Friday, August 17, 2012

1995-99.THE UK NUMBER ONE SONGS


Week EndingACT + LinksTITLEWeeksTALLYCOMMENT
14 Jan 1995RednexCotton Eye Joe3Only No 1They were a Swedish performing arts collective, with a country music sound which made No 1 in many European countries.
4 Feb 1995Celine DionThink Twice71st No 1French Canadian who won for Switzerland in the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest.  During the 1990s she found international stardom through a series of heavy power ballads.
25 Mar 1995Cher,
Chrissie Hynde,
Neneh Cherry &
Eric Clapton
Love Can Build A Bridge13rd No 1 (Cher), 3rd & last No 1 (Hynde); Only No 1 (Cherry & Clapton)All-star line up for the 1995 Comic Relief charity single.  It was a cover of a US hit by the American country music act, The Judds.  It is the legendary Eric Clapton's only association with a No 1.
1 Apr 1995Outhere BrothersDon't Stop (Wiggle Wiggle)11st No 1Duo from Chicago who combined rap with a compelling dance beat, hitting the Top 10 four times during 1995.
8 Apr 1995Take ThatBack For Good46th No 1Perhaps Gary Barlow's greatest song-writing achievement.  Sold 300,000 copies in first week and made US Top 10.
6 May 1995OasisSome Might Say11st No 1They were from Manchester, and part of the Brit-Pop scene.  The media set them up as rivals to Essex band, Blur.
13 May 1995Livin' JoyDreamer1Only No 1Italian dance music production outfit, with vocals by New Yorker, Janice Robinson.
20 May 1995Robson Green & Jerome FlynnUnchained Melody71st No 1Debut single for the acting duo featured in tv's "Soldier, Soldier".  They specialised in remaking former hits.  This was the third time at the top for the song - previously No 1 in 1955 and 1990.
8 Jul 1995Outhere BrothersBoom Boom Boom42nd  & last No 1This dance floor chant anthem gave the US duo their second spell at the top in the UK.  They never made No 1 in the States.
5 Aug 1995Take ThatNever Forget37th No 1Anthemic track that coincided with the departure of Robbie Williams.  Gary's last song for the band.
26 Aug 1995BlurCountry House21st No 1Brit-Pop band that first charted in 1990.  The media encouraged rivalry with Oasis, and went into over-drive when this hit kept "Roll With It" from the top.
9 Sep 1995Michael JacksonYou Are Not Alone25th No 1First of two chart toppers from his album "HIStory".   For the concurrent world tour, he was promoted as the "King of Pop".
23 Sep 1995ShaggyBoombastic12nd No 1The New York-based Jamaican Ragga star gained just a few more hits in the 90s, but hit the top again (twice) in 2001.
30 Sep 1995Simply RedFairground4Only No 1The band is led by flame-haired Mick Hucknel with a changing line up backing him.  The act first charted in 1985 and scored 29 hits by the end of 1999.
28 Oct 1995Coolio featuringLVGangsta's Paradise2Only No 1US rapper with a Gangsta Rap anthem.  The recording was also No 1 in the US, sold over a million copies in the UK, and won many awards.
11 Nov 1995Robson & JeromeI Believe42nd No 1Their second No 1 that was a remake of a former No 1.  This one originates from 1953 (Frankie Laine).
9 Dec 1995
Xmas No 1
Michael JacksonEarth Song66th No 1The first time he had scored two consecutive No 1s.  This hit, presented as a world conservation statement, sold a million in the UK alone.
20 Jan 1996George MichaelJesus To A Child16th No 1His first hit for three years, after lengthy litigation with his record company.  From his come-back album "Older".
27 Jan 1996Babylon ZooSpaceman5Only No 1British performer Jas Mann, who spent his childhood in India, but reached adulthood in Wolverhampton.  The song was used in a Levi's tv ad.
