Singles
-------
The Comic Relief version of Proclaimers '500 Miles' holds off a strong 
challenge by Avril to remain at #1 for a third week. :(

New Entries/Climbers
--------------------
Top 10 : MARK RONSON #6, TIMBALAND #8, BEYONCE/SHAKIRA #10
Top 20 : ARCTIC MONKEYS #11, MCR #13, Ciara #16,
Top 30 : ERASURE #21, NATASHA BEDINGFIELD #25
Top 40 : LITTLE MAN TATE #33, DAN LE SAC #34, NE-YO #35, MIKA #38, 
LINKIN PARK #39

New outside the top 40 : Fall Out Boy #41, Akon #45, DE Souza #46, GB&Q 
#51, Bright Eyes #57, Amy Winehouse #73, Bloc Party #74, Just Jack #75

Albums
------
Kings Of Leon claim their first #1 album, well ahead of Maximo Park.

NE's (top 20) : Timbaland #10, MacDonald Brothers #18

Big RE for Proclaimers too - up from 99 to 5

New outside the top 20 : Engelbert Humperdink #21, Alison Krauss #38, 
Modest Mouse #47, Waterboys #51, James Taylor #55, Mel C #57, Macy Gray 
#62


Next Week
---------
Singles
-------
I suspect it'll be between Avril & Arctic Monkeys for #1, with my money 
on the former, though Mark Ronson has come from *nowhere* to have a 
chance.

Top 10 : Timbaland, B&S, AM
Top 20 : Natasha B
Top 30 : Dan Le Sac, Ne-Yo, Mika, Linkin Park, Fall Out Boy
Top 40 : Akon, Just Jack, Bloc Party

Albums
------
Kings Of Leon could perhaps hold onto #1, as there is sod-all in the way 
of new releases that I can see.

Top 20 NE : None
-- 
Paul Hyett, Cheltenham (change 'invalid83261' to 'blueyonder' to email me)

"Paul Hyett"  wrote in message 
news:7tDbZxAguTGGFwnv@blueyonder.co.uk...
> Singles
> -------
> The Comic Relief version of Proclaimers '500 Miles' holds off a strong 
> challenge by Avril to remain at #1 for a third week. :(

Last week she sold fewer copies but climbed the chart anyway - with the CD 
single now available she's presumably gained sales without climbing this 
time.

> New Entries/Climbers
> --------------------
> Top 10 : MARK RONSON #6,

.... and DANIEL MERRIWETHER - The Cascada it's socially acceptable to like?
Out on CD & 12" tomorrow.

>TIMBALAND #8,

After appearing on two UK Number Ones last year, he makes his Top 10 debut 
as a lead artist, albeit that Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake seem to be 
more prominent vocalists here - Timberlake, in particular, comes over as 
more of an arse than usual.
Odd that this has been available digitally since mid-March and suddenly 
vaults from outside the Top 75.
Out on CD tomorrow.

> BEYONCE/SHAKIRA #10

I dunno, maybe it's exclusive to one website or something.
Released on CD singles on the 16th, with a 12" apparently following a 
fortnight later.

> Top 20 : ARCTIC MONKEYS #11,

Charting for the first time on their career on pre-release downloads.
Released on CD, 7" and 10" on the 16th.

> MCR #13,

More workmanlike rock-by-numbers. Although they demonstrably have plenty of 
fans, it seems like the crossover appeal of 'Welcome To The Black Parade' my 
be a one-off.

> Ciara #16,

Speaking of music that isn't very interesting. At least this has the benefit 
of a moderately unusual premise. And it's better than 'I Wish I Was A Girl' 
by Violent Delight.

> Top 30 : ERASURE #21,

My Chemical Romance don't love us, but the "compensation" is that Erasure 
could fall in love with us.
Pretty much the same single they've been releasing for the last couple of 
decades here.

> NATASHA BEDINGFIELD #25

No doubt hoping somebody in her family can have a successful second album.
There was really no excuse for JK & J to inflict this on us twice tonight.
Out on CD on the 16th.

> Top 40 : LITTLE MAN TATE #33,

There's a lot of love in the charts this week, isn't there? Aaah.
Fifth Top 40 single and fourth from their debut LP. It sounds like a slight 
change in musical mood for them, but not necessarily in a good way. 
Admittedly I was never a fan to start with, but this sounds slightly more 
like a dash for mainstream accessibility, and not a wholly succesful one as 
it turns out.

> DAN LE SAC #34,

Thou shalt not question Stephen Fry, they say.
Out on 7" on the 16th.

> NE-YO #35,

Out on CD on the 16th. Busy week, that.

> MIKA #38,

Presumably still out on CD on the 30th.

> LINKIN PARK #39

First genuinely new material from them in some four years, released 
digitally in the middle of the week - I don't know when or if a physical 
single is coming out.
It's already matched the peak of the last hit they had on their own, 
'Breaking The Habit'.

> New outside the top 40 : Fall Out Boy #41,

Out on CD & 7" tomorrow.

> Akon #45,

Not sure when this is out. Naturally, I'm hoping for never.

> DE Souza #46,

Shena being the same one who sang on 'Weekend' by Michael Gray, apparently.
I can only half remember this one.

>GB&Q #51,

Third single from Damon Albarn's current project, a song which he apparently 
wrote for Marianne Faithfull.
I think it's probably the best material yet from them and could have been a 
really good record had he recorded it in the days when he could be bothered 
to sing properly.

At 56, Arcade Fire - A band who seem like Exhibit A for Brian Eno's claim 
that all modern guitar music is derived from Talking Heads, although this 
single has a definite air of Echo & The Bunnymen about it too.
Strangely enough, although 'Wake Up' (released nine months after its parent 
album as an etched 7") was able to reach the Top 30, issuing this as a 
normal 7" with a B-side less than a month after the album seems to have 
proved less popular.

>  Bright Eyes #57,

As previously noted, you can download this for free from his American 
label's site, and I have indeed done so for research purposes. This may have 
cost him a few sales, but I suppose this will mainly have appealed to his 
fans anyway.
It's a bit more of a country sound than he's usually known for, and also 
drops the title of the forthcoming album Cassadaga.

>Amy Winehouse #73,

Out on CD, 7" and 12" on the 30th.

> Bloc Party #74,

Out on 7"s and CD tomorrow.

> Just Jack #75

On CD, 7" & 12" on the 16th.

> Albums
> ------
> Kings Of Leon claim their first #1 album,

Kings Of The Album Chart for the first time with Because Of The Times, which 
marks a radical change from their previous Southern Rock sound to a more 
experimental mood - the opener is a seven-minute song about getting a 
groupie pregnant.

>well ahead of Maximo Park.

Normally, I'd consider the album title Our Earthly Pleasures tantamount to 
calling it Really Crap Album, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. 
It's a gain on the Number 15 peak of their debut album, thanks to the 
successful single and a busy promotional schedule, including a Radio 1 
session that produced an excellent version of '500 Miles'.

> NE's (top 20) : Timbaland #10,

His second artist album, although the first to chart.
Although he was hardly an obscure figure before, this may have been assisted 
by the lengthy guest list, which includes 50 Cent, Justin Timberlake, 
M.I.A., Elton John and from the remember-them? file, The Hives.
Sadly, his talent as a producer is rather undermined on his solo records by 
his own contribution as a performer.

>MacDonald Brothers #18

Fourth chart act to emerge from X Factor 2006, although for a change not 
signed by Simon Cowell but rather contracted to the more obscure Music 
Kitchen label co-founded by former Bay City Roller Stuart Woods and a bloke 
who used to write songs for Shakin' Stevens.
Wood also produced the album, which assembles ten covers of supposedly 
Scottish songs, including 'Real Gone Kid', 'Young At Heart', '500 Miles', 
'Magic' [presumably by Pilot] and more tenuously, 'Bye Bye Baby', 'Love Is 
All Around' and 'Fields Of Gold'. There are three "orignal" "bonus" tracks 
too.
In other X-Factor news, G4 have announced their spilt this week. No, neither 
did I.

> Big RE for Proclaimers too - up from 99 to 5

Whilst this originally peaked at 30 in 2002, this is a reissue with one 
additional track. No prizes for guessing what that is.
Although no longer totally up to date, it assembles highlights from their 
first four albums, as well as a few rarities, their Top Ten cover of 'King 
Of The Road' and a couple of specially-recorded tracks. Sleeve notes by Matt 
Lucas.

> New outside the top 20 : Engelbert Humperdink #21,

Oddly claiming to be his 78th studio album, Greatest Hits And More is a 
41-track double including 'Release Me', his other UK chart-topper that I bet 
you can't name without looking it up as well as various other hits, covers 
and five new recordings.

>Alison Krauss #38,

A Hundred Miles Or More: A Collection is not so much a Greatest Hits as an 
assemblage of duets, soundtrack cuts and five new recordings.
Ironically, it's her highest-charting UK album to date.

> Modest Mouse #47,

Long-running American alt-rockers who enjoyed a surprise US breakthough (and 
a week in the UK Top 40) with their 2004 set Good News For People Who Love 
Bad News.
This album features their latest member Johnny Marr, who's thus achieved his 
first US Number One album after 23 years.

> Waterboys #51,

Third studio album since Mike Scott revived the band in 2000.

> James Taylor #55,

I hate him more than I hate Supertramp.
This is the same compilation that went Top 5 in 2003.

>Mel C #57,

The one remaining Spice Girl who gives any impression of being interested in 
music. Apparently the rest of the album isn't as bad as 'I Want Candy', 
which may have done more harm than good in the end.

>Macy Gray #62

Fourth studio album, by my count, and first for her new label. A long way 
from the days when she was a major artist though.

