I saw them live 3 times and the only time they did 'So Hard' was at the O2 in 2022 (I was so elated), but to be fair that was basically a pseudo-Greatest Hits show which packed a lot in.

They did 'Being Boring' as the final song to commemorate those lost to COVID, which was extremely poignant.

I agree. Much as I love "Being Boring" it would have tanked as a lead single, its charms are far too subtle to give an immediate shot in the arm that a lead single needs to have.

I agree i think being boring would have been the wrong choice as lead so it was the right call in the end,

guess i'm the only one who would have picked Being Boring as the lead. It's actually the only song I like from Behaviour.

I have several homemade PSB playlists on Spotify that all have Being Boring and none have So Hard :D

19 hours ago, dandy* said:

I definitely think Being Boring is better remembered now, and it is the better song too - the lyrics are exceptional and very moving… but I would stand by So Hard being the better choice of lead single in 1990. I think the sound of the rest of the album didn’t resonate as much with fans of their previous work and I suspect Being Boring would have performed worse than So Hard did… it’s telling that all the other singles kinda flopped (comparatively for their standards) and they ended up feeling like they had to release a cover (or covers!) to get another top 10.

If Neil and Chris aren’t fond (and I assume not if they don’t play it live) then I think they’re being harsh on the track, I’d definitely still easily give it a place on a best of theirs.

It's Chris who's not keen "it's a blot on this album", Neil likes the lyrics based on a true story, though Chris likes the Moroder/Summer vibes and the Morales 12" remix.

I still love Don't Worry, happy-sad given Mel and events that lead to the solo career. Robert Palmer/UB40 doing a better job of a Dylan song than Dylan. Granted that's a pointless statement as it applies to the vast majority of hit Dylan covers vs the originals. There are 3 classic Dylan definitive hits for sure, and maybe half a dozen more, but that early nasal whine/latterly gruff growl takes a lot of work to love! But more love than Black Box after Ride On Time. Take 1 great original song/record, mush together with samples, and ruin it. Mess!

17TH NOVEMBER

It can’t top the blistering pace it set last week but that’s not a great surprise, neither is it a shock that “Unchained Melody” holds the top spot for a third week shifting another 127,330 copies to bring its 4 week total to 515,678 copies and No 4 on the YTD list. It could head the list for the year as early as a fortnight’s time- truly amazing by the standards of today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lor0BkFNRNo

On paper they may be under pressure from the track which shoots 11-2 for Lindisfarne and Gazza. Yes you read right, footballer Paul Gascoigne has now turned his hand to making records whilst his stock is high following Italia 90, in truth he’s nothing more than a special guest on Lindisfarne’s “Fog On The Tyne” which wasn’t a hit when released in 1972 but has now got the added tag of “Revisited” with some re-written lyrics to make it applicable to Gazza himself, and put together it becomes the group’s biggest hit topping the No 3 peak of “Lady Eleanor”. It sold only 44,659 copies however and will have to really take off this week to pose a threat.

They are the only new entries to the top 10 but lots of other action takes place, Kim Appleby improves 5-3 (42,687), Black Box power 9-5 (32,096) and Robert Palmer & UB40 bolt 10-6 (31,348). Heading down are Beautiful South 2-4 (34,527), Berlin 3-7 (30,141), Kylie drops 4-8 (29,325), Belinda Carlisle collapses 6-9 (23,460) and Whitney dips 7-10 (19,839) as her new album debuts surprisingly low at No 6!


1- UNCHAINED MELODY- Righteous Brothers (127,330)
2- FOG ON THE TYNE (REVISITED)- Gazza & Lindisfarne (44,659)
3- DON’T WORRY- Kim Appleby (42,687)
4- A LITTLE TIME- Beautiful South (34,527)
5- FANTASY- Black Box (32,096)
6- I’LL BE YOUR BABY TONIGHT- UB40 & Robert Palmer (31,348)
7- TAKE MY BREATH AWAY- Berlin (30,141)
8- STEP BACK IN TIME- Kylie Minogue (29,325)
9- (WE WANT) THE SAME THING- Belinda Carlise (23,460)
10- I’M YOUR BABY TONIGHT- Whitney Houston (19,839)

I'm late to this but So Hard is absolutely 10/10 and a welcome return to their imperial phase. After So Hard matched their highest debuting position, Being Boring entered at 32 which was their lowest since Love Comes Quickly over 4 years prior.

Man thats cos it was a postalbum

Single, comparison Is not fair

No at the time it was simply just less popular and understandably so as it was less commercial. Being Boring was their lowest peaking single to date and only had 3 weeks top 40.

