This week's Official UK Singles Chart
This week's Official UK Albums Chart
Make that 11 weeks and 11 different Number One singles at the top of the Official UK Singles chart as once more last week's utterly dominant chart-topping single by Kiesza is in turn swept away by yet another new single with strong support in its first week on sale. Such a dramatic rate of chart turnover means that once again the Number One single of the week is in danger of being reduced to little more than a historical footnote - which on this occasion is something of a shame as the single in question is not only a pop record of quite breathtaking emotional depth but one which arrives via a rather unexpected route.
Mr Probz is the artist in question, the performing name of Dutchman Dennis Stehr who has been active in his home country since 2007, producing a wide range of singles featuring him both singing and rapping in both Dutch and English. His first ever commercial success, Waves was first released on the continent last year. In its original form, it is a beautiful mellow ballad, featuring little more than an electric guitar and Mr Probz' own soulful vocals (with which he actually bears more than a passing resemblance to Aloe Blacc at times). It is an extraordinarily well made and quite diverting record. Yet this is not the version which tops the British chart this week. Instead, Waves has become an international hit thanks to a dance remix by German DJ Robin Shulz. Treating the source material with suitable respect, the Shulz version nonetheless speeds the track up, adds a deep house beat, extends the instrumental breaks and in the process subtly creates a very different take on the concept. Waves has gone from reflective chill-out to inspirational warm-up and I confess I'm torn as to just which version I prefer. History will, however, record that it is the Robin Shulz Radio Edit of the track which sold over 126,000 copies last week and duly becomes the latest temporary incumbent of the Number One position on the British charts.
Fair play however to the last two Number One singles which are more than holding their own despite their sales having peaked one and two weeks ago respectively. Kiesza dips to Number 2 whilst her immediate predecessors at the top Sigma doggedly hold onto the Number 3 position. In all there are eight current and former Number One singles in the Top 20 at the moment, although with Aloe Blacc, Clean Bandit, Route 94 and Duke Dumont all exiting the Top 10 at some speed this week, the only other chart-topper in the upper reaches is extraordinarily Happy which, as was pointed out to me on Twitter last week, has now spent 20 straight weeks as a Top 10 single, believe it or not the longest such run since Love Is All Around by Wet Wet Wet also managed a 20 week run in the summer of 1994 before being deleted by the band themselves. If Happy retains its position next week it will duly match the 21-week record set by Bryan Adams' Everything I Do (I Do It For You) in 1991, although given that the single dips 7-10 this week it will have its work cut out to do so.
And the reason for the dramatic exit of some long-running Top 10 singles? A string of new arrivals which all occupy positions 5-7 on the chart. Leading the way is Take Me Home by Cash Cash featuring Bebe Rexha. Another commercial debut for some long-standing names on the dance scene, Cash Cash are an EDM duo from New Jersey who briefly made headlines in 2012 when their Michael Jackson tribute single (entitled Michael Jackson funnily enough) gave them a minor Dutch hit.
One place behind at Number 6 is Calling All The Hearts by DJ Cassidy, a man whose calling before now has been as party producer to the stars, having been apparently behind the decks for occasions such as the wedding of Beyonce and Jay-Z and Barack Obama's inauguration along with endless Grammy parties and MTV Video Awards. Hence you suspect the kind of clout which means he can recruit some very big names indeed for his first ever hit single, the appeal of this track as much thanks to the appearance of both Robin Thicke and Jessie J on co-vocals as it is down to the fact that it is the most deliciously retro soul-disco party track to have charted for some considerable time. Single of the week by some distance. [Oh I ADORED this one and even though it made a respectable enough Number 6 should really have lingered on the charts for months].
On a more pop tip, girl group Neon Jungle have landed two chart hits to date, Trouble giving them a Number 12 debut in September last year whilst February's Braveheart reached Number 4. Their second Top 10 hit single is the fourth highest new entry of the week as a signature track of sorts Welcome To The Jungle lands at Number 7. Its fate sadly is to actually be the least notable new arrival of the week.
Lower down, Solo Dancing gives British singer-songwriter Indiana her first ever hit single at the fourth attempt. Assisted by a clutch of remixes, the track serves as a good introduction to her distinctive vocal style which pitches her neatly at the Lana Del Rey with beats market.
Speaking of Ms Rey, she also lands at new entry this week with new single Gods & Monsters arriving at Number 39, just one place above Down by The Kooks who thus have their first Top 40 hit since Shine On reached Number 25 in July 2008.
Over on the Official UK Album chart, the extraordinary success of Paolo Nutini's Caustic Love album ensures he spends a second week at Number One, adding another 53,000 to the 110,000 it did last week. The highest new entry of the week is Iggy Azalea's The New Classic at Number 5 whilst eels land one of their highest charting albums ever as Mr E's 11th album under his group name The Cautionary Tales Of Mark Oliver Everett arrives at Number 7, a position bettered only by 1996 release Beautiful Freak which reached Number 5 on the back of hit singles Novocaine For The Soul and Susan's House. Eels have been without a Top 75 hit single since Hey Man (Now You're Really Lying) reached Number 45 in May 2005.
