Singles
-------
To many people's surprise, Timbaland beats Mark Ronson to #1, though his 
reign is likely to be the briefest possible.

New Entries/Climbers
--------------------
Top 10 : Mark Ronson #2, Beyonce/Shakira #6
Top 20 : FALL OUT BOY #12, Linkin Park #13, GARETH GATES #14, Natasha 
Bedingfield #15, Ne-Yo #18, BLOC PARTY #20
Top 30 : MUSE #21, NINE INCH NAILS #29
Top 40 : ELLIOTT MINOR #31, Mika #32, AKON #33, KLAXONS #35

New outside the top 40 : Gym class Heroes #47, Meck ft Dino #51, Enemy 
#52, Dykeenies #54, David Bowie #56 (re-entry), Cherry Ghost #57, Shins 
#62, Mark Ronson #63 & #66 (presumably album tracks), Israel K #68, 
Patrick Wolf #69, Siobhan Donaghy #72

Albums
------
Kings Of Leon hold on at #1 for a 2nd week, in the absence of any 
significant new releases.

NE's (top 20) : Bright Eyes #13, Ciara #17

New outside the top 20 : Marillion #24


Next Week
---------
Singles
-------
It surely must be between Beyonce/Shakira & the Arctic Monkeys, with my 
money on the ladies to prevail.

Top 10 : Natasha B, Ne-Yo
Top 20 :
Top 30 : Akon,
Top 40 : Just Jack, Siobhan Donaghy

Albums
------
Avril Lavigne should comfortably claim her 3rd #1 album

Top 20 NE : Mark Ronson, Nine Inch Nails

I suspect Gareth Gates will struggle to make the top 40, though.
-- 
Paul Hyett, Cheltenham (change 'invalid83261' to 'blueyonder' to email me)

> New outside the top 20 : Marillion #24

Come on... anyone disses the 'rillion and I'll take you all on...

C'MON.... C'MON...

[I think this is their first charting album since they left EMI in the early 
1990s.]

On Sun, 15 Apr 2007 21:04:44 +0100, Jeremiah Harbottle 
wrote the following to uk.media.tv.misc:

>> New outside the top 20 : Marillion #24
>
> Come on... anyone disses the 'rillion and I'll take you all on...

Didn't that actually happen once? Can't remember who, but some DJ was rude
about them and he suddenly found himself mailbombed by loads of Marillion
fans.

mh.
-- 
http://www.nukesoft.co.uk
http://personal.nukesoft.co.uk

From address is a blackhole. Reply-to address is valid.

"Paul Hyett"  wrote in message 
news:Y5xT8hBSZnIGFwzg@blueyonder.co.uk...
> Singles
> -------
> To many people's surprise, Timbaland beats Mark Ronson to #1, though his 
> reign is likely to be the briefest possible.

Best thing about this song? It's not ruining something that was any better 
before.
Worst thing? Probably Justin Timberlake and his "Where are you in the 
charts? Na-ner!" act. Presumably on the 12" mix has him saying "My dad's 
bigger than your dad".

> New Entries/Climbers
> --------------------
> Top 10 : Mark Ronson #2,

Notwithstanding my low opinion of this track, it's a tiny disappointment 
that it hasn't unseated a charity record, as that gives me less excuse to 
show off the knowledge that one of the most famous songs to do so, 'I Want 
To Know What Love Is', is about his mum. But I have anyway.
I'd be interested to see whether the originals have reappeared in the Top 
200 due to protest downloads...

>Beyonce/Shakira #6

I could be wrong, but I'm not sure that mix is available as a download yet.

> Top 20 : FALL OUT BOY #12,

If you'll excuse me, I suddenly feel the need to buy a mobile phone, and a 
car. ;-)

>Linkin Park #13,

The album is now due on the 14th of May, but I still don't have a physical 
release date for this single.

> GARETH GATES #14,

The big comeback single 'Changes' (not the David Bowie song, of course, 
that'd just be cruel - it's actually closer to the Black Sabbath one) is his 
first release for new label Universal and (I think) the first to feature him 
as an instrumentalist. It's also the first to chart outside the Top 10.

> BLOC PARTY #20

A more obviously radio-friendly single than 'The Prayer', which is 
presumably why this came out first in the US. Whether it's better is another 
question...
It's extended their run of consecutive Top 20 hits to six, albeit only just.

> Top 30 : MUSE #21,

Unlike Bloc Party, they end a run of Top 20s here, with their 
lowest-charting single since their cover of 'Feeling Good' (technically a 
double A with 'Hyper Music') in November 2001.
Personally, I've always had an awkward sort of relationship with Muse, but I 
can safely say that this is the weakest choice of single they've released in 
a very long time, probably since 'Cave'. The only possible excuse for it is 
that this is intended as some sort of stopgap before they release another 
single to coincide with their big Wembley gig. I'm still not sure it was 
worth it.

>NINE INCH NAILS #29

Even if we count the Top 10 appearance of 'The Hand That Feeds' as a fluke, 
this is a remarkable falling-off for a fanbase act like this.

> Top 40 : ELLIOTT MINOR #31,

Not Joe Elliot's younger brother apparently. Somebody on the R1 board posted 
a message asking whether they were the new McFly, which mainly seemed to 
elicit the suggestion that this was a gross insult to McFly.

>Mika #32,

Who's he calling a "Big bastard" anyway?

>AKON #33,

Actually making a whole record on his own for once. There hasn't been a week 
in 2007 without at least one Akon track in the Top 40.

> KLAXONS #35

Nice riffing, and a bit of a grower. But it's no 'Golden Skans' is it? That 
and the fact that this track has been released before make the decline in 
appeal rather less surprising.

> New outside the top 40 : Gym class Heroes #47,

I hate this more than I hate Supertramp too. ;-)
Out on CD and 7"s on the 30th.

> Meck ft Dino #51,

Dino being Dino Lenny, who previously scraped the Top 75 with the 
Housemartins-sampling 'Change The World'.
This samples 'Don't You Want Me' by Felix, which is surely a better-known 
song than 'Thunder In My Heart' was, but then again maybe that's the 
problem.

>Enemy #52,

Out on CD & 7"s tomorrow.

> Dykeenies #54,

Rubbish name, isn't it?

> David Bowie #56 (re-entry),

55 it says here. This is his 1971 track 'Life On Mars', originally a hit in 
1973 and now back in the charts for obvious reasons.

>Cherry Ghost #57,

He's really from Manchester, which doesn't explain the accent.

> Shins #62,

A big breakthrough for them airplay-wise, but evidently not enough to sell a 
single after the album.
This track reminds me, in ways I can't fully explain, of the Manic Street 
Preachers (and not because they also had a song called 'Australia').

>Mark Ronson #63 & #66 (presumably album tracks),

Number 63 is 'God Put A Smile Upon Your Face' [with the Duptone Horns], 
which is on the album but I think it was issued as a 12" somewhere down the 
line.
Number 66 is 'No-One Knows' [with Domino] which is the B-side of the current 
single.

>Israel K #68,

You wimped out of typing his surname too then?

> Patrick Wolf #69,

With a song called 'The Magic Position'. Add your own punchline.

>Siobhan Donaghy #72

Out on CD & 12" tomorrow.

> Albums
> ------
> Kings Of Leon hold on at #1 for a 2nd week, in the absence of any 
> significant new releases.

And they've been touring here too. I haven't yet seen the margin though.

> NE's (top 20) : Bright Eyes #13,

Highest-charting for him yet.
Apparently there's a secret message in the artwork which you need special 
glasses to read. Or something.

> Ciara #17

Actually higher than her first album ever managed, despite the conspicuous 
lack of a Number One single.

> New outside the top 20 : Marillion 24

Their 2004 chart campaign may have lead to their biggest hit singles in 
years, but failed to produce a charting album (presumably because they sold 
Marbles through ineligible outlets). This duly becomes their first Top 75 
album since the dubiously-titled Marillion.com in 1999, their first Top 40 
since Radiation the previous year and their highest placing since their last 
EMI album Afraid Of Sunlight peaked at 16.

No more in the Top 75, but I have seen the Top 80, with new entries for 
Aretha Franklin at 78 and Hayseed Dixie at 79.

> Next Week
> ---------
> Singles
> -------
> It surely must be between Beyonce/Shakira & the Arctic Monkeys, with my 
> money on the ladies to prevail.

Not my personal preference, but I agree with the prediction.

> Top 10 : Natasha B,

The press might try to hype this is as a three-way battle, but she's very 
much the outsider here.

>Ne-Yo

Those are physicals aren't they? So yes.

> Top 30 : Akon,

ZZZZ.

> Top 40 : Just Jack, Siobhan Donaghy

Jack might do a tiny bit better, but not much.

Also:

Ash are your big comeback act of the week, Ocean Colour Scene somewhat less 
so but might get themselves somewhere between 30 and 40.
The Enemy are already near the Top 50 on downloads, and last time BRMC made 
a comeback on a new label it turned out to be their biggest hit ever.
And finally, Matt Willis is still around, now doing cover versions to plug 
the Mr Bean movie. Presumably his local McDonalds isn't hiring.

> Albums
> ------
> Avril Lavigne should comfortably claim her 3rd #1 album

Against this competition, yes.

> Top 20 NE : Mark Ronson, Nine Inch Nails

Agreed, but hard to be more specific.

> I suspect Gareth Gates will struggle to make the top 40, though.

I'm far from convinced that his album is even coming out.

    Chris

> Didn't that actually happen once? Can't remember who, but some DJ was rude
> about them and he suddenly found himself mailbombed by loads of Marillion
> fans.

Yes, I think it did - wouldn't surprise me. Some of their fans are bit OTT - 
go and look at their online forum. Anyone dare criticise their new album... 
Phew, you're in for the chop. They're always trying to get people to e-mail 
magazines and radio 1 to get them to play them.

I do like their new album, though, apart from maybe two tracks. I think it 
deserves to do OK. Not as patchy as some of their other recent ones.

> Their 2004 chart campaign may have lead to their biggest hit singles in 
> years, but failed to produce a charting album (presumably because they 
> sold Marbles through ineligible outlets). This duly becomes their first 
> Top 75 album since the dubiously-titled Marillion.com in 1999, their first 
> Top 40 since Radiation the previous year and their highest placing since 
> their last EMI album Afraid Of Sunlight peaked at 16.

Ah, so marillion.com and Radiation charted...

Marbles was ineligable for chart, so was Anoraknophobia - I believe both of 
these did sell more than .com and Radiation.

Did "This Strange Engine" chart?

In uk.music.charts on Sun, 15 Apr 2007, Chris Brown 
 wrote :

>> Singles
>> -------
>> New Entries/Climbers
>> --------------------
>> Top 10 : Mark Ronson #2,
>
>Notwithstanding my low opinion of this track, it's a tiny disappointment
>that it hasn't unseated a charity record, as that gives me less excuse to
>show off the knowledge that one of the most famous songs to do so, 'I Want
>To Know What Love Is', is about his mum.

Is that the titbit you were holding back before?

In any case, AIUI Mick Ronson, who is supposed to be his father, 
actually *isn't*. That is just a false rumour.
>
>>Beyonce/Shakira #6
>
>I could be wrong, but I'm not sure that mix is available as a download yet.

