My Jan-Apr 2020 Charts

Kim Wilde, Ricky Wilde 2019 December, Sturminster Newton, Dorset

 

26th April 2020

It’s 3 weeks on top for Levitating as Break My Heart hits 2 to give Dua Lipa a chart double-top as she also contributes the opening line to the charity Foo Fighters cover at 72. Times Like These peaked at a relatively lowly 20 in my charts 17 years ago (2003 was a terrible year for me, and it impacted on what I liked) while Glen Campbell’s fab cover of it did much better in 2008 when it peaked at 8. Highest new entry is from Galantis & Wrabel, the brand new The Lake, in at 4 to give Galantis a 3rd top 5, including chart-topper True Feeling in 2017.

Up 43 places to 7, it’s the latest Pet Shop Boys single I Don’t Wanna, which had peaked in the 30’s as an album track – it’s the longest climb ever for a PSB single to peak (12 weeks!) and the video gives the lyrics a boost in impact: the boy in the story is basically Young Me. That was me that was, talk about identifying with a lyric! The B side, New Boy, enters at 51, and it’s a song they half-wrote but never finished over 35 years ago. Now it’s finished! Kygo meanwhile gets a 4th top 20 in 5 years as I’ll Wait leaps up to 16, and The Weeknd gets at least his 12th top 40 as In Your Eyes pushes out Blinding Lights.

The Fizz keep their resurgence strong as Storm makes it yet another top 40 for Bucks Fizz (give or take a Bobby G) and a chart span of 39 years. That’s really not bad for a British Eurovision entry is it?! No other UK Eurovision discovery act (as opposed to previously successful) comes close by a margin of 35 years, and no Eurovision act at all has a longer chart span with new material – pending the yet-to-be-released new Abba songs of course, and excluding established stars in the UK like Cliff, Lulu, Engelbert etc.

New entries include: The Rolling Stones returning after a break of 7 years, their best track in a decade, and most relevant new song (I’d venture) in almost 37 years, as a direct result of Lockdown: Living In A Ghost Town; New Kids On The Block, back again after a short break from 2018’s 80’s Baby, and a chart span of 31 years; Rumer back after a 5-year MIA sequence; Pretenders back after a gap of 3 years, and a chart span of 41 years for Chrissie Hynde & drummer; Alanis Morrissette back swiftly; The 1975 finally get a follow-up to 2013’s Chocolate which limped in at 74 – so If You’re Too Shy only has to climb 7 places next week to beat it! Shocking I know that I’ve never rated the Critically-acclaimed band beyond a peak of 74. Ah well, it would be boring if we all liked the same thing…

1 1 1 5 LEVITATING Dua Lipa 572100
2 3 2 5 BREAK MY HEART Dua Lipa 292400
3 2 2 11 NO TIME TO DIE Billie Eilish 623500
4 NEW 4 1 THE LAKE Galantis & Wrabel 65000
5 4 1 9 SAY SO Doja Cat 711600
6 5 5 7 CAUTION The Killers 252550
7 50 7 12 I DON’T WANNA Pet Shop Boys 182550
8 6 6 8 MISTAKES Jonas Blue & Paloma Faith 232700
9 7 4 9 THE WHOLE 9 Marina Kaye 363100
10 8 1 12 TEARS OF GOLD Faouzia 964000

11 11 11 8 LOST AT SEA Cashier No.9 178150
12 17 12 5 DANCING NEXT TO ME Greyson Chance 96400
13 9 9 8 MURPHY’S LAW Roisin Murphy 223300
14 12 12 7 GOLIATH Smith & Thell 131300
15 16 15 6 WHO I AM Melanie C 126500
16 39 16 4 I’LL WAIT Kygo & Sasha Sloan 48800
17 20 17 5 SPOTLIGHT Jessie Ware 81050
18 14 6 10 MODERN LONELINESS Lauv 309500
19 15 15 8 WHO Lauv featuring BTS 131900
20 32 20 5 ANTISOCIAL SOCIALITES Kyan Palmer, nicopop & Yuri Joness 68300

21 24 21 11 LA VIE EN ROSE Louis Armstrong 156350
22 19 19 8 ALL OF THE FEELINGS Kiesza 137550
23 10 1 12 I’M GONNA LOVE YOU JUST A LITTLE MORE BABY Barry White 1255250
24 62 24 5 IN YOUR EYES The Weeknd 40800
25 27 25 5 BLUE SKIES Music from Star Trek: Picard featuring Isa Briones 77550
26 18 2 12 HALFWAY James Blunt featuring Ward Thomas 501200
27 33 27 8 LOOK AFTER YOU Aron Wright 94050
28 21 9 9 THE OTHER SIDE SZA, Justin Timberlake 254600
29 38 29 4 HOLD ON, WE’RE GOING HOME Nerina Pallot 44400
30 34 30 8 SOMETIMES Kodaline 88400

31 25 25 6 LIMITLESS Bon Jovi 73450
32 35 32 7 CRASHING Illenium featuring Bahari 92550
33 45 33 4 THE MAN Taylor Swift 41300
34 46 34 7 KINGS & QUEENS Ava Max 69150
35 63 35 5 STORM The Fizz 33000
36 36 36 6 THROW MY BONES Deep Purple 68200
37 30 3 13 THERAPY Duke Dumont featuring Sharlene Hector 526800
38 41 38 7 HARVEST MOON Neil Young 78250
39 48 39 7 I’M TOAST Sparks 61000
40 66 40 5 LIMITLESS Richard Marx 31400

41 40 1 21 BLINDING LIGHTS The Weeknd 1390450
42 28 4 13 YOU ARE THE ONE Pet Shop Boys 449550
43 13 13 4 LEAN ON ME Bill Withers 102500
44 22 10 11 ONE OF A KIND Ronan Keating & Emeli Sande 224050
45 57 45 5 BOYFRIEND Mabel 36300
46 68 46 5 RESERVATION The Fizz 24750
47 47 47 8 MAMA Genesis 79700
48 23 23 6 YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE Gerry & The Pacemakers 92550
49 69 49 2 WHO YOU LOVIN’ LEON 18300
50 26 26 4 LOVELY DAY Bill Withers 66300

51 NEW 51 1 NEW BOY Pet Shop Boys 11750
52 29 3 6 STAY Rihanna featuring Mikky Ekko 265700
53 31 14 9 COME ON OUTSIDE Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 147050
54 75 54 2 THE GREATEST James Blunt 16000
55 43 8 13 PHYSICAL Dua Lipa 303750
56 72 56 2 IF YOU THINK THIS IS REAL LIFE Blossoms 16200
57 37 25 6 100 WAYS Jackson Wang 86550
58 58 58 6 FREAKS Fisher 43600
59 71 59 2 I LOVE YOU NOW CHANGE Twinnie 15900
60 60 60 6 NO JUDGEMENT Niaill Horan 37600

61 42 24 9 YOU SHOULD BE SAD Halsey 131350
62 65 62 5 GHOST TOWN The Specials 32000
63 NEW 63 1 LIVING IN A GHOST TOWN The Rolling Stones 7200
64 70 64 5 I LOVE YOU’S Hailee Steinfeld 19400
65 49 14 12 ROSES Adam Lambert & Nile Rodgers 234100
66 NEW 66 1 HARD TIMES FOR LOVERS Rumer 6800
67 67 1 35 NOBODY ELSE The S.L.P. 1266700
68 NEW 68 1 SECRETS Regard & Raye 6400
69 78 69 2 LEAN ON ME UB40 featuring Ali Campbell & Astro 10600
70 79 70 2 I CONTAIN MULTITUDES Bob Dylan 10200

71 74 71 2 JUST THE TWO OF US Grover Washington Jr & Bill Withers 11000
72 NEW 72 1 TIMES LIKE THESE Live Lounge Allstars 5600
73 76 73 2 LIGHT OF LOVE Florence + The Machine 10200
74 64 64 6 IS EVERYBODY GOING CRAZY? Nothing But Thieves 34600
75 NEW 75 1 HOUSE PARTY New Kids On The Block featuring BoyzIIMen, Big Freedia, Naughty By Nature & Jordin Sparks 5000
76 NEW 76 1 THE BUZZ Pretenders 4800
77 77 77 3 THANK U VERY MUCH FOR THE NHS The Scaffold 12200
78 44 16 10 WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU The Avalanches featuring Blood Orange 161000
79 NEW 79 1 DIAGNOSIS Alanis Morrissette 4200
80 NEW 80 1 IF YOU’RE TOO SHY (LET ME KNOW) The 1975 4000

DROP OUTS
51 12 9 BROKEN SLEEP Agnes Obel 206300
52 17 9 INSTANT DESTINY Tame Impala 140400
53 36 8 STUPID LOVE Lady Gaga 82650
54 54 5 I’M IN LOVE Danny Dove featuring The Flirtations 37600
55 1 17 FADES AWAY Avicii featuring Mishcatt 1148100
56 4 13 WILL-O-THE-WISP Pet Shop Boys 458900
59 39 7 THE STEPS HAIM 80350
61 20 9 CUZ I LOVE YOU Lizzo 147550
73 73 5 FALLING Harry Styles 16900
80 80 1 WILD THING The Goodies 4000

 

 

19th April 2020

It’s 2 weeks on top for Levitating as Dua Lipa makes a Billie Eilish sandwich with her INXS-inspired Break My Heart at 3. When we reflect back on Lockdown in years to come, for me it’ll be Dua Lipa that brightened it up. It’s a quiet chart generally, as I’m not getting to hear my itunes purchases in the car in beautiful surround-sound – not getting out and about, while my home CD player is faulty and PCWorld is shut, doh! Plus I want to chop it down to 75 anyway, almost there this week.

Two big climbers into the 40 from Nerina Pallot and Kygo, and new entries from LEON returning with a goodie pop number, as The Goodies return in tribute to the late Tim Brooke-Taylor – Wild Thing was a B side (and excerpt from a TV episode) and a cover of The Troggs classic, both amusing and about as cool as they got musically, as they parodied the mid-70’s music scene. Blossoms return, James Blunt gets a 5th track off his album in my charts as his previous single remains top 20, Florence + The Machine return with a Lockdown present, while Ali Campbell covers the already-charting late Bill Withers classic Lean On Me for NHS charity causes, and giving the UB40 brand a chart career of exactly 40 years since Food For Thought went top 3, and at least the 4th version of Lean On Me to chart.

Bob Dylan also returns with a new track. He doesn’t quite have the chart span of The Scaffold (a few months short for new material, a mere 51 years give or take), and he’s never been consistent with new material (though some of his classic 60’s period have charted over the years, notably Like A Rolling Stone), a mere 5 chart entries solo, the last of them 30 years ago. That would normally make a notable comment for the entry of I Contain Multitudes after such a lengthy gap, were it not for The Scaffold and Deep Purple already having pissed all over that gap at 52 years and 49 years, respectively, in the chart. Bob, of course was a Traveling Wilbury too, and had some chart hits with his mates, and oodles of covers of his songs over the decades from the likes of Bryan Ferry, Adele, The Rolling Stones, and many others.

1 1 1 4 LEVITATING Dua Lipa 402100
2 2 2 10 NO TIME TO DIE Billie Eilish 538500
3 6 3 4 BREAK MY HEART Dua Lipa 177400
4 3 1 8 SAY SO Doja Cat 651600
5 5 5 6 CAUTION The Killers 197550
6 9 6 8 MISTAKES Jonas Blue & Paloma Faith 184700
7 7 4 8 THE WHOLE 9 Marina Kaye 363100
8 8 1 11 TEARS OF GOLD Faouzia 922000
9 10 9 7 MURPHY’S LAW Roisin Murphy 191300
10 4 1 11 I’M GONNA LOVE YOU JUST A LITTLE MORE BABY Barry White 1236000

11 14 11 7 LOST AT SEA Cashier No.9 141150
12 20 12 6 GOLIATH Smith & Thell 102300
13 13 13 3 LEAN ON ME Bill Withers 89000
14 11 6 9 MODERN LONELINESS Lauv 287500
15 18 15 7 WHO Lauv featuring BTS 110900
16 17 16 5 WHO I AM Melanie C 99500
17 21 17 4 DANCING NEXT TO ME Greyson Chance 61400
18 12 2 11 HALFWAY James Blunt featuring Ward Thomas 482700
19 23 19 7 ALL OF THE FEELINGS Kiesza 118050
20 27 20 4 SPOTLIGHT Jessie Ware 58050

21 16 9 8 THE OTHER SIDE SZA, Justin Timberlake 236300
22 15 10 10 ONE OF A KIND Ronan Keating & Emeli Sande 210800
23 28 23 5 YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE Gerry & The Pacemakers 80250
24 33 24 10 LA VIE EN ROSE Louis Armstrong 136600
25 34 25 5 LIMITLESS Bon Jovi 55550
26 30 26 3 LOVELY DAY Bill Withers 54300
27 29 27 4 BLUE SKIES Music from Star Trek: Picard featuring Isa Briones 58800
28 24 4 12 YOU ARE THE ONE Pet Shop Boys 435800
29 19 3 5 STAY Rihanna featuring Mikky Ekko 254200
30 26 3 12 THERAPY Duke Dumont featuring Sharlene Hector 509500

31 22 14 8 COME ON OUTSIDE Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 135800
32 37 32 4 ANTISOCIAL SOCIALITES Kyan Palmer, nicopop & Yuri Joness 48300
33 46 33 7 LOOK AFTER YOU Aron Wright 75650
34 43 34 7 SOMETIMES Kodaline 70400
35 39 35 6 CRASHING Illenium featuring Bahari 74750
36 40 36 5 THROW MY BONES Deep Purple 50800
37 25 25 5 100 WAYS Jackson Wang 76150
38 73 38 3 HOLD ON, WE’RE GOING HOME Nerina Pallot 26200
39 74 39 3 I’LL WAIT Kygo & Sasha Sloan 23800
40 32 1 20 BLINDING LIGHTS The Weeknd 1376450

41 44 41 6 HARVEST MOON Neil Young 61050
42 36 24 8 YOU SHOULD BE SAD Halsey 123850
43 31 8 12 PHYSICAL Dua Lipa 292950
44 35 16 9 WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU The Avalanches featuring Blood Orange 156600
45 62 45 3 THE MAN Taylor Swift 23600
46 54 46 6 KINGS & QUEENS Ava Max 51550
47 50 47 7 MAMA Genesis 67200
48 56 48 6 I’M TOAST Sparks 43900
49 45 14 11 ROSES Adam Lambert & Nile Rodgers 227100
50 52 35 11 I DON’T WANNA Pet Shop Boys 132550

51 38 12 9 BROKEN SLEEP Agnes Obel 206300
52 41 17 9 INSTANT DESTINY Tame Impala 140400
53 42 36 8 STUPID LOVE Lady Gaga 82650
54 55 54 5 I’M IN LOVE Danny Dove featuring The Flirtations 37600
55 49 1 17 FADES AWAY Avicii featuring Mishcatt 1148100
56 51 4 13 WILL-O-THE-WISP Pet Shop Boys 458900
57 67 57 4 BOYFRIEND Mabel 23300
58 65 58 5 FREAKS Fisher 33400
59 47 39 7 THE STEPS HAIM 80350
60 68 60 5 NO JUDGEMENT Niaill Horan 27600

61 48 20 9 CUZ I LOVE YOU Lizzo 147550
62 71 62 4 IN YOUR EYES The Weeknd 21800
63 78 63 4 STORM The Fizz 15500
64 64 64 5 IS EVERYBODY GOING CRAZY? Nothing But Thieves 29400
65 69 65 4 GHOST TOWN The Specials 24600
66 79 66 4 LIMITLESS Richard Marx 14400
67 66 1 34 NOBODY ELSE The S.L.P. 1260100
68 83 68 4 RESERVATION The Fizz 12000
69 NEW 69 1 WHO YOU LOVIN’ LEON 6200
70 81 70 4 I LOVE YOU’S Hailee Steinfeld 12300

71 NEW 71 1 I LOVE YOU NOW CHANGE Twinnie 5800
72 NEW 72 1 IF YOU THINK THIS IS REAL LIFE Blossoms 5600
73 77 73 5 FALLING Harry Styles 16900
74 NEW 74 1 JUST THE TWO OF US Grover Washington Jr & Bill Withers 5200
75 NEW 75 1 THE GREATEST James Blunt 5000
76 NEW 76 1 LIGHT OF LOVE Florence + The Machine 4800
77 85 77 2 THANK U VERY MUCH FOR THE NHS The Scaffold 7600
78 NEW 78 1 LEAN ON ME UB40 featuring Ali Campbell & Astro 4400
79 NEW 79 1 I CONTAIN MULTITUDES Bob Dylan 4200
80 NEW 80 1 WILD THING The Goodies 4000

DROP OUTS
53 17 9 KNOW YOUR WORTH Khalid & Disclosure 129150
57 25 8 SIX DAYS IN JUNE The Fratellis 115500
58 58 7 SECOND CHANCE The Shapeshifters featuring Kimberly Davis 45200
59 59 4 THE SUN RISING The Beloved 25700
60 33 6 DEAD WEIGHT PVRIS 87500
61 16 12 LONELY Joel Corry featuring HARLEE 209300
63 5 12 AND IT’S STILL ALRIGHT Nathaniel Rateliff 374300
70 3 12 FOREVER Will Young 412100
72 2 7 DRIVER’S SEAT Sniff ‘n’ The Tears 252200
75 75 2 KEEP ON MOVIN’ Five 8400
76 30 8 GREAT UNKNOWN X Ambassadors 108050
80 80 2 TOUCH TOO MUCH Arrows 6600
82 58 6 REVIVAL Gregory Porter 39800
84 21 10 REACT Pussycat Dolls 143150

 

 

12th April 2020

It’s a first week on top for the best track on Dua Lipa’s new album, the outrageously catchy sci-fi-pop-dance of Levitating, her second chart-topper, following Hotter Than Hell in 2016, while she simultaneously grabs another top 10 with the INXS-themed Break My Heart, her 9th in total the same week Paloma Faith gets her 15th with Jonas Blue’s Mistakes – his first top 10, and Paloma herself has charted with a version of Never Tear Us Apart, the under-pinning rhythm of Break My Heart. Billie Eilsh is stranded at 2 for 2 weeks now, with The Killers going top 5, Caution giving them an 11th top 10, or 15th including Brandon Flowers solo stuff. Roisin Murphy gets her first new solo top 10 in 13 years, and 5th in total including Moloko stuff spanning 22 years.

Greyson Chance gets the highest climber to enter the 40 at 21, Jessie Ware gets her first in a while, and Bon Jovi their highest-charting in 11 years. That’s nuttin’ though, this week, as Deep Purple get a first top 40 in, gasp, over 48 years since Fireball dropped out my charts (though lead singer Ian Gillan had 8 of them in the early 80’s). For new material that would be seriously impressive.

If it weren’t for the only new entry this week, that is – a charity track for the NHS in times of need, and a rewritten-song that predates my charts, back to when I was a lad of 9 years old learning how to do arts and craft-y girlie stuff at school to avoid playing football. Thank U Very Much was a huge Scouse, and kiddie anthem for The Scaffold, the Liverpool band which included Mike McGear, Paul McCartney’s brother. I’d been living in Liverpool for a year just before so all things Scouse were fab by me. By late 1968 I did my first charts, and included in them was Lily The Pink, the UK chart-topping novelty song about the lady who invented Medicinal Compound, something we all could do with right now – no-one knows what it was, but it solved a lot of problems! So, it’s been 51 years since the Scaffold had their one and only chart action. It seems unlikely that any other 60’s act will ever have to wait any longer for a newly-recorded track to stop them having One-Hit Wondership, or such a long gap between chart hits. Mike McGear, though, doesn’t share that record personally as Macca donated him a fab minor hit record in 1974 (Leave It), the same year that The Scaffold had a UK hit with Liverpool Lou, a record I didn’t chart as I was too interested in exciting new stuff from obscure bands like Abba, Queen and Sparks, and bands with a “The” were uncool now.

1 7 1 3 LEVITATING Dua Lipa 232100
2 2 2 9 NO TIME TO DIE Billie Eilish 423500
3 1 1 7 SAY SO Doja Cat 586600
4 3 1 10 I’M GONNA LOVE YOU JUST A LITTLE MORE BABY Barry White 1194000
5 13 5 5 CAUTION The Killers 137550
6 15 6 3 BREAK MY HEART Dua Lipa 92400
7 4 4 7 THE WHOLE 9 Marina Kaye 313100
8 5 1 10 TEARS OF GOLD Faouzia 874000
9 14 9 7 MISTAKES Jonas Blue & Paloma Faith 129700
10 12 10 6 MURPHY’S LAW Roisin Murphy 146300

11 6 6 8 MODERN LONELINESS Lauv 258500
12 8 2 10 HALFWAY James Blunt featuring Ward Thomas 460700
13 16 13 2 LEAN ON ME Bill Withers 57000
14 19 14 6 LOST AT SEA Cashier No.9 104150
15 10 10 9 ONE OF A KIND Ronan Keating & Emeli Sande 191300
16 11 9 7 THE OTHER SIDE SZA, Justin Timberlake 216550
17 17 17 4 WHO I AM Melanie C 74500
18 20 18 6 WHO Lauv featuring BTS 83900
19 9 3 4 STAY Rihanna featuring Mikky Ekko 236000
20 30 20 5 GOLIATH Smith & Thell 67300

21 53 21 3 DANCING NEXT TO ME Greyson Chance 38400
22 18 14 7 COME ON OUTSIDE Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 117900
23 24 23 6 ALL OF THE FEELINGS Kiesza 97050
24 21 4 11 YOU ARE THE ONE Pet Shop Boys 417500
25 34 25 4 100 WAYS Jackson Wang 58850
26 26 3 11 THERAPY Duke Dumont featuring Sharlene Hector 491500
27 44 27 3 SPOTLIGHT Jessie Ware 38050
28 33 28 4 YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE Gerry & The Pacemakers 61000
29 40 29 3 BLUE SKIES Music from Star Trek: Picard featuring Isa Briones 40400
30 32 30 2 LOVELY DAY Bill Withers 35800

31 22 8 11 PHYSICAL Dua Lipa 279450
32 28 1 19 BLINDING LIGHTS The Weeknd 1359450
33 37 33 9 LA VIE EN ROSE Louis Armstrong 117600
34 54 34 4 LIMITLESS Bon Jovi 36800
35 25 16 8 WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU The Avalanches featuring Blood Orange 143350
36 29 24 7 YOU SHOULD BE SAD Halsey 110100
37 67 37 3 ANTISOCIAL SOCIALITES Kyan Palmer, nicopop & Yuri Joness 30500
38 23 12 8 BROKEN SLEEP Agnes Obel 194550
39 51 39 5 CRASHING Illenium featuring Bahari 57250
40 55 40 4 THROW MY BONES Deep Purple 33400

41 27 17 8 INSTANT DESTINY Tame Impala 128900
42 36 36 7 STUPID LOVE Lady Gaga 82650
43 49 43 6 SOMETIMES Kodaline 52800
44 48 44 5 HARVEST MOON Neil Young 47050
45 35 14 10 ROSES Adam Lambert & Nile Rodgers 215000
46 50 46 6 LOOK AFTER YOU Aron Wright 57950
47 39 39 6 THE STEPS HAIM 70250
48 31 20 8 CUZ I LOVE YOU Lizzo 140050
49 42 1 16 FADES AWAY Avicii featuring Mishcatt 1137300
50 52 50 6 MAMA Genesis 54700

51 45 4 12 WILL-O-THE-WISP Pet Shop Boys 448300
52 59 35 10 I DON’T WANNA Pet Shop Boys 120550
53 38 17 9 KNOW YOUR WORTH Khalid & Disclosure 129150
54 60 54 5 KINGS & QUEENS Ava Max 38800
55 62 55 4 I’M IN LOVE Danny Dove featuring The Flirtations 26600
56 63 56 5 I’M TOAST Sparks 31600
57 43 25 8 SIX DAYS IN JUNE The Fratellis 115500
58 65 58 7 SECOND CHANCE The Shapeshifters featuring Kimberly Davis 45200
59 66 59 4 THE SUN RISING The Beloved 25700
60 41 33 6 DEAD WEIGHT PVRIS 87500

61 46 16 12 LONELY Joel Corry featuring HARLEE 209300
62 84 62 2 THE MAN Taylor Swift 10600
63 47 5 12 AND IT’S STILL ALRIGHT Nathaniel Rateliff 374300
64 69 64 4 IS EVERYBODY GOING CRAZY? Nothing But Thieves 22300
65 70 65 4 FREAKS Fisher 23200
66 64 1 33 NOBODY ELSE The S.L.P. 1253500
67 75 67 3 BOYFRIEND Mabel 12900
68 73 68 4 NO JUDGEMENT Niaill Horan 17600
69 71 69 3 GHOST TOWN The Specials 17600
70 56 3 12 FOREVER Will Young 412100

71 77 71 3 IN YOUR EYES The Weeknd 14400
72 58 2 7 DRIVER’S SEAT Sniff ‘n’ The Tears 252200
73 82 73 2 HOLD ON, WE’RE GOING HOME Nerina Pallot 9000
74 95 74 2 I’LL WAIT Kygo & Sasha Sloan 6700
75 83 75 2 KEEP ON MOVIN’ Five 8400
76 61 30 8 GREAT UNKNOWN X Ambassadors 108050
77 85 77 4 FALLING Harry Styles 11500
78 89 78 3 STORM The Fizz 8300
79 92 79 3 LIMITLESS Richard Marx 7600
80 87 80 2 TOUCH TOO MUCH Arrows 6600

81 97 81 3 I LOVE YOU’S Hailee Steinfeld 6300
82 79 58 6 REVIVAL Gregory Porter 39800
83 99 83 3 RESERVATION The Fizz 5600
84 57 21 10 REACT Pussycat Dolls 143150
85 NEW 85 1 THANK U VERY MUCH FOR THE NHS The Scaffold 3000

DROP OUTS
68 46 5 GASLIGHTER Dixie Chicks 55050
72 32 9 REASONS I DRINK Alanis Morrissette 120550
74 9 13 THE WORLD WE LEFT BEHIND The Fizz 284800
76 58 7 INSTANT HISTORY Biffy Clyro 48800
78 17 9 IN MY ARMS Purple Disco Machine featuring Inner Life & Jocelyn Brown, with Al Stewart 135000
80 59 6 ROSES (IMANBEK REMIX) SAINt JHN 36100
81 6 11 MAKE IT TO HEAVEN David Guetta & MORTEN with Raye 295450
86 86 3 IT’S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT (AND I FEEL FINE) REM 7500
88 38 9 BETTER OFF WITHOUT YOU Becky Hill featuring Shift K3Y 83700
90 90 3 EARTH BEAT Paul Weller 5600
91 5 12 KISS SOMEBODY Julie Bergan with Seeb 401400
93 6 14 OFFLINE Friendly Fires & Friend Within 301500
94 94 2 STREETS OF LONDON Ralph McTell 2600
96 96 1 USE ME Bill Withers 1400
98 98 1 MY LAST NIGHT WITH YOU Arrows 1200
100 100 1 I LOVE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL Arrows 1000

 

5th April 2020

It’s Doja Cat on top, finally getting past Barry White to the top spot, but challenged by Billie Eilish at 2 with her highest-charting track to date, No Time To Die not quite overtaking Say So. Dua Lipa pushes herself out the top 20, but not to worry she has two massive climbs for album cut Levitating (hoping this is the next single) and current INXS-sampling single Break My Heart. She’s in a pop class of her own right now.

The highest new entry is the late Bill Withers’ 1972 chart-topper Lean On Me, plus a couple of others lower down in tribute to the great man, and also 3 new entries from forgotten mid-70’s teen stars Arrows as lead singer, and writer of I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll, Alan Merrill dies of coronavirus. Bill’s Use Me and Arrows original version of the Joan Jett biggie have never charted before – cos I didn’t know them at the time! If radio didn’t play them – and they didn’t – that was it, no chance of hearing them.

Paloma Faith gets over a decade of top 20’s, Mel C makes it 22 years of solo top 20’s, and Lauv gets 2 simultaneous top 20’s. Actual new entries with current material are thin on the ground, thank goodness, as I dont have the space and will never expand beyond 100, that takes too long to do as it is! Nerina Pallot, though, is back after a gap of 5 years, when she topped my chart with Rousseau (and then failed to follow-up!). Her previous chart-topper was Turn Me On Again in 2012, and she now spans 15 years, 10 top 10’s and no other track that has charted without going top 10 – so no pressure on her fab low-key version of the 2013 Drake hit, then. Only me and two-dozen people had even checked out the youtube!

Yet another track from the latest Taylor Swift album charts, The Man, Five return with their best track selling on itunes again, and finally Kygo is also back with a newie.

1 2 1 6 SAY SO Doja Cat 501600
2 6 2 8 NO TIME TO DIE Billie Eilish 308500
3 1 1 9 I’M GONNA LOVE YOU JUST A LITTLE MORE BABY Barry White 1129000
4 4 4 6 THE WHOLE 9 Marina Kaye 263100
5 5 1 9 TEARS OF GOLD Faouzia 826000
6 7 6 7 MODERN LONELINESS Lauv 221500
7 49 7 2 LEVITATING Dua Lipa 62100
8 8 2 9 HALFWAY James Blunt featuring Ward Thomas 425700
9 3 3 3 STAY Rihanna featuring Mikky Ekko 215000
10 13 10 8 ONE OF A KIND Ronan Keating & Emeli Sande 164300

11 9 9 6 THE OTHER SIDE SZA, Justin Timberlake 191550
12 18 12 5 MURPHY’S LAW Roisin Murphy 104300
13 19 13 4 CAUTION The Killers 77550
14 30 14 6 MISTAKES Jonas Blue & Paloma Faith 84700
15 57 15 2 BREAK MY HEART Dua Lipa 37400
16 NEW 16 1 LEAN ON ME Bill Withers 25000
17 35 17 3 WHO I AM Melanie C 51500
18 14 14 6 COME ON OUTSIDE Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 98400
19 26 19 5 LOST AT SEA Cashier No.9 75150
20 34 20 5 WHO Lauv featuring BTS 61900

21 10 4 10 YOU ARE THE ONE Pet Shop Boys 398500
22 11 8 10 PHYSICAL Dua Lipa 261550
23 12 12 7 BROKEN SLEEP Agnes Obel 177350
24 28 24 5 ALL OF THE FEELINGS Kiesza 77800
25 16 16 7 WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU The Avalanches featuring Blood Orange 125850
26 15 3 10 THERAPY Duke Dumont featuring Sharlene Hector 473000
27 17 17 7 INSTANT DESTINY Tame Impala 114900
28 21 1 18 BLINDING LIGHTS The Weeknd 1341650
29 24 24 6 YOU SHOULD BE SAD Halsey 92700
30 31 30 4 GOLIATH Smith & Thell 47300

31 20 20 7 CUZ I LOVE YOU Lizzo 127750
32 NEW 32 1 LOVELY DAY Bill Withers 17800
33 45 33 3 YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE Gerry & The Pacemakers 42700
34 39 34 3 100 WAYS Jackson Wang 40100
35 22 14 9 ROSES Adam Lambert & Nile Rodgers 202000
36 37 36 6 STUPID LOVE Lady Gaga 68900
37 40 37 8 LA VIE EN ROSE Louis Armstrong 99900
38 23 17 8 KNOW YOUR WORTH Khalid & Disclosure 117900
39 47 39 5 THE STEPS HAIM 57750
40 74 40 2 BLUE SKIES Music from Star Trek: Picard featuring Isa Briones 22200

41 33 33 5 DEAD WEIGHT PVRIS 77500
42 38 1 15 FADES AWAY Avicii featuring Mishcatt 1125200
43 25 25 7 SIX DAYS IN JUNE The Fratellis 105100
44 68 44 2 SPOTLIGHT Jessie Ware 19650
45 32 4 11 WILL-O-THE-WISP Pet Shop Boys 436550
46 27 16 11 LONELY Joel Corry featuring HARLEE 201800
47 29 5 11 AND IT’S STILL ALRIGHT Nathaniel Rateliff 367100
48 52 48 4 HARVEST MOON Neil Young 33800
49 55 49 5 SOMETIMES Kodaline 39300
50 54 50 5 LOOK AFTER YOU Aron Wright 45200

51 51 51 4 CRASHING Illenium featuring Bahari 40150
52 60 52 5 MAMA Genesis 42700
53 62 53 2 DANCING NEXT TO ME Greyson Chance 18650
54 70 54 3 LIMITLESS Bon Jovi 19200
55 82 55 3 THROW MY BONES Deep Purple 16400
56 41 3 11 FOREVER Will Young 406100
57 36 21 9 REACT Pussycat Dolls 139950
58 43 2 6 DRIVER’S SEAT Sniff ‘n’ The Tears 246600
59 63 35 9 I DON’T WANNA Pet Shop Boys 109050
60 66 60 4 KINGS & QUEENS Ava Max 27800

61 42 30 7 GREAT UNKNOWN X Ambassadors 103250
62 71 62 3 I’M IN LOVE Danny Dove featuring The Flirtations 15800
63 75 63 4 I’M TOAST Sparks 21000
64 61 1 32 NOBODY ELSE The S.L.P. 1246700
65 76 65 6 SECOND CHANCE The Shapeshifters featuring Kimberly Davis 35000
66 78 66 3 THE SUN RISING The Beloved 15600
67 67 67 2 ANTISOCIAL SOCIALITES Kyan Palmer, nicopop & Yuri Joness 13200
68 46 46 5 GASLIGHTER Dixie Chicks 55050
69 69 69 3 IS EVERYBODY GOING CRAZY? Nothing But Thieves 15200
70 73 70 3 FREAKS Fisher 16200

71 72 71 2 GHOST TOWN The Specials 11400
72 44 32 9 REASONS I DRINK Alanis Morrissette 120550
73 83 73 3 NO JUDGEMENT Niaill Horan 11200
74 56 9 13 THE WORLD WE LEFT BEHIND The Fizz 284800
75 97 75 2 BOYFRIEND Mabel 6300
76 58 58 7 INSTANT HISTORY Biffy Clyro 48800
77 80 77 2 IN YOUR EYES The Weeknd 8600
78 48 17 9 IN MY ARMS Purple Disco Machine featuring Inner Life & Jocelyn Brown, with Al Stewart 135000
79 79 58 5 REVIVAL Gregory Porter 36200
80 59 59 6 ROSES (IMANBEK REMIX) SAINt JHN 36100

81 53 6 11 MAKE IT TO HEAVEN David Guetta & MORTEN with Raye 295450
82 NEW 82 1 HOLD ON, WE’RE GOING HOME Nerina Pallot 3600
83 NEW 83 1 KEEP ON MOVIN’ Five 3400
84 NEW 84 1 THE MAN Taylor Swift 3200
85 89 85 3 FALLING Harry Styles 6900
86 86 86 3 IT’S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT (AND I FEEL FINE) REM 7500
87 NEW 87 1 TOUCH TOO MUCH Arrows 2600
88 50 38 9 BETTER OFF WITHOUT YOU Becky Hill featuring Shift K3Y 83700
89 93 89 2 STORM The Fizz 3900
90 90 90 3 EARTH BEAT Paul Weller 5600

91 65 5 12 KISS SOMEBODY Julie Bergan with Seeb 401400
92 94 92 2 LIMITLESS Richard Marx 3400
93 77 6 14 OFFLINE Friendly Fires & Friend Within 301500
94 100 94 2 STREETS OF LONDON Ralph McTell 2600
95 NEW 95 1 I’LL WAIT Kygo & Sasha Sloan 1500
96 NEW 96 1 USE ME Bill Withers 1400
97 98 97 2 I LOVE YOU’S Hailee Steinfeld 2500
98 NEW 98 1 MY LAST NIGHT WITH YOU Arrows 1200
99 99 99 2 RESERVATION The Fizz 2200
100 NEW 100 1 I LOVE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL Arrows 1000

DROP OUTS
64 64 2 RUBY, DON’T TAKE YOUR LOVE TO TOWN Kenny Rogers & The First Edition 13100
81 64 5 ALWAYS Waze & Odyssey vs Tommy Theo featuring George Michael & Mary J. Blige 29500
84 55 5 MY LAST BREATH James Newman 41000
85 15 9 BLUE MOON RISING Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 139600
87 57 6 DEAR JEALOUSY MIKA 40700
88 88 2 SOMETHING’S BURNING Kenny Rogers & The First Edition 4200
91 91 2 ISLANDS IN THE STREAM Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton 3400
92 39 6 CHANGE MY MIND Celine Dion 58450
95 75 4 NEVER WORN WHITE Katy Perry 14500
96 4 13 MONKEY BUSINESS (RADIO EDIT) Pet Shop Boys 430200

 

29th March 2020

It’s 5 weeks on top for the unstoppable Birds Of Prey-promoted 1973 classic soul track from Barry White – it peaked at 9 first-time-round! Noel Gallagher grabs another top 20 track back-to-back, The Avalanches make it for the first time in almost 2 decades, and even Roisin Murphy gets her first top 20 in 13 years. The Killers leap into the 20 from outside the 40 following a great acoustic youtube performance from home of it by Brandon Flowers, to give them a first top 20 for 3 years, and Jonas Blue and Paloma Faith keep the list of top 40’s growing.

Lauv grabs a second top 40 track with South Korean boyband BTS, while his other track is still top 10, and China-supertar Jackson Wang rockets into the 40, 100 Ways has a great video, very Michael Jackson. New entries into my even-more-expanded chart include Dua Lipa’s new single and a track off her new album, the latter getting the higher chart position, for a total of 3 – it would have been 4 if she hadn’t pushed her own track out this week.

Jessie Ware is back, her 5th chart track in 8 years, back in the Spotlight, and 1981 social-commentary ska classic is back for The Specials – Ghost Town topped my chart then, as mass unemployment included me at the time and the sentiment of the song resonated strongly, and does now for different reasons – coronavirus has made actual Ghost Cities. That’s also responsible for the
return of Ralph McTell’s 1969/1974 classic Streets Of London, a song for the homeless I missed first-time-round (living in tropical Singapore) until a re-recorded version was a monster early 1975 UK number 2.

At 74, the act isn’t Music From Star Trek: Picard (but that’s what the listed act is!) it’s star of the show Isa Briones, covering the Irving Berlin standard Blue Skies, which plays over a tear-jerking goodbye to Data, the android from Next Generation who died already in the final movie starring the cast, and who had sung the sung himself (Brent Spiner that is, as data). I won’t do a spoiler, but it’s lovely, and the song is an old fave that has never charted before, not in any version. At 94-years-old it’s one of the oldest songs to make my charts (ignoring classical music or hymns, I can’t think of any other “pop music” songs older).

The Fizz get another 2 tracks from the new album in the chart, The Weeknd does the same with one track, Mable and Hailee Steinfeld both return with newies, and Richard Marx is also back with a song called Limitless which is not the same song Bon Jovi have in the chart. Richard is a good Tweeter to follow, and first charted ooh 32 years ago, topping my chart with Hazard in the early 90’s, and his first new entry since 2012.

1 1 1 8 I’M GONNA LOVE YOU JUST A LITTLE MORE BABY Barry White 1044000
2 2 2 5 SAY SO Doja Cat 331600
3 3 3 2 STAY Rihanna featuring Mikky Ekko 170000
4 6 4 5 THE WHOLE 9 Marina Kaye 198100
5 5 1 8 TEARS OF GOLD Faouzia 766000
6 9 6 7 NO TIME TO DIE Billie Eilish 193500
7 8 7 6 MODERN LONELINESS Lauv 166500
8 4 2 8 HALFWAY James Blunt featuring Ward Thomas 377700
9 10 9 5 THE OTHER SIDE SZA, Justin Timberlake 154550
10 7 4 9 YOU ARE THE ONE Pet Shop Boys 378750

11 11 8 9 PHYSICAL Dua Lipa 242050
12 12 12 6 BROKEN SLEEP Agnes Obel 158100
13 24 13 7 ONE OF A KIND Ronan Keating & Emeli Sande 122300
14 34 14 5 COME ON OUTSIDE Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 76400
15 15 3 9 THERAPY Duke Dumont featuring Sharlene Hector 454500
16 27 16 6 WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU The Avalanches featuring Blood Orange 107100
17 22 17 6 INSTANT DESTINY Tame Impala 96500
18 35 18 4 MURPHY’S LAW Roisin Murphy 69300
19 42 19 3 CAUTION The Killers 45550
20 20 20 6 CUZ I LOVE YOU Lizzo 109950

21 13 1 17 BLINDING LIGHTS The Weeknd 1323350
22 14 14 8 ROSES Adam Lambert & Nile Rodgers 184500
23 17 17 7 KNOW YOUR WORTH Khalid & Disclosure 100700
24 28 24 5 YOU SHOULD BE SAD Halsey 74500
25 25 25 6 SIX DAYS IN JUNE The Fratellis 91600
26 36 26 4 LOST AT SEA Cashier No.9 54150
27 16 16 10 LONELY Joel Corry featuring HARLEE 189050
28 29 28 4 ALL OF THE FEELINGS Kiesza 58800
29 19 5 10 AND IT’S STILL ALRIGHT Nathaniel Rateliff 354600
30 45 30 5 MISTAKES Jonas Blue & Paloma Faith 55700

31 66 31 3 GOLIATH Smith & Thell 29300
32 18 4 10 WILL-O-THE-WISP Pet Shop Boys 423550
33 37 33 4 DEAD WEIGHT PVRIS 63500
34 47 34 4 WHO Lauv featuring BTS 41900
35 54 35 2 WHO I AM Melanie C 28500
36 21 21 8 REACT Pussycat Dolls 129550
37 40 37 5 STUPID LOVE Lady Gaga 51500
38 23 1 14 FADES AWAY Avicii featuring Mishcatt 1111450
39 73 39 2 100 WAYS Jackson Wang 22500
40 41 40 7 LA VIE EN ROSE Louis Armstrong 82600

41 26 3 10 FOREVER Will Young 395500
42 30 30 6 GREAT UNKNOWN X Ambassadors 95750
43 31 2 5 DRIVER’S SEAT Sniff ‘n’ The Tears 236400
44 32 32 8 REASONS I DRINK Alanis Morrissette 114950
45 50 45 2 YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE Gerry & The Pacemakers 25000
46 46 46 4 GASLIGHTER Dixie Chicks 48650
47 49 47 4 THE STEPS HAIM 40650
48 33 17 8 IN MY ARMS Purple Disco Machine featuring Inner Life & Jocelyn Brown, with Al Stewart 130600
49 NEW 49 1 LEVITATING Dua Lipa 12100
50 38 38 8 BETTER OFF WITHOUT YOU Becky Hill featuring Shift K3Y 81300

51 53 51 3 CRASHING Illenium featuring Bahari 28400
52 72 52 3 HARVEST MOON Neil Young 21500
53 39 6 10 MAKE IT TO HEAVEN David Guetta & MORTEN with Raye 291650
54 60 54 4 LOOK AFTER YOU Aron Wright 33200
55 63 55 4 SOMETIMES Kodaline 27200
56 43 9 12 THE WORLD WE LEFT BEHIND The Fizz 279600
57 NEW 57 1 BREAK MY HEART Dua Lipa 10400
58 61 58 6 INSTANT HISTORY Biffy Clyro 44000
59 67 59 5 ROSES (IMANBEK REMIX) SAINt JHN 32100
60 62 60 4 MAMA Genesis 31200

61 56 1 31 NOBODY ELSE The S.L.P. 1239600
62 NEW 62 1 DANCING NEXT TO ME Greyson Chance 7400
63 71 35 8 I DON’T WANNA Pet Shop Boys 98950
64 70 64 2 RUBY, DON’T TAKE YOUR LOVE TO TOWN Kenny Rogers & The First Edition 13100
65 44 5 11 KISS SOMEBODY Julie Bergan with Seeb 399500
66 69 66 3 KINGS & QUEENS Ava Max 17800
67 NEW 67 1 ANTISOCIAL SOCIALITES Kyan Palmer, nicopop & Yuri Joness 6600
68 NEW 68 1 SPOTLIGHT Jessie Ware 6400
69 86 69 2 IS EVERYBODY GOING CRAZY? Nothing But Thieves 9000
70 89 70 2 LIMITLESS Bon Jovi 8200

71 87 71 2 I’M IN LOVE Danny Dove featuring The Flirtations 8400
72 NEW 72 1 GHOST TOWN The Specials 5600
73 76 73 2 FREAKS Fisher 10200
74 NEW 74 1 BLUE SKIES Music from Star Trek: Picard featuring Isa Briones 5200
75 77 75 3 I’M TOAST Sparks 13800
76 65 65 5 SECOND CHANCE The Shapeshifters featuring Kimberly Davis 28000
77 51 6 13 OFFLINE Friendly Fires & Friend Within 299800
78 78 78 2 THE SUN RISING The Beloved 8800
79 58 58 4 REVIVAL Gregory Porter 32000
80 NEW 80 1 IN YOUR EYES The Weeknd 4000

81 64 64 5 ALWAYS Waze & Odyssey vs Tommy Theo featuring George Michael & Mary J. Blige 29500
82 90 82 2 THROW MY BONES Deep Purple 5600
83 88 83 2 NO JUDGEMENT Niaill Horan 5800
84 55 55 5 MY LAST BREATH James Newman 41000
85 52 15 9 BLUE MOON RISING Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 139600
86 91 86 2 IT’S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT (AND I FEEL FINE) REM 4700
87 57 57 6 DEAR JEALOUSY MIKA 40700
88 92 88 2 SOMETHING’S BURNING Kenny Rogers & The First Edition 4200
89 93 89 2 FALLING Harry Styles 3900
90 94 90 2 EARTH BEAT Paul Weller 3600

91 95 91 2 ISLANDS IN THE STREAM Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton 3400
92 59 39 6 CHANGE MY MIND Celine Dion 58450
93 NEW 93 1 STORM The Fizz 1700
94 NEW 94 1 LIMITLESS Richard Marx 1600
95 75 75 4 NEVER WORN WHITE Katy Perry 14500
96 74 4 13 MONKEY BUSINESS (RADIO EDIT) Pet Shop Boys 430200
97 NEW 97 1 BOYFRIEND Mabel 1300
98 NEW 98 1 I LOVE YOU’S Hailee Steinfeld 1200
99 NEW 99 1 RESERVATION The Fizz 1100
100 NEW 100 1 STREETS OF LONDON Ralph McTell 1000

DROP OUTS
48 29 8 WINNING WAYS The Fizz 117650
68 58 5 MELTDOWN Jake Shears 43100
79 8 10 THE VOID Muse 250500
80 12 9 ALL MY LOVE Jeff Lynne’s ELO 189350
81 17 10 JULY Noah Cyrus & Leon Bridges 165000
82 9 10 OH YEAH! Green Day 228600
83 67 5 WHAT IF I NEVER GET OVER YOU Lady Antebellum 27600
84 7 16 ADORE YOU Harry Styles 392350
85 3 21 DON’T START NOW Dua Lipa 702950

 

22nd March 2020

It’s 4 weeks on top for the Barry White 1973 lush soul goodie, as Doja Cat becomes the latest current track to be kept off the top by the Birds Of Prey oldie – ironically Doja Cat is also on the soundtrack, oops! Meanwhile, Rihanna’s second-best track is back in at 3 following some itunes sales, having topped my chart in 2013: it shows what you can do with a stripped-back song when you have an amazing duo vocal, a great song, and a sensitive arrangement. Just brilliant. Lauv, future big star I hope, debuts in the top 10 with his great Modern Loneliness, Billie Eilish gets a 3rd, and most other tracks shuffle a few places inside the top 40 as there are so many good ones – in fact so many new ones I’ve been forced to extend the chart to 95, which i would rather not do, but have been forced to for now.

Biggest climber is Lady Gaga, back in the top 40 for the first time in 3 years, her 23rd top 40 track, Stupid Love. There’s another former chart-topper at 50, as Gerry & The Pacemakers return yet again, this time nothing to do with football bringing it back: You’ll Never Walk Alone has been played across Europe as a song of inspiration for the coronovirus self-isolating and those losing loved ones. First out in 1963, the song dates even further back from the 1945 musical Carousel, but it was Gerry and his Merseybeat pals who recorded the definitive rousing version, latterly an Anfield anthem. It topped my chart in 2010 in lieu of me not doing charts in 1963, though 5-year-old me prob would have put it on top as I loved Gerry & The Pacemakers as a kiddie.

More oldies entering, also coronavirus-related in the case of R.E.M’s 1987 It’s The End Of The World As We Know It returning 33 years on thanks to those with an cynical sense of humour, with a bunch of Kenny Rogers tracks returning in tribute to the death of the Country Music icon at the weekend. The Beloved’s 30-year-old The Sun Rising is back in the itunes chart, not sure why, but it’s still fab, and in at 87 it’s a dance track with a sample of UK 70’s TV staples The Flirtations as it’s backbone. The US group never charted, but backed many a legend vocally, toured, and featured on variety shows and music shows without ever getting a hit or entering my charts – better-50-years-late-than-never!

Melanie C gets the highest new track, extending her run of solo tracks to 21 years, and 24 Spice years, while Chinese star Jackson Wang, former boyband member, does a good video and interesting song to enter at 73, big in the Far East and bubbling under in the wake of BTS’ success here. Harry Styles gets a 5th track off his new album, Falling in line with veteran returns at the lower end from Paul Weller, 2 years since his entry, 27 years since his first solo hit, and 43 years since he Jam-med up in the punk era. Bon Jovi date only back to 1986, chart-wise, and haven’t charted for 7 years: back in 1999 I was backstage filming Jon Bon Jovi doing a live concert at King’s Park Bournemouth (it’s on Youtube) on a radio 1 Roadshow – it’s not what you know it’s who you know….

Finally, a mention for Deep Purple. No, not the Donny & Marie hit from 1976, the even-older Rock Actual Legends fronted by 80’s hitster Ian Gillan, back on board 50 years since Black Night riffed-it-out. Hush charted in the USA in 1968, but had to wait until 2008 to make my charts, so, err, this is the first new track to chart since 1977’s Smoke On The Water (live version) and first new studio song to chart since their best record Fireball hit my top 10 in 1971, a mind-boggling 49 years ago. Phew!

1 1 1 7 I’M GONNA LOVE YOU JUST A LITTLE MORE BABY Barry White 874000
2 5 2 4 SAY SO Doja Cat 216600
3 NEW 3 1 STAY Rihanna featuring Mikky Ekko 85000
4 2 2 7 HALFWAY James Blunt featuring Ward Thomas 329700
5 3 1 7 TEARS OF GOLD Faouzia 706000
6 7 6 4 THE WHOLE 9 Marina Kaye 133100
7 4 4 8 YOU ARE THE ONE Pet Shop Boys 336750
8 19 8 5 MODERN LONELINESS Lauv 116500
9 23 9 6 NO TIME TO DIE Billie Eilish 138500
10 10 10 4 THE OTHER SIDE SZA, Justin Timberlake 109550

11 8 8 8 PHYSICAL Dua Lipa 205050
12 12 12 5 BROKEN SLEEP Agnes Obel 123100
13 9 1 16 BLINDING LIGHTS The Weeknd 1303600
14 14 14 7 ROSES Adam Lambert & Nile Rodgers 165000
15 11 3 8 THERAPY Duke Dumont featuring Sharlene Hector 427500
16 16 16 9 LONELY Joel Corry featuring HARLEE 170650
17 25 17 6 KNOW YOUR WORTH Khalid & Disclosure 81450
18 13 4 9 WILL-O-THE-WISP Pet Shop Boys 405750
19 15 5 9 AND IT’S STILL ALRIGHT Nathaniel Rateliff 336400
20 20 20 5 CUZ I LOVE YOU Lizzo 89950

21 24 21 7 REACT Pussycat Dolls 112150
22 33 22 5 INSTANT DESTINY Tame Impala 73500
23 17 1 13 FADES AWAY Avicii featuring Mishcatt 1094250
24 26 24 6 ONE OF A KIND Ronan Keating & Emeli Sande 90300
25 27 25 5 SIX DAYS IN JUNE The Fratellis 72850
26 18 3 9 FOREVER Will Young 381500
27 28 27 5 WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU The Avalanches featuring Blood Orange 82100
28 37 28 4 YOU SHOULD BE SAD Halsey 55500
29 49 29 3 ALL OF THE FEELINGS Kiesza 40500
30 30 30 5 GREAT UNKNOWN X Ambassadors 82000

31 6 2 4 DRIVER’S SEAT Sniff ‘n’ The Tears 222900
32 34 32 7 REASONS I DRINK Alanis Morrissette 101700
33 21 17 7 IN MY ARMS Purple Disco Machine featuring Inner Life & Jocelyn Brown, with Al Stewart 118300
34 38 34 4 COME ON OUTSIDE Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 47400
35 35 35 3 MURPHY’S LAW Roisin Murphy 47300
36 44 36 3 LOST AT SEA Cashier No.9 35650
37 40 37 3 DEAD WEIGHT PVRIS 45800
38 45 38 7 BETTER OFF WITHOUT YOU Becky Hill featuring Shift K3Y 69300
39 22 6 9 MAKE IT TO HEAVEN David Guetta & MORTEN with Raye 280400
40 70 40 4 STUPID LOVE Lady Gaga 34200

41 41 41 6 LA VIE EN ROSE Louis Armstrong 65600
42 55 42 2 CAUTION The Killers 24550
43 31 9 11 THE WORLD WE LEFT BEHIND The Fizz 269000
44 32 5 10 KISS SOMEBODY Julie Bergan with Seeb 392500
45 48 45 4 MISTAKES Jonas Blue & Paloma Faith 37700
46 46 46 3 GASLIGHTER Dixie Chicks 35900
47 62 47 3 WHO Lauv featuring BTS 24300
48 29 29 8 WINNING WAYS The Fizz 117650
49 53 49 3 THE STEPS HAIM 28150
50 NEW 50 1 YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE Gerry & The Pacemakers 12000

51 42 6 12 OFFLINE Friendly Fires & Friend Within 295200
52 36 15 8 BLUE MOON RISING Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 136600
53 73 53 2 CRASHING Illenium featuring Bahari 16650
54 NEW 54 1 WHO I AM Melanie C 11000
55 56 55 4 MY LAST BREATH James Newman 35800
56 54 1 30 NOBODY ELSE The S.L.P. 1232100
57 61 57 5 DEAR JEALOUSY MIKA 38100
58 59 58 3 REVIVAL Gregory Porter 27800
59 39 39 5 CHANGE MY MIND Celine Dion 56650
60 68 60 3 LOOK AFTER YOU Aron Wright 22200

61 63 61 5 INSTANT HISTORY Biffy Clyro 33800
62 65 62 3 MAMA Genesis 21200
63 75 63 3 SOMETIMES Kodaline 16400
64 66 64 4 ALWAYS Waze & Odyssey vs Tommy Theo featuring George Michael & Mary J. Blige 25700
65 72 65 4 SECOND CHANCE The Shapeshifters featuring Kimberly Davis 23200
66 77 66 2 GOLIATH Smith & Thell 11400
67 74 67 4 ROSES (IMANBEK REMIX) SAINt JHN 22000
68 58 58 5 MELTDOWN Jake Shears 43100
69 76 69 2 KINGS & QUEENS Ava Max 11000
70 NEW 70 1 RUBY, DON’T TAKE YOUR LOVE TO TOWN Kenny Rogers & The First Edition 6000

71 RE 35 7 I DON’T WANNA Pet Shop Boys 91750
72 78 72 2 HARVEST MOON Neil Young 10000
73 NEW 73 1 100 WAYS Jackson Wang 5400
74 43 4 12 MONKEY BUSINESS (RADIO EDIT) Pet Shop Boys 428800
75 80 75 3 NEVER WORN WHITE Katy Perry 13000
76 NEW 76 1 FREAKS Fisher 4800
77 79 77 2 I’M TOAST Sparks 8800
78 NEW 78 1 THE SUN RISING The Beloved 4400
79 51 8 10 THE VOID Muse 250500
80 50 12 9 ALL MY LOVE Jeff Lynne’s ELO 189350

81 47 17 10 JULY Noah Cyrus & Leon Bridges 165000
82 52 9 10 OH YEAH! Green Day 228600
83 67 67 5 WHAT IF I NEVER GET OVER YOU Lady Antebellum 27600
84 57 7 16 ADORE YOU Harry Styles 392350
85 71 3 21 DON’T START NOW Dua Lipa 702950
86 NEW 86 1 IS EVERYBODY GOING CRAZY? Nothing But Thieves 2800
87 NEW 87 1 I’M IN LOVE Danny Dove featuring The Flirtations 2600
88 NEW 88 1 NO JUDGEMENT Niaill Horan 2400
89 NEW 89 1 LIMITLESS Bon Jovi 2200
90 NEW 90 1 THROW MY BONES Deep Purple 2000

91 NEW 91 1 IT’S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT (AND I FEEL FINE) REM 1900
92 NEW 92 1 SOMETHING’S BURNING Kenny Rogers & The First Edition 1800
93 NEW 93 1 FALLING Harry Styles 1700
94 NEW 94 1 EARTH BEAT Paul Weller 1600
95 NEW 95 1 ISLANDS IN THE STREAM Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton 1500

SROP OUTS
60 40 7 TENNIS FAN Banoffee featuring Empress Of 69100
64 1 19 THIS IS HOW (WE WANT YOU TO GET HIGH) George Michael 958250
69 23 8 TASTES LIKE KARMA Madilyn 122550

 

 

15th March 2020

It’s 3 weeks on top for the Barry White 1973 track that takes me back to much-less-stressed times, holding off James Blunt and Ward Thomas from the top spot, the highest-charting of the singles off the new album, poor ol’ James has never quite managed to top my chart, though this is his 5th top 5 and beats his previous peak of 3 for Wisemen in 2006, a track that went top 5 in 2005 as well. Doja Cat and Marina Kaye both get top 10 debuts, SZA gets her 2nd since topping with the Black Panther track with Kendrick Lamarr, All The Stars, in 2018. Justin T gets his 12th top 10, but much more with contributions to other artists and N’Sync tracks.

Roisin Murphy gets 2 top 40’s in a row, both with 8-minute-plus disco-era-styled boogies, Halsey does that too with much shorter tracks that have no disco-boogies in sight, and Noel Gallagher yet again gets 2 simultaneous top 40 new songs on the list, they just overlap with the frequency of releases recently. Against all the odds, and I never expected to write this sentence, Celine Dion continues her comeback artistically with another good top 40 off the new album. She’s had at least 15 top 40’s over the last 30 years, but very few top 10’s – just 4, peaking at 2 in 2002 with A New Day has Come.

New entries from The Killers urging Caution, extending their run to 16 years, Ava Max getting a 3rd chart entry, Neil Young bringing his fab 1992 Harvest Moon ballad back after selling on itunes due to some sort of advert promo, I expect, and last, but not least, Sparks follow-up their Christmas chart-topper with the whimsical I’m Toast, making it 46 years of non-stop quality, paving their own unique path through whatever music scenes are around, always relevant, always cool, always inventive lyrically and musically, touring, and occasionally selling albums and singles. The titles of tracks on the forthcoming album make it worth buying already…!

1 1 1 6 I’M GONNA LOVE YOU JUST A LITTLE MORE BABY Barry White 704000
2 7 2 6 HALFWAY James Blunt featuring Ward Thomas 264700
3 3 1 6 TEARS OF GOLD Faouzia 646000
4 4 4 7 YOU ARE THE ONE Pet Shop Boys 286750
5 12 5 3 SAY SO Doja Cat 101600
6 2 2 3 DRIVER’S SEAT Sniff ‘n’ The Tears 205000
7 19 7 3 THE WHOLE 9 Marina Kaye 78100
8 9 8 7 PHYSICAL Dua Lipa 168050
9 6 1 15 BLINDING LIGHTS The Weeknd 1271600
10 25 10 3 THE OTHER SIDE SZA, Justin Timberlake 67550

11 5 3 7 THERAPY Duke Dumont featuring Sharlene Hector 400500
12 18 12 4 BROKEN SLEEP Agnes Obel 88100
13 8 4 8 WILL O’THE WISP Pet Shop Boys 383750
14 14 14 6 ROSES Adam Lambert & Nile Rodgers 136000
15 10 5 8 AND IT’S STILL ALRIGHT Nathaniel Rateliff 315400
16 16 16 8 LONELY Joel Corry featuring HARLEE 145650
17 11 1 12 FADES AWAY Avicii featuring Mishcatt 1075000
18 15 3 8 FOREVER Will Young 363000
19 24 19 4 MODERN LONELINESS Lauv 68500
20 23 20 4 CUZ I LOVE YOU Lizzo 69950

21 17 17 6 IN MY ARMS Purple Disco Machine featuring Inner Life & Jocelyn Brown, with Al Stewart 100600
22 13 6 8 MAKE IT TO HEAVEN David Guetta & MORTEN with Raye 263300
23 20 20 5 NO TIME TO DIE Billie Eilish 93500
24 26 24 6 REACT Pussycat Dolls 92400
25 28 25 5 KNOW YOUR WORTH Khalid & Disclosure 58450
26 29 26 5 ONE OF A KIND Ronan Keating & Emeli Sande 71300
27 32 27 4 SIX DAYS IN JUNE The Fratellis 54100
28 36 28 4 WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU The Avalanches featuring Blood Orange 63700
29 30 29 7 WINNING WAYS The Fizz 105350
30 35 30 4 GREAT UNKNOWN X Ambassadors 64000

31 27 9 10 THE WORLD WE LEFT BEHIND The Fizz 255500
32 21 5 9 KISS SOMEBODY Julie Bergan with Seeb 379250
33 38 33 4 INSTANT DESTINY Tame Impala 54000
34 37 34 6 REASONS I DRINK Alanis Morrissette 83900
35 48 35 2 MURPHY’S LAW Roisin Murphy 29800
36 22 15 7 BLUE MOON RISING Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 125100
37 43 37 3 YOU SHOULD BE SAD Halsey 37200
38 68 38 3 COME ON OUTSIDE Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 29800
39 53 39 4 CHANGE MY MIND Celine Dion 46550
40 52 40 2 DEAD WEIGHT PVRIS 28500

41 44 41 5 LA VIE EN ROSE Louis Armstrong 51600
42 31 6 11 OFFLINE Friendly Fires & Friend Within 283450
43 34 4 11 MONKEY BUSINESS (RADIO EDIT) Pet Shop Boys 423600
44 75 44 2 LOST AT SEA Cashier No.9 18250
45 55 45 6 BETTER OFF WITHOUT YOU Becky Hill featuring Shift K3Y 52100
46 57 46 2 GASLIGHTER Dixie Chicks 23150
47 33 17 9 JULY Noah Cyrus & Leon Bridges 161200
48 65 48 3 MISTAKES Jonas Blue & Paloma Faith 24700
49 58 49 2 ALL OF THE FEELINGS Kiesza 22300
50 39 12 8 ALL MY LOVE Jeff Lynne’s ELO 185450

51 40 8 9 THE VOID Muse 246300
52 41 9 9 OH YEAH! Green Day 224800
53 76 53 2 THE STEPS HAIM 16050
54 51 1 29 NOBODY ELSE The S.L.P. 1221500
55 NEW 55 1 CAUTION The Killers 10800
56 63 56 3 MY LAST BREATH James Newman 25000
57 42 7 15 ADORE YOU Harry Styles 389150
58 59 58 4 MELTDOWN Jake Shears 36700
59 61 59 2 REVIVAL Gregory Porter 17600
60 49 40 6 TENNIS FAN Banoffee featuring Empress Of 69100

61 62 61 4 DEAR JEALOUSY MIKA 27700
62 78 62 2 WHO Lauv featuring BTS 11800
63 64 63 4 INSTANT HISTORY Biffy Clyro 26300
64 50 1 19 THIS IS HOW (WE WANT YOU TO GET HIGH) George Michael 958250
65 66 65 2 MAMA Genesis 13800
66 70 66 3 ALWAYS Waze & Odyssey vs Tommy Theo featuring George Michael & Mary J. Blige 18600
67 69 67 4 WHAT IF I NEVER GET OVER YOU Lady Antebellum 24200
68 71 68 2 LOOK AFTER YOU Aron Wright 12200
69 47 23 8 TASTES LIKE KARMA Madilyn 122550
70 72 70 3 STUPID LOVE Lady Gaga 17200

71 56 3 20 DON’T START NOW Dua Lipa 699950
72 73 72 3 SECOND CHANCE The Shapeshifters featuring Kimberly Davis 16200
73 NEW 73 1 CRASHING Illenium featuring Bahari 5400
74 74 74 3 ROSES (IMANBEK REMIX) SAINt JHN 15400
75 79 75 2 SOMETIMES Kodaline 9200
76 NEW 76 1 KINGS & QUEENS Ava Max 4800
77 NEW 77 1 GOLIATH Smith & Thell 4600
78 NEW 78 1 HARVEST MOON Neil Young 4400
79 NEW 79 1 I’M TOAST Sparks 4200
80 80 80 2 NEVER WORN WHITE Katy Perry 8000

DROP OUTS
45 34 6 HAPPY PEOPLE Pet Shop Boys 88800
46 22 8 LOST IN YESTERDAY Tame Impala 128050
54 29 7 FOREVER YOURS Kygo, Avicii & Sandro Cavazza 100800
60 60 3 ON BTS featuring Sia 23700
67 3 16 WATERMELON SUGAR Harry Styles 489100
77 33 6 NARCISSUS Roisin Murphy 71950

 

8th March 2020

It’s 2 weeks on top for Barry White who first topped my chart in 1974 in his guise of the Love Unlimited Orchestra, Love’s Theme being a lush gorgeous soul instrumental, a mere 6 months after this track debuted in my charts. At 2 Sniff ‘n’ The Tears finally get the chart position they deserved (but didn’t get) during a very competitive period for amazing music in 1979 – though it was a big American hit for the UK band. Music lately is so strong I’m having to extend to 80 again as there are no more tracks I can evict, and many have already been booted out a bit early!

Dua Lipa adds to her run of top 10’s, must be about 6 or so, Doja Cat gets the biggest climb up to 12 from 67, it’s a good pop track, Billie Eilish gets another top 20 with her Bond theme, and Marina kaye debuts inside the top 20. Sza gets her biggest track since her chart-topper with Kendrick Lamarr 2 years ago, at 25 with Justin Timberlake who is now 22 years into NSync’ing top 40’s, while Khalid and Disclosure both add to their tally of top 40’s. The Fratellis grab a 7th top 40, Tame Impala a 3rd in the last 6 months to add to the 7 dating back to 2015, and the highest new entry is another from Roisin Murphy, giving her 2 8-minute grooves in my chart, and a 12-year career since Moloko kick-started singing it back.

Other newies: PVRIS debut, Dixie Chicks stage a catchy comeback 15 years since they last charted, and with their 7th chart entry extending their chart career to 21 years, Kiesza also has a comeback 6 years since her 3rd entry and also debut with Hideaway. That also applies to Gregory Porter who debuted with Liquid Spirit in 2014, and is now having a Revival, while Genesis announce their first tour since the noughties and boost itunes sales of their greatest singles, including their absolute best, the moody, dark Mama which topped my chart in 1983 and returns to give it some extra “sales”.

Cashier No.9 return with an oldie that didn;t chart last decade, a second chart entry for them a mere 9 years since topping my lists with Oh Pity, HAIM also return with some good old-fashioned electric guitar riffs and drum fills, it’s so refreshing to hear them, even if it does sound rather a lot like Sheryl Crow. Lauv gets a 2nd concurrent chart entry, as he shapes up to be the next Big Thing, if there’s any justice, and assists BTS to do the same, Kodaline follow-up their recent comeback, 7 years into their charting, and Katy Perry makes it a sweet dozen years of hits – at least 26 of ’em, including 3 chart-toppers.

1 1 1 5 I’M GONNA LOVE YOU JUST A LITTLE MORE BABY Barry White 534000
2 12 2 2 DRIVER’S SEAT Sniff ‘n’ The Tears 150000
3 2 1 5 TEARS OF GOLD Faouzia 561000
4 7 4 6 YOU ARE THE ONE Pet Shop Boys 221750
5 3 3 6 THERAPY Duke Dumont featuring Sharlene Hector 363500
6 4 1 14 BLINDING LIGHTS The Weeknd 1226600
7 9 7 5 HALFWAY James Blunt featuring Ward Thomas 149700
8 5 4 7 WILL O’THE WISP Pet Shop Boys 351750
9 14 9 6 PHYSICAL Dua Lipa 120050
10 6 5 7 AND IT’S STILL ALRIGHT Nathaniel Rateliff 288400

11 8 1 11 FADES AWAY Avicii featuring Mishcatt 1052000
12 67 12 2 SAY SO Doja Cat 41600
13 11 6 7 MAKE IT TO HEAVEN David Guetta & MORTEN with Raye 243800
14 16 14 5 ROSES Adam Lambert & Nile Rodgers 107000
15 10 3 7 FOREVER Will Young 341000
16 17 16 7 LONELY Joel Corry featuring HARLEE 120650
17 20 17 5 IN MY ARMS Purple Disco Machine featuring Inner Life & Jocelyn Brown, with Al Stewart 80850
18 24 18 3 BROKEN SLEEP Agnes Obel 53100
19 64 19 2 THE WHOLE 9 Marina Kaye 28100
20 25 20 4 NO TIME TO DIE Billie Eilish 74250

21 13 5 8 KISS SOMEBODY Julie Bergan with Seeb 361450
22 15 15 6 BLUE MOON RISING Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 107700
23 29 23 3 CUZ I LOVE YOU Lizzo 49950
24 26 24 3 MODERN LONELINESS Lauv 47500
25 66 25 2 THE OTHER SIDE SZA, Justin Timberlake 25550
26 27 26 5 REACT Pussycat Dolls 73400
27 19 9 9 THE WORLD WE LEFT BEHIND The Fizz 237600
28 57 28 4 KNOW YOUR WORTH Khalid & Disclosure 39700
29 33 29 4 ONE OF A KIND Ronan Keating & Emeli Sande 52800
30 30 30 6 WINNING WAYS The Fizz 87150

31 18 6 10 OFFLINE Friendly Fires & Friend Within 269700
32 49 32 3 SIX DAYS IN JUNE The Fratellis 35700
33 23 17 8 JULY Noah Cyrus & Leon Bridges 148700
34 22 4 10 MONKEY BUSINESS (RADIO EDIT) Pet Shop Boys 410100
35 35 35 3 GREAT UNKNOWN X Ambassadors 46000
36 36 36 3 WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU The Avalanches featuring Blood Orange 45400
37 39 37 5 REASONS I DRINK Alanis Morrissette 66300
38 47 38 3 INSTANT DESTINY Tame Impala 36300
39 21 12 7 ALL MY LOVE Jeff Lynne’s ELO 173450
40 32 8 8 THE VOID Muse 234550

41 28 9 8 OH YEAH! Green Day 213300
42 31 7 14 ADORE YOU Harry Styles 378750
43 68 43 2 YOU SHOULD BE SAD Halsey 19900
44 51 44 4 LA VIE EN ROSE Louis Armstrong 37600
45 34 34 6 HAPPY PEOPLE Pet Shop Boys 88800
46 37 22 8 LOST IN YESTERDAY Tame Impala 128050
47 38 23 7 TASTES LIKE KARMA Madilyn 116350
48 NEW 48 1 MURPHY’S LAW Roisin Murphy 12300
49 40 40 5 TENNIS FAN Banoffee featuring Empress Of 59100
50 42 1 18 THIS IS HOW (WE WANT YOU TO GET HIGH) George Michael 951150

51 43 1 28 NOBODY ELSE The S.L.P. 1210500
52 NEW 52 1 DEAD WEIGHT PVRIS 11500
53 54 53 3 CHANGE MY MIND Celine Dion 29450
54 48 29 7 FOREVER YOURS Kygo, Avicii & Sandro Cavazza 100800
55 58 55 5 BETTER OFF WITHOUT YOU Becky Hill featuring Shift K3Y 39100
56 50 3 19 DON’T START NOW Dua Lipa 694150
57 NEW 57 1 GASLIGHTER Dixie Chicks 10400
58 NEW 58 1 ALL OF THE FEELINGS Kiesza 10200
59 60 59 3 MELTDOWN Jake Shears 26500
60 61 60 3 ON BTS featuring Sia 23700

61 NEW 61 1 REVIVAL Gregory Porter 7500
62 62 62 3 DEAR JEALOUSY MIKA 20200
63 63 63 2 MY LAST BREATH James Newman 14400
64 65 64 3 INSTANT HISTORY Biffy Clyro 19100
65 73 65 2 MISTAKES Jonas Blue & Paloma Faith 12400
66 NEW 66 1 MAMA Genesis 6800
67 59 3 16 WATERMELON SUGAR Harry Styles 489100
68 69 68 2 COME ON OUTSIDE Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 12600
69 70 69 3 WHAT IF I NEVER GET OVER YOU Lady Antebellum 17600
70 71 70 2 ALWAYS Waze & Odyssey vs Tommy Theo featuring George Michael & Mary J. Blige 11800

71 NEW 71 1 LOOK AFTER YOU Aron Wright 5800
72 72 72 2 STUPID LOVE Lady Gaga 11200
73 74 73 2 SECOND CHANCE The Shapeshifters featuring Kimberly Davis 10600
74 75 74 2 ROSES (IMANBEK REMIX) SAINt JHN 10200
75 NEW 75 1 LOST AT SEA Cashier No.9 5000
76 NEW 76 1 THE STEPS HAIM 4800
77 44 33 6 NARCISSUS Roisin Murphy 71950
78 NEW 78 1 WHO Lauv featuring BTS 4400
79 NEW 79 1 SOMETIMES Kodaline 4200
80 NEW 80 1 NEVER WORN WHITE Katy Perry 4000

DROP OUTS
41 3 6 SUPERNATURE (795450) Cerrone 287000
45 45 4 AT ROCK BOTTOM Pet Shop Boys 46000
46 20 7 RARE Selena Gomez 118700
52 24 6 LAZY LOVE Bobbi Storm 98650
53 35 6 I DON’T WANNA Pet Shop Boys 85950
55 1 11 PLEASE DON’T f*** UP MY WORLD Sparks 733350
56 20 7 ORDINARY MAN Ozzy Osbourne featuring Elton John & Slash 114750

 

1st March 2020

It’s a first week on top for Barry White’s classic sexy soul debut from 1973, as featured in Birds Of Prey, and which first-time round hit my top 5 but had a short chart run because it was only in the UK top 30 for a few weeks (I based my charts exclusively on tracks inside the top 30 in those days). So, only taken almost 47 years to get there, and his 2nd chart-topper following Let The Music Play which topped in 2000 a mere 24 years late, this one nearly doubles that gap. James Blunt grabs another top 10 from his current album, he’s really back on top form of late, and 1979 top 20 track (for me) Driver’s Seat, returns Sniff ‘n’ The Tears to the charts at 12, 41 years on, thanks to my entering it into a music competition – now it can get a much better chart placing for such a great record.

Another big batch of new entries means that there are virtually no records dropping outside the top 50 – they’ve all had to be evicted to make way for all the fresh stuff! Big climbs into the 40 for Agnes Obel, Lauv, Lizzo, Ronan & Emeli (Ronan Keating having been away for 8 years, but extending his chart run of solo stuff to 21 years), X Ambassadors & The Avalanches. Newies include the UK Eurovision entry from John Newman’s brother James, probably our best chance to do well since Blue’s entry; SZA back with Justin Timberlake in tow, his chart run now 17 years solo (with 5 chart-toppers) or 21 years with N’Sync (plus another chart-topper).

It’s another month so it must be another Noel Gallagher single, he usually has 2 charting simultaneously the last year or so; Lady Gaga is back doing dance music, and returns to my chart for the first time in 6 years – that’s longer than her entire prolific career up to that point, but extends her run to 11 years, including 4 chart-toppers in her early Fame-hot days. Paloma Faith returns assisting Jonas Blue, she is also of the Class of 2009, but her 4 chart-toppers are spread-out over her entire career and she has only missed out on charting in 2019. Finally, The Shapeshifters return 14 years since they last troubled my charts, and 16 years since Lola’s Theme was a big debut. Unexpected returns are always welcome in my charts!

1 2 1 4 I’M GONNA LOVE YOU JUST A LITTLE MORE BABY Barry White 364000
2 1 1 4 TEARS OF GOLD Faouzia 476000
3 3 3 5 THERAPY Duke Dumont featuring Sharlene Hector 303500
4 4 1 13 BLINDING LIGHTS The Weeknd 1171600
5 7 4 6 WILL O’THE WISP Pet Shop Boys 303750
6 6 5 6 AND IT’S STILL ALRIGHT Nathaniel Rateliff 246400
7 10 7 5 YOU ARE THE ONE Pet Shop Boys 156750
8 5 1 10 FADES AWAY Avicii featuring Mishcatt 1015000
9 13 9 4 HALFWAY James Blunt featuring Ward Thomas 99700
10 9 3 6 FOREVER Will Young 314000

11 8 6 6 MAKE IT TO HEAVEN David Guetta & MORTEN with Raye 211800
12 NEW 12 1 DRIVER’S SEAT Sniff ‘n’ The Tears 35000
13 11 5 7 KISS SOMEBODY Julie Bergan with Seeb 341700
14 36 14 5 PHYSICAL Dua Lipa 75050
15 20 15 5 BLUE MOON RISING Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 88200
16 19 16 4 ROSES Adam Lambert & Nile Rodgers 78000
17 34 17 6 LONELY Joel Corry featuring HARLEE 95650
18 16 6 9 OFFLINE Friendly Fires & Friend Within 251800
19 15 9 8 THE WORLD WE LEFT BEHIND The Fizz 219200
20 30 20 4 IN MY ARMS Purple Disco Machine featuring Inner Life & Jocelyn Brown, with Al Stewart 57850

21 12 12 6 ALL MY LOVE Jeff Lynne’s ELO 156350
22 14 4 9 MONKEY BUSINESS (RADIO EDIT) Pet Shop Boys 392500
23 17 17 7 JULY Noah Cyrus & Leon Bridges 131000
24 49 24 2 BROKEN SLEEP Agnes Obel 31100
25 27 25 3 NO TIME TO DIE Billie Eilish 54250
26 60 26 2 MODERN LONELINESS Lauv 28500
27 28 27 4 REACT Pussycat Dolls 54900
28 18 9 7 OH YEAH! Green Day 199300
29 47 29 2 CUZ I LOVE YOU Lizzo 30700
30 40 30 5 WINNING WAYS The Fizz 69150

31 25 7 13 ADORE YOU Harry Styles 365000
32 21 8 7 THE VOID Muse 217550
33 52 33 3 ONE OF A KIND Ronan Keating & Emeli Sande 34600
34 41 34 5 HAPPY PEOPLE Pet Shop Boys 75800
35 54 35 2 GREAT UNKNOWN X Ambassadors 28500
36 56 36 2 WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU The Avalanches featuring Blood Orange 28000
37 22 22 7 LOST IN YESTERDAY Tame Impala 115300
38 23 23 6 TASTES LIKE KARMA Madilyn 103850
39 42 39 4 REASONS I DRINK Alanis Morrissette 49000
40 48 40 4 TENNIS FAN Banoffee featuring Empress Of 47000

41 24 3 6 SUPERNATURE Cerrone 287000
42 32 1 17 THIS IS HOW (WE WANT YOU TO GET HIGH) George Michael 939150
43 38 1 27 NOBODY ELSE The S.L.P. 1198750
44 33 33 5 NARCISSUS Roisin Murphy 67350
45 45 45 4 AT ROCK BOTTOM Pet Shop Boys 46000
46 26 20 7 RARE Selena Gomez 118700
47 67 47 2 INSTANT DESTINY Tame Impala 19100
48 29 29 6 FOREVER YOURS Kygo, Avicii & Sandro Cavazza 89800
49 71 49 2 SIX DAYS IN JUNE The Fratellis 17900
50 44 3 18 DON’T START NOW Dua Lipa 683550

51 62 51 3 LA VIE EN ROSE Louis Armstrong 24350
52 31 24 6 LAZY LOVE Bobbi Storm 98650
53 35 35 6 I DON’T WANNA Pet Shop Boys 85950
54 63 54 2 CHANGE MY MIND Celine Dion 18200
55 37 1 11 PLEASE DON’T f*** UP MY WORLD Sparks 733350
56 39 20 7 ORDINARY MAN Ozzy Osbourne featuring Elton John & Slash 114750
57 70 57 3 KNOW YOUR WORTH Khalid & Disclosure 21400
58 64 58 4 BETTER OF WITHOUT YOU Becky Hill featuring Shift K3Y 28300
59 43 3 15 WATERMELON SUGAR Harry Styles 482500
60 68 60 2 MELTDOWN Jake Shears 16400

61 69 61 2 ON BTS featuring Sia 13700
62 74 62 2 DEAR JEALOUSY MIKA 12800
63 NEW 63 1 MY LAST BREATH James Newman 7200
64 NEW 64 1 THE WHOLE 9 Marina Kaye 7100
65 75 65 2 INSTANT HISTORY Biffy Clyro 12000
66 NEW 66 1 THE OTHER SIDE SZA, Justin Timberlake 6800
67 NEW 67 1 SAY SO Doja Cat 6600
68 NEW 68 1 YOU SHOULD BE SAD Halsey 6400
69 NEW 69 1 COME ON OUTSIDE Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 6200
70 73 70 2 WHAT IF I NEVER GET OVER YOU Lady Antebellum 11400

71 NEW 71 1 ALWAYS Waze & Odyssey vs Tommy Theo featuring George Michael & Mary J. Blige 5800
72 NEW 72 1 STUPID LOVE Lady Gaga 5600
73 NEW 73 1 MISTAKES Jonas Blue & Paloma Faith 5400
74 NEW 74 1 SECOND CHANCE The Shapeshifters featuring Kimberly Davis 5200
75 NEW 75 1 ROSES (IMANBEK REMIX) SAINt JHN 5000

DROP OUTS
46 19 7 THE KEEPER Blossoms 130900
50 50 5 SIMMER Hayley Williams 50600
51 32 6 WHAT A MAN GOTTA DO Jonas Brothers 86100
53 21 7 TREAT PEOPLE WITH KINDNESS Harry Styles 110200
55 55 4 AMOUREUSE (608550) Kiki Dee 35000
57 57 4 WEDDING IN BERLIN Pet Shop Boys 33300
58 24 7 ORIGINAL Sia 108450
59 59 3 PALE HORSES Ina Wroldsen 23000
61 61 4 NEW ME Ella Eyre 25100
65 65 5 RUNAROUND SUE Dion 30600
66 16 12 2 IN A MILLION Steve Aoki, Sting & SHAED 173300
72 1 24 DEAR FUTURE SELF (HANDS UP) Fall Out Boy featuring Wyclef Jean 1003450

 

23rd February 2020

It’s 2 weeks on top for Faouzia, passionate at 1 where runner-up Barry White is sensual soul with his template song reaching a new peak 47 years late (it went top 5 for me in the Summer of ’73), thanks to the Birds Of Prey movie. Duke Dumont outdoes his previous 3 top 10’s for a new peak position of 3 for Therapy and an amazing vocal performance from Sharlene Hector. Pet Shop Boys make it, ooh, 4 or 5 top 10’s this year already. One day I’ll top up how many chart entries they’ve had – I can’t believe any other act outdoes them except The Beatles, maybe.

James Blunt also adding yet another top 20 to the 3 off the album already, and a first for Ward Thomas, Nile Rodgers is on 42 years of Dance Dance Dance-ing in the top 20, and Noel Gallagher is on around 4 or 5 in the last 12 months to add to his 26-year run of many others. Pussycat Dolls get a first top 40 entry in 12 years, their 6th in all, and heading the new influx is Lizzo with a great vocal at 47 with not-the-Slade-song Coz I Love You. Her 4th entry. Agnes Obel returns with a Kate-Bush-esque dark ballad, X Ambassadors return with a rousing singalong, The Avalanches make a welcome return err 19 years since they had back to back top 10’s with Since I Left You & Frontier Psychiatrist – and then nothing else ever again! Better late than never…

Lauv is sounding good with a debut, Celine continues to surprise with her comeback stuff for 30 chart years, Tame Impala enter with an album track, Jake Shears gets a second solo entry 2 years since Creep City hit the 20, and 16 years since Comfortably Numb gave Scissor Sisters the first of 5 number ones. BTS bring a spot of South Korean boyband action to my charts with a debut featuring Sia and a great rhythm track, The Fratellis bring some fun back to extend their run to 14 years, and Lady Antebellum get a 6th entry since debuting a decade ago with the fab Need You Now. MIKA’s pushing 20 chart entries over 13 years, and Biffy Clyro take a more pop route to get a 3rd entry 9 years since Many Of Horror, a 12 years since Mountains.

1 1 1 3 TEARS OF GOLD Faouzia 361000
2 10 2 3 I’M GONNA LOVE YOU JUST A LITTLE MORE BABY Barry White 194000
3 9 3 4 THERAPY Duke Dumont featuring Sharlene Hector 218500
4 2 1 12 BLINDING LIGHTS The Weeknd 1106600
5 3 1 9 FADES AWAY Avicii featuring Mishcatt 967000
6 5 5 5 AND IT’S STILL ALRIGHT Nathaniel Rateliff 191400
7 7 4 5 WILL O’THE WISP Pet Shop Boys 243750
8 6 6 5 MAKE IT TO HEAVEN David Guetta & MORTEN with Raye 174800
9 4 3 5 FOREVER Will Young 272000
10 13 10 4 YOU ARE THE ONE Pet Shop Boys 106750

11 8 5 6 KISS SOMEBODY Julie Bergan with Seeb 309700
12 12 12 5 ALL MY LOVE Jeff Lynne’s ELO 136600
13 37 13 3 HALFWAY James Blunt featuring Ward Thomas 54700
14 11 4 8 MONKEY BUSINESS (RADIO EDIT) Pet Shop Boys 373000
15 15 9 7 THE WORLD WE LEFT BEHIND The Fizz 198200
16 16 6 8 OFFLINE Friendly Fires & Friend Within 229800
17 19 17 6 JULY Noah Cyrus & Leon Bridges 111750
18 18 9 6 OH YEAH! Green Day 181000
19 26 19 3 ROSES Adam Lambert & Nile Rodgers 53000
20 32 20 4 BLUE MOON RISING Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 61200

21 17 8 6 THE VOID Muse 199750
22 23 22 6 LOST IN YESTERDAY Tame Impala 98000
23 27 23 5 TASTES LIKE KARMA Madilyn 86650
24 14 3 5 SUPERNATURE Cerrone 273000
25 21 7 12 ADORE YOU Harry Styles 347100
26 20 20 6 RARE Selena Gomez 105950
27 39 27 2 NO TIME TO DIE Billie Eilish 35500
28 45 28 3 REACT Pussycat Dolls 36500
29 29 29 5 FOREVER YOURS Kygo, Avicii & Sandro Cavazza 77500
30 46 30 3 IN MY ARMS Purple Disco Machine featuring Inner Life & Jocelyn Brown, with Al Stewart 37850

31 24 24 5 LAZY LOVE Bobbi Storm 87150
32 25 1 16 THIS IS HOW (WE WANT YOU TO GET HIGH) George Michael 925400
33 40 33 4 NARCISSUS Roisin Murphy 54100
34 30 30 5 LONELY Joel Corry featuring HARLEE 72650
35 35 35 5 I DON’T WANNA Pet Shop Boys 74700
36 53 36 4 PHYSICAL Dua Lipa 46050
37 22 1 10 PLEASE DON’T f*** UP MY WORLD Sparks 722550
38 33 1 26 NOBODY ELSE The S.L.P. 1185250
39 28 20 6 ORDINARY MAN Ozzy Osbourne featuring Elton John & Slash 104150
40 42 40 4 WINNING WAYS The Fizz 51150

41 38 38 4 HAPPY PEOPLE Pet Shop Boys 58300
42 51 42 3 REASONS I DRINK Alanis Morrissette 31900
43 34 3 14 WATERMELON SUGAR Harry Styles 472400
44 36 3 17 DON’T START NOW Dua Lipa 671550
45 47 45 3 AT ROCK BOTTOM Pet Shop Boys 33000
46 31 19 7 THE KEEPER Blossoms 130900
47 NEW 47 1 CUZ I LOVE YOU Lizzo 12500
48 49 48 3 TENNIS FAN Banoffee featuring Empress Of 30000
49 NEW 49 1 BROKEN SLEEP Agnes Obel 12100
50 52 50 5 SIMMER Hayley Williams 50600

51 41 32 6 WHAT A MAN GOTTA DO Jonas Brothers 86100
52 73 52 2 ONE OF A KIND Ronan Keating & Emeli Sande 16900
53 43 21 7 TREAT PEOPLE WITH KINDNESS Harry Styles 110200
54 NEW 54 1 GREAT UNKNOWN X Ambassadors 11000
55 58 55 4 AMOUREUSE Kiki Dee 35000
56 NEW 56 1 WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU The Avalanches featuring Blood Orange 10600
57 59 57 4 WEDDING IN BERLIN Pet Shop Boys 33300
58 44 24 7 ORIGINAL Sia 108450
59 64 59 3 PALE HORSES Ina Wroldsen 23000
60 NEW 60 1 MODERN LONELINESS Lauv 10000

61 67 61 4 NEW ME Ella Eyre 25100
62 74 62 2 LA VIE EN ROSE Louis Armstrong 12600
63 NEW 63 1 CHANGE MY MIND Celine Dion 7200
64 70 64 3 BETTER OF WITHOUT YOU Becky Hill featuring Shift K3Y 18100
65 69 65 5 RUNAROUND SUE Dion 30600
66 50 16 12 2 IN A MILLION Steve Aoki, Sting & SHAED 173300
67 NEW 67 1 INSTANT DESTINY Tame Impala 6600
68 NEW 68 1 MELTDOWN Jake Shears 6400
69 NEW 69 1 ON BTS featuring Sia 6200
70 75 70 2 KNOW YOUR WORTH Khalid & Disclosure 11000

71 NEW 71 1 SIX DAYS IN JUNE The Fratellis 5800
72 66 1 24 DEAR FUTURE SELF (HANDS UP) Fall Out Boy featuring Wyclef Jean 1003450
73 NEW 73 1 WHAT IF I NEVER GET OVER YOU Lady Antebellum 5400
74 NEW 74 1 DEAR JEALOUSY MIKA 5200
75 NEW 75 1 INSTANT HISTORY Biffy Clyro 5000

DROP OUTS
48 48 4 YOU TO ME ARE EVERYTHING The Real Thing 46650
54 8 8 DECIDE Pet Shop Boys 180000
55 40 6 STOP THIS FLAME Celeste 82100
56 56 5 DARE Gorillaz featuring Shaun Ryder 38900
57 9 14 EVERYTHING I WANTED Billie Eilish 273000
60 46 4 MAYDAY!!! FIESTA FEVER AWOLNATION featuring Alex Ebert 45050
61 5 8 THE KILLING OF GEORGIE PARTS I & II Rod Stewart featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 236300
62 1 16 ONE SHY MORNING Amon Tobin 1027000
63 8 16 NO PLACE RUFUS DU SOL 396550
65 36 6 WHEREVER YOU ARE Kodaline 77050
68 35 6 ONE WORLD Billy Ocean 77950
71 9 13 BURNING THE HEATHER Pet Shop Boys 214600
72 9 13 BOB DYLAN Fall Out Boy 289200

 

 

 

16th February 2020

It’s a first week on top for Canadian-Morrocan singer Faouzia, who first appeared in Casablanca. Not with Humphrey Bogart, though, it’s where she was born. Tears Of Gold is fab. Adam Lambert & Niles Rodgers go top 40, James Blunt & Ward Thomas climb bigly into the 40, and highest new entry is the new Bond theme from Billie Eilish, who unexpectedly stretches for a big note and wins, in at 39. Lots of good climbs lower down and not much in the way of new entries, just Ronan Keating & Emeli Sande, Khalid & Disclosure, & an oldie from Louis Armstrong, the classic 1945 Edith Piaf torch-ballad La Vie En Rose made my top 10 in 1985 for Grace Jones, and this recording pre-dates that by some 35 years, or at 70 years-old one of the oldest recordings to make my charts, the only older one that springs to mind is the closing sequence from The Avengers”Endgame.

