Imagine having an album where the 7th single could be as great as Smooth Criminal

10TH DECEMBER

 

 

Well it was a week that didn’t go to plan, that plan being that Kylie & Jason would debut instantly at the top and remain there through to the year end, at least that’s what S/A/W hoped. As it turned out they weren’t banking on the powerhouse that is “Mistletoe & Wine” which went into overdrive to romp home with 128,418 buyers and led from the start off the back of a TOTP performance. It’s Cliff’s 12th chart topper which draws him nearer to the current record of 17 held jointly by Elvis and the Beatles, but his span of 29 years puts him in the record books.

 

 

 

So onto THAT duet, the dream team (in terms of 1988 at any rate) comes to fruition as after months of rumours “Especially For You” arrives at No 2 (62,560) to instantly become Donovan’s biggest hit in the UK. For Kylie of course it is her fourth No 2 hit in a row (but this is her biggest first week sale ever) and by way of co-incidence she does get some revenge on Cliff as his album holds at No 3 this week one place behind “Kylie” which has now crossed the million mark, she has sold over 1.6 million singles, by far the biggest act of the year. Kylie & Jason remain the favourite with the bookies and the battle over the next three weeks will be an interesting one. Incidentally after 17 straight chart weeks, last week was the first PWL/ S/A/W free top 10, a situation now rectified!

 

 

And right behind them is Angry Anderson, former lead vocalist with Rose Tattoo who’s only UK hit was “Rock N Roll Outlaw” which peaked at No 61 in 1981 following an appearance at the Reading festival. As the group split Anderson appeared in the film “Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome” and then came the single “Suddenly”, it was released back in July 1987 in Australia following the airing of the wedding of Scott & Charlene in “Neighbours” and went to No 2 behind, fittingly, Minogue’s “The Loco-Motion”, he’s waiting over a year for the UK airing of the wedding episode before chancing his luck here. It’s worked at any rate the song charging 16-3 (43,877) and don’t dismiss it from taking advantage of any slip by either Cliff or Kylie & Jason. It also marks the first time that any soap has contributed to two of the top 3 hits in the charts simultaneously.

 

 

None of their previous 5 top 10 singles debuted inside the top 10 which makes Erasure’s “Crackers International EP” already remarkable in their career. The main track “Stop” has already attracted a lot of airplay which helps to explain its No 7 (32,861) debut, the band are between albums at present, however wanting to put something out for their fans and to celebrate another great year, they’ve been on a world tour throughout most of 1988 but did premiere “Stop” during their sold out dates at the Birmingham NEC last month which has improved their stock no end. “The Innocents” has sold a hearty 400,000 copies thus far but still has some way to go to match the 550,000 copies posted by the previous offering “The Circus”.

 

 

Just 12 months ago Rick Astley was the favourite for the Christmas No 1 and just about the hottest thing in pop, fast forward a year and there’s little doubt that his star is on the descent, new single “Take Me To Your Heart” makes the top 10 after three weeks on the chart, slower than any of his 4 previous hits and even then it creeps 12-8 (30,073). It is once again penned by S/A/W one of only three songs on his second album “Hold Me In Your Arms” that are, it debuts at No 8 in neat symmetry this week, a somewhat less spectacular start than his debut album which of course shot to the top spot. Some have remarked on the song’s resemblance to Inner City’s “Big Fun” and certainly the 12” Dick Dastardly mix isn’t a million miles from the Inner City track.

 

In other news Bros dip 2-4 (42,636) as the competition proves too strong despite a sales hike and Robin Beck is toppled 1-5 (38,913) just above the static Phil Collins at No 6 (36,516) in a tightly packed chart. Further down Michael Jackson reverses 8-9 (29,699) and Chris De Burgh spirals 3-10 (29,631).