> Next Week
> ---------
> Singles
> -------
> I suspect it'll be between Avril & Arctic Monkeys for #1, with my money on 
> the former, though Mark Ronson has come from *nowhere* to have a chance.

Nowhere except the blanket hype and immense airplay it's been getting since 
about February, anyhow.
Notwithstanding the fact that I like it several thousand times more than any 
of the other possibilites, I can't honestly claim that the Artic Monkeys 
have any hope of getting to Number One without physical sales.

> Top 10 : Timbaland, B&S,

Well, obviously.

>AM

Depends on how many of its sales last week were just from fans rushing to 
get hold of it.

> Top 20 : Natasha B

Almost certainly.

> Top 30 : Dan Le Sac,

Probably, although it's obviously not got a massive marketing campaign 
behind it.

>Ne-Yo,

Likely.

> Mika,

I suppose so.

>Linkin Park,

Possible, although I don't expect it to keep climbing until July.

>Fall Out Boy

Better than this, I would have thought, just because it's them.

> Top 40 : Akon,

Alas.

>Just Jack,

Maybe, although this presumably won't be his biggest hit.

>Bloc Party

Again, that seems far too low after five consecutive Top 20 singles, with a 
decent-sized airplay hit. Remember this was never going to do as well on 
downloads as 'The Prayer'.

Busy week for physicals actually:
Nine Inch Nails don't exactly do mainstream publicity, but they know how to 
get their fans to the counters.
Muse are probably about to have their smallest hit in years, but still 
surely a hit. Meck is following up a Number 1, albeit rather late, the Shins 
weren't far off last time and have just started to interest radio and 
Patrick Wolf has been on the Charlotte Church show.
Finally, Gareth Gates is at 163 on downloads, but my inkling is that he'll 
just about scrape a hit, though not enough to save his career.

> Albums
> ------
> Kings Of Leon could perhaps hold onto #1, as there is sod-all in the way 
> of new releases that I can see.
>
> Top 20 NE : None

I agree - I don't think the Ciara single has done well enough to sell 
albums. The next biggest release is probably Bright Eyes, which goes to show 
how little interest the record industry has this week. Maybe it's the bank 
holiday.

    Chris
-- 
"It's always hard meeting your heroes. Especially when they punch you in the 
face."

http://thehitparade.blogspot.com

More of my blathering is available at
http://faynights.users.btopenworld.com

In uk.music.charts on Sun, 8 Apr 2007, Chris Brown 
 wrote :
>
>"Paul Hyett"  wrote in message
>news:7tDbZxAguTGGFwnv@blueyonder.co.uk...
>> Singles
>> -------
>> The Comic Relief version of Proclaimers '500 Miles' holds off a strong
>> challenge by Avril to remain at #1 for a third week. :(
>
>Last week she sold fewer copies but climbed the chart anyway - with the CD
>single now available she's presumably gained sales without climbing this
>time.

The margin was more than I expected, in the end - about 7.5k
>
>> New Entries/Climbers
>> --------------------
>> Top 10 : MARK RONSON #6,
>
>... and DANIEL MERRIWETHER

Who?

> - The Cascada it's socially acceptable to like?
>Out on CD & 12" tomorrow.

Might manage a week at #1, before being swept away by B&S or AM.
>
>>TIMBALAND #8,
>
>After appearing on two UK Number Ones last year, he makes his Top 10 debut
>as a lead artist, albeit that Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake seem to be
>more prominent vocalists here

No kidding!

>Odd that this has been available digitally since mid-March and suddenly
>vaults from outside the Top 75.

Outside the top 200, in fact.

It debuted at #99 three weeks ago, then went AWOL for the next two.

>Out on CD tomorrow.

Maybe top 3.
>
>> BEYONCE/SHAKIRA #10
>
>I dunno, maybe it's exclusive to one website or something.

Unless that site was iTunes, there's no way it'd sell this many from 
just one!
>
>> Top 20 : ARCTIC MONKEYS #11,
>
>Charting for the first time on their career on pre-release downloads.

Big deal - that wasn't even an option before, surely?

>Released on CD, 7" and 10" on the 16th.

Did you mean 12"?
>
>> Top 30 :
>
>> NATASHA BEDINGFIELD #25
>
>No doubt hoping somebody in her family can have a successful second album.
>There was really no excuse for JK & J to inflict this on us twice tonight.

Twice?

>Out on CD on the 16th.

Unless the rest of her new material is a lot better than this, her album 
is gonna bomb.
>
>> Top 40 :
>
>> DAN LE SAC #34,
>
>Thou shalt not question Stephen Fry, they say.
>Out on 7" on the 16th.

A bizarre single.
>
>> NE-YO #35,
>
>Out on CD on the 16th. Busy week, that.

What is this - the 10th single from his album? It sure *feels* like it. 
:(
>
>> MIKA #38,
>
>Presumably still out

He isn't already?

