1990 in British music

This is a summary of 1990 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.

List of years in British music

Summary

The first year of the 1990s saw a total of 17 singles top the chart. The first, "Hangin' Tough" by the boyband New Kids on the Block, which became the group's second chart-topper, set the record for lowest first-week sales for a number 1, with only 28,000 copies sold. Although January is usually a low sales month due to it being post-Christmas season, the vinyl single had been in severe decline in the UK since the late 1980s. In 1990 New Kids on the Block released a total of three albums and six singles (not including "Hangin' Tough") during the course of the year. Although their third album Step by Step topped the charts, their follow-up debut eponymous album was re-released and made only number six. The six singles released after their chart-topper in January all failed to top the charts, though four did make the top 5, the most successful, "Step By Step", reaching number two.

The next No. 1 was Kylie Minogue's cover of the Little Anthony & the Imperials song "Tears on My Pillow", taken from the film The Delinquents, which became her fourth number one single in the UK and the final number one for production team Stock Aitken Waterman. Her album release for the year Rhythm of Love made number 9 on the UK Albums Chart with the lead single "Better the Devil You Know" making number two.

Despite the huge success experienced by Stock Aitken Waterman the previous four years, 1990 saw a sharp decline in the popularity of their songs. With Jason Donovan's chart positions rapidly declining, both Sonia and Big Fun were dropped, Donna Summer reportedly fell-out with the trio and only Lonnie Gordon was able to go Top 10 with her number 4 single "Happenin' All Over Again", a song originally intended for Donna Summer. Kylie Minogue ended her run of Top 2's when "Step Back in Time" stalled at number 4, and new songs by Hazell Dean, Pat and Mick and Sybil missed the chart completely. Mike Stock revealed in his book "The Hit Factory" he felt it was Pete Waterman's fault their popularity plummeted after the outspoken Producer made several scathing attacks about the British Music Industry to the press. By the end of the year, rumours began circulating about unrest in the PWL camp and, next year, Matt Aitken would be the first to depart.

The continued success of Kylie, and the Australian soap opera's Neighbours on BBC 1 and Home and Away on ITV, saw more actors releasing singles this year in the hope of replicating the success of Kylie and Jason Donovan. The most successful of these was Craig McLachlan (who notably appeared in both series) and his band Check 1–2 who scored a number 2 in the spring with "Mona" and went Top 20 with its follow-up, "Amanda".

Madonna scored her 7th number 1 single with "Vogue", from her hit album I'm Breathless which made No. 2, charting in the same position as her follow-up single "Hanky Panky". Her album success did not end there, however, with The Immaculate Collection (greatest hits release) becoming her most successful album ever, topping the UK albums chart for 9 weeks and selling 3.6 million copies in the UK (10th best selling album of all-time) and promotional single "Justify My Love" giving her a second No. 2 hit, whose video caused some controversy and was banned from MTV.

Showing something of a revival in popularity this year were Belinda Carlisle who followed three tracks that barely made the top 40 with a remix of a track from her 1989 album Runaway Horses, "(We Want) The Same Thing", which made number six. The album was subsequently re-released, peaking at the same position it had before, number four, and "Summer Rain" became the sixth and final hit from the album, making number 23 in December. Another comeback was from Elton John who got his first solo number 1 in June, and only his second overall (his first being "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" with Kiki Dee in 1976) with the charity single "Sacrifice"/"Healing Hands", with all the proceeds going to AIDS charities. Both tracks had previously failed to reach the top 40 when they were originally released in 1989, but significant airplay on Radio 2 ensured the songs were re-issued and became massive hits. He also enjoyed success with two number 1 albums, Sleeping With the Past in July, and The Very Best of Elton John in November. The latter went on to sell 2.7 million copies in the UK, becoming the 17th-best-selling album of all-time.

An obscure British house-dance act DNA revived Suzanne Vega's fortunes this year with a smash hit remix of 1987 album track "Tom's Diner" which peaked at number two in July. The track was an international hit, peaking in the top 10 all over the world. European dance music was one of the most popular genres of the year, with several songs of that type hitting number 1, including, from Germany, Snap!'s "The Power", the last record to jump from outside the top 10 to number 1 until 2006, discounting imports. Although their album, World Power, made only number 21 upon initial release, Snap went on to have a further three top 10 singles, "Ooops Up" (No.5, June), "Cult of Snap" (No.8, October) and "Mary Had a Little Boy" (No.8, December) and this caused the album to re-chart and peak at number 10.

