1992 in British music explained

This is a summary of 1992 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.

Summary

1992 was a bleak time for the UK Singles Chart, with sales at a very low level. Due to several long chart runs, only 12 singles topped the chart this year (not counting the Queen single, which was a holdover from Christmas 1991), the lowest number since 1962, which also saw 12. In addition, none of them only lasted a week – all lasted at least two, the first time this had happened since 1971.

In the album charts Simply Red had continued success with Stars which would prove to be the second best selling album of the 90's and the best of 91 and 92. Although none of its singles reached no.1, title track Stars peaked at no.8 with all others making the top 40.

Shakespears Sister's hit "Stay" was the longest chart topper of 1992, holding onto the No 1 slot for 8 weeks.

The year saw the start of the ABBA revival, though, with Erasure grabbing the top spot for five weeks in June with their Abba-esque EP, which featured covers of ABBA songs. This was followed by ABBA tribute band Björn Again releasing Erasure-ish in October, which featured covers of Erasure songs. This reached number 25. ABBA's album reached No. 1 for a week in September.

September also saw the Shamen attract controversy with the rave song "Ebeneezer Goode", which, though apparently a song about a fictional character, contained many jokey allusions to the drug Ecstasy, including the chorus "Eezer Goode, Eezer Goode, he's Ebeneezer Goode" (which sounded like "E's are good, E's are good", 'E' being a slang term for Ecstasy). The controversy ensured the song reached number 1 and stayed there for four weeks.

The biggest selling single of the year, and also the only one to sell over a million, was Whitney Houston's cover of "I Will Always Love You", taken from the film The Bodyguard. Originally charting in November, the song hit number 1 later that month, and stayed there until February next year.

The Wedding Present equalled the all-time record of Elvis Presley for most UK Top 30 hits in a year (12), by releasing limited edition, 10,000-copies-only 7" singles every month from January to December. Out of this they achieved their first (and only) ever top ten single, "Come Play With Me" in May of that year.

In the field of classical music, British composer John Palmer won the City of Lucerne Cultural Prize for Music. New classical works by British composers included the Flute Concerto by William Mathias and the String Quartet No. 1 by Mathias's former pupil John Pickard. Classic FM, the first national classical music station to launch since the opening of BBC Radio 3, 25 years earlier, began broadcasting in September.

Events

• 12 February - The KLF perform a thrash metal version of "3am Eternal" with Extreme Noise Terror at the Brit Awards, the performance is rounded off with Bill Drummond firing blanks into the audience before Scott Piering announcing that "The KLF have now left the music business". And at the aftershow party, the band dump a dead sheep outside. The band then announce their retirement, deleting their back catalogue, and their Brit award statue was later found buried in a field near Stonehenge.
• 27 March – The first performance of Robin Holloway‘s Concerto for violin and orchestra, op 70 takes place in Manchester.
• 20 April – The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert takes place at Wembley Stadium in London, England. All proceeds go to AIDS research.
• 24 April – David Bowie marries fashion model Iman.^[1]
• 9 May – In the opening concert of the Sheffield Chamber Music Festival at the Crucible Theatre, the premiere of Michael Tippett‘s String Quartet No 5 is given by the Lindsay String Quartet.
• 18 May - Shut Up and Dance release their single "Raving I'm Raving" but only as a limited edition single, as the single samples "Walking In Memphis" by Marc Cohn - who threatened a lawsuit after the duo had not sought permission to use the sample. A compromise is reached, with the duo agreeing to only release it as a limited single, donate all the royalties to charity and to have the single deleted after one week. The controversy saw the single chart at #2, before falling to No.15 the following week before leaving the chart completely.
• 18 June - The Flute Concerto by William Mathias has its premiere at the Criccieth Festival, with soloist William Bennett (to whom the work is dedicated), and the Guildhall String Ensemble.
• 24 June - Andrzej Panufnik's last completed composition, the Cello Concerto receives its world premiere at the Barbican, with soloist Mstislav Rostropovich and the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Hugh Wolff.
• 8 August - Morrissey is pelted with coins and missiles after performing at the Madstock Festival, whilst draped in a Union Jack flag and singing "National Front Disco" in front of Madness fans.
• 10 August - The world premiere of Veni, Veni, Emmanuel, a percussion concerto by James MacMillan, takes place at the Proms in the Royal Albert Hall, with soloist Evelyn Glennie.
• 7 September - Classic FM begins broadcasting.
• 9 September - Primal Scream are the winners of the first Mercury Prize award, for their album "Screamadelica". When celebrating, they famously lose their cheque for £20,000 that they were given with the award.
• 30 October - George Michael files a lawsuit against his label Sony, declaring that they had failed to promote his "Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1" album, and for what he perceived as "professional slavery" - stating that his label left him with "no artistic control". He would lose his case in June 1994. George would later state that he regretted suing his label.
• 22 November - Factory Records is declared bankrupt, and their catalogue is sold to London Records
• 3 December - Bill Wyman announces he is quitting The Rolling Stones.
• 9 December - John Pickard's String Qaurtet No 1 (1991) is performed for the first time in Colchester by the Britten Quartet.