1 19 1 2 TEARS OF GOLD Faouzia 191000
2 1 1 11 BLINDING LIGHTS The Weeknd 1041600
3 2 1 8 FADES AWAY Avicii featuring Mishcatt 907000
4 3 3 4 FOREVER Will Young 227000
5 8 5 4 AND IT’S STILL ALRIGHT Nathaniel Rateliff 136400
6 10 6 4 MAKE IT TO HEAVEN David Guetta & MORTEN with Raye 126800
7 4 4 4 WILL O’THE WISP Pet Shop Boys 193750
8 5 5 5 KISS SOMEBODY Julie Bergan with Seeb 272700
9 9 9 4 THERAPY Duke Dumont 133500
10 11 10 2 I’M GONNA LOVE YOU JUST A LITTLE MORE BABY Barry White 79000

11 7 4 7 MONKEY BUSINESS (RADIO EDIT) Pet Shop Boys 344000
12 14 12 4 ALL MY LOVE Jeff Lynne’s ELO 101600
13 20 13 3 YOU ARE THE ONE Pet Shop Boys 64750
14 6 3 4 SUPERNATURE Cerrone 254000
15 15 9 6 THE WORLD WE LEFT BEHIND The Fizz 171200
16 13 6 7 OFFLINE Friendly Fires & Friend Within 204800
17 12 8 5 THE VOID Muse 180000
18 16 9 5 OH YEAH! Green Day 159000
19 24 19 5 JULY Noah Cyrus & Leon Bridges 88750
20 22 20 5 RARE Selena Gomez 87450

21 17 7 11 ADORE YOU Harry Styles 329350
22 18 1 9 PLEASE DON’T f*** UP MY WORLD Sparks 705250
23 28 23 5 LOST IN YESTERDAY Tame Impala 78500
24 25 24 4 LAZY LOVE Bobbi Storm 69250
25 21 1 15 THIS IS HOW (WE WANT YOU TO GET HIGH) George Michael 907600
26 43 26 2 ROSES Adam Lambert & Nile Rodgers 32000
27 27 27 4 TASTES LIKE KARMA Madilyn 67400
28 23 20 5 ORDINARY MAN Ozzy Osbourne featuring Elton John & Slash 87050
29 36 29 4 FOREVER YOURS Kygo, Avicii & Sandro Cavazza 59300
30 37 30 4 LONELY Joel Corry featuring HARLEE 55050

31 26 19 6 THE KEEPER Blossoms 118150
32 38 32 3 BLUE MOON RISING Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 41200
33 33 1 25 NOBODY ELSE The S.L.P. 1168050
34 34 3 13 WATERMELON SUGAR Harry Styles 458900
35 35 35 4 I DON’T WANNA Pet Shop Boys 57200
36 30 3 16 DON’T START NOW Dua Lipa 658300
37 73 37 2 HALFWAY James Blunt featuring Ward Thomas 22700
38 40 38 3 HAPPY PEOPLE Pet Shop Boys 44300
39 NEW 39 1 NO TIME TO DIE Billie Eilish 17100
40 48 40 3 NARCISSUS Roisin Murphy 36400

41 32 32 5 WHAT A MAN GOTTA DO Jonas Brothers 74350
42 45 42 3 WINNING WAYS The Fizz 34150
43 31 21 6 TREAT PEOPLE WITH KINDNESS Harry Styles 98950
44 29 24 6 ORIGINAL Sia 98250
45 74 45 2 REACT Pussycat Dolls 18200
46 64 46 2 IN MY ARMS Purple Disco Machine featuring Inner Life & Jocelyn Brown, with Al Stewart 19850
47 61 47 2 AT ROCK BOTTOM Pet Shop Boys 20000
48 49 48 4 YOU TO ME ARE EVERYTHING The Real Thing 46650
49 72 49 2 TENNIS FAN Banoffee featuring Empress Of 17700
50 39 16 11 2 IN A MILLION Steve Aoki, Sting & SHAED 166500

51 68 51 2 REASONS I DRINK Alanis Morrissette 18150
52 52 52 4 SIMMER Hayley Williams 38600
53 57 53 3 PHYSICAL Dua Lipa 28650
54 41 8 8 DECIDE Pet Shop Boys 180000
55 54 40 6 STOP THIS FLAME Celeste 82100
56 59 56 5 DARE Gorillaz featuring Shaun Ryder 38900
57 42 9 14 EVERYTHING I WANTED Billie Eilish 273000
58 63 58 3 AMOUREUSE Kiki Dee 24200
59 66 59 3 WEDDING IN BERLIN Pet Shop Boys 22900
60 46 46 4 MAYDAY!!! FIESTA FEVER AWOLNATION featuring Alex Ebert 45050

61 50 5 8 THE KILLING OF GEORGIE PARTS I & II Rod Stewart featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 236300
62 55 1 16 ONE SHY MORNING Amon Tobin 1027000
63 56 8 16 NO PLACE RUFUS DU SOL 396550
64 71 64 2 PALE HORSES Ina Wroldsen 12900
65 47 36 6 WHEREVER YOU ARE Kodaline 77050
66 62 1 23 DEAR FUTURE SELF (HANDS UP) Fall Out Boy featuring Wyclef Jean 997850
67 70 67 3 NEW ME Ella Eyre 17600
68 44 35 6 ONE WORLD Billy Ocean 77950
69 69 69 4 RUNAROUND SUE Dion 23600
70 75 70 2 BETTER OF WITHOUT YOU Becky Hill featuring Shift K3Y 11000

71 60 9 13 BURNING THE HEATHER Pet Shop Boys 214600
72 67 9 13 BOB DYLAN Fall Out Boy 289200
73 NEW 73 1 ONE OF A KIND Ronan Keating & Emeli Sande 5400
74 NEW 74 1 LA VIE EN ROSE Louis Armstrong 5200
75 NEW 75 1 KNOW YOUR WORTH Khalid & Disclosure 5000

DROP OUTS
51 51 5 DON’T WALK AWAY Jade 39950
53 1 9 THE SWEET HELLO THE SAD GOODBYE (BASSFLOW REMAKE) Roxette 653450
58 1 17 YOU AND ME AS ONE Sigma & Jack Savoretti 1406000
65 4 18 LIGHTS UP Harry Styles 604700

 

 

9th February 2020

It’s 3 weeks on top for Blinding Lights as Will Young gets his biggest track since Love Revolution hit 2 in 2015 and his 3rd top 3 in 18 years – Friday’s Child topped my chart in 2004. Nathaniel Rateliff outpeaks his debut hit SOB by 6 places, while Duke Dumont gets his 4th top 10 in 6 years, and slightly more succesful in the dance arena, David Guetta gets his first top 10 in 5 years, his 11th top 10 in 17 years of hits, and over 25 chart entries.

Highest new entry at 11 is Barry White’s debut hit from 1973, the very very sexy, sultry I’m Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby which had a short chart run in my top 10 back in the day, but was evicted early due to a short UK chart run (I only allowed current UK top 30 hits in my actual charts of the time) despite still being probably his best record. Thanks to a prime spot in Birds Of Prey, it now gets to set things right some errr 47 years late and just a few months before I changed my chart rules to allow all current singles and album tracks into my charts.

Highest actual new song is at 19 from Faouzia, a 19-year-old Canadian-Moroccan, it’s fab, while Pet Shop Boys dominate the chart even more with a number of climbers, notably You Are The One into the top 20, and another new entry – B Side of Monkey Business is At Rock Bottom at 61. That’s 9 tracks or over 12% of the chart. Noel Gallagher adds yet another top 40 to his increasingly long list of top 40 tracks, and newies include Adam Lambert & Nile Rodgers, the latter extending his run to a not-unimpressive 42 years since I first disco-danced to Dance Dance Dance.

Purple Disco return, talking of discos, and sample some vintage Jocelyn Brown, who’s charted with numerous dance acts, and solo, across her 5th decade now. The track doesn’t give credit to Al Stewart, but I do – his classic Year Of The Cat riff is nicked for a key backdrop to the track, and I adore the original, so in he goes to extend his mentions to 43 years. Alanis Morissette hasn’t troubled my listings for 12 years, but she’s back, and makes it a sweet 25 years since her jaw-droppingly bitter You Oughta Know hit my top 10, kick-starting a brilliant album and run of singles. Pussycat Dolls also return after an absence of 11 years, their 4 years of singles being followed by a number of Nicole Scherzinger hits, who’s back on board 9 years since she topped my charts with Right There, which unfortunately also gave the usually unlistenable 50 Cent billing on a chart-topper.

1 1 1 10 BLINDING LIGHTS The Weeknd 927600
2 2 1 7 FADES AWAY Avicii featuring Mishcatt 822000
3 6 3 3 FOREVER Will Young 162000
4 5 4 3 WILL O’THE WISP Pet Shop Boys 143750
5 7 5 4 KISS SOMEBODY Julie Bergan with Seeb 224700
6 3 3 3 SUPERNATURE Cerrone 225000
7 4 4 6 MONKEY BUSINESS (RADIO EDIT) Pet Shop Boys 307000
8 18 8 3 AND IT’S STILL ALRIGHT Nathaniel Rateliff 76400
9 13 9 3 THERAPY Duke Dumont 88500
10 17 10 3 MAKE IT TO HEAVEN David Guetta & MORTEN with Raye 71800

11 NEW 11 1 I’M GONNA LOVE YOU JUST A LITTLE MORE BABY Barry White 37000
12 10 8 4 THE VOID Muse 157000
13 8 6 6 OFFLINE Friendly Fires & Friend Within 179800
14 15 14 3 ALL MY LOVE Jeff Lynne’s ELO 66600
15 9 9 5 THE WORLD WE LEFT BEHIND The Fizz 144200
16 12 9 4 OH YEAH! Green Day 137000
17 14 7 10 ADORE YOU Harry Styles 309600
18 11 1 8 PLEASE DON’T f*** UP MY WORLD Sparks 686000
19 NEW 19 1 TEARS OF GOLD Faouzia 21000
20 46 20 2 YOU ARE THE ONE Pet Shop Boys 32750

21 16 1 14 THIS IS HOW (WE WANT YOU TO GET HIGH) George Michael 888850
22 23 22 4 RARE Selena Gomez 67450
23 20 20 4 ORDINARY MAN Ozzy Osbourne featuring Elton John & Slash 68750
24 27 24 4 JULY Noah Cyrus & Leon Bridges 67750
25 26 25 3 LAZY LOVE Bobbi Storm 50250
26 19 19 5 THE KEEPER Blossoms 100250
27 28 27 3 TASTES LIKE KARMA Madilyn 49000
28 32 28 4 LOST IN YESTERDAY Tame Impala 59250
29 24 24 5 ORIGINAL Sia 85000
30 22 3 15 DON’T START NOW Dua Lipa 640900

31 21 21 5 TREAT PEOPLE WITH KINDNESS Harry Styles 85450
32 37 32 4 WHAT A MAN GOTTA DO Jonas Brothers 60350
33 34 1 24 NOBODY ELSE The S.L.P. 1150350
34 25 3 12 WATERMELON SUGAR Harry Styles 441300
35 50 35 3 I DON’T WANNA Pet Shop Boys 39700
36 39 36 3 FOREVER YOURS Kygo, Avicii & Sandro Cavazza 41100
37 42 37 3 LONELY Joel Corry featuring HARLEE 37050
38 69 38 2 BLUE MOON RISING Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 23400
39 29 16 10 2 IN A MILLION Steve Aoki, Sting & SHAED 154500
40 59 40 2 HAPPY PEOPLE Pet Shop Boys 27100

41 30 8 7 DECIDE Pet Shop Boys 169000
42 31 9 13 EVERYTHING I WANTED Billie Eilish 262600
43 NEW 43 1 ROSES Adam Lambert & Nile Rodgers 13500
44 35 35 5 ONE WORLD Billy Ocean 71550
45 62 45 2 WINNING WAYS The Fizz 20400
46 48 46 3 MAYDAY!!! FIESTA FEVER AWOLNATION featuring Alex Ebert 35050
47 36 36 5 WHEREVER YOU ARE Kodaline 70050
48 64 48 2 NARCISSUS Roisin Murphy 19400
49 53 49 3 YOU TO ME ARE EVERYTHING The Real Thing 34350
50 33 5 7 THE KILLING OF GEORGIE PARTS I & II Rod Stewart featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 228800

51 60 51 5 DON’T WALK AWAY Jade 39950
52 56 52 3 SIMMER Hayley Williams 27100
53 38 1 9 THE SWEET HELLO THE SAD GOODBYE (BASSFLOW REMAKE) Roxette 653450
54 40 40 5 STOP THIS FLAME Celeste 71300
55 43 1 15 ONE SHY MORNING Amon Tobin 1019600
56 44 8 15 NO PLACE RUFUS DU SOL 389350
57 65 57 2 PHYSICAL Dua Lipa 17400
58 41 1 17 YOU AND ME AS ONE Sigma & Jack Savoretti 1406000
59 63 59 4 DARE Gorillaz featuring Shaun Ryder 28300
60 47 9 12 BURNING THE HEATHER Pet Shop Boys 208800

61 NEW 61 1 AT ROCK BOTTOM Pet Shop Boys 7500
62 57 1 22 DEAR FUTURE SELF (HANDS UP) Fall Out Boy featuring Wyclef Jean 991050
63 66 63 2 AMOUREUSE Kiki Dee 14000
64 NEW 64 1 IN MY ARMS Purple Disco Machine featuring Inner Life & Jocelyn Brown, with Al Stewart 7100
65 49 4 18 LIGHTS UP Harry Styles 604700
66 70 66 2 WEDDING IN BERLIN Pet Shop Boys 12800
67 52 9 12 BOB DYLAN Fall Out Boy 283600
68 NEW 68 1 REASONS I DRINK Alanis Morrissette 6400
69 72 69 3 RUNAROUND SUE Dion 17400
70 75 70 2 NEW ME Ella Eyre 11000

71 NEW 71 1 PALE HORSES Ina Wroldsen 5800
72 NEW 72 1 TENNIS FAN Banoffee featuring Empress Of 5600
73 NEW 73 1 HALFWAY James Blunt featuring Ward Thomas 5400
74 NEW 74 1 REACT Pussycat Dolls 5200
75 NEW 75 1 BETTER OF WITHOUT YOU Becky Hill featuring Shift K3Y 5000

DSROP OUTS
45 20 2 (DON’T FEAR) THE REAPER Blue Oyster Cult 33000
51 34 9 FINALLY//BEAUTIFUL STRANGER Halsey 104250
54 10 8 HOPE Kim Wilde 168050
55 55 4 HURT Louise 39500
58 58 4 LOVE REMEDY Roachford 35900
61 61 3 THOSE KINDA NIGHTS Eminem featuring Ed Sheeran 21500
67 67 2 IN THESE ARMS JP Cooper 11800
68 68 2 BROKEN LAND The Adventures 12600
71 20 9 WE GOT LOVE Sigala featuring Ella Henderson 116350
73 5 9 THE NIGHT Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons 250400
74 18 6 KISSING IN THE WIND Travis 85200

 

 

2nd February 2020

It’s The Weeknd on top for a 2nd week as the top 20 gets very volatile with lots of movement, Pet Shop Boys getting 2 top 5 tracks off Hotspot, the highest new entry at 46 with the lovely You Are The One, and a total of 8 tracks in the chart, 7 of them off the album. I’ve probably never mentioned I’m a fan….! Will Young adds to his top 10 list as Forever climbs to 6, Duke Dumont rockets up to 13 for some banging dance therapy, Jeff Lynne continues his habit of going top 20 even after 50 years or so, as the tuneful All My Love shoots up to 15, and David Guetta and Raye add to their top 20’s with leaps up from the 60’s, as does Nathaniel Rateliff getting his 2nd top 20.

Ozzy, Elton and Slash all go up to 20, Ozzy getting his 2nd Top 20 of this century, Elton getting his 4th with new material and his first for 7 years – but he’s constantly been in the charts with oldies, guest spots (eg uncredited Scissor Sisters, Pet Shop Boys) and revamps (eg Pnau). The Fizz are back with yet another simultaneous charting track, they weren’t this prolific even in their heyday! Dua Lipa does the same, as she gets Physical, Roisin Murphy makes it 22 years of Moloko and solo activity, Ella Eyre pops in again with a newie, Noel Gallagher also is another who can’t stop releasing new tracks at a furious pace, for 26 years of non-stop chart action, pretty much, and Kiki Dee brings her 1973 Elton-John-pushed classic Amoureuse back into my charts as it’s selling on itunes for some reason, having popped back into my charts in 1976 but not since.

1 1 1 9 BLINDING LIGHTS The Weeknd 757600
2 2 1 6 FADES AWAY Avicii featuring Mishcatt 707000
3 3 3 2 SUPERNATURE Cerrone 170000
4 5 4 5 MONKEY BUSINESS (RADIO EDIT) Pet Shop Boys 257000
5 25 5 2 WILL O’THE WISP Pet Shop Boys 78750
6 18 6 2 FOREVER Will Young 77000
7 7 7 5 KISS SOMEBODY Julie Bergan with Seeb 164700
8 6 6 5 OFFLINE Friendly Fires & Friend Within 147800
9 10 9 4 THE WORLD WE LEFT BEHIND The Fizz 117200
10 8 8 3 THE VOID Muse 122000

11 4 1 7 PLEASE DON’T f*** UP MY WORLD Sparks 664000
12 9 9 3 OH YEAH! Green Day 112000
13 52 13 2 THERAPY Duke Dumont 43500
14 14 7 9 ADORE YOU Harry Styles 286600
15 56 15 2 ALL MY LOVE Jeff Lynne’s ELO 37600
16 11 1 13 THIS IS HOW (WE WANT YOU TO GET HIGH) George Michael 869100
17 66 17 2 MAKE IT TO HEAVEN David Guetta & MORTEN with Raye 29800
18 68 18 2 AND IT’S STILL ALRIGHT Nathaniel Rateliff 28400
19 19 19 4 THE KEEPER Blossoms 81750
20 38 20 3 ORDINARY MAN Ozzy Osbourne featuring Elton John & Slash 49500

21 22 21 4 TREAT PEOPLE WITH KINDNESS Harry Styles 67550
22 13 3 14 DON’T START NOW Dua Lipa 622900
23 33 23 3 RARE Selena Gomez 47950
24 26 24 4 ORIGINAL Sia 66800
25 21 3 11 WATERMELON SUGAR Harry Styles 423700
26 45 26 2 LAZY LOVE Bobbi Storm 31500
27 39 27 3 JULY Noah Cyrus & Leon Bridges 48750
28 48 28 2 TASTES LIKE KARMA Madilyn 30600
29 24 16 9 2 IN A MILLION Steve Aoki, Sting & SHAED 137400
30 17 8 6 DECIDE Pet Shop Boys 155000

31 23 9 12 EVERYTHING I WANTED Billie Eilish 248850
32 46 32 3 LOST IN YESTERDAY Tame Impala 40950
33 12 5 6 THE KILLING OF GEORGIE PARTS I & II Rod Stewart featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 216800
34 29 1 23 NOBODY ELSE The S.L.P. 1132650
35 36 35 4 ONE WORLD Billy Ocean 58300
36 37 36 4 WHEREVER YOU ARE Kodaline 57550
37 44 37 3 WHAT A MAN GOTTA DO Jonas Brothers 42550
38 16 1 8 THE SWEET HELLO THE SAD GOODBYE (BASSFLOW REMAKE) Roxette 642200
39 67 39 2 FOREVER YOURS Kygo, Avicii & Sandro Cavazza 23700
40 40 40 4 STOP THIS FLAME Celeste 60300

41 27 1 16 YOU AND ME AS ONE Sigma & Jack Savoretti 1395800
42 70 42 2 LONELY Joel Corry featuring HARLEE 19750
43 28 1 14 ONE SHY MORNING Amon Tobin 1008800
44 31 8 14 NO PLACE RUFUS DU SOL 378750
45 20 20 2 (DON’T FEAR) THE REAPER Blue Oyster Cult 33000
46 NEW 46 1 YOU ARE THE ONE Pet Shop Boys 12750
47 47 9 11 BURNING THE HEATHER Pet Shop Boys 198800
48 60 48 2 MAYDAY!!! FIESTA FEVER AWOLNATION featuring Alex Ebert 22300
49 32 4 17 LIGHTS UP Harry Styles 597700
50 58 50 2 I DON’T WANNA Pet Shop Boys 22200

51 34 34 9 FINALLY//BEAUTIFUL STRANGER Halsey 104250
52 35 9 11 BOB DYLAN Fall Out Boy 277000
53 54 53 2 YOU TO ME ARE EVERYTHING The Real Thing 22250
54 30 10 8 HOPE Kim Wilde 168050
55 55 55 4 HURT Louise 39500
56 75 56 2 SIMMER Hayley Williams 15600
57 51 1 21 DEAR FUTURE SELF (HANDS UP) Fall Out Boy featuring Wyclef Jean 983650
58 59 58 4 REMEDY Roachford 35900
59 NEW 59 1 HAPPY PEOPLE Pet Shop Boys 10100
60 63 60 4 DON’T WALK AWAY Jade 28200

61 62 61 3 THOSE KINDA NIGHTS Eminem featuring Ed Sheeran 21500
62 NEW 62 1 WINNING WAYS The Fizz 7400
63 71 63 3 DARE Gorillaz featuring Shaun Ryder 18200
64 NEW 64 1 NARCISSUS Roisin Murphy 7100
65 NEW 65 1 PHYSICAL Dua Lipa 7000
66 NEW 66 1 AMOUREUSE Kiki Dee 6800
67 74 67 2 IN THESE ARMS JP Cooper 11800
68 69 68 2 BROKEN LAND The Adventures 12600
69 NEW 69 1 BLUE MOON RISING Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 6200
70 NEW 70 1 WEDDING IN BERLIN Pet Shop Boys 6000

71 41 20 9 WE GOT LOVE Sigala featuring Ella Henderson 116350
72 72 72 2 RUNAROUND SUE Dion 11200
73 43 5 9 THE NIGHT Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons 250400
74 42 18 6 KISSING IN THE WIND Travis 85200
75 NEW 75 1 NEW ME Ella Eyre 5000

DROP OUTS
15 4 2 CA PLANE POUR MOI (ORIGINAL 1977 VERSION) Plastic Bertrand 92000
49 36 10 OWN IT Stormzy featuring Ed Sheeran & Burna Boy 94700
50 14 12 STAY HAPPY AU/RA 192700
53 38 4 HIGH HEELS Melanie C featuring Sink The Pink 48350
57 15 17 DREAMS OF YOU Icarus featuring Rae Morris 285200
61 1 26 I TRANCE Agnes 1681900
64 64 3 UNDERDOG Alicia Keys 20100
65 65 3 TRASH GLAM BABY The Boomtown Rats 19000
73 27 9 CLEAN Hey Violet 110650

 

 

26th January 2020

It’s a first solo number one for The Weeknd after 3 previous 2’s, and a topper with Ariana Grande, holding off a challenge from a return from 1978 classic ahead-of-it’s-time dance track Supernature, Cerrone’s only big hit in the UK which went top 3 for me around the same time as Blue Oyster Cult went top 10 with (Don’t Fear) The Reaper. “More Cowbell!”. 4th time round for that one, all of them top 20, and joining fellow 1978 chart-topper Ca Plane Pour Moi for a mini-invasion of a good Uni year for me.

Friendly fires get a 3rd top 10, including a chart-topper in 2011 with Hurting, Muse make it 6 top 10’s as The Void expands upwards, and Green Day make it a 3rd top 10, having had two peaks of 4 for ballads early in their career – and then nothing big since. The Fizz make it a 5th top 10 in their current incarnation, including a number one with Amen in 2017, but add in some Bucks and increase the top 10’s by 13 to 18, and the chart-toppers by 5 to 6. Cheryl also has another top 10 with Coco.

Highest new track is Will Young, Forever! His 16th top 20, and in at 18, including hotting the top in 2004 with Friday’s Child. Pet Shop Boys drop the new album, and get instant new entries for the 2 most-commercial tracks, Wil o’the wisp at 25, and I Don’t Wanna at 58. I’ve just bought the CD to play it through properly, but Hotspot is sounding pretty good on one quick runthrough as a whole, but minus the clear individual track highlights that the last few albums have had.

Jeff Lynne’s back, making it 50 years of chart activity in various guises, mostly ELO, and with numerous chart-toppers, at least 15 to date, Duke Dumont is also returning, for a 7th year of chart entries, The Real Thing 1976 classic is back for a 3rd time, You To Me Are Everything peaked at 3 in 1986, Dion is back with another oldie, he first charted with a reissue of The Wanderer in 1976, Runaround Sue dates from 1961 making it 59 years-old and one of the oldest-recordings to chart in terms of release date to chart-date.

1 2 1 8 BLINDING LIGHTS The Weeknd 587600
2 1 1 5 FADES AWAY Avicii featuring Mishcatt 592000
3 NEW 3 1 SUPERNATURE Cerrone 85000
4 3 1 6 PLEASE DON’T f*** UP MY WORLD Sparks 627000
5 5 5 4 MONKEY BUSINESS (RADIO EDIT) Pet Shop Boys 192000
6 19 6 4 OFFLINE Friendly Fires & Friend Within 99800
7 10 7 4 KISS SOMEBODY Julie Bergan with Seeb 114700
8 13 8 2 THE VOID Muse 80000
9 18 9 2 OH YEAH! Green Day 67000
10 17 10 3 THE WORLD WE LEFT BEHIND The Fizz 72200

11 8 1 12 THIS IS HOW (WE WANT YOU TO GET HIGH) George Michael 844100
12 6 5 5 THE KILLING OF GEORGIE PARTS I & II Rod Stewart featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 199100
13 11 3 13 DON’T START NOW Dua Lipa 603400
14 9 7 8 ADORE YOU Harry Styles 257600
15 4 4 2 CA PLANE POUR MOI (ORIGINAL 1977 VERSION) Plastic Bertrand 92000
16 7 1 7 THE SWEET HELLO THE SAD GOODBYE (BASSFLOW REMAKE) Roxette 625000
17 12 8 5 DECIDE Pet Shop Boys 137000
18 NEW 18 1 FOREVER Will Young 22000
19 20 19 3 THE KEEPER Blossoms 60750
20 NEW 20 1 (DON’T FEAR) THE REAPER Blue Oyster Cult 20000

21 15 3 10 WATERMELON SUGAR Harry Styles 404950
22 28 22 3 TREAT PEOPLE WITH KINDNESS Harry Styles 47800
23 14 9 11 EVERYTHING I WANTED Billie Eilish 230950
24 16 16 8 2 IN A MILLION Steve Aoki, Sting & SHAED 119200
25 NEW 25 1 WILL O’THE WISP Pet Shop Boys 18750
26 32 26 3 ORIGINAL Sia 47800
27 22 1 15 YOU AND ME AS ONE Sigma & Jack Savoretti 1381800
28 25 1 13 ONE SHY MORNING Amon Tobin 995300
29 29 1 22 NOBODY ELSE The S.L.P. 1115050
30 21 10 7 HOPE Kim Wilde 157050

31 26 8 13 NO PLACE RUFUS DU SOL 365500
32 27 4 16 LIGHTS UP Harry Styles 585600
33 54 33 2 RARE Selena Gomez 28700
34 34 34 8 FINALLY//BEAUTIFUL STRANGER Halsey 92500
35 30 9 10 BOB DYLAN Fall Out Boy 265500
36 40 36 3 ONE WORLD Billy Ocean 40800
37 46 37 3 WHEREVER YOU ARE Kodaline 40150
38 48 38 2 ORDINARY MAN Ozzy Osbourne featuring Elton John & Slash 29500
39 44 39 2 JULY Noah Cyrus & Leon Bridges 30350
40 41 40 3 STOP THIS FLAME Celeste 43300

41 31 20 8 WE GOT LOVE Sigala featuring Ella Henderson 110550
42 23 18 5 KISSING IN THE WIND Travis 80000
43 24 5 8 THE NIGHT Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons 245000
44 50 44 2 WHAT A MAN GOTTA DO Jonas Brothers 25250
45 NEW 45 1 LAZY LOVE Bobbi Storm 13000
46 57 46 2 LOST IN YESTERDAY Tame Impala 23150
47 33 9 10 BURNING THE HEATHER Pet Shop Boys 186300
48 NEW 48 1 TASTES LIKE KARMA Madilyn 12300
49 36 36 10 OWN IT Stormzy featuring Ed Sheeran & Burna Boy 94700
50 35 14 12 STAY HAPPY AU/RA 192700

51 42 1 20 DEAR FUTURE SELF (HANDS UP) Fall Out Boy featuring Wyclef Jean 973250
52 NEW 52 1 THERAPY Duke Dumont 11500
53 38 38 4 HIGH HEELS Melanie C featuring Sink The Pink 48350
54 NEW 54 1 YOU TO ME ARE EVERYTHING The Real Thing 11000
55 55 55 3 HURT Louise 28700
56 NEW 56 1 ALL MY LOVE Jeff Lynne’s ELO 10600
57 47 15 17 DREAMS OF YOU Icarus featuring Rae Morris 285200
58 NEW 58 1 I DON’T WANNA Pet Shop Boys 10200
59 60 59 3 REMEDY Roachford 25700
60 NEW 60 1 MAYDAY!!! FIESTA FEVER AWOLNATION featuring Alex Ebert 10000

61 58 1 26 I TRANCE Agnes 1681900
62 67 62 2 THOSE KINDA NIGHTS Eminem featuring Ed Sheeran 14000
63 70 63 3 DON’T WALK AWAY Jade 18200
64 65 64 3 UNDERDOG Alicia Keys 20100
65 66 65 3 TRASH GLAM BABY The Boomtown Rats 19000
66 NEW 66 1 MAKE IT TO HEAVEN David Guetta & MORTEN with Raye 6800
67 NEW 67 1 FOREVER YOURS Kygo, Avicii & Sandro Cavazza 6600
68 NEW 68 1 AND IT’S STILL ALRIGHT Nathaniel Rateliff 6400
69 NEW 69 1 BROKEN LAND The Adventures 6200
70 NEW 70 1 LONELY Joel Corry 6000

71 74 71 2 DARE Gorillaz featuring Shaun Ryder 11000
72 NEW 72 1 RUNAROUND SUE Dion 5600
73 39 27 9 CLEAN Hey Violet 110650
74 NEW 74 1 IN THESE ARMS JP Cooper 5200
75 NEW 75 1 SIMMER Hayley Williams 5000

DROP OUTS
37 28 10 BEAUTIFUL GHOSTS Taylor Swift 143500
43 40 7 THIS IS REAL Jax Jones & Ella Henderson 64500
45 23 11 STONE Collard featuring Bakar 163850
49 30 4 WINTER SONG Kim Wilde 49100
51 14 9 CAN I KEEP YOU Efisio Cross 173150
52 52 4 EVERYDAY LIFE Coldplay 34800
53 4 12 TOMIE GHOST DATA 402900
56 7 9 DO I LOVE YOU (INDEED I DO) Frank Wilson 260250
59 36 6 KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE Kim Wilde 69450
61 26 12 WHAT YOU WAITING FOR? Gwen Stefani 170600
62 62 6 THE LOOK Roxette 35400
63 38 7 HAMMER Louise 79550
64 8 13 ORPHANS Coldplay 312300
68 16 9 CAN’T FIGHT THIS FEELING Bastille featuring Contemporary London Orchestra 154550
69 24 15 GOOD LUCK Broken Bells 191100
71 62 6 FADING LIKE A FLOWER (EVERY TIME YOU LEAVE) Roxette 37200
72 10 11 MONSTERS James Blunt 232350
73 9 16 TURN ME ON Riton & Oliver Heldens featuring Vula 323850
75 28 12 THE TRUTH James Blunt 148150

 

 

19th January 2020

It’s Avicii on top for a second week as the charts start to wake up and get moving, with The Weeknd getting his 4th number 2 and highest new entry is a former 1978 chart-topper from Plastic Bertrand, the Belgian New Wave act who hit across Europe with his deliciously fab and fun Ca Plane Pour Moi while I was a student at Uni. For some reason it’s in the itunes charts and seeling again (Number 100 on sales last week) so that’s good enough reason for me to re-chart it, in at 4! Ca plane pour moi, as it were!

Seeb get a second top 10 inside 6 months, after getting the top track during 2019 for me on chart “sales”, this time assisting Julie Bergan who gets a first. Highest contemporary track is Muse’s The Void, the 4th track to chart off their last album to go top 20, shooting in at 13 by virtue of me watching Dr Brian Cox’s brilliant The Planets series again and loving the theme snippet from the song they use. Evocative! That’s 13 top 20’s in 20 years. Meanwhile The Fizz recycle an old SAW hook to great effect and leap into the 20 as they keep the new material clicking at a good pace 39 years on.

Green Day enter at 18, shockingly their first new entry for 11 years, and some 22 years since Time Of Your Life hit 4 on their chart debut (and a future chart-topper for Glen Campbell). What got them back on chart-course? Err sampling a hook from an old Joan Jett track, that was a cover of a huge UK Glamrock hit from 1973. Oh Yeah! is the bracketed bit in the title Do You Wanna Touch Me, which would be uncoverable these days given who wrote the words, but at least the lads have donated proceeds to charity having realised who Mr Paul Gadd is on the songwriting credits. I’m happy to give main credit to Mike Leander who most likely wrote the tune, produced the song, worked with The Beatles, and Executive-produced Jesus Christ Superstar, the album.

Harry Styles makes it 4 tracks in the top 30, SO greedy, Billy Ocean shoots into the top 40 with his first new top 40 track since errr the 80’s, I think! Noah Cyrus returns with at least her 4th chart entry in 3 years, including 2 top 10’s, and July. Ozzy Osbourne hasn’t troubled my rundown since 2003’s Changes with daughter Kelly, but now extends his chart career to 37 years as solo act, and 50 years as lead-singer of Black Sabbath, aided by Elton John making it 49 years of hits, and Slash getting a credit from me for the fab guitar solo 33 years since Guns ‘n’ Roses debuted.

Chart returns from Selena Gomez, Jonas Brothers, Tame Impala, Eminem (now on 21 years of chart success), Ed Sheeran, and a former chart-topper from Gorillaz popping back in, round off the busy week.

1 1 1 4 FADES AWAY Avicii featuring Mishcatt 477000
2 3 2 7 BLINDING LIGHTS The Weeknd 417600
3 2 1 5 PLEASE DON’T f*** UP MY WORLD Sparks 562000
4 NEW 4 1 CA PLANE POUR MOI (ORIGINAL 1977 VERSION) Plastic Bertrand 65000
5 9 5 3 MONKEY BUSINESS (RADIO EDIT) Pet Shop Boys 132000
6 5 5 4 THE KILLING OF GEORGIE PARTS I & II Rod Stewart featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 164100
7 4 1 6 THE SWEET HELLO THE SAD GOODBYE (BASSFLOW REMAKE) Roxette 600000
8 6 1 11 THIS IS HOW (WE WANT YOU TO GET HIGH) George Michael 807100
9 7 7 7 ADORE YOU Harry Styles 228600
10 35 10 3 KISS SOMEBODY Julie Bergan with Seeb 64700

11 11 3 12 DON’T START NOW Dua Lipa 571400
12 8 8 4 DECIDE Pet Shop Boys 114000
13 NEW 13 1 THE VOID Muse 32000
14 12 9 10 EVERYTHING I WANTED Billie Eilish 211700
15 13 3 9 WATERMELON SUGAR Harry Styles 385200
16 16 16 7 2 IN A MILLION Steve Aoki, Sting & SHAED 100200
17 38 17 2 THE WORLD WE LEFT BEHIND The Fizz 30200
18 NEW 18 1 OH YEAH! Green Day 22000
19 29 19 3 OFFLINE Friendly Fires & Friend Within 44800
20 21 20 2 THE KEEPER Blossoms 39750

21 10 10 6 HOPE Kim Wilde 139050
22 15 1 14 YOU AND ME AS ONE Sigma & Jack Savoretti 1363400
23 18 18 4 KISSING IN THE WIND Travis 66250
24 14 5 7 THE NIGHT Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons 231500
25 22 1 12 ONE SHY MORNING Amon Tobin 977000
26 17 8 12 NO PLACE RUFUS DU SOL 347600
27 19 4 15 LIGHTS UP Harry Styles 567800
28 60 28 2 TREAT PEOPLE WITH KINDNESS Harry Styles 28300
29 24 1 21 NOBODY ELSE The S.L.P. 1096850
30 26 9 9 BOB DYLAN Fall Out Boy 248000

31 20 20 7 WE GOT LOVE Sigala featuring Ella Henderson 96550
32 52 32 2 ORIGINAL Sia 29300
33 23 9 9 BURNING THE HEATHER Pet Shop Boys 173800
34 34 34 7 FINALLY//BEAUTIFUL STRANGER Halsey 74900
35 25 14 11 STAY HAPPY AU/RA 180700
36 39 36 9 OWN IT Stormzy featuring Ed Sheeran & Burna Boy 82600
37 28 28 10 BEAUTIFUL GHOSTS Taylor Swift 143500
38 43 38 3 HIGH HEELS Melanie C featuring Sink The Pink 37100
39 27 27 8 CLEAN Hey Violet 105250
40 68 40 2 ONE WORLD Billy Ocean 23400

41 48 41 2 STOP THIS FLAME Celeste 26300
42 37 1 19 DEAR FUTURE SELF (HANDS UP) Fall Out Boy featuring Wyclef Jean 961500
43 40 40 7 THIS IS REAL Jax Jones & Ella Henderson 64500
44 NEW 44 1 JULY Noah Cyrus & Leon Bridges 13250
45 32 23 11 STONE Collard featuring Bakar 163850
46 59 46 2 WHEREVER YOU ARE Kodaline 22850
47 46 15 16 DREAMS OF YOU Icarus featuring Rae Morris 274800
48 NEW 48 1 ORDINARY MAN Ozzy Osbourne featuring Elton John & Slash 12300
49 30 30 4 WINTER SONG Kim Wilde 49100
50 NEW 50 1 WHAT A MAN GOTTA DO Jonas Brothers 12000

51 33 14 9 CAN I KEEP YOU Efisio Cross 173150
52 56 52 4 EVERYDAY LIFE Coldplay 34800
53 41 4 12 TOMIE GHOST DATA 402900
54 NEW 54 1 RARE Selena Gomez 11000
55 64 55 2 HURT Louise 17900
56 47 7 9 DO I LOVE YOU (INDEED I DO) Frank Wilson 260250
57 NEW 57 1 LOST IN YESTERDAY Tame Impala 10400
58 58 1 25 I TRANCE Agnes 1674400
59 36 36 6 KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE Kim Wilde 69450
60 72 60 2 REMEDY Roachford 15600

61 31 26 12 WHAT YOU WAITING FOR? Gwen Stefani 170600
62 66 62 6 THE LOOK Roxette 35400
63 42 38 7 HAMMER Louise 79550
64 49 8 13 ORPHANS Coldplay 312300
65 70 65 2 UNDERDOG Alicia Keys 13000
66 74 66 2 TRASH GLAM BABY The Boomtown Rats 12000
67 NEW 67 1 THOSE KINDA NIGHTS Eminem featuring Ed Sheeran 6600
68 44 16 9 CAN’T FIGHT THIS FEELING Bastille featuring Contemporary London Orchestra 154550
69 51 24 15 GOOD LUCK Broken Bells 191100
70 75 70 2 DON’T WALK AWAY Jade 11000

71 62 62 6 FADING LIKE A FLOWER (EVERY TIME YOU LEAVE) Roxette 37200
72 45 10 11 MONSTERS James Blunt 232350
73 54 9 16 TURN ME ON Riton & Oliver Heldens featuring Vula 323850
74 NEW 74 1 DARE Gorillaz featuring Shaun Ryder 5200
75 53 28 12 THE TRUTH James Blunt 148150

drop outs
50 17 8 TIME FOR CHANGE Robbie Williams 120800
55 2 4 DRIVING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS Chris Rea 178800
57 4 5 ISOBEL’S DREAM (370900) Kim Wilde 59400
61 13 6 DON’T START WITHOUT ME (2019 RADIO EDIT) The Fizz 127250
63 18 12 SYMPHONY OF YOU Pete Tong & HERO featuring Boy George 176200
65 8 15 ECHOES Lola Marsh 343900
67 10 17 DON’T CALL ME ANGEL (CHARLIE’S ANGELS) Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus & Lana Del Ray 312350
69 34 10 STACK IT UP Liam Payne featuring A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie 126050
71 36 9 MAI TAIS Train & Skylar Grey 108750
73 33 11 YOUNGER Jonas Blue & HRVY 125900

 

 

 

12th January 2020

It’s a first week at one for Avicii – ever! That gives him a unique chart record, the first posthumous chart-topper with current material by an act who has never topped my chart previously. He’s been as high as 2, but never managed that extra spot up. Far too many acts have hit my top spot posthumously before with current material, but none for the first time – although Mama Cass in 1974 was already topping my chart when she died, and she would in any case have had chart-toppers with The Mamas & The Papas had I been charting when they were active. Fades Away, like most of his last album, is so sad and full of cries for help,

The Weeknd gets his 6th top 3 as main artist, but he’s yet to top in that respect, but has as guest on Ariana Grande’s Love Me Harder, and Pet Shop Boys add another 2 top 10’s with latest single Monkey Business, and last B side Decide. Kim Wilde also gets an 8-year-late top 10 with Hope. There’s a lot of songs with important messages in my charts right now, which, given the state of the world, is at it should be. Sting gets his highest chart credit in 20 years, up to 16, Blossoms are the highest entry, and top all previous singles bar one in one fell swoop, in at 21.

Big climbs for Friendly Fires, Kim Wilde and Julie Bergan, all into the top 40, and The Fizz get a quick follow-up to their revamped xmas song, in at 38, given Cheryl, Jay and Mike a span of 39 years since Eurovision debut Making Your Mind Up, with added Bucks. Stormzy gets a second top 40, Ella Henderson gets a second simultaneous climber inside the 40 (joining Pet Shop Boys and Kim Wilde), while Celeste gets a 2nd chart entry – that’s not Strange at all! – Sia does another movie theme (Dr. Doolittle), Kodaline are back again, Harry Styles charts a 4th track off his album, and Louise gets her 2nd simultaneous a bit Hurt.

So, time for some oldies. New songs, that is, by veterans: at 68, Billy Ocean gets his first new entry for 2 years, and an increased span of 44 years of hits solo, or 46 years including Scorched Earth who debuted the same month as Sparks (now number 2). Bob Geldof hasn’t charted in 26 years – and still hasn’t. Except that he has returned, as lead singer and mainman of The Boomtown Rats, who quietly sneak in with Trash Glam Baby at 75: the band hasn’t troubled my charts with new material since 1985 (or even existed, I think) when they went top 20 with A Hold Of You after I’d seen them in concert at Poole Arts Centre as it was known in those days. So they leap from an 8-year chart-span to err, 43 years since they punked onto the scene. Roachford is also back after a 22 year chart lay-off, and Alicia Keys after a few months but almost 2 decades of entries.

1 2 1 3 FADES AWAY Avicii featuring Mishcatt 307000
2 1 1 4 PLEASE DON’T f*** UP MY WORLD Sparks 477000
3 4 3 6 BLINDING LIGHTS The Weeknd 302600
4 3 1 5 THE SWEET HELLO THE SAD GOODBYE (BASSFLOW REMAKE) Roxette 550000
5 13 5 3 THE KILLING OF GEORGIE PARTS I & II Rod Stewart featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 109100
6 6 1 10 THIS IS HOW (WE WANT YOU TO GET HIGH) George Michael 759100
7 7 7 6 ADORE YOU Harry Styles 183600
8 19 8 3 DECIDE Pet Shop Boys 79000
9 15 9 2 MONKEY BUSINESS (RADIO EDIT) Pet Shop Boys 72000
10 14 10 5 HOPE Kim Wilde 119300

11 11 3 11 DON’T START NOW Dua Lipa 534400
12 9 9 9 EVERYTHING I WANTED Billie Eilish 182700
13 8 3 8 WATERMELON SUGAR Harry Styles 358200
14 5 5 6 THE NIGHT Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons 212500
15 10 1 13 YOU AND ME AS ONE Sigma & Jack Savoretti 1344100
16 35 16 6 2 IN A MILLION Steve Aoki, Sting & SHAED 75200
17 12 8 11 NO PLACE RUFUS DU SOL 329100
18 20 18 3 KISSING IN THE WIND Travis 47000
19 17 4 14 LIGHTS UP Harry Styles 549400
20 25 20 6 WE GOT LOVE Sigala featuring Ella Henderson 78650

21 NEW 21 1 THE KEEPER Blossoms 19750
22 21 1 11 ONE SHY MORNING Amon Tobin 958250
23 18 9 8 BURNING THE HEATHER Pet Shop Boys 156100
24 24 1 20 NOBODY ELSE The S.L.P. 1078650
25 23 14 10 STAY HAPPY AU/RA 163200
26 16 9 8 BOB DYLAN Fall Out Boy 230000
27 27 27 7 CLEAN Hey Violet 88150
28 28 28 9 BEAUTIFUL GHOSTS Taylor Swift 126200
29 72 29 2 OFFLINE Friendly Fires & Friend Within 23800
30 50 30 3 WINTER SONG Kim Wilde 37000

31 26 26 11 WHAT YOU WAITING FOR? Gwen Stefani 163100
32 32 23 10 STONE Collard featuring Bakar 150850
33 22 14 8 CAN I KEEP YOU Efisio Cross 161400
34 47 34 6 FINALLY//BEAUTIFUL STRANGER Halsey 57300
35 74 35 2 KISS SOMEBODY Julie Bergan with Seeb 22700
36 45 36 5 KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE Kim Wilde 59350
37 37 1 18 DEAR FUTURE SELF (HANDS UP) Fall Out Boy featuring Wyclef Jean 947750
38 NEW 38 1 THE WORLD WE LEFT BEHIND The Fizz 17200
39 57 39 8 OWN IT Stormzy featuring Ed Sheeran & Burna Boy 65200
40 60 40 6 THIS IS REAL Jax Jones & Ella Henderson 51000

41 29 4 11 TOMIE GHOST DATA 391650
42 38 38 6 HAMMER Louise 72350
43 68 43 2 HIGH HEELS Melanie C featuring Sink The Pink 19900
44 31 16 8 CAN’T FIGHT THIS FEELING Bastille featuring Contemporary London Orchestra 148150
45 33 10 10 MONSTERS James Blunt 226750
46 46 15 15 DREAMS OF YOU Icarus featuring Rae Morris 262300
47 36 7 8 DO I LOVE YOU (INDEED I DO) Frank Wilson 249650
48 NEW 48 1 STOP THIS FLAME Celeste 12300
49 39 8 12 ORPHANS Coldplay 305200
50 34 17 8 TIME FOR CHANGE Robbie Williams 120800

51 44 24 14 GOOD LUCK Broken Bells 184900
52 NEW 52 1 ORIGINAL Sia 11500
53 43 28 11 THE TRUTH James Blunt 143150
54 49 9 15 TURN ME ON Riton & Oliver Heldens featuring Vula 318450
55 30 2 4 DRIVING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS Chris Rea 178800
56 64 56 3 EVERYDAY LIFE Coldplay 23300
57 40 4 5 ISOBEL’S DREAM Kim Wilde 59400
58 56 1 24 I TRANCE Agnes 1664200
59 NEW 59 1 WHEREVER YOU ARE Kodaline 10100
60 NEW 60 1 TREAT PEOPLE WITH KINDNESS Harry Styles 10000

61 42 13 6 DON’T START WITHOUT ME (2019 RADIO EDIT) The Fizz 127250
62 65 62 5 FADING LIKE A FLOWER (EVERY TIME YOU LEAVE) Roxette 31400
63 48 18 12 SYMPHONY OF YOU Pete Tong & HERO featuring Boy George 176200
64 NEW 64 1 HURT Louise 7100
65 61 8 15 ECHOES Lola Marsh 343900
66 69 66 5 THE LOOK Roxette 28000
67 67 10 17 DON’T CALL ME ANGEL (CHARLIE’S ANGELS) Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus & Lana Del Ray 312350
68 NEW 68 1 ONE WORLD Billy Ocean 6400
69 51 34 10 STACK IT UP Liam Payne featuring A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie 126050
70 NEW 70 1 UNDERDOG Alicia Keys 6000

71 52 36 9 MAI TAIS Train & Skylar Grey 108750
72 NEW 72 1 REMEDY Roachford 5600
73 53 33 11 YOUNGER Jonas Blue & HRVY 125900
74 NEW 74 1 TRASH GLAM BABY The Boomtown Rats 5200
75 NEW 75 1 DON’T WALK AWAY Jade 5000

DROP OUTS
41 29 5 WANDERING STAR Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 73100
54 29 8 I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS Doris Day 83250
55 48 6 LYING DOWN Celine Dion 56850
58 50 6 CALIFORNIA HALO BLUE AWOLNATION 59000
59 59 6 NEVER TEAR US APART INXS 46500
62 62 8 JUMP AROUND House Of Pain 51500
63 49 7 THUMBS Sabrina Carpenter 66100
66 3 13 FROM OUT OF NOWHERE Jeff Lynne’s ELO 465650
70 40 3 LIGHT THE NIGHT Andy Burrows 34750
71 71 5 CAN’T FIGHT THIS FEELING REO Speedwagon 25000
73 2 15 MOUNTAINS Bjorn Olav Edvardson & Arcteec 591250
75 19 14 NICE TO MEET YA Niall Horan 200650

 

5th January 2020

It’s a quiet week for a new decade starting in terms of new entries and Sparks on top for a second week, holding off the new Avicii track to give him a second runner-up inside 6 months, with a climb of 16 places for Fades Away. Billie Eilish gets another top 10, Rod takes Georgie back into the 20 for the second time and reaches a new peak of 13 34 years late. Highest new entry is Pet Shop Boys new single Monkey Business, at 15, pure disco Radio 2-friendly, as previous single drops, and it’s B side is a high climber to 19 from 60. Anyone would think they have a new album pending…

Travis are the highest climbers, and into the 20 for the first time in 7 years, and Sigala and Ella Henderson both a nice leap into the 30, having been there on other tracks before. Sting and his mates are into the 40, Mel C is seeking the pink pound lower down, 4 years since her last chart action, Friendly Fires continue to mine the recent album, and Julie Bergan debuts with former chart-topper Seeb on tow.

1 1 1 3 PLEASE DON’T f*** UP MY WORLD Sparks 362000
2 18 2 2 FADES AWAY Avicii featuring Mishcatt 137000
3 2 1 4 THE SWEET HELLO THE SAD GOODBYE (BASSFLOW REMAKE) Roxette 485000
4 5 4 5 BLINDING LIGHTS The Weeknd 217600
5 6 5 5 THE NIGHT Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons 183500
6 3 1 9 THIS IS HOW (WE WANT YOU TO GET HIGH) George Michael 704100
7 8 7 5 ADORE YOU Harry Styles 133600
8 7 3 7 WATERMELON SUGAR Harry Styles 326200
9 13 9 8 EVERYTHING I WANTED Billie Eilish 147700
10 4 1 12 YOU AND ME AS ONE Sigma & Jack Savoretti 1317100

11 10 3 10 DON’T START NOW Dua Lipa 497400
12 11 8 10 NO PLACE RUFUS DU SOL 306100
13 39 13 2 THE KILLING OF GEORGIE PARTS I & II Rod Stewart featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 49100
14 19 14 4 HOPE Kim Wilde 77300
15 NEW 15 1 MONKEY BUSINESS (RADIO EDIT) Pet Shop Boys 27000
16 16 9 7 BOB DYLAN Fall Out Boy 211500
17 17 4 13 LIGHTS UP Harry Styles 528400
18 9 9 7 BURNING THE HEATHER Pet Shop Boys 136850
19 60 19 2 DECIDE Pet Shop Boys 31000
20 75 20 2 KISSING IN THE WIND Travis 25000

21 15 1 10 ONE SHY MORNING Amon Tobin 938750
22 14 14 7 CAN I KEEP YOU Efisio Cross 143700
23 21 14 9 STAY HAPPY AU/RA 144450
24 24 1 19 NOBODY ELSE The S.L.P. 1059650
25 47 25 5 WE GOT LOVE Sigala featuring Ella Henderson 58650
26 28 26 10 WHAT YOU WAITING FOR? Gwen Stefani 145200
27 33 27 6 CLEAN Hey Violet 69750
28 36 28 8 BEAUTIFUL GHOSTS Taylor Swift 107900
29 23 4 10 TOMIE GHOST DATA 377650
30 12 2 3 DRIVING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS Chris Rea 168000

31 22 16 7 CAN’T FIGHT THIS FEELING Bastille featuring Contemporary London Orchestra 134900
32 32 23 9 STONE Collard featuring Bakar 133050
33 26 10 9 MONSTERS James Blunt 213750
34 27 17 7 TIME FOR CHANGE Robbie Williams 108800
35 54 35 5 2 IN A MILLION Steve Aoki, Sting & SHAED 50200
36 25 7 7 DO I LOVE YOU (INDEED I DO) Frank Wilson 237150
37 35 1 17 DEAR FUTURE SELF (HANDS UP) Fall Out Boy featuring Wyclef Jean 930450
38 43 38 5 HAMMER Louise 58600
39 31 8 11 ORPHANS Coldplay 293100
40 20 4 4 ISOBEL’S DREAM Kim Wilde 49000

41 29 29 5 WANDERING STAR Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 73100
42 30 13 5 DON’T START WITHOUT ME (2019 RADIO EDIT) The Fizz 119750
43 34 28 10 THE TRUTH James Blunt 131900
44 40 24 13 GOOD LUCK Broken Bells 173150
45 55 45 4 KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE Kim Wilde 41950
46 46 15 14 DREAMS OF YOU Icarus featuring Rae Morris 249550
47 57 47 5 FINALLY//BEAUTIFUL STRANGER Halsey 39700
48 38 18 11 SYMPHONY OF YOU Pete Tong & HERO featuring Boy George 169000
49 45 9 14 TURN ME ON Riton & Oliver Heldens featuring Vula 307450
50 65 50 2 WINTER SONG Kim Wilde 19000

51 41 34 9 STACK IT UP Liam Payne featuring A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie 119850
52 42 36 8 MAI TAIS Train & Skylar Grey 102950
53 44 33 10 YOUNGER Jonas Blue & HRVY 120500
54 37 29 8 I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS Doris Day 83250
55 48 48 6 LYING DOWN Celine Dion 56850
56 53 1 23 I TRANCE Agnes 1654000
57 63 57 7 OWN IT Stormzy featuring Ed Sheeran & Burna Boy 48100
58 50 50 6 CALIFORNIA HALO BLUE AWOLNATION 59000
59 59 59 6 NEVER TEAR US APART INXS 46500
60 66 60 5 THIS IS REAL Jax Jones & Ella Henderson 34000

61 52 8 14 ECHOES Lola Marsh 336900
62 62 62 8 JUMP AROUND House Of Pain 51500
63 49 49 7 THUMBS Sabrina Carpenter 66100
64 72 64 2 EVERYDAY LIFE Coldplay 12700
65 68 65 4 FADING LIKE A FLOWER (EVERY TIME YOU LEAVE) Roxette 24000
66 58 3 13 FROM OUT OF NOWHERE Jeff Lynne’s ELO 465650
67 56 10 16 DON’T CALL ME ANGEL (CHARLIE’S ANGELS) Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus & Lana Del Ray 305750
68 NEW 68 1 HIGH HEELS Melanie C featuring Sink The Pink 6400
69 71 69 4 THE LOOK Roxette 21200
70 51 40 3 LIGHT THE NIGHT Andy Burrows 34750

71 73 71 5 CAN’T FIGHT THIS FEELING REO Speedwagon 25000
72 NEW 72 1 OFFLINE Friendly Fires & Friend Within 5600
73 64 2 15 MOUNTAINS Bjorn Olav Edvardson & Arcteec 591250
74 NEW 74 1 KISS SOMEBODY Julie Bergan with Seeb 5200
75 70 19 14 NICE TO MEET YA Niall Horan 200650

DROP OUTS
61 25 6 HEYO The Makemakes 72200
67 45 9 PUMP IT UP Endor 87800
69 6 14 YOU. Lucy Daydream 371750
74 18 10 AN OPEN MIND Pet Shop Boys 157700

My January-April 2019 Charts

Gran Canaria, Las Palmas view (& a mate)

28th April 2019

It’s a first week on top for Raleigh Ritchie aka Jacob Anderson, Grey Worm in Game Of Thrones – I’m expecting him to get killed off when I see the latest episode, along with loads of fave regulars. I could do with Time In A Tree, though the White Walkers did kill off the magic tree north of the wall. Regardless it’s a great song with hints of the 30’s about it. Talking about fantasy, I just caught the fab Avengers: Endgame and the song played over the end credits dates back to 1945 – and it’s in at 15, the wonderful big band sounds of Harry James and 50’s hitmaker Kitty Kallen. It’s Been A Long, Long Time isn’t the oldest recording to enter my charts, not chronologically at any rate, but it is the oldest recording to wait to enter my chart at 74 years, 13 years before I was born.

Talking of 60-year-old’s, Madonna gets a 7th number 2 with newie Medellin – she is more likely top top my chart than peak at 2, so we’ll see next week if that happens! It’s 35 years since Holiday hit my top 5. Billie Eilsh gets her first top 10, 10cc go top 20 45 years late, John Newman and Mark Ronson both get big leaps into the 30, and also from Avengers: Endgame in at 52 after a gap of 47 years since it went top 10 for me as a 14-year-old into superhero comics and records with a sci-fi theme, and so it’s perfectly fair that that should be reflected in movies catching up with my tastes at long last, I had to wait 6 years for a decent superhero film, and well into the next century for a great one.

Taylor Swift is back dragging in Brendon Urie to give her comeback track a bit of oomph, Springsteen is back 44 years since Born To Run made my top 20, and he’s opted for an Eric Morecombe catchphrase, Hello Sunshine. Sort of. Jack Savoretti can’t be bothered waiting for each single to have a decent run before bunging out the next one these days, Macklemore & Fall Out Boy’s Patrick give good support to Martin Garrix, P!nk gets a 3rd album track, this time with Chris Stapleton getting his 2nd chart entry, and Florence returns with a Game Of Thrones song after the floppiness of her recent single which didn’t grab me much, joining Grey Worm on top, and the theme tune going up a few places. Shame! (rings bell). Shame! (rings bell). Shame! (rings bell)….

1 17 1 2 TIME IN A TREE Raleigh Ritchie 193000
2 14 2 2 MEDELLIN Madonna & Maluma 144000
3 5 3 8 KIND OF LOVE Rat City featuring Isak Heim 376100
4 1 1 5 THE SUN AIN’T GONNA SHINE ANYMORE The Walker Brothers 687000
5 6 5 8 STUFF LIKE THAT Bananarama 229500
6 4 1 8 CHRYSALIS Empire Of The Sun 660000
7 13 7 8 OCEAN EYES Billie Eilish 181600
8 8 6 8 YOU BELONG TO ME Cat Pierce 400000
9 3 3 5 ROCK THE BOAT The Hues Corporation 298000
10 2 1 5 JACKIE Scott Walker 507000

11 7 7 8 DON’T CALL ME UP Mabel 184850
12 20 12 2 NEVERMIND Dennis Lloyd 55000
13 10 1 10 YOUR EX Paloma Faith 603800
14 15 14 6 FEEL THE SAME Olly Murs featuring Nile Rodgers 126000
15 NEW 15 1 IT’S BEEN A LONG, LONG TIME Harry James & His Orchestra & Kitty Kallen 27000
16 16 16 4 STRETCH Louise 74000
17 18 17 3 WEDDING BELL BLUES Morrissey 64500
18 30 18 8 OLD WILD MEN 10cc 95700
19 29 19 2 OLD TOWN ROAD Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus 39200
20 22 20 6 PATIENCE Tame Impala 107400

21 25 21 3 SOS Avicii featuring Aloe Blacc 56000
22 12 9 8 SUCKER Jonas Brothers 246750
23 11 2 7 SPARROW Emeli Sande 422250
24 19 10 11 TALK Khalid & Disclosure 325000
25 21 3 11 BEST 54 (ALL GOOD NOW) Jungle 554600
26 26 2 11 365 Zedd & Katy Perry 562000
27 27 27 3 HUSTLE P!nk 54800
28 56 28 2 FEELINGS John Newman 28900
29 65 29 2 LATE NIGHT FEELINGS Mark Ronson featuring Lykke Li 25200
30 34 30 8 WE’RE THROUGH The Hollies 109200

31 9 9 5 MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF The Walker Brothers 129100
32 32 32 4 SELFISH Vargas & Lagola 65850
33 55 33 3 BORDERLINE Tame Impala 35600
34 68 34 2 LET ME DOWN SLOWLY Alec Benjamin featuring Alessia Cara 24000
35 42 35 5 MY SHIP IS COMING IN The Walker Brothers 60250
36 36 36 3 DRUM Noa Kirel 52100
37 44 37 5 HERE WITH ME Marshmello Featuring CHVRCHES 53550
38 38 38 3 PIECE OF YOUR HEART Meduza featuring GOODBOYS 46700
39 49 39 2 YOU AND I LEON 29200
40 23 1 8 IT’S OVER Morrissey featuring LP 513250

41 28 28 8 CASIO Jungle 120000
42 24 10 8 LIFTED Parker Bossley 182450
43 33 1 9 AMERICAN GENERATION The Ritchie Family 417450
44 39 39 8 THE BIRD SYML 87500
45 37 13 8 NEVER COMIN DOWN Keith Urban 174200
46 61 46 3 SHOW ME ABC 26650
47 50 47 8 SO AM I Ava Max 73500
48 40 40 7 HURRICANES Dido 80650
49 70 49 2 THINK OF ME The Veronicas 18100
50 60 50 2 SO CLOSE NOTD, Felix Jaehn & Captain Cuts featuring Georgia Ku 22000

51 51 51 4 COOL The Jonas Brothers 41850
52 NEW 52 1 SUPERSONIC ROCKETSHIP The Kinks 11500
53 NEW 53 1 YOU SAY Lauren Daigle 11250
54 35 13 8 WHAT MORE CAN I DO? Jack Savoretti 155100
55 59 55 2 MAIN TITLE (GAME OF THRONES) Ramin Djawadi 20900
56 57 56 4 KING JAMES Anderson .Paak 33000
57 41 14 10 WALK ME HOME P!nk 179900
58 67 58 2 RAINBOW Kacey Musgraves 16800
59 46 14 11 COLD IN LA Why Don’t We 193200
60 NEW 60 1 ME! Taylor Swift featuring Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco 10000

61 48 5 8 SON OF MAN GG/06 aka 10cc (Kevin Godley & Graham Gouldman) featuring Hotlegs 220400
62 74 62 3 DATE STAMP ABC 17800
63 43 33 6 ALL THE SONGS Will Young 74850
64 52 2 14 SWAN SONG Dua Lipa 463900
65 69 65 2 ONE STEP BEYOND Madness 13200
66 NEW 66 1 ALL DAY AND NIGHT Jax Jones, Martin Solveig (aka Europa) & Madison Beer 6800
67 64 64 4 JUST YOU AND I Tom Walker 25300
68 NEW 68 1 HELLO SUNSHINE Bruce Springsteen 6400
69 NEW 69 1 LOVE IS ON THE LINE Jack Savoretti 6200
70 NEW 70 1 SUMMER DAYS Martin Garrix featuring Macklemore & Patrick Stump pf Fall Out Boy 6000

71 NEW 71 1 LOVE ME ANYWAY P!nk featuring Chris Stapleton 5800
72 NEW 72 1 JENNY OF OLDSTONES (GAME OF THRONES) Florence + The Machine 5600
73 73 73 3 MIRACLE Alan Parsons featuring Jason Mraz 15800
74 47 21 9 KILLING MY TIME G-Flip 147350
75 NEW 75 1 LE FREAK (12” MIX) Chic 5000

DROP OUTS
31 19 6 BARON SAMEDI 10cc 101350
45 45 4 CAN’T GET USED TO LOSING YOU The Beat 48200
53 53 4 FOLLOW YOU FOLLOW ME Genesis 38050
54 54 2 PUMPED UP KICKS (883500) Foster The People 21000
58 39 6 HALFWAY THERE ROZES 72750
62 62 5 JUST ONE LIFETIME Sting & Shaggy 31600
63 63 2 TOGETHER IN ELECTRIC DREAMS Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder 13200
66 1 10 THE KILLING MOON (SYMPHONIC VERSION) Echo & The Bunnymen 542850
71 63 5 MACHO MAN Suzi Quatro 31200
72 3 14 STARTED OUT Georgia 478800
75 75 1 RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW (826750) Fatboy Slim 5000

 

 

21st April 2019

It’s back on top for The Walker Brothers for a second week this year, and an 8th week in total. Bananarama get their first top 10 since they covered Moves Like Jagger in 2012 and highest-placed track since Love Don’t Live Here/The Runner (yes I was still listing double A’s together then) peaked at 6 in 2010. Mabel finally cracks the top 10, emulating her mum and uncle, and the highest new entry is a new musical direction for 60-year-old Madonna, still not giving a toss what people think she should do, quite rightly. In at 14 for Medellin and a joint effort with Maluma for some Columbian chart action that isn’t Shakira.

Raleigh Ritchie returns after 3 years away, and grabs his 3rd chart entry and equal-highest chart peak in one fell swoop since Bloodsports also peaked at 17. Better known as Grey Worm in Game Of Thrones these days, I just found out a bit late, as he was a recording artist before he was an actor for me – I didn’t start GOT until 2 years ago and didn’t make the connection. He has a great voice, singing and talking. The old-time samples add to the sad-mood of Time In A Tree. Dennis LLoyd meanwhile debuts at 20. Nevermind the name, it’s a pseudonym just like Raleigh Ritchie is, only RR is British and DL is Israeli.

At 29, Lil Nas X debuts, and drags along Billy Ray Cyrus for some country/urban crossover action, BRC of course more famous for his charting daughters these days, both have had a much better career in terms of recordings, but here you go, an unlikely return after 27 years away or so, and it’s way better than Achy Breaky Bloody Heart. Talking of Game Of Thrones, the theme tune finally charts, John Newman makes a comeback after a couple of years away for a 6-year run of entries, Mark Ronson is back again, this time with Lykke Li who charted in 2014 with Gunshot, Kacey Musgraves gets another entry, while former chart-toppers The Veronicas are also back after not following up their 2014 number one You Ruin Me, but get a 3rd entry 10 years since their debut.

1 2 1 4 THE SUN AIN’T GONNA SHINE ANYMORE The Walker Brothers 625000
2 1 1 4 JACKIE Scott Walker 465000
3 4 3 4 ROCK THE BOAT The Hues Corporation 253000
4 3 1 7 CHRYSALIS Empire Of The Sun 605000
5 6 5 7 KIND OF LOVE Rat City featuring Isak Heim 291100
6 14 6 7 STUFF LIKE THAT Bananarama 169500
7 16 7 7 DON’T CALL ME UP Mabel 147850
8 8 6 7 YOU BELONG TO ME Cat Pierce 352000
9 15 9 4 MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF The Walker Brothers 111200
10 5 1 9 YOUR EX Paloma Faith 571800

11 7 2 6 SPARROW Emeli Sande 403000
12 9 9 7 SUCKER Jonas Brothers 227250
13 17 13 7 OCEAN EYES Billie Eilish 131600
14 NEW 14 1 MEDELLIN Madonna & Maluma 29000
15 18 15 5 FEEL THE SAME Olly Murs featuring Nile Rodgers 97000
16 27 16 3 STRETCH Louise 49000
17 NEW 17 1 TIME IN A TREE Raleigh Ritchie 23000
18 22 18 2 WEDDING BELL BLUES Morrissey 41500
19 12 10 10 TALK Khalid & Disclosure 306000
20 NEW 20 1 NEVERMIND Dennis Lloyd 20000

21 11 3 10 BEST 54 (ALL GOOD NOW) Jungle 535850
22 24 22 5 PATIENCE Tame Impala 87400
23 13 1 7 IT’S OVER Morrissey featuring LP 496250
24 10 10 7 LIFTED Parker Bossley 168700
25 35 25 2 SOS Avicii featuring Aloe Blacc 36250
26 20 2 10 365 Zedd & Katy Perry 543500
27 30 27 2 HUSTLE P!nk 36400
28 29 28 7 CASIO Jungle 106000
29 NEW 29 1 OLD TOWN ROAD Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus 18200
30 38 30 6 OLD WILD MEN 10cc 73700

31 19 19 6 BARON SAMEDI 10cc 101350
32 40 32 3 SELFISH Vargas & Lagola 48050
33 26 1 8 AMERICAN GENERATION The Ritchie Family 403950
34 36 34 7 WE’RE THROUGH The Hollies 91200
35 21 13 7 WHAT MORE CAN I DO? Jack Savoretti 144100
36 37 36 2 DRUM Noa Kirel 34700
37 23 13 7 NEVER COMIN DOWN Keith Urban 161200
38 48 38 2 PIECE OF YOUR HEART Meduza featuring GOODBOYS 29500
39 44 39 7 THE BIRD SYML 74250
40 47 40 6 HURRICANES Dido 68350

41 28 14 9 WALK ME HOME P!nk 169500
42 49 42 4 MY SHIP IS COMING IN The Walker Brothers 42750
43 33 33 5 ALL THE SONGS Will Young 67650
44 50 44 4 HERE WITH ME Marshmello Featuring CHVRCHES 36250
45 45 45 4 CAN’T GET USED TO LOSING YOU The Beat 48200
46 25 14 10 COLD IN LA Why Don’t We 183100
47 31 21 8 KILLING MY TIME G-Flip 142150
48 34 5 7 SON OF MAN GG/06 aka 10cc (Kevin Godley & Graham Gouldman) featuring Hotlegs 212900
49 NEW 49 1 YOU AND I LEON 12100
50 54 50 7 SO AM I Ava Max 61000

51 53 51 3 COOL The Jonas Brothers 30100
52 41 2 13 SWAN SONG Dua Lipa 456800
53 55 53 4 FOLLOW YOU FOLLOW ME Genesis 38050
54 60 54 2 PUMPED UP KICKS Foster The People 21000
55 64 55 2 BORDERLINE Tame Impala 17900
56 NEW 56 1 FEELINGS John Newman 10600
57 65 57 3 KING JAMES Anderson .Paak 22400
58 42 39 6 HALFWAY THERE ROZES 72750
59 NEW 59 1 MAIN TITLE (GAME OF THRONES) Ramin Djawadi 10100
60 NEW 60 1 SO CLOSE NOTD, Felix Jaehn & Captain Cuts 10000

61 68 61 2 SHOW ME ABC 13900
62 67 62 5 JUST ONE LIFETIME Sting & Shaggy 31600
63 70 63 2 TOGETHER IN ELECTRIC DREAMS Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder 13200
64 69 64 3 JUST YOU AND I Tom Walker 18700
65 NEW 65 1 LATE NIGHT FEELINGS Mark Ronson featuring Lykke Li 7000
66 51 1 10 THE KILLING MOON (SYMPHONIC VERSION) Echo & The Bunnymen 542850
67 NEW 67 1 RAINBOW Kacey Musgraves 6600
68 NEW 68 1 LET ME DOWN SLOWLY Alec Benjamin featuring Alessia Cara 6400
69 NEW 69 1 ONE STEP BEYOND Madness 6200
70 NEW 70 1 THINK OF ME The Veronicas 6000

71 71 63 5 MACHO MAN Suzi Quatro 31200
72 59 3 14 STARTED OUT Georgia 478800
73 75 73 2 MIRACLE Alan Parsons featuring Jason Mraz 10400
74 74 74 2 DATE STAMP ABC 10400
75 NEW 75 1 RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW Fatboy Slim 5000

DROP OUTS
32 32 2 YEKE YEKE (818450) Mory Kante 35600
39 39 5 SOMEWHERE IN HOLLYWOOD 10cc 58800
43 25 5 WATERFALLS TLC 78550
46 6 9 ELECTRO ROMANTICO Bob Sinclar featuring Robbie Williams 306950
52 29 6 SAY THE WORD Hornal with Graham Gouldman & Kevin Godley 94600
56 18 9 DON’T FEEL LIKE CRYING Sigrid 157150
57 57 3 MIRROR IN THE BATHROOM (550100) The Beat 27700
58 35 6 LO/HI The Black Keys 79300
61 30 6 EVERY STEP Gabrielle 82700
62 9 10 WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE RICH? Pet Shop Boys 265800
63 1 16 SERMON Mercury Rev featuring Margo Price 629600
66 46 7 DOVE Pillar Point 69200
72 29 8 DESIRE Sub Focus & Dimension 88150
73 17 11 BONES Galantis featuring OneRepublic 177400

 

 

14th April 2019

It’s a first week on top for Jackie, the late Scott Walker’s brilliant dramatic and naughty solo track from 1968, banned on the radio way back and written by the great Jacques Brel, a French star who could pen a great song at the drop of a hat back in the 60’s. It’s the second time on top, for a second week, both in the 21st century, being as it predated my charts by a couple of months, and was ineligible when I went mad on it in 1976/77 and beyond. Rock The Boat goes top 5 for a second time, thanks to Record Store Day releases (with more waiting to chart), Olly Murs gets another top 20, helped by Niles Rodgers who can claim a sweet 41-year chart-span as a result since Dance Dance Dance went top 10 in my first year at Uni, ah memories of recording onto cassette so I could play them when my room-mates were out or in – I like an audience for my music taste

Talking of oldies Baron Samedi gets top 20 some 45 years late (and outdoing the single off the album Silly Love) for 10cc, Morrissey has a second chart cover, the highly-unlikely version of Mozza crooning Laura Nyro’s Wedding Bell Blues, as hit for the The 5th Dimension in 1969, lo those 50 years back. Still a great song and a nice version at 22. P!nk also has 2 on the charts as she hustles her way into the 30, just behind Louise who leaps above her with a great comeback single, one of her best efforts.

The late Avicii gets a posthumous chart entry (a growing club at the moment) with Aloe Blacc helping on SOS, 6 years for Avicii, 8 years for Aloe. Foster The People started selling downloads again on the back of articles stating how they are shifting streaming “sales” in bucketloads to become the biggest track of 2011 since streaming started despite peaking at 18 in the UK charts. It topped my charts back then, so good to see the world catch up with me…. Tame Impala get a second charter, and ABC get two Lexicon Of Love debuts 37-years late. To be frank every track on the classic album is a gem, and Martin Fry is still fab in concert (which I saw last week).

Finally an advert is popularizing Together In Electric Dreams again, so I might as well chart it again, and Alan Parsons is back after a gap of at least 35 years, I’d say. Apart from being an Austin Powers gag, Alan was a music engineer on Abbey Road (The Beatles) and Dark Side Of The Moon (Pink Floyd) just to namedrop 2 classics, before producing brilliant hit records from the likes of Pilot, The Hollies, Al Stewart in the 70’s just ahead of his 80’s Alan Parsons Project hits like Eye In The Sky. A bit of a veteran then! Jason Mraz lends a vocal hand, 11 years since make It Mine debuted.

1 2 1 3 JACKIE Scott Walker 350000
2 1 1 3 THE SUN AIN’T GONNA SHINE ANYMORE The Walker Brothers 455000
3 3 1 6 CHRYSALIS Empire Of The Sun 540000
4 6 4 3 ROCK THE BOAT The Hues Corporation 168000
5 5 1 8 YOUR EX Paloma Faith 529800
6 7 6 6 KIND OF LOVE Rat City featuring Isak Heim 231100
7 4 2 5 SPARROW Emeli Sande 366000
8 8 6 6 YOU BELONG TO ME Cat Pierce 304000
9 10 9 6 SUCKER Jonas Brothers 182250
10 15 10 6 LIFTED Parker Bossley 149700

11 11 3 9 BEST 54 (ALL GOOD NOW) Jungle 516100
12 12 10 9 TALK Khalid & Disclosure 285000
13 9 1 6 IT’S OVER Morrissey featuring LP 477000
14 16 14 6 STUFF LIKE THAT Bananarama 114500
15 18 15 3 MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF The Walker Brothers 66200
16 17 16 6 DON’T CALL ME UP Mabel 97850
17 20 17 6 OCEAN EYES Billie Eilish 99600
18 28 18 4 FEEL THE SAME Olly Murs featuring Nile Rodgers 70000
19 23 19 5 BARON SAMEDI 10cc 83450
20 19 2 9 365 Zedd & Katy Perry 525000

21 13 13 6 WHAT MORE CAN I DO? Jack Savoretti 126600
22 NEW 22 1 WEDDING BELL BLUES Morrissey 19500
23 31 13 6 NEVER COMIN DOWN Keith Urban 143900
24 29 24 4 PATIENCE Tame Impala 67900
25 14 14 9 COLD IN LA Why Don’t We 170350
26 21 1 7 AMERICAN GENERATION The Ritchie Family 386250
27 72 27 2 STRETCH Louise 24000
28 22 14 8 WALK ME HOME P!nk 155500
29 30 29 6 CASIO Jungle 87700
30 NEW 30 1 HUSTLE P!nk 18000

31 26 21 7 KILLING MY TIME G-Flip 129650
32 32 32 2 YEKE YEKE Mory Kante 35600
33 33 33 4 ALL THE SONGS Will Young 54150
34 24 5 6 SON OF MAN GG/06 aka 10cc (Kevin Godley & Graham Gouldman) featuring Hotlegs 200600
35 NEW 35 1 SOS Avicii featuring Aloe Blacc 17500
36 38 36 6 WE’RE THROUGH The Hollies 73600
37 NEW 37 1 DRUM Noa Kirel 17300
38 45 38 5 OLD WILD MEN 10cc 55700
39 41 39 5 SOMEWHERE IN HOLLYWOOD 10cc 58800
40 44 40 2 SELFISH Vargas & Lagola 30250

41 27 2 12 SWAN SONG Dua Lipa 445300
42 39 39 5 HALFWAY THERE ROZES 62550
43 25 25 5 WATERFALLS TLC 78550
44 52 44 6 THE BIRD SYML 57150
45 49 45 3 CAN’T GET USED TO LOSING YOU The Beat 35200
46 34 6 9 ELECTRO ROMANTICO Bob Sinclar featuring Robbie Williams 306950
47 48 47 5 HURRICANES Dido 51350
48 NEW 48 1 PIECE OF YOUR HEART Meduza featuring GOODBOYS 12300
49 59 49 3 MY SHIP IS COMING IN The Walker Brothers 29000
50 70 50 3 HERE WITH ME Marshmello Featuring CHVRCHES 23000

51 43 1 9 THE KILLING MOON (SYMPHONIC VERSION) Echo & The Bunnymen 536050
52 36 29 6 SAY THE WORD Hornal with Graham Gouldman & Kevin Godley 94600
53 64 53 2 COOL The Jonas Brothers 18350
54 57 54 6 SO AM I Ava Max 49000
55 60 55 3 FOLLOW YOU FOLLOW ME Genesis 26800
56 42 18 9 DON’T FEEL LIKE CRYING Sigrid 157150
57 58 57 3 MIRROR IN THE BATHROOM The Beat 27700
58 35 35 6 LO/HI The Black Keys 79300
59 51 3 13 STARTED OUT Georgia 473200
60 NEW 60 1 PUMPED UP KICKS Foster The People 10000

61 37 30 6 EVERY STEP Gabrielle 82700
62 47 9 10 WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE RICH? Pet Shop Boys 265800
63 56 1 16 SERMON Mercury Rev featuring Margo Price 629600
64 NEW 64 1 BORDERLINE Tame Impala 7100
65 75 65 2 KING JAMES Anderson .Paak 12000
66 46 46 7 DOVE Pillar Point 69200
67 67 67 4 JUST ONE LIFETIME Sting & Shaggy 24200
68 NEW 68 1 SHOW ME ABC 6400
69 73 69 2 JUST YOU AND I Tom Walker 11600
70 NEW 70 1 TOGETHER IN ELECTRIC DREAMS Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder 6000

71 63 63 4 MACHO MAN Suzi Quatro 25400
72 54 29 8 DESIRE Sub Focus & Dimension 88150
73 55 17 11 BONES Galantis featuring OneRepublic 177400
74 NEW 74 1 DATE STAMP ABC 5200
75 NEW 75 1 MIRACLE Alan Parsons featuring Jason Mraz 5000

DROP OUTS
40 40 4 CLOCKWORK CREEP 10cc 60100
50 50 4 CONNECTION Elastica 47500
53 10 6 IT’S MY LIFE Talk Talk 143350
61 46 6 SAVE A LITTLE LOVE Junior J featuring John Gibbons & Therese 55400
62 20 10 ALL MY FRIENDS The Revivalists 153400
65 13 10 GOT TO KEEP ON The Chemical Brothers 181700
66 7 11 BETTER THAN ME Ten Tonnes 252350
68 68 3 NO SOUL/ NO CONTROL Suzi Quatro 18600
69 62 4 ONLY HAPPY WHEN IT RAINS Garbage 27200
71 71 2 EXPERIMENT IV (EXTENDED MIX) Kate Bush 11200
74 74 1 BRONTOSAURUS The Move 5200

 

 

7th April 2019

It’s 2 weeks on top for The Walker Brothers, as the late great Scott challenges himself at 2 with the epic drama of Jackie. Mostly a quiet week chartwise as Ive not been able to listen to new music much. Mory Kante’s super 1988 number 2 is back yet again, Yeke Yeke is still a great dance track, in at 32, as the highest new track is at 44 for Vargas & Lagola, a bit selfish of them. The Jonas Brothers get a second chart entry, they are Cool with being at 10, and entering at 64 – wouldn’t have predicted that a decade ago! Back in the mid-90’s Eternal managed half a dozen top 40 entries in my charts, but they rarely troubled the top end of my lists, being as they weren’t good enough for that – eventually Louise bailed out for a pop career of about half a dozen years of just over half a dozen top 40 entries, including one biggie with her cover of Stuck In The Middle With You. Well, she’s back after a gap of 16 years! In at 72, it’s a bit of a stretch. Tom Walker gets a 3rd entry, Anderson .Paak a second, and The Move aka Roy Wood & future ELO, enter at 74 with the 49-year-old Brontosaurus. We’ve got Bones, the Son Of Man is also listed, so we just need T.Rex for a themed chart.

1 1 1 2 THE SUN AIN’T GONNA SHINE ANYMORE The Walker Brothers 340000
2 4 2 2 JACKIE Scott Walker 180000
3 3 1 5 CHRYSALIS Empire Of The Sun 455000
4 2 2 4 SPARROW Emeli Sande 316000
5 5 1 7 YOUR EX Paloma Faith 469800
6 8 6 2 ROCK THE BOAT The Hues Corporation 103000
7 10 6 5 KIND OF LOVE Rat City featuring Isak Heim 176100
8 6 6 5 YOU BELONG TO ME Cat Pierce 256000
9 7 1 5 IT’S OVER Morrissey featuring LP 445000
10 12 10 5 SUCKER Jonas Brothers 137250

11 9 3 8 BEST 54 (ALL GOOD NOW) Jungle 479100
12 11 10 8 TALK Khalid & Disclosure 250000
13 15 13 5 WHAT MORE CAN I DO? Jack Savoretti 106850
14 19 14 8 COLD IN LA Why Don’t We 151600
15 17 15 5 LIFTED Parker Bossley 107500
16 22 16 5 STUFF LIKE THAT Bananarama 85500
17 23 17 5 DON’T CALL ME UP Mabel 72850
18 38 18 2 MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF The Walker Brothers 39200
19 13 2 8 365 Zedd & Katy Perry 505000
20 25 20 5 OCEAN EYES Billie Eilish 76600

21 16 1 6 AMERICAN GENERATION The Ritchie Family 367750
22 18 14 7 WALK ME HOME P!nk 137200
23 28 23 4 BARON SAMEDI 10cc 62450
24 14 5 5 SON OF MAN GG/06 aka 10cc (Kevin Godley & Graham Gouldman) featuring Hotlegs 183000
25 26 25 4 WATERFALLS TLC 65050
26 21 21 6 KILLING MY TIME G-Flip 111750
27 27 2 11 SWAN SONG Dua Lipa 431300
28 34 28 3 FEEL THE SAME Olly Murs 48000
29 33 29 3 PATIENCE Tame Impala 48900
30 35 30 5 CASIO Jungle 69500

31 20 13 5 NEVER COMIN DOWN Keith Urban 124900
32 NEW 32 1 YEKE YEKE Mory Kante 17800
33 46 33 3 ALL THE SONGS Will Young 36450
34 24 6 8 ELECTRO ROMANTICO Bob Sinclar featuring Robbie Williams 294200
35 36 35 5 LO/HI The Black Keys 69100
36 29 29 5 SAY THE WORD Hornal with Graham Gouldman & Kevin Godley 83100
37 30 30 5 EVERY STEP Gabrielle 77200
38 43 38 5 WE’RE THROUGH The Hollies 56200
39 45 39 4 HALFWAY THERE ROZES 48800
40 40 40 4 CLOCKWORK CREEP 10cc 60100

41 49 41 4 SOMEWHERE IN HOLLYWOOD 10cc 41700
42 32 18 8 DON’T FEEL LIKE CRYING Sigrid 146550
43 37 1 8 THE KILLING MOON (SYMPHONIC VERSION) Echo & The Bunnymen 524300
44 NEW 44 1 SELFISH Vargas & Lagola 13250
45 54 45 4 OLD WILD MEN 10cc 38500
46 52 46 6 DOVE Pillar Point 62400
47 31 9 9 WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE RICH? Pet Shop Boys 258400
48 53 48 4 HURRICANES Dido 38850
49 59 49 2 CAN’T GET USED TO LOSING YOU The Beat 22200
50 50 50 4 CONNECTION Elastica 47500

51 42 3 12 STARTED OUT Georgia 463100
52 55 52 5 THE BIRD SYML 43900
53 39 10 6 IT’S MY LIFE Talk Talk 143350
54 44 29 7 DESIRE Sub Focus & Dimension 82550
55 47 17 10 BONES Galantis featuring OneRepublic 172000
56 48 1 15 SERMON Mercury Rev featuring Margo Price 622400
57 60 57 5 SO AM I Ava Max 38000
58 64 58 2 MIRROR IN THE BATHROOM The Beat 17300
59 66 59 2 MY SHIP IS COMING IN The Walker Brothers 16900
60 70 60 2 FOLLOW YOU FOLLOW ME Genesis 16000

61 51 46 6 SAVE A LITTLE LOVE Junior J featuring John Gibbons & Therese 55400
62 41 20 10 ALL MY FRIENDS The Revivalists 153400
63 65 63 3 MACHO MAN Suzi Quatro 19600
64 NEW 64 1 COOL The Jonas Brothers 7100
65 57 13 10 GOT TO KEEP ON The Chemical Brothers 181700
66 56 7 11 BETTER THAN ME Ten Tonnes 252350
67 71 67 3 JUST ONE LIFETIME Sting & Shaggy 17600
68 68 68 3 NO SOUL/ NO CONTROL Suzi Quatro 18600
69 62 62 4 ONLY HAPPY WHEN IT RAINS Garbage 27200
70 75 70 2 HERE WITH ME Marshmello Featuring CHVRCHES 11000

71 73 71 2 EXPERIMENT IV (EXTENDED MIX) Kate Bush 11200
72 NEW 72 1 STRETCH Louise 5600
73 NEW 73 1 JUST YOU AND I Tom Walker 5400
74 NEW 74 1 BRONTOSAURUS The Move 5200
75 NEW 75 1 KING JAMES Anderson .Paak 5000

DROP OUTS
58 58 4 BUTTERFLY LOONA 34600
61 40 4 LEARN TO LET GO Welshly Arms 52750
63 63 4 ME QUEDO CONTIGO Rosalia 25800
67 67 4 NEW HOUSE Rex Orange County 24400
69 5 11 CANDLELIGHT Jack Savoretti 305700
72 4 14 LOST CONTROL Alan Walker & Sorana 442650
74 19 7 GRAFFITI CHVRCHES 103750

31st March 2019

It’s a 6th week (in total) on top for the Walker Brothers 1966 classic Four Seasons cover, the third time it has topped my chart as an oldie – The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore is the jewel in the crown of the great back catalogue of Scott Walker and his magnificent voice, and quirky, dramatic, often-banned solo career outside the more widely-loved (in the UK) Walker Brothers career. An American who was bigger in Europe, and more influenced by Europe, his death this week was a loss to me, hence the entries lower down, including the naughty Jackie, later covered well by Marc Almond, in at 4, having topped my charts before, as has Make It Easy On Yourself. With the loss of Ranking Roger from The Beat, and oldies from cinema and elsewhere there is only one new entry this week, at 75! That’ll be Marshmello and CHVRCHES then!

Number 2 in 1974, The Hues Corporation disco classic is back after a key moment in the movie Fishermen’s Friends, about the Cornish band of singing Fishermen (in the album chart again this week) – Rock The Boat, err well, it’s about the sea, I suppose, in at 8, Jack Savoretti gets another top 20, Tame Impala & Olly Murs go top 40, Will Young has a big climb, and that’s about it for the new stuff. Kate Bush pops in with a remix from her 4-track CD which I’ve bought, and the reason there’s not much new stuff is I’ve been to Liverpool to see friends and to revisit the much-changed city centre since the days of my childhood, teens and 20’s (my grandma lived there, and so did I back in 1966, the year The Walker Brothers topped the UK charts as it does this week). Beatles songs everywhere you go, quite rightly, in The Cavern, museums, bars, River Mersey seafront…. Just be thankful I didn;t re-chart them too!

