Sleeping Satellite is selling quite gently for a number one but I'm glad it made it.

Bizarre Inc had a pretty catchy track, definitely more pop focused than their early stuff but still works. The Madonna song I like more now than I did at the time, I do prefer Justify My Love out of her more raunchy efforts. Arrested Development is a good new one, I quite liked their singles from this album - although at the time I didn't realise how heavily they sampled as I'd never heard the originals.

31ST OCTOBER



It loses a few hundred sales but Boyz II Men finally ascend to the top spot on sales of just 32,520. It’s the 8th week on the chart which means it has taken longer than any other 90s chart topper to make the top and indeed if you wanted to find a song that took longer in a continuous run then you’d have to go back to the Bangles in 1989 who took an almighty 9 weeks from debut to No 1. The Bangles however accelerated quickly to No 1 once inside the top 40 (33-13-5-1), Boyz II Men have been in the top 40 since debut and to find a longer climb to No 1 whilst in the top 40 you have to go back to John Denver in 1974! It is also still No 1 in the US for a 12th week breaking a 36 year record held by Elvis Presley.

Their album also debuts at No 12 significantly four places lower than the debut album by Tasmin Archer, which may have played a factor in the destination of the top slot, “Sleeping Satellite” falls 1-2 (31,680) sales off 15% week on week. Archer thusly is the only track to spend as little as a fortnight at the top all year, the last year to feature no solitary week chart toppers was way back in 1971. Just below Archer, Madonna and Bizarre Inc trade places selling 27,645 and 24,945 respectively though it looks like neither will now challenge the dominance of Boyz II Men, and Bon Jovi stick it out at No 5 (23,625) with a tiny sales hike.

The blessing of having your song feature on the “Levi 501” ads strikes again, this time they’ve used Erma Franklin’s “(Take A Little) Piece Of My Heart” which failed to chart here though a cover by Sammy Hager did make No 67 in 1982, 15 years after the original. You might be wondering if she’s related to Aretha? Yes she’s her older sister and had a brief solo career in the late 60s notably providing backing vocals on her more famous sister’s recordings including “Respect”. She can finally celebrate a top 10 UK hit herself now with the song expanding 21-9 (15,015).

Already a hit across Europe Rage’s version of Bryan Adams’ “Run To You” a No 11 hit 7 year ago. The group have run into trouble over their name as there is also a German heavy metal act recording under the name and have had to release the track as En-Rage in some countries. The song has been produced and updated by Barry Leng who produced Amii Stewart’s “Knock On Wood/ Light My Fire” and remixed them back in 1985. This update immediately betters Adams’ original by powering in at No 10 (14,970) and also features a sample of a track called "Let The Words Flow" by MC Chill Rob G which was also lifted as a secondary sample (albeit with Turbo B re-recording it) on Snap!'s "The Power" and on "Devotion" by Nomad meaning it is a top 10 single (In some form) for a third year in a row!

Arrested Development leap 10-6 (23,190) and right behind them Take That improve 9-7 (16,290) whilst Dr Spin flip 6-8 (15,995). This week sees the release of two follow up to chart toppers going head to head Erasure Vs The Shamen!


1- END OF THE ROAD- Boyz II Men (32,520)
2- SLEEPING SATELLITE- Tasmin Archer (31,680)
3- EROTICA- Madonna (27,645)
4- I’M GONNA GET YOU- Bizarre Inc. Angie Brown (24,945)
5- KEEP THE FAITH- Bon Jovi (23,625)
6- PEOPLE EVERYDAY- Arrested Development (23,190)
7- A MILLION LOVE SONGS- Take That (16,290)
8- TETRIS- Dr Spin (15,995)
9- (TAKE A LITTLE) PIECE OF MY HEART- Erma Franklin (15,015)
10- RUN TO YOU- Rage (14,970)

Ugh Boyz II Men, shame 'Erotica' couldn't sell a few thousand more and get there instead.

Love Rage's version, much better than the original for me.

End of the Road is so unappealing to me. Couldn't stand it at the time and still don't. Can't remember it getting to No.1. How very boring.

It's good to see that Erotica wasn't too far behind, as that single is generally considered to be a struggle up the charts for a Madonna lead.

Going back a few weeks... Hello to East 17. House of Love is a cracking tune.

Yeah Rage definitely had the best dance cover of 1992, stadium rock translated to stadium house.

I do like the original Bryan Adams track too.

En-Rage version of "Run To You" is stellar - one example where the cover version is better than the original.

