20 hours ago, Gezza said:

I recall much of the loss of sales was explained as people shifting to a new format (cd) coupled with the rise of computer games, the recession, and music by "faceless" dance groups that couldn't/ wouldn't be marketed by magazines and the normal pop music routes. In addition some tracks I suspect sounded a lot better in the clubs when drunk/ on other things than they sounded on radio which limited cross over appeal.

Yes Raves were all the rage and though I was still buying vinyl singles, the sound quality was noticeably getting less good than CD and older vinyl, and CD's were often too expensive relative to vinyl so I tended to wait for Now albums on CD and try and get stuff that wasnt on them in the bargain bins - so I was also contributing to the decline of the time. 3 or 4 quid for a CD single just wasnt worth it of you could buy an album for £10 or £12, but a vinyl single for 99p was not too bad until they started sounding tinnier and less substantial. 90's recordings needed a good sound system to get the benefit!

11TH APRIL

Proving harder to shift than many suspected Shakespears Sister claim an 8th week at No 1 with “Stay”. The song, and indeed the top 3, are all performing well despite all having albums in the top 30 at present, at least on the surface, however the sales of “Stay” are only 28,170, that’s the second lowest sale for a chart topper this side of 1980 for sure and is only narrowly ahead of the sales nadir of 28,067 recorded by NKOTB back in January 1990. Indeed the song only topped one format chart, that of the cassingle, it loses out to Altern 8 in terms of 12” sales, Annie Lennox in the CD’s and Right Said Fred on the 7” front. Its victory over Right Said Fred was just over 255 copies as “Deeply Dippy” itself starts to lose sales though parent album “Up” is also sitting at No 2 in the album charts behind a new entry by Def Leppard, their single “Let’s Get Rocked” responds by diving 2-7 (17,430), and Mr Big completes the top 3 with a non mover on 23,445.

Outside that some hope is returned by both Soul II Soul 9-4 (21,555) and Annie Lennox 6-5 (19,590) but they have a long way to go especially for Lennox who loses 25% at retail yet still climbs, and CeCe Peniston dips 5-6 (19,470).



First attracting attention for becoming the first black Miss America 8 years ago though she had to resign from that post quite promptly, Vanessa Williams has gone on to become a popstar scoring hits in the US though none made the top 60 here, her latest single “Save The Best For Last” is currently in its 4th week atop the US charts and now rises 11-8 (16,860) here.  The song was allegedly turned down by both Whitney and Mariah, not that Williams will mind.

In case you hadn’t noticed there’s a general election this Thursday which of course accounts for the rise 12-9 of a new version of Alice Cooper’s 1972 #4 track “Elected”. It’s been rebranded “(I Want To Be) Elected” and comes to us courtesy of Rowan Atkinson’s TV character Mr Bean backed with rock group Taste and Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson with proceeds going to Comic Relief.

The only new entry straight into the top 10 comes from Altern 8 with “Evapor 8” their second time in the big 10 after selling 13,410 and features the vocals of PP Arnold, and for her this is her first time among the big sellers, 25 years after her first hit. Talking of the election the band’s Chris Peat will stand as an independent candidate in the group’s hometown of Stoke On Trent.

1- STAY- Shakespears Sister (28,170)
2- DEEPLY DIPPY- Right Said Fred (27,915)
3- TO BE WITH YOU- Mr Big (23,445)
4- JOY- Soul II Soul (21,555)
5- WHY- Annie Lennox (19,590)
6- FINALLY- Ce Ce Peniston (19,470)
7- LET’S GET ROCKED –Def Leppard (17,430)
8- SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST- Vanessa Williams (16,860)
9- (I WANT TO BE) ELECTED- Mr Bean & Smear Campaign (16,470)
10- EVAPOR 8- Altern 8 & PP Arnold. (13,410)

Not a fan of 2 of these new entries, Vanessa and Mr Bean, though the original Elected was excellent, and meanwhile PP Arnold in the top 10 is an absolute pleasure, still a 60's treasure and dropping occasional good singles. Sadly not a lot of PP vocals going on here, it's no First Cut Is The Deepest, but at least she's there!

18TH APRIL





Shakespears Sister’s “Stay” at No 1 is finally over as it drops 1-2 (23,715) after 2 solid months at the top of the charts. Its total sales of 441,015 for a chart topper of such length is disappointing but highlights the current depressed market not helped of course by the recession. It gives way to Right Said Fred who finally score the chart topper they were cruelly denied by Bryan Adams last summer, “Deeply Dippy” sold an improved 32,025 and felt the benefit of TOTP and another revealing outfit worn by frontman Richard Fairbrass. The album “Up” remains at No 2 getting trumped this week by Annie Lennox’s debut solo album.

The highest new entry on the charts arrives at No 7 (14,685) for rave act SL2 otherwise known as due Slipmatt & Lime. Based around a sample of Jah Screechie’s “Walk The Skank” it is the highest ever start for the XL label and beats “Charly” by The Prodigy by 2 places, their first single “DJ’s Take Control/ Way In My Brain” agonisingly peaked at No 11 but this has picked up considerable airplay in mainstream dance clubs and could go much further.

Capitalising on the success of “I Wonder Why” Curtis Stigers is back with second single “You’re All That Matters To Me”, he’s been doing brisk trade with his album which made No 7 on release two months ago and has revived 24-17-12 over the past three weeks as the single powers 15-9 (13,770) to be his second top 10 single of 1992.

It’s greatest hits time for ZZ Top and to preview the album the group have recorded their version of Elvis’s “Viva Las Vegas” which peaked at No 17 in 1964. Already the cover has outperformed the original as it climbs 17-10 (13,425) and also equals their previous best outing with “Give Me All Your Lovin’” 8 years ago.

Sales continue to be dire, to be quite frank, Vanessa Williams moves 8-3 (20,490) and Altern 8 glide 10-6 (16,635), Chris Peat (of Altern 8) came fourth in the constituency where he stood for those interested in his general election result!

Bad news for the following acts, Mr Big slide 3-4 (18,825) Soul II Soul aren’t full of Joy 4-5 (18,570) and Ce Ce Peniston drops 6-8 (14,535). All of these sales help to explain why The Wedding Present were at No 1 in the midweek sales flashes with a limited edition of just 10,000 copies of their track “Silver Shorts”- it eventually entered at No 14.


1- DEEPLY DIPPY- Right Said Fred (32,025)
2- STAY- Shakespear’s Sister (23,715)
3- SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST- Vanessa Williams (20,490)
4- TO BE WITH YOU- Mr Big (18,825)
5- JOY- Soul II Soul (18,570)
6- EVAPOR 8- Altern 8/ PP Arnold (16,635)
7- ON A RAGGA TIP- SL2 (14,685)
8- FINALLY- Ce Ce Peniston (14,535)
9- YOU’RE ALL THAT MATTERS TO ME- Curtis Stigers (13,770)
10- VIVA LAS VEGAS- ZZ Top (13,425)

Just for fun i looked up the sales of "Stay" in it's final week (28,170) and where an identical sale would have placed it in the same week in the last ten years

1991- 3

1990- 8

1989- 5

1988- 6

1987- 7

1986- 8

1985- 9

1984- 5

1983- 10

Which pretty much tells the sales story of the previous decade.

On A Ragga Tip is iconic!

Evapor8 makes good use of the iconic Strings of Life sample.

Deeply Dippy not the best #1 but does at least have a good brass instrumental bit.

Vanessa Williams has a very nice song. Following the soul ballad trend of Oleta Adams and Beverley Craven.

3 hours ago, TheSnake said:

On A Ragga Tip is iconic!

Evapor8 makes good use of the iconic Strings of Life sample.

Deeply Dippy not the best #1 but does at least have a good brass instrumental bit.

Vanessa Williams has a very nice song. Following the soul ballad trend of Oleta Adams and Beverley Craven.

Altern-8 were so great and "Evapor-8" is one of my favourite music videos ever:

Pure fun to watch. They never took themselves too serious and "Full On Mask Hysteria" is the perfect rave album. One of the best of all time and for me ahead of The Prodigy Experience.

I also like "On A Raggae Tip", but prefer "DJ's Take Control" with the great use of the Landlord stab and "Way In My Brain".

9 hours ago, Gezza said:

18TH APRIL





Shakespears Sister’s “Stay” at No 1 is finally over as it drops 1-2 (23,715) after 2 solid months at the top of the charts. Its total sales of 441,015 for a chart topper of such length is disappointing but highlights the current depressed market not helped of course by the recession. It gives way to Right Said Fred who finally score the chart topper they were cruelly denied by Bryan Adams last summer, “Deeply Dippy” sold an improved 32,025 and felt the benefit of TOTP and another revealing outfit worn by frontman Richard Fairbrass. The album “Up” remains at No 2 getting trumped this week by Annie Lennox’s debut solo album.

The highest new entry on the charts arrives at No 7 (14,685) for rave act SL2 otherwise known as due Slipmatt & Lime. Based around a sample of Jah Screechie’s “Walk The Skank” it is the highest ever start for the XL label and beats “Charly” by The Prodigy by 2 places, their first single “DJ’s Take Control/ Way In My Brain” agonisingly peaked at No 11 but this has picked up considerable airplay in mainstream dance clubs and could go much further.

Capitalising on the success of “I Wonder Why” Curtis Stigers is back with second single “You’re All That Matters To Me”, he’s been doing brisk trade with his album which made No 7 on release two months ago and has revived 24-17-12 over the past three weeks as the single powers 15-9 (13,770) to be his second top 10 single of 1992.

It’s greatest hits time for ZZ Top and to preview the album the group have recorded their version of Elvis’s “Viva Las Vegas” which peaked at No 17 in 1964. Already the cover has outperformed the original as it climbs 17-10 (13,425) and also equals their previous best outing with “Give Me All Your Lovin’” 8 years ago.

Sales continue to be dire, to be quite frank, Vanessa Williams moves 8-3 (20,490) and Altern 8 glide 10-6 (16,635), Chris Peat (of Altern 8) came fourth in the constituency where he stood for those interested in his general election result!

Bad news for the following acts, Mr Big slide 3-4 (18,825) Soul II Soul aren’t full of Joy 4-5 (18,570) and Ce Ce Peniston drops 6-8 (14,535). All of these sales help to explain why The Wedding Present were at No 1 in the midweek sales flashes with a limited edition of just 10,000 copies of their track “Silver Shorts”- it eventually entered at No 14.


1- DEEPLY DIPPY- Right Said Fred (32,025)
2- STAY- Shakespear’s Sister (23,715)
3- SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST- Vanessa Williams (20,490)
4- TO BE WITH YOU- Mr Big (18,825)
5- JOY- Soul II Soul (18,570)
6- EVAPOR 8- Altern 8/ PP Arnold (16,635)
7- ON A RAGGA TIP- SL2 (14,685)
8- FINALLY- Ce Ce Peniston (14,535)
9- YOU’RE ALL THAT MATTERS TO ME- Curtis Stigers (13,770)
10- VIVA LAS VEGAS- ZZ Top (13,425)

On A Ragga Tip is an absolute banger. Reminds me of my car trips to Towyn when I was a little lad. My old man would always play it on his mixtape in the car up there!

On 24/01/2026 at 11:40, Gezza said:

Erasure are interesting are they heading more here towards the synthy Haddaway style Eurodance-pop sound that would emerge in 1993-4?

Edited January 26Jan 26 by TheSnake

On A Ragga Tip was fun, and Viva Las Vegas was a fun cover of the Elvis movie goodie, good to see ZZ Top back in the top 10, but Curtis Stigers and the bulk of the top 10 is dreadfully uninspired, quite apart from other factors there's not much exciting going on to boost sales. I guess thats why novelty won out, they were at least cheerful. My top 10 that week was decidely going for oldies and tracks lower down the chart, and retro-vibed new stuff:

1 ( 9 ) LET’S GET ROCKED Def Leppard # 1
2 ( NEW ) MAKE ME SMILE (COME UP AND SEE ME) Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel # 2
3 ( 4 ) THE DAYS OF PEARLY SPENCER Marc Almond # 3
4 ( 1 ) THE YEAR OF THE CAT Al Stewart # 4
5 ( 2 ) AM I THE SAME GIRL Swing Out Sister # 5
6 ( 8 ) WAITING FOR A GIRL LIKE YOU Foreigner # 6
7 ( 11 ) FINER FEELINGS Kylie Minogue # 7
8 ( 6 ) MAD ABOUT THE BOY Dinah Washington # 8
9 ( 3 ) WHY Annie Lennex # 9
10 ( 5 ) MY COO CA CHOO Alvin Stardust # 10

I hope some of these make the UK top 10 to spruce it up! 2 already have but I'm hanging on to them longer...

25TH APRIL

For the second time in as many weeks Right Said Fred are No 1 and also had to come from behind to do it. They can claim a double this week with “Up” finally make the top spot on the album charts, it shows no sign yet of denting the progress of “Deeply Dippy” which sold a new high of 48,120 last week, total sales of the single? Well they currently stand at 173,535 easily in the top 10 YTD.

Topping the midweek charts was the new single from Iron Maiden, the group only scored one top 10 single from 16 releases between 1980 and 1988 but since then they have put together a string of 7 straight singles which have all made the top 6 with five of those debuting straight into the upper reaches of the chart. “Be Quick Or Be Dead” is the first release from their forthcoming 9th studio album “Fear Of The Dark” and is also of course the follow up to their first chart topper “Bring Your Daughter…To The Slaughter”, as we noted it was quick out of the starting blocks but faded as the week progressed ending up with 28,755 copies sold by close of play.

What a year Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine had in 1991, their third single “Bloodsport for All” was critical of the army at a time when the Gulf War had started and was subsequently not playlisted by the BBC, fifth single After The Watershed” became their biggest hit when it made No 11 but caused a legal case with the Rolling Stones over the lyrics, and was followed by a memorable Smash Hits Award ceremony appearance where they rugby tackled host Phillip Schofield. Their new single “The Only Living Boy In New Cross” marks their debut on the Chrysalis label after Rough Trade faltered last year, it’s a good start as well as the song enters at No 8 (16,740), the title is based on the Simon & Garfunkel track of a similar name except their boy is in New York. Expect the album in three weeks!

Written and recorded by David McWilliams and a hit in the continent back in 1967 “The Days Of Pearly Spencer” was written as a commentary on the poor in his local town of Ballymena in Northern Ireland. It was never a hit in the UK thanks to Radio 1 not playing it but he was managed by Phil Soloman who was the executive of Radio Caroline and who also gave considerable exposure to the song and were the main rivals to the newly launched station Radio 1. Anyway Marc Almond has plucked the song from being a “radio oldie” into a commercial hit at last by doing his cover which is a new entry at No 9 (15,855) instantly becoming his biggest “solo” hit. Of course he’s gone higher with Soft Cell, Bronski Beat and in duet with Gene Pitney but he’s hoping to prove he can do it alone with this release.

In these days of quick moving charts it’s unusual to find a record which climbs over a number of weeks to reach the top 10 but that’s what we have with Ten Sharp. The Dutch duo formed in 1984 and had some local success but the single “You” has been a hit across Europe and now makes its move here. It’s moved 44-40-32-18-12-10 so far as it’s grown at radio and sold 15,765 in its latest frame.

SL2 float 7-3 (23,760) displacing Vanessa Williams 3-4 (23,235) who increases her sales nevertheless, and Curtis Stigers is also moving in the right direction 9-7 (17,820). Shakespears Sister continue to drop 2-5 (23,100) and Mr Big dive 4-6 (18,615), next week sees a new Michael Jackson single and another expensive promo!


1- DEEPLY DIPPY- Right Said Fred (48,120)
2- BE QUICK OR BE DEAD- Iron Maiden (28,755)
3- ON A RAGGA TIP- SL2 (23,760)
4- SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST- Vanessa Williams (23,235)
5- STAY- Shakespears Sister (23,100)
6- TO BE WITH YOU- Mr Big (18,615)
7- YOU’RE ALL THAT MATTERS TO ME- Curtis Stigers (17,820)
8- THE ONLY LIVING BOY IN NEW CROSS- Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine (16,740)
9- THE DAYS OF PEARLY SPENCER- Marc Almond (15,855)
10- YOU- Ten Sharp (15,756)

Ah well, at least Deeply Dippy kept Iron Maiden off the top spot, though some might argue both are camp cheese 😇Carter's was OK, but I'll go for the brilliant Simon & Garfunkel track anyday, Ten Sharp pleasant enough but nothing to write home about, but with Marc Almond we have a proper epic-sounding Trevor Horn-tastic cover of a 60's great and an injustice is righted as it finally becomes a UK hit. Stay is the only track batting in the same league in this chart, with SL2 a distant 3rd. If only Dinah Washington's oldie pushed by an advert had made the top 10 for some additional class. I bought that on vinyl as it had a free poster from the advert....🙂

Pearly Spencer is so good! Hope it peaks at #9 so I can give it points in King Rollo's upcoming best #9s rate.

I bought that Carter USM single, in retrospect it seems very different from the other things I was buying in 92. I remember it had quite a plain sleeve but then had a brighter inner sleeve with loads of condom packs on it - I was very surprised as a kid by that!!!

One of my favourite Carter USM songs - such a unique band. "Days Of Pearly Spencer" is also great - Marc Almond was on fire at that time - "Jacky" was another brilliant single. Ten Sharp "You" is pop-rock at its best.

15 hours ago, dandy* said:

I bought that Carter USM single, in retrospect it seems very different from the other things I was buying in 92. I remember it had quite a plain sleeve but then had a brighter inner sleeve with loads of condom packs on it - I was very surprised as a kid by that!!!

Elvis Costello had a plain white sleeve in 1980 on one of his singles, truly bizarre as the internal sleeve was full-on colourful but you couldnt see it. I'm still not sure if it was a printing error! I would have had no idea what a condom was until I was at least 16, I found out by curiously picking one up on the school playing field and others going eww and enlightening me. Eek! I dropped it quickly! So many anecdotes...😄

2ND MAY



Finally Right Said Fred can say that they are No 1 and led all week! They can be thankful to TOTP for not having SL2 on the show as “Deeply Dippy” only sold 29,070 last week down 38% week on week and were lucky to fend off “On A Ragga Tip” who themselves increased sales but only modestly to 24,600 and with some additional airtime could easily have overwhelmed the boys.  For only the second time since 1980 only the top 2 tracks sold in excess of 20,000- sales again impacted by Easter and Easter Monday which are included in the sales period for the chart.

The Sisters Of Mercy have new retrospective “Some Girls Wander By Mistake” is out this week and to help promote it the group have re-recorded their 1983 single “Temple Of Love” with additional backing vocals by Ofra Haza. The groups tour with Public Enemy last year infamously only played half the dates after fears of violence between the two sets of fans saw many US dates cancelled and ultimately led to WEA cancelled their US distribution deal and souring relations between them and the group of which the group have been vocal about. It seems that the GH album and the re-recording of the song seem to have been at the record company’s instance but it is also their biggest hit to date as it sold 18,075 to debut at No 3- the lowest figure ever needed (since 1980) for bronze position.

Credited on the album “Dangerous” as a duet with a mystery girl, “In The Closet” is the third single from the LP to get single status by Michael Jackson. Popular rumour is that the female vocals are provided by Madonna who is known to have worked with Jackson last year on material, or indeed that it could be Naomi Campbell who appears with Jackson in the promo but either way the single arrives at No 8 (13,665). The album slipped out of the top 40 for a week but has since moved 41-31-29-28-23 as the promo for this single kicked in.

KC & The Sunshine Band’s “Please Don’t Go” originally made No 3 here and hit No 1 Stateside but it was updated earlier this year by Italian dance act Double You who scored a substantive hit throughout Europe but failed to secure a UK distribution deal, cue a rush released “cover” based on their arrangement of the tune by Nottingham’s KWS which has rather trumped the Double You “original” as it only debuts at No 47 whilst the KWS version soars 30-9 (13,530). The word is that Double You are none too happy about the affair with the lawyers hovering! It is nominally at least a double A-Side with “Game Boy” but there’s no doubt which side is getting all the promo.

Marc Almond advances 9-4 (16,320), Curtis Stigers inches 7-6 (14,070) despite losing sales and Carter USM nudge 8-7 (13,755) again with a sales loss, and Ten Sharp hold at No 10 (13,365). Vanessa Williams falls 4-5 (14,250) to complete our recap.  In addition to Sisters Of Mercy at No 3, this week's sales mark new lows for positions 4 to 7- the days of sub 10,000 for a top 10 single are not too far away if something does not happen soon.



1- DEEPLY DIPPY- Right Said Fred (29,070)
2- ON A RAGGA TIP- SL2 (24,600)
3- TEMPLE OF LOVE (1992)- Sisters Of Mercy (18,075)
4- THE DAYS OF PEARLY SPENCER- Marc Almond (16,320)
5- SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST- Vanessa Williams (14,250)
6- YOU’RE ALL THAT MATTERS TO ME- Curtis Stigers (14,070)
7- THE ONLY LIVING BOY IN NEW CROSS- Carter the Unstoppable sex machine (13,755)
8- IN THE CLOSET- Michael Jackson and Mystery Girl (13,665)
9- PLEASE DON’T GO/ GAME BOY- KWS (13,530)
10- YOU- 10 Sharp (13,365)

KWS have a better singer than Double You imo, but musically its near identical.

Please Don't Go is quite good and a bit of a classic but not as good as East Side Beat - Ride Like The Wind was.

Edited January 28Jan 28 by TheSnake

In the Closet isn’t particularly well liked as far as I know, but I still really like it. It’s definitely a bit repetitive but I love the production, a dangerous was a strong album on the whole.

Oh and also, <3 for Temple of Love, the Sisters biggest singles are great fun in a gothy way

I love the Dangerous album, but 'In The Closet' is one of the weakest moments on it for me.

KWS being the original Spacedust 6 years prior! Love it though.

Also liking Ten Sharp so far being a #10 hit.