love To Hate You
03. Oh L'amour
04. Always
05. Sometimes
06. Stop
07. Chains Of Love
08. Blue Savannah
09. Take A Chance On Me
10. Ship Of Fools
11. Chorus

Of course that may just be a measure of the taste of the Spotify office junior let loose on their retro playlists.

Posted by: Jester 13th September 2021, 05:24 PM

I miss you about the forum!

I have loved Erasure for years but Chorus was under the radar until now for me.

Posted by: dandy* 13th September 2021, 06:07 PM

That list does look about right to me. I think even at the time and the album release taking away sales, Love To Hate You was a bigger single than Chorus (although I await Gezza informing me I am wrong about that!)

Posted by: Gezza 13th September 2021, 06:12 PM

No you're right, LTHY outsold it in 1991.

Posted by: Colm 14th September 2021, 06:39 AM

For 3 Erasure albums in a row (The Innocents, Wild, Chorus) the best selling on each album was not the first single (A Little Respect, Blue Savannah, Love to Hate You)

Posted by: Bjork 14th September 2021, 07:52 AM

does anyone have the total sales for Chorus vs Love to Hate You?

Posted by: gooddelta 14th September 2021, 07:57 AM

I was going to say Always strikes me as something close to a ‘signature hit’, behind A Little Respect and Sometimes.

I wasn’t overly familiar with Chorus either but it’s a great track and the TOTP performance was genius.

Posted by: Bjork 14th September 2021, 08:09 AM

I never trust those Spotify lists to look at popularity cos they can be very biased if a song is in a soundtrack or a given playlist

I'd tend to agree A Little Resect is their #1 song but sure Sometimes is #2
and I wouldn't have put Oh l'amour even in their top 10 most popular

Posted by: Gezza 17th September 2021, 08:05 PM

10TH AUGUST



As you were at the top of the charts this week but Bryan Adams is finally starting to fade….slowly, just 4% in fact to 114,000, that also means it has sold 579,000 and thusly becomes 1991’s best seller as it powers past Cher and is also the 5th biggest seller of the decade to boot. Extreme are once again runners up despite another 35% sales improvement to 59,000, in reality they are a world away from deposing Adams.





Brothers Richard & Fred Fairbrass and bassist Rob Manzoli make up Right Said Fred who are providing this year’s big novelty hit by the looks of it, “I’m Too Sexy” in a tongue in cheek homage to the fashion industry and the song lifts 12-3 (37,000) this week. The band lied to their bank manager to get the funding together to make the record but can be assured of paying it back now, their name is taken from the Bernard Cribbins 1962 hit of the same name and the song is not without a sample, this time the instrumental break is taken from Jimi Hendrix’s “Third Stone From The Sun”.





Fourth album “And Justice For All” proved to be Metallica’s breakthrough in the UK and provided them with their biggest hit “One” which made No 13 in 1989. Now comes the fifth album (which will be self titled) and a first release from it “Enter Sandman” which at a stroke becomes their biggest hit as it smashes in at No 5 (32,000). The album is out in a fortnight to strike whilst the iron is hot.





1991 has been a trying year for Tim Simenon, with a second Bomb The Bass album ready to go earlier this year the lead single “Love So True” fell victim to Radio 1’s ruling that some band names were too contentious, given the gulf war, to promote (see also Massive Attack’s renaming) and so the track went largely without airplay and even a re-pressing using Simenon’s own name couldn’t save the single. However second single “Winter In July”, which has a sample of Japan’s “Ghosts” running through it, provides a 5th top 10 single lifting 14-7 (24,000) pre album release to salvage things.





Talking of salvaged eras, Deacon Blue’s third album “Fellow Hoodlums” was launched with the single “Your Swaying Arms” which stiffed at No 23 but did the job enough to see the album debut at No 2 behind Seal in June. “Twist & Shout” is not a cover of the Beatles track but a new composition which gives the album a boost in the arm as it re-climbs 14-9 this week as the single advances 15-10 (18,000).



The Shamen hold at No 4 (36,000) after the surprise arrival of Right Said Fred, and Heavy D & The Boyz drop 3-6 (31,000) but their album debuts at No 40, and reaching a new peak of No 8 on that album chart means bad news for C & C Music Factory as “Things That Make You Go Mmmm” drops 5-8 (20,000) and OMD dive 7-9 (18,000) but once again the album charts provides the answer as “Sugar Tax” reaches a new peak 11-4 thirteen weeks after its release.


1- (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (114,000)
2- MORE THAN WORDS- Extreme (59,000)
3- I’M TOO SEXY- Right Said Fred (37,000)
4- MOVE ANY MOUNTAIN- The Shamen (36,000)
5- ENTER SANDMAN- Metallica (32,000)
6- NOW THAT WE FOUND LOVE- Heavy D & The Boyz (31,000)
7- WINTER IN JULY- Bomb The Bass (24,000)
8- THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO MMM- C & C Music Factory (20,000)
9- PANDORA’S BOX- OMD (18,000)
10- TWIST AND SHOUT- Deacon Blue (18,000)

Posted by: Gezza 17th September 2021, 08:20 PM

17TH AUGUST



Becoming the first chart topper to spend 6 weeks at the top in two years, and thusly the longest chart topper of the decade so far, Bryan Adams; “Everything I Do” sold 111,000 copies to almost top the 700,000 mark and only has The Righteous Brothers “Unchained Melody” ahead of it in terms of the decade to date list. It’s descent in sales is so small that it remains ahead of the field with over the double the sales of the runner up, which is now Right Said Fred’s ” I’m Too Sexy”, that sold 56,000, just 3,000 more than Extreme who slip 2-3 as their challenge fades. With nothing in sight you have to fancy Adams to remain at the top for a 7th week, the longest stay in 7 years!





Spandau Ballet are back, a new greatest hits collection is due and their biggest hit “True” is getting a re-issue next week, but far the biggest promo for it is the new PM Dawn single “Set Adrift On Memory Bliss” which is based extensively on the 1983 track and improves substantially on the No 36 peak of their first hit by slamming in at No 5 (29,000). Tony Hadley actually appears in the promo for the track which also samples the beat from Erik B & Rakim’s “Paid In Full” and must be fancied to become the main threat to Bryan Adams in the forthcoming weeks.





Following up the massive No 1 “I Wanna Sex You Up” seems to have been no problem for Color Me Badd, their new single “All 4 Love” moves 11-6 (28,000). It may find further progress is checked by the release of their first album this week.





Already an American No 4 hit DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince’s “Summertime” is appropriately riding high in the charts over here in August wafting 13-10 (19,000). Once more it has a sample at heart this time Kool & The Gang’s “Summer Madness”, the duo’s only other chart hit was the 1986 No 21 hit “Girls Ain’t Nothing But Trouble” which can also be found on the CD version of the single, but since then Will Smith (“Fresh Prince”) has landed a prime acting job on the comedy “Fresh Prince Of Bel Air” which has been a hit in the US and is now showing on BBC2 here.



The Shamen spend a third week at No 4 but they are fading fast with 30,000 takers this week and Bomb The Bass finding the going tough further down holding at No 7 (23,000), heavy D & The Boyz continue south 6-8 (23,000) and Metallica beat a hasty retreat 5-9 (21,000).


1- (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (111,000)
2- I’M TOO SEXY- Right Said Fred (56,000)
3- MORE THAN WORDS- Extreme (53,000)
4- MOVE ANY MOUNTAIN- The Shamen (30,000)
5- SET ADRIFT ON MEMORY BLISS- PM Dawn (29,000)
6- ALL 4 LOVE- Color Me Badd (28,000)
7- WINTER IN JULY- Bomb The Bass (23,000)
8- NOW THAT WE’VE FOUND LOVE- Heavy D & The Boyz (23,000)
9- ENTER SANDMAN- Metallica (21,000)
10- SUMMERTIME- DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince (19,000)

Posted by: Doctor Blind 17th September 2021, 10:20 PM

Oh I did enjoy that “Monsters and Angels” track from Voice of the Beehive - I only knew them for their The Partridge Family cover of “I Think I Love You” from later in 91 which was on Now! 20.

Had a pretty impressive chart run too for a #17 hit: 60-38-27-24-20-18-{17}-25-38-62-> 10




Oh and PM Dawn the highest new entry at number 5! *.*

Posted by: dandy* 17th September 2021, 10:23 PM

Oh my you need to hear more Voice of the Beehive!

I Say Nothing and Don't Call Me Baby were the best two

Posted by: steve201 17th September 2021, 10:39 PM

I always thought of Voice of the Beehive being at their peak in the late 80s!

Posted by: Colm 18th September 2021, 06:23 AM

Amazing songs.

Posted by: Bjork 18th September 2021, 06:37 AM

their 1988 album Let it Bee is amazing, my fav tracks are I Say Nothing and
I Walk the Earth, which I think just peaked outside the top 40

nice to see Metallica having a hit single

Posted by: steve201 18th September 2021, 08:48 AM

‘Enter Sandman’ is iconic!

Posted by: fiesta 18th September 2021, 10:42 AM

I agree with the comments above Voice Of The Beehive 80s hits are best. Tracy & Melissa Belland of the group are daughters of Bruce Belland of 1950"s group The Four Preps - probably most famous now for including member Ed Cobb who wrote Tainted Love.

Posted by: Jester 18th September 2021, 01:50 PM

Loved the De La Soul Saturday track just out the top 10!

Plus wonderful to see PM Dawn and the Fresh Prince popping up.

Oh and I never realised Blur’s Bang was ever on TOTP. Tune!

Posted by: sn👠ke 18th September 2021, 08:49 PM

The PM Dawn track is great, such chilled out hip hop was fairly unusual at this time.

Fun fact: I'm Too Sexy is not the only 1991 hit to parody the fashion industry, Genesis' I Can't Dance does so to, in its case adverts for jeans.

Posted by: dandy* 19th September 2021, 12:18 PM

Set Adrift On Memory Bliss is great, PM Dawn are so underrated as they quite a few good singles.

Posted by: King Rollo 22nd September 2021, 06:33 PM

I didn't know about the Jimi Hendrix song. I recognise the same melody from Dance With The Devil, Cozy Powell's top 5 hit from 1973.

Posted by: Gezza 24th September 2021, 05:07 PM

24TH AUGUST




“(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” spends a seventh week at No 1 and is now the longest chart topper since “Two Tribes” ruled for 9 weeks in the summer of 1984. It is fading but still only slowly, another 16% to 93,000 bringing its haul to 783,000 and it will, in all likelihood, become the biggest selling single of the 90s so far next week, a million may not be beyond it ultimately.



Right Said Fred wait patiently at No 2 again but they are eating into the lead Adams has albeit slowly, they sold 68,000 copies enough to outpace PM Dawn who climb 5-3 (60,000) with a 107% sales increase and may yet prove too much for Adams.



The only new song in the top 10 comes as a new entry at No 9 from dance act The Prodigy. Their first single “What Evil Lurks” stopped short at No 118 earlier this year but “Charly” has much more success, it’s helped by utilising the BBC series of child safety adverts in the 70s “Charley Says” which featured a young boy and his cat (voiced by Kenny Everett) set to a rave backing. It convinced 22,000 buyers in its first week on the charts.



Improving this week are Color Me Badd who lift 6-5 (36,000) as their album debuts at No 8, and DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince lift 10-8 (23,000). Bomb The Bass hold at No 7 (23,000) on identical sales from last week, but it’s all over for Extreme who slip 3-4 (37,000), while The Shamen also surrender the No 4 spot 4-6 (24,000) and Heavy D & The Boyz drop 8-10 (19,000).


1- (EVERYTHING I DO)- I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (93,000)
2- I’M TOO SEXY- Right Said Fred (68,000)
3- SET ADRIFT ON MEMORY BLISS- PM Dawn (60,000)
4- MORE THAN WORDS- Extreme (37,000)
5- ALL 4 LOVE- Color Me Badd (36,000)
6- MOVE ANY MOUNTAIN- The Shamen (24,000)
7- WINTER IN JULY- Bomb The Bass (23,000)
8- SUMMERTIME- DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince (23,000)
9- CHARLY- The Prodigy (22,000)
10- NOW THAT WE FOUND LOVE- Heavy D & The Boyz (19,000)

Posted by: Gezza 24th September 2021, 05:45 PM

31ST AUGUST




Eight weeks in and Bryan Adams shows no sign of faltering just yet suffering a mere 9% sales loss to haul in another 84,000 copies last week to become the biggest seller of the 90s to date and indeed the last song to sell more was Jennifer Rush’s million seller back in 1985. It’s losing sales at such a gentle rate that the million is now entirely possible, even probable, incredible given his previous best was the No 11 track “Run To You”, sales last week were 84,000. Right Said Fred and PM Dawn also complete the static top 3 but all singles are fading in popularity, “I’m Too Sexy” dipping to 62,000 and “Set Adrift On Memory Bliss” sold just 46,000, neither will topple Adams it seems.