Plus it's #5 not #6 - damn! I thought I had *checked* for that sort of 
mistake this time. :(
>
>> Top 20 : FALL OUT BOY #12,
>
>If you'll excuse me, I suddenly feel the need to buy a mobile phone, and a
>car. ;-)

I get the mobile, but why a car?
>
>>Linkin Park #13,
>
>The album is now due on the 14th of May, but I still don't have a physical
>release date for this single.

30th Apr, per the Buzzjack new release schedule.
>
>> GARETH GATES #14,
>
>The big comeback single 'Changes' (not the David Bowie song, of course,
>that'd just be cruel - it's actually closer to the Black Sabbath one) is his
>first release for new label Universal and (I think) the first to feature him
>as an instrumentalist. It's also the first to chart outside the Top 10.

His sales held up better than I thought - he may now manage a 2nd top 40 
week.
>
>> BLOC PARTY #20
>
>A more obviously radio-friendly single than 'The Prayer', which is
>presumably why this came out first in the US.

Given the number of religious types in the US, I'd have thought a song 
titled 'The Prayer' would be right up their street. :)
>
>> Top 30 : MUSE #21,
>
>Unlike Bloc Party, they end a run of Top 20s here, with their
>lowest-charting single since their cover of 'Feeling Good' (technically a
>double A with 'Hyper Music') in November 2001.

Took too long to release it.

>> ELLIOTT MINOR #31,
>
>Not Joe Elliot's younger brother apparently. Somebody on the R1 board posted
>a message asking whether they were the new McFly, which mainly seemed to
>elicit the suggestion that this was a gross insult to McFly.

The singers voice is just as whiny.
>
>>AKON #33,
>
>Actually making a whole record on his own for once. There hasn't been a week
>in 2007 without at least one Akon track in the Top 40.

Though some of the time only as a 'featured artist'.

BTW, I noticed that no less than 7 of last week's top 14 had 'featured 
artists' and that's not counting Beyonce/Shakira - I wonder if that's a 
record?
>
>> New outside the top 40 : Gym class Heroes #47,
>
>I hate this more than I hate Supertramp too. ;-)
>Out on CD and 7"s on the 30th.

I assumed this charted on CD's, given that it made a big climb.
>
>> Meck ft Dino #51,
>
>Dino being Dino Lenny, who previously scraped the Top 75 with the
>Housemartins-sampling 'Change The World'.

And there was I, thinking it was the Flintstone's pet dinosaur... :)
>
>>Enemy #52,
>
>Out on CD & 7"s tomorrow.

Great - another correction to my records (see #47).
>
>> Dykeenies #54,
>
>Rubbish name, isn't it?

Something to do with female Tweenies coming out? :)
>
>> David Bowie #56 (re-entry),
>
>55 it says here.

So do my records - grrr!

>This is his 1971 track 'Life On Mars', originally a hit in
>1973 and now back in the charts for obvious reasons.

But why *now*, rather than some time back?
>
>> Shins #62,
>
>A big breakthrough for them airplay-wise, but evidently not enough to sell a
>single after the album.

Well, not much more than 1500 copies of it, anyway...
>
>>Mark Ronson #63 & #66 (presumably album tracks),
>
>Number 63 is 'God Put A Smile Upon Your Face' [with the Duptone Horns],
>which is on the album but I think it was issued as a 12" somewhere down the
>line.

>Number 66 is 'No-One Knows' [with Domino] which is the B-side of the current
>single.

Why buy it separately then?
>
>>Israel K #68,
>
>You wimped out of typing his surname too then?

Grin.
>
>>Siobhan Donaghy #72
>
>Out on CD & 12" tomorrow.

At least I knew *this* one was just on download sales.
>
>> Albums
>> ------
>> Kings Of Leon hold on at #1 for a 2nd week, in the absence of any
>> significant new releases.
>
>And they've been touring here too. I haven't yet seen the margin though.

They sold just 29k - the lowest sale for a #1 album for 5 years, 
apparently.

Both Cascada (#2) & more significantly, Nelly Furtado (#4, after 10 
months on the chart), set new peaks.
>
>> NE's (top 20) : Bright Eyes #13,
>
>Highest-charting for him yet.
>Apparently there's a secret message in the artwork which you need special
>glasses to read. Or something.

Like those damn magic eye things which *never* worked for me?
>
>> New outside the top 20 : Marillion 24
>
>Their 2004 chart campaign may have lead to their biggest hit singles in
>years, but failed to produce a charting album (presumably because they sold
>Marbles through ineligible outlets). This duly becomes their first Top 75
>album since the dubiously-titled Marillion.com in 1999, their first Top 40
>since Radiation the previous year and their highest placing since their last
>EMI album Afraid Of Sunlight peaked at 16.

But #24 on the worst sales week for 5 years, isn't exactly a stunning 
performance, belying somewhat the supposed fanaticism of their fanbase.
>
>> Next Week
>> ---------
>> Singles
>> -------
>> It surely must be between Beyonce/Shakira & the Arctic Monkeys, with my
>> money on the ladies to prevail.
>
>Not my personal preference, but I agree with the prediction.

I know which of the contenders I'd rather sleep with, though. :)
>
>> Top 10 : Natasha B,
>
>The press might try to hype this is as a three-way battle, but she's very
>much the outsider here.

That's what happens when you release a weak single.
>
>>Ne-Yo
>
>Those are physicals aren't they? So yes.

Unfortunately.
>
>> Top 30 : Akon,
>
>ZZZZ.

It's catching. :)
>
>> Top 40 : Just Jack, Siobhan Donaghy
>
>Jack might do a tiny bit better, but not much.

Top 35 then?
>
>Also:
>
>Ash are your big comeback act of the week, Ocean Colour Scene somewhat less
>so but might get themselves somewhere between 30 and 40.

Haven't heard it.

>The Enemy are already near the Top 50 on downloads

See above.

>, and last time BRMC made
>a comeback on a new label it turned out to be their biggest hit ever.

Someone else likely to suffer on the download score, though.

>And finally, Matt Willis is still around, now doing cover versions to plug
>the Mr Bean movie. Presumably his local McDonalds isn't hiring.

After this one, I think he'll have little choice. :)
>
>> Albums
>> ------
>> Avril Lavigne should comfortably claim her 3rd #1 album
>
>Against this competition, yes.
>
>> Top 20 NE : Mark Ronson, Nine Inch Nails
>
>Agreed, but hard to be more specific.
>
>> I suspect Gareth Gates will struggle to make the top 40, though.
>
>I'm far from convinced that his album is even coming out.

Time to check the shelves, I guess - but ISTM is has to be now or never.
-- 
Paul Hyett, Cheltenham (change 'invalid83261' to 'blueyonder' to email me)

Jeremiah Harbottle wrote:
>> Didn't that actually happen once? Can't remember who, but some DJ was rude
>> about them and he suddenly found himself mailbombed by loads of Marillion
>> fans.
> 
> Yes, I think it did - wouldn't surprise me. Some of their fans are bit OTT - 
> go and look at their online forum. Anyone dare criticise their new album... 
> Phew, you're in for the chop. They're always trying to get people to e-mail 
> magazines and radio 1 to get them to play them.
> 
> I do like their new album, though, apart from maybe two tracks. I think it 
> deserves to do OK. Not as patchy as some of their other recent ones.
> 

Their fans should be trying to get R2 to play their songs not R1, that's 
more their territory these days...

I've never understood the appeal of Marillion, and that goes back to the 
early 80s. One of my mates used to be mad about them back in the day, 
and I used to get sick of hearing their dreadful music every time I went 
to his house. The only song I really like by them is their biggest hit, 
Kayleigh, and that's only because it mentions Belsize Park, which is 
where I was living at the time!

-- 
Robbie

"Jeremiah Harbottle"  wrote in message 
news:4622b241.0@entanet...
>> Their 2004 chart campaign may have lead to their biggest hit singles in 
>> years, but failed to produce a charting album (presumably because they 
>> sold Marbles through ineligible outlets). This duly becomes their first 
>> Top 75 album since the dubiously-titled Marillion.com in 1999, their 
>> first Top 40 since Radiation the previous year and their highest placing 
>> since their last EMI album Afraid Of Sunlight peaked at 16.
>
> Ah, so marillion.com and Radiation charted...

Indeed.

> Marbles was ineligable for chart, so was Anoraknophobia - I believe both 
> of these did sell more than .com and Radiation.

I presumed they were, because even a third of the sales of 'You're Gone' 
would surely make for at least a Top 200 album.

> Did "This Strange Engine" chart?

Indeed so, Number 27 in the first of its two weeks in the Top 75.

    Chris

"Paul Hyett"  wrote in message 
news:J$q3NjB$IxIGFwxg@blueyonder.co.uk...
> In uk.music.charts on Sun, 15 Apr 2007, Chris Brown 
>  wrote :
>
>>> Singles
>>> -------
>>> New Entries/Climbers
>>> --------------------
>>> Top 10 : Mark Ronson #2,
>>
>>Notwithstanding my low opinion of this track, it's a tiny disappointment
>>that it hasn't unseated a charity record, as that gives me less excuse to
>>show off the knowledge that one of the most famous songs to do so, 'I Want
>>To Know What Love Is', is about his mum.
>
> Is that the titbit you were holding back before?

It was indeed. Hope I didn't oversell it there.

> In any case, AIUI Mick Ronson, who is supposed to be his father, actually 
> *isn't*. That is just a false rumour.

False it certainly is (wasn't it me who posted that a few weeks back?) but 
that wouldn't have made for any connections. It is the case that his 
stepfather is Mick Jones (the one from Foreigner, not the one from The 
Clash!) hence the song about his mother.

>>>Beyonce/Shakira #6
>>
>>I could be wrong, but I'm not sure that mix is available as a download 
>>yet.
>
> Plus it's #5 not #6 - damn! I thought I had *checked* for that sort of 
> mistake this time. :(

JK & J seemed to be making more than usual. I think I made one somewhere 
too.

>>> Top 20 : FALL OUT BOY #12,
>>
>>If you'll excuse me, I suddenly feel the need to buy a mobile phone, and a
>>car. ;-)
>
> I get the mobile, but why a car?

Product placement in the video. Presumably allowed in this country only 
because it's a car that you can't buy over here.

>>>Linkin Park #13,
>>
>>The album is now due on the 14th of May, but I still don't have a physical
>>release date for this single.
>
> 30th Apr, per the Buzzjack new release schedule.

Thanks.

>>> GARETH GATES #14,
>>
>>The big comeback single 'Changes' (not the David Bowie song, of course,
>>that'd just be cruel - it's actually closer to the Black Sabbath one) is 
>>his
>>first release for new label Universal and (I think) the first to feature 
>>him
>>as an instrumentalist. It's also the first to chart outside the Top 10.
>
> His sales held up better than I thought - he may now manage a 2nd top 40 
> week.

You could very well be right - but not by very much.

>>> BLOC PARTY #20
>>
>>A more obviously radio-friendly single than 'The Prayer', which is
>>presumably why this came out first in the US.
>
> Given the number of religious types in the US, I'd have thought a song 
> titled 'The Prayer' would be right up their street. :)

....Until they heard it. Mind you, this single has potentially controversial 
subject matter too.

>>> Top 30 : MUSE #21,
>>
>>Unlike Bloc Party, they end a run of Top 20s here, with their
>>lowest-charting single since their cover of 'Feeling Good' (technically a
>>double A with 'Hyper Music') in November 2001.
>
> Took too long to release it.

