Imagine if Dreams debuted at No 1 !!! Well she is still in the history books for a hand penned tune!

26TH JUNE



Gabrielle makes her expected take over at the top of the charts this week, “Dreams” sold 85,980 last week after her debut at No 2. It overtakes UB40 who fall 1-2 (73,455), their attention will doubtless be on the release of their album “Promises And Lies” next month.  "Dreams" increase was only 19% which may suggest that demand is not as big as the initial splash may have suggested.

In a solo career stretching back over 20 years Rod Stewart has never debuted higher than No 8 but now his cover of Van Morrison’s “Have I Told You Lately” is new at No 7 (23,055). The song featured on Morrison’s 1989 album “Avalon Sunset” and was first covered by Stewart on his 1991 album “Vagabond Heart” before recording a live version for his MTV Unplugged session back in February, the accompanying album has already been available for a month and rises to a new peak of No 4 this week whilst the single becomes his 24th top 10 hit.

It’s time for that notoriously difficult second album for M People, introductory single “One Night In Heaven” proves that their last outing into the top 10 was no fluke by debuting at No 9 (18,225). The track comes with a promo set in Barcelona and has been picked up with gusto by radio who are certainly supporting this single.

Outside of UB40 and Gabrielle swapping places the rest of the top 6 hold, Haddaway at No 3 (64,020), Ace Of Base at No 4 (34,965), Spin Doctors at No 5 (33,525) and Chaka Demus & Pliers at six (32,340). Lisa Stansfield is back up 10-8 (22,080) despite losing sales and Inner Circle are almost out 8-10 (17,790)



1- DREAMS- Gabrielle (85,980)
2- (I CAN’T HELP) FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU- UB40 (73,455)
3- WHAT IS LOVE?- Haddaway (64,020)
4- ALL THAT SHE WANTS- Ace Of Base (34,965)
5- TWO PRINCES- Spin Doctors (33,525)
6- TEASE ME- Chaka Demus & Pliers (32,340)
7- HAVE I TOLD YOU LATELY- Rod Stewart (23,055)
8- IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES- Lisa Stansfield (22,080)
9- ONE NIGHT IN HEAVEN- M People (18,225)
10- SWEAT (A LA LA LA LONG)- Inner Circle (17,790)

Dreams is very nice, Tease Me fun, M People pretty good and Rod's very dull. Brown Eyed Girl aside (and maybe Bright Side Of The Road), I very much have a blind spot for Van Morrison and his songs. Oops!

One night in Devon!

#Tune

3RD JULY



Her dreams continue to come true as Gabrielle makes it a fortnight at the top slot and was never really troubled despite having peaked saleswise, she was off 9% to 78,210. Her new challenger is Haddaway who is still hoping to recreate his No 1 status across Europe by inching 3-2 (58,980) though he too is fading 8% week on week, UB40 complete the top 3 by dropping 2-3 (44,370), we’ll see next week where they place in the YTD top 10.

A Phil Kelsey remix of Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” is the only new entry in the Top 10. Now hailed as a disco classic, it originally appeared only as the B‑side to her cover of the Righteous Brothers’ “Substitute” — a song that later became a No. 2 hit for Clout in 1978. DJs began flipping the single, and “I Will Survive” exploded, spending four weeks at No. 1 in 1979. A “Best Of” is due in a few weeks to capitalise on the remix’s club success. For now, the single jumps 11–6 on sales of 31,965.

Three other climbers with reasons to be cheerful, Chaka Demus & Pliers advance 6-4 (38,175), Rod Stewart improves 7-5 (32,595) and M People surge 9-7 (24,525) to score their biggest hit yet. To make way for them there are three fallers, Spin Doctors spiral 5-8 (24,420), Ace Of Base are unwanted 4-9 (23,865) and Lisa Stansfield is in the wrong place 8-10 (18,420).


