My November 2023 Charts

5th November 2023

It’s a second week on top for The Beatles, who last did that in 1995 with a new track (Free As A Bird), and extends their run of number singles to 55 years since Hey Jude topped my very first chart, the week I discovered the UK top 30 radio show Pick Of The Pops! I’ve been forced to extend my chart to 100, I blame The Beatles, ABBA, and Pet Shop Boys, my holy trinity of worship pop perfection. And also the large number of great new records around.

Talking of pop perfection, Kylie takes Story to 3 for a 3rd top 3 of 2023 and 5 top 10’s off the latest album, something she didn’t manage with her first album in 1988, though she did get 2. Chappell Roan makes it 2 in a row with her new entry at 48, and Dario G returns to the chart after a gap of 9 years, Savour The The Miracle Of Life being a great comeback to give him an 8th chart entry since topping with Carnaval De Paris 25 years ago, and new in at 54.

Jungle chart their 4th and 5th tracks off their new album, Every Night at 56, complete with the usual great dance video troupe, and ditto Problemz at 91. They can cut it with live TV performances too. Pet Shop Boys debut at 72 with Radiophonic, taken from their 1999 album, Nightlife, while Stefanie Joosten covers Sparks 1980 minor hit, Tryouts For The Human Race, when they were deep in Giorgio Moroder synth mode, and Giorgio is back on the new track too. Which gives him a first hit since topping with Britney Spears, and other singles with Sia and Kylie, in 2015. That gives him a whopping 46 years chart span since From Here To Eternity became his first solo hit, and 51 years since Son Of My father got covered by Chicory Tip to gift synthpop to the world.

Dolly Parton grabs a 3rd chart entry of 2023, and has some pertinent lyrics about the state of the world right now on World On Fire, a strong new song from the 77-year-old, who still has a way with lyrics and melody to create something powerful. Bananarama make it 42 years of charting, at 79, just ahead of a revamp of Class Of 8’s Kim Wilde classic Cambodia. OMD, Tom Speight, Duran Duran, Noel Gallagher and Gustaph (he of Belgian Eurovision entry) all return for more 2023 chart entries, while Sheryl Crow is back after a 3-year gap to extend her run to nearly 30 years.

1 1 1 2 NOW AND THEN – The Beatles 340000
2 3 1 7 HOLD ON TO NOW – Kylie Minogue 464900
3 7 3 4 STORY – Kylie Minogue 151900
4 5 4 4 AEIOU – PNAU & Empire Of The Sun 180800
5 2 1 6 SURE ENOUGH – Two Door Cinema Club 533250
6 6 1 9 SOMETHING ON MY MIND – Purple Disco Machine x Duke Dumont x Nothing But Thieves 752000
7 9 7 6 RAGAZZO SOLA – Annalisa 145500
8 4 4 5 HOW YOU LEAVE A MAN – Paloma Faith 162000
9 12 9 2 KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU – ABBA 80000
10 8 6 7 BLACK MOONLIGHT – Duran Duran 228450

11 14 11 8 BAD IDEA, RIGHT? – Olivia Rodrigo 148100
12 16 12 2 EAGLE – ABBA 60000
13 10 10 5 MIRAGE – OneRepublic, Assassin’s Creed, Mishaal Tamer 117600
14 20 14 6 MOONLIGHT – Bimini x Girls Of The Internet 117800
15 24 15 7 PARADISE – Idina Menzel featuring Nile Rodgers 111650
16 11 3 10 GIMME LOVE – SIA 430000
17 13 1 10 YOUR SIDE OF TOWN – The Killers 780750
18 15 9 10 CARE ABOUT ME – Anish Kumar featuring Chaka Khan 261400
19 34 19 5 VERUSCHKA – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark 55200
20 22 20 8 THE FOUR HORSEMEN – Isolde Lasoen 118600

21 42 21 3 DOPAMINE – Mehro 43500
22 17 8 10 TENSION – Kylie Minogue 191250
23 19 4 13 BURNING CASTLES – Lucia & The Best Boys 420300
24 18 10 8 WINDOWS – Take That 173600
25 30 25 6 THERE FOR YOU – Emeli Sande 80600
26 21 3 16 I BETTER LOVE YOU – Will Heard 664350
27 23 13 9 YOU KNEW – Roisin Murphy 142250
28 29 28 5 FANTASY GIRL – Revenge Wife 68600
29 38 29 5 WHEN THE RAIN COMES – Sugababes 59550
30 41 30 2 CHIQUITITA – ABBA 32000

31 26 6 11 FUNNY KIND OF LONELY – Idina Menzel 359650
32 49 32 3 WRECKING BALL – Dolly Parton featuring Miley Cyrus 36100
33 46 33 2 SOS – ABBA 30450
34 27 15 6 BETTER PLACE – *NSYNC & Justin Timberlake 117250
35 31 1 13 BE MORE – Stephen Sanchez 752650
36 36 1 15 VAMPIRE – Olivia Rodrigo 784150
37 44 37 5 LOVE IS BLUE – Army Of Lovers featuring Olya Polyakova 50550
38 35 1 17 NEW YORK TRANSIT QUEEN – Corinne Bailey Rae 1215300
39 28 17 13 BACK ON 74 – Jungle 188700
40 79 40 2 HASS HASS – Diljit Dosanjh X SIA 21200

41 45 41 6 JUST KEEP WALKING – Sgt Slick & INXS 66600
42 25 1 7 IS VIC THERE? – Department S 694500
43 32 32 6 LOVERBOY – Joe Goddard featuring fiorious 85500
44 47 44 2 VOULEZ-VOUS – ABBA 25750
45 33 6 10 RED WINE SUPERNOVA – Chappell Roan 300200
46 37 37 4 I’M ON FIRE – Beverley Knight featuring London Community Gospel Choir 48050
47 50 47 6 HAYAKO HAYAKO – Kali Mutsa 58500
48 NEW 48 1 SUPER GRAPHIC ULTRA MODERN GIRL – Chappell Roan 12300
49 56 49 2 LAY ALL YOUR LOVE ON ME – ABBA 22700
50 43 1 19 END OF NIGHT – Tears For Fears 821300

51 40 7 11 BEYOND THE UNIVERSE – Sophie Ellis-Bextor 258100
52 39 5 12 BACK TO YOUR HEART – Delta Goodrem 393700
53 57 53 2 THE VISITORS – ABBA 21650
54 NEW 54 1 SAVOUR THE MIRACLE OF LIFE – Dario G 11000
55 55 5 11 DANSE MACABRE – Duran Duran 289500
56 NEW 56 1 EVERY NIGHT – Jungle 10600
57 63 57 3 YOU KNOW ME BETTER – Roisin Murphy 22800
58 61 58 6 GET HIM BACK! – Olivia Rodrigo 40600
59 80 59 2 STILL BELIEVE IN LOVE – Mary J. Blige featuring Vado 14100
60 69 60 3 SKIPPING LIKE A STONE – Chemical Brothers featuring Beck 20800

61 66 61 3 SOUL SURVIVOR – P.P. Arnold 18500
62 65 62 3 THAT’S ALL I WANTED FROM YOU – Jalen Ngonda 19400
63 53 1 18 SOLSTICE KISS – Simple Minds featuring Sarah Brown 827050
64 67 64 3 DREAMING – Marshmello, P!NK & Sting 18100
65 52 34 9 DOWN TO ONE – Bright Light Bright Light 100550
66 68 66 3 C’EST LA VIE – Madness 17200
67 48 17 11 WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? – Agnetha Faltskog 177600
68 51 10 15 WHAT WAS I MADE FOR? – Billie Eilish 354650
69 54 19 10 ALIVE – The Scarlet Opera 120050
70 62 51 6 CONFETTI SHOTGUN – Ilse DeLange 54300

71 71 71 5 STRANGERS – Kenya Grace 27600
72 NEW 72 1 RADIOPHONIC – Pet Shop Boys 5600
73 77 73 2 FREE AS A BIRD – The Beatles 10000
74 70 53 6 DJ PLAY A CHRISTMAS SONG – Cher 50800
75 NEW 75 1 TRYOUTS FOR THE HUMAN RACE – Stefanie Joosten featuring Giorgio Moroder 5000
76 59 40 6 ATOMIC CITY – U2 61850
77 NEW 77 1 WORLD ON FIRE – Dolly Parton 4600
78 81 78 2 REAL LOVE – The Beatles 8200
79 NEW 79 1 FEEL THE LOVE – Bananarama 4200
80 NEW 80 1 OVERDRIVE – Ofenbach featuring Norma Jean Martine 4000

81 83 81 2 LOVE ME DO (2023 MIX) – The Beatles 7200
82 82 82 2 MESS IT UP – The Rolling Stones 7200
83 85 83 2 SHOUT – The Isley Brothers 6400
84 84 84 2 TWIST AND SHOUT – The Isley Brothers 6400
85 NEW 85 1 ALREADY KNOW – Gustaph 3000
86 NEW 86 1 WONDERFUL WONDER – Tom Speight featuring Ward Thomas 2800
87 NEW 87 1 LOVE VOUDOU – Duran Duran 2600
88 NEW 88 1 LOOK AT YOU NOW – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark 2400
89 72 48 7 ANGRY – The Rolling Stones 55600
90 64 58 6 US AGAINST THE WORLD – Jungle 40700

I saw Tom in concert earlier this year, he jumped down into the crowd and sang acoustically with his guitar right next to me. Bout time he had some more success…

91 NEW 91 1 PROBLEMZ – Jungle 1900
92 58 36 10 AT YOUR WORST – Callum Scott 96150
93 60 39 10 KEEP GOING UP – Timbaland x Nelly Furtado x Justin Timberlake 87600
94 73 8 12 LOOK FOR THE LIGHT – Only Murders In The Building Cast featuring Meryl Streep & Ashley Parks 235750
95 78 17 12 SYSTEMATIC OVERLOAD – Beverley Knight 178650
96 NEW 96 1 WE’RE GONNA GET THERE IN THE END – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 1400
97 74 62 6 IT WOULDN’T BE ME (SINGLE MIX) – Simply Red 31100
98 NEW 98 1 ALARM CLOCK – Sheryl Crow 1200
99 75 65 6 USUAL PLACES – Ash 29500
100 76 63 7 SLOW TRAIN – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark 36200

12th November 2023

It’s 3 weeks on top for The Beatles – no new Beatles single has ever done that since I started charting in 1968, though to be fair many have had more total weeks as oldies and accumulated totals. Hey Jude had one week in 1968, Let It Be and The Long & Winding Road has 2 weeks each in 1970, and Free As A Bird had 2 in 1995. The rest have all been oldies. That leaves ABBA oldies all going up, with Eagle and Knowing Me Knowing You going top 3 again. Kylie still has 2 in the top 10 and now OMD also have two big climbers, the most melodic tracks off the new album, Veruschka at 4 and Look At You Now at 9 means they’ve had at least 25 top 10’s spread over 43 years, with the only decade they’ve missed since 1980 kicked them off being the Noughties.

The new entries are all bunched down the lower end: Dua Lipa’s second of 2023 the highest just ahead of Loreen’s new single, her 6th in 11 years to chart, and following up her Eurovision chart-topper. Jessie Ware keeps her current run of album picks going, Agentha does a new Xmas version of her previously charted album track, Angelina Mango debuts, as do Brighton act Barbara with a gentle toon. And oh yes, I managed to evict a load of tunes to cut the chart down to 85. Phew!

1 1 1 3 NOW AND THEN – The Beatles 510000
2 12 2 3 EAGLE – ABBA 175000
3 9 3 3 KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU – ABBA 165000
4 19 4 6 VERUSCHKA – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark 120200
5 2 1 8 HOLD ON TO NOW – Kylie Minogue 524900
6 3 3 5 STORY – Kylie Minogue 206900
7 4 4 5 AEIOU – PNAU & Empire Of The Sun 230800
8 5 1 7 SURE ENOUGH – Two Door Cinema Club 581250
9 88 9 2 LOOK AT YOU NOW – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark 47400
10 7 7 7 RAGAZZO SOLA – Annalisa 187500

11 6 1 10 SOMETHING ON MY MIND – Purple Disco Machine x Duke Dumont x Nothing But Thieves 789000
12 21 12 4 DOPAMINE – Mehro 78500
13 14 13 7 MOONLIGHT – Bimini x Girls Of The Internet 149800
14 8 4 6 HOW YOU LEAVE A MAN – Paloma Faith 191000
15 10 6 8 BLACK MOONLIGHT – Duran Duran 255450
16 13 10 6 MIRAGE – OneRepublic, Assassin’s Creed, Mishaal Tamer 142600
17 11 11 9 BAD IDEA, RIGHT? – Olivia Rodrigo 171100
18 15 15 8 PARADISE – Idina Menzel featuring Nile Rodgers 133650
19 30 19 3 CHIQUITITA – ABBA 53000
20 25 20 7 THERE FOR YOU – Emeli Sande 100600

21 17 1 11 YOUR SIDE OF TOWN – The Killers 800250
22 18 9 11 CARE ABOUT ME – Anish Kumar featuring Chaka Khan 280900
23 33 23 3 SOS – ABBA 49700
24 40 24 3 HASS HASS – Diljit Dosanjh X SIA 40200
25 80 25 2 OVERDRIVE – Ofenbach featuring Norma Jean Martine 22750
26 20 20 9 THE FOUR HORSEMEN – Isolde Lasoen 137100
27 22 8 11 TENSION – Kylie Minogue 209650
28 32 28 4 WRECKING BALL – Dolly Parton featuring Miley Cyrus 54400
29 27 13 10 YOU KNEW – Roisin Murphy 160450
30 16 3 11 GIMME LOVE – SIA 448000

31 26 3 17 I BETTER LOVE YOU – Will Heard 682250
32 23 4 14 BURNING CASTLES – Lucia & The Best Boys 438100
33 24 10 9 WINDOWS – Take That 191300
34 29 29 6 WHEN THE RAIN COMES – Sugababes 77150
35 37 35 6 LOVE IS BLUE – Army Of Lovers featuring Olya Polyakova 68050
36 49 36 3 LAY ALL YOUR LOVE ON ME – ABBA 40100
37 85 37 2 ALREADY KNOW – Gustaph 20300
38 56 38 2 EVERY NIGHT – Jungle 27800
39 36 1 16 VAMPIRE – Olivia Rodrigo 801250
40 44 40 3 VOULEZ-VOUS – ABBA 42750

41 28 28 6 FANTASY GIRL – Revenge Wife 82600
42 31 6 12 FUNNY KIND OF LONELY – Idina Menzel 373400
43 38 1 18 NEW YORK TRANSIT QUEEN – Corinne Bailey Rae 1228800
44 35 1 14 BE MORE – Stephen Sanchez 765900
45 34 15 7 BETTER PLACE – *NSYNC & Justin Timberlake 130250
46 53 46 3 THE VISITORS – ABBA 34400
47 48 47 2 SUPER GRAPHIC ULTRA MODERN GIRL – Chappell Roan 24800
48 54 48 2 SAVOUR THE MIRACLE OF LIFE – Dario G 23300
49 60 49 4 SKIPPING LIKE A STONE – Chemical Brothers featuring Beck 32900
50 57 50 4 YOU KNOW ME BETTER – Roisin Murphy 34800

51 47 47 7 HAYAKO HAYAKO – Kali Mutsa 70250
52 77 52 2 WORLD ON FIRE – Dolly Parton 16100
53 41 41 7 JUST KEEP WALKING – Sgt Slick & INXS 77850
54 59 54 3 STILL BELIEVE IN LOVE – Mary J. Blige featuring Vado 25100
55 39 17 14 BACK ON 74 – Jungle 199500
56 50 1 20 END OF NIGHT – Tears For Fears 831900
57 91 57 2 PROBLEMZ – Jungle 12300
58 46 37 5 I’M ON FIRE – Beverley Knight featuring London Community Gospel Choir 58250
59 82 59 3 MESS IT UP – The Rolling Stones 17300
60 61 60 4 SOUL SURVIVOR – P.P. Arnold 28500

61 45 6 11 RED WINE SUPERNOVA – Chappell Roan 307700
62 43 32 7 LOVERBOY – Joe Goddard featuring fiorious 92900
63 75 63 2 TRYOUTS FOR THE HUMAN RACE – Stefanie Joosten featuring Giorgio Moroder 12200
64 58 58 7 GET HIM BACK! – Olivia Rodrigo 47700
65 72 65 2 RADIOPHONIC – Pet Shop Boys 12600
66 51 7 12 BEYOND THE UNIVERSE – Sophie Ellis-Bextor 264900
67 64 64 4 DREAMING – Marshmello, P!NK & Sting 24700
68 62 62 4 THAT’S ALL I WANTED FROM YOU – Jalen Ngonda 25800
69 86 69 2 WONDERFUL WONDER – Tom Speight featuring Ward Thomas 9000
70 73 70 3 FREE AS A BIRD – The Beatles 16000

71 71 71 6 STRANGERS – Kenya Grace 33400
72 79 72 2 FEEL THE LOVE – Bananarama 9800
73 78 73 3 REAL LOVE – The Beatles 13600
74 55 5 12 DANSE MACABRE – Duran Duran 294700
75 96 75 2 WE’RE GONNA GET THERE IN THE END – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 6400
76 98 76 2 ALARM CLOCK – Sheryl Crow 6000
77 NEW 77 1 HOUDINI – Dua Lipa 4600
78 66 66 4 C’EST LA VIE – Madness 21600
79 NEW 79 1 IS IT LOVE – Loreen 4200
80 87 80 2 LOVE VOUDOU – Duran Duran 6600

81 NEW 81 1 HELLO LOVE – Jesse Ware 3800
82 NEW 82 1 RAINY DAY IN JUNE – Barbara 3600
83 NEW 83 1 CARE – Lucia & The Best Boys 3400
84 NEW 84 1 I KEEP THEM ON THE FLOOR BESIDE MY BED (THE CHRISTMAS EDITION) – Agnetha Faltskog 3200
85 NEW 85 1 CHE T’O DICO A FA – Angelina Mango 3000

Drop Outs:

81 81 2 LOVE ME DO (2023 MIX) – The Beatles 7200
42 1 7 IS VIC THERE? – Department S 694500
52 5 12 BACK TO YOUR HEART – Delta Goodrem 393700
63 1 18 SOLSTICE KISS – Simple Minds featuring Sarah Brown 827050
65 34 9 DOWN TO ONE – Bright Light Bright Light 100550
67 17 11 WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? – Agnetha Faltskog 177600
68 10 15 WHAT WAS I MADE FOR? – Billie Eilish 354650
69 19 10 ALIVE – The Scarlet Opera 120050
70 51 6 CONFETTI SHOTGUN – Ilse DeLange 54300
74 53 6 DJ PLAY A CHRISTMAS SONG – Cher 50800
76 40 6 ATOMIC CITY – U2 61850
83 83 2 SHOUT – The Isley Brothers 6400
84 84 2 TWIST AND SHOUT – The Isley Brothers 6400
89 48 7 ANGRY – The Rolling Stones 55600
90 58 6 US AGAINST THE WORLD – Jungle 40700
92 36 10 AT YOUR WORST – Callum Scott 96150
93 39 10 KEEP GOING UP – Timbaland x Nelly Furtado x Justin Timberlake 87600
94 8 12 LOOK FOR THE LIGHT – Only Murders In The Building Cast featuring Meryl Streep & Ashley Parks 235750
95 17 12 SYSTEMATIC OVERLOAD – Beverley Knight 178650
97 62 6 IT WOULDN’T BE ME (SINGLE MIX) – Simply Red 31100
99 65 6 USUAL PLACES – Ash 29500
100 63 7 SLOW TRAIN – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark 36200

19th November 2023

It’s straight in at 1 for Jungle, as they finally get a chart-topper from their Volcano album, the gorgeous Good At Breaking Hearts. each week they drop a new video featuring the same dance troupe that have starred in all of the videos to date on the album, all of them great, making entry number 7 and the 8th is new at 61, I’ve Been In Love. That’s most of the album! OMD grab a second number 4 in a fortnight, neither track a single (c’mon Andy/Paul, these are more commercial!)

Mehro climbs to get a top 10 single, I seem to the be the only fan in the world, so I may have to boost this sweet mostly acoustic Dopamine song in the new year. Dario G gets a first top 20 track since 2014, The Beatles debut a bunch of album tracks taken off the Blue & Red revamped remastered albums, and yes I checked, Girl, This Boy, Hey Bulldog, and Here There & Everywhere have never charted for me before, so that’s 4 more to add to the total, while Michelle is back after a 30-year gap. Had I been charting in the 60’s as a kid, though, This Boy was a fave B side, and Michelle was a fave too, both would have been big with me.

Jimmy Fallon debuts alongside Meghan Trainor on a fun upbeat new Xmas song – yes it’s that time of year and yes it’s the US TV talkshow host, and yes he can actually sing, I saw him do a credible version of Zayn’s Pillow Talk a few years back so it came as no surprise. Olivia Rodrigo is peeved her other tracks are dropping, so she enters her new Hunger Games track at 78, Trevor Horn revamps his Owner Of A Broken Heart Yes-era-producer song with Rick Astley, Micky Dolenz covers another REM track off his EP, Leaving New York, and Lenny Kravitz returns with a rocking effort, looking lean and mean in the video for TK421, unless his face has been superimposed on a younger bod! So that’ll about 33 years of charting then…

1 NEW 1 1 GOOD AT BREAKING HEARTS – Jungle featuring JNR Williams & 33.3 170000
2 1 1 4 NOW AND THEN – The Beatles 625000
3 5 1 9 HOLD ON TO NOW – Kylie Minogue 609900
4 9 4 3 LOOK AT YOU NOW – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark 112400
5 3 3 4 KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU – ABBA 215000
6 4 4 7 VERUSCHKA – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark 175200
7 12 7 5 DOPAMINE – Mehro 128500
8 8 1 8 SURE ENOUGH – Two Door Cinema Club 629250
9 2 2 4 EAGLE – ABBA 220000
10 6 3 6 STORY – Kylie Minogue 248900

11 7 4 6 AEIOU – PNAU & Empire Of The Sun 267800
12 25 12 3 OVERDRIVE – Ofenbach featuring Norma Jean Martine 57750
13 10 7 8 RAGAZZO SOLA – Annalisa 219500
14 11 1 11 SOMETHING ON MY MIND – Purple Disco Machine x Duke Dumont x Nothing But Thieves 818000
15 19 15 4 CHIQUITITA – ABBA 80000
16 13 13 8 MOONLIGHT – Bimini x Girls Of The Internet 174800
17 37 17 3 ALREADY KNOW – Gustaph 43300
18 47 18 3 SUPER GRAPHIC ULTRA MODERN GIRL – Chappell Roan 46800
19 24 19 4 HASS HASS – Diljit Dosanjh X SIA 61200
20 48 20 3 SAVOUR THE MIRACLE OF LIFE – Dario G 43300

21 23 21 4 SOS – ABBA 69450
22 16 10 7 MIRAGE – OneRepublic, Assassin’s Creed, Mishaal Tamer 162100
23 18 15 9 PARADISE – Idina Menzel featuring Nile Rodgers 152900
24 14 4 7 HOW YOU LEAVE A MAN – Paloma Faith 210000
25 15 6 9 BLACK MOONLIGHT – Duran Duran 274200
26 17 11 10 BAD IDEA, RIGHT? – Olivia Rodrigo 189600
27 20 20 8 THERE FOR YOU – Emeli Sande 119000
28 28 28 5 WRECKING BALL – Dolly Parton featuring Miley Cyrus 72700
29 49 29 5 SKIPPING LIKE A STONE – Chemical Brothers featuring Beck 51100
30 35 30 7 LOVE IS BLUE – Army Of Lovers featuring Olya Polyakova 86050

31 21 1 12 YOUR SIDE OF TOWN – The Killers 818150
32 22 9 12 CARE ABOUT ME – Anish Kumar featuring Chaka Khan 298700
33 36 33 4 LAY ALL YOUR LOVE ON ME – ABBA 57800
34 38 34 3 EVERY NIGHT – Jungle 45400
35 31 3 18 I BETTER LOVE YOU – Will Heard 699750
36 27 8 12 TENSION – Kylie Minogue 227050
37 65 37 3 RADIOPHONIC – Pet Shop Boys 29900
38 30 3 12 GIMME LOVE – SIA 465200
39 26 20 10 THE FOUR HORSEMEN – Isolde Lasoen 154200
40 63 40 3 TRYOUTS FOR THE HUMAN RACE – Stefanie Joosten featuring Giorgio Moroder 29200

41 29 13 11 YOU KNEW – Roisin Murphy 174450
42 33 10 10 WINDOWS – Take That 205050
43 32 4 15 BURNING CASTLES – Lucia & The Best Boys 451600
44 39 1 17 VAMPIRE – Olivia Rodrigo 814500
45 50 45 5 YOU KNOW ME BETTER – Roisin Murphy 47800
46 46 46 4 THE VISITORS – ABBA 47150
47 57 47 3 PROBLEMZ – Jungle 24800
48 54 48 4 STILL BELIEVE IN LOVE – Mary J. Blige featuring Vado 37400
49 43 1 19 NEW YORK TRANSIT QUEEN – Corinne Bailey Rae 1240900
50 52 50 3 WORLD ON FIRE – Dolly Parton 28100

51 34 29 7 WHEN THE RAIN COMES – Sugababes 88900
52 40 40 4 VOULEZ-VOUS – ABBA 54250
53 59 53 4 MESS IT UP – The Rolling Stones 28550
54 77 54 2 HOUDINI – Dua Lipa 15600
55 44 1 15 BE MORE – Stephen Sanchez 776700
56 42 6 13 FUNNY KIND OF LONELY – Idina Menzel 384000
57 41 28 7 FANTASY GIRL – Revenge Wife 93000
58 69 58 3 WONDERFUL WONDER – Tom Speight featuring Ward Thomas 19200
59 45 15 8 BETTER PLACE – *NSYNC & Justin Timberlake 140350
60 56 1 21 END OF NIGHT – Tears For Fears 841900

61 NEW 61 1 I’VE BEEN IN LOVE – Jungle featuring Channel Tres 7500
62 80 62 3 LOVE VOUDOU – Duran Duran 14000
63 NEW 63 1 GIRL – The Beatles 7200
64 51 47 8 HAYAKO HAYAKO – Kali Mutsa 77350
65 72 65 3 FEEL THE LOVE – Bananarama 16800
66 70 66 4 FREE AS A BIRD – The Beatles 22800
67 NEW 67 1 THIS BOY – The Beatles 6600
68 71 68 7 STRANGERS – Kenya Grace 39800
69 83 69 2 CARE – Lucia & The Best Boys 9600
70 NEW 70 1 HEY BULLDOG – The Beatles 6000

71 81 71 2 HELLO LOVE – Jesse Ware 9600
72 75 72 3 WE’RE GONNA GET THERE IN THE END – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 12000
73 76 73 3 ALARM CLOCK – Sheryl Crow 11400
74 79 74 2 IS IT LOVE – Loreen 9400
75 55 17 15 BACK ON 74 – Jungle 204500
76 NEW 76 1 WRAP ME UP – Jimmy Fallon & Meghan Trainor 4800
77 82 77 2 RAINY DAYS IN JUNE – Barbara 8200
78 NEW 78 1 CAN’T CATCH ME NOW – Olivia Rodrigo 4400
79 NEW 79 1 HERE THERE AND EVERYWHERE – The Beatles 4200
80 NEW 80 1 OWNER OF A LONELY HEART – Trevor Horn & Rick Astley 4000

81 NEW 81 1 LEAVING NEW YORK – Micky Dolenz 3800
82 84 82 2 I KEEP THEM ON THE FLOOR BESIDE MY BED (THE CHRISTMAS EDITION) – Agnetha Faltskog 6800
83 NEW 83 1 TK421 – Lenny Kravitz 3400
84 NEW 84 1 MICHELLE – The Beatles 3200
85 85 85 2 CHE T’O DICO A FA – Angelina Mango 6000

DROP OUTS
68 62 4 THAT’S ALL I WANTED FROM YOU – Jalen Ngonda 25800
67 64 4 DREAMING – Marshmello, P!NK & Sting 24700
53 41 7 JUST KEEP WALKING – Sgt Slick & INXS 77850
58 37 5 I’M ON FIRE – Beverley Knight featuring London Community Gospel Choir 58250
60 60 4 SOUL SURVIVOR – P.P. Arnold 28500
61 6 11 RED WINE SUPERNOVA – Chappell Roan 307700
62 32 7 LOVERBOY – Joe Goddard featuring fiorious 92900
64 58 7 GET HIM BACK! – Olivia Rodrigo 47700
66 7 12 BEYOND THE UNIVERSE – Sophie Ellis-Bextor 264900
73 73 3 REAL LOVE – The Beatles 13600
74 5 12 DANSE MACABRE – Duran Duran 294700
78 66 4 C’EST LA VIE – Madness 21600

26th November 2023

It’s a new entry on top for Cockney Rebel, before Steve Harley gave himself co-billing a year later. Sebastian was released in 1973 but was too long and experimental to get radio airplay. I heard it maybe once or twice over the years and loved it, but never got round to buying it so it never charted for me. So, for the first time, the record topping my 50-year-review charts is also topping my current charts, I’ve been obsessed by it for 4 weeks to the extent that it has prevented actual John Lennon classic topping my 1973 weekly revamps. It’s sort of a Glam sci-fi orchestral choral masterpiece of 7 minutes that seems like 3 minutes as it ebbs and flows and tells a strange story.

Elsewhere just 2 entries as Paloma Faith and Lucia & The Best Boys add to their current chart totals, which gives me an opportunity to chop the chart down to 80, phew! Dario G adds to his top 10’s with a message everyone should follow, while Gustaph goes top 10 where his Eurovision entry fell short of the top 40. Dua Lipa has a big Houdini leap into the 40, and Dolly replaces herself in the 40. Jungle only have 4 tracks this week on the list, while ABBA have 7 oldies plus one Xmas track from Agentha and The Beatles are on 6, 5 oldies, one newie.

1 NEW 1 1 SEBASTIAN – Cockney Rebel 170000
2 1 1 2 GOOD AT BREAKING HEARTS – Jungle featuring JNR Williams & 33.3 285000
3 3 1 10 HOLD ON TO NOW – Kylie Minogue 694900
4 2 1 5 NOW AND THEN – The Beatles 690000
5 20 5 4 SAVOUR THE MIRACLE OF LIFE – Dario G 103300
6 5 3 5 KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU – ABBA 270000
7 4 4 4 LOOK AT YOU NOW – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark 162400
8 10 3 7 STORY – Kylie Minogue 296900
9 6 4 8 VERUSCHKA – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark 220200
10 17 10 4 ALREADY KNOW – Gustaph 85300

11 7 7 6 DOPAMINE – Mehro 165500
12 12 12 4 OVERDRIVE – Ofenbach featuring Norma Jean Martine 92750
13 8 1 9 SURE ENOUGH – Two Door Cinema Club 661250
14 11 4 7 AEIOU – PNAU & Empire Of The Sun 296800
15 15 15 5 CHIQUITITA – ABBA 107000
16 21 16 5 SOS – ABBA 94450
17 19 17 5 HASS HASS – Diljit Dosanjh X SIA 84200
18 18 18 4 SUPER GRAPHIC ULTRA MODERN GIRL – Chappell Roan 68800
19 37 19 4 RADIOPHONIC – Pet Shop Boys 50900
20 14 1 12 SOMETHING ON MY MIND – Purple Disco Machine x Duke Dumont x Nothing But Thieves 838000

21 16 13 9 MOONLIGHT – Bimini x Girls Of The Internet 194550
22 13 7 9 RAGAZZO SOLA – Annalisa 239000
23 9 2 5 EAGLE – ABBA 239250
24 29 24 6 SKIPPING LIKE A STONE – Chemical Brothers featuring Beck 70100
25 33 25 5 LAY ALL YOUR LOVE ON ME – ABBA 76550
26 22 10 8 MIRAGE – OneRepublic, Assassin’s Creed, Mishaal Tamer 180600
27 48 27 5 STILL BELIEVE IN LOVE – Mary J. Blige featuring Vado 55800
28 30 28 8 LOVE IS BLUE – Army Of Lovers featuring Olya Polyakova 104350
29 34 29 4 EVERY NIGHT – Jungle 63600
30 40 30 4 TRYOUTS FOR THE HUMAN RACE – Stefanie Joosten featuring Giorgio Moroder 47200

31 23 15 10 PARADISE – Idina Menzel featuring Nile Rodgers 170800
32 54 32 3 HOUDINI – Dua Lipa 33400
33 45 33 6 YOU KNOW ME BETTER – Roisin Murphy 65500
34 24 4 8 HOW YOU LEAVE A MAN – Paloma Faith 227600
35 25 6 10 BLACK MOONLIGHT – Duran Duran 291700
36 27 20 9 THERE FOR YOU – Emeli Sande 136400
37 31 1 13 YOUR SIDE OF TOWN – The Killers 835450
38 32 9 13 CARE ABOUT ME – Anish Kumar featuring Chaka Khan 315900
39 35 3 19 I BETTER LOVE YOU – Will Heard 716850
40 50 40 4 WORLD ON FIRE – Dolly Parton 45100

41 36 8 13 TENSION – Kylie Minogue 241050
42 28 28 6 WRECKING BALL – Dolly Parton featuring Miley Cyrus 86450
43 72 43 4 WE’RE GONNA GET THERE IN THE END – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 25500
44 58 44 4 WONDERFUL WONDER – Tom Speight featuring Ward Thomas 37450
45 80 45 2 OWNER OF A LONELY HEART – Trevor Horn & Rick Astley 17000
46 61 46 2 I’VE BEEN IN LOVE – Jungle featuring Channel Tres 20250
47 47 47 4 PROBLEMZ – Jungle 37300
48 62 48 4 LOVE VOUDOU – Duran Duran 26300
49 38 3 13 GIMME LOVE – SIA 477300
50 71 50 3 HELLO LOVE – Jesse Ware 21600

51 63 51 2 GIRL – The Beatles 18950
52 44 1 18 VAMPIRE – Olivia Rodrigo 826000
53 53 53 5 MESS IT UP – The Rolling Stones 39800
54 26 11 11 BAD IDEA, RIGHT? – Olivia Rodrigo 200600
55 83 55 2 TK421 – Lenny Kravitz 14200
56 39 20 11 THE FOUR HORSEMEN – Isolde Lasoen 164800
57 49 1 20 NEW YORK TRANSIT QUEEN – Corinne Bailey Rae 1251300
58 41 13 12 YOU KNEW – Roisin Murphy 184650
59 69 59 3 CARE – Lucia & The Best Boys 19700
60 67 60 2 THIS BOY – The Beatles 16600

61 82 61 3 I KEEP THEM ON THE FLOOR BESIDE MY BED (THE CHRISTMAS EDITION) – Agnetha Faltskog 14300
62 73 62 4 ALARM CLOCK – Sheryl Crow 18800
63 65 63 4 FEEL THE LOVE – Bananarama 24000
64 43 4 16 BURNING CASTLES – Lucia & The Best Boys 458700
65 42 10 11 WINDOWS – Take That 212050
66 70 66 2 HEY BULLDOG – The Beatles 12800
67 78 67 2 CAN’T CATCH ME NOW – Olivia Rodrigo 11000
68 76 68 2 WRAP ME UP – Jimmy Fallon & Meghan Trainor 11200
69 74 69 3 IS IT LOVE – Loreen 15600
70 68 68 8 STRANGERS – Kenya Grace 45800

71 46 46 5 THE VISITORS – ABBA 52950
72 77 72 3 RAINY DAYS IN JUNE – Barbara 13800
73 60 1 22 END OF NIGHT – Tears For Fears 847300
74 79 74 2 HERE THERE AND EVERYWHERE – The Beatles 9400
75 52 40 5 VOULEZ-VOUS – ABBA 59250
76 84 76 2 MICHELLE – The Beatles 8000
77 81 77 2 LEAVING NEW YORK – Micky Dolenz 8400
78 85 78 3 CHE T’O DICO A FA – Angelina Mango 10400
79 NEW 79 1 BAD WOMAN – Paloma Faith 4200
80 NEW 80 1 ANGELS CRY TOO – Lucia & The Best Boys 4000

DROP OUTS
51 29 7 WHEN THE RAIN COMES – Sugababes 88900
55 1 15 BE MORE – Stephen Sanchez 776700
56 6 13 FUNNY KIND OF LONELY – Idina Menzel 384000
57 28 7 FANTASY GIRL – Revenge Wife 93000
59 15 8 BETTER PLACE – *NSYNC & Justin Timberlake 140350
64 47 8 HAYAKO HAYAKO – Kali Mutsa 77350
66 66 4 FREE AS A BIRD – The Beatles 22800
75 17 15 BACK ON 74 – Jungle 204500

My May 2022 Charts

1st May 2022

It’s Harry Styles grabbing his 2nd chart-topper, after Watermelon Sugar, and hot behind the very Stevie-Nicks-ish fab BirdSMITH duo, one getting criminally ignored everywhere except for one or two plays on radio 2. Florence has a 3rd track from the new album enter, new single Free, while Freedom is not far behind for Jon batiste’s 2nd chart entry, the very retro funk track new at 36. Shawn Mendes adds to his growing list of charting tracks, Emeli Sande makes it over a decade of chart entries, Will Young makes it 20 years-worth, Alison Krauss almost 30 years-worth and Robert Plant 40 years-worth.

1 8 1 5 AS IT WAS – Harry Styles 287600
2 2 1 8 THE LAST GOODBYE – ODESZA featuring Bettye LaVette 892000
3 9 3 5 KISS IT BETTER – BirdSMITH 175400
4 3 3 6 PURPLE ZONE – Soft Cell & Pet Shop Boys 370000
5 4 1 8 SPACE MAN – Sam Ryder 703250
6 1 1 2 THE HUSTLE – Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony 225000
7 5 2 8 MY LOVE – Florence + The Machine 562750
8 6 1 11 AM GOLD – Train 732850
9 11 9 5 PARTY IN MY MIND – Dolores Forever 139250
10 23 10 5 KALIMA MINOU – Shanguy & Mark Neve 92950

11 14 11 5 NIGHTFALLS – Keith Urban 107900
12 10 10 7 OUT YONDER – Elle King 171100
13 7 7 8 ESCAPE – Kx5 (Kaskade & Deadmau5) featuring Hayla 210600
14 17 14 5 MONA LISA – mxmtoon 94450
15 15 8 9 RUN – Becky Hill & Galantis 235900
16 31 16 5 PYRAMIDS – Otto Knows 84200
17 38 17 3 ALL OF YOU – Duran Duran 46800
18 29 18 5 DIE IN THE DISCO – Night Club 77450
19 26 19 11 TROUBLE – Troye Sivan & Jay Som 133900
20 58 20 3 LOST TRACK – HAIM 37400

21 50 21 3 ABOUT DAMN TIME – Lizzo 42550
22 19 8 9 HELLO WORLD – Alan Walker & Torine 223900
23 18 10 11 HALLUCINATION – Regard and Years and Years 218350
24 22 1 15 WISHFUL THINKING – LEON 1140150
25 40 25 4 WILD CHILD – The Black Keys 55250
26 32 26 5 STRANGE GAME – Mick Jagger 64500
27 51 27 5 DEEPER – ZIDA & Rat City 56950
28 28 19 8 BONES – Imagine Dragons 122300
29 NEW 29 1 FREE – Florence + The Machine 18200
30 24 2 17 LESS THAN ZERO – The Weeknd 826500

31 33 31 9 FORGIVE ME – Sofi Tukker & Mahmut Orhan 117000
32 71 32 4 CITY OF GODS (PART II) – Alicia Keys 34000
33 35 33 6 MAKE YOUR MARK – Seth Lakeman 81400
34 39 34 7 A LITTLE BIT OF LOVE – Weezer 76000
35 36 35 12 IT’S TOO LATE – Carole King 152250
36 NEW 36 1 FREEDOM – Jon Batiste 17400
37 21 5 11 FUNNY GIRL – Father John Misty 397350
38 13 6 12 WALKING IN THE RAIN – The Ronettes 312300
39 68 39 2 IT GETS DARK – Sigrid 23500
40 25 7 10 WEST COAST – OneRepublic 284550

41 16 10 6 YOU’VE GOT MY NUMBER (WHY DON’T YOU USE IT!) – The Undertones 151250
42 55 42 3 FORGET ABOUT US – Albin Lee Meldau 30750
43 43 43 2 BAGGY TROUSERS – Madness 27000
44 30 30 10 KING – Florence + The Machine 122450
45 34 1 15 SHOW ME LOVE – Tove Styrke 728200
46 42 3 16 BETTER DAYS – Neiked, Mae Muller & Polo G 636750
47 47 47 5 PRAYER – Secret Garden 54400
48 48 48 8 FROZEN – Madonna 73450
49 46 1 26 WHEN YOU DANCED WITH ME – ABBA 1520050
50 37 24 7 BRING BACK THE TIME – New Kids On The Block featuring En Vogue, Rick Astley & Salt ‘n’ Pepa 114400

51 20 20 17 IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND – Gordon Lightfoot 241800
52 41 8 10 SAME AIR – The Rocket Summer 265750
53 57 53 5 SWEET HARMONY – The Beloved 39850
54 54 1 35 I STILL HAVE FAITH IN YOU – ABBA 1510100
55 52 1 26 ODE TO FREEDOM – ABBA 1249050
56 60 56 5 BLOW – Jackson Wang 37700
57 53 1 14 EVERLASTING LOVE – Love Affair 755200
58 27 27 16 BABY I LOVE YOU – The Ronettes 189000
59 59 59 2 HAND IN GLOVE – Sandie Shaw & The Smiths 20200
60 63 60 8 GIMME SOME LOVIN’ – The Spencer Davis Group 51200

61 12 12 2 SUNDAY GIRL – Blondie 42500
62 44 30 7 KICK – Def Leppard 92250
63 67 63 2 WATERLOO SUNSET – The Kinks 13800
64 NEW 64 1 WHEN YOU’RE GONE – Shawn Mendes 7100
65 62 1 35 DON’T SHUT ME DOWN – ABBA 1780650
66 69 66 4 FANTASY – Mariah Carey 23800
67 45 27 10 NIGHT AND DAY – Johnny Marr 114850
68 72 68 3 NEVER GIVE UP – Chronixx 17000
69 64 1 26 GIVE IT ALL UP – Duran Duran featuring Tove Lo 1595350
70 NEW 70 1 THERE ISN’T MUCH – Emeli Sande 6000

71 49 32 10 IMPOSSIBLE – Royksopp & Alison Goldfrapp 110700
72 NEW 72 1 DINNER TABLE – Nina Nesbitt 5600
73 NEW 73 1 WHY DOES IT HURT – Will Young 5400
74 NEW 74 1 GREEN GREEN GRASS – George Ezra 5200
75 NEW 75 1 SOMEBODY WAS WATCHING OVER ME – Robert Plant & Alison Krauss 5000

DROP OUTS
56 10 9 WONDROUS PLACE (STRING AND TINS REMIX) – Billy Fury 213650
61 5 14 WE STAND ALONE – George Cosby 417600
65 65 5 CHAOTIC – Tate McRae 33000
66 7 16 NO CHOICE – Tame Impala 413050
70 27 12 ANYONE FOR YOU (TIGER LILY) – George Ezra 153100
73 1 18 HELLO IT’S ME – Todd Rundgren 777950
74 41 4 SHOW ME LOVE (AMERICA) – The Wanted 31200
75 24 10 BEG FOR YOU – Charli XCX featuring Rina Sawayama 128500

8th May 2022

It’s BirdSMITH kissing it better on top, what a great record, very Stevie Nicks 80’s era. Keith Urban can’t stop getting those top 10’s, Nightfalls is just the latest, and Sigrid climbs fast into the 20 as it gets dark. Highest new entry is a 41st year of Bananarama top 40’s since Aiemwana, their cover of Yamasukis 1971 obscure great aka Daft Punk’s dad.

Tom Grennan is back, DNCE are also back after a break while Jonas brothers had more of a profile, and Tears For Fears make it a 4th from the new album to chart. PSY is back after a long absence with a bit of an assist from his BTS connections, Doja Cat finally does something more interesting, sampling the 70-odd years-old Elvis-inspiring Hound Dog herself, Big mama Thornton, and Suggs and Paul Weller do a Jam/Madness Britpop bit of combo fun.

1 3 1 6 KISS IT BETTER – BirdSMITH 345400
2 1 1 6 AS IT WAS – Harry Styles 402600
3 2 1 9 THE LAST GOODBYE – ODESZA featuring Bettye LaVette 977000
4 4 3 7 PURPLE ZONE – Soft Cell & Pet Shop Boys 435000
5 5 1 9 SPACE MAN – Sam Ryder 763250
6 9 6 6 PARTY IN MY MIND – Dolores Forever 194250
7 10 7 6 KALIMA MINOU – Shanguy & Mark Neve 142950
8 11 8 6 NIGHTFALLS – Keith Urban 155900
9 14 9 6 MONA LISA – mxmtoon 139450
10 7 2 9 MY LOVE – Florence + The Machine 604750

11 16 11 6 PYRAMIDS – Otto Knows 121200
12 18 12 6 DIE IN THE DISCO – Night Club 115450
13 8 1 12 AM GOLD – Train 764850
14 27 14 6 DEEPER – ZIDA & Rat City 85950
15 39 15 3 IT GETS DARK – Sigrid 50500
16 17 16 4 ALL OF YOU – Duran Duran 71800
17 21 17 4 ABOUT DAMN TIME – Lizzo 65550
18 20 18 4 LOST TRACK – HAIM 59400
19 26 19 6 STRANGE GAME – Mick Jagger 85500
20 12 10 8 OUT YONDER – Elle King 191100

21 13 7 9 ESCAPE – Kx5 (Kaskade & Deadmau5) featuring Hayla 230350
22 6 1 3 THE HUSTLE – Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony 244500
23 25 23 5 WILD CHILD – The Black Keys 74500
24 15 8 10 RUN – Becky Hill & Galantis 254900
25 36 25 2 FREEDOM – Jon Batiste 36150
26 19 19 12 TROUBLE – Troye Sivan & Jay Som 152400
27 32 27 5 CITY OF GODS (PART II) – Alicia Keys 52400
28 29 28 2 FREE – Florence + The Machine 36500
29 24 1 16 WISHFUL THINKING – LEON 1158350
30 22 8 10 HELLO WORLD – Alan Walker & Torine 241900

31 33 31 7 MAKE YOUR MARK – Seth Lakeman 99300
32 23 10 12 HALLUCINATION – Regard and Years and Years 236150
33 31 31 10 FORGIVE ME – Sofi Tukker & Mahmut Orhan 134700
34 34 34 8 A LITTLE BIT OF LOVE – Weezer 93600
35 35 35 13 IT’S TOO LATE – Carole King 169750
36 28 19 9 BONES – Imagine Dragons 139700
37 70 37 2 THERE ISN’T MUCH – Emeli Sande 23300
38 42 38 4 FORGET ABOUT US – Albin Lee Meldau 47950
39 NEW 39 1 FAVOURITE – Bananarama 17100
40 43 40 3 BAGGY TROUSERS – Madness 44000

41 30 2 18 LESS THAN ZERO – The Weeknd 840500
42 47 42 6 PRAYER – Secret Garden 68150
43 48 43 9 FROZEN – Madonna 86950
44 37 5 12 FUNNY GIRL – Father John Misty 410600
45 64 45 2 WHEN YOU’RE GONE – Shawn Mendes 20100
46 53 46 6 SWEET HARMONY – The Beloved 52600
47 59 47 3 HAND IN GLOVE – Sandie Shaw & The Smiths 32700
48 40 7 11 WEST COAST – OneRepublic 296850
49 38 6 13 WALKING IN THE RAIN – The Ronettes 324400
50 56 50 6 BLOW – Jackson Wang 49700

51 46 3 17 BETTER DAYS – Neiked, Mae Muller & Polo G 648500
52 49 1 27 WHEN YOU DANCED WITH ME – ABBA 1531550
53 60 53 9 GIMME SOME LOVIN’ – The Spencer Davis Group 62450
54 54 1 36 I STILL HAVE FAITH IN YOU – ABBA 1521100
55 45 1 16 SHOW ME LOVE – Tove Styrke 739000
56 72 56 2 DINNER TABLE – Nina Nesbitt 16200
57 55 1 27 ODE TO FREEDOM – ABBA 1259450
58 63 58 3 WATERLOO SUNSET – The Kinks 24000
59 66 59 5 FANTASY – Mariah Carey 33900
60 73 60 2 WHY DOES IT HURT – Will Young 15400

61 NEW 61 1 REMIND ME – Tom Grennan 7500
62 57 1 15 EVERLASTING LOVE – Love Affair 762600
63 NEW 63 1 MOVE – DNCE 7200
64 52 8 11 SAME AIR – The Rocket Summer 272850
65 74 65 2 GREEN GREEN GRASS – George Ezra 12200
66 NEW 66 1 CLOSURE – Wrabel 6800
67 65 1 36 DON’T SHUT ME DOWN – ABBA 1787250
68 68 68 4 NEVER GIVE UP – Chronixx 23400
69 75 69 2 SOMEBODY WAS WATCHING OVER ME – Robert Plant & Alison Krauss 11200
70 NEW 70 1 MY DEMONS – Tears For Fears 6000

71 69 1 27 GIVE IT ALL UP – Duran Duran featuring Tove Lo 1601150
72 NEW 72 1 21 REASONS – Nathan Dawe x Ella Henderson 5600
73 NEW 73 1 THAT THAT – PSY & SUGA 5400
74 NEW 74 1 OOH DO U FINK U R? – Suggs & Paul Weller 5200
75 NEW 75 1 VEGAS (HOUND DOG) – Doja Cat featuring Big Mama Thornton 5000

DROP OUTS
41 10 6 YOU’VE GOT MY NUMBER (WHY DON’T YOU USE IT!) – The Undertones 151250
44 30 10 KING – Florence + The Machine 122450
50 24 7 BRING BACK THE TIME – New Kids On The Block featuring En Vogue, Rick Astley & Salt ‘n’ Pepa 114400
51 20 17 IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND – Gordon Lightfoot 241800
58 27 16 BABY I LOVE YOU – The Ronettes 189000
61 12 2 SUNDAY GIRL – Blondie 42500
62 30 7 KICK – Def Leppard 92250
67 27 10 NIGHT AND DAY – Johnny Marr 114850
71 32 10 IMPOSSIBLE – Royksopp & Alison Goldfrapp 110700

15th May 2022

It’s a new entry at for Estonia’s under-performing brilliant Eurovision entry, it suffered from being on last as everyone buggered off to the toilet or to make a cup of tea. It’s got 50’s twangy guitar vibes but is a strong song of Hope. It’s been over a decade since Eurovision had 2 tracks top my charts from the same competition. Meanwhile Gigliola Cinquetti’s touching comeback after 58 years to sing Non Ho L’Eta Per Amarti gives me the perfect excuse to finally chart what was my first fave Eurovision song back when I was 6 and give her a follow-up chart entry to 1974’s Go (Si) when she came 2nd to Abba. New at 4, with the whole top 5 sounding brilliant to me right now.

New at 7 Sweden’s Eurovision entry does well again, while Czech Republic are new at 13 with a banging dance tune that suffered from being first on, everyone had forgotten it by voting time. It’s almost as if Italy was trying to do in some rivals, what with that batch of dull ballads and then a batch of competing uptempo tracks in with a shot. Anyway, Subwoolfer with Ben from A1 also pop in lower down for Norway, wolf masks and all. I mean it’s no Caught In The Middle, but it’s fun and his first chart visit for 20 years.

Liam Gallagher invokes the spirit of bruv Noel’s Setting Sons collab with Chemical Brothers, which should piss him off nicely, new at 57, Dave Stewart makes a chart comeback for the first time in about 20 years with a quaint and charming old-fashioned song from a forthcoming musical, and extends his chart run to 43 years. Thomas Rhett gets a 4th or 5th chart track since his 10’s debut, David Guetta, Beck Hill and Ella Henderson all add to their growing list of regular entries, Galantis add to theirs too, Nerina Pallot has a return after a gap of a few years and a run of about 17 years now, Mark Ronson is also close to that and back, and ditto Chase and Status.

1 NEW 1 1 HOPE – Stefan 170000
2 1 1 7 KISS IT BETTER – BirdSMITH 460400
3 5 1 10 SPACE MAN – Sam Ryder 848250
4 NEW 4 1 NON HO L’ETA PER AMARTI – Gigliola Cinquetti 65000
5 3 1 10 THE LAST GOODBYE – ODESZA featuring Bettye LaVette 1037000
6 2 1 7 AS IT WAS – Harry Styles 457600
7 NEW 7 1 HOLD ME CLOSER – Cordelia Jakobs 50000
8 7 7 7 KALIMA MINOU – Shanguy & Mark Neve 190950
9 6 6 7 PARTY IN MY MIND – Dolores Forever 239250
10 15 10 4 IT GETS DARK – Sigrid 92500

11 8 8 7 NIGHTFALLS – Keith Urban 192900
12 17 12 5 ABOUT DAMN TIME – Lizzo 100550
13 NEW 13 1 LIGHTS OFF – We Are Domi 32000
14 16 14 5 ALL OF YOU – Duran Duran 100800
15 4 3 8 PURPLE ZONE – Soft Cell & Pet Shop Boys 462000
16 9 9 7 MONA LISA – mxmtoon 164450
17 10 2 10 MY LOVE – Florence + The Machine 627750
18 11 11 7 PYRAMIDS – Otto Knows 143200
19 12 12 7 DIE IN THE DISCO – Night Club 136450
20 14 14 7 DEEPER – ZIDA & Rat City 105950

21 18 18 5 LOST TRACK – HAIM 79150
22 13 1 13 AM GOLD – Train 784350
23 27 23 6 CITY OF GODS (PART II) – Alicia Keys 71650
24 39 24 2 FAVOURITE – Bananarama 36100
25 25 25 3 FREEDOM – Jon Batiste 54900
26 37 26 3 THERE ISN’T MUCH – Emeli Sande 41800
27 28 27 3 FREE – Florence + The Machine 54900
28 19 19 7 STRANGE GAME – Mick Jagger 103800
29 22 1 4 THE HUSTLE – Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony 262700
30 20 10 9 OUT YONDER – Elle King 209100

31 21 7 10 ESCAPE – Kx5 (Kaskade & Deadmau5) featuring Hayla 248250
32 35 32 14 IT’S TOO LATE – Carole King 187550
33 23 23 6 WILD CHILD – The Black Keys 92200
34 38 34 5 FORGET ABOUT US – Albin Lee Meldau 65550
35 29 1 17 WISHFUL THINKING – LEON 1175850
36 40 36 4 BAGGY TROUSERS – Madness 61400
37 24 8 11 RUN – Becky Hill & Galantis 272200
38 31 31 8 MAKE YOUR MARK – Seth Lakeman 116500
39 26 19 13 TROUBLE – Troye Sivan & Jay Som 169500
40 43 40 10 FROZEN – Madonna 103950

41 30 8 11 HELLO WORLD – Alan Walker & Torine 255900
42 45 42 3 WHEN YOU’RE GONE – Shawn Mendes 33850
43 32 10 13 HALLUCINATION – Regard and Years and Years 249650
44 34 34 9 A LITTLE BIT OF LOVE – Weezer 106850
45 56 45 3 DINNER TABLE – Nina Nesbitt 29200
46 46 46 7 SWEET HARMONY – The Beloved 65350
47 47 47 4 HAND IN GLOVE – Sandie Shaw & The Smiths 45200
48 36 19 10 BONES – Imagine Dragons 152000
49 60 49 3 WHY DOES IT HURT – Will Young 27500
50 63 50 2 MOVE – DNCE 19200

51 41 2 19 LESS THAN ZERO – The Weeknd 852250
52 42 42 7 PRAYER – Secret Garden 79650
53 66 53 2 CLOSURE – Wrabel 18050
54 33 31 11 FORGIVE ME – Sofi Tukker & Mahmut Orhan 145700
55 52 1 28 WHEN YOU DANCED WITH ME – ABBA 1542350
56 54 1 37 I STILL HAVE FAITH IN YOU – ABBA 1531700
57 NEW 57 1 BETTER DAYS – Liam Gallagher 10400
58 58 58 4 WATERLOO SUNSET – The Kinks 34200
59 NEW 59 1 GIVE THAT WOLF A BANANA – Subwoolfer 10100
60 57 1 28 ODE TO FREEDOM – ABBA 1269450

61 61 61 2 REMIND ME – Tom Grennan 15000
62 NEW 62 1 EBONY MCQUEEN – Dave Stewart 7400
63 69 63 3 SOMEBODY WAS WATCHING OVER ME – Robert Plant & Alison Krauss 18400
64 51 3 18 BETTER DAYS – Neiked, Mae Muller & Polo G 655600
65 65 65 3 GREEN GREEN GRASS – George Ezra 19200
66 70 66 2 MY DEMONS – Tears For Fears 12800
67 68 67 5 NEVER GIVE UP – Chronixx 30000
68 50 50 7 BLOW – Jackson Wang 56100
69 NEW 69 1 PARADISE – Thomas Rhett 6200
70 67 1 37 DON’T SHUT ME DOWN – ABBA 1793250

71 73 71 2 THAT THAT – PSY & SUGA 11200
72 72 72 2 21 REASONS – Nathan Dawe x Ella Henderson 11200
73 74 73 2 OOH DO U FINK U R? – Suggs & Paul Weller 10600
74 75 74 2 VEGAS (HOUND DOG) – Doja Cat featuring Big Mama Thornton 10200
75 NEW 75 1 CRAZY WHAT LOVE CAN DO – David Guetta, Becky Hill & Ella Henderson 5000
76 44 5 13 FUNNY GIRL – Father John Misty 415400
77 NEW 77 1 ALICE AT THE BEACH – Nerina Pallot 4600
78 NEW 78 1 1X1 – Galantis 4400
79 NEW 79 1 TOO MUCH – Mark Ronson featuring Lucky Daye 4200
80 NEW 80 1 MIXED EMOTIONS – Chase & Status 4000

DROP OUTS
48 7 11 WEST COAST – OneRepublic 296850
49 6 13 WALKING IN THE RAIN – The Ronettes 324400
53 53 9 GIMME SOME LOVIN’ – The Spencer Davis Group 62450
55 1 16 SHOW ME LOVE – Tove Styrke 739000
59 59 5 FANTASY – Mariah Carey 33900
62 1 15 EVERLASTING LOVE – Love Affair 762600
64 8 11 SAME AIR – The Rocket Summer 272850
71 1 27 GIVE IT ALL UP – Duran Duran featuring Tove Lo 1601150

22nd May 2022

It’s still Hope on top in all of it’s cowboy twangy guitar fabness presiding over a still brilliant top 5 for me, while one Eurovision track leaps another at 6 and 7, Duran make it another top 10 around about 20 or so in 40 years while Sigrid gets a first after 4 previous attempts over the last 4 years. Wrabel has a big top climb, Tears For Fears a big top 30 climb, while Suggs n Weller, Liam Gallagher, Thomas Rhett all leap up into the 40.

Second-Highest new entry is the unexpected collab between Diana Ross and Tame Impala for the Minions movie, already her most interesting track in 36 years, and her 3rd in her comeback. Pity its not an entire album, Diana’s quality threshold improves when she hands over the reigns to great writer-producers and drops the bland overly-sentimental schlock, and she has made some corkers in her 60-year career, starting in my charts with the total classic social commentary of Love Child with The Supremes 54 years ago! In one fell swoop Diana holds the current longest chart-span with new material again with only Paul McCartney, Tom Jones or Barry Gibb in a position to overhaul her at the moment. Gibb of course wrote & produced her last great record, Chain Reaction.Turn Up The Sunshine is at 37.

Harry Styles new album is out, and I’ve cherry-picked the best track (no need thank me) Grapejuice at 31, and Late Night Talking at 78. It’s very pleasant overall, but on one listen it’s not got the sheer number of potential singles of the last album. Maybe they will grow on me though. Vangelis sadly died this week, and in tribute his 1980 chart-topper with Jon Anderson of Yes, I Hear You Now, returns at 39 to boost it’s position in my All-Time Top 900 chart. It’s so lovely.

That leaves a catchy new entry from Alfie Templeman, who debuts and is new to me, with Colour Me Blue, Ed Sheeran keeping up the pace of singles at 1 a day (or something like it) as 2Step sneaks in with Lil baby on tow. Hope he has child safety seat. Finally, Tove Lo is back as her Duran Duran chart-topping track exited a week ago. No One Dies From Love is not strictly accurate as a sentiment – loads of people do – but the sci-fi video is fab.

1 1 1 2 HOPE – Stefan 340000
2 2 1 8 KISS IT BETTER – BirdSMITH 575400
3 4 3 2 NON HO L’ETA PER AMARTI – Gigliola Cinquetti 150000
4 3 1 11 SPACE MAN – Sam Ryder 913250
5 5 1 11 THE LAST GOODBYE – ODESZA featuring Bettye LaVette 1097000
6 13 6 2 LIGHTS OFF – We Are Domi 87000
7 7 7 2 HOLD ME CLOSER – Cordelia Jakobs 100000
8 6 1 8 AS IT WAS – Harry Styles 505600
9 14 9 6 ALL OF YOU – Duran Duran 145800
10 10 10 5 IT GETS DARK – Sigrid 134500

11 8 7 8 KALIMA MINOU – Shanguy & Mark Neve 227950
12 9 6 8 PARTY IN MY MIND – Dolores Forever 274250
13 11 8 8 NIGHTFALLS – Keith Urban 224900
14 24 14 3 FAVOURITE – Bananarama 65100
15 12 12 6 ABOUT DAMN TIME – Lizzo 127550
16 18 11 8 PYRAMIDS – Otto Knows 168200
17 19 12 8 DIE IN THE DISCO – Night Club 159450
18 21 18 6 LOST TRACK – HAIM 101150
19 23 19 7 CITY OF GODS (PART II) – Alicia Keys 92650
20 53 20 3 CLOSURE – Wrabel 38050

21 17 2 11 MY LOVE – Florence + The Machine 647500
22 22 1 14 AM GOLD – Train 803850
23 15 3 9 PURPLE ZONE – Soft Cell & Pet Shop Boys 481750
24 26 24 4 THERE ISN’T MUCH – Emeli Sande 60800
25 16 9 8 MONA LISA – mxmtoon 183200
26 20 14 8 DEEPER – ZIDA & Rat City 124450
27 27 27 4 FREE – Florence + The Machine 73300
28 50 28 3 MOVE – DNCE 37500
29 32 29 15 IT’S TOO LATE – Carole King 205750
30 66 30 3 MY DEMONS – Tears For Fears 30800

31 NEW 31 1 GRAPEJUICE – Harry Styles 17900
32 36 32 5 BAGGY TROUSERS – Madness 79200
33 73 33 3 OOH DO U FINK U R? – Suggs & Paul Weller 28300
34 34 34 6 FORGET ABOUT US – Albin Lee Meldau 83150
35 69 35 2 PARADISE – Thomas Rhett 23700
36 40 36 11 FROZEN – Madonna 121350
37 NEW 37 1 TURN UP THE SUNSHINE – Diana Ross & Tame Impala 17300
38 45 38 4 DINNER TABLE – Nina Nesbitt 46400
39 NEW 39 1 I HEAR YOU NOW – Jon & Vangelis 17100
40 57 40 2 BETTER DAYS – Liam Gallagher 27400

41 35 1 18 WISHFUL THINKING – LEON 1189850
42 49 42 4 WHY DOES IT HURT – Will Young 41250
43 25 25 4 FREEDOM – Jon Batiste 68400
44 46 44 8 SWEET HARMONY – The Beloved 78600
45 47 45 5 HAND IN GLOVE – Sandie Shaw & The Smiths 58200
46 30 10 10 OUT YONDER – Elle King 221850
47 28 19 8 STRANGE GAME – Mick Jagger 116300
48 29 1 5 THE HUSTLE – Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony 275000
49 31 7 11 ESCAPE – Kx5 (Kaskade & Deadmau5) featuring Hayla 260350
50 59 50 2 GIVE THAT WOLF A BANANA – Subwoolfer 22100

51 42 42 4 WHEN YOU’RE GONE – Shawn Mendes 45600
52 33 23 7 WILD CHILD – The Black Keys 103700
53 58 53 5 WATERLOO SUNSET – The Kinks 45450
54 51 2 20 LESS THAN ZERO – The Weeknd 863250
55 37 8 12 RUN – Becky Hill & Galantis 283200
56 56 1 38 I STILL HAVE FAITH IN YOU – ABBA 1542300
57 55 1 29 WHEN YOU DANCED WITH ME – ABBA 1552750
58 62 58 2 EBONY MCQUEEN – Dave Stewart 17600
59 77 59 2 ALICE AT THE BEACH – Nerina Pallot 14700
60 61 60 3 REMIND ME – Tom Grennan 25000

61 63 61 4 SOMEBODY WAS WATCHING OVER ME – Robert Plant & Alison Krauss 25900
62 39 19 14 TROUBLE – Troye Sivan & Jay Som 176900
63 60 1 29 ODE TO FREEDOM – ABBA 1275650
64 65 64 4 GREEN GREEN GRASS – George Ezra 26300
65 71 65 3 THAT THAT – PSY & SUGA 18200
66 41 8 12 HELLO WORLD – Alan Walker & Torine 262700
67 38 31 9 MAKE YOUR MARK – Seth Lakeman 123100
68 78 68 2 1X1 – Galantis 10800
69 79 69 2 TOO MUCH – Mark Ronson featuring Lucky Daye 10400
70 72 70 3 21 REASONS – Nathan Dawe x Ella Henderson 17200

71 74 71 3 VEGAS (HOUND DOG) – Doja Cat featuring Big Mama Thornton 16000
72 44 34 10 A LITTLE BIT OF LOVE – Weezer 112450
73 70 1 38 DON’T SHUT ME DOWN – ABBA 1798650
74 43 10 14 HALLUCINATION – Regard and Years and Years 254850
75 75 75 2 CRAZY WHAT LOVE CAN DO – David Guetta, Becky Hill & Ella Henderson 10000
76 80 76 2 MIXED EMOTIONS – Chase & Status 8800
77 NEW 77 1 COLOUR ME BLUE – Alfie Templeman 4600
78 NEW 78 1 LATE NIGHT TALKING – Harry Styles 4400
79 NEW 79 1 2STEP – Ed Sheeran featuring Lil Baby 4200
80 NEW 80 1 NO ONE DIES FROM LOVE – Tove Lo 4000

DROP OUTS
48 19 10 BONES – Imagine Dragons 152000
52 42 7 PRAYER – Secret Garden 79650
54 31 11 FORGIVE ME – Sofi Tukker & Mahmut Orhan 145700
64 3 18 BETTER DAYS – Neiked, Mae Muller & Polo G 655600
67 67 5 NEVER GIVE UP – Chronixx 30000
68 50 7 BLOW – Jackson Wang 56100
76 5 13 FUNNY GIRL – Father John Misty 415400

29th May 2022

It’s 3 weeks at 1 for Stefan still giving me some Hope during a rough time, and BirdSMITH helping me Kiss It Better keeping off 60’s fave Non Ho L’Eta for now. Bananarama get a first top 10 for 3 years, making it a 5th consecutive decade they have had top 10’a, Favourite becoming the 7th top 10 of this century to add to the dozen or so they had in the 20th century and well over 40 years of charting. That’s nowt though, compared to Diana Ross, who gets her first top 10 with new material since 1986’s Chain Reaction, Turn Up The Sunshine giving her a whopping 54 years of charting since Love Child hit my number 2, and a total of at least 18 top 10’s. Tame Impala, her other half, are on at least 6 top 10’s.

Nerina Pallot gets her first top 20 since Rousseau topped in 2015, her second number one in a chart career of 17 years, and in the week that Depeche Mode keyboardist Alan Wilder died unexpectedly, Enjoy The Silence, Personal Jesus and See You all return to my chart in tribute. Kate Bush’s classic 1985 chart-topper Running Up That Hill is back yet again (last time was 2012 Olympics-plugged, this time it’s a spot on the new series of Stranger Things boosting it into the itunes top 5). Craig David is back with some Robin S sampling on My Heart’s Been Waiting For You new at 70 some 22 years since debuting.

Blue unexpectedly return with Haven’t Found You Yet a decade on from their Eurovision come back and 21 years on from their debut. Tove Styrke, like Blue and Craig David is a former chart-topper, but in her case it’s her previous single she’s following up, YouYouYou she sings, just ahead of similarly-titled Yo Yo, Mika’s Eurovision-themed plug fresh from hosting and performing, and his first chart entry in 2 years, and his 18th in total in 15 years, including a number one with Rain in 2009. Which didnt get mentioned in his medley at all, preferring his big hits like Grace Kelly instead. Finally, Ava Max is back musing Maybe You’re The Problem.

