Yeh Karma Police for me simply because The Drugs is overplayed for me now.

DJ Quicksilver’s ‘Free’ was such a weak single compared to Bellissima and I Have A Dream!!!

The start of All Saints fame

'Karma Police' all the way!

2 hours ago, Addy! said:

DJ Quicksilver’s ‘Free’ was such a weak single compared to Bellissima and I Have A Dream!!!

The start of All Saints fame

Sounded exactly like the superior debut!

The third one also sounded identical, he wasn't exactly the most dynamic producer.

Yeh the biggest hit was a classic!

'The Drugs Don't Work'

I voted is as my favourite #1 of the 90s in this forum's rate a few years ago, and that holds. As I also said at the time, the song was not written about recreational drugs, but about Richard Ashcroft preparing for the loss of his father to illness: there's a reason the song isn't just called "Drugs Don't Work" - the "The" is essential (unlike the band's moniker, where they were forced to rename from "Verve" after their debut to distinguish themselves from the record label of that name).

'Karma Police' is captivating too and the only other new entry in either week I particularly care for. Finley Quaye vanished after a much less successful follow-up era (and I think Tricky himself disputed the family connection in interviews), but I thought this was his best song.

I didn't know there had been such an uptick in sales for 'I'll Be Missing You' from Diana's death, though of course it makes sense. There was a long spell of the week's #1 selling more than 100k, and with a few of those songs managing it over several weeks, the turnover at the top wasn't as fast as it had been in late 1996 / early 1997, although this would change again.

20TH SEPTEMBER





We all knew it was going to be big, we all knew it would enter at No 1, and we all knew nothing would come near it but sales of Elton John’s Diana tribute “Candle In The Wind 1997” has smashed every record in the book despite only being released on Saturday! Yes on just one day on sale the single sold a record 658,000 copies beating the previous best opening weekly tally from the mighty Band Aid in 1984 (574,464), with lyrics altered to reflect the recent death of the princess and produced by George Martin the song was premiered at the funeral with all proceeds from the single going to charity. Those sales incidentally are enough for 8th on the YTD already. Officially it is teamed with “Something About The Way You Look Tonight” which is the lead single to his new album “The Big Picture” and comes with a promo rammed with guest appearances from models (Kate Moss, Sophie Dahl) and TV actors from “This Life”. This is Elton’s 4th chart topper in a 27 year chart career but his first time in the top 10 as a soloist since 1992’s “The One”.  Polygram had to ration copies it sent to suppliers to ensure that all stores had stock on Saturday after it registered "unprecedented" pre-orders and have stated that it will take a week or two to see supply meet demand!

Spare a thought then for George Michael who was leading the charge all week with “You Have Been Loved” which itself picked up major airplay in the aftermath of Princess Diana’s death. All six singles from the “Older” album have gone top 3, the only other act to have managed this feat are Take That who did it with the “Everything Changes” campaign though the inclusion of “Why Can’t I Wake Up With You” is debateable in that run. His 10th top 10 hit in a row and 17th overall the “Older” album has sold over 1.5 million and shoots 24-14 this week whilst the single sold a healthy 89,000 copies even though it was a third release from the album to lose a midweek No 1 position following both “Spinning The Wheel” and “Star People 97”.

Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin (real name Enrique Morales) first found singing fame as a member of boy band Menudo in the 80s in the Spanish world but had left by the end of the decade. In between acting and producing Spanish language albums he’s managed to score himself his first international hit with “(Un Dos Tres) Maria” which has been a hit all over Europe this summer. We of course get the “Spanglish” version but nevertheless it enters at No 6 (53,000).

It’s fair to say that Portishead were met near universal critical acclaim and awards for their first album “Dummy” a few years ago winning the Mercury Music prize and garnering BRITS nominations along the way. It gave us two singles “Glory Box” and “Sour Times” both of which peaked at unlucky No 13, but as is often the case, a first single from a second album does the business. “All Mine” comes in at No 8 (42,000) to become their biggest hit yet, the second album is just a fortnight away too.

Boyz II Men’s erratic UK chart history continues with “4 Seasons Of Loneliness” which is their 4th top 10 hit entering at anchor position on a sale of 39,000. Jam & Lewis are back on production duties and it’s the lead single from their third album “Evolution”, their first album in 3 years.

Last week’s No 1 from The Verve naturally makes way at the top 1-3 (64,000) and pushes former favourites from Will Smith and Chumbawamba down 2-4 (62,000) and 3-5 (58,000). Hanson tip 4-7 (48,000) and All Saints relent 6-9 (41,000).


1- CANDLE IN THE WIND 97/ SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT- Elton John (658,000)
2- YOU HAVE BEEN LOVED- George Michael (89,000)
3- THE DRUGS DON’T WORK- The Verve (64,000)
4- MEN IN BLACK- Will Smith (62,000)
5- TUBTHUMPING- Chumbawamba (58,000)
6- (UN DOS TRES) MARIA- Ricky Martin (53,000)
7- WHERE’S THE LOVE- Hanson (48,000)
8- ALL MINE- Portishead (42,000)
9- I KNOW WHERE IT’S AT- All Saints (41,000)
10- 4 SEASONS OF LONELINESS- Boyz II Men (39,000)

All Mine!! What a classic

27TH SEPTEMBER





With tales all week of stock running out, of people buying up to 40 copies a time and phone ins about the problem on “This Morning” it should surprise no-one that Elton John’s “Candle In The Wind 97/ Something About The Way You Look Tonight” continues at No 1 for a second week. The scale of the victory is however unprecedented with the single shifting 1,546,688 copies in the last 7 days, no that’s not a typo it is simply astonishing and beats the record it set last week by just under 900,000 copies! Its total sales of over 2.2 million already make it not only the best selling single of the year but of the decade after just 8 days on sale. 58% of all singles sold last week were Elton’s and he outpaced the No 2 track by 18:1- another record, and gives George Martin his 28th No 1 production credit breaking the tie with Norrie Paramour for the record of most chart toppers by producer. It has seen Elton’s 90s singles sales swell from over 2 million to over 4.2 million as he becomes one of only 5 acts so far to sell four million in the current decade.

