25TH AUGUST





Silly season is upon us once more as Bombalurina effortlessly rise 3-1 with the cover of “Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini”, an outcome that was never in doubt from the off as it moved 52,190 copies in the last week to overpower the already waning “Turtle Power” which recovered in time to only fall 1-3 (36,023) a few thousand copies ahead of New Kids On The Block who continue to creep up the charts with “Tonight”. That song appears to be appealing beyond their normal audience and is the first New Kids On The Block single to climb four weeks on the trot. In amongst all that “Tom’s Diner” holds at No 2 (37,332) but its chances of topping the charts are now over.  The Bombalurina track is incidentally the second longest chart topper ever in terms of words, second only to Scott McKenzie's "San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair").

Onto the big news of the week and although it faded slightly as the week progressed George Michael’s 10th solo single “Praying For Time” debuts at No 8 (23,749), it’s been newsworthy on the basis that it comes without a promo video and the single sleeve is devoid of anything other than his name and the title. Michael seems to be intent on letting the music speak this time around as he focuses less on the image, which of course explains the new album title “Listen Without Prejudice Volume 1” as he tries to shake the teen scream tag for once and all. Much has been made of the social commentary in the record so we’ll see if that can hamper sales in the next few weeks.

Betty Boo is also back with a second solo top 10 single (third in total) with “Where Are You Baby” which samples both “Really Saying Something” and also the Monkeys track “Mary Mary”. Boo (real name Alison Clarkson) is getting ready for the release of her first album “Boomania” in 4 weeks and is quickly becoming one of the biggest breakthrough acts of 1990 with her new single rising 17-9 (23,035).

Roxette continue to impress 9-6 (26,095) and now rest behind the falling Blue Pearl who slide 4-5 (29,563), MC Hammer also fades 5-7 (25,755) and The Soup Dragons fall 7-10 (22,627) to round off proceedings.


1- ITSY BITSY TEENY WEENY YELLOW POLKA DOT BIKINI- Bombalurina (52,190)
2- TOM’S DINER- DNA Ft Suzanne Vega (37,332)
3- TURTLE POWER- Partners In Kryme (36,023)
4- TONIGHT- New Kids On The Block (32,538)
5- NAKED IN THE RAIN- Blue Pearl (29,563)
6- LISTEN TO YOUR HEART/ DANGEROUS- Roxette (26,095)
7- U CAN’T TOUCH THIS- MC Hammer (25,755)
8- PRAYING FOR TIME- George Michael (23,749)
9- WHERE ARE YOU BABY?- Betty Boo (23,035)
10- I’M FREE- Soup Dragons (22,627)

Terrible #1

but love the 2 newbies

Where are you baby is just all kinds of amazing and Betty Boo at her very best, song of the year candidate!

I recall being disappointed with George Michael's comeback, it's not bad but he did better ballads, wish Freedom had been the lead

I don't really rate "Freedom 90" to be honest (probably through overplay), "Waiting For That Day" is my preferred single from the album, but I bought "Praying for Time" on both 7" and 12"- love it still.

Where Are You Baby <3

I bought that one, loved the fun on the cover too

Bombalurina just no. Loved the Brian Hyland original though, one of my first ever music loves as teeny tot. Betty Boo and sampling Monkees and Bananarama what's not to love! Roxette, I was on my Florida hols for Dangerous being big so that was always a fave Roxette track and happy to see it get a UK release on the ballad back, that got most of the airplay, as the better track and a chart-topper together for me. But George Michael's Praying For Time is fabulous, what a record, and what an album. I still think he was nuts not doing a video proper for most of the singles....

Ahh yeah!!

Actually a big no to Bombalurina. 14 year old me bought it though :(

1ST SEPTEMBER

Bombalurina remain the top act this week and also continue to attract more buyers as sales swell to 67,439 but with schools back in a fortnight their days may be numbered. On the other hand they may not last even that long with the activity right beneath them.