Two songs with better hopes are the Prodigy who fly 9-4 (41,000) and our highest new entry, Prince & The New Power Generation with “Gett Off”. The song charted at No 114 last week on sales of cassette and 7” of the import, the 12” and CD versions of the same import of the US release are too long in length to chart in the singles chart so move 74-33 on the album charts instead. Now with a full set of UK releases it becomes the second time in Prince’s history that he’s debuted in the top 5, the first time was with “Batdance” in 1989 which entered at No 3. The song is a last minute addition to his new album “Diamonds & Pearls” replacing “Horny Pony” which gets relegated to the B-side here, it sold 41,000 copies last week just getting defeated by the Prodigy.





Zoe auditioned and failed to become the lead singer of the band Brilliant, not to be deterred she started dating producer and band member Youth who is responsible for the singer providing the backing vocals on Bananarama’s “Pop Life” album and the remix of “Sunshine On A Rainy Day” currently climbing 14-8 (25,000). In its original form it made No 53 last November but has been brought to a more wide audience through its use on an advert for Amiga 500 computers this year causing a remix and now a hit.





If Right Said Fred thought they had the tag “novelty hit of the summer” all to themselves then the song which explodes 32-9 (19,000) this week proves a challenger. “I’ll Be Back” is officially credited to Arnee & The Terminators and is an ode of sorts to “The Terminator” film series starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, if you’re a regular listener to Radio 1’s Steve Wright show then you’ll know that Steve and the boys are behind the track in reality who timed the release with the new “Terminator 2” film and because they wanted to see if they could have a hit single. Job Done.





It’s the end of an era as the final Jason Donovan single to be produced by PWL is released, rather disappointingly it’s a cover again, this time of the 1967 No 12 track “Happy Together” which has been recorded for the forthcoming “Greatest Hits” album next month which brings his contract to an end, Clearly his involvement with “Joseph” has told Donovan that his future interests are better served away from the Stock and Waterman stable (Matt Aiken left this summer) and as if to ratify that opinion the soundtrack to the show duly debuts at No 1 on the album charts. The single struggles 12-10 (18,000) this week so at least the chapter closes on a high with his 10th top 10 single.



Color Me Badd drop 5-6 (29,000) and Extreme fall 4-7 (25,000).


1- (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (84,000)
2- I’M TOO SEXY- Right Said Fred (62,000)
3- SET ADRIFT ON MEMORY BLISS- PM Dawn (46,000)
4- CHARLY- The Prodigy (41,000)
5- GETT OFF- Prince/ NPG (41,000)
6- ALL 4 LOVE- Color Me Badd (29,000)
7- MORE THAN WORDS- Extreme (25,000)
8- SUNSHINE ON A RAINY DAY- Zoe (25,000)
9- I’LL BE BACK- Arnee & The Terminators (19,000)
10- HAPPY TOGETHER- Jason Donovan (18,000)

Posted by: sn👠ke 24th September 2021, 09:06 PM

The Prodigy's Charly must have sounded very unusual to many listening to TOTP at the time. It must have been a big surprise to many at the time that it was such a big hit.

Sunshine on a Rainy Day is a rather cheesy pop song I think, but good all the same.

Posted by: steve201 24th September 2021, 09:28 PM

Seems like a long time ago Jason and Kylie were dancing round the stage in Jan 1989 singing ‘Especially For You’ like a different era completely, we must be fully into the 90s now!

Posted by: Jade 24th September 2021, 11:11 PM

It’s been a high quality couple of weeks for new songs in the top 10 - I’m a big fan of those by Metallica, PM Dawn and The Prodigy, great to see the start of the latter now I also really like the Prince and Bomb The Bass singles - ‘Winter In July’ was a fab discovery on these TOTP episodes!

Posted by: Gezza 1st October 2021, 06:37 PM

7TH SEPTEMBER



Bryan Adams makes nine weeks at No 1 easily, the last song to spend longer consecutively was 36 years ago when Slim Whitman’s “Rose Marie” did 11 weeks at the top. The success of the single is now approaching something of a phenomenon, the film has started to drop in the rankings but the single remains strong, in fact the next thing to threaten the ongoing domination of it could be the release of Adams’ new album “Waking Up The Neighbours” out in three weeks. It sold 78,000 copies last week to bring its total to 945,000 and should be a million seller at some point this week.



Also worth noting is Right Said Fred’s “I’m Too Sexy” which is stuck for a fourth week at No 2 (56,000) and has now sold 301,000 itself in its tenacity though it is fading week on week now. It stays ahead of four climbers, The Prodigy 4-3 (46,000), Prince & The New Power Generation 5-4 (40,000) and Arnee & The Terminators 9-5 (30,000), and Zoe 8-6 (29,000) who are all chasing down the top 2. PM Dawn make way for all these climbers, they stumble 3-7 (23,000) and further down Color Me Badd reverse 6-10 (20,000) but see their album make the top 3.



Gaining popularity first in the north west before starting to get the nation hooked Oceanic’s “Insanity” is a true example of a song which has grown strongly and slowly over a good few months, appearances on “The Hitman And Her” and “Top Of The Pops” have complemented clubplay and assisted where radio has resisted. It rises slowly 11-8 (23,000).





Starting off as a prayer written by Martika “Love…Thy Will Be Done” was transformed into a single by the fair hand of Prince and serves as her first single from her second album “Martika’s iamspamspamami which debuts at No 18 this week. Her last album produced two top 10 singles in “Toy Soldiers” (#5) and “I Feel The Earth Move” (#7) but led to diminishing returns as last single “Water” faltered at No 59, she starts this campaign off well as the new single advances 12-9 (20,000).



1- (EVERYTHING I DO)- I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (78,000)
2- I’M TOO SEXY- Right Said Fred (56,000)
3- CHARLY- The Prodigy (46,000)
4- GETT OFF- Prince & NPG (40,000)
5- I’LL BE BACK- Arnee & The Terminators (30,000)
6- SUNSHINE ON A RAINY DAY- Zoe (29,000)
7- SET ADRIFT ON MEMORY BLISS- PM Dawn (23,000)
8- INSANITY- Oceanic (23,000)
9- LOVE....THY WILL BE DONE- Martika (20,000)
10- ALL 4 LOVE- Color Me Badd (20,000)

Posted by: Gezza 1st October 2021, 07:06 PM

14TH SEPTEMBER



Paula Abdul gets her revenge on Bryan Adams this week in the US, his “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” knocked off her “Rush Rush” in July but this week Abdul’s follow up “Promise Of A New Day” topples Adams after 7 weeks at the top. There’s no repeat here though as the song takes its tenth week at the top with ease selling 74,000 copies over the course of the week which naturally means it is now officially a million seller with total sales at 1,019,000. It’s been around so long now that his follow up “Can’t Stop This Thing We Started” debuts at No 25 enabling him to become the first act to be at No 1 whilst the follow up is also in the top 40 since Phil Collins in early 85, though honourable mention must go to Madonna later that year with her re-issued “Holiday” and “Into The Groove” hogging the top 2.



What chances a record equalling eleventh week? Very good in fact, Right Said Fred spend an amazing fifth straight week at the No 2 spot, a feat not seen since Wham! did the same in 84/85, sales again dip to 49,000 though just 2,000 ahead of The Prodigy who are making heavy going at overcoming them. A bit of shuffling around below them occurs, Zoe climbs 6-4 (38,000) and Oceanic follow 8-5 (31,000) which is bad news for Prince who recedes 4-6 (30,000).



Based extensively around the Staple Singers 1972 #30 hit “I’ll Take You There”, Salt N Pepa seem to be back in public favour with a second top 10 hit of the year in “Let’s Talk About Sex”. Dealing with AIDS and the US censorship around the topic in some circles, the tune comes in a more direct mix called “Let’s Talk About AIDS” which has a promo featuring prominent acts doing cameo spots including PM Dawn and Monie Love. The normal version is the one getting the promo here though it is proving hard to generate airplay for the song perhaps because of the S word but in any case it springs 13-7 (26,000).



Arnee & The Terminators will, in all likelihood, not be back in the top 10 as they collapse 5-8 (21,000) and Martika holds at No 9 (18,000) but a mixed week for PM Dawn as the single drops 7-10 (17,000) but the album arrives at No 8.


1- (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (74,000)
2- I’M TOO SEXY- Right Said Fred (49,000)
3- CHARLY- The Prodigy (47,000)
4- SUNSHINE ON A RAINY DAY- Zoe (38,000)
5- INSANITY- Oceanic (31,000)
6- GETT OFF- Prince & NPG (30,000)
7- LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX- Salt N Pepa (26,000)
8- I’LL BE BACK- Arnee & The Terminators (21,000)
9- LOVE...THY WILL BE DONE- Martika (18,000)
10 –SET ADRIFT ON MEMORY BLISS- PM Dawn (17,000)

Posted by: sn👠ke 1st October 2021, 08:29 PM

Oceanic - Insanity is rather cheesy compared to the other dance hits at the time.

Posted by: Colm 1st October 2021, 09:22 PM

It's terrible.

Posted by: Riser 2nd October 2021, 12:27 AM

Absolutely adore 'Love...Thy Will Be Done'

Posted by: Bjork 2nd October 2021, 05:43 AM

we love the staying power of Bryan!

really like both newies, always liked Martika, didn't know this started as a prayer written by her... I always thought it was just a Prime song that he gave to her...

always liked the Oceanic song too, actually much more than other dance songs from that time from Prodigy or Shamen

Posted by: Doctor Blind 2nd October 2021, 12:13 PM

This week (8 September 1991) there are two debuts by songs with “Such A Feeling” in the title - both bangers - “Such A Feeling” by Bizarre Inc. in at 28 and “Such A Good Feeling” by Brothers In Rhythm in at 34. Incidentally they ended up having very similar chart runs and ended up next to each other when they peaked at 13 and 14 respectively. *.*




But my personal fave is Saint Etienne with their debut Top 40 hit - in at 39 with “Only Love Can Break Your Heart”.



Also - Tommy Vance was on presenting duties for https://www.mixcloud.com/Catweazle78/bbc-radio-1-official-uk-top-40-tommy-vance-8th-aug-1991/ - the man has the greatest voice in radio! he also spent more time giving little facts and figures about all the new entries so it was a more interesting listen than Bruno Brookes IMO.

“Winter In July” is GORGEOUS. Made my 1991 compilation: https://i.imgur.com/DL1K5IV.png

Posted by: steve201 2nd October 2021, 12:34 PM

Will listen to Tommy Vance doing the chart, didn’t realise he was still on radio 1 at this point!

Posted by: sn👠ke 4th October 2021, 11:01 PM

I only discovered Winter In July recently from the TOTP episodes - cool sounding trip hop and sounds great for its time - its like a less well known '7 seconds'.

I listened to Tommy Vance's shows from the 80s on the mixcloud a while back and yes the facts about the songs he gives made it more interesting to listen to.

I like the use of the 'Oi' crowd shout sounds from the Bizarre Inc Such a Feeling. The Brothers In Rhythm track is more mainstream house sounding, it could have equally been a hit in 1990 or in 1995 when piano house made a revival.



I like the follow-up Controlling Me considerably better, it doesn't have such a cheesy sounding repetitive chorus with key changes! Sadly it didn't make top 10.

Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn 9th October 2021, 11:36 AM

Sunshine on a Rainy Day

Oceanic

Posted by: Gezza 9th October 2021, 11:54 AM

21ST SEPTEMBER



Records are equaled this week in the top 2 as Bryan Adams and Right Said Fred again combine to roadblock the top 2 for a sixth week. For Adams the 71,000 sold of “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” give it an 11th week at the top which equals the record by Slim Whitman in terms of most consecutive weeks at the top. Next target is the 18 weeks in total spent by Frankie Lane’s “I Believe” in 1953 though that was in three stints.



Meanwhile “I’m Too Sexy” holds at No 2 on a sale of 39,000, that’s the sixth straight week in the runner up spot equaling Father Abraham & The Smurfs “Smurf Song” in 1978 when it was held off by John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John. For the Fred’s it seems unlikely that it will be a record maker as it was just 2,000 ahead of Salt N Pepa this week and took TOTP to overcome the girls in the end- they won’t have that boost this week. Oceanic are also on TOTP on Thursday as “Insanity” expands 5-4 (36,000) and may progress further.



Highest new entry of the week comes from Erasure and their second single from next month’s “Chorus” album, “Love To Hate You” ramps up the camp factor by using the instrumental break in “I Will Survive” to great effect. It becomes their 10th top 10 single in 5 years as it crashes straight in at No 7(26,000), that’s their equal third highest debut ever after “Chorus” (#3) and “Drama!” (#6) but they’re yet to have that elusive chart topper.





Debuting one place lower than Erasure is the new Guns N Roses single “Don’t Cry” which previews two new albums by the band “Use Your Illusion” volumes I & II which are both out this week and go head to head for top honours. The single is unusually available on both albums though in different versions with different verses, and perversely the single edit is actually a third version! It becomes the band’s fifth top 10 hit but only their second to arrive instantly there, they are arguably the biggest band in the world at present and sold 21,000 last week.





