1996 in British music
This is a summary of 1996 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.
| 1990s in music in the UK |
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Summary
This year saw the start of an increase in the number of number 1 singles. 24 hit the top spot this year, the highest since 1980, which had an equal number.
The first number 1 single of the year was "Jesus to a Child", George Michael's first solo #1 for 10 years. This was followed by Babylon Zoo's "Spaceman", which had been used in an advert for Levi's. The single was quite different from the version used in the advert, which had been sped up and re-arranged. It stayed at #1 for five weeks, sold over a million copies, and Jas Mann, the man behind Babylon Zoo, became the first solo male to make their chart debut at number 1.
After five years, the boy band Take That announced that they were splitting up, resulting in such distress for their many fans that a telephone helpline had to be set up. Their final number 1 came in March, a cover of the Bee Gees song "How Deep Is Your Love". Several of the members went on to start a solo career, with Gary Barlow the first to hit #1 with "Forever Love" in July. However, it would be Robbie Williams who would go on to score the most success as a solo artist.
After George Michael scored another number 1 with "Fastlove" in April, Gina G reached the top spot with "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" in May. This song was the UK's entry to the 1996 Eurovision Song Contest, and originally reached #6 when it was released at the beginning of April. It hovered around the top 5 for the next few weeks, before moving up to 1 in the week of the contest. Although it failed to win, it still became the first Eurovision song to hit #1 since Nicole's "A Little Peace", which won the contest in 1982.
The next number 1 was also influenced by media events: "Three Lions", released by comedians David Baddiel and Frank Skinner and the band The Lightning Seeds, was the official song of the 1996 European Football Championship (Euro '96), which was being held in England. A rewritten version of the song ("Three Lions '98") would reach number 1 two years later, coinciding with the Football World Cup 1998 (France '98).
The Fugees had the biggest selling single of the year, with a cover of Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly With His Song". It sold over a million copies.
However, by far the most successful act of the year was the Spice Girls, who kickstarted their career with three number 1 singles – the million-selling "Wannabe" in July, which was one of the longest No 1 stints by any girl group (7 weeks); (Shakespears Sister's "Stay" is the longest girl group No 1, with 8 weeks), and remains the biggest-selling single by a girl group; "Say You'll Be There" in October; and "2 Become 1" in December, also a million seller, the year's Christmas number one single and the UK's fastest selling single of 1996. The Spice Girls debut album Spice was the fastest selling album of 1996, shifting over 1.8 million copies in just 7 weeks. It was also the Number 1 album for Christmas 1996 and the second best-selling album of the year.
Oasis smashed the record for most weeks in the singles chart (previously held by Adam and the Ants in 1981) with 134 weeks, thanks to mass waves of re-entries of songs from their back catalogue throughout the year.
1996 is also grimly notable for having the drummers of two popular bands, Mathew Fletcher of Heavenly, on 14 June, and Chris Acland of Lush, on 17 October, commit suicide. Lush had at the time been in the final stages of planning an American tour, which his devastated bandmates cancelled; they then disbanded.
Prolific classical composer Peter Maxwell Davies produced the tenth of his Strathclyde Concertos, an orchestral work which was first performed in Glasgow in October by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, under the composer's baton. In June, his new opera, The Doctor of Myddfai, was premièred in Cardiff. Other British composers who produced new works were Michael Berkeley (Viola Concerto) and John Tavener (Innocence). Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical, Whistle Down the Wind opened in Washington D.C. in December, to poor reviews, but its score would go on to provide Boyzone with one of the best-selling singles of the decade in the form of "No Matter What"; the show did not appear in the West End until 1998.
