1995 in British music
| 1990s in music in the UK | |
| Number-one singles | |
| Number-one albums | |
| Best-selling singles | |
| Best-selling albums | |
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| ←1989 | 2000→ |
| Top 10 singles 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 | |
| ←1989 | 2000→ |
This is a summary of 1995 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.
Summary
1995 saw a number of changes occur. Céline Dion's "Think Twice", which was released in October 1994 yet took until the end of January to reach the top, was the first UK number 1 single not to be available on vinyl in any form.
Around the middle of the year, the way singles entered the chart started to change. Instead of entering low and climbing up to their peak, singles would now usually enter at their peak, and then fall down the chart. In May, Robson & Jerome became the first British act to reach number 1 with "Unchained Melody", after having sung the song on the ITV programme Soldier Soldier. In May, music featured in an advertising campaign for Guinness reached number 2 – mambo tune "Guaglione" by Pérez Prado was a massive hit and the advert featured on an accompanying screensaver.
This was also the year which saw Britpop at its most popular. A highly publicised chart battle in August saw Oasis and Blur battling it out for the number 1 position, having both released their singles on the same day. Blur won the singles battle, with "Country House" beating Oasis' "Roll with It" to the top spot, but Oasis, with (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, would go on to greatly outsell Blur's album, the album of which would eventually become the second biggest album in the UK. After a decade in the business Pulp secured a first number one album while Britpop elder statesman Paul Weller also benefited from a return to popular and critical favour.
Singles that went on to sell over a million copies were Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise", the first rap single to sell over a million in the UK, both of Robson & Jerome's songs ("Unchained Melody" / "White Cliffs of Dover", the biggest selling single of the year, and "I Believe" / "Up on the Roof") and Michael Jackson's "Earth Song". In addition, a second remix of New Order's "Blue Monday" (reaching number 17) pushed sales of that song over a million as well.
In all, there were 17 number one singles in 1995. As the 1990s continued the amount started to increase, and there wouldn't be a total as low as 1995's.
Composer Michael Tippett celebrated his ninetieth birthday on 2 January. the occasion was marked by special events in Britain, Canada and the US, including the premiere of his final work, The Rose Lake. A collection of his essays, Tippett on Music, was published in the same year. The other most notable British classical composer of the year was Karl Jenkins, whose album Adiemus: Songs of Sanctuary was released in September to become a huge hit, thanks to the music's exposure in television advertisements.
Charts
Number-one singles
| Chart date (week ending) | Song | Artist(s) | Sales |
| 7 January | "Stay Another Day" | East 17 | |
| 14 January | "Cotton Eye Joe" | Rednex | 60,000 |
| 21 January | 85,000 | ||
| 28 January | 70,000 | ||
| 4 February | "Think Twice" | Celine Dion | 74,000 |
| 11 February | 80,000 | ||
| 18 February | 86,000 | ||
| 25 February | 154,000 | ||
| 4 March | 141,000 | ||
| 11 March | 120,000 | ||
| 18 March | 50,000 | ||
| 25 March | "Love Can Build a Bridge" | Cher, Chrissie Hynde & Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton | 150,000 |
| 1 April | "Don't Stop (Wiggle Wiggle)" | The Outhere Brothers | 90,000 |
| 8 April | "Back for Good" | Take That | 346,000 |
| 15 April | 185,000 | ||
| 22 April | 140,000 | ||
| 29 April | 85,000 | ||
| 6 May | "Some Might Say" | Oasis | 138,000 |
| 13 May | "Dreamer" | Livin' Joy | 106,000 |
| 20 May | "Unchained Melody / White Cliffs of Dover" | Robson & Jerome | 314,000 |
