Gezza

I think it's about right for the duet. Hard to imagine how this would have sounded with either Michael Jackson or Stevie Wonder (who were the initial picks by George MIchael) once you hear Aretha!

I always think of the first Suede album as the start of Britpop, not because it necessarily sounds like what is to come but because it convinced the record industry that there was a market for UK guitar based acts and that it could generate hype, sales and interest. Within a year they would be overtaken by Blur but I don't think you can underestimate the importance their initial success made.

I remember my friends and I listening to the above chart on the way to my first ever gig which was seeing Suede at Coventry Uni!

6TH MARCH It’s starting to cool at retail but 2 Unlimited’s “No Limit” remains at the top for a fourth week selling 57,300 taking it to almost the 300,000 mark and it should also make it to the top position on the YTD chart next week too! Its nearest challenger this week was Michael Jackson’s “Give In To Me” which sears 6-2 (36,570) to become his second No 2 hit on the trot. Again Annie Lennox was running the runner up very close indeed but it came off second best once more selling 33,330, she’s on a high after her BRITS win and the results can be seen on the album chart where “Diva” returns to No 1. Shaggy (real name Orville Richard Burrell) is a Jamaican born reggae artist and former US Marine who now finds himself a chart star with this debut single “Oh Carolina”, a cover of 1958 track by the Folkes Brothers. That was released in 1961 but failed to become a chart hit, not so the Shaggy version which rises 13-5 (28,380) this week, an album is currently being recorded we’re assured. http://www.hitthefloor.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/suede.jpg Band of the moment are the much heralded Suede, they’ve been courted by the serious music press as the next big thing and have seen their previous singles make No 49, and No 17 setting them up nicely for their third release “Animal Nitrate”. The song was premiered on the BRITS to much publicity and now has a promo which is stirring controversy itself for its depiction of homosexuality, helped of course by the pun its title (a reference to the drug Amyl Nitrate or poppers which are widely used by that community). Suggestive lyrics and some controversial interviews have added notoriety of the band. All in all it’s helped the single which crashes straight in at No 7 (24,525) giving the group commercial as well as critic approval, the debut album is out next month, expect headlines and controversial comments from frontman Brett Anderson in the interval. Lenny Kravitz climbs 5-4 (28,695) but is down in sales, while Whitney Houston slides 4-6 (26,220) and Take That freefall 2-8 (23,490). Depeche Mode surprisingly reverse 8-9 (22,125) and East 17 dip 7-10 (18,510), to note The Shamen, Nirvana, and Madonna all failed to enter the top ten- we’ll see if any can climb next week. 1- NO LIMIT- 2 Unlimited (57,300) 2- GIVE IN TO ME- Michael Jackson (36,570) 3- LITTLE BIRD/ LOVE SONG FOR A VAMPIRE- Annie Lennox (33,330) 4- ARE YOU GONNA GO MY WAY- Lenny Kravitz (28,695) 5- OH CAROLINA- Shaggy (28,380) 6- I’M EVERY WOMAN- Whitney Houston (26,220) 7- ANIMAL NITRATE- Suede (24,525) 8- WHY CAN’T I WAKE UP WITH YOU- Take That (23,490) 9- I FEEL YOU- Depeche Mode (22,125) 10- DEEP- East 17 (18,510)

