M A R C H 7 T H 1 9 9 8

1 - Madonna - Frozen * new entry re-entry climber faller non mover

CHART TIME !

(* - my current favourites)
(!!! - Single Of The Week!!!)
(:O === the current all-time hate that makes even my smilie want to hurl!)
( (R) - Repeat., ie. a re-release)

A brief analysis on the current chart situation...

14 new entries this week, 0 climbers, 1 non-mover (Celine Dion at 2) and 25 going down.

Big fallers include Will Mellor (5 to 18), Ocean Colour Scene (12 to 31), Martha Wash featuring RuPaul (21 to 35) and Sandy B (20 to 36).

Of this week's highlights and lowlights...

32 - Maria Nayler - Naked and Sacred *

One of the best-selling singles of Xmas 96 was "One and One" - music by Robert Miles, and vocals by Maria Nayler. Now, over a year after the success of that comes Maria's first solo single.

While it's a very good, and slow, tune, it's also a cover version of a song used by ex-Willson Phillips member Chynna Phillips, when it made No.62 in Feb 1996. Perhaps Maria shouldn't have tried to kickstart her solo career with a song that mis-fired originally.

25 - Hinda Hicks - If You Want Me

Second single from Hinda, following "I Wanna Be Your Lady" which made No.109 just before Xmas. This one though has actually had some promotion, mostly involving a certain Phil Collins.

An interview on VH1 showed her saying she sent her demo tape to him, and he then gave her a list of record companies to write to. Was it as simple as that, or was that her in his promo video for "Wear My Hat", which flopped last year at No.43.

Anyway, the single itself is very run-of-the-mill, and as such is suitable Top 40 material, but also incredibly dull, sounding too similar to Brownstone's "If You Love Me".

23 - Steven Houghton - Truly :O ===

Second single from one of "London Burning"'s new recruits, and a dire cover of Lionel Richie's love song, which was also promoted in the last episode of the recent series.

The end of the last series saw a bus depot go up in flames, and it looked like Steven Houghton was about to be one of the casualities, which would have been a good way to end the series and gain a big following for the next series in the autumn.

Then the programme makers decide to ruin the whole thing by tacking on a gooey love scene of him in a hospital bed, with his girlfriend making an appearance, and then as they smooched, so his new song played over the top. A tacky ending with added blatant publicising of his latest 'work'.

The makers of the show ought to be ashamed of themselves, but then so should the makers of the rapidly-declining "Casualty", the latest series of which finished with a lousy two-parter in which Baz and Charlie finally tied the knot. As the band had done a runner, it was left up to the cast to badly sing a cover of "Everlasting Love", with the lead vocals taken by receptionist, played by Rebecca Wheatley, who interestingly isn't on the cover of the single, although one or two cast members who have now left, are.

22 - Iggy Pop - The Passenger (R) *

One of Iggy's best songs finally gets a release after never making an appearance in the Top 75 before.

It's being used in a TV advert (I forget which one), but has had no airplay so will probably drop down next week.

16 - Finley Quaye - Your Love Gets Sweeter *

Brit Award winner of the "Best Male Vocal" category, and his fourth chart hit from the album, "Maverick A Strike". I didn't think this upbeat, acoustic song would do very well, but thankfully the public have taken notice.

The video shows Finley and a friend driving through several UK locations with the location name listed at the bottom of the screen, although if you're watching on "The Chart Show", this info is usually obliterated by useless trivia. One of the first locations is in Manchester's Moss Side area. If you're wondering why the place is such a tip, then the reason that those people passing through the area tip all their rubbish into the street is just to make the dull place look a bit more colourful :)

15 - Metallica - The Unforgiven II *

Metallica can't seem to put a foot wrong, always making the Top 30 with singles released over the last 10 years since August 1997's "$5.98 EP - Garage Days Revisted".

My favourite track of theirs, in similar fashion to U2, is called "One", although for their track they drew inspiration from the film, "Johnny Got His Gun".

This new single is the follow-up to 1991's "Unforgiven", and has a good tune running through it. Just a shame that it's getting sod all airplay, and as such is probably destined for a position outside of the Top 40 within the next couple of weeks.

9 (6) Another Level - Be Alone No More *

Another boy band in the charts, although when I heard this R&B-tinged song, I realised it's actually rather good.

8 - Robyn - Show Me Love *

Another newcomer to the chart is Robyn from Sweden with a foot-tapping pop song which is fairly ordinary, but the constant neat and the multi-layered voice during the chorus make for a song which is getting plenty of airplay and a Top 10 chart placing.

7 - LeAnn Rimes - How Do I Live

Has country music arrived in the UK? Following fellow country music star Shania Twain into the Top 10 is 17-year-old LeAnn Rimes who won the Best Newcomer award in last year's Country Music Awards, while another country music singer, Trisha Yearwood, received the award for Best Single at the Grammys with the same single!

4 - Space featuring Cerys Matthews - The Ballad of Tom Jones * !!!

