Hello all! Inspired a bit by Andrew's ongoing Now review series and Plug.dj sessions (and after hosting this week's one for Now 62) it caught me with the bug of doing something similar on here and Plug.dj.

 

What with Radio 1 celebrating 50 years on air, and the recent 'Best of the Official Chart' show they had on Radio 1 Vintage with Greg James and Mark Goodier running down the current top 40 together, it got me reminiscing about the days when I used to listen to the weekly chart rundown with regularity and excitement. Now I've not been around as long as Radio 1 - I've been alive for over half it's lifetime - I decided it'd be a neat idea to do a series covering the 20 years from when I started listening to the chart aged 7 - which was in 1996. If there's the demand there, I'm happy to go back and do earlier in the 90s and maybe a bit of the 80s once these first 20 years are done.

 

So here's how I'm (hoping) it will work. Every week, I'll review the top 40 bestsellers from a given year, along with a poll for everyone to vote for their favourite. Then there'll be an accompanying Plug.dj session to go with it (http://plug.dj/uk-chart-of-the-year). As the Now ones are every Wednesday, I'm tentatively thinking Thursday nights for these ones, but if there's a certain night people have a preference for we'll go with that.

 

As with the Now Plug.djs, there'll be an opportunity for people to play their favourite singles from that week's year that didn't make the top 40 bestsellers of the year, followed by the playing all of the videos for the top 40 biggest sellers of that year from 40 through to the number one - with a break before the top 20 to play a track from that year's biggest selling album - plus some little news or interview snippets from some of the artists featured in that week's session to make it all a nostalgic experience.

 

My sources for the bestsellers lists each week will be the ChartArchive Scans website, using their copies of the Music Week or ChartsPlus Top 100 from that year.

 

With that in mind - let's begin. This week, as I mentioned, is the year that, aged 7, I started listening to the charts: 1996.

 

The Official UK Top 40 Singles of 1996

Source: ChartArchive/OCC

 

1. THE FUGEES - Killing Me Softly (#1, June)

2. SPICE GIRLS - Wannabe (#1, July)

3. BABYLON ZOO - Spaceman (#1, January)

4. SPICE GIRLS - Say You'll Be There (#1, October)

5. MARK MORRISON - Return of the Mack (#1, April)

6. GINA G - Ooh, Aah...Just a Little Bit (#1, May)

7. BADDIEL, SKINNER & LIGHTNING SEEDS - Three Lions (#1, June)

8. ROBERT MILES - Children (#2, February)

9. PETER ANDRE FEAT. BUBBLER RANX - Mysterious Girl (#2, June)

10. SPICE GIRLS - 2 Become 1 (#1, December)

 

11. OASIS - Don't Look Back in Anger (#1, February)

12. TAKE THAT - How Deep Is Your Love (#1, March)

13. TONI BRAXTON - Unbreak My Heart (#2, December)

14. THE PRODIGY - Breathe (#1, November)

15. THE PRODIGY - Firestarter (#1, March)

16. BOYZONE- Words (#1, October)

17. DEEP BLUE SOMETHING - Breakfast at Tiffany's (#1, September)

18. EAST 17 FEATURING GABRIELLE - If You Ever (#2, October)

19. ROBSON & JEROME - What Becomes of the Brokenhearted (#1, November)

20. 3T - Anything (#2, February)

 

21. GEORGE MICHAEL - Fastlove (#1, April)

22. LOS DEL RIO - Macarena (#2, August)

23. UNDERWORLD - Born Slippy (#2, July)

24. THE FUGEES - Ready or Not (#1, September)

25. MARK SNOW - The X Files Theme (#2, March)

26. ROBERT MILES FEATURING MARIA NAYLER - One & One (#3, December)

27. CELINE DION - Because You Loved Me (#5, June)

28. GABRIELLE - Give Me a Little More Time (#5, March)

29. TONY RICH PROJECT - Nobody Knows (#5, May)

30. BABYBIRD - You're Gorgeous (#3, October)

 

31. DUNBLANE - Knockin' on Heaven's Door (#1, December)

32. SUGGS - Cecilia (#5, April)

33. PETER ANDRE - Flava (#1, September)

34. LIVIN' JOY - Don't Stop Movin' (#5, June)

35. CELINE DION - It's All Coming Back to Me Now (#3, October)

36. DONNA LEWIS - I Love You Always Forever (#5, September)

37. OMC - How Bizarre (#5, August)

38. GEORGE MICHAEL - Jesus to a Child (#1, January)

39. JAMIROQUAI - Virtual Insanity (#3, August)

40. GARY BARLOW - Forever Love (#1, July)

 

KEY

 

(Number in italic brackets indicates peak position, and the month it reached this position.)

