Top 50 Tracks (21/12/25 - 27/12/25)

01 01 Kylie Minogue - X.M.A.S.
02 Re Abba - Little Things
03 02 Ash - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
04 04 Bill Whelan - Riverdance
05 03 Saw Doctors - Sound Sham
06 08 Bill Whelan - Firedance
07 07 Wizzard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day
08 14 Rose & Bruno Mars - Apt.
09 15 Shakin' Stevens - The Best Christmas of Them All
10 05 Ed Sheeran - Sapphire

11 09 Ed Sheeran - Azizam
12 21 Shakin' Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone
13 06 Bill Whelan - American Wake
14 12 Kingfishr - Killeagh
15 10 Bill Whelan - Andalucia
16 13 Mel Smith & Kim Wilde - Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree
17 19 Bill Whelan - Marta's Dance / The Russian Dervish
18 17 Ed Sheeran - Camera
19 26 Bill Whelan - Slip Into Spring / The Harvest
20 Ne Chris Rea - Driving Home For Christmas

21 Re Pogues ft Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale of New York
22 25 Saw Doctors - Joyce Country Ceili Band
23 18 Saw Doctors - I Love To Go Awanderin'
24 23 Saw Doctors - About You Now
25 Re Abba - Don't Shut Me Down
26 Re Bruce Springsteen - Dancing In The Dark
27 35 Amy Macdonald - Mr Rock n Roll
28 Re Bruce Springsteen - Born In The USA
29 Re Bryan Adams - Roll With The Punches
30 16 Saw Doctors - This Is Me

31 20 Saw Doctors - Michael D Rockin' In The Dail
32 27 Taylor Swift - Opalite
33 Re Abba - Just A Notion
34 Re Bruce Springsteen - Working On The Highway
35 29 Ed Sheeran - Old Phone
36 24 Ash - Girl From Mars
37 40 Saw Doctors - I Useta Lover
38 33 Amy Macdonald - Barrowland Ballroom
39 Re Bryan Adams - Make Up Your Mind
40 38 Ed Sheeran & Elton John - Merry Christmas

41 34 Saw Doctors - I'll Be On My Way
42 Re Bruce Springsteen - Glory Days
43 22 Saw Doctors - Wha'D'ya Think A That?
44 32 Ed Sheeran - Opening
45 11 Ash - Burn Baby Burn
46 Re Bruce Springsteen - Darlington County
47 30 Saw Doctors - Villains
48 28 Huntr / X / Ejae / Audrey Nuna / Rei Ami - Golden
49 48 Lewis Capaldi - The Day That I Die
50 43 Lewis Capaldi - Survive

Top 10 Albums (21/12/25 - 27/12/25)

01 01 Bill Whelan - Riverdance: 25th Anniversary
02 Re Abba - Voyage
03 04 Shakin Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone
04 Re Bruce Springsteen - Born In The USA
05 02 Kylie Minogue - Kylie Christmas (Fully Wrapped)
06 05 Ed Sheeran - Play
07 10 Michael Buble - Christmas
08 07 Saw Doctors - To Win Just Once: The Best of…
09 Ne Saw Doctors - New Years Day Live
10 Re Bryan Adams - Roll With The Punches

Ash drop a place but now the Top 3 is full of Christmas songs with the return of Abba's Little Things, probably my favourite track from the Voyage album which I was playing again this week. The Best Christmas of Them All by Shaky climbs a few places to make it 5 festive tunes in the Top 10. This one was helped by the fact that I got it played as a request on one of the local BBC radio stations during the week.

Top 50 Tracks (28/12/25 - 03/01/26)

01 14 Kingfishr - Killeagh

02 08 Rose & Bruno Mars - Apt.

03 10 Ed Sheeran - Sapphire

04 04 Bill Whelan - Riverdance

05 02 Abba - Little Things

06 11 Ed Sheeran - Azizam

07 01 Kylie Minogue - X.M.A.S.

08 18 Ed Sheeran - Camera

09 Re Raye - Where Is My Husband!

10 06 Bill Whelan - Firedance

11 31 Saw Doctors - Michael D Rockin' In The Dail

12 17 Bill Whelan - Marta's Dance / The Russian Dervish

13 15 Bill Whelan - Andalucia

14 13 Bill Whelan - American Wake

15 26 Bruce Springsteen - Dancing In The Dark

16 19 Bill Whelan - Slip Into Spring / The Harvest

17 32 Taylor Swift - Opalite

18 30 Saw Doctors - This Is Me

19 24 Saw Doctors - About You Now

20 35 Ed Sheeran - Old Phone

21 25 Abba - Don't Shut Me Down

22 27 Amy Macdonald - Mr Rock n Roll

23 34 Bruce Springsteen - Working On The Highway

24 28 Bruce Springsteen - Born In The USA

25 Re Bruce Springsteen - Badlands

26 33 Abba - Just A Notion

27 07 Wizzard - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day

28 12 Shakin' Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone

29 05 Saw Doctors - Sound Sham

30 37 Saw Doctors - I Useta Lover

31 22 Saw Doctors - Joyce Country Ceili Band

32 Re Bruce Springsteen - Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out

33 42 Bruce Springsteen - Glory Days

34 43 Saw Doctors - Wha'D'ya Think A That?

