I wouldn't have known It's Alright was a cover. It's not a bad song, but so laid-back. Not one of my fave PSB tracks.

London Nights is pretty good.

Not hugely bothered by the new Queen song.

LON-DON NIGHTS! Hurrah for them getting a second hit so quickly. I hadn't listened to that in a while but, having just done so, I can see why I liked it so much at the time. Realistically they only really had these two songs that were any good but they still hold a lot of memories for me.

I like the PSB cover of It's Alright. I agree that it isn't a huge move away from the original in terms of style, I've always assumed it was an underground track that they wanted to bring to the masses as opposed to covering an already well known song where they changed it more significantly.

I really like 'London Nights' - Pet Shop Boys influenced in the verses but in the big chorus, also a worthy precursor to Eurodance.

'It's Alright' is fab too. Quite Inner City - Good Life inflenced production-wise. The use of a crowd cheer before the final chorus in the studio version is like a precursor to rave.

15TH JULY

The nation officially goes Soul II Soul crazy this week with “Back To Life” scoring a 4th week atop the singles chart and “Club Classics Volume I” finally makes it to the No 1 spot in the albums. The single is now the equal longest stayer of the year tying with Marc Almond & Gene Pitney’s “Something’s Gotten Hold Of My Heart” and The Bangles “Eternal Flame”- could it make 5 weeks? Unlikely, sales are off 23% at just 50,592 and is now under real pressure from the rest of the top 3. Indeed was in runner up spot behind the London Boys for most of the week until TOTP gave it a boost.

It will almost certainly lose the crown next week most probably to Sonia who is the new name from the S/A/W factory, she got her break after pestering Waterman outside the radio station where he does his Saturday morning show, he gave in and asked her to sing live on air and he promised to make her a star. The track “You’ll Never Stop Me Loving You” scurries 12-2 (48,365) nabbing the runner up spot from The London Boys at the death by just a few thousand copies.

Spending its first 7 weeks in the top 40 “Life Is A Dance- The Remix Project” clearly isn’t done generating hits yet, after “I’m Every Woman” made No 8 back in May it’s now the time for “Ain’t Nobody” to be remixed, this time courtesy of Frankie Knuckles. It reached No 8 in 1984 but now rushes 18-6 (33,473) to become a bigger hit at the second time of asking.

One of 1989’s biggest stars is Bobby Brown who at just 20 has already accumulated his third top 10 hit in 6 months as a soloist, he got the gig to sing the theme to “Ghostbusters II” which is already big news in the US though the film isn’t out here until Christmas. The video is a kind of remake of the original Ray Parker Jr theme with cameos by some big names such as Donald Trump, Christopher Reeve, and Lori Singer, the song debuts at No 8 (23,069) to become his most immediate hit.

First recorded by Roger Whittakar in 1982 and subsequently recorded by artists such as Sheena Easton as Gladys Knight, “Wind Beneath My Wings” failed to become a major hit for any act until now. Featured in the film “Beaches” Bette Midler’s version now climbs 30-9 (20,451) to become her first charting hit in the UK unbelievably. It also means that with Gladys Knight dropping 6-7 (23,137) and Prince hurtling 4-10 (20,281) there are four cinematic related hits in the top 10 and all next to each other.

Pet Shop Boys hold at No 5 (34,051) and will be hoping the UK leg of their tour this week will improve their position next week, they lodge behind a falling Beautiful South who themselves move 2-4 (34,357).


1- BACK TO LIFE (HOWEVER DO YOU WANT ME)- Soul II Soul Featuring Caron Wheeler (50,592)
2- YOU’LL NEVER STOP ME LOVING YOU- Sonia (48,365)
3- LONDON NIGHTS- London Boys  (45,543)
4- SONG FOR WHOEVER- The Beautiful South  (34,357)
5- IT’S ALRIGHT- Pet Shop Boys  (34,051)
6- AIN’T NOBODY (REMIX)- Rufus & Chaka Khan (33,473)
7- LICENCE TO KILL- Gladys Knight  (23,137)
8- ON OUR OWN- Bobby Brown (23,069)
9- WIND BENEATH MY WINGS- Bette Midler (20,451)
10- BATDANCE- Prince (20,281)

The arrival of Sonia. I'm not ever sure what to think of her really. It's not a bad song, but it's not even near great either.

She was at Swindon & Wiltshire Pride last year as the "headliner", but everyone seemed to peak when The Cheeky Girls were on, so that said a lot about our Sonia.

Bought the Aint Nobody remix back in the day.

