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In the last chart of 1996, I posted my Top 50 singles of the year, picking out the Top 10 first. During 1997, I’ll be going through the list one by one. I’ve finished the Top 10, and have now moved onto the rest.
This week : 13 new entries, 3 climbers, 1 non-movers & 23 downers
It’s goodbye to :
And hello to :
(* – my current favourites)
(!!! – Single Of The Week!!!)
(:O === the current all-time hate that makes even my smilie want to hurl!)
( (R) – Repeat., ie. a re-release)
A brief analysis on the current chart situation…
13 new entries this week, 3 climbers, 1 non-movers, and 24 going down.
Big fallers include Portishead (8 to 26), The Sundays (15 to 31) andJaydee (18 to 40).
Of this week’s highlights and lowlights…
37 Third Eye Blind – Semi-Charmed Life *
Debut single for this band, which was meant to be released in June, and morerecently at the start of this month, but kept getting put back it seems.
Now after a large amount of radio promotion (inc. a radio advert with, I think,”Dr.” Neil Fox(x) ), it’s only managed the dizzy heights of No.37, which is ashame as it’s rather good.
35 Chris De Burgh – So Beautiful
Chris De Burgh will always be best known for his 1986 No.1 single, “Lady in Red”which, along with 1988’s “Missing You” (No.3), are his only Top 10 hits to date.
Since then, hits have been few on the ground, the only other Top 40 hits being“A Spaceman Came Travelling” (No.40, 1986), a re-issue of “The Simple Truth(A Child Is Born)” (No.36, 1991) and “Separate Tables” (No.30, 1992), withother top tunes such as “Don’t Pay The Ferryman”, “High on Emotion” and“Fatal Hesitation” all missing the Top 40 by a few places. His last single tograce the charts was his 1995 Xmas single, “The Snows of New York”, making No.60
His latest is unfortunately quite an unremarkable song, and one I only heardon last week’s Lottery programme.
What was more of importance though, was that Chris De Burgh actually wrotea tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales, as well, and I’m not sure if that trackis on this single, but a performance of the song was played on BBC1 on theday of her funeral. It’s certainly not been given anywhere near as much coverageas Elton John‘s song though. In fact, it hasn’t been given any coverage, as faras I know.
29 Genesis – Congo * !!!
Genesis‘s first single in over four years since “Tell Me Why” just scraped inat No.40 in February 1993, “Congo”, is not about the real congo, but aboutthe divide in a relationship between two people (aah). The song is far fromromantic and sloppy though, thankfully, and is more pop/rock-orientated with anexpensive-looking video of slomo effects etc.
For those who buy the CD single, you’ll actually find the video on it, whichis a new one on me, and certainly a rarity. You’ll need a PC to play it onthough. I’ve not seen it play on a PC, so don’t know how it fares, but thelast time promo videos were included was around ten years ago when CDVs (CompactDisc Video) were around (and for anyone who has them, they are compatible withlaserdisc players than can playback PAL analogue discs).
Now Genesis are without Phil Collins, and instead with the lead singer ofScottish one-hit wonders, Stiltskin, who had a No.1 with “Inside”, the trackused in a Levi’s advert, and if memory serves me right, the first Levi’s advertto use a new song. The song itself was nothing to write home about, but had agrinding guitar riff used in the advert, which sold the record. That was in1994 though. Since then, nothing was heard of Stiltskin bar a follow-up singlelater in the year, “Footsteps” (No.34) (okay, so two-hit wonders :).
Now can anyone explain why this single was not released three weeks ago asoriginally intended, and thus left until the album had actually been released?
15 Blur – M.O.R. *
Another single from Blur‘s self-titled album, and a fast piece of pop whichdeserves to do better, but probably won’t.
More notable though perhaps, is lead-singer Damon Albarn‘s debut acting rolein the British crime thriller, Face,a review of which is online, also starring Robert Carlyle(Trainspotting, The Full Monty), which opens nationwide on Friday 26th September
14 Robbie Williams – South of the Border
Fourth single from Robbie Williams, and they’re slipping further and further.At least it’s not as low as Mark Owen‘s third single, “I Am What I Am” whichmade No.29.
13 (14) Sly & Robbie featuring Simply Red – Night Nurse *
One of the most successful UK bands team up with one of the most well-knownJamaican R&B acts, their biggest hit being “Boops (Here To Go)” (12, Apr 87)for probably the only single ever made about a 1980’s brand of night-timecough-curer.
Presuming that’s not what this soulful tune is about, can anyone explain whatexactly the song *is* about? Either way, it’s excellent.
2 Dario G – Sunchyme :O ===
It’s been over 12 years since one-hit wonders Dream Academy had a No.15 hitwith “Life in a Northern Town”. It was a slow affair, and a classic that hasstood the test of time…
…and one of those songs that no-one should dare try and dancify, but nowDario G (whoever the hell he is) has done just that. Removing all the vocals,bar the backing singers chant, it has been speeded up, and whenever it comeson the radio, I have to turn it off very quickly, or I’ll probably smash theradio.
A public flogging wouldn’t be enough for Dario G…
1 (1) Elton John – Something About The Way You Look / Candle in the Wind 1997 * *2nd Week at No.1*
It was inevitable that thing song would go straight in at No.1.
For those with their head in a hole for the past two weeks, Diana, Princess ofWales and her then-beau, Dodi Al-Fayed, son of Harrodds boss, Mohammed Al-Fayed,were killed along with their driver in a horrific car crash in a Parisunderpass while being chased by French paparazzi. Who was to blame though? Thepress chasing them on motorbikes and taking photos of the dead and dying lyingin the car after the smash, or the driver allegedly going at 121 mph while overthree times the legal limit and on anti-depressants? Time will tell.
Anyway, only six weeks after the death of fashion designer Gianni Versace,where Diana was comforting Elton John, he rewrote his classic tribute to silverscreen legend Marilyn Monroe, and put it on the back of his new superb single,“Something About The Way You Look”.
Only going on sale on Saturday 13th September, this went platinum in a day,selling out within hours of all 600,000 copies released in shops, with moredue in on the Monday. This will probably be No.1 for weeks to come. I don’tthink it will stay No.1 all the way until Xmas, but it’ll climb back up to thetop to make it the Xmas No.1.
This is surprisingly only Elton John‘s second solo No.1. His first was acombination of two singles which flopped first time round. “Sacrifice / HealingHands” which made No.1 in June 90, and was his first single to be released withall the profits going to charity, with every single to come following suit.
He has had two duets go to No.1 though. “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” was No.1in July 76 with Kiki Dee, and later was redone duetting with male model Rupaul(No. 7, Feb 94). The second was with George Michael, a new version of “Don’tLet The Sun Go Down On Me” in December 91, their second collaboration, the firstbeing “Wrap Her Up” (No. 12, Dec 85).
This is the third song in a row to go straight in at No.1 :
(* – my current favourites)
September 15th :
THE SPEED OF THE SOUND OF LONELINESS……………Alabama 3 (Elemental) YOGA – JOGA………………………………Bjork (One Little Indian) HAPPY UNBIRTHDAY EP……………………………..Brix (Strangelove) BINGO……………………………………………..Catch (Virgin) WORLD AT YOUR FEET………………………Cinnamon Smith (New Mother) SHAKE YOUR BODY……………………Dave Clarke (Bush/Deconstruction) I DON’T WANT TO WAIT………………………Paula Cole (Warner Bros.) BURNIN’………………………………………..Daft Punk (Virgin) SUNCHYME…………………………………Dario (Amato/Eternal/WEA) MAGIC………………………………………….D’Influence (Echo) NUDE STAR………………………………….Garageland (Discordant) CONGO……………………………………………Genesis (Virgin) DIGITAL……………………………………Goldie & KRS One (ffrr) LOVELY SKIN………………….Groop Dogdrill (Mantra/Beggars Banquet) STRANDED……………………………………The Hybrids (Heavenly) NINE WAYS…………………………………….JDS (Crosstrax/ffrr) GUANTANAMERA………………………………………….Wyclef Jean …………feat. The Refugee Allstars & Celia Cruz (Ruffhouse/Columbia) ANYTHING YOU WANT………………………….Speed (Good Cop Bad Cop) THE LINE / D. DISCO………………………………Lisa Stansfield / ………..Black Science Orchestra vs. Lisa Stansfield (Big Life/Arista) YOU AND ME SONG [2nd ri]……………………The Wannadies (Indolent) CARRY ON ’97……………………………….Martha Wash (Delirious) SOUTH OF THE BORDER……………………..Robbie Williams (Chrysalis)
September 22nd :
AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME……………………….Backstreet Boys (Jive) I.O.U. EVERYTHING……………………………………..Dweeb (WEA) BABYSHAM………………………………………….Flyscreen (MCA) GOT ‘TILL IT’S GONE…Janet Jackson feat. Q-Tip & Joni Mitchell (Virgin) DISCO MACHINE GUN………………………Lo-Fidelity Allstars (Skint) SHOULDER HOLSTER……………………………..Morcheeba (Indochina) STAND BY ME………………………………………Oasis (Creation) INITIAL TRANSMISSION EP……………………Pecadiloes (Fine Art/A&M) GOT TO BE FOR REAL……………………….Pressure Drop (Hard Hands) THE WAY I FEEL………………………………..Roachford (Columbia) HIGH NOON………………………………………DJ Shadow (Mo Wax) SHE’S A GOOD GIRL……………………………Sleeper (Indolent/RCA)
September 29th :
COME TO DADDY………………………………..The Aphex Twin (Warp) I NEED…………………………………..Meredith Brooks (Capitol) CARNIVAL IN HEAVEN…………………….Malandra Burrows (Warner esp) RAINCLOUD……………………..Lighthouse Family (Wild Card/Polydor) CLOSED FOR BUSINESS EP………………………….Mansun (Parlophone) GOLDEN BROWN…………………………………………..Omar (RCA) ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE……………Propellerheads (East West) BEEN AROUND THE WORLD / IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BANJAMINS……………….. ………………………..Puff Daddy & The Family (Puff Daddy/Arista) GARY SUPER MACHO……………………………………Sukia (Mo Wax)
October 3rd:
SPICE UP YOUR LIFE…………………………….Spice Girls (Virgin)
October 13th :
ARE YOU JIMMY RAY?……………………………..Jimmy Ray (Sony S2)
October 20th :
TOMORROW NEVER DIES……………………………………Moby (Mute)
November 10th :
DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER…………………………….David McAlmont (-)
Other forthcoming releasesSEPTEMBER
GUNMAN……………………………………..187 Lockdown (Nu Jack) [WHAT TIME IS LOVE]…………………………..2K (Blast First/Mute) [tba]………………………………………….911 (Ginga/Virgin) [tba]……………………………………………Addict (Big Cat) OVERDRIVE……………………………………………A.N.D! (EMI) REAL PEOPLE…………………………………….Apache (Coalition) SWITCH………………………………………….Howie B (Polydor) DON’T SAY / SHINE / BAD GIRL / LET ME KNOW.Jon B (Epic-550Music/Yab Yum) BABY BOOM / A LITTLE LOVEW………………….Baby Blue (Tin Tin Club) MARIA………………………………………….Ray Banderas (ZYX) SONG FOR MY BROTHER [US imp]………….George Benson (Giant Step [US]) BERGAMOT…………………………………….Bergamot (Chromatone) NO STOPPIN……………………………..Big Band Experience (Pukka) LAST NIGHT A DJ SAVED MY LIFE…………………….Blacknuss (Satira) COSMIC WINDOW………………………………….Black Rock (Loaded) FIX…………..Blackstreet feat. Ol’ Dirty