35 Re Bruce Springsteen - Darkness On The Edge of Town

36 50 Lewis Capaldi - Survive

37 44 Ed Sheeran - Opening

38 48 Huntr / X / Ejae / Audrey Nuna / Rei Ami - Golden

39 23 Saw Doctors - I Love To Go Awanderin'

40 41 Saw Doctors - I'll Be On My Way

41 38 Amy Macdonald - Barrowland Ballroom

42 46 Bruce Springsteen - Darlington County

43 03 Ash - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

44 Ne Olivia Dean - Man I Need

45 36 Ash - Girl From Mars

46 09 Shakin' Stevens - The Best Christmas of Them All

47 29 Bryan Adams - Roll With The Punches

48 16 Mel Smith & Kim Wilde - Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree

49 47 Saw Doctors - Villains

50 20 Chris Rea - Driving Home For Christmas

Top 10 Albums (28/12/25 - 03/01/26)

01 01 Bill Whelan - Riverdance: 25th Anniversary0

02 02 Abba - Voyage

03 06 Ed Sheeran - Play

04 Ne Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band - 1980/12/31 Uniondale, New York

05 04 Bruce Springsteen - Born In The USA

06 08 Saw Doctors - To Win Just Once: The Best of…

07 09 Saw Doctors - New Years Day Live

08 03 Shakin Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone

09 05 Kylie Minogue - Kylie Christmas (Fully Wrapped)

10 07 Michael Buble - Christmas

The Christmas songs haven't completely disappeared but they are starting to fall. As a result several songs leap back up the chart and Raye re-enters with another current one (Man I Need) making it's debut. The Kingfishr track was everywhere on Irish TV and radio over the holidays and as a result it jumps back up to claim the number 1 slot. The new entry on the album chart was the free listen on nugs.net during the week.

Top 50 Tracks (04/01/26 - 10/01/26)

01 04 Bill Whelan - Riverdance
02 Re Sinead Lohan Whatever It Takes
03 10 Bill Whelan - Firedance
04 09 Raye - Where Is My Husband!
05 02 Rose & Bruno Mars - Apt.
06 03 Ed Sheeran - Sapphire
07 14 Bill Whelan - American Wake
08 06 Ed Sheeran - Azizam
09 01 Kingfishr - Killeagh
10 12 Bill Whelan - Marta's Dance / The Russian Dervish

11 Re The Fureys - Red Rose Café
12 13 Bill Whelan - Andalucia
13 17 Taylor Swift - Opalite
14 Re The Fureys - Green Fields of France
15 16 Bill Whelan - Slip Into Spring / The Harvest
16 08 Ed Sheeran - Camera
17 Re The Fureys - Clare To Here
18 Re Black Star Riders - Crazy Horses
19 Re Sinead Lohan - If I Go
20 Re The Fureys - Leaving of Liverpool

21 Re Sinead Lohan - Diving To Be Deeper
22 15 Bruce Springsteen - Dancing In The Dark
23 19 Saw Doctors - About You Now
24 Re Black Star Riders - Green And Troubled Land
25 29 Saw Doctors - Sound Sham
26 05 Abba - Little Things
27 Re Black Star Riders - Don't Let The World Get In The Way
28 Re Sinead Lohan - No Mermaid
29 37 Ed Sheeran - Opening
30 Re Dire Straits - Money For Nothing

31 38 Huntr / X / Ejae / Audrey Nuna / Rei Ami - Golden
32 Re Dire Straits - Walk of Life
33 11 Saw Doctors - Michael D Rockin' In The Dail
34 Re Sinead Lohan - Come Let Me Out
35 07 Kylie Minogue - X.M.A.S.
36 20 Ed Sheeran - Old Phone
37 23 Bruce Springsteen - Working On The Highway
38 36 Lewis Capaldi - Survive
39 Re Dire Straits - Why Worry?
40 18 Saw Doctors - This Is Me

41 Re Black Star Riders - Wrong Side of Paradise
42 22 Amy Macdonald - Mr Rock n Roll
43 30 Saw Doctors - I Useta Lover
44 24 Bruce Springsteen - Born In The USA
45 Re Dire Straits - The Man's Too Strong
46 21 Abba - Don't Shut Me Down
47 41 Amy Macdonald - Barrowland Ballroom
48 Re Black Star Riders - Better Than Saturday Night
49 26 Abba - Just A Notion
50 33 Bruce Springsteen - Glory Days