Easily the best single of the week is this superbly-crafted 'ballad of hate' from Liverpool's Space, who have surely stamped their definitive mark on British Pop, and Cerys Matthews, lead singer of Catatonia, who recently had their biggest hit single to date with the excellent, "Mulder And Scully".

"The Ballad of Tom Jones" is about a couple who were on the verge of killing each other to keep themselves sane, as their relationship had become so bad, but it was only by one of them accidentally turning the radio on and the subsequent sound of a Tom Jones record which cooled their anger instantly.

If that sounds like a completely unworkable scenario then you couldn't be more wrong. With Tommy and Cerys singing alternate lines about how they'd like to maim each other, and then when their hate subsides they own up to buying his 'greatest hits' album.

Definitely one of those songs you need to check out!

1 (NEW) Madonna - Frozen * *1st Week at No.1*

Maddie's first song since her 3-pronged assault on the charts with songs from "Evita" is basically a love song, but has more in the way of atmosphere than its lyrical content.

I've heard three versions of this, the best one being the video version which starts slowly and subtley brings in some well-chosen dance beats halfway through.

The second version I've heard is dreadful. While it's not a great deal different, it suffers badly by trying to spice up the first part by adding a regular beat every half-line which sounds like the echoing effect of two iron bars being struck together. The third version is just a speeded-up version of the first one, but presumably with the vocals re-recorded so they scan properly without being speeded-up and sounding like the Smurfs.

This is now the sixth single in a row to go straight in at No.1, and the list looks like this :

New releases :

February 23rd :

   THOSE DAYS...............................................Amma (Easy Jam)
   BIONIC.................................................Ballroom (Mother)
   GIVE ME RHYTHM.......................Black Connection (Xtravaganza/Edel)
   FEEL MY VIBE............................................Blush (Ambition)
   WHAT WOULD HAPPEN..............................Meredith Brooks (Capitol)
   COMING BACK..........................................DJ Dado (ffrreedom)
   DIFFERENT DRUM..............................Luce Drayton (Whatever/Edel)
   THE PROMISE...........................................Essence (Innocent)
   DEMONISED SOUL.................................Fun-Da-Mental (Mantra/BB)
   IF YOU WANT ME / WHEN YOU TOUCH ME THERE............Hinda Hicks (Island)
   BE STRONG NOW.....................................James Iha (Hut/Virgin)
   BIG MISTAKE......................................Natalie Imbruglia (RCA)
   TOO REAL...........................................The Levellers (China)
   FROZEN............................................Madonna (Warner Bros.)
   MIYAKO HIDEAWAY..........................................Marion (London)
   DON'T STOP.......................................No Authority (MJJ/Epic)
   NOW......................................................The O (Polydor)
   STREETLIGHT.............................................Pelvis (Setanta)
   MAN BEHIND THE MUSIC..............................Queen Pen (Interscope)
   TROUBLED GIRL [rm].............................Karen Ramirez (Manifesto)
   ANGELS LANDING.................................Salt Tank (Internal/ffrr)
   THE BALLAD OF TOM JONES.................Space feat. Cerys Matthews (Gut)
   MODEL T...........................................Steve Stoll (Novamute)
   AVERAGE MAN.......................................Symposium (Infectious)
   BEST WISHES / KURT RUSSELL.............................Ultrasound (Nude)
   SONNET...................................................The Verve (Hut)
   REMEMBER YOU'RE A WOMBLE..........................The Wombles (Columbia)

March 2nd :

   WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT...........................................5 (RCA)
   REVERSION......................................Aquarhythms (Astralwerks)
   IGGIN ME......................................Chico de Barge (Universal)
   PATTY PATTY SOUND EP: SHE'S THE ONE / INNER MEET ME / THE HOUSE SONG /
   THE MONOLITH............................The Beta Band (Regal/Parlophone)
   GIVE ME RHYTHM.......................Black Connection (Xtravaganza/Edel)
   TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT..................................Blu Peter (React)
   HERO................................Chris Bowden with 4 Hero (Satellite)
   THE REAL BASS..........................Brooklyn Bounce (Club Tools/Edel)
   LOVE THEME FROM SPARTACUS....................Terry Callier (Talkin Loud)
   YOU BETTER STOP................................The Candyskins (Ultimate)
   MOLLY....................................................Carrie (Island)
   REWIND.........................................Celetia (Big Life-Island)
   COMING BACK..........................................DJ Dado (ffrreedom)
   YOU MAKE ME WANT TO SCREAM...............The Dandys (Artificial/Mercury)
   RIDE........................................The Dandy Warhols (Tim Kerr)
   MY OWN SUMMER (SHOVE IT)....................................Deftones (-)
   MY HEART WILL GO ON......................Deja Vu feat. Tasmin (Almighty)
   BITTER SWEET SYMPHONY / THE DRUGS DON'T WORK.............Devorah (Klone)
   ENERGY.............................................Discodroids (Tremelo)
   TO ULRIKE M......................................The Doris Days (Dorado)
   FURIOUS ANGEL........................................Rob Dougan (Cheeky)
   DIFFERENT DRUM..............................Luce Drayton (Whatever/Edel)
   EVE 21..................................Eve [Pablo Gargano] (Eve/Flying)
   SENSATION..........................................Floorplay (Automatic)
   ACTION MAN...........................................G.I. Joes (Branded)
   HOLLER...................................................Ginuwine (Epic)
   DO I QUALIFY?..............................Lynden David Hall (Cooltempo)
   SHINE..........................................Imogen Heap (Almo Sounds)
   STARS IN HER EYES................................Nick Heyward (Creation)
   LIFE OF DANCE....................................Hibee-Nation (Eruption)
   THE SUN BEATS DOWN...............................High Llamas (Alpaca/V2)
   STAY AHEAD......................................The Hormones (Banana/V2)
   FREAK (AND U KNOW IT) [rm]............Adina Howard (Mecca Don/East West)
   BIG MISTAKE......................................Natalie Imbruglia (RCA)
   DESTINY CALLING..................................James (Fontana/Mercury)
   SHE'S MY LOVER...............................Kid Loco (Yellow/East West)
   THE SPIRIT............................................Legend B (3 Lanka)
   ANUNA..................................................Andy Ling (Fluid)
   RUDE BOY ROCK.........................Lionrock (Concrete/Deconstruction)
   LITTLE COMPUTER PEOPLE..................................Llorca (F Comm.)
   EMPTY...................................................Lotte (Adelphoi)
   ILLUSION...........................................Mellowbag (Coalition)
   BREATHE...................................Kylie Minogue (Deconstruction)
   TRICOLORE...................................Mover (Superior Quality/A&M)
   DON'T STOP.......................................No Authority (MJJ/Epic)
   THE WANTING SONG...............................Pecadiloes (Fine Art/A&M)
   LADIES IF YOU'RE WITH ME................................Phoebe 1 (Mecca)
   ONLY YOU....................................Portishead (Go.Beat/Polydor)
   [tba]...............................................Radiator (Chrysalis)
   FUH 115................................................Recycler (Nation)
   DON'T GO LOSE IT BABY.....................................Rozalla (R.M.)
   LA PRIMA VERA..........................................Sash! (Byte Blue)
   SHE LEFT ME ON A FRIDAY.............................Shed Seven (Polydor)
   EARTH PEOPLE........................................Bim Sherman (Mantra)
   GLITTERBALL (EP) / WATERFRONT / LOVE SONG / THEME FROM GREAT CITIES / 
   DON'T YOU (FORGET ABOUT ME).....................Simple Minds (Chrysalis)
   WATCHING WINDOWS.......................Roni Size/Reprazent (Talkin Loud)
   SLOWBURN..................................................Solaris (Rita)
   PRIX CHOC..................Super Discount [Etienne de Crecy] (Different)
   AVERAGE MAN.......................................Symposium (Infectious)
   CHURCH OF NOISE...........................................Therapy? (A&M)
   TWISTER....................................................Tipper (Fuel)
   TBC / 1973 / EVERYBODY...................................Unknown (Fresh)
   BITTER SWEET SYMPHONY.............................The Verve (Hut/Virgin)
   LUCKY MAN.........................................The Verve (Hut/Virgin)
   SONNET [ltd. ed. (5,000) 12'' - chart ineligible].The Verve (Hut/Virgin)
   THE DRUGS DON'T WORK..............................The Verve (Hut/Virgin)

March 9th :

   OH LA LA LA......................................Alexia (Dancepool/Sony)
   HERE WE GO.............................Arab Strap (Chemikal Underground)
   THE FUTURE'S OVERRATED '98............................Arkarna (Fume/WEA)
   NOISE VISION 80 / WHOSE OUTLINE [live].Assembly Line People (Transcopic)
   CRAZY....................................Awesome (Futurescope/Universal)
   GENEVIEVE (THE PILOT OF YOUR SIGHS)................Perry Blake (Polydor)
   LOVED YA ONCE................................The Crocketts (Blue Dog/V2)
   AMERICANN DISCO DANCER................................Daytona (Blue Dog)
   DON'T LEAVE ME HANGIN'........Camille Douglas (Rhythm Series/Parlophone)
   WATCHING YOU..........................................Ether (Parlophone)
   LONELY DAYS................................Future Bible Heroes (Setanta)
   BELIEVE.........................................Goldie (Metalheadz/ffrr)
   THE ANGEL & THE GAMBLER................................Iron Maiden (EMI)
   HERE WE GO NOW.................DJ Kool meets Crooklyn Clan (Kahuna Cuts)
   SINK OR SWIM...........................................Lower (Coalition)
   WHERE DO I STAND..........................The Montrose Avenue (Columbia)
   ANGEL STREET.....................................M People (M People/BMG)
   PLANET VIOLET.................................Nalin I.N.C. (Kosmo/Logic)
   SILENTLY BAD MANNERED...........Pressure Drop (Hard Hands/Higher Ground)
   ANYTHING GOES......................................Redwood (Almo Sounds)
   TIRED OF FUCKING EP.....................................William Reid (-)
   DREAM ANOTHER DREAM...................................Rialto (East West)
   IT'S LIKE THAT [ri] [icn]......Run DMC vs. Jason Nevins (Sm:)le/Profile)
   THE PLAYER...........................................Schoolly D (Mother)
   STOP................................................Spice Girls (Virgin)
   HELL......................................Squirrel Nut Zippers (Mammoth)
   SAY WHAT YOU WANT (ALL DAY, EVERY DAY) / INSANE.........................
   .............................Texas & Wu-Tang Clan's Method Man (Mercury)
   HOW'S IT GOING TO BE...........................Third Eye Blind (Elektra)
   THE WORD IS LOVE (SAY THE ...)....................Voices Of Life (AM:PM)
   BABY (YOU BRING ME UP)..........................Y Tribe (Deconstruction)

