Gezza

29TH AUGUST Another quite week in the top 10 with the summer lull in full effect, all of which means that Snap! score an easy fourth week at the top spot though they are at last subsiding in terms of sales, they’re off 13% to 52,005 but it now has total sales of 375,525 and should find itself atop the YTD chart in roughly three weeks as it now sits at No 4 with Erasure firmly in its sights. Its new nearest challenger is Luther Vandross & Janet Jackson’s “Best Things In Life Are Free” (making it Jackson's biggest UK hit) but its challenge is illusionary- it actually lost sales to 29,715 and was pushed all the way by Billy Ray Cyrus who holds at No 3 (29,025) though it too lost 18% in part thanks to the arrival of his album at No 9. KWS’s last single “Please Don’t Go/ Game Boy” spent 5 weeks at No 1 back in May selling over 480,000 copies and now they hope to pull off the same trick again with “Rock Your Baby/ Total State of Konfusion” which again fended off a rival cover, this time Baby Roots’ “Rock Me Baby” which made No 71 earlier this month. The original was of course by George McCrae and made No 1 in 1974. An album has apparently been recorded and will be out before Christmas, meanwhile the single drives 14-8 (19,410). Proving she can make it on her own Annie Lennox pulls a third hit from her “Diva” album and it’s already done better than her previous single “Precious” which petered out at No 23. “Walking On Broken Glass” explodes 23-9 (18,180) to become her second solo top 10, the promo features both Hugh Laurie and John Malkovich and is inspired by a film he starred in, “Dangerous Liaisons”. Undercover power 9-4 (28,530) leaving Jon Secada stranded at No 5 (27,405) and Felix is stuck at No 6 (27,150), Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballe slump 2-7 (24,750) and Jimmy Nail clings on 7-10 (17,550) 1- RHYTHM IS A DANCER- Snap! (52,005) 2- THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE- Janet Jackson & Luther Vandross (29,715) 3- ACHY BREAKY HEART- Billy Ray Cyrus (29,025) 4- BAKER STREET- Undercover (28,530) 5- JUST ANOTHER DAY- Jon Secada (27,405) 6- DON’T YOU WANT ME- Felix (27,150) 7- BARCELONA- Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballe (24,750) 8- ROCK YOUR BABY/ TOTAL STATE OF KONFUSION- KWS (19,410) 9- WALKING ON BROKEN GLASS- Annie Lennox (18,180) 10- AIN’T NO DOUBT- Jimmy Nail (17,550)

