Charting 1997: 30th August

01. (1) Will Smith - Men In Black
02. (2) Chumbawamba - Tubthumping
03.(NE) Shola Ama - You're The One I Love
Her version of 'You Might Need Somebody' had never advanced beyond 4 in its lengthy chart run, but the follow-up was able to outpeak it instantly and become the biggest new hit of the week, though I don't think it came close to challenging the sales of the Top 2. 
04. (3) Puff Daddy And Faith Evans - I'll Be Missing You
05. (5) Gala - Freed From Desire
06. (4) Dannii Minogue - All I Wanna Do
07.(NE) Tina Moore - Never Gonna Let You Go
This had only been a minor hit on the US R&B chart, but thanks to its being sampled on Double 99's breakthrough speed garage hit 'RIP Groove' and a package of UK remixes in the same style, it became a bone-fide success over here. Not one I've heard recently though. 
08. (6) Backstreet Boys - Everybody (Backstreet's Back)
09. (7) The Notorious BIG - Mo Money Mo Problems
10.(NE) Jon Bon Jovi - Queen Of New Orleans
A more surprising example of an American act doing better than in their homeland - although this single was not granted a commercial release in the US and thus wouldn't have charted anyway, the album was a relative flop there. And this Dave Stewart co-penned number didn't seem to do it a lot of favours. 
11. (8) Meredith Brooks - Bitch
12.(NE) Conner Reeves - My Father's Son
Not to be confused with 'Son Of My Father' by Chicory Tip, or any other memorable record. This was the first hit for the flat-capped singer-songwriter signed to the Capital FM-backed Wildstar label. I guess that makes him a bit like the Wanted, but even more boring. 
13.(12) Mary J Blige - Everything
14.(NE) UB40 - Tell Me Is It True
Yes, it is true, UB40 were still able to have hits with very dull songs way into the 1990s. I'd always thought this was a cover version, but apparently not. Unlike Keanu Reeves, this appears in Speed 2.
15.(10) Coolio - C U When U Get There ft 40 Thevz
16.(NE) Missy 'Misdemeanor' Elliott - The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)
Her first chart appearance, perhaps as memorable for the video as the song itself. I suppose it was nice to see some personality creeping into hip-hop.
17.(14) Boyzone - Picture Of You
18.(NE) Foo Fighters - Everlong

Speaking of memorable videos, the second single from The Colour And The Shape was already their fifth Top 20 single but it seemed to mark the point where they really crossed over as a mainstream act, no longer having to rely on the reputation of Dave Grohl's previous band. It's also notable for the acting debut of drummer Taylor Hawkins, who of course doesn't even play on the track.
19.(16) Ultra Nate - Free
20.(13) Wet Wet Wet - Yesterday
21.(11) OTT - All Out Of Love
22.(NE) The Sneaker Pimps - Post Modern Sleaze
That's a very 1997 title from a very 1997 chart act.
23.(18) Oasis - D'You Know What I Mean?
24.(NE) Aaliyah - 4 Page Letter
Another appearance of Missy Elliott, who co-wrote this with Timbaland. Not one of her biggest hits anywhere.
25.(NE) Symposium - Fairweather Friend
Going a bit ska-punk, which was probably not the right direction for them. 
26.(19) Texas - Black Eyed Boy
27.(15) N-Trance - The Mind Of The Machine
28.(23) Sash! - Ecuador
29.(17) Livin' Joy - Deep In You
30.(20) Peter Andre - All About Us
31.(NE) The Beloved - The Sun Rising {1997 remix}
Remember when they were sort of cool, before they started doing naff songs like 'Hello' and that one where they were naked in the video? This was presumably supposed to remind you of it. 
32.(NE) Radish - Little Pink Stars
It doesn't matter how many people try to tell you everyone lost interest in grunge when Kurt Cobain died, the hits kept on coming. This very young act tasted only brief success, though lead singer Ben Kweller went on to enjoy a critically acclaimed solo career.
33.(NE) Slacker - Your Face
With a name like that they should have been a grunge band too, but this is actually more dance.
34.(26) The Mamas And The Papas - California Dreamin' {1997}
35. (9) Suede - Film Star
36.(27) Lil' Kim - Not Tonight
37.(24) Levellers - What A Beautiful Day
38.(NE) Le Click - Call Me
Frank Farian's answer to Clock or 2 Unlimited. This proved to be their only Top 40 success in the UK, though it was one of three tracks to make the US dance chart.
39.(NE) Soul II Soul - Represent
Their first single for Island, and probably not the kind of success either party was hoping for. At least it charted, though, which is more than could be said for the album.
40.(28) Olive - Outlaw

41.(NE) Way Out West - Blue
43.(NE) Teenage Fanclub - I Don't Want Control Of You
The slightly unexpected Top 20 breakthrough of their previous single doesn't seem to have had a massive impact on the rest of their career. But even my brother liked this song.
44.(NE) Zhane - Crush

53.(NE) Human Nature - Whisper Your Name
54.(NE) Gisele Jackson - Love Commandments
55.(NE) Tanya Donelly - Pretty Deep
56.(NE) Bob Carlisle - Butterfly Kisses
A single that was clearly tipped for massive success, judging by the number of unsold copies hanging around shops for the rest of the century.
60.(NE) Cornershop - Brimful Of Asha
Their first Top 75 hit, thanks to a moderate amount of airplay and some very positive reviews. But Norman Cook didn't think there was enough bass on it, and the rest is history.
61.(NE) David Bowie - Seven Years In Tibet
Third single from Earthling and not a major hit, although he was keen enough to get the message across that he recorded a version in Mandarin.

65.(NE) Transa - Prophase
66.(NE) H2O - Satisfied (Take Me Higher) ft Billie
Not the same H20 who had a hit in the 1980s. And not the same Billie who had hits in 1998-2000.
75.(NE) Veruca Salt - Benjamin