2 minutes ago, Jessie Where said:

Mr Blobby absolutely terrified me as a kid, evil thing it is

Not a fan then John? 😂

Have to disagree with PCF on the Prince track... I wasn't particularly fussed at the time but since I've really grown to love Controversy, it's really very ahead of its time considering it was first released in 1981 and I really love the contrast between the stark verses and the chorus. The edit in 1993 made it easier to digest as well seeing as the original was pretty long.

'For Whom The Bell Tolls' should have been Christmas #1 great song although it is a sad song.

I remember it playing in a shopping centre when I was younger in the 90s.

18TH DECEMBER



Well they’ve done it! And in style! Take That become the first act in UK Chart history to enter the charts at No 1 with three consecutive singles, “Babe” is the track to do it and it sold a mighty 133,080 a best for the year so far and the first time we've broke through the 6 figure weekly mark! The song is Britain’s 699th chart topper and Take That are the 11th act to score three No 1’s in a calendar year and the first since Jive Bunny in 1989, the second to have three debuts at the top in a year (after Slade in 1973), but the first to have three consecutive singles all debut at No 1 ever. On top of all of that it means the group pull level with Queen as the only acts in the 90s to have as many as three No 1 hits. Parent album “Everything Changes” hasn’t left the top 10 since its release 9 weeks ago as it rises 6-4 with sales approaching half a million. The band have clearly benefited from a recent 20 date UK tour which has only just ended and has been evidenced by the group picking a record 8 awards at the annual Smash Hits awards.

All that is rather tough on Mr Blobby who himself saw sales of his single improve by 77% to 123,735 as he chased Take That from the off with the gap actually closing as the week progressed though not by enough and so Mr Blobby becomes the first one week chart topper since U2’s “The Fly” back in 1991. Meat Loaf completes the top 3 as he drops 2-3 (45,135) but that’s enough to make “I’d Do Anything For Love” the best selling single of 1993 and unless Take That continue to shift copies then it’s likely to remain there with 3 weeks left of the year.

Chaka Demus & Pliers have also had a great 1993 with two top 4 singles “Tease Me” and “She Don’t Let Nobody” , now they return with a cover of the Top Notes “Twist & Shout” which was made popular by the Beatles but was a No 4 hit for both Brian Poole & The Tremeloes and Salt N Pepa and now for this pair as it debuts at No 4 (39,060). It is in part thanks to a bit of re-organisation on the part of the record label, originally the duo were to release “Murder She Wrote” as their follow up but they had a guest spot on “Twist And Shout” which was officially credited as “Jack Radics & The Taxi Gang Featuring Chaka Demus & Pliers” and was intended as a rather low key release the week before “Murder She Wrote”. Plans changed and so did the credit and voila we have a major hit on our hands.

Andrew Lloyd Webber has a habit of generating chart hits from his musicals, see Sarah Brightman and Michael Ball in the 80s, and Jason Donovan in the 90s for examples, his new musical “Sunset Boulevard” is no different providing the song “The Perfect Year” which is a new hit for Dina Carroll. Her last single “Don’t Be A Stranger” holds at No 8 (25,290) as her new release rises 14-10 (20,385) , she becomes the first female since Whitney Houston to score two simultaneous top 10 hits, obviously with New Year a few weeks away this should continue to rack up the sales in the interim plus it isn’t on her 600,000 debut album “So Close”.

Bee Gees move 6-5 (38,145) and East 17 rise 9-7 (30,570), but it’s over for Elton John & Kiki Dee who drop 3-6 (32,025) and Bryan Adams is stuck in that Dina Carroll sandwich 7-9 (21,525).

So next week is the Christmas chart- Take That look to have it in the bag but their victory was only slender- could it be Chaka Demus & Pliers or even Mr Blobby, but then no record has ever returned to the top after being deposed (re-issues and re-makes aside)since 1969! Next week should be interesting.