> on CD

Oh right. :)

> on the 30th.
>
>> LINKIN PARK #39
>
>First genuinely new material from them in some four years, released
>digitally in the middle of the week

I wondered why it didn't show on the mids.

> - I don't know when or if a physical
>single is coming out.

Why wouldn't it?
>
>> New outside the top 40 : Fall Out Boy #41,
>
>Out on CD & 7" tomorrow.

What's with the weird title?
>
>> Akon #45,
>
>Not sure when this is out. Naturally, I'm hoping for never.

Grin.
>
>> DE Souza #46,
>
>Shena being the same one who sang on 'Weekend' by Michael Gray, apparently.
>I can only half remember this one.

You remember the other one though - hot girls 'shagging' a photocopier!
>
>>GB&Q #51,
>
>Third single from Damon Albarn's current project, a song which he apparently
>wrote for Marianne Faithfull.
>I think it's probably the best material yet from them and could have been a
>really good record had he recorded it in the days when he could be bothered
>to sing properly.

WTF was that?
>
>>Amy Winehouse #73,
>
>Out on CD, 7" and 12" on the 30th.

Charting quite early then, but I suspect album sales will kill it.
>
>> Just Jack #75
>
>On CD, 7" & 12" on the 16th.

Talk about a let-down after his previous one - he'd do well to go top 
20.
>
>> Albums
>> ------
>> Kings Of Leon claim their first #1 album,
>
>Kings Of The Album Chart for the first time with Because Of The Times, which
>marks a radical change from their previous Southern Rock sound to a more
>experimental mood -

>the opener is a seven-minute song about getting a
>groupie pregnant.

Just one?
>
>>well ahead of Maximo Park.
>
>Normally, I'd consider the album title Our Earthly Pleasures tantamount to
>calling it Really Crap Album, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.
>It's a gain on the Number 15 peak of their debut album, thanks to the
>successful single and a busy promotional schedule, including a Radio 1
>session that produced an excellent version of '500 Miles'.

There already *was* one, before Comic Relief got their hands on it... :(
>
>> NE's (top 20) : Timbaland #10,
>
>His second artist album, although the first to chart.
>Although he was hardly an obscure figure before, this may have been assisted
>by the lengthy guest list, which includes 50 Cent, Justin Timberlake,
>M.I.A., Elton John and from the remember-them? file, The Hives.
>Sadly, his talent as a producer is rather undermined on his solo records by
>his own contribution as a performer.

People should stick to what they are best at.
>
>In other X-Factor news, G4 have announced their spilt this week. No, neither
>did I.

I already knew that, though!
>
>> New outside the top 20 :
>
>> James Taylor #55,
>
>I hate him more than I hate Supertramp.

Since I don't know how you feel about Supertramp, that doesn't tell me a 
lot. :)

>This is the same compilation that went Top 5 in 2003.

Damn - I marked it as a NE, rather than RE on my spreadsheet. :(
>
>>Mel C #57,
>
>The one remaining Spice Girl who gives any impression of being interested in
>music.

Other than Emma B's #3 last December?
>
>> Next Week
>> ---------
>> Singles
>> -------
>> I suspect it'll be between Avril & Arctic Monkeys for #1, with my money on
>> the former, though Mark Ronson has come from *nowhere* to have a chance.
>
>Nowhere except the blanket hype and immense airplay it's been getting since
>about February, anyhow.

All of which I've missed.

If a song's video doesn't appear on a Sky music channel, I'll barely 
even know it exists.

>Notwithstanding the fact that I like it several thousand times more than any
>of the other possibilites

Is that really saying much? :)

>, I can't honestly claim that the Artic Monkeys
>have any hope of getting to Number One without physical sales.
>
>> Top 10 : Timbaland, B&S,
>
>Well, obviously.
>
>>AM
>
>Depends on how many of its sales last week were just from fans rushing to
>get hold of it.

'Rushing'? Surely they just parked their asses in front of their 
computers... :)
>
>> Top 20 : Natasha B
>
>Almost certainly.

Even my nieces hate this one, and they usually like her stuff.
>
>> Top 30 :
>
>>Linkin Park,
>
>Possible, although I don't expect it to keep climbing until July.

What has July got to do with anything?

OF course, if they do a version with Jay-Z... :)
>
>>Fall Out Boy
>
>Better than this, I would have thought, just because it's them.

Well, 41 to 21 wouldn't be bad...

Their last one debuted at #6 on downloads, don't forget.
>
>> Top 40 :
>
>Busy week for physicals actually:
>Nine Inch Nails don't exactly do mainstream publicity, but they know how to
>get their fans to the counters.

I guess so.

>Muse are probably about to have their smallest hit in years, but still
>surely a hit.

Ditto.

>Meck is following up a Number 1, albeit rather late

No publicity, and no (former) big-name sample.

> and
>Patrick Wolf has been on the Charlotte Church show.

That didn't help Lucie Silvas...

