Gezza

I agree that the UK does need higher tax rates to keep solvent or reduce spending. With corporation tax at 25% we are already at the higher end of European tax rates in that regard. An increase may make the UK look even more like a bad choice for business. I'm working on the basis that the more you increase tax the more billionaires will leave, which i admit is an assumption but it has some basis.

I'm no Starmer fan but the real question who would replace him? And what could they do differently if they got the job? The likes of Rayner and Burnham might want (and indeed run on) a more left wing agenda but where would the money come from to fund bigger state projects? Tax rates couldn't be increased without contradicting the manifesto from 2024 for which I doubt they would be forgiven at the general election in a few years. (There was enough outcry over fiscal drag alone!) Borrowing is troublesome with debt repayment very high (£110 billion a year according to the OBR) already We have a tax income of some £329 billion a year and a welfare bill of £333 billion (gov.uk) - no-one is going to go for pensions given the winter fuel debacle and Labour's attempt to reform benefits earned them a party rebellion so that's not going down. The highest tax burden since the 1940's - projected to reach 37.1% of GDP by 28/29 on current plans We have record number of millionaires leaving the UK (16.5k in 2025 according to adam smith institute). Thanks in the main to the UK being considered as expensive to set up business and more heavily taxed than other countries. That's a sizeable lack of tax income that the government won't be getting. Put all together it paints some very heavy restrictions on what can be done by whoever is in power. Moreover Labour won on a ticket that they pretty much wouldn't do anything too extreme (read too-left wing) so there is even a question over mandate at that point should we get there.

25TH SEPTEMBER An almighty tussle at the top of the charts this week with the top three all finishing within 3,000 copies of each other. To the victor the spoils and the number one spot, and celebrating this week, are DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, their “Boom! Shake The Room” leapfrogs the opposition 3-1 selling 45,480 in the process, it is the first chart topper on the Jive label since Billy Ocean back in 1986 and the first US chart topper since Shaggy back in March. The tally for this week is also the second lowest for the year. The midweek chart topper however was by the Pet Shop Boys, “Go West” started off brightly opening a good lead which eroded as the week progressed and it ended up merely 1,245 copies adrift of Jazzy and Fresh in the end, it narrowly fails therefore to become their fifth chart topper but their attention will turn to the release of their next album “Very” in a fortnight. Outgoing chart topper “Mr Vain” ends up in third place though it sold a respectable 42,750 last week, it was doubtless impacted by the release of their album “Serenity” which, though it enters at a lowly No 56, diverted precious sales from the single and probably cost it a fifth week. That tightness at the top was reflected in the fact that "Boom" was only No 1 on the CD format, with "Go West" topping the 7" chart, and "Mr Vain" retaining top billing on the cassingle format. The biggest 12" of the week? Well that belonged to the highest new entry of the week below. Just last February we saw three new entries inside the top 10 for the first time, this week we see chart history created again as FOUR songs all debut inside the top flight! The highest new entry debuts at No 4 (28,485) and it’s a return for M People who grab a third top 10 single in 1993. Their album “Elegant Summing” is out next month but “Moving On Up” is instantly their biggest hit but has a big gap to bridge if it is to move up the charts on this occasion. Their last single “Tease Me” peaked at No 3 after selling a mighty 362,460 copies to date and proved so popular that it had to be deleted by the record company to make way for the new Chaka Demus & Pliers single “She Don’t Let Nobody”. The latter disk now moves 18-6 (21,135) in its second week to make the Jamaican duo one of the hottest acts around at present. The single is a cover of the 1981 Curtis Mayfield track and is featured on their album “Tease Me” which only spent three weeks in the chart making No 26 before disappearing. Currently No 1 in Sweden and top 10 in a host of other countries Haddaway’s second release “Life” smashes straight in at No 8 (19,290) and bodes well for his debut album next month. With the release of a new Gabrielle single next week he’ll be hoping that there’s no re-run of their last collision when her single “Dreams” kept his “What Is Love” from the top spot for a fortnight. Scoring a second top 10 single in a calendar year for the first time in 9 years, Depeche Mode are back with “Condemnation EP” another cut from the “Songs Of Faith & Devotion” album. The band are currently in the US touring but will be back in time for Christmas, meanwhile that eighth top 10 single arrives at No 9 (18,090). It’s been nearly 2 years since the last time we heard from the Wonder stuff, but they’ve busy recording a new album “Construction For The Modern Idiot” which finally hits the shops next month. First release “On The Ropes EP” is now their third straight top 10 single as it enters at No 10 (16,140) and is the perfect launch for the new era. The band are off on a tour of the US at Christmas in an attempt to break the market but all seems well with their UK career. SWV hold at No 5 (22,020) and Bitty McLean continues to head out 4-7 (20,025) completing our recap. 1- BOOM SHAKE THE ROOM- DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince (45,480) 2- GO WEST- Pet Shop Boys (44,235) 3- MR VAIN- Culture Beat (42,750) 4- MOVING ON UP- M People (28,485) 5- RIGHT HERE- SWV (22,020) 6- SHE DON’T LET NOBODY- Chaka Demus & Pliers (21,135) 7- IT KEEPS RAININ (TEARS FROM HEAVEN)- Bitty McLean (20,025) 8- LIFE- Haddaway (19,290) 9- CONDEMNATION- Depeche Mode (18,090) 10- ON THE ROPES EP- Wonder Stuff (16,140)

Did anyone think that Jordan Knight track would sound pretty seemless on "Justified" 3 years later?

