1995 in British music explained

This is a summary of 1995 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.

Summary

1995 saw a number of changes occur. Céline Dion's "Think Twice", which was released in October 1994 yet took until the end of January to reach the top, was the first UK number 1 single not to be available on vinyl in any form.

Around the middle of the year, the way singles entered the chart started to change. Instead of entering low and climbing up to their peak, singles would now usually enter at their peak, and then fall down the chart. In May, Robson & Jerome became the first British act to reach number 1 with "Unchained Melody", after having sung the song on the ITV programme Soldier Soldier. In May, music featured in an advertising campaign for Guinness reached number 2 – mambo tune "Guaglione" by Pérez Prado was a massive hit and the advert featured on an accompanying screensaver.

This was also the year which saw Britpop at its most popular. A highly publicised chart battle in August saw Oasis and Blur battling it out for the number 1 position, having both released their singles on the same day. Blur won the singles battle, with "Country House" beating Oasis' "Roll with It" to the top spot, but Oasis, with (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, would go on to greatly outsell Blur's album, the album of which would eventually become the second biggest album in the UK. After a decade in the business Pulp secured a first number one album while Britpop elder statesman Paul Weller also benefited from a return to popular and critical favour.

Singles that went on to sell over a million copies were Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise", the first rap single to sell over a million in the UK, both of Robson & Jerome's songs ("Unchained Melody" / "White Cliffs of Dover", the biggest selling single of the year, and "I Believe" / "Up on the Roof") and Michael Jackson's "Earth Song". In addition, a second remix of New Order's "Blue Monday" (reaching number 17) pushed sales of that song over a million as well.

In all, there were 17 number one singles in 1995. As the 1990s continued the amount started to increase, and there wouldn't be a total as low as 1995's.

Composer Michael Tippett celebrated his ninetieth birthday on 2 January. the occasion was marked by special events in Britain, Canada and the US, including the premiere of his final work, The Rose Lake, in February. A collection of his essays, Tippett on Music, was also published. In July Thomas Adès' 1995 chamber opera Powder Her Face with a libretto by Philip Hensher won good reviews, but also notoriety for its musical depiction of fellatio. And there was further controversy and much negative press when Harrison Birtwistle's uncompromising Panic was included in the typically populist Last Night of the Proms in September. The same month Karl Jenkins had a huge popular hit with his album , thanks to the music's exposure in television advertisements.

Events

Charts

Number-one singles

Chart date
(week ending)
Song Artist(s) Sales
7 January "Stay Another Day"
14 January "Cotton Eye Joe" 60,000
21 January 85,000
28 January 70,000
4 February "Think Twice" 74,000
11 February 80,000
18 February 86,000
25 February 154,000
4 March 141,000
11 March 120,000
18 March 50,000
25 March "Love Can Build a Bridge" 150,000
1 April "Don't Stop (Wiggle Wiggle)" 90,000
8 April "Back for Good" 346,000
15 April 185,000
22 April 140,000
29 April 85,000
6 May "Some Might Say" 138,000
13 May "Dreamer" 106,000
20 May "Unchained Melody" / "White Cliffs of Dover" 314,000
27 May 460,000
3 June 320,000
10 June 210,000
17 June 145,000
24 June 90,000
1 July 73,000
8 July "Boom Boom Boom" The Outhere Brothers 62,000
15 July 74,000
22 July 77,000
29 July 65,000
5 August "Never Forget" Take That 115,000
12 August 86,000
19 August 54,000
26 August "Country House" Blur274,000
2 September 135,000
9 September "You Are Not Alone" 83,000
16 September 100,000
23 September "Boombastic" 93,000
30 September "Fairground" 211,000
7 October 142,000
14 October 129,000
21 October 96,000
28 October "Gangsta's Paradise" 107,000
4 November 166,000
11 November "I Believe" / "Up on the Roof" Robson & Jerome 258,000
18 November 224,000
25 November 118,000
2 December 80,000
9 December "Earth Song" Michael Jackson 116,467
16 December 149,549
23 December 150,739
30 December 261,851