It's only, what, four or five months since the last one?

>>> ELLIOTT MINOR #31,
>>
>>Not Joe Elliot's younger brother apparently. Somebody on the R1 board 
>>posted
>>a message asking whether they were the new McFly, which mainly seemed to
>>elicit the suggestion that this was a gross insult to McFly.
>
> The singers voice is just as whiny.

But McFly have better songs.
Apparently this was recorded at Dork Studios.

>>>AKON #33,
>>
>>Actually making a whole record on his own for once. There hasn't been a 
>>week
>>in 2007 without at least one Akon track in the Top 40.
>
> Though some of the time only as a 'featured artist'.

I could be wrong, but don't 'Smack That' and 'I Wanna Love You' cover the 
year to date on their own?

> BTW, I noticed that no less than 7 of last week's top 14 had 'featured 
> artists' and that's not counting Beyonce/Shakira - I wonder if that's a 
> record?

No, it's seven of them. Boom-boom!

>>> New outside the top 40 : Gym class Heroes #47,
>>
>>I hate this more than I hate Supertramp too. ;-)
>>Out on CD and 7"s on the 30th.
>
> I assumed this charted on CD's, given that it made a big climb.

Presumably that's because it's starting to get radio play. As to *why* I'm 
less sure.

>>> Meck ft Dino #51,
>>
>>Dino being Dino Lenny, who previously scraped the Top 75 with the
>>Housemartins-sampling 'Change The World'.
>
> And there was I, thinking it was the Flintstone's pet dinosaur... :)

I don't often get a chance to mention the Housemartins here. I thought I 
might as well take it. ;-)

>>>Enemy #52,
>>
>>Out on CD & 7"s tomorrow.
>
> Great - another correction to my records (see #47).

I thought it was only released digitally last week.

>>> David Bowie #56 (re-entry),
>>
>>55 it says here.
>
> So do my records - grrr!

Something in the water?

>>This is his 1971 track 'Life On Mars', originally a hit in
>>1973 and now back in the charts for obvious reasons.
>
> But why *now*, rather than some time back?

The series ended last week amid intense hype (even I knew about it) and AIUI 
they played the whole song in the farewell episode.
I happened to be looking at Amazon the day after and their list of 
fastest-growing items included at least three Bowie compilations. Presumably 
the sheer number involved precluded any one from reaching the Top 75.

>>>Mark Ronson #63 & #66 (presumably album tracks),
>>
>
>>Number 66 is 'No-One Knows' [with Domino] which is the B-side of the 
>>current
>>single.
>
> Why buy it separately then?

Theoretically, if you only wanted those two tracks it would probably be 
cheaper to download them than buy the CD. Also, it's possible that this 
could be some of the people who downloaded the A-side last week.

>>>Israel K #68,
>>
>>You wimped out of typing his surname too then?
>
> Grin.

This too was in Life On Mars, on case you were wondering, although it's far 
from the first time it's appeared on the screen, IYSWIM.

>>> Albums
>>> ------

>>> NE's (top 20) : Bright Eyes #13,
>>
>>Highest-charting for him yet.
>>Apparently there's a secret message in the artwork which you need special
>>glasses to read. Or something.
>
> Like those damn magic eye things which *never* worked for me?

I'm not sure exactly how it works - I think you have to buy the album to get 
the key.

>>> New outside the top 20 : Marillion 24
>>
>>Their 2004 chart campaign may have lead to their biggest hit singles in
>>years, but failed to produce a charting album (presumably because they 
>>sold
>>Marbles through ineligible outlets). This duly becomes their first Top 75
>>album since the dubiously-titled Marillion.com in 1999, their first Top 40
>>since Radiation the previous year and their highest placing since their 
>>last
>>EMI album Afraid Of Sunlight peaked at 16.
>
> But #24 on the worst sales week for 5 years, isn't exactly a stunning 
> performance, belying somewhat the supposed fanaticism of their fanbase.

Not so much the fanaticism as the size, I would have thought.

>>> Next Week
>>> ---------
>>> Singles
>>> -------
>>
>>> Top 10 : Natasha B,
>>
>>The press might try to hype this is as a three-way battle, but she's very
>>much the outsider here.
>
> That's what happens when you release a weak single.

Behind these two, I think even a strong single would only be able to come 
third.

>>> Top 30 : Akon,
>>
>>ZZZZ.
>
> It's catching. :)

Apparently this samples 'Ignition' by R-Kelly. But I've yet to make myself 
pay enough attention to know how much.

>>> Top 40 : Just Jack, Siobhan Donaghy
>>
>>Jack might do a tiny bit better, but not much.
>
> Top 35 then?

I was thinking of lower Top 30.

>>Also:
>>
>>Ash are your big comeback act of the week, Ocean Colour Scene somewhat 
>>less
>>so but might get themselves somewhere between 30 and 40.
>
> Haven't heard it.

I've heard it once, and it was not radically different from what I expected. 
My guess is that the remaining fans will push this into the arse end of the 
Top 40, and nobody else will really notice.

>>, and last time BRMC made
>>a comeback on a new label it turned out to be their biggest hit ever.
>
> Someone else likely to suffer on the download score, though.

I think I agree. But not necessarily to missing-the-Top-40-completely 
levels.

>>And finally, Matt Willis is still around, now doing cover versions to plug
>>the Mr Bean movie. Presumably his local McDonalds isn't hiring.
>
> After this one, I think he'll have little choice. :)

I was trying to imply that if he had any choice he wouldn't even have done 
this.

Also also:

I'd forgotten that Hanson's single was out this week (see OCS), and although 
it's completely eluded my attention elsewhere Woolworths have devoted pretty 
much an entire wall to Bel's Boys. They seem to come from a children's TV 
show.

>>> Albums
>>> ------

>>> I suspect Gareth Gates will struggle to make the top 40, though.
>>
>>I'm far from convinced that his album is even coming out.
>
> Time to check the shelves, I guess - but ISTM is has to be now or never.

As of now, I've seen no sign of it. I guess that's "never" then?

    Chris

"Robbie"  wrote in message 
news:58gsc6F2g4k09U1@mid.individual.net...

>
> I've never understood the appeal of Marillion, and that goes back to the 
> early 80s. One of my mates used to be mad about them back in the day, and 
> I used to get sick of hearing their dreadful music every time I went to 
> his house. The only song I really like by them is their biggest hit, 
> Kayleigh, and that's only because it mentions Belsize Park, which is where 
> I was living at the time!

'Do you remember, damcing in stilettos in the snow?'
Is that a great lyric or what.....
-- 
Col

That's your excuse for everything isn't it, being dead!

In uk.music.charts on Mon, 16 Apr 2007, Chris Brown 
 wrote :
>>
>>>> Singles
>>>> -------
>
>>>>Beyonce/Shakira #6
>>>
>>>I could be wrong, but I'm not sure that mix is available as a download
>>>yet.
>>
>> Plus it's #5 not #6 - damn! I thought I had *checked* for that sort of
>> mistake this time. :(
>
>JK & J seemed to be making more than usual. I think I made one somewhere
>too.

They seem to prefer the Freemasons remix (which is on both CD's, BTW). I 
don't think a dance remix really suits this song, though.
>
>>>> Top 20 : FALL OUT BOY #12,
>>>
>>>If you'll excuse me, I suddenly feel the need to buy a mobile phone, and a
>>>car. ;-)
>>
>> I get the mobile, but why a car?
>
>Product placement in the video.

Ah.

I tend not to watch videos of songs/artists I don't like. :)
>
>>>>Linkin Park #13,
>>>
>>>The album is now due on the 14th of May, but I still don't have a physical
>>>release date for this single.
>>
>> 30th Apr, per the Buzzjack new release schedule.
>
>Thanks.

I thought you used that source already?
>
>>>> BLOC PARTY #20
>>>
>>>A more obviously radio-friendly single than 'The Prayer', which is
>>>presumably why this came out first in the US.
>>
>> Given the number of religious types in the US, I'd have thought a song
>> titled 'The Prayer' would be right up their street. :)
>
>...Until they heard it.

I took no notice of the lyrics.

>Mind you, this single has potentially controversial
>subject matter too.

Like?
>
>>>> Top 30 : MUSE #21,
>>
>> Took too long to release it.
>
>It's only, what, four or five months since the last one?

Exactly.
>
>>>>AKON #33,
>>>
>>>Actually making a whole record on his own for once. There hasn't been a
>>>week
>>>in 2007 without at least one Akon track in the Top 40.
>>
>> Though some of the time only as a 'featured artist'.
>
>I could be wrong, but don't 'Smack That' and 'I Wanna Love You' cover the
>year to date on their own?

Yes - no wonder I'm getting sick of him (or maybe that's partly due to 
him being a rapper). :)
>
>>>> New outside the top 40 :
>
>>>> David Bowie #56 (re-entry),
>>>
>>>55
>
>>>This is his 1971 track 'Life On Mars', originally a hit in
>>>1973 and now back in the charts for obvious reasons.
>>
>> But why *now*, rather than some time back?
>
>The series ended last week amid intense hype (even I knew about it) and AIUI
>they played the whole song in the farewell episode.

>I happened to be looking at Amazon the day after and their list of
>fastest-growing items included at least three Bowie compilations.

Whereabouts on the site can you find such lists?
>
>>>> Albums
>>>> ------
>>>> New outside the top 20 : Marillion 24
>>
>> But #24 on the worst sales week for 5 years, isn't exactly a stunning
>> performance, belying somewhat the supposed fanaticism of their fanbase.
>
>Not so much the fanaticism as the size, I would have thought.

Good point.
>
>>>> Next Week
>>>> ---------
>>>> Singles
>>>> -------
>>>
>>>> Top 10 : Natasha B,
>>>
>>>The press might try to hype this is as a three-way battle, but she's very
>>>much the outsider here.
>>
>> That's what happens when you release a weak single.
>
>Behind these two, I think even a strong single would only be able to come
>third.

Presumably Timbaland & Ronson will be pushed to 3 & 4 respectively.

At least they'll drive down Fray's dirge. :)
>
>>>> Albums
>>>> ------
>
>>>> I suspect Gareth Gates will struggle to make the top 40, though.
>>>
>>>I'm far from convinced that his album is even coming out.
>>
>> Time to check the shelves, I guess - but ISTM is has to be now or never.
>
>As of now, I've seen no sign of it.

Nor have I.

> I guess that's "never" then?

Or maybe shops were just too embarrassed to display it? :)
-- 
Paul Hyett, Cheltenham (change 'invalid83261' to 'blueyonder' to email me)

"Paul Hyett"  wrote in message 
news:DYIFkPFyJHJGFw7w@blueyonder.co.uk...
> In uk.music.charts on Mon, 16 Apr 2007, Chris Brown 
>  wrote :
>>>
>>>>> Singles
>>>>> -------
>>
>>>>>Beyonce/Shakira #6
>>>>
>>>>I could be wrong, but I'm not sure that mix is available as a download
>>>>yet.
>>>
>>> Plus it's #5 not #6 - damn! I thought I had *checked* for that sort of
>>> mistake this time. :(
>>
>>JK & J seemed to be making more than usual. I think I made one somewhere
>>too.
>
> They seem to prefer the Freemasons remix (which is on both CD's, BTW). I 
> don't think a dance remix really suits this song, though.