27TH FEBRUARY A much easier week for 2 Unlimited this week as they sauntered to a third week on top selling a still improving 65,130 to take its tally to 241,785 only 71,085 behind Whitney Houston in terms of 1993 sales. You might work out that means that “I Will Always Love You” sold 19,245 this week as it falls 4-9 clearly losing favour now that Valentine’s has gone. Whitney’s other hit “I’m Every Woman” doesn’t seem to make much headway as it nudges 5-4 (29,625) right above a song which comes in 11-5 (29,625) for Lenny Kravitz who has penned top ten singles for Vanessa Paradis (Be My Baby) and Madonna (Justify My Love) but none for himself until now. “Are You Gonna Go My Way” is the title track from his third album (out in a fortnight) and proves to be his most popular track yet. Michael Jackson has had a very productive 1993 so far, a high profile show at the half-time of the Superbowl in January was followed by a living legend award at the Grammy’s then of course that hour long Oprah Winfrey interview (his first since 1979) screened on the BBC last week and which coincided with the release of a seventh cut from “Dangerous” entitled “Give In to Me” and which was given ample exposure on it. It features Guns N Roses guitarist Slash and becomes the 6th track from the album to make the top 10 as it debuts at No 6 (28,635) equalling the record set by himself for pulling the most top ten singles from a studio album, the album itself sprints 46-9. The single is good value for money featuring previous singles "Beat It" and "Dirty Diana" on the CD. It’s been three years since the last Depeche Mode album but the guys are back with a new album “Songs Of Faith & Devotion” next month and lead single “I Feel You” which becomes their 7th top 10 hit but the first to debut there as it arrives at No 8 (27,015). The promo features actress Lysette Anthony and the era will also see the band embark on a world tour. Take That remain in second place but their sales are off 20% to 45,720 and only just kept their heads about Annie Lennox at No 3 (42,525). East 17 slip 6-7 (27,495) but do see their debut album “Walthamstow” enter at No 1 something rivals Take That can’t boast yet, and West End Featuring Sybil drop 8-10 (19,170). Next week look out for new singles from Madonna, The Shamen and Nirvana! 1- NO LIMIT- 2 Unlimited (65,130) 2- WHY CAN’T I WAKE UP WITH YOU- Take That (45,720) 3- LITTLE BIRD/ LOVE SONG FOR A VAMPIRE- Annie Lennox (42,525) 4- I’M EVERY WOMAN- Whitney Houston (32,310) 5- ARE YOU GONNA GO MY WAY- Lenny Kravitz (29,625) 6- GIVE IN TO ME- Michael Jackson (28,635) 7- DEEP- East 17 (27,495) 8- I FEEL YOU- Depeche Mode (27,015) 9- I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU- Whitney Houston (19,245) 10- THE LOVE I LOST- West End Ft Sybil (19,170)

I think "China" may have been the first record that I considered my favourite record ever (at 11)- it's still amazing and I'd probably put it in my top 5 for the year even now though some have surpassed it in the intervening years. The album version with the extra verse is much better though!

A week earlier they would have entered at No 1 and then who knows if 2 unlimited would have made it at all!

20TH FEBRUARY Well as it turned out I was part correct last week when I predicted that 2 Unlimited would hold on the top spot, it was immediately under threat as it started the week down in third place behind Annie Lennox and our highest new entry but in the end it dispensed swiftly with Lennox who ends the week at No 3 again with sales up 48% to 53,070. In the end 2 Unlimited retained the top spot overtaking that new entry right at the death and had to increase its sales by 43% to do it by the skin of their teeth with 64,785 copies sold. Onto that new entry then and step forward Take That, “Why Can’t I Wake Up With You” appears on their debut album as a rather straightforward ballad but it’s been remixed by S & P Jervier, who previously worked magic on Bel Biv Devoe and the subsequent solo career of Ralph Tresvant, to give the boys a more urban mix of their song. It flew off the shelves in the early part of the week and generated a lead that most thought was uncatchable and was helped by the boys presenting “The Big Breakfast” all week, but it ran out of steam at the final hurdle selling 57,645 and missing out on becoming their first chart topper, the album also re-enters the top 10 in sympathy. Well there's always next week, and at least it becomes their biggest hit to date despite being the 8th!!! track to be lifted from the album! Popularly touted as a future chart topper, Whitney Houston’s new single “I’m Every Woman” is also new in the top 5 as it debuts at No 5 (38,280). It was famously written by Ashford & Simpson and given to Chaka Khan who hit No 11 in 1978 with it and then No 8 in 1989 as a remix, Whitney’s version was of course made for the “Bodyguard” film and soundtrack and is produced by Narada Michael Walden and Clivilles & Cole and if you keep your eyes open you’ll see Houston’s mother, Chaka Khan, and Valerie Simpson in the promo for the track. Whitney’s other single “I Will Always Love You” slips 2-4 (42,810) - yes it actually increased sales driven by Valentine's Day, meaning that she becomes the first act to score two top 5 hits in the same week since Madonna back in 1985. In the bottom half of the top 10 Rolf Harris lifts 9-7 (30,210) to represent the highest position the Led Zeppelin classic has ever reached, meanwhile East 17 drop 5-6 (33,540), West End Featuring Sybil dive 4-8 (29,505), Duran Duran reverse 6-8 (25,125) and M People slip 8-10 (20,670). 1- NO LIMIT- 2 Unlimited (64,785) 2- WHY CAN’T I WAKE UP WITH YOU- Take That (57,645) 3- LITTLE BIRD/ LOVE SONG FOR A VAMPIRE- Annie Lennox (53,070) 4- I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU- Whitney Houston (42,810) 5- I’M EVERY WOMAN- Whitney Houston (38,280) 6- DEEP- East 17 (33,540) 7- STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN- Rolf Harris (30,210) 8- THE LOVE I LOST- West End Ft Sybil (29,505) 9- ORDINARY WORLD- Duran Duran (25,125) 10- HOW CAN I LOVE YOU MORE (REMIX)- M People (20,670)

