Did something happened between Sinitta and SAW? They kinda stopped giving her songs after her debut, despite the huge success, and only one track on her 2nd album is from SAW

24TH JUNE

It only took a 8% sales increase to take the crown but this week Soul II Soul surge 3-1 as “Back To Life” becomes the nation’s favourite song with a sale of 50,779 copies, it marks their arrival as major players in the chart with their sound set to become one of the soundtrack to this summer. The album from which it is culled “Club Classics” holds at No 4 but should get a boost now that it holds a No 1 single albeit in a very different form. Bad news then for Jason Donovan who loses both chart toppers this week with “Ten Good Reasons” giving way to Paul McCartney’s new album “Flowers In The Dirt” and his single “Sealed With A Kiss” dipping 1-2 (46,529).

It isn’t due to open in UK Cinemas until August 11th but Prince is already on the promotional trail releasing the theme to the movie “Batdance”. It was apparently a last minute inclusion in the soundtrack (for which Prince contributes most of the music) after he pulled a track called “Dance With The Devil” which was intended as the theme, it seems he made the right decision chart wise at least with “Batdance” getting off to the best start of his career debuting at No 3 (35,819). His previous highest debut was the more modest No 13 start to “1999/ Little Red Corvette” in 1985 and thusly you must fancy this to be heading to No 1 and to give the purple one his first UK chart topper, the only potential joker in the pack is the release of the soundtrack this week which could detract sales from Prince’s 8th top 10 single.

U2 are old hands at debuting inside the top 10 and this week they do it again with a fourth cut from “Rattle & Hum” entitled “All I Want Is You”. It’s the band’s tenth top 10 single of which 7 have arrived instantly there but somewhat unusually for any albums era it seems that the singles are only charting higher and higher, “Desire” became their first No 1 last year and was followed by “Angel Of Harlem” (No 8) then “When Love Comes To Town” (No 6) and now “All I Want Is You” debuts at No 5 (31,110).

The Housemartins split last Spring but it hasn’t taken long for Paul Heaton and Dave Hemmingway to quickly form The Beautiful South and produce “Song For Whoever” which this week jets in 11-8 (27,880) to give them a far better start than the Housemartins got. Indeed the ‘Martins only scored two top 10 single though of course “Caravan Of Love” did go all the way to the top, again the group display the usual cleverness lyrically, more of which you should find on the debut album due in the autumn.

Sinitta halts progress at No 4 (32,589), but that is at least considerably better than Cliff Richard who collapses 2-6 (29,988), Cyndi Lauper creeps 8-7 (27,880) but it’s all over for Guns N Roses who dip 6-9 (20,995) and Madonna who falls 5-10 (20,621) in perfect symmetry for its first 4 weeks on release.


1- BACK TO LIFE (HOWEVER DO YOU WANT ME)- Soul II Soul Featuring Caron Wheeler (50,779)
2- SEALED WITH A KISS- Jason Donovan  (46,529)
3- BATDANCE- Prince (35,819)
4- RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED- Sinitta  (32,589)
5- ALL I WANT IS YOU- U2 (31,110)
6- THE BEST OF ME- Cliff Richard (29,988)
7- I DROVE ALL NIGHT- Cyndi Lauper  (27,880)
8- SONG FOR WHOEVER- The Beautiful South (27,557)
9- SWEET CHILD O MINE- Guns N Roses (20,995)
10- EXPRESS YOURSELF- Madonna (20,621)

All I Want Is You is excellent. Brilliant U2 track

Just reminded myself of Batdance and it's just a bit of a mess.

Back to Life is a bit mid for me. Not bad, but not great.

52 minutes ago, Bjork said:

Did something happened between Sinitta and SAW? They kinda stopped giving her songs after her debut, despite the huge success, and only one track on her 2nd album is from SAW

The record company wanted S/A/W to do her second album but they wanted it in a very tight time frame and S/A/W were too busy and told the record company it wasn't a reasonable request. So not really Sinitta and S/A/W falling out.

In the end it was passed to the S/A/W "b-team" to do much of the work (Phil Harding/ Ian Curnow/ Pete Hammond).

^oh interesting, bad label decision it seems.

love All I Want is You from the newbies, the hidden gem in the rather lacklustre Rattle and Hum album.

also love the Beautiful South single, a great debut.

the Prince song I also kinda like it, love how messy it is.

I take it Soul II Soul will re-release the album with the single version added?

Edited April 25Apr 25 by Bjork

When you think about it, 'Song For Whoever' really was the original 'Mambo No. 5'

Ferry Cross The Mersey is an anthem, but especially in the original version. I love Merseyside. Roxette were great, one gem after another gem single for the most part, and The Look is an attention-grabbing debut. Every Little Step is one of Bobby Brown's great records - has at least 2! Top dance choon. Manchild was a nice follow-up, Electric Youth is OK, and Me Myself & I engagingly quirky.

Swing out sister was a goodie, loved the 60's vibes, and Donna Summer's SAW follow-up was pretty good too - maybe not up there with her 70's classics, but good enough for the music scene of 89. And then the sublime (Express Yourself should have been a chart-topper) to the ridiculous (not a Cell Block fan).

