Utterly adore both 'Animal Nitrate' and 'I Feel You'

'Oh Carolina' however really is dreadful.

2 hours ago, Jessie Where said:

'Oh Carolina' however really is dreadful.

Glad you said this.

Neither this nor Mr Boombastic or It Wasn't Me are much cop in my opinion

I have a massive soft spot for Oh Carolina.

13TH MARCH





2 Unlimited continue to reign supreme and slacken gently sales wise to 54,375 bringing its total to 353,460 as it also becomes their personal best seller finally moving past “Get Ready For This”  As a side note the track has never topped more than 2 formats in any week of its reign at the top and has never been the best seller in either 7" or 12" whilst at No 1 which shows the relegation in importance of those formats. Runner up this week is Shaggy who climbs 5-2 (45,120) and could overtake 2 Unlimited next week, he also forces Michael Jackson back 2-3 (31,980).

The title track of their last LP “Fear Of The Dark” gets a single release as a live recording for Iron Maiden. Recorded during their recent world tour, this version will appear on their forthcoming live LP “A Real Live One” which is out in three weeks. The single also features live versions of “Bring Your Daughter…To The Slaughter” and “Be Quick Or Be Dead” and is Iron Maiden’s 9th top 10 single as it debuts at No 8 (16,800), if you want a copy then you better hurry as it’s a limited release to 50,000 copies.

This Friday is Comic Relief day (I’m sure you knew that) and this year’s single comes courtesy of Right Said Fred & Friends and returns the band to the top ten after their last single “Daydream/ Those Simple Things” surprisingly hit the buffers at No 29 last summer. It climbs 13-9 (16,530) ahead of the big day and gives the charity an unbroken record of placing all 7 of the discs issued to its benefit inside the top ten.

Marking her 29th top 10 single in a career still under a decade long, Madonna is back with “Bad Girl”, a third single from the “Erotica” album. It comes with a customary lavish video featuring actors Matt Dillon and Christopher Walken and sees Madonna murdered in it! She may be getting a hammering by the critics for her recent film “Body Of Evidence” but her pop career carries on as this climbs 11-10 (14,595) but it’s already losing sales and looks like becoming her smallest hit since “Lucky Star” only made No 14 in 1984, the album however reacts brightly by soaring 71-49 as it avoids falling out the charts.

In other news on the album charts Lenny Kravitz smashes into the top spot but that has probably made his single hold at No 4 (26,985) and also remaining as they were are Whitney Houston (No 6, 18,345) and Suede (No 7, 18,285) but bad news for Annie Lennox who finally drops 3-5 (25,155).


1- NO LIMIT- 2 Unlimited (54,375)
2- OH CAROLINA- Shaggy (45,120)
3- GIVE IN TO ME- Michael Jackson (31,980)
4- ARE YOU GONNA GO MY WAY- Lenny Kravitz (26,985)
5- LITTLE BIRD/ LOVE SONG FOR A VAMPIRE- Annie Lennox (25,155)
6- I’M EVERY WOMAN- Whitney Houston (18,345)
7- ANIMAL NITRATE- Suede (18,285)
8- FEAR OF THE DARK- Iron Maiden (16,800)
9- STICK IT OUT- Right Said Fred & Friends (16,530)
10- BAD GIRL- Madonna (14,595)

3 hours ago, ChrisJK said:

Glad you said this.

Neither this nor Mr Boombastic or It Wasn't Me are much cop in my opinion

Oh, I quite like the other two

'Bad Girl' is divine!

Bad Girl really was lucky to go top 10!

Matt Dillon is in the video !!! I always fancied him and i cant believe i didn't know this!!

Bad Girl was so underestimated at the time.

For a fan who doesn't like many ballads, it's really good and the video is brilliant.

And the photo on the sleeve is awesome.

Unfortunately she was getting the backlash at the time, and Bad Girl fell foul to that.

