This week's Official UK Singles Chart
Preamble:
Well I hope this goes down well. In response to numerous requests I'm now going to list the other records in the chart rundown, as well as commenting on the ones of significance. Let me know if this increases the readibility or usefulness of these articles [and which I cannot reproduce here, because reasons. This would remain the format for the next two years and would be the main reason these postings fell foul of the copyright police when the new commercial era of the internet dawned]. 11 new entries this week, only 7 records climb and there are 2 non-movers.
Analysis:
No. 36: NEW ENTRY. David Bowie - Black Tie White Noise
The title track from Bowie's critically aclaimed new album becomes the second single. Entering far less dramatically than Jump They Say which became his first ever Top Ten new entry, the new single is unlikely to scale those heights but still adds yet another hit his tally. It's his 47th solo credit in a career that stretches back to 1969 - more than anyone else save Presley, Cliff Richard and Elton John.
No. 34: NEW ENTRY. Mother - All Funked Up
Crossover dance hit of the week is this one, an instrumental of 1970s Philly rhythms done in a 1993 style of course. Unlikely to capture the imagination of the populace at large though, but it is inoffensive enough. [Acid Jazz classic alert!]
No. 33: NEW ENTRY. Monie Love - In A Word Or Two
Second hit in recent months from the Brit girl made good in the New York rap scene. Like the last Top 20 hit Born To B.R.E.E.D. its produced by Prince and may well climb further to give her another major pop hit. This kind of mellow laidback soul rap does have a habit of doing well at this time of year.
No. 29: NEW ENTRY. Cliff Richard - Human Work Of Art
Yet another hit for Cliff, the all-time champion of the British chart in virtually ever possible respect. Currently on a roll, his latest album entered the chart at No.1 and the first two singles were both instant Top Tens. This new single debuts less spectacularly and may not scale those same heights though. It's the first time the song has been a Top 40 hit but not the first time it has charted. The honours for that go to Maxi Priest whose version got lost in the Christmas rush of 1990 and only managed to scrape to No.71.
No. 28: NEW ENTRY. Manic Street Preachers - From Despair To Where
'We are really hard anarchic alternative rockers' said the Manics in late 1991 'So we are going to make one album and then split up'. So here they are then with the first single from their...erm... second album. Ah well they can be forgiven I suppose, with a track that would not sound out of place in Rod Stewart's stage act and is certain to increase their reputation for making good sophisticated rock tunes. All that remains is for us to hold our breath and wonder if they are ever going to
make another classic like Motorcycle Emptiness. [No, but then again so much yes].
No. 25: NEW ENTRY. Sister Sledge - Thinking Of You (The '93 Mixes)
Third reissue from the Sister's to chart, but unlike We Are Family and Lost In Music it is the first time this has recharted. That still makes them the only act in history to have hits with remixes of three previous hits. It actually had the distinction when peaking at No.11 in May 1984 of inspiring the last set of remixes of old hits. The song itself has charted since then though, in 1990 Bomb the Bass singer Maureen Walsh made her version one of the dance hits of the summer and peaked at No.11. All that remains now is to see whether Atlantic records _dare_ mess with Frankie - their only UK No.1 hit from 1985.
No. 24: NEW ENTRY. Time Frequency - Ultimate High
Both Time Frequency and D:Ream I suppose should take credit for putting the song back into dance music. This is the followup to the Top 20 hit New Emotion and in a similar fashion is an invigorating piece of what I suppose used to be called Hi-NRG coupled with some powerful soul vocals. A massive hit if there is any justice in the world.
No. 21: CLIMBER. Sade - No Ordinary Love
A hit for the second time in just a few months, Sade inches up the chart. For all the albums she (or they, depending on which way you look at it) has sold, she has only had 2 Top 20 hits - her debut Your Love Is King which made No.6 and Smooth Operator which made No.19. No Ordinary Love is the closest she has come since.
No. 18: NEW ENTRY. Therapy? - Face The Strange (EP)
Crossover band of the moment, Therapy? notch up their second biggest hit ever as a followup to the Shortsharpshock EP which made the Top 10 back in March. Possibly less commercial than the previous offering, the new single may slip back out again as quickly as it came.
No. 13: NEW ENTRY. Chaka Demus and Pliers - Tease Me
Latest ragga hit to come out of nowhere is this one. From the Shabba Ranks school of mellow laidback dancehall it makes a startling debut.
No. 10: NEW ENTRY. Snap - Do You See The Light
Being watched with curiosity as to how they can survive without the distinctive vocals of Turbo B who as far as most people were concerned _was_ Snap, the German production team make good with another hit. The original version actually appeared on the B-side of last summers No.1 Rhythm Is A Dancer and is a followup to the No.2 from January, 'Exterminate'. With a bassline reminiscent of I Feel Love it is already a club smash, reflecting in this Top Ten entry.
No. 9: CLIMBER. Lisa Stansfield - In All The Right Places
Making a slower climb than some would have predicted despite being available in both the version heard in the film and a club mix, designed of course to appeal to two separate audiences and thus boost sales of the single. It's only her 4th ever Top ten hit and the second biggest ever, behind the No.1 All Around The World.
No. 7: NEW ENTRY. Pet Shop Boys - Can You Forgive Her
Destined from the start to be one of the biggest hits of the week, the Pet Shop Boys make a triumphant return with the first single from their forthcoming new album and their tenth in total to enter inside the Top 10. It's their first hit since Was it Worth It, the second hit from their Greatest Hits collection Discography. That single appeared to represent a fading of their star, becoming their first ever to miss the Top 20. Can You Forgive Her changes all that and becomes their first Top 10 since their cover of Where The Streets Have No Name made No.5 in May 1991. They may suffer now from being less of a singles act than they used to be, so further big hits might be difficult to come by.
No. 6: CLIMBER. Haddaway - What Is Love
As expected, Haddaway becomes the fastest moving single on the chart this week and surges into the Top 10 with his debut hit single.
No. 1: FIRST WEEK. UB40 - (I Can't Help) Falling In Love With You
It was an agonising wait, but UB40 have finally made it. It's their third UK No.1 hit. Red Red Wine was the first in September 1983 and their version of I Got You Babe with Chrissie Hynde hit the top in August 1985. It is interesting to note that they have all been covers too. The biggest hit UB40 have ever had with one of their own compositions was Don't Break My Heart, the followup to I Got You Babe which made No.3. Can't Help Falling In Love becomes the 17th song to be a No.1 hit in two different versions, Elvis Presley taking the song to the top in February 1962. That gap of 31 years between the two versions is second only to the 35 year gap between the two No.1 versions of Unchained Melody.