Deacon Blue’s previous best came in 1988 when “Real Gone Kid” made No 8 but in just a fortnight they’ve re-written that with the “Four Bacharach & David Songs EP” charging 11-2 (36,567). It does just what it says in the title with the band covering four of the best from the writers, namely “I’ll Never Fall In Love”. “Message To Michael” “The Look Of Love” and “Are You There” and has been done as a bit of a vanity project by the band who just recorded them because they love them. They’ve had a busy summer appearing at Glastonbury and Roskilde festivals and have an album of b-sides, rarities, and extra’s called “Ooh Las Vegas” out in a three weeks though it won’t contain this EP. It’s their cover of “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again” which is getting the airplay and it was of course a UK No 1 single back in 1969 for Bobbie Gentry though of course, like most Bacharach & David classics, it was first recorded by Dionne Warwick.

Is The Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers phenomenon over? It seems that the law of diminishing returns is kicking in after their first 3 releases topped the charts before “That Sounds Good To Me” faltered at No 4 and now new single “Can Can You Party” seems to be struggling as it moves 14-8 (25,024) in its second week on the survey. The “Can Can” forms the backbone this time around with “Grease”, Beach Boys and Jackie Wilson getting an overall in the track. A second album is still pencilled in for Christmas so be warned.

First recorded by The Rays in 1957, “Silhouettes” is the new Cliff Richard single, his 58th top 10 single, and in the process enables Richard to become the first act to score top 10 singles in each of the last 5 decades. The song wasn’t a hit in the UK until 1965 when Herman’s Hermits took it to No 3, here Cliff’s version moves 17-10 (23,902) and is a live version recorded at Wembley last summer and will be followed by a live album in time for Christmas. Cliff’s last 3 singles all went top 20 without troubling the upper half but he seems back on track now.

New Kids On The Block may be the surprise hit of the year as it is still climbing for a 5th week on the trot 4-3 (32,368) but it is now losing sales so further progression may be limited. More likely would be a Betty Boo challenge, she powers 9-4 (29,716) flying past insiders bet on the next No 1 from George Michael who can only rise 8-6 (26,027). Fallers this week include DNA featuring Suzanne Vega 2-5 (27,098), Roxette 6-7 (25,330) and Blue Pearl 5-9 (24,480).


1- ITSY BITSY TEENY WEENY YELLOW POLKA DOT BIKINI- Bombalurina (67,439)
2- FOUR BACHARACH & DAVID SONGS EP- Deacon Blue (36,567)
3- TONIGHT- New Kids On The Block (32,368)
4- WHERE ARE YOU BABY- Betty Boo (29,716)
5- TOM’S DINER- DNA Ft Suzanne Vega (27,098)
6- PRAYING FOR TIME- George Michael (26,027)
7- LISTEN TO YOUR HEART/ DANGEROUS- Roxette (25,330)
8- CAN CAN YOU PARTY- Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers (25,024)
9- NAKED IN THE RAIN- Blue Pearl (24,480)
10- SILHOUETTES- Cliff Richard (23,902)

Jive Bunny still going?!

8TH SEPTEMBER

The expected arrival of Deacon Blue at No 1 is delayed, at least, by the continued domination of Bombalurina who grab a third week as the nation’s favourite song. Its sales are in decline down at 54,825 bringing its total to 243,406 so whilst its clearly dominated the field, the market in general has been in a slump this last month. Deacon Blue hold at No 2 but sold just 41,378 to do so, they cut the deficit by 17k but they had Betty Boo breathing down their necks, she climbs 4-3 (33,167) as she crept closer to the Scots band the longer the week went on, both acts release albums in a fortnight.

An act that released their album last week (it debuts at No 28 today) are Deee-Lite whose “Groove Is In The Heart/ What Is Love” rises 13-4 (32,096) and also was a strong seller as the week progressed. The New York trio have been a hit on the dance scene but now branch out into the mainstraim with their current single which features vocals by Bootsy Collins and also Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest who’s own “Bonita Applebum” drops off the chart after peaking at No 47. "Groove Is In The Heart" is built around an extensive sample of Herbie Hancock’s “Bring Down The Birds” combined with Vernon Burch’s “Get Up”- how very 1990. It's the track that is getting all the airplay and promotion though it is officially a double A-Side.

