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| 1980s in music in the UK |
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This is a summary of 1989 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.
| | This article needs additional citations for verification .(July 2016) |
| 1980s in music in the UK |
| Events |
|---|
| By location |
|---|
| By genre |
| By topic |
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| +... |
This is a summary of 1989 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.
The very beginning of the year saw compilation albums excluded from the UK Albums Chart, and spun off into the new UK Compilations Chart from the week commencing 8 January 1989. Albums such as the Now series had regularly dominated the chart since 1983, with often up to 4 of the Number 1s each year being hit compilations. Now 13 was knocked off the top spot of the albums chart as a result of this new implementation.
In the UK Singles Chart, eighteen singles reached number one. The first was a duet between teen idols Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan, "Especially for You", which had narrowly missed out on being 1988's Christmas number one single. The two would continue their success throughout the year, with Minogue getting her third number-one single, "Hand on Your Heart", in May followed by "Wouldn't Change a Thing", which peaked at number two in August; "Never Too Late" peaked at number four in October, and then her second number-one album, Enjoy Yourself , came in November. Donovan fared even better getting two number-one singles ("Too Many Broken Hearts" in March, and "Sealed With a Kiss" in June) and one number-one album ( Ten Good Reasons in May). The two enjoyed a highly publicised romance throughout the year until Minogue ended the relationship and began dating Michael Hutchence from the band INXS.
Like many artists this year, Minogue and Donovan were produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, who were at the peak of their popularity in 1989. This year saw the production team re-launch Donna Summer's career, and she scored her first Top 10 hit for 10 years with "This Time I Know It's for Real", which made number three, and followed it up with two more Top 20 hits ("I Don't Wanna Get Hurt" and "Love's About to Change My Heart") both from her album Another Place and Time , written and produced entirely by the trio. Also, the Reynolds Girls and Sonia both got the Stock Aitken Waterman treatment with their respective top 10 singles "I'd Rather Jack", which reached number eight in March, and "You'll Never Stop Me Loving You", which got to number one in July. Big Fun kick-started their short-lived pop career with a Stock Aitken Waterman produced cover of "Blame it on the Boogie", which got to number five.
After a break the previous year, Madonna returned to number one for the sixth time in March with "Like a Prayer", though the music video caused controversy. Her album, from which this was the title track, also topped the charts and became one of her most critically acclaimed worldwide. The single was followed by three further top five hits in 1989: "Express Yourself" (number five), "Cherish" (number three) and "Dear Jessie", which peaked at number five over the Christmas period.
May saw the Christians, Holly Johnson, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden and producers Stock Aitken Waterman reach number one with a charity cover of the Gerry & The Pacemakers song "Ferry Cross the Mersey", released in aid of the Hillsborough disaster the previous month. The original reached number eight in 1964.
Two sounds dominated the summer and autumn. The first came from Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers: several old songs from the 1940s to 1960s were joined together to create a megamix, with "Jive Bunny" (an animated rabbit) featuring in the music videos. "Swing the Mood" topped the charts for five weeks from July, "That's What I Like" for three weeks in October, and "Let's Party" for one week in December. Unlike the first two, the last one sampled Christmas songs from the 1970s and 1980s. Jive Bunny became the third artist ever to have their first three singles reach number one, after Gerry & The Pacemakers and Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
The second was the italo house sound of Black Box, whose "Ride on Time" was the biggest-selling single of the year, and, at six weeks, spent the longest time at number one. Though the song heavily sampled Loleatta Holloway's "Love Sensation" from 1980, the music video featured a different singer miming to Holloway's vocals. This prompted legal action, so later pressings of the single featured a different singer – the then little-known Heather Small, who later went on to fame as the lead singer of M People in the 1990s. The same production team behind Black Box also reached number nine under the group name Starlight with the hit single "Numero Uno". The italo house sound continued with top ten hits from Mixmaster "Grand Piano" and FPI Project went to number nine with their version of "Going Back to My Roots/Rich in Paradise".
Along with italo, the House music genre was still going strong in 1989. Inner City released numerous house hits during the year, which all entered the Top 40, the biggest being "Good Life", which reached number four in January. Coldcut introduced Lisa Stansfield with her debut single "People Hold On", which reached number 11 in April and stayed in the Top 75 for 9 weeks. This was followed by her first solo hit, "This Is the Right Time", which hit number 13, but in October, she made it all the way to the top with "All Around the World", which stayed at number one for two weeks.
