1991 in British music

none December 2012 June 2021 1991 1991 British music1991 in music in the United Kingdom saw 17 songs at number 1. The first number 1 of the year came from heavy metal band Iron Maiden, scoring their first and only number one "Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter" which stayed at the top for two weeks. The next number one was Enigma, with "Sadeness Part 1", which brought commercial success to the new age, chill out genre. Romanian-German producer Michael Cretu mixed repeated trance-like dance beats with gregorian chants and whispered, erotic vocals provided by his wife, Sandra. Enigma's debut concept album MCMXC ad also went straight to the top of the UK Album Chart in January. In the album charts Simply Red entered with Stars which would prove to be the second best-selling album of the 90s and the best of 1991 and 1992. Although none of its singles reached no.1, title track "Stars" did make the top ten. February saw cartoon character Bart Simpson reach No. 1 with "Do the Bartman",2007-12-18 http://www.theofficialcharts.com/zoom.php?id=660 The official UK charts company from the album The Simpsons Sing the Blues which reached #6. The show had premiered on UK screens on the satellite channel Sky One in 1990, though it did not premiere on terrestrial TV until 1996, on BBC One. The family became the first cartoon characters to hit No. 1 since The Archies did so in 1969, with "Sugar Sugar", and the follow-up ("Deep, Deep Trouble") also reached the top ten, peaking at No. 7 in April. In March, The Clash received their first number 1 with "Should I Stay or Should I Go", after the song was used in a commercial for Levi's. A month later, Cher scored her first UK solo No. 1 with "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)", taken from the film Mermaids. Bryan Adams also reached No. 1 for the first time in July with "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You", from the film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Breaking the record held since 1955, it stayed there for sixteen consecutive weeks, a record that remains to this day. It also became the biggest selling single of the year, selling over a million copies. The Christmas number one single this year was Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody", re-issued after the death of Freddie Mercury in November, coupled with "These Are the Days of Our Lives". As "Bohemian Rhapsody" had previously hit the top in 1975 (also becoming the Christmas number one) it became the first song ever to reach number 1 in two separate releases. The classical music scene saw the death of Joy Finzi, who had founded the Finzi Trust in 1969 to commemorate her husband Gerald. Harrison Birtwistle's opera, Gawain, with a libretto by David Harsent, received its premiere at the Royal Opera House in May. Symphony Hall, Birmingham, with a big emphasis on acoustic flexibility, opened in April, with the official opening by the Queen in June. Events 14 January – Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine's single "Bloodsport for All" is released on the day the Gulf War officially starts, and is banned by the BBC due to its lyrics about racism and bullying in the army. 15 January – A new all-star rendition of the John Lennon song "Give Peace a Chance" is released, featuring Yoko Ono, Lenny Kravitz, Peter Gabriel, Alannah Myles, Tom Petty, Bonnie Raitt and many more, billed as "The Peace Choir". The single is rushed to market in response to the imminent Gulf War. 11 February – Massive Attack release their single "Unfinished Sympathy" but have to temporarily shorten their name to "Massive" to avoid a radio ban of the word "attack" during the Gulf War. 24 February – The Chamber Symphony for 15 players by Thomas Adès is performed for the first time, in West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge, directed by the composer. 15 May – The 2,262-seat concert venue Symphony Hall, Birmingham, home to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra is opened for its first concerts, although the official opening by the Queen takes place on 12 June. 15 May – Richey Edwards of Manic Street Preachers carves the words "4 Real" into his arm with a razor blade during an interview with NME journalist Steve Lamacq, after Lamacq questions the band's authenticity. The incident results in Edwards requiring 18 stitches. 