Gezza

6TH JULY As expected Jason Donovan retains the top spot this week, “Any Dream Will Do” can’t maintain its frenetic pace of last week but it only trails off 4% to a still impressive 93,056, that makes total sales of 242,704 after just three weeks on sale, as we’re half way through the year let’s see if that’s enough for the YTD Top 10: 1- THE SHOOP SHOOP SONG (IT’S IN HIS KISS)- Cher 503,216 2- DO THE BARTMAN- The Simpsons 457,312 3- THE ONE AND ONLY- Chesney Hawkes 383,424 4- 3AM ETERNAL- The KLF Featuring The Children Of The Revolution 328,512 5- I WANNA SEX YOU UP- Color Me Badd 295,776 6- SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO- The Clash 244,480 7- ANY DREAM WILL DO- Jason Donovan 242,704 8- THE STONK- Hale & Pace 239,376 9- SIT DOWN- James 238,944 10- (I WANNA GIVE YOU) DEVOTION- Nomad Featuring MC Mikee Freedom 237,280 So Jason shoots in at No 7, meanwhile Cher sells her 500,000th copy of “The Shoop Shoop Song” and Color Me Badd are almost at 300,000 as they drop 2-4 (30,064). Erasure cannot progress any further and stall at No 3 (40,816) as Kenny Thomas drops 4-5 (29,264) but much better news for Bryan Adams as he rockets 8-2 (54,912) with sales up 185% and could topple Jason next week if that's replicated this week. Further down Salt N Pepa slip 5-6 (24,416) and Bette Midler is fading 6-8 (19,088). Three new hits to discuss, firstly Paula Abdul who has gone with her first ballad to make it as a single. “Rush Rush” comes with an expensive promo featuring Keanu Reeves in which they try to recreate the film “Rebel Without A Cause”, the single is currently No 1 in the US, it’s also written by two members of The Family Stand who were in the top 10 last year with “Ghetto Heaven”. The song races 14-7 (21,120) to become her 3rd top 10 hit as she seems to be only able to score a big hit once every year. Second album is out in three weeks. Incognito were formed when the group Light Of The World disbanded in the early 80s with some members forming Beggars & Co and others going into the aforementioned Incognito but their only hit was the No 73 song “Parisienne Girl” in 1980. They’ve gotten Jocelyn Brown in to record vocals on the 1975 Ronnie Laws track “Always There” and it has become the hit they sought all these years and even credited Brown this time around as they climb 26-9 (18,032) though of course Brown has been in the top 20 before with "Somebody Else's Guy" in 1984, and provided vocals on two chart toppers ("I Want To Know What Love Is" and in sampled form on last year's Snap! track "The Power". Australian act Divinyls have been going strong for 11 years with little international success until the release of “I Touch Myself” which despite its rather suggestive lyrics seems to be a hit at airplay and even made it past the censors in the US where the song made No 4, it now nudges 12-10 (18,016) here. It’s taken 8 weeks to make the top 10 which is unusual in a chart which is becoming increasingly focused around songs peaking 2 or 3 weeks after release. This week sees the release of a new Bros single with the press gunning for the twins can they pull it out of the bag? It will also need to battle the first new material from Guns N Roses in 4 years! 1- ANY DREAM WILL DO- Jason Donovan (93,056) 2- EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (54,912) 3- CHORUS- Erasure (40,816) 4- I WANNA SEX YOU UP- Color Me Badd (30,064) 5- THINKING ABOUT YOUR LOVE- Kenny Thomas (29,264) 6- DO YOU WANT ME- Salt N Pepa (24,416) 7- RUSH RUSH- Paula Abdul (21,120) 8- FROM A DISTANCE- Bette Midler (19,088) 9- ALWAYS THERE- Incognito Ft Jocelyn Brown (18,032) 10- I TOUCH MYSELF- Divinyls (18,016)

29TH JUNE Jason Donovan’s “Any Dream Will Do” sold a sterling 97,520 copies last week to hold a massive advantage over the rest of the field almost as much as the rest of the top 4 combined! Indeed you have to go back to Cliff Richard's festive No 1 last year to find a bigger weekly seller, and among his individual songs only “Especially For You” can boast a bigger 7 day tally and that had Christmas to help it. Outgoing chart topper by Color Me Badd sold a mere 41,456 in its 1-2 drop. The highest new entry of the week comes from a returning Erasure, their fifth album will be called “Chorus” and the lead single is also the titular track which sold 31,648 to debut at No 3. That’s the highest ever debuting Erasure single and 9th top 10 hit, it is so far behind Jason Donovan that it may not challenge him seriously and if it doesn’t it means that Vince Clark has had more top 5 hits without a No 1 than anyone else if you include his hits with Depeche Mode, Yazoo, and Assembly. Taken from the forthcoming film “Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves” Bryan Adams new single “Everything I Do (I Do It For You)” debuts at No 8 (19,024) immediately outpeaking all his previous singles in the UK. It’s produced and co-written by Robert “Mutt” Lange who has been helming Def Leppard and Heart in recent years so is well versed in modern day AOR. Written and recorded for the film “Quicksilver” in 1986 by Larry John McNally, Rod Stewart has once again plucked an obscure record and made it into a hit with some help from the Temptations on backing vocals. “The Motown Song” comes with a part animated video courtesy of the same people that did Madonna’s “Dear Jessie” promo, she incidentally appears in the video albeit animated. The track improves 12-10 (16,976) to give Rod his 4th straight top 10 hit something he’s not done since 1978. Kenny Thomas is still climbing 5-4 (29,520) and keeps ahead of the improving Salt N Pepa 6-5 (23,472) and Bette Midler 7-6 (23,232). Amy Grant is pushed back 3-7 (23,136) and Cher plummets 4-9 (18,480) as her album “Love Hurts” arrives at No 1 selling over 80,000 in the process. 1- ANY DREAM WILL DO- Jason Donovan (97,520) 2- I WANNA SEX YOU UP- Color Me Badd (41,456) 3- CHORUS- Erasure (31,648) 4- THINKING ABOUT YOUR LOVE- Kenny Thomas (29,520) 5- DO YOU WANT ME- Salt N Pepa (23,472) 6- FROM A DISTANCE- Bette Midler (23,232) 7- BABY BABY- Amy Grant (23,136) 8- (EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU- Bryan Adams (19,024) 9- THE SHOOP SHOOP SONG (IT’S IN HIS KISS)- Cher (18,480) 10- THE MOTOWN SONG- Rod Stewart (16,976)

22ND JUNE Just 48 copies separated the top two this week but Color Me Badd just hold on to the top slot selling 52,176 copies of “I Wanna Sex You Up” bringing its haul to 224,256 enough to place it in the top 10 for the year. The song it was under threat from comes from someone who many had written off as yesterday’s popstar, Jason Donovan. The decision by Donovan to accept a role in the west end production of “Joseph And His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat” was seen by many as an admittance that his pop star days were over, but he turns it around with the release of a single “Any Dream Will Do” a song already familiar to millions who’ve seen the production in the 20 odd years the musical has been performed. It’s never been a hit before however and Donovan has deserted S/A/W for Nigel Wright on production credits and sees himself debut at No 2 (52,128), not bad when you consider his last two singles peaked at No 22 and 17. We’ve not heard much from Salt N Pepa since their 1988 success but they return with a greatest hits this year and a remix of “Do You Want Me” a single which was a US release only last year. The single features a sample of James Brown’s “Say It Loud, I’m Black, I’m Proud” and becomes the trio’s third top 10 single as it rushes 13-6 (20,432). Last year there were two competing versions of “From A Distance” in the chart which pitted Cliff Richard against Bette Midler with Richard running out the winner peaking at No 11 to Midler’s No 45. Since then Midler’s version went on to hit No 2 in the US at the end of last year and with Richard’s version out of the way the record company have given it another whirl and it powers 25-7 (18,800) to end up the bigger version after all, it was first recorded by Nanci Griffith in 1987 but this is the first time it’s hit the top 10. Midler’s album “Some People’s Lives” will be getting a re-issue in a few weeks time as has become the norm in recent times, but this single is boosted by the appearance of both “Wind Beneath My Wings” and “The Rose” on the CD version. We’ve already seen that leaving the S/A/W stable can revitalise a career with Jason Donovan, also see: Sonia, she secured five top 20 singles from her first album (a record for a UK Female Act) before splitting with her record company and S/A/W as producers. She’s back though with the song “Only Fools (Never Fall In Love)” which was originally penned with Diana Ross in mind but secured for Sonia, she’s not parted entirely with her old friends at PWL though, this is remixed by Pete Hammond, it extends her top 20 run as it scuttles 11-10 (17,904). Jason’s arrival means that Amy Grant is knocked 2-3 (32,240) and Cher moves 3-4 (24,496) but “The Shoop Shoop Song” is now the best seller of the year!. Kenny Thomas rises 10-5 (23,984) but it’s all over for Beverley Craven as she drops 4-8 (18,496) and R.E.M who reverse 6-9 (18,464). Finally from now on the maximum number of formats allowed per position on the charts gets reduced from 5 to 4 which accounts for why a mighty 23 new entries were on the chart this week in a last gasp attempt by record companies to get out the larger number of formats. 1- I WANNA SEX YOU UP- Color Me Badd (52,176) 2- ANY DREAM WILL DO- Jason Donovan (52,128) 3- BABY BABY- Amy Grant (32,240) 4- THE SHOOP SHOOP SONG (IT’S IN HIS KISS)- Cher (24,496) 5- THINKING ABOUT YOUR LOVE- Kenny Thomas (23,984) 6- DO YOU WANT ME- Salt N Pepa (20,432) 7- FROM A DISTANCE- Bette Midler (18,800) 8- PROMISE ME- Beverley Craven (18,496) 9- SHINY HAPPY PEOPLE- REM (18,464) 10- ONLY FOOLS (NEVER FALL IN LOVE)- Sonia (17,904)