2 Mar 1996OasisDon't Look Back In Anger12nd No 1From their million-selling album "What's The Story Morning Glory" - perhaps the bothers Liam and Noel Gallagher's finest hour.
9 Mar 1996Take ThatHow Deep Is Your Love38th No 1This Bee Gees song was their "final" single, having already decided to split.   Gary Barlow and Robbie Williams went on have No 1s of their own.  However in late 2006 they reformed and went on to have more chart toppers.
30 Mar 1996ProdigyFirestarter31st No 1In-your-face dance-rock act featuring Liam Howlett and Keith Flint .
20 Apr 1996Mark MorrisonReturn Of The Mack2Only No 1UK singer who fancied himself part of the US Gangsta Rap scene.   He later spent time in prison here for arms offences.
4 May 1996George MichaelFastlove37th & last No 1His global success continued, despite controversial behaviour, with seven further Top 10 hits by 1999.
25 May 1996Gina GOoh Aah... Just A Little Bit1Only No 1Aussie vocalist with the UK Eurovision entry of 1996.  It did badly in the contest, and she faded at the end of 1997.
1 Jun 1996Baddiel, SkinnerLightning SeedsThree Lions21st No 1The two comedians were hosts of a fantasy football tv show, and teamed up with Ian Broudie's band to create this rousing Euro 96 anthem.
8 Jun 1996FugeesKilling Me Softly51st No 1US rap trio comprising Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel with a remake of a Roberta Flack hit from 1973.
20 Jul 1996Gary BarlowForever Love11st No 1Not surprisingly, the lead singer of Take That was the first to make No 1 as a solo artist.
27 Jul 1996Spice GirlsWannabe71st No 1
(of 9)
The beginning of the "girl power" sensation.  The five girls became the most successful female group of the 1990s, and were set to rewrite the record books.
14 Sep 1996Peter AndreFlava11st No 1Body-builder singer, UK born, Australia-raised, who was a major star in the mid-1990s.
21 Sep 1996FugeesReady Or Not22nd & last No 1They split soon after this, and all three went on to have Top 10 hits.  However, Lauryn Hill enjoyed the most publicity.
5 Oct 1996Deep Blue SomethingBreakfast At Tiffany's1Only No 1American band with a song referencing the classic 1960's movie.   In 1961, the theme from the film ("Moon River") was itself a No 1 hit.
12 Oct 1996Chemical BrothersSetting Sun11st No 1Manchester-based production duo into experimental dance tracks.
19 Oct 1996BoyzoneWords11st No 1Irish boy band, led by Ronan Keating, put together in 1994 to rival Take That.  This Bee Geessong was a hit for them in 1968 (No 8).
26 Oct 1996Spice GirlsSay You'll Be There22nd No 1Slightly mellower sound for their follow-up, which entered at No 1.
9 Nov 1996Robson & JeromeWhat Becomes Of The Broken Hearted23rd & last No 1This was their last hit single, and was not a former No 1.   However, the CD single also included "You'll Never Walk Alone", which had been at No 1 in 1963 and 1985!
23 Nov 1996ProdigyBreathe22nd & last No 1Despite their chart successes since 1991, they scored only one further Top 10 hit by the end of 1999.
7 Dec 1996Peter AndreI Feel You12nd No 1He achieved a further 4 Top 10 hits by the end of 1998, and after a gap of 6 years, saw an old hit reach No 1 in 2004.
14 Dec 1996BoyzoneA Different Beat12nd No 1This was the title track of their second album.
21 Dec 1996DunblaneKnockin' On Heaven's Door1Only No 1Charity single raising money for the victims of the Dunblane massacre.  The performers were local (Scottish) folk musicians. Bob Dylan song.
28 Dec 1996
Xmas No 1
Spice Girls2 Become 133rd No 1This ballad from their debut album became their first Christmas No 1.
18 Jan 1997Tori AmosProfessional Widow (It's Got To Be Big)1Only No 1US folk-style singer who had two Top 10 hits in 1994, gaining cult popularity. Remixed byArmand Van Helden who made No 1 himself in February 1999.
25 Jan 1997White TownYour Woman1Only No 1This was the individual Jyoti Mishra, who created the hit in his bedroom. Having no live act, he quickly faded after one more minor hit.
1 Feb 1997BlurBeetlebum12nd & last No 1They were loosing the fight for supremacy with Oasis at this time, but still had their own strong fan base.
8 Feb 1997LL Cool JAin't Nobody1Only No 1This New Yorker was the first solo rapper to reach the UK Top 10 (1987), assuming you excludeKenny Everett's "Snot Rap" (1983).
15 Feb 1997U2Discotheque13rd No 1They were, by this time, an internationally renown stadium band.   They had a further four Top 10s by 1999 and were at No 1 again in 2000.
22 Feb 1997No DoubtDon't Speak3Only No 1Californian band led by Eric Stefani, with lead vocals by his sister Gwen.
15 Mar 1997Spice GirlsMama / Who Do You Think You Are34th No 1First act ever to have first 4 singles reach No 1.  By this time they were hot property - advertising everything, and a film in the planning.
5 Apr 1997Chemical BrothersBlock Rockin' Beats12nd & last No 1Second successive No 1, which also won a US Grammy award for best rock instrumental.
12 Apr 1997R KellyI Believe I Can Fly31st No 1R&B singer from Chicago, who was in demand from other performers for songs and production work.  This hit featured in the film "Space Jam".  His next No 1 would not come until 2003.
3 May 1997Michael JacksonBlood On The Dance Floor17th & last No 1Track taken from his album of the same name, which contained five new songs plus remixes of tracks from the "History" album.
10 May 1997Gary BarlowLove Won't Wait12nd & last No 1He was trying to create a more sophisticated image than in his Take That days, but was loosing some fans as a result.  By the end of the decade it seemed that his chart career was over.
17 May 1997OliveYou're Not Alone2Only No 1Northern UK band with lead singer Ruth-Ann Boyle, and Tim Kellett who was previously with Simply Red.
31 May 1997Eternal featuringBebe WinansI Wanna Be The One1Only No 1London-based soul trio (at the time of this hit), who won several music awards.  The act disbanded in 2000.  Bebe Winans is a US gospel singer.
7 Jun 1997HansonMmmbop3Only No 1US teenage act with a 13-year-old lead singer.  Their popularity lasted about a year.
28 Jun 1997Puff Daddy &Faith EvansI'll Be Missing You6Only No 1Puff is New Yorker Sean Combs, who as a rapper and producer has won many awards.  The song is the re-titled Police No 1 "Every Breath You Take" (1983).
19 Jul 1997OasisD'you Know What I Mean13rd No 1First single from their third album "Be Here Now".
16 Aug 1997Will SmithMen In Black42nd & last No 1
(1st was as Fresh Prince)
This was the theme from the movie of the same name, in which he starred.  He went on to have a further six Top 10 hits by the end of 1999.
13 Sep 1997VerveThe Drugs Don't Work1Only No 1Formed in Wigan, Lancashire in 1990 with lead vocalist Richard Ashcroft.  They had a strong cult following until Ashcroft went solo in 2000.
20 Sep 1997Elton JohnCandle In The Wind 97 / Something About The Way You Look54th No 1This was a re-write of his 1974 hit about Marilyn Monroe.  This version was raising funds for the Diana, Princess of Wales charity, following her death in Paris.  It went on to become the biggest selling single in the world ever.
25 Oct 1997Spice GirlsSpice Up Your Life15th No 1Latin-flavoured hit taken from their second album "Spiceworld".  Set new record - their first five singles made No 1.
1 Nov 1997AquaBarbie Girl41st No 1Danish Euro-pop outfit with cartoonist video and stage presentations.
29 Nov 1997Various ArtistsPerfect Day3Only No 1Collaboration of 29 stars, fund raising for the BBCChildren In Need charity.  The song was originally written and recorded in 1973 by Lou Reed, who opened and closed this version.