1- DREAMS- Gabrielle (78,210)
2- WHAT IS LOVE?- Haddaway (58,980)
3- (I CAN’T HELP) FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU- UB40 (44,370)
4- TEASE ME- Chaka Demus & Pliers (38,175)
5- HAVE I TOLD YOU LATELY- Rod Stewart (32,595)
6- I WILL SURVIVE- Gloria Gaynor (31,965)
7- ONE NIGHT IN HEAVEN- M People (24,526)
8- TWO PRINCES- Spin Doctors (24,420)
9- ALL THAT SHE WANTS- Ace Of Base (23,865)
10- IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES- Lisa Stansfield (18,420)

'One Night In Heaven' and 'Dreams' are really nice songs.

"One Night In Heaven" is great - in my top 5 M-People songs. "Dreams" is great to - I mostly played the Our Tribe Remix by Rollo and Rob D. "Two Princes" is a guilty pleasure - a great pop rock song I always read wrong as "Two Princess".

10TH JULY

Continuing to dream big Gabrielle’s “Dreams” is No 1 for a third week and looks like it may have a lot of life left in it with a sales decrease of 24% to 59,100. In the process it easily keeps Haddaway’s “What Is Love” off the pace though it reduced the deficit to just 10,000.

The two tracks are rapidly turning into some of 1993’s biggest hits, to prove it here’s the YTD as we reach the half way point:

1- ALL THAT SHE WANTS- Ace Of Base 546,525
2- NO LIMITS- 2 Unlimited 531,120
3- (I CAN’T HELP) FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU- UB40 505,500
4- OH CAROLINA- Shaggy 451,890
5- YOUNG AT HEART- The Bluebells 372,345
6- FIVE LIVE EP- George Michael/ Queen/ Lisa Stansfield 370,830
7- I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU- Whitney Houston 364,275
8- INFORMER- Snow 334,950
9- SWEAT (A LA LA LA LA LONG)- Inner Circle 303,330
10- DREAMS- Gabrielle 296,355

As you can see Gabrielle just slips into the anchor position on that list whilst “What Is Love” currently has sales of 260,175 and should be there in a few weeks. Also moving over the 200,000 mark this week is “Two Princes” which falls 8-9 (19,590) but the really big news is that Ace Of Base‘s “All That She Wants” marginally moves ahead of “No Limit” as the biggest seller of the year, it slides 9-10 on this week’s chart but its sales of 18,000 were enough to see it there. UB40 are also in third place on that chart, they sold 29,805 as they fall 3-4 and may make the reign of Ace Of Base remarkably short.




Debut single “Dear Mr President” flopped but their second release “What’s Up” is a hit for San Francisco quartet 4 Non Blondes. The group’s album “Bigger Better Faster More” is out now but for now the single is advancing fearlessly 20-8 (21,285).

On the album charts Rod Stewart holds at No 2 whilst the new Chaka Demus & Pliers album arrives at No 26, revenge is gained on the singles front however as “Tease Me” continues to improve 4-3 (39,870) while “Have I Told You Lately” drifts 5-6 (24,825). It swaps places with Gloria Gaynor who inches 6-5 (27,255) and M People round things up as they hold at No 7 (24,645). Next week will see the new Take That single chart, they debuted at No 2 last time out- can they go one better?


1- DREAMS- Gabrielle (59,100)
2- WHAT IS LOVE- Haddaway (49,680)
3- TEASE ME- Chaka Demus & Pliers (39,870)
4- (I CAN’T HELP) FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU- UB40 (29,805)
5- I WILL SURVIVE (REMIX)- Gloria Gaynor (27,255)
6- HAVE I TOLD YOU LATELY- Rod Stewart (24,825)
7- ONE NIGHT IN HEAVEN- M People (24,645)
8- WHAT’S UP- 4 Non Blondes (21,285)
9- TWO PRINCES- Spin Doctors (19,590)
10- ALL THAT SHE WANTS- Ace Of Base (18,000)

What's Up was unusual and striking, but did tend to irritate after overplay - not that main songwriter Linda Perry would worry too much with hit songs in her future, outside the band.

Yeah love it or hate it 'Whats Up' is a classic! I like it.