The Rebel MC created a second wave house craze in October 1989 with his number-two hit "Street Tuff", and from Belgium, genre-defining Technotronic stormed to number two in November with their huge debut hit "Pump Up the Jam". Like Black Box, there was minor controversy over who was the actual singer of the track. The label officially credited French model Felly as the vocalist (who also appeared in the video); however, it was, in fact, American rapper Ya Kid K providing all the vocals. A third scandal involving credited vocalists also continued this year with the duo Milli Vanilli, who hit the headlines when it was revealed that neither of them had performed vocals on any of their debut singles, including this year's number two smash from November "Girl I'm Gonna Miss You".
The teen-sensations of 1988, Bros, lost momentum and a band member this year, so a new boyband took their title. From the United States came New Kids on the Block and they soon became the latest pop sensations in Britain. Their debut single, "Hangin' Tough", initially stalled early in the summer, but it was the follow-up "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" that went straight in at number one in the autumn. It would stay there for three weeks, paving the way for a re-release of "Hangin' Tough" in January 1990, and the multi-platinum success of their debut album of the same name.
The year's Christmas number one single, and, indeed, the final number one of the 1980s, went to a new version of 1984's Christmas number one "Do They Know It's Christmas?". Produced by Stock Aitken Waterman, Band Aid II, like the original Band Aid, featured numerous famous music stars of the day, including both Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan, giving them the credit as appearing on both the first and last number one singles of the year. Donovan would also achieve the honour of the biggest selling album of the year with his "Ten Good Reasons" album going multi-platinum before the end of the year.
One of the highlights of the Proms was the première of John Tavener's The Protecting Veil, performed by Steven Isserlis and the London Symphony Orchestra. Two new works by John McCabe were also premièred during the year: Sam Variations for violin, viola, cello, doublebass and piano, commissioned and performed by the Schubert Ensemble of London, and String Quartet No 5, performed by the Gabrieli Quartet at the Fishguard Festival. A choral work by McCabe's, Proud Songsters, was written to celebrate the 70th birthday of Stephen Wilkinson.
| Chart date (week ending) | Song | Artist(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 January | "Especially for You" | Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan |
| 14 January | ||
| 21 January | ||
| 28 January | "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart" | Marc Almond with Gene Pitney |
| 4 February | ||
| 11 February | ||
| 18 February | ||
| 25 February | "Belfast Child" | Simple Minds |
| 4 March | ||
| 11 March | "Too Many Broken Hearts" | Jason Donovan |
| 18 March | ||
| 25 March | "Like a Prayer" | Madonna |
| 1 April | ||
| 8 April | ||
| 15 April | "Eternal Flame" | The Bangles |
| 22 April | ||
| 29 April | ||
| 6 May | ||
| 13 May | "Hand on Your Heart" | Kylie Minogue |
| 20 May | "Ferry 'Cross the Mersey" | The Christians, Holly Johnson, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden and Stock Aitken Waterman |
| 27 May | ||
| 3 June | ||
| 10 June | "Sealed With a Kiss" | Jason Donovan |
| 17 June | ||
| 24 June | "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)" | Soul II Soul featuring Caron Wheeler |
| 1 July | ||
| 8 July | ||
| 15 July | ||
| 22 July | "You'll Never Stop Me Loving You" | Sonia |
| 29 July | ||
| 5 August | "Swing the Mood" | Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers |
| 12 August | ||
| 19 August | ||
| 26 August | ||
| 2 September | ||
| 9 September | "Ride on Time" | Black Box |
| 16 September | ||
| 23 September | ||
| 30 September | ||
| 7 October | ||
| 14 October | ||
| 21 October | "That's What I Like" | Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers |
| 28 October | ||
| 4 November | ||
| 11 November | "All Around the World" | Lisa Stansfield |
| 18 November | ||
| 25 November | "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" | New Kids on the Block |
| 2 December | ||
| 9 December | ||
| 16 December | "Let's Party" | Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers |
| 23 December | "Do They Know It's Christmas?" | Band Aid II |
| 30 December |
| Chart date (week ending) | Album | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 7 January | Now 13 | Various Artists |
| 14 January | The Innocents | Erasure |
| 21 January | The Legendary Roy Orbison | Roy Orbison |
| 28 January | ||