7TH NOVEMBER

With a massive 79% increase in sales week on week “End Of The Road” takes firm control of the No 1 spot this week, renewed promotion and the film “Boomerang” getting a general release all contribute to the success of the single. The album climbs 12-7 knocking Tasmin Archer’s album out of the top 10 in the process, her single “Sleeping Satellite” falls 2-4 (26,670) as well, it is overtaken by Arrested Development who soar 6-2 (31,080) and Rage who surge 10-3 (28,455) though are no threat to Boyz II Men.

The Shamen win the battle with Erasure for the honours of the highest new entry, the title track of their new album “Boss Drum” starts brightly at No 6 (25,710) as it marks their 4th top 10 hit in a row and a third in just 5 months, an impressive release rate, and hot off the press news that they will have a another single out in time for Christmas! The single version has been remixed by the Beatmasters.

Speaking of Christmas Erasure will have their best of called “Pop” out in time for the big day and is widely expected to be a big festive seller. It couples together their first 20 singles and will also include the new mix of “Who Needs Love Like That” which comes in a new “Hamburg Mix” for 1992 courtesy of Dave Bascombe. The original only made No 55 in 1985 but this is of course is the follow up to the chart topping “Abba-Esque” and thusly debuts at No 10 (20,295) as it raises their tally of top 10 singles to thirteen in just six years. It’s also the 50th single to debut in the top 10 during the year beating the record of 43 established last year and a then record of 30 in 1989.

You might recall back in 1988 a certain Simon Harris who hit No 12 hit with “Bass (How Low Can You Go)”, well he’s been DJing and remixing since but now returns to the chart under the guise of Ambassadors Of Funk. He’s taken the Nintendo character of Mario and build a dance tune around the incidental music used in the game. Whilst “Tetris” peaked at No 6 last month “Super Mario Land” rises 14-9 (20,775), the promo is filmed at Chessington World Of Adventure.

Bizarre Inc slump 4-5 (25,920), Madonna falls 3-7 (21,585) as her album spends a third week at No 2 behind Simple Minds, and Take That fall 7-8 (21,135) with their best weekly sale yet for the single!.  It's the first time all the top 10 cleared 20,000 copies each in 22 weeks- indeed the last time was back in May when Take That were also in the mix!


1- END OF THE ROAD- Boyz II Men (57,030)
2- PEOPLE EVERYDAY- Arrested Development (31,080)
3- RUN TO YOU- Rage (28,455)
4- SLEEPING SATELLITE- Tasmin Archer (26,670)
5- I’M GONNA GET YOU- Bizarre Inc/ Angie Brown (25,920)
6- BOSS DRUM- The Shamen (25,710)
7- EROTICA- Madonna (21,585)
8- A MILLION LOVE SONGS- Take That (21,135)
9- SUPERMARIOLAND- Ambassadors of Funk (20,775)
10- WHO NEEDS LOVE LIKE THAT (REMIX)- Erasure (20,295)

I like Boss Drum.

Not a fan of the novelty rave songs it sort of killed off the genre's credibility.

Yeah, 'Boss Drum' is a banger. They were on a roll at this point.

I love pretty much every Shamen single from this period but I feel in retrospect that the Beatmasters need some credit, the remixed production on the single versions was definitely key to getting them hits.

14TH NOVEMBER




It’s bounced off the top in the US after 13 weeks and the “Boomerang” soundtrack enters the compilation charts but “End Of The Road” holds the No 1 spot in the UK for a third week though its sales are off 12% at 50,250. Total sales for the track are now 282,000 and should become the 6th single to break the 300,000 mark this week.

After meeting on a New York Tube Charles Pettigrew and Eddie Chacon decided to work together and Charles & Eddie were born. The pair didn’t write their debut single “Would I Lie To You” but they’ve scored a hit all over the continent with the track and now find themselves jetting 14-2 (35,565) and were outselling Boyz II Men on Saturday! Keep an eye on this one.

Since we last met Vanessa Paradis she’s been doing adverts for Chanel, moved to the US and started dating Lenny Kravitz. He’s now produced and co-written “Be My Baby” for his girlfriend and returns her to the top 10 for only the second time as it rises 13-6 (18,525). Paradis previous best was 1988’s “Joe La Taxi” which of course made No 3 but her chart career stopped there.