13 Dec 1997TeletubbiesTeletubbies Say Eh-oh!2Only No 1This was the theme song from the BBC's tiny tots' tv programme, "Teletubbies", much loved by toddlers and students alike.
27 Dec 1997
Xmas No 1
Spice GirlsToo Much26th No 1Another new record as their first six singles make No 1, but their next release would stall at No 2.
17 Jan 1998All SaintsNever Ever21st No 1Four girls from London, who saw themselves as a much more serious band than the Spice Girls.
24 Jan 1998OasisAll Around The World14th No 1Last hit for a couple of years, as the band embarked upon a world tour, with the expected controversy on and off the stage.
31 Jan 1998UsherYou Make Me Wanna...11st No 1US hip-hop vocalist and actor Usher Raymond, who was 18 at the time of this hit.  He didn't make No 1 again until 2004.
7 Feb 1998AquaDoctor Jones22nd No 1They bounced back to the top with a similar-sounding track from their top-selling album.
21 Feb 1998Celine DionMy Heart Will Go On22nd & last No 1The Canadian diva hit the top again with this theme from the blockbuster movie "Titanic".
28 Feb 1998CornershopBrimful Of Asha1Only No 1UK duo led by Tjinder Singh, who combine the music of their Indian roots with western rock beats.
7 Mar 1998MadonnaFrozen18th No 1Her first No 1 for eight years - taken from her mostly dance-influenced album "Ray of Light".
21 Mar 1998Run DMC vs Jason NevinsIt's Like That6Only No 1Run DMC are a US hip-hop band, and this track dates from 1983.   It was remixed by Jason Nevins, a US DJ and producer.  The 6-week run was the longest for 18 months (Spice Girls, 7 weeks).
2 May 1998BoyzoneAll That I Need13rd No 1They were now major stars, with 10 consecutive Top 4 singles behind them.
9 May 1998All SaintsUnder The Bridge / Lady Marmalade22nd No 1The foursome returned to the top with track two being a remake of a LaBelle disco hit from 1975.
16 May 1998AquaTurn Back Time13rd & last No 1A slower track this time gave them their hat trick of chart toppers.  They returned to the charts again during 2000.
30 May 1998Tampererfeaturing MayaFeel It1Only No 1Another Italian production team, with US vocalist Maya.  Song based on the Jacksons' "Can You Feel It" (No 6, 1981).
6 Jun 1998B*WitchedC'est La Vie21st No 1Irish acts were achieving tremendous success in the UK at this time, and this female foursome from Dublin captured plenty of sales.
20 Jun 1998Baddiel, SkinnerLightning SeedsThree Lions '9832nd & last No 1After their Euro 96 success, they rewrote some of the words for World Cup 98, and hit the top spot again.
11 Jul 1998BillieBecause We Want To11st No 1A 15 year old from Swindon, UK, she got her recording contract after appearing in an ad campaign for Smash Hits magazine.
18 Jul 1998Another LevelFreak Me1Only No 1UK dance act that scored seven Top 10 hits during 1998-9.  They officially disbanded in June 2000.
25 Jul 1998JamiroquaiDeeper Underground1Only No 1Manchester-based,  jazz/funk-influenced dance music band led by Jay Kay.  Their 1996 album "Travelling Without Moving" sold 7 million copies.
1 Aug 1998Spice GirlsViva Forever27th No 1By this time Geri had left, but the rest continued as a foursome, regaining the top spot after their previous single stalled at No 2.
15 Aug 1998BoyzoneNo Matter What34th No 1Song comes from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical "Whistle Down The Wind".
5 Sep 1998Manic Street PreachersIf You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next11st No 1Brit Award-winning Welsh band who scored 21 hits 1991-1999, performed at Cardiff on Millennium night, and were at No 1 again in early 2000.