Jason's cover of Brian Hyland's 60's classic (and summer of 75 top 10 hit again) is a bit formulaic but at least a new generation get to know the song. Cliff made the wrong choice, the title might have been appealing but The Best Of Me remains a bit dull. Guns n Roses classic Sweet Child O Mine remains their jewel in the crown for me, a chart-topper pour moi. The original Maxine Nightingale song is fabuloustastic, Sinitta's was not in the same league but it wasnt too bad.

Back To Life is a soul shuffle classic and upgraded the genre for the 90's, and it was great to see Cyndi Lauper back in the top with a great lively cut that went top 10 in my charts too, but I really would have preferred the first hit version to be the second hit version of I Drove All Night (had I been aware of it). The Big O can sing like no-one else, and much love to Cyndi but she's more of an appealingly quirky singer.

Batdance was a bit of a patchwork quilt! I can see how it annoys some people, though I rather liked the record and the film. That said, if it tops the chart when 7 years of classics didnt, there will be sulking in some quarters. All I Want Is You just a bit dull for me, and Song For Whoever just a bit too sweetly MOR, Caravan Of Love or Happy Hour anyday!

'Batdance' is obviously no Purple Rain but I admire how he achieved such a weird hit single with it

The original theme to the "Batman" movie before Prince changed his mind)- naturally it would have gotten a single remix had it have happened.

1ST JULY

The charts attempt to make everyone happy this week, with Prince and Soul II Soul battling it out at the top of both charts.  Soul II Soul see “Back To Life” hold at the top spot for a second week on a nice 33% sales boost to 66,368 and to add to that “Club Classics Volume I” also rises 4-2 to reach a new peak. It could have been better for Prince however had the “Batman” soundtrack not have been released, but it did and Prince gets his second No 1 album into the bargain, meaning of course that he gets revenge on the album charts as his single “Batdance” advances only 3-2 to become his second No 2 single as its sales increase to 46,138. Inevitably the album therefore scuppered the chances of the single for Prince but in the end karma serves both he and Soul II Soul a piece of the pie.

Further drama occurred when Soul II Soul and TOTP came to blows last week, apparently the producers were unhappy with Carol Wheeler's live vocal and insisted that they either mime or the video would be shown instead.  The group responded by walking out of the studio and so it was that they passed up on a live performance.  We'll wait to see if the situation gets resolved!

It might be tough for Prince next week though with both Beautiful South (8-3, 36,924) and U2 (5-4 36,091) pressing hard and in truth they all had TOTP to support them so the level playing field will continue next week in that respect.

Further down the top 10 and we have a new Bond theme to speak of, Gladys Knight’s “Licence To Kill” is the next in a long list that includes Duran Duran, A-ha, Lulu, and Carly Simon. The song is written by Narada Michael Walden and at over 5 minutes long in its full glory it is also the longest theme, it moves 20-8 (22,117) this week to mark the first occasion that three Bond theme’s on the trot have made the top 10. Originally the theme was given to Eric Clapton to write but when fell through Knight and Walden stepped in, it’s her first top 10 hit in 12 years and fourth overall though she’s lost the pips temporarily at least, the movie is out August 4th if you want to catch it.

After the controversy of their first single “We Call It Acieed” D-Mob finally get around to making their follow up, the rather more radio friendly “It Is Time To Get Funky” which comes with some guest vocals from LRS. The team are busy producing that first album which is penciled in for around Christmas but you know how these things go. In the interim the single moves 11-9 (17,969) and if you’re particularly keen eyed you might spot Soul II Soul’s Jazzy B in the promo for this.

Last spotted in the charts back in 1987 on her No 8 hit “Serious”, Donna Allen has been plugging away with the occasional dance hit in the US but nothing else, she now returns in full swing with “Joy And Pain” which climbs 15-10 (15,861) to give her a 100% success rate when she does reach the charts!  That sale incidentally the lowest required for the top 10 since January so she was fortunate in that respect.  The song is a cover of the Maze track from 1980 which was in the charts just last month on re-issue peaking at No 57.

Cyndi Lauper holds at No 7 (23,545) and above her are two fallers both from the PWL studios, Jason Donovan tumbles 2-5 (29,325) and Sinitta drops 4-6 (24,905)


1- BACK TO LIFE (HOWEVER DO YOU WANT ME)- Soul II Soul Featuring Caron Wheeler  (66,368)
2- BATDANCE- Prince (46,138)
3- SONG FOR WHOEVER- Beautiful South (36,924)
4- ALL I WANT IS YOU- U2 (36,091)
5- SEALED WITH A KISS- Jason Donovan (29,325)
6- RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED FROM- Sinitta (24,905)
7- I DROVE ALL NIGHT- Cyndi Lauper (23,545)
8- LICENCE TO KILL- Gladys Knight (22,117)
9- IT IS TIME TO GET FUNKY- D.Mob Featuring LRS (17,969)
10- JOY AND PAIN- Donna Allen (15,861)

Not fussed by those new ones this week.

But that Soul II Soul vs TOTP story is new to me and quite a surprise.