Also liked Wind Beneath My Wings.

oh my I just realised I love the 1st half of 1989 with Madonna, Paula Abdul, Debbie Gibson, Sam Brown, Cindy Lauper

but the 2nd half is the worst thing ever, Jive Bunny, bad SAW, bad euro dance, you cannot get worse

Sonia is the start of the quality descend from SAW, really average singer and average song and someone who doesn't have the x-factor

and ouch that Better Midler song is diabolical. One of the worse, if not the worst, ballads of the history of music,

the 80s equivalent of Perfect and Ordinary.

'You'll Never Stop Me Loving You' is an absolute tune, although it does kind of feel like they're in a "we can make anybody a star" phase.

'It's Alright' never used to be a fave, but over recent times it's grown on me a fair bit. I suppose it's quite different for them, but in a discography so vast and so brilliant it falls by the wayside.

never heard that unreleased Prince track, that could have worked. Licence To Kill is a good Bond theme and it was great Gladys having another chart shot, her 60's stuff and later 70's era were more to my taste but this gave her a chance to let rip and she's a flawless singer. D Mob's follow-up was much less annoying than Acieed, and Donna Allen was nice enough - it's not one that gets any radio exposure these days though.

Queen's Breakthru is OK, never a major fave though. London Boys' is fun, catchy pop tune and obv I love It's Alright, amended a bit from the album version, a bit less in ya face than some Pet Shop Boys dance hits but classy. Patience I never liked tht much, GnR I prefer in rock mode for the most part.

Sonia, she always gorra lotta stick but I like her, she was a decent singer but by this time SAW was starting to overload the charts. The song is OK, it's not classic SAW though. Ain't Nobody, the original, is pretty perfect, but this one didn't ruin it. On Our Own is better than the film, one of Bobby Brown's better big hits I thought. Bette Midler is an iconic singe and star, hugely entertaining on chat shows of the 70's and 80's, love her. Sadly I hate Wind Beneath My Wings. Opt for her cover of Youre Moving Out Today instead...

22ND JULY

She becomes the youngest UK female soloist to top the charts this week since Mary Hopkin 21 years ago, yes Sonia Evans moves 2-1 with “You’ll Never Stop Me Loving You” and in doing so it becomes the 11th produced S/A/W chart topper in 4 years, and the 6th chart topper of 1989 to come from their studios. It trounced The London Boys who do move 3-2 (43,486) but were 11,000 copies behind Sonia when the dust had settled and indeed lost sales week on week, and spare a thought for Soul II Soul who not only drop 1-3 (42,857) but also are superseded by Simply Red on the album charts, the single does however move into the YTD top 10.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that Gloria Estefan has gone solo, the credits on her hits have read “Miami Sound Machine” then “Gloria Estefan & The Miami Sound Machine” and now it’s just a solo credit though in reality the line ups haven’t changed. “Don’t Wanna Lose You” powers 30-9 (21,335), is entirely written by Estefan, and is taken from her debut “solo” album “Cuts Both Ways” which is out in a fortnight.

Registering strong moves this week are Bobby Brown 8-4 (42,619) and Bette Midler 9-5 (35,462) who can now celebrate with their biggest hits, whilst Chaka Khan & Rufus hold at No 6 (34,714). Falling are Pet Shop Boys 5-7 (26,231), Beautiful South 4-8 (23,154) and Gladys Knight 7-10 (20,740). Next week sees the release of the first Bros single from a new album- expect it to debut high- maybe even No 1?


1- YOU’LL NEVER STOP ME LOVING YOU- Sonia  (54,672)
2- LONDON NIGHTS- London Boys (43,486)
3- BACK TO LIFE (HOWEVER DO YOU WANT ME)- Soul II Soul Featuring Caron Wheeler  (42,857)
4- ON OUR OWN- Bobby Brown  (42,619)
5- WIND BENEATH MY WINGS- Bette Midler  (35,462)
6- AIN’T NOBODY (REMIX)- Chaka Khan & Rufus (34,714)
7- IT’S ALRIGHT- Pet Shop Boys (26,231)
8- SONG FOR WHOEVER- The Beautiful South (23,154)
9- DON’T WANNA LOSE YOU- Gloria Estefan (21,335)
10- LICENCE TO KILL- Gladys Knight (20,740)

Kind nice one from Gloria Estefan, I liked that one

I wonder who thought putting a single male dancer, about a foot taller than Sonia, on the stage to dance awkwardly around her?

Always seemed odd to me.

I like the Gloria Estefan track.

Sonia’s dancer is well cute!

Peak SAW.

1 hour ago, Jester said:

Sonia’s dancer is well cute!

Peak SAW.

Still easy on the eye now

He's also a dancer in this Dead or Alive video from the same time

I also liked that Gloria ballad, a chart-topper for me, her hubbie and her were always basically the creative part of Miami Sound Machine whatever was on the label. The move towards Gloria solo will give them a boost for the new decade, especially with the bigger emphasis on ballads.