1- BABE- Take That (133,080)
2- MR BLOBBY- Mr Blobby (123,735)
3- I’D DO ANYTHING FOR LOVE (BUT I WON’T DO THAT)- Meat Loaf (45,135)
4- TWIST AND SHOUT- Chaka Demus & Pliers (39,060)
5- FOR WHOM THE BELLS TOLLS- Bee Gees (38,145)
6- TRUE LOVE- Elton John & Kiki Dee (32,025)
7- IT’S ALRIGHT- East 17 (30,570)
8- DON’T BE A STRANGER- Dina Carroll (25,290)
9- PLEASE FORGIVE ME- Bryan Adams (21,525)
10- THE PERFECT YEAR- Dina Carroll (20,385)

19 hours ago, dandy* said:

Have to disagree with PCF on the Prince track... I wasn't particularly fussed at the time but since I've really grown to love Controversy, it's really very ahead of its time considering it was first released in 1981 and I really love the contrast between the stark verses and the chorus. The edit in 1993 made it easier to digest as well seeing as the original was pretty long.

Yeah playing it again I can see it as the template for his early 1999-onwards career, if that wasnt I Wanna Be Your Lover (which I liked at the time, Controversy I didnt hear till it came out 1993). It's a good jam making a point, but I was hoping some non-singles gems like songs he gave away, or Starfish And Coffee, or the very naughty Lemon Crush might get a single release.

Twist & Shout is fun, but it's no Beatles. No version of the song is, but it does cope well with any genre treatment. Dina Carroll getting a Lloyd-Webber gift but his peak days were Phantom Of The Opera and prior, he didnt really do those sort of timeless ballads from here onwards, the ones that sounded good in or out of the Musical. Babe was on the one hand preferable to Blobby, but on the other hand was also deadly dull. Terrible top 2, almost any other song in the chart would have been preferable.

For Dina Carroll, its like today's charts with the two songs of the same popular artist in the top 10.

Chaka Demus and Pliers sound like a electrician company and I like some of their songs but the Twist and Shout cover was not needed.

Take That - Babe is not one of my faves.

Edited May 29May 29 by TheSnake

25TH DECEMBER

The Christmas chart throws a major surprise this week, for the first time in 24 years a song returns to the top of the charts in the same chart run and that song comes from Mr Blobby. With the money firmly on Take That it’s left the bookies not best pleased but in the end the teen heart throbs couldn’t keep the spot and, instead of Blobby, they become the first 1 week chart toppers since U2’s “The Fly” unless they too can return to No 1. The track also becomes only the second single ever to debut at No 1 then immediately lose pole position, the other was of course Jive Bunny & The Mastermixers "Let's Party" exactly 4 years ago this week. It was all down to the percentage decrease of the two records “Mr Blobby” reducing sales by 20% to 98,595 and “Babe” depleting by 31% to 92,385 which allowed the novelty disc to be crowned the festive chart topper for 1993, it has sold a healthy 326,025 in its first month on sale and may yet clear the 500,000 mark before the year end, incidentally it has already shipped 600,000 which may have proved optimistic but then it should have another good week this week.

Sales for the Christmas chart took place as far away from the big day as is possible, December 13-18th, which accounts for the lack of anything selling 100,000+ and should mean that sales increase next week with the run in to Christmas included a week later.


Don’t discount Chaka Demus & Pliers either, they rise 4-3 and not only have the highest peaking version of “Twist & Shout” plus also record a 60% sales increase to 62,730. Also making positive steps are The Bee Gees 5-4 (46,335) with their biggest hit since “You Win Again”, East 17 lift 7-5 (40,665) and Dina Carroll’s “The Perfect Year” is also on the move 10-7 (28,980) whilst former hit “Don’t Be A Stranger” gets deleted and thusly falls 8-16. Former big hits on their way down include Elton John & Kiki Dee 6-9 (24,855) and Meat Loaf 3-6 (39,765) as it creeps nearer the 700,000 mark




Meat Loaf remains at No 1 in the album charts for an 11th week and has now sold a million as it becomes the biggest seller of the year too, the original “Bat Out Of Hell” is also back rising 41-32 and the title track has been re-issued by Epic as it cashes in on his current popularity. The song was a single back in 1979 making No 15 and has become Loaf’s signature tune over the years, but already it is a bigger hit 14 years later moving 11-8 (25,695), Meat Loaf therefore becomes the third act in 1993 to have two simultaneous top 10 singles after Dina Carroll and Whitney Houston.