10TH APRIL Three new entries in the top 4 this week but nothing can move Mr Oizo, “Flat Beat” romps to an easy second week victory after selling another 184,000 copies and raising the total to 467,000 after a fortnight. That tally places it in the top ten for the year which, with the first quarter gone, we can see here: 1- BABY ONE MORE TIME- Britney Spears 1,231,000 2- WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH- Boyzone 587,000 3- HEARTBEAT/ TRAGEDY- Steps 474,000 4- FLAT BEAT- Mr Oizo 467,000 5- PRETTY FLY (FOR A WHITE GUY)- The Offspring 456,000 6- MARIA- Blondie 405,000 7- IT’S NOT RIGHT, BUT IT’S OKAY- Whitney Houston 392,000 8- WE LIKE TO PARTY(THE VENGABUS)- The Vengaboys 364,000 9- TENDER- Blur 353,000 10- YOU DON’T KNOW ME- Armand Van Helden Feat Duane Harden 335,000 Mr Oizo’s rapid climb to No 4 on the YTD would suggest that he may climb as high as No 2 next week depending on his performance, he’s unlikely to catch the current leader Britney Spears who has sold double anything else so far and only drifts 4-6 (86,000) this week. Buoyed by the Easter week and the kids being off school sales are lifted generally by 14% spearheaded by those new entries. Eminem (real name Marshall Mathers, initials M & M) is one of the most talked rappers of the last year stateside and now finds a place in the UK charts. His first album and EP failed to find him success but did bring him to the attention of Dr Dre who signed him up quickly and produced his first major label album “The Slim Shady LP”- Slim Shady being the alter ego of Eminem. First single from it “My Name Is….” Which contains all the lyrics you’d expect from one of the most controversial acts around arrives at No 2 (143,000) and contains a sample of Labi Siffre’s “I Got The…” One place below Eminem is one of the hottest dance records of the past few months from Phats & Small, they are production due Russell Small and Jason Hayward who have meshed together Change’s 1980 #14 single “Glow Of Love” with Toney Lee’s 1983 #64 hit “Reach Up” to give us “Turn Around”. They drafted in their friend Ben Ofoedu to front, mime, and promote the track and it is now a No 3 hit after moving a healthy 116,000 copies last week. Hurriedly cobbled together for a BRITS performance in February Steps, Cleopatra, Tina Cousins, Billie, and B*Witched’s ABBA tribute “Thank ABBA For The Music” is new at No 4 (99,000). It’s taken a while to release as it has been held back to coincide with the opening of “Mamma Mia” on the West End in late March but if it progresses no further it will mark the first relative failure for B*Witched who are on a run of 4 chart toppers, it has however done considerably better than the original which made No 33 in 1983. All proceeds to the BRITS trust though, and special mention to Steps who have three songs in the top 30- a feat not seen since Madonna in August 1985. Catatonia’s third album “Equally Cursed And Blessed” is almost ready to hit the shops and lead single “Dead From The Waist Down” does it job in becoming their third top 10 single as it moves into the No 7 slot (60,000). Don’t be fooled into thinking that it’s a lesser hit than might have been expected, that opening tally is more than either “Road Rage” or “Mulder & Scully” managed in their opening weeks, the chart at present is simply the strongest it has been for some time. Elsewhere the threat from The Cartoons subsides 2-5 (91,000) and the New Radicals slump 5-8 (52,000), Billie is off 3-9 (47,000) and the Vengaboys mirror their YTD placing by falling 8-10 (43,000). 1- FLAT BEAT- Mr Oizo (184,000) 2- MY NAME IS- Eminem (143,000) 3- TURN AROUND- Phats & Small (116,000) 4- THANK ABBA FOR THE MUSIC- Various Artists (99,000) 5- WITCH DOCTOR- Cartoons (91,000) 6- BABY ONE MORE TIME- Britney Spears (86,000) 7- DEAD FROM THE WAISTDOWN- Catatonia (60,000) 8- YOU GET WHAT YOU GIVE- New Radicals (52,000) 9- HONEY TO THE BEE- Billie (47,000) 10- WE LIKE TO PARTY- Vengaboys (43,000)

3RD APRIL This was rather predicable but those boys at Levi’s have done it again and promoted a song to the top of the charts. Ever since the recent commercial featuring a yellow gopher puppet aired it took on a life of its own and the director of the promo Quentin Dupieux found the track that he used (and wrote) in the ads “Flat Beat” was in high demand. Naturally a release followed and the song sold a mighty 283,500 copies last week to easily land at the top spot under the guise of Mr Oizo, it makes Dupieux the first French act to top the UK singles chart since Charles Aznavour back in 1974 and the 7th chart topper to be associated with the Levi brand. The song samples a base and drum loop from the Fatback Band’s “Put Your Love In My Tender Care” and was reported recorded in just 20 minutes. Indeed for the first time ever the top two are new entries from completely new acts, runners up this week are The Cartoons who are reportedly Danish Technobillies! Their version of the Ross Bagdasarian Sr’s “Witch Doctor” is the song but it was originally released in 1958 using the name David Seville and introduced his new creations the Chipmunks (yes you can thank him) via the track. His version competed with a rival version by Don Lang & His Frantic Five in the UK charts the latter ironically winning out peaking at No 5 Vs The Chipmunks No 11. Now the Cartoons score the biggest hit of all with their version registering impressive sales itself of 156,000. Completing an all new top 3 this week is the new Billie single “Honey To The Bee”, it’s her fourth release and a fourth top three smash making a pretty impressive start to her career. Parent album, also called “Honey To The B”, hasn’t done badly with sales of almost 400,000 to date, it only lifts 66-61 this week however and compares badly to the B*Witched album (which is probably a good comparator market wise), that album is already racing toward the 700,000 mark. Incidentally B*Witched were No 1 last week but hurtle 1-9 (33,000) this week, that’s the biggest fall from the top since Iron Maiden experienced the same drop 9 years ago. One of the more infectious records around at present is the New Radicals “You Get What You Give” new at No 5 (64,000). A minor top 40 hit stateside, it contains within its lyrics a few less than kind remarks about other singers including Courtney Love and Marilyn Manson and was co-written by Rick Nowels who himself has written hits for Madonna, Belinda Carlisle, and Stevie Nicks among others. TLC released their third album “Fanmail” 5 weeks ago with no hit single to promote it, allegedly that was to stop copies being imported into the country or pirate copies being made, so far it has spent all 5 weeks on release in the top 40 peaking at No 25 (it’s No 33 this week) but has at least a top 10 single to help it now. “No Scrubs” peaked at No 6 in the US last week before retreated to No 8 at present whilst here it arrives at No 7 (44,000) to mark only their third top 10 hit of a 6 year long career. Des’ree’s rise to fame has long been known, just 12 weeks after getting signed she released her debut single “Feel So High” in 1991 which eventually made No 13 on re-release a year later. That remained her highest peaking hit until 1998 though “You Gotta Be” is probably her signature tune, a No 20 hit in 1994 it got re-issued a year later after the song found fame in the US making No 5 there and No 14 here at the second time of asking in 1995. Now 4 years later it gets a third bite at the cherry thanks to its use in the current Ford Focus Ad and becomes her second top 10 single following “Life” (#8, 1998) by entering at anchor position on a sale of 32,000. Britney Spears continues her descent 3-4 (74,000) whilst Boyzone do indeed find the going tough dropping 2-6 (54,000) and Vengaboys continue to party 5-8 (36,000). 1- FLAT BEAT- Mr Oizo (283,500) 2- WITCH DOCTOR- Cartoons (156,000) 3- HONEY TO THE BEE- Billie (81,000) 4- BABY ONE MORE TIME- Britney Spears (74,000) 5- YOU GET WHAT YOU GIVE- New Radicals (64,000) 6- WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH- Boyzone (54,000) 7- NO SCRUBS- TLC (44,000) 8- WE LIKE TO PARTY- Vengaboys (43,000) 9- BLAME IT ON THE WEATHERMAN- B*Witched (33,000) 10- YOU GOTTA BE- Des’ree (32,000)

83. HOT N COLD- Katy Perry (517,100) YEAR: 2008 PEAK POSITION: 4 WKS ON CHART: 35 Another Dr Luke/ Max Martin creation (they are all over this rundown) assisted here with Perry’s second single from her “One Of The Boys” album (although it was considered as the lead at one point). It helped with the hype around Perry at the time after her previous hit and proved she was not going to be a one hit wonder.

84. LOW- Flo Rida Featuring T-Pain (515,750) YEAR: 2008 PEAK POSITION: 2 WKS ON CHART: 53 The song that introduced the world to Flo Rida by way of a 10 week US chart topper. It had the help of featuring in the film “Step Up 2: The Streets” and spent a whole 53 weeks in the chart (a new record for this rate) despite only peaking at No 2 funnily enough behind Estelle- so some revenge is gained here.

85. AMERICAN BOY-Estelle Featuring Kanye West (513,800) YEAR: 2008 PEAK POSITION: 1 WKS ON CHART: 32 Estelle co-wrote this track with some help from Kanye West, Will.i.am and John Legend (who also provides backing vocals) and then got Will.i.am in to produce it, on reflection maybe not a surprise that it was a chart topper. The song started out as a track on the Will.i.am album “Songs About Girls” in 2007 called “Impatient” which formed the basis of the instrumental for the track with new lyrics being added, the promo has guest appearances by Legend, T.I, Danger Mouse, and LL Cool J among others.

