13TH FEBRUARY

 

 

Pretty much business as usual for Tiffany who easily scores a third week at the prime spot, “I Think We’re Alone Now” selling a further 74,987 to brings its haul to 327,658 easily the biggest seller of 1988 thus far. Her debut album hits the shops in a fortnight and her quirky dance moves on TOTP seem to have stuck her in people’s minds, watch this space.

 

 

 

Whether or not Tiffany can claim a fourth week depends almost entirely on how the record at No 2 performs this week. Since “Neighbours” became something of a phenomenon on BBC 1 last year the shows stars have undoubtedly been Scott Robinson (Jason Donovan) and Charlene Mitchell (Kylie Minogue) whose romance has been the focal point for many magazines and publicity for the show. Minogue started her acting career on various soap operas in her native country before getting some guest slots with her younger sister on “Young Talent Time”, her arrival at “Neighbours” in 1986 proved a springboard for her and a performance of “loco-motion” at a benefits concert with fellow cast members gave her a record deal and pushed the song to No 1 for 7 weeks down under, it is currently the biggest selling single of the decade there. She’s now teamed up with hot producers Stock Aitken & Waterman who have written “I Should Be So Lucky” for her and the song sees the 19 yr old power 16-2 (61,166) even outselling Tiffany on Saturday- an ominous sign for Ms Dawlish. It was turned down by every major label forcing Pete Waterman to form his own label (PWL) in order to issue the single- a vote of confidence there which looks like being rewarded.

 

 

 

Released first last May “The Jack That House Built” (it made No 48) comes hot on the heels of “Rok Da House” for label Rhythm King and builds on the influence that UK house music is having on the charts this year. Jack N Chill are duo Vlad Naslas and Ed Stratton who met a house party and decided to create some tracks, this single remained a club favourite and gets a second release now moving 12-6 (27,727) it should be noted that whilst the pair have links to Rhythm King this track isn’t on the label.

 

 

 

With a title borrowed from Jonny Burnette’s “You’re Sixteen” Billy Ocean returns to the top 10 for the 6th time but his first in 2 years with “Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car” a song that flies 27-8 (24,497). It’s the lead single from his 7th album “Tear Down These Walls” (a reference to a recent speech by Ronald Reagan) which you can buy next month, the single comes with a part animated video.

 

 

 

Jermaine Stewart has had trouble finding chart form after 1986’s “We Don’t Have To Take Our Clothes Off” went to No 2 with only one release “Jody” making No 50. “Say It Again” is co-penned by Bunny Sigler who is one of the main inventors of the “Philadelphia” sound and gives Stewart a much needed boost in the arm for his career as it climbs 17-10 (21,403).

 

 

Other tracks on the move this week including the northbound Taylor Dayne 8-4 (41,922) who is followed all the way by Elton John 10-5 (31,926), and Debbie Gibson seems to struggle 9-7 (26,724). Those heading the wrong way are Bros 2-3 (50,167) and Beatmasters & Cookie Crew who tumble 5-9 (24,293). Incidentally it is the first time in UK chart history that the top 3 are all teenage acts!

 

 

1- I THINK WE’RE ALONE NOW- Tiffany (74,987)

2- I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY- Kylie Minogue (61,166)

3- WHEN WILL I BE FAMOUS- Bros (50,167)

4- TELL IT TO MY HEART- Taylor Dayne (41,922)

5- CANDLE IN THE WIND (LIVE)- Elton John (31,926)

6- THE JACK THAT HOUSE BUILT- Jack N Chill (27,727)

7- SHAKE YOUR LOVE- Debbie Gibson (26,724)

8- GET OUTTA MY DREAMS, GET INTO MY CAR- Billy Ocean (24,497)

9- ROK DA HOUSE- Beatmasters Featuring The Cookie Crew (24,293)

10- SAY IT AGAIN- Jermaine Stewart (21,403)

 

KYLIE!!!!!