18TH SEPTEMBER It suffers another 15% sales decrease but Culture Beat’s “Mr Vain” easily retains the top spot after shifting 55,770 copies as it glided over the 300,000 mark on Saturday. Whether or not it can make it a fifth week or not depends largely on the progress of the songs that make up the top three. With a title thought to have derived from Horace Greeley in the nineteenth century describing the acquiring of land by white colonialists, “Go West” is a song recorded by Village People in 1979 and became a No 15 hit for them as well as a gay anthem with San Francisco being seen as the mecca that homosexuals should be heading towards. Skip forward 13 years and David Jarman was holding an AIDS benefit concert last year and invited the Pet Shop Boys to play, they agreed and chose this song to do as a cover. It clearly went down well as the boys have done a version and teamed it with a Soviet themed video, the package arrives as a new entry at No 2 (43,200) becoming the boys 14th top 10 single and biggest since “Heart” in terms of peak position and in terms of biggest weekly sale. Will Smith is of course best known for his part in “The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air” but even before that show he was a rapper and along with DJ Jazzy Jeff scoring a hit in 1986 with “Girls Ain’t Nothin But Trouble” and more notably the No 8 UK hit “Summertime” in 1991. The pair are back with a fifth album and a song “Boom! Shake The Room” which debuted at No 12 last week and now soars 12-3 (31,260), it features a sample of the Ohio Players “Funky Worm” which didn’t chart here though it went top 20 Stateside. With more than a passing resemblance to The Hollies “The Air That I Breathe”, Radiohead’s “Creep” was initially a No 78 hit in late 1992 but has since gone on to become a US top 40 hit. In the interim the band have cracked the top 40 here with “Anyone Can Play Guitar” making No 32 in February and that’s all prompted a re-issue of their debut hit which comes along with altered lyrics and removes the odd swear word! It debuts at No 7 (17,520) and tells the tale of an inebriated man who essentially stalks a woman, the album “Pablo Honey” departed from the charts after three weeks making No 25, perhaps it can have a resurgence now? Those new arrivals mean there’s little room for Bitty Mclean and SWV who both drop 2-4 (27,300) and 3-5 (27,000) respectively. Billy Joel is also on the way out 4-6 (21,780), 2 Unlimited hold at No 8 (15,990) and Mariah holds at No 10 (15,525) with Nirvana surprisingly dropping 5-9 (15,915) as fans must be waiting for the album. 1- MR VAIN- Culture Beat (55,770) 2- GO WEST- Pet Shop Boys (43,200) 3- BOOM SHAKE THE ROOM- DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince (31,260) 4- IT KEEPS RAININ (TEARS FROM MY EYES)- Bitty McLean (27,300) 5- RIGHT HERE- SWV (27,270) 6- THE RIVER OF DREAMS- Billy Joel (21,780) 7- CREEP- Radiohead (17,520) 8- FACES- 2 Unlimited (15,990) 9- HEART SHAPED BOX- Nirvana (15,915) 10- DREAMLOVER- Mariah Carey (15,525)

11TH SEPTEMBER “Mr Vain” dominates for a third week but it’s finally in decline saleswise slipping 13% to 65,085 bringing its total to 246,210 and is shaping up to be one of 93’s biggest hits. Though well off its peak at retail Bitty McLean holds at No 2 (30,435) despite a 14% loss on top of his 9% decrease the week before, sometimes chart positions don’t tell the whole story, similarly SWV’s sales are off 11% to 29,730 yet they move 5-3, neither will be troubling Culture Beat. There’s only one song in the top 10 which improve in sales, 2 Unlimited’s “Faces”, which moves 10-8 (18,885). Other movers in the wrong direction are Billy Joel 3-4 (26,550), Freddie Mercury 4-6 (21,750), Urban Cookie Collective 6-7 (20,025), Apache Indian 7-9 (18,465) and Mariah Carey 9-10 (17,715), she sees her album “Music Box” end UB40’s seven week reign at the top and becomes her first UK chart topper. So that leaves just the No 5 position to discuss and yes it’s that new entry. Nirvana return with the lead single from their eagerly anticipated third album “In Utero”, entitled “Heart Shaped Box”. It started the week of brightly showing up as high as No 2 but it faded as the week progressed ending up selling 25,845, that’s still the best start to any Nirvana single and is already their highest charter. Doubtless the album will be a chart topper on release. 1- MR VAIN- Culture Beat (65,085) 2- IT KEEPS RAININ (TEARS FROM MY EYES)- Bitty McLean (30,435) 3- RIGHT HERE- SWV (29,730) 4- THE RIVER OF DREAMS- Billy Joel (26,550) 5- HEART SHAPED BOX- Nirvana (25,845) 6- LIVING ON MY OWN- Freddie Mercury (21,750) 7- THE KEY: THE SECRET- Urban Cookie Collective (20,025) 8- FACES- 2 Unlimited (18,885) 9- NUFF VIBES EP- Apache Indian (18,465) 10- DREAMLOVER- Mariah Carey (17,715)

