I remember the Mr Blobby and Take That Xmas race to #1, I did find it funny Mr Blobby beat TT in the end by just 3k.

 

On that note, I like to say thanks to Gezza/Dasher for his very informative commentaries throughtout the year, well appreciated for all your hard work and time. We did have some great laughs along the way, cough Kobbar cough :lol:

 

Have a Merry Christmas.

Thanks for everything that you've hosted this year, Gezza! :D It was really good to see the sales information as well, where do you get/estimate it from? :o

MW mainly gives me sales but other sources have given me info over the years, and very accurate Y/E tallies so I can put pretty good estimates to things though of course a margin of error exsists in everything but I don't think I'm far out?!

1- MR BLOBBY- Mr Blobby (93,000)

2- BABE- Take That (90,000)

3- TWIST AND SHOUT- Chaka Demus & Pliers (58,000)

4- FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS- Bee Gees (53,000)

5- IT’S ALRIGHT- East 17 (50,000)

6- I’D DO ANYTHING FOR LOVE (BUT I WON’T DO THAT)- Meat Loaf (46,000)

7- THE PERFECT YEAR- Dina Carroll (44,000)

8- BAT OUT OF HELL- Meat Loaf (41,000)

9- TRUE LOVE- Elton John & Kiki Dee (36,000)

10- THE POWER OF LOVE- Frankie Goes To Hollywood (33,000)

 

 

This is one of the xmas charts i don't know that much about. So the no1 spot before that went Blobby-Take That-Blobby then? There also a few classics in the top 10 from Meat Loaf, Elton and Kiki returned, Dina Caroll and where did that hit from the Bee Gees come from so far into their careers. Thought there last top 10 hit was the surprise return to the top spot in 87?

 

Also why was The Power of Love re-issued?

 

Did chart generally enter the top of the chart at this stage of the 90s?

Another great thread! Thanks, and have a good Christmas!

This is one of the xmas charts i don't know that much about. So the no1 spot before that went Blobby-Take That-Blobby then? There also a few classics in the top 10 from Meat Loaf, Elton and Kiki returned, Dina Caroll and where did that hit from the Bee Gees come from so far into their careers. Thought there last top 10 hit was the surprise return to the top spot in 87?

 

Also why was The Power of Love re-issued?

 

Did chart generally enter the top of the chart at this stage of the 90s?

Well to answer your points in turn......

 

1) Yes- Blobby- Take That- Blobby

2) The Bee Gees were last in the top 10 in 1998 with Celine Dion so were actively recording new material well into the early 00s.

3) During 93 FGTH re-released their first 4 singles, they all made the top 20. They had a new GH set out and first track "Relax" went top 10 so they kept on releasing. :D

Thanks Gezza, ive thoroughly enjoyed your 12 charts of xmas. And the fact Blobbywas out for at least 3 weeks answers my other question about whether songs were held back at this time, if they had held blobby back like nowadays it would have enterd at the top with massive sales?!Q

Thanks Gezza, ive thoroughly enjoyed your 12 charts of xmas. And the fact Blobbywas out for at least 3 weeks answers my other question about whether songs were held back at this time, if they had held blobby back like nowadays it would have enterd at the top with massive sales?!Q

Possible but as I say the feeling at the time was that TT had it in the bag, so best release before them rather than after, or it wouldn't have got there, so the theory was to try and build up momentum before TT release otherwise it would have failed. TT didn't prove to be as powerful as most thought (the album containing "Babe" had been out since October) so Blobby benefitted from a wider appeal (amazingly).

 

By that point in chart history no act (save the first chart in 1952) had entered the charts at No 1 with their debut single (though that would change in 1994) so it would have been a first if Blobby had done it.

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Edited May 14, 20169 yr by Electric Top 10

Possible but as I say the feeling at the time was that TT had it in the bag, so best release before them rather than after, or it wouldn't have got there, so the theory was to try and build up momentum before TT release otherwise it would have failed. TT didn't prove to be as powerful as most thought (the album containing "Babe" had been out since October) so Blobby benefitted from a wider appeal (amazingly).

 

By that point in chart history no act (save the first chart in 1952) had entered the charts at No 1 with their debut single (though that would change in 1994) so it would have been a first if Blobby had done it.

 

Thanks Gezza, great sales for TT considering they had the album out!!

Did chart generally enter the top of the chart at this stage of the 90s?

 

I guess you mean "did songs generally..." in which case it was starting to go that way in 1993. Any tracks prior to 1993 that did enter at #1 would've had extensive news/media coverage. Ie; the re-release of 'Bohemian Rhapsody' in December 1991, the several charity singles throughout the 80s like Ferry Aid in 1987, the Hillsborough charity single in 1989 and of course Band Aid. The only anomoly I can think of being Jason Donovan 'Sealed With A Kiss' where I suspect the track benefitted from a low sales week. Even Cliff Richard entered at #2 the same week in 1989 so sales of 'Ferry Cross The Mersey' must've decreased quite a bit in its 3rd week at #1.

 

By the end of 1994 new entries at #1 were becoming more common, and by 1995 it was almost second nature.

Hate when loadsa songs enter at the top of the chart - its so fixed - if songs are released when they go to radio the best ones will rise to the top or at least have chart runs that befit their impact!

Just been forwarded this thread, which was a terrific read so thanks very much. I've always wanted to know what the sales were for the 1987 chart bearing in mind the constant bitterness of the Pogues towards Always on my mind (I'm a PSB fan!). Looking at the relatively small difference between the two, and the fact FONY's sales must have rocketed from the previous week (when they were #8?), I'm quite surprised FONY wasn't number one the week after the definitive Christmas chart bearing in mind there were still four days available to purchase the single before Christmas Day itself and the chart (on 27th?). Anyway, thanks again as I never thought I'd be able to find out those stats!

 

 

Is there much bitterness though? At the end of the day PSBs were a much bigger band at the time. We all know which song is bigger overall :P

Is there much bitterness though? At the end of the day PSBs were a much bigger band at the time. We all know which song is bigger overall :P

Every time there's a documentary on the making of FONY, at least one of the Pogues makes a bitter and twisted comment about how the song was beaten by two queens and a drum machine, or words to that effect. It is a classic Christmas song, so it's a shame it didn't make #1; I've just always resented the fact that they twist history and make it sound like a) Always on my mind was some novelty hit like Shaddap Your Face, and b) that Pet Shop Boys 'snatched' the number one position from them when AOMY was already there anyway. At least Kirsty liked it. :(

 

Every time there's a documentary on the making of FONY, at least one of the Pogues makes a bitter and twisted comment about how the song was beaten by two queens and a drum machine, or words to that effect. It is a classic Christmas song, so it's a shame it didn't make #1; I've just always resented the fact that they twist history and make it sound like a) Always on my mind was some novelty hit like Shaddap Your Face, and b) that Pet Shop Boys 'snatched' the number one position from them when AOMY was already there anyway. At least Kirsty liked it. :(

Although AOMM is a decent song and not a novelty, I do think it is one of the great chart travesties - though not in the way Shaddup Ya Face/Vienna or Robson & Jerome/Common People/Wonderwall is.

Lol i think they are just being silly in a tongue in cheek way when they say that. Its the same when The Darkness talk about the xmas no1 race in 2003, i dont think there's actual animosity between the artists they would just love to have the xmas no1!

Lol i think they are just being silly in a tongue in cheek way when they say that. Its the same when The Darkness talk about the xmas no1 race in 2003, i dont think there's actual animosity between the artists they would just love to have the xmas no1!

Imo the better song by far won in 2003!

Its win win for me - i love them both. The Darkness was amazing at the time because they tried to recreate a slade for the 21st century and we hadnt had a decent xmas hit since Mariah/East 17 back then!