One of my least favourite Kylie singles, have no time for that whatsoever.

Love 'Rhythm is a Mystery'

For someone who loved literally every Kylie single up to this point, IYWWMN was a dud for me.

The video is nice and she looks great in it, but I would never choose to listen to the song and would skip it if it came on.

Hilarious that the duet has a nice big photo of Kylie on the cover, and then Keith Washington is relegated to a tiny picture in the corner. Regardless of who was actually the selling point of the single, they may as well have not bothered with him photo at all.

Aww I don't mind IYWWMN, I mean it's not top tier Minogue I agree but not bad, at least it put her back in the top 10 and I feared for her after the chart flop of WIO, doubtless it was released with indecent haste in order to have a top 10 single to promote the album in the run up to Christmas.

'Rhythm Is A Mystery' does sound more early 1991 than late 1991 - less rave sounding, so I don't like it as much but its still catchy.

11 hours ago, Jessie Where said:

One of my least favourite Kylie singles, have no time for that whatsoever.

Love 'Rhythm is a Mystery'

I have always liked If you were with me now and i always feel it gets overlooked by fans and even more so by Kylie herself.

16TH NOVEMBER





Into decline already, “Dizzy” still remains very healthily in front of the field with another 57,488 buyers last week, that makes 214,512 in its first month, not bad in terms of the year. His album arrives at No 16 as Reeves announces that he will be issuing a Christmas single, talking of which we’ll do our annual review of the runners and riders in a few weeks

Circulating in clubland for many months and featuring a raft of uncleared samples The Basshead’s are the latest dance act on Deconstruction to hit it big as “Is There Anybody Out There” debuts at No 8 (15,712) just one week after the fifth top 40 hit for the label did exactly the same for K-Klass. “Rhythm Is A Mystery” surges 8-3 (26,000) which is exactly what the Bassheads will be hoping for next week, their song features samples from Pink Floyd, Talking Heads, and The Osmonds which all makes it rather eclectic to say the least. It is the 32nd track to debut in the top 10, yes that’s a new record folks!

The KLF are back, well under a pseudonym “Justified Ancients Of Mu Mu” or the JAMM’s with a song “It’s Grim Up North” which was originally released in a limited 12” form last December with Pete Wylie on vocals. Now re-worked with Drummond on the mic the song takes its inspiration from the inscription on a bridge over the M1 and proceeds to list many northern towns before sliding into an orchestrated version of “Jerusalem”. It marks the first time that the same group has made the top 10 under three different guises, it rises 18-10 (15,040).

2 Unlimited rebound 3-2 (32,896) though they lose considerable ground on Reeves & The Wonder Stuff, Kylie & Keith float 7-4 (18,304) making it her biggest single of 1991 though that sales figure is the lowest needed for a track at No 4 since the 70s at least. A couple of falling chart toppers up next, U2 drop 2-5 (17,264) and with the single now deleted it should hurtle south, and Bryan Adams also descends 4-6 (16,592)- the figure for U2 joins Minogue/Washington in the record books as the lowest needed for the top 5 in the gallip era. Kiri Te Kanawa ebbs 5-7 (16,384) with Genesis bounding back 6-9 (15,216) as their album “We Can’t Dance” is in the shops this week. Next week sees the return of Michael Jackson!


1- DIZZY- Vic Reeves/ Wonder Stuff (57,488)
2- GET READY FOR THIS- 2 Unlimited (32,896)
3- RHYTHM IS A MYSTERY- K Klass (26,000)
4- IF YOU WERE WITH ME NOW- Kylie Minogue & Keith Washington (18,304)
5- THE FLY- U2 (17,264)
6- (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (16,592)
7- WORLD IN UNION- Kiri Te Kanawa (16,384)
8- IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE?- Bassheads (15,712)
9- NO SON OF MINE- Genesis (15,216)
10- IT’S GRIM UP NORTH- Justified Ancients Of MuMu (15,040)

23RD NOVEMBER

It’s been four years in the making but the new Michael Jackson album is almost with us and that of course means an epic video. The 11 minute promo for “Black Or White” was premiered in the UK on TOTP in its entirety this week the same day that the single was available (Thursday) but in just 3 days the song sold 77,456 to effortlessly become Jackson’s fourth solo chart topper but his first to arrive instantly at the top. Indeed Jackson is the first US artist to do that since Elvis in 1960, his lead was so great that he should easily retain the top spot for a few weeks, and in terms of debuts at No 1, 1991 has now had three tracks to turn the trick, just 1 behind 1973. The arrival of two new tracks into the top 10 also marks the first time in chart history (or at least since the charts became a top 20) that there has been a new entry in the top flight for five consecutive weeks!

The promo incidentally caused calls to the BBC and complaints about the violence it contained within, all of which naturally generated headlines and sales so either way it was all good for sales, “Dangerous” the album is available this Thursday and will have to go some to do battle with the U2 album “Achtung Baby” which is also expected to be a massive seller and will have the advantage of three days sales over the Jackson LP.

With the arrival of such an eagerly anticipated single, last week’s best seller stood little chance and sure enough Vic Reeves & The Wonder Stuff retreat 1-2 (46,464) and similarly force 2 Unlimited down 2-3 (27,888).





Shelley’s Laserdome club in Stoke On Trent is an unlikely spot to be on the national map as significant but that club is currently benefiting from the close of the Hacienda in Manchester last year and is now the epicentre of the British rave scene. If you’ve never been there then you can at least see the car park in the video for Altern-8’s “Active-8 (Come With Me)” which bounds 11-4 (24,784), the rave duo have garnered a reputation for themselves turning up at outdoor rave events and playing, it all seems to have paid off for them, first single “Infiltrate 202” made No 28 but can this go all the way?

Seal’s had a fantastic year with “Crazy” making no 2 in January and two other top 20 singles coupled with the chart topping eponymous album in June. The album has already shifted 300,000 and rockets 42-20 this week as the fourth track is culled from it “Killer”. It is of course Seal’s solo version of the Adamski song which topped the charts for 4 weeks last year and introduced us all to his voice though Seal was uncredited on it. It’s actually an EP entitled “Killer….On The Loose” and contains his version of Jimi Hendrix’s “Hey Joe” among its other tracks, it climbs 14-8 (16,496) to round off a great year. It also comes with a 3D video which was recently premiered on “Going Live” a few weeks ago and must have helped here.

Talking of the west midlands, this week we have not only Altern-8 new in the top 10 but also Bizarre Inc, a three piece from Stafford who used to include Mark Archer, he’s now a producer and co-produced the Altern 8 track! You may have heard of them thanks to their last single “Such A Feeling” making No 13 in September, but before that they released three singles which failed before “Playing With Knives” made No 43, clearly buoyed by the success of their last single they’ve re-released the track and now debuts instantly at No 9 (14,688). The song samples a 1990 club hit by Circuit called “Shelter Me” in case you wondered where the vocals came from.

The current US No 1 single trundles 31-10 (12,864) and marks a return to favour for Michael Bolton, his first UK hit “How Am I Supposed To Live Without You” went to No 3 and became his first US chart topper but his second UK album “Time Love & Tenderness had failed to give the singer a UK top 20 single until now though it has itself been certified platinum after peaking at No 2. His version of Percy Sledge’s “When A Man Loves A Woman” should continue to climb now, it’ll be hoping to at least match the No 2 of the original on re-issue in 1987 thanks to a Levi advert.

Bassheads progress 8-5 (23,824) as labelmates K-Klass fall back 3-6 (23,312) and Kylie & Keith falter 4-7 (17,840).

For the first time in 21 weeks we have no Bryan Adams who slips 6-12 ending a 21 week residency- the longest since the Beatles did a similar amount with "She Loves You".

Finally, as an aside, a piece of chart history was created this week with 12" singles becoming the dominant chart format for the first time over the 7" equivalent. It took 29.5% of the market to 28.1% for 7".


1- BLACK OR WHITE- Michael Jackson (77,456)
2- DIZZY- Vic Reeves/ Wonder Stuff (46,464)
3- GET READY FOR THIS- 2 Unlimited (27,888)
4- ACTIV 8 (COME WITH ME)- Altern 8 (24,784)
5- IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE- Bassheads (23,824)
6- RHYTHM IS A MYSTERY- K Klass (23,312)
7- IF YOU WERE WITH ME NOW- Kylie Minogue & Keith Washington (17,840)
8- KILLER...EP- Seal (16,496)
9- PLAYING WITH KNIVES- Bizarre Inc (14,688)
10- WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN- Michael Bolton (12,864)

Awful top 10.

Bizarre Inc. and Altern8 - energetic and interesting production in both tracks!

I liked the Kylie duet, dipping into soul was a better choice than the indifferent Word Is Out, and it sets up Indie Kylie and other genre hopping Kylie Futures. Still having top 10's in 2025, albeit thanks to Amazon Xmas playlists. Yay Dizzy on top, where it belongs. Black Or White amazing video and pretty good single, Seal's self-cover was OK, but it's not as classic as the original Adamski. Everything else, bar maybe K-Klass, meh.

30TH NOVEMBER

With the album “Dangerous” in shops from Thursday “Black Or White” had a decent proportion of the sales week to itself and indeed the single easily retains the top spot on the singles chart after 76,544 copies changed hands. It was really the side show for the inevitable Jackson Vs U2 showdown on the album charts, “Achtung Baby” was released on Monday and had sold around 115,000 Monday- Wednesday an insurmountable tally under normal conditions, but somehow “Dangerous” did it after it sold just over 200,000 in three days, a testament of how Jackson’s star status remains ever present. It’s a Jackson double then in the end then, the second of 1991 and the 90s after Bryan Adams.

For the first time ever there are three new entries in the top 10 as the race for the Christmas No 1 starts to crank up, the highest of which comes from Italian dance act East Side Beat and their version of the Christopher Cross No 69 1980 track “Ride Like The Wind”. It debuts at No 6 (20,992) and is already a substantial hit over Europe even though it has no official promo yet.

Grunge is the latest sub genre to reach prominence in the UK music press and leading pioneers of the movement are US band Nirvana, their first album “Bleach” failed to garner any success with the UK audience but second album “Nevermind” did enter at No 36 nine weeks ago and has improved position wise for the last 5 weeks moving 73-68-66-54-43-40 as first single from it “Smells Like Teen Spirit” arrives at No 9 (16,960). It has radio support from Radio 1 which has helped break them along with a European tour this year and MTV onside.

An 18th solo credited hit for Diana Ross debuts at No 10 (16,176) this week. It’s the first cut from her new album “Force Behind The Power” and it also becomes the first time she’s ever crashed straight into the top flight. The CD single includes her 1986 No 1 hit “Chain Reaction” which is also incidentally the last time she was in the top 10. Welcome back.

Vic Reeves & The Wonder Stuff get another week at No 2 though they are off 32% in sales down to 31,840 but its sales tally 292,816 now and should be on course for the Y/E top 10 at this rate. Altern-8 inch 4-3 (25,648) keeping marginally ahead of fellow Stafforders Bizarre Inc as they lunge 9-4 (24,448), that means no room for 2 Unlimited who dive 3-5 (24,432) and Bassheads who drop 5-7 (20,144).


1- BLACK OR WHITE- Michael Jackson (76,544)
2- DIZZY- Vic Reeves/ Wonder Stuff (31,840)
3- ACTIV 8 (COME WITH ME)- Altern 8 (25,648)
4- PLAYING WITH KNIVES- Bizarre Inc (24,448)
5- GET READY FOR THIS- 2 Unlimited (24,432)
6- RIDE LIKE THE WIND- East Side Beat (20,992)
7- IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE- Bassheads (20,144)
8- WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN- Michael Bolton (17,776)
9- SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT- Nirvana (16,960)
10- WHEN YOU TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME- Diana Ross (16,176)

A month to Christmas which means it’s time to assess the runners and riders for the big day:

ERASURE- Am I Right?
Their last two singles both entered straight into the top 10, could this surprise us all?

GUNS N ROSES- Live And Let Die
Another band who’ve had a great 1991, this cover will probably chime with many a bond film over the festive period.

THE KLF/ TAMMY WYNETTE- Justified And Ancient
Currently the bookies favourite, an unusual teaming of one of 1991’s hottest with a 70s country star, sounds like gold!

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK- If You Go Away
Not the force they were last year admittedly, but they’ve split with mentor Maurice Starr and this is the first fruits.

THE RED CAR AND THE BLUE CAR- Home For Christmas Day
You might not recognise the group or the title but you’ll know the tune from “Milky way” adverts over the years- could kiddie power take this all the way?

VIC REEVES- Abide With Me
Hot off the back of a chart topper, Reeves’s take on the traditional hymn could get the right mix of novelty and festivity to hit the top.

CLIFF RICHARD- We Should Be Together
It’s Christmas so we must have a Cliff single. He’s had a much quieter year in 1991 but that always changes at Christmas as he goes for another festive No 1

MEL SMITH- Another Bloomin’ Christmas
His only other single made No 3 four years ago, he doesn’t have Kim Wilde by his side but he’ll be summing up many people’s thoughts on December 25th

SHAKIN STEVENS- I’ll Be Home This Christmas
As with Cliff, at Christmas time we all expect a Shaky single and he’s not let us down. His last top 20 single was last Christmas which bucked the trend of his recent chart positions- can he do it again?

U2- Mysterious Ways
Another act who recently topped the charts, U2 will be hoping lightning can strike twice, their top 10 strike rate dates back to 1984!

Ride Like The Wind is a great track, one I bought at the time - the Christopher Cross original that is. The cheesy-ish dance version wasnt too bad and kudos for getting the song to be a hit at last. Nirvana, rock classic, though I didnt get all the hype at the time, and I still don't get Nirvana generally other than a good way of sweeping the charts away from 80's Big Hair metal acts and subsequently leading to Foo Fighters and Garbage, who I do rate. I must say I often bought week one CD singles for the bonus oldie tracks, if they were 99p or 3 oldies for £1.99, but I didnt go for Diana Ross' as I already had Chain Reaction on vinyl. Phew!

7TH DECEMBER



It’s Elton John’s 19th top 10 single and George Michael’s 8th solo top tenner, and fittingly on world AIDS day their version of “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” smashes straight into the top spot on a sale of 55,072 the proceeds of which go to the charity. The song was of course originally an Elton solo single making No 16 in 1974 with George and Elton first performing the track together at Live Aid 6 years ago, Michael added the song to his “Cover To Cover” tour earlier this year and filmed the video with a surprise spot from Elton back in March. Of course Michael has fallen out with his record label this year and sworn only to release charity records whilst it’s resolved. Its chances of being No 1 at Christmas are next to nothing if you believe the bookies who immediately placed the re-issue of “Bohemian Rhapsody” in a fortnight as a certainty which makes the rundown of potential festive chart toppers last week redundant. In other news Elton John becomes the first act to have two chart toppers in the 90s, this is also the first "live" single to hit the top since the Specials 11 years ago, and finally this is the first chart topper to sell more on CD than in any other format whilst at No 1!

Former favourites of the bookies for the festive No 1, The KLF team up with Tammy Wynette on the track “Justified And Ancient” which debuts at No 5 (31,984) this week. Like all their hits this year they were all available previously in substantively different versions, the origins of song first appeared in 1987 on the duo’s first album but has now been worked into a full track with vocals by Country Singer Tammy Wynette. She had three UK hits in the mid 70s most famously on “Stand By Your Man” which hit the top spot, she’s also been absent from chart action for 15 years and this must count as one of the more unusual returns to the top 10 in recent years.