Singles marked in green were UK number one hits.

 

My Review

 

Well, if any year had to be the one I started listening to the chart and falling in love with pop music, I couldn't have picked a more ripe year, could I? Just over halfway into the 90s, but four years away from a new millennium, 1996 was an exciting and busy year to be watching the charts - sales were increasingly on the up, and 24 different singles went to number one, with only three of those failing to make the top 40 for the year.

 

Those singles making waves on the chart were from across a real hotchpotch of sounds and styles. And it was a year for some historic movements in the chart. We saw the nation's fangirls descend into mourning with Take That's last ever single (albeit for a decade). We saw Oasis cementing their status as the superstars of Britpop. Gina G's irresistible slice of Europop that proved to be almost too so for the Eurovision judges but that was a long stayer - and chart topper. Smooth R&B and soul from The Fugees, 3T and Gabrielle.

 

Huge, classic dance anthems from the likes of the late Robert Miles, Underworld and The Prodigy. Evergreen one hit wonders and radio staples from Donna Lewis, Deep Blue Something and er, Babylon Zoo. And then of course, the small matter of the rise of five girls who would go onto write themselves into UK and worldwide pop history as one of the biggest girl groups of all time. They were called the Spice Girls, I think?

 

Overall, 1996 was a really iconic and memorable year, and a great time to be a fan of music, whatever your tastes.

 

Most Favourite Top 40 Single of 1996

Tough one this, as there were so many classics from '96. But for me, it has to be Spice Girls - 'Wannabe'. A solid gold classic that acted as their mission statement for girl power and indeed pop for much of the next two decades, and inspired a wealth of young girls and women everywhere, many of whom are now in the charts themselves. No wonder it spent seven weeks at the top that summer.

 

Least Favourite Top 40 Single of 1996

Without question it's Peter Andre - 'Flava'. 'Mysterious Girl' I can just about get the popularity of, but Peter's attempt at faux R&B and new jack swing was pitifully bad. Thankfully it didn't stay at the top very long - and neither did his Christmas-y ballad 'I Feel You' that reached the top for a week that December.

Edited October 14, 20177 yr by TheGhostPensmith

ooh interesting.

 

without question my favourite of these has to be Robert Miles' "Children" :wub:

 

what are you going to do about songs that make two consecutive year-end lists then, will we be listening to those on both occasions?

ooh interesting.

 

without question my favourite of these has to be Robert Miles' "Children" :wub:

 

what are you going to do about songs that make two consecutive year-end lists then, will we be listening to those on both occasions?

 

'Children' was very nearly my choice for the year too! A man of good taste Dan :D

 

And yeah I don't see why not re: songs that made it to year end lists twice. I know looking ahead to the next three weeks we'll have several instances of this!

So many good hits. But If You Ever is my fave.

I voted for Born Slippy. Out of that list,it really stands out for me.

'Children' was very nearly my choice for the year too! A man of good taste Dan :D

 

And yeah I don't see why not re: songs that made it to year end lists twice. I know looking ahead to the next three weeks we'll have several instances of this!

Let's just say I'm not looking forward to having to mute Thinking Out Loud two weeks in a row. :P

Had to go for Children! Only thing on that list that I'd happily listen to nowadays tbh

Let's just say I'm not looking forward to having to mute Thinking Out Loud two weeks in a row. :P

 

For which I can only apologise in advance! Still least some of the double headers to come won't be quite so taxing! I do know, for instance, that we meet '2 Become 1' again next week...