1 NEW 1 1 THE SUN AIN’T GONNA SHINE ANYMORE The Walker Brothers 170000
2 2 2 3 SPARROW Emeli Sande 251000
3 1 1 4 CHRYSALIS Empire Of The Sun 370000
4 NEW 4 1 JACKIE Scott Walker 65000
5 3 1 6 YOUR EX Paloma Faith 409800
6 7 6 4 YOU BELONG TO ME Cat Pierce 208000
7 4 1 4 IT’S OVER Morrissey featuring LP 400000
8 NEW 8 1 ROCK THE BOAT The Hues Corporation 48000
9 5 3 7 BEST 54 (ALL GOOD NOW) Jungle 442100
10 6 6 4 KIND OF LOVE Rat City featuring Isak Heim 126100

11 10 10 7 TALK Khalid & Disclosure 215000
12 15 12 4 SUCKER Jonas Brothers 95250
13 11 2 7 365 Zedd & Katy Perry 484000
14 8 5 4 SON OF MAN GG/06 aka 10cc (Kevin Godley & Graham Gouldman) featuring Hotlegs 164000
15 24 15 4 WHAT MORE CAN I DO? Jack Savoretti 74850
16 9 1 5 AMERICAN GENERATION The Ritchie Family 348000
17 17 17 4 LIFTED Parker Bossley 80500
18 14 14 6 WALK ME HOME P!nk 117700
19 19 19 7 COLD IN LA Why Don’t We 122600
20 13 13 4 NEVER COMIN DOWN Keith Urban 107000

21 23 21 5 KILLING MY TIME G-Flip 93250
22 28 22 4 STUFF LIKE THAT Bananarama 60500
23 26 23 4 DON’T CALL ME UP Mabel 49850
24 12 6 7 ELECTRO ROMANTICO Bob Sinclar featuring Robbie Williams 276600
25 34 25 4 OCEAN EYES Billie Eilish 56600
26 33 26 3 WATERFALLS TLC 46300
27 21 2 10 SWAN SONG Dua Lipa 412900
28 35 28 3 BARON SAMEDI 10cc 43200
29 30 29 4 SAY THE WORD Hornal with Graham Gouldman & Kevin Godley 65700
30 36 30 4 EVERY STEP Gabrielle 59900

31 16 9 8 WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE RICH? Pet Shop Boys 245900
32 25 18 7 DON’T FEEL LIKE CRYING Sigrid 132800
33 45 33 2 PATIENCE Tame Impala 30700
34 49 34 2 FEEL THE SAME Olly Murs 29700
35 40 35 4 CASIO Jungle 51500
36 38 36 4 LO/HI The Black Keys 51600
37 22 1 7 THE KILLING MOON (SYMPHONIC VERSION) Echo & The Bunnymen 510800
38 NEW 38 1 MAKE IT EASY ON YOURSELF The Walker Brothers 17200
39 18 10 5 IT’S MY LIFE Talk Talk 132100
40 41 40 3 CLOCKWORK CREEP 10cc 43100

41 20 20 9 ALL MY FRIENDS The Revivalists 146000
42 27 3 11 STARTED OUT Georgia 451350
43 47 43 4 WE’RE THROUGH The Hollies 39000
44 29 29 6 DESIRE Sub Focus & Dimension 71550
45 48 45 3 HALFWAY THERE ROZES 31700
46 70 46 2 ALL THE SONGS Will Young 18750
47 32 17 9 BONES Galantis featuring OneRepublic 161200
48 31 1 14 SERMON Mercury Rev featuring Margo Price 611800
49 56 49 3 SOMEWHERE IN HOLLYWOOD 10cc 27700
50 50 50 3 CONNECTION Elastica 35500

51 46 46 5 SAVE A LITTLE LOVE Junior J featuring John Gibbons & Therese 47900
52 52 52 5 DOVE Pillar Point 49650
53 59 53 3 HURRICANES Dido 26550
54 61 54 3 OLD WILD MEN 10cc 25500
55 60 55 4 THE BIRD SYML 32400
56 44 7 10 BETTER THAN ME Ten Tonnes 245550
57 43 13 9 GOT TO KEEP ON The Chemical Brothers 174700
58 58 58 4 BUTTERFLY LOONA 34600
59 NEW 59 1 CAN’T GET USED TO LOSING YOU The Beat 10100
60 66 60 4 SO AM I Ava Max 27600

61 53 40 4 LEARN TO LET GO Welshly Arms 52750
62 65 62 3 ONLY HAPPY WHEN IT RAINS Garbage 21000
63 67 63 4 ME QUEDO CONTIGO Rosalia 25800
64 NEW 64 1 MIRROR IN THE BATHROOM The Beat 7100
65 73 65 2 MACHO MAN Suzi Quatro 12400
66 NEW 66 1 MY SHIP IS COMING IN The Walker Brothers 6800
67 69 67 4 NEW HOUSE Rex Orange County 24400
68 71 68 2 NO SOUL/ NO CONTROL Suzi Quatro 12200
69 51 5 11 CANDLELIGHT Jack Savoretti 305700
70 NEW 70 1 FOLLOW YOU FOLLOW ME Genesis 6000

71 74 71 2 JUST ONE LIFETIME Sting & Shaggy 11000
72 57 4 14 LOST CONTROL Alan Walker & Sorana 442650
73 NEW 73 1 EXPERIMENT IV (EXTENDED MIX) Kate Bush 5400
74 42 19 7 GRAFFITI CHVRCHES 103750
75 NEW 75 1 HERE WITH ME Marshmello Featuring CHVRCHES 5000

DROP OUTS
37 4 4 FIRESTARTER (433750) The Prodigy 147300
39 14 4 LIFE’S WHAT YOU MAKE IT (450350) Talk Talk 81700
54 5 9 TRAMPOLINE SHAED 309750
55 38 6 PRETEND CNCO 81550
62 43 6 HEAL ME Grace Carter 63000
63 1 18 THIS FEELING Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini 877350
64 15 10 GIVE YOU UP Dido 160900
68 37 6 MISS ME MORE Kelsea Ballerini 71750
72 4 9 JUICE Lizzo 317800
75 1 40 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 2082500

25th March 2019

It’s a first week on top for yet another act to debut in 2009, following Paloma Faith, this time Empire Of The Sun and Chrysalis. They’ve come close 3 or 4 times, but previous highest peak slot was 2 for the Aussies. Well, I say first number one – actually Nick Littlemore hit the top as Pnau in 2012 along with Elton John on Sad, while Luke Steele almost topped my charts 18 years ago in The Sleepy Jackson and their Good Dancers.

Emeli Sande gets her second biggest hit (behind chart-topper Hurts) at 2, while her Sparrow is joined by a rat in the top – Rat City at 6. What with Cat in there too it’s a Jungle at the top. Mabel has a huge climb into the 30, the third family Cherry to do that, the Nanas are back in the 30 for a tasty 37th year. Go back to 1982, ask me what are the chances I would still be charting new Bananarama records in 2019, and I would have said, pretty much zero. Pretty much are though!

4 10cc album tracks climb, TLC are back in the 40 for the first time since it topped in 1995, Jungle get a 2nd simultaneous top 40, and Billie Eilish gets a 3rd of the year. New entries from Tame Impala, keeping them coming fresh off their top 10 collab, Olly Murs keeping the pop run going in my charts even if he’s not a UK chart regular anymore (I’ve always been much more faithful to acts than the ever-trend-chasing chart-mirroring average teen), Will Young is back knocking on 17 years since his early bland Evergreen and 15 years since he topped my chart with Friday’s Child. Sting & Shaggy are also back with another collab, Shaggy makes it 26 years, Sting solo 36 years, and with The Police 40 years. So a total of 66 years charting.

Bananarama 37 years? That’s nothing. Back when I was 15 Suzi Quatro joined RAK records in the UK, Nicky Chinn & Mike Chapman churned out glam rock stompers for The Sweet, Mud and many others including Suzi, who was pretty much the first female rocker to top the charts with Can The Can & Devil Gate Drive. So, Suzi is back with a new album collaboration with her son, and gets the first 2 tracks off it into my charts. Not too far from Glam Rock, it’s fair to say. So, 46 years later and she still charts, and still has never topped my charts. Outrageous! That must be the longest chart career of anyone who has never had a number one for me, despite having at least 3 that deserved to, her last serious effort was in 2011 when she went top 10 with a great cover of Goldfrapp’s Strict Machine.

1 4 1 3 CHRYSALIS Empire Of The Sun 285000
2 19 2 2 SPARROW Emeli Sande 136000
3 1 1 5 YOUR EX Paloma Faith 349800
4 2 1 3 IT’S OVER Morrissey featuring LP 350000
5 3 3 6 BEST 54 (ALL GOOD NOW) Jungle 397100
6 28 6 3 KIND OF LOVE Rat City featuring Isak Heim 84100
7 6 6 3 YOU BELONG TO ME Cat Pierce 153000
8 5 5 3 SON OF MAN GG/06 aka 10cc (Kevin Godley & Graham Gouldman) featuring Hotlegs 135000
9 8 1 4 AMERICAN GENERATION The Ritchie Family 323000
10 11 10 6 TALK Khalid & Disclosure 179000

11 7 2 6 365 Zedd & Katy Perry 452000
12 9 6 6 ELECTRO ROMANTICO Bob Sinclar featuring Robbie Williams 257600
13 13 13 3 NEVER COMIN DOWN Keith Urban 87000
14 16 14 5 WALK ME HOME P!nk 95700
15 20 15 3 SUCKER Jonas Brothers 60250
16 12 9 7 WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE RICH? Pet Shop Boys 228000
17 18 17 3 LIFTED Parker Bossley 57500
18 10 10 4 IT’S MY LIFE Talk Talk 115000
19 23 19 6 COLD IN LA Why Don’t We 101600
20 29 20 8 ALL MY FRIENDS The Revivalists 132000

21 21 2 9 SWAN SONG Dua Lipa 394500
22 15 1 6 THE KILLING MOON (SYMPHONIC VERSION) Echo & The Bunnymen 493500
23 25 23 4 KILLING MY TIME G-Flip 73500
24 34 24 3 WHAT MORE CAN I DO? Jack Savoretti 47850
25 22 18 6 DON’T FEEL LIKE CRYING Sigrid 115000
26 64 26 3 DON’T CALL ME UP Mabel 30600
27 24 3 10 STARTED OUT Georgia 437600
28 48 28 3 STUFF LIKE THAT Bananarama 41000
29 36 29 5 DESIRE Sub Focus & Dimension 58300
30 35 30 3 SAY THE WORD Hornal with Graham Gouldman & Kevin Godley 47500

31 26 1 13 SERMON Mercury Rev featuring Margo Price 599500
32 32 17 8 BONES Galantis featuring OneRepublic 148700
33 59 33 2 WATERFALLS TLC 27800
34 46 34 3 OCEAN EYES Billie Eilish 37850
35 62 35 2 BARON SAMEDI 10cc 24900
36 39 36 3 EVERY STEP Gabrielle 41900
37 17 4 4 FIRESTARTER The Prodigy 147300
38 56 38 3 LO/HI The Black Keys 34200
39 14 14 4 LIFE’S WHAT YOU MAKE IT Talk Talk 81700
40 57 40 3 CASIO Jungle 34000

41 49 41 2 CLOCKWORK CREEP 10cc 26100
42 27 19 6 GRAFFITI CHVRCHES 98550
43 31 13 8 GOT TO KEEP ON The Chemical Brothers 164300
44 33 7 9 BETTER THAN ME Ten Tonnes 234950
45 NEW 45 1 PATIENCE Tame Impala 13000
46 60 46 4 SAVE A LITTLE LOVE Junior J featuring John Gibbons & Therese 36150
47 66 47 3 WE’RE THROUGH The Hollies 25500
48 68 48 2 HALFWAY THERE ROZES 18700
49 NEW 49 1 FEEL THE SAME Olly Murs 12100
50 52 50 2 CONNECTION Elastica 23500

51 37 5 10 CANDLELIGHT Jack Savoretti 299500
52 53 52 4 DOVE Pillar Point 38150
53 40 40 3 LEARN TO LET GO Welshly Arms 45250
54 30 5 9 TRAMPOLINE SHAED 309750
55 38 38 6 PRETEND CNCO 81550
56 75 56 2 SOMEWHERE IN HOLLYWOOD 10cc 15600
57 41 4 13 LOST CONTROL Alan Walker & Sorana 437050
58 63 58 3 BUTTERFLY LOONA 24400
59 74 59 2 HURRICANES Dido 15300
60 69 60 3 THE BIRD SYML 21600

61 65 61 2 OLD WILD MEN 10cc 14500
62 43 43 6 HEAL ME Grace Carter 63000
63 50 1 18 THIS FEELING Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini 877350
64 44 15 10 GIVE YOU UP Dido 160900
65 67 65 2 ONLY HAPPY WHEN IT RAINS Garbage 13600
66 72 66 3 SO AM I Ava Max 17600
67 70 67 3 ME QUEDO CONTIGO Rosalia 18600
68 42 37 6 MISS ME MORE Kelsea Ballerini 71750
69 71 69 3 NEW HOUSE Rex Orange County 17800
70 NEW 70 1 ALL THE SONGS Will Young 6000

71 NEW 71 1 NO SOUL/ NO CONTROL Suzi Quatro 5800
72 45 4 9 JUICE Lizzo 317800
73 NEW 73 1 MACHO MAN Suzi Quatro 5400
74 NEW 74 1 JUST ONE LIFETIME Sting & Shaggy 5200
75 73 1 40 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 2082500

DROP OUTS
47 9 7 ME & U Tommy Trash featuring Anna Lunoe 160550
51 25 5 WHO DO YOU LOVE The Chainsmokers & 5 Seconds Of Summer 83950
54 24 7 FARAWAY LOOK Yola 108450
55 55 2 MURDER ON THE DANCEFLOOR (ORCHESTRAL VERSION) Sophie Ellis-Bextor 21400
58 13 9 VOTE FOR ME The Specials 175850
61 1 22 DIAMOND HEART Alan Walker & Sophia Somajo 1040050

 

17th March 2019

It’s a first week on top for Paloma faith’s Your Ex, 10 years on from New York becoming her first chart-topper, with 2 others and a guest spot with Sigma making 5 in total. 10CC (sort of) get another top 5 to belatedly add to their 49-year total (sort of) incorporating their 1970 hit Neanderthal Man. Emeli Sande gets the highest new entry, 8 years on from debut Heaven, as Sparrow flies into the top 20, fluttering in between high climbs for Parker Bossley and Jonas Brothers. Rat City go top 30, as a handful of tracks from 10CC’s first two albums enter my charts for the first time, following seeing them in concert: Those were two of my key albums of the 70’s, I adored them at the time, but didn;t allow album tracks in my charts at the time, so justice at last!

1995 chart-topper Waterfalls brings TLC back, Elastica’s pounding Connection is back, and Garbage’s Top 5 Only Happen When It Rains pours in, all thanks to Captain Marvel, while Dido gets another track entering, and Rozes returns.

1 4 1 4 YOUR EX Paloma Faith 264800
2 1 1 2 IT’S OVER Morrissey featuring LP 285000
3 3 3 5 BEST 54 (ALL GOOD NOW) Jungle 337100
4 7 4 2 CHRYSALIS Empire Of The Sun 115000
5 15 5 2 SON OF MAN GG/06 aka 10cc (Kevin Godley & Graham Gouldman) featuring Hotlegs 87000
6 8 6 2 YOU BELONG TO ME Cat Pierce 103000
7 2 2 5 365 Zedd & Katy Perry 415000
8 5 1 3 AMERICAN GENERATION The Ritchie Family 278000
9 6 6 5 ELECTRO ROMANTICO Bob Sinclar featuring Robbie Williams 222600
10 14 10 3 IT’S MY LIFE Talk Talk 93000

11 12 11 5 TALK Khalid & Disclosure 137000
12 9 9 6 WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE RICH? Pet Shop Boys 203000
13 17 13 2 NEVER COMIN DOWN Keith Urban 55000
14 30 14 3 LIFE’S WHAT YOU MAKE IT Talk Talk 64600
15 11 1 5 THE KILLING MOON (SYMPHONIC VERSION) Echo & The Bunnymen 474000
16 22 16 4 WALK ME HOME P!nk 66700
17 10 4 3 FIRESTARTER The Prodigy 130000
18 47 18 2 LIFTED Parker Bossley 34500
19 NEW 19 1 SPARROW Emeli Sande 21000
20 44 20 2 SUCKER Jonas Brothers 33250

21 13 2 8 SWAN SONG Dua Lipa 374750
22 18 18 5 DON’T FEEL LIKE CRYING Sigrid 96250
23 25 23 5 COLD IN LA Why Don’t We 80600
24 16 3 9 STARTED OUT Georgia 419200
25 27 25 3 KILLING MY TIME G-Flip 54250
26 20 1 12 SERMON Mercury Rev featuring Margo Price 581600
27 19 19 5 GRAFFITI CHVRCHES 84800
28 55 28 2 KIND OF LOVE Rat City featuring Isak Heim 29100
29 34 29 7 ALL MY FRIENDS The Revivalists 112000
30 21 5 8 TRAMPOLINE SHAED 298750

31 26 13 7 GOT TO KEEP ON The Chemical Brothers 150800
32 28 17 7 BONES Galantis featuring OneRepublic 130900
33 24 7 8 BETTER THAN ME Ten Tonnes 221700
34 53 34 2 WHAT MORE CAN I DO? Jack Savoretti 28850
35 50 35 2 SAY THE WORD Hornal with Graham Gouldman & Kevin Godley 29500
36 49 36 4 DESIRE Sub Focus & Dimension 40100
37 23 5 9 CANDLELIGHT Jack Savoretti 287750
38 38 38 5 PRETEND CNCO 70750
39 62 39 2 EVERY STEP Gabrielle 24500
40 40 40 2 LEARN TO LET GO Welshly Arms 34000

41 31 4 12 LOST CONTROL Alan Walker & Sorana 426650
42 37 37 5 MISS ME MORE Kelsea Ballerini 65350
43 46 43 5 HEAL ME Grace Carter 55600
44 33 15 9 GIVE YOU UP Dido 153800
45 29 4 8 JUICE Lizzo 312200
46 61 46 2 OCEAN EYES Billie Eilish 20250
47 32 9 7 ME & U Tommy Trash featuring Anna Lunoe 160550
48 57 48 2 STUFF LIKE THAT Bananarama 22700
49 NEW 49 1 CLOCKWORK CREEP 10cc 12100
50 41 1 17 THIS FEELING Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini 870150

51 35 25 5 WHO DO YOU LOVE The Chainsmokers & 5 Seconds Of Summer 83950
52 NEW 52 1 CONNECTION Elastica 11500
53 58 53 3 DOVE Pillar Point 26650
54 36 24 7 FARAWAY LOOK Yola 108450
55 56 55 2 MURDER ON THE DANCEFLOOR (ORCHESTRAL VERSION) Sophie Ellis-Bextor 21400
56 68 56 2 LO/HI The Black Keys 17000
57 67 57 2 CASIO Jungle 17000
58 43 13 9 VOTE FOR ME The Specials 175850
59 NEW 59 1 WATERFALLS TLC 10100
60 66 60 3 SAVE A LITTLE LOVE Junior J featuring John Gibbons & Therese 23400

61 54 1 22 DIAMOND HEART Alan Walker & Sophia Somajo 1040050
62 NEW 62 1 BARON SAMEDI 10cc 7400
63 65 63 2 BUTTERFLY LOONA 14200
64 75 64 2 DON’T CALL ME UP Mabel 12100
65 NEW 65 1 OLD WILD MEN 10cc 7000
66 69 66 2 WE’RE THROUGH The Hollies 13000
67 NEW 67 1 ONLY HAPPY WHEN IT RAINS Garbage 6600
68 NEW 68 1 HALFWAY THERE ROZES 6400
69 73 69 2 THE BIRD SYML 11600
70 70 70 2 ME QUEDO CONTIGO Rosalia 12000

71 71 71 2 NEW HOUSE Rex Orange County 11600
72 74 72 2 SO AM I Ava Max 10800
73 72 1 39 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 2077500
74 NEW 74 1 HURRICANES Dido 5200
75 NEW 75 1 SOMEWHERE IN HOLLYWOOD 10cc 5000

DROP OUTS
39 39 3 FOR PETE’S SAKE The Monkees 42350
42 1 15 NOTHING BREAKS LIKE A HEART Mark Ronson featuring Miley Cyrus 1004600
45 24 12 HOLA (I SAY) Marco Mengoni featuring Tom Walker 181100
48 33 6 WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? Ruelle 85750
51 6 12 ONLY YOU Theophilus London featuring Tame Impala 316100
52 30 5 ON SOCIAL MEDIA Pet Shop Boys 64900
59 1 14 GOODBYE TO LOVE Carpenters & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 1105400
60 60 3 YOUR AUNTY GRIZELDA The Monkees 23200
63 5 10 WICKED GAMES RAIGN 286750
64 25 9 DANCING WITH A STRANGER Sam Smith & Normani 134250

 

10th March 2019

It’s a new entry at for for Morrissey’s cover of Roy Orbison’s classic chart-topper, It’s Over, aided and abetted (without credit) by LP. I never knew he had the vocal croon in him, but it’s an emotive song and he does a jolly good job, even if he is a miserable sod generally. That means: his first top 3 since 2004’s The First Of The Gang To Die, and his first-ever solo chart-topper after 31 years of trying, AND outdoing near-misses from the Smiths (This Charming Man & How Soon Is Now). Long overdue, and LP gets a second top 10 to boot.

There are 24 new entries this week in a massive clear-out of my chart, there are some classic oldies stacked up flying in circles waiting for a gap too, cos I’ve been to see Captain Marvel & it’s 1995 nostalgia-fest of indie tracks, and fab 10cc in Concert (headed by Graham Gouldman) some 37 years since I last saw them – Eric Stewart was still in the band then, but Godley & Creme were long-departed. Amazingly, the rest of the 1982 line-up are still playing, with the addition of new vocalist Hornal, who enters with his co-write with Graham & featuring Kevin Godley to boot – so it’s basically a 10cc track, both in style and substance. The concert started with a 2006 track that escaped me at the time by GG/06 – Gouldman/Godley, a sample of Hotlegs 1970 Neanderthal Man – who were 10cc minus Gouldman – and a great storyline telling the 10cc story. So all 4 members feature on it, making it the first new original-line-up track since 1976 and in at 15. Graham Gouldman wrote Bus Stop for The Hollies in 1966, a teenage songwriter, and appropriately they enter at 69 with a track featured on Netflix’ The Umbrella Academy, 1964’s We’re Through, a goodie I have never really noticed before, but which vaguely sounds familiar (I was watching pop shows on TV in those days).

Empire Of The Sun enter at 7 with a spruced-up ten-year-old unreleased track (I think!), their highest-charting since the same-period top 3’s We Are The People & Walking On A Dream. Cat Pierce debuts at 8 with another TV feature, very Lana Del Ray-ish and cool, and Paloma Faith vaults up to 4, her biggest for 2 years, and keeps her run of top 5 singles at 11 years and counting. Pink rockets into the 30, Welshly Arms debut at 40, and the Jonas Brothers get a second hit 11 years late. They previously charted SOS at 75 for one week, and bust that comprehensively now they are all growed up and have charted solo and in DNCE in the interim with some great singles. That has to be the longest ever wait for a follow-up chart feature for an act that peaked at 75!

Jack Savoretti is back again before he’s even left, Bananarama get a second entry of the year 38 years on, Sophie Ellis-Bextor orchestrates her 2001 chart-topper for some clubbing nostalgia for me (a big track when I was out every weekend in Southampton), Gabrielle also returns fairly quickly with her comeback 27 years on, Billie Eilish gets a 3rd as the previous 2 drop out, Jungle chart a second track, SYML gets that follow-up entry, as does Ava Max, and Mabel pops in some 30 years after her mum first popped in my charts – that’s be Neneh Cherry then…

1 NEW 1 1 IT’S OVER Morrissey featuring LP 170000
2 2 2 4 365 Zedd & Katy Perry 365000
3 3 3 4 BEST 54 (ALL GOOD NOW) Jungle 252100
4 35 4 3 YOUR EX Paloma Faith 94800
5 1 1 2 AMERICAN GENERATION The Ritchie Family 230000
6 6 6 4 ELECTRO ROMANTICO Bob Sinclar featuring Robbie Williams 177600
7 NEW 7 1 CHRYSALIS Empire Of The Sun 50000
8 NEW 8 1 YOU BELONG TO ME Cat Pierce 48000
9 10 9 5 WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE RICH? Pet Shop Boys 168000
10 4 4 2 FIRESTARTER The Prodigy 107000

11 5 1 4 THE KILLING MOON (SYMPHONIC VERSION) Echo & The Bunnymen 437000
12 13 12 4 TALK Khalid & Disclosure 100000
13 7 2 7 SWAN SONG Dua Lipa 355000
14 18 14 2 IT’S MY LIFE Talk Talk 51000
15 NEW 15 1 SON OF MAN GG/06 aka 10cc (Kevin Godley & Graham Gouldman) featuring Hotlegs 27000
16 8 3 8 STARTED OUT Georgia 400200
17 NEW 17 1 NEVER COMIN’ DOWN Keith Urban 23000
18 19 18 4 DON’T FEEL LIKE CRYING Sigrid 76750
19 20 19 4 GRAFFITI CHVRCHES 66400
20 12 1 11 SERMON Mercury Rev featuring Margo Price 563100

21 9 5 7 TRAMPOLINE SHAED 280750
22 49 22 3 WALK ME HOME P!nk 41700
23 11 5 8 CANDLELIGHT Jack Savoretti 270450
24 15 7 7 BETTER THAN ME Ten Tonnes 204000
25 29 25 4 COLD IN LA Why Don’t We 61350
26 16 13 6 GOT TO KEEP ON The Chemical Brothers 132900
27 39 27 2 KILLING MY TIME G-Flip 35500
28 17 17 6 BONES Galantis featuring OneRepublic 113100
29 14 4 7 JUICE Lizzo 299200
30 34 30 2 LIFE’S WHAT YOU MAKE IT Talk Talk 35600

31 23 4 11 LOST CONTROL Alan Walker & Sorana 412650
32 22 9 6 ME & U Tommy Trash featuring Anna Lunoe 148050
33 21 15 8 GIVE YOU UP Dido 140550
34 36 34 6 ALL MY FRIENDS The Revivalists 93800
35 25 25 4 WHO DO YOU LOVE The Chainsmokers & 5 Seconds Of Summer 72200
36 24 24 6 FARAWAY LOOK Yola 97450
37 40 37 4 MISS ME MORE Kelsea Ballerini 51600
38 38 38 4 PRETEND CNCO 53550
39 42 39 3 FOR PETE’S SAKE The Monkees 42350
40 NEW 40 1 LEARN TO LET GO Welshly Arms 17000

41 27 1 16 THIS FEELING Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini 858150
42 28 1 15 NOTHING BREAKS LIKE A HEART Mark Ronson featuring Miley Cyrus 1004600
43 26 13 8 VOTE FOR ME The Specials 165650
44 NEW 44 1 SUCKER Jonas Brothers 13250
45 31 24 12 HOLA (I SAY) Marco Mengoni featuring Tom Walker 181100
46 48 46 4 HEAL ME Grace Carter 42100
47 NEW 47 1 LIFTED Parker Bossley 12500
48 33 33 6 WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? Ruelle 85750
49 72 49 3 DESIRE Sub Focus & Dimension 22700
50 NEW 50 1 SAY THE WORD Hornal with Graham Gouldman & Kevin Godley 12000

51 32 6 12 ONLY YOU Theophilus London featuring Tame Impala 316100
52 30 30 5 ON SOCIAL MEDIA Pet Shop Boys 64900
53 NEW 53 1 WHAT MORE CAN I DO? Jack Savoretti 11250
54 47 1 21 DIAMOND HEART Alan Walker & Sophia Somajo 1032550
55 NEW 55 1 KIND OF LOVE Rat City featuring Isak Heim 10800
56 NEW 56 1 MURDER ON THE DANCEFLOOR (ORCHESTRAL VERSION) Sophie Ellis-Bextor 10600
57 NEW 57 1 STUFF LIKE THAT Bananarama 10400
58 74 58 2 DOVE Pillar Point 15400
59 44 1 14 GOODBYE TO LOVE Carpenters & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 1105400
60 62 60 3 YOUR AUNTY GRIZELDA The Monkees 23200

61 NEW 61 1 OCEAN EYES Billie Eilish 7500
62 NEW 62 1 EVERY STEP Gabrielle 7400
63 43 5 10 WICKED GAMES RAIGN 286750
64 41 25 9 DANCING WITH A STRANGER Sam Smith & Normani 134250
65 NEW 65 1 BUTTERFLY LOONA 7000
66 67 66 2 SAVE A LITTLE LOVE Junior J featuring John Gibbons & Therese 13400
67 NEW 67 1 CASIO Jungle 6600
68 NEW 68 1 LO/HI The Black Keys 6400
69 NEW 69 1 WE’RE THROUGH The Hollies 6200
70 NEW 70 1 ME QUEDO CONTIGO Rosalia 6000

71 NEW 71 1 NEW HOUSE Rex Orange County 5800
72 65 1 38 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 2072100
73 NEW 73 1 THE BIRD SYML 5400
74 NEW 74 1 SO AM I Ava Max 5200
75 NEW 75 1 DON’T CALL ME UP Mabel 5000

DROP OUT
37 2 8 MY OCTOBER SYMPHONY Pet Shop Boys 335200
45 26 4 GIVE STUPIDITY A CHANCE Pet Shop Boys 67500
46 15 9 BARCELONA Andy Burrows & Matt Haig 181150
50 5 10 BOUNCE Albin Lee Meldau 317250
51 37 8 LONGSHOT Catfish & The Bottlemen 104550
52 28 6 CRY TO ME Solomon Burke 87800
53 1 8 JEALOUSY (ALBUM VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 647900
54 19 8 HOPE IS A DANGEROUS THING Lana Del Ray 140800
55 47 5 FAVOURITE THING Fleur East 52150
56 10 9 (UNDERNEATH THE) LOVELY LONDON SKY Lin-Manuel Miranda 178050
57 16 10 LOVELY Billie Eilish & Khalid 157000
58 20 10 WHEN THE PARTY’S OVER Billie Eilish 164600
59 59 6 A NEW ENGLAND Kirsty MacColl 40400
60 6 17 THANK YOU, NEXT Ariana Grande 500500
61 61 2 HAPPY TOGETHER The Turtles 14300
63 49 5 TOKYO White Lies 45200
64 64 4 HANDMADE HEAVEN MARINA 24500
66 6 13 E-LO Los Unidades (Coldplay) & Pharrell Williams featuring Jozzy 324850
68 7 16 BREATHE Camelphat & Cristoph featuring Jem Cooke 324350
69 69 4 THE FORGOTTEN CHILD Pet Shop Boys 24400
70 1 18 SHADOWS Black Atlass 826100
71 71 1 I THINK WE’RE ALONE NOW Tiffany 5800
73 73 1 TODAY Talk Talk 5400
75 75 1 BREATHE The Prodigy 5000

3rd March 2019

It’s straight in at 1 for 1978 Eurodisco obscure goodie American Generation, giving The Ritchie Family a belated chart-topper 40 years after it peaked around 40 places lower, and thanks to my rediscovering it and entering it into the BJSC. I’ve gone slightly mad on it’s hooks and retro-charm! The sisters first charted in 1975 for me, then hit my top 10 with The Best Disco In Town in 1976, and have had to wait a whopping 44 years to get that chart-topper.

This week I’ve been on holiday in Gran Canaria, and haven’t had any time to listen to new music, or current music for the most part, so mostly oldies enter my charts. I was at the airport when I heard the sad news about the death of Keith Flint, hence his greatest moment back in my top 5 23 years on, on top of the loss of Talk Talk mainman Mark Hollis, which has also brought their best tracks back in my chart for the 3rd time in the case of chart-topper It’s My Life, and twice top tenner Life’s What You Make It.

1 NEW 1 1 AMERICAN GENERATION The Ritchie Family 170000
2 2 2 3 365 Zedd & Katy Perry 250000
3 4 3 3 BEST 54 (ALL GOOD NOW) Jungle 167100
4 NEW 4 1 FIRESTARTER The Prodigy 65000
5 1 1 3 THE KILLING MOON (SYMPHONIC VERSION) Echo & The Bunnymen 400000
6 7 6 3 ELECTRO ROMANTICO Bob Sinclar featuring Robbie Williams 122600
7 3 2 6 SWAN SONG Dua Lipa 323000
8 6 3 7 STARTED OUT Georgia 375200
9 10 5 6 TRAMPOLINE SHAED 261000
10 12 10 4 WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE RICH? Pet Shop Boys 123000

11 5 5 7 CANDLELIGHT Jack Savoretti 251200
12 8 1 10 SERMON Mercury Rev featuring Margo Price 543100
13 18 13 3 TALK Khalid 65000
14 9 4 6 JUICE Lizzo 281000
15 11 7 6 BETTER THAN ME Ten Tonnes 185000
16 13 13 5 GOT TO KEEP ON The Chemical Brothers 114400
17 17 17 5 BONES Galantis featuring OneRepublic 94800
18 NEW 18 1 IT’S MY LIFE Talk Talk 22000
19 19 19 3 DON’T FEEL LIKE CRYING Sigrid 54750
20 30 20 3 GRAFFITI CHVRCHES 45400

21 15 15 7 GIVE YOU UP Dido 122850
22 14 9 5 ME & U Tommy Trash featuring Anna Lunoe 130250
23 16 4 10 LOST CONTROL Alan Walker & Sorana 394750
24 25 24 5 FARAWAY LOOK Yola 80050
25 27 25 3 WHO DO YOU LOVE The Chainsmokers & 5 Seconds Of Summer 54700
26 26 13 7 VOTE FOR ME The Specials 152150
27 21 1 15 THIS FEELING Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini 844150
28 22 1 14 NOTHING BREAKS LIKE A HEART Mark Ronson featuring Miley Cyrus 990850
29 34 29 3 COLD IN LA Why Don’t We 42600
30 40 30 4 ON SOCIAL MEDIA Pet Shop Boys 53400

31 31 24 11 HOLA (I SAY) Marco Mengoni featuring Tom Walker 168100
32 32 6 11 ONLY YOU Theophilus London featuring Tame Impala 304350
33 33 33 5 WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? Ruelle 73450
34 NEW 34 1 LIFE’S WHAT YOU MAKE IT Talk Talk 17600
35 48 35 2 YOUR EX Paloma Faith 29800
36 38 36 5 ALL MY FRIENDS The Revivalists 76200
37 20 2 8 MY OCTOBER SYMPHONY Pet Shop Boys 335200
38 46 38 3 PRETEND CNCO 36350
39 NEW 39 1 KILLING MY TIME G-Flip 17100
40 50 40 3 MISS ME MORE Kelsea Ballerini 34300

41 28 25 8 DANCING WITH A STRANGER Sam Smith & Normani 127150
42 52 42 2 FOR PETE’S SAKE The Monkees 25250
43 29 5 9 WICKED GAMES RAIGN 279550
44 41 1 13 GOODBYE TO LOVE Carpenters & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 1095300
45 32 26 4 GIVE STUPIDITY A CHANCE Pet Shop Boys 67500
46 31 15 9 BARCELONA Andy Burrows & Matt Haig 181150
47 45 1 20 DIAMOND HEART Alan Walker & Sophia Somajo 1021550
48 53 48 3 HEAL ME Grace Carter 29350
49 59 49 2 WALK ME HOME P!nk 22200
50 39 5 10 BOUNCE Albin Lee Meldau 317250

51 37 37 8 LONGSHOT Catfish & The Bottlemen 104550
52 35 28 6 CRY TO ME Solomon Burke 87800
53 36 1 8 JEALOUSY (ALBUM VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 647900
54 42 19 8 HOPE IS A DANGEROUS THING Lana Del Ray 140800
55 47 47 5 FAVOURITE THING Fleur East 52150
56 51 10 9 (UNDERNEATH THE) LOVELY LONDON SKY Lin-Manuel Miranda 178050
57 43 16 10 LOVELY Billie Eilish & Khalid 157000
58 44 20 10 WHEN THE PARTY’S OVER Billie Eilish 164600
59 64 59 6 A NEW ENGLAND Kirsty MacColl 40400
60 54 6 17 THANK YOU, NEXT Ariana Grande 500500

61 66 61 2 HAPPY TOGETHER The Turtles 14300
62 71 62 2 YOUR AUNTY GRIZELDA The Monkees 13200
63 49 49 5 TOKYO White Lies 45200
64 68 64 4 HANDMADE HEAVEN MARINA 24500
65 65 1 37 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 2066500
66 57 6 13 E-LO Los Unidades (Coldplay) & Pharrell Williams featuring Jozzy 324850
67 NEW 67 1 SAVE A LITTLE LOVE Junior J featuring John Gibbons & Therese 6600
68 58 7 16 BREATHE Camelphat & Cristoph featuring Jem Cooke 324350
69 69 69 4 THE FORGOTTEN CHILD Pet Shop Boys 24400
70 60 1 18 SHADOWS Black Atlass 826100

71 NEW 71 1 I THINK WE’RE ALONE NOW Tiffany 5800
72 75 72 2 DESIRE Sub Focus & Dimension 10600
73 NEW 73 1 TODAY Talk Talk 5400
74 NEW 74 1 DOVE Pillar Point 5200
75 NEW 75 1 BREATHE The Prodigy 5000

DROP OUTS
55 14 7 GIANT Calvin Harris & Rag’n’Bone Man 127350
56 48 5 SLAVE TO THE RHYTHM Trevor Horn featuring The Sarm Orchestra & Rumer 52050
61 36 7 HELLO MY LOVE Westlife 95850
62 25 7 WITHOUT ME Halsey 75700
63 28 6 SUCH A REMARKABLE DAY Charlotte Gainsbourg 80000
67 46 6 DANCE MUSIC Bananarama 57950
70 35 8 PLAY Jax Jones & Years & Years 89500
72 29 9 LOVE HAS ALL BEEN DONE BEFORE Jade Bird 115400
73 29 9 WE APPRECIATE POWER Grimes featuring HANA 110150
74 7 17 BRAZILIAN SOUL The Knocks featuring Sofi Tukker 470000

 

 

24th February 2019

It’s 2 weeks on top for the symphonic Killing Moon, just holding off Zedd grabbing his first chart-topper, and Katy Perry her 4th, so she has to make do with equalling 2008’s Hot ‘n’ Cold instead at 2. There’s big climb to 4 for Jungle, their highest chart position to date, and Bob Sinclar to 7, beating his peak of 9 in 2006 with World Hold On. Robbie of course has never stopped having top 10’s in 26 years, with Take That or solo.

Khalid gets his 2nd top 20 of the year already, and Sigrid gets her second ever with big climbs. CHVRCHES grab a top 30 with a hfty move upwards, boyband Why Don’t We go Bieber-soundalike and do it quite well into the 40, Pet Shop Boys get a 5th top 40 of the week, while highest new entry is from paloma’s deluxe version, of the album which thankfully I didn’t buy or I would have been pissed off at belated tracks being released.

The Monkees get 2 new (old) entries following the death of Peter Tork – For Pete’s Sake is the closing credits song to the ground-breaking 60’s TV show, written by Peter, and Your Aunty Grizelda is a Peter-sung quirky track which in the UK was the soundtrack to a sequence in the horror parody episode I Was A Teenage Monster. For some reason the UK totally messed around with the songs in UK-screened episodes, but in this case it worked much better than the US original. I recorded the episode on reel-to-reel tape back in the day, and was most disappointed to find the US box set has a lot of wrong songs in the wrong episodes (for my boyhood memories).

P!nk gets a BRITS boost this week and wham! she’s back in chart fashion, while never dropping out of being in chart fashion in my charts – some of the last album’s tracks were well-worthy of single release and counted in these charts – whcih is what really counts

1 1 1 2 THE KILLING MOON (SYMPHONIC VERSION) Echo & The Bunnymen 340000
2 20 2 2 365 Zedd & Katy Perry 135000
3 2 2 5 SWAN SONG Dua Lipa 273000
4 39 4 2 BEST 54 (ALL GOOD NOW) Jungle 82100
5 8 5 6 CANDLELIGHT Jack Savoretti 214200
6 3 3 6 STARTED OUT Georgia 327200
7 34 7 2 ELECTRO ROMANTICO Bob Sinclar featuring Robbie Williams 67600
8 4 1 9 SERMON Mercury Rev featuring Margo Price 508100
9 6 4 5 JUICE Lizzo 252000
10 5 5 5 TRAMPOLINE SHAED 216000

11 7 7 5 BETTER THAN ME Ten Tonnes 158000
12 16 12 3 WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE RICH? Pet Shop Boys 81000
13 13 13 4 GOT TO KEEP ON The Chemical Brothers 89400
14 9 9 4 ME & U Tommy Trash featuring Anna Lunoe 110750
15 17 15 6 GIVE YOU UP Dido 103100
16 11 4 9 LOST CONTROL Alan Walker & Sorana 375500
17 19 17 4 BONES Galantis featuring OneRepublic 71800
18 54 18 2 TALK Khalid 33000
19 46 19 2 DON’T FEEL LIKE CRYING Sigrid 33750
20 10 2 7 MY OCTOBER SYMPHONY Pet Shop Boys 317900

21 12 1 14 THIS FEELING Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini 825750
22 15 1 13 NOTHING BREAKS LIKE A HEART Mark Ronson featuring Miley Cyrus 972550
23 14 6 9 ONLY YOU Theophilus London featuring Tame Impala 268750
24 24 24 9 HOLA (I SAY) Marco Mengoni featuring Tom Walker 132300
25 30 25 4 FARAWAY LOOK Yola 61050
26 18 13 6 VOTE FOR ME The Specials 133650
27 27 27 2 WHO DO YOU LOVE The Chainsmokers & 5 Seconds Of Summer 36800
28 25 25 7 DANCING WITH A STRANGER Sam Smith & Normani 113150
29 21 5 8 WICKED GAMES RAIGN 266050
30 62 30 2 GRAFFITI CHVRCHES 25400

31 22 15 8 BARCELONA Andy Burrows & Matt Haig 168400
32 26 26 3 GIVE STUPIDITY A CHANCE Pet Shop Boys 54500
33 33 33 4 WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? Ruelle 55750
34 66 34 2 COLD IN LA Why Don’t We 24400
35 28 28 5 CRY TO ME Solomon Burke 76300
36 23 1 7 JEALOUSY (ALBUM VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 636650
37 37 37 7 LONGSHOT Catfish & The Bottlemen 92800
38 38 38 4 ALL MY FRIENDS The Revivalists 58800
39 31 5 9 BOUNCE Albin Lee Meldau 305250
40 50 40 3 ON SOCIAL MEDIA Pet Shop Boys 35400

41 32 1 12 GOODBYE TO LOVE Carpenters & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 1082050
42 29 19 7 HOPE IS A DANGEROUS THING Lana Del Ray 129800
43 35 16 9 LOVELY Billie Eilish & Khalid 146600
44 36 20 9 WHEN THE PARTY’S OVER Billie Eilish 154400
45 44 1 19 DIAMOND HEART Alan Walker & Sophia Somajo 1009050
46 68 46 2 PRETEND CNCO 19150
47 51 47 4 FAVOURITE THING Fleur East 41350
48 NEW 48 1 YOUR EX Paloma Faith 12300
49 55 49 4 TOKYO White Lies 38000
50 74 50 2 MISS ME MORE Kelsea Ballerini 17300

51 40 10 8 (UNDERNEATH THE) LOVELY LONDON SKY Lin-Manuel Miranda 167450
52 NEW 52 1 FOR PETE’S SAKE The Monkees 11500
53 71 53 2 HEAL ME Grace Carter 17050
54 49 6 16 THANK YOU, NEXT Ariana Grande 490500
55 41 14 7 GIANT Calvin Harris & Rag’n’Bone Man 127350
56 48 48 5 SLAVE TO THE RHYTHM Trevor Horn featuring The Sarm Orchestra & Rumer 52050
57 47 6 12 E-LO Los Unidades (Coldplay) & Pharrell Williams featuring Jozzy 318050
58 52 7 15 BREATHE Camelphat & Cristoph featuring Jem Cooke 317950
59 NEW 59 1 WALK ME HOME P!nk 10100
60 53 1 17 SHADOWS Black Atlass 820100

61 45 36 7 HELLO MY LOVE Westlife 95850
62 42 25 7 WITHOUT ME Halsey 75700
63 43 28 6 SUCH A REMARKABLE DAY Charlotte Gainsbourg 80000
64 70 64 5 A NEW ENGLAND Kirsty MacColl 30300
65 65 1 36 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 2059500
66 NEW 66 1 HAPPY TOGETHER The Turtles 6800
67 60 46 6 DANCE MUSIC Bananarama 57950
68 72 68 3 HANDMADE HEAVEN MARINA 17400
69 69 69 3 THE FORGOTTEN CHILD Pet Shop Boys 18200
70 57 35 8 PLAY Jax Jones & Years & Years 89500

71 NEW 71 1 YOUR AUNTY GRIZELDA The Monkees 5800
72 58 29 9 LOVE HAS ALL BEEN DONE BEFORE Jade Bird 115400
73 56 29 9 WE APPRECIATE POWER Grimes featuring HANA 110150
74 63 7 17 BRAZILIAN SOUL The Knocks featuring Sofi Tukker 470000
75 NEW 75 1 DESIRE Sub Focus & Dimension 5000

DROP OUTS
59 43 7 LONELY NIGHTS (ANGEL FACE) Captain & Tennille 77000
61 48 3 IDEA The O’My’s featuring Chance The Rapper 32100
64 20 7 NO PLACE Backstreet Boys 102150
67 3 12 SURVIVE Don Diablo featuring Emeli Sande & Gucci Mane 488000
73 1 13 TRUE LOVE WAYS Buddy Holly & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 636050
75 9 13 RISE Raaginder 246050

 

 

17th February 2019

It’s a new entry and first week on top for a symphonic version of Echo & The Bunnymen’s stunningly great 1984 The Killing Moon, as effectively showcased in the cult movie Donnie Darko. I got the Symphonic 80’s album as a CD prezzie, and this was the remaining stand-out version I’d not charted – It originally peaked at 2 in my charts, and the revamp isn’t quite as good as the original, but the record has severely under-performed in my charts compared to how I feel about it these days (“absolute classic”) so an excuse to chart it is welcome by me. By way of compensation there has been a massive clear-out of oldies from my charts and lots of new stuff.

Dua Lipa gets her 2nd number 2, equalling Be The One, and falling short of chart-topper Hotter Than Hell. Zedd’s back in the top 20 after his top 20 with Liam Payne in 2017, and Katy Perry is guesting, and back in the top 20 since her swathe of 2017 chart peaks, including a number one with Chained To The Rhythm. The Chainsmokers drag along 5 Seconds Of Summer for another top 40 before the last one has left the 20, while Bob Sinclar gives Robbie Williams his 2nd top 40 guest spot of the year, Robbie’s span of hits a surprising 23 years since he gained his Freedom from Take That, or 27 years including the lads.

Jungle are back with another top 40, Sigrid pops back with a 3rd, Khalid gets a 2nd in the chart, CHVRCHES are back with another, Kelsea Ballerini gets a 2nd on the chart, and CNCO and Grace Carter both follow-up recent chart action.

1 NEW 1 1 THE KILLING MOON (SYMPHONIC VERSION) Echo & The Bunnymen 170000
2 10 2 4 SWAN SONG Dua Lipa 188000
3 3 3 5 STARTED OUT Georgia 272200
4 1 1 8 SERMON Mercury Rev featuring Margo Price 460100
5 9 5 4 TRAMPOLINE SHAED 174000
6 4 4 4 JUICE Lizzo 207000
7 12 7 4 BETTER THAN ME Ten Tonnes 121000
8 8 8 5 CANDLELIGHT Jack Savoretti 154200
9 16 9 3 ME & U Tommy Trash featuring Anna Lunoe 81750
10 2 2 6 MY OCTOBER SYMPHONY Pet Shop Boys 297900

11 14 4 8 LOST CONTROL Alan Walker & Sorana 350500
12 6 1 13 THIS FEELING Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini 806000
13 20 13 3 GOT TO KEEP ON The Chemical Brothers 57400
14 11 6 8 ONLY YOU Theophilus London featuring Tame Impala 249500
15 7 1 12 NOTHING BREAKS LIKE A HEART Mark Ronson featuring Miley Cyrus 953050
16 19 16 2 WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE RICH? Pet Shop Boys 46000
17 17 17 5 GIVE YOU UP Dido 76100
18 13 13 5 VOTE FOR ME The Specials 115150
19 38 19 3 BONES Galantis featuring OneRepublic 48800
20 NEW 20 1 365 Zedd & Katy Perry 20000

21 15 5 7 WICKED GAMES RAIGN 247850
22 18 15 7 BARCELONA Andy Burrows & Matt Haig 150500
23 5 1 6 JEALOUSY (ALBUM VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 619250
24 27 24 8 HOLA (I SAY) Marco Mengoni featuring Tom Walker 113300
25 30 25 6 DANCING WITH A STRANGER Sam Smith & Normani 94850
26 29 26 2 GIVE STUPIDITY A CHANCE Pet Shop Boys 36700
27 NEW 27 1 WHO DO YOU LOVE The Chainsmokers & 5 Seconds Of Summer 18400
28 31 28 4 CRY TO ME Solomon Burke 58800
29 23 19 6 HOPE IS A DANGEROUS THING Lana Del Ray 116050
30 35 30 3 FARAWAY LOOK Yola 42300

31 21 5 8 BOUNCE Albin Lee Meldau 288150
32 26 1 11 GOODBYE TO LOVE Carpenters & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 1068050
33 42 33 3 WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? Ruelle 38050
34 NEW 34 1 ELECTRO ROMANTICO Bob Sinclar featuring Robbie Williams 17600
35 22 16 8 LOVELY Billie Eilish & Khalid 133100
36 33 20 8 WHEN THE PARTY’S OVER Billie Eilish 141150
37 37 37 6 LONGSHOT Catfish & The Bottlemen 75500
38 40 38 3 ALL MY FRIENDS The Revivalists 41600
39 NEW 39 1 BEST 54 (ALL GOOD NOW) Jungle 17100
40 34 10 7 (UNDERNEATH THE) LOVELY LONDON SKY Lin-Manuel Miranda 155700

41 24 14 6 GIANT Calvin Harris & Rag’n’Bone Man 116550
42 25 25 6 WITHOUT ME Halsey 68300
43 28 28 5 SUCH A REMARKABLE DAY Charlotte Gainsbourg 72800
44 32 1 18 DIAMOND HEART Alan Walker & Sophia Somajo 996050
45 36 36 6 HELLO MY LOVE Westlife 88350
46 NEW 46 1 DON’T FEEL LIKE CRYING Sigrid 12750
47 39 6 11 E-LO Los Unidades (Coldplay) & Pharrell Williams featuring Jozzy 307650
48 51 48 4 SLAVE TO THE RHYTHM Trevor Horn featuring The Sarm Orchestra & Rumer 41450
49 43 6 15 THANK YOU, NEXT Ariana Grande 479500
50 68 50 2 ON SOCIAL MEDIA Pet Shop Boys 18400

51 60 51 3 FAVOURITE THING Fleur East 28850
52 45 7 14 BREATHE Camelphat & Cristoph featuring Jem Cooke 307750
53 46 1 16 SHADOWS Black Atlass 810100
54 NEW 54 1 TALK Khalid 11000
55 59 55 3 TOKYO White Lies 25900
56 41 29 8 WE APPRECIATE POWER Grimes featuring HANA 104750
57 44 35 7 PLAY Jax Jones & Years & Years 83500
58 47 29 8 LOVE HAS ALL BEEN DONE BEFORE Jade Bird 109800
59 49 43 7 LONELY NIGHTS (ANGEL FACE) Captain & Tennille 77000
60 50 46 5 DANCE MUSIC Bananarama 51350

61 48 48 3 IDEA The O’My’s featuring Chance The Rapper 32100
62 NEW 62 1 GRAFFITI CHVRCHES 7400
63 56 7 16 BRAZILIAN SOUL The Knocks featuring Sofi Tukker 464800
64 53 20 7 NO PLACE Backstreet Boys 102150
65 62 1 35 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 2052500
66 NEW 66 1 COLD IN LA Why Don’t We 6800
67 55 3 12 SURVIVE Don Diablo featuring Emeli Sande & Gucci Mane 488000
68 NEW 68 1 PRETEND CNCO 6400
69 71 69 2 THE FORGOTTEN CHILD Pet Shop Boys 12000
70 70 70 4 A NEW ENGLAND Kirsty MacColl 23200

71 NEW 71 1 HEAL ME Grace Carter 5800
72 73 72 2 HANDMADE HEAVEN MARINA 11000
73 57 1 13 TRUE LOVE WAYS Buddy Holly & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 636050
74 NEW 74 1 MISS ME MORE Kelsea Ballerini 5200
75 69 9 13 RISE Raaginder 246050

DROP OUTS
52 9 6 I’LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN (401250) Tom Jones 138900
54 54 4 IN DREAMS Roy Orbison 35700
58 58 3 SEPTEMBER Earth, Wind & Fire 25800
61 49 4 MY LOVE GOES ON James Morrison featuring Joss Stone 37050
63 30 7 SIXTEEN Thomas Rhett 80850
64 64 4 PARTY FOR ONE Carly Rae Jepsen 25100
65 15 12 YOU’RE GONNA MISS ME Connie Francis 215250
66 66 4 LAND OF THE FREE The Killers 25200
67 67 5 DON’T THROW YOUR LOVE AWAY The Searchers 30200
72 1 14 DRIVE (SYMPHONIC VERSION) The Cars 818800
74 24 11 DREAM ON Aerosmith 141200
75 5 12 EVERLASTING LOVE The Love Affair 254550

 

 

10th February 2019

It’s a first week on top for Bobbie Gentry’s fabulously moody Sermon, from 1967 the song, giving Mercury Rev a second chart-topper just over 17 years since the last one, the gorgeous The Dark Is Rising. Margo Price gets her first doing a pretty good job of competing with the much-missed Bobbie Gentry (missed as in she stopped her music career over 40 years ago). That keeps the Pet Shop Boys 1990 album track at 2 in a week when they release an EP of political or social commentary tracks, called Agenda – as in commenting on those with agendas, while having an agenda (but a worthy one, being as I agree with every word of every song). All four enter my charts, giving Chris n Neil 6 tracks in my chart. The highest new entry is What Are We Going To Do About The Rich at 19 – tax ’em heavily and force ’em to reveal all their interests worldwide, I say! Give Stupidity A Chance is an ode to Trump, or Brexit, or anything really that puts opinion, hatred and lies over facts, and is quite amusing and as clever as always. The Forgotten Child is clearly about the thousands of illegal immigrant children that have gone missing under Trump. Nobody knows where they are, and if they are even alive.

Jack Savoretti gets a 4th top 10 in 4 years, Dua Lipa a 7th, huge climbs for Tommy Trash & The Chemical Brothers into the 20 as I’m clearly in a mood for clubbing. Yola, Galantis & The Revivalists get big climbs into the 40, and the only new track that doesn’t feature “Pet” in the name is from Marina getting a follow-up to her Clean Bandit collab, her 9th chart entry in 9 years, including a top 10 in Prima Donna in 2012.

This week I finally got to see Tears For Fears in concert for the first time – they were still fab, Curt still looking good, and a back catalogue of hits to impress. If I don’t get many new entries again next week I may have to rechart Head Over Heels which under-performed in my charts! When I heard it in Donnie Darko I realised the error of my ways. Alison Moyet supported, but Ive seen her headline already with a much bigger setlist. I have to say there can be few touring acts that can start a set with a huge classic on the scale of Everybody Wants To Rule The World.

1 5 1 7 SERMON Mercury Rev featuring Margo Price 395100
2 4 2 5 MY OCTOBER SYMPHONY Pet Shop Boys 255900
3 7 3 4 STARTED OUT Georgia 187200
4 6 4 3 JUICE Lizzo 152000
5 2 1 5 JEALOUSY (ALBUM VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 600000
6 3 1 12 THIS FEELING Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini 771000
7 1 1 11 NOTHING BREAKS LIKE A HEART Mark Ronson featuring Miley Cyrus 926050
8 18 8 4 CANDLELIGHT Jack Savoretti 106200
9 10 9 3 TRAMPOLINE SHAED 114000
10 23 10 3 SWAN SONG Dua Lipa 73000

11 11 6 7 ONLY YOU Theophilus London featuring Tame Impala 220500
12 17 12 3 BETTER THAN ME Ten Tonnes 71000
13 13 13 4 VOTE FOR ME The Specials 93150
14 8 4 7 LOST CONTROL Alan Walker & Sorana 313500
15 9 5 6 WICKED GAMES RAIGN 228100
16 51 16 2 ME & U Tommy Trash featuring Anna Lunoe 36750
17 20 17 3 GIVE YOU UP Dido 53100
18 15 15 6 BARCELONA Andy Burrows & Matt Haig 131000
19 NEW 19 1 WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE RICH? Pet Shop Boys 21000
20 73 20 2 GOT TO KEEP ON The Chemical Brothers 25400

21 12 5 7 BOUNCE Albin Lee Meldau 270250
22 16 16 7 LOVELY Billie Eilish & Khalid 115600
23 19 19 5 HOPE IS A DANGEROUS THING Lana Del Ray 97850
24 14 14 5 GIANT Calvin Harris & Rag’n’Bone Man 102550
25 26 25 5 WITHOUT ME Halsey 54550
26 21 1 10 GOODBYE TO LOVE Carpenters & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 1050250
27 30 27 7 HOLA (I SAY) Marco Mengoni featuring Tom Walker 94300
28 28 28 4 SUCH A REMARKABLE DAY Charlotte Gainsbourg 59300
29 NEW 29 1 GIVE STUPIDITY A CHANCE Pet Shop Boys 18200
30 32 30 5 DANCING WITH A STRANGER Sam Smith & Normani 76100

31 36 31 3 CRY TO ME Solomon Burke 40500
32 22 1 17 DIAMOND HEART Alan Walker & Sophia Somajo 982800
33 25 20 7 WHEN THE PARTY’S OVER Billie Eilish 123750
34 24 10 6 (UNDERNEATH THE) LOVELY LONDON SKY Lin-Manuel Miranda 138700
35 71 35 2 FARAWAY LOOK Yola 24300
36 39 36 5 HELLO MY LOVE Westlife 75350
37 40 37 5 LONGSHOT Catfish & The Bottlemen 58200
38 56 38 2 BONES Galantis featuring OneRepublic 27800
39 27 6 10 E-LO Los Unidades (Coldplay) & Pharrell Williams featuring Jozzy 295150
40 62 40 2 ALL MY FRIENDS The Revivalists 24400

41 29 29 7 WE APPRECIATE POWER Grimes featuring HANA 94150
42 67 42 2 WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? Ruelle 20350
43 37 6 14 THANK YOU, NEXT Ariana Grande 467400
44 35 35 6 PLAY Jax Jones & Years & Years 73100
45 33 7 13 BREATHE Camelphat & Cristoph featuring Jem Cooke 296250
46 34 1 15 SHADOWS Black Atlass 798850
47 38 29 7 LOVE HAS ALL BEEN DONE BEFORE Jade Bird 99600
48 48 48 2 IDEA The O’My’s featuring Chance The Rapper 24600
49 43 43 6 LONELY NIGHTS (ANGEL FACE) Captain & Tennille 66900
50 46 46 4 DANCE MUSIC Bananarama 41350

51 55 51 3 SLAVE TO THE RHYTHM Trevor Horn featuring The Sarm Orchestra & Rumer 29150
52 31 9 6 I’LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN Tom Jones 138900
53 42 20 6 NO PLACE Backstreet Boys 95050
54 54 54 4 IN DREAMS Roy Orbison 35700
55 45 3 11 SURVIVE Don Diablo featuring Emeli Sande & Gucci Mane 481400
56 44 7 15 BRAZILIAN SOUL The Knocks featuring Sofi Tukker 457600
57 47 1 12 TRUE LOVE WAYS Buddy Holly & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 630650
58 58 58 3 SEPTEMBER Earth, Wind & Fire 25800
59 75 59 2 TOKYO White Lies 15100
60 64 60 2 FAVOURITE THING Fleur East 17100

61 49 49 4 MY LOVE GOES ON James Morrison featuring Joss Stone 37050
62 60 1 34 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 2045500
63 50 30 7 SIXTEEN Thomas Rhett 80850
64 65 64 4 PARTY FOR ONE Carly Rae Jepsen 25100
65 57 15 12 YOU’RE GONNA MISS ME Connie Francis 215250
66 66 66 4 LAND OF THE FREE The Killers 25200
67 68 67 5 DON’T THROW YOUR LOVE AWAY The Searchers 30200
68 NEW 68 1 ON SOCIAL MEDIA Pet Shop Boys 6400
69 59 9 12 RISE Raaginder 241050
70 72 70 3 A NEW ENGLAND Kirsty MacColl 17200

71 NEW 71 1 THE FORGOTTEN CHILD Pet Shop Boys 5800
72 63 1 14 DRIVE (SYMPHONIC VERSION) The Cars 818800
73 NEW 73 1 HANDMADE HEAVEN MARINA 5400
74 52 24 11 DREAM ON Aerosmith 141200
75 53 5 12 EVERLASTING LOVE The Love Affair 254550

DROP OUTS
41 31 5 REFLECTIONS OF MY LIFE Marmalade 80250
61 32 6 MAY LOVE TRAVEL WITH YOU Paul Weller 79650
69 50 5 I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO LIKE ME Robbie Williams 41100
70 39 6 COO COO COO Santigold 70550
74 18 6 EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD Trevor Horn featuring The Sarm Orchestra & Robbie Williams 90450

 

 

3rd February 2019

It’s a first week on top for Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus after a 10-week wait: it’s Mark Ronson’s second chart-topper, 2014 with Bruno Mars his last one, and MIley Cyrus’ first. Pet Shop Boys meanwhile add to their mighty long list of top 5’s with a great track off Behaviour. Big climbs for Ten Tonnes, Dido, Dua Lipa & Solomon Burke. New entries from OneRepublic and Galantis adding to their chart tallies, The O’My’s return with the same song they got into the top 3 last year, The Revivalists get a second chart entry, ditto Fleur East, and The Chemical Brothers extend their chart entries another year, to 24 years.

1 2 1 10 NOTHING BREAKS LIKE A HEART Mark Ronson featuring Miley Cyrus 876050
2 1 1 4 JEALOUSY (ALBUM VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 540000
3 3 1 11 THIS FEELING Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini 716000
4 12 4 4 MY OCTOBER SYMPHONY Pet Shop Boys 140900
5 8 5 6 SERMON Mercury Rev featuring Margo Price 225100
6 13 6 2 JUICE Lizzo 87000
7 10 7 3 STARTED OUT Georgia 102200
8 4 4 6 LOST CONTROL Alan Walker & Sorana 284500
9 5 5 5 WICKED GAMES RAIGN 201100
10 15 10 2 TRAMPOLINE SHAED 69000

11 6 6 6 ONLY YOU Theophilus London featuring Tame Impala 183500
12 7 5 6 BOUNCE Albin Lee Meldau 250500
13 25 13 3 VOTE FOR ME The Specials 61150
14 23 14 4 GIANT Calvin Harris & Rag’n’Bone Man 83550
15 18 15 5 BARCELONA Andy Burrows & Matt Haig 109000
16 24 16 6 LOVELY Billie Eilish & Khalid 96100
17 45 17 2 BETTER THAN ME Ten Tonnes 36000
18 26 18 3 CANDLELIGHT Jack Savoretti 58200
19 19 19 4 HOPE IS A DANGEROUS THING Lana Del Ray 78600
20 59 20 2 GIVE YOU UP Dido 30100

21 11 1 9 GOODBYE TO LOVE Carpenters & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 1031750
22 14 1 16 DIAMOND HEART Alan Walker & Sophia Somajo 965000
23 51 23 2 SWAN SONG Dua Lipa 31000
24 16 10 5 (UNDERNEATH THE) LOVELY LONDON SKY Lin-Manuel Miranda 121100
25 20 20 6 WHEN THE PARTY’S OVER Billie Eilish 106050
26 37 26 4 WITHOUT ME Halsey 54550
27 17 6 9 E-LO Los Unidades (Coldplay) & Pharrell Williams featuring Jozzy 278050
28 39 28 3 SUCH A REMARKABLE DAY Charlotte Gainsbourg 41000
29 33 29 6 WE APPRECIATE POWER Grimes featuring HANA 80150
30 30 30 6 HOLA (I SAY) Marco Mengoni featuring Tom Walker 75900

31 9 9 5 I’LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN Tom Jones 127400
32 36 32 4 DANCING WITH A STRANGER Sam Smith & Normani 58100
33 21 7 12 BREATHE Camelphat & Cristoph featuring Jem Cooke 283250
34 22 1 14 SHADOWS Black Atlass 786100
35 38 35 5 PLAY Jax Jones & Years & Years 59850
36 74 36 2 CRY TO ME Solomon Burke 22600
37 32 6 13 THANK YOU, NEXT Ariana Grande 453900
38 29 29 6 LOVE HAS ALL BEEN DONE BEFORE Jade Bird 87100
39 40 39 4 HELLO MY LOVE Westlife 57950
40 58 40 4 LONGSHOT Catfish & The Bottlemen 40900

41 31 31 5 REFLECTIONS OF MY LIFE Marmalade 80250
42 28 20 5 NO PLACE Backstreet Boys 83800
43 49 43 5 LONELY NIGHTS (ANGEL FACE) Captain & Tennille 54800
44 35 7 14 BRAZILIAN SOUL The Knocks featuring Sofi Tukker 447000
45 27 3 10 SURVIVE Don Diablo featuring Emeli Sande & Gucci Mane 470600
46 55 46 3 DANCE MUSIC Bananarama 29350
47 41 1 11 TRUE LOVE WAYS Buddy Holly & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 620250
48 NEW 48 1 IDEA The O’My’s featuring Chance The Rapper 12300
49 53 49 3 MY LOVE GOES ON James Morrison featuring Joss Stone 29550
50 42 30 6 SIXTEEN Thomas Rhett 73650

51 NEW 51 1 ME & U Tommy Trash featuring Anna Lunoe 11750
52 34 24 10 DREAM ON Aerosmith 136000
53 43 5 11 EVERLASTING LOVE The Love Affair 249550
54 64 54 3 IN DREAMS Roy Orbison 24700
55 67 55 2 SLAVE TO THE RHYTHM Trevor Horn featuring The Sarm Orchestra & Rumer 17400
56 NEW 56 1 BONES Galantis featuring OneRepublic 10600
57 47 15 11 YOU’RE GONNA MISS ME Connie Francis 208250
58 73 58 2 SEPTEMBER Earth, Wind & Fire 15600
59 54 9 11 RISE Raaginder 234850
60 60 1 33 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 2038100

61 46 32 6 MAY LOVE TRAVEL WITH YOU Paul Weller 79650
62 NEW 62 1 ALL MY FRIENDS The Revivalists 7400
63 52 1 13 DRIVE (SYMPHONIC VERSION) The Cars 813200
64 NEW 64 1 FAVOURITE THING Fleur East 7100
65 70 65 3 PARTY FOR ONE Carly Rae Jepsen 18000
66 68 66 3 LAND OF THE FREE The Killers 18400
67 NEW 67 1 WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? Ruelle 6600
68 69 68 4 DON’T THROW YOUR LOVE AWAY The Searchers 23600
69 50 50 5 I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO LIKE ME Robbie Williams 41100
70 48 39 6 COO COO COO Santigold 70550

71 NEW 71 1 FARAWAY LOOK Yola 5800
72 72 72 2 A NEW ENGLAND Kirsty MacColl 11200
73 NEW 73 1 GOT TO KEEP ON The Chemical Brothers 5400
74 44 18 6 EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD Trevor Horn featuring The Sarm Orchestra & Robbie Williams 90450
75 NEW 75 1 TOKYO White Lies 5000

DROP OUTS
56 56 5 NORMAL BOY Boyzone 40000
57 32 11 SWEET BUT PSYCHO Ava Max 122200
61 4 15 STARFISH Rhys featuring FELIX SANDMAN 503000
62 3 12 ARREST THE PRESIDENT Ice Cube 361500
63 63 4 EVERLASTING Take That 27200
65 65 3 LOST IN THE FIRE Gesaffelstein & The Weeknd 19200
66 19 9 FAVELA Ina Wroldsen & Alok 135150
71 13 13 BABY Clean Bandit featuring Marina & The Diamonds & Luis Fonzi 235000
75 75 1 SMOOTH Santana featuring Rob Thomas 5000

 

 

27th January 2019

It’s 2 weeks on top for Pet Shop Boys great 1992 single Jealousy, presiding over a shuffling top 10, with Mark Ronson yet again being denied the top spot due to oldies. Tom Jones The Voice-pushed itunes charting oldie is peaking at 9 for thee second time this century – it last did it in 2003, and charted again in 2011 – had I been charting in 1967 it would have gone top 10 then too, and again in 1969 when it became a US hit (had I been aware of it). Georgia rockets to 10 from 58, one I’d missed late last year, followed closely by the highest new entries from Lizzo, and SHAED, the former on Radio 1 & 2 playlists, the latter an Apple Music advert.

Big climbs for The Specials back in the top 30 for at least the 10th time, or 20th counting Fun Boy Three and solo projects, Halsey finally cracks the 40 with her current smash, and Charlotte Gainsbourg does it on her second chart feature, a mere 44 years since her mum & dad were dropping having topped my chart over the new year 1974/75 with a very naughty banned record that I bought. Dua Lipa’s back, so many hits so little time for a breather in between, and Dido returns for the first time in years, extending her run to 19 years solo. Both Dua and Dido have topped my charts previously. Trevor Horn does a mellow version of his own production for Grace Jones – this time with Rumer – and at the bottom end, 4 tracks boosted by TV adverts, singing comps and stuff, all in the itunes charts. Only Solomon Burke has never charted before (a 1962 oldie featured in Dirty Dancing) and only Smooth has topped my charts before.

1 1 1 3 JEALOUSY (ALBUM VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 425000
2 3 2 9 NOTHING BREAKS LIKE A HEART Mark Ronson featuring Miley Cyrus 706050
3 2 1 10 THIS FEELING Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini 631000
4 6 4 5 LOST CONTROL Alan Walker & Sorana 236500
5 7 5 4 WICKED GAMES RAIGN 156100
6 8 6 5 ONLY YOU Theophilus London featuring Tame Impala 146500
7 5 5 5 BOUNCE Albin Lee Meldau 215500
8 9 8 5 SERMON Mercury Rev featuring Margo Price 165100
9 15 9 4 I’LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN Tom Jones 109500
10 58 10 2 STARTED OUT Georgia 52200

11 4 1 8 GOODBYE TO LOVE Carpenters & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 1012000
12 17 12 3 MY OCTOBER SYMPHONY Pet Shop Boys 75900
13 NEW 13 1 JUICE Lizzo 32000
14 11 1 15 DIAMOND HEART Alan Walker & Sophia Somajo 945500
15 NEW 15 1 TRAMPOLINE SHAED 27000
16 10 10 4 (UNDERNEATH THE) LOVELY LONDON SKY Lin-Manuel Miranda 102100
17 12 6 8 E-LO Los Unidades (Coldplay) & Pharrell Williams featuring Jozzy 259650
18 19 18 4 BARCELONA Andy Burrows & Matt Haig 82000
19 27 19 3 HOPE IS A DANGEROUS THING Lana Del Ray 57600
20 26 20 5 WHEN THE PARTY’S OVER Billie Eilish 87300

21 14 7 11 BREATHE Camelphat & Cristoph featuring Jem Cooke 265550
22 16 1 13 SHADOWS Black Atlass 768500
23 28 23 3 GIANT Calvin Harris & Rag’n’Bone Man 54550
24 29 24 5 LOVELY Billie Eilish & Khalid 71100
25 57 25 2 VOTE FOR ME The Specials 29150
26 33 26 2 CANDLELIGHT Jack Savoretti 36200
27 13 3 9 SURVIVE Don Diablo featuring Emeli Sande & Gucci Mane 457600
28 20 20 4 NO PLACE Backstreet Boys 70050
29 36 29 5 LOVE HAS ALL BEEN DONE BEFORE Jade Bird 69900
30 35 30 5 HOLA (I SAY) Marco Mengoni featuring Tom Walker 57900

31 31 31 4 REFLECTIONS OF MY LIFE Marmalade 66250
32 22 6 12 THANK YOU, NEXT Ariana Grande 436600
33 40 33 5 WE APPRECIATE POWER Grimes featuring HANA 61950
34 24 24 9 DREAM ON Aerosmith 124500
35 23 7 13 BRAZILIAN SOUL The Knocks featuring Sofi Tukker 433750
36 37 36 3 DANCING WITH A STRANGER Sam Smith & Normani 40300
37 53 37 3 WITHOUT ME Halsey 36050
38 46 38 4 PLAY Jax Jones & Years & Years 42350
39 72 39 2 SUCH A REMARKABLE DAY Charlotte Gainsbourg 22700
40 44 40 3 HELLO MY LOVE Westlife 40850

41 21 1 10 TRUE LOVE WAYS Buddy Holly & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 607750
42 30 30 5 SIXTEEN Thomas Rhett 61650
43 18 5 10 EVERLASTING LOVE The Love Affair 238300
44 25 18 5 EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD Trevor Horn featuring The Sarm Orchestra & Robbie Williams 85250
45 NEW 45 1 BETTER THAN ME Ten Tonnes 13000
46 32 32 5 MAY LOVE TRAVEL WITH YOU Paul Weller 72150
47 34 15 10 YOU’RE GONNA MISS ME Connie Francis 197850
48 39 39 5 COO COO COO Santigold 64550
49 52 49 4 LONELY NIGHTS (ANGEL FACE) Captain & Tennille 41300
50 55 50 4 I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO LIKE ME Robbie Williams 34900

51 NEW 51 1 SWAN SONG Dua Lipa 11750
52 41 1 12 DRIVE (SYMPHONIC VERSION) The Cars 806000
53 69 53 2 MY LOVE GOES ON James Morrison featuring Joss Stone 17450
54 43 9 10 RISE Raaginder 224750
55 71 55 2 DANCE MUSIC Bananarama 16600
56 56 56 5 NORMAL BOY Boyzone 40000
57 38 32 11 SWEET BUT PSYCHO Ava Max 122200
58 64 58 3 LONGSHOT Catfish & The Bottlemen 23900
59 NEW 59 1 GIVE YOU UP Dido 10100
60 60 1 32 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 2028100

61 47 4 15 STARFISH Rhys featuring FELIX SANDMAN 503000
62 54 3 12 ARREST THE PRESIDENT Ice Cube 361500
63 65 63 4 EVERLASTING Take That 27200
64 67 64 2 IN DREAMS Roy Orbison 13700
65 68 65 3 LOST IN THE FIRE Gesaffelstein & The Weeknd 19200
66 45 19 9 FAVELA Ina Wroldsen & Alok 135150
67 NEW 67 1 SLAVE TO THE RHYTHM Trevor Horn featuring The Sarm Orchestra & Rumer 6600
68 74 68 2 LAND OF THE FREE The Killers 11600
69 70 69 3 DON’T THROW YOUR LOVE AWAY The Searchers 17200
70 75 70 2 PARTY FOR ONE Carly Rae Jepsen 11000

71 48 13 13 BABY Clean Bandit featuring Marina & The Diamonds & Luis Fonzi 235000
72 NEW 72 1 A NEW ENGLAND Kirsty MacColl 5600
73 NEW 73 1 SEPTEMBER Earth, Wind & Fire 5400
74 NEW 74 1 CRY TO ME Solomon Burke 5200
75 NEW 75 1 SMOOTH Santana featuring Rob Thomas 5000

DROP OUTS

42 7 7 DOES THE HOMOSAPIEN KNOW Abba vs Pete Shelley 227750
49 28 10 OOH LA LA The Faces 118600
50 50 3 TRIP A LITTLE LIGHT FANTASTIC Lin-Manuel Miranda, Emily Blunt, Tarik Frimpong, Pixie Davies, Joel Dawson, Nathaneal Saleh & Leeries 28650
51 8 9 IT’S FOR YOU Cilla Black with The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra 237750
59 33 7 BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG Morrissey 86900
61 61 3 HAPPY NOW Kygo featuring Sandro Cavazza 19300
62 37 9 INFINITY (MOVEMENT 6) Jean-Michel Jarre 114500
63 63 4 JAVELIN (CALLING OUT YOUR NAME) Adelphi Music Factory 27600
66 4 15 JOY. for KING & COUNTRY 418450
73 25 13 BURN Super8 & Tab featuring Hero Baldwin 184200

 

 

20th January 2019

It’s a first week on top for 1991 top 10 track Jealousy, a classic orchestral ballad that grows, and grows with time, and with prestige, for me. With such a vast quality back catalogue, it’s no surprise that reissues give me a chance to let under-appreciated gems from Pet Shop Boys do better, and this one deserved better at the time. In terms of decades, all-time faves, it’s Beatles for the 60’s, Abba for the 70’s, Pet Shop Boys for the 80’s, 90’s, 00’s and most likely the 10’s too, though it’s a bit early to judge yet, but I hear new music is on the way once the 2-year-tour is done (I saw it 3 times).

Tame Impala get a 4th top 10 and 6th top 20, Mercury Rev a 3rd top 10 18 years since the last one, Wicked games topped my chart in 1990 for Chris Issak and returns for REIGN to the top 10, and Mary Poppins pops in to my top 10. Superfragilisticexpialidocious! Highest new entry is Jack Savoretti, his 8th chart feature, and it’s a very welcome & unlikely return to The Specials (well, the Fun Boy Two plus a Special, really) for the first time in 34 years with new material, though Terry Hall chartered in the interim with Colourfield and topped my charts with The Lightning Seeds’ Sense in 1992, as well as Fun Boy Three’s Our Lips Are Sealed in 1983 and Special’s Ghost Town in 1981. Fun Boy Three had 2 hits with Bananarama, and kick-started their career, so it’s bizarre they also return this week after reuniting for a tour – and then just the 2 long-serving Keren and Sarah doing the new album yet again, sadly. The ‘Nanas have been away for 7 years, though they grabbed 7 21st century chart entries to add to their oodles in the 80’s and 90’s.

James Morrison has been MIA from my charts since 2011, but gets his 7th entry 8 years on, along with Joss Stone getting an 11th (ignoring charity combos) and her first since 2012. James has 13 years of charting, Joss 15 years and she’s barely over 30! Charlotte Gainsbourg gets a second chart entry – which is one more than her chart-topping parents ever managed! Je T’Aime! Carly Rae returns for a 6th on the list, and The Killers keep that run going with a political statement 15 years on from debut, and 14 years on from topping my chart. Brandon Flowers has topped more times solo, though, and they have a very long run of hits over a decade and a half.

1 3 1 2 JEALOUSY (ALBUM VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 255000
2 1 1 9 THIS FEELING Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini 546000
3 4 2 8 NOTHING BREAKS LIKE A HEART Mark Ronson featuring Miley Cyrus 591050
4 2 1 7 GOODBYE TO LOVE Carpenters & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 975000
5 8 5 4 BOUNCE Albin Lee Meldau 165500
6 6 6 4 LOST CONTROL Alan Walker & Sorana 171500
7 14 7 3 WICKED GAMES RAIGN 96100
8 27 8 4 ONLY YOU Theophilus London featuring Tame Impala 91500
9 12 9 4 SERMON Mercury Rev featuring Margo Price 117100
10 16 10 3 (UNDERNEATH THE) LOVELY LONDON SKY Lin-Manuel Miranda 77100

11 7 1 14 DIAMOND HEART Alan Walker & Sophia Somajo 916500
12 9 6 7 E-LO Los Unidades (Coldplay) & Pharrell Williams featuring Jozzy 236650
13 10 3 8 SURVIVE Don Diablo featuring Emeli Sande & Gucci Mane 439200
14 11 7 10 BREATHE Camelphat & Cristoph featuring Jem Cooke 245800
15 20 15 3 I’LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN Tom Jones 64500
16 15 1 12 SHADOWS Black Atlass 749000
17 31 17 2 MY OCTOBER SYMPHONY Pet Shop Boys 40900
18 5 5 9 EVERLASTING LOVE The Love Affair 224800
19 21 19 3 BARCELONA Andy Burrows & Matt Haig 60000
20 23 20 3 NO PLACE Backstreet Boys 51750

21 13 1 9 TRUE LOVE WAYS Buddy Holly & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 593750
22 22 6 11 THANK YOU, NEXT Ariana Grande 418800
23 17 7 12 BRAZILIAN SOUL The Knocks featuring Sofi Tukker 416250
24 24 24 8 DREAM ON Aerosmith 106900
25 18 18 4 EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD Trevor Horn featuring The Sarm Orchestra & Robbie Williams 72000
26 26 26 4 WHEN THE PARTY’S OVER Billie Eilish 67300
27 29 27 2 HOPE IS A DANGEROUS THING Lana Del Ray 36600
28 40 28 2 GIANT Calvin Harris & Rag’n’Bone Man 35300
29 37 29 4 LOVELY Billie Eilish & Khalid 52100
30 39 30 4 SIXTEEN Thomas Rhett 47900

31 38 31 3 REFLECTIONS OF MY LIFE Marmalade 48350
32 36 32 4 MAY LOVE TRAVEL WITH YOU Paul Weller 59400
33 NEW 33 1 CANDLELIGHT Jack Savoretti 17700
34 30 15 9 YOU’RE GONNA MISS ME Connie Francis 185350
35 54 35 4 HOLA (I SAY) Marco Mengoni featuring Tom Walker 39900
36 50 36 4 LOVE HAS ALL BEEN DONE BEFORE Jade Bird 51700
37 72 37 2 DANCING WITH A STRANGER Sam Smith & Normani 22900
38 43 32 10 SWEET BUT PSYCHO Ava Max 111800
39 46 39 4 COO COO COO Santigold 52250
40 44 40 4 WE APPRECIATE POWER Grimes featuring HANA 44250

41 25 1 11 DRIVE (SYMPHONIC VERSION) The Cars 794500
42 19 7 7 DOES THE HOMOSAPIEN KNOW Abba vs Pete Shelley 227750
43 33 9 9 RISE Raaginder 213750
44 56 44 2 HELLO MY LOVE Westlife 23850
45 34 19 8 FAVELA Ina Wroldsen & Alok 128350
46 63 46 3 PLAY Jax Jones & Years & Years 25150
47 35 4 14 STARFISH Rhys featuring FELIX SANDMAN 495500
48 41 13 12 BABY Clean Bandit featuring Marina & The Diamonds & Luis Fonzi 229200
49 28 28 10 OOH LA LA The Faces 118600
50 53 50 3 TRIP A LITTLE LIGHT FANTASTIC Lin-Manuel Miranda, Emily Blunt, Tarik Frimpong, Pixie Davies, Joel Dawson, Nathaneal Saleh & Leeries 28650

51 32 8 9 IT’S FOR YOU Cilla Black with The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra 237750
52 58 52 3 LONELY NIGHTS (ANGEL FACE) Captain & Tennille 29200
53 61 53 2 WITHOUT ME Halsey 18750
54 47 3 11 ARREST THE PRESIDENT Ice Cube 354100
55 64 55 3 I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO LIKE ME Robbie Williams 22900
56 62 56 4 NORMAL BOY Boyzone 29400
57 NEW 57 1 VOTE FOR ME The Specials 10400
58 NEW 58 1 STARTED OUT Georgia 10200
59 45 33 7 BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG Morrissey 86900
60 59 1 31 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 2018100

61 69 61 3 HAPPY NOW Kygo featuring Sandro Cavazza 19300
62 48 37 9 INFINITY (MOVEMENT 6) Jean-Michel Jarre 114500
63 66 63 4 JAVELIN (CALLING OUT YOUR NAME) Adelphi Music Factory 27600
64 67 64 2 LONGSHOT Catfish & The Bottlemen 13700
65 65 65 3 EVERLASTING Take That 20000
66 55 4 15 JOY. for KING & COUNTRY 418450
67 NEW 67 1 IN DREAMS Roy Orbison 6600
68 71 68 2 LOST IN THE FIRE Gesaffelstein & The Weeknd 12200
69 NEW 69 1 MY LOVE GOES ON James Morrison featuring Joss Stone 6200
70 75 70 2 DON’T THROW YOUR LOVE AWAY The Searchers 11000

71 NEW 71 1 DANCE MUSIC Bananarama 5800
72 NEW 72 1 SUCH A REMARKABLE DAY Charlotte Gainsbourg 5600
73 57 25 13 BURN Super8 & Tab featuring Hero Baldwin 184200
74 NEW 74 1 LAND OF THE FREE The Killers 5200
75 NEW 75 1 PARTY FOR ONE Carly Rae Jepsen 5000

DROP OUTS
42 4 7 SUNSHINE ON LEITH The Proclaimers 233750
49 18 5 WONDERFUL CHRISTMASTIME The Monkees 83150
51 10 9 KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE The Fizz 222750
52 5 9 DON’T START WITHOUT ME The Fizz 245100
60 28 6 TIMBUKTU Cassper Nyovest & Los Unidades (Coldplay) featuring Stormzy & Jess Kent 91900
68 30 10 HEY DJ CNCO, Meghan Trainor & Sean Paul 138350
70 33 7 PUNK RIGHT NOW HYO & 3LAU 79550
73 8 13 HEAVEN LET ME IN Friendly Fires 282850
74 1 16 TOOGOODTOBETRUE Gallant featuring Sufjan Stevens & Rebecca Sugar 694750

 

 

13th January 2019

It’s a first week on top, and a first chart-topper for Chainsmokers, and also for Kelsea Ballerini. Having fallen short with all of their previous huge hits, they do with a track that is mysteriously not doing that well – I guess that Chainsmokers sound has been passed over now in favour of poppier stuff, which is a shame, cos it’s very good. Pet Shop Boys’ Jealousy (and also My October Symphony) charted last year in the UK albums on the revamp of Behaviour, and as neither version has previously charted, they do now that I’ve finally played the deluxe CD I bought then. This means Jealousy goes top 10 for the second time, the single orchestral version having previously done it in 1991, but never as high as the new peak of 3, one of their very first songs written in the early 80’s, it still sounds fab in concert.

The Love Affair never charted in 1968 for me – it was a few months too early for my charting starting – but it would very easily have been top 5, so better late than never! The new version of Wicked Games leaps into the 20, though she’s going to have to go some to top Chris Isaak’s 1990 chart-topper, and the Mary Poppins returns film intro shoots up to 16 cos it’s just fab. Tom Jones goes top 20 with that song for the 2nd time, Backstreet Boys get their biggest chart action since 2001 as No Place shoots into the 30, and highest new track comes from Lana Del Ray going all moody and interesting, just how I like her, at 29.

Calvin Harris & Rag’n’Bone Man do a collab that sounds good at 40, Westlife join the 90’s boybands clogging up my charts in a way I could never have predicted 20 years ago, with their first entry in 8 years and highest charting in a decade – not that they actually ever had that many chart high: 4 top 10’s and 2 other top 20’s is the current total, pretty much all the non-ballads. Halsey has finally entered my charts after slipping by me, despite being a huge worldwide hit, it has grown on me as I hear it here and there. Sam Smith is back, ditto The Weeknd, and sneaking in it’s The Seachers, a big band of the 60’s who just kept going and touring for 55 years while not ever troubling the singles chart beyond the 60’s, and only the occasional hits album package to keep them being noticed. Now they have finally called it a day and had anpther chart album to say goodvbye with – hits of course. When I was quite literally 6 years old and mad on pop chart hits and popstars, the record of theirs I was maddest on was Don’t Throw Your Love Away, a tuneful cover of an American Orlons B side. I loved, and still love, a good melody, as proven by spine-tingling swooning at some of Lloyd-Webber’s best in Phantom Of The Opera which I saw in London on saturday.

1 3 1 8 THIS FEELING Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini 431000
2 1 1 6 GOODBYE TO LOVE Carpenters & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 910000
3 NEW 3 1 JEALOUSY (ALBUM VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 85000
4 2 2 7 NOTHING BREAKS LIKE A HEART Mark Ronson featuring Miley Cyrus 506050
5 14 5 8 EVERLASTING LOVE The Love Affair 202800
6 8 6 3 LOST CONTROL Alan Walker & Sorana 116500
7 5 1 13 DIAMOND HEART Alan Walker & Sophia Somajo 879500
8 9 8 3 BOUNCE Albin Lee Meldau 105500
9 6 6 6 E-LO Los Unidades (Coldplay) & Pharrell Williams featuring Jozzy 201650
10 4 3 7 SURVIVE Don Diablo featuring Emeli Sande & Gucci Mane 407200

11 7 7 9 BREATHE Camelphat & Cristoph featuring Jem Cooke 216800
12 16 12 3 SERMON Mercury Rev featuring Margo Price 72100
13 10 1 8 TRUE LOVE WAYS Buddy Holly & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 574000
14 39 14 2 WICKED GAMES RAIGN 46100
15 12 1 11 SHADOWS Black Atlass 724000
16 59 16 2 (UNDERNEATH THE) LOVELY LONDON SKY Lin-Manuel Miranda 35100
17 13 7 11 BRAZILIAN SOUL The Knocks featuring Sofi Tukker 397000
18 20 18 3 EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD Trevor Horn featuring The Sarm Orchestra & Robbie Williams 53250
19 11 7 6 DOES THE HOMOSAPIEN KNOW Abba vs Pete Shelley 214000
20 35 20 2 I’LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN Tom Jones 37500

21 23 21 2 BARCELONA Andy Burrows & Matt Haig 39000
22 17 6 10 THANK YOU, NEXT Ariana Grande 399300
23 47 23 2 NO PLACE Backstreet Boys 31750
24 27 24 7 DREAM ON Aerosmith 87900
25 21 1 10 DRIVE (SYMPHONIC VERSION) The Cars 780500
26 37 26 3 WHEN THE PARTY’S OVER Billie Eilish 48800
27 34 27 3 ONLY YOU Theophilus London featuring Tame Impala 43500
28 31 28 9 OOH LA LA The Faces 106500
29 NEW 29 1 HOPE IS A DANGEROUS THING Lana Del Ray 18200
30 30 15 8 YOU’RE GONNA MISS ME Connie Francis 167750

31 NEW 31 1 MY OCTOBER SYMPHONY Pet Shop Boys 17900
32 29 8 8 IT’S FOR YOU Cilla Black with The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra 226000
33 28 9 8 RISE Raaginder 200250
34 19 19 7 FAVELA Ina Wroldsen & Alok 115350
35 22 4 13 STARFISH Rhys featuring FELIX SANDMAN 483000
36 40 36 3 MAY LOVE TRAVEL WITH YOU Paul Weller 41600
37 60 37 3 LOVELY Billie Eilish & Khalid 33900
38 44 38 2 REFLECTIONS OF MY LIFE Marmalade 30450
39 62 39 3 SIXTEEN Thomas Rhett 29900
40 NEW 40 1 GIANT Calvin Harris & Rag’n’Bone Man 17000

41 24 13 11 BABY Clean Bandit featuring Marina & The Diamonds & Luis Fonzi 216900
42 15 4 7 SUNSHINE ON LEITH The Proclaimers 233750
43 32 32 9 SWEET BUT PSYCHO Ava Max 94600
44 65 44 3 WE APPRECIATE POWER Grimes featuring HANA 27250
45 33 33 6 BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG Morrissey 76800
46 50 46 3 COO COO COO Santigold 35150
47 38 3 10 ARREST THE PRESIDENT Ice Cube 343100
48 49 37 8 INFINITY (MOVEMENT 6) Jean-Michel Jarre 107100
49 18 18 5 WONDERFUL CHRISTMASTIME The Monkees 83150
50 52 50 3 LOVE HAS ALL BEEN DONE BEFORE Jade Bird 34300

51 26 10 9 KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE The Fizz 222750
52 25 5 9 DON’T START WITHOUT ME The Fizz 245100
53 73 53 2 TRIP A LITTLE LIGHT FANTASTIC Lin-Manuel Miranda, Emily Blunt, Tarik Frimpong, Pixie Davies, Joel Dawson, Nathaneal Saleh & Leeries 16650
54 71 54 3 HOLA (I SAY) Marco Mengoni featuring Tom Walker 22400
55 42 4 14 JOY. for KING & COUNTRY 411650
56 NEW 56 1 HELLO MY LOVE Westlife 10600
57 41 25 12 BURN Super8 & Tab featuring Hero Baldwin 178800
58 61 58 2 LONELY NIGHTS (ANGEL FACE) Captain & Tennille 17700
59 57 1 30 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 2008100
60 36 28 6 TIMBUKTU Cassper Nyovest & Los Unidades (Coldplay) featuring Stormzy & Jess Kent 91900

61 NEW 61 1 WITHOUT ME Halsey 7500
62 68 62 3 NORMAL BOY Boyzone 18800
63 74 63 2 PLAY Jax Jones & Years & Years 12400
64 75 64 2 I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO LIKE ME Robbie Williams 12100
65 70 65 2 EVERLASTING Take That 13000
66 66 66 3 JAVELIN (CALLING OUT YOUR NAME) Adelphi Music Factory 20400
67 NEW 67 1 LONGSHOT Catfish & The Bottlemen 6600
68 43 30 10 HEY DJ CNCO, Meghan Trainor & Sean Paul 138350
69 72 69 2 HAPPY NOW Kygo featuring Sandro Cavazza 11800
70 46 33 7 PUNK RIGHT NOW HYO & 3LAU 79550

71 NEW 71 1 LOST IN THE FIRE Gesaffelstein & The Weeknd 5800
72 NEW 72 1 DANCING WITH A STRANGER Sam Smith & Normani 5600
73 53 8 13 HEAVEN LET ME IN Friendly Fires 282850
74 58 1 16 TOOGOODTOBETRUE Gallant featuring Sufjan Stevens & Rebecca Sugar 694750
75 NEW 75 1 DON’T THROW YOUR LOVE AWAY The Searchers 5000

DROP OUTS
45 26 9 LOVE OF MY LIFE Queen 133700
48 29 9 LONELY STAR Ariana and The Rose 122700
51 20 9 ALGORITHM Muse 149650
54 2 8 GOOD NIGHT The Beatles 352050
55 55 6 PAPER DREAMS Jamie N Commons 45900
56 56 6 SPEECHLESS Robin Schulz featuring Erika Sirola 47100
63 38 7 SEE THE DAY Dee C. Lee 90150
64 3 13 NEED YOU TONITE Mylo featuring Judie Tzuke 354900
67 2 16 NOTHING BURNS LIKE THE COLD Snoh Aalegra featuring Vince Staples 613900
69 12 10 FRENCH CLASS HalfNoise 211500

 

 

 

6th January 2019

It’s a 6th total week on top for the Carpenters, as the new year brings fresh music, fresh climbs, and oldies dropping, xmas songs exiting again. Camelphat get a 2nd top 10, Alan Walker joins himself in the top 10, his 4th, and Albin Lee Meldau his first. Mercury Rev get a 4th top 20, Monkees an umpteenth, depending on how EP’s count, and Robbie gets yet another top 20 as he also brings in a low-key lead track off his fansite only 3rd album. What with Take That, Boyzone, Backstreet Boys, it’s quite the 90’s boyband theme.