Currently creating waves on the dancefloor Sabrina Johnston’s “Peace” is the latest dance track to become a top 10 hit floating 17-9 (19,000). The 22 yr old was born in the Germany but calls the US her home now, she auditioned to become a backing singer on the Rolling Stones “Steel Wheels” tour but instead opted to record her debut album, not looking like a bad move at present.





Some call them dance pioneers but the use of pop samples on techo and rave backings is a new and innovative development in the genre’s and Utah Saints are a duo who are much revered in certain circles. The first single “What Can You Do For Me” samples Gwen Guthrie’s 1986 #5 hit “Ain’t Nothing Going On But The Rent”, Eurythmics “There Must Be An Angel” (1985, #1) and a spot of Queen and Kiss, the mish mash nudges 11-10 (17,000).




1- (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (71,000)
2- I’M TOO SEXY- Right Said Fred (39,000)
3- LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX- Salt N Pepa (37,000)
4- INSANITY- Oceanic (36,000)
5- SUNSHINE ON A RAINY DAY- Zoe (30,000)
6- CHARLY- The Prodigy (27,000)
7- LOVE TO HATE YOU- Erasure (26,000)
8- DON’T CRY- Guns N Roses (21,000)
9- PEACE- Sabrina Johnston (19,000)
10- WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ME- Utah Saints (17,000)

Posted by: Gezza 9th October 2021, 12:25 PM

28TH SEPTEMBER



A great week to be Bryan Adams with “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” creating a new chart record by being No 1 for a 12th straight week but the follow up “Can’t Stop This Thing We Started” also climbs from No 18 to, appropriately enough, No 12. His album “Waking Up The Neighbours” is out this week and may spell the end for the single but it still sold 65,000 copies last week, 16,000 clear of the fast increasing Salt N Pepa who themselves are up 3-2 with Oceanic still in hot pursuit 4-3 (44,000).





The only new song in the chart is from Zambian singer Rozalla, she moved to London in 1988 where she recorded her first UK single “Born To Love Ya” last year. It became, as they say, a big hit in the clubs though that didn’t translate into chart sales. Second release "Faith" made No 56 back in April but “Everybody’s Free (To Feel Good)” is just the ticket it appears as it rides in 13-7 (26,000) and with TOTP supporting her this week this could rocket yet.



Erasure climb 7-4 (40,000) but not so good for Right Said Fred as they tumble 2-5 (31,000) but they have now sold over 400,000 in the process, a tidy return for their bank manager. Zoe falls 5-6 (28,000) and The Prodigy are out in the cold 6-9 (20,000) but both Sabrina Johnston and Utah Saints hold steady at No 8 (21,000) and No 10 (16,000) respectively.


1- (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (65,000)
2- LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX- Salt N Pepa (49,000)
3- INSANITY- Oceanic (44,000)
4- LOVE TO HATE YOU- Erasure (40,000)
5- I’M TOO SEXY- Right Said Fred (31,000)
6- SUNSHINE ON A RAINY DAY- Zoe (28,000)
7- EVERYBODY’S FREE (TO FEEL GOOD)- Rozalla (26,000)
8- PEACE- Sabrina Johnston (21,000)
9- CHARLY- The Prodigy (20,000)
10- WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ME- Utah Saints (16,000)

Posted by: Bjork 9th October 2021, 12:49 PM

Pretty good newbies
love Don't Cry, great ballad, one of the best from GNR
Love to Hate You is one of Erasure's finest too

Posted by: fiesta 9th October 2021, 02:13 PM

PJB ft. Hannah & Her Sisters, on the show with a decent enough cover of Bridge Over Troubled Water. Never knew this before but looking this up on the net PJB is actually songwriter / producer Pete Bellotte. If your not familiar with the name, he worked with Giorgio Moroder creating all of Donna Summers 70's hits including I Feel Love.

Posted by: steve201 9th October 2021, 03:29 PM

Are the above two editions of TOTP the last in the traditional studio and presenters?

Posted by: Jester 9th October 2021, 05:47 PM

Yep. All change from next week!

Posted by: Colm 9th October 2021, 06:06 PM

I have these 4 on 12"

Posted by: steve201 9th October 2021, 07:44 PM

Sad times, although some presenters remain until 1992!

Posted by: Doctor Blind 10th October 2021, 07:30 PM

What a start to that Top 10...

10 Utah Saints “What Can You Do For Me”
9 The Prodigy “Charly”
8 Sabrina Johnston “Peace”
7 Rozalla “Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)”
6 Zoe “Sunshine On A Rainy Day”

Oooft.

Oh my !!

Posted by: Jester 10th October 2021, 07:39 PM

That Utah Saints song is quite the discovery for me!

Posted by: Colm 10th October 2021, 08:03 PM

This is one of my favorites times as a chart watcher. 8 of that last top 10 ended up in the top 40 of the year with the other 2 not far behind. What Can You Do for Me? outsold Queen's Innuendo by the end of the year and was comfortably the best selling number 10 of the year, Rozalla, Zoe and Oceanic (along with Right Said Fred and Byan Adams) all had the biggest selling songs of their peak position.

Posted by: Gezza 15th October 2021, 06:39 PM

5TH OCTOBER



Just when you thought he couldn’t have a better year or dominate more, Bryan Adams sits atop of both the singles and album charts this week. “Waking Up The Neighbours” railroads all competition and “I Do It For You” spends an incredible 13th week at the No 1 spot, even more remarkable is the fact is that the track lost only 8% in sales week on week shifting a further 61,000 copies. That brings total sales of the single to 1,216,000. Nothing has sold more since Wham! and Band Aid both rushed past that figure in 84/85, so as you can guess it is way out in front for 1991, here’s the YTD top 10 as we move into the final quarter:


1- (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams 1,216,000
2- THE SHOOP SHOOP SONG- Cher 514,000
3- DO THE BARTMAN- The Simpsons 458,000
4- ANY DREAM WILL DO- Jason Donovan 451,000
5- I‘M TOO SEXY- Right Said Fred 444,000
6- THE ONE AND ONLY- Chesney Hawkes 386,000
7- I WANNA SEX YOU UP- Color Me Badd 356,000
8- 3AM ETERNAL- The KLF Featuring The Children Of The Revolution 331,000
9- MORE THAN WORDS- Extreme 291,000
10- SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO- The Clash 246,000

Adams is therefore on more than double the sales of runner up Cher, a phenomenal achievement. In topping both charts simultaneously he becomes the first act since Jason Donovan in 1989 to manage this feat. Right Said Fred continue to fade 5-7 (24,000) and should move to No 3 for the year next week but may struggle to overtake Cher at No 2, regardless for a novelty track that didn’t make No 1 it has done incredibly well to outsell most chart toppers.





Brewing on the horizon is trouble for Adams though, the track that most are predicting will replace him at the top comes from German rockers The Scorpions. They formed all the way back in 1965 and through various line up changes scored 8 chart hits between 1979 and 1989 despite never making it higher than No 39, even the original release of “Wind Of Change” only made No 53 a few months ago despite a major hit all across the continent over the summer. Lyrically it recounts the ever changing situation in Eastern Europe with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of Communist rule in many countries, it obviously struck a chord and even the UK cannot deny its catchiness as it marches 19-5 (36,000) and eyes up the No 1 spot with envy.





It’s been 7 years since Julian Lennon’s “Too Late For Goodbye” made No 6 and since then he’s accrued 4 more hits without going higher than No 40, no more though, the ecologically themed “Saltwater” has proved popular enough to wriggle 13-10 (17,000). It’s the lead single from his fourth album “Help Yourself” which also debuts at No 42 this week and contains some helping guitar work from George Harrison on the album though not on this single sadly.



Salt N Pepa hold in the runner up spot (50,000) up marginally week on week but it looks like it will end up matching the peak of “Push It” , Oceanic meanwhile are slipping at just 40,000 copies though they hold the No 3 spot and should start tumbling soon and Erasure complete the static top 4 (37,000) but they’ll be more bothered by their album coming out in three weeks. Rozalla climbs 7-6 (31,000) after not making the inroads some expected and Sabrina Johnston holds at No 8 (21,000) while Zoe drops 6-9 (17,000).


1- (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (61,000)
2- LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX- Salt N Pepa (50,000)
3- INSANITY- Oceanic (40,000)
4- LOVE TO HATE YOU- Erasure (37,000)
5- WIND OF CHANGE- The Scorpions (36,000)
6- EVERYBODY’S FREE (TO FEEL GOOD) –Rozalla (31,000)
7- I’M TOO SEXY- Right Said Fred (24,000)
8- PEACE- Sabrina Johnston (21,000)
9- SUNSHINE ON A RAINY DAY- Zoe (17,000)
10- SALTWATER- Julian Lennon (17,000)

Posted by: Gezza 15th October 2021, 06:57 PM

12TH OCTOBER



“Top Of The Pops” may have gotten an overhaul last week but in the charts themselves it’s pretty much as you were. The Scorpions increase sales by just 20% to 43,000, enough for “Wind Of Change” to leapfrog 5-2 but not enough to prevent the Bryan Adams juggernaut from completing an historic 14th week on top, you can now even get odds on him being the Christmas No 1! However he sold 58,000 copies to retain the crown, roughly speaking the average for a No 1 single in 1991 before Adams’s reign commenced.



He loses the album top spot to a trio of new entries from Simply Red, Prince, and Tina Turner, yes the autumn release schedule has officially begun!



Recorded for the controversial film “Life Of Bryan” in 1979, Monty Python’s “Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life” has been released as a single twice without charting but it’s been picked up by Simon Mayo on Radio 1 and getting some regular airplay in addition to being a terrace favourite for years in Football. Throw in its current use in adverts for “Punch” magazine and the crew finally score a hit as it moves 30-8 (24,000), it’s also this week’s only new track in the top 10.



Oceanic, contrary to my prediction last week, make it three weeks at No 3 though its sales are down again at 38,000, falling position wise are Salt N Pepa 2-4 (35,000) and Erasure 4-5 (34,000) but Julian Lennon advances 10-6 (25,000) to equal his highest peak ever, Rozalla surprisingly reverses 6-7 (24,000) and Right Said Fred drop 7-9 (19,000) but “It’s Too Sexy” is now the third biggest seller of the year. Sabrina Johnston completes the ten dropping 8-10 (18,000).


1- (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (58,000)
2- WIND OF CHANGE- The Scorpions (43,000)
3- INSANITY- Oceanic (38,000)
4- LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX- Salt N Pepa (35,000)
5- LOVE TO HATE YOU- Erasure (34,000)
6- SALTWATER- Julian Lennon (25,000)
7- EVERYBODY’S FREE (TO FEEL GOOD)- Rozalla (24,000)
8- ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE- Monty Python (24,000)
9- I’M TOO SEXY- Right Said Fred (19,000)
10- PEACE- Sabrina Johnston (18,000)

Posted by: steve201 15th October 2021, 10:18 PM

So weird with all the new changes on TOTP really looks like a modern 90s show but feels a bit crap without the radio 1 DJs!

Felt quite sad watching Gary Davies present the final episode at the old TV Centre (well until 1995), he looked a bit sad himself tbh after presenting his first edition in 1982, a different era really for the look of the show and music being played!

Posted by: Bjork 16th October 2021, 06:14 AM

A couple quiet weeks, impressive for Bryan, and also for Oceanic holding up so well

had to go and check Saltwater cos I didn't recall it, very Imagine-esque

Posted by: Gezza 22nd October 2021, 06:30 PM

19TH OCTOBER




Adams sees his lead over the field cut by 66% to a mere 5,000 but “(Everything I Do) I Do it For You” is still the No 1 after 15 long weeks and sold another 52,000 copies to do it, that’s enough to make Bryan Adams the biggest selling singles act of the 90s as he slips past Madonna. “Wind Of Change” remains blowing against the gates of No 1 but it isn’t there yet, 47,000 buyers is only a modest improvement and you have to doubt it now has the legs to overhaul the current chart topper. Far more likely that number one next week will be either the song at No 3 which is the rapid rising Monty Python 8-3 (44,000) or the song that blusters 11-4 this week.





That’s Kiri Te Kanawa’s “World In Union” which is currently getting a nightly airing on ITV as the Rugby song has been recorded by the Opera singer for the tournament’s theme, and the single is being lapped up by the public to the tune of 34,000 last week and should be fighting tooth and nail with the Pythons next week.





Jean-Paul DeCoster and Phil Wilde are the Belgian producers behind 2 Unlimited but the outfit is fronted by Anita Doth and Ray Slijngaard and together they’re all responsible for “Get Ready For This” which is currently going down a storm in the clubs. DeCoster and Wilde first collaborated as Bizz Nizz (You may recall their 1990 top 10 hit “Don’t Miss The Partyline”) but have now moved on to their next project, Slijngaard actually wrote a rap for the song which is the version used on the continent but for the UK release it has been stripped out and the original orchestral mix is used for radio with only the sampled “Y’All Ready For This” remaining (the sample is from D.O.C’s “It’s Funky Enough” in case you wanted to know). It powers 19-6 (28,000) and could stand an outside chance of making the top next week.



