Never particularly liked Blue Pearl at the time but I appreciate it a lot more now, the synth line is pretty decent. Soup Dragons are also good…

…which leaves Hanky Panky. I imagine most will hate it but I really don’t mind it if I stick to the concept of the album/film it is from. I think she did a pretty good job with the soundtrack.

Perhaps my least favourite Madonna single ever. Truly awful.

I don't actually hate "Hanky Panky" but if it was never a single I wouldn't be upset.

Imo least fav Madonna single ever :/

That top 5 is diabolical besides Sacrifice

With the awful Turtles at @1, Mona and Hanky Panky

I did like the other entries, the Soup Dragons was an earworm

And also liked Technotronic and Blue Pearl

Edited Tuesday at 18:442 days by Bjork

4TH AUGUST





“Turtle Power” consolidates its place at No 1 this week as sales boost to 76,636, its winning margin is also bolstered as the kids propel it ever upwards, by way of trivia this is only the second No 1 to feature a reptile in its title after Culture Club's "Karma Chameleon". Madonna’s “Hanky Panky” becomes the new challenger as it climbs 4-2 (44,149), with her “Blond Ambition” tour now rolling onto the European mainland it must be fancied that its chances of improving are dampened, it is however her 5th No 2 hit though her first in 4 years.

So if not Madonna then who can topple Partners In Kryme? Look no further than the song that rushes 13-3 (41,718) for DNA. Their dance version of Suzanne Vega’s “Tom’s Diner”, a 1987 #58 single which actually dates (composition wise) back to 1982, beats Vega’s previous best was the No 21 single “Marlene On The Wall” . In truth the track was conceived and released originally to clubs without the permission of Vega, instead of suing Vega’s label bought the remix, added her name to the credit, and gave it a full release. A wise move by the looks of it as she could be heading all the way to the top!

Again it’s a slow chart otherwise with the new NKOTB single failing to trouble the big 10, Elton drops 2-4 (36,822) with its sales now totalling 574,940 copies making it the second best seller of the year though it may struggle to challenge Sinead O’Connor who is still just under 100,000 ahead of it. MC Hammer holds at No 5 (36,567) but is at least up on his sales, parent album “Please Hammer Don’t Hurt Em” also moves into the top 10 for the first time and further down Technotronic are also stuck in the groove at No 9 (28,186). Blue Pearl advance 8-6 (34,595) and the Soup Dragons drive 10-8 (32,436), meanwhile Craig McLachlan falls 3-7 (32,946) as his new single arrives straight into the top 40! And Roxette fall 7-10 (21,199)


1- TURTLE POWER- Partners In Kryme (76,636)
2- HANKY PANKY- Madonna (44,149)
3- TOM’S DINER- DNA Ft Suzanne Vega (41,718)
4- SACRIFICE/ HEALING HANDS- Elton John (36,822)
5- U CAN’T TOUCH THIS- MC Hammer (36,567)
6- NAKED IN THE RAIN- Blue Pearl (34,595)
7- MONA- Craig McLachlan & Check 1-2 (32,946)
8- I’M FREE- Soup Dragons (32,436)
9- ROCKIN OVER THE BEAT- Technotronic (28,186)
10- IT MUST HAVE BEEN LOVE- Roxette (21,199)

oh love love love Tom's Diner both the original and the remix. Such a cute storytelling song. I used to know the lyrics by heart but probably not anymore.

Love Blue Pearl, Soup Dragons and Tom's Diner! ❤️

Turtle Power and Hanky Panky, what a diabolical top 2 :D

Turtle Power isnt too bad for what it is, but I wouldnt choose to play it, nor Madonna's enormously irritating Hanky Panky. I saw that Blonde Ambition Tour and there were better tracks on I'm Breathless to release as singles, such as Sooner Or Later or Now I'm Following You. Dick Tracy wasnt very good, but at least it had style, where Hanky Panky is more Carry On Madge. Technotronic also starting to outstay their welcome at this point.

So the good stuff: Tom's Diner was much better than the original basic version, happy to see that give Suzanne a big hit. Blue Peal is a great track, as were the follow-ups - Youth was also fab in Brilliant -short-lived and they never got a hit, but they were great - the other members of the band were Jimmy Cauty of KLF, singer June Montana, and writer-producers SAW twiddling knobs before the Sound Of SAW was a thing. He's also half of The Fireman with little-known veteran musician James Paul McCartney when he's not feeling like touring or doing solo albums or promoting his old bands. His old 1960's rivals The Strolling Bones also feature this week with I'm Free getting covered, The Soup Dragons did a great job on it too.

Hanky Panky sold on innuendo!!

Got to number 2 , Sooner or Later could have been a number 1!

Tom’s Diner

11TH AUGUST



Partners In Kryme prove they have sticking power as “Turtle Power” continues to bounce off its competitors and claims a third week in command but it is starting to lose traction as sales retract to 51,918. Must be the school holidays! Madonna collapses 2-6 (28,169) leaving the way clear for DNA Featuring Suzanne Vega to lift 3-2 (43,809) though it's increase of just 5% suggests it may not have legs to make it any further

Don’t look for any challengers in the rest of the top 10 with MC Hammer climbing 5-3 (31,994), Blue Pearl continue northward 6-4 (31,433) and the Soup Dragons improve 8-5 (28,509) but all are nowhere near piercing the top 2 and all are cooling at retail.