Andy Burrows is the highest new entry, he’s previously topped my chart twice, once with Razorlight, once with I Am Arrows, and gone top 10 solo a few times too. Tom Jones did a flawless off-the-cuff vocal performance on The Voice, with the son of Lonnie Donegan, writer of I’ll Never Fall In Love Again, Tom’s fab 1967 hit ballad – and has sold loads on itunes as a result. So an excuse to make my charts for the 3rd time then, as I loved it when I was 9 years old and I wasn’t quite charting at the time, or else it would have been 4th time round. Other oldies in: lead vocalist of Marmalade Dean Ford died this week, sadly, so Reflections Of My Life is also back, their best record of many minor gems, and also the Captain (Daryl Dragon) of Captain & Tennille has died, so Neil Sedaka’s 1976 song top 5 hit for them (in my charts and the USA, but not the UK) is back in.

A Chris Isaac moody cover is in for RAIGN, Backstreet Boys get a swift 2nd entry on their latest comeback, and Mary Poppins Returns with the 2 best songs from the new fab movie. It’s underperforming at the box office and charts, but I see a future children’s classic there.

1 1 1 5 GOODBYE TO LOVE Carpenters & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 795000
2 2 2 6 NOTHING BREAKS LIKE A HEART Mark Ronson featuring Miley Cyrus 441050
3 7 3 7 THIS FEELING Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini 261000
4 3 3 6 SURVIVE Don Diablo featuring Emeli Sande & Gucci Mane 365200
5 5 1 12 DIAMOND HEART Alan Walker & Sophia Somajo 829500
6 8 6 5 E-LO Los Unidades (Coldplay) & Pharrell Williams featuring Jozzy 156650
7 15 7 8 BREATHE Camelphat & Cristoph featuring Jem Cooke 179800
8 43 8 2 LOST CONTROL Alan Walker & Sorana 61500
9 47 9 2 BOUNCE Albin Lee Meldau 57500
10 6 1 7 TRUE LOVE WAYS Buddy Holly & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 542000

11 13 7 5 DOES THE HOMOSAPIEN KNOW Abba vs Pete Shelley 193000
12 9 1 10 SHADOWS Black Atlass 69700
13 11 7 10 BRAZILIAN SOUL The Knocks featuring Sofi Tukker 374000
14 16 14 7 EVERLASTING LOVE The Love Affair 142800
15 4 4 6 SUNSHINE ON LEITH The Proclaimers 220000
16 49 16 2 SERMON Mercury Rev featuring Margo Price 37100
17 10 6 9 THANK YOU, NEXT Ariana Grande 379800
18 23 18 4 WONDERFUL CHRISTMASTIME The Monkees 71050
19 20 19 6 FAVELA Ina Wroldsen & Alok 97750
20 53 20 2 EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD Trevor Horn featuring The Sarm Orchestra & Robbie Williams 31250

21 17 1 9 DRIVE (SYMPHONIC VERSION) The Cars 761750
22 12 4 12 STARFISH Rhys featuring FELIX SANDMAN 465500
23 NEW 23 1 BARCELONA Andy Burrows & Matt Haig 19250
24 24 13 10 BABY Clean Bandit featuring Marina & The Diamonds & Luis Fonzi 202900
25 14 5 8 DON’T START WITHOUT ME The Fizz 233600
26 19 10 8 KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE The Fizz 211000
27 34 27 6 DREAM ON Aerosmith 68900
28 22 9 7 RISE Raaginder 182550
29 18 8 7 IT’S FOR YOU Cilla Black with The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra 208200
30 21 15 7 YOU’RE GONNA MISS ME Connie Francis 149750

31 40 31 8 OOH LA LA The Faces 88200
32 32 32 8 SWEET BUT PSYCHO Ava Max 81100
33 35 33 5 BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG Morrissey 63800
34 61 34 2 ONLY YOU Theophilus London featuring Tame Impala 25100
35 NEW 35 1 I’LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN Tom Jones 17500
36 28 28 5 TIMBUKTU Cassper Nyovest & Los Unidades (Coldplay) featuring Stormzy & Jess Kent 81900
37 45 37 2 WHEN THE PARTY’S OVER Billie Eilish 30300
38 27 3 9 ARREST THE PRESIDENT Ice Cube 330600
39 NEW 39 1 WICKED GAMES RAIGN 17100
40 63 40 2 MAY LOVE TRAVEL WITH YOU Paul Weller 24200

41 25 25 11 BURN Super8 & Tab featuring Hero Baldwin 168400
42 31 4 13 JOY. for KING & COUNTRY 400850
43 30 30 9 HEY DJ CNCO, Meghan Trainor & Sean Paul 127950
44 NEW 44 1 REFLECTIONS OF MY LIFE Marmalade 13250
45 26 26 9 LOVE OF MY LIFE Queen 133700
46 33 33 6 PUNK RIGHT NOW HYO & 3LAU 73550
47 NEW 47 1 NO PLACE Backstreet Boys 12500
48 29 29 9 LONELY STAR Ariana and The Rose 122700
49 37 37 7 INFINITY (MOVEMENT 6) Jean-Michel Jarre 94800
50 57 50 2 COO COO COO Santigold 22400

51 36 20 9 ALGORITHM Muse 149650
52 55 52 2 LOVE HAS ALL BEEN DONE BEFORE Jade Bird 22300
53 41 8 12 HEAVEN LET ME IN Friendly Fires 277450
54 46 2 8 GOOD NIGHT The Beatles 352050
55 58 55 6 PAPER DREAMS Jamie N Commons 45900
56 59 56 6 SPEECHLESS Robin Schulz featuring Erika Sirola 47100
57 56 1 29 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 1998000
58 51 1 15 TOOGOODTOBETRUE Gallant featuring Sufjan Stevens & Rebecca Sugar 689550
59 NEW 59 1 (UNDERNEATH THE) LOVELY LONDON SKY Lin-Manuel Miranda 10100
60 67 60 2 LOVELY Billie Eilish & Khalid 16600

61 NEW 61 1 LONELY NIGHTS (ANGEL FACE) Captain & Tennille 7500
62 73 62 2 SIXTEEN Thomas Rhett 12800
63 38 38 7 SEE THE DAY Dee C. Lee 90150
64 42 3 13 NEED YOU TONITE Mylo featuring Judie Tzuke 354900
65 65 65 2 WE APPRECIATE POWER Grimes featuring HANA 14000
66 66 66 2 JAVELIN (CALLING OUT YOUR NAME) Adelphi Music Factory 13600
67 64 2 16 NOTHING BURNS LIKE THE COLD Snoh Aalegra featuring Vince Staples 613900
68 75 68 2 NORMAL BOY Boyzone 11400
69 48 12 10 FRENCH CLASS HalfNoise 211500
70 NEW 70 1 EVERLASTING Take That 6000

71 72 71 2 HOLA (I SAY) Marco Mengoni featuring Tom Walker 11400
72 NEW 72 1 HAPPY NOW Kygo featuring Sandro Cavazza 5600
73 NEW 73 1 TRIP A LITTLE LIGHT FANTASTIC Lin-Manuel Miranda, Emily Blunt, Tarik Frimpong, Pixie Davies, Joel Dawson, Nathaneal Saleh & Leeries 5400
74 NEW 74 1 PLAY Jax Jones & Years & Years 5200
75 NEW 75 1 I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO LIKE ME Robbie Williams 5000

DROP OUTS
39 22 4 DRIVING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS Chris Rea 66400
44 25 10 HOW LONG WILL THIS LAST? Blossoms 150850
50 18 4 EVERYBODY’S HAPPY NOWADAYS Buzzcocks 71650
52 52 4 LOVE YOU MORE Buzzcocks 40600
54 54 5 TERE NAAL NACHNA Badshah & Sunanda Sharma 44300
60 45 7 TINTS Anderson .Paak featuring Kendrick Lamar 74050
62 35 3 A SPACEMAN CAME TRAVELLING Chris De Burgh 31100
68 40 2 MARY’S BOY CHILD/OH MY LORD Boney M 23400
69 20 9 LOVE Boyzone 131350
70 46 7 HUFF + PUFF Just A Band 66750
71 53 6 HANDS UP Merk & Kremont featuring DNCE 52650
74 41 6 SAIL AWOLNATION 60100

My Sept-Dec 2018 Charts

29th December 2018

It’s Carpenters on top for a 5th total week (3rd for the 2018 revamp) as the UK singles chart looks a bit like my Christmas 1972 charts when the Carpenters also featured along with The Jackson 5 and John & Yoko, and a bit like xmas 1973 when Elton, Wizzard, Slade featured, and 1974 when Mud & John & Yoko featured, and 1975 when Queen, Greg Lake, John & Yoko featured and….so on and so on. My charts though are having a huge Xmas clearout sale in tribute to HMV, RIP, end of an era if there is no rescue, last shop standing from my youth that sold records. To herald the Mariah-Carey-free dominance of the world for another 10 months, there’s an inrush of fresh new music, hooray!

Coldplay and Pharrell add to their already long list of top 10’s, Coldplay more than Pharrell as they approach 2 decades of ’em, Ava Max finally breaks the 40, Morrissey takes a 1982 Pretenders song back into the 40 for a grand total of 35 years since This Charming Man broke into my top 10 (and still his best record), while The Faces have taken a mere 45 years to get Ooh La La top 40 (though to be fair to me, I only did a top 20 in 1973 and didn’t allow album tracks or anything that wasn’t UK top 30 to be listed).

Top newie is yet another Alan Walker track, off his new debut album, giving him 2 on the list, as has Billie Eilish debuting with 2 at once, how greedy! Both lovely though. Albin Lee Medau also debuts (who!?) apparently a Swedish artist keeping the Scandi-tracks strong along with Alan Walker, and Mercury Rev are back! It’s been 13 years since they last charted, 20 years since Goddess On A Hiway went top 10, and nearly 18 years since the gorgeous The Dark Is Rising topped my chart. They are back with a reinvention of the cult debut 1967 album by dark country act Bobbie Gentry, of Ode To Billie-Joe fame. Bobbie topped my chart in 1969 with the 4th single I ever bought, I’ll Never Fall In Love Again, she released another album in 1970, had duet success with huge fave of mine Glen Campbell – and that was that! Despite acclaim, awards, and success, she pretty much decided to retire from the music biz and has stuck with it, one of the huge losses to country music IMHO. 76 years old now, talk about going out on top in your 20’s! Well done Mercury Rev bringing her back, sort of.

Trevor Horn debuts at 53. Actually he debuted in 1979 as a Buggle, and hit in the 80’s as part of Yes, and had there been producer-artist labels in those days he would have featured alongside Frankie Goes To Hollywood, ABC, Dollar, Seal, Pet Shop Boys with his trademark synth-wall-of-sound epic symphonies. Technically, though it’s his solo debut, covering Tears For Fears thrice chart-topper, helped by an orchestra and…. Robbie Williams! So, 40 years for Trev and 27 years for Robbie, give or take as we are virtually in 2019 now. The Robster also worked with Pet Shop Boys, who can be expected to chart next week as I finally get around to playing the next PSB deluxe album that charted in the UK album charts a year ago or so, and cherry-pick the best previously-uncharted tracks.

Jade Bird debuts, young British singer who sounds pretty fab to me, veteran T.Rex producer Tony Visconti has been impressed with her, so that’s good enough for me! He knew a great pop single when he made one. Santigold is back, hooray, always interesting, and now over a decade since Les Artistes went top 10 for me. Tame Impala are back with Theophilus London – didn’t he used to be Lenny Henry? (Checks – no he’s Trinidad-American. I used to love learning about the Caribbean islands in geography when I was 10, we even had actual BBC TV shows in b&w during the lesson so our young supply teacher could have a sit-down, & Trinidad & Tobago was one of my faves). Lenny was a Theophilus P Wildebeest sex god.

Paul Weller makes it a 3rd lush track off his latest album, 41 years since his noisy Jam debut, Grimes debuts at last, Adelphi Music Factory bring some 90’s House anthem-stylee music in, Khalid and Tom walker both return as featurings, Boyzone get a second new track in 20-odd years on from debut, and Thomas Rhett gets a 6th entry since his 2015 fab Crash & Burn.

1 1 1 4 GOODBYE TO LOVE Carpenters & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 625000
2 2 2 5 NOTHING BREAKS LIKE A HEART Mark Ronson featuring Miley Cyrus 326050
3 3 3 5 SURVIVE Don Diablo featuring Emeli Sande & Gucci Mane 300200
4 8 4 5 SUNSHINE ON LEITH The Proclaimers 193000
5 4 1 11 DIAMOND HEART Alan Walker & Sophia Somajo 769500
6 6 1 6 TRUE LOVE WAYS Buddy Holly & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 500000
7 9 7 6 THIS FEELING Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini 176000
8 17 8 4 E-LO Los Unidades (Coldplay) & Pharrell Williams featuring Jozzy 101650
9 13 1 9 SHADOWS Black Atlass 662000
10 10 6 8 THANK YOU, NEXT Ariana Grande 356800

11 11 7 9 BRAZILIAN SOUL The Knocks featuring Sofi Tukker 342000
12 12 4 11 STARFISH Rhys featuring FELIX SANDMAN 446000
13 7 7 4 DOES THE HOMOSAPIEN KNOW Abba vs Pete Shelley 156000
14 5 5 7 DON’T START WITHOUT ME The Fizz 214850
15 18 15 7 BREATHE Camelphat & Cristoph featuring Jem Cooke 129800
16 19 16 6 EVERLASTING LOVE The Love Affair 113800
17 14 1 8 DRIVE (SYMPHONIC VERSION) The Cars 742000
18 16 8 6 IT’S FOR YOU Cilla Black with The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra 190000
19 15 10 7 KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE The Fizz 192500
20 23 20 5 FAVELA Ina Wroldsen & Alok 76750

21 20 15 6 YOU’RE GONNA MISS ME Connie Francis 131750
22 21 9 6 RISE Raaginder 164250
23 32 23 3 WONDERFUL CHRISTMASTIME The Monkees 49050
24 24 13 9 BABY Clean Bandit featuring Marina & The Diamonds & Luis Fonzi 183900
25 26 25 10 BURN Super8 & Tab featuring Hero Baldwin 154400
26 27 26 8 LOVE OF MY LIFE Queen 120700
27 25 3 8 ARREST THE PRESIDENT Ice Cube 313400
28 28 28 4 TIMBUKTU Cassper Nyovest & Los Unidades (Coldplay) featuring Stormzy & Jess Kent 64500
29 33 29 8 LONELY STAR Ariana and The Rose 110300
30 38 30 8 HEY DJ CNCO, Meghan Trainor & Sean Paul 114450

31 29 4 12 JOY. for KING & COUNTRY 387100
32 48 32 7 SWEET BUT PSYCHO Ava Max 63300
33 43 33 5 PUNK RIGHT NOW HYO & 3LAU 60800
34 37 34 5 DREAM ON Aerosmith 50500
35 50 35 4 BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG Morrissey 46100
36 30 20 8 ALGORITHM Muse 137900
37 39 37 6 INFINITY (MOVEMENT 6) Jean-Michel Jarre 82700
38 42 38 6 SEE THE DAY Dee C. Lee 82950
39 22 22 4 DRIVING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS Chris Rea 66400
40 49 40 7 OOH LA LA The Faces 70300

41 34 8 11 HEAVEN LET ME IN Friendly Fires 266200
42 36 3 12 NEED YOU TONITE Mylo featuring Judie Tzuke 347800
43 NEW 43 1 LOST CONTROL Alan Walker & Sorana 13500
44 44 25 10 HOW LONG WILL THIS LAST? Blossoms 150850
45 NEW 45 1 WHEN THE PARTY’S OVER Billie Eilish 13000
46 46 2 7 GOOD NIGHT The Beatles 341050
47 NEW 47 1 BOUNCE Albin Lee Meldau 12500
48 41 12 9 FRENCH CLASS HalfNoise 205300
49 NEW 49 1 SERMON Mercury Rev featuring Margo Price 12100
50 31 18 4 EVERYBODY’S HAPPY NOWADAYS Buzzcocks 71650

51 45 1 14 TOOGOODTOBETRUE Gallant featuring Sufjan Stevens & Rebecca Sugar 679350
52 55 52 4 LOVE YOU MORE Buzzcocks 40600
53 NEW 53 1 EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD Trevor Horn featuring The Sarm Orchestra & Robbie Williams 11250
54 58 54 5 TERE NAAL NACHNA Badshah & Sunanda Sharma 44300
55 NEW 55 1 LOVE HAS ALL BEEN DONE BEFORE Jade Bird 10800
56 53 1 28 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 1987600
57 NEW 57 1 COO COO COO Santigold 10400
58 64 58 5 PAPER DREAMS Jamie N Commons 35100
59 62 59 5 SPEECHLESS Robin Schulz featuring Erika Sirola 36500
60 51 45 7 TINTS Anderson .Paak featuring Kendrick Lamar 74050

61 NEW 61 1 ONLY YOU Theophilus London featuring Tame Impala 7500
62 35 35 3 A SPACEMAN CAME TRAVELLING Chris De Burgh 31100
63 NEW 63 1 MAY LOVE TRAVEL WITH YOU Paul Weller 7200
64 54 2 15 NOTHING BURNS LIKE THE COLD Snoh Aalegra featuring Vince Staples 607300
65 NEW 65 1 WE APPRECIATE POWER Grimes featuring HANA 7000
66 NEW 66 1 JAVELIN (CALLING OUT YOUR NAME) Adelphi Music Factory 6800
67 NEW 67 1 LOVELY Billie Eilish & Khalid 6600
68 40 40 2 MARY’S BOY CHILD/OH MY LORD Boney M 23400
69 56 20 9 LOVE Boyzone 131350
70 60 46 7 HUFF + PUFF Just A Band 66750

71 61 53 6 HANDS UP Merk & Kremont featuring DNCE 52650
72 NEW 72 1 HOLA (I SAY) Marco Mengoni featuring Tom Walker 5600
73 NEW 73 1 SIXTEEN Thomas Rhett 5400
74 52 41 6 SAIL AWOLNATION 60100
75 NEW 75 1 NORMAL BOY Boyzone 5000

DROP OUTS
47 47 1 LONELY THIS CHRISTMAS Mud 12500
57 57 3 STOP THE CAVALRY Jona Lewie 22900
59 59 3 ONE MORE SLEEP Leona Lewis 26800
63 63 1 ISOBEL’S DREAM Kim Wilde 7200
65 60 3 EVER FALLEN IN LOVE (WITH SOMEONE YOU SHOULDN’T’VE) Buzzcocks 24200
66 66 3 SHE MAKES ME Rick Astley 17800
67 67 3 DECEMBER WILL BE MAGIC Kate Bush 19000
68 68 2 WHAT WOULD SANTA DO The Monkees 12800
69 56 3 THE POWER OF LOVE Frankie Goes To Hollywood 27000
70 70 2 HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER) John & Yoko & The Plastic Ono Band with The Harlem Community Choir 12000
71 30 7 JAPAN Plastician 96550
72 72 1 CHRISTMAS WRAPPING The Waitresses 5600
73 73 1 YOU MAKE IT FEEL CHRISTMAS Gwen Stefani featuring Blake Shelton 5400
74 48 7 MAPACHE Cari Cari 64300
75 75 1 SLEIGH RIDE The Ronettes 5000

 

 

23rd December 2018

It’s 2 weeks on top (4 in total) for the Carpenters, just holding off Mark Ronson from grabbing a second chart-topper. As I was in Gran Canaria enjoying the sun last week I heard no new songs at all, just xmas oldies everywhere – so there’s a mini-invasion of oldies, but the highest xmas track is The Fizz at 5, an actual new song of all things! Pity no-one’s playing it. Chainsmokers get yet another top 10, at least a 5th, as their former musical partners Coldplay got top 20 with a leap for E-LO, and top 30 with Timbuktu. Highest Xmas oldie, as is the norm, is Chris Rea’s classic at 22, charting for the 15th time and about to overhaul Band Aid (which hasn’t charted for years here) in my million sellers list.

Chris De Burgh amazingly takes his Spaceman into my top 40 some 32 years on from its’ debut, spurred on by selling quite well thanks to a current cover version. It hasn’t charted in the 21st century before. Unlike the highest new entry at 40, Boney M’s festive perennial which peaked at 2 in 1978 just ahead of my 21st birthday, when it was topping the UK charts. Mary’s Boy Child also topped the charts the day I was born, because I’m special (by Harry Belafonte). Probably. Mud also return, under-performing in 1974 after a string of chart-toppers, but eventually topping my chart on reissue in 1985.

Kim Wilde’s lovely Isobel’s Dream is also back after a few years away, not really a Christmas song as such but a winter seasonal song, while early 80’s minor-hit Christmas Wrapping outdoes most of it’s chart contemporaries at the time and The Waitresses keep on popping back year after year. Last year’s Xmas track from Gwen Stefani gets a good chance of a regular comeback as it returns, leaving her and Leona Lewis as the only 21st century xmas songs that come back, while 60’s chestnut Sleigh Ride by The Ronettes is back some 44 years since it first charted, though it is fairly regular in it’s returns.

1 1 1 3 GOODBYE TO LOVE Carpenters & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 455000
2 4 2 4 NOTHING BREAKS LIKE A HEART Mark Ronson featuring Miley Cyrus 211050
3 5 3 4 SURVIVE Don Diablo featuring Emeli Sande & Gucci Mane 215200
4 2 1 10 DIAMOND HEART Alan Walker & Sophia Somajo 709500
5 8 5 6 DON’T START WITHOUT ME The Fizz 185850
6 3 1 5 TRUE LOVE WAYS Buddy Holly & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 445000
7 10 7 3 DOES THE HOMOSAPIEN KNOW Abba vs Pete Shelley 124000
8 14 8 4 SUNSHINE ON LEITH The Proclaimers 128000
9 16 9 5 THIS FEELING Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini 126000
10 6 6 7 THANK YOU, NEXT Ariana Grande 314800

11 11 7 8 BRAZILIAN SOUL The Knocks featuring Sofi Tukker 305000
12 7 4 10 STARFISH Rhys featuring FELIX SANDMAN 411000
13 12 1 8 SHADOWS Black Atlass 617000
14 9 1 7 DRIVE (SYMPHONIC VERSION) The Cars 719000
15 15 10 6 KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE The Fizz 171500
16 13 8 5 IT’S FOR YOU Cilla Black with The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra 168000
17 36 17 3 E-LO Los Unidades (Coldplay) & Pharrell Williams featuring Jozzy 53650
18 19 18 6 BREATHE Camelphat & Cristoph featuring Jem Cooke 102800
19 25 19 5 EVERLASTING LOVE The Love Affair 88800
20 17 15 5 YOU’RE GONNA MISS ME Connie Francis 112000

21 18 9 5 RISE Raaginder 144750
22 28 22 3 DRIVING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS Chris Rea 49300
23 30 23 4 FAVELA Ina Wroldsen & Alok 56750
24 24 13 8 BABY Clean Bandit featuring Marina & The Diamonds & Luis Fonzi 164900
25 23 3 7 ARREST THE PRESIDENT Ice Cube 295000
26 27 26 9 BURN Super8 & Tab featuring Hero Baldwin 135650
27 31 27 7 LOVE OF MY LIFE Queen 102200
28 35 28 3 TIMBUKTU Cassper Nyovest & Los Unidades (Coldplay) featuring Stormzy & Jess Kent 46200
29 22 4 11 JOY. for KING & COUNTRY 369200
30 20 20 7 ALGORITHM Muse 120500

31 21 18 3 EVERYBODY’S HAPPY NOWADAYS Buzzcocks 59650
32 50 32 2 WONDERFUL CHRISTMASTIME The Monkees 29800
33 33 33 7 LONELY STAR Ariana and The Rose 92100
34 26 8 10 HEAVEN LET ME IN Friendly Fires 252200
35 69 35 2 A SPACEMAN CAME TRAVELLING Chris De Burgh 23700
36 29 3 11 NEED YOU TONITE Mylo featuring Judie Tzuke 334050
37 72 37 4 DREAM ON Aerosmith 32900
38 38 38 7 HEY DJ CNCO, Meghan Trainor & Sean Paul 96450
39 39 39 5 INFINITY (MOVEMENT 6) Jean-Michel Jarre 65400
40 NEW 40 1 MARY’S BOY CHILD/OH MY LORD Boney M 17000

41 37 12 8 FRENCH CLASS HalfNoise 193000
42 42 42 5 SEE THE DAY Dee C. Lee 65750
43 47 43 4 PUNK RIGHT NOW HYO & 3LAU 43100
44 34 25 9 HOW LONG WILL THIS LAST? Blossoms 137600
45 40 1 13 TOOGOODTOBETRUE Gallant featuring Sufjan Stevens & Rebecca Sugar 667600
46 32 2 6 GOOD NIGHT The Beatles 328300
47 NEW 47 1 LONELY THIS CHRISTMAS Mud 12500
48 66 48 6 SWEET BUT PSYCHO Ava Max 45500
49 52 49 6 OOH LA LA The Faces 53300
50 57 50 3 BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG Morrissey 28600

51 45 45 6 TINTS Anderson .Paak featuring Kendrick Lamar 64050
52 41 41 5 SAIL AWOLNATION 54900
53 49 1 27 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 1977000
54 48 2 14 NOTHING BURNS LIKE THE COLD Snoh Aalegra featuring Vince Staples 600200
55 55 55 3 LOVE YOU MORE Buzzcocks 29100
56 43 20 8 LOVE Boyzone 125150
57 64 57 3 STOP THE CAVALRY Jona Lewie 22900
58 58 58 4 TERE NAAL NACHNA Badshah & Sunanda Sharma 33300
59 59 59 3 ONE MORE SLEEP Leona Lewis 26800
60 46 46 6 HUFF + PUFF Just A Band 60750

61 53 53 5 HANDS UP Merk & Kremont featuring DNCE 46850
62 63 62 4 SPEECHLESS Robin Schulz featuring Erika Sirola 26400
63 NEW 63 1 ISOBEL’S DREAM Kim Wilde 7200
64 65 64 4 PAPER DREAMS Jamie N Commons 24900
65 60 60 3 EVER FALLEN IN LOVE (WITH SOMEONE YOU SHOULDN’T’VE) Buzzcocks 24200
66 71 66 3 SHE MAKES ME Rick Astley 17800
67 67 67 3 DECEMBER WILL BE MAGIC Kate Bush 19000
68 68 68 2 WHAT WOULD SANTA DO The Monkees 12800
69 56 56 3 THE POWER OF LOVE Frankie Goes To Hollywood 27000
70 70 70 2 HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER) John & Yoko & The Plastic Ono Band with The Harlem Community Choir 12000

71 44 30 7 JAPAN Plastician 96550
72 NEW 72 1 CHRISTMAS WRAPPING The Waitresses 5600
73 NEW 73 1 YOU MAKE IT FEEL CHRISTMAS Gwen Stefani featuring Blake Shelton 5400
74 61 48 7 MAPACHE Cari Cari 64300
75 NEW 75 1 SLEIGH RIDE The Ronettes 5000

DROP OUTS
51 25 6 39 Queen 101800
54 54 3 SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN The Crystals 23600
62 33 10 POLAROID Jonas Blue, Liam Payne & Lennon Stella 139750
73 37 7 THE GREATEST SHOW Panic! At The Disco 78800
74 74 1 PROMISES Buzzcocks 5200
75 75 1 ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE Brenda Lee 5000

 

 

17th December 2018

It’s Christmaaaaaaaas! No, not Slade on top, it’s Carpenters’ classic 1972 Goodbye To Love done Royal Philharmonic stylee, and it duly returns to the top spot for the first time in 46 years for a 3rd week at number one. I was 14 years old when I last charted it. Yes, 14. Still love that guitar juxtaposed with Karen’s angelic voice and lushness galore. As it’s Christmas another 1972 classic returns for an 8th time (in the 21st century!) – John & Yoko’s Happy Xmas (War Is Over) was the first Xmas record I ever bought, and is a major classic, and it was the trigger for all those subsequent classic rock era xmas goodies. Prior to that Xmas songs were dreadful novelty things or else crooner ballads from the 40’s and 50’s, bar the odd Brenda Lee here and there (who also returns). It has topped my charts for a total of 13 weeks and charted throughout the decades, though not every year.

Mark Ronson gets another biggie top 10 a decade on from his first, and ditto Miley really, though she’s had several top 10’s. The Fizz knock themselves out of the top 10 with their official xmas single 37 years on from The Land Of Make Believe, and that’s nothing – The Monkees return again with new stuff, including a cover of Paul McCartney’s Wonderful Christmastime which is actually better than his overly-jolly overly-busy perennial – it’s more laid-back and restrained and the song is the better for it. They also have a new track debut which sounds to my ears like a Weezer song – that’ll be cos Rivers Cuomo wrote it for them then! So that makes it 44 years of official Monkees chart-spanning, but really it’s 52 years as I would have had loads of Monkees chart-toppers had I been charting as a 9-year-old. They have all topped my charts anyway in the years since.

Other than the oldies Xmas re-entries, though, it’s a quiet week for new stuff which gives a welcome opportunity for some records to climb to a chart position more representative of my affections for them. Favela is the biggest climb of new tracks non-Xmas-related, excluding Coldplay tracks aka Los Unidades.

1 2 1 2 GOODBYE TO LOVE Carpenters & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 285000
2 1 1 9 DIAMOND HEART Alan Walker & Sophia Somajo 644500
3 3 1 4 TRUE LOVE WAYS Buddy Holly & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 390000
4 32 4 3 NOTHING BREAKS LIKE A HEART Mark Ronson featuring Miley Cyrus 96050
5 5 5 3 SURVIVE Don Diablo featuring Emeli Sande & Gucci Mane 130200
6 6 6 6 THANK YOU, NEXT Ariana Grande 272800
7 4 4 9 STARFISH Rhys featuring FELIX SANDMAN 376000
8 17 8 5 DON’T START WITHOUT ME The Fizz 125850
9 7 1 6 DRIVE (SYMPHONIC VERSION) The Cars 690000
10 13 10 2 DOES THE HOMOSAPIEN KNOW Abba vs Pete Shelley 74000

11 11 7 7 BRAZILIAN SOUL The Knocks featuring Sofi Tukker 268000
12 9 1 7 SHADOWS Black Atlass 585000
13 8 8 4 IT’S FOR YOU Cilla Black with The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra 143000
14 14 14 3 SUNSHINE ON LEITH The Proclaimers 80000
15 10 10 5 KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE The Fizz 144500
16 16 16 4 THIS FEELING Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini 81000
17 15 15 4 YOU’RE GONNA MISS ME Connie Francis 92000
18 12 9 4 RISE Raaginder 125000
19 27 19 5 BREATHE Camelphat & Cristoph featuring Jem Cooke 80800
20 26 20 6 ALGORITHM Muse 102500

21 18 18 2 EVERYBODY’S HAPPY NOWADAYS Buzzcocks 41750
22 19 4 10 JOY. for KING & COUNTRY 351000
23 20 3 6 ARREST THE PRESIDENT Ice Cube 276250
24 22 13 7 BABY Clean Bandit featuring Marina & The Diamonds & Luis Fonzi 145400
25 33 25 4 EVERLASTING LOVE The Love Affair 67800
26 23 8 9 HEAVEN LET ME IN Friendly Fires 234600
27 28 27 8 BURN Super8 & Tab featuring Hero Baldwin 117150
28 52 28 2 DRIVING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS Chris Rea 29800
29 24 3 10 NEED YOU TONITE Mylo featuring Judie Tzuke 316650
30 49 30 3 FAVELA Ina Wroldsen & Alok 37500

31 39 31 6 LOVE OF MY LIFE Queen 83800
32 21 2 5 GOOD NIGHT The Beatles 315550
33 37 33 6 LONELY STAR Ariana and The Rose 74400
34 38 25 8 HOW LONG WILL THIS LAST? Blossoms 124350
35 57 35 2 TIMBUKTU Cassper Nyovest & Los Unidades (Coldplay) featuring Stormzy & Jess Kent 27900
36 44 36 2 E-LO Los Unidades (Coldplay) & Pharrell Williams featuring Jozzy 30650
37 29 12 7 FRENCH CLASS HalfNoise 179000
38 40 38 6 HEY DJ CNCO, Meghan Trainor & Sean Paul 79250
39 46 39 4 INFINITY (MOVEMENT 6) Jean-Michel Jarre 48300
40 34 1 12 TOOGOODTOBETRUE Gallant featuring Sufjan Stevens & Rebecca Sugar 654600

41 45 41 4 SAIL AWOLNATION 43400
42 43 42 4 SEE THE DAY Dee C. Lee 52000
43 35 20 7 LOVE Boyzone 114550
44 30 30 6 JAPAN Plastician 90750
45 51 45 5 TINTS Anderson .Paak featuring Kendrick Lamar 52300
46 55 46 5 HUFF + PUFF Just A Band 50750
47 60 47 3 PUNK RIGHT NOW HYO & 3LAU 29600
48 41 2 13 NOTHING BURNS LIKE THE COLD Snoh Aalegra featuring Vince Staples 589200
49 47 1 26 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 1965750
50 NEW 50 1 WONDERFUL CHRISTMASTIME The Monkees 12000

51 25 25 6 39 Queen 101800
52 59 52 5 OOH LA LA The Faces 41200
53 56 53 4 HANDS UP Merk & Kremont featuring DNCE 39350
54 65 54 3 SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN The Crystals 23600
55 61 55 2 LOVE YOU MORE Buzzcocks 18300
56 58 56 2 THE POWER OF LOVE Frankie Goes To Hollywood 20800
57 69 57 2 BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG Morrissey 16600
58 64 58 3 TERE NAAL NACHNA Badshah & Sunanda Sharma 23100
59 67 59 2 ONE MORE SLEEP Leona Lewis 16700
60 63 60 2 EVER FALLEN IN LOVE (WITH SOMEONE YOU SHOULDN’T’VE) Buzzcocks 17200

61 48 48 6 MAPACHE Cari Cari 59100
62 42 33 10 POLAROID Jonas Blue, Liam Payne & Lennon Stella 139750
63 68 63 3 SPEECHLESS Robin Schulz featuring Erika Sirola 19000
64 73 64 2 STOP THE CAVALRY Jona Lewie 12500
65 72 65 3 PAPER DREAMS Jamie N Commons 17800
66 66 66 5 SWEET BUT PSYCHO Ava Max 33200
67 71 67 2 DECEMBER WILL BE MAGIC Kate Bush 12400
68 NEW 68 1 WHAT WOULD SANTA DO The Monkees 6400
69 NEW 69 1 A SPACEMAN CAME TRAVELLING Chris De Burgh 6200
70 NEW 70 1 HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER) John & Yoko & The Plastic Ono Band with The Harlem Community Choir 6000

71 74 71 2 SHE MAKES ME Rick Astley 11000
72 75 72 3 DREAM ON Aerosmith 15600
73 54 37 7 THE GREATEST SHOW Panic! At The Disco 78800
74 NEW 74 1 PROMISES Buzzcocks 5200
75 NEW 75 1 ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE Brenda Lee 5000

DROP OUTS
31 10 5 I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS (SYMPHONIC VERSION) Foreigner 137900
36 14 5 SMALLTOWN BOY (SYMPHONIC VERSION) Bronski Beat 103000
50 36 5 SHELTER Monkey Safari 59600
53 12 9 ALL I AM Jess Glynne 184400
62 7 9 GRAVITY Paul Weller 283550
70 70 2 ABOVE THE LAW The O’Jays 12000

 

 

9th December 2018

It’s been a 2-month climb, but Alan Walker gets his 2nd chart-topper almost 3 years since Faded topped for 4 weeks, and just ahead of a new entry, from yet another Royal Philharmonic Orchestral track. It’s a wonder they get time to perform in concert these days! Goodbye To Love, though, was scored by Richard Carpenter so fair enough, and this is not only their greatest record with that epic guitar extended outro, it’s the track on the new album that is least mucked about with, giving it a first chart appearance since it topped my charts 46 years ago. I loved it then, I love it now, I’ve never stopped loving it.

It’s a huge leap for Don Diablo into the top 5, a first for him in the top 10, and an 8th for Emeli Sande (including a number one) since her first in 2011. Great vibes to it, and nothing like any other dance-based track around, which is quite a miracle in these identikit-chartpop times. The Fizz grab another top 10, giving them a sweet 37 years of ’em, give or take a Bucks. The Fizz also have the biggest new xmas track at 17, as loads of fave oldies return lower down, most notably Kate Bush who has been getting some radio play for December Will Be Magic Again with the release of her remastered works, and which gives me an excuse to chart it again for the first time in 38 years.

We sadly lost the amiable Pete Shelley of Buzzcocks fame this week, which has spear-headed a mini-invasion of his best singles, topped by an unreleased mash-up of Abba’s 1979 Does Your Mother Know and his 1981 Homosapien solo single. Both used the same rhythms so they work really well together, hence Does The Homosapien Know in at 13, and Buzzcocks best single Everybody’s happy Nowadays at 18. I was going to chart a Four Seasons mini-invasion as I saw the truly legendary 84-year-old Frankie Valli in concert this week – he was fabulous, still got the voice, a great backing band and backing singers, and so many hits half of them had to be dropped. Jersey Boys had brought him a whole new audience, totally deserved for his final tour. The oldest act I’ve ever seen sing live, but maybe if xmas gets less busy for new tracks there’ll be space for some Four Seasons showstoppers like Who Loves You and Beggin’.

Coldplay are back with 2 tracks using a pseudonym, E-Lo aided by Pharrell Williams, both of them extending long chart runs from 2000 and 2003 respectively. X-Factor has as usual chosen an already-covered classic oldie to ruin, so in protest Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s original The Power Of Love is selling on itunes as well, and I’ve charted the only great version of it again. Morrissey does a cover! Quite rare, and it’s a good choice – The Pretenders 1982 Back On The Chain Gang, Chrissie Hynde’s tribute to bandmates who died within 2 days of each other that year. The original line-up I’d seen in concert only a year before, rocking it big-time. So, even when Morrissey picks a cover it’s dark!

1 2 1 8 DIAMOND HEART Alan Walker & Sophia Somajo 629500
2 NEW 2 1 GOODBYE TO LOVE Carpenters & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 115000
3 1 1 3 TRUE LOVE WAYS Buddy Holly & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 305000
4 4 4 8 STARFISH Rhys featuring FELIX SANDMAN 326000
5 58 5 2 SURVIVE Don Diablo featuring Emeli Sande & Gucci Mane 70200
6 6 6 5 THANK YOU, NEXT Ariana Grande 217800
7 3 1 5 DRIVE (SYMPHONIC VERSION) The Cars 645000
8 10 8 3 IT’S FOR YOU Cilla Black with The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra 111000
9 5 1 6 SHADOWS Black Atlass 550000
10 12 10 4 KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE The Fizz 117500

11 7 7 6 BRAZILIAN SOUL The Knocks featuring Sofi Tukker 231000
12 9 9 3 RISE Raaginder 103000
13 NEW 13 1 DOES THE HOMOSAPIEN KNOW Abba vs Pete Shelley 32000
14 18 14 2 SUNSHINE ON LEITH The Proclaimers 51000
15 17 15 3 YOU’RE GONNA MISS ME Connie Francis 69000
16 26 16 3 THIS FEELING Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini 56000
17 23 17 4 DON’T START WITHOUT ME The Fizz 77850
18 NEW 18 1 EVERYBODY’S HAPPY NOWADAYS Buzzcocks 22000
19 14 4 9 JOY. for KING & COUNTRY 331500
20 11 3 5 ARREST THE PRESIDENT Ice Cube 257000

21 8 2 4 GOOD NIGHT The Beatles 297750
22 13 13 6 BABY Clean Bandit featuring Marina & The Diamonds & Luis Fonzi 126400
23 19 8 8 HEAVEN LET ME IN Friendly Fires 216100
24 21 3 9 NEED YOU TONITE Mylo featuring Judie Tzuke 298450
25 27 25 5 39 Queen 90050
26 29 26 5 ALGORITHM Muse 82500
27 28 27 4 BREATHE Camelphat & Cristoph featuring Jem Cooke 59800
28 30 28 7 BURN Super8 & Tab featuring Hero Baldwin 98750
29 16 12 6 FRENCH CLASS HalfNoise 161700
30 31 30 5 JAPAN Plastician 77500

31 15 10 5 I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS (SYMPHONIC VERSION) Foreigner 137900
32 44 32 2 NOTHING BREAKS LIKE A HEART Mark Ronson featuring Miley Cyrus 31050
33 39 33 3 EVERLASTING LOVE The Love Affair 48050
34 24 1 11 TOOGOODTOBETRUE Gallant featuring Sufjan Stevens & Rebecca Sugar 637600
35 20 20 6 LOVE Boyzone 101050
36 22 14 5 SMALLTOWN BOY (SYMPHONIC VERSION) Bronski Beat 103000
37 45 37 5 LONELY STAR Ariana and The Rose 56700
38 25 25 7 HOW LONG WILL THIS LAST? Blossoms 106750
39 42 39 5 LOVE OF MY LIFE Queen 65900
40 40 40 5 HEY DJ CNCO, Meghan Trainor & Sean Paul 62050

41 35 2 12 NOTHING BURNS LIKE THE COLD Snoh Aalegra featuring Vince Staples 576900
42 33 33 9 POLAROID Jonas Blue, Liam Payne & Lennon Stella 132350
43 46 43 3 SEE THE DAY Dee C. Lee 38250
44 NEW 44 1 E-LO Los Unidades (Coldplay) & Pharrell Williams featuring Jozzy 13250
45 55 45 3 SAIL AWOLNATION 29400
46 53 46 3 INFINITY (MOVEMENT 6) Jean-Michel Jarre 31200
47 47 1 25 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 1953650
48 54 48 5 MAPACHE Cari Cari 51600
49 62 49 2 FAVELA Ina Wroldsen & Alok 19500
50 36 36 5 SHELTER Monkey Safari 59600

51 51 51 4 TINTS Anderson .Paak featuring Kendrick Lamar 39300
52 NEW 52 1 DRIVING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS Chris Rea 11500
53 32 12 9 ALL I AM Jess Glynne 184400
54 37 37 6 THE GREATEST SHOW Panic! At The Disco 73400
55 56 55 4 HUFF + PUFF Just A Band 38000
56 57 56 3 HANDS UP Merk & Kremont featuring DNCE 28100
57 NEW 57 1 TIMBUKTU Cassper Nyovest & Los Unidades (Coldplay) featuring Stormzy & Jess Kent 10400
58 NEW 58 1 THE POWER OF LOVE Frankie Goes To Hollywood 10200
59 63 59 4 OOH LA LA The Faces 29700
60 64 60 2 PUNK RIGHT NOW HYO & 3LAU 17100

61 NEW 61 1 LOVE YOU MORE Buzzcocks 7500
62 34 7 9 GRAVITY Paul Weller 283550
63 NEW 63 1 EVER FALLEN IN LOVE (WITH SOMEONE YOU SHOULDN’T’VE) Buzzcocks 7200
64 71 64 2 TERE NAAL NACHNA Badshah & Sunanda Sharma 12900
65 72 65 2 SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN The Crystals 12600
66 67 66 4 SWEET BUT PSYCHO Ava Max 26400
67 NEW 67 1 ONE MORE SLEEP Leona Lewis 6600
68 73 68 2 SPEECHLESS Robin Schulz featuring Erika Sirola 11800
69 NEW 69 1 BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG Morrissey 6200
70 70 70 2 ABOVE THE LAW The O’Jays 12000

71 NEW 71 1 DECEMBER WILL BE MAGIC Kate Bush 5800
72 74 72 2 PAPER DREAMS Jamie N Commons 10800
73 NEW 73 1 STOP THE CAVALRY Jona Lewie 5400
74 NEW 74 1 SHE MAKES ME Rick Astley 5200
75 75 75 2 DREAM ON Aerosmith 10000

DROP OUTS
38 2 10 MAD AT YOU Noah Cyrus & Gallant 439450
41 36 6 LET YOU BE RIGHT Meghan Trainor 84800
43 25 6 VENOM Eminem 86250
48 3 10 IDEA The O’My’s featuring Chance The Rapper 421850
49 49 5 WE LIVE FOREVER The Prodigy 42300
50 15 7 LOST IN JAPAN (REMIX) Shawn Mendes & Zedd 131700
52 1 9 SHE Charles Aznavour 515900
59 59 4 PARADISE Nicky Romero featuring Walk Off The Earth 31500
60 5 8 TIME CAN HEAL A MAN SAVEUS 279500
61 61 2 STREETS OF LONDON Ralph McTell 15000
65 57 4 CHANCES Backstreet Boys 37700
66 66 3 PURE SHORES All Saints 18000
68 68 2 MANIAC The Beat featuring Ranking Roger 12400
69 69 4 UNSTEADY (ERICH LEE GRAVITY REMIX) X Ambassadors 21800

 

2nd December 2018

Buddy Holly finally tops my chart almost 60 years since he died, with the song that he recorded in his final recording session in 1958 along with his two other best tracks, True Love Ways, It Doesn’t Matter Anymore and Raining In My Heart. All were released posthumously, True Love Ways in 1960, and indicate he was an artist just getting into his creative stride. The new version is pristine, it sounds like it was recorded yesterday and does away with my problem with most 50’s tracks: they sounded old even when I was a kid such was the improvement in recording techniques by the late 60’s. It’s not actually the oldest release to top my chart – that’s Neil Sedaka’s Oh Carol which topped my chart in 1972, a mere 13 years later. That’s the equivalent of a 14-year-old getting into a reissue of, say, Scissor Sisters, Britney Spears or Gwen Stefani right now – acts who topped my chart in 2004! It is, though, the oldest recorded record to top my chart, and only the second track from the fifties.

Highest new entry is track selling on itunes right now following a Proclaimers programme on BBC4, the gorgeous Sunshine On Leith, 30 years on from first making top 10, but well under-appreciated chart-wise in the UK at the time. Now it’s a movie title based on Proclaimers songs! Highest new track is Mark Ronson back, giving him 11 years of chart entries, while Miley Cyrus joins her sister in my chart, 10 years after starting her chart career with a trio of top 10’s before becoming less consistent. Don Diablo returns, along with Emeli Sande, who is making it a 7-year-run. The Crystals bring their 60’s Christmas classic back for the 3rd time in 5 years, and 44 years since Da Doo Ron Ron made my charts a decade late, Aerosmith’s 70’s track Dream On finally charts 40 years late as for some reason it’s selling on itunes and I’ve never charted it. Return of the week, though, are The O’Jays, huge faves of mine in the early 70’s with Philly classics topping my chart like Backstabbers in 1972 and Love Train in 1973. Now a duo, they return with new social-minded material, as their best stuff was, and get a first appearance in my chart since 1984, a whopping absence of 34 years. To put that in dark perespective, Eddie Levert’s two sons had a chart career as Levert in the interim, and both died in the noughties, while Eddie is still recording and touring with The O’Jays 50 years since starting his chart career.

1 7 1 2 TRUE LOVE WAYS Buddy Holly & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 220000
2 4 2 7 DIAMOND HEART Alan Walker & Sophia Somajo 459500
3 1 1 4 DRIVE (SYMPHONIC VERSION) The Cars 595000
4 5 4 7 STARFISH Rhys featuring FELIX SANDMAN 261000
5 3 1 5 SHADOWS Black Atlass 495000
6 8 6 4 THANK YOU, NEXT Ariana Grande 162800
7 11 7 5 BRAZILIAN SOUL The Knocks featuring Sofi Tukker 194000
8 2 2 3 GOOD NIGHT The Beatles 278000
9 17 9 2 RISE Raaginder 68000
10 19 10 2 IT’S FOR YOU Cilla Black with The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra 63000

11 6 3 4 ARREST THE PRESIDENT Ice Cube 237000
12 18 12 3 KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE The Fizz 75500
13 15 13 5 BABY Clean Bandit featuring Marina & The Diamonds & Luis Fonzi 106900
14 9 4 8 JOY. for KING & COUNTRY 310500
15 10 10 4 I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS (SYMPHONIC VERSION) Foreigner 120000
16 12 12 5 FRENCH CLASS HalfNoise 143500
17 24 17 2 YOU’RE GONNA MISS ME Connie Francis 42000
18 NEW 18 1 SUNSHINE ON LEITH The Proclaimers 22000
19 13 8 7 HEAVEN LET ME IN Friendly Fires 196850
20 22 20 5 LOVE Boyzone 83550

21 16 3 8 NEED YOU TONITE Mylo featuring Judie Tzuke 279450
22 14 14 4 SMALLTOWN BOY (SYMPHONIC VERSION) Bronski Beat 85600
23 27 23 3 DON’T START WITHOUT ME The Fizz 54850
24 20 1 10 TOOGOODTOBETRUE Gallant featuring Sufjan Stevens & Rebecca Sugar 620000
25 28 25 6 HOW LONG WILL THIS LAST? Blossoms 89550
26 47 26 2 THIS FEELING Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini 31000
27 29 27 4 39 Queen 71300
28 49 28 3 BREATHE Camelphat & Cristoph featuring Jem Cooke 41400
29 30 29 4 ALGORITHM Muse 64000
30 34 30 6 BURN Super8 & Tab featuring Hero Baldwin 80450

31 40 31 4 JAPAN Plastician 59500
32 21 12 8 ALL I AM Jess Glynne 173150
33 33 33 8 POLAROID Jonas Blue, Liam Payne & Lennon Stella 118600
34 23 7 8 GRAVITY Paul Weller 276150
35 31 2 11 NOTHING BURNS LIKE THE COLD Snoh Aalegra featuring Vince Staples 562900
36 45 36 4 SHELTER Monkey Safari 47600
37 43 37 5 THE GREATEST SHOW Panic! At The Disco 62400
38 26 2 10 MAD AT YOU Noah Cyrus & Gallant 439450
39 44 39 2 EVERLASTING LOVE The Love Affair 30350
40 53 40 4 HEY DJ CNCO, Meghan Trainor & Sean Paul 45050

41 36 36 6 LET YOU BE RIGHT Meghan Trainor 84800
42 46 42 4 LOVE OF MY LIFE Queen 48800
43 32 25 6 VENOM Eminem 86250
44 NEW 44 1 NOTHING BREAKS LIKE A HEART Mark Ronson featuring Miley Cyrus 13250
45 48 45 4 LONELY STAR Ariana and The Rose 39400
46 50 46 2 SEE THE DAY Dee C. Lee 24750
47 42 1 24 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 1941150
48 39 3 10 IDEA The O’My’s featuring Chance The Rapper 421850
49 58 49 5 WE LIVE FOREVER The Prodigy 42300
50 37 15 7 LOST IN JAPAN (REMIX) Shawn Mendes & Zedd 131700

51 60 51 3 TINTS Anderson .Paak featuring Kendrick Lamar 27550
52 41 1 9 SHE Charles Aznavour 515900
53 63 53 2 INFINITY (MOVEMENT 6) Jean-Michel Jarre 18450
54 54 54 4 MAPACHE Cari Cari 39300
55 72 55 2 SAIL AWOLNATION 16400
56 56 56 3 HUFF + PUFF Just A Band 27200
57 64 57 2 HANDS UP Merk & Kremont featuring DNCE 17500
58 NEW 58 1 SURVIVE Don Diablo featuring Emeli Sande & Gucci Mane 10200
59 62 59 4 PARADISE Nicky Romero featuring Walk Off The Earth 31500
60 35 5 8 TIME CAN HEAL A MAN SAVEUS 279500
61 61 61 2 STREETS OF LONDON Ralph McTell 15000
62 NEW 62 1 FAVELA Ina Wroldsen & Alok 7400
63 65 63 3 OOH LA LA The Faces 19600
64 NEW 64 1 PUNK RIGHT NOW HYO & 3LAU 7100
65 57 57 4 CHANCES Backstreet Boys 37700
66 69 66 3 PURE SHORES All Saints 18000 857300
67 67 67 3 SWEET BUT PSYCHO Ava Max 19600
68 70 68 2 MANIAC The Beat featuring Ranking Roger 12400
69 73 69 4 UNSTEADY (ERICH LEE GRAVITY REMIX) X Ambassadors 21800
70 NEW 70 1 ABOVE THE LAW The O’Jays 6000
71 NEW 71 1 TERE NAAL NACHNA Badshah & Sunanda Sharma 5800
72 NEW 72 1 SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN The Crystals 5600
73 NEW 73 1 SPEECHLESS Robin Schulz featuring Erika Sirola 5400
74 NEW 74 1 PAPER DREAMS Jamie N Commons 5200
75 NEW 75 1 DREAM ON Aerosmith 5000

DROP OUTS
25 19 3 SEVEN SEAS OF RHYE Queen 60750
38 15 5 RADIO GAGA Queen 103600
51 39 6 VOR SONNEN-AUFGANG Laibach 65150
52 9 9 MOVES Olly Murs featuring Snoop Dogg 240500
55 44 4 OUT OF OUR HEADS Take That 42950
59 59 3 STAR Kiki Dee 21700
66 5 15 PROMISES Calvin Harris & Sam Smith 450700
68 18 6 I’M STILL HERE Sia 104450
71 10 13 THE DARK SIDE Muse 236050
74 74 1 THE PIANO MAN Billy Joel 5200
75 75 1 WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER Queen 5000

 

 

25th November 2018

It’s a 3rd week on top (and 7 weeks in total) for the symphonic Cars, keeping off the symphonic Beatles at 2, and just when you think it can’t get any more symphonic – it does! Yes even more symphonic covers of oldies are out for the christmas gifting market aimed at people of a “certain age” – hi! Most of them do nothing much to the originals, but those that make an effort turn up as new entries: at 7 – Buddy Holly’s highest-ever chart position, a really lovely version of True Love Ways finally getting him into my top 10 charts 60 years after he died, and 50 years after I started charting, just missing his extended posthumous chart career. At 19 it’s Cilla’s best non-cover, a song gifted by Lennon-McCartney (mostly Paul, I think), It’s For You – this one though by the Liverpool Philharmonic, which although not as great as George Martin’s original production, doesn’t detract from the others in quite the same way as most of the re-imagined Cilla tracks. It previously went top 5 a decade ago or so.

Highest new entry proper is Raaginda, at 17, a lovely Eastern-flavoured instrumental, while a key drama TV show spot has highlighted the gorgeousness of a long-forgotten Connie Francis track, in at 24. That’s her 3rd chart entry, all in the 21st century, so belated appreciation from me! Other charting oldies due to adverts, films, TV spots, TV performances: they have all made the itunes 200 so I’m counting them as valid: The Love Affair, the only UK hit version never to chart, and the best version, of Everlasting Love from 1968; Streets Of London from a 1969 album, a re-recorded hit in 1974, and recently re-recorded again for a 3rd time round; See The Day, Dee C. Lee’s lovely 1985 biggie, joining her ex Paul Weller in my chart; AWOLNATION back 5 years on; Billy Joel back again 43 years after it first charted in my charts and in the USA; Queen’s Highlander single from 1986.

Actual new stuff: Chainsmokers are back, with Kelsea Ballerini in tow, both adding to their hits total; Jean-Michel Jarre’s best track off his new album, extending his chart run to 41 years; DNCE return assisting chart debuts from Merk & Kremont; The Beat and Ranking Roger are back with new charting material for the first time in decades, a decent bit of retro-ska, giving them a chart expanse of 39 years, hooray!

1 1 1 3 DRIVE (SYMPHONIC VERSION) The Cars 510000
2 2 2 2 GOOD NIGHT The Beatles 230000
3 4 1 4 SHADOWS Black Atlass 435000
4 5 3 6 DIAMOND HEART Alan Walker & Sophia Somajo 344500
5 6 5 6 STARFISH Rhys featuring FELIX SANDMAN 196000
6 3 3 3 ARREST THE PRESIDENT Ice Cube 200000
7 NEW 7 1 TRUE LOVE WAYS Buddy Holly & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 50000
8 10 8 3 THANK YOU, NEXT Ariana Grande 107800
9 7 4 7 JOY. for KING & COUNTRY 281500
10 14 10 3 I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS (SYMPHONIC VERSION) Foreigner 93000

11 9 9 4 BRAZILIAN SOUL The Knocks featuring Sofi Tukker 144000
12 12 12 4 FRENCH CLASS HalfNoise 118500
13 8 8 6 HEAVEN LET ME IN Friendly Fires 175850
14 22 14 3 SMALLTOWN BOY (SYMPHONIC VERSION) Bronski Beat 66100
15 18 15 4 BABY Clean Bandit featuring Marina & The Diamonds & Luis Fonzi 74900
16 11 3 7 NEED YOU TONITE Mylo featuring Judie Tzuke 259700
17 NEW 17 1 RISE Raaginder 23000
18 26 18 2 KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE The Fizz 40500
19 NEW 19 1 IT’S FOR YOU Cilla Black with The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra 21000
20 16 1 9 TOOGOODTOBETRUE Gallant featuring Sufjan Stevens & Rebecca Sugar 601000

21 20 12 7 ALL I AM Jess Glynne 155350
22 23 22 4 LOVE Boyzone 63550
23 13 7 7 GRAVITY Paul Weller 258550
24 NEW 24 1 YOU’RE GONNA MISS ME Connie Francis 19000
25 19 19 3 SEVEN SEAS OF RHYE Queen 60750
26 17 2 9 MAD AT YOU Noah Cyrus & Gallant 422250
27 38 27 2 DON’T START WITHOUT ME The Fizz 35600
28 28 28 5 HOW LONG WILL THIS LAST? Blossoms 70800
29 34 29 3 39 Queen 52900
30 36 30 3 ALGORITHM Muse 45800

31 21 2 10 NOTHING BURNS LIKE THE COLD Snoh Aalegra featuring Vince Staples 545400
32 25 25 5 VENOM Eminem 72750
33 33 33 7 POLAROID Jonas Blue, Liam Payne & Lennon Stella 100900
34 41 34 5 BURN Super8 & Tab featuring Hero Baldwin 62450
35 24 5 7 TIME CAN HEAL A MAN SAVEUS 269500
36 37 36 5 LET YOU BE RIGHT Meghan Trainor 70800
37 31 15 6 LOST IN JAPAN (REMIX) Shawn Mendes & Zedd 119700
38 15 15 5 RADIO GAGA Queen 103600
39 29 3 9 IDEA The O’My’s featuring Chance The Rapper 409550
40 48 40 3 JAPAN Plastician 41600

41 27 1 8 SHE Charles Aznavour 504400
42 35 1 23 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 1928650
43 43 43 4 THE GREATEST SHOW Panic! At The Disco 45100
44 NEW 44 1 EVERLASTING LOVE The Love Affair 13250
45 50 45 3 SHELTER Monkey Safari 30200
46 49 46 3 LOVE OF MY LIFE Queen 35050
47 NEW 47 1 THIS FEELING Chainsmokers featuring Kelsea Ballerini 12500
48 61 48 3 LONELY STAR Ariana and The Rose 26400
49 54 49 2 BREATHE Camelphat & Cristoph featuring Jem Cooke 23100
50 NEW 50 1 SEE THE DAY Dee C. Lee 12000

51 39 39 6 VOR SONNEN-AUFGANG Laibach 65150
52 40 9 9 MOVES Olly Murs featuring Snoop Dogg 240500
53 57 53 3 HEY DJ CNCO, Meghan Trainor & Sean Paul 28050
54 59 54 3 MAPACHE Cari Cari 28300
55 44 44 4 OUT OF OUR HEADS Take That 42950
56 70 56 2 HUFF + PUFF Just A Band 16600
57 58 57 3 CHANCES Backstreet Boys 30700
58 62 58 4 WE LIVE FOREVER The Prodigy 30200
59 69 59 3 STAR Kiki Dee 21700
60 71 60 2 TINTS Anderson .Paak featuring Kendrick Lamar 15800

61 NEW 61 1 STREETS OF LONDON Ralph McTell 7500
62 65 62 3 PARADISE Nicky Romero featuring Walk Off The Earth 21400
63 NEW 63 1 INFINITY (MOVEMENT 6) Jean-Michel Jarre 7200
64 NEW 64 1 HANDS UP Merk & Kremont featuring DNCE 7100
65 73 65 2 OOH LA LA The Faces 12400
66 55 5 15 PROMISES Calvin Harris & Sam Smith 450700
67 68 67 2 SWEET BUT PSYCHO Ava Max 13000
68 42 18 6 I’M STILL HERE Sia 104450
69 75 69 2 PURE SHORES All Saints 11200
70 NEW 70 1 MANIAC The Beat featuring Ranking Roger 6000

71 60 10 13 THE DARK SIDE Muse 236050
72 NEW 72 1 SAIL AWOLNATION 5600
73 74 73 3 UNSTEADY (ERICH LEE GRAVITY REMIX) X Ambassadors 15600
74 NEW 74 1 THE PIANO MAN Billy Joel 5200
75 NEW 75 1 WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER Queen 5000

DROP OUTS
30 1 10 A CHANGE IS GONNA COME Sam Cooke 465650
32 32 4 WE WILL ROCK YOU Queen 45300
45 9 8 UNDER MY SKIN Gabrielle 159050
46 29 6 BACK & FORTH MK, Jonas Blue & Becky Hill 71300
47 11 7 ON MY WAY Bunt. featuring Leah Haywood 158300
51 22 5 RUN T’Pau 75850
52 6 10 SECRETS P!nk 328150
53 53 4 A KIND OF MAGIC Queen 43050
56 54 5 APPEALS Bayonne 37600
63 53 5 STOP TALKING Miya Folick 46900
64 64 4 I WANT TO BREAK FREE Queen 28400
66 66 4 CALL ME SIR Train featuring Cam & Travie McCoy 26800
67 24 11 JUST GOT PAID Sigala, Elle Ayre & Meghan Trainor featuring French Montana 165900
72 25 6 LOOK IN HER EYES Rod Stewart 78200

 

 

18th November 2018

It’s a second week on top for The Cars re-invention of Drive and a total of 6 weeks over 3 seperate years at number one, the orchestral lushness being a bit of theme this week, as The Beatles enter at 2 with the lushly orchestrated Good Night. 50 years ago, the sprawling, patchy The Beatles (White Album) came out, and now it’s back in the charts even more sprawling, but the gems remain gems. All of the tracks I rate have previously charted – bar one: The Ringo sung Good Night. After, let me frank, 56 years of living with Beatles music it’s a bit an ask to find something new and fresh to me, but that’s how this one feels to me. I’d mildly liked it over recent years but not really noticed it much tacked away on the end of the album, it’s hard to get to that stage and still be feeling unfrazzled. The George Martin production, though, is just gorgeous for this old-fashioned lullaby, and now I play it out the album it stands out on it’s own.

Ice Cube is angry at Trump, and so am I, fabulous at 3, Friendly Fires go top 10, as does Ariana Grande with her second or third top 10, and Clean Bandit’s umpteenth top 20. Back in pre-Christmas 1988 Freiheit topped my charts with the lush, orchestral melodic Paul McCartney-ey Keeping The Dream Alive, and now Bucks Fizz are back again with a Xmas album cover of it disguised as The Fizz. What’s more they also enter the top 40 with their official Xmas single, for my first 2 new Chrimbo tracks of 2018, a full 46 years on since my first one ever: John & Yoko’s Happy Xmas War Is Over. I love a Beatles link.

Camelphat are back again, so is Kendrick Lamar guesting, best current rapper for me, and a couple of oldies manage to breakout of the oldies pack hanging around outside my top 75 waiting for a gap from other oldies exiting the chart: All Saints 2000 chart-topper Pure Shores, and one that has never charted: Ooh La La, The Faces 1973 album track that Rod Stewart didn’t sing on (it was a Ronnie Lane song) but which he covered decades later for a minor hit (and a top 10 hit for me), and which is now (like so many old greats) featuring in pre-xmas adverts and selling on itunes. The Faces are nestling appropriately next to Rod Stewart’s new track, and it’s actually their first chart appearance, barring re-issues, since early 1975, almost 44 years ago. Gulp! I was 17…..aaaghhh!

1 1 1 2 DRIVE (SYMPHONIC VERSION) The Cars 340000
2 NEW 2 1 GOOD NIGHT The Beatles 115000
3 5 3 2 ARREST THE PRESIDENT Ice Cube 145000
4 2 1 3 SHADOWS Black Atlass 350000
5 3 3 5 DIAMOND HEART Alan Walker & Sophia Somajo 279500
6 9 6 5 STARFISH Rhys featuring FELIX SANDMAN 136000
7 4 4 6 JOY. for KING & COUNTRY 236500
8 12 8 5 HEAVEN LET ME IN Friendly Fires 143850
9 10 9 3 BRAZILIAN SOUL The Knocks featuring Sofi Tukker 107000
10 32 10 2 THANK YOU, NEXT Ariana Grande 59800

11 8 3 6 NEED YOU TONITE Mylo featuring Judie Tzuke 234700
12 14 12 3 FRENCH CLASS HalfNoise 83500
13 7 7 6 GRAVITY Paul Weller 239300
14 18 14 2 I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS (SYMPHONIC VERSION) Foreigner 51000
15 17 15 4 RADIO GAGA Queen 86400
16 13 1 8 TOOGOODTOBETRUE Gallant featuring Sufjan Stevens & Rebecca Sugar 581000
17 11 2 8 MAD AT YOU Noah Cyrus & Gallant 403750
18 26 18 3 BABY Clean Bandit featuring Marina & The Diamonds & Luis Fonzi 47900
19 19 19 2 SEVEN SEAS OF RHYE Queen 42000
20 15 12 6 ALL I AM Jess Glynne 135600

21 21 2 9 NOTHING BURNS LIKE THE COLD Snoh Aalegra featuring Vince Staples 527500
22 34 22 2 SMALLTOWN BOY (SYMPHONIC VERSION) Bronski Beat 37100
23 24 23 3 LOVE Boyzone 44050
24 16 5 6 TIME CAN HEAL A MAN SAVEUS 252000
25 33 25 4 VENOM Eminem 54950
26 NEW 26 1 KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE The Fizz 18500
27 20 1 7 SHE Charles Aznavour 490400
28 36 28 4 HOW LONG WILL THIS LAST? Blossoms 52500
29 23 3 8 IDEA The O’My’s featuring Chance The Rapper 392450
30 6 1 10 A CHANGE IS GONNA COME Sam Cooke 465650

31 22 15 5 LOST IN JAPAN (REMIX) Shawn Mendes & Zedd 102400
32 35 32 4 WE WILL ROCK YOU Queen 45300
33 37 33 6 POLAROID Jonas Blue, Liam Payne & Lennon Stella 83200
34 39 34 2 39 Queen 34700
35 31 1 22 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 1914900
36 57 36 2 ALGORITHM Muse 27800
37 38 37 4 LET YOU BE RIGHT Meghan Trainor 53400
38 NEW 38 1 DON’T START WITHOUT ME The Fizz 17200
39 43 39 5 VOR SONNEN-AUFGANG Laibach 53400
40 30 9 8 MOVES Olly Murs featuring Snoop Dogg 229000

41 42 41 4 BURN Super8 & Tab featuring Hero Baldwin 44850
42 28 18 5 I’M STILL HERE Sia 98050
43 49 43 3 THE GREATEST SHOW Panic! At The Disco 31600
44 47 44 3 OUT OF OUR HEADS Take That 32150
45 25 9 8 UNDER MY SKIN Gabrielle 159050
46 29 29 6 BACK & FORTH MK, Jonas Blue & Becky Hill 71300
47 27 11 7 ON MY WAY Bunt. featuring Leah Haywood 158300
48 48 48 2 JAPAN Plastician 24600
49 58 49 2 LOVE OF MY LIFE Queen 22300
50 74 50 2 SHELTER Monkey Safari 17200

51 40 22 5 RUN T’Pau 75850
52 41 6 10 SECRETS P!nk 328150
53 56 53 4 A KIND OF MAGIC Queen 43050
54 NEW 54 1 BREATHE Camelphat & Cristoph featuring Jem Cooke 11000
55 45 5 14 PROMISES Calvin Harris & Sam Smith 443900
56 54 54 5 APPEALS Bayonne 37600
57 68 57 2 HEY DJ CNCO, Meghan Trainor & Sean Paul 16800
58 59 58 2 CHANCES Backstreet Boys 20300
59 63 59 2 MAPACHE Cari Cari 17300
60 44 10 12 THE DARK SIDE Muse 230250

61 67 61 2 LONELY STAR Ariana and The Rose 14100
62 62 62 3 WE LIVE FOREVER The Prodigy 20000
63 53 53 5 STOP TALKING Miya Folick 46900
64 64 64 4 I WANT TO BREAK FREE Queen 28400
65 65 65 2 PARADISE Nicky Romero featuring Walk Off The Earth 14000
66 66 66 4 CALL ME SIR Train featuring Cam & Travie McCoy 26800
67 50 24 11 JUST GOT PAID Sigala, Elle Ayre & Meghan Trainor featuring French Montana 165900
68 NEW 68 1 SWEET BUT PSYCHO Ava Max 6400
69 73 69 2 STAR Kiki Dee 11600
70 NEW 70 1 HUFF + PUFF Just A Band 6000

71 NEW 71 1 TINTS Anderson .Paak featuring Kendrick Lamar 5800
72 51 25 6 LOOK IN HER EYES Rod Stewart 78200
73 NEW 73 1 OOH LA LA The Faces 5400
74 75 74 2 UNSTEADY (ERICH LEE GRAVITY REMIX) X Ambassadors 10200
75 NEW 75 1 PURE SHORES All Saints 5000

DROP OUTS
46 13 7 HEAVY, CALIFORNIA Jungle 140250
52 16 7 CLEAN EYES SYML 113550
55 28 7 HEAVEN TO ME Don Diablo featuring Alex Clare 85700
60 60 2 YESTERDAY ONCE MORE Carpenters & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 17000
61 4 9 HEAD HELD HIGH Kodaline 285900
69 15 7 TIDAL WAVE Portugal. The Man 111100
70 70 3 I WANT YOU TO FREAK Rak-Su 16800
71 71 3 OVER YOU Macy Gray 16600
72 11 8 SHAME Elle King 178750

 

 

11th November 2018

It’s straight in at 1 for a 3rd time on top for The Cars and Drive, their 1984 hauntingly moving song about mental illness, which became the spine-tingling moment at Live Aid in 1985 when it became a hit all over again when matched with famine footage. The odd mix made it heartbreaking all over again, and it topped for a second time. This time round it’s a new orchestral version from an album of 80’s classics re-imagined as orchestral works. It doesn’t work with all of the choices, but 3 of the more radical and tasteful versions that it suits all chart again – another 1984/5 chart-topper from Foreigner, and Bronski Beat also from 1984. They join Radio Gaga, Queen’s ’84 chart-topper which climbs into the 20 following a viewing of the Bohemian Rhapsody movie where it was the re-made Live Aid footage that showcased it again. Queen also enter with Seven Seas Of Rhye, a 1974 chart-topper for me, We Will Rock You, 1977 former chart-topper, and others including 2 new entries from A Night At The Opera, which has re-entered the UK charts is response to the movie: Love Of My Life has never charted before, and neither has the fab ’39 – in at 39.

That means just one week on top for Black Atlass after entering last week, as veteran rapper Ice Cube, known mostly for his brilliant It Was A Good Day social commentary song from 1989, returns with his career-best new song Arrest The President. It’s brilliant, pure vitriolic poetry spouting so many truths in clever ways it should become a “How To Do It” study. The last time a great record slagged-off a sitting President it was Stevie Wonder’s You Haven’t Done Nothin’ in 1974, which a more generalised critique: this is one is very very specific, and doesn’t let other younger more successful rappers get away with their stupidity either, telling it like it is. Reminds me of when I loved rap, when it was saying something, not self-ego-boosting money-chasing sexist cliches, as some less talented artists have tended to drift into.

It’s a hugely busy week, 18 new entries pushing out loads of tracks early and abruptly, and many big falls and climbs amid the changes: Rhys shoots into the 40 at 9, The Knocks and Sofi Tukker go top 10, Boyzone leap into the top 30 as Take That climb and Backstreet Boys enter at 59, their first new track in 13 years to chart, and helping to knock out New Kids On The Block and preventing an 80’s boyband reunion. If you had said in 1998 that I would be simultaneously charting new tracks by the aforementioned in 2018 I would have been incredulous. And yet what were the Chances?

Ariana Grande’s good UK chart-topper enters the 40 her 3rd of the year, Muse also grab a 3rd of the year, Meghan Trainor also grabs a 3rd, and there are returns from Ariana & The Rose, a top5 act from a few years back, ditto Nicky Romero, Walk Off The Earth, X Amabassadors, and oldie Star, from Kiki Dee, is back following some itunes sales TV ad-pushed action, a top 10 from early 1981.

1 NEW 1 1 DRIVE (SYMPHONIC VERSION) The Cars 170000
2 1 1 2 SHADOWS Black Atlass 285000
3 4 3 4 DIAMOND HEART Alan Walker & Sophia Somajo 219500
4 6 4 5 JOY. for KING & COUNTRY 186500
5 NEW 5 1 ARREST THE PRESIDENT Ice Cube 60000
6 2 1 9 A CHANGE IS GONNA COME Sam Cooke 447650
7 7 7 5 GRAVITY Paul Weller 207300
8 3 3 5 NEED YOU TONITE Mylo featuring Judie Tzuke 197700
9 43 9 4 STARFISH Rhys featuring FELIX SANDMAN 81000
10 20 10 2 BRAZILIAN SOUL The Knocks featuring Sofi Tukker 62000

11 5 2 7 MAD AT YOU Noah Cyrus & Gallant 380750
12 13 12 4 HEAVEN LET ME IN Friendly Fires 95850
13 8 1 7 TOOGOODTOBETRUE Gallant featuring Sufjan Stevens & Rebecca Sugar 556000
14 21 14 2 FRENCH CLASS HalfNoise 48500
15 12 12 5 ALL I AM Jess Glynne 115600
16 9 5 5 TIME CAN HEAL A MAN SAVEUS 233000
17 27 17 3 RADIO GAGA Queen 59400
18 NEW 18 1 I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS (SYMPHONIC VERSION) Foreigner 22000
19 NEW 19 1 SEVEN SEAS OF RHYE Queen 21000
20 10 1 6 SHE Charles Aznavour 472000

21 17 2 8 NOTHING BURNS LIKE THE COLD Snoh Aalegra featuring Vince Staples 507750
22 15 15 4 LOST IN JAPAN (REMIX) Shawn Mendes & Zedd 84500
23 11 3 7 IDEA The O’My’s featuring Chance The Rapper 374250
24 71 24 2 LOVE Boyzone 24800
25 14 9 7 UNDER MY SKIN Gabrielle 146050
26 62 26 2 BABY Clean Bandit featuring Marina & The Diamonds & Luis Fonzi 25900
27 16 11 6 ON MY WAY Bunt. featuring Leah Haywood 145800
28 18 18 4 I’M STILL HERE Sia 84300
29 35 29 5 BACK & FORTH MK, Jonas Blue & Becky Hill 58550
30 19 9 7 MOVES Olly Murs featuring Snoop Dogg 212000

31 24 1 21 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 1897400
32 NEW 32 1 THANK YOU, NEXT Ariana Grande 17800
33 48 33 3 VENOM Eminem 36200
34 NEW 34 1 SMALLTOWN BOY (SYMPHONIC VERSION) Bronski Beat 17600
35 75 35 3 WE WILL ROCK YOU Queen 27500
36 54 36 3 HOW LONG WILL THIS LAST? Blossoms 34200
37 38 37 5 POLAROID Jonas Blue, Liam Payne & Lennon Stella 65500
38 49 38 3 LET YOU BE RIGHT Meghan Trainor 36100
39 NEW 39 1 39 Queen 17100
40 22 22 4 RUN T’Pau 64100

41 23 6 9 SECRETS P!nk 316650
42 52 42 3 BURN Super8 & Tab featuring Hero Baldwin 30850
43 57 43 4 VOR SONNEN-AUFGANG Laibach 36300
44 33 10 11 THE DARK SIDE Muse 220250
45 39 5 13 PROMISES Calvin Harris & Sam Smith 433100
46 26 13 7 HEAVY, CALIFORNIA Jungle 140250
47 68 47 2 OUT OF OUR HEADS Take That 18900
48 NEW 48 1 JAPAN Plastician 12300
49 70 49 2 THE GREATEST SHOW Panic! At The Disco 18100
50 37 24 10 JUST GOT PAID Sigala, Elle Ayre & Meghan Trainor featuring French Montana 159300

51 25 25 5 LOOK IN HER EYES Rod Stewart 72600
52 29 16 7 CLEAN EYES SYML 113550
53 53 53 4 STOP TALKING Miya Folick 39700
54 58 54 4 APPEALS Bayonne 37600
55 28 28 7 HEAVEN TO ME Don Diablo featuring Alex Clare 85700
56 56 56 3 A KIND OF MAGIC Queen 31800
57 NEW 57 1 ALGORITHM Muse 10400
58 NEW 58 1 LOVE OF MY LIFE Queen 10200
59 NEW 59 1 CHANCES Backstreet Boys 10100
60 65 60 2 YESTERDAY ONCE MORE Carpenters & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 17000

61 34 4 9 HEAD HELD HIGH Kodaline 285900
62 74 62 2 WE LIVE FOREVER The Prodigy 12600
63 NEW 63 1 MAPACHE Cari Cari 7200
64 64 64 3 I WANT TO BREAK FREE Queen 21300
65 NEW 65 1 PARADISE Nicky Romero featuring Walk Off The Earth 7000
66 66 66 3 CALL ME SIR Train featuring Cam & Travie McCoy 20000
67 NEW 67 1 LONELY STAR Ariana and The Rose 6600
68 NEW 68 1 HEY DJ CNCO, Meghan Trainor & Sean Paul 6400
69 30 15 7 TIDAL WAVE Portugal. The Man 111100
70 73 70 3 I WANT YOU TO FREAK Rak-Su 16800

71 72 71 3 OVER YOU Macy Gray 16600
72 44 11 8 SHAME Elle King 178750
73 NEW 73 1 STAR Kiki Dee 5400
74 NEW 74 1 SHELTER Monkey Safari 5200
75 NEW 75 1 UNSTEADY (ERICH LEE GRAVITY REMIX) X Ambassadors 5000

DROP OUTS
31 1 7 LEFT TO MY OWN DEVICES (ALBUM VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 646900
32 23 7 I WANT A DOG (ALBUM VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 111750
36 6 11 I’M NOT SCARED Pet Shop Boys 321800
40 40 5 5 DOLLARS Christine and The Queens 58800
41 36 4 HEARTBREAK HOTEL Alice Chater 60700
42 10 12 MUSIC’S TOO SAD WITHOUT YOU Kylie Minogue & Jack Savoretti 241850
45 45 7 HEAD OVER HEELS Tears For Fears 67900
46 37 3 80’s BABY New Kids On The Block, Salt-N-Pepa, Naughty By Nature, Tiffany & Debbie Gibson 40450
47 2 12 WHITE DRESS Set Mo featuring Deutsch Duke 702950
50 50 3 GIRLS GO WILD LP 30000
51 13 8 GTFO Mariah Carey 148050
55 27 8 TRANZ Gorillaz 111400
59 59 3 DEEP WATER American Authors 26100
60 60 1 THE TIME WARP Little Nell, Patricia Quinn & Richard O’Brien 10000
61 24 11 BREATHIN Ariana Grande 149950
63 1 16 ROMANTIC Hooverphonic 891500
67 67 2 SOMEBODY TO LOVE Queen 13200
69 69 3 IM NIN’ALU Ofra Haza 17200

 

 

4th November 2018

It’s a brand new entry and debut for Black Atlass, a fellow-Canadian signing of The Weeknd, former chart-topper here too. Moody, moving and soulful, pretty much like most of my current top 10. That keeps off 2005 oldie Need You Tonite at 3, Judie Tzuke peaking originally at 13 in 1979 with the lushly orchestrated Stay With Me Till Dawn fabness, finally getting the chart position it deserves as part of the backbone to the track. The Knocks get a second top 20, as do Sofi Tukker. Or should that be as does Sofi Tukker? Grammar and band names gets to be SO confusing sometimes. F’rinstance I just found out 48 years late that the Carpenters’ are actually Carpenters. No “the” unless you are referring to the family members of the band as opposed to a recording brand, presumably. One doesn’t after all say The Abba, or The U2 or The Queen. So, Carpenters have a new RPO strings-pottered new album coming out and the 1973 Yesterday Once More returns 45 years later to my chart after peaking at 2 first-time round, and Carpenters join Eurythmics and Pet Shop Boys as just a few of the bands that keep getting the superflous “the” when being talked about on the radio and in life generally.

In at 21, it’s Paramour drummer Zac Farro under a pseudonym. Or should that be The Paramour’s drummer…? I give up! Jonas Blue gets 2 top 40 entries in one fell swoop, while Meghan Trainor nearly does it too. Or should that be MEGHAN TRAINOR as it says on the label? Sorry MEGHAN I’m bored with shouty text unless it’s the song title (to differentiate it from the act, as was once the traditional norm in music press song charts back when I started charting, unless bold was used instead, song first, act second) or an acronym or initials. Thus endeth the historical English lesson.

In at 60, The Rocky Horror Picture Show classic, some 43 years late, but one I hear most years and about time it charted, courtesy of selling on itunes for Halloween. Clean Bandit pull in Marina for some Luis Fonzi-themed Spanish-flavoured delight, or Henry Winkler as he used to be known on Happy Days about the same time as Rocky Horror debuted. Probably. Heyyyyyy! Co-star Ron Howard just Directed Solo: A Star Wars story. I think Clean Bandit also did the theme tune to that one…. Probably. Two 90’s boybands both return, Take That not unexpectedly as they’ve had loads of chart entries here over the years, Boyzone less so: it’s been 5 years since the last one. The Prodigy are another returning 90’s act, with the very early-The-Prodigy-sounding We Live Forever. Don’t forget the “The” on Prodigy or the name makes less sense. Finally, Panic! At The Disco get a 4th chart entry of the year (that exclamation mark really should be at the end of the name if it’s a description statement, though if it’s an order surely (At The Disco) should be in brackets?). Act of the year either way, Brendan Urie has even managed to put a The Greatest Showman song into my chart now – I have yet to see the film and have resisted all of the hit songs from it to date, but Brendan knows how to do musicals to my tastes. Melodrama! OTT! Panic! (At The Disco).

 

1 NEW 1 1 SHADOWS Black Atlass 170000
2 1 1 8 A CHANGE IS GONNA COME Sam Cooke 392650
3 10 3 4 NEED YOU TONITE Mylo featuring Judie Tzuke 149700
4 7 4 3 DIAMOND HEART Alan Walker & Sophia Somajo 134500
5 2 2 6 MAD AT YOU Noah Cyrus & Gallant 343750
6 16 6 4 JOY. for KING & COUNTRY 121500
7 8 7 4 GRAVITY Paul Weller 157300
8 3 1 6 TOOGOODTOBETRUE Gallant featuring Sufjan Stevens & Rebecca Sugar 524000
9 6 5 4 TIME CAN HEAL A MAN SAVEUS 208000
10 4 1 5 SHE Charles Aznavour 45200011 5 3 6 IDEA The O’My’s featuring Chance The Rapper 355000
12 14 12 4 ALL I AM Jess Glynne 88600
13 25 13 3 HEAVEN LET ME IN Friendly Fires 60850
14 9 9 6 UNDER MY SKIN Gabrielle 127300
15 15 15 3 LOST IN JAPAN (REMIX) Shawn Mendes & Zedd 65000
16 17 11 5 ON MY WAY Bunt. featuring Leah Haywood 127400
17 11 2 7 NOTHING BURNS LIKE THE COLD Snoh Aalegra featuring Vince Staples 488000
18 18 18 3 I’M STILL HERE Sia 66000
19 13 9 6 MOVES Olly Murs featuring Snoop Dogg 194000
20 NEW 20 1 BRAZILIAN SOUL The Knocks featuring Sofi Tukker 2000021 NEW 21 1 FRENCH CLASS HalfNoise 19500
22 40 22 3 RUN T’Pau 47100
23 12 6 8 SECRETS P!nk 302650
24 22 1 20 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 1879500
25 26 25 4 LOOK IN HER EYES Rod Stewart 60850
26 20 13 6 HEAVY, CALIFORNIA Jungle 127500
27 30 27 2 RADIO GAGA Queen 36400
28 44 28 6 HEAVEN TO ME Don Diablo featuring Alex Clare 74900
29 21 16 6 CLEAN EYES SYML 102050
30 19 15 6 TIDAL WAVE Portugal. The Man 10490031 24 1 7 LEFT TO MY OWN DEVICES (ALBUM VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 646900
32 23 23 7 I WANT A DOG (ALBUM VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 111750
33 27 10 10 THE DARK SIDE Muse 207000
34 28 4 8 HEAD HELD HIGH Kodaline 278400
35 53 35 4 BACK & FORTH MK, Jonas Blue & Becky Hill 40350
36 31 6 11 I’M NOT SCARED Pet Shop Boys 321800
37 39 24 9 JUST GOT PAID Sigala, Elle Ayre & Meghan Trainor featuring French Montana 147300
38 48 38 4 POLAROID Jonas Blue, Liam Payne & Lennon Stella 48200
39 34 5 12 PROMISES Calvin Harris & Sam Smith 420100
40 49 40 5 5 DOLLARS Christine and The Queens 5880041 36 36 4 HEARTBREAK HOTEL Alice Chater 60700
42 32 10 12 MUSIC’S TOO SAD WITHOUT YOU Kylie Minogue & Jack Savoretti 241850
43 47 43 3 STARFISH Rhys featuring FELIX SANDMAN 36000
44 38 11 7 SHAME Elle King 173150
45 45 45 7 HEAD OVER HEELS Tears For Fears 67900
46 37 37 3 80’s BABY New Kids On The Block, Salt-N-Pepa, Naughty By Nature, Tiffany & Debbie Gibson 40450
47 33 2 12 WHITE DRESS Set Mo featuring Deutsch Duke 702950
48 69 48 2 VENOM Eminem 18500
49 66 49 2 LET YOU BE RIGHT Meghan Trainor 18900
50 55 50 3 GIRLS GO WILD LP 3000051 29 13 8 GTFO Mariah Carey 148050
52 72 52 2 BURN Super8 & Tab featuring Hero Baldwin 17100
53 57 53 3 STOP TALKING Miya Folick 28450
54 71 54 2 HOW LONG WILL THIS LAST? Blossoms 16800
55 35 27 8 TRANZ Gorillaz 111400
56 56 56 2 A KIND OF MAGIC Queen 21200
57 65 57 3 VOR SONNEN-AUFGANG Laibach 22800
58 58 58 3 APPEALS Bayonne 26600
59 60 59 3 DEEP WATER American Authors 26100
60 NEW 60 1 THE TIME WARP Little Nell, Patricia Quinn & Richard O’Brien 1000061 52 24 11 BREATHIN Ariana Grande 149950
62 NEW 62 1 BABY Clean Bandit featuring Marina & The Diamonds & Luis Fonzi 7400
63 42 1 16 ROMANTIC Hooverphonic 891500
64 64 64 2 I WANT TO BREAK FREE Queen 14200
65 NEW 65 1 YESTERDAY ONCE MORE Carpenters & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 7000
66 68 66 2 CALL ME SIR Train featuring Cam & Travie McCoy 13200
67 67 67 2 SOMEBODY TO LOVE Queen 13200
68 NEW 68 1 OUT OF OUR HEADS Take That 6400
69 70 69 3 IM NIN’ALU Ofra Haza 17200
70 NEW 70 1 THE GREATEST SHOW Panic! At The Disco 600071 NEW 71 1 LOVE Boyzone 5800
72 74 72 2 OVER YOU Macy Gray 10800
73 73 73 2 I WANT YOU TO FREAK Rak-Su 10800
74 NEW 74 1 WE LIVE FOREVER The Prodigy 5200
75 75 75 2 WE WILL ROCK YOU Queen 10000DROP OUTS
41 29 6 YOUR FUNNY UNCLE Pet Shop Boys 102300
43 24 7 LIFE IS GOLDEN Suede 116850
46 5 8 WHY HER NOT ME Grace Carter 249050
50 30 7 HERE I AM (FROM THE DUMPLIN’ ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK) Dolly Parton & Sia 105200
51 5 11 VELVET ELVIS Kacey Musgraves 352150
54 6 8 DOMINOES Paul McCartney 203750
59 1 23 HIGH HOPES Panic! At The Disco 1367150
61 22 8 KONG Neneh Cherry 105200
62 62 3 1999 Charli XCX & Troye Sivan 19000
63 63 4 NORTHERN LIGHTS Soft Cell 37600

 

 

Katy Perry Paula Saint Jordi Barcelona 2018, I was there, though she’s not in my charts..

