'I Owe You Nothing' is a good #1, I tend to compare other dance-pop at this time to Stock Aitken Waterman's productions and production-wise its quite similar but they wouldn't have such bitter lyrics but it works in this song.

 

'In The Air Tonight' - what a classic although I am more familar with the original 1981 version.

Edited January 30Jan 30 by TheSnake

Yeah, not exactly a vintage top 10 there.

I wasnt a huge fan of I Owe You Nothing, but it's OK pop. Sabrina's was very very annoying, got on my nerves very quickly and still does. On the one hand I was happy to see Chubby Checker back twisting again, it had already been 13 years since his previous top 10 revival and another 13 years before when he broke through in the UK - on the other hand, I wouldnt say The Fat Boys improved on the original.

 

Wild World is a great song, it's one of those songs that I regard as bulletproof - whoever sings it it's always going to sound good, and Maxi's version is no exception. I still prefer Cat's original or Jimmy Cliff's, but it's one of the best tracks in the top 10. The Pasadena's was Philly/Motown referencing retro-sounding soul-dance track, so what's not to love! I hope they cover one of my BJSC entries in the future!

 

In The Air Tonight is a genuine classic, haunting and powerful. This remix doesn't improve on the original, but nor does it ruin it. UB40 and Chrissie Hynde were touring together in the mid-80's (I caught them together, my 3rd time for the Pretenders) and Breakfast In Bed is much more repeat-play than I Got You Babe, and has Dusty class dusted over it. Should have been a single for Dusty in 69/70. Dusty In Memphis a great album.

2ND JULY

 

 

On paper it’s an excellent week for Bros but in truth “I Owe You Nothing” is floundering, it sold just 50,150 copies last week, already contracting at retail it seems it is more a champion in a weak market than a genuine expansion of their admittedly large and fanatical fan base, to compensate the album “Push” advances 5-2 to equal its previous peak. The track was under pressure from Chubby Checker and the Fat Boys who drive 4-2 (42,993) and should take over at the top next week, honorary mention to Sabrina who was running in the No 2 spot for most of the week but suffered without TOTP, she remains at No 3 (34,595).

 

 

 

One of the first rap all girl acts (and certainly one of the first to have a hit single) New York’s Salt N Pepa are a trio whose first release “The Showstopper” was an answer track to Doug E Fresh’s “The Show” but flopped when released in 1986. Fast forward to 1987 and their single “Tramp” might have flopped but it contained a track called “Push It” on the b-side of the 12” mix, this track was remixed by DJ Cameron Paul and turned into the A-Side when it made the US top 20 back in February. The UK release saw the song peak agonisingly at No 41 but after the group’s performance of the track at the recent Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday tribute concert it was immediately issued again and shoots 24-7 (25,534) and is an official double A-Side with the former track “Tramp”.

 

 

 

Talking of the Nelson Mandela concert the biggest “new” star to be launched courtesy of it was Tracy Chapman who did two stints after filling in for Stevie Wonder when he had difficulties with equipment and was a major recipient of sales with her debut album having only reached No 47 before the concert and has since moved 25-2-1 to top the album charts this week, her single “Fast Car” hasn’t done badly either shifting 26-10 (16,473) this week to announce her arrival on the pop scene. Incidentally in hitting the top position on the album chart Chapman becomes the first female act to manage this feat with their debut album.

 

 

Phil Collins is in a warm current as he moves 8-4 (28,883) just ahead of the Pasadenas who themselves climb 6-5 (28,832) and UB40 & Chrissie Hynde who leap 9-6 (27,727). Further down the Timelords find time is fleeting and drift 2-8 (25,347) and Maxi Priest falls 5-9 (25,177) despite increasing his sales!

 

 

1- I OWE YOU NOTHING- Bros (50,150)

2- THE TWIST (YO TWIST)- Fat Boys & Chubby Checker (42,993)

3- BOYS (SUMMERTIME LOVE)- Sabrina (34,595)

4- IN THE AIR TONIGHT 88- Phil Collins (28,883)

5- TRIBUTE (RIGHT ON)- The Pasadenas (28,832)

6- BREAKFAST IN BED- UB40 & Chrissie Hynde (27,727)

7- PUSH IT/ TRAMP- Salt N Pepa (25,534)

8- DOCTORIN THE TARDIS- The Timelords (25,347)

9- WILD WORLD- Maxi Priest (25,177)

10- FAST CAR- Tracy Chapman (16,473)

 

 

I was searching yesterday for a picture of Bros pre their makeover in 1987 and finally found one

 

Makeover very much needed.

 

In other news here's a snip from TV about Brosmania in 88 for those who are too young to recall

 

Fast Car and Push It here to save us all, both wonderful

Crazy that 'Push It' and 'Fast Car' could've been potentially unknown if not for a Mandela concert!

 

They both feel so iconic and ingrained in popular culture.

Edited January 31Jan 31 by Jessie Where

Echoing the love for those two, and who would have thought it would take 23 years and a talent show for [redacted] to peak, and 32 years and a song about 'WAP' for... I think those who know will know.

I was searching yesterday for a picture of Bros pre their makeover in 1987 and finally found one

 

Makeover very much needed.

