Mindy McCready - Oh Romeo (# 41 in UK)

I didn’t realise Boyzone’s sales held up extremely well.

11 hours ago, T Boy said:

The Corrs also managing to shift over 100k and not even get top 2! I never realised What Can I Do sold so much in week 1!

'What Can I Do' is interesting because the original unremixed version has an acappella start - very Caravan of Love or Flying Pickets reminscent!

Edited October 25Oct 25 by TheSnake

I had bought "Talk On Corners" over the summer of 1998 and was hammering it by this point, but i was annoyed that the single versions of the tracks weren't on the album (well "Dreams" and "What Can I do" at least) and I refused to buy the second version of the album when it got released later in the year.

I remember it was all over a Lloyds TSB advert with different words too albeit maybe this was a year later. They really were everywhere.

I don't really like the original album version of the track and the 'do do do' bit, Tin Tin Out did a great job on it adding a lush string arrangement and making the backing track really beautiful.

I don't blame them for doing the single remixes because they did turn the songs into hits. But I can see why it would be annoying to somebody buying the original album that none of the album versions were the hits. I was given the original first release (even without Dreams on it) and for some time it was the only studio album I owned, so I hammered it, and then I bought myself the re-release as I by and large prefer the remixes. The only one that missed the mark for me was the version of I Never Loved You Anyway on the re-release.

Good for What Can I Do to get over 100k anyway, was that their higest weekly sale? Or was that Runaway when it was No.2? I can't remember how well that sold, just that it was miles behind Britney (of all the weeks to release...).

To The Moon and Back is Savage Garden's best single for me, absolutely wonderful track and cool that it was their highest peaker. The outro on the album version is so gorgeous, there were some really great and well produced songs in the chart around this time.

Bad luck for Stardust, I used to love the chart countdown video too but guess it was released too late to help the single.

Some more good stuff coming from Europe too - Sweetbox from Germany, with a lovely track, and the delightfully quirky Alda - I love that she got a top ten.

I'd have preferred another original Cleopatra track at this point as the first two were strong and they didn't really need a cover now, plus I Want You Back is such a famous and ubiquitous song. On the flip side, I have always enjoyed Simply Red's take on The Air That I Breathe, very soulful and I didn't realise there was another version on the album - just listened to it and not sure the Jack and Diane sample works for me, but nice to try and switch it up.

3 minutes ago, gooddelta said:

I don't really like the original album version of the track and the 'do do do' bit, Tin Tin Out did a great job on it adding a lush string arrangement and making the backing track really beautiful.

I don't blame them for doing the single remixes because they did turn the songs into hits. But I can see why it would be annoying to somebody buying the original album that none of the album versions were the hits. I was given the original first release (even without Dreams on it) and for some time it was the only studio album I owned, so I hammered it, and then I bought myself the re-release as I by and large prefer the remixes. The only one that missed the mark for me was the version of I Never Loved You Anyway on the re-release.

Good for What Can I Do to get over 100k anyway, was that their higest weekly sale? Or was that Runaway when it was No.2? I can't remember how well that sold, just that it was miles behind Britney (of all the weeks to release...).

To The Moon and Back is Savage Garden's best single for me, absolutely wonderful track and cool that it was their highest peaker. The outro on the album version is so gorgeous, there were some really great and well produced songs in the chart around this time.

Bad luck for Stardust, I used to love the chart countdown video too but guess it was released too late to help the single.

Some more good stuff coming from Europe too - Sweetbox from Germany, with a lovely track, and the delightfully quirky Alda - I love that she got a top ten.

I'd have preferred another original Cleopatra track at this point as the first two were strong and they didn't really need a cover now, plus I Want You Back is such a famous and ubiquitous song. On the flip side, I have always enjoyed Simply Red's take on The Air That I Breathe, very soulful and I didn't realise there was another version on the album - just listened to it and not sure the Jack and Diane sample works for me, but nice to try and switch it up.

Yes, that was my point- I prefered the remix versions too! 😁

Re: Moon and Back- I agree the extended version with the orchestral outro is just sublime

I remember they sometimes played the alternative take of that simply Red cover on the chart rundown and it always confused me- I didn't realise what they had done until years later. I suppose some kudos for "re-imagining" it- even if they didn't have the courage just to go with the alternative version only.

14 minutes ago, gooddelta said:

Some more good stuff coming from Europe too - Sweetbox from Germany, with a lovely track

Which must be the inspiration for N-Dubz - We Dance On which I realise now!

Amazing sales for The Corrs. Didn’t realise What Can I Do did so well in its first week. Although I do really like it I never thought it did as well as it did.

On the Corrs subject: I ended up buying both versions of Talk On Corners. I do like the originals as they fit well with the vibe of the whole album, but the remixes are fab and it was good to have them as an alternative.

The first Corrs I bought was the Only When I Sleep single in 1997, my friend got me into it at the time.

I have Talk on Corners, Forgiven not Forgotten and the Greatest Hits on vinyl, so I am still a fan.

For the charts, love Stardust obviously. Never realised there was no video at the time!

Also really like To The Moon and Back, great follow up.

