Weaver's Charts - April 1998

April 1998

Heavy notice: These charts are not intended as any representation of sales or airplay data on any station. They are merely intended as a guide to the most successful records in the UK at the moment. Unauthorised reproduction in print, electronic, broadcast or other media is not permitted without the consent of the author.

Posn	Tot wks	TITLE album Act	Peak
Number One
1	11	TRULY MADLY DEEPLY Savage Garden Savage Garden	1
After the sizable hit "I want you" last June, it looked as though Savage Garden were going to fall into that worst of all camps, a one-hit wonder that should have broken big. The fourth release from their UK debut album provided the number one hit that they threatened almost a year ago. It's a soft, plaintive ballad that had already been massive across the developed world, before its UK release back in February. The song started big, slipped a little, then rebounded with increasing confidence to become the most unlikely Number One for a very long time. A place on playlists for a very long time to come is assured.
2	8	IT'S LIKE THAT   Run DMC -vs- Jason Nevins	1
Back in 1986, rap singles were still very much a novelty. One of the first to make a significant dent on the charts was by two American acts; Run DMC uniting with Aerosmith on the famous "Walk this way". Although the three-piece kept a small cult following, and were the first act to use a Stone Roses track to rap over, they never returned to anything like those levels of fame. Until now, with a record that crosses over all boundaries by the simple dint of having something no-one can quite put their fingers on. It may be the production skills of Jason Nevins, a New York DJ who has turned their 1984 demo into a contemporary smash, or maybe its the intrinsic quality.
3	13	MY HEART WILL GO ON Titanic OST Celine Dion	1
The most expensive movie in the history of the world spawned a number of spin-off industries. One is spot the factual error that the massive $200 million should have avoided. Another is wonder if the film, soundtrack album and lead single can all top their respective charts at the same time. In the event, it never quite happened, and as the single is now out of the Top 10, it probably won't. And yet another is wonder why a poor ballad that isn't quite as good as much of Celine's work can somehow rise above all contenders and top the chart for almost two full months. While popular, this song is no great shakes, and sounds like something left over from a cola commercial, although it does have something of a growing appeal. Give me till December and I might like it.
Sureshot
4	7	KISS THE RAIN Growing Pains Billie Meyers	3
A ballad about a woman ditching an unfaithful lover is traditionally a strong airplay tip. This track proves no exception, but it has also crossed over to the general record buying public. Billie comes from Coventry, but her record company put it about that she was from the more upmarket area of Solihull. The Solihull Times heard this rumour, called Billie, heard she was from Coventry, and told her to go away, they weren't interested. They're like that in Solihull...
March's Single Of The Month
5	10	HOW DO I LIVE You Light Up My Life Leann Rimes	4
The 15 year old American sensation becomes the biggest act best described as country for a very long time. Leann has broken through with an absolutely wonderful record that has already been on British radio lists for two months, and shows no signs whatsoever of leaving us. Indeed, after a dip out of the top 10 in early April, it rebounded to a new peak after Easter. It could yet emulate its US success and stay around for over six months. It's a brilliant song. Odd little snippet: Leann was booked to appear on Britain's Lottery Draw show, but couldn't fulfil the booking as rules prevent under-16s being associated with gambling.
6	8	HERE'S WHERE THE STORY ENDS Always Tintinout	6
In 1990, a Scottish three piece called the Sundays released an album, Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. The critics acclaimed it as a masterpiece, but very few copies were ever sold and no hit singles came from it. Now, one of the country's leading remixers take the song, re-record it in a style that's very faithful to the original, and have a big hit with it. In fairness, Tintinout has been on the verge of a massive hit for the past two years, during which time they've put out a number of neo-ambient tracks, but commercial success has eluded them till now.
Sureshot
7	6	LA PRIMAVERA   Sash!	3
Hit single number four for the Belgian techno DJ, and language number four as well. Following on from the French Encore Une Fois, the Portugese Ecuador and the English Stay comes a slab of Italian Belgian house. Like their chocolates, this is a rich mixture, totally appropriate for a warm spring day. This gave Sash! his second straight #3 record, following the #2 peaks of his first two releases. We're keeping the #4 place warm for the Finnish follow-up.