 

In other news here's a snip from TV about Brosmania in 88 for those who are too young to recall

 

 

Didn’t everyone look like that pre-1988 :D

Crazy that 'Push It' and 'Fast Car' could've been potentially unknown if not for a Mandela concert!

 

They both feel so iconic and ingrained in popular culture.

 

THIS

 

Mad that people (right wing fascists) once peddled the myth that Mandela was a terrorist!

'Push It' is such a bop and 'Fast Car' is very good.

love those two!!!! Fast Car is such an amazing storytelling song, Tracy Chapman was so talented. The album is just fantastic too. But really no female singer had ever gone to #1 with her debut album? not even Kate Bush?

 

Push it is also incredible, super catchy and infectious. Didn't know they were a trio. For some reason I always thought they were 2.

love those two!!!! Fast Car is such an amazing storytelling song, Tracy Chapman was so talented. The album is just fantastic too. But really no female singer had ever gone to #1 with her debut album? not even Kate Bush?

"The kick inside" went to No 3

Push It is still great fun, sounds exciting played loud. Fast car is classy, though I've never been as mad on it as most people seem to be or Tracey Chapman in general. Always good, though.

I'm not that familiar with Bros, I only confidently know 'When Will I Be Famous'. Similar with New Kids On the Block, I couldn't tell you how any of their songs go.

 

Maybe I should investigate in case I'm missing out.

You aren’t - NKOTB had one memorable song and Bros 2!

The thing with both Bros and NKOTB is how they were so ridiculously massive and adored and then how quickly it all faded.

 

No spoilers, but neither of them stayed in the Top 10 for long.

 

My fave NKOTB song is Call It What You Want, which stalled around #12 I think.

 

 

9TH JULY

 

 

Just over a year ago The Firm bounced 14-1 with “Star Trekkin” and since then no track has climbed from outside the top 10 straight to the top spot, until this week. Glenn Medeiros won a radio talent contest in his native Hawaii just last year with a version of George Benson’s “Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You” which led to an album which was picked up by a US DJ on holiday and through various turns of fate it generated into a US No 12 hit for the singer though it bombed here at No 176. Now released via London Records the song ignited, shooting 61-36-11-1 and selling 74,137 copies into the bargain, he’s the first act from Hawaii to have a UK chart topper, he’s also (at 17) the youngest male soloist to top the charts since Donny Osmond back in 1973, and the fourth teenager to be top of the stack in 1988 making it a landmark year for teenage acts.

 

 

 

The rise of Medeiros robs the Fat Boys and Chubby Checker of their first No 1 with “The Twist (Yo Twist)” which remains stranded at No 2 (48,501) and it must be fancied now not to progress further especially as Salt N Pepa are coming up hard on the rails 7-3 (46,325).

 

No other new hits on the charts and the only act in the lower half of the top 10 to be celebrating is Tracy Chapman who keeps the No 1 album in the land and also sees “Fast Car” motor 10-7 (28,764) but above her are three fallers, Bros finally surrender the top slot falling back 1-4 (40,800), Phil Collins dips 4-5 (30,872) and Sabrina slides 3-6 (28,764). Lower down UB40 & Chrissie Hynde won’t be celebrating another chart topper as they hurtle 6-8 (27,557), the Pasadenas ebb 5-9 (26,996) and Maxi Priest is cast out 9-10 (19,210).

 

As we’re half way through the year here’s the current YTD top 10:

 

1- I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY- Kylie Minogue 608,328

2- I THINK WE’RE ALONE NOW- Tiffany 496,383

3- WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS/ SHE’S LEAVING HOME- Wet, Wet Wet/ Billy Bragg & Cara Tivey 396,814

4- PERFECT- Fairground Attraction 333,608

5- HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH- Belinda Carlisle 298,486

6- THEME FROM S EXPRESS- S Express 277,933

7- TELL IT TO MY HEART- Taylor Dayne 272,986

8- GET OUTTA MY DREAMS, GET INTO MY CAR- Billy Ocean 262,072

9- GOT TO BE CERTAIN- Kylie Minogue 261,817

10- HEART- Pet Shop Boys 260,644

 

 

This week's Top 10

 

1- NOTHING’S GONNA CHANGE MY LOVE FOR YOU- Glenn Medeiros (74,137)

2- THE TWIST (YO TWIST)- Fat Boys & Chubby Checker (48,501)

3- PUSH IT/ TRAMP- Salt N Pepa (46,325)

4- I OWE YOU NOTHING- Bros (40,800)

5- IN THE AIR TONIGHT 88- Phil Collins (30,872)

6- BOYS (SUMMERTIME LOVE)- Sabrina (28,764)

7- FAST CAR- Tracy Chapman (28,067)

8- BREAKFAST IN BED- UB40 & Chrissie Hynde (27,557)

9- TRIBUTE (RIGHT ON)- The Pasadenas (26,996)

10- WILD WORLD- Maxi Priest (19,210)

 

You aren’t - NKOTB had one memorable song and Bros 2!

Both NKOTB's #1s (in the UK) are fairly memorable I think, but both groups certainly had many hits that weren't so much.

 

Glenn Medeiros crashing into the Top 10 at #1 is not really what these 1988 charts needed.

I'm not sure I've ever even heard of Glenn Medeiros until now :???: