Loved ABBA-Esque at the time, wouldn't ever have thought it would have generated the highest sales of the year so far though - surprised!

Lay All Your Love On Me was the track I remember getting all the focus (I think I've said this before in a different thread for some reason) but that's because I'd have been listening to Radio 1 and it was the focus track on radio. It was a good tactic having the focus differ between radio and tv channels as that must have helped to promote it - and maybe is why it sold comparatively well for them?

Utah Saints are my other favourite, Something Good is probably their best song even though I did really enjoy all their singles from the early 90s. George Michael not bad as well, at the time I was surprised that fell back in week 2 as I assumed it was likely to challenge for #1.

27TH JUNE



Erasure must be counting their lucky stars that the idea of doing an EP of ABBA covers occurred to them. With four tracks getting airplay and four promo videos available for TV they’ve effectively been offering punters a 4-4-1 bargain in purchasing the “Abba-Esque EP”. With 66,570 partakers last week the EP has sold 250,995 in just 3 weeks and next week we’ll see where it places on the half yearly round up but it is already their personal 3rd biggest seller behind “Sometimes” and “Crackers International EP”.

With only one new hit in the top 10 is was again a quiet week on the charts, the challenge of Nick Berry hasn’t quite materialised, he holds at No 2 for a second week selling a promising 39,810 but he’ll have to up the ante if he wants to depose Erasure. Richard Marx looks like a future contender for a chart topper on paper, but he again loses sales and again moves up the chart 4-3 (26,745) he’s now selling 20% less than he was a fortnight when “Hazard” stood at No 5, the charts can sometimes be deceiving!

So to for Utah Saints who are 6-4 (25,005) but weakening at retail, and even Take That who climb 8-7 (20,115) are in reality losing fans.

Elton John holds at No 10 (16,380) whilst the album “The One” debuts at No 2 behind Lionel Richie, and fallers this week include KWS 3-5 (24,720), George Michael 5-6 (21,105) and Kris Kross 7-9 (16,650).



Formed in 1988 by Alex Paterson and the KLF’s Jimmy Cauty, The Orb have accrued a steadily rising reputation in the ambient music field over the last few years despite a changing line up (Cauty left in 1990) but their new single “Blue Room” comes in at 39 minutes long in its unedited form and thusly becomes the longest song to chart in the UK though its heavily edited on the 7” version naturally. The group were on TOTP last week in space suits playing chess in a typically off the wall PR stunt but it does the job as the song moves 12-8 (17,955), their second album will be in shops next month.

1- ABBA-ESQUE EP- Erasure (66,570)
2- HEARTBEAT- Nick Berry (39,810)
3- HAZARD- Richard Marx (26,745)
4- SOMETHING GOOD- Utah Saints (25,005)
5- PLEASE DON’T GO/ GAME BOY- KWS (24,720)
6- TOO FUNKY- George Michael (21,105)
7- IT ONLY TAKES A MINUTE- Take That (20,115)
8- BLUE ROOM- The Orb (17,955)
9- JUMP- Kris Kross (16,650)
10- THE ONE- Elton John (16,380)

Blue Room is an interesting and uncommercial top 10 hit.

4TH JULY

Completing a month at No 1 Erasure can’t be stopped at the moment enticing another 42,275 buyers last week. A 34% decline week on week suggests it may have limited time left on it but that depends on how the record at No 2 performs this week.

Climbing 11-2 (28,650) is a new track by Mariah Carey, her cover of the Jackson 5 classic “I’ll Be There” is culled from her recent MTV Unplugged session which was filmed in March and aired in May and was a last minute addition to her set list after she was told that at least one cover is normally expected. Her uncredited singer partner on the track is Trey Lorenz who himself has a new record deal and is in the studio at present. For Carey it marks a major turnaround in her career here, her debut single “Vision Of Love” made No 9 but the next six singles all failed to make the top 10 despite most reaching the top spot in her native US. Indeed “I’ll Be There” falls from the No 1 position there this week, her 6th chart topper in just 2 years- a truly remarkable strike rate! Can it become her first No 1 in UK next week?

The remainder of the top 5 is just jigged about, Richard Marx holds at No 3 (24,330), Nick Berry Collapses 2-4 (23,475) and Utah Saints slip 4-5 (20,700).




Electronic have reunited with Pet Shop Boys frontman Neil Tennant on their new single “Disappointed” which is the highest new entry at No 6 (17,895), you may recall their previous collaboration “Getting Away With It” peaked at No 12 in 1989 and was their first hit. The group have gone on to score a top 10 single with “Get The Message” last year but this is now their biggest hit

Experiencing something of an upswing in her career at the moment Diana Ross is enjoying renewed interest in her career with her last two singles making the top 30 including the No 2 hit “When You Tell Me That You Love Me”. “One Shining Moment” is a third single from her “Force Behind The Power” and rises 14-10 (13,740) this week, the album re-enters at No 47 off the back of the European tour.

Three other fallers to cover, George Michael falls 6-8 (16,290), Take That reverse 7-9 (14,400) and KWS continue a gentle descent 5-7 (16,560)- Is that enough to launch “Please Don’t Go/ Game Boy” to the top of the YTD chart? Let’s see



1- STAY- Shakespears Sister 482,955
2- PLEASE DON’T GO/ GAME BOY- K.W.S 437,430
3- GOODNIGHT GIRL- Wet, Wet, Wet 317,955
4- ABBA-ESQUE EP- Erasure 294,270
5- DEEPLY DIPPY- Right Said Fred 279,675
6- THESE ARE THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES/ BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY- Queen 240,315
7- ON A RAGGA TIP- SL2 221,940
8- MY GIRL- The Temptations 215,685
9- I LOVE YOUR SMILE (REMIX)- Shanice 214,695
10- TWILIGHT ZONE- 2 Unlimited 187,665


So it really is touch and go whether KWS can now overhaul Shakespears Sister at the top of the YTD list, and indeed it may be defeated by the fast approaching Erasure who should move to third on the list next week.


1- ABBA-ESQUE E.P- Erasure (43,275)
2- I’LL BE THERE- Mariah Carey (28,650)
3- HAZARD- Richard Marx (24,330)
4- HEARTBEAT- Nick Berry (23,475)
5- SOMETHING GOOD- Utah Saints (20,700)
6- DISAPPOINTED- Electronic (17,895)
7- PLEASE DON’T GO/ GAME BOY- KWS (16,560)
8- TOO FUNKY- George Michael (16,290)
9- IT ONLY TAKES A MINUTE- Take That (14,400)
10- ONE SHINING MOMENT- Diana Ross (13,740)

'Disappointed' is great!

11TH JULY





Erasure doggedly hold the top spot for a fifth week but “ABBA-Esque” is in serious trouble pulling in just 36,000 buyers as it sails past the Wets in the YTD chart. It struggled to keep ahead of Mariah Carey through much of the week only stretching out as the weekend approached, Carey sold 33,090 in the end and could easily become the next No 1 next week if current projections are repeated. For that to happen there are two big obstacles in the form of two new entries in the top 5 but she was, at points only a few hundred nehind them.

Rave trio Smart E’s smash straight into the No 3 position equaling the best start ever for a new act (collaborations apart), Vanilla Ice in 1990 and Crystal Waters in 1991 both managed to enter as high but only one went on to make No 1. Taking their lead from the Prodigy in terms of turning Childhood programes into rave anthems their track samples the theme from “Sesame Street” renaming it “Sesame’s Treet” and clearly tying in with their name as puns on recreational drug taking. The song sold 26,220 last week and must be favourite to make the top if Carey falters.

We last saw Jimmy Nail in 1985 when his cover of Rose Royce’s “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” peaked at No 3, since then he’s been focusing on his acting and a hit on his hands with “Spender” which returned him to the limelight and he’s used that to relaunch his pop career with “Ain’t No Doubt” which duly debuts at No 5 (22,065). Nail’s second album is due next month.

There was much surprise in the industry when Snap!’s first single from a new album faded out at No 54 as it got lost in the Christmas market, “Colour Of Love” looks like just a blip in their career however as new single “Rhythm Is A Dancer” powers 13-6 (21,990) to become their 6th top 10 single from 7 releases. Some have questioned the rather dubious lyrics but there is little doubt it’s doing the business in the clubs even if radio is rather slow to support it at present. It benefited from a full airing on TOTP after a scheduled appearance from Carter USM was cancelled due to ill health, they fall 22-34…..

Continuing its rather bizarre chart run Richard Marx has either climbed or held his chart position on continuing decreasing sales for the last three weeks but this week he actually increases his sales to 25,590 and naturally drops 3-4 in the process! Also falling are Utah Saints 5-7 (17,265), Electronic 6-8 (17,205) and Nick Berry 4-9 (15,135) with Diana Ross holding the anchor position on 14,805.


1- ABBA-ESQUE EP- Erasure (36,000)
2- I’LL BE THERE- Mariah Carey (33,090)
3- SESAME’S TREET- Smart E’s (26,220)
4- HAZARD- Richard Marx (25,590)
5- AIN’T NO DOUBT- Jimmy Nail (22,065)
6- RHYTHM IS A DANCER- Snap! (21,990)
7- SOMETHING GOOD- Utah Saints (17,265)
8- DISAPPOINTED- Electronic (17,205)
9- HEARTBEAT- Nick Berry (15,135)
10- ONE SHINING MOMENT- Diana Ross (14,805)

Rhythm Is A Dancer is superb, possibly my fave song of 1992.

