Gezza

TOTP and the publicity of being the highest new entry i suppose increased its sales

2ND APRIL Well few, including me, predicted a second week for Aswad and so it proves that in the absence of anything stronger “Don’t Turn Around” triumphs again on a sale of 63,665, a marked 32% increase week on week but far from a stellar seller, a worrying trend in a lacklustre year thus far. Their album “Distant Thunder” hits the shops this week where it will coincidentally go up against the debut album by Bros, the group that occupy the No 2 slot this week for a second week. After leaping 17-2 last week I can only assume that those ardent female fans are waiting for the album to get a copy of “Drop The Boy”, it sold an exactly similar 32% more week on week to register 52,377 but the gap between the two expanded to to over 11k it doesn’t look as though it will be a chart topper after all. xhkNb3XXats The return of A-ha is trumpeted this week by the new single “Stay On These Roads” manoeuvring 18-5 (26,333) to become their 8th top 10 hit from 9 releases, it also serves as the title track from their third album which is out in May. It is the top selling CD this week with a little over 3,000 copies sold and also tops a list that sees the format sell over 50,000 for the first time ever in total. Pg3NyypcIy4 Her last single disappointed at No 15 (“G.T.O”) but Sinitta is back in the top 10 with the S/A/W penned “Cross My Broken Heart”, it is cut from her debut self titled album which is home to all five of her hits and must be drawing its last breath in terms of singles culled from it. It is released in a remixed form, its LP version being deemed not good enough, and advances 14-6 (25,738) following another lycra clad TOTP performance from her. S/A/W’s other top 10 single is the falling “I Should Be So lucky” which hurtles 3-8 (22,576) RIyyzJx76Mg Between those two singles is the week’s highest new entry and it’s from those Pet Shop Boys who score their 6th top 10 single on the trot. “Heart” has been plucked from the album “Actually” and remixed for single purposes (an increasing trend for 4th singles + from an album), the tracks video features famous luvee actor Ian McKellen and spoofs the film “Nosferatu” to add a gothic flair to the production. It was allegedly penned with Hazell Dean and Madonna in mind but the boys decided to keep it for themselves in the end. It debuts at No 7 this week selling 25,534 into the bargain. Q_4aa-Wovqs In other news "Heart" is officially the 100th single of the 80s to debut inside the top 10, 73.5 from UK acts, 20.5 from US acts, 4 from Ireland, 1 Swedish, and 1 German (George Michael and Aretha Franklin providing the .5 split). Artist wise Paul Weller has the most with 11 (between the Jam and the Style Council), George Michael has done it 10 times between his solo work and Wham! and Madonna is the leading lady on this list with 8 debuts in the top rung. One song that they did write and decide to give away is “I’m Not Scared” and that was picked up by Eighth Wonder which contains actress Patsy Kensit who plans to marry Dan Donovan of Big Audio Dynamite this year. In truth Eight Wonder have struggled to make chart inroads so far with just one of their three singles making the top 75 (“Stay With Me” No 65) meaning that Kensit’s main claim to fame remains her starring role in 1986’s “Absolute Beginners”. However all they needed was the right song and now “I’m Not Scared” has motored 13-10 (20,213) to become a sizeable hit though some noted that the TOTP appearance featured just Kensit herself, the band seemingly shy or sidelined one of the two. 2ThK6POaz8I Iron Maiden prove they aren’t one week wonders as “Can I Play With Madness” climbs 4-3 (46,325) just keeping ahead of Tiffany who similarly moves up one spot 5-4 (41,225), Heart meanwhile move a spot in the opposite direction 8-9 (20,264) 1- DON’T TURN AROUND- Aswad (63,665) 2- DROP THE BOY- Bros (52,377) 3- CAN I PLAY WITH MADNESS- Iron Maiden (46,325) 4- COULD’VE BEEN- Tiffany (41,225) 5- STAY ON THESE ROADS- A-Ha (26,333) 6- CROSS MY BROKEN HEART (REMIX)- Sinitta (25,738) 7- HEART- Pet Shop Boys (25,534) 8- I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY- Kylie Minogue (22,576) 9- NEVER/ THESE DREAMS- Heart (20,264) 10- I’M NOT SCARED- Eighth Wonder (20,213)

Ah fair enough!

Looking at the history no it hadn't. Seems odd to update randomly 20 years after it happened though.

"Kylie" was over 2.1 million back in 2006 according to the OCC so something seems off here.

Am I missing something? "Kylie" was on over 2.1 million back in 2006!