Top 10 Albums (04/01/26 - 10/01/26)

01 01 Bill Whelan - Riverdance: 25th Anniversary
02 Re Sinead Lohan - Who Do You Think I Am?
03 Re Black Star Riders - Wrong Side of Paradise
04 Ne Bill Whelan - Riverdance: 10th Anniversary
05 03 Ed Sheeran - Play
06 Re Sinead Lohan - No Mermaid
07 Re The Fureys & Davey Arthur - 30 Years On: Recorded Live In Vicar Street
08 Re Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms
09 05 Bruce Springsteen - Born In The USA
10 02 Abba - Voyage

More albums that I hadn't played for a while. The Fureys & Davey Arthur return is down to seeing them in Belfast on Friday 2nd. Having listened to the 25th anniversary edition of the Riverdance soundtrack I came across the 10th anniversary edition on CD and played that as well.

Top 50 Tracks (11/01/26 - 17/01/26)

01 01 Bill Whelan - Riverdance

02 02 Sinead Lohan Whatever It Takes

03 Ne Sultans of Ping FC - Where’s Me Jumper?

04 06 Ed Sheeran - Sapphire

05 Ne Sultans of Ping FC - You Talk Too Much

06 03 Bill Whelan - Firedance

07 07 Bill Whelan - American Wake

08 08 Ed Sheeran - Azizam

09 10 Bill Whelan - Marta's Dance / The Russian Dervish

10 12 Bill Whelan - Andalucia

11 05 Rose & Bruno Mars - Apt.

12 04 Raye - Where Is My Husband!

13 15 Bill Whelan - Slip Into Spring / The Harvest

14 13 Taylor Swift - Opalite

15 16 Ed Sheeran - Camera

16 Ne Sultans of Ping FC - Stupid Kid

17 09 Kingfishr - Killeagh

18 Ne Sultans of Ping FC - Give Him A Ball (And A Yard of Grass)

19 31 Huntr / X / Ejae / Audrey Nuna / Rei Ami - Golden

20 Re Alan Fletcher - (I’ve Got A) Crush On Susie K

21 33 Saw Doctors - Michael D Rockin' In The Dail

22 Re Bill Whelan - Reel Around The Sun

23 18 Black Star Riders - Crazy Horses

24 11 The Fureys - Red Rose Café

25 32 Dire Straits - Walk of Life

26 Ne Sultans of Ping FC - Veronica

27 22 Bruce Springsteen - Dancing In The Dark

28 17 The Fureys - Clare To Here

29 36 Ed Sheeran - Old Phone

30 Ne Paul Hardcastle - 19

31 25 Saw Doctors - Sound Sham

32 29 Ed Sheeran - Opening

33 14 The Fureys - Green Fields of France

34 19 Sinead Lohan - If I Go

35 28 Sinead Lohan - No Mermaid

36 Ne Beoga - B/C Set: Live

37 Re Bill Whelan - The Countess Cathleen / Wonen of The Sidhe

38 40 Saw Doctors - This Is Me

39 21 Sinead Lohan - Diving To Be Deeper

40 Ne Jennifer Hansen & Alan Fletcher - Million Reasons

41 23 Saw Doctors - About You Now

42 30 Dire Straits - Money For Nothing

43 34 Sinead Lohan - Come Let Me Out

44 45 Dire Straits - The Man's Too Strong

45 39 Dire Straits - Why Worry?

46 20 The Fureys - Leaving of Liverpool

47 24 Black Star Riders - Green And Troubled Land

48 38 Lewis Capaldi - Survive

49 26 Abba - Little Things

50 27 Black Star Riders - Don't Let The World Get In The Way

Top 10 Albums (11/01/26 - 17/01/26)

01 01 Bill Whelan - Riverdance: 25th Anniversary

02 Ne Bill Whelan - Riverdance: Music From The Show

03 Ne Sultans of Ping FC - Casual Sex In The Cineplex

04 04 Bill Whelan - Riverdance: 10th Anniversary

05 05 Ed Sheeran - Play

06 Ne Bill Whelan - Riverdance: Music From The Broadway Show

07 Re Beoga - Live At 10

08 Ne Paul Hardcastle - 19: The 30th Anniversary Remixes

09 08 Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms

10 09 Bruce Springsteen - Born In The USA

Two albums played at random this week. Paul Hardcastle and Sultans of Ping FC. And 2 further versions of the Riverdance soundtrack, one of which I had ordered on Ebay. There was another one ordered at the same time but it didn't arrive until after the chart period so next week could see the same album taking up half the chart.