That No 2 record was a new entry from Dario G a trio from Cheshire and take their name from the manager of Crewe Alexandra (Dario Gradi) with an added G as a tribute to saxophonist Kenny G. “Sunchyme” features a sample of “Life In A Northern Town” by Dream Academy (1985) which took some time to clear but has made it in a much anticipated release. 86,000 buyers were found last week to send it well clear of the opposition but it still goes into the history books on the receiving end of the biggest gap between the top two and not a record which will be beaten in a hurry- probably.

It’s taken 6 months but Blackstreet finally release a follow up to “Don’t Leave”. “Fix” is a third top 10 single for the group and features uncredited help from Ol Dirty b*st*rd and Slash and contains a sample of Grandmaster Flash’s “The Message” (1982) on the album version though this is stripped out for single release, it still manages No 7 (39,000) regardless.

Latin beats have suddenly become all the rage, Ricky Martin falls 6-10 (32,000) just as Bellini’s “Samba De Janiro” arrives at No 8 (37,000). The outfit consists of three girls from Germany and this, their debut single, samples “Celebration Suite” by Airto Moreira, resulting in a pan European hit over the summer and now a hit here.

Chumbawamba rebound 5-3 (53,000) despite losing sales, “Tubthumping” now having sold 490,000 copies in total. The Verve dip 3-4 (49,000) whilst former chart topper “Men In Black” slides 4-5 (46,000) and George Michael relaxes 2-6 (41,000).

Tina Moore is back in the top 10 rising again having so far moved 7-11-9-12-9 and selling 35,000 in its last frame. For a record to show such tenacity in the current chart climate is noteworthy.

This week sees Elton’s first “Challenge” though even the mighty Oasis will struggle to overturn him in his current sales form.


1- CANDLE IN THE WIND 97/ SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT- Elton John (1,546,688)
2- SUNCHYME- Dario G (86,000)
3- TUBTHUMPING- Chumbawamba (53,000)
4- THE DRUGS DON’T WORK- The Verve (49,000)
5- MEN IN BLACK- Will Smith (46,000)
6- YOU HAVE BEEN LOVED- George Michael (41,000)
7- FIX- Blackstreet (39,000)
8- SAMBA DE JANIRO- Bellini (37,000)
9- NEVER GONNA LET YOU GO- Tina Moore (35,000)
10- (UN DOS TRES) MARIA- Ricky Martin (32,000)

I still adore Sunchyme. Probably one of the best number 2 singles (and part of a great run of them) of the 90s.

Interesting to note that Tubthumping may very well have climbed back up to #2 if wasn’t for Diana’s death!

All Mine and Sunchyme are the clear highlights of the past two weeks, both songs I happily still listen to.

Absolutely insane sales for Elton. Obviously it was huge but in retrospect it was really quite astonishing just how massive it was, it must seem especially insane for people who weren't around at the time given that the royal family aren't as highly regarded now (to say the least)

Also, whilst the altered Candle in the Wind is not something that I'd ever listen to, the AA side is actually quite a lovely song from Elton

Crazy sales for Elton indeed, I remember the news reports from the time of people bundling loads of copies each to buy in their arms. What they were planning to do with 40 copies exactly, I'm not quite sure, but some people would do anything to one-up others in marking Diana's legacy it seemed.

It kept some good stuff off No.1 too, most notably Sunchyme, one of the best dance records ever <3 What an inspired use of a sample.

Interesting mini-Latin craze going on, it's always fun to remember that Ricky Martin had this big hit a couple of years before he became a proper star. Bellini was basically one of the many aliases of the guy who was also behind Fragma (and Paffendorf).

Loved seeing Some Kind Of Bliss by Kylie in the first episode tonight, one of my absolute favourite singles by her. Criminally underrated, can't believe it missed the top 20!

Nice to see The Sundays too, I always wonder what happened to them after 1997, such a lovely band. And that Robbie song was awful imo, his last single before he became a superstar. Imagine having Angels and Let Me Entertain You on your album and releasing South Of The Border first!

I’m not keen on ‘Candle In The Wind’ but I find the level of demand around it fascinating from a chart geek perspective. Staggering sales there.

‘Sunchyme’ is my favourite top 40 hit of the year so a shame it had to run into Elton of all things genius sample use and I liked that the TOTP performance was similar to the video, completely exuding joy. That and ‘Samba de Janeiro’ were a fun tonic to the Diana cloud looming over parts of the show.

I couldn’t help but spot ‘Circles’ by Adam F at #20 in the countdown of the second episode, a BJSC entry of mine.

Sunchyme is amazing

I believe there is only one other song to sell a million units in one chart week. (Don’t want to spoiler it ofc).

amazing sales, forgot he did so much

too bad George Michael-You have been loved missed, that's one of my fav ever from GM

forgot Ricky Martin-Maria had been a hit in 97, I always have Ricky Martin as late 90s

Samba de Janiro was a commercialised copy of Belo Horizonte by the Heartists, the latter had been huge in clubs in 1997 but it had a slow build and was more atmospheric. It just missed the top 40 in 1997 where as Belini took the idea of the main part and focused on it, and of course went top 10