Bastard & Slash (Universal) BASIC………………………………………..Blaze (Slip’n’Slide) MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE / EXPERIENCIA RELIGIOSA…………Boyzone (Polydor) YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND…………………….The Brand New Heavies (ffrr) BIG BAD MAMA………………Foxy Brown feat. Dru Hill (DefJam/Mercury) REMEMBER………………………………………….B.T. (Perfecto) SOUL TO BARE…………………………Joi Cardwell (Activ/Eightball) THE WAY I’M FEELING TONIGHT…………………Paul Carrack (Ark21/EMI) I AM THE MOB…………………………….Catatonia (Blanco Y Negro) GHOSTS [rm]……………….Chris & James feat. Sally Rodgers (Stress) SEADOG…………………………………………Clanger (Platipus) I’M NOT FOLLOWING YOU……………………….Edwyn Collins (Setanta) GLOBAL HOUSE………………………………..Coloured Oxygen (Glow) SUNNY CAME HOME…………………………….Shawn Colvin (Columbia) OOH LA LA………………………………………Coolio (Tommy Boy) GIVE ME THE NIGHT ’97………………………….Randy Crawford (WEA) BE FREE…………………………………………..Cristiana (ZYX) CHINESE BURN…………………………………….Curve (Universal) GABRIEL………………………………………..Roy Davis Jr. (XL) IT’S NO GOOD [rm] [US imp]………………………Depeche Mode (Mute) SACRE FRANCAIS……………………….Dimitri From Paris (East West) SOURVENIR DE PARIS……………………Dimitri From Paris (East West) MISSION IMPOSSIBLE / THE AVENGERS………………………………… ………………………….Dimitri From Paris / Impulsion (Concrete) LOST & FOUND……………………………………D*Note (Dorado/VC) DEEPER RIVER………………………………………Dusted (Cheeky) SATURDAY [rm]………….East 57th St. feat. Donna Allen (AM:PM-D:Tour) LEARN II LOVE…………………………Kim English (Hi-Life/Polydor) ANGEL OF MINE……………………………….Eternal (1st Ave./EMI) EVERYBODY LOVES A CARNIVAL………………………Fatboy Slim (Skint) WHERE THERE IS LOVE………………………Yvette Fauche (Relentless) SLAM DUNK DA FUNK………………………………………Five (RCA) MOVE ON (I’M LEAVING)………………………Forte feat. Pras (Qwest) IF I HAD YOU……………………………………….Frankie (Epic) FUDGIE [ri]………………………………….Goofy (Northwestside) LOVERWOMAN………………………………….Groove Kittens (Pukka) FALLING INTO YOU……………………………..Guess Who? (Neoteric) I SAW THE LIGHT………………………..Terry Hall (Southsea Bubble) TOURNIQUET………………………………………..Headswim (Epic) PSYCHE ROCK………………..Pierre Henry & Michel Colombier (Philips) WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO?………………………..Ronnie Hewson (Motown) JUST COME BACK TO ME…………………………Hypertrophy (Positiva) SEARCHING………………………………………….InXS (Mercury) BITCH……………………………………….Jackie “O” (Euphoric) [tba]……………………………………..James (Fontana/Mercury) WANNA BE LIKE A MAN………………………………..Simone Jay (VC) THE HUSTLERS EP – SUNSHINE…………………….Jay-Z (Northwestside) THE LOVE SCENE…………………………………………Joe (Jive) I LIKE THE WAY……………………………………..Kaleef (Unity) LOVE SENSATION……………………………….Kingdom Come (Satira) PIPER……………………………………………….Jonny L (XL) TILL THE HEART CAVES IN………………….kd Lang (Sire/Warner Bros.) VISION INCISION………………………..Lo-Fidelity Allstars (Skint) ARMS AROUND THE WORLD…………………………Louise (1st Ave./EMI) THE EXCERPTS EP: TERRY’S PATCHWORK OF V.2 / LECTROLYTE / FRAGILE PART2 / CENTURION……………………………………….LSG (Hooj Choons) IS IT REAL?……………………………………….Marsha (Diesel) THE BELL SONG…………………………Malcolm McLaren (Red Parrott) [tba]…………………………………Dannii Minogue (Eternal/WEA) DEVOTION……………………………………..Moa (Icelnadic Spor) IN THE CITY…………………………….Montage (Wild Card/Polydor) [tba]………………………………………….Morrissey (Island) JUST FOR YOU……………………………..M People (Deconstruction) PLANET FUNK 2………………………..Alexis Neris pres. (Manifesto) VIDEO 586……………………………………….New Order (Touch) CLOUDBURST………………………………………Niagra (Freeflow) SPIDER WEB……………………………….No Doubt (Interscope-MCA) SWEET TEARS / RUNAWAY [rm] / BLACK GOLD OF THE SUN…………………. ……………………………………..Nuyorican Soul (Talkin Loud) TOMORROW [?]