Charting 1997: 3rd May

Say what you like about the chart, you can't accuse it of lacking action.

01.(NE) Michael Jackson - Blood On The Dancefloor
Title track from what was largely a remix album but threw in a couple of new tracks. His last UK Number One - I think we can safely say that now.
02. (1) R Kelly - I Believe I Can Fly
03.(NE) 911 - Bodyshakin'
911 in not-ballad shocker. No masterpiece but I actually quite like this as a throwaway pop track.
04.(NE) The Cardigans - Lovefool {1997 re-issue}
A Number 21 hit from the previous year, now revived thanks to its use in the Romeo & Juliet film. I've chosen to use the original video this week.
05. (4) DJ Quicksilver - Bellissima
06. (7) Shola Ama - You Might Need Somebody
07.(NE) Republica - Drop Dead Gorgeous
See the pun there? Surprisingly, this was their Top 10 hit, not the obvious one.
08. (2) Robbie Williams - Old Before I Die
09. (6) Blackstreet - Don't Leave Me
10.(NE) The Notorious BIG - Hypnotize
His first posthumous hit, indeed his first major hit at all in the UK. Samples Herb Alpert of all people, and was in turn sampled by Blue.
11.(NE) Brainbug - Nightmare
Another of 1997's spooky dance tracks, although this one was distinguished from most by the neo-classical elements. Actually not wholly unlike Plan B's new single.
12.(NE) James - Tomorrow
A re-recording of a track from their "experimental" album Wah Wah, now the opening track and second single from Whiplash. Though a hit at the time nobody ever seems to mention this one, though I think it's one of the best things they ever did.
13. (8) The Lightning Seeds - You Showed Me
14. (5) Daft Punk - Around The World
15. (9) The Course - Ready Or Not
16.(11) No Doubt - Don't Speak
17. (3) U2 - Staring At The Sun
18.(NE) Snoop Doggy Dogg - Vapors
A song which has aged better than the special effects in the video, at least. Snoop bemoans the old problem that various friends, relatives and ultimately Mr Dogg himself are treated better when famous and successful than when obscure.
19.(NE) D:Ream - Things Can Only Get Better {1997 re-issue}
I'm not generally paying much attention to outside events on here, but it'd be wrong not to mention that this single got its second re-release as a result of its use in Party Political Broadcasts for the Labour Party in the imminent General Election. As a result, no radio station could actually play it without breaching campaign rules. If only there was an election every week.
20.(15) Sash! - Encore Une Fois
21.(17) Texas - Halo
22.(12) Orbital - The Saint
23.(13) Blur - Song 2
24.(NE) DJ Supreme - Tha Wild Style {1997 remix}
Thought I remembered this one but then when I looked it up on YouTube it was nothing like the song I thought it was.
25.(19) Spice Girls - Mama/Who Do You Think You Are?
26.(10) Faithless - Reverence
27.(NE) Kenickie - Nightlife
 
OK, so you have to wait a couple of minutes in that embed before the actual video shows up, but it's odd enough to be worth waiting for, complete with Pete Gofton dressed as a chicken and a breakdancing Santa (even though this was released in April). It's a sad sign of the times that the uploader has referred to this as a "Lauren Laverne music video" even though this is of course the only Kenickie hit to feature Marie Du Santiago as lead singer. 
28.(14) Michelle Gayle - Sensational
29.(NE) Tricky - Makes Me Wanna Die 
I'm not sure exactly what's so ironic about smoking hydroponic, but I've always thought this one of his best songs.
30.(NE) Keith Sweat - Nobody ft Athena Cage
Apparently people like to have sex while they're listening to this. Well, I can see a distraction of some sort would be welcome.
31.(18) Smoke City - Underwater Love
32.(NE) Silver Sun - Golden Skin
Silver Sun - Golden Skin on MUZU.TV.
One of those bands who were supposed to be big and never quite were, but for a while in 1996-7 they were one of the most enjoyable bands around with their combination of crunching guitars and cheery melodies. Here they make their Top 40 debut with the aid of a memorable video. Anyone ever slowed it down enough to watch those credits?
33.(NE) Tony Toni Tone - Let's Get Down ft DJ Quik 
No, I didn't realise they were still around this last either.
34.(28) The Brand New Heavies - Sometimes
35.(16) 2Pac And Snoop Doggy Dogg - Wanted Dead or Alive
36.(27) Kavana - MFEO
37.(30) Bruce Springsteen - Secret Garden {1997}
38.(NE) Grace - Hand In Hand
Dominique Atkins, she of 'Not Over Yet' fame with one of the less-remembered follow-ups. Not a bad tune, though apparently it's a cover. 
39.(NE) Busta Rhymes - Do My Thing
I have no intention of going anywhere near your thing, Busta. One of the least sexy songs ever.
40.(NE) Pavement - Shady Lane
Another indie act making their first Top 40 appearance, and not undeservedly so with what I think is possibly their best song.  