15TH FEBRUARY It’s an historic chart week all around! The headline is that U2 get their third chart topper but the top 10 features a record 6 new entries! U2’s “Discotheque” may be the first song to be leaked on the internet and was available to the tech savvy before Christmas causing the single to be brought forward by a few months. It is the lead track from their new album “Pop” out in a few weeks and comes with a promo which pays homage to the Village People, why not! The single sold 125,000 copies which is the best start to any U2 track ever. hb09y9zW15U For the 6th week on the trot we also have a different record at the top, a turnaround which is now in the record books. By contrast No Mercy hold at No 2 (77,000) and are still increasing at retail weekly, “Where Do You Go” has now sold 281,000 in 5 weeks to become the biggest selling single of the year so far, and it hasn’t even made No 1….yet. Mark Owen was the first ex-Take Thater to release an album but “Green Man” failed to deliver peaking at a lowly No 33, it has since revived moving 43-37 this week as second single “Clementine” tries to convince more buyers. The single however replicates the success of first hit “Child” by smashing straight in at No 3 (55,400) well below the 62,000 that “Child” sold, regardless of that Owen is the first of his former band mates to make it to a second single with both Barlow and Williams hard at work getting that first album just right, Owen proves however that he can write solo hits at least. riJHM7Xaoj0 A lot has happened to Depeche Mode since we last saw them in the charts three years ago. Alan Wilder left the band, Dave Gahan was hospitalised after an attempted suicide attempt and other members of the band suffered from alcoholism and depression. But they’ve made it through and are back recording as a trio with a new album “Ultra” ready for release and the dark “Barrel Of A Gun” now becoming their biggest hit since “People Are People” also made No 4 thirteen years ago. For all their success and hits this is only their 10th top 10 single in 16 years but we must have missed them as this sold 52,000 copies last week, for trivia fans this is produced by Tim Simenon or Bomb The Bass as he’s also known. XiMNBOuSzSg Dance music continues to use rock and re-invents the genre and there’s no finer example at the moment than Apollo 440’s “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Dub” which is of course a pun on the track it uses as its base, namely Van Halen’s “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love”. The group are about to release their second album and are clearly getting bigger and bigger as this debuts at No 7 (42,000). 5CWA7dnTjmA Another one of those bands who are just getting bigger and bigger are Mansun, they’re approaching the release of their first album “Attack Of The Grey Lantern” will now house five singles before it hits the shelves (the album’s title refers to the band’s original name in case you wondered). All five singles have peaked higher than the previous one culminating in “She Makes My Nose Bleed” appearing at No 9 (36,000). Whilst some have read the song as being about cocaine the band assure us that it is not but controversy never hurts a record. aNRt9TJG93o US band Eels are hotly tipped to be big in 1997 with a string of articles raving about them and support from Radio 1 for their debut single “Novocaine For The Soul” which now becomes the record breaking 6th top 10 new entry in the top 10 this week at anchor position (35,000). wDwO1hECw9M LL Cool J is last week’s news as he dives 1-5 (48,000) pushing En Vogue down 5-6 (47,000) but you’ll notice it is still increasing at retail, and Blue Boy do an about face with “Remember Me” which rebounds 13-8 (39,000) reaching a new peak. 1- DISCOTHEQUE- U2 (125,000) 2- WHERE DO YOU GO- No Mercy (77,000) 3- CLEMENTINE- Mark Owen (55,400) 4- BARREL OF A GUN- Depeche Mode (52,000) 5-AIN’T NOBODY- LL Cool J (48,000) 6- DON’T LET GO (LOVE)- En Vogue ( 47,000) 7- AIN’ T TALKIN ‘BOUT DUB- Apollo 440 (42,000) 8- REMEMBER ME- Blueboy (39,000) 9- SHE MAKES MY NOSE BLEED- Mansun (36,000) 10- NOVOCAINE FOR THE SOUL- Eels (35,000)

8TH FEBRUARY There aren’t many acts that wait 9 years after their debut to grab themselves a chart topper but that’s what James Todd Smith does this week. Otherwise known as LL Cool J his previous best was last year’s “Loungin” (No 7) but his re-interpretation of Chaka Khan & Rufus’s “Ain’t Nobody” sweeps all opposition aside to hit No 1 after selling 80,000 copies last week, it features in the yet to be released (here) film “Beavis & Butt-head Do America” and is the 5th version of the song to chart with the original making the top 10 twice, once in 1984 and then five years later. v5bSFf0mC0k Next up is the return of The Orb, one of the leading lights in the ambient music genre of the early 90s they’ve been rather quite of late but they were asked by Jean Michel Jarre’s to provide a remix of his track “Oxygene 8” which features on his new album. Reportedly when Jarre heard the remix he was less than impressed as it was more or less unrecognisable from his track so he passed on it meaning that the band were free to issue the track themselves. So we get “Toxygene” which instantly becomes their biggest hit as it crashes in at No 4 (46,000) and is their 3rd top 10 single. f9bFdETDLcg Second album time for Michelle Gayle who has surely shrugged off the “her from Eastenders” tag by now. Her first album generated her biggest hit “Sweetness” (#4) along with 4 other top 30 singles so she has high expectations for this new album. First single “Do You Know” gets her off to a racing start being new at No 6 (38,000) and as a co-writer she should be generating a fair bit of cash for her, the second album is due in the spring. rHOcP80Vi1I It’s been 17 years since Barbra Streisand has been in the top flight but her duet with Bryan Adams on “I Finally Found Someone” has sent her back there. It is taken from her current film “The Mirror Has Two Faces” and was released with the movie last month when this made No 85 but it has been a slow burner at the flicks and is now re-issued to capture the fact that it is now more widely known- it arrives at No 10 (27,000). G8xR-8Hac3k No Mercy sell at best yet 68,000 and power 5-2 and may yet prove a surprise No 1 next week if U2 can’t make it, White Town slip 2-3 (56,000) but En Vogue climb 10-5 (43,000). It is worth noting that despite “Don’t Let Go (Love)” chart form so far 5-5-9-10-5 it has improved in sales week after week. Blur fall 1-7 (34,000) replacing the Spice Girls as the biggest fall from the summit in the last 5 years. Texas slide 6-8 (32,000) and Placebo slip 4-9 (29,000). 1-AIN’T NOBODY- LL Cool J (80,000) 2- WHERE DO YOU GO- No Mercy (68,000) 3- YOUR TOWN- White Town (56,000) 4- TOXYGENE- The Orb (46,000) 5- DON’T LET GO (LOVE)- En Vogue (43,000) 6- DO YOU KNOW- Michelle Gayle (38,000) 7- BEETLEBUM- Blur (34,000) 8- SAY WHAT YOU WANT- Texas (32,000) 9- NANCY BOY- Placebo (29,000) 10- I FINALLY FOUND SOMEONE- Bryan Adams & Barbra Streisand (27,000)

26TH MARCH A huge tidy out this week after the lull of 7 days ago. Aswad make their expected rise to No 1 this week and in the process sold 48,807 copies, not exactly a show that it intends to stay for a long time! As noted before it is the second Hammond/ Warren composition to make No 1 in just 10 months, Aswad were lagging behind the highest new entry of the week until Friday before they finally gained some authority over the top slot, it is the first reggae No 1 since UB40 & Chrissie Hynde, depending on how you view Boy George’s “Everything I Own” from last year. vsoauqrGG08 Making a late challenge to their authority however were Bros who are quickly turning into the teen sensation of 1988 with a publicity machine that continues to pump out stories about the trio to the press encouraging scenes of female adoration wherever the boys go. For now it’s working a dream, second single “Drop The Boy” debuted at No 17 last week and now slices through the competition 17-2 (40,341) to equal the peak of their last single “When Will I Be Famous” a couple of months ago. On this form one has to suspect that the boys will be celebrating their first No 1 next week, their debut album “Push” is out in three weeks and should similarly be a chart topper but more immediately they have a half hour special on ITV this Friday which should ensure a tough battle for Aswad next week. 4U4PZl68AFQ Kylie falls 1-3 (37,128) after 5 weeks as the nation’s favourite which brings the tracks total sales to 534,820, S/A/W are clearly hoping to have produced the best seller of the year for a second year on the trot as this track ascends to the top of the listings for 1988 and lifts above the half million mark. Just below Kylie are the highest new entry of the week and for a time the song that was looking good to enter at the top in the midweek sales flashes. Iron Maiden have so far scored 16 hits in their long career but their previous best was 1982’s “Run To The Hills” which made No 7, they now go instantly better with “Can I Play With Madness?” enters at No 4 (27,047) showing how badly it faded as the week progressed. The song was originally called “On The Wings Of Eagles” and comes with a promo filmed at Tintern Abbey. d-WPwrSuTc4 “Could’ve Been” has already topped the US charts for Tiffany and it’s making short work here in the UK. Her last single “I Think We’re Alone Now” finally leaves the top 40 this week but she’s wasting no time on following up the No 1 single as this single catapults 22-5 (24,242) and could be in with an outside chance of making No 1 next week if Bros/ Aswad should falter, her album shows little sign of being revived by the single though as it falls out of the top 20 after just 5 weeks 20-23 after peaking at No 5. oUHAUCzouGg Taking rather longer to become a hit here after making the top in the US, Heart have struggled to follow up “Alone”, it became their first top 40 single and made it all the way to No 3, “Who Will You Run To?” (No 30) and “There’s The Girl” (No 34) both failed to impress. The group have clearly decided to return to former glories and give the song “These Dreams” another lease of life. It made No 1 in the US two years ago but only No 62 here, they’ve teamed it with “Never” as a double A Side, a song that failed to chart here but Made No 4 in America. “These Dreams” was originally offered to Stevie Nicks who turned it down and must regret it now, the coupling rises 12-8 (22,151) to see the rockers return to the top flight. zWzy5q_M5Ho 41P8UxneDJE Not content with co-writing the current No 1 single Diane Warren is also responsible for the track at the other end of the top 10, Belinda Carlisle’s “I Get Weak”. The song falls 2-6 in the US this week unable to dislodge Rick Astley, but has surprisingly struggled here moving 39-17-13-11-10 thus far selling 21,607 copies in its latest frame actually losing sales as it rises! b6w9TI6aTIQ Three further fallers to cover briefly, Vanessa Paradis taxi’s south 3-6 (23,834), the Primitives crash out 5-7 (23,715) and Erasure sink 6-9 (22,083). 1- DON’T TURN AROUND- Aswad (48,807) 2- DROP THE BOY- Bros (40,341) 3- I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY- Kylie Minogue (37,128) 4- CAN I PLAY WITH MADNESS- Iron Maiden (27.047) 5- COULD’VE BEEN- Tiffany (24,242) 6- JOE LE TAXI- Vanessa Paradis (23,834) 7- CRASH- The Primitives (23,715) 8- NEVER/ THESE DREAMS- Heart (22,151) 9- SHIP OF FOOLS- Erasure (22,083) 10- I GET WEAK- Belinda Carlisle (21,607)