Oceanic finally dive 3-5 (31,000), Julian Lennon dips 6-7 (23,000), Salt N Pepa tumble 4-8 (22,000), not surprising as their new “Greatest Hits” collection debuts at No 6 to divert sales, Erasure ebb 5-9 (22,000) and will be hoping to depose Simply Red on the album charts next Sunday, and Rozalla falls 7-10 (21,000).


1- (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (52,000)
2- WIND OF CHANGE- The Scorpions (47,000)
3- ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE- Monty Python (44,000)
4- WORLD IN UNION- Kiri Te Kanawa (34,000)
5- INSANITY- Oceanic (31,000)
6- GET READY FOR THIS- 2 Unlimited (28,000)
7- SALTWATER- Julian Lennon (23,000)
8- LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX- Salt N Pepa (22,000)
9- LOVE TO HATE YOU- Erasure (22,000)
10- EVERYBODY’S FREE (TO FEEL GOOD)- Rozalla (21,000)

Posted by: Gezza 22nd October 2021, 06:43 PM

26TH OCTOBER



Triumphing for a 16th week on the trot the Bryan Adams success story continues. The next record he’s eyeing up is the most weeks at the top by a single, that’s held by Frankie Lane’s “I Believe” with 18 weeks in 1953. “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” sold a mere 48,000 copies last week as it dips below the 50,000 mark for only the second time in its chart life, total sales are now 1,374,000 making it the 6th biggest seller since 1980, it will overtake Culture Club’s “Karma Chameleon” this week, can it do 17 weeks at the top?



Supposed challengers to the throne were in the end quite ineffectual, The Scorpions drop 2-3 (37,000), Kiri Te Kanawa stalls at No 4 (36,000) and Monty Python fall back 3-5 (33,000), all of that allowed 2 Unlimited to surge 6-2 but only just with 39,000 copies shifted. If that 42% sales increase were to be repeated then they could topple Bryan Adams next week.



Or maybe you’d be better putting a few bob on the song that debuts at No 6 this week, Vic Reeves & The Wonder Stuff’s cover of Tommy Roe’s “Dizzy”. You may have seen the promo with Reeves and the band performing in front of a few washing machines taking the meaning rather literally! Naturally it’s all rather fun and light hearted and certainly it seems to be popular at retail with 28,000 copies being purchased, Reeves’ album is out next month, just in time for Christmas!
Instantly it matches the best ever debut for The Wonder Stuff and the peak of Reeves only single "Born Free".





Another act with a new album out next month is Lisa Stansfield. Her first LP “Affection” made No 2 in the run up to Christmas 1989 and contained by that stage the No 1 single “All Around The World”, she’s hoping she can launch her second album with a similar chart topper and “Change” is the first single which rises 14-10 (18,000).




Oceanic continue their gentle descent 5-7 (27,000), the track will pass the 300,000 mark next week, Julian Lennon retreats 7-8 (20,000) and Salt N Pepa dip 8-9 (20,000)


1- (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (48,000)
2- GET READY FOR THIS- 2 Unlimited (39,000)
3- WIND OF CHANGE- The Scorpions (37,000)
4- WORLD IN UNION- Kiri Te Kanawa (36,000)
5- ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE- Monty Python (33,000)
6- DIZZY- Vic Reeves/ Wonder Stuff (28,000)
7- INSANITY- Oceanic (27,000)
8- SALTWATER- Julian Lennon (23,000)
9- LET’S TALK ABOUT SEX- Salt N Pepa (20,000)
10- CHANGE- Lisa Stansfield (18,000)

Posted by: sn👠ke 22nd October 2021, 08:38 PM

Thats a good tune from 2Unlimited, and better without the vocals imo. This shift towards more synth-dominated dance music is something we will see more of as we go through the rest of the early 90s. Almost like the synth influences from the previous decade coming back in a way.

I don't like the Utah Saints' What Can You Do For Me much, I find it a little bit slow and weak sounding (although I liked the crazy sounding Drumsound and Bassline Smith remix back in 2011 ), the follow up Something Good is really good though and in this case the original is way better than the 2008 remix imo.

Posted by: Bjork 25th October 2021, 04:02 PM

the top 10 has been pretty stale for the last month and lacking in great songs

looking at the top 20, much more interesting songs outside the top 10
with Moby-Go at #11, Pet Shop Boys-DJ Culture NEW at #13, Enya-Caribbean Blue at #15
Carter at #16 and Queen-Show must go on at #19

I cannot recall that well who climbed the following week and who didn't
so looking forward to next week

Posted by: 30 Spells Snakey 26th October 2021, 08:47 PM

Strange also that Marc Cohn - Walking In Memphis only peaked at #22 in the UK chart, it was on one of the TOTP re-runs recently.

Posted by: Bjork 27th October 2021, 02:10 PM

I kinda understand it, it's very AOR and very American
I love the song and it was huge in the US but I totally see why it underperformed in the UK
it actually flopped first time around and it was a re-release that peaked at #22

looking at this week's album chart is very interesting
with Erasure-Chorus new at #1 replacing Simply Red-Star after 2 weeks on top
Kenny Thomas in new at #3 and Belinda Carlisle and Mariah Carey debut low in the top 10

Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn 28th October 2021, 11:36 AM

Get Ready For This

Posted by: Gezza 29th October 2021, 06:22 PM

2ND NOVEMBER



After 16 long weeks Bryan Adams finally surrenders the top slot, and in some style bombing 1-4 (52,000) though you will note that the sale figure is actually up on last week! One easy explanation is that it was the half term break which resulted in a general upsurge in sales.

So the new No 1 is a new entry for only the second time in 1991 following Queen’s “Innuendo” in January. U2 are new chart champions with “The Fly” selling 66,000 to enter on top of the pile, they rushed into an unsurmountable lead early in the week and though Vic Reeves & The Wonder Stuff fought back admirably then ended up coming up short on 63,000- maybe next week? It’s U2’s 11th straight top 10 hit (“In God’s Country” only made No 48 in late 1987 but was an import only) but their first to debut at the top and their second chart topper in total coming 3 years after “Desire”, it’s also the lead single from their new album “Achtung Baby” out in four weeks and is only available for three weeks according to the record label which perhaps also accounts for the single’s high debut, that decision was apparently made to ensure that the album had two singles to promote it for the Christmas rush.





Another debut this week is the return of Genesis with a new album “We Can’t Dance” due imminently and lead single “No Son Of Mine” which smashes in at No 9 (23,000). It’s only the 6th top 10 hit for the trio and the first to arrive there immediately, thematically the song deals with an abusive relationship though the exact nature of it is not known, the Christmas market is going to be busy





Last Year US DJ Moby released a record called “Mobility”, it failed to chart but it contained a song called “Go” on the B-side. Moby has now remixed it including placing a sample of “Laura Palmer’s Theme” from the TV Series “Twin Peaks” to give the song a more atmospheric feel and also that woman Jocelyn Brown again, “Love’s Gonna Get You” providing the “yeah”’s on the single. All in all it’s now a much more commercial proposition and rises 11-10 (20,000).



Poor 2 Unlimited sold an impressive 54,000 last week, enough for No 1 the week before, yet they see “Get Ready For This” slip 2-3 (54,000). Kiri Te Kanawa starts to fall at No 5 (48,000) but is getting a nice sales push with the team advancing to the final on Saturday, this could still go all the way.

All over for The Scorpions though who drop 4-6 (35,000) and Monty Python who slip 5-7 (31,000), Oceanic are happily now over the 300,000 mark but again recede 7-8 (26,000).


1- THE FLY- U2 (66,000)
2- DIZZY- Vic Reeves/ Wonder Stuff (63,000)
3- GET READY FOR THIS- 2 Unlimited (54,000)
4- (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (52,000)
5- WORLD IN UNION- Kiri Te Kanawa (48,000)
6- WIND OF CHANGE- The Scorpions (35,000)
7- ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE- Monty Python (31,000)
8- INSANITY- Oceanic (26,000)
9- NO SON OF MINE- Genesis (23,000)
10- GO- Moby (20,000)

Posted by: Gezza 29th October 2021, 06:22 PM

There's no TOTP tonight so you're a week ahead now!

Posted by: 30 Spells Snakey 29th October 2021, 06:26 PM

'No Son Of Mine' and 'Go' are both very good. The synths in 'Go' I think are very melancholic for a dance song actually.

Posted by: dandy* 29th October 2021, 06:38 PM

Go is an absolute classic, by far my favourite in the top 10. The Fly was a good chart topper also though so it’s a good list at the two ends.

Posted by: Bjork 30th October 2021, 07:03 AM

Go is incredible, genius song!
I like The Fy but in perspective they could have peaked a much better lead... imagine if One had been the lead...
I also like No Son of Mine. Not a big fan of Genesis/Phil Collins but this is a good one.

Posted by: Doctor Blind 30th October 2021, 09:07 AM

Oh, it's a shame - it's a killer ep which opens with SL2, and has Congress and Moby on. Rave takover!!

This was exactly 30 years ago, I think I like “The Fly” more than I actually would have done had it not ended Bryan Adams' run at #1 - it's a great song though. “Go” is obviously a classic for that Twin Peakes sample mainly, and it's weird seeing Moby with hair haha.

Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn 30th October 2021, 09:54 AM

I don't think I've ever heard that U2 song

'Go' is indeed fabulous. In a way it's strange to think how in a decade's time he'd go on to become so absolutely humongous with the Play era #SpoilerAlert

Posted by: Colm 30th October 2021, 10:37 AM

------

The Fly is messy, atonal, distorted noise and Bono's treated, lascivious vocals, plus THAT gut-curdling solo.

Posted by: steve201 30th October 2021, 11:37 AM

I never liked ‘The Fly’!

Didn’t realise Moby was charting as early as 1991!

Posted by: Bjork 30th October 2021, 01:18 PM

The Fly almost sounds like a buzz single, not like a first single proper for the comeback of one of the biggest bands of the late 80s

What is really crazy is that U2 and Michael Jackson released their comebacks albums, Achtung Baby and Dangerous, on the same day
it's almost like if Adele and Ed released on the same day

Posted by: Colm 30th October 2021, 05:19 PM

Certainly a brave choice when they could have gone with One. I know which one I prefer.

When did buzz singles start? What are the more famous ones?

Posted by: steve201 30th October 2021, 07:02 PM

Is it not a download era thing?

Posted by: 30 Spells Snakey 30th October 2021, 07:18 PM

I like the fact that unlike most rave tracks of the time, Moby's Go, because of those chilled out and atmospheric synths that dominate the song, doesn't sound so jarringly different in mood to the non-rave stuff in the top 10.

Posted by: Bjork 31st October 2021, 08:02 AM

Buzz singles basically were lead singles that flopped and then were demoted to buzz single
cannot recall the first one...

Posted by: 30 Spells Snakey 2nd November 2021, 06:30 PM

I am just wondering whether much if any of the rave songs would have been played at the time in late 1991 on daytime Radio 1. Gezza has hinted in some of his posts that a lot of them relied much more on nightclub play or being played at raves to chart than radio airplay. Even the high charting ones like the debut hits for The Prodigy and 2Unlimited I wouldn't imagine to have been played much during the daytime on radio - they would sound odd played after calmer tracks

Posted by: steve201 3rd November 2021, 11:13 PM

I think they were played but they would have came through the clubs first especially at the beginning of the rave era in the late 80s. Radio 2 nowadays is pretty much what radio 1 was like up to the mid 90s. One minute they play the new Sting or Rod Stewart single the next the dance pop hit by Becky Hill!

Posted by: Gezza 5th November 2021, 07:22 PM

9TH NOVEMBER



We waited 16 weeks for a new number one and then in the space of three weeks we have three different chart toppers. U2 are bounced off the top 1-2 (45,000) and in being demoted it becomes just the third track ever (and second this year) to debut at No 1 and spend just 7 days there. The new chart topper is the 15th track to hit the top in two different versions, Tommy Roe in 1969 and now Vic Reeves & The Wonder Stuff take “Dizzy” all the way to the top. Selling 64,000 last week it only increases sales by a fraction but that’s easily enough to see it outpace the opposition but it will face a test this week with Reeves’ album “I Will Cure You” in shops now.



With half term over sales are in a general slump, 2 Unlimited hold at No 3 (44,000) and even Bryan Adams sticks at No 4 (41,000) and Kiri Te Kanawa digs in at No 5 (35,000) but all are receding in sales week on week and indeed the latter must be fancied to fade fast with the Rugby world cup now over.



When it debuted at No 19 last week “If You Were With Me Now” became the lowest debuting Kylie Minogue single since her introductory single “I Should Be So Lucky” in 1988. Coupled with the No 16 peak of her last single “Word Is Out” it all pointed to a career in trouble and ever diminishing chart returns, but her new single zooms 19-7 (23,000) to become a 14th top 10 single from 15 attempts, it’s actually a duet with US singer Keith Washington who has his first hit but clearly it’s Kylie selling this song, she doesn’t appear to be able to sell albums any longer with her fourth LP “Let’s Get To It” peaking at No 15 and slumping 18-27 this week.