15TH JUNE It holds at No 2 Stateside but in the UK Color Me Badd effortlessly take a second week at the top selling a healthy 56,288 into the bargain and actually stretching its lead over Amy Grant to 22,000 copies despite “Baby Baby”’s climb 3-2. Cher drops 2-3 (29,152) just above the very persistent Beverley Craven at No 4 (23,568) who is still losing sales every week albeit slowly. Their American position mean they narrowly missing out on becoming the first act to simultaneously top the UK and US chart since Tiffany in 1988. Incidentally US acts have now held the top 3 positions for 3 weeks in a row- the first such domination since June 1980. The first of two new tracks this week comes from Madonna, it’s her 7th top 10 single of the 90s matching the current leaders NKOTB in that respect. It’s “Holiday”’s third release and a third appearance in the top 10, simply incredible and equalled only by the Righteous Brothers “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” in that respect, though the track has done it in just 7 years compared to 26 years for YLTLF. "Holiday" made No 6 in 1984, then No 2 a year later and is now a climber 13-5 (23,136) thanks to being used to continue to promote “The Immaculate Collection” which is still floating around just outside the top 20. It comes with a picture disk and tracks not included on the aforementioned album, namely "True Blue" "Where's The Party" and "Everybody" on either the & or 12". Former Boxer and BT Technician Kenny Thomas has been touted in some circles as Britain’s new voice of soul, his first single, a cover of the Gap Band’s “Outstanding”, made No 12 on re-issue back in February and his new single “Thinking About Your Love” performs fantastically jumping 22-10 (17,104) this week, it previews his debut album due in the autumn and is produced by ex-Dead Or Alive members Tim Lever and Mike Percy. R.E.M continue northward 8-6 (22,448) beating The Doors who rise 10-7 (19,520) whilst Crystal Waters tumbles 5-8 (17,520). A big week in the Minogue household, Kylie’s “Shocked” falls 6-9 (17,248) as her re-issued “Rhythm Of Love” re-enters at a lowly No 62, 54 places below her sister Dannii’s album “Love & Kisses”. 1- I WANNA SEX YOU UP- Color Me Badd (56,288) 2- BABY BABY- Amy Grant (34,224) 3- THE SHOOP SHOOP SONG (IT’S IN HIS KISS)- Cher (29,152) 4- PROMISE ME- Beverley Craven (23,568) 5- HOLIDAY- Madonna (23,136) 6- SHINY HAPPY PEOPLE- REM (22,448) 7- LIGHT MY FIRE- The Doors (19,520) 8- GYPSY WOMAN (LA DA DEE)- Crystal Waters (17,520) 9- SHOCKED- Kylie Minogue (17,248) 10- THINKING ABOUT YOUR LOVE- Kenny Thomas (17,104)