The only new entry in the top 10 comes from Undercover who grab a second top 10 hit in just 3 months, their cover of Andrew Gold’s “Never Let Her Slip Away” debuts at No 7 (18,300). Gold wrote the original about his then girlfriend and actress Laraine Newman and had Freddie Mercury on backing vocals, it made No 5 and occupied the top 10 simultaneously with “Baker Street” which was of course Undercover's first hit. The album is out in a few weeks if you’re interested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXRb9ioQP7o&list=RDCXRb9ioQP7o&start_radio=1

Arrested Development increase their sales but still slide 2-3 (32,565), they fend off The Shamen 6-4 (29,625) who pass by Rage as they drop 3-5 (24,900). Further down Ambassadors Of Funk inch 9-8 (17,190) as Bizarre Inc regress 5-9 (17,010) and Erasure anchor down at No 10 (16,140).


1- END OF THE ROAD- Boyz II Men (50,250)
2- WOULD I LIE TO YOU- Charles & Eddie (35,565)
3- PEOPLE EVERYDAY- Arrested Development (32,565)
4- BOSS DRUM- The Shamen (29,625)
5- RUN TO YOU- Rage (24,900)
6- BE MY BABY- Vanessa Paradis (18,525)
7- NEVER LET HER SLIP AWAY- Undercover (18,300)
8- SUPERMARIOLAND- Ambassadors of Funk (17,190)
9- I’M GONNA GET YOU- Bizarre Inc/ Angie Brown (17,010)
10- WHO NEEDS LOVE LIKE THAT- Erasure (16,140)

Arrested Development increase their sales but still slide 2-3 (32,565), they fend off The Shamen 6-4 (29,625) who pass by Rage as they drop 3-5 (24,900). Further down Ambassadors Of Funk inch 9-8 (17,190) as Bizarre Inc regress 5-9 (17,010) and Erasure anchor down at No 10 (16,140).

I loved the version of 'Baker Street', but repeating the formula again with practically the exact same backing track is a bit much!

Williams defintely the better 1992 Vanessa in the charts.

I see what Lenny Kravitz was doing with the 60s soul revival sound like his own glorious 'It Ain't Over' but 'Be My Baby' is just not a great song.

Speaking of 60s soul revival, 'Would I Lie To You' is memorable and a good song.

Charles and Eddie the best of the new ones. The Undercover and Erasure tracks are both a bit uninspired - the latter in particular was disappointing, I guess it was a nice sentiment but they’d have been better going for Oh L’amour if they wanted to revive an old flop.

21ST NOVEMBER





Charles & Eddie make their expected climb to No 1, it’s just the 11th chart topper of 1992 though in what could turn out to be a record year for a low turnaround (excluding 1952 obviously). It sold a very respectable 77,070 copies (third highest weekly tally behind Erasure) as the first flushes of the festive period start to show. The remainder of the top 3 consist of the falling Boyz II Men 1-2 (46,365) and Arrested Development who cling to the No 3 position with 30,330 buyers.

Recorded by Dolly Parton in 1973 as a farewell to her mentor and former partner Porter Wagoner when she decided to go solo, it was a country hit the following year before becoming a hit again for the singer in 1982 when it featured in the film “The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas” and topped the Country charts on both occasions though it never charted here. It’s now been recorded by Whitney Houston for the soundtrack of her film “The Bodyguard” which marks her acting debut and is out here on Boxing Day, she was apparently meant to record a version of “What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted” but it has been used recently in “Fried Green Tomatoes” so this song was chosen. It drives 12-4 (29,895) to become Houston’s biggest hit since 1988’s “One Moment In Time” topped the survey.

Recorded in Hanover in July 1992 during their recent “We Can’t Dance” tour, Genesis’ “Invisible Touch” was a No 15 hit in 1986 and now comes in a limited edition live release which predictably becomes instantly a bigger hit the second time around arriving at No 7 (23,415). An 8th top 10 single it previews the first of two live albums “Live- The Way We Walk Volume I: The Shorts” which is out this week.

Lots of re-hashes about this week, along with Whitney and Genesis we have Heaven 17 who have been absent from the charts these last 5 years but this week see their biggest hit “Temptation” debut at No 9 (21,315), it made No 2 back in 1983 behind Spandau Ballet's "True". It comes in a remixed form by Brothers In Rhythm and will be included on a new compilation of their work due in the Spring.

Undercover sneak 7-5 (29,865) as they help push The Shamen 4-6 (26,850), Vanessa Paradis slips 6-8 (22,260) and Rage bottom out 5-10 (20,850).