Eight of their previous nine singles had all debuted top 10, regardless of whether they were post album so this was a notable underperformance. It also was a much reduced radio edit so there was still that incentive to buy it if someone had the album.

The album and overall sound of this era simply wasn’t a big seller and it had a sharp decrease in fortunes compared to their previous ones - the main thing I remember of the single at the time was people commenting that it was appropriately titled 🤣

2 hours ago, Bjork said:

Man thats cos it was a postalbum

Single, comparison Is not fair

I wasn't presenting my fact as evidence of anything. It's not part of the discussion about which would have been a better lead single. I just found it interesting.

24TH NOVEMBER



Much more action in this week’s top 10 but no change at the top as “Unchained Melody” makes it four weeks as the nation’s favourite song though its sales are off 22% to 98,430, still impressive by 1990 standards but it may struggle next week to make a fifth week and the million mark may be beyond it, it’s total sales are now 614,108 enough to place it third on the YTD and only around 60,000 short of Sinead O’Connor, the current leader.

The next chart topper is not likely to be Kim Appleby however, although she climbs 3-2 (53,907) she’s not gaining sales rapidly enough to challenge for the top. Instead it will probably fall to a new entry at No 3, Vanilla Ice creates chart history this week as he sees his debut single crash straight into the top 3, the first time that a debut act has ever gone in so high (charity conglomerations aside). “Ice Ice Baby” has been much anticipated in the UK after it topped the US singles chart last month and samples David Bowie & Queen’s “Under Pressure” extensively throughout the track, it first saw life as a b-side to his US single “Play That Funky Music” but when a DJ accidentally flipped it the song started to gain popularity causing the record company to give it a main release and bingo it was a hit. 52,972 copies were bought last week as it fell behind Appleby at the death, expect this to challenge for the top next week given the hype, helped considerably by the rapper's appearance at the Smash Hits Winners Party earlier this month and now replicates the boost that New Kids On The Block got last year. Vanilla Ice’s real name is Robert Van Winkle incidentally, clearly a name change was essential.

Gloucestershire lads EMF (Epsom Mad Funkers) are another much touted British Band who come good with their debut release “Unbelievable”. Featuring samples of comedian Andrew Dice Clay in the track plus a splash of Ya Kid K the song has attracted considerable airplay as it surges 15-5 (38,607)

Debuting at No 6 on the album charts this week is the “Singles Collection 1984-1990” covering the career of Bronski Beat, The Communards, and Jimmy Somerville’s solo career. To promote it Somerville has released his version of the Bee Gees “To Love Somebody” a track originally written for Otis Redding before his untimely death prevented that ever happening. It’s the third version of the track to make the charts after the Brothers Gibb original made only a lowly No 41 before Nina Simone’s cover went all the way to No 5 two years later in 1969 so Jimmy’s version still has a little way to go to become the highest charting rendition however he does climb 12-8 (24,361) to be in with a shot.

808 State would dearly love to climb next week. They’ve had two hits peak at No 10 already, “Pacific State” (1989) and “The Only Rhyme That Bites” earlier this year and now “Cubik/ Olympic” inches 11-10 (22,525) to join them. It’s a first release from a forthcoming album “Ex:El” which is due in the spring.

Gazza & Lindisfarne surprisingly reverse 2-4 (39,950) and Black Box also fall 5-6 (37,162) just above UB40 & Robert Palmer who are also down 6-7 (35,496) whilst The Beautiful South dip 4-9 (23,851).


1- UNCHAINED MELODY- Righteous Brothers (98,430)
2- DON’T WORRY- Kim Appleby (53,907)
3- ICE ICE BABY- Vanilla Ice (52,972)
4- FOG ON THE TYNE (REVISITED)- Gazza & Lindisfarne (39,950)
5- UNBELIEVABLE- E.M.F (38,607)
6- FANTASY- Black Box (37,162)
7- I’LL BE YOUR BABY TONIGHT- UB40 & Robert Palmer (35,496)
8- TO LOVE SOMEBODY- Jimmy Somerville (24,361)
9- A LITTLE TIME- Beautiful South (23,851)
10- CUBIK/OLYMPIC- 808 State (22,525)

So with one month to go here’s the rundown of this year’s possible Christmas chart toppers!

ALL TOGETHER NOW- The Farm- A heart warming tale of soldiers declaring peace on Christmas Day could turn the trick for this Scouse bunch next month.

TURTLE RHAPSODY- Orchestra On The Half Shell- So the sensation of 1990 round it off with another cut from the movie of those turtles, Partners In Kryme proved it could be done and the bookies think the same!

JUSTIFY MY LOVE- Madonna- Another hugely successful year for Madonna, could it be rounded off with an 8th No 1, naturally already generating controversy.

CRAZY PARTY MIXES- Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers- Not the chart force they were last December but it’s the festive season so don’t discount this from being a big hit!

THE BEST CHRISTMAS OF THEM ALL- Shakin Stevens- Much like Cliff Richard, a Christmas Shaky record is almost a tradition in itself- could he repeat 1985?

SAVIOUR’S DAY- Clilff Richard- Talking of Cliff he’s been on top of the festive pile (in some form or other) for the last two years- can this year’s effort go all the way?

DO THEY KNOW IT’S CHRISTMAS?- Band Aid II- And talking of his other guises, here’s last year’s Christmas No 1 getting a re-release

YOU’VE LOST THAT LOVING FEELING- Righteous Brothers- “Unchained Melody” has done wonders for them and so their first No 1 is getting another shot

THIS ONE’S FOR THE CHILDREN- New Kids On The Block- Undoubtedly the act of the year can they round it off with the ultimate prize and a third chart topper in a year?

1ST DECEMBER

All change this week, in the world of politics Britain sees the end of the Thatcher era after 11 and a half years and a reminder that back in 1979 Art Garfunkel’s “Bright Eyes” was sitting a No 1 when the era began- seems a lifetime ago! In between Garfunkel and Vanilla Ice there were a massive 218 chart toppers!

To end it all nothing, it seems, could stop the record of the moment “Ice Ice Baby” from screeching to No 1 this week on a very nice sale of 100,759, easily enough to move past The Righteous Brothers “Unchained Melody” which slides to No 2 (78,033) but as compensation it does now become the biggest selling single of the year and should pass the 700,000 mark this week. 

One of the early bets on the Christmas No 1 which seems to have petered out as the track gets released slightly too early, is Rod Stewart & Tina Turner’s cover of “It Takes Two” which is currently being used on the new Pepsi ad in case you hadn’t caught it. The original was of course done by Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston who only made No 16, a peak which was instantly beaten by this version when it entered at No 12 last week and now advances to No 5 (29,121), it’s Stewart’s twentieth top 10 single and Turner’s 8th and is produced by Chic’s Bernard Edward.

Julee Cruise first came to attention when she sung “Mysteries Of Love” on the “Blue Velvet”, David Lynch’s film which helped the title track make No 2 a few months’ ago. She’s now teamed up on the producer’s new TV series “Twin Peaks” to provide what is in effect its theme “Falling”, indeed Lynch co-writes and co produces the track which gallops 11-7 (27,404).

The Top 10 is in fact awash with covers or re-issues of old hits, in addition to The Righteous Brothers at No 2 (and arguably Vanilla Ice at No 1), we also have Rod & Tina at No 5, Black Box holding at No 6 (28,475) UB40 & Robert Palmer down 7-8 (26,146) and Jimmy Somerville dipping 8-10 (23,154) and now the Proclaimers climbing 17-9 (23,715) with their version of Roger Miller’s “King Of The Road”. Technically it’s an EP but it’s “King Of The Road” getting the airplay and promo and becomes only the group’s second top 10 after “Letter To America” went to No 3 almost exactly 3 years ago, this version features in the Australian film “The Crossing” which is out next month.

EMF climb 5-3 (47,226) as they inch ever nearer the top spot but they need to really start shifting units if they want to climb further, and Kim Appleby falls 2-4 (43,758) as her challenge fades. Next week will see high new entries from Madonna, New Kids On The Block, The Farm and Cliff Richard as the Christmas chart race gets into full swing.


1- ICE ICE BABY- Vanilla Ice (100,759)
2- UNCHAINED MELODY- Righteous Brothers (79,033)
3- UNBELIEVABLE- E.M.F (47,226)
4- DON’T WORRY- Kim Appleby (43,758)
5- IT TAKES TWO- Rod Stewart & Tina Turner (29,121)
6- FANTASY- Black Box (28,475)
7- FALLING- Julee Cruise (27,404)
8- I’LL BE YOUR BABY TONIGHT- UB40 & Robert Palmer (26,146)
9- KING OF THE ROAD EP- The Proclaimers (23,715)
10- TO LOVE SOMEBODY- Jimmy Sommerville (23,154)

Two great singles in Ice Ice Baby and Unbelievable- both sounded fresh at the time and are still uplifting. Falling was a moody oddment i lived the tv show and the theme and Julee appearing in the series.

