| This |
Tot
wks |
| Peak |
| Number One |
| 1 |
7 |
| UNDER THE BRIDGE / LADY MARMALADE |
All Saints |
| All Saints |
|
1 |
| Originally slated for release on January 20, finally available on April 28, and now the biggest hit of May. The follow up to the mighty hit "Never Ever" is a double A sided cover. "Under the Bridge", a wimpish cover of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' original, picked up the initial attention, but the flip, "Lady Marmalade", grew steadily during May. |
| 2 |
4 |
| TURN BACK TIME |
Aquarium |
| Aqua |
|
1 |
| Although their first two singles topped the sales charts, Aqua never quite managed to take the top slot here, being held off by Natalie Imbruglia's "Torn" and All Saints' "Never Ever". The tables were turned when the third single went straight in to the top, pipping the All Saints by the slimmest of margins. This soft ballad has picked up significant airplay, but quickly fell out of favour with buyers. |
| 3 |
7 |
| FEEL IT |
|
| Tamperer feat Maya |
|
1 |
| Sampling the bass and chimes of the Jacksons' "Can you feel it" from 1972, the Tamperer has been totally resiliant to wishes that they would go away. Indeed, they took advantage of a very quiet week to sneak seven days at the top. The "what's she gonna look like with a chimney on her" line is sampled wholesale from the well known #51 Urban Discharge hit "Wanna drop a house (On that bitch)" from 1996. |
| 4 |
15 |
| TRULY MADLY DEEPLY |
Savage Garden |
| Savage Garden |
|
1 |
| Now nearly four months old, Savage Garden's hit has an interesting career. 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 in early April with increasing confidence to become a very unlikely Number One for a very long time. It's now finally on the way out, with a follow-up pencilled in for June. |
| Single Of The Month |
| 5 |
4 |
| GONE TILL NOVEMBER |
The Carnival |
| Wycliffe Jean |
|
3 |
| One of the forces behind the Fugees launched his solo career last year with the Carnival album. To many people's surprise, neither of the first two releases, "We try to stay alive" and "Guantanamera" turned into major hits. So it was with some surprise that "Gone till November" graced the monthly top 5. It's a subtle, understated rap track, that has most of its beauty in its fragility. |
| Sureshot |
| 6 |
6 |
| DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY |
Trampoline |
| Mavericks |
|
4 |
| Another long running track, this record - once described as Matchbox crossed with the Travelling Wilburrys - has become a mainstay of adult hit radio, and looks set in for a very long run. |
| Sureshot |
| 7 |
5 |
| 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". |
| March's Single Of The Month |
| 8 |
14 |
| HOW DO I LIVE |
You Light Up My Life |
| Leann Rimes |
|
4 |
| When this first came out in March, I remarked on Leann's 26 week residence in the US top 10, and pointed out that she probably wouldn't repeat the feat in the UK. However, this record has now been in or around the top 10 here for three and a half months, and still shows no signs of weakness. The 15 year old American sensation has become the biggest act best described as country for a very long time, and is well on the road to becoming the biggest of any breakthrough act this year. |
| Sureshot |
| 9 |
4 |
| DREAMS |
Talk On Corners |
| Coors |
|
6 |
| One of Ireland's better kept secrets, the Coors have been building a huge fan following amongst the Irish community and folk fans in general. Now, with the third single from their fifth album, success dawns for them. It's taken a cover of the classic Fleetwood Mac song to bring them success, but there's been movement forward for this family group for some little time now. This won't be their only hit. |
| Sureshot |
| 10 |
6 |
| 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. It took time to grow on the radio, but has begun to pick up spins - much more than their previous single, "5-6-7-8". |
| 11 |
3 |
|
2 |
| The follow-up to the massive "Ain't that just" is the same song continued, though does come with some wind chime effects. |
| 12 |
4 |
| SAY YOU LOVE ME |
Blue |
| Simply Red |
|
8 |
| And they're back. The band that slimmed down to just Mick Hucknall, and is still best known for its 1991 magnum opus, "Stars". That sold over 3.5 million copies in the UK. The follow-up, 1995's "Life" stalled short of that huge total, in spite of having the massive, stomping, airplay favourite "Fairground". The sixth album is led by this slice of cool soul that's probably a cut above any slow track he's released in a very long time. |
| 13 |
4 |
| LIFE AIN'T EASY |
Comin' Atcha |
| Cleopatra |
|
10 |
| The second single from the three-piece sister-sister-sister act from Manchester is another piece of over-cute soul with the loud but not too grating vocals of Cleo. It's a decent piece of bubblegum pop, although has the major flaw of relying too much on a patronisingly liberal set of lyrics. |
| 14 |
12 |
| IT'S LIKE THAT |
Together Forever - greatest hits |
| 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, they never returned to anything like those levels of fame. In 1997, Jason Nevins, a New York DJ remixed their 1984 demo, sold his rights back to Run DMC's company, and made his name by this remix. |
| 15 |
6 |
| ALL I NEED |
Where We Belong |
| Boyzone |
|
2 |
| The third track from the lads' third album was still released before the CD. It's the only one to make the top; "Picture of you" was kept off the top by "Men in black" last summer, while "Baby can I hold you" fell to the might of the "Perfect Day" project. |
| 16 |
11 |
| 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 also crossed over to the general record buying public. |
| 17 |
8 |
| 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. |
| 18 |
6 |
| ROAD RAGE |
International Velvet |
| Catatonia |
|
13 |
| 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. |
| 19 |
12 |
| 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. |
| 20 |
17 |
| 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. |
