so in a way Kylie was not "so lucky"

 

with a bit of luck The Locomotion and Je ne Sais Pas Pourquoi both could have been #1s

 

I was also thinking that in the US, the followup to The Locomotion was It's no Secret,

wonder why they picked that one?

It was scheduled to be the 5th single here in early 1989 here but ultimately got cancelled.

ohhh guess they jumped directly into album 2

 

but it's a great song, really like It's no Secret

Never thought much of First Time, it was a just a TV advert ditty, to me, that got lucky. I still don't enjoy hearing it. Kylie should have been the chart-topper. 1-2-3 not one of my fave Gloria tracks, she had better dance tracks, not least Dr Beat, Rhythm. Deacon Blue I never rated much at the time, either, with one notable exception: Real Gone Kid. Great record. Their current single is good, better than some of their 80's stuff.

19TH NOVEMBER

 

 

Well after last week’s scramble for the top of the charts this was a relatively quiet week with a slim lead for Robin Beck turning into a relatively easy win for the singer in the end, she drove past the opposition 5-1 (58,701) with “First Time”, it means for a second time in 1988 and a second time EVER we have had three successive chart toppers from female soloists (Whitney Houston, Enya, and now Beck) and we also have a wholly female top 3 for the fourth time in history. It’s turned out to be something of a landmark year for the ladies finding domination for the first time since the inception of the charts 36 years ago. Runner up this week is Yazz who does climb 3-2 on paper but her sales are down 11% to 38,369 and Kylie tumbles 2-3 (34,476) but she can console herself with the fact that “Kylie” returns to No 1 on the album charts becoming the best selling album of the year, and “The Loco-Motion” currently sits at No 3 stateside. She also married last week, at least on screen at any rate, on “Neighbours” garnering a significant amount of press and viewing audience, what better time for a single by Kylie and Jason for Christmas to be announced- prepare yourself.

 

 

 

Her fellow Aussies are up next, INXS released their debut album 8 years ago and have conquered first their native charts scoring their first No 1 with “Original Sin” in 1984 there, and the US where “Need You Tonight” became a No 1 back in January this year and now, finally after years of trying the UK finally responds sending “Need You Tonight” scurrying 18-4 (33,031) to become their first top 20 single. Perhaps our current love of anything Australian is coming into play but the bands sixth album “Kick” which features this single has been a strong seller this year peaking at No 9 having sold over 400,000 copies thus far and delivering hits “New Sensation” (No 25) and “Never Tear Us Apart” (No 24) but nothing on this level. “Need You Tonight” peaked at a lowly No 58 last October upon first release but gets a second shot in the arm after their world tour this summer.

 

 

 

Chris De Burgh has been celebrating already in 1988 when “Flying Colours” became his first No 1 album last month despite lead single “A Simple Truth (A Child Is Born)” failing at No 55 last Christmas. Second release “Missing You” is a far more substantial hit climbing 15-8 (30,532) to become only his second top 10 single, the first was of course “The Lady Is Red” which topped the charts for 3 weeks in 1986 on its way to 610,000 sales.

 

 

Enya loses the crown this week dipping 1-5 (32,946) but it could have been far worse with just 2,400 copies separating her from De Burgh at No 8, Milli Vanilli slide 4-7 (31,443) and Robert Palmer is in retreat 6-9 (39,716). Better news for Brother Beyond who climb 8-6 (31,654) and Deacon Blue who hold at No 10 (27,540) but improve in sales.

 

 

1- THE FIRST TIME- Robin Beck (58,701)

2- STAND UP FOR YOUR LOVE RIGHTS- Yazz (38,369)

3- JE NE SAIS PAS POURQUOI- Kylie Minogue (34,476)

4- NEED YOU TONIGHT- INXS (33,031)

5- ORINIOCO FLOW (SAIL AWAY)- Enya (32,946)

6- HE AIN’T NO COMPETITION- Brother Beyond (31,654)

7- GIRL YOU KNOW IT’S TRUE- Milli Vanilli (31,433)

8- MISSING YOU- Chris De Burgh (30,532)

9- SHE MAKES MY DAY- Robert Palmer (29,716)

10- REAL GONE KID- Deacon Blue (27,540)

 

Need You Tonight :wub: Absolutely love some of the INXS singles and this is definitely one of their best, they deserved so many more top 10s in the UK

'Need You Tonight' and its riff is iconic! Fab rock track!

insane how long it took for INXS to get a proper UK hit

and that it took a re-release of this for them to get a hit

Need You Tonight is a classic

 

also love Missing You, much better than the sappy Lady in Red

'Need You Tonight' :wub:

 

I'm not familiar with that Yazz track, was it intended to be an anthem/dedication to the gay community or is it not that deep/interesting?