A good one might have done...
As I said, though, I didn't think this mix had been released digitally until 
now.

>>>>> Top 20 : FALL OUT BOY #12,
>>>>
>>>>If you'll excuse me, I suddenly feel the need to buy a mobile phone, and 
>>>>a
>>>>car. ;-)
>>>
>>> I get the mobile, but why a car?
>>
>>Product placement in the video.
>
> Ah.
>
> I tend not to watch videos of songs/artists I don't like. :)

Me neither, given the effort it takes for me to see them, and I certainly 
haven't seen this one. But it has, understandably, caused a bit of a fuss.

>>>>>Linkin Park #13,
>>>>
>>>>The album is now due on the 14th of May, but I still don't have a 
>>>>physical
>>>>release date for this single.
>>>
>>> 30th Apr, per the Buzzjack new release schedule.
>>
>>Thanks.
>
> I thought you used that source already?

Not always... Anyway, I hadn't seen it there yet.

>>>>> BLOC PARTY #20
>>>>
>>>>A more obviously radio-friendly single than 'The Prayer', which is
>>>>presumably why this came out first in the US.
>>>
>>> Given the number of religious types in the US, I'd have thought a song
>>> titled 'The Prayer' would be right up their street. :)
>>
>>...Until they heard it.
>
> I took no notice of the lyrics.

The lyrical content isn't massively controversial, but I don't think the 
sound of the track itself would go down well with Bible belters.

>>Mind you, this single has potentially controversial
>>subject matter too.
>
> Like?

Like two schoolboys running away with each other and leaving their trousers 
by the canal. And defacing trains.

>>>>> Top 30 : MUSE #21,
>>>
>>> Took too long to release it.
>>
>>It's only, what, four or five months since the last one?
>
> Exactly.

Under normal circumstances, it's generally considered inadvisable to knock 
them out any faster than that because you'll want to get the maximum 
possible advantage from the previous single.
I suppose this might have charted a bit higher if they'd released it in the 
soft charts at the start of the year, but it's unlikely to have made a 
greater genuine impression at any time because it's such an underwhelming 
song. Even most of the previous Muse singles that I didn't like have at 
least been memorable.

>>>>> New outside the top 40 :
>>
>>>>> David Bowie #56 (re-entry),
>>>>
>>>>55
>>
>>>>This is his 1971 track 'Life On Mars', originally a hit in
>>>>1973 and now back in the charts for obvious reasons.
>>>
>>> But why *now*, rather than some time back?
>>
>>The series ended last week amid intense hype (even I knew about it) and 
>>AIUI
>>they played the whole song in the farewell episode.
>
>>I happened to be looking at Amazon the day after and their list of
>>fastest-growing items included at least three Bowie compilations.
>
> Whereabouts on the site can you find such lists?

It's in the Bestsellers section, under Movers & Shakers. I'll try a link, 
although it may or may not work:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/movers-and-shakers/music/ref=pd_ts_mte/026-4893824-7908447

As of now, the highest non-pre-order title on there is the Goo Goo Dolls at 
6.

>>>>> Next Week
>>>>> ---------
>>
>>>>> Albums
>>>>> ------
>>
>>>>> I suspect Gareth Gates will struggle to make the top 40, though.
>>>>
>>>>I'm far from convinced that his album is even coming out.
>>>
>>> Time to check the shelves, I guess - but ISTM is has to be now or never.
>>
>>As of now, I've seen no sign of it.
>
> Nor have I.
>
>> I guess that's "never" then?
>
> Or maybe shops were just too embarrassed to display it? :)

If they're prepared to give house room to Bel's Boys...

    Chris

> New outside the top 20 : Marillion #24

Come on... anyone disses the 'rillion and I'll take you all on...

C'MON.... C'MON...

[I think this is their first charting album since they left EMI in the early 
1990s.]

On Sun, 15 Apr 2007 21:04:44 +0100, Jeremiah Harbottle 
wrote the following to uk.media.tv.misc:

>> New outside the top 20 : Marillion #24
>
> Come on... anyone disses the 'rillion and I'll take you all on...

Didn't that actually happen once? Can't remember who, but some DJ was rude
about them and he suddenly found himself mailbombed by loads of Marillion
fans.

mh.
-- 
http://www.nukesoft.co.uk
http://personal.nukesoft.co.uk

From address is a blackhole. Reply-to address is valid.

"Paul Hyett"  wrote in message 
news:Y5xT8hBSZnIGFwzg@blueyonder.co.uk...
> Singles
> -------
> To many people's surprise, Timbaland beats Mark Ronson to #1, though his 
> reign is likely to be the briefest possible.

Best thing about this song? It's not ruining something that was any better 
before.
Worst thing? Probably Justin Timberlake and his "Where are you in the 
charts? Na-ner!" act. Presumably on the 12" mix has him saying "My dad's 
bigger than your dad".

> New Entries/Climbers
> --------------------
> Top 10 : Mark Ronson #2,

Notwithstanding my low opinion of this track, it's a tiny disappointment 
that it hasn't unseated a charity record, as that gives me less excuse to 
show off the knowledge that one of the most famous songs to do so, 'I Want 
To Know What Love Is', is about his mum. But I have anyway.
I'd be interested to see whether the originals have reappeared in the Top 
200 due to protest downloads...

>Beyonce/Shakira #6

I could be wrong, but I'm not sure that mix is available as a download yet.

> Top 20 : FALL OUT BOY #12,

If you'll excuse me, I suddenly feel the need to buy a mobile phone, and a 
car. ;-)

>Linkin Park #13,

The album is now due on the 14th of May, but I still don't have a physical 
release date for this single.

> GARETH GATES #14,

The big comeback single 'Changes' (not the David Bowie song, of course, 
that'd just be cruel - it's actually closer to the Black Sabbath one) is his 
first release for new label Universal and (I think) the first to feature him 
as an instrumentalist. It's also the first to chart outside the Top 10.

> BLOC PARTY #20

A more obviously radio-friendly single than 'The Prayer', which is 
presumably why this came out first in the US. Whether it's better is another 
question...
It's extended their run of consecutive Top 20 hits to six, albeit only just.

> Top 30 : MUSE #21,

Unlike Bloc Party, they end a run of Top 20s here, with their 
lowest-charting single since their cover of 'Feeling Good' (technically a 
double A with 'Hyper Music') in November 2001.
Personally, I've always had an awkward sort of relationship with Muse, but I 
can safely say that this is the weakest choice of single they've released in 
a very long time, probably since 'Cave'. The only possible excuse for it is 
that this is intended as some sort of stopgap before they release another 
single to coincide with their big Wembley gig. I'm still not sure it was 
worth it.

>NINE INCH NAILS #29

Even if we count the Top 10 appearance of 'The Hand That Feeds' as a fluke, 
this is a remarkable falling-off for a fanbase act like this.

> Top 40 : ELLIOTT MINOR #31,

Not Joe Elliot's younger brother apparently. Somebody on the R1 board posted 
a message asking whether they were the new McFly, which mainly seemed to 
elicit the suggestion that this was a gross insult to McFly.

>Mika #32,

Who's he calling a "Big bastard" anyway?

>AKON #33,

Actually making a whole record on his own for once. There hasn't been a week 
in 2007 without at least one Akon track in the Top 40.

> KLAXONS #35

Nice riffing, and a bit of a grower. But it's no 'Golden Skans' is it? That 
and the fact that this track has been released before make the decline in 
appeal rather less surprising.

> New outside the top 40 : Gym class Heroes #47,

I hate this more than I hate Supertramp too. ;-)
Out on CD and 7"s on the 30th.

> Meck ft Dino #51,

Dino being Dino Lenny, who previously scraped the Top 75 with the 
Housemartins-sampling 'Change The World'.
This samples 'Don't You Want Me' by Felix, which is surely a better-known 
song than 'Thunder In My Heart' was, but then again maybe that's the 
problem.

>Enemy #52,

Out on CD & 7"s tomorrow.

> Dykeenies #54,

Rubbish name, isn't it?

> David Bowie #56 (re-entry),

55 it says here. This is his 1971 track 'Life On Mars', originally a hit in 
1973 and now back in the charts for obvious reasons.

>Cherry Ghost #57,

He's really from Manchester, which doesn't explain the accent.

> Shins #62,

A big breakthrough for them airplay-wise, but evidently not enough to sell a 
single after the album.
This track reminds me, in ways I can't fully explain, of the Manic Street 
Preachers (and not because they also had a song called 'Australia').

>Mark Ronson #63 & #66 (presumably album tracks),

Number 63 is 'God Put A Smile Upon Your Face' [with the Duptone Horns], 
which is on the album but I think it was issued as a 12" somewhere down the 
line.
Number 66 is 'No-One Knows' [with Domino] which is the B-side of the current 
single.

>Israel K #68,

You wimped out of typing his surname too then?

> Patrick Wolf #69,

With a song called 'The Magic Position'. Add your own punchline.

>Siobhan Donaghy #72

Out on CD & 12" tomorrow.

> Albums
> ------
> Kings Of Leon hold on at #1 for a 2nd week, in the absence of any 
> significant new releases.

And they've been touring here too. I haven't yet seen the margin though.

> NE's (top 20) : Bright Eyes #13,

Highest-charting for him yet.
Apparently there's a secret message in the artwork which you need special 
glasses to read. Or something.

> Ciara #17

Actually higher than her first album ever managed, despite the conspicuous 
lack of a Number One single.

> New outside the top 20 : Marillion 24

Their 2004 chart campaign may have lead to their biggest hit singles in 
years, but failed to produce a charting album (presumably because they sold 
Marbles through ineligible outlets). This duly becomes their first Top 75 
album since the dubiously-titled Marillion.com in 1999, their first Top 40 
since Radiation the previous year and their highest placing since their last 
EMI album Afraid Of Sunlight peaked at 16.

No more in the Top 75, but I have seen the Top 80, with new entries for 
Aretha Franklin at 78 and Hayseed Dixie at 79.

> Next Week
> ---------
> Singles
> -------
> It surely must be between Beyonce/Shakira & the Arctic Monkeys, with my 
> money on the ladies to prevail.

Not my personal preference, but I agree with the prediction.

> Top 10 : Natasha B,

The press might try to hype this is as a three-way battle, but she's very 
much the outsider here.

>Ne-Yo

Those are physicals aren't they? So yes.

> Top 30 : Akon,

ZZZZ.

> Top 40 : Just Jack, Siobhan Donaghy

Jack might do a tiny bit better, but not much.

Also:

Ash are your big comeback act of the week, Ocean Colour Scene somewhat less 
so but might get themselves somewhere between 30 and 40.
The Enemy are already near the Top 50 on downloads, and last time BRMC made 
a comeback on a new label it turned out to be their biggest hit ever.
And finally, Matt Willis is still around, now doing cover versions to plug 
the Mr Bean movie. Presumably his local McDonalds isn't hiring.

> Albums
> ------
> Avril Lavigne should comfortably claim her 3rd #1 album

Against this competition, yes.

> Top 20 NE : Mark Ronson, Nine Inch Nails

Agreed, but hard to be more specific.

> I suspect Gareth Gates will struggle to make the top 40, though.

I'm far from convinced that his album is even coming out.