March 16th :

   SEASON #5..........................Bedlam A Gogo (Friendly Fire/Sony S2)
   CORPSES (IN THEIR MOUTHS)............................Ian Brown (Polydor)
   NOT ALONE......................................Bernard Butler (Creation)
   THE MOST TIRING DAY...................................Cecil (Parlophone)
   ASTRAL DOMINOES............................The Chemical Pilot (Eruption)
   LIKE YOU.............................................Kristin Hersh (4AD)
   THIS IS HARDCORE...........................................Pulp (Island)
   BEATNIK GIRL..................................................Snug (WEA)
   LOOK WHO'S PERFECT NOW...............................Transister (Virgin)
   OFF THE HOOK......................................Jody Watley (Atlantic)
   STAYING WITH ME.........................................Zoono Man (CoOp)

March 23rd :

   FADED [ri]...........................................Ben Harper (Virgin)
   LET'S RIDE...............................Montell Jordan (DefJam/Mercury)
   REACH OUT.....................................Mayfield (Zerodisc/Jammin)
   NOBODY'S BUSINESS........................Peace By Piece (Blanco Y Negro)
   MORE THAN US / HAPPY / ALL I WANNA DO IS ROCK.....Travis (Independiente)
   WHERE DO WE GO?................................Wamdue Project (Eruption)

March 30th :

   [tba].....................................Black Box Recorder (Chrysalis)
   I NEED YOUR LOVE..................................Keni Burke (Expansion)
   SHOUT TO THE TOP..Fire Island feat. Loleatta Holloway (Junior Boy's Own)
   FAILURE................................Skinny feat. Lee Stevens (Cheeky)
   [tba].......................................................Suede (Nude)
   SUPERSTAR [ri]..................Superstar (Camp Fabulous/Deconstruction)
   HURRICANE (EP) [ri]..............................Warm Jets (This Way Up)

April 6th :

   ROAD RAGE.....................................Catatonia (Blanco Y Negro)
   BE MINE.............................Charlotte (Rhythm Series/Parlophone)

April 13th :

   STOP IT ALL ADDING UP................China Drum (Mantra/Beggars Banquet)

April 20th :

   KILL THE PRESIDENT............................Drugstore (Honey/Go!Discs)

April 27th :

   TEARDROP...................................Massive Attack (Circa/Virgin)

Other forthcoming releases

FEBRUARY :