Also re-released is 1984’s Frankie Goes To Hollywood Christmas single “The Power Of Love”, it famously became the band’s third chart topper from three releases. The new best of “Bang” went top 5 and has sold over 100,000 copies since its release, the last single re-issue was “Welcome To The Pleasuredome” which could only make No 18 but “The Power Of Love” storms 15-10 (21,630), it sold over half a million its original release including a solitary week at the top before Band Aid came along.

1- MR BLOBBY- Mr Blobby (98,595)
2- BABE- Take That (92,385)
3- TWIST AND SHOUT- Chaka Demus & Pliers (62,730)
4- FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS- Bee Gees (46,335)
5- IT’S ALRIGHT – East 17 (40,665)
6- I’D DO ANYTHING FOR LOVE (BUT I WON’T DO THAT)- Meat Loaf (39,765)
7- THE PERFECT YEAR- Dina Carroll (28,980)
8- BAT OUT OF HELL- Meat Loaf (25,695)
9- TRUE LOVE- Elton John & Kiki Dee (24,855)
10- THE POWER OF LOVE- Frankie Goes To Hollywood (21,630)

On 20/04/2026 at 10:30, dandy* said:

Regret <3

The song that really got me in to New Order

Same. I had loved True Faith but didn't pay much attention to the Technique singles. 1993 was the year that my tastes change direction towards music with a lot more guitars. I was into REM, Depeche Mode and then New Order.

1ST JANUARY



Even though there was only 5 days of trading the Christmas run in kept sales very lively. Mr Blobby grabs a third week at the top with a 50% sales increase which went along with the kudos of having the festive chart topper, sales of 147,435 this week takes its total to 473,460 that’s enough for 6th place on the YTD chart with a week to go (and needless to say the highest weekly sale of the year). Meanwhile the rest of the top 5 remains static too, Take That are No 2 (83,235) and Chaka Demus & Pliers are just below them on 79,050 they may well swap places next week. Bee Gees freeze at No 4 (62,865) and East 17 are alright at No 5 (48,825)

Formerly a member of Latin Freestyle act, TKA Louis Sharpe has now left the group and using the moniker K7 has scored a big hit in the form of “Come Baby Come” which is the sole new hit in the top 10 rising 13-10 (23,730). The song has just made the US top 20 and so is actually behind the UK who seem to have embraced the song far quicker, it contains a few samples including Paula Abdul’s “Straight Up”.

Aside from Take That the only song in the top 10 to lose sales is Elton John & Kiki Dee who hold at No 9 (24,150) everything else gains sales regardless of movement. In keeping with the traditional Christmas freeze there isn’t much change in positions, Dina Carroll nudges 7-6 (44,475) and the two Meat Loaf tracks are side by side in the charts, “I’d Do Anything For Love” drops 6-7 (43,335) and “Bat Out Of Hell” holds at No 8 (26,880) the former disc now passes the 700,000 mark as predicted.


1- MR BLOBBY- Mr Blobby (147,435)
2- BABE- Take That (83,235)
3- TWIST AND SHOUT- Chaka Demus & Pliers (79,050)
4- FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS- Bee Gees (62,865)
5- IT’S ALRIGHT- East 17 (48,825)
6- THE PERFECT YEAR- Dina Carroll (44,475)
7- I’D DO ANYTHING FOR LOVE (BUT I WON’T DO THAT)- Meat Loaf (43,335)
8- BAT OUT OF HELL- Meat Loaf (26,880)
9- TRUE LOVE- Elton John & Kiki Dee (24,150)
10- COME BABY COME- K7 (23,730)

The two classic oldies are welcome additions, Meat Loaf should have gone top 10 first time round and Power Of Love would have had a longer run on top if not for two million selling charity-selling christmas classics so this is a worthy bonus for Frankie. K7 I quite liked but wouldnt say it's a radio staple these days.

