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This is a summary of 1995 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.
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.
- 19 January – The Cry of Anubis for tuba and orchestra by Harrison Birtwistle is performed for the first time at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.
- January – In a shake up to BBC Radio 1's playlist, controller Matthew Bannister states that "old music" (anything recorded before 1990) will be dropped from their playlists.
- 1 February – Richey Edwards, guitarist with the Manic Street Preachers disappears. He would soon be reported as a "missing person", until 2008, when he became legally "presumed dead".
- 19 February – The Rose Lake for orchestra, the last major work by the 90 year-old Michael Tippett; is performed for the first time in London by the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Colin Davis
- 24 February – Bruno Brookes is sacked from BBC Radio 1, after 11 years, by head of production, Trevor Dann. Brookes' contract, due to end in April, was not renewed. He presents his final programme for the station on 21 April.
- March – Drummer Reni leaves the Stone Roses, just weeks before the band are due to start their Second Coming tour. He is replaced by Robbie Maddix who remains with the band until their split a year later.
- 3 April – The Beltane Fire, a choreographic poem for orchestra by Peter Maxwell Davies, is performed for the first time at Symphony Hall in Boston, conducted by the composer.
- 24 April – Chris Evans becomes the new host of BBC Radio 1's breakfast show, replacing Steve Wright, who had ended his brief run as the programme's presenter on the 21st.[1]
- 30 April – Drummer Tony McCarroll leaves Oasis, following a bust-up, and is later replaced by Alan White
- 17 May – The first British performance of John McCabe‘s Symphony No 4, Of Time and the River, takes place at the Royal Festival Hall, London, played by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conductor David Atherton.
- 24 June – The Stone Roses pull out of their headline performance at the Glastonbury Festival, after guitarist John Squire fractures his collarbone in a mountain biking accident. They are replaced by Pulp.
- 25 June – Cardiac Arrest for seven players by Thomas Adès is performed for the first time, in the Purcell Room, London.
- 1 July – Powder Her Face, a chamber opera by Thomas Adès, is performed for the first time in the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham.
- 17 July – Robbie Williams leaves Take That to pursue his solo career.
- 14 August – Blur's single "Country House" and Oasis' single "Roll with It" are released on the same day, leading to a media frenzy that would be tagged as "The Battle Of Britpop".
- 23 August – Sixty one years after his death, two works for orchestra by Frederick Delius are performed for the first time at Leeds University: La Quadroone (1889) and Scherzo (1890).
- 24 August – The Violin Concerto by Jonathan Lloyd is performed for the first time at the Aldeburgh Festival.
- 3 September – Overture on a Nursery Rhyme Op 75a by Robin Holloway is performed for the first time in Arundel Cathedral.
- 16 September – Panic, by Harrison Birtwistle, is featured in the last night of the Proms, a rare inclusion of contemporary music at that event, generating many complaints. “Unmitigated rubbish” says the Daily Express.
- 20 September – The Daily Mirror accuses Pulp of promoting drugs with their song "Sorted for E's & Wizz", and call for the single and its inside artwork to be banned.
- 2 October – Oasis release their second album (What's the Story) Morning Glory?. It sells a 345,000 copies in its first week, making it (at the time) the second-fastest selling album in British history
- 6 November – Queen release Made in Heaven, their final studio album, and their last album to include Freddie Mercury's final vocals.
- 8 November – First broadcast recording of Constant Lambert’s full length ballet score Tiresias on BBC Radio 3 by the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Barry Wordsworth, 44 years after its premiere at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in July 1951.
- 15 November – World premiere of Peter Maxwell Davies’s The Three Kings takes place at the Barbican, conducted by Richard Hickox (LSO)
- 4 December – The Beatles release "Free as a Bird", originally an unreleased demo by John Lennon from 1977 and completed by the surviving Beatles, who incorporated the demo into a studio version.
