1996 in British music

This is a summary of 1996 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.

List of years in British music

Summary

This year saw the start of an increase in the number of number 1 singles. 24 hit the top spot this year, the highest since 1980, which had an equal number.

The first number 1 single of the year was "Jesus to a Child", George Michael's first solo #1 for 10 years. This was followed by Babylon Zoo's "Spaceman", which had been used in an advert for Levi's. The single was quite different from the version used in the advert, which had been sped up and re-arranged. It stayed at #1 for five weeks, sold over a million copies, and Jas Mann, the man behind Babylon Zoo, became the first solo male to make their chart debut at number 1.

After five years, the boy band Take That announced that they were splitting up, resulting in such distress for their many fans that a telephone helpline had to be set up. Their final number 1 came in March, a cover of the Bee Gees song "How Deep Is Your Love". Several of the members went on to start a solo career, with Gary Barlow the first to hit #1 with "Forever Love" in July. However, it would be Robbie Williams who would go on to score the most success as a solo artist.

After George Michael scored another number 1 with "Fastlove" in April, Gina G reached the top spot with "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" in May. This song was the UK's entry to the 1996 Eurovision Song Contest, and originally reached #6 when it was released at the beginning of April. It hovered around the top 5 for the next few weeks, before moving up to 1 in the week of the contest. Although it failed to win, it still became the first Eurovision song to hit #1 since Nicole's "A Little Peace", which won the contest in 1982.

The next number 1 was also influenced by media events: "Three Lions", released by comedians David Baddiel and Frank Skinner and the band The Lightning Seeds, was the official song of the 1996 European Football Championship (Euro '96), which was being held in England. A rewritten version of the song ("Three Lions '98") would reach number 1 two years later, coinciding with the Football World Cup 1998 (France '98).

The Fugees had the biggest selling single of the year, with a cover of Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly With His Song". It sold over a million copies.

However, by far the most successful act of the year was the Spice Girls, who kickstarted their career with three number 1 singles – the million-selling "Wannabe" in July, which was one of the longest No 1 stints by any girl group (7 weeks); (Shakespears Sister's "Stay" is the longest girl group No 1, with 8 weeks), and remains the biggest-selling single by a girl group; "Say You'll Be There" in October; and "2 Become 1" in December, also a million seller, the year's Christmas number one single and the UK's fastest selling single of 1996. The Spice Girls debut album Spice was the fastest selling album of 1996, shifting over 1.8 million copies in just 7 weeks. It was also the Number 1 album for Christmas 1996 and the second best-selling album of the year.

Oasis smashed the record for most weeks in the singles chart (previously held by Adam and the Ants in 1981) with 134 weeks, thanks to mass waves of re-entries of songs from their back catalogue throughout the year.

1996 is also grimly notable for having the drummers of two popular bands, Mathew Fletcher of Heavenly, on 14 June, and Chris Acland of Lush, on 17 October, commit suicide. Lush had at the time been in the final stages of planning an American tour, which his devastated bandmates cancelled; they then disbanded.

Prolific classical composer Peter Maxwell Davies produced the tenth of his Strathclyde Concertos, an orchestral work which was first performed in Glasgow in October by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, under the composer's baton. In June, his new opera, The Doctor of Myddfai, was premièred in Cardiff. Other British composers who produced new works were Michael Berkeley (Viola Concerto) and John Tavener (Innocence). Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical, Whistle Down the Wind opened in Washington D.C. in December, to poor reviews, but its score would go on to provide Boyzone with one of the best-selling singles of the decade in the form of "No Matter What"; the show did not appear in the West End until 1998.