17 May – The first performance of Timon of Athens, a two act opera by Stephen Oliver, takes place at the London Coliseum by the English National Opera. 25 May – The Stone Roses are released from their contract with Silvertone Records by the High Court, winning up to £500,000 in damages from the label after the band's contract was dismissed by Judge Humphries as "unfair and unjustified". The band would then sign up to Geffen Records, though it would be another 3 years before new material would be released. 30 May – The opening night of Harrison Birtwistle's opera Gawain takes place in London at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, with Elgar Howarth conducting. 25 June – The first performance of James MacMillan's Tuireadh (Lament) for clarinet and string quartet, is given by James Campbell and the Allegri Quartet at St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall (Orkney Islands). 28 June – Paul McCartney's classical composition, the Liverpool Oratorio, receives its premiere at the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral. 7 July – The world premiere of John Casken's Cello Concerto takes place at the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, with soloist Heinrich Schiff and the Northern Sinfonia. 14 August – Oasis play their first ever gig at the Boardwalk Club in Manchester. Noel Gallagher, who was at the time roadie for Inspiral Carpets, went with them to watch his brother's band play. 19 September – Summer Music: Concertino No.5 op.74 for oboe, clarinet, and string quartet by Robin Holloway is performed for the first time, at the Purcell Room. 27 October – Fruitbat of Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine rugby tackles presenter Phillip Schofield at the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party after the group performs their single "After the Watershed". 9 November – The first performance of the Symphony No 3 by William Mathias takes place at St David's Hall, Cardiff, performed by the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra, conductor Grant Llewellyn. November – The Rolling Stones sign a new contract with Virgin Records.https://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/11/20/Rolling-Stones-sign-with-Virgin-Records/7363690613200/ Rolling Stones sign with Virgin Records 20 November 1991 United Press International 3 January 2019 1 December – George Harrison plays Yokohama, Japan. The brief Japanese tour with Eric Clapton marks his first set of formal concert performances since 1974. 11 December – The Strathclyde Concerto No 5 for violin, viola and orchestra by Peter Maxwell Davies, is performed for the first time in Glasgow. Publications Moura Lympany (with Margot Strickland) – Moura – Her AutobiographyMoura Lympany. Her Autobiography 1991 Peter Owen 0-7206-0824-4 Moura Lympany Charts Number-one singles Chart date(week ending) Song Artist(s) Sales 5 January "Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter" Iron Maiden 41,599 12 January 32,032 19 January "Sadness (Part I)" Enigma 41,936 26 January "Innuendo" Queen 45,936 2 February "3 a.m. Eternal" The KLF 52,384 9 February 66,608 16 February "Do the Bartman" The Simpsons 52,256 23 February 79,072 2 March 69,120 9 March "Should I Stay or Should I Go" The Clash 56,688 16 March 60,752 23 March "The Stonk" Hale and Pace 83,840 30 March "The One and Only" Chesney Hawkes 42,368 6 April 61,360 13 April 51,872 20 April 46,048 27 April 33,008 4 May "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)" Cher 70,544 11 May 88,384 18 May 65,664 25 May 60,048 1 June 47,616 8 June "I Wanna Sex You Up" Color Me Badd 45,456 15 June 56,288 22 June 52,176 29 June "Any Dream Will Do" Jason Donovan 97,520 6 July 93,056 13 July "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" Bryan Adams 64,480 20 July 97,296 27 July 104,816 3 August 113,376 10 August 106,400 17 August 104,400 24 August 96,384 31 August 94,224 7 September 85,280 14 September 81,072 21 September 79,136 28 September 74,784 5 October 68,864 12 October 58,656 19 October 50,608 26 October 45,728 2 November "The Fly" U2 66,160 9 November "Dizzy" Vic Reeves and The Wonder Stuff 64,800 16 November 57,488 23 November "Black or White" Michael Jackson 77,456 30 November 76,544 7 December "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" George Michael and Elton John 55,072 14 December 82,960 21 December "Bohemian Rhapsody" / "These Are the Days of Our Lives" Queen 330,800 28 December 263,392 Number-one albums Chart date(week ending) Album Artist(s) 5 January The Immaculate Collection Madonna 12 January 19 January 26 January MCMXC a.D. Enigma 2 February The Soul Cages Sting 9 February Doubt Jesus Jones 16 February Innuendo Queen 23 February 2 March Circle of One Oleta Adams 9 March Auberge Chris Rea 16 March Spartacus The Farm 23 March Out of Time R.E.M. 30 March Greatest Hits Eurythmics 6 April 13 April 20 April 27 April 4 May 11 May 18 May 25 May 1 June Seal Seal 8 June 15 June 22 June Greatest Hits Eurythmics 29 June Love Hurts Cher 6 July 13 July 20 July 27 July 3 August 10 August Essential Pavarotti II Luciano Pavarotti 17 August 24 August Metallica Metallica 31 August Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat London Stage Cast 7 September 14 September From Time to Time – The Singles Collection Paul Young 21 September On Every Street Dire Straits 28 September Use Your Illusion II Guns N' Roses 5 October Waking Up the Neighbours Bryan Adams 12 October Stars Simply Red 19 October 26 October Chorus Erasure 2 November Stars Simply Red 9 November Greatest Hits II Queen 16 November Shepherd Moons Enya 23 November We Can't Dance Genesis 30 November Dangerous Michael Jackson 7 December Greatest Hits II Queen 14 December 21 December 28 December Year-end charts Best-selling singles 1991 Top 100 Singles Music Week Spotlight Publications London, England 20 11 January 1992 No. Number Title Artist Peakposition 1 "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" Bryan Adams 1 2 "Bohemian Rhapsody"/"These Are the Days of Our Lives" Queen 1 3 "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)" Cher 1 4 "I'm Too Sexy" Right Said Fred 2 5 "Do the Bartman" The Simpsons The Simpsons 1 6 "Any Dream Will Do" Jason Donovan 1 7 "The One and Only" Chesney Hawkes 1 8 "Dizzy" Vic Reeves & the Wonder Stuff 1 9 "Insanity" Oceanic 3 10 "I Wanna Sex You Up" Color Me Badd 1 11 "Get Ready for This" 2 Unlimited 2 12 "3 a.m. Eternal" (Live at the S.S.L.) The KLF featuring the Children of the Revolution 1 13 "Black or White" Michael Jackson 1 14 "Let's Talk About Sex" Salt-N-Pepa 2 15 "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" George Michael and Elton John 1 16 "More Than Words" Extreme 2 17 "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" Diana Ross 2 18 "Sunshine on a Rainy Day" (remix) Zoë 4 19 "Should I Stay or Should I Go" / "Rush" The Clash The Clash / Big Audio Dynamite II 1 20 "Sit Down" James 2 21 "Wind of Change" Scorpions 2 22 "The Stonk" Hale and Pace and the Stonkers 1 23 "(I Wanna Give You) Devotion" Nomad featuring MC Mikee Freedom 2 24 "Now That We Found Love" Heavy D & the Boyz 2 25 "Baby Baby" Amy Grant 2 26 "Charly" The Prodigy 3 27 "Justified & Ancient (Stand by the JAMs)" The KLF featuring Tammy Wynette 2 28 "World in Union" Kiri Te Kanawa 4 29 "Promise Me" Beverley Craven 3 30 "Last Train to Trancentral" (Live from the Lost Continent) The KLF 2 31 "You Got the Love" (Erens Bootleg Mix) The Source The Source (musician) featuring Candi Staton 4 32 "Gypsy Woman (La Da Dee)" Crystal Waters 2 33 "Thinking About Your Love" Kenny Thomas Kenny Thomas (singer) 4 34 "Rhythm of My Heart" Rod Stewart 3 35 "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" PM Dawn 3 36 "Love to Hate You" Erasure 4 37 "Sadness (Part I)" Enigma 1 38 "Crazy" Seal 2 39 "Move Any Mountain" The Shamen The Shamen 4 40 "Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)" Rozalla 6 41 "Saltwater" Julian Lennon 6 42 "Sailing on the Seven Seas" Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark 3 43 "Wiggle It" 2 in a Room 3 44 "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" Monty Python 3 45 "All 4 Love" Color Me Badd 5 46 "Crazy for You" (remix) Madonna 2 47 "Joyride" Roxette 4 48 "Get Here" Oleta Adams 4 49 "Gett Off" Prince and the New Power Generation 4 50 "You Could Be Mine" Guns N' Roses 3 Best-selling albums 1991 Top 100 Albums Music Week Spotlight Publications London, England 21 11 January 1992 No. Number Title Artist Peakposition 1 Stars Simply Red 1 2 Greatest Hits Eurythmics 1 3 Greatest Hits II Queen 1 4 Simply the Best Tina Turner 2 5 Dangerous Michael Jackson 1 6 Out of Time R.E.M. 1 7 Time, Love & Tenderness Michael Bolton 2 8 The Immaculate Collection Madonna 1 9 Love Hurts Cher 1 10 From Time to Time – The Singles Collection Paul Young Paul Young 1 11 Seal Seal 1 12 Waking Up the Neighbours Bryan Adams 1 13 We Can't Dance Genesis 1 14 On Every Street Dire Straits 1 15 The Very Best of Elton John Elton John 