Number-one singles
| Chart date (week ending) | Song | Artist(s) | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 January | "Stay Another Day" | East 17 | |
| 14 January | "Cotton Eye Joe" | Rednex | 60,000 |
| 21 January | 85,000 | ||
| 28 January | 70,000 | ||
| 4 February | "Think Twice" | Celine Dion | 74,000 |
| 11 February | 80,000 | ||
| 18 February | 86,000 | ||
| 25 February | 154,000 | ||
| 4 March | 141,000 | ||
| 11 March | 120,000 | ||
| 18 March | 50,000 | ||
| 25 March | "Love Can Build a Bridge" | Cher, Chrissie Hynde & Neneh Cherry with Eric Clapton | 150,000 |
| 1 April | "Don't Stop (Wiggle Wiggle)" | The Outhere Brothers | 90,000 |
| 8 April | "Back for Good" | Take That | 346,000 |
| 15 April | 185,000 | ||
| 22 April | 140,000 | ||
| 29 April | 85,000 | ||
| 6 May | "Some Might Say" | Oasis | 138,000 |
| 13 May | "Dreamer" | Livin' Joy | 106,000 |
| 20 May | "Unchained Melody" / "White Cliffs of Dover" | Robson & Jerome | 314,000 |
| 27 May | 460,000 | ||
| 3 June | 320,000 | ||
| 10 June | 210,000 | ||
| 17 June | 145,000 | ||
| 24 June | 90,000 | ||
| 1 July | 73,000 | ||
| 8 July | "Boom Boom Boom" | The Outhere Brothers | 62,000 |
| 15 July | 74,000 | ||
| 22 July | 77,000 | ||
| 29 July | 65,000 | ||
| 5 August | "Never Forget" | Take That | 115,000 |
| 12 August | 86,000 | ||
| 19 August | 54,000 | ||
| 26 August | "Country House" | Blur | 274,000 |
| 2 September | 135,000 | ||
| 9 September | "You Are Not Alone" | Michael Jackson | 83,000 |
| 16 September | 100,000 | ||
| 23 September | "Boombastic" | Shaggy | 93,000 |
| 30 September | "Fairground" | Simply Red | 211,000 |
| 7 October | 142,000 | ||
| 14 October | 129,000 | ||
| 21 October | 96,000 | ||
| 28 October | "Gangsta's Paradise" | Coolio featuring LV | 107,000 |
| 4 November | 166,000 | ||
| 11 November | "I Believe" / "Up on the Roof" | Robson & Jerome | 258,000 |
| 18 November | 224,000 | ||
| 25 November | 118,000 | ||
| 2 December | 80,000 | ||
| 9 December | "Earth Song" | Michael Jackson | 116,467 |
| 16 December | 149,549 | ||
| 23 December | 150,739 | ||
| 30 December | 261,851 |
Number-one albums
Number-one compilation albums
| Chart date (week ending) | Album |
|---|---|
| 7 January | Now 29 |
| 14 January | |
| 21 January | |
| 28 January | The Best of Heartbeat |
| 4 February | The Best Punk Album in the World...Ever!' |
| 11 February | Dance Mania 95 Volume 1 |
| 18 February | |
| 25 February | On a Dance Tip |
| 4 March | |
| 11 March | |
| 18 March | Smash Hits 95 Volume 1 |
| 25 March | Dance Zone Level 4 |
| 1 April | |
| 8 April | Dance Mania 95 Volume 2 |
| 15 April | |
| 22 April | Now 30 |
| 29 April | |
| 6 May | |
| 13 May | |
| 20 May | On a Dance Tip 2 |
| 27 May | |
| 3 June | |
| 10 June | Top of the Pops 1 |
| 17 June | |
| 24 June | Dance Zone Level 5 |
| 1 July | |
| 8 July | |
| 15 July | Dance Mania 95 – Volume 3 |
| 22 July | |
| 29 July | |
| 5 August | The Best Summer...Ever! |
| 12 August | Now 31 |
| 19 August | |
| 26 August | |
| 2 September | |
| 9 September | Dance Zone Level 6 |
| 16 September | Help |
| 23 September | |
| 30 September | Heartbeat – Forever Yours |
| 7 October | |
| 14 October | |
| 21 October | |
| 28 October | |
| 4 November | |
| 11 November | The Greatest Party Album Under the Sun |
| 18 November | Pure Swing IV |
| 25 November | Now 32 |
| 2 December | |
| 9 December | |
| 16 December | |
| 23 December | |
| 30 December |
Best-selling singles
Best-selling albums
Best-selling compilation albums
| No. | Title | Peak position |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Now 32 | 1 |
| 2 | The Love Album II | 2 |
| 3 | Now 30 | 1 |
| 4 | The Best Rock Ballads 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:
- Sally Beamish – Viola Concerto[5]
- Harrison Birtwistle – Panic (premiered at Last Night of the Proms)
- Andrew Glover – Fractured Vistas
- Michael Tippett – "Caliban's Song"[6]
- Graham Waterhouse – Celtic Voices and Hale Bopp
- England, My England, starring Michael Ball
- Pulse, Pink Floyd concert film
Brit Awards
The 1995 Brit Awards winners were:
- Best British producer: Nellee Hooper
- Best soundtrack: Pulp Fiction
- British album: Blur: Parklife
- British breakthrough act: Oasis
- British dance act: M People
- British female solo artist: Eddi Reader
- British Group: Blur
- British male solo artist: Paul Weller
- British single: Blur – "Parklife"
- British Video: Blur – "Parklife"
- International breakthrough act: Lisa Loeb
- International female: k.d. lang
- International group: R.E.M.