4TH SEPTEMBER After last week’s big fight it’s rather plainer sailing for Culture Beat this week “Mr Vain” expanding at retail to a cool 75,315 and picking up major airplay boosts. Nearest challenger Bitty McLean may move 3-2 to reach a new peak but his sales were actually off 9% to 35,310 a slither ahead of re-peaking Billy Joel (5-3) on 35,235. It’s Joel’s second biggest hit now with only the 5 week chart topper “Uptown Girl” performing better. The sole new song to cover is a new 2 Unlimited single, the group debut in the top 10 for a fourth time in seven releases with “Faces” which follows the usual trend of an amended UK version without the European version with rap by Slijngaard. It is the third single from their second album “No Limits” which hit the top in the Spring and remains in the top 40 sixteen weeks after release, far better than their debut release so whichever way you cut it this has been by far their best year. It arrives at No 10 (17,940). Those getting good news this week are SWV who rise 7-5 (33,465) and Mariah Carey who nudges 10-9 (21,075) as she gets her 7th US chart topper with “Dreamlover” and UB40 hold at No 8 for a third week with sales of 25,680 but they score an impressive 7th week at the No 1 spot on the album charts with “Promises And Lies”. Freddie Mercury slides 2-4 (34,545), former rivals Urban Cookie Collective are also on the way down 4-6 (31,455) whilst the gradual decline of Apache Indian continues 6-7 (27,735). Next week we’ll be doubtless be discussing a new Nirvana single tipped by some to arrive at No 1- could it? 1- MR VAIN- Culture Beat (75,315) 2- IT KEEPS RAININ (TEARS FROM MY EYES)- Bitty McLean (35,310) 3- THE RIVER OF DREAMS- Billy Joel (35,235) 4- LIVING ON MY OWN- Freddie Mercury (34,545) 5- RIGHT HERE- SWV (33,465) 6- THE KEY: THE SECRET- Urban Cookie Collective (31,455) 7- NUFF VIBES EP- Apache Indian (27,735) 8- HIGHER GROUND- UB40 (25,680) 9- DREAMLOVER- Mariah Carey (21,075) 10- FACES- 2 Unlimited (17,940)

16TH OCTOBER Four new entries into the top 10 this week and all of them in the top 5. The only remainder is last week’s chart topper from Eiffel 65 but they can’t make a fourth week at the top instead sliding 1-3 (104,000) which enables it to become the 10th platinum single of the year. The crown passes to one of the most hyped singles of the last few months Christina Aguilera’s “Genie In A Bottle”, it’s already been a US No 1 for 5 weeks back in July/ August and lead to such demand here that it made No 50 on imports a few weeks ago. It sold a very healthy 172,600 last week to easily beat the opposition and give the 18yr old a dream start to her UK career, it’s also the fourth chart topper in a row to chart first on imports (by way of trivia). Aguilera is a graduate of the “The Micky Mouse Club” US TV show which also starred very young Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake from *NSync and so perhaps comparisons to Spears were inevitable with the press quick to pitch the two acts against each other as US teen pop princesses. She produced the track “Reflection” for the Disney film “Mulan” which led to a record deal and her current debut single. Aguilera’s nearest challenger was not B*Witched but Sheffield born Ann Lee (real name Annerley Gordon) who has been in Europe for the past decade honing her writing credits to include top 10 singles by Corona (“Rhythm Of The Night”) and Whigfield (“Think Of You”, “Another Night”) among others. She’s realised a few singles herself without troubling the UK charts but “2 Times” proves too irresistible debuting at No 2 (152,000) after becoming a massive hit all over Europe this summer, and not surprisingly, being an import hit as well making No 57 last month. Poor B*Witched then have to settle for a No 4 entry after selling a poor (by their standards) 88,000 copies of new single “Jessie Hold On” last week. Famously of course the girls placed all of their first four singles at Number one and all debuted there putting them in the record books but it looks like the run has now come to an end unless they can climb to the top which would indeed be unusual given that the last act do so were Steps back in January. Some may argue that the ABBA tribute “Thank You For The Music” stopped the run but either way it stands at four No 1’s and the new single foreshadows their second album “Awake & Breathe” which is out in a fortnight. Here’s a comeback that no-one predicted! New Kids On The Block were the biggest selling singles act of 1990 before the bubble burst, a reunion in 1994 produced only a few minor hits before they gave up again. Now lead singer Jordan Knight gives us a solo single with “Give It To You” which he co-wrote with Jam & Lewis (among others) and became a No 10 hit Stateside in May this year. It now enters the UK chart at No 5 (73,000) over 9 years after he was last there with his fellow New Kidders. Odd world pop. With all the action in the top 5 last week’s big hits re-arrange themselves lower down, Shania Twain falls 3-6 (52,000) but moves ahead of the faster falling S Club 7 2-7 (47,000). The two acts had another duel on the album charts this week with the SClubbers debuting at No 2 behind Twain who herself regained top billing from Tom Jones, “Come On Over” also sold its millionth copy in celebration. Britney Spears tumbles 6-8 (43,000), Lou Bega slides 5-9 (35,000) and Macy Gray clings on valiantly at No 10 (30,400) but she’s shifting albums as “On How Life Is” continues to reach new peaks lifting 11-8. “Mambo No 5” is now the 3rd biggest seller of the year and will probably overtake ATB to climb further in the next fortnight. Next week sees new singles by Steps and ATB challenge Aguilera! 1- GENIE IN A BOTTLE- Christina Aguilera (172,600) 2- 2 TIMES- Ann Lee (152,000) 3- BLUE (DA BA DEE)- Eiffel 65 (104,000) 4- JESSE HOLD ON- B*Witched (88,000) 5- GIVE IT TO YOU- Jordan Knight (73,000) 6- MAN I FEEL LIKE A WOMAN- Shania Twain (52,000) 7- S CLUB PARTY- S Club 7 (47,000) 8- (YOU DRIVE ME) CRAZY- Britney Spears (43,000) 9- MAMBO NO 5- Lou Bega (35,000) 10- I TRY- Macy Gray (30,400)