Top 50 Tracks (18/01/26 - 24/01/26)

01 01 Bill Whelan - Riverdance

02 Re Salt n Pepa - Push It

03 08 Ed Sheeran - Azizam

04 04 Ed Sheeran - Sapphire

05 06 Bill Whelan - Firedance

06 12 Raye - Where Is My Husband!

07 07 Bill Whelan - American Wake

08 03 Sultans of Ping FC - Where’s Me Jumper?

09 Ne Salt n Pepa - Twist and Shout

10 02 Sinead Lohan Whatever It Takes

11 09 Bill Whelan - Marta's Dance / The Russian Dervish

12 15 Ed Sheeran - Camera

13 19 Huntr / X / Ejae / Audrey Nuna / Rei Ami - Golden

14 Re Ed Sheeran - Perfect

15 14 Taylor Swift - Opalite

16 10 Bill Whelan - Andalucia

17 11 Rose & Bruno Mars - Apt.

18 13 Bill Whelan - Slip Into Spring / The Harvest

19 Re Ed Sheeran - Shape of You

20 22 Bill Whelan - Reel Around The Sun

21 17 Kingfishr - Killeagh

22 05 Sultans of Ping FC - You Talk Too Much

23 29 Ed Sheeran - Old Phone

24 Re Olivia Dean - Man I Need

25 25 Dire Straits - Walk of Life

26 Ne Olivia Dean - So Easy

27 37 Bill Whelan - The Countess Cathleen / Wonen of The Sidhe

28 Re Westlife - Chariot

29 Re Ed Sheeran - Galway Girl

30 Ne Sam Fender & Olivia Dean - Rein Me In

31 20 Alan Fletcher - (I’ve Got A) Crush On Susie K

32 45 Dire Straits - Why Worry?

33 32 Ed Sheeran - Opening

34 Ne Djo - End of Beginning

35 16 Sultans of Ping FC - Stupid Kid

36 23 Black Star Riders - Crazy Horses

37 42 Dire Straits - Money For Nothing

38 27 Bruce Springsteen - Dancing In The Dark

39 41 Saw Doctors - About You Now

40 31 Saw Doctors - Sound Sham

41 26 Sultans of Ping FC - Veronica

42 48 Lewis Capaldi - Survive

43 39 Sinead Lohan - Diving To Be Deeper

44 44 Dire Straits - The Man's Too Strong

45 33 The Fureys - Green Fields of France

46 34 Sinead Lohan - If I Go

47 Ne Planxty - Timedance

48 Re Ed Sheeran - Castle On The Hill

49 24 The Fureys - Red Rose Café

50 21 Saw Doctors - Michael D Rockin' In The Dail

Top 10 Albums (18/01/26 - 24/01/26)

01 01 Bill Whelan - Riverdance: 25th Anniversary

02 05 Ed Sheeran - Play

03 02 Bill Whelan - Riverdance: Music From The Show

04 Re Salt n Pepa - A Salt With A Deadly Pepa

05 04 Bill Whelan - Riverdance: 10th Anniversary

06 Ne Bill Whelan - Riverdance: Music From The Show (Version 2)

07 09 Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms

08 06 Bill Whelan - Riverdance: Music From The Broadway Show

09 03 Sultans of Ping FC - Casual Sex In The Cineplex

10 07 Beoga - Live At 10

Rather than listening to the version on Spotify non stop I've been flippoing between the different CD versions of Riverdance. There are 5 in total and all have now made the top 10.

CD1 - The original release from 1995

cD2 - The reissue with different track listing

CD3 - 10th anniversary recording

CD4 - music from the Broadway show

CD5 - 25th anniversary recording

Spotify brought up a new mix of Salt n Pepa's Push It this week and though I wasn't that impressed I was persuaded to go back and check out the original alongside the A Salt With A Deadly Pepa album.

Over on the tracks chart there's a Riverdance related new entry. Back in 1981 Bill Whelan was involved in composing the music used for that year's Eurovision interval. It was performed on the night by Planxty and was later released as a single. Some older Ed Sheeran tracks enter following a new Spotify live session which was recorded live in Dublin and some of the curren hits on the NI Hit 40 also enter this week.

Hiya!

End of beginning is pretty good isn't it. I wish I'd been here for the first time round.

Nice to see castle on the hill here, it's one of his best.

Good stuff 🥳

Hi there!

Nice to see "Push It" return to the #2 spot, "Where Is My Husband!" going to the top 10, "Money For Nothing" going to the top 40, the returns for the Ed Sheeran songs, the return for "Man I Need" and the debuts for "So Easy" and "End Of Beginning".

Great chart!

Take care.