| 27 May | 460,000 | ||
| 3 June | 320,000 | ||
| 10 June | 210,000 | ||
| 17 June | 145,000 | ||
| 24 June | 90,000 | ||
| 1 July | 73,000 | ||
| 8 July | "Boom Boom Boom" | The Outhere Brothers | 62,000 |
| 15 July | 74,000 | ||
| 22 July | 77,000 | ||
| 29 July | 65,000 | ||
| 5 August | "Never Forget" | Take That | 115,000 |
| 12 August | 86,000 | ||
| 19 August | 54,000 | ||
| 26 August | "Country House" | Blur | 274,000 |
| 2 September | 135,000 | ||
| 9 September | "You Are Not Alone" | Michael Jackson | 83,000 |
| 16 September | 100,000 | ||
| 23 September | "Boombastic" | Shaggy | 93,000 |
| 30 September | "Fairground" | Simply Red | 211,000 |
| 7 October | 142,000 | ||
| 14 October | 129,000 | ||
| 21 October | 96,000 | ||
| 28 October | "Gangsta's Paradise" | Coolio featuring LV | 107,000 |
| 4 November | 166,000 | ||
| 11 November | "I Believe / Up on the Roof" | Robson & Jerome | 258,000 |
| 18 November | 224,000 | ||
| 25 November | 118,000 | ||
| 2 December | 80,000 | ||
| 9 December | "Earth Song" | Michael Jackson | 116,467 |
| 16 December | 149,549 | ||
| 23 December | 150,739 | ||
| 30 December | 261,851 |
Number-one albums
| Chart date (week ending) | Album | Artist |
| 7 January | Carry on up the Charts | The Beautiful South |
| 14 January | ||
| 21 January | ||
| 28 January | The Colour of My Love | Celine Dion |
| 4 February | ||
| 11 February | ||
| 18 February | ||
| 25 February | ||
| 4 March | ||
| 11 March | Greatest Hits | Bruce Springsteen |
| 18 March | Medusa | Annie Lennox |
| 25 March | Elastica | Elastica |
| 1 April | The Colour of My Love | Celine Dion |
| 8 April | Wake Up! | The Boo Radleys |
| 15 April | Greatest Hits | Bruce Springsteen |
| 22 April | Picture This | Wet Wet Wet |
| 29 April | ||
| 6 May | ||
| 13 May | Nobody Else | Take That |
| 20 May | ||
| 27 May | Stanley Road | Paul Weller |
| 3 June | Singles | Alison Moyet |
| 10 June | Pulse | Pink Floyd |
| 17 June | ||
| 24 June | HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I | Michael Jackson |
| 1 July | These Days | Bon Jovi |
| 8 July | ||
| 15 July | ||
| 22 July | ||
| 29 July | I Should Coco | Supergrass |
| 5 August | ||
| 12 August | ||
| 19 August | It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah | Black Grape |
| 26 August | ||
| 2 September | Said and Done | Boyzone |
| 9 September | The Charlatans | The Charlatans |
| 16 September | Zeitgeist | The Levellers |
| 23 September | The Great Escape | Blur |
| 30 September | ||
| 7 October | Daydream | Mariah Carey |
| 14 October | (What's the Story) Morning Glory? | Oasis |
| 21 October | Life | Simply Red |
| 28 October | ||
| 4 November | ||
| 11 November | Different Class | Pulp |
| 18 November | Made in Heaven | Queen |
| 25 November | Robson & Jerome | Robson & Jerome |
| 2 December | ||
| 9 December | ||
| 16 December | ||
| 23 December | ||
| 30 December |
Number-one compilation albums
| Chart date (week ending) | Album |
| 7 January | Now 29 |
| 14 January | |
| 21 January | |
| 28 January | The Best of Heartbeat |
| 4 February | The Best Punk Album in the World...Ever!' |
| 11 February | Dance Mania 95 Volume 1 |
| 18 February | |
| 25 February | On a Dance Tip |
| 4 March | |
| 11 March | |
| 18 March | Smash Hits 95 Volume 1 |
| 25 March | Dance Zone Level 4 |
| 1 April | |
| 8 April | Dance Mania 95 Volume 2 |
| 15 April | |
| 22 April | Now 30 |
| 29 April | |
| 6 May | |
| 13 May | |
| 20 May | On a Dance Tip 2 |
| 27 May | |
| 3 June | |
| 10 June | Top of the Pops 1 |
| 17 June | |
| 24 June | Dance Zone Level 5 |
| 1 July | |
| 8 July | |
| 15 July | Dance Mania 95 – Volume 3 |
| 22 July | |
| 29 July | |
| 5 August | The Best Summer...Ever! |
| 12 August | Now 31 |
| 19 August | |
| 26 August | |
| 2 September | |
| 9 September | Dance Zone Level 6 |
| 16 September | Help |
| 23 September | |
| 30 September | Heartbeat – Forever Yours |
| 7 October | |
| 14 October | |
