I imagine it was released after so that the single would be high on the charts over the festive period thereby getting more sales and more importantly promoting the album over Christmas.

29TH DECEMBER

So the big day arrives and its congratulations to……….Cliff Richard who sees “Saviour’s Day” move 2-1 right on queue with 100,946 copies to make sure of it. It’s Cliff’s third festive chart topper on the trot if we include his appearance on Band Aid II last year (the re-issue of that failed to make the chart which tells you just how much the S/A/W name has diminished in the course of the year- it's actually at No 101 this week). With Christmas Eve falling into next week for chart purposes we shouldn’t expect too dramatic a fall for Cliff in 7 days time but he certainly left it late closing the gap day by day until overtaking on Saturday! It also sets a record for longevity for Cliff- his chart topping career now stands at 31 years, and he's had chart toppers in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and now 90s- incredible!

Outgoing No 1 from Vanilla Ice dropped just a spot 1-2 (96,101) as it increased sales as it led to almost the bitter end! It now stands at 542,776 and moves to 4th in the YTD but is unlikely to get any further with just a week left. The Righteous Brothers climb 4-3 (70,924) and Enigma float 6-4 (66,011) and both could be in with a shout next week depending on how badly Cliff sinks.




Moving 14-5 (63,444) is “The Grease Megamix” a medley of hits from the movie of the same name which have been licenced by Polydor to PWL to remix, it includes “You’re The One That I Want” Greased Lightning” and “Summer Nights” which collectively spent 16 weeks at No 1 in 1978. PWL (or more specifically Harding and Curnow) have proved that they can turn this kind of thing into hits before, see 1988’s “I Want You Back” for Jackson 5 or the Four Tops “Reach Out I’ll Be There” and this will doubtless prove popular at office parties and New Year’s celebrations even if it doesn’t exactly enhance their reputation.

Elsewhere only one climber, MC Hammer 10-9 (33,947) and Snap! hold ground at No 8 (38,947) but heading down are The Farm 5-6 (54,043), Madonna 3-7 (44,948) and EMF 7-10 (29,325) in a very healthy week for sales for all, especially for Madonna who sees “The Immaculate Collection” spend its 6th week at the top and selling 340,000 copies in 6 days as those Christmas buyers went crazy- it now passes the million mark.


1- SAVIOUR’S DAY- Cliff Richard (100,946)
2- ICE ICE BABY- Vanilla Ice (96,101)
3- YOU’VE LOST THAT LOVING FEELING/ EBB TIDE- Righteous Brothers (70,924)
4- SADNESS PART ONE- Enigma (66,011)
5- THE GREASE MEGAMIX- John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (63,444)
6- ALL TOGETHER NOW- The Farm (54,043)
7- JUSTIFY MY LOVE- Madonna (44,948)
8- MARY HAD A LITTLE BOY- Snap! (38,947)
9- PRAY- MC Hammer (33,947)
10- UNBELIEVABLE- E.M.F (29,325)

Wow, didn’t realise it was so close between the top 2, glad SD got the no1 as Vanilla Ice had been there for a month and SD is a Christmas song at no1 on Xmas week, the last until 2004!

so close, wish it had been Ice ice baby, Saviors day is a terrible irish folk pastiche of a song

I’m on the fence with Saviours Day. It’s cheesy as hell, but has some charm and is a deserved number 1.

I really like saviours day and much prefer it to mistletoe and wine.

2 absolute classics in Youve Lost That Loving Feeling and Sadeness, the former was one I liked as a kid (my mum adored it) but never loved - and then as time passed in the 70's and 80's it grew in stature for me to become the greatest vocal performance by a duet of all time. It's not even close, it's sheer genius and one of the greatest recordings of all-time. Sadeness is hauntingly beautiful, and quite likely the best record of 1990 in a very strong year. Plus I was happy to see Sandra finally get a hit after the fab Maria Magdelena was robbed of a chart place.

Hammer's Prince borrow was his best track to date, Snap's wasn't but it was OK, and the Grease megamix was a step too far and tainted the memory of a beloved cheesy fun film and soundtrack. Cliff, though, very happy to see it on top to give him the absolute unbeatable record of 5 decades in a row of number ones, which no-one surely could ever beat 😇It was also the last time Cliff's career had any sort of general public feelings of record-breaking well-being towards him after his 70's and 80's revival with some classy records that didn't top the charts - Devil Woman, Miss You Nights, Wired For Sound, All I Ask Of You among them.

5TH JANUARY

Britain sneaks in its 17th No 1 single of 1990 right at the death and it isn’t, as many predicted, The Righteous Brothers or Enigma but a rather sensational new entry! Iron Maiden become the one and only act to debut at No 1 in the course of the year with “Bring Your Daughter….To The Slaughter”, a song written by Bruce Dickinson whilst on hiatus from the group and used on the soundtrack to “Nightmare On Elm Street 5” last year. The group decided they liked it so much they re-recorded it for their most recent album “No Prayer For The Dying” and released it on Christmas Eve as its second single. Of course the band are no strangers to entering straight into the top 10, this is now their 4th single to do so but they’ve never debuted nor been in the top 2 throughout their decade long career, that all changes as this single smashes into No 1 with 41,599 sales, yes the second lowest tally of the year beating only “Hangin Tough”’s sales of 28,067 to make the grade in January. it was helped by a limited release 7" hinge sleeve which gives the illusion that the single emerges from a skull head.....novel at least.

It was an unusual week sales wise with Cliff Richard the best seller by some margin on Christmas Eve, but predictable its sales tailed off thereafter and was overtaken on Saturday by both Iron Maiden and Vanilla Ice. Maiden's victory though was minimal to say the least, Vanilla Ice clung onto the No 2 position selling 39,440 copies to be denied the opportunity of becoming the first song in 21 years to return to the top after it is dethroned in its initial chart run. Outgoing No 1 from Cliff Richard eventually dipped 1-3 losing 63% saleswise (a phenomenal loss normally speaking) as it limped home with 37,621 sales.

Everything in the top 10 is on the slide in terms of sales (surprise surprise so let’s see the numbers), Enigma hold at No 4 (34,578 – 48%), also holding are Olivia Newton John & John Travolta at No 5 (31,994- 50%), Righteous Brothers down 3-6 (31,399 – 55%), The Farm droop 6-7 (26,809- 50%), Madonna 7-8 (21,029 -52%) Snap! slip 8-9 (20,910- 45%) and MC Hammer falls 9-10 (20,298- 37%)


1- BRING YOUR DAUGHTER TO THE SLAUGHTER- Iron Maiden (41,599)
2- ICE ICE BABY- Vanilla Ice (39,440)
3- SAVIOUR’S DAY- Cliff Richard (37,621)
4- SADNESS PART ONE- Enigma (34,578)
5- THE GREASE MEGAMIX- John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (31,994)
6- YOU’VE LOST THAT LOVING FEELING/ EBB TIDE- Righteous Brothers (31,399)
7- ALL TOGETHER NOW- The Farm (26,809)
8- JUSTIFY MY LOVE- Madonna (21,029)
9- MARY HAD A LITTLE BOY- Snap! (20,910)
10- PRAY- MC Hammer (20,298)

And that's it for 1990- it's been a blast! Thanks to all who commented as per usual.

We'll be back with 1991 next month.

Thanks as always Gezza!

Best topic in the site as ever Gezza!