28th October 2018

It’s one of the greatest and most important songs of the 60’s Civil Rights Movement on top, a record that is even more relevant in the disintegrating world political movements away from rights acquired through struggle over decades and centuries in some democracies, as the internet stokes hatred, lies and bitterness, not love, truth, peace and tolerance. I felt strongly about these things a child and I still do. Sam Cooke was before my time, by and large, though I was aware of his songs as a child, so unsurprisingly this is his first chart-topper 54 years late. That stops Gallant getting a second consecutive number one, which is a shame as he is a great modern soul singer, and Noah Cyrus outdoes her sis by peaking at 2 with Mad At You.

Alan Walker gets a second top 10, and Gabrielle gets a first top 10 since 2007, when she hit 7 with Paul Weller on Why. Both sit at 8 and 9. I love co-incidences. Mylo gets a second top 10 14 years after the first with a song from 2004, and gives Judy Tzuke the honour of finally getting a top 10 39 years on from the original (Stay With Me Till Dawn) peaking just outside the top 10. Biggest climbers are Shawn Mendes into the 20, and Friendly Fires into the 30, with Jess Glynne jumping into the 20 too.

Highest new entry is 1984 chart-topper Radio Ga Ga, which was my top-rated song when I moved to Dorset from Nottinghamshire. Spurred by Queen tracks selling bucketloads on itunes and albums from the Freddie Mercury Biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, it is the highest of several oldie Queen tracks to re-chart. I haven’t seen the movie yet, as I went to see The Band instead, a Take That back catalogue musical which was pretty decent. Around the time Judy Tzuke was charting I went to Paris on a Uni/College Art Trip (we were both art students, and he was a drama student to boot) and shared a French B&B room with the bloke directing The Band and many other stage shows and musicals (via his production company). I just found this out when I saw his name in the credits and googled to confirm. A claim to fame I never knew! No Take That entries though, as it wasn’t them singing….

A host of 80’s stars get a first top 40 in 25 years, too numerous to mention, while new entries comebacks from Train, extending their run to close on 2 decades, Eminem (ditto), and Macy Gray (ditto) round off the rundown. Macy has been absent for 10 years.

1 6 1 7 A CHANGE IS GONNA COME Sam Cooke 277650
2 4 2 5 MAD AT YOU Noah Cyrus & Gallant 283750
3 1 1 5 TOOGOODTOBETRUE Gallant featuring Sufjan Stevens & Rebecca Sugar 476000
4 2 1 4 SHE Charles Aznavour 410000
5 3 3 5 IDEA The O’My’s featuring Chance The Rapper 318000
6 5 5 3 TIME CAN HEAL A MAN SAVEUS 163000
7 22 7 2 DIAMOND HEART Alan Walker & Sophia Somajo 69500
8 10 8 3 GRAVITY Paul Weller 107300
9 26 9 5 UNDER MY SKIN Gabrielle 98300
10 37 10 3 NEED YOU TONITE Mylo featuring Judie Tzuke 64700

11 8 2 6 NOTHING BURNS LIKE THE COLD Snoh Aalegra featuring Vince Staples 465000
12 7 6 7 SECRETS P!nk 283400
13 9 9 5 MOVES Olly Murs featuring Snoop Dogg 173000
14 34 14 3 ALL I AM Jess Glynne 53600
15 54 15 2 LOST IN JAPAN (REMIX) Shawn Mendes & Zedd 38000
16 17 16 3 JOY. for KING & COUNTRY 66500
17 11 11 4 ON MY WAY Bunt. featuring Leah Haywood 102400
18 18 18 2 I’M STILL HERE Sia 44000
19 15 15 5 TIDAL WAVE Portugal. The Man 86900
20 13 13 5 HEAVY, CALIFORNIA Jungle 109000

21 16 16 5 CLEAN EYES SYML 83850
22 14 1 19 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 1860500
23 23 23 6 I WANT A DOG (ALBUM VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 93950
24 12 1 6 LEFT TO MY OWN DEVICES (ALBUM VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 629000
25 59 25 2 HEAVEN LET ME IN Friendly Fires 28850
26 40 26 3 LOOK IN HER EYES Rod Stewart 42100
27 21 10 9 THE DARK SIDE Muse 189300
28 20 4 7 HEAD HELD HIGH Kodaline 260800
29 19 13 7 GTFO Mariah Carey 136300
30 NEW 30 1 RADIO GAGA Queen 18000

31 25 6 10 I’M NOT SCARED Pet Shop Boys 304400
32 39 10 11 MUSIC’S TOO SAD WITHOUT YOU Kylie Minogue & Jack Savoretti 228100
33 30 2 11 WHITE DRESS Set Mo featuring Deutsch Duke 690450
34 31 5 11 PROMISES Calvin Harris & Sam Smith 403000
35 27 27 7 TRANZ Gorillaz 100600
36 38 36 3 HEARTBREAK HOTEL Alice Chater 46700
37 57 37 2 80’s BABY New Kids On The Block, Salt-N-Pepa, Naughty By Nature, Tiffany & Debbie Gibson 27700
38 33 11 6 SHAME Elle King 159900
39 35 24 8 JUST GOT PAID Sigala, Elle Ayre & Meghan Trainor featuring French Montana 130000
40 56 40 2 RUN T’Pau 27600

41 29 29 6 YOUR FUNNY UNCLE Pet Shop Boys 102300
42 32 1 15 ROMANTIC Hooverphonic 884300
43 24 24 7 LIFE IS GOLDEN Suede 116850
44 46 44 5 HEAVEN TO ME Don Diablo featuring Alex Clare 56600
45 45 45 6 HEAD OVER HEELS Tears For Fears 54900
46 28 5 8 WHY HER NOT ME Grace Carter 249050
47 60 47 2 STARFISH Rhys featuring FELIX SANDMAN 22500
48 48 48 3 POLAROID Jonas Blue, Liam Payne & Lennon Stella 31000
49 49 49 4 5 DOLLARS Christine and The Queens 41800
50 36 30 7 HERE I AM (FROM THE DUMPLIN’ ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK) Dolly Parton & Sia 105200

51 43 5 11 VELVET ELVIS Kacey Musgraves 352150
52 62 24 10 BREATHIN Ariana Grande 142250
53 71 53 3 BACK & FORTH MK, Jonas Blue & Becky Hill 22850
54 47 6 8 DOMINOES Paul McCartney 203750
55 63 55 2 GIRLS GO WILD LP 18000
56 NEW 56 1 A KIND OF MAGIC Queen 10600
57 66 57 2 STOP TALKING Miya Folick 17200
58 69 58 2 APPEALS Bayonne 16400
59 55 1 23 HIGH HOPES Panic! At The Disco 1367150
60 70 60 2 DEEP WATER American Authors 16000

61 61 22 8 KONG Neneh Cherry 105200
62 68 62 3 1999 Charli XCX & Troye Sivan 19000
63 50 63 4 NORTHERN LIGHTS Soft Cell 37600
64 NEW 64 1 I WANT TO BREAK FREE Queen 7100
65 73 65 2 VOR SONNEN-AUFGANG Laibach 12400
66 NEW 66 1 LET YOU BE RIGHT Meghan Trainor 6800
67 NEW 67 1 SOMEBODY TO LOVE Queen 6600
68 NEW 68 1 CALL ME SIR Train featuring Cam & Travie McCoy 6400
69 NEW 69 1 VENOM Eminem 6200
70 75 70 2 IM NIN’ALU Ofra Haza 11000

71 NEW 71 1 HOW LONG WILL THIS LAST? Blossoms 5800
72 NEW 72 1 BURN Super8 & Tab featuring Hero Baldwin 5600
73 NEW 73 1 I WANT YOU TO FREAK Rak-Su 5400
74 NEW 74 1 OVER YOU Macy Gray 5200
75 NEW 75 1 WE WILL ROCK YOU Queen 5000

DROP OUTS
41 36 5 ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER Afterhere 74750
42 25 10 LIKE A PRAYER Madonna 166800
44 31 5 MARINERS APARTMENT COMPLEX Lana Del Ray 76450
51 21 7 GOODBYE Jason Derulo & David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj & Willy William 123050
52 23 7 A LIFETIME TO REPAIR (EDIT) Kylie Minogue 101750
53 44 8 HAPPIER Marshmello & Bastille 67100
58 14 7 MOVIN’ ON Paul Weller 141750
64 64 5 ALL FOR YOU Years & Years 33400
65 18 10 THUNDERCLOUDS LSD featuring Sia, Diplo & Labrinth 169550
67 67 6 CUT TO THE FEELING Carly Rae Jepsen 35600
72 35 7 ELECTRICITY Silk City & Dua Lipa featuring Diplo & Mark Ronson 84450
74 7 12 RUN THE ROAD Santigold 314000

21st October 2018

It’s a first chart-topper for Gallant after a few years of trying, as he also hits 4 with his second biggest-track. TOOGOODTOBETRUE is just gorgeous and it also gives Sufjan Stevens a second chart-topper less than 2 years after his first, and 13 years since frist going top 10. Sam Cooke hit 11 around that time with A Change Is Gonna Come, written for the Civil Rights movement of the 60’s in the USA, which meant a lot to me at the time (the cause, that is, the song came years later as Sam Cooke was dead before I even knew who he was). The Doctor Who Rosa Parks episode struck a chord with me, and boosted this 50-odd-year-old track into my top 10 for the first time, Sam Cooke’s first since 1986’s Wonderful World advert reisssue.

Paul Weller gets his first top 10 in a couple of years, and extends his run of top 10’s to 40 years since he was down in the tube station at midnight. Sia gets a 3rd simultaneous track with the highest new entry at 18 – I’m Still Here she sings. I don’t think we had any doubt about that, her songs are everywhere! Alan Walker is back for a 4th top 40, Mylo is back after a decade-long absence with Judie Tzuke also in the 40 after a gap of oohhh, 38 years or so. Rod makes it 47 years of top 40’s.

Shawn Mendes & Zedd are both returning, T’Pau’s Carol Decker is back after a gap of well-over 2 decades with her best single in 25 years, Spock’s Vulcan religious/political matriarch was called T’Pau. Staying with the 80’s theme, it’s not just T’Pau…a mega-artist collab enters for the touring 80’s package acts New Kids On The Block, Tiffany, Debbie Gibson, Salt-n-Pepa, Naughty By Nature, and it’s nicely got that late 80’s vibe about it. Most of them havent bothered my charts since the early 90’s, bar Jordan Knight (NKOTB) and Salt-N-Pepa who carried it on to the late 90’s. Friendly Fires and LP both return, Laibach debut after decades of raucous shouty metal – with something completely opposite, classy orchestral works, and the late fab Ofra Haza returns with her signature tune 30-years-on.

1 2 1 4 TOOGOODTOBETRUE Gallant featuring Sufjan Stevens & Rebecca Sugar 391000
2 1 1 3 SHE Charles Aznavour 345000
3 3 3 4 IDEA The O’My’s featuring Chance The Rapper 258000
4 5 4 4 MAD AT YOU Noah Cyrus & Gallant 168750
5 8 5 2 TIME CAN HEAL A MAN SAVEUS 108000
6 40 6 6 A CHANGE IS GONNA COME Sam Cooke 107650
7 6 6 6 SECRETS P!nk 248400
8 7 2 5 NOTHING BURNS LIKE THE COLD Snoh Aalegra featuring Vince Staples 428000
9 9 9 4 MOVES Olly Murs featuring Snoop Dogg 141000
10 37 10 2 GRAVITY Paul Weller 59300

11 11 11 3 ON MY WAY Bunt. featuring Leah Haywood 79400
12 4 1 5 LEFT TO MY OWN DEVICES (ALBUM VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 610000
13 15 13 4 HEAVY, CALIFORNIA Jungle 89000
14 12 1 18 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 1841000
15 22 15 4 TIDAL WAVE Portugal. The Man 65900
16 23 16 4 CLEAN EYES SYML 64100
17 26 17 2 JOY. for KING & COUNTRY 41500
18 NEW 18 1 I’M STILL HERE Sia 22000
19 13 13 6 GTFO Mariah Carey 118100
20 14 4 6 HEAD HELD HIGH Kodaline 242500

21 18 10 8 THE DARK SIDE Muse 170900
22 NEW 22 1 DIAMOND HEART Alan Walker & Sophia Somajo 19500
23 27 23 5 I WANT A DOG (ALBUM VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 74700
24 28 24 6 LIFE IS GOLDEN Suede 103350
25 10 6 9 I’M NOT SCARED Pet Shop Boys 286500
26 33 26 4 UNDER MY SKIN Gabrielle 53300
27 32 27 6 TRANZ Gorillaz 83100
28 17 5 7 WHY HER NOT ME Grace Carter 236300
29 31 29 5 YOUR FUNNY UNCLE Pet Shop Boys 88300
30 16 2 10 WHITE DRESS Set Mo featuring Deutsch Duke 672750

31 20 5 10 PROMISES Calvin Harris & Sam Smith 385400
32 21 1 14 ROMANTIC Hooverphonic 870550
33 19 11 5 SHAME Elle King 142700
34 65 34 2 ALL I AM Jess Glynne 24600
35 24 24 7 JUST GOT PAID Sigala, Elle Ayre & Meghan Trainor featuring French Montana 112900
36 38 30 6 HERE I AM (FROM THE DUMPLIN’ ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK) Dolly Parton & Sia 93200
37 73 37 2 NEED YOU TONITE Mylo featuring Judie Tzuke 22700
38 49 38 2 HEARTBREAK HOTEL Alice Chater 29300
39 59 10 10 MUSIC’S TOO SAD WITHOUT YOU Kylie Minogue & Jack Savoretti 210300
40 67 40 2 LOOK IN HER EYES Rod Stewart 23600

41 36 36 5 ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER Afterhere 74750
42 25 25 10 LIKE A PRAYER Madonna 166800
43 30 5 10 VELVET ELVIS Kacey Musgraves 340400
44 34 31 5 MARINERS APARTMENT COMPLEX Lana Del Ray 76450
45 48 45 5 HEAD OVER HEELS Tears For Fears 41900
46 50 46 4 HEAVEN TO ME Don Diablo featuring Alex Clare 43350
47 35 6 7 DOMINOES Paul McCartney 192750
48 68 48 2 POLAROID Jonas Blue, Liam Payne & Lennon Stella 18700
49 57 49 3 5 DOLLARS Christine and The Queens 29700
50 54 50 3 NORTHERN LIGHTS Soft Cell 30400

51 29 21 7 GOODBYE Jason Derulo & David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj & Willy William 123050
52 43 23 7 A LIFETIME TO REPAIR (EDIT) Kylie Minogue 101750
53 44 44 8 HAPPIER Marshmello & Bastille 67100
54 NEW 54 1 LOST IN JAPAN (REMIX) Shawn Mendes & Zedd 11000
55 46 1 22 HIGH HOPES Panic! At The Disco 1357050
56 NEW 56 1 RUN T’Pau 10600
57 NEW 57 1 80’s BABY New Kids On The Block, Salt-N-Pepa, Naughty By Nature, Tiffany & Debbie Gibson 10400
58 39 14 7 MOVIN’ ON Paul Weller 141750
59 NEW 59 1 HEAVEN LET ME IN Friendly Fires 10100
60 NEW 60 1 STARFISH Rhys featuring FELIX SANDMAN 10000

61 45 22 7 KONG Neneh Cherry 97700
62 41 24 9 BREATHIN Ariana Grande 130750
63 NEW 63 1 GIRLS GO WILD LP 7200
64 64 64 5 ALL FOR YOU Years & Years 33400
65 42 18 10 THUNDERCLOUDS LSD featuring Sia, Diplo & Labrinth 169550
66 NEW 66 1 STOP TALKING Miya Folick 6800
67 70 67 6 CUT TO THE FEELING Carly Rae Jepsen 35600
68 74 68 2 1999 Charli XCX & Troye Sivan 11600
69 NEW 69 1 APPEALS Bayonne 6200
70 NEW 70 1 DEEP WATER American Authors 6000

71 71 71 2 BACK & FORTH MK, Jonas Blue & Becky Hill 11600
72 47 35 7 ELECTRICITY Silk City & Dua Lipa featuring Diplo & Mark Ronson 84450
73 NEW 73 1 VOR SONNEN-AUFGANG Laibach 5400
74 58 7 12 RUN THE ROAD Santigold 314000
75 NEW 75 1 IM NIN’ALU Ofra Haza 5000

DROP OUTS
51 16 7 LOSING IT FISHER 119050
52 6 10 DARKSIDE Alan Walker featuring AU/RA & Tomine Harket 253400
53 40 6 EIGHTEEN Pale Waves 62650
55 15 9 MADE FOR NOW Janet Jackson featuring Daddy Yankee 161950
56 45 6 NINA CRIED POWER Hozier featuring Mavis Staples 54700
60 60 4 NOTHING HAS BEEN PROVED (DEMO FOR DUSTY) Pet Shop Boys 33000
61 5 14 THE WILD DARKNESS (CYA REMIX) Moby 479950
62 47 8 EASTSIDE benny blanco, Halsey & Khalid 60200
63 1 9 I SAY A LITTLE PRAYER Aretha Franklin 446550
66 4 12 SIDE EFFECTS The Chainsmokers featuring Emily Warren 271600
69 29 6 SOBER Nile Rodgers & Chic featuring Craig David & Stefflon Don 85150
72 6 14 BE RIGHT HERE Kungs & Stargate featuring GOLDN 351450
75 75 2 DON’T LIE TO ME Barbra Streisand 10000

 

14th October 2018

It’s the late Charles Aznavour on top for the first time 44 years after She topped the Uk charts and failed to chart in mine, and 2 years after a 60’s gem of his Emmenez Moi made my top 20. He was great, just took me decades to realise it. Holding off at 2 is Gallant, getting his 3rd top 10, and simultaneous second top 5, one with Sufjan Stevens hitting a new peak, and one with Noah Cyrus hitting a new peak for her, her second top 10. Olly Murs gets a 9th top 10 and Snoop Dogg prob about the same.

Highest new entry is SAVEUS, I’m very into dramatic or gentle soul/blues/gospel-influenced tracks this week! Highest climber is a whoppping 62 places for Bunt. Important not to mis-type that one. for KING & COUNTRY enter the 40 with Joy. Paul Weller joins himself inside the 40 with Gravity. Gabrielle makes it 2 inside the 40 this year, and SYML and Portugal. The Man get a second and 4th respectively. Two Jonas Blue’s enter lower down, Jess Glynne belatedly enters, Rod makes it 2 in a row, and Judie Tzuke is sampled on an oldie and enters my chart some 39 years after the gorgeous Stay With Me Till Dawn first charted.

1 5 1 2 SHE Charles Aznavour 230000
2 3 2 3 TOOGOODTOBETRUE Gallant featuring Sufjan Stevens & Rebecca Sugar 221000
3 4 3 3 IDEA The O’My’s featuring Chance The Rapper 173000
4 1 1 4 LEFT TO MY OWN DEVICES (ALBUM VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 575000
5 16 5 3 MAD AT YOU Noah Cyrus & Gallant 103750
6 7 6 5 SECRETS P!nk 198400
7 2 2 4 NOTHING BURNS LIKE THE COLD Snoh Aalegra featuring Vince Staples 380000
8 NEW 8 1 TIME CAN HEAL A MAN SAVEUS 48000
9 14 9 3 MOVES Olly Murs featuring Snoop Dogg 96000
10 6 6 8 I’M NOT SCARED Pet Shop Boys 267750

11 73 11 2 ON MY WAY Bunt. featuring Leah Haywood 42400
12 12 1 17 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 1812000
13 17 13 5 GTFO Mariah Carey 97100
14 9 4 5 HEAD HELD HIGH Kodaline 222500
15 20 15 3 HEAVY, CALIFORNIA Jungle 57000
16 8 2 9 WHITE DRESS Set Mo featuring Deutsch Duke 654750
17 10 5 6 WHY HER NOT ME Grace Carter 218000
18 18 10 7 THE DARK SIDE Muse 151150
19 11 11 4 SHAME Elle King 125000
20 15 5 9 PROMISES Calvin Harris & Sam Smith 367500

21 13 1 13 ROMANTIC Hooverphonic 852750
22 41 22 3 TIDAL WAVE Portugal. The Man 38900
23 44 23 3 CLEAN EYES SYML 39100
24 27 24 6 JUST GOT PAID Sigala, Elle Ayre & Meghan Trainor featuring French Montana 95400
25 26 25 9 LIKE A PRAYER Madonna 153050
26 NEW 26 1 JOY. for KING & COUNTRY 18500
27 38 27 4 I WANT A DOG (ALBUM VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 55450
28 28 28 5 LIFE IS GOLDEN Suede 84350
29 21 21 6 GOODBYE Jason Derulo & David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj & Willy William 111300
30 19 5 9 VELVET ELVIS Kacey Musgraves 326900

31 34 31 4 YOUR FUNNY UNCLE Pet Shop Boys 70100
32 32 32 5 TRANZ Gorillaz 64700
33 59 33 3 UNDER MY SKIN Gabrielle 34800
34 31 31 4 MARINERS APARTMENT COMPLEX Lana Del Ray 63200
35 22 6 6 DOMINOES Paul McCartney 180250
36 37 36 4 ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER Afterhere 60750
37 NEW 37 1 GRAVITY Paul Weller 17300
38 30 30 5 HERE I AM (FROM THE DUMPLIN’ ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK) Dolly Parton & Sia 75800
39 23 14 6 MOVIN’ ON Paul Weller 131550
40 48 40 5 A CHANGE IS GONNA COME Sam Cooke 52650

41 24 24 8 BREATHIN Ariana Grande 123350
42 29 18 9 THUNDERCLOUDS LSD featuring Sia, Diplo & Labrinth 162550
43 25 23 6 A LIFETIME TO REPAIR (EDIT) Kylie Minogue 90250
44 50 44 7 HAPPIER Marshmello & Bastille 55850
45 33 22 6 KONG Neneh Cherry 90200
46 43 1 21 HIGH HOPES Panic! At The Disco 1346250
47 35 35 6 ELECTRICITY Silk City & Dua Lipa featuring Diplo & Mark Ronson 78850
48 71 48 4 HEAD OVER HEELS Tears For Fears 28900
49 NEW 49 1 HEARTBREAK HOTEL Alice Chater 12100
50 52 50 3 HEAVEN TO ME Don Diablo featuring Alex Clare 30600

51 36 16 7 LOSING IT FISHER 119050
52 39 6 10 DARKSIDE Alan Walker featuring AU/RA & Tomine Harket 253400
53 40 40 6 EIGHTEEN Pale Waves 62650
54 62 54 2 NORTHERN LIGHTS Soft Cell 18400
55 42 15 9 MADE FOR NOW Janet Jackson featuring Daddy Yankee 161950
56 45 45 6 NINA CRIED POWER Hozier featuring Mavis Staples 54700
57 63 57 2 5 DOLLARS Christine and The Queens 17600
58 49 7 11 RUN THE ROAD Santigold 308800
59 RE 10 9 MUSIC’S TOO SAD WITHOUT YOU Kylie Minogue & Jack Savoretti 193200
60 60 60 4 NOTHING HAS BEEN PROVED (DEMO FOR DUSTY) Pet Shop Boys 33000

61 53 5 14 THE WILD DARKNESS (CYA REMIX) Moby 479950
62 47 47 8 EASTSIDE benny blanco, Halsey & Khalid 60200
63 54 1 9 I SAY A LITTLE PRAYER Aretha Franklin 446550
64 65 64 4 ALL FOR YOU Years & Years 26300
65 NEW 65 1 ALL I AM Jess Glynne 7000
66 61 4 12 SIDE EFFECTS The Chainsmokers featuring Emily Warren 271600
67 NEW 67 1 LOOK IN HER EYES Rod Stewart 6600
68 NEW 68 1 POLAROID Jonas Blue, Liam Payne & Lennon Stella 6400
69 51 29 6 SOBER Nile Rodgers & Chic featuring Craig David & Stefflon Don 85150
70 70 70 5 CUT TO THE FEELING Carly Rae Jepsen 29000

71 NEW 71 1 BACK & FORTH MK, Jonas Blue & Becky Hill 5800
72 56 6 14 BE RIGHT HERE Kungs & Stargate featuring GOLDN 351450
73 NEW 73 1 NEED YOU TONITE Mylo featuring Judie Tzuke 5400
74 NEW 74 1 1999 Charli XCX & Troye Sivan 5200
75 75 75 2 DON’T LIE TO ME Barbra Streisand 10000

DROP OUTS
46 20 8 ANGEL Aretha Franklin 145100
55 4 11 MY LOVE MY LIFE Abba 279300
57 1 8 (YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE) A NATURAL WOMAN Aretha Franklin 510150
58 26 5 PEOPLE GIVE IN Manic Street Preachers 70700
64 1 21 RUN BOY RUN Woodkid 844250
66 1 12 ME MYSELF AND I Blonde featuring Bryn Christopher 649200
67 52 2 AIN’T NO PLEASING YOU Chas & Dave 18100
68 54 5 AFTER ALL All Saints 44800
69 59 5 TRY Rick Astley 39900
72 72 3 VENUS LOON T.Rex 16000
74 8 10 SPOOKY Dusty Springfield 210400

 

 

7th October 2018

3 weeks on top for classic Pet Shop Boys as the late Charles Aznavour belatedly enters my charts 44 years overdue with the fabulous She. I didnt like it at the time as it was a tv theme tune that appealed to older people and i was a sniffy 16 year old more into less MOR tracks. It took an Elvis Costello cover to change my mind, its a great song. New big climbs for new lovely tracks from Gallant and The O’My’s into the top 5, and Mariah Carey gets into my 20 after quite a non-xmas gap and Jungle get a 2nd one. Soft Cell are back with their first new entry in 34 years, following a one-off O2 reunion and back catalogue push, though Marc Almond has dotted my charts over those years. Barbra Streisand has meanwhile a first new entry in yonks and extends her run to 47 years since the brilliant Stoney End debuted.

1 1 1 3 LEFT TO MY OWN DEVICES (ALBUM VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 510000
2 2 2 3 NOTHING BURNS LIKE THE COLD Snoh Aalegra featuring Vince Staples 330000
3 19 3 2 TOOGOODTOBETRUE Gallant featuring Sufjan Stevens & Rebecca Sugar 106000
4 17 4 2 IDEA The O’My’s featuring Chance The Rapper 88000
5 NEW 5 1 SHE Charles Aznavour 60000
6 8 8 7 I’M NOT SCARED Pet Shop Boys 225750
7 7 7 4 SECRETS P!nk 143400
8 3 2 8 WHITE DRESS Set Mo featuring Deutsch Duke 629750
9 4 4 4 HEAD HELD HIGH Kodaline 193500
10 5 5 5 WHY HER NOT ME Grace Carter 195000

11 12 12 3 SHAME Elle King 105000
12 13 1 16 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 1777000
13 6 1 12 ROMANTIC Hooverphonic 833000
14 18 18 2 MOVES Olly Murs featuring Snoop Dogg 51000
15 11 5 8 PROMISES Calvin Harris & Sam Smith 347500
16 25 25 2 MAD AT YOU Noah Cyrus & Gallant 43750
17 35 35 4 GTFO Mariah Carey 65100
18 10 10 6 THE DARK SIDE Muse 129150
19 9 5 8 VELVET ELVIS Kacey Musgraves 308900
20 60 20 2 HEAVY, CALIFORNIA Jungle 30000

21 21 21 5 GOODBYE Jason Derulo & David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj & Willy William 93100
22 15 6 5 DOMINOES Paul McCartney 162750
23 14 14 5 MOVIN’ ON Paul Weller 114450
24 24 24 7 BREATHIN Ariana Grande 109350
25 23 23 5 A LIFETIME TO REPAIR (EDIT) Kylie Minogue 76800
26 28 26 8 LIKE A PRAYER Madonna 134400
27 32 27 4 JUST GOT PAID Sigala, Elle Ayre & Meghan Trainor featuring French Montana 76400
28 30 28 4 LIFE IS GOLDEN Suede 65950
29 26 18 8 THUNDERCLOUDS LSD featuring Sia, Diplo & Labrinth 148700
30 33 33 4 HERE I AM (FROM THE DUMPLIN’ ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK) Dolly Parton & Sia 58600

31 34 34 4 MARINERS APARTMENT COMPLEX Lana Del Ray 63100
32 39 39 4 TRANZ Gorillaz 46900
33 22 22 5 KONG Neneh Cherry 77200
34 37 34 3 YOUR FUNNY UNCLE Pet Shop Boys 52200
35 38 35 5 ELECTRICITY Silk City & Dua Lipa featuring Diplo & Mark Ronson 66350
36 16 16 6 LOSING IT FISHER 107300
37 42 42 3 ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER Afterhere 43350
38 46 38 3 I WANT A DOG (ALBUM VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 37050
39 26 6 9 DARKSIDE Alan Walker featuring AU/RA & Tomine Harket 241900
40 50 40 5 EIGHTEEN Pale Waves 51400

41 73 41 2 TIDAL WAVE Portugal. The Man 19400
42 31 15 8 MADE FOR NOW Janet Jackson featuring Daddy Yankee 151150
43 41 1 20 HIGH HOPES Panic! At The Disco 1333500
44 67 44 2 CLEAN EYES SYML 19850
45 56 45 5 NINA CRIED POWER Hozier featuring Mavis Staples 44100
46 20 20 8 ANGEL Aretha Franklin 145150
47 48 47 6 EASTSIDE benny blanco, Halsey & Khalid 52900
48 51 48 4 A CHANGE IS GONNA COME Sam Cooke 35750
49 40 7 10 RUN THE ROAD Santigold 298700
50 68 50 6 HAPPIER Marshmello & Bastille 42600

51 29 29 5 SOBER Nile Rodgers & Chic featuring Craig David & Stefflon Don 78950
52 64 52 2 HEAVEN TO ME Don Diablo featuring Alex Clare 18600
53 45 5 13 THE WILD DARKNESS (CYA REMIX) Moby 472450
54 49 1 8 I SAY A LITTLE PRAYER Aretha Franklin 439350
55 44 4 11 MY LOVE MY LIFE Abba 279300
56 53 6 13 BE RIGHT HERE Kungs & Stargate featuring GOLDN 345850
57 43 1 8 (YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE) A NATURAL WOMAN Aretha Franklin 510150
58 36 26 5 PEOPLE GIVE IN Manic Street Preachers 70700
59 65 59 2 UNDER MY SKIN Gabrielle 17100
60 63 60 3 NOTHING HAS BEEN PROVED (DEMO FOR DUSTY) Pet Shop Boys 23000

61 58 4 11 SIDE EFFECTS The Chainsmokers featuring Emily Warren 264800
62 NEW 62 1 NORTHERN LIGHTS Soft Cell 7400
63 NEW 63 1 5 DOLLARS Christine and the Queens 7200
64 62 1 20 RUN BOY RUN Woodkid 844250
65 66 65 3 ALL FOR YOU Years & Years 19200
66 47 1 12 ME MYSELF AND I Blonde featuring Bryn Christopher 649200
67 52 52 2 AIN’T NO PLEASING YOU Chas & Dave 18100
68 54 54 5 AFTER ALL All Saints 44800
69 59 59 5 TRY Rick Astley 39600
70 70 70 4 CUT TO THE FEELING Carly Rae Jepsen 23000

71 71 71 3 HEAD OVER HEELS Tears For Fears 16600
72 74 72 3 VENUS LOON T.Rex 16000
73 NEW 73 1 ON MY WAY BUNT. featuring Leah Haywood
74 57 8 9 SPOOKY Dusty Springfield 210400
75 NEW 75 1 DON’T LIE TO ME Barbra Streisand 5000

Drop outs:

75 50 20 11 CREEP CITY Jake Shears 150700
72 46 18 8 GIMME GIMME GIMME (A MAN AFTER MIDNIGHT) Cher 126500
69 49 10 11 SOMETHING HUMAN Muse 288200
61 47 32 5 IN MY MIND Dynoro & Gigi D’Agostino 69150
55 41 6 18 PANIC ROOM Au/Ra & CamelPhat 456850

 

 

30th September 2018

It’s a 2nd week on top, and 3rd in total, for 1988 chart-topper Left To My Own Devices, all 8 minutes and 17 seconds of the Pet Shop Boys epic. That keeps off newcomer trip-hop-ish Snoh Aelegra from the top so far, at 2, while P!nk gets a 12th top 10 as she heads towards her 20th anniversary of top 10’s. Her peak position to date is still 2, one of the few big acts still waiting to top my charts. Muse meanwhile make it 2 top 10’s in a row, another act never to top my chart.

3 new tracks enter consecutively, one pop, two what we used to call soul back in the day – Urban is the current label, probably. Olly Murs has been quiet of late, but he’s back with a splash at 18, bringing along Snoop for a quarter century of chart entries. Meanwhile The O’My’s, a Chicago duo, draft in Chance The Rapper to enter at 17, while Gallant gets greedy – the Maryland singer enters with Sufjan Stevens, both on their 3rd entry, Gallant went top 10 in 2016, Sufjan did it in 2006 and a decade later. Gallant supports Noah Cyrus on her 3rd too, so his 4th, at 25.

Gorillaz shoot up into the 40 with Tranz, and the late Chas Hodges returns for a finale with the Chas & Dave 1982 goodie Ain’t No Pleasing You, while Kylie – who I saw at the O2 on Friday, fab show – gets the new single version of her album track chart-topper A Lifetime To Repair back into the 40, cos it went down a storm. Jungle are back, Heavy, so are Don Diablo and Alex Clare, Gabrielle, SYML, and Portugal. The Man – meaning few actual debuts this week apart from The O’My’s and Rebecca Sugar.

1 1 1 2 LEFT TO MY OWN DEVICES (ALBUM VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 340000
2 9 2 2 NOTHING BURNS LIKE THE COLD Snoh Aalegra featuring Vince Staples 215000
3 2 2 7 WHITE DRESS Set Mo featuring Deutsch Duke 581750
4 4 4 3 HEAD HELD HIGH Kodaline 148500
5 8 5 4 WHY HER NOT ME Grace Carter 153000
6 3 1 11 ROMANTIC Hooverphonic 801000
7 11 7 3 SECRETS P!nk 93400
8 10 8 6 I’M NOT SCARED Pet Shop Boys 170750
9 5 5 7 VELVET ELVIS Kacey Musgraves 287900
10 19 10 5 THE DARK SIDE Muse 107150

11 12 5 7 PROMISES Calvin Harris & Sam Smith 320500
12 13 12 2 SHAME Elle King 67000
13 7 1 15 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 1742000
14 14 14 4 MOVIN’ ON Paul Weller 95200
15 6 6 4 DOMINOES Paul McCartney 143250
16 16 16 5 LOSING IT FISHER 89900
17 NEW 17 1 IDEA The O’My’s featuring Chance The Rapper 23000
18 NEW 18 1 MOVES Olly Murs featuring Snoop Dogg 22000
19 NEW 19 1 TOOGOODTOBETRUE Gallant featuring Sufjan Stevens & Rebecca Sugar 21000
20 20 20 7 ANGEL Aretha Franklin 132350

21 27 21 4 GOODBYE Jason Derulo & David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj & Willy William 73350
22 32 22 4 KONG Neneh Cherry 59500
23 43 23 4 A LIFETIME TO REPAIR (EDIT) Kylie Minogue 58000
24 24 24 6 BREATHIN Ariana Grande 90350
25 NEW 25 1 MAD AT YOU Noah Cyrus & Gallant 18750
26 18 18 7 THUNDERCLOUDS LSD featuring Sia, Diplo & Labrinth 130600
27 17 6 8 DARKSIDE Alan Walker featuring AU/RA & Tomine Harket 224800
28 28 28 7 LIKE A PRAYER Madonna 115800
29 30 29 4 SOBER Nile Rodgers & Chic featuring Craig David & Stefflon Don 67200
30 40 30 3 LIFE IS GOLDEN Suede 47750

31 15 15 7 MADE FOR NOW Janet Jackson featuring Daddy Yankee 137400
32 36 32 4 JUST GOT PAID Sigala, Elle Ayre & Meghan Trainor featuring French Montana 58000
33 33 33 3 HERE I AM (FROM THE DUMPLIN’ ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK) Dolly Parton & Sia 40600
34 35 34 3 MARINERS APARTMENT COMPLEX Lana Del Ray 45200
35 38 35 3 GTFO Mariah Carey 42100
36 26 26 4 PEOPLE GIVE IN Manic Street Preachers 60500
37 37 37 2 YOUR FUNNY UNCLE Pet Shop Boys 34600
38 44 38 4 ELECTRICITY Silk City & Dua Lipa featuring Diplo & Mark Ronson 48850
39 69 39 3 TRANZ Gorillaz 29100
40 22 7 9 RUN THE ROAD Santigold 286500

41 39 1 19 HIGH HOPES Panic! At The Disco 1320000
42 48 42 2 ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER Afterhere 26050
43 23 1 7 (YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE) A NATURAL WOMAN Aretha Franklin 499750
44 21 4 10 MY LOVE MY LIFE Abba 268500
45 29 5 12 THE WILD DARKNESS (CYA REMIX) Moby 461200
46 64 46 2 I WANT A DOG (ALBUM VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 19850
47 31 1 11 ME MYSELF AND I Blonde featuring Bryn Christopher 642400
48 66 48 6 EASTSIDE benny blanco, Halsey & Khalid 40300
49 34 1 7 I SAY A LITTLE PRAYER Aretha Franklin 428350
50 58 50 4 EIGHTEEN Pale Waves 34400

51 67 51 3 A CHANGE IS GONNA COME Sam Cooke 23350
52 NEW 52 1 AIN’T NO PLEASING YOU Chas & Dave 11500
53 42 6 12 BE RIGHT HERE Kungs & Stargate featuring GOLDN 335250
54 57 54 4 AFTER ALL All Saints 38400
55 41 6 18 PANIC ROOM Au/Ra & CamelPhat 456850
56 62 56 4 NINA CRIED POWER Hozier featuring Mavis Staples 31100
57 25 8 9 SPOOKY Dusty Springfield 205200
58 45 4 10 SIDE EFFECTS The Chainsmokers featuring Emily Warren 257300
59 60 59 4 TRY Rick Astley 33700
60 NEW 60 1 HEAVY, CALIFORNIA Jungle 10000

61 47 32 5 IN MY MIND Dynoro & Gigi D’Agostino 69150
62 59 1 20 RUN BOY RUN Woodkid 837150
63 71 63 2 NOTHING HAS BEEN PROVED (DEMO FOR DUSTY) Pet Shop Boys 13000
64 NEW 64 1 HEAVEN TO ME Don Diablo featuring Alex Clare 7100
65 NEW 65 1 UNDER MY SKIN Gabrielle 7000
66 73 66 2 ALL FOR YOU Years & Years 12200
67 NEW 67 1 CLEAN EYES SYML 6600
68 68 68 5 HAPPIER Marshmello & Bastille 30600
69 49 10 11 SOMETHING HUMAN Muse 288200
70 72 70 3 CUT TO THE FEELING Carly Rae Jepsen 17000

71 75 71 2 HEAD OVER HEELS Tears For Fears 10800
72 46 18 8 GIMME GIMME GIMME (A MAN AFTER MIDNIGHT) Cher 126500
73 NEW 73 1 TIDAL WAVE Portugal. The Man 5400
74 74 74 2 VENUS LOON T.Rex 10400
75 50 20 11 CREEP CITY Jake Shears 150700

DROP OUTS
51 9 9 ANDANTE ANDANTE Abba 228500
52 1 5 HEY JUDE The Beatles 295800
53 53 4 YOUNGBLOOD 5 Seconds Of Summer 35600
54 10 8 COME ON GET HAPPY The Partridge Family featuring David Cassidy & Starring Shirley Jones 167500
55 39 7 NO DANGER The Delgados 75700
56 3 16 SINNER Deaf Havana 625650
61 1 14 MY AUTUMN’S DONE COME Lee Hazelwood 772450
63 13 8 JUST MY TYPE The Vamps 161250
65 6 10 WOULDN’T WANT TO BE LIKE YOU Sheryl Crow featuring Annie Clark 289700
70 14 11 FRIENDS RAYE 189450

 

 

23rd September 2018

It’s straight in on top for the 30-year-old extended album version of Left To My Own Devices, 30 years since the single edit grabbed an epic-sounding Trevor Horn produced week on top. Several tracks from the Introspective album have charted for the first time, following it’s extended reissue and remaster earlier in the year, which made the UK album charts, but which I’ve only just got round to listening to. I still have the original vinyl version.

Kodaline get a first top 5, and highest new entry is from Swedish-Persian descended Snoh Aalegra coming over all Portishead 90’s trip-hop in at 9 with Nothing Burns Like The Cold. P!nk has another good track off her latest album shoot up to 11, Secrets, and Elle King is back with another goodie at 13, aiming for the heights of Ex’s & Oh’s. Dolly Parton & Sia leap into the 40, giving Sia a second simultaneously, while Lana Del Ray, Sigala, Mariah Carey and Suede all return to the 40.

New at 48 is a new version of Bob Dylan’s classic-as-done-by-Hendrix All Along The Watchtower from Afterhere, a new duo project from Glenn Gregory of Heaven 17, making a heavenly 36 years of charting, jointly with new singer/keyboardist Berenice Scott grabbing her first. Contemporaries Tears For Fears sneak in at 75 with the Donnie Darko soundtrack classic, and the 44-year-old Venus Loon features on a new T.Rex compilation hitting the top 10, my fave album track from the Zinc Alloy album which my mate played obsessively at the time, being as he was an obsessive T.Rex fan. I always thought it should have been a single instead of the later 1974 actual singles which ended Marc Bolan’s run of top 20 hits. So, 44-years-late, but got into my charts at last.

1 NEW 1 1 LEFT TO MY OWN DEVICES (ALBUM VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 170000
2 2 2 6 WHITE DRESS Set Mo featuring Deutsch Duke 496750
3 1 1 10 ROMANTIC Hooverphonic 746000
4 26 4 2 HEAD HELD HIGH Kodaline 83500
5 6 5 6 VELVET ELVIS Kacey Musgraves 242900
6 7 6 3 DOMINOES Paul McCartney 116250
7 3 1 14 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 1710000
8 12 8 3 WHY HER NOT ME Grace Carter 93000
9 NEW 9 1 NOTHING BURNS LIKE THE COLD Snoh Aalegra featuring Vince Staples 45000
10 11 10 5 I’M NOT SCARED Pet Shop Boys 122750

11 68 11 2 SECRETS P!nk 43400
12 5 5 6 PROMISES Calvin Harris & Sam Smith 283500
13 NEW 13 1 SHAME Elle King 32000
14 15 14 3 MOVIN’ ON Paul Weller 66200
15 16 15 6 MADE FOR NOW Janet Jackson featuring Daddy Yankee 119500
16 17 16 4 LOSING IT FISHER 64900
17 9 6 7 DARKSIDE Alan Walker featuring AU/RA & Tomine Harket 206400
18 18 18 6 THUNDERCLOUDS LSD featuring Sia, Diplo & Labrinth 112100
19 23 19 4 THE DARK SIDE Muse 65150
20 20 20 6 ANGEL Aretha Franklin 112350

21 4 4 9 MY LOVE MY LIFE Abba 255250
22 13 7 8 RUN THE ROAD Santigold 269500
23 10 1 6 (YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE) A NATURAL WOMAN Aretha Franklin 486250
24 25 24 5 BREATHIN Ariana Grande 71350
25 8 8 8 SPOOKY Dusty Springfield 194850
26 27 26 3 PEOPLE GIVE IN Manic Street Preachers 43100
27 30 27 3 GOODBYE Jason Derulo & David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj & Willy William 53600
28 28 28 6 LIKE A PRAYER Madonna 97500
29 19 5 11 THE WILD DARKNESS (CYA REMIX) Moby 448200
30 35 30 3 SOBER Nile Rodgers & Chic featuring Craig David & Stefflon Don 49000

31 14 1 10 ME MYSELF AND I Blonde featuring Bryn Christopher 629900
32 49 32 3 KONG Neneh Cherry 40000
33 74 33 2 ALL I AM (FROM THE DUMPLIN’ ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK) Dolly Parton & Sia 22900
34 21 1 6 I SAY A LITTLE PRAYER Aretha Franklin 416250
35 59 35 2 MARINERS APARTMENT COMPLEX Lana Del Ray 27600
36 50 36 3 JUST GOT PAID Sigala, Elle Ayre & Meghan Trainor featuring French Montana 40200
37 NEW 37 1 YOUR FUNNY UNCLE Pet Shop Boys 17300
38 62 38 2 GTFO Mariah Carey 24600
39 33 1 18 HIGH HOPES Panic! At The Disco 1306000
40 46 40 2 LIFE IS GOLDEN Suede 29750

41 22 6 17 PANIC ROOM Au/Ra & CamelPhat 446050
42 24 6 11 BE RIGHT HERE Kungs & Stargate featuring GOLDN 324000
43 44 43 3 A LIFETIME TO REPAIR (EDIT) Kylie Minogue 38750
44 54 44 3 ELECTRICITY Silk City & Dua Lipa featuring Diplo & Mark Ronson 31650
45 29 4 9 SIDE EFFECTS The Chainsmokers featuring Emily Warren 247100
46 31 18 7 GIMME GIMME GIMME (A MAN AFTER MIDNIGHT) Cher 120900
47 32 32 4 IN MY MIND Dynoro & Gigi D’Agostino 61650
48 NEW 48 1 ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER Afterhere 12300
49 36 10 10 SOMETHING HUMAN Muse 282000
50 34 20 10 CREEP CITY Jake Shears 145700

51 42 9 9 ANDANTE ANDANTE Abba 228500
52 37 1 5 HEY JUDE The Beatles 295800
53 53 53 4 YOUNGBLOOD 5 Seconds Of Summer 35600
54 47 10 8 COME ON GET HAPPY The Partridge Family featuring David Cassidy & Starring Shirley Jones 167500
55 39 39 7 NO DANGER The Delgados 75700
56 51 3 16 SINNER Deaf Havana 625650
57 60 57 3 AFTER ALL All Saints 27400
58 63 58 3 EIGHTEEN Pale Waves 22400
59 56 1 19 RUN BOY RUN Woodkid 829750
60 65 60 3 TRY Rick Astley 23600

61 38 1 14 MY AUTUMN’S DONE COME Lee Hazelwood 772450
62 64 62 3 NINA CRIED POWER Hozier featuring Mavis Staples 20500
63 43 13 8 JUST MY TYPE The Vamps 161250
64 NEW 64 1 I WANT A DOG (ALBUM VERSION) Pet Shop Boys 7100
65 40 6 10 WOULDN’T WANT TO BE LIKE YOU Sheryl Crow featuring Annie Clark 289700
66 72 66 5 EASTSIDE benny blanco, Halsey & Khalid 28000
67 75 67 2 A CHANGE IS GONNA COME Sam Cooke 11600
68 69 68 4 HAPPIER Marshmello & Bastille 24200
69 71 69 2 TRANZ Gorillaz 12000
70 70 14 11 FRIENDS RAYE 189450

71 NEW 71 1 NOTHING HAS BEEN PROVED (DEMO FOR DUSTY) Pet Shop Boys 5800
72 73 72 2 CUT TO THE FEELING Carly Rae Jepsen 11000
73 NEW 73 1 ALL FOR YOU Years & Years 5400
74 NEW 74 1 VENUS LOON T.Rex 5200
75 NEW 75 1 HEAD OVER HEELS Tears For Fears 5000

DROP OUTS
41 8 9 ALWAYS Panama 211250
45 45 5 SWEET HARMONY The Beloved 56450
48 37 6 MISSING U Robyn 65200
52 19 5 SPANISH HARLEM Aretha Franklin 88000
55 55 3 UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME Aretha Franklin 28800
57 57 3 THIS WOMAN’S WORK Kate Bush 31200
58 35 4 AIN’T NO WAY Aretha Franklin 52300
61 47 5 THINK Aretha Franklin 53200
66 35 5 TECHNIQUE Paces featuring Emmalyn & Jeida Woods 66750
67 36 10 SUMMERTIME MAGIC Childish Gambino 124250

16th September 2018

It’s 90’s Belgium band Hooverphonic on top with their cinematic Romantic, which is very romantic despite all claims to the contrary. Paul Macca gets his first top 10 with new material for 5 years giving him 50 years of top 10’s in my charts. Huge climbs for up and coming Grace Carter, from Brighton, and Paul Weller modpunk main man 40 years on from his first top 20, and throbbing dance act Fisher. Highest new entry is from Kodaline, just ahead of a big climb from Manic Street Preachers, giving a bit of a veteran rock theme to the charts. Talking of which Suede are back with a goodie, the majestic Life Is Golden giving the former chart-toppers a highest chart position for 16 years. Returns from Lana Del Ray, P!nk, sweary Mariah Carey back after 5 years away (yes I know sweary is usually in front of P!nk songs), Gorillaz and Dolly Parton with a Sia movie theme duet.

1 4 1 9 ROMANTIC Hooverphonic 661000
2 2 2 5 WHITE DRESS Set Mo featuring Deutsch Duke 381750
3 1 1 13 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 1660000
4 9 4 8 MY LOVE MY LIFE Abba 235500
5 5 5 5 PROMISES Calvin Harris & Sam Smith 248500
6 7 6 5 VELVET ELVIS Kacey Musgraves 182900
7 53 7 2 DOMINOES Paul McCartney 61250
8 12 8 7 SPOOKY Dusty Springfield 176100
9 6 6 6 DARKSIDE Alan Walker featuring AU/RA & Tomine Harket 183400
10 3 1 5 (YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE) A NATURAL WOMAN Aretha Franklin 467000

11 21 11 4 I’M NOT SCARED Pet Shop Boys 80750
12 60 12 2 WHY HER NOT ME Grace Carter 45000
13 10 7 7 RUN THE ROAD Santigold 250000
14 8 1 9 ME MYSELF AND I Blonde featuring Bryn Christopher 612000
15 58 15 2 MOVIN’ ON Paul Weller 37200
16 24 16 5 MADE FOR NOW Janet Jackson featuring Daddy Yankee 92500
17 52 17 3 LOSING IT FISHER 39900
18 19 18 5 THUNDERCLOUDS LSD featuring Sia, Diplo & Labrinth 90100
19 14 5 10 THE WILD DARKNESS (CYA REMIX) Moby 430000
20 23 20 5 ANGEL Aretha Franklin 92350

21 11 1 5 I SAY A LITTLE PRAYER Aretha Franklin 396750
22 17 6 16 PANIC ROOM Au/Ra & CamelPhat 432050
23 33 23 3 THE DARK SIDE Muse 44150
24 15 6 10 BE RIGHT HERE Kungs & Stargate featuring GOLDN 310250
25 36 25 4 BREATHIN Ariana Grande 52350
26 NEW 26 1 HEAD HELD HIGH Kodaline 18500
27 69 27 2 PEOPLE GIVE IN Manic Street Preachers 24600
28 28 28 5 LIKE A PRAYER Madonna 79200
29 16 4 8 SIDE EFFECTS The Chainsmokers featuring Emily Warren 234100
30 38 30 2 GOODBYE Jason Derulo & David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj & Willy William 35200

31 18 18 6 GIMME GIMME GIMME (A MAN AFTER MIDNIGHT) Cher 108150
32 34 32 3 IN MY MIND Dynoro & Gigi D’Agostino 49150
33 27 1 17 HIGH HOPES Panic! At The Disco 1288900
34 20 20 9 CREEP CITY Jake Shears 133700
35 43 35 2 SOBER Nile Rodgers & Chic featuring Craig David & Stefflon Don 31000
36 22 10 9 SOMETHING HUMAN Muse 269900
37 13 1 4 HEY JUDE The Beatles 284300
38 30 1 13 MY AUTUMN’S DONE COME Lee Hazelwood 764950
39 42 39 6 NO DANGER The Delgados 64900
40 29 6 9 WOULDN’T WANT TO BE LIKE YOU Sheryl Crow featuring Annie Clark 282700

41 31 8 9 ALWAYS Panama 211250
42 25 9 8 ANDANTE ANDANTE Abba 216750
43 32 13 7 JUST MY TYPE The Vamps 154050
44 50 44 2 A LIFETIME TO REPAIR (EDIT) Kylie Minogue 25250
45 45 45 5 SWEET HARMONY The Beloved 56450
46 NEW 46 1 LIFE IS GOLDEN Suede 12750
47 26 10 7 COME ON GET HAPPY The Partridge Family featuring David Cassidy & Starring Shirley Jones 156500
48 37 37 6 MISSING U Robyn 65200
49 59 49 2 KONG Neneh Cherry 22200
50 55 50 2 JUST GOT PAID Sigala, Elle Ayre & Meghan Trainor featuring French Montana 22800

51 39 3 15 SINNER Deaf Havana 615050
52 40 19 5 SPANISH HARLEM Aretha Franklin 88000
53 64 53 3 YOUNGBLOOD 5 Seconds Of Summer 24350
54 62 54 2 ELECTRICITY Silk City & Dua Lipa featuring Diplo & Mark Ronson 18400
55 56 55 3 UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME Aretha Franklin 28800
56 54 1 18 RUN BOY RUN Woodkid 819650
57 57 57 3 THIS WOMAN’S WORK Kate Bush 31200
58 35 35 4 AIN’T NO WAY Aretha Franklin 52300
59 NEW 59 1 MARINERS APARTMENT COMPLEX Lana Del Ray 10100
60 65 60 2 AFTER ALL All Saints 17000

61 47 47 5 THINK Aretha Franklin 53200
62 NEW 62 1 GTFO Mariah Carey 7400
63 75 63 2 EIGHTEEN Pale Waves 12200
64 70 64 2 NINA CRIED POWER Hozier featuring Mavis Staples 13100
65 67 65 2 TRY Rick Astley 13600
66 44 35 5 TECHNIQUE Paces featuring Emmalyn & Jeida Woods 66750
67 41 36 10 SUMMERTIME MAGIC Childish Gambino 124250
68 NEW 68 1 SECRETS P!nk 6400
69 71 69 3 HAPPIER Marshmello & Bastille 17800
70 51 14 10 FRIENDS RAYE 183450

71 NEW 71 1 TRANZ Gorillaz 5800
72 74 72 4 EASTSIDE benny blanco, Halsey & Khalid 21200
73 NEW 73 1 CUT TO THE FEELING Carly Rae Jepsen 5400
74 NEW 74 1 ALL I AM Dolly Parton & Sia 5200
75 NEW 75 1 A CHANGE IS GONNA COME Sam Cooke 5000

DROP OUTS
46 26 5 I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU Amanda Seyfreid, Christine Baranski & Julie Walters 86950
48 20 9 BIRDSONG Claptone featuring Zola Blood 148200
49 40 8 NATURAL Imagine Dragons 87800
61 10 12 BEAUTIFUL LIFE Rick Astley 281050
63 16 8 CRY ON MY GUITAR Miles Kane 143150
66 66 3 THE WHOLE OF THE MOON The Waterboys 19200
68 20 9 LANGAGE Moodoid & Wednesday Campanella 125100
72 72 2 YOU’RE MY WORLD Cilla Black 11200
73 73 2 BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER Aretha Franklin 10400

 

9th September 2018

It’s back up for a 5th week on top for PATD, and a host of new entries, half of them as we used to say in the old days “Various Artists”. and headed by Jason Derulo’s cover of the Sarah Brightman & Andrea Bocelli brilliance that is Time To Say Goodbye. Some veterans pop in, Chic, Macca, Weller, Astley, Manics, Mavis, All Saints, Craig David, but the only that has been MIA is Neneh Cherry, who hasnt featured on any new stuff since 2000, though her daughter Mabel is doing well these days.

1 3 1 12 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 1575000
2 2 2 4 WHITE DRESS Set Mo featuring Deutsch Duke 266750
3 1 1 4 (YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE) A NATURAL WOMAN Aretha Franklin 425000
4 8 3 8 ROMANTIC Hooverphonic 491000
5 5 5 4 PROMISES Calvin Harris & Sam Smith 188500
6 7 6 5 DARKSIDE Alan Walker featuring AU/RA & Tomine Harket 138400
7 11 7 4 VELVET ELVIS Kacey Musgraves 127900
8 9 1 8 ME MYSELF AND I Blonde featuring Bryn Christopher 583000
9 14 9 7 MY LOVE MY LIFE Abba 170500
10 10 7 6 RUN THE ROAD Santigold 218000

11 6 1 4 I SAY A LITTLE PRAYER Aretha Franklin 377000
12 21 12 6 SPOOKY Dusty Springfield 128100
13 4 1 3 HEY JUDE The Beatles 267000
14 12 5 9 THE WILD DARKNESS (CYA REMIX) Moby 409000
15 15 6 9 BE RIGHT HERE Kungs & Stargate featuring GOLDN 291250
16 16 4 7 SIDE EFFECTS The Chainsmokers featuring Emily Warren 215900
17 13 6 15 PANIC ROOM Au/Ra & CamelPhat 412550
18 20 18 5 GIMME GIMME GIMME (A MAN AFTER MIDNIGHT) Cher 90250
19 34 19 4 THUNDERCLOUDS LSD featuring Sia, Diplo & Labrinth 68100
20 28 20 8 CREEP CITY Jake Shears 116100

21 38 21 3 I’M NOT SCARED Pet Shop Boys 43750
22 17 10 8 SOMETHING HUMAN Muse 252500
23 29 23 4 ANGEL Aretha Franklin 72350
24 30 24 4 MADE FOR NOW Janet Jackson featuring Daddy Yankee 67500
25 19 9 7 ANDANTE ANDANTE Abba 203000
26 18 10 6 COME ON GET HAPPY The Partridge Family featuring David Cassidy & Starring Shirley Jones 144000
27 27 1 16 HIGH HOPES Panic! At The Disco 1271200
28 32 28 4 LIKE A PRAYER Madonna 60900
29 22 6 8 WOULDN’T WANT TO BE LIKE YOU Sheryl Crow featuring Annie Clark 265700
30 23 1 12 MY AUTUMN’S DONE COME Lee Hazelwood 747750

31 24 8 8 ALWAYS Panama 197250
32 26 13 6 JUST MY TYPE The Vamps 140550
33 63 33 2 THE DARK SIDE Muse 24900
34 42 34 2 IN MY MIND Dynoro & Gigi D’Agostino 31350
35 39 35 3 AIN’T NO WAY Aretha Franklin 42100
36 60 36 3 BREATHIN Ariana Grande 33600
37 49 37 5 MISSING U Robyn 52900
38 NEW 38 1 GOODBYE Jason Derulo & David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj & Willy William 17200
39 33 3 14 SINNER Deaf Havana 603300
40 25 19 4 SPANISH HARLEM Aretha Franklin 76500

41 36 36 9 SUMMERTIME MAGIC Childish Gambino 117650
42 44 42 5 NO DANGER The Delgados 47800
43 NEW 43 1 SOBER Nile Rodgers & Chic featuring Craig David & Stefflon Don 13500
44 35 35 4 TECHNIQUE Paces featuring Emmalyn & Jeida Woods 59950
45 48 45 4 SWEET HARMONY The Beloved 43450
46 31 26 5 I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU Amanda Seyfreid, Christine Baranski & Julie Walters 86950
47 47 47 4 THINK Aretha Franklin 45700
48 37 20 9 BIRDSONG Claptone featuring Zola Blood 148200
49 40 40 8 NATURAL Imagine Dragons 87800
50 NEW 50 1 A LIFETIME TO REPAIR (EDIT) Kylie Minogue 12000

51 41 14 9 FRIENDS RAYE 177450
52 73 52 2 LOSING IT FISHER 16900
53 NEW 53 1 DOMINOES Paul McCartney 11250
54 46 1 17 RUN BOY RUN Woodkid 809050
55 NEW 55 1 JUST GOT PAID Sigala, Elle Ayre & Meghan Trainor featuring French Montana 10800
56 62 56 2 UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME Aretha Franklin 18000
57 57 57 2 THIS WOMAN’S WORK Kate Bush 20800
58 NEW 58 1 MOVIN’ ON Paul Weller 10200
59 NEW 59 1 KONG Neneh Cherry 10100
60 NEW 60 1 WHY HER NOT ME Grace Carter 10000

61 51 10 12 BEAUTIFUL LIFE Rick Astley 281050
62 NEW 62 1 ELECTRICITY Silk City & Dua Lipa featuring Diplo & Mark Ronson 7400
63 45 16 8 CRY ON MY GUITAR Miles Kane 143150
64 70 64 2 YOUNGBLOOD 5 Seconds Of Summer 13100
65 NEW 65 1 AFTER ALL All Saints 7000
66 66 66 3 THE WHOLE OF THE MOON The Waterboys 19200
67 NEW 67 1 TRY Rick Astley 6600
68 43 20 9 LANGAGE Moodoid & Wednesday Campanella 125100
69 NEW 69 1 PEOPLE GIVE IN Manic Street Preachers 6200
70 NEW 70 1 NINA CRIED POWER Hozier featuring Mavis Staples 6000

71 71 71 2 HAPPIER Marshmello & Bastille 11600
72 72 72 2 YOU’RE MY WORLD Cilla Black 11200
73 75 73 2 BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER Aretha Franklin 10400
74 74 74 3 EASTSIDE benny blanco, Halsey & Khalid 15600
75 NEW 75 1 EIGHTEEN Pale Waves 5000

DROP OUTS
50 32 8 I HOPE YOU’RE HAPPY Blue October 120450
52 26 9 BIRTHDAY Kim Wilde 139300
53 3 8 IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME Yvonne Fair 302500
54 30 9 BORN TO BE YOURS Kygo & Imagine Dragons 134600
55 34 6 ON U NOTIMES 79150
56 29 7 JUST FRIENDS Hayden James featuring Boy Matthews 99000
58 36 6 SHINE Gabrielle 75700
59 52 5 WARRIOR Paloma Faith 49900
61 58 5 LIE LIKE ME Ward Thomas 44900
64 1 8 FOREVER MORE Moloko 402450
65 65 4 CRUEL GAME (VANZETTI & SACCO REMIX) Nouvelle Phenomene 24200
67 23 8 LOST WITHOUT YOU Freya Ridings 106700
68 19 12 OCEAN Martin Garrix featuring Khalid 162700
69 2 20 SIT NEXT TO ME Foster The People 809750

 

 

2nd September 2018

It’s Aretha’s heavenly version of Carole King’s Natural Woman on top, 51 years old and still fab. It’s her 4th chart-topper, and second posthumously. Aretha has many tracks climbing this week and two more new entries, one of them that topped my chart in the new Orchestral version over Christmas, after first charting in 1974, and the other, a cover of Bridge Over Troubled Water, has never charted before. That just keeps off number one a big climb for Set Mo, an Aussie act with their fab track White Dress. There’s also a second top 10 for both Alan Walker and Au/Ra, replacing herself in the top 10, as Darkside shoots up.

Err, that’s about it actually, in a very quiet chart week, as I’ve been too busy to listen to much new music. I don’t like stale charts so will be searching about this week for hot new tracks! Highest new entry is In My Mind by two people Ive never heard of, another Muse new track, 5 Seconds Of Summer popping in, a bit late, a Bastille Marshmallow, or something like that, and a booming dance track from FISHER. Plus some more (probably X Factor) itunes oldies coming back again.

1 3 1 3 (YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE) A NATURAL WOMAN Aretha Franklin 340000
2 21 2 3 WHITE DRESS Set Mo featuring Deutsch Duke 151750
3 4 1 11 HEY LOOK MA, I MADE IT Panic! At The Disco 1405000
4 1 1 2 HEY JUDE The Beatles 235000
5 6 5 3 PROMISES Calvin Harris & Sam Smith 128500
6 2 1 3 I SAY A LITTLE PRAYER Aretha Franklin 340000
7 29 7 4 DARKSIDE Alan Walker featuring AU/RA & Tomine Harket 83400
8 8 3 7 ROMANTIC Hooverphonic 426000
9 5 1 7 ME MYSELF AND I Blonde featuring Bryn Christopher 535000
10 7 7 5 RUN THE ROAD Santigold 176000

11 17 11 3 VELVET ELVIS Kacey Musgraves 77900
12 11 5 8 THE WILD DARKNESS (CYA REMIX) Moby 380000
13 9 6 14 PANIC ROOM Au/Ra & CamelPhat 389550
14 16 14 6 MY LOVE MY LIFE Abba 125500
15 15 6 8 BE RIGHT HERE Kungs & Stargate featuring GOLDN 264250
16 14 4 6 SIDE EFFECTS The Chainsmokers featuring Emily Warren 190900
17 12 10 7 SOMETHING HUMAN Muse 233000
18 10 10 5 COME ON GET HAPPY The Partridge Family featuring David Cassidy & Starring Shirley Jones 125500
19 13 9 6 ANDANTE ANDANTE Abba 184250
20 22 20 4 GIMME GIMME GIMME (A MAN AFTER MIDNIGHT) Cher 68250

21 25 21 5 SPOOKY Dusty Springfield 93100
22 18 6 7 WOULDN’T WANT TO BE LIKE YOU Sheryl Crow featuring Annie Clark 247500
23 20 1 11 MY AUTUMN’S DONE COME Lee Hazelwood 729750
24 24 8 7 ALWAYS Panama 197250
25 19 19 3 SPANISH HARLEM Aretha Franklin 59500
26 23 13 5 JUST MY TYPE The Vamps 122750
27 27 1 15 HIGH HOPES Panic! At The Disco 1253800
28 28 28 7 CREEP CITY Jake Shears 96100
29 32 29 3 ANGEL Aretha Franklin 53100
30 35 30 3 MADE FOR NOW Janet Jackson featuring Daddy Yankee 48500

31 26 26 4 I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU Amanda Seyfreid, Christine Baranski & Julie Walters 73200
32 39 32 3 LIKE A PRAYER Madonna 41900
33 30 3 13 SINNER Deaf Havana 586200
34 40 34 3 THUNDERCLOUDS LSD featuring Sia, Diplo & Labrinth 47100
35 38 35 3 TECHNIQUE Paces featuring Emmalyn & Jeida Woods 46700
36 53 36 8 SUMMERTIME MAGIC Childish Gambino 103650
37 34 20 8 BIRDSONG Claptone featuring Zola Blood 135900
38 66 38 2 I’M NOT SCARED Pet Shop Boys 24000
39 61 39 2 AIN’T NO WAY Aretha Franklin 24600
40 50 40 7 NATURAL Imagine Dragons 75700

41 41 14 8 FRIENDS RAYE 165700
42 NEW 42 1 IN MY MIND Dynoro & Gigi D’Agostino 13750
43 31 20 8 LANGAGE Moodoid & Wednesday Campanella 118700
44 63 44 4 NO DANGER The Delgados 34050
45 33 16 7 CRY ON MY GUITAR Miles Kane 135950
46 44 1 16 RUN BOY RUN Woodkid 798050
47 56 47 3 THINK Aretha Franklin 33200
48 51 48 3 SWEET HARMONY The Beloved 30450
49 52 49 4 MISSING U Robyn 35600
50 37 32 8 I HOPE YOU’RE HAPPY Blue October 120450

51 45 10 11 BEAUTIFUL LIFE Rick Astley 273550
52 43 26 9 BIRTHDAY Kim Wilde 139300
53 48 3 8 IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME Yvonne Fair 302500
54 36 30 9 BORN TO BE YOURS Kygo & Imagine Dragons 134600
55 46 34 6 ON U NOTIMES 79150
56 47 29 7 JUST FRIENDS Hayden James featuring Boy Matthews 99000
57 NEW 57 1 THIS WOMAN’S WORK Kate Bush 10400
58 49 36 6 SHINE Gabrielle 75700
59 57 52 5 WARRIOR Paloma Faith 49900
60 69 60 2 BREATHIN Ariana Grande 16200

61 58 58 5 LIE LIKE ME Ward Thomas 44900
62 NEW 62 1 UNTIL YOU COME BACK TO ME Aretha Franklin 7400
63 NEW 63 1 THE DARK SIDE Muse 7200
64 59 1 8 FOREVER MORE Moloko 402450
65 70 65 4 CRUEL GAME (VANZETTI & SACCO REMIX) Nouvelle Phenomene 24200
66 72 66 2 THE WHOLE OF THE MOON The Waterboys 12400
67 62 23 8 LOST WITHOUT YOU Freya Ridings 106700
68 54 19 12 OCEAN Martin Garrix featuring Khalid 162700
69 64 2 20 SIT NEXT TO ME Foster The People 809750
70 NEW 70 1 YOUNGBLOOD 5 Seconds Of Summer 6000

71 NEW 71 1 HAPPIER Marshmello & Bastille 5800
72 NEW 72 1 YOU’RE MY WORLD Cilla Black 5600
73 NEW 73 1 LOSING IT FISHER 5400
74 74 74 2 EASTSIDE benny blanco, Halsey & Khalid 10400
75 NEW 75 1 BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER Aretha Franklin 5000

DROP OUTS
42 42 3 SHOW ME THE WAY Suzi Island 39250
55 55 4 LEVEL UP Ciara 35400
60 6 11 I ADORE U Adore Delano 352350
65 10 11 PARIS (VINAI REMIX) The Chainsmokers 216300
67 67 2 SISTERS ARE DOING IT FOR THEMSELVES Eurythmics & Aretha Franklin 12400
68 7 13 LOVE LASTS FOREVER All Saints 272800
71 17 10 BORROWED LeAnn Rimes & Stevie Nicks 147250
73 73 3 ALL WE DO Oh Wonder 15400
75 75 1 DON’T ACT LIKE A STRANGER Cathedrals 5000

My 2016 Charts Sep-Dec

Portaventura Spain Oct 2016

25th December 2016

It’s Robbie Williams for a 7th week, I’m still loving the romantic gorgeousness of When You Know, as his current UK sales top 10 Love My Life drops out after peaking at 70. It’s clear which one I prefer! The Weeknd goes up to both 2 and 3, current single at 3, and I hope a future single at 2. Highest new entry in the thankfully-reduced-to-75 chart is at 5, Kaiser Chiefs best single in 7 years, We Stay Together – their 8th top 10, and trailing only their 3 chart-toppers – is oddly constructed, a disco belter, and more of a duet with producers’ Xenomania’s receptionist. She’s great!

Vaults get a second top 10 with Randy Crawford’s 1980 top tenner, One Day I’ll Fly Away, Kylie and Sigma add to their list of top 20’s, and ABC grab their 7th top 40 of 2016, a record for them, and it’s a proper good ol (under-appreciated) Christmas song to join the oldie festive goodies. Barry Gibb gets his first solo top 40 track in over 30 years, Grouplove get a belated second top 40, and new entry with the uplifting fab Good Morning. Kungs’ third top 40 of the year, Betsy’s second, and Imagine Dragons new entry at 40, taken from the unfairly-slagged-off fab movie Passengers – criticisms seem to based on moral issues (which is the whole point of the film) rather than for sci-fi blockbuster expectations. Levitate is their 5th or 6th since their debut chart-topper hit, Radioactive.

Little Mix and Charlie Puth are both back, jointly, on a good track, and The Dave Clark 5 also bring Glad All Over back to my charts for the first time since 1993. The 1964 UK chart-topper ended the Beatles domination of the UK charts over Autumn 1963/New Year 1964, and I loved it as a 6-year-old, and also Dave Clark and co’s thumping drums. Sadly almost all their hits predate my charts (though they would have had many), though they were there early on over autumn 1968 with the top 5 fave The Red Balloon (one Dave seems to have excommunicated from hits packages). The record has charted at 4 in the Uk sales chart (31 on streaming-included) following a Rangers FC campaign.

1 1 1 7 WHEN YOU KNOW Robbie Williams 1190000
2 3 2 5 SECRETS The Weeknd featuring Tears For Fears 515000
3 4 3 5 I FEEL IT COMING The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk 249400
4 5 4 10 CLOSER The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey 327350
5 80 5 2 WE STAY TOGETHER Kaiser Chiefs featuring Sarah Thomson 64000
6 6 6 5 MAKE ME (CRY) Noah Cyrus featuring Labrinth 194750
7 7 3 6 REDBONE Childish Gambino 321400
8 8 8 4 NEVER GIVE UP Sia 176000
9 2 2 3 I BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS Greg Lake 275000
10 15 10 7 ONE DAY I’LL FLY AWAY Vaults 148500

11 14 11 4 CHRISTMAS WRAPPING The Waitresses 87000
12 17 12 7 MAGNETISED Garbage 123100
13 10 10 7 ONLY HEAVEN Coldcut featuring Roots Manuva 172600
14 13 5 7 BRUCE LEE Robbie Williams 323000
15 9 6 8 ROCKABYE Clean Bandit featuring Sean Paul & Anne-Marie 281450
16 12 12 4 ONE MORE SLEEP Leona Lewis 91500
17 18 2 15 GO! M83 featuring Mai Lan 829000
18 20 18 4 ON WHAT YOU’RE ON Busted 60500
19 24 19 7 FIND ME Sigma featuring Birdy 131600
20 26 20 5 EVERYBODY’S FREE (TO FEEL GOOD) Kylie Minogue 86400

21 11 1 15 HURTS Emeli Sande 1154750
22 19 9 13 HUMAN Rag’n’Bone Man 263000
23 32 14 9 BREATHING UNDERWATER Emeli Sande 160650
24 25 24 9 RUN TO HIM Bobby Vee 132900
25 35 25 8 1000 NIGHTS Frenship 109700
26 60 26 2 A CHRISTMAS WE DESERVE ABC 28500
27 29 27 7 CLOSER TO LIFE Atella x Froder 94300
28 23 1 14 HOUSE OF CARDS Red Sky July 992750
29 34 29 4 IT’S HAPPENING AGAIN Agnes Obel 53700
30 30 30 4 ALONE Alan Walker 43000

31 37 19 7 EARTH NOT ABOVE Haelos 130000
32 54 32 4 STARVING Hailey Steinfeld featuring Zedd and Grey 37800
33 52 33 7 DAMN Red Rosamond 79900
34 22 1 9 KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU Abba 786100
35 78 35 2 STAR CROSSED LOVERS Barry Gibb 21900
36 16 7 6 WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE Adele 175400
37 NEW 37 1 GOOD MORNING Grouplove 17300
38 44 38 4 I FEEL SO BAD Kungs featuring Ephemerals 46650
39 66 39 3 WANTED MORE Betsy 28500
40 NEW 40 1 LEVITATE Imagine Dragons 17000

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

41 31 23 8 SYMMETRY OF TWO HEARTS Bright Light Bright Light featuring Elton John 125350
42 40 1 17 FIRST TIME HE KISSED A BOY Kadie Elder 1079450
43 43 4 14 CAN’T LET GO, JUNO Kishi Bashi 433900
44 33 6 12 STARBOY The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk 322800
45 46 45 6 GREGORY’S THEME Basto 55150
46 47 46 7 ALGA Ignea 63850
47 36 6 14 YOU’RE THE ONE Kathy Kirby 290900
48 38 17 8 SUNRISE (HERE I AM) Ratty 131300
49 49 49 7 FIRST WE TAKE MANHATTAN Leonard Cohen 57050
50 28 17 7 SEXUAL NEIKED featuring Dyo 116550

51 39 8 9 THE LOVE INSIDE THE LOVE ABC 274050
52 41 6 11 RIVER RUNS DRY Scavenger Hunt 306250
53 53 53 7 GHOST Jeremy Messersmith 37500
54 48 48 7 MAZE Aria 63700
55 50 11 10 SAY IT (CLEAN BANDIT REMIX) Flume featuring Tove Lo 186800
56 57 56 2 SHED A LIGHT Robin Schulz & David Guetta featuring Cheat Codes 21000
57 42 18 9 GISELE Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Sebastien Teller 150700
58 63 55 4 SO GOOD Louisa Johnson 30600
59 67 59 4 WEIGHT IN GOLD Gallant 28500
60 62 60 5 AT CHRISTMAS Kylie Minogue 26600

61 21 17 13 THE HEAVY ENTERTAINMENT SHOW Robbie Williams 180200
62 55 5 16 NEVER EVER Royksopp featuring Susanne Sundfor 400000
63 65 63 9 TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY BABY Bobby Vee 44100
64 58 4 14 ODE TO MY NEXT LIFE Kishi Bashi 378550
65 NEW 65 1 OOPS Little Mix featuring Charlie Puth 7000
66 71 66 6 STEREO Courage My Love 22200
67 NEW 67 1 GLAD ALL OVER The Dave Clark 5 6600
68 64 6 20 HER (LOVING YOU) GLADES 482550
69 81 69 2 I DON’T WANNA LIVE FOREVER ZAYN and Taylor Swift 10000
70 69 1 37 WICHITA LINEMAN Glen Campbell 725600

71 72 71 4 AFTER THE AFTERPARTY Charlie XCX featuring Lil Yachty 22200
72 74 72 7 OH, PRETTY WOMAN Roy Orbison 27700
73 73 8 20 BRICK ENGLAND Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Pet Shop Boys 341800
74 84 1 32 OTRA ERA Javiera Mena 865250
75 85 2 16 FAMILIAR Agnes Obel 624700

DROP OUTS
27 27 4 IT’S BETTER TO DREAM (CHRISTMAS MIX) Cliff Richard 63800
45 45 7 GHOST OF YOU Julia Knight 64700
51 15 10 LOST (AS I AM) Superwalkers 154250
56 56 5 ONE DAY I’LL FLY AWAY Randy Crawford 37800
59 59 4 I’M GONNA BE WARM THIS WINTER Connie Francis 24700
61 16 9 CERTAINTY Temples 152250
68 53 3 SEPTEMBER SONG JP Cooper 25150
70 70 3 LOVE MY LIFE Robbie Williams 13700
75 75 6 I WAS ON YOUR SIDE Lilyer 21000
76 10 11 24K MAGIC Bruno Mars 199100
77 7 8 f*** YOU Lily Allen 234850
79 4 13 QUICKSAND Tom Chaplin 444450
82 82 7 BAD MOON RISING Creedence Clearwater Revival 21500
83 75 6 SHOUT OUT TO MY EX Little Mix 20200
86 86 2 FANFARE FOR THE COMMON MAN Emerson Lake & Palmer 4100
87 87 2 PRETTY WOMAN Robbie Williams 4000
88 88 5 SUZANNE Leonard Cohen 9200
89 89 2 READY OR NOT Laura Mvula 3200
90 90 2 I’VE GOT A THING ABOUT YOU BABY Elvis Presley & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 3900

18th December 2016

It’s the pre-christmas chart and Robbie rules for a 6th week, cos I adore the melody and emotion of this spine-tinglingly romantic love song. Robbie always wears his lyric heart on his sleeve, and just touches me enormously, his gift with words is great and Guy Chambers’ melodies heavenly. Robbie needs a slap for not putting it on the album proper, though, unless he has bigger plans for it. Perfectly constructed ballad.The Weeknd still has two top 5 tracks, Coldcut get their 4th top 10, and all the Christmas songs are joined by a new one from ABC, their first, and 7th chart entry this year. 2016 is their best year since 1982 classicness. When they scored a first hit at christmas 1981, just faffing around the lower end of the UK top 75 was a little old minor jolly christmas ditty from The Waitresses, barely even one-minor-hit wonders. Time has been very kind, though, as the song tends to get some annual exposure without ever breaking big. LONG overdue a top 40 visit, we need a campaign to get it there at long last. 14 for me, some 35 years after first cracking my top 40.

Busted have a top 20 climb, Alan Walker a huge leap for a second top 30, while chart returns for Kaiser Chiefs, Barry Gibb, Robin Schulz, David Guetta, Zayn and Taylor Swift set them up for a good start to 2017.

1 1 1 6 WHEN YOU KNOW Robbie Williams 1020000
2 2 2 2 I BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS Greg Lake 230000
3 3 2 4 SECRETS The Weeknd featuring Tears For Fears 400000
4 5 4 4 I FEEL IT COMING The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk 159400
5 7 5 9 CLOSER The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey 262350
6 8 6 4 MAKE ME (CRY) Noah Cyrus featuring Labrinth 139750
7 4 3 5 REDBONE Childish Gambino 271400
8 9 8 3 NEVER GIVE UP Sia 128000
9 6 6 7 ROCKABYE Clean Bandit featuring Sean Paul & Anne-Marie 254250
10 13 10 6 ONLY HEAVEN Coldcut featuring Roots Manuva 140600

11 10 1 13 HURTS Emeli Sande 1135000
12 21 12 3 ONE MORE SLEEP Leona Lewis 31500
13 10 5 6 BRUCE LEE Robbie Williams 294000
14 32 14 3 CHRISTMAS WRAPPING The Waitresses 50100
15 19 15 6 ONE DAY I’LL FLY AWAY Vaults 106500
16 12 7 5 WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE Adele 158000
17 20 17 6 MAGNETISED Garbage 88100
18 16 2 14 GO! M83 featuring Mai Lan 806000
19 15 9 12 HUMAN Rag’n’Bone Man 243500
20 38 20 3 ON WHAT YOU’RE ON Busted 38500

21 17 17 12 THE HEAVY ENTERTAINMENT SHOW Robbie Williams 162700
22 14 1 8 KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU Abba 768500
23 18 1 13 HOUSE OF CARDS Red Sky July 975450
24 24 24 6 FIND ME Sigma featuring Birdy 110600
25 25 25 8 RUN TO HIM Bobby Vee 114000
26 28 26 4 EVERYBODY’S FREE (TO FEEL GOOD) Kylie Minogue 66400
27 27 27 4 IT’S BETTER TO DREAM (CHRISTMAS MIX) Cliff Richard 63800
28 22 17 6 SEXUAL NEIKED featuring Dyo 124450
29 30 29 6 CLOSER TO LIFE Atella x Froder 75800
30 73 30 3 ALONE Alan Walker 25000

31 23 23 7 SYMMETRY OF TWO HEARTS Bright Light Bright Light featuring Elton John 111350
32 45 14 8 BREATHING UNDERWATER Emeli Sande 141400
33 39 6 11 STARBOY The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk 309550
34 52 34 3 IT’S HAPPENING AGAIN Agnes Obel 35600
35 35 35 7 1000 NIGHTS Frenship 90950
36 26 6 13 YOU’RE THE ONE Kathy Kirby 277500
37 37 19 6 EARTH NOT ABOVE Haelos 112000
38 34 17 7 SUNRISE (HERE I AM) Ratty 119000
39 29 8 8 THE LOVE INSIDE THE LOVE ABC 262200
40 40 1 16 FIRST TIME HE KISSED A BOY Kadie Elder 1065700

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

41 31 6 10 RIVER RUNS DRY Scavenger Hunt 294750
42 33 18 8 GISELE Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Sebastien Teller 140400
43 42 4 13 CAN’T LET GO, JUNO Kishi Bashi 420400
44 57 44 3 I FEEL SO BAD Kungs featuring Ephemerals 29450
45 46 45 7 GHOST OF YOU Julia Knight 64750
46 54 46 5 GREGORY’S THEME Basto! 42200
47 50 47 6 ALGA Ignea 51200
48 56 48 6 MAZE Aria 52800
49 51 49 6 FIRST WE TAKE MANHATTAN Leonard Cohen 45050
50 41 11 9 SAY IT (CLEAN BANDIT REMIX) Flume featuring Tove Lo 176000

51 36 15 10 LOST (AS I AM) Superwalkers 154250
52 47 47 6 DAMN Red Rosamond 62300
53 71 53 6 GHOST Jeremy Messersmith 26250
54 66 54 3 STARVING Hailey Steinfeld featuring Zedd and Grey 20000
55 48 5 15 NEVER EVER Royksopp featuring Susanne Sundfor 392700
56 58 56 5 ONE DAY I’LL FLY AWAY Randy Crawford 37800
57 NEW 57 1 SHED A LIGHT Robin Schulz & David Guetta featuring Cheat Codes 10400
58 44 4 13 ODE TO MY NEXT LIFE Kishi Bashi 371450
59 60 59 3 I’M GONNA BE WARM THIS WINTER Connie Francis 21700
60 NEW 60 1 A CHRISTMAS WE DESERVE ABC 10000

61 49 16 9 CERTAINTY Temples 152350
62 65 62 4 AT CHRISTMAS Kylie Minogue 16600
63 55 55 3 SO GOOD Louisa Johnson 20400
64 62 6 19 HER (LOVING YOU) GLADES 476150
65 67 65 8 TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY BABY Bobby Vee 36900
66 77 66 2 WANTED MORE Betsy 11400
67 69 67 3 WEIGHT IN GOLD Gallant 18400
68 53 53 3 SEPTEMBER SONG JP Cooper 25150
69 68 1 36 WICHITA LINEMAN Glen Campbell 719600
70 70 70 3 LOVE MY LIFE Robbie Williams 13700

71 82 71 5 STEREO Courage My Love 15400
72 72 72 3 AFTER THE AFTERPARTY Charlie XCX featuring Lil Yachty 16600
73 61 8 19 BRICK ENGLAND Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Pet Shop Boys 336400
74 74 74 6 OH, PRETTY WOMAN Roy Orbison 22100
75 76 75 6 I WAS ON YOUR SIDE Lilyer 21000

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

76 64 10 11 24K MAGIC Bruno Mars 199100
77 43 7 8 f*** YOU Lily Allen 233850
78 NEW 78 1 STAR CROSSED LOVERS Barry Gibb 4400
79 63 4 13 QUICKSAND Tom Chaplin 444450
80 NEW 80 1 WE STAY TOGETHER Kaiser Chiefs 4000

81 NEW 81 1 I DON’T WANNA LIVE FOREVER Zayn & Taylor Swift 3800
82 83 82 7 BAD MOON RISING Creedence Clearwater Revival 21500

83 75 75 5 SHOUT OUT TO MY EX Little Mix 20200
84 89 1 31 OTRA ERA Javiera Mena 863050
85 84 2 15 FAMILIAR Agnes Obel 619700
86 97 86 2 FANFARE FOR THE COMMON MAN Emerson Lake & Palmer 4100
87 96 87 2 PRETTY WOMAN Robbie Williams 4000
88 90 88 5 SUZANNE Leonard Cohen 9200
89 100 89 2 READY OR NOT Laura Mvula 3200
90 91 90 2 I’VE GOT A THING ABOUT YOU BABY Elvis Presley & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 3900

DROP OUTS

87 87 87 2 IN LOVE Water Juice featuring Audrey Graham 5200
59 41 4 25 YOU STILL BELIEVE IN ME The Beach Boys 453950
93 NEW 93 1 SHOW ME THE MAGIC Jamie Cullen 1700
81 69 69 3 GROW UP Olly Murs 15400
78 49 12 11 FLAME ON FLAME (A SLOW DIRGE) Kishi Bashi 176650
79 52 30 8 KISS ME Fingertips 111950
80 66 31 8 DREAMER Coco Morier 78350
85 73 19 12 WHO’D YOU KILL Kishi Bashi 164300
88 95 88 3 WHAT Melinda Marx 5400
94 86 1 31 SWIPE TO THE RIGHT Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Cyndi Lauper 1165400

99 54 39 8 SIDE TO SIDE Ariana Grande featuring Nicki Minaj 94050
98 58 2 20 KISS ME GOODBYE ABC 606100
95 57 29 8 BAD DECISIONS Two Door Cinema Club 102350
92 63 6 11 PARTY LIKE A RUSSIAN Robbie Williams 221600
86 90 86 7 SAINT CLAUDE Christine and The Queens 11100

11th December 2016

Robbie holds off for a 5th week on top, his longest ever run, just keeping off the late Greg Lake who sadly died last week. His classic christmas song knocked Bohemian Rhapsody off the top of my charts back in xmas 1975 and i was sweet 17. Since then it topped again in the 80s and also a few years back. Fanfare For The Common Man also topped my chart in 1977 and thats back too. The Weeknd joins himself in my top 5, his 3rd of the year and daft punk’s 2nd.