49.(NE) The Roots - What They Do
54.(NE) Bruce Dickinson - Accident Of Birth
57.(NE) Fatboy Slim - Going Out Of My Head
First chart appearance of Norman Cook in this particular guise. Pete Townshend gets the writing credit.
60.(NE) Jocasta - Change Me
65.(NE) The Candyskins - Hang Myself On You
69.(NE) Bennet - Someone Always Gets There First
Two nerdy indie bands following up their only Top 40 hits, both of which had in fact peaked at 34. The Candyskins do slightly better, possibly because their single was re-recorded from the album version. The fact that I own both these tracks on their respective albums makes me feel rather alone.

Charting 1997: 26th April

'I Believe I Can Fly' proves itself to be one of the jammiest Number Ones ever, topping the chart by a thin margin for the third week in a row.

01. (1) R Kelly - I Believe I Can Fly
02.(NE) Robbie Williams - Old Before I Die
Although he'd reached the same position eight months earlier with his version of 'Freedom' this seemed to the official start of his solo career, the first time he'd really indicated what his musical direction was going to be. Second-rate Oasis pastiches seemed to be it at this stage.
03.(NE) U2 - Staring At The Sun
One of several U2 singles of this era that were significant hits in their day but never seem to get mentioned now. Actually not a bad song, in a melodic sort of way, though Bono comes up with some odd metaphors and rhymes. 
04. (4) DJ Quicksilver - Bellissima
05.(NE) Daft Punk - Around The World

I had to embed the video because to be honest, the song's just annoying without it. 
06.(NE) Blackstreet - Don't Leave Me
I believe this was their biggest hit in America. But I've no idea why.
07. (7) Shola Ama - You Might Need Somebody
08.(NE) The Lightning Seeds - You Showed Me
Their only non-football-related Top 10 single came with this cover of the Turtles hit written by members of the Byrds. This version also seems to owe something to the Salt-N-Pepa version of the song. 
09. (5) The Course - Ready Or Not
10.(NE) Faithless - Reverence
Their third Top 10 hit on the trot, but probably not the one people remember. 
11. (6) No Doubt - Don't Speak
12. (3) Orbital - The Saint
13. (2) Blur - Song 2
14.(NE) Michelle Gayle - Sensational
Possibly not the most accurately-titled song is this chart, a perfectly decent track rather than an impressive one.
15.(14) Sash! - Encore Une Fois
16.(NE) 2Pac And Snoop Doggy Dogg - Wanted Dead or Alive
Will one of each do? 
17.(10) Texas - Halo
18.(13) Smoke City - Underwater Love
19.(15) Spice Girls - Mama/Who Do You Think You Are?
20.(NE) The Wannadies - Hit
Their other Top 20 single. If I remember correctly this was given a limited 7" release the year before when contractual problems precluded full promotion, but I didn't get one of those and had to wait for this CD version. I always liked the argument they seem to be having in the middle.
21.(NE) G.U.N. - Crazy You
Produced by one of INXS, this marked their short-lived transition from the metal band (best known for their cover of 'Word Up') to AOR plodders. It didn't really save their career.
22.(NE) Zhane - Request Line
Standard-issue RnB girl-group stuff. 
23.(NE) The Supernaturals - Smile
A reissue of their debut single which scored their highest-ever chart position. Loved it then, still quite like it now. 
24.(NE) KRS-One - Step Into A World (Rapture's Delight)
Not a song I remembered from the time, but one I was quite pleased to discover. Nice chunk of old-school rap with the chorus based on Blondie's hit. 
25.(NE) Robert Owens - I'll Be Your Friend {1997 remix}
A version of a house track that had topped the US dance chart five years earlier.
26.(11) Supergrass - Richard III
27. (8) Kavana - MFEO
28.(18) The Brand New Heavies - Sometimes
29.(12) Erykah Badu - On And On
30.(17) Bruce Springsteen - Secret Garden {1997 re-issue}
31.(16) Depeche Mode - It's No Good
32.(NE) David Bowie - Dead Man Walking
Still in the DnB groove. Not quite as good a song as 'Little Wonder' though, unfortunately.
33.(19) N-Trance - DISCO
34.(20) The Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin' Beats
35.(24) B Real/Busta Rhymes - Hit 'Em High (The Monstars' Anthem)
36.(NE) Slacker - Scared
Apparently this samples Peter Gabriel, of all people. 
37. (9) Suede - Lazy
38.(31) SWV - Can We
39.(23) The Charlatans - North Country Boy
40.(28) Cast - Free Me