Only 1.2k between numbers 6 and 10. Could have ended up in any order

19TH MARCH On paper not an awful lot happened last week in the top 3, Kylie hung on for a 5th week at the top (the longest chart topper by a female since Jennifer Rush in 1985) while Rick Astley held at No 2 and Vanessa Paradis crawled 4-3 but the fact beneath that is that all three tracks are now in sales decline to varying degrees. Kylie slumped 26% to post a sale of just 48,280 which is the lowest tally since Madonna last May, Astley shed 13% to sell 35,496 (the lowest sale for No 2 since “Caravan Of Love" last year) and Vanessa Paradis lost 15% to clock in at 28,815, all in all that makes a pretty soft top 3. G4ispn5ohQ0 All the better for Aswad who this week leap 22-4 (27,455) to give UK Reggae a much needed spot of advertising. “Don’t Turn Around” was penned by Diane Warren and Albert Hammond (they also wrote Starship’s No 1 from last year) and was given to Tina Turner to record in 1986, her version ended up as a b-side to “Typical Male” but was covered last year by TV presenter Kim Goody (of “No 73” fame) but that failed to chart. It was also covered and became a US R N B top 20 single for Luther Ingram and that’s the version that Aswad heard and decided to give it a whirl, the band have been around for 13 years with only two chart hits to their credit, neither of which pierced the top 50. Hdi3zA1PgIY Erasure’s third album “The Innocents” is released next month and lead single “Ship Of Fools” is doing the trick of promoting it with some ease as it flies 12-6 (23,494). The duo have chosen Pet Shop Boys producer Stephen Hague to oversee the album and he steers this song to become the group’s 4th top 10 single in just over a year. f4sEXrhAu_8 A product of Prince’s Paisley Park label, Taja Sevelle (real name Nancy Richardson) is the new name on the block with “Love Is Contagious”. Unlike Debbie Gibson and Tiffany, Sevelle doesn’t come to the UK with a US top 10 hit to promote, this track fizzled out at No 62 Stateside but has done much better over here as the song bounces 17-7 (22,933) after a stunning TOTP performance. Uh1v83hFo8U The Primitives move 9-5 (25,449) with a minimal sales increase, and three songs are back to back and falling, Bomb The Bass slump 3-8 (22,865), Coldcut & Yazz slip 6-9 (22,678) and Billy Ocean dips 5-10 (22,287), his album “Tear Down These Walls” does however debut at No 3 to compensate. 1- I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY- Kylie Minogue (48,280) 2- TOGETHER FOREVER- Rick Astley (35,496) 3- JOE LE TAXI- Vanessa Paradis (28,815) 4- DON’T TURN AROUND- Aswad (27,455) 5- CRASH- The Primitives (25,449) 6- SHIP OF FOOLS- Erasure (23,494) 7- LOVE IS CONTAGIOUS- Taja Sevelle (22,933) 8- BEAT DIS- Bomb The Bass (22,865) 9- DOCTORIN HOUSE- Coldcut Featuring Yazz & The Plastic Population (22,678) 10- GET OUT OF MY DREAMS, GET INTO MY CAR- Billy Ocean (22,287)

12TH MARCH With sales off by 25% Kylie Minogue remains the nation’s biggest seller for a fourth week but it’s really touch and go for a fifth week for the Neighbours star, regardless it is now the longest chart topper of 1988. “I Should Be So Lucky” sold 65,841 copies last week but still had a relatively easy week as she defended herself against the still improving Rick Astley whose “Together Forever” rose 4-2 (41,616) to emerge as her main challenger, that of course gives Stock Aitken & Waterman a stranglehold on the top 2 replicating their high point as producers (April 1987 was the first time they held the top 2 spots), they also book end the top 10 with a new track at No 10, but more on that in a moment. Astley also finally makes No 1 in the US with “Never Gonna Give You Up”, that’s the production trio’s second US chart topper after Bananarama’s “Venus” turned the trick for them last year. 3_TvpBwSZDM Currently being championed by the NME and the indie press, Coventry’s The Primitives have their first hit on their hands in the form of “Crash”. The song is the first release since the group sold their own label Lazy records to RCA, and with the push of a major label they hit it big, of course getting Morrissey to wear a T-Shirt advertising your band helped as well, certainly in indie circles. The song climbs 15-9 (22,406) this week. -CQ3TQbTtP8 So onto S/A/W’s newest top 10 and the return of Mel & Kim, Mel of course recently revealed that she has been fighting spine cancer during the course of last year which explains the duo’s absence from the charts since August 1987. “That’s The Way It Is” is a new recording which Mel discharged herself from hospital in order to record the vocals and comes with a new b-side which sounds like an amalgamation of Rick Astley singles! Anyway the song becomes the fourth top 10 single from the girls as it shoots 16-10 (21,828) and with the news Mel is well on the road to recovery there should be a second album sometime next year. LIj4e4BdpGc Celebrating this week are Vanessa Paradis who drives 7-4 (33,476) and Coldcut & Yazz who move 9-6 (27,982) with a TOTP boost and Eddy Grant is ever hopeful 8-7 (23,392). Bomb The Bass see their moment of opportunity pass as they dip 2-3 (34,476), Billy Ocean is caught daydreaming 3-5 (31,348) and Morrissey fans can’t lift their hero any higher as he tumbles 5-8 (22,678) his debut album “Viva Hate” is out in a fortnight. 1- I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY- Kylie Minogue (65,841) 2- TOGETHER FOREVER- Rick Astley (41,616) 3- BEAT DIS- Bomb The Bass (34,476) 4- JOE LE TAXI- Vanessa Paradis (33,439) 5- GET OUT OF MY DREAMS, GET INTO MY CAR- Billy Ocean (31,348) 6- DOCTORIN IN THE HOUSE- Coldcut Featuring Yazz & The Plastic Population (27,982) 7- GIMME HOPE JOANNA- Eddy Grant (23,392) 8- SUEDEHEAD- Morrissey (22,678) 9- CRASH- The Primitives (22,406) 10- THAT’S THE WAY IT IS- Mel & Kim (21,828)