1 16 Beverley Craven Beverley Craven 3 17 Michael Crawford Performs Andrew Lloyd Webber Michael Crawford 3 18 Achtung Baby U2 2 19 Auberge Chris Rea 1 20 Shepherd Moons Enya 1 21 Joyride Roxette 2 22 Voices Kenny Thomas Kenny Thomas (singer) 3 23 Greatest Hits 1977–1990 The Stranglers 4 24 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Original London Cast starring Jason Donovan 1 25 Greatest Hits Queen 1 26 Essential Pavarotti II Luciano Pavarotti 1 27 Diamonds and Pearls Prince & the New Power Generation 2 28 Real Love Lisa Stansfield 4 29 Chorus Erasure 1 30 Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 George Michael 1 31 Innuendo Queen 1 32 The Commitments (Original Soundtrack) Various Artists 4 33 Into the Light Gloria Estefan 2 34 MCMXC a.D. Enigma 1 35 The Definitive Simon and Garfunkel Simon & Garfunkel 8 36 Discography: The Complete Singles Collection Pet Shop Boys 3 37 Wicked Game Chris Isaak 3 38 Use Your Illusion II Guns N' Roses 1 39 Together with Cliff Richard Cliff Richard 10 40 In Concert José Carreras/Placido Domingo/Luciano Pavarotti 1 41 Real Life Simple Minds 2 42 Use Your Illusion I Guns N' Roses 2 43 Vagabond Heart Rod Stewart 2 44 Sugar Tax Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark 3 45 The White Room The KLF 3 46 Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em MC Hammer 8 47 Fellow Hoodlums Deacon Blue 2 48 Serious Hits... Live! Phil Collins 2 49 Timeless: The Very Best of Neil Sedaka Neil Sedaka 10 50 The Greatest Hits Salt-n-Pepa 6 Classical music Roy Douglas – Festivities and A Nowell Sequence for strings Michael Tippett – String Quartet No. 5Jones, Nicholas (2013). "Formal archetypes, revered masters and singing nightingales: Tippett's string quartets". In Gloag, Kenneth and Jones, Nicholas. The Cambridge Companion to Michael Tippett. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 206–28. 978-1-107-60613-5 Music awards BRIT Awards The 1991 BRIT Awards winners were: Best British producer: Chris Thomas Best classical recording: José Carreras, Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti – In Concert Best soundtrack: Twin Peaks British album: George Michael – Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 British breakthrough act: Betty Boo British female solo artist: Lisa Stansfield British group: The Cure British male solo artist: Elton John British single: Depeche Mode – "Enjoy the Silence" British video: The Beautiful South – "A Little Time" International breakthrough act: MC Hammer International female: Sinéad O'Connor International group: INXS International male: Michael Hutchence Outstanding contribution: Status Quo Births 12 January – Pixie Lott, singer 17 February – Ed Sheeran, singer-songwriter 16 June – Joe McElderry, singer 17 June – Shura, singer, songwriter and producer 30 July – Diana Vickers, singer 11 November – Emma Blackery, singer 19 December – Declan Galbraith, singer 24 December – Louis Tomlinson, singer-songwriter Deaths 8 January – Steve Clark, guitarist (Def Leppard), 30 (alcohol poisoning) 21 February – Margot Fonteyn, ballerina, 71 9 March – Denise Tolkowsky, pianist and composer, 72 24 March – Maudie Edwards, actress and singer, 84 27 March – Alfredo Campoli, Italian-born violinist, 84 10 April – Martin Hannett (aka Martin Zero), record producer, 42 (heart failure) 20 April – Steve Marriott, singer, songwriter and guitarist (Small Faces and Humble Pie), 44 (killed in house fire) 11 June – John Vallier, pianist and composer, 70 14 June – Joy Finzi, founder of the Finzi Trust, 84 30 July – Max Jaffa, violinist and bandleader, 79 6 August – Max Rostal, Austrian-born violinist and viola player, 86 28 August – Vince Taylor, singer (Vince Taylor and the Playboys), 52 25 September – Sydney MacEwan, singer of traditional Scottish and Irish songs, 82 27 October – Sir Andrzej Panufnik, Polish-born composer and conductor, 77 8 November – Dave Rowbotham, musician, guitarist, (The Durutti Column, the Mothmen), 33 (murdered by unknown hand) 14 November – Bryden Thomson, conductor, 63 24 November – Freddie Mercury, singer and songwriter, 45 (pneumonia brought on by AIDS) 12 December – Ronnie Ross, jazz saxophonist, 58 31 December – Christopher Steel, composer, 53 See also 1991 in British radio 1991 in British television 1991 in the United Kingdom List of British films of 1991 References External links BBC Radio 1's Chart Show The Official Charts Company British music Music Category:British music by year