Gezza

19TH DECEMBER The week before Christmas and all those that put a bet on Cher being there for the big day must now have lost their money. She’s no longer No 1 and is bumped to No 2 (114,452) as total sales move past 1.2 million and puts her on course to topple Celine Dion at the top of the YTD chart next week. The new No 1 comes from B*Witched who finally manage to unseat her and create a few records of their own, the girls are the 7th act to make No 1 with their first three singles, the second non UK act to do so, the third Irish act to get at least 3 chart toppers but the first to do so consecutively. The success of the single stabilises the album in the top 20 with sales just moving over the 300,000 mark. Previous singles by the quartet opened at 153,000 and 157,000 and with remarkable consistency (especially given that the album is now out) “To You I Belong” opens with a sale of 150,000, will that be enough to fend off the Spice Girls next week? Another act who took both their first two singles to No 1 was Billie, going head to head with B*Witched was always going to create a loser and Billie is the loser this week. “She Wants You” ends up at No 3 (86,000) to end her run, the song was originally recorded by Slovak singer Dara Rolins on her 1996 album “What You See Is What You Get” but it takes Billie to make it a UK hit and with a bigger opening tally than chart topper "Because We Want To". Her version of both “It Takes Two” and the seasonal “Last Christmas” are also on the CD single for those so inclined. It’s billed as a dream duet the concept of bringing Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey together to perform a song has long been thought an impossible task as they presumably were deemed to be adversaries in the pop world. Recorded for the film “The Prince Of Egypt” (Disney’s new film) which is out this week, the song is actually sung by Sally Dworsky and Michelle Pfeiffer in the movie but clearly bigger names were needed to crack the top 10 and this arrives at No 4 (82,000) to become Carey’s 15th top 10 hit but only Houston’s 12th in part as she has been absent from the top flight for over 5 years. Honeyz are fast developing into the kind of group that could easily steal Eternal’s current crown as the girlgroup of choice for those with a soul/ pop/ R’N’B inclination. Second single “End Of The Line” debuts effortlessly at No 5 (71,000) and will hopefully help shift their album which is now three weeks old having crept painfully 54-52-51 so far. You’ll also notice that the entire top 5 consist of females, the highest man is Bryan Adams who slides 3-6 (64,000) with his Mel C duet “When You’re Gone”. Jay-Z plummets 2-7 (62,000) but Steps are selling steadily to hold at No 8 (60,000), Emilia falls 5-9 (57,000) and Boyzone round things off 6-10 (54,000) as the entire top 10 clear the 50,000 mark! Must be Christmas next week!- Will it be a Spicy one again? 1- TO YOU I BELONG- B*Witched (150,000) 2- BELIEVE- Cher (114,452) 3- SHE WANTS YOU- Billie (86,000) 4- WHEN YOU BELIEVE- Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston (82,000) 5- END OF THE LINE- Honeyz (71,000) 6- WHEN YOU’RE GONE- Mel C & Bryan Adams (64,000) 7- HARD KNOCK LIFE (GHETTO ANTHEM)- Jay Z (62,000) 8- HEARTBEAT/ TRAGEDY- Steps (60,000) 9- BIG BIG WORLD- Emilia (57,000) 10- I LOVE THE WAY YOU LOVE ME- Boyzone (54,000)

12TH DECEMBER It had to perform a rear guard action again but Cher overcame another midweek deficit to grab an incredible 7th week at No 1, you have to go all the way back to Wet, wet, wet in 1994 to find a longer lasting chart topper. To top all of that it sold an astonishing 114,633 to do it bringing its total sales to 1,104,205 and in doing so leaps 4-2 on the YTD chart with just Celine Dion ahead of her and 4 chart weeks to catch her, should be easy! It is also the 6th single by a female soloist to hit 7 figures. Jay-Z has become a chart regular over the last few years scoring his first UK top 10 single in 1997 as the featured rapper on Foxy Brown’s “I’ll Be” (#9) but although he’s been on 6 other hits nothing has scored big until now. His third album “Volume II…Hard Knock Life” contains the title track “Hard Knock Life” and yes it samples the track from the musical “Annie”, it took an early lead in the week but went the same way as George Michael, Steps, E-17, Five and Boyzone by entering at No 2 (107,000), it’s still his biggest hit to date so hardly a failure. When the Spice Girls were on tour in the US this year they were very busy off the stage too it appears, Mel B swanned off to record “I Want You Back” with Missy Elliott whilst Mel C jumped into the studio with Bryan Adams to record “When You’re Gone”. Adams’ recent album “On A Day Like This” only managed to make No 11 (though it has climbed 72-63-47 in recent weeks) with the title hit disappointing at No 13, looks like the release of this single has turned its fortune around. It’s Adams’ 8th top 10 single though of course the first solo release for Mel C which is real headline grabber here and probably responsible for the No 3 (81,000) debut. The expected challenge at the top from Robbie Williams failed to materialise in the end, new single “No Regrets” coming in at No 4 (76,000), an impressive sale regardless and a sure sign that Christmas is almost here. The impact of the track was doubtless influenced by the success of the album which is top 3 and has sold 500,000 in just 6 weeks. The song is allegedly about his failed romance with All Saints Nicole Appleton which has helped with promotion and features backing vocals from Divine Comedy’s Neil Hannon and Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys. If you need even more of an incentive to buy it then check out Williams’ version of Adam & The Ants “Antmusic” on the CD which is taken from the forthcoming animated film “A Bug’s Life”. Already a No 1 single in Sweden, Norway and Austria, Emilia Rydberg’s “Big Big World” makes it across the North Sea to enter at No 5 (73,000). Using just her first name for popstar purposes, this is the Swedish singer’s first release, big things are expected! Christmas has officially started with the new entry at No 7 (63,000) from Blackstreet and Mya Featuring Ma$e and Blinky Bink. “Take Me There” is based the theme to “Rugrats” the Kids TV show which has been turned into a film due for UK release in the new year, and this hit was developed following Blackstreet being named as Nickelodeon’s favourite R’N’B group, it is a forth top 10 single for them and also for Ma$e, a second for Mya but a first for Blinky Blink. With four new entries in the top 5 there’s no room for Boyzone who tumble 2-6 (66,000), Steps who have a tragedy as they fall 5-8 (58,000) or the Vengaboys who are definitely just down 4-9 (55,000). Will Smith suffers the biggest fall 3-10 (53,000)- perhaps a song about Miami isn’t seasonal enough? This week sees new releases by some chart heavyweights (for 1998 anyway) Beautiful South, Billie, B*Witched, and Fat Les. Can Cher do it? 1- BELIEVE- Cher (114,633) 2- HARD KNOCK LIFE (GHETTO ANTHEM)- Jay Z (107,000) 3- WHEN YOU’RE GONE- Mel C & Bryan Adams (81,000) 4- NO REGRETS- Robbie Williams (76,000) 5- BIG BIG WORLD- Emilia (73,000) 6- I LOVE THE WAY YOU LOVE ME- Boyzone (66,000) 7- TAKE ME THERE- Blackstreet/ Mya (63,000) 8- HEARTBEAT/ TRAGEDY- Steps (58,000) 9- UP AND DOWN- Vengaboys (55,000) 10- MIAMI- Will Smith (53,000)

yes it would be but it will also affect this week as well in terms of the publicity and the title of Christmas No 1 for supporters of either tracK. (Though of course Christmas Day itself isn't this week). it would definitely be more of an issue if Christmas Day fell on a Friday!

