1997 in British music

This is a summary of 1997 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.

List of years in British music

Summary

Oasis released their highly anticipated third album, Be Here Now, on 21 August (in the UK). It sold 695,761 copies in its first three days to become the fastest selling album in UK history until 2015, when the record was surpassed by Adele's third studio album 25. Radiohead's third album, OK Computer, was released in June and topped the UK Albums Chart for two weeks. Met with widespread critical acclaim, it was voted the greatest album of all time by Q Magazine readers barely months after its release.[1]

Compared to just five years earlier, singles sales were very high this year. From 22 June right through to the end of the year, every single #1 sold at least 100,000 copies a week. Like the previous year, 24 singles topped the chart, double as many as 1992.

The Spice Girls continued their success from 1996, once again getting three number ones. The first was the double A-side songs "Mama" and "Who Do You Think You Are"; the latter of which was the Comic Relief single for 1997. This ensured the group became the first act to have their first four singles all reach number 1. This was followed by "Spice Up Your Life" in October, and "Too Much" in December, which once again gave them the Christmas number one single. They had now become the first act to have their first six singles reach number 1, but this run would be broken in 1998, with "Stop" only reaching #2. Spice Girls also had great success on the album charts as Spice and Spiceworld were two of the top five best sellers of 1997.

The Backstreet Boys released their second international album Backstreet's Back. The album was a massive success reaching number two and selling over 800,000 copies in the U.K. The three singles released from the album were massive hits with "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" reaching number 3 and "As Long as You Love Me" also reaching number three and staying in the charts for 19 weeks.

Six singles released this year went on to sell over a million. The first to do so was Puff Daddy & Faith Evans' "I'll Be Missing You", a tribute to the late rapper The Notorious B.I.G.. In November and December, three consecutive number ones all sold over a million, for only the third time in UK chart history (it had previously happened in 1984 and 1995/6). These were Aqua's "Barbie Girl", the Children in Need charity single "Perfect Day", and "Teletubbies say "Eh-oh!", the theme tune to the popular children's television series Teletubbies. In addition, All Saints' "Never Ever" was released in November and also sold over a million, though it wouldn't reach number one until January 1998.

In November, The Prodigy released "Smack My Bitch Up", which received huge international media attention, due to the fact that many people believed it to be misogynistic and / or that it promotes violence against women. Some stores refused to stock the single and / or album from which it came, and some radio stations refused to play it. A graphic video showing bad behaviour on the part of the protagonist in the music video lead to its showing on television being greatly restricted.

By far the biggest-selling single of the year, though, came from Elton John. In August, Diana, Princess of Wales, was killed in a car crash. At her funeral, John played a rewritten version of "Candle in the Wind" known as "Candle in the Wind 1997", a song originally written about Marilyn Monroe (made #11 in 1974, with a live version reaching #5 in 1988). When released this year, it quickly overtook 1984's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" to become the biggest selling UK single ever, selling 4.86 million copies, and the biggest selling in the world, selling 37 million. It continues to hold the record to this day.

Andrew Glover's string quartet The Fickle Virgin of Seventeen Summers was one of several new classical works by British composers. Others included Geoffrey Burgon's City Adventures, a percussion concerto written for Scottish virtuoso Evelyn Glennie and premièred by her during the 1997 Proms season. One of the UK's most prolific classical composers, Wilfred Josephs, died on 17 November. In April, Nigel Kennedy, now calling himself simply Kennedy, returned to the stage at the Royal Festival Hall after a five-year absence from the concert stage resulting from neck surgery.[2] Towards the end of the year, veteran composer Sir Michael Tippett developed pneumonia while visiting Sweden, which would lead to his death early in 1998.

