Agree about the dance standard - Not Over Yet, U Sure Do, Bucketheads all great particularly.

 

More piano and other house styles coming back after the eurodance of 1994, still a lot of eurodance though.

Edited October 21, 20231 yr by TheSnake

Astonishing sales for Back For Good although clearly really kickstarted the 'held back era' that would last for over a decade in the UK charts and make them more predictable than ever in a lot of cases.

This was the exact point where it became the norm for #1 singles to have debuted there, something which would remain until at least 2006 when downloads could chart a song before its physical release.

 

Still enjoy the mid 90s dance, although 'Strange Currencies' is probably my favourite in that Top 10 now.

I hadn’t realised either that the release of Back For Good was brought forward 6 weeks. Wonder what the impact would have been 6 weeks later on the number 1s of the time?

we are also at the peak of trip hop, with these 2 jewels from Massive Attack and Tricky charting, even though too low for both! I was obsessed with both at the time

 

Massive Attack - Karmakoma (#28)

 

Tricky - Black Steel (#22)

Black Steel is good, but there were much better singles from Maxinquaye to come.

Astonishing sales for Back For Good although clearly really kickstarted the 'held back era' that would last for over a decade in the UK charts and make them more predictable than ever in a lot of cases.

 

I'm enjoying seeing at least 2 or 3 classic dance singles each week, the first half of 1995 was insane, so many of the best dance tracks of the entire decade came within a few months of each other - I appreciate many of them though were re-releases having a second go, but they were all in the right place at the right time to capitalise.

 

I was thinking this as well there was a comparison in 1995 between the phenomenal held back demand of ‘Back For Good’ and the slow rise of ‘Think Twice’ a few months earlier. I assume the record companies went with the former simply because it meant a high peak potentially in the top 10/20 rather than show a songs potential.

 

Anyway I always thought Back For Good was a cover as it was TT but fair play Barlow shows he deserves his success as it’s a modern classic. TT seemed to get better with each release rather than bursting into the scene!

I hadn’t realised either that the release of Back For Good was brought forward 6 weeks. Wonder what the impact would have been 6 weeks later on the number 1s of the time?

 

Since it debuted at the Brits in late feb I think this was a good time to release would a further 6 week wait have meant more accumulated sales?

I was thinking this as well there was a comparison in 1995 between the phenomenal held back demand of ‘Back For Good’ and the slow rise of ‘Think Twice’ a few months earlier. I assume the record companies went with the former simply because it meant a high peak potentially in the top 10/20 rather than show a songs potential.

 

Anyway I always thought Back For Good was a cover as it was TT but fair play Barlow shows he deserves his success as it’s a modern classic. TT seemed to get better with each release rather than bursting into the scene!

 

I think there was more than one market involved. Take That had entered at number 1 before and would probably have entered at number 1 with a weaker track but with very strong song, a high profile slot at the Brits and pre-release radio play this fed into huge sales.

 

Think Twice was a different beast altogether. Interesting contrast, though, with Think Twice having broken some all-time longevity records and Back for Good setting some precedents.

I think as most on here know I’m for the risers to the top spot as the best songs normally rise to the top anyway whereas as we can see later on in the decade some songs got to no1 by releasing in the right week but I guess that’s always been the case throughout chart history!

22ND APRIL

 

 

“Back For Good” continues to haemorrhage sales at the top but it also continues to top the chart for a third week attracting another 140,000 sales and has now sold 2/3rds of a million in 3 weeks. Indeed the whole of the top 3 are static proving something of a logjam at the head of the survey, Outhere Brothers complete a fifth week in the top 2 with another 71,000 copies sold and Bobby Brown remains in bronze position with 62,000 copies, both tracks are selling prodigious amounts with “Don’t Stop” moving 411,000 copies whilst “Two Can Play” has sold almost a quarter of a million and will become his biggest seller next week.

 

 

 

Take That’s next challenger will doubtless be Bryan Adams’ new single “Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?” which features in the new “Don Juan DeMarco” film which opens here next month and stars Johnny Deep and Marlon Brando. It is only Bryan’s 5th top 10 single but a third on the trot after “All For Love” and “Please Forgive Me” both made No 2 can this go one better?

This slams in at No 4 (40,000).

 

 

 

A live vocal on TOTP proves just the tonic for Tina Arena and provides impetus for her single “Chains” to lift 13-7 (30,000). Arena first found fame on “Young Talent Time” in her native Australia back in the late 70s ending up as coach for a young Dannii Minogue, a solo career had the occasional highlight but “Chains” has become her first international hit.

 

 

 

Eurovision time is almost upon us again and whilst the UK’s official entry “Love City Groove” finally has sufficient stock to move 36-17 it is immediately outpeaked by the song that came 4th in the selection heats. That song was “I Need You” by Deuce who’s first single “Call It Love” made No 11 earlier this year, this goes one better and debuts at No 10 (19,000). They are managed by Tom Watkins who steered the careers of Pet Shop Boys, Bros, and Pet Shop Boys, lead singer Kelly O’Keefe was on work experience with Watkins which led to her opportunity to join the outfit- strange thing opportunity.

 

 

Corona hold at No 5 (38,000) whilst Strike fall past them 4-6 (34,000) and Grace descend 6-9 (26,000) but Brownstone manage to haul themselves up a place 9-8 (27,000).