Charts

Number-one singles

Chart date (week ending)	Song	Artist(s)
4 January	"Bohemian Rhapsody/These Are the Days of Our Lives"	Queen
11 January
18 January
25 January	"Goodnight Girl"	Wet Wet Wet
1 February
8 February
15 February
22 February	"Stay"	Shakespear's Sister
29 February
7 March
14 March
21 March
28 March
4 April
11 April
18 April	"Deeply Dippy"	Right Said Fred
25 April
2 May
9 May	"Please Don't Go"	K.W.S.
16 May
23 May
30 May
6 June
13 June	Abba-esque	Erasure
20 June
27 June
4 July
11 July
18 July	"Ain't No Doubt"	Jimmy Nail
25 July
1 August
8 August	"Rhythm Is a Dancer"	Snap!
15 August
22 August
29 August
5 September
12 September
19 September	"Ebeneezer Goode"	The Shamen
26 September
3 October
10 October
17 October	"Sleeping Satellite"	Tasmin Archer
24 October
31 October	"End of the Road"	Boyz II Men
7 November
14 November
21 November	"Would I Lie to You?"	Charles & Eddie
28 November
5 December	"I Will Always Love You"	Whitney Houston
12 December
19 December
26 December

Number-one albums

Chart date (week ending)	Album	Artist(s)
4 January	Stars	Simply Red
11 January
18 January
25 January
1 February
8 February	High on the Happy Side	Wet Wet Wet
15 February
22 February	Stars	Simply Red
29 February
7 March
14 March	Divine Madness	Madness
21 March
28 March
4 April	Human Touch	Bruce Springsteen
11 April	Adrenalize	Def Leppard
18 April	Diva	Annie Lennox
25 April	Up	Right Said Fred
2 May	Wish	The Cure
9 May	Stars	Simply Red
16 May	1992 – The Love Album	Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine
23 May	Fear of the Dark	Iron Maiden
30 May	Michael Ball	Michael Ball
6 June	Back to Front	Lionel Richie
13 June
20 June
27 June
4 July
11 July
18 July	U.F.Orb	The Orb
25 July		Neil Diamond
1 August
8 August
15 August	Welcome to Wherever You Are	INXS
22 August	We Can't Dance	Genesis
29 August	Best... I	The Smiths
5 September	Greatest Hits	Kylie Minogue
12 September	Tubular Bells II	Mike Oldfield
19 September
26 September	The Best of Belinda, Volume 1	Belinda Carlisle
3 October	ABBA Gold	ABBA
10 October	Automatic for the People	R.E.M.
17 October	Love Symbol	Prince
24 October	Glittering Prize 81/92	Simple Minds
31 October
7 November
14 November	Keep the Faith	Bon Jovi
21 November		Cher
28 November	Pop! The First 20 Hits	Erasure
5 December
12 December	Greatest Hits: 1965–1992	Cher
19 December
26 December