Belgian house music was very popular in 1990 with artists like Technotronic powering the charts with songs like No.2 smash "Get Up ! (Before the Night Is Over)" and "Rockin' Over the Beat", a big summer No.9 hit, and finally a "Megamix" rounded off the year, making number 6 in October. From Italy, 49ers scored two of the biggest dance hits of the year; "Touch Me" peaked at number 3, and the follow-up, "Don't You Love Me", which contained a sample from Jody Watley's song "Don't You Want Me", made number 12. Meanwhile, Dutch trio Twenty 4 Seven hit the Top 20 twice with their two hits, "I Can't Stand It" (No.7) and "Are You Dreaming" (No.17); both tracks were fronted by US rapper, Captain Hollywood.

Manchester in the UK was the base of 808 State who scored two Top 10 hits this year, one with fellow Mancunian rapper MC Tunes, "The Only Rhyme That Bites", and one on their own, "Cubik/Olympic", both tracks reached No.10. Londonbeat hit the charts in the summer of 1990 with "I've Been Thinking About You" and The Adventures Of Stevie V released the summer anthem of 1990 "Dirty Cash" which reached No.2 in July. The KLF, who were formerly in the charts as The Timelords back in 1988, had a huge club and chart comeback with "What Time is Love?" which made No.5 in September. This started a successful run of hits that continued through to 1992.

A problem occurred in September when two records – The Steve Miller Band's "The Joker" and Deee-Lite's "Groove Is In the Heart" – both tied for the number one position, selling exactly the same number of copies. As the rules stated that in the event of this happening, the single which had climbed the highest would be the number 1, "The Joker", re-issued after being featured in a Levi's advert, won out (having climbed five places instead of three). Due to the controversy that followed, with some saying that it was unfair to let a re-issue of an old song overtake the debut single of a new group, the rules were changed so that records would now be allowed to tie.

Four of the number ones this year came from films. Kylie Minogue's "Tears on My Pillow", mentioned earlier, Partners In Kryme's "Turtle Power", from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Maria McKee's "Show Me Heaven", from Days of Thunder, and a re-issue of The Righteous Brothers' "Unchained Melody" (originally a number 14 hit in 1965) from Ghost, which was the biggest selling single of the year. A re-issue of the 1965 No. 1 "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" in December was also successful, peaking at #3.

Cliff Richard scored the Christmas number one single with "Saviour's Day", his 13th number one, and his 100th top 40 hit. With this he became the only person to have a number one in the 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s.

Merseyside composer John McCabe produced a flute concerto, written for James Galway and premièred by the London Symphony Orchestra who had commissioned it; it was not recorded until 1999. Another Lancashire composer, John Pickard, produced his best-known work The Flight of Icarus. Simon Rattle became musical director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, of which he had been Principal Conductor since 1980.

Events

Charts

Number-one singles

Chart date
(week ending)
SongArtist(s)
6 January"Do They Know It's Christmas?"Band Aid II
13 January"Hangin' Tough"New Kids on the Block
20 January
27 January"Tears on My Pillow"Kylie Minogue
3 February"Nothing Compares 2 U"Sinéad O'Connor
10 February
17 February
24 February
3 March"Dub Be Good to Me"Beats International
10 March
17 March
24 March
31 March"The Power"Snap!
7 April
14 April"Vogue"Madonna
21 April
28 April
5 May
12 May"Killer"Adamski featuring Seal
19 May
26 May
2 June
9 June"World in Motion"New Order
16 June
23 June"Sacrifice / Healing Hands"Elton John
30 June
7 July
14 July
21 July
28 July"Turtle Power"Partners in Kryme
4 August
11 August
18 August
25 August"Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini"Timmy Mallett with Bombalurina
1 September
8 September
15 September"The Joker"Steve Miller Band
22 September
29 September"Show Me Heaven"Maria McKee
6 October
13 October
20 October
27 October"A Little Time"The Beautiful South
3 November"Unchained Melody"The Righteous Brothers
10 November
17 November
24 November
1 December"Ice Ice Baby"Vanilla Ice
8 December
15 December
22 December
29 December"Saviour's Day"Cliff Richard