5TH MARCH “I Should Be So Lucky” cools at retail sliding 22% to 87,975 as overall sales expand to 383,571 enough to see it rank only behind Tiffany for the year thus far. Again it was untouchable by the chasers and outpaced Bomb The Bass by almost 2: 1 with the latter selling 49,504 copies in the runner up spot as it itself similarly lost support. DHWVOiz9DIg Only one new entry to discuss and once again it is from a female teenage vocalist, we’ve already had Tiffany, Debbie and Kylie and now 1988 gives us Vanessa Paradis who is the youngest of them all at just 15. “Joe Le Taxi” was issued her native France last year and topped the charts there for 11 weeks making her into a native sensation, much more unusually it makes the transition across the channel to us here as it climbs 14-7 (32,266) to become the first top 10 single to be sung entirely in a foreign language since Los Lobos last year- can the song repeat “La Bamba”’s success? Much like “I Should Be So Lucky” it also comes with two promo’s one featuring Paradis being driven around in a car (this time in Martinique) which promoted the original French release and one which has been filmed for international release. KtSGmeoNwiM Billy Ocean holds firm at No 3 (43,214) though sales are down and he certainly felt the pressure from both Astley 9-4 (40,188) and Morrissey 6-5 (33,133) who both improve upon their debut positions of last week but will have to put in some serious effort to climb further. Astley can at least be excused as he is currently in the US promoting his debut hit which is now No 2 with a real shot at the top! Taylor Dayne is still heading out of the top 10 as she drifts 4-6 (32,351) whilst Eddy Grant remains at No 8 (31,790) and Coldcut & Yazz climb 10-9 (25,891) and poor Tiffany slides 5-10 (24,157) but has sold 458,031 but must suspect her time at the top of the YTD charts is coming to an end! 1- I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY- Kylie Minogue (87,975) 2- BEAT DIS- Bomb The Bass (49,504) 3- GET OUT OF MY DREAMS, GET INTO MY CAR- Billy Ocean (43,214) 4- TOGETHER FOREVER- Rick Astley (40,188) 5- SUEDEHEAD- Morrissey (33,133) 6- TELL IT TO MY HEART- Taylor Dayne (32,351) 7- JOE LE TAXI- Vanessa Paradis (32,266) 8- GIMME HOPE JOANNA- Eddy Grant (31,790) 9- DOCTORIN THE HOUSE- Coldcut Featuring Yazz & The Plastic Population. (25,891) 10- I THINK WE’RE ALONE NOW- Tiffany (24,157)

There was good SAW and bad SAW just like every other pop phase, their distinctive sound is what made them stand out and be so instantly recognisable, and they ought to be more celebrated for being probably the last British production team that really dominated the charts, everything after was either US or Swedish based (unless I'm overlooking something). We have that odd thing in Britain of always turning against something which is home grown, I think the nearest anything, production team wise, came close to their level of domination in the charts subsequently was probably Cheiron in the late 90s. Let's not forget that the big labels (and by extension the corporate music industry) was against them in the main simply because they were independent and not one of the big 4 companies and basically showed them how it was done for a few years at least. Plus it was old fashioned music snobbery in part- "serious" music vs pop music etc

27TH FEBRUARY Nothing short of a miracle would have prevented “I Should Be So Lucky” from topping the charts this week- and that miracle never happened, it sold a new 1988 high of 110,007 copies, the highest tally since Pet Shop Boys at Christmas as they stopped Rick Astley, it seems we can’t get enough of this particular Aussie at present. 8dfMtaZ3Ewo The suspected challenge of Bomb The Bass never quite materialised though “Beat Dis” does power 5-2 (57,664) to provide a new peak for the Rhythm King label, it was also well clear of Billy Ocean who despite rising 4-3 (46,733) lagged well behind all week. Two massive and much anticipated singles make their debut in the top 10 this week, first up the first solo single from former Smiths frontman Morrissey. “Suedehead” continues the singers seeming obsession with James Dean with a promo filmed in Dean’s hometown of Fairmount, Indiana, and of course he’s again courted slight controversy with the title alluding to skinhead culture though this may be more conjecture by some journalists. From a chart point of view he’s already bettered anything he’s done with the Smiths who only managed to peak at No 10 with any of their singles whilst this smashes in at No 6 (29,750)- a shock No 1 in store? rjeMWCa716E Further down at No 9 (20,910) we see the entry of a certain, and already mentioned, Rick Astley. Fourth single to be plucked from his debut album “Whenever You Need Somebody” is “Together Forever”. Astley has become a bit of a hit in the US with his first single there “Never Gonna Give You Up” climbing into the top 5 there this week, over here all previous singles from the album have gone top 3 so odds on this is set for a nice climb next week, Kylie should be worried even though some journalists have speculated that “I Should Be So Lucky” is just a sped up Rick Astley vocal! ohHFTTQX8-U Few would have given you good odds on seeing Eddy Grant back in the top 10, he was last seen 4 years on “Romancing The Stone” which could only make No 52 and hasn’t had a top 10 single in over 5 years. However his anti-apartheid single “Gimme Hope Jo’anna” proves there is life in the old dog yet as he climbs 12-8 (27,625) to have his 4th top 10 single. 4Pc-mVD5qTc You might not have heard of Coldcut but you’ve already heard their work, the duo formed in 1986 and produced a single called “Say Kids What Time Is It?” which was later sampled by M/A/R/R/S for their No 1 “Pump Up The Volume” last year, they then remixed Erik B & Rakim’s “Paid On Time” for the UK release (which included the sampled title for “Pump Up The Volume”) which helped the track become a hit on both sides of the pond. They finally get their own name into the charts on “Doctorin The House” which features former model and George Michael’s hairdresser Yazz. The song sold 20,689 copies last week as it lifts 25-10. PlNB-aGUj-w Jermaine Stewart is the only other climber as he creeps 8-7 (28,186), further up the charts and there are 2 fallers, Taylor Dayne dips 3-4 (46,495) and Tiffany slides 2-5 (44,608). 1- I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY- Kylie Minogue (110,007) 2- BEAT DIS- Bomb The Bass (57,664) 3- GET OUT OF MY DREAMS, GET INTO MY CAR- Billy Ocean (46,733) 4- TELL IT TO MY HEART- Taylor Dayne (46,495) 5- I THINK WE’RE ALONE NOW- Tiffany (44,608) 6- SUEDEHEAD- Morrissey (29,750) 7- SAY IT AGAIN- Jermaine Stewart (28,186) 8- GIMME HOPE JOANNA- Eddy Grant (27,625) 9- TOGETHER FOREVER- Rick Astley (20,910) 10- DOCTORIN’ THE HOUSE- Coldcut Featuring Yazz & The Plastic Population (20,689)

In other memories, I recall going to my first under 13 disco the week above, it was a Monday so therefore 15th feb, and the DJ was playing Tiffany and at the end said" I thought this was no 1 at the moment but I'm told it's actually this" and launched into ISBSL. odd the things you recall.

Well i bought all the singles and the album and the video collection so clearly 12 year old me is in full agreement with you.

I think JNSPP is quite good for the period and HOYH is also great.

I think this might be true of the first few singles, ISBSL was written as you note very quickly, GTBC was already recorded by another artist and was given to Kylie as a follow up as they hadn't had time to think about it and "Locomotion" was a rehash of her 87 Australian debut. But I do actually think that later singles in 88 and 89 were very good. They certainly "sounded of their time" and therefore may not have aged as well as the more clubbier hits of 90/91 but I think they have their own charm.

20TH FEBRUARY Despite a late surge by Tiffany she loses her crown this week with “I Think We’re Alone Now” falling 1-2 (61,608), It is replaced by a song which creates chart history. Before now there has never been a hat-trick of successive No 1 singles by female solo vocalists but with the rise of “I Should Be So Lucky” by Kylie Minogue to the top today it finally happens and simultaneously it becomes the first time the entire top 3 consist of female soloists. The song proved too strong for the opposition and becomes the 5th No 1 to be produced by Stock/Aitken/ Waterman though the song appears to be dividing audiences between those that love and those that hate the song. Curiously, though the promo was filmed late last year, it wasn’t, and hasn’t, been played on TOTP, they’ve promoting the song with a “live” version of Minogue riding around Sydney in the back of a car which was actually filmed for a Noel Edmunds Christmas special and seems to be the BBC’s preferred version. The track sold 92,701 copies this week and perhaps it is appropriate for both Neighbours and Kylie to be dominating at present as Australia celebrates its bicentennial this year, Minogue is also the 4th Aussie to hit No 1 here after Rolf Harris, Johnny Logan, and Men At Work. 3_TvpBwSZDM DJ Tim Simenon is responsible for Bomb The Bass and his new hit “Beat Dis” which debuts at No 5 (32,555) this week, that equals the record set by Neil 4 years ago for the highest new entry by a debut act. It’s another Rhythm King act and replaces both “Rok Da House” and “The House That Jack Built” which both fall out of the big 10 to make room. The song features an estimated 26 samples and has been one of the hottest dance records of the year so far prompting many to predict that this will be the next No 1! Not bad for a track reputedly recorded for just £500. tsO0-4DJ7DM Following up a massive chart topper is always a tough ask and T’pau’s stab at recreating the magic of “China In Your Hand” is “Valentine which finally creeps 15-9 (24,412) just in time for the big day itself. Debut album “Bridge Of Spies” topped the charts back in November off the back of their No 1 and has now sold over 850,000 copies, it charges 4-2 this week languishing behind only Terence Trent D’Arby. “Valentine” gives the band a 100% success rate with three top 10 singles out of three! NObj0EE0pX0 Taylor Dayne inches 4-3 (55,879) keeping ahead of a bullish Billy Ocean who leaps 8-4 (44,098) and Jermaine Stewart also improves 10-8 (26,860). Bros continue their descent 3-6 (29,529), Elton recedes 5-7 (29,019) and Debbie Gibson is spent 7-10 (24,378). 1- I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY- Kylie Minogue (92,701) 2- I THINK WE’RE ALONE NOW- Tiffany (61,608) 3- TELL IT TO MY HEART- Taylor Dayne (55,879) 4- GET OUTTA MY DREAMS, GET INTO MY CAR- Billy Ocean (44,098) 5- BEAT DIS- Bomb The Bass (32,555) 6- WHEN WILL I BE FAMOUS- Bros (29,529) 7- CANDLE IN THE WIND (LIVE)- Elton John (29,019) 8- SAY IT AGAIN- Jermaine Stewart (26,860) 9- VALENTINE- T’pau (24,412) 10- SHAKE YOUR LOVE- Debbie Gibson (24,378)