 

1-MISTLETOE AND WINE- Cliff Richard (128,418)

2- ESPECIALLY FOR YOU- Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan (62,560)

3- SUDDENLY- Angry Anderson (43,877)

4- CAT AMONG THE PIGEONS/ SILENT NIGHT- Bros (42,636)

5- THE FIRST TIME- Robin Beck (38,913)

6- TWO HEARTS- Phil Collins (36,516)

7- CRACKERS INTERNATIONAL EP- Erasure (32,861)

8- TAKE ME TO YOUR HEART- Rick Astley (30,073)

9- SMOOTH CRIMINAL- Michael Jackson (29,699)

10- MISSING YOU- Chris De Burgh (29,631)

 

nooooo Cliff beating Especially for you :/ what's wrong with people :/

loved Especially for you back then, less so now

also love Stop but not sure if I know anything from that EP

the Rick song is SAW album filler at most, the 2nd US single Giving Up on Love, was much better I reckon

Especially For You and Suddenly - peak 12 year old Neighbours obsession/nostalgia!

 

I bought the Crackers International EP at the time as well, as I did like Stop (I am impressed with my 12 year old self on that one at least).

Erasure the highlight of the new ones, I loved the EP at the time and it was a great idea to bridge the gap between albums like that. They had better in retrospect but it still holds good memories

I owned 4 out of 10 on single at the time (Kylie/Jason, Angry Anderson, Robin Beck & Erasure) - this must have been when I first started buying vinyl.

I definitely had Crackers International but I’m not sure I actually had it at the time it was out. I remember receiving the Kylie and Bros albums for Christmas between my brother and I because neither of us really wanted them so they just got put to one side :lol:

I owned 4 out of 10 on single at the time (Kylie/Jason, Angry Anderson, Robin Beck & Erasure) - this must have been when I first started buying vinyl.

Haha I had Kylie and Jason, angry Anderson, and Rick Astley so it could be worse

at least no one had Cliff :D

at least no one had Cliff :D

Defiantly not :lol:

Looking back on 1988 if they had released GTBC one week later, and Locomotion, JNSPP and EFY one week earlier then they would all have made No 1 in 1988 for Kylie (assuming the same sales pattern for all records).

4 out of 4 straight off would’ve been epic for Kylie!

Still like 'Especially For You' and 'Suddenly' (and didn't watch Neighbours at the time). 'Stop!' is another good one from Erasure too.

'Suddenly' is very Peter Cetera

 

'Stop' is fun and very 1984 Hi-NRG

Edited February 23Feb 23 by TheSnake

With the downtime tomorrow the next chart probably won't be posted until wednesday

If crimes against music were punishable by law, Cliff Richard would be given a whole life order for that.

catching up with INXS' greatest single, loved Need You Tonight first time round and had been a fan since 86's Kiss The Dirt, Kick the album is one of the 80's greats and in concert they were stunningly good, Michael especially knew how to work an audience. Long overdue this big hit. Pet Shop Boys still on peak quality with Left To My Own Devices, a monster epic, and not your typical chart hit. I always think of it driving through North Dorset into Wiltshire and Somerset, like yesterday, when I see roadsigns, left to your own Devizes, I probably will.

 

Missing You remains a dirge, never liked it, Twist & Shout it's The Beatles any day of the week, but at least it was a very different version, Iron maiden the usual metal clone single (rubbish), Bros go Glum and it didnt work for me, Cat was passable. Two Hearts is a great 60's pastiche, it could easily be an early Supremes song or Four Tops. The Holland Dozier Holland vibes most appropriate (see Phil's You cant Hurry Love and another flop so far from Buster for the Tops, Fun In Acapulco).

 

Mistle Toe And Wine sounded mildly passable as a one-off Xmas record as long as we didnt have to endure it for the next 37 years, so we are fine I expect :teresa: Smooth Criminal was a highlight of the excruciating Moonwalker film. I actually paid to see it at the cinema, and it was torture. I wanted to turn into the Incredible Hulk and wreck the place after optimistically hoping something good would come along any minute now. Shame as the Bad album is a classic and the record great.

 

Bomb The Bass still good, albeit not quite as good as the other singles to date, Kylie & Jason what a tune, what cheese, and Neighbours was unavoidable, no matter how hard I tried to avoid it. Still love the record. Angry Anderson was another TV-pushed dreary crappy TV-tune that got on my nerves. Still does. Stop is fun enough, I'd place it ahead of a later number 2 hit of the same name, but behind the 60's triple epizeuxis from the Hollies which peaked at 2.