King of the road was a good version of a kiddie fave Roger Miller hit though nobody beats roger miller's originals. Rod n Tina seemed an obvious pairing so much so that i wasnt that bothered about the cover. Marvin and Kim all the way. Otis tedding could have done a masterful version of To Love Somebody but Nina had a classic soul version too. Jimmys reggae version was nice too but again nothing beats The Bee Gees. Barry Gibb could sing and the twins were a mere 18 years old when they were already gifting hits to others.

EMF is my fav from the last 2 weeks

Great catchy single

Although very different I also

Love Faling

Ice Ice Baby is a classic, cannot deny the sampling use Is genius

The rest I can’t at so many covers

Especially Jimmis cover, a 0/10 for

Me

Jimmy should have continued his more upbeat dance style, his cover of To Love Somebody veers close to Clock's covers in 1997 in terms of cheesiness.

EMF - Unbelieivable is iconic and fab.

808 State song is sort of ravey but rave would go harder in 1991.

8TH DECEMBER

“Ice Ice Baby” has an easy week at the top last week shifting 113,560 copies as it captures the imagination of the UK public, it just outsells the best week the original “Under Pressure” had 9 years ago (102,000). His debut album “To The Extreme” is issued this week so this could well dampen the sales of the track but it has certainly done its job. The entire top 4 are indeed static but The Righteous Brothers at No 2, EMF at No 3 and Kim Appleby at No 4 are all dropping off in sales to 48,943, 42,041 and 37,774 respectively, for the former track it should be selling its ¾ of a millionth copy this week as it continues to impress.

Used initially in the TV show “That Was The Week That Was”, “Kinky Boots” was first recorded by Honor Blackman & Patrick McNee in 1964 before getting a 1983 re-issue, it failed to chart on both occasions. It has now been discovered in the archives by Radio 1 DJ Simon Mayo who promoted it as a contender for Christmas No 1 and suddenly it becomes an unexpected hit driving 14-5 (29,155) this week to look like a contender at least.

First presented to Cliff Richard at a Christmas Party last year “Saviour’s Day” is already the bookies current favourite for the Festive chart topper and duly arrives at No 6 (28,101) this week to become Cliff’s 59th top 10 single. The promo was shot on a warm September day so isn’t quite the cold crisp day it may appear in the video and the location is Durdle Door in Dorset, the same location as parts of Tears For Fear’s “Shout” promo in case you wanted to compare. It’s also his equal fourth highest ever debut behind “Young Ones” (#1), “The Best Of Me” (#2), and “Living Doll 86” (#4) and Cliff even gets a co-producer credit.

Sadomasochism, Bisexuality, Voyeurism? Must be a new Madonna video, and indeed she’s been creating waves with the censor’s over “Justify My Love” which has already been banned before 9pm on MTV with TOTP refusing to show the video at all, have no fear- if you want to see the video then it will be released on VHS in a few weeks in time for Christmas!  All of which works wonder for her as usual, her first greatest hits album “The Immaculate Collection” sits at No 1 with over 300,000 copies sold in its first 3 weeks and this new single debuts at No 9 (23,443). Its initial splash was dampened not only as it is available on the album but also that it was released on only 7” and Cassingle last week with the 12” and CD to follow this week so expect it to rise further. The track is co-written by Madonna and Lenny Kravitz (the latter also provides backing vocals on it), the latter recently scored his first top 40 single with “Let Love Rule” which sneaked to No 39, “Justify My Love” meanwhile uses the drum beat from Public Enemy’s “Security Of The First World” which is in turn sampled from the must use record of 1990 James Brown “Funky Drummer”.

Rod Stewart & Tina Turner drop 5-7 (25,347), Julee Cruise takes her song title literally receding 7-8 (23,681) and Black Box are almost out 6-10 (22,729)

The Farm arrive at No 12, just one place above the new NKOTB single- next week could be very interesting indeed!


1- ICE ICE BABY- Vanilla Ice (113,560)
2- UNCHAINED MELODY- Righteous Brothers (48,943)
3- UNBELIEVABLE- E.M.F (42,041)
4- DON’T WORRY- Kim Appleby (37,774)
5- KINKY BOOTS- Patrick McNee & Honor Blackman (29,155)
6- SAVIOUR’S DAY- Cliff Richard (28,101)
7- IT TAKES TWO- Rod Stewart & Tina Turner (25,347)
8- FALLING- Julee Cruise (23,681)
9- JUSTIFY MY LOVE- Madonna (23,443)
10- FANTASY- Black Box (22,729)

For those who weren't there- when a music promo made national TV news

Always liked Justify my love, so different from everything she had done before

Why it wasnt released before the GH?

Love 'Unbelievable'! And of course 'Justify My Love' ❤️