Thirty years ago: UK Top 40 Singles Chart for Sunday 8th December 1991

So this was the chart that Radio 1 DJ Mark Goodier broadcast from 4:30-7pm with data from the GALLUP computer based on record sales from Monday 2nd to Saturday 7th December 1991.

This is how the charts USED to look with new entries, climbers and non-movers, all based solely on record purchases.
This week, thirty years ago, there were eight new entrys, fourteen climbers and one non-mover! And it was announced like this…

40. Frank Ifield – “She Taught Me How To Yodel”
It’s been 25 years since Frank Ifield was last on the UK singles chart, but he’s back, thanks to a little help from The Backroom Boys with this remix of his 1963 recording to give the man his fifteenth chart hit!

39. REM – “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It”
Also back, but after only a couple of weeks, are REM with another re-released single here. This one comes from their 1987 album, “Document”, and only made it to No.87 back then.

38. K-Klass – “Rhythm Is A Mystery”
K-Klass have been in the top 40 for six weeks with their first chart hit, but they drop fourteen places and nearly out.

37. Cathy Dennis – “Everybody Move”
It has been Cathy Dennis‘ year as a solo artist with a top three album and three top twenty charting singles. Here comes number four as the latest and remixed track from that album gains a new entry.

36. Digital Orgasm – “Running Out Of Time”
Digital Orgasm, on the other hand, make their chart debut this week with their second ever single release and enter the top 40 in the process.

35. Eric Clapton – “Wonderful Tonight (live)
The live version of Eric Clapton’s 1977 top ten hit has been a non-mover for the past two weeks but is so no more as he is down five places.

34. Simon and Garfunkel – “Hazy Shade Of Winter”
Is it a new entry or a chart return? Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel come back to the UK top 40 this week with their 1966 recording that was a hit all over again for The Bangles in 1988. This time it’s back to the original, which comes back to the UK chart after 25 years.

33. Michael Bolton – “When A Man Loves A Woman”
Percy Sledge charted twice with this song in 1965 and again in 1987. Michael Bolton makes it three times now, all three reaching the top ten, but he is down thirteen places with it this week.

32. Enya – “How Can I Keep From Singing?”
We hope she doesn’t! And to prove as much, Enya is up three places this week with the second single to come from her current album, “Shepherd Moons”.

31. Deacon Blue – “Cover From The Sky”
Deacon Blue released their third studio album earlier this year and have had two hit singles from it so far. This is number three as it gains entry to the top 40 this week.

30. Bassheads – “Is There Anybody Out There?”
The Bassheads have been asking this question for five weeks now and are still seeking an answer, eleven places lower than previous searches!

29. Kenny Thomas – “Tender Love”
Kenny Thomas was last week’s highest climber with his fourth single of the year, but he drops back three places in his third week on the chart.

28. Shades Of Rhythm – “Extacy”
Also dropping and out of the top twenty after three weeks in are Shades Of Rhythm with their biggest hit so far, which is down twelve places.

27. Queen – “The Show Must Go On”
Queen re-entered the chart with this song last week following the news of lead singer Freddie Mercury’s death and move up seven places with the song in their second and fifth week in total.

26. Prince – “Diamonds And Pearls”
“Diamonds And Pearls” is the title of Prince’s new album and he had two consecutive top twenty hits from it a few months ago. The title track was a new entry last week but drops back just one place, seven days on.

25. Jason Donovan – “Joseph Megamix”
The combined mix of Jason Donovan‘s Joseph numbers from his sell-out stage show this year is perhaps a fitting end to a triumphant year for him and it’s up six places this week too!

24. Tina Turner – “Way Of The World”
Tina Turner is “Simply The Best”, which is also the title of her greatest hits album covering all her biggest solo chart hits of the last ten years. This new song has been about for a month now but is down six places this week.

23. Martika – “Martika’s Kitchen”
Two weeks ago, Martika invited you into her kitchen, where the oven is hot and the table is set. Good to hear. He ‘invitation’ continues to bear fruit as she climbs five places this week.

22. Bizarre Inc. – “Playing With Knives”
Let’s hope Martika doesn’t play with knives in her kitchen, as that can be dangerous! Leave that to Bizarre Inc, who fall twelve places and out fo the top twenty this week.