Yes although this is slightly different for two major reasons: 1) this is affecting Christmas songs on Christmas day when they will far oustrip non- Christmas tracks 2) The missing data will not affect Kylie's total whereas it will affect all the competition That of course on the top of the ACR issue which means it isn't a level playing field at all to start with. I mean, great news for Kylie naturally and it is what it is, but it is a slight anomoly over the standard chart week.

6.9k lead for Kylie

A word on future threads- 1992 will start in January, followed by 1993 and the four weeks of 1994 in April. That should bring the Gallup threads to an end in the summer. which along with TOTP 1999 should mean we end the 90s at somepoint in June/July.

And so ends 1991- thanks everyone for your comments in the thread!

4TH JANUARY 1991 ends with not much to report, “Bohemian Rhapsody/ These Are The Days Of Our Lives” remains No 1 for a third week though it can’t keep the frantic pace of its first fortnight and loses 53% of its sales week to week, but it was so far in front even that doesn’t signal the end of its reign as it walks past the winning post on 123,472, but still 717,664 in three weeks is nothing short of amazing in current times. Two days of pre Christmas sales keeps the top 10 buoyant but The KLF and Tammy Wynette take full advantage to overhaul Diana Ross and push 4-2 (37,136) and could be in with a shot at the top depending how quickly Queen fade in the next week. Ross fades 2-3 (32,320) and George & Elton continue that slow descent 3-4 (31,200) but will cross the 300,000 mark next week, rounding off the top 5 are Right Said Fred and Jocelyn Brown who stick it out at No 5 (30,224). Not much movement in the bottom half of the big 10 with Brian May tripping 8-10 (20,304) which allows Shaft and Hammer to move up a place each 10-9 (21,776) and 9-8 (22,640) respectively. Guns N Roses hold at No 6 (23,504) and Kym Sims makes a month stuck at No 7 (23,424) something she didn’t foresee! 1- BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY/ THESE ARE THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES- Queen (123,472) 2- JUSTIFIED AND ANCIENT- The KLF/ Tammy Wynette (37,136) 3- WHEN YOU TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME- Diana Ross (32,320) 4- DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME- George Michael & Elton John (31,200) 5- DON’T TALK JUST KISS- Right Said Fred/ Jocelyn Brown (30,224) 6- LIVE AND LET DIE- Guns N Roses (23,504) 7- TOO BLIND TO SEE IT- Kym Sims (23,424) 8- ADDAMS GROOVE- Hammer (22,640) 9- ROOBARB AND CUSTARD- Shaft (21,776) 10- DRIVEN BY YOU- Brian May (20,304)

3 episodes tonight so we're up to date!

5TH DECEMBER First the good news for Cher fans, “Believe” tops the charts again for a sixth week becoming her longest chart topper and the joint longest of 1998, it lost 9% week on week to a still impressive 126,011. That means that she will sell her millionth copy of the single sometime this week, an incredible achievement, and she is fast closing in on the top 3 YTD tracks from Boyzone and Run DMC Vs Jason Nevins with Celine Dion a little way ahead of them. Now the bad news, she’s becoming increasingly vulnerable and for only the second time during her run she was behind midweek to the new Boyzone single “I Love The Way You Love Me”. It’s another cover by the band, this time of a country hit by John Michael Montgomery in 1993 which has now been turned into Boyzone’s 13th top 5 single, by far the best start to any career in pop ever. Sadly for the boys it is the third of their singles to fail to hang on to a midweek No 1 and in the end it enters at No 2 despite a sale of 119,000. One of the CD versions contains a live version of their last single “No Matter What” and due to chart regulations which state that you can’t put a former an old hit single onto a new one unless it has left the top 40, Polydor therefore deleted the earlier single and put the dealer price below the threshold. Will Smith is rapidly turning into a reliable deliverer of big hits, his fifth solo single “Miami” wastes no time in debuting at No 3 (94,000), only his second release “Just Cruisin” has missed the top 3 but that was by some distance (it made No 23). As per usual with Smith it relies heavily on a sample, this time the Whispers 1980 #2 smash “And The Beat Goes On”. Madonna rounds off the year with her 43rd top 10 single with another track from her “Ray Of Light” album, the double A-Side “The Power Of Good-bye/ Little Star arrives at No 6 (58,000). The title was released in the US back in October and charted here on imports at No 91 but it’s now teamed with “Little Star” which is Madonna’s ode to her daughter, the album remains top 40 and has sold almost 900,000 copies so far. There’s no fourth No 1 in a row for All Saints, a fifth release from the girls album “War Of Nerves” makes its presence felt at No 7 (54,000). It’s been remixed from the album version but it looks to have been a single too far. The album bounces back into the top 40 this week and although it has been certified 5 times platinum actual sales lag way behind at 1.2 million for the set, nonetheless the girls can safely say that they had a great 1998. “Ally McBeal” has turned into a cult here with Channel 4 viewers and features singer Vonda Shepard as the bar singer in the series. Shepard herself first scored a hit in the US way back in 1987 with “Can’t We Try” (a duet with Dan Hill) but has been absent for some time, her UK breakthrough comes with “Searchin My Soul” the theme to the show which is new at No 10 (41,000). It’s taken from the “Songs From Ally McBeal” album which has already sold 250,000 in just 8 weeks. Vengaboys increase sales by 8% to 75,000 but still remain at No 4, and it’s the same situation for Steps with sales up to 69,000 but have increased sales week on week despite moving 2-5-5. Definitely out of favour though are Celine Dion and R Kelly who fall 3-8 (46,000) and Five whose time is certainly through falling 2-9 (44,000). Next week Cher has to fend off Robbie Williams, Mel C, the Manics, and Brandy. 1- BELIEVE- Cher (126,011) 2- I LOVE THE WAY YOU LOVE ME- Boyzone (119,000) 3- MIAMI- Will Smith (94,000) 4- UP AND DOWN- Vengaboys (75,000) 5- HEARTBEAT/ TRAGEDY- Steps (69,000) 6- THE POWER OF GOOD-BYE/ LITTLE STAR- Madonna (58,000) 7- WAR OF NERVES- All Saints (54,000) 8- I’M YOUR ANGEL- Celine Dion & R Kelly (46,000) 9- UNTIL THE TIME IS THROUGH- Five (44,000) 10- SEARCHIN MY SOUL- Vonda Shepard (41,000)

28TH NOVEMBER For only the third time in chart history but the first time in 1998 there are a massive 7 new entries in the top 10 this week, but there’s bad news for them all and that’s Cher! Yes “Believe” remains at No 1 for a fifth week and is still not losing sales at a rate you might expect so long into its run and with a parent album available- it lost just 15% week on week to put in a performance of 139,132. With total sales of the track now at 863,531 it puts Cher on track for her first million seller within a fortnight. Last time it was the All Saints that denied Five their first No 1 single but now Cher inflicts another defeat on the boys who have, nevertheless, proved themselves to be one of the brightest of the recent influx of boybands. A fifth single from their chart topping album “Five” arrives at No 2 (84,000) in the form of “Until The Time Is Through” which is also their first ballad- Christmas must be coming. The promo is shot in Mentmore Towers which was also used for Roxy Music’s “Avalon” video. If you’re thinking about collaborations that you never thought you’d see then surely R Kelly and Celine Dion would be on that list but new at No 3 this week with sales of 74,000 is just that duet! “I’m Your Angel” is another Kelly written and produced track is a fifth single from his “R” album which was released a few weeks ago and sinks 27-30 in its second week. It’s a 6th top 10 hit for him but a 13th for Dion who has scored three top 5 singles on the trot during the year. Already tearing up the dancefloors in Europe over the summer Dutch quartet The Vengaboys arrive in the UK with “Up & Down” new at No 4 (70,000). The group is a front for the production work of DJ’s Danski and Delmundo who have already steered this to the top 10 in their homeland, the samples in the track come from CeCe Peniston and naturally Loleatta Holloway. “Talk On Corners” is currently top 3 having sold over 1.3 million since its release making it the 3rd best selling album of 1998 and marks the arrival of The Corrs as a major chart force in the UK. Fifth single to be plucked from it is “So Young” which has been remixed by K-Klass for single purposes and heralds the a “special Edition” of the album which will contain the new mixes of the singles (both this single and “What Can I Do” and “Dreams”) which is out this week. The song was written by the group about their parents which will only serve to reinforce their rather wholesome image as it debuts at No 6 (63,000). Here’s a major slip in chart form, all five of Sash!’s previous singles have made the top 3 but “Move Mania” looks like it’s about to break the mould entering at No 8 (37,000). Featuring the vocal talents of 80s popstar Shannon (biggest hit “Let The Music Play” #14, 1984) it perhaps suffers as the third single from the “Life Goes On” and of course the album now being available. 1998 has been a good year for country music as demonstrated by Shania Twain’s hat-trick of top 20 singles, the latest comes straight in at No 9 (32,000) entitled “From This Moment On”. This was originally written with the idea of giving it to Celine Dion apparently but then re-imaged as a duet with Elton John, but if you’ve picked up a copy of Shania’s album “Come On Over” then you’ll hear a version with Bryan White instead, he’s been edited out for the single version though presumably as the country star would supposedly add little here in the UK. Ruff Driverz are production duo Brad Carter and Chris Brown who have so far scored three hits in 1998, the biggest of which was “Deeper Love” a #19 hit back in May. New single “Dreaming” does best of all though piling in at No 10 (28,000) and features the vocals of Arrola (real name Katherine Ellis). Only three survivors from last week then, Cher at the top and beneath her Steps tumble 2-5 (69,000) whilst The Tamperer Featuring Maya trip 4-7 (43,000) and won’t be making the top now. Next week sees Boyzone and All Saints going head to head to tackle the Cher domination. 1- BELIEVE- Cher (139,132) 2- UNTIL THE TIME IS THROUGH- Five (84,000) 3- I’M YOUR ANGEL- R Kelly/ Celine Dion (74,000) 4- UP AND DOWN- The Vengaboys (70,000) 5- HEARTBEAT/ TRAGEDY- Steps (69,000) 6- SO YOUNG- The Corrs (63,000) 7- IF YOU BUY THIS RECORD YOUR LIFE WILL BE BETTER- Tamperer (43,000) 8- MOVE MANIA- Sash! (37,000) 9- FROM THIS MOMENT ON- Shania Twain (32,000) 10- DREAMING- Ruff Diverz (28,000) So with Christmas a month away let’s take our annual look at those contenders SPICE GIRLS- Goodbye. Bookies favourite already before anyone has heard it- can they make it three Xmas No 1’s on the trot? B*WITCHED- To You I Belong. Two No 1 singles so far this year and naturally a festive ballad plays right into those Christmas feelings- can we resist the charms of the Irish? BILLIE- She Wants You- Another act whose first two singles went to No 1, don’t underestimate this CHER- Believe- Yes she’s already done 5 weeks but some don’t think she’ll be moved before the big day! JOHNNY & DENISE- Especially For You- Yes a cover of the Kylie & Jason Classic by “The Big Breakfast” stars for Children In Need. A powerful mix CHEF- Chocolate Salty Balls- South park character who is threatening to do a “Blobby” and upset the odds- ignore at your peril JANE MCDONALD- Cruise Into Christmas Medley- dismiss if you will but docu-soap star McDonald has already got a platinum album to her credit this year FAT LES- Naughty Christmas- can they turn their World Cup charm into a festive follow up- time will tell TRUBBLE- Dancing Baby- They call it one of the first internet phenomenon’s- can a dancing 3D baby steal the show? WHITE CHRISTMAS/ LAST CHRISTMAS/ MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY- The usual rag tag bag of covers/ remakes and re-issues get an airing- no reason why they should suddenly take off but you never know.

28TH DECEMBER In the end the destination of the Christmas No 1 for 1991 was too big an ask for anyone after the death of Freddie Mercury and the decision to re-issue “Bohemian Rhapsody” with the song making a second week at the top on a reduced sale of 263,392, a 20% loss but they were so far ahead that it didn’t matter. That means that the double A-Side has sold 594,192 in just a fortnight as it rushes 11-2 on the YTD list with only Bryan Adams ahead of it, and with only one week left that might be too out of sight to consider, even for Queen. Christmas No 2 surprises many with most expecting George Michael & Elton John to play bridesmaids but they slump 2-3 (57,424) leaving the way clear for Diana Ross to re-climb 4-2 (62,816), The KLF & Tammy Wynette end up at No 4 (57,056) but all three were fighting for the scraps really. The top 5 are completed by a climbing Right Said Fred & Jocelyn Brown 9-5 (41,952) and are well worth a bet for a post new year chart topper. Opening in Cinemas a fortnight ago “The Addams Family” has been a sizeable hit and it’s also helping put MC Hammer’s career back on track. He scored 6 top 20 singles from his first UK album in 1990 but this year he returned, dropped the MC and saw his first single (and title track from the album) “2 Legit 2 Quit” stall at No 60, a major surprise. He provides the theme to the new movie however and was helped by the showing of the video before the movie in most cinema’s on its opening week which sees the song power 16-9 (32,272), it samples part of the original TV theme into the track and provides Hammer with a 4th top 10 single in 18 months. When Mark Summers made No 27 back in February with “Summers Magic” he started a trend for 1991, in that track he sampled the theme from “The Magic Roundabout” marrying together dance music and children’s TV themes, then followed the Prodigy and “Charly” and now Shaft with “Roobard And Custard” which you won’t be surprised to read samples part of the cartoon series of the same name from the 70s, it seems to be a winning combo as the song rises 13-10 (31,904) to keep those Christmas ravers happy. Kym Sims spends a third week at No 7 (37,408) but it’s not so good for Guns N Roses who dip 5-6 (41,792) and Brian May who puts the brakes on 6-8 (35,952), all songs, apart from George & Elton and Queen recorded an increase as per usual at Christmas time. After 9 consecutive weeks of at least 1 new entry in the top 10 the record feat comes to an end- could it be topped in 1992? With nothing likely to debut in the top 10 next week we can reflect on 1991- a record 43 singles arrived in the top flight, six debuted at No 1 and 20 inside the top 5- all records. Conversely only 17 tracks made No 1- the lowest tally in 7 years, you can thank Bryan Adams for that! 1- BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY/ THESE ARE THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES- Queen (263,392) 2- WHEN YOU TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME- Diana Ross (62,816) 3- DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME- George Michael & Elton John (57,424) 4- JUSTIFIED AND ANCIENT- The KLF/ Tammy Wynette (57,056) 5- DON’T TALK JUST KISS- Right Said Fred/ Jocelyn Brown (41,952) 6- LIVE AND LET DIE- Guns N Roses (41,792) 7- TOO BLIND TO SEE IT- Kym Sims (37,408) 8- DRIVEN BY YOU- Brian May (35,952) 9- ADDAMS GROOVE- Hammer (32,272) 10- ROOBARB AND CUSTARD- Shaft (31,904)