>Finally, Gareth Gates is at 163 on downloads, but my inkling is that he'll
>just about scrape a hit, though not enough to save his career.

I doubt he'll make the top 75.
-- 
Paul Hyett, Cheltenham (change 'invalid83261' to 'blueyonder' to email me)

"Paul Hyett"  wrote in message 
news:rRLfW$GDdeGGFwWa@blueyonder.co.uk...
> In uk.music.charts on Sun, 8 Apr 2007, Chris Brown 
>  wrote :
>>
>>"Paul Hyett"  wrote in message
>>news:7tDbZxAguTGGFwnv@blueyonder.co.uk...
>>> Singles
>>> -------
>>> The Comic Relief version of Proclaimers '500 Miles' holds off a strong
>>> challenge by Avril to remain at #1 for a third week. :(
>>
>>Last week she sold fewer copies but climbed the chart anyway - with the CD
>>single now available she's presumably gained sales without climbing this
>>time.
>
> The margin was more than I expected, in the end - about 7.5k

Which is rather why I don't think it's that likely for her to overtake after 
all.

>>> New Entries/Climbers
>>> --------------------
>>> Top 10 : MARK RONSON #6,
>>
>>... and DANIEL MERRIWETHER
>
> Who?

The bloke who does the singing. I think he may be Australian, but that's not 
much of an excuse.

>> - The Cascada it's socially acceptable to like?
>>Out on CD & 12" tomorrow.
>
> Might manage a week at #1, before being swept away by B&S or AM.

That does actually look possible now.

>>>TIMBALAND #8,
>>
>>After appearing on two UK Number Ones last year, he makes his Top 10 debut
>>as a lead artist, albeit that Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake seem to 
>>be
>>more prominent vocalists here
>
> No kidding!
>
>>Odd that this has been available digitally since mid-March and suddenly
>>vaults from outside the Top 75.
>
> Outside the top 200, in fact.
>
> It debuted at #99 three weeks ago, then went AWOL for the next two.

I did notice that the version I saw on 7digital was credited to Universal 
Music Ireland, so any sales there might not actually have contributed to UK 
chart returns - but then they don't seem to have any UK version of it at 
all, so they can't have accounted for any of the growth.

>>Out on CD tomorrow.
>
> Maybe top 3.

It would have had a better chance last week, I reckon.

>>> BEYONCE/SHAKIRA #10
>>
>>I dunno, maybe it's exclusive to one website or something.
>
> Unless that site was iTunes, there's no way it'd sell this many from just 
> one!

Well it could have been. But I don't really know what sort of volumes the 
other sites do.

>>> Top 20 : ARCTIC MONKEYS #11,
>>
>>Charting for the first time on their career on pre-release downloads.
>
> Big deal - that wasn't even an option before, surely?

Well, 'Leave Before The Lights Come On' could have charted the week before 
the physical, had it been available.

>>Released on CD, 7" and 10" on the 16th.
>
> Did you mean 12"?

Not according to the sources I've checked, no.
It seems like the Mark Ronson vinyl might also be a 10", actually.

>>> Top 30 :
>>
>>> NATASHA BEDINGFIELD #25
>>
>>No doubt hoping somebody in her family can have a successful second album.
>>There was really no excuse for JK & J to inflict this on us twice tonight.
>
> Twice?

Yeah, after they'd done the chart they trailed some rubbishy competition 
they're doing next week and played the song again. It's not the only record 
she's ever made, folks.

>>Out on CD on the 16th.
>
> Unless the rest of her new material is a lot better than this, her album 
> is gonna bomb.

It might anyway.

>>> Top 40 :
>>
>>> DAN LE SAC #34,
>>
>>Thou shalt not question Stephen Fry, they say.
>>Out on 7" on the 16th.
>
> A bizarre single.

Certainly a distinctive one.

>>> NE-YO #35,
>>
>>Out on CD on the 16th. Busy week, that.
>
> What is this - the 10th single from his album? It sure *feels* like it. :(

This seems to presage a new album, which might be why it's only just come 
out on download.

>>> MIKA #38,
>>
>>Presumably still out
>
> He isn't already?

Actually, no. He never shuts up about how he doesn't want to talk about his 
sexuality.

>>> LINKIN PARK #39
>>
>>First genuinely new material from them in some four years, released
>>digitally in the middle of the week
>
> I wondered why it didn't show on the mids.

IIRC it did appear at the bottom end of some later ones. But it came from a 
standing start.

>> - I don't know when or if a physical
>>single is coming out.
>
> Why wouldn't it?

No particular reason for it not to, I just don't have any info.

>>> New outside the top 40 : Fall Out Boy #41,
>>
>>Out on CD & 7" tomorrow.
>
> What's with the weird title?

Thy'r tryng t snd p-t-dt wth txtspk.
Any connection to the fact that the video is sponsored by a mobile-phone 
company is, I'm sure, wholly coincidental.