Top 50 Tracks (25/01/26 - 31/01/26)

01 01 Bill Whelan - Riverdance

02 04 Ed Sheeran - Sapphire

03 03 Ed Sheeran - Azizam

04 05 Bill Whelan - Firedance

05 12 Ed Sheeran - Camera

06 11 Bill Whelan - Marta's Dance / The Russian Dervish

07 10 Sinead Lohan Whatever It Takes

08 06 Raye - Where Is My Husband!

09 13 Huntr / X / Ejae / Audrey Nuna / Rei Ami - Golden

10 21 Kingfishr - Killeagh

11 02 Salt n Pepa - Push It

12 07 Bill Whelan - American Wake

13 14 Ed Sheeran - Perfect

14 15 Taylor Swift - Opalite

15 18 Bill Whelan - Slip Into Spring / The Harvest

16 09 Salt n Pepa - Twist and Shout

17 20 Bill Whelan - Reel Around The Sun

18 23 Ed Sheeran - Old Phone

19 40 Saw Doctors - Sound Sham

20 Re Saw Doctors - FCA

21 Re Saw Doctors - Joyce Country Ceili Band

22 08 Sultans of Ping FC - Where’s Me Jumper?

23 16 Bill Whelan - Andalucia

24 24 Olivia Dean - Man I Need

25 33 Ed Sheeran - Opening

26 Re Saw Doctors - I Useta Lover

27 27 Bill Whelan - The Countess Cathleen / Wonen of The Sidhe

28 Re Saw Doctors - Macnas Parade

29 19 Ed Sheeran - Shape of You

30 Re Saw Doctors - Small Bit of Love

31 34 Djo - End of Beginning

32 50 Saw Doctors - Michael D Rockin' In The Dail

33 17 Rose & Bruno Mars - Apt.

34 29 Ed Sheeran - Galway Girl

35 42 Lewis Capaldi - Survive

36 39 Saw Doctors - About You Now

37 Re Saw Doctors - I'll Be On My Way

38 25 Dire Straits - Walk of Life

39 Re Saw Doctors - Catriona Tells Lies

40 26 Olivia Dean - So Easy

41 37 Dire Straits - Money For Nothing

42 Re Saw Doctors - I'd Love To Kiss The Bangles

43 22 Sultans of Ping FC - You Talk Too Much

44 Re Saw Doctors - Pied Piper

45 30 Sam Fender & Olivia Dean - Rein Me In

46 49 The Fureys - Red Rose Café

47 38 Bruce Springsteen - Dancing In The Dark

48 47 Planxty - Timedance

49 32 Dire Straits - Why Worry?

50 Re Saw Doctors & The RTE Concert Orchestra - Same Oul’ Town

Top 10 Albums (25/01/26 - 31/01/26)

01 Re Saw Doctors - All The Way From Tuam

02 01 Bill Whelan - Riverdance: 25th Anniversary

03 02 Ed Sheeran - Play

04 03 Bill Whelan - Riverdance: Music From The Show

05 Re Saw Doctors - Same Oul' Town

06 05 Bill Whelan - Riverdance: 10th Anniversary

07 Re Saw Doctors - If This Is Rock n Roll I Want My Old Job Back

08 06 Bill Whelan - Riverdance: Music From The Show (Version 2)

09 04 Salt n Pepa - A Salt With A Deadly Pepa

10 08 Bill Whelan - Riverdance: Music From The Broadway Show

A surprise announcement during the week that they are coming back to Belfast in August results in a return for 3 Saw Doctors albums. Bill Whelan and Ed Sheeran drop slightly there to make way for a new number 1 album but hold firm at the top of the singles list.

Top 50 Tracks (01/02/26 - 07/02/26)

01 01 Bill Whelan - Riverdance
02 02 Ed Sheeran - Sapphire
03 03 Ed Sheeran - Azizam
04 04 Bill Whelan - Firedance
05 17 Bill Whelan - Reel Around The Sun
06 05 Ed Sheeran - Camera
07 09 Huntr / X / Ejae / Audrey Nuna / Rei Ami - Golden
08 06 Bill Whelan - Marta's Dance / The Russian Dervish
09 13 Ed Sheeran - Perfect
10 08 Raye - Where Is My Husband!