………………………………Ocean Colour Scene (MCA) FAR FROM YOURS………………O.C. feat. Yvette Michelle (Payday/ffrr) RELEASE YOURSELF (EP)……………….Paganini Traxx (Moolite/Sony S3) THEME FROM PM3………………………….Palefield Mountain (Stress) MADE IN VAIN…………………………………………Peach (Mute) C LINE WOMAN……………………………The People Movement (Eye-Q) CARWASH [rm]……………………………….Phat & Phunky (Eternal) ICEOLATION…………………………….The Priest (Plastic Surgery) BURNING WHEEL……………………………..Primal Scream (Creation) AROUND MY BRAIN………………………Progress Funk (Deconstruction) FIXY JOINTY……………………………Psychedeliasmith (Athletico) TAKE IT TO THE STREETS……………………………Rampage (Elektra) AVENUES…………Refugee Camp Allstars feat. Pras (Ruffhouse/Columbia) PUT YOUR HANDS WHERE MY EYES COULD SEE……….Busta Rhymes (East West) WONDERWOMAN / HAWAII FIVE-O [SERIALMENT VOTRE – EPISODE 3 EP]……….. ……………………………Roussia / Charles Schillings (Concrete) KICK THE PARTY INTO FULL EFFECT…………..Ruff ‘Da Menace (Obsessive) STAY…………………………………………….Sash! (Multiply) CAN’T FIGHT THE FEELING…………………Sessomato (Junior Boy’s Own) BRAZILLIA CARNEVELAS……………………………..Sidewalk (Module) FEEL THE RHYTHM………………………….Charlene Smith (Indochina) DANCE TO THE MUSIC………..Smokin’ Vibes feat. Deborah Woodson (Kosmo) CLIMB ON TOP………………………………….SM-Trax (Club Tools) DOGGUMENTARY………………………….Snoop Doggy Dogg (Interscope) X-RAY………………………………………..Space Frog (Sony S3) TINTED EYES…………………………….Sprinkler (Fourth&Broadway) FLYING HIGH………………………Byron Stingily (Nervous/Manifesto) TALLER THAN GOD…………………………………Strawpeople (Epic) SUENO LATINO [rm]……………………….Sueno Latino (Distinct’ive) SUNDANCE…………………………………………Sundance (React) PLAY IT COOL…………………………Super Furry Animals (Creation) ALL ABOUT US………………Keith Sweat feat. Montell Jordan (Elektra) SOUL FREAK…………………………….Three’n’One (Low Sense/ffrr) UP JUNPS THE BOOGIE……………………Timbaland & Magoo (East West) WHAT ABOUT US………………………………..Total (LaFace/Arista) CAN YOU FEEL IT…………………………………..Uncle Sam (Epic) EVERYTHING IS LARGE……………….Underground Distortion (Satellite) MOANER……………………………….Underworld (Junior Boy’s Own) NO WAY NO WAY……………………………………….Vanilla (EMI) DEEP DAY…………………………………….Katrina Vaughn (Worx) FEEL MY LOVE / GET LOOSE………………………….Tony de Vit (TdV) BAD BOY………………………………..Wildchild (Hi-Life/Polydor) QUELLE SENSATION BIZARRE………………..La Yellow 357 (Yellow Prod.) THE VISION………………………………………..Yum Yum (Sperm)
OCTOBER
JOY & PAIN……………Addams & Gee feat. Antonia Lucas (Steppin’ Out) [tba]………………………………….Shola Ama (Freakstreet/WEA) [tba]………………………………………Peter Andre (Mushroom) HEY AZ………………………………..AZ feat. SWV (EMI-Cooltempo) WHAT PROBLEMS EP……………………..Buddy Booth (Junior Boy’s Own) TELLIN’ STORIES…………………….The Charlatans (Beggars Banquet) RUFF KUTZ……………………………………..Chemist (Casa Trax) AMNESIA…………………………………………Chumbawamba (EMI) ESTA E LA VIDA…………………………………..El Cubana (Fresh) TO DESERVE YOU………………………Deja Vu feat. Tasmin (Almighty) [tba]…………………………………………Howard Donald (RCA) FAVOURITE SHIRTS (BOY MEETS GIRL)……………E-motion (Universal/MCA) CALIFORNIA DREAMING……………………………..High Jinx (Rumour) [tba]……………………………………….Steven Houghton (RCA) FREAK (AND U KNOW IT)………………………Adina Howard (East West) [tba]……………………………………………..Huggy