8TH JUNE Color Me Badd are the nation’s favourite track this week “I Wanna Sex You Up” nudging Cher aside after 5 weeks making some chart history, it’s the first time that three consecutive chart toppers have come from current film soundtracks. It sold 45,456 copies last week, a 23% increase again impacted by another bank holiday, Cher is deposed 1-2 (44,096) which is still selling well thanks to the movie being on general release finally, and the difference between the top 2 is the smallest since W/E 29/9/90 when 884 sales separated Steve Miller and Maria McKee. Total sales of “The Shoop Shoop Song” now stand at 418,720 as it moves to No 2 on the YTD list behind The Simpsons and indeed should surpass them before the half yearly update in 4 weeks. Also in cinema’s at the moment is the new Oliver Stone biopic “The Doors” which has seen the band have two albums in the top 20, the soundtrack at No 16 and a best of at No 18. One of their most famous singles “Light My Fire” has also been given a re-release, the original incredibly only made No 49 when released in 1967 (US No 1) though it was subsequently taken into the top 10 by both Jose Feliciano (No 6, 1968) and Amii Stewart (No 5, 1979, and No 7, 1985) which helped its fame. For a group of the stature of the Doors it is surprising to note they haven’t had a Top 10 single here, until this week anyway. The re-issued single flies 29-10 (16,672) almost 20 years after Jim Morrison’s death. The rest of the top 10 just rearranges itself, Amy Grant lifts 5-3 (33,824), Beverley Craven holds at No 4 (28,832), Kylie rockets 10-6 (20,432) and R.E.M inch 9-8 (18,320). All heading the wrong way are Crystal Waters 3-5 (27,392), Marc Almond/ Soft Cell 6-7 (18,336) and The KLF drive 7-9 (17,936). 1- I WANNA SEX YOU UP- Color Me Badd (45,456) 2- THE SHOOP SHOOP SONG (IT’S IN HIS KISS)- Cher (44,096) 3- BABY BABY- Amy Grant (33,824) 4- PROMISE ME- Beverley Craven (28,832) 5- GYPSY WOMAN (LA DA DEE)- Crystal Walters (27,392) 6- SHOCKED- Kylie Minogue (20,432) 7- TAINTED LOVE- Marc Almond/ Soft Cell (18,336) 8- SHINY HAPPY PEOPLE- REM (18,320) 9- LAST TRAIN TO TRANCENTRAL- The KLF (17,936) 10- LIGHT MY FIRE- The Doors (16,672)

26TH SEPTEMBER “Viva Forever” remains top 40 this week but it seems that the sentiment may just be a passing one as the first solo Spice Girls arrives on the market. Whilst touring the US this year Mel B was contacted by US Rapper Missy Elliott to ask if she wanted to record a track with her which Elliott had written for the Frankie Lymon biopic “Why Do Fools Fall In Love”. She jumped at the chance and we get “I Want You Back”. Recorded in just a day it’s difficult to see what Mel B could have contributed to the writing of the song but she gets a co-credit with Elliott who also produces the song which makes its debut at No 1 (86,500). It is Elliott’s first UK top 10 single and as noted a first for Mel Gulzar (as she is now having married last week). It’s also the 21st track to debut at No 1 this year equaling the record set last year and one which will undoubtedly be broke before the year end, but it does denote one record- a record 11th consecutive No 1 to debut there! (honourable mention to 1997 which did feature 11 debuting No 1's but did include a return to the top for Puff Daddy). Diane Warren seems to be in the middle of a period of popularity at present have penned LeAnn Rimes’ “How Do I Live” (still in the top 40 after 30 weeks on release) and now Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing” which has had an unusual chart run so far of 12-14-8. The band have been knocking around since the early 70s scoring their first US top 40 single way back in 1975 but were absent from our chart until 1986 when the collaboration with Run DMC on “Walk This Way” gifted them a No 8 hit. The 90s have been kinder to them granting them 15 chart hits without getting into the top flight but now they break their fast in style. “I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing” features in the blockbuster “Armageddon” which features (fortuitously) Steve Tyler’s daughter Liv and ended the 13 week run at the top of the US charts by Brandy & Monica, it remains No 1 there for a fourth week but equals their biggest UK hit now selling 35,000 copies last week. A third top 10 single on the trot for Lutricia McNeal arrives at No 9 (32,000) in “Someone Loves You Honey”, a cover of a Johnny Rodriguez 1974 track made into a US Country No 1 by Charlie Pride in 1978. Never a hit here it finally makes the chart for McNeal whose album peaked at No 16 but is now back up 67-43 in response to this hit. Robbie Williams put up a brave defence to his chart crown but relents 1-2 (75,000) and pushes T-Spoon 2-3 (54,000), the latter suffering seemingly from lack of exposure after TOTP decided the lyrics were too raunchy to be shown on the Friday watershed episode and instead only featured it on the late night repeat of the show. Jennifer Page is proving big on the airplay chart and rebounds 5-4 (46,000) though she loses sales and Boyzone brush past 3-5 (41,000) as “No Matter What” glides through the 900,000 mark. Honeyz fade 4-6 (39,000) with Steps descending 6-7 (38,000) as their debut album is beaten to the top by the Manics in a repeat run of the singles battle three weeks ago. Rounding us off are Savage Garden who hold at No 10 (28,000). 1- I WANT YOU BACK- Mel B Featuring Missy Elliott (86,500) 2- MILLENNIUM- Robbie Williams (75,000) 3- SEX ON THE BEACH- T-Spoon (54,000) 4- CRUSH- Jennifer Paige (46,000) 5- NO MATTER WHAT- Boyzone (41,000) 6- FINALLY FOUND- Honeyz (39,000) 7- ONE FOR SORROW- Steps (38,000) 8- I DON’T WANNA MISS A THING- Aerosmith (35,000) 9- SOMEONE LOVES YOU HONEY- Lutricia McNeal (32,000) 10- TO THE MOON AND BACK- Savage Garden (28,000)