20TH MARCH





Shaggy’s expectant coronation at the top comes right on cue with 56,745 buyers convinced to part with their money. Shaggy’s version was available for 8 weeks before it finally made the top 75 but it’s moved sharpish up the charts since and it marks a major resurgence in dancehall considering the new tracks in the top 10 this week.

Jamaican reggae artist Shabba Ranks courted controversy last year with an appearance on “The Word” when some ill- judged remarks about homosexuals gave him negative press and “Mr Loverman” stalled at No 23. Now the dust has somewhat settled the song has gone and been re-issued after getting promo on the film "Deep Cover" and improves immediately 12-3 (26,310) to become his first time in the top ten. It’s his 6th hit and betters his previous best of No 17 achieved last year with “Slow And Sexy”.

Number 1 in the US at the moment and climbing 24-8 (18,030) is more reggae/rap from Snow (real name Darrin O’Brien). “Informer” recants his tales of being arrested and imprisoned on occasion back in his native Canada, it’s his debut single and sees the rapper become an instant success on both sides of the pond, an album “12 inches of Snow” will be out soon.

Northern Ireland’s Therapy? Released two mini albums on independent labels which saw them supported by John Peel and earned them a major label deal last year with A&M. “Teethgrinder” became their first hit making No 30 and now the “ShortSharpShock EP” does far better debuting at No 9 (16,035) and has earned some comparison’s to Nirvana with the band being hailed as the UK grunge band of the moment. Lead track "Screamager” is a new composition and not available on last year’s debut album “Nurse” which has assisted with sales no doubt.

Jamiroquai derive their name from the native American Indian tribe Iroquais and have been drumming up industry buzz over the past six months helped by the No 52 peak of their first single “When You Gonna Learn?” last year. The band are busy preparing their first album due in the summer but a second single “Too Young To Die” lifts 15-10 (14,730) to mark their arrival on the pop landscape, it deals lyrically with fear of war and should ensure that the album is a top seller.

Elsewhere we have good news for Right Said Fred & Friends who leap 9-4 (25,560) as they capitalise on Comic Relief day last Friday, surely the only way is now down though?. Heading down are 2 Unlimited 1-2 (47,025), Michael Jackson 3-5 (22,170), Lenny Kravitz 4-6 (19,755) - though he keeps the top spot on the album charts, and Annie Lennox 5-7 (18,045).


1- OH CAROLINA- Shaggy (56,745)
2- NO LIMIT- 2 Unlimited (47,025)
3- MR LOVERMAN- Shabba Ranks (26,310)
4- STICK IT OUT- Right Said Fred & Friends (25,560)
5- GIVE IN TO ME- Michael Jackson (22,170)
6- ARE YOU GONNA GO MY WAY- Lenny Kravitz (19,755)
7- LITTLE BIRD/ LOVE SONG FOR A VAMPIRE- Annie Lennox (18,045)
8- INFORMER – Snow (18,030)
9- SHORTSHARPSHOCK- Therapy (16,035)
10- TOO YOUNG TO DIE- Jamiroquai (14,730)

Ooooh, welcome Jamiroquai!

'Informer' is like, so bad but I love it.

some real bad stuff amongst the gems, so just mentioning the highlights, Depeche, Suede, Shabba, Snow, Madonna, Jamiroquia are all decent, and the top tracks for me Shaggy (fun!), Lenny (fab), Jackson (fab too even without the oldies to boost sales).

I quite like the reggae revival in the top 10!

I like and remember the very Stevie Wonder influenced vocal improvisation part of the Jamiroquai track.

Edited April 15Apr 15 by TheSnake

27TH MARCH

Reggae/ Dancehall takes unprecedented charge of the top of the charts this week with the first top 3 domination ever seen. It’s spearheaded by Shaggy who takes a second week at No 1 with “Oh Carolina” (68,265), a slight improvement week on week. Snow flies 8-2 (35,535) and Shabba Ranks holds at No 3 (32,985) both improve in terms of sales by 95% and 25% respectively and if they can repeat that then Shaggy could yet be in trouble!