Number-one albums

Chart date
(week ending)
AlbumArtist
6 January...But SeriouslyPhil Collins
13 January
20 January
27 JanuaryColourThe Christians
3 February...But SeriouslyPhil Collins
10 February
17 February
24 February
3 March
10 March
17 March
24 MarchI Do Not Want What I Haven't GotSinéad O'Connor
31 MarchChangesbowieDavid Bowie
7 AprilOnly Yesterday: Their Greatest HitsThe Carpenters
14 April
21 AprilBehind the MaskFleetwood Mac
28 AprilOnly Yesterday: Their Greatest HitsThe Carpenters
5 May
12 May
19 May
26 May
2 JuneVol. II: 1990 - A New DecadeSoul II Soul
9 June
16 June
23 JuneThe Essential PavarottiLuciano Pavarotti
30 JuneStep by StepNew Kids on the Block
7 JulyThe Essential PavarottiLuciano Pavarotti
14 July
21 July
28 JulySleeping With the PastElton John
4 August
11 August
18 August
25 August
1 SeptemberGraffiti BridgePrince
8 SeptemberIn ConcertCarreras, Domingo, Pavarotti (The Three Tenors)
Orchestra Del Maggio Musical Fiorentino
Orchestra Del Teatro Dell'Opera Di Roma Zubin Mehta
15 SeptemberListen Without Prejudice Vol. 1George Michael
22 SeptemberIn ConcertCarreras, Domingo, Pavarotti (The Three Tenors)
Orchestra Del Maggio Musical Fiorentino
Orchestra Del Teatro Dell'Opera Di Roma Zubin Mehta
29 September
6 October
13 October
20 OctoberSome FriendlyThe Charlatans
27 OctoberThe Rhythm of the SaintsPaul Simon
3 November
10 NovemberThe Very Best of Elton JohnElton John
17 November
24 NovemberThe Immaculate CollectionMadonna
1 December
8 December
15 December
22 December
29 December

Year end charts

Best-selling singles of 1990

[1]

No. Title Artist Peak
position
1"Unchained Melody"The Righteous Brothers1
2"Nothing Compares 2 U"Sinéad O'Connor1
3"Sacrifice"/"Healing Hands"Elton John1
4"Ice Ice Baby"Vanilla Ice1
5"Killer"Adamski1
6"Show Me Heaven"Maria McKee1
7"Dub Be Good to Me"Beats International1
8"Vogue"Madonna1
9"World in Motion"England New Order1
10"The Power"Snap!1
11"Nessun Dorma"Luciano Pavarotti2
12"A Little Time"The Beautiful South1
13"Turtle Power"Partners in Kryme1
14"It Must Have Been Love"Roxette3
15"U Can't Touch This"MC Hammer3
16"Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini"Bombalurina1
17"Get Up! (Before the Night Is Over)"Technotronic featuring Ya Kid K2
18"Black Velvet"Alannah Myles2
19"Dirty Cash (Money Talks)"The Adventures of Stevie V2
20"Don't Worry"Kim Appleby2
21"Saviour's Day"Cliff Richard1
22"Mona"Craig McLachlan & Check 1–22
23"Love Shack"The B-52's2
24"The Joker"The Steve Miller Band1
25"Opposites Attract"Paula Abdul and The Wild Pair2
26"Groove Is in the Heart"/"What Is Love"Deee-Lite2
27"Blue Velvet"Bobby Vinton2
28"How Am I Supposed to Live Without You"Michael Bolton3
29"I've Been Thinking About You"Londonbeat2
30"Unbelievable"EMF3
31"Naked in the Rain"Blue Pearl4
32"Tom's Diner"DNA featuring Suzanne Vega2
33"Ooops Up"Snap!5
34"Tears on My Pillow"Kylie Minogue1
35"Kingston Town"UB404
36"The Anniversary Waltz – Part One"Status Quo2
37"Take My Breath Away"Berlin3[lower-alpha 1]
38"Better the Devil You Know"Kylie Minogue2
39"Tonight"New Kids on the Block3
40"I'm Free"Soup Dragons featuring Junior Reid5
41"Lily Was Here"David A. Stewart featuring Candy Dulfer6
42"Blue Savannah"Erasure3
43"Justify My Love"Madonna2
44Four Bacharach & David Songs EPDeacon Blue2
45"Hold On"En Vogue5
46"Hear the Drummer (Get Wicked)"Chad Jackson3
47"Fantasy"Black Box5
48"What Time Is Love? (Live at Trancentral)"The KLF featuring the Children of the Revolution5
49"Got to Have Your Love"Mantronix featuring Wondress4
50"Step On"Happy Mondays5