| 4 February | ||
| 11 February | Technique | New Order |
| 18 February | The Raw and the Cooked | Fine Young Cannibals |
| 25 February | A New Flame | Simply Red |
| 4 March | ||
| 11 March | ||
| 18 March | ||
| 25 March | Anything for You | Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine |
| 1 April | Like a Prayer | Madonna |
| 8 April | ||
| 15 April | When the World Knows Your Name | Deacon Blue |
| 22 April | ||
| 29 April | A New Flame | Simply Red |
| 6 May | Blast! | Holly Johnson |
| 13 May | Street Fighting Years | Simple Minds |
| 20 May | Ten Good Reasons | Jason Donovan |
| 27 May | ||
| 3 June | The Miracle | Queen |
| 10 June | Ten Good Reasons | Jason Donovan |
| 17 June | ||
| 24 June | Flowers in the Dirt | Paul McCartney |
| 1 July | Batman | Prince |
| 8 July | Velveteen | Transvision Vamp |
| 15 July | Club Classics Vol. One | Soul II Soul |
| 22 July | A New Flame | Simply Red |
| 29 July | ||
| 5 August | Cuts Both Ways | Gloria Estefan |
| 12 August | ||
| 19 August | ||
| 26 August | ||
| 2 September | ||
| 9 September | ||
| 16 September | Aspects of Love | London Stage Cast |
| 23 September | We Too Are One | Eurythmics |
| 30 September | Foreign Affair | Tina Turner |
| 7 October | The Seeds of Love | Tears for Fears |
| 14 October | Crossroads | Tracy Chapman |
| 21 October | Enjoy Yourself | Kylie Minogue |
| 28 October | ||
| 4 November | Wild! | Erasure |
| 11 November | ||
| 18 November | The Road to Hell | Chris Rea |
| 25 November | ||
| 2 December | ||
| 9 December | ...But Seriously | Phil Collins |
| 16 December | ||
| 23 December | ||
| 30 December |
| Chart date (week ending) | Album |
|---|---|
| 14 January | Now 13 |
| 21 January | The Premiere Collection: The Best of Andrew Lloyd Webber |
| 28 January | |
| 4 February | The Marquee – Thirty Legendary Years |
| 11 February | |
| 18 February | |
| 25 February | |
| 4 March | The Awards |
| 11 March | The Premiere Collection: The Best of Andrew Lloyd Webber |
| 18 March | Deep Heat |
| 25 March | Unforgettable 2 |
| 1 April | Now 14 |
| 8 April | |
| 15 April | |
| 22 April | |
| 29 April | |
| 6 May | |
| 13 May | |
| 20 May | Nite Flite 2 |
| 27 May | |
| 3 June | Hits 10 |
| 10 June | |
| 17 June | |
| 24 June | |
| 1 July | |
| 8 July | |
| 15 July | Now Dance '89 |
| 22 July | |
| 29 July | |
| 5 August | |
| 12 August | |
| 19 August | |
| 26 August | Now 15 |
| 2 September | |
| 9 September | |
| 16 September | |
| 23 September | |
| 30 September | Deep Heat 4 – Play with Fire |
| 7 October | |
| 14 October | |
| 21 October | |
| 28 October | |
| 4 November | Smash Hits Party '89 |
| 11 November | |
| 18 November | |
| 25 November | The 80s – The Best Album of the Decade |
| 2 December | Now 16 |
| 9 December | |
| 16 December | |
| 23 December | |
| 30 December |
Notes:
The 1989 BRIT Awards winners were:
Desiree Carole Heslop, best known as Princess, is a British singer who found chart success in the mid-1980s. In the early 1980s, she worked with the group Osibisa. She is best known for her hit single "Say I'm Your Number One" which made the UK Top Ten in 1985.
Michael Stock is an English songwriter, record producer, musician, and member of the songwriting and production trio Stock Aitken Waterman. He has been responsible for over a hundred top-40 hits in the UK, including 16 Number One's and is recognised as one of the most successful songwriters of all time by the Guinness World Records. As part of Stock Aitken Waterman in the 1980s and 90s, he holds the UK record of 11 number one records with different acts. In the UK Singles Chart he has written 54 top-ten hits including 7 number ones.
Stock Aitken Waterman are an English songwriting and record production trio consisting of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman. The trio had great success from the mid-1980s through to the early-1990s. SAW is considered one of the most successful songwriting and producing partnerships of all time by the Guinness World Records, scoring more than 100 UK Top 40 hits and earning an estimated £60 million in royalties. The trio had thirteen UK No. 1 singles including three consecutive UK No. 1's and three US No. 1 singles. They also had at least one record in the UK Top 100 Singles Chart every week between March 1986 and October 1990.
Jason Sean Donovan is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soap Neighbours, playing Scott Robinson, before beginning a career in music in 1988. In the UK he has sold over 3 million records. His debut album Ten Good Reasons was the highest-selling album in the UK in 1989, with sales of over 1.5 million. He has had Four UK No. 1 singles. He has also appeared in several stage musicals, most prominently in the lead role of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in the early 1990s.
"I Should Be So Lucky" is a 1987 song performed by Australian singer and songwriter Kylie Minogue from her debut studio album, Kylie (1988). Released on 29 December 1987 by Mushroom Records and PWL Records, the song became a worldwide breakthrough hit. The image of Minogue on the front cover of the single was shot by David Levine. The song was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman for Minogue, whom went on to produce Minogue's initial four studio albums.
"Je ne sais pas pourquoi" (English: "I Do Not Know Why"), also known as "I Still Love You (Je ne sais pas pourquoi)" in Australia and New Zealand, is a song by Australian recording artist and songwriter Kylie Minogue from her debut studio album Kylie (1988). Released as a single on 10 October 1988 by PWL, the song has subsequently appeared on most of Minogue's hits compilations including Greatest Hits (1992), Ultimate Kylie (2004) and, most recently, Step Back in Time: The Definitive Collection, released in 2019. Like most of Minogue's material between 1988 and 1992, it was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman.
"Especially for You" is a song performed by Australian recording artists Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan from Donovan's debut album, Ten Good Reasons (1989). The song was released as his album's second single on 28 November 1988 and was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW).
"Turn It into Love" is a single released by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. It was taken from her debut studio album Kylie (1988). The single was released in December 1988 in Japan only. The B-side was a new song "Made in Heaven", which also served as the B-side to both "Je ne sais pas pourquoi" and "It's No Secret" in other international territories.
"Hand on Your Heart" is a song by Australian singer Kylie Minogue from her second studio album, Enjoy Yourself (1989), and released as its lead single on 24 April 1989. Much like her previous releases up to Let's Get to It (1991), the song was written and produced by English songwriting and record production trio Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW). Referenced tracks during composition included "This Old Heart of Mine" by the Isley Brothers and "That's the Way Love Is" by Ten City.
"Never Too Late" is a song written and produced by British production team Stock, Aitken and Waterman for Australian singer Kylie Minogue's second studio album, Enjoy Yourself (1989). Released on 23 October 1989, the song peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart, number one in Ireland, and number 14 in Australia. It was later rerecorded for Minogue's orchestral compilation album, The Abbey Road Sessions, in 2012. Writer Mike Stock says he deliberately composed the song with "old fashioned" lyrical themes, imagining it the style of a 1920s number.
"Better the Devil You Know" is a song by Australian singer-songwriter Kylie Minogue, taken from her third studio album Rhythm of Love (1990). The song was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman and was released as the album's lead single on 30 April 1990 by PWL and Mushroom Records. "Better the Devil You Know" is known as the song that re-invented Minogue with more sex appeal, as her previous albums were presented with her "girl next door" persona. Her music onwards presented a more independent approach.
This is a summary of 1990 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.
"What Do I Have to Do" is a song performed by Australian singer-songwriter Kylie Minogue from her third studio album, Rhythm of Love (1990). The song was written and produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman. Originally, the song was planned to be released after the single "Better the Devil You Know", but instead "Step Back in Time" was released and this was released as the third single on 21 January 1991 by PWL and Mushroom. The song received positive reviews from most music critics, who thought the song was an instant rave classic. Its music video was directed by Dave Hogan.
"Too Many Broken Hearts" is a song by Australian singer and actor Jason Donovan, released on 20 February 1989 as the third single from his debut album, Ten Good Reasons (1989), and 1991's Greatest Hits album and again on a later collection in 2006. The song reached number-one in the United Kingdom and Ireland in March 1989. The song additionally peaked within the top 10 in Australia, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Norway and Spain. British magazine Classic Pop ranked "Too Many Broken Hearts" number 19 in their list of "Top 40 Stock Aitken Waterman songs" in 2021.
This is a summary of 1988 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.
This is a summary of 1987 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.
This is a summary of 1984 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.
"When You Come Back to Me" is a song recorded by Australian artist and actor Jason Donovan. It was released on 27 November 1989 as the first single from his second album Between the Lines. It charted in the UK on 9 December 1989, peaking at number two the following week and returning to the same position in January 1990, becoming one of his biggest selling singles in Britain. Reaching a disappointing number 40 in Australia, the track was Jason's final top 40 chart hit in his home country.
"Every Day (I Love You More)" is a 1989 song recorded by Australian singer Jason Donovan. It was released on 28 August 1989 as the fifth and final single from his debut album, Ten Good Reasons. As with Donovan's other songs at the time, it was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman. It was the least successful release from the album, although it was a hit in the UK and Ireland.