42.(NE) The Offspring - Gone Away
43.(NE) Pianoman - Party People (Live Your Life Be Free)
45.(NE) Lil' Kim - No Time ft Puff Daddy
50.(NE) Kim English - Supernatural
59.(RE) Blur - Beetlebum
61.(NE) Subcircus - You Love You

Charting 1997: Album chart 26th April

01.(NE) Depeche Mode - Ultra (Spotify)
Perhaps surprisingly only their second Number One album (and also their last) the big comeback after Dave Gahan's well-documented addictions and the departure of Alan Wilder. My brother bought this.
02. (2) Spice Girls - Spice
03.(NE) Cast - Mother Nature Calls (Spotify)
The second album I never got round to buying, although I still thought All Change was a decent debut. The title is of course a reflection of John Power's rather hippyish attitude to life.
04. (1) The Chemical Brothers - Dig your own hole
05. (4) Texas - White On Blonde
06. (3) Wet Wet Wet - 10
07.(10) Blur - Blur
08.(NE) Mary J Blige - Share My World
09. (5) No Doubt - Tragic Kingdom
10.(12) Fun Lovin' Criminals - Come Find Yourself
11. (6) Lisa Stansfield - Lisa Stansfield
12.(11) Lighthouse Family - Ocean Drive
13. (7) The Beautiful South - Blue is the colour
14. (8) Manic Street Preachers - Everything Must Go
15. (9) Reef - Glow
16.(17) U2 - Pop
17.(18) Erykah Badu - Baduizm
18.(19) Jamiroquai - Travelling Without Moving
19.(14) The Bee Gees - The Very Best Of
20.(15) The Bee Gees - Still Waters
21.(21) Kula Shaker - K
22.(20) Alisha's Attic - Alisha Rules The World
23.(24) Sheryl Crow - Sheryl Crow
24.(NE) Sacred Spirit - Volume 2 Culture Clash
25.(22) George Michael - Older
26.(27) The Monkees - The Greatest hits
27.(38) Suede - Coming Up
28.(25) Original Soundtrack - Evita
29.(30) Toni Braxton - Secrets
30.(13) Damage - Forever
31.(29) Mansun - Attack of the Grey Lantern
32.(26) Beck - Odelay
33.(35) Heart - These Dreams Greatest Hits
34.(34) Fugees - The Score
35.(36) Celine Dion - Falling into you
36.(23) Eternal - Before The Rain
37.(31) Skunk Anansie - Stoosh
38.(40) Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill
39.(16) INXS - Elegantly Wasted
40.(32) Robert Miles - Dreamland

55.(NE) Luscious Jackson - Fever In Fever Out (Spotify)
Like Cast, an act who've recently reunited. Quite a good album, as I recall, but don't pay 99p to download the track "Door".
56.(RE) Tina Turner - Simply The Best

62.(NE) Foster & Allen - Shades of Green
They're a month late for St. Patrick's Day there.

Charting 1997: 19th April

Decidedly top-heavy this week, with seven new entries and a climber within the Top 10, but far less action lower down. And yet we still don't get a new Number One. 