Events
- 19 February – Jarvis Cocker disrupts a performance by Michael Jackson at the BRIT Awards. During an elaborate staging of "Earth Song" Cocker and Peter Mansell (a former Pulp member) invade the stage; Cocker lifts his shirt and points his bottom in Jackson's direction before getting into a scuffle with security. He is arrested and taken for questioning (with Bob Mortimer acting as his solicitor), but is released without charge. Cocker later states that his actions were "a form of protest at the way Michael Jackson sees himself as some kind of Christ-like figure with the power of healing".[1]
- 28 February – At the 38th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles:
- Trevor Horn (producer) & Seal win Record of the Year for "Kiss From a Rose".
- Christopher Hogwood (conductor), Sylvia McNair & the Academy of Ancient Music win Best Classical Vocal Performance for The Echoing Air – The Music of Henry Purcell.
- Annie Lennox wins Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "No More I Love You's".
- The Chieftains and Van Morrison win Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for "Have I Told You Lately"
- 1 March - Status Quo take BBC Radio One to the High Court over a dispute in which the station refused to play their single "Fun Fun Fun". The band loses their case, with Radio One arguing that Status Quo don't fit the demographic audience that the station is reaching out to.
- 2 March – Melody Maker praises Jarvis Cocker for his protest at the Brit Awards ceremony, suggesting he should be knighted.
- 4 March – The Beatles' second reunion song is released as part of their first reunion since the band's breakup 26 years earlier. The song is a finished version of "Real Love", a John Lennon demo from 1980.[2]
- 1 April - John Squire announces his departure from The Stone Roses
- 28 April – Oasis play the second of two gigs in Maine Road, home of Manchester City F.C., featured on the video "…There and Then".
- June – Musicians listed in the Queen's Birthday Honours include songwriter Ivan Morrison, clarinetist Emma Johnson, jazz pianist George Shearing and opera singer Felicity Lott.[3]
- 8 July – The Spice Girls release their début single "Wannabe" in the United Kingdom.The song proves to be a global hit, hitting number 1 in 31 countries and becoming not only the biggest-selling début single by an all-female group but also the biggest-selling single by an all-female group of all time.
- July – The Spice Girls appear in Top of the Pops magazine, where each member is given a nickname based upon her image: "Posh Spice", "Baby Spice", "Scary Spice", "Ginger Spice", and "Sporty Spice".[4]
- 22 July - Rob Collins, keyboardist with The Charlatans, is killed in a car crash on a country road outside Monmouth.
- 10 August - Oasis play 2 nights at Knebworth House with an audience of 125,000 per night. Over 2.5 million people applied for tickets for the shows, making it the largest ever demand for concert tickets in British history. They are supported by The Charlatans, Kula Shaker, Manic Street Preachers, The Bootleg Beatles, The Chemical Brothers, Ocean Colour Scene and The Prodigy
- 25 August - The Stone Roses perform a disastrous final gig at the Reading Festival. The performance received a negative reception from fans and critics, with Ian Brown's vocals being particularly criticised.[5] The band would then split up in October.
- 31 October – David Brookes is fined £45 in Hampstead Magistrates' Court for disrupting the "quiet enjoyment" of the public by playing his bagpipes on Hampstead Heath. Described as "a pain in the neck" by a spokesperson for the College of Pipers in Glasgow, Brookes said he had been playing the pipes on the heath for twenty years and had been given permission to do so, adding that he was surprised by the ruling because social workers were allowed to distribute condoms there.[6]
- November – Jesus Christ Superstar is revived in London's West End. Directed by Gale Edwards, this version stars Steve Balsamo and Zubin Varla as Jesus and Judas, with Joanna Ampil as Mary Magdalene, and a recording is released as an album.
- 12 December - Mike Joyce, former drummer with The Smiths, is awarded £1 million in missing royalties and damages from former bandmates Morrissey and Johnny Marr in the High Court.