22ND AUGUST Snap! continue to dominate the charts with “Rhythm Is A Dancer” making it three weeks at the top, it increased sales again to a healthy 60,345, its victory grew bigger by the day as Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballe’s “Barcelona” started to run out of buyers as the week progressed and in the end sold 45,195 and with the Olympics now over it will struggle going forward especially given parent album of the same name has now been re-issued and enters at No 15. That should leave the way clear for both Billy Ray Cyrus and Luther Vandross & Janet Jackson who both threaten 4-3 (36,345) and 7-4 (31,665). Further down Jon Secada also has a good week 8-5 (29,100) and Felix advance 9-6 (27,015) and even the Smiths rise 10-8 (24,060) as they reach a new zenith in their chart fortunes 5 years after the band split. Jimmy Nail drops 3-7 (24,075) and Was (Not Was) are finished 5-10 (17,655). John Matthews is the name of the frontman for dance outfit Undercover, he was selling artificial limbs under fame came calling with a cover of Gerry Rafferty’s “Baker Street” a No 3 hit for him in 1978. A full album of covers is apparently in the making but for the now the single moves 17-9 (21,450). 1- RHYTHM IS A DANCER- Snap! (60,345) 2- BARCELONA- Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballe (45,195) 3- ACHY BREAKY HEART- Billy Ray Cyrus (36,345) 4- THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE- Janet Jackson & Luther Vandross (31,665) 5- JUST ANOTHER DAY- Jon Secada (29,100) 6- DON’T YOU WANT ME?- Felix (27,015) 7- AIN’T NO DOUBT- Jimmy Nail (24,075) 8- THIS CHARMING MAN- The Smiths (24,060) 9- BAKER STREET- Undercover (21,450) 10- SHAKE YOUR HEAD- Was Not Was Featuring Kim Basinger & Ozzy Osborne (17,655)

86. HUMAN- The Killers (512,100) YEAR: 2008 PEAK POSITION: 3 WKS ON CHART: 38 Inspired in it’s title line by a quote by Hunter S Thompson it’s funny to think that by the end of the 00s this was their biggest seller. It was produced by Stuart Price fresh from his work with Madonna on “Confessions” and omitted from the group’s compilation album “Sawdust” as it was deemed too good, ultimately was used as the launch single for “Day & Age”.

87. REACH- S Club 7 (511,700) YEAR: 2000 PEAK POSITION: 2 WKS ON CHART: 17 Widely tipped to be a chart topper it looked like the odds were in favour of this track. Not available on an album, co-penned by Cathy Dennis, catchy earworm with a fun promo and a song which the band really sold by being on every kids show on TV the week of release plus a string of personal appearances including at G.A.Y (I recall the Almighty Remix was played in Gay clubs all the time!). In short everything possible was done, unfortunately it was up against Sonique’s “Feel So Good” which had gotten substantial club support and ultimately had longer legs up against it.

88. IF TOMORROW NEVER COMES- Ronan Keating (510,400) YEAR: 2002 PEAK POSITION: 1 WKS ON CHART: 15 Meanwhile also in 2002, Ronan was still busy recycling old country hits for his UK career, this time an old Garth Brooks single from 1989. On the brink of releasing his second solo album Ronan took this one all the way to No 1 (his third solo chart topper) and came with a “Groundhog Day”-esque promo

