Justice Collective - He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother enters at #1

So this year's Christmas number one is a charity single for the families of the Hillsborough victims, Justice Collective with their version of He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother. The song was originally recorded by Kelly Gordon in 1969 and became a #3 hit for the Hollies that same year, then Neil Diamond recorded a version the year after. Now the song has been covered by the Justice Collective, with members including Melanie C, Robbie Williams, Paul Heaton, Paloma Faith, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden, Kenny Dalglish and Alan Hansen. Earlier in the week, it was looking like X Factor winner James Arthur would stay at #1 this week but then the Justice Collective finished up with a big lead. This is the only new entry in this week's top 20, other movement includes a #12 peak in 2012 for Fairytale Of New York and climbs from Taylor Swift (3rd UK top 10 hit now) and Pitbull (new #13 peak for Don't Stop The Party).

 

Alex Day - Stupid Stupid entrs at #25

23 year old singer songwriter and Internet sensation Alex Day gets his 3rd top 40 hit this week, whilst still not signed to a major record label. Last year, Alex launched a campaign to get his first single release Forever Yours to #1 for Christmas. With multiple versions being available and a mass marketing campaign,it sold over 50,000 copies to make #4 but dropped to #112 the following week. In April, he released a cover of Peter & Gordon's 1966 song Lady Godiva, that debuted at #15 and also tumbled in its second week. In May, he released 3 new tracks simultaneously which didn't chart in the UK - Good Morning Sunshine, She Walks Right Through Me and This Kiss. Now Alex Day can lay claim to a 3rd top 30 single as Stupid Stupid debuts at #25, disappearing next week most likely.

 

Willy Moon - Yeah Yeah re-enters at #26

23 year old singer songwriter William Sinclair reenters with his track Yeah Yeah under the name of Willy Moon, at a new peak of #26. This is largely due to the use of the track in the current Apple television advertisements. The track was playlisted by radio at the beginning of the year but didn't make the top 40 until 6 weeks ago, when it came in at #34, it may climb in the coming weeks.

 

£1 Fish Man - One Pound Fish enters at #29

Another track likely to climb significantly in the coming weeks is the latest YouTube driven novelty song by 23 year old Pakistani trader Muhammad Shahid Nazir. Going under the name of £1 Fish Man, his novelty rap track has been an online hit and now debuts in the top 40 at #29. The British based market trader composed the song One Pound Fish and entered the X Factor auditions this year with the track but did not get through. Never mind, he has a top 40 hit now!

 

Emeli Sande - Our Version of events is the Christmas #1 album

After dominating the charts for most of this year, the year's biggest selling album goes back to #1 this week. Our Version Of Events debuted at #1 upon release in February and has not left the top 10 since, in fact it is the year's only million selling album. Not much action elsewhere, with Olly Murs and Michael Buble remaining at #2 and #3 respectively whilst Bruno Mars drops 1-4 and Neil Diamond climbs 3 to #5. Alicia Keys drops out of the top 20 whilst Paloma Faith comes back in.

 

Opinion

Whilst I really like the original He Ain't Heavy, I don't really like the Justice Collective's cover but it is for charity so fair play for getting the xmas #1. I'm not keen on James Arthur's voice but I think his Impossible cover is ok, far better than that Scream & Shout mess from Will/Britney. Good to see Taylor Swift get top 10, even better the #12 peak for the best xmas song ever Fairytale Of New York. Whilst I liked Forever Yours and Lady Godiva, I'm not keen on Alex Day's Stupid Stupid ... it is kind of stupid really. Not as stupid as that £1 Fish Man rubbish or that horrible Niggas In Paris which is heading back up outside the top 40. I do rather like the Willy Moon track and also great to see Driving Home For Christmas back in.

So, Our Version Of Events has become the 14th Album to manage 5, (or more),

Runs at No.1, in the UK. It is also the 10th Artist Album to achieve it, & only the

2nd by a Solo Female. The other being 21, by Adele.