"Sing It Back" was delayed far too long for release- it had been all over radio since about June- easily a probable chart topper if it had been released in July I suspect.

4TH SEPTEMBER This was one of those weeks when everybody knew what the No 1 was going to be and there were no shocks on the books. Lou Bega’s “Mambo No 5” has already been a huge hit all over Europe topping charts in Germany, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland among others and finally gets its full UK release. It has been available on import for several weeks which resulted in it becoming the first single to make the top 40 on import sales alone in 18 years (since The Jam in fact) getting as high as No 31 last week, due to timing rules one of the import versions was over 20 minutes and therefore eligible for the budget album chart and guess what…it topped that chart too- and all before it was officially available. The release date was pushed forward by two weeks here to try to minimise any lost sales to the import version and it duly sold 224,000 copies last week to blast all opposition aside, the track was originally recorded and written by Perez Prado who himself topped the charts in 1955 with “Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White” and was most recently in the charts with “Guaglione” in 1995 making No 2, though it should be noted that Bega has written all the lyrics to this single using just the riff from the original. Bega himself is German and adds to the truly international feel to the years chart toppers which have come from Puerto Rico, Netherlands, France, Ireland, and Australia as well as the more usual USA, and he gives the UK its first mambo chart topper in 44 years helped by the use of the song by Channel 4 this summer for its cricket coverage. Perez Prado also recorded the song “Sway” way back in 1962 thereby linking the top two tracks in the land this week. The group are called Shaft, a duo from Brighton who remixed the Rosemary Clooney version of “Sway” from 1959 (which missed the UK charts) for commercial release but clearance was apparently refused right at the death, cue a rapid re-recording using a session vocalist and you get the current No 2 hit. Titled “(Mucho Mambo) Sway” it sold 114,000 copies- not unimpressive itself- to top the No 6 peak of the highest charting version previously by Dean Martin in 1954, and gives the UK a mambo top two. A song which we seem to have waited for all summer, Moloko’s “Sing It Back” bombed at No 45 way back in March but became something of an Ibiza anthem this year leading to it becoming one of the most sought after tracks of the last few months. Appearances on multiple compilations in the interim have dented desire for it and it now surfaces at No 4 (68,000), it is by far the biggest hit for the band regardless and is now remixed by Boris Dlugosch for the main mix. Another Level’s second album is primed for release in three weeks and new single “Summertime” prepares us nicely by entering at No 7 (46,000). Although technically it only “features” TQ the rapper actually co-wrote the track and produced it so can rightfully claim a third top 10 single this year, meanwhile Another Level have a 6th top tenner in 18 months. Geri Halliwell falls 1-3 (78,000) but her album continues to grow 18-14, and it’s finally over for DJ Jurgen who is down 2-5 (56,000) but has sold 450,000 since release. Westlife fade 3-6 (51,000), Bran Van 3000 dive 4-6 (42,000), TLC tip 6-9 (37,000) and Ricky Martin is almost out 7-10 (34,000), “Livin La Vida Loca” now has total sales of 682,000 enough to place the song at No 5 for the year so far. 1- MAMBO NO 5- Lou Bega (224,000) 2- (MUCHO MAMBO) SWAY- Shaft (114,000) 3- MI CHICO LATINO- Geri Halliwell (78,000) 4- SING IT BACK- Moloko (68,000) 5- BETTER OFF ALONE- DJ Jurgen Presents Alice Deejay (56,000) 6- IF I LET YOU GO- Westlife (51,000) 7- SUMMERTIME- Another Level/ TQ (46,000) 8- DRINKING IN LA- Bran Van 3000 (42,000) 9- UNPRETTY- TLC (37,000) 10- LIVIN LA VIDA LOCA- Ricky Martin (34,000)