19TH SEPTEMBER Knocking your fiancée off the top spot can’t make him popular at home but that’s just what Robbie Williams does this week deposing his current Beau Nicole Appleton from the All Saints from the No 1 spot. The James Bond borrowing hit “Millennium” takes a nice chunk of the John Barry tune “You Only Live Twice” and puts it into a different key to convince 140,000 buyers to purchase the single last week and give the former Take That star his first solo chart topper. He’s been hyping the track and the album all over the summer and now it’s time to deliver and he hasn’t disappointed with the single at least, the James Bond theme is carried over into the promo and sets the album nicely for its release next month. This year’s “Coco Jambo”? Well that could very well be T-Spoon’s “Sex On The Beach” already a major European hit has been championed by The Box channel and with those returning holiday makers now enters at No 2 (68,000). The Dutch outfit have been going since 1993 producing a string of hits in their homeland before finally scoring this international hit. Aside from the top 2 there are no other new entries to discuss but it’s been a big week for Irish pop. On Tuesday B*Witched’s “C’est La Vie” overtook Boyzone’s “Father And Son” as the biggest selling single ever by an Irish act but one day later the boys were back on top with “No Matter What” which shifted another 62,000 and holds at No 3. That takes its tally to 876,000 and is likely to be a million seller in the near future, they don’t have it all their own way as they slip from the top in the album charts ceding top spot to fellow patriots The Corrs. The Honeyz improve sales marginally (57,000) but drive 7-4 to reach a new peak! In the process they shove Jennifer Paige 4-5 (53,000) but Steps hold up well at #6 (48,000). Experiencing the biggest fall from the top since Michael Jackson 15 months ago, All Saints dip 1-7 (46,000), they still stay ahead of last week’s big rivals Five who are themselves sliding 2-8 (42,000). Stardust slip 8-9 (41,000) lifting their tally to 473,000, Savage Garden meanwhile cling on at No 10 (34,000) but their album continues to make great steps rising 3-2 with only The Corrs to overcome now. 1- MILLENNIUM- Robbie Williams (140,000) 2- SEX ON THE BEACH- T-Spoon (68,000) 3- NO MATTER WHAT- Boyzone (62,000) 4- FINALLY FOUND- The Honeyz (57,000) 5- CRUSH- Jennifer Paige (53,000) 6- ONE FOR SORROW- Steps (48,000) 7- BOOTIE CALL- All Saints (46,000) 8- EVERYBODY GET UP- Five (42,000) 9- MUSIC SOUNDS BETTER WITH YOU- Stardust (41,000) 10- TO THE MOON AND BACK- Savage Garden (34,000)

This was the month that Matt Aitken left S/A/W (who became S/W) so "Shocked" is the last top 10 single written by the trio.