Rhythm Is A Dancer is great especially the extended version. I really like the Kraftwerk and 80s synthpop influences with the melody.

'Rhythm Is A Dancer' sounded huge, and had more layers and progression than most of the big hits of its genre up to this point.

'On A Ragga Tip', 'Friday I'm In Love' and 'Raving I'm Raving' are my other favourites since I last commented.

"Sesame's Treet" - the tune which brought the Suburban Base label a commercial hit. It is well deserved but "Sesame's Treet" is a bit too cheesy and there were so much better tunes on that label such as:

• Sonz Of A Loop Da Loop Era - Far Out

• D'Cruze - Life

• DJ Rap & Aston - Vertigo

• Q-Bass - Hardcore Will Never Die

• Rachel Wallace - I Feel this Way

• Rachel Wallace - Tell Me Why

• DJ Krome & Mr. Time - This Sound Is For The Underground

"Rhythm Is a Dancer" was together with "Mr. Vain", "No Limit" and "What Is Love" the trademark eurodance tune.

Rhythm is a Dancer ♥️ featuring the iconic lyric. Also love Sesame's Treet.

That Mariah one is dull as.

Rhythm is a Dancer is a massive 90's classic for me, i liked it when it was released but it was years later when i really loved it.

18TH JULY



Britain has a new No 1 and surprisingly it belongs to Jimmy Nail, “Ain’t No Doubt” increased sales by 135% to 51,495 as it swept all before it and outstripped the Smart E’s who also move 3-2 on a sales hike of their own of 59% to 41,715 enough to take No 1 last week but no cigar this week.

The rest of the top 5 are lagging way behind these two, Snap! bound 6-3 (32,010) above the outgoing chart topper by Erasure 1-4 (28,725) and Mariah Carey 2-5 (26,835) though her album “MTV unplugged” does debut at No 3.



Onto the new hits and what is now being termed “Toytown Techno”, yes we’ve had the Prodigy, shaft, then Smart E’s and now we have Urban Hype, a duo who have sampled the theme to kids TV show “Trumpton” which flies 11-6 (24,930). It is the group’s 5th release but the first to chart, we’ll see if the fad can last out the year but for now we’re all reliving our youth!

Fresh from a world tour Prince is nothing if not prolific, he’s already working on a new album with an October release date and first single “Sexy MF” which bows at No 7 (24,420) this week. It’s actually a double A-Side with “Strollin” a track you may be familiar with if you already own a copy of his “Diamonds & Pearls” album and a song picked in case radio wasn’t keen on playing its sexier A side, the package is a quick starter with only two of his previous singles having debuted higher “Batdance” (No 3) and “Gett Off” (No 5), but this is now his 11th top 10 single.

Released just last month U2’s “Even Better Than The Real Thing” peaked at No 12 as the fourth cut from the “Achtung Baby” album, during its pre-release it was farmed out to various producers to remix the song and when Island serviced the remixes to DJ’s they got so much feedback and demand for the Perfecto Remix they decided to make it a separate release and it now outdoes the original by moving 13-8 (21,945). It’s also hastened the fall of the original which has fallen 18-42-55 over the past three weeks.

The Shamen finally hit the big time last year with “Move Any Mountain- Progen 91” which became a No 4 hit for them in the aftermath of the death of one its members Will Sinnott. They’re back with a new single from a new album and “L.S.I” (which stands for Love, Sex, Intelligence) and it debuts at exactly the same position “Move Any Mountain” did last year- No 9 (19,920) with improved sales though!

Richard Marx completes the top 10 as he slides 4-10 (19,470) on his way out of the big sellers. Next week sees the release of a new single by an act which has debuted in the top 10 fifteen times in the last 8 years- Madonna- be prepared, and a new Michael Jackson single!


1- AIN’T NO DOUBT- Jimmy Nail (51,495)
2- SESAME’S TREET- Smart E’s (41,715)
3- RHYTHM IS A DANCER- Snap! (32,010)
4- ABBA-ESQUE EP- Erasure (28,725)
5- I’LL BE THERE- Mariah Carey (26,835)
6- A TRIP TO TRUMPTON- Urban Hype (24,930)
7- SEXY MF/ STROLLIN- Prince/ NPG (24,420)
8- EVEN BETTER THAN THE REAL THING (REMIX)- U2 (21,945)
9- L.S.I- The Shamen (19,920)
10- HAZARD- Richard Marx (19,470)

I actually like the Jimmy Nail track, the chorus is very Take That and I used to think it was a Take That song when it came on the radio!

LSI is good too.

22 hours ago, DaTilt said:

"Rhythm Is a Dancer" was together with "Mr. Vain", "No Limit" and "What Is Love" the trademark eurodance tune.