This week we also had Michael Jackson peaking at #13 with Liberian Girl,

the 9th single from Bad, which was released in the UK but not in the US

The video had a lot of celebs, including my Debbie Gibson :D

29TH JULY

First the headline, Sonia keeps the top spot for a second week with “You’ll Never Stop Me Loving You” being the best seller overall for the last week and enabling S/A/W’s 29th week at the top as producers.

Now the story behind this week’s chart. Bros got off to a phenomenal start with their new single “Too Much” which sprinted ahead to what looked like an insurmountable lead of over 15,000 at one point. Of course since we last heard from them at Christmas Craig Logan has left and the twins have soldiered on, this single being released in three sleeves one with the brothers together and one each showing their individual faces, perhaps unsurprisingly Matt’s being the bigger seller. That probably ensured that the diehard fans probably bought a copy each artificially boosting the initial sales. In the end the song enters at No 2 selling 55,335 compared to Sonia’s 60,520. It is however the 6th top 5 hit for Bros and the first single from a second album due in the Autumn and will feature a much greater input from the Goss brother than their debut effort. It also must have proved a potential awkward moment at Wembley next month when Sonia supports Bros on tour!

TOTP obviously gave a boost to Sonia but it also gave a significant shot in the arm to Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers whose “Swing The Mood” rockets 31-3 (48,161) and looks set for No 1 next week should Bros fall short. The men behind the rabbit are DJ’s John and Andy Pickles (Father and Son) who took a mix provided to them by another DJ Les Hemstock and have essentially created an old skool medley featuring many 50s/60s hits using John Anderson’s Big Band’s “Glenn Miller Medley” as its backbone, itself a No 61 hit at Christmas 1985. Post TOTP this was the biggest seller in the UK on both Friday and Saturday indicated that Sonia’s days may be numbered. It also meant, funnily enough, that Sonia wasn't the biggest seller on any particular day of the week!

Number one on the 12” chart this week is the new hit by Chicago DJ Lil Louis (real name Marvin Burns) and is causing a minor furore for the suggestive nature of the female vocals on it, something not heard since Donna Summer caused controversy on “Love To Love You Baby” in the 70s. The vocalist is thought to be Shawn Christopher long time backing vocalist for Chaka Khan, and the fact that the song tops the 12” chart is no surprise as that’s the only format the song is currently available on, it debuts at No 10 (25,432) the highest new entry by a previously uncharted act since Bomb The Bass over a year ago.

London Boys enter the album charts at No 2 but fall 2-4 44,557) on the singles front though you'll note their sales are actually up from last week! Bobby Brown is also fading 4-5 (40,613), Chaka Khan & Rufus dip 6-7 (32,487), Bette Midler plummets 5-8 (30,362) and Soul II Soul slide 3-9 (26,452). Only Gloria Estefan can be happy with her progress as she climbs 9-6 (33,507).

Bros have failed to debut at No 1 but this week a new Kylie single will be vying to arrive right at the top and I’m assured that no cassette single sales will be disqualified on this one!


1- YOU’LL NEVER STOP ME LOVING YOU- Sonia  (60,520)
2- TOO MUCH- Bros (55,335)
3- SWING THE MOOD- Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers (48,161)
4- LONDON NIGHTS- London Boys  (44,557)
5- ON OUR OWN- Bobby Brown  (40,613)
6- DON’T WANNA LOSE YOU- Gloria Estefan (33,507)
7- AIN’T NOBODY (REMIX)- Chaka Khan & Rufus  (32,487)
8- WIND BENEATH MY WINGS- Bette Midler (30,362)
9- BACK TO LIFE (HOWEVER DO YOU WANT ME)- Soul II Soul Featuring Caron Wheeler (26,452)
10- FRENCH KISS- Lil Louis (25,432)

oh my double dreadful this week with Bros and Jive Bunny

amazed the label greenlighted the Bros single, so terrible and mediocre more than anything

I genuinely liked their first 3 singles and When Will I Be Famous is a great single

but Too Much is no good, the only redeeming factor is that Sonia beat him

and then there's Jive Bunny, oh my I hated them with a passion back then and still do

they really killed the rest of 1989 for me

I didn't recall the Lil Louis one

but just listening and sounds fantastic

also didn't know London Boys had had a top 2 album, or even released an album for that matter

how many copies did @dandy* buy? :)

31 minutes ago, Bjork said:

I didn't recall the Lil Louis one

but just listening and sounds fantastic

also didn't know London Boys had had a top 2 album, or even released an album for that matter

how many copies did @dandy* buy? :)

The album was called "Twelve Commandments of Dance"- it's actually quite good in a 1989 pop kinda way.