When first released in April this year “Rhythm Is A Mystery” peaked at a meagre No 61 on independent label Creed, it’s now been picked up by Deconstruction and makes a much more impressive splash by debuting at No 8 (22,000). The group met at the Hacienda club in 1988 before supporting 808 State en-route to the charts.



Genesis improve 9-6 (26,000) whilst both Monty Python and The Scorpions are heading out of the top flight as they fall 7-9 (21,000) and 6-10 (20,000) respectively.


1- DIZZY- Vic Reeves/ Wonder Stuff (64,000)
2- THE FLY- U2 (45,000)
3- GET READY FOR THIS- 2 Unlimited (44,000)
4- (EVERYTHING I DO)- I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (41,000)
5- WORLD IN UNION- Kiri Te Kanawa (35,000)
6- NO SON OF MINE- Genesis (26,000)
7- IF YOU WERE WITH ME NOW- Kylie Minogue & Keith Washington (23,000)
8- RHYTHM IS A MYSTERY- K Klass (22,000)
9- ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE- Monty Python (21,000)
10- WIND OF CHANGE- The Scorpions (20,000)

Posted by: 30 Spells Snakey 5th November 2021, 07:34 PM

Dizzy and Rhythm is a Mystery are both quite good, the Kylie and Keith Washington song is nice enough, my favourites in that top 10 though remain Genesis and 2Unlimited.

Posted by: Jester 5th November 2021, 08:17 PM

Moby’s Go is of course excellent, but I never knew he ever had hair!

Posted by: Bjork 5th November 2021, 08:38 PM

I actually dont think ive ever seen moby with hair either

Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn 7th November 2021, 11:57 PM

That really isn't one of Kylie's best, at all. Not a fan.

Posted by: Bjork 8th November 2021, 12:11 PM

Kylie's 4th album was such a let down
there's just one song I like, Finer Feelings but the rest is not very good
PWL had already lost it

Posted by: 30 Spells Snakey 8th November 2021, 12:44 PM

Rhythm Is A Mystery I used to always get confused with Xpansions - Move Your Body because it says 'move your body' in the chorus!

Posted by: Dot Branning 11th November 2021, 10:05 PM

Agreed.

Posted by: Dot Branning 11th November 2021, 10:06 PM

Charly is such an amazing left field Top 3 single!

Posted by: Gezza 12th November 2021, 07:34 PM

16TH NOVEMBER




Into decline already, “Dizzy” still remains very healthily in front of the field with another 61,000 buyers last week, that makes 216,000 in its first month, not bad in terms of the year. His album arrives at No 16 as Reeves announces that he will be issuing a Christmas single, talking of which we’ll do our annual review of the runners and riders in a few weeks.





Circulating in clubland for many months and featuring a raft of uncleared samples The Basshead’s are the latest dance album on Deconstruction to hit it big as “Is There Anybody Out There” debuts at No 8 (21,000) just one week after the fifth top 40 hit for the label did exactly the same for K-Klass. “Rhythm Is A Mystery” surges 8-3 (33,000) which is exactly what the Bassheads will be hoping for next week, their song features samples from Pink Floyd, Talking Heads, and The Osmonds which all makes it rather eclectic to say the least. It is the 32nd track to debut in the top 10, yes that’s a new record folks!





The KLF are back, well under a pseudonym “Justified Ancients Of Mu Mu” or the JAM’s with a song “It’s Grim Up North” which was originally released in a limited 12” form last December with Pete Wylie on vocals. Now re-worked with Drummond on the mic the song takes its inspiration from the inscription on a bridge over the M1 and proceeds to list many northern towns before sliding into an orchestrated version of “Jerusalem”. It marks the first time that the same group has made the top 10 under three different guises, it rises 18-10 (18,000).



2 Unlimited rebound 3-2 (40,000) though they lose ground on Reeves & The Wonder Stuff, Kylie & Keith float 7-4 (30,000) making it her biggest single of 1991. A couple of falling chart toppers up next, U2 drop 2-5 (28,000) and with the single now deleted it should hurtle south, and Bryan Adams is also descends 4-6 (27,000). Kiri Te Kanawa ebbs 5-7 (25,000) with Genesis bounding back 6-9 (20,000) as their album “We Can’t Dance” in the shops this week. Next week sees the return of Michael Jackson!


1- DIZZY- Vic Reeves/ Wonder Stuff (61,000)
2- GET READY FOR THIS- 2 Unlimited (40,000)
3- RHYTHM IS A MYSTERY- K Klass (33,000)
4- IF YOU WERE HERE WITH ME- Kylie Minogue & Keith Washington (30,000)
5- THE FLY- U2 (28,000)
6- (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (27,000)
7- WORLD IN UNION- Kiri Te Kanawa (25,000)
8- IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE?- Bassheads (21,000)
9- NO SON OF MINE- Genesis (20,000)
10- IT’S GRIM UP NORTH- Justified Ancients Of Mumu (18,000)

Posted by: 30 Spells Snakey 12th November 2021, 08:01 PM

The K Klass and Bassheads songs definitely do sound more like early 1991 dance (house) than late 1991 dance (breakbeats and rave synths) so I am not surprised to learn they have been circulating for a while on the dance floors before finally being released.

Posted by: Gezza 12th November 2021, 08:28 PM

23RD NOVEMBER



It’s been four years in the making but the new Michael Jackson album is almost with us and that of course means an epic video. The 11 minute promo for “Black Or White” was premiered in the UK on TOTP in its entirety this week the same day that the single was available (Thursday) but in just 3 days the song sold 72,000 to effortlessly become Jackson’s fourth solo chart topper but his first to arrive instantly at the top. Indeed Jackson is the first US artist to do that since Elvis in 1960, his lead was so great that he should easily retain the top spot for a few weeks, and in terms of debuts at No 1, 1991 now equals 1973 when 4 singles turned the trick. The arrival of two new tracks into the top 10 also marks the first time in chart history (or at least since the charts became a top 20) that there has been a new entry in the top flight for five consecutive weeks!



The promo incidentally caused calls to the BBC and complaints about the violence it contained within, all of which naturally generated headlines and sales so either way it was all good for sales, “Dangerous” the album is available this Thursday and will have to go some to do battle with the U2 album “Achtung Baby” which is also expected to be a massive seller and will have the advantage of three days sales over the Jackson LP.

With the arrival of such an eagerly anticipated single last week’s best seller stood little chance and sure enough Vic Reeves & The Wonder Stuff retreat 1-2 (49,000) and similarly force 2 Unlimited down 2-3 (35,000).



Shelley’s Laserdome club in Stoke On Trent is an unlikely spot to be on the national map as significant but that club is currently benefiting from the close of the Hacienda in Manchester last year and is now the epicentre of the British rave scene. If you’ve never been there then you can at least see the car park in the video for Altern-8’s “Active-8 (Come With Me)” which bounds 11-4 (32,000), the rave duo have garnered a reputation for themselves turning up at outdoor rave events and playing, it all seems to have paid off for them, first single “Infiltrate 202” made No 28 but can this go all the way?





Seal’s had a fantastic year with “Crazy” making no 2 in January and two other top 20 singles coupled with the chart topping eponymous album in June. The album has already shifted 300,000 and rockets 42-20 this week as the fourth track is culled from it “Killer”. It of course Seal’s solo version of the Adamski song which topped the charts for 4 weeks last year and introduced us all to his voice though Seal was uncredited on it, it’s actually an EP entitled “Killer….On The Loose” and contains his version of Jimi Hendrix’s “Hey Joe” among its other tracks, it climbs 14-8 (23,000) to round off a great year. It also comes with a 3D video which was recently premiered on “Going Live” a few weeks ago and must have helped here.





Talking of the west midlands, this week we have not only Altern-8 new in the top 10 but also Bizarre Inc, a three piece from Stafford who used to include Mark Archer, he’s now a producer and co-produced the Altern 8 track! You may have heard of them thanks to their last single “Such A Feeling” making No 13 in September, but before that they released three singles which failed before “Playing With Knives” made No 43, clearly buoyed by the success of their last single they’ve re-released the track and now debuts instantly at No 9 (21,000). The song samples a 1990 club hit by Circuit called “Shelter Me” in case you wondered where the vocals came from.





The current US No 1 single trundles 31-10 (19,000) and marks a return to favour for Michael Bolton, his first UK hit “How Am I Supposed To Live Without You” went to No 3 and became his first US chart topper but his second UK album “Time Love & Tenderness had failed to give the singer a UK top 20 single until now though it has itself been certified platinum after peaking at No 2. His version of Percy Sledge’s “When A Man Loves A Woman” should continue to climb now, it’ll be hoping to at least match the No 2 of the original on re-issue in 1987 thanks to a Levi advert.



Bassheads progress 8-5 (31,000) as labelmates K-Klass fall back 3-6 (27,000) and Kylie & Keith falter 4-7 (24,000).


1- BLACK OR WHITE- Michael Jackson (72,000)
2- DIZZY- Vic Reeves/ Wonder Stuff (49,000)
3- GET READY FOR THIS- 2 Unlimited (35,000)
4- ACTIV 8 (COME WITH ME)- Altern 8 (32,000)
5- IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE- Bassheads (31,000)
6- RHYTHM IS A MYSTERY- K Klass (27,000)
7- IF YOU WERE WITH ME NOW- Kylie Minogue & Keith Washington (24,000)
8- KILLER...EP- Seal (23,000)
9- PLAYING WITH KNIVES- Bizarre Inc (21,000)
10- WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN- Michael Bolton (19,000)

Posted by: Jester 12th November 2021, 08:44 PM

With Altern-8, K-Class, The Bassheads and Bizarre Inc, that is such as fabulously 1991 dance top 10!

Posted by: Colm 13th November 2021, 10:14 AM

I think it was a mistake not calling themselves KLF for this. It could have been a bigger hit.

If you look at all the other dance singles in the top 10, while they were groundbreaking in different ways, the sophistication of the production on this is way ahead of them. I dont think the rest of dance music caught up until Music for the Jilted Generation or Dubnobasswithmyheadman.

Posted by: Bjork 13th November 2021, 11:08 AM

Incredible top 10 with all those sorta underground dance tracks
I remember being so disappointed with Jacko's comeback at the time

Posted by: Jester 13th November 2021, 06:45 PM

That Jacko video is great until the 12 years of over indulgent rubbish at the end.

Posted by: 30 Spells Snakey 13th November 2021, 06:50 PM

The Bizarre Inc song is great although I am surprised it was not banned with that title, and the Altern8 track is good too (although the acid synths are a bit like musical marmite). Altern8 also had a unique visual look from a time when wearing face masks was seen as odd! Bassheads and K-Klass are good but being more early 1991 style house are a little bit dull in comparison imo to the rave sound that was now dominating.

Also I didn't know the MJ Black or White music video was as much as 11 minutes long!

Posted by: Colm 13th November 2021, 07:16 PM

The face changing special effects are still pretty fluid.

Posted by: Jester 13th November 2021, 07:17 PM

Yes, they are still really impressive all these years on.

Posted by: dandy* 13th November 2021, 07:34 PM

Agreed, it really does still look great. I still really like Black Or White, it’s held up pretty well I think

Posted by: 30 Spells Snakey 13th November 2021, 07:45 PM

Having watched the most recent TOTP episode on BBC Four, Send Me An Angel by Scorpions was a great new discovery, reminds me a bit of Chris De Burgh - A Spaceman Came Calling which is a very good thing imo, really nice song, I prefer it to Wind of Change. It only made #27 in the UK sadly.

Posted by: fiesta 13th November 2021, 10:15 PM

I agree. I'd never seen the whole video before but the end seemed rather pointless. They should have continued on the scenes between the boy and his father, maybe showing the father coming back home.

At first I thought the actor who plays Mcaulay Culkins father was John Candy, but it's actually George Wendt from Cheers .

Posted by: Doctor Blind 14th November 2021, 03:46 PM

I've got “It’s Grim Up North” on CD Single! I bought it so I could get it played at the end of year night at Uni as it wasn't available any other way- what an amazing track!

That 'The North Shall Rise Again' banner <3

The recent chart (17 November 1991) is the first debut for Take That - “Promises” debuting and peaking at 38. But I'm more excited about next week's Top 10 superstar debut...

Posted by: dandy* 14th November 2021, 09:04 PM

I had no idea you were such a fan of Diana Ross?

Posted by: Dot Branning 14th November 2021, 09:25 PM

Playing With Knives...... Tune!!!!!

Posted by: 30 Spells Snakey 14th November 2021, 09:33 PM

I am guessing that made top 40 mostly as a result of a lot of airplay on Manchester local radio stations?

Posted by: Gezza 14th November 2021, 11:32 PM

More likely that they are doing tours of schools. A novel move we'll see if it pays off...