 

1- BACK FOR GOOD- Take That (140,000)

2- DON’T STOP (WIGGLE WIGGLE)- Outhere Brothers (71,000)

3- TWO CAN PLAY THAT GAME- Bobby Brown (62,000)

4- HAVE YOU EVER REALLY LOVED A WOMAN- Bryan Adams (40,000)

5- BABY BABY- Corona (38,000)

6- U SURE DO- Strike (34,000)

7- CHAINS- Tina Arena (30,000)

8- IF YOU LOVE ME- Brownstone (27,000)

9- NOT OVER YET- Grace (26,000)

10- I NEED YOU- Deuce (19,000)

 

29TH APRIL

 

 

“Back For Good” equals “Pray” as Take That’s longest chart topper with 4 weeks a piece at No 1, the single has now sold 757,000 copies in total including 86,000 last week. It’s also easily No 1 on the airplay chart and proves that, given the right single, the boyband genre can appeal to the general public outside of their demographic, total sales are now around 150,000 short of “Stay Another Day” which surely the group will be aiming at surpassing. The impending release of their album “Nobody Else” in a fortnight might be the deciding factor in whether this can make the million mark or not.

 

 

The top 3 are again static for a fourth week with nothing breaking their spell, so to repeat the Outhere Brothers are No 2 (60,000) and Bobby Brown is in third spot (56,000) but they are looking vulnerable.

 

 

Not least to the newest boyband on the block Boyzone. Already a chart topper in Ireland where they knocked Take That from the top, their second single (here) is “Key To My life” which dutifully flies into the chart at No 4 (52,000) with news that the boys are busy recording their first album. At the very least the boys co-wrote this track.

 

 

 

Meanwhile they are jostling in the top 10 with another boyband MN8, their second singles go head to head but MN8 come off worse as “If You Only Let Me In” arrives at No 6 (42,000). Both this and their first hit “I’ve Got A Little Something For You” will feature on their album “To The Next Level” which is out next month.

 

 

 

If you’re not happy with Boyzone, Take That, or MN8 then how about Let Loose, these photogenic lot made No 2 last year with “Crazy For You” but their next two singles missed the top 10 causing some alarm in the camp. Tender ballad “Best In Me” has rectified that by emerging at No 8 (33,000) even though it is a 4th single from their eponymous album which re-enters itself at No 48 on the strength of this.

 

 

The challenge of Bryan Adams didn’t materialise as it surprisingly falls back 4-5 (48,000) and Tina Arena is held at No 7 (40,000) because of the boyband influx. Meanwhile Brownstone and Corona are pushed down 8-9 (24,000) and 5-10 (21,000). Next week a new Oasis single from a new album- watch out Take That!

 

 

 

1- BACK FOR GOOD- Take That (86,000)

2- DON’T STOP (WIGGLE WIGGLE)- Outhere Brothers (60,200)

3- TWO CAN PLAY THAT GAME- Bobby Brown (56,000)

4- KEY TO MY LIFE- Boyzone (52,000)

5- HAVE YOU EVER REALLY LOVED A WOMAN- Bryan Adams (48,000)

6- IF YOU ONLY LET ME IN- MN8 (42,000)

7- CHAINS- Tina Arena (40,000)

8- BEST IN ME- Let Loose (33,000)

9- IF YOU LOVE ME- Brownstone (24,000)

10- BABY BABY- Corona (21,000)

 

I haven't heard that Deuce song before but on listening to it a few times its nowhere near as good as 'Call It Love'.

 

Tina Arena Chains sounds quite Mariah but then so does most mid 90s female pop.

 

Sounds like Bryan Adams might have been influenced by 70s/early 80s ballads by Demis Roussos or Julio Iglesias with the instrumental of 'Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman'

 

 

it's a Spanish guitar like if Julio Iglesias had some kinda exclusive :)

The top 3 are again static for a fourth week with nothing breaking their spell, so to repeat the Outhere Brothers are No 2 (60,000) and Bobby Brown is in third spot (56,000) but they are looking vulnerable.

 

 

does anyone know what the record number of weeks for a static top 3 is?

Edited October 29, 20231 yr by Colm

Most of 2023?

Selected tracks outside the Top 10 TOTP 22nd & 29th April 1995

 

 

Portishead - Sour Times

Chart entry this week: 13

Peak: 13

 

 

 

Second big single from Dummy, helping the album finally reach its peak of 2. Sometimes has Nobody Loves Me in brackets after the title to help confused people. Obviously a classic!

 

 

 

(MC Sar &) The Real McCoy - Love And Devotion

Chart entry this week: 12

Peak: 11

 

 

 

Always thought this was a top 10 hit, another very 90s dance hit with a familiar formula from The Real McCoy.

Sour Times :wub: :wub: :wub:

does anyone know what the record number of weeks for a static top 3 is?

The most is 5 weeks, in 1954 and again in 1977-78.

 

1954:

#1 Doris Day - Secret Love

#2 Johnnie Ray - Such A Night

#3 Billy Cotton and his Band - Friends And Neighbours

 

1977-78:

#1 Wings - Mull Of Kintyre

#2 Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band - Floral Dance

#3 Bee Gees - How Deep Is Your Love

I'm astonished that hasn't been broken at some point in the last 7 years tbh.

Had never heard of Deuce until TOTP, was surprised that the U.K. embraced the 3rd placed song in the national selection to this extent as well as the winner!

 

'Sour Times' and 'Army Of Me' were my highlights in these episodes :wub: :wub: