12TH DECEMBER




His sales swell by 154% but in the end he had too much ground to make up and thusly Michael Jackson’s “Heal The World” can only rise 3-2 on a sale of 73,665. The extra bit of bad news is that Whitney Houston has accelerated away from the field, she sold a stunning 137,880 copies last week, that’s the biggest weekly sale of the year, the third highest by a single in the 90s (Righteous Brothers and Queen both ahead of her) and the biggest 7 day tally for a record by a female solo act in over 7 years, it also gets a fast pass into the top 10 YTD.

So bookies favourite for the festive top spot WWF Superstars “Slam Jam” obliges becoming the highest new entry on this week’s chart coming in at No 4 (31,965). It’s co-written and co-produced by Stock and Waterman and marks their first top 10 single as producers since Kylie Minogue back in February. There is an album and a tour coming in Spring apparently but all eyes will be on how this one does next week.

A hit now for the third time “Could It Be Magic” has been reworked by the Rapino Brothers for current teen favourites Take That, it becomes their third top 10 single in seven months. The single was co-written by Barry Manilow in the 70s and is based around the chord progression from Chopin’s “Prelude In C Minor” and made it to single status in 1975 though it failed to chart here until a 1978 release took it to No 25. Before that Donna Summer discofied it in 1976 and that arrangement forms the backbone of the new Take That version. The track isn’t available on the vinyl version of the album which will help sales as it wastes no time grabbing the No 9 (21,780) spot- instantly their biggest weekly sale to date. The song comes with a suitably sexy video with the boys showing enough flesh to motivate their teen fans who voted them on to win a plethora of awards at the Smash Hits awards last week.

And just one place behind Take That is Madonna with her 28th top 10 single “Deeper And Deeper”, Another cut from the “Erotica” album it should bolster the sales of the album which are just over the 200,000 mark as it lifts slightly 13-12 while the single debuts at No 10 (20,430). The promo is an homage to Andy Warhol and features actor Udo Kier who appeared in a few Warhol films himself back in the 70s.

Charles & Eddie’s album debuts at No 20 as their single dips 2-3 (57,105), Heaven 17 regress 4-5 (26,025) and the Prodigy lapse 5-8 (25,515). Rod Stewart climbs 8-6 (25,995) and Cliff can only move 9-7 (25,545)- both look like they won’t pose a threat to Whitney now.


1- I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU- Whitney Houston (137,880)
2- HEAL THE WORLD- Michael Jackson (73,665)
3- WOULD I LIE TO YOU- Charles & Eddie (57,105)
4- SLAM JAM- WWF Superstars (31,965)
5- TEMPTATION- Heaven 17 (26,025)
6- TOM TRAUBERT’S BLUES (WALTZING MATILDA)- Rod Stewart (25,995)
7- I STILL BELIEVE IN YOU- Cliff Richard (25,545)
8- OUT OF SPACE/ RUFF IN THE JUNGLE BIZNESS- The Prodigy (25,515)
9- COULD IT BE MAGIC?- Take That (21,780)
10- DEEPER AND DEEPER- Madonna (20,430)

Thought proper non-novelty rave was over but Out Of Space is a good hit for the Prodigy with more Jamaican influences for the vocal.

I like Take That's version of Could It Be Magic better than the original. It definitely has both Hi-NRG and Northern Soul influences because producer Ian Levine is known for the two genres and also house influences because of the Rapino Brothers. Robbie Williams' verse vocal is good and refreshing to hear too!

The WWE song is quite good.

Edited March 1Mar 1 by TheSnake

A strange time of year to release Deeper and Deeper and possibly the reason why this did not even peak high!

19TH DECEMBER





Not much happens on this week’s chart with the top 4 all non movers and in reality it’s all over bar the shouting, Houston spends a third week at No 1 but she sold another 1992 record of 156,960 copies to take its total to 513,510 as it flies to No 2 on the YTD chart and will very probably soar past Snap! sometime next week to take pole position. Michael Jackson remains a distant runner up this week, his sales actually ebbed slightly to just 73,575 but he in turn remains well clear of Charles & Eddie, their sale of 41,115. “Would I Lie To You” has now shifted 420,300 copies and is the 6th biggest hit of the year, meanwhile the bookies will be happy that WWF superstars fail to make any inroads to the top 3 with sales only increasing by 24% to 38,085 though they pushed hard toward the weekend.

Better news for both Take That who rise 9-5 (36,465) to score their biggest hit, and Madonna who heads north 10-6 (29,070).



Highest new entry of the week belongs to The Shamen with their shot at the Christmas No 1 “Phorever People”. All 4 of their 1992 releases have debuted instantly into the top 10 and this is no different as it enters at No 7 (24,390) and causes the parent album “Boss Drum” to bounce 17-14 and should be a strong seller throughout the festive period. Once again it gets a remix from the Beatmasters who are the unsung heroes of the campaign having created the single versions of all the Shamen's releases for this album.

A flop when first released in 1986 Freddie Mercury’s “In My Defence” has been dusted down and given a posthumous release and jumps 11-8 (24,285). It was originally written for the musical “Time” in which it was performed as a duet with Cliff Richard, the only live version of the song was performed by the two in April 1988 and marked the last time Mercury sang live in public, like the Shamen, Mercury has albums to shift this Christmas and he isn’t doing badly moving 8-7 this week having already peaked at No 4.

They put together an impressive run of nine top 10 singles between 1976 and 1979 including two No 1 singles which sold a million each, Boney M were one of the biggest acts in the charts for a brief time. With the 80s brought tougher times and the group split when the hits stopped, but all things 70s seem to be back in fashion and Frank Farian (the man behind the band) has produced the “Boney M Megamix” which has been coupled with the suitably festive “Mary’s Boy Child- Oh My Lord” which was itself Christmas No 1 in 1978 and have now ended their 13 year wait for a tenth top ten hit with the Megamix flying 13-10 (21,150). Clearly it’s going down a storm at the office parties and indeed doing much better than a previous megamix four years ago which bottomed out at No 52- sometimes you have to wait until the time is right!

Finally Rod Stewart falls 6-9 (22,740) and must have hoped for more. Next week it’s the big one- the Christmas chart!


1- I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU- Whitney Houston (156,960)
2- HEAL THE WORLD- Michael Jackson (73,575)
3- WOULD I LIE TO YOU- Charles & Eddie (41,115)
4- SLAM JAM- WWF Superstars (38,085)
5- COULD IT BE MAGIC- Take That (36,465)
6- DEEPER AND DEEPER- Madonna (29,070)
7- PHOREVER PEOPLE- The Shamen (24,390)
8- IN MY DEFENCE- Freddie Mercury (24,285)
9- TOM TRAUBERT’S BLUES (WALTZING MATILDA)- Rod Stewart (22,740)
10- BONEY M MEGAMIX- Boney M (21,150)

26TH DECEMBER





Sales only cover December 14-19 so you might think that single sales would be unspectacular (given the week) for the Christmas chart, but nobody told that to Whitney Houston. Not only is she the festive chart topper for the year but she also sold a remarkable 183,090 copies into the bargain, that’s the third highest tally of the 90s and even outsold the rest of the top 4 put together, total sales of “I Will Always Love You” now stand at 696,600 as it grabs the accolade of best seller of the year from Snap!’s grasp at the death, it is also the 4th biggest seller of the decade so far. Moreover it is the first festive chart topper from a female soloist since Winifred Atwell in 1954.

Her victory was overwhelming and she was out of sight virtually from the off, Michael Jackson came in as the runner up for a third week, his sale of 82,110 is enough to see “Heal The World” sell 259,080 and is already in the top 15 for the year, Charles & Eddie are again in bronze position with sales of 41,790 as it tips over the 460,000 mark.

Further down some re-arranging occurs, Take That nudge 5-4 (39,015) and the Shamen improve 7-5 (34,335) whilst WWF Superstars end up slumping 4-6 (33,885).

Two megamix’s back to back, Boney M jump 10-7 (27,195) whilst at No 8 is Gloria Estefan and her “Miami Hitmix” which is a medley of some of her hits both as a soloist and with the Miami Sound Machine. It’s backed with the seasonal “Christmas Through Your Eyes” co-written by Diane Warren, though as it’s the party season it’s the hitmix that is getting the airplay and promo, the project has been released to help promote a new greatest hits compilation which rises to No 2 this week behind Cher’s greatest hits and with Erasure at No 3, Genesis at No 4, Freddie Mercury at 6, Simple Minds at 7, and Abba at 10, it makes it a festive chart full of GH sets. It is Estefan’s 6th top 10 single, this one selling 22,650 copies last week.

Rod Stewart holds at No 9 (21,930) whilst Madonna slides 6-10 (20,235).


1- I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU- Whitney Houston (183,090)
2- HEAL THE WORLD- Michael Jackson (82,110)
3- WOULD I LIE TO YOU- Charles & Eddie (41,790)
4- COULD IT BE MAGIC- Take That (39,015)
5- PHOREVER PEOPLE- The Shamen (34,335)
6- SLAM JAM- WWF Superstars (33,885)
7- BONEY M MEGAMIX- Boney M (27,195)
8- MIAMI HIT MIX/ CHRISTMAS THROUGH YOUR EYES- Gloria Estefan (22,650)
9- TOM TRAUBERT’S BLUES (WALTZING MATILDA)- Rod Stewart (21,930)
10- DEEPER AND DEEPER- Madonna (20,235)

'Deeper and Deeper' is god-tier Madonna for me

Whitney really smashing it! Quite saddening to know that the top 2 domineers here died pretty young

Phorever People is fab and while it may be a bit poppier than their other stuff it's a good precursor to the Eurodance trend of 1993-5.

I like Gloria Estefan's upbeat songs! A house version of Dr Beat before Mylo in 2005.

Also I just realised in November 1992, Felix - It Will Make Me Crazy narrowly missed out on top 10 at #11 - in production, it reminds me of Tomcraft Loneliness 11 years early! Great tune.

Felix - It Will Make Me Crazy (Official Video)

Edited March 3Mar 3 by TheSnake

2ND JANUARY



Whitney spends a fifth week at No 1 as “The Bodyguard” finally moves to No 1 on the compilation charts and the film opens in cinema’s. Houston sold another 180,795 with the Christmas wind behind her, she’s nearing the million mark quickly (currently 877,395) the last single by a woman to do that was Jennifer Rush. Incidentially it shares another similarity with "The Power Of Love" as the Whitney track has now sold over 100,000 for five weeks consecutively, the first song since Jennifer Rush to pull that trick!

Again Whitney’s victory was at the expense of Michael Jackson, his “Heal The World” remains at No 2 for a fourth week though its sales are off slightly at 70,260 he smashes through the 300,000 mark and almost passes “Black Or White” as the most successful single so far from “Dangerous”. Again the top 3 is completed by Charles & Eddie who sold another 35,475 of “Would I Lie To You” and is just shy of half a million and is now the third best seller of the year.


Minor movement outside of the big 3 sees Take That hold at No 4 (33,855), WWF Superstars boomerang 6-5 (25,515) as the Shamen drop 5-6 (25,365) and Boney M hold at No 7 (22,800). Rod’s up a spot 9-8 (16,500) swapping places with Gloria Estefan 8-9 (16,065).

“The Bodyguard” has now also produced a second top ten hit in Lisa Stansfield’s “Somebody (I’m Coming Back)” as it crawls 11-10 (14,505). It is Lisa’s 4th top 10 in three years but three of those (if this goes no further) have all made No 10 with only “All Around The World” the odd one out as it went all the way to No 1.

1- I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU- Whitney Houston (180,795)
2- HEAL THE WORLD- Michael Jackson (70,260)
3- WOULD I LIE TO YOU- Charles & Eddie (35,475)
4- COULD IT BE MAGIC- Take That (33,855)
5- SLAM JAM- WWF Superstars (25,515)
6- PHOREVER PEOPLE- The Shamen (25,365)
7- BONEY M MEGAMIX- Boney M (22,800)
8- TOM TRUBERT’S BLUES (WATZING MATILDA)- Rod Stewart (16,500)
9- MIAMI HIT MIX / CHRISTMAS THROUGH YOUR EYES- Gloria Estefan (16,065)
10- SOMEDAY (I’M COMING BACK)- Lisa Stansfield (14,505)

1992 was a 53 week chart year so 1 more chart to go!

Very impressive sales from Whitney when the climate is taken into account and the fact the soundtrack has been available

great rundowns as always, sorry i missed most of them away on hols! Many a classic amongst the top 10's!

9TH JANUARY



1992 concludes with a sixth week at the top for Whitney, the last female act to do that was Olivia Newton John in 1978 or if you want to be a purist and look for a solo female credit then you’d have to go back 22 years to 1970 when Freda Payne spent 6 weeks there with “Band Of Gold”. Whitney does it in style despite a sales slump of 54% to 82,620 in the post Christmas slump as if finishes the year on 960,015 with the million mark in sight this week. Again Michael Jackson’s “Heal The World” played best man, it’s been No 2 for 5 weeks now the longest stint Right Said Fred last year, he too lost 57% of his sales week on week to slump to 30,300 but he sneaks into the YE chart at No 9.

Good news for Take That fans, their version of “Could It Be Magic” pushes 4-3 (27,555) as the album “Take That & Party” also reaches a new peak scurrying 9-3 itself.



Snap! take full advantage of the quiet release schedule to issue the follow up to their massive “Rhythm Is A Dancer” which ends 1992 as the second best seller. “Exterminate” features on their recent album “The Madman Returns” in instrumental form but for the single version it contains vocals by Madonna’s backing singer Niki Harris. The album will get a re-launch next month with this version contained within it, probably for the best as the album only made No 20 on its original run disappearing after 8 weeks on the survey and selling under 100,000 copies. The single debuts at No 7 (11,265)- their 7th top 10 hit but their first since Turbo B and Thea Austin left the group after Rhythm and will be hoping to gain some revenge on Whitney for beating them to the top of the 1992 best sellers.

Surging 29-16 this week on the album charts is the debut album by Arrested Development which now contains two top 10 hits as “Mr Wendal/ Revolution” enters at No 8 (10,965). Highlighting the issue of homelessness “Mr Wendal” samples another Sly & The Family Stone track this time “Sing A Simple Song”, whilst “Revolution” was written for the soundtrack of the new Spike Lee film “Malcolm X” out here in spring.

Charles & Eddie drop 3-4 (18,660) as it charges over the 500,000 mark, The Shamen rebound 6-5 (18,540) which costs the WWF superstars a slot 5-6 (12,555). The Prodigy are back 12-9 (10,965) with “Out Of Space/ Ruff In The Jungle Bizness” and Gloria Estefan drops 9- 10 (10,320) to round off 1992 but the bottom 4 tracks are all new lows saleswise since 1980 with the possibility of a sub 10,000 sale enough to make the top 10- let's see next week!


1- I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU- Whitney Houston (82,620)
2- HEAL THE WORLD- Michael Jackson (30,300)
3- COULD IT BE MAGIC- Take That (27,555)
4- WOULD I LIE TO YOU- Charles & Eddie (18,660)
5- PHOREVER PEOPLE- The Shamen (18,540)
6- SLAM JAM- WWF Superstars (12,555)
7- EXTERMINATE- Snap! Featuring Niki Harris (11,265)
8- MR WENDAL/ REVOLUTION- Arrested Development (10,965)
9- OUT OF SPACE/ RUFF IN THE JUNGLE BIZNESS- The Prodigy (10,650)
10- MIAMI HIT MIX/ CHRISTMAS THROUGH YOUR EYES- Gloria Estefan (10,320)

So that concludes 1992- thanks as always to those who commented throughout the year!

I have to say that 1992 is probably my least favourite year of the decade- it has it's moments as all years do, but overall it's pretty bad in my opinion

Some other 1992 stats for you:

• The First year since 1971 not to contain a single 1 week chart topper

• Format breakdown for the year 7"- 24.43%, 12"- 18.65%, Cassingle- 25.98%, CD- 30.93% marking the first year that CD's were the biggest selling single format

• For the third year in a row the best selling single was a ballad from a popular movie

'Exterminate' by Snap! is very melodic rave and trip hop, I really like it.

Thanks for the 1992 rundown Gezza.

I haven’t commented as much for this year as I think 1992 in general is a poor year for the charts. Some gems, but not loads.

Thanks as always though Gezza.

Great rundowns and imformative as always Gezza! 👍