Charting 1997: 20th September

01.(NE) Elton John - Something About The Way You Look/Candle In The Wind
OK, you knew this one was coming didn't you? And I don't think it's too much of a spoiler to say that this went on to become the biggest-selling single of the year, and indeed of all time. The nominal A-side was the single he'd been planning to release anyway, although the original cover art would probably have seemed inappropriate now.
02.(NE) George Michael - You Have Been Loved
It's not uncommon for a single to lead the pack all week long and then be overtaken on the last day - indeed it could happen this weekend - but in no such case has a record ended up with a losing margin of over half a million. This was of course because the Elton John single was rush-released on the Saturday.
I'm sure he wouldn't have anyway, but at least in this case he can hardly complain that the Number One position was stolen away from him by external events; though this song was over a year old (as was its sometimes listed flipside 'The Strangest Thing') and the release had obviously been scheduled long in advance, a song about bereavement was well-placed to tap into the public mood after Diana's death. And of course, this was the sixth single from his Older album to make the Top 3.
03. (1) The Verve - The Drugs Don't Work
04. (2) Will Smith - Men In Black
05. (2) Chumbawamba - Tubthumping
06.(NE) Ricky Martin - (Un, Dos, Tres) Maria
In other news, the UK chart debut of the former Menudo singer and Spanglish superstar. It was almost another two years until 'Livin La Vida Loca' became so big as to obliterate popular memory of his earlier hits. 
07. (4) Hanson - Where's The Love
08.(NE) Portishead - All Mine
The first fully-released single from their long-awaited second album (although in retrospect, three years doesn't seem that long) became their first and only Top 10 hit. It's also their only song to have been covered by Tom Jones.
09. (6) All Saints - I Know Where It's At
10.(NE) Boyz II Men - 4 Seasons Of Loneliness
Another song mopey enough to have gained from the mood.
11. (5) Puff Daddy And Faith Evans - I'll Be Missing You
12. (9) Tina Moore - Never Gonna Let You Go
13.(NE) Mark Morrison - Who's The Mack!
His comeback hit from the stopgap mini-album Only God Can Judge Me, which also includes interviews and prayers.
14.(NE) Sly And Robbie - Night Nurse ft Simply Red
The legendary reggae rhythm section who've played on countless hits but only had a couple in their own names. Here they and Mick Hucknall cover the old Gregory Isaacs hit to underwhelming effect.
15.(NE) The Sundays - Summertime
An act who'd kept their fans waiting even longer than Portishead's for new material, so I'd never heard of them until this single. But I liked it and bought the red vinyl 7". I later discovered the guitarist went to my school.
16. (8) Mariah Carey - Honey
17.(NE) The Chemical Brothers - Elektrobank

The third single from Dig Your Own Hole was never likely to follow the first two to the top of the charts but it falls way short here. Memorable video though.
18.(NE) Jaydee - Plastic Dreams
Not bad electronic number, though I don't especially remember it from the time.
19.(12) N-Tyce - We Come To Party
20.(13) Gala - Freed From Desire
21.(NE) Snoop Doggy Dogg - We Just Wanna Party With You ft JD
JD is famous producer Jermaine Dupri, of course.
22.(NE) Kylie Minogue - Some Kind Of Bliss
The start of the Indiekylie persona, a song with writing and production input from members of the Manic Street Preachers only five years (or one week) after they'd failed to get her onto 'Little Baby Nothing'. Unfortunately, it was for a long time her smallest ever solo hit and the album probably would have been postponed even if it didn't have the potentially controversial title Impossible Princess.
23.(11) DJ Quicksilver - Free
24. (7) Cast - Live The Dream
25.(10) Finley Quaye - Even After All
26.(15) Shola Ama - You're The One I Love
27.(18) Backstreet Boys - Everybody (Backstreet's Back)
28.(NE) Marilyn Manson - Tourniquet
Following his other hit in the same vein. Ahem.
29.(19) Dannii Minogue - All I Wanna Do
30.(22) The Notorious BIG - Mo Money Mo Problems
31.(NE) Tin Tin Out - Strings For Yasmin
OK as Tin Tin Out songs go. Coincidentally, they would later have a major hit with a cover of a Sundays song
32.(14) Staxx - Joy {1997}
33.(27) Mary J Blige - Everything
34.(17) Chicane With Power Circle - Offshore '97
35.(NE) Praxis - Turn Me Out (Turn To Sugar) ft Kathy Brown
I do actually remember Mark Goodier announcing this as a new entry. More so than I remember the record, alas.
36.(28) Meredith Brooks - Bitch
37.(NE) Deni Hines - I Like The Way
This must have been when they realised the UK wasn't going to be a big market for her.
38.(24) Ginuwine - When Doves Cry
39.(32) Coolio - C U When U Get There ft 40 Thevz
40.(20) Ocean Colour Scene - Traveller's Tune

41.(NE) Dubstar - Cathedral Park
Their first single to miss the Top 40, albeit only just.
45.(NE) B-Crew - Partay Feeling ft Barbara Tucker, Ultra Nate, Dajae And Mone
52.(NE) Mr President - I Give You My Heart
My brother bought this single. Not many other people did.
55.(NE) Monaco - Shine (Someone Who Needs Me)
59.(NE) Chilli - Tic Tic Tac (Dance To Boi Bumba!) ft Carrapicho
64.(RE) Gary Barlow - So Help Me Girl
66.(NE) KRS-One - Heartbeat/A Friend/Step Into A World
70.(NE) Chevelle Franklyn - Dancehall Queen ft Beenie Man
71.(NE) Helen Love - Does Your Heart Go Boom?
Dissing fellow 1997 hitmakers Bush and Kula Shaker, but namechecking Atari Teenage Riot.
72.(NE) PJ - Happy Days
Apparently not Ant McPartlin gone solo.
75.(NE) Shades - Serenade