I hasten to add this was Pete Waterman's story at the time! ISBSL is actually PWL8 (catalogue number)- PWL1 is Mandy Smith "I Just Can't Wait" which was released in February 1987 (long before Kylie Recorded "The Locomotion" in Australia in the summer of 87) so his story can't possibly be true about creating PWL for her. :D

13TH FEBRUARY Pretty much business as usual for Tiffany who easily scores a third week at the prime spot, “I Think We’re Alone Now” selling a further 74,987 to brings its haul to 327,658 easily the biggest seller of 1988 thus far. Her debut album hits the shops in a fortnight and her quirky dance moves on TOTP seem to have stuck her in people’s minds, watch this space. ZiDvz07LtYw Whether or not Tiffany can claim a fourth week depends almost entirely on how the record at No 2 performs this week. Since “Neighbours” became something of a phenomenon on BBC 1 last year the shows stars have undoubtedly been Scott Robinson (Jason Donovan) and Charlene Mitchell (Kylie Minogue) whose romance has been the focal point for many magazines and publicity for the show. Minogue started her acting career on various soap operas in her native country before getting some guest slots with her younger sister on “Young Talent Time”, her arrival at “Neighbours” in 1986 proved a springboard for her and a performance of “loco-motion” at a benefits concert with fellow cast members gave her a record deal and pushed the song to No 1 for 7 weeks down under, it is currently the biggest selling single of the decade there. She’s now teamed up with hot producers Stock Aitken & Waterman who have written “I Should Be So Lucky” for her and the song sees the 19 yr old power 16-2 (61,166) even outselling Tiffany on Saturday- an ominous sign for Ms Dawlish. It was turned down by every major label forcing Pete Waterman to form his own label (PWL) in order to issue the single- a vote of confidence there which looks like being rewarded. G4ispn5ohQ0 Released first last May “The Jack That House Built” (it made No 48) comes hot on the heels of “Rok Da House” for label Rhythm King and builds on the influence that UK house music is having on the charts this year. Jack N Chill are duo Vlad Naslas and Ed Stratton who met a house party and decided to create some tracks, this single remained a club favourite and gets a second release now moving 12-6 (27,727) it should be noted that whilst the pair have links to Rhythm King this track isn’t on the label. YWbbl3si_oo With a title borrowed from Jonny Burnette’s “You’re Sixteen” Billy Ocean returns to the top 10 for the 6th time but his first in 2 years with “Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car” a song that flies 27-8 (24,497). It’s the lead single from his 7th album “Tear Down These Walls” (a reference to a recent speech by Ronald Reagan) which you can buy next month, the single comes with a part animated video. TgLvOAZ0LRs Jermaine Stewart has had trouble finding chart form after 1986’s “We Don’t Have To Take Our Clothes Off” went to No 2 with only one release “Jody” making No 50. “Say It Again” is co-penned by Bunny Sigler who is one of the main inventors of the “Philadelphia” sound and gives Stewart a much needed boost in the arm for his career as it climbs 17-10 (21,403). ZYwKpIDubFc Other tracks on the move this week including the northbound Taylor Dayne 8-4 (41,922) who is followed all the way by Elton John 10-5 (31,926), and Debbie Gibson seems to struggle 9-7 (26,724). Those heading the wrong way are Bros 2-3 (50,167) and Beatmasters & Cookie Crew who tumble 5-9 (24,293). Incidentally it is the first time in UK chart history that the top 3 are all teenage acts! 1- I THINK WE’RE ALONE NOW- Tiffany (74,987) 2- I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY- Kylie Minogue (61,166) 3- WHEN WILL I BE FAMOUS- Bros (50,167) 4- TELL IT TO MY HEART- Taylor Dayne (41,922) 5- CANDLE IN THE WIND (LIVE)- Elton John (31,926) 6- THE JACK THAT HOUSE BUILT- Jack N Chill (27,727) 7- SHAKE YOUR LOVE- Debbie Gibson (26,724) 8- GET OUTTA MY DREAMS, GET INTO MY CAR- Billy Ocean (24,497) 9- ROK DA HOUSE- Beatmasters Featuring The Cookie Crew (24,293) 10- SAY IT AGAIN- Jermaine Stewart (21,403)