Number-one albums

Chart date
(week ending)
Album Artist
7 January Carry On Up the Charts The Beautiful South
14 January
21 January
28 January The Colour of My Love Celine Dion
4 February
11 February
18 February
25 February
4 March
11 March Greatest Hits Bruce Springsteen
18 March Medusa Annie Lennox
25 March Elastica Elastica
1 April The Colour of My Love Celine Dion
8 April Wake Up! The Boo Radleys
15 April Greatest Hits Bruce Springsteen
22 April Picture This Wet Wet Wet
29 April
6 May
13 May Nobody Else Take That
20 May
27 May Stanley Road Paul Weller
3 June Singles Alison Moyet
10 June Pulse Pink Floyd
17 June
24 June Michael Jackson
1 July These Days Bon Jovi
8 July
15 July
22 July
29 July I Should Coco Supergrass
5 August
12 August
19 August It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah Black Grape
26 August
2 September Said and Done Boyzone
9 September The Charlatans The Charlatans
16 September Zeitgeist The Levellers
23 September The Great Escape Blur
30 September
7 October Daydream Mariah Carey
14 October (What's the Story) Morning Glory? Oasis
21 October LifeSimply Red
28 October
4 November
11 November Different Class Pulp
18 November Made in Heaven Queen
25 November Robson & Jerome Robson & Jerome
2 December
9 December
16 December
23 December
30 December

Number-one compilation albums

Chart date
(week ending)
Album
7 January Now 29
14 January
21 January
28 January The Best of Heartbeat
4 February The Best Punk Album in the World...Ever!
11 February Dance Mania 95 Volume 1
18 February
25 February On a Dance Tip
4 March
11 March
18 March Smash Hits 95 Volume 1
25 March Dance Zone Level 4
1 April
8 April Dance Mania 95 Volume 2
15 April
22 April Now 30
29 April
6 May
13 May
20 May On a Dance Tip 2
27 May
3 June
10 June Top of the Pops 1
17 June
24 June Dance Zone Level 5
1 July
8 July
15 July Dance Mania 95 – Volume 3
22 July
29 July
5 August The Best Summer...Ever!
12 August Now 31
19 August
26 August
2 September
9 September Dance Zone Level 6
16 September Help
23 September
30 September Heartbeat – Forever Yours
7 October
14 October
21 October
28 October
4 November
11 November The Greatest Party Album Under the Sun
18 November Pure Swing IV
25 November Now 32
2 December
9 December
16 December
23 December
30 December

Year-end charts

Best-selling singles

[2]

scope=col scope=col Titlescope=col Artistscope=col Peak
position
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 1"Unchained Melody"/"(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover"Robson & Jerome1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 2"Gangsta's Paradise"Coolio featuring L.V.1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 3"I Believe"/"Up on the Roof"Robson & Jerome1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 4"Back for Good"Take That1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 5"Think Twice"1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 6"Earth Song"1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 7"Fairground"Simply Red1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 8"You Are Not Alone"1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 9"Missing" (Todd Terry Club Mix)Everything but the Girl3
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 10"Wonderwall"Oasis2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 11"Boom Boom Boom"1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 12"Country House"Blur1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 13"Father and Son"Boyzone2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 14"Don't Stop (Wiggle Wiggle)"1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 15"Boombastic"Shaggy1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 16"Cotton Eye Joe"Rednex1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 17"Set You Free" (Remix)N-Trance2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 18"Living Next Door to Alice (Who the F**k Is Alice?)"Smokie featuring Roy Chubby Brown3
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 19"Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me"U22
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 20"Roll with It"Oasis2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 21"Guaglione" & his Orchestra2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 22"I'll Be There for You"3
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 23"Two Can Play That Game" (K Klassic Mix)3
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 24"Here Comes the Hotstepper"4
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 25"Shy Guy"2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 26"It's Oh So Quiet"Björk4
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 27"Never Forget"Take That1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 28"Don't Give Me Your Life"Alex Party2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 29"Waterfalls"TLC4
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 30"Scatman (Ski Ba Bop Ba Dop Bop)"Scatman John3
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 31"Some Might Say"Oasis1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 32"You'll See"Madonna5
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 33"Thunder"East 174
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 34"Stayin' Alive"N-Trance featuring Ricardo da Force2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 35"I'd Lie for You (And That's the Truth)"Meat Loaf2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 36"Common People"Pulp2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 37"Fantasy"4
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 38"I've Got a Little Something for You"MN82
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 39"Kiss from a Rose"/"I'm Alive"Seal4
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 40"Dreamer" (Remix)Livin' Joy1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 41"Heaven for Everyone"Queen2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 42"Free as a Bird"2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 43"Love Can Build a Bridge"Cher, Chrissie Hynde & Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 44"(Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime) I Need Your Loving"Baby D3
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 45"The Sunshine After the Rain"Berri4
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 46"The Bomb! (These Sounds Fall into My Mind)"5
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 47"Wonderwall"2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 48"Total Eclipse of the Heart"5
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 49"Alright"/"Time"Supergrass2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 50"Mis-Shapes"/"Sorted for E's & Wizz"Pulp2

Best-selling albums

[3]

scope=col scope=col Titlescope=col Artistscope=col Peak
position
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 1Robson & JeromeRobson & Jerome1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 2(What's the Story) Morning Glory?Oasis1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 3The Colour of My Love1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 4LifeSimply Red1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 51
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 6Made in HeavenQueen1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 7Stanley Road1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 8Picture ThisWet Wet Wet1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 9The Great EscapeBlur1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 10Different ClassPulp1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 11Something to RememberMadonna3
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 12Love Songs4
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 13Carry On up the Charts: The Best of the Beautiful South1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 14Medusa1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 15Daydream1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 16Nobody ElseTake That1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 17Definitely MaybeOasis5
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 18Bizarre Fruit/Bizarre Fruit IIM People8
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 19Anthology 13
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 20These DaysBon Jovi1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 21The Memory of TreesEnya5
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 22No Need to Argue3
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 23Said and DoneBoyzone1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 242
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 25ParklifeBlur2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 26Jollification15
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 27Greatest Hits1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 28DummyPortishead2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 29Greatest Hits (1985–1995)2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 30Def Leppard3
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 31Singles1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 32Power of a WomanEternal6
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 33CrazySexyCoolTLC4
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 34I Should CocoSupergrass1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 35Welcome to the NeighbourhoodMeat Loaf3
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 36PostBjörk2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 37Cross Road: The Best of Bon JoviBon Jovi4
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 38Big River8
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 39It's Great When You're Straight... YeahBlack Grape1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 40Crocodile Shoes3
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 41PulsePink Floyd1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 42Pan Pipe MoodsFree the Spirit2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 43Up All NightEast 177
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 44The Very Best of Robert Palmer4
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 45Chants and Dances of the Native AmericansSacred Spirit9
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 46SealSeal3
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 47MonsterR.E.M.8
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 48Tuesday Night Music Club8
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 49Jagged Little Pill12
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 50Don't Bore Us – Get to the Chorus!: Roxette's Greatest HitsRoxette5

Best-selling compilation albums

[4]

scope=col scope=col Titlescope=col Peak
position
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 1Now 321
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 2The Love Album II2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 3Now 301
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 4The Best Rock Ballads in the World... Ever!2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 5Now 311
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 6Heartbeat: Forever Yours1
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 7Pulp Fiction Original Soundtrack5
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 8The Best Sixties Album in the World... Ever!2
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 9Dance Tip 953
scope=row style="text-align:center;" 10Pure Swing IV1

Notes:

Classical music

Opera

Musical films

Music awards

Brit Awards

The 1995 Brit Awards winners were:

Mercury Music Prize

The 1995 Mercury Music Prize was awarded to PortisheadDummy.

Births

Deaths

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/radio1/england/1995-04-21 BBC Genome project Radio 1 listings 21 April 1995
  2. Top 100 Singles 1995 . . 9 . 13 January 1996.
  3. Top 100 Albums 1995 . Music Week . 11 . 13 January 1996.
  4. Top 50 Compilations of 1995 . Music Week . 12 . 13 January 1996.
  5. Web site: Viola Concerto No. 1. Sally Beamish. 3 April 2022.
  6. Book: Gloag, Kenneth . The Cambridge companion to Michael Tippett . Cambridge University Press . Cambridge . 2013 . 9781107021976 . xxxi.
  7. Web site: Jonathan Antoine – Biography. Jonathanantoineofficial.com. 13 October 2014. 27 November 2016.
  8. Book: Buckley, Peter . The rough guide to rock . Rough Guides Distributed by the Penguin Group . London New York . 2003 . 9781843531050 . 1002.
  9. Simmonds, Jeremy. The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars: Heroin, Handguns, and Ham Sandwiches. Chicago Review Press, 2008.,
  10. Web site: The Grim Reaper's Greatest Hits . Rockmine.com . 2008-03-16 .
  11. News: OBITUARY: Alan Dell – independent.co.uk. 28 April 2012. London. The Independent. Steve. Voce. 29 August 1995.
  12. 'Christopher Shaw' by David Drew, in Musical Times, July 1963
  13. Halligan, Benjamin. Michael Reeves, Manchester University Press, 2003.
  14. GRO Register of Deaths: NOV 1995 B28C 156 WYCOMBE – Marti Caine, DoB = 26 Jan 1945 aged 50
  15. News: OBITUARY: Alan Hull . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-alan-hull-1582853.html . 1 May 2022 . subscription . live . 20 November 1995 . Chris . Welch . The Independent . 29 October 2018 .