11 18 Ed Sheeran - Old Phone
12 14 Taylor Swift - Opalite
13 Re Showaddywaddy - Remember Then
14 15 Bill Whelan - Slip Into Spring / The Harvest
15 12 Bill Whelan - American Wake
16 Ne Showaddywaddy - Doo Wah Diddy!
17 Re Showaddywaddy - Under The Moon of Love
18 23 Bill Whelan - Andalucia
19 19 Saw Doctors - Sound Sham
20 10 Kingfishr - Killeagh

21 07 Sinead Lohan Whatever It Takes
22 Re Showaddywaddy - When
23 Re Showaddywaddy - Dancin' Party
24 27 Bill Whelan - The Countess Cathleen / Wonen of The Sidhe
25 Ne Showaddywaddy - Multiplication
26 Re Showaddywaddy - Blue Moon
27 25 Ed Sheeran - Opening
28 11 Salt n Pepa - Push It
29 21 Saw Doctors - Joyce Country Ceili Band
30 16 Salt n Pepa - Twist and Shout

31 31 Djo - End of Beginning
32 Ne Showaddywaddy - Hey Rock n Roll
33 26 Saw Doctors - I Useta Lover
34 Ne Showaddywaddy - Wonderful Dream
35 32 Saw Doctors - Michael D Rockin' In The Dail
36 35 Lewis Capaldi - Survive
37 20 Saw Doctors - FCA
38 Ne Showaddywaddy - Why Do Lovers Break Each Other’s Hearts
39 Ne Rick Astley - Waiting On You
40 45 Sam Fender & Olivia Dean - Rein Me In

41 33 Rose & Bruno Mars - Apt.
42 Ne Showaddywaddy - Footsteps
43 28 Saw Doctors - Macnas Parade
44 40 Olivia Dean - So Easy
45 24 Olivia Dean - Man I Need
46 34 Ed Sheeran - Galway Girl
47 Ne Showaddywaddy - Rock n Roll Lady
48 30 Saw Doctors - Small Bit of Love
49 38 Dire Straits - Walk of Life
50 41 Dire Straits - Money For Nothing

Top 10 Albums (01/02/26 - 07/02/26)

01 03 Ed Sheeran - Play
02 02 Bill Whelan - Riverdance: 25th Anniversary
03 Re Showaddywaddy - Bright Lights
04 01 Saw Doctors - All The Way From Tuam
05 05 Saw Doctors - Same Oul' Town
06 Re Showaddywaddy - Showaddywaddy
07 04 Bill Whelan - Riverdance: Music From The Show
08 Ne Showaddywaddy - Good Times
09 09 Salt n Pepa - A Salt With A Deadly Pepa
10 07 Saw Doctors - If This Is Rock n Roll I Want My Old Job Back

This week it's Showaddywaddy's turn to take over the charts. On Saturday 30th I had been looking at the events page of our local theate's website and to my surprise they have announced a show there for late April, their first appearance in that venue for 18 years.

Also entering the tracks chart this week is the new single from Rick Astley who I'll be seeing in concert just before Showaddywaddy.

Top 50 Tracks (08/02/26 - 14/02/26)

01 Re Bay City Rollers - Remember (Sha La La La)
02 02 Ed Sheeran - Sapphire
03 03 Ed Sheeran - Azizam
04 01 Bill Whelan - Riverdance
05 04 Bill Whelan - Firedance
06 Re Bay City Rollers - Shang-A-Lang
07 11 Ed Sheeran - Old Phone
08 06 Ed Sheeran - Camera
09 Re Bay City Rollers - I Only Wanna Be With You
10 07 Huntr / X / Ejae / Audrey Nuna / Rei Ami - Golden

11 08 Bill Whelan - Marta's Dance / The Russian Dervish
12 05 Bill Whelan - Reel Around The Sun
13 28 Salt n Pepa - Push It
14 Re Shakin' Stevens - All You Need Is Greed
15 13 Showaddywaddy - Remember Then
16 10 Raye - Where Is My Husband!
17 Ne Salt n Pepa - Tramp
18 Re Eminem - The Real Slim Shady
19 24 Bill Whelan - The Countess Cathleen / Wonen of The Sidhe
20 Re Bay City Rollers - Saturday Night

21 Re Paul Simon - Graceland
22 15 Bill Whelan - American Wake
23 09 Ed Sheeran - Perfect
24 Ne Bay City Rollers - All of Me Loves All of You
25 27 Ed Sheeran - Opening
26 Re Paul Simon - Diamonds On The Soles of Her Shoes
27 Re Eminem - Stan
28 14 Bill Whelan - Slip Into Spring / The Harvest
29 22 Showaddywaddy - When
30 Re Paul Simon - All Around The World Or The Myth of Fingerprints

31 16 Showaddywaddy - Doo Wah Diddy!
32 12 Taylor Swift - Opalite
33 Ne Salt n Pepa - The Showstopper
34 17 Showaddywaddy - Under The Moon of Love
35 30 Salt n Pepa - Twist and Shout
36 Re Bay City Rollers - Bye Bye Baby
37 18 Bill Whelan - Andalucia
38 23 Showaddywaddy - Dancin' Party
39 Re Shakin' Stevens - Beyond The Illusion
40 40 Sam Fender & Olivia Dean - Rein Me In

41 45 Olivia Dean - Man I Need
42 Re Paul Simon - The Boy In The Bubble
43 19 Saw Doctors - Sound Sham
44 33 Saw Doctors - I Useta Lover
45 Re Shakin' Stevens - It All Comes Round
46 29 Saw Doctors - Joyce Country Ceili Band
47 41 Rose & Bruno Mars - Apt.
48 36 Lewis Capaldi - Survive
49 26 Showaddywaddy - Blue Moon
50 20 Kingfishr - Killeagh

Top 10 Albums (08/02/26 - 14/02/26)

01 Re Bay City Rollers - Greatest Hits
02 01 Ed Sheeran - Play
03 Re Shakin Stevens - Re-Set
04 Re Paul Simon - Graceland
05 02 Bill Whelan - Riverdance: 25th Anniversary
06 Ne Salt n Pepa - Hot, Cool & Vicious
07 Re Eminem The Marshall Mathers LP
08 09 Salt n Pepa - A Salt With A Deadly Pepa
09 03 Showaddywaddy - Bright Lights
10 04 Saw Doctors - All The Way From Tuam

From Showaddywaddy to the Bay City Rollers. They were playing in Belfast during the week and I was there in the front row. Before this they were joint 4th on my list of most seen artists (tied with Showaddywaddy, Bryan Adams and The Undertones on 6 shows). This time was slightly different as the previous occasions were to see Les McKeown's version of the band while this time it was Woody who was the link to the original lineup. The venue was the Ulster Hall which the band first played back in the mid 70s and famously part of the balcony collapsed during the show - something which Woody reminisced about during the show.

Some old albums returning this week which I decided were due another listen and a new entry for Salt n Pepa's debut.

Edited February 23Feb 23 by Shaky Fan

Top 50 Tracks (15/02/26 - 21/02/26)

01 Ne Imelda May - Kentish Town Waltz
02 06 Bay City Rollers - Shang-A-Lang
03 10 Huntr / X / Ejae / Audrey Nuna / Rei Ami - Golden
04 01 Bay City Rollers - Remember (Sha La La La)
05 03 Ed Sheeran - Azizam
06 02 Ed Sheeran - Sapphire
07 Ne Imelda May - Good To Be Alive
08 Ne Imelda May - Inside Out
09 04 Bill Whelan - Riverdance
10 Ne Imelda May - Mayhem

11 07 Ed Sheeran - Old Phone
12 17 Salt n Pepa - Tramp
13 Ne Imelda May - Tribal
14 05 Bill Whelan - Firedance
15 09 Bay City Rollers - I Only Wanna Be With You
16 08 Ed Sheeran - Camera
17 32 Taylor Swift - Opalite
18 11 Bill Whelan - Marta's Dance / The Russian Dervish
19 33 Salt n Pepa - The Showstopper
20 13 Salt n Pepa - Push It

21 Ne Eurythmics ft Aretha Franklib - Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves
22 19 Bill Whelan - The Countess Cathleen / Wonen of The Sidhe
23 Ne Eurythmics - Would I Lie To You
24 25 Ed Sheeran - Opening
25 28 Bill Whelan - Slip Into Spring / The Harvest
26 Ne Imelda May - Sneaky Freak
27 26 Paul Simon - Diamonds On The Soles of Her Shoes
28 24 Bay City Rollers - All of Me Loves All of You
29 12 Bill Whelan - Reel Around The Sun
30 30 Paul Simon - All Around The World Or The Myth of Fingerprints

31 21 Paul Simon - Graceland
32 22 Bill Whelan - American Wake
33 Ne Eurythmics - It’s Alright (Baby’s Coming Back)
34 Ne Imelda May - Proud and Humble
35 Ne U2 - American Obituary
36 16 Raye - Where Is My Husband!
37 35 Salt n Pepa - Twist and Shout
38 37 Bill Whelan - Andalucia
39 15 Showaddywaddy - Remember Then
40 23 Ed Sheeran - Perfect

41 27 Eminem - Stan
42 Ne Imelda May - Big Bad Handsome Man
43 14 Shakin' Stevens - All You Need Is Greed
44 20 Bay City Rollers - Saturday Night
45 48 Lewis Capaldi - Survive
46 50 Kingfishr - Killeagh
47 42 Paul Simon - The Boy In The Bubble
48 18 Eminem - The Real Slim Shady
49 34 Showaddywaddy - Under The Moon of Love
50 36 Bay City Rollers - Bye Bye Baby

Top 10 Albums (15/02/26 - 21/02/26)

01 Ne Imelda May - Love Tattoo
02 Ne Imelda May - 11 Past The Hour
03 02 Ed Sheeran - Play
04 Ne Imelda May - Mayhem / More Mayhem
05 Ne Imelda May - Tribal
06 04 Paul Simon - Graceland
07 Ne Eurythmics - Be Yourself Tonight
08 Ne J Lee and The Hoodoo Skulls - Bad Love
09 06 Salt n Pepa - Hot, Cool & Vicious
10 05 Bill Whelan - Riverdance: 25th Anniversary