28TH AUGUST The Latin fever that has swept the UK charts this summer continues with the UK’s 25th chart topper of 1999, Geri Halliwell’s second solo single “Mi Chico Latino” replaces Westlife at the top with some considerable ease. Her debut hit “Look At Me” famously lost out to Boyzone back in May but she wasn’t going to let another Irish boyband defeat her this time around, this single opens with 132,500 copies, impressive but 10,000 less than “Look At Me”. In part that may be due the album now being out for some time but “Schizophonic” has yet to go platinum (300,000), nevertheless it has improved thanks to the single moving 61-53-45-30-18 over the last month or so. Texas are back with a seventh top 10 hit on the trot with “Summer Son” new at No 5 (54,000). The band have had a busy summer making appearances at several festivals including Glastonbury and round it off with this single which comes with a remix by Girogio Moroder on the CD, the video has allegedly been made post watershed by MTV. TLC have scored one of the biggest hits of the year so far with “No Scrubs” which has sold over half a million here, time for the follow up and “Unpretty” is proving equally popular at radio and arrives at No 6 (52,000) to illustrate the point. It’s the fourth top ten hit for the trio and is currently climbing fast in the US where “No Scrubs” went all the way to the top. Apollo 440 are back for their annual top 10 single having managed a solitary top flight hit in both 1997 and 1998, this time it is the Status Quo sampling “Stop The Rock” which delivers the goods. They’ve taken the Quo’s 1973 track “Caroline” (#5) and gotten former Gaye Bykers On Acid frontman Ian Hoxley to deliver the vocals, the entire package debuts at No 10 (25,000). For a third week DJ Jurgen Presents Alice Deejay hold at No 2 (77,000) but he was well off the pace this week as were former contenders Westlife 1-3 (63,000) and Bran Van 3000 3-4 (60,000). Ricky Martin is still bringing the money in at retail off 5-7 (47,000) even outpacing the track that dethroned him as Ronan Keating whizzes past him 4-8 (43,000). Will Smith completes the top 10 deflating 6-9 (28,000). 1- MI CHICO LATINO- Geri Halliwell (132,500) 2- BETTER OFF ALONE- DJ Jurgen Presents Alice Deejay (77,000) 3- IF I LET YOU GO- Westlife (63,000) 4- DRINKING IN LA- Bran Van 3000 (60,000) 5- SUMMER SON- Texas (54,000) 6- UNPRETTY- TLC (52,000) 7- LIVIN LA VIDA LOCA- Ricky Martin (47,000) 8- WHEN YOU SAY NOTHING AT ALL- Ronan Keating (43,000) 9- WILD WILD WEST- Will Smith (28,000) 10- STOP THE ROCK- Apollo 440. (25,000)

13TH FEBRUARY Britain has its first Dutch born chart topper in 17 years today as 2 Unlimited grab the top spot from Whitney Houston after ten weeks at the top. “No Limit” was put through the paces though by the outgoing Whitney Houston, the latter shifted 41,280 and wasn't that far behind the 45,525 posted by 2 Unlimited. It gives the duo their first chart topper after 5 singles two of which peaked at No 2, their second album is currently being worked on but should now be a substantial hit given this fine start. For the outgoing No 1 from Whitney Houston she can boast sales of 1,210,830 as it goes double platinum in the week it gets demoted, “The Bodyguard” remains at No 1 on the compilation chart and also houses Whitney’s new single” I’m Every Woman” which will in all likelihood be in the top 10 next week. No 1 on the box office charts at present is “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” and these days you can’t have a film without a hit single, cue Annie Lennox’s “Love Song For A Vampire” which has been teamed with “Little Bird” a cut from her “Diva” album. To be fair she’s filmed promos for both sides including the latter track which features Lennox re-enacting her previous images. The Utah Saints remix of “Little Bird” has been going down a storm in the clubs all of which help the song debut at No 3 (36,090) (It is atop both the 12" and CD format chart this week to prove the point) and posing an immediate threat to 2 Unlimited. It becomes her biggest solo it and highest placed single to feature her since Eurythmics hit the top in 1985. Ever wanted to have 12 interpretations of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven”? Well if so try to catch the new Rolf Harris album as it will contain just that, it is of course a cover of the 1971 Led Zeppelin original which was never a single for the band though it made No 8 in a version by Far Corporation 8 years ago. Rolf’s version was one of 26 interpretations performed on the Australian chat show “The Money Or The Gun” and on release ploughs straight in at No 9 (20,355) and marks Harris’s first chart hit since “Two Little Boys” made No 1 24 years ago and fourth top 10 hit overall. M People inch 9-8 (21,285) but there’s no other good news in the top 10, West End Featuring Sybil drop 3-4 (32,670) but keep East 17 (31,470) and Duran Duran (26,085) at bay directly below them. Beloved drop 8-10 (18,975) and Snap! drop 4-7 (22,950) as their re-issued album “Madman’s Return” gets a berth at No 8. 1- NO LIMIT- 2 Unlimited (45,525) 2- I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU- Whitney Houston (41,280) 3- LITTLE BIRD/ LOVE SONG FOR A VAMPIRE- Annie Lennox (36,090) 4- THE LOVE I LOST- West End Ft Sybil (32,670) 5- DEEP- East 17 (31,470) 6- ORDINARY WORLD- Duran Duran (26,085) 7- EXTERMINATE!- Snap! Featuring Niki Harris (22,950) 8- HOW CAN I LOVE YOU MORE (REMIX)- M People (21,285) 9- STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN- Rolf Harris (20,355) 10- SWEET HARMONY- The Beloved (18,975)