1 1 1 3 HOPE – Stefan 510000
2 2 1 9 KISS IT BETTER – BirdSMITH 690400
3 3 3 3 NON HO L’ETA PER AMARTI – Gigliola Cinquetti 235000
4 4 1 12 SPACE MAN – Sam Ryder 978250
5 6 5 3 LIGHTS OFF – We Are Domi 147000
6 7 6 3 HOLD ME CLOSER – Cordelia Jakobs 155000
7 5 1 12 THE LAST GOODBYE – ODESZA featuring Bettye LaVette 1147000
8 8 1 9 AS IT WAS – Harry Styles 553600
9 14 9 4 FAVOURITE – Bananarama 110100
10 37 10 2 TURN UP THE SUNSHINE – Diana Ross & Tame Impala 59300

11 20 11 4 CLOSURE – Wrabel 75050
12 10 10 6 IT GETS DARK – Sigrid 169500
13 59 13 3 ALICE AT THE BEACH – Nerina Pallot 46700
14 9 9 7 ALL OF YOU – Duran Duran 174800
15 13 8 9 NIGHTFALLS – Keith Urban 251900
16 18 16 7 LOST TRACK – HAIM 126150
17 12 6 9 PARTY IN MY MIND – Dolores Forever 297250
18 11 7 9 KALIMA MINOU – Shanguy & Mark Neve 249950
19 77 19 2 COLOUR ME BLUE – Alfie Templeman 25600
20 15 12 7 ABOUT DAMN TIME – Lizzo 147550

21 19 19 8 CITY OF GODS (PART II) – Alicia Keys 112400
22 28 22 4 MOVE – DNCE 57000
23 24 23 5 THERE ISN’T MUCH – Emeli Sande 80050
24 30 24 4 MY DEMONS – Tears For Fears 49800
25 16 11 9 PYRAMIDS – Otto Knows 186950
26 22 1 15 AM GOLD – Train 822350
27 33 27 4 OOH DO U FINK U R? – Suggs & Paul Weller 46700
28 17 12 9 DIE IN THE DISCO – Night Club 177750
29 21 2 12 MY LOVE – Florence + The Machine 665700
30 31 30 2 GRAPEJUICE – Harry Styles 35900

31 34 31 7 FORGET ABOUT US – Albin Lee Meldau 101050
32 32 32 6 BAGGY TROUSERS – Madness 97000
33 23 3 10 PURPLE ZONE – Soft Cell & Pet Shop Boys 499450
34 36 34 12 FROZEN – Madonna 138950
35 35 35 3 PARADISE – Thomas Rhett 41200
36 38 36 5 DINNER TABLE – Nina Nesbitt 63800
37 39 37 2 I HEAR YOU NOW – Jon & Vangelis 34400
38 27 27 5 FREE – Florence + The Machine 90500
39 40 39 3 BETTER DAYS – Liam Gallagher 44500
40 42 40 5 WHY DOES IT HURT – Will Young 58250

41 25 9 9 MONA LISA – mxmtoon 197200
42 26 14 9 DEEPER – ZIDA & Rat City 138200
43 41 1 19 WISHFUL THINKING – LEON 1203350
44 44 44 9 SWEET HARMONY – The Beloved 91850
45 45 45 6 HAND IN GLOVE – Sandie Shaw & The Smiths 71200
46 64 46 5 GREEN GREEN GRASS – George Ezra 39050
47 50 47 3 GIVE THAT WOLF A BANANA – Subwoolfer 34500
48 53 48 6 WATERLOO SUNSET – The Kinks 57750
49 58 49 3 EBONY MCQUEEN – Dave Stewart 29700
50 60 50 4 REMIND ME – Tom Grennan 35000

51 43 25 5 FREEDOM – Jon Batiste 80150
52 65 52 4 THAT THAT – PSY & SUGA 29700
53 NEW 53 1 ENJOY THE SILENCE – Depeche Mode 11250
54 61 54 5 SOMEBODY WAS WATCHING OVER ME – Robert Plant & Alison Krauss 36900
55 46 10 11 OUT YONDER – Elle King 232650
56 56 1 39 I STILL HAVE FAITH IN YOU – ABBA 1552900
57 54 2 21 LESS THAN ZERO – The Weeknd 873650
58 57 1 30 WHEN YOU DANCED WITH ME – ABBA 1562950
59 47 19 9 STRANGE GAME – Mick Jagger 116400
60 49 7 12 ESCAPE – Kx5 (Kaskade & Deadmau5) featuring Hayla 270350

61 68 61 3 1X1 – Galantis 18300
62 51 42 5 WHEN YOU’RE GONE – Shawn Mendes 53000
63 70 63 4 21 REASONS – Nathan Dawe x Ella Henderson 24400
64 69 64 3 TOO MUCH – Mark Ronson featuring Lucky Daye 17500
65 63 1 30 ODE TO FREEDOM – ABBA 1282650
66 71 66 4 VEGAS (HOUND DOG) – Doja Cat featuring Big Mama Thornton 22800
67 75 67 3 CRAZY WHAT LOVE CAN DO – David Guetta, Becky Hill & Ella Henderson 16600
68 79 68 2 2STEP – Ed Sheeran featuring Lil Baby 10600
69 NEW 69 1 RUNNING UP THAT HILL (MAKE A DEAL WITH GOD) – Kate Bush 6200
70 NEW 70 1 MY HEART’S BEEN WAITING FOR YOU – Craig David featuring Duvall 6000

71 76 71 3 MIXED EMOTIONS – Chase & Status 14600
72 78 72 2 LATE NIGHT TALKING – Harry Styles 10000
73 73 1 39 DON’T SHUT ME DOWN – ABBA 1804050
74 NEW 74 1 HAVEN’T FOUND YOU YET – Blue 5200
75 80 75 2 NO ONE DIES FROM LOVE – Tove Lo 9000
76 NEW 76 1 YOUYOUYOU – Tove Styrke 4800
77 NEW 77 1 PERSONAL JESUS – Depeche Mode 4600
78 NEW 78 1 MAYBE YOU’RE THE PROBLEM – Ava Max 4400
79 NEW 79 1 YO YO – MIKA 4200
80 NEW 80 1 SEE YOU – Depeche Mode 4000

DROP OUTS
29 29 15 IT’S TOO LATE – Carole King 205750
48 1 5 THE HUSTLE – Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony 275000
52 23 7 WILD CHILD – The Black Keys 103700
55 8 12 RUN – Becky Hill & Galantis 283200
62 19 14 TROUBLE – Troye Sivan & Jay Som 176900
66 8 12 HELLO WORLD – Alan Walker & Torine 262700
67 31 9 MAKE YOUR MARK – Seth Lakeman 123100
72 34 10 A LITTLE BIT OF LOVE – Weezer 112450
74 10 14 HALLUCINATION – Regard and Years and Years 254850

My October to December 2021 charts

puerto Rico, Gran canaria

3rd October 2021

It’s 3 weeks on top for Don’t Shut Me Down, and 5 in total for ABBA, their longest run with new material since The Day Before You Came had 6 weeks on top in 1982. Billy Idol gets his highest chart slot since 1984’s chart-topping Eyes Without A Face, not leaving a Bitter Taste at all, and Tori Amos gets a first-ever top 5, 20-odd years late. Great Van Fleet rocket into the top 10, Heat Above and there’s more Heat Waves with a 40 place leap from Glass Animals to 16. Sneaker Pimps get a 2nd top 10 23 years on from 6 Underground hitting the top spot.

Dermot Kennedy gets his first top 20, and Duran Duran are well over 20 top 20’s on their 40th Anniversary. Blossoms have a 30-place climb for a 7th top 40, and Stereophonics a 10th. Highest new entry is from Agnes, at 32 Here Comes The Night unrelated to previous songs of the same name (eg The Beach Boys), for a 6th chart entry in 12 years, including 2 huge chart-toppers in Release me and I Trance in 2009 and 2019. Another Agnes, Obel, gets a 5th chart entry in 9 years with Fuel To Fire.

Mariah Carey’s Fantasy is to feature in a great RomCom fantasy movie – and she bounces back now at 50 I’ve seen Free Guy, a great fun movie with Ryan Reynolds. Sufjan Stevens joins Angelo De Augustine for his 4th chart foray, 15 years since Chicago went top 10, and 4 years since Mystery Of Love topped my chart. Back To Oz following in the traditions of previous Oz-titled or themed records from Scissor Sisters and many others. Ding dong!

Also new in, Purple Disco Machine return with a bit of Dopamine, BURNS boogie in with dance track Talamanca, Tom Grennan follows-up, and Ewan McVicar revamps Rufus’ 1974 chart debut for Rufus, Tell Me Something Good, a Stevie Wonder song gifted to Chaka Khan and friends, and US smash but not a UK hit, annoyingly. I charted it though, as by the time I was 16 I was getting very annoyed at the numbers of non-US-hits when UK dross littered up part of the UK charts. Can’t say that these days as both US and UK charts are littered up with the same dross.

1 1 1 5 DON’T SHUT ME DOWN – ABBA 740000
2 2 1 5 I STILL HAVE FAITH IN YOU – ABBA 685000
3 4 3 6 BITTER TASTE – Billy Idol 257300
4 7 4 6 A NIGHTINGALE SANG IN BERKELY SQUARE – Tori Amos 184900
5 3 3 8 DIRT – Keane 445400
6 6 4 6 ON THE WRONG SIDE – Lindsey Buckingham 299000
7 39 7 2 HEAT ABOVE – Greta Van Fleet 67100
8 9 8 6 GOODBYE – LP 184200
9 14 9 5 ALIBIS – Sneaker Pimps 104600
10 10 10 6 SUNSHINE – Liam Payne 159450

11 8 8 6 I DON’T MIND – Lindsey Buckingham 171150
12 5 3 11 WAVES OF BLUE – Majid Jordan 566700
13 15 13 19 DON’T LET THE SUN CATCH YOU CRYING – Gerry & The Pacemakers 262350
14 18 14 2 MY UNIVERSE – Coldplay x BTS 51000
15 12 12 8 IF SOMETHING’S GONNA KILL ME (IT MIGHT AS WELL BE LOVE) – The Stranglers 173900
16 56 16 4 HEAT WAVES – Glass Animals 45600
17 11 7 8 COLD HEART (PNAU REMIX) – Elton John & Dua Lipa 309000
18 13 1 19 YOU – Regard, Troye Sivan & Tate McRae 1201000
19 40 19 4 BETTER DAYS – Dermot Kennedy 55600
20 58 20 2 ANNIVERSARY – Duran Duran 30200

21 25 21 7 YOU & I – Navos & HARLEE 84900
22 24 22 4 LOVE UNDER PRESSURE – James Blunt 55100
23 17 9 8 PSYCHO – Maisie Peters 212050
24 16 5 8 YOU CAN CALL ME – Texas 325250
25 19 13 8 HOPE – Sigma & Carla Marie 175950
26 20 4 11 MOVE WITH ME – Mad Circuit 319700
27 23 10 11 KISS MY (UH-OH) – Anne-Marie & Little Mix 233700
28 28 22 8 FLY AWAY – Tones And I 126100
29 32 29 4 DUM DUM DIDDLE – Abba 66550
30 60 30 3 CARE FOR – Blossoms 32000

31 22 8 12 I AM WHAT I AM (COPENHAGEN 2021 WORLDPRIDE ANTHEM) – Aqua 258650
32 NEW 32 1 HERE COMES THE NIGHT – Agnes 17800
33 26 1 20 LEAVE BEFORE YOU LOVE ME – Marshmello x Jonas Brothers 1321850
34 38 34 6 FLASHBACK (COLLRBONE REMIX) – Javiera Mena featuring Collrbone 70300
35 35 35 3 ONE MORE TIME – Rod Stewart 52500
36 27 18 11 BELIEVE – Anna Of The North 171850
37 53 37 4 HANGING ON YOUR HINGES – Stereophonics 43850
38 29 29 7 WILD HEARTS – Keith Urban 85200
39 48 39 3 SEASIDE – Diane Warren, Rita Ora, Sofia Reyes & Reik 35800
40 30 30 9 DON’T GO YET – Camila Cabello 130750

41 21 14 9 TAKE MY BREATH – The Weeknd 188250
42 31 31 7 LOVE LIKE THAT – Lola Lennox 98050
43 47 43 4 AS GOOD AS NEW – Abba 47850
44 63 44 3 ON MY WAY – Natalie Imbruglia 25250
45 36 36 5 ETERNAL LOVE – JLS 62450
46 50 46 6 DO THE TELEVISION – Jake Shears 51350
47 42 1 13 IT MUST BE LOVE – Labi Siffre 645050
48 79 48 2 SPIRIT POWER AND SOUL – Johnny Marr 16500
49 49 49 6 MY HEART GOES (LA DI DA) – Becky Hill & Topic 58600
50 RE 50 6 FANTASY – Mariah Carey 43600

51 33 23 7 TAKE ME FOR A RIDE – Steps 110450
52 37 2 15 MORE THAN A WOMAN (SG’S PARADISE EDIT) – Bee Gees x SG Lewis 907800
53 34 34 9 GOOD 4 U – Olivia Rodrigo 121500
54 NEW 54 1 BACK TO OZ – Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine 11000
55 44 44 7 DRIVE – Clean Bandit & Topic featuring Wes Nelson 66350
56 66 56 3 IF IT’S LOVE – Sting 21800
57 54 1 19 GYPSIES, TRAMPS AND THIEVES – Cher 726600
58 77 58 2 JUSTIFIED – Kacey Musgraves 14800
59 51 1 21 GOD ONLY KNOWS – For KING & COUNTRY & Dolly Parton 928200
60 65 60 6 HONKY TONK WOMEN – The Rolling Stones 42200

61 43 6 14 FOLLOWING THE SUN – SUPER-HI and Neeka 378550
62 64 62 8 OUT OUT – Joel Corry x Jax Jones featuring Charli XCX & Saweetie 52400
63 41 26 9 SKATE – Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak & Silk Sonic 147500
64 68 64 4 BROKEN LAND – The Adventures 25100
65 52 10 13 CALL ON ME – RAYE 250650
66 72 66 4 RISK IT ALL – Ella Henderson, House Gospel Choir & Just Kiddin’ 22600
67 45 10 11 RED BUTTON – AJA 178800
68 74 68 3 WHO – Donny Osmond 16800
69 55 3 18 TOO MUCH HISTORY – Jack Savoretti 750550
70 46 46 6 ONE NIGHT – Griff 48300

71 67 1 21 SARA – Fleetwood Mac 635600
72 75 72 5 MISTY BLUE – Dorothy Moore 24200
73 NEW 73 1 DOPAMINE – Purple Disco Machine featuring Eyelar 5400
74 78 74 4 SHE’S A RAINBOW – The Rolling Stones 18000
75 80 75 2 THAT’S WHAT I WANT – Lil Nas X 9000
76 NEW 76 1 TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD – Ewan McVicar featuring Rufus & Chaka Khan 4800
77 62 18 12 CHASING KITES – Georgie 182050
78 NEW 78 1 TALAMANCA – BURNS 4400
79 NEW 79 1 DON’T BREAK THE HEART – Tom Grennan 4200
80 NEW 80 1 FUEL TO FIRE – Agnes Obel 4000

Drop outs

57 38 7 PRESSURE MACHINE – The Killers 80750
59 39 6 SECRET LIFE – Jack Savoretti 63950
61 50 5 WHILE YOU’RE STILL YOUNG – Sophie Ellis-Bextor & The Feeling 46100
69 69 5 MAGICAL – Laura Mvula 27600
70 39 7 SAY WHAT YOU MEAN – Raleigh Ritchie 69050
71 61 6 THE SECRET HE HAD MISSED – Manic Street Preachers featuring Julia Cumming 39100
73 15 11 WAIT AROUND – Kyle Falconer 177950
76 50 5 FLYING ON THE GROUND – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 41600

10th October 2021

It’s a 4th week on top for Abba’s Don’t Shut Me Down, and a 6th double-top week, as Billy Idol is kept off the top with a great single that would otherwise be fighting with a 3rd great Agnes dance track for the top spot. Both have had number ones before though, so it’s not quite so unlucky as it might have been. Agnes gets her 3rd top 5, and Duran Duran make it 40 years of top 10’s since Planet Earth & Girls On Film started the ball rolling. Coldplay have a mere 21 years of top 10’s, now, though BTS grab a first on their coat-tails.

Billie Eilish’s fabulous Bond theme is back, as I’ve just seen the film, new at 13 18 months after going top 2, and Stereophonics get only their 4th top 20 ever – they’ve had a long list of “likes” but previous few “loves” in their 25-year career, Maybe Tomorrow hit 5 in 2003, My Friends hit 7 in 2008, and Dakota a big chart-topper in 2005, so 13-years of waiting for another. It’s a quiet week for new entries, been too hectic to pay proper attention to new stuff, so it’s just the new Tears For Fears track extending their generally fab singles career to 39 years, and Jungle making it a hat-trick off the latest album. There are 2 1974 Glam Rock goodies (forgotten, for the most part, these days) following the death of John Rossall from The Glitter Band. Angel Face almost topped the UK chart (and got higher than old boss Glitter’s dirge of the time, hah! So deserved!) and Let’s Get Together Again I bought from a record shop in Gloucester after I’d been skiving rugby and football by going swimming instead (with permission of the school), and it was covered by the Human League in the 80’s.

1 1 1 6 DON’T SHUT ME DOWN – ABBA 910000
2 2 1 6 I STILL HAVE FAITH IN YOU – ABBA 800000
3 3 3 7 BITTER TASTE – Billy Idol 352300
4 32 4 2 HERE COMES THE NIGHT – Agnes 82800
5 7 5 3 HEAT ABOVE – Greta Van Fleet 127100
6 6 4 7 ON THE WRONG SIDE – Lindsey Buckingham 354000
7 9 7 6 ALIBIS – Sneaker Pimps 154600
8 4 4 7 A NIGHTINGALE SANG IN BERKELY SQUARE – Tori Amos 232900
9 20 9 3 ANNIVERSARY – Duran Duran 75200
10 14 10 3 MY UNIVERSE – Coldplay x BTS 93000

11 13 11 20 DON’T LET THE SUN CATCH YOU CRYING – Gerry & The Pacemakers 299350
12 12 3 12 WAVES OF BLUE – Majid Jordan 601700
13 NEW 13 1 NO TIME TO DIE – Billie Eilish 32000
14 5 3 9 DIRT – Keane 474400
15 16 15 5 HEAT WAVES – Glass Animals 72600
16 10 10 7 SUNSHINE – Liam Payne 184450
17 8 8 7 GOODBYE – LP 207200
18 30 18 4 CARE FOR – Blossoms 54000
19 19 19 5 BETTER DAYS – Dermot Kennedy 76600
20 37 20 5 HANGING ON YOUR HINGES – Stereophonics 63850

21 11 8 7 I DON’T MIND – Lindsey Buckingham 190900
22 22 22 5 LOVE UNDER PRESSURE – James Blunt 74600
23 15 12 9 IF SOMETHING’S GONNA KILL ME (IT MIGHT AS WELL BE LOVE) – The Stranglers 193150
24 24 5 9 YOU CAN CALL ME – Texas 344250
25 18 1 20 YOU – Regard, Troye Sivan & Tate McRae 1219750
26 17 7 9 COLD HEART (PNAU REMIX) – Elton John & Dua Lipa 327500
27 29 27 5 DUM DUM DIDDLE – Abba 84950
28 53 28 10 GOOD 4 U – Olivia Rodrigo 139800
29 34 29 7 FLASHBACK (COLLRBONE REMIX) – Javiera Mena featuring Collrbone 88500
30 23 9 9 PSYCHO – Maisie Peters 230050

31 26 4 12 MOVE WITH ME – Mad Circuit 337600
32 28 22 9 FLY AWAY – Tones And I 143900
33 44 33 4 ON MY WAY – Natalie Imbruglia 42950
34 27 10 12 KISS MY (UH-OH) – Anne-Marie & Little Mix 251300
35 45 35 6 ETERNAL LOVE – JLS 79950
36 43 36 5 AS GOOD AS NEW – Abba 65250
37 39 37 4 SEASIDE – Diane Warren, Rita Ora, Sofia Reyes & Reik 53100
38 73 38 2 DOPAMINE – Purple Disco Machine featuring Eyelar 22600
39 21 21 8 YOU & I – Navos & HARLEE 102000
40 25 13 9 HOPE – Sigma & Carla Marie 192950

41 33 1 21 LEAVE BEFORE YOU LOVE ME – Marshmello x Jonas Brothers 1335850
42 31 8 13 I AM WHAT I AM (COPENHAGEN 2021 WORLDPRIDE ANTHEM) – Aqua 272400
43 36 18 12 BELIEVE – Anna Of The North 185350
44 46 44 7 DO THE TELEVISION – Jake Shears 64600
45 78 45 2 TALAMANCA – BURNS 17400
46 48 46 3 SPIRIT POWER AND SOUL – Johnny Marr 29250
47 50 47 7 FANTASY – Mariah Carey 56100
48 38 29 8 WILD HEARTS – Keith Urban 97500
49 49 49 7 MY HEART GOES (LA DI DA) – Becky Hill & Topic 70700
50 56 50 4 IF IT’S LOVE – Sting 33800

51 54 51 2 BACK TO OZ – Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine 22750
52 80 52 2 FUEL TO FIRE – Agnes Obel 15500
53 40 30 10 DON’T GO YET – Camila Cabello 142000
54 35 35 4 ONE MORE TIME – Rod Stewart 63500
55 41 14 10 TAKE MY BREATH – The Weeknd 199050
56 75 56 3 THAT’S WHAT I WANT – Lil Nas X 19600
57 60 57 7 HONKY TONK WOMEN – The Rolling Stones 52600
58 58 58 3 JUSTIFIED – Kacey Musgraves 25000
59 42 31 8 LOVE LIKE THAT – Lola Lennox 108150
60 64 60 5 BROKEN LAND – The Adventures 35100

61 57 1 20 GYPSIES, TRAMPS AND THIEVES – Cher 734100
62 62 62 9 OUT OUT – Joel Corry x Jax Jones featuring Charli XCX & Saweetie 59800
63 68 63 4 WHO – Donny Osmond 24000
64 51 23 8 TAKE ME FOR A RIDE – Steps 117550
65 76 65 2 TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD – Ewan McVicar featuring Rufus & Chaka Khan 11800
66 59 1 22 GOD ONLY KNOWS – For KING & COUNTRY & Dolly Parton 935000
67 67 10 12 RED BUTTON – AJA 185400
68 55 44 8 DRIVE – Clean Bandit & Topic featuring Wes Nelson 72450
69 72 69 6 MISTY BLUE – Dorothy Moore 30400
70 79 70 2 DON’T BREAK THE HEART – Tom Grennan 10200

71 NEW 71 1 ANGEL FACE – The Glitter Band 5800
72 NEW 72 1 THE TIPPING POINT – Tears For Fears 5600
73 65 10 14 CALL ON ME – RAYE 256050
74 NEW 74 1 ALL OF THE TIME – Jungle 5200
75 NEW 75 1 LET’S GET TOGETHER AGAIN – The Glitter Band 5000

DROP OUTS
47 1 13 IT MUST BE LOVE – Labi Siffre 645050
52 2 15 MORE THAN A WOMAN (SG’S PARADISE EDIT) – Bee Gees x SG Lewis 907800
61 6 14 FOLLOWING THE SUN – SUPER-HI and Neeka 378550
63 26 9 SKATE – Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak & Silk Sonic 147500
66 66 4 RISK IT ALL – Ella Henderson, House Gospel Choir & Just Kiddin’ 22600
69 3 18 TOO MUCH HISTORY – Jack Savoretti 750550
70 46 6 ONE NIGHT – Griff 48300
71 1 21 SARA – Fleetwood Mac 635600
74 74 4 SHE’S A RAINBOW – The Rolling Stones 18000
77 18 12 CHASING KITES – Georgie 182050

17th October 2021

It’s 5 weeks on top for Don’t Shut Me Down, holding off Agnes from getting her 3rd chart-topper, meaning the entire top 3 is Swedish for the first time, and all Song Contest winners songs years after the event. What were the chances? Well, I have always been partial to Swedish pop! Gerry Marsden finally gets his deserved posthumous top 10 slot with childhood fave Don’t Let The Sun, and Dopamine shoots up to 8. I could do with some dopamine lately, so if that’s the best I can do, I’ll take it.

Johnny Marr is top 20 for the second solo time, but he’s had zillions in bands and guest spots dating back to 1983, and Olivia Rodrigo finally hits the top 20 after 11 weeks on the chart and about 5 months late. Joy Crookes is highest new entry with the delicious When You Were Mine at 32, and Emma Steinbakken debuts with Sorry. No I”M sorry – I forgot to chart it last week! Texas have an Unbelievable 4th charting track off the Hi album, and Coldplay make it 3 from their new album, as Humankind slides in behind.

James Morrison returns to extend his chart run to 15 years (!), his 8th, and Emeli Sande makes it 10 years and a 14th. Gorillaz debut with an old track from a decade ago that I can’t find listed as charting for me – bizarre as I recall liking it, so I guess I just must have forgot to chart it! It’s been selling on itunes, so a good excuse. Sigrid follows-up, Kygo joins forces with X Ambassadors and both return to the charts, Westlife are on a comeback 10 years since they last charted, and 22 years since they first charted, and a surprisingly numerous run of 21 chart entries, 3 of them top 10’s. Who knew! Belinda Carlisle covers 60’s golden oldie Get Together, which charted for The Dave Clark 5 in the UK (and my charts in 1970), and finally, Adele is back at 30. As the world goes Adele mad her new tune just about beats Westlife’s return for me. Oops!

1 1 1 7 DON’T SHUT ME DOWN – ABBA 1080000
2 4 2 3 HERE COMES THE NIGHT – Agnes 197800
3 2 1 7 I STILL HAVE FAITH IN YOU – ABBA 885000
4 3 3 8 BITTER TASTE – Billy Idol 417300
5 5 5 4 HEAT ABOVE – Greta Van Fleet 187100
6 11 6 21 DON’T LET THE SUN CATCH YOU CRYING – Gerry & The Pacemakers 354350
7 7 7 7 ALIBIS – Sneaker Pimps 204600
8 38 8 3 DOPAMINE – Purple Disco Machine featuring Eyelar 70600
9 6 4 8 ON THE WRONG SIDE – Lindsey Buckingham 399000
10 10 10 4 MY UNIVERSE – Coldplay x BTS 135000

11 9 9 4 ANNIVERSARY – Duran Duran 112200
12 13 12 2 NO TIME TO DIE – Billie Eilish 67000
13 46 13 4 SPIRIT POWER AND SOUL – Johnny Marr 61250
14 18 14 6 CARE FOR – Blossoms 83000
15 15 15 6 HEAT WAVES – Glass Animals 99600
16 12 3 13 WAVES OF BLUE – Majid Jordan 626700
17 20 17 6 HANGING ON YOUR HINGES – Stereophonics 86850
18 16 10 8 SUNSHINE – Liam Payne 206450
19 22 19 6 LOVE UNDER PRESSURE – James Blunt 95600
20 28 20 11 GOOD 4 U – Olivia Rodrigo 159800

21 8 4 8 A NIGHTINGALE SANG IN BERKELY SQUARE – Tori Amos 252650
22 26 7 10 COLD HEART (PNAU REMIX) – Elton John & Dua Lipa 347000
23 27 23 6 DUM DUM DIDDLE – ABBA 104200
24 17 8 8 GOODBYE – LP 226200
25 19 19 6 BETTER DAYS – Dermot Kennedy 95350
26 14 3 10 DIRT – Keane 492900
27 35 28 7 ETERNAL LOVE – JLS 98350
28 33 28 5 ON MY WAY – Natalie Imbruglia 61250
29 51 29 3 BACK TO OZ – Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine 40950
30 21 8 8 I DON’T MIND – Lindsey Buckingham 208900

31 36 31 6 AS GOOD AS NEW – ABBA 83150
32 NEW 32 1 WHEN YOU WERE MINE – Joy Crookes 17800
33 37 33 5 SEASIDE – Diane Warren, Rita Ora, Sofia Reyes & Reik 70800
34 25 1 21 YOU – Regard, Troye Sivan & Tate McRae 1237350
35 23 12 10 IF SOMETHING’S GONNA KILL ME (IT MIGHT AS WELL BE LOVE) – The Stranglers 210650
36 24 5 10 YOU CAN CALL ME – Texas 361750
37 52 37 3 FUEL TO FIRE – Agnes Obel 32800
38 45 38 3 TALAMANCA – BURNS 34600
39 30 9 10 PSYCHO – Maisie Peters 247150
40 50 40 5 IF IT’S LOVE – Sting 50800

41 29 29 8 FLASHBACK (COLLRBONE REMIX) – Javiera Mena featuring Collrbone 102500
42 31 4 13 MOVE WITH ME – Mad Circuit 351350
43 32 22 10 FLY AWAY – Tones And I 157400
44 47 44 8 FANTASY – Mariah Carey 69350
45 34 10 13 KISS MY (UH-OH) – Anne-Marie & Little Mix 264300
46 NEW 46 1 SORRY – Emma Steinbakken 12750
47 58 47 4 JUSTIFIED – Kacey Musgraves 37500
48 56 48 4 THAT’S WHAT I WANT – Lil Nas X 31900
49 39 21 9 YOU & I – Navos & HARLEE 114100
50 41 1 22 LEAVE BEFORE YOU LOVE ME – Marshmello x Jonas Brothers 1347850

51 57 51 8 HONKY TONK WOMEN – The Rolling Stones 64350
52 72 52 2 THE TIPPING POINT – Tears For Fears 17100
53 40 13 10 HOPE – Sigma & Carla Marie 204200
54 74 54 2 ALL OF THE TIME – Jungle 16200
55 42 8 14 I AM WHAT I AM (COPENHAGEN 2021 WORLDPRIDE ANTHEM) – Aqua 283200
56 60 56 6 BROKEN LAND – The Adventures 45700
57 43 18 13 BELIEVE – Anna Of The North 195750
58 NEW 58 1 UNBELIEVABLE – Texas 10200
59 NEW 59 1 HUMANKIND – Coldplay 10100
60 63 60 5 WHO – Donny Osmond 34000

61 65 61 3 TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD – Ewan McVicar featuring Rufus & Chaka Khan 19300
62 48 29 9 WILD HEARTS – Keith Urban 104900
63 NEW 63 1 WHO’S GONNA LOVE ME NOW? – James Morrison 7200
64 70 64 3 DON’T BREAK THE HEART – Tom Grennan 17300
65 69 65 7 MISTY BLUE – Dorothy Moore 37400
66 NEW 66 1 FAMILY – Emeli Sande 6800
67 71 67 2 ANGEL FACE – The Glitter Band 12400
68 NEW 68 1 ON MELANCHOLY HILL – Gorillaz 6400
69 61 1 21 GYPSIES, TRAMPS AND THIEVES – Cher 740300
70 NEW 70 1 BURNING BRIDGES – Sigrid 6000

71 NEW 71 1 UNDENIABLE – Kygo featuring X Ambassadors 5800
72 75 72 2 LET’S GET TOGETHER AGAIN – The Glitter Band 10600
73 NEW 73 1 GET TOGETHER – Belinda Carlisle 5400
74 NEW 74 1 EASY ON ME – Adele 5200
75 NEW 75 1 STARLIGHT – Westlife 5000

DROP OUTS
44 44 7 DO THE TELEVISION – Jake Shears 64600
49 49 7 MY HEART GOES (LA DI DA) – Becky Hill & Topic 70700
53 30 10 DON’T GO YET – Camila Cabello 142000
54 35 4 ONE MORE TIME – Rod Stewart 63500
55 14 10 TAKE MY BREATH – The Weeknd 199050
59 31 8 LOVE LIKE THAT – Lola Lennox 108150
62 62 9 OUT OUT – Joel Corry x Jax Jones featuring Charli XCX & Saweetie 59800
64 23 8 TAKE ME FOR A RIDE – Steps 117550
66 1 22 GOD ONLY KNOWS – For KING & COUNTRY & Dolly Parton 935000
67 10 12 RED BUTTON – AJA 185400
68 44 8 DRIVE – Clean Bandit & Topic featuring Wes Nelson 72450
73 10 14 CALL ON ME – RAYE 256050

24th October 2021

It’s not ABBA on top! Fellow Swedish music contest winner Agnes has grabbed her 3rd chart-topper, following on from Release Me in the noughties, I Trance in the teenies, and now a 3rd in the twenties. I should note that ABBA have topped my charts in every decade since the 70’s, either with oldies, unreleased album tracks, or recharting albums with uncharted album tracks and B sides, so that’s twice as many decades, but only 3 with new material. ABBA meanwhile drop the unreleased Just a Notion from 1978, new in at 16 – I can see why it seemed out of place in the year they released mighty tracks like Eagle, Summer Night City and Thank You For The Music, 2 of them not even UK singles!! It’s cute though. Frida, of ABBA, does backing on Harpo’s 1975 flop Moviestar, a Swedish pop star and European hit. The UK finally warmed to it a year after I’d charted it and bought it, so it’s back for a 3rd top 10 run. So that makes 6 ABBA-related tracks in the chart.

Joy Crookes climbs bigly into the 20, Texas make it an unbelievable 4th top 30 of the year, and Gorillaz decade-old flop finally gets the chart placing it deserves. I must say I prefer it to recent stuff. Kylie grabs Ollie for some duet Disco-prodding, without actually improving on the original album, Ed Sheeran gets a second charter of 2021, Shivers, and Miles Kane is back for some solo action for a 7th chart entry in a decade – not including his 6 Last Shadow Puppets side project charting tracks with Alex Turner.

1 2 1 4 HERE COMES THE NIGHT – Agnes 367800
2 1 1 8 DON’T SHUT ME DOWN – ABBA 1195000
3 3 1 8 I STILL HAVE FAITH IN YOU – ABBA 970000
4 4 3 9 BITTER TASTE – Billy Idol 482300
5 6 5 22 DON’T LET THE SUN CATCH YOU CRYING – Gerry & The Pacemakers 414350
6 8 6 4 DOPAMINE – Purple Disco Machine featuring Eyelar 125600
7 5 5 5 HEAT ABOVE – Greta Van Fleet 237100
8 NEW 8 1 MOVIESTAR – Harpo featuring Frida 48000
9 10 9 5 MY UNIVERSE – Coldplay x BTS 180000
10 7 7 8 ALIBIS – Sneaker Pimps 246600

11 11 9 5 ANNIVERSARY – Duran Duran 149200
12 9 4 9 ON THE WRONG SIDE – Lindsey Buckingham 434000
13 13 13 5 SPIRIT POWER AND SOUL – Johnny Marr 93250
14 14 14 7 CARE FOR – Blossoms 112000
15 15 15 7 HEAT WAVES – Glass Animals 126600
16 NEW 16 1 JUST A NOTION – ABBA 25000
17 16 3 14 WAVES OF BLUE – Majid Jordan 649700
18 32 18 2 WHEN YOU WERE MINE – Joy Crookes 39800
19 23 19 7 DUM DUM DIDDLE – ABBA 125200
20 12 12 3 NO TIME TO DIE – Billie Eilish 87000

21 29 21 4 BACK TO OZ – Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine 60700
22 37 22 4 FUEL TO FIRE – Agnes Obel 52300
23 17 17 7 HANGING ON YOUR HINGES – Stereophonics 106100
24 18 10 9 SUNSHINE – Liam Payne 225450
25 22 7 11 COLD HEART (PNAU REMIX) – Elton John & Dua Lipa 365750
26 21 4 9 A NIGHTINGALE SANG IN BERKELY SQUARE – Tori Amos 271150
27 58 27 2 UNBELIEVABLE – Texas 28600
28 54 28 3 ALL OF THE TIME – Jungle 34500
29 31 29 7 AS GOOD AS NEW – ABBA 101350
30 46 30 2 SORRY – Emma Steinbakken 30750

31 19 19 7 LOVE UNDER PRESSURE – James Blunt 113500
32 26 3 11 DIRT – Keane 510700
33 38 33 4 TALAMANCA – BURNS 52300
34 24 8 9 GOODBYE – LP 243800
35 68 35 2 ON MELANCHOLY HILL – Gorillaz 23900
36 48 36 5 THAT’S WHAT I WANT – Lil Nas X 49300
37 20 20 12 GOOD 4 U – Olivia Rodrigo 177100
38 27 28 8 ETERNAL LOVE – JLS 115550
39 47 39 5 JUSTIFIED – Kacey Musgraves 54600
40 25 19 7 BETTER DAYS – Dermot Kennedy 112350

41 28 28 6 ON MY WAY – Natalie Imbruglia 75250
42 34 1 22 YOU – Regard, Troye Sivan & Tate McRae 1251100
43 30 8 9 I DON’T MIND – Lindsey Buckingham 222400
44 33 33 6 SEASIDE – Diane Warren, Rita Ora, Sofia Reyes & Reik 84050
45 52 45 3 THE TIPPING POINT – Tears For Fears 30100
46 35 12 11 IF SOMETHING’S GONNA KILL ME (IT MIGHT AS WELL BE LOVE) – The Stranglers 223400
47 51 47 9 HONKY TONK WOMEN – The Rolling Stones 76850
48 66 48 2 FAMILY – Emeli Sande 19100
49 36 5 11 YOU CAN CALL ME – Texas 373850
50 59 50 2 HUMANKIND – Coldplay 22100

51 39 9 11 PSYCHO – Maisie Peters 258900
52 56 52 7 BROKEN LAND – The Adventures 57200
53 40 40 6 IF IT’S LOVE – Sting 62050
54 42 4 14 MOVE WITH ME – Mad Circuit 362350
55 63 55 2 WHO’S GONNA LOVE ME NOW? – James Morrison 18000
56 NEW 56 1 A SECOND TO MIDNIGHT – Kylie Minogue & Years & Years 10600
57 61 57 4 TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD – Ewan McVicar featuring Rufus & Chaka Khan 29700
58 50 1 23 LEAVE BEFORE YOU LOVE ME – Marshmello x Jonas Brothers 1358050
59 71 59 2 UNDENIABLE – Kygo featuring X Ambassadors 15900
60 60 60 6 WHO – Donny Osmond 44000

61 44 44 9 FANTASY – Mariah Carey 76850
62 45 10 14 KISS MY (UH-OH) – Anne-Marie & Little Mix 271700
63 65 63 8 MISTY BLUE – Dorothy Moore 44600
64 64 64 4 DON’T BREAK THE HEART – Tom Grennan 24400
65 41 29 9 FLASHBACK (COLLRBONE REMIX) – Javiera Mena featuring Collrbone 109500
66 70 66 2 BURNING BRIDGES – Sigrid 12800
67 67 67 3 ANGEL FACE – The Glitter Band 19000
68 43 22 11 FLY AWAY – Tones And I 163800
69 73 69 2 GET TOGETHER – Belinda Carlisle 11600
70 72 70 3 LET’S GET TOGETHER AGAIN – The Glitter Band 16600

71 74 71 2 EASY ON ME – Adele 11000
72 NEW 72 1 SHIVERS – Ed Sheeran 5600
73 75 73 2 STARLIGHT – Westlife 5400
74 69 1 22 GYPSIES, TRAMPS AND THIEVES – Cher 745500
75 NEW 75 1 SEE YA WHEN I SEE YA – Miles Kane 5000

DROP OUTS
49 21 9 YOU & I – Navos & HARLEE 114100
53 13 10 HOPE – Sigma & Carla Marie 204200
55 8 14 I AM WHAT I AM (COPENHAGEN 2021 WORLDPRIDE ANTHEM) – Aqua 283200
57 18 13 BELIEVE – Anna Of The North 195750
62 29 9 WILD HEARTS – Keith Urban 104900

31st October 2021

It’s 2 weeks on top Agnes, Here Comes The Night still banging dance, but being chased by Purple Disco Machine’s Dopamine at 2, both of them nodding to classic disco era tracks (Abba/Agnes, and Crown Heights Affair/Purple Disco). I still love disco, obviously! Texas get a big climb to 5, the lovely Unbelievable giving them 4 from 4 top 10’s from the Hi album, that hasn’t happened since 2005/6. Tears For Fears get an even bigger climb as Radio 2 playlist The Tipping Point, a grower and their 3rd biggest track of the 21st century, and 12th (at least) top 10 in 40 years.

ABBA make it 3 top 10’s at the same time, a first for them with new material, and Johnny Marr gets his first-ever solo top 10 38 years after getting his first with The Smiths (and many more under various guises in the years since). Highest new entry is a duet version of the classic Marvin Gaye Motown soul track, Abraham (Lincoln), Martin (Luther King Jr) and John (Kennedy) in a tribute to the assassinated politicians, this time with Beverley Knight doing a good job at keeping the vibe real. 51 years since that charted.

Steps keep the hits coming with their cover of the 1987 Five Star hit, The Slightest Touch, new at 58; it’s halloween, and so Monster Mash is back again, and so are Backstreet Boys with the still-fabulous Everybody – Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett hit my top 2 in 1973, when I was 15 – and it was already a decade old by then! This is the 6th time it’s charted, and Everybody has done it for the 4th time. David Bowie’s abandoned early 2000’s album is imminently due, and getting promo is You’ve Got A Habit Of Leaving, his then-new version of his 60’s song. You can’t buy it yet, annoyingly. I thought the days when record companies forced you to buy albums were deservedly dead and buried…

Kasabian return after a 3-year break for their 18th chart entry, Alygatyr, for a 17th year of chart action, Meduza bring in Hozier for a chart return after a 3-year gap, and Swedish House Mafia return following disbanding 8 years back, with a little help from their freinds – the friend being The Weeknd which can’t hurt at all for chart success. The Weeknd debuted the year they disbanded for a nice bit of baton-handing.

1 1 1 5 HERE COMES THE NIGHT – Agnes 537800
2 6 2 5 DOPAMINE – Purple Disco Machine featuring Eyelar 240600
3 2 1 9 DON’T SHUT ME DOWN – ABBA 1280000
4 3 1 9 I STILL HAVE FAITH IN YOU – ABBA 1035000
5 27 5 3 UNBELIEVABLE – Texas 88600
6 9 6 6 MY UNIVERSE – Coldplay x BTS 235000
7 45 7 4 THE TIPPING POINT – Tears For Fears 80100
8 16 8 2 JUST A NOTION – ABBA 73000
9 4 3 10 BITTER TASTE – Billy Idol 527300
10 13 10 6 SPIRIT POWER AND SOUL – Johnny Marr 135250

11 18 11 3 WHEN YOU WERE MINE – Joy Crookes 76800
12 7 5 6 HEAT ABOVE – Greta Van Fleet 272100
13 11 9 6 ANNIVERSARY – Duran Duran 181200
14 15 14 8 HEAT WAVES – Glass Animals 155600
15 10 7 9 ALIBIS – Sneaker Pimps 273600
16 21 16 5 BACK TO OZ – Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine 85700
17 22 17 5 FUEL TO FIRE – Agnes Obel 75300
18 30 18 3 SORRY – Emma Steinbakken 52750
19 19 19 8 DUM DUM DIDDLE – ABBA 146200
20 12 4 10 ON THE WRONG SIDE – Lindsey Buckingham 454000

21 14 14 8 CARE FOR – Blossoms 131750
22 17 3 15 WAVES OF BLUE – Majid Jordan 669200
23 35 23 3 ON MELANCHOLY HILL – Gorillaz 43150
24 28 24 4 ALL OF THE TIME – Jungle 53500
25 36 25 6 THAT’S WHAT I WANT – Lil Nas X 58050
26 5 5 23 DON’T LET THE SUN CATCH YOU CRYING – Gerry & The Pacemakers 432850
27 23 17 8 HANGING ON YOUR HINGES – Stereophonics 124500
28 8 8 2 MOVIESTAR – Harpo featuring Frida 66300
29 29 29 8 AS GOOD AS NEW – ABBA 119550
30 33 30 5 TALAMANCA – BURNS 70300

31 25 7 12 COLD HEART (PNAU REMIX) – Elton John & Dua Lipa 383650
32 24 10 10 SUNSHINE – Liam Payne 243250
33 50 33 3 HUMANKIND – Coldplay 39800
34 39 34 6 JUSTIFIED – Kacey Musgraves 72200
35 56 35 2 A SECOND TO MIDNIGHT – Kylie Minogue & Years & Years 28100
36 20 12 4 NO TIME TO DIE – Billie Eilish 104400
37 26 4 10 A NIGHTINGALE SANG IN BERKELY SQUARE – Tori Amos 288450
38 NEW 38 1 ABRAHAM, MARTIN & JOHN – Marvin Gaye & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra featuring Beverley Knight 17200
39 38 28 9 ETERNAL LOVE – JLS 132650
40 48 40 3 FAMILY – Emeli Sande 36100

41 32 3 12 DIRT – Keane 524700
42 34 8 10 GOODBYE – LP 257550
43 47 43 10 HONKY TONK WOMEN – The Rolling Stones 90350
44 31 19 8 LOVE UNDER PRESSURE – James Blunt 126750
45 55 45 3 WHO’S GONNA LOVE ME NOW? – James Morrison 31000
46 42 1 23 YOU – Regard, Troye Sivan & Tate McRae 1263850
47 52 47 8 BROKEN LAND – The Adventures 69700
48 37 20 13 GOOD 4 U – Olivia Rodrigo 189400
49 40 19 8 BETTER DAYS – Dermot Kennedy 124450
50 66 50 3 BURNING BRIDGES – Sigrid 24800

51 41 28 7 ON MY WAY – Natalie Imbruglia 87000
52 57 52 5 TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD – Ewan McVicar featuring Rufus & Chaka Khan 41200
53 43 8 10 I DON’T MIND – Lindsey Buckingham 233650
54 44 33 7 SEASIDE – Diane Warren, Rita Ora, Sofia Reyes & Reik 95050
55 59 55 3 UNDENIABLE – Kygo featuring X Ambassadors 26700
56 64 56 5 DON’T BREAK THE HEART – Tom Grennan 35000
57 46 12 12 IF SOMETHING’S GONNA KILL ME (IT MIGHT AS WELL BE LOVE) – The Stranglers 233800
58 NEW 58 1 THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH – Steps 10200
59 72 59 2 SHIVERS – Ed Sheeran 15700
60 63 60 9 MISTY BLUE – Dorothy Moore 54600

61 54 4 15 MOVE WITH ME – Mad Circuit 369850
62 NEW 62 1 EVERYBODY (BACKSTREET’S BACK) – Backstreet Boys 7300
63 69 63 3 GET TOGETHER – Belinda Carlisle 18800
64 49 5 12 YOU CAN CALL ME – Texas 380950
65 NEW 65 1 YOU’VE GOT A HABIT OF LEAVING – David Bowie 7000
66 58 1 24 LEAVE BEFORE YOU LOVE ME – Marshmello x Jonas Brothers 1364850
67 71 67 3 EASY ON ME – Adele 17600
68 51 9 12 PSYCHO – Maisie Peters 265300
69 73 69 3 STARLIGHT – Westlife 11600
70 75 70 2 SEE YA WHEN I SEE YA – Miles Kane 11000

71 NEW 71 1 ALYGATYR – Kasabian 5800
72 53 40 7 IF IT’S LOVE – Sting 67650
73 NEW 73 1 MONSTER MASH – Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett & The Crypt Kickers 5400
74 NEW 74 1 TELL IT TO MY HEART – Meduza featuring Hozier 5200
75 NEW 75 1 MOTH TO A FLAME – Swedish House Mafia & The Weeknd 5000

DROP OUTS
60 60 6 WHO – Donny Osmond 44000
61 44 9 FANTASY – Mariah Carey 76850
62 10 14 KISS MY (UH-OH) – Anne-Marie & Little Mix 271700
65 29 9 FLASHBACK (COLLRBONE REMIX) – Javiera Mena featuring Collrbone 109500
67 67 3 ANGEL FACE – The Glitter Band 19000
68 22 11 FLY AWAY – Tones And I 163800
70 70 3 LET’S GET TOGETHER AGAIN – The Glitter Band 16600
74 1 22 GYPSIES, TRAMPS AND THIEVES – Cher 745500

7th November 2021

It’s ABBA on top with the last track from their first new studio album in 40 years. 40 years ago I was trudging through frozen snow to get the The Visitors on vinyl, but back in the 70’s and 80’s I didn’t allow album tracks into my charts – largely to stop ABBA taking over entirely: I always bought their albums, and always played them to death. Now my chart rules have changed and so ABBA do what they were prevented doing back in the day: They chart every track off the album, plus 2 old album tracks that never charted before, 50% of the top 20, 70% of the top 10 and 5 new entries in the top 10 – a new record for an act with new material, including 4 of the top 5 – only Duran Duran and Tove Lo stop them grabbing a complete top 5, which is bad timing for them as they would otherwise have entered at number one, for a 5th chart-topper in 40 years.

Ode To Freedom is heavily classical-themed, Strauss would have been flattered, and it’s fab, giving them a 3rd number one of the year for the first time since 1979, When You Dance With Me would make a great single, but is pipped at the post for now at 2, while the eco-friendly Bumblebee and Xmas song Little Things are just lovely melodies and sentiment, both super-sweet. In at 10, Keep An Eye On Dan is pretty fine The Visitors-era ABBA, with the other two album tracks entering relatively-lowly for the moment as they aren’t quite as immediate. Suffice to say, from Arrival onwards they would have done the same with every album track if my chart rules hadn’t been so limited. So, it’s kind of belated justice for them in these days when certain acts can fart into a microphone and still get an entire album into the US singles charts from curiosity streaming.

As a result, loads of acts drop heavily this week, not least Agnes: but the top spot remains Swedish for a record-breaking 11th week in a row. Kasabian, ed Sheeran and Steps all get big climbs into the 40, and new ones lower down include a Blondie remix aimed at the Xmas market – Rapture topped my charts 40 years ago. Lana Del Ray charts another moody Americana-flavoured track, the new album title track, Bryan Adams makes it 36 years of charting since Run To You, Elton John makes it 2 duets in a row, this time with Charlie Puth. The list of duets he’s charted over the years could easily make a list of 20. Erasure return, and 2 60’s veterans join together with a latin cover of Procol Harum’s Whiter Shade Of Pale – Santana first charted in 1974 for me (as did ABBA) and Steve Winwood in 1982-ish as a solo act, but he would have charted with Traffic in 1967 had I been charting as I loved Hole In My Shoe when I was 9.

Finally, Astro, ex of UB40 and recently touring and recording with Ali Campbell as the original singing half of an alternative UB40 (more or less), passed away far too young, so Rat In Mi iamspamspamami his song and Astro on lead, returns in tribute 34 years on. I saw him on tour with the full band back in the day, before the sad split.

1 NEW 1 1 ODE TO FREEDOM – ABBA 170000
2 NEW 2 1 WHEN YOU DANCED WITH ME – ABBA 115000
3 NEW 3 1 BUMBLEBEE – ABBA 85000
4 NEW 4 1 GIVE IT ALL UP – Duran Duran featuring Tove Lo 65000
5 NEW 5 1 LITTLE THINGS – ABBA 60000
6 3 1 10 DON’T SHUT ME DOWN – ABBA 1335000
7 1 1 6 HERE COMES THE NIGHT – Agnes 587800
8 2 2 6 DOPAMINE – Purple Disco Machine featuring Eyelar 288600
9 4 1 10 I STILL HAVE FAITH IN YOU – ABBA 1080000
10 NEW 10 1 KEEP AN EYE ON DAN – ABBA 42000

11 5 5 4 UNBELIEVABLE – Texas 125600
12 7 7 5 THE TIPPING POINT – Tears For Fears 115100
13 8 8 3 JUST A NOTION – ABBA 105000
14 11 11 4 WHEN YOU WERE MINE – Joy Crookes 105800
15 16 15 6 BACK TO OZ – Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine 112700
16 17 16 6 FUEL TO FIRE – Agnes Obel 100300
17 10 10 7 SPIRIT POWER AND SOUL – Johnny Marr 158250
18 18 18 4 SORRY – Emma Steinbakken 74750
19 19 19 9 DUM DUM DIDDLE – ABBA 167200
20 29 20 9 AS GOOD AS NEW – ABBA 139550

21 6 6 7 MY UNIVERSE – Coldplay x BTS 254750
22 23 22 4 ON MELANCHOLY HILL – Gorillaz 62650
23 24 23 5 ALL OF THE TIME – Jungle 72750
24 9 3 11 BITTER TASTE – Billy Idol 546300
25 25 25 7 THAT’S WHAT I WANT – Lil Nas X 66800
26 12 5 7 HEAT ABOVE – Greta Van Fleet 290600
27 38 27 2 ABRAHAM, MARTIN & JOHN – Marvin Gaye & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra featuring Beverley Knight 35600
28 13 9 7 ANNIVERSARY – Duran Duran 199500
29 14 14 9 HEAT WAVES – Glass Animals 173800
30 15 7 10 ALIBIS – Sneaker Pimps 291600

31 35 31 3 A SECOND TO MIDNIGHT – Kylie Minogue & Years & Years 46000
32 40 32 4 FAMILY – Emeli Sande 53900
33 33 33 4 HUMANKIND – Coldplay 57500
34 21 14 9 CARE FOR – Blossoms 149350
35 50 35 4 BURNING BRIDGES – Sigrid 42300
36 71 36 2 ALYGATYR – Kasabian 23200
37 20 4 11 ON THE WRONG SIDE – Lindsey Buckingham 471300
38 59 38 3 SHIVERS – Ed Sheeran 32900
39 58 39 2 THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH – Steps 27300
40 22 3 16 WAVES OF BLUE – Majid Jordan 686200

41 30 30 6 TALAMANCA – BURNS 84300
42 31 7 13 COLD HEART (PNAU REMIX) – Elton John & Dua Lipa 397400
43 43 43 11 HONKY TONK WOMEN – The Rolling Stones 103850
44 74 44 2 TELL IT TO MY HEART – Meduza featuring Hozier 18450
45 45 45 4 WHO’S GONNA LOVE ME NOW? – James Morrison 44000
46 27 17 9 HANGING ON YOUR HINGES – Stereophonics 137250
47 34 34 7 JUSTIFIED – Kacey Musgraves 84700
48 32 10 11 SUNSHINE – Liam Payne 255550
49 69 49 4 STARLIGHT – Westlife 23700
50 75 50 2 MOTH TO A FLAME – Swedish House Mafia & The Weeknd 17000

51 52 51 6 TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD – Ewan McVicar featuring Rufus & Chaka Khan 52950
52 55 52 4 UNDENIABLE – Kygo featuring X Ambassadors 38200
53 46 1 24 YOU – Regard, Troye Sivan & Tate McRae 1275100
54 65 54 2 YOU’VE GOT A HABIT OF LEAVING – David Bowie 18000
55 39 28 10 ETERNAL LOVE – JLS 143450
56 56 56 6 DON’T BREAK THE HEART – Tom Grennan 45600
57 70 57 3 SEE YA WHEN I SEE YA – Miles Kane 21400
58 26 5 24 DON’T LET THE SUN CATCH YOU CRYING – Gerry & The Pacemakers 443050
59 NEW 59 1 I CAN BE THAT WOMAN – ABBA 10100
60 63 60 4 GET TOGETHER – Belinda Carlisle 28800

61 47 47 9 BROKEN LAND – The Adventures 77200
62 NEW 62 1 BLUE BANISTERS – Lana Del Ray 7400
63 37 4 11 A NIGHTINGALE SANG IN BERKELY SQUARE – Tori Amos 295650
64 28 8 3 MOVIESTAR – Harpo featuring Frida 73400
65 NEW 65 1 YULETIDE THROWDOWN AKA RAPTURE – Blondie featuring Fab 5 Freddy 7000
66 NEW 66 1 NO DOUBT ABOUT IT – ABBA 6800
67 67 67 4 EASY ON ME – Adele 24200
68 41 3 13 DIRT – Keane 531100
69 36 12 5 NO TIME TO DIE – Billie Eilish 110600
70 NEW 70 1 AFTER ALL – Elton John & Charlie Puth 6000

71 42 8 11 GOODBYE – LP 263350
72 NEW 72 1 SO HAPPY IT HURTS – Bryan Adams 5600
73 NEW 73 1 WHITER SHADE OF PALE – Santana featuring Steve Winwood 5400
74 NEW 74 1 RAT IN MI NEHCTIK – UB40 5200
75 NEW 75 1 TIME (HEARTS FULL OF LOVE) – Erasure 5000

DROP OUTS
44 19 8 LOVE UNDER PRESSURE – James Blunt 126750
48 20 13 GOOD 4 U – Olivia Rodrigo 189400
49 19 8 BETTER DAYS – Dermot Kennedy 124450
51 28 7 ON MY WAY – Natalie Imbruglia 87000
53 8 10 I DON’T MIND – Lindsey Buckingham 233650
54 33 7 SEASIDE – Diane Warren, Rita Ora, Sofia Reyes & Reik 95050
57 12 12 IF SOMETHING’S GONNA KILL ME (IT MIGHT AS WELL BE LOVE) – The Stranglers 233800
60 60 9 MISTY BLUE – Dorothy Moore 54600
61 4 15 MOVE WITH ME – Mad Circuit 369850
62 62 1 EVERYBODY (BACKSTREET’S BACK) – Backstreet Boys 7300
64 5 12 YOU CAN CALL ME – Texas 380950
66 1 24 LEAVE BEFORE YOU LOVE ME – Marshmello x Jonas Brothers 1364850
68 9 12 PSYCHO – Maisie Peters 265300
72 40 7 IF IT’S LOVE – Sting 67650
73 73 1 MONSTER MASH – Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett & The Crypt Kickers 5400

14th November 2021

It’s ABBA’s 4th chart-topper of the year as the track that needs to be a single in 2022 knocks off Ode To Freedom from the top spot – When You Danced With Me, which makes it 11 weeks of Swedish number ones, 9 weeks of Abba number ones, the second time this year ABBA have replaced themselves on top, and the first act to get 4 in a year since Pet Shop Boys last did it in the mid-teens. Keep An Eye On Dan goes top 5, meanwhile, and Just A Notion returns to the top 10 and new peak of 6, as next (Xmas) single Little Things drops 2. 80% of the top 5, and top 10 is ABBA and 6 of the top 7, two-thirds of the top 15 and 20% of the top 60 are also ABBA.

Duran Duran are in runners-up, the only track stopping complete ABBA dominance, and the last time both acts had big hits with new material in a year it was 1982. Give It All Up is fabulous, and Tove Lo also gets her biggest hit out of it to boot. Kasabian get a big top 20 climb withe rockin’ alligator – or ALYGATYR – and David Bowie gets his oldest song into the top 40, albeit a revamp. New entries from U2, with a film theme bringing them back after a gap and gives them a chart span of 40 years since Fire; Reba McIntyre’s 30-year-old cover of Bobbie Gentry’s Fancy gets a spruce-up; Kylie gets 2 more tracks from her duets deluxe, bringing Gloria Gaynor back for the first time in 30 years, or nearly 40 years with new material, some 47 years since she topped with never Can Say Goodbye.

Other veterans returning: Stereophonics, Bootsy Collins (ex-Parliament/Funkadelic 70’s bass funk fame) courtesy of Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak, Elvis Costello (44 years and counting), Sting, James Blunt, Alan Walker, Imagine Dragons & Foals, who all return to chart glory at least here if not in actual official charts.

1 2 1 2 WHEN YOU DANCED WITH ME – ABBA 285000
2 4 2 2 GIVE IT ALL UP – Duran Duran featuring Tove Lo 180000
3 1 1 2 ODE TO FREEDOM – ABBA 255000
4 3 3 2 BUMBLEBEE – ABBA 150000
5 10 5 2 KEEP AN EYE ON DAN – ABBA 102000
6 13 6 4 JUST A NOTION – ABBA 160000
7 5 5 2 LITTLE THINGS – ABBA 110000
8 8 2 7 DOPAMINE – Purple Disco Machine featuring Eyelar 336600
9 6 1 11 DON’T SHUT ME DOWN – ABBA 1380000
10 9 1 11 I STILL HAVE FAITH IN YOU – ABBA 1122000

11 7 1 7 HERE COMES THE NIGHT – Agnes 624800
12 11 5 5 UNBELIEVABLE – Texas 160600
13 12 7 6 THE TIPPING POINT – Tears For Fears 147100
14 20 14 10 AS GOOD AS NEW – ABBA 168550
15 19 15 10 DUM DUM DIDDLE – ABBA 194200
16 27 16 3 ABRAHAM, MARTIN & JOHN – Marvin Gaye & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra featuring Beverley Knight 60600
17 18 17 5 SORRY – Emma Steinbakken 97750
18 22 18 5 ON MELANCHOLY HILL – Gorillaz 84650
19 36 19 3 ALYGATYR – Kasabian 44200
20 14 11 5 WHEN YOU WERE MINE – Joy Crookes 125800

21 15 15 7 BACK TO OZ – Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine 132450
22 23 22 6 ALL OF THE TIME – Jungle 92500
23 17 10 8 SPIRIT POWER AND SOUL – Johnny Marr 177500
24 25 24 8 THAT’S WHAT I WANT – Lil Nas X 85800
25 31 25 4 A SECOND TO MIDNIGHT – Kylie Minogue & Years & Years 64750
26 35 26 5 BURNING BRIDGES – Sigrid 60800
27 32 27 5 FAMILY – Emeli Sande 72300
28 24 3 12 BITTER TASTE – Billy Idol 564600
29 26 5 8 HEAT ABOVE – Greta Van Fleet 308800
30 38 30 4 SHIVERS – Ed Sheeran 50900

31 16 16 7 FUEL TO FIRE – Agnes Obel 118200
32 21 6 8 MY UNIVERSE – Coldplay x BTS 272550
33 33 33 5 HUMANKIND – Coldplay 75200
34 34 14 10 CARE FOR – Blossoms 166950
35 39 35 3 THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH – Steps 44800
36 28 9 8 ANNIVERSARY – Duran Duran 216900
37 44 37 3 TELL IT TO MY HEART – Meduza featuring Hozier 35750
38 30 7 11 ALIBIS – Sneaker Pimps 308800
39 54 39 3 YOU’VE GOT A HABIT OF LEAVING – David Bowie 35100
40 52 40 5 UNDENIABLE – Kygo featuring X Ambassadors 55200

41 29 14 10 HEAT WAVES – Glass Animals 187800
42 50 42 3 MOTH TO A FLAME – Swedish House Mafia & The Weeknd 30750
43 49 43 5 STARLIGHT – Westlife 37200
44 57 44 4 SEE YA WHEN I SEE YA – Miles Kane 34650
45 45 45 5 WHO’S GONNA LOVE ME NOW? – James Morrison 57000
46 37 4 12 ON THE WRONG SIDE – Lindsey Buckingham 484050
47 59 47 2 I CAN BE THAT WOMAN – ABBA 22600
48 NEW 48 1 THROW ME A LINE – HAEVN 12300
49 40 3 17 WAVES OF BLUE – Majid Jordan 698300
50 60 50 5 GET TOGETHER – Belinda Carlisle 40800

51 42 7 14 COLD HEART (PNAU REMIX) – Elton John & Dua Lipa 409150
52 41 30 7 TALAMANCA – BURNS 95800
53 NEW 53 1 FANCY (DAVE AUDE REMIX) – Reba McEntire 11250
54 66 54 2 NO DOUBT ABOUT IT – ABBA 17800
55 NEW 55 1 WAKE ME UP – Foals 10800
56 62 56 2 BLUE BANISTERS – Lana Del Ray 18000
57 NEW 57 1 KISS OF LIFE – Kylie Minogue & Jessie Ware 10400
58 48 10 12 SUNSHINE – Liam Payne 265750
59 70 59 2 AFTER ALL – Elton John & Charlie Puth 16100
60 65 60 2 YULETIDE THROWDOWN AKA RAPTURE – Blondie featuring Fab 5 Freddy 17000

61 53 1 25 YOU – Regard, Troye Sivan & Tate McRae 1282600
62 NEW 62 1 YOUR SONG SAVED MY LIFE – U2 7400
63 72 63 2 SO HAPPY IT HURTS – Bryan Adams 12800
64 NEW 64 1 WORLD WE USED TO KNOW – Alan Walker & Winona Oak 7100
65 73 65 2 WHITER SHADE OF PALE – Santana featuring Steve Winwood 12400
66 NEW 66 1 RUSHING WATER – Sting 6800
67 NEW 67 1 DO YA FEEL MY LOVE? – Stereophonics 6600
68 NEW 68 1 MAGNIFICENT HURT – Elvis Costello & The Imposters 6400
69 NEW 69 1 GOING HOME – Goldfish featuring Max Vidima 6200
70 75 70 2 TIME (HEARTS FULL OF LOVE) – Erasure 11000

71 NEW 71 1 ENEMY – Imagine Dragons x J.I.D. 5800
72 NEW 72 1 AFTER LAST NIGHT – Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak & Silk Sonic featuring Thundercat & Bootsy Collins 5600
73 NEW 73 1 UNSTOPPABLE – James Blunt 5400
74 NEW 74 1 CAN’T STOP WRITING SONGS ABOUT YOU – Kylie Minogue & Gloria Gaynor 5200
75 NEW 75 1 SOUVENIR – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark 5000

DROP OUTS
43 43 11 HONKY TONK WOMEN – The Rolling Stones 103850
46 17 9 HANGING ON YOUR HINGES – Stereophonics 137250
47 34 7 JUSTIFIED – Kacey Musgraves 84700
51 51 6 TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD – Ewan McVicar featuring Rufus & Chaka Khan 52950
55 28 10 ETERNAL LOVE – JLS 143450
56 56 6 DON’T BREAK THE HEART – Tom Grennan 45600
58 5 24 DON’T LET THE SUN CATCH YOU CRYING – Gerry & The Pacemakers 443050
61 47 9 BROKEN LAND – The Adventures 77200
63 4 11 A NIGHTINGALE SANG IN BERKELY SQUARE – Tori Amos 295650
64 8 3 MOVIESTAR – Harpo featuring Frida 73400
67 67 4 EASY ON ME – Adele 24200
68 3 13 DIRT – Keane 531100
69 12 5 NO TIME TO DIE – Billie Eilish 110600
71 8 11 GOODBYE – LP 263350
74 74 1 RAT IN MI KITCHEN – UB40 5200

21st November 2021

It’s Duran Duran battling the Abba deluge, as they and Tove Lo get the fab Give It All Up to number one, Duran Duran’s first chart-topper in 6 years, and 4th in total since Wild Boys did the trick in 1984. Abba still have 8 of the top 10, as 2 oldies replace the first 2 singles off Voyage, but they have an increased top 20 presence as No Doubt About It shoots up to 19 giving them 11 of the top 20. I Can Be That Woman also climbs to 28 for 12 of the top 30.

In a quiet week for new entries, Niall Horan & Anne-Marie enter at 54 with their version of Fleetwood Mac’s Everywhere (a number 2 in 1988) for Children In Need, Ed Sheeran gets a 3rd hit of the year as Overpass Graffiti enters while Shivers is up to 25, Seeb return (with added Nina Nesbitt), as does Alesso, with added unknown person.

1 2 1 3 GIVE IT ALL UP – Duran Duran featuring Tove Lo 350000
2 3 1 3 ODE TO FREEDOM – ABBA 370000
3 1 1 3 WHEN YOU DANCED WITH ME – ABBA 370000
4 4 3 3 BUMBLEBEE – ABBA 215000
5 5 5 3 KEEP AN EYE ON DAN – ABBA 162000
6 6 6 5 JUST A NOTION – ABBA 215000
7 7 5 3 LITTLE THINGS – ABBA 160000
8 8 2 8 DOPAMINE – Purple Disco Machine featuring Eyelar 384600
9 14 9 11 AS GOOD AS NEW – ABBA 213550
10 15 10 11 DUM DUM DIDDLE – ABBA 236200

11 11 1 8 HERE COMES THE NIGHT – Agnes 661800
12 16 12 4 ABRAHAM, MARTIN & JOHN – Marvin Gaye & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra featuring Beverley Knight 95600
13 12 5 6 UNBELIEVABLE – Texas 192600
14 9 1 12 DON’T SHUT ME DOWN – ABBA 1409000
15 18 15 6 ON MELANCHOLY HILL – Gorillaz 101650
16 10 1 12 I STILL HAVE FAITH IN YOU – ABBA 1147000
17 13 7 7 THE TIPPING POINT – Tears For Fears 170100
18 19 18 4 ALYGATYR – Kasabian 66200
19 54 19 3 NO DOUBT ABOUT IT – ABBA 38800
20 22 20 7 ALL OF THE TIME – Jungle 112500

21 17 17 6 SORRY – Emma Steinbakken 117500
22 25 22 5 A SECOND TO MIDNIGHT – Kylie Minogue & Years & Years 84250
23 26 23 6 BURNING BRIDGES – Sigrid 80050
24 24 24 9 THAT’S WHAT I WANT – Lil Nas X 104800
25 30 25 5 SHIVERS – Ed Sheeran 69900
26 35 26 4 THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH – Steps 62300
27 20 11 6 WHEN YOU WERE MINE – Joy Crookes 144200
28 47 28 3 I CAN BE THAT WOMAN – ABBA 40900
29 23 10 9 SPIRIT POWER AND SOUL – Johnny Marr 195700
30 39 30 4 YOU’VE GOT A HABIT OF LEAVING – David Bowie 53100

31 21 15 8 BACK TO OZ – Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine 150350
32 37 32 4 TELL IT TO MY HEART – Meduza featuring Hozier 53550
33 33 33 6 HUMANKIND – Coldplay 92900
34 53 34 2 FANCY (DAVE AUDE REMIX) – Reba McEntire 28850
35 40 35 6 UNDENIABLE – Kygo featuring X Ambassadors 72700
36 42 36 4 MOTH TO A FLAME – Swedish House Mafia & The Weeknd 48150
37 29 5 9 HEAT ABOVE – Greta Van Fleet 326100
38 44 38 5 SEE YA WHEN I SEE YA – Miles Kane 51850
39 28 3 13 BITTER TASTE – Billy Idol 581700
40 43 40 6 STARLIGHT – Westlife 54200

41 48 41 2 THROW ME A LINE – HAEVN 26300
42 31 16 8 FUEL TO FIRE – Agnes Obel 131950
43 34 14 11 CARE FOR – Blossoms 180450
44 59 44 3 AFTER ALL – Elton John & Charlie Puth 29350
45 32 6 9 MY UNIVERSE – Coldplay x BTS 285550
46 64 46 2 WORLD WE USED TO KNOW – Alan Walker & Winona Oak 19850
47 55 47 2 WAKE ME UP – Foals 23300
48 38 7 12 ALIBIS – Sneaker Pimps 321100
49 56 49 3 BLUE BANISTERS – Lana Del Ray 30100
50 57 50 2 KISS OF LIFE – Kylie Minogue & Jessie Ware 22400

51 36 9 9 ANNIVERSARY – Duran Duran 228650
52 27 27 6 FAMILY – Emeli Sande 83800
53 60 53 3 YULETIDE THROWDOWN AKA RAPTURE – Blondie featuring Fab 5 Freddy 28250
54 NEW 54 1 EVERYWHERE – Niall Horan & Anne-Marie 11000
55 62 55 2 YOUR SONG SAVED MY LIFE – U2 18200
56 67 56 2 DO YA FEEL MY LOVE? – Stereophonics 17200
57 63 57 3 SO HAPPY IT HURTS – Bryan Adams 23200
58 46 4 13 ON THE WRONG SIDE – Lindsey Buckingham 494250
59 41 14 11 HEAT WAVES – Glass Animals 197900
60 49 3 18 WAVES OF BLUE – Majid Jordan 708300

61 50 50 6 GET TOGETHER – Belinda Carlisle 48300
62 65 62 3 WHITER SHADE OF PALE – Santana featuring Steve Winwood 19800
63 66 63 2 RUSHING WATER – Sting 14000
64 68 64 2 MAGNIFICENT HURT – Elvis Costello & The Imposters 13500
65 69 65 2 GOING HOME – Goldfish featuring Max Vidima 13200
66 71 66 2 ENEMY – Imagine Dragons x J.I.D. 12600
67 70 67 3 TIME (HEARTS FULL OF LOVE) – Erasure 17600
68 45 45 6 WHO’S GONNA LOVE ME NOW? – James Morrison 63400
69 72 69 2 AFTER LAST NIGHT – Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak & Silk Sonic featuring Thundercat & Bootsy Collins 11800
70 NEW 70 1 OVERPASS GRAFFITI – Ed Sheeran 6000

71 73 71 2 UNSTOPPABLE – James Blunt 11200
72 74 72 2 CAN’T STOP WRITING SONGS ABOUT YOU – Kylie Minogue & Gloria Gaynor 10800
73 75 73 2 SOUVENIR – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark 10400
74 NEW 74 1 SWEET DREAMS & DYNAMITE – Seeb & Nina Nesbitt 5200
75 NEW 75 1 SOMEBODY TO USE – Alesso 5000

DROP OUTS
51 7 14 COLD HEART (PNAU REMIX) – Elton John & Dua Lipa 409150
52 30 7 TALAMANCA – BURNS 95800
58 10 12 SUNSHINE – Liam Payne 265750
61 1 25 YOU – Regard, Troye Sivan & Tate McRae 1282600

28th November 2021

It’s 2 weeks on top for Duran Duran and Tove Lo – that matches the 2 weeks that 1984’s Wild Boys and 1993’s Come Undone had, and beats the one-week runs of 1993’s Ordinary World, and 2015’s Pressure Off, and also beats the 1-week of Tove Lo’s 2014’s Stay High, which I’d forgotten about – so it’s her second chart-topper, and Duran’s 5th in 4 decades. ABBA meanwhile get 12 inside the top 20, a new record, with climbs for I Can Be That Woman, the Christmas single, the 2 old album tracks and No Doubt About It.

