It's only just entered at No 8 give it a chance..

13TH NOVEMBER

Meat Loaf makes it four weeks at the top and suffers his first sales decrease albeit a mere 22% to 73,905 but he continues at No 1 with ease on the album front. Sales of “I’d Do Anything” now stand at 353,205 making it the 12th biggest seller of the year so far- an impressive tally. He’s only there as Bryan Adams, though sticking at No 2, lost 14% week on week to come in at 51,435 and with his album out this week his chance at the top must surely be over now? Dina Carroll completes the top 3 as she climbs 4-3 (34,545) as she too declines at retail, but even better the album is back in the top 5!

“Real Love” was the debut release from Scottish dance outfit Time Frequency and made No 60 last year, since then they’ve gone on to garner critical acclaim in the field and score increasingly bigger hits. A new remix of the debut hit finally now becomes their first top ten hit lifting 11-8 (18,225)

Highest new entry of the week comes from Urban Cookie Collective and their follow up to “The Key: The Secret” which has sold 280,000 in its run to No 2 in August. “Feels Like Heaven” is a much more immediate hit debuting at No 9 (16,830)

Just like the Time Frequency single there’s another track getting a second whirl, this time the Orb’s “Little Fluffy Clouds” a song which samples an interview with US musician Rickie Lee Jones and originally made No 87 three years ago. It now arrives at No 10 (16,380) which makes it the 60th track to debut in the top flight this year and equals the record set last year!

Culture Beat rise 7-4 (31,905) and Mariah Carey surges 8-7 (21,315) but the dream is over for Cappella who fall 3-5 (29,820) and Goodmen dip 5-6 (29,775).


1- I’D DO ANYTHING FOR LOVE (BUT I WON’T DO THAT)- Meat Loaf (73,905)
2- PLEASE FORGIVE ME- Bryan Adams (51,435)
3- DON’T BE A STRANGER- Dina Carroll (34,545)
4- GOT TO GET IT- Culture Beat (31,905)
5- U GOT 2 LET THE MUSIC- Cappella (29,820)
6- GIVE IT UP- Goodmen (29,775)
7- HERO- Mariah Carey (21,315)
8- REAL LOVE 93- Time Frequency (18,225)
9- FEELS LIKE HEAVEN- Urban Cookie Collective (16,830)
10- LITTLE FLUFFY CLOUDS- The Orb (16,380)

Loooove 'Feels Like Heaven', much better than TKTS for me

Little Fluffy Clouds! <3

Also like the Urban Cookie Collective track, a good follow up

'Real Love' sounds very 1992 rave, the chorus is a bit cheesy but a good dance track.

'Feels Like Heaven' is gloriously upbeat and charming and reminds me of a 90s version of Yazoo - Other Side of Love.

Edited May 24May 24 by TheSnake

20TH NOVEMBER

He may have been bounded off the No 1 spot on the album charts by Phil Collins but Meat Loaf continues to rule supreme on the singles front for a fifth week. Another 64,935 copies passed over the counter causing the song to saunter 12-8 on the YTD chart (and moves over the 400,000 mark) with its sights set firmly on the current leader Ace Of Base which will probably lose the crown to UB40 in a few weeks at any rate. “I’d Do Anything For Love” is also the joint longest running No 1 of 1993 along with 2 Unlimited.

His victory was a stroll and even though the rest of the top 3 all remain static both are in decline saleswise, Bryan Adams sold 45,150 (-10%) and Dina Carroll 32,505 (-4%) and should be unsettled next week.

Most likely the unsettling will come from a duo that are being tipped as a possible Christmas chart topper (we’ll run down the runners and riders next week), it’s also an instance of a duo taking a whopping 17 years to follow a chart topper! That song was 1976’s “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” and the duo are obviously Elton John & Kiki Dee, their second single as an outfit is a cover of the Cole Porter penned song “True Love” originally recorded by Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly and featured in the film “High Society”. It’s Elton’s 21st top 10 single but only Dee’s 2nd, and will feature on the forthcoming Elton album “Duets” out in a fortnight. The song debuts at No 8 (21,675).