| 21 October | |
| 28 October | |
| 4 November | |
| 11 November | The Greatest Party Album Under the Sun |
| 18 November | Pure Swing IV |
| 25 November | Now 32 |
| 2 December | |
| 9 December | |
| 16 December | |
| 23 December | |
| 30 December |
Year-end charts
Best-selling singles
Best-selling albums
Best-selling compilation albums
| No. | Title | Peak position |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Now 32 | 1 |
| 2 | The Love Album II | 2 |
| 3 | Now 30 | 1 |
| 4 | The Best Rock Ballads Album in the World... Ever! | 2 |
| 5 | Now 31 | 1 |
| 6 | Heartbeat: Forever Yours | 1 |
| 7 | Pulp Fiction Original Soundtrack | 5 |
| 8 | The Best Sixties Album in the World... Ever! | 2 |
| 9 | Dance Tip 95 | 3 |
| 10 | Pure Swing IV | 1 |
Notes:
Classical music
- Sally Beamish - Viola Concerto
- Harrison Birtwistle – Panic (premiered at Last Night of the Proms)
- Andrew Glover – Fractured Vistas
- Michael Tippett - "Caliban's Song"
- Graham Waterhouse - Celtic Voices and Hale Bopp
Opera
Musical films
- England, My England, starring Michael Ball
- Pulse, Pink Floyd concert film
Music awards
BRIT Awards
The 1995 BRIT Awards winners were:
- Best British producer: Nellee Hooper
- Best soundtrack: Pulp Fiction
- British album: Blur: Parklife
- British breakthrough act: Oasis
- British dance act: M People
- British female solo artist: Eddi Reader
- British Group: Blur
- British male solo artist: Paul Weller
- British single: Blur - "Parklife"
- British Video: Blur - "Parklife"
- International breakthrough act: Lisa Loeb
- International female: k.d. lang
- International group: R.E.M.
- International male: Prince
- Outstanding contribution: Elton John
Mercury Music Prize
The 1995 Mercury Music Prize was awarded to Portishead - Dummy.
Births
- 13 January - Jonathan Antoine, tenor
- 23 June - Lauren Aquilina, singer-songwriter
Deaths
- 4 February - David Alexander, singer, 56
- 12 February – Tony Secunda, music industry manager, 54 (heart attack)
- 18 February - Denny Cordell, record producer, 51
- 5 March – Vivian Stanshall, eccentric British musician, 51 (house fire)
- 7 March - John Lambert, composer, 68
- 20 March - Ella Halman, opera singer and actress, 98
- 4 April - Kenny Everett, radio DJ and comedian, 50
- 9 June - Frank Chacksfield, pianist, organist, composer and arranger, 81
- 1 July - Ian Parkin, guitarist (Be-Bop Deluxe), 45[4]
- 12 July - Sean Mayes, pianist and writer.[5]
- 18 August – Alan Dell BBC Radio 2 disc jockey, 71
- 22 September - Dolly Collins, folk musician, 62
- 27 September - Christopher Shaw, composer, 71[6]
- 30 October
- Brian Easdale, composer, 86
- Paul Ferris, film composer, 54 (suicide)[7]
- 31 October - Alan Bush, pianist and composer, 94
- 4 November - Marti Caine, entertainer, 50 (lymphatic cancer)[8]
- 17 November – Alan Hull, singer-songwriter and founder of Lindisfarne, 50 (heart thrombosis)[9]
- 21 November
- Peter Grant, music industry manager, 60 (myocardial infarction)
- Matthew Ashman, guitarist of Adam and the Ants, Bow Wow Wow, 35
- 18 December - Brian Brockless, composer, organist and conductor, 69
References
- ↑ "Top 100 Singles 1995". Music Week: 9. 13 January 1996.
- ↑ "Top 100 Albums 1995". Music Week: 11. 13 January 1996.
- ↑ "Top 50 Compilations of 1995". Music Week: 12. 13 January 1996.
- ↑ Simmonds, Jeremy. The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars: Heroin, Handguns, and Ham Sandwiches. Chicago Review Press, 2008. ISBN 1-55652-754-3, ISBN 978-1-55652-754-8
- ↑ "The Grim Reaper's Greatest Hits". Rockmine.com. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
- ↑ 'Christopher Shaw' by David Drew, in Musical Times, July 1963
- ↑ Halligan, Benjamin. Michael Reeves, Manchester University Press, 2003. ISBN 0-7190-6351-5
- ↑ GRO Register of Deaths: NOV 1995 B28C 156 WYCOMBE - Marti Caine, DoB = 26 Jan 1945 aged 50
- ↑ OBITUARY: Alan Hull – People, News – The Independent
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