It’s a very quiet pre-christmas release week, which gives the chart a chance to catch it’s breath with everything under-performing position-wise, thanks to ABBA. Marvin Gaye & Bev Knight get Abraham Martin & John into the top 10 with an assist from the orchestra, Alan Walker gets another top 20 – he might not chart in the UK, but he’s quite the regular here. Stereophonics have a nice top 40 climb, 2nd of the year, and Kylie makes it 2 top 40’s simultaneously.

New entries from Confidence Man (Holiday is something I approve of, even though Covid is doing it’s best to stop me getting a week away for the first time in over 2 years, and following a gruelling year), Natalie Imbruglia on track 3 of 2021, and Lindisfarne popped up on the itunes top 100 briefly, no idea why, so it gave me an excuse to re-chart Run For Home 43 years on from loving it in 1978.

1 1 1 3 GIVE IT ALL UP – Duran Duran featuring Tove Lo 350000
2 2 1 4 ODE TO FREEDOM – ABBA 485000
3 3 1 4 WHEN YOU DANCED WITH ME – ABBA 455000
4 4 3 4 BUMBLEBEE – ABBA 280000
5 7 5 4 LITTLE THINGS – ABBA 220000
6 5 5 4 KEEP AN EYE ON DAN – ABBA 217000
7 8 2 9 DOPAMINE – Purple Disco Machine featuring Eyelar 434600
8 9 8 12 AS GOOD AS NEW – ABBA 261850
9 10 9 12 DUM DUM DIDDLE – ABBA 281200
10 12 10 5 ABRAHAM, MARTIN & JOHN – Marvin Gaye & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra featuring Beverley Knight 137600

11 6 6 6 JUST A NOTION – ABBA 252000
12 28 12 4 I CAN BE THAT WOMAN – ABBA 75900
13 11 1 9 HERE COMES THE NIGHT – Agnes 693800
14 15 14 7 ON MELANCHOLY HILL – Gorillaz 130650
15 19 15 4 NO DOUBT ABOUT IT – ABBA 65800
16 14 1 13 DON’T SHUT ME DOWN – ABBA 1434000
17 46 17 3 WORLD WE USED TO KNOW – Alan Walker & Winona Oak 42850
18 18 18 5 ALYGATYR – Kasabian 88200
19 16 1 13 I STILL HAVE FAITH IN YOU – ABBA 1168000
20 13 5 7 UNBELIEVABLE – Texas 212600

21 36 21 5 MOTH TO A FLAME – Swedish House Mafia & The Weeknd 67900
22 22 22 6 A SECOND TO MIDNIGHT – Kylie Minogue & Years & Years 103750
23 17 7 8 THE TIPPING POINT – Tears For Fears 189350
24 25 24 6 SHIVERS – Ed Sheeran 88900
25 32 25 5 TELL IT TO MY HEART – Meduza featuring Hozier 72300
26 26 26 5 THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH – Steps 80800
27 34 27 3 FANCY (DAVE AUDE REMIX) – Reba McEntire 47250
28 30 28 5 YOU’VE GOT A HABIT OF LEAVING – David Bowie 71400
29 38 29 6 SEE YA WHEN I SEE YA – Miles Kane 70050
30 44 30 4 AFTER ALL – Elton John & Charlie Puth 47350

31 21 17 7 SORRY – Emma Steinbakken 135400
32 23 23 7 BURNING BRIDGES – Sigrid 97850
33 56 33 3 DO YA FEEL MY LOVE? – Stereophonics 34900
34 35 34 7 UNDENIABLE – Kygo featuring X Ambassadors 90300
35 24 24 10 THAT’S WHAT I WANT – Lil Nas X 122300
36 54 36 2 EVERYWHERE – Niall Horan & Anne-Marie 28400
37 20 20 8 ALL OF THE TIME – Jungle 129800
38 40 38 7 STARLIGHT – Westlife 71400
39 27 11 7 WHEN YOU WERE MINE – Joy Crookes 161300
40 50 40 3 KISS OF LIFE – Kylie Minogue & Jessie Ware 39400

41 41 41 3 THROW ME A LINE – HAEVN 40300
42 29 10 10 SPIRIT POWER AND SOUL – Johnny Marr 209450
43 49 43 4 BLUE BANISTERS – Lana Del Ray 43600
44 57 44 4 SO HAPPY IT HURTS – Bryan Adams 36450
45 47 45 3 WAKE ME UP – Foals 36300
46 31 15 9 BACK TO OZ – Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine 163100
47 33 33 7 HUMANKIND – Coldplay 105400
48 37 5 10 HEAT ABOVE – Greta Van Fleet 338300
49 39 3 14 BITTER TASTE – Billy Idol 593800
50 75 50 2 SOMEBODY TO USE – Alesso 17000

51 55 51 3 YOUR SONG SAVED MY LIFE – U2 29950
52 53 52 4 YULETIDE THROWDOWN AKA RAPTURE – Blondie featuring Fab 5 Freddy 39750
53 65 53 3 GOING HOME – Goldfish featuring Max Vidima 24450
54 62 54 4 WHITER SHADE OF PALE – Santana featuring Steve Winwood 30800
55 63 55 3 RUSHING WATER – Sting 24800
56 64 56 3 MAGNIFICENT HURT – Elvis Costello & The Imposters 24100
57 43 14 12 CARE FOR – Blossoms 190850
58 66 58 3 ENEMY – Imagine Dragons x J.I.D. 22800
59 70 59 2 OVERPASS GRAFFITI – Ed Sheeran 16100
60 42 16 9 FUEL TO FIRE – Agnes Obel 141950

61 45 6 10 MY UNIVERSE – Coldplay x BTS 293050
62 69 62 3 AFTER LAST NIGHT – Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak & Silk Sonic featuring Thundercat & Bootsy Collins 19200
63 NEW 63 1 HOLIDAY – Confidence Man 7200
64 60 3 19 WAVES OF BLUE – Majid Jordan 715400
65 48 7 13 ALIBIS – Sneaker Pimps 328100
66 67 66 4 TIME (HEARTS FULL OF LOVE) – Erasure 24400
67 58 4 14 ON THE WRONG SIDE – Lindsey Buckingham 500850
68 71 68 3 UNSTOPPABLE – James Blunt 17600
69 73 69 3 SOUVENIR – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark 16600
70 NEW 70 1 INVISIBLE THINGS – Natalie Imbruglia 6000

71 72 71 3 CAN’T STOP WRITING SONGS ABOUT YOU – Kylie Minogue & Gloria Gaynor 16600
72 51 9 10 ANNIVERSARY – Duran Duran 234250
73 74 73 2 SWEET DREAMS & DYNAMITE – Seeb & Nina Nesbitt 10600
74 59 14 12 HEAT WAVES – Glass Animals 203100
75 NEW 75 1 RUN FOR HOME – Lindisfarne 5000

DROP OUTS
52 27 6 FAMILY – Emeli Sande 83800
61 50 6 GET TOGETHER – Belinda Carlisle 48300
68 45 6 WHO’S GONNA LOVE ME NOW? – James Morrison 63400

5th December 2021

Its straight in on top for the late John Miles exciting forgotten pop masterpiece, High Fly, which peaked at in 1975, and which goes one better following his sad death, while Music and Slow Down, both gems enter lower down and all 3 very different from each other, glam rock, rock ballad epic, and rock discofunk. Also from 1975, the best christmas song of all is back yet again for Greg Lake at 9, its prretty much charted at least once each decade since the 70s cos I Believe In Father Christmas. The Abba domination slips a bit allowing some tracks to climb to more deserving new peaks.

As i get away for my first week long break away from the house in 2 years, the usual christmas song deluge on video channels in gran canaria is absent, so elton and ed and their new entry will have to wait a week for me to play it as i cant download my itunes purchases from abroad, annoyingly. For my ipod and blue tooth speaker. New at 63.

1 NEW 1 1HIGH FLY – John Miles 170000
2 1 1 4 GIVE IT ALL UP – Duran Duran featuring Tove Lo 465000
3 2 1 5 ODE TO FREEDOM – ABBA 570000
4 3 1 5 WHEN YOU DANCED WITH ME – ABBA 520000
5 5 5 5 LITTLE THINGS – ABBA 280000
6 4 3 5 BUMBLEBEE – ABBA 335000
7 7 2 10 DOPAMINE – Purple Disco Machine featuring Eyelar 484600
8 6 5 5 KEEP AN EYE ON DAN – ABBA 265000
9 NEW 9 1 I BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS – Greg Lake 45000
10 10 10 6 ABRAHAM, MARTIN & JOHN – Marvin Gaye & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra featuring Beverley Knight 179600

11 12 11 5 I CAN BE THAT WOMAN – ABBA 112900
12 21 12 6 MOTH TO A FLAME – Swedish House Mafia & The Weeknd 102900
13 17 13 4 WORLD WE USED TO KNOW – Alan Walker & Winona Oak 74850
14 14 14 8 ON MELANCHOLY HILL – Gorillaz 159650
15 11 6 7 JUST A NOTION – ABBA 279000
16 16 1 14 DON’T SHUT ME DOWN – ABBA 1459000
17 24 17 7 SHIVERS – Ed Sheeran 111900
18 18 18 6 ALYGATYR – Kasabian 110200
19 13 1 10 HERE COMES THE NIGHT – Agnes 714800
20 19 1 14 I STILL HAVE FAITH IN YOU – ABBA 1188000

21 20 5 8 UNBELIEVABLE – Texas 232350
22 27 22 4 FANCY (DAVE AUDE REMIX) – Reba McEntire 66750
23 15 15 5 NO DOUBT ABOUT IT – ABBA 85050
24 36 24 3 EVERYWHERE – Niall Horan & Anne-Marie 47400
25 33 25 4 DO YA FEEL MY LOVE? – Stereophonics 53650
26 28 26 6 YOU’VE GOT A HABIT OF LEAVING – David Bowie 89900
27 8 8 13 AS GOOD AS NEW – ABBA 279250
28 30 28 5 AFTER ALL – Elton John & Charlie Puth 65350
29 29 29 7 SEE YA WHEN I SEE YA – Miles Kane 88250
30 35 30 8 UNDENIABLE – Kygo featuring X Ambassadors 108300

31 9 9 13 DUM DUM DIDDLE – ABBA 299100
32 23 7 9 THE TIPPING POINT – Tears For Fears 207150
33 25 25 6 TELL IT TO MY HEART – Meduza featuring Hozier 90000
34 22 22 7 A SECOND TO MIDNIGHT – Kylie Minogue & Years & Years 120350
35 50 35 3 SOMEBODY TO USE – Alesso 34500
36 40 36 4 KISS OF LIFE – Kylie Minogue & Jessie Ware 56800
37 44 37 5 SO HAPPY IT HURTS – Bryan Adams 53750
38 38 38 8 STARLIGHT – Westlife 88600
39 45 39 4 WAKE ME UP – Foals 53400
40 63 40 2 HOLIDAY – Confidence Man 24200

41 41 41 4 THROW ME A LINE – HAEVN 54300
42 31 17 8 SORRY – Emma Steinbakken 149150
43 43 43 5 BLUE BANISTERS – Lana Del Ray 57100
44 53 44 4 GOING HOME – Goldfish featuring Max Vidima 37700
45 52 45 5 YULETIDE THROWDOWN AKA RAPTURE – Blondie featuring Fab 5 Freddy 52750
46 51 46 4 YOUR SONG SAVED MY LIFE – U2 42750
47 56 47 4 MAGNIFICENT HURT – Elvis Costello & The Imposters 36700
48 54 48 5 WHITER SHADE OF PALE – Santana featuring Steve Winwood 43200
49 55 49 4 RUSHING WATER – Sting 37000
50 68 50 4 UNSTOPPABLE – James Blunt 29600

51 32 23 8 BURNING BRIDGES – Sigrid 109600
52 37 20 9 ALL OF THE TIME – Jungle 141300
53 35 24 11 THAT’S WHAT I WANT – Lil Nas X 133550
54 26 26 6 THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH – Steps 91800
55 59 55 3 OVERPASS GRAFFITI – Ed Sheeran 26900
56 47 33 8 HUMANKIND – Coldplay 116000
57 39 11 8 WHEN YOU WERE MINE – Joy Crookes 171700
58 58 58 4 ENEMY – Imagine Dragons x J.I.D. 33000
59 66 59 5 TIME (HEARTS FULL OF LOVE) – Erasure 34500
60 62 60 4 AFTER LAST NIGHT – Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak & Silk Sonic featuring Thundercat & Bootsy Collins 29200

61 42 10 11 SPIRIT POWER AND SOUL – Johnny Marr 216950
62 48 5 11 HEAT ABOVE – Greta Van Fleet 345700
63 NEW 63 1 1 MERRY CHRISTMAS – Elton John & Ed Sheeran 7200
64 69 64 4 SOUVENIR – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark 23700
65 73 65 3 SWEET DREAMS & DYNAMITE – Seeb & Nina Nesbitt 17600
66 71 66 4 CAN’T STOP WRITING SONGS ABOUT YOU – Kylie Minogue & Gloria Gaynor 23400
67 46 15 10 BACK TO OZ – Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine 169800
68 NEW 68 1 MUSIC – John Miles 6400
69 49 3 15 BITTER TASTE – Billy Idol 600000
70 70 70 2 INVISIBLE THINGS – Natalie Imbruglia 12000

71 NEW 71 1 SLOWDOWN – John Miles 5800
72 75 72 2 RUN FOR HOME – Lindisfarne 10600
73 64 3 20 WAVES OF BLUE – Majid Jordan 715800
74 NEW 74 1 SLEIGH RIDE – The Ronettes 5200
75 NEW 75 1 ONE MORE SLEEP Leona Lewis 5000

DROP OUTS
72 9 10 ANNIVERSARY – Duran Duran 234250
67 4 14 ON THE WRONG SIDE – Lindsey Buckingham 500850
60 16 9 FUEL TO FIRE – Agnes Obel 141950
74 14 12 HEAT WAVES – Glass Animals 203100
65 7 12 ALIBIS – Sneaker Pimps 328100
61 6 9 MY UNIVERSE – Coldplay x BTS 293050
57 14 12 CARE FOR – Blossoms 190850

12th December 2021

It’s 2 weeks on top for the late John Miles, as I high flew to Gran Canaria all week, so mostly all I heard outside of my ipod was christmas songs, plus Cold Heart (back in at 11 for Elton & Dua) and an old Buzzjack entry of ours Loca Loca, which we’ve come to enjoy all over again (but not recharted). So, not much movement going on, Swedish House Mafia go top 10, some christmas classic climbs from Leona Lewis and returns from The Fizz, Chris Rea (for the 15th time), Darlene Love and errr Gary Glitter which I heard on holiday for the first time in 20 years or so. Used to be regarded as a xmas classic….! Hall & Oates pop in belatedly with Jingle Bell Rock, as Xmas playlists delve deep into the archives these days, back to the 40’s in many cases….

1 1 1 2 HIGH FLY – John Miles 340000
2 2 1 5 GIVE IT ALL UP – Duran Duran featuring Tove Lo 580000
3 3 1 6 ODE TO FREEDOM – ABBA 655000
4 4 1 6 WHEN YOU DANCED WITH ME – ABBA 585000
5 5 5 6 LITTLE THINGS – ABBA 340000
6 6 3 6 BUMBLEBEE – ABBA 390000
7 7 2 11 DOPAMINE – Purple Disco Machine featuring Eyelar 534600
8 9 8 2 I BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS – Greg Lake 93000
9 12 9 7 MOTH TO A FLAME – Swedish House Mafia & The Weeknd 147900
10 11 10 6 I CAN BE THAT WOMAN – ABBA 154900

11 RE 7 15 COLD HEART (PNAU REMIX) – Elton John & Dua Lipa 446150
12 8 5 6 KEEP AN EYE ON DAN – ABBA 300000
13 13 13 5 WORLD WE USED TO KNOW – Alan Walker & Winona Oak 106850
14 14 14 9 ON MELANCHOLY HILL – Gorillaz 188650
15 10 10 7 ABRAHAM, MARTIN & JOHN – Marvin Gaye & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra featuring Beverley Knight 206600
16 17 16 8 SHIVERS – Ed Sheeran 136900
17 24 17 4 EVERYWHERE – Niall Horan & Anne-Marie 70400
18 18 18 7 ALYGATYR – Kasabian 132200
19 16 1 15 DON’T SHUT ME DOWN – ABBA 1480000
20 15 6 8 JUST A NOTION – ABBA 299000

21 25 21 5 DO YA FEEL MY LOVE? – Stereophonics 73400
22 20 1 15 I STILL HAVE FAITH IN YOU – ABBA 1207500
23 26 23 7 YOU’VE GOT A HABIT OF LEAVING – David Bowie 109150
24 19 1 11 HERE COMES THE NIGHT – Agnes 733800
25 21 5 9 UNBELIEVABLE – Texas 251100
26 35 26 4 SOMEBODY TO USE – Alesso 53000
27 29 27 8 SEE YA WHEN I SEE YA – Miles Kane 106650
28 22 22 5 FANCY (DAVE AUDE REMIX) – Reba McEntire 85050
29 30 29 9 UNDENIABLE – Kygo featuring X Ambassadors 126500
30 40 30 3 HOLIDAY – Confidence Man 42200

31 28 28 6 AFTER ALL – Elton John & Charlie Puth 83550
32 23 15 6 NO DOUBT ABOUT IT – ABBA 102850
33 37 33 6 SO HAPPY IT HURTS – Bryan Adams 71450
34 39 34 5 WAKE ME UP – Foals 71000
35 36 35 5 KISS OF LIFE – Kylie Minogue & Jessie Ware 74300
36 27 8 14 AS GOOD AS NEW – ABBA 297650
37 75 37 2 ONE MORE SLEEP – Leona Lewis 22300
38 44 38 5 GOING HOME – Goldfish featuring Max Vidima 54900
39 48 39 6 WHITER SHADE OF PALE – Santana featuring Steve Winwood 60200
40 50 40 5 UNSTOPPABLE – James Blunt 46600

41 32 7 10 THE TIPPING POINT – Tears For Fears 221150
42 47 42 5 MAGNIFICENT HURT – Elvis Costello & The Imposters 50350
43 45 43 6 YULETIDE THROWDOWN AKA RAPTURE – Blondie featuring Fab 5 Freddy 66250
44 33 25 7 TELL IT TO MY HEART – Meduza featuring Hozier 103250
45 41 41 5 THROW ME A LINE – HAEVN 67300
46 46 46 5 YOUR SONG SAVED MY LIFE – U2 55450
47 34 22 8 A SECOND TO MIDNIGHT – Kylie Minogue & Years & Years 133850
48 31 9 14 DUM DUM DIDDLE – ABBA 311400
49 49 49 5 RUSHING WATER – Sting 49000
50 NEW 50 1 DRIVING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS – Chris Rea 12000

51 38 38 9 STARLIGHT – Westlife 100350
52 42 17 9 SORRY – Emma Steinbakken 160650
53 55 53 4 OVERPASS GRAFFITI – Ed Sheeran 38150
54 43 43 6 BLUE BANISTERS – Lana Del Ray 68100
55 63 55 2 MERRY CHRISTMAS – Elton John & Ed Sheeran 18000
56 NEW 56 1 DON’T START WITHOUT ME – The Fizz 10600
57 64 57 5 SOUVENIR – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark 34100
58 58 58 5 ENEMY – Imagine Dragons x J.I.D. 43200
59 59 59 6 TIME (HEARTS FULL OF LOVE) – Erasure 44600
60 60 60 5 AFTER LAST NIGHT – Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak & Silk Sonic featuring Thundercat & Bootsy Collins 39200

61 65 61 4 SWEET DREAMS & DYNAMITE – Seeb & Nina Nesbitt 25100
62 68 62 2 MUSIC – John Miles 13800
63 71 63 2 SLOWDOWN – John Miles 13000
64 66 64 5 CAN’T STOP WRITING SONGS ABOUT YOU – Kylie Minogue & Gloria Gaynor 30500
65 NEW 65 1 ANOTHER ROCK ‘N’ ROLL CHRISTMAS – Gary Glitter 7000
66 51 23 9 BURNING BRIDGES – Sigrid 116400
67 70 67 3 INVISIBLE THINGS – Natalie Imbruglia 18600
68 54 26 7 THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH – Steps 98200
69 74 69 2 SLEIGH RIDE – The Ronettes 11400
70 72 70 3 RUN FOR HOME – Lindisfarne 16600

71 57 11 9 WHEN YOU WERE MINE – Joy Crookes 177500
72 52 20 10 ALL OF THE TIME – Jungle 146900
73 56 33 9 HUMANKIND – Coldplay 121400
74 NEW 74 1 CHRISTMAS (BABY PLEASE COME HOME) – Darlene Love 5200
75 NEW 75 1 JINGLE BELL ROCK – Daryl Hall & John Oates 5000

DROP OUTS
53 24 11 THAT’S WHAT I WANT – Lil Nas X 133550
61 10 11 SPIRIT POWER AND SOUL – Johnny Marr 216950
62 5 11 HEAT ABOVE – Greta Van Fleet 345700
67 15 10 BACK TO OZ – Sufjan Stevens & Angelo De Augustine 169700
69 3 15 BITTER TASTE – Billy Idol 600000
73 3 20 WAVES OF BLUE – Majid Jordan 720800

19th December 2021

1 1 1 3 HIGH FLY – John Miles 510000
2 2 1 6 GIVE IT ALL UP – Duran Duran featuring Tove Lo 695000
3 3 1 7 ODE TO FREEDOM – ABBA 740000
4 4 1 7 WHEN YOU DANCED WITH ME – ABBA 650000
5 5 5 7 LITTLE THINGS – ABBA 400000
6 6 3 7 BUMBLEBEE – ABBA 445000
7 7 2 12 DOPAMINE – Purple Disco Machine featuring Eyelar 584600
8 8 8 3 I BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS – Greg Lake 141000
9 9 9 8 MOTH TO A FLAME – Swedish House Mafia & The Weeknd 192900
10 10 10 7 I CAN BE THAT WOMAN – ABBA 196900

11 11 7 16 COLD HEART (PNAU REMIX) – Elton John & Dua Lipa 483150
12 12 5 7 KEEP AN EYE ON DAN – ABBA 335000
13 13 13 6 WORLD WE USED TO KNOW – Alan Walker & Winona Oak 138850
14 14 14 10 ON MELANCHOLY HILL – Gorillaz 217650
15 15 10 8 ABRAHAM, MARTIN & JOHN – Marvin Gaye & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra featuring Beverley Knight 233600
16 16 16 9 SHIVERS – Ed Sheeran 161900
17 17 17 5 EVERYWHERE – Niall Horan & Anne-Marie 97400
18 18 18 8 ALYGATYR – Kasabian 154200
19 19 1 16 DON’T SHUT ME DOWN – ABBA 1501000
20 20 6 9 JUST A NOTION – ABBA 319000

21 21 21 6 DO YA FEEL MY LOVE? – Stereophonics 93150
22 22 1 16 I STILL HAVE FAITH IN YOU – ABBA 1227000
23 23 23 8 YOU’VE GOT A HABIT OF LEAVING – David Bowie 128400
24 24 1 12 HERE COMES THE NIGHT – Agnes 752800
25 25 5 10 UNBELIEVABLE – Texas 269850
26 26 26 5 SOMEBODY TO USE – Alesso 71500
27 27 27 9 SEE YA WHEN I SEE YA – Miles Kane 125050
28 28 22 6 FANCY (DAVE AUDE REMIX) – Reba McEntire 103350
29 29 29 10 UNDENIABLE – Kygo featuring X Ambassadors 144700
30 30 30 4 HOLIDAY – Confidence Man 60200
31 31 28 7 AFTER ALL – Elton John & Charlie Puth 101450
32 32 15 7 NO DOUBT ABOUT IT – ABBA 120650
33 33 33 7 SO HAPPY IT HURTS – Bryan Adams 89150
34 34 34 6 WAKE ME UP – Foals 88600
35 35 35 6 KISS OF LIFE – Kylie Minogue & Jessie Ware 91800
36 36 8 15 AS GOOD AS NEW – ABBA 315050
37 37 37 3 ONE MORE SLEEP – Leona Lewis 39600
38 38 38 6 GOING HOME – Goldfish featuring Max Vidima 72100
39 39 39 7 WHITER SHADE OF PALE – Santana featuring Steve Winwood 77300
40 40 40 6 UNSTOPPABLE – James Blunt 63600

41 41 7 11 THE TIPPING POINT – Tears For Fears 235150
42 42 42 6 MAGNIFICENT HURT – Elvis Costello & The Imposters 64100
43 43 43 7 YULETIDE THROWDOWN AKA RAPTURE – Blondie featuring Fab 5 Freddy 79750
44 44 25 8 TELL IT TO MY HEART – Meduza featuring Hozier 116500
45 45 41 6 THROW ME A LINE – HAEVN 80300
46 46 46 6 YOUR SONG SAVED MY LIFE – U2 68200
47 47 22 9 A SECOND TO MIDNIGHT – Kylie Minogue & Years & Years 146350
48 48 9 15 DUM DUM DIDDLE – ABBA 324700
49 49 49 6 RUSHING WATER – Sting 61100
50 50 50 2 DRIVING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS – Chris Rea 24000

51 51 38 10 STARLIGHT – Westlife 112100
52 52 17 10 SORRY – Emma Steinbakken 172150
53 53 53 5 OVERPASS GRAFFITI – Ed Sheeran 49400
54 54 43 7 BLUE BANISTERS – Lana Del Ray 79100
55 55 55 3 MERRY CHRISTMAS – Elton John & Ed Sheeran 28800
56 56 56 2 DON’T START WITHOUT ME – The Fizz 21200
57 57 57 6 SOUVENIR – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark 44500
58 58 58 6 ENEMY – Imagine Dragons x J.I.D. 53400
59 59 59 7 TIME (HEARTS FULL OF LOVE) – Erasure 54700
60 60 60 6 AFTER LAST NIGHT – Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak & Silk Sonic featuring Thundercat & Bootsy Collins 49200

61 61 61 5 SWEET DREAMS & DYNAMITE – Seeb & Nina Nesbitt 32600
62 62 62 3 MUSIC – John Miles 21200
63 63 63 3 SLOWDOWN – John Miles 20200
64 64 64 6 CAN’T STOP WRITING SONGS ABOUT YOU – Kylie Minogue & Gloria Gaynor 37600
65 65 65 2 ANOTHER ROCK ‘N’ ROLL CHRISTMAS – Gary Glitter 14000
66 66 23 10 BURNING BRIDGES – Sigrid 123200
67 67 67 4 INVISIBLE THINGS – Natalie Imbruglia 25200
68 68 26 8 THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH – Steps 104600
69 69 69 3 SLEIGH RIDE – The Ronettes 17600
70 70 70 4 RUN FOR HOME – Lindisfarne 22600

71 71 11 10 WHEN YOU WERE MINE – Joy Crookes 183300
72 72 20 11 ALL OF THE TIME – Jungle 151500
73 73 33 10 HUMANKIND – Coldplay 126800
74 74 74 2 CHRISTMAS (BABY PLEASE COME HOME) – Darlene Love 10400
75 75 75 2 JINGLE BELL ROCK – Daryl Hall & John Oates 10000

26th December 2021

It’s a 5th chart-topper of the year for Abba, as Xmas single Little Things sneaks in amongst the xmas playlists, giving Abba the most chart-toppers in one year with new material for any act since….Abba in 1979. No other act had done that before or since. I would have been incredulous if someone had said at the start of the year that Abba would do it again…! That means that huge fave of mine, Todd Rundgren’s 1973 remake of his own 1969 original Hello It’s Me, is new in at 2, having gone top 5 in early 1974 and now back in the sales chart for a reason I know not. It’s brilliant.

The other chart news is the death of Monkees fave Michael Nesmith, weeks after completing his farewell tour with Micky Dolenz, 3 of my heroes now gone from the band. I’ve seen them in various line-ups, including all 4 originals, and I love them. I last saw Micky in Wimbledon theatre dancing with dragged-up Michael Ball in hairspray. Mike Nesmith was a bonafide talented songwriter, so I’ve included some of The Monkees best non-hit-singles which were written and sung by Mike, all of them gems, plus his 1977 solo hit Rio as he eyed up creating MTV with his promo of that year.

The only new track I’ve heard in the last 2 weeks that has made an impression on me while I’ve been busy being full-time carer for my mum is Years And Years/ Galantis – and I only heard that once. Other than that, Harry Belafonte’s Mary’s Boy Child xmas classics is new in – number one when I was born, dad had Harry Belafonte’s album for me to listen to growing up, I’m retreating to my childhood for some solace from this f***ing awful year. Good riddance 2021.

1 5 1 8 LITTLE THINGS – ABBA 570000
2 NEW 2 1 HELLO IT’S ME – Todd Rundgren 115000
3 2 1 7 GIVE IT ALL UP – Duran Duran featuring Tove Lo 780000
4 3 1 8 ODE TO FREEDOM – ABBA 805000
5 4 1 8 WHEN YOU DANCED WITH ME – ABBA 710000
6 6 3 8 BUMBLEBEE – ABBA 500000
7 NEW 7 1 YOU JUST MAY BE THE ONE – The Monkees 50000
8 12 5 8 KEEP AN EYE ON DAN – ABBA 383000
9 14 9 11 ON MELANCHOLY HILL – Gorillaz 262650
10 13 10 7 WORLD WE USED TO KNOW – Alan Walker & Winona Oak 180850

11 1 1 4 HIGH FLY – John Miles 547000
12 NEW 12 1 WHAT AM I DOING HANGING ROUND? – The Monkees 35000
13 7 2 13 DOPAMINE – Purple Disco Machine featuring Eyelar 616600
14 9 9 9 MOTH TO A FLAME – Swedish House Mafia & The Weeknd 221000
15 17 15 6 EVERYWHERE – Niall Horan & Anne-Marie 124400
16 16 16 10 SHIVERS – Ed Sheeran 186900
17 10 10 8 I CAN BE THAT WOMAN – ABBA 219900
18 15 10 9 ABRAHAM, MARTIN & JOHN – Marvin Gaye & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra featuring Beverley Knight 255600
19 NEW 19 1 SOME OF SHELLY’S BLUES – The Monkees 21000
20 19 1 17 DON’T SHUT ME DOWN – ABBA 1521000

21 21 21 7 DO YA FEEL MY LOVE? – Stereophonics 112900
22 26 22 6 SOMEBODY TO USE – Alesso 91000
23 27 23 10 SEE YA WHEN I SEE YA – Miles Kane 144300
24 30 24 5 HOLIDAY – Confidence Man 79200
25 22 1 17 I STILL HAVE FAITH IN YOU – ABBA 1245750
26 11 7 17 COLD HEART (PNAU REMIX) – Elton John & Dua Lipa 501650
27 20 6 10 JUST A NOTION – ABBA 337400
28 18 18 9 ALYGATYR – Kasabian 172500
29 25 5 11 UNBELIEVABLE – Texas 288050
30 34 30 7 WAKE ME UP – Foals 106600

31 24 1 13 HERE COMES THE NIGHT – Agnes 770700
32 35 32 7 KISS OF LIFE – Kylie Minogue & Jessie Ware 109600
33 33 33 8 SO HAPPY IT HURTS – Bryan Adams 106850
34 23 23 9 YOU’VE GOT A HABIT OF LEAVING – David Bowie 146000
35 28 22 7 FANCY (DAVE AUDE REMIX) – Reba McEntire 120850
36 NEW 36 1 LISTEN TO THE BAND – The Monkees 17400
37 42 37 7 MAGNIFICENT HURT – Elvis Costello & The Imposters 81400
38 38 38 7 GOING HOME – Goldfish featuring Max Vidima 89300
39 43 39 8 YULETIDE THROWDOWN AKA RAPTURE – Blondie featuring Fab 5 Freddy 96850
40 40 40 7 UNSTOPPABLE – James Blunt 80600

41 29 29 11 UNDENIABLE – Kygo featuring X Ambassadors 158700
42 36 8 16 AS GOOD AS NEW – ABBA 338800
43 32 15 8 NO DOUBT ABOUT IT – ABBA 134150
44 31 28 8 AFTER ALL – Elton John & Charlie Puth 114700
45 46 45 7 YOUR SONG SAVED MY LIFE – U2 81200
46 41 7 12 THE TIPPING POINT – Tears For Fears 247900
47 59 47 8 TIME (HEARTS FULL OF LOVE) – Erasure 67200
48 48 9 16 DUM DUM DIDDLE – ABBA 337000
49 53 49 6 OVERPASS GRAFFITI – Ed Sheeran 61500
50 55 50 4 MERRY CHRISTMAS – Elton John & Ed Sheeran 40800

51 39 39 8 WHITER SHADE OF PALE – Santana featuring Steve Winwood 89050
52 NEW 52 1 PAPA GENE’S BLUES – The Monkees 11500
53 57 53 7 SOUVENIR – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark 55750
54 62 54 4 MUSIC – John Miles 32200
55 58 55 7 ENEMY – Imagine Dragons x J.I.D. 64200
56 61 56 6 SWEET DREAMS & DYNAMITE – Seeb & Nina Nesbitt 43200
57 44 25 9 TELL IT TO MY HEART – Meduza featuring Hozier 126900
58 49 49 7 RUSHING WATER – Sting 71300
59 63 59 4 SLOWDOWN – John Miles 30300
60 60 60 7 AFTER LAST NIGHT – Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak & Silk Sonic featuring Thundercat & Bootsy Collins 59200

61 47 22 10 A SECOND TO MIDNIGHT – Kylie Minogue & Years & Years 153850
62 51 38 11 STARLIGHT – Westlife 119500
63 67 63 5 INVISIBLE THINGS – Natalie Imbruglia 32400
64 64 64 7 CAN’T STOP WRITING SONGS ABOUT YOU – Kylie Minogue & Gloria Gaynor 44700
65 45 41 7 THROW ME A LINE – HAEVN 87300
66 70 66 5 RUN FOR HOME – Lindisfarne 29400
67 52 17 11 SORRY – Emma Steinbakken 178750
68 54 43 8 BLUE BANISTERS – Lana Del Ray 85500
69 NEW 69 1 MARY’S BOY CHILD – Harry Belafonte 6200

70 NEW 70 1 RIO – Michael Nesmith 6000
71 NEW 71 1 SWEET TALKER – Years & Years + Galantis 5800
72 71 11 11 WHEN YOU WERE MINE – Joy Crookes 188900
73 73 33 11 HUMANKIND – Coldplay 132200
74 66 23 11 BURNING BRIDGES – Sigrid 128400
75 72 20 12 ALL OF THE TIME – Jungle 156500

Xmas drop outs
8 8 3 I BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS – Greg Lake 141000
37 37 3 ONE MORE SLEEP – Leona Lewis 39600
50 50 2 DRIVING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS – Chris Rea 24000
56 56 2 DON’T START WITHOUT ME – The Fizz 21200
65 65 2 ANOTHER ROCK ‘N’ ROLL CHRISTMAS – Gary Glitter 14000
68 26 8 THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH – Steps 104600
69 69 3 SLEIGH RIDE – The Ronettes 17600
74 74 2 CHRISTMAS (BABY PLEASE COME HOME) – Darlene Love 10400
75 75 2 JINGLE BELL ROCK – Daryl Hall & John Oates 10000

My 2015 Charts – Sept to Dec

Me in Puerto Mogan GC 2015 and where I want to be again soon!

27th Dec 2015

For the 3rd time in 5 weeks it’s Hurts back on top, with the epic Wings – in fact the whole top 3 is an Epic lock-out as Coldplay and Florence refuse to drop even against challenges from their other new top 10 tracks. Queen Of Peace is now firmly inside my all-time Top 100 chart points hits and it’s still at 2! SIA gets yet another top 10 track, with the very latino-rhythm Cheap Thrills, as yet another kiddie chorus joins in the upper chart singing (see POWERS). Meanwhile, a record I didn’t know at all in the 60’s, or 70’s, or 80’s is up to 7 with it’s fab harmonies, for actual singing mother and kids, The Cowsills.

Oldies featured in Minions go up a bit more (just watched the DVD), and it’s christmas, as the best of the regular xmas chart entries in the UK hits my top 10 yet again for the umpteenth time, the gorgeous Driving Home For Christmas, which is sentimentally spot-on with the fab husky voice of Chris Rea. The best christmas song of the 21st century is also back at 20, it’s Leona Lewis, give it a few years and it’ll be charting every christmas along with Mariah & Co. Charli XCX is back in my 20, The Prodigy & David Bowie have huge leaps, giving 20-odd years for the former, 44 years the latter, both are pretty fab and non-pop. Kim Wilde too does the same with a lovely christmassy ballad, for almost 35 years of chart action.

Star Wars is out, and the theme and extended incidental music is into the 40 for the first time since Meco’s version topped in 1977, Tame Impala have a single edit out of Let It Happen, getting some radio play at last, and shoots back up, while highest new entry is Hurts. No holding them down this year! I Wish it chart luck!

1 2 1 7 WINGS Hurts 970000
2 4 1 17 QUEEN OF PEACE Florence + The Machine 2025000
3 1 1 8 ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME Coldplay 1165000
4 3 3 6 WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE Adele 303200
5 6 5 4 HYMN FOR THE WEEKEND Coldplay featuring Beyonce 139000
6 17 6 2 CHEAP THRILLS SIA 78000
7 9 7 16 THE RAIN THE PARK AND OTHER THINGS The Cowsills 362800
8 8 3 10 HEAVEN Shaun Frank & KSHMR featuring Delaney 612000
9 37 9 2 DRIVING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS Chris Rea 62300
10 13 10 4 DELILAH Florence + The Machine 103600

11 7 5 6 HOT POWERS 273000
12 14 12 24 HAPPY TOGETHER The Turtles 346500
13 12 9 6 THE GIRL IS MINE 99 Souls featuring Destiny’s Child and Brandy 157400
14 27 14 2 NEED UR LOVE Charli XCX 47400
15 10 10 6 FAST LANE Rationale 177200
16 11 6 5 WHAT A DIFF’RENCE A DAY MADE Dinah Washington & Belford Hendrick’s Orchestra 204000
17 16 6 7 ONE STEP AT A TIME Jeff Lynne’s ELO 275000
18 23 18 6 SUGAR Loud Places featuring Francesco Yates 84950
19 21 19 5 SEND MY LOVE (TO YOUR NEW LOVER) Adele 90400
20 84 20 2 ONE MORE SLEEP Leona Lewis 23200

21 5 3 6 LITTLE MAN Sonny And Cher 339750
22 29 22 4 BANG MY HEAD David Guetta featuring SIA and Fetty Wap 45700
23 15 15 5 GIVE IT ALL Foals 73850
24 87 24 2 SHUT ‘EM UP The Prodigy featuring Public Enemy and Manfred Mann 21600
25 20 6 8 COMING HOME Sigma & Rita Ora 274750
26 22 15 5 1/M/T Mirror Talk 105750
27 85 27 2 ISOBEL’S DREAM Kim Wilde 21400
28 24 4 11 HEY BOY Take That 335800
29 38 29 2 WHO KNOWS Protoje featuring Chronixx 35400
30 35 30 5 DOWN LOW Alex Winston 73800

31 33 31 20 MELLOW YELLOW Donovan 234000
32 18 18 7 WHITE DECEMBER Kylie Minogue 133400
33 73 33 2 MAIN TITLE AND THE ATTACK ON THE JAKKU VILLAGE (Star Wars: The Force Awakens Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) John Williams 23100
34 63 34 2 ALL MY FRIENDS Snakehips featuring Tinashe and Chance The Rapper 24800
35 90 13 9 LET IT HAPPEN Tame Impala 147700
36 19 19 6 WHAT ARE THE CHANCES? Duran Duran 83200
37 100 37 2 LAZARUS David Bowie 18300
38 56 38 6 CONFIDENT Demi Lovato 47600
39 47 39 7 DON’T GIVE UP (ON LOVE) Blinkie 58050
40 40 40 2 SWEET LOVIN’ Sigala featuring Bryn Christopher 34000

41 42 41 15 GEE WHIZ (LOOK AT HIS EYES) Carla Thomas 158950
42 36 36 4 RIVER LEA Adele 55950
43 60 43 2 YOU BELONG TO ME Bryan Adams 23500
44 NEW 44 1 WISH Hurts 13250
45 25 16 7 DREAMS Life Of Dillon 104000
46 26 26 3 WHEN WE WERE YOUNG Adele 49250
47 41 1 10 HELLO Adele 553500
48 28 5 14 CHAMAK CHALLO CHEL CHABELI Kumar Sanu, Shreya Ghoshal & Sajid – Wajid 434100
49 31 8 9 ECHOES IN RAIN Enya 251500
50 44 11 8 SAX Fleur East 174950

51 55 51 6 FOCUS Ariana Grande 40150
52 52 52 2 DON’T LEAVE TKDJS featuring AYER 23000
53 34 20 5 HIGHLAND One More Time 88250
54 54 54 2 I WAS BORN ON CHRISTMAS DAY Saint Etienne 22000
55 30 30 4 EVERY DAY’S LIKE CHRISTMAS (A STOCK AITKEN WATERMAN REMIX) Kylie Minogue 41000
56 32 19 8 SORRY Justin Bieber 126000
57 58 57 6 I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND The Beatles 45200
58 39 39 4 GLITTER & GOLD Barns Courtney 44300
59 53 3 13 BLACK SOAP Ex Cops 428800
60 45 5 10 CIRCLES Truls 346100

61 46 3 18 YOU DON’T OWN ME Grace featuring G-Eazy 540500
62 50 50 4 DIRT SLEDDING The Killers featuring Ryan Pardey & Richard Dreyfuss 27700
63 74 63 2 ALIVE SIA 12400
64 59 3 16 I’M IN LOVE WITH MY LIFE PHASES 492150
65 65 65 7 RIDE-O-ROCKET The Brothers Johnson 38400
66 RE 43 5 HAPPY ALONE Matrix & Futurebound featuring V. Bozeman 43800
67 61 51 6 I’VE BEEN SECRETLY FALLING APART Owsey Jernalism & Resotone 44750
68 79 68 2 HISTORY One Direction 10600
69 69 69 2 THE SOUND OF SILENCE Disturbed 12400
70 NEW 70 1 BAZAAR (Sunburn Goa 2015 Anthem) KSHMR and Marnik 6000

71 43 43 6 TOMPKINS SQUARE PARK Mumford And Sons 42800
72 51 24 9 GO! Postiljonen 137800
73 48 39 7 100 DEGREES Kylie Minogue featuring Dannii Minogue 63000
74 75 74 2 ECHOES OF MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE Shakin’ Stevens 10200
75 80 75 4 A HEAD FULL OF DREAMS Coldplay 12800

**************************************************

76 49 49 4 STAY Kygo featuring Maty Noyes 33500
77 57 32 5 NOTHING’S GONNA HURT YOU BABY Cigarettes After Sex 67100
78 78 10 13 EX’S AND OH’S Elle King 218650
79 81 79 2 SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN The Crystals 8000
80 66 9 13 HERE FOR YOU Kygo featuring Ella Henderson 256100

81 62 16 10 SAME OLD LOVE Selena Gomez 169500
82 RE 4 16 WILDEST DREAMS Taylor Swift 368500
83 77 2 17 CRASH AND BURN Thomas Rhett 861400
84 92 84 2 CHRISTMAS WITHOUT A PRAYER Sparks 5000
85 70 70 6 LEFT HAND FREE Alt-J 23800
86 86 86 2 FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl 5600
87 89 87 4 SAINT CECILIA Foo Fighters 7100
88 96 88 3 LIVERPOOL LULLABY Cilla Black 4900
89 71 9 10 MUSIC TO MY SOUL CeeLo Green 203050
90 72 3 11 HAPPINESS IAMX 336750

91 91 8 17 OCEAN DRIVE Duke Dumont featuring Robert Owens 290350
92 94 6 15 WHEN I WAS A BOY Jeff Lynne’s ELO 250000
93 93 93 5 TUSK (07/19/79 VERSION) Fleetwood Mac 7100
94 83 27 8 BURNING LOVE Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 88200
95 RE 57 5 TIRED OF TALKING LEON 23500
96 82 54 5 JESUS MADE ME BAD Lao Ra 26600
97 97 97 3 CAN’T GET USED TO LOSING YOU The Beat 3600
98 RE 56 6 NEVER ENDING CIRCLES CHVRCHES 31100
99 98 5 15 I’M IN LOVE Noonie Bao 326100
100 NEW 100 1 STOP THE CAVALRY Jona Lewie 1000

20th December 2015

Yes it’s Coldplay back at 1 for the third time and the 5th week, hotly pursued by Adele at 3 and Coldplay (with an assist from Beyonce on backing vocals so I’m giving her credit!) up to 6 from 50 with what I hope is the next single Hymn For The Weekend. Ditto Adele’s Water Under The Bridge, hoping it’s the next single. Highest new entry is SIA, at 17, and isn’t she greedy!? Looking for Cheap Thrills, she’s also Alive in at 74 and banging her head with David Guetta again at 29.

There’s a bunch of oldies and newies xmas songs entering or climbing, Charli XCX and Sigala are back, Star Wars makes an impact (the original John Williams score has never charted, even though the disco version by Meco topped my chart in 1977), and must mention Manfred Mann getting a Prodigy credit along with Public Enemy, who have been sampled along with the Manfred Mann re-sample. Manfred Mann were a pre-teen fave pop band of mine, and morphed into Manfred Mann’s Earthband in the 70’s, and have been away from my charts for quite some time! Manfred had 4 chart-toppers in both versions, and they now have a chart span of 47 years since they first hit my number one with Fox On The Run at Xmas 1968. I was mad on that record

1 2 1 7 ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME Coldplay 1080000
2 1 1 6 WINGS Hurts 800000
3 7 3 5 WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE Adele 238200
4 4 1 16 QUEEN OF PEACE Florence + The Machine 1910000
5 3 3 5 LITTLE MAN Sonny And Cher 320000
6 50 6 3 HYMN FOR THE WEEKEND Coldplay featuring Beyonce 79000
7 5 5 5 HOT POWERS 236000
8 8 3 9 HEAVEN Shaun Frank & KSHMR featuring Delaney 564000
9 11 9 15 THE RAIN THE PARK AND OTHER THINGS The Cowsills 312800
10 10 10 5 FAST LANE Rationale 150200

11 6 6 4 WHAT A DIFF’RENCE A DAY MADE Dinah Washington & Belford Hendrick’s Orchestra 179000
12 9 9 5 THE GIRL IS MINE 99 Souls featuring Destiny’s Child and Brandy 125400
13 15 13 3 DELILAH Florence + The Machine 61600
14 14 14 23 HAPPY TOGETHER The Turtles 311500
15 26 15 4 GIVE IT ALL FOALS 54600
16 12 6 6 ONE STEP AT A TIME Jeff Lynne’s ELO 252000
17 NEW 17 1 CHEAP THRILLS SIA 23000
18 18 18 6 WHITE DECEMBER Kylie Minogue 115600
19 19 19 5 WHAT ARE THE CHANCES? Duran Duran 65800
20 13 6 7 COMING HOME Sigma & Rita Ora 256000

21 27 21 4 SEND MY LOVE (TO YOUR NEW LOVER) Adele 69400
22 21 15 4 1/M/T Mirror Talk 87250
23 28 23 5 SUGAR Loud Places featuring Francesco Yates 62950
24 17 4 10 HEY BOY Take That 317500
25 16 16 6 DREAMS Life Of Dillon 91000
26 30 26 2 WHEN WE WERE YOUNG Adele 36500
27 NEW 27 1 NEED UR LOVE Charli XCX 18400
28 23 5 13 CHAMAK CHALLO CHEL CHABELI Kumar Sanu, Shreya Ghoshal & Sajid – Wajid 421800
29 75 29 3 BANG MY HEAD David Guetta featuring SIA and Fetty Wap 26200
30 58 30 3 EVERY DAY’S LIKE CHRISTMAS (A STOCK AITKEN WATERMAN REMIX) Kylie Minogue 30200

31 22 8 8 ECHOES IN RAIN Enya 239400
32 25 19 7 SORRY Justin Bieber 115400
33 34 33 19 MELLOW YELLOW Donovan 216100
34 20 20 4 HIGHLAND One More Time 77000
35 43 35 4 DOWN LOW Alex Winston 55800
36 48 36 3 RIVER LEA Adele 42200
37 NEW 37 1 DRIVING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS Chris Rea 17300
38 NEW 38 1 WHO KNOWS Protoje featuring Chronixx 17200
39 40 39 3 GLITTER & COLD Barns Courtney 44300
40 NEW 40 1 SWEET LOVIN’ Sigala featuring Bryn Christopher 17000

41 35 1 9 HELLO Adele 541000
42 44 42 14 GEE WHIZ (LOOK AT HIS EYES) Carla Thomas 144950
43 46 43 5 TOMPKINS SQUARE PARK Mumford And Sons 37000
44 31 11 7 SAX Fleur East 162950
45 37 5 9 CIRCLES Truls 336100
46 29 3 17 YOU DON’T OWN ME Grace featuring G-Eazy 533000
47 53 47 6 DON’T GIVE UP (ON LOVE) Blinkie 40950
48 39 39 6 100 DEGREES Kylie Minogue featuring Dannii Minogue 57600
49 49 49 3 STAY Kygo featuring Maty Noyes 28700
50 68 50 3 DIRT SLEDDING The Killers featuring Ryan Pardey & Richard Dreyfuss 20300

51 24 24 8 GO! Postiljonen 132200
52 NEW 52 1 DON’T LEAVE TKDJS featuring AYER 11500
53 45 3 12 BLACK SOAP Ex Cops 418700
54 NEW 54 1 I WAS BORN ON CHRISTMAS DAY Saint Etienne 11000
55 62 55 5 FOCUS Ariana Grande 28400
56 59 56 5 CONFIDENT Demi Lovato 30400
57 32 32 4 NOTHING’S GONNA HURT YOU BABY Cigarettes After Sex 62500
58 60 58 5 I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND The Beatles 34800
59 57 3 15 I’M IN LOVE WITH MY LIFE PHASES 485050
60 NEW 60 1 YOU BELONG TO ME Bryan Adams 10000

61 51 51 5 I’VE BEEN SECRETLY FALLING APART Owsey Jernalism & Resotone 38150
62 33 16 9 SAME OLD LOVE Selena Gomez 165700
63 NEW 63 1 ALL MY FRIENDS Snakehips featuring Tinashe and Chance The Rapper 7200
64 36 36 6 PAINT ME LIKE A FRENCH GIRL Breakdlaw featuring The Glitchfox 55100
65 65 65 6 RIDE-O-ROCKET The Brothers Johnson 31400
66 42 9 12 HERE FOR YOU Kygo featuring Ella Henderson 252100
67 61 57 6 INDULGE Jones 45800
68 38 16 6 THE DYING OF THE LIGHT Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 112350
69 NEW 69 1 THE SOUND OF SILENCE Disturbed 6200
70 70 70 5 LEFT HAND FREE Alt-J 20800

71 47 9 9 MUSIC TO MY SOUL CeeLo Green 201850
72 52 3 10 HAPPINESS IAMX 334750
73 NEW 73 1 MAIN TITLE AND THE ATTACK ON THE JAKKU VILLAGE (Star Wars: The Force Awakens Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) John Williams 5400
74 NEW 74 1 ALIVE SIA 5200
75 NEW 75 1 ECHOES OF MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE Shakin’ Stevens 5000

***********************************************************

76 41 20 6 ONLY YOU Kylie Minogue with James Corden 96000
77 64 2 16 CRASH AND BURN Thomas Rhett 858000
78 67 10 12 EX’S AND OH’S Elle King 214050
79 NEW 79 1 HISTORY One Direction 4200
80 87 80 3 A HEAD FULL OF DREAMS Coldplay 7800

81 NEW 81 1 SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN The Crystals 3800
82 54 54 4 JESUS MADE ME BAD Lao Ra 25200
83 71 27 7 BURNING LOVE Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 86600
84 NEW 84 1 ONE MORE SLEEP Leona Lewis 3200
85 NEW 85 1 ISOBEL’S DREAM Kim Wilde 3000
86 NEW 86 1 FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl 2800
87 NEW 87 1 SHUT ‘EM UP The Prodigy featuring Public Enemy and Manfred Mann 2600
88 55 28 12 LOVE ME LIKE YOU Little Mix 147000
89 97 89 3 SAINT CECILIA Foo Fighters 4500
90 73 13 8 LET IT HAPPEN Tame Impala 130200

91 88 8 16 OCEAN DRIVE Duke Dumont featuring Robert Owens 288450
92 NEW 92 1 CHRISTMAS WITHOUT A PRAYER Sparks 1800
93 95 93 4 TUSK (07/19/79 VERSION) Fleetwood Mac 5400
94 90 6 13 WHEN I WAS A BOY Jeff Lynne’s ELO 248200
95 89 1 18 ROUSSEAU Nerina Pallot 579200
96 99 96 2 LIVERPOOL LULLABY Cilla Black 2500
97 100 97 2 CAN’T GET USED TO LOSING YOU The Beat 2300
98 98 5 14 I’M IN LOVE Noonie Bao 325000
99 82 3 15 LIGHTS Hurts 324100
100 NEW 100 1 LAZARUS David Bowie 1000

13th DEC 2015

Its Hurts back on top for a second week as destinys child and brandy return to my top 10 over a decade on from the last times. Im on holiday away from uk radio and media so my charts grt a breather from new entries, hooray! With a bit of luck i can drop back to 75 in the new year, assuming only xmas tracks popup again next week

florence gets another big climb into the 20, duran get a 3rd this year, and kylies up up up and down accordingly. Ditto adele mostly as she gets yet another new entry. FOALS climb high lots of rebound tracks and thats that. TTFN

1 2 1 5 WINGS Hurts 685000
2 1 1 6 ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME Coldplay 910000
3 4 3 4 LITTLE MAN Sonny And Cher 260000
4 3 1 15 QUEEN OF PEACE Florence + The Machine 1845000
5 5 5 4 HOT POWERS 186000
6 9 6 3 WHAT A DIFF’RENCE A DAY MADE Dinah Washington & Belford Hendrick’s Orchestra 142000
7 7 7 4 WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE Adele 153200
8 8 3 8 HEAVEN Shaun Frank & KSHMR featuring Delaney 516000
9 16 9 4 THE GIRL IS MINE 99 Souls featuring Destiny’s Child and Brandy 90400
10 10 10 4 FAST LANE Rationale 108200

11 14 11 13 THE RAIN THE PARK AND OTHER THINGS The Cowsills 267800
12 6 6 5 ONE STEP AT A TIME Jeff Lynne’s ELO 227000
13 11 6 6 COMING HOME Sigma & Rita Ora 236000
14 33 14 22 HAPPY TOGETHER The Turtles 282500
15 87 15 2 DELILAH Florence + The Machine 29600
16 23 16 5 DREAMS Life Of Dillon 74250
17 17 4 9 HEY BOY Take That 298500
18 27 18 5 WHITE DECEMBER Kylie Minogue 93600
19 38 19 4 WHAT ARE THE CHANCES? Duran Duran 44800
20 20 20 3 HIGHLAND One More Time 59500

21 15 15 3 1/M/T Mirror Talk 67750
22 18 8 7 ECHOES IN RAIN Enya 221500
23 12 5 12 CHAMAK CHALLO CHEL CHABELI Kumar Sanu, Shreya Ghoshal & Sajid – Wajid 403500
24 26 24 7 GO! Postiljonen 120450
25 19 19 6 SORRY Justin Bieber 97600
26 71 26 3 GIVE IT ALL FOALS 27600
27 30 27 3 SEND MY LOVE (TO YOUR NEW LOVER) Adele 49650
28 35 28 4 SUGAR Loud Places featuring Francesco Yates 43700
29 29 3 16 YOU DON’T OWN ME Grace featuring G-Eazy 520150
30 NEW 30 1 WHEN WE WERE YOUNG Adele 18000

31 13 11 6 SAX Fleur East 149700
32 37 32 3 NOTHING’S GONNA HURT YOU BABY Cigarettes After Sex 52100
33 28 16 8 SAME OLD LOVE Selena Gomez 158300
34 40 34 18 MELLOW YELLOW Donovan 198400
35 22 1 8 HELLO Adele 527000
36 RE 36 5 PAINT ME LIKE A FRENCH GIRL Breakdlaw featuring The Glitchfox 48000
37 25 5 8 CIRCLES Truls 323100
38 21 16 5 THE DYING OF THE LIGHT Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 105950
39 60 39 5 100 DEGREES Kylie Minogue featuring Dannii Minogue 45300
40 58 40 2 GLITTER & COLD Barns Courtney 27200

41 24 20 5 ONLY YOU Kylie Minogue with James Corden 91200
42 39 9 11 HERE FOR YOU Kygo featuring Ella Henderson 245300
43 46 43 3 DOWN LOW Alex Winston 38300
44 45 44 13 GEE WHIZ (LOOK AT HIS EYES) Carla Thomas 131200
45 32 3 11 BLACK SOAP Ex Cops 407450
46 67 46 4 TOMPKINS SQUARE PARK Mumford And Sons 23500
47 34 9 8 MUSIC TO MY SOUL CeeLo Green 196050
48 48 48 2 RIVER LEA Adele 24800
49 78 49 2 STAY Kygo featuring Maty Noyes 16600
50 50 50 2 HYMN FOR THE WEEKEND Coldplay 24000

51 55 51 4 I’VE BEEN SECRETLY FALLING APART Owsey Jernalism & Resotone 30650
52 31 3 9 HAPPINESS IAMX 329150
53 94 53 5 DON’T GIVE UP (ON LOVE) Blinkie 28450
54 66 54 3 JESUS MADE ME BAD Lao Ra 21600
55 79 28 11 LOVE ME LIKE YOU Little Mix 144600
56 56 56 5 NEVER ENDING CIRCLES CHVRCHES 29900
57 52 3 14 I’M IN LOVE WITH MY LIFE PHASES 474950
58 90 58 2 EVERY DAY’S LIKE CHRISTMAS (A STOCK AITKEN WATERMAN REMIX) Kylie Minogue 12200
59 63 59 4 CONFIDENT Demi Lovato 19800
60 65 60 4 I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND The Beatles 24600

61 61 57 5 INDULGE Jones 39200
62 62 62 4 FOCUS Ariana Grande 17600
63 43 13 8 USED TO LOVE YOU Gwen Stefani 156450
64 53 2 15 CRASH AND BURN Thomas Rhett 853400
65 69 65 5 RIDE-O-ROCKET The Brothers Johnson 24400
66 41 30 7 CHEYENNE Jason Derulo 91900
67 47 10 11 EX’S AND OH’S Elle King 209650
68 91 68 2 DIRT SLEDDING The Killers featuring Ryan Pardey & Richard Dreyfuss 8300
69 44 33 7 I LIKE IT We The Kings 80750
70 74 70 4 LEFT HAND FREE Alt-J 14800

71 51 27 6 BURNING LOVE Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 83200
72 49 27 7 IMMORTALS Jean-Michel Jarre & f*** Buttons 100000
73 54 13 7 LET IT HAPPEN Tame Impala 128200
74 36 36 8 SOMETHING IN THE WAY YOU MOVE Ellie Goulding 82300
75 85 75 2 BANG MY HEAD David Guetta featuring SIA and Fetty Wap 8000

76 68 47 6 KISS ME Olly Murs 49900
77 42 15 8 SUPERHEATED New Order featuring Brandon Flowers 144400
78 57 57 4 TIRED OF TALKING LEON 22000
79 64 64 5 LOVE GAVE ME MORE Simply Red 32300
80 59 36 6 YOUNG AND UNAFRAID The Moth And The Flame 61250

81 81 60 5 CAN’T SLEEP LOVE Pentatonix 28600
82 76 3 14 LIGHTS Hurts 323000
83 72 33 5 I COULD BE Shane Filan with Nadine Coyle 55450
84 RE 43 4 HAPPY ALONE Matrix & Futurebound featuring V. Bozeman 37000
85 73 4 15 WILDEST DREAMS Taylor Swift 364900
86 89 86 5 FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE Stevie Wonder 10600
87 98 87 2 A HEAD FULL OF DREAMS Coldplay 3800
88 77 8 15 OCEAN DRIVE Duke Dumont featuring Robert Owens 286550
89 83 1 17 ROUSSEAU Nerina Pallot 577700
90 82 6 12 WHEN I WAS A BOY Jeff Lynne’s ELO 246600

91 92 91 5 THE WANDERER Dion 7800
92 97 92 3 SHACKLES (PRAISE YOU) Mary Mary 4100
93 93 93 2 HOME Chelsea Lankes 3400
94 84 84 5 THE CRAZY ONES Paloma Faith 12000
95 99 95 3 TUSK (07/19/79 VERSION) Fleetwood Mac 3700
96 80 20 12 HOLY HOLY Orenda Fink 172000
97 100 97 2 SAINT CECILIA Foo Fighters 2300
98 86 5 13 I’M IN LOVE Noonie Bao 323800
99 NEW 99 1 LIVERPOOL LULLABY Cilla Black 1100
100 NEW 100 1 CAN’T GET USED TO LOSING YOU The Beat 1000

 

6th Dec 2015

It’s Coldplay, back up for a 4th week, and a new entry just outside the 40, and inside the 100, with Adele grabbing a second top 10, this year, a 3rd top 40, a 5th top 75 and that’s just greedy for both of them!

Rationale gets a 2nd top 10, while Kygo gets a 4th hit of the year, David Guetta pops back aftyer a break, Florence has a new track joining Queen Of Peace which refuses to budge from the top 3, and Kylie has a Stock Aitken Waterman track new in – yes it’s new! It’s also her 4th track in the chart and 8th of the year – Kylie is also greedy! Joining The Killers with a Santa track, it’s actor Richard Dreyfuss, of Close Encounters, Jaws and many a fab movie. Who’da thought it!

1 2 1 5 ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME Coldplay 795000
2 1 1 4 WINGS Hurts 515000
3 3 1 14 QUEEN OF PEACE Florence + The Machine 1780000
4 5 4 3 LITTLE MAN Sonny And Cher 175000
5 9 5 3 HOT POWERS 126000
6 7 6 4 ONE STEP AT A TIME Jeff Lynne’s ELO 192000
7 12 7 3 WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE Adele 103200
8 4 3 7 HEAVEN Shaun Frank & KSHMR featuring Delaney 468000
9 10 9 2 WHAT A DIFF’RENCE A DAY MADE Dinah Washington & Belford Hendrick’s Orchestra 87000
10 39 10 3 FAST LANE Rationale 66200

11 8 6 5 COMING HOME Sigma & Rita Ora 204000
12 6 5 11 CHAMAK CHALLO CHEL CHABELI Kumar Sanu, Shreya Ghoshal & Sajid – Wajid 384250
13 11 11 5 SAX Fleur East 131800
14 41 14 12 THE RAIN THE PARK AND OTHER THINGS The Cowsills 229800
15 19 15 2 1/M/T Mirror Talk 48000
16 38 16 3 THE GIRL IS MINE 99 Souls featuring Destiny’s Child and Brandy 45400
17 17 4 8 HEY BOY Take That 275500
18 14 8 6 ECHOES IN RAIN Enya 202000
19 29 19 5 SORRY Justin Bieber 78800
20 22 20 2 HIGHLAND One More Time 39500

21 16 16 4 THE DYING OF THE LIGHT Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 88750
22 13 1 7 HELLO Adele 509500
23 18 18 4 DREAMS Life Of Dillon 49250
24 20 20 4 ONLY YOU Kylie Minogue with James Corden 77200
25 15 5 7 CIRCLES Truls 305800
26 28 26 6 GO! Postiljonen 101450
27 32 27 4 WHITE DECEMBER Kylie Minogue 71600
28 23 16 7 SAME OLD LOVE Selena Gomez 140600
29 61 3 15 YOU DON’T OWN ME Grace featuring G-Eazy 502050
30 44 30 2 SEND MY LOVE (TO YOUR NEW LOVER) Adele 31250

31 21 3 8 HAPPINESS IAMX 317650
32 27 3 10 BLACK SOAP Ex Cops 394450
33 35 33 21 HAPPY TOGETHER The Turtles 254500
34 24 9 7 MUSIC TO MY SOUL CeeLo Green 183450
35 67 35 3 SUGAR Loud Places featuring Francesco Yates 25500
36 45 36 7 SOMETHING IN THE WAY YOU MOVE Ellie Goulding 77100
37 40 37 2 NOTHING’S GONNA HURT YOU BABY Cigarettes After Sex 34300
38 75 38 3 WHAT ARE THE CHANCES? Duran Duran 23800
39 31 9 10 HERE FOR YOU Kygo featuring Ella Henderson 231550
40 43 40 17 MELLOW YELLOW Donovan 180800

41 30 30 6 CHEYENNE Jason Derulo 85100
42 25 15 7 SUPERHEATED New Order featuring Brandon Flowers 139800
43 26 13 7 USED TO LOVE YOU Gwen Stefani 149250
44 33 33 6 I LIKE IT We The Kings 74550
45 46 45 12 GEE WHIZ (LOOK AT HIS EYES) Carla Thomas 117950
46 50 46 2 DOWN LOW Alex Winston 24800
47 42 10 10 EX’S AND OH’S Elle King 203050
48 NEW 48 1 RIVER LEA Adele 12400
49 34 27 6 IMMORTALS Jean-Michel Jarre & f*** Buttons 94400
50 NEW 50 1 HYMN FOR THE WEEKEND Coldplay 12000

51 51 27 5 BURNING LOVE Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 77400
52 48 3 13 I’M IN LOVE WITH MY LIFE PHASES 464550
53 49 2 14 CRASH AND BURN Thomas Rhett 846300
54 37 13 6 LET IT HAPPEN Tame Impala 122800
55 65 55 3 I’VE BEEN SECRETLY FALLING APART Owsey Jernalism & Resotone 18900
56 69 56 4 NEVER ENDING CIRCLES CHVRCHES 19300
57 77 57 3 TIRED OF TALKING LEON 17600
58 NEW 58 1 GLITTER & COLD Barns Courtney 10200
59 36 36 5 YOUNG AND UNAFRAID The Moth And The Flame 57250
60 62 60 4 100 DEGREES Kylie Minogue featuring Dannii Minogue 28200

61 57 57 4 INDULGE Jones 31700
62 91 62 3 FOCUS Ariana Grande 10300
63 97 63 3 CONFIDENT Demi Lovato 9700
64 54 64 4 LOVE GAVE ME MORE Simply Red 28100
65 74 65 3 I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND The Beatles 14600
66 81 66 2 JESUS MADE ME BAD Lao Ra 10600
67 88 67 3 TOMPKINS SQUARE PARK Mumford And Sons 10700
68 47 47 5 KISS ME Olly Murs 45100
69 76 69 4 RIDE-O-ROCKET The Brothers Johnson 17400
70 70 70 2 WICKED SON Lincoln Jesser 12000

71 84 71 2 GIVE IT ALL FOALS 9000
72 53 33 4 I COULD BE Shane Filan with Nadine Coyle 51850
73 55 4 14 WILDEST DREAMS Taylor Swift 361900
74 92 74 3 LEFT HAND FREE Alt-J 8800
75 82 75 4 EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES Panic! At The Disco 14800

76 63 3 13 LIGHTS Hurts 319400
77 64 8 14 OCEAN DRIVE Duke Dumont featuring Robert Owens 284150
78 NEW 78 1 STAY Kygo featuring Maty Noyes 4400
79 58 28 10 LOVE ME LIKE YOU Little Mix 133800
80 59 20 11 HOLY HOLY Orenda Fink 170600

81 60 60 4 CAN’T SLEEP LOVE Pentatonix 24800
82 72 6 11 WHEN I WAS A BOY Jeff Lynne’s ELO 244600
83 80 1 16 ROUSSEAU Nerina Pallot 575500
84 86 84 4 THE CRAZY ONES Paloma Faith 10400
85 NEW 85 1 BANG MY HEAD David Guetta featuring SIA and Fetty Wap 3000
86 71 5 12 I’M IN LOVE Noonie Bao 322600
87 NEW 87 1 DELILAH Florence + The Machine 2600
88 52 20 8 WAVES DANCE WITH THE DEAD 116250
89 90 89 4 FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE Stevie Wonder 7800
90 NEW 90 1 EVERY DAY’S LIKE CHRISTMAS (A STOCK AITKEN WATERMAN REMIX) Kylie Minogue 2000

91 NEW 91 1 DIRT SLEDDING The Killers featuring Ryan Pardey & Richard Dreyfuss 1900
92 95 92 4 THE WANDERER Dion 5900
93 NEW 93 1 HOME Chelsea Lankes 1700
94 73 73 4 DON’T GIVE UP (ON LOVE) Blinkie 17200
95 68 33 7 SECOND HAND HEART Ben Haenow featuring Kelly Clarkson 64250
96 56 56 6 EYES SHUT Years And Years 38800
97 100 97 2 SHACKLES (PRAISE YOU) Mary Mary 2300
98 NEW 98 1 A HEAD FULL OF DREAMS Coldplay 1200
99 99 99 2 TUSK (07/19/79 VERSION) Fleetwood Mac 2200
100 NEW 100 1 SAINT CECILIA Foo Fighters 1000

29th November 2015

It’s Hurts, finally getting their first solo chart-topper, after having previously done it with Calvin Harris, and their Wings were big enough to knock Coldplay off their perch after 3 weeks. It’s still a brilliant chart for me, and a fab top 10, even old fave Sonny & Cher can only manage 5, and Dinah Washington is back after a long gap with yet another advert-related gem, this time What A Diffrence A Day Made highest new entry at 10, having previously done the trick with Mad About The Boy over 20 years ago. The song previously made my top 10 in a brilliant disco version by Esther Philips in 1975, but Dinah’s is the older and best version.

There are still too many new records around for me to wind down my top 100 listing yet, many that should have been top 75 have dropped out already without making the 75, and plenty more still lining up. Adele has a good jump to 12 and enters with another album track at 44, Life Of Dillon get a big ol’ climb into the top 20, a second hit for them, not just in their Dreams, while highest new track is Mirror Talk at 19 with very 80’s retro 1/M/T. That stands for Oner More Time. One More Time, the band, featuring Abba’s Benny Andersson’s lad and missus, are back at 22 after a 23-year gap, with the great Highland, which went top 10 first time round. Also back, Grace and her fab Lesley Gore cover of Buzzjack entry You Don’t Own Me, which has finally made the UK charts some months after peaking at 3 in mine. I do love it when songs I love become hits. Lesley Gore’s version also topped my charts early in the year following her death, so yay, recognition!