21ST DECEMBER It set a blistering pace from the off and the re-issue of “Bohemian Rhapsody” does exactly what everyone thought it would, debut instantly at the top. The song was of course No 1 for Christmas 1975 spending 9 weeks at the top and selling a million as well as launching the concept of the pop promo as we know it. Its re-release is of course thanks to the untimely death of Freddie Mercury last month which has seen “Greatest Hits II” shift incredible numbers at No 1 in the album charts, and in making the top it becomes the first song to make No 1 twice for the same act. Officially it is a double A-Side with new song “These Are The Days Of Our Lives” which appears on the groups “Innuendo” album, the video for which is done mostly in black and white to partly hide the extent of Mercury’s failing health. All told the package sold over 100,000 in its first day alone and an amazing total of 330,800 copies in 6 days, the last single to sell at that rate? Band Aid of course. It is also either the 5th or 6th song to debut at No 1 in 1991 depending on how you view Iron Maiden’s “Bring Your Daughter” which hit the top on 30th December 1990 but with an official chart date of 5th January 1991- either way it puts 1991 in the record books for entries at No 1. Finally it also becomes the first song to re-enter the charts at the top and also the 11th biggest seller of the year after just a week! Also arriving this week but with a less emphatic sales tally is the new Guns N Roses single “Live And Let Die”, their version of the 1973 No 9 Wings classic. The band have been performing the song live for a few years now and put their version on “Use Your Illusion I”, interestingly both I & II are side by side this week just outside the top 50. It’s a 6th top 10 for the band in the last 2 years as they continue to be one of the biggest groups around, this is new at No 5 (34,896). Those who thought that “I’m Too Sexy” was a one off are proved entirely wrong with the new Right Said Fred single “Don’t Talk Just Kiss” which once again feature the vocals of Jocelyn Brown who is getting spoiled with all these official credits these days. The single fires 17-9 (25,280) with an album coming in spring! Cliff topped the Christmas charts in 1988 and 1990 and was also part of Band Aid II in 1989 but it looks like he won’t be getting a fourth year in 1991, his attempt at the big one is “We Should Be Together” which is a cut from his “Together With Cliff” album currently residing at No 10 on the album charts. It jumps 19-10 (22,656) this week to become his 60th top 10 single- an amazing achievement by anyone’s standards even if it doesn’t make the top. George Michael and Elton John can do nothing to stop losing the pole position this week and fall back 1-2 (65,536) a whole 265,000 behind Queen, again the biggest gap between the top 2 since Band Aid and Wham! seven years ago. The KLF and Tammy Wynette hold steady at No 3 (50,176) managing to outpace Diana Ross who falls back 2-4 (49,552), further down Michael Jackson is also falling 4-8 (27,584) but with “Dangerous” still top 5 and selling a million I doubt he’ll care. Two records stuck in groove are side by side, Brian May at No 6 (31,280) and Kym Sims at No 7 (30,944). Next week it’s Christmas- can anything dislodge Queen? 1- BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY/ THESE ARE THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES- Queen (330,800) 2- DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME- George Michael & Elton John (65,536) 3- JUSTIFIED AND ANCIENT- The KLF/ Tammy Wynette (50,176) 4- WHEN YOU TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME- Diana Ross (49,552) 5- LIVE AND LET DIE- Guns N Roses (34,896) 6- DRIVEN BY YOU- Brian May (31,280) 7- TOO BLIND TO SEE IT- Kym Sims (30,944) 8- BLACK OR WHITE- Michael Jackson (27,584) 9- DON’T TALK JUST KISS- Right Said Fred/ Jocelyn Brown (25,280) 10- WE SHOULD BE TOGETHER- Cliff Richard (22,656)

14TH DECEMBER The runners and riders for the big sellers over the festive period are starting to line up but George Michael and Elton John remain at the top of the roost boosting sales to 82,960 and may prove harder to dislodge next week than many had thought. It’s the second chart topper for both in duet, George of course took Aretha Franklin with him to the top in 1987 and Elton duetted with Kiki way back in 1976. The new challenger to their throne is Diana Ross who ascends 4-2 (54,816) just edging ahead of The KLF Featuring Tammy Wynette who glide 5-3 (50,288), the appearance of the re-issue of Ross’s album (which debuts at No 14) seems to have not affected the single. Freddie Mercury’s death on 24th November marked a great surge in Queen’s sales which sees 4 of their albums in the top 75 with both “Greatest Hits” packages doing a roaring trade at No’s 1 & 8, by sheer co-incidence Brian May has been hard at work recording a solo album due next year and the first single “Driven By You” had the promotion of an ad campaign behind it to get it lodged into the public’s mind. Yes Ford is the culprit, but it’s worked as the single revs 14-6 (26,512), it’s not May’s first solo credit after he made No 65 in 1983 with “Star Fleet” so it’s certainly his highest solo effort but the real show of public mourning for Mercury should be evident next week. Leaping up the charts 22-7 (22,064) is “Too Blind To See It” by US dance diva Kym Sims. It’s her first UK single and comes with the production of Steve “Silk” Hurley who is no stranger to the No 1 himself having taken “Jack Your Body” to the top in January 1987. Already a million seller just 10 weeks into its chart life, Simply Red’s fourth album “Stars” has produced its second hit single after lead track “Something Got Me Started” stalled at No 11. The title track from the album lifts 11-8 (20,864) to give the group only their 3rd top 10 single, both the others went to No 2 so watch out for this, though maybe once Christmas is out of the way! The highest new entry of the week isn’t from U2 who can only make a splash at No 13 but from New Kids On The Block. When “Games” peaked at No 14 back in February many wrote them off as yesterday’s teen favourites but they’ve come back from the edge with “Call It What You Want” making No 12 and now new single “If You Go Away” debuting at No 9 (19,792). It’s their 9th top 10 single in only 2 years but the first not to be produced by Maurice Starr who parted ways with the group, it’s co-written by John Bettis who also co-wrote the current Diana Ross single. A greatest hits album is out this week and the boys remain the 3rd biggest selling singles act of the decade behind only Madonna and leader Bryan Adams. Michael Jackson slides 2-4 (36,928) but he does sell his 200,000 copy of “Black Or White”, he keeps above East Side Beat who also fall 3-5 (31,840), and Nirvana drop 7-10 (19,216) as “Nevermind” also falls for the first time in 7 weeks as it blips 33-36. Next week sees the re-release of “Bohemian Rhapsody” and if pre orders are anything to go by we’ll be in 6 figures for week 1! 1- DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME- George Michael & Elton John (82,960) 2- WHEN YOU TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME- Diana Ross (54,816) 3- JUSTIFIED AND ANCIENT- The KLF/ Tammy Wynette (50,288) 4- BLACK OR WHITE- Michael Jackson (36,928) 5- RIDE LIKE THE WIND- East Side Beat (31,840) 6- DRIVEN BY YOU- Brian May (26,512) 7- TOO BLIND TO SEE IT- Kym Sims (22,064) 8- STARS- Simply Red (20,864) 9- IF YOU GO AWAY- New Kids On The Block (19,792) 10- SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT- Nirvana (19,216)