Year-end charts

Best-selling singles

^[2]

scope=col		scope=col	Title	scope=col	Artist	scope=col	Peak position	scope=col	Estimated sales^[3]
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	1	"I Will Always Love You"		1	1,000,000+
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	2	"Rhythm Is a Dancer"	Snap!	1	675,000
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	3	"Would I Lie to You?"	Charles & Eddie	1	600,000
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	4	"Stay"	Shakespears Sister	1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	5	"Please Don't Go"/"Game Boy"	KWS	1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	6	"End of the Road"	Boyz II Men	1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	7	Abba-esque (EP)	Erasure	1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	8	"Ain't No Doubt"		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	9	"Heal the World"		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	10	"Goodnight Girl"	Wet Wet Wet	1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	11	"Baker Street"	Undercover	2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	12	"Deeply Dippy"	Right Said Fred	1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	13	"Ebeneezer Goode"		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	14	"Hazard"		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	15	"Bohemian Rhapsody"/"These Are the Days of Our Lives"	Queen	1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	16	"Sleeping Satellite"		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	17	"The Best Things in Life Are Free"	and Janet Jackson with special guests BBD and Ralph Tresvant	2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	18	"It's My Life"	Dr. Alban	2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	19	"Just Another Day"		5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	20	"On a Ragga Tip"	SL2	2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	21	"Achy Breaky Heart"		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	22	"My Girl"		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	23	"People Everyday"	Arrested Development	2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	24	"I Love Your Smile" (remix)	Shanice	2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	25	"Jump"	Kris Kross	2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	26	"Twilight Zone"	2 Unlimited	2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	27	"Sesame's Treet"	Smart E's	2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	28	"I'm Doing Fine Now"		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	29	"I'm Gonna Get You"	Bizarre Inc featuring Angie Brown	3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	30	"Barcelona"	& Montserrat Caballé	2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	31	"To Be with You"	Mr. Big	3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	32	"My Destiny"		7
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	33	"Don't You Want Me"	Felix	6
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	34	"Knockin' On Heaven's Door"	Guns N' Roses	2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	35	"Heartbeat"		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	36	"Something Good"	Utah Saints	4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	37	"Could It Be Magic"	Take That	4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	38	"I Wonder Why"		5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	39	"Everything About You"	Ugly Kid Joe	3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	40	"I'll Be There"	featuring Trey Lorenz	2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	41	"Temptation" (Brothers in Rhythm Remix)	Heaven 17	4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	42	"This Used to Be My Playground"	Madonna	3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	43	"Out of Space"		5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	44	"Shake Your Head"	Was (Not Was)	4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	45	"Too Much Love Will Kill You"		5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	46	"Everybody in the Place"		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	47	"Slam Jam"		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	48	"Finally"		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	49	"Never Let Her Slip Away"	Undercover	5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	50	"Give Me Just a Little More Time"		2

Best-selling albums

^[4]

scope=col		scope=col	Title	scope=col	Artist	scope=col	Peak position
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	1	Stars	Simply Red	1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	2	Back to Front		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	3		Cher	1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	4	Glittering Prize 81/92	Simple Minds	1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	5	Dangerous		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	6	Diva		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	7			3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	8	Divine Madness	Madness	1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	9	We Can't Dance	Genesis	2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	10	Up	Right Said Fred	1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	11		Erasure	1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	12	ABBA Gold	ABBA	1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	13	Greatest Hits		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	14	Hormonally Yours	Shakespears Sister	3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	15	High on the Happy Side	Wet Wet Wet	1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	16	Real Love		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	17	Automatic for the People	R.E.M.	1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	18	The Way We Walk, Volume One: The Shorts	Genesis	3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	19	Greatest Hits II	Queen	2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	20	Nevermind	Nirvana	7
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	21	Simply the Best		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	22	Tubular Bells II		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	23	Curtis Stigers		7
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	24	The Commitments Original Soundtrack	Various Artists	8
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	25	Tears Roll Down (Greatest Hits 82–92)	Tears for Fears	2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	26	Boss Drum		3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	27	Erotica	Madonna	2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	28	The Best of Belinda, Volume 1		1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	29	The Freddie Mercury Album		4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	30			1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	31	Achtung Baby	U2	8
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	32	Take That and Party	Take That	3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	33	Diamonds and Pearls	Prince and the New Power Generation	8
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	34	Greatest Hits	Queen	6
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	35	Adrenalize	Def Leppard	1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	36	Shepherd Moons	Enya	12
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	37	Woodface	Crowded House	6
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	38	Use Your Illusion II	Guns N' Roses	10
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	39	Waking Up the Neighbours		11
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	40	Out of Time	R.E.M.	13
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	41	Michael Crawford Performs Andrew Lloyd Webber		7
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	42	Use Your Illusion I	Guns N' Roses	18
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	43	The Force Behind the Power		15
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	44	The One		2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	45			4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	46	Legend	and the Wailers	18
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	47	Keep the Faith	Bon Jovi	1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	48	Symbol	Prince and the New Power Generation	1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	49	Seal	Seal	5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"	50	Time, Love & Tenderness		6