1 2 1 3 WINGS Hurts 400000
2 1 1 4 ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME Coldplay 625000
3 4 1 13 QUEEN OF PEACE Florence + The Machine 1695000
4 3 3 6 HEAVEN Shaun Frank & KSHMR featuring Delaney 420000
5 7 5 2 LITTLE MAN Sonny And Cher 110000
6 5 5 10 CHAMAK CHALLO CHEL CHABELI Kumar Sanu, Shreya Ghoshal & Sajid – Wajid 349250
7 9 7 3 ONE STEP AT A TIME Jeff Lynne’s ELO 137000
8 6 6 4 COMING HOME Sigma & Rita Ora 167000
9 19 9 2 HOT POWERS 66000
10 NEW 10 1 WHAT A DIFF’RENCE A DAY MADE Dinah Washington & Belford Hendrick’s Orchestra 42000

11 12 11 4 SAX Fleur East 99800
12 29 12 2 WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE Adele 53200
13 8 1 6 HELLO Adele 490000
14 14 8 5 ECHOES IN RAIN Enya 180000
15 10 5 6 CIRCLES Truls 287000
16 16 16 3 THE DYING OF THE LIGHT Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 69000
17 25 4 7 HEY BOY Take That 252500
18 69 18 3 DREAMS Life Of Dillon 30000
19 NEW 19 1 1/M/T Mirror Talk 21000
20 20 20 3 ONLY YOU Kylie Minogue with James Corden 58200

21 11 3 7 HAPPINESS IAMX 299750
22 NEW 22 1 HIGHLAND One More Time 19500
23 23 16 6 SAME OLD LOVE Selena Gomez 122300
24 18 9 6 MUSIC TO MY SOUL CeeLo Green 165750
25 15 15 6 SUPERHEATED New Order featuring Brandon Flowers 126050
26 13 13 6 USED TO LOVE YOU Gwen Stefani 135750
27 21 3 9 BLACK SOAP Ex Cops 376650
28 31 28 5 GO! Postiljonen 82950
29 39 29 4 SORRY Justin Bieber 57800
30 30 30 5 CHEYENNE Jason Derulo 71100

31 24 9 9 HERE FOR YOU Kygo featuring Ella Henderson 214450
32 32 32 3 WHITE DECEMBER Kylie Minogue 53200
33 40 33 5 I LIKE IT We The Kings 61300
34 34 27 5 IMMORTALS Jean-Michel Jarre & f*** Buttons 82200
35 37 35 20 HAPPY TOGETHER The Turtles 236800
36 42 36 4 YOUNG AND UNAFRAID The Moth And The Flame 47150
37 22 13 5 LET IT HAPPEN Tame Impala 111800
38 84 38 2 THE GIRL IS MINE 99 Souls featuring Destiny’s Child and Brandy 20400
39 64 39 2 FAST LANE Rationale 24200
40 NEW 40 1 NOTHING’S GONNA HURT YOU BABY Cigarettes After Sex 17000

****************************************************************

41 17 17 11 THE RAIN THE PARK AND OTHER THINGS The Cowsills 200800
42 26 10 9 EX’S AND OH’S Elle King 190450
43 45 43 16 MELLOW YELLOW Donovan 163800
44 NEW 44 1 SEND MY LOVE (TO YOUR NEW LOVER) Adele 13250
45 50 45 6 SOMETHING IN THE WAY YOU MOVE Ellie Goulding 59700
46 49 46 11 GEE WHIZ (LOOK AT HIS EYES) Carla Thomas 104950
47 59 47 4 KISS ME Olly Murs 38700
48 46 3 12 I’M IN LOVE WITH MY LIFE PHASES 453050
49 38 2 13 CRASH AND BURN Thomas Rhett 835050
50 NEW 50 1 DOWN LOW Alex Winston 12000

51 27 27 4 BURNING LOVE Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 65650
52 28 20 7 WAVES DANCE WITH THE DEAD 113850
53 33 33 3 I COULD BE Shane Filan with Nadine Coyle 46250
54 67 54 3 LOVE GAVE ME MORE Simply Red 21000
55 41 4 13 WILDEST DREAMS Taylor Swift 356500
56 58 56 5 EYES SHUT Years And Years 37400
57 62 57 3 INDULGE Jones 24200
58 35 28 9 LOVE ME LIKE YOU Little Mix 129600
59 36 20 10 HOLY HOLY Orenda Fink 166600
60 63 60 3 CAN’T SLEEP LOVE Pentatonix 21000

61 RE 3 14 YOU DON’T OWN ME Grace featuring G-Eazy 483850
62 66 62 3 100 DEGREES Kylie Minogue featuring Dannii Minogue 18200
63 55 3 12 LIGHTS Hurts 314600
64 51 8 13 OCEAN DRIVE Duke Dumont featuring Robert Owens 279550
65 99 65 2 I’VE BEEN SECRETLY FALLING APART Owsey Jernalism & Resotone 8100
66 43 43 3 HAPPY ALONE Matrix & Futurebound featuring V. Bozeman 33800
67 96 67 2 SUGAR Loud Places featuring Francesco Yates 8000
68 44 33 6 SECOND HAND HEART Ben Haenow featuring Kelly Clarkson 62750
69 95 69 3 NEVER ENDING CIRCLES CHVRCHES 8700
70 NEW 70 1 WICKED SON Lincoln Jesser 6000

71 53 5 11 I’M IN LOVE Noonie Bao 319800
72 60 6 10 WHEN I WAS A BOY Jeff Lynne’s ELO 241000
73 73 73 3 DON’T GIVE UP (ON LOVE) Blinkie 15600
74 88 74 2 I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND The Beatles 7600
75 94 75 2 WHAT ARE THE CHANCES? Duran Duran 6600

************************************************************

76 83 76 3 RIDE-O-ROCKET The Brothers Johnson 11200
77 87 77 2 TIRED OF TALKING LEON 7200
78 52 52 6 THE HILLS The Weeknd featuring Eminem 50400
79 71 4 9 HANDS OF LOVE Miley Cyrus 279850
80 72 1 15 ROUSSEAU Nerina Pallot 572100

81 NEW 81 1 JESUS MADE ME BAD Lao Ra 3800
82 82 82 3 EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES Panic! At The Disco 9800
83 NEW 83 1 SLEEP WHEN WE’RE DEAD ItaloBrothers 3400
84 NEW 84 1 GIVE IT ALL FOALS 3200
85 54 54 4 PAINT ME LIKE A FRENCH GIRL Breakdlaw featuring The Glitchfox 30600
86 89 86 3 THE CRAZY ONES Paloma Faith 7200
87 56 10 10 PHILOSOPHIZE IN IT! CHEMICALIZE WITH IT! Kishi Bashi 204400
88 93 88 2 TOMPKINS SQUARE PARK Mumford And Sons 4100
89 74 6 12 BACK WHERE I BELONG Jack Savoretti 250000
90 91 90 3 FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE Stevie Wonder 5600

91 100 91 2 FOCUS Ariana Grande 2900
92 92 92 2 LEFT HAND FREE Alt-J 3600
93 47 35 6 WHAT DO YOU MEAN Justin Bieber 64500
94 57 57 4 WRITING’S ON THE WALL Sam Smith 26500
95 97 95 3 THE WANDERER Dion 4100
96 65 22 6 RESONATE Avec Sans 62700
97 98 97 2 CONFIDENT Demi Lovato 2500
98 75 6 14 THE GATES Young Empires 311400
99 NEW 99 1 TUSK (07/19/79 VERSION) Fleetwood Mac 1100
100 NEW 100 1 SHACKLES (PRAISE YOU) Mary Mary 1000

22nd November 2015

3 weeks on top for Coldplay, and 2 weeks at 2 for Hurts, and 3 weeks at 3 for Shaun Frank and KSHMR featuring Delaney, still in Heaven. Highehst new entry at 7 is a 1966 classic from Sonny & Cher, pre-dating my chart, but one I’ve loved for over 50 years, all gypsy charm used to later great effect by Cher in her solo records, Little Man was a big European hit and now is used by Amazon in an advert. Not that I love tax-dodging mega-corporations, but hey it gives me an excuse to chart it at last, giving Sonny & Cher a run of 43 years since All I Ever Need Is You topped my chart in 1972. They would, of course, have topped with I Got You Babe in 1965 cos I loved it as a toddler.

Fleur East jumps up 26 places, Noel Gallagher makes the 20 for the 3rd time this year, and Kylie does it for the 5th time with Only You, as the highest new record is at 19, and it’s HOT. No, it is, a great dance track. Adele’s world-domination is upon us, and the best track from the album on first hearing is in at 29, Water Under The Bridge joining Hello in the chart. In the 40 Justin Bieber replaces himself, and says Sorry, while lower down Rationale gets a second entry, 99 Souls bring back Destiny’s Child and Brandy to my chart, Duran Duran and Mumford & Sons return with new singles, and The Beatles come back for the third time with I Want To Hold Your Hand, thanks to the 1 album/dvd return, which I’ve finally bought now I can get all of the promos in one place. Hooray! Like Sonny & Cher, The Beatles woulda topped my charts in the 60’s, twice, as it was among the first batch of singles my dad bought in 1966 for a brand new record player, and which I played to death over the rest of the decade, pre-teen. Still missing that official chart-topper with it though…

1 1 1 3 ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME Coldplay 510000
2 2 2 2 WINGS Hurts 230000
3 3 3 5 HEAVEN Shaun Frank & KSHMR featuring Delaney 355000
4 4 1 12 QUEEN OF PEACE Florence + The Machine 1610000
5 6 5 9 CHAMAK CHALLO CHEL CHABELI Kumar Sanu, Shreya Ghoshal & Sajid – Wajid 294250
6 9 6 3 COMING HOME Sigma & Rita Ora 119000
7 NEW 7 1 LITTLE MAN Sonny And Cher 50000
8 5 1 5 HELLO Adele 458000
9 10 9 2 ONE STEP AT A TIME Jeff Lynne’s ELO 87000
10 7 5 5 CIRCLES Truls 260000

11 8 3 6 HAPPINESS IAMX 280000
12 38 12 3 SAX Fleur East 62800
13 18 13 5 USED TO LOVE YOU Gwen Stefani 117250
14 11 8 4 ECHOES IN RAIN Enya 151000
15 15 15 5 SUPERHEATED New Order featuring Brandon Flowers 107300
16 24 16 2 THE DYING OF THE LIGHT Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 44000
17 17 17 10 THE RAIN THE PARK AND OTHER THINGS The Cowsills 186800
18 12 9 5 MUSIC TO MY SOUL CeeLo Green 146750
19 NEW 19 1 HOT POWERS 21000
20 29 20 2 ONLY YOU Kylie Minogue with James Corden 38200

21 14 3 8 BLACK SOAP Ex Cops 358250
22 13 13 4 LET IT HAPPEN Tame Impala 94500
23 16 16 5 SAME OLD LOVE Selena Gomez 103050
24 22 9 8 HERE FOR YOU Kygo featuring Ella Henderson 196550
25 21 4 6 HEY BOY Take That 229500
26 19 10 8 EX’S AND OH’S Elle King 176700
27 30 27 3 BURNING LOVE Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 53900
28 20 20 6 WAVES DANCE WITH THE DEAD 102350
29 NEW 29 1 WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE Adele 18200
30 32 30 4 CHEYENNE Jason Derulo 53100

31 31 31 4 GO! Postiljonen 64650
32 34 32 2 WHITE DECEMBER Kylie Minogue 35400
33 37 33 2 I COULD BE Shane Filan with Nadine Coyle 35000
34 27 27 4 IMMORTALS Jean-Michel Jarre & f*** Buttons 64600
35 28 28 8 LOVE ME LIKE YOU Little Mix 119400
36 26 20 9 HOLY HOLY Orenda Fink 156500
37 39 37 19 HAPPY TOGETHER The Turtles 219300
38 25 2 12 CRASH AND BURN Thomas Rhett 822950
39 49 39 3 SORRY Justin Bieber 39600
40 50 40 4 I LIKE IT We The Kings 43600
41 23 4 12 WILDEST DREAMS Taylor Swift 345700
42 58 42 3 YOUNG AND UNAFRAID The Moth And The Flame 29750
43 43 43 2 HAPPY ALONE Matrix & Futurebound featuring V. Bozeman 27000
44 33 33 5 SECOND HAND HEART Ben Haenow featuring Kelly Clarkson 56350
45 47 45 15 MELLOW YELLOW Donovan 150300
46 41 3 11 I’M IN LOVE WITH MY LIFE PHASES 440750
47 35 35 5 WHAT DO YOU MEAN Justin Bieber 62800
48 36 36 7 LAY IT ALL ON ME Rudimental featuring Ed Sheeran 80300
49 55 49 10 GEE WHIZ (LOOK AT HIS EYES) Carla Thomas 92200
50 60 50 5 SOMETHING IN THE WAY YOU MOVE Ellie Goulding 46700

51 40 8 12 OCEAN DRIVE Duke Dumont featuring Robert Owens 272450
52 56 52 5 THE HILLS The Weeknd featuring Eminem 46000
53 48 5 10 I’M IN LOVE Noonie Bao 314000
54 57 54 3 PAINT ME LIKE A FRENCH GIRL Breakdlaw featuring The Glitchfox 27600
55 53 3 11 LIGHTS Hurts 307400
56 42 10 9 PHILOSOPHIZE IN IT! CHEMICALIZE WITH IT! Kishi Bashi 201800
57 62 57 3 WRITING’S ON THE WALL Sam Smith 24900
58 72 58 4 EYES SHUT Years And Years 26800
59 59 59 3 KISS ME Olly Murs 26200
60 45 6 9 WHEN I WAS A BOY Jeff Lynne’s ELO 235400

61 44 6 12 DO IT WELL XYconstant featuring Tom Aspaul 254400
62 68 62 2 INDULGE Jones 13800
63 81 63 2 CAN’T SLEEP LOVE Pentatonix 11000
64 NEW 64 1 FAST LANE Rationale 7100
65 54 22 5 RESONATE Avec Sans 61300
66 80 66 2 100 DEGREES Kylie Minogue featuring Dannii Minogue 10800
67 83 67 2 LOVE GAVE ME MORE Simply Red 10000
68 67 48 5 BETTER LOVE Foxes 43550
69 92 69 2 DREAMS Life Of Dillon 8000
70 46 7 10 BLACK AND WHITE Kylie Minogue + Garibay featuring Shaggy 269550

71 63 4 8 HANDS OF LOVE Miley Cyrus 275650
72 70 1 14 ROUSSEAU Nerina Pallot 568100
73 76 73 2 DON’T GIVE UP (ON LOVE) Blinkie 10200
74 64 6 11 BACK WHERE I BELONG Jack Savoretti 247800
75 61 6 13 THE GATES Young Empires 310200
76 52 52 5 SATURDAY NIGHT Yukon Blonde 44600
77 51 14 8 S.O.B. Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats 150700
78 66 60 5 HOTLINE BLING Drake 33000
79 71 14 9 TODAY’S THE DAY P!NK 141700
80 65 23 6 PRETTY LITTLE GANGSTER Ryder 72150

81 78 38 4 WHEN I STOP DREAMING Don Henley featuring Dolly Parton 42400
82 87 82 2 EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES Panic! At The Disco 6200
83 85 83 2 RIDE-O-ROCKET The Brothers Johnson 6400
84 NEW 84 1 THE GIRL IS MINE 99 Souls featuring Destiny’s Child and Brandy 3200
85 90 85 2 TAKE ME HOME Jess Glynne 5000
86 69 66 5 THE AUSTERITY OF LOVE Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott 28800
87 NEW 87 1 TIRED OF TALKING LEON 2600
88 NEW 88 1 I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND The Beatles 2400
89 89 89 2 THE CRAZY ONES Paloma Faith 4400
90 75 75 3 RULE THE WORLD Walk Off The Earth 12000

91 93 91 2 FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE Stevie Wonder 3600
92 NEW 92 1 LEFT HAND FREE Alt-J 1800
93 NEW 93 1 TOMPKINS SQUARE PARK Mumford And Sons 1700
94 NEW 94 1 WHAT ARE THE CHANCES? Duran Duran 1600
95 100 95 2 NEVER ENDING CIRCLES CHVRCHES 2500
96 NEW 96 1 SUGAR Loud Places featuring Francesco Yates 1400
97 97 97 2 THE WANDERER Dion 2600
98 NEW 98 1 CONFIDENT Demi Lovato 1200
99 NEW 99 1 I’VE BEEN SECRETLY FALLING APART Owsey Jernalism & Resotone 1100
100 NEW 100 1 FOCUS Ariana Grande 1000

 

22nd November 2015

3 weeks on top for Coldplay, and 2 weeks at 2 for Hurts, and 3 weeks at 3 for Shaun Frank and KSHMR featuring Delaney, still in Heaven. Highehst new entry at 7 is a 1966 classic from Sonny & Cher, pre-dating my chart, but one I’ve loved for over 50 years, all gypsy charm used to later great effect by Cher in her solo records, Little Man was a big European hit and now is used by Amazon in an advert. Not that I love tax-dodging mega-corporations, but hey it gives me an excuse to chart it at last, giving Sonny & Cher a run of 43 years since All I Ever Need Is You topped my chart in 1972. They would, of course, have topped with I Got You Babe in 1965 cos I loved it as a toddler.

Fleur East jumps up 26 places, Noel Gallagher makes the 20 for the 3rd time this year, and Kylie does it for the 5th time with Only You, as the highest new record is at 19, and it’s HOT. No, it is, a great dance track. Adele’s world-domination is upon us, and the best track from the album on first hearing is in at 29, Water Under The Bridge joining Hello in the chart. In the 40 Justin Bieber replaces himself, and says Sorry, while lower down Rationale gets a second entry, 99 Souls bring back Destiny’s Child and Brandy to my chart, Duran Duran and Mumford & Sons return with new singles, and The Beatles come back for the third time with I Want To Hold Your Hand, thanks to the 1 album/dvd return, which I’ve finally bought now I can get all of the promos in one place. Hooray! Like Sonny & Cher, The Beatles woulda topped my charts in the 60’s, twice, as it was among the first batch of singles my dad bought in 1966 for a brand new record player, and which I played to death over the rest of the decade, pre-teen. Still missing that official chart-topper with it though…

1 1 1 3 ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME Coldplay 510000
2 2 2 2 WINGS Hurts 230000
3 3 3 5 HEAVEN Shaun Frank & KSHMR featuring Delaney 355000
4 4 1 12 QUEEN OF PEACE Florence + The Machine 1610000
5 6 5 9 CHAMAK CHALLO CHEL CHABELI Kumar Sanu, Shreya Ghoshal & Sajid – Wajid 294250
6 9 6 3 COMING HOME Sigma & Rita Ora 119000
7 NEW 7 1 LITTLE MAN Sonny And Cher 50000
8 5 1 5 HELLO Adele 458000
9 10 9 2 ONE STEP AT A TIME Jeff Lynne’s ELO 87000
10 7 5 5 CIRCLES Truls 260000

11 8 3 6 HAPPINESS IAMX 280000
12 38 12 3 SAX Fleur East 62800
13 18 13 5 USED TO LOVE YOU Gwen Stefani 117250
14 11 8 4 ECHOES IN RAIN Enya 151000
15 15 15 5 SUPERHEATED New Order featuring Brandon Flowers 107300
16 24 16 2 THE DYING OF THE LIGHT Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 44000
17 17 17 10 THE RAIN THE PARK AND OTHER THINGS The Cowsills 186800
18 12 9 5 MUSIC TO MY SOUL CeeLo Green 146750
19 NEW 19 1 HOT POWERS 21000
20 29 20 2 ONLY YOU Kylie Minogue with James Corden 38200

21 14 3 8 BLACK SOAP Ex Cops 358250
22 13 13 4 LET IT HAPPEN Tame Impala 94500
23 16 16 5 SAME OLD LOVE Selena Gomez 103050
24 22 9 8 HERE FOR YOU Kygo featuring Ella Henderson 196550
25 21 4 6 HEY BOY Take That 229500
26 19 10 8 EX’S AND OH’S Elle King 176700
27 30 27 3 BURNING LOVE Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 53900
28 20 20 6 WAVES DANCE WITH THE DEAD 102350
29 NEW 29 1 WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE Adele 18200
30 32 30 4 CHEYENNE Jason Derulo 53100

31 31 31 4 GO! Postiljonen 64650
32 34 32 2 WHITE DECEMBER Kylie Minogue 35400
33 37 33 2 I COULD BE Shane Filan with Nadine Coyle 35000
34 27 27 4 IMMORTALS Jean-Michel Jarre & f*** Buttons 64600
35 28 28 8 LOVE ME LIKE YOU Little Mix 119400
36 26 20 9 HOLY HOLY Orenda Fink 156500
37 39 37 19 HAPPY TOGETHER The Turtles 219300
38 25 2 12 CRASH AND BURN Thomas Rhett 822950
39 49 39 3 SORRY Justin Bieber 39600
40 50 40 4 I LIKE IT We The Kings 43600

41 23 4 12 WILDEST DREAMS Taylor Swift 345700
42 58 42 3 YOUNG AND UNAFRAID The Moth And The Flame 29750
43 43 43 2 HAPPY ALONE Matrix & Futurebound featuring V. Bozeman 27000
44 33 33 5 SECOND HAND HEART Ben Haenow featuring Kelly Clarkson 56350
45 47 45 15 MELLOW YELLOW Donovan 150300
46 41 3 11 I’M IN LOVE WITH MY LIFE PHASES 440750
47 35 35 5 WHAT DO YOU MEAN Justin Bieber 62800
48 36 36 7 LAY IT ALL ON ME Rudimental featuring Ed Sheeran 80300
49 55 49 10 GEE WHIZ (LOOK AT HIS EYES) Carla Thomas 92200
50 60 50 5 SOMETHING IN THE WAY YOU MOVE Ellie Goulding 46700

51 40 8 12 OCEAN DRIVE Duke Dumont featuring Robert Owens 272450
52 56 52 5 THE HILLS The Weeknd featuring Eminem 46000
53 48 5 10 I’M IN LOVE Noonie Bao 314000
54 57 54 3 PAINT ME LIKE A FRENCH GIRL Breakdlaw featuring The Glitchfox 27600
55 53 3 11 LIGHTS Hurts 307400
56 42 10 9 PHILOSOPHIZE IN IT! CHEMICALIZE WITH IT! Kishi Bashi 201800
57 62 57 3 WRITING’S ON THE WALL Sam Smith 24900
58 72 58 4 EYES SHUT Years And Years 26800
59 59 59 3 KISS ME Olly Murs 26200
60 45 6 9 WHEN I WAS A BOY Jeff Lynne’s ELO 235400

61 44 6 12 DO IT WELL XYconstant featuring Tom Aspaul 254400
62 68 62 2 INDULGE Jones 13800
63 81 63 2 CAN’T SLEEP LOVE Pentatonix 11000
64 NEW 64 1 FAST LANE Rationale 7100
65 54 22 5 RESONATE Avec Sans 61300
66 80 66 2 100 DEGREES Kylie Minogue featuring Dannii Minogue 10800
67 83 67 2 LOVE GAVE ME MORE Simply Red 10000
68 67 48 5 BETTER LOVE Foxes 43550
69 92 69 2 DREAMS Life Of Dillon 8000
70 46 7 10 BLACK AND WHITE Kylie Minogue + Garibay featuring Shaggy 269550

71 63 4 8 HANDS OF LOVE Miley Cyrus 275650
72 70 1 14 ROUSSEAU Nerina Pallot 568100
73 76 73 2 DON’T GIVE UP (ON LOVE) Blinkie 10200
74 64 6 11 BACK WHERE I BELONG Jack Savoretti 247800
75 61 6 13 THE GATES Young Empires 310200

76 52 52 5 SATURDAY NIGHT Yukon Blonde 44600
77 51 14 8 S.O.B. Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats 150700
78 66 60 5 HOTLINE BLING Drake 33000
79 71 14 9 TODAY’S THE DAY P!NK 141700
80 65 23 6 PRETTY LITTLE GANGSTER Ryder 72150

81 78 38 4 WHEN I STOP DREAMING Don Henley featuring Dolly Parton 42400
82 87 82 2 EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES Panic! At The Disco 6200
83 85 83 2 RIDE-O-ROCKET The Brothers Johnson 6400
84 NEW 84 1 THE GIRL IS MINE 99 Souls featuring Destiny’s Child and Brandy 3200
85 90 85 2 TAKE ME HOME Jess Glynne 5000
86 69 66 5 THE AUSTERITY OF LOVE Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott 28800
87 NEW 87 1 TIRED OF TALKING LEON 2600
88 NEW 88 1 I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND The Beatles 2400
89 89 89 2 THE CRAZY ONES Paloma Faith 4400
90 75 75 3 RULE THE WORLD Walk Off The Earth 12000

91 93 91 2 FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE Stevie Wonder 3600
92 NEW 92 1 LEFT HAND FREE Alt-J 1800
93 NEW 93 1 TOMPKINS SQUARE PARK Mumford And Sons 1700
94 NEW 94 1 WHAT ARE THE CHANCES? Duran Duran 1600
95 100 95 2 NEVER ENDING CIRCLES CHVRCHES 2500
96 NEW 96 1 SUGAR Loud Places featuring Francesco Yates 1400
97 97 97 2 THE WANDERER Dion 2600
98 NEW 98 1 CONFIDENT Demi Lovato 1200
99 NEW 99 1 I’VE BEEN SECRETLY FALLING APART Owsey Jernalism & Resotone 1100
100 NEW 100 1 FOCUS Ariana Grande 1000

5th November 2015
2 weeks at 1 for the brilliant Coldplay new single, nothing like any of their previous singles, it’s so intricate and joyously irresistible, multiple hooks galore both instrumental and the main vocal melodies. Straight in at 2, it’s the perennial British bridesmaids, Hurts, with a glorious power ballad, Wings, and their 3rd in a row to hit my top 3 in 2015. Hugely popular in parts of Europe, fabulous live, great albums, and the UK remains stubbornly ignorant of one of our best acts of this century, which, given the drivel that occupies a fair portion of the singles chart, makes me rather peed off. Staying at 3, it’s the fabulous Heaven, with that sexy throbbing teasing class dance track from Shaun Frank, KSHMR and Delaney.

To be honest, in normal times any of the top 10 could be topping my chart quite happily, while the track at 40 would be around 15 spots higher, and the one at 75 should be scraping on the doors of the top 40. So many great records around that I’ve bought, I’ve had to give up and admit defeat and expand my chart to 100 for the first time since 1983 to catch good tracks that just can’t get into the 75 after weeks of hanging around. The number 100 would generally be inside the top 75 comfortably. Sigma and Rita Ora move into the 10, ELO get a 2nd top 10 of the year with the very 70’s ELO sounding One Step At A Time – if I have one complaint, it’s my MP3 download sounds like it’s been recorded with ear muffs around the mixing deck.

Which brings me to another complaint I have with MP3’s from itunes: so many tracks start and continue with what sounds like vinyl record hiss, clicks and pops, and it is really pissing me off – there is no need for all of this fake extraneous pretentious background noise, and I’m going to stop buying any artist that insists on doing it, it’s not clever and it’s doesn’t make them sound “classic”, just annoying. So there, naming names Olly Murs, CeeLo, Selena Gomez, Breakdlaw, and other assorted pop and dance tracks.

New entries: Noel Gallagher gets another high flying new entry off his latest album, while also oldie Oasis charting in the UK thanks to John Lewis, Half The World Away, is in belatedly at 95. It’s a very Kylie early Christmas too, with 3 new entries, a sweet cover of Yazoo’s 1982 chart-topper Only You at 29 with comedian/host/actor James Corden, a song new to me, but classic xmas sounding, at 34 White December, and finally 100 degrees with sister Dannii returning after a long break at 81. It’s a dance number and if anyone can tell which one is which, got better ears than me!

Others: Shane Filan and Nadine Coyle have a duet, Matrix & Futurebound are back, ditto Simply Red’s 70’s soul groove, and Panic! At The Disco’s rocking out, not to mention crazy Paloma Faith’s theme toon, Life Of Dillon’s return, and oldies from Stevie Wonder, For Once In My Life is back after first charting in 1969, 1960’s oldie The Wanderer is back for Dion thanks to an advert for some computer game or other, and charting for the first time since 1976, while the Back To The Future 30th “anniversary” got Huey Lewis into the UK sales charts, and a bit late into mine, 30 years on since it last exited.

1 1 1 2 ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME Coldplay 340000
2 NEW 2 1 WINGS Hurts 115000
3 3 3 4 HEAVEN Shaun Frank & KSHMR featuring Delaney 270000
4 2 1 11 QUEEN OF PEACE Florence + The Machine 1545000
5 4 1 4 HELLO Adele 410000
6 7 6 8 CHAMAK CHALLO CHEL CHABELI Kumar Sanu, Shreya Ghoshal & Sajid – Wajid 234250
7 5 5 4 CIRCLES Truls 218000
8 6 3 5 HAPPINESS IAMX 243000
9 24 9 2 COMING HOME Sigma & Rita Ora 64000
10 NEW 10 1 ONE STEP AT A TIME Jeff Lynne’s ELO 42000

11 8 8 3 ECHOES IN RAIN Enya 122000
12 9 9 4 MUSIC TO MY SOUL CeeLo Green 124750
13 16 13 3 LET IT HAPPEN Tame Impala 75000
14 11 3 7 BLACK SOAP Ex Cops 338500
15 28 15 4 SUPERHEATED New Order featuring Brandon Flowers 80300
16 17 16 4 SAME OLD LOVE Selena Gomez 83800
17 19 17 9 THE RAIN THE PARK AND OTHER THINGS The Cowsills 163800
18 18 18 4 USED TO LOVE YOU Gwen Stefani 85250
19 13 10 7 EX’S AND OH’S Elle King 158200
20 21 20 5 WAVES DANCE WITH THE DEAD 84050

21 10 4 5 HEY BOY Take That 210750
22 15 9 7 HERE FOR YOU Kygo featuring Ella Henderson 177550
23 12 4 11 WILDEST DREAMS Taylor Swift 331700
24 NEW 24 1 THE DYING OF THE LIGHT Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 19000
25 14 2 11 CRASH AND BURN Thomas Rhett 805750
26 20 20 8 HOLY HOLY Orenda Fink 139100
27 30 27 3 IMMORTALS Jean-Michel Jarre & f*** Buttons 47000
28 29 28 7 LOVE ME LIKE YOU Little Mix 101900
29 NEW 29 1 ONLY YOU Kylie Minogue featuring James Corden 18200
30 35 30 2 BURNING LOVE Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 35500

31 39 31 3 GO! Postiljonen 46750
32 48 32 3 CHEYENNE Jason Derulo 35100
33 54 33 4 SECOND HAND HEART Ben Haenow featuring Kelly Clarkson 43100
34 NEW 34 1 WHITE DECEMBER Kylie Minogue 17600
35 36 35 4 WHAT DO YOU MEAN Justin Bieber 50300
36 40 36 6 LAY IT ALL ON ME Rudimental featuring Ed Sheeran 68000
37 NEW 37 1 I COULD BE Shane Filan with Nadine Coyle 17300
38 56 38 2 SAX Fleur East 27800
39 41 39 18 HAPPY TOGETHER The Turtles 202000
40 33 8 11 OCEAN DRIVE Duke Dumont featuring Robert Owens 260700

41 22 3 10 I’M IN LOVE WITH MY LIFE PHASES 428000
42 23 10 8 PHILOSOPHIZE IN IT! CHEMICALIZE WITH IT! Kishi Bashi 191200
43 NEW 43 1 HAPPY ALONE Matrix & Futurebound featuring V. Bozeman 13500
44 25 6 11 DO IT WELL XYconstant featuring Tom Aspaul 246900
45 27 6 8 WHEN I WAS A BOY Jeff Lynne’s ELO 225400
46 32 7 9 BLACK AND WHITE Kylie Minogue + Garibay featuring Shaggy 263550
47 49 47 14 MELLOW YELLOW Donovan 137300
48 42 5 9 I’M IN LOVE Noonie Bao 302750
49 57 49 2 SORRY Justin Bieber 22500
50 61 50 3 I LIKE IT We The Kings 26600

51 26 14 7 S.O.B. Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats 146100
52 53 52 4 SATURDAY NIGHT Yukon Blonde 39800
53 46 3 10 LIGHTS Hurts 296600
54 34 22 4 RESONATE Avec Sans 54300
55 55 55 9 GEE WHIZ (LOOK AT HIS EYES) Carla Thomas 80100
56 59 56 4 THE HILLS The Weeknd featuring Eminem 34500
57 69 57 2 PAINT ME LIKE A FRENCH GIRL Breakdlaw featuring The Glitchfox 16600
58 71 58 2 YOUNG AND UNAFRAID The Moth And The Flame 16000
59 70 59 2 KISS ME Olly Murs 16100
60 63 52 4 SOMETHING IN THE WAY YOU MOVE Ellie Goulding 34700

61 47 6 12 THE GATES Young Empires 305200
62 64 62 2 WRITING’S ON THE WALL Sam Smith 14500
63 31 4 7 HANDS OF LOVE Miley Cyrus 269850
64 43 6 10 BACK WHERE I BELONG Jack Savoretti 242600
65 37 23 5 PRETTY LITTLE GANGSTER Ryder 68150
66 60 60 4 HOTLINE BLING Drake 28600
67 65 48 4 BETTER LOVE Foxes 37150
68 NEW 68 1 INDULGE Jones 6400
69 66 66 4 THE AUSTERITY OF LOVE Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott 25400
70 45 1 13 ROUSSEAU Nerina Pallot 562500

71 44 14 8 TODAY’S THE DAY P!NK 137500
72 72 72 3 EYES SHUT Years And Years 16600
73 76 73 2 REDEMPTION Sigma featuring Diztortion 10200
74 NEW 74 1 HUNDRED MILES Yall featuring Gabriela Richardson 5200
75 75 75 2 RULE THE WORLD Walk Off The Earth 10000
76 NEW 76 1 DON’T GIVE UP (ON LOVE) Blinkie 4800
77 NEW 77 1 LEAVES Baile & Felicia Douglass 4600
78 38 38 3 WHEN I STOP DREAMING Don Henley featuring Dolly Parton 38600
79 50 5 12 I AM THE ANTICHRIST TO YOU Kishi Bashi 320300
80 NEW 80 1 100 DEGREES Kylie Minogue featuring Dannii Minogue 4000

81 NEW 81 1 CAN’T SLEEP LOVE Pentatonix 3800
82 51 10 11 EVERYBODY FEELING SOMETHING Marlon Roudette featuring K. Stewart 286650
83 NEW 83 1 LOVE GAVE ME MORE Simply Red 3400
84 58 24 9 ELECTRIC LOVE BORNS 117100
85 NEW 85 1 RIDE-O-ROCKET The Brothers Johnson 3000
86 62 16 9 DANGEROUS Big Data featuring Joywave 139850
87 NEW 87 1 EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES Panic! At The Disco 2600
88 52 33 9 RUNNIN’ (LOSE IT ALL) Naughty Boy featuring Beyonce & Arrow Benjamin 120250
89 NEW 89 1 THE CRAZY ONES Paloma Faith 2200
90 NEW 90 1 TAKE ME HOME Jess Glynne 2000

91 73 73 2 CRADLE TO THE GRAVE Squeeze 7300
92 NEW 92 1 DREAMS Life Of Dillon 1800
93 NEW 93 1 FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE Stevie Wonder 1700
94 68 68 3 BAD Lost Kings featuring Jessame 13200
95 NEW 95 1 HALF THE WORLD AWAY Oasis 1500
96 67 67 5 LEVELS Nick Jonas 25400
97 NEW 97 1 THE WANDERER Dion 1300
98 74 74 2 PERFECT One Direction 6400
99 NEW 99 1 THE POWER OF LOVE Huey Lewis and The News 1100
100 NEW 100 1 NEVER ENDING CIRCLES CHVRCHES 1000

8th November 2015

It’s Coldplay, on an Adventure Of A Lifetime straight in at number one with their 6th chart-topper over a 10-year period and 15 years of chart entries. It’s been a while since a new record came in at 1 in my charts, tracks tended to grow over a period of weeks thanks to radio airplay, but the great advantage of the world release day OAOS is that it’s freshened up the music scene no end, a record can just turn up unnanounced, you can buy it instantly and 2 days later (my chart is still Sunday-based) it’s topping my chart. I now actively scour through new releases on fridays and buy the ones I like the sound of based on itunes clips. It also means my charts are highly competitive compared to some years in previous decades, what with Buzzjack Song Contest bringing batches of great new songs every month. Records get ejected far too early…

Shaun Frank snuggles up to Florence at 2, Shreya Ghoshal & friends go back up to 7 as I go Bollywood again, and Enya grabs another top 10 for her list. Ditto CeeLo. Tame Impala make it 3 top 20, Selena Gomez 2, and the gorgeous Orenda Fink track leaps back up to 20. 2nd highest new entry at 24 is Sigma, back again big with Rita Ora in drum n bass tow – their other track is thus kept out of my chart at 76 (with Diztortion) by themselves. Jean-Michel Jarre is back in the 30, and Elvis is back at 35 with an orchestral reimagining of one of his few great 70’s singles, Burning Love, which hit my top 10 in 1972, 43 years ago. I was 14 and Elvis was there all my life and still only 37. 5 years later he was dead and now he’s been dead almost as long as he was alive, but it doesn’t stop the chart entries!

Justin Bieber has been much ignored in my charts, bar one or two tracks, but I’va been forced to admit I like his latest two singles, Sorry, What do you mean!? Up to 36 while his new one is in at 57. He’s still not the greatest singer in the world, but that never held Bob Dylan back. I’ve also relented on Sam Smith, in the context of the movie Spectre, the track works and pops in at 64. Postiljonen get a 3rd top 40, X Factor chuck out another act (Fleur East) heavily borrowing from Mark Ronson/ Bruno Mars, and wholesale sampling Shake Your Body’s riff. I’m sure Jacko would approve, as long as he got writing credit, so I hope they ran it through co-writer Randy Jackson before proceeding….! Other newies, Olly’s back, ditto One Direction, Squeeze, and Walk Off The Earth. Only half of them are former X factor acts, phew!

1 NEW 1 1 ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME Coldplay 170000
2 2 1 10 QUEEN OF PEACE Florence + The Machine 1480000
3 6 3 3 HEAVEN Shaun Frank & KSHMR featuring Delaney 185000
4 1 1 3 HELLO Adele 350000
5 5 5 3 CIRCLES Truls 168000
6 3 3 4 HAPPINESS IAMX 195000
7 31 7 7 CHAMAK CHALLO CHEL CHABELI Kumar Sanu, Shreya Ghoshal & Sajid – Wajid 179250
8 11 8 2 ECHOES IN RAIN Enya 85000
9 13 9 3 MUSIC TO MY SOUL CeeLo Green 89750
10 4 4 4 HEY BOY Take That 191000

11 7 3 6 BLACK SOAP Ex Cops 309500
12 17 4 10 WILDEST DREAMS Taylor Swift 312450
13 10 10 6 EX’S AND OH’S Elle King 137200
14 8 2 10 CRASH AND BURN Thomas Rhett 787000
15 9 9 6 HERE FOR YOU Kygo featuring Ella Henderson 158050
16 30 16 2 LET IT HAPPEN Tame Impala 43000
17 26 17 3 SAME OLD LOVE Selena Gomez 58800
18 18 18 3 USED TO LOVE YOU Gwen Stefani 63250
19 20 19 8 THE RAIN THE PARK AND OTHER THINGS The Cowsills 140800
20 47 20 7 HOLY HOLY Orenda Fink 120600

21 24 21 4 WAVES DANCE WITH THE DEAD 64050
22 14 3 9 I’M IN LOVE WITH MY LIFE PHASES 414000
23 15 10 7 PHILOSOPHIZE IN IT! CHEMICALIZE WITH IT! Kishi Bashi 177450
24 NEW 24 1 COMING HOME Sigma & Rita Ora 19000
25 12 6 10 DO IT WELL XYconstant featuring Tom Aspaul 233650
26 16 14 6 S.O.B. Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats 134350
27 19 6 7 WHEN I WAS A BOY Jeff Lynne’s ELO 212400
28 35 28 3 SUPERHEATED New Order featuring Brandon Flowers 53300
29 29 29 6 LOVE ME LIKE YOU Little Mix 83600
30 56 30 2 IMMORTALS Jean-Michel Jarre & f*** Buttons 28600

31 21 4 6 HANDS OF LOVE Miley Cyrus 262650
32 25 7 8 BLACK AND WHITE Kylie Minogue + Garibay featuring Shaggy 250800
33 27 8 10 OCEAN DRIVE Duke Dumont featuring Robert Owens 243700
34 22 22 3 RESONATE Avec Sans 43300
35 NEW 35 1 BURNING LOVE Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 17500
36 57 36 3 WHAT DO YOU MEAN Justin Bieber 32800
37 23 23 4 PRETTY LITTLE GANGSTER Ryder 61150
38 40 38 2 WHEN I STOP DREAMING Don Henley featuring Dolly Parton 34200
39 51 39 2 GO! Postiljonen 28850
40 54 40 5 LAY IT ALL ON ME Rudimental featuring Ed Sheeran 50600

41 42 41 17 HAPPY TOGETHER The Turtles 184900
42 28 5 8 I’M IN LOVE Noonie Bao 290450
43 32 6 9 BACK WHERE I BELONG Jack Savoretti 235500
44 50 14 7 TODAY’S THE DAY P!NK 131700
45 39 1 12 ROUSSEAU Nerina Pallot 556500
46 36 3 9 LIGHTS Hurts 285350
47 38 6 11 THE GATES Young Empires 297700
48 75 48 2 CHEYENNE Jason Derulo 17300
49 49 49 13 MELLOW YELLOW Donovan 124800
50 34 5 11 I AM THE ANTICHRIST TO YOU Kishi Bashi 316100

51 37 10 10 EVERYBODY FEELING SOMETHING Marlon Roudette featuring K. Stewart 283050
52 33 33 8 RUNNIN’ (LOSE IT ALL) Naughty Boy featuring Beyonce & Arrow Benjamin 117850
53 53 53 3 SATURDAY NIGHT Yukon Blonde 28300
54 62 54 3 SECOND HAND HEART Ben Haenow featuring Kelly Clarkson 25400
55 55 55 8 GEE WHIZ (LOOK AT HIS EYES) Carla Thomas 69300
56 NEW 56 1 SAX Fleur East 10600
57 NEW 57 1 SORRY Justin Bieber 10400
58 43 24 8 ELECTRIC LOVE BORNS 113900
59 65 59 3 THE HILLS The Weeknd featuring Eminem 23900
60 69 60 3 HOTLINE BLING Drake 21800

61 64 61 2 I LIKE IT We The Kings 14600
62 45 16 8 DANGEROUS Big Data featuring Joywave 137050
63 52 52 3 SOMETHING IN THE WAY YOU MOVE Ellie Goulding 24700
64 NEW 64 1 WRITING’S ON THE WALL Sam Smith 7100
65 48 48 3 BETTER LOVE Foxes 30550
66 66 66 3 THE AUSTERITY OF LOVE Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott 19200
67 67 67 4 LEVELS Nick Jonas 24000
68 74 68 2 BAD Lost Kings featuring Jessame 11600
69 NEW 69 1 PAINT ME LIKE A FRENCH GIRL Breakdlaw featuring The Glitchfox 6200
70 NEW 70 1 KISS ME Olly Murs 6000

71 NEW 71 1 YOUNG AND UNAFRAID The Moth And The Flame 5800
72 73 72 2 EYES SHUT Years And Years 11000
73 NEW 73 1 CRADLE TO THE GRAVE Squeeze 5400
74 NEW 74 1 PERFECT One Direction 5200
75 NEW 75 1 RULE THE WORLD Walk Off The Earth 5000

DROP OUTS
41 25 7 R U MINE (LOST KINGS REMIX) ROZES 111050
44 8 8 LAST NIGHT IN THE CITY Duran Duran featuring Kiesza 204000
46 43 5 JOY Will Young 50450
58 49 5 FEVER Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra featuring Michael Buble 55400
59 1 14 I HAD THIS THING Royksopp 684950
60 1 12 BODY Niia 638400
61 61 2 UGLY Drew 12700
63 2 11 FUEL TO THE FIRE Rationale 499300
68 68 2 I FEEL GOOD Thomas Rhett featuring Lunchmoney Lewis 11600
70 70 1 WORDS CAN BREAK YOUR HEART Don Henley 6000
71 1 21 SHINE Years And Years 1235100
72 1 34 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 1107050

1st November 2015

It’s Adele knocking off Florence after 7 weeks at 1, so she equals the 21st century record of Keane’s Disconnected, Take That’s The Flood and Brandon Flowers’ Crossfire, but falls just one week short of the record-holder Princess Of China, Coldplay and Rihanna’s 8 week topper (in 2 runs). Adele gets a second number one, way back to debut Chasing Pavements and nothing since, till now. Hello! IAMX spit venom up to 3, Kygo and Ella Henderson get their 2nd top 10 of the year, though their first together, and Elle King gets her first ever.

Highest new entry at 11 is Enya. Enya! Yes it’s been 6 years since she last charted, and 15 years since she was in the top 10 with Only Time, not to mention 27 years since Orinoco Flow gave her a first top 10. Echoes In Rain sounds like it could easily have been the follow-up, a bit late. CeeLo is up to 13, his first top 20 in 3 years, Avec Sans have a big climber into the 40, and Tame Impala get a third top 40 entry at 30, Let It Happen! Greedy Don Henley has 2 new entries, the highest a lovely country duet with Dolly Parton at 40, and Postiljonen return with Go! Both Don and Postiljonen have previously hit the top spot with Boys Of Summer and Supreme, respectively. Jean-Michel Jarre is also back after a 15-year gap, in partnership with F Buttons (as I call ‘em), giving the synth legend a cool 38 years of chart action, since Oxygene Part 4 almost topped my chart in 1977. It sounded futuristic at the time – cos it was! We The Kings get a third chart entry 4 years on from the first one, while Lost Kings pop in with a large borrow of Carl Carlton’s 80‘s hit She’s A Bad Mama Jama, and Years And Years and Jason Derulo both add to their chart entry list.

1 2 1 2 HELLO Adele 285000
2 1 1 9 QUEEN OF PEACE Florence + The Machine 1365000
3 7 3 3 HAPPINESS IAMX 140000
4 4 4 3 HEY BOY Take That 149000
5 8 5 2 CIRCLES Truls 108000
6 9 6 2 HEAVEN Shaun Frank & KSHMR featuring Delaney 100000
7 3 3 5 BLACK SOAP Ex Cops 272500
8 5 2 9 CRASH AND BURN Thomas Rhett 758000
9 15 9 5 HERE FOR YOU Kygo featuring Ella Henderson 131050
10 18 10 5 EX’S AND OH’S Elle King 105200

11 NEW 11 1 ECHOES IN RAIN Enya 37000
12 6 6 9 DO IT WELL XYconstant featuring Tom Aspaul 215900
13 46 13 2 MUSIC TO MY SOUL CeeLo Green 44750
14 11 3 8 I’M IN LOVE WITH MY LIFE PHASES 394500
15 10 10 6 PHILOSOPHIZE IN IT! CHEMICALIZE WITH IT! Kishi Bashi 158200
16 16 14 5 S.O.B. Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats 115850
17 21 4 9 WILDEST DREAMS Taylor Swift 277450
18 23 18 2 USED TO LOVE YOU Gwen Stefani 41250
19 13 6 6 WHEN I WAS A BOY Jeff Lynne’s ELO 194000
20 26 20 7 THE RAIN THE PARK AND OTHER THINGS The Cowsills 119800

21 12 4 5 HANDS OF LOVE Miley Cyrus 244750
22 69 22 2 RESONATE Avec Sans 25700
23 48 23 3 PRETTY LITTLE GANGSTER Ryder 43850
24 32 24 3 WAVES DANCE WITH THE DEAD 44300
25 14 7 7 BLACK AND WHITE Kylie Minogue + Garibay featuring Shaggy 233000
26 37 26 2 SAME OLD LOVE Selena Gomez 35800
27 17 8 9 OCEAN DRIVE Duke Dumont featuring Robert Owens 226000
28 19 5 7 I’M IN LOVE Noonie Bao 276700
29 40 29 5 LOVE ME LIKE YOU Little Mix 65400
30 NEW 30 1 LET IT HAPPEN Tame Impala 18000

31 20 9 6 CHAMAK CHALLO CHEL CHABELI Kumar Sanu, Shreya Ghoshal & Sajid – Wajid 129250
32 22 6 8 BACK WHERE I BELONG Jack Savoretti 222000
33 33 33 7 RUNNIN’ (LOSE IT ALL) Naughty Boy featuring Beyonce & Arrow Benjamin 106350
34 34 5 10 I AM THE ANTICHRIST TO YOU Kishi Bashi 304100
35 35 35 2 SUPERHEATED New Order featuring Brandon Flowers 35000
36 29 3 8 LIGHTS Hurts 372600
37 30 10 9 EVERYBODY FEELING SOMETHING Marlon Roudette featuring K. Stewart 271300
38 31 6 10 THE GATES Young Empires 285200
39 39 1 11 ROUSSEAU Nerina Pallot 543500
40 NEW 40 1 WHEN I STOP DREAMING Don Henley featuring Dolly Parton 17000

41 25 25 7 R U MINE (LOST KINGS REMIX) ROZES 111050
42 44 42 16 HAPPY TOGETHER The Turtles 170900
43 24 24 7 ELECTRIC LOVE BORNS 103700
44 28 8 8 LAST NIGHT IN THE CITY Duran Duran featuring Kiesza 204000
45 27 16 7 DANGEROUS Big Data featuring Joywave 129650
46 43 43 5 JOY Will Young 50450
47 36 28 6 HOLY HOLY Orenda Fink 100600
48 53 48 2 BETTER LOVE Foxes 23550
49 52 49 12 MELLOW YELLOW Donovan 112700
50 38 14 6 TODAY’S THE DAY P!NK 118450

51 NEW 51 1 GO! Postiljonen 11750
52 70 52 2 SOMETHING IN THE WAY YOU MOVE Ellie Goulding 17500
53 71 53 2 SATURDAY NIGHT Yukon Blonde 17050
54 60 54 4 LAY IT ALL ON ME Rudimental featuring Ed Sheeran 33600
55 57 55 7 GEE WHIZ (LOOK AT HIS EYES) Carla Thomas 58500
56 NEW 56 1 IMMORTALS Jean-Michel Jarre & F**k Buttons 10600
57 75 57 2 WHAT DO YOU MEAN Justin Bieber 15400
58 49 49 5 FEVER Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra featuring Michael Buble 55400
59 51 1 14 I HAD THIS THING Royksopp 684950
60 50 1 12 BODY Niia 638400

61 74 61 2 UGLY Drew 12700
62 65 62 2 SECOND HAND HEART Ben Haenow featuring Kelly Clarkson 14400
63 45 2 11 FUEL TO THE FIRE Rationale 499300
64 NEW 64 1 I LIKE IT We The Kings 7100
65 66 65 2 THE HILLS The Weeknd featuring Eminem 13800
66 72 66 2 THE AUSTERITY OF LOVE Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott 12400
67 73 67 3 LEVELS Nick Jonas 17400
68 RE 68 2 I FEEL GOOD Thomas Rhett featuring Lunchmoney Lewis 11600
69 RE 69 2 HOTLINE BLING Drake 11800
70 NEW 70 1 WORDS CAN BREAK YOUR HEART Don Henley 6000

71 64 1 21 SHINE Years And Years 1235100
72 68 1 34 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 1107050
73 NEW 73 1 EYES SHUT Years And Years 5400
74 NEW 74 1 BAD Lost Kings featuring Jessame 5200
75 NEW 75 1 CHEYENNE Jason Derulo 5000

DROP OUTS
41 20 3 LUVAROTORRRRRY! Reol featuring nqrse 51500
42 23 8 ALL SHE WANTS MIKA 132050
47 34 6 LET IT ALL GO RHODES & Birdy 83700
54 35 4 TAKE THIS CHANCE Anastacia 52250
55 10 9 DOWNTOWN Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, and Grandmaster Caz 208400
56 33 5 RIVERS Thomas Jack 66800
58 49 2 WAKE UP The Vamps 22300
59 15 9 THE WAKE a-ha 172750
61 10 11 APACHE (JUMP ON IT!) The Sugarhill Gang 239600
62 46 6 HELP IS COMING Crowded House 53550
63 43 3 PLAYING WITH FIRE Andreya Triana 30900
67 1 25 SO YOU WIN AGAIN Hot Chocolate 615050

2015

25th October 2015

It’s a 7-week run on top for Florence, equalling Keane’s longest-running number one of the 2010’s, and the competition is absolutely intense in the top 10, making it all the more remarkable. 10 weeks in a row is the all-time record, so just 3 to go, or will she give in to highest new entry Adele, who’s stunning new ballad is in at 2, Hello? That’s her second-biggest hit, trailing only number one Chasing Pavements. Take That grabbed another chart-topper in 2014, and now they are shooting up into the top 5 again 22 years after Pray topped my chart. XYConstant go top 10, IAMX’s powerful Happiness is 68 places, and 2 new entries for Truls and Shaun Frank & KSHMR straight into the top 10 just ahead of Kishi Bashi’s second of the year means a massive clear-out at the top end of the chart.

Elle King goes top 20, Gwen Stefani is back at 23 18 years or so since No Doubt debuted, and 16 years since Gwen had her first solo credit in my top 20 with Moby (Southside), and before going on to get 2 solo chart-toppers in the noughties. New Order get a second chart entry of 2015 with help from Brandon Flowers, fresh off a string of big hits and 2 number ones in 2015, over a decade of hits for Brandon, 35 years for New Order, more or less. Others: Selena gets a quick second hit, Cee-Lo is back after a gap busy with legal affairs, so to speak, Foxes keeps the run of singles going, Kelly Clarkson is on a decade plus in tow with Ben Haenow back again, and The Weeknd gets his 3rd of the year with an assist from Eminem and 16 years-worth of singles. Ellie Goulding, and Justin Bieber, sneak in, while part of The Beautiful South get another hit at 72 with some wordplay as always.

1 1 1 8 QUEEN OF PEACE Florence + The Machine 1250000
2 NEW 2 1 HELLO Adele 115000
3 3 3 4 BLACK SOAP Ex Cops 222500
4 24 4 2 HEY BOY Take That 84000
5 2 2 8 CRASH AND BURN Thomas Rhett 710000
6 17 6 8 DO IT WELL XYconstant featuring Tom Aspaul 180900
7 75 7 2 HAPPINESS IAMX 55000
8 NEW 8 1 CIRCLES Truls 48000
9 NEW 9 1 HEAVEN Shaun Frank & KSHMR featuring Delaney 45000
10 12 10 5 PHILOSOPHIZE IN IT! CHEMICALIZE WITH IT! Kishi Bashi 131200

11 4 3 7 I’M IN LOVE WITH MY LIFE PHASES 365500
12 5 4 4 HANDS OF LOVE Miley Cyrus 225000
13 6 6 5 WHEN I WAS A BOY Jeff Lynne’s ELO 173000
14 10 7 6 BLACK AND WHITE Kylie Minogue + Garibay featuring Shaggy 214250
15 18 15 4 HERE FOR YOU Kygo featuring Ella Henderson 86050
16 14 14 4 S.O.B. Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats 90850
17 15 8 8 OCEAN DRIVE Duke Dumont featuring Robert Owens 207600
18 30 18 4 EX’S AND OH’S Elle King 63200
19 7 5 6 I’M IN LOVE Noonie Bao 258400
20 9 9 5 CHAMAK CHALLO CHEL CHABELI Kumar Sanu, Shreya Ghoshal & Sajid – Wajid 111350

21 25 4 8 WILDEST DREAMS Taylor Swift 254250
22 11 6 7 BACK WHERE I BELONG Jack Savoretti 204200
23 NEW 23 1 USED TO LOVE YOU Gwen Stefani 19250
24 29 24 6 ELECTRIC LOVE BORNS 90200
25 28 25 6 R U MINE (LOST KINGS REMIX) ROZES 97050
26 26 26 6 THE RAIN THE PARK AND OTHER THINGS The Cowsills 99800
27 16 16 6 DANGEROUS Big Data featuring Joywave 116650
28 8 8 7 LAST NIGHT IN THE CITY Duran Duran featuring Kiesza 190750
29 13 3 7 LIGHTS Hurts 355200
30 19 10 8 EVERYBODY FEELING SOMETHING Marlon Roudette featuring K. Stewart 254000

31 22 6 9 THE GATES Young Empires 268000
32 61 32 2 WAVES DANCE WITH THE DEAD 25300
33 38 33 6 RUNNIN’ (LOSE IT ALL) Naughty Boy featuring Beyonce & Arrow Benjamin 88650
34 27 5 9 I AM THE ANTICHRIST TO YOU Kishi Bashi 286500
35 NEW 35 1 SUPERHEATED New Order featuring Brandon Flowers 17500
36 36 28 5 HOLY HOLY Orenda Fink 88100
37 NEW 37 1 SAME OLD LOVE Selena Gomez 17300
38 21 14 5 TODAY’S THE DAY P!NK 106450
39 32 1 10 ROUSSEAU Nerina Pallot 526400
40 45 40 4 LOVE ME LIKE YOU Little Mix 47200

41 20 20 3 LUVAROTORRRRRY! Reol featuring nqrse 51500
42 23 23 8 ALL SHE WANTS MIKA 132050
43 50 43 4 JOY Will Young 37700
44 44 44 15 HAPPY TOGETHER The Turtles 157150
45 31 2 10 FUEL TO THE FIRE Rationale 492100
46 NEW 46 1 MUSIC TO MY SOUL Cee-Lo Green 12750
47 34 34 6 LET IT ALL GO RHODES & Birdy 83700
48 48 48 2 PRETTY LITTLE GANGSTER Ryder 24600
49 53 49 4 FEVER Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra featuring Michael Buble 45200
50 41 1 11 BODY Niia 628400

51 42 1 13 I HAD THIS THING Royksopp 674850
52 52 52 11 MELLOW YELLOW Donovan 100600
53 NEW 53 1 BETTER LOVE Foxes 11250
54 35 35 4 TAKE THIS CHANCE Anastacia 52250
55 39 10 9 DOWNTOWN Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, and Grandmaster Caz 208400
56 33 33 5 RIVERS Thomas Jack 66800
57 57 57 6 GEE WHIZ (LOOK AT HIS EYES) Carla Thomas 47700
58 49 49 2 WAKE UP The Vamps 22300
59 37 15 9 THE WAKE a-ha 172750
60 63 60 3 LAY IT ALL ON ME Rudimental featuring Ed Sheeran 22600

61 47 10 11 APACHE (JUMP ON IT!) The Sugarhill Gang 239600
62 46 46 6 HELP IS COMING Crowded House 53550
63 43 43 3 PLAYING WITH FIRE Andreya Triana 30900
64 54 1 20 SHINE Years And Years 1229300
65 NEW 65 1 SECOND HAND HEART Ben Haenow featuring Kelly Clarkson 7000
66 NEW 66 1 THE HILLS The Weeknd featuring Eminem 6800
67 67 1 25 SO YOU WIN AGAIN Hot Chocolate 615050
68 66 1 33 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 1101450
69 NEW 69 1 RESONATE Avec Sans 6200
70 NEW 70 1 SOMETHING IN THE WAY YOU MOVE Ellie Goulding 6000

71 NEW 71 1 SATURDAY NIGHT Yukon Blonde 5800
72 NEW 72 1 THE AUSTERITY OF LOVE Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott 5600
73 73 73 2 LEVELS Nick Jonas 10800
74 NEW 74 1 UGLY Drew 5200
75 NEW 75 1 WHAT DO YOU MEAN Justin Bieber 5000

DROP OUTS
40 40 5 OCEAN tiny deaths 63100
51 40 5 HEART OF OAK Richard Hawley 67500
55 6 10 BODY TALK Foxes 276100
56 37 5 FOR A BETTER DAY Avicii featuring Alex Ebert 61000
58 3 10 GOOD FOR YOU Selena Gomez featuring A$AP Rocky 270200
59 32 5 BODY ON ME Rita Ora featuring Chris Brown 71300
60 60 3 BRAND NEW DAY Bryan Adams 22500
62 23 7 COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS Above And Beyond featuring Gemma Hayes 106750
64 5 14 PEANUT BUTTER JELLY Galantis 371900
65 65 2 TALK TO ME Nick Brewer featuring Bibi Bourelly 12200
68 68 3 TIRING GAME John Newman featuring Charlie Wilson 17400
69 28 7 COOL FOR THE SUMMER Demi Lovato 91500
70 12 10 OH MY LOVE The Score 173200
71 71 2 LEAVE A TRACE CHVRCHES 10800
72 72 2 SOLACE Fyfe 11200
74 74 1 UP IN FLAMES Ruelle 5200

18th Oct 2015

It’s florence getting the longest run on top since keane did 7 weeks 3 years back, at 6 weeks we are getting into all-time territory! That also applies to thomas rhett’s 5 week run at 2. Very few records have had 5 consecutive weeks at 2 in my charts, and pretty much that have failed to reach number one. Ex cops fab track is 3 and highest new entry is from take that in at 24.

Its a short commentary from me cos i am on hols and going out to the bars. Hooray! Heaven doing nothing.

1 1 1 7 QUEEN OF PEACE Florence + The Machine 1080000
2 2 2 7 CRASH AND BURN Thomas Rhett 650000
3 12 3 3 BLACK SOAP Ex Cops 137500
4 3 3 6 I’M IN LOVE WITH MY LIFE PHASES 328500
5 4 4 3 HANDS OF LOVE Miley Cyrus 190000
6 10 6 4 WHEN I WAS A BOY Jeff Lynne’s ELO 141000
7 5 5 5 I’M IN LOVE Noonie Bao 237400
8 9 8 6 LAST NIGHT IN THE CITY Duran Duran featuring Kiesza 172450
9 19 9 4 CHAMAK CHALLO CHEL CHABELI Kumar Sanu, Shreya Ghoshal & Sajid – Wajid 91350
10 7 7 5 BLACK AND WHITE Kylie Minogue + Garibay featuring Shaggy 185250

11 6 6 6 BACK WHERE I BELONG Jack Savoretti 184700
12 16 12 4 PHILOSOPHIZE IN IT! CHEMICALIZE WITH IT! Kishi Bashi 89200
13 8 3 6 LIGHTS Hurts 337000
14 23 14 3 S.O.B. Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats 65850
15 11 8 7 OCEAN DRIVE Duke Dumont featuring Robert Owens 184600
16 18 16 5 DANGEROUS Big Data featuring Joywave 98250
17 33 17 7 DO IT WELL XYconstant featuring Tom Aspaul 125900
18 21 18 3 HERE FOR YOU Kygo featuring Ella Henderson 59050
19 13 10 7 EVERYBODY FEELING SOMETHING Marlon Roudette featuring K. Stewart 236000
20 35 20 2 LUVAROTORRRRRY! Reol featuring nqrse 37500

21 14 14 4 TODAY’S THE DAY P!NK 89250
22 15 6 8 THE GATES Young Empires 250100
23 25 23 7 ALL SHE WANTS MIKA 118300
24 NEW 24 1 HEY BOY Take That 19000
25 17 4 7 WILDEST DREAMS Taylor Swift 234500
26 29 26 5 THE RAIN THE PARK AND OTHER THINGS The Cowsills 91300
27 20 5 8 I AM THE ANTICHRIST TO YOU Kishi Bashi 268900
28 28 28 5 R U MINE (LOST KINGS REMIX) ROZES 78300
29 48 29 5 ELECTRIC LOVE BORNS 71200
30 36 30 3 EX’S AND OH’S Elle King 41200

31 22 2 9 FUEL TO THE FIRE Rationale 479100
32 24 1 9 ROUSSEAU Nerina Pallot 509300
33 37 33 4 RIVERS Thomas Jack 56200
34 40 34 5 LET IT ALL GO RHODES & Birdy 71200
35 42 35 3 TAKE THIS CHANCE Anastacia 41250
36 32 28 4 HOLY HOLY Orenda Fink 70700
37 30 15 8 THE WAKE a-ha 162650
38 38 38 5 RUNNIN’ (LOSE IT ALL) Naughty Boy featuring Beyonce & Arrow Benjamin 70950
39 39 10 8 DOWNTOWN Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, and Grandmaster Caz 197600
40 43 40 5 OCEAN tiny deaths 63100

41 31 1 10 BODY Niia 616400
42 34 1 12 I HAD THIS THING Royksopp 663100
43 58 43 2 PLAYING WITH FIRE Andreya Triana 23700
44 47 44 14 HAPPY TOGETHER The Turtles 143900
45 60 45 3 LOVE ME LIKE YOU Little Mix 30200
46 57 46 5 HELP IS COMING Crowded House 46150
47 45 10 10 APACHE (JUMP ON IT!) The Sugarhill Gang 232100
48 NEW 48 1 PRETTY LITTLE GANGSTER Ryder 12300
49 NEW 49 1 WAKE UP The Vamps 12100
50 67 50 3 JOY Will Young 24200

51 41 40 5 HEART OF OAK Richard Hawley 67500
52 55 52 10 MELLOW YELLOW Donovan 89100
53 53 53 3 FEVER Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra featuring Michael Buble 33100
54 52 1 19 SHINE Years And Years 1222200
55 46 6 10 BODY TALK Foxes 276100
56 56 37 5 FOR A BETTER DAY Avicii featuring Alex Ebert 61000
57 61 57 5 GEE WHIZ (LOOK AT HIS EYES) Carla Thomas 37300
58 50 3 10 GOOD FOR YOU Selena Gomez featuring A$AP Rocky 270200
59 49 32 5 BODY ON ME Rita Ora featuring Chris Brown 71300
60 64 60 3 BRAND NEW DAY Bryan Adams 22500

61 NEW 61 1 WAVES DANCE WITH THE DEAD 7500
62 51 23 7 COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS Above And Beyond featuring Gemma Hayes 106750
63 73 63 2 LAY IT ALL ON ME Rudimental featuring Ed Sheeran y
64 54 5 14 PEANUT BUTTER JELLY Galantis 371900
65 74 65 2 TALK TO ME Nick Brewer featuring Bibi Bourelly 12200
66 65 1 32 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 1095050
67 66 1 24 SO YOU WIN AGAIN Hot Chocolate 608450
68 71 68 3 TIRING GAME John Newman featuring Charlie Wilson 17400
69 59 28 7 COOL FOR THE SUMMER Demi Lovato 91500
70 68 12 10 OH MY LOVE The Score 173200

71 75 71 2 LEAVE A TRACE CHVRCHES 10800
72 72 72 2 SOLACE Fyfe 11200
73 NEW 73 1 LEVELS Nick Jonas 5400
74 NEW 74 1 UP IN FLAMES Ruelle 5200
75 NEW 75 1 HAPPINESS IAMX 5000

DROP OUTS
26 15 16 SPOOKY Dusty Springfield 218900
27 19 7 TINY DANCER Elton John 108850
44 9 11 DON’T BE SO HARD ON YOURSELF Jess Glynne 284300
62 39 6 TAKE A PICTURE OF THIS Don Henley 61900
63 25 5 FEED YOUR HEAD (RADIO EDIT) Paul Kalkbrenner featuring Jefferson Airplane 62200
69 36 4 TWO MINDS NERO 51200
70 7 11 THIS SUMMER Maroon 5 234350

11th October 2015

It’s a whopping 5-week run on top for the unstoppable machine that is Florence, Queen Of Peace, Queen Of Charts, so many challengers for the crown but to be honest none come close. That’s still bad news for Thomas Rhett and a very unlucky 4th week at 2, still crashing still burning, while PHASES and their fab video go up to 3. Jack Savoretti gets a 3rd top 10 of 2015, Duran Duran get a 2nd top 10 of 2015 too and Kiesza her 2nd in total, and Jeff Lynne aka ELO makes it a good mostly-non-stop run of Top 10 singles for 43 years, albeit missing with new material (but not with old material) for 25 years.

Kishi Bashi has 2 in the 20, MIKA has an about-face and hits a new peak of 25 with a sweet song with charmingly bitter lyrics, in an affectionate amusing stylee. Pity he’s no longer flavour of the month in the fickle pop biz. At least I’m loyal to good old pop stars! Highest new entry at 35 is Japanese anime cheesy stomping dance pop, LUVORATORRRRRY! Huge bit of fun which obsessed me during the week, it might not last but it’s fast food and tasty. Elle King, eh? Oh! She’s in the 40 with her bunch of exes in speedos and not much else. Not many new entries this week, so I’ll just say a buzzjack sorry i Ive not commented on your charts yet, been away this weekend and busy sorting a friend on hols in Mafia country who found himself suddenly passport, cheque cards and cash-less, not to mention no mobile top-up and no mobile charger. If you’re gonna do it, do it well…..