You’ll probably already be aware of the Soul Asylum song “Runaway Train”, it was a No 37 in the summer staying in the charts for two months, it’s since gone on to become a top 10 hit stateside and throughout Europe prompting the record label to give it another whirl and it’s paid off. It moves 11-7 (21,705) to finally make it in the UK, keep an eye out for the promo which highlights the cause of depression and homelessness. It is actually region specific with photographs of young missing people from various countries depending on where you are in the world- that includes a "UK Version".

Another new entry and another cover, this time it’s a new Guns N Roses single which is a version of the Dead Boys track “Ain’t It Fun” which will feature on the new album “The Spaghetti Incident” out in a few weeks. The project is an album of covers of punk and hard rock tracks which the band recorded in between dates on their “Use Your Illusion” tour which ended in the summer. The single debuts at No 9 (20,970).

Culture Beat hold at No 4 (23,895) but certainly won’t be threatening the top of the charts on current form, Urban Cookie Collective rise 9-5 (23,190) and Cappella continue their descent 5-6 (21,945) with the Goodmen completed the recap 6-10 (20,385) as the top 10 all clear 20,000, a first since June.


1- I’D DO ANYTHING FOR LOVE (BUT I WON’T DO THAT)- Meat Loaf (64,935)
2- PLEASE FORGIVE ME- Bryan Adams (45,150)
3- DON’T BE A STRANGER- Dina Carroll (32,505)
4- GOT TO GET IT- Culture Beat (23,895)
5- FEELS LIKE HEAVEN- Urban Cookie Collective (23,190)
6- U GOT 2 LET THE MUSIC- Cappella (21,945)
7- RUNAWAY TRAIN- Soul Asylum (21,705)
8- TRUE LOVE- Elton John & Kiki Dee (21,675)
9- AIN’T IT FUN- Guns N Roses (20,970)
10- GIVE IT UP- Goodmen (20,385)

Here's the UK version of the soul asylum promo- some of the missing persons were much later discovered to be the victims of the serial killer Peter Tobin so is not really shown on UK channels anymore.

This is one of the best top 10 of the year:

1- I’D DO ANYTHING FOR LOVE (BUT I WON’T DO THAT)- Meat Loaf (73,905)
2- PLEASE FORGIVE ME- Bryan Adams (51,435)
3- DON’T BE A STRANGER- Dina Carroll (34,545)
4- GOT TO GET IT- Culture Beat (31,905)
5- U GOT 2 LET THE MUSIC- Cappella (29,820)
6- GIVE IT UP- Goodmen (29,775)
7- HERO- Mariah Carey (21,315)
8- REAL LOVE 93- Time Frequency (18,225)
9- FEELS LIKE HEAVEN- Urban Cookie Collective (16,830)
10- LITTLE FLUFFY CLOUDS- The Orb (16,380)

If you take out 1,2 and 7, you have six great dance tunes + one of Dina's best songs. "Little Fluffy Clouds" is such a timeless masterpiece already released first in 1990. "Feels Like Heaven" is a great follow-up to "The Key / The Secret". Love the Time Frequency and Mary Kiani's voice. "Real Love" is awesome and a great follow-up to the gigantic "The Ultimate High", which is my favourite song from 1993. The vinyl version had a great poster, which was hung up in my bedroom. Goodmen's "Give It Up" is a fantastic tribal house banger. "U Got 2 Let The Music" is one of the best eurodance songs with one of my favourite synths of all time. "Got To Get It" is an ace follow-up to "Mr. Vain". Memories!

Real Love, enjoy the original and the cover is OK, but an odd choice for Elton & Kiki to do a comeback to. Kiki's solo stuff like Star, Amoureuse and Music In Me is way better, though True Love may well be better than a forthcoming cover from Elt on their first smash. No memory of that Guns'n'Roses cover at all, but Soul Asylum is a 90's great and should have hit right off the bat.

27TH NOVEMBER





He’s still clinging on! Registering only a small 7% decrease week on week Meat Loaf makes it six weeks at No 1 and becomes the longest running No 1 single of 1993, a title he now can’t lose. “I’d Do Anything For Love” sold 60,840 and may come under pressure from “True Love” next week, it rockets 8-2 (36,960) increasing sales by a healthy 75%, given that, it’s shame that his album “Duets” is out this week and may hamper his and Kiki’s chances. Total sales of the Meat loaf track are now 478,980 as it lifts 8-5 on the YTD and will pass the half million mark this week.