Posted by: 30 Spells Snakey 15th November 2021, 06:59 PM

And another iconic 90s band, M People, also make their chart debut around the same time with How Can I Love You More? peaking at #29

Posted by: Doctor Blind 17th November 2021, 02:29 PM

How could you not??!



Oh my, and the M stands for Manchester??

I should give a shout out to “2√231” which peaks at #24 on this chart for Anticappella. The only irrational number ever to chart I think (in b4 Bré inevitably claims some other obscure hit that I've forgotten).



BANGER.

Posted by: dandy* 17th November 2021, 05:45 PM

Oh my! That's a track I used to love as a kid but had no idea what it actually was

Posted by: Dot Branning 17th November 2021, 08:54 PM

TUNE!!!!

Posted by: Bjork 17th November 2021, 10:06 PM

I think the name M People comes from the initials of one of the band members, cannot recall his name

Posted by: steve201 18th November 2021, 12:11 AM

I love how they sneak into the chart with single one be no one could have known how much of an impact they would have!

Posted by: Bjork 18th November 2021, 07:50 AM

never was a fan of M People, kinda the opposite especially when they won the Mercury prize for album of the year in 94 I think
beating Dummy, Parklife, Definitely Maybe and all those great albums from 94

Posted by: Bré 18th November 2021, 02:09 PM

How could you possibly forget Wiley's 2004 (pre-antisemitism) #45 peaking classic which is not only an irrational number but in fact multiple of them:

Posted by: 30 Spells Snakey 18th November 2021, 08:45 PM

Its quite an achievement for a song of that title to chart so highly, I mean I wonder what the announcer on radio would have called the song?

As for the song, its good, but Cappella - Take Me Away, which charted soon after in the lower end of the top 40, is better imo.

Posted by: Bjork 18th November 2021, 08:50 PM

but Cappella and Anticappella were actually the same band, right?

Posted by: dandy* 18th November 2021, 09:45 PM

Essentially yes. I think it was the same producer and mastermind if you like, but Cappella had the female vocalist and the rapper.

Posted by: Dot Branning 19th November 2021, 01:27 AM

Definitely Maybe robbed!

Posted by: dandy* 19th November 2021, 05:59 AM

I could have sworn Dummy did win the mercury prize?

Posted by: Bjork 19th November 2021, 07:56 AM

oh you're right, just checked and Dummy won in 95

in 94 M People won beating among others:
Blur-Parklife, Pulp-His n Hers, Paul Weller-Wild wood,
Prodigy-music for the jilted generation, Primal Scream-Give out but don't give up

Posted by: Gezza 19th November 2021, 06:07 PM

30TH NOVEMBER



With the album “Dangerous” in shops from Thursday “Black Or White” had a decent proportion of the sales week to itself and indeed the single easily retains the top spot on the singles chart after 67,000 copies changed hands. It was really the side show for the inevitable Jackson Vs U2 showdown on the album charts, “Achtung Baby” was released on Monday and had sold around 115,000 Monday- Wednesday an insurmountable tally under normal conditions, but somehow “Dangerous” did it after it sold just over 200,000 in three days, a testament of how Jackson’s star status remains ever present. It’s a Jackson double then in the end then, the second of 1991 and the 90s after Bryan Adams.





For the first ever there are three new entries in the top 10 as the race for the Christmas No 1 starts to crank up, the highest of which comes from Italian dance act East Side Beat and their version of the Christopher Cross No 69 1980 track “Ride Like The Wind”. It debuts at No 6 (24,000) and is already a substantial hit over Europe even though it has no official promo yet.





Grunge is the latest sub genre to reach prominence in the UK music press and leading pioneers of the movement are US band Nirvana, their first album “Bleach” failed to garner any success with the UK audience but second album “Nevermind” did enter at No 36 nine weeks ago and has improved position wise for the last 5 weeks moving 73-68-66-54-43-40 as first single from it “Smells Like Teen Spirit” arrives at No 9 (20,000). It has radio support from Radio 1 which has helped break them along with a European tour this year and MTV onside.





An 18th solo credited hit for Diana Ross debuts at No 10 (18,000) this week. It’s the first cut from her new album “Force Behind The Power” and it also becomes the first time she’s ever crashed straight into the top flight. The CD single includes her 1986 No 1 hit “Chain Reaction” which is also incidentally the last time she was in the top 10. Welcome back.



Vic Reeves & The Wonder Stuff get another week at No 2 though they are off 23% in sales down to 37,000 but its sales tally 302,000 now and should be on course for the Y/E top 10 at this rate. Altern-8 inch 4-3 (33,000) keeping marginally ahead of fellow Stafforders Bizarre Inc as they lunge 9-4 (32,000), that means no room for 2 Unlimited who dive 3-5 (29,000) and Bassheads who drop 5-7 (23,000).


1- BLACK OR WHITE- Michael Jackson (67,000)
2- DIZZY- Vic Reeves/ Wonder Stuff (37,000)
3- ACTIV 8 (COME WITH ME)- Altern 8 (33,000)
4- PLAYING WITH KNIVES- Bizarre Inc (32,000)
5- GET READY FOR THIS- 2 Unlimited (29,000)
6- RIDE LIKE THE WIND- East Side Beat (24,000)
7- IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE- Bassheads (23,000)
8- WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN- Michael Bolton (22,000)
9- SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT- Nirvana (20,000)
10- WHEN YOU TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME- Diana Ross (18,000)

Posted by: Gezza 19th November 2021, 06:09 PM

A month to Christmas which means it’s time to assess the runners and riders for the big day:

ERASURE- Am I Right?
Their last two singles both entered straight into the top 10, could this surprise us all?

GUNS N ROSES- Live And Let Die
Another band who’ve had a great 1991, this cover will probably chime with many a bond film over the festive period.

THE KLF/ TAMMY WYNETTE- Justified And Ancient
Currently the bookies favourite, an unusual teaming of one of 1991’s hottest with a 70s country star, sounds like gold!

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK- If You Go Away
Not the force they were last year admittedly, but they’ve split with mentor Maurice Starr and this is the first fruits.

THE RED CAR AND THE BLUE CAR- Home For Christmas Day
You might not recognise the group or the title but you’ll know the tune from “Milky way” adverts over the years- could kiddie power take this all the way?

VIC REEVES- Abide With Me
Hot off the back of a chart topper, Reeves’s take on the traditional hymn could get the right mix of novelty and festivity to hit the top.

CLIFF RICHARD- We Should Be Together
It’s Christmas so we must have a Cliff single. He’s had a much quieter year in 1991 but that always changes at Christmas as he goes for another festive No 1

MEL SMITH- Another Bloomin’ Christmas
His only other single made No 3 four years ago, he doesn’t have Kim Wilde by his side but he’ll be summing up many people’s thoughts on December 25th

SHAKIN STEVENS- I’ll Be Home This Christmas
As with Cliff, at Christmas time we all expect a Shaky single and he’s not let us down. His last top 20 single was last Christmas which bucked the trend of his recent chart positions- can he do it again?

U2- Mysterious Ways
Another act who recently topped the charts, U2 will be hoping lightning can strike twice, their top 10 strike rate dates back to 1984!

Posted by: Gezza 19th November 2021, 06:24 PM

7TH DECEMBER



It’s Elton John’s 19th top 10 single and George Michael’s 8th solo top tenner, and fittingly on world AIDS day their version of “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” smashes straight into the top spot on a sale of 57,000 proceeds of which go to the charity. The song was of course originally an Elton solo single making No 16 in 1974 with George and Elton first performing track together at Live Aid 11 years ago, Michael added the song to his “Cover To Cover” tour earlier this year and filmed the video with a surprise spot from Elton back in March. Of course Michael has fallen out with his record label this year and sworn only to release charity records whilst it’s resolved. Its chances of being No 1 at Christmas are next to nothing if you believe the bookies who immediately placed the re-issue of “Bohemian Rhapsody” in a fortnight as a certainty which makes the rundown of potential festive chart toppers last week redundant. In other news Elton John becomes the first act to have two chart toppers in the 90s.





Former favourites of the betters The KLF team up with Tammy Wynette on the track “Justified And Ancient” which debuts at No 5 (35,000) this week. Like all their hits this year they were all available previously in substantively different versions, the origins of song first appeared in 1987 on the duo’s first album but has now worked into a full track with vocals by Country Singer Tammy Wynette. She had three UK hits in the mid 70s most famously on “Stand By Your Man” which hit the top spot, she’s also been absent from chart action for 15 years and this must count as one of the more unusual returns to the top 10 in recent years.





With a fourth album due early next year James are back with lead single “Sound” which powers 15-9 (23,000). It is of course the follow up to “Sit Down” which shifted over 240,000 and is one of the top 20 singles of the year so far, this cements their arrival on the main stage of pop.



Michael Jackson is deposed from the top on both the singles and albums chart slumping 1-2 (51,000) on the singles chart but still way ahead of East Side Beat who do rise 6-3 (37,000) but were well adrift. More promising for Diana Ross who jets 10-4 (36,000) leapfrogging a still climbing Nirvana 9-7 (31,000) who generated much publicity following a memorable TOTP performance on Thursday! Heading south are Altern-8 3-6 (34,000), Vic Reeves & The Wonder Stuff collapse 2-8 (24,000) and Bizarre Inc fall back 4-10 (20,000).


1- DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME- George Michael & Elton John (57,000)
2- BLACK OR WHITE- Michael Jackson (51,000)
3- RIDE LIKE THE WIND- East Side Beat (37,000)
4- WHEN YOU TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME- Diana Ross (36,000)
5- JUSTIFIED AND ANCIENT- The KLF/ Tammy Wynette (35,000)
6- ACTIV 8 (COME WITH ME)- Altern 8 (34,000)
7- SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT- Nirvana (31,000)
8- DIZZY- Vic Reeves/ Wonder Stuff (24,000)
9- SOUND- James (23,000)
10- PLAYING WITH KNIVES- Bizarre Inc. (20,000)

Posted by: Bjork 19th November 2021, 06:41 PM

yay for Teen Spirit, surprised R1 were supporting Nirvana

another great entry for the KLF & Tammy Wynette

Posted by: 30 Spells Snakey 19th November 2021, 06:54 PM

The George Michael and Elton John duet is a good #1.

I like the East Side Beat cover too. Also it has more crossover appeal and more MOR than most dance music at the time so no surprise that it is a bit hit in the UK and across Europe. The singer has a good voice, reminds me of the D:Ream singer.

The Nirvana song is of course a classic, the guitar riff in it is the highlight for me.

That Diana Ross song I knew well of course and liked it. I didn't know though that it was from the early 90s, it sounds equally very 70s and could equally have been a hit in the 80s too!

The KLF and Tammy Wynette provided that year's big festive period dance hit, the presence of Tammy Wynette on the song leading to some crossover appeal. A good song I think.

Posted by: dandy* 19th November 2021, 06:59 PM

Justified and Ancient *.*

Posted by: Bjork 19th November 2021, 08:27 PM

that cover of Ride Like a Wind :/ looks like they already did awful dance covers in 91 like they do right now

Posted by: 30 Spells Snakey 19th November 2021, 08:30 PM

I don't think its awful, but yes East Side Beat did start a trend for dance covers in 1992 with KWS/Double You, Undercover and Rage, my favourite one though is easily Rage and their cover of Run To You.

Posted by: Dot Branning 19th November 2021, 08:33 PM

Great to see Nirvana entering the chart!

Great #1 for George & Elton!

Justified And Ancient is simply phenomenal.

Posted by: Dot Branning 19th November 2021, 08:34 PM

Charly also set the big 1992 trend for rave remixes of Children's TV (Trip To Trumpton, Sesames Treet etc...)

Posted by: Jester 19th November 2021, 08:52 PM

Justified and Ancient! one of my favourite songs ever!

Posted by: Jester 19th November 2021, 09:00 PM

You seem to somehow be a week behind now Gezza - I think they skipped the week with Black and White’s second week at number 1!

Posted by: Dot Branning 19th November 2021, 09:13 PM

Deserved to be a #1.

Posted by: Riser 20th November 2021, 01:34 AM

I also didn't know 'When You Tell Me That You Love Me' was from as recently as 1991

'Justified And Ancient' is incredible, one of those songs I wish I was old enough to experience while it was a current hit. Tammy was already a legend and even more so for being on this song!

Posted by: steve201 20th November 2021, 08:57 AM

What beat Jackson in only his second week on the album chart?

The Mel Smith Xmas song is from ‘Father Christmas’ isn’t it?

Posted by: Gezza 20th November 2021, 12:41 PM

Queen - GH II

Posted by: Gezza 20th November 2021, 01:01 PM

14TH DECEMBER



The runners and riders for the big sellers over the festive period are starting to line up but George Michael and Elton John remain at the top of the roost boosting sales to 89,000 and may prove harder to dislodge next week than many had thought. It’s the second chart topper for both in duet, George of course took Aretha Franklin with him to the top in 1987 and Elton duetted with Kiki way back in 1976.