9TH OCTOBER Becoming only the second act this year to manage a third week at No 1, Eiffel 65’s “Blue” is still the nation’s favourite at the head of an entirely static top 3. As you might expect though all of the singles are decreasing at retail, Eiffel 65 down 14% (141,900), S Club 7 down 23% to 64,000 and Shania Twain down 26% to 59,000. “Blue”’s total sales are already over half a million after just three weeks (and still accounting for 1 in 9 sales last week) and here’s the records that it is hoping to overtake in the next few weeks: 1- BABY ONE MORE TIME- Britney Spears 1,455,000 2- 9PM (TILL I COME)- ATB 791,000 3- THAT DON’T IMPRESS ME MUCH- Shania Twain 763,000 4- LIVIN LA VIDA LOCA- Ricky Martin 752,000 5- MAMBO NO 5- Lou Bega 737,000 6- SWEET LIKE CHOCOLATE- Shanks & Bigfoot 706,000 7- FLAT BEAT- Mr Oizo 678,000 8- WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH- Boyzone 671,000 9- BRING IT ALL BACK- S Club 7 623,000 10- PERFECT MOMENT- Martine McCutcheon 592,000 The only track in both the YTD and weekly top 10 is Lou Bega’s “Mambo No 5” which slides 4-5 (46,000) this week and may quite possibly be in the top 3 for 1999 in a few weeks. Melanie C has already branched out on her own in the Bryan Adams duet “When You’re Gone” which went Platinum, and shortly she’ll be the second Spice Girls member to produce her own album. Her lead solo single is “Goin’ Down” which was actually as high as No 2 in first sales flashes but eventually relented to end up at No 4 (49,000). You can pick up her album “Northern Star” in just 3 weeks. Gabrielle meanwhile is back with her third album “Rise” which will go head to head with Melanie C’s album in three weeks. Round one goes to the Spice Girl but Gabrielle will be happy that new single “Sunshine” is a top ten single (her 6th) debuting at No 9 (34,000). Macy Gray (real name Natalie McIntyre) is a lady with a very distinctive voice, and at 30 already older than your average popstar having their first hit. Her first single “Do Something” petered out at No 51 over the summer but second release “I Try” does much better entering at No 10 (30,200). Gray’s album “On How Life Is” has already been available for 13 weeks and reaches a new peak this week at No 11. Three tracks all fall a place, Britney 5-6 (41,000), Bob Marley Vs Funkstar Deluxe 6-7 (38,000) and Vengaboys 7-8 (35,000). Next week sees the release of another track currently charting on import alone against a new B*Witched single! Who’ll win? 1- BLUE (DA BA DEE)- Eiffel 65 (141,900) 2- S CLUB PARTY- S Club 7 (64,000) 3- MAN I FEEL LIKE A WOMAN- Shania Twain (59,000) 4- GOIN DOWN- Mel C (49,000) 5- MAMBO NO 5 – Lou Bega (46,000) 6- (YOU DRIVE ME) CRAZY- Britney Spears (41,000) 7- SUN IS SHINING- Bob Marley Vs Funkstar Deluxe (38,000) 8- WE’RE GOING TO IBIZA- Vengaboys (35,000) 9- SUNSHINE- Gabrielle (34,000) 10- I TRY- Macy Gray (30,200)