Sweetbox was a huge blast from the past, totally forgot it!

On 25/10/2025 at 22:54, gooddelta said:

I remember it was all over a Lloyds TSB advert with different words too albeit maybe this was a year later. They really were everywhere.

How unusual - its more subtle though than what rival Halifax went on to do in the early 00s

This was the exact time I started secondary school, Sweetbox always gives me huge nostalgic feelings of hearing it on the school bus radio practically every day.

Ditto, I remember I started secondary school on the week that Steps charted with One For Sorrow, so that must be next week.

Viva Forever and Stardust both remind me of that weird (very rainy) summer holiday between primary and secondary school.

5TH SEPTEMBER




All change in the charts this week. Whether ITV’s new rival to TOTP “CD:UK” makes a dent in the power of the former or not (it opened with significantly higher viewer figures than TOTP) it was the first show to unveil the new chart No 1 on its Saturday run down and that of course falls to the Manic Street Preachers. Setting a new record for the number of hits before a chart topper in the 90s this is the 19th single from the Welsh boys but a first No 1, it heralds a fifth album from them “This Is My Truth, Tell Me Yours” and lyrically tackles the subject of the Spanish Civil War with the title borrowed from a slogan of the time “If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next”. This is the group’s 6th top 10 single and the first No 1 by a Welsh act since Shakin Stevens 13 years ago and is now the longest titled chart topper ever if you exclude parenthesised singles.

The single stormed into a commanding lead with a mighty 146,000 copes being sold. It’s also the 799th chart topper which makes next week’s chart all the more exciting!

Toward the end of the week though the Manics started to falter and were almost caught at the death by Steps. The five piece seem to be getting bigger and bigger with every release, first single “5,6,7,8” only made #14 with follow up “Last Thing On My Mind” hitting #6, both have sold in excess of 300,000 copies. Third hit “One For Sorrow” put in a best yet weekly tally for the group of 140,000 to run a close No 2 this week, many have remarked on the similarity between the song and ABBA’s “The Winner Takes It All” which is intentional according to Pete Waterman who says he intends to create an “ABBA on Speed” pop group. The group’s debut album will go head to head with the Manics in three weeks for round two but for now both groups will be happy to score their biggest hits yet.

In the post Spice Girls climate it seems we get a new girl group every month and the latest ones are the trio called Honeyz. Their first single “Finally Found” hits the spot at No 5 (66,000) and positions the girls as a kind of UK version of En Vogue, or a grown up Cleopatra.

Faithless have album No 2 in the bag and launch the era with the single “God Is A DJ” which becomes their 4th top 10 hit. The song is new at No 6 (54,000) which means that only “Insomnia” as ever sent them higher in chart terms, expect the album to be magical.

“Ray Of Light” dips 10-11 this week but with 615,000 sold so far it is a definite return to chart form for Madonna and this week gives her a third top 10 single from it in “Drowned World (Substitute For Love)” The song nips in at No 10 (34,000) just becoming her 42nd Top 10 single from 46 releases, it comes with a highly controversial promo which some critics have claimed is based a bit too closely on the circumstances of Diana’s death last year but then a bit of controversy has never damaged Madonna’s career.

It’s another great week for Boyzone! “No Matter What” is deposed at the top but in slipping 1-3 it sold another healthy 129,000 copies bringing its four week total to 730,000 with only “Father & Son” ahead of it in their personal best sellers list. The track has been added to the “Where We Belong” album and guess what? It shoots 21-1 this week.

Stardust fall 2-4 (78,000) and three singles all fall 4 places, The Corrs 3-7 (52,000) Savage Garden 4-8 (49,000) and Sweetbox 5-9 (38,000).

All eyes on next week then for the 800th chart topper! With releases by Jennifer Paige, All Saints and Five, there are more than enough to choose from!


1- IF YOU TOLERATE THIS YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE NEXT- Manic Street Preachers (146,000)
2- ONE FOR SORROW- Steps (140,000)
3- NO MATTER WHAT- Boyzone (129,000)
4- MUSIC SOUNDS BETTER WITH YOU- Stardust (78,000)
5- FINALLY FOUND- Honeyz (66,000)
6- GOD IS A DJ- Faithless (54,000)
7- WHAT CAN I DO- The Corrs (52,000)
8- TO THE MOON AND BACK- Savage Garden (49,000)
9- EVERYTHING’S GONNA BE ALRIGHT- Sweetbox (38,000)
10- DROWNED WORLD (SUBSTITUTE FOR LOVE)- Madonna (34,000)

12TH SEPTEMBER




Girl power triumphs over boy band this week with All Saints powering to a third No 1 single on the trot. The girls single ”Bootie Call” sold a healthy 116,594 to arrive at the top and it’s a best yet weekly sale for the foursome to help celebrate the UK’s 800th chart topper. It’s taken just 4 years and 8 months since the 700th, the shortest period between the 100th chart toppers milestone ever. The All Saints album is also up at No 17 but has already sold 1.1 million copies to date.

