List of years in British music
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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, in February. A collection of his essays, Tippett on Music, was also published. In July Thomas Adès' 1995 chamber opera Powder Her Face with a libretto by Philip Hensher won good reviews, but also notoriety for its musical depiction of fellatio. And there was further controversy and much negative press when Harrison Birtwistle's uncompromising Panic was included in the typically populist Last Night of the Proms in September. The same month Karl Jenkins had a huge popular hit with his album Adiemus: Songs of Sanctuary, thanks to the music's exposure in television advertisements.

Events

Charts

Number-one singles

Chart date
(week ending)
SongArtist(s)Sales
7 January"Stay Another Day"East 17
14 January"Cotton Eye Joe"Rednex60,000
21 January85,000
28 January70,000
4 February"Think Twice"Celine Dion74,000
11 February80,000
18 February86,000
25 February154,000
4 March141,000
11 March120,000
18 March50,000
25 March"Love Can Build a Bridge"Cher, Chrissie Hynde & Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton150,000
1 April"Don't Stop (Wiggle Wiggle)"The Outhere Brothers90,000
8 April"Back for Good"Take That346,000
15 April185,000
22 April140,000
29 April85,000
6 May"Some Might Say"Oasis138,000
13 May"Dreamer"Livin' Joy106,000
20 May"Unchained Melody / White Cliffs of Dover"Robson & Jerome314,000
27 May460,000
3 June320,000
10 June210,000
17 June145,000
24 June90,000
1 July73,000
8 July"Boom Boom Boom"The Outhere Brothers62,000
15 July74,000
22 July77,000
29 July65,000
5 August"Never Forget"Take That115,000
12 August86,000
19 August54,000
26 August"Country House"Blur274,000
2 September135,000
9 September"You Are Not Alone"Michael Jackson83,000
16 September100,000
23 September"Boombastic"Shaggy93,000
30 September"Fairground"Simply Red211,000
7 October142,000
14 October129,000
21 October96,000
28 October"Gangsta's Paradise"Coolio featuring LV107,000
4 November166,000
11 November"I Believe / Up on the Roof"Robson & Jerome258,000
18 November224,000
25 November118,000
2 December80,000
9 December"Earth Song"Michael Jackson116,467
16 December149,549
23 December150,739
30 December261,851

Number-one albums

Chart date
(week ending)
AlbumArtist
7 JanuaryCarry On up the ChartsThe Beautiful South
14 January
21 January
28 JanuaryThe Colour of My LoveCeline Dion
4 February
11 February
18 February
25 February
4 March
11 MarchGreatest HitsBruce Springsteen
18 MarchMedusaAnnie Lennox
25 MarchElasticaElastica
1 AprilThe Colour of My LoveCeline Dion
8 AprilWake Up!The Boo Radleys
15 AprilGreatest HitsBruce Springsteen
22 AprilPicture ThisWet Wet Wet
29 April
6 May
13 MayNobody ElseTake That
20 May
27 MayStanley RoadPaul Weller
3 JuneSinglesAlison Moyet
10 JunePulsePink Floyd
17 June
24 JuneHIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book IMichael Jackson
1 JulyThese DaysBon Jovi
8 July
15 July
22 July
29 JulyI Should CocoSupergrass
5 August
12 August
19 AugustIt's Great When You're Straight...YeahBlack Grape
26 August
2 SeptemberSaid and DoneBoyzone
9 SeptemberThe CharlatansThe Charlatans
16 SeptemberZeitgeistThe Levellers
23 SeptemberThe Great EscapeBlur
30 September
7 OctoberDaydreamMariah Carey
14 October(What's the Story) Morning Glory?Oasis
21 OctoberLifeSimply Red
28 October
4 November
11 NovemberDifferent ClassPulp
18 NovemberMade in HeavenQueen
25 NovemberRobson & JeromeRobson & Jerome
2 December
9 December
16 December
23 December
30 December