28TH AUGUST It was a tight race for the top this week with records by Freddie Mercury and Culture Beat going head to head until the end with a challenge by Bitty McLean easing as the week progressed. In the end Culture Beat’s “Mr Vain” was crowned as the 11th chart topper of 1993 and the 6th No 1 from a German Act following Kraftwerk, Goombay Dance Band, Nena, Nicole, and Snap!, the single sold 48,015 compared to Mercury’s 43,980. More importantly than that it goes into the history as the first chart topper not available on 7” since 1959, a format which now lingers in 4th position in terms of sales behind even the fabled cassingle. The rest of the top 5 consists of Bitty McLean who holds at No 3 (39,720), just above a falling Urban Cookie Collective 2-4 (37,080) and Billy Joel reverses 4-5 (33,750). US trio Sisters With Voices (known as SWV) are currently experiencing a big hit stateside with “I’m So Into You”, a song which was their first hit here back in May making No 17 but a previous US release “Right Here” has been remixed by Teddy Riley with a sample of Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature” and it’s a hit on this side of the Atlantic debuting at No 7 (31,275). Famously of course that track didn’t become one of the UK singles lifted from “Thriller” though it made the top 10 in the US, and even more connections with Jackson comes from the fact that this features in the film “Free Willy” along with Jackson’s “Will You Be There”. It was Riley (who has worked with Jackson extensively) who convinced the man himself to permit the sample! Next month sees the release of the third Mariah Carey studio album “Music Box” and therefore we get treated to the lead single “Dreamlover”. Lifting the hook from the Emotions track “Blind Alley” the single has wasted little time in returning Carey to the top 10 here moving 14-10 (15,975) in just its second week and provides her with a third hit in the top echelon. In the US the single lifts 9-3 and she has already scored six chart toppers there but her No 2 hit from last year “I’ll Be There” remains her biggest hit here. Apache Indian drops 5-6 (31,680) and 4 Non Blondes head out 7-9 (17,730). UB40 hold at No 8 (26,460) with a small increase and they remain No 1 in the US and in the albums charts here. 1- MR VAIN- Culture Beat (48,015) 2- LIVING ON MY OWN- Freddie Mercury (43,980) 3- IT KEEPS RAININ (TEARS FROM MY EYES)- Bitty McLean (39,720) 4- THE KEY: THE SECRET- Urban Cookie Collective (37,080) 5- THE RIVER OF DREAMS- Billy Joel (33,750) 6- NUFF VIBES EP- Apache Indian (31,680) 7- RIGHT HERE- SWV (31,275) 8- HIGHER GROUND- UB40 (26,460) 9- WHAT’S UP- 4 Non Blondes (17,730) 10- DREAMLOVER- Mariah Carey (15,975)

21ST AUGUST “Living On My Own” secures a second week at No 1 despite Freddie Mercury’s solo best of again moving strongly up the charts 31-15. It isn’t all good news however with Urban Cookie Collective cutting his lead at the top from 12,000 to just 9,000 last week, their respective totals being 53,385 and 44,025. There was no other show in town to be honest, Bitty McLean hovers ominously 5-3 (38,580) but was well short at retail to threaten in reality. Motoring in 12-6 (30,945) is a track by German band Culture Beat which has already topped the charts in Austria, Norway, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, and most impressively their native Germany where it spent 9 weeks at the No 1 spot. “Mr Vain” is the title and don’t discount its potential here where it seems to have caught the attention of those returning holiday makers. The outfit has been chugging away since 1990 with only a small No 55 hit “(Cherry Lips) Der Erdbeermund” to show until now. It’s a bumper week for Birmingham this week with Bitty Mclean at No 3, Apache Indian climbing 8-5 (32,295) and the new UB40 single “Higher Ground debuting at No 8 (20,880). That’s their 16th top 10 single and is of course plucked from the new album “Promises And Lies” which is still atop of the album charts for a fifth week, coincidentally they are also No 1 for a fifth week in the US with their last single here “(I Can’t Help) Falling In Love With You” . That single has sold over 580,000 and is still in the top 40 here so the current hit has big shoes to fill. Scoring his biggest hit since “Tell Her About It” nine years ago, Billy Joel climbs 6-4 (34,770) but there’s no room for 4 Non Blondes who fall back 4-7 (25,035), Take That hurtle 3-9 (20,685) and Chaka Demus & Pliers tease us 7-10 (16,500) in its tenth week in the top 10, the last song to spend so long in the top flight without making the top 2?- well that was The Bee Gees back in 1978 with “How Deep Is Your Love”. Sales to date of "Tease Me" now amount to 328,350 and it currently the 11th biggest single of the year! 1- LIVING ON MY OWN- Freddie Mercury (53,385) 2- THE KEY: THE SECRET- Urban Cookie Collective (44,025) 3- IT KEEPS RAININ (TEARS FROM MY EYES)- Bitty McLean (38,580) 4- THE RIVER OF DREAMS- Billy Joel (34,770) 5- NUFF VIBES EP- Apache Indian (32,295) 6- MR VAIN- Culture Beat (30,945) 7- WHAT’S UP- 4 Non Blondes (25,035) 8- HIGHER GROUND- UB40 (20,880) 9- PRAY- Take That (20,685) 10- TEASE ME- Chaka Demus & Pliers (16,500)

Rain had 4 weeks in the top 10 on airplay, peaked at No 3. As it transpires "Pray" was only No 1 for 4 weeks thanks to a very weak market and the summer lull.