01. (1) R Kelly - I Believe I Can Fly
02.(NE) Blur - Song 2

For the second week running, a Britpop act on the Parlophone label made a strong initial showing but ended the week as runners up to R. Kelly by a relatively tiny margin. Rightly or wrongly, this is the more familiar song now than 'Richard III'; but perhaps it's not such a loss that it ended up entering at 2, as this ties in with the title, the running time and the fact that it was the second single from the album, second in the sequence and so on. Besides, I didn't buy the single myself so I can't complain.
This was of course the lead single from the album in the US and went on to become their biggest hit globally, though I could probably go a while without hearing it now. 
03.(NE) Orbital - The Saint

The brothers Hartnoll enjoy their second Top 3 hit of the year with the theme from the movie of The Saint. I get the impression the film was a bit crap, but fortunately this updating of the classic TV theme is right on the money. Bonus points from me for making a video that fits the general spy-movie idea without making us look at Val Kilmer.
04. (7) DJ Quicksilver - Bellissima
05.(NE) The Course - Ready Or Not
Remember that rubbish dance version of 'Don't Speak' that made the Top 75 a couple of weeks back? This is the same idea applied to the Fugees' chart topper of the previous year (and thus ultimately derived from the Chi-Lites). 
06. (3) No Doubt - Don't Speak
07.(NE) Shola Ama - You Might Need Somebody
The young soul star who was supposedly discovered on Tube station, making her debut with a cover of the old Randy Crawford hit. Yes, that's the third cover in a row among these new entries.
08.(NE) Kavana - MFEO
I'm sure you can all come up with your own ideas of what that should stand for, but it's actually supposed to be "Made For Each Other". 
09.(NE) Suede - Lazy
The fourth Top 10 hit from the Coming Up album, which is essentially a slower version of the first two with a lyric that does seem to prove the title accurate. "Uncle Teds in their legendary vests" indeed.
10.(NE) Texas - Halo
The second single of their comeback, a massive epic production spoiled by a chorus that seems oddly unfinished. 
11. (2) Supergrass - Richard III
12.(NE) Erykah Badu - On And On
Ms Jackson's daughter when she seemed likely to become a major star. She seems actively to have resisted that since but she did leave behind this rather decent hazy-sounding retro-soul track.
13. (4) Smoke City - Underwater Love
14. (9) Sash! - Encore Une Fois
15. (6) Spice Girls - Mama/Who Do You Think You Are?
16. (5) Depeche Mode - It's No Good
17.(NE) Bruce Springsteen - Secret Garden {1997 re-issue}
One of four inevitable new tracks on his 1995 Greatest Hits album, it missed the Top 40 at the time but was now reactivated thanks to the film Jerry Maguire.
18.(11) The Brand New Heavies - Sometimes
19.(15) N-Trance - DISCO
20. (8) The Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin' Beats
21.(NE) Natural Born Grooves - Groovebird
It's Belgian dance time again.
22.(NE) Bryan Adams - 18 Til I Die
It's the usual chugging rock and the usual lyrical sentiment from Adams. At one point he sings "Someday I'll be 18 goin' on 55" which surely means the opposite of what he thinks.
23.(14) The Charlatans - North Country Boy
24.(13) B Real/Busta Rhymes - Hit 'Em High (The Monstars' Anthem)
25.(10) Makaveli - To Live And Die In LA
26.(19) Livin' Joy - Where Can I Find Love
27.(NE) MC Lyte - Keep On, Keepin' On {1997 reissue} ft Xscape
Re-released following her breakthrough hit earlier in the year. Not bad until it gets to the chorus.
28.(16) Cast - Free Me
29.(17) Funky Green Dogs - Fired Up!
30.(20) 3T - Gotta Be You ft Herbie
31.(18) SWV - Can We
32.(NE) Up Yer Ronson - I Will Be Released ft Mary Pearce
No relation to Mark Ronson. Or Mick Ronson.
33.(21) Gina G - Fresh
34.(27) Spice Girls - 2 Become 1
35.(28) Wet Wet Wet - If I Never See You Again
36.(12) The Future Sound Of London - We Have Explosive
37.(23) Boyzone - Isn't It A Wonder
38.(38) Blueboy - Remember Me
39.(30) Fugees - Rumble In The Jungle
40.(32) No Mercy - Where Do You Go

44.(NE) HHC - We're Not Alone/Plump
45.(NE) Crystal Waters - Say... If You Feel Alright
47.(NE) Ultracynic - Nothing Is Forever {1997}
60.(NE) Enigma - TNT For The Brain
71.(NE) Geoffrey Williams - Sex Life
I don't really know who he was but he seemed to have a lot of hits in the lower half of the Top 75 in the 1990s.