 ~ [tba]............................................................5 (RCA)
   ANGELS FLY '98 / BOLIVIAN ANGELS '98..............Agnelli & Nelson (RGB)
 ~ [tba]..................................................Gary Barlow (RCA)
   ASTRAL DOMINOES...................The Chemical Pilot (Eruption/Creation)
   FATHER'S EYES................................Eric Clapton (Warner Bros.)
   MY BEATBOX.....................................Deejay Punk Rock (Airdog)
   FIRST DEGREE FUNK.........Desert Eagle Discs (Boiler House!/Rhythm King)
   [tba]................................Devox feat. Angie B. Stone (Arista)
   MARVELLOUS PARTY...................................The Divine Comedy (-)
   SHAKE THAT ARSE............................Divine Soul (Strictly Rhythm)
   [tba].................................................D*Note (Dorado/VC)
   [tba]..............................Dreem Teem (4 Liberty/Deconstruction)
   SO IN LOVE WITH YOU [rm]....................................Duke (Pukka)
   [tba]..............................................Gloria Estefan (Epic)
 ~ MIGHT AS WELL BE ME...............................Eternal (1st Ave./EMI)
   PLAYA....................................................Filo (Rotating)
   MUSIC SAVED MY LIFE..................................Cevin Fisher (IDNY)
   [tba]..............................................Floorshow (Banana/V2)
   BRICK..............................................Ben Folds Five (Epic)
   MOVE IT.......................................Frantic Language (Arthrob)
   NO WAY.......................................Freakpower (Southern Fried)
   GOT FUNK....................................The Funk Junkeez (Evocative)
   KEEP SLIPPIN'...................................Green Killa Buds (Sharp)
   CLUB LONELY.......................................Groove Connektion (XL)
   DO I QUALIFY?..............................Lynden David Hall (Cooltempo)
   FROM THE DAT VOL. 2....................Heller & Farley (Junior Boys Own)
   LIFE OF DANCE....................................Hibee-Nation (Eruption)
   THE WEEKEND.........Dave Hollister feat. Redman & EricSermon (Tommy Boy)
   THE CROWN............................................Hooch (Eternal/WEA)
   [tba]..............................................Steven Houghton (RCA)
   FOOLISH GAMES...........................................Jewel (Atlantic)
   SLIDE.....................................................Junkster (RCA)
   L-L-LIES......................................Diana King (Work/Columbia)
   [tba]...................................The Kings Of Infinite Space (V2)
   YOU EITHER LIKE IT OR YOU DON'T.........................................
   ............................Christine Levine (Boiler House!/Rhythm King)
   RUDE BOY ROCK.........................Lionrock (Concrete/Deconstruction)
   YOUNG SAD & BLUE..............Lysette & Ghetto Superstar Joi (Freeworld)
   MUSIC IN THE STREETS............................Main Connection (Rumour)
   [tba]................................................Mansun (Parlophone)
   WHAT YOU WANT / WILL THEY DIE 4 U...............Mase (Puff Daddy/Arista)
   YOU THINK YOU'RE A MAN...................................Massive Ego (-)
 ~ MOVE ON UP...........................................Curtis Mayfield (-)
   I LIKE IT LIKE THAT.........................Miami Allstars (Eternal/WEA)
   SANTA MARIA..........DJ Milano feat. Samantha Fox (All Around The World)
   I DON'T GIVE A DAMN..........................Montage (Wild Card/Polydor)
   [tba].....................................The Montrose Avenue (Columbia)
   NOBODY BETTER.................................Tina Moore (Delirious/RCA)
   EVERYDAY.................................................MQ3 (Noo Trybe)
   BE MY LOVER..................................................Naomi (Gut)
   A NEW DAY.................................Native Soul (Junior Boy's Own)
   CHERISH........................Papa Bear feat. Van Der Toorn (Universal)
   LADIES IF YOU'RE WITH ME................................Phoebe 1 (Mecca)
   ROCK ME..................................................Pills (Mercury)
   JOJO ACTION..........................................Mr. President (WEA)
   [tba].....................................................DJ Q (Go.Beat)
   SILVER SHADOW.....................................Rising Starr (Pop Top)
   DON'T GO LOSE IT BABY.....................................Rozalla (R.M.)
   DON'T STOP...................................................Johan S (-)
   LA PRIMA VERA...........................................Sash! (Multiply)
   STAR...............................................The Shaker (Ugly Bug)
   [tba]...........................................Simple Minds (Chryslais)
   EASE YOUR MIND.........................................Sunburst Band (Z)
   SAY WHAT YOU WANT [rr]...Texas & Wu-Tang Clan feat. Method Man (Mercury)
   NO WAY OUT..................................Three'n'One (Low Sense/ffrr)
   [tba]......................................................Tin Star (V2)
   MIND.................................................DJ Tomcraft (Kosmo)
   THE LAST TIME I SAW SADIE.....................Emma Townshend (East West)
   DISCO CONNECTION EP.....................................v.a. (Polyester)
   THE WORD IS LOVE..................................Voices Of Life (AM:PM)
   OFF THE HOOK......................................Jody Watley (Atlantic)
   THE FALL................................................Zanzibar (Whoop)

MARCH :