14TH AUGUST Freddie Mercury grabs a posthumous chart topper this week, “Living On My Own” ascending 2-1 (48,465) and causing the album to rush 46-31. It’s his second chart topper post his death in 1991 and demonstrates that there is still great demand for his work. Take That drop 1-3 (34,710) as they are also surpassed by Urban Cookie Collective who float 6-2 (36,405) and could apply pressure on Mercury next week. John Lennon is the only act to have multiple UK No 1 songs posthumously so Mercury is in good company (though his other chart toppers are as part of Queen and one of these is arguable so it isn't a direct comparison). Bitty Mclean’s journey to popstar comes via UB40 who employed him as a sound engineer and producer and occasionally gave him some backing vocals, but now the Brummie has struck out solo with a cover of the Fats Domino standard “It Keeps Rainin (Tears From My Eyes)” which only made No 49 in 1961. Bitty’s version is doing much better soaring 19-5 (25,110). Billy Joel’s 12th studio album “River Of Dreams” debuts at No 4 this week but that hasn’t dented the title track’s rise through the ranks as it moves 12-6 (24,315). It’s only Joel’s 5th top 10 single and comes with artwork designed by his wife Christine Brinkley. Hailing from Birmingham and fusing bangra, dancehall, and reggae to form what has been termed “Bangramuffin” Apache Indian (or Steven Kapur to give his full name) has already scored three top 40 hits the largest of which was “Arranged Marriage” which peaked at No 16 in January this year. His new single is actually an EP called “Nuff Vibes” and the single getting all the promo is “Boom Shack-A-Lak” which typifies his music, it debuts at No 8 (19,620) denotes a new high for him. 4 Non Blondes continue their gradual decline 3-4 (32,880), and Chaka Demus & Pliers finally surrender the top 5 dropping 4-7 (22,230), Gabrielle falls 5-9 (17,895) but will be leaving the top 10 with sales already of 460,800, and Madonna washes away 7-10 (17,820) 1- LIVING ON MY OWN- Freddie Mercury (48,465) 2- THE KEY: THE SECRET- Urban Cookie Collective (36,405) 3- PRAY- Take That (34,710) 4- WHAT’S UP?- 4 Non Blondes (32,880) 5- IT KEEPS RAININ (TEARS FROM MY EYES)- Bitty McLean (25,110) 6- THE RIVER OF DREAMS- Billy joel (24,315) 7- TEASE ME- Chaka Demus & Pliers (22,230) 8- NUFF VIBES EP- Apache Indian (19,620) 9- DREAMS- Gabrielle (17,895) 10- RAIN- Madonna (17,820)

7TH AUGUST Again defying odds Take That make it a full month on top, “Pray” taking 46,395 buyers in last week, it managed to stave off a late surge by Freddie Mercury’s “Living On My Own” which storms 5-2 (44,190) and should overturn the teen heart throbs next week. “Pray” has sold 234,060 copies in its first month and will become the group’s biggest seller next week overtaking current leader “Could It Be Magic” as you’d expect for a month long chart topper. Former regular with A Guy Called Gerald and Together, Ronan Heath decided to go solo founding the Urban Cookie Collective releasing “The Key: The Secret” on unheard records earlier this year and drumming up success in clubs which led to it being picked up by Pulse 8 and becoming a hit moving 40-29-20-11-6 so far and selling 24,870 in its latest frame. Vocals come courtesy of Diane Charlemagne, former vocalist with band 52nd Street. 4 Non Blondes reverse 2-3 (40,095) but the album reaches new heights at No 4, and incredibly Chaka Demus & Pliers spend a sixth week in the top 5 without going higher than No 3, they’re celebrating a month at No 4 (26,445) whilst Gabrielle tumbles 3-5 (26,235). Madonna has trouble climbing again as she gets stuck in the groove at No 7 (24,765), so are Roxette at No 8 (22,035) and to complete the non movers is Dannii Minogue at No 10 (19,875) which leaves just Haddaway to note falling 6- 9 (21,795) 1- PRAY- Take That (46,395) 2- LIVING ON MY OWN- Freddie Mercury (44,190) 3- WHAT’S UP- 4 Non Blondes (40,095) 4- TEASE ME- Chaka Demus & Pliers (26,445) 5- DREAMS- Gabrielle (26,235) 6- THE KEY: THE SECRET- Urban Cookie Collective (24,870) 7- RAIN- Madonna (24,765) 8- ALMOST UNREAL- Roxette (22,035) 9- WHAT IS LOVE- Haddaway (21,795) 10- THIS IS IT- Dannii Minogue (19,875)

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)

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)

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)

It's the golden age of the CD single, not to mention the held back single!

2ND OCTOBER None of the expected big hitters of the week managed to knock Eiffel 65 from the top. “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” sold another impressive 164,500 last week, a 27% slump week on week but a decent enough showing. There was a much more interesting battle beneath them between new releases by S Club 7 and Shania Twain who swapped places on a day by day basis. In the end it’s those S Clubbers that won by just 4,000 copies, “S Club Party” is their second single and follow up to the platinum “Bring It All Back”, it heralds their debut album due in a fortnight and featured on their recent TV special “Back To The 50s”. They were made to fight for it though with Shania Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like A Woman” which posts a sale of 80,000 to debut at No 3. A clever video which inverts Robert Palmer’s “Addicted To Love” promo has helped to really cement the notion that Twain has really arrived in the UK market. This is a fifth single to be taken from “Come On Over”, an album which has spent the last 18 weeks in the top 5 and is this week deposed at the top after three weeks by the new Leftfield album. It has sold almost a million copies and is currently the 4th biggest album of the year. Britney Spears meanwhile scores her third top 5 single of the 1999 with “(You Drive Me) Crazy” which has been substantially remixed from the album version. It’s done the trick to debut at No 5 (63,000) and comes with a promo featuring actors Adrian Grenier and Melissa Joan Hart who star in the film “Drive Me Crazy” which is out in the States shortly but not due here until well into 2000. Lou Bega falls 2-4 (70,000) but is still ahead of Bob Marley Vs Funkstar Deluxe who fall 3-6 (56,000). Vengaboys slip 4-7 (52,000), DJ Jean dips 6-8 (46,000), Paul Johnson gets down 5-9 (42,000), and Lolly slides 8-10 (35,000) as her album enters at No 21- not quite as impressive. 1- BLUE (DA BA DEE)- Eiffel 65 (164,500) 2- S CLUB PARTY- S Club 7 (84,000) 3- MAN I FEEL LIKE A WOMAN- Shania Twain (80,000) 4- MAMBO NO 5 (A LITTLE BIT OF...)- Lou Bega (70,000) 5- (YOU DRIVE ME) CRAZY- Britney Spears (63,000) 6- SUN IS SHINING- Bob Marley Vs Funkstar Deluxe (56,000) 7- WE’RE GOING TO IBIZA- Vengaboys (52,000) 8- THE LAUNCH- DJ Jean (46,000) 9- GET GET DOWN- Paul Johnson (42,000) 10- MICKEY- Lolly (35,000)