1 1 1 6 QUEEN OF PEACE Florence + The Machine 910000
2 2 2 6 CRASH AND BURN Thomas Rhett 535000
3 5 3 5 I’M IN LOVE WITH MY LIFE PHASES 263500
4 4 4 2 HANDS OF LOVE Miley Cyrus 130000
5 6 5 4 I’M IN LOVE Noonie Bao 187400
6 12 6 5 BACK WHERE I BELONG Jack Savoretti 147700
7 7 7 4 BLACK AND WHITE Kylie Minogue + Garibay featuring Shaggy 143250
8 3 3 5 LIGHTS Hurts 305000
9 18 9 5 LAST NIGHT IN THE CITY Duran Duran featuring Kiesza 124450
10 16 10 3 WHEN I WAS A BOY Jeff Lynne’s ELO 86000

11 8 8 6 OCEAN DRIVE Duke Dumont featuring Robert Owens 157600
12 35 12 2 BLACK SOAP Ex Cops 52500
13 10 10 6 EVERYBODY FEELING SOMETHING Marlon Roudette featuring K. Stewart 215000
14 17 14 3 TODAY’S THE DAY P!NK 69500
15 9 6 7 THE GATES Young Empires 230600
16 24 16 3 PHILOSOPHIZE IN IT! CHEMICALIZE WITH IT! Kishi Bashi 54200
17 21 4 6 WILDEST DREAMS Taylor Swift 215750
18 20 18 4 DANGEROUS Big Data featuring Joywave 73250
19 25 19 3 CHAMAK CHALLO CHEL CHABELI Kumar Sanu, Shreya Ghoshal & Sajid – Wajid 46350
20 13 5 7 I AM THE ANTICHRIST TO YOU Kishi Bashi 250500

21 37 21 2 HERE FOR YOU Kygo featuring Ella Henderson 37050
22 11 2 8 FUEL TO THE FIRE Rationale 461200
23 34 23 2 S.O.B. Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats 36850
24 14 1 8 ROUSSEAU Nerina Pallot 491500
25 58 25 6 ALL SHE WANTS MIKA 99050
26 15 15 16 SPOOKY Dusty Springfield 218900
27 19 19 7 TINY DANCER Elton John 108850
28 30 28 4 R U MINE (LOST KINGS REMIX) ROZES 60000
29 29 29 4 THE RAIN THE PARK AND OTHER THINGS The Cowsills 72800
30 23 15 7 THE WAKE a-ha 145350

31 22 1 9 BODY Niia 602400
32 28 28 3 HOLY HOLY Orenda Fink 53300
33 43 26 6 DO IT WELL XYconstant featuring Tom Aspaul 102900
34 26 1 11 I HAD THIS THING Royksopp 649350
35 NEW 35 1 LUVAROTORRRRRY! Ver Reoru featuring nqrse 17500
36 71 36 2 EX’S AND OH’S Elle King 23200
37 41 37 3 RIVERS Thomas Jack 38500
38 42 38 4 RUNNIN’ (LOSE IT ALL) Naughty Boy featuring Beyonce & Arrow Benjamin 53750
39 27 10 7 DOWNTOWN Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, and Grandmaster Caz 180500
40 48 40 4 LET IT ALL GO RHODES & Birdy 53600

41 40 40 4 HEART OF OAK Richard Hawley 55750
42 60 42 2 TAKE THIS CHANCE Anastacia 23750
43 46 43 4 OCEAN tiny deaths 46100
44 36 9 11 DON’T BE SO HARD ON YOURSELF Jess Glynne 284300
45 39 10 9 APACHE (JUMP ON IT!) The Sugarhill Gang 219600
46 31 6 9 BODY TALK Foxes 265200
47 47 47 13 HAPPY TOGETHER The Turtles 130650
48 38 38 4 ELECTRIC LOVE BORNS 53000
49 32 32 4 BODY ON ME Rita Ora featuring Chris Brown 61200
50 33 3 9 GOOD FOR YOU Selena Gomez featuring A$AP Rocky 260000

51 44 23 6 COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS Above And Beyond featuring Gemma Hayes 99350
52 49 1 18 SHINE Years And Years 1211200
53 56 53 2 FEVER Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra featuring Michael Buble 21850
54 45 5 13 PEANUT BUTTER JELLY Galantis 364800
55 55 55 9 MELLOW YELLOW Donovan 77600
56 53 37 4 FOR A BETTER DAY Avicii featuring Alex Ebert 50400
57 59 57 4 HELP IS COMING Crowded House 33400
58 NEW 58 1 PLAYING WITH FIRE Andreya Triana 10200
59 52 28 6 COOL FOR THE SUMMER Demi Lovato 85300
60 63 60 2 LOVE ME LIKE YOU Little Mix 17200

61 62 61 4 GEE WHIZ (LOOK AT HIS EYES) Carla Thomas 26900
62 61 39 6 TAKE A PICTURE OF THIS Don Henley 61900
63 54 25 5 FEED YOUR HEAD (RADIO EDIT) Paul Kalkbrenner featuring Jefferson Airplane 62200
64 73 64 2 BRAND NEW DAY Bryan Adams 12500
65 64 1 31 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 1088250
66 65 1 23 SO YOU WIN AGAIN Hot Chocolate 601850
67 72 67 2 JOY Will Young 12200
68 50 12 9 OH MY LOVE The Score 167200
69 57 36 4 TWO MINDS NERO 51200
70 51 7 11 THIS SUMMER Maroon 5 234350

71 74 71 2 TIRING GAME John Newman featuring Charlie Wilson 11000
72 NEW 72 1 SOLACE Fyfe 5600
73 NEW 73 1 LAY IT ALL ON ME Rudimental featuring Ed Sheeran 5400
74 NEW 74 1 TALK TO ME Nick Brewer featuring Bibi Bourelly 5200
75 NEW 75 1 LEAVE A TRACE CHVRCHES 5000

DROP OUTS
66 56 4 SOCKETS Slaves 29800
67 10 11 THE OTHER BOYS NERVO featuring Kylie Minogue, Jake Shears and Nile Rodgers 225100
68 1 14 PRESSURE OFF Duran Duran featuring Janelle Monae and Nile Rodgers 656950
69 20 5 WRITTEN IN THE WATER Gin Wigmore 70350
70 70 3 HIGH BY THE BEACH Lana Del Ray 17000
75 75 1 VICTORIOUS Panic! At The Disco 5000

4th October 2015

It’s Florence for a 4th fabulous week, I just get so exasperated at what makes the charts these streaming days. 4 or 5 years ago this record would have been a monster, quite deservedly. Epic. Bad news for Thomas Rhett who gets 3 weeks stuck at 2, still love it. Look who’s in at 4!! A week ago I wouldnt have put any money on Miley Cyrus punching in at 4 from nowhere, but this theme tune to a new gay-themed movie is just a ballad anthem, best thing she’s done.

Kylie gets a 3rd top 10 hit this year, Pink gets a good jump to keep her run of non-consecutive top 20 hits going, 15 years and counting. Big leaps into the 40 for Kishi Bashi, one of 2, and Shreya Ghoshal (her biggest), while quirky new entries for a new blues clapalong Son Of A Bitch (Pure Elvis outdoing Elvis), some Ex Cops, Kygo getting his 3rd of the year, ditto Ella Henderson. Elvis is back, he hasn’t left the building – it’s an orchestral version with Michael Buble duetting on one of his good early tracks, Fever. Madonna and Peggy Lee had better known versions, but Elvis’ is pretty good too, and the new version is well done, meaning of course that being dead for nearly 40 years hasn’t stopped The King having new hit records. He was actually alive and brilliant for the start of my charts, and then less good for the next few years, but spans 46 years now.

Anastacia is also back after a gap, having had a previous number one in my chart (Sick And Tired), and since I now have access to my old charts I’ll post her biggest hits just because I can! Bryan Adams is also back 30 years on, with a track that suspiciously sounds like a Jeff Lynne production – because it is. So he’s got two in the chart. Elle King gets a fab glamrock-flavoured synth stomper new entry a year late, but I missed this one and I didn’t know her dad is actor-comedian Rob Schneider. Finally, so many tracks are still being forced out of my charts due to the intense competition, even after only one week, and I’ve downloaded them all, and more that have yet to chart, so I thought I’d also list those yet to chart, hanging about waiting….

1 1 1 5 QUEEN OF PEACE Florence + The Machine 740000
2 2 2 5 CRASH AND BURN Thomas Rhett 420000
3 3 3 4 LIGHTS Hurts 257000
4 NEW 4 1 HANDS OF LOVE Miley Cyrus 65000
5 7 5 4 I’M IN LOVE WITH MY LIFE PHASES 178500
6 6 6 3 I’M IN LOVE Noonie Bao 127400
7 13 7 3 BLACK AND WHITE Kylie Minogue + Garibay featuring Shaggy 93250
8 17 8 5 OCEAN DRIVE Duke Dumont featuring Robert Owens 120600
9 8 6 6 THE GATES Young Empires 203600
10 10 10 5 EVERYBODY FEELING SOMETHING Marlon Roudette featuring K. Stewart 183000

11 4 2 7 FUEL TO THE FIRE Rationale 441700
12 12 12 4 BACK WHERE I BELONG Jack Savoretti 92700
13 5 5 6 I AM THE ANTICHRIST TO YOU Kishi Bashi 230500
14 9 1 7 ROUSSEAU Nerina Pallot 472500
15 16 15 15 SPOOKY Dusty Springfield 200400
16 24 16 2 WHEN I WAS A BOY Jeff Lynne’s ELO 44000
17 35 17 2 TODAY’S THE DAY P!NK 40500
18 19 18 4 LAST NIGHT IN THE CITY Duran Duran featuring Kiesza 79450
19 20 19 6 TINY DANCER Elton John 90450
20 25 20 3 DANGEROUS Big Data featuring Joywave 51250

21 11 4 5 WILDEST DREAMS Taylor Swift 192750
22 14 1 8 BODY Niia 584500
23 15 15 6 THE WAKE a-ha 127350
24 58 24 2 PHILOSOPHIZE IN IT! CHEMICALIZE WITH IT! Kishi Bashi 29200
25 67 25 2 CHAMAK CHALLO CHEL CHABELI Kumar Sanu, Shreya Ghoshal & Sajid – Wajid 25350
26 21 1 10 I HAD THIS THING Royksopp 631750
27 18 10 6 DOWNTOWN Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, and Grandmaster Caz 163400
28 38 28 2 HOLY HOLY Orenda Fink 35500
29 29 29 3 THE RAIN THE PARK AND OTHER THINGS The Cowsills 54600
30 33 30 3 R U MINE (LOST KINGS REMIX) ROZES 41700

31 22 6 8 BODY TALK Foxes 251950
32 32 32 3 BODY ON ME Rita Ora featuring Chris Brown 49100
33 31 3 8 GOOD FOR YOU Selena Gomez featuring A$AP Rocky 248000
34 NEW 34 1 S.O.B. Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats 17600
35 NEW 35 1 BLACK SOAP Ex Cops 17500
36 23 9 10 DON’T BE SO HARD ON YOURSELF Jess Glynne 271050
37 NEW 37 1 HERE FOR YOU Kygo featuring Ella Henderson 17300
38 51 38 3 ELECTRIC LOVE BORNS 40700
39 27 10 8 APACHE (JUMP ON IT!) The Sugarhill Gang 206600
40 42 40 3 HEART OF OAK Richard Hawley 41750

41 63 41 2 RIVERS Thomas Jack 21200
42 50 42 3 RUNNIN’ (LOSE IT ALL) Naughty Boy featuring Beyonce & Arrow Benjamin 36550
43 26 26 5 DO IT WELL XYconstant featuring Tom Aspaul 85200
44 34 23 5 COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS Above And Beyond featuring Gemma Hayes 87600
45 37 5 12 PEANUT BUTTER JELLY Galantis 353800
46 46 46 3 OCEAN tiny deaths 32600
47 47 47 12 HAPPY TOGETHER The Turtles 118150
48 48 48 3 LET IT ALL GO RHODES & Birdy 36600
49 43 1 17 SHINE Years And Years 1199700
50 40 12 8 OH MY LOVE The Score 160800

51 30 7 10 THIS SUMMER Maroon 5 228350
52 28 28 5 COOL FOR THE SUMMER Demi Lovato 75200
53 53 37 3 FOR A BETTER DAY Avicii featuring Alex Ebert 39800
54 41 25 4 FEED YOUR HEAD (RADIO EDIT) Paul Kalkbrenner featuring Jefferson Airplane 55000
55 55 55 8 MELLOW YELLOW Donovan 66800
56 NEW 56 1 FEVER Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra featuring Michael Buble 10600
57 36 36 3 TWO MINDS NERO 45000
58 39 30 5 ALL SHE WANTS MIKA 80300
59 64 59 3 HELP IS COMING Crowded House 23000
60 NEW 60 1 TAKE THIS CHANCE Anastacia 10000

61 49 39 5 TAKE A PICTURE OF THIS Don Henley 54500
62 66 62 3 GEE WHIZ (LOOK AT HIS EYES) Carla Thomas 19400
63 NEW 63 1 LOVE ME LIKE YOU Little Mix 7200
64 60 1 30 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 1081250
65 61 1 22 SO YOU WIN AGAIN Hot Chocolate 595050
66 56 56 4 SOCKETS Slaves 29800
67 59 10 11 THE OTHER BOYS NERVO featuring Kylie Minogue, Jake Shears and Nile Rodgers 225100
68 45 1 14 PRESSURE OFF Duran Duran featuring Janelle Monae and Nile Rodgers 656950
69 57 20 5 WRITTEN IN THE WATER Gin Wigmore 70350
70 70 70 3 HIGH BY THE BEACH Lana Del Ray 17000

71 NEW 71 1 EX’S AND OH’S Elle King 5800
72 NEW 72 1 JOY Will Young 5600
73 NEW 73 1 BRAND NEW DAY Bryan Adams 5400
74 NEW 74 1 TIRING GAME John Newman featuring Charlie Wilson 5200
75 NEW 75 1 VICTORIOUS Panic! At The Disco 5000

DROP OUTS
44 5 12 EASY LOVE Sigala featuring The Jackson 5 344650
52 40 4 THIS TOWN Kacey Musgraves 52100
54 20 5 STEP INSIDE LOVE (ALMIGHTY RADIO EDIT) CIlla Black 83750
62 49 2 SPRING/SUN/WINTER/DREAD Everything Everything 19500
65 58 2 SOMETHING RIGHT Molly Pettersson Hammar 17200
68 7 7 YOUNG AND RESTLESS Benjamin 233050
69 29 4 WHERE I BELONG HomeTown 55600
71 71 1 DITMAS Mumford & Sons 5800
72 72 1 HOTLINE BLING Drake 5600
73 73 1 WONDERFUL LIFE Katie Melua 5400
74 74 1 I FEEL GOOD Thomas Rhett featuring Lunchmoney Lewis 5200
75 75 1 HONEY, HONEY Tom Jones featuring Imelda May 5000

BUBBLING UNDERS:

LAY IT ALL ON ME Rudimental featuring Ed Sheeran
PLAYING WITH FIRE Andreya Triana
PYSCHO Muse
WAKE UP The Vamps
TALK TO ME Nick Brewer featuring Bibi Bourelly
LEAVE A TRACE CHVRCHES
HARPER VALLEY P.T.A. Squeeze
DREAMS Life Of Dillon
NEVER ENDING CIRCLES CHVRCHES
SNAKESKIN Deerhunter
GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE The Beatles
FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE Stevie Wonder
SHACKLES (PRAISE YOU) Mary Mary
BEAUTIFUL Carole King
CAN’T GET USED TO LOSING YOU The Beat
LIVERPOOL LULLABY Cilla Black
CHANGES David Bowie
RIDE-O-ROCKET Brothers Johnson

ANASTACIA’S TOP 10

1 1 19 SICK AND TIRED 1012200 (2004)
2 3 22 LEFT OUTSIDE ALONE 713200 (2004)
3 2 16 I’M OUTTA LOVE 627550 (2000)
4 19 20 ONE DAY IN YOUR LIFE 277700 (2002)
5 14 13 WELCOME TO MY TRUTH 166400 (2005)
6 28 7 WHY’D YOU LIE TO ME 90600 (2002)
7 35 5 PAID MY DUES 72900 (2001)
8 40 5 BOOM 61500 (2002)
9 43 5 NOT THAT KIND 54900 (2001)
10 30 4 COWBOYS AND KISSES 53550 (2001)

27th September 2015

3 weeks on top for Florence, as Thomas Rhett sticks at 2 and Hurts hit the top 3 for the second time this year. Kishi Bashi goes back up to a new peak of 5, as his new track enters at 58, neither song has a title that makes you think “Oh I’ve heard that title before”. Big jumps for Noonie Bao, Jack Savoretti on his 3rd top 20 of the year, and Kylie on her 3rd too, though Shaggy (also on the record) hits the 20 for the first time in over a decade and takes his run to 22 years.

So many records enter and go up, and there’s so much competition, that records that should by rights be climbing are dropping, and indeed falling out of the charts entirely just cos there’s not enough room for them. Doh! Highest new entry is ELO. Or Jeff Lynne. Or both. When I Was A Boy is a sweet “Free As A Bird”-influenced ballad (which he produced for the Beatles) full of nostalgia, and Jeff’s first actual new material in ooh over 15 years or so. As I’m a huge fan, I say a big YAY! and note that ELO first hit my charts with number one 10538 Overture in 1972, and just kept on going really, through his solo years, Traveling Wilbury-dom, and producing others. As a member of The Move, too, Jeff now has 45 sweet years in my charts.

Elsewhere: P!NK’s back with another goodie, that’ll be over 15 years of goodies then; Orenda Fink enters with a totally Twin Peaks-sounding haunting guitar ballad (fab); Tom Jones has an old-sounding country song that isn’t, aided by Imelda May, and which extends The Voice’s span of chart entries to an incredible 47 years. Incredible Tom is still knocking ‘em out, and incredible I’ve been charting them that long! Katie Melua covers Black, nice enough version, Thomas Rhett is back with some lunchmoney book-ending the chart bar one track at either end, while Drake speeds up the classic Timmy Thomas riff from Why Can’t We Live Together, huge gospel blues song for me from 1973, and infinitely superior to this other-wise decent re-use of it. Finally Shreya Ghoshal gets a second entry of the year, also from a movie, a Bollywood bit of fun along with Kumar Sanu and Sajid-Wajid. The video is fun.

1 1 1 4 QUEEN OF PEACE Florence + The Machine 570000
2 2 2 4 CRASH AND BURN Thomas Rhett 305000
3 4 3 3 LIGHTS Hurts 172000
4 3 2 6 FUEL TO THE FIRE Rationale 404700
5 22 5 5 I AM THE ANTICHRIST TO YOU Kishi Bashi 198500
6 36 6 2 I’M IN LOVE Noonie Bao 72400
7 7 7 3 I’M IN LOVE WITH MY LIFE PHASES 118500
8 6 6 5 THE GATES Young Empires 158600
9 5 1 6 ROUSSEAU Nerina Pallot 443500
10 12 10 4 EVERYBODY FEELING SOMETHING Marlon Roudette featuring K. Stewart 141000

11 8 4 4 WILDEST DREAMS Taylor Swift 173000
12 33 12 3 BACK WHERE I BELONG Jack Savoretti 57700
13 53 13 2 BLACK AND WHITE Kylie Minogue + Garibay featuring Shaggy 43250
14 9 1 7 BODY Niia 565000
15 15 15 5 THE WAKE a-ha 108100
16 16 16 14 SPOOKY Dusty Springfield 173400
17 19 17 4 OCEAN DRIVE Duke Dumont featuring Robert Owens 72600
18 10 10 5 DOWNTOWN Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, and Grandmaster Caz 145000
19 23 19 3 LAST NIGHT IN THE CITY Duran Duran featuring Kiesza 57450
20 21 20 5 TINY DANCER Elton John 69450

21 11 1 9 I HAD THIS THING Royksopp 613250
22 13 6 7 BODY TALK Foxes 234050
23 14 9 9 DON’T BE SO HARD ON YOURSELF Jess Glynne 253650
24 NEW 24 1 WHEN I WAS A BOY Jeff Lynne’s ELO 19000
25 47 25 2 DANGEROUS Big Data featuring Joywave 31250
26 27 26 4 DO IT WELL XYconstant featuring Tom Aspaul 71700
27 17 10 7 APACHE (JUMP ON IT!) The Sugarhill Gang 189500
28 31 28 4 COOL FOR THE SUMMER Demi Lovato 63700
29 29 29 2 THE RAIN THE PARK AND OTHER THINGS The Cowsills 36400
30 18 7 9 THIS SUMMER Maroon 5 216600

31 24 3 7 GOOD FOR YOU Selena Gomez featuring A$AP Rocky 230300
32 43 32 2 BODY ON ME Rita Ora featuring Chris Brown 31300
33 70 33 2 R U MINE (LOST KINGS REMIX) ROZES 23700
34 26 23 4 COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS Above And Beyond featuring Gemma Hayes 74350
35 NEW 35 1 TODAY’S THE DAY P!NK 17500
36 38 36 2 TWO MINDS NERO 34600
37 32 5 11 PEANUT BUTTER JELLY Galantis 340800
38 NEW 38 1 HOLY HOLY Orenda Fink 17200
39 30 30 4 ALL SHE WANTS MIKA 70100
40 28 12 7 OH MY LOVE The Score 148800

41 25 25 3 FEED YOUR HEAD (RADIO EDIT) Paul Kalkbrenner featuring Jefferson Airplane 44000
42 54 42 2 HEART OF OAK Richard Hawley 24750
43 41 1 16 SHINE Years And Years 1187600
44 34 5 12 EASY LOVE Sigala featuring The Jackson 5 344650
45 35 1 13 PRESSURE OFF Duran Duran featuring Janelle Monae and Nile Rodgers 649850
46 64 46 2 OCEAN tiny deaths 19850
47 48 47 11 HAPPY TOGETHER The Turtles 105650
48 50 48 2 LET IT ALL GO RHODES & Birdy 24300
49 39 39 4 TAKE A PICTURE OF THIS Don Henley 47000
50 55 50 2 RUNNIN’ (LOSE IT ALL) Naughty Boy featuring Beyonce & Arrow Benjamin 22800

51 51 51 2 ELECTRIC LOVE BORNS 23500
52 40 40 4 THIS TOWN Kacey Musgraves 52100
53 37 37 2 FOR A BETTER DAY Avicii featuring Alex Ebert 28550
54 20 20 5 STEP INSIDE LOVE (ALMIGHTY RADIO EDIT) CIlla Black 83750
55 56 55 7 MELLOW YELLOW Donovan 56000
56 68 56 3 SOCKETS Slaves 23000
57 42 20 4 WRITTEN IN THE WATER Gin Wigmore 64150
58 NEW 58 1 PHILOSOPHIZE IN IT! CHEMICALIZE WITH IT! Kishi Bashi 10200
59 44 10 10 THE OTHER BOYS NERVO featuring Kylie Minogue, Jake Shears and Nile Rodgers 218500
60 57 1 29 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 1074150

61 61 1 21 SO YOU WIN AGAIN Hot Chocolate 588050
62 49 49 2 SPRING/SUN/WINTER/DREAD Everything Everything 19500
63 NEW 63 1 RIVERS Thomas Jack 7200
64 71 64 2 HELP IS COMING Crowded House 12900
65 58 58 2 SOMETHING RIGHT Molly Pettersson Hammar 17200
66 74 66 2 GEE WHIZ (LOOK AT HIS EYES) Carla Thomas 12000
67 NEW 67 1 CHAMAK CHALLO CHEL CHABELI Kumar Sanu, Shreya Ghoshal & Sajid – Wajid 6600
68 46 7 7 YOUNG AND RESTLESS Benjamin 233050
69 45 29 4 WHERE I BELONG HomeTown 55600
70 75 70 2 HIGH BY THE BEACH Lana Del Ray 11000

71 NEW 71 1 DITMAS Mumford & Sons 5800
72 NEW 72 1 HOTLINE BLING Drake 5600
73 NEW 73 1 WONDERFUL LIFE Katie Melua 5400
74 NEW 74 1 I FEEL GOOD Thomas Rhett featuring Lunchmoney Lewis 5200
75 NEW 75 1 HONEY, HONEY Tom Jones featuring Imelda May 5000

DROP OUTS
52 32 5 STITCHES Shawn Mendes 74700
59 59 2 HEER/ GOLDEN MOMENT Howard Goodall & The Original London Bend It Like Beckham Cast (Rekha Sawnhey) 16500
60 4 12 WHEN M+A 416650
62 8 10 WAITING FOR LOVE Avicii featuring Simon Aldred (of Cherry Ghost) 266850
63 3 12 RENEGADES X Ambassadors 383900
65 1 21 I CAN CHANGE Brandon Flowers 1572600
66 1 20 LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate 731200
67 67 1 ON FIRE Stefanie Heinzmann 6600
69 69 3 LONG WAY HOME Kerri Watt 18400
72 67 3 HAPPY DAYS Squeeze 17200
73 66 2 JITTER Grace Mitchell 12200

20th September 2015

It’s Florence for a second week on top, and well deserved as she’s held off a batch of records that could easily be my number one this week, the competition is extraordinarily fierce, as there are about 25 tracks not in my chart which ought to be, and consequently tracks that are at 75 are about 25 places too low, top 40 about 15 places too low, 20 about 10 places too low, and top 10 should all be easily top 5. That’s bad for Thomas Rhett who crashes and burns at 2, but it’s a great countrypop track anyway. Hurts get another top 5 to add to their growing list, and Young Empires and PHASES are neck and neck just outside the top 5 both with fab videos too.

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis finally get into the 10, giving Melle Mel his first for 31 years, and a-ha make it 2 top 20’s this year, not bad 30 years on, and just ahead of Duran Duran who have an even longer run. It at 29, it’s 1969 American biggie, UK flop, The Cowsills, a family pop group who had a TV series based on their career (The Partridge Family) after hitting big with Hair and this one, the melodic charming The Rain The Park And Other Things. Jack Savoretti gets a 3rd top 40 entry as the UK charts continue to ignore him, boo hiss! Don Henley gets his first solo top 40 in a couple of decades or so, I think, while loads of current stars get more new entries lower down, including one (BORNS) which pops back after a break now Radio One are pushing it. Kylie’s rate of singles at the moment is break-neck, her 3rd in 3 or 4 months (collaborations and film themes), lengthening her long 27-year run! Some odlies at the lower end, Carla Thomas’ fab original of Gee Whiz is over 50 years old, and she followed her dad into the pop charts as a teenager with this – her dad is Rufus Thomas. Finally Crowded House have a charity-inspired entry, proceeds going to a worthy cause to help refugee children.

1 1 1 3 QUEEN OF PEACE Florence + The Machine 400000
2 7 2 3 CRASH AND BURN Thomas Rett 190000
3 2 2 5 FUEL TO THE FIRE Rationale 339700
4 18 4 2 LIGHTS Hurts 87000
5 3 1 5 ROUSSEAU Nerina Pallot 398500
6 19 6 4 THE GATES Young Empires 110600
7 26 7 2 I’M IN LOVE WITH MY LIFE PHASES 68500
8 4 4 3 WILDEST DREAMS Taylor Swift 136000
9 5 1 6 BODY Niia 520000
10 11 10 4 DOWNTOWN Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, and Grandmaster Caz 123000

11 6 1 8 I HAD THIS THING Royksopp 593500
12 13 12 3 EVERYBODY FEELING SOMETHING Marlon Roudette featuring K. Stewart 99000
13 8 6 6 BODY TALK Foxes 214550
14 9 9 8 DON’T BE SO HARD ON YOURSELF Jess Glynne 234400
15 22 15 4 THE WAKE a-ha 81100
16 16 16 13 SPOOKY Dusty Springfield 148400
17 10 10 6 APACHE (JUMP ON IT!) The Sugarhill Gang 171100
18 12 7 8 THIS SUMMER Maroon 5 198600
19 27 19 3 OCEAN DRIVE Duke Dumont featuring Robert Owens 49600
20 21 20 4 STEP INSIDE LOVE (ALMIGHTY RADIO EDIT) Cilla Black 72750

21 39 21 4 TINY DANCER Elton John 49450
22 14 8 4 I AM THE ANTICHRIST TO YOU Kishi Bashi 138500
23 38 23 2 LAST NIGHT IN THE CITY Duran Duran featuring Kiesza 36450
24 15 3 6 GOOD FOR YOU Selena Gomez featuring A$AP Rocky 212400
25 53 25 2 FEED YOUR HEAD (RADIO EDIT) Paul Kalkbrenner featuring Jefferson Airplane 30000
26 23 23 3 COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS Above And Beyond featuring Gemma Hayes 56750
27 33 27 3 DO IT WELL XYconstant featuring Tom Aspaul 53200
28 17 12 6 OH MY LOVE The Score 131800
29 NEW 29 1 THE RAIN THE PARK AND OTHER THINGS The Cowsills 18200
30 30 30 3 ALL SHE WAS MIKA 53000

31 35 31 3 COOL FOR THE SUMMER Demi Lovato 45400
32 24 5 10 PEANUT BUTTER JELLY Galantis 323500
33 75 33 2 BACK WHERE I BELONG Jack Savoretti 22700
34 28 5 11 EASY LOVE Sigala featuring The Jackson 5 331400
35 25 1 12 PRESSURE OFF Duran Duran featuring Janelle Monae and Nile Rodgers 636850
36 NEW 36 1 I’M IN LOVE Noonie Bao 17400
37 NEW 37 1 FOR A BETTER DAY Avicii featuring Alex Ebert 17300
38 NEW 38 1 TWO MINDS NERO 17200
39 50 39 3 TAKE A PICTURE OF THIS Don Henley 34900
40 40 40 3 THIS TOWN Kacey Musgraves 40600

41 31 1 15 SHINE Years And Years 1174100
42 20 20 3 WRITTEN IN THE WATER Gin Wigmore 53750
43 NEW 43 1 BODY ON ME Rita Ora featuring Chris Brown 13500
44 34 10 9 THE OTHER BOYS NERVO featuring Kylie Minogue, Jake Shears and Nile Rodgers 208400
45 29 29 3 WHERE I BELONG HomeTown 49400
46 36 7 6 YOUNG AND RESTLESS Benjamin 226650
47 NEW 47 1 DANGEROUS Big Data featuring Joywave 12500
48 52 48 10 HAPPY TOGETHER The Turtles 93150
49 NEW 49 1 SPRING/SUN/WINTER/DREAD Everything Everything 12100
50 NEW 50 1 LET IT ALL GO RHODES & Birdy 12000

51 NEW 51 1 ELECTRIC LOVE BORNS 11750
52 32 32 5 STITCHES Shawn Mendes 74700
53 NEW 53 1 BLACK AND WHITE Kylie Minogue + Garibay featuring Shaggy 11250
54 NEW 54 1 HEART OF OAK Richard Hawley 11000
55 NEW 55 1 RUNNIN’ (LOSE IT ALL) Naughty Boy featuring Beyonce & Arrow Benjamin 10800
56 60 56 6 MELLOW YELLOW Donovan 45200
57 57 1 28 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 1064150
58 NEW 58 1 SOMETHING RIGHT Molly Pettersson Hammar 10200
59 68 59 2 HEER/ GOLDEN MOMENT Howard Goodall & The Original London Bend It Like Beckham Cast (Rekha Sawnhey) 16500
60 46 4 12 WHEN M+A 416650

61 58 1 20 SO YOU WIN AGAIN Hot Chocolate 580550
62 47 8 10 WAITING FOR LOVE Avicii featuring Simon Aldred (of Cherry Ghost) 266850
63 45 3 12 RENEGADES X Ambassadors 383900
64 NEW 64 1 OCEAN tiny deaths 7100
65 61 1 21 I CAN CHANGE Brandon Flowers 1572600
66 65 1 20 LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate 731200
67 NEW 67 1 ON FIRE Stefanie Heinzmann 6600
68 70 68 2 SOCKETS Slaves 12400
69 69 69 3 LONG WAY HOME Kerri Watt 18400
70 NEW 70 1 R U MINE (LOST KINGS REMIX) ROZES 6000

71 NEW 71 1 HELP IS COMING Crowded House 5800
72 RE 67 3 HAPPY DAYS Squeeze 17200
73 66 66 2 JITTER Grace Mitchell 12200
74 NEW 74 1 GEE WHIZ (LOOK AT HIS EYES) Carla Thomas 5200
75 NEW 75 1 HIGH BY THE BEACH Lana Del Ray 5000

DROP OUTS
37 37 3 I AM Leona Lewis 39400
41 2 11 HOLD ME UP Conrad Sewell 554750
42 12 12 MARVIN GAYE Charlie Puth featuring Meghan Trainor 197700
43 6 8 IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN Gladys Knight And The Pips 194400
44 2 11 ‘CAUSE I’M A MAN Tame Impala 691850
48 25 5 RESTLESS YEAR Ezra Furman 72350
49 9 8 POWERFUL Major Lazer featuring Ellie Goulding and Tarrus Riley 216500
51 28 6 TIDAL WAVE EVVY 90150
54 54 3 THE GHOST OF LOVE Simply Red 22200
55 45 4 GOOD TIMES Ella Eyre featuring Sigma 40400
56 56 4 RESTLESS New Order 31700
59 8 7 IF I THOUGHT YOU’D EVER CHANGE YOUR MIND Cilla Black 178050
62 32 5 DON’T WORRY Madcon and Ray Dalton 64050
63 34 5 CLOAKED Woolf And The Wondershow 62400
64 50 5 HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE Calvin Harris and Disciples 46700
67 48 5 OMEN Disclosure featuring Sam Smith 39900
71 71 2 GUEST LIST Ward Thomas 11000
72 72 3 (I NEVER PROMISED YOU A) ROSE GARDEN (total 956700) Lynn Anderson 16800
73 73 3 RATTLE THAT LOCK David Gilmour 16200
74 74 2 DRAG ME DOWN One Direction 10200

13th September 2015

Florence does it at long last, having peaked as high as 2 before – and it’s a marathon (and flop) single that does it, I don’t understand why it wasn’t the lead single, Queen Of Peace is easily up there with her best work. Fab. That means Rationale has to settle for runners-up, with the fantastic Fuel To The Fire, while Taylor Swift hits 4 and one of her biggest chart hits in my world, and again I wonder why it was left to be umpteenth track off the album 1989. Hey ho. Thomas Rett goes top 10, (ooh! ahh!) as Sugarhill gang finally get that elusive top 10 track 33 years late.

Highest new entry are Hurts at 18, following up a number 2 pretty quickly. Lights is fab. Young Empires open up The Gates at 19, PHASES are in at 26, great video to that one, and Duke Dumont gets a huge climb to 27 with Ocean Drive and an acid house guest vocalist. Demi Lovato gets a top 40, she has after all been UP recently, and now she’s Cool For The Summer. Weren’t we all in the UK! Wet, too. Duran Duran get a 2nd top 40 hit at 38, this time with an assist from Kiesza, her 4th chart entry. Elton John’s Tiny Dancer was pretty obscure back in the 70’s, these days it’s his 2nd-biggest downloaded track, and it’s reward is to finally make my top 40 with a leap.

Kacey Musgraves get a charming 2nd top 40 this year, and a sampled dance track of Grace Slick, taken from Jefferson Airplane’s UK flop, US hit, White Rabbit, hits 53 for Paul Kalkbrenner. They first charted in my charts in 1980, top 5 with Jane, though the Airplane had been swapped for a Starship by then. Eventually Jefferson got dropped too, along with song quality, and they were rewarded with their biggest hits later in the 80’s. Grace’s finest moment was in 1980, solo, an epic record called Dreams.

1 5 1 2 QUEEN OF PEACE Florence + The Machine 230000
2 3 2 4 FUEL TO THE FIRE Rationale 254700
3 1 1 4 ROUSSEAU Nerina Pallot 338500
4 17 4 2 WILDEST DREAMS Taylor Swift 88000
5 2 1 5 BODY Niia 465000
6 4 1 7 I HAD THIS THING Royksopp 556500
7 16 7 2 CRASH AND BURN Thomas Rett 75000
8 6 6 5 BODY TALK Foxes 182550
9 9 9 7 DON’T BE SO HARD ON YOURSELF Jess Glynne 205400
10 11 10 5 APACHE (JUMP ON IT!) The Sugarhill Gang 148100

11 18 11 3 DOWNTOWN Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, and Grandmaster Caz 81000
12 7 7 7 THIS SUMMER Maroon 5 176600
13 13 13 2 EVERYBODY FEELING SOMETHING Marlon Roudette featuring K. Stewart 64000
14 10 8 3 I AM THE ANTICHRIST TO YOU Kishi Bashi 119000
15 8 3 5 GOOD FOR YOU Selena Gomez featuring A$AP Rocky 193400
16 19 16 12 SPOOKY Dusty Springfield 123400
17 12 12 5 OH MY LOVE The Score 113000
18 NEW 18 1 LIGHTS Hurts 22000
19 37 19 3 THE GATES Young Empires 55600
20 20 20 2 WRITTEN IN THE WATER Gin Wigmore 40000

21 23 21 3 STEP INSIDE LOVE (ALMIGHTY RADIO EDIT) CIlla Black 52750
22 35 22 3 THE WAKE a-ha 54100
23 24 23 2 COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS Above And Beyond featuring Gemma Hayes 38250
24 14 5 9 PEANUT BUTTER JELLY Galantis 305700
25 15 1 11 PRESSURE OFF Duran Duran featuring Janelle Monae and Nile Rodgers 619350
26 NEW 26 1 I’M IN LOVE WITH MY LIFE PHASES 18500
27 58 27 2 OCEAN DRIVE Duke Dumont featuring Robert Owens 28600
28 26 5 10 EASY LOVE Sigala featuring The Jackson 5 313800
29 29 29 2 WHERE I BELONG HomeTown 36400
30 40 30 2 ALL SHE WAS MIKA 35000

31 21 1 14 SHINE Years And Years 1160100
32 36 32 4 STITCHES Shawn Mendes 63200
33 39 33 2 DO IT WELL XYconstant featuring Tom Aspaul 34800
34 31 10 8 THE OTHER BOYS NERVO featuring Kylie Minogue, Jake Shears and Nile Rodgers 195150
35 60 35 2 COOL FOR THE SUMMER Demi Lovato 27500
36 22 7 5 YOUNG AND RESTLESS Benjamin 213900
37 50 37 3 I AM Leona Lewis 39400
38 NEW 38 1 LAST NIGHT IN THE CITY Duran Duran featuring Kiesza 17200
39 68 39 3 TINY DANCER Elton John 29700
40 67 40 2 THIS TOWN Kacey Musgraves 23600

41 32 2 11 HOLD ME UP Conrad Sewell 554750
42 25 12 12 MARVIN GAYE Charlie Puth featuring Meghan Trainor 197700
43 27 6 8 IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN Gladys Knight And The Pips 194400
44 34 2 11 ‘CAUSE I’M A MAN Tame Impala 691850
45 44 3 11 RENEGADES X Ambassadors 376700
46 43 4 11 WHEN M+A 404650
47 33 8 9 WAITING FOR LOVE Avicii featuring Simon Aldred (of Cherry Ghost) 259450
48 30 25 5 RESTLESS YEAR Ezra Furman 72350
49 38 9 8 POWERFUL Major Lazer featuring Ellie Goulding and Tarrus Riley 216500
50 71 50 2 TAKE A PICTURE OF THIS Don Henley 17800

51 28 28 6 TIDAL WAVE EVVY 90150
52 52 52 9 HAPPY TOGETHER The Turtles 80850
53 NEW 53 1 FEED YOUR HEAD (RADIO EDIT) Paul Kalkbrenner featuring Jefferson Airplane 11250
54 69 54 3 THE GHOST OF LOVE Simply Red 22200
55 45 45 4 GOOD TIMES Ella Eyre featuring Sigma 40400
56 59 56 4 RESTLESS New Order 31700
57 57 1 27 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 1053750
58 55 1 19 SO YOU WIN AGAIN Hot Chocolate 573050
59 46 8 7 IF I THOUGHT YOU’D EVER CHANGE YOUR MIND Cilla Black 178050
60 65 60 5 MELLOW YELLOW Donovan 34600

61 56 1 20 I CAN CHANGE Brandon Flowers 1565600
62 42 32 5 DON’T WORRY Madcon and Ray Dalton 64050
63 41 34 5 CLOAKED Woolf And The Wondershow 62400
64 54 50 5 HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE Calvin Harris and Disciples 46700
65 64 1 19 LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate 724400
66 NEW 66 1 JITTER Grace Mitchell 6800
67 62 48 5 OMEN Disclosure featuring Sam Smith 39900
68 NEW 68 1 HEER/ GOLDEN MOMENT Howard Goodall & The Original London Bend It Like Beckham Cast (Rekha Sawnhey) 6400
69 70 69 2 LONG WAY HOME Kerri Watt 12200
70 NEW 70 1 SOCKETS Slaves 6000

71 74 71 2 GUEST LIST Ward Thomas 11000
72 72 72 3 (I NEVER PROMISED YOU A) ROSE GARDEN Lynn Anderson 16800
73 73 73 3 RATTLE THAT LOCK David Gilmour 16200
74 75 74 2 DRAG ME DOWN One Direction 10200
75 NEW 75 1 BACK WHERE I BELONG Jack Savoretti 5000

DROP OUTS
47 33 4 ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING AND ANYTHING AT ALL Kylie Minogue 52600
48 14 5 ANYONE WHO HAD A HEART Cilla Black 97500
49 18 7 SWEET HARMONY Monarchy featuring The Pledge Choir 103950
51 35 7 INSOMNIA 2.0 (AVICII REMIX) Faithless 90750
53 18 11 GLITTERBALL Sigma featuring Ella Henderson 165550
61 40 2 90’s LOVE (ACID PT. II) The Caulfield Beats 24500
63 2 15 SOME KIND OF HEAVEN Hurts 625300
66 66 2 INTOXICATED Martin Solveig and GTA 13600

6th September 2015

It’s Nerina Pallot getting her second chart-topper 4 years on since Turn Me On Again did the trick. Rousseau is following me following me delightfully buzzing about in my head. Rationale climbs up to 3, adding fuel to the fire for the race for next week’s chart-topper, cos there’s a deluge of new songs entering high up, led by Florence And The Machine getting their (or her) biggest since Shake It Out. She’s had a handful of big singles in my charts but has yet to crack the top slot, but coming in at 5 is a good start, with Queen Of Peace, gorgeous.

Marlon Roudette returns with a second top 20 hit, Everybody feeling Something? I know I am. There’s some country jamming (ugh! ahhh! see the youtube!) as Thomas Rett enters at 16 just ahead of Taylor Swift pushing yet another 1989 track, and this one is actually better than a couple of the previous ones, in my Wildest Dreams. Gin Wigmore also gets a second top 20, Above And Beyond a second top 40, and MIKA returns yet again with a sweet 8 and a half years of top 40 tracks, non-stop pretty much. Lower down, Eagles man Don Henley drops a new track to give him 33 years of solo hits and 43 years of Eagles hits. Not a bad run really….

1 4 1 3 ROUSSEAU Nerina Pallot 253500
2 1 1 4 BODY Niia 405000
3 11 3 3 FUEL TO THE FIRE Rationale 139700
4 2 1 6 I HAD THIS THING Royksopp 501500
5 NEW 5 1 QUEEN OF PEACE Florence + The Machine 60000
6 6 6 4 BODY TALK Foxes 134550
7 10 7 6 THIS SUMMER Maroon 5 141600
8 3 3 4 GOOD FOR YOU Selena Gomez featuring A$AP Rocky 166400
9 9 9 6 DON’T BE SO HARD ON YOURSELF Jess Glynne 160400
10 8 8 2 I AM THE ANTICHRIST TO YOU Kishi Bashi 90000

11 13 11 4 APACHE (JUMP ON IT!) The Sugarhill Gang 106100
12 16 12 4 OH MY LOVE The Score 90000
13 NEW 13 1 EVERYBODY FEELING SOMETHING Marlon Roudette featuring K. Stewart 32000
14 12 5 8 PEANUT BUTTER JELLY Galantis 286700
15 5 1 10 PRESSURE OFF Duran Duran featuring Janelle Monae and Nile Rodgers 600600
16 NEW 16 1 CRASH AND BURN Thomas Rett 25000
17 NEW 17 1 WILDEST DREAMS Taylor Swift 23000
18 18 18 2 DOWNTOWN Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, and Grandmaster Caz 44000
19 22 19 11 SPOOKY Dusty Springfield 98400
20 NEW 20 1 WRITTEN IN THE WATER Gin Wigmore 20000

21 15 1 13 SHINE Years And Years 1142200
22 7 7 4 YOUNG AND RESTLESS Benjamin 196500
23 42 23 2 STEP INSIDE LOVE (ALMIGHTY RADIO EDIT) CIlla Black 33000
24 NEW 24 1 COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS Above And Beyond featuring Gemma Hayes 19000
25 17 12 11 MARVIN GAYE Charlie Puth featuring Meghan Trainor 183950
26 24 5 9 EASY LOVE Sigala featuring The Jackson 5 295500
27 14 6 7 IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN Gladys Knight And The Pips 180900
28 28 28 5 TIDAL WAVE EVVY 78400
29 NEW 29 1 WHERE I BELONG HomeTown 18200
30 25 25 4 RESTLESS YEAR Ezra Furman 60050

31 27 10 7 THE OTHER BOYS NERVO featuring Kylie Minogue, Jake Shears and Nile Rodgers 177550
32 21 2 10 HOLD ME UP Conrad Sewell 540750
33 23 8 8 WAITING FOR LOVE Avicii featuring Simon Aldred (of Cherry Ghost) 246950
34 20 2 10 ‘CAUSE I’M A MAN Tame Impala 678600
35 39 35 2 THE WAKE a-ha 34600
36 38 36 3 STITCHES Shawn Mendes 45400
37 37 37 2 THE GATES Young Empires 34600
38 19 9 7 POWERFUL Major Lazer featuring Ellie Goulding and Tarrus Riley 204400
39 NEW 39 1 DO IT WELL XYconstant featuring Tom Aspaul 17100
40 NEW 40 1 ALL SHE WAS MIKA 17000

41 34 34 4 CLOAKED Woolf And The Wondershow 55200
42 32 32 4 DON’T WORRY Madcon and Ray Dalton 56650
43 26 4 10 WHEN M+A 391900
44 41 3 10 RENEGADES X Ambassadors 363700
45 57 45 3 GOOD TIMES Ella Eyre featuring Sigma 29600
46 29 8 6 IF I THOUGHT YOU’D EVER CHANGE YOUR MIND Cilla Black 167950
47 33 33 4 ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING AND ANYTHING AT ALL Kylie Minogue 52600
48 30 14 5 ANYONE WHO HAD A HEART Cilla Black 97500
49 31 18 7 SWEET HARMONY Monarchy featuring The Pledge Choir 103950
50 59 50 2 I AM Leona Lewis 22100

51 35 35 7 INSOMNIA 2.0 (AVICII REMIX) Faithless 90750
52 53 52 8 HAPPY TOGETHER The Turtles 69350
53 45 18 11 GLITTERBALL Sigma featuring Ella Henderson 165550
54 50 50 4 HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE Calvin Harris and Disciples 39600
55 54 1 18 SO YOU WIN AGAIN Hot Chocolate 562850
56 51 1 19 I CAN CHANGE Brandon Flowers 1558100
57 55 1 26 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 1043350
58 NEW 58 1 OCEAN DRIVE Duke Dumont 10200
59 70 59 3 RESTLESS New Order 21100
60 NEW 60 1 COOL FOR THE SUMMER Demi Lovato 10000

61 40 40 2 90’s LOVE (ACID PT. II) The Caulfield Beats 24500
62 48 48 4 OMEN Disclosure featuring Sam Smith 33300
63 49 2 15 SOME KIND OF HEAVEN Hurts 625300
64 62 1 18 LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate 717400
65 65 65 4 MELLOW YELLOW Donovan 24600
66 66 66 2 INTOXICATED Martin Solveig and GTA 13600
67 NEW 67 1 THIS TOWN Kacey Musgraves 6600
68 69 68 2 TINY DANCER Elton John 12600
69 75 69 2 THE GHOST OF LOVE Simply Red 11200
70 NEW 70 1 LONG WAY HOME Kerri Watt 6000

71 NEW 71 1 TAKE A PICTURE OF THIS Don Henley 5800
72 72 72 2 (I NEVER PROMISED YOU A) ROSE GARDEN Lynn Anderson 11200
73 73 73 2 RATTLE THAT LOCK David Gilmour 10800
74 NEW 74 1 GUEST LIST Ward Thomas 5200
75 NEW 75 1 DRAG ME DOWN One Direction 5000

DROP OUTS
36 16 5 BLACK Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi featuring Norah Jones 92150
43 30 6 GHOST TOWN BLUES Lauren Housley 82400
44 44 2 CLOSER Lemaitre featuring Jennie A 24750
46 32 3 NIGHTS LIKE THIS W. Darling 43050
47 47 2 I WANT YOU Wrabel 22700
52 1 12 TOM’S DINER Giorgio Moroder featuring Britney Spears 569900
56 17 7 HURTS Kove featuring Moko 117000
58 40 6 RUN AWAY WITH ME Carly Rae Jepsen 56600
60 25 7 ORGAN The Hardkiss 86250
61 39 4 WATERFALL Vok 46700
63 10 19 LEAN ON Major Lazer featuring MO and DJ Snake 330300
64 64 3 INSTANT CRUSH Natalie Imbruglia 18100
67 67 2 HAPPY DAYS Squeeze 11800
68 68 2 KING GRADES 12200
71 4 20 HOME Max Jury 442450
74 20 7 UNDER THE MAKEUP a-ha 111200

My 1985 Charts – May

1985 pop videos here….

7th May 1985

Another week on top for Tears For Fears, so perfect it’s held off the brilliant Ticket To Ride 20th anniversary reissue from The Beatles! Highest new entry is 19, or rather at 4 it’s 19 – Paul Hardcastle’s great Vietnam footage anti-war dance mash-up with dialogue, which came out of nowhere and was an instant sensation, sounding like something new and exciting at the time. Up 60 places, Steve Arrington really shows off those baggy robes and rockets to 5 with the terrific dance track Feel So Real. Also up, to 6, Animotion are getting even more of an obsession. Dead Or Alive also grab another top 10 hit, Lover Come Back To Me.

David Cassidy enters at 30, nestling behind his number one, with the similarly-moody Romance (Let Your Heart Go), while good climbs into the 40 for Toyah, Scritti Politti, Haywoode and Divine, with U2 being all sweeping strings drama as the fab title track to The Unforgettable Fire enters at 39. New Edition are back with Cool It Now, The Power Station cover T.Rex, and Jimmy Nail, actor big on UK TV at the time on TV dramas, has a go at covering Rose Royce’s classic 1978 Love Don’t Live Here Anymore, and it’s not bad despite singing wrong lyrics. It’s Eurovision Song Contest time, and Vikki represents the UK, in at 65. She didn’t win. Propaganda return with a track nearly as good as Dr. Mabuse, Duel, in at 66, ZTT were still cool as labels go. At 70, Go West follow-up a big hit with a single I preferred, Call Me is pretty good. Imagination are also back at 75, Found My Girl, and John Fogerty, he of 1960’s greats Creedence Clearwater Revival returns with Rock And Roll Girls, giving him a sweet 16 years of chart entries since Proud Mary.

1 ( 1 ) EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD Tears For Fears
2 ( 3 ) TICKET TO RIDE The Beatles
3 ( 4 ) MEGAREX T.Rex
4 ( NEW ) “19” Paul Hardcastle
5 ( 65 ) FEEL SO REAL Steve Arrington
6 ( 18 ) OBSESSION Animotion
7 ( 5 ) CRY Godley And Creme
8 ( 2 ) LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD Pat Benatar
9 ( 6 ) WELCOME TO THE PLEASURE DOME Frankie Goes To Hollywood
10 ( 12 ) LOVER COME BACK TO ME Dead Or Alive

11 ( 8 ) CLOUDS ACROSS THE MOON The Rah Band
12 ( 7 ) COULD IT BE I’M FALLING IN LOVE David Grant and Jaki Graham
13 ( 13 ) DON’T YOU (FORGET ABOUT ME) Simple Minds
14 ( 14 ) LOOK MAMA Howard Jones
15 ( 10 ) FREE YOURSELF The Untouchables
16 ( 9 ) BLACK MAN RAY China Crisis
17 ( 22 ) SUNSET GRILL Don Henley
18 ( 25 ) RYTHYM OF THE NIGHT DeBarge
19 ( 23 ) WOULD I LIE TO YOU Eurythmics
20 ( 26 ) I FEEL LOVE Bronski Beat and Marc Almond

21 ( 16 ) MOVE CLOSER Phyllis Nelson
22 ( 53 ) DON’T FALL IN LOVE (I SAID) Toyah
23 ( 11 ) LIFE IN A NORTHERN TOWN Dream Academy
24 ( 27 ) RAGE TO LOVE Kim Wilde
25 ( 15 ) GOING DOWN THE LIVERPOOL The Bangles
26 ( 30 ) WALKING ON SUNSHINE Katrina And The Waves
27 ( 28 ) I WAS BORN TO LOVE YOU Freddie Mercury
28 ( 21 ) NOW THAT WE’VE FOUND LOVE Third World
29 ( 24 ) THE LAST KISS David Cassidy
30 ( NEW ) ROMANCE (LET YOUR HEART GO) David Cassidy

31 ( 32 ) RADIO AFRICA Latin Quarter
32 ( 60 ) THE WORD GIRL Scritti Politti
33 ( 19 ) SPEND THE NIGHT The Cool Notes
34 ( 75 ) I WANT YOUR LOVIN’ Curtis Hairston
35 ( 20 ) MISSING YOU Diana Ross
36 ( 39 ) STAINSBY GIRLS Chris Rea
37 ( 46 ) WALK LIKE A MAN Divine
38 ( 17 ) WE ARE THE WORLD USA For Africa
39 ( NEW ) THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE U2
40 ( 70 ) ROSES Haywoode

41 ( 44 ) EYE TO EYE Chaka Khan
42 ( 33 ) THE GLAMOROUS LIFE Sheila E
43 ( 61 ) IMAGINATION Belouis Some
44 ( 29 ) HANGING ON A STRING Loose Ends
45 ( 57 ) SO FAR AWAY Dire Straits
46 ( 43 ) LET’S GO CRAZY/ TAKE ME WITH U Prince
47 ( 31 ) SUGAR WALLS Sheena Easton
48 ( 40 ) KISS ME Stephen ‘Tintin’ Duffy
49 ( 38 ) THAT WAS YESTERDAY Foreigner
50 ( 37 ) WIDE BOY Nik Kershaw

51 ( 34 ) BE NEAR ME ABC
52 ( 49 ) YOU SPIN ME ROUND (LIKE A RECORD) Dead Or Alive
53 ( 55 ) HEARTLINE Robin George
54 ( 35 ) WE CLOSE OUR EYES Go West
55 ( 66 ) LUCKY IN LOVE Mick Jagger
56 ( 36 ) MOMENTS IN LOVE The Art Of Noise
57 ( NEW ) COOL IT NOW New Edition
58 ( 45 ) ONE MORE NIGHT Phil Collins
59 ( NEW ) GET IT ON The Power Station
60 ( NEW ) LOVE DON’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE Jimmy Nail

61 ( 42 ) WON’T YOU HOLD MY HAND NOW King
62 ( 52 ) SOMEBODY Bryan Adams
63 ( 59 ) LEGS ZZ Top
64 ( 62 ) IT’S…IT’S…THE SWEET MIX The Sweet
65 ( NEW ) LOVE IS Vikki
66 ( NEW ) DUEL Propaganda
67 ( 64 ) SHAFT Eddy And The Soul Band
68 ( 63 ) GUN LAW The Kane Gang
69 ( 48 ) MATERIAL GIRL Madonna
70 ( NEW ) CALL ME Go West

71 ( 71 ) THE POWER OF LOVE Frankie Goes To Hollywood
72 ( NEW ) ROCK AND ROLL GIRLS John Fogerty
73 ( NEW ) NO REST New Model Army
74 ( 50 ) LOVE COMES Gary Glitter
75 ( NEW ) FOUND MY GIRL Imagination

TV 4th-10th May
1 The Main Event: film
2 The Poseidon Adventure: film
3 Cheers
4 Top Of The Pops
5 The Phil Silvers Show
6 Hill Street Blues
7 Lou Grant
8 Eurovision Song Contest
9 The Bill Cosby Show
10 Dallas

In My Life, as a Beatle once said, I wrote half a song and some naff lyrics, twiddling on my synth-computer. At work, Bob was hyped up as he neared the end of the surveying road, and his proper job approached. I was still having so many laughs with Bob, not everyone gets my sense of humour, but when they do it’s fab! The closer it got the more depressed about it I became, and quite choked on his last day. Things were just not the same after he finished even if I was getting lined up to take over team leader job. New lad Jason started work for the other team, Heavy Metal fan, affable and pleasant – and 4 years later he, Bob and I all went to New York and the North-East USA, and I went to his wedding in the 90‘s, so it all turned out OK. Yay! On TV top TV show was Cheers, and top non-sit-com was Top Of The Pops.

Eurovision 1985:

Norway won with a lot of sympathy votes for all the nul points, I think, cos I didn’t rate it that high: Let It Swing (Bobbysocks). My faves: 1. West Germany 2. UK 3. Italy (Tyrone Power’s daughter) 4. Luxembourg (UK 60’s star Malcolm Roberts and 1974’s Irene Shears) 5. Norway/Sweden/Switzerland. Pretty close to the results actually, just shuffled a bit round and Israel and Ireland added in instead of Switzerland and Luxembourg.

14th May 1985

Paul Hardcastle bags his first and last chart-topper as the still rather good 19 denies the equally still good Feel So Real the top slot. Poor Steve Arrington! Top 10 spaces are newly occupied by Toyah, 2 years since her last one Rebel Run and her 5th in 4 years; Bronski Beat and Marc Almond covering I Feel Love and making it sound much more dated than the original genius Giorgio Moroder game-changer. Not the finest moment for either act, and Bronski Beat split soon after. Simple Minds also add to their run of top 10’s with the great Don’t You Forget About Me, and Diana Ross reverses direction yet again and hits a new peak of 11.

Bryan Ferry is at 20 with his first solo single since Roxy Music ended for the second and final time (recording-wise), though you’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference sound-wise as it was business as usual, Slave To Love being latter-Roxy classy laid-back vibes, though not exactly exciting. Go West have a great leap into the 40, Call Me has a great very 80’s video and some very 80’s movements going on that would bring very odd looks these days!

New entries: Style Council, Walls Came Tumbling Down, one of their better singles at 42; Loose Ends have that Magic Touch – well enough to get a second single entry at 45; Duran Duran do a one-off single for the James Bond theme, View To A Kill, and produce a video and song that’s actually better then the film, one of their best 80’s tracks and typically Bond-ian at 47; a new brother and sister act from the UK start their own brand of UK sweet soul-dance at 50, Five Star, All Fall Down. Popular with the kiddies for a couple of years, and occasionally the odd-single with older folk; Stephen Duffy also gets a quick follow-up at 58, which must have been the icing on the cake for him – at least until he started working with Robbie Williams 2 decades later; Depeche Mode try to shake the disease at 62, and try to shake a career as a singles band into the bargain as they start to morph into a sombre influential albums act; Marvin Gaye has a posthumous single, Strawberry Switchblade pop in with a 3rd single, and Philip Bailey is walking on the Chinese Wall.

1 ( 4 ) “19” Paul Hardcastle
2 ( 5 ) FEEL SO REAL Steve Arrington
3 ( 1 ) EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD Tears For Fears
4 ( 6 ) OBSESSION Animotion
5 ( 3 ) MEGAREX T.Rex
6 ( 7 ) CRY Godley And Creme
7 ( 15 ) FREE YOURSELF The Untouchables
8 ( 20 ) I FEEL LOVE Bronski Beat and Marc Almond
9 ( 22 ) DON’T FALL IN LOVE (I SAID) Toyah
10 ( 13 ) DON’T YOU (FORGET ABOUT ME) Simple Minds

11 ( 35 ) MISSING YOU Diana Ross
12 ( 2 ) TICKET TO RIDE The Beatles
13 ( 18 ) RYTHYM OF THE NIGHT DeBarge
14 ( 14 ) LOOK MAMA Howard Jones
15 ( 19 ) WOULD I LIE TO YOU Eurythmics
16 ( 30 ) ROMANCE (LET YOUR HEART GO) David Cassidy
17 ( 17 ) SUNSET GRILL Don Henley
18 ( 12 ) COULD IT BE I’M FALLING IN LOVE David Grant and Jaki Graham
19 ( 9 ) WELCOME TO THE PLEASURE DOME Frankie Goes To Hollywood
20 ( NEW ) SLAVE TO LOVE Bryan Ferry

21 ( 11 ) CLOUDS ACROSS THE MOON The Rah Band
22 ( 37 ) WALK LIKE A MAN Divine
23 ( 8 ) LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD Pat Benatar
24 ( 24 ) RAGE TO LOVE Kim Wilde
25 ( 34 ) I WANT YOUR LOVIN’ Curtis Hairston
26 ( 10 ) LOVER COME BACK TO ME Dead Or Alive
27 ( 27 ) I WAS BORN TO LOVE YOU Freddie Mercury
28 ( 60 ) LOVE DON’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE Jimmy Nail
29 ( 32 ) THE WORD GIRL Scritti Politti
30 ( 39 ) THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE U2

31 ( 26 ) WALKING ON SUNSHINE Katrina And The Waves
32 ( 16 ) BLACK MAN RAY China Crisis
33 ( 43 ) IMAGINATION Belouis Some
34 ( 70 ) CALL ME Go West
35 ( 21 ) MOVE CLOSER Phyllis Nelson
36 ( 23 ) LIFE IN A NORTHERN TOWN Dream Academy
37 ( 29 ) THE LAST KISS David Cassidy
38 ( 41 ) EYE TO EYE Chaka Khan
39 ( 31 ) RADIO AFRICA Latin Quarter
40 ( 40 ) ROSES Haywoode

41 ( 36 ) STAINSBY GIRLS Chris Rea
42 ( NEW ) WALLS COME TUMBLING DOWN The Style Council
43 ( 28 ) NOW THAT WE’VE FOUND LOVE Third World
44 ( 53 ) HEARTLINE Robin George
45 ( NEW ) MAGIC TOUCH Loose Ends
46 ( 25 ) GOING DOWN THE LIVERPOOL The Bangles
47 ( NEW ) VIEW TO A KILL Duran Duran
48 ( 59 ) GET IT ON The Power Station
49 ( 33 ) SPEND THE NIGHT The Cool Notes
50 ( NEW ) ALL FALL DOWN Five Star

51 ( 38 ) WE ARE THE WORLD USA For Africa
52 ( 46 ) LET’S GO CRAZY/ TAKE ME WITH U Prince
53 ( 44 ) HANGING ON A STRING Loose Ends
54 ( 55 ) LUCKY IN LOVE Mick Jagger
55 ( 52 ) YOU SPIN ME ROUND (LIKE A RECORD) Dead Or Alive
56 ( 45 ) SO FAR AWAY Dire Straits
57 ( 57 ) COOL IT NOW New Edition
58 ( NEW ) ICING ON THE CAKE Stephen ‘Tintin’ Duffy
59 ( 42 ) THE GLAMOROUS LIFE Sheila E
60 ( NEW ) SHAKE THE DISEASE Depeche Mode

61 ( 47 ) SUGAR WALLS Sheena Easton
62 ( NEW ) THE CHINESE WALL Philip Bailey
63 ( 51 ) BE NEAR ME ABC
64 ( 48 ) KISS ME Stephen ‘Tintin’ Duffy
65 ( 50 ) WIDE BOY Nik Kershaw
66 ( 64 ) IT’S…IT’S…THE SWEET MIX The Sweet
67 ( 66 ) DUEL Propaganda
68 ( 54 ) WE CLOSE OUR EYES Go West
69 ( 63 ) LEGS ZZ Top
70 ( NEW ) WHO KNOWS WHAT LOVE IS Strawberry Switchblade

71 ( 71 ) THE POWER OF LOVE Frankie Goes To Hollywood
72 ( 58 ) ONE MORE NIGHT Phil Collins
73 ( 65 ) LOVE IS Vikki
74 ( 67 ) SHAFT Eddy And The Soul Band
75 ( NEW ) SANCTIFIED LADY Marvin Gaye

TV 11th-17th MAY
1 The Young Ones: Bambi
2 Star Trek: Mudd’s Women
3 Hill Street Blues
4 Cheers
5 Lou Grant
6 Top Of The Pops
7 The Bill Cosby Show
8 Dallas
9 The Max Headroom Show
10 Taxi

Got my moped at last. No more buses to work, thankfully! On the news the Bradford football ground fire disaster scenes were horrific, very very upsetting seeing people on fire, mum burst into tears, and I was reminded again of Dale’s tragic death. Coming back from Bulbarrow, via Hurn Airport, at work one day, the van got stuck in traffic due to an airplane crash near Ringwood, 2 police pilots killed. I took mum to Bulbarrow at the weekend to see the carpets of bluebells covering the woodland floor near the top of the hill, the scent was just gorgeous – there aren’t many things that smell better than thousands of bluebells en masse. Heaven! Less heavenly were the squealing pigs at the slaughterhouse the work van passed by, which reminded me of an early childhood upset when we lived in rural Norfolk nearby a slaughterhouse so got to hear them whenever we passed. I swore to turn vegetarian one day. Took me many years, but I did it in the early 90’s, better late than never!

21st May 1985

2 weeks for 19, another one held at 2, this time it’s Animotion and their fab Obsession, which was my obsession for a time. Toyah goes top 5, and Bryan Ferry gets a top 10 with Slave To Love for a nice dozen years of ‘em. Eurythmics, meanwhile, have a mere 2 years, albeit quite a massive run of top 10 singles, though if you include The Tourists (and I do) it’s 6 years-worth. David Cassidy gets a second top 10 in a row with some Romance, which fits nicely in with his 14 years-old I Think I Love You chart-topper with The Partridge Family. Divine pouts in his dress at some cowboys in the video, and grabs a number 10 Hi Energy (as they called it then) dance track with The Four Seasons classic. I bet Frankie Valli didn’t imagine that one coming along….

Belouis Some uses his Imagination and enters the 20, as Go West call me about them doing the same, and let’s not forget U2’s fire burning at 18, and Kim Wilde raging at 19 – it had taken her so long to climb there she must have been livid. The Style Council knock down the walls of the top 40, and Duran Duran are just behind at 27 thanks to James Bond. Highest new entry is an oldie from 1978, A Taste Of Honey are boogie and oogie and oogie-ing back in at 32, I presume in remixed form as was the forthcoming obsession of the late 80’s. Nothing punters enjoyed more than having a 70’s dance classic messed about with, some synthy beeps and renta-rhythm and toots added, and hey presto an excuse for it to sound all fresh and current. For about 5 years, at which point is began to sound horribly dated and opportunistic, and the original version classy.

Other top 40 climbers: Depeche Mode, Mick Jagger, Loose Ends, Five Star, Philip Bailey and The Power Station all bang a gong, getting it on. New entries outside the 40 include, REO Speedwagon having one lonely night with yet another MOR rock ballad at 42, US soap actor, Australian Rick Springfield returning with his UK breakthrough hit, Celebrate Youth. I wish that I had Jessie’s Girl in my charts instead though. At 47, it’s an Elvis Costello oldie getting a single release, Green Shirt, while China Crisis are literally besides themselves to be at 48 and 49, with King In A Catholic Style. At 53 Gary Moore and Phil Lynott get together for the final time outside Thin Lizzy, a few short months before Phil’s unexpected death at a young age. Out In The Fields was a great single. Marillion also return with their best single, Kayleigh, at 57, and also not that long before Fish bailed out of the boat.

At 59, Prince keeps his run of hits going, fresh from his new album Around The World In A Day, full of 60’s psychedelic musical freshness, courtesy of Paisley Park. He, to coin an already used phrase, is also beside himself to be at 58 too with the last 2 tracks off Purple Rain. He was nothing if not prolific and inventive. Dan Hartman is also back again, at 60, it being second nature to him by now, having 7 years of experience. At 62, Kool And The Gang cherish the moment they manage to grab an entry with a bland ballad, a huge hit but not their finest moment, while at 64, having a solo duo moment, Francis Rossi leaves the status quo for a tick, and has a modern romance. At least he’s not IN Modern Romance! At 67, Jermaine Jackson makes it 5 years of Dynamite solo hits, though I want him back with The Jackson 5 myself, but as he married the Motown boss’ daughter I guess he had no option when his brothers left Motown. At 70 it’s Skipworth and Turner. Google here I come! Ah, American dance hit. Watch Me Catch Fire by Big Heat was produced (and had vocals from) Elvis Costello, removed from the BBC playlist due to the Bradford football stadium fire disaster, and it’s not on youtube or itunes, so it will doubtless remain obscure forever more. At 74, old hero Roy Wood marks one of his occasional blink-before-you-miss-it singles chart for-old-times-sake entries, Under Fire. I assume it had no chance of being playlisted for the same reason. Finally, 75, Pennye Ford, Dangerous, another US dance hit.

1 ( 1 ) “19” Paul Hardcastle
2 ( 4 ) OBSESSION Animotion
3 ( 2 ) FEEL SO REAL Steve Arrington
4 ( 9 ) DON’T FALL IN LOVE (I SAID) Toyah
5 ( 3 ) EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD Tears For Fears
6 ( 7 ) FREE YOURSELF The Untouchables
7 ( 20 ) SLAVE TO LOVE Bryan Ferry
8 ( 15 ) WOULD I LIE TO YOU Eurythmics
9 ( 16 ) ROMANCE (LET YOUR HEART GO) David Cassidy
10 ( 22 ) WALK LIKE A MAN Divine

11 ( 6 ) CRY Godley And Creme
12 ( 13 ) RYTHYM OF THE NIGHT DeBarge
13 ( 5 ) MEGAREX T.Rex
14 ( 11 ) MISSING YOU Diana Ross
15 ( 33 ) IMAGINATION Belouis Some
16 ( 8 ) I FEEL LOVE Bronski Beat and Marc Almond
17 ( 34 ) CALL ME Go West
18 ( 30 ) THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE U2
19 ( 24 ) RAGE TO LOVE Kim Wilde
20 ( 12 ) TICKET TO RIDE The Beatles

21 ( 29 ) THE WORD GIRL Scritti Politti
22 ( 10 ) DON’T YOU (FORGET ABOUT ME) Simple Minds
23 ( 28 ) LOVE DON’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE Jimmy Nail
24 ( 25 ) I WANT YOUR LOVIN’ Curtis Hairston
25 ( 14 ) LOOK MAMA Howard Jones
26 ( 42 ) WALLS COME TUMBLING DOWN The Style Council
27 ( 47 ) VIEW TO A KILL Duran Duran
28 ( 19 ) WELCOME TO THE PLEASURE DOME Frankie Goes To Hollywood
29 ( 31 ) WALKING ON SUNSHINE Katrina And The Waves
30 ( 18 ) COULD IT BE I’M FALLING IN LOVE David Grant and Jaki Graham

31 ( 27 ) I WAS BORN TO LOVE YOU Freddie Mercury
32 ( NEW ) BOOGIE OOGIE OOGIE A Taste Of Honey
33 ( 45 ) MAGIC TOUCH Loose Ends
34 ( 48 ) GET IT ON The Power Station
35 ( 50 ) ALL FALL DOWN Five Star
36 ( 40 ) ROSES Haywoode
37 ( 60 ) SHAKE THE DISEASE Depeche Mode
38 ( 21 ) CLOUDS ACROSS THE MOON The Rah Band
39 ( 62 ) THE CHINESE WALL Philip Bailey
40 ( 54 ) LUCKY IN LOVE Mick Jagger

41 ( 17 ) SUNSET GRILL Don Henley
42 ( 23 ) LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD Pat Benatar
43 ( NEW ) ONE LONELY NIGHT REO Speedwagon
44 ( 37 ) THE LAST KISS David Cassidy
45 ( NEW ) CELEBRATE YOUTH Rick Springfield
46 ( 36 ) LIFE IN A NORTHERN TOWN Dream Academy
47 ( NEW ) GREEN SHIRT Elvis Costello
48 ( 32 ) BLACK MAN RAY China Crisis
49 ( NEW ) KING IN A CATHOLIC STYLE China Crisis
50 ( 43 ) NOW THAT WE’VE FOUND LOVE Third World

51 ( 26 ) LOVER COME BACK TO ME Dead Or Alive
52 ( 58 ) ICING ON THE CAKE Stephen ‘Tintin’ Duffy
53 ( NEW ) OUT IN THE FIELDS Gary Moore and Phil Lynott
54 ( 35 ) MOVE CLOSER Phyllis Nelson
55 ( 39 ) RADIO AFRICA Latin Quarter
56 ( 46 ) GOING DOWN THE LIVERPOOL The Bangles
57 ( NEW ) KAYLEIGH Marillion
58 ( 52 ) LET’S GO CRAZY/ TAKE ME WITH U Prince
59 ( NEW ) PAISLEY PARK Prince
60 ( NEW ) SECOND NATURE Dan Hartman

61 ( 55 ) YOU SPIN ME ROUND (LIKE A RECORD) Dead Or Alive
62 ( NEW ) CHERISH Kool And The Gang
63 ( 49 ) SPEND THE NIGHT The Cool Notes
64 ( NEW ) MODERN ROMANCE Rossi & Frost
65 ( 38 ) EYE TO EYE Chaka Khan
66 ( 53 ) HANGING ON A STRING Loose Ends
67 ( NEW ) DYNAMITE Jermaine Jackson
68 ( 66 ) IT’S…IT’S…THE SWEET MIX The Sweet
69 ( 41 ) STAINSBY GIRLS Chris Rea
70 ( NEW ) THINKING ABOUT YOUR LOVE Skipworth & Turner

71 ( NEW ) WATCH ME CATCH FIRE Big Heat
72 ( 75 ) SANCTIFIED LADY Marvin Gaye
73 ( 71 ) THE POWER OF LOVE Frankie Goes To Hollywood
74 ( NEW ) UNDER FIRE Roy Wood
75 ( NEW ) DANGEROUS Pennye Ford

TV 18th-24th May
1 Star Trek: The Enemy Within
2 Hill Street Blues
3 Cheers
4 The Phil Silvers Show
5 The Young Ones
6 Lou Grant
7 Top Of The Pops
8 Dallas
9 Newhart
10 The Bill Cosby Show

I had my first moped accident less than 2 weeks after getting it, sliding off as I turned on wet roads to the right, and the moped remained sliding to the left. Banged all my right side, went head over heels, tore a hole in my gloves, and was SO thankful I bought a very big helmet which cushioned my head, and that no car was coming the other way. I also felt an idiot afterwards after retrieving the revving bike and having to try and pick up all my money which had scattered everywhere, in between passing cars. My indicator light also smashed, which wasn’t helpful as I had to continue on to work for an achy day.