I'm sure there has been quite a few dodgy live vocals on the programme (if not in the 80s, then there definitely ended up being some in the 90s).

Good on the group for taking a stand though.

There was no obligation to sing live on TOTP in the 80s (we all recall the change in rules in 1991 when they had to sing live and there was some, let's call them, issues 😆)

Soul II Soul insisted on a live vocal (as indeed they did on "Keep on movin") but for whatever reason TOTP wasn't happy with that one.

oh love the Bond theme, Licence to Kill is great

just realised that Transvision Vamp's follow-up to Baby I Don't Care,

The Only One, only peaked, think it's another great one from them

I do like a bit of Licence To KILT (I can never unhear that).

Joy and Pain is also great stuff.

Haha, we always used to sing got a license to kilt as well!

Liking both the Beautiful South and Cyndi Lauper songs since I last commented. The Prince and U2 songs are okay as well.

The D-Mob song sounds good!

That Beautiful South song really sounds stylistically like it influenced 1992 Goodnight Girl era Wet Wet Wet! The lyrics are much better though! Nice song anyway!

Edited April 26Apr 26 by TheSnake

8TH JULY

Soul II Soul score a third week at the top with “Back To Life”, it was an easy victory but its sales are plateauing at 66,470 although its total now stands at 259,794. Is that enough for the YTD top 10? Well take a look below to find out:

1- ETERNAL FLAME- The Bangles 486,625
2- TOO MANY BROKEN HEARTS- Jason Donovan 446,947
3- SOMETHING’S GOTTEN HOLD OF MY HEART- Marc Almond & Gene Pitney 444,125
4- HAND ON YOUR HEART- Kylie Minogue 410,346
5- LIKE A PRAYER- Madonna 401,948
6- LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING- Michael Ball 355,334
7- THE LIVING YEARS- Mike + The Mechanics 334,815
8- FERRY CROSS THE MERSEY- Paul McCartney, The Christians, Holly Johnson, Gerry Marsden, Stock/ Aitken/ Waterman 328,032
9- MISS YOU LIKE CRAZY- Natalie Cole 313,752
10- THIS TIME I KNOW IT’S FOR REAL- Donna Summer 311,933

S/A/W are responsible for 40% of the YTD top 10 underlining their fantastic year so far.

Soul II Soul’s nearest challengers were The Beautiful South whose “Song For Whoever” inched 3-2 (38,216) but underneath them are doubtless the main challengers for next week if not the next No 1. The London Boys went to No 4 in May with “Requiem” but that was just a warm up for “London Nights” which flies 19-3 (37,332) and looks unstoppable on its way to the top, the album is out in 3 weeks just enough time for this to hit No 1

Recorded and released in 1987 the Sterling Void track “It’s Alright” featured on a fair few house compilations in 1988 coming to the attention of The Pet Shop Boys who recorded their version for the “Introspective” album in late 1988 and which they now release as the 4th single from the album. In between all of that Sterling Void re-issued their version scoring a No 53 hit this February, the PSB version is of course timed nicely with the boys first mini world tour which is currently in the far east and comes to the UK in a fortnight. It is their 10th top 10 single, a ninth on the trot and features the production magic of Trevor Horn.

Queen’s return continues apace with their album “The Miracle” debuting at No 1 and selling 150,000 copies in the process whilst the single “Breakthru” becomes the second top 10 single to be lifted from it. It is actually the amalgamation of two songs, the main track by Roger Taylor and another song “A New Life Is Born” written by Mercury which is better heard on the album version of the song, it climbs 13-7 (23,392) to become the band’s 18th top 10 single.

Registering a new peak at No 31 this week on the album charts, “G N R Lies” is officially classed as an album though it only 33 minutes long, the first single to be taken from it is “Patience” which scores Guns N Roses a third top 10 single in just 4 months! It finds the group in a more contemplative mood than their norm as it races 22-10 (20,145) having hit No 4 in the US last month.

Prince dips 2-4 (35,105), U2 slide 4-8 (22,780) and Cyndi Lauper reverses 7-9 (22,729) but Gladys Knight is still heading the right way 8-6 (28,509).


1- BACK TO LIFE (HOWEVER DO YOU WANT ME)- Soul II Soul Featuring Caron Wheeler  (66,470)
2- SONG FOR WHOEVER- The Beautiful South (38,216)
3- LONDON NIGHTS- London Boys (37,332)
4- BATDANCE- Prince (35,105)
5- IT’S ALRIGHT- Pet Shop Boys (30,192)
6- LICENCE TO KILL- Gladys Knight (28,509)
7- BREATHRU- Queen (23,392)
8- ALL I WANT IS YOU- U2 (22,780)
9- I DROVE ALL NIGHT- Cyndi Lauper (22,729)
10- PATIENCE- Guns N Roses (20,145)

Guns N'Roses is my favourite of the newbies, Patience is one of my fav ballads from them

It's Alright I much prefer the original, don't think PSB did much with it. Love some of their covers,

particularly Always on my mind, but this is too plain

Breakthru, I never liked that one and it's the kinda song from Queen that I really hate

nice to see Dandy's fav band back already with a 2nd hit