A good climb for noah cyrus equalling her sister miley by getting a top 10, and labrinth’s 5th or 6th. Lots of xmas songs, busted getting a top 40 for the first time in 14 years, and a 6th robbie track in the 100, but not the roy orbison song pretty woman…

1 1 1 5 WHEN YOU KNOW Robbie Williams 850000
2 NEW 2 1 I BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS Greg Lake 115000
3 2 2 3 SECRETS The Weeknd featuring Tears For Fears 315000
4 3 3 4 REDBONE Childish Gambino 221400
5 18 5 3 I FEEL IT COMING The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk 99400
6 6 6 6 ROCKABYE Clean Bandit featuring Sean Paul & Anne-Marie 209250
7 8 7 8 CLOSER The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey 202350
8 23 8 3 MAKE ME (CRY) Noah Cyrus featuring Labrinth 84750
9 12 9 2 NEVER GIVE UP Sia 80000
10 5 5 5 BRUCE LEE Robbie Williams 262000

11 10 1 13 HURTS Emeli Sande 1098000
12 7 7 4 WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE Adele 133000
13 16 13 5 ONLY HEAVEN Coldcut featuring Roots Manuva 98600
14 4 1 7 KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU Abba 749000
15 9 9 11 HUMAN Rag’n’Bone Man 222500
16 11 2 13 GO! M83 featuring Mai Lan 784000
17 42 17 11 THE HEAVY ENTERTAINMENT SHOW Robbie Williams 142950
18 13 1 12 HOUSE OF CARDS Red Sky July 956200
19 30 19 5 ONE DAY I’LL FLY AWAY Vaults 79500
20 20 20 5 MAGNETISED Garbage 65100

21 51 21 2 ONE MORE SLEEP Leona Lewis 31500
22 17 17 5 SEXUAL NEIKED featuring Dyo 106250
23 29 23 6 SYMMETRY OF TWO HEARTS Bright Light Bright Light featuring Elton John 93450
24 26 24 5 FIND ME Sigma featuring Birdy 91600
25 31 25 7 RUN TO HIM Bobby Vee 95200
26 15 6 12 YOU’RE THE ONE Kathy Kirby 260100
27 40 27 3 IT’S BETTER TO DREAM (CHRISTMAS MIX) Cliff Richard 45400
28 39 28 3 EVERYBODY’S FREE (TO FEEL GOOD) Kylie Minogue 47800
29 14 8 7 THE LOVE INSIDE THE LOVE ABC 245100
30 36 30 5 CLOSER TO LIFE Atella x Froder 57700

31 19 6 9 RIVER RUNS DRY Scavenger Hunt 280750
32 84 32 2 CHRISTMAS WRAPPING The Waitresses 21100
33 24 18 7 GISELE Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Sebastien Teller 126650
34 21 17 6 SUNRISE (HERE I AM) Ratty 101800
35 35 35 6 1000 NIGHTS Frenship 73450
36 22 15 9 LOST (AS I AM) Superwalkers 142500
37 27 19 5 EARTH NOT ABOVE Haelos 94700
38 97 38 2 ON WHAT YOU’RE ON Busted 18500
39 45 6 10 STARBOY The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk 291850
40 38 1 15 FIRST TIME HE KISSED A BOY Kadie Elder 1048700

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

41 37 11 8 SAY IT (CLEAN BANDIT REMIX) Flume featuring Tove Lo 164000
42 33 4 12 CAN’T LET GO, JUNO Kishi Bashi 406900
43 25 7 7 f*** YOU Lily Allen 228250
44 32 4 12 ODE TO MY NEXT LIFE Kishi Bashi 361250
45 34 14 7 BREATHING UNDERWATER Emeli Sande 123600
46 46 46 6 GHOST OF YOU Julia Knight 51750
47 47 47 5 DAMN Red Rosamond 50800
48 48 5 14 NEVER EVER Royksopp featuring Susanne Sundfor 381900
49 28 16 8 CERTAINTY Temples 144850
50 50 50 5 ALGA Ignea 38600

51 59 51 5 FIRST WE TAKE MANHATTAN Leonard Cohen 32850
52 68 52 2 IT’S HAPPENING AGAIN Agnes Obel 17900
53 61 53 1 SEPTEMBER SONG JP Cooper 18750
54 55 54 4 GREGORY’S THEME Basto 29400
55 88 55 2 SO GOOD Louisa Johnson 13200
56 56 56 5 MAZE Aria 40400
57 71 57 2 I FEEL SO BAD Kungs featuring Ephemerals 16200
58 65 58 4 ONE DAY I’LL FLY AWAY Randy Crawford 27200
59 41 4 25 YOU STILL BELIEVE IN ME The Beach Boys 453950
60 77 60 2 I’M GONNA BE WARM THIS WINTER Connie Francis 14600

61 53 8 18 BRICK ENGLAND Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Pet Shop Boys 331000
62 60 6 18 HER (LOVING YOU) GLADES 469050
63 43 4 12 QUICKSAND Tom Chaplin 440250
64 44 10 10 24K MAGIC Bruno Mars 194300
65 99 65 3 AT CHRISTMAS Kylie Minogue 9200
66 89 66 2 STARVING Hailey Steinfeld featuring Zedd and Grey 9000
67 75 67 7 TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY BABY Bobby Vee 29900
68 67 1 35 WICHITA LINEMAN Glen Campbell 713400
69 72 69 2 WEIGHT IN GOLD Gallant 11800
70 93 70 2 LOVE MY LIFE Robbie Williams 7700

71 81 71 5 GHOST Jeremy Messersmith 15000
72 74 72 2 AFTER THE AFTERPARTY Charlie XCX featuring Lil Yachty 10800
73 94 73 2 ALONE Alan Walker 7000
74 79 74 5 OH, PRETTY WOMAN Roy Orbison 16900
75 78 75 4 SHOUT OUT TO MY EX Little Mix 16800

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

76 76 76 5 I WAS ON YOUR SIDE Lilyer 16000
77 NEW 77 1 WANTED MORE Betsy 4600
78 49 12 11 FLAME ON FLAME (A SLOW DIRGE) Kishi Bashi 176650
79 52 30 8 KISS ME Fingertips 111950
80 66 31 8 DREAMER Coco Morier 78350

81 69 69 3 GROW UP Olly Murs 15400
82 82 82 4 STEREO Courage My Love 9600
83 83 83 6 BAD MOON RISING Creedence Clearwater Revival 17900
84 62 2 14 FAMILIAR Agnes Obel 616700
85 73 19 12 WHO’D YOU KILL Kishi Bashi 164300
86 90 86 7 SAINT CLAUDE Christine and The Queens 11100
87 87 87 2 IN LOVE Water Juice featuring Audrey Graham 5200
88 95 88 3 WHAT Melinda Marx 5400
89 85 1 30 OTRA ERA Javiera Mena 859850
90 92 90 4 SUZANNE Leonard Cohen 6800

91 NEW 91 1 I’VE GOT A THING ABOUT YOU BABY Elvis Presley & The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 1900
92 63 6 11 PARTY LIKE A RUSSIAN Robbie Williams 221600
93 NEW 93 1 SHOW ME THE MAGIC Jamie Cullen 1700
94 86 1 31 SWIPE TO THE RIGHT Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Cyndi Lauper 1165400
95 57 29 8 BAD DECISIONS Two Door Cinema Club 102350
96 NEW 96 1 PRETTY WOMAN Robbie Williams 1400
97 NEW 97 1 FANFARE FOR THE COMMON MAN Emerson Lake & Palmer 1300
98 58 2 20 KISS ME GOODBYE ABC 606100
99 54 39 8 SIDE TO SIDE Ariana Grande featuring Nicki Minaj 94050
100 NEW 100 1 READY OR NOT Laura Mvula 1000

DROP OUTS
64 64 10 99 MILES FROM L.A. Albert Hammond 49100
70 53 4 ELECTRIFY Oliver featuring Scott Mellis 39500
80 54 8 BETTER WITH YOU of Verona 45300
91 12 14 TOOTHBRUSH DNCE 220450
96 59 5 YOU ARE MY EVERYTHING Madness 32500
98 37 7 ON DIRAIT Amir 67700
100 18 12 THE GLITTERING GUTTER (DAVE AUDEN RADIO MIX) Billie Ray Martin 140100

4th December 2016

A fourth week on top for the most romantic record of 2016, it’s just heartwarmingly gorgeous, the lyrics are uplifting and fill a cynical or lonely person with hope, and the melody is to die for. Sang along loudly to it in the car 4 times driving home last night. Fab. Next single Rob! Sadly, neither of my top 2 is on youtube….

Two records that are recent oldies to me enter the top 10 (Adele and Rag’n’bone Man) along with Chainsmokers which is vice versa. In at 12 Sia’s got another winner! The last great track she did was the (eventually) massive Cheap Thrills which hit my top 10 a year ago. Never Give Up isn’t too far from that vein so I hope this one hits too, though being a soundtrack record might hold it back. 15 years she’s been charting now…

Garbage have been charting over 20 years, and are back in my top 20 with a big leap for Magnetised, rockingly good. Kylie & Cliff both have seasonal top 40’s, not for the first time, Cliff now has a whopping 48 years since he first popped into my first ever actual charts wot-i-wrote-down. The BBC are creeping something terrible with him at the mo, having ignored him for years. Hah! Wonder if it’s a court-case related thing….

Lower down: Melinda Marx’ 1965 original of Soft Cell’s What hangs around, as I’ve recently heard it for the first time – never a hit, not available to buy – and the daughter of film comedy legend and hero of mine Groucho Marx. Some Xmas songs, including another new discovery, the original Connie Francis version of the fab version as made more well-known version by Gabriella Cilmi. Busted return for the time in ooh must be 14 years or so.

1 1 1 4 WHEN YOU KNOW Robbie Williams 680000
2 2 2 2 SECRETS The Weeknd featuring Tears For Fears 230000
3 4 3 3 REDBONE Childish Gambino 156400
4 3 1 6 KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU Abba 720000
5 5 5 4 BRUCE LEE Robbie Williams 220000
6 7 6 5 ROCKABYE Clean Bandit featuring Sean Paul & Anne-Marie 154250
7 16 7 3 WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE Adele 98000
8 14 8 7 CLOSER The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey 152350
9 28 9 10 HUMAN Rag’n’Bone Man 195500
10 10 1 12 HURTS Emeli Sande 1061000

11 9 2 12 GO! M83 featuring Mai Lan 759000
12 NEW 12 1 NEVER GIVE UP Sia 35000
13 12 1 11 HOUSE OF CARDS Red Sky July 933200
14 8 8 6 THE LOVE INSIDE THE LOVE ABC 227000
15 6 6 11 YOU’RE THE ONE Kathy Kirby 242500
16 20 16 4 ONLY HEAVEN Coldcut featuring Roots Manuva 66600
17 23 17 4 SEXUAL NEIKED featuring Dyo 66750
18 36 18 2 I FEEL IT COMING The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk 39400
19 11 6 8 RIVER RUNS DRY Scavenger Hunt 262850
20 49 20 4 MAGNETISED Garbage 45100

21 17 17 5 SUNRISE (HERE I AM) Ratty 84200
22 15 15 8 LOST (AS I AM) Superwalkers 125100
23 35 23 2 MAKE ME (CRY) Noah Cyrus featuring Labrinth 36750
24 18 18 6 GISELE Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Sebastien Teller 108850
25 13 7 6 f*** YOU Lily Allen 214750
26 27 26 4 FIND ME Sigma featuring Birdy 72600
27 19 19 4 EARTH NOT ABOVE Haelos 77400
28 21 16 7 CERTAINTY Temples 132650
29 31 26 5 SYMMETRY OF TWO HEARTS Bright Light Bright Light featuring Elton John 74200
30 33 30 4 ONE DAY I’LL FLY AWAY Vaults 58500

31 40 31 6 RUN TO HIM Bobby Vee 76400
32 25 4 11 ODE TO MY NEXT LIFE Kishi Bashi 348000
33 29 4 11 CAN’T LET GO, JUNO Kishi Bashi 393150
34 22 14 6 BREATHING UNDERWATER Emeli Sande 110600
35 37 35 5 1000 NIGHTS Frenship 55950
36 52 36 4 CLOSER TO LIFE Atella x Froder 39700
37 26 11 7 SAY IT (CLEAN BANDIT REMIX) Flume featuring Tove Lo 150000
38 38 1 14 FIRST TIME HE KISSED A BOY Kadie Elder 1031700
39 47 39 2 EVERYBODY’S FREE (TO FEEL GOOD) Kylie Minogue 29600
40 60 40 2 IT’S BETTER TO DREAM (CHRISTMAS MIX) Cliff Richard 27000

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

41 24 4 24 YOU STILL BELIEVE IN ME The Beach Boys 443850
42 42 18 10 THE HEAVY ENTERTAINMENT SHOW Robbie Williams 129950
43 32 4 11 QUICKSAND Tom Chaplin 433050
44 34 10 9 24K MAGIC Bruno Mars 187200
45 41 6 9 STARBOY The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk 274750
46 54 46 5 GHOST OF YOU Julia Knight 38950
47 56 47 4 DAMN Red Rosamond 38200
48 46 5 13 NEVER EVER Royksopp featuring Susanne Sundfor 369500
49 44 12 10 FLAME ON FLAME (A SLOW DIRGE) Kishi Bashi 172250
50 71 50 4 ALGA Ignea 26600

51 NEW 51 1 ONE MORE SLEEP Leona Lewis 11750
52 30 30 7 KISS ME Fingertips 107750
53 43 8 17 BRICK ENGLAND Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Pet Shop Boys 323500
54 39 39 7 SIDE TO SIDE Ariana Grande featuring Nicki Minaj 92950
55 69 55 3 GREGORY’S THEME Basto 18400
56 61 56 4 MAZE Aria 29800
57 45 29 7 BAD DECISIONS Two Door Cinema Club 100850
58 48 2 19 KISS ME GOODBYE ABC 604900
59 70 59 4 FIRST WE TAKE MANHATTAN Leonard Cohen 21100
60 58 6 17 HER (LOVING YOU) GLADES 461650

61 NEW 61 1 SEPTEMBER SONG JP Cooper 7500
62 55 2 13 FAMILIAR Agnes Obel 613500
63 50 6 10 PARTY LIKE A RUSSIAN Robbie Williams 219800
64 64 64 10 99 MILES FROM L.A. Albert Hammond 49100
65 75 65 3 ONE DAY I’LL FLY AWAY Randy Crawford 17000
66 51 31 7 DREAMER Coco Morier 74350
67 67 1 34 WICHITA LINEMAN Glen Campbell 707000
68 NEW 68 1 IT’S HAPPENING AGAIN Agnes Obel 6400
69 73 69 2 GROW UP Olly Murs 11600
70 53 53 4 ELECTRIFY Oliver featuring Scott Mellis 39500

71 NEW 71 1 I FEEL SO BAD Kungs featuring Ephemerals 5800
72 NEW 72 1 WEIGHT IN GOLD Gallant 5600
73 68 19 11 WHO’D YOU KILL Kishi Bashi 161300
74 NEW 74 1 AFTER THE AFTERPARTY Charlie XCX featuring Lil Yachty 5200
75 76 75 6 TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY BABY Bobby Vee 23300

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

76 87 76 4 I WAS ON YOUR SIDE Lilyer 11200
77 NEW 77 1 I’M GONNA BE WARM THIS WINTER Connie Francis 4600
78 78 78 4 SHOUT OUT TO MY EX Little Mix 11800
79 80 79 4 OH, PRETTY WOMAN Roy Orbison 11700
80 62 54 8 BETTER WITH YOU of Verona 45300

81 89 81 4 GHOST Jeremy Messersmith 9200
82 97 82 3 STEREO Courage My Love 6000
83 84 83 5 BAD MOON RISING Creedence Clearwater Revival 14500
84 NEW 84 1 CHRISTMAS WRAPPING The Waitresses 3200
85 81 1 29 OTRA ERA Javiera Mena 857650
86 82 1 30 SWIPE TO THE RIGHT Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Cyndi Lauper 1163800
87 NEW 87 1 IN LOVE Water Juice featuring Audrey Graham 2600
88 NEW 88 1 SO GOOD Louisa Johnson 2400
89 NEW 89 1 STARVING Hailey Steinfeld featuring Zedd and Grey 2200
90 94 90 6 SAINT CLAUDE Christine and The Queens 8300

91 83 12 14 TOOTHBRUSH DNCE 220450
92 92 92 3 SUZANNE Leonard Cohen 4800
93 NEW 93 1 LOVE MY LIFE Robbie Williams 1700
94 NEW 94 1 ALONE Alan Walker 1600
95 95 95 2 WHAT Melinda Marx 3000
96 59 59 5 YOU ARE MY EVERYTHING Madness 32500
97 NEW 97 1 ON WHAT YOU’RE ON Busted 1300
98 63 37 7 ON DIRAIT Amir 67700
99 99 99 2 AT CHRISTMAS Kylie Minogue 2200
100 90 18 12 THE GLITTERING GUTTER (DAVE AUDEN RADIO MIX) Billie Ray Martin 140100

DROP OUTS
57 30 5 THE NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES Bobby Vee 81600
65 44 5 SADENESS PT. II Enigma featuring Anggun 45650
66 47 6 HAMMER Chiara Hunter 63600
72 8 14 PINK + WHITE Frank Ocean featuring Beyonce 244800
74 5 14 BLOW YOUR MIND (MWAH) Dua Lipa 424450
77 2 15 FRIENDS Francis And The Lights featuring Bon Iver 573550
79 3 14 GET OVER IT RAT BOY 462900
85 13 13 CIGARETTE DUET Princess Chelsea 204200
86 60 5 ALL NIGHT The Vamps & Matoma 33600
88 45 6 1-800MYLOVE FEYNMAN 47100
91 91 5 VALENTINE’S DAY ABC 6900
93 22 10 ANYMORE Melanie C 110700
96 15 12 KISS THE SKY Jason Derulo 169400
98 19 17 TEN BELOW ZERO ABC 237450
100 100 1 STANGA Sagi Abitbul and Guy Haliva 1000

28th November 2016

It’s a 3rd week on top for the gorgeously romantic Robbie bonus deluxe album track, When You Know. Robbie is one of the under-rated lyricists in pop, witty and romantic and biting whenever he needs each or all, and when he’s paired with a top tunesmith like Guy Chambers he’s unbeatable – funnily enough (and I didn’t check or have any previous inkling) Guy Chambers is back on board on this track. Quality tells.

The Weeknd’s follow-up Daft Punk single enters the 40 (I Feel It Comin’ replacing Starboy in the 40) but that’s shaded by the album track Secrets in my charts, in at 2, equalling his previous peak position. The track is basically a fab rewrite of The Romantics’ American smash Talking In My Sleep, covered very well by Bucks Fizz in the UK, with samples of Tears For Fears fab Pale Shelter. TFF get no “featuring” credit on the track, but as they are clearly singing the hook they do in my book, and peak higher than the original top 5 single.

Highest climber is the SO Prince-at-his-best stylish track from Childish Gambino, Redbone is sultry and delish, and up 64 places to 4. AKA actor/writer/comedian Donald Glover, he’s going to play the young Lando Calrissian in the next Han Solo movie. Talented! Fab. Talking of sultry and delish, shooting up to 20, it’s Coldcut getting their first top 20 in 25 years with an assist from Roots Manuva finally getting there after almost 2 decades of minor occasional chart entries.

Rag’n’bone Man is back, thanks to X Factor giving the pan-European smash a profile at long last, the Brighton-based singer-songwriter hit my top 20 back in August and may actually get a UK top 40 Streaming hit months after he had a top 40 sales hit with it. Streaming is so rubbish. I suggest everyone play my charts instead, SO much more interesting and varied Like Noah Cyrus and Labrinth, quirky and yet great, odd drop drop stylee. In one fell swoop Noah has outdone her sis Miley and dad Billie Ray in terms of being interesting. Yay!

1 1 1 3 WHEN YOU KNOW Robbie Williams 510000
2 NEW 2 1 SECRETS The Weeknd featuring Tears For Fears 115000
3 2 1 5 KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU Abba 655000
4 68 4 2 REDBONE Childish Gambino 71400
5 7 5 3 BRUCE LEE Robbie Williams 160000
6 10 6 10 YOU’RE THE ONE Kathy Kirby 215500
7 12 7 4 ROCKABYE Clean Bandit featuring Sean Paul & Anne-Marie 99250
8 8 8 5 THE LOVE INSIDE THE LOVE ABC 198000
9 3 2 11 GO! M83 featuring Mai Lan 722000
10 5 1 11 HURTS Emeli Sande 1019000

11 6 6 7 RIVER RUNS DRY Scavenger Hunt 241850
12 9 1 10 HOUSE OF CARDS Red Sky July 901200
13 13 7 5 f*** YOU Lily Allen 196000
14 20 14 6 CLOSER The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey 104350
15 15 15 7 LOST (AS I AM) Superwalkers 105600
16 17 16 2 WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE Adele 48000
17 25 17 4 SUNRISE (HERE I AM) Ratty 64450
18 19 18 5 GISELE Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Sebastien Teller 89850
19 23 19 3 EARTH NOT ABOVE Haelos 59000
20 52 20 3 ONLY HEAVEN Coldcut featuring Roots Manuva 41600

21 16 16 6 CERTAINTY Temples 114350
22 14 14 5 BREATHING UNDERWATER Emeli Sande 93300
23 35 23 3 SEXUAL NEIKED featuring Dyo 43750
24 4 4 23 YOU STILL BELIEVE IN ME The Beach Boys 429850
25 11 4 10 ODE TO MY NEXT LIFE Kishi Bashi 330200
26 18 11 6 SAY IT (CLEAN BANDIT REMIX) Flume featuring Tove Lo 132700
27 29 27 3 FIND ME Sigma featuring Birdy 54100
28 RE 16 9 HUMAN Rag’n’Bone Man 150500
29 22 4 10 CAN’T LET GO, JUNO Kishi Bashi 375450
30 32 30 6 KISS ME Fingertips 96250

31 26 26 4 SYMMETRY OF TWO HEARTS Bright Light Bright Light featuring Elton John 56000
32 21 4 10 QUICKSAND Tom Chaplin 419550
33 34 33 3 ONE DAY I’LL FLY AWAY Vaults 40500
34 27 10 8 24K MAGIC Bruno Mars 173950
35 NEW 35 1 MAKE ME (CRY) Noah Cyrus featuring Labrinth 17500
36 NEW 36 1 I FEEL IT COMING The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk 17400
37 51 37 4 1000 NIGHTS Frenship 38450
38 28 1 13 FIRST TIME HE KISSED A BOY Kadie Elder 1014500
39 39 39 6 SIDE TO SIDE Ariana Grande featuring Nicki Minaj 81950
40 41 40 5 RUN TO HIM Bobby Vee 58500

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

41 24 6 8 STARBOY The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk 261750
42 49 18 9 THE HEAVY ENTERTAINMENT SHOW Robbie Williams 116200
43 31 8 16 BRICK ENGLAND Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Pet Shop Boys 312250
44 33 12 9 FLAME ON FLAME (A SLOW DIRGE) Kishi Bashi 160150
45 46 29 6 BAD DECISIONS Two Door Cinema Club 90450
46 40 5 12 NEVER EVER Royksopp featuring Susanne Sundfor 357200
47 NEW 47 1 EVERYBODY’S FREE (TO FEEL GOOD) Kylie Minogue 12500
48 36 2 18 KISS ME GOODBYE ABC 594700
49 58 49 3 MAGNETISED Garbage 25100
50 38 6 9 PARTY LIKE A RUSSIAN Robbie Williams 212600

51 50 31 6 DREAMER Coco Morier 67550
52 70 52 3 CLOSER TO LIFE Atella x Froder 22300
53 53 53 3 ELECTRIFY Oliver featuring Scott Mellis 33500
54 56 54 4 GHOST OF YOU Julia Knight 26200
55 42 2 12 FAMILIAR Agnes Obel 606100
56 59 56 3 DAMN Red Rosamond 25700
57 30 30 5 THE NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES Bobby Vee 81600
58 48 6 16 HER (LOVING YOU) GLADES 451650
59 60 59 4 YOU ARE MY EVERYTHING Madness 31100
60 NEW 60 1 IT’S BETTER TO DREAM (CHRISTMAS MIX) Cliff Richard 10000

61 61 61 3 MAZE Aria 19200
62 54 54 7 BETTER WITH YOU of Verona 41300
63 37 37 6 ON DIRAIT Amir 66500
64 64 64 9 99 MILES FROM L.A. Albert Hammond 42000
65 44 44 5 SADENESS PT. II Enigma featuring Anggun 45650
66 47 47 6 HAMMER Chiara Hunter 63600
67 65 1 33 WICHITA LINEMAN Glen Campbell 700400
68 43 19 10 WHO’D YOU KILL Kishi Bashi 155900
69 96 69 2 GREGORY’S THEME Basto 7600
70 86 70 3 FIRST WE TAKE MANHATTAN Leonard Cohen 11000

71 73 71 3 ALGA Ignea 14600
72 55 8 14 PINK + WHITE Frank Ocean featuring Beyonce 244800
73 NEW 73 1 GROW UP Olly Murs 5400
74 57 5 14 BLOW YOUR MIND (MWAH) Dua Lipa 424450
75 75 75 2 ONE DAY I’LL FLY AWAY Randy Crawford 10000

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

76 79 76 5 TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY BABY Bobby Vee 18300
77 66 2 15 FRIENDS Francis And The Lights featuring Bon Iver 573550
78 90 78 3 SHOUT OUT TO MY EX Little Mix 7400
79 63 3 14 GET OVER IT RAT BOY 462900
80 89 80 3 OH, PRETTY WOMAN Roy Orbison 7500

81 77 1 28 OTRA ERA Javiera Mena 854650
82 78 1 29 SWIPE TO THE RIGHT Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Cyndi Lauper 1161000
83 72 12 13 TOOTHBRUSH DNCE 218550
84 84 84 4 BAD MOON RISING Creedence Clearwater Revival 11200
85 76 13 13 CIGARETTE DUET Princess Chelsea 204200
86 69 60 5 ALL NIGHT The Vamps & Matoma 33600
87 88 87 3 I WAS ON YOUR SIDE Lilyer 6400
88 45 45 6 1-800MYLOVE FEYNMAN 47100
89 94 89 3 GHOST Jeremy Messersmith 5400
90 81 18 11 THE GLITTERING GUTTER (DAVE AUDEN RADIO MIX) Billie Ray Martin 139100

91 91 91 5 VALENTINE’S DAY ABC 6900
92 98 92 2 SUZANNE Leonard Cohen 3000
93 62 22 10 ANYMORE Melanie C 110700
94 97 94 5 SAINT CLAUDE Christine and The Queens 6300
95 NEW 95 1 WHAT Melinda Marx 1500
96 85 15 12 KISS THE SKY Jason Derulo 169400
97 99 97 2 STEREO Courage My Love 2400
98 82 19 17 TEN BELOW ZERO ABC 237450
99 NEW 99 1 AT CHRISTMAS Kylie Minogue 1100
100 NEW 100 1 STANGA Sagi Abitbul and Guy Haliva 1000

DROP OUTS
67 36 9 KIDS OneRepublic 97600
71 28 11 THE GREATEST Sia featuring Kendrick Lamar 105400
74 5 9 DON’T YOU CRY FOR ME Cobi 319450
80 80 4 WINGS Armand Van Helden featuring Ph.D 14000
83 17 13 YOUTH Glass Animals 165950
87 46 6 BUY NOTHING DAY The Go! Team 39650
92 1 19 THE FLAMES OF DESIRE ABC 769750
93 90 5 A-YO Lady Gaga 8300
95 95 1 I NEVER FELT SO RIGHT Ben Delay 1500
100 100 1 HATEf*** Cruel Youth 1000
RE 87 3 TSIER Alyss 5100

20th November 2016

It’s an easy second week on top for the gorgeous Robbie album track. Needs to be a single ASAP. When You Know, don’t cha know. The Beach Boys span of top 5 singles reaches 48 years with the fab Pet Sounds track, and Clean Bandit rocket into the 40 at 12, Rockabye, their biggest for some time in my charts. That’s despite Shaggy soundalike Sean Paul being on it! Meanwhile back in at 17 with a former fab big top 3 album track for me, it’s finally out as a single about a year late, but that’s just Water Under The Bridge, at least it’s finally out!

Vaults vault into the 40 with One Day I’ll Fly Away (trampoline!) as the fab original from Randy Crawford also pops in at 75, some 36 years since it flew away out of my charts after peaking at 6. NEIKED get sexual inside the 40, joining the naughty F words from Lily Allen at 13 and Cruel Youth at 100 for a potty mouth chart. Highest new entry proper is Childish Gambino and the cool Redbone. Redbone topped my chart the other year (Guardians Of The Galaxy’s Come And Get Your Love) so I hope they now record a song called Childish Gambino.

1 1 1 2 WHEN YOU KNOW Robbie Williams 340000
2 2 1 4 KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU Abba 570000
3 3 2 10 GO! M83 featuring Mai Lan 677000
4 10 4 22 YOU STILL BELIEVE IN ME The Beach Boys 410850
5 5 1 10 HURTS Emeli Sande 977000
6 6 6 6 RIVER RUNS DRY Scavenger Hunt 204850
7 7 7 2 BRUCE LEE Robbie Williams 100000
8 8 8 4 THE LOVE INSIDE THE LOVE ABC 150000
9 9 1 9 HOUSE OF CARDS Red Sky July 866200
10 12 10 9 YOU’RE THE ONE Kathy Kirby 160500

11 4 4 9 ODE TO MY NEXT LIFE Kishi Bashi 311450
12 46 12 3 ROCKABYE Clean Bandit featuring Sean Paul & Anne-Marie 49250
13 11 7 4 f*** YOU Lily Allen 164000
14 16 14 4 BREATHING UNDERWATER Emeli Sande 73800
15 19 15 6 LOST (AS I AM) Superwalkers 78600
16 20 16 5 CERTAINTY Temples 94600
17 NEW 17 1 WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE Adele 23000
18 14 11 5 SAY IT (CLEAN BANDIT REMIX) Flume featuring Tove Lo 114200
19 23 19 4 GISELE Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Sebastien Teller 67850
20 22 20 4 CLOSER The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey 75350

21 15 4 9 QUICKSAND Tom Chaplin 401750
22 13 4 9 CAN’T LET GO, JUNO Kishi Bashi 357250
23 25 23 2 EARTH NOT ABOVE Haelos 38000
24 17 6 7 STARBOY The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk 247750
25 39 25 3 SUNRISE (HERE I AM) Ratty 41450
26 27 26 3 SYMMETRY OF TWO HEARTS Bright Light Bright Light featuring Elton John 38100
27 21 10 7 24K MAGIC Bruno Mars 156350
28 24 1 12 FIRST TIME HE KISSED A BOY Kadie Elder 997300
29 35 29 2 FIND ME Sigma featuring Birdy 35700
30 30 30 4 THE NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES Bobby Vee 71200

31 26 8 15 BRICK ENGLAND Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Pet Shop Boys 298750
32 32 32 5 KISS ME Fingertips 78250
33 18 12 8 FLAME ON FLAME (A SLOW DIRGE) Kishi Bashi 146900
34 74 34 2 ONE DAY I’LL FLY AWAY Vaults 22800
35 65 35 2 SEXUAL NEIKED featuring Dyo 24500
36 31 2 17 KISS ME GOODBYE ABC 582400
37 37 37 5 ON DIRAIT Amir 59300
38 38 6 8 PARTY LIKE A RUSSIAN Robbie Williams 200600
39 40 39 5 SIDE TO SIDE Ariana Grande featuring Nicki Minaj 64850
40 33 5 11 NEVER EVER Royksopp featuring Susanne Sundfor 344450

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

41 43 41 4 RUN TO HIM Bobby Vee 41500
42 36 2 11 FAMILIAR Agnes Obel 595300
43 28 19 9 WHO’D YOU KILL Kishi Bashi 149500
44 50 44 4 SADENESS PT. II Enigma featuring Anggun 38650
45 45 45 5 1-800MYLOVE FEYNMAN 44700
46 29 29 5 BAD DECISIONS Two Door Cinema Club 77450
47 47 47 5 HAMMER Chiara Hunter 56800
48 48 6 15 HER (LOVING YOU) GLADES 441450
49 70 18 8 THE HEAVY ENTERTAINMENT SHOW Robbie Williams 102450
50 34 31 5 DREAMER Coco Morier 55800

51 67 51 3 1000 NIGHTS Frenship 21150
52 59 52 2 ONLY HEAVEN Coldcut featuring Roots Manuva 21600
53 54 53 2 ELECTRIFY Oliver featuring Scott Mellis 22250
54 68 54 6 BETTER WITH YOU of Verona 33900
55 42 8 13 PINK + WHITE Frank Ocean featuring Beyonce 239200
56 84 56 3 GHOST OF YOU Julia Knight 15200
57 44 5 13 BLOW YOUR MIND (MWAH) Dua Lipa 419250
58 92 58 2 MAGNETISED Garbage 13000
59 75 59 2 DAMN Red Rosamond 15100
60 62 60 3 YOU ARE MY EVERYTHING Madness 21000

61 79 61 2 MAZE Aria 11700
62 51 22 9 ANYMORE Melanie C 109000
63 52 3 13 GET OVER IT RAT BOY 458700
64 69 64 8 99 MILES FROM L.A. Albert Hammond 34900
65 63 1 32 WICHITA LINEMAN Glen Campbell 693800
66 61 2 14 FRIENDS Francis And The Lights featuring Bon Iver 568950
67 58 36 9 KIDS OneRepublic 97600
68 NEW 68 1 REDBONE Childish Gambino 6400
69 60 60 4 ALL NIGHT The Vamps & Matoma 30800
70 76 70 2 CLOSER TO LIFE Atella x Froder 10800

71 41 28 11 THE GREATEST Sia featuring Kendrick Lamar 105400
72 53 12 12 TOOTHBRUSH DNCE 215150
73 83 73 2 ALGA Ignea 8800
74 49 5 9 DON’T YOU CRY FOR ME Cobi 319450
75 NEW 75 1 ONE DAY I’LL FLY AWAY Randy Crawford 5000

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

76 55 13 12 CIGARETTE DUET Princess Chelsea 201200
77 72 1 27 OTRA ERA Javiera Mena 850850
78 73 1 28 SWIPE TO THE RIGHT Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Cyndi Lauper 1157400
79 80 79 4 TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY BABY Bobby Vee 13500
80 82 80 4 WINGS Armand Van Helden featuring Ph.D 14000

81 64 18 10 THE GLITTERING GUTTER (DAVE AUDEN RADIO MIX) Billie Ray Martin 137100
82 81 19 16 TEN BELOW ZERO ABC 236250
83 71 17 13 YOUTH Glass Animals 165950
84 88 84 3 BAD MOON RISING Creedence Clearwater Revival 8000
85 66 15 11 KISS THE SKY Jason Derulo 168000
86 89 86 2 FIRST WE TAKE MANHATTAN Leonard Cohen 5000
87 56 46 6 BUY NOTHING DAY The Go! Team 39650
88 96 88 2 I WAS ON YOUR SIDE Lilyer 3800
89 97 89 2 OH, PRETTY WOMAN Roy Orbison 3500
90 100 90 2 SHOUT OUT TO MY EX Little Mix 3000

91 99 91 4 VALENTINE’S DAY ABC 5000
92 87 1 19 THE FLAMES OF DESIRE ABC 769750
93 90 90 5 A-YO Lady Gaga 8300
94 94 94 2 GHOST Jeremy Messersmith 3200
95 NEW 95 1 I NEVER FELT SO RIGHT Ben Delay 1500
96 NEW 96 1 GREGORY’S THEME Basto 1400
97 98 97 4 SAINT CLAUDE Christine and The Queens 4700
98 NEW 98 1 SUZANNE Leonard Cohen 1200
99 NEW 99 1 STEREO Courage My Love 1100
100 NEW 100 1 HATEf*** Cruel Youth 1000

DROP OUTS
57 19 7 SEE HER OUT (THAT’S JUST LIFE) Francis And The Lights 102100
77 9 12 LOST & FOUND BETSY 267800
78 59 5 A BIG HUNK ‘O LOVE Elvis Presley and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 25000
85 77 4 SHOW YOUR COLOURS (PLS&TY REMIX) Genevieve 10800
86 16 10 LOVE ME BETTER Love Thy Brother featuring Ariel Beesley 153250
91 91 2 WHEN THE WORLD TURNS BLUE (MELODIES OF LOVE) Merry Clayton 3800
93 10 12 BOURBON Gallant 235350
95 95 1 HOW DEEP IS THAT RIVER? Mason Jennings 1500

13th November 2016

It’s Robbie Williams at 1, straight in with his gorgeous new Deluxe album track (What!? Why is it not the first single, let alone not even on the regular album!?) When You Know. To be honest his last album also had 2 lovely chart-toppers for me that bombed in the dance-heavy singles charts of 2013. Anyway, can’t beat a bit of harp, and it’s his 14th chart-topper since his first in 1998, the rockin’ Let Me Entertain You. Appropriately, the best track on the regular album is also in (at 7) Bruce Lee, essentially a rewrite (can’t fool me!) of ELO’s Don’t Bring Me Down, which was also a rewrite of The Beatles’ Back In The USSR. It’s fab anyway, and I also have my tickets to see Robbie live for the first time in almost 20 years next summer at Southampton football ground. So, his 4th top 20, 3rd top 10, of 2016, and his actual official current single is yet to chart for me, being as it’s a bit dreary (so far).

Emeli Sande’s breathing underwater, quite rapidly it seems, swimming into the 20, Haelos grab a second top 40 hit with Earth Not Above, Sigma a 7th, Ratty rockets into the 40, Clean Bandit climb almost 50 places, and at 59 Coldcut are back! It’s been an absence of well over 20 years for the 80’s DJ/Producers who launched both Lisa Stansfield and Yazz with some fab singles. At 74, Vaults are back with a cover of Randy Crawford’s 1980 top 10 ballad, fresh off a John Lewis advert. In at 89, it’s the late Leonard Cohen (there are others queuing up outside the 100) with his most upbeat track, just about, First We Take Manhattan: this charted back in the 80’s for Jennifer Warnes fab version, but ol’ growling Leonard also does a good job too.

1 NEW 1 1 WHEN YOU KNOW Robbie Williams 170000
2 1 1 3 KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU Abba 455000
3 2 2 9 GO! M83 featuring Mai Lan 592000
4 4 4 8 ODE TO MY NEXT LIFE Kishi Bashi 274450
5 3 1 9 HURTS Emeli Sande 917000
6 6 6 5 RIVER RUNS DRY Scavenger Hunt 148850
7 NEW 7 1 BRUCE LEE Robbie Williams 50000
8 10 8 3 THE LOVE INSIDE THE LOVE ABC 102000
9 5 1 8 HOUSE OF CARDS Red Sky July 821200
10 13 10 21 YOU STILL BELIEVE IN ME The Beach Boys 345850

11 7 7 3 f*** YOU Lily Allen 132000
12 16 12 8 YOU’RE THE ONE Kathy Kirby 118500
13 8 4 8 CAN’T LET GO, JUNO Kishi Bashi 337750
14 11 11 4 SAY IT (CLEAN BANDIT REMIX) Flume featuring Tove Lo 92200
15 9 4 8 QUICKSAND Tom Chaplin 382000
16 38 16 3 BREATHING UNDERWATER Emeli Sande 44800
17 12 6 6 STARBOY The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk 228750
18 15 12 7 FLAME ON FLAME (A SLOW DIRGE) Kishi Bashi 129200
19 26 19 5 LOST (AS I AM) Superwalkers 51600
20 24 20 4 CERTAINTY Temples 69600

21 14 10 6 24K MAGIC Bruno Mars 137950
22 25 22 3 CLOSER The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey 55350
23 35 23 3 GISELE Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Sebastien Teller 46850
24 20 1 11 FIRST TIME HE KISSED A BOY Kadie Elder 979000
25 NEW 25 1 EARTH NOT ABOVE Haelos 18750
26 17 8 14 BRICK ENGLAND Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Pet Shop Boys 280850
27 98 27 2 SYMMETRY OF TWO HEARTS Bright Light Bright Light featuring Elton John 19600
28 19 19 8 WHO’D YOU KILL Kishi Bashi 136000
29 29 29 4 BAD DECISIONS Two Door Cinema Club 64700
30 30 30 3 THE NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES Bobby Vee 53200

31 18 2 16 KISS ME GOODBYE ABC 565000
32 32 32 4 KISS ME Fingertips 60450
33 21 5 10 NEVER EVER Royksopp featuring Susanne Sundfor 327450
34 31 31 4 DREAMER Coco Morier 43800
35 NEW 35 1 FIND ME Sigma featuring Birdy 17500
36 27 2 10 FAMILIAR Agnes Obel 581550
37 37 37 4 ON DIRAIT Amir 42000
38 22 6 7 PARTY LIKE A RUSSIAN Robbie Williams 183400
39 72 39 2 SUNRISE (HERE I AM) Ratty 22700
40 40 40 4 SIDE TO SIDE Ariana Grande featuring Nicki Minaj 47750

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

41 28 28 10 THE GREATEST Sia featuring Kendrick Lamar 99600
42 23 8 12 PINK + WHITE Frank Ocean featuring Beyonce 228400
43 50 43 3 RUN TO HIM Bobby Vee 27500
44 39 5 12 BLOW YOUR MIND (MWAH) Dua Lipa 408850
45 64 45 4 1-800MYLOVE FEYNMAN 31700
46 95 46 2 ROCKABYE Clean Bandit featuring Sean Paul & Anne-Marie 14250
47 54 47 4 HAMMER Chiara Hunter 44300
48 44 6 14 HER (LOVING YOU) GLADES 429150
49 36 5 8 DON’T YOU CRY FOR ME Cobi 314250
50 57 50 3 SADENESS PT. II Enigma featuring Anggun 25400

51 43 22 8 ANYMORE Melanie C 101600
52 45 3 12 GET OVER IT RAT BOY 451500
53 33 12 11 TOOTHBRUSH DNCE 209550
54 NEW 54 1 ELECTRIFY Oliver featuring Scott Mellis 11000
55 34 13 11 CIGARETTE DUET Princess Chelsea 196400
56 46 46 5 BUY NOTHING DAY The Go! Team 37050
57 47 19 7 SEE HER OUT (THAT’S JUST LIFE) Francis And The Lights 102100
58 55 36 8 KIDS OneRepublic 91000
59 NEW 59 1 ONLY HEAVEN Coldcut featuring Roots Manuva 10100
60 60 60 3 ALL NIGHT The Vamps & Matoma 24600

61 51 2 13 FRIENDS Francis And The Lights featuring Bon Iver 562150
62 82 62 2 YOU ARE MY EVERYTHING Madness 11000
63 63 1 31 WICHITA LINEMAN Glen Campbell 686800
64 56 18 9 THE GLITTERING GUTTER (DAVE AUDEN RADIO MIX) Billie Ray Martin 133300
65 NEW 65 1 SEXUAL NEIKED featuring Dyo 7000
66 58 15 10 KISS THE SKY Jason Derulo 165000
67 86 67 2 1000 NIGHTS Frenship 9400
68 68 68 5 BETTER WITH YOU of Verona 22900
69 74 69 7 99 MILES FROM L.A. Albert Hammond 27800
70 42 18 7 THE HEAVY ENTERTAINMENT SHOW Robbie Williams 90350

71 48 17 12 YOUTH Glass Animals 162550
72 61 1 26 OTRA ERA Javiera Mena 846250
73 69 1 27 SWIPE TO THE RIGHT Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Cyndi Lauper 1153000
74 NEW 74 1 ONE DAY I’LL FLY AWAY Vaults 5200
75 NEW 75 1 DAMN Red Rosamond 5000

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

76 NEW 76 1 CLOSER TO LIFE Atella x Froder 4800
77 49 9 12 LOST & FOUND BETSY 267800
78 59 59 5 A BIG HUNK ‘O LOVE Elvis Presley and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 25000
79 NEW 79 1 MAZE Aria 4200
80 80 80 3 TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY BABY Bobby Vee 9300

81 52 19 15 TEN BELOW ZERO ABC 232650
82 84 82 3 WINGS Armand Van Helden featuring Ph.D 10000
83 NEW 83 1 ALGA Ignea 3400
84 96 84 2 GHOST OF YOU Julia Knight 4600
85 77 77 4 SHOW YOUR COLOURS (PLS&TY REMIX) Genevieve 10800
86 53 16 10 LOVE ME BETTER Love Thy Brother featuring Ariel Beesley 153250
87 79 1 18 THE FLAMES OF DESIRE ABC 767950
88 88 88 2 BAD MOON RISING Creedence Clearwater Revival 4800
89 NEW 89 1 FIRST WE TAKE MANHATTAN Leonard Cohen 2200
90 92 90 4 A-YO Lady Gaga 6600

91 91 91 2 WHEN THE WORLD TURNS BLUE (MELODIES OF LOVE) Merry Clayton 3800
92 NEW 92 1 MAGNETISED Garbage 1800
93 78 10 12 BOURBON Gallant 235350
94 NEW 94 1 GHOST Jeremy Messersmith 1600
95 NEW 95 1 HOW DEEP IS THAT RIVER? Mason Jennings 1500
96 NEW 96 1 I WAS ON YOUR SIDE Lilyer 1400
97 NEW 97 1 OH, PRETTY WOMAN Roy Orbison 1300
98 99 98 3 SAINT CLAUDE Christine and The Queens 3400
99 100 99 3 VALENTINE’S DAY ABC 3100
100 NEW 100 1 SHOUT OUT TO MY EX Little Mix 1000

DROP OUTS
41 5 3 THAT’S ME (MATT POP 2016 MIX) Abba 101000
62 40 8 STARS Project 46 featuring Haley 87300
65 39 8 GREEN DENM 67800
66 66 4 YOU COULD’VE BEEN A LADY Smoove & Turrell 24800
67 37 10 WHEN WE WERE LOVERS Jack Savoretti 102600
70 70 5 I WANT YOU TO SHAKE Francis And The Lights 22800
71 16 9 HOLY COMMOTION Pretenders 143000
73 73 3 DRUGS Adam Jensen 12600
75 14 9 THE SPOILS Massive Attack featuring Hope Sandoval 128550
76 9 7 IT NEVER RAINS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Albert Hammond 215700
81 21 6 IDLEWILD Travis featuring Josephine Oniyama 89750
83 83 6 I’M A TRAIN Albert Hammond 13500
85 1 21 MAKE IT WITH YOU Bread 694000
87 87 3 TSIER Alyss 5100
89 89 3 DON’T WANNA KNOW Maroon 5 featuring Kendrick Lamarr 4400
90 50 7 TELL IT TO MY HEART Filatov & Karras 36900
93 40 9 WASTE A MOMENT Kings Of Leon 67500
94 65 5 LOVE ON ME Galantis & Hook N Sling 21600
97 97 1 CREEP Radiohead 1300

6th November 2016

2 weeks on top for Abba, or 12 weeks including it’s 1977 run, which is bad news for M83 who go up to 2. Kishi Bashi gets his 3rd track to peak at 4, as ABC leap into the top 10 for the 5th time this year, and the lovely The Love Inside The Love, love it, and the live version on youtube is how I fell in love with it last week. Meanwhile the unknown but fab Scavenger Hunt leap into my top at 6 with River Runs Dry.

Flume fall just short of their 2nd top 10, so far, but a big climb anyway, while the late Kathy Kirby never got a proper chart tribute from me, and this fab OTT diva tune was Kathy at her best. I was MAD on Kathy Kirby when I was 6. Meanwhile, big jumps into the top 40 for the terrific Superwalkers, and the very Pet Shop Boys circa 1988 backing track of Coco Morier. Jean-Michel Jarre gets his 4th top 40 of the year, Amir gets a second in total, Ariana Grande her second of the year, and Emile Sande her 2nd in the same week.

1 1 1 2 KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU Abba 340000
2 4 2 8 GO! M83 featuring Mai Lan 507000
3 2 1 8 HURTS Emeli Sande 857000
4 5 4 7 ODE TO MY NEXT LIFE Kishi Bashi 209450
5 3 1 7 HOUSE OF CARDS Red Sky July 776200
6 23 6 4 RIVER RUNS DRY Scavenger Hunt 93850
7 9 7 2 f*** YOU Lily Allen 95000
8 8 4 7 CAN’T LET GO, JUNO Kishi Bashi 305750
9 7 4 7 QUICKSAND Tom Chaplin 355000
10 50 10 2 THE LOVE INSIDE THE LOVE ABC 54000

11 24 11 3 SAY IT (CLEAN BANDIT REMIX) Flume featuring Tove Lo 63200
12 6 6 5 STARBOY The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk 205750
13 20 13 20 YOU STILL BELIEVE IN ME The Beach Boys 303850
14 10 10 5 24K MAGIC Bruno Mars 118200
15 12 12 6 FLAME ON FLAME (A SLOW DIRGE) Kishi Bashi 107200
16 35 16 7 YOU’RE THE ONE Kathy Kirby 83500
17 11 8 13 BRICK ENGLAND Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Pet Shop Boys 262350
18 14 2 15 KISS ME GOODBYE ABC 547100
19 19 19 7 WHO’D YOU KILL Kishi Bashi 117700
20 16 1 10 FIRST TIME HE KISSED A BOY Kadie Elder 960000

21 18 5 9 NEVER EVER Royksopp featuring Susanne Sundfor 309750
22 13 6 6 PARTY LIKE A RUSSIAN Robbie Williams 166200
23 17 8 11 PINK + WHITE Frank Ocean featuring Beyonce 214650
24 34 24 3 CERTAINTY Temples 49600
25 39 25 2 CLOSER The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey 35850
26 61 26 4 LOST (AS I AM) Superwalkers 30600
27 25 2 9 FAMILIAR Agnes Obel 564150
28 36 28 9 THE GREATEST Sia featuring Kendrick Lamar 85600
29 29 29 3 BAD DECISIONS Two Door Cinema Club 46500
30 38 30 2 THE NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES Bobby Vee 35200

31 66 31 3 DREAMER Coco Morier 26200
32 46 32 3 KISS ME Fingertips 42650
33 27 12 10 TOOTHBRUSH DNCE 198300
34 22 13 10 CIGARETTE DUET Princess Chelsea 185600
35 59 35 2 GISELE Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Sebastien Teller 27600
36 21 5 7 DON’T YOU CRY FOR ME Cobi 302150
37 69 37 3 ON DIRAIT Amir 24700
38 87 38 2 BREATHING UNDERWATER Emeli Sande 19800
39 28 5 11 BLOW YOUR MIND (MWAH) Dua Lipa 395600
40 51 40 3 SIDE TO SIDE Ariana Grande featuring Nicki Minaj 30750

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

41 15 5 3 THAT’S ME (MATT POP 2016 MIX) Abba 101000
42 26 18 6 THE HEAVY ENTERTAINMENT SHOW Robbie Williams 84350
43 33 22 7 ANYMORE Melanie C 89850
44 41 6 13 HER (LOVING YOU) GLADES 416850
45 37 3 11 GET OVER IT RAT BOY 440000
46 64 46 4 BUY NOTHING DAY The Go! Team 26450
47 32 19 6 SEE HER OUT (THAT’S JUST LIFE) Francis And The Lights 91700
48 47 17 11 YOUTH Glass Animals 156440
49 44 9 11 LOST & FOUND BETSY 263200
50 90 50 2 RUN TO HIM Bobby Vee 14000

51 45 2 12 FRIENDS Francis And The Lights featuring Bon Iver 554650
52 42 19 14 TEN BELOW ZERO ABC 228850
53 43 16 9 LOVE ME BETTER Love Thy Brother featuring Ariel Beesley 150450
54 57 54 3 HAMMER Chiara Hunter 31800
55 55 36 7 KIDS OneRepublic 80800
56 54 18 8 THE GLITTERING GUTTER (DAVE AUDEN RADIO MIX) Billie Ray Martin 126200
57 85 57 2 SADENESS PT. II Enigma featuring Anggun 13400
58 53 15 9 KISS THE SKY Jason Derulo 158200
59 72 59 4 A BIG HUNK ‘O LOVE Elvis Presley and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 20600
60 77 60 2 ALL NIGHT The Vamps & Matoma 14600

61 58 1 25 OTRA ERA Javiera Mena 840650
62 40 40 8 STARS Project 46 featuring Haley 87300
63 63 1 30 WICHITA LINEMAN Glen Campbell 679600
64 71 64 3 1-800MYLOVE FEYNMAN 18700
65 48 39 8 GREEN DENM 67800
66 70 66 4 YOU COULD’VE BEEN A LADY Smoove & Turrell 24800
67 56 37 10 WHEN WE WERE LOVERS Jack Savoretti 102600
68 68 68 4 BETTER WITH YOU of Verona 16500
69 65 1 26 SWIPE TO THE RIGHT Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Cyndi Lauper 1147600
70 74 70 5 I WANT YOU TO SHAKE Francis And The Lights 22800

71 60 16 9 HOLY COMMOTION Pretenders 143000
72 NEW 72 1 SUNRISE (HERE I AM) Ratty 5600
73 81 73 3 DRUGS Adam Jensen 12600
74 78 74 6 99 MILES FROM L.A. Albert Hammond 21600
75 67 14 9 THE SPOILS Massive Attack featuring Hope Sandoval 128550

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

76 31 9 7 IT NEVER RAINS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Albert Hammond 215700
77 94 77 3 SHOW YOUR COLOURS (PLS&TY REMIX) Genevieve 7800
78 49 10 11 BOURBON Gallant 233450
79 79 1 17 THE FLAMES OF DESIRE ABC 765350
80 97 80 2 TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY BABY Bobby Vee 5300

81 52 21 6 IDLEWILD Travis featuring Josephine Oniyama 89750
82 NEW 82 1 YOU ARE MY EVERYTHING Madness 3600
83 86 83 6 I’M A TRAIN Albert Hammond 13500
84 84 84 2 WINGS Armand Van Helden featuring Ph.D 6400
85 82 1 21 MAKE IT WITH YOU Bread 694000
86 NEW 86 1 1000 NIGHTS Frenship 2800
87 96 87 3 TSIER Alyss 5100
88 NEW 88 1 BAD MOON RISING Creedence Clearwater Revival 2400
89 89 89 3 DON’T WANNA KNOW Maroon 5 featuring Kendrick Lamarr 4400
90 76 50 7 TELL IT TO MY HEART Filatov & Karras 36900

91 NEW 91 1 WHEN THE WORLD TURNS BLUE (MELODIES OF LOVE) Merry Clayton 1900
92 95 92 3 A-YO Lady Gaga 4600
93 88 40 9 WASTE A MOMENT Kings Of Leon 67500
94 80 65 5 LOVE ON ME Galantis & Hook N Sling 21600
95 NEW 95 1 ROCKABYE Clean Bandit featuring Sean Paul & Anne-Marie 1500
96 NEW 96 1 GHOST OF YOU Julia Knight 1400
97 NEW 97 1 CREEP Radiohead 1300
98 NEW 98 1 SYMMETRY OF TWO HEARTS Bright Light Bright Light featuring Elton John 1200
99 99 99 2 SAINT CLAUDE Christine and The Queens 2200
100 100 100 2 VALENTINE’S DAY ABC 2000

DROP OUTS
30 30 13 HOLLY HOLY Nancy Sinatra 148550
62 58 4 WHITE FLAG Joseph 25700
73 40 8 SPHYNX La Femme 85450
75 75 9 TWIST AND SHOUT (LIVE AT HOLLYWOOD BOWL) The Beatles 31500
83 20 10 HOLE IN MY SOUL Kaiser Chiefs 107750
91 7 13 GEMINI FEED Banks 269200
92 44 9 DIFFERENT FOR GIRLS Dierks Bently featuring Elle King 70500
93 93 7 MY EYES ADORED YOU Frankie Valli 9900
98 10 13 SAY IT AGAIN Frances 214750

30th October 2016

It’s Abba, newly in and back at 1 over 39 years since Knowing Knowing You completed a 10-week run on top. That puts it clear in 3rd place on the biggest runs at 1, and is there thanks to a limited edition picture disc reissue of all the singles off Arrival on it’s 40th birthday. I adore that album, and this track, and I played it for over a year – I can’t understate how rare it is for me to play albums that much, as close to obsession in music as I get! Another track off it, That’s Me, is also in the 20. The video is attached, I was also mad on that, and Abba, and the record is one of the greatest break-up records of all-time, just genius.

Kishi Bashi meanwhile becomes a current obsession grabbing 4 of my top 20, including a 3rd top 5 with the sprawling ambitious Ode To My Next Life, such a clever musician, he needs discovering ASAP. In at 9, I saw Bridget Jones’ Baby last week, which was OK, sat amongst women of a certain age, when this naughty Lily Allen song popped up. It twice made my chart peaking at 20 in 2009 as an album track that I didn’t own – well now I’ve bought it and can play it properly. For obvious reasons not a single, but it’s terrific, funny and these days I imagine she’s singing it to Nigel Farage, cos that’s exactly how I feel about him. Several million people will be queuing up to make a dancefloor of his grave when he dies many years from now, so I hope they are making preparations for a dancefloor-sized stone floor.

Lower down there’s an ABC mini-invasion of tracks from both The 1982 Lexicon Of Love and 2016 Lexicon Of Love II, as I saw a fab concert this week with full orchestra – reviewed elsewhere. Best track on the new album, Kiss Me Goodbye jumps back into the 20. Bobby Vee sadly died this week, I saw in concert in the 90’s and he was fab, I bought the hits CD. I was too young for his heyday (early 60’s teen idol) but his songs remained popular into the 70’s and 80’s, often covered, and three of ’em finally give him some chart entries in my chart, long overdue, he was the classy end of the 50’s teen idols, and was only 15 when he got his break filling in for Buddy Holly on his fatal tour.

Others: Jean-Michel gets a 4th chart entry this year, and the fab quirky Sebastian Teller duets with him some years after his terrific Eurovision entry. Ph.D’s 1982 chart-topper (in my charts) I Won’t Let You Down is back sampled by Armand Van Helden (also a chart-topper in 1999 with You Don’t Know Me), The Vamps are back, ditto The Chainsmokers (belatedly), Enigma (Sadeness Pt. 2 entering some 26 years after part 1 topped my chart, and 22 years since they had a trio of toppers), and another Emeli Sande new track.

1 NEW 1 1 KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU Abba 170000
2 2 1 7 HURTS Emeli Sande 772000
3 1 1 6 HOUSE OF CARDS Red Sky July 716200
4 3 3 7 GO! M83 featuring Mai Lan 392000
5 10 5 6 ODE TO MY NEXT LIFE Kishi Bashi 144450
6 6 6 4 STARBOY The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk 170750
7 7 4 6 QUICKSAND Tom Chaplin 310000
8 4 4 6 CAN’T LET GO, JUNO Kishi Bashi 257750
9 NEW 9 1 f*** YOU Lily Allen 45000
10 20 10 4 24K MAGIC Bruno Mars 89200

11 8 8 12 BRICK ENGLAND Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Pet Shop Boys 239350
12 34 12 5 FLAME ON FLAME (A SLOW DIRGE) Kishi Bashi 80200
13 9 6 5 PARTY LIKE A RUSSIAN Robbie Williams 146700
14 46 2 14 KISS ME GOODBYE ABC 525100
15 5 5 2 THAT’S ME (MATT POP 2016 MIX) Abba 87000
16 12 1 9 FIRST TIME HE KISSED A BOY Kadie Elder 940000
17 17 8 10 PINK + WHITE Frank Ocean featuring Beyonce 195400
18 21 5 8 NEVER EVER Royksopp featuring Susanne Sundfor 290000
19 26 19 6 WHO’D YOU KILL Kishi Bashi 96700
20 23 20 19 YOU STILL BELIEVE IN ME The Beach Boys 271850

21 11 5 6 DON’T YOU CRY FOR ME Cobi 284750
22 13 13 9 CIGARETTE DUET Princess Chelsea 168000
23 30 23 3 RIVER RUNS DRY Scavenger Hunt 38850
24 63 24 2 SAY IT (CLEAN BANDIT REMIX) Flume featuring Tove Lo 26200
25 16 2 8 FAMILIAR Agnes Obel 545750
26 18 18 5 THE HEAVY ENTERTAINMENT SHOW Robbie Williams 70600
27 15 12 9 TOOTHBRUSH DNCE 180600
28 24 5 10 BLOW YOUR MIND (MWAH) Dua Lipa 378500
29 59 29 2 BAD DECISIONS Two Door Cinema Club 28300
30 32 30 13 HOLLY HOLY Nancy Sinatra 148550

31 14 9 6 IT NEVER RAINS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Albert Hammond 210900
32 19 19 5 SEE HER OUT (THAT’S JUST LIFE) Francis And The Lights 79200
33 22 22 6 ANYMORE Melanie C 76350
34 45 34 2 CERTAINTY Temples 30600
35 37 35 6 YOU’RE THE ONE Kathy Kirby 58500
36 48 36 8 THE GREATEST Sia featuring Kendrick Lamar 67300
37 31 3 10 GET OVER IT RAT BOY 427000
38 NEW 38 1 THE NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES Bobby Vee 17200
39 NEW 39 1 CLOSER The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey 17100
40 RE 40 7 STARS Project 46 featuring Haley 79900

41 29 6 12 HER (LOVING YOU) GLADES 403600
42 42 19 13 TEN BELOW ZERO ABC 217350
43 25 16 8 LOVE ME BETTER Love Thy Brother featuring Ariel Beesley 139200
44 33 9 10 LOST & FOUND BETSY 251100
45 27 2 11 FRIENDS Francis And The Lights featuring Bon Iver 542900
46 49 46 2 KISS ME Fingertips 24850
47 38 17 10 YOUTH Glass Animals 144250
48 39 39 7 GREEN DENM 60800
49 41 10 10 BOURBON Gallant 229050
50 NEW 50 1 THE LOVE INSIDE THE LOVE ABC 12000

51 90 51 2 SIDE TO SIDE Ariana Grande featuring Nicki Minaj 13750
52 28 21 5 IDLEWILD Travis featuring Josephine Oniyama 85950
53 43 15 8 KISS THE SKY Jason Derulo 148000
54 35 18 7 THE GLITTERING GUTTER (DAVE AUDEN RADIO MIX) Billie Ray Martin 115600
55 36 36 6 KIDS OneRepublic 70000
56 47 37 9 WHEN WE WERE LOVERS Jack Savoretti 96000
57 57 57 2 HAMMER Chiara Hunter 20800
58 55 1 24 OTRA ERA Javiera Mena 833150
59 NEW 59 1 GISELE Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Sebastien Teller 10100
60 56 16 8 HOLY COMMOTION Pretenders 137200

61 82 61 3 LOST (AS I AM) Superwalkers 12100
62 58 58 4 WHITE FLAG Joseph 25700
63 62 1 29 WICHITA LINEMAN Glen Campbell 672400
64 73 64 3 BUY NOTHING DAY The Go! Team 13700
65 54 1 25 SWIPE TO THE RIGHT Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Cyndi Lauper 1141400
66 95 66 2 DREAMER Coco Morier 8300
67 61 14 8 THE SPOILS Massive Attack featuring Hope Sandoval 123550
68 87 68 3 BETTER WITH YOU of Verona 10100
69 98 69 2 ON DIRAIT Amir 7400
70 70 70 3 YOU COULD’VE BEEN A LADY Smoove & Turrell 18000

71 71 71 2 1-800MYLOVE FEYNMAN 11600
72 84 72 3 A BIG HUNK ‘O LOVE Elvis Presley and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 10500
73 40 40 8 SPHYNX La Femme 85450
74 74 74 4 I WANT YOU TO SHAKE Francis And The Lights 16800
75 75 75 9 TWIST AND SHOUT (LIVE AT HOLLYWOOD BOWL) The Beatles 31500

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

76 50 50 6 TELL IT TO MY HEART Filatov & Karras 34900
77 NEW 77 1 ALL NIGHT The Vamps & Matoma 4600
78 80 78 5 99 MILES FROM L.A. Albert Hammond 16400
79 79 1 16 THE FLAMES OF DESIRE ABC 761150
80 65 65 4 LOVE ON ME Galantis & Hook N Sling 20000

81 83 81 2 DRUGS Adam Jensen 7200
82 77 1 20 MAKE IT WITH YOU Bread 691000
83 60 20 10 HOLE IN MY SOUL Kaiser Chiefs 107750
84 NEW 84 1 WINGS Armand Van Helden featuring Ph.D 3200
85 NEW 85 1 SADENESS PT. II Enigma featuring Anggun 3000
86 86 86 5 I’M A TRAIN Albert Hammond 10100
87 NEW 87 1 BREATHING UNDERWATER Emeli Sande 2600
88 64 40 8 WASTE A MOMENT Kings Of Leon 65800
89 89 89 2 DON’T WANNA KNOW Maroon 5 featuring Kendrick Lamarr 4400
90 NEW 90 1 RUN TO HIM Bobby Vee 2000

91 52 7 13 GEMINI FEED Banks 269200
92 44 44 9 DIFFERENT FOR GIRLS Dierks Bently featuring Elle King 70500
93 93 93 7 MY EYES ADORED YOU Frankie Valli 9900
94 94 94 2 SHOW YOUR COLOURS (PLS&TY REMIX) Genevieve 3200
95 97 95 2 A-YO Lady Gaga 2800
96 99 96 2 TSIER Alyss 2500
97 NEW 97 1 TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY BABY Bobby Vee 1300
98 92 10 13 SAY IT AGAIN Frances 214750
99 NEW 99 1 SAINT CLAUDE Christine and The Queens 1100
100 NEW 100 1 VALENTINE’S DAY ABC 1000

51 26 7 MR. APPLES Madness 96850
53 47 7 SHE SETS THE CITY ON FIRE Gavin DeGraw 55650
66 66 5 A BAD NIGHT Cat Stevens 23000
67 12 10 BRAND NEW MOVES (VISUALIZER) Hey Violet 198150
68 13 10 ECHOES OF LOVE Jesse & Joy 174650
69 38 7 MAYBE IT’S A GOOD THING KT Tunstall 60300
72 2 13 HANDCLAP Fitz And The Tantrums 515400
76 58 7 TUN UP Sarah Mark 38200
78 1 25 HOTTER THAN HELL Dua Lipa 1035300
81 35 9 HIGH AND LOW Empire Of The Sun 76550
85 1 24 BURN Pet Shop Boys 1168150
88 58 8 IN THE NOW Barry Gibb 56400
91 1 33 YOU DON’T HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME Dusty Springfield 808450
96 96 1 DANCE THE WAY I FEEL Ou Est Le Swimming Pool 1400
100 100 1 STRONG SWEET & SOUTHERN Hayley Orrantia 1000

Portaventura, Spain Oct 2016

23rd October 2016

It’s a 3rd week for Red Sky July in an unchanged top 3, and it’s still juuuuuuust gorgeous. A former buzzjack song contest (BJSC) act of mine at 1 is joined by another act I entered and love, Kishi Bashi getting his 2nd top 5 with Can’t Let Go, Juno, and his 4th top 10 with the mini-epic Ode To My Next Life. Greedy, he’s also grabbed a 5th top 30 and 6th top 40.

Abba are the highest new entry with a deliciously cheesy unofficial remix for the 40th anniversary of classic album Arrival, the album track and B Side to Dancing Queen (so prolific Abba could afford to toss away a brilliant potential A side on a B Side!) That’s Me. It’s topped my chart previously, as has another single off Arrival which will enter next week as there are 4 brand new picture disc singles released for the official 40th anniversary.

Jean-Michel gets his 2nd top 10 of the year, as his Pet Shop Boys duet Brick England gives the boys errr a 5th or 6th top 10 this year, I’m a fan and I’ve lost count! Biggest jump is a whopping 64 places for Scavenger Hunt and a track that was cruelly ignored from the BJSC final, River Runs Dry. The late Kathy Kirby finally gets a top 40 slot some 50-odd years after she would have had quite a few had I done charts then (being as I was a mad-keen 6-year-old for her singles). Top actual new act is Temples, not unlike Tame Impala, and that’s a very good thing, in at 45. Other returning acts: Gaga, Two Door Cinema Club, Maroon 5…..

1 1 1 5 HOUSE OF CARDS Red Sky July 631200
2 2 1 6 HURTS Emeli Sande 657000
3 3 3 6 GO! M83 featuring Mai Lan 327000
4 8 4 5 CAN’T LET GO, JUNO Kishi Bashi 209750
5 NEW 5 1 THAT’S ME (MATT POP 2016 MIX) Abba 60000
6 10 6 3 STARBOY The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk 115750
7 4 4 5 QUICKSAND Tom Chaplin 260000
8 60 8 11 BRICK ENGLAND Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Pet Shop Boys 202350
9 6 6 4 PARTY LIKE A RUSSIAN Robbie Williams 114700
10 26 10 5 ODE TO MY NEXT LIFE Kishi Bashi 84450

11 5 5 5 DON’T YOU CRY FOR ME Cobi 265000
12 7 1 8 FIRST TIME HE KISSED A BOY Kadie Elder 915000
13 15 13 8 CIGARETTE DUET Princess Chelsea 148500
14 9 9 5 IT NEVER RAINS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Albert Hammond 193000
15 12 12 8 TOOTHBRUSH DNCE 162200
16 11 2 7 FAMILIAR Agnes Obel 527000
17 14 8 9 PINK + WHITE Frank Ocean featuring Beyonce 172400
18 18 18 4 THE HEAVY ENTERTAINMENT SHOW Robbie Williams 52100
19 19 19 4 SEE HER OUT (THAT’S JUST LIFE) Francis And The Lights 61400
20 20 20 3 24K MAGIC Bruno Mars 47200

21 13 5 7 NEVER EVER Royksopp featuring Susanne Sundfor 268000
22 23 22 5 ANYMORE Melanie C 58650
23 27 23 18 YOU STILL BELIEVE IN ME The Beach Boys 251850
24 17 5 9 BLOW YOUR MIND (MWAH) Dua Lipa 360200
25 16 16 7 LOVE ME BETTER Love Thy Brother featuring Ariel Beesley 125700
26 32 26 5 WHO’D YOU KILL Kishi Bashi 75700
27 22 2 10 FRIENDS Francis And The Lights featuring Bon Iver 529900
28 21 21 4 IDLEWILD Travis featuring Josephine Oniyama 74450
29 24 6 11 HER (LOVING YOU) GLADES 389600
30 94 30 2 RIVER RUNS DRY Scavenger Hunt 19600

31 29 3 9 GET OVER IT RAT BOY 409700
32 34 32 12 HOLLY HOLY Nancy Sinatra 130550
33 25 9 9 LOST & FOUND BETSY 237850
34 38 34 4 FLAME ON FLAME (A SLOW DIRGE) Kishi Bashi 45200
35 28 18 6 THE GLITTERING GUTTER (DAVE AUDEN RADIO MIX) Billie Ray Martin 104600
36 36 36 5 KIDS OneRepublic 59200
37 56 37 5 YOU’RE THE ONE Kathy Kirby 41000
38 31 17 9 YOUTH Glass Animals 131750
39 62 39 6 GREEN DENM 48500
40 40 40 7 SPHYNX La Femme 80050

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

41 39 10 9 BOURBON Gallant 216950
42 30 19 12 TEN BELOW ZERO ABC 203600
43 33 15 7 KISS THE SKY Jason Derulo 136750
44 44 44 8 DIFFERENT FOR GIRLS Dierks Bently featuring Elle King 68700
45 NEW 45 1 CERTAINTY Temples 13000
46 46 2 13 KISS ME GOODBYE ABC 496100
47 37 37 8 WHEN WE WERE LOVERS Jack Savoretti 85400
48 50 48 7 THE GREATEST Sia featuring Kendrick Lamar 49900
49 NEW 49 1 KISS ME Fingertips 12100
50 55 50 5 TELL IT TO MY HEART Filatov & Karras 30100

51 35 26 7 MR. APPLES Madness 96850
52 48 7 12 GEMINI FEED Banks 267300
53 47 47 7 SHE SETS THE CITY ON FIRE Gavin DeGraw 55650
54 54 1 24 SWIPE TO THE RIGHT Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Cyndi Lauper 1134400
55 53 1 23 OTRA ERA Javiera Mena 822950
56 42 16 7 HOLY COMMOTION Pretenders 127200
57 NEW 57 1 HAMMER Chiara Hunter 10400
58 65 58 3 WHITE FLAG Joseph 18300
59 NEW 59 1 BAD DECISIONS Two Door Cinema Club 10100
60 43 20 9 HOLE IN MY SOUL Kaiser Chiefs 104450

61 41 14 7 THE SPOILS Massive Attack featuring Hope Sandoval 116950
62 61 1 28 WICHITA LINEMAN Glen Campbell 665200
63 NEW 63 1 SAY IT (CLEAN BANDIT REMIX) Flume featuring Tove Lo 7200
64 45 40 7 WASTE A MOMENT Kings Of Leon 63400
65 66 65 3 LOVE ON ME Galantis & Hook N Sling 16000
66 72 66 5 A BAD NIGHT Cat Stevens 23000
67 51 12 10 BRAND NEW MOVES (VISUALIZER) Hey Violet 198150
68 52 13 10 ECHOES OF LOVE Jesse & Joy 174650
69 49 38 7 MAYBE IT’S A GOOD THING KT Tunstall 60300
70 70 70 2 YOU COULD’VE BEEN A LADY Smoove & Turrell 12000

71 NEW 71 1 1-800MYLOVE FEYNMAN 5800
72 63 2 13 HANDCLAP Fitz And The Tantrums 515400
73 98 73 2 BUY NOTHING DAY The Go! Team 6600
74 74 74 3 I WANT YOU TO SHAKE Francis And The Lights 11600
75 80 75 8 TWIST AND SHOUT (LIVE AT HOLLYWOOD BOWL) The Beatles 26500

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

76 58 58 7 TUN UP Sarah Mark 38200
77 75 1 19 MAKE IT WITH YOU Bread 687400
78 67 1 25 HOTTER THAN HELL Dua Lipa 1035300
79 64 1 15 THE FLAMES OF DESIRE ABC 756950
80 83 80 4 99 MILES FROM L.A. Albert Hammond 12000

81 68 35 9 HIGH AND LOW Empire Of The Sun 76550
82 100 82 2 LOST (AS I AM) Streetwalkers 4600
83 NEW 83 1 DRUGS Adam Jensen 3400
84 93 84 2 A BIG HUNK ‘O LOVE Elvis Presley and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 4900
85 79 1 24 BURN Pet Shop Boys 1168150
86 91 86 4 I’M A TRAIN Albert Hammond 7300
87 99 87 2 BETTER WITH YOU of Verona 3700
88 69 58 8 IN THE NOW Barry Gibb 56400
89 NEW 89 1 DON’T WANNA NOW Maroon 5 featuring Kendrick Lamarr 2200
90 NEW 90 1 SIDE TO SIDE Ariana Grande featuring Nicki Minaj 2000

91 85 1 33 YOU DON’T HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME Dusty Springfield 808450
92 81 10 12 SAY IT AGAIN Frances 213550
93 95 93 6 MY EYES ADORED YOU Frankie Valli 8200
94 NEW 94 1 SHOW YOUR COLOURS (PLS&TY REMIX) Genevieve 1600
95 NEW 95 1 DREAMER Coco Morier 1500
96 NEW 96 1 DANCE THE WAY I FEEL Ou Est Le Swimming Pool 1400
97 NEW 97 1 A-YO Lady Gaga 1300
98 NEW 98 1 ON DIRAIT Amir 1200
99 NEW 99 1 TSIER Alyss 1100
100 NEW 100 1 STRONG SWEET & SOUTHERN Hayley Orrantia 1000

DROP OUTS
57 57 5 SCOPE MissingNo 22200
59 41 6 STARS Project 46 featuring Haley 62900
71 16 8 HUMAN Rag’n’Bone Man 132400
73 4 9 COME ALIVE FMLYBND 340050
76 30 11 LET ME LOVE YOU DJ Snake featuring Justin Bieber 124950
77 13 9 SACRIFICE MY HEART Petula Clark 145000
78 78 5 NUMB Sons of Sonix featuring Melanie C 16000
82 82 7 CONCRETE Tom Odell 23200
84 12 13 TROUBLE Offaiah 226600
86 86 6 FLICKER Tori Amos 11200
87 87 4 WHEN SUMMERTIME IS OVER Jackie Trent 6900
88 14 9 SUNSHINE TIEKS featuring Dan Harkna 138900
89 1 21 SAVE IT Salt Ashes 1272900
90 90 2 RELAX Crystal Waters 3800
92 68 9 WE DON’T TALK ANYMORE Charlie Puth featuring Selena Gomez 42900
96 10 14 HEY Willa 247050
97 6 13 HIGHER Kwamie Liv 224000

16th october 2016

2 weeks on top for gorgous Red Sky July as Robbie Williams does a double big climb, Russian into the 10 for 20 years of top 10s, as his heavy entertainment shows in the 20! The singles chart streaming teens might not like him but us older folk still do. Lots climbing times 4 for kishi bashi such a varied artist. The weeknd makes it a 3rd or 4th top 10 i think, as bruno rockets into the 20.

Jean-michel snd Pet Shop Boys gets a single release at last and returns at 60, with the highest new entry from Smoove n Turrell is a cover of Hot Chocolate’s 1971 2nd hit single You Could’ve Been A Lady.

1 1 1 4 HOUSE OF CARDS Red Sky July 461200
2 2 1 5 HURTS Emeli Sande 542000
3 6 3 5 GO! M83 featuring Mai Lan 242000
4 7 4 4 QUICKSAND Tom Chaplin 210000
5 5 5 4 DON’T YOU CRY FOR ME Cobi 228000
6 47 6 3 PARTY LIKE A RUSSIAN Robbie Williams 69700
7 3 1 7 FIRST TIME HE KISSED A BOY Kadie Elder 880000
8 10 8 4 CAN’T LET GO, JUNO Kishi Bashi 144750
9 9 9 4 IT NEVER RAINS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Albert Hammond 164000
10 25 10 2 STARBOY The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk 60750

11 4 2 6 FAMILIAR Agnes Obel 503000
12 13 13 7 TOOTHBRUSH DNCE 135200
13 11 5 6 NEVER EVER Royksopp featuring Susanne Sundfor 248250
14 8 8 8 PINK + WHITE Frank Ocean featuring Beyonce 149400
15 15 15 7 CIGARETTE DUET Princess Chelsea 116500
16 16 16 6 LOVE ME BETTER Love Thy Brother featuring Ariel Beesley 106950
17 12 5 8 BLOW YOUR MIND (MWAH) Dua Lipa 341200
18 67 18 3 HEAVY ENTERTAINMENT SHOW Robbie Williams 30100
19 28 19 3 SEE HER OUT (THAT’S JUST LIFE) Francis And The Lights 40400
20 63 20 2 24K MAGIC Bruno Mars 27200

21 29 29 3 IDLEWILD Travis featuring Josephine Oniyama 56150
22 14 2 9 FRIENDS Francis And The Lights featuring Bon Iver 511500
23 33 23 4 ANYMORE Melanie C 210500
24 24 6 10 HER (LOVING YOU) GLADES 371400
25 20 9 8 LOST & FOUND BETSY 220200
26 42 26 4 ODE TO MY NEXT LIFE Kishi Bashi 42550
27 27 27 17 YOU STILL BELIEVE IN ME The Beach Boys 232600
28 18 18 5 THE GLITTERING GUTTER (DAVE AUDEN RADIO MIX) Billie Ray Martin 87000
29 19 3 8 GET OVER IT RAT BOY 391700
30 30 19 11 TEN BELOW ZERO ABC 189850

31 17 17 8 YOUTH Glass Animals 114550
32 36 36 4 WHO’D YOU KILL Kishi Bashi 57200
33 22 15 6 KISS THE SKY Jason Derulo 123250
34 34 34 11 HOLLY HOLY Nancy Sinatra 112750
35 26 26 6 MR. APPLES Madness 85100
36 55 36 4 KIDS OneRepublic 41800
37 39 37 7 WHEN WE WERE LOVERS Jack Savoretti 72900
38 71 38 3 FLAME ON FLAME (A SLOW DIRGE) Kishi Bashi 27600
39 23 10 8 BOURBON Gallant 202950
40 53 53 6 SPHYNX La Femme 63050

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

41 21 14 6 THE SPOILS Massive Attack featuring Hope Sandoval 109450
42 31 16 6 HOLY COMMOTION Pretenders 116600
43 35 20 8 HOLE IN MY SOUL Kaiser Chiefs 94450
44 44 44 7 DIFFERENT FOR GIRLS Dierks Bently featuring Elle King 55450
45 40 40 5 WASTE A MOMENT Kings Of Leon 56300
46 32 2 12 KISS ME GOODBYE ABC 483400
47 64 64 6 SHE SETS THE CITY ON FIRE Gavin DeGraw 44500
48 37 7 11 GEMINI FEED Banks 255900
49 38 38 6 MAYBE IT’S A GOOD THING KT Tunstall 54200
50 60 60 6 THE GREATEST Sia featuring Kendrick Lamar 37600

51 45 12 9 BRAND NEW MOVES (VISUALIZER) Hey Violet 191550
52 46 13 9 ECHOES OF LOVE Jesse & Joy 168250
53 48 1 21 OTRA ERA Javiera Mena 812150
54 52 1 22 SWIPE TO THE RIGHT Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Cyndi Lauper 1123400
55 87 55 4 TELL IT TO MY HEART Filatov & Karras 18100
56 69 69 3 YOU’RE THE ONE Kathy Kirby 23700
57 78 78 4 SCOPE MissingNo 22200
58 66 66 6 TUN UP Sarah Mark 33400
59 41 41 6 STARS Project 46 featuring Haley 62900
60 RE 60 1 BRICK ENGLAND Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Pet Shop Boys 10000

61 61 1 26 WICHITA LINEMAN Glen Campbell 657800
62 62 62 5 GREEN DENM 31400
63 50 2 12 HANDCLAP Fitz And The Tantrums 509800
64 56 1 14 THE FLAMES OF DESIRE ABC 752750
65 99 65 2 WHITE FLAG Joseph 8100
66 89 66 2 LOVE ON ME Galantis & Hook N Sling 9000
67 54 1 24 HOTTER THAN HELL Dua Lipa 1030900
68 74 35 8 HIGH AND LOW Empire Of The Sun 72750
69 58 58 7 IN THE NOW Barry Gibb 54000
70 NEW 70 1 YOU COULD’VE BEEN A LADY Smoove & Turrell 6000

71 43 16 7 HUMAN Rag’n’Bone Man 132400
72 77 72 4 A BAD NIGHT Cat Stevens 16200
73 49 4 8 COME ALIVE FMLYBND 340050
74 98 74 2 I WANT YOU TO SHAKE Francis And The Lights 6400
75 68 1 18 MAKE IT WITH YOU Bread 682800

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

76 57 30 11 LET ME LOVE YOU DJ Snake featuring Justin Bieber 124950
77 51 13 9 SACRIFICE MY HEART Petula Clark 145000
78 80 78 5 NUMB Sons of Sonix featuring Melanie C 16000
79 76 1 23 BURN Pet Shop Boys 1165150
80 83 80 7 TWIST AND SHOUT (LIVE AT HOLLYWOOD BOWL) The Beatles 21500

81 73 10 11 SAY IT AGAIN Frances 211750
82 82 82 7 CONCRETE Tom Odell 23200
83 87 83 3 99 MILES FROM L.A. Albert Hammond 8000
84 59 12 13 TROUBLE Offaiah 226600
85 70 1 32 YOU DON’T HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME Dusty Springfield 806550
86 88 86 6 FLICKER Tori Amos 11200
87 91 87 4 WHEN SUMMERTIME IS OVER Jackie Trent 6900
88 65 14 9 SUNSHINE TIEKS featuring Dan Harkna 138900
89 72 1 21 SAVE IT Salt Ashes 1272900
90 92 90 2 RELAX Crystal Waters 3800

91 94 91 3 I’M A TRAIN Albert Hammond 4500
92 75 68 9 WE DON’T TALK ANYMORE Charlie Puth featuring Selena Gomez 42900
93 NEW 93 1 A BIG HUNK O’ LOVE Elvis Presley and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 1700
94 NEW 94 1 RIVER RUNS DRY Scavenger Hunt 1600
95 96 95 4 MY EYES ADORED YOU Frankie Valli 6500
96 81 10 14 HEY Willa 247050
97 90 6 13 HIGHER Kwamie Liv 224000
98 NEW 98 1 BUY NOTHING DAY The Go! Team 1200
99 NEW 99 1 BETTER WITH YOU of Verona 1100
100 NEW 100 1 LOST (AS I AM) Superwalkers 1000

DROP OUTS

GRACE, BILLY FURY, LADY GAGA, NEIL CHRISTIAN, ARIEL PINK, BLOSSOMS, MAX JURY

9th October 2016

It’s Red Sky July’s subtle and hauntingly gorgeous House Of Cards on top for the first time, though Ally McErlaine has been at 1 many times before as part of Texas. Just edging out the epic banging emotion of Emeli Sande, but it was a very close run thing. Frank Ocean and Beyonce are back in the top 10 with the unavailable (except on the album Blonde) Pink + White. It’s lovely and needs to be a single. NOW Frank!

Highest new entry is the returning hitmaker The Weeknd, joined by the veteran 90’s electronica band Daft Punk, not the first time in my chart for either by a long chalk, but any song called Starboy I’m going to love (in theory) as he’s a super-hero (Star Boy) from the greatest super-hero team of all-time Legion Of Super-Heroes. A band of that name was a John Peel fave, and members Dream Girl, Brainiac 5, Wildfire have featured in song titles, while Karate Kid was nicked for a film, so watch out for Saturn Girl, White Witch, and Princess Projectra one day! Another Princess, Chelsea, make my top 20 along with 80’s dance diva Billie Ray Martin, and Francis And The Lights have a mighty leap from 99 to 28 while also entering at 98 with a third track.

Mel C keeps the lone Spice Girls flag flying as she enters the 40, and KT Tunstall returns to the 40 after a hefty break. Kack Savoretti and Kings Of Leon are back after shorter breaks. Returning to the chart is Bruno Mars, carrying on from his funky Mark Ronson megahit, Robbie Williams has big climbs, and Crystal Waters is also back after a couple of decades or so. Relax!

1 2 1 3 HOUSE OF CARDS Red Sky July 291200
2 1 1 4 HURTS Emeli Sande 427000
3 4 1 6 FIRST TIME HE KISSED A BOY Kadie Elder 830000
4 3 2 5 FAMILIAR Agnes Obel 465000
5 5 5 3 DON’T YOU CRY FOR ME Cobi 168000
6 6 6 4 GO! M83 featuring Mai Lan 157000
7 7 7 3 QUICKSAND Tom Chaplin 145000
8 30 8 7 PINK + WHITE Frank Ocean featuring Beyonce 120400
9 11 9 3 IT NEVER RAINS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Albert Hammond 119000
10 10 10 3 CAN’T LET GO, JUNO Kishi Bashi 96750

11 9 5 5 NEVER EVER Royksopp featuring Susanne Sundfor 216250
12 12 5 7 BLOW YOUR MIND (MWAH) Dua Lipa 318200
13 20 13 6 TOOTHBRUSH DNCE 100200
14 8 2 8 FRIENDS Francis And The Lights featuring Bon Iver 492000
15 28 15 6 CIGARETTE DUET Princess Chelsea 89500
16 26 16 5 LOVE ME BETTER Love Thy Brother featuring Ariel Beesley 81950
17 25 17 7 YOUTH Glass Animals 96650
18 27 18 4 THE GLITTERING GUTTER (DAVE AUDEN RADIO MIX) Billie Ray Martin 68800
19 13 3 7 GET OVER IT RAT BOY 373600
20 16 9 7 LOST & FOUND BETSY 201400

21 14 14 5 THE SPOILS Massive Attack featuring Hope Sandoval 95450
22 15 15 5 KISS THE SKY Jason Derulo 105550
23 17 10 7 BOURBON Gallant 185850
24 18 6 9 HER (LOVING YOU) GLADES 352400
25 NEW 25 1 STARBOY The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk 18750
26 34 26 5 MR. APPLES Madness 67600
27 36 27 16 YOU STILL BELIEVE IN ME The Beach Boys 214200
28 99 28 2 SEE HER OUT (THAT’S JUST LIFE) Francis And The Lights 19400
29 29 29 2 IDLEWILD Travis featuring Josephine Oniyama 36400
30 19 19 10 TEN BELOW ZERO ABC 171850

31 21 16 5 HOLY COMMOTION Pretenders 102850
32 24 2 11 KISS ME GOODBYE ABC 470600
33 66 33 3 ANYMORE Melanie C 19900
34 35 34 10 HOLLY HOLY Nancy Sinatra 95150
35 23 20 7 HOLE IN MY SOUL Kaiser Chiefs 80950
36 40 36 3 WHO’D YOU KILL Kishi Bashi 39400
37 22 7 10 GEMINI FEED Banks 243500
38 57 38 5 MAYBE IT’S A GOOD THING KT Tunstall 42000
39 47 39 6 WHEN WE WERE LOVERS Jack Savoretti 55600
40 48 40 5 WASTE A MOMENT Kings Of Leon 43300

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

41 50 41 5 STARS Project 46 featuring Haley 52800
42 71 42 3 ODE TO MY NEXT LIFE Kishi Bashi 23950
43 31 16 7 HUMAN Rag’n’Bone Man 126600
44 53 44 6 DIFFERENT FOR GIRLS Dierks Bently featuring Elle King 42200
45 37 12 8 BRAND NEW MOVES (VISUALIZER) Hey Violet 179800
46 41 13 8 ECHOES OF LOVE Jesse & Joy 156750
47 89 47 2 PARTY LIKE A RUSSIAN Robbie Williams 14700
48 44 1 21 OTRA ERA Javiera Mena 800900
49 32 4 8 COME ALIVE FMLYBND 334650
50 39 2 11 HANDCLAP Fitz And The Tantrums 502600

51 33 13 8 SACRIFICE MY HEART Petula Clark 140400
52 45 1 22 SWIPE TO THE RIGHT Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Cyndi Lauper 1112400
53 54 53 5 SPHYNX La Femme 46050
54 46 1 23 HOTTER THAN HELL Dua Lipa 1024300
55 55 55 3 KIDS OneRepublic 24400
56 52 1 13 THE FLAMES OF DESIRE ABC 745650
57 38 30 10 LET ME LOVE YOU DJ Snake featuring Justin Bieber 120150
58 58 58 6 IN THE NOW Barry Gibb 47800
59 42 12 12 TROUBLE Offaiah 223400
60 74 60 5 THE GREATEST Sia featuring Kendrick Lamar 25600

61 61 1 26 WICHITA LINEMAN Glen Campbell 650300
62 75 62 4 GREEN DENM 24000
63 NEW 63 1 24K MAGIC Bruno Mars 7200
64 64 64 5 SHE SETS THE CITY ON FIRE Gavin DeGraw 31900
65 43 14 8 SUNSHINE TIEKS featuring Dan Harkna 136500
66 70 66 5 TUN UP Sarah Mark 23200
67 95 67 2 HEAVY ENTERTAINMENT SHOW Robbie Williams 8100
68 62 1 17 MAKE IT WITH YOU Bread 677800
69 72 69 3 YOU’RE THE ONE Kathy Kirby 13100
70 51 1 31 YOU DON’T HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME Dusty Springfield 803550

71 77 71 2 FLAME ON FLAME (A SLOW DIRGE) Kishi Bashi 10400
72 59 1 20 SAVE IT Salt Ashes 1270700
73 49 10 10 SAY IT AGAIN Frances 207950
74 60 35 7 HIGH AND LOW Empire Of The Sun 66350
75 68 68 8 WE DON’T TALK ANYMORE Charlie Puth featuring Selena Gomez 41100

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

76 67 1 22 BURN Pet Shop Boys 1160950
77 81 77 3 A BAD NIGHT Cat Stevens 10600
78 78 78 4 SCOPE MissingNo 11800
79 56 43 6 THAT’S NICE Neil Christian 65300
80 80 80 4 NUMB Sons of Sonix featuring Melanie C 11600

81 65 10 13 HEY Willa 245650
82 88 82 6 CONCRETE Tom Odell 19600
83 83 83 6 TWIST AND SHOUT (LIVE AT HOLLYWOOD BOWL) The Beatles 17500
84 87 84 3 TELL IT TO MY HEART Filatov & Karras 7300
85 73 9 12 LOVE THAT GROWS OLD Max Jury 267100
86 86 86 5 PERFECT ILLUSION Lady Gaga 10900
87 90 87 2 99 MILES FROM L.A. Albert Hammond 4600
88 93 88 5 FLICKER Tori Amos 8400
89 NEW 89 1 LOVE ON ME Galantis & Hook N Sling 2200
90 84 6 12 HIGHER Kwamie Liv 222700

91 98 91 3 WHEN SUMMERTIME IS OVER Jackie Trent 4300
92 NEW 92 1 RELAX Crystal Waters 1800
93 63 55 7 IN SUMMER Billy Fury 47700
94 100 94 2 I’M A TRAIN Albert Hammond 2600
95 69 2 16 HELL OF A GIRL Grace 541200
96 96 96 4 MY EYES ADORED YOU Frankie Valli 5000
97 97 97 3 NOT ENOUGH VIOLENCE Ariel Pink 3800
98 NEW 98 1 I WANT YOU TO SHAKE Francis And The Lights 1200
99 NEW 99 1 WHITE FLAG Joseph 1100
100 85 27 100 CHARLEMAGNE Blossoms 128800

DROP OUTS
76 52 4 LIVING Bakermat featuring Alex Clare 38000
79 30 7 FALL ON ME Kitten 96300
82 3 12 LET ME KNOW No Wyld 416300
91 33 7 NEW ORLEANS Naxxos 54250
92 92 3 XO Kelsea Ballerini 4900
94 13 9 THEY DON’T OWN ME Richard Ashcroft 138400

Ferry Cross The Mersey 2016…

2nd October 2016

It’s a first chart-topper for Emeli Sande and her proper epic Hurts, just holding of massive climber Red Sky July’s 67-place climb to 2 with House Of Cards, their 2nd top 10. Or umpteenth including Alisha’s Attic and Texas singles. I love my top 10 so much this week, it’s holding off a 70’s classic fave as it gets leapfrogged by M83 and Mai Lan’s groovy Go! and Kishi Bashi’s 3rd top 10, Can’t Let Go, Juno. Not content with that he also enters the 40 with the Floyd-ish Who’d You Kill and has another album track entry at 77, with a flaming non-dirge song, despite what the title suggests.