1ST JUNE The expectation this week was that Crystal Waters would rise to the top but it seems that it may become more irritating than catchy with the public as it relents 2-3 (37,024) being overtaken at the death by the fast rising Colour Me Badd (37,904) but none of that ended up affecting Cher who triumphs again on a sale of 47,616. It was helped by “Mermaids” going on general release and the soundtrack only debuting at No 14, she joins Chesney Hawkes and Elton John as the longest chart toppers of the 90s on 5 weeks a piece, can she do 6 weeks? It seems that 1991 is the year that R.E.M have arrived, a constantly growing fanbase has been matched with improved chart position for the US group and last single “Losing My Religion” became their first top 20 single helping parent album “Out Of Time” become their first chart topper. Second single to be lifted from it “Shiny Happy People” has gone even better shooting 13-9 (16,432). It features co-vocals by The B52’s Kate Pierson and helps the album remain in the top 10 where it’s been for the first 11 weeks of its chart life. Sisters Dannii & Kylie Minogue narrowly fail to become the first sisters to have simultaneous top 10 solo hits as “$uccess” holds at No 11 for Dannii whilst Kylie’s “Shocked” debuts straight in at No 10 (15,344). It’s a 13th single for Kylie and a 13th top 10 single the best start to any chart career ever! The single version has been remixed by DNA and marks the first time that a Kylie single has been issued which is not mixed by S/A/W in its main format, it’s also the first single to be available in picture disc by the star, neither fact is helping the album which is still missing from the top 75, it will be re-issued in a fortnight in a gold edition with additional mixes including this one. Talking of albums Beverley Craven’s album re-enters at No 3 whilst “Promise Me” drops 3-4 (33,200) just holding off a climbing Amy Grant 9-5 (28,912). Three tracks are also falling, Soft Cell/ Marc Almond dip 5-6 (24,400) impacted by the compilation best of arriving at No 8, The KLF tumble 4-7 (20,928) and Cathy Dennis trips 6-8 (19,488). 1- THE SHOOP SHOOP SONG (IT’S IN HIS KISS)- Cher (47,616) 2- I WANNA SEX YOU UP- Color Me Badd (37,904) 3- GYPSY WOMAN (LA DA DEE)- Crystal Waters (37,024) 4- PROMISE ME- Beverley Craven (33,200) 5- BABY BABY- Amy Grant (28,912) 6- TAINTED LOVE- Soft Cell/ Marc Almond (24,400) 7- LAST TRAIN TO TRANCENTRAL- The KLF (20,928) 8- TOUCH ME (ALL NIGHT LONG)- Cathy Dennis (19,488) 9- SHINY HAPPY PEOPLE- REM (16,432) 10- SHOCKED- Kylie Minogue (15,344)

It's amazing that when George Michael titled a track with the word sex in it, it got banned by the BBC and Totp, yet 4 years later no one batted an eyelid.

25TH MAY For the first time since it rose to the top Cher’s “Shoop Shoop Song” was under genuine pressure this week as it sold 60,048 just 10,000 more than Crystal Waters who rises to No 2, the two should swap places next week given the 7% decrease for Cher and the 48% increase for “Gypsy Woman” The rest of the market isn’t really in with a shout to be honest, Beverley Craven rises 6-3 (34,176) but is way off pace however her ascension marks an all female top 3 for the third time in chart history and the first since November 1988, The KLF drop 2-4 (33,456) and Marc Almond/ Soft Cell rise 10-5 (30,416) with Cathy Dennis down 5-6 (26,880) despite a sales increase. The first of two new hits arrives 27-7 (24,400) for US band Color Me Badd whose new hit “I Wanna Sex You Up” features in the new film “New Jack City” which isn’t out here until August though the US got it in March. The distinctive “Tick Tok” start is sampled from the Doug E Fresh song “La Di Da Di” in case you wondered, they’ve certainly come a long way since supporting Bon Jovi. An alternative version is available to radio called "I Wanna Love You Up" to get around any censorship which is primarily aimed at the US with the UK seemingly happy to get sexed up. If 1991 will be remembered for anything it will be the year of the re-issue, Amy Grant’s “Baby Baby” did nothing at retail when issued earlier this year, since then it’s topped the US chart which allowed for a re-issue and the song responds by racing 26-9 (17,936) to become a smash here. Originally titled “Heart In Motion” (that’s now being used as the album title instead) it marks a continual evolution from US Christian music which is where she first found fame, and in hitting the top in the US “Baby Baby” becomes her second No 1 there after a duet with peter Cetera in 1986 called “Next Time I Fall” which bombed here. OMD fall 4-8 (19,936) and Paul Young & Zucchero slump 7-10 (16,000). 1- THE SHOOP SHOOP SONG (IT’S IN HIS KISS)- Cher (60,048) 2- GYPSY WOMAN (LA DA DEE)- Crystal Waters (50,112) 3- PROMISE ME- Beverley Craven (34,176) 4- LAST TRAIN TO TRANCENTRAL- The KLF (33,456) 5- TAINTED LOVE- Soft Cell/ Marc Almond (30,416) 6- TOUCH ME (ALL NIGHT LONG)- Cathy Dennis (26,880) 7- I WANNA SEX YOU UP- Color Me Badd (24,400) 8- SAILING ON THE SEVEN SEAS- OMD (19,936) 9- BABY BABY- Amy Grant (17,936) 10- SENZA UNA DONNA (WITHOUT A WOMAN)- Zucchero & Paul Young (16,000)