Two of last week’s biggest new entries do enter the big 10, Prince and New Kids On The Block, First up Prince who returns with a new film “Graffiti Bridge” a kind of sequel to “Purple Rain”, that of course means a new album (out in 3 weeks) and a new single “Thieves In The Temple”. It contains a sample of “Batdance” the lead single from his last album which took him to No 2, he’ll be hoping for the same but “Thieves” looks to be struggling as it climbs 11-7 (23,171) to become his 9th top 10 single.

Now scoring a 6th top 10 single in just 9 months New Kids On The Block arrive 17-8 (21,794) with their Beatles pastiche “Tonight”. It name checks several of their previous hits in the verses and is being popularly touted as their best effort yet, it’s also their first release to be a top 10 hit here before their native US where it’s still climbing. The “Step by Step” album is still in the top 10 six weeks after release in the UK though it drops to anchor position on that chart, they remain the biggest selling singles act of the year though.

Elton drops 4-9 (21,743) as it moves to within a whisper of the 600,000 mark to become platinum, and Technotronic drop 9-10 (20,978) as the summer slump hits the charts badly.


1- TURTLE POWER- Partners In Kryme (51,918)
2- TOM’S DINER- DNA Ft Suzanne Vega (43,809)
3- U CAN’T TOUCH THIS- MC Hammer (31,994)
4- NAKED IN THE RAIN- Blue Pearl (31,433)
5- I’M FREE- Soup Dragons (28,509)
6- HANKY PANKY- Madonna (28,169)
7- THIEVES IN THE TEMPLE- Prince (23,171)
8- TONIGHT- New Kids On The Block (21,794)
9- SACRIFICE/ HEALING HANDS- Elton John (21,743)
10- ROCKIN OVER THE BEAT- Technotronic (20,978)

Tonight is by far the best NKOTB song!

And still pretty average

The Primce single Was not his bestest

For some reason I thought Toms diner had been closer in sales to #1

Edited 19 hours ago19 hr by Bjork

I really love Thieves in the Temple, it would easily make a best of Prince playlist for me. Love the extended version too.

Thieves In The Temple is fab, I saw that Graffiti Bridge tour, Mavis Staples on hand to do the odd solo track, They also annoyingly took my pocket cassette recorder off me, all I wanted was a souvenir of Wembley Arena! Had to queue for ages afterwards to get it back and join the huge traffic-jam out of London. Pah! Tonight is the best NKOTB record, and reminds me of late 60's Bee Gees in their Beatles/Prog phase but if they had actually done an upbeat track like Jive Talking in that era. Or maybe not :)

18TH AUGUST




Suffering a 10% sales hit Partners In Kryme keep the chart crown for a fourth week with 46,852 copies sold last week (the lowest winning tally in 22 weeks), it takes “Turtle Power”’s total sales to 268,175, not overly impressive for a month long chart topper but then it’s not been a stellar year for sales all around. The chances of “Tom’s Diner” being the next chart topper are also rather slim it retains the runner up spot and pushed Partners In Kryme all the way registering 45,237 buyers but again it can only increase sales by 5% and more will be needed given the song below it.

Instead eyes are now turned to the song which shoots 11-3 (35,326) for new outfit Bombalurina who essentially compose TV personality Timmy Mallet and a couple of backing singers. The name of the group is taken from a character in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical “Cats”, Webber approached producer Nigel Wright to make the version and the rather unique take on the Brian Hyland classic “Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” was born, the song originally made No 8 thirty years ago so has already done better here! The last time we had a Hyland song covered it took Jason Donovan all the way to No 1 just last year- could this repeat that record? The “Wacaday” and “Wide Awake Club” presenter may be too divisive a character but it has certainly been the summer for Kids evidencing their purchasing power.

A No 48 hit last year when first released Roxette have decided to give “Listen To Your Heart” another chance in light of the massive success of “It Must Have Been Love” and it looks to have paid off. It’s been teamed with “Dangerous” as an AA side here in the UK, the track never had a UK release but did do phenomenally well in the US where the group have become a real phenomenon, “Dangerous” spent a fortnight a No 2 there but “Listen To Your Heart” went all the way to No 1 last November. Here the two tracks shoot 21-9 (20,111) to become the group’s third top 10 hit here.

New Kids On The Block are the only other climbers in the top 10 as they crawl 8-6 (31,416) but Blue Pearl hold at No 4 (32,963) with a minimal sales bump. MC Hammer drops 3-5 (31,841), Soup Dragons reverse 5-7 (27,540) as their album also arrives at the same position, Madonna goes to the naughty step 6-8 (21,692) and Prince heads south 7-10 (19,720). Next week sees the first George Michael single for 2 years- expect a high new entry!


1- TURTLE POWER- Partners In Kryme (46,852)
2- TOM’S DINER- DNA Ft Suzanne Vega (45,237)
3- ITSY BITSY TEENY WEENY YELLOW POLKA DOT BIKINI- Bombalurina (35,326)
4- NAKED IN THE RAIN- Blue Pearl (32,963)
5- U CAN’T TOUCH THIS- MC Hammer (31,841)
6- TONIGHT- New Kids On The Block (31,416)
7- I’M FREE- Soup Dragons (27,540)
8- HANKY PANKY- Madonna (21,692)
9- LISTEN TO YOUR HEART/ DANGEROUS- Roxette (20,111)
10- THIEVES IN THE TEMPLE- Prince (19,720)

ouch nooo Bombalurina, like if charts weren't bad enough with Turtle Power being #1 for 4 weeks

love both Roxette songs, especially Listen to your heart but Dangerous is great too