 

I had no idea that I Should Be So Lucky was turned down by loads of record labels. Assumed she signed to PWL from the outset. Quite surprised that no-one wanted to take a shot on the "girl from Neighbours", even if only for a one album deal.

 

I loved her from the start and still have a soft spot for ISBSL.

 

 

KYLIE!!!!!

 

I had no idea that I Should Be So Lucky was turned down by loads of record labels. Assumed she signed to PWL from the outset. Quite surprised that no-one wanted to take a shot on the "girl from Neighbours", even if only for a one album deal.

 

I loved her from the start and still have a soft spot for ISBSL.

I hasten to add this was Pete Waterman's story at the time! ISBSL is actually PWL8 (catalogue number)- PWL1 is Mandy Smith "I Just Can't Wait" which was released in February 1987 (long before Kylie Recorded "The Locomotion" in Australia in the summer of 87) so his story can't possibly be true about creating PWL for her. :D

Kylie Kylie Kylie! Start of an obsession for me.

^Did you go to Tiffany's famous mall tour, "The Beautiful You: Celebrating The Good Life Shopping Mall Tour '87"?? :)

Sadly not! The one I regret missing was Destinys Child appearance at the Florida Mall around 1998. I think we did Disney or something that day and i had no idea they were going to be huge or i might have delayed the theme park day :lol:

Ahhhh, where it all began :wub:

I'm not sure I've ever heard a Debbie Gibson song before

 

...apart from the one you sent to BJSC I presume :magic:

 

(as a featured artist, mind x)

Oh my!!! Yes of course :lol:

 

I haven’t heard it in years but to be fair that was good

Great time for female popstars, I guess making up for the fact that the early 80s were dominated by male bands.

 

'Tell It To My Heart' is certainly a lively song and less cheesy/of its time sounding than 'I Should Be So Lucky' or any of the other the SAW productions; I knew and liked it before the even more lively Kelly Llorenna cover version was a hit in 2002.

 

'The Jack That House Built' is great! Massive production!

 

'Get Out Of My Dreams' is good continuing the Colonel Abrams/Living In A Box style production; I guess other forms of dance and dance-pop hadn't been much influenced by House yet.

 

 

20TH FEBRUARY

 

 

Despite a late surge by Tiffany she loses her crown this week with “I Think We’re Alone Now” falling 1-2 (61,608), It is replaced by a song which creates chart history. Before now there has never been a hat-trick of successive No 1 singles by female solo vocalists but with the rise of “I Should Be So Lucky” by Kylie Minogue to the top today it finally happens and simultaneously it becomes the first time the entire top 3 consist of female soloists. The song proved too strong for the opposition and becomes the 5th No 1 to be produced by Stock/Aitken/ Waterman though the song appears to be dividing audiences between those that love and those that hate the song. Curiously, though the promo was filmed late last year, it wasn’t, and hasn’t, been played on TOTP, they’ve promoting the song with a “live” version of Minogue riding around Sydney in the back of a car which was actually filmed for a Noel Edmunds Christmas special and seems to be the BBC’s preferred version. The track sold 92,701 copies this week and perhaps it is appropriate for both Neighbours and Kylie to be dominating at present as Australia celebrates its bicentennial this year, Minogue is also the 4th Aussie to hit No 1 here after Rolf Harris, Johnny Logan, and Men At Work.

 

 

 

DJ Tim Simenon is responsible for Bomb The Bass and his new hit “Beat Dis” which debuts at No 5 (32,555) this week, that equals the record set by Neil 4 years ago for the highest new entry by a debut act. It’s another Rhythm King act and replaces both “Rok Da House” and “The House That Jack Built” which both fall out of the big 10 to make room. The song features an estimated 26 samples and has been one of the hottest dance records of the year so far prompting many to predict that this will be the next No 1! Not bad for a track reputedly recorded for just £500.