With a fourth album due early next year James are back with lead single “Sound” which powers 15-9 (21,904). It is of course the follow up to “Sit Down” which shifted over 240,000 and is one of the top 20 singles of the year so far, this cements their arrival on the main stage of pop.

Michael Jackson is deposed from the top on both the singles and albums chart slumping 1-2 (50,624) on the singles chart but still way ahead of East Side Beat who do rise 6-3 (37,328) nonetheless. More promising for Diana Ross who jets 10-4 (36,320) leapfrogging a still climbing Nirvana 9-7 (24,896) who generated much publicity following a memorable TOTP performance on Thursday! Heading south are Altern-8 3-6 (26,752- that's their best sales week yet), Vic Reeves & The Wonder Stuff collapse 2-8 (24,192) and Bizarre Inc fall back 4-10 (20,992).


1- DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME- George Michael & Elton John (55,072)
2- BLACK OR WHITE- Michael Jackson (50,624)
3- RIDE LIKE THE WIND- East Side Beat (37,328)
4- WHEN YOU TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME- Diana Ross (36,320)
5- JUSTIFIED AND ANCIENT- The KLF/ Tammy Wynette (31,984)
6- ACTIV 8 (COME WITH ME)- Altern 8 (26,752)
7- SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT- Nirvana (24,896)
8- DIZZY- Vic Reeves/ Wonder Stuff (24,192)
9- SOUND- James (21,904)
10- PLAYING WITH KNIVES- Bizarre Inc. (20,992)

I really like that East Side Beat cover, especially the version with the 'I'll set you free' female vocal (doesn't seem to be on that TOTP version strangely)! It helps that the original Ride Like The Wind is a very good song anyway which sadly flopped in the UK in 1980!

The Elton and George duet and the Diana Ross ballad are nice and so is Justified and Ancient - a good festive season dance hit and it is quite wintery with Tammy's earnest vocal!

Nirvana classic with one of the best guitar riffs ever!

Edited Tuesday at 17:442 days by TheSnake

Justified and Ancient is one of the best songs of the year and by far KLF’s best.

Is that first performance by Nirvana the infamous one where they deliberately fluffed it?

What great times that were with 2 Unlimited, Bassheads, Bizarre Inc, Altern-8 and K-Klass all in the top 10. The second half of 91 was filled with bangers. "Rhythm Is A Mystery" is indeed from the first half of 91, but was re-released as remix in winter. One of the best dance songs of all time.

I'm a long way behind commenting on this thread, much love to these since I last commented - 'Shiny Happy People', 'More Than Words', 'Wind Of Change', 'The Fly' and probably many others. I like 'Insanity' a lot but it's the Legendary Mix that I prefer to the one they did on TOTP, and 'Playing With Knives' is my favourite dance track to appear for a while.

'Smells Like Teen Spirit' is on a whole other level though *.*.*.* I wasn't really following popular music at the time, so even though I remember Nirvana being talked about a lot, the first time I remember hearing it was that TOTP performance as it had been repeated a few years later on TOTP2, with Kurt singing in the lower octaves. Once I heard the now familiar version, it all clicked into place.

Elton & George's duet re-set my initial feelings back to where they started on Dont Let The Sun Go Down. In 1974 it was a dirge to follow-up the equally dirge-like Candle In The Wind, and neither impressed me. With nostalgia kicking in, by the 90's it was out on CD with some other Elton tracks and it went top 5 for me, as I finally got the appeal. And then this one made me fed up of hearing it, charity or not. Hey ho. James are always worth listening to, even when they aren't Sit Down-singalong-classic. But my record of this era was KLF & Tammy, what a fun classic, loved Tammy enjoying the comeback and giving the hilarious lyrics her all, which oddly made it both affecting and amusing, and what a tune! Love it to bits. Topped my charts so fingers-crossed!

I don't understand this big love for KLF here and on Haven forum too.