15TH AUGUST With no TOTP last week (it was off air due to the Olympics) Snap! retain the No 1 title with a slightly improved sale of 58,830, the expected challenge of Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballe did come as they surge 5-2 (49,110) and did on occasion outsell Snap! on the odd day but never with consistency, with the closing ceremony tomorrow it will also lose a major part of its promo drive so may struggle. It is however the biggest hit of Mercury’s solo career. “Rhythm Is A Dancer” gives Snap! their second chart topper of the 90s putting them equal with Elton John and Queen as the only acts to have multiple chart toppers this decade. It has so far sold 263,175 copies enough to make it the 7th biggest seller of 1992, but it still has some way to go to overtake Jimmy Nail’s “Ain’t No Doubt” which has sold 304,500 as it enters the top 5 on the YTD list, that includes the 35,445 it sold last week as it fell 2-3. Both tracks should clear the 400,000 mark ultimately and may yet challenge Shakespears Sister’s position at the top of the YTD chart. Highest new entry time and it’s a superstar collaboration between Janet Jackson and Luther Vandross who have teamed up to give us “The Best Things In Life Are Free” which is taken from the new film “Mo Money”. Whilst the film isn’t released here until the Autumn the single is already unleashed having been a proven club hit and debuts with aplomb at No 7 (18,535), it’s Vandross’s first top 10 single but Jackson’s 4th, it features Bel Biv Devoe and Ralph Tresvant and comes hot of the heels of the record breaking $32 million deal Jackson signed to head to Virgin records last year, indeed her involvement is a thanks to producers Jam & Lewis who asked her to appear on the track even though it isn’t released on the Virgin label. Jon Secada is a new name on the charts but you’ve heard his work before now, he was hired as a backing singer by Gloria Estefan in the late 80s and co-wrote her hit “Coming Out Of The Dark” last year. His debut single “Just Another Day” has already made No 5 stateside and now advances 12-8 (18,495) and if you look carefully you’ll even see Gloria popping up at the end! So first it was an underground dance hit then it hit mainstream clubs and now the charts, yes Felix’s “Don’t You Want Me” moves 14-9 (17,490) after just a fortnight. The man behind the music is currently choosing to be anonymous but we do know is that the track samples the Jomanda song “Don’t You Want My Love” from 1989. After Rough Trade went to the wall in 1990 WEA purchased the rights to the Smiths back catalogue and the first fruits of the purchase is this re-issue of “This Charming Man” originally a No 25 hit in 1983. The song smashes straight in at No 10 (14,835) instantly equaling the highest position that any Smiths made (“Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now” and “Sheila Take A Bow”) and will be followed by a new Smiths compilation album “Best….I” in two weeks. That sale only fractionally more than the weekly tally the track recorded at the top outside the top 20! Billy Ray Cyrus strides 6-4 (34,275) which pushes Was (Not Was) down 4-5 (23,430) and Madonna falls 3-6 (22,770). 1- RHYTHM IS A DANCER- Snap! (58,830) 2- BARCELONA- Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballe (49,110) 3- AIN’T NO DOUBT- Jimmy Nail (35,445) 4- ACHY BREAKY HEART- Billy Ray Cyrus (34,275) 5- SHAKE YOUR HEAD- Was Not Was Featuring Kim Basinger & Ozzy Osborne (23,430) 6- THIS USED TO BE MY PLAYGROUND- Madonna (22,770) 7- THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE- Luther Vandross & Janet Jackson (18,535) 8- JUST ANOTHER DAY- Jon Secada (18,495) 9- DON’T YOU WANT ME?- Felix (17,490) 10- THIS CHARMING MAN- The Smiths (14,835)

Yes cut off dates for the year ends in the 70s were typically early December to prepare the chart for publication pre Christmas which wasn't too big an issue as no data was collected between Christmas and new year normally.