Events

Charts

Number-one singles

Chart date
(week ending)
SongArtist(s)Sales
4 January"2 Become 1"Spice Girls301,000
11 January113,000
18 January"Professional Widow"Tori Amos80,000
25 January"Your Woman"White Town119,500
1 February"Beetlebum"Blur120,000
8 February"Ain't Nobody"LL Cool J80,000
15 February"Discothèque"U2125,000
22 February"Don't Speak"No Doubt195,000
1 March140,000
8 March85,000
15 March"Mama" / "Who Do You Think You Are"Spice Girls248,000
22 March152,000
29 March85,000
5 April"Block Rockin' Beats"The Chemical Brothers84,700
12 April"I Believe I Can Fly"R. Kelly51,000
19 April76,000
26 April87,000
3 May"Blood on the Dance Floor"Michael Jackson85,000
10 May"Love Won't Wait"Gary Barlow92,000
17 May"You're Not Alone"Olive75,000
24 May74,000
31 May"I Wanna Be the Only One"Eternal featuring Bebe Winans150,000
7 June"MMMBop"Hanson260,000
14 June120,000
21 June86,000
28 June"I'll Be Missing You"Puff Daddy & Faith Evans featuring 112109,000
5 July156,000
12 July167,000
19 July"D'You Know What I Mean?"Oasis377,000
26 July"I'll Be Missing You"Puff Daddy & Faith Evans featuring 112124,000
2 August127,000
9 August100,000
16 August"Men In Black"Will Smith182,000
23 August133,000
30 August122,000
6 September105,000
13 September"The Drugs Don't Work"The Verve105,000
20 September"Candle in the Wind 1997" / "Something About the Way You Look Tonight"Elton John658,000
27 September1,546,688
4 October1,067,000
11 October572,000
18 October274,000
25 October"Spice Up Your Life"Spice Girls321,000
1 November"Barbie Girl"Aqua190,000
8 November239,000
15 November190,000
22 November165,000
29 November"Perfect Day"Various Artists385,082
6 December274,706
13 December"Teletubbies say "Eh-oh!""Teletubbies317,000
20 December230,000
27 December"Too Much"Spice Girls252,000

Number-one albums

Chart date
(week ending)
AlbumArtistSales
4 JanuarySpiceSpice Girls375,000
11 January119,000
18 January65,000
25 January54,000
1 FebruaryEvitaMadonna49,000
8 FebruaryGlowReef55,000
15 FebruaryWhite on BlondeTexas47,000
22 FebruaryBlurBlur92,000
1 MarchAttack of the Grey LanternMansun48,000
8 MarchSpiceSpice Girls72,000
15 MarchPopU2152,000
22 MarchSpiceSpice Girls62,000
29 March65,000
5 April85,000
12 April59,000
19 AprilDig Your Own HoleThe Chemical Brothers62,793
26 AprilUltraDepeche Mode43,000
3 MayTellin' StoriesThe Charlatans68,000
10 May33,000
17 MaySpiceSpice Girls23,700
24 MayBlood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the MixMichael Jackson37,000
31 May30,000
7 JuneOpen RoadGary Barlow58,000
14 JuneWu-Tang ForeverWu-Tang Clan26,000
21 JuneMiddle of NowhereHanson24,000
28 JuneOK ComputerRadiohead136,500
5 July48,200
12 JulyThe Fat of the LandThe Prodigy316,951
19 July98,000
26 July66,000
2 August49,000
9 August36,000
16 August30,500
23 AugustWhite on BlondeTexas30,000
30 AugustBe Here NowOasis696,000
6 September235,000
13 September95,000
20 September64,000
27 SeptemberMarchin' AlreadyOcean Colour Scene64,000
4 OctoberBe Here NowOasis48,000
11 OctoberUrban HymnsThe Verve250,054
18 October97,000
25 October63,500
1 November56,000
8 November61,000
15 NovemberSpiceworldSpice Girls192,000
22 November91,228
29 NovemberLet's Talk About LoveCéline Dion91,000
6 December91,000
13 DecemberSpiceworldSpice Girls121,000
20 DecemberLet's Talk About LoveCéline Dion142,000
27 December219,918

Number-one compilation albums

Chart date
(week ending)
Album
4 JanuaryNow 35
11 January
18 JanuaryThe Annual II Mixed by Judge Jules & Boy George
25 January
1 February
8 February
15 FebruaryIn the Mix 97
22 FebruaryThe Annual II Mixed by Judge Jules & Boy George
1 MarchClub Mix 97 2
8 March
15 MarchThe Soul Album
22 MarchThe Best Album in the World...Ever! 5
29 MarchDance Nation 3 – Pete Tong & Judge Jules
5 AprilNow 36
12 April
19 April
26 AprilNew Hits 1997
3 May
10 May
17 May
24 MayBig Mix 97
31 May
7 JuneSmash Hits Summer 97
14 JuneThe Best Club Anthems Classics
21 June
28 June
5 July
12 JulyThe Best Disco Album in the World...Ever!
19 July
26 JulyNow 37
2 August
9 August
16 August
23 AugustFresh Hits 1997
30 August
6 September
13 SeptemberIbiza Uncovered
20 September
27 September
4 OctoberKiss in Ibiza 97
11 OctoberIbiza Uncovered
18 OctoberBig Mix 97 – Volume 2
25 OctoberThe Best Anthems...Ever!
1 NovemberNow Dance 97
8 NovemberHuge Hits 1997
15 NovemberThe Annual III Mixed by Pete Tong & Boy George
22 November
29 NovemberNow 38
6 December
13 DecemberDiana Princess of Wales – Tribute
20 December
27 December

Year-end charts

Best-selling singles

Based on sales from 30 December 1996 to 28 December 1997.[4]

No. Title Artist Peak
position
Sales[5]
1 "Candle in the Wind 1997"/"Something About the Way You Look Tonight" Elton John 1 4,770,000
2 "Barbie Girl" Aqua 1 1,500,000
3 "I'll Be Missing You" Puff Daddy & Faith Evans featuring 112 1
4 "Perfect Day" Various Artists 1 1,000,000+
5 "Teletubbies Say Eh-Oh!" Teletubbies 1
6 "Men in Black" Will Smith 1
7 "Don't Speak" No Doubt 1
8 "Torn" Natalie Imbruglia 2 813,000
9 "Tubthumping" Chumbawamba 2
10 "Spice Up Your Life" Spice Girls 1
11 "MMMBop" Hanson 1
12 "D'You Know What I Mean?" Oasis 1
13 "Never Ever" All Saints 3[lower-alpha 1]
14 "I Believe I Can Fly" R. Kelly 1
15 "Mama"/"Who Do You Think You Are" Spice Girls 1
16 "I Wanna Be the Only One" Eternal featuring BeBe Winans 1 600,000+
17 "Freed from Desire" Gala 2
18 "Where Do You Go" No Mercy 2
19 "Sunchyme" Dario G 2
20 "Free" Ultra Naté 4
21 "Encore Une Fois" Sash! 2
22 "Too Much" Spice Girls 1
23 "Time to Say Goodbye (Con Te Partirò)" Sarah Brightman & Andrea Bocelli 2
24 "Bellissima" DJ Quicksilver 4
25 "As Long as You Love Me" Backstreet Boys 3
26 "Baby Can I Hold You"/"Shooting Star" Boyzone 2
27 "Ecuador" Sash! featuring Rodriguez 2
28 "Wind Beneath My Wings" Steven Houghton 3
29 "Don't Let Go (Love)" En Vogue 5
30 "Stay" Sash! featuring La Trec 2
31 "Lovefool" The Cardigans 2
32 "The Drugs Don't Work" The Verve 1
33 "Tell Him" Barbra Streisand & Celine Dion 3
34 "Together Again" Janet Jackson 4
35 "2 Become 1" Spice Girls 1
36 "You Might Need Somebody" Shola Ama 4
37 "You're Not Alone" Olive 1
38 "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" Backstreet Boys 3
39 "Angels" Robbie Williams 5[lower-alpha 2]
40 "C U When U Get There" Coolio featuring 40 Thevz 3
41 "Your Woman" White Town 1
42 "Never Gonna Let You Go" Tina Moore 7
43 "Bitter Sweet Symphony" The Verve 2
44 "Remember Me" Blue Boy 8
45 "Closer than Close" Rosie Gaines 4
46 "Stand by Me" Oasis 2
47 "Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)" Tori Amos 1
48 "Picture of You" Boyzone 2
49 "Say What You Want" Texas 3
50 "I'll Be There for You" The Rembrandts 5[lower-alpha 3]

Notes:

  1. Reached number 1 in 1998
  2. Reached number 4 in 1998
  3. Reached number 3 in 1995

Best-selling albums

Based on sales from 30 December 1996 to 28 December 1997.[6]

No. Title Artist Peak
position
Sales[7]
1 Be Here Now Oasis 1 1,500,000
2 Urban Hymns The Verve 1 1,315,000[8]
3 Spice Spice Girls 1 1,000,000+
4 White on Blonde Texas 1
5 Spiceworld Spice Girls 1 1,000,000+
6 The Fat of the Land The Prodigy 1
7 Let's Talk About Love Celine Dion 1
8 OK Computer Radiohead 1
9 Greatest Hits Eternal 2 550,000
10 The Best of Wham!: If You Were There... Wham! 4
11 Ocean Drive Lighthouse Family 3
12 Backstreet's Back Backstreet Boys 2
13 Older George Michael 7[lower-alpha 1]
14 Postcards from Heaven Lighthouse Family 2
15 Sheryl Crow Sheryl Crow 5
16 Travelling Without Moving Jamiroquai 4[lower-alpha 2]
17 Fresco M People 2
18 Lennon Legend: The Very Best of John Lennon John Lennon 4[lower-alpha 3]
19 Paint the Sky with Stars Enya 4
20 All Saints All Saints 5[lower-alpha 4]
21 Blue Is the Colour The Beautiful South 3[lower-alpha 5]
22 Like You Do... Best of the Lightning Seeds The Lightning Seeds 5
23 Evita Madonna/Various Artists 1
24 Everything Must Go Manic Street Preachers 2
25 Pop U2 1
26 Tragic Kingdom No Doubt 3
27 Falling into You Celine Dion 2[lower-alpha 6]
28 Secrets Toni Braxton 10
29 Blur Blur 1
30 Their Greatest Hits Hot Chocolate 10[lower-alpha 7]
31 Marchin' Already Ocean Colour Scene 1
32 Do It Yourself The Seahorses 2
33 Stoosh Skunk Anansie 9
34 Always on My Mind: Ultimate Love Songs Elvis Presley 3
35 (What's the Story) Morning Glory? Oasis 17[lower-alpha 8]
36 Glow Reef 1
37 The Big Picture Elton John 3
38 Tellin' Stories The Charlatans 1
39 K Kula Shaker 7[lower-alpha 9]
40 It's My Life – The Album Sash! 6
41 Left of the Middle Natalie Imbruglia 5
42 Before the Rain Eternal 3
43 Open Road Gary Barlow 1
44 Come Find Yourself Fun Lovin' Criminals 7
45 The Very Best of Sting & The Police Sting & the Police 11[lower-alpha 10]
46 Jagged Little Pill Alanis Morissette 11[lower-alpha 11]
47 Mother Nature Calls Cast 3
48 Shelter The Brand New Heavies 5
49 Dig Your Own Hole The Chemical Brothers 1
50 The Very Best of the Bee Gees Bee Gees 11[lower-alpha 12]

Notes:

  1. Reached number 1 in 1996
  2. Reached number 2 in 1996
  3. Reached number 3 in 1998
  4. Reached number 2 in 1998
  5. Reached number 1 in 1996
  6. Reached number 1 in 1995
  7. Reached number 1 in 1993
  8. Reached number 1 in 1995
  9. Reached number 1 in 1996
  10. Reached number 1 in 2002
  11. Reached number 1 in 1996
  12. Reached number 6 in 1990

Best-selling compilation albums

Based on sales from 30 December 1996 to 28 December 1997.[9]

No. Title Peak
position
Sales[10]
1 Now! 38 1 920,000
2 Diana, Princess of Wales: Tribute 1 700,000
3 Now! 37 1 600,000
4 Now! 36 1 600,000
5 The Annual III 1 400,000+
6 The Full Monty Original Soundtrack 3 350,000
7 The Greatest Hits of 1997 2
8 The Best '60s Album in the World... Ever! III 5
9 The Annual II 1
10 Ibiza Uncovered 1

Classical music

Opera

Births

Deaths

Music awards

BRIT Awards

The 1997 BRIT Awards winners were:

Mercury Music Prize

The 1997 Mercury Music Prize was awarded to Roni Size/ReprazentNew Forms.

See also

References

  1. "OK Computer". 1 May 1997 via Amazon.
  2. "Nigel Kennedy Biography".
  3. Pareles, John (11 January 1997). "Once More the Outsider, David Bowie Turns 50". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 April 2008.
  4. "Top 100 Singles 1997". Music Week. 17 January 1998. p. 27.
  5. Jones, Alan (17 January 1998). "Independent labels fight back in the year of the platinum single". Music Week. p. 26.
  6. "Top 100 Albums 1997". Music Week. 17 January 1998. p. 29.
  7. Jones, Alan (17 January 1998). "British acts trounce US rivals in race for the albums crown". Music Week. p. 28.
  8. Jones, Alan (16 January 1999). "Ireland takes the crown but Robbie scores top five double". Music Week. p. 8.
  9. "Top 50 Compilations of 1997". Music Week. 17 January 1998. p. 30.
  10. Jones, Alan (17 January 1998). "Now! series just misses clean sweep". Music Week. p. 30.
  11. Dalton, Stephen (2 April 2007). "Billy Mackenzie Tribute". The Times. London. Retrieved 3 June 2009.
  12. Obituary; accessed 22 September 2014.
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