A US No 1 17 years ago, Steve Miller band’s “The Joker” failed to make our charts at the time, but it’s making up for it now, and all it needed was the backing of a Levi Advert. Yes those ad boys have created another hit for an oldie, Steve Miller’s only other foray into the top 10 came in 1982 when “Abracadabra” was held off by Irene Cara’s “Fame” and Captain Sensible’s “Happy Talk”, now “The Joker” shoots 14-6 (28,934).

Cast your mind back 2 years to the Timelords “Doctorin’ The Tardis” who you may recall topped the charts for a week, well the Timelords didn’t disappear they just morphed into the KLF who themselves released a few instrumental 12” singles throughout 1988 and 1989 with the most notable single being “Kylie Said To Jason” which got some media attention given its title. One of those 12” instrumentals has been re-recorded with new vocals and now “What Time Is Love” becomes their first charting hit until the moniker, it’s subtitled “Live At Trancentral” to reflect the alternative version they label as Stadium House and see the song fly 11-7 (27,000). Can they pull off the same trick again? Interestingly KLF member Cauty was once in a group called Brilliant whose biggest hit was “It’s A Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World” (No 58, 1985) with Youth who is of course now in Blue Pearl who re-climb 9-8 (27,421) despite a small sales decrease to put the former band mates side by side in the charts. Incidentally they were produced by S/A/W which links to our next record.

Speaking Of Jason Donovan his chart career seemed in terminal decline with the last few singles peaking at No’s 2, 8, and 18 but they were all original compositions, it seems a cover was all he needed and here he is with his version of the No 5 1963 hit “Rhythm Of The Rain” for the Cascades. It’s a fourth release from his second album “Between The Lines” which itself returns to the top 30 in response having sold over 200,000 copies, well down on the million selling “Ten Good Reasons”. It’s also a return to the top 10 for producers Stock, Aitken & Waterman who had been absent from the big 10 for 12 weeks, their longest spell since early 1987.

New Kids On The Block have finally peaked as “Tonight” reverses 3-5 (31,263) whilst it climbs to No 7 in the US, George Michael slips 6-10 (18,904) as his attention turns to his album which is out now with a South Bank Show special airing last weekend to help the push.

Interestingly the rate of top 10 singles is slowing down- By the second week of September in years past the number of top 10 singles were:

1989- 103 
1988- 110
1987- 108
1986- 109
1985- 89
1990 hits the 100 mark this week, the lowest, as you can see, in 5 years.

1- ITSY BITSY TEENY WEENY YELLOW POLKA DOT BIKINI- Bombalurina (54,825)
2- FOUR BACHARACH & DAVID SONGS EP- Deacon Blue (41,378)
3- WHERE ARE YOU BABY?- Betty Boo (33,167)
4- GROOVE IS IN THE HEART/ WHAT IS LOVE?- Deee-Lite (32,096)
5- TONIGHT- New Kids On The Block (31,263)
6- THE JOKER- Steve Miller Band (28,934)
7- WHAT TIME IS LOVE- The KLF (27,421)
8- NAKED IN THE RAIN- Blue Pearl (19,924)
9- RHYTHM OF THE RAIN- Jason Donovan (19,703)
10- PRAYING FOR TIME- George Michael (18,904)

Groove Is In The Heart, classic chart-topper for me, deelightful retro but also fresh as a daisy! KLF's giant track oddly I didnt like as much as Kylie Said To Jason, possibly too much of a jolt from that, but later revamps would change my mind. The Joker nearly did it too as a fave oldie - as I charted it in early 1974 I felt somewhat justified that it had finally got to be a hit, "told you so" I said to myself as I dug out my copy to play😄

Jive Bunny was on the pub playlist (an earlier one though) last week on holiday, and I rather enjoyed it actually, though it might have been the bacardi and coke. 😇as for the other covers, Bobbie Gentry topped my charts and was the 4th single I ever bought, so there was no way Deacon Blue were going to compete with the great still-missing Bobbie - not seen or been heard of since 1982 - but it was pleasant enough, cant go wrong with Bacharach.