I do find 'What's Up' rather irritating, not gonna lie. Give me the DJ Miko version any day.

17TH JULY



For the second time in 1993 and the 9th time in the 90s a single debuts at the top spot and that single belonged to the newest heartthrobs on the scene Take That. The five piece have been steadily increasing their profile and fanbase over the last year and “Pray” is a first release from their second album due in the autumn, in a testament to their increasing pulling power in the market they’ve shot their new video in Acapulco, a far cry from the Isle Of Wight lensed “I Found Heaven” last summer. The single sold 74,985 to easily topple Gabrielle from the top even though she sold 52,290 and is still just decreasing slowly.

Until this week the most top 10 singles pulled from a studio album was six by a certain Michael Jackson, but now an act can boast 7!! It’s Michael Jackson again, “Dangerous” yields the single “Will You Be There” which climbs 11-9 (18,855) this week meaning that only “Jam” has missed the mark in the entire campaign. It features in the film “Free Willy” which is out in the US but not available here until next year, Jackson meanwhile will be back on tour next month on the third and final leg of his world tour, the album re-cliimbs 42-26 in its 86th week on the survey and has sold over 1,600,000 thus far.

Two other climbers this week, 4 Non Blondes rise 8-5 (27,750) as their album debuts at No 10, and M People aren’t done yet as they move 7-6 (26,760). Meanwhile Haddaway drops 2-3 (44,010), Chaka Demus & Pliers wash up 3-4 (43,380) even with a sales increase, Gloria Gaynor reverses 5-7 (25.070), UB40 collapse 4-8 (23,235) and Rod Stewart drops 6-10 (18,585).


1- PRAY- Take That (74.985)
2- DREAMS- Gabrielle (52,290)
3- WHAT IS LOVE- Haddaway (44,010)
4- TEASE ME- Chaka Demus & Pliers (43,380)
5- WHAT’S UP- 4 Non Blondes (27,750)
6- ONE NIGHT IN HEAVEN- M People (26,760)
7- I WILL SURVIVE- Gloria Gaynor (25,050)
8- (I CAN’T HELP) FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU- UB40 (23,235)
9- WILL YOU BE THERE- Michael Jackson (18,855)
10- HAVE I TOLD YOU LATELY- Rod Stewart (18,585)

'Pray' is definitely much much better than their last single. They've officially hit the big time!

'Will You Be There' is an absolute epic from MJ as well.

Am I right in thinking 'What Is Love' is the highest streamed track from 1993 these days?

'Pray' is a very nice song and yes better than their previous snorefest.

24TH JULY



No change at the top with Take That making it an easy second week however “Pray” is in decline at retail, it lost 22% week on week to see 57,330 copies sold. That’s the lowest tally in 10 weeks and points to a short tenure at the top for the five piece, their nearest challengers are 4 Non Blondes who stride 5-2 (40,365) and could easily be the nation’s favourite next week.

It’s a slow turnover in the top 10 these days and this week this is just one solitary new track which debuts at No 7 (18,555) for Roxette. “Almost Unreal” was originally written for the film “Hocus Pocus” (due here in October) but ended up on the soundtrack to “Super Mario Bros” which is in cinemas now, much to the alleged chagrin of Per Gessle. At any event is the 5th top 10 hit for the Swede’s and the highest debuting single of their career.

Gabrielle falls 2-3 (38,760) but was still well clear of Chaka Demus & Pliers who remain at No 4 (35,280) marginally ahead of Haddaway who’s on the slide 3-5 (34,470).

M People hold at No 6 (21,825), Gloria Gaynor survives another week falling 7-8 (18,315) and Michael Jackson holds at No 9 (17,805). Ub40 fall 8-10 (17,550) but surpass 2 Unlimited in the YTD chart with only Ace Of Base ahead of them, their new album “Promises And Lies” also arrives at No 1, their first chart topper in 10 years.