 

 

 

Following up a massive chart topper is always a tough ask and T’pau’s stab at recreating the magic of “China In Your Hand” is “Valentine which finally creeps 15-9 (24,412) just in time for the big day itself. Debut album “Bridge Of Spies” topped the charts back in November off the back of their No 1 and has now sold over 850,000 copies, it charges 4-2 this week languishing behind only Terence Trent D’Arby. “Valentine” gives the band a 100% success rate with three top 10 singles out of three!

 

 

Taylor Dayne inches 4-3 (55,879) keeping ahead of a bullish Billy Ocean who leaps 8-4 (44,098) and Jermaine Stewart also improves 10-8 (26,860). Bros continue their descent 3-6 (29,529), Elton recedes 5-7 (29,019) and Debbie Gibson is spent 7-10 (24,378).

 

 

1- I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY- Kylie Minogue (92,701)

2- I THINK WE’RE ALONE NOW- Tiffany (61,608)

3- TELL IT TO MY HEART- Taylor Dayne (55,879)

4- GET OUTTA MY DREAMS, GET INTO MY CAR- Billy Ocean (44,098)

5- BEAT DIS- Bomb The Bass (32,555)

6- WHEN WILL I BE FAMOUS- Bros (29,529)

7- CANDLE IN THE WIND (LIVE)- Elton John (29,019)

8- SAY IT AGAIN- Jermaine Stewart (26,860)

9- VALENTINE- T’pau (24,412)

10- SHAKE YOUR LOVE- Debbie Gibson (24,378)

 

I liked Kylie and even bought her first 2 albums but think SAW always gave her sub-par material. SAW always bragged ISBSL had been written in 30 minutes and you can really tell. Not a patch on the best SAW songs that were given to Bananarama, Rick Astley or Mel & Kim.

 

My fav from the last couple weeks is T'Pau-Valentine. Decent followup to China.

 

oh and great to have an all female top 3 with Kylie, Tiffany and Taylor Dayne. Taylor's the better single for sure.

My brother and I used to listen to the Kylie album a lot, although we didn't get it until christmas - but I can understand why it drove my parents up the wall, the songs are pretty awful really and I agree with Bjork above that SAW gave better songs to some of their other acts at this stage.

 

 

 

Beat Dis is by far my favourite song in the top 10 at the moment, although I do have a soft spot for Tell It To My Heart as well.

I actually think Kylie never got a great song from SAW until Better the devil you know

but mostly was cos they knew people would buy anything from Kylie so they didn't bother that much

Got to be certain or I wouldn't change a thing would have charted at #982 for anyone else

I think this might be true of the first few singles, ISBSL was written as you note very quickly, GTBC was already recorded by another artist and was given to Kylie as a follow up as they hadn't had time to think about it and "Locomotion" was a rehash of her 87 Australian debut. But I do actually think that later singles in 88 and 89 were very good. They certainly "sounded of their time" and therefore may not have aged as well as the more clubbier hits of 90/91 but I think they have their own charm.

^which ones you mean? maybe it was more of a mixed bag cos Hand on your hand or Never too late were not bad

but I wouldn't change a thing was really weak imho

I think JNSPP is quite good for the period and HOYH is also great.

I love all of the singles from Kylie’s first 2 albums. Nostalgia value maybe? I Wouldn’t Change A Thing is a particular fave of mine, so couldn’t agree at all on it being weak.

Oh not this 'Got To Be Certain' slander, I have such a soft spot for that one out of her early songs.

Oh not this 'Got To Be Certain' slander, I have such a soft spot for that one out of her early songs.

Well i bought all the singles and the album and the video collection so clearly 12 year old me is in full agreement with you.

In other memories, I recall going to my first under 13 disco the week above, it was a Monday so therefore 15th feb, and the DJ was playing Tiffany and at the end said" I thought this was no 1 at the moment but I'm told it's actually this" and launched into ISBSL. odd the things you recall.