1- WOULD I LIE TO YOU- Charles & Eddie (77,070)
2- END OF THE ROAD- Boyz II Men (46,365)
3- PEOPLE EVERYDAY- Arrested Development (30,330)
4- I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU- Whitney Houston (29,895)
5- NEVER LET HER SLIP AWAY- Undercover (29,865)
6- BOSS DRUM- The Shamen (26,850)
7- INVISIBLE TOUCH- Genesis (23,415)
8- BE MY BABY- Vanessa Paradis (22,260)
9- TEMPTATION- Heaven 17 (21,315)
10- RUN TO YOU- Rage (20,850)

I can't imagine a world where 'I Will Always Love You' never existed but 'What Becomes of the Broken Hearted' did!

'Temptation' is very good. You could say the original was ahead of its time with its energy and 90s style female vocal. At least they used the original vocalists for the remix.

Whitney's 'I Will Always Love You' is iconic but I don't listen to it that often.

28TH NOVEMBER

It rushes 12-1 in the US and Whitney almost pulled it off here, sales of “I Will Always Love You” increase by 143% to 70,215, a new record for the No 2 record in 1992 and the biggest sale at that position since "Ice Ice Baby" in December 1990. Even that wasn’t enough to deprive Charles & Eddie of a second week at No 1, “Would I Lie To You” increased its own sales by a more modest 24% but that enough to sell an impressive 95,655 at the top (itself the second highest weekly sale for a chart topper in the year behind Erasure).  It bodes well the duo’s debut album which is in shops in a fortnight. Incidentally it is Houston’s 10th US chart topper drawing her level again with Madonna in the record books.

They really were the only two tracks in the race for the top this week, Boyz II Men continue their slow descent 2-3 (29,955) having now sold 358,320 copies of “End Of The Road”- that’s enough to be the 6th best seller of the year and will clear 400,000 before year end. Heaven 17 charge 9-4 (27,435) keeping Undercover stranded at No 5 (25,845).

The Prodigy are back with another cut from “Experience” and a double A-Side to boot, “Out Of Space/ Ruff In The Jungle Bizness”. The former features a sample of Max Romeo’s “Chase The Devil” and hopes must be that it finally launches the album into the big sellers over the festive period, the album debuted at No 12 eight weeks ago but has since left the top 60 and now revives 61-40. The single meanwhile becomes the group’s 3rd top 10 single in 15 months as it rallies 14-6 (24,015).

Talking of double A-Sides Guns N Roses are also getting in on the act, “Yesterdays” comes with the LP version of their earlier hit “November Rain” (aptly re-issued in the right month?). The group is still on a hot streak at present with a fifth top 10 on the trot as the current release floats 12-8 (19,470) but both “Use Your Illusion”’s remain outside the top 60 on the album charts, the single rise in part due to a belated release of a 12” picture disk, a tactic being used increasingly by record companies to boost chart positions after the initial splash.

Three fallers to cover briefly Arrested Development drop 3-7 (21,450), The Shamen dive 6-9 (19,170) and Genesis fade 7-10 (18,270)

1- WOULD I LIE TO YOU- Charles & Eddie (95,655)
2- I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU- Whitney Houston (70,215)
3- END OF THE ROAD- Boyz II Men (29,955)
4- TEMPTATION- Heaven 17 (27,435)
5- NEVER LET HER SLIP AWAY- Undercover (25,845)
6- OUT OF SPACE/ RUFF IN THE JUNGLE BIZNESS- The Prodigy (24,015)
7- PEOPLE EVERYDAY- Arrested Development (21,450)
8- YESTERDAYS/ NOVEMBER RAIN- Guns N Roses (19,470)
9- BOSS DRUM- The Shamen (19,170)
10- INVISIBLE TOUCH- Genesis (17,270)

So with Christmas a month away time to review the runners and riders:

BJORN AGAIN- Santa Claus Is Comin To Town

It’s been a great year for all things ABBA related as they’re back in fashion and could these copycats steal a march on the festive top spot?

BOYZ II MEN- Motownphilly

Follow up to “End Of The Road” could do the business for them though it perhaps isn’t festive enough?

CLIFF RICHARD- I Still Believe In You

Who would bet against Cliff at Christmas? He’s done it in 1988 and 1990 so he’s due again this year!

DARLENE LOVE- All Alone On Christmas

Return to the charts for the 60s star, this features in the film “Home Alone 2: Lost In New York”- festive and linked to a major film- could be a winning formula!

DIANA ROSS- If We Hold On Together

Don’t dismiss Diana- she scored a massive hit last Christmas with “When You Tell Me That You Love Me”- this comes with a cute video from the film “The Land Before Time”.