25TH SEPTEMBER As much as the coming of Lou Bega was entirely foreseeable we can also say that of Eiffel 65. The Italian trio have been hitting No 1 all over Europe in the last few months with their debut single “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” and now the UK concedes too after the track sold a mighty 226,000 copies last week, the highest opening tally since ATB in July. As per the norm (now) for a future No 1 the song charted on import before the official release but this became only the third track ever to make the top 40 on those imports, getting as high as No 39 a fortnight ago, and the second to make No 1 after being in the top 40 on imports. It’s an unprecedented third continental European act to top the charts in a row, it’s also the 6th UK chart topper to have Italian performers following Mantovani, Renee (of Renato fame), Black Box, Livin’ Joy, and The Tamperer. Lou Bega holds at No 2 (96,000) as total sales of “Mambo No 5” now amount to 621,000 after a month on sale officially, it seems we prefer the single to the album which is already fading 50-62 in its second week. Producer Martin Otteson is better known as Funkstar De Luxe and he’s new at No 3 (83,000) this week in tandem with Bob Marley thanks to Otteson’s work on Marley’s 1971 track “Sun Is Shining”. Marley himself rarely performed the track but it went on to become something of a classic even being used as the basis for Finlay Quaye’s “Sunday Shining” in 1997 (#16). This is, apparently, the first time Marley’s estate have officially given clearance for a remix of his music and rapidly became an Ibiza classic over the last few months, wise move- it gives Marley his biggest ever UK hit! Whilst we’re talking about Ibiza, another song to come from the Island is DJ Paul Johnson’s “Get Get Down” which slides seamlessly into No 5 (66,000) to give the Chicago DJ his first hit. It extensively samples Hamilton Bohannon’s “Me & The Gang” and becomes his biggest associated hit beating “Disco Stomp”s peak by a slot. Apparently the words “Down” or “d-down” are repeated over 180 times- itself a record. Tom Jones scored 13 top 10 singles between 1965 and 1972 before his career took a nosedive and Jones went off to do residency in the US in the 70s and 80s. His return to the charts in 1987 was a surprise but saw the singer grab a couple of top 10 singles before seeing a downturn in fortunes again. He’s been absent again for 5 years but now he’s back with an album of covers with some of today’s biggest acts including Robbie Williams, Stereophonics and Natalie Imbruglia. First single to be pulled from it is with the Cardigans and the song is question is Talking Heads “Burning Down The House”, it was a US #9 hit in 1983 but failed to chart here. The Album “Reload” is out in a fortnight but the single impressively debuts at No 7 (50,000)- Jones’ 16th top 10 hit and The Cardigans third. The Vengaboys fade like the summer 1-4 (81,000) and DJ Jean also weakens 3-6 (62,000). Lolly drops 4-8 (46,000), Shaft drift 6-9 (43,000) and Enrique Iglesias slumps 8-10 (41,000). 1- BLUE (DA BA DEE)- Eiffel 65 (226,000) 2- MAMBO NO 5- Lou Bega (96,000) 3- SUN IS SHINING- Bob Marley Vs Funkstar Deluxe (83,000) 4- WE’RE GOING TO IBIZA- Vengaboys (81,000) 5- GET GET DOWN- Paul Johnson (66,000) 6- THE LAUNCH- DJ Jean (62,000) 7- BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE- Tom Jones & Cardigans (50,000) 8- MICKEY- Lolly (46,000) 9- (MUCHO MAMBO) SWAY- Shaft (43,000) 10- BAILAMOS- Enrique Iglesias (41,000)

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)

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)

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)