8	10	FROZEN Ray of Light Madonna	1
The comeback single from the Queen of Pop is still around. A tv rendition of this single looked like a cross between Tori Amos, Kate Bush and a wind tunnel. The song itself is a marvellous sheer ice sheet, immense in its stucture, almost forbidding in its coldness, and a thing of fragile beauty to behold. Or, to summarise, it's great. The best thing she's done since "Like a prayer" the single, and her first chart topper in over seven years. The Righteous Brothers, Diana Ross, the Bee Gees and Cliff Richard are the only acts to have waited longer between list leaders. The follow-up is the title track from the album, and that is later in the listings.
9	9	STOP! Spiceworld Spice Girls	1
And then there were seven. The group who started their career with four number one singles in nine months have now lifted three singles from their second album and sent the lot to the top. This becomes a record to put them a clear second in the runs of Number Ones stakes, behind only 11 in a row for the Beatles. In its way, this single crosses a sixties, Motown atmosphere, with that from a Eurosong entry.
10	7	LET ME ENTERTAIN YOU Life Thru a Lens Robbie Williams	10
Even before "Angels" had run its course, Robbie lifted a sixth single from his debut album. This is one of the hardest rocking tracks on the work, and while it doesn't have the lasting power of its predecessor, it has become the second largest hit.
Sureshot
11	4	ALL MY LIFE Love Always K-Ci and Jo-Jo	12
The brothers from Jodeci come forward with a record that's already beaten the best of their group's work. It's crossed over to mainstream radio, including Radio 2, the new home of cool, and turned itself into a major hit.
12	5	FIND THE CURE Situation: Critical Ultra Nate	10
How should one follow one of the largest hits of the year, still moving and shaking fully 10 months after first release? With a watered-down version of the same, it would appear. This just doesn't have the hooks of "Free", and it's already on the way out after just a month.
13	4	FIRE IT UP When Disaster Strikes Busta Rhymes	6
Does anyone remember Knight Rider? Talking car, action against crime and a David Hasslehoff in the days before Baywatch; before his run-in with Mystic Rug, indeed. Channel 5 certainly do; they've been showing the series in repeats recently. So does American rapper Rhymes, and his pile of gobshite over the theme tune suddenly turns into a sizable sales hit, though one that radio has been falling over itself not to play. Busta's biggest hit was 1996's "Got you all in check", while Hasslehoff had a hit career lasting seven days back in 1993. Does anyone want to admit to buying "If I could only say goodbye"? No? Shome mishtake shurely...
February's Single Of The Month
14	12	BRIMFUL OF ASHA When I was Born for the 7th Time Cornershop	1
Back in 1992, the music press heralded this two-piece as the great hopes of British music. Above everything, they were totally politically correct; of Asian extraction, railing against racism and other forms of disadvantage. Sadly, the pair suffered from a debut album disadvantaged by its being almost unlistenable; after that, the inkies atoned for their mistake by ignoring the group to death. Until Norman Cook came along and remixed a single from their fifth album. It did nothing first time round in Britain, but has already been sizy in the US and continental markets. This track - now almost 50% faster, but with no other significant change - has more hooks than a fishing tournament, and radio finally fell over itself to play the track. Buyers also like it a lot. Their new release should be in this listing next month.
15	6	I GET LONELY The Velvet Rope Janet Jackson	11
After the biggest single of Janet's career, the follow up was always going to be something of a damp squib. No-one, though, expected it to be quite as lumpen as this. There's no verse, no chorus and no hook. Nothing to sell the single or the album, from which this is the third of an anticipated seven or eight singles.
16	2	ALL I NEED   Boyzone	2
It's a year since lead singer Ronan Keating hosted the Eurovision Song Contest, and saw Ireland come second to a charming little power ballad from Australian-British act Katrina and the Waves. Since then, his own entry for the contest has fallen during qualification, and his group now return with a track that might have done a little better, but would probably still fare worse than Dana International.
17	3	FEEL IT   Tamperer feat Maya	7
Loosely based on the Jacksons' "Can you feel it" from 1972, this is just a pile of dog-breath that has no place in civilised society.