18TH MAY Cher is No 1 again though she takes a big hit in sales of 26% to 65,664, but if you think that means she’s in imminent danger then think again, The KLF hold at the runner up spot on 39,008 so unlikely to threaten as it retreats at retail too. Instead the great threat comes from the song that enters at No 3 and it equals the record for the highest entry by a debut act currently held by Vanilla Ice in November last year. Crystal Waters is a 27 year old American vocalist who wrote “Gypsy Woman” for another dance act Ultra Nate but her demo was so good that the record company gave her a contract instead and her portrayal of a homeless woman's plight was born. It debuts on sales of 34,688 and should seriously challenge Cher next week with its catchy “la da dee” refrain which seems already to be a bit of a marmite track with consumers. It finally seems to be happening for Beverley Craven, her two releases last year both missed the charts and her album went by unnoticed. In 1991 however she’s re-released “Holding On” making No 95, her album finally charted at No 53 and now another re-issue “Promise Me” is a major hit moving in 15-6 (21,520). The self titled album is getting another push and is being re-issued in a fortnight with a view to breaking her properly. A new forthcoming greatest hits collection is the impetus for a new mix of Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love” by Julian Mendelson which debuts at No 10 (13,072) this week. The song of course made No 1 ten years ago and went on to sell a million copies in the course of the decade, it also comes with a new promo featuring a solo Almond as Dave Ball doesn’t seem on board with the comeback efforts. OMD’s new album “Sugar Tax” enters at No 5 as the single dips 3-4 (25,056) in response, and Cathy Dennis rises 7-5 (22,752), Blur improve 10-8 (15,040) and Electronic slip into reverse 8-9 (15,024). Paul Young and Zucchero fall 4-7 (21,232) amid news that Young will be releasing a greatest hits album this year, Zucchero’s album also debuts at No 29 this week. The poor sales all round in part explained by another bank holiday. 1- THE SHOOP SHOOP SONG (IT’S IN HIS KISS)- Cher (65,664) 2- LAST TRAIN TO TRANCENTRAL- The KLF (39,008) 3- GYPSY WOMAN (LA DA DEE)- Crystal Waters (34,688) 4- SAILING ON THE SEVEN SEAS- OMD (25,056) 5- TOUCH ME (ALL NIGHT LONG)- Cathy Dennis (22,752) 6- PROMISE ME- Beverley Craven (21,520) 7- SENZA UNA DONNA (WITHOUT A WOMAN)- Zucchero & Paul Young (21,232) 8- THERE’S NO OTHER WAY- Blur (15,040) 9- GET THE MESSAGE- Electronic (15,024) 10- TAINTED LOVE- Soft Cell/ Marc Almond (13,072)

11TH MAY Cher cements her position at No 1 this week selling 88,384 copies, whilst that is the biggest weekly tally of the year, it does put 1991 in the record books no track has sold over 100,000 in its first 18 weeks- how long will we wait- all eyes on Cher to see if she has peaked saleswise next week! The film “Mermaids” is only just released which means it must be doing it on the strength of the song alone. The expected battle with The KLF never materialised in part because the album “White Room” advanced 16-5 to steal sales away, the single does rise 3-2 but sold just 45,024 copies in doing so, half the total (approx) of Cher. As for OMD who climb 5-3 (30,144) they are so far away from the top that it’s barely worth noting though it’s a spectacular comeback for them and matches the highest peak of any of their singles (“Souvenir”). Currently No 5 in the US Cathy Dennis is a name you may recall for her feature on the D.Mob single “Come On And Get My Love” back in 1989, she’s gone solo and her Second UK single is a cover of a 1984 release by Fonda Rae which featured in “Nightmare On Elm Street 2” but did nothing when released. Dennis has done some additional lyrics and updated the sound to find her version hurtle 25-7 (19,216) ahead of her debut album due this summer. Blur’s first single “She’s So High” faltered at No 48 last year but they’ve struck gold with second single “There’s no Other Way” which finds itself climbing 11-10 (16,880). The band have teamed with producer Stephen Street to produce their debut album and “Leisure” sees its release this year. Elsewhere Zucchero & Paul Young aren’t done yet as they move 7-4 (25,120) and lower down Electronic nudge 9-8 (18,912) while losing sales. Vic Reeves holds at No 6 (22,608) but old adversaries Chesney Hawkes and James are both falling this week, Hawkes drops 2-5 (22,784) as it approaches the 350,000 and overtakes The KLF in the process to become the year’s second biggest hit. James meanwhile drop 4-9 (17,168). 1- THE SHOOP SHOOP SONG (IT’S IN HIS KISS)- Cher (88,384) 2- LAST TRAIN TO TRANCENTRAL- The KLF (45,024) 3- SAILING ON THE SEVEN SEAS- OMD (30,144) 4- SENZA UNA DONNA (WITHOUT A WOMAN)- Zucchero & Paul Young (25,120) 5- THE ONE AND ONLY- Chesney Hawkes (22,784) 6- BORN FREE- Vic Reeves (22,608) 7- TOUCH ME (ALL NIGHT LONG)- Cathy Dennis (19,216) 8- GET THE MESSAGE- Electronic (18,912) 9- SIT DOWN- James (17,168) 10- THERE’S NO OTHER WAY- Blur (16,880)