19TH JUNE A piece of pop history was created this week but the headline still belongs to UB40 who make it a fortnight at the top, they increased sales of “(I Can’t Help) Falling In Love With You” to 83,070 to do it. It should sell its 400,000th copy next week which isn’t bad going and the track is already their personal 4th best seller behind both former chart toppers and 1980’s “King/ Food For Thought”. Now onto that bit of history, in 1984 Neil became the highest act to ever debut in the chart when “Hole In My Shoe” arrived at No 5, fast forward to July 1990 and Partners In Kryme arrived at No 4, then Vanilla Ice went one better in November of that year and whilst that achievement has been equalled since it’s never been surpassed- until this week. Hackney resident Louise Gabrielle Bob goes under just her middle name for chart purposes and her underground hit “Dreams” gained airplay in late 91/ early 92 helped by the inclusion of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” in sampled form. Available in limited copies and bootleg’s it entered at No 181 last May but has been a consistent seller peaking at No 136 just this January. It did enough to attract Chapman’s lawyers who made Gabrielle remove the sample leading to the deletion of the original version and causing a minor spot of re-arranging to come up with a new version of “Dreams” which debuts at No 2 (72,690) to enable her place in chart history. It’s been accompanied by a swathe of promotion by the singer and is clearly lining up to be a chart topper- we’ll see soon! Deciding to combine their already established music careers DJ Chaka Demus & singer Pliers teamed up in 1991 and have now hit it big internationally with “Tease Me”. It has taken only a fortnight from release to fly 13-6 (29,940) and points to further evidence that 1993 is going to be the year of Reggae with this Jamaican duo tearing up the charts. Haddaway rises 6-3 (50,865) and could yet be in the mix for No 1 next week, his good fortune means that both Ace Of Base and Spin Doctors drop two spots to accommodate. “Two Princes” sold a best yet of 42,765 whilst “All That She Wants” shifted 50,355 meaning it should move over the half million mark next week, their album “Happy Nation” is also new at No 21. Pet Shop Boys can only hold at No 7 (26,310) but Inner Circle 4-8 (25,380), Green Jelly 5-9 (25,185) and Lisa Stansfield 9-10 (24,765) all weaken this week- but you have to go back to November 1990 to find the No 10 selling more than Lisa Stansfield this week (festive weeks aside). 1- (I CAN’T HELP) FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU- UB40 (83,070) 2- DREAMS- Gabrielle (72,690) 3- WHAT IS LOVE?- Haddaway (50,865) 4- ALL THAT SHE WANTS- Ace Of Base (50,355) 5- TWO PRINCES- Spin Doctors (42,765) 6- TEASE ME- Chaka Demus & Pliers (29,940) 7- CAN YOU FORGIVE HER- Pet Shop Boys (26,310) 8- SWEAT (A LA LA LA LONG)- Inner Circle (25,380) 9- THREE LITTLE PIGS- Green Jelly (25,185) 10- IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES- Lisa Stansfield (24,765)

12TH JUNE The bottom half of the top 10 is full of new tunes but the top 5 are the same as last week albeit with a bit of movement. Most notable of all is that UB40 score their third chart topper with “(I Can’t Help) Falling In Love With You”, it follows eight years on from their last “I Got You Babe” and 10 years since “Red Red Wine”, you’ll note that all their chart toppers have been covers. For the writers Peretti, Creatore, and Weiss it marks a fourth chart topper all in a different decade, The Elvis original in the 60s, The Stylistics in the 70s, Tight Fit in the 80s and now UB40 in the 90s. Sales of the track stand at 274,800 including 72,195 last week, a slight 14% dip week on week which might suggest a short stay at the top, its total sales trail the outgoing No 1 by Ace Of Bass which dips 1-2 (67,980) and which has sold 419,340 and is chasing 2 Unlimited hard for the honour of best seller of the year so far. Spin Doctors sneak 4-3 (32,145) as they swap places with Inner Circle (29,775) while Green Jelly can’t improve on their spectacular debut last week and stick at No 5 (29,415). In the bottom half only Louchie Lou & Michie One retain their place though even they are down 7-8 (21,885) despite a sales increase. Already a major hit and chart topper across Europe Haddaway is a Trinidadian singer who moved to Germany in 1987 when he became a bar man before being plucked for stardom. His debut single “What Is Love” has been popular with radio and now at retail as it explodes 18-6 (24,450), it’s on the logic label which has already imported continental hits from Snap! and Doctor Alban over the last year. Back with a new interesting image to boot, The Pet Shop Boys have been absent for 18 months during which they’ve written a new album whilst Neil Tennant featured on the No 6 hit by Electronic “Disappointed”. Back in the fold “Can You Forgive Her?” debuts at No 7 (22,710) and is their 13th top 10 single, expect an album in the autumn. Bringing in the money at the box office at present is “Indecent Proposal” which naturally spawns a hit single as all big releases seem to these days. Lisa Stansfield is the recipient of the honours on this occasion, “In All The Right Places” was co-written by John Barry who has written much of the soundtrack, it gives Stansfield her 6th top 10 single though only two have made it higher than this current hit and both of those were chart toppers! it lifts 13-9 (18,015) Previously available on the B-side of last year’s “Rhythm Is A Dancer” (with a rap by Turbo B) Snap!’s “Do You See The Light (Looking For)” has now had a makeover, a lyrical re-write and new vocals courtesy of Niki Harris, it keeps their chart record of just one single to fail to make the top 10 (1991’s “Colour Of Love”) with this song debuting at No 10 (16,905). Their tally of 8 top 10 hits in the 90s is beaten only by Madonna with 12 so far. 1- (I CAN’T HELP) FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU- UB40 (72,195) 2- ALL THAT SHE WANTS- Ace Of Base (67,980) 3- TWO PRINCES- Spin Doctors (32,145) 4- SWEAT (A LA LA LA LONG)- Inner Circle (29,775) 5- THREE LITTLE PIGS- Green Jelly (29,415) 6- WHAT IS LOVE- Haddaway (24,450) 7- CAN YOU FORGIVE HER?- Pet Shop Boys (22,710) 8- SHOUT (IT OUT)- Louchie Lou & Michie One (21,885) 9- IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES- Lisa Stansfield (18,015) 10- DO YOU SEE THE LIGHT (LOOKING FOR)- Snap! (16,905)