Chart Review 13th June 2005 with DJ Chris Plant (2/3)

(1/3), (2/3), (3/3).

Just below at Number 7 is another upwardly mobile single in the shape of Audio Bullys' Shot You Down. Now three weeks old, the single has now moved 9-10-7 and is the second climber of the week to have grabbed its highest chart placing to date. At Number 8 is what for some will be the long awaited return of Jay Kay and Jamiroquai. The UK's premier funk revivalist has been having hit singles for almost 14 years now and has turned out the odd classic along the way.

His new album will be his first since 2001s A Funk Odyssey and new single Feels Just Like It Should hits the ground running to become what is surprisingly only his 8th Top 10 single. Sadly it is unlikely to win him any new fans and in truth is a bit of a mess production wise, at times appearing devoid of anything resembling melody. The presence of Space Cowboy and Virtual Insanity on radio playlists even to this day is testament to his ability to write some near perfect pop. This new single sadly isn't.

There is a strong argument that the world didn't really need one Crazy Frog record, let alone two but sadly this is one that falls apart with the arrival at Number 11 of Ring Ding Ding by Pondlife. The single is produced by some startlingly familiar names, among them Wes Butters, Daryl Denham and Trevor Jordan. The unholy alliance of radio stars claim to have actually had the idea of a Crazy Frog dance track first, their idea being greeted enthusiastically by Jamster.

When the time came to clear the sample however the company had gone cold on the idea - they were instead backing their own single. As a result Ring Ding Ding has had to go unofficial with Crazy Frog itself being voiced by a sound alike. Most bizarrely of the entire single has been released on Tug records that just happen to have also released Axel F. Despite the odds stacked against it, the Pond Life track has actually made a pretty decent chart showing. This is by no means Denham's first attempt at cracking the charts, having been the brains behind England Boys' Go England, which made Number 26 in June 2002. Crazy Frog's Axel F may well have wound up the far bigger hit but it still remains a 20-year-old track with a few noises added over the top.

Sneaking in next at Number 16 is Boys Will Be Boys, the much anticipated new single from the Ordinary Boys. Their first hit of 2005 follows up three well-received chart hits last year, even if only one of them actually made the Top 20. This new single beats the Number 17 peak of Talk Talk Talk to land the foursome their biggest hit to date although they can feel a little disappointed not to have made that all important Top 10 breakthrough. Fingers crossed the next single from new album Brassbound can further help them into the mainstream. Harry Potter is a fan (So I am told).

Number 19 sees the welcome return of some chart legends this week, the band it seems who are capable of going on forever. It is now over 25 years since Ali Campbell found himself injured in a pub fight. His compensation was used to buy UB40 their first drum kit and with that he and his fellow Brummies were on their way to becoming one of the most successful reggae acts in history. Kiss And Say Goodbye is their first chart hit since 2003 when they performed Swing Low as the official Rugby World Cup song.

Continued ... next page

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