This week I went to see Imelda May on the Monday night and really enjoyed the show. It got me realising that I haven't listened to her stuff in ages and over the following days I made up for that. Also during the week I rediscovered Boxed - a box set containing all 8 Eurythmics albums with bonus tracks and went for Be Yourself Tonight as I remembered my brother getting it on cassette back in the day. The final entry this week is the new album from J Lee and the Hoodoo Skulls. Jason Lee isn't the first member of his family to make my chart, in fact his father - Shakin' Stevens - is one of the albums leaving the chart this week.

Hiya!

I'm so glad to see opalite climbing. The video is proper reinvigorated interest in this song for me. 🥳🥳

Top 50 Tracks (22/02/26 - 28/02/26)

01 Ne Les McKeown - Crazy Nights

02 08 Imelda May - Inside Out

03 02 Bay City Rollers - Shang-A-Lang

04 01 Imelda May - Kentish Town Waltz

05 03 Huntr / X / Ejae / Audrey Nuna / Rei Ami - Golden

06 04 Bay City Rollers - Remember (Sha La La La)

07 06 Ed Sheeran - Sapphire

08 07 Imelda May - Good To Be Alive

09 10 Imelda May - Mayhem

10 15 Bay City Rollers - I Only Wanna Be With You

11 Ne Transvision Vamp - I Want Your Love

12 Ne Dave and Tems - Rain Dance

13 17 Taylor Swift - Opalite

14 12 Salt n Pepa - Tramp

15 05 Ed Sheeran - Azizam

16 09 Bill Whelan - Riverdance

17 Ne Bruno Mars - I Just Might

18 13 Imelda May - Tribal

19 Ne Transvision Vamp - Revolution Baby

20 11 Ed Sheeran - Old Phone

21 Ne Transvision Vamp - Trash City

22 28 Bay City Rollers - All of Me Loves All of You

23 Ne Transvision Vamp - Tell That Girl To Shut Up

24 20 Salt n Pepa - Push It

25 26 Imelda May - Sneaky Freak

26 Ne Transvision Vamp - Baby I Don’t Care

27 16 Ed Sheeran - Camera

28 25 Bill Whelan - Slip Into Spring / The Harvest

29 36 Raye - Where Is My Husband!

30 18 Bill Whelan - Marta's Dance / The Russian Dervish

31 37 Salt n Pepa - Twist and Shout

32 Re Sam Fender & Olivia Dean - Rein Me In

33 14 Bill Whelan - Firedance

34 29 Bill Whelan - Reel Around The Sun

35 19 Salt n Pepa - The Showstopper

36 42 Imelda May - Big Bad Handsome Man

37 27 Paul Simon - Diamonds On The Soles of Her Shoes

38 22 Bill Whelan - The Countess Cathleen / Wonen of The Sidhe

39 32 Bill Whelan - American Wake

40 Ne Phil Collins - In The Air Tonight

41 24 Ed Sheeran - Opening

42 31 Paul Simon - Graceland

43 44 Bay City Rollers - Saturday Night

44 50 Bay City Rollers - Bye Bye Baby

45 30 Paul Simon - All Around The World Or The Myth of Fingerprints

46 45 Lewis Capaldi - Survive

47 38 Bill Whelan - Andalucia

48 40 Ed Sheeran - Perfect

49 47 Paul Simon - The Boy In The Bubble

50 21 Eurythmics ft Aretha Franklin - Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves

Top 10 Albums (22/02/26 - 28/02/26)

01 01 Imelda May - Love Tattoo
02 Ne Transvision Vamp - Pop Art
03 Ne Les McKeown - The Lost Tapes
04 10 Bill Whelan - Riverdance: 25th Anniversary
05 Ne Phil Collins - Face Value
06 03 Ed Sheeran - Play
07 04 Imelda May - Mayhem / More Mayhem
08 05 Imelda May - Tribal
09 02 Imelda May - 11 Past The Hour
10 06 Paul Simon - Graceland

Having taken out all my Imelda May records following her recent concert, this week I decided to play some of them. Sitting beside them was Les McKeown's final album which came out through Pledge Music in 2016. And sitting beside the Eurythmics box set was the 2016 re-issue series of Phil Collins albums, the first of which got a play or two. Tuesday saw another concert announcement - Tranvision Vamp are set to tour the UK for the first time in 35 years and there's a Belfast show included.

Elsewhere the recent singles from Dave & Tems and Bruno Mars make it into the tracks chart for the first time while the resurgence for Rein Me In sees it making a return.

Edited March 11Mar 11 by Shaky Fan