Charts
Number-one singles
| Chart date (week ending) | Song | Artist(s) | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 January | "Earth Song" | Michael Jackson | 55,000 |
| 13 January | 80,000 | ||
| 20 January | "Jesus to a Child" | George Michael | 110,000 |
| 27 January | "Spaceman" | Babylon Zoo | 418,000 |
| 3 February | 204,000 | ||
| 10 February | 128,000 | ||
| 17 February | 80,000 | ||
| 24 February | 63,000 | ||
| 2 March | "Don't Look Back in Anger" | Oasis | 250,000 |
| 9 March | "How Deep Is Your Love" | Take That | 257,000 |
| 16 March | 120,000 | ||
| 23 March | 90,000 | ||
| 30 March | "Firestarter" | The Prodigy | 119,000 |
| 6 April | 80,000 | ||
| 13 April | 75,000 | ||
| 20 April | "Return of the Mack" | Mark Morrison | 90,000 |
| 27 April | 90,000 | ||
| 4 May | "Fastlove" | George Michael | 111,000 |
| 11 May | 75,000 | ||
| 18 May | 55,000 | ||
| 25 May | "Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit" | Gina G | 75,000 |
| 1 June | "Three Lions" | Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds | 110,000 |
| 8 June | "Killing Me Softly" | The Fugees | 157,000 |
| 15 June | 195,000 | ||
| 22 June | 173,000 | ||
| 29 June | 160,000 | ||
| 6 July | "Three Lions" | Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds | 140,000 |
| 13 July | "Killing Me Softly" | The Fugees | 103,000 |
| 20 July | "Forever Love" | Gary Barlow | 109,000 |
| 27 July | "Wannabe" | Spice Girls | 108,000 |
| 3 August | 154,000 | ||
| 10 August | 150,000 | ||
| 17 August | 145,000 | ||
| 24 August | 125,000 | ||
| 31 August | 110,000 | ||
| 7 September | 90,000 | ||
| 14 September | "Flava" | Peter Andre | 129,000 |
| 21 September | "Ready or Not" | The Fugees | 72,000 |
| 28 September | 75,000 | ||
| 5 October | "Breakfast At Tiffany's" | Deep Blue Something | 85,000 |
| 12 October | "Setting Sun" | The Chemical Brothers | 99,000 |
| 19 October | "Words" | Boyzone | 232,000 |
| 26 October | "Say You'll Be There" | Spice Girls | 349,000 |
| 2 November | 163,000 | ||
| 9 November | "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted / Saturday Night at the Movies / You'll Never Walk Alone" | Robson & Jerome | 196,000 |
| 16 November | 113,000 | ||
| 23 November | "Breathe" | The Prodigy | 195,000 |
| 30 November | 95,000 | ||
| 7 December | "I Feel You" | Peter Andre | 87,000 |
| 14 December | "A Different Beat" | Boyzone | 90,000 |
| 21 December | "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" | Dunblane | 189,000 |
| 28 December | "2 Become 1" | Spice Girls | 462,000 |
Number-one albums
| Chart date (week ending) | Album | Artist | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 January | Robson & Jerome | Robson & Jerome | 216,000 |
| 13 January | (What's the Story) Morning Glory? | Oasis | 53,000 |
| 20 January | 48,000 | ||
| 27 January | 46,000 | ||
| 3 February | 45,000 | ||
| 10 February | 48,000 | ||
| 17 February | 42,000 | ||
| 24 February | Expecting to Fly | The Bluetones | 83,000 |
| 2 March | (What's the Story) Morning Glory? | Oasis | 81,000 |
| 9 March | 107,000 | ||
| 16 March | 84,000 | ||
| 23 March | Falling into You | Céline Dion | 101,000 |
| 30 March | Anthology 2 | The Beatles | 78,000 |
| 6 April | Greatest Hits | Take That | 276,000 |
| 13 April | 174,000 | ||
| 20 April | 100,000 | ||
| 27 April | 52,000 | ||
| 4 May | Jagged Little Pill | Alanis Morissette | 54,000 |