Massive Attack get their biggest hit in a decade or so, into the 20 with the gorgeous The Spoils, and DNCE break into the 20 for a second time with their toothbrush. Highest new entry at 29 is from Travis, grabbing a comeback top 40 with an assist from Josephine Oniyama for nearly 20 years of chart entries, including a chart-topper in the noughties with Selfish Jean – an undeserved flop – and now adding Idlewild. Madness get a sweet 37 years of top 40 songs, and Nancy Sinatra makes it 45 years – though Holly Holy is a 70’s track, written by Neil Diamond, and previously charted in covers from Junior Walker & The All Stars and UB40.

Robbie Williams gets 2 new entries fresh off his new album, and Albert Hammond gets a 2nd and third 1970’s US Top 100 hit new entries in my chart for the first time, though I liked them at the time I only had a top 30 or 50 at the time and loads of great singles never charted. Albert has a new orchestral album of his songs coming out soon (that’s a LOT of hit songs!)

1 2 1 3 HURTS Emeli Sande 312000
2 69 2 2 HOUSE OF CARDS Red Sky July 121200
3 3 2 4 FAMILIAR Agnes Obel 400000
4 1 1 5 FIRST TIME HE KISSED A BOY Kadie Elder 745000
5 8 5 2 DON’T YOU CRY FOR ME Cobi 108000
6 15 6 3 GO! M83 featuring Mai Lan 102000
7 9 7 2 QUICKSAND Tom Chaplin 95000
8 4 2 7 FRIENDS Francis And The Lights featuring Bon Iver 463000
9 5 5 4 NEVER EVER Royksopp featuring Susanne Sundfor 179250
10 46 10 2 CAN’T LET GO, JUNO Kishi Bashi 54750

11 11 11 2 IT NEVER RAINS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Albert Hammond 74000
12 7 5 6 BLOW YOUR MIND (MWAH) Dua Lipa 283200
13 6 3 6 GET OVER IT RAT BOY 352600
14 35 14 4 THE SPOILS Massive Attack featuring Hope Sandoval 75700
15 18 15 4 KISS THE SKY Jason Derulo 86050
16 13 9 6 LOST & FOUND BETSY 181400
17 10 10 6 BOURBON Gallant 166600
18 12 6 8 HER (LOVING YOU) GLADES 333400
19 19 19 9 TEN BELOW ZERO ABC 153850
20 22 20 5 TOOTHBRUSH DNCE 68200

21 16 16 4 HOLY COMMOTION Pretenders 84950
22 14 7 9 GEMINI FEED Banks 226200
23 20 20 6 HOLE IN MY SOUL Kaiser Chiefs 63450
24 17 2 10 KISS ME GOODBYE ABC 452800
25 31 25 6 YOUTH Glass Animals 73650
26 26 26 4 LOVE ME BETTER Love Thy Brother featuring Ariel Beesley 56950
27 27 27 3 THE GLITTERING GUTTER (DAVE AUDEN RADIO MIX) Billie Ray Martin 46800
28 34 28 5 CIGARETTE DUET Princess Chelsea 62500
29 NEW 29 1 IDLEWILD Travis featuring Josephine Oniyama 18200
30 32 30 6 PINK + WHITE Frank Ocean featuring Beyonce 72400

31 24 16 6 HUMAN Rag’n’Bone Man 113100
32 21 4 7 COME ALIVE FMLYBND 322550
33 23 13 7 SACRIFICE MY HEART Petula Clark 128650
34 48 34 4 MR. APPLES Madness 49100
35 45 35 9 HOLLY HOLY Nancy Sinatra 77550
36 36 36 15 YOU STILL BELIEVE IN ME The Beach Boys 195800
37 25 12 7 BRAND NEW MOVES (VISUALIZER) Hey Violet 166800
38 38 30 9 LET ME LOVE YOU DJ Snake featuring Justin Bieber 109750
39 28 2 10 HANDCLAP Fitz And The Tantrums 490600
40 75 40 2 WHO’D YOU KILL Kishi Bashi 22000

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

41 33 13 7 ECHOES OF LOVE Jesse & Joy 144000
42 29 12 11 TROUBLE Offaiah 213300
43 30 14 7 SUNSHINE TIEKS featuring Dan Harkna 129500
44 44 1 20 OTRA ERA Javiera Mena 788600
45 40 1 21 SWIPE TO THE RIGHT Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Cyndi Lauper 1100900
46 39 1 22 HOTTER THAN HELL Dua Lipa 1013300
47 57 47 5 WHEN WE WERE LOVERS Jack Savoretti 38500
48 65 48 4 WASTE A MOMENT Kings Of Leon 26300
49 37 10 9 SAY IT AGAIN Frances 202550
50 50 50 4 STARS Project 46 featuring Haley 38800

51 42 1 30 YOU DON’T HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME Dusty Springfield 797550
52 41 1 12 THE FLAMES OF DESIRE ABC 735050
53 62 53 5 DIFFERENT FOR GIRLS Dierks Bently featuring Elle King 28950
54 54 54 4 SPHYNX La Femme 34800
55 86 55 2 KIDS OneRepublic 13600
56 43 43 5 THAT’S NICE Neil Christian 61100
57 66 57 4 MAYBE IT’S A GOOD THING KT Tunstall 24800
58 58 58 5 IN THE NOW Barry Gibb 37600
59 47 1 19 SAVE IT Salt Ashes 1265100
60 49 35 6 HIGH AND LOW Empire Of The Sun 61150

61 61 1 25 WICHITA LINEMAN Glen Campbell 642800
62 59 1 16 MAKE IT WITH YOU Bread 671400
63 55 55 6 IN SUMMER Billy Fury 46000
64 64 64 4 SHE SETS THE CITY ON FIRE Gavin DeGraw 24800
65 53 10 12 HEY Willa 241850
66 73 66 2 ANYMORE Melanie C 12200
67 60 1 21 BURN Pet Shop Boys 1156150
68 68 68 7 WE DON’T TALK ANYMORE Charlie Puth featuring Selena Gomez 36100
69 56 2 15 HELL OF A GIRL Grace 539700
70 70 70 4 TUN UP Sarah Mark 16400

71 78 71 2 ODE TO MY NEXT LIFE Kishi Bashi 10200
72 97 72 2 YOU’RE THE ONE Kathy Kirby 6900
73 51 9 11 LOVE THAT GROWS OLD Max Jury 264100
74 74 74 4 THE GREATEST Sia featuring Kendrick Lamar 15600
75 71 71 3 GREEN DENM 16600

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

76 52 52 4 LIVING Bakermat featuring Alex Clare 38000
77 NEW 77 1 FLAME ON FLAME (A SLOW DIRGE) Kishi Bashi 4600
78 94 78 3 SCOPE MissingNo 7400
79 63 30 7 FALL ON ME Kitten 96300
80 91 80 3 NUMB Sons of Sonix featuring Melanie C 7600

81 89 81 2 A BAD NIGHT Cat Stevens 6000
82 67 3 12 LET ME KNOW No Wyld 416300
83 83 83 5 TWIST AND SHOUT (LIVE AT HOLLYWOOD BOWL) The Beatles 14100
84 84 6 11 HIGHER Kwamie Liv 220700
85 72 27 9 CHARLEMAGNE Blossoms 127800
86 90 86 4 PERFECT ILLUSION Lady Gaga 8100
87 95 87 2 TELL IT TO MY HEART Filatov & Karras 4100
88 RE 85 5 CONCRETE Tom Odell 13000
89 NEW 89 1 PARTY LIKE A RUSSIAN Robbie Williams 2200
90 NEW 90 1 99 MILES FROM L.A. Albert Hammond 2000

91 82 33 7 NEW ORLEANS Naxxos 54250
92 92 92 3 XO Kelsea Ballerini 4900
93 93 93 4 FLICKER Tori Amos 6000
94 76 13 9 THEY DON’T OWN ME Richard Ashcroft 138400
95 NEW 95 1 HEAVY ENTERTAINMENT SHOW Robbie Williams 1500
96 99 96 3 MY EYES ADORED YOU Frankie Valli 3600
97 RE 97 2 NOT ENOUGH VIOLENCE Ariel Pink 2500
98 98 98 2 WHEN SUMMERTIME IS OVER Jackie Trent 2400
99 NEW 99 1 SEE HER OUT (THAT JUST LIGHT) Francis And The Lights
100 NEW 100 1 I’M A TRAIN Albert Hammond 1000

DROP OUTS
77 77 4 ABER Tobtok 15100
79 70 4 A HEAD FULL OF DREAMS Coldplay 18600
80 23 6 DON’T YOU KNOW Kungs featuring Jamie N Commons 84700
81 72 4 OLE John Newman 18800
85 23 9 HEATHENS Twenty One Pilots 98450
87 15 7 WHO’S LOVING YOU PART 1 High Contrast and Clare Maguire 122900
88 11 7 LOVE YOU WITH THE LIGHTS ON (MONSIEUR ADI REMIX) Morgxn 161300
96 1 24 SAY IT TO ME Pet Shop Boys 954650
100 100 3 THE ACTRESS Sada Vidoo 3000

Las Palmas, Gran Canaria

25th September 2016

It’s Kadie Elder for a 4th week on top, still loving my Top 10 finalist in the Buzzjack Song Contest. Talking of, a previous top 10 act for me Kishi Bashi has a new album out, and it’s fab, the official single is in at 46, while 2 tracks pop in lower down, a very Pink Floyd-sounding at 75 and a very Jean-Michel Jarre-sounding (via orchestral avante-garde) at 78. Another BJSC act who flopped are also back, Red Sky July at 69 – former members of Texas and Alisha’s Attic – and I could make comments about British country music being ageist as far as radio plays go, it doesn’t escape my notice that pretty young girlie country tracks get Radio 2 play, and the older, classier country acts, errr, don’t.

Emelie Sande shoots up to 2, so close to nabbing the top spot in a highly active and fabulous chart (for me, at any rate!) and there are 2 brand new debuts inside the top 10, the blues-ish, quirky fab Cobi at 8, and the ballad Keane-like Tom Chaplin at 9. OK it is Keane. The lead singer having his first solo venture, and it’s classic Keane.

In at 11, from 1972, because I saw Albert Hammond in concert in Wimborne this week – he hasn’t toured for 45 years, and moved the States in 1971 from a successful UK pop song hit-writing machine career, to launch his solo and American songwriter career, the former with initial success for 2 years, before he concentrated on songwriting. It Never rains In Southern California is his best single, I had nostalgic tears in my eyes for it, and his other early 70’s singles, only one of which charted in the UK – but not this fab huge American hit which wasn’t eligible for my chart at the time due to floppage. Other songs? Little Arrows, When I Need You, One Moment In Time, Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now, The Air That I Breathe, among many many others. Great to have him back!

Big jumps for the Kaiser Chiefs into the 20, Billie Ray Martin into the 30, and Mel C leapfrogs herself with her new single. OneRepublic return again, along with a host of 60’s tracks I discovered during AH Gold’s Ultimate 60’s voting. Cat Stevens is new to me, ditto Kathy Kirby’s fab track – I had a few huge pop star faves as a nipper, we’re talking 5 or 6 years old, the biggest 2 were Billy Fury (also in the chart) and Kathy Kirby. Mad on ’em I was.

1 1 1 4 FIRST TIME HE KISSED A BOY Kadie Elder 680000
2 15 2 2 HURTS Emeli Sande 142000
3 2 2 3 FAMILIAR Agnes Obel 315000
4 4 2 6 FRIENDS Francis And The Lights featuring Bon Iver 415000
5 6 5 3 NEVER EVER Royksopp featuring Susanne Sundfor 134250
6 3 3 5 GET OVER IT RAT BOY 320600
7 5 5 5 BLOW YOUR MIND (MWAH) Dua Lipa 248200
8 NEW 8 1 DON’T YOU CRY FOR ME Cobi 48000
9 NEW 9 1 QUICKSAND Tom Chaplin 45000
10 10 10 5 BOURBON Gallant 143600

11 NEW 11 1 IT NEVER RAINS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Albert Hammond 37000
12 8 6 7 HER (LOVING YOU) GLADES 311400
13 9 9 5 LOST & FOUND BETSY 156400
14 7 7 8 GEMINI FEED Banks 206700
15 20 15 2 GO! M83 featuring Mai Lan 47000
16 18 16 3 HOLY COMMOTION Pretenders 65200
17 11 2 9 KISS ME GOODBYE ABC 433800
18 25 18 3 KISS THE SKY Jason Derulo 59050
19 23 19 8 TEN BELOW ZERO ABC 132850
20 66 20 5 HOLE IN MY SOUL Kaiser Chiefs 44200

21 12 4 6 COME ALIVE FMLYBND 304750
22 26 22 4 TOOTHBRUSH DNCE 48200
23 13 13 6 SACRIFICE MY HEART Petula Clark 110950
24 16 16 5 HUMAN Rag’n’Bone Man 95200
25 17 12 6 BRAND NEW MOVES (VISUALIZER) Hey Violet 149500
26 46 26 3 LOVE ME BETTER Love Thy Brother featuring Ariel Beesley 38450
27 60 27 2 THE GLITTERING GUTTER (DAVE AUDEN RADIO MIX) Billie Ray Martin 28400
28 19 2 9 HANDCLAP Fitz And The Tantrums 473500
29 21 12 10 TROUBLE Offaiah 199550
30 14 14 6 SUNSHINE TIEKS featuring Dan Harkna 116000

31 28 28 5 YOUTH Glass Animals 54900
32 34 32 5 PINK + WHITE Frank Ocean featuring Beyonce 54400
33 22 13 6 ECHOES OF LOVE Jesse & Joy 130000
34 40 34 4 CIGARETTE DUET Princess Chelsea 44200
35 38 35 3 THE SPOILS Massive Attack featuring Hope Sandoval 46700
36 36 36 14 YOU STILL BELIEVE IN ME The Beach Boys 178400
37 27 10 8 SAY IT AGAIN Frances 190450
38 30 30 8 LET ME LOVE YOU DJ Snake featuring Justin Bieber 92550
39 31 1 21 HOTTER THAN HELL Dua Lipa 1000550
40 33 1 20 SWIPE TO THE RIGHT Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Cyndi Lauper 1087900

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

41 32 1 11 THE FLAMES OF DESIRE ABC 723550
42 24 1 29 YOU DON’T HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME Dusty Springfield 785800
43 43 43 4 THAT’S NICE Neil Christian 50500
44 44 1 19 OTRA ERA Javiera Mena 775350
45 50 45 8 HOLLY HOLY Nancy Sinatra 60050
46 NEW 46 1 CAN’T LET GO, JUNO Kishi Bashi 12750
47 37 1 18 SAVE IT Salt Ashes 1255000
48 49 48 3 MR. APPLES Madness 31500
49 35 35 5 HIGH AND LOW Empire Of The Sun 51150
50 57 50 3 STARS Project 46 featuring Haley 26800

51 29 9 10 LOVE THAT GROWS OLD Max Jury 258700
52 52 52 3 LIVING Bakermat featuring Alex Clare 33200
53 39 10 11 HEY Willa 234850
54 55 54 3 SPHYNX La Femme 23800
55 56 55 5 IN SUMMER Billy Fury 38800
56 45 2 14 HELL OF A GIRL Grace 533500
57 68 57 4 WHEN WE WERE LOVERS Jack Savoretti 26000
58 58 58 4 IN THE NOW Barry Gibb 27400
59 54 1 15 MAKE IT WITH YOU Bread 664000
60 53 1 20 BURN Pet Shop Boys 1149550

61 59 1 24 WICHITA LINEMAN Glen Campbell 635300
62 74 62 4 DIFFERENT FOR GIRLS Dierks Bently featuring Elle King 17700
63 41 30 6 FALL ON ME Kitten 92100
64 65 64 3 SHE SETS THE CITY ON FIRE Gavin DeGraw 17700
65 73 65 3 WASTE A MOMENT Kings Of Leon 14000
66 75 66 3 MAYBE IT’S A GOOD THING KT Tunstall 14400
67 48 3 11 LET ME KNOW No Wyld 412700
68 69 68 6 WE DON’T TALK ANYMORE Charlie Puth featuring Selena Gomez 29700
69 NEW 69 1 HOUSE OF CARDS Red Sky July 6200
70 85 70 3 TUN UP Sarah Mark 10400

71 71 71 2 GREEN DENM 11600
72 47 27 8 CHARLEMAGNE Blossoms 124900
73 NEW 73 1 ANYMORE Melanie C 5400
74 80 74 3 THE GREATEST Sia featuring Kendrick Lamar 10400
75 NEW 75 1 WHO’D YOU KILL Kishi Bashi 5000

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

76 51 13 8 THEY DON’T OWN ME Richard Ashcroft 136800
77 77 77 4 ABER Tobtok 15100
78 NEW 78 1 ODE TO MY NEXT LIFE Kishi Bashi 4400
79 70 70 4 A HEAD FULL OF DREAMS Coldplay 18600
80 61 23 6 DON’T YOU KNOW Kungs featuring Jamie N Commons 84700

81 72 72 4 OLE John Newman 18800
82 42 33 6 NEW ORLEANS Naxxos 52350
83 83 83 4 TWIST AND SHOUT (LIVE AT HOLLYWOOD BOWL) The Beatles 10700
84 64 6 10 HIGHER Kwamie Liv 217500
85 84 23 9 HEATHENS Twenty One Pilots 98450
86 NEW 86 1 KIDS OneRepublic 2800
87 63 15 7 WHO’S LOVING YOU PART 1 High Contrast and Clare Maguire 122900
88 62 11 7 LOVE YOU WITH THE LIGHTS ON (MONSIEUR ADI REMIX) Morgxn 161300
89 NEW 89 1 A BAD NIGHT Cat Stevens 2200
90 90 90 3 PERFECT ILLUSION Lady Gaga 5300

91 93 91 2 NUMB Sons of Sonix featuring Melanie C 3600
92 97 92 2 XO Kelsea Ballerini 3100
93 95 93 3 FLICKER Tori Amos 4300
94 96 94 2 SCOPE MissingNo 3000
95 NEW 95 1 TELL IT TO MY HEART Filatov & Karras 1500
96 82 1 24 SAY IT TO ME Pet Shop Boys 954650
97 NEW 97 1 YOU’RE THE ONE Kathy Kirby 1300
98 NEW 98 1 WHEN SUMMERTIME IS OVER Jackie Trent 1200
99 99 99 2 MY EYES ADORED YOU Frankie Valli 2200
100 100 100 3 THE ACTRESS Sada Vidoo 3000

DROP OUTS
67 16 10 WHAT’S IT GONNA BE Shura 153350
76 13 11 YOU DON’T KNOW LOVE Olly Murs 182750
78 78 5 ONE IN A MILLION Midnight To Monaco 14700
79 42 5 TOO MUCH IS NEVER ENOUGH Florence + The Machine 46150
81 56 5 HOME Henri Pfr 26200
86 32 10 IS THIS LOVE Bob Marley & The Wailers featuring LVNDSCAPE & Bolier 85450
87 40 8 MOMBASA Stadium X 70950
88 88 2 WHITE NOISE Danrell featuring Ryder 3900
89 89 4 BITTER SALT Jake Bugg 8300
91 3 18 HOLD ON Richard Ashcroft 554550
92 92 3 R.P.M. Sasha Pierce 4600
94 85 4 CONCRETE Tom Odell 10600
98 98 1 NOT ENOUGH VIOLENCE Ariel Pink 1200

18th September 2016

It’s a 3rd week on top for Kadie Elder and a static top 5, with a big climb for fab Royksopp and Susanne Sundfor (their second top 10 together). Gallant brings some class soul into the top 10, and highest new entry is at 15 for Emeli Sande, at long last returning to music with a bang, and it Hurts! The Pretenders keep up the run of top 20 singles, Holy Commotion doing what Stop Your Sobbing first did in the spring of 1979. Second highest new entry is also a returning act, M83, with Mai Lan and hot on the heels of a fab Jools Holland show performance.

Glass Animals go top 40, well deserved, and ditto DNCE’s second, Frank Ocean does the same with veteran (by today’s chart standards) Beyonce, her umpteenth, and still not available to buy annoyingly, cos it’s lovely. More returning acts: Empire Of The Sun, like Beyonce previous chart-toppers, though they have done it also as Pnau; Massive Attack; and new in the 40, Princess Chelsea and the fab quirky song about ciggies pros and cons. Well, cons, mostly.

There’s a mountain of climbers lower down, so just to stick to new tracks, Billie Ray Martin grabs another solo entry extending her run back to Electribe 101 days in 1989, and Melanie C is back as guest vocalist on Sons Of Sonix for a sweet 20 years as Spice Girl and solo, including 3 number ones.

1 1 1 3 FIRST TIME HE KISSED A BOY Kadie Elder 510000
2 2 2 2 FAMILIAR Agnes Obel 230000
3 3 3 4 GET OVER IT RAT BOY 265600
4 4 2 5 FRIENDS Francis And The Lights featuring Bon Iver 350000
5 5 5 4 BLOW YOUR MIND (MWAH) Dua Lipa 198500
6 23 6 2 NEVER EVER Royksopp featuring Susanne Sundfor 74250
7 9 7 7 GEMINI FEED Banks 177700
8 7 6 6 HER (LOVING YOU) GLADES 276400
9 10 9 4 LOST & FOUND BETSY 124400
10 17 10 4 BOURBON Gallant 101600

11 8 2 8 KISS ME GOODBYE ABC 410800
12 6 4 5 COME ALIVE FMLYBND 285000
13 14 13 5 SACRIFICE MY HEART Petula Clark 91700
14 19 14 5 SUNSHINE TIEKS featuring Dan Harkna 98000
15 NEW 15 1 HURTS Emeli Sande 27000
16 16 16 4 HUMAN Rag’n’Bone Man 76200
17 15 12 5 BRAND NEW MOVES (VISUALIZER) Hey Violet 130750
18 29 18 2 HOLY COMMOTION Pretenders 40200
19 12 2 8 HANDCLAP Fitz And The Tantrums 455200
20 NEW 20 1 GO! M83 featuring Mai Lan 20000

21 18 12 9 TROUBLE Offaiah 181350
22 13 13 5 ECHOES OF LOVE Jesse & Joy 112300
23 26 23 7 TEN BELOW ZERO ABC 111850
24 11 1 28 YOU DON’T HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME Dusty Springfield 772050
25 28 25 2 KISS THE SKY Jason Derulo 37050
26 71 26 3 TOOTHBRUSH DNCE 28700
27 21 10 7 SAY IT AGAIN Frances 173150
28 52 28 4 YOUTH Glass Animals 37000
29 22 9 9 LOVE THAT GROWS OLD Max Jury 246950
30 39 30 7 LET ME LOVE YOU DJ Snake featuring Justin Bieber 75350

31 20 1 20 HOTTER THAN HELL Dua Lipa 983450
32 25 1 10 THE FLAMES OF DESIRE ABC 709550
33 24 1 19 SWIPE TO THE RIGHT Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Cyndi Lauper 1070900
34 48 35 4 PINK + WHITE Frank Ocean featuring Beyonce 36600
35 42 35 4 HIGH AND LOW Empire Of The Sun 39050
36 40 36 13 YOU STILL BELIEVE IN ME The Beach Boys 161000
37 27 1 17 SAVE IT Salt Ashes 1242500
38 50 38 2 THE SPOILS Massive Attack featuring Hope Sandoval 29200
39 31 10 10 HEY Willa 223600
40 65 40 3 CIGARETTE DUET Princess Chelsea 26600

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

41 30 30 5 FALL ON ME Kitten 84900
42 33 33 5 NEW ORLEANS Naxxos 48750
43 46 43 3 THAT’S NICE Neil Christian 37250
44 44 1 18 OTRA ERA Javiera Mena 762100
45 37 2 13 HELL OF A GIRL Grace 522900
46 63 46 2 LOVE ME BETTER Love Thy Brother featuring Ariel Beesley 19950
47 34 27 7 CHARLEMAGNE Blossoms 119300
48 32 3 10 LET ME KNOW No Wyld 406100
49 64 49 2 MR. APPLES Madness 19200
50 53 50 7 HOLLY HOLY Nancy Sinatra 47050

51 41 13 7 THEY DON’T OWN ME Richard Ashcroft 132000
52 58 52 2 LIVING Bakermat featuring Alex Clare 21700
53 47 1 19 BURN Pet Shop Boys 1139550
54 51 1 14 MAKE IT WITH YOU Bread 653900
55 90 55 2 SPHYNX La Femme 12800
56 59 56 4 IN SUMMER Billy Fury 28000
57 78 57 2 STARS Project 46 featuring Haley 14800
58 70 58 3 IN THE NOW Barry Gibb 17200
59 57 1 23 WICHITA LINEMAN Glen Campbell 627800
60 NEW 60 1 THE GLITTERING GUTTER (DAVE AUDEN RADIO MIX) Billie Ray Martin 10000

61 38 23 5 DON’T YOU KNOW Kungs featuring Jamie N Commons 80700
62 35 11 6 LOVE YOU WITH THE LIGHTS ON (MONSIEUR ADI REMIX) Morgxn 158900
63 36 15 6 WHO’S LOVING YOU PART 1 High Contrast and Clare Maguire 120300
64 49 6 9 HIGHER Kwamie Liv 214300
65 82 65 2 SHE SETS THE CITY ON FIRE Gavin DeGraw 10600
66 55 55 4 HOLE IN MY SOUL Kaiser Chiefs 24200
67 43 16 10 WHAT’S IT GONNA BE Shura 153350
68 75 68 3 WHEN WE WERE LOVERS Jack Savoretti 15600
69 69 69 5 WE DON’T TALK ANYMORE Charlie Puth featuring Selena Gomez 23300
70 72 70 3 A HEAD FULL OF DREAMS Coldplay 14400

71 NEW 71 1 GREEN DENM 5800
72 73 72 3 OLE John Newman 15000
73 94 73 2 WASTE A MOMENT Kings Of Leon 7000
74 83 74 3 DIFFERENT FOR GIRLS Dierks Bently featuring Elle King 10300
75 87 75 2 MAYBE IT’S A GOOD THING KT Tunstall 7600

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

76 45 13 11 YOU DON’T KNOW LOVE Olly Murs 182750
77 80 77 3 ABER Tobtok 10500
78 81 78 5 ONE IN A MILLION Midnight To Monaco 14700
79 54 42 5 TOO MUCH IS NEVER ENOUGH Florence + The Machine 46150
80 98 80 2 THE GREATEST Sia featuring Kendrick Lamar 5200

81 56 56 5 HOME Henri Pfr 26200
82 76 1 23 SAY IT TO ME Pet Shop Boys 953050
83 88 83 3 TWIST AND SHOUT (LIVE AT HOLLYWOOD BOWL) The Beatles 7300
84 60 23 8 HEATHENS Twenty One Pilots 95450
85 96 85 2 TUN UP Sarah Mark 4400
86 77 32 10 IS THIS LOVE Bob Marley & The Wailers featuring LVNDSCAPE & Bolier 85450
87 74 40 8 MOMBASA Stadium X 70950
88 95 88 2 WHITE NOISE Danrell featuring Ryder 3900
89 89 89 4 BITTER SALT Jake Bugg 8300
90 97 90 2 PERFECT ILLUSION Lady Gaga 3300

91 79 3 18 HOLD ON Richard Ashcroft 554550
92 93 92 3 R.P.M. Sasha Pierce 4600
93 NEW 93 1 NUMB Sons of Sonix featuring Melanie C 1700
94 85 85 4 CONCRETE Tom Odell 10600
95 99 95 2 FLICKER Tori Amos 2600
96 NEW 96 1 SCOPE MissingNo 1400
97 NEW 97 1 XO Kelsea Ballerini 1300
98 NEW 98 1 NOT ENOUGH VIOLENCE Ariel Pink 1200
99 NEW 99 1 MY EYES ADORED YOU Frankie Valli 1100
100 100 100 2 THE ACTRESS Sada Vidoo 2000

DROP OUTS
61 40 5 I THINK I’M FALLIN’ (MANOTETT REMIX) Dominique 49400
62 20 6 I STARTED A JOKE ConfidentialMX featuring Becky Hanson 100800
66 52 4 DOPE Beware Of Darkness 21700
67 43 4 HIGHER The Naked And Famous 44850
68 50 4 COME WITH US (F9 RADIO EDIT) Sophie Ellis-Bextor 32200
84 26 7 MIDNIGHT RIVER Vaults 78250
86 1 20 CAN’T STOP THE FEELING! Justin Timberlake 770400
91 32 8 CLOSER Josef Salvat 88500
92 1 21 WHEN DOVES CRY Prince 468750

11th September 2016

It’s a second week on top for the fab Kadie Elder, but any of the top 5 would be a well-deserved chart-topper, as the highest new entry at is Agnes Obel and a hauntingly gorgeous track, sounds Familiar! That leaves RAT BOY stuck at 3 withe the terrific Get Over It and Francis & Bon dropping 2 when they should be on top too. Banks finally breaks into the top 10, and BETSY does it a bit faster.

Petula Clark shoots up into the 20, actually her second biggest hit not counting remixes and reissues, as a trio of dance and urban tracks sneak into the 20: TIEKS, Gallant, & Rag’N’Bone Man. 2nd highest new entry is Royksopp back again with Susanne Sundfor, not the first time they’ve made my charts, Royksopp date back a good 15 years or so and together they have had a top 10. A bit late Jason Derulo enters the top 30 with the bouncy Kiss The Sky, and just look who’s back: Chrissie Hynde has had some recent solo entries and is now back with The Pretenders for a beautiful extension of fab top 40 chart entries dating back 37 years to Stop Your Sobbing. Holy Commotion Batman!

Naxxos enter the 40, DJ Snake does the same, giving Bieber a rare top 40 track in my charts, leaving new entries from Massive Attack, 25 years on from some classic grooves, now a slow-groove with Hope Sandoval at 50, lovely stuff, and another School of ’79 act returns, the ever-reliably British Madness, coming up with a slice of Mr. Apples. Gavin DeGraw drops in occasionally, and he’s a bit Maroon 5-ish this time, while Bakermat pop back, and KT Tunstall has been absent for quite a while, but also has a welcome return. Just creeping into the tail end of the chart are some Big Names: Kings Of Leon, Lady Gaga and SIA, all dropping unexpected new singles this week, all of them not bad, but not as epic as might have been hoped on first hearing. I will be playing them more though….! That leaves Tori amos doing what she does best, quirky ballads, Flicker, and there are many tracks in my chart which owe more than a bit to Tori’s unsual style. 25 years of chart entries.

1 1 1 2 FIRST TIME HE KISSED A BOY Kadie Elder 340000
2 NEW 2 1 FAMILIAR Agnes Obel 115000
3 3 3 3 GET OVER IT RAT BOY 180600
4 2 2 4 FRIENDS Francis And The Lights featuring Bon Iver 285000
5 5 5 3 BLOW YOUR MIND (MWAH) Dua Lipa 138500
6 4 4 4 COME ALIVE FMLYBND 250000
7 7 6 5 HER (LOVING YOU) GLADES 228400
8 8 2 7 KISS ME GOODBYE ABC 373800
9 17 9 6 GEMINI FEED Banks 127700
10 20 10 3 LOST & FOUND BETSY 79400

11 6 1 27 YOU DON’T HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME Dusty Springfield 753050
12 9 2 7 HANDCLAP Fitz And The Tantrums 434200
13 13 13 4 ECHOES OF LOVE Jesse & Joy 92800
14 35 14 4 SACRIFICE MY HEART Petula Clark 59700
15 12 12 4 BRAND NEW MOVES (VISUALIZER) Hey Violet 107750
16 24 16 3 HUMAN Rag’n’Bone Man 51200
17 27 17 3 BOURBON Gallant 59600
18 19 12 8 TROUBLE Offaiah 161600
19 26 19 4 SUNSHINE TIEKS featuring Dan Harkna 69000
20 10 1 19 HOTTER THAN HELL Dua Lipa 965550

21 14 10 6 SAY IT AGAIN Frances 154750
22 18 9 8 LOVE THAT GROWS OLD Max Jury 228750
23 NEW 23 1 NEVER EVER Royksopp featuring Susanne Sundfor 19250
24 15 1 18 SWIPE TO THE RIGHT Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Cyndi Lauper 1053200
25 16 1 9 THE FLAMES OF DESIRE ABC 691750
26 29 26 6 TEN BELOW ZERO ABC 92600
27 25 1 16 SAVE IT Salt Ashes 1225200
28 NEW 28 1 KISS THE SKY Jason Derulo 18300
29 NEW 29 1 HOLY COMMOTION Pretenders 18200
30 30 30 4 FALL ON ME Kitten 70900

31 39 10 9 HEY Willa 206500
32 21 3 9 LET ME KNOW No Wyld 393800
33 58 33 4 NEW ORLEANS Naxxos 35000
34 36 27 6 CHARLEMAGNE Blossoms 106800
35 11 11 5 LOVE YOU WITH THE LIGHTS ON (MONSIEUR ADI REMIX) Morgxn 151500
36 38 15 5 WHO’S LOVING YOU PART 1 High Contrast and Clare Maguire 113100
37 32 2 12 HELL OF A GIRL Grace 509900
38 23 23 4 DON’T YOU KNOW Kungs featuring Jamie N Commons 73200
39 45 39 6 LET ME LOVE YOU DJ Snake featuring Justin Bieber 57350
40 41 40 12 YOU STILL BELIEVE IN ME The Beach Boys 143600

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

41 22 13 6 THEY DON’T OWN ME Richard Ashcroft 122250
42 68 42 3 HIGH AND LOW Empire Of The Sun 21550
43 28 16 9 WHAT’S IT GONNA BE Shura 146750
44 31 1 17 OTRA ERA Javiera Mena 748850
45 61 13 10 YOU DON’T KNOW LOVE Olly Murs 177950
46 54 46 2 THAT’S NICE Neil Christian 23750
47 44 1 18 BURN Pet Shop Boys 1128300
48 48 48 3 PINK + WHITE Frank Ocean featuring Beyonce 19000
49 37 6 8 HIGHER Kwamie Liv 207200
50 NEW 50 1 THE SPOILS Massive Attack featuring Hope Sandoval 12000

51 47 1 13 MAKE IT WITH YOU Bread 642900
52 75 52 3 YOUTH Glass Animals 18700
53 63 53 6 HOLLY HOLY Nancy Sinatra 35050
54 42 42 4 TOO MUCH IS NEVER ENOUGH Florence + The Machine 41950
55 72 55 3 HOLE IN MY SOUL Kaiser Chiefs 17400
56 62 56 4 HOME Henri Pfr 22400
57 55 1 22 WICHITA LINEMAN Glen Campbell 617700
58 NEW 58 1 LIVING Bakermat featuring Alex Clare 10200
59 73 59 3 IN SUMMER Billy Fury 17400
60 33 23 7 HEATHENS Twenty One Pilots 92250

61 40 40 5 I THINK I’M FALLIN’ (MANOTETT REMIX) Dominique 49400
62 34 20 6 I STARTED A JOKE ConfidentialMX featuring Becky Hanson 100800
63 NEW 63 1 LOVE ME BETTER Love Thy Brother featuring Ariel Beesley 7200
64 NEW 64 1 MR. APPLES Madness 7100
65 87 65 2 CIGARETTE DUET Princess Chelsea 9600
66 52 52 4 DOPE Beware Of Darkness 21700
67 43 43 4 HIGHER The Naked And Famous 44850
68 50 50 4 COME WITH US (F9 RADIO EDIT) Sophie Ellis-Bextor 32200
69 69 69 4 WE DON’T TALK ANYMORE Charlie Puth featuring Selena Gomez 17100
70 100 70 2 IN THE NOW Barry Gibb 7000

71 78 71 2 TOOTHBRUSH DNCE 10200
72 86 72 2 A HEAD FULL OF DREAMS Coldplay 8400
73 80 73 2 OLE John Newman 9400
74 49 40 7 MOMBASA Stadium X 68350
75 79 75 2 WHEN WE WERE LOVERS Jack Savoretti 9200

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

76 67 1 22 SAY IT TO ME Pet Shop Boys 949450
77 70 32 9 IS THIS LOVE Bob Marley & The Wailers featuring LVNDSCAPE & Bolier 82650
78 NEW 78 1 STARS Project 46 featuring Haley 4400
79 65 3 17 HOLD ON Richard Ashcroft 552650
80 91 80 2 ABER Tobtok 5900

81 82 81 4 ONE IN A MILLION Midnight To Monaco 10300
82 NEW 82 1 SHE SETS THE CITY ON FIRE Gavin DeGraw 3600
83 93 83 2 DIFFERENT FOR GIRLS Dierks Bently featuring Elle King 5100
84 51 26 7 MIDNIGHT RIVER Vaults 78250
85 85 85 3 CONCRETE Tom Odell 9000
86 74 1 20 CAN’T STOP THE FEELING! Justin Timberlake 770400
87 NEW 87 1 MAYBE IT’S A GOOD THING KT Tunstall 2600
88 95 88 2 TWIST AND SHOUT (LIVE AT HOLLYWOOD BOWL) The Beatles 3900
89 89 89 3 BITTER SALT Jake Bugg 6100
90 NEW 90 1 SPHYNX La Femme 2000

91 66 32 8 CLOSER Josef Salvat 88500
92 84 1 21 WHEN DOVES CRY Prince 468750
93 99 93 2 R.P.M. Sasha Pierce 2800
94 NEW 94 1 WASTE A MOMENT Kings Of Leon 1600
95 NEW 95 1 WHITE NOISE Danrell featuring Ryder 1500
96 NEW 96 1 TUN UP Sarah Mark 1400
97 NEW 97 1 PERFECT ILLUSION Lady Gaga 1300
98 NEW 98 1 THE GREATEST Sia featuring Kendrick Lamar 1200
99 NEW 99 1 FLICKER Tori Amos 1100
100 NEW 100 1 THE ACTRESS Sada Vidoo 1000

DROP OUTS
46 31 4 LITTLE BABYLON Polina 66350
53 14 7 KILL ‘EM WITH KINDNESS Selena Gomez 126600
56 56 3 GHOST Matilda 22600
57 39 3 ARCADE SUMMER FM-84 39600
59 38 3 I DO I DO SYMPHOBIA 40450
60 60 5 PURE AND SIMPLE Dolly Parton 34500
64 6 21 THIS GIRL (KUNGS VS COOKIN’ ON 3 BURNERS RADIO EDIT) Kungs & Cookin’ On 3 Burners 559300
71 14 8 WILD WEST Lissie 119300
76 37 7 FINAL SONG MO 79300
77 77 3 ILUMBARADA Ortiga 12400
81 12 8 PORCELAIN Skott 152700
83 83 3 A WALK IN THE BLACK FOREST Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass 8400
88 58 4 ASHES OF MY PARADISE Kelly Sweet 15600
90 60 4 SHE GETS DOWN ON HER KNEES Yoko Ono featuring Penguin Prison 29000
92 92 3 I WENT TOO FAR (MK REMIX) AURORA 4200
94 94 3 WATER FROZEN TWRR 4700
96 32 7 LATE AT NIGHT Generik 74900
97 97 3 T SHIRT Thomas Rhett 3400
98 98 1 SUCKER FOR PAIN L’il Wayne, Wiz Khalifa & Imagine Dragons with Logic, Ty Dolla $ign & X Ambassadors) 1200

4th September 2016

It’s Kadie Elder new at one, one of those rare events for my charts – a record new to me by an act new to me that is an instant Number One. It’s fab, and I’d hazard a guess that this Scandipop duo’s name was influenced by the John Wayne movie The Sons Of Katie Elder. I hope so, as in the cast was a boyhood crush of mine, Michael Anderson Junior, so that makes the subject matter a bit appropriate! That means Francis And The Lights and Bon Iver are held off at 2 in a very busy top 5, as rocketing up to 3 and into the 40 is RATBOY and his fab groove, Get Over It. Dua Lipa meanwhile gets a big climb to grab her 2nd top 5 and 2nd in the top 10 and she blows my mind – mwah!

Jesse & Joy take tuneful country ballads into the top 20 with a big leap to 13, and BETSY at 20 takes fab pop dance up there too. To say my top 40 is overcrowded is an understatement, records dropping which should be climbing due to the onrush. Rag’N’Bone Man climbs his bluesy Human into the 40, as does cool veteran Petula Clark, and classy Dominique. New entries lower down include a 60’s golden minor oldie, That’s Nice from the late English one-hit wonder Neil Christian, a very 60’s jolly track that I didn’t know I knew till I heard it the other week, nor did I know Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple fame played on it. It’s one I enjoyed as a kid without it registering in my consciousness as a named pop star or song title, cos it’s very familiar to me even after a few decades!

That leaves returns for DNCE, Jack Savoretti, John Newman, and most of the all-star cast of Sucker For Pain (Suicide Squad track number 3 in the chart), Barry Gibb back with his first solo entry in 30 years, and now the official longest run of chart hits (The Bee Gees were in my first-ever chart) at 48 years. In the same chart at 1 were The Beatles, who are also back with a live version of Twist & Shout. No band has ever been screamed at by girls ever. It’s a good version for getting the flavour of it, even though the track has already topped my chart when it belatedly entered the UK charts on download – the EP would have charted had EP’s been allowed in 1963. That leaves Bob Marley & Coldplay returning to my chart with previously charted tracks.

Phew!

1 NEW 1 1 FIRST TIME HE KISSED A BOY Kadie Elder 170000
2 5 2 3 FRIENDS Francis And The Lights featuring Bon Iver 220000
3 56 3 2 GET OVER IT RAT BOY 95600
4 4 4 3 COME ALIVE FMLYBND 195000
5 26 5 2 BLOW YOUR MIND (MWAH) Dua Lipa 78500
6 1 1 26 YOU DON’T HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME Dusty Springfield 716050
7 6 6 4 HER (LOVING YOU) GLADES 178400
8 2 2 6 KISS ME GOODBYE ABC 325800
9 3 2 6 HANDCLAP Fitz And The Tantrums 399200
10 7 1 18 HOTTER THAN HELL Dua Lipa 945550

11 11 11 4 LOVE YOU WITH THE LIGHTS ON (MONSIEUR ADI REMIX) Morgxn 134000
12 15 12 3 BRAND NEW MOVES (VISUALIZER) Hey Violet 80750
13 37 13 3 ECHOES OF LOVE Jesse & Joy 60800
14 10 10 5 SAY IT AGAIN Frances 135000
15 9 1 17 SWIPE TO THE RIGHT Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Cyndi Lauper 1034200
16 8 1 8 THE FLAMES OF DESIRE ABC 673000
17 19 17 5 GEMINI FEED Banks 82700
18 18 9 7 LOVE THAT GROWS OLD Max Jury 209250
19 12 12 6 TROUBLE Offaiah 139600
20 36 20 2 LOST & FOUND BETSY 37400

21 14 3 8 LET ME KNOW No Wyld 376000
22 13 13 5 THEY DON’T OWN ME Richard Ashcroft 108250
23 25 23 3 DON’T YOU KNOW Kungs featuring Jamie N Commons 56000
24 63 24 2 HUMAN Rag’n’Bone Man 26200
25 21 1 15 SAVE IT Salt Ashes 1206800
26 38 26 3 SUNSHINE TIEKS featuring Dan Harkna 48000
27 29 27 2 BOURBON Gallant 36600
28 16 16 8 WHAT’S IT GONNA BE Shura 133250
29 30 29 5 TEN BELOW ZERO ABC 74100
30 35 30 3 FALL ON ME Kitten 52900

31 17 1 16 OTRA ERA Javiera Mena 735600
32 28 2 11 HELL OF A GIRL Grace 492600
33 23 23 6 HEATHENS Twenty One Pilots 82250
34 20 20 5 I STARTED A JOKE ConfidentialMX featuring Becky Hanson 93400
35 54 35 3 SACRIFICE MY HEART Petula Clark 30700
36 27 27 5 CHARLEMAGNE Blossoms 89200
37 24 6 7 HIGHER Kwamie Liv 195100
38 22 15 4 WHO’S LOVING YOU PART 1 High Contrast and Clare Maguire 85700
39 33 10 8 HEY Willa 188600
40 47 40 4 I THINK I’M FALLIN’ (MANOTETT REMIX) Dominique 41900

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

41 41 41 11 YOU STILL BELIEVE IN ME The Beach Boys 126600
42 50 42 3 TOO MUCH IS NEVER ENOUGH Florence + The Machine 30950
43 46 43 3 HIGHER The Naked And Famous 38250
44 40 1 17 BURN Pet Shop Boys 1115800
45 53 45 5 LET ME LOVE YOU DJ Snake featuring Justin Bieber 40250
46 31 31 4 LITTLE BABYLON Polina 66350
47 42 1 12 MAKE IT WITH YOU Bread 631150
48 78 48 2 PINK + WHITE Frank Ocean featuring Beyonce 16700
49 49 40 6 MOMBASA Stadium X 63150
50 65 50 3 COME WITH US (F9 RADIO EDIT) Sophie Ellis-Bextor 25800

51 32 26 6 MIDNIGHT RIVER Vaults 75050
52 92 52 3 DOPE Beware Of Darkness 14900
53 34 14 7 KILL ‘EM WITH KINDNESS Selena Gomez 126600
54 NEW 54 1 THAT’S NICE Neil Christian 11000
55 55 1 21 WICHITA LINEMAN Glen Campbell 607300
56 70 56 3 GHOST Matilda 22600
57 39 39 3 ARCADE SUMMER FM-84 39600
58 73 58 3 NEW ORLEANS Naxxos 17300
59 44 38 3 I DO I DO SYMPHOBIA 40450
60 64 60 5 PURE AND SIMPLE Dolly Parton 34500

61 43 13 9 YOU DON’T KNOW LOVE Olly Murs 164950
62 88 62 3 HOME Henri Pfr 11800
63 72 63 5 HOLLY HOLY Nancy Sinatra 23800
64 57 6 21 THIS GIRL (KUNGS VS COOKIN’ ON 3 BURNERS RADIO EDIT) Kungs & Cookin’ On 3 Burners 559300
65 51 3 16 HOLD ON Richard Ashcroft 548450
66 66 32 7 CLOSER Josef Salvat 86600
67 68 1 21 SAY IT TO ME Pet Shop Boys 944650
68 96 68 2 HIGH AND LOW Empire Of The Sun 7800
69 86 69 3 WE DON’T TALK ANYMORE Charlie Puth featuring Selena Gomez 10900
70 RE 32 8 IS THIS LOVE Bob Marley & The Wailers featuring LVNDSCAPE & Bolier 78050

71 52 14 8 WILD WEST Lissie 119300
72 100 72 2 HOLE IN MY SOUL Kaiser Chiefs 6600
73 91 73 2 IN SUMMER Billy Fury 7300
74 74 1 19 CAN’T STOP THE FEELING! Justin Timberlake 767600
75 89 75 2 YOUTH Glass Animals 7200

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

76 48 37 7 FINAL SONG MO 79300
77 77 77 3 ILUMBARADA Ortiga 12400
78 NEW 78 1 TOOTHBRUSH DNCE 4400
79 NEW 79 1 WHEN WE WERE LOVERS Jack Savoretti 4200
80 NEW 80 1 OLE John Newman 4000

81 45 12 8 PORCELAIN Skott 152700
82 95 82 3 ONE IN A MILLION Midnight To Monaco 6500
83 84 83 3 A WALK IN THE BLACK FOREST Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass 8400
84 80 1 20 WHEN DOVES CRY Prince 466950
85 85 85 2 CONCRETE Tom Odell 6000
86 NEW 86 1 A HEAD FULL OF DREAMS Coldplay 2800
87 NEW 87 1 CIGARETTE DUET Princess Chelsea 2600
88 58 58 4 ASHES OF MY PARADISE Kelly Sweet 15600
89 93 89 2 BITTER SALT Jake Bugg 3900
90 60 60 4 SHE GETS DOWN ON HER KNEES Yoko Ono featuring Penguin Prison 29000

91 NEW 91 1 ABER Tobtok 1900
92 97 92 3 I WENT TOO FAR (MK REMIX) AURORA 4200
93 NEW 93 1 DIFFERENT FOR GIRLS Dierks Bently featuring Elle King 1700
94 94 94 3 WATER FROZEN TWRR 4700
95 NEW 95 1 TWIST AND SHOUT (LIVE AT HOLLYWOOD BOWL) The Beatles 1500
96 75 32 7 LATE AT NIGHT Generik 74900
97 99 97 3 T SHIRT Thomas Rhett 3400
98 NEW 98 1 SUCKER FOR PAIN L’il Wayne, Wiz Khalifa & Imagine Dragons with Logic, Ty Dolla $ign & X Ambassadors) 1200
99 NEW 99 1 R.P.M. Sasha Pierce 1100
100 NEW 100 1 IN THE NOW Barry Gibb 1000

DROP OUTS
59 59 5 TAKE IT FROM ME KONGOS 36200
61 4 15 ALL IN THE NAME Bright Light Bright Light featuring Elton John 362350
62 22 6 TILTED Christine And The Queens 88900
67 35 7 CRUEL Snakehips featuring ZAYN 78850
69 3 10 WHEN THE NIGHT COMES Jeff Lynne’s ELO 332600
71 47 6 LIFE ITSELF Glass Animals 44000
76 38 6 ONCE IN A WHILE Timeflies 52100
79 30 9 HOW DO I LOVE YOU Infinity Ink featuring Yasmin 95200
81 33 7 GHOSTBUSTERS (I’M NOT AFRAID) Fall Out Boy featuring Missy Elliot 81500
82 27 9 FEELING ELECTRIC Parade Of Dreams 113650
83 10 13 CLOSER Lemaitre featuring Jennie A 227600
87 26 9 GONE (ROBERT DELONG REMIX) Jr Jr 93250
90 14 13 YOU BRING THE SUMMER The Monkees 209050
98 34 7 MAKE ME… Britney Spears featuring G-Eazy 58300

My 2015 Charts – January to April

GC

26th April 2015

It’s Jimmy Somerville edging out Will Young, and it’s a first chart-topper for Jimmy including all of his previous incarnations, so he’s only had to wait patiently for, ooh, nigh on 31 years to get there with his lovely 70’s Philly-sounding soul retro pop track. Some wonder! Will has had one previous chart-topper (Friday’s Child in 2004) so Love Revolution is his 2nd biggest in 13 years or so. Brandon Flowers has also had one previous solo number one (a huge 7-weeker) Crossfire in 2010, and Somebody Told Me with The Killers in 2004, so up at 5 Can’t Deny My Love is his biggest track in 5 years.

Eurovision already has 2 tracks in my charts now, Denmark joining the UK as an early favourite at 47. I’ve flicked through the album on itunes giving each track a few seconds and they seem to fall into the “let’s copy Conchita Wurst” category or the “let’s do pop dance” category, so I’d guess that any track that doesn’t sound like all the others will do better than expected. Hello Electro Velvet! Some previous recent number one acts also return, Miami Horror featuring Cleopold, and Of Monsters And Men, and some older number one acts – Texas and Simply Red. Texas had loads in the 90’s and early 2000’s, Simply Red had two: Fairground in 1995 and Sunrise in 2003.

1 4 1 3 SOME WONDER Jimmy Somerville 290000
2 5 2 3 LOVE REVOLUTION Will Young 217000
3 1 1 4 LOVE MERA HIT HIT (BILLU BARBER ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK) Neeraj Shridhar and Tulsi Kumar 443750
4 8 4 6 DIMITTO (LET GO) Kato and Safri Duo featuring Bjornskof 251300
5 30 5 3 CAN’T DENY MY LOVE Brandon Flowers 95200
6 2 2 3 OVERLOADED Life Of Dillon 255000
7 3 1 7 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 760000
8 9 8 3 FIRESTONE Kygo featuring Conrad Sewell 116000
9 20 9 7 BELIEVE Mumford And Sons 144200
10 17 10 4 LOST STARS Stevie McCrorie 95250

11 6 1 9 KING Years And Years 601000
12 7 4 6 I’LL BE THERE Chic featuring Nile Rodgers 295000
13 15 13 3 UNDAUNTED Wibi Soerjadi 78500
14 14 14 6 RIVERMAN Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 145400
15 10 4 7 BULLETPROOF PICASSO Train 305250
16 16 16 3 WE HAVE TO TALK About The Girl 69250
17 19 17 12 HERE I GO AGAIN Archie Bell And The Drells 221500
18 11 7 7 HIGHER Sigma featuring Labrinth 230400
19 25 19 5 THE OTHER SIDE OF LOVE Jack Savoretti 88950
20 27 20 8 SUGAR DADDY Spada 130400

21 18 18 4 PEACE AND TRANQUILITY ABC 77250
22 12 12 6 ELECTRIC LOVE Burns 169500
23 13 1 10 LOST STARS Adam Levine 632250
24 31 1 19 GHOSTTOWN Madonna 923400
25 29 25 3 I WANNA BE YOUR LOVER Elicit featuring Prince 54750
26 34 26 2 COOL ENOUGH Spada and Elen Levon 36100
27 32 27 8 YOUNG AMERICANS David Bowie 113950
28 23 1 14 OUTLINES Mike Mago and Dragonette 857550
29 22 15 7 STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU Electro Velvet 136000
30 62 30 3 EGO Tove Styrke 32000

31 24 1 12 PRAY TO GOD Calvin Harris featuring HAIM 632500
32 35 32 2 KINGS & QUEENS Brooke Fraser 35300
33 33 27 6 SUMMERTIME BOY Seasick Steve 97500
34 36 34 2 SHE’S NOT THERE The Zombies 35000
35 RE 35 5 LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE The Summer Set 74600
36 26 9 8 HOLD MY HAND Jess Glynne 189900
37 39 37 3 CURTAINS Last Lynx 44600
38 44 38 3 ELECTRIC BONES Findlay 43700
39 59 39 2 CAN’T STOP PLAYING (MAKES ME HIGH) Dr. Kucho! and Gregor Salton featuring Ane Brun 27200
40 43 40 2 DYNAMITE Asta featuring Allday 30500

41 27 2 13 RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW Giorgio Moroder featuring Kylie Minogue 659400
42 45 42 17 ALFIE Cilla Black 151450
43 21 12 6 FAITH IN YOU Lulu 124850
44 46 44 2 INSOMNIA Audien featuring Parson James 26000
45 RE 45 5 COLD WAR Niykee Heaton 48400
46 41 4 9 EDGE OF SEVENTEEN Stevie Nicks 250250
47 NEW 47 1 THE WAY YOU ARE (DENMARK) Anti Social Media 12500
48 37 6 15 I BET MY LIFE Imagine Dragons 412100
49 38 7 12 UMA THURMAN Fall Out Boy 336400
50 54 50 2 I’M MISSING YOU Ali Campbell 23000

51 51 51 5 BILLS Lunchmoney Lewis 53800
52 52 52 4 YE ISHQ HAI Shreya Ghoshal 39400
53 48 1 12 SPEED KILLS 10CC 603700
54 NEW 54 1 ROADS Lawson 11000
55 58 55 2 WHEN I FOUND YOU Franceso Yates 21000
56 56 56 3 THIEF The Beach 28300
57 57 57 5 LONESOME STREET Blur 46800
58 NEW 58 1 LOVE LIKE MINE Miami Horror featuring Cleopold 10200
59 NEW 59 1 CRYSTALS Of Monsters And Men 10100
60 60 60 2 HOME Max Jury 20000

61 NEW 61 1 GERONIMO Sheppard 7500
62 64 62 3 WABI SABI The Ting Tings 20500
63 71 63 2 DEJA VU Giorgio Moroder featuring SIA 13000
64 69 64 4 BAD TO ME Marc Almond 23900
65 65 65 3 DEAR FUTURE HUSBAND Megan Trainor 19400
66 75 66 2 SHY Stacey Solomon 11800
67 67 67 3 BIG GIRLS CRY SIA 18400
68 72 68 2 TETHER Eric Prydz vs Chvrches 12000
69 NEW 69 1 LEAN ON Major Lazer featuring MO and DJ Snake 6200
70 70 70 2 RUN COIN 12000

71 NEW 71 1 STOLE THE SHOW Kygo featuring Parson James 5800
72 74 72 2 TRUE LOVE SURVIVOR Freemasons featuring Solah 10800
73 NEW 73 1 ARE YOU READY Texas 5400
74 NEW 74 1 SHINE ON Simply Red 5200
75 NEW 75 1 HALLELUJAH Panic! At The Disco 5000

DROP OUTS
40 40 2 I’M IN LOVE Zhala 34000
42 5 27 WHEN THE BEAT DROPS OUT Marlon Roudette 616100
47 47 2 NAN GANG Ulrik Munther 23500
49 6 8 BEAUTY REMAINS Paloma Faith 223050
50 50 1 AMERICAN PIE Don McLean 12000
53 12 9 STYLE Taylor Swift 162000
55 2 13 LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO Ellie Goulding 443200
61 20 9 BABY LOVE Petite Meller 109800
63 11 11 WE’RE ALL WE NEED Above & Beyond featuring Zoe Johnston 250050
66 9 12 SUGAR Maroon 5 233750
68 68 2 PAPER LIGHT (HIGHER) Loreen 11400

19th April 2015

2 weeks on top for a Bollywood Hit Hit, I’m still playing it a lot, it’s a creation of Bollywood musical maestro Pritam, regular award winner dating from 2009, and it’s so chocka hooks! Mumford & Sons bounce back at 20, you better Believe it, and Spada are cool enough to get a second top 40 entry (with Elen Levon) at 34 as Sugar Daddy goes up to 27. At 36, The Zombies 60’s classic She’s Not There is in thanks to Record Store Day and an advert – it’s been a hit many times before starting with the Santana 1977 hit cover, but the original remains the best.

At 50, news of the lyric sale of American Pie pushed sales of the classic 1972 top 10 hit enough to qualify for my charts, a belated number one for me in the 90’s on one of it’s regular chart re-appearances for Don McLean, while Ali Campbell gets a solo hit again, extending his run to 22 years, or 35 years as the voice of UB40, this time with a reggae version of Diana Ross’ 1985 US hit (and top 10 charter for me) Missing You. Written by Lionel Richie, the video was originally Diana’s tribute to the late Marvin Gaye, Florence Ballard of The Supremes and Paul Williams of The Temptations, all Motown friends at one time. Giorgio Moroder is back with a second chart entry (with SIA), Deja VU, the senior act of the chart getting good diva support from Kylie still, higher up. At 74 the Freemasons, former number one act are back after a fair break with True Love Survivor.

1 1 1 3 LOVE MERA HIT HIT (BILLU BARBER ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK) Neeraj Shridhar and Tulsi Kumar 358750
2 3 2 2 OVERLOADED Life Of Dillon 200000
3 2 1 6 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 710000
4 6 4 2 SOME WONDER Jimmy Somerville 120000
5 10 5 2 LOVE REVOLUTION Will Young 102000
6 4 1 8 KING Years And Years 564000
7 9 4 5 I’LL BE THERE Chic featuring Nile Rodgers 260000
8 5 5 5 DIMITTO (LET GO) Kato and Safri Duo featuring Bjornskof 186300
9 17 9 2 FIRESTONE Kygo featuring Conrad Sewell 68000
10 7 4 6 BULLETPROOF PICASSO Train 278250

11 11 7 6 HIGHER Sigma featuring Labrinth 208400
12 20 12 5 ELECTRIC LOVE Burns 150000
13 8 1 9 LOST STARS Adam Levine 613000
14 16 14 5 RIVERMAN Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 116400
15 22 15 2 UNDAUNTED Wibi Soerjadi 46500
16 23 16 2 WE HAVE TO TALK About The Girl 44250
17 25 17 3 LOST STARS Stevie McCrorie 53250
18 29 18 3 PEACE AND TRANQUILITY ABC 57500
19 19 19 11 HERE I GO AGAIN Archie Bell And The Drells 198500
20 41 20 6 BELIEVE Mumford And Sons 99200

21 12 12 5 FAITH IN YOU Lulu 111350
22 15 15 6 STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU Electro Velvet 117800
23 13 1 13 OUTLINES Mike Mago and Dragonette 839250
24 14 1 11 PRAY TO GOD Calvin Harris featuring HAIM 614600
25 30 25 4 THE OTHER SIDE OF LOVE Jack Savoretti 67950
26 24 9 7 HOLD MY HAND Jess Glynne 172500
27 18 2 12 RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW Giorgio Moroder featuring Kylie Minogue 645400
27 28 27 7 SUGAR DADDY Spada 110400
29 32 29 2 I WANNA BE YOUR LOVER Elicit featuring Prince 36000
30 38 30 2 CAN’T DENY MY LOVE Brandon Flowers 35200

31 35 1 18 GHOSTTOWN Madonna 904400
32 42 32 7 YOUNG AMERICANS David Bowie 95550
33 27 27 5 SUMMERTIME BOY Seasick Steve 79800
34 NEW 34 1 COOL ENOUGH Spada and Elen Levon 17600
35 NEW 35 1 KINGS & QUEENS Brooke Fraser 17500
36 NEW 36 1 SHE’S NOT THERE The Zombies 17400
37 37 6 14 I BET MY LIFE Imagine Dragons 399800
38 36 7 11 UMA THURMAN Fall Out Boy 324300
39 58 39 2 CURTAINS Last Lynx 27300
40 40 40 2 I’M IN LOVE Zhala 34000

41 26 4 8 EDGE OF SEVENTEEN Stevie Nicks 237500
42 31 5 27 WHEN THE BEAT DROPS OUT Marlon Roudette 616100
43 NEW 43 1 DYNAMITE Asta featuring Allday 13500
44 44 44 2 ELECTRIC BONES Findlay 26500
45 49 45 16 ALFIE Cilla Black 137700
46 NEW 46 1 INSOMNIA Audien featuring Parson James 12750
47 54 47 2 NAN GANG Ulrik Munther 23500
48 45 1 11 SPEED KILLS 10CC 592450
49 21 6 8 BEAUTY REMAINS Paloma Faith 223050
50 NEW 50 1 AMERICAN PIE Don McLean 12000

51 59 51 4 BILLS Lunchmoney Lewis 42050
52 60 52 3 YE ISHQ HAI Shreya Ghoshal 27900
53 43 12 9 STYLE Taylor Swift 162000
54 NEW 54 1 I’M MISSING YOU Ali Campbell 11000
55 48 2 13 LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO Ellie Goulding 443200
56 64 56 2 THIEF The Beach 17700
57 57 57 4 LONESOME STREET Blur 36400
58 NEW 58 1 WHEN I FOUND YOU Franceso Yates 10200
59 NEW 59 1 CAN’T STOP PLAYING (MAKES ME HIGH) Dr. Kucho! and Gregor Salton featuring Ane Brun 10100
60 NEW 60 1 HOME Max Jury 10000

61 63 20 9 BABY LOVE Petite Meller 109800
62 67 62 2 EGO Tove Styrke 14000
63 50 11 11 WE’RE ALL WE NEED Above & Beyond featuring Zoe Johnston 250050
64 70 64 2 WABI SABI The Ting Tings 13100
65 73 65 2 DEAR FUTURE HUSBAND Megan Trainor 12400
66 65 9 12 SUGAR Maroon 5 233750
67 74 67 2 BIG GIRLS CRY SIA 11800
68 75 68 2 PAPER LIGHT (HIGHER) Loreen 11400
69 72 69 3 BAD TO ME Marc Almond 16800
70 NEW 70 1 RUN COIN 6000

71 NEW 71 1 DEJA VU Giorgio Moroder featuring SIA 5800
72 NEW 72 1 TETHER Eric Prydz vs Chvrches 5600
73 NEW 73 1 COOL Alesso featuring Roy English 5400
74 NEW 74 1 TRUE LOVE SURVIVOR Freemasons featuring Solah 5200
75 NEW 75 1 SHY Stacey Solomon 5000

DROP OUTS
33 14 5 GOLD Andreya Triana 110800
34 18 5 EMMENEZ MOI Charles Aznavour 77050
39 39 4 LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE The Summer Set 57100
46 22 3 SAVE ME NOW Billy Idol 51750
47 31 5 IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME Tim Buckley 61350
51 17 6 THE RIGHT TIME Brian Wilson featuring Al Jardine and David Marks 119250
52 38 2 STRAWBERRY LETTER 23 Yuna 28700
53 1 8 YOU DON’T OWN ME Lesley Gore 316650
55 20 7 WOULD YOU BELIEVE Ace Of Base 105550
56 56 4 COLD WAR Niykee Heaton 35400
61 40 6 KING OF THE WORLD Blue 74850
62 4 13 LIVING FOR LOVE Madonna 327700
66 42 4 HOW WILL I KNOW Jermain Jackman 43900
68 68 1 HABIB GALBI A-WA 6400
69 8 9 HOLD TIGHT Madonna 215100
71 48 4 SEASONS Olly Murs 40400

12th April 2015

It’s a Bollywood dance anthem on top, I’m just loving the rhythms, the tune, the production, the structure of the track, not to mention the cool singing and that fab cheesy dance movie video. This is bad news for highest new entry from London band Life Of Dillon, whose terrific Overloaded might well have topped the chart, bringing steel drums back into the current europop sound, and the singer sounding more like Sam Smith ought to sound – that’ll be La La La Sam Smith as opposed to Snore Me Down Sam Smith. In at 6, it’s Jimmy Somerville with a retro-tribute soul track, a bit of Love Unlimited Orchestra here, a touch of The Stylistics there, and it’s been an aeon since he was in the Top 10: I hadn’t realised just how much I’d missed Jimmy Somerville till I heard this one, welcome back Jimmy, 31 years of top 10 hits!

It’s also welcome back to Will Young with a cracking re-versioning of the fab 2003 chart-topper Loneliness (Tomcraft) – one of Will’s biggest hits in my chart, already. It’s a chart invasion of new names, and one re-imagining of Prince’s actual first hit from 1980, I Wanna Be Your Lover, and it’s pretty fine at 32. Brandon Flowers is back on the solo hit scene, presumably on a Killers break, and he’s been doing well in my charts for over a decade now. That leaves new hits for recent regulars like The Ting Tings, SIA, and Loreen. Phew!

1 25 1 2 LOVE MERA HIT HIT (BILLU BARBER ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK) Neeraj Shridhar and Tulsi Kumar 188750
2 2 1 5 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 625000
3 NEW 3 1 OVERLOADED Life Of Dillon 85000
4 1 1 7 KING Years And Years 509000
5 10 5 4 DIMITTO (LET GO) Kato and Safri Duo featuring Bjornskof 138300
6 NEW 6 1 SOME WONDER Jimmy Somerville 55000
7 5 4 5 BULLETPROOF PICASSO Train 236250
8 3 1 8 LOST STARS Adam Levine 581000
9 4 4 4 I’LL BE THERE Chic featuring Nile Rodgers 210000
10 NEW 10 1 LOVE REVOLUTION Will Young 42000

11 7 7 5 HIGHER Sigma featuring Labrinth 171400
12 15 12 4 FAITH IN YOU Lulu 91600
13 8 1 12 OUTLINES Mike Mago and Dragonette 820000
14 11 1 10 PRAY TO GOD Calvin Harris featuring HAIM 595600
15 20 15 5 STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU Electro Velvet 98300
16 17 16 4 RIVERMAN Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 87400
17 NEW 17 1 FIRESTONE Kygo featuring Conrad Sewell 23000
18 14 2 11 RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW Giorgio Moroder featuring Kylie Minogue 627000
19 19 19 10 HERE I GO AGAIN Archie Bell And The Drells 177500
20 12 12 4 ELECTRIC LOVE Burns 115000

21 6 6 7 BEAUTY REMAINS Paloma Faith 210950
22 NEW 22 1 UNDAUNTED Wibi Soerjadi 19500
23 NEW 23 1 WE HAVE TO TALK About The Girl 19250
24 9 9 6 HOLD MY HAND Jess Glynne 154000
25 52 25 2 LOST STARS Stevie McCrorie 30250
26 21 4 7 EDGE OF SEVENTEEN Stevie Nicks 223500
27 27 27 4 SUMMERTIME BOY Seasick Steve 62100
28 30 28 6 SUGAR DADDY Spada 92000
29 37 29 2 PEACE AND TRANQUILITY ABC 35500
30 33 30 3 THE OTHER SIDE OF LOVE Jack Savoretti 49200

31 13 5 26 WHEN THE BEAT DROPS OUT Marlon Roudette 602350
32 NEW 32 1 I WANNA BE YOUR LOVER Elicit featuring Prince 17800
33 16 14 5 GOLD Andreya Triana 110800
34 18 18 5 EMMENEZ MOI Charles Aznavour 77050
35 35 1 17 GHOSTTOWN Madonna 886500
36 24 7 10 UMA THURMAN Fall Out Boy 307100
37 29 6 13 I BET MY LIFE Imagine Dragons 382500
38 NEW 38 1 CAN’T DENY MY LOVE Brandon Flowers 17200
39 41 39 4 LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE The Summer Set 57100
40 NEW 40 1 I’M IN LOVE Zhala 17000

41 28 28 5 BELIEVE Mumford And Sons 79200
42 45 42 6 YOUNG AMERICANS David Bowie 77750
43 23 12 8 STYLE Taylor Swift 150750
44 NEW 44 1 ELECTRIC BONES Findlay 13250
45 43 1 10 SPEED KILLS 10CC 580150
46 22 22 3 SAVE ME NOW Billy Idol 51750
47 31 31 5 IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME Tim Buckley 61350
48 34 2 12 LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO Ellie Goulding 432400
49 51 49 15 ALFIE Cilla Black 124700
50 32 11 10 WE’RE ALL WE NEED Above & Beyond featuring Zoe Johnston 242850

51 26 17 6 THE RIGHT TIME Brian Wilson featuring Al Jardine and David Marks 119250
52 38 38 2 STRAWBERRY LETTER 23 Yuna 28700
53 44 1 8 YOU DON’T OWN ME Lesley Gore 316650
54 NEW 54 1 NAN GANG Ulrik Munther 11000
55 39 20 7 WOULD YOU BELIEVE Ace Of Base 105550
56 56 56 4 COLD WAR Niykee Heaton 35400
57 57 57 3 LONESOME STREET Blur 26000
58 NEW 58 1 CURTAINS Last Lynx 10200
59 59 59 3 BILLS Lunchmoney Lewis 30300
60 68 60 2 YE ISHQ HAI Shreya Ghoshal 16400

61 40 40 6 KING OF THE WORLD Blue 74850
62 36 4 13 LIVING FOR LOVE Madonna 327700
63 63 20 8 BABY LOVE Petite Meller 102300
64 NEW 64 1 THIEF The Beach 7100
65 50 9 11 SUGAR Maroon 5 226950
66 46 42 4 HOW WILL I KNOW Jermain Jackman 43900
67 NEW 67 1 EGO Tove Styrke 6600
68 NEW 68 1 HABIB GALBI A-WA 6400
69 61 8 9 HOLD TIGHT Madonna 215100
70 NEW 70 1 WABI SABI The Ting Tings 6000

71 48 48 4 SEASONS Olly Murs 40400
72 75 72 2 BAD TO ME Marc Almond 10600
73 NEW 73 1 DEAR FUTURE HUSBAND Megan Trainor 5400
74 NEW 74 1 BIG GIRLS CRY SIA 5200
75 NEW 75 1 PAPER LIGHT (HIGHER) Loreen 5000

DROP OUTS
42 29 3 WIN Deacon Blue 39350
47 5 6 TOWARDS THE SUN Rihanna 201550
49 33 6 MASTER PRETENDER First Aid Kit 77000
53 35 5 LONG STRETCH OF LOVE Lady Antebellum 80850
54 54 5 FADE OUT LINES The Avener and Phoebe Killdeer 42200
55 30 6 SACRED Erasure 93200
58 19 5 LOVE IS A DRUG Markus Feehily 73900
60 60 4 MY HEART WOULD TAKE YOU BACK Shayne Ward 33400
62 50 4 DANCING IN THE CORNER Monarchy 38000
64 64 4 BLOODSTREAM Ed Sheeran and Rudimental 23900
65 19 7 FALLING AWAKE The Kaiser Chiefs 100200
66 66 4 NAIL ON THE HEAD Duke Special 22600
67 55 4 DRIVING ME WILD Bryan Ferry 34300
69 10 10 WHAT I DID FOR LOVE David Guetta featuring Emeli Sande 200600
70 70 3 BERYL Mark Knopfler 17200
71 6 10 THE NIGHTS Avicii 288300
72 1 14 INSIDE OUT Spoon 433550
73 73 1 INVISIONS Luca C & Brigante featuring Roisin Murphy 5400
74 74 1 IRRESISTIBLE Fall Out Boy 5200

4th April 2015

King finally climbs to the top, edging The Ronettes off after 2 weeks, but it took Years And Years! Great record. Meanwhile, following a boost on The Voice, Lost Stars returns to the top 3 for Adam Levine, former number one, as a cover version for The Voice winner Stevie enters at 52. Ahhh, he’s a fireman you know! I’m happy cos the song deserves to top the UK chart, I know a great tune when I hear one and it’s a great tune, trust me.

Chic get their first top 5 hit since I Want Your Love in 1979, when I was a student at uni. I love Nile Rodgers, and not just cos those were the days! Safri Duo get a second hit, and Kato a first, as they go top 10 with a great dance track, though I do wonder where the both The Green Hornet and Inspector Clouseau are. Lulu hits 15 with a bullet, her biggest self-written song, and it gives her top 20 hits in the 60’s, the 70’s, the 80’s, the 90’s, the 00’s and the 10’s – I make that 6 consecutive decades, and still looking good and sounding good, and now writing songs good. Lulu is a musical chameleon, and an under-rated national treasure. I have Faith In You, Lulu!

The UK Eurovision entry hits 20, and peaks higher (so far) than the vast majority of UK entries since 1977, though it has some way to go to beat last year’s chart-topper. At 25, it’s a fab Indian dance track from a fillum, with another one at 68 – Billum Barber and The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel respectively. Love Mera Hit Hit is Bollywood playback singer-songwriter Neeraj Shridhar plus feamle vocalist Tulsi Kumar (and ditto playback singer, that’s singers who actors/dancers mime to in Bollywood musicals). Just to keep it current, Shreya Ghoshal is also a playback singer, though the track in the Hotel movie is on radio, and Shreya is a star in her own right in India. Another Eastern star enters at 38, courtesy of an H&M ad – it’s Yuna, from Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) but now getting quite the Norah Jones buzz round LA – she’s covered the fantastic Brothers Johnson 1970‘s dance track Strawberry Letter 23 (they had the hit version with that gorgeous instrumental hook and sophisticated melody).

Others: ABC are back with a 2001 track I somehow missed at the time, Marc Almond returns for a melodrama-filled 34 years of hits, and Roisin Murphy guests, and keeps the Moloko 90’s sounds a-going strong.

1 2 1 6 KING Years And Years 444000
2 1 1 4 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 510000
3 12 1 7 LOST STARS Adam Levine 533000
4 6 4 3 I’LL BE THERE Chic featuring Nile Rodgers 165000
5 4 4 4 BULLETPROOF PICASSO Train 186250
6 7 6 6 BEAUTY REMAINS Paloma Faith 191200
7 9 7 4 HIGHER Sigma featuring Labrinth 134400
8 3 1 11 OUTLINES Mike Mago and Dragonette 788000
9 10 9 5 HOLD MY HAND Jess Glynne 135000
10 26 10 3 DIMITTO (LET GO) Kato and Safri Duo featuring Bjornskof 78300

11 5 1 9 PRAY TO GOD Calvin Harris featuring HAIM 566600
12 13 12 3 ELECTRIC LOVE Burns 95000
13 11 5 25 WHEN THE BEAT DROPS OUT Marlon Roudette 584450
14 8 2 10 RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW Giorgio Moroder featuring Kylie Minogue 605000
15 39 15 3 FAITH IN YOU Lulu 56600
16 14 14 4 GOLD Andreya Triana 93100
17 19 17 3 RIVERMAN Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 62400
18 27 18 4 EMMENEZ MOI Charles Aznavour 59450
19 24 19 9 HERE I GO AGAIN Archie Bell And The Drells 156500
20 38 20 4 STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU Electro Velvet 71300

21 18 4 6 EDGE OF SEVENTEEN Stevie Nicks 205000
22 22 22 2 SAVE ME NOW Billy Idol 39000
23 23 12 7 STYLE Taylor Swift 137250
24 21 7 9 UMA THURMAN Fall Out Boy 289750
25 NEW 25 1 LOVE MERA HIT HIT (BILLU BARBER ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK) Neeraj Shridhar and Tulsi Kumar 18750
26 17 17 5 THE RIGHT TIME Brian Wilson featuring Al Jardine and David Marks 107500
27 28 27 3 SUMMERTIME BOY Seasick Steve 43700
28 37 28 4 BELIEVE Mumford And Sons 65200
29 16 6 12 I BET MY LIFE Imagine Dragons 365200
30 49 30 5 SUGAR DADDY Spada 73700

31 44 31 4 IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME Tim Buckley 48850
32 15 11 9 WE’RE ALL WE NEED Above & Beyond featuring Zoe Johnston 230850
33 43 33 2 THE OTHER SIDE OF LOVE Jack Savoretti 31200
34 31 2 11 LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO Ellie Goulding 420100
35 54 1 16 GHOSTTOWN Madonna 869000
36 25 4 12 LIVING FOR LOVE Madonna 320300
37 NEW 37 1 PEACE AND TRANQUILITY ABC 17300
38 NEW 38 1 STRAWBERRY LETTER 23 Yuna 17200
39 20 20 6 WOULD YOU BELIEVE Ace Of Base 94750
40 40 40 5 KING OF THE WORLD Blue 67350

41 45 41 3 LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE The Summer Set 40000
42 29 29 3 WIN Deacon Blue 39350
43 41 1 9 SPEED KILLS 10CC 567150
44 36 1 7 YOU DON’T OWN ME Lesley Gore 305400
45 46 45 5 YOUNG AMERICANS David Bowie 64000
46 42 42 3 HOW WILL I KNOW Jermain Jackman 37100
47 32 5 6 TOWARDS THE SUN Rihanna 201550
48 48 48 3 SEASONS Olly Murs 34600
49 33 33 6 MASTER PRETENDER First Aid Kit 77000
50 34 9 10 SUGAR Maroon 5 219950

51 53 51 14 ALFIE Cilla Black 112600
52 NEW 52 1 LOST STARS Stevie McCrorie 11500
53 35 53 5 LONG STRETCH OF LOVE Lady Antebellum 80850
54 57 54 5 FADE OUT LINES The Avener and Phoebe Killdeer 42200
55 30 30 6 SACRED Erasure 93200
56 64 56 3 COLD WAR Niykee Heaton 24800
57 74 57 2 LONESOME STREET Blur 15600
58 58 19 5 LOVE IS A DRUG Markus Feehily 73900
59 59 59 2 BILLS Lunchmoney Lewis 20200
60 60 60 4 MY HEART WOULD TAKE YOU BACK Shayne Ward 33400

61 47 8 8 HOLD TIGHT Madonna 208900
62 50 50 4 DANCING IN THE CORNER Monarchy 38000
63 65 20 7 BABY LOVE Petite Meller 95100
64 70 64 4 BLOODSTREAM Ed Sheeran and Rudimental 23900
65 52 19 7 FALLING AWAKE The Kaiser Chiefs 100200
66 72 66 4 NAIL ON THE HEAD Duke Special 22600
67 55 55 4 DRIVING ME WILD Bryan Ferry 34300
68 NEW 68 1 YE ISHQ HAI Shreya Ghoshal 6400
69 66 10 10 WHAT I DID FOR LOVE David Guetta featuring Emeli Sande 200600
70 71 70 3 BERYL Mark Knopfler 17200

71 56 6 10 THE NIGHTS Avicii 288300
72 67 1 14 INSIDE OUT Spoon 433550
73 NEW 73 1 INVISIONS Luca C & Brigante featuring Roisin Murphy 5400
74 NEW 74 1 IRRESISTIBLE Fall Out Boy 5200
75 NEW 75 1 BAD TO ME Marc Almond 5000

DROP OUTS
51 40 6 MIRROR MAN Ella Henderson 74750
61 32 4 THEY DON’T KNOW The Disciples 60300
62 62 2 BLACK ROSES Claire Bowen 13400
63 63 4 CONGREGATION Foo Fighters 28800
68 2 10 BACK HOME (MATOMA REMIX) MYNGA featuring Cosmo Klein 420600
69 3 14 EARNED IT (FIFTY SHADES OF GREY) The Weeknd 589050
73 73 1 FROZEN SILENCE Fahrenhaidt 5400
75 8 15 I SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED YOU HOME Agnetha Faltskog and Gary Barlow 252400

29th February 2015

It’s 2 weeks for The Ronettes on top – well it’s still a classic! Holding off Years And Years, not quite King of the castle, and Train with yet another top 5. Sigma and Labrinth both return to the top 10, but together this time, as Noel Gallagher gets 2 in row top 20 and Ace Of Base their first since the 90’s. Billy Idol’s top 10 from last year returns at 22, and Charles Aznavour gets his first ever top 30 entry 41 years since She.

It’s a Eurovisoion trio at 38, 39, 40, almost as if it was planned, as Electro Velvet re-enter one place ahead of Lulu and 2 ahead of Blue. Lulu’s Eurovision peaked at 2 and Blue’s top 10, still time for Still In Love With You though! Blur are back, too, for a neat 25 years or so of chart entries.

1 1 1 3 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 395000
2 3 2 5 KING Years And Years 274000
3 2 1 10 OUTLINES Mike Mago and Dragonette 740000
4 10 4 3 BULLETPROOF PICASSO Train 126250
5 4 1 8 PRAY TO GOD Calvin Harris featuring HAIM 529600
6 9 6 2 I’LL BE THERE Chic featuring Nile Rodgers 100000
7 7 7 5 BEAUTY REMAINS Paloma Faith 136200
8 8 2 9 RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW Giorgio Moroder featuring Kylie Minogue 576000
9 19 9 3 HIGHER Sigma featuring Labrinth 84400
10 17 10 4 HOLD MY HAND Jess Glynne 90000

11 5 5 24 WHEN THE BEAT DROPS OUT Marlon Roudette 552450
12 6 1 6 LOST STARS Adam Levine 448000
13 16 13 2 ELECTRIC LOVE Burns 57000
14 14 14 3 GOLD Andreya Triana 68100
15 11 11 8 WE’RE ALL WE NEED Above & Beyond featuring Zoe Johnston 213050
16 13 6 11 I BET MY LIFE Imagine Dragons 347000
17 18 17 4 THE RIGHT TIME Brian Wilson featuring Al Jardine and David Marks 89000
18 12 4 5 EDGE OF SEVENTEEN Stevie Nicks 185250
19 27 19 2 RIVERMAN Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 39400
20 25 20 5 WOULD YOU BELIEVE Ace Of Base 77650

21 15 7 8 UMA THURMAN Fall Out Boy 270750
22 NEW 22 1 SAVE ME NOW Billy Idol 19500
23 21 12 6 STYLE Taylor Swift 118000
24 24 24 8 HERE I GO AGAIN Archie Bell And The Drells 135500
25 22 4 11 LIVING FOR LOVE Madonna 302900
26 32 26 2 DIMITTO (LET GO) Kato and Safri Duo featuring Bjornskof 36300
27 44 27 3 EMMENEZ MOI Charles Aznavour 37450
28 65 28 2 SUMMERTIME BOY Seasick Steve 25300
29 62 29 2 WIN Deacon Blue 25600
30 30 30 5 SACRED Erasure 82400

31 26 2 10 LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO Ellie Goulding 402500
32 23 5 5 TOWARDS THE SUN Rihanna 189050
33 33 33 5 MASTER PRETENDER First Aid Kit 64900
34 29 9 9 SUGAR Maroon 5 207950
35 35 35 4 LONG STRETCH OF LOVE Lady Antebellum 69600
36 34 1 6 YOU DON’T OWN ME Lesley Gore 292150
37 37 37 3 BELIEVE Mumford And Sons 46900
38 RE 38 3 STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU Electro Velvet 51300
39 47 39 2 FAITH IN YOU Lulu 29600
40 43 40 4 KING OF THE WORLD Blue 50350

41 31 1 8 SPEED KILLS 10CC 553650
42 56 42 2 HOW WILL I KNOW Jermain Jackman 24350
43 NEW 43 1 THE OTHER SIDE OF LOVE Jack Savoretti 13500
44 52 44 3 IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME Tim Buckley 30950
45 45 45 2 LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE The Summer Set 26000
46 46 46 4 YOUNG AMERICANS David Bowie 51000
47 20 8 7 HOLD TIGHT Madonna 201400
48 60 48 2 SEASONS Olly Murs 22300
49 39 39 4 SUGAR DADDY Spada 55700
50 50 50 3 DANCING IN THE CORNER Monarchy 30600

51 40 40 6 MIRROR MAN Ella Henderson 74750
52 28 19 6 FALLING AWAKE The Kaiser Chiefs 93200
53 55 53 13 ALFIE Cilla Black 100850
54 48 1 15 GHOSTTOWN Madonna 851500
55 59 55 3 DRIVING ME WILD Bryan Ferry 27700
56 36 6 9 THE NIGHTS Avicii 282500
57 58 57 4 FADE OUT LINES The Avener and Phoebe Killdeer 31200
58 42 19 4 LOVE IS A DRUG Markus Feehily 63700
59 NEW 59 1 BILLS Lunchmoney Lewis 10100
60 68 60 3 MY HEART WOULD TAKE YOU BACK Shayne Ward 23400

61 38 32 4 THEY DON’T KNOW The Disciples 60300
62 70 62 2 BLACK ROSES Claire Bowen 13400
63 63 63 4 CONGREGATION Foo Fighters 28800
64 64 64 2 COLD WAR Niykee Heaton 14200
65 41 20 6 BABY LOVE Petite Meller 87900
66 49 10 9 WHAT I DID FOR LOVE David Guetta featuring Emeli Sande 194400
67 54 1 13 INSIDE OUT Spoon 427950
68 53 2 10 BACK HOME (MATOMA REMIX) MYNGA featuring Cosmo Klein 420600
69 51 3 14 EARNED IT (FIFTY SHADES OF GREY) The Weeknd 589050
70 73 70 3 BLOODSTREAM Ed Sheeran and Rudimental 16800

71 72 71 2 BERYL Mark Knopfler 11200
72 74 72 3 NAIL ON THE HEAD Duke Special 15800
73 NEW 73 1 FROZEN SILENCE Fahrenhaidt 5400
74 NEW 74 1 LONESOME STREET Blur 5200
75 75 8 15 I SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED YOU HOME Agnetha Faltskog and Gary Barlow 252400

DROP OUTS
57 50 4 SOMETHING FROM NOTHING Foo Fighters 39600
61 33 5 WHAT KIND OF MAN Florence And The Machine 62100
66 7 14 FADE TO GREY (ORCHESTRAL VERSION) Visage 291450
67 1 18 LOVE ME HARDER Ariana Grande featuring The Weeknd 724200
69 17 9 NEVER BEEN IN LOVE Cobra Starship featuring Icona Pop 119450
71 1 14 UPTOWN FUNK! Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars 662000

22nd March 2015

It’s The Ronettes 1963 classic Be My Baby at 1, currently amusing some meerkats on TV adverts in the UK. The Phil Spector classic has a gap of over 40 years since it last topped my chart, in 1974 (in an oldies-only chart), or else it’s taken 49 years from the time I went mad on it, when my dad bought the single in 1966, to get to be a proper chart topper. At 52 years old it’s also one of the oldest records to top my chart. That’s bad news for Outlines which stays at 2, and Years And Years who go up to 3. Paloma Faith and Train get yet another top 10 each, in long lists of top tenners, while the highest new entry is Chic (aka Nile Rodgers and friends) and the unearthed lost disco Chic track I’ll Be There, now rejigged and more contemporary-sounding. They were so prolific in the late 70’s they gave half their stuff away, and actually forgot about this track entirely, so they never got back to it until the old record company dug it out recently and sent it to Niles. Hooray! That gives Chic a span of 37 years of top 10 hits.

Noel Gallagher replaces himself in the chart with a very Wonderwall-ish ambitious Riverman, at 27 and fab, Lulu returns with a self-written track at 47, Faith In You carrying on where Tina Turner’s cover of her song I Don’t Wanna Fight left off, in giving Lu songwriting credits after a lifetime of singing other people’s songs, such as David Bowie, nestled just above her at 46, who spearheaded one of her many many comeback reinventions in 1974. Lulu charted with I’m A Tiger at 2, in my chart in 1968 – which gives her a run of a whopping 47 years of new chart entries, pretty much throughout the 47 years too. Only Paul McCartney can beat that (with The Beatles, and by a few weeks only). Other oldies with comebacks: Mark Knofler doing a Sultans Of Swing-ish track, Beryl, for 36 years, and Deacon Blue, getting on for 30 years, with Seasick Steve being one of the oldest “new” (ish) acts to chart. Fifty Shades Of Grey in my chart, at least!