1ST FEBRUARY They have publicly said that they have “moved on” from Britpop but that doesn’t diminish the appeal of the band, yes Blur are back and “Beetlebum” wastes no time in smashing in at No 1 with ease after selling 120,000 copies. It is the first release from the forthcoming “Blur” album out in a few weeks, they may have ultimately lost the Britpop battle to Oasis but they can still command a devoted fanbase and this is now their 6th top 10 hit on the trot. b7eZz0JGWL0 White Town slip 1-2 (90,000) but has had an interesting week in the tabloids with much musing over the lyrics and exactly from whose point of view the song is sung from. It recovered from a midweek No 3 position at the expense of the new George Michael single, double header “Older/ I Can’t Make You Love Me” which ends in bronze position with 83,000 takers. The title track to his album, the “Older” era is already the most successful for the singer selling more than any Wham! or solo album by Michael and this release comes with a cover of the Bonnie Raitt track “I Can’t Make You Love Me” which he performed at last year’s MTV Unplugged session. Airplay has been split between the two perhaps accounting for the top 3 position as it offers fans something new. This is his 15th top 10 single but his 7th top 5 hit on the trot stretching way back to 1991. 04-9Gv0FMLg QbWJO8RMg1A Critic’s darlings for much of 1996 Placebo’s first two singles narrowly missed the charts but “Teenage Angst” finally gave them a hit making No 30 last summer. Fourth single from the debut self- titled album is “Nancy Boy” deals with themes of drugs, sex, and Sexuality and gives them the biggest hit as it smashes in at No 4 (69,000). Their album made No 40 on release last year but will be getting re-issued in a fortnight. ByLCoN8nEck Gabrielle’s pre Christmas appearance on “TFI Friday” caused her to perform a version of the Bert Bacharach’s “Walk On By” with the man himself in the audience. Such was the reaction that she’s committed the song to CD and gets herself a new entry this week at No 7 (54,000), it’s the third time the song has been top 10 with the Dionne Warwick original making No 9 and Sybil’s remake in 1990 doing the best at No 6. 0Fsto2mxWtE Based around a sample of Marlena Shaw’s “Woman Of The Ghetto” Blueboy’s “Remember Me” has been a hot club track for the past few months and now finally unleased debuts at No 9 (40,000). Blue Boy is actually an alter ego of DJ Alexis Blackmore who toured with the Shamen back in 1991. y2Eah_EGiDc No Mercy find the going tough and stall at No 5 (59,000) though they are still improving at retail but Texas falter 3-6 (56,000) and Tori Amos is the big casualty collapsing 2-8 (41,000). En Vogue slip 9-10 (38,000) but the film “Set It Off” is now on general release. 1- BEETLEBUM- Blur (120,000) 2- YOUR TOWN- White Town (90,000) 3-OLDER/ I CAN’T MAKE YOU LOVE ME- George Michael (83,000) 4- NANCY BOY- Placebo (69,000) 5- WHERE DO YOU GO- No Mercy (59,000) 6- SAY WHAT YOU WANT- Texas (56,000) 7- WALK ON BY- Gabrielle (54,000) 8- PROFESSIONAL WIDOW (IT’S GOT TO BE BIG)- Tori Amos (41,000) 9- REMEMBER ME- Blueboy (40,000) 10- DON’T LET GO (LOVE)- En Vogue ( 38,000)

25TH JANUARY Well no doubt about the No 1 single this week, one man band Jyoti Mishra hails from Derby (where most of the promo is shot) and records under the name White Town. His Ep “Abort, Retry, Fail?” was first released last year when it flopped but was picked up by Chrysalis and promoted properly it caught the ear of Radio 1 who have helped the EP’s lead track “Your Woman” sell its way to 119,000 copies last week. The single contains a sampled trumpet section from Al Bowlly’s “My Woman” recorded way back in the 30s to give the track that authentic feel- the title of the EP refers to the fact that Mishra encountered the same message on his computer so often it became a symbol his struggle to produce the tracks. lVL-zZnD3VU Delivering up top 10 singles with regularity now, Suede see their third single from “Coming Up” arrive at No 6 (45,000). The promo for “Saturday Night” features actress Keeley Hawes and was filmed on the Piccadilly line at Holborn Station. RnIkh0BpKHU Reef’s second album “Glow” is out in a fortnight and they can now boast two top 10 hits from it with “Come Back Brighter” crashing in at No 8 (41,000). C3t-MIVCPYw Last week’s chart topper by Tori Amos falls 1-2 (84,000) despite a small increase in sales and Texas leap 7-3 (57,000). The battle of the boybands continue with Backstreet Boys drifting 2-4 (52,000) whilst No Mercy fly 10-5 (48,000), Madonna falls back 5-7 (44,000) as consumers choose the “Evita” album instead as it holds at No 2. En Vogue hold at No 9 (36,000) and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Vs Lisa Stansfield plummet 4-10 (33,000). Incidentally the Brian Harvey incident has sent “Hey Child” hurtling 3-15 this week which should ensure that he is definitely leaving the band now, it was already falling out of the top 10 when news broke through the week though! 1- YOUR WOMAN- White Town (119,500) 2- PROFESSIONAL WIDOW (IT’S GOT TO BE BIG)- Tori Amos (84,800) 3- SAY WHAT YOU WANT- Texas (57,000) 4- QUIT PLAYING GAMES (WITH MY HEART)- Backstreet Boys (52,000) 5- WHERE DO YOU GO- No Mercy (48,000) 6-SATURDAY NIGHT- Suede (45,000) 7- DON’T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA- Madonna (44,000) 8- COME BACK BRIGHTER- Reef (41,000) 9- DON’T LET GO (LOVE)- En Vogue ( 36,000) 10- PEOPLE HOLD ON- Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Vs Lisa Stansfield (33,800)

Incidentally BBC4 is showing a January 1988 episode of TOTP tonight at 8 in honour of this thread!