 

 

UK ALBUMS WITH 5 OR MORE ‘RUNS’ AT NUMBER 1

(To W/E 29th December 2012)

 

(Total Weeks at No.1 in Brackets)

12 RUNS AT NUMBER 1

THE SOUND OF MUSIC - FILM SOUNDTRACK (1965) - Runs = 1965 - 1968 (70)

 

11 RUNS AT NUMBER 1

THE KING AND I - FILM SOUNDTRACK (1956) - Runs = 1956 - 1958 (48)

 

9 RUNS AT NUMBER 1

SOUTH PACIFIC - FILM SOUNDTRACK (1958) - Runs = 1958 - 1961 (115)

 

8 RUNS AT NUMBER 1

BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER - SIMON & GARFUNKEL (1970) - Runs = 1970 - 1971 (33)

 

7 RUNS AT NUMBER 1

WEST SIDE STORY - FILM SOUNDTRACK (1962) - Runs = 1962 - 1963 (13)

 

21 - ADELE (2011) - Runs = 2011 - 2012 (23)

6 RUNS AT NUMBER 1

TALK ON CORNERS - THE CORRS (1997) - Runs = 1998 - 1999 (10)

5 RUNS AT NUMBER 1

THE BLACK AND WHITE MINSTREL SHOW - GEORGE MITCHELL MINSTRELS (1960) - Runs = 1961 - 1962 (9)

 

‘BEST OF THE SEEKERS’ - THE SEEKERS (1968) - ‘Runs’ = 1969 (6)

 

STARS - SIMPLY RED (1991) - Runs = 1991 - 1992 (12)

 

GOLD - ABBA (1992) - Runs = 1992 - 2008 (8)

 

BAT OUT OF HELL II - BACK INTO HELL - MEAT LOAF (1993) - Runs = 1993 (11)

 

SPICE - SPICE GIRLS (1996) - Runs = 1996 - 1997 (15)

 

OUR VERSION OF EVENTS - EMELI SANDE (2012) - Runs = 2012 (6)

Edited December 23, 201212 yr by zeus555

I do hope you're wrong about that dreadful fish thing. The thought of it going any higher than it already is is too awful to contemplate.

I do hope you're wrong about that dreadful fish thing. The thought of it going any higher than it already is is too awful to contemplate.

 

It's currently #26 on iTunes so could possibly climb more, but I imagine it'll die when the gift card effect comes in and never recover.

It's currently #26 on iTunes so could possibly climb more, but I imagine it'll die when the gift card effect comes in and never recover.

Yeh I was going by the fact it was climbing iTunes for most of last week, have a feeling it could continue going up this week. I do hope it fades away completely and that I'm wrong. :P

So, Our Version Of Events has become the 14th Album to manage 5, (or more),

Runs at No.1, in the UK. It is also the 10th Artist Album to achieve it, & only the

2nd by a Solo Female. The other being 21, by Adele.

UK ALBUMS WITH 5 OR MORE ‘RUNS’ AT NUMBER 1

(To W/E 29th December 2012)

 

(Total Weeks at No.1 in Brackets)

12 RUNS AT NUMBER 1

THE SOUND OF MUSIC - FILM SOUNDTRACK (1965) - Runs = 1965 - 1968 (70)

 

11 RUNS AT NUMBER 1

THE KING AND I - FILM SOUNDTRACK (1956) - Runs = 1956 - 1958 (48)

 

9 RUNS AT NUMBER 1

SOUTH PACIFIC - FILM SOUNDTRACK (1958) - Runs = 1958 - 1961 (115)

 

8 RUNS AT NUMBER 1

BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER - SIMON & GARFUNKEL (1970) - Runs = 1970 - 1971 (33)

 

7 RUNS AT NUMBER 1

WEST SIDE STORY - FILM SOUNDTRACK (1962) - Runs = 1962 - 1963 (13)

 

21 - ADELE (2011) - Runs = 2011 - 2012 (23)

6 RUNS AT NUMBER 1

TALK ON CORNERS - THE CORRS (1997) - Runs = 1998 - 1999 (10)

5 RUNS AT NUMBER 1

THE BLACK AND WHITE MINSTREL SHOW - GEORGE MITCHELL MINSTRELS (1960) - Runs = 1961 - 1962 (9)

 

‘BEST OF THE SEEKERS’ - THE SEEKERS (1968) - ‘Runs’ = 1969 (6)

 

STARS - SIMPLY RED (1991) - Runs = 1991 - 1992 (12)

 

GOLD - ABBA (1992) - Runs = 1992 - 2008 (8)

 

BAT OUT OF HELL II - BACK INTO HELL - MEAT LOAF (1993) - Runs = 1993 (11)

 

SPICE - SPICE GIRLS (1996) - Runs = 1996 - 1997 (15)

 

OUR VERSION OF EVENTS - EMELI SANDE (2012) - Runs = 2012 (6)

Thanks Zeus, interesting stats there. :)

£1 Fish Man will hopefully be a holiday hit and thats it, cant see it climbing in january!