“Bootie Call” was available widely for £1.99 for each CD version which compared with the far heftier £3.99 for the new Five single “Everybody Get Up” and reaps the rewards with the boys entering at No 2 (89,000) though they generated more profit for the label at least. It marks the continued advance of the most recent boyband who have now peaked at No’s 10,4,3 and 2 so that chart topper must come next right? The song samples “I Love Rock N Roll” by the Arrows but made famous of course by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts in 1982.

Debut single and a current top 3 US hit “Crush” has created a pop career for American singer Jennifer Paige. Thought by many to be an instant No 1 here it has disappointed slightly by entering at No 4 (78,000) despite an impressive sale but was overtaken by Boyzone as the week progressed.

Boyzone themselves remain No 1 on the album charts and sold a still mighty 84,000 copies of “No Matter What” last week to become only the third single by an Irish act to top the 800,000 mark following their own “Father And Son” and B”Witched’s “C’est La Vie”.

Now four years into her career Sheryl Crow is slowly accruing the top 10 singles with new single “My Favourite Mistake” becoming just her 4th by entering at No 9 (47,000). Lyrically about a philandering partner, the subject of the track has caused much speculation with many saying that it is about the singer’s relationship with Eric Clapton.

Taking substantial falls this week are last week’s top two, Manic Street Preachers hurtle 1-5 (68,000) and Steps mirror it falling 2-6 (64,000), also heading the wrong way are the Honeyz 5-7 (56,000), Stardust 4-8 (54,000) and Savage Garden 8-10 (41,000). For the latter their album lifts 7-3 to give them a new peak.

1- BOOTIE CALL- All Saints (116,594)
2- EVERYBODY GET UP- Five (89,000)
3- NO MATTER WHAT- Boyzone (84,000)
4- CRUSH- Jennifer Paige (78,000)
5- IF YOU TOLERATE THIS YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE NEXT- Manic Street Preachers (68,000)
6- ONE FOR SORROW- Steps (64,000)
7- FINALLY FOUND- Honeyz (56,000)
8- MUSIC SOUNDS BETTER WITH YOU- Stardust (54,000)
9- MY FAVOURITE MISTAKE- Sheryl Crow (47,000)
10- TO THE MOON AND BACK- Savage Garden (41,000)

'If You Tolerate This' is certainly hard hitting and to be respected. It has been used/misused depending on your view as a soundtrack for various political protests since.

'God Is A DJ' is very good, and 'One For Sorrow' musically is joyous ABBA revival (but the lyrics arent so joyous)! 'Everybody Get Up' has some hard hitting production, didn't realise it sampled 'I Love Rock And Roll' until now!

Edited October 31Oct 31 by TheSnake

Well this post has told me all I needed to jog my memory about why I started following the charts religiously in this exact week - the first week of September 1998.

I assumed it was because I started secondary school and was somehow related to that, but no, of course, it was because of CD:UK starting. Because I was a loyal viewer of SM:TV so must have left it running to watch CD:UK and got addicted that way. I remember I used to wait to go out with my friends in the afternoon until 12.30, because I wanted to watch CD:UK first every Saturday. I will comment more after watching the two episodes, but I so wish One For Sorrow had been held back a week, bah!

Drowned World is an incredible piece of artistry. William Orbit's trademark restraint is evident throughout, with one of Madonna's best lyrics. One of the best choices for opening tracks I've witnessed

Huge love for the Manics (best number one of the year), Madonna’s Drowned World, Jennifer Paige - Crush and a One For Sorrow - never knew how close to number 1 that was

In your summary of the 5th September, you say this about the Manics

"and is now the longest titled chart topper ever if you exclude parenthesised singles".

It actually equals the longest number 1 song title without brackets set by Bombalurina.

If you include brackets, its the joint 3rd longest number 1 title:

45 - San Francisco ( Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair ) - Scott McKenzie ( 1967 )

43 - I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing ( In Perfect Harmony ) - New Seekers ( Jan 1972 )

39 - Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini - Bambalurina ( 1990 )

39 - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next - Manic Street Preachers ( 1998 )

37 - Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs - Brian and Michael ( 1978 )

37 - When The Going Gets Tough The Tough Get Going - Billy Ocean ( 1986 )

36 - ( There's ) Always Something There To Remind Me - Sandie Shaw ( 1964 )

36 - There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart ) - Eurythmics ( 1985 )

35 - What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For - Emile Ford and the Checkmates ( 1959 )

I had no idea that CD:UK opened to higher figures than TOTP so that was interesting to read! Full episodes of that have been popping up on YouTube so I've been belatedly getting into it as well as the TOTP repeats.

It took the Manics a while to achieve a chart topper but what a song to do it with now they got there and with great sales to boot those lyrics are powerful and chilling; the sentiment feels sadly evergreen when applied to other contexts today even if it was written with a specific conflict in mind.

'God Is A DJ' is fabulous too <3 the arrangement sounded a bit unfamiliar to me on TOTP until that timeless synth/piano loop began.

'Drowned World'/'Substitute For Love' is a stunner from one of my favourite records of the '90s. Glad Madonna got another top 10 out of it.

I'm a fan of All Saints in general but 'Bootie Call' is a non-#1 oops. However, elsewhere in that top 10, 'Crush' has turned into a bit of a favourite over time <3