4TH MAY Cher celebrates her first solo No 1 this week as “The Shoop Shoop Song” becomes the 8th chart topper of 1991 and now dominates the chart selling a very healthy 70,544 copies last week, that’s more than double the 32,400 sold by Chesney Hawkes as he slips 1-2, but that track has sold over 300,000 copies at least. The track is not available on 12"- the first instance since Band Aid II of a single making the top without the format. Is trouble on the horizon for Cher already? Well The KLF are back with their new single “Last Train To Trancentral” debuts at No 3 (28,208) and is the follow up to “3AM Eternal” which was of course a chart topper and the second biggest seller of the year so far. Like their last two big hits this is a reworking of a previously issued 12” single this time dating back to early last year (it appears that sequentially speaking they’ve overlooked “Kylie Said To Jason”) with added vocals and a more poppier feel. Indeed though the song is also found the KLF album “The White Room” it is refined further for the single release ensuring sales it seems. It should provoke an interesting battle next week for the top spot Pretty much everyone is familiar with the song “Born Free”, featuring in the 1966 film of the same name with lyrics by Don Black and music from John Barry it was never a hit single until now. It’s been recorded by comic Vic Reeves who is more famous for his Channel 4 series “Big Night Out” which has become a cult hit but he was a singer first back in the mid 80s albeit unsuccessfully, he’s now running these two careers simultaneously as “Born Free” expands 16-6 (24,352). You may also recall him from the Shakin Stevens promo for "What Do You Want To Make Those At Me For?". Formed by New Order’s Bernard Sumner and ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr when Sumner took a break from his band to record music with a more dance orientation, Electronic's first fruits resulted in the No 12 hit “Getting Away With It” featuring Neil Tennant on vocals. 18 months later and here’s single number two “Get The Message” which features Sumner on lead with some vocals by Primal Scream’s Denise Johnson at the end, the album is ready to go next month and can at least boast a top ten single as “Message” moves 14-9 (19,520). De La Soul attracted considerable critical appreciation for their first album and they’ll be hoping for more of the same when second LP “De La Soul Is Dead” is released in a few weeks, first single “Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Ha Hey)” shimmy’s 16-10 (19,216) to become just their second top 10 hit. It samples various tracks and lifts its chorus from Curiosity Killed The Cat’s “Name & Number” a No 14 hit in 1989, a more unlikely combo is hard to imagine but it seems to work. The number quoted at the start of the track is a real number though it appears permanently attached to an answerphone! James continue their slow descent 3-4 (24,896) as they move comfortably over the 200,000 mark, the parent album “Gold Mother” gets a re-issued new entry at No 2 becoming another victim of The Eurythmics , OMD climb 8-5 (24,624), Zucchero & Paul Young rise 9-7 (21,104) as the Waterboys collapse 4-8 (19,760) 1- THE SHOOP SHOOP SONG (IT’S IN HIS KISS)- Cher (70,544) 2- THE ONE AND ONLY- Chesney Hawkes (32,400) 3- LAST TRAIN TO TRANCENTRAL- The KLF (28,208) 4- SIT DOWN- James (24,896) 5- SAILING ON THE SEVEN SEAS- OMD (24,624) 6- BORN FREE- Vic Reeves (24,352) 7- SENZA UNA DONNA (WITHOUT A WOMAN)- Zucchero & Paul Young (21,104) 8- THE WHOLE OF THE MOON- Waterboys (19,760) 9- GET THE MESSAGE- Electronic (19,520) 10- RING RING RING (HA HA HEY)- De La Soul (19,216)

I always forget about "human nature" but I quite like it when I hear it.