 

Rick Astley's I dont even remember. That's not a compliment.

 

17TH DECEMBER



Another week of extraordinary (by 1988 standards) sales for the top 3 as all three record new record weekly totals for the year, first up is Cliff Richard who manages to see off Kylie & Jason once again with “Mistletoe & Wine” posting a sale of 160,973 to bring the song’s three week tally to an incredible 321,079 copies which already places it in the YTD top 15, with three weeks of the year to go maybe Yazz should be worried about grabbing the biggest hit of the year? It’s just the 8th week in 1988 when sales of the No 1 have exceeded the golden 100,000 mark, by comparison there were 35 weeks in both 1981 and 1982 when a six digit tally was recorded for the chart topper. Kylie & Jason meanwhile performed live on TOTP and “Des O’Connor Tonight” and they see sales of “Especially For You” improve by 110% to a mighty 130,050 copies, enough for the No 1 spot in all but two weeks of the year, sadly this is one of those weeks!, however if it keeps the momentum then it should overturn “Mistletoe & Wine” next week. As for Angry Anderson he holds at No 3 in all static top 3 with sales of 77,894, they are all so far ahead of the field that it’s hard to see anyone catching them by Christmas at least. On the album charts Cliff and Kylie swap positions as Cliff moves into the No 2 spot selling 140,000 copies into the bargain but both remain behind “Now 13”.

Inner City are back with “Good life”, a second single for the Detroiters who are currently the hottest dance act around, a debut album is promised in the spring you’ll be pleased to hear but for now this is proving the antidote to those Christmas hits you’re hearing in every shop at the moment. “Good Life” scurries 22-6 (32,861) this week.

Scoring their 21st top 10 single Status Quo return to the top 10 for the first time in just over 2 years proving you can never quite write them off. “Burning Bridges (On And Off And On Again)” is based on the English folk song “Darby Kelly” and leaps 20-9 (26,129) to become, by far the biggest single from their 18th album “Ain’t Complaining”, the album has performed disappointingly peaking at No 12 and leaving the charts after 5 weeks, it hasn’t returned since and has sales well under the 100,000 mark. To augment sales the CD single also comes with the single mixes of “Marguerita Time” and “Whatever You Want”

Written as a homage to Billie Holliday, U2’s new single “Angel Of Harlem” debuts instantly at No 10 (25,194), it’s the second single taken from “Rattle & Hum” which itself opened at No 1 back in October selling 320,000 in its first 6 days. The album shipped 900,000 copies such was the anticipation though after 9 weeks on sale it has only sold 750,000 copies, not bad by anyone’s standards except perhaps U2 who could reasonably expected a bigger seller given its opening.

Erasure climb 7-4 (50,048) overtaking Bros in the process as they continue to ease 4-5 (43,384)- you'll note that though they have moved 2-3-5 they sold more in each week compared to the previous week!, Rick Astley remains static at No 8 (26,928) with Phil Collins falling 6-7 (32,861) just above him.  Finally CD singles sales exceeded 90,000- again a new record for the format!


1- MISTLETOE AND WINE- Cliff Richard  (160,973)
2- ESPECIALLY FOR YOU- Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan (130,050)
3- SUDDENLY- Angry Anderson  (77,894)
4- CRACKERS INTERNATIONAL EP- Erasure  (50,048)
5- CAT AMONG THE PIGEONS/ SILENT NIGHT- Bros (43,384)
6- GOOD LIFE- Inner City (32,861)
7- TWO HEARTS- Phil Collins  (32,861)
8- TAKE ME TO YOUR HEART- Rick Astley (26,928)
9- BURNING BRIDGES (ON AND OFF AND ON AGAIN)- Status Quo (26,129)
10- ANGEL OF HARLEM- U2 (25,194)

Bear with- new site and all so everything is trial and error!

No worries Gezza - lots for us all to figure out!

Happy to see Erasure climb into the top 5, I'm intrigued to see how well this one ends up selling and how it compares to sales for the likes of Sometimes and ABBA-Esque in the long run.

Great new track from Inner City, by far my favourite of the new ones this week