Best-selling artist albums of 1990

[2]

Position Title Artist Peak
position
1...But SeriouslyPhil Collins1
2The Immaculate CollectionMadonna1
3In ConcertJosé Carreras/Placido Domingo/Luciano Pavarotti1
4The Very Best of Elton JohnElton John1
5Soul ProviderMichael Bolton4
6The Essential PavarottiLuciano Pavarotti1
7Only YesterdayCarpenters1
8Sleeping with the PastElton John1
9Serious Hits... Live!Phil Collins2
10Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1George Michael1
11The Rhythm of the SaintsPaul Simon1
12Vivaldi: The Four SeasonsNigel Kennedy with the English Chamber Orchestra3
13Foreign AffairTina Turner3[lower-alpha 2]
14Rocking All Over the YearsStatus Quo2
15Labour of Love IIUB403
16I Do Not Want What I Haven't GotSinéad O'Connor1
17From a Distance: The EventCliff Richard3
18The Singles Collection 1984/1990Jimmy Somerville4
19The Road to HellChris Rea4[lower-alpha 3]
20Step By StepNew Kids on the Block1
21Hangin' Tough2
22Pump Up the Jam: The AlbumTechnotronic2
23ChokeThe Beautiful South2
24Vol. II: 1990 – A New DecadeSoul II Soul1
25I'm Your Baby TonightWhitney Houston4
26ChangesbowieDavid Bowie1
27I'm BreathlessMadonna2
28Heart of StoneCher7
29The Very Best of the Bee GeesBee Gees6
30AffectionLisa Stansfield2
31The Best of Rod StewartRod Stewart6[lower-alpha 4]
32JourneymanEric Clapton2
33Summer Dreams: 28 Classic TracksThe Beach Boys2
34Look Sharp!Roxette4
35XINXS2
36Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'EmMC Hammer8
37Cuts Both WaysGloria Estefan11[lower-alpha 5]
38Between the LinesJason Donovan2
39ViolatorDepeche Mode2
40Behind the MaskFleetwood Mac1
41Cosmic ThingThe B-52s8
42BoomaniaBetty Boo4
43Waking HoursDel Amitri6
44ReflectionThe Shadows5
45Natural History: The Very Best of Talk TalkTalk Talk3
46Greatest HitsThe Bangles4
47The Stone RosesThe Stone Roses9
48Wild!Erasure12[lower-alpha 6]
49Shaking the Tree: Sixteen Golden GreatsPeter Gabriel11
50To the ExtremeVanilla Ice4

Notes:

  1. Reached number 1 in 1986
  2. Reached number 1 in 1989
  3. Reached number 1 in 1989
  4. Reached number 3 in 1989
  5. Reached number 1 in 1989
  6. Reached number 1 in 1989

Classical music

Opera

Births

Deaths

Music awards

BRIT Awards

The 1990 BRIT Awards winners were:

See also

References

  1. "1990 Top 100 Singles". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications. 2 March 1991. p. 41.
  2. "1990 Top 100 Albums". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications. 2 March 1991. p. 39.
  3. Sadie, Julie Anne; Samuel, Rhian (1994). The Norton/Grove Dictionary of Women Composers. New York: W. W. Norton & Company. pp. 210–211. ISBN 0-393-03487-9.
  4. NME Biography
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