18	8	BIG MISTAKE Left of the Middle Natalie Imbruglia	2
Question: How to follow one of the classiest singles of the last part of last year, and one that is still doing the rounds fully five months later. In Natalie's case, it's done by turning into someone who sounds a little like Alanis Morissette, albeit with a little more tune, and a touch less venom. This single points out that going down on one's knees to a former lover is not a good idea, and makes a wonderful sound while doing it. It's not turned into the biggest hit, but it's still a substantial one. However, it has now stopped scoring, while predecessor "Torn" is still taking significant amounts of airplay.
19	8	ANGEL STREET Fresco M People	5
Saints preserve us. Single four from their fourth album, and vocalist Heather Small still hasn't learned to sing properly. This continues their run of disappointingly small hits.
20	4	UNDER THE BRIDGE / LADY MARMALADE All Saints All Saints	2
Originally slated for release on January 20, and finally available a mere 14 weeks late. The follow up to the almighty hit "Never Ever" is - notionally - a double A sided cover. "Under the Bridge" is the only track to receive any airplay, though. It's a wimpish cover of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' original, which made 26 in February 1992, but went on to 12 in May 94.
21	21	HIGH Postcards from Heaven Lighthouse Family	2
The second single from their second album, and quite possibly the best thing they've ever done. A swooping, soaring vocal, underpinned by a string arrangement even more lush than usual contribute to a wonderful, magical atmosphere, and has helped keep the single riding high for many weeks. Listening to some old records, I was struck by the comparison between this act and the late 80s Liverpool stars the Christians. Both had soulful harmonies, set over wonderful arrangements. And it's still picking up lashings of airplay, fully five months after first coming to prominence.
22	4	SAY YOU DO   Ultra	18
Fresh from supporting teen stars Boyzone, Ultra burst through with a track that stands apart from the usual teen band dross by the novel but under-used tactic of being really rather good. It's not quite going to set the world alight, but it shows enough promise to ensure that we might be calling them the next Wham! Though whether anyone would want to be the next George Michael is another matter...
23	28	TORN Left of the Middle Natalie Imbruglia	1
The debut single from the former Australian soap star held the top slot for the first half of November. You remember. November. Last year. Six months ago. A hard-edged ballad, "Torn" came in for some stick in January when tabloid newspapers "revealed" that a very similar arrangement of the song had already been recorded by a Norwegian act, as well as defending Eurosong winners Katrina and the Waves. Personally, I don't find that at all interesting, as the record is already something of a classic. In April, it became the second record in the rock era to sell a million without hitting the top of the weekly sales chart. It also slipped out of the Top 40 in April, though just for one week. Its growing presence on the radio ensures there's no end in sight for this amazingly large smash.
Sureshot
24	2	DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY Trampoline Mavericks	4
The masters of Salsa swing submitted this video for inclusion on "Top Of The Pops II", a weekly tv show that looks at non-hit music. They got it played, they got a gig on the Lottery show, and now they have a very big sales and airplay hit on their hands. Brilliant, innit?
25	22	ANGELS Life Thru a Lens Robbie Williams	3
Alarmingly, it's the fifth single from his debut album, but the first to be much cop. A sweet, touching ballad with a chorus that sounds a lot like a tampon commercial (!), Williams has finally proven that he can write songs as well as his erstwhile Take That colleague, Gary Barlow, and has now outsold every Barlow composition by quite some distance. Rather than fading away in the new year, this song continued to press its claim to a Number One position well into February, a claim helped by his performance with Tom Jones at the Brit awards. This makes interesting listening, as the radio edit features the sound of sleigh bells, and the b-side is a Christmas spoof entitled Walk This Sleigh. It got some spins in December, but felt more than a little out of place in April.
26	2	THE SOUND OF DRUMS   Kula Shaker	9
The most pretentious people in pop - with the possible exception of Johnathan King, of course - are back. Thankfully, the most egregious Eastern mystic mumbo-jumbo has come off in the wash, and we're left with a nearly all-out rocking track that singularly sits there and does nothing.
27	3	READ MY MIND Earthbound Connor Reeves	16
Rising slightly above the typical R&B line is Connor Reeves. This is the third single from his debut album, in a slightly faster remix. I'm expecting his next new single to be a sizable hit, regardless of quality.