    Chris

> Didn't that actually happen once? Can't remember who, but some DJ was rude
> about them and he suddenly found himself mailbombed by loads of Marillion
> fans.

Yes, I think it did - wouldn't surprise me. Some of their fans are bit OTT - 
go and look at their online forum. Anyone dare criticise their new album... 
Phew, you're in for the chop. They're always trying to get people to e-mail 
magazines and radio 1 to get them to play them.

I do like their new album, though, apart from maybe two tracks. I think it 
deserves to do OK. Not as patchy as some of their other recent ones.

> Their 2004 chart campaign may have lead to their biggest hit singles in 
> years, but failed to produce a charting album (presumably because they 
> sold Marbles through ineligible outlets). This duly becomes their first 
> Top 75 album since the dubiously-titled Marillion.com in 1999, their first 
> Top 40 since Radiation the previous year and their highest placing since 
> their last EMI album Afraid Of Sunlight peaked at 16.

Ah, so marillion.com and Radiation charted...

Marbles was ineligable for chart, so was Anoraknophobia - I believe both of 
these did sell more than .com and Radiation.

Did "This Strange Engine" chart?

In uk.music.charts on Sun, 15 Apr 2007, Chris Brown 
 wrote :

>> Singles
>> -------
>> New Entries/Climbers
>> --------------------
>> Top 10 : Mark Ronson #2,
>
>Notwithstanding my low opinion of this track, it's a tiny disappointment
>that it hasn't unseated a charity record, as that gives me less excuse to
>show off the knowledge that one of the most famous songs to do so, 'I Want
>To Know What Love Is', is about his mum.

Is that the titbit you were holding back before?

In any case, AIUI Mick Ronson, who is supposed to be his father, 
actually *isn't*. That is just a false rumour.
>
>>Beyonce/Shakira #6
>
>I could be wrong, but I'm not sure that mix is available as a download yet.

Plus it's #5 not #6 - damn! I thought I had *checked* for that sort of 
mistake this time. :(
>
>> Top 20 : FALL OUT BOY #12,
>
>If you'll excuse me, I suddenly feel the need to buy a mobile phone, and a
>car. ;-)

I get the mobile, but why a car?
>
>>Linkin Park #13,
>
>The album is now due on the 14th of May, but I still don't have a physical
>release date for this single.

30th Apr, per the Buzzjack new release schedule.
>
>> GARETH GATES #14,
>
>The big comeback single 'Changes' (not the David Bowie song, of course,
>that'd just be cruel - it's actually closer to the Black Sabbath one) is his
>first release for new label Universal and (I think) the first to feature him
>as an instrumentalist. It's also the first to chart outside the Top 10.

His sales held up better than I thought - he may now manage a 2nd top 40 
week.
>
>> BLOC PARTY #20
>
>A more obviously radio-friendly single than 'The Prayer', which is
>presumably why this came out first in the US.

Given the number of religious types in the US, I'd have thought a song 
titled 'The Prayer' would be right up their street. :)
>
>> Top 30 : MUSE #21,
>
>Unlike Bloc Party, they end a run of Top 20s here, with their
>lowest-charting single since their cover of 'Feeling Good' (technically a
>double A with 'Hyper Music') in November 2001.

Took too long to release it.

>> ELLIOTT MINOR #31,
>
>Not Joe Elliot's younger brother apparently. Somebody on the R1 board posted
>a message asking whether they were the new McFly, which mainly seemed to
>elicit the suggestion that this was a gross insult to McFly.

The singers voice is just as whiny.
>
>>AKON #33,
>
>Actually making a whole record on his own for once. There hasn't been a week
>in 2007 without at least one Akon track in the Top 40.

Though some of the time only as a 'featured artist'.

BTW, I noticed that no less than 7 of last week's top 14 had 'featured 
artists' and that's not counting Beyonce/Shakira - I wonder if that's a 
record?
>
>> New outside the top 40 : Gym class Heroes #47,
>
>I hate this more than I hate Supertramp too. ;-)
>Out on CD and 7"s on the 30th.

I assumed this charted on CD's, given that it made a big climb.
>
>> Meck ft Dino #51,
>
>Dino being Dino Lenny, who previously scraped the Top 75 with the
>Housemartins-sampling 'Change The World'.

And there was I, thinking it was the Flintstone's pet dinosaur... :)
>
>>Enemy #52,
>
>Out on CD & 7"s tomorrow.

Great - another correction to my records (see #47).
>
>> Dykeenies #54,
>
>Rubbish name, isn't it?

Something to do with female Tweenies coming out? :)
>
>> David Bowie #56 (re-entry),
>
>55 it says here.

So do my records - grrr!

>This is his 1971 track 'Life On Mars', originally a hit in
>1973 and now back in the charts for obvious reasons.

But why *now*, rather than some time back?
>
>> Shins #62,
>
>A big breakthrough for them airplay-wise, but evidently not enough to sell a
>single after the album.

Well, not much more than 1500 copies of it, anyway...
>
>>Mark Ronson #63 & #66 (presumably album tracks),
>
>Number 63 is 'God Put A Smile Upon Your Face' [with the Duptone Horns],
>which is on the album but I think it was issued as a 12" somewhere down the
>line.

>Number 66 is 'No-One Knows' [with Domino] which is the B-side of the current
>single.

Why buy it separately then?
>
>>Israel K #68,
>
>You wimped out of typing his surname too then?

Grin.
>
>>Siobhan Donaghy #72
>
>Out on CD & 12" tomorrow.

At least I knew *this* one was just on download sales.
>
>> Albums
>> ------
>> Kings Of Leon hold on at #1 for a 2nd week, in the absence of any
>> significant new releases.
>
>And they've been touring here too. I haven't yet seen the margin though.

They sold just 29k - the lowest sale for a #1 album for 5 years, 
apparently.

Both Cascada (#2) & more significantly, Nelly Furtado (#4, after 10 
months on the chart), set new peaks.
>
>> NE's (top 20) : Bright Eyes #13,
>
>Highest-charting for him yet.
>Apparently there's a secret message in the artwork which you need special
>glasses to read. Or something.

Like those damn magic eye things which *never* worked for me?
>
>> New outside the top 20 : Marillion 24
>
>Their 2004 chart campaign may have lead to their biggest hit singles in
>years, but failed to produce a charting album (presumably because they sold
>Marbles through ineligible outlets). This duly becomes their first Top 75
>album since the dubiously-titled Marillion.com in 1999, their first Top 40
>since Radiation the previous year and their highest placing since their last
>EMI album Afraid Of Sunlight peaked at 16.

But #24 on the worst sales week for 5 years, isn't exactly a stunning 
performance, belying somewhat the supposed fanaticism of their fanbase.
>
>> Next Week
>> ---------
>> Singles
>> -------
>> It surely must be between Beyonce/Shakira & the Arctic Monkeys, with my
>> money on the ladies to prevail.
>
>Not my personal preference, but I agree with the prediction.

I know which of the contenders I'd rather sleep with, though. :)
>
>> Top 10 : Natasha B,
>
>The press might try to hype this is as a three-way battle, but she's very
>much the outsider here.

That's what happens when you release a weak single.
>
>>Ne-Yo
>
>Those are physicals aren't they? So yes.

Unfortunately.
>
>> Top 30 : Akon,
>
>ZZZZ.

It's catching. :)
>
>> Top 40 : Just Jack, Siobhan Donaghy
>
>Jack might do a tiny bit better, but not much.

Top 35 then?
>
>Also:
>
>Ash are your big comeback act of the week, Ocean Colour Scene somewhat less
>so but might get themselves somewhere between 30 and 40.

Haven't heard it.

>The Enemy are already near the Top 50 on downloads

See above.

>, and last time BRMC made
>a comeback on a new label it turned out to be their biggest hit ever.

Someone else likely to suffer on the download score, though.

>And finally, Matt Willis is still around, now doing cover versions to plug
>the Mr Bean movie. Presumably his local McDonalds isn't hiring.

After this one, I think he'll have little choice. :)
>
>> Albums
>> ------
>> Avril Lavigne should comfortably claim her 3rd #1 album
>
>Against this competition, yes.
>
>> Top 20 NE : Mark Ronson, Nine Inch Nails
>
>Agreed, but hard to be more specific.
>
>> I suspect Gareth Gates will struggle to make the top 40, though.
>
>I'm far from convinced that his album is even coming out.

Time to check the shelves, I guess - but ISTM is has to be now or never.
-- 
Paul Hyett, Cheltenham (change 'invalid83261' to 'blueyonder' to email me)

Jeremiah Harbottle wrote:
>> Didn't that actually happen once? Can't remember who, but some DJ was rude
>> about them and he suddenly found himself mailbombed by loads of Marillion
>> fans.
> 
> Yes, I think it did - wouldn't surprise me. Some of their fans are bit OTT - 
> go and look at their online forum. Anyone dare criticise their new album... 
> Phew, you're in for the chop. They're always trying to get people to e-mail 
> magazines and radio 1 to get them to play them.
> 
> I do like their new album, though, apart from maybe two tracks. I think it 
> deserves to do OK. Not as patchy as some of their other recent ones.
> 

Their fans should be trying to get R2 to play their songs not R1, that's 
more their territory these days...

I've never understood the appeal of Marillion, and that goes back to the 
early 80s. One of my mates used to be mad about them back in the day, 
and I used to get sick of hearing their dreadful music every time I went 
to his house. The only song I really like by them is their biggest hit, 
Kayleigh, and that's only because it mentions Belsize Park, which is 
where I was living at the time!

-- 
Robbie

"Jeremiah Harbottle"  wrote in message 
news:4622b241.0@entanet...
>> Their 2004 chart campaign may have lead to their biggest hit singles in 
>> years, but failed to produce a charting album (presumably because they 
>> sold Marbles through ineligible outlets). This duly becomes their first 
>> Top 75 album since the dubiously-titled Marillion.com in 1999, their 
>> first Top 40 since Radiation the previous year and their highest placing 
>> since their last EMI album Afraid Of Sunlight peaked at 16.
>
> Ah, so marillion.com and Radiation charted...

Indeed.

> Marbles was ineligable for chart, so was Anoraknophobia - I believe both 
> of these did sell more than .com and Radiation.

I presumed they were, because even a third of the sales of 'You're Gone' 
would surely make for at least a Top 200 album.

> Did "This Strange Engine" chart?

Indeed so, Number 27 in the first of its two weeks in the Top 75.

    Chris

"Paul Hyett"  wrote in message 
news:J$q3NjB$IxIGFwxg@blueyonder.co.uk...
> In uk.music.charts on Sun, 15 Apr 2007, Chris Brown 
>  wrote :
>
>>> Singles
>>> -------
>>> New Entries/Climbers
>>> --------------------
>>> Top 10 : Mark Ronson #2,
>>
>>Notwithstanding my low opinion of this track, it's a tiny disappointment
>>that it hasn't unseated a charity record, as that gives me less excuse to
>>show off the knowledge that one of the most famous songs to do so, 'I Want
>>To Know What Love Is', is about his mum.
>
> Is that the titbit you were holding back before?

It was indeed. Hope I didn't oversell it there.

> In any case, AIUI Mick Ronson, who is supposed to be his father, actually 
> *isn't*. That is just a false rumour.

False it certainly is (wasn't it me who posted that a few weeks back?) but 
that wouldn't have made for any connections. It is the case that his 
stepfather is Mick Jones (the one from Foreigner, not the one from The 
Clash!) hence the song about his mother.