Yeah I really like those tracks especially Rhythm is A Dancer, bringing back 1981-2 synthpop vibes and 80s electro-hip hop vibes. Synths are better than piano house for me!

That Jimmy Nail track was very popular for a period before it got annoying... I can remember on the school bus everyone would be like "she's lying" as a comeback to people, but it always did feel a little gimmicky.

Since I last commented there's been a few decent tracks arrive. Rhythm is a Dancer is an obvious classic, although like Pandemic_Tension above, I too like it more now than I did at the time and I didn't actually buy - although that could have been influenced by me buying my first Now album (Now 22) that contained it on cassette(!) one.

The Perfecto mix of the U2 track was a good one, although I do also like the original too. And I liked the return of the Shamen with LSI, that's one I definitely bought. I also bought Electronic's 'Disappointed' and 'Hazard' from the other ones that have appeared, both were really good.

That U2 mix is indeed Perfecto.

The U2 mix is good but there are better Perfecto mixes and Perfecto label releases that make the top 10 in the 90s/2000 I think (Grace, D:Ream URTBT, Bullet in the Gun)

'Ain't No Doubt' is absolutely terrible!

Love Urban Hype! This trend is really quite something

11 hours ago, Jessie Where said:

'Ain't No Doubt' is absolutely terrible!

Love Urban Hype! This trend is really quite something

Combining Kids with drugs should really have caused moral outrage in 1992 but it seemed to pass by largely uncommented on at the time!

25TH JULY

Jimmy Nail digs his heels in at the top of the charts shifted another 76,860 copies as he was easily ahead of the field without any real challenge, Snap! manoeuvre dangerously 3-2 (37,860) but are too far away to pose a threat at present, “Rhythm Is A Dancer” is already their second biggest hit behind “The Power” which made No 1 two years ago.

The highest new entry of the week is predictably Madonna with her 16th single to debut inside the top 10 and her 26th top ten single in 8 years- an outstanding feat. “This Used To Be My Playground” is taken from her new film “A League Of Their Own” for which she hasn’t received a universal panning so things are looking up in that respect. It is planned to be a standalone single and won’t form part of her new album which is due for release in the autumn. It smashes in at No 5 (25,140) and is her 23rd straight Top ten single (excluding re-issues) which equals the record currently held by Cliff Richard for his run between 1960-65, and it’s an 8th top 10 single in the 90s drawing her level with New Kids On The Block as the record holders for the decade.

Culled together from demo’s and sessions Roy Oribison did before his death in 1988 and produced by Jeff Lynne “King Of Hearts” is the new album by the late star which will be released in a few weeks, and taken from it a song that you may remember being done by Cyndi Lauper in 89 “I Drove All Night”. The song was intended by the writers (Steinberg & Kelly) to be given to Orbison who did record it in 1988 but with Lauper releasing her version the label decided to sit on the recording until now. With a promo featuring “Beverley Hills 90210” star Jason Priestley and film actress Jennifer Connelly it certainly has enough fans, the song lifts 11-8 (19,515) to become his 12th top 10 hit.

Was (Not Was) have only been in the top 10 once, back in 1987 with “Walk The Dinosaur” which perhaps reflected the fact that their greatest hits album “Hello Dad…I’m In Jail” could only make No 66 when it was released last month and has since vanished. It’s going to be re-issued next month now because “Shake Your Head” has turned into a surprise hit for the group floating 13-10 (17,940). It was originally a single for the group in 1983 though it failed to chart here and featured the vocals of Black Sabbath’s Ozzy Osbourne but before he got the gig an unknown singer called Madonna auditioned for the part but was unsuccessful. The proposal was that her vocals be restored for this version but the lady herself refused consent so the group turned to actress Kim Basinger who duly obliged and is now credited. It’s remixed by Steve “Silk” Hurley who is himself on a bit of a hot streak at present.

Elsewhere the Smart E’s drop 2-3 (36,210) as Prince sprints 7-4 (28,875) whilst Urban Hype hold at No 6 (22,110). Better news for the Shamen who lift 9-7 (21,255) but it’s all over for Erasure who slump 4-9 (18,450).


1- AIN’T NO DOUBT- Jimmy Nail (76,860)
2- RHYTHM IS A DANCER- Snap! (37,860)
3- SESAME’S TREET- Smart E’s (36,210)
4- SEXY MF/ STROLLIN- Prince/ NPG (28,875)
5- THIS USED TO BE MY PLAYGROUND- Madonna (25,140)
6- A TRIP TO TRUMPTON- Urban Hype (22,110)
7- L.S.I- The Shamen (21,255)
8- I DROVE ALL NIGHT- Roy Orbison (19,515)
9- ABBA-ESQUE E.P- Erasure (18,450)
10- SHAKE YOUR HEAD- Was (Not Was Featuring Kim Basinger & Ozzy Osborne (17,940)