7TH DECEMBER It’s Elton John’s 19th top 10 single and George Michael’s 8th solo top tenner, and fittingly on world AIDS day their version of “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” smashes straight into the top spot on a sale of 55,072 the proceeds of which go to the charity. The song was of course originally an Elton solo single making No 16 in 1974 with George and Elton first performing the track together at Live Aid 6 years ago, Michael added the song to his “Cover To Cover” tour earlier this year and filmed the video with a surprise spot from Elton back in March. Of course Michael has fallen out with his record label this year and sworn only to release charity records whilst it’s resolved. Its chances of being No 1 at Christmas are next to nothing if you believe the bookies who immediately placed the re-issue of “Bohemian Rhapsody” in a fortnight as a certainty which makes the rundown of potential festive chart toppers last week redundant. In other news Elton John becomes the first act to have two chart toppers in the 90s, this is also the first "live" single to hit the top since the Specials 11 years ago, and finally this is the first chart topper to sell more on CD than in any other format whilst at No 1! Former favourites of the bookies for the festive No 1, The KLF team up with Tammy Wynette on the track “Justified And Ancient” which debuts at No 5 (31,984) this week. Like all their hits this year they were all available previously in substantively different versions, the origins of song first appeared in 1987 on the duo’s first album but has now been worked into a full track with vocals by Country Singer Tammy Wynette. She had three UK hits in the mid 70s most famously on “Stand By Your Man” which hit the top spot, she’s also been absent from chart action for 15 years and this must count as one of the more unusual returns to the top 10 in recent years. With a fourth album due early next year James are back with lead single “Sound” which powers 15-9 (21,904). It is of course the follow up to “Sit Down” which shifted over 240,000 and is one of the top 20 singles of the year so far, this cements their arrival on the main stage of pop. Michael Jackson is deposed from the top on both the singles and albums chart slumping 1-2 (50,624) on the singles chart but still way ahead of East Side Beat who do rise 6-3 (37,328) nonetheless. More promising for Diana Ross who jets 10-4 (36,320) leapfrogging a still climbing Nirvana 9-7 (24,896) who generated much publicity following a memorable TOTP performance on Thursday! Heading south are Altern-8 3-6 (26,752- that's their best sales week yet), Vic Reeves & The Wonder Stuff collapse 2-8 (24,192) and Bizarre Inc fall back 4-10 (20,992). 1- DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME- George Michael & Elton John (55,072) 2- BLACK OR WHITE- Michael Jackson (50,624) 3- RIDE LIKE THE WIND- East Side Beat (37,328) 4- WHEN YOU TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME- Diana Ross (36,320) 5- JUSTIFIED AND ANCIENT- The KLF/ Tammy Wynette (31,984) 6- ACTIV 8 (COME WITH ME)- Altern 8 (26,752) 7- SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT- Nirvana (24,896) 8- DIZZY- Vic Reeves/ Wonder Stuff (24,192) 9- SOUND- James (21,904) 10- PLAYING WITH KNIVES- Bizarre Inc. (20,992)

30TH NOVEMBER With the album “Dangerous” in shops from Thursday “Black Or White” had a decent proportion of the sales week to itself and indeed the single easily retains the top spot on the singles chart after 76,544 copies changed hands. It was really the side show for the inevitable Jackson Vs U2 showdown on the album charts, “Achtung Baby” was released on Monday and had sold around 115,000 Monday- Wednesday an insurmountable tally under normal conditions, but somehow “Dangerous” did it after it sold just over 200,000 in three days, a testament of how Jackson’s star status remains ever present. It’s a Jackson double then in the end then, the second of 1991 and the 90s after Bryan Adams. For the first time ever there are three new entries in the top 10 as the race for the Christmas No 1 starts to crank up, the highest of which comes from Italian dance act East Side Beat and their version of the Christopher Cross No 69 1980 track “Ride Like The Wind”. It debuts at No 6 (20,992) and is already a substantial hit over Europe even though it has no official promo yet. Grunge is the latest sub genre to reach prominence in the UK music press and leading pioneers of the movement are US band Nirvana, their first album “Bleach” failed to garner any success with the UK audience but second album “Nevermind” did enter at No 36 nine weeks ago and has improved position wise for the last 5 weeks moving 73-68-66-54-43-40 as first single from it “Smells Like Teen Spirit” arrives at No 9 (16,960). It has radio support from Radio 1 which has helped break them along with a European tour this year and MTV onside. An 18th solo credited hit for Diana Ross debuts at No 10 (16,176) this week. It’s the first cut from her new album “Force Behind The Power” and it also becomes the first time she’s ever crashed straight into the top flight. The CD single includes her 1986 No 1 hit “Chain Reaction” which is also incidentally the last time she was in the top 10. Welcome back. Vic Reeves & The Wonder Stuff get another week at No 2 though they are off 32% in sales down to 31,840 but its sales tally 292,816 now and should be on course for the Y/E top 10 at this rate. Altern-8 inch 4-3 (25,648) keeping marginally ahead of fellow Stafforders Bizarre Inc as they lunge 9-4 (24,448), that means no room for 2 Unlimited who dive 3-5 (24,432) and Bassheads who drop 5-7 (20,144). 1- BLACK OR WHITE- Michael Jackson (76,544) 2- DIZZY- Vic Reeves/ Wonder Stuff (31,840) 3- ACTIV 8 (COME WITH ME)- Altern 8 (25,648) 4- PLAYING WITH KNIVES- Bizarre Inc (24,448) 5- GET READY FOR THIS- 2 Unlimited (24,432) 6- RIDE LIKE THE WIND- East Side Beat (20,992) 7- IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE- Bassheads (20,144) 8- WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN- Michael Bolton (17,776) 9- SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT- Nirvana (16,960) 10- WHEN YOU TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME- Diana Ross (16,176) A month to Christmas which means it’s time to assess the runners and riders for the big day: ERASURE- Am I Right? Their last two singles both entered straight into the top 10, could this surprise us all? GUNS N ROSES- Live And Let Die Another band who’ve had a great 1991, this cover will probably chime with many a bond film over the festive period. THE KLF/ TAMMY WYNETTE- Justified And Ancient Currently the bookies favourite, an unusual teaming of one of 1991’s hottest with a 70s country star, sounds like gold! NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK- If You Go Away Not the force they were last year admittedly, but they’ve split with mentor Maurice Starr and this is the first fruits. THE RED CAR AND THE BLUE CAR- Home For Christmas Day You might not recognise the group or the title but you’ll know the tune from “Milky way” adverts over the years- could kiddie power take this all the way? VIC REEVES- Abide With Me Hot off the back of a chart topper, Reeves’s take on the traditional hymn could get the right mix of novelty and festivity to hit the top. CLIFF RICHARD- We Should Be Together It’s Christmas so we must have a Cliff single. He’s had a much quieter year in 1991 but that always changes at Christmas as he goes for another festive No 1 MEL SMITH- Another Bloomin’ Christmas His only other single made No 3 four years ago, he doesn’t have Kim Wilde by his side but he’ll be summing up many people’s thoughts on December 25th SHAKIN STEVENS- I’ll Be Home This Christmas As with Cliff, at Christmas time we all expect a Shaky single and he’s not let us down. His last top 20 single was last Christmas which bucked the trend of his recent chart positions- can he do it again? U2- Mysterious Ways Another act who recently topped the charts, U2 will be hoping lightning can strike twice, their top 10 strike rate dates back to 1984!

23RD NOVEMBER It’s been four years in the making but the new Michael Jackson album is almost with us and that of course means an epic video. The 11 minute promo for “Black Or White” was premiered in the UK on TOTP in its entirety this week the same day that the single was available (Thursday) but in just 3 days the song sold 77,456 to effortlessly become Jackson’s fourth solo chart topper but his first to arrive instantly at the top. Indeed Jackson is the first US artist to do that since Elvis in 1960, his lead was so great that he should easily retain the top spot for a few weeks, and in terms of debuts at No 1, 1991 has now had three tracks to turn the trick, just 1 behind 1973. The arrival of two new tracks into the top 10 also marks the first time in chart history (or at least since the charts became a top 20) that there has been a new entry in the top flight for five consecutive weeks! The promo incidentally caused calls to the BBC and complaints about the violence it contained within, all of which naturally generated headlines and sales so either way it was all good for sales, “Dangerous” the album is available this Thursday and will have to go some to do battle with the U2 album “Achtung Baby” which is also expected to be a massive seller and will have the advantage of three days sales over the Jackson LP. With the arrival of such an eagerly anticipated single, last week’s best seller stood little chance and sure enough Vic Reeves & The Wonder Stuff retreat 1-2 (46,464) and similarly force 2 Unlimited down 2-3 (27,888). Shelley’s Laserdome club in Stoke On Trent is an unlikely spot to be on the national map as significant but that club is currently benefiting from the close of the Hacienda in Manchester last year and is now the epicentre of the British rave scene. If you’ve never been there then you can at least see the car park in the video for Altern-8’s “Active-8 (Come With Me)” which bounds 11-4 (24,784), the rave duo have garnered a reputation for themselves turning up at outdoor rave events and playing, it all seems to have paid off for them, first single “Infiltrate 202” made No 28 but can this go all the way? Seal’s had a fantastic year with “Crazy” making no 2 in January and two other top 20 singles coupled with the chart topping eponymous album in June. The album has already shifted 300,000 and rockets 42-20 this week as the fourth track is culled from it “Killer”. It is of course Seal’s solo version of the Adamski song which topped the charts for 4 weeks last year and introduced us all to his voice though Seal was uncredited on it. It’s actually an EP entitled “Killer….On The Loose” and contains his version of Jimi Hendrix’s “Hey Joe” among its other tracks, it climbs 14-8 (16,496) to round off a great year. It also comes with a 3D video which was recently premiered on “Going Live” a few weeks ago and must have helped here. Talking of the west midlands, this week we have not only Altern-8 new in the top 10 but also Bizarre Inc, a three piece from Stafford who used to include Mark Archer, he’s now a producer and co-produced the Altern 8 track! You may have heard of them thanks to their last single “Such A Feeling” making No 13 in September, but before that they released three singles which failed before “Playing With Knives” made No 43, clearly buoyed by the success of their last single they’ve re-released the track and now debuts instantly at No 9 (14,688). The song samples a 1990 club hit by Circuit called “Shelter Me” in case you wondered where the vocals came from. The current US No 1 single trundles 31-10 (12,864) and marks a return to favour for Michael Bolton, his first UK hit “How Am I Supposed To Live Without You” went to No 3 and became his first US chart topper but his second UK album “Time Love & Tenderness had failed to give the singer a UK top 20 single until now though it has itself been certified platinum after peaking at No 2. His version of Percy Sledge’s “When A Man Loves A Woman” should continue to climb now, it’ll be hoping to at least match the No 2 of the original on re-issue in 1987 thanks to a Levi advert. Bassheads progress 8-5 (23,824) as labelmates K-Klass fall back 3-6 (23,312) and Kylie & Keith falter 4-7 (17,840). For the first time in 21 weeks we have no Bryan Adams who slips 6-12 ending a 21 week residency- the longest since the Beatles did a similar amount with "She Loves You". Finally, as an aside, a piece of chart history was created this week with 12" singles becoming the dominant chart format for the first time over the 7" equivalent. It took 29.5% of the market to 28.1% for 7". 1- BLACK OR WHITE- Michael Jackson (77,456) 2- DIZZY- Vic Reeves/ Wonder Stuff (46,464) 3- GET READY FOR THIS- 2 Unlimited (27,888) 4- ACTIV 8 (COME WITH ME)- Altern 8 (24,784) 5- IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE- Bassheads (23,824) 6- RHYTHM IS A MYSTERY- K Klass (23,312) 7- IF YOU WERE WITH ME NOW- Kylie Minogue & Keith Washington (17,840) 8- KILLER...EP- Seal (16,496) 9- PLAYING WITH KNIVES- Bizarre Inc (14,688) 10- WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN- Michael Bolton (12,864)

16TH NOVEMBER Into decline already, “Dizzy” still remains very healthily in front of the field with another 57,488 buyers last week, that makes 214,512 in its first month, not bad in terms of the year. His album arrives at No 16 as Reeves announces that he will be issuing a Christmas single, talking of which we’ll do our annual review of the runners and riders in a few weeks Circulating in clubland for many months and featuring a raft of uncleared samples The Basshead’s are the latest dance act on Deconstruction to hit it big as “Is There Anybody Out There” debuts at No 8 (15,712) just one week after the fifth top 40 hit for the label did exactly the same for K-Klass. “Rhythm Is A Mystery” surges 8-3 (26,000) which is exactly what the Bassheads will be hoping for next week, their song features samples from Pink Floyd, Talking Heads, and The Osmonds which all makes it rather eclectic to say the least. It is the 32nd track to debut in the top 10, yes that’s a new record folks! The KLF are back, well under a pseudonym “Justified Ancients Of Mu Mu” or the JAMM’s with a song “It’s Grim Up North” which was originally released in a limited 12” form last December with Pete Wylie on vocals. Now re-worked with Drummond on the mic the song takes its inspiration from the inscription on a bridge over the M1 and proceeds to list many northern towns before sliding into an orchestrated version of “Jerusalem”. It marks the first time that the same group has made the top 10 under three different guises, it rises 18-10 (15,040). 2 Unlimited rebound 3-2 (32,896) though they lose considerable ground on Reeves & The Wonder Stuff, Kylie & Keith float 7-4 (18,304) making it her biggest single of 1991 though that sales figure is the lowest needed for a track at No 4 since the 70s at least. A couple of falling chart toppers up next, U2 drop 2-5 (17,264) and with the single now deleted it should hurtle south, and Bryan Adams also descends 4-6 (16,592)- the figure for U2 joins Minogue/Washington in the record books as the lowest needed for the top 5 in the gallip era. Kiri Te Kanawa ebbs 5-7 (16,384) with Genesis bounding back 6-9 (15,216) as their album “We Can’t Dance” is in the shops this week. Next week sees the return of Michael Jackson! 1- DIZZY- Vic Reeves/ Wonder Stuff (57,488) 2- GET READY FOR THIS- 2 Unlimited (32,896) 3- RHYTHM IS A MYSTERY- K Klass (26,000) 4- IF YOU WERE WITH ME NOW- Kylie Minogue & Keith Washington (18,304) 5- THE FLY- U2 (17,264) 6- (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (16,592) 7- WORLD IN UNION- Kiri Te Kanawa (16,384) 8- IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE?- Bassheads (15,712) 9- NO SON OF MINE- Genesis (15,216) 10- IT’S GRIM UP NORTH- Justified Ancients Of MuMu (15,040)

BTW BBC4 are only showing 1 episode tonight and 3 next week so you're a week ahead of the programme!

21ST NOVEMBER Head and shoulders above the competition for another week Cher’s “Believe” completes its month at No 1 shifting another 164,642 in the last week which puts its total at almost 750,000 enough for No 5 on the YTD chart. Runners up this week are Steps who grab their 4th hit and second No 2 peaker with double A-Side “Heartbeat/ Tragedy”. The former is on their “Step One” album and comes with a festive video which sees the group rescue H from the snow queen whilst “Tragedy” is another track to be lifted from the same Bee Gees tribute album as 911’s “More Than A Woman”. It has a promo which features Pete Waterman as a wedding DJ spinning the discs after the boys sabotage the girls wedding days- not quite so festive. It sold 66,567 last week to be comprehensively deprived of their first No 1. If you’re a fan of the film “Apocalpse Now” then check out the new promo for the Stereophonics single “The Bartender And The Thief” which is the first single from an as yet unnamed new album. The band scored 4 top 40 singles from their debut era “Word Gets Around” helped by picking up a BRIT award in February for best new group and a critically applauded tour which ultimately results in this crashing in at No 3 (59,000) for the Welsh boys. James’ “Best Of” topped the charts back in April and at the end of a year spend touring their greatest hits it’s only fitting that they release one of their biggest hits “Sit Down”. The original missed the charts in 1989 but two years later was remixed into a No 2 single and an indie classic ever since, now the song gets a second remix at the hands of Apollo 440 who steer it back into the top 10 at No 7 (39,000). The Tamperer Featuring Maya dip 3-4 (52,000) still an exact mirror of their last singles chart run- top 3 again next week? No way back for E-17 though who dive 2-5 (46,000) and who at least stay above Touch & Go 4-6 (43,000). Further down Aerosmith refuse to leave the top flight re-climbing 9-8 (37,000) and swapping places with Eagle Eye Cherry 8-9 (36,000), Queen & Wyclef Jean complete the top 10 doubling their position 5-10 (34,000). Next week with the festive season upon us we’ll review those Christmas No 1 contenders! 1- BELIEVE- Cher (164,642) 2- TRAGEDY/ HEARTBEAT- Steps (66,567) 3- THE BARTENDER AND THE THIEF- The Stereophonics (59,000) 4- IF YOU BUY THIS RECORD YOUR LIFE WILL BE BETTER- Tamperer (52,000) 5- EACH TIME- E-17 (46,000) 6- WOULD YOU?- Touch and Go (43,000) 7- SIT DOWN (REMIX)- James (39,000) 8- I DON’T WANT TO MISS A THING- Aerosmith (37,000) 9- FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN- Eagle Eye Cherry (36,000) 10- ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST- Queen/ Wyclef Jean (34,000)

14TH NOVEMBER “Believe” appears to be turning into a major hit as it scores an easy third week at No 1 though sales do relent albeit by 9% to a still mighty 186,768 bringing its 21 day haul to 559,755, that makes it already Cher’s biggest selling solo single ever as it leaps over “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s His Kiss)”. That title spent 5 weeks at the top in 1991 so “Believe” still has some legwork to put in to overtake it in terms of weeks at No 1. Who can forget the spectacular way that East 17 fell apart in early 1997 after Brian Harvey’s drugs outburst. Well shortly after he quit the band (or got fired) main songwriter Tony Mortimer also decided he’d had enough and not long after that Harvey was back in the fold. The band have re-marketed themselves now as E-17 and with sufficient time passed we get a comeback single “Each Time”. Seems like the UK public were missing them as it debuts at No 2 (72,000)- their 12th top 10 single but funnily enough their 17th hit from 17 releases coming 17 months after their last single left the charts. A statistician’s dream. The album “Resurrection” is out in a fortnight which will be the real test. It’s not the catchiest of titles but The Tamperer Featuring Maya’s follow up to the No 1 “Feel It” wastes no time in smashing in at No 3 (64,000). It borrows the melody of Madonna’s “Material Girl” this time around and before you write it off remember this is the same position that “Feel It” entered the charts. Last week we got Pras’ new single “Blue Angels” which falls out of the top 10, this week it’s Wyclef’s turn. “Another One Bites The Dust” is his take on the Queen 1980 #7 UK hit and features a rap by Pras himself, the song appears in the new film “Small Soldiers” which is currently in cinema’s and helps to explain why his US single “Cheated (To All The Girls)” gets pulled here in its favour. It beats the peak of the original by entering at No 5 (46,000) and indeed such is the use of the original track that Queen get equal billing with Wyclef. Incidentally Lauryn Hill’s “Doo Wop” debuts at No 1 in the US so all in all they’re all doing well outside the Fugees umbrella. Former co-star with Will Smith on “Fresh Prince Of Bel Air” Tatyana Ali played Ashley Banks on the show and once filming had shut down she turned her eye chartward. First track “Daydreamin’” cruises in at No 6 (43,000) matching exactly its US peak back in September. Eagle Eye Cherry is back in the top 10 too just a few months after “Save Tonight” made No 6. New single “Falling In Love Again” slips in at No 8 (37,000) though it can’t prevent the parent album “Desireless” falling 48-51, it’s sold over 100,000 since it was released 16 weeks ago. Touch And Go slide 3-4 (48,000) while George Michael gives up his challenge 2-7 (41,000), Aerosmith dip a notch 8-9 (34,000) but go gold with “I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing”. U2 tumble 4-10 (31,000) explained by the fact that their greatest hits set (“The Best Of 1980-1990 & B-Sides”) debuts atop the album charts beating albums by M People, Alanis Morissette, and Oasis. 1- BELIEVE- Cher (186,768) 2- EACH TIME- E-17 (72,000) 3- IF YOU BUY THIS RECORD YOUR LIFE WILL BE BETTER- Tamperer (64,000) 4- WOULD YOU- Touch And Go (48,000) 5- ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST- Queen/ Wyclef Jean (46,000) 6- DAYDREAMIN- Tatyana Ali (43,000) 7- OUTSIDE- George Michael (41,000) 8- FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN- Eagle Eye Cherry (37,000) 9- I DON’T WANNA MISS A THING- Aerosmith (34,000) 10- SWEETEST THING- U2 (31,000)

Aww I don't mind IYWWMN, I mean it's not top tier Minogue I agree but not bad, at least it put her back in the top 10 and I feared for her after the chart flop of WIO, doubtless it was released with indecent haste in order to have a top 10 single to promote the album in the run up to Christmas.

9TH NOVEMBER We waited 16 weeks for a new number one and then in the space of three weeks we have three different chart toppers. U2 are bounced off the top 1-2 (53,344) and in being demoted it becomes just the third track ever (and second this year) to debut at No 1 and spend just 7 days there. The new chart topper is the 15th track to hit the top in two different versions, Tommy Roe in 1969 and now Vic Reeves & The Wonder Stuff take “Dizzy” all the way to the top. Selling 64,800 last week it only increases sales by a fraction but that’s easily enough to see it outpace the opposition but it will face a test this week with Reeves’ album “I Will Cure You” in shops now. With half term over sales are in a general slump, 2 Unlimited hold at No 3 (46,768) and even Bryan Adams sticks at No 4 (32,400) meanwhile Kiri Te Kanawa digs in at No 5 (31,216) but all are receding in sales week on week and indeed the latter must be fancied to fade fast with the Rugby world cup now over. When it debuted at No 19 last week “If You Were With Me Now” became the lowest debuting Kylie Minogue single since her introductory single “I Should Be So Lucky” in 1988. Coupled with the No 16 peak of her last single “Word Is Out” it all pointed to a career in trouble and ever diminishing chart returns, but her new single zooms 19-7 (20,960) to become a 14th top 10 single from 15 attempts, it’s actually a duet with US singer Keith Washington who has his first hit but clearly it’s Kylie selling this song, she doesn’t appear to be able to sell albums any longer with her fourth LP “Let’s Get To It” peaking at No 15 and slumping 18-27 this week. When first released in April this year “Rhythm Is A Mystery” peaked at a meagre No 61 on independent label Creed, it’s now been picked up by Deconstruction and makes a much more impressive splash by debuting at No 8 (20,416). The group met at the Hacienda club in 1988 before supporting 808 State en-route to the charts. Genesis improve 9-6 (22,224) whilst both Monty Python and The Scorpions are heading out of the top flight as they fall 7-9 (17,328) and 6-10 (17,232) respectively. 1- DIZZY- Vic Reeves/ Wonder Stuff (64,800) 2- THE FLY- U2 (53,344) 3- GET READY FOR THIS- 2 Unlimited (46,768) 4- (EVERYTHING I DO)- I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (32,400) 5- WORLD IN UNION- Kiri Te Kanawa (31,216) 6- NO SON OF MINE- Genesis (22,224) 7- IF YOU WERE WITH ME NOW- Kylie Minogue & Keith Washington (20,960) 8- RHYTHM IS A MYSTERY- K Klass (20,416) 9- ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE- Monty Python (17,328) 10- WIND OF CHANGE- The Scorpions (17,232)

The "recent" change of TOTP rules to allow and focus on forthcoming big releases rather than slavish follow the top 40 allowed the promo for "The Fly" to be shown on the previous week as an "exclusive" while Vic Reeves was also shown as a new entry at No 6- Historically TOTP would have worked against U2 and that could have been the difference in the No 1 spot this week...we'll never know.

2ND NOVEMBER After 16 long weeks Bryan Adams finally surrenders the top slot, and in some style bombing 1-4 (48,480) though you will note that the sale figure is actually up on last week! One easy explanation is that it was the half term break which resulted in a general upsurge in sales. So the new No 1 is a new entry for only the second time in 1991 following Queen’s “Innuendo” in January. U2 are new chart champions with “The Fly” selling 66,160 to enter on top of the pile, they rushed into an unsurmountable lead early in the week and though Vic Reeves & The Wonder Stuff fought back admirably then ended up coming up short on 63,936- maybe next week? It’s U2’s 11th straight top 10 hit (“In God’s Country” only made No 48 in late 1987 yet was an import only) but their first to debut at the top and their second chart topper in total coming 3 years after “Desire”. It’s also the lead single from their new album “Achtung Baby” out in four weeks and is only available for three weeks according to the record label which perhaps also accounts for the single’s high debut, that decision was apparently made to ensure that the album had two singles to promote it for the Christmas rush. Another debut this week is the return of Genesis with a new album “We Can’t Dance” due imminently and lead single “No Son Of Mine” which smashes in at No 9 (20,016). It’s only the 6th top 10 hit for the trio and the first to arrive there immediately, thematically the song deals with an abusive relationship though the exact nature of it is not known, the Christmas market is going to be busy. Incidentally we've had 36 tracks debut in the top 10 so far this year- more than the 24 for the whole of 1990 and the 30 songs that entered the top tier in 1989 which was the record!. Last Year US DJ Moby released a record called “Mobility”, it failed to chart but it contained a song called “Go” on the B-side. Moby has now remixed it including placing a sample of “Laura Palmer’s Theme” from the TV Series “Twin Peaks” to give the song a more atmospheric feel and also that woman Jocelyn Brown again, “Love’s Gonna Get You” providing the “yeah”’s on the single. All in all it’s now a much more commercial proposition and rises 11-10 (19,072). The track made No 46 over the summer but didn't ignite the charts, it was pulled and issued with remixes to DJ's as a white label who made it a much sought after track and has been rewarded (finally) with success. Poor 2 Unlimited sold an impressive 57,168 last week, enough for No 1 the week before, yet they see “Get Ready For This” slip 2-3. Kiri Te Kanawa starts to fall at No 5 (42,512) but is getting a nice sales push with the team advancing to the final on Saturday, this could still go all the way. All over for The Scorpions though who drop 4-6 (29,616) and Monty Python who slip 5-7 (26,592), Oceanic are happily now over the 300,000 mark but again recede 7-8 (20,784). 1- THE FLY- U2 (66,160) 2- DIZZY- Vic Reeves/ Wonder Stuff (63,936) 3- GET READY FOR THIS- 2 Unlimited (57,168) 4- (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (48,480) 5- WORLD IN UNION- Kiri Te Kanawa (42,512) 6- WIND OF CHANGE- The Scorpions (29,616) 7- ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE- Monty Python (26,592) 8- INSANITY- Oceanic (20,784) 9- NO SON OF MINE- Genesis (20,016) 10- GO- Moby (19,072)