28th May 1985

3rd week on top for Paul Hardcastle as Toyah gets her biggest single at 3 and Belouis Some and Go West get their first top 10 hits. Scritti Politti have a third top 20 and Gary Moore and Phil Lynott a second, Out In The Fields rocketing up to 14 and beating quite a few Thin Lizzy singles peaks to boot. The Style Council, Jimmy Nail and Duran Duran also hit the 20.

Highest new entry is OMD, So In Love at 26, and one of their most melodic singles, such a great tune and a mystifyingly low UK chart peak, though they were very much on the up in the USA by this point. 5 years on since they had their first number one with Messages and yet to fail to make my charts. Into the 40 go Prince, Rick Springfield, REO Speedwagon and Stephen ‘Tin Tin’ Duffy, along with a new entry at 36 for Mai Tai, and a great dance track, History.

Lower down, Propaganda pop back in after a brief exit, 52 with Duel, Gary Numan does a live version of Are ‘Friends’ Electric, Ian Dury is hitting his rhythm stick again at 57, 7 years on, and Bryan Adams gets his 3rd hit with Heaven, a song that came back big-time as a dance cover almost 2 decades later, but the original live ballad version is still good at 66. There’s a brace of classic soul stars around the bottom of the chart, joining Marvin Gaye, as Edwin Starr enters at 68 with It Ain’t Fair for 15 years of chart entries, Bill Withers says Oh Yeah at 74 for 13 years-worth, and Billy Ocean is Suddenly in at 75 for 11 years in total since Scorched Earth debuted (the band was effectively Billy under another name). That leaves at 70 Alien-loving David Bowie’s 13 year-run of chart entries, bar a couple of forgettable singles, generally live versions. I’m not a fan of live versions of old songs for the most part, but quite happy with new ones – hello Bryan Adams again.

1 ( 1 ) “19” Paul Hardcastle
2 ( 2 ) OBSESSION Animotion
3 ( 4 ) DON’T FALL IN LOVE (I SAID) Toyah
4 ( 3 ) FEEL SO REAL Steve Arrington
5 ( 9 ) ROMANCE (LET YOUR HEART GO) David Cassidy
6 ( 15 ) IMAGINATION Belouis Some
7 ( 7 ) SLAVE TO LOVE Bryan Ferry
8 ( 5 ) EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD Tears For Fears
9 ( 17 ) CALL ME Go West
10 ( 6 ) FREE YOURSELF The Untouchables

11 ( 8 ) WOULD I LIE TO YOU Eurythmics
12 ( 21 ) THE WORD GIRL Scritti Politti
13 ( 10 ) WALK LIKE A MAN Divine
14 ( 53 ) OUT IN THE FIELDS Gary Moore and Phil Lynott
15 ( 23 ) LOVE DON’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE Jimmy Nail
16 ( 19 ) RAGE TO LOVE Kim Wilde
17 ( 11 ) CRY Godley And Creme
18 ( 26 ) WALLS COME TUMBLING DOWN The Style Council
19 ( 13 ) MEGAREX T.Rex
20 ( 27 ) VIEW TO A KILL Duran Duran

21 ( 12 ) RYTHYM OF THE NIGHT DeBarge
22 ( 37 ) SHAKE THE DISEASE Depeche Mode
23 ( 18 ) THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE U2
24 ( 33 ) MAGIC TOUCH Loose Ends
25 ( 29 ) WALKING ON SUNSHINE Katrina And The Waves
26 ( NEW ) SO IN LOVE OMD
27 ( 14 ) MISSING YOU Diana Ross
28 ( 59 ) PAISLEY PARK Prince
29 ( 57 ) KAYLEIGH Marillion
30 ( 34 ) GET IT ON (BANG A GONG) The Power Station

31 ( 16 ) I FEEL LOVE Bronski Beat and Marc Almond
32 ( 32 ) BOOGIE OOGIE OOGIE A Taste Of Honey
33 ( 22 ) DON’T YOU (FORGET ABOUT ME) Simple Minds
34 ( 28 ) WELCOME TO THE PLEASURE DOME Frankie Goes To Hollywood
35 ( 39 ) THE CHINESE WALL Philip Bailey
36 ( NEW ) HISTORY Mai Tai
37 ( 20 ) TICKET TO RIDE The Beatles
38 ( 45 ) CELEBRATE YOUTH Rick Springfield
39 ( 43 ) ONE LONELY NIGHT REO Speedwagon
40 ( 52 ) ICING ON THE CAKE Stephen ‘Tintin’ Duffy

41 ( 70 ) THINKING ABOUT YOUR LOVE Skipworth & Turner
42 ( 31 ) I WAS BORN TO LOVE YOU Freddie Mercury
43 ( 30 ) COULD IT BE I’M FALLING IN LOVE David Grant and Jaki Graham
44 ( 25 ) LOOK MAMA Howard Jones
45 ( 24 ) I WANT YOUR LOVIN’ Curtis Hairston
46 ( 44 ) THE LAST KISS David Cassidy
47 ( 35 ) ALL FALL DOWN Five Star
48 ( 49 ) KING IN A CATHOLIC STYLE China Crisis
49 ( 38 ) CLOUDS ACROSS THE MOON The Rah Band
50 ( 60 ) SECOND NATURE Dan Hartman

51 ( 40 ) LUCKY IN LOVE Mick Jagger
52 ( RE ) DUEL Propaganda
53 ( NEW ) ARE ‘FRIENDS’ ELECTRIC Gary Numan
54 ( 36 ) ROSES Haywoode
55 ( 42 ) LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD Pat Benatar
56 ( 50 ) NOW THAT WE’VE FOUND LOVE Third World
57 ( NEW ) HIT ME WITH YOUR RHYTHM STICK Ian Dury And The Blockheads
58 ( 62 ) CHERISH Kool And The Gang
59 ( 47 ) GREEN SHIRT Elvis Costello
60 ( 46 ) LIFE IN A NORTHERN TOWN Dream Academy

61 ( 41 ) SUNSET GRILL Don Henley
62 ( 58 ) LET’S GO CRAZY/ TAKE ME WITH U Prince
63 ( 48 ) BLACK MAN RAY China Crisis
64 ( 61 ) YOU SPIN ME ROUND (LIKE A RECORD) Dead Or Alive
65 ( 51 ) LOVER COME BACK TO ME Dead Or Alive
66 ( NEW ) HEAVEN (LIVE) Bryan Adams
67 ( 64 ) MODERN ROMANCE Rossi & Frost
68 ( NEW ) IT AIN’T FAIR Edwin Starr
69 ( NEW ) EVERYTHING I NEED Men At Work
70 ( NEW ) LOVING THE ALIEN David Bowie

71 ( 56 ) GOING DOWN THE LIVERPOOL The Bangles
72 ( 72 ) SANCTIFIED LADY Marvin Gaye
73 ( 68 ) IT’S…IT’S…THE SWEET MIX The Sweet
74 ( NEW ) OH YEAH Bill Withers
75 ( NEW ) SUDDENLY Billy Ocean

TV 25th-31st May
1 Top Of The Pops
2 Cheers
3 Lou Grant
4 The Bill Cosby Show
5 Bewitched

On friday I drove to Mansfield to stay with my brother, sister in law Sue, hyper toddler niece Vicki who was all over me, and baby Gavin. Mum rang upset over the death of a Marine on camp she knew. On Saturday 25th I drove to pick up Jane and Dave, College friends, and we went to the wedding of Paul and Sheila in Rotherham. A fab day, great to see College friends and Paul’s school mates who I knew quite well, though the high-class reception hall was a bit above my experiences and I put my foot in it a few times with my quips. Hey ho, posh people have no sense of humour! We prettied up the honeymoon car with toilet paper and lipstick, as Paul & Sheila were setting off for Paris in it the next day. Very thoughtful of us, I thought.

My interest in TV shows reaches a new low in 1985, as US genre and sitcom imports decline and UK shows mirror the huge big Soap obsession of the time. I had no interest in Eastenders, Neighbours, Coronation Street and Dynasty, and even the sometimes amusing Dallas was past it’s best. Oldie re-runs had also declined, so that leaves Top Of The Pops as the best show on TV and my TV chart down to a pathetic list of 5, and not long before I gave up on it altogether.

My 2015 Charts May to Aug

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30th August 2015

It’s Niia just edging out Royksopp, and her so lovely Body. Not far behind though there’s a brace of girlies all challenging with big jumps into the 10: Selena Gomez, Foxes and Nerina Pallot. It’s not Nerina’s first time in the top 5 by any means, and as I’m generally a fan I hope it’s not the last time either. The highest new entry at 8 is a bizarrely beautiful track from Kishi Bashi, Japanese American classical violinist with avant-garde electronic tendencies.

Maroon 5 and Jess Glynne both grab another top 10 of several, the very Joan Armatrading-sounding Rationale shoots up to 11 (he may not thank for that comparison though), while the Sugarhill Gang get a 2nd top 20 record at long last. Talking of veteran old skool rap, Mackelmore and Ryan Lewis are back with a huge supporting cast, notably Melle Mel making his first appearance in 20 years, and lengthening his run to 31 years since the classic White Lines. Duran Duran (at 5) also covered White Lines in 1995 with a top version with assistance from an original rapper or two. It’s a sprawling show-piece of Mark Ronson-style retro rap delight. No bragging about long they can keep it up and how*, you can hear the words, and no swearing. Just like the cliche-free old days!

(I choose to view “going downtown” as completely innocent in content, as this was certainly nothing Pet Clark had in mind when she went downtown!

Dusty shoots up as the soulful delight of Spooky makes my serious playlist along with former friend and duet partner Cilla’s remixed version of Step Inside Love, a song I loved in 1968 just before my charts started, and written by Paul McCartney for Cilla and her new TV show. Long overdue a chart position by about ooh 47 years. a-ha return too, for a second comeback hit, more uptempo despite the title, Simply Red also pop back with a another to add to the long list, and look see – it’s a Pink Floyd-er getting a new chart entry for the first time in about 20-odd years: Dave Gilmour with a bunch of singing convicts. I’m not kidding….! Oldies: the late Lynn Anderson pops back in 44 years on, as a goodbye tribute, and Elton John’s Tiny Dancer (as previously sampled by Ironik) is back in the UK top 100 sales chart (though not in the made-up chart that most people don’t care about anymore, and don’t even notice) thanks to an advert. Never made my chart in the 70’s, as it was fairly obscure at that time.

1 3 1 3 BODY Niia 290000
2 1 1 5 I HAD THIS THING Royksopp 436500
3 15 3 3 GOOD FOR YOU Selena Gomez featuring A$AP Rocky 33400
4 26 4 2 ROUSSEAU Nerina Pallot 83500
5 2 1 9 PRESSURE OFF Duran Duran featuring Janelle Monae and Nile Rodgers 573600
6 25 6 3 BODY TALK Foxes 79550
7 7 7 3 YOUNG AND RESTLESS Benjamin 177000
8 NEW 8 1 I AM THE ANTICHRIST TO YOU Kishi Bashi 48000
9 11 9 5 DON’T BE SO HARD ON YOURSELF Jess Glynne 115400
10 20 10 5 THIS SUMMER Maroon 5 91600

11 33 11 2 FUEL TO THE FIRE Rationale 54700
12 5 5 7 PEANUT BUTTER JELLY Galantis 257700
13 22 13 3 APACHE (JUMP ON IT!) The Sugarhill Gang 69100
14 6 6 6 IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN Gladys Knight And The Pips 162500
15 4 1 12 SHINE Years And Years 1122450
16 24 16 3 OH MY LOVE The Score 55000
17 12 12 10 MARVIN GAYE Charlie Puth featuring Meghan Trainor 165200
18 NEW 18 1 DOWNTOWN Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, and Grandmaster Caz 22000
19 9 9 6 POWERFUL Major Lazer featuring Ellie Goulding and Tarrus Riley 187200
20 10 2 9 ‘CAUSE I’M A MAN Tame Impala 661000

21 8 2 9 HOLD ME UP Conrad Sewell 522950
22 64 22 10 SPOOKY Dusty Springfield 77400
23 19 8 7 WAITING FOR LOVE Avicii featuring Simon Aldred (of Cherry Ghost) 229250
24 13 5 8 EASY LOVE Sigala featuring The Jackson 5 277000
25 37 25 3 RESTLESS YEAR Ezra Furman 42050
26 16 4 9 WHEN M+A 378400
27 23 10 6 THE OTHER BOYS NERVO featuring Kylie Minogue, Jake Shears and Nile Rodgers 159650
28 28 28 4 TIDAL WAVE EVVY 60100
29 17 8 5 IF I THOUGHT YOU’D EVER CHANGE YOUR MIND Cilla Black 155200
30 14 14 4 ANYONE WHO HAD A HEART Cilla Black 85200

31 18 18 6 SWEET HARMONY Monarchy featuring The Pledge Choir 91850
32 34 32 3 DON’T WORRY Madcon and Ray Dalton 42900
33 38 33 3 ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING AND ANYTHING AT ALL Kylie Minogue 40100
34 36 34 3 CLOAKED Woolf And The Wondershow 41200
35 35 35 6 INSOMNIA 2.0 (AVICII REMIX) Faithless 79000
36 21 16 5 BLACK Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi featuring Norah Jones 92150
37 NEW 37 1 THE GATES Young Empires 17300
38 55 38 2 STITCHES Shawn Mendes 28000
39 NEW 39 1 THE WAKE a-ha 17100
40 NEW 40 1 90’s LOVE (ACID PT. II) The Caulfield Beats 17000

41 44 3 9 RENEGADES X Ambassadors 350450
42 NEW 42 1 STEP INSIDE LOVE (ALMIGHTY RADIO EDIT) CIlla Black 13750
43 30 30 6 GHOST TOWN BLUES Lauren Housley 82400
44 52 44 2 CLOSER Lemaitre featuring Jennie A 24750
45 27 18 10 GLITTERBALL Sigma featuring Ella Henderson 154300
46 32 32 3 NIGHTS LIKE THIS W. Darling 43050
47 58 47 2 I WANT YOU Wrabel 22700
48 66 48 3 OMEN Disclosure featuring Sam Smith 25900
49 43 2 14 SOME KIND OF HEAVEN Hurts 618100
50 60 50 3 HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE Calvin Harris and Disciples 28600

51 47 1 18 I CAN CHANGE Brandon Flowers 1547500
52 49 1 12 TOM’S DINER Giorgio Moroder featuring Britney Spears 569900
53 57 53 7 HAPPY TOGETHER The Turtles 57850
54 53 1 17 SO YOU WIN AGAIN Hot Chocolate 552050
55 54 1 25 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 1032950
56 31 17 7 HURTS Kove featuring Moko 117000
57 69 57 2 GOOD TIMES Ella Eyre featuring Sigma 16600
58 40 40 6 RUN AWAY WITH ME Carly Rae Jepsen 56600
59 NEW 59 1 I AM Leona Lewis 10100
60 41 25 7 ORGAN The Hardkiss 86250

61 39 39 4 WATERFALL Vok 46700
62 61 1 17 LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate 710300
63 56 10 19 LEAN ON Major Lazer featuring MO and DJ Snake 330300
64 70 64 3 INSTANT CRUSH Natalie Imbruglia 18100
65 73 65 3 MELLOW YELLOW Donovan 17600
66 NEW 66 1 INTOXICATED Martin Solveig and GTA 6800
67 74 67 2 HAPPY DAYS Squeeze 11800
68 71 68 2 KING GRADES 12200
69 NEW 69 1 TINY DANCER Elton John 6200
70 75 70 2 RESTLESS New Order 11000

71 68 4 20 HOME Max Jury 442450
72 NEW 72 1 (I NEVER PROMISED YOU A) ROSE GARDEN Lynn Anderson 5600
73 NEW 73 1 RATTLE THAT LOCK David Gilmour 5400
74 46 20 7 UNDER THE MAKEUP a-ha 111200
75 NEW 75 1 GHOST OF LOVE Simply Red 5000

29 29 3 YOU’RE MY WORLD Cilla Black 53100
42 4 10 COME AND GET IT John Newman 348700
45 25 4 SOMETHING LIKE HAPPINESS The Maccabees 67350
48 36 5 GET STUPID Aston Merrygold 59700
50 50 3 DIGGIN’ UP THE HEART Brandon Flowers 32200
51 7 8 BURN WITH ME Whilk And Misky 233050
59 10 9 HIGH TIME Kacey Musgraves 214500
62 17 7 FREEDOM Pharrell Williams 120800
63 34 5 WHAT YOU DON’T DO Lianne La Havas 67550
65 43 5 WITHOUT YOU Tobias Jesso Jr 54700
67 67 1 SEARCH PARTY Sam Bruno 6600
72 72 1 SAVAGES Five Knives 5400

23rd August 2015

It’s Royksopp getting their first ever chart-topper after over a decade of not coming close before, and following in the tradition of Norwegian bands like, err a-ha who are also back lower down, and at unofficial position of 76 with new single The Wake – there just aren’t enough chart places for another 20 tracks this week! Somebody explain to me how this brilliant track has not been a hit! American singer Niia meanwhile is at 3 with the gorgeous Body. Here’s a shocking statistic (for me) – the fabulous Gladys Knight has only had 2 previous top 10 songs in my charts, Van McCoy’s Baby Don’t Change Your Mind hit 3 in 1977 and the Bond Theme Licence To Kill hit 7 in 1989, so this classic oldie is long overdue at 6 – If I Were Your Woman hits 6, her 19th chart hit in 43 years and her 2nd biggest hit. What?! So many other oldies of hers could do the same.

Big climbs for Selena Gomez, Maroon 5, Foxes, Madcon, Woolf And The Wondershow, eccentric alternative act Ezra Furman, Carly Rae Jepsen and Kylie Minogue getting a second top 40 hit in the same week. New at 26, Nerina Pallot is back philosophising about Rousseau for a 9th year of chart action which includes a number one for herself, and one written for Kylie – Aphrodite, criminally never a single. Down the bottom end of the chart, 2 veterans return relatively quietly after not being together some years: New Order stretch their run of hits (including 2 chart-toppers) to 34 years, and Squeeze have a run of 37 years, with not even a sniff of a number one amongst a quality songbook – Take Me I’m Yours in 1978 came closest when it went top 3.

1 3 1 4 I HAD THIS THING Royksopp 321300
2 1 1 8 PRESSURE OFF Duran Duran featuring Janelle Monae and Nile Rodgers 513600
3 12 3 2 BODY Niia 120000
4 2 1 11 SHINE Years And Years 1095450
5 5 5 6 PEANUT BUTTER JELLY Galantis 222700
6 14 6 5 IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN Gladys Knight And The Pips 133500
7 7 7 3 YOUNG AND RESTLESS Benjamin 127000
8 4 2 8 HOLD ME UP Conrad Sewell 503200
9 9 9 5 POWERFUL Major Lazer featuring Ellie Goulding and Tarrus Riley 166200
10 6 2 8 ‘CAUSE I’M A MAN Tame Impala 641000

11 19 11 4 DON’T BE SO HARD ON YOURSELF Jess Glynne 70400
12 22 12 9 MARVIN GAYE Charlie Puth featuring Meghan Trainor 142200
13 11 5 7 EASY LOVE Sigala featuring The Jackson 5 258000
14 20 14 3 ANYONE WHO HAD A HEART Cilla Black 67200
15 68 15 2 GOOD FOR YOU Selena Gomez featuring A$AP Rocky 33400
16 13 4 8 WHEN M+A 359900
17 8 8 4 IF I THOUGHT YOU’D EVER CHANGE YOUR MIND Cilla Black 137000
18 23 18 5 SWEET HARMONY Monarchy featuring The Pledge Choir 73950
19 10 8 6 WAITING FOR LOVE Avicii featuring Simon Aldred (of Cherry Ghost) 210000
20 40 20 4 THIS SUMMER Maroon 5 49600

21 16 16 4 BLACK Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi featuring Norah Jones 74750
22 34 22 2 APACHE (JUMP ON IT!) The Sugarhill Gang 37100
23 15 10 5 THE OTHER BOYS NERVO featuring Kylie Minogue, Jake Shears and Nile Rodgers 141250
24 54 24 2 OH MY LOVE The Score 30000
25 71 25 2 BODY TALK Foxes 24550
26 NEW 26 1 ROUSSEAU Nerina Pallot 18500
27 18 18 9 GLITTERBALL Sigma featuring Ella Henderson 141300
28 31 28 3 TIDAL WAVE EVVY 41800
29 33 29 3 YOU’RE MY WORLD Cilla Black 53100
30 30 30 5 GHOST TOWN BLUES Lauren Housley 68900

31 17 17 6 HURTS Kove featuring Moko 106400
32 47 32 2 NIGHTS LIKE THIS W. Darling 30300
33 NEW 33 1 FUEL TO THE FIRE Rationale 17700
34 61 34 2 DON’T WORRY Madcon and Ray Dalton 25100
35 50 35 5 INSOMNIA 2.0 (AVICII REMIX) Faithless 61500
36 69 36 2 CLOAKED Woolf And The Wondershow 23600
37 70 37 2 RESTLESS YEAR Ezra Furman 23300
38 73 38 2 ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING AND ANYTHING AT ALL Kylie Minogue 22400
39 39 39 3 WATERFALL Vok 39200
40 60 40 5 RUN AWAY WITH ME Carly Rae Jepsen 46400

41 25 25 6 ORGAN The Hardkiss 76250
42 21 4 10 COME AND GET IT John Newman 348700
43 26 2 13 SOME KIND OF HEAVEN Hurts 606000
44 24 3 8 RENEGADES X Ambassadors 336450
45 32 25 4 SOMETHING LIKE HAPPINESS The Maccabees 67350
46 41 20 6 UNDER THE MAKEUP a-ha 106000
47 37 1 17 I CAN CHANGE Brandon Flowers 1535750
48 36 36 5 GET STUPID Aston Merrygold 59700
49 38 1 11 TOM’S DINER Giorgio Moroder featuring Britney Spears 558400
50 58 50 3 DIGGIN’ UP THE HEART Brandon Flowers 32200

51 28 7 8 BURN WITH ME Whilk And Misky 233050
52 NEW 52 1 CLOSER Lemaitre featuring Jennie A 11500
53 48 1 16 SO YOU WIN AGAIN Hot Chocolate 541050
54 49 1 24 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 1022150
55 NEW 55 1 STITCHES Shawn Mendes 10800
56 46 10 18 LEAN ON Major Lazer featuring MO and DJ Snake 323200
57 57 57 6 HAPPY TOGETHER The Turtles 46600
58 NEW 58 1 I WANT YOU Wrabel 10200
59 42 10 9 HIGH TIME Kacey Musgraves 214500
60 67 60 2 HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE Calvin Harris and Disciples 16600

61 56 1 16 LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate 703100
62 29 17 7 FREEDOM Pharrell Williams 120800
63 44 34 5 WHAT YOU DON’T DO Lianne La Havas 67550
64 64 64 9 SPOOKY Dusty Springfield 57900
65 45 43 5 WITHOUT YOU Tobias Jesso Jr 54700
66 66 66 2 OMEN Disclosure featuring Sam Smith 13600
67 NEW 67 1 SEARCH PARTY Sam Bruno 6600
68 59 4 19 HOME Max Jury 436650
69 NEW 69 1 GOOD TIMES Ella Eyre featuring Sigma 6200
70 75 70 2 INSTANT CRUSH Natalie Imbruglia 11000

71 NEW 71 1 KING GRADES 5800
72 NEW 72 1 SAVAGES Five Knives 5400
73 74 73 2 MELLOW YELLOW Donovan 10600
74 NEW 74 1 HAPPY DAYS Squeeze 5200
75 NEW 75 1 RESTLESS New Order 5000

DROP OUTS
27 27 12 IN A BROKEN DREAM Python Lee Jackson featuring Rod Stewart 173150
35 35 4 FOUND YOUR LOVE Oliver Nelson featuring Heir 59600
43 7 20 BABY LOVE Petite Meller 330750
51 22 6 WEEKEND MILLIONAIRES (YOUNG BOMBS REMIX) Katelyn Tarver 92700
52 6 17 COOL Alesso featuring Roy English 504000
53 42 5 OPEN HEART Morgan Page featuring Lissie 51750
55 55 4 LOVE IS Rod Stewart 31700
62 24 8 CAN’T FEEL MY FACE The Weeknd 111900
63 16 6 BROTHER NEEDTOBREATHE featuring Gavin DeGraw 103200
65 3 12 FEELS LIKE WE ONLY GO BACKWARDS Tame Impala 481450
72 56 4 KISS ME QUICK Nathan Sykes 28800

16th August 2015

It’s finally a new number one and it’s Duran Duran, Janelle Monae and Nile Rodgers keeping the pressure on for years and years, and toppling them. It’s the Durannies 4th number one, spanning 31 years since their first Wild Boys – appropriately that was produced by Nile Rodgers (and no doubt he would’ve had a featuring credit if they did that in those days). For all their classics, Chic never climbed higher than 2, though Sister Sledge managed it with Lost In Music with a bit of help from Duran Duran on a remix 12” for a reissue of it around about Wild Boys time. They are all Nile Rodgers of course. Duran Duran had 2 more chart-toppers in 1993 so it’s a been a 22-year wait for another one. Janelle Monae almost made the top with fun. and We Are Young, and they did it with the follow-up without her assistance, so it’s only fair she gets one at last too! It’s a great single, sounding both contemporary and yet also sounds like it could have been the follow-up to Wild Boys.

Royksopp get their biggest hit after a decade of trying, the fab I Had This Thing at 3, and Galantis outdo the previous top 10 single, as does Major Lazer at 9. Highest new entry is the cool Niia at 12, a sultry delight, and Jess Glynne leaps up 50 places to 19 for one of her bigger hits, while in at 34 it’s a 33-year-old track being featured in an ad for confused.com with some robots. Apache has already topped my chart as an instrumental oldie for The Shadows, still one of the 3 or 4 oldest records (in terms of year-of-release) dating from 1960, this version came out in 1982 for the Sugarhill Gang, the boys who were ground zero for rap in the charts, Rapper’s Delight hitting the top 10 in 1979, having borrowed Niles Rodgers’ Chic backing track to Good Times for the record. They never really managed to follow it up though, sadly, even with this great track, so belatedly here it is, and at over 35 years wait for a follow-up hit that’s one of the longest waits ever to avoid being a one-chart-hit-wonder.

Other oldies returning: Donovan’s back with the first-time entry for 60’s classic Mellow Yellow (thanks to the Minions soundtrack), though all of his singles would have charted had I been charting before 1968, but he has to make do with a mere 46 years of chart entries. Kylie’s back, with a new (movie) track, giving her 2 at once in the chart, and Natalie Imbruglia is back after ages away for a 17-year run of chart entries. Austastic.

1 4 1 7 PRESSURE OFF Duran Duran featuring Janelle Monae and Nile Rodgers 398600
2 1 1 10 SHINE Years And Years 1030450
3 8 3 3 I HAD THIS THING Royksopp 151300
4 2 2 7 HOLD ME UP Conrad Sewell 465200
5 12 5 5 PEANUT BUTTER JELLY Galantis 162700
6 3 2 7 ‘CAUSE I’M A MAN Tame Impala 599000
7 15 7 2 YOUNG AND RESTLESS Benjamin 77000
8 9 8 3 IF I THOUGHT YOU’D EVER CHANGE YOUR MIND Cilla Black 114000
9 13 9 4 POWERFUL Major Lazer featuring Ellie Goulding and Tarrus Riley 121200
10 11 8 5 WAITING FOR LOVE Avicii featuring Simon Aldred (of Cherry Ghost) 189000

11 5 5 6 EASY LOVE Sigala featuring The Jackson 5 226000
12 NEW 12 1 BODY Niia 35000
13 6 4 7 WHEN M+A 334900
14 19 14 4 IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN Gladys Knight And The Pips 78500
15 10 10 4 THE OTHER BOYS NERVO featuring Kylie Minogue, Jake Shears and Nile Rodgers 122000
16 24 16 3 BLACK Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi featuring Norah Jones 55000
17 21 17 5 HURTS Kove featuring Moko 88500
18 26 18 8 GLITTERBALL Sigma featuring Ella Henderson 123000
19 69 19 3 DON’T BE SO HARD ON YOURSELF Jess Glynne 33400
20 29 20 2 ANYONE WHO HAD A HEART Cilla Black 38200

21 7 4 9 COME AND GET IT John Newman 334950
22 28 22 8 MARVIN GAYE Charlie Puth featuring Meghan Trainor 107200
23 31 23 4 SWEET HARMONY Monarchy featuring The Pledge Choir 51950
24 16 3 7 RENEGADES X Ambassadors 323200
25 35 25 5 ORGAN The Hardkiss 62250
26 18 2 12 SOME KIND OF HEAVEN Hurts 592500
27 30 27 12 IN A BROKEN DREAM Python Lee Jackson featuring Rod Stewart 173150
28 14 7 7 BURN WITH ME Whilk And Misky 221300
29 17 17 6 FREEDOM Pharrell Williams 113400
30 39 30 4 GHOST TOWN BLUES Lauren Housley 50900

31 72 31 2 TIDAL WAVE EVVY 23500
32 25 25 3 SOMETHING LIKE HAPPINESS The Maccabees 54350
33 38 33 2 YOU’RE MY WORLD Cilla Black 34900
34 NEW 34 1 APACHE (JUMP ON IT!) The Sugarhill Gang 17600
35 37 35 4 FOUND YOUR LOVE Oliver Nelson featuring Heir 59600
36 40 36 4 GET STUPID Aston Merrygold 47400
37 33 1 16 I CAN CHANGE Brandon Flowers 1523250
38 32 1 10 TOM’S DINER Giorgio Moroder featuring Britney Spears 546300
39 75 39 2 WATERFALL Vok 22100
40 RE 40 3 THIS SUMMER’S GONNA HURT Maroon 5 29600

41 20 20 5 UNDER THE MAKEUP a-ha 93250
42 27 10 8 HIGH TIME Kacey Musgraves 204400
43 23 7 20 BABY LOVE Petite Meller 330750
44 34 34 4 WHAT YOU DON’T DO Lianne La Havas 60350
45 43 43 4 WITHOUT YOU Tobias Jesso Jr 47700
46 44 10 17 LEAN ON Major Lazer featuring MO and DJ Snake 312600
47 NEW 47 1 NIGHTS LIKE THIS W. Darling 12500
48 47 1 15 SO YOU WIN AGAIN Hot Chocolate 529800
49 48 1 23 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 1011150
50 50 50 4 INSOMNIA 2.0 (AVICII REMIX) Faithless 44000

51 42 22 6 WEEKEND MILLIONAIRES (YOUNG BOMBS REMIX) Katelyn Tarver 92700
52 45 6 17 COOL Alesso featuring Roy English 504000
53 53 42 5 OPEN HEART Morgan Page featuring Lissie 51750
54 NEW 54 1 OH MY LOVE The Score 11000
55 59 55 4 LOVE IS Rod Stewart 31700
56 54 1 15 LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate 695600
57 63 57 5 HAPPY TOGETHER The Turtles 36200
58 60 58 2 DIGGIN’ UP THE HEART Brandon Flowers 20200
59 55 4 18 HOME Max Jury 430250
60 65 60 4 RUN AWAY WITH ME Carly Rae Jepsen 29400

61 NEW 61 1 DON’T WORRY Madcon and Ray Dalton 7500
62 36 24 8 CAN’T FEEL MY FACE The Weeknd 111900
63 41 16 6 BROTHER NEEDTOBREATHE featuring Gavin DeGraw 103200
64 64 64 8 SPOOKY Dusty Springfield 50800
65 46 3 12 FEELS LIKE WE ONLY GO BACKWARDS Tame Impala 481450
66 NEW 66 1 OMEN Disclosure featuring Sam Smith 6800
67 NEW 67 1 HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE Calvin Harris and Disciples 6600
68 NEW 68 1 GOOD FOR YOU Selena Gomez featuring A$AP Rocky 6400
69 NEW 69 1 CLOAKED Woolf And The Wondershow 6200
70 NEW 70 1 RESTLESS YEAR Ezra Furman 6000

71 NEW 71 1 BODY TALK Foxes 5800
72 56 56 4 KISS ME QUICK Nathan Sykes 28800
73 NEW 73 1 ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING AND ANYTHING AT ALL Kylie Minogue 5200
74 NEW 74 1 MELLOW YELLOW Donovan 5200
75 NEW 75 1 INSTANT CRUSH Natalie Imbruglia 5000

DROP OUTS
22 9 17 SHE’S NOT THERE The Zombies 385500
49 31 4 I CAN’T LOSE Mark Ronson featuring Keyone Starr 59600
51 5 8 GOING MY WAY Paul Weller 237550
52 2 14 LONELY TOWN Brandon Flowers 583200
57 57 7 SONGBIRD Fleetwood Mac 71800
58 38 4 GIRLS CHASE BOYS Ingrid Michaelson 49900
61 33 4 ANNIE Neon Indian 44300
62 47 4 BREATH AWAY Stacey Solomon 42600
66 50 4 BLACK MAGIC Little Mix 35400
67 3 13 YOU DON’T OWN ME Grace featuring G-Eazy 476350
68 68 3 CURE Disa 16800
70 1 27 SPEED KILLS 10CC 707000
71 71 2 FIRE MEET GASOLINE SIA 10800
73 9 8 WRITTEN IN SCARS Jack Savoretti 185950
74 74 1 BITCH I’M MADONNA Madonna featuring Nicki Minaj 5200

9th August 2015

It’s still Years And Years who have been on top for years and years (or 5 weeks) presiding over a static top 3, while Sigala take the Jackson 5 sample of ABC 2 places higher than the original managed 45 years ago. Royksopp celebrate 14 years of chart entries with a top 10 climber, and the late Cilla Black moves up to 9 with If I Thought You’d Ever Change Your Mind, her 7th top 10 and belatedly giving a hat-trick of top 10 singles from 1969 48 years after Surround Yourself With Sorrow peaked at 2. As Cilla enters the sales chart for the 3rd time with her two UK chart-toppers, that’s enough excuse for me to chart them for the 3rd time too and they both enter the top 40 (or re-enter, if you like but I like to count tracks that chart in individual years as separate chart runs).

Kylie notches up 27 years of top 10’s, Jake Shears has 11 years, Niles Rodgers has 37 years thanks to NERVO. Highest new entry is from Benjamin, who appears to be a young Scandipop singer, Young And Reckless sounds like a hit single to me. Gladys Knight gets her first top 20 in 26 years with a 45-year-old soul classic of hers, and Norah Jones is welcomed back into the top 40 along with Danger Mouse. Elsewhere, both Brandon Flowers and Madonna add to their rather large run of entries from their latest albums, just a shame none of them have been big hits because the singles chart is stupidly ignoring anyone who looks more than 16 years old. Hey ho…

1 1 1 9 SHINE Years And Years 915450
2 2 2 6 HOLD ME UP Conrad Sewell 400200
3 3 2 6 ‘CAUSE I’M A MAN Tame Impala 544000
4 5 4 6 PRESSURE OFF Duran Duran featuring Janelle Monae and Nile Rodgers 228600
5 10 5 5 EASY LOVE Sigala featuring The Jackson 5 189000
6 6 4 6 WHEN M+A 302900
7 4 4 8 COME AND GET IT John Newman 315200
8 28 8 2 I HAD THIS THING Royksopp 66300
9 19 9 2 IF I THOUGHT YOU’D EVER CHANGE YOUR MIND Cilla Black 66000
10 13 10 3 THE OTHER BOYS NERVO featuring Kylie Minogue, Jake Shears and Nile Rodgers 95000

11 8 8 4 WAITING FOR LOVE Avicii featuring Simon Aldred (of Cherry Ghost) 147000
12 16 12 4 PEANUT BUTTER JELLY Galantis 102700
13 15 13 3 POWERFUL Major Lazer featuring Ellie Goulding and Tarrus Riley 76200
14 7 7 6 BURN WITH ME Whilk And Misky 203000
15 NEW 15 1 YOUNG AND RESTLESS Benjamin 27000
16 11 3 6 RENEGADES X Ambassadors 304200
17 17 17 5 FREEDOM Pharrell Williams 95200
18 12 2 11 SOME KIND OF HEAVEN Hurts 574000
19 40 19 3 IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN Gladys Knight And The Pips 49500
20 20 20 4 UNDER THE MAKEUP a-ha 79250

21 21 21 4 HURTS Kove featuring Moko 65500
22 9 9 17 SHE’S NOT THERE The Zombies 385500
23 14 7 19 BABY LOVE Petite Meller 317250
24 54 24 2 BLACK Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi featuring Norah Jones 30000
25 32 25 2 SOMETHING LIKE HAPPINESS The Maccabees 36550
26 26 26 7 GLITTERBALL Sigma featuring Ella Henderson 101000
27 18 10 7 HIGH TIME Kacey Musgraves 190650
28 29 28 7 MARVIN GAYE Charlie Puth featuring Meghan Trainor 87700
29 NEW 29 1 ANYONE WHO HAD A HEART Cilla Black 18200
30 30 30 11 IN A BROKEN DREAM Python Lee Jackson featuring Rod Stewart 154750

31 62 31 3 SWEET HARMONY Monarchy featuring The Pledge Choir 32700
32 22 1 9 TOM’S DINER Giorgio Moroder featuring Britney Spears 529100
33 23 1 15 I CAN CHANGE Brandon Flowers 1505950
34 35 34 3 WHAT YOU DON’T DO Lianne La Havas 47100
35 58 35 4 ORGAN The Hardkiss 43500
36 24 24 7 CAN’T FEEL MY FACE The Weeknd 104500
37 37 37 3 FOUND YOUR LOVE Oliver Nelson featuring Heir 42100
38 NEW 38 1 YOU’RE MY WORLD Cilla Black 17200
39 55 39 3 GHOST TOWN BLUES Lauren Housley 32900
40 63 40 3 GET STUPID Aston Merrygold 30000

41 25 16 5 BROTHER NEEDTOBREATHE featuring Gavin DeGraw 96000
42 27 22 5 WEEKEND MILLIONAIRES (YOUNG BOMBS REMIX) Katelyn Tarver 80950
43 56 43 3 WITHOUT YOU Tobias Jesso Jr 34700
44 43 10 16 LEAN ON Major Lazer featuring MO and DJ Snake 298850
45 41 6 16 COOL Alesso featuring Roy English 492500
46 36 3 11 FEELS LIKE WE ONLY GO BACKWARDS Tame Impala 474450
47 45 1 14 SO YOU WIN AGAIN Hot Chocolate 517500
48 46 1 22 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 999050
49 31 31 4 I CAN’T LOSE Mark Ronson featuring Keyone Starr 59600
50 60 50 3 INSOMNIA 2.0 (AVICII REMIX) Faithless 32000

51 39 5 8 GOING MY WAY Paul Weller 237550
52 34 2 14 LONELY TOWN Brandon Flowers 583200
53 42 42 4 OPEN HEART Morgan Page featuring Lissie 40500
54 49 1 14 LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate 685000
55 51 4 17 HOME Max Jury 420150
56 65 56 3 KISS ME QUICK Nathan Sykes 23200
57 57 57 7 SONGBIRD Fleetwood Mac 71800
58 38 38 4 GIRLS CHASE BOYS Ingrid Michaelson 49900
59 73 59 3 LOVE IS Rod Stewart 20900
60 NEW 60 1 DIGGIN’ UP THE HEART Brandon Flowers 10000

61 33 33 4 ANNIE Neon Indian 44300
62 47 47 4 BREATH AWAY Stacey Solomon 42600
63 66 63 4 HAPPY TOGETHER The Turtles 25800
64 64 64 7 SPOOKY Dusty Springfield 43700
65 68 65 3 RUN AWAY WITH ME Carly Rae Jepsen 19400
66 50 50 4 BLACK MAGIC Little Mix 35400
67 53 3 13 YOU DON’T OWN ME Grace featuring G-Eazy 476350
68 74 68 3 CURE Disa 16800
69 69 69 2 DON’T BE SO HARD ON YOURSELF Jess Glynne 12400
70 70 1 27 SPEED KILLS 10CC 707000

71 75 71 2 FIRE MEET GASOLINE SIA 10800
72 NEW 72 1 TIDAL WAVE EVVY 5600
73 52 9 8 WRITTEN IN SCARS Jack Savoretti 185950
74 NEW 74 1 BITCH I’M MADONNA Madonna featuring Nicki Minaj 5200
75 NEW 75 1 WATERFALL Vok 5000

DROP OUTS
44 28 6 ARE YOU WITH ME Lost Frequencies 80500
48 48 6 GOLD IN THE ETERNAL FLAME Monarchy 53600
59 1 17 CAN’T DENY MY LOVE Brandon Flowers 734850
61 3 11 HEROES (Sweden) Mans Zelmerlow 483150
67 40 4 SPITFIRE Public Service Broadcasting 48600
71 34 3 GET IT ON Elin Overfjord 30500
72 45 4 HONEY I’M GOOD Andy Grammer 41200

2nd August 2015

4 weeks for Shine, Years and Years look being on top that long, holding off Conrad Sewell at 2, and Duran Duran who go up to 5 for the first time in 20-odd years. In at 19, it’s Cilla Black following her shock death today, very unexpected following on from the great TV series “Cilla” showcasing her singing career and back catalogue. Cilla has been a lovely, likeable mainstay in my life since I was 6 years old, and I will miss her. If I Thought You’d Ever Change Your Mind was one I missed at the time it was a UK hit in late 1969, as I was living in Singapore, but one I grew to love after Agnetha Faltskog covered it and took it to number one in my charts a decade ago. Most of Cilla’s greatest hits have already made my charts as oldies, but this one has missed out, so here it is.

Others: Royksopp return at 28, The Maccabees are at 32, and Danger Mouse is back at 54 with the help of Norah Jones – Norah has had 13 years of chart hits, far outdoing her dad Ravi Shankar who had only 5 years of charting from 1969 to 1974, though he did have a chart-topper and she hasn’t yet; Danger Mouse has also topped my chart with Cee-Lo, as Gnarls Barkley, Crazy in 2006, and had a top 5 as part of Broken Bells.

1 1 1 8 SHINE Years And Years 745450
2 3 2 5 HOLD ME UP Conrad Sewell 285200
3 2 2 5 ‘CAUSE I’M A MAN Tame Impala 459000
4 4 4 7 COME AND GET IT John Newman 265200
5 7 5 5 PRESSURE OFF Duran Duran featuring Janelle Monae and Nile Rodgers 163600
6 5 4 5 WHEN M+A 247900
7 8 7 5 BURN WITH ME Whilk And Misky 174000
8 10 8 3 WAITING FOR LOVE Avicii featuring Simon Aldred (of Cherry Ghost) 110000
9 14 9 16 SHE’S NOT THERE The Zombies 366000
10 13 10 4 EASY LOVE Sigala featuring The Jackson 5 129000

11 6 3 5 RENEGADES X Ambassadors 279200
12 9 2 10 SOME KIND OF HEAVEN Hurts 552000
13 19 13 2 THE OTHER BOYS NERVO featuring Kylie Minogue, Jake Shears and Nile Rodgers 53000
14 11 7 18 BABY LOVE Petite Meller 298000
15 38 15 2 POWERFUL Major Lazer featuring Ellie Goulding and Tarrus Riley 44200
16 16 16 3 PEANUT BUTTER JELLY Galantis 67700
17 18 17 4 FREEDOM Pharrell Williams 72200
18 12 10 6 HIGH TIME Kacey Musgraves 172250
19 NEW 19 1 IF I THOUGHT YOU’D EVER CHANGE YOUR MIND Cilla Black 21000
20 20 20 3 UNDER THE MAKEUP a-ha 59250

21 26 21 3 HURTS Kove featuring Moko 45750
22 15 1 8 TOM’S DINER Giorgio Moroder featuring Britney Spears 511300
23 17 1 14 I CAN CHANGE Brandon Flowers 1488250
24 25 24 6 CAN’T FEEL MY FACE The Weeknd 87100
25 21 16 4 BROTHER NEEDTOBREATHE featuring Gavin DeGraw 82000
26 29 26 6 GLITTERBALL Sigma featuring Ella Henderson 82500
27 22 22 4 WEEKEND MILLIONAIRES (YOUNG BOMBS REMIX) Katelyn Tarver 67200
28 NEW 28 1 I HAD THIS THING Royksopp 18300
29 30 29 6 MARVIN GAYE Charlie Puth featuring Meghan Trainor 69400
30 33 30 10 IN A BROKEN DREAM Python Lee Jackson featuring Rod Stewart 136750

31 37 31 3 I CAN’T LOSE Mark Ronson featuring Keyone Starr 47500
32 NEW 32 1 SOMETHING LIKE HAPPINESS The Maccabees 17800
33 47 33 3 ANNIE Neon Indian 36800
34 23 2 13 LONELY TOWN Brandon Flowers 571700
35 50 35 2 WHAT YOU DON’T DO Lianne La Havas 29500
36 24 3 10 FEELS LIKE WE ONLY GO BACKWARDS Tame Impala 461700
37 61 37 2 FOUND YOUR LOVE Oliver Nelson featuring Heir 24800
38 48 38 3 GIRLS CHASE BOYS Ingrid Michaelson 39700
39 27 5 7 GOING MY WAY Paul Weller 225800
40 52 40 2 IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN Gladys Knight And The Pips 28500

41 34 6 15 COOL Alesso featuring Roy English 479500
42 59 42 3 OPEN HEART Morgan Page featuring Lissie 29250
43 39 10 15 LEAN ON Major Lazer featuring MO and DJ Snake 285600
44 28 28 6 ARE YOU WITH ME Lost Frequencies 80500
45 43 1 13 SO YOU WIN AGAIN Hot Chocolate 505000
46 42 1 21 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 986750
47 49 47 3 BREATH AWAY Stacey Solomon 35200
48 53 48 6 GOLD IN THE ETERNAL FLAME Monarchy 53600
49 44 1 13 LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate 674000
50 55 50 3 BLACK MAGIC Little Mix 28600

51 36 4 16 HOME Max Jury 409350
52 32 9 7 WRITTEN IN SCARS Jack Savoretti 180550
53 35 3 12 YOU DON’T OWN ME Grace featuring G-Eazy 469750
54 NEW 54 1 BLACK Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi featuring Norah Jones 11000
55 75 55 2 GHOST TOWN BLUES Lauren Housley 15800
56 56 56 2 WITHOUT YOU Tobias Jesso Jr 21200
57 57 57 6 SONGBIRD Fleetwood Mac 61400
58 58 58 3 ORGAN The Hardkiss 26000
59 46 1 17 CAN’T DENY MY LOVE Brandon Flowers 734850
60 60 60 2 INSOMNIA 2.0 (AVICII REMIX) Faithless 20000

61 31 3 11 HEROES (Sweden) Mans Zelmerlow 483150
62 62 62 2 SWEET HARMONY Monarchy featuring The Pledge Choir 14800
63 71 63 2 GET STUPID Aston Merrygold 13000
64 64 64 6 SPOOKY Dusty Springfield 36600
65 72 65 2 KISS ME QUICK Nathan Sykes 12600
66 66 66 3 HAPPY TOGETHER The Turtles 18600
67 40 40 4 SPITFIRE Public Service Broadcasting 48600
68 70 68 2 RUN AWAY WITH ME Carly Rae Jepsen 12400
69 NEW 69 1 DON’T BE SO HARD ON YOURSELF Jess Glynne 6200
70 69 1 26 SPEED KILLS 10CC 701000

71 RE 34 3 GET IT ON Elin Overfjord 30500
72 45 45 4 HONEY I’M GOOD Andy Grammer 41200
73 73 73 2 LOVE IS Rod Stewart 10800
74 74 74 2 CURE Disa 10400
75 NEW 75 1 FIRE MEET GASOLINE SIA 5000

DROP OUTS
41 6 7 A MINHA MENINA Os Mutantes 199400
51 10 6 JOAN OF ARC Madonna 163050
54 8 6 A MONSTER LIKE ME (Norway) Morland & Debrah Scarlett 146900
63 63 2 DON’T WAIT UP Robert DeLong 14400
65 17 9 THANK YOU Will Young 121750
67 67 2 SHADOW LEV 12200
68 60 3 NOT LETTING GO Tinie Tempah featuring Jess Glynne 22800

26th July 2015

It’s Years And Years for a 3rd week at one, still keeping the fantastic Tame Impala at 2, and holding off a rising Conrad Sewell with his biggest track to date, Hold Me Up. In a hectic, packed chart it’s a terrific top 20 and all records under-perform except for the record on top, of course. Duran Duran get a cool 34 years of Top 10 singles, not to mention Nile Rodgers extending his run to 37 years as he simultaneously assists NERVO to enter at 19, as the Aussie twin lady DJ’s come back with Kylie in tow, for her 2nd guest vocal of the year (after Giorgio Moroder hit 2 with her help), and Jake Spears gets his first solo credit outside Scissor Sisters for 11 years of top 20 tracks since they hit 1 with Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb, not to mention co-writing a number for Kylie, I Believe In You. Phew!

Avicii adds to his run of big singles at 10, as Simon Aldred, and Janelle Monae (with Duran) add to their’s after a bit of a gap. Elsewhere: Galantis, Kove, Sigma have big leaps while Major Lazer enter over themselves, Diplo-matically, and Lianne La Havas, Moncarchy (with a Beloved cover), Carly Rae Jepsen, Rod Stewart, and some ex-boy-band-ers in Aston Merrygold and Nathan Sykes newly pop in for a visit.

1 1 1 7 SHINE Years And Years 575450
2 2 2 4 ‘CAUSE I’M A MAN Tame Impala 374000
3 5 3 4 HOLD ME UP Conrad Sewell 170200
4 6 4 6 COME AND GET IT John Newman 200200
5 4 4 4 WHEN M+A 192900
6 3 3 4 RENEGADES X Ambassadors 242200
7 24 7 4 PRESSURE OFF Duran Duran featuring Janelle Monae and Nile Rodgers 103600
8 11 8 4 BURN WITH ME Whilk And Misky 124000
9 9 2 9 SOME KIND OF HEAVEN Hurts 517000
10 20 10 2 WAITING FOR LOVE Avicii featuring Simon Aldred (of Cherry Ghost) 62000

11 7 7 17 BABY LOVE Petite Meller 269000
12 10 10 5 HIGH TIME Kacey Musgraves 150250
13 13 13 3 EASY LOVE Sigala featuring The Jackson 5 87000
14 14 14 15 SHE’S NOT THERE The Zombies 321000
15 8 1 7 TOM’S DINER Giorgio Moroder featuring Britney Spears 491800
16 33 16 2 PEANUT BUTTER JELLY Galantis 42700
17 12 1 13 I CAN CHANGE Brandon Flowers 1469000
18 18 18 3 FREEDOM Pharrell Williams 49200
19 NEW 19 1 THE OTHER BOYS NERVO featuring Kylie Minogue, Jake Shears and Nile Rodgers 21000
20 23 20 2 UNDER THE MAKEUP a-ha 39250

21 16 16 3 BROTHER NEEDTOBREATHE featuring Gavin DeGraw 63250
22 26 22 3 WEEKEND MILLIONAIRES (YOUNG BOMBS REMIX) Katelyn Tarver 48800
23 17 2 12 LONELY TOWN Brandon Flowers 554100
24 19 3 9 FEELS LIKE WE ONLY GO BACKWARDS Tame Impala 444000
25 25 25 5 CAN’T FEEL MY FACE The Weeknd 68100
26 61 26 2 HURTS Kove featuring Moko 26000
27 15 5 6 GOING MY WAY Paul Weller 208700
28 28 28 5 ARE YOU WITH ME Lost Frequencies 67250
29 49 29 5 GLITTERBALL Sigma featuring Ella Henderson 64000
30 36 30 5 MARVIN GAYE Charlie Puth featuring Meghan Trainor 51200

31 21 3 10 HEROES (Sweden) Mans Zelmerlow 475650
32 22 9 6 WRITTEN IN SCARS Jack Savoretti 169050
33 37 33 9 IN A BROKEN DREAM Python Lee Jackson featuring Rod Stewart 118750
34 29 6 14 COOL Alesso featuring Roy English 465500
35 30 3 11 YOU DON’T OWN ME Grace featuring G-Eazy 458500
36 31 4 15 HOME Max Jury 397600
37 48 37 2 I CAN’T LOSE Mark Ronson featuring Keyone Starr 29600
38 NEW 38 1 POWERFUL Major Lazer featuring Ellie Goulding and Tarrus Riley 17200
39 44 10 14 LEAN ON Major Lazer featuring MO and DJ Snake 272100
40 45 40 3 SPITFIRE Public Service Broadcasting 42000

41 27 6 7 A MINHA MENINA Os Mutantes 199400
42 42 1 20 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 974000
43 43 1 12 SO YOU WIN AGAIN Hot Chocolate 492000
44 41 1 12 LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate 661900
45 50 45 3 HONEY I’M GOOD Andy Grammer 35600
46 39 1 16 CAN’T DENY MY LOVE Brandon Flowers 724750
47 66 47 2 ANNIE Neon Indian 19100
48 58 48 2 GIRLS CHASE BOYS Ingrid Michaelson 22500
49 56 49 2 BREATH AWAY Stacey Solomon 22700
50 NEW 50 1 WHAT YOU DON’T DO Lianne La Havas 12000

51 32 10 6 JOAN OF ARC Madonna 163050
52 NEW 52 1 IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN Gladys Knight And The Pips 11500
53 53 53 5 GOLD IN THE ETERNAL FLAME Monarchy 41300
54 35 8 6 A MONSTER LIKE ME (Norway) Morland & Debrah Scarlett 146900
55 71 55 2 BLACK MAGIC Little Mix 16600
56 NEW 56 1 WITHOUT YOU Tobias Jesso Jr 10600
57 57 57 5 SONGBIRD Fleetwood Mac 51000
58 RE 58 2 ORGAN The Hardkiss 15800
59 73 59 2 OPEN HEART Morgan Page featuring Lissie 15500
60 NEW 60 1 INSOMNIA 2.0 (AVICII REMIX) Faithless 10000

61 NEW 61 1 FOUND YOUR LOVE Oliver Nelson 7500
62 NEW 62 1 SWEET HARMONY Monarchy featuring The Pledge Choir 7400
63 63 63 2 DON’T WAIT UP Robert DeLong 14400
64 67 64 5 SPOOKY Dusty Springfield 29500
65 65 17 9 THANK YOU Will Young 121750
66 75 66 2 HAPPY TOGETHER The Turtles 11800
67 72 67 2 SHADOW LEV 12200
68 60 60 3 NOT LETTING GO Tinie Tempah featuring Jess Glynne 22800
69 68 1 25 SPEED KILLS 10CC 695000
70 NEW 70 1 RUN AWAY WITH ME Carly Rae Jepsen 6000

71 NEW 71 1 GET STUPID Aston Merrygold 5800
72 NEW 72 1 KISS ME QUICK Nathan Sykes 5600
73 NEW 73 1 LOVE IS Rod Stewart 5400
74 NEW 74 1 CURE Disa 5200
75 NEW 75 1 GHOST TOWN BLUES Lauren Housley 5000

DROP OUTS
34 34 2 GET IT ON Elin Overfjord 24700
38 29 7 BAD BLOOD Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar 89150
40 9 11 ROADS Lawson 202800
46 19 5 WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING Rixton 82050
47 22 7 WANT TO WANT ME Jason Derulo 121500
51 9 8 (SEXUAL) HEALING (KYGO REMIX) Marvin Gaye 222550
52 20 7 DANCING WITH NO FEAR Holly Johnson 84000
54 43 3 TIME Jungle 31950
55 4 10 YEAH YEAH YEAH Jax Jones featuring Nina Simone 333500
59 38 8 FIRE UNDER MY FEET Leona Lewis 85950
62 53 4 WAVES Nell Bryden featuring Tom McRae 35850
64 37 6 YOU ARE UNSTOPPABLE Conchita Wurst 70700
69 69 2 MERCY Muse 11200
70 60 4 THE WAY YOU WERE Shayne Ward 32400
74 10 14 TRUE LOVE SURVIVOR Freemasons featuring Solah 212350

19th July 2015

A second week for Years And Years on top, with Shine, which may have been cruelly pipped at the post in the UK singles chart, but at least they got a number one album out of it. Conrad Sewell gets his 2nd top 10, and Kacey Musgraves her first, as Pharrell Williams rockets into the 20 screaming Freedom, well over a decade since he first did it with NERD. That includes quite a few biggies along the way… meanwhile highest new entry is Avicii, keeping his run of big singles alive at 20, with uncredited vocal duties from Simon Aldred of Cherry Ghost, who have previously topped my charts with Mathematics in 2007, before getting the Birdy cover treatment (People Help The People).

In at 23, just ahead of fellow 80’s act Duran Duran’s new single, it’s a-ha with a lush new ballad, Under The Makeup, and an incredible 30 years since they topped my chart with Take On Me and The Sun Always Shines On TV. Lots of new acts and acts following up big hits entering lower down, but in at 75 it’s a childhood fave Happy Together from The Turtles, a fab 1967 single which predates my charts by a year, so it’s about time it was an entry and the new Minions movie features it over the title credits to give me a great excuse. The Turtles did, however, hit my number one in late 1968 with Elenore, so technically speaking that gives them a nice run of singles: 2. While they appeared in the interim as guests on other big name singles as Flo and Eddie (Get It On by T.Rex being just one), and their songs have been covered by Jason Donovan, The Lightning Seeds and Salt ‘n’ Pepa (among others) that means that they by far are the act who have had to wait the longest for a second hit, and a follow-up to a number one (they were the first One-Hit Wonders in my chart) – 46 and a half years. What?!! Surely it was just a couple of decades ago….

1 1 1 6 SHINE Years And Years 405450
2 2 2 3 ‘CAUSE I’M A MAN Tame Impala 259000
3 3 3 3 RENEGADES X Ambassadors 187200
4 7 4 3 WHEN M+A 132900
5 20 5 3 HOLD ME UP Conrad Sewell 85200
6 8 6 5 COME AND GET IT John Newman 135200
7 10 7 16 BABY LOVE Petite Meller 232000
8 4 1 6 TOM’S DINER Giorgio Moroder featuring Britney Spears 464800
9 5 2 8 SOME KIND OF HEAVEN Hurts 472000
10 15 10 4 HIGH TIME Kacey Musgraves 115250

11 18 11 3 BURN WITH ME Whilk And Misky 76000
12 6 1 12 I CAN CHANGE Brandon Flowers 1446000
13 17 13 2 EASY LOVE Sigala featuring The Jackson 5 55000
14 16 14 14 SHE’S NOT THERE The Zombies 292000
15 11 5 5 GOING MY WAY Paul Weller 190300
16 26 16 2 BROTHER NEEDTOBREATHE featuring Gavin DeGraw 43500
17 9 2 11 LONELY TOWN Brandon Flowers 534850
18 74 18 2 FREEDOM Pharrell Williams 27200
19 13 3 8 FEELS LIKE WE ONLY GO BACKWARDS Tame Impala 425000
20 NEW 20 1 WAITING FOR LOVE Avicii featuring Simon Aldred (Of Cherry Ghost) 20000

21 12 3 9 HEROES (Sweden) Mans Zelmerlow 457750
22 21 9 5 WRITTEN IN SCARS Jack Savoretti 151250
23 NEW 23 1 UNDER THE MAKEUP a-ha 19250
24 37 24 3 PRESSURE OFF Duran Duran featuring Janelle Monae and Nile Rodgers 53600
25 33 25 4 CAN’T FEEL MY FACE The Weeknd 49350
26 55 26 2 WEEKEND MILLIONAIRES (YOUNG BOMBS REMIX) Katelyn Tarver 29300
27 14 6 6 A MINHA MENINA Os Mutantes 185400
28 35 28 4 ARE YOU WITH ME Lost Frequencies 48950
29 25 6 13 COOL Alesso featuring Roy English 447900
30 30 3 10 YOU DON’T OWN ME Grace featuring G-Eazy 441000

31 28 4 14 HOME Max Jury 380200
32 22 10 5 JOAN OF ARC Madonna 151300
33 NEW 33 1 PEANUT BUTTER JELLY Galantis 17700
34 64 34 2 GET IT ON Elin Overfjord 24700
35 19 8 5 A MONSTER LIKE ME (Norway) Morland & Debrah Scarlett 135900
36 RE 36 4 MARVIN GAYE Charlie Puth featuring Meghan Trainor 33200
37 48 37 8 IN A BROKEN DREAM Python Lee Jackson featuring Rod Stewart 101050
38 29 29 7 BAD BLOOD Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar 89150
39 31 1 15 CAN’T DENY MY LOVE Brandon Flowers 712000
40 24 9 11 ROADS Lawson 202800

41 39 1 11 LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate 648650
42 42 1 19 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 960250
43 41 1 11 SO YOU WIN AGAIN Hot Chocolate 478500
44 23 10 13 LEAN ON Major Lazer featuring MO and DJ Snake 258000
45 50 45 2 SPITFIRE Public Service Broadcasting 25000
46 32 19 5 WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING Rixton 82050
47 36 22 7 WANT TO WANT ME Jason Derulo 121500
48 NEW 48 1 I CAN’T LOSE Mark Ronson featuring Keyone Starr 12300
49 49 49 4 GLITTERBALL Sigma featuring Ella Henderson 45800
50 56 50 2 HONEY I’M GOOD Andy Grammer 22600

51 27 9 8 (SEXUAL) HEALING (KYGO REMIX) Marvin Gaye 222550
52 34 20 7 DANCING WITH NO FEAR Holly Johnson 84000
53 66 53 4 GOLD IN THE ETERNAL FLAME Monarchy 30050
54 RE 43 3 TIME Jungle 31950
55 43 4 10 YEAH YEAH YEAH Jax Jones featuring Nina Simone 333500
56 NEW 56 1 BREATH AWAY Stacey Solomon 10600
57 59 57 4 SONGBIRD Fleetwood Mac 40600
58 NEW 58 1 GIRLS CHASE BOYS Ingrid Michaelson 10200
59 38 38 8 FIRE UNDER MY FEET Leona Lewis 85950
60 68 60 2 NOT LETTING GO Tinie Tempah featuring Jess Glynne 16400

61 NEW 61 1 HURTS Kove featuring Moko 7500
62 65 53 4 WAVES Nell Bryden featuring Tom McRae 35850
63 NEW 63 1 DON’T WAIT UP Robert DeLong 7200
64 40 37 6 YOU ARE UNSTOPPABLE Conchita Wurst 70700
65 52 17 8 THANK YOU Will Young 114750
66 NEW 66 1 ANNIE Neon Indian 6600
67 71 67 4 SPOOKY Dusty Springfield 22400
68 67 1 24 SPEED KILLS 10CC 688800
69 75 69 2 MERCY Muse 11200
70 60 60 4 THE WAY YOU WERE Shayne Ward 32400

71 NEW 71 1 BLACK MAGIC Little Mix 5800
72 NEW 72 1 SHADOW LEV 5600
73 NEW 73 1 OPEN HEART Morgan Page featuring Lissie 5400
74 63 10 14 TRUE LOVE SURVIVOR Freemasons featuring Solah 212350
75 NEW 75 1 HAPPY TOGETHER The Turtles 5000

DROP OUTS
44 39 6 NEW YORK RAINING Charles Hamilton featuring Rita Ora 64900
45 23 4 BLACK SMOKE (Germany) Ann Sophie 62450
46 5 28 ALFIE Cilla Black 401150
47 16 6 GHOST TOWN Adam Lambert 87100
51 11 8 PUSH A-Track featuring Andrew Wyatt 196100
53 36 5 MONTANA James Taylor 61950
54 28 4 DREAMS Beck 65600
57 29 5 GET UP Chinese Man featuring Ex-l, Lush One & Plex Rock 75600
58 20 7 SHOTS Imagine Dragons 101750
61 19 13 DEJA VU Giorgio Moroder featuring SIA 162700
62 25 12 STOLE THE SHOW Kygo featuring Parson James 157100
69 6 8 RHYTHM INSIDE (Belgium) Loic Nottet 189050
70 57 2 INDIAN SUMMER Jai Wolf 16400
72 72 1 ORGAN The Hardkiss 5600
73 1 25 OUTLINES Mike Mago and Dragonette 991400

12th July 2015

It’s Years And Years getting a second number one of 2015, equalling Brandon Flowers, with the fab Shine which rockets to the top. They should have been the UK number one but wuz robbed by a few sales by a much lesser record, and it’s going to happen again this week. Hey ho. Tame Impala also get a second of the year – number 2 that is, as Cause I’m A Man follows Feels Like We Only Go Backwards in the runners-up slot. Tame Impala are a positively joyous hotchpotch of old records for me, albeit in an EDM stylee – The Beatles, Hot Chocolate, Mercury Rev all leap out at me, and there’s been one bugging me about Cause I’m A Man – it’s The Delfonics Didn’t I Blow My Mind vocal and melody very much inspiring this one. Fab. Up 35 spots in a top 3 clearout, there’s X Ambassadors and Renegades, a fab track if ever I heard one. If it’s not a UK chart hit I will complain.

Big jumps for Petite Meller finally hitting the 10 after 15 weeks, for John Newman with another top 10, and a top 10 debut for M+A’s lush track. Mmmm. Highest new entry is Sigala sampling dance record Easy Love, which has more than a bit of The Jackson 5’s ABC at 17. Conrad Sewell is also back shooting up to 20, fresh from his previous “featuring” credit with Kygo’s Firestone. Other artists coming back: Gavin DeGraw, Andy Grammer, Tinie Tempah, Jess Glynne, Pharrell Williams and Muse.