   KUNG FU...................................187 Lockdown (East West Dance)
   CATCH ME.......................The Absolute feat. Suzanne Palmer (AM:PM)
   I'M READY..............................................Bryan Adams (A&M)
   JOY & PAIN [rm]..........Addams & Gee feat. Antonia Lucas (Steppin' Out)
   AIN'T GOING TO GOA [rm]....................Alabama 3 (One Little Indian)
   BEAT GOES ON........................................All Seeing I (Earth)
   DOLPHIN.........................................Jamie Anderson (Artform)
   THE SPACE BETWEEN US........................Craig Armstrong (Melankolic)
   SISCO BABES FROM OUTER SPACE....................Babe Instinct (Babushka)
   [tba]..................................................Gary Barlow (RCA)
   VICTIMS.......................................Blonde Ambition (Energise)
   DOWNTOWN.....................................Blue Dream (Academy Street)
   JOYRIDE.......................................Boom Boom Satellites (R&S)
   [tba]..................................Bowery Electric (Beggars Banquet)
   SURRENDER............................The Brand New Heavies (ffrr/London)
   GET ME HOME................................................Fox Brown (-)
   REMEMBER [rm]............................................B.T. (Perfecto)
   [tba].................................Tina Campbell (Unity/Eastern Bloc)
   THE ROOF [rm]....................................Mariah Carey (Columbia)
   TIME IS TICKING AWAY.................................C-Block (Coalition)
   [tba]...............................................Cinerex (Zomba/Jive)
   WORLD AT YOUR FEET...............................Cinnamon Smith (Mother)
   FATHER'S EYES................................Eric Clapton (Warner Bros.)
   MUCH BETTER....................Club 69 feat. Suzanne Palmer (Twisted UK)
   AIN'T NOBODY........................................Club Brothers (ffrr)
   SINCERE...............................................M.J. Cole (Metrix)
   BOUNDARIES.....................................Leena Conquest (Parousia)
   [tba]..................................................Damage (Big Life)
   TIME WARP '98....................................Damian (Academy Street)
   FUN..............................Da Mob feat. Jocelyn Brown (Subliminal)
   SUNCHYME [rm]................................Dario G (Amato/Eternal/WEA)
   OUTSIDER.................................Definition Of Sound (Universal)
   [tba].................................................Delakota (Go.Beat)
   NO NO NO......................................Destiny's Child (Columbia)
   [tba]................................Devox feat. Angie B. Stone (Arista)
   FALLING...............................................D'Influence (Echo)
   GET UP (ON THE DANCEFLOOR)...........................Disco Dude (Rumour)
   PLAYMATE PUZZLE [rm]...............................Discotecs (Heat/ffrr)
   MARVELLOUS PARTY...................................The Divine Comedy (-)
   SHAKE THAT ARSE............................Divine Soul (Strictly Rhythm)
   [tba].................................................D*Note (Dorado/VC)
   [tba]..............................Dreem Teem (4 Liberty/Deconstruction)
   FILTER.................................................Jan Driver (Zoom)
   SO IN LOVE WITH YOU [rm]....................................Duke (Pukka)
   SUMMER WIND..........Echo & The Bunnymen & Fun Lovin' Criminals (London)
   [tba]..................................................Eels (Dreamworks)
   [tba]..............................................Gloria Estefan (Epic)
   WRONG [rm].........................Everything But The Girl (EBTG/Virgin)
   TONIGHT I'M DREAMING...............................Fifty Fifty (Jackpot)
   PLAYA....................................................Filo (Rotating)
   PHONE TAP / FIRM BIZ.............The Firm feat. Dawn Robinson (Columbia)
   [tba]..............................................Floorshow (Banana/V2)
   BRICK..............................................Ben Folds Five (Epic)
   MOVE IT.......................................Frantic Language (Arthrob)
   THE ULTIMATE..................Funky Choad feat. Nick Skitz (Fire Island)
   I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU...........................Gail & Ice (Eternal/WEA)
   LIFT ME UP................Gems For Jam feat. Rachel McFarlane (Rokstone)
   NOT ABOUT US............................................Genesis (Virgin)
   [tba]...................................................Glamma Kid (WEA)
   PEAK TIME.......................................Graham Gold (Mo's Music)
   CLUB LONELY.......................................Groove Connektion (XL)
   WEIRD...................................................Hanson (Mercury)
   I'LL DO ANYTHING.....................................Heavy D (Universal)
   COMES AGAIN....................................High Fidelity (Plastique)
   MY MATE PAUL......................................David Holmes (Go.Beat)
   THE CROWN............................................Hooch (Eternal/WEA)
   R U SLEEPING [rm]...........................................Indo (Azuli)
   [tba].............................................Janet Jackson (Virgin)
   YIM.............................................Jez & Choopie (Multiply)
   [tba].......................................Thomas Jules-Stock (Mercury)
   SLIDE.....................................................Junkster (RCA)
   PICK UP YOUR GUN.................................Jupiter 6 (Eternal/WEA)
   FEED THE LIONS.......................................Kaligula (Pleasure)
   GET DOWN TONIGHT / THAT'S THE WAY I LIKE IT / BOOGIE SHOES..............