Charting 1997: Album chart 19th April

01.(NE) The Chemical Brothers - Dig Your Own Hole (Spotify)
The single may have fallen off the top fairly quickly, but there was never any real doubt that Tom & Ed would get their first Number One album with this second set, one of the key works in the crossover of dance music to rock audiences. Obviously, part of the reason would have been the guest appearances by the likes of Noel Gallagher, Beth Orton and Mercury Rev, as well as the duo's reputation as remixers, but there is a sense of melody and riffage that distinguishes this from less NME-friendly fare like Haddaway and Clock.
02. (1) Spice Girls - Spice
03. (2) Wet Wet Wet - 10
04. (9) Texas - White On Blonde
05. (3) No Doubt - Tragic Kingdom
06. (4) Lisa Stansfield - Lisa Stansfield
07. (5) The Beautiful South - Blue is the Colour
08. (6) Manic Street Preachers - Everything Must Go
09. (7) Reef - Glow
10.(18) Blur - Blur
11.(11) Lighthouse Family - Ocean Drive
12.(14) Fun Lovin' Criminals - Come Find Yourself
13.(NE) Damage - Forever
Boy bands have indeed been with us forever, although few seem to have combined this level of success with such little impression on the public memory.
14.(12) The Bee Gees - The Very Best Of
15. (8) The Bee Gees - Still Waters
16.(NE) INXS - Elegantly Wasted
The last proper INXS album, though they've done at least one without Michael Hutchence.
17.(13) U2 - Pop
18.(26) Erykah Badu - Baduizm
19.(17) Jamiroquai - Travelling Without Moving
20.(19) Alisha's Attic - Alisha Rules The World
21.(15) Kula Shaker - K
22.(21) George Michael - Older
23.(16) Eternal - Before The Rain
24.(20) Sheryl Crow - Sheryl Crow
25.(22) Original Soundtrack - Evita
26.(24) Beck - Odelay
27.(32) The Monkees - The Greatest Hits
28.(10) Erasure - Cowboy
29.(31) Mansun - Attack of the Grey Lantern
30.(33) Toni Braxton - Secrets
31.(34) Skunk Anansie - Stoosh
32.(27) Robert Miles - Dreamland
33.(25) Ocean Colour Scene - B sides seasides and freerides
34.(29) Fugees - The Score
35.(NE) Heart - These Dreams Greatest Hits
36.(30) Celine Dion - Falling into you
37.(23) The Smurfs - The Smurfs Hits 97 Vol 1
38.(51) Suede - Coming Up
39.(35) The Notorious BIG - Life After Death
40.(38) Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill

46.(NE) Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - Barafundle(Spotify)
Is there any greater sign of the influence Britpop had on the record industry than the fact that a major label signed up these Welsh psychedelic oddballs with a name barely pronounceable to Anglophones, and paid for an album which is partly in Welsh, partly in English and just a little bit in Latin. There are even chunks of mediaeval music and what sounds like a sample of Patrick Moore. 
Of course they were dropped by the end of 1998, but they did leave behind this, one of my favourite albums of this or any other year. Behind all the quirks, Euros Childs must be one of our most underrated songwriters. 
55.(NE) Bis - The New Transistor Heroes
In those days you could sometimes get cassette versions of albums cheap as a form of promotion, and thus it was that I paid £4:99 for this on my brother's behalf. Yes kids, there was a time when that was considered cheap for a cassette.
56.(RE) Bryan Adams - 18 til I Die
63.(RE) Kenny G - The Moment
69.(RE) The Lightning Seeds - Dizzy Heights
74.(RE) Cast - All Change

Charting 1997: 12th April

A very tight contest this week which leaves us with the increasing rarity of a climber to the top, and indeed the greater rarity of a climber that had fallen the week before.

