Groovy Train is quite the earworm!

I sort of hoped DeeLight woulda got the top spot, but Steve Miller was a good alternative. Mariah, my impression was she was a sweeter-sounding Whitney, minus the bombast, but just as much what once was called Easy Listening. I liked Vision Of Love but never saw why she was so huge in the USA until around 93/94 when she was peaking. The Farm were fun, shoe-gazing era, and Groovy Train was decent enough, though anyone covering Stepping Stone gets my approval even if they do a less-venomous version than the Monkees classic (and nobody ever has come close to it). Adamski showing it was Seal who was the one to watch in that team-up, at least in terms of songs.

29TH SEPTEMBER

Maria McKee’s “Show Me Heaven” becomes the 13th chart topper of the 90s though it made a meal of it only tipping past the opposition late on Saturday. It moves 4-1 (44,455) enabling McKee to become the first woman to write a chart topper for herself and another act (Feargal Sharkey) and also keeps the sequence that has seen a record containing the word “Heaven” topping the charts every other year following as it does Wham! (1986) and Belinda Carlisle (1988). It dispensed Steve Miller Band 1-2 (43,571) who can’t complain at getting daily promotion via the Levi advert.  However it's the fifth week in 1990 that the No 1 has sold less than 50,000, it happened just twice in 1989, and eight times in 1988- we'll see how the year progresses.

Previously only really known in the country for their No 19 hit “9 AM (Comfort Zone)” back in 1988, Londonbeat are now back with their second album “In The Blood” due next month, and a new single “I’ve Been Thinking About You” which incidentally has a live version of “9 AM” on the flipside of the 7” and CD. It’s already a hit on the continent making No 1 in Holland a few weeks ago, and looks like it has its sights set on a similar peak here as it rushes 12-4 (31,212). The song was originally demoed back in 1988 but left off the debut album until it became more polished- seems to have worked.

Snap! are turning rapidly into a consistent hitmaking act as third release “Cult Of Snap!” powers 21-8 (20,451). It’s pretty much all that you would expect from a Snap! hit and helps the parent album “World Power” rise 44-40 though it has still failed to make the top 20 after 19 weeks of being available, it seems that they aren’t entirely convincing buyers to go the whole hog and fork out for an LP.

UK dance act Bass-O-Matic are the newest name on the scene with the track “Fascinating Rhythm” floating 14-9 (19,907) this week. It contains up and coming remixer William Orbit who also co-wrote Harry Enfield’s “Loadsamoney” a top 5 hit a couple of years ago.

Fallers this week include Deee-Lite 2-3 (35,666), Iron Maiden 3-5 (25,500), The KLF 6-7 (21,760) and Adamski 8-10 (19,584). The Farm can rejoice however with “Groovy Train” lifting 9-6 (22,610).

Next week sees a new Pet Shop Boys record, their first in over a year, seven of their last 8 singles debuted in the top 10 with three making No 1, how will “So Hard” fare?


1- SHOW ME HEAVEN- Maria McKee (44,455)
2- THE JOKER- Steve Miller Band (43,571)
3- GROOVE IS IN THE HEART/ WHAT IS LOVE- Dee-Lite (35,666)
4- I’VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT YOU- Londonbeat (31,212)
5- HOLY SMOKE- Iron Maiden (25,500)
6- GROOVY TRAIN- The Farm (22,610)
7- WHAT TIME IS LOVE- The KLF (21,760)
8- CULT OF SNAP!- Snap! (20,451)
9- FASCINATING RHYTHM- Bass-O-Matic (19,907)
10- THE SPACE JUNGLE- Adamski (19,584)

Good for Maria McKee getting #1 but I much would have preferred Maria(h)'s Vision of Love to do so

in the US, Show me Heaven was never a hit but don't get why as it's very AOR and featured in a big Hollywood blockbuster

The LondonBeat one is pretty catchy but don't super love it

Fascinating Rhythm is superb, good to see it top 10!

Love that Londonbeat song; reminds me of Fine Young Cannibals especially with the vocal.

Show Me Heaven is not as good as some of the other power ballads of the year but it's still a very nice if slightly cheesy song.

Cult of Snap is not that great compared to their other 1990 hits.

yes also for me Cult of Snap is not that great, easy my least fav from their first hits

Love Show Me Heaven, a great ballad, though sad for me after the death of a young workmate at the time. Cult Of Snap was pretty good, I liked it, Londonbeat were fab, I had residual affection for Jimmy Helms being MIA as a UK solo pop star since 1974 never able to follow up Gonna Make You An Offer, and I've Been Thinking About You was better than his solo hit. That leaves Fascinating Rhythm, a monster fave of mine, William Orbit sampling the fab rhythm of the first beloved single I ever bought - Dizzy by Tommy Roe. Now if only someone could cover that song and bring it back to notice as well....

6TH OCTOBER





Maria McKee continues to dominate the singles market with some ease as “Show Me Heaven” improves by 17% to 75,463 and 156,298 to date which isn’t enough for the top 50 YTD let alone the top 10 which looks like this:

1- NOTHING COMPARES 2 U- Sinead O’Connor 668,083
2- SACRIFICE/ HEALING HANDS- Elton John 647,326
3- KILLER- Adamski 534,055
4- DUB BE GOOD TO ME- Beats International Ft Lindy Layton 473,331
5- VOGUE- Madonna 431,290
6- WORLD IN MOTION- EnglandNewOrder 426,904
7- THE POWER- Snap! 418,285
8- NESSUN DORMA- Luciano Pavarotti 381,310
9- TURTLE POWER- Partners In Kryme 362,508
10- IT MUST HAVE BEEN LOVE- Roxette 353,005

That’s not to say that Maria Mckee is safe from challengers, Londonbeat rise 4-2 (47,991) with a strong 53% increase in sales which could cause problems for Mckee next week. Also on a wave is Bobby Vinton’s take on “Blue Velvet” which was originally a hit for Tony Bennet in 1951 Stateside before being covered by various acts including Vinton who himself scored a No 1 hit in the US back in 1963 though no versions of the track have ever charted here in the UK. However the track has now been used on the new Nivea advert and is also featured heavily in the trailer for the first UK terrestrial showing of the David Lynch 1986 film of the same name which is showing on Channel 4 next weekend. It got an unusual midweek release last week to debut at No 16 and now in its first full week of availability it rockets 16-3 (45,441) and could easily be next week’s chart topper.

But hold fire because here’s a high new entry from The Pet Shop Boys who are one of the most eagerly anticipated returns to the chart of the last quarter. Produced by Harold Faltermayer “So Hard” is the 11th top 10 single for the boys and the 8th to debut inside the top 10 as it arrives at No 4 (37,519), that equals the best ever start to any of their singles with “Always On My Mind” which of course went on to top the charts for 4 weeks! Look out Maria! The video incidentally features Tennant’s home town of Newcastle Upon Tyne and stars Paul Gascoigne’s sister Anna.

They’ve been scoring the hits for 22 years and now they have their 22nd Top 10 hit on their hands, yes Status Quo are back in the top 10 after an absence of 2 years with “The Anniversary Waltz- Part One” which previews a new Greatest Hits compilation in a fortnight. It’s a medley of some old rock N Roll greats including “I Hear You Knocking” and “Lucille” and as you can guess is designed to be part One of a pair of releases with Part Two scheduled for Christmas, and if you buy the single you’ll note the sleeve note that reads “It’s Live Sonny” to answer some critics who have noted the similarity of this kind of thing to Jive Bunny. The song flies 31-5 (27,574) this week to post a clear warning of its intentions.

A hit in Europe over the summer “I Can’t Stand It” finally becomes a Top 10 UK hit this week for Twenty-4-Seven Featuring Captain Hollywood. In its original form it featured MC Fixxit on vocals and reached No 17 in their native Netherlands, but the rap was redone by Captain Hollywood after Fixxit left the group and a new promo was made which converted the song into a hit on the continent, and now comes to the UK on the back of a Bruce Forest remix especially for us Brits. It climbs 11-7 (26,027) this week.

Elsewhere Steve Miller Band drop 2-6 (26,588) as former rivals Deee-Lite drop 3-8 (24,973) and The Farm drop 6-10 (21,658), whilst Bass-O-Matic hold at No 9 (22,610).



1- SHOW ME HEAVEN- Maria McKee (75,463)
2- I’VE BEEN THINKING OF YOU- Londonbeat (47,991)
3- BLUE VELVET- Bobby Vinton (45,441)
4- SO HARD- Pet Shop Boys (37,519)
5- THE ANNIVERSARY WALTZ PART ONE- Status Quo (27,574)
6- THE JOKER- Steve Miller Band (26,588)
7- I CAN’T STAND IT- Twenty-4-Seven (26,027)
8- GROOVE IS IN THE HEART/ WHAT IS LOVE- Dee-Lite (24,973)
9- FASCINATING RHYTHM- Bass-O-Matic (22,610)
10- GROOVY TRAIN- The Farm (21,658)

'I Can't Stand It' is good but I think I might prefer the European version.

Pity Londonbeat didn't get to #1 that week it's the best pop song of 1990 I think.

Love love love Blue Velvet, insane it was never a UK hit before

The Lynch movie was also

Insanely good

So Hard was so disappointing, I remember hating it back then, their imperial era was over ;/

I cant stand it is far too cheesy

13TH OCTOBER



It's receding at retail but Maria Mckee holds the top spot for a third week, ordinarily I'd be predicting a change a top as Bobby Vinton’s “Blue Velvet” which climbs 3-2 (64,804) and was just 10,000 away from “Show Me Heaven”. However with the screening of “Blue Velvet” now gone it may struggle to make a further upward move.

Other potential challengers either failed to threaten or disappointed, Londonbeat fall 2-3 (42,401), Status Quo rise 5-4 (40,188) and Pet Shop Boys surprisingly fall 4-5 (39,372), all are too far away to pose any threat.

Further down Twenty-4-Seven hold at No 7 (31,025) and Bass-O-Matic drop 9-10 (18,904).

Onto the new entries and first up are Technotronic who now have their 4th top 10 single in just 12 months even though in reality it is just a Megamix of their previous singles. Regardless of that we can’t seem to get enough of these Belgians as “Megamix” rises 12-6 (35,394) and deposes the Pet Shop Boys on top of the 12” charts.

Peaking last month at No 4 in the US, MC Hammer’s second single here “Have You Seen Her” is a cover of the Chi-Lites 1972 No 3 hit and follows on in terms of Chi-Lites covers from UB40 and Amazulu which have been top 10 singles in the last 4 years. Back to Hammer and his album revives 30-21, it has been top 40 since its release 12 weeks ago, not bad but that pales in comparison to the US where it has been No 1 for 18 weeks (15 consecutively) and counting, meanwhile his new single climbs 19-8 (24,412).

A duet in reality between Dave Hemingway and Briana Corrigan the new Beautiful South single “A Little Time” is creating waves as it jumps 30-9 (20,060). It’s the first single from the band’s second album “Choke” which is out next month, it comes with a rather memorable promo which features the pair having a domestic and trashing a house!

Next week a new Whitney single is released- how high can it debut?


1- SHOW ME HEAVEN- Maria Mckee (74,480)
2- BLUE VELVET- Bobby Vinton (64,804)
3- I’VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT YOU- Londonbeat (42,401)
4- THE ANNIVERSARY WALTZ PART ONE- Status Quo (40,188)
5- SO HARD- Pet Shop Boys (39,372)
6- MEGAMIX- Technotronic (35,394)
7- I CAN’T STAND IT- Twenty 4 Seven (31,025)
8- HAVE YOU SEEN HER- MC Hammer (24,412)
9- A LITTLE TIME- The Beautiful South (20,060)
10- FASCINATING RHYTHM- Bass-O-Matic (18,904)

Pick of the newbies is A Little Time for me, love the Beautiful South.

I was quite a fan of Have You Seen Her at the time - feels a bit mushy now!

I absolutely love So Hard. The lyrics are great and I really like the Moroder style production of it too.

A Little Time is also fantastic, this was the week where I got so excited when I heard it as the highest climber when I’d previously assumed it was unlikely to be much of a hit.

They’re the only two that I bought at the time. I remember the b-side to the PSB single being good also, it was called ‘It Must Be Obvious’

Oh for some reason I thought Blue velvet had climbed 3-1, still hope for next week, but can't recall at all if it made it or not

Love A little time too, another great one from Beautiful South

the MC Hammer cover was very very dull

ohhh I remember now we start that period when they all did Megamixes, Technotronic, Snap, Black Box, even Gloria Estefan I think :D

'A Little Time' is a lovely song with a great vocal, especially the acappella bit.

Edited August 23, 2025Aug 23 by TheSnake

The Technotronic megamix was barrel-scraping, and the Quo medley had more in common with Dave Clark 5's Good Old Rock'n'Roll than Jive Bunny, but neither track was that great. Beautiful South was lovely, very tender and tasteful sad song. Blue Velvet I had heard of but never really knew it at the time, that was a surprise and welcome 60's oldie to grab a big hit, still a great track. Pet Shop Boys, I bought right away, I also liked It Must Be Obvious on the B side, and So hard topped my chart for one week - but it really wasn't quite up to their run of hits up to this point and was out of place on the forthcoming album as "the hit single". I wish the genius Being Boring had been the first single and this the follow-up. I Can't Stand It, I really can stand it, it's a good pop song. Last and least MC Hammer's destruction of Have You Seen Her was very unwelcome in every sense except it gave another boost to the fabulous Chi-Lites back catalogue, one which is stuffed with gems, not all of them well-known, loads of obscure goodies in it courtesy of the talented Eugene Record.

Being boring should totally had been the lead single!

20TH OCTOBER

“Show Me Heaven” makes it a month at No 1 but it’s now in decline in terms of sales, off 12% to 65,807, it has now sold 296,585, not bad in terms of chart toppers for the year. Status Quo climb 4-2 (50,337) as the album “Rocking All Over The Years” debuts at No 2 giving them a “runners up” double!, Bobby Vinton’s challenge fades 2-3 (48,161) and with the advert containing the track also due to stop airing next week this could be a rapid faller!

Londonbeat drop 3-5 (32,589) marginally ahead of Technotronic who hold at No 6 (30,447) but The Beautiful South are the big climbers 9-4 (44,846) following a TOTP slot- without it can it push all the way though?





Those New Kids On The Block are back with their 7th top 10 single in 11 months, quite some going. Technically the new single is a double A Side “Let’s Try It Again/ Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind)” the former is a 3rd single from current album “Step By Step” but doesn’t have a promo to promote it and a remarkable lack of airplay to boot. All of which leads one to expect that the effort is going into marketing the boys cover of The Delfonics 1971 No 22 hit “Didn’t I” which has been getting an airing on their recent tour. Their version dates back to 1986 when it appeared on their debut self titled album which is getting re-issued in a fortnight which must be the real purpose of the release. Indeed the boys pulled the same trick in the US last year when this single and the debut album got a new push. Here the single rises 16-8 (25,007) this week.

Twenty-4-Seven hold at No 7 (26,622) Pet Shop Boys tumble 5-9 (23,375) and MC Hammer slips 8-10 (22,457).

1- SHOW ME HEAVEN- Maria McKee (65,807)
2- THE ANNIVERSARY WALTZ PART ONE- Status Quo (50,337)
3- BLUE VELVET- Bobby Vinton (48,161)
4- A LITTLE TIME- Beautiful South (44,846)
5- I’VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT YOU- Londonbeat (32,589)
6- MEGAMIX- Technotronic (30,447)
7- I CAN’T STAND IT- Twenty 4 Seven (26,622)
8- LET’S TRY IT AGAIN/ DIDN’T I BLOW YOUR MIND- New Kids On The Block (25,007)
9- SO HARD- Pet Shop Boys (23,375)
10- HAVE YOU SEEN HER?- MC Hammer (22,457)

Didn't I is another evil one from NKTOB, their ballads were diabolical

Didn't recall Maria McKee staying so long at the top, looks like Blue Velvet is not gonna make it then