The power of the television commercial is proved again this time resurrecting The Bluebells 1984 #8 hit “Young At Heart” from the record loft and pushing it straight into the charts three places higher than its previous peak at No 5 (19,020), the band have long since split up so we’ll have to see if they can reunite for TOTP! The song was of course originally performed by Bananarama, it comes to us now after being used on the current Volkswagon advert.

Despite being a US chart topper in 1974 “Cat’s In The Cradle” failed to chart here, until now that is, Ugly Kid Joe have covered the track and find themselves with a second top 10 hit as the song jumps 13-7 (16,410). It started out as a poem by Harry Chapin’s wife about Chapin’s relationship with his father but was completed by the singer himself as he reflected on his own relationship with his son.

Another US hit which bombed here gets a much more successful cover this time from Cliff Richard, “Peace In Our Time” made No 11 in the states for Eddie Money in 1990 but now smashes straight into No 8 (15,540) as Cliff registers his 62nd top 10 single- well clear of the opposition, a new album is available next month. The song was written by Andy Hill and Pete Sinfield who you may recall wrote many a Bucks Fizz record back in the day.

Grabbing a slightly less impressive 23rd top 10 single is David Bowie who has now moved to Arista records and scores his first top tenner in 7 years with “Jump They Say”. The song deals with the death of Bowie’s half brother Terry back in 1985 and is produced by Bowie’s old friend Nile Rodgers, it previews Bowie’s new album “Black Tie, White Noise” which will be his first solo studio album in six years so expect big sales. The single sold 14,685 to debut at No 10, it’s the 147th song to debut in the top 10 in the 90s which is one more than in the whole of the 80s and gives you an idea of how fast the charts have become over the last few years.

2 Unlimited drop 2-4 (32,910) while Lenny Kravitz holds at No 6 (16,515) and Michael Jackson loses traction 5-9 (15,090).


1- OH CAROLINA- Shaggy (68,265)
2- INFORMER- Snow (35,535)
3- MR LOVERMAN- Shabba Ranks (32,985)
4- NO LIMIT- 2 Unlimited (32,910)
5- YOUNG AT HEART- The Bluebells (19,020)
6- ARE YOU GONNA GO MY WAY- Lenny Kravitz (16,515)
7- CAT’S IN THE CRADLE- Ugly Kid Joe (16,410)
8- PEACE IN OUR TIME- Cliff Richard (15,540)
9- GIVE IN TO ME- Michael Jackson (15,090)
10- JUMP THEY SAY- David Bowie (14,685)

'Young At Heart' is so nostalgic I remember it from the radio in the 90s because of this 1993 revival.

'Cats In The Cradle' is a good moody rock song.

I absolutely LOVE Too Young To Die, it’s such a good record from Jamiroquai <3

The Bluebells is a pop classic, great it got a bigger second-run. NIce to see Bucks Fizz still having hit songs, or rather their songwriters, even if they were out of fashion now. Bowie's brother was very troubled, I remember Peter Noone talking about him in a 1971 interview when Bowie wrote him Oh You Pretty Things, so Jump They Say going top 10 was good to see. And finally, Cats In The Cradle is a deeply affecting, sensitive, sad song and record, beautifully sung and produced that I loved from the moment I first heard it. And then there's that plodding rubbish cover by Ugly Kid Joe.

3RD APRIL



There was a great tussle at the top of the charts this week with Snow the early chart leader though he was never comfortably free with the re-issued Bluebells track and Shaggy always within striking distance. Only 5,000 copies the three by the time the shops shut on Saturday and it was The Bluebells who triumphed as they rose 5-1 (58,335) benefiting from a reformed band playing TOTP, “Young At Heart” was co-written by Bananarama’s Siobhan Fahey who was also at No 1 this time last year with Shakespears Sister and so will get another boost for her bank balance with this.  The winning margin of 300 copies is the slimmest since last April when (funnily enough Shakespears sister triumphed over Right Said Fred.