>>>GB&Q #51,
>>
>>Third single from Damon Albarn's current project, a song which he 
>>apparently
>>wrote for Marianne Faithfull.
>>I think it's probably the best material yet from them and could have been 
>>a
>>really good record had he recorded it in the days when he could be 
>>bothered
>>to sing properly.
>
> WTF was that?

Until about ten years or so ago. He was never the world's most gifted 
vocalist, but he used to make some effort to deliver a good take and use 
production etc. Somewhere back then, he convinced himself that bad singing 
was more "honest" or something.

>>> Just Jack #75
>>
>>On CD, 7" & 12" on the 16th.
>
> Talk about a let-down after his previous one - he'd do well to go top 20.

Of course it's already his second-biggest hit.

>>> Albums
>>> ------
>>> Kings Of Leon claim their first #1 album,
>>
>>Kings Of The Album Chart for the first time with Because Of The Times, 
>>which
>>marks a radical change from their previous Southern Rock sound to a more
>>experimental mood -
>
>>the opener is a seven-minute song about getting a
>>groupie pregnant.
>
> Just one?

The song's only about one, anyway.

BTW, they've even trimmed their famous beards for the sleeve photos.

>>>well ahead of Maximo Park.
>>
>>Normally, I'd consider the album title Our Earthly Pleasures tantamount to
>>calling it Really Crap Album, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.
>>It's a gain on the Number 15 peak of their debut album, thanks to the
>>successful single and a busy promotional schedule, including a Radio 1
>>session that produced an excellent version of '500 Miles'.
>
> There already *was* one, before Comic Relief got their hands on it... :(

Indeed there was. But no reason not to add another.

>>In other X-Factor news, G4 have announced their spilt this week. No, 
>>neither
>>did I.
>
> I already knew that, though!

Yeah, it was announced quite early in the week. It was mainly an excuse to 
insult them.

>>> New outside the top 20 :
>>
>>> James Taylor #55,
>>
>>I hate him more than I hate Supertramp.
>
> Since I don't know how you feel about Supertramp, that doesn't tell me a 
> lot. :)

Well, I hate them slightly less than James Taylor. Probably a bit more than 
Dr Hook though. ;-)

>>This is the same compilation that went Top 5 in 2003.
>
> Damn - I marked it as a NE, rather than RE on my spreadsheet. :(

It seems to have been advertised and promoted pretty much everywhere as 
though it were new, but AFAIK the content is indentical (unlike the 
Proclaimers).

>>>Mel C #57,
>>
>>The one remaining Spice Girl who gives any impression of being interested 
>>in
>>music.
>
> Other than Emma B's #3 last December?

She certainly didn't *sound* like she was interested in that.

>>> Next Week
>>> ---------
>>> Singles
>>> -------
>>> I suspect it'll be between Avril & Arctic Monkeys for #1, with my money 
>>> on
>>> the former, though Mark Ronson has come from *nowhere* to have a chance.
>>
>>Nowhere except the blanket hype and immense airplay it's been getting 
>>since
>>about February, anyhow.
>
> All of which I've missed.

You'll have to take my word for it then.

>>Notwithstanding the fact that I like it several thousand times more than 
>>any
>>of the other possibilites
>
> Is that really saying much? :)

Well, no actually.

>>> Top 10 : Timbaland, B&S,
>>
>>Well, obviously.
>>
>>>AM
>>
>>Depends on how many of its sales last week were just from fans rushing to
>>get hold of it.
>
> 'Rushing'? Surely they just parked their asses in front of their 
> computers... :)

You know what I mean though.


>>> Top 30 :
>>
>>>Linkin Park,
>>
>>Possible, although I don't expect it to keep climbing until July.
>
> What has July got to do with anything?

That's the supposed release date for the album.

>>>Fall Out Boy
>>
>>Better than this, I would have thought, just because it's them.
>
> Well, 41 to 21 wouldn't be bad...
>
> Their last one debuted at #6 on downloads, don't forget.

It did, but nobody had it yet and that was the first week you could download 
it; whereas you could have downloaded this new single anytime since the 
album came out, and I'd guess that a lot of their sales this week will be to 
fans who've already got it on the album.
I'm applying similar arguments to Bloc Party, BTW.

>>> Top 40 :
>>
>>Busy week for physicals actually:
>>Nine Inch Nails don't exactly do mainstream publicity, but they know how 
>>to
>>get their fans to the counters.
>
> I guess so.

Surprisingly swift release by their standards.

>>Muse are probably about to have their smallest hit in years, but still
>>surely a hit.
>
> Ditto.

This has been more of a radio hit than NiN, but is likely to perform worse 
commercially for obvious reasons.

>>Meck is following up a Number 1, albeit rather late
>
> No publicity, and no (former) big-name sample.

I'm not sure it's had any less publicity than most dance hits, but the 
sample is a less obvious one.

>> and
>>Patrick Wolf has been on the Charlotte Church show.
>
> That didn't help Lucie Silvas...

Well, it might have done, we don't know how badly she'd have done without 
it. ;-)

I agree that it's not likely to have done Mr Wolf huge favours, considering 
he wasn't even doing one of his own songs. I meant it more as a sign of how 
hard he's working it. More to the point, though, for a relatively 
low-visibility act he's found enough of a following for a Top 50 album and 
if that many people buy a single, he's set.

>>Finally, Gareth Gates is at 163 on downloads, but my inkling is that he'll
>>just about scrape a hit, though not enough to save his career.
>
> I doubt he'll make the top 75.

As above, my guess it that he will, but with a desultory hit that won't 
repay the record company's investment and will leave his career in a worse 
position that it was before.

BTW, I forgot to mention the Klaxons. Top 30?

    Chris

In uk.music.charts on Mon, 9 Apr 2007, Chris Brown 
 wrote :
>>
>> The margin was more than I expected, in the end - about 7.5k
>
>Which is rather why I don't think it's that likely for her to overtake after
>all.

It all depends on the rate of tail-off in their respective sales, but 
there are other singles around that could make it moot, anyway.
>
>>>> New Entries/Climbers
>>>> --------------------
>>>> Top 10 : MARK RONSON #6,
>>
>> Might manage a week at #1, before being swept away by B&S or AM.
>
>That does actually look possible now.

Yet another song whose appeal totally escapes me.
>
>>>>TIMBALAND #8,
>
>>>Out on CD tomorrow.
>>
>> Maybe top 3.
>
>It would have had a better chance last week, I reckon.

How could it have a better chance *before* being released physically?
>
>>>Released on CD, 7" and 10" on the 16th.
>>
>> Did you mean 12"?
>
>Not according to the sources I've checked, no.
>It seems like the Mark Ronson vinyl might also be a 10", actually.

I find it odd that vinyl versions persist, in the face of a rapid 
decline in the main physical format.
>>>
>>>> NATASHA BEDINGFIELD #25
>>
>> Unless the rest of her new material is a lot better than this, her album
>> is gonna bomb.
>
>It might anyway.

True, but less so if she started with a 2nd #1 single.

Or it could be a 'Gwen Stefani' situation, where it is the 2nd single 
that revives the album...
>
>>>> NE-YO #35,
>>>
>>>Out on CD on the 16th. Busy week, that.
>>
>> What is this - the 10th single from his album? It sure *feels* like it. :(
>
>This seems to presage a new album

Another one - didn't he release one just last year??

IMO, if an artist releases an album more often than once every two 
years, the quality generally suffers.

Not that you could tell the difference in Ne-Yo's case...
>
>>>> MIKA #38,
>>>
>>>Presumably still out
>>
>> He isn't already?
>
>Actually, no. He never shuts up about how he doesn't want to talk about his
>sexuality.

If he's straight, then so is Elton. :)
>
>>>> LINKIN PARK #39
>>>
>>>First genuinely new material from them in some four years, released
>>>digitally in the middle of the week
>>
>> I wondered why it didn't show on the mids.
>
>IIRC it did appear at the bottom end of some later ones. But it came from a
>standing start.

Which is different from all other new releases?
>
>>>> Albums
>>>> ------
>
>>>>Mel C #57,
>>>
>>>The one remaining Spice Girl who gives any impression of being interested
>>>in
>>>music.
>>
>> Other than Emma B's #3 last December?
>
>She certainly didn't *sound* like she was interested in that.

It's a shame that the follow-up bombed - IMO that was a far better song.
>
>>>> Next Week
>>>> ---------
>>>> Singles
>>>> -------
>
>>> and
>>>Patrick Wolf has been on the Charlotte Church show.
>>
>> That didn't help Lucie Silvas...
>
>Well, it might have done, we don't know how badly she'd have done without
>it. ;-)

She's supposedly releasing another single from her latest album, but 
given the last one was download-only, and didn't even make the top 200..

The only way it'd chart would be if the video contained nude X-rated 
lesbian scenes!
>
>>>Finally, Gareth Gates is at 163 on downloads, but my inkling is that he'll
>>>just about scrape a hit, though not enough to save his career.
>>
>> I doubt he'll make the top 75.
>
>As above, my guess it that he will, but with a desultory hit that won't
>repay the record company's investment and will leave his career in a worse
>position that it was before.

I guess X-Factor must have an illiteracy requirement, since their former 
contestants seem to be unable to read 'the writing on the wall'. :)
-- 
Paul Hyett, Cheltenham (change 'invalid83261' to 'blueyonder' to email me)

"Paul Hyett"  wrote in message 
news:Ec0ElgF9FzGGFwCR@blueyonder.co.uk...
> In uk.music.charts on Mon, 9 Apr 2007, Chris Brown 
>  wrote :
>>>
>>> The margin was more than I expected, in the end - about 7.5k
>>
>>Which is rather why I don't think it's that likely for her to overtake 
>>after
>>all.
>
> It all depends on the rate of tail-off in their respective sales, but 
> there are other singles around that could make it moot, anyway.

Agreed. On both counts in fact, but I'd previously expected Av-Lav not to be 
as far behind this week as she actually was.

>>>>> New Entries/Climbers
>>>>> --------------------
>>>>> Top 10 : MARK RONSON #6,
>>>
>>> Might manage a week at #1, before being swept away by B&S or AM.
>>
>>That does actually look possible now.
>
> Yet another song whose appeal totally escapes me.

I do think there's an element of groupthink going on, but to be fair to it 
the original elements are mostly quite good.

>>>>>TIMBALAND #8,
>>
>>>>Out on CD tomorrow.
>>>
>>> Maybe top 3.
>>
>>It would have had a better chance last week, I reckon.
>
> How could it have a better chance *before* being released physically?

I mean if it had been released physically last week, it would have had a 
better chance. Hence the conditional form.

>>>>Released on CD, 7" and 10" on the 16th.
>>>
>>> Did you mean 12"?
>>
>>Not according to the sources I've checked, no.
>>It seems like the Mark Ronson vinyl might also be a 10", actually.
>
> I find it odd that vinyl versions persist, in the face of a rapid decline 
> in the main physical format.

Or possibly *because* of it.

>>>>> NATASHA BEDINGFIELD #25
>>>
>>> Unless the rest of her new material is a lot better than this, her album
>>> is gonna bomb.
>>
>>It might anyway.
>
> True, but less so if she started with a 2nd #1 single.

I guess so - but what I was driving at was that even if this isn't the 
"best" track people might assume it was.

> Or it could be a 'Gwen Stefani' situation, where it is the 2nd single that 
> revives the album...

Perhaps, but even that will leave a lot of ground to make up.

>>>>> NE-YO #35,
>>>>
>>>>Out on CD on the 16th. Busy week, that.
>>>
>>> What is this - the 10th single from his album? It sure *feels* like it. 
>>> :(
>>
>>This seems to presage a new album
>
> Another one - didn't he release one just last year??

Yes... maybe it came out a bit earlier in America, but still not that long 
ago.

> IMO, if an artist releases an album more often than once every two years, 
> the quality generally suffers.

In the modern era, it's rare to get a decent album (from the same act) more 
than about once per eighteen months.

> Not that you could tell the difference in Ne-Yo's case...

There is that.

>>>>> LINKIN PARK #39
>>>>
>>>>First genuinely new material from them in some four years, released
>>>>digitally in the middle of the week
>>>
>>> I wondered why it didn't show on the mids.
>>
>>IIRC it did appear at the bottom end of some later ones. But it came from 
>>a
>>standing start.
>
> Which is different from all other new releases?

Sorry, I mean that it wasn't AIUI heard until the start of the week, whereas 
Beyonce, Mark Ronson etc had all been promoted for some time before you 
could download them.
Also, the Arctic Monkeys had a couple of days' head start.

>>>>> Next Week
>>>>> ---------
>>>>> Singles
>>>>> -------
>>
>>>>Finally, Gareth Gates is at 163 on downloads, but my inkling is that 
>>>>he'll
>>>>just about scrape a hit, though not enough to save his career.
>>>
>>> I doubt he'll make the top 75.
>>
>>As above, my guess it that he will, but with a desultory hit that won't
>>repay the record company's investment and will leave his career in a worse
>>position that it was before.
>
> I guess X-Factor must have an illiteracy requirement, since their former 
> contestants seem to be unable to read 'the writing on the wall'. :)

Gareth Gates wasn't on X-Factor </pedant>.

I do know what you mean. I'm not convinced he helps his case by trying to be 
serious.

    Chris

In uk.music.charts on Tue, 10 Apr 2007, Chris Brown 
 wrote :
>
>>>>>> New Entries/Climbers
>>>>>> --------------------
>
>>>>>>TIMBALAND #8,
>>>>
>>>> Maybe top 3.
>>>
>>>It would have had a better chance last week, I reckon.
>>
>> How could it have a better chance *before* being released physically?
>
>I mean if it had been released physically last week, it would have had a
>better chance. Hence the conditional form.

Ah.
>
>>>>>> NATASHA BEDINGFIELD #25
>>>>
>>>> Unless the rest of her new material is a lot better than this, her album
>>>> is gonna bomb.
>>>
>>>It might anyway.
>>
>> True, but less so if she started with a 2nd #1 single.
>
>I guess so - but what I was driving at was that even if this isn't the
>"best" track people might assume it was.

Without bothering to check?
>
>> IMO, if an artist releases an album more often than once every two years,
>> the quality generally suffers.
>
>In the modern era, it's rare to get a decent album (from the same act) more
>than about once per eighteen months.

And biennial is preferable anyway, because then you can hit the Xmas 
market with each album, rather than just every other one.
-- 
Paul Hyett, Cheltenham (change 'invalid83261' to 'blueyonder' to email me)