'Need You Tonight' :wub:

 

I'm not familiar with that Yazz track, was it intended to be an anthem/dedication to the gay community or is it not that deep/interesting?

Never read anything at the time so I think it was just straight forward message to express yourself and ask for what you want.....

There was a question on PopMaster this morning that asked which INXS song reached the top 10 in 1988, so good timing :lol:

 

I echo the love for 'Need You Tonight'. :heart:

26TH NOVEMBER

 

 

Firstly the good news, Robin Beck remains clear of the chasing field, sales of “First Time” show no sign of abating yet, it shifted another 76,874 copies last week to open a commanding lead over the field. Below her though sales are dire to be frank, INXS post a 13% sales increase to move 4-2 (37,808) and Chris De Burgh actually loses sales as he powers 8-3 (29,376)- very poor.

 

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Onto better news and the return of Salt N Pepa who sampled the Isley Brothers on their last hit “Shake Your Thing” (No 22) and now cover the Top Notes 1962 track “Twist & Shout” which was also covered by….The Isley Brothers, The highest charting version came courtesy of Brian Poole & The Tremeloes who took the song to No 4 in 1963, The Beatles version (perhaps the most famous) was a feature on an EP and was therefore not included on the main chart as were the rules of the time. Salt N Pepa do however become the first rap act to have two top 5 singles as this single advances 12-4 (26,928).

 

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Iron Maiden have doubtless had their most impressive year based on chart performance, they now score their third top 10 single on the trot and of 1988 with “The Clairvoyant” rising 13-6 (25,194) thanks in the main to a newly issued CD version of the single bolstering its sales. The single is the third release from “Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son” which despite another hit single remains absent from the album charts, Lyrically the track concerns the death of Psychic Doris Stokes (who knew) and is helped in promotion by the fact the band are back in the UK on their world tour.

 

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Another single and another top 10 single for The Pet Shop Boys. After the disappointment of “Domino Dancing” it seems that new song “Left To My Own Devices” seems to be more promising as it debuts at No 7 this week after attracting 25,041 buyers. The song is the boys 9th top 10 single, their 8th in a row, and the 6th to debut inside the big 10, an impressive set of stats, the current album “Introspective” could only make No 2 on debut behind U2’s “Rattle & Hum” but is already out of the top 20.

 

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Well done to Deacon Blue who defy chart experts and rise 10-8 (24,531) after they stalled last week, but no joy for Yazz who tumbles 2-5 (26,146), Brother Beyond who slide 6-9 (23,426) and Kylie Minogue who dives 3-10 (21,386), incidentally Brother Beyond’s album “Get Even” debuts at only No 15, a far cry from the No 2 peak of “Push” and with a new Bros single out this week expect a new entry in the top 10 for them next week.

 

 

 

1- THE FIRST TIME- Robin Beck (76,874)

2- NEED YOU TONIGHT- INXS (37,808)

3- MISSING YOU- Chris De Burgh (29,376)

4- TWIST AND SHOUT- Salt N Pepa (26,928)

5- STAND UP FOR YOUR LOVE RIGHTS- Yazz (26,146)

6- THE CLAIRVOYANT- Iron Maiden (25,194)

7- LEFT TO MY OWN DEVICES- Pet Shop Boys (25,041)

8- REAL GONE KID- Deacon Blue (24,531)

9- HE AIN’T NO COMPETITION- Brother Beyond (23,426)

10- JE NE SAIS PAS POURQUOI- Kylie Minogue (21,386)

 

 

So with that our thoughts turn to the Christmas No 1 as the race begins this week so here’s this year’s runners and riders:

 

KYLIE MINOGUE & JASON DONOVAN- ESPECIALLY FOR YOU- No-one’s heard the song yet (it premier’s sometime this week) but already this dream duet for Scott & Charlene from “Neighbours” is the bookies favourite as the lady of the year teams up with real life boyfriend Jason Donovan- expect it to fly off the shelves.

 

ANGRY ANDERSON- SUDDENLY- If you’ve not quite had enough of “that” wedding yet then how about the wedding theme which enters the top 40 this week, it could provide the only challenge to the couple themselves!

 

BROS- CAT AMONG THE PIGEONS/ SILENT NIGHT- The boyband of the year release a festive “Silent Night”- who could resist?

 

PHIL COLLINS- TWO HEARTS- Follow up to his No 1 and more 60s influenced pop from the “Buster” soundtrack.

 

BOBBY MCFERRIN- THINKING ABOUT YOUR BODY- More of the same that made “Don’t Worry Be Happy” such a big hit this understated hit may be on top come the big day thanks to the song’s use in a “Cadbury’s” commercial.

 

CLIFF RICHARD- MISTLETOE & WINE- Rapidly gaining favour at the bookies this could surprise us all after a quite 1988 for the singer.

 

BUDDY HOLLY/ SHAKIN STEVENS- TRUE LOVE- In a re-run of the “When I Fall In Love” incident last year Shaky is cast in the role of Rick Astley- the young upstart who’s cheekily covered a classic against the original- we’ll see if it plays out in the same way, Holly, like McFerrin, has a chocolate TV Commercial to help him, in his case Terry’s All Gold.

 

FREIHEIT- KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE- Early favourite for the festive top spot this has since slackened the pace after the announcement of the Kylie & Jason single- will still do very well.

PSB’s final masterpiece for me, after this some great songs but not on the same level

Loved Push it but covering Twist and shout was a bad idea

3RD DECEMBER

 

 

The Christmas race begins this week in earnest but more on that in a moment, for now Robin Beck completes her third week as the nation’s favourite, “First Time” moving a further 55,029 copies to bring its total to 254,048 copies and should be on course for 400,000 by the year end. You’ll note no doubt that that is a drop of 27% week on week so should in theory be very vulnerable next week just in time for the arrival of Kylie & Jason!

 

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The highest new entry of the week however belongs to Bros, their double A-Side “Cat Among The Pigeons/ Silent Night” was only slightly behind Robin Beck at the start of the week but TOTP gave Beck breathing space. Still, it’s a fifth release from the boys “Push” album which is now fast approaching 900,000 copies sold this year, so it is quite a show of their popularity to be able to debut so high so far into an album campaign. Of course the appearance of “Silent Night” is also a draw though that side will be getting promoted nearer the big day though its “Cat” which is getting all the promo at present, it was originally a track about teenage pregnancy though that was thought to be too controversial for their audience so a quick re-write of the lyrics and a promo now makes it about a young man who leaves home as he can’t bear to witness domestic abuse against his mother by his father- a far cheerier message with a promo for “Silent Night” currently being shot as an accompaniment to the story. It sold 37,485 copies last week.

 

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Sales on the whole are much better this week, in the top 5 at least with healthy increases for Chris De Burgh (25% to 36,414) and Pet Shop Boys increase by 40% to 35,309 as they rise 7-4, but INXS do relent to 33,932 though they drop 2-4.

 

 

Another contender for the festive top spot makes its presence felt as Phil Collins’s “Two Hearts” expands 16-6 (32,776), that’s his 9th top 10 single (if you count this year’s “In The Air Tonight” as a separate hit). The 60s feel to the song is obviously down to the fact that it is taken from the “Buster” film soundtrack and this particular track is co-written and co-produced by Collins and Lamont Dozier to give that authentic sound, it’s already rising rapidly up the US charts hoping to follow in the footsteps of “Groovy Kind Of Love” which topped the charts on both sides of the pond.

 

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Penned back in 1976 for the musical “Scraps” which was based on a Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Match Girl” the musical was plucked from relative obscurity by HTV last Christmas and adapted for TV featuring Roger Daltry and Twiggy who sang this song. Richard loved the song “Mistletoe & Wine” and asked if some of the lyrics could be rewritten to reflect a more Christian take on the festive period to which the original writers didn’t object to and thusly the current version of the song got released and sees Cliff debut at No 7 (31,688). It’s Cliff’s 55th top 10 single (drawing him level with Elvis) and his 99th single release, something big is promised for his 100th single at some point next year! This is also just Cliff’s 5th single to debut inside the top 10 the others being “A Voice In The Wilderness (No 10, 1960, “Fall In love With You” (No 6, 1960) “The Young ones” (No 1, 1962) and “Living Doll” (No 4, 1986), all made the top 2 so expect this to rise despite the fact that it features on his greatest hit set “Private Collection 1979-1988” which dips 2-3 this week on the album charts.

 

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More a promo video for the forthcoming “Moonwalker” film, Michael Jackson plucks a 7th single from “Bad” in the form of “Smooth Criminal” which naturally comes with an amazing video with some visual trickery. Originally called “Al Capone” the song was re-titled “Smooth Criminal” and was going to be the album’s title until vetoed by Quincy Jones, the track rises 12-8 (31,535) to become a 5th top 10 single from the album, a 22nd top 10 hit (not including his Jackson 5 hits) and a 16th top 10 during a decade which he has dominated- he is now just 1 top 10 single behind the decade leader Madonna.

 

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The Bacharach & David composition “I Say A Little Prayer” has had many interpretations over the years but has only been a chart hit for Aretha Franklin some 20 years ago, it now provides the third release for Bomb The Bass who have roped in singer Maureen Walsh to provide the vocals on this cover which moves 19-10 (25,619). That makes it three out of three in terms of top 10 singles for Tim Simenon though the album “Into The Dragon” could only make No 18 and currently languishes at No 76 after just 7 weeks.

 

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Salt N Pepa tumble 4-9 (26,486) to round off the top 10. Next week be prepared for the Christmas favourite to enter the top 10!

 

 

1- THE FIRST TIME- Robin Beck (55,029)

2- CAT AMONG THE PIGEONS/ SILENT NIGHT- Bros (37,485)

3- MISSING YOU- Chris De Burgh (36,414)

4- LEFT TO MY OWN DEVICES- Pet Shop Boys (35,309)

5- NEED YOU TONIGHT- INXS (33,932)

6- TWO HEARTS- Phil Collins (32,776)

7- MISTLETOE AND WINE- Cliff Richard (31,688)

8- SMOOTH CRIMINAL- Michael Jackson (31,535)

9- TWIST AND SHOUT- Salt N Pepa (26,486)

10- SAY A LITTLE PRAYER- Bomb The Bass Featuring Maureen (25,619)

 

'Left to My Own Devices' and 'Smooth Criminal' are great additions over the past couple of weeks! Good to see PSBs back in the top 5 with this single.

Smooth Criminal is Jacko at his best, insane that it was the 7th single off Bad

I much prefer Bad as album title than Smooth Criminal to be honest

 

I also like Two hearts, a good one from Phil Collins

 

Bros first 3 single were all great but I quit and Cat among the pigeons were not good enough to be singles

I actually dislike all her ballads and slow numbers

 

But here comes one of the worst singles in the history of music for me, oh my how much I hate Mistletoe and Wine :/

 

 

But here comes one of the worst singles in the history of music for me, oh my how much I hate Mistletoe and Wine :/

 

Now THIS I can agree on!

 

And it probably isn't the final time he'll terrorise us with something awful at the end of the year either. :angry:

 

'Left to My Own Devices' is peak Pet Shop Boys and a lyrical masterpiece :wub:

Just realised Tiffany was already back with album 2,

she had a great start of the year with the #1 I Think You're Alone Now and 2 more top 10s

so already releasing album 2 was a bit premature

 

Radio Romance peaking at #13, not that bad, but album 2 bombed and she never made the top 40 again

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T'Pau also didn't make the biggest of impacts with the lead for album 2, Secret Garden peaked at #18

just a few months after the 5th single off their debut

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how did acts even have time to go into the studio and make albums so quick in the 80s?

'Two Hearts' is very good, way better than 'Groovy Kind of Love'.