Full top 100:

 

#01. The Fugees - Killing Me Softly (#01)

#02. Spice Girls - Wannabe (#01)

#03. Babylon Zoo - Spaceman (#01)

#04. Spice Girls - Say You'll Be There (#01)

#05. Mark Morrison - Return Of The Mack (#01)

#06. Gina G - Ooh, Aah...Just A Little Bit (#01)

#07. Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds - Three Lions (#01)

#08. Robert Miles - Children (#02)

#09. Peter Andre Feat. Bubbler Ranx - Mysterious Girl (#02)

#10. Spice Girls - 2 Become 1 (#01)

 

#11. Oasis - Don't Look Back In Anger (#01)

#12. Take That - How Deep Is Your Love (#01)

#13. Toni Braxton - Unbreak My Heart (#02)

#14. The Prodigy - Breathe (#01)

#15. The Prodigy - Firestarter (#01)

#16. Boyzone - Words (#01)

#17. Deep Blue Something - Breakfast At Tiffany's (#01)

#18. East 17 Featuring Gabrielle - If You Ever (#02)

#19. Robson & Jerome - What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted (#01)

#20. 3T - Anything (#02)

 

#21. George Michael - Fastlove (#01)

#22. Los Del Rio - Macarena (#02)

#23. Underworld - Born Slippy (#02)

#24. The Fugees - Ready Or Not (#01)

#25. Mark Snow - The X-Files (#02)

#26. Robert Miles (feat. Maria Nayler) - One & One (#03)

#27. Celine Dion - Because You Loved Me (#05)

#28. Gabrielle - Give Me A Little More Time (#05)

#29. Tony Rich Project - Nobody Knows (#05)

#30. Babybird - You're Gorgeous (#03)

 

#31. Dunblane - Knockin' On Heaven's Door (#01)

#32. Suggs (feat. Louchie Lou & Michie One) - Cecilia (#05)

#33. Peter Andre - Flava (#01)

#34. Livin' Joy - Don't Stop Movin' (#05)

#35. Celine Dion - It's All Coming Back To Me Now (#03)

#36. Donna Lewis - I Love You Always Forever (#05)

#37. OMC - How Bizarre (#05)

#38. George Michael - Jesus To A Child (#01)

#39. Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity (#03)

#40. Gary Barlow - Forever Love (#01)

 

#41. Woolpackers - Hillbilly Rock Hillbilly Roll (#05)

#42. Technohead - I Wanna Be A Hippy (#06)

#43. JX - There's Nothing I Won't Do (#04)

#44. Faithless - Insomnia (#03)

#45. Warren G (feat. Adina Howard) - What's Love Got To Do With It? (#02)

#46. Robbie Williams - Freedom (#02)

#47. Luniz - I Got 5 On It (#03)

#48. Michael Jackson - Earth Song (#01)

#49. George Michael - Spinning The Wheel (#02)

#50. Manic Street Preachers - A Design For Life (#02)

 

#51. Oasis - Wonderwall (#05) (#02, 1995)

#52. Michael Jackson - They Don't Care About Us (#04)

#53. Boyzone - A Different Beat (#01)

#54. The Smurfs - I've Got A Little Puppy (#04)

#55. BBE - Seven Days and One Week (#03)

#56. Lighthouse Family - Lifted (#04)

#57. Mariah Carey - Always Be My Baby (#03)

#58. The Manchester United FA Cup Squad - Move Move Move (#06)

#59. The Bluetones - Slight Return (#02)

#60. Wink - Higher State Of Consciousness '96 (#07)

 

#61. The Chemical Brothers - Setting Sun (#01)

#62. Everything But The Girl - Missing (#04) (#03, 1995)

#63. Joan Osborne - One Of Us (#06)

#64. Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen - Theme from Mission:Impossible (#07)

#65. Ocean Colour Scene - The Day We Caught The Train (#04)

#66. The Beautiful South - Rotterdam (#05)

#67. Boyzone - Coming Home Now (#04)

#68. Boyzone - Father and Son (#02)

#69. Peter Andre - I Feel You (#01)

#70. 3T (feat. Michael Jackson) - Why (#02)

 

#71. Dina Carroll - Escaping (#03)

#72. Dodgy - Good Enough (#04)

#73. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony - Tha Crossroads (#08)

#74. Fugees - No Woman, No Cry (#02)

#75. Stretch & Vern present Maddog - I'm Alive (#06)

#76. Clock - Oh What A Night (#13)

#77. 3T - I Need You (#03)

#78. Louise - Naked (#05)

#79. Toni Braxton - You're Makin' Me High (#07)

#80. Oasis - Whatever (#34) (#03, 1994)

 

#81. Celine Dion - Falling Into You (#10)

#82. Lisa Marie Experience - Keep On Jumpin' (#07)

#83. Cher - One By One (#07)

#84. Kula Shaker - Hey Dude (#02)

#85. Backstreet Boys - We've Got It Goin' On (#03)

#86. Coolio (feat. LV) - Gangsta's Paradise (#07) (#01, 1995)

#87. 2Pac (feat. Dr. Dre) - California Love (#06)

#88. Gina G - I Belong To You (#06)

#89. Alisha's Attic - I Am, I Feel (#14)

#90. Michael Jackson - Stranger In Moscow (#04)

 

#91. Space - Female Of The Species (#14)

#92. Robert Miles - Fable (#07)

#93. Simply Red - Angel (#04)

#94. Etta James - I Just Want To Make Love To You (#05)

#95. LL Cool J - Loungin' (#07)

#96. The Charlatans - One To Another (#03)

#97. Mark Owen - Child (#03)

#98. Damage - Forever (#06)

#99. Jamiroquai - Cosmic Girl (#06)

#100. Pianoman - Blurred (#06)

 

some really great songs missing the top 40 here; JX, Faithless, BBE :wub:

voted Don't Stop Movin Livin Joy

I can't only vote for one! :o Went with Don't Stop Movin in the end, although Ready or Not or either of the Prodigys would have been just as deserving

OK people...as regards to the proposed Thursday Plug.dj. I know having spoken to a few of you that there *might* be a bit of a clash as regards to Addy hosting his Plug.dj on Thursday for the Dance Forum Song Contest.

 

As regards to this, so that no one misses out,I am happy to do the session tomorrow night - 7pm warm up, 8pm start up. If everyone could let me know by about 8pm tonight what their preference is and I'll take a view on it :)

I can't make the session I'm afraid as I'm out then, but I'll hopefully be able to make future ones if this is going to be a regular thing!

 

Great idea, love the 90s and this was when dance was at it's best for me. I voted Robert Miles' Children as it remains an all time favourite, though Don't Look Back in Anger was very close behind (indeed both have quite a relevance to this year for different (albeit tragic) reasons!)

My favourites are Virtual Insanity, Breathe, Firestarter, Don't Look Back In Anger, Born Slippy, Return Of The Mack, Wannabe, Three Lions, Children and Killing Me Softly

Sorry I’m late to the party! This is a great idea Alex and I’m glad I partly inspired you to start s project of your own! :)

 

1996 was a year I recall in some small detail. I was going into my final year of primary school and there was a school trip planned, it was to be our Year 6 camp! I remember being on the bus and hearing songs which I didn’t know the names of back then but they were firmly implanted into my mind and years later I rediscovered them all and it was so good to listen to again. Such songs from that school trip I recall included Wannabe, Return Of The Mack, Ooh Ah... Just A Little Bit, Macarena, Oh What A Night, Children and probably others in that list.

 

I’d like to have voted for more than one song (perhaps next thread you could enable the multiple choice field) but in the end my favourite choice went to Underworld for their unique single Born Slippy.

 

My least favourite from that Top 40 list is probably the forgettable Tony Rich Project.

Will there be a pre-party tonight so we can play some other 1996 songs not on the top 40 list, I have one dance tune in mind that charted in that year that is my fave dance tune from the 90s probably!

Went for Livin' Joy 'Don't Stop Moving'. Looking forward to dance dominated 2000 when it comes around in this list!

Will there be a pre-party tonight so we can play some other 1996 songs not on the top 40 list, I have one dance tune in mind that charted in that year that is my fave dance tune from the 90s probably!

 

Yes there will be! Come along at 7pm and play it :)

Someone on YouTube made a recap of the whole Top 100. I won't play it on plug as it's 41 minutes long but here it is if anyone is interested.

 

Children for me as well.

 

Thank goodness Wonderwall missed out. A friend of mine did a karaoke version of that song after having a few too many at a local drinking establishment. Need I say more?