28	6	NO NO NO Destiny's Child Destiny's Child	18
This is a lump of R&B that goes nowhere, it's by a Texan four piece, making their chart debut, and Wycleff Jean of the Fugees appears on some mixes of the track. Ah! That's why it's a hit, then.
29	4	ALL I WANT IS YOU The Journey 911	15
They still not broken up?
30	3	SOUNDS OF WICKEDNESS   Tzant	18
The guy responsible for "Choose Life" at the back end of last year joins forces with the guy responsible for Clock's rapping for a record that sounds like a cat being dragged across a hot tin roof.
31	2	ROAD RAGE International Velvet Catatonia	9
The third single from the Welsh combo's second album is another masterpiece of literary allusion, comparing a broken relationship to a bout of bad driving. It does so with a wit and panache that puts Cerys-and-the-boys beyond the reach of most mere mortals.
32	7	OOH LA LA LA LA   Alexia	12
This is one of those records that people either love or hate, with no middle ground. It's storming Europop, with a simple chorus making total power pop. Personally, I like it, even though it could so easily have been some Mediterranean country's Eurovision entry.
33	5	AND THE BEAT GOES ON   All Seeing I	16
Another sample-laden dance hit charts, although with enough of a hook to endear it to most listeners. Personally, I find the vocals just too whiny to endure.
34	4	ALL THAT MATTERS Woman In Me Louise	14
We refered earlier to formula Jackson. Now let's look at formula Nurding. This has no verse, no chorus and no hook. Nothing to sell either single or album, from which this is the third and probably final single. Ah, there is a difference in trans-Atlantic marketing strategies...
Single Of The Month
35	3	GIVE A LITTLE LOVE   Daniel O'Donnell	19
The greatest Irish country star finally has a major hit. Daniel O'Donnell, the patron saint of easy listening, has been growing in fanbase since the mid-80s. He rose to prominence after briefly being barred from the country charts in 1991, on the grounds that he wasn't proper country. This decision was quietly reversed after the Chipmunks appeared in that listing. His biggest hit to date was 1992's "I just want to dance with you", which gave him an appearance on Top of the Pops between the Shamen and Dr Alban. Six years on, Daniel returns with a track released in aid of the Romanian challenge appeal which promptly thumbs its nose at all accepted marketing strategies and sells huge numbers without any radio support at all. Good for him.
36	3	THE IMPRESSION THAT I GET   Mighty Mighty Bosstones	21
It's been a long time coming. The MMBs have been slowly rising in the US for the past decade, mixing ska and rock to good effect. Finally, they've got a UK release, and this single has been fairly flying out of the doors.
37	1	RAY OF LIGHT Ray of Light Madonna	3
Second single from the comeback queen is a fast, uptempo number that's positively breathless in comparison with the ice slab that was "Frozen".
38	6	SAY WHAT YOU WANT White on Blonde Texas feat Method Man	7
Early in 1997, Texas suddenly started having hit singles. The sporadic hit makers - just two Top 20 hits, three years apart - began promoting their fourth album with a smash hit, "Say what you want". Over a year later, and with both single and album nominated for Brit awards, Texas teamed up with Method Man from the Wu-Tang Clan to re-make their single with a heavy rap mixing well with Sharleen Spiteri's familiar vocals, all over a sonorous string section. The result is this track; first performed on the Brits telecast, and now a hit single.
39	2	LAST THING ON MY MIND   Steps	10
The second single from the five-strong line dance supremoes is a cover of a very minor (#71) Bananarama hit from 1992. The all-girl group were down to a duo, and on the last part of their career. Steps take the upbeat song about a sudden end to a relationship and turn it into another happy, upbeat slice of wonderfulness.
40	11	GETTIN' JIGGY WITH IT Big Willy Style Will Smith	6
After the flop of "Jus Crusin" before Christmas, Smith was looking for a more substantial single to follow up last summer's massive "Men In Black". This has given him that hit, albeit a somewhat insipid slab of rap that namechecks his first Top 10 hit, 1991's Summertime.

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This page updated May 4, 1998