This week's Official UK Singles Chart
Preamble:
August draws to a close and with it comes another lull. A number of new entries this week, although few with the staying power to become new hits. Everyone else just shuffles about, marking time as the traditional Autumn rush begins. 9 new entries, 11 climbers (impressive) and 3 non-movers.
Analysis:
No. 39: NEW ENTRY. Curve - Blackerthreetracker
Making a return after over a year come the duo who have to their name a string of small hits in their own style of indie music. They've been threatening to cross over for a long while but have never quite managed it properly. This new EP is their fifth Top 40 hit of which only one (the Fait Accompli EP) climbed into the Top 30, making No.22 in March 1992.
No. 37: NEW ENTRY. Rage Against The Machine - Bombtrack
The success of Rage Against the Machine is one of the more curious crossover stories of the year. Their debut Killing In The Name made No.25 in early March but it's reputation has continued to grow, appearing still on the radio and being a guaranteed floor filler in the clubs - a kind of Smells Like Teen Spirit for a new generation. The followup Bullet In The Head went one better, crashing in at No.16 in May. Their third hit is no less uncompromising but may not quite repeat the success of the earlier tracks.
No. 34: NEW ENTRY. Soul Asylum - Somebody To Shove
Whilst Runaway Train makes a deserved climb to the higher reaches of the US charts, Soul Asylum press on here with their second single. Somebody to Shove makes an instant impression, unlike its predecessor which took months to chart and then disappointed at No. 37. The new single is perhaps less commercial yet has already beaten the chart peak, a shame really - you should be in no doubt as to which song I prefer... [panic not 1993 James, justice will be done to the classic before the year is out].
No. 29: FALLER. Joey Lawrence - I Can't Help Myself
A surprising reversal for Joey Lawrence given that the record is probably one of the strongest pop records in the chart at the moment.
No. 27: NEW ENTRY. New Order - World (The Price Of Love)
At last. The third single from the Republic album is the one that was crying out for release as a single. A typical straightforward New Order pop song that works on whichever level you take it. This remix interestingly enough breaks with the tradition of a New Order song with a title that has little to do with the lyrics, the addition of a subtitle to the title being a strange concession to the demands of the commercial marketplace.
No. 24: NEW ENTRY. Stone Temple Pilots - Plush
I'll leave this one until next week when I'll be able to say something more intelligent about it than just commenting on another undergound band breaking through for the first time.
No. 21: CLIMBER. Lenny Kravitz - Heaven Help
Lenny bouncing back and just missing the Top 20 with this hit, easily beating the peak of his last single Believe which stalled at No.30.
No. 17: NEW ENTRY. Kenny Thomas - Trippin' On Your Love
Second hit in a row for one of Britain's premiere soul boys, easily eclipsing his last hit Stay which held at No.22 for 2 weeks back in July. The new single is his version of the Staple Singers classic which has never charted here in any form whatsoever. This is despite a concerted effort by the dance market who have adopted the song as a kind of anthem, both Bananarama and A Way Of Life have released versions over the past few years, along with many others. Kenny Thomas has outdone them all.
No. 16: NEW ENTRY. Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine - Lean On Me I Won't Fall Over
Gawd, another long title. Carter, the most frenetic band around breeze back into the charts with the first single from their forthcoming new album. It's a brisk followup to their last hit The Impossible Dream which made No.21 in early December. Lean On Me is a slight departure from their usual bass-driven music, being more guitar based and slightly less danceable. Unlikely then to match The Only Living Boy In New Cross as their biggest hit ever but certainly continuing the spirit of tongue in cheek record sleeves - this one featuring an appropriate pair of weebles. Now watch the entire American continent ask what a weeble. [I think they had them over there too didn't they?]
No. 14: NEW ENTRY. Paul Weller - Wild Wood
Second single this year from Paul Weller and instantly it becomes his biggest solo hit ever, eclipsing the No.16 peak of Sunflower back in July. By far his best solo offering yet, this simple record, really just him and a guitar makes for one of the most accessible Weller singles yet. It's still not going to progress much further though, but you hear things like this and realise life cannot be all bad...
No. 10: NEW ENTRY. 2 Unlimited - Faces
The third hit of the year for Dutch duo 2 Unlimited, installing them well and truly as one of the most successful dance/rave acts ever. Far from being faceless one hit wonders, they have now scored 7 hits, of which only The Magic Friend failed to reach the Top 10. This new single if anything contains more depth than their average work, with changes of tempo rife throughout. This may limit its appeal somewhat, unlike more direct offerings such as No Limit which is still one of the best selling singles of the year after spending 5 weeks at No.1 in February.
No. 3: CLIMBER. Billy Joel - The River Of Dreams
After falling a place last week, Billy Joel makes a surprising turnaround and leaps into the Top 3. This now makes River Of Dreams his second biggest hit ever in this country, behind 1983s No.1 Uptown Girl.
No. 1: SECOND WEEK. Culture Beat - Mr Vain
Hanging in there still, and by the looks of things with a lot of life left in it still. The summer is now over though as far as the charts are concerned and record companies gear up for the biggest sales period of the year. New releases are imminent for a number of big names, meaning competition will be stiff. Stand by. The run up to Christmas is about to begin...