Jason's was also a fairly pleasant cover of a great 60's record/song, Cliff ditto, though again it was the 60's hit for Herman's Hermits that I knew and loved.

As a kid I didnt like much Deee Lite or KLF, classics now, but not very kid friendly I guess. i eemember i really liked the Joker one baxk then, not so much nowadays

I also really liked the Deacon blue cover but the band has better originals

Same for Jason

Glad the JIve Bunny bubble bursted ;)

Groove Is In The Heart - what a tune!!

Meh at the Jason Donovan - what a snooze fest.

I sense an interesting week ahead...

Love the Blue Pearl and KLF dramatic style of dance there!

'Groove Is In The Heart' is catchy, very disco/retro funk influenced.

15TH SEPTEMBER

It was one of the closest races to the No 1 position in chart history with just 8 copies separating the top 2. To go into slightly more detail it’s all about panel sales rounding, ‘The Joker’ and ‘Groove is In The Heart’ both had published panel sales of 2595, but these are “rounded” figures. The Gallup computer actually adjudged that ‘The Joker’ sold 44,118 copies and that ‘Groove is In The Heart’ sold 44,110 copies, which equate to panel sales of 2595.2 and 2594.7 respectively. Current chart rules dictate that in the event of the tie on rounded figures then the track showing the greatest increase in sales week on week would be the higher placed so in either case The Steve Miller Band would be No 1. In making the top spot it becomes the fourth longest gap between original release and topping the charts with only Ben E King, Jackie Wilson and The Hollies having had longer waits. It also creates a new record for the years taken by a song to top the US and UK charts beating the 4 years it took UB40 to hit No 1 with “Red Red Wine”.

Borrowing Elvis Lyrics to “All Shook Up” and putting a 90s dance beat to it may not sound like commercial gold but that’s what Adamski has done on the follow up to “Killer”. “The Space Jungle” debuted at No 23 last week but now hurtles to No 7 (23,137), his debut album is due next month as the album schedule starts to hot up for the Christmas chart.

A recent 4 week chart topper in the US, “Vision Of Love” makes a 14-9 (19,703) move here to grant the newest singing sensation a great UK start. Carey got her start by handing a tape to Tommy Mottola head of CBS who was so impressed he signed her up and got Narada Michael Walden in to produce “Vision Of Love” which certainly demonstrates her great lungs! Debut self titled album also debuts this week at No 6 for those interested, Whitney must be considered her most immediate rival in terms of singing ability, she’s also due to return before Christmas so we’ll see who comes out on top.

Bombalurina rallied slightly after TOTP but not enough to retake the top spot from the top 2 who were out in front from the off and so ended up falling 1-3 (40,596) and similarly Deacon Blue fall 2-4 (38,029) and are ironically far closer to No 1 saleswise than they were when No 2, further down Betty Boo dips 3-6 (26,860), New Kids On The Block slide 5-8 (21,556) and Jason Donovan finds the going tough 9-10 (18,156). The KLF buck the trend however climbing 7-5 (27,948) and may trouble the top 3 next week!


1- THE JOKER- Steve Miller Band (44,118)
2- GROOVE IS IN THE HEART/ WHAT IS LOVE- Deee-Lite (44,110)
3- ITSY BITSY TEENY WEENY YELLOW POLKA DOT BIKINI- Bombalurina (40,596)
4- FOUR BACHARACH AND DAVID SONGS EP- Deacon Blue (38,029)
5- WHAT TIME IS LOVE- The KLF (27,948)
6- WHERE ARE YOU BABY- Betty Boo (26,860)
7- THE SPACE JUNGLE- Adamski (23,137)
8- TONIGHT- New Kids On The Block (21,556)
9- VISION OF LOVE- Mariah Carey (19,703)
10- RHYTHM OF THE RAIN- Jason Donovan (18,156)

oh my that close race at the top!

always loved Vision of Love, great debut single. never got why the reception in the UK for Mariah was so lukewarm, compared to the US at least.

Betty Boo and Mariah are the only 2 I bought out of that top 10.