1- PRAY- Take That (57,330)
2- WHAT’S UP- 4 Non Blondes (40,385)
3- DREAMS- Gabrielle (38,760)
4- TEASE ME- Chaka Demus & Pliers (35,280)
5- WHAT IS LOVE- Haddaway (34,470)
6- ONE NIGHT IN HEAVEN- M People (21,825)
7- ALMOST UNREAL- Roxette (18,555)
8- I WILL SURVIVE- Gloria Gaynor (18,315)
9- WILL YOU BE THERE- Michael Jackson (17,805)
10- (I CAN’T HELP) FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU- UB40 (17,550)

I love a bit of Roxette but that one is really quite lame.

Pray is easily one of my favourite Take That number 1s, a real step up for them.

MJs Will You Be There is great - all those key changes!

Oddly I dont remember the Roxette hit that well, having been a fan of everything up to this point, but Take That dropped their first gem and a total chart-topper for me too - I bought it and helped keep it on top! The leap in quality was totally unexpected, as was the sheer inconsistency that followed bar 3 tracks. Michael Jackson's gospel goodie is under-rated I think, I still enjoy that one, quite soaring.

12 hours ago, Jessie Where said:

I love a bit of Roxette but that one is really quite lame.

Ya i agree but they have some great songs.

31ST JULY



Three new hits to deal with this week but against the odds no new chart topper. Take That make an unexpected third week at the top, “Pray” selling 55,350 to fend off 4 Non Blondes whose sales are only marginally up at 42,435 as their album hits a new high at No 6 and diverting crucial sales. Indeed the whole top 4 are repeating from last week though all four are on the decline saleswise, Gabrielle at No 3 (29,265) and Chaka Demus & Pliers at No 4 (28,995).  "Dreams" crosses the 400,000 mark and is the 5th track this year to reach such heights.

The highest new entry this week comes a song which made No 50 in 1985 without many noticing it, it was remixed for the recent “Freddie Mercury album” last Christmas by Julian Raymond. That remixed wasn’t deemed good enough for release it seems as Jim Beach (Mercury’s manager) approached production team No More Brothers to remix the track and it became a massive radio hit all over the Europe in the last few months and now it becomes a UK top 10 hit as it debuts at No 5 (26,265).

Cheekily stripping a fifth hit out of the album “Erotica”, Madonna’s UK chart history of every single she’s released (bar one) hitting the top 10 has remained intact through the album campaign though it has underperformed by her usual high standards. Only the title track has made the top 5 but she’ll hoping to change that with “Rain” which tips up at No 7 (24,915) and is her 32nd top 10 hit, she’s busy rehearsing for her forthcoming world tour which begins in the UK in September which she’ll doubtless be hoping helps to shift a few more albums, “Erotica” re-enters the charts at No 71 but has now sold 600,000 copies. The CD single also features her 1986 #4 hit "Open Your Heart" which is currebtly featured on the Peugeot ad.

Dannii Minogue’s chart career has been in a bit of decline since the heady days of 1991 when she landed 4 top 15 singles, her last 3 singles have all missed the top 20 but she’s back now with her cover of Melba Moore’s “This Is It” a No 9 hit in 1976. Her second album will be out later this year and will feature the single that rises 11-10 (18,615) this week, the promo features Minogue on a beach with her fiancé Julian McMahon who starred in Home & Away with her.

Elsewhere Haddaway dips 5-6 (25,380), Roxette go straight into decline 7-8 (24,675) though they increase sales, and M People finally give up 6-9 (19,500).


1- PRAY- Take That (55,350)
2- WHAT’S UP?- 4 Non Blondes (42,435)
3- DREAMS- Gabrielle (29,265)
4- TEASE ME- Chaka Demus & Pliers (28,995)
5- LIVING ON MY OWN- Freddie Mercury (26,265)
6- WHAT IS LOVE?- Haddaway (25,380)
7- RAIN- Madonna (24,915)
8- ALMOST UNREAL- Roxette (24,675)
9- ONE NIGHT IN HEAVEN- M People (19,500)
10- THIS IS IT- Dannii Minogue (18,615)