>>>Beyonce/Shakira #6
>>
>>I could be wrong, but I'm not sure that mix is available as a download 
>>yet.
>
> Plus it's #5 not #6 - damn! I thought I had *checked* for that sort of 
> mistake this time. :(

JK & J seemed to be making more than usual. I think I made one somewhere 
too.

>>> Top 20 : FALL OUT BOY #12,
>>
>>If you'll excuse me, I suddenly feel the need to buy a mobile phone, and a
>>car. ;-)
>
> I get the mobile, but why a car?

Product placement in the video. Presumably allowed in this country only 
because it's a car that you can't buy over here.

>>>Linkin Park #13,
>>
>>The album is now due on the 14th of May, but I still don't have a physical
>>release date for this single.
>
> 30th Apr, per the Buzzjack new release schedule.

Thanks.

>>> GARETH GATES #14,
>>
>>The big comeback single 'Changes' (not the David Bowie song, of course,
>>that'd just be cruel - it's actually closer to the Black Sabbath one) is 
>>his
>>first release for new label Universal and (I think) the first to feature 
>>him
>>as an instrumentalist. It's also the first to chart outside the Top 10.
>
> His sales held up better than I thought - he may now manage a 2nd top 40 
> week.

You could very well be right - but not by very much.

>>> BLOC PARTY #20
>>
>>A more obviously radio-friendly single than 'The Prayer', which is
>>presumably why this came out first in the US.
>
> Given the number of religious types in the US, I'd have thought a song 
> titled 'The Prayer' would be right up their street. :)

....Until they heard it. Mind you, this single has potentially controversial 
subject matter too.

>>> Top 30 : MUSE #21,
>>
>>Unlike Bloc Party, they end a run of Top 20s here, with their
>>lowest-charting single since their cover of 'Feeling Good' (technically a
>>double A with 'Hyper Music') in November 2001.
>
> Took too long to release it.

It's only, what, four or five months since the last one?

>>> ELLIOTT MINOR #31,
>>
>>Not Joe Elliot's younger brother apparently. Somebody on the R1 board 
>>posted
>>a message asking whether they were the new McFly, which mainly seemed to
>>elicit the suggestion that this was a gross insult to McFly.
>
> The singers voice is just as whiny.

But McFly have better songs.
Apparently this was recorded at Dork Studios.

>>>AKON #33,
>>
>>Actually making a whole record on his own for once. There hasn't been a 
>>week
>>in 2007 without at least one Akon track in the Top 40.
>
> Though some of the time only as a 'featured artist'.

I could be wrong, but don't 'Smack That' and 'I Wanna Love You' cover the 
year to date on their own?

> BTW, I noticed that no less than 7 of last week's top 14 had 'featured 
> artists' and that's not counting Beyonce/Shakira - I wonder if that's a 
> record?

No, it's seven of them. Boom-boom!

>>> New outside the top 40 : Gym class Heroes #47,
>>
>>I hate this more than I hate Supertramp too. ;-)
>>Out on CD and 7"s on the 30th.
>
> I assumed this charted on CD's, given that it made a big climb.

Presumably that's because it's starting to get radio play. As to *why* I'm 
less sure.

>>> Meck ft Dino #51,
>>
>>Dino being Dino Lenny, who previously scraped the Top 75 with the
>>Housemartins-sampling 'Change The World'.
>
> And there was I, thinking it was the Flintstone's pet dinosaur... :)

I don't often get a chance to mention the Housemartins here. I thought I 
might as well take it. ;-)

>>>Enemy #52,
>>
>>Out on CD & 7"s tomorrow.
>
> Great - another correction to my records (see #47).

I thought it was only released digitally last week.

>>> David Bowie #56 (re-entry),
>>
>>55 it says here.
>
> So do my records - grrr!

Something in the water?

>>This is his 1971 track 'Life On Mars', originally a hit in
>>1973 and now back in the charts for obvious reasons.
>
> But why *now*, rather than some time back?

The series ended last week amid intense hype (even I knew about it) and AIUI 
they played the whole song in the farewell episode.
I happened to be looking at Amazon the day after and their list of 
fastest-growing items included at least three Bowie compilations. Presumably 
the sheer number involved precluded any one from reaching the Top 75.

>>>Mark Ronson #63 & #66 (presumably album tracks),
>>
>
>>Number 66 is 'No-One Knows' [with Domino] which is the B-side of the 
>>current
>>single.
>
> Why buy it separately then?

Theoretically, if you only wanted those two tracks it would probably be 
cheaper to download them than buy the CD. Also, it's possible that this 
could be some of the people who downloaded the A-side last week.

>>>Israel K #68,
>>
>>You wimped out of typing his surname too then?
>
> Grin.

This too was in Life On Mars, on case you were wondering, although it's far 
from the first time it's appeared on the screen, IYSWIM.

>>> Albums
>>> ------

>>> NE's (top 20) : Bright Eyes #13,
>>
>>Highest-charting for him yet.
>>Apparently there's a secret message in the artwork which you need special
>>glasses to read. Or something.
>
> Like those damn magic eye things which *never* worked for me?

I'm not sure exactly how it works - I think you have to buy the album to get 
the key.

>>> New outside the top 20 : Marillion 24
>>
>>Their 2004 chart campaign may have lead to their biggest hit singles in
>>years, but failed to produce a charting album (presumably because they 
>>sold
>>Marbles through ineligible outlets). This duly becomes their first Top 75
>>album since the dubiously-titled Marillion.com in 1999, their first Top 40
>>since Radiation the previous year and their highest placing since their 
>>last
>>EMI album Afraid Of Sunlight peaked at 16.
>
> But #24 on the worst sales week for 5 years, isn't exactly a stunning 
> performance, belying somewhat the supposed fanaticism of their fanbase.

Not so much the fanaticism as the size, I would have thought.

>>> Next Week
>>> ---------
>>> Singles
>>> -------
>>
>>> Top 10 : Natasha B,
>>
>>The press might try to hype this is as a three-way battle, but she's very
>>much the outsider here.
>
> That's what happens when you release a weak single.

Behind these two, I think even a strong single would only be able to come 
third.

>>> Top 30 : Akon,
>>
>>ZZZZ.
>
> It's catching. :)

Apparently this samples 'Ignition' by R-Kelly. But I've yet to make myself 
pay enough attention to know how much.

>>> Top 40 : Just Jack, Siobhan Donaghy
>>
>>Jack might do a tiny bit better, but not much.
>
> Top 35 then?

I was thinking of lower Top 30.

>>Also:
>>
>>Ash are your big comeback act of the week, Ocean Colour Scene somewhat 
>>less
>>so but might get themselves somewhere between 30 and 40.
>
> Haven't heard it.

I've heard it once, and it was not radically different from what I expected. 
My guess is that the remaining fans will push this into the arse end of the 
Top 40, and nobody else will really notice.

>>, and last time BRMC made
>>a comeback on a new label it turned out to be their biggest hit ever.
>
> Someone else likely to suffer on the download score, though.

I think I agree. But not necessarily to missing-the-Top-40-completely 
levels.

>>And finally, Matt Willis is still around, now doing cover versions to plug
>>the Mr Bean movie. Presumably his local McDonalds isn't hiring.
>
> After this one, I think he'll have little choice. :)

I was trying to imply that if he had any choice he wouldn't even have done 
this.

Also also:

I'd forgotten that Hanson's single was out this week (see OCS), and although 
it's completely eluded my attention elsewhere Woolworths have devoted pretty 
much an entire wall to Bel's Boys. They seem to come from a children's TV 
show.

>>> Albums
>>> ------

>>> I suspect Gareth Gates will struggle to make the top 40, though.
>>
>>I'm far from convinced that his album is even coming out.
>
> Time to check the shelves, I guess - but ISTM is has to be now or never.

As of now, I've seen no sign of it. I guess that's "never" then?

    Chris

"Robbie"  wrote in message 
news:58gsc6F2g4k09U1@mid.individual.net...

>
> I've never understood the appeal of Marillion, and that goes back to the 
> early 80s. One of my mates used to be mad about them back in the day, and 
> I used to get sick of hearing their dreadful music every time I went to 
> his house. The only song I really like by them is their biggest hit, 
> Kayleigh, and that's only because it mentions Belsize Park, which is where 
> I was living at the time!

'Do you remember, damcing in stilettos in the snow?'
Is that a great lyric or what.....
-- 
Col

That's your excuse for everything isn't it, being dead!

In uk.music.charts on Mon, 16 Apr 2007, Chris Brown 
 wrote :
>>
>>>> Singles
>>>> -------
>
>>>>Beyonce/Shakira #6
>>>
>>>I could be wrong, but I'm not sure that mix is available as a download
>>>yet.
>>
>> Plus it's #5 not #6 - damn! I thought I had *checked* for that sort of
>> mistake this time. :(
>
>JK & J seemed to be making more than usual. I think I made one somewhere
>too.

They seem to prefer the Freemasons remix (which is on both CD's, BTW). I 
don't think a dance remix really suits this song, though.
>
>>>> Top 20 : FALL OUT BOY #12,
>>>
>>>If you'll excuse me, I suddenly feel the need to buy a mobile phone, and a
>>>car. ;-)
>>
>> I get the mobile, but why a car?
>
>Product placement in the video.

Ah.

I tend not to watch videos of songs/artists I don't like. :)
>
>>>>Linkin Park #13,
>>>
>>>The album is now due on the 14th of May, but I still don't have a physical
>>>release date for this single.
>>
>> 30th Apr, per the Buzzjack new release schedule.
>
>Thanks.

I thought you used that source already?
>
>>>> BLOC PARTY #20
>>>
>>>A more obviously radio-friendly single than 'The Prayer', which is
>>>presumably why this came out first in the US.
>>
>> Given the number of religious types in the US, I'd have thought a song
>> titled 'The Prayer' would be right up their street. :)
>
>...Until they heard it.

I took no notice of the lyrics.

>Mind you, this single has potentially controversial
>subject matter too.

Like?
>
>>>> Top 30 : MUSE #21,
>>
>> Took too long to release it.
>
>It's only, what, four or five months since the last one?

Exactly.
>
>>>>AKON #33,
>>>
>>>Actually making a whole record on his own for once. There hasn't been a
>>>week
>>>in 2007 without at least one Akon track in the Top 40.
>>
>> Though some of the time only as a 'featured artist'.
>
>I could be wrong, but don't 'Smack That' and 'I Wanna Love You' cover the
>year to date on their own?

Yes - no wonder I'm getting sick of him (or maybe that's partly due to 
him being a rapper). :)
>
>>>> New outside the top 40 :
>
>>>> David Bowie #56 (re-entry),
>>>
>>>55
>
>>>This is his 1971 track 'Life On Mars', originally a hit in
>>>1973 and now back in the charts for obvious reasons.
>>
>> But why *now*, rather than some time back?
>
>The series ended last week amid intense hype (even I knew about it) and AIUI
>they played the whole song in the farewell episode.

>I happened to be looking at Amazon the day after and their list of
>fastest-growing items included at least three Bowie compilations.

Whereabouts on the site can you find such lists?
>
>>>> Albums
>>>> ------
>>>> New outside the top 20 : Marillion 24
>>
>> But #24 on the worst sales week for 5 years, isn't exactly a stunning
>> performance, belying somewhat the supposed fanaticism of their fanbase.
>
>Not so much the fanaticism as the size, I would have thought.

Good point.
>
>>>> Next Week
>>>> ---------
>>>> Singles
>>>> -------
>>>
>>>> Top 10 : Natasha B,
>>>
>>>The press might try to hype this is as a three-way battle, but she's very
>>>much the outsider here.
>>
>> That's what happens when you release a weak single.
>
>Behind these two, I think even a strong single would only be able to come
>third.

Presumably Timbaland & Ronson will be pushed to 3 & 4 respectively.

At least they'll drive down Fray's dirge. :)
>
>>>> Albums
>>>> ------
>
>>>> I suspect Gareth Gates will struggle to make the top 40, though.
>>>
>>>I'm far from convinced that his album is even coming out.
>>
>> Time to check the shelves, I guess - but ISTM is has to be now or never.
>
>As of now, I've seen no sign of it.

Nor have I.

> I guess that's "never" then?

Or maybe shops were just too embarrassed to display it? :)
-- 
Paul Hyett, Cheltenham (change 'invalid83261' to 'blueyonder' to email me)

"Paul Hyett"  wrote in message 
news:DYIFkPFyJHJGFw7w@blueyonder.co.uk...
> In uk.music.charts on Mon, 16 Apr 2007, Chris Brown 
>  wrote :
>>>
>>>>> Singles
>>>>> -------
>>
>>>>>Beyonce/Shakira #6
>>>>
>>>>I could be wrong, but I'm not sure that mix is available as a download
>>>>yet.
>>>
>>> Plus it's #5 not #6 - damn! I thought I had *checked* for that sort of
>>> mistake this time. :(
>>
>>JK & J seemed to be making more than usual. I think I made one somewhere
>>too.
>
> They seem to prefer the Freemasons remix (which is on both CD's, BTW). I 
> don't think a dance remix really suits this song, though.

A good one might have done...
As I said, though, I didn't think this mix had been released digitally until 
now.

>>>>> Top 20 : FALL OUT BOY #12,
>>>>
>>>>If you'll excuse me, I suddenly feel the need to buy a mobile phone, and 
>>>>a
>>>>car. ;-)
>>>
>>> I get the mobile, but why a car?
>>
>>Product placement in the video.
>
> Ah.
>
> I tend not to watch videos of songs/artists I don't like. :)

Me neither, given the effort it takes for me to see them, and I certainly 
haven't seen this one. But it has, understandably, caused a bit of a fuss.

>>>>>Linkin Park #13,
>>>>
>>>>The album is now due on the 14th of May, but I still don't have a 
>>>>physical
>>>>release date for this single.
>>>
>>> 30th Apr, per the Buzzjack new release schedule.
>>
>>Thanks.
>
> I thought you used that source already?

Not always... Anyway, I hadn't seen it there yet.

>>>>> BLOC PARTY #20
>>>>
>>>>A more obviously radio-friendly single than 'The Prayer', which is
>>>>presumably why this came out first in the US.
>>>
>>> Given the number of religious types in the US, I'd have thought a song
>>> titled 'The Prayer' would be right up their street. :)
>>
>>...Until they heard it.
>
> I took no notice of the lyrics.

The lyrical content isn't massively controversial, but I don't think the 
sound of the track itself would go down well with Bible belters.

>>Mind you, this single has potentially controversial
>>subject matter too.
>
> Like?

Like two schoolboys running away with each other and leaving their trousers 
by the canal. And defacing trains.

>>>>> Top 30 : MUSE #21,
>>>
>>> Took too long to release it.
>>
>>It's only, what, four or five months since the last one?
>
> Exactly.

Under normal circumstances, it's generally considered inadvisable to knock 
them out any faster than that because you'll want to get the maximum 
possible advantage from the previous single.
I suppose this might have charted a bit higher if they'd released it in the 
soft charts at the start of the year, but it's unlikely to have made a 
greater genuine impression at any time because it's such an underwhelming 
song. Even most of the previous Muse singles that I didn't like have at 
least been memorable.

>>>>> New outside the top 40 :
>>
>>>>> David Bowie #56 (re-entry),
>>>>
>>>>55
>>
>>>>This is his 1971 track 'Life On Mars', originally a hit in
>>>>1973 and now back in the charts for obvious reasons.
>>>
>>> But why *now*, rather than some time back?
>>
>>The series ended last week amid intense hype (even I knew about it) and 
>>AIUI
>>they played the whole song in the farewell episode.
>
>>I happened to be looking at Amazon the day after and their list of
>>fastest-growing items included at least three Bowie compilations.
>
> Whereabouts on the site can you find such lists?

It's in the Bestsellers section, under Movers & Shakers. I'll try a link, 
although it may or may not work:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/movers-and-shakers/music/ref=pd_ts_mte/026-4893824-7908447

As of now, the highest non-pre-order title on there is the Goo Goo Dolls at 
6.

>>>>> Next Week
>>>>> ---------
>>
>>>>> Albums
>>>>> ------
>>
>>>>> I suspect Gareth Gates will struggle to make the top 40, though.
>>>>
>>>>I'm far from convinced that his album is even coming out.
>>>
>>> Time to check the shelves, I guess - but ISTM is has to be now or never.
>>
>>As of now, I've seen no sign of it.
>
> Nor have I.
>
>> I guess that's "never" then?
>
> Or maybe shops were just too embarrassed to display it? :)

If they're prepared to give house room to Bel's Boys...

    Chris

> New outside the top 20 : Marillion #24

Come on... anyone disses the 'rillion and I'll take you all on...

C'MON.... C'MON...

[I think this is their first charting album since they left EMI in the early 
1990s.]

On Sun, 15 Apr 2007 21:04:44 +0100, Jeremiah Harbottle 
wrote the following to uk.media.tv.misc:

>> New outside the top 20 : Marillion #24
>
> Come on... anyone disses the 'rillion and I'll take you all on...

Didn't that actually happen once? Can't remember who, but some DJ was rude
about them and he suddenly found himself mailbombed by loads of Marillion
fans.

mh.
-- 
http://www.nukesoft.co.uk
http://personal.nukesoft.co.uk

From address is a blackhole. Reply-to address is valid.

"Paul Hyett"  wrote in message 
news:Y5xT8hBSZnIGFwzg@blueyonder.co.uk...
> Singles
> -------
> To many people's surprise, Timbaland beats Mark Ronson to #1, though his 
> reign is likely to be the briefest possible.

Best thing about this song? It's not ruining something that was any better 
before.
Worst thing? Probably Justin Timberlake and his "Where are you in the 
charts? Na-ner!" act. Presumably on the 12" mix has him saying "My dad's 
bigger than your dad".

> New Entries/Climbers
> --------------------
> Top 10 : Mark Ronson #2,

Notwithstanding my low opinion of this track, it's a tiny disappointment 
that it hasn't unseated a charity record, as that gives me less excuse to 
show off the knowledge that one of the most famous songs to do so, 'I Want 
To Know What Love Is', is about his mum. But I have anyway.
I'd be interested to see whether the originals have reappeared in the Top 
200 due to protest downloads...

>Beyonce/Shakira #6

I could be wrong, but I'm not sure that mix is available as a download yet.

> Top 20 : FALL OUT BOY #12,

If you'll excuse me, I suddenly feel the need to buy a mobile phone, and a 
car. ;-)

>Linkin Park #13,

The album is now due on the 14th of May, but I still don't have a physical 
release date for this single.

> GARETH GATES #14,

The big comeback single 'Changes' (not the David Bowie song, of course, 
that'd just be cruel - it's actually closer to the Black Sabbath one) is his 
first release for new label Universal and (I think) the first to feature him 
as an instrumentalist. It's also the first to chart outside the Top 10.

> BLOC PARTY #20

A more obviously radio-friendly single than 'The Prayer', which is 
presumably why this came out first in the US. Whether it's better is another 
question...
It's extended their run of consecutive Top 20 hits to six, albeit only just.

> Top 30 : MUSE #21,

Unlike Bloc Party, they end a run of Top 20s here, with their 
lowest-charting single since their cover of 'Feeling Good' (technically a 
double A with 'Hyper Music') in November 2001.
Personally, I've always had an awkward sort of relationship with Muse, but I 
can safely say that this is the weakest choice of single they've released in 
a very long time, probably since 'Cave'. The only possible excuse for it is 
that this is intended as some sort of stopgap before they release another 
single to coincide with their big Wembley gig. I'm still not sure it was 
worth it.

>NINE INCH NAILS #29

Even if we count the Top 10 appearance of 'The Hand That Feeds' as a fluke, 
this is a remarkable falling-off for a fanbase act like this.

> Top 40 : ELLIOTT MINOR #31,

Not Joe Elliot's younger brother apparently. Somebody on the R1 board posted 
a message asking whether they were the new McFly, which mainly seemed to 
elicit the suggestion that this was a gross insult to McFly.

>Mika #32,

Who's he calling a "Big bastard" anyway?

>AKON #33,

Actually making a whole record on his own for once. There hasn't been a week 
in 2007 without at least one Akon track in the Top 40.

> KLAXONS #35

Nice riffing, and a bit of a grower. But it's no 'Golden Skans' is it? That 
and the fact that this track has been released before make the decline in 
appeal rather less surprising.

> New outside the top 40 : Gym class Heroes #47,

I hate this more than I hate Supertramp too. ;-)
Out on CD and 7"s on the 30th.

> Meck ft Dino #51,

Dino being Dino Lenny, who previously scraped the Top 75 with the 
Housemartins-sampling 'Change The World'.
This samples 'Don't You Want Me' by Felix, which is surely a better-known 
song than 'Thunder In My Heart' was, but then again maybe that's the 
problem.

>Enemy #52,

Out on CD & 7"s tomorrow.

> Dykeenies #54,

Rubbish name, isn't it?

> David Bowie #56 (re-entry),

55 it says here. This is his 1971 track 'Life On Mars', originally a hit in 
1973 and now back in the charts for obvious reasons.

>Cherry Ghost #57,

He's really from Manchester, which doesn't explain the accent.

> Shins #62,

A big breakthrough for them airplay-wise, but evidently not enough to sell a 
single after the album.
This track reminds me, in ways I can't fully explain, of the Manic Street 
Preachers (and not because they also had a song called 'Australia').

>Mark Ronson #63 & #66 (presumably album tracks),

Number 63 is 'God Put A Smile Upon Your Face' [with the Duptone Horns], 
which is on the album but I think it was issued as a 12" somewhere down the 
line.
Number 66 is 'No-One Knows' [with Domino] which is the B-side of the current 
single.

>Israel K #68,

You wimped out of typing his surname too then?

> Patrick Wolf #69,

With a song called 'The Magic Position'. Add your own punchline.

>Siobhan Donaghy #72

Out on CD & 12" tomorrow.

> Albums
> ------
> Kings Of Leon hold on at #1 for a 2nd week, in the absence of any 
> significant new releases.

And they've been touring here too. I haven't yet seen the margin though.

> NE's (top 20) : Bright Eyes #13,

Highest-charting for him yet.
Apparently there's a secret message in the artwork which you need special 
glasses to read. Or something.

> Ciara #17

Actually higher than her first album ever managed, despite the conspicuous 
lack of a Number One single.

