154. MARY’S PRAYER- Danny Wilson (167,000)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1d/Meet_Danny_Wilson_(Danny_Wilison_album)_coverart.jpg

 

RELEASED: 1988

PEAK POSITION: 3

WKS ON CHART: 11

 

Many won’t know this track and it’s stretching the definition of boy band but they meet my criteria so here they are. Formed in the early 80s they finally got a contract in 1986 and this was their first single which flopped here but did make the top 30 in the US which prompted a 1988 re-release which propelled it to the top 3. Some more minor hits followed before a split in 1991 though it won’t be the last you heard of the band or lead singer Gary King, this song being used in the 98 film “Something About Mary” and King penning hits others including Rachel Stevens and Natalie Imbruglia’s “Wrong Impression”.

 

153. WONDERFUL TONIGHT- Damage (167,400)

 

http://www.avatune.com/pics/130905187.jpg

 

RELEASED: 1997

PEAK POSITION: 3

WKS ON CHART: 8

 

Though recorded for his 1977 album “Slowhand” this Eric Clapton composition was never a single until 1991. The subject of the record was Pattie Boyd, 60s model and wife of George Harrison whom Clapton fell in love with and eventually, after Boyd and Harrison’s marriage failed, married. The marriage only lasted 10 years but she did inspire this song in addition to the Beatles “Something”. Damage naturally rendered a pretty faithful version and delivered up their highest peaking single.

 

I prefer "I Know Where It's At" to the overrated "Pure Shores" and "Never Ever"...granted it has aged badly, but it's a very catchy pop song :)

 

Not to keen on the other two....that Damage cover is a bast*rdization especially as he sings "aks" not "ask"...poor...

154. MARY’S PRAYER- Danny Wilson (167,000)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1d/Meet_Danny_Wilson_(Danny_Wilison_album)_coverart.jpg

 

RELEASED: 1988

PEAK POSITION: 3

WKS ON CHART: 11

 

Many won’t know this track and it’s stretching the definition of boy band but they meet my criteria so here they are. Formed in the early 80s they finally got a contract in 1986 and this was their first single which flopped here but did make the top 30 in the US which prompted a 1988 re-release which propelled it to the top 3. Some more minor hits followed before a split in 1991 though it won’t be the last you heard of the band or lead singer Gary King, this song being used in the 98 film “Something About Mary” and King penning hits others including Rachel Stevens and Natalie Imbruglia’s “Wrong Impression”.

 

 

This was a band? I thought it was just a guy. And I recall back in the 90's this dance cover:

 

153. WONDERFUL TONIGHT- Damage (167,400)

 

http://www.avatune.com/pics/130905187.jpg

 

RELEASED: 1997

PEAK POSITION: 3

WKS ON CHART: 8

 

Though recorded for his 1977 album “Slowhand” this Eric Clapton composition was never a single until 1991. The subject of the record was Pattie Boyd, 60s model and wife of George Harrison whom Clapton fell in love with and eventually, after Boyd and Harrison’s marriage failed, married. The marriage only lasted 10 years but she did inspire this song in addition to the Beatles “Something”. Damage naturally rendered a pretty faithful version and delivered up their highest peaking single.

 

This version famously changed the hair colour of the "wonderful" lady. Whilst Clapton famously sang about Boyd's long blonde hair, Damage sang "long brown hair". Whether they were referring to an actual brunette, beats me.

This was a band? I thought it was just a guy.

 

It was a band - three of them as per the sleeve :D

 

152. LARGER THAN LIFE- Backstreet Boys (167,500)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e1/Largerthenlifebsbsinglecover.jpg

 

RELEASED: 1999

PEAK POSITION: 5

WKS ON CHART: 14

 

Originally planned as the lead single from the “Millennium” album (which was also originally take its title from this track) it eventually saw the light of day as the band’s final release of the decade and came with a promo costing $2.1 million making it one of the 20 most expensive video’s ever made. As the US’s premier boy band of the day nothing else would do though of course they hardly recouped it in sales here.

 

151. WE’VE GOT IT GOIN ON- Backstreet Boys (167,800)

 

http://www.chartstats.com/images/artwork/14860.jpg

 

RELEASED: 1995/96

PEAK POSITION: 3

WKS ON CHART: 8

 

The biggest US Boy band of the 90s, this was the first release from the group but did very little when it was first released in 1995 (No 54), in this country at least. Fame on the continent (even the US ignored them initially) led to a re-release a year later and this track finally became a hit, the first of 13 top 10 hits on the trot for them, rumour has it that Nick Carter doesn’t even sing on the record due to his voice breaking ahhhhh.

 

150. THE POWER OF A WOMAN- Eternal (168,000)

 

http://991.com/newGallery/Eternal-Power-Of-A-Woman-520176.jpg

 

RELEASED: 1995

PEAK POSITION: 5

WKS ON CHART: 8

 

After the departure of Louise Nurding (as she was then) Eternal valiantly struggled on with this piece of typical mid 90s R N B/ Pop which became their third top 5 hit. It served as the title track to their second album which could only sell roughly half of their debut “Always and Forever” and marks the fourth of seven tracks to appear on our rundown from the band.

 

I did love the Backstreet Boys. These aren't my favourite tracks but I'm sure they will come later!

Mary's Prayer... a truly great song.... bit of an all-time classic, really....

182. COULD HAVE TOLD YOU SO- Halo James (146,000)

 

http://991.com/newGallery/Halo-James-Could-Have-Told-Y-124438.jpg

 

RELEASED: 1989

PEAK POSITION: 6

WKS ON CHART: 12

 

Bet not many of you recall this. When the 90s was just weeks old this lot piled into the top 10 with their only top 40 hit before we all lost interest pretty quickly. The only interesting fact I could dredge up was that one member, Ray St John, was the co-writer of Sade’s “Smooth Operator”.

 

 

I do! It was my first ever personal chart #1! That sentence is so sad on so many levels. :(

 

I do! It was my first ever personal chart #1! That sentence is so sad on so many levels. :(

 

I have this on 7 inch single! Not sad at all :)

Not keen on "Larger Than Life"...."We've Got It Going On" is a very decent if dated pop song......and I LOVE "Power of a Woman" - however check this cover :D

 

Love Eternal

152. LARGER THAN LIFE- Backstreet Boys (167,500)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e1/Largerthenlifebsbsinglecover.jpg

Eww! This one is awful. BSB were only ever good for their ballads. For some reason, their attempts at uptempos were usually embarrassing and cheap (especially since at this point they were the biggest group on the planet), EXCEPT the fluke of Everybody, which is, of course, one of the best party tunes of its era. Larger Than Life doesn't come an inch of the joy of that.

Eww! This one is awful. BSB were only ever good for their ballads. For some reason, their attempts at uptempos were usually embarrassing and cheap (especially since at this point they were the biggest group on the planet), EXCEPT the fluke of Everybody, which is, of course, one of the best party tunes of its era. Larger Than Life doesn't come an inch of the joy of that.

 

Everybody is a great pop song agreed. Requested it at many an Christmas disco! I agree they were better at ballads although I wouldn't say their up tempos were terrible. I quite liked The Call and some of their album tracks were good as well. Loved Gotta be you for example.

149. BOOTYLICIOUS- Destiny’s Child (169,300)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b6/Bootylicious_CD_Cover.jpg

 

RELEASED: 2001

PEAK POSITION: 2

WKS ON CHART: 11

 

Talking of girl groups with seven appearances DC are back again. Released in August 2001 this was involved in a mighty battle for the No 1 spot with another girl group track Atomic Kitten’s “Eternal Flame”, no prizes for guessing which came off the loser. Originally the plan was to base this track around Survivor’s “Eye Of The Tiger” but the plan was abandoned and instead Stevie Nicks track “Edge Of Seventeen” forms the main backbone of the song. Nicks actually appears at the beginning of the video playing guitar and Solange Knowles is also there for good measure, though it is reputedly Rowland’s least favourite DC record.

 

148. TRIBUTE (RIGHT ON)- Pasadena’s (170,000)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/61/Pasadenas_tribute.jpg

 

RELEASED: 1988

PEAK POSITION: 5

WKS ON CHART: 14

 

Back to 1988 we go for the Pasadena’s who were a boy band dealing in 50s doo-wop/ soul/ Motown- esque tracks and in a chart awash with the likes of S/A/W they managed to grab a top 10 single. The single pays tribute (hence the title) to 60s soul stars, the band took their name from their home town in the US where two members (brothers) were born.

 

147. HOLD ON- En Vogue (171,800)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6f/EnVogue_HoldOn.jpg

 

RELEASED: 1990

PEAK POSITION: 5

WKS ON CHART: 11

 

Commencing with an acapella version of The Miracles “Who’s Loving You” this is the song that introduced the world to En Vogue. It samples “The Payback” by James Brown, nothing unusual in that as the song is also sampled on a multitude of hits such as Massive Attack’s “Protection” but what is unusual is that the group used the song again on “My Lovin” (No 196) which returned them to the top 10 for the second time in 1992, yes it’s essentially the same song again.