8TH AUGUST Jimmy Nail’s new album “Growing Up In Public” arrives at No 2 this week and it plays a vital part in the downfall of the single “Ain’t No Doubt” which slides 1-2 (51,255). It is overtaken by Snap! who claim their second chart topper with “Rhythm Is A Dancer” as it sneaks in 2-1 (52,080) under 1,000 copies ahead, perversely their album is also out this week but limps in at No 46 subtracting far less sales from the single. The Snap! single has taken 6 weeks to climb to the top, nothing unusual pre 1990s but the last single to take as long was Chesney Hawkes some 16 months ago. Madonna looks on at No 3 (26,205) as she starts to fade here but the song does become her 10th US chart topper this week pulling her ahead of Whitney Houston as the most successful female act ever on Billboard. With the Olympics in Barcelona now in full swing it’s only natural that Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballe’s 1987 #8 hit “Barcelona” gets a re-issue. It’s being used as the music for the BBC Coverage of the event and along with Mercury’s stock being so high at present it instantly makes a better impression second time around by debuting at No 5 (22,965)- keep an eye out for this next week it could easily top the charts with the daily promotion! It's also the 42nd single to debut in the top 10 this year- a new record breaking the previous of 41 recorded just last year. Arriving 13-6 (21,555) is another song that may be worthwhile keeping track of, it’s launched Billy Ray Cyrus as a major star in the US and helped to spawn a line dancing craze that is currently all the rage over there. “Achy Breaky Heart” was originally done by the Marcey Brothers last year under the title “Don’t Tell My Heart” but Cyrus is the first to make it a hit, it struggled here in the UK but an airing on TOTP helped to break the song and it is now doing the business even if it is something of a marmite record. Rocketing 19-10 (15,060) is the new Enya single “Book Of Days”, you can also catch the song in the new Tom Cruise/ Nicole Kidman track “Far And Away” which is now in cinema’s. It is included on the recent Enya album “Shepherd Moons” but is sung entirely in Gaelic whilst the new single is sung partly in English, this is now Enya’s second top 10 single and returns her after a four year absence, her only other top ten hit is of course the chart topping “Orinoco Flow”. Was (Not Was) continue to inch 5-4 (23,970) but giving up the fight this week are The Shamen 6-7 (17,790), Smart E’s 4-8 (17,100) and Roy Orbison 7-9 (17,100). 1- RHYTHM IS A DANCER- Snap! (52,080) 2- AIN’T NO DOUBT- Jimmy Nail (51,255) 3- THIS USED TO BE MY PLAYGROUND- Madonna (26,205) 4- SHAKE YOUR HEAD- Was Not Was Featuring Kim Basinger & Ozzy Osborne (23,970) 5- BARCELONA- Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballe (22,965) 6- ACHY BREAKY HEART- Billy Ray Cyrus (21,555) 7- L.S.I- The Shamen (17,790) 8- SESAME’S TREET- Smart E’s (17,100) 9- I DROVE ALL NIGHT- Roy Orbison (17,100) 10- BOOK OF DAYS- Enya (15,060)

89. JUST A LITTLE- Liberty X (508,700) YEAR: 2002 PEAK POSITION: 1 WKS ON CHART: 16 Comprising of finalists who just missed out when Hear’Say formed and famously termed “flopstars” when they were announced as forming, Liberty X had the last laugh though when third single “Just A Little” exploded to No 1 just as Hear’Say were falling apart. After getting over difficulties and a legal challenge over the use of the name “Liberty” they became one of the biggest acts of the early 00s before record label issues saw them dropped and resigned before finally splitting in 2007.

90. LADY MARMALADE- Christina Aguilera/ Lil Kim/ Mya/ Pink (501,400) YEAR: 2001 PEAK POSITION: 1 WJS ON CHART: 16 A US No 1 from 1974 for Labelle, this one has been dusted down a few times most notably by the All Saints in 1998 who hit No 1 here, but it appears on this list thanks to film “Moulin Rouge” for which this song featured albeit in a medley. A full length version was commissioned and a transatlantic chart topper was the result- of course it is equally famous for the rancour on set between Aguilera and Pink, it was also the 900th No 1!

91. APOLOGIZE- Timbaland Presents OneRepublic (498,700) YEAR: 2007 PEAK POSITION: 3 WKS ON CHART: 42 OneRepublic were first signed in 2002 and had recorded their debut album in late 2005, but with a release imminent they were dropped in 2006. Step in Timbaland who signed the band and worked on this track with them for his “Shock Value” album and plucked it from the album to be the 3rd single from it introducing us all to the track’s writers! It started off Tedder’s rich run of success penning hits for other artists as well as doing not badly for OneRepublic either!