Number-one compilation albums

Chart date
(week ending)
Album
7 JanuaryNow 29
14 January
21 January
28 JanuaryThe Best of Heartbeat
4 FebruaryThe Best Punk Album in the World...Ever!'
11 FebruaryDance Mania 95 Volume 1
18 February
25 FebruaryOn a Dance Tip
4 March
11 March
18 MarchSmash Hits 95 Volume 1
25 MarchDance Zone Level 4
1 April
8 AprilDance Mania 95 Volume 2
15 April
22 AprilNow 30
29 April
6 May
13 May
20 MayOn a Dance Tip 2
27 May
3 June
10 JuneTop of the Pops 1
17 June
24 JuneDance Zone Level 5
1 July
8 July
15 JulyDance Mania 95 – Volume 3
22 July
29 July
5 AugustThe Best Summer...Ever!
12 AugustNow 31
19 August
26 August
2 September
9 SeptemberDance Zone Level 6
16 SeptemberHelp
23 September
30 SeptemberHeartbeat – Forever Yours
7 October
14 October
21 October
28 October
4 November
11 NovemberThe Greatest Party Album Under the Sun
18 NovemberPure Swing IV
25 NovemberNow 32
2 December
9 December
16 December
23 December
30 December

Year-end charts

Best-selling singles

[2]

No. Title Artist Peak
position
1 "Unchained Melody"/"(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover" Robson & Jerome 1
2 "Gangsta's Paradise" Coolio featuring L.V. 1
3 "I Believe"/"Up on the Roof" Robson & Jerome 1
4 "Back for Good" Take That 1
5 "Think Twice" Celine Dion 1
6 "Earth Song" Michael Jackson 1
7 "Fairground" Simply Red 1
8 "You Are Not Alone" Michael Jackson 1
9 "Missing" (Todd Terry Club Mix) Everything but the Girl 3
10 "Wonderwall" Oasis 2
11 "Boom Boom Boom" The Outhere Brothers 1
12 "Country House" Blur 1
13 "Father and Son" Boyzone 2
14 "Don't Stop (Wiggle Wiggle)" The Outhere Brothers 1
15 "Boombastic" Shaggy 1
16 "Cotton Eye Joe" Rednex 1
17 "Set You Free" (Remix) N-Trance 2
18 "Living Next Door to Alice (Who the F**k Is Alice?)" Smokie featuring Roy Chubby Brown 3
19 "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" U2 2
20 "Roll with It" Oasis 2
21 "Guaglione" Perez 'Prez' Prado & his Orchestra 2
22 "I'll Be There for You" The Rembrandts 3
23 "Two Can Play That Game" (K Klassic Mix) Bobby Brown 3
24 "Here Comes the Hotstepper" Ini Kamoze 4
25 "Shy Guy" Diana King 2
26 "It's Oh So Quiet" Björk 4
27 "Never Forget" Take That 1
28 "Don't Give Me Your Life" Alex Party 2
29 "Waterfalls" TLC 4
30 "Scatman (Ski Ba Bop Ba Dop Bop)" Scatman John 3
31 "Some Might Say" Oasis 1
32 "You'll See" Madonna 5
33 "Thunder" East 17 4
34 "Stayin' Alive" N-Trance featuring Ricardo da Force 2
35 "I'd Lie for You (And That's the Truth)" Meat Loaf 2
36 "Common People" Pulp 2
37 "Fantasy" Mariah Carey 4
38 "I've Got a Little Something for You" MN8 2
39 "Kiss from a Rose"/"I'm Alive" Seal 4
40 "Dreamer" (Remix) Livin' Joy 1
41 "Heaven for Everyone" Queen 2
42 "Free as a Bird" The Beatles 2
43 "Love Can Build a Bridge" Cher, Chrissie Hynde & Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton 1
44 "(Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime) I Need Your Loving" Baby D 3
45 "The Sunshine After the Rain" Berri 4
46 "The Bomb! (These Sounds Fall into My Mind)" The Bucketheads 5
47 "Wonderwall" The Mike Flowers Pops 2
48 "Total Eclipse of the Heart" Nicki French 5
49 "Alright"/"Time" Supergrass 2
50 "Mis-Shapes"/"Sorted for E's & Wizz" Pulp 2

Best-selling albums

[3]