- International male: Prince
- Outstanding contribution: Elton John
Mercury Music Prize
The 1995 Mercury Music Prize was awarded to Portishead – Dummy.
- 13 January – Jonathan Antoine, tenor[7]
- 11 April – Dodie Clark, singer songwriter and musician
- 14 May – Fox Jackson-Keen, actor, dancer and singer
- 23 June – Lauren Aquilina, singer-songwriter and musician
- 15 July – Elyar Fox, singer
- 23 July – Faryl Smith, singer
- 15 December – Leadley, singer-songwriter and musician
- 19 December – Elliot Evans, singer
- 11 January – Peter Pratt, opera singer, 71
- 14 January – Alexander Gibson, Scottish conductor, 68
- 22 January – Christopher Palmer, composer and author, 48
- 4 February – David Alexander, singer, 56
- 12 February – Tony Secunda, music industry manager, 54 (heart attack)
- 18 February – Denny Cordell, record producer, 51
- 2 March – Hugo Cole, composer and critic, 77
- 5 March – Vivian Stanshall, eccentric British musician, 51 (house fire)[8]
- 7 March – John Lambert, composer, 68
- 20 March – Ella Halman, opera singer and actress, 98
- 23 March – Alan Barton, singer of Black Lace, 41 (road accident)
- 4 April – Kenny Everett, radio DJ and comedian, 50
- 12 April – Chris Pyne, jazz trombonist, 56
- 23 May – Mick Pyne, jazz pianist and brother of Chris Pyne, 54
- 9 June – Frank Chacksfield, pianist, organist, composer and arranger, 81
- 19 June – Murray Dickie, opera singer, 71
- 14 June – Rory Gallagher, Irish guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer, 47
- 1 July – Ian Parkin, guitarist (Be-Bop Deluxe), 45[9]
- 12 July – Sean Mayes, pianist and writer.[10]
- 11 August – Herbert Sumsion, organist and composer, 96
- 18 August – Alan Dell BBC Radio 2 disc jockey, 71[11]
- 21 August – Anatole Fistoulari, Ukrainian-born conductor, 88
- 9 September – Ida Carroll, musician and composer, 89
- 22 September – Dolly Collins, folk musician, 62
- 27 September – Christopher Shaw, composer, 71[12]
- 30 October
- Brian Easdale, composer, 86
- Paul Ferris, film composer, 54 (suicide)[13]
- 31 October – Alan Bush, pianist and composer, 94
- 4 November – Marti Caine, entertainer, 50 (lymphatic cancer)[14]
- 17 November – Alan Hull, singer-songwriter and founder of Lindisfarne, 50 (heart thrombosis)[15]
- 21 November
- Peter Grant, music industry manager, 60 (myocardial infarction)
- Matthew Ashman, guitarist of Adam and the Ants, Bow Wow Wow, 35
- 18 December – Brian Brockless, composer, organist and conductor, 69
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