8TH JANUARY

So 1993 comes to an end and we sneak a final new chart topper into it in the form of Chaka Demus & Pliers, their version of “Twist & Shout” becomes the 700th chart topper ever as it moves 3-1 (46,530) despite registering a 41% sales decrease, it’s the highest that either the duo or the song have ever been and rounds off a superb year for the genre to boot. The explanation for the rise may be that firstly it is less seasonal than offerings from Mr Blobby or Take That and being more aimed at the party season including New Year’s Eve but certainly the fact that it has never exploded at retail through the festive season now appears to have reaped rewards.

Take That remain at No 2 for a third week (40,485) as they came behind to overtake the outgoing chart topper from Mr Blobby which as expected is fading fast 1-3 (38,700) that’s a 74% sales haemorrhage week on week.

The slump of the big two Christmas hits gives hope of further rises for East 17 and Dina Carroll, they both advance 5-4 (30,720) and 6-5 (28,320) despite losing sales but may hold up better than tracks above them. East 17 now have their biggest hit on their hands and if they can overtake Take That next week then that will be a bonus, the Take That boys have the No 1 album this week as “Everything Changes” returns to the summit which will further drain sales.

Bee Gees drop 4-6 (24,855) but kept ahead of K7 who rise 10-7 (21,705), and below him there’s another Meat Loaf double, the best selling single of the year “I’d Do Anything For Love” drops 7-8 (19,635) and “Bat Out Of Hell” dips 8-9 (15,195).

The sole new song is a new entry from D: Ream who spent most of 1992 and 1993 drumming up fans in dance circles and generating four top 30 singles without troubling the top 10. One of those tracks “Things Can Only Get Better” was re-issued last week to take advantage of the release lull and to capitalise on the exposure they achieved supporting Take That on tour last year and it has done the trick by re-entering at No 10 (11,355), 14 places higher than it peaked last February. That sale however is the lowest since Peter Gabriel registered a mere 11,310 sales W/E 31/1/93.

1- TWIST AND SHOUT- Chaka Demus & Pliers (46,530)
2- BABE- Take That (40,485)
3- MR BLOBBY- Mr Blobby (38,700)
4- IT’S ALRIGHT- East 17 (30,720)
5- THE PERFECT YEAR- Dina Carroll (28,320)
6- FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS- Bee Gees (24,855)
7- COME BABY COME- K7 (21,705)
8- I’D DO ANYTHING FOR LOVE (BUT I WON’T DO THAT)- Meat Loaf (19,635)
9- BAT OUT OF HELL- Meat Loaf (15,195)
10- THINGS CAN ONLY GET BETTER- D: Ream (11,355)

Quick reminder- Gallup continued to produce the charts for a further 4 weeks so I'll add them to this thread- meaning we will finish on Friday!

Thanks Gezza. 1993 was not a strong year really for singles, but some great albums from REM, Pulp, Blur and Suede make up for it.

15TH JANUARY

1994 starts with a second week at the top for “Twist And Shout” which improves its sales to 51,782, it was never in any danger of being caught by the chasing pack, if you’re wondering where the album “Tease Me” is it’s being re-released in a fortnight and will now include the track.

It’s time at the top might be short however with D:Ream charging 10-2 (34,782), notionally East 17 continuing to inch nearer 4-3 but it gained sales only fractionally to 31,875 and looks to have run out of steam.



Highest new entry of the week comes from Culture Beat and their third release from “Serenity” entitled “Anything”. It follows the usual Culture Beat blue plan and proves the adage if isn’t broke, the song gets off to a best start yet for them by debuting at No 5 (24,276).

In cinema’s next month “Three Musketeers” stars Charlie Sheen and Keifer Sutherland, it also comes with an all star theme in “All For Love” which is sung by Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, and Sting. The song is currently No 2 in the states and now debuts here at No 7 (20,587) instantly becoming Sting’s solo best outing ever but its Rod’s 25th top 10 hit and Adams’ 4th. It is also co-written by Adams and caps an excellent week for the Canadian who also celebrates his album “So Far So Good” finally making No 1 here although it doesn’t feature the new single. He is also now the biggest selling singles act of the 90s again having wrestled the accolade from Whitney Houston.

K7 rise 7-4 (25,891) but heading south are Dina Carroll 5-6 (20,995), Bee Gees 6-8 (20,519) Mr Blobby 3-9 (19,703) and Take That 2-10 (19,567).


1- TWIST AND SHOUT- Chaka Demus & Pliers (51,782)
2- THINGS CAN ONLY GET BETTER- D: Ream (34,782)
3- IT’S ALRIGHT- East 17 (31,875)
4- COME BABY COME- K7 (25,891)
5- ANYTHING- Culture Beat (24,276)
6- THE PERFECT YEAR- Dina Carroll (20,995)
7- ALL FOR LOVE- Bryan Adams/ Rod Stewart/ Sting (20,587)
8- FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS- Bee Gees (20,519)
9- MR BLOBBY- Mr Blobby (19,703)
10- BABE- Take That (19,567)

East 17 having a great chart run and consistent sales!

I really like that Culture Beat track!

22ND JANUARY

Sprinting way ahead of the field D:Ream become the first new chart topper of 1994, nothing could stop “Things Can Only Get Better” from ascending to pole position as it lead from the off, the outfit is essentially vocalist Peter Cunnah and some part time musicians who now seemed to have moved into the big time. The song sold 57,273 copies last week as they become the first Northern Irish act to top the charts since Feargul Sharkey in 1985.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-TfcD6E7oY

K7 rise 4-3 (37,434) but they can’t catch the outgoing chart topper from Chaka Demus & Pliers which sold 47,124, challengers mount up below though with Bryan Adams/ Sting/ and Rod Stewart moving 7-4 (36,550) and Culture Beat hold at No 5 (33,592) even with a sales boost. East 17 drop 3-6 (28,203) but below them we have 4 new tracks to discuss as the new year clean out really hits home.

Grabbing considerable critical acclaim with her debut album “Little Earthquakes” Tori Amos also scored three top 40 singles with “Crucify” becoming the biggest making No 15 in 1992. Her second album “Under The Pink” is primed and ready and first release “Cornflake Girl” establishes her as a rising star as it debuts at No 7 (18,547), CD2 is out this week and will contain covers of songs by Joni Mitchell, Billie Holliday, and Jimi Hendrix. Typically for Amos the song deals with a rather controversial issue that of female genital mutilation, wonder if the censor’s will notice or care?

UK Girl Group’s are alive and kicking with Eternal currently flying the flag for the genre, their second single “Save Our Love” floats 12-8 (18,496) this week to give them a 100% success rate with their releases. Their album “Always And Forever” got lost in the Christmas rush peaking at No 33 before the big day but it has improved over recent weeks with the new single to promote it climbing 24-11 this week to breach the top 20 for the first time.

Released as a half-cocked attempt at grabbing the festive top spot, Haddaway’s “I Miss You” rather underperformed initially but with the tinsel a distant memory it seems that this has turned into a winter warmer rising slowly 11-9 (18,309) in its 6th week. For all his single success the album has spent just 5 weeks on the charts peaking at No 19 though it is now being re-promoted.

Making up for the disappointment of his last single “Pass It On” making No 35 Bitty Mclean continues to ride the current Reggae revival with “Here I Stand” which charges 21-10 (15,827). It’s also an historic week for the CD single which accounted for over 50% of all singles sold last week, a new high for the format.

1- THINGS CAN ONLY GET BETTER- D: Ream (57,273)
2- TWIST AND SHOUT- Chaka Demus & Pliers (47,124)
3- COME BABY COME- K7 (37,434)
4- ALL FOR LOVE- Bryan Adams/ Rod Stewart/ Sting (36,550)
5- ANYTHING- Culture Beat (33,592)
6- IT’S ALRIGHT- East 17 (28,203)
7- CORNFLAKE GIRL- Tori Amos (18,547)
8- SAVE OUR LOVE- Eternal (18,496)
9- I MISS YOU- Haddaway (18,309)
10- HERE I STAND- Bitty McLean (15,827)

Have to say, apart from D:Ream, still a banger albeit overplayed, none of the new entries are familiar old faves I enjoy revisiting, more like hits of the day I tolerate hearing. Bitty McLean and Tori Amos are the best of the newies, I dont mind them but dont get to hear them much to get more enthusiastic about them.

Just quick note (which I should have posted a few days ago)- the 1994 figures are once again the ones that were reported at the time and not the revised figures