   ......................................KC & The Sunshine Band (Stateside)
   KEEP SLIPPIN'...................................Killa Green Buds (Sharp)
   L-L-LIES......................................Diana King (Work/Columbia)
   [tba]...................................The Kings Of Infinite Space (V2)
   [tba]..................................................Laguna (Positiva)
   [tba].........................................................Laptop (-)
   UP & DOWN / PARADISE..........................Billy Lawrence (East West)
   DEJA VU (UPTOWN BABY)...................Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz (Codein)
   ALL THAT MATTERS...................................Louise (1st Ave./EMI)
   BLUE EARTH ANGEL.........................................Lovebabies (V2)
   YOUNG SAD & BLUE..............Lysette & Ghetto Superstar Joi (Freeworld)
   [tba]...............................................Magicdrive (Mercury)
   MUSIC IN THE STREETS............................Main Connection (Rumour)
   [tba]................................................Mansun (Parlophone)
   WHAT YOU WANT / WILL THEY DIE 4 U...............Mase (Puff Daddy/Arista)
   MOVE ON UP...........................................Curtis Mayfield (-)
   [tba]...................................Jez Medcalf (Unity/Eastern Bloc)
   I LIKE IT LIKE THAT.........................Miami Allstars (Eternal/WEA)
   DISREMEMBRANCE..............................Dannii Minogue (Eternal/WEA)
   I DON'T GIVE A DAMN..........................Montage (Wild Card/Polydor)
   NOBODY BETTER.................................Tina Moore (Delirious/RCA)
   [tba]...........................................Nail (Perverted/Telstar)
   BE MY LOVER..................................................Naomi (Gut)
   A NEW DAY.................................Native Soul (Junior Boy's Own)
   I DON'T NEED YOUR LOVE...........................New Sweet Thing (Pukka)
   TOO CLOSE..................................................Next (Arista)
   ORGAN TO THE WORLD......................................Organ (Multiply)
   TUTTI FRUTTI JUMP............................................Outta Order
   .........................feat. Total Kaos & George Benson (Warner Bros.)
   CHERISH........................Papa Bear feat. Van Der Toorn (Universal)
   WHERE ARE YOU / ON MY WAY..............Rahsaan Patterson (Universal/MCA)
   VOYEURS BLUES [rm]..........Penthouse (World Domination/Beggars Banquet)
   KEEP ON DANCING.............................Perpetual Motion (Crosstrax)
   DISTORTION.......................................Pianoheadz (Subliminal)
   EVERYBODY.............................................Pianopimps (Slamm)
   ROCK ME.......................................Pills (Foundation/Mercury)
   SOMETHING DO................................................Plus 2 (MML)
   JOJO ACTION..........................................Mr. President (WEA)
   WINE & GRIND '98.......................................Prince Buster (-)
   PAPARAZZI...............................................Product (Arista)
   [tba].....................................Propellerheads (Wall Of Sound)
   DEAD HUSBAND / ALL YOU LADIES..........Deejay  Punk Rock (Independiente)
   [tba].....................................................DJ Q (Go.Beat)
   THE TRUTH.............................................Qattara (Positiva)
   HEY............................................Fatima Rainey (Coalition)
   NOBODY BUT YOU..........................Conner Reeves (Wildstar/Telstar)
   SILVER SHADOW.....................................Rising Starr (Pop Top)
   SOME DAY............................................Roachford (Columbia)
   GRASS AIN'T GREENER (IN THE OTHER SIDE).........Richard de Ryus (Arista)
   LA PRIMA VERA...........................................Sash! (Multiply)
   FREE...................................................S-Ence (Brothers)
   [tba].............................................Sister Nature (Arista)
   MUSIC............................................Size Queen (Twisted UK)
   WITH YOU...............................................Smoke City (Jive)
   SUNDAY..........................................Sonic Youth (SYR/Geffen)
   RIDE THE PONY..........................................Soul Hooligan (-)
   GLAM RAID..........................................Space Raiders (Skint)
   [tba].......................................................Steps (Jive)
   DA JONESEZ....................................Structure-Rize (Universal)
   [tba]..................................................Superior (Virgin)
   NO WAY OUT..................................Three'n'One (Low Sense/ffrr)
   [tba]........................................Thunderbugs (1st Ave./Epic)
   [tba]......................................................Tin Star (V2)
   HERE'S WHERE THE STORY ENDS........Tin Tin Out feat. Shelley Nelson (VC)
   MIND.................................................DJ Tomcraft (Kosmo)
   SMASH IT...........................................Fuzz Townshend (Echo)
   CHASE.................................Trance Atlantic Air Waves (Virgin)
   MOVE ON UP..............................................Tricksters (A&M)
   TSUNAMI...........................................Tsunami (Steppin' Out)
   THE DRUG ADDICT EP: WAKE UP YOUR MIND / DANGEROUS / BONA BEATS..........
   ....................................................T-Total (99 Degrees)
   FOUND A CURE..........................Ultra Nate (Strictly Rhythm/AM:PM)
   DISCO CONNECTION EP.....................................v.a. (Polyester)
   LET ME ENTERTAIN YOU.........................Robbie Williams (Chrysalis)
   HOLIDAY.........................................Witchdoctor (Interscope)