I also remember being super disappointed with the Adamski one. That was no Killer.

14 hours ago, Bjork said:

oh my that close race at the top!

always loved Vision of Love, great debut single. never got why the reception in the UK for Mariah was so lukewarm, compared to the US at least.

Betty Boo and Mariah are the only 2 I bought out of that top 10.

I also remember being super disappointed with the Adamski one. That was no Killer.

I bought "Vision Of Love" too- my only Mariah purchase until much later in the decade.

Adamski- it seemed that after "Killer" he was genuinely stumped on how to have a follow up- like it derailed him and he ended up with an Elvis rehash. Just odd, though the backing track is actually quite good.

22ND SEPTEMBER

After last week’s controversy saw Deee-lite’s record company go public about the debate over “rounded sales” it should be noted that record companies are only provided with the rounded up panel sales and not the broken down figures as this is, usually, unnecessary, but this week there is no doubt that Steve Miller Band’s “The Joker” is No 1 by a 26% margin- 60,911 to 48,263 though both show sales increases thanks to the publicity.

Indeed running in second place in initial sales flashes the new Iron Maiden single “Holy Smoke” becomes their 5th straight top 10 single and highest debuting of their long career, it also immediately equals their highest position they achieved with “Can I Play With Madness” two years ago. Bruce Dickinson has of course been releasing his solo work “Tattooed Millionaire” this year as the group was on hiatus last year, but he’s rejoined the band now as the group seem to have utilised the trick of motivating their fans to buy their singles in the first week, 37,995 of them in fact, we’ll see if they have anything left in the tank next week.

Just behind them is former Lone Justice singer Maria McKee, you may remember the name as the writer of Feargul Sharkey’s No 1 “A Good Heart”, she also appeared in the promo for Robbie Robertson’s top 20 single “Somewhere Down The Crazy River” by way of trivia. She now has a top 5 single in her own name with “Show Me Heaven” which is taken from the new Tom Cruise film “Days Of Thunder”, it shoots 26-4 (26,554) this week to provide the real challenge for Steve Miller Band. It’s produced by Peter Asher of Peter & Gordon fame and brother of Jane Asher, and was co-written by McKee herself.

Deacon Blue drop 4-5 (26,146) as their album debuts at No 3, just below are a falling KLF 5-6 (24,854). Former chart toppers Bombalurina dip 3-7 (23,630), and it’s all over for Adamski 7-8 (21,539) and Mariah Carey who reverses 9-10 (21,148) though she is still improving in sales.




Taking their name from Cantril Farm in Liverpool where they grew up, The Farm are also new comers to the top 10 this week with “Groovy Train”. Up until now their greatest claim to fame was having a single “Hearts & Minds” be produced by Suggs and opening for the Housemartins in 1987, but their time has come after they signed with a major label this year producing the No 58 track “Stepping Stone” a cover of the Monkees track which was never a hit in this country until the Sex Pistols covered it in 1980. “Groovy Train” is once more produced by Suggs and comes with a promo featuring actor Bill Dean better known as Harry Cross in Brookside, it all helps the song move 11-9 (21,199).

1- THE JOKER- Steve Miller Band (60,911)
2- GROOVE IS IN THE HEART/ WHAT IS LOVE- Dee-Lite (48,263)
3- HOLY SMOKE- Iron Maiden (37,995)
4- SHOW ME HEAVEN- Maria McKee (26,554)
5- FOUR BACHARACH AND DAVID SONGS EP- Deacon Blue (26,146)
6- WHAT TIME IS LOVE- The KLF (24,854)
7- ITSY BITSY TEENY WEENY YELLOW POLKA DOT BIKINI- Bombalurina (23,630)
8- THE SPACE JUNGLE- Adamski (21,539)
9- GROOVY TRAIN- The Farm (21,199)
10- VISION OF LOVE- Mariah Carey (21,148)

Show me Heaven is a bit too AOR but always liked it

Also liked the Farm, Iron Maiden, not so much :)

I like Bombarulina, my second favourite # 1 from 1990.

Edited August 20, 2025Aug 20 by Last Dreamer