12 Sep 1998
800th No 1
All SaintsBootie Call13rd No 1Laid-back dance track from their debut album.
19 Sep 1998Robbie WilliamsMillennium11st No 1After a slow and difficult transition from Take That member to solo artist, he finally hit the top, and his success grew.
26 Sep 1998Melanie Bfeaturing Missy ElliottI Want You Back1Only No 1First solo outing for a member of the Spice Girls.   Ultimately, Mel B was overtaken by Mel C in solo success.
3 Oct 1998B*WitchedRollercoaster22nd No 1Another track from their album "B*Witched" - and they really were riding the rollercoaster!
17 Oct 1998BillieGirlfriend12nd No 1Follow-up for the Swindon lass, who at 15  was the youngest female chart topper since Helen Shapiro in 1961 (14).
24 Oct 1998SpacedustGym & Tonic1Only No 1UK cover of a track called "Gymtonic" by French DJ and producer Christophe Le Friant, who works under the psuedomym of Bob Sinclair.
31 Oct 1998CherBelieve74th & last No 1At age 52, she is the oldest solo female to hit the top, and her number ones span 33 years!
19 Dec 1998B*WitchedTo You I Belong13rd No 1Third release from their debut album, and the third to enter the chart at No 1.
26 Dec 1998
Xmas No 1
Spice GirlsGoodbye18th No 1This completed a hat-trick of Xmas No 1s.  However, it was "goodbye" as they all followed solo projects or family matters in 1999, before a come-back in 2000.
2 Jan 1999ChefChocolate Salty Balls (PS I Love You)1Only No 1Cartoon character in the cult tv series "South Park". The voice was that ofIsaac Hayes ("Shaft", 1971).
9 Jan 1999StepsHeartbeat / Tragedy11st No 1Very successful five-piece pop song and dance outfit, put together by veteran producer Pete Waterman.  "Tragedy" is a Bee Geessong ( No 1, 1979).
16 Jan 1999Fatboy SlimPraise You1Only No 1
(2nd/last for Norman Cook)
Pseudonym for Norman Cook who hit No 1 in 1990 as Beats International.
23 Jan 1999911Little Bit More1Only No 1UK boy band who first charted in 1996, and had 10 Top 10s by the end of 1999.  They split in 2000.
30 Jan 1999OffspringPretty Fly (For A White Guy)1Only No 1Southern California-based band fronted by Dexter Holland.   They charted in 1995 and 1997, but this was their first Top 10 hit.
6 Feb 1999Armand Van Helden featuringDuane HaedenYou Don't Know Me1Only No 1US dance music producer who has created remix hits for many stars, and produced the No 1 remix for Tori Amos in January 1997.
13 Feb 1999BlondieMaria16th & last No 1An unexpected return 18 years after their previous Top 10 hit.   At age 54, lead singer Debbie Harry is the oldest female to make No 1.
20 Feb 1999Lenny KravitzFly Away1Only No 1US rock star who first charted in 1990, but had gained just one Top 10 prior to this.
27 Feb 1999Britney SpearsBaby One More Time21st No 1The start of a phenomenal rise to international fame for the teenager fromLouisiana, USA.
13 Mar 1999BoyzoneWhen The Going Gets Tough25th No 1Old Billy Ocean No 1 from 1986, remade as a charity single for Comic Relief.
27 Mar 1999B*WitchedBlame It On The Weatherman14th & last No 1A new chart record - their first 4 singles not only topped the chart, they all entered at No 1.  They split in 2002.
3 Apr 1999Mr OizoFlat Beat2Only No 1French act, Quentin Dupieux, with a dreary dance riff, first heard in a Levis jeans ad.
17 Apr 1999Martine McCutcheonPerfect Moment2Only No 1She was Tiffany in the soap "EastEnders", but left for a very successful singing career.
