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)

 

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

I always loved Size Of A Cow - great tune!

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.

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

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.

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.

 

 

I always loved Size Of A Cow - great tune!

 

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

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

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?!

 

 

http://www.audio-music.info/pic/OMD.jpg

 

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)

 

 

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

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)

 

KLF, OMD, Electronic and De La Soul! :o :wub:

How did De La Soul even know who CKTC were? :D

 

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

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.

Edited July 18, 20214 yr by sn👠ke

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

 

Also, my favourite KLF single!

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

Edited July 20, 20213 yr by Colm

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)

 

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)

 

Blur’s first time in the top 10 :wub:

not a bad top 10, lots of great songs

love Beverly Craven and Promise Me, one of the best ballads ever in my opinion