1ST AUGUST As you were at the top of the charts with Jimmy Nail on cruise control at No 1 though he’s peaked in terms of sales, they’re off 11% to 67,380, but he’s still easily outpacing Snap! who hold at No 2 (48,060) with a 30% increase to brag about. Madonna completes the top 3 as “This Used To Be My Playground” accelerates 5-3 (31,920) but her 8th chart topper is still some way off. Three other tracks make positive moves, Was (Not Was) halve their position 10-5 (22,875) which is now their biggest hit, The Shamen creep 7-6 (20,235) and Roy Orbison still snaps at their heels 8-7 (18,360) though both lose sales. Meanwhile the Smart E’s slip 3-4 (27,945), Urban Hype reverse 6-8 (17,625) and Prince falls 4-9 (17,415). The only new song to discuss is Michael Jackson’s fourth cut from his “Dangerous” album which rises 12-10 (16,020) this week. “Who Is It” has been released to coincide with his world tour that you can catch in the UK this week, the album also improves 17-9 as promotion finally gets underway for the event. He’s now made his first four singles from the album top 10 hits, better than he did with “Bad” you might recall, the fourth single from that album peaked at a lowly No 21 (the mighty “Man In The Mirror”). 1- AIN’T NO DOUBT- Jimmy Nail (67,380) 2- RHYTHM IS A DANCER- Snap! (48,060) 3- THIS USED TO BE MY PLAYGROUND- Madonna (31,920) 4- SESAME’S TREET- Smart E’s (27,495) 5- SHAKE YOUR HEAD- Was Not Was Featuring Kim Basinger & Ozzy Osborne (22,875) 6- L.S.I- The Shamen (20,235) 7- I DROVE ALL NIGHT- Roy Orbison (18,360) 8- A TRIP TO TRUMPTON- Urban Hype (17,625) 9- SEXY MF/ STROLLIN- Prince/ NPG (17,415) 10- WHO IS IT- Michael Jackson (16,020)

I saw the film a few times as a kid- pretty harrowing for an under 10- I've still never seen the ending again since i saw it decades ago.. The song i can leave but it works within the context of the film for sure.

It's odd because I knew Lauper's version first and for years afterwards I prefered her version to his but over the last 10 years or so I genuinely have found Oribison's the better version!

92. BLACK AND GOLD- Sam Sparro (495,900) YEAR: 2008 PEAK POSITION: 2 WKS ON CHART: 39 Somewhat forgotten now in the pantheon of 00s pop, but this was a big seller in 08 for the Australian singer, it comes with two promo’s, one low budget before he signed to a major record company and one afterwards (when a lot more money was put into it) featuring a new mix of the track. It is apparently about God…so now you know!

93. WHEN YOU BELIEVE- Leon Jackson (495,900) YEAR: 2007 PEAK POSITION: 1 WKS ON CHART: 9 The lowest selling “X Factor” winners single of the decade was poor Steve Brookstein who misses this list well and truly, but the next lowest rests here for the 2007 victor Leon Jackson. He was somewhat of the underdog in the final with most predicting Rhydian Roberts would walk away with the title, but Jackson pulled it out of the bag and was rewarded with this cover of the Mariah & Whitney classic (minus 1 verse). A quarter of a million sold in its first week and 395k after just 14 days but as you can see sales quickly tailed off, as indeed did Jackson’s chart career.

94. FILL ME IN- Craig David (493,400) YEAR: 2000 PEAK POSITION: 1 WKS ON CHART: 14 Debuting in the top 10 in a week which hosted a record 7 new entries, it was widely expected that a first solo Richard Ashcroft single would hit the top but few saw Craig David’s first solo hit being the bigger smash. At just 18 he became the youngest UK male soloist to hit No 1 and the youngest male of any nationality since Glenn Medeiros some 12 years prior and the song was produced and co-written by his former collaborators The Artful Dodger.

25TH JULY Jimmy Nail digs his heels in at the top of the charts shifted another 76,860 copies as he was easily ahead of the field without any real challenge, Snap! manoeuvre dangerously 3-2 (37,860) but are too far away to pose a threat at present, “Rhythm Is A Dancer” is already their second biggest hit behind “The Power” which made No 1 two years ago. The highest new entry of the week is predictably Madonna with her 16th single to debut inside the top 10 and her 26th top ten single in 8 years- an outstanding feat. “This Used To Be My Playground” is taken from her new film “A League Of Their Own” for which she hasn’t received a universal panning so things are looking up in that respect. It is planned to be a standalone single and won’t form part of her new album which is due for release in the autumn. It smashes in at No 5 (25,140) and is her 23rd straight Top ten single (excluding re-issues) which equals the record currently held by Cliff Richard for his run between 1960-65, and it’s an 8th top 10 single in the 90s drawing her level with New Kids On The Block as the record holders for the decade. Culled together from demo’s and sessions Roy Oribison did before his death in 1988 and produced by Jeff Lynne “King Of Hearts” is the new album by the late star which will be released in a few weeks, and taken from it a song that you may remember being done by Cyndi Lauper in 89 “I Drove All Night”. The song was intended by the writers (Steinberg & Kelly) to be given to Orbison who did record it in 1988 but with Lauper releasing her version the label decided to sit on the recording until now. With a promo featuring “Beverley Hills 90210” star Jason Priestley and film actress Jennifer Connelly it certainly has enough fans, the song lifts 11-8 (19,515) to become his 12th top 10 hit. Was (Not Was) have only been in the top 10 once, back in 1987 with “Walk The Dinosaur” which perhaps reflected the fact that their greatest hits album “Hello Dad…I’m In Jail” could only make No 66 when it was released last month and has since vanished. It’s going to be re-issued next month now because “Shake Your Head” has turned into a surprise hit for the group floating 13-10 (17,940). It was originally a single for the group in 1983 though it failed to chart here and featured the vocals of Black Sabbath’s Ozzy Osbourne but before he got the gig an unknown singer called Madonna auditioned for the part but was unsuccessful. The proposal was that her vocals be restored for this version but the lady herself refused consent so the group turned to actress Kim Basinger who duly obliged and is now credited. It’s remixed by Steve “Silk” Hurley who is himself on a bit of a hot streak at present. Elsewhere the Smart E’s drop 2-3 (36,210) as Prince sprints 7-4 (28,875) whilst Urban Hype hold at No 6 (22,110). Better news for the Shamen who lift 9-7 (21,255) but it’s all over for Erasure who slump 4-9 (18,450). 1- AIN’T NO DOUBT- Jimmy Nail (76,860) 2- RHYTHM IS A DANCER- Snap! (37,860) 3- SESAME’S TREET- Smart E’s (36,210) 4- SEXY MF/ STROLLIN- Prince/ NPG (28,875) 5- THIS USED TO BE MY PLAYGROUND- Madonna (25,140) 6- A TRIP TO TRUMPTON- Urban Hype (22,110) 7- L.S.I- The Shamen (21,255) 8- I DROVE ALL NIGHT- Roy Orbison (19,515) 9- ABBA-ESQUE E.P- Erasure (18,450) 10- SHAKE YOUR HEAD- Was (Not Was Featuring Kim Basinger & Ozzy Osborne (17,940)

Combining Kids with drugs should really have caused moral outrage in 1992 but it seemed to pass by largely uncommented on at the time!

95. SO WHAT- Pink (491,560) YEAR: 2008 PEAK POSITION: 1 WKS ON CHART: 27 Breaking the Sugababes record for a climb to No 1 as it shifted 38-1 (that new entry position down to a Friday release), this was Pink’s 3rd chart topper and was co-penned by Max Martin with lyrics to reflect her (then) recent separation from husband Carey Hart (who actually has a cameo in the promo)