Shaggy dips 1-2 (58,035) as he overtook Snow at the death and topped the 300,000 mark, indeed TOTP proved that it can still, on occasion, decide the direction of the No 1 single as only Snow failed to feature on the show and thusly lost his lead trailing in at No 3 (53,520) even though he had a 52% sales increase week on week, and of course now that he actually falls down the chart he won’t get further exposure on the program!

The rest of the top 5 were way behind, Shabba Ranks drifts 3-4 (36,375) and 2 Unlimited descend 4-5 (24,285) but it is now well ensconced at the No 1 position on the YTD which we'll review next week

“Fever” is the first Madonna cover to make it to single status (in the UK at any rate), it was originally recorded by Little Willy John in 1956 before becoming a UK chart hit for Helen Shapiro, The McCoys and most notably Peggy Lee in 1958 for whom it became her signature hit. It becomes Madonna’s 29th top 10 single as it appears at No 6 (19,920) only a month after her last single “Bad Girl” made No 10 which is surely an admittance that that single underperformed as it falls 30-44 this week. It is the fourth top 10 hit to be lifted from “Erotica” which has yet to cross the half million mark and revives only 63-60 this week.

Stock and Waterman continue to have a revival in the charts with Sybil’s “When I’m Good And Ready” becoming their third production in as many months to make the top flight. It also marks Sybil’s third top 10 single coming hot on the heels of “The Love I Lost” which has sold 226,000 to date and is still charting, and 1990’s “Walk On By” which is still the highest ranking version of the track. The new single flies 16-8 (17,385) and will feature on her forthcoming album due in the summer.  it is a 73rd top 10 single for PWL dating back to 1984, though only the 62nd to officially bear the Stock and Waterman names.

One of the hottest dance records of the year finally makes its presence felt in the top 10, that belongs to Robin Stone who records as Robin S, her debut single “Show Me Love” dates back to 1990 when it was released under her full name and failed to chart. It now comes remixed by Stonebridge and Nick Nice for 1993 and was an instant club hit which translated into a chart hit as it rises 22-10 (15,735).

Ugly Kid Joe hold steady at No 7 (19,110) and David Bowie climbs 10-9 (16,605).

1- YOUNG AT HEART- The Bluebells (58,335)
2- OH CAROLINA- Shaggy (58,035)
3- INFORMER- Snow (53,520)
4- MR LOVERMAN- Shabba Ranks (36,375)
5- NO LIMIT- 2 Unlimited (24,285)
6- FEVER- Madonna (19,920)
7- CAT’S IN THE CRADLE- Ugly Kid Joe (19,110)
8- WHEN I’M GOOD AND READY- Sybil (17,385)
9- JUMP THEY SAY- David Bowie (16,605)
10- SHOW ME LOVE- Robin S (15,735)

I never did, and still don't, find Madonna's version of Fever particularly interesting.

Released far too quickly after Bad Girl, it really did feel like they were saying "throw out a cover version of a song everyone knows because Bad Girl wasn't a hit".

Am I right in remembering that the video hadn't been finished at this point so the UK got one made up of clips from other videos instead?

54 minutes ago, ChrisJK said:

I never did, and still don't, find Madonna's version of Fever particularly interesting.

Released far too quickly after Bad Girl, it really did feel like they were saying "throw out a cover version of a song everyone knows because Bad Girl wasn't a hit".

Am I right in remembering that the video hadn't been finished at this point so the UK got one made up of clips from other videos instead?

Yes the promo wasn't shot until May 93.

I quite like Madonna's version of 'Fever', although on balance it's probably my least favourite single from the Erotica era. That's incredibly quick after 'Bad Girl' though, I never quite realised. Like 3 weeks or something? 😳

'When I'm Good And Ready' is an absolute classic. I saw her perform that at the Eagle in Manchester last year.

Robin S - Show Me Love is a big influential classic.

Elsewhere, a bit cheesy and dated S/A/W style production but vocally quite sweet and lovely - When I'm Good And Ready.

Edited April 18Apr 18 by TheSnake