> New outside the top 20 : Marillion 24

Their 2004 chart campaign may have lead to their biggest hit singles in 
years, but failed to produce a charting album (presumably because they sold 
Marbles through ineligible outlets). This duly becomes their first Top 75 
album since the dubiously-titled Marillion.com in 1999, their first Top 40 
since Radiation the previous year and their highest placing since their last 
EMI album Afraid Of Sunlight peaked at 16.

No more in the Top 75, but I have seen the Top 80, with new entries for 
Aretha Franklin at 78 and Hayseed Dixie at 79.

> Next Week
> ---------
> Singles
> -------
> It surely must be between Beyonce/Shakira & the Arctic Monkeys, with my 
> money on the ladies to prevail.

Not my personal preference, but I agree with the prediction.

> Top 10 : Natasha B,

The press might try to hype this is as a three-way battle, but she's very 
much the outsider here.

>Ne-Yo

Those are physicals aren't they? So yes.

> Top 30 : Akon,

ZZZZ.

> Top 40 : Just Jack, Siobhan Donaghy

Jack might do a tiny bit better, but not much.

Also:

Ash are your big comeback act of the week, Ocean Colour Scene somewhat less 
so but might get themselves somewhere between 30 and 40.
The Enemy are already near the Top 50 on downloads, and last time BRMC made 
a comeback on a new label it turned out to be their biggest hit ever.
And finally, Matt Willis is still around, now doing cover versions to plug 
the Mr Bean movie. Presumably his local McDonalds isn't hiring.

> Albums
> ------
> Avril Lavigne should comfortably claim her 3rd #1 album

Against this competition, yes.

> Top 20 NE : Mark Ronson, Nine Inch Nails

Agreed, but hard to be more specific.

> I suspect Gareth Gates will struggle to make the top 40, though.

I'm far from convinced that his album is even coming out.

    Chris

> Didn't that actually happen once? Can't remember who, but some DJ was rude
> about them and he suddenly found himself mailbombed by loads of Marillion
> fans.

Yes, I think it did - wouldn't surprise me. Some of their fans are bit OTT - 
go and look at their online forum. Anyone dare criticise their new album... 
Phew, you're in for the chop. They're always trying to get people to e-mail 
magazines and radio 1 to get them to play them.

I do like their new album, though, apart from maybe two tracks. I think it 
deserves to do OK. Not as patchy as some of their other recent ones.

> Their 2004 chart campaign may have lead to their biggest hit singles in 
> years, but failed to produce a charting album (presumably because they 
> sold Marbles through ineligible outlets). This duly becomes their first 
> Top 75 album since the dubiously-titled Marillion.com in 1999, their first 
> Top 40 since Radiation the previous year and their highest placing since 
> their last EMI album Afraid Of Sunlight peaked at 16.

Ah, so marillion.com and Radiation charted...

Marbles was ineligable for chart, so was Anoraknophobia - I believe both of 
these did sell more than .com and Radiation.

Did "This Strange Engine" chart?

In uk.music.charts on Sun, 15 Apr 2007, Chris Brown 
 wrote :

>> Singles
>> -------
>> New Entries/Climbers
>> --------------------
>> Top 10 : Mark Ronson #2,
>
>Notwithstanding my low opinion of this track, it's a tiny disappointment
>that it hasn't unseated a charity record, as that gives me less excuse to
>show off the knowledge that one of the most famous songs to do so, 'I Want
>To Know What Love Is', is about his mum.

Is that the titbit you were holding back before?

In any case, AIUI Mick Ronson, who is supposed to be his father, 
actually *isn't*. That is just a false rumour.
>
>>Beyonce/Shakira #6
>
>I could be wrong, but I'm not sure that mix is available as a download yet.

Plus it's #5 not #6 - damn! I thought I had *checked* for that sort of 
mistake this time. :(
>
>> Top 20 : FALL OUT BOY #12,
>
>If you'll excuse me, I suddenly feel the need to buy a mobile phone, and a
>car. ;-)

I get the mobile, but why a car?
>
>>Linkin Park #13,
>
>The album is now due on the 14th of May, but I still don't have a physical
>release date for this single.

30th Apr, per the Buzzjack new release schedule.
>
>> GARETH GATES #14,
>
>The big comeback single 'Changes' (not the David Bowie song, of course,
>that'd just be cruel - it's actually closer to the Black Sabbath one) is his
>first release for new label Universal and (I think) the first to feature him
>as an instrumentalist. It's also the first to chart outside the Top 10.

His sales held up better than I thought - he may now manage a 2nd top 40 
week.
>
>> BLOC PARTY #20
>
>A more obviously radio-friendly single than 'The Prayer', which is
>presumably why this came out first in the US.

Given the number of religious types in the US, I'd have thought a song 
titled 'The Prayer' would be right up their street. :)
>
>> Top 30 : MUSE #21,
>
>Unlike Bloc Party, they end a run of Top 20s here, with their
>lowest-charting single since their cover of 'Feeling Good' (technically a
>double A with 'Hyper Music') in November 2001.

Took too long to release it.

>> ELLIOTT MINOR #31,
>
>Not Joe Elliot's younger brother apparently. Somebody on the R1 board posted
>a message asking whether they were the new McFly, which mainly seemed to
>elicit the suggestion that this was a gross insult to McFly.

The singers voice is just as whiny.
>
>>AKON #33,
>
>Actually making a whole record on his own for once. There hasn't been a week
>in 2007 without at least one Akon track in the Top 40.

Though some of the time only as a 'featured artist'.

BTW, I noticed that no less than 7 of last week's top 14 had 'featured 
artists' and that's not counting Beyonce/Shakira - I wonder if that's a 
record?
>
>> New outside the top 40 : Gym class Heroes #47,
>
>I hate this more than I hate Supertramp too. ;-)
>Out on CD and 7"s on the 30th.

I assumed this charted on CD's, given that it made a big climb.
>
>> Meck ft Dino #51,
>
>Dino being Dino Lenny, who previously scraped the Top 75 with the
>Housemartins-sampling 'Change The World'.

And there was I, thinking it was the Flintstone's pet dinosaur... :)
>
>>Enemy #52,
>
>Out on CD & 7"s tomorrow.

Great - another correction to my records (see #47).
>
>> Dykeenies #54,
>
>Rubbish name, isn't it?

Something to do with female Tweenies coming out? :)
>
>> David Bowie #56 (re-entry),
>
>55 it says here.

So do my records - grrr!

>This is his 1971 track 'Life On Mars', originally a hit in
>1973 and now back in the charts for obvious reasons.

But why *now*, rather than some time back?
>
>> Shins #62,
>
>A big breakthrough for them airplay-wise, but evidently not enough to sell a
>single after the album.

Well, not much more than 1500 copies of it, anyway...
>
>>Mark Ronson #63 & #66 (presumably album tracks),
>
>Number 63 is 'God Put A Smile Upon Your Face' [with the Duptone Horns],
>which is on the album but I think it was issued as a 12" somewhere down the
>line.

>Number 66 is 'No-One Knows' [with Domino] which is the B-side of the current
>single.

Why buy it separately then?
>
>>Israel K #68,
>
>You wimped out of typing his surname too then?

Grin.
>
>>Siobhan Donaghy #72
>
>Out on CD & 12" tomorrow.

At least I knew *this* one was just on download sales.
>
>> Albums
>> ------
>> Kings Of Leon hold on at #1 for a 2nd week, in the absence of any
>> significant new releases.
>
>And they've been touring here too. I haven't yet seen the margin though.

They sold just 29k - the lowest sale for a #1 album for 5 years, 
apparently.

Both Cascada (#2) & more significantly, Nelly Furtado (#4, after 10 
months on the chart), set new peaks.
>
>> NE's (top 20) : Bright Eyes #13,
>
>Highest-charting for him yet.
>Apparently there's a secret message in the artwork which you need special
>glasses to read. Or something.

Like those damn magic eye things which *never* worked for me?
>
>> New outside the top 20 : Marillion 24
>
>Their 2004 chart campaign may have lead to their biggest hit singles in
>years, but failed to produce a charting album (presumably because they sold
>Marbles through ineligible outlets). This duly becomes their first Top 75
>album since the dubiously-titled Marillion.com in 1999, their first Top 40
>since Radiation the previous year and their highest placing since their last
>EMI album Afraid Of Sunlight peaked at 16.

But #24 on the worst sales week for 5 years, isn't exactly a stunning 
performance, belying somewhat the supposed fanaticism of their fanbase.
>
>> Next Week
>> ---------
>> Singles
>> -------
>> It surely must be between Beyonce/Shakira & the Arctic Monkeys, with my
>> money on the ladies to prevail.
>
>Not my personal preference, but I agree with the prediction.

I know which of the contenders I'd rather sleep with, though. :)
>
>> Top 10 : Natasha B,
>
>The press might try to hype this is as a three-way battle, but she's very
>much the outsider here.

That's what happens when you release a weak single.
>
>>Ne-Yo
>
>Those are physicals aren't they? So yes.

Unfortunately.
>
>> Top 30 : Akon,
>
>ZZZZ.

It's catching. :)
>
>> Top 40 : Just Jack, Siobhan Donaghy
>
>Jack might do a tiny bit better, but not much.

Top 35 then?
>
>Also:
>
>Ash are your big comeback act of the week, Ocean Colour Scene somewhat less
>so but might get themselves somewhere between 30 and 40.

Haven't heard it.

>The Enemy are already near the Top 50 on downloads

See above.

>, and last time BRMC made
>a comeback on a new label it turned out to be their biggest hit ever.

Someone else likely to suffer on the download score, though.

>And finally, Matt Willis is still around, now doing cover versions to plug
>the Mr Bean movie. Presumably his local McDonalds isn't hiring.

After this one, I think he'll have little choice. :)
>
>> Albums
>> ------
>> Avril Lavigne should comfortably claim her 3rd #1 album
>
>Against this competition, yes.
>
>> Top 20 NE : Mark Ronson, Nine Inch Nails
>
>Agreed, but hard to be more specific.
>
>> I suspect Gareth Gates will struggle to make the top 40, though.
>
>I'm far from convinced that his album is even coming out.

Time to check the shelves, I guess - but ISTM is has to be now or never.
-- 
Paul Hyett, Cheltenham (change 'invalid83261' to 'blueyonder' to email me)

Jeremiah Harbottle wrote:
>> Didn't that actually happen once? Can't remember who, but some DJ was rude
>> about them and he suddenly found himself mailbombed by loads of Marillion
>> fans.
> 
> Yes, I think it did - wouldn't surprise me. Some of their fans are bit OTT - 
> go and look at their online forum. Anyone dare criticise their new album... 
> Phew, you're in for the chop. They're always trying to get people to e-mail 
> magazines and radio 1 to get them to play them.
> 
> I do like their new album, though, apart from maybe two tracks. I think it 
> deserves to do OK. Not as patchy as some of their other recent ones.
> 

Their fans should be trying to get R2 to play their songs not R1, that's 
more their territory these days...

I've never understood the appeal of Marillion, and that goes back to the 
early 80s. One of my mates used to be mad about them back in the day, 
and I used to get sick of hearing their dreadful music every time I went 
to his house. The only song I really like by them is their biggest hit, 
Kayleigh, and that's only because it mentions Belsize Park, which is 
where I was living at the time!

-- 
Robbie