| 11 May | 65,000 | ||
| 18 May | 1977 | Ash | 54,000 |
| 25 May | Older | George Michael | 281,000 |
| 1 June | 114,000 | ||
| 8 June | 80,000 | ||
| 15 June | Load | Metallica | 70,000 |
| 22 June | 18 Til I Die | Bryan Adams | 54,000 |
| 29 June | Jagged Little Pill | Alanis Morissette | 42,000 |
| 6 July | Recurring Dream | Crowded House | 80,000 |
| 13 July | 47,000 | ||
| 20 July | Jagged Little Pill | Alanis Morissette | 41,000 |
| 27 July | 37,000 | ||
| 3 August | 59,000 | ||
| 10 August | 62,000 | ||
| 17 August | 56,000 | ||
| 24 August | 49,000 | ||
| 31 August | 45,000 | ||
| 7 September | 47,000 | ||
| 14 September | Coming Up | Suede | 42,000 |
| 21 September | New Adventures in Hi-Fi | R.E.M | 125,000 |
| 28 September | K | Kula Shaker | 133,000 |
| 5 October | 54,000 | ||
| 12 October | Natural | Peter Andre | 45,000 |
| 19 October | Greatest Hits | Simply Red | 87,000 |
| 26 October | 84,000 | ||
| 2 November | Blue Is the Colour | The Beautiful South | 80,000 |
| 9 November | A Different Beat | Boyzone | 95,000 |
| 16 November | Spice | Spice Girls | 114,305 |
| 23 November | Take Two | Robson & Jerome | 187,000 |
| 30 November | 168,000 | ||
| 7 December | Spice | Spice Girls | 170,000 |
| 14 December | 217,000 | ||
| 21 December | 271,000 | ||
| 28 December | 364,000 |
Number-one compilation albums
| Chart date (week ending) | Album |
| 6 January | Hits 96 |
| 13 January | |
| 20 January | |
| 27 January | |
| 3 February | Sisters of Swing |
| 10 February | The Best Album in the World...Ever! 2 |
| 17 February | |
| 24 February | The No.1 Love Album |
| 2 March | In the Mix 96 |
| 9 March | |
| 16 March | |
| 23 March | |
| 30 March | Now 33 |
| 6 April | |
| 13 April | |
| 20 April | |
| 27 April | |
| 4 May | Dance Zone 7 |
| 11 May | Boyz of Swing |
| 18 May | New Hits 96 |
| 25 May | |
| 1 June | |
| 8 June | |
| 15 June | |
| 22 June | |
| 29 June | |
| 6 July | |
| 13 July | |
| 20 July | Big Mix '96 |
| 27 July | |
| 3 August | |
| 10 August | |
| 17 August | The Best Dance Album in the World...Ever! Part 6 |
| 24 August | Now 34 |
| 31 August | |
| 7 September | |
| 14 September | |
| 21 September | |
| 28 September | |
| 5 October | |
| 12 October | In the Mix 96 – 3 |
| 19 October | Kiss in Ibiza '96 |
| 26 October | |
| 2 November | |
| 9 November | |
| 16 November | Huge Hits 1996 |
| 23 November | |
| 30 November | Now 35 |
| 7 December | |
| 14 December | |
| 21 December | |
| 28 December |
Year-end charts
Best-selling singles
Best-selling albums
Best-selling compilation albums
| No. | Title | Peak position |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Now 35 | 1 |
| 2 | Now 34 | 1 |
| 3 | Trainspotting Original Soundtrack | 2 |
| 4 | The Best Sixties Album in the World... Ever! II | 2 |
| 5 | Now 33 | 1 |
| 6 | New Hits 96 | 1 |
| 7 | The Best Dance Album in the World... Ever! 6 | 1 |
| 8 | Heartbeat: No. 1 Love Songs of the 60s | 2 |
| 9 | The Annual II | 3[lower-alpha 8] |
| 10 | The Love Album III | 2 |
Notes:
- Reached number 1 in 1995
- Reached number 1 in 1994
- Reached number 1 in 1995
- Reached number 1 in 1995
- Reached number 1 in 1995
- Reached number 1 in 1995
- Reached number 1 in 1997
- Reached number 1 in 1997
Classical music
- Michael Garrett – Fantasia No. 2 for string orchestra, Op. 111
- Peter Maxwell Davies –
