This is a summary of 1995 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.
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.
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" | Blur | 274,000 |
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 |
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 | Life | Simply 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 |
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 |
scope=col | scope=col | Title | scope=col | Artist | scope=col | Peak position | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 1 | "Unchained Melody"/"(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover" | Robson & Jerome | 1 | |||
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 & Jerome | 1 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 4 | "Back for Good" | Take That | 1 | |||
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 Red | 1 | |||
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 Girl | 3 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 10 | "Wonderwall" | Oasis | 2 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 11 | "Boom Boom Boom" | 1 | ||||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 12 | "Country House" | Blur | 1 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 13 | "Father and Son" | Boyzone | 2 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 14 | "Don't Stop (Wiggle Wiggle)" | 1 | ||||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 15 | "Boombastic" | Shaggy | 1 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 16 | "Cotton Eye Joe" | Rednex | 1 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 17 | "Set You Free" (Remix) | N-Trance | 2 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 18 | "Living Next Door to Alice (Who the F**k Is Alice?)" | Smokie featuring Roy Chubby Brown | 3 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 19 | "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" | U2 | 2 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 20 | "Roll with It" | Oasis | 2 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 21 | "Guaglione" | & his Orchestra | 2 | |||
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" | Björk | 4 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 27 | "Never Forget" | Take That | 1 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 28 | "Don't Give Me Your Life" | Alex Party | 2 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 29 | "Waterfalls" | TLC | 4 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 30 | "Scatman (Ski Ba Bop Ba Dop Bop)" | Scatman John | 3 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 31 | "Some Might Say" | Oasis | 1 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 32 | "You'll See" | Madonna | 5 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 33 | "Thunder" | East 17 | 4 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 34 | "Stayin' Alive" | N-Trance featuring Ricardo da Force | 2 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 35 | "I'd Lie for You (And That's the Truth)" | Meat Loaf | 2 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 36 | "Common People" | Pulp | 2 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 37 | "Fantasy" | 4 | ||||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 38 | "I've Got a Little Something for You" | MN8 | 2 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 39 | "Kiss from a Rose"/"I'm Alive" | Seal | 4 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 40 | "Dreamer" (Remix) | Livin' Joy | 1 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 41 | "Heaven for Everyone" | Queen | 2 | |||
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 Clapton | 1 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 44 | "(Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime) I Need Your Loving" | Baby D | 3 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 45 | "The Sunshine After the Rain" | Berri | 4 | |||
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" | Supergrass | 2 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 50 | "Mis-Shapes"/"Sorted for E's & Wizz" | Pulp | 2 |
scope=col | scope=col | Title | scope=col | Artist | scope=col | Peak position | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 1 | Robson & Jerome | Robson & Jerome | 1 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 2 | (What's the Story) Morning Glory? | Oasis | 1 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 3 | The Colour of My Love | 1 | ||||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 4 | Life | Simply Red | 1 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 5 | 1 | |||||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 6 | Made in Heaven | Queen | 1 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 7 | Stanley Road | 1 | ||||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 8 | Picture This | Wet Wet Wet | 1 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 9 | The Great Escape | Blur | 1 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 10 | Different Class | Pulp | 1 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 11 | Something to Remember | Madonna | 3 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 12 | Love Songs | 4 | ||||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 13 | Carry On up the Charts: The Best of the Beautiful South | 1 | ||||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 14 | Medusa | 1 | ||||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 15 | Daydream | 1 | ||||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 16 | Nobody Else | Take That | 1 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 17 | Definitely Maybe | Oasis | 5 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 18 | Bizarre Fruit/Bizarre Fruit II | M People | 8 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 19 | Anthology 1 | 3 | ||||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 20 | These Days | Bon Jovi | 1 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 21 | The Memory of Trees | Enya | 5 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 22 | No Need to Argue | 3 | ||||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 23 | Said and Done | Boyzone | 1 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 24 | 2 | |||||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 25 | Parklife | Blur | 2 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 26 | Jollification | 15 | ||||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 27 | Greatest Hits | 1 | ||||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 28 | Dummy | Portishead | 2 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 29 | Greatest Hits (1985–1995) | 2 | ||||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 30 | Def Leppard | 3 | ||||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 31 | Singles | 1 | ||||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 32 | Power of a Woman | Eternal | 6 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 33 | CrazySexyCool | TLC | 4 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 34 | I Should Coco | Supergrass | 1 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 35 | Welcome to the Neighbourhood | Meat Loaf | 3 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 36 | Post | Björk | 2 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 37 | Cross Road: The Best of Bon Jovi | Bon Jovi | 4 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 38 | Big River | 8 | ||||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 39 | It's Great When You're Straight... Yeah | Black Grape | 1 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 40 | Crocodile Shoes | 3 | ||||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 41 | Pulse | Pink Floyd | 1 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 42 | Pan Pipe Moods | Free the Spirit | 2 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 43 | Up All Night | East 17 | 7 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 44 | The Very Best of Robert Palmer | 4 | ||||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 45 | Chants and Dances of the Native Americans | Sacred Spirit | 9 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 46 | Seal | Seal | 3 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 47 | Monster | R.E.M. | 8 | |||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 48 | Tuesday Night Music Club | 8 | ||||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 49 | Jagged Little Pill | 12 | ||||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 50 | Don't Bore Us – Get to the Chorus!: Roxette's Greatest Hits | Roxette | 5 |
scope=col | scope=col | Title | scope=col | Peak position | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 1 | Now 32 | 1 | ||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 2 | The Love Album II | 2 | ||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 3 | Now 30 | 1 | ||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 4 | The Best Rock Ballads in the World... Ever! | 2 | ||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 5 | Now 31 | 1 | ||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 6 | Heartbeat: Forever Yours | 1 | ||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 7 | Pulp Fiction Original Soundtrack | 5 | ||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 8 | The Best Sixties Album in the World... Ever! | 2 | ||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 9 | Dance Tip 95 | 3 | ||
scope=row style="text-align:center;" | 10 | Pure Swing IV | 1 |
Notes:
The 1995 Brit Awards winners were:
The 1995 Mercury Music Prize was awarded to Portishead – Dummy.