21. 2 Unlimited – “Get Ready For This”
Following them are Ray and Anita aka 2 Unlimited with their huge chart debut, which now spans eleven weeks and is down nine places.

20. UK Mixmasters – “Bare Necessities”
The UK Mixmasters are looking for those bare necessities from the ‘Jungle Book’ and made it on to the top 40 last week. This week they move into the top twenty, up thirteen places.

19. Cliff Richard – “We Should Be Together”
Also coming into the top twenty is the man who is hoping for another Christmas number one, Cliff Richard. But his bid this year is only up two places in week two.

18. Erasure – “Am I Right?”
Erasure we also a new entry last week with this third offering from the “Chorus” album, but seven days on, they fall three places. Am I right?(!)

17. Right Said Fred – “Don’t Talk, Just Kiss”
Right Said Fred were the highest climbers in their second week with “I’m Too Sexy” and with the follow up, they do it again. This time with singer Jocelyn Brown in tow, they all go up nineteen places!

16. James – “Sound”
The ‘sound’ of James hit the top ten last week, but the band come back down and out, seven places to one place lower than they entered three weeks ago.

15. Salt’N’Pepa – “You Showed Me”
Salt’N’Pepa have shown us how to have three consecutive chart hits this year and this is the latest, which is up two more places this week.

14. Vic Reeves and The Wonder Stuff – “Dizzy”
The former number one from Vic Reeves and The Wonder Stuff is out of the top ten as they all go down six places in their eighth week on the chart.

13. U2 – “Mysterious Ways”
The new U2 album, “Achtung Baby”, already features a number one single with “The Fly” and the band come back with a second helping with this new entry.

12. Kate Bush – “Rocket Man”
Two old Elton John hits have been revived lately and this one come from Kate Bush, who ‘landed’ on the chart last week. This week she is up one place, having packed her bags, pre flight(!)

11. Altern 8 – “Activ 8”
Altern 8’s biggest chart hit so far has been top five recently but this week they leave the top ten, down five places and out.

10. Nirvana – “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
Nirvana’s very first UK chart hit has been in the top ten since it arrived three weeks ago, but it drops three places from a peak of last week.

9. New Kids On The Block – “If You Go Away”
The New Kids On The Block are back with new music and smash straight into the top ten this week as the highest new entry and also score their first top ten hit here for over twelve months!

8. Simply Red – “Stars”
Simply Red have done it! They’ve managed to escape the dreaded number eleven position and go up three places into the top ten for the first time since 1989!

7. Kym Sims – “Too Blind To See It”
Making her first entrance in the UK top ten is chart newcomer Kym Sims with her debut release, which is top five Stateside and rockets towards that here with a climb of fifteen places.

6. Brian May – “Driven By You”
Queen guitarist Brian May made his top 40 debut as a solo artist last week, thanks to a car commercial, and drives his song hard anf fast into the top ten, up eight places.

5. East Side Beat – “Ride Like The Wind”
German duo East Side Beat were a contender for the number one spot this week, but their cover of Christopher Cross’ 1980 recording is down two places and not in the right direction.

4. Michael Jackson – “Black Or White”
Michael Jackson is still “Dangerous” on top of the album chart, but eh lead single and former number one is down two places on the singles chart this week.

3. The KLF featuring Tammy Wynette – “Justified And Ancient”
The KLF and Country singing star Tammy Wynette provided a big new entry with a difference last week and take that collaboration up two places this week to score their fifth top three hit to date.

2. Diana Ross – “When You Tell Me That You Love Me”
Diana Ross is up again too, two more places for her, with the first single to come from her brand new album, “The Force Behind The Power”, and edging one step closer to her first number one since “Chain Reaction”, five years ago.

1. George Michael and Elton John – “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me”
For this week, it’s no change for last week’s highest new entry from George Michael with his version of Elton’s 1974 recording that features the man himself, which is also the second version of this song to come out this year, following Oleta Adams‘ version just two months ago. But can they keep it a third, or will Diana Ross continue her chain reaction or perhaps The KLF and Tammy will be bound for Mu Mu land once again. There’s only one way to find out…

Make sure you come back in seven days time for next weeks chart!

Follow the latest ‘rewind’ chart below or click here to read about previous weeks.