Bear (-) [tba]……………………………………..Natalie Imbruglia (RCA) CRY ME A RIVER…………………………………….Jai (M&G/Wired) FIREWALKER……………………………….Ricky Lee Jones (Reprise) HAPPINESS…………………….Kamasutra feat. Stefan Frank (Sony S3) THE SESSION…………………………..Kings Of Tomorrow (Groove On) SPILLER FROM RIO……………………………Laguna (Azuli/Positiva) CLAP YOUR HANDS………………………………..Lil Louis (Go.Beat) PHENOMENON……………………………………..LL Cool J (Geffen) YOU SHOULD BE MINE…………………………Brian McKnight (Mercury) LET ME BE THE ONE…………………Mint Condition (Wild Card/Polydor) PINK BOMB………………………………………..Pink Bomb (Quad) LA BOUCLE……………………………….Le Pompidou (Pro-Zak Trax) ECHO DEK………………………………….Primal Scream (Creation) SMACK MY BITCH UP…………………………………The Prodigy (XL) LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME………………………….The Seahorses (Geffen) FREEK FUNK………………………………….Luke Slater (Novamute) WALKING ON THE SUN………………………………….Smashmouth (-) PLEASUREDOME…………………………………Soul II Soul (Island) PROLOGUE…………………………………..Tenth Chapter (Jackpot) [tba]…………………………………..Triple A [Jimmy Cauty] (-) PLEASE……………………………………………….U2 (Island) JUST CAN’T GET ENOUGH [rm]……………………Sam Walker (Pro-Activ) [tba]………………………………..Paul Weller (Go!Discs/Island)
NOVEMBER :
A LIFE LESS ORDINARY………………………………Ash (Infectious) [tba]………………………………………….Coolio (Tommy Boy) [tba]………………………………………….The Cure (Fiction) INSECURITY (HOW COULD I)……………………….Roachford (Columbia) [tba]……………………………………Spiritualized (Dedicated)
DECEMBER :
ALL ROUND THE WORLD……………………………….Oasis (Creation) WE HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD………………………Iggy Pop (-) [tba]…………………………………………Jimmy Ray (Sony S2)
JANUARY :
SOME DAY……………………………………..Roachford (Columbia)
MARCH :
NAKED WITHOUT YOU……………………………..Roachford (Columbia)
In this week’s Top 10, Oasis are deposed of the top slot, moving down one toaccomodate Ocean Colour Scene‘s “Marchin’ Already”. The only other new entryis a re-release for Supertramp (Very Best Of, 8), while George Michael climbsinto the Top 10 again (Older, 14 to 7).
39. Ricky Ross – Radio On
In the late 80s and early 90s, Deacon Blue had hits such as “Loaded”, “Dignity”,and “Real Gone Kid”, although I preferred the tracks from their “Whatever YouSay, Say Nothing” album, including “Your Town” and “Will We Be Lovers”.
I went to see them at the Manchester Apollo in 1989, and found them to beone of the most egotistical bands around, part of the thing which annoyed meabout that concert was that they advertised “with Special Guests” on the ticket,but it was just them, and there was one part where they stopped playing forabout 10 minutes to tell a story, but Ricky Ross seemed to talk so quietly andboringly that it seemed like longer, and I’d no idea what they were on about.
Anyway, they split up in 1994, releasing an obligatory greatest hits album,and this was the first single from lead-singer Ricky Ross‘s solo effort. It wasactually a damn good track, all about driving around with his radio on, butfailed to get very far making No.35 for one week in May last year. Thefollow-up, “Good Evening Philadelphia” made No.58 later in the year, but that’sthe last we’ve heard of him so far…
The end bit :
Well, that’s it for now. If you want to be added to the WidescreenVideo and Laserdisc lists, just mail me atCharts Request to tell me.
Bye for now,
Dominator
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.