1 6 1 2 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 225000
2 2 1 9 OUTLINES Mike Mago and Dragonette 655000
3 7 3 4 KING Years And Years 159000
4 1 1 7 PRAY TO GOD Calvin Harris featuring HAIM 469600
5 5 5 23 WHEN THE BEAT DROPS OUT Marlon Roudette 515450
6 3 1 5 LOST STARS Adam Levine 413000
7 16 7 4 BEAUTY REMAINS Paloma Faith 86200
8 9 2 8 RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW Giorgio Moroder featuring Kylie Minogue 528000
9 NEW 9 1 I’LL BE THERE Chic featuring Nile Rodgers 45000
10 23 10 2 BULLETPROOF PICASSO Train 61250

11 11 11 7 WE’RE ALL WE NEED Above & Beyond featuring Zoe Johnston 186050
12 4 4 4 EDGE OF SEVENTEEN Stevie Nicks 163250
13 14 6 10 I BET MY LIFE Imagine Dragons 322000
14 59 14 2 GOLD Andreya Triana 39100
15 15 7 7 UMA THURMAN Fall Out Boy 251000
16 NEW 16 1 ELECTRIC LOVE Burns 25000
17 30 17 3 HOLD MY HAND Jess Glynne 48000
18 18 18 3 THE RIGHT TIME Brian Wilson featuring Al Jardine and David Marks 66000
19 27 19 2 HIGHER Sigma featuring Labrinth 39400
20 8 8 6 HOLD TIGHT Madonna 188900

21 12 12 5 STYLE Taylor Swift 98750
22 10 4 10 LIVING FOR LOVE Madonna 284150
23 13 5 4 TOWARDS THE SUN Rihanna 171250
24 24 24 7 HERE I GO AGAIN Archie Bell And The Drells 116500
25 28 25 4 WOULD YOU BELIEVE Ace Of Base 57650
26 17 2 9 LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO Ellie Goulding 384600
27 NEW 27 1 RIVERMAN Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 18400
28 19 19 5 FALLING AWAKE The Kaiser Chiefs 81700
29 29 9 8 SUGAR Maroon 5 190350
30 37 30 4 SACRED Erasure 64400

31 21 1 7 SPEED KILLS 10CC 539650
32 NEW 32 1 DIMITTO (LET GO) Kato and Safri Duo featuring Bjornskof 17800
33 53 33 4 MASTER PRETENDER First Aid Kit 47200
34 31 1 5 YOU DON’T OWN ME Lesley Gore 274750
35 35 35 3 LONG STRETCH OF LOVE Lady Antebellum 52100
36 26 6 8 THE NIGHTS Avicii 271900
37 48 37 2 BELIEVE Mumford And Sons 29600
38 32 32 3 THEY DON’T KNOW The Disciples 52800
39 43 39 3 SUGAR DADDY Spada 43600
40 47 40 5 MIRROR MAN Ella Henderson 63000

41 20 20 5 BABY LOVE Petite Meller 80900
42 25 19 3 LOVE IS A DRUG Markus Feehily 53500
43 44 43 3 KING OF THE WORLD Blue 33350
44 71 44 2 EMMENEZ MOI Charles Aznavour 19050
45 NEW 45 1 LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE The Summer Set 13000
46 46 46 3 YOUNG AMERICANS David Bowie 38250
47 NEW 47 1 FAITH IN YOU Lulu 12500
48 38 1 14 GHOSTTOWN Madonna 840500
49 22 10 8 WHAT I DID FOR LOVE David Guetta featuring Emeli Sande 187600
50 67 50 2 DANCING IN THE CORNER Monarchy 18600

51 34 3 13 EARNED IT (FIFTY SHADES OF GREY) The Weeknd 582850
52 69 52 2 IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME Tim Buckley 17700
53 42 2 9 BACK HOME (MATOMA REMIX) MYNGA featuring Cosmo Klein 414200
54 41 1 12 INSIDE OUT Spoon 421350
55 58 55 12 ALFIE Cilla Black 89600
56 NEW 56 1 HOW WILL I KNOW Jermain Jackman 10600
57 50 50 4 SOMETHING FROM NOTHING Foo Fighters 39600
58 72 58 3 FADE OUT LINES The Avener and Phoebe Killdeer 20800
59 66 59 2 DRIVING ME WILD Bryan Ferry 16900
60 NEW 60 1 SEASONS Olly Murs 10000

61 33 33 5 WHAT KIND OF MAN Florence And The Machine 62100
62 NEW 62 1 WIN Deacon Blue 7400
63 63 63 3 CONGREGATION Foo Fighters 21600
64 NEW 64 1 COLD WAR Niykee Heaton 7100
65 NEW 65 1 SUMMERTIME BOY Seasick Steve 7000
66 52 7 14 FADE TO GREY (ORCHESTRAL VERSION) Visage 291450
67 49 1 18 LOVE ME HARDER Ariana Grande featuring The Weeknd 724200
68 65 65 2 MY HEART WOULD TAKE YOU BACK Shayne Ward 13400
69 61 17 9 NEVER BEEN IN LOVE Cobra Starship featuring Icona Pop 119450
70 NEW 70 1 BLACK ROSES Claire Bowen 6000

71 60 1 14 UPTOWN FUNK! Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars 662000
72 NEW 72 1 BERYL Mark Knopfler 5400
73 73 73 2 BLOODSTREAM Ed Sheeran 10800
74 75 74 2 NAIL ON THE HEAD Duke Special 10200
75 70 8 14 I SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED YOU HOME Agnetha Faltskog and Gary Barlow 247400

15th February 2015

It’s Calvin Harris getting his second number one, but this time it’s not Hurts, it’s another “H”, Haim. The pattern is clear! It’s a terrific record and has finally made the UK Top 40, after being in the sales Top 40 charts a few weeks. Stevie Nicks has that rhythm, and she finally gets into the top 5, 34 years on, with Edge Of Seventeen. Marlon Roudette hasn’t had to wait quite so long, but it’s still taken 22 weeks to peak at 5, I’ve never gotten bored with it any stage. Highest new entry? Phil Spector’s classic, Dirty Dancing-used, TV advert pushed, Brian Wilson all-time fave (yes him at 18), Be My Baby by The Ronettes. The record would have been number one in my charts for weeks and weeks in 1966 (had I been doing charts) as dad bought the record when we lived in Liverpool and got our first record player, and I was a bit mad on it. It finally topped my chart as an oldie in 1974, so that’s a 41-year gap for a 52-year-old girl-group classic.

Paloma is singing in Bournemouth tonight, and shoots up to 16 even though I couldn’t get tickets to watch Beauty Remains done live. Last night, though, I did get to see actual legend Morrissey in concert, as irascible, witty and political as always. He has an enormous catalogue of classic hits, sadly he chose not to do any faves of mine, bar one, in favour of his new album. On the plus side, his pre-show videos had a handful of fab oldies for me to search out and download – the man has taste when he’s passionate about music. Which explains Charles Aznavour and Tim Buckley, father of Jeff (both of them dying young) as new entries. There would have been another had I been able to find out who the punk-bhangra singer was!

Train are back, the long run of chart entries gets longer, with Bulletproof Picasso at 23, and Sigma and Labrinth both add to theirs, together Higher at 27. Ace Of Base go top 40 for the first time since the 90’s, Jess Glynne wants to Hold My hand at 30, and Mumford And Sons have a welcome return, Believe it! Shayne Ward has unlikely return of the week, and Bryan Ferry extends his run of chart entries to oooh, a mere 43 years. Gosh! He’s Driving Me Wild, in a very low-key way. Marvin Gaye gave it up a long time ago, but his family crossed some blurred lines recently, which boosted sales of the 1977 soul disco classic enough to hit the sales charts lower down, and re-enter mine 38 years on.

1 2 1 6 PRAY TO GOD Calvin Harris featuring HAIM 404600
2 1 1 8 OUTLINES Mike Mago and Dragonette 540000
3 3 1 4 LOST STARS Adam Levine 358000
4 7 4 3 EDGE OF SEVENTEEN Stevie Nicks 128250
5 17 5 22 WHEN THE BEAT DROPS OUT Marlon Roudette 455450
6 NEW 6 1 BE MY BABY The Ronettes 55000
7 24 7 3 KING Years And Years 74000
8 8 8 5 HOLD TIGHT Madonna 168900
9 4 2 7 RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW Giorgio Moroder featuring Kylie Minogue 480000
10 6 4 9 LIVING FOR LOVE Madonna 264650

11 13 11 6 WE’RE ALL WE NEED Above & Beyond featuring Zoe Johnston 149050
12 20 12 4 STYLE Taylor Swift 79000
13 5 5 3 TOWARDS THE SUN Rihanna 152000
14 10 6 9 I BET MY LIFE Imagine Dragons 290000
15 11 7 6 UMA THURMAN Fall Out Boy 224000
16 72 16 3 BEAUTY REMAINS Paloma Faith 36200
17 9 2 8 LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO Ellie Goulding 366100
18 18 18 2 THE RIGHT TIME Brian Wilson featuring Al Jardine and David Marks 44000
19 26 19 4 FALLING AWAKE The Kaiser Chiefs 63400
20 27 20 4 BABY LOVE Petite Meller 66900

21 14 1 6 SPEED KILLS 10CC 521750
22 15 10 7 WHAT I DID FOR LOVE David Guetta featuring Emeli Sande 175500
23 NEW 23 1 BULLETPROOF PICASSO Train 19250
24 25 24 6 HERE I GO AGAIN Archie Bell And The Drells 97500
25 19 19 2 LOVE IS A DRUG Markus Feehily 39750
26 16 6 7 THE NIGHTS Avicii 254500
27 NEW 27 1 HIGHER Sigma featuring Labrinth 18400
28 56 28 3 WOULD YOU BELIEVE Ace Of Base 38900
29 21 9 7 SUGAR Maroon 5 172150
30 65 30 2 HOLD MY HAND Jess Glynne 25000

31 23 1 4 YOU DON’T OWN ME Lesley Gore 257150
32 32 32 2 THEY DON’T KNOW The Disciples 35600
33 48 33 4 WHAT KIND OF MAN Florence And The Machine 54600
34 22 3 12 EARNED IT (FIFTY SHADES OF GREY) The Weeknd 571100
35 39 35 2 LONG STRETCH OF LOVE Lady Antebellum 34600
36 30 20 5 TEACH ME Bakermat 80600
37 49 37 3 SACRED Erasure 46400
38 41 1 13 GHOSTTOWN Madonna 828200
39 40 39 2 STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU Electro Velvet 34100
40 12 8 10 SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION T.Rex 351000

41 31 1 11 INSIDE OUT Spoon 410350
42 33 2 8 BACK HOME (MATOMA REMIX) MYNGA featuring Cosmo Klein 402950
43 45 43 2 SUGAR DADDY Spada 26500
44 67 44 2 KING OF THE WORLD Blue 19850
45 29 26 4 WINDFALL TheFatRat 66800
46 46 46 2 YOUNG AMERICANS David Bowie 25500
47 50 47 4 MIRROR MAN Ella Henderson 46000
48 NEW 48 1 BELIEVE Mumford And Sons 12300
49 36 1 17 LOVE ME HARDER Ariana Grande featuring The Weeknd 717600
50 54 50 3 SOMETHING FROM NOTHING Foo Fighters 29200

51 34 34 5 LANA DEL DRE Tep No 71750
52 52 7 13 FADE TO GREY (ORCHESTRAL VERSION) Visage 284650
53 53 53 3 MASTER PRETENDER First Aid Kit 29500
54 37 12 7 THE BALLAD OF THE MIGHTY I Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 149850
55 28 15 9 COMING WITH YOU Ne-Yo 143500
56 35 35 5 MINE Phoebe Ryan 68700
57 38 1 21 TAKE ME TO CHURCH Hozier 893050
58 60 58 11 ALFIE Cilla Black 78800
59 NEW 59 1 GOLD Andreya Triana 10100
60 59 1 13 UPTOWN FUNK! Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars 656200

61 42 17 8 NEVER BEEN IN LOVE Cobra Starship featuring Icona Pop 113250
62 43 4 15 UP Olly Murs featuring Demi Lovato 511050
63 63 63 2 CONGREGATION Foo Fighters 14400
64 44 18 9 HEROES (WE COULD BE) Alesso featuring Tove Lo 111600
65 NEW 65 1 MY HEART WOULD TAKE YOU BACK Shayne Ward 7000
66 NEW 66 1 DRIVING ME WILD Bryan Ferry 6800
67 NEW 67 1 DANCING IN THE CORNER Monarchy 6600
68 RE 68 2 LAY ME DOWN Sam Smith featuring John Legend 11800
69 NEW 69 1 IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME Tim Buckley 6200
70 57 8 13 I SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED YOU HOME Agnetha Faltskog and Gary Barlow 242400

71 NEW 71 1 EMMENEZ MOI Charles Aznavour 5800
72 75 72 2 FADE OUT LINES The Avener and Phoebe Killdeer 10600
73 NEW 73 1 BLOODSTREAM Ed Sheeran 5400
74 NEW 74 1 GOT TO GIVE IT UP Marvin Gaye 5200
75 NEW 75 1 NAIL ON THE HEAD Duke Special 5000

Me with Iron Man the other week

8th March 2015

It’s Mike Mago and Dragonette, that melody just never lets up and I never tire of it, such a pretty, touching dancepop song. In an age when dreary repeat album plays keep tedious tracks in the singles charts for month after terminal month, I’m a bit miffed that this little gem exited so quickly. It’s possibly because it’s on Ministry Of Sound and the streaming sites don’t like MoS I suspect….

Calvin Harris goes up to 2, 1 place short of equalling Under Control. Stevie Nicks classic Edge Of Seventeen finally makes my top 10 34 years late, Stevie’s 2nd of 2015, showing she can rock out as well as she can tender ballad, and the riff features at 2 as well, having previously been sampled heavily by Destiny’s Child. Stevie says she borrowed the inspiration for it from The Police. Hooray!

Highest new entry is from The Beach Boys. Actually, it’s just 3 of the original Beach Boys line-up, Brian Wilson (sometimes Beach Boys genius) plus Al Jardine (who’s been a Beach Boy throughout pretty much) and David Marks (boyhood neighbour of the Wilson brothers, and 60‘s occasional Beach Boy) but minus Mike Love (cousins Brian and Mike have been falling out for 50 years at least). Carl and Dennis Wilson of course, sadly no longer with us. It’s the single to Brian’s new album, and sounds like a decent latter-day Beach Boys record thanks to the harmonies. Just behind at 19, it’s an ex-member of Westlife, and I really need exclamation marks for the arrival of Markus Feehily who I couldn’t even have named before this great new track that is way better than any of his former band’s hits.

Back in the top 20, 20 weeks on, and finally a UK hit, it’s Marlon Roudette’s great single. He’s on Syco, but I forgive him as much as I forgive Labrinth. A big climb for Years And Years, getting their second top 40 entry with King, while at 39 Lady Antebellum prove they aren’t just about ballads, as they get a bit rocky, just ahead of the UK’s fun, catchy, jazzy Eurovision entry – seems to be splitting opinion right down the middle, possibly due to the modern singles chart scene having had the “fun” element of pop surgically removed, give or take the odd Taylor Swift or Mark Ronson/Bruno Mars hit. We are, of course, only allowed to be depressed or to dance in the charts since the Tories legislated for it. Well, I blame them anyway, for keeping everyone miserable. Talking of Eurovision, Blue are back as well, hey I still like them, and unlike Westlife, I can actually name them all.

1 2 1 7 OUTLINES Mike Mago and Dragonette 425000
2 3 2 5 PRAY TO GOD Calvin Harris featuring HAIM 234600
3 1 1 3 LOST STARS Adam Levine 273000
4 9 2 6 RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW Giorgio Moroder featuring Kylie Minogue 435000
5 5 5 2 TOWARDS THE SUN Rihanna 120000
6 4 4 8 LIVING FOR LOVE Madonna 222650
7 44 7 2 EDGE OF SEVENTEEN Stevie Nicks 63250
8 10 8 4 HOLD TIGHT Madonna 120900
9 6 2 7 LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO Ellie Goulding 343100
10 13 6 8 I BET MY LIFE Imagine Dragons 261000

11 11 7 5 UMA THURMAN Fall Out Boy 197000
12 12 8 9 SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION T.Rex 334000
13 16 13 5 WE’RE ALL WE NEED Above & Beyond featuring Zoe Johnston 112050
14 8 1 5 SPEED KILLS 10CC 502000
15 14 10 6 WHAT I DID FOR LOVE David Guetta featuring Emeli Sande 156000
16 15 6 6 THE NIGHTS Avicii 236000
17 36 12 21 WHEN THE BEAT DROPS OUT Marlon Roudette 395450
18 NEW 18 1 THE RIGHT TIME Brian Wilson featuring Al Jardine and David Marks 22000
19 NEW 19 1 LOVE IS A DRUG Markus Feehily 21000
20 30 20 3 STYLE Taylor Swift 44000

21 19 9 6 SUGAR Maroon 5 153950
22 18 3 11 EARNED IT (FIFTY SHADES OF GREY) The Weeknd 553500
23 7 1 3 YOU DON’T OWN ME Lesley Gore 239250
24 75 24 2 KING Years And Years 24000
25 25 25 5 HERE I GO AGAIN Archie Bell And The Drells 78500
26 28 26 3 FALLING AWAKE The Kaiser Chiefs 42400
27 33 27 3 BABY LOVE Petite Meller 46900
28 17 15 8 COMING WITH YOU Ne-Yo 132700
29 26 26 3 WINDFALL TheFatRat 53800
30 20 20 4 TEACH ME Bakermat 63200

31 23 1 10 INSIDE OUT Spoon 396350
32 NEW 32 1 THEY DON’T KNOW The Disciples 17800
33 22 2 7 BACK HOME (MATOMA REMIX) MYNGA featuring Cosmo Klein 389200
34 35 34 4 LANA DEL DRE Tep No 60000
35 37 35 4 MINE Phoebe Ryan 58100
36 29 1 16 LOVE ME HARDER Ariana Grande featuring The Weeknd 705500
37 32 12 6 THE BALLAD OF THE MIGHTY I Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 138850
38 21 1 20 TAKE ME TO CHURCH Hozier 882650
39 NEW 39 1 LONG STRETCH OF LOVE Lady Antebellum 17100
40 NEW 40 1 STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU Electro Velvet 17000

41 34 1 12 GHOSTTOWN Madonna 811000
42 24 17 7 NEVER BEEN IN LOVE Cobra Starship featuring Icona Pop 105750
43 31 4 14 UP Olly Murs featuring Demi Lovato 503650
44 27 18 8 HEROES (WE COULD BE) Alesso featuring Tove Lo 104500
45 NEW 45 1 SUGAR DADDY Spada 13000
46 NEW 46 1 YOUNG AMERICANS David Bowie 12750
47 59 47 3 I PUT A SPELL ON YOU Annie Lennox 28400
48 48 48 3 WHAT KIND OF MAN Florence And The Machine 36900
49 40 40 2 SACRED Erasure 29100
50 52 50 3 MIRROR MAN Ella Henderson 33500

51 55 51 3 WHERE YOU BELONG The Weeknd 27750
52 43 7 12 FADE TO GREY (ORCHESTRAL VERSION) Visage 273150
53 65 53 2 MASTER PRETENDER First Aid Kit 18250
54 69 54 2 SOMETHING FROM NOTHING Foo Fighters 17200
55 39 39 5 DOING IT Charli XCX featuring Rita Ora 47700
56 60 56 2 WOULD YOU BELIEVE Ace Of Base 20600
57 57 8 12 I SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED YOU HOME Agnetha Faltskog and Gary Barlow 236400
58 56 9 11 ROCK A DOODLE DOO (RADIO STUDIO SESSION) Linda Lewis 218900
59 49 1 12 UPTOWN FUNK! Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars 646200
60 63 60 10 ALFIE Cilla Black 68600

61 38 30 6 THE DAY IS MY ENEMY The Prodigy 89900
62 47 47 3 WON’T BACK DOWN (BOEHM REMIX) Benjamin Francis Leftwich 31900
63 NEW 63 1 CONGREGATION Foo Fighters 7200
64 42 8 10 LET THE DAY BEGIN Simple Minds 232000
65 NEW 65 1 HOLD MY HAND Jess Glynne 7000
66 64 1 30 I’M NOT IN LOVE 10CC 1049300
67 NEW 67 1 KING OF THE WORLD Blue 6600
68 66 1 27 HOUNDS OF LOVE Kate Bush 681750
69 45 28 6 LET IN THE SUN Take That 89500
70 70 1 52 STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU Stealers Wheel 895650

71 62 1 20 THESE DAYS Take That 911800
72 72 72 2 BEAUTY REMAINS Paloma Faith 11200
73 NEW 73 1 SOMETHING NEW Axford & Ingrosso 5400
74 74 74 2 JULIA Jungle 10400
75 NEW 75 1 FADE OUT LINES The Avener and Phoebe Killdeer 5000

DROP OUTS
41 41 2 FIRST AND LAST (GLASTROPHOBIA REMIX) Gemology 28000
46 46 3 TV Eves The Behaviour 35900
50 50 2 SWAY (THE CHAINSMOKERS REMIX) Anna Of The North 22200
51 16 6 LITTLE BY LITTLE (LULLEAUX AND GEORGE WHYMAN REMIX) Ulf Nilsson 112450
53 20 6 PORCELAIN Rachel Taylor 103450
54 26 6 LOVE KILLS Queen 87100
58 58 2 AVENIR Louane 15600
61 25 5 FOURFIVESECONDS Rihanna and Kanye West and Paul McCartney 81100
67 67 1 TETHER Eric Prydz vs CHVRCHES 6600
68 54 6 ELASTIC HEART SIA featuring The Weeknd and Diplo 54200
71 71 2 HEELS OFF Sandra Lyng 10800
73 73 1 LAY ME DOWN Sam Smith 5400

1st March 2015

Adam Levine pips by a hair’s-breadth, as any of the top 5 should have been on top this week, the charts are electric for me at the moment, records falling that should be climbing, and a queue forming outside the top 75 there’s just no room! Adam Levine’s Lost Stars should have won this week’s Oscar, and I’m miffed it didn’t as he gives a brilliant vocal performance and it’s a fantastic song, typically-structured to build climactically and melodically like the best Gregg Alexander songs always do – it’s Adam’s 2nd chart-topper (after Maroon 5’s Moves Like Jagger) and Gregg’s 4th as songwriter (New Radicals’ You Get What You Give, Texas’ Inner Smile, and Ronan Keating’s Life Is A Rollercoaster).

Beaten by a whisker, the fantastic Outlines is up to 2, I love the lyrics and tune, and that only just keeps off Calvin Harris and HAIM, who rocket into the top 40 at 3 with Pray To God, HAIM’s biggest hit by far, though Calvin has a topper with Hurts. That riff sounds very familiar (Oh yes, there it is at 44 as Stevie Nicks Edge Of Seventeen and it’s John Lennon-murder-inspired lyrics and bootylicious riffs returns after under-achieving first time round in 1981, thanks to The Voice this week). Allt his love keeps Madonna’s BRIT’s gravity-bound performance out of the top 3, as Living For Love shoots up to 4, but as consolation she also has album track Hold Tight at 10, giving her 4 top 10’s so far in 2015. That really is pretty good, even for Madonna!

Just as Adam Levine replaces himself in the top 10 (as Maroon 5 drop), so too Rihanna’s new soundtrack film track Towards The Sun from film Home is straight in at 5, overshadowing her superstar collaboration big hit as far as I’m concerned – I love the marching mood and melody. Like Adam Levine, she also gives a great vocal performance. Elsewhere: Kaiser Chiefs big jump to 28, Taylor Swift to 30, and Erasure in at 40 with yet another new track, Sacred, and more consistent than they have been for years in my charts. Ace Of Base are back! It’s been a decade or more, so it’s good to see a sweet new pop toon from them at 60 – Would You Believe they still look great too, 22 years on from All That She Wants? They do!

1 30 1 2 LOST STARS Adam Levine 188000
2 4 2 6 OUTLINES Mike Mago and Dragonette 255000
3 49 3 4 PRAY TO GOD Calvin Harris featuring HAIM 119600
4 42 4 7 LIVING FOR LOVE Madonna 167650
5 NEW 5 1 TOWARDS THE SUN Rihanna 60000
6 2 2 6 LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO Ellie Goulding 298100
7 1 1 2 YOU DON’T OWN ME Lesley Gore 220000
8 3 1 4 SPEED KILLS 10CC 473000
9 5 2 5 RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW Giorgio Moroder featuring Kylie Minogue 370000
10 27 10 3 HOLD TIGHT Madonna 72900

11 7 7 4 UMA THURMAN Fall Out Boy 160000
12 12 8 8 SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION T.Rex 299000
13 6 6 7 I BET MY LIFE Imagine Dragons 219000
14 10 10 5 WHAT I DID FOR LOVE David Guetta featuring Emeli Sande 129000
15 11 6 5 THE NIGHTS Avicii 211000
16 23 16 4 WE’RE ALL WE NEED Above & Beyond featuring Zoe Johnston 80050
17 15 15 7 COMING WITH YOU Ne-Yo 114400
18 16 3 10 EARNED IT (FIFTY SHADES OF GREY) The Weeknd 534000
19 9 9 5 SUGAR Maroon 5 134200
20 20 20 3 TEACH ME Bakermat 45200

21 8 1 19 TAKE ME TO CHURCH Hozier 865450
22 13 2 6 BACK HOME (MATOMA REMIX) MYNGA featuring Cosmo Klein 371500
23 14 1 9 INSIDE OUT Spoon 378450
24 17 17 6 NEVER BEEN IN LOVE Cobra Starship featuring Icona Pop 92000
25 34 25 4 HERE I GO AGAIN Archie Bell And The Drells 59750
26 39 26 2 WINDFALL TheFatRat 35600
27 18 18 7 HEROES (WE COULD BE) Alesso featuring Tove Lo 91250
28 72 28 2 FALLING AWAKE The Kaiser Chiefs 23900
29 25 1 15 LOVE ME HARDER Ariana Grande featuring The Weeknd 688100
30 70 30 2 STYLE Taylor Swift 24000

31 22 4 13 UP Olly Murs featuring Demi Lovato 490150
32 21 12 5 THE BALLAD OF THE MIGHTY I Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 121550
33 55 33 2 BABY LOVE Petite Meller 28500
34 29 1 11 GHOSTTOWN Madonna 797000
35 35 35 3 LANA DEL DRE Tep No 42400
36 45 12 20 WHEN THE BEAT DROPS OUT Marlon Roudette 372450
37 37 37 3 MINE Phoebe Ryan 40600
38 36 30 5 THE DAY IS MY ENEMY The Prodigy 82400
39 64 39 4 DOING IT Charli XCX featuring Rita Ora 36900
40 NEW 40 1 SACRED Erasure 17000

41 41 41 2 FIRST AND LAST (GLASTROPHOBIA REMIX) Gemology 28000
42 19 8 9 LET THE DAY BEGIN Simple Minds 225900
43 31 7 11 FADE TO GREY (ORCHESTRAL VERSION) Visage 261650
44 NEW 44 1 EDGE OF SEVENTEEN Stevie Nicks 13250
45 28 28 5 LET IN THE SUN Take That 83300
46 46 46 3 TV Eves The Behaviour 35900
47 50 47 2 WON’T BACK DOWN (BOEHM REMIX) Benjamin Francis Leftwich 24500
48 48 48 2 WHAT KIND OF MAN Florence And The Machine 24600
49 40 1 11 UPTOWN FUNK! Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars 636100
50 58 50 2 SWAY (THE CHAINSMOKERS REMIX) Anna Of The North 22200

51 24 16 6 LITTLE BY LITTLE (LULLEAUX AND GEORGE WHYMAN REMIX) Ulf Nilsson 112450
52 60 52 2 MIRROR MAN Ella Henderson 21500
53 32 20 6 PORCELAIN Rachel Taylor 103450
54 26 26 6 LOVE KILLS Queen 87100
55 74 55 2 WHERE YOU BELONG The Weeknd 16000
56 53 9 10 ROCK A DOODLE DOO (RADIO STUDIO SESSION) Linda Lewis 208700
57 51 8 11 I SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED YOU HOME Agnetha Faltskog and Gary Barlow 226000
58 73 58 2 AVENIR Louane 15600
59 71 59 2 I PUT A SPELL ON YOU Annie Lennox 15900
60 NEW 60 1 WOULD YOU BELIEVE Ace Of Base 10000

61 33 25 5 FOURFIVESECONDS Rihanna and Kanye West and Paul McCartney 81100
62 56 1 19 THESE DAYS Take That 906000
63 63 63 9 ALFIE Cilla Black 58600
64 57 1 29 I’M NOT IN LOVE 10CC 1042500
65 NEW 65 1 MASTER PRETENDER First Aid Kit 7000
66 62 1 26 HOUNDS OF LOVE Kate Bush 675350
67 NEW 67 1 TETHER Eric Prydz vs CHVRCHES 6600
68 54 54 6 ELASTIC HEART SIA featuring The Weeknd and Diplo 54200
69 NEW 69 1 SOMETHING FROM NOTHING Foo Fighters 6200
70 69 1 51 STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU Stealers Wheel 889650

71 75 71 2 HEELS OFF Sandra Lyng 10800
72 NEW 72 1 BEAUTY REMAINS Paloma Faith 5600
73 NEW 73 1 LAY ME DOWN Sam Smith 5400
74 NEW 74 1 JULIA Jungle 5200

DROP OUTS:
38 10 7 LADY Stevie Nicks 145050
43 2 9 DEVIL PRAY Madonna 532950
44 14 6 FIRE Gavin DeGraw 110650
47 10 7 READY OR NOT Sarah Cracknell 157200
52 28 6 START A FAMILY Texas 84700
59 59 2 ALL FOR THE TAKING Meanwhile 20200
61 61 2 RUNNING IN CIRCLES POP ETC 14300
65 65 2 JOHNNY BLOSSOM Ride Into The Sun 13600
66 40 3 CASSY O’ George Ezra 35800
67 39 5 SOMETHING IN THE WATER Carrie Underwood 65050
68 68 3 PAPER PLANE (ACOUSTIC) Status Quo 17000
75 NEW 75 1 KING Years And Years 5000

22nd February 2015

It’s the late Lesley Gore in at 1 with her classic girl-power anthem ballad, one of the early pop songs for females (and she was 17-years-old) to make a stand for girls, an American chart-topper but a UK flop, criminally lost amongst Beatlemania. Lesley later came out as gay, one of the very few girls around in the 60’s music scene. It’s also her first popchartfreak entry, although 2 of her 60‘s hits were covered, Maybe I Know hit for The Seashells in 1972 and It’s My Party Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin in 1981 took it to number 2.

Bad news for Ellie Goulding, then, up to 2 with her great UK chart-topper, with Mister Magoo at 4, with it’s terrific melody and a great new twist on describing attraction in lyrics. Just when you think it’s all been said…! David Guetta adds another top 10 to his quite long list now, with Emeli Sande grabbing a few herself so far. Ne-yo jumps into the 20, but not as rapidly as Bakermat, who can Teach Me a few things with some fab gospel hooks. At 30 Adam Levine gets his 2nd top 30 hit in the same chart, Maroon 5 holding at 9, and his movie theme up for an Oscar at 30, Lost Stars is essentially a Gregg Alexander song from his soundtrack to the movie, a man who’s written a few chart-toppers in my chart, starting with his band New Radicals in 1997 and the brilliant You Get What You Give.

Florence and The Machine are back at 50, after a bit of a gap, though nowhere as big a gap as Annie Lennox has managed from time to time, as she brings about the 5th or 6th track from 50 Shades Of Grey into my chart, I Put A Spell On You being a 1956 Jay Hawkins classic covered by Nina Simone and Alan Price in the 60’s UK charts, while more recently Sonique had a big hit with it in 2000-ish. Annie now has solo chart entries dating back 27 years, and as singer dating back to the Tourists 36 years ago. Not bad! The Weeknd copies Madonna and grabs a 4th current chart track, how greedy are they!

1 NEW 1 1 YOU DON’T OWN ME Lesley Gore 170000
2 3 2 5 LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO Ellie Goulding 238100
3 1 1 3 SPEED KILLS 10CC 425000
4 10 4 5 OUTLINES Mike Mago and Dragonette 140000
5 4 2 4 RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW Giorgio Moroder featuring Kylie Minogue 325000
6 6 6 6 I BET MY LIFE Imagine Dragons 187000
7 7 7 3 UMA THURMAN Fall Out Boy 123000
8 2 1 18 TAKE ME TO CHURCH Hozier 845700
9 9 9 4 SUGAR Maroon 5 113200
10 18 10 4 WHAT I DID FOR LOVE David Guetta featuring Emeli Sande 100000

11 11 6 4 THE NIGHTS Avicii 184000
12 12 8 7 SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION T.Rex 264000
13 5 2 5 BACK HOME (MATOMA REMIX) MYNGA featuring Cosmo Klein 352000
14 8 1 8 INSIDE OUT Spoon 359200
15 37 15 6 COMING WITH YOU Ne-Yo 91400
16 13 3 9 EARNED IT (FIFTY SHADES OF GREY) The Weeknd 512000
17 22 17 5 NEVER BEEN IN LOVE Cobra Starship featuring Icona Pop 73000
18 27 18 6 HEROES (WE COULD BE) Alesso featuring Tove Lo 72850
19 15 8 8 LET THE DAY BEGIN Simple Minds 212150
20 74 20 2 TEACH ME Bakermat 25200

21 14 12 4 THE BALLAD OF THE MIGHTY I Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 103750
22 17 4 12 UP Olly Murs featuring Demi Lovato 472250
23 28 23 3 WE’RE ALL WE NEED Above & Beyond featuring Zoe Johnston 55050
24 16 16 5 LITTLE BY LITTLE (LULLEAUX AND GEORGE WHYMAN REMIX) Ulf Nilsson 100700
25 23 1 14 LOVE ME HARDER Ariana Grande featuring The Weeknd 669900
26 32 26 5 LOVE KILLS Queen 76100
27 47 27 2 HOLD TIGHT Madonna 30900
28 36 28 4 LET IN THE SUN Take That 70300
29 19 1 10 GHOSTTOWN Madonna 779400
30 NEW 30 1 LOST STARS Adam Levine 18000

31 31 7 10 FADE TO GREY (ORCHESTRAL VERSION) Visage 248150
32 20 20 5 PORCELAIN Rachel Taylor 92200
33 25 25 4 FOURFIVESECONDS Rihanna and Kanye West and Paul McCartney 73600
34 38 34 3 HERE I GO AGAIN Archie Bell And The Drells 41000
35 62 35 2 LANA DEL DRE Tep No 24900
36 30 30 4 THE DAY IS MY ENEMY The Prodigy 65200
37 70 37 2 MINE Phoebe Ryan 23300
38 21 10 7 LADY Stevie Nicks 145050
39 NEW 39 1 WINDFALL TheFatRat 17100
40 34 1 10 UPTOWN FUNK! Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars 624000

41 NEW 41 1 FIRST AND LAST (GLASTROPHOBIA REMIX) Gemology 14000
42 26 22 6 LIVING FOR LOVE Madonna 102650
43 33 2 9 DEVIL PRAY Madonna 532950
44 24 14 6 FIRE Gavin DeGraw 110650
45 45 12 19 WHEN THE BEAT DROPS OUT Marlon Roudette 355050
46 57 46 2 TV Eves The Behaviour 23150
47 29 10 7 READY OR NOT Sarah Cracknell 157200
48 NEW 48 1 WHAT KIND OF MAN Florence And The Machine 12300
49 49 49 3 PRAY TO GOD Calvin Harris featuring HAIM 34600
50 NEW 50 1 WON’T BACK DOWN (BOEHM REMIX) Benjamin Francis Leftwich 12000

51 43 8 10 I SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED YOU HOME Agnetha Faltskog and Gary Barlow 215600
52 52 28 6 START A FAMILY Texas 84700
53 44 9 9 ROCK A DOODLE DOO (RADIO STUDIO SESSION) Linda Lewis 198100
54 55 54 5 ELASTIC HEART SIA featuring The Weeknd and Diplo 47800
55 NEW 55 1 BABY LOVE Petite Meller 10800
56 50 1 18 THESE DAYS Take That 898600
57 56 1 28 I’M NOT IN LOVE 10CC 1035400
58 NEW 58 1 SWAY (THE CHAINSMOKERS REMIX) Anna Of The North 10200
59 59 59 2 ALL FOR THE TAKING Meanwhile 20200
60 NEW 60 1 MIRROR MAN Ella Henderson 10000

61 66 61 2 RUNNING IN CIRCLES POP ETC 14300
62 60 1 25 HOUNDS OF LOVE Kate Bush 668550
63 63 63 8 ALFIE Cilla Black 51400
64 64 64 3 DOING IT Charli XCX featuring Rita Ora 19800
65 67 65 2 JOHNNY BLOSSOM Ride Into The Sun 13600
66 40 40 3 CASSY O’ George Ezra 35800
67 39 39 5 SOMETHING IN THE WATER Carrie Underwood 65050
68 73 68 3 PAPER PLANE (ACOUSTIC) Status Quo 17000
69 65 1 50 STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU Stealers Wheel 883650
70 NEW 70 1 STYLE Taylor Swift 6000

71 NEW 71 1 I PUT A SPELL ON YOU Annie Lennox 5800
72 NEW 72 1 FALLING AWAKE The Kaiser Chiefs 5600
73 NEW 73 1 AVENIR Louane 5400
74 NEW 74 1 WHERE YOU BELONG The Weeknd 5200
75 NEW 75 1 HEELS OFF Sandra Lyng 5000

DROP OUTS
35 19 10 LEAVE WHILE I’M NOT LOOKING Paloma Faith 134900
41 13 6 COME HOME BABY The Charlatans 123000
42 26 6 LIPS ARE MOVIN’ Meghan Trainor 89100
46 39 4 PEOPLE IIIII (featuring Adele Kosman) 55400
48 48 3 MAKE ME SMILE (COME UP AND SEE ME) Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel 32300
51 40 6 UNDER THE SHADOWS Rae Morris 58750
53 15 10 COOL KIDS Echosmith 177250
54 10 11 LIKE I CAN Sam Smith 265100
58 7 12 OUTSIDE Calvin Harris featuring Ellie Golding 291500
61 11 11 DANGEROUS David Guetta featuring Sam Martin 191650
68 1 17 I’M NOT GONNA MISS YOU Glen Campbell 598900
69 5 8 WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS Joe Cocker 204050
71 9 17 I LOVED YOU Blonde featuring Melissa Steele 322550
72 72 1 LIGHTS Kartell 5600
75 75 1 HOLD BACK THE RIVER James Bay 5000

15th February 2015

1 1 1 2 SPEED KILLS 10CC 340000
2 2 1 17 TAKE ME TO CHURCH Hozier 797700
3 43 3 4 LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO Ellie Goulding 123100
4 3 2 3 RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW Giorgio Moroder featuring Kylie Minogue 265000
5 5 2 4 BACK HOME (MATOMA REMIX) MYNGA featuring Cosmo Klein 320000
6 15 6 5 I BET MY LIFE Imagine Dragons 132000
7 17 7 2 UMA THURMAN Fall Out Boy 73000
8 4 1 7 INSIDE OUT Spoon 330200
9 29 9 3 SUGAR Maroon 5 68200
10 20 10 4 OUTLINES Mike Mago and Dragonette 75000

11 6 6 3 THE NIGHTS Avicii 147000
12 8 8 6 SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION T.Rex 229000
13 7 3 8 EARNED IT (FIFTY SHADES OF GREY) The Weeknd 487000
14 12 12 3 THE BALLAD OF THE MIGHTY I Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 84000
15 11 8 7 LET THE DAY BEGIN Simple Minds 191150
16 23 16 4 LITTLE BY LITTLE (LULLEAUX AND GEORGE WHYMAN REMIX) Ulf Nilsson 81700
17 9 4 11 UP Olly Murs featuring Demi Lovato 452750
18 24 18 3 WHAT I DID FOR LOVE David Guetta featuring Emeli Sande 58000
19 13 1 9 GHOSTTOWN Madonna 761200
20 28 20 4 PORCELAIN Rachel Taylor 74400

21 10 10 6 LADY Stevie Nicks 127850
22 37 22 4 NEVER BEEN IN LOVE Cobra Starship featuring Icona Pop 50000
23 18 1 13 LOVE ME HARDER Ariana Grande featuring The Weeknd 651150
24 14 14 5 FIRE Gavin DeGraw 97400
25 25 25 3 FOURFIVESECONDS Rihanna and Kanye West and Paul McCartney 55900
26 RE 22 5 LIVING FOR LOVE Madonna 88900
27 44 27 5 HEROES (WE COULD BE) Alesso featuring Tove Lo 50850
28 35 28 2 WE’RE ALL WE NEED Above & Beyond featuring Zoe Johnston 35800
29 16 10 6 READY OR NOT Sarah Cracknell 144700
30 32 30 3 THE DAY IS MY ENEMY The Prodigy 47800

31 49 7 9 FADE TO GREY (ORCHESTRAL VERSION) Visage 230250
32 34 32 4 LOVE KILLS Queen 57600
33 21 2 8 DEVIL PRAY Madonna 519450
34 27 1 9 UPTOWN FUNK! Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars 607000
35 19 19 10 LEAVE WHILE I’M NOT LOOKING Paloma Faith 134900
36 36 36 3 LET IN THE SUN Take That 52000
37 38 37 5 COMING WITH YOU Ne-Yo 64400
38 69 38 2 HERE I GO AGAIN Archie Bell And The Drells 23400
39 39 39 4 SOMETHING IN THE WATER Carrie Underwood 58450
40 50 40 2 CASSY O’ George Ezra 29000

41 22 13 6 COME HOME BABY The Charlatans 123000
42 26 26 6 LIPS ARE MOVIN’ Meghan Trainor 89100
43 33 8 9 I SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED YOU HOME Agnetha Faltskog and Gary Barlow 203850
44 31 9 8 ROCK A DOODLE DOO (RADIO STUDIO SESSION) Linda Lewis 186850
45 53 12 18 WHEN THE BEAT DROPS OUT Marlon Roudette 342050
46 48 39 4 PEOPLE IIIII (featuring Adele Kosman) 55400
47 NEW 47 1 HOLD TIGHT Madonna 12500
48 60 48 3 MAKE ME SMILE (COME UP AND SEE ME) Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel 32300
49 57 49 2 PRAY TO GOD Calvin Harris featuring HAIM 22500
50 45 1 17 THESE DAYS Take That 888000

51 40 40 6 UNDER THE SHADOWS Rae Morris 58750
52 41 28 5 START A FAMILY Texas 73200
53 30 15 10 COOL KIDS Echosmith 177250
54 51 10 11 LIKE I CAN Sam Smith 265100
55 56 55 4 ELASTIC HEART SIA featuring The Weeknd and Diplo 36800
56 54 1 27 I’M NOT IN LOVE 10CC 1025000
57 NEW 57 1 TV Eves The Behaviour 10400
58 47 7 12 OUTSIDE Calvin Harris featuring Ellie Golding 291500
59 NEW 59 1 ALL FOR THE TAKING Meanwhile 10100
60 59 1 24 HOUNDS OF LOVE Kate Bush 661150

61 55 11 11 DANGEROUS David Guetta featuring Sam Martin 191650
62 NEW 62 1 LANA DEL DRE Tep No 7400
63 65 63 7 ALFIE Cilla Black 44200
64 72 64 2 DOING IT Charli XCX featuring Rita Ora 12700
65 64 1 49 STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU Stealers Wheel 877450
66 NEW 66 1 RUNNING IN CIRCLES POP ETC 6800
67 NEW 67 1 JOHNNY BLOSSOM Ride Into The Sun 6600
68 62 1 17 I’M NOT GONNA MISS YOU Glen Campbell 598900
69 58 5 8 WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS Joe Cocker 204050
70 NEW 70 1 MINE Phoebe Ryan 6000

71 68 9 17 I LOVED YOU Blonde featuring Melissa Steele 322550
72 NEW 72 1 LIGHTS Kartell 5600
73 74 73 2 PAPER PLANE (ACOUSTIC) Status Quo 10600
74 NEW 74 1 TEACH ME Bakermat 5200
75 NEW 75 1 HOLD BACK THE RIVER James Bay 5000

DROP OUTS
42 24 6 SHE MOVES (FAR AWAY) Alle Farben featuring Graham Candy 101350
46 4 11 YOU’RE NEVER FULLY DRESSED WITHOUT A SMILE SIA 345650
52 27 6 REACH OUT Rumer 73400
61 9 12 BLANK SPACE Taylor Swift 263900
63 33 3 BANG! Sandy River featuring April 42200
66 23 9 HOPE FOR THE FUTURE Paul McCartney 102750
67 35 3 GHOST Megan Vice 41600
70 1 16 YOU RUIN ME The Veronicas 686050
71 71 3 BREATHE Glude 16600
73 12 17 SOS Indila 273800
75 75 2 GRAVITY DJ Fresh featuring Ella Eyre 10000

8th February 2015

It’s a record I’ve worshipped since I first heard it in 1976 when Pete Lambert in the 6th form loaned me his 10CC album, Speed Kills, but which wasn’t eligible for my charts as it was an old album track. I’ve been waiting for an excuse to chart it ever since, and Buzz Jack Song Contest is good enough for me as an excuse. Those driving guitars, those harmonies, the exciting pulsating rhythms, the lyrics which are sort of anti-drug while the record has it’s own musical rush. Should have been a single. So, 42 years late, it joins T.Rex (also from that period) in my top 10, and gives 10CC 2 chart-toppers in 2 years, a span of 43 years of number ones, and the 6th under the 10CC name – though one of those is just Graham Gouldman (who wrote Bus Stop, as reworked melody-wise by Noel Gallagher at 12) and Eric Stewart, but the missing Lol Creme and Kevin Godley had another 2 as a duo in the 80’s as Godley & Creme, so they are actually on 7 each.

Another veteran Stevie Nicks adds to her 39-year haul, I’ve lost count if I include Fleetwood Mac, quite a Lady! Imagine Dragons are back in the top 40 again at 16 as the hits roll on – you bet your life! Fall Out Boy are also back with the highest new proper record, a tribute to Uma Thurman. I say new – actually about one-third of it a lengthy sample of the brilliant theme tune from the lovable 60’s fantasy sit-com, The Munsters, and a brilliant theme tune it is too, all surfer-instrumental-rock Halloween flavoured. The record blends it perfectly in.

Mr Magoo is at 20 (one for the older folk there), though he’s lost his other O, clumsy, but a great record. In fact the charts are pretty volatile with new stuff battling it out, records that should be going up are static or dropping a little. Boo! Maroon 5 are sweet as Sugar and rocketing up to 29, Queen get 41 years of top 40 hits with a 31-year-old song, actually it’s better than Freddie’s dance version, I think, which scraped into my 20 in 1984. Synth Indie act Above And Beyond also enter at 38, after I heard it on Paul Gambaccini’s USA chart run-down driving back from London yesterday – Paul is still giving me great musical tips after well over 40 years, thanks Paul!

Also back: Cobra Starship get another top 40 hit, ditto Rae Morris and Ne-Yo. George Ezra gets a 3rd entry with Cassy O’. I assume that’s the missing O from Mike Mago, who pronounces it Magoo. Calvin Harris and HAIM are busy praying to God, they might want to have a word with Hozier though, as he’s at 2, a bit higher than 57. Another 1973 song enters at 74 (joining Linda Lewis in being an alternative version of a 1973 chart hit), Paper Plane from Status Quo, while a 1972 number one in my chart, the brilliant 1968 US northern soul hit from Archie Bell And The Drells, Here I Go Again, is back again thanks to a current advert on TV.

1 NEW 1 1 SPEED KILLS 10CC 170000
2 1 1 16 TAKE ME TO CHURCH Hozier 682700
3 2 2 2 RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW Giorgio Moroder featuring Kylie Minogue 200000
4 4 1 6 INSIDE OUT Spoon 382200
5 3 2 3 BACK HOME (MATOMA REMIX) MYNGA featuring Cosmo Klein 260000
6 6 6 2 THE NIGHTS Avicii 110000
7 5 3 7 EARNED IT (FIFTY SHADES OF GREY) The Weeknd 455000
8 9 8 5 SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION T.Rex 194000
9 12 4 10 UP Olly Murs featuring Demi Lovato 429750
10 16 10 5 LADY Stevie Nicks 108100

11 8 8 6 LET THE DAY BEGIN Simple Minds 164150
12 20 12 2 THE BALLAD OF THE MIGHTY I Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 55000
13 7 1 8 GHOSTTOWN Madonna 740200
14 18 14 4 FIRE Gavin DeGraw 78400
16 10 10 5 READY OR NOT Sarah Cracknell 126500
16 41 16 4 I BET MY LIFE Imagine Dragons 75000
17 NEW 17 1 UMA THURMAN Fall Out Boy 23000
18 17 1 12 LOVE ME HARDER Ariana Grande featuring The Weeknd 631900
19 19 19 9 LEAVE WHILE I’M NOT LOOKING Paloma Faith 117400
20 63 20 3 OUTLINES Mike Mago and Dragonette 33000

21 11 2 7 DEVIL PRAY Madonna 501750
22 13 13 5 COME HOME BABY The Charlatans 109000
23 23 23 3 LITTLE BY LITTLE (LULLEAUX AND GEORGE WHYMAN REMIX) Ulf Nilsson 56700
24 40 24 2 WHAT I DID FOR LOVE David Guetta featuring Emeli Sande 36000
25 30 25 2 FOURFIVESECONDS Rihanna and Kanye West and Paul McCartney 36750
26 26 26 5 LIPS ARE MOVIN’ Meghan Trainor 75350
27 14 1 8 UPTOWN FUNK! Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars 589400
28 28 28 3 PORCELAIN Rachel Taylor 54400
29 75 29 2 SUGAR Maroon 5 23200
30 15 15 9 COOL KIDS Echosmith 166000

31 22 9 7 ROCK A DOODLE DOO (RADIO STUDIO SESSION) Linda Lewis 173600
32 50 32 2 THE DAY IS MY ENEMY The Prodigy 29800
33 29 8 8 I SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED YOU HOME Agnetha Faltskog and Gary Barlow 190350
34 49 34 3 LOVE KILLS Queen 39800
35 NEW 35 1 WE’RE ALL WE NEED Above & Beyond featuring Zoe Johnston 17500
36 38 36 2 LET IN THE SUN Take That 34600
37 67 37 3 NEVER BEEN IN LOVE Cobra Starship featuring Icona Pop 30500
38 48 38 4 COMING WITH YOU Ne-Yo 47100
39 44 39 3 SOMETHING IN THE WATER Carrie Underwood 41350
40 56 40 5 UNDER THE SHADOWS Rae Morris 47000

41 36 28 4 START A FAMILY Texas 61700
42 24 24 6 SHE MOVES (FAR AWAY) Alle Farben featuring Graham Candy 101350
43 47 43 3 LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO Ellie Goulding 38100
44 66 44 4 HEROES (WE COULD BE) Alesso featuring Tove Lo 32450
45 37 1 16 THESE DAYS Take That 876000
46 21 4 11 YOU’RE NEVER FULLY DRESSED WITHOUT A SMILE SIA 345650
47 32 7 11 OUTSIDE Calvin Harris featuring Ellie Golding 281300
48 39 39 3 PEOPLE IIIII (featuring Adele Kosman) 42650
49 25 7 8 FADE TO GREY (ORCHESTRAL VERSION) Visage 212350
50 NEW 50 1 CASSY O’ George Ezra 12000

51 34 10 10 LIKE I CAN Sam Smith 256100
52 27 27 6 REACH OUT Rumer 73400
53 53 12 17 WHEN THE BEAT DROPS OUT (BLONDEE & HAGEN RADIO EDIT) Marlon Roudette 329050
54 52 1 26 I’M NOT IN LOVE 10CC 1014400
55 31 11 10 DANGEROUS David Guetta featuring Sam Martin 184150
56 58 56 3 ELASTIC HEART SIA featuring The Weeknd and Diplo 26000
57 NEW 57 1 PRAY TO GOD Calvin Harris featuring HAIM 10400
58 45 5 7 WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS Joe Cocker 197850
59 57 1 23 HOUNDS OF LOVE Kate Bush 651150
60 60 60 2 MAKE ME SMILE (COME UP AND SEE ME) Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel 20000

61 46 9 12 BLANK SPACE Taylor Swift 263900
62 51 1 16 I’M NOT GONNA MISS YOU Glen Campbell 592500
63 33 33 3 BANG! Sandy River featuring April 42200
64 62 1 48 STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU Stealers Wheel 870450
65 65 65 6 ALFIE Cilla Black 37000
66 43 23 9 HOPE FOR THE FUTURE Paul McCartney 102750
67 35 35 3 GHOST Megan Vice 41600
68 54 9 16 I LOVED YOU Blonde featuring Melissa Steele 316750
69 NEW 69 1 HERE I GO AGAIN Archie Bell And The Drells 6200
70 61 1 16 YOU RUIN ME The Veronicas 686050

71 73 71 3 BREATHE Glude 16600
72 NEW 72 1 DOING IT Charli XCX featuring Rita Ora
73 59 12 17 SOS Indila 273800
74 NEW 74 1 PAPER PLANE (ACOUSTIC) Status Quo 5200
75 RE 75 2 GRAVITY DJ Fresh featuring Ella Eyre 10000

DROP OUTS
42 25 3 SOLO DANCING Indiana 51000
55 55 2 SAVE ME Listenbee 21600
64 1 15 DUST HALOS 650500
68 68 2 TILL IT HURTS Yellow Claw featuring Ayden 12800
69 1 26 CHANGING Sigma featuring Paloma Faith 1189950
70 58 2 HIYHIY Lostboycrow 16200
71 1 14 ANYTIME Cosmonaut Grenchko 636550
72 1 14 WHO’S GONNA STAND UP? (ORCHESTRAL VERSION) Neil Young 670300
74 1 25 CALL Francesco Yates 744200

1st February 2015

It’s Hozier, finally getting on top after two previous chart runs in previous years, and his fantastic passionate anti-hymn, Take Me To Church a well-deserved world-wide hit. Of course, here on Buzz Jack, it becomes yet another example of a classic record well-under-appreciated by voters – sorry boys and girls, but as long as we voters keep not voting for brilliant records I’m going to keep on mentioning it! It knocks off another (non-hit) example, Spoon, and keeps off a MYNGA, as well, all fab.

Highest new entry is from 74-year-old Giorgio Moroder and much much younger Kylie Minogue, and the terrific Right Here Right Now, the hook is just fabulous. Giorgio first came close to topping my charts in 1972 as writer-producer of one of the first ever synthpop song chart-toppers, Son Of My Father, before topping in 1977 with the instant classic, force of nature that is Donna Summer’s I Feel Love, pretty much all modern dance music can be traced back to that one. He had his first solo top 10 hit later that year (From Here To Eternity), then appeared again with Phil Oakey in 1984 on the classic Together In Electric Dreams, and it’s only taken him 31 years to get his 3rd, entering straight in at 2! Kylie, of course, has a zillion top 10 hits, and I think has yet not to chart with anything she’s released. So I like her!

Avicii is back with another big new entry and top 10 hit, with The Nights, at 6, while Sarah Cracknell adds to her list of top 10 entries. Paloma Faith adds to her top 20 list, and Noel Gallagher extends his run (including with Oasis) to 21 years with The Ballad Of The Mighty I, and it’s little hint of The Hollies Bus Stop. At 30 it’s a superstar bunch, as Rihanna takes lead vocals, Kanye West adds a bit, and Paul McCartney tinkles on some instruments. That’s a decade each for the first two of chart entries, and combined they still don’t have half the span of chart entries of Macca, my first ever chart number one with The Beatles Hey Jude in 1968. Legend!

Others returning: Take That, David Guetta, Emeli Sande, The Prodigy, and Maroon 5. With the new stupid dull streaming charts keeping genuine Top 40 sales hits out of the UK charts, only Maroon 5 breaks in to the UK charts, though at least The Weeknd finally gets in a few weeks late, resting still at 5 in my charts. Hey ho!

1 6 1 15 TAKE ME TO CHURCH Hozier 567700
2 NEW 2 1 RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW Giorgio Moroder featuring Kylie Minogue 115000
3 2 2 2 BACK HOME (MATOMA REMIX) MYNGA featuring Cosmo Klein 200000
4 1 1 5 INSIDE OUT Spoon 317200
5 5 3 6 EARNED IT (FIFTY SHADES OF GREY) The Weeknd 405000
6 NEW 6 1 THE NIGHTS Avicii 55000
7 4 1 7 GHOSTTOWN Madonna 708200
8 8 8 5 LET THE DAY BEGIN Simple Minds 127150
9 11 9 4 SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION T.Rex 146000
10 14 10 4 READY OR NOT Sarah Cracknell 101500

11 3 2 6 DEVIL PRAY Madonna 482000
12 12 4 9 UP Olly Murs featuring Demi Lovato 384750
13 17 13 4 COME HOME BABY The Charlatans 89500
14 10 1 7 UPTOWN FUNK! Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars 571000
15 15 15 8 COOL KIDS Echosmith 148000
16 19 16 4 LADY Stevie Nicks 66100
17 18 1 11 LOVE ME HARDER Ariana Grande featuring The Weeknd 609900
18 36 18 3 FIRE Gavin DeGraw 49400
19 39 19 8 LEAVE WHILE I’M NOT LOOKING Paloma Faith 96400
20 NEW 20 1 THE BALLAD OF THE MIGHTY I Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds 20000

21 7 4 10 YOU’RE NEVER FULLY DRESSED WITHOUT A SMILE SIA 332900
22 9 9 6 ROCK A DOODLE DOO (RADIO STUDIO SESSION) Linda Lewis 155700
23 29 23 2 LITTLE BY LITTLE (LULLEAUX AND GEORGE WHYMAN REMIX) Ulf Nilsson 37450
24 24 24 5 SHE MOVES (FAR AWAY) Alle Farben featuring Graham Candy 87600
25 13 7 7 FADE TO GREY (ORCHESTRAL VERSION) Visage 200250
26 26 26 4 LIPS ARE MOVIN’ Meghan Trainor 56850
27 27 27 5 REACH OUT Rumer 61900
28 32 28 2 PORCELAIN Rachel Taylor 36100
29 22 8 7 I SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED YOU HOME Agnetha Faltskog and Gary Barlow 172650
30 NEW 30 1 FOURFIVESECONDS Rihanna and Kanye West and Paul McCartney 18000

31 16 11 9 DANGEROUS David Guetta featuring Sam Martin 173350
32 20 7 10 OUTSIDE Calvin Harris featuring Ellie Golding 268800
33 37 33 2 BANG! Sandy River featuring April 35000
34 21 10 9 LIKE I CAN Sam Smith 244350
35 35 35 2 GHOST Megan Vice 35000
36 28 28 3 START A FAMILY Texas 47700
37 31 1 15 THESE DAYS Take That 863000
38 NEW 38 1 LET IN THE SUN Take That 17200
39 44 39 2 PEOPLE IIIII (featuring Adele Kosman) 30350
40 NEW 40 1 WHAT I DID FOR LOVE David Guetta featuring Emeli Sande 17000

41 30 30 3 I BET MY LIFE Imagine Dragons 50000
42 25 25 3 SOLO DANCING Indiana 51000
43 23 23 8 HOPE FOR THE FUTURE Paul McCartney 95950
44 54 44 2 SOMETHING IN THE WATER Carrie Underwood 24250
45 40 5 6 WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS Joe Cocker 187650
46 33 9 11 BLANK SPACE Taylor Swift 256400
47 49 47 2 WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Ellie Goulding 24600
48 50 48 3 COMING WITH YOU Ne-Yo 29900
49 59 49 2 LOVE KILLS Queen 22200
50 NEW 50 1 THE DAY IS MY ENEMY The Prodigy 12000

51 45 1 15 I’M NOT GONNA MISS YOU Glen Campbell 585100
52 51 1 25 I’M NOT IN LOVE 10C.C. 1003400
53 47 12 16 WHEN THE BEAT DROPS OUT (BLONDEE & HAGEN RADIO EDIT) Marlon Roudette 317800
54 38 9 15 I LOVED YOU Blonde featuring Melissa Steele 310350
55 55 55 2 SAVE ME Listenbee 21600
56 63 56 4 UNDER THE SHADOWS Rae Morris 30000
57 56 1 22 HOUNDS OF LOVE Kate Bush 641050
58 74 58 2 ELASTIC HEART SIA featuring The Weeknd and Diplo 15400
59 48 12 16 SOS Indila 268400
60 NEW 60 1 MAKE ME SMILE (COME UP AND SEE ME) Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel 10000

61 52 1 15 YOU RUIN ME The Veronicas 680050
62 62 1 47 STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU Stealers Wheel 863350
63 71 63 2 OUTLINES Mike Mago and Dragonette 13000
64 57 1 15 DUST HALOS 650500
65 70 65 5 ALFIE Cilla Black 30000
66 69 66 3 HEROES (WE COULD BE) Alesso featuring Tove Lo 19200
67 67 67 2 NEVER BEEN IN LOVE Cobra Starship featuring Icona Pop 13200
68 68 68 2 TILL IT HURTS Yellow Claw featuring Ayden 12800
69 66 1 26 CHANGING Sigma featuring Paloma Faith 1189950
70 58 58 2 HIYHIY Lostboycrow 16200

71 61 1 14 ANYTIME Cosmonaut Grenchko 636550
72 65 1 14 WHO’S GONNA STAND UP? (ORCHESTRAL VERSION) Neil Young 670300
73 73 73 2 BREATHE Glude 10800
74 72 1 25 CALL Francesco Yates 744200
75 NEW 75 1 SUGAR Maroon 5 5000

DROP OUTS
34 19 9 SADNESS DISEASE Urban Cone 160500
41 14 10 HEARTBEAT LOUD Andy C featuring Fiora 178550
42 22 4 LIVING FOR LOVE Madonna 70400
43 5 12 THE DEVIL IS A LONELY NIGHT The Pierces 350000
46 5 11 GENTLE ON MY MIND The Band Perry 322700
53 10 9 DESIRE Years And Years 203650
60 3 9 THE HANGING TREE James Newton Howard featuring Jennifer Lawrence 316800
64 64 1 PRETTY GREEN Spinee 7100
75 75 1 GRAVITY DJ Fresh featuring Ella Eyre 5000

25th January 2015

It’s a big clearout of oldies this week, as an invasion of buzz jack contest entries forces them out earlier than I’d have liked – but it was them or current stuff I still love, and the oldies lost! So that means it’s a Buzz Jack 1 and 2 as semi-finalist’s Spoon climb on to the top with the fab Inside Out, and a great John Lennon-styled vocal performance. Just behind, and new in at 2, it’s the equally good MYNGA featuring Cosmo Klein, and the falsetto soul dance fabulousness of Back Home. Support MYNGA’s!

Up to 8, Simple Minds best record in 20 years, the not-very-rocky Let The Day Begin, it’s more synth-period Simple Minds with that throbbing beat they turned to in 1983, and it’s very good. Linda Lewis gets Rock A Doodle Do, an archive live BBC version that’s virtually as good as the original, into the top 10 42 years on. I love her voice, her range is amazing, it’s like 3 singers in one, and look forward to her new material. Sarah Cracknell extends her top 20 hits run (with Saint Etienne) to 22 years, and the sweet Ready Or Not, while The Charlatans do the same, only 26 years. That’s nothing, though, the classy Stevie Nicks goes top 20 with a bound, the Lady has 38 years of hit-songs (with Mac of course, and solo, and with ex-Lindsay Buckingham).

Paul McCartney, Texas, and Paloma Faith all go top 40, while Queen’s version of the 1984 Freddie Mercury dance top 20 hit Love Kills, pops in as Somebody To Love is pushed out. The Weeknd makes it 3 in the chart, finally, as his featuring with SIA enters, as SIA and The Weeknd’s Top 10 tracks drop a bit, leaving his other featuring, former number one with Ariana Grande, a bit lower down. Not bad, and about time he had a solo hit.

1 9 1 4 INSIDE OUT Spoon 252200
2 NEW 2 1 BACK HOME (MATOMA REMIX) MYNGA featuring Cosmo Klein 115000
3 2 2 5 DEVIL PRAY Madonna 445000
4 1 1 6 GHOSTTOWN Madonna 658200
5 3 3 5 EARNED IT (FIFTY SHADES OF GREY) The Weeknd 345000
6 5 5 14 TAKE ME TO CHURCH Hozier 397700
7 4 4 9 YOU’RE NEVER FULLY DRESSED WITHOUT A SMILE SIA 313150
8 25 8 4 LET THE DAY BEGIN Simple Minds 79150
9 16 9 5 ROCK A DOODLE DOO (RADIO STUDIO SESSION) Linda Lewis 136200
10 6 1 6 UPTOWN FUNK! Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars 542000

11 13 11 3 SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION T.Rex 101000
12 8 4 8 UP Olly Murs featuring Demi Lovato 349750
13 7 7 6 FADE TO GREY (ORCHESTRAL VERSION) Visage 181500
14 23 14 3 READY OR NOT Sarah Cracknell 59500
15 15 15 7 COOL KIDS Echosmith 121000
16 11 11 8 DANGEROUS David Guetta featuring Sam Martin 155450
17 35 17 3 COME HOME BABY The Charlatans 57500
18 12 1 10 LOVE ME HARDER Ariana Grande featuring The Weeknd 586900
19 59 19 3 LADY Stevie Nicks 41100
20 14 7 9 OUTSIDE Calvin Harris featuring Ellie Golding 251000

21 17 10 8 LIKE I CAN Sam Smith 226750
22 38 8 6 I SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED YOU HOME Agnetha Faltskog and Gary Barlow 154450
23 71 23 7 HOPE FOR THE FUTURE Paul McCartney 82450
24 24 24 4 SHE MOVES (FAR AWAY) Alle Farben featuring Graham Candy 68600
25 26 25 2 SOLO DANCING Indiana 37250
26 44 26 3 LIPS ARE MOVIN’ Meghan Trainor 38350
27 49 27 4 REACH OUT Rumer 43500
28 50 28 2 START A FAMILY Texas 30300
29 NEW 29 1 LITTLE BY LITTLE (LULLEAUX AND GEORGE WHYMAN REMIX) Ulf Nilsson 18200
30 30 30 2 I BET MY LIFE Imagine Dragons 36000

31 18 1 14 THESE DAYS Take That 845700
32 NEW 32 1 PORCELAIN Rachel Taylor 17800
33 21 9 10 BLANK SPACE Taylor Swift 243650
34 19 19 9 SADNESS DISEASE Urban Cone 160500
35 NEW 35 1 GHOST Megan Vice 17500
36 60 36 2 FIRE Gavin DeGraw 27400
37 NEW 37 1 BANG! Sandy River featuring April 17300
38 28 9 14 I LOVED YOU Blonde featuring Melissa Steele 299350
39 73 39 7 LEAVE WHILE I’M NOT LOOKING Paloma Faith 75400
40 31 5 5 WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS Joe Cocker 174650

41 27 14 10 HEARTBEAT LOUD Andy C featuring Fiora 178550
42 22 22 4 LIVING FOR LOVE Madonna 70400
43 29 5 12 THE DEVIL IS A LONELY NIGHT The Pierces 350000
44 NEW 44 1 PEOPLE IIIII (featuring Adele Kosman) 13250
45 40 1 14 I’M NOT GONNA MISS YOU Glen Campbell 573350
46 36 5 11 GENTLE ON MY MIND The Band Perry 322700
47 33 12 15 WHEN THE BEAT DROPS OUT (BLONDEE & HAGEN RADIO EDIT) Marlon Roudette 306550
48 34 12 15 SOS Indila 258300
49 NEW 49 1 WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Ellie Goulding 12100
50 72 50 2 COMING WITH YOU Ne-Yo 17600

51 48 1 24 I’M NOT IN LOVE 10C.C. 991900
52 41 1 14 YOU RUIN ME The Veronicas 672550
53 32 10 9 DESIRE Years And Years 203650
54 NEW 54 1 SOMETHING IN THE WATER Carrie Underwood 11000
55 NEW 55 1 SAVE ME Listenbee 10800
56 55 1 21 HOUNDS OF LOVE Kate Bush 630650
57 47 1 14 DUST HALOS 643400
58 NEW 58 1 HIYHIY Lostboycrow 10200
59 NEW 59 1 LOVE KILLS Queen 10100
60 39 3 9 THE HANGING TREE James Newton Howard featuring Jennifer Lawrence 316800

61 52 1 13 ANYTIME Cosmonaut Grenchko 630750
62 62 1 46 STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU Stealers Wheel 855950
63 67 63 3 UNDER THE SHADOWS Rae Morris 19400
64 NEW 64 1 PRETTY GREEN Spinee 7100
65 54 1 13 WHO’S GONNA STAND UP? (ORCHESTRAL VERSION) Neil Young 664700
66 63 1 25 CHANGING Sigma featuring Paloma Faith 1183750
67 NEW 67 1 NEVER BEEN IN LOVE Cobra Starship featuring Icona Pop 6600
68 NEW 68 1 TILL IT HURTS Yellow Claw featuring Ayden 6400
69 69 69 2 HEROES (WE COULD BE) Alesso featuring Tove Lo 12400
70 70 70 4 ALFIE Cilla Black 23000

71 NEW 71 1 OUTLINES Mike Mago and Dragonette 5800
72 68 1 24 CALL Francesco Yates 739000
73 NEW 73 1 BREATHE Glude 5400
74 NEW 74 1 ELASTIC HEART SIA featuring The Weeknd and Diplo 5200
75 NEW 75 1 GRAVITY DJ Fresh featuring Ella Eyre 5000

DROP OUTS

10 10 30 OUR LAST SUMMER Abba 448750
20 20 16 STORM IN A TEACUP Lynsey De Paul 212750
37 37 4 TOCA TOCA Fly Project 50100
42 2 10 REAL LOVE Tom Odell 359250
43 43 12 SONG FOR THE ASKING Simon And Garfunkel 112000
45 36 5 HOME AGAIN Ashley Campbell 59950
46 46 9 SOMEBODY TO LOVE Queen 84150
51 13 11 WELCOME TO NEW YORK Taylor Swift 205150
53 15 10 27 CLUB Chloe Black 176250
56 5 20 SHAKE IT OFF Taylor Swift 528550
57 57 10 MY GENERATION The Who 77400
58 47 5 I’M AN ALBATRAOZ AronChupa 48600
61 25 5 SOMETHING I NEED Ben Haenow 76600
64 37 5 SHAKE THAT Danssun and Marlon Hofstadt 71600
65 33 6 BAILANDO Enrique Iglesias featuring Sean Paul, Descemer Bueno and Gente De Zona 65700
66 1 16 SHE’S NOT YOU Jenny Lewis 696950
74 74 1 TONGUE TIED Alvin Stardust 5200
75 75 2 BLACK BETTY Ram Jam 10000

18th January 2015

3 weeks for Madonna on top, getting close to catching up her long runners at number one (I think 4 weeks is the longest, or do I mean Four Minutes). Still at 2 too! Not much change at the top at all in fact, though Spoon go top 10, and SIA gets her 4th Top 5. Sarah Cracknell gets a solo top 40 entry (yay!), and Indiana is back with Solo Dancing after doing well with it last year. The Radio One playlist is starting to look like an old Buzzjack song contest listing. Just saying….

Imagine Dragons are back with a new track, hooray! In at 30, I Bet My Life, giving them, ooo it must be 6 or so top 40 hits and a number one with Radioactive about a year before Radio one picked up on it. Just saying…

Texas are back, also hooray, looking to start a family at 50, while Gavin DeGraw pops in on fire at 60, sounding suspiciously like Maroon 5, but he’s been around long enough to have a Greatest Hits coming out. True fact! Ne-Yo is also back, extending his long run of chart action, just ahead of the late Alvin Stardust and his new track, very retro-sounding in a Johnny Cash sort of fashion, quite probably his first chart hit in 25 years, and extends his run wayyyy back to 1973, when I became mad on My Coo Ca Choo and sent it all the way to number one.

1 1 1 5 GHOSTTOWN Madonna 593200
2 2 2 4 DEVIL PRAY Madonna 360000
3 3 3 4 EARNED IT (FIFTY SHADES OF GREY) The Weeknd 285000
4 6 4 8 YOU’RE NEVER FULLY DRESSED WITHOUT A SMILE SIA 263150
5 7 5 13 TAKE ME TO CHURCH Hozier 342700
6 5 1 5 UPTOWN FUNK! Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars 500000
7 8 7 5 FADE TO GREY (ORCHESTRAL VERSION) Visage 149500
8 4 4 7 UP Olly Murs featuring Demi Lovato 314750
9 24 9 3 INSIDE OUT Spoon 82200
10 10 10 30 OUR LAST SUMMER Abba 448750

11 19 11 7 DANGEROUS David Guetta featuring Sam Martin 130450
12 9 1 9 LOVE ME HARDER Ariana Grande featuring The Weeknd 564900
13 13 13 2 SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION T.Rex 64000
14 11 7 8 OUTSIDE Calvin Harris featuring Ellie Golding 231000
15 20 15 6 COOL KIDS Echosmith 94000
16 16 16 4 ROCK A DOODLE DOO (RADIO STUDIO SESSION) Linda Lewis 91200
17 12 10 7 LIKE I CAN Sam Smith 207000
18 15 1 13 THESE DAYS Take That 828000
19 22 19 8 SADNESS DISEASE Urban Cone 142900
20 23 20 16 STORM IN A TEACUP Lynsey De Paul 212750

21 17 9 9 BLANK SPACE Taylor Swift 225950
22 25 22 3 LIVING FOR LOVE Madonna featuring Alicia Keys 56650
23 53 23 2 READY OR NOT Sarah Cracknell 30500
24 34 24 3 SHE MOVES (FAR AWAY) Alle Farben featuring Graham Candy 49600
25 38 25 3 LET THE DAY BEGIN Simple Minds 31150
26 NEW 26 1 SOLO DANCING Indiana 18500
27 14 14 9 HEARTBEAT LOUD Andy C featuring Fiora 164550
28 28 9 13 I LOVED YOU Blonde featuring Melissa Steele 282150
29 18 5 11 THE DEVIL IS A LONELY NIGHT The Pierces 336500
30 NEW 30 1 I BET MY LIFE Imagine Dragons 18000

31 21 5 4 WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS Joe Cocker 157650
32 26 10 8 DESIRE Years And Years 192400
33 27 12 14 THE BEAT DROPS OUT (BLONDEE & HAGEN RADIO EDIT) Marlon Roudette 294050
34 50 12 14 SOS Indila 246000
35 40 35 2 COME HOME BABY The Charlatans 34500
36 31 5 10 GENTLE ON MY MIND The Band Perry 309950
37 39 37 4 TOCA TOCA Fly Project 50100
38 30 8 5 I SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED YOU HOME Agnetha Faltskog and Gary Barlow 134950
39 29 3 8 THE HANGING TREE James Newton Howard featuring Jennifer Lawrence 306800
40 37 1 13 I’M NOT GONNA MISS YOU Glen Campbell 560350

41 33 1 13 YOU RUIN ME The Veronicas 661050
42 35 2 10 REAL LOVE Tom Odell 359250
43 46 43 12 SONG FOR THE ASKING Simon And Garfunkel 112000
44 67 44 2 LIPS ARE MOVIN’ Meghan Trainor 19850
45 36 36 5 HOME AGAIN Ashley Campbell 59950
46 49 46 9 SOMEBODY TO LOVE Queen 84150
47 42 1 13 DUST HALOS 633000
48 48 1 23 I’M NOT IN LOVE 10C.C. 980150
49 62 49 3 REACH OUT Rumer 25100
50 NEW 50 1 START A FAMILY Texas 12000

51 32 13 11 WELCOME TO NEW YORK Taylor Swift 205150
52 44 1 12 ANYTIME Cosmonaut Grenchko 623250
53 59 15 10 27 CLUB Chloe Black 176250
54 43 1 12 WHO’S GONNA STAND UP? (ORCHESTRAL VERSION) Neil Young 657700
55 55 1 20 HOUNDS OF LOVE Kate Bush 620050
56 56 5 20 SHAKE IT OFF Taylor Swift 528550
57 57 57 10 MY GENERATION The Who 77400
58 47 47 5 I’M AN ALBATRAOZ AronChupa 48600
59 60 59 2 LADY Stevie Nicks 20100
60 NEW 60 1 FIRE Gavin DeGraw 10000

61 41 25 5 SOMETHING I NEED Ben Haenow 76600
62 61 1 45 STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU Stealers Wheel 848550
63 63 1 24 CHANGING Sigma featuring Paloma Faith 1176550
64 45 37 5 SHAKE THAT Danssun and Marlon Hofstadt 71600
65 52 33 6 BAILANDO Enrique Iglesias featuring Sean Paul, Descemer Bueno and Gente De Zona 65700
66 64 1 16 SHE’S NOT YOU Jenny Lewis 696950
67 72 67 2 UNDER THE SHADOWS Rae Morris 12200
68 68 1 23 CALL Francesco Yates 733400
69 NEW 69 1 HEROES (WE COULD BE) Alesso featuring Tove Lo 6200
70 70 70 3 ALFIE Cilla Black 17000

71 58 40 6 HOPE FOR THE FUTURE Paul McCartney 63200
72 NEW 72 1 COMING WITH YOU Ne-Yo 5600
73 69 49 6 LEAVE WHILE I’M NOT LOOKING Paloma Faith 58300
74 NEW 74 1 TONGUE TIED Alvin Stardust 5200
75 75 75 2 BLACK BETTY Ram Jam 10000

DROP OUTS
51 4 9 SEE EMILY PLAY Pink Floyd 260350
54 19 11 ADRENALINA Wisin featuring Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin 157900
65 20 6 THANK GOD IT’S NOT CHRISTMAS Sparks 73700
66 4 12 BUSY EARNIN’ Jungle 313200
71 71 3 JEALOUS Labrinth 16600
73 1 28 BECOME Midge Ure 988400
74 74 1 EVERY BREAKING WAVE U2 5200

11th January 2015

It’s bad news for Madonna, Devil Pray is held off the top spot by Madonna, and a second good news week for Ghosttown. That’s frustrating as Devil Pray would have been her 21st number one! I think it’s probably fair to say Madonna is back on peak form at the age of 56, even if the rest of the album is merely OK (I like all the tracks I’ve heard so far). The Weeknd meanwhile gets his 3rd Top 3 hit, Olly and Demi go back up to 4, SIA goes up to 6 and Hozier is a re-entry at 7, though it’s really his 3rd run in 3 different years in my chart, 2013 he went top 20, 2014 hit 9, and thanks to a Graham Norton performance and BBC radio at loooooong last properly picking up on it it’s back at a new peak of 7. Hozier is completely absent from the top 50 radio chart, despite being 3 on streaming and consistently selling downloads over a long period. I think that says a lot about current British radio programming and “target audiences” instead of just going for quality new music.

Abba finally creep into the top 10 with Mamma Mia song, and Super Trouper album track, Our Last Summer from 1980. It’s only taken 34 years to get there (cos I didn’t allow album tracks during Abba’s years or else they would have taken over the whole chart). Also back, 42 years on, it’s T.Rex and Solid Gold Easy Action, thanks to an advert., at 13. I was mad on this one when I was 14, and bought it the same week I bought John & Yoko’s Happy Xmas, Lennon & Bolan being heroes of mine. Tragically, within 8 years they had both died violently.

Highest proper new track is from The Charlatans, great to have them back with a good single at 40, and a chart run of around 25 years now… while also back, it’s Sarah Cracknell (thanks AH) and a sweet ballad, Saint Etienne dating back regularly in my charts since the early 90’s. Under-rated throughout. At 60, it’s Stevie Nicks, who’s been having solo hits since the 70’s, and with Fleetwood Mac since 1976, and like Sarah Cracknell a long-time fave female vocalist. I have my tickets for the long-awaited classic Rumours line-up in the summer, having seen them all previously in various line-ups of Fleetwood Mac, but never together on one stage. Always brilliant.

1 1 1 4 GHOSTTOWN Madonna 423200
2 3 2 3 DEVIL PRAY Madonna 245000
3 4 3 3 EARNED IT (FIFTY SHADES OF GREY) The Weeknd 200000
4 7 4 6 UP Olly Murs featuring Demi Lovato 266750
5 2 1 4 UPTOWN FUNK! Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars 445000
6 9 6 7 YOU’RE NEVER FULLY DRESSED WITHOUT A SMILE SIA 198150
7 RE 7 12 TAKE ME TO CHURCH Hozier 282700
8 12 8 4 FADE TO GREY (ORCHESTRAL VERSION) Visage 99500
9 6 1 8 LOVE ME HARDER Ariana Grande featuring The Weeknd 529900
10 19 10 29 OUR LAST SUMMER Abba 406750

11 11 7 7 OUTSIDE Calvin Harris featuring Ellie Golding 202000
12 10 10 6 LIKE I CAN Sam Smith 184000
13 NEW 13 1 SOLID GOLD EASY ACTION T.Rex 32000
14 14 14 8 HEARTBEAT LOUD Andy C featuring Fiora 146150
15 8 1 12 THESE DAYS Take That 806000
16 16 16 3 ROCK A DOODLE DOO (RADIO STUDIO SESSION) Linda Lewis 68200
17 15 9 8 BLANK SPACE Taylor Swift 206200
18 13 5 10 THE DEVIL IS A LONELY NIGHT The Pierces 318300
19 42 19 6 DANGEROUS David Guetta featuring Sam Martin 93450
20 24 20 5 COOL KIDS Echosmith 67000

21 5 5 3 WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS Joe Cocker 139750
22 RE 22 7 SADNESS DISEASE Urban Cone 121900
23 26 23 15 STORM IN A TEACUP Lynsey De Paul 192750
24 29 24 2 INSIDE OUT Spoon 37200
25 27 25 2 LIVING FOR LOVE Madonna featuring Alicia Keys 37150
26 20 10 7 DESIRE Years And Years 174600
27 17 12 13 THE BEAT DROPS OUT (BLONDEE & HAGEN RADIO EDIT) Marlon Roudette 276350
28 28 9 12 I LOVED YOU Blonde featuring Melissa Steele 263850
29 22 3 7 THE HANGING TREE James Newton Howard featuring Jennifer Lawrence 289700
30 21 8 4 I SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED YOU HOME Agnetha Faltskog and Gary Barlow 117750

31 31 5 9 GENTLE ON MY MIND The Band Perry 292550
32 18 13 10 WELCOME TO NEW YORK Taylor Swift 193400
33 23 1 12 YOU RUIN ME The Veronicas 647050
34 45 34 2 SHE MOVES (FAR AWAY) Alle Farben featuring Graham Candy 30600
35 30 2 9 REAL LOVE Tom Odell 345500
36 46 36 4 HOME AGAIN Ashley Campbell 46950
37 35 1 12 I’M NOT GONNA MISS YOU Glen Campbell 543350
38 74 38 2 LET THE DAY BEGIN Simple Minds 22400
39 59 39 3 TOCA TOCA Fly Project 32800
40 NEW 40 1 COME HOME BABY The Charlatans 17000

41 25 25 4 SOMETHING I NEED Ben Haenow 69100
42 34 1 12 DUST HALOS 620500
43 38 1 11 WHO’S GONNA STAND UP? (ORCHESTRAL VERSION) Neil Young 646700
44 36 1 11 ANYTIME Cosmonaut Grenchko 611750
45 37 37 4 SHAKE THAT Danssun and Marlon Hofstadt 64500
46 49 46 11 SONG FOR THE ASKING Simon And Garfunkel 98750
47 48 47 4 I’M AN ALBATROAZ AronChupa 38400
48 47 1 22 I’M NOT IN LOVE 10C.C. 967850
49 54 49 8 SOMEBODY TO LOVE Queen 71400
50 50 12 13 SOS Indila 228400

51 41 4 9 SEE EMILY PLAY Pink Floyd 260350
52 33 33 5 BAILANDO Enrique Iglesias featuring Sean Paul, Descemer Bueno and Gente De Zona 58700
53 NEW 53 1 READY OR NOT Sarah Cracknell 11250
54 39 19 11 ADRENALINA Wisin featuring Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin 157900
55 55 1 19 HOUNDS OF LOVE Kate Bush 609250
56 43 5 19 SHAKE IT OFF Taylor Swift 517950
57 60 57 9 MY GENERATION The Who 67000
58 40 40 5 HOPE FOR THE FUTURE Paul McCartney 57400
59 RE 15 9 27 CLUB Chloe Black 165000
60 NEW 60 1 LADY Stevie Nicks 10000

61 61 1 44 STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU Stealers Wheel 841150
62 72 62 2 REACH OUT Rumer 13000
63 63 1 23 CHANGING Sigma featuring Paloma Faith 1169350
64 62 1 15 SHE’S NOT YOU Jenny Lewis 690150
65 65 20 6 THANK GOD IT’S NOT CHRISTMAS Sparks 73700
66 53 4 12 BUSY EARNIN’ Jungle 313200
67 NEW 67 1 LIPS ARE MOVIN’ Meghan Trainor 6600
68 68 1 22 CALL Francesco Yates 727000
69 58 49 5 LEAVE WHILE I’M NOT LOOKING Paloma Faith 52900
70 75 70 2 ALFIE Cilla Black 11000

71 71 71 3 JEALOUS Labrinth 16600
72 NEW 72 1 UNDER THE SHADOWS Rae Morris 5600
73 73 1 28 BECOME Midge Ure 988400
74 NEW 74 1 EVERY BREAKING WAVE U2 5200
75 NEW 75 1 BLACK BETTY Ram Jam 5000

4th January 2015

It’s Madonna – but which one? Not the highest new entry, at 27, that’s new single Living For Love. Not Devil Prey which climbs to 3 to give Madonna 2 consecutive top 3’s for the first time in yonks and yonks, if yonks means 1985, I think. No, the one on top is the fab Ghosttown, and it’s not even a single, with most of the album yet to be revealed. So how many chart-toppers does that make for Her Madgeness? The 1st was Papa Don’t Preach in 1986, the oldest Holiday from 1984, and the most recent 4 Minutes in 2008, so it’s been a long gap of almost 7 years, but gives a grand total of 20, I reckon. 29 years of chart-toppers, not bad!

The Weeknd meanwhile replaces himself in the top 5 as it starts to chart in the USA, and SIA gets a 2nd solo top 10 of the year, and Sam Smith gets his first, shockingly given he had the top record of 2014 (La La La), but then Like I Do isn’t as whingey as the previous album singles. Visage take Fade To Grey back into the top 20 34 years on from topping my chart, Linda Lewis top 20 doodle do-ing 42 years on from first time round, and some reactivated dance tracks shoot up and back from Andy C and Fiora, Marlon Roudette, a new mystery song (all to be revealed in a week or two), and Alle Farben moves a bit closer to the 40 2nd time around around after hitting 49 last september – Radio 2 is playing it now, so it may even chart, shock! As may the Albatross song. Not Fleetwood Mac, it’s the sweary AronChupa track. I like it despite the the potty-mouth lyrics, which I’m getting fed up with in pop music, it’s become such a contrived cliche. I mean I can swear like a trooper but even so….

For my birthday, born the same year as Madonna, I went ice skating with the young niece and nephew, trying not to fall over and look even more ridiculous as kiddies zipped in and about and danced on ice. I was comfortably the oldest skating, singing along to the music: Iiiiiim gonna swing (wobble) from the chande (slide) lieeeeerrrrrrr (wibble) froooom (bump) the chandeleee (wobble) eeeeeerrrrrrrrr (glide). I got series 7 Doctor Who, too, so yay!

1 4 1 3 GHOSTTOWN Madonna 253200
2 1 1 3 UPTOWN FUNK! Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars 385000
3 9 3 2 DEVIL PRAY Madonna 130000
4 7 4 2 EARNED IT (FIFTY SHADES OF GREY) The Weeknd 115000
5 5 5 2 WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS Joe Cocker 120000
6 2 1 7 LOVE ME HARDER Ariana Grande featuring The Weeknd 484900
7 6 4 5 UP Olly Murs featuring Demi Lovato 201750
8 3 1 11 THESE DAYS Take That 779000
9 12 9 6 YOU’RE NEVER FULLY DRESSED WITHOUT A SMILE SIA 143150
10 14 10 5 LIKE I CAN Sam Smith 149000

11 11 7 6 OUTSIDE Calvin Harris featuring Ellie Golding 165000
12 59 12 3 FADE TO GREY (ORCHESTRAL VERSION) Visage 51500
13 8 5 9 THE DEVIL IS A LONELY NIGHT The Pierces 296300
14 RE 14 7 HEARTBEAT LOUD Andy C featuring Fiora 117150
15 18 9 7 BLANK SPACE Taylor Swift 183200
16 29 16 2 ROCK A DOODLE DOO (RADIO STUDIO SESSION) Linda Lewis 43200
17 51 12 12 THE BEAT DROPS OUT (BLONDEE & HAGEN RADIO EDIT) Marlon Roudette 257950
18 15 13 9 WELCOME TO NEW YORK Taylor Swift 175600
19 23 19 28 OUR LAST SUMMER Abba 364750
20 20 10 6 DESIRE Years And Years 156100

21 13 8 3 I SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED YOU HOME Agnetha Faltskog and Gary Barlow 99750
22 10 3 6 THE HANGING TREE James Newton Howard featuring Jennifer Lawrence 271500
23 17 1 11 YOU RUIN ME The Veronicas 629350
24 34 24 4 COOL KIDS Echosmith 47000
25 25 25 3 SOMETHING I NEED Ben Haenow 55100
26 27 26 14 STORM IN A TEACUP Lynsey De Paul 173500
27 NEW 27 1 LIVING FOR LOVE Madonna 18400
28 16 9 11 I LOVED YOU Blonde featuring Melissa Steele 245550
29 NEW 29 1 INSIDE OUT SPOON 18200
30 22 2 8 REAL LOVE Tom Odell 328000

31 21 5 8 GENTLE ON MY MIND The Band Perry 274650
32 32 32 5 REAL LOVE Clean Bandit featuring Jess Glynne 63300
33 37 33 4 BAILANDO Enrique Iglesias featuring Sean Paul, Descemer Bueno and Gente De Zona 47200
34 31 1 11 DUST HALOS 606750
35 28 1 11 I’M NOT GONNA MISS YOU Glen Campbell 526050
36 26 1 10 ANYTIME Cosmonaut Grenchko 598500
37 38 37 3 SHAKE THAT Danssun and Marlon Hofstadt 51500
38 30 1 10 WHO’S GONNA STAND UP? (ORCHESTRAL VERSION) Neil Young 633200
39 36 19 10 ADRENALINA Wisin featuring Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin 146900
40 40 40 4 HOPE FOR THE FUTURE Paul McCartney 47200

41 19 4 8 SEE EMILY PLAY Pink Floyd 248600
42 24 24 5 DANGEROUS David Guetta featuring Sam Martin 72450
43 41 5 18 SHAKE IT OFF Taylor Swift 507350
44 67 44 2 THINKING ABOUT IT Just Kiddin 19850
45 NEW 45 1 SHE MOVES (FAR AWAY) Alle Farben featuring Graham Candy 13000
46 56 46 3 HOME AGAIN Ashley Campbell 29550
47 47 1 21 I’M NOT IN LOVE 10C.C. 955550
48 66 48 3 I’M AN ALBATROAZ AronChupa 25900
49 54 49 10 SONG FOR THE ASKING Simon And Garfunkel 86000
50 44 12 12 SOS Indila 216400

51 43 19 4 I BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS Greg Lake 65500
52 39 39 2 HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER) John & Yoko and The Plastic Ono Band with The Harlem Community Choir 28600
53 48 4 11 BUSY EARNIN’ Jungle 306400
54 58 54 7 SOMEBODY TO LOVE Queen 59300
55 55 1 18 HOUNDS OF LOVE Kate Bush 598450
56 53 6 10 SAVE ME NOW Billy Idol 240550
57 45 26 7 WAIT ON ME Rixton 84500
58 49 49 4 LEAVE WHILE I’M NOT LOOKING Paloma Faith 46700
59 RE 59 2 TOCA TOCA Fly Project 15700
60 63 60 8 MY GENERATION The Who 56600

61 61 1 43 STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU Stealers Wheel 833650
62 62 1 14 SHE’S NOT YOU Jenny Lewis 683050
63 60 1 22 CHANGING Sigma featuring Paloma Faith 1162150
64 64 64 2 7/11 Beyonce 14200
65 33 20 5 THANK GOD IT’S NOT CHRISTMAS Sparks 66700
66 35 18 3 CHRISTMAS WRAPPING The Waitresses 46300
67 42 42 2 ONE MORE SLEEP Leona Lewis 20350
68 68 1 21 CALL Francesco Yates 720600
69 50 50 3 DRIVING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS Chris Rea 29000
70 70 70 2 DIAMONDS Josef Salvat 12000

71 75 71 2 JEALOUS Labrinth 10800
72 NEW 72 1 REACH OUT Rumer 5600
73 73 1 27 BECOME Midge Ure 983000
74 NEW 74 1 LET THE DAY BEGIN Simple Minds 5200
75 NEW 75 1 ALFIE Cilla Black 5000

DROP OUTS
46 32 5 TELL ‘EM I’M GONE Cat Stevens 73250
52 5 12 WHEN I FIND LOVE AGAIN James Blunt 276600
57 29 4 YOU GIVE ME LOVE Idris Elba featuring Maverick Sabre 54000
65 15 8 27 CLUB Chloe Black 154900
69 52 2 STEP INTO CHRISTMAS Elton John 17700
71 71 2 REBEL HEART Madonna 11600
72 72 1 IT DON’T MEAN A THING Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga 5600
74 8 13 HELLO GOODNIGHT Mamas Gun 251950