| 21 |
11 |
| LET ME ENTERTAIN YOU |
Life Thru a Lens |
| Robbie Williams |
|
10 |
| The sixth and final single from his debut album is one of the hardest rocking tracks on the work. While it hasn't had the lasting power of "Angels", its predecessor, it has become the second largest hit of the six. |
| 22 |
4 |
|
19 |
| The UK's Eurosong entry came second, eight points behind Israeli winner Dana International. It's a soulful track, not an obvious Eurosong hit, but certainly enough to win votes. It hasn't done as well as the UK's recent entries; Gina G hit the top in 96, Katrina and the Waves' winner from last year made #3, while Love City Groove made 8 in 95. Imani wound up between a transsexual and Chiara, a very well-built balladeer from Malta. |
| 23 |
14 |
| FROZEN |
Ray of Light |
| Madonna |
|
1 |
| The comeback single from the Queen of Pop is still around. A tv rendition of this single in February 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. |
| Sureshot |
| 24 |
1 |
|
1 |
| The Irish four-piece feature Ronan from Boyzone's cousin (or something). On the strength of that, they got a record deal. On the strength of one of the most wonderful summer hits ever made, they appear on the lips of almost everyone able to hum, and in the heads of quite a few others. It is a total classic, with the upbeat singalong that provided list leaders this time last year for Eternal and Hanson. There are some wild interpretations of the lyrics going around. |
| 25 |
25 |
| 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 on the radio for the past six months. The follow-up single, originally planned for March, emerges June 8. |
| 26 |
3 |
| WISHING I WAS THERE WITH YOU |
Left of the Middle |
| Natalie Imbruglia |
|
11 |
| The former soap star turned singer releases a third single from her well received debut album. It's not the soft ballad that was "Torn", nor is it the Alanis clone of "Big mistake". Instead, it's a gentle rocker, that laments a lost love. On its first release, it missed the top ten, after her two previous releases peaked at 1 and 2 respectively. |
| 27 |
6 |
| 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. |
| 28 |
8 |
| 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 almost out after two months. |
| 29 |
25 |
| ANGELS |
Life Thru a Lens |
| Robbie Williams |
|
3 |
| With the fifth single from his debut album, a sweet, touching ballad with a chorus sounding like a tampon commercial, Williams finally proven that he can write songs as well as his erstwhile Take That colleague, Gary Barlow. Following release at the end of November, this song stuck around over the Christmas break. Rather than fading away in the new year, this song continued to press its claim to a Number One position well into February. This makes totally bizarre listening, as the radio edit features the sound of sleigh bells - something more than a little out of place for a chart hit in the heat of May. With "...Entertain you" falling away from playlists, this track is picking spins back up, and may rebound up the survey further. |
| 30 |
4 |
|
20 |
| Owing much to Eric Williams performing Luther Vandross' 1989 hit "Never too much" in a manner that's almost a sample, Queen Pen adds nothing more than rap over the chorus. |
| 31 |
3 |
| KUNG FU FIGHTING |
|
| Bus Stop feat Carl Douglas |
|
16 |
| Dodgy covers ahoy! Back in 1974, Carl Douglas hit the top with a tribute to Bruce Lee's martial arts films. Bus Stop come along, sample the "Whoo-ah-ho" hook at the start of the song, and rap over the rest. It's not the original - in fact, it's almost impossible to sing along to - but it's a reasonable May-time pop hit. |
| 32 |
31 |
| 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. 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. 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, and left again at the end of May, for what could be the last time. |
| 33 |
4 |
| PUSH IT |
Version 2.0 |
| Garbage |
|
16 |
| The first single from Shirley Manson and the lads' more accessible second album is typical of the work. It's a track with slightly unintelligable lyrics, no clear tune, but it's still a great sound. Typical Garbage, with a capital G. |
| 34 |
4 |
| IF... |
Return to the Last Chance Saloon |
| Bluetones |
|
18 |
| Single number two from their sophomore set is a functional Beatles take-off, more than a little reminiscent of "Hey Jude". Over-long and with a naa-naa-naa fade out. |
| 35 |
1 |
| THE BOY IS MINE |
|
| Brandy & Monica |
|
6 |
| This slow, sultry hit comes as something of a pleasant surprise. Neither Brandy nor Monica has had a significant UK hit to date, until now. Their pairing is one of the most sublime - and successful - soul records to hit the stores since Eternal's list leader of a year ago. |
| 36 |
6 |
| 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... |
| 37 |
10 |
| STOP! |
Spiceworld |
| Spice Girls |
|
1 |
| And then there were four. The seventh single - and seventh Number One - from the Girl Power quintet is now a piece of history. There will be one final single, "Viva forever", from the Spiceworld album featuring Geri; a third album is being recorded, without her. |
| 38 |
11 |
| BITTERSWEET SYMPHONY |
Urban Hymns |
| Verve |
|
4 |
| This song originally crashed into the listings at number 4 on June 22 last year. It took the standard route - out of the survey in eight weeks, and that was the end of it. Until February, when stations started to play it again, on the back of the wonderful "Treat infamy" record. The original has since broken in the US, and makes a return to the UK hit list, after three other hits from the band have come and gone. Food for thought for such long-runners as "Torn", "Truly madly deeply" and "How do I live?". |
| 39 |
2 |
|
16 |
| Boring Scots rocker covers poor Faces b-side that he never sung on when it was first released 25 years ago. Where's me alarm clock? |
| 40 |
1 |
| HORNY |
|
| Moose feat Hot and Wet |
|
11 |
| And it gets worse. Two women sing about how much they resemble rhinoceri. |