The Loaf is also No 1 in the US where this week he holds off the new Janet Jackson single “Again”, it’s her third release from the album “Janet” and has already improved on the No 14 peak of her last offering “If” by moving 12-6 (20,940) this week and becoming her 6th top 10 hit in part due to a 2nd CD featuring Hank & Keith remix of "That's The Way Love Goes" which has been a big club hit this year. It’s written for her forthcoming film debut in “Poetic Justice” and features a promo directed by her husband Elizondo Jnr, the album also re-enters at No 59 spurned on by interest in the single.

Though it flopped in the UK on release the Doobie Brothers “Long Train Runnin” made No 8 stateside and has become a radio staple over the years finally becoming a UK hit in the hands of Bananarama two years ago. The song was remixed by Ben Liebrand and made No 76 in May this year, it’s now been given a new remix by Sure Is Pure who recently made over Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family” into a top 10 hit again, it’s these new mixes that debut at No 10 (16,125) the first time they’ve ever charted this highly!

The rise of Kiki Dee & Elton John has meant that the remaining tracks in the top 4 last week shove a notch down, Bryan Adams dips 2-3 (36,510) at the last moment and to make matters worse he sees his “So Far So Good” unable to dislodge Meat Loaf at the top of the album charts making a double defeat at his hands. Dina Carroll also falls a place 3-4 (32,280) and Culture Beat ebb 4-5 (21,090).

Further down Soul Asylum are stationed at No 7 (20,400), Urban Cookie Collective relax 5-8 (19,800) and Mariah Carey returns to the big sellers 11-9 (16,890) by virtue of the fact that she loses sales at a slower rate than those around.



1- I’D DO ANYTHING FOR LOVE (BUT I WON’T DO THAT)- Meat Loaf (60,840)
2- TRUE LOVE- Elton John & Kiki Dee (36,960)
3- PLEASE FORGIVE ME- Bryan Adams (36,510)
4- DON’T BE A STRANGER- Dina Carroll (32,280)
5- GOT TO GET IT- Culture Beat (21,090)
6- AGAIN- Janet Jackson (20,940)
7- RUNAWAY TRAIN- Soul Asylum (20,400)
8- FEELS LIKE HEAVEN- Urban Cookie Collective (19,800)
9- HERO- Mariah Carey (16,890)
10- LONG TRAIN RUNNIN (SURE IS PURE REMIX)- Doobie Brothers (16,125)

 

With Christmas a month away it’s that time that we review the potential Festive chart toppers!



TAKE THAT- Babe- Starting off with the bookies favourites these are the teen heart throbs that do no wrong this year and now they’ve done a ballad- how could it fail?

MEAT LOAF- Bat Out Of Hell- A re-issue of Meat Loaf’s classic and follow up to the current chart topper- should be there or thereabouts.

DINA CARROLL- The Perfect Year- Not too many odes to a new year but watch out for this one as Carroll’s on a roll at present and this could be a surprise chart topper.

KIKI DEE & ELTON JOHN- True Love- one time bookie hot shot until Take That came along, it already has a chance at being No 1 next week but has it gone too soon?

MR BLOBBY- Mr Blobby- another one of 1993’s biggest stars, ratings of “Noel’s House Party” are currently around 15 million per episode and it of course gave birth to Mr Blobby- it is the silly season so this could be a major hit!

CLIFF RICHARD- Healing Love- You’d be a fool to dismiss Cliff’s chances at a Christmas No 1 and here’s this year’s offering!

WHITNEY HOUSTON- I Will Always Love You- Last year’s Crimbo chart topper is getting another whirl, topping the charts for 10 weeks could it once again sweep all opposition aside?

PET SHOP BOYS- I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind Of Thing- Experiencing something of an upturn in fortunes, the duo almost bagged themselves a No 1 last out with “Go West”- could they go one better now?

EXETER BRANDEEN BOYS CHOIR- Remembering Christmas- Something a bit more traditional at Christmas? Well try this little track full of angelic voices!

U2 & FRANK SINATRA- Stay/ I’ve Got You Under My Skin- A quiet year for U2 on the singles chart but could they end with a smash and grab of the festive chart topper with some help from Ole Blue Eyes himself?

'Again' being an easy top 10 hit and 'If' not feels really weird to me (and undeserved)

'I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind of Thing' is a red hot Pet Shop Boys favourite for me, I love it so much.

'Long Train Running' remix is good! Better than the other train-based song in the top 10 from Soul Asylum, which is a bit dreary.

I'm happy at the Culture Beat and Urban Cookie Collective follow up hits staying a few weeks top 10.

Gezza, you are missing one Christmas #1 contender from a veteran act!

Edited May 26May 26 by TheSnake

6 hours ago, TheSnake said:

'Long Train Running' remix is good! Better than the other train-based song in the top 10 from Soul Asylum, which is a bit dreary.

I'm happy at the Culture Beat and Urban Cookie Collective follow up hits staying a few weeks top 10.

Gezza, you are missing one Christmas #1 contender from a veteran act!

Which one?

4TH DECEMBER

A close run thing this week but Elton John & Kiki Dee narrowly fail to overhaul Meat Loaf and score their second chart topper as a duo. “True Love” improved to 44,295 whilst “I’d Do Anything For Love” registered 48,270 and thusly makes it 7 weeks at No 1, Meat Loaf also keeps the top spot on the album chart meaning he’s now topped both charts simultaneously for 5 weeks in total a feat not seen since the Beatles back in 1965. Loaf also trundles 5-4 on the YTD and is now under 80,000 away from deposing Ace Of Base at the biggest song of the year, however it is only the best seller on the cassingle format having lost control of the 3 other format charts.

Played by Barry Killerby in real life and originating on the BBC 1 Saturday night prime time show “Noel Edmond’s House Party”, Mr Blobby has become a star in his own right over the past year which has now lead to his own novelty song “Mr Blobby”. It’s primed at the Christmas market and makes an immediate impression at No 3 (33,660) and the voices you hear on the record come courtesy of the King’s College School Choir and the promo contains guest appearances by the likes of Jeremy Clarkson and Carol Vorderman including others, expect it to sell well until Boxing Day!

U2 have had a very busy 1993 completing a world tour and giving us the “Zooropa” album but they’re yet to have a hit single despite promo’s being made for both “Numb” and “Lemon” they’ve only been used at radio and to help promote the album and tour without having general public release. They do finally give us a single in “Stay (Faraway, So Close)” which they’ve coupled with a version of “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” a duet between Frank Sinatra and Bono and features on Sinatra’s “Duets” album which is in the top 20 at present. It is now U2’s 14th top 10 single and Sinatra’s 12th as it debuts at No 6 (23,580).

The new entries continue down at No 9 (19,035) for M People who have emerged as one of the acts of the year and now score a fourth big hit in the year. Originally the song dates back to 1984 when it was released by Dennis Edwards and Siedah Garrett when it peaked at No 45, it then made No 55 when re-issued three years later and No 52 when released by the Kane Gang in 1988 therefore making the current version by far the most successful. Interestingly Small takes on Edwards part in the original whilst Garrett’s parts are sung by Mark Bell, the album remains outside the top 20 at present.

Bryan Adams continues a very gradual descent 3-4 (27,825) and in tandem Dina Carroll drops 4-5 (25,485), better news for the Doobie Brothers who chug 10-7 (22,035) but disappointment for Janet Jackson who slides 6-8 (21,915) despite a sales bump and Soul Asylum who hit the buffers 7-10 (17,565).


1- I’D DO ANYTHING FOR LOVE (BUT I WON’T DO THAT)- Meat Loaf (48,270)
2- TRUE LOVE- Elton John & Kiki Dee (44,295)
3- MR BLOBBY- Mr Blobby (33,660)
4- PLEASE FORGIVE ME- Bryan Adams (27,825)
5- DON’T BE A STRANGER- Dina Carroll (25,485)
6- STAY (FARAWAY, SO CLOSE)/ I'VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN- U2/ Frank Sinatra (23,580)
7- LONG TRAIN RUNNIN (SURE IS PURE REMIX)- Doobie Brothers (22,035)
8- AGAIN- Janet Jackson (21,915)
9- DON’T LOOK ANY FURTHER- M People (19,035)
10- RUNAWAY TRAIN- Soul Asylum (17,565)

Again is lovely, deserved top 10 for Janet and The Doobies long overdue a hit with Long Train Running - I went more for the original version myself, but the remix didnt ruin it, given the Nana's had already topped my own charts with their version of it.

8 hours ago, Gezza said:

Which one?

I don't recall that ever being mentioned in relation to the Christmas No 1 at the time?

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

11TH DECEMBER

After 7 weeks at the top Meat Loaf is finally bounded off the top spot and by someone even larger than himself! Mr Blobby scurries 3-1 with a sale of 70,035, the track becomes the first non-human chart topper (depending on how you view the character) since the Simpsons two years ago and the from eponymous chart topper ever (honorable mention to "Theme From S'Express"). Meat Loaf remains at the top of the album charts though his single “I’d Do Anything For Love” is down 1-2 (47,895) and the expected take over by Elton John & Kiki Dee falters 2-3 (44,340).

Prince issued his “Hits 1”, “Hits 2” and “Hits/ B-sides” back in August when they all made the top 10 simultaneously, and the latter two packages contained the song “Controversy” which is now released here as a single and debuts at No 5 (26,325). The song has already been on a UK top 10 single in sampled form, namely on Prince’s own track “My Name Is Prince” from last year, this is his 13th top 10 smash and his joint second highest new entry of his long career with only 1989’s “Batdance” arriving higher. Its sales are helped by the b-sides being singles which aren’t available on the “Hits” album.

The Bee Gees 20th album “Size Isn’t Everything” hasn’t exactly set the charts alight spending a fortnight in the charts and peaking at No 33, it also generated the No 23 single “Paying The Price Of Love”. Second single “For Whom The Bells Tolls” has really ignited the campaign though as it shoots 13-6 (25,785), as per usual it is written and produced by the brothers themselves and is their 17th top 10 single, the album is being re-issued this week to capitalise on the success of the single and should be a healthy seller over the Christmas period. Like Prince the Bee Gees are augmenting their new hit with some remixes of old tracks to help it along.

Emerging throughout 1993 as the only real competition to Take That in the teenage girl stakes, East 17 are onto single No 6 from their debut album “Walthamstow” and so far the album has a 50% success rate in terms of singles going top 10. Their new single “It’s Alright” storms 19-9 (23,160) in just its second week and could yet be there or thereabouts on the big day in a fortnight, it is substantially remixed from the album in case you're wondering why it's doing so well despite being a sixth track lifted from it.

U2 & Frank Sinatra rise 6-4 (35,085) and surpass a couple of fallers which have turned into major sellers, Bryan Adams (4-7, 24,300) and Dina Carroll (5-8, 23,325), total sales of the two tracks now stand at 274,080 and 234,975 respectively and could find themselves in the top 20 for the year in 4 weeks time. Janet Jackson completes the top 10 falling 8-10 (21,195) but does knock Meat Loaf off the top in the US becoming her 7th No 1 over there.


Next week sees a new Take That single? Can it make chart history?


1- MR BLOBBY- Mr Blobby (70,035)
2- I’D DO ANYTHING FOR LOVE (BUT I WON’T DO THAT)- Meat Loaf (47,895)
3- TRUE LOVE – Elton John & Kiki Dee (44,340)
4- STAY (FARAWAY, SO CLOSE)/ I'VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN- U2/ Frank Sinatra (35,085)
5- CONTROVERSY- Prince (26,325)
6- FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS- Bee Gees (25,785)
7- PLEASE FORGIVE ME- Bryan Adams (24,300)
8- DON’T BE A STRANGER- Dina Carroll (23,325)
9- IT’S ALRIGHT- East 17 (23,160)
10- AGAIN- Janet Jackson (21,195)

Mr Blobby was heinous, just hideously designed and the stupidest catch-phrase of all-time with one of the most annoying songs ever. And that's its good points. I didnt see that Bono/ Frank duet coming...and it wasnt too bad. Controversy was a bit of a non-event given the gems Prince could have released as a single instead. M People's cover was pretty decent, nice to see it getting a top 10 slot, It's Alright is a banger, good track, and The Bee Gees' top 10 comeback was massive with me. I'd been to see them at the Exmouth Radio 1 Roadshow in the summer and I video'd them arriving by helicopter, Robin signing autographs, and on-stage performing Paying The Price Of Love which should have been big, and You Win Again. One day I will get it transferred over to Youtube...