The new challenger to their throne is Diana Ross who ascends 4-2 (59,000) just edging ahead of The KLF Featuring Tammy Wynette who glide 5-3 (52,000), the appearance of the re-issue of Ross’s album (which debuts at No 14) seems to have not affected the single.



Freddie Mercury’s death on 24th November marked a great surge in Queen’s sales which sees 4 of their albums in the top 75 with both “Greatest Hits” packages doing a roaring trade at No’s 1 & 8, by sheer co-incidence Brian May has been hard at work recording a solo album due next year and the first single “Driven By You” had the promotion of an ad campaign behind it to get it lodged into the public’s mind. Yes Ford is the culprit, but it’s worked as the single revs 14-6 (29,000), it’s not May’s first solo credit after he made No 65 in 1983 with “Star Fleet” so it’s certainly his highest solo effort but the real show of public mourning for Mercury should be evident next week.






Leaping up the charts 22-7 (28,000) is “Too Blind To See It” by US dance diva Kym Sims. It’s her first UK single and comes with the production of Steve “Silk” Hurley who is no stranger to the No 1 himself having taken “Jack Your Body” to the top in January 1987.





Already a million seller just 10 weeks into its chart life, Simply Red’s fourth album “Stars” has produced its second hit single after lead track “Something Got Me Started” stalled at No 11. The title track from the album lifts 11-8 (28,000) to give the group only their 3rd top 10 single, both the others went to No 2 so watch out for this, though maybe once Christmas is out of the way!





The highest new entry of the week isn’t from U2 who can only make a splash at No 13 but from New Kids On The Block. When “Games” peaked at No 14 back in February many wrote them off as yesterday’s teen favourites but they’ve come back from the edge with “Call It What You Want” making No 12 and now new single “If You Go Away” debuting at No 9 (26,000). It’s their 9th top 10 single in only 2 years but the first not to be produced by Maurice Starr who parted ways with the group, it’s co-written by John Bettis who also co-wrote the current Diana Ross single. A greatest hits album is out this week and the boys remain the 3rd biggest selling singles act of the decade behind only Madonna and leader Bryan Adams.



Michael Jackson slides 2-4 (41,000) but he does sell his 200,000 copy of “Black Or White”, he keeps above East Side Beat who also fall 3-5 (32,000), and Nirvana drop 7-10 (24,000) as “Nevermind” also falls for the first time in 7 weeks as it blips 33-36. Next week sees the re-release of “Bohemian Rhapsody” and if pre orders are anything to go by we’ll be in 6 figures for week 1!


1- DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME- George Michael & Elton John (89,000)
2- WHEN YOU TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME- Diana Ross (59,000)
3- JUSTIFIED AND ANCIENT- The KLF/ Tammy Wynette (52,000)
4- BLACK OR WHITE- Michael Jackson (41,000)
5- RIDE LIKE THE WIND- East Side Beat (32,000)
6- DRIVEN BY YOU- Brian May (29,000)
7- TOO BLIND TO SEE IT- Kym Sims (28,000)
8- STARS- Simply Red (28,000)
9- IF YOU GO AWAY- New Kids On The Block (26,000)
10- SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT- Nirvana (24,000)

Posted by: Gezza 20th November 2021, 01:01 PM

Up to date I think now!

Posted by: Jade 20th November 2021, 02:35 PM

As per usual I’ve been really behind on TOTP but finally all caught up on the last two months now and my love goes to: ‘It’s Grim Up North’, ‘Activ-8 (Come With Me)’, ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ and ‘Justified and Ancient’

This was also the first I knew of the full ‘Black Or White’ video being over 10 minutes, wow definitely unnecessary!

They showed a performance of Mariah’s ‘Emotions’ on one of the episodes (she seemed to be singing in a different key on the chorus compared to the studio version though), shame that only got to #17 here compared to her incredible success in the U.S.

Posted by: Bjork 20th November 2021, 05:06 PM

^oh my, you made me go and check that Mariah performance, why was she singing it so low? weird

Posted by: Dot Branning 20th November 2021, 05:14 PM

Nirvana's iconic performance of Smells Like Teen Spirit on TOTP must have been around this time too right?

Posted by: Jester 20th November 2021, 05:43 PM

Seems to have been on the week that was skipped!

Posted by: steve201 20th November 2021, 07:29 PM

Mark put the episode up on the TOTP thread!

Posted by: 30 Spells Snakey 20th November 2021, 07:59 PM

Stars is another good song from Simply Red. On the subject of Simply Red, you could argue that they already had the early 90s dance pop sound ahead of time with their piano house-esque version of Money's Too Tight To Mention back in 1985!

Posted by: Dot Branning 21st November 2021, 10:35 PM

It's up on Youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPtJtbRXi3I

Posted by: Colm 23rd November 2021, 12:08 PM

Justified and Ancient is my least favourite of all KLF/Timelords/JAMM hits. It was great at the time but it just has a tough time competing with the rest of their stuff.

Posted by: 30 Spells Snakey 23rd November 2021, 03:02 PM

It's more poppy I think than their other songs. It is a bit sad knowing it would be one of their last singles.

Posted by: Bjork 23rd November 2021, 03:49 PM

you really prefer Doctorin' the tardis to Justified and ancient?

Posted by: Dot Branning 23rd November 2021, 05:13 PM

Justified And Ancient is one of my KLF favourites, probably only 3AM Eternal I would rank above it.

Posted by: steve201 23rd November 2021, 11:36 PM

Where did KLF go like they were huge in 1990/91!?

Posted by: Dot Branning 23rd November 2021, 11:43 PM

They very publicly retired from the industry at the Brits in 1992 and then had their back catalogue deleted.

Posted by: steve201 23rd November 2021, 11:54 PM

Random like!

Posted by: Doctor Blind 24th November 2021, 12:07 AM

They didn't quite disappear completely, they had a further minor Top 40 hit in 1997 with a song called “***K the Millenium” (another remix of “What Time Is Love?”) - it was released to celebrate the crapness of comebacks - something we've had endless amounts of in the new Millenium.



in a remarkably accurate parody that (post-2000) would predict the seemingly endless roster of artists and groups - long since disbanded - rejecting any principals and dignity they once had to reform for a bit of fast money.

Posted by: Colm 24th November 2021, 09:02 AM

I do indeed. I will listen to the Dr Who theme in almost any form

Posted by: Dot Branning 26th November 2021, 02:25 PM

Spot on.

Posted by: Jester 26th November 2021, 09:05 PM

So they showed the xmas special tonight, so skipped one(?) more week!

Posted by: Gezza 27th November 2021, 07:13 PM

21ST DECEMBER



It set a blistering pace from the off and the re-issue of “Bohemian Rhapsody” does exactly what everyone thought it would, debut instantly at the top. The song was of course No 1 for Christmas 1975 spending 9 weeks at the top and selling a million as well as launching the concept of the pop promo as we know it. Its re-release is of course thanks to the untimely death of Freddie Mercury last month which has seen “Greatest Hits II” shift incredible numbers at No 1 in the album charts, and in making the top it becomes the first song to make No 1 twice for the same act. Officially it is a double A-Side with new song “These Are The Days Of Our Lives” which appears on the groups “Innuendo” album, the video for which is done mostly in black and white to partly hide the extent of Mercury’s failing health. All told the package sold over 100,000 in its first day alone and an amazing total of 357,000 copies in 6 days, the last single to sell at that rate? Band Aid of course. It is also either the 5th or 6th song to debut at No 1 in 1991 depending on how you view Iron Maiden’s “Bring Your Daughter” which hit the top on 30th December 1990 but with an official chart date of 5th January 1991- either way it puts 1991 in the record books for entries at No 1. Finally it also becomes the first song to re-enter the charts at the top.





Also arriving this week but with a less emphatic sales tally is the new Guns N Roses single “Live And Let Die”, their version of the 1973 No 9 Wings classic. The band have been performing the song live for a few years now and put their version on “Use Your Illusion I”, interestingly both I & II are side by side this week just outside the top 50. It’s a 6th top 10 for the band in the last 2 years as they continue to be one of the biggest groups around, this is new at No 5 (33,000).






Those who thought that “I’m Too Sexy” was a one off are proved entirely wrong with the new Right Said Fred single “Don’t Talk Just Kiss” which once again feature the vocals of Jocelyn Brown who is getting spoiled with all these official credits these days. The single fires 17-9 (29,000) with an album coming in spring!





Cliff topped the Christmas charts in 1988 and 1990 and was also part of Band Aid II in 1989 but it looks like he won’t be getting a fourth year in 1991, his attempt at the big one is “We Should Be Together” which is a cut from his “Together With Cliff” album currently residing at No 10 on the album charts. It jumps 19-10 (27,000) this week to become his 60th top 10 single- an amazing achievement by anyone’s standards even if it doesn’t make the top.



George Michael and Elton John can do nothing to stop losing the pole position this week and fall back 1-2 (59,000) a whole 298,000 behind Queen, again the biggest gap between the top 2 since Band Aid and Wham! seven years ago. The KLF and Tammy Wynette hold steady at No 3 (45,000) managing to outpace Diana Ross who falls back 2-4 (40,000), further down Michael Jackson is also falling 4-8 (31,000) but with “Dangerous” still top 5 and selling a million I doubt he’ll care.

Two records stuck in groove are side by side, Brian May at No 6 (32,000) and Kym Sims at No 7 (31,000). Next week it’s Christmas- can anything dislodge Queen?

1- BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY/ THESE ARE THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES- Queen (357,000)
2- DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME- George Michael & Elton John (59,000)
3- JUSTIFIED AND ANCIENT- The KLF/ Tammy Wynette (45,000)
4- WHEN YOU TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME- Diana Ross (40,000)
5- LIVE AND LET DIE- Guns N Roses (33,000)
6- DRIVEN BY YOU- Brian May (32,000)
7- TOO BLIND TO SEE IT- Kym Sims (31,000)
8- BLACK OR WHITE- Michael Jackson (31,000)
9- DON’T TALK JUST KISS- Right Said Fred/ Jocelyn Brown (29,000)
10- WE SHOULD BE TOGETHER- Cliff Richard (27,000)

Posted by: Gezza 27th November 2021, 07:24 PM

28TH DECEMBER



In the end the destination of the Christmas No 1 for 1991 was too big an ask for anyone after the death of Freddie Mercury and the decision to re-issue “Bohemian Rhapsody” with the song making a second week at the top on a reduced sale of 289,000, a 19% loss but they were so far ahead that it didn’t matter. That means that the double A-Side has sold 646,000 in just a fortnight as it rushes to 10-2 on the YTD list with only Bryan Adams ahead of it, and with only one week left that might be too out of sight to consider, even for Queen.



Christmas No 2 surprises many with most expecting George Michael & Elton John to play bridesmaids but they slump 2-3 (55,000) leaving the way clear for Diana Ross to re-climb 4-2 (65,000), The KLF & Tammy Wynette end up at No 4 (54,000) but all three were fighting for the scraps really. The top 5 are completed by a climbing Right Said Fred & Jocelyn Brown 9-5 (48,000) and are well worth a bet for a post new year chart topper.



Opening in Cinemas a fortnight ago “The Addams Family” has been a sizeable hit and it’s also helping put MC Hammer’s career back on track. He scored 6 top 20 singles from his first UK album in 1990 but this year he returned, dropped the MC and saw his first single (and title track from the album) “2 Legit 2 Quit” stall at No 60, a major surprise. He provides the theme to the new movie however and was helped by the showing of the video before the movie in most cinema’s on its opening week which sees the song power 16-9 (38,000), it samples part of the original TV theme into the track and provides Hammer with a 4th top 10 single in 18 months.





When Mark Summers made No 27 back in February with “Summers Magic” he started a trend for 1991, in that track he sampled the theme from “The Magic Roundabout” marrying together dance music and children’s TV themes, then followed the Prodigy and “Charly” and now Shaft with “Roobard And Custard” which you won’t be surprised to read samples part of the cartoon series of the same name from the 70s, it seems to be a winning combo as the song rises 13-10 (34,000) to keep those Christmas ravers happy.



Kym Sims spends a third week at No 7 (43,000) but it’s not so good for Guns N Roses who dip 5-6 (43,000) and Brian May who puts the brakes on 6-8 (42,000), all songs, apart from George & Elton and Queen recorded an increase as per usual at Christmas time.

After 9 consecutive weeks of at least 1 new entry in the top 10 the record feat comes to an end- could it be topped in 1992?


1- BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY/ THESE ARE THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES- Queen (289,000)
2- WHEN YOU TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME- Diana Ross (65,000)
3- DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME- George Michael & Elton John (55,000)
4- JUSTIFIED AND ANCIENT- The KLF/ Tammy Wynette (54,000)
5- DON’T TALK JUST KISS- Right Said Fred/ Jocelyn Brown (48,000)
6- LIVE AND LET DIE- Guns N Roses (43,000)
7- TOO BLIND TO SEE IT- Kym Sims (43,000)
8- DRIVEN BY YOU- Brian May (42,000)
9- ADDAMS GROOVE- Hammer (38,000)
10- ROOBARB AND CUSTARD- Shaft (34,000)

Posted by: 30 Spells Snakey 27th November 2021, 07:32 PM

Roobarb and Custard by Shaft, what a crazy sounding tune - I only discovered it recently. The song is certainly structured rather like 2010s EDM as it relies on a big outlandish instrumental 'drop' in place of the chorus to become a dancefloor fave.