Events

Charts

Number-one singles

Chart date
(week ending)
SongArtist(s)Sales
6 January"Earth Song"Michael Jackson55,000
13 January80,000
20 January"Jesus to a Child"George Michael110,000
27 January"Spaceman"Babylon Zoo418,000
3 February204,000
10 February128,000
17 February80,000
24 February63,000
2 March"Don't Look Back in Anger"Oasis250,000
9 March"How Deep Is Your Love"Take That257,000
16 March120,000
23 March90,000
30 March"Firestarter"The Prodigy119,000
6 April80,000
13 April75,000
20 April"Return of the Mack"Mark Morrison90,000
27 April90,000
4 May"Fastlove"George Michael111,000
11 May75,000
18 May55,000
25 May"Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit"Gina G75,000
1 June"Three Lions"Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds110,000
8 June"Killing Me Softly"The Fugees157,000
15 June195,000
22 June173,000
29 June160,000
6 July"Three Lions"Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds140,000
13 July"Killing Me Softly"The Fugees103,000
20 July"Forever Love"Gary Barlow109,000
27 July"Wannabe"Spice Girls108,000
3 August154,000
10 August150,000
17 August145,000
24 August125,000
31 August110,000
7 September90,000
14 September"Flava"Peter Andre129,000
21 September"Ready or Not"The Fugees72,000
28 September75,000
5 October"Breakfast At Tiffany's"Deep Blue Something85,000
12 October"Setting Sun"The Chemical Brothers99,000
19 October"Words"Boyzone232,000
26 October"Say You'll Be There"Spice Girls349,000
2 November163,000
9 November"What Becomes of the Brokenhearted / Saturday Night at the Movies / You'll Never Walk Alone"Robson & Jerome196,000
16 November113,000
23 November"Breathe"The Prodigy195,000
30 November95,000
7 December"I Feel You"Peter Andre87,000
14 December"A Different Beat"Boyzone90,000
21 December"Knockin' on Heaven's Door"Dunblane189,000
28 December"2 Become 1"Spice Girls462,000

Number-one albums

Chart date
(week ending)
AlbumArtistSales
6 JanuaryRobson & JeromeRobson & Jerome216,000
13 January(What's the Story) Morning Glory?Oasis53,000
20 January48,000
27 January46,000
3 February45,000
10 February48,000
17 February42,000
24 FebruaryExpecting to FlyThe Bluetones83,000
2 March(What's the Story) Morning Glory?Oasis81,000
9 March107,000
16 March84,000
23 MarchFalling into YouCéline Dion101,000
30 MarchAnthology 2The Beatles78,000
6 AprilGreatest HitsTake That276,000
13 April174,000
20 April100,000
27 April52,000
4 MayJagged Little PillAlanis Morissette54,000
11 May65,000
18 May1977Ash54,000
25 MayOlderGeorge Michael281,000
1 June114,000
8 June80,000
15 JuneLoadMetallica70,000
22 June18 Til I DieBryan Adams54,000
29 JuneJagged Little PillAlanis Morissette42,000
6 JulyRecurring DreamCrowded House80,000
13 July47,000
20 JulyJagged Little PillAlanis Morissette41,000
27 July37,000
3 August59,000
10 August62,000
17 August56,000
24 August49,000
31 August45,000
7 September47,000
14 SeptemberComing UpSuede42,000
21 SeptemberNew Adventures in Hi-FiR.E.M125,000
28 SeptemberKKula Shaker133,000
5 October54,000
12 OctoberNaturalPeter Andre45,000
19 OctoberGreatest HitsSimply Red87,000
26 October84,000
2 NovemberBlue Is the ColourThe Beautiful South80,000
9 NovemberA Different BeatBoyzone95,000
16 NovemberSpiceSpice Girls114,305
23 NovemberTake TwoRobson & Jerome187,000
30 November168,000
7 DecemberSpiceSpice Girls170,000
14 December217,000
21 December271,000
28 December364,000

Number-one compilation albums

Chart date
(week ending)
Album
6 JanuaryHits 96
13 January
20 January
27 January
3 FebruarySisters of Swing
10 FebruaryThe Best Album in the World...Ever! 2
17 February
24 FebruaryThe No.1 Love Album
2 MarchIn the Mix 96
9 March
16 March
23 March
30 MarchNow 33
6 April
13 April
20 April
27 April
4 MayDance Zone 7
11 MayBoyz of Swing
18 MayNew Hits 96
25 May
1 June
8 June
15 June
22 June
29 June
6 July
13 July
20 JulyBig Mix '96
27 July
3 August
10 August
17 AugustThe Best Dance Album in the World...Ever! Part 6
24 AugustNow 34
31 August
7 September
14 September
21 September
28 September
5 October
12 OctoberIn the Mix 96 – 3
19 OctoberKiss in Ibiza '96
26 October
2 November
9 November
16 NovemberHuge Hits 1996
23 November
30 NovemberNow 35
7 December
14 December
21 December
28 December