- Strathclyde Concerto No. 10: Concerto for Orchestra
- Symphony No. 6
- Howard Blake – Flute Concerto[11]
Musical films
Births
- 1 February – Dionne Bromfield, singer-songwriter and TV presenter
- 15 May – Birdy, singer
Deaths
- 17 January – Harry Robertson, musician, bandleader, music director and composer, 63
- 21 January – the London Boys:
- Edem Ephraim, 36 (car accident)
- Dennis Fuller, 36 (car accident)
- 17 February – Evelyn Laye, actress and singer, 95
- 19 March – Alan Ridout, composer, 61
- 8 April – Donald Adams, opera singer and actor, 67 (brain tumour)
- 6 May – Wally Nightingale, guitarist, 40 (drug-related)
- 19 June – Vivian Ellis, composer, 93
- 17 July – Chas Chandler (The Animals), 57 (heart attack)
- 22 July – Rob Collins, keyboard player, 33 (car crash)[12]
- 12 October – Vernon Elliott, bassoonist, conductor and composer, 84
- 17 October – Chris Acland, drummer, 30 (suicide)[13]
- 23 October – Alexander Kelly, pianist and composer, 67
- 12 November – Gwen Catley, operatic soprano, 90
- 28 November – Anna Pollak, operatic mezzo-soprano, 84
- 14 December – Norman Hackforth, accompanist and broadcaster, 87
- 17 December – Ruby Murray, singer and actress, 61
- 23 December – Ronnie Scott, jazz musician and club owner, 69
Music awards
BRIT Awards
The 1996 BRIT Awards winners were:
- Artist of a generation: Michael Jackson
- Best British producer: Brian Eno
- Best soundtrack: "Batman Forever"
- British album: Oasis – "(What's the Story) Morning Glory"
- British breakthrough act: Supergrass
- British dance act: Massive Attack
- British female solo artist: Annie Lennox
- British group: Oasis
- British male solo artist: Paul Weller
- British single: Take That – "Back for Good"
- British video: Oasis – "Wonderwall"
- Freddie Mercury award: The Help Album for the Charity Warchild
- International breakthrough act: Alanis Morissette
- International female: Björk
- International group: Bon Jovi
- International male: Prince
- Outstanding contribution: David Bowie
Mercury Music Prize
The 1996 Mercury Music Prize was awarded to Pulp – Different Class.
See also
References
- Lee, Ann (February 15, 2011). "Brit Awards 2011: Top five moments Through the years". Metro. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
- "The Beatles". The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. 2007. Archived from the original on January 4, 2010. Retrieved February 5, 2009.
- "THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY HONOURS", The Independent, 15 June 1996. Accessed 8 June 2014
- "nicknames", Halliwell, Geri (1999). If Only, p. 229. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN 0-385-33475-3.
- Perrone, Pierre (2008) "The worst gigs of all time", The Independent, 24 January 2008
- John Ezard, "Piper Pays for His Tune", The Guardian (1 November 1996):2.
- "Top 100 Singles 1996". Music Week. 18 January 1997. p. 25.
- "Top 100 Albums 1996". Music Week. 18 January 1997. p. 27.
- Jones, Alan (18 January 1997). "UK acts outstrip the US, but Canadian Alanis hits the top". Music Week. p. 26.
- "Top 50 Compilations of 1996". Music Week. 18 January 1997. p. 28.
- Howard Blake official website. Accessed 22 November 2013
- "Tim Burgess looks to celebrate anniversary with Scotland gig". 14 March 2010. Retrieved 5 October 2010.
- Erlewine, Stephen Thomas "Lush: Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved May 9, 2012.