MICHAEL JACKSON- Heal The World

Yes it’s the 27th (or 6th we think) single from “Dangerous” but this is for charity and features kids so expect additional sales.

FREDDIE MERCURY- In My Defence

Queen triumphed last year can a solo Freddie Record do it- Public desire for his old work remains strong!

MADONNA- Deeper & Deeper

It seems we always put Madonna in the rundown for a festive chart topper and she’s always there or thereabouts but never at No 1- could this be her year?

THE SHAMEN- Phorever People

A great year for this band with three top 10 singles in the last 6 months including a No 1- could this be their second?

ROD STEWART- Tom Trubert’s Blues

Rod’s done his version of Waltzing Matilda- could it surprise us all and take the top spot?

WWF SUPERSTARS- Slam Jam

The bookies favourite apparently- combining kids, wrestling, and Christmas- could prove unstoppable.

WHITNEY HOUSTON- I Will Always Love You

On target for No 1 on Sunday so could have peaked too early- but promo for the film “Bodyguard” will be getting ramped up as we approach Boxing day so you never know.

'Out Of Space', what a classic!

5TH DECEMBER





Christmas is off with a bang this week as many contenders smash straight into the upper reaches but more on them in a second. Charles & Eddie only take a 8% dip in sales but it demotes them to No 2 (87,240) this week, and so the crown passes (as widely expected) to Whitney Houston who scores her fourth UK No 1 single today with a best sale for the year of 104,010. It's the first time the No 1 has sold in 6 figures in the year and took until the 48th week of the year- a new record over the last 12 years at least and a sign of how poor sales have been in 1992.

However it will be interesting to see where both tracks end up on the YTD charts- “Would I Lie To You” currently has sales of 322,080 whilst “I Will Always Love You” is on a more modest 218,670, two of only 22 records to cross the 200,000 mark so far this year. Another one of those records is “End Of The Road” which falls 3-6 (21,660) on a current tally of 379,980 which currently places them at No 5 on that chart.

Whitney’s position at the top isn’t necessarily assured to extent for a long time as the contenders for the Christmas top spot are lining up behind her, none more so than Michael Jackson with a new single “Heal The World”. It debuts at No 3 (29,730), it’s an incredible 6th top 20 hit from “Dangerous” which is itself up 38-25 this week, it’s also his third album to generate 6 top 20 hit singles from it, no other act can claim a feat like that and demonstrates his ability to keep pulling hit singles from album which have themselves sold millions. Jackson has also set up a charity called “The Heal The World Foundation” to which the proceeds of this track will go as indeed the profits from his “Dangerous” tour did, it’s his 28th individually credited top 10 single in a solo career now 20 years in the making- keep an eye on this one as it could explode at retail next week.

Written in 1895 and published in 1903 “Waltzing Matilda” is something of an unofficial nation anthem for Australians, it was taken and used extensively as the melody for Tom Waits song “Tom Traubert’s Blues” released in 1976. His song has now been covered by Rod Stewart as a lead single from a new album due next year, produced by Trevor Horn the CD version also contains new re-recordings of “Sailing” and “I Don’t Want To Talk About It” for extra value for money. The package debuts at No 8 (19,590).

Rod Stewart may have built up 23 top 10 singles during his career but that’s small fry compared to Cliff who now has 61 top tenners to his credit in an admittedly longer career to date. His latest “I Still Believe In You” debuts at No 9 (19,230) and if anything we’ve learnt never write off Cliff at Christmas, this song was co-written by Dean Pitchford who also co-wrote Irene Cara’s “Fame” so it comes with good pedigree.

Heaven 17 hold at No 4 (27,270) fending off The Prodigy who threaten 6-5 (26,730), Undercover slump 5-7 (20,820) but do see their album become the highest new entry this week albeit at No 26, and Arrested Development are down 7-10 (16,590).



1- I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU- Whitney Houston (104,010)
2- WOULD I LIE TO YOU- Charles & Eddie (87,240)
3- HEAL THE WORLD- Michael Jackson (29,730)
4- TEMPTATION- Heaven 17 (27,270)
5- OUT OF SPACE/ RUFF IN THE JUNGLE BIZNESS- The Prodigy (26,730)
6- END OF THE ROAD- Boyz II Men (21,660)
7- NEVER LET HER SLIP AWAY- Undercover (20,820)
8- TOM TRAUBERT’S BLUES (WALTZING MATILDA)- Rod Stewart (19,590)
9- I STILL BELIEVE IN YOU- Cliff Richard (19,230)
10- PEOPLE EVERYDAY- Arrested Development (16,590)