Year-end charts

Best-selling singles

[7]

No. Title Artist Peak
position
1 "Killing Me Softly" Fugees 1
2 "Wannabe" Spice Girls 1
3 "Spaceman" Babylon Zoo 1
4 "Say You'll Be There" Spice Girls 1
5 "Return of the Mack" Mark Morrison 1
6 "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" Gina G 1
7 "Three Lions" Baddiel & Skinner & Lightning Seeds 1
8 "Children" Robert Miles 2
9 "Mysterious Girl" Peter Andre featuring Bubbler Ranx 2
10 "2 Become 1" Spice Girls 1
11 "Don't Look Back in Anger" Oasis 1
12 "How Deep Is Your Love" Take That 1
13 "Un-Break My Heart" Toni Braxton 2
14 "Breathe" The Prodigy 1
15 "Firestarter" 1
16 "Words" Boyzone 1
17 "Breakfast at Tiffany's" Deep Blue Something 1
18 "If You Ever" East 17 featuring Gabrielle 2
19 "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted"/
"Saturday Night at the Movies"/"You'll Never Walk Alone"
Robson & Jerome 1
20 "Anything" 3T 2
21 "Fastlove" George Michael 1
22 "Macarena" Los del Río 2
23 "Born Slippy .NUXX" Underworld 2
24 "Ready or Not" Fugees 1
25 "The X Files" Mark Snow 2
26 "One & One" Robert Miles featuring Maria Nayler 3
27 "Because You Loved Me" Celine Dion 5
28 "Give Me a Little More Time" Gabrielle 5
29 "Nobody Knows" The Tony Rich Project 4
30 "You're Gorgeous" Babybird 3
31 "Knockin' on Heaven's Door"/"Throw These Guns Away" Dunblane 1
32 "Cecilia" Suggs featuring Louchie Lou & Michie One 4
33 "Flava" Peter Andre 1
34 "Don't Stop Movin'" Livin' Joy 5
35 "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" Celine Dion 3
36 "I Love You Always Forever" Donna Lewis 5
37 "How Bizarre" OMC 5
38 "Jesus to a Child" George Michael 1
39 "Virtual Insanity" Jamiroquai 3
40 "Forever Love" Gary Barlow 1
41 "Hillbilly Rock Hillbilly Roll" The Woolpackers 5
42 "I Wanna Be a Hippy" Technohead 6
43 "There's Nothing I Won't Do" JX 4
44 "Insomnia" Faithless 3
45 "What's Love Got to Do with It" Warren G featuring Adina Howard 2
46 "Freedom" Robbie Williams 2
47 "I Got 5 on It" Luniz 3
48 "Earth Song" Michael Jackson 1
49 "Spinning the Wheel" George Michael 2
50 "A Design for Life" Manic Street Preachers 2

Best-selling albums

[8]

No. Title Artist Peak
position
Sales[9]
1 Jagged Little Pill Alanis Morissette 1 2,000,000
2 (What's the Story) Morning Glory? Oasis 1 1,840,000
3 Spice Spice Girls 1 1,678,000
4 Falling into You Celine Dion 1
5 Older George Michael 1
6 Take Two Robson & Jerome 1
7 The Score Fugees 2
8 Greatest Hits Take That 1
9 Greatest Hits Simply Red 1
10 Blue Is the Colour The Beautiful South 1
11 Moseley Shoals Ocean Colour Scene 2
12 Recurring Dream: The Very Best of Crowded House Crowded House 1
13 Ocean Drive Lighthouse Family 3
14 Bizarre Fruit/Bizarre Fruit II M People 3
15 Travelling Without Moving Jamiroquai 2
16 K Kula Shaker 1
17 The Smurfs Go Pop! The Smurfs 2
18 A Different Beat Boyzone 1
19 Different Class Pulp 2[lower-alpha 1]
20 Everything Must Go Manic Street Preachers 2
21 Definitely Maybe Oasis 9[lower-alpha 2]
22 Hits Mike and the Mechanics 3
23 Around the World Hit Singles: The Journey So Far East 17 3
24 18 til I Die Bryan Adams 1
25 Garbage Garbage 6
26 Wildest Dreams Tina Turner 4
27 All Change Cast 7
28 Secrets Toni Braxton 10
29 1977 Ash 1
30 Sheryl Crow Sheryl Crow 5
31 Christmas Party The Smurfs 8
32 Stanley Road Paul Weller 7[lower-alpha 3]
33 Free Peace Sweet Dodgy 7
34 New Adventures in Hi-Fi R.E.M. 1
35 HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I Michael Jackson 3[lower-alpha 4]
36 Said and Done Boyzone 5[lower-alpha 5]
37 Robert Miles Robert Miles 7
38 Spiders Space 5
39 Robson & Jerome Robson & Jerome 1
40 The Bends Radiohead 4
41 Expecting to Fly The Bluetones 1
42 Natural Peter Andre 1
43 If We Fall in Love Tonight Rod Stewart 8
44 Life Simply Red 8[lower-alpha 6]
45 Crocodile Shoes II Jimmy Nail 10
46 Walking Wounded Everything but the Girl 4
47 Evita Madonna/Various Artists 7[lower-alpha 7]
48 The It Girl Sleeper 5
49 The Finest Fine Young Cannibals 10
50 Mercury Falling Sting 4

Best-selling compilation albums

[10]

No. Title Peak
position
1 Now 35 1
2 Now 34 1
3 Trainspotting Original Soundtrack 2
4 The Best Sixties Album in the World... Ever! II 2
5 Now 33 1
6 New Hits 96 1
7 The Best Dance Album in the World... Ever! 6 1
8 Heartbeat: No. 1 Love Songs of the 60s 2
9 The Annual II 3[lower-alpha 8]
10 The Love Album III 2

Notes:

  1. Reached number 1 in 1995
  2. Reached number 1 in 1994
  3. Reached number 1 in 1995
  4. Reached number 1 in 1995
  5. Reached number 1 in 1995
  6. Reached number 1 in 1995
  7. Reached number 1 in 1997
  8. Reached number 1 in 1997

Classical music

Opera

Musical films

Births

Deaths

Music awards

BRIT Awards

The 1996 BRIT Awards winners were:

Mercury Music Prize

The 1996 Mercury Music Prize was awarded to PulpDifferent Class.

See also

References

  1. Lee, Ann (February 15, 2011). "Brit Awards 2011: Top five moments Through the years". Metro. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  2. "The Beatles". The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. 2007. Archived from the original on January 4, 2010. Retrieved February 5, 2009.
  3. "THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY HONOURS", The Independent, 15 June 1996. Accessed 8 June 2014
  4. "nicknames", Halliwell, Geri (1999). If Only, p. 229. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN 0-385-33475-3.
  5. Perrone, Pierre (2008) "The worst gigs of all time", The Independent, 24 January 2008
  6. John Ezard, "Piper Pays for His Tune", The Guardian (1 November 1996):2.
  7. "Top 100 Singles 1996". Music Week. 18 January 1997. p. 25.
  8. "Top 100 Albums 1996". Music Week. 18 January 1997. p. 27.
  9. Jones, Alan (18 January 1997). "UK acts outstrip the US, but Canadian Alanis hits the top". Music Week. p. 26.
  10. "Top 50 Compilations of 1996". Music Week. 18 January 1997. p. 28.
  11. Howard Blake official website. Accessed 22 November 2013
  12. "Tim Burgess looks to celebrate anniversary with Scotland gig". 14 March 2010. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  13. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas "Lush: Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.