1 May 1999WestlifeSwear It Again21st No 1Irish boy band, originally managed by Ronan Keating of Boyzone, who went on to emulate the success of their boss's band.
15 May 1999Backstreet BoysI Want It That Way1Only No 1US boy band who first charted in 1995, and had 7 Top 10s before this No 1.
22 May 1999BoyzoneYou Needed Me16th & last No 1Originally a US No 1 for Canadian, Anne Murray (1978, No 22).   Whilst not officially disbanding, they went their separate ways soon after this.   Ronan Keating went on to have solo chart toppers.
29 May 1999Shanks & BigfootSweet Like Chocolate2Only No 1UK production duo (Stephen Meade and Daniel Langsman), with vocals bySharon Woolf who has recorded with a number of dance acts.
12 Jun 1999Baz LuhrmannEveryone's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)1Only No 1Luhrmann is an Australian film director who created this "how to live your life" saga, along the lines of "Desiderata" (Les Crane, 1972, No 7).  Actor Lee Perry read the narrative.
19 Jun 1999S Club 7Bring It All Back11st No 1They were the cast of a successful kids' tv show, who broke big-time into the music charts.
26 Jun 1999VengaboysBoom Boom Boom Boom11st No 1Dutch-based multi-national beach-party dance act, who dominated the European holiday discos during 1999.
3 Jul 1999ATB9PM (Till I Come)2Only No 1ATB is German producer (from the former East Germany), Andre Tanneberger.
17 Jul 1999Ricky MartinLivin' La Vida Loca3Only No 1Latin American performer, originally from Puerto Rico, who was a major star in the US.  He headed up the summer of 1999 Latino craze in the UK.
7 Aug 1999Ronan KeatingWhen You Say Nothing At All2Only No 1The lead singer from Boyzone with his debut solo single.  The song was from the film "Notting Hill".
21 Aug 1999WestlifeIf I Let You Go12nd No 1Second single from their debut album, "Westlife".
28 Aug 1999Geri HalliwellMi Chico Latino11st No 1The former Spice Girl's first single got to No 2, but this Latin track cashed-in on the mood of the moment.
4 Sep 1999Lou BegaMambo No 52Only No 1He was born and raised in Germany of a Sicilian mother and African father.  Another of the Latin hits filling summer 1999.
18 Sep 1999VengaboysWe're Going To Ibiza12nd & last No 1Song originally known as "Barbados" (Typically Tropical, No 1, 1975), with revised lyrics and new title.
25 Sep 1999Eiffel 65Blue (Da Be Dee)3Only No 1Italian trio, led by Sicilian-born Jeffrey Jey, with a Euro-pop dance floor filler.
16 Oct 1999Christina AguileraGenie In A Bottle21st No 1Spanish-speaking American who shot to stardom after singing the soundtrack to a Disney animated film.
30 Oct 1999WestlifeFlying Without Wings13rd No 1Straight in at the top for the Irish fivesome with another strong ballad.
6 Nov 1999FiveKeep On Movin'11st No 1UK boy band who had six Top 10 hits, including three successive No 2s prior to this.
13 Nov 1999Geri HalliwellLift Me Up12nd No 1She consolidated her solo career with another track from her debut album "Schizophonic".
20 Nov 1999Robbie WilliamsShe's The One12nd No 1He was now a major star with a massive fan following.  From his album "I've Been Expecting You"
27 Nov 1999Wamdue ProjectKing Of My Castle1Only No 1Dance track from US producer Chris Brann with female vocalist, and remixed in Italy.
4 Dec 1999Cliff RichardMillennium Prayer314th & last No 140 years after his first No 1, he was back at the top again, despite resistance from radio stations.  It failed to hang on for Christmas.
25 Dec 1999
Xmas No 1
WestlifeI Have A Dream / Seasons In The Sun44th No 1Their fourth release, and their fourth to go straight to the top.   Both tracks are remakes of 1970s hits.

No comments:

Post a Comment