1 35 1 5 SHINE Years And Years 235450
2 14 2 2 CAUSE I’M A MAN Tame Impala 144000
3 38 3 2 RENEGADES X Ambassadors 102200
4 1 1 5 TOM’S DINER Giorgio Moroder featuring Britney Spears 416800
5 3 2 7 SOME KIND OF HEAVEN Hurts 427000
6 2 1 11 I CAN CHANGE Brandon Flowers 1411000
7 31 7 2 WHEN M+A 67900
8 30 8 4 COME AND GET IT John Newman 80200
9 4 2 10 LONELY TOWN Brandon Flowers 511850
10 65 10 15 BABY LOVE Petite Meller 182000

11 5 5 4 GOING MY WAY Paul Weller 163300
12 7 3 8 HEROES (Sweden) Mans Zelmerlow 438000
13 11 3 7 FEELS LIKE WE ONLY GO BACKWARDS Tame Impala 404000
14 6 6 5 A MINHA MENINA Os Mutantes 167000
15 15 15 3 HIGH TIME Kacey Musgraves 73250
16 16 16 13 SHE’S NOT THERE The Zombies 263000
17 NEW 17 1 EASY LOVE Sigala featuring The Jackson 5 23000
18 40 18 2 BURN WITH ME Whilk And Misky 39000
19 8 8 4 A MONSTER LIKE ME (Norway) Morland & Debrah Scarlett 118400
20 74 20 2 HOLD ME UP Conrad Sewell 25200

21 9 9 4 WRITTEN IN SCARS Jack Savoretti 131750
22 10 10 4 JOAN OF ARC Madonna 133500
23 17 10 12 LEAN ON Major Lazer featuring MO and DJ Snake 244750
24 24 9 10 ROADS Lawson 185800
25 21 6 12 COOL Alesso featuring Roy English 429700
26 NEW 26 1 BROTHER NEEDTOBREATHE featuring Gavin DeGraw 18500
27 12 9 7 (SEXUAL) HEALING (KYGO REMIX) Marvin Gaye 210800
28 22 4 13 HOME Max Jury 362300
29 29 29 6 BAD BLOOD Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar 71950
30 18 3 9 YOU DON’T OWN ME Grace featuring G-Eazy 423000

31 25 1 14 CAN’T DENY MY LOVE Brandon Flowers 694900
32 19 19 4 WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING Rixton 69300
33 64 33 3 CAN’T FEEL MY FACE The Weeknd 30600
34 20 20 6 DANCING WITH NO FEAR Holly Johnson 72500
35 46 35 3 ARE YOU WITH ME Lost Frequencies 30650
36 27 22 6 WANT TO WANT ME Jason Derulo 109000
37 37 37 2 PRESSURE OFF Duran Duran featuring Janelle Monae and Nile Rodgers 34600
38 44 38 7 FIRE UNDER MY FEET Leona Lewis 75850
39 32 1 10 LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate 634650
40 43 37 5 YOU ARE UNSTOPPABLE Conchita Wurst 63600

41 41 1 10 SO YOU WIN AGAIN Hot Chocolate 465000
42 42 1 18 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 946500
43 33 4 9 YEAH YEAH YEAH Jax Jones featuring Nina Simone 322700
44 39 39 6 NEW YORK RAINING Charles Hamilton featuring Rita Ora 64900
45 23 23 4 BLACK SMOKE (Germany) Ann Sophie 62450
46 13 5 28 ALFIE Cilla Black 401150
47 26 16 6 GHOST TOWN Adam Lambert 87100
48 48 48 7 IN A BROKEN DREAM Python Lee Jackson featuring Rod Stewart 83750
49 55 49 3 GLITTERBALL Sigma featuring Ella Henderson 33700
50 NEW 50 1 SPITFIRE Public Service Broadcasting 12000

51 34 11 8 PUSH A-Track featuring Andrew Wyatt 196100
52 52 17 7 THANK YOU Will Young 107750
53 36 36 5 MONTANA James Taylor 61950
54 28 28 4 DREAMS Beck 65600
55 NEW 55 1 WEEKEND MILLIONAIRES (YOUNG BOMBS REMIX) Katelyn Tarver 10800
56 NEW 56 1 HONEY I’M GOOD Andy Grammer 10600
57 50 29 5 GET UP Chinese Man featuring Ex-l, Lush One & Plex Rock 75600
58 51 20 7 SHOTS Imagine Dragons 101750
59 59 59 3 SONGBIRD Fleetwood Mac 30200
60 60 60 3 THE WAY YOU WERE Shayne Ward 26400

61 45 19 13 DEJA VU Giorgio Moroder featuring SIA 162700
62 58 25 12 STOLE THE SHOW Kygo featuring Parson James 157100
63 54 10 13 TRUE LOVE SURVIVOR Freemasons featuring Solah 207150
64 NEW 64 1 GET IT ON Elin Overfjord 7100
65 53 53 3 WAVES Nell Bryden featuring Tom McRae 28450
66 70 66 3 GOLD IN THE ETERNAL FLAME Monarchy 18800
67 67 1 23 SPEED KILLS 10CC 682400
68 NEW 68 1 NOT LETTING GO Tinie Tempah featuring Jess Glynne 6400
69 61 6 8 RHYTHM INSIDE (Belgium) Loic Nottet 189050
70 57 57 2 INDIAN SUMMER Jai Wolf 16400

71 75 71 3 SPOOKY Dusty Springfield 15800
72 NEW 72 1 ORGAN The Hardkiss 5600
73 69 1 25 OUTLINES Mike Mago and Dragonette 991400
74 NEW 74 1 FREEDOM Pharrell Williams 5200
75 NEW 75 1 MERCY Muse 5000

DROP OUTS
47 36 8 FERRARI Coyote Kisses 95500
49 45 3 ONE LAST TIME Ariana Grande 32200
56 9 8 SHUT OUT OF PARADISE SLO 182650
62 62 3 TREASURED SOUL Michael Calfan 21700
63 63 3 SHUT UP AND DANCE WALK THE MOON 20000
66 2 13 LOVE REVOLUTION Will Young 563300
68 68 2 THIS SUMMER’S GONNA HURT Maroon 5 12600
71 29 9 RUNAWAY (U & I) Galantis 102200
72 35 5 TONIGHT AGAIN (Australia) Guy Sebastian 57550
73 73 3 MARVIN GAYE Charlie Puth featuring Meghan Trainor 15800

5th July 2015

Back yesterday from a week in the Gran Canaria sun, battery recharging, and last night from seeing the amazing 71-year-old Gladys Knight in concert (see my review), and just now sitting through the last ever UK Top 40 show on a Sunday – I first listened to Alan ‘Fluff’ Freeman’s Pick Of The Pops in September 1968, age 10, and became instantly hooked on the chart show right up to the point when streaming was incorporated into the singles rundown. From then on it became mired in increasing dullness as nothing much ever happened apart from record-company held-back instant number ones. I’ll believe the new On-Air On-Sale World Friday release promises when I see them, but it’s not so much the start of a new era for me, so much as a mercy killing. The chart of course still has a handful of fresh new good singles, but mostly it’s tracks that have long outstayed their welcome, with some that were never welcomed in in the first place. The UK Top 100 sales chart is more interesting and more representative of active music fans, just as it’s always been, as opposed to casual passive music fans content to stick with familiar stuff for months on end.

Thankfully, my charts are more changeable, only Brandon Flowers I Can Change has ironically been around for a 6-week run on top and 10 weeks in my upper rundown. This week he’s replaced by Giorgio Moroder and Britney Spears cover of Suzanne Vega’s Tom’s Diner, that’s Giorgio’s first ever as a credited lead artist (though of course I Feel Love did it in 1977, and many since as producer or writer), so at 75 years old I reckon that makes him the oldest artist to have a first chart-topper with new product, and a mere 38 year wait since his first chart hit with From Here To Eternity, not to mention a full 43 years since he first had chart action as producer/writer of Chicory Tip and actual synthesisers wrapped up as the main appeal of the hit singles. Pioneer!

Britney, a comparatively recent hit-maker has only 16 years of hits, but it’s a chart span of 16 years of chart-toppers since ..Baby One More Time started the ball rolling. Followed up with Lucky, Toxic and Everytime for her 5th number one in 3 consecutive decades. At 16, oldie of the week is Os Mutantes Portuguese psychedelic rock fabness. Play it on youtube! Madonna scrapes into the 10 from Holiday to Joan Of Arc, 1984 to 2015, and never straying far from it even if her actual new single from the album has yet to chart. Highest new entry is fromTame Impala, giving them 2 in the 20, top-notch varied retro Aus rock, and Holly Johnson like Madonna stretches a run back to 1984 of top 20 tracks. Even more veteran Duran Duran are back with Nile Rodgers at 37, giving the lads 34 years of good singles since Planet Earth, and Nile 37 years since he first charted with Chic, Dance Dance Dance (Yowsah Yowsah Yowsah). Hooray!

1 2 1 4 TOM’S DINER Giorgio Moroder featuring Britney Spears 351800
2 1 1 10 I CAN CHANGE Brandon Flowers 1356000
3 3 2 6 SOME KIND OF HEAVEN Hurts 367000
4 4 2 9 LONELY TOWN Brandon Flowers 466850
5 8 5 3 GOING MY WAY Paul Weller 126300
6 14 6 4 A MINHA MENINA Os Mutantes 138000
7 7 3 7 HEROES (Sweden) Mans Zelmerlow 403000
8 13 8 3 A MONSTER LIKE ME (Norway) Morland & Debrah Scarlett 97400
9 10 9 3 WRITTEN IN SCARS Jack Savoretti 112000
10 11 10 3 JOAN OF ARC Madonna 114000

11 6 3 6 FEELS LIKE WE ONLY GO BACKWARDS Tame Impala 372000
12 9 9 6 (SEXUAL) HEALING (KYGO REMIX) Marvin Gaye 192400
13 5 5 27 ALFIE Cilla Black 388400
14 NEW 14 1 CAUSE I’M A MAN Tame Impala 29000
15 23 15 2 HIGH TIME Kacey Musgraves 46250
16 18 16 12 SHE’S NOT THERE The Zombies 238000
17 20 10 11 LEAN ON Major Lazer featuring MO and DJ Snake 225500
18 15 3 8 YOU DON’T OWN ME Grace featuring G-Eazy 405000
19 30 19 3 WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING Rixton 51500
20 33 20 5 DANCING WITH NO FEAR Holly Johnson 54900

21 12 6 11 COOL Alesso featuring Roy English 410950
22 17 4 12 HOME Max Jury 344000
23 31 23 3 BLACK SMOKE (Germany) Ann Sophie 49450
24 24 9 9 ROADS Lawson 166800
25 19 1 13 CAN’T DENY MY LOVE Brandon Flowers 677000
26 16 16 5 GHOST TOWN Adam Lambert 74600
27 27 22 5 WANT TO WANT ME Jason Derulo 91600
28 28 28 3 DREAMS Beck 54600
29 46 29 5 BAD BLOOD Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar 53750
30 RE 30 3 COME AND GET IT John Newman 32200

31 NEW 31 1 WHEN M+A 17900
32 26 1 9 LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate 617550
33 22 4 8 YEAH YEAH YEAH Jax Jones featuring Nina Simone 309200
34 21 11 7 PUSH A-Track featuring Andrew Wyatt 184350
35 35 35 4 SHINE Years And Years 65450
36 39 36 4 MONTANA James Taylor 50700
37 NEW 37 1 PRESSURE OFF Duran Duran featuring Janelle Monae and Nile Rodgers 17300
38 NEW 38 1 RENEGADES X Ambassadors 17200
39 53 39 5 NEW YORK RAINING Charles Hamilton featuring Rita Ora 51650
40 NEW 40 1 BURN WITH ME Whilk And Misky 17000

41 34 1 9 SO YOU WIN AGAIN Hot Chocolate 451000
42 41 1 17 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 932750
43 37 37 4 YOU ARE UNSTOPPABLE Conchita Wurst 46600
44 38 38 6 FIRE UNDER MY FEET Leona Lewis 58650
45 25 19 12 DEJA VU Giorgio Moroder featuring SIA 155200
46 57 46 2 ARE YOU WITH ME Lost Frequencies 23150
47 36 36 8 FERRARI Coyote Kisses 95500
48 48 48 6 IN A BROKEN DREAM Python Lee Jackson featuring Rod Stewart 71450
49 45 45 3 ONE LAST TIME Ariana Grande 32200
50 29 29 4 GET UP Chinese Man featuring Ex-l, Lush One & Plex Rock 65200

51 32 20 6 SHOTS Imagine Dragons 91550
52 42 17 6 THANK YOU Will Young 96250
53 58 53 2 WAVES Nell Bryden featuring Tom McRae 21450
54 51 10 12 TRUE LOVE SURVIVOR Freemasons featuring Solah 199950
55 55 55 2 GLITTERBALL Sigma featuring Ella Henderson 21600
56 40 9 8 SHUT OUT OF PARADISE SLO 182650
57 NEW 57 1 INDIAN SUMMER Jai Wolf 10400
58 52 25 11 STOLE THE SHOW Kygo featuring Parson James 149700
59 60 59 2 SONGBIRD Fleetwood Mac 20100
60 68 60 2 THE WAY YOU WERE Shayne Ward 16400

61 44 6 7 RHYTHM INSIDE (Belgium) Loic Nottet 182650
62 62 62 3 TREASURED SOUL Michael Calfan 21700
63 63 63 3 SHUT UP AND DANCE WALK THE MOON 20000
64 71 64 2 CAN’T FEEL MY FACE The Weeknd 12900
65 74 20 14 BABY LOVE Petite Meller 140000
66 54 2 13 LOVE REVOLUTION Will Young 563300
67 67 1 22 SPEED KILLS 10CC 675800
68 69 68 2 THIS SUMMER’S GONNA HURT Maroon 5 12600
69 65 1 24 OUTLINES Mike Mago and Dragonette 986000
70 70 70 2 FIRE IN ETERNAL FLAME Monarchy 12000

71 43 29 9 RUNAWAY (U & I) Galantis 102200
72 RE 35 5 TONIGHT AGAIN (Australia) Guy Sebastian 57550
73 73 73 3 MARVIN GAYE Charlie Puth featuring Meghan Trainor 15800
74 NEW 74 1 HOLD ME UP Conrad Sewell 5200
75 75 75 2 SPOOKY Dusty Springfield 10000

DROP OUTS
47 40 5 PERFECT LOVE AFFAIR Shaun Escoffrey 53000
49 33 6 APART Kasper Bjorke featuring Sisy Ey 72000
50 50 6 SHE AIN’T ME Sinead Harnett 58700
56 1 12 SOME WONDER Jimmy Somerville 580500
59 19 8 LOUD PLACES Jamie xx featuring Romy 129750
61 27 7 ALL CRIED OUT Blonde featuring Alex Newell 73950
64 64 2 HEY MAMA David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj Bebe Rexha & Afrojack 13100
66 1 18 KING Years And Years 725600
72 26 6 VINTAGE High Dive Heart 82700

28th June 2015

It’s still Brandon Flowers for a 6th week on top, a run not seen since Keane’s Disconnected did 7 weeks, and one week short of Brandon’s Crossfire! Giorgio Moroder gets a second number 2 of the year, still short of a number one as an act, technically – though of course had producers been given artist credit back in the day may as well say I Feel Love the first actual EDM track (if one ignores the more novelty Hot Butter instrumental Popcorn from 1972) in 1977 was Giorgio Moroder featuring Donna Summer. Let’s be honest, it’s no different from Calvin Harris or David Guetta in any way whatsoever, excepting that Giorgio invented the genre. Britney gets her highest chart placing since Everytime and Toxic topped the chart in succession, while Cilla Black gets yet another oldie top 5 entry, the third in the last year – this time it’s Burt Bacharach’s classic film theme Alfie, which pre-dated my first chart (but which would have been a big chart hit cos I loved Cilla when I wuz a kiddie).

Paul Weller gets another top 10 to add to his long list of ’em, stretching back to 1978 and The Jam, while the highest new entry is from country star Kacey Musgraves, finally getting a biggie in my charts. Holly Johnson has a welcome loooooong overdue top 40 return (say, 25 years or so), though Frankie stuff has charted in the interim many a time. James Taylor also hasn’t troubled my top 40 since the 80’s, most likely – I still have no access to my old chartfile, doh! Meanwhile I saw the classic Rumour’s Fleetwood Mac line-up this week at the O2, and they were fab, fab, fab, so Songbird, the closing track, much-covered pops in. There aren’t many tracks off that album that haven’t made my charts, as each time it enters the UK album chart it gives me another excuse to chart another one. Yay!

1 1 1 9 I CAN CHANGE Brandon Flowers 1241000
2 5 2 3 TOM’S DINER Giorgio Moroder featuring Britney Spears 181800
3 2 2 5 SOME KIND OF HEAVEN Hurts 282000
4 4 2 8 LONELY TOWN Brandon Flowers 401850
5 20 5 26 ALFIE Cilla Black 356400
6 3 3 5 FEELS LIKE WE ONLY GO BACKWARDS Tame Impala 335000
7 6 3 6 HEROES (Sweden) Mans Zelmerlow 353000
8 28 8 2 GOING MY WAY Paul Weller 66300
9 10 9 5 (SEXUAL) HEALING (KYGO REMIX) Marvin Gaye 157400
10 16 10 2 WRITTEN IN SCARS Jack Savoretti 67000

11 12 11 2 JOAN OF ARC Madonna 72000
12 7 6 10 COOL Alesso featuring Roy English 391200
13 36 13 2 A MONSTER LIKE ME (Norway) Morland & Debrah Scarlett 49400
14 14 14 3 A MINHA MENINA Os Mutantes 83000
15 8 3 7 YOU DON’T OWN ME Grace featuring G-Eazy 383000
16 26 16 4 GHOST TOWN Adam Lambert 56100
17 17 4 11 HOME Max Jury 324500
18 18 18 11 SHE’S NOT THERE The Zombies 213000
19 15 1 12 CAN’T DENY MY LOVE Brandon Flowers 658250
20 24 10 10 LEAN ON Major Lazer featuring MO and DJ Snake 202500

21 11 11 6 PUSH A-Track featuring Andrew Wyatt 166750
22 13 4 7 YEAH YEAH YEAH Jax Jones featuring Nina Simone 291500
23 NEW 23 1 HIGH TIME Kacey Musgraves 19250
24 9 9 8 ROADS Lawson 147800
25 19 19 11 DEJA VU Giorgio Moroder featuring SIA 142200
26 21 1 8 LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate 599750
27 22 22 4 WANT TO WANT ME Jason Derulo 73200
28 30 28 2 DREAMS Beck 36300
29 35 29 3 GET UP Chinese Man featuring Ex-l, Lush One & Plex Rock 53200
30 47 30 2 WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING Rixton 30500

31 48 31 2 BLACK SMOKE (Germany) Ann Sophie 30200
32 27 20 5 SHOTS Imagine Dragons 79800
33 68 33 4 DANCING WITH NO FEAR Holly Johnson 34900
34 31 1 8 SO YOU WIN AGAIN Hot Chocolate 437000
35 38 35 3 SHINE Years And Years 47950
36 39 36 7 FERRARI Coyote Kisses 83000
37 60 37 3 YOU ARE UNSTOPPABLE Conchita Wurst 33100
38 69 38 5 FIRE UNDER MY FEET Leona Lewis 45400
39 56 39 3 MONTANA James Taylor 33300
40 23 9 7 SHUT OUT OF PARADISE SLO 172050

41 41 1 16 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 919000
42 25 17 5 THANK YOU Will Young 84750
43 29 29 8 RUNAWAY (U & I) Galantis 96400
44 34 6 6 RHYTHM INSIDE (Belgium) Loic Nottet 175150
45 64 45 2 ONE LAST TIME Ariana Grande 20100
46 54 46 4 BAD BLOOD Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar 35550
47 40 40 5 PERFECT LOVE AFFAIR Shaun Escoffrey 53000
48 49 48 5 IN A BROKEN DREAM Python Lee Jackson featuring Rod Stewart 59150
49 33 33 6 APART Kasper Bjorke featuring Sisy Ey 72000
50 57 50 6 SHE AIN’T ME Sinead Harnett 58700

51 50 10 11 TRUE LOVE SURVIVOR Freemasons featuring Solah 188950
52 55 25 10 STOLE THE SHOW Kygo featuring Parson James 139500
53 59 53 4 NEW YORK RAINING Charles Hamilton featuring Rita Ora 34550
54 43 2 12 LOVE REVOLUTION Will Young 556500
55 NEW 55 1 GLITTERBALL Sigma featuring Ella Henderson 10800
56 45 1 12 SOME WONDER Jimmy Somerville 580500
57 NEW 57 1 ARE YOU WITH ME Lost Frequencies 10400
58 NEW 58 1 WAVES Nell Bryden featuring Tom McRae 10200
59 42 19 8 LOUD PLACES Jamie xx featuring Romy 129750
60 NEW 60 1 SONGBIRD Fleetwood Mac 10000

61 44 27 7 ALL CRIED OUT Blonde featuring Alex Newell 73950
62 65 62 2 TREASURED SOUL Michael Calfan 14300
63 72 63 2 SHUT UP AND DANCE WALK THE MOON 12800
64 70 64 2 HEY MAMA David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj Bebe Rexha & Afrojack 13100
65 62 1 23 OUTLINES Mike Mago and Dragonette 979800
66 63 1 18 KING Years And Years 725600
67 66 1 21 SPEED KILLS 10CC 669200
68 NEW 68 1 THE WAY YOU WERE Shayne Ward 6400
69 NEW 69 1 THIS SUMMER’S GONNA HURT Maroon 5 6200
70 NEW 70 1 FIRE IN ETERNAL FLAME Monarchy 6000

71 NEW 71 1 CAN’T FEEL MY FACE The Weeknd 5800
72 32 26 6 VINTAGE High Dive Heart 82700
73 75 73 2 MARVIN GAYE Charlie Puth featuring Meghan Trainor 10400
74 74 20 13 BABY LOVE Petite Meller 133000
75 NEW 75 1 SPOOKY Dusty Springfield 5000

DROP OUTS
37 37 5 GRANDE AMORE (Italy) Il Volo 73350
46 12 8 JOHNNY DELUSIONAL FFS (Franz Ferdinand and Sparks) 160950
51 16 9 LOVE LIKE MINE Miami Horror featuring Cleopold 169900
52 52 1 HERE FOR YOU (Slovenia) Maraaya 11500
53 43 3 TIME Jungle 31950
58 38 7 I REALLY LIKE YOU Carly Rae Jepsen 73200
61 49 4 THAT’S ALRIGHT WITH ME Andreya Triana 35500
67 46 5 QUICKSAND Caro Emerald 46850
71 61 3 AMERICA’S SWEETHEART Elle King 19500
73 7 16 UMA THURMAN Fall Out Boy 364400

21st June 2015

It’s Brandon Flowers on top for a 5th week, he says he can change but no change here, he’s even seen off himself and Hurts who are at 2 for the their second-biggest hit. I Can Change is now only 2 weeks short of the run on top that Crossfire had. Highest new track is a re-entry for Giorgio Moroder and Britney Spears at 5, making a second top 10 appearance for Tom’s Diner (last time was DNA and Suzanne Vega in 1990), a second top 10 for Giorgio in 2015, while his 3rd track with SIA breaks into the 20. Britney gets her highest chart position for a decade, though she has made the top 10 in the interim, most recently with will.i.am, and it extends her run of hits to 17 years.

Talking of long-running female hitmakers, Madonna’s back with another track off her latest album at 12, the fab Joan Of Arc, her 5th top 20 of the year and 31 years of chart entries, she must be pushing closer and closer to 100 hits, as she’s had 75 UK top 75 entries, and quite a number of American-only singles and album tracks and non-hits have charted for me. In at 16, Jack Savoretti has a quick top 20 follow-up with Written In Scars, Paul Weller picks the wrong first single from Saturns Pattern and the one that should have been first is in at 28, Going My Way giving him 38 Style Jam-tastic years of chart entries. Beck’s also back for the first time in years with a great new single, Dreams at 30, for 21 years since he was first a Loser.

Some more Eurovision entries as I belatedly play them more, and that also applies to a bunch of UK top 40 tracks that have been pottering around outside my top 75 for a while. Finally Marvin Gaye’s at 10, but he’s also at 75 – as a song title. It’s not the first time he’s featured in song (Diana Ross, and The Commodores both did it in 1985) though he’s not had his name as the title before. Marvin The Paranoid Android had a hit with Marvin, though. Brain the size of a planet and here I am handing out trivia….or something like that!

1 1 1 8 I CAN CHANGE Brandon Flowers 1071000
2 4 2 4 SOME KIND OF HEAVEN Hurts 197000
3 3 3 4 FEELS LIKE WE ONLY GO BACKWARDS Tame Impala 280000
4 2 2 7 LONELY TOWN Brandon Flowers 336850
5 RE 5 2 TOM’S DINER Giorgio Moroder featuring Britney Spears 66800
6 6 3 5 HEROES (Sweden) Mans Zelmerlow 303000
7 7 6 9 COOL Alesso featuring Roy English 359200
8 8 3 6 YOU DON’T OWN ME Grace featuring G-Eazy 356000
9 15 9 7 ROADS Lawson 128800
10 10 10 4 (SEXUAL) HEALING (KYGO REMIX) Marvin Gaye 112400

11 11 11 5 PUSH A-Track featuring Andrew Wyatt 147000
12 NEW 12 1 JOAN OF ARC Madonna 35000
13 12 4 6 YEAH YEAH YEAH Jax Jones featuring Nina Simone 272000
14 16 14 2 A MINHA MENINA Os Mutantes 54000
15 9 1 11 CAN’T DENY MY LOVE Brandon Flowers 637200
16 NEW 16 1 WRITTEN IN SCARS Jack Savoretti 25000
17 13 4 10 HOME Max Jury 301500
18 19 18 10 SHE’S NOT THERE The Zombies 191000
19 23 19 10 DEJA VU Giorgio Moroder featuring SIA 123450
20 25 20 25 ALFIE Cilla Black 296400

21 5 1 7 LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate 599750
22 29 22 3 WANT TO WANT ME Jason Derulo 54800
23 14 9 6 SHUT OUT OF PARADISE SLO 155050
24 18 10 9 LEAN ON Major Lazer featuring MO and DJ Snake 182500
25 17 17 4 THANK YOU Will Young 71000
26 63 26 3 GHOST TOWN Adam Lambert 31100
27 20 20 4 SHOTS Imagine Dragons 62000
28 NEW 28 1 GOING MY WAY Paul Weller 18300
29 32 29 7 RUNAWAY (U & I) Galantis 82900
30 NEW 30 1 DREAMS Beck 18000

31 21 1 7 SO YOU WIN AGAIN Hot Chocolate 419400
32 26 26 5 VINTAGE High Dive Heart 77100
33 36 33 5 APART Kasper Bjorke featuring Sisy Ey 59900
34 28 6 5 RHYTHM INSIDE (Belgium) Loic Nottet 161900
35 35 35 2 GET UP Chinese Man featuring Ex-l, Lush One & Plex Rock 35000
36 NEW 36 1 A MONSTER LIKE ME (Norway) Morland & Debrah Scarlett 17400
37 37 37 5 GRANDE AMORE (Italy) Il Volo 73350
38 44 38 2 SHINE Years And Years 30450
39 54 39 6 FERRARI Coyote Kisses 65600
40 48 40 4 PERFECT LOVE AFFAIR Shaun Escoffrey 40500

41 41 1 15 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 905000
42 24 19 7 LOUD PLACES Jamie xx featuring Romy 119650
43 22 2 11 LOVE REVOLUTION Will Young 545500
44 27 27 6 ALL CRIED OUT Blonde featuring Alex Newell 66450
45 34 1 11 SOME WONDER Jimmy Somerville 569900
46 30 12 8 JOHNNY DELUSIONAL FFS (Franz Ferdinand and Sparks) 160950
47 NEW 47 1 WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING Rixton 12500
48 NEW 48 1 BLACK SMOKE (Germany) Ann Sophie 12300
49 50 49 4 IN A BROKEN DREAM Python Lee Jackson featuring Rod Stewart 46850
50 40 10 10 TRUE LOVE SURVIVOR Freemasons featuring Solah 177200

51 33 16 9 LOVE LIKE MINE Miami Horror featuring Cleopold 169900
52 NEW 52 1 HERE FOR YOU (Slovenia) Maraaya 11500
53 43 43 3 TIME Jungle 31950
54 70 54 3 BAD BLOOD Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar 22800
55 42 25 9 STOLE THE SHOW Kygo featuring Parson James 128000
56 72 56 2 MONTANA James Taylor 16200
57 57 57 5 SHE AIN’T ME Sinead Harnett 46700
58 38 38 7 I REALLY LIKE YOU Carly Rae Jepsen 73200
59 67 59 3 NEW YORK RAINING Charles Hamilton featuring Rita Ora 23300
60 71 60 2 YOU ARE UNSTOPPABLE Conchita Wurst 15800

61 49 49 4 THAT’S ALRIGHT WITH ME Andreya Triana 35500
62 52 1 22 OUTLINES Mike Mago and Dragonette 972800
63 53 1 17 KING Years And Years 718800
64 NEW 64 1 ONE LAST TIME Ariana Grande 7100
65 NEW 65 1 TREASURED SOUL Michael Calfan 7000
66 66 1 20 SPEED KILLS 10CC 662600
67 46 46 5 QUICKSAND Caro Emerald 46850
68 RE 68 3 DANCING WITH NO FEAR Holly Johnson 17200
69 74 56 4 FIRE UNDER MY FEET Leona Lewis 28200
70 NEW 70 1 HEY MAMA David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj Bebe Rexha & Afrojack 6000

71 61 61 3 AMERICA’S SWEETHEART Elle King 19500
72 NEW 72 1 SHUT UP AND DANCE WALK THE MOON 5600
73 RE 7 16 UMA THURMAN Fall Out Boy 364400
74 RE 20 12 BABY LOVE Petite Meller 127800
75 NEW 75 1 MARVIN GAYE Charlie Puth featuring Meghan Trainor 5000

DROP OUTS
31 10 19 HERE I GO AGAIN (959900) Archie Bell And The Drells 433400
39 26 4 SEE YOU AGAIN Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth 61000
45 34 7 JEALOUS Nick Jonas 84200
47 35 8 HALLELUJAH Panic! At The Disco 99650
51 16 6 SHIP TO WRECK Florence And The Machine 105900
55 31 6 STILL WANT YOU Brandon Flowers 87050
56 8 12 LOVE IS A DRUG Markus Feehily 220500
58 32 4 LOVE INJECTED (Latvia) Aminata 57800
59 9 9 KINGS & QUEENS Brooke Fraser 220900
60 30 4 NIGHTCLUB NIRVANA Lo-Fi-Fnk 53000
62 8 10 FIRESTONE Kygo featuring Conrad Sewell 237200
64 64 2 COME AND GET IT John Newman 14200
65 65 3 BREAK THE RULES (AQUOSTIC LIVE VERSION) Status Quo 18800
68 25 5 SORRY Meg Myers 68200
69 11 9 CAN’T STOP PLAYING (MAKES ME HIGH) Dr. Kucho! and Gregor Salton featuring Ane Brun 160550
73 35 4 TONIGHT AGAIN (Australia) Guy Sebastian 51950
75 9 15 HOLD MY HAND Jess Glynne 256000

14th June 2015

It’s Brandon Flowers versus Brandon Flowers for the top spot, but I Can Change just edges out Lonely Town as it returns for a 4th week on top, Lonely Town peaking at 2 so far. Tame Impala hit 3 and Hurts rocket to 4 to claim their biggest of several top 10 singles, bar the number one with Calvin Harris. Kygo remixes Marvin Gaye, and Sexual Healing goes top 10 for the first time since 1982.

Highest new entry at 16? Portuguese 1960’s psychedelic rock classic? Ring a bell? You may know the cover by the Bees, but I prefer the original quirky fab original, having discovered it the other week. So it’s new to me, even though it’s 47 years old or so. Love that guitar riff! Imagine Dragons have some Shots inside the 20, as per usual for them, while among the new entries is James Taylor, singer-songwriter veteran who once upon a time had some Fire and Rain, and noted You’ve Got A Friend back in 1971. Montana is getting plays on Radio 2, for a cool 44 years of new chart entries in my poptastic chartfreak lists.

1 2 1 7 I CAN CHANGE Brandon Flowers 901000
2 3 2 6 LONELY TOWN Brandon Flowers 271850
3 4 3 3 FEELS LIKE WE ONLY GO BACKWARDS Tame Impala 195000
4 60 4 3 SOME KIND OF HEAVEN Hurts 82000
5 1 1 6 LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate 580000
6 5 3 4 HEROES (Sweden) Mans Zelmerlow 248000
7 8 6 8 COOL Alesso featuring Roy English 309200
8 6 3 5 YOU DON’T OWN ME Grace featuring G-Eazy 308000
9 7 1 10 CAN’T DENY MY LOVE Brandon Flowers 610200
10 18 10 3 (SEXUAL) HEALING (KYGO REMIX) Marvin Gaye 70400

11 13 11 4 PUSH A-Track featuring Andrew Wyatt 110000
12 12 4 5 YEAH YEAH YEAH Jax Jones featuring Nina Simone 240000
13 11 4 9 HOME Max Jury 278500
14 9 9 5 SHUT OUT OF PARADISE SLO 135800
15 15 15 6 ROADS Lawson 83800
16 NEW 16 1 A MINHA MENINA Os Mutantes 25000
17 23 17 3 THANK YOU Will Young 52250
18 17 10 8 LEAN ON Major Lazer featuring MO and DJ Snake 163500
19 20 19 9 SHE’S NOT THERE The Zombies 169000
20 36 20 3 SHOTS Imagine Dragons 43600

21 21 1 6 SO YOU WIN AGAIN Hot Chocolate 401500
22 22 2 10 LOVE REVOLUTION Will Young 532000
23 37 23 9 DEJA VU Giorgio Moroder featuring SIA 102450
24 19 19 6 LOUD PLACES Jamie xx featuring Romy 105900
25 27 25 24 ALFIE Cilla Black 276400
26 32 26 4 VINTAGE High Dive Heart 59300
27 29 27 5 ALL CRIED OUT Blonde featuring Alex Newell 53200
28 14 6 4 RHYTHM INSIDE (Belgium) Loic Nottet 144300
29 39 29 2 WANT TO WANT ME Jason Derulo 35300
30 24 12 7 JOHNNY DELUSIONAL FFS (Franz Ferdinand and Sparks) 148200

31 10 10 19 HERE I GO AGAIN Archie Bell And The Drells 433400
32 38 32 6 RUNAWAY (U & I) Galantis 64700
33 16 16 8 LOVE LIKE MINE Miami Horror featuring Cleopold 157150
34 28 1 10 SOME WONDER Jimmy Somerville 556900
35 NEW 35 1 GET UP Chinese Man featuring Ex-l, Lush One & Plex Rock 17500
36 47 36 4 APART Kasper Bjorke featuring Sisy Ey 42200
37 44 37 4 GRANDE AMORE (Italy) Il Volo 56050
38 40 38 6 I REALLY LIKE YOU Carly Rae Jepsen 63000
39 26 26 4 SEE YOU AGAIN Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth 61000
40 33 10 9 TRUE LOVE SURVIVOR Freemasons featuring Solah 165200

41 41 1 14 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 891000
42 25 25 8 STOLE THE SHOW Kygo featuring Parson James 117200
43 63 43 2 TIME Jungle 20700
44 NEW 44 1 SHINE Years And Years 13250
45 34 34 7 JEALOUS Nick Jonas 84200
46 58 46 4 QUICKSAND Caro Emerald 40250
47 35 35 8 HALLELUJAH Panic! At The Disco 99650
48 72 48 3 PERFECT LOVE AFFAIR Shaun Escoffrey 23500
49 59 49 3 THAT’S ALRIGHT WITH ME Andreya Triana 28000
50 52 50 3 IN A BROKEN DREAM Python Lee Jackson featuring Rod Stewart 34750

51 43 16 6 SHIP TO WRECK Florence And The Machine 105900
52 49 1 21 OUTLINES Mike Mago and Dragonette 965400
53 50 1 16 KING Years And Years 711600
54 56 54 5 FERRARI Coyote Kisses 48500
55 31 31 6 STILL WANT YOU Brandon Flowers 87050
56 45 8 12 LOVE IS A DRUG Markus Feehily 220500
57 57 57 4 SHE AIN’T ME Sinead Harnett 36300
58 48 32 4 LOVE INJECTED (Latvia) Aminata 57800
59 42 9 9 KINGS & QUEENS Brooke Fraser 220900
60 30 30 4 NIGHTCLUB NIRVANA Lo-Fi-Fnk 53000

61 69 61 2 AMERICA’S SWEETHEART Elle King 13700
62 54 8 10 FIRESTONE Kygo featuring Conrad Sewell 237200
63 RE 63 2 GHOST TOWN Adam Lambert 12600
64 64 64 2 COME AND GET IT John Newman 14200
65 RE 65 3 BREAK THE RULES (AQUOSTIC LIVE VERSION) Status Quo 18800
66 66 1 19 SPEED KILLS 10CC 655800
67 67 67 2 NEW YORK RAINING Charles Hamilton featuring Rita Ora 13200
68 46 25 5 SORRY Meg Myers 68200
69 53 11 9 CAN’T STOP PLAYING (MAKES ME HIGH) Dr. Kucho! and Gregor Salton featuring Ane Brun 160550
70 71 70 2 BAD BLOOD Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamar 11800

71 NEW 71 1 YOU ARE UNSTOPPABLE Conchita Wurst 5800
72 NEW 72 1 MONTANA James Taylor 5600
73 51 35 4 TONIGHT AGAIN (Australia) Guy Sebastian 51950
74 RE 56 3 FIRE UNDER MY FEET Leona Lewis 22000
75 75 9 15 HOLD MY HAND Jess Glynne 256000

DROP OUTS
55 7 8 COOL ENOUGH Spada and Elen Levon 169800
61 2 9 OVERLOADED Life Of Dillon 429500
62 1 10 LOVE MERA HIT HIT (BILLU BARBER ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK) Neeraj Shridhar and Tulsi Kumar 599550
65 1 18 PRAY TO GOD Calvin Harris featuring HAIM 703150
68 62 5 SHINE ON Simply Red 29800
70 70 2 KILLING ALL MY DARLINGS Maria Hazell 11200
73 73 2 DANCING WITH NO FEAR Holly Johnson 10800
74 1 25 GHOSTTOWN Madonna 981800

7th June 2015

Hot Chocolate get their 2nd topper of the year with an oldie, for the late Errol Brown, their first hit from 1970 which I charted but never got it’s just dues as I barely heard it until 1975, due to living In Singapore when it was a hit. I love it, still, and it’s their 8th number one. Brandon Flowers gets knocked down to 2 – but he’s also up to 3 with Lonely Town, his 3rd top 3 of the year, and a previous number one holds at 7, and a 4th goes up to 31. Good thing I haven’t bought the album yet or the chart might get invaded!

Tame Impala sounding like Beatles circa 1966 are at 4, cos it’s fab gear, while Lawson return with a bang hitting the roads at 15. Kygo leapfrogs himself (times 2) as his remix of Marvin Gaye shoots up to 18, 33 years since the original was last in the 20. Highest actual new entry is Jason Derulo at 39, Jungle come back a year after it was last in my chart (with Time, a long enough break for it to qualify as a new hit rather than re-entry: I mean you HAVE to have some point in time to stop calling them re-entries, as it just doesn’t make sense once there are 2 very different chart runs separated by years. Others; Rita Ora, Taylor Swift and John Newman are all back with new hits, with or without the obligatory featuring credit.

1 2 1 5 LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate 520000
2 1 1 6 I CAN CHANGE Brandon Flowers 731000
3 15 3 5 LONELY TOWN Brandon Flowers 156850
4 9 4 2 FEELS LIKE WE ONLY GO BACKWARDS Tame Impala 110000
5 3 3 3 HEROES (Sweden) Mans Zelmerlow 193000
6 5 3 4 YOU DON’T OWN ME Grace featuring G-Eazy 260000
7 7 1 9 CAN’T DENY MY LOVE Brandon Flowers 565200
8 8 6 7 COOL Alesso featuring Roy English 259200
9 16 9 4 SHUT OUT OF PARADISE SLO 106800
10 11 10 18 HERE I GO AGAIN Archie Bell And The Drells 415500

11 4 4 8 HOME Max Jury 246500
12 6 4 4 YEAH YEAH YEAH Jax Jones featuring Nina Simone 205000
13 14 13 3 PUSH A-Track featuring Andrew Wyatt 73000
14 10 6 3 RHYTHM INSIDE (Belgium) Loic Nottet 126000
15 RE 15 5 ROADS Lawson 56800
16 17 16 7 LOVE LIKE MINE Miami Horror featuring Cleopold 139450
17 12 10 7 LEAN ON Major Lazer featuring MO and DJ Snake 141500
18 68 18 2 (SEXUAL) HEALING (KYGO REMIX) Marvin Gaye 28400
19 24 19 5 LOUD PLACES Jamie xx featuring Romy 86900
20 23 20 8 SHE’S NOT THERE The Zombies 148000

21 13 1 5 SO YOU WIN AGAIN Hot Chocolate 381750
22 19 2 9 LOVE REVOLUTION Will Young 512500
23 60 23 2 THANK YOU Will Young 29250
24 18 12 6 JOHNNY DELUSIONAL FFS (Franz Ferdinand and Sparks) 130200
25 30 25 7 STOLE THE SHOW Kygo featuring Parson James 103450
26 27 26 3 SEE YOU AGAIN Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth 43900
27 29 27 23 ALFIE Cilla Black 257650
28 20 1 9 SOME WONDER Jimmy Somerville 539300
29 67 29 4 ALL CRIED OUT Blonde featuring Alex Newell 34800
30 34 30 3 NIGHTCLUB NIRVANA Lo-Fi-Fnk 43000

31 33 31 5 STILL WANT YOU Brandon Flowers 76250
32 36 32 3 VINTAGE High Dive Heart 40800
33 22 10 8 TRUE LOVE SURVIVOR Freemasons featuring Solah 148200
34 39 34 6 JEALOUS Nick Jonas 71200
35 37 35 7 HALLELUJAH Panic! At The Disco 87150
36 69 36 2 SHOTS Imagine Dragons 23600
37 47 37 8 DEJA VU Giorgio Moroder featuring SIA 83200
38 49 38 5 RUNAWAY (U & I) Galantis 46900
39 NEW 39 1 WANT TO WANT ME Jason Derulo 17100
40 50 40 5 I REALLY LIKE YOU Carly Rae Jepsen 45800

41 41 1 13 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 877000
42 21 9 8 KINGS & QUEENS Brooke Fraser 210800
43 28 16 5 SHIP TO WRECK Florence And The Machine 94150
44 46 44 3 GRANDE AMORE (Italy) Il Volo 38750
45 26 8 11 LOVE IS A DRUG Markus Feehily 209900
46 25 25 4 SORRY Meg Myers 61800
47 64 47 3 APART Kasper Bjorke featuring Sisy Ey 24800
48 32 32 3 LOVE INJECTED (Latvia) Aminata 47600
49 44 1 20 OUTLINES Mike Mago and Dragonette 953900
50 42 1 15 KING Years And Years 700350

51 35 35 3 TONIGHT AGAIN (Australia) Guy Sebastian 46550
52 53 52 2 IN A BROKEN DREAM Python Lee Jackson featuring Rod Stewart 22750
53 31 11 8 CAN’T STOP PLAYING (MAKES ME HIGH) Dr. Kucho! and Gregor Salton featuring Ane Brun 154350
54 45 8 9 FIRESTONE Kygo featuring Conrad Sewell 229800
55 43 7 8 COOL ENOUGH Spada and Elen Levon 169800
56 56 56 4 FERRARI Coyote Kisses 37500
57 59 57 3 SHE AIN’T ME Sinead Harnett 25900
58 52 52 3 QUICKSAND Caro Emerald 27500
59 71 59 2 THAT’S ALRIGHT WITH ME Andreya Triana 15900
60 65 60 2 SOME KIND OF HEAVEN Hurts 17000

61 48 2 9 OVERLOADED Life Of Dillon 429500
62 40 1 10 LOVE MERA HIT HIT (BILLU BARBER ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK) Neeraj Shridhar and Tulsi Kumar 599550
63 NEW 63 1 TIME Jungle 7200
64 NEW 64 1 COME AND GET IT John Newman 7100
65 58 1 18 PRAY TO GOD Calvin Harris featuring HAIM 703150
66 66 1 18 SPEED KILLS 10CC 649000
67 NEW 67 1 NEW YORK RAINING Charles Hamilton featuring Rita Ora 6600
68 RE 62 5 SHINE ON Simply Red 29800
69 NEW 69 1 AMERICA’S SWEETHEART Elle King 6200
70 74 70 2 KILLING ALL MY DARLINGS Maria Hazell 11200

71 NEW 71 1 BAD BLOOD Taylor Swift featuring Kendrick Lamarr 5800
72 72 72 2 PERFECT LOVE AFFAIR Shaun Escoffrey 11200
73 73 73 2 DANCING WITH NO FEAR Holly Johnson 10800
74 70 1 25 GHOSTTOWN Madonna 981800
75 63 9 14 HOLD MY HAND Jess Glynne 251000

DROP OUTS
38 20 6 ARE YOU READY Texas 97350
51 14 11 RIVERMAN Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 238850
54 15 8 WE HAVE TO TALK About The Girl 170700
55 55 3 CUT ME LOOSE LYON 27600
57 4 12 BELIEVE Mumford And Sons 312500
61 51 3 ON A TRAIN Northbrook 29350
62 38 10 BILLS Lunchmoney Lewis 114000
75 75 1 TROUBLE Iggy Azalea featuring Jennifer Hudson 5000

31st May 2015

3 weeks for Brandon Flowers, I Can Change, but I don’t want to I still love it to bits, fab song, fab Bronski Beat samples and fab Neil Tennant voicemail message in it. Just for the record Pet Shop Boy Neil has featured on other chart-toppers outside the band by Liza Minelli, Dusty Springfield, David Bowie, and now Brandon. Of course I love it! Both of them have impeccable taste in music! Brandon now has 3 tracks in the top 15, 4 in the 40.

That leaves the Swedish Eurovision winner up to 3, Heroes, and a very Beatles/John Lennon track I missed the other year as highest new entry at 9 from Australia’s Tame Impala, Feels Like We Only Go Backwards. In at 53 it’s a record that dropped out of my charts 43 years ago – and it was already a few years old by then! It’s currently getting a featuring credit for Rod Stewart, though it’s really Python Lee Jackson (Rod didn’t even get a credit as he was hired in for the track before he became famous), and the track using it is not in my chart (A$AP Rocky, and Everyday). I’ll take the original, which was reissued on World Record Store Day a few weeks back, and is thus eligible to chart again.

Others back: Will Young getting all interesting with his new album tracks, Hurts back after a longish gap, Kygo getting a 3rd entry as remixer of the Marvin Gaye soul classic, Imagine Dragons keeping the chart entries coming (though not the UK single), and Holly Johnson is back again. Frankie Says About Time!

1 1 1 5 I CAN CHANGE Brandon Flowers 616000
2 2 2 4 LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate 350000
3 8 3 2 HEROES (Sweden) Mans Zelmerlow 133000
4 5 4 7 HOME Max Jury 209500
5 3 3 3 YOU DON’T OWN ME Grace featuring G-Eazy 205000
6 4 4 3 YEAH YEAH YEAH Jax Jones featuring Nina Simone 170000
7 7 1 8 CAN’T DENY MY LOVE Brandon Flowers 515200
8 11 6 6 COOL Alesso featuring Roy English 211200
9 NEW 9 1 FEELS LIKE WE ONLY GO BACKWARDS Tame Impala 45000
10 6 6 2 RHYTHM INSIDE (Belgium) Loic Nottet 97000

11 13 11 17 HERE I GO AGAIN Archie Bell And The Drells 373500
12 10 10 6 LEAN ON Major Lazer featuring MO and DJ Snake 118500
13 9 1 4 SO YOU WIN AGAIN Hot Chocolate 362000
14 50 14 2 PUSH A-Track featuring Andrew Wyatt 41000
15 21 15 4 LONELY TOWN Brandon Flowers 71850
16 22 16 3 SHUT OUT OF PARADISE SLO 61800
17 18 17 6 LOVE LIKE MINE Miami Horror featuring Cleopold 114450
18 12 12 5 JOHNNY DELUSIONAL FFS (Franz Ferdinand and Sparks) 111200
19 15 2 8 LOVE REVOLUTION Will Young 493000
20 19 1 8 SOME WONDER Jimmy Somerville 521000

21 17 9 7 KINGS & QUEENS Brooke Fraser 197050
22 14 10 7 TRUE LOVE SURVIVOR Freemasons featuring Solah 130500
23 25 23 7 SHE’S NOT THERE The Zombies 128000
24 24 24 4 LOUD PLACES Jamie xx featuring Romy 65900
25 28 25 3 SORRY Meg Myers 49050
26 26 8 10 LOVE IS A DRUG Markus Feehily 196900
27 65 27 2 SEE YOU AGAIN Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth 25400
28 16 16 4 SHIP TO WRECK Florence And The Machine 79650
29 32 29 22 ALFIE Cilla Black 239250
30 30 30 6 STOLE THE SHOW Kygo featuring Parson James 84700

31 20 11 7 CAN’T STOP PLAYING (MAKES ME HIGH) Dr. Kucho! and Gregor Salton featuring Ane Brun 143100
32 35 32 2 LOVE INJECTED (Latvia) Aminata 35300
33 36 33 4 STILL WANT YOU Brandon Flowers 58350
34 62 34 2 NIGHTCLUB NIRVANA Lo-Fi-Fnk 25000
35 37 35 2 TONIGHT AGAIN (Australia) Guy Sebastian 34800
36 72 36 2 VINTAGE High Dive Heart 23000
37 49 37 6 HALLELUJAH Panic! At The Disco 69650
38 23 20 6 ARE YOU READY Texas 97350
39 45 39 5 JEALOUS Nick Jonas 53600
40 27 1 9 LOVE MERA HIT HIT (BILLU BARBER ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK) Neeraj Shridhar and Tulsi Kumar 592150

41 39 1 12 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 863000
42 42 1 14 KING Years And Years 688350
43 43 7 7 COOL ENOUGH Spada and Elen Levon 159000
44 40 1 19 OUTLINES Mike Mago and Dragonette 941800
45 34 8 8 FIRESTONE Kygo featuring Conrad Sewell 218800
46 46 46 2 GRANDE AMORE (Italy) Il Volo 25500
47 56 47 7 DEJA VU Giorgio Moroder featuring SIA 65900
48 33 2 8 OVERLOADED Life Of Dillon 422000
49 63 49 4 RUNAWAY (U & I) Galantis 29700
50 68 50 4 I REALLY LIKE YOU Carly Rae Jepsen 28800

51 29 14 11 RIVERMAN Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 238850
52 71 52 2 QUICKSAND Caro Emerald 17300
53 NEW 53 1 IN A BROKEN DREAM Python Lee Jackson featuring Rod Stewart 11250
54 38 15 8 WE HAVE TO TALK About The Girl 170700
55 57 55 3 CUT ME LOOSE LYON 27600
56 59 56 3 FERRARI Coyote Kisses 26900
57 31 4 12 BELIEVE Mumford And Sons 312500
58 54 1 17 PRAY TO GOD Calvin Harris featuring HAIM 696150
59 73 59 2 SHE AIN’T ME Sinead Harnett 15500
60 NEW 60 1 THANK YOU Will Young 10000

61 51 51 3 ON A TRAIN Northbrook 29350
62 52 38 10 BILLS Lunchmoney Lewis 114000
63 58 9 13 HOLD MY HAND Jess Glynne 246000
64 74 64 2 APART Kasper Bjorke featuring Sisy Ey 12300
65 NEW 65 1 SOME KIND OF HEAVEN Hurts 7000
66 64 1 17 SPEED KILLS 10CC 642200
67 75 67 3 ALL CRIED OUT Blonde featuring Alex Newell 16600
68 NEW 68 1 (SEXUAL) HEALING (KYGO REMIX) Marvin Gaye 6400
69 NEW 69 1 SHOTS Imagine Dragons 6200
70 66 1 24 GHOSTTOWN Madonna 976600

71 NEW 71 1 THAT’S ALRIGHT WITH ME Andreya Triana 5800
72 NEW 72 1 PERFECT LOVE AFFAIR Shaun Escoffrey 5600
73 NEW 73 1 DANCING WITH NO FEAR Holly Johnson 5400
74 NEW 74 1 KILLING ALL MY DARLINGS Maria Hazell 5200
75 NEW 75 1 TROUBLE Iggy Azalea featuring Jennifer Hudson 5000

DROP OUTS
41 9 5 THE WAY YOU ARE (Denmark) Anti Social Media 126250
44 13 7 UNDAUNTED Wibi Soerjadi 174750
47 28 5 I’M IN LOVE Zhala 71800
48 15 11 STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU Electro Velvet 182550
53 53 2 NEVER LET YOU GO Dash Berlin and John Dahlback featuring BullySongs 18350
55 55 3 SOMEONE NEW Hozier 27400
60 60 4 TALK ABOUT YOU MIKA 32400
61 61 2 STATE LINES The Shires 14100
67 20 3 STAND BY ME Ben E. King 40600
69 56 2 FIRE UNDER MY FEET Leona Lewis 16800
70 70 2 BREAK THE RULES (AQOUSTIC LIVE VERSION) Status Quo 11800

24th May 2015

It’s Brandon Flowers fantastic I Can Change grabbing a second week at 1, and holding off the mass onslaught of classic Hot Chocolate (Love Is Life peaking at 2 for the second time 45 years on) and Grace’s revamp of You Don’t Own Me, the song hitting the top 3 for the second time this year. Not to mention Jax Jones at 4, two new Eurovision entries from Belgium and Sweden (the winner) inside the top 10, and Max Jury a 21-year-old singer-songwriter currently supporting Rufus Wainwright at 5 with the gorgeous atmospheric Home. Lean On also belatedly goes top 10, as I finally get hooked on Major Lazer’s goodie.

Fair to say my chart is totally dominated by two song contests, Eurovision and online Buzzjack, the UK singles chart now having less and less effect by the week, being as I don’t bother listening to it anymore now that brilliant top 40 sales hits barely scrape into the 75 as the terminally dull months and months runs in the charts of some singles from streaming make it unlistenable. Which will of course make the charts even worse as people hook onto the few new entries late in the day and make them hang around even longer. For example I just bought the Whiz Khalifa single weeks late as I don’t get to hear it much and it took a while to sink in. Ah well, the record industry only has itself to blame….

1 1 1 4 I CAN CHANGE Brandon Flowers 446000
2 3 2 3 LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate 235000
3 5 3 2 YOU DON’T OWN ME Grace featuring G-Eazy 145000
4 7 4 2 YEAH YEAH YEAH Jax Jones featuring Nina Simone 115000
5 17 5 6 HOME Max Jury 144500
6 NEW 6 1 RHYTHM INSIDE (Belgium) Loic Nottet 55000
7 4 1 7 CAN’T DENY MY LOVE Brandon Flowers 465200
8 NEW 8 1 HEROES (Sweden) Mans Zelmerlow 48000
9 2 1 3 SO YOU WIN AGAIN Hot Chocolate 330000
10 40 10 5 LEAN ON Major Lazer featuring MO and DJ Snake 83500

11 6 6 5 COOL Alesso featuring Roy English 163200
12 15 12 4 JOHNNY DELUSIONAL FFS (Franz Ferdinand and Sparks) 89200
13 14 13 16 HERE I GO AGAIN Archie Bell And The Drells 336500
14 10 10 6 TRUE LOVE SURVIVOR Freemasons featuring Solah 111000
15 8 2 7 LOVE REVOLUTION Will Young 472000
16 25 16 3 SHIP TO WRECK Florence And The Machine 61350
17 13 9 6 KINGS & QUEENS Brooke Fraser 177300
18 18 18 5 LOVE LIKE MINE Miami Horror featuring Cleopold 91450
19 9 1 7 SOME WONDER Jimmy Somerville 501000
20 11 11 6 CAN’T STOP PLAYING (MAKES ME HIGH) Dr. Kucho! and Gregor Salton featuring Ane Brun 125200

21 34 21 3 LONELY TOWN Brandon Flowers 44850
22 37 22 2 SHUT OUT OF PARADISE SLO 36800
23 20 20 5 ARE YOU READY Texas 80150
24 32 24 3 LOUD PLACES Jamie xx featuring Romy 46900
25 27 25 6 SHE’S NOT THERE The Zombies 108750
26 26 8 9 LOVE IS A DRUG Markus Feehily 178400
27 19 1 8 LOVE MERA HIT HIT (BILLU BARBER ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK) Neeraj Shridhar and Tulsi Kumar 575150
28 50 28 2 SORRY Meg Myers 30300
29 22 14 10 RIVERMAN Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 227100
30 30 30 5 STOLE THE SHOW Kygo featuring Parson James 66700

31 16 4 11 BELIEVE Mumford And Sons 302100
32 35 32 21 ALFIE Cilla Black 221050
33 12 2 7 OVERLOADED Life Of Dillon 409700
34 29 8 7 FIRESTONE Kygo featuring Conrad Sewell 205800
35 NEW 35 1 LOVE INJECTED (Latvia) Aminata 17500
36 44 36 3 STILL WANT YOU Brandon Flowers 40650
37 NEW 37 1 TONIGHT AGAIN (Australia) Guy Sebastian 17300
38 23 15 7 WE HAVE TO TALK About The Girl 159700
39 31 1 11 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 849000
40 33 1 18 OUTLINES Mike Mago and Dragonette 928550

41 21 9 5 THE WAY YOU ARE (Denmark) Anti Social Media 126250
42 39 1 13 KING Years And Years 674600
43 36 7 6 COOL ENOUGH Spada and Elen Levon 145750
44 24 13 7 UNDAUNTED Wibi Soerjadi 174750
45 47 45 4 JEALOUS Nick Jonas 36500
46 NEW 46 1 GRANDE AMORE (Italy) Il Volo
47 28 28 5 I’M IN LOVE Zhala 71800
48 61 15 11 STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU Electro Velvet 182550
49 53 47 5 HALLELUJAH Panic! At The Disco 52350
50 NEW 50 1 PUSH A-Track featuring Andrew Wyatt 12000

51 59 51 2 ON A TRAIN Northbrook 21850
52 38 38 9 BILLS Lunchmoney Lewis 106600
53 64 53 2 NEVER LET YOU GO Dash Berlin and John Dahlback featuring BullySongs 18350
54 49 1 16 PRAY TO GOD Calvin Harris featuring HAIM 685950
55 55 55 3 SOMEONE NEW Hozier 27400
56 65 50 6 DEJA VU Giorgio Moroder featuring SIA 53400
57 68 57 2 CUT ME LOOSE LYON 16800
58 58 9 12 HOLD MY HAND Jess Glynne 238800
59 69 59 2 FERRARI Coyote Kisses 16300
60 60 60 4 TALK ABOUT YOU MIKA 32400

61 67 61 2 STATE LINE The Shires 14100
62 NEW 62 1 NIGHTCLUB NIRVANA Lo-Fi-Fnk 7400
63 74 63 3 RUNAWAY (U & I) Galantis 17600
64 63 1 16 SPEED KILLS 10CC 635400
65 NEW 65 1 SEE YOU AGAIN Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth 7000
66 57 1 23 GHOSTTOWN Madonna 970600
67 41 20 3 STAND BY ME Ben E. King 40600
68 73 68 3 I REALLY LIKE YOU Carly Rae Jepsen 16800
69 56 56 2 FIRE UNDER MY FEET Leona Lewis 16800
70 71 70 2 BREAK THE RULES (AQOUSTIC LIVE VERSION) Status Quo 11800

71 NEW 71 1 QUICKSAND Caro Emerald 5800
72 NEW 72 1 VINTAGE High Dive Heart 5600
73 NEW 73 1 SHE AIN’T ME Sinead Harnett 5400
74 NEW 74 1 APART Kasper Bjorke featuring Sisy Ey 5200
75 75 75 2 ALL CRIED OUT Blonde featuring Alex Newell 10000

DROP OUTS
42 19 8 THE OTHER SIDE OF LOVE Jack Savoretti 142200
43 37 5 DYNAMITE Asta featuring Allday 78500
45 27 5 I’M MISSING YOU Ali Campbell 72600
46 35 6 CURTAINS Last Lynx 92350
48 4 9 DIMITTO (LET GO) Kato and Safri Duo featuring Bjornskof 328400
51 36 5 INSOMNIA Audien featuring Parson James 68400
52 4 9 I’LL BE THERE Chic featuring Nile Rodgers 339750
54 43 6 BIG GIRLS CRY SIA 50000
62 62 4 SHINE ON Simply Red 23400
66 54 4 ROADS Lawson 39800
70 7 15 UMA THURMAN Fall Out Boy 359000
72 72 1 SHE’S ALWAYS A WOMAN Billy Joel 5600

17th May 2015

It’s Brandon Flowers second number one of the year, his 3rd solo topper, and his 4th in total including the Killers, with the fabulous Bronski Beat sampling I Can Change, which means Jimmy Somerville not only had to wait 31 years to get a number one from his debut Smalltown Boy, he then only had to wait another 3 weeks for a second (sort of) based loosely around said first hit. Hot Chocolate, and the late Errol Brown, get knocked off the top only to go up to join themselves in the top 3 with the 1970 Love Is Life, as they push out Brandon Flowers previous number one to 4. Just to keep the repeat themes going, and the tributes, the late Lesley Gore hit number one a couple of months ago with You Don’t Own me, her fab 60’s defiant girl-power ballad, and now it’s back updated by Grace, the highest new entry at 5.

Jax Jones enters at 7 with a Massive Attack-borrowed riff, the soulful fabulous Yeah Yeah Yeah, the vocal hook sampling Nina Simone’s 50-year-old Be My Husband, which was co-incidentally written by her then-husband. As I’ve given Nina a featuring credit (I always do where the main vocal of a song is a key sample, but not where the hook is more of a template, so nothing for Massive Attack or Jimmy Somerville) that also means she has a 47-year span of new chart entries (she hit number one for me in late 68 with Ain’t Got No..I Got Life, before it took 30-odd years to come back big again). That makes Nina the new record-holder if I discount Paul McCartney as part of The Beatles.

Freemasons get another top 10, having had 2 previous chart-toppers in the noughties, and FFS hit 15, giving Franz Ferdinand their biggest hit in years, and Sparks a run of 41 years of top 20 hits. They hit the top 20 in every decade since topping in 1974. Never huge, but always consistent and always back with interesting stuff. Elsewhere: 4 Brandon tracks in the charts, Leona Lewis is back with one of her better singles, and Quo keep the 1974 theme going as their hit from the spring of 74 returns acoustic and live, Break The Rules, boys!

1 2 1 3 I CAN CHANGE Brandon Flowers 276000
2 1 1 2 SO YOU WIN AGAIN Hot Chocolate 285000
3 6 3 2 LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate 120000
4 3 1 6 CAN’T DENY MY LOVE Brandon Flowers 415200
5 NEW 5 1 YOU DON’T OWN ME Grace featuring G-Eazy 60000
6 8 6 4 COOL Alesso featuring Roy English 126200
7 NEW 7 1 YEAH YEAH YEAH Jax Jones featuring Nina Simone 50000
8 4 2 6 LOVE REVOLUTION Will Young 445000
9 5 1 6 SOME WONDER Jimmy Somerville 480000
10 30 10 5 TRUE LOVE SURVIVOR Freemasons featuring Solah 82050

11 19 11 5 CAN’T STOP PLAYING (MAKES ME HIGH) Dr. Kucho! and Gregor Salton featuring Ane Brun 105200
12 10 2 6 OVERLOADED Life Of Dillon 392000
13 9 9 5 KINGS & QUEENS Brooke Fraser 154300
14 14 14 15 HERE I GO AGAIN Archie Bell And The Drells 304500
15 40 15 3 JOHNNY DELUSIONAL FFS (Franz Ferdinand and Sparks) 54200
16 7 4 10 BELIEVE Mumford And Sons 284200
17 17 17 5 HOME Max Jury 84500
18 23 18 4 LOVE LIKE MINE Miami Horror featuring Cleopold 69450
19 11 1 7 LOVE MERA HIT HIT (BILLU BARBER ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK) Neeraj Shridhar and Tulsi Kumar 556750
20 29 20 4 ARE YOU READY Texas 60900

21 12 9 4 THE WAY YOU ARE (DENMARK) Anti Social Media 112250
22 18 14 9 RIVERMAN Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 208900
23 15 15 6 WE HAVE TO TALK About The Girl 142500
24 13 13 6 UNDAUNTED Wibi Soerjadi 161500
25 34 25 2 SHIP TO WRECK Florence And The Machine 36350
26 22 8 8 LOVE IS A DRUG Markus Feehily 159900
27 28 27 5 SHE’S NOT THERE The Zombies 90000
28 RE 28 4 I’M IN LOVE Zhala 59300
29 16 8 6 FIRESTONE Kygo featuring Conrad Sewell 188200
30 33 30 4 STOLE THE SHOW Kygo featuring Parson James 48700

31 24 1 10 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 831900
32 59 32 2 LOUD PLACES Jamie xx featuring Romy 27900
33 31 1 17 OUTLINES Mike Mago and Dragonette 911550
34 61 34 2 LONELY TOWN Brandon Flowers 25100
35 38 35 20 ALFIE Cilla Black 203250
36 25 7 5 COOL ENOUGH Spada and Elen Levon 122250
37 NEW 37 1 SHUT OUT OF PARADISE SLO 17300
38 49 38 8 BILLS Lunchmoney Lewis 95100
39 21 1 12 KING Years And Years 660850
40 55 40 4 LEAN ON Major Lazer featuring MO and DJ Snake 41500

41 20 20 2 STAND BY ME Ben E. King 34000
42 26 19 8 THE OTHER SIDE OF LOVE Jack Savoretti 142200
43 37 37 5 DYNAMITE Asta featuring Allday 78500
44 60 44 2 STILL WANT YOU Brandon Flowers 23250
45 27 27 5 I’M MISSING YOU Ali Campbell 72600
46 35 35 6 CURTAINS Last Lynx 92350
47 70 47 3 JEALOUS Nick Jonas 23500
48 32 4 9 DIMITTO (LET GO) Kato and Safri Duo featuring Bjornskof 328400
49 46 1 15 PRAY TO GOD Calvin Harris featuring HAIM 674950
50 NEW 50 1 SORRY Meg Myers 12000

51 36 36 5 INSOMNIA Audien featuring Parson James 68400
52 42 4 9 I’LL BE THERE Chic featuring Nile Rodgers 339750
53 47 47 4 HALLELUJAH Panic! At The Disco 40250
54 43 43 6 BIG GIRLS CRY SIA 50000
55 71 55 2 SOMEONE NEW Hozier 16600
56 NEW 56 1 FIRE UNDER MY FEET Leona Lewis 10600
57 48 1 22 GHOSTTOWN Madonna 963800
58 52 9 11 HOLD MY HAND Jess Glynne 228600
59 NEW 59 1 ON A TRAIN Northbrook 10100
60 66 60 3 TALK ABOUT YOU MIKA 22400

61 41 15 10 STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU Electro Velvet 170250
62 72 62 4 SHINE ON Simply Red 23400
63 62 1 15 SPEED KILLS 10CC 628300
64 NEW 64 1 NEVER LET YOU GO Dash Berlin and John Dahlback featuring BullySongs 7100
65 50 50 5 DEJA VU Giorgio Moroder featuring SIA 42800
66 54 54 4 ROADS Lawson 39800
67 NEW 67 1 STATE LINE The Shires 6600
68 NEW 68 1 CUT ME LOOSE LYON 6400
69 NEW 69 1 FERRARI Coyote Kisses 6200
70 57 7 15 UMA THURMAN Fall Out Boy 359000

71 NEW 71 1 BREAK THE RULES (AQOUSTIC LIVE VERSION) Status Quo 5800
72 NEW 72 1 SHE’S ALWAYS A WOMAN Billy Joel 5600
73 75 73 2 I REALLY LIKE YOU Carly Rae Jepsen 10400
74 74 74 2 RUNAWAY (U & I) Galantis 10400
75 NEW 75 1 ALL CRIED OUT Blonde featuring Alex Newell 5000

DROP OUTS
39 10 6 LOST STARS Stevie McCrorie 132100
44 1 12 LOST STARS Adam Levine 663400
45 12 8 ELECTRIC LOVE Burns 201750
51 4 9 BULLETPROOF PICASSO Train 334400
53 24 5 EGO Tove Styrke 62250
56 25 5 I WANNA BE YOUR LOVER Elicit featuring Prince 79350
58 42 4 SHY Stacey Solomon 35750
63 20 10 SUGAR DADDY Spada 156350
64 38 5 ELECTRIC BONES Findlay 62900
65 48 5 DEAR FUTURE HUSBAND Megan Trainor 38700
67 67 3 TETHER Eric Prydz vs Chvrches 18600
68 20 11 BABY LOVE Petite Meller 122600
69 2 15 RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW Giorgio Moroder featuring Kylie Minogue 673000
73 73 1 GHOST TOWN Adam Lambert 5400

10th May 2015

It’s Hot Chocolate’s 1977 classic So You Win Again in at 1, in tribute to the late great Errol Brown, one of pop music’s good people, and the lead singer of one of the most consistent acts of the 70’s and half the 80’s. there were so many faves I could have gone for as tribute, but this is the one really that deserves it. It originally peaked at 2 in my chart, even though I adored it, because it came up against a little music-changing ditty called I Feel Love. It was also written by a great songwriter (not Errol this time) Russ Ballard of Argent. The other Errol track was one of his, the first Hot Chocolate hit from 1970 while he was a hit songwriter for Mickie Most, the fantastic Love Is Life, a track I largely missed while living in Singapore, so now I’m paying just dues. It also has a positive message while I’m not feeling at all positive, not helped by the awful General Election result in the UK. So You Win Again just had to top my chart, cos “here I stand the loser” indeed. My very difficult home-caring duties and home-working life is about to become impossible once the Tories get their hatchets going. Not that I get any practical help anyway (though I am eligible for a free cinema ticket to have a night out on the taxpayer, whoopee), but I’m sure they’ll find a way to make it worse. I loathe most politicians and the 2 I had time for both got booted out. Happy days….

All of which overshadows the Brandon Flowers invasion, as all four advance tracks chart, his number one from last week dropping to 3 as new track I Can Change catapults from 70 to 2, and samples Jimmy Somerville heavily, (Bronski Beat’s Smalltown Boy) as Jimmy is knocked down to 5 himself. Alesso gets another top 10, following Number One Under Control with Calvin Harris and Hurts, and Parson James gets 2 top 40 entries as featured vocalist, one with Kygo (who also has 2 in the 40) and one with Audien. The late Ben E. King also returns to the chart for the 4th time with 1987 chart-topper classic Stand By Me, a song that had previously hit number one as a cover by John Lennon in 1975. What can I say, it’s a great song, and even the timeless Lennon can’t improve on Ben’s original.

Sparks are back in the 40, 41 years on, as FFS with Franz Ferdinand youngsters of only a decade or so, and both having had one previous chart-topper each. Florence is back with a ship to wreck, another goodie inside the top 40, and that’s about that…

1 NEW 1 1 SO YOU WIN AGAIN Hot Chocolate 170000
2 70 2 2 I CAN CHANGE Brandon Flowers 106000
3 1 1 5 CAN’T DENY MY LOVE Brandon Flowers 350200
4 2 2 5 LOVE REVOLUTION Will Young 397000
5 3 1 5 SOME WONDER Jimmy Somerville 435000
6 NEW 6 1 LOVE IS LIFE Hot Chocolate 55000
7 4 4 9 BELIEVE Mumford And Sons 259200
8 32 8 3 COOL Alesso featuring Roy English 71200
9 10 9 4 KINGS & QUEENS Brooke Fraser 122300
10 5 2 5 OVERLOADED Life Of Dillon 357000

11 6 1 6 LOVE MERA HIT HIT (BILLU BARBER ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK) Neeraj Shridhar and Tulsi Kumar 535750
12 9 9 3 THE WAY YOU ARE (DENMARK) Anti Social Media 92500
13 13 13 5 UNDAUNTED Wibi Soerjadi 142500
14 16 14 14 HERE I GO AGAIN Archie Bell And The Drells 275500
15 15 15 5 WE HAVE TO TALK About The Girl 123250
16 14 8 5 FIRESTONE Kygo featuring Conrad Sewell 170000
17 26 17 4 HOME Max Jury 61500
18 18 14 8 RIVERMAN Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 189400
19 20 19 4 CAN’T STOP PLAYING (MAKES ME HIGH) Dr. Kucho! and Gregor Salton featuring Ane Brun 68200
20 NEW 20 1 STAND BY ME Ben E. King 20000

21 17 1 11 KING Years And Years 643750
22 8 8 7 LOVE IS A DRUG Markus Feehily 141400
23 30 23 3 LOVE LIKE MINE Miami Horror featuring Cleopold 47450
24 12 1 9 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 814000
25 7 7 4 COOL ENOUGH Spada and Elen Levon 104850
26 19 19 7 THE OTHER SIDE OF LOVE Jack Savoretti 128450
27 29 27 4 I’M MISSING YOU Ali Campbell 59600
28 28 28 4 SHE’S NOT THERE The Zombies 71600
29 37 29 3 ARE YOU READY Texas 40900
30 53 30 4 TRUE LOVE SURVIVOR Freemasons featuring Solah 40050

31 27 1 16 OUTLINES Mike Mago and Dragonette 893850
32 11 4 8 DIMITTO (LET GO) Kato and Safri Duo featuring Bjornskof 316100
33 63 33 3 STOLE THE SHOW Kygo featuring Parson James 30700
34 NEW 34 1 SHIP TO WRECK Florence And The Machine 17600
35 35 35 5 CURTAINS Last Lynx 79600
36 44 36 4 INSOMNIA Audien featuring Parson James 56650
37 38 37 4 DYNAMITE Asta featuring Allday 65000
38 39 38 19 ALFIE Cilla Black 185750
39 21 10 6 LOST STARS Stevie McCrorie 132100
40 58 40 2 JOHNNY DELUSIONAL FFS (Franz Ferdinand and Sparks) 27200

41 46 15 9 STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU Electro Velvet 162750
42 22 4 8 I’LL BE THERE Chic featuring Nile Rodgers 328250
43 64 43 5 BIG GIRLS CRY SIA 39000
44 31 1 12 LOST STARS Adam Levine 663400
45 23 12 8 ELECTRIC LOVE Burns 201750
46 34 1 14 PRAY TO GOD Calvin Harris featuring HAIM 662850
47 52 47 3 HALLELUJAH Panic! At The Disco 29000
48 33 1 21 GHOSTTOWN Madonna 953400
49 50 49 7 BILLS Lunchmoney Lewis 77900
50 55 50 4 DEJA VU Giorgio Moroder featuring SIA 35800

51 36 4 9 BULLETPROOF PICASSO Train 334400
52 40 9 10 HOLD MY HAND Jess Glynne 218400
53 24 24 5 EGO Tove Styrke 62250
54 54 54 3 ROADS Lawson 33000
55 61 55 3 LEAN ON Major Lazer featuring MO and DJ Snake 24500
56 41 25 5 I WANNA BE YOUR LOVER Elicit featuring Prince 79350
57 69 7 14 UMA THURMAN Fall Out Boy 353000
58 42 42 4 SHY Stacey Solomon 35750
59 NEW 59 1 LOUD PLACES Jamie xx featuring Romy 10100
60 NEW 60 1 STILL WANT YOU Brandon Flowers 10000

61 NEW 61 1 LONELY TOWN Brandon Flowers 7500
62 60 1 14 SPEED KILLS 10CC 621100
63 25 20 10 SUGAR DADDY Spada 156350
64 49 38 5 ELECTRIC BONES Findlay 62900
65 48 48 5 DEAR FUTURE HUSBAND Megan Trainor 38700
66 72 66 2 TALK ABOUT YOU MIKA 12400
67 RE 67 3 TETHER Eric Prydz vs Chvrches 18600
68 68 20 11 BABY LOVE Petite Meller 122600
69 62 2 15 RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW Giorgio Moroder featuring Kylie Minogue 673000
70 75 70 2 JEALOUS Nick Jonas 11000

71 NEW 71 1 SOMEONE NEW Hozier 5800
72 74 72 3 SHINE ON Simply Red 16000
73 NEW 73 1 GHOST TOWN Adam Lambert 5400
74 NEW 74 1 RUNAWAY (U & I) Galantis 5200
75 NEW 75 1 I REALLY LIKE YOU Carly Rae Jepsen 5000

DROP OUTS
43 18 5 PEACE AND TRANQUILITY ABC 90750
45 45 6 COLD WAR Niykee Heaton 61400
47 7 8 HIGHER Sigma featuring Labrinth 242900
51 27 7 SUMMERTIME BOY Seasick Steve 109250
56 35 6 LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE The Summer Set 85200
57 57 2 GERONIMO Sheppard 17900
59 59 2 CRYSTALS Of Monsters And Men 20200
65 40 3 I’M IN LOVE Zhala 41000
66 66 1 TOM’S DINER Giorgio Moroder featuring Britney Spears 6800
67 6 16 I BET MY LIFE Imagine Dragons 418700
71 71 1 SOMETHING’S MISSING Sheppard 5800
73 4 10 EDGE OF SEVENTEEN Stevie Nicks 255650

3rd May 2015

Brandon Flowers gets his 2nd solo chart-topper and 3rd including The Killers, keeping poor ol’ Will Young at 2. Mumford go top 5, Spada replace themselves in the top 20 and even go top 10 to boot. Giorgio Moroder is also replacing himself lower down the chart, SIA and Kylie swapping places inside the 60 while Britney joins him for a new entry and cover of Suzanne Vega’s DNA version of Tom’s Diner, last in the top 10 25 years ago. Markus Feehily does what Westlife managed once (got into the top 10), but Love Is A Drug is better than Bop Bop Baby.

The top early Eurovision fave from me is Denmark, up to 9, Ali Campbell is back in the 40 35 years after debuting with UB40, ditto Texas but a mere 26 years, while FFS enter inside the 60. Who? It’s Franz Ferdinand and Sparks combining on an album project, Johnny Delusional being very much in the Sparks tradition, quirky now lo these 41 years of love from me.

1 5 1 4 CAN’T DENY MY LOVE Brandon Flowers 265200
2 2 2 4 LOVE REVOLUTION Will Young 332000
3 1 1 4 SOME WONDER Jimmy Somerville 375000
4 9 4 8 BELIEVE Mumford And Sons 209200
5 6 2 4 OVERLOADED Life Of Dillon 315000
6 3 1 5 LOVE MERA HIT HIT (BILLU BARBER ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK) Neeraj Shridhar and Tulsi Kumar 498750
7 26 7 3 COOL ENOUGH Spada and Elen Levon 86100
8 RE 8 6 LOVE IS A DRUG Markus Feehily 121900
9 47 9 2 THE WAY YOU ARE (DENMARK) Anti Social Media 57500
10 32 10 3 KINGS & QUEENS Brooke Fraser 77300

11 4 4 7 DIMITTO (LET GO) Kato and Safri Duo featuring Bjornskof 288300
12 7 1 8 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 795000
13 13 13 4 UNDAUNTED Wibi Soerjadi 110500
14 8 8 4 FIRESTONE Kygo featuring Conrad Sewell 145000
15 16 15 4 WE HAVE TO TALK About The Girl 96250
16 17 16 13 HERE I GO AGAIN Archie Bell And The Drells 246500
17 11 1 10 KING Years And Years 624000
18 14 14 7 RIVERMAN Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 167400
19 19 19 6 THE OTHER SIDE OF LOVE Jack Savoretti 109950
20 39 20 3 CAN’T STOP PLAYING (MAKES ME HIGH) Dr. Kucho! and Gregor Salton featuring Ane Brun 47200

21 10 10 5 LOST STARS Stevie McCrorie 115000
22 12 4 7 I’LL BE THERE Chic featuring Nile Rodgers 314500
23 22 12 7 ELECTRIC LOVE Burns 188750
24 30 24 4 EGO Tove Styrke 51000
25 20 20 9 SUGAR DADDY Spada 149150
26 60 26 3 HOME Max Jury 38500
27 28 1 15 OUTLINES Mike Mago and Dragonette 875950
28 34 28 3 SHE’S NOT THERE The Zombies 53300
29 50 29 3 I’M MISSING YOU Ali Campbell 41200
30 58 30 2 LOVE LIKE MINE Miami Horror featuring Cleopold 28200

31 23 1 11 LOST STARS Adam Levine 650150
32 RE 32 2 COOL Alesso featuring Roy English 23200
33 24 1 20 GHOSTTOWN Madonna 941100
34 31 1 13 PRAY TO GOD Calvin Harris featuring HAIM 650100
35 37 35 4 CURTAINS Last Lynx 62100
36 15 4 8 BULLETPROOF PICASSO Train 322650
37 73 37 2 ARE YOU READY Texas 22700
38 40 38 3 DYNAMITE Asta featuring Allday 47700
39 42 39 18 ALFIE Cilla Black 168550
40 36 9 9 HOLD MY HAND Jess Glynne 206900

41 25 25 4 I WANNA BE YOUR LOVER Elicit featuring Prince 68750
42 66 42 3 SHY Stacey Solomon 25550
43 21 18 5 PEACE AND TRANQUILITY ABC 90750
44 44 44 3 INSOMNIA Audien featuring Parson James 39250
45 45 45 6 COLD WAR Niykee Heaton 61400
46 29 15 8 STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU Electro Velvet 148750
47 18 7 8 HIGHER Sigma featuring Labrinth 242900
48 65 48 4 DEAR FUTURE HUSBAND Megan Trainor 31700
49 38 38 4 ELECTRIC BONES Findlay 55800
50 51 50 6 BILLS Lunchmoney Lewis 65800

51 33 27 7 SUMMERTIME BOY Seasick Steve 109250
52 75 52 2 HALLELUJAH Panic! At The Disco 16500
53 72 53 3 TRUE LOVE SURVIVOR Freemasons featuring Solah 22050
54 54 54 2 ROADS Lawson 22000
55 63 55 3 DEJA VU Giorgio Moroder featuring SIA 23800
56 35 35 6 LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE The Summer Set 85200
57 61 57 2 GERONIMO Sheppard 17900
58 NEW 58 1 JOHNNY DELUSIONAL FFS (Franz Ferdinand and Sparks) 10200
59 59 59 2 CRYSTALS Of Monsters And Men 20200
60 53 1 13 SPEED KILLS 10CC 613700

61 69 61 2 LEAN ON Major Lazer featuring MO and DJ Snake 13700
62 41 2 14 RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW Giorgio Moroder featuring Kylie Minogue 666800
63 71 63 2 STOLE THE SHOW Kygo featuring Parson James 13000
64 67 64 4 BIG GIRLS CRY SIA 25500
65 RE 40 3 I’M IN LOVE Zhala 41000
66 NEW 66 1 TOM’S DINER Giorgio Moroder featuring Britney Spears 6800
67 48 6 16 I BET MY LIFE Imagine Dragons 418700
68 RE 20 10 BABY LOVE Petite Meller 116200
69 49 7 13 UMA THURMAN Fall Out Boy 342600
70 NEW 70 1 I CAN CHANGE Brandon Flowers 6000

71 NEW 71 1 SOMETHING’S MISSING Sheppard 5800
72 NEW 72 1 TALK ABOUT YOU MIKA 5600
73 46 4 10 EDGE OF SEVENTEEN Stevie Nicks 255650
74 74 74 2 SHINE ON Simply Red 10400
75 NEW 75 1 JEALOUS Nick Jonas 5000

DROP OUTS
27 27 8 YOUNG AMERICANS David Bowie 113950
43 12 6 FAITH IN YOU Lulu 124850
52 52 4 YE ISHQ HAI Shreya Ghoshal 39400
55 55 2 WHEN I FOUND YOU Franceso Yates 21000
56 56 3 THIEF The Beach 28300
57 57 5 LONESOME STREET Blur 46800
62 62 3 WABI SABI The Ting Tings 20500
64 64 4 BAD TO ME Marc Almond 23900
68 68 2 TETHER Eric Prydz vs Chvrches 12000
70 70 2 RUN COIN 12000
60 60 4 MY HEART WOULD TAKE YOU BACK Shayne Ward 33400
33 14 5 GOLD Andreya Triana 110800

My 1984 Charts – November

Youtube videos available here…

garden works wot we did

6th November 1984

Duran Duran get their first number one, the fabulous exciting The Wild Boys, a Mad Max video and Simon Le Bon getting dunked, what’s not to love. It had taken almost 4 years to get there, but in the end a great single persuaded me over. Chicago get their biggest hit in 8 years as Hard habit To Break climbs to 4, and Wham! return to Top 10 form with Freedom hitting 5, their 5th Top 10 and George’s 6th. Limahl also does what Kajagoogoo couldn’t, with a decent top 10 movie soundtrack single.

Heaven 17 exclaim “Mine!” at 17, which reminds me of the seagulls in Finding Nemo, and Murray Head rockets Abba upwards with One Night In Bangkok. Oh Chess he does. Oops! Bad pun alert. Highest new entry is album track Let’s Go Crazy from Prince at 26, a fabulous storming rockfunk workout making up for the relatively plodding Purple Rain single. Nik Kershaw gets a 4th hit with his best single, the great military-flavoured The Riddle, and mere weeks before seeing him live in concert where he sang a good album track called Bogart (should have been a single). rather appropriately Actual Bogart (and James Cagney) pop in at 73 with a gangster movie medley of scenes from their films. You Doity Rat!

Jim Diamond’s in at 33 with the UK chart-topper I Should Have Known Better. He really should have, being as he used to be a PhD and topped my charts in 1982 with I Won’t Let You Down. Ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay he did. Michael’s sis legs it into the 40 with Centipede, OMD have a middling ballad entry, Tracey Ullman keeps the run of hits Helplessly turning over, and a gem slides in lower down: Eurythmics 1984 movie single the glorious Sex Crime. S S S Sex at 54. Others: Iron Maiden, Cliff, Nick Heyward going funky, and ABC getting Millionaire stomping synth lessons. Talking Heads also Slippery in almost 4 years since biggie Once In A Lifetime.

1 ( 2 ) THE WILD BOYS Duran Duran
2 ( 1 ) DRIVE The Cars
3 ( 4 ) NO MORE LONELY NIGHTS Paul McCartney
4 ( 20 ) HARD HABIT TO BREAK Chicago
5 ( 14 ) FREEDOM Wham!
6 ( 6 ) TOO LATE FOR GOODBYES Julian Lennon
7 ( 5 ) CARIBBEAN QUEEN (NO MORE LOVE ON THE RUN) Billy Ocean
8 ( 8 ) I FEEL FOR YOU Chaka Khan
9 ( 3 ) THE WAR SONG Culture Club
10 ( 13 ) THE NEVER ENDING STORY Limahl

11 ( 7 ) TOGETHER IN ELECTRIC DREAMS Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder
12 ( 16 ) GOLDEN DAYS Bucks Fizz
13 ( 17 ) GIMME ALL YOUR LOVING Z.Z. TOP
14 ( 25 ) ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT Cyndi Lauper
15 ( 15 ) OUT OF TOUCH Daryl Hall and John Oates
16 ( 10 ) THE SECOND TIME Kim Wilde
17 ( 34 ) THIS IS MINE Heaven 17
18 ( 9 ) SKIN DEEP The Stranglers
19 ( 68 ) ONE NIGHT IN BANGKOK Murray Head
20 ( 21 ) ALL CRIED OUT Alison Moyet

21 ( 23 ) LISTEN TO YOUR FATHER Feargal Sharkey
22 ( 12 ) SHOUT TO THE TOP The Style Council
23 ( 11 ) PRIDE (IN THE NAME OF LOVE) U2
24 ( 28 ) LOVE’S GREAT ADVENTURE Ultravox
25 ( 18 ) LOST IN MUSIC Sister Sledge
26 ( NEW ) LET’S GO CRAZY Prince
27 ( 19 ) MISSING YOU John Waite
28 ( 39 ) I WON’T RUN AWAY Alvin Stardust
29 ( 53 ) GOTTA GET YOU HOME TONIGHT Eugene Wilde
30 ( NEW ) THE RIDDLE Nik Kershaw

31 ( 45 ) I’M SO EXCITED The Pointer Sisters
32 ( 36 ) I’M GONNA TEAR YOUR PLAYHOUSE DOWN Paul Young
33 ( NEW ) I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER Jim Diamond
34 ( 27 ) IF THIS IS IT Huey Lewis and The News
35 ( 24 ) GHOSTBUSTERS Ray Parker Junior
36 ( 22 ) WHY Bronski Beat
37 ( 40 ) HIGHLY STRUNG Spandau Ballet
38 ( 26 ) SMOOTH OPERATOR Sade
39 ( 47 ) THE WANDERER Status Quo
40 ( 71 ) CENTIPEDE Rebbie Jackson

41 ( 30 ) MADAME BUTTERFLY Malcolm McLaren
42 ( 33 ) I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU Stevie Wonder
43 ( 32 ) CARELESS WHISPER George Michael
44 ( 54 ) MODERN GIRL Meatloaf
45 ( 29 ) TESLA GIRLS OMD
46 ( NEW ) NEVER TURN AWAY OMD
47 ( 35 ) BIG IN JAPAN Alphaville
48 ( 38 ) CATH The Bluebells
49 ( NEW ) HELPLESS Tracey Ullman
50 ( 42 ) TWO TRIBES Frankie Goes To Hollywood

51 ( 37 ) PENNY LOVER Lionel Richie
52 ( 31 ) IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN UB40
53 ( 41 ) COVER ME Bruce Springsteen
54 ( NEW ) SEX CRIME (1984) Eurythmics
55 ( 46 ) THE MEDICINE SONG Stephanie Mills
56 ( NEW ) WARNING SIGN Nick Heyward
57 ( NEW ) SHOOTING FROM THE HEART Cliff Richard
58 ( 55 ) RELAX Frankie Goes To Hollywood
59 ( NEW ) HOW TO BE A MILLIONAIRE ABC
60 ( 57 ) SELF CONTROL Laura Branigan

61 ( NEW ) LET IT ALL BLOW The Dazz Band
62 ( 48 ) BLUE JEAN David Bowie
63 ( 51 ) DR. BEAT Miami Sound Machine
64 ( 56 ) TOUR DE FRANCE Kraftwerk
65 ( NEW ) ACES HIGH Iron Maiden
66 ( 59 ) SHINE SHINE Barry Gibb
67 ( 49 ) APOLLO 9 Adam Ant
68 ( 64 ) EYES WITHOUT A FACE Billy Idol
69 ( 69 ) THE DAY BEFORE YOU CAME Abba
70 ( 70 ) BILLIE-JEAN Michael Jackson

71 ( 62 ) TALKING IN YOUR SLEEP Bucks Fizz
72 ( 44 ) THE LUCKY ONE Laura Branigan
73 ( NEW ) THE GANGSTER SINGLE Humphrey Bogart and James Cagney
74 ( 43 ) LOVE KILLS Freddie Mercury
75 ( NEW ) SLIPPERY PEOPLE Talking Heads

In the real world, I was still having nightmares with late friend Dale turning up while I was at work, in them facially scarred and not alive but interested in my work, meanwhile his mum was distraught. Mind working overtime. At real work, we visited Bulbarrow Hill and Hurn Airport, and by now getting on really well with mate Bob, lots of joking about.

In the news the shock news that Mrs Ghandi had been assassinated, as I put it “one of the few world leaders it’s possible to have any respect for”. I’ve never been much of a fan of politicians, the great ones are few and far between. The nutters never get assassinated, sadly. At home Bob came round to see my record collection and meet my parents – he was due round tonight in 2014 actually (see previous comments about life being circular and linked in so many ways). A first this week: I used a cashpoint for the first time!! Yikes at the novelty of having new technology and cash!

Grandma and grandad arrived by coach in Poole, where parents hosted them at the NAAFI quarters for the weekend. Listening to old music charts, I came to the conclusion that 1972 was my fave musical year, pretty much from Oct 1971 through Oct 1972 – I think it may well still be, even though better years followed. Parents and grandparents round on Sunday for dinner and socialising, I was definitely in a better place emotionally these days.

TV:
1. Star Trek: Space Seed
2. The Phil Silvers Show
3. The Addams Family
4. Rising Damp
5. Hill Street Blues
6. Soap
7. Terrahawks
8. Comic Strip Presents: The Bullshitters
9. Tenko
10. MASH
11. The Mary Tyler Moore Show
12. The Avengers
13. Dallas
14. Top Of The Pops
15. The Rockford Files
16. Dungeons And Dragons

13th November 1984

2 weeks at 1 for The Wild Boys, as Chaka feels for you at 4, and Eurythmics positively explode from 54 to 7 giving a run of unbroken Top 10’s since Sweet Dreams. Quality! Tim Rice gets his first song in the top 10 for 5 years, and the Abba boys do nicely with Murray Head at 8. His brother Tony could do a good job too, I expect, based on his Buffy TV singing.

OMD get a nice jump into the 40 for an unbroken run of almost 5 years. Quality!! Depeche Mode get the highest new entry at 29 – now I don’t want to start any Blasphemous Rumours but their days of being teenypop synth boyband were looking long ago! Slade are back with another great singalong Christmas and New Year ballad at 38, let’s All Join Hands! Going berserk at 40, it’s Gary Numan determined not to be in any way singalong, New Year or whatever.

At 49, Human League’s sweet ballad Louise enters fairly lowly for them, given they hadn’t failed to top my chart since Love Action just missed over 3 years earlier. Rather sadly I just missed seeing them in concert last week again as I was on holiday (Dec 2014). Also back: Scritti Politti, Lloyd Cole and The Commotions with the rather good Rattlesnakes, The Cars, Dennis De Young ex-Styx singer, Bananarama and Joan Jett covering Gary Glitter’s million-selling banished I Love You Love Me Love. As radio will never play it again, here’s a version you can listen to instead.

1 ( 1 ) THE WILD BOYS Duran Duran
2 ( 2 ) DRIVE The Cars
3 ( 4 ) HARD HABIT TO BREAK Chicago
4 ( 8 ) I FEEL FOR YOU Chaka Khan
5 ( 3 ) NO MORE LONELY NIGHTS Paul McCartney
6 ( 5 ) FREEDOM Wham!
7 ( 54 ) SEX CRIME (1984) Eurythmics
8 ( 19 ) ONE NIGHT IN BANGKOK Murray Head
9 ( 14 ) ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT Cyndi Lauper
10 ( 10 ) THE NEVER ENDING STORY Limahl

11 ( 6 ) TOO LATE FOR GOODBYES Julian Lennon
12 ( 13 ) GIMME ALL YOUR LOVING Z.Z. TOP
13 ( 7 ) CARIBBEAN QUEEN (NO MORE LOVE ON THE RUN) Billy Ocean
14 ( 9 ) THE WAR SONG Culture Club
15 ( 17 ) THIS IS MINE Heaven 17
16 ( 11 ) TOGETHER IN ELECTRIC DREAMS Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder
17 ( 15 ) OUT OF TOUCH Daryl Hall and John Oates
18 ( 20 ) ALL CRIED OUT Alison Moyet
19 ( 12 ) GOLDEN DAYS Bucks Fizz
20 ( 24 ) LOVE’S GREAT ADVENTURE Ultravox

21 ( 16 ) THE SECOND TIME Kim Wilde
22 ( 33 ) I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER Jim Diamond
23 ( 29 ) GOTTA GET YOU HOME TONIGHT Eugene Wilde
24 ( 26 ) LET’S GO CRAZY Prince
25 ( 28 ) I WON’T RUN AWAY Alvin Stardust
26 ( 46 ) NEVER TURN AWAY OMD
27 ( 31 ) I’M SO EXCITED The Pointer Sisters
28 ( 18 ) SKIN DEEP The Stranglers
29 ( NEW ) BLASPHEMOUS RUMOURS Depeche Mode
30 ( 30 ) THE RIDDLE Nik Kershaw

31 ( 39 ) THE WANDERER Status Quo
32 ( 59 ) HOW TO BE A MILLIONAIRE ABC
33 ( 23 ) PRIDE (IN THE NAME OF LOVE) U2
34 ( 25 ) LOST IN MUSIC Sister Sledge
35 ( 21 ) LISTEN TO YOUR FATHER Feargal Sharkey
36 ( 61 ) LET IT ALL BLOW The Dazz Band
37 ( 22 ) SHOUT TO THE TOP The Style Council
38 ( NEW ) ALL JOIN HANDS Slade
39 ( 40 ) CENTIPEDE Rebbie Jackson
40 ( NEW ) BERSERKER Gary Numan

41 ( 32 ) I’M GONNA TEAR YOUR PLAYHOUSE DOWN Paul Young
42 ( 42 ) I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU Stevie Wonder
43 ( 56 ) WARNING SIGN Nick Heyward
44 ( 49 ) HELPLESS Tracey Ullman
45 ( 41 ) MADAME BUTTERFLY Malcolm McLaren
46 ( 43 ) CARELESS WHISPER George Michael
47 ( 27 ) MISSING YOU John Waite
48 ( 34 ) IF THIS IS IT Huey Lewis and The News
49 ( NEW ) LOUISE Human League
50 ( 35 ) GHOSTBUSTERS Ray Parker Junior

51 ( 38 ) SMOOTH OPERATOR Sade
52 ( 36 ) WHY Bronski Beat
53 ( 45 ) TESLA GIRLS OMD
54 ( NEW ) THE CHANT HAS JUST BEGUN The Alarm
55 ( 51 ) PENNY LOVER Lionel Richie
56 ( 50 ) TWO TRIBES Frankie Goes To Hollywood
57 ( 57 ) SHOOTING FROM THE HEART Cliff Richard
58 ( 65 ) ACES HIGH Iron Maiden
59 ( 48 ) CATH The Bluebells
60 ( NEW ) HYPNOTISE Scritti Politti

61 ( 58 ) RELAX Frankie Goes To Hollywood
62 ( 47 ) BIG IN JAPAN Alphaville
63 ( NEW ) RATTLESNAKES Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
64 ( 37 ) HIGHLY STRUNG Spandau Ballet
65 ( 44 ) MODERN GIRL Meatloaf
66 ( 60 ) SELF CONTROL Laura Branigan
67 ( 69 ) THE DAY BEFORE YOU CAME Abba
68 ( NEW ) TAKE IT BACK The Pookah Makes Three
69 ( NEW ) YOU MIGHT THINK The Cars
70 ( 70 ) BILLIE-JEAN Michael Jackson

71 ( NEW ) I LOVE YOU LOVE ME LOVE Joan Jett And The Blackhearts
72 ( 64 ) TOUR DE FRANCE Kraftwerk
73 ( NEW ) DESERT MOON Dennis De Young
74 ( NEW ) HOTLINE TO HEAVEN Bananarama
75 ( 71 ) TALKING IN YOUR SLEEP Bucks Fizz

I had an interview on the Monday of this week, in Exmouth’s Rolle College, a teacher training course where I basically blew it (and knew it) as I’d done nothing to try and get observation experience in schools, and already had the chance of doing teaching at my previous College. Hey ho. Gave a lift back to Broadstone to one of the other candidates, whose parents happened to be teachers. Doh! Back at home, grandad was more chatty than he used to be in the olden days in his birthday week.

I got increasingly unhappy with the erratic speeding driving of my lift to work colleague, resolving to get my own transport. “On bus tomorrow thank God” I mused. At work got wet surveying roads at Anstey which was fun, honestly I enjoyed it! On TV Tenko was gripping drama, the female prisoners group fragmenting.

1. Star Trek: A Taste Of Armageddon
2. The Phil Silvers Show
3. MASH
4. Hill Street Blues
5. The Mary Tyler Moore Show
6. Tenko
7. Rising Damp
8. Top Of The Pops
9. Soap
10. The Addams Family
11. Terrahawks
12. Dallas
13. The Avengers
14. Carry On Up The Jungle: film
15. The Rockford Files

20th November 1984

Eurythmics get a first chart-topper after coming close on pretty much most previous singles, this was sounding very of the moment and fresh with the computer-sampling repeats, though these days it’s not remembered as well as previous Annie n Dave songs. It was enough to keep off the very well-remembered Chaka Khan, rap and sampling I Feel For You from the top spot though.

Highest new entry at 4, giving them 3 in the chart and a third hit following on from two massive number ones, the fantastic Frankie Goes To Hollywood and the christmassy The Power Of Love. I recalled my boss listening to the track and calling it a dirge. I begged to differ quite strongly and rushed out to buy the fold-out sleeve version of the single. I was, of course, entirely correct, witness it’s subsequent numerous chart re-entries and recent cover UK chart-topper from Gabrielle Aplin. “I’ll protect you from the hooded claw” is one of my fave song lyric lines.

Slade shoot up 30 places to 8, giving them a cool 13 years of top 10 hits to date, Depeche Mode get a 6th top 10 with a spot of denial and some dark lyrics, and Nik Kershaw flutes his way up to 11. ABC take a sudden leap into the 20 as the drum-sounds impress, and the Dazz Band want to let it all blow. Well, it didn’t. The late Alvin gets a second top 20 hit of the year, for 11 years of hits, Sister Sledge get a third 1984 hit with a 1979 track, as We Are Family returns at 29. 5 years seems quite a long span of time when one is young, and a quite a short span of time when one is older. Records from 2009 making the chart in 2014 just seem like extended runs of long-running hits rather than actual oldies re-issues, as they were then.

Half A Minute, matt Bianco have a smooth jazz return to the 40, while Dave, inspiration for a great UK TV channel (well, perhaps the inspiration for Dave Lister, I ponder) gives the chart-flopping Boomtown Rats a great return to my top 40. I had faith in Bob Geldof even if no-one else seemed to! The Temptations are also back. Back! Almost 16 years since their debut run of hits, and well over 22 years since they started their American chart career, some of the original line-up pop back with a Motown soul track that’s very 80’s, but with nice 60’s harmonies. This was the line-up I saw in concert a few years later, minus the great Eddie Kendricks’ and David Ruffin’s vocals. Still good though.

Tina Turner becomes an albums artist with a bit of help from Mark Knopfler’s song and title track, a bit Dire Straits-ey, a bit hookers-ey, at 53 and future 1985 hit from the classic Motown songwriters Ashford & Simpson (Ain’t No Mountain High Enough and many others), husband and wife, get their own sparkling moment with the fabulous Solid. Solid as a rock, in fact, until Nick’s death a few years back. Steve Wright, DJ of the moment back then, was using American posse comedy format to great effect on radio 1. Sadly, he was also still basing a lot of his humour on camp 60’s cliches such as the pretty piss-poor The Gay Caballeros novelty hit. It was mildly amusing on listening once. Then not.

1 ( 7 ) SEX CRIME (1984) Eurythmics
2 ( 4 ) I FEEL FOR YOU Chaka Khan
3 ( 1 ) THE WILD BOYS Duran Duran
4 ( NEW ) THE POWER OF LOVE Frankie Goes To Hollywood
5 ( 8 ) ONE NIGHT IN BANGKOK Murray Head
6 ( 3 ) HARD HABIT TO BREAK Chicago
7 ( 9 ) ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT Cyndi Lauper
8 ( 38 ) ALL JOIN HANDS Slade
9 ( 2 ) DRIVE The Cars
10 ( 29 ) BLASPHEMOUS RUMOURS Depeche Mode

11 ( 30 ) THE RIDDLE Nik Kershaw
12 ( 5 ) NO MORE LONELY NIGHTS Paul McCartney
13 ( 6 ) FREEDOM Wham!
14 ( 32 ) HOW TO BE A MILLIONAIRE ABC
15 ( 15 ) THIS IS MINE Heaven 17
16 ( 36 ) LET IT ALL BLOW The Dazz Band
17 ( 10 ) THE NEVER ENDING STORY Limahl
18 ( 25 ) I WON’T RUN AWAY Alvin Stardust
19 ( 13 ) CARIBBEAN QUEEN (NO MORE LOVE ON THE RUN) Billy Ocean
20 ( 12 ) GIMME ALL YOUR LOVING Z.Z. TOP

21 ( 11 ) TOO LATE FOR GOODBYES Julian Lennon
22 ( 16 ) TOGETHER IN ELECTRIC DREAMS Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder
23 ( 23 ) GOTTA GET YOU HOME TONIGHT Eugene Wilde
24 ( 14 ) THE WAR SONG Culture Club
25 ( 22 ) I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER Jim Diamond
26 ( 49 ) LOUISE Human League
27 ( 18 ) ALL CRIED OUT Alison Moyet
28 ( 40 ) BERSERKER Gary Numan
29 ( NEW ) WE ARE FAMILY Sister Sledge
30 ( 20 ) LOVE’S GREAT ADVENTURE Ultravox

31 ( 17 ) OUT OF TOUCH Daryl Hall and John Oates
32 ( 43 ) WARNING SIGN Nick Heyward
33 ( 27 ) I’M SO EXCITED The Pointer Sisters
34 ( 21 ) THE SECOND TIME Kim Wilde
35 ( NEW ) HALF A MINUTE Matt Bianco
36 ( 19 ) GOLDEN DAYS Bucks Fizz
37 ( 31 ) THE WANDERER Status Quo
38 ( 73 ) DESERT MOON Dennis De Young
39 ( NEW ) DAVE The Boomtown Rats
40 ( NEW ) TREAT HER LIKE A LADY The Temptations

41 ( 34 ) LOST IN MUSIC Sister Sledge
42 ( 48 ) IF THIS IS IT Huey Lewis and The News
43 ( 26 ) NEVER TURN AWAY OMD
44 ( 28 ) SKIN DEEP The Stranglers
45 ( 33 ) PRIDE (IN THE NAME OF LOVE) U2
46 ( 63 ) RATTLESNAKES Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
47 ( 42 ) I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU Stevie Wonder
48 ( 35 ) LISTEN TO YOUR FATHER Feargal Sharkey
49 ( 54 ) THE CHANT HAS JUST BEGUN The Alarm
50 ( 41 ) I’M GONNA TEAR YOUR PLAYHOUSE DOWN Paul Young

51 ( 45 ) MADAME BUTTERFLY Malcolm McLaren
52 ( 46 ) CARELESS WHISPER George Michael
53 ( NEW ) PRIVATE DANCER Tina Turner
54 ( 39 ) CENTIPEDE Rebbie Jackson
55 ( 57 ) SHOOTING FROM THE HEART Cliff Richard
56 ( 37 ) SHOUT TO THE TOP The Style Council
57 ( 60 ) HYPNOTISE Scritti Politti
58 ( 56 ) TWO TRIBES Frankie Goes To Hollywood
59 ( NEW ) SOLID Ashford and Simpson
60 ( 47 ) MISSING YOU John Waite

61 ( 44 ) HELPLESS Tracey Ullman
62 ( 61 ) RELAX Frankie Goes To Hollywood
63 ( 52 ) WHY Bronski Beat
64 ( 69 ) YOU MIGHT THINK The Cars
65 ( 50 ) GHOSTBUSTERS Ray Parker Junior
66 ( 53 ) TESLA GIRLS OMD
67 ( 67 ) THE DAY BEFORE YOU CAME Abba
68 ( 59 ) CATH The Bluebells
69 ( NEW ) THE GAY CABALLEROS Steve Wright
70 ( 70 ) BILLIE-JEAN Michael Jackson

71 ( 55 ) PENNY LOVER Lionel Richie
72 ( NEW ) WATCHING YOU Shakatak
73 ( 51 ) SMOOTH OPERATOR Sade
74 ( 74 ) HOTLINE TO HEAVEN Bananarama
75 ( 62 ) BIG IN JAPAN Alphaville

At home, by a strange co-incidence I found that my car-share driver was the cousin of the lady who’s place I’d filled in for at the NAAFI while she was ill over the summer. She had just passed away. On the way home from work I saw a moped accident which made me think twice about getting a moped to avoid the stress of being driven to work. Grandma and grandad popped in on their way back to Mansfield, telling me it was about time I got married. Pretty much expected to be married with kids at 19 in Mansfield in those days. They benefitted from me not getting married much later in life so all’s well etc…

My new TV character obsession was Stu Dapples on Terrahawks: “OK, ya, right, man, Miss Kestrel” You had to be there, trust me… I caught the latest “full of vitality” singles chart rundown in picturesque Milton Abbas, while the boss reckoned I’d grow out of it and “laugh when I get older”. Laugh again, old man! No chance of that now, I reckon, as I said to him at the time “I’ve heard all this before 15 years earlier, and it’s not declined with age (yet). More a way of life than a hobby”. He was really generally getting on my nerves by now. Not always. Only when he opened his mouth. So, a retrospective nur nur ne nur nur…

The weekend started with a classic batch of DC Comics, The Teen Titans at this stage a virtual top-selling artform, just brilliant. It ended with news that my car-share young driver’s dad had killed himself, so she was not in any state to go to work, fairly obviously, and her 3rd family death of the year. I also recalled one of the 1st year students from College who was great fun, and often popped round in the 3rd year, Jenny, had died from breast cancer. Life just not fair, barely over 22. The photo I have of her sat on my digs bed is of happier times when the world seemed bright and full of hope – 4 years earlier….

1. Star Trek: This Side Of Paradise
2. Tenko
3. Hill Street Blues
4. The Phil Silvers Show
5. MASH
6. Top Of The Pops
7. Dallas
8. Soap
9. The Twilight Zone
10. The Addams Family

27th November 1984

It’s a hat-trick of debut number ones for Frankie Goes To Hollywood, equalling Mary Hopkin and Middle Of The Road. Frankie’s, however, are three bonafide acknowledged classics. Murray Head gets to 3, and Human League keep the top 10 hits run 100% since the girls joined the band for Dare singles.

The Dazz Band get their synthfunk dance into the 10, while Alvin falls just short with his 50’s-harmony great retro single. Highest new entry, just above his movie single, it’s a TV kiddies animated feature theme tune from Paul McCartney: We All Stand Together, supported ably by a chorus of frogs! It sounds unlikely, but it’s great fun unless one has no sense of humour or no child-like enjoyment of life.

Nick Heyward sends a sudden Warning Sign top-20-bound, while Culture Club sing of medals and enter into the 40 at 24 following up 4 chart-toppers in a row with a rather merely OK-ish single. Sheena Easton struts her way back into the 40 as Frankie’s genius producer Trevor Horn, and Buggles-man, hops into a spot of Art Of Noise dance-synth instrumental close-to-the-edit stuff at 46.

The Kane Gang cover The Staples Singers 3 years before Bruce Willis had a hit with Respect Yourself, at 48. Stock Aitken & Waterman arrive proper at 54, though, as Dead Or Alive spin me round, like a record baby, a fantastic hi-energy pop record. At 66, Madonna’s 4th hit is the one that changed everything: Like A Virgin? Don’t mind if I do, as the gag goes. Produced by Nile Rodgers, a man who could do no wrong in those days. I wonder what happened to him? Daft Punk anyone?

Kool And The Gang, The Jacksons, and Shaky all pop back with new singles, while Strawberry Switchblade enter at 73 with a corker of a single, the super-melodic, girl-band sounds of Since Yesterday, and a great image not a million miles away from current various indie popstars. Love it. Finally, ever wondered what happened to the Flying Lizards after their cover of a Beatles cover, Money? Well, in my world they came back with another cover of a Beatles cover, Dizzy Miss Lizzie 5 years later!

1 ( 4 ) THE POWER OF LOVE Frankie Goes To Hollywood
2 ( 1 ) SEX CRIME (1984) Eurythmics
3 ( 5 ) ONE NIGHT IN BANGKOK Murray Head
4 ( 2 ) I FEEL FOR YOU Chaka Khan
5 ( 8 ) ALL JOIN HANDS Slade
6 ( 3 ) THE WILD BOYS Duran Duran
7 ( 26 ) LOUISE Human League
8 ( 10 ) BLASPHEMOUS RUMOURS Depeche Mode
9 ( 16 ) LET IT ALL BLOW The Dazz Band
10 ( 6 ) HARD HABIT TO BREAK Chicago

11 ( 11 ) THE RIDDLE Nik Kershaw
12 ( 18 ) I WON’T RUN AWAY Alvin Stardust
13 ( 7 ) ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT Cyndi Lauper
14 ( 14 ) HOW TO BE A MILLIONAIRE ABC
15 ( 9 ) DRIVE The Cars
16 ( NEW ) WE ALL STAND TOGETHER Paul McCartney and The Frog Chorus
17 ( 12 ) NO MORE LONELY NIGHTS Paul McCartney
18 ( 32 ) WARNING SIGN Nick Heyward
19 ( 13 ) FREEDOM Wham!
20 ( 29 ) WE ARE FAMILY Sister Sledge

21 ( 19 ) CARIBBEAN QUEEN (NO MORE LOVE ON THE RUN) Billy Ocean
22 ( 17 ) THE NEVER ENDING STORY Limahl
23 ( 40 ) TREAT HER LIKE A LADY The Temptations
24 ( NEW ) THE MEDAL SONG Culture Club
25 ( 35 ) HALF A MINUTE Matt Bianco
26 ( 15 ) THIS IS MINE Heaven 17
27 ( 39 ) DAVE The Boomtown Rats
28 ( 21 ) TOO LATE FOR GOODBYES Julian Lennon
29 ( 38 ) DESERT MOON Dennis De Young
30 ( 20 ) GIMME ALL YOUR LOVING Z.Z. TOP

31 ( 22 ) TOGETHER IN ELECTRIC DREAMS Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder
32 ( 25 ) I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER Jim Diamond
33 ( 24 ) THE WAR SONG Culture Club
34 ( 27 ) ALL CRIED OUT Alison Moyet
35 ( RE ) STRUT Sheena Easton
36 ( 23 ) GOTTA GET YOU HOME TONIGHT Eugene Wilde
37 ( 30 ) LOVE’S GREAT ADVENTURE Ultravox
38 ( 53 ) PRIVATE DANCER Tina Turner
39 ( 42 ) IF THIS IS IT Huey Lewis and The News
40 ( 37 ) THE WANDERER Status Quo

41 ( 33 ) I’M SO EXCITED The Pointer Sisters
42 ( 31 ) OUT OF TOUCH Daryl Hall and John Oates
43 ( 28 ) BERSERKER Gary Numan
44 ( 46 ) RATTLESNAKES Lloyd Cole And The Commotions
45 ( 41 ) LOST IN MUSIC Sister Sledge
46 ( NEW ) CLOSE (TO THE EDIT) Art Of Noise
47 ( 34 ) THE SECOND TIME Kim Wilde
48 ( NEW ) RESPECT YOURSELF The Kane Gang
49 ( 59 ) SOLID Ashford and Simpson
50 ( 36 ) GOLDEN DAYS Bucks Fizz

51 ( 51 ) MADAME BUTTERFLY Malcolm McLaren
52 ( 47 ) I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU Stevie Wonder
53 ( 52 ) CARELESS WHISPER George Michael
54 ( NEW ) YOU SPIN ME ROUND (LIKE A RECORD) Dead Or Alive
55 ( 44 ) SKIN DEEP The Stranglers
56 ( 45 ) PRIDE (IN THE NAME OF LOVE) U2
57 ( NEW ) TEARDROPS Shakin’ Stevens
58 ( 69 ) THE GAY CABALLEROS Steve Wright
59 ( 74 ) HOTLINE TO HEAVEN Bananarama
60 ( 58 ) TWO TRIBES Frankie Goes To Hollywood

61 ( 48 ) LISTEN TO YOUR FATHER Feargal Sharkey
62 ( 50 ) I’M GONNA TEAR YOUR PLAYHOUSE DOWN Paul Young
63 ( NEW ) BODY The Jacksons
64 ( 64 ) YOU MIGHT THINK The Cars
65 ( 62 ) RELAX Frankie Goes To Hollywood
66 ( NEW ) LIKE A VIRGIN Madonna
67 ( 67 ) THE DAY BEFORE YOU CAME Abba
68 ( 43 ) NEVER TURN AWAY OMD
69 ( NEW ) DIZZY MISS LIZZIE The Flying Lizards
70 ( 70 ) BILLIE-JEAN Michael Jackson

71 ( 49 ) THE CHANT HAS JUST BEGUN The Alarm
72 ( 65 ) GHOSTBUSTERS Ray Parker Junior
73 ( NEW ) SINCE YESTERDAY Strawberry Switchblade
74 ( 66 ) TESLA GIRLS OMD
75 ( NEW ) FRESH Kool And The Gang

At work I was hating the long tedious bus journey between the outskirts of Poole and the centre of Bournemouth. 30 years on, there are more houses and no direct service at all for the 8 mile journey, so there’s progress for local authorities paying lip service to get people to abandon their cars. It’s cheaper and quicker and way more pleasant by car, fact, unless you live in London or on a direct bus route. Watched 28-Up on TV which sort of depressed me, watching young happy children grow up into unhappy adults, not least as I could relate, and it was a reminder of the passage of time speeding up.

We got a state of the art new hand-held computer to learn for data input. I took it as a challenge when presented with the “now try and crash that!” quip by the IT bloke. I managed to crash it and freeze the entire box in 2 minutes by trying to terminate something that wasn’t running (when you log the position of a grass verge you had to end it when the grass becomes road and I just decided to end a non-existent verge). I was quite proud of that, as it took some more programming to sort. Programmes have to be written to be idiot-proof, say I. 2nd time I was handed it, I succeeded in crashing it in 20 seconds. I was getting really good at this!

TV chart
1. Star Trek: The Devil In The Dark
2. The Young Ones: Bambi
3. Hill Street Blues
4. The Phil Silvers Show
5. The Mary Tyler Moore Show
6. MASH
7. Top Of The Pops
8. The Addams Family
9. The Avengers
10. The Sullivans
11. Dallas
12. Terrahawks
13. Entertainment USA
14. The Rockford Files

My 1984 Charts – May

Bournemouth

 

1st May 1984

My unemployed and increasingly depressed lifestyle started to have an effect on my music tastes around now as nearly all cheerful records drop and moody ones do all the moving, notably Human League’s comeback record The Lebanon, straight in at 1. My fave band since Abba disappeared, they had released 2 singles, both gems, since Dare in 1981 but no sign of an album. In those days 3 years away was a big deal for a pop band. No-one saw the sudden move away from synths and into electric guitars, and few liked the anti-war political message stance of the album’s lead single, but I loved it instantly, a rare case of in at 1, their 5th chart-topper in a row.

Moody Propaganda meantime go up to 2, sell him your soul lyric not very cheerful at all, but brilliant. SOS band’s also beautifully sombre but danceable hit rises to 6 and Sandie Shaw & The Smiths’ Hand In Glove gives them both their 2nd Top 10 hit, 15 years on since the last one for Sandie. Rufus and Chaka at 9, and 2 cheerful pop tunes at 4 (Queen) and 10 (OMD’s 7th top 10) all keeping out Bob Marley at 11.

Lower down, New Order steal up to 20 from 73, Duran go Top 40 with The Reflex, and new hits for Jeffrey Osbourne, the fabulous Womack & Womack’s Love Wars and the lovely Cocteau Twins Dewdrops – and nothing else! TV, though was taking refuge in romcom fantasy horror spoof Love At First Bite, a forgotten goodie starring fave actress Susan Saint James. The Rock n Roll Years series hit 1966 and started to get seriously good. Long in need of repeating and extending to the 90’s and 21st century, the series took the major news events of a year, mixed them with affecting important hits of the year, and showed a few key pop star performances, usually debuts. Quite a powerful mix.

 

1 ( NEW ) THE LEBANON Human League
2 ( 6 ) DOCTOR MABUSE Propaganda
3 ( 4 ) AUTOMATIC The Pointer Sisters
4 ( 9 ) I WANT TO BREAK FREE Queen
5 ( 1 ) WOOD BEEZ (PRAY LIKE ARETHA FRANKLIN) Scritti Politti
6 ( 11 ) JUST BE GOOD TO ME SOS Band
7 ( 2 ) THE CATERPILLAR The Cure
8 ( 20 ) HAND IN GLOVE Sandie Shaw
9 ( 14 ) AIN’T NOBODY Rufus and Chaka Khan
10 ( 16 ) LOCOMOTION OMD

11 ( 17 ) ONE LOVE Bob Marley & The Wailers
12 ( 19 ) SILVER Echo And The Bunnymen
13 ( 8 ) GLAD IT’S ALLOVER Captain Sensible
14 ( 3 ) YOU TAKE ME UP Thompson Twins
15 ( 7 ) MAJOR TOM (COMING HOME) Peter Schilling
16 ( 12 ) DON’T TELL ME Blancmange
17 ( 25 ) I’M FALLING The Bluebells
18 ( 28 ) WHEN YOU’RE YOUNG AND IN LOVE The Flying Picketts
19 ( 5 ) NELSON MANDELA The Special A.K.A.
20 ( 73 ) THIEVES LIKE US New Order

21 ( 34 ) I FEEL LIKE BUDDY HOLLY Alvin Stardust
22 ( 30 ) IN THE HEART Kool And The Gang
23 ( 10 ) SHE’S STRANGE Cameo
24 ( 15 ) LUCKY STAR Madonna
25 ( 18 ) PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE Depeche Mode
26 ( 24 ) HELLO Lionel Richie
27 ( 35 ) AGAINST ALL ODDS Phil Collins
28 ( 13 ) UP ON THE CATWALK Simple Minds
29 ( 22 ) LEAVE IT Yes
30 ( 31 ) THE LONGEST TIME Billy Joel

31 ( 21 ) ROBERT DE NIRO’S WAITING Bananarama
32 ( 26 ) SNEAKIN’ OUT THE BACK DOOR Matt Bianco
33 ( 23 ) IT’S A MIRACLE Culture Club
34 ( 50 ) THE REFLEX Duran Duran
35 ( 47 ) GIVE ME TONIGHT Shannon
36 ( 27 ) PYT (PRETTY YOUNG THING) Michael Jackson
37 ( 74 ) PEACE IN OUR TIME The Imposter (aka Elvis Costello)
38 ( 33 ) SOMEBODY’S WATCHING ME Rockwell
39 ( 29 ) CAN’T BUY ME LOVE The Beatles
40 ( 44 ) SUCH A SHAME Talk Talk

41 ( 39 ) RELAX Frankie Goes To Hollywood
42 ( 75 ) SOMEBODY ELSE’S GUY Jocelyn Brown
43 ( 41 ) RADIO GA GA Queen
44 ( NEW ) STAY WITH ME TONIGHT Jeffrey Osbourne
45 ( 40 ) DANCING GIRLS Nik Kershaw
46 ( 51 ) SPACE ODDITY/ MAJOR TOM Jonathan King
47 ( 32 ) BORROWED TIME John Lennon
48 ( 37 ) IS THAT SO Lulu and B.A. Robertson
49 ( 55 ) LOVE GAMES Belle And The Devotions
50 ( 36 ) BABY YOU’RE DYNAMITE Cliff Richard

51 ( 38 ) SOMEDAY The Gap Band
52 ( 63 ) HAPPY ENDING Joe Jackson
53 ( 53 ) BILLIE JEAN Michael Jackson
54 ( 43 ) STREET DANCE Break Machine
55 ( 46 ) OUT COME THE FREAKS Was (Not Was)
56 ( 48 ) MICHAEL CAINE Madness
57 ( NEW ) LOVE WARS Womack & Womack
58 ( 68 ) LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE BOY Deniece Williams
59 ( 45 ) A LOVE WORTH WAITING FOR Shakin’ Stevens
60 ( 60 ) THE DAY BEFORE YOU CAME Abba

61 ( 56 ) THRILLER Michael Jackson
62 ( 62 ) LET’S DANCE David Bowie
63 ( 42 ) WHAT DO I DO Phil Fearon & Galaxy
64 ( 66 ) FOOTLOOSE Kenny Loggins
65 ( NEW ) PEARLY DEWDROPS’ DROPS The Cocteau Twins
66 ( 57 ) SOUL TRAIN Swans Way
67 ( 64 ) HOLIDAY Madonna
68 ( 71 ) YOU DON’T LOVE ME Marilyn
69 ( 49 ) THE LION’S MOUTH Kajagoogoo
70 ( 70 ) THE FLAME Annabel Lamb

71 ( 54 ) SWIMMING HORSES Siouxsie & The Banshees
72 ( 52 ) HEAVEN The Psychedelic Furs
73 ( 69 ) THE KILLING MOON Echo And The Bunnymen
74 ( 59 ) THE GREATNESS AND PERFECTION OF LOVE Julian Cope
75 ( 58 ) JUMP Van Halen

TV
1 Love At First Bite (film)
2 Cheers
3 Reamington Steele
4 Soap
5 Rock n Roll Years: 1966
6 Porridge
7 Top Of The Pops
8 Avengers
9 Dallas
10 It Ain’t Half Hot Mum

 

8th May 1984

Eurovision week, and Belle & The Devotions UK entry reaches the lofty heights of 40. No other entries in the chart though, as was the usual case in those days until they had official singles release (usually never). Human League 2 weeks on top, the top 10 shuffles a bit, barring Bob Marley getting his 4th posthumous Top 10, and 7th in total (though 2 of them did it twice, so 9th time). New Order up to 7, Duran at 12, Womacks at 19 up from 57, and Cocteua’s up to 31 from 65. Not one single big hit enters this week though, leaving room for obscure tracks: Edwin Starr’s tribute to late friend Marvin gaye highest new track at 57.

DJ Mike Read tried many times to get a hit, well he sort of got one in my chart at 65, Pink Floyder Roger Waters does a solo weighing up of the pro’s and con’s of thumbing a lift at 66, and the Shillelagh Sisters get their only hit at 67. Jacquie O’Sullivan of the band (sort of folkrockabilly) became better known when she joined Bananarama.

1 ( 1 ) THE LEBANON Human League
2 ( 3 ) AUTOMATIC The Pointer Sisters
3 ( 4 ) I WANT TO BREAK FREE Queen
4 ( 6 ) JUST BE GOOD TO ME SOS Band
5 ( 8 ) HAND IN GLOVE Sandie Shaw
6 ( 11 ) ONE LOVE Bob Marley & The Wailers
7 ( 20 ) THIEVES LIKE US New Order
8 ( 10 ) LOCOMOTION OMD
9 ( 2 ) DOCTOR MABUSE Propaganda
10 ( 5 ) WOOD BEEZ (PRAY LIKE ARETHA FRANKLIN) Scritti Politti

11 ( 12 ) SILVER Echo And The Bunnymen
12 ( 34 ) THE REFLEX Duran Duran
13 ( 23 ) SHE’S STRANGE Cameo
14 ( 17 ) I’M FALLING The Bluebells
15 ( 9 ) AIN’T NOBODY Rufus and Chaka Khan
16 ( 16 ) DON’T TELL ME Blancmange
17 ( 7 ) THE CATERPILLAR The Cure
18 ( 21 ) I FEEL LIKE BUDDY HOLLY Alvin Stardust
19 ( 57 ) LOVE WARS Womack & Womack
20 ( 15 ) MAJOR TOM (COMING HOME) Peter Schilling

21 ( 13 ) GLAD IT’S ALLOVER Captain Sensible
22 ( 14 ) YOU TAKE ME UP Thompson Twins
23 ( 26 ) HELLO Lionel Richie
24 ( 44 ) STAY WITH ME TONIGHT Jeffrey Osbourne
25 ( 19 ) NELSON MANDELA The Special A.K.A.
26 ( 35 ) GIVE ME TONIGHT Shannon
27 ( 27 ) AGAINST ALL ODDS Phil Collins
28 ( 30 ) THE LONGEST TIME Billy Joel
29 ( 18 ) WHEN YOU’RE YOUNG AND IN LOVE The Flying Picketts
30 ( 42 ) SOMEBODY ELSE’S GUY Jocelyn Brown

31 ( 65 ) PEARLY DEWDROPS’ DROPS The Cocteau Twins
32 ( 32 ) SNEAKIN’ OUT THE BACK DOOR Matt Bianco
33 ( 64 ) FOOTLOOSE Kenny Loggins
34 ( 40 ) SUCH A SHAME Talk Talk
35 ( 28 ) UP ON THE CATWALK Simple Minds
36 ( 22 ) IN THE HEART Kool And The Gang
37 ( 37 ) PEACE IN OUR TIME The Imposter (aka Elvis Costell)
38 ( 29 ) LEAVE IT Yes
39 ( 58 ) LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE BOY Deniece Williams
40 ( 49 ) LOVE GAMES Belle And The Devotions

41 ( 41 ) RELAX Frankie Goes To Hollywood
42 ( 25 ) PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE Depeche Mode
43 ( 68 ) YOU DON’T LOVE ME Marilyn
44 ( 46 ) SPACE ODDITY/ MAJOR TOM Jonathan King
45 ( 33 ) IT’S A MIRACLE Culture Club
46 ( 38 ) SOMEBODY’S WATCHING ME Rockwell
47 ( 36 ) PYT (PRETTY YOUNG THING) Michael Jackson
48 ( 24 ) LUCKY STAR Madonna
49 ( 31 ) ROBERT DE NIRO’S WAITING Bananarama
50 ( 43 ) RADIO GA GA Queen

51 ( 45 ) DANCING GIRLS Nik Kershaw
52 ( 39 ) CAN’T BUY ME LOVE The Beatles
53 ( 53 ) BILLIE JEAN Michael Jackson
54 ( 52 ) HAPPY ENDING Joe Jackson
55 ( 55 ) OUT COME THE FREAKS Was (Not Was)
56 ( 47 ) BORROWED TIME John Lennon
57 ( NEW ) MARVIN Edwin Starr
58 ( 60 ) THE DAY BEFORE YOU CAME Abba
59 ( 54 ) STREET DANCE Break Machine
60 ( 56 ) MICHAEL CAINE Madness

61 ( 61 ) THRILLER Michael Jackson
62 ( 62 ) LET’S DANCE David Bowie
63 ( 48 ) IS THAT SO Lulu and B.A. Robertson
64 ( 59 ) A LOVE WORTH WAITING FOR Shakin’ Stevens
65 ( NEW ) TELL ME I’M WRONG Mike Read
66 ( NEW ) THE PRO’S AND CON’S OF HITCH-HIKING Roger Waters
67 ( NEW ) GIVE ME MY FREEDOM The Shillelagh Sisters
68 ( 50 ) BABY YOU’RE DYNAMITE Cliff Richard
69 ( 67 ) HOLIDAY Madonna
70 ( NEW ) AIN’T THAT PECULIAR Mari Wilson

71 ( 75 ) JUMP Van Halen
72 ( NEW ) STANDING IN THE SHADOW Whitesnake
73 ( 66 ) SOUL TRAIN Swans Way
74 ( NEW ) UPROCK The Rocksteady Crew
75 ( 63 ) WHAT DO I DO Phil Fearon & Galaxy

 

TV
1 The Young Ones: Bambi
2 Cheers
3 The Sugarland Express (film)
4 Soap
5 Carrott’s Lib
6 Dallas
7 Top Of The Pops
8 Porridge
9 Hill Street Blues
10 Empire
11 Laurel & Hardy
12 Entertainment USA
13 Addams Family
14 Eurovision Song Contest
15 It Ain’t Half Hot Mum

15th May 1984

3 weeks on top for The Lebanon, and 2 at 2 for Automatic, while Duran get the their biggest hit to date at 3 (The Reflex). Womacks go top 10 for the first time (and not the last) while Alvin gets his, ooh, 5th Top 10 in 11 years, and his first for 3 years. It’s a Womble record, essentially. He’s a Mansfield lad though, and our only pop star ever, so have to support him. Elsewhere, 2 Footloose tracks side by side (16, 17) which meant nothing to me as I never went to see it. Billy Joel gets another top 20 hit, the pleasant Longest Time, and highest new entry is a dance cover of a great Detroit Spinners non-hit from 1972, I’ll Be Around.

Hazell Dean debuts with a gay club anthem of the time, Stock Aitken Waterman starting to make themselves chart regulars. That’s about it, actually, below that it’s just shuffling of positions and some bizarre new entries underline nothing much was happening on the music scene for the second week in a row. I mean, Roland Rat? Marillion? Kajagoogoo!? At least Boomtown Rats, Kane Gang, and Melody Makers (Bob Marley’s kids joining him in the chart) add a tad more credibility…

1 ( 1 ) THE LEBANON Human League
2 ( 2 ) AUTOMATIC The Pointer Sisters
3 ( 12 ) THE REFLEX Duran Duran
4 ( 3 ) I WANT TO BREAK FREE Queen
5 ( 6 ) ONE LOVE Bob Marley & The Wailers
6 ( 4 ) JUST BE GOOD TO ME SOS Band
7 ( 19 ) LOVE WARS Womack & Womack
8 ( 18 ) I FEEL LIKE BUDDY HOLLY Alvin Stardust
9 ( 5 ) HAND IN GLOVE Sandie Shaw
10 ( 16 ) DON’T TELL ME Blancmange

11 ( 24 ) STAY WITH ME TONIGHT Jeffrey Osbourne
12 ( 7 ) THIEVES LIKE US New Order
13 ( 10 ) WOOD BEEZ (PRAY LIKE ARETHA FRANKLIN) Scritti Politti
14 ( 9 ) DOCTOR MABUSE Propaganda
15 ( 8 ) LOCOMOTION OMD
16 ( 39 ) LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE BOY Deniece Williams
17 ( 33 ) FOOTLOOSE Kenny Loggins
18 ( 15 ) AIN’T NOBODY Rufus and Chaka Khan
19 ( 28 ) THE LONGEST TIME Billy Joel
20 ( 30 ) SOMEBODY ELSE’S GUY Jocelyn Brown

21 ( 14 ) I’M FALLING The Bluebells
22 ( 13 ) SHE’S STRANGE Cameo
23 ( 20 ) MAJOR TOM (COMING HOME) Peter Schilling
24 ( 27 ) AGAINST ALL ODDS Phil Collins
25 ( 21 ) GLAD IT’S ALLOVER Captain Sensible
26 ( 17 ) THE CATERPILLAR The Cure
27 ( NEW ) I’LL BE AROUND Terri Wells
28 ( 23 ) HELLO Lionel Richie
29 ( NEW ) SEARCHING Hazell Dean
30 ( 11 ) SILVER Echo And The Bunnymen

31 ( 31 ) PEARLY DEWDROPS’ DROPS The Cocteau Twins
32 ( 29 ) WHEN YOU’RE YOUNG AND IN LOVE The Flying Picketts
33 ( 22 ) YOU TAKE ME UP Thompson Twins
34 ( 25 ) NELSON MANDELA The Special A.K.A.
35 ( 41 ) RELAX Frankie Goes To Hollywood
36 ( 43 ) YOU DON’T LOVE ME Marilyn
37 ( 26 ) GIVE ME TONIGHT Shannon
38 ( 40 ) LOVE GAMES Belle And The Devotions
39 ( 32 ) SNEAKIN’ OUT THE BACK DOOR Matt Bianco
40 ( 44 ) SPACE ODDITY/ MAJOR TOM Jonathan King

41 ( 37 ) PEACE IN OUR TIME The Imposter (aka Elvis Costell)
42 ( 35 ) UP ON THE CATWALK Simple Minds
43 ( 36 ) IN THE HEART Kool And The Gang
44 ( 38 ) LEAVE IT Yes
45 ( 34 ) SUCH A SHAME Talk Talk
46 ( 46 ) SOMEBODY’S WATCHING ME Rockwell
47 ( 45 ) IT’S A MIRACLE Culture Club
48 ( 48 ) LUCKY STAR Madonna
49 ( 50 ) RADIO GA GA Queen
50 ( 57 ) MARVIN Edwin Starr

51 ( 42 ) PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE Depeche Mode
52 ( 47 ) PYT (PRETTY YOUNG THING) Michael Jackson
53 ( 53 ) BILLIE JEAN Michael Jackson
54 ( 72 ) STANDING IN THE SHADOW Whitesnake
55 ( 49 ) ROBERT DE NIRO’S WAITING Bananarama
56 ( 65 ) TELL ME I’M WRONG Mike Read
57 ( 70 ) AIN’T THAT PECULIAR Mari Wilson
58 ( 58 ) THE DAY BEFORE YOU CAME Abba
59 ( NEW ) DON’T LET GO Wang Chung
60 ( 51 ) DANCING GIRLS Nik Kershaw

61 ( 62 ) LET’S DANCE David Bowie
62 ( 61 ) THRILLER Michael Jackson
63 ( 63 ) IS THAT SO Lulu and B.A. Robertson
64 ( NEW ) TURN YOUR BACK ON ME Kajagoogoo
65 ( 52 ) CAN’T BUY ME LOVE The Beatles
66 ( NEW ) SHE’S TROUBLE Musical Youth
67 ( 60 ) MICHAEL CAINE Madness
68 ( NEW ) DRAG ME DOWN The Boomtown Rats
69 ( NEW ) LOVE ME TENDER Roland Rat
70 ( NEW ) SWEETEST SWEETEST Jermaine Jackson

71 ( NEW ) ASSASSING Marillion
72 ( 55 ) OUT COME THE FREAKS Was (Not Was)
73 ( NEW ) MET HER ON A RAINT DAY The Melody Makers
74 ( NEW ) BREAK DANCE PARTY Break Machine
75 ( NEW ) SMALL TOWN CREED The Kane Gang

TV
1 Cheers
2 The Young Ones: Bambi
3 The Young Ones
4 Dallas
5 Hill Street Blues
6 Addams Family
7 Soap
8 Porridge
9 Man About The House
10 Top Of The Pops
11. Avengers
12. Professionals
13. Empire
14. Batman
15. Automan
16. Rockford Files
17. It Ain’t Half Hot Mum
18. Sullivans
19. Entertainment USA
20. 8 Days A week

22nd May 1984

4th and final week on top for The Lebanon, 3rd week at 2 for Automatic, 2nd week at 3 for Reflex. Elsewhere, though, the lethargy is blown apart with 15 substantial new entries headed by Elton John at 10 with Sad Songs, his first single after his Too Low For Zero album success and a run of great singles off it. Pleasant enough, though the video helped it’s high chart placing a bit.

in at 17, an instant success for new jazzy-folk duo Everything But The Girl and their fab ballad Each And Every One, while Wham! shift up a pop gear and start sticking shuttlecocks in pants and gogoing, in at 20 for their 5th hit. Howard Jones gets his 4th, Ultravox their 4th year of chart hits, non-stop, and Chris De Burgh is actually back after his flirtation with a ferryman in 1977, telling us he’s high on emotion. His best record. By far. Not saying a great deal, I grant, but it’s true.

Style Council enter at 35 with the gorgeous, summery You’re The Best Thing, giving Paul Weller 7 years of hits non-stop, while Bruce Springsteen comes back again at 38 and Dancing In The Dark, his best record since Born To Run debuted in my chart in 1975, and certainly his most commercial and he finally gives in and does a great video with both Courtney Cox and some tight jeans. Others new in: Quo (over 10 years of hits), Bananarama, Nick Heyward, Imagination, Eddy Grant (15 years of hits, with the Equals) and a fun movie soundtrack theme song in Romancing The Stone, Helen Terry ex of Culture Club backing singering, Evelyn “No Champaign” King back after 5 years with a new club sound that was hitting big – HiNRG. The BPM’s were set to max and a new genre stretching through to 2014 influences was chartborn.

Finally, Rod’s back, 11 years on from Maggie May and hitting the right dancerock buttons with Infatuation, and Sade’s follow-up to their (or her) debut is even better, sultry jazz was back in fashion. Or cocktail music, if you’re less enamoured of it. On TV, with Dallas only beaten by Cheers, I’m assuming this was the season end JR-shot episode where the scheming bitchy quips and ensuing camp hilarity were flying. I bet it was Kristin….
1 ( 1 ) THE LEBANON Human League
2 ( 2 ) AUTOMATIC The Pointer Sisters
3 ( 3 ) THE REFLEX Duran Duran
4 ( 7 ) LOVE WARS Womack & Womack
5 ( 8 ) I FEEL LIKE BUDDY HOLLY Alvin Stardust
6 ( 6 ) JUST BE GOOD TO ME SOS Band
7 ( 4 ) I WANT TO BREAK FREE Queen
8 ( 16 ) LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE BOY Deniece Williams
9 ( 11 ) STAY WITH ME TONIGHT Jeffrey Osbourne
10 ( NEW ) SAD SONGS (SAY SO MUCH) Elton John

11 ( 5 ) ONE LOVE Bob Marley & The Wailers
12 ( 10 ) DON’T TELL ME Blancmange
13 ( 29 ) SEARCHING Hazell Dean
14 ( 9 ) HAND IN GLOVE Sandie Shaw
15 ( 17 ) FOOTLOOSE Kenny Loggins
16 ( 20 ) SOMEBODY ELSE’S GUY Jocelyn Brown
17 ( NEW ) EACH AND EVERY ONE Everything But The Girl
18 ( 18 ) AIN’T NOBODY Rufus and Chaka Khan
19 ( 19 ) THE LONGEST TIME Billy Joel
20 ( NEW ) WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GOGO Wham!

21 ( 13 ) WOOD BEEZ (PRAY LIKE ARETHA FRANKLIN) Scritti Politti
22 ( 12 ) THIEVES LIKE US New Order
23 ( 27 ) I’LL BE AROUND Terri Wells
24 ( 15 ) LOCOMOTION OMD
25 ( 14 ) DOCTOR MABUSE Propaganda
26 ( 24 ) AGAINST ALL ODDS Phil Collins
27 ( 74 ) BREAK DANCE PARTY Break Machine
28 ( NEW ) PEARL IN THE SHELL Howard Jones
29 ( NEW ) DANCING WITH TEARS IN MY EYES Ultravox
30 ( 23 ) MAJOR TOM (COMING HOME) Peter Schilling

31 ( NEW ) HIGH ON EMOTION Chris De Burgh
32 ( 22 ) SHE’S STRANGE Cameo
33 ( 36 ) YOU DON’T LOVE ME Marilyn
34 ( 25 ) GLAD IT’S ALLOVER Captain Sensible
35 ( NEW ) YOU’RE THE BEST THING The Style Council
36 ( 71 ) ASSASSING Marillion
37 ( 28 ) HELLO Lionel Richie
38 ( NEW ) DANCING IN THE DARK Bruce Springsteen
39 ( 26 ) THE CATERPILLAR The Cure
40 ( NEW ) ROUGH JUSTICE Bananarama

41 ( 35 ) RELAX Frankie Goes To Hollywood
42 ( NEW ) GOING DOWNTOWN TONIGHT Status Quo
43 ( 21 ) I’M FALLING The Bluebells
44 ( 57 ) AIN’T THAT PECULIAR Mari Wilson
45 ( 69 ) LOVE ME TENDER Roland Rat
46 ( 42 ) UP ON THE CATWALK Simple Minds
47 ( 32 ) WHEN YOU’RE YOUNG AND IN LOVE The Flying Picketts
48 ( 50 ) MARVIN Edwin Starr
49 ( 46 ) SOMEBODY’S WATCHING ME Rockwell
50 ( 33 ) YOU TAKE ME UP Thompson Twins

51 ( 49 ) RADIO GA GA Queen
52 ( 59 ) DON’T LET GO Wang Chung
53 ( 53 ) BILLIE JEAN Michael Jackson
54 ( 64 ) TURN YOUR BACK ON ME Kajagoogoo
55 ( 47 ) IT’S A MIRACLE Culture Club
56 ( 68 ) DRAG ME DOWN The Boomtown Rats
57 ( NEW ) LOVE ALL DAY Nick Heyward
58 ( 34 ) NELSON MANDELA The Special A.K.A.
59 ( 66 ) SHE’S TROUBLE Musical Youth
60 ( NEW ) STATE OF LOVE Imagination

61 ( 58 ) THE DAY BEFORE YOU CAME Abba
62 ( 39 ) SNEAKIN’ OUT THE BACK DOOR Matt Bianco
63 ( 61 ) LET’S DANCE David Bowie
64 ( 62 ) THRILLER Michael Jackson
65 ( NEW ) INFATUATION Rod Stewart
66 ( 44 ) LEAVE IT Yes
67 ( 31 ) PEARLY DEWDROPS’ DROPS The Cocteau Twins
68 ( NEW ) WHEN AM I GOING TO MAKE A LIVING Sade
69 ( 70 ) SWEETEST SWEETEST Jermaine Jackson
70 ( 51 ) PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE Depeche Mode

71 ( 48 ) LUCKY STAR Madonna
72 ( 52 ) PYT (PRETTY YOUNG THING) Michael Jackson
73 ( NEW ) ROMANCING THE STONE Eddy Grant
74 ( NEW ) LOVE LIES LOST Helen Terry
75 ( NEW ) HIGH ENERGY Evelyn King

TV
1 Cheers
2 Dallas
3 Hill Street Blues
4 Scully
5 Soap
6 Addams Family
7 Professionals
8 Twilight Zone
9 Avengers
10 Top Of The Pops
11 Porridge
12 Entertainment USA
13 Empire
14 Spitting Image
15 Batman (film)
16 Rockford Files
17 Upstairs Downstairs
18 8 Days A Week
19 Automan
20 Sullivans