01. (5) R Kelly - I Believe I Can Fly

Yeah, I got away with not embedding it when it was a new entry at 2 a couple of weeks ago, but I can't really leave it out this time. Enjoy yourselves, R. Kelly fans.
I can't actually remember why this changed direction and climbed to the top, I can only guess that the film was finally released (though the other soundtrack cuts don't seem to have gained much).
02.(NE) Supergrass - Richard III

Now this is a bit more like it, the lead single (at least as I've always understood the term) from their second album. Whilst I'm of the view that they spent too much of the ten years after 1995 trying to make records that didn't sound like 'Alright' that does seem better on balance than if they'd devoted themselves to trying to duplicate it. 'Richard III' sounds like a development of a lot of the rockier tracks from the first album and despite the throwaway lyrics and stupider title, is actually a highlight of their longer-than-you-might-recall career. And it only lost out by about 400 copies. 
03. (3) No Doubt - Don't Speak
04.(NE) Smoke City - Underwater Love
The sort of vaguely cross-cultural, slightly easy-listening music that seemed quite popular in this era, though possibly more with advertising creatives and TV channels than actual buyers. I think this one was used to sell jeans. I considered it yuppie nonsense of the highest order then although it doesn't sound as bad now. 
05.(NE) Depeche Mode - It's No Good
The second single from their imminent comeback album, a somewhat more radio-friendly version song which even I didn't mind, although there isn't really enough to it to sustain the six-minute running time - unfortunately the video edit wasn't commercially released.
06. (2) Spice Girls - Mama/Who Do You Think You Are?
07. (6) DJ Quicksilver - Bellissima
08. (1) The Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin' Beats
09. (9) Sash! - Encore Une Fois
10.(NE) Makaveli - To Live And Die In LA
Two things which Dave Gahan of the above Depeche Mode had indeed done. Tupac Shakur, who this is under a pseudonym, had of course also died (more permanently than Gahan) in 1996, albeit in Las Vegas. This was the first of his many posthumous Top 10 hits, though he'd only managed one in his lifetime. 
11.(NE) The Brand New Heavies - Sometimes
The first appearance of their new singer Seidah Garrett, ten years after her biggest hit (with Michael Jackson).  I have a limited appetite for laid-back jazz-funk but this is a pretty good chunk of it. 
12.(NE) The Future Sound Of London - We Have Explosive
Their highest-charting single, and indeed their last other than a remix of 'Papua New Guinea' in 2001. 
13. (8) B Real/Busta Rhymes - Hit 'Em High (The Monstars' Anthem)
14. (4) The Charlatans - North Country Boy
15.(11) N-Trance - DISCO
16. (7) Cast - Free Me
17.(NE) Funky Green Dogs - Fired Up!
A dance record that I remember being a hit more than I remember the music itself. 
18.(NE) SWV - Can We
Whereas I do remember this, mainly because my brother pointed out the chorus melody where they sing "Can we get kinky tonight?" is similar to a line in Blur's recent album track 'Essex Dogs'. Probably not the effect they were going for. 
19.(12) Livin' Joy - Where Can I Find Love
20.(10) 3T - Gotta Be You ft Herbie
21.(17) Gina G - Fresh
22.(NE) Sara Parker - My Love Is Deep
OK if utterly forgotten RnB track.
23.(15) Boyzone - Isn't It A Wonder
24.(16) Backstreet Boys - Anywhere For You
25.(NE) Luscious Jackson - Naked Eye

The only actual UK hit for the US indie/hip-hop group who I was suspicious about because of their association with the Beastie Boys, but I ended up liking this one a lot. Pity there was no follow-up single from the album to capitalise. Three of the original members have recently reunited.
26.(NE) Hondy - Hondy (No Access)
One of those dance tracks that was clearly expected to be a much bigger hit than it was, judging by the stacks of unsold copies that seemed to be hanging around shops for the next two years. I don't think I ever heard it until I looked up the YouTube link for this post.
27.(31) Spice Girls - 2 Become 1
Second climb in a row.
28.(14) Wet Wet Wet - If I Never See You Again
29.(NE) Puff Johnson - Forever More
Her second hit of the year. Doesn't seem to be in a film.
30.(19) Fugees - Rumble In The Jungle
31.(NE) Queen Latifah, Shades And Free - Mr Big Stuff
Rap version of the much sampled soul classic there. No, it's not the same Free who did 'All Right Now'.
32.(20) No Mercy - Where Do You Go?
33.(18) BBE - Flash
34.(NE) Disco Citizens - Footprint
An alias of Nick Bracegirdle, better known as Chicane. Apparently he used this name for less commercial work.
35.(22) Damage - Love Guaranteed
36.(13) Reef - Consideration
37.(23) Kula Shaker - Hush
38.(27) Blueboy - Remember Me
39.(21) The Bee Gees - Alone
40.(NE) Travis - U16 Girls
Their first hit, more of a glam-rock stomper than the AOR that made their fortunes. Would they have got away with those lyrics even a few years later?
60.(NE) Hyper Go-Go - Do Watcha Do ft Adeva {1997 remix}
They had a fair few chart entries for a 1990s dance act, but only one week in the Top 30.
66.(NE) Ruth - I Don't Know
The group led by Matt Hales, who eventually had advert-led success as Aqualung.
70.(RE) George Michael - Older/I Can't Make You Love Me
72.(NE) These Animal Men - Light Emitting Electrical Wave

Charting 1997: Album chart 12th April

Not the most dramatic week in album chart history. Only two new entries in the entire Top 40, and not the most exciting ones either.

01. (1) Spice Girls - Spice
02.(NE) Wet Wet Wet - 10
We didn't know it then, but this was to be the last album of their original career.
03. (4) No Doubt - Tragic Kingdom
04. (2) Lisa Stansfield - Lisa Stansfield
05.(10) The Beautiful South - Blue is the Colour
06. (5) Manic Street Preachers - Everything Must Go
07.(11) Reef - Glow
08. (3) The Bee Gees - Still Waters
09.(22) Texas - White On Blonde
10.(NE) Erasure - Cowboy
Still getting those decent chart entries but I don't think there was a lot of excitement beyond the fans at this stage. Was that fair? Possibly not.
11. (7) Lighthouse Family - Ocean Drive
12. (9) The Bee Gees - The Very Best Of
13. (6) U2 - Pop
14.(35) Fun Lovin' Criminals - Come Find Yourself
15.(13) Kula Shaker - K
16. (8) Eternal - Before The Rain
17.(19) Jamiroquai - Travelling Without Moving
18.(29) Blur - Blur
19.(15) Alisha's Attic - Alisha Rules The World
20.(20) Sheryl Crow - Sheryl Crow
21.(18) George Michael - Older
22.(17) Original Soundtrack - Evita
23.(14) The Smurfs - The Smurfs Hits 97 Vol 1
24.(26) Beck - Odelay
25.(21) Ocean Colour Scene - B sides seasides and freerides
26.(40) Erykah Badu - Baduizm
27.(25) Robert Miles - Dreamland
28.(12) Gina G - Fresh
29.(30) Fugees - The Score
30.(31) Celine Dion - Falling into you
31.(36) Mansun - Attack of the Grey Lantern
32.(27) The Monkees - The Greatest hits
33.(32) Toni Braxton - Secrets
34.(39) Skunk Anansie - Stoosh
35.(23) The Notorious BIG - Life After Death
36.(24) Aerosmith - Nine Lives
37.(34) Crowded House - Recurring Dream - The Very Best of
38.(38) Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill
39.(28) John Denver - The Rocky mountain collection
40.(37) 10cc - The Very Best Of

42.(NE) The Kinks - The Very Best Of
Thirty years after they'd last charted a studio album, but this was just the latest in a long line of compilations, presumably intended to attract people who'd discovered the band through Britpop.
47.(RE) Wet Wet Wet - Popped In Souled Out
Their 1987 debut album. I presume there was some sort of tie-in deal if you bought this alongside the new one.
59.(RE) Bryan Adams - So far so good
60.(RE) Garbage - Garbage
63.(RE) Eagles - The Very best of
64.(NE) Kerbdog - On The Turn
70.(NE) Morcheeba - Who Can You Trust?
73.(RE) Daft Punk - Homework
74.(RE) Sheryl Crow - Tuesday Night Music Club