No. Title Artist Peak
position
1 Robson & Jerome Robson & Jerome 1
2 (What's the Story) Morning Glory? Oasis 1
3 The Colour of My Love Celine Dion 1
4 Life Simply Red 1
5 HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I Michael Jackson 1
6 Made in Heaven Queen 1
7 Stanley Road Paul Weller 1
8 Picture This Wet Wet Wet 1
9 The Great Escape Blur 1
10 Different Class Pulp 1
11 Something to Remember Madonna 3
12 Love Songs Elton John 4
13 Carry On up the Charts: The Best of the Beautiful South The Beautiful South 1
14 Medusa Annie Lennox 1
15 Daydream Mariah Carey 1
16 Nobody Else Take That 1
17 Definitely Maybe Oasis 5[lower-alpha 1]
18 Bizarre Fruit/Bizarre Fruit II M People 8[lower-alpha 2]
19 Anthology 1 The Beatles 3
20 These Days Bon Jovi 1
21 The Memory of Trees Enya 5
22 No Need to Argue The Cranberries 3[lower-alpha 3]
23 Said and Done Boyzone 1
24 Design of a Decade: 1986–1996 Janet Jackson 2
25 Parklife Blur 2[lower-alpha 4]
26 Jollification The Lightning Seeds 15[lower-alpha 5]
27 Greatest Hits Bruce Springsteen 1
28 Dummy Portishead 2
29 Greatest Hits (1985–1995) Michael Bolton 2
30 Vault: Def Leppard Greatest Hits (1980–1995) Def Leppard 3
31 Singles Alison Moyet 1
32 Power of a Woman Eternal 6
33 CrazySexyCool TLC 4
34 I Should Coco Supergrass 1
35 Welcome to the Neighbourhood Meat Loaf 3
36 Post Björk 2
37 Cross Road: The Best of Bon Jovi Bon Jovi 4[lower-alpha 6]
38 Big River Jimmy Nail 8
39 It's Great When You're Straight... Yeah Black Grape 1
40 Crocodile Shoes Jimmy Nail 3[lower-alpha 7]
41 Pulse Pink Floyd 1
42 Pan Pipe Moods Free the Spirit 2
43 Up All Night East 17 7
44 The Very Best of Robert Palmer Robert Palmer 4
45 Chants and Dances of the Native Americans Sacred Spirit 9
46 Seal Seal 3[lower-alpha 8]
47 Monster R.E.M. 8[lower-alpha 9]
48 Tuesday Night Music Club Sheryl Crow 8
49 Jagged Little Pill Alanis Morissette 12[lower-alpha 10]
50 Don't Bore Us – Get to the Chorus!: Roxette's Greatest Hits Roxette 5

Best-selling compilation albums

[4]

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:

  1. Reached number 1 in 1994
  2. Reached number 3 in 1996 as the reissued Bizarre Fruit II
  3. Reached number 2 in 1994
  4. Reached number 1 in 1994
  5. Reached number 12 in 1996
  6. Reached number 1 in 1994
  7. Reached number 2 in 1994
  8. Reached number 1 in 1994
  9. Reached number 1 in 1994
  10. Reached number 1 in 1996

Classical music

Opera

Musical films

Music awards

Brit Awards

The 1995 Brit Awards winners were:

Mercury Music Prize

The 1995 Mercury Music Prize was awarded to PortisheadDummy.

Births

Deaths

See also

References

  1. BBC Genome project Radio 1 listings 21 April 1995
  2. "Top 100 Singles 1995". Music Week. 13 January 1996. p. 9.
  3. "Top 100 Albums 1995". Music Week. 13 January 1996. p. 11.
  4. "Top 50 Compilations of 1995". Music Week. 13 January 1996. p. 12.
  5. "Viola Concerto No. 1". Sally Beamish. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  6. Gloag, Kenneth (2013). The Cambridge companion to Michael Tippett. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. xxxi. ISBN 9781107021976.
  7. "Jonathan Antoine – Biography". Jonathanantoineofficial.com. 13 October 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  8. Buckley, Peter (2003). The rough guide to rock. London New York: Rough Guides Distributed by the Penguin Group. p. 1002. ISBN 9781843531050.
  9. 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
  10. "The Grim Reaper's Greatest Hits". Rockmine.com. Retrieved 16 March 2008.
  11. Voce, Steve (29 August 1995). "OBITUARY: Alan Dell – independent.co.uk". The Independent. London. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  12. 'Christopher Shaw' by David Drew, in Musical Times, July 1963
  13. Halligan, Benjamin. Michael Reeves, Manchester University Press, 2003. ISBN 0-7190-6351-5
  14. GRO Register of Deaths: NOV 1995 B28C 156 WYCOMBE – Marti Caine, DoB = 26 Jan 1945 aged 50
  15. Welch, Chris (20 November 1995). "OBITUARY: Alan Hull". The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
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