The rhythm of the rap in MC Hammer's Addams Groove reminds me of Flo Rida's Right Round!

Posted by: steve201 28th November 2021, 02:52 AM

I didn’t realise the kids tv samples were a theme in 1991!

Posted by: chartfridays 28th November 2021, 06:38 AM

Carries into 1992 - the amazing Trip to Trumpton still to come from the 'toytown techno' genre

Posted by: Bjork 28th November 2021, 07:22 AM

great sales for the Queen single, >600K in 2 weeks

Posted by: dandy* 28th November 2021, 09:22 AM

Roobarb & Custard is a mess really, wasn’t a fan then and I’m still not now.

Posted by: Jester 28th November 2021, 09:25 AM

Plus Smart E’s - Sesames Treet!

Posted by: dandy* 28th November 2021, 09:29 AM

Plus we’re almost at the point where we get Super Mario Bros and Tetris aren’t we?

(Plus my personal fave, Lemmings!)

Posted by: Jester 28th November 2021, 09:36 AM

Ahhh I loved the Tetris rave version!

Posted by: fiesta 28th November 2021, 11:03 AM

I still find it hard to believe that Andrew Lloyd Webber was behind the Tetris hit!

Posted by: Gezza 28th November 2021, 12:18 PM

There is another week of 1991 sales (Chart date 4/1/92 and broadcast on 02/01/1992) but I doubt we'll get that until 2022

Posted by: Doctor Blind 28th November 2021, 01:22 PM

Looking at the current T10 for Christmas 1991, it's pretty woeful apart from the KLF/Tammy Wynette (of course) and the lovely Kym Sims. Loved that one ! That bit in the video for “Justified & Ancient” where Tammy appears and all these chart feats scroll along at the bottom is very X-Factor.. although these are actually impressive stats! "5 marriages, 3 children" amazing.

The vocal performance for “Roobarb And Custard” has to be one of the worst ever on Top of the Pops. I mean, just awful. The song is a complete mess too, but it isn't the first children's TV theme remix in the chart - that would be Mark Summers “Summers Magic” (remix of The Magic Roundabout) from February 91- which got to #27.

A shame that we won't see much of early 1992 but I guess you have to respect that presenters wishes.

Posted by: Dot Branning 28th November 2021, 04:29 PM

Justified & Ancient is a timeless bop!

Posted by: Bjork 28th November 2021, 06:55 PM

Today I found the vinyl x there KLF album (The White Room) in a second hand shop for like 5 pounds

Posted by: Tawdry Hepburn 1st December 2021, 12:54 AM

Adore that Kym Sims track so much, what a life anthem.

Posted by: Doctor Blind 8th December 2021, 11:23 PM

BANGER.

Also, I totally missed this - but V.I.M.'s “Maggie's Last Party” - a number 68 hit from January 1991 is a bit of a lost gem.

Posted by: Dasher 27th December 2021, 02:26 PM

So this isn't been shown. The shows restart on Jan 7th with the 9th Jan show

I'll post the final 1991 chart soon

Posted by: Dasher 27th December 2021, 02:47 PM

4TH JANUARY



1991 ends with not much to report, “Bohemian Rhapsody/ These Are The Days Of Our Lives” remains No 1 for a third week though it can’t keep the frantic pace of its first fortnight and loses 75% of its sales week to week, but it was so far in front even that doesn’t signal the end of its reign as it walks past the winning post on 72,000, but still 718,000 in three weeks is nothing short of amazing in current times.



Two days of pre Christmas sales keeps the top 10 buoyant but The KLF and Tammy Wynette take full advantage to overhaul Diana Ross and push 4-2 (41,000) and could be in with a shot at the top depending how quickly Queen fade in the next week. Ross fades 2-3 (34,000) and George & Elton continue that slow descent 3-4 (32,000) but will cross the 300,000 mark next week, rounding off the top 5 are Right Said Fred and Jocelyn Brown who stick it out at No 5 (32,000).

Not much movement in the bottom half of the big 10 with Brian May tripping 8-10 (22,000) which allows Shaft and Hammer to move up a place each 10-9 (23,000) and 9-8 (23,000) respectively. Guns N Roses hold at No 6 (24,000) and Kym Sims makes a month stuck at No 7 (24,000) something she didn’t foresee!


1- BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY/ THESE ARE THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES- Queen (72,000)
2- JUSTIFIED AND ANCIENT- The KLF/ Tammy Wynette (41,000)
3- WHEN YOU TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME- Diana Ross (34,000)
4- DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME- George Michael & Elton John (32,000)
5- DON’T TALK JUST KISS- Right Said Fred/ Jocelyn Brown (32,000)
6- LIVE AND LET DIE- Guns N Roses (24,000)
7- TOO BLIND TO SEE IT- Kym Sims (24,000)
8- ADDAMS GROOVE- Hammer (23,000)
9- ROOBARB AND CUSTARD- Shaft (23,000)
10- DRIVEN BY YOU- Brian May (22,000)

Posted by: Christmasteve201 27th December 2021, 07:28 PM

Is there a reason they didn’t bother showing the last episode?

Posted by: Jester 27th December 2021, 07:35 PM

Thanks Gezza, looking forward to moving onto 1992.

Posted by: Dasher 27th December 2021, 07:52 PM

Adrian Rose episode- as is the 16th Jan episode.

Posted by: Jule Log 27th December 2021, 08:22 PM

Do you have a final chart of the year? I found one on Haven but the positions and sales don’t quite match up confusingly.

Posted by: Dasher 27th December 2021, 09:47 PM

Yes the top 100 were

[1] (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU - Bryan Adams 1,527,000
[2] BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY / THESE ARE THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES – Queen 718,000
[3] THE SHOOP SHOOP SONG (IT'S IN HIS KISS) – Cher 514,000
[4] I'M TOO SEXY - Right Said Fred 501,000
[5] DO THE BARTMAN – Simpsons 458,000
[6] ANY DREAM WILL DO - Jason Donovan 451,000
[7] THE ONE AND ONLY - Chesney Hawkes 386,000
[8] DIZZY - Vic Reeves & The Wonderstuff 368,000
[9] INSANITY – Oceanic 367,000
[10] I WANNA SEX YOU UP - Color Me Badd 356,000

[11] GET READY FOR THIS - 2 Unlimited 336,000
[12] 3AM ETERNAL – KLF 331,000
[13] BLACK OR WHITE - Michael Jackson 313,000
[14] LET'S TALK ABOUT SEX - Salt-N-Pepa 297,000
[15] DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME - George Michael & Elton John 292,000
[16] MORE THAN WORDS – Extreme 291,000
[17] WHEN YOU TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME - Diana Ross 252,000
[18] SUNSHINE ON A RAINY DAY – Zoe 246,000
[19] SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO – Clash 246,000
[20] SIT DOWN – James 242,000

[21] WIND OF CHANGE – Scorpions 241,000
[22] THE STONK - Hale & Pace 240,000
[23] DEVOTION - Nomad & MC Mikee Freedom 239,000
[24] NOW THAT WE'VE FOUND LOVE - Heavy D & The Boyz 230,000
[25] BABY BABY - Amy Grant 230,000
[26] CHARLY – Prodigy 228,000
[27] JUSTIFIED AND ANCIENT - KLF ft Tammy Wynette 227,000
[28] WORLD IN UNION - Kiri Te Kanawa 225,000
[29] PROMISE ME - Beverly Craven 221,000
[30] LAST TRAIN TO TRANSCENTRAL – KLF 214,000

[31] YOU GOT THE LOVE - Source ft Candi Staton 208,000
[32] GYPSY WOMAN - Crystal Waters 207,000
[33] THINKING ABOUT YOUR LOVE - Kenny Thomas 207,000
[34] RHYTHM OF MY HEART - Rod Stewart 200,000
[35] SET ADRIFT ON MEMORY BLISS - PM Dawn 197,000
[36] LOVE TO HATE YOU – Erasure 192,000
[37] SADNESS (PART ONE) – Enigma 187,000
[38] CRAZY – Seal 187,000
[39] MOVE ANY MOUNTAIN – Shamen 186,000
[40] EVERYBODY'S FREE (TO FEEL GOOD) – Rozalla 186,000

[41] SALTWATER - Julian Lennon 182,000
[42] SAILING ON THE SEVEN SEAS – OMD 181,000
[43] WIGGLE IT - 2 In A Room 180,000
[44] ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE - Monty Python 179,000
[45] ALL 4 LOVE - Color Me Badd 179,000
[46] CRAZY FOR YOU (REMIX) – Madonna 179,000
[47] JOYRIDE – Roxette 178,000
[48] GET HERE - Oleta Adams 176,000
[49] GETT OFF – Prince 174,000
[50] YOU COULD BE MINE - Guns 'N' Roses 172,000

[51] CHORUS – Erasure 167,000
[52] WHOLE OF THE MOON – Waterboys 165,000
[53] THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMM - C&C Music Factory 162,000
[54] THE FLY - U2 161,000
[55] WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ME - Utah Saints 161,000
[56] RUSH RUSH - Paula Abdul 156,000
[57] IT'S TOO LATE - Quartz ft Dina Carroll 155,000
[58] DO YOU WANT ME - Salt-N-Pepa 151,000
[59] SENZA UNA DONNA - Paul Young ft Zucchero 149,000
[60] TOUCH ME (ALL NIGHT LONG) - Cathy Dennis 146,000

[61] PEACE - Sabrina Johnson 146,000
[62] RIDE LIKE THE WIND - East Side Beat 145,000
[63] SECRET LOVE - Bee Gees 144,000
[64] WINTER IN JULY - Bomb The Bass 144,000
[65] ACTIVE-8 - Altern-8 142,000
[66] MOVE YOUR BODY (ELEVATION) – Xpansions 141,000
[67] LOVE …THY WILL BE DONE – Martika 141,000
[68] BECAUSE I LOVE YOU (THE POSTMAN'S SONG) - Stevie B 140,000
[69] SHINY HAPPY PEOPLE – REM 140,000
[70] INNUENDO – Queen 137,000

[71] I'LL BE BACK - Arnie & The Terminators 136,000
[72] GONNA MAKE YOU SWEAT (EVERYBODY DANCE NOW) - C&C Music Factory 132,000
[73] DRIVEN BY YOU - Brian May 132,000
[74] WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO - Kylie Minogue 129,000
[75] ONLY YOU – Praise 129,000
[76] TOO BLIND TO SEE IT - Kym Sims 126,000
[77] HIPPY CHICK – Soho 125,000
[78] ALL RIGHT NOW – Free 124,000
[79] RESCUE ME – Madonna 124,000
[80] DON’T TALK JUST KISS - Right Said Fred 123,000

[81] PANDORA'S BOX – OMD 121,000
[82] TAINTED LOVE - Soft Cell 121,000
[83] SUMMERTIME - DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince 120,000
[84] WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME / CAN'T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU - Pet Shop Boys 118,000
[85] SUCH A FEELING - Bizarre Inc 118,000
[86] RHYTHM IS A MYSTERY - K-Klass 117,000
[87] FROM A DISTANCE - Bette Midler 116,000
[88] I BELIEVE – EMF 114,000
[89] STARS - Simply Red 113,000
[90] I TOUCH MYSELF – Divinyls 113,000

[91] LOVE REARS ITS UGLY HEAD - Living Colour 112,000
[92] SOMETHING GOT ME STARTED - Simply Red 111,000
[93] OUTSTANDING - Kenny Thomas 111,000
[94] HUMAN NATURE - Gary Clail On U-Sound System 110,000
[95] CRY FOR HELP - Rick Astley 109,000
[96] TWIST AND SHOUT - Deacon Blue 108,000
[97] DEEP DEEP TROUBLE – Simpsons 108,000
[98] ALWAYS THERE – Incognito 107,000
[99] LOVE AND KISSES - Dannii Minogue 106,000
[100] 20TH CENTURY BOY - Marc Bolan & T.Rex 105,000

Posted by: Christmasteve201 27th December 2021, 10:09 PM

That’s right, there’s quite a few over the next 18 month ffs!

Posted by: Jingle Bell Dot 28th December 2021, 03:57 PM

Justified And Ancient so deserved to be a #1!

Posted by: cider man 7th January 2022, 08:59 PM

Great song including my fave artist of all time, the late great country singer Tammy Wynette.

Posted by: cider man 7th January 2022, 09:14 PM

TV Executive Producer Adrian Woolfe, then known as Adrian Rose, has refused permission for episodes where he co-presents to be repeated. There are 15.

Posted by: cider man 7th January 2022, 09:19 PM

Yes, 15 in total with quite a few over the next 2-3 months.