Notes:

Music awards

Brit Awards

The 1992 Brit Awards winners were:

• Best British producer: Trevor Horn
• Best international solo artist: Prince
• Best soundtrack: The Commitments
• British album: Seal: Seal
• British newcomer: Beverley Craven
• British female solo artist – Lisa Stansfield
• British group: Simply Red
• British male solo artist: Seal
• British single: Queen – "These Are the Days of Our Lives"
• British video: Seal – "Killer"
• International newcomer: P.M. Dawn
• International group: R.E.M.
• Outstanding contribution: Freddie Mercury

Mercury Music Prize

The 1992 Mercury Music Prize was awarded to Primal Scream – Screamadelica.

Classical music

• Alun Hoddinott – Symphony No.9 "Vision of Eternity"
• James MacMillan – Veni, Veni, Emmanuel (concerto for percussion and orchestra)
• William Mathias – Flute Concerto
• David Sawer – Byrnan Wood

Opera

• Jonathan Harvey – Inquest of Love.

Film and incidental music

• Michael Nyman – The Piano directed by Jane Campion.

Births

• 10 February – Misha B, singer-songwriter
• 26 April – Danielle Hope, singer and actress
• 19 May – Sam Smith, singer-songwriter
• 4 July – Nick Hissom, singer
• 8 July – Benjamin Grosvenor, pianist
• 2 August – Charli XCX, singer-songwriter
• 4 August – S-X, producer and singer-songwriter
• 16 September –Jessica Plummer, actress and singer^[5]
• 5 October – Alex Prior, conductor and composer
• 22 October
  • 21 Savage, London-born American hip-hop artist
  • Carrie Hope Fletcher, singer
• 21 November – Conor Maynard, singer
• date unknown – Christopher Bond, brass band composer

Deaths

• 8 February – Denny Wright, guitarist and songwriter, 67 (bladder cancer)
• 29 April – Stephen Oliver, opera composer, 42 (AIDS-related)^[6]
• 20 June – Sir Charles Groves, conductor, 77
• 5 July – Georgia Brown, singer and actress, the original Nancy in Oliver!, 58 (surgical complications)
• 29 July – William Mathias, composer, 57
• 3 August – Don Lang, trombonist and singer, 67 (cancer)
• 19 September – Sir Geraint Evans, operatic baritone, 70
• 7 October – Harold Truscott, pianist, composer, broadcaster and music writer, 78
• 7 November – Henri Temianka, virtuoso violinist, conductor, author and music educator, 85^[7]
• 29 November – Paul Ryan, singer, songwriter and record producer, 44 (cancer)
• 22 December – Harry Bluestone, violinist, 85
• date unknown
  • Paul Hammond, drummer of Atomic Rooster (accidental drug overdose)
  • Malcolm MacDonald, composer

See also

• 1992 in British radio
• 1992 in British television
• 1992 in the United Kingdom
• List of British films of 1992

External links

• BBC Radio 1's Chart Show
• The Official Charts Company

Notes and References

1. http://urumamant.livejournal.com/20089.html Live Journal
2. Year End Charts: Top Singles . . 8 . 16 January 1993.
3. Alan . Jones . Best Sellers . Music Week . 9 . 16 January 1993.
4. Year End Charts: Top Albums . Music Week . 10 . 16 January 1993.
5. Crick. Clair. Jessica Plummer – things you didn't know about the I'm A Celebrity star. What's on TV. 12 November 2020. 26 November 2020.
6. http://britishlibrary.typepad.co.uk/music/2012/11/stephen-oliver-archive-at-the-british-library.html The Stephen Oliver Archive at the British Library
7. https://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/10/arts/henri-temianka-is-dead-at-85-violinist-and-founder-of-quartet.html Henri Temianka Is Dead at 85; Violinist and Founder of Quartet - New York Times