Yes- the full performance is in my weekly post!

6TH FEBRUARY Whitney makes it ten weeks and writes herself into the record books, no female singer can claim as long a chart topper as “I Will Always Love You” and in all honesty it was never really under threat until the end of the week when 2 Unlimited started to play catch up and she ends up topping only the Cassingle format this week (2 Unlimited have the biggest selling 7", M People the top 12" and Faith No More the biggest CD single). In the end Houston sold 45,600 and was just 2,970 ahead of the incoming “No Limit” setting up an interesting battle next week, but more than that Houston now passes Jennifer Rush to make “I Will Always Love You” the biggest selling single ever by a female solo act. West End Featuring Sybil hold at No 3 (38,475) unable to keep their runner up position till the weekend but it is still improving at retail and may yet challenge for the top. The debut album from East 17 is out at the end of the month but in the meantime their third single “Deep” proves to be their biggest hit as it soars 12-5 (26,910). It again comes from the hand of vocalist Tony Mortimer and makes up for the disappointment of their last single “Gold” only making No 28, now with 2 top 10 singles they can legitimately say they are rivals to the current teen champs Take That who themselves release a new single in a fortnight. It was originally given to clubs under the moniker “Levi & Friends” to gain substantive credibility pre release after record company concerns that the band had failed to ignite commercially. Talking of teen fave’s that’s a description which would have fitted Duran Duran ten years ago but their stock has somewhat fallen since then with their last top 10 hit back in the 80s, indeed their last single “Serious” became their first to fail to hit the top 40. The emergence of “Ordinary World” as a hit is therefore something of a surprise, it climbs 11-6 (26,715) to become their biggest hit in 8 years with an album to follow which was also go head to head with East 17 in a few weeks! It’s their 13th top 10 single for the group which are now a quartet. M People’s debut album “Northern Soul” generated four top 40 singles in 1991/92 but none made it beyond No 29 and one of those songs “How Can I Love You More” has been remixed by DJ Sasha and turned into a chart hit finally as it debuts at No 9 (18,240). The album actually failed to chart despite strong sales in the north of the UK but will be re-issued next month to include the new mixes of this single. Also seeing their album re-issued are Snap! but “Exterminate” is already fading 2-4 (28,185) while both Usura and Beloved hold tight at No ‘s 7 (21,570) and 8 (20,265) respectively while Sister Sledge slump 5-10 (17,925) 1- I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU- Whitney Houston (45,600) 2- NO LIMIT- 2 Unlimited (42,630) 3- THE LOVE I LOST- West End Ft Sybil (38,475) 4- EXTERMINATE- Snap! Featuring Niki Harris (28,185) 5- DEEP- East 17 (26,910) 6- ORDINARY WORLD- Duran Duran (26,715) 7- OPEN YOUR MIND- Usura (21,570) 8- SWEET HARMONY- The Beloved (20,265) 9- HOW CAN I LOVE YOU MORE (REMIXES)- M People (18,240) 10- WE ARE THE FAMILY (93 REMIXES)- Sister Sledge (17,925)

And we're back up to speed with tomorrow's shows!