APRIL :

   LOVE LETTERS.....................................Ali (Wild Card/Polydor)
   LADY MARMALADE.......................................All Saints (London)
   KEYVAN'S PAPER........................The Amalgamation Of Sound (Filter)
   LEOPARDS IN THE CASTLE.........................Carleen Anderson (Virgin)
   [tba]......................................................Astrid (Nude)
   [tba]..................................................Audioweb (Mother)
   HOLD IT NOW, HITTER...............Beastie Boys vs. Johan S (Grand Royal)
   LOVE SHY [rm]....................................Kristine Blond (Reverb)
   IF..................................The Bluetones (Superior Quality/A&M)
   [tba]...................................................Cooler (Polydor)
   [tba]...............................................N'dea Davenport (V2)
   [tba]...............................................Embrace (Hut/Virgin)
   WORLDWIDE.....................................Funky DL feat. Ty (Utmost)
   PUSH IT...............................................Garbage (Mushroom)
   STONED ISLAND ESTATE........................Glamorous Hooligan (Arthrob)
   UP ON THE BLUES........................Huff & Herb (Killer Bee/Planet 3)
   HOW SOON IS NOW........................................Inner Sanctum (-)
   WHATEVER...........................................Jackie "O" (Euphoric)
   BEST DAYS..............................................Juice (Chrysalis)
   MADE IT BACK..................Beverley Knight (Rhythm Series/Parlophone)
   SHOWER YOUR LOVE-SISTER BREEZE-SOUND OF DRUMS.....Kula Shaker (Columbia)
   VISION INCISION [ri]........................Lo-Fidelity Allstars (Skint)
   [tba]..................................................Mainstream (Nude)
   ALL THE MAN THAT I NEED................................Shernette May (-)
   MY SIDE OF TOWN.......................Lutricia McNeal (Wildstar/Telstar)
   [tba].........................................Monk & Canatella (Sony S2)
   KISS THE RAIN...................................Billie Myers (Universal)
   NASTY BOY.......................The Notorious B.I.G. (Puff Daddy/Arista)
   FIGHT THE FIGHT..........................................Pmff (Wildlife)
   PERFECT DAY...............................Sylvia Powell (Deconstruction)
   SERIAL THRILLER.........................................The Prodigy (XL)
   IT'S TRICKY....................Run DMC vs. Jason Nevins (Sm:)le/Profile)
   PSYCHO..........................................Satellie Beach (Polydor)
   EXPANSIONS..........................Scott Grooves feat. Roy Ayers (Soma)
   [tba].......................................................Skanga (A&M)
   SUGAR CANE [ri]..............................The Space Monkeys (Factory)
   THIS IS IT..............................State Of Mind (Minstry Of Sound)
   READY FOR A NEW DAY.......................Todd Terry (Manifesto/Mercury)
   [tba]............................................Tanita Tikaram (Mother)
   [tba]........................................Unbelievable Truth (Virgin)
   I DON'T EVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN / CAN YOU FEEL IT [rm]...............
   ........................................................Uncle Sam (Epic)
   NICE & SLOW........................................Usher (LaFace/Arista)
   WOMBLING SONG.....................................The Wombles (Columbia)

MAY :

   THREE LIONS (THE OFFICIAL SONG OF THE ENGLAND FOOTBALL TEAM) [ri].......
   ..............................Baddiel & Skinner & Lightning Seeds (Epic)
   DON'T COME HOME TOO SOON................................Del Amitri (A&M)
   [tba]........................................................Dodgy (A&M)
   [tba]......................................................Hole (Geffen)
   RENDEZ-VOUS............................................Jean Michel Jarre
   .........................feat. Apollo Four Forty & Tetsuya Komuro (Sony)
   RAY OF LIGHT.............................Madonna (Maverick/Warner Bros.)
   LA COUPE DE LA VIE (THE CUP OF LIFE).................Ricky Martin (Sony)
   LA COUR DES GRANDS (DO YOU MIND IF I PLAY?).............................
   ......................................Youssou N'Dour & Axelle Red (Sony)
   NAKED WITHOUT YOU...................................Roachford (Columbia)
   GET DOW - TEARS NEVER DRY.....Stephen Simmons (Rhythm Series/Parlophone)
   [tba] EP: ICE HOCKEY HAIR.................Super Furry Animals (Creation)

Top 40 ALBUM chart analysis :

This week there are new entries for The Charlatans (Melting Pot: Greatest Hits, 4), DJ Quicksilver (Quicksilver, 26), and Warm Jets (Future Signs, 40), and the top 5 begin with James Horner's Titanic at the top, followed by Verve, Celine Dion, Charlatans and All Saints.

Dominator's Top 10 of 1997

10. U2 - Staring At The Sun

Second single from their "Pop" album, and it made No.3 when released last April. Clever lyrics put to a slow tune brought this to my attention and in my mind made it feel like last year's equivalent of "One" which I also loved.

Four other singles made it to the chart last year: Discotheque, which was rubbish but made No.1; Last Night On Earth, which was average; while Please and If God Will Send His Angels were excellent, and they all made the Top 10 except for "If God.." which made No.12.

U2's success was made complete by winning this year's Brits 98 International Group award.

The end bit :

Well, that's it for now. If you want to be added to the Widescreen Video and Laserdisc lists, just mail me at Charts Request to tell me.

Bye for now,

Dominator

As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B 37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier.

PC games reviewed by the editor are on: