1997 in British music

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This is a summary of 1997 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.

Summary

[edit]

Oasis released their highly anticipated third album, Be Here Now, on 21 August (in the UK). It sold 695,761 copies in its first three days and 813,000 copies in its first week. As of 2023, it is the fastest-selling album in UK history.[1] Radiohead's third album, OK Computer, was released in June and topped the UK Albums Chart for two weeks. Met with widespread critical acclaim, it was voted the greatest album of all time by Q Magazine readers barely months after its release.[2]

Compared to just five years earlier, singles sales were very high this year. From 22 June right through to the end of the year, every single #1 sold at least 100,000 copies a week. Like the previous year, 24 singles topped the chart, double as many as 1992.

The Spice Girls continued their success from 1996, once again getting three number ones. The first was the double A-side songs "Mama" and "Who Do You Think You Are"; the latter of which was the Comic Relief single for 1997. This ensured the group became the first act to have their first four singles all reach number 1. This was followed by "Spice Up Your Life" in October, and "Too Much" in December, which once again gave them the Christmas number one single. They had now become the first act to have their first six singles reach number 1, but this run would be broken in 1998, with "Stop" only reaching #2. Spice Girls also had great success on the album charts as Spice and Spiceworld were two of the top five best sellers of 1997.

The Backstreet Boys released their second international album Backstreet's Back. The album was a massive success reaching number two and selling over 800,000 copies in the U.K. The three singles released from the album were massive hits with "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" reaching number 3 and "As Long as You Love Me" also reaching number three and staying in the charts for 19 weeks.

Six singles released this year went on to sell over a million. The first to do so was Puff Daddy & Faith Evans' "I'll Be Missing You", a tribute to the late rapper The Notorious B.I.G. In November and December, three consecutive number ones all sold over a million, for only the third time in UK chart history (it had previously happened in 1984 and 1995/6). These were Aqua's "Barbie Girl", the Children in Need charity single "Perfect Day", and "Teletubbies say "Eh-oh!", the theme tune to the popular children's television series Teletubbies. In addition, All Saints' "Never Ever" was released in November and also sold over a million, though it wouldn't reach number one until January 1998.

In November, The Prodigy released "Smack My Bitch Up", which received huge international media attention, due to the fact that many people believed it to be misogynistic and / or that it promotes violence against women. Some stores refused to stock the single and / or album from which it came, and some radio stations refused to play it. A graphic video showing bad behaviour on the part of the protagonist in the music video led to its showing on television being greatly restricted.

By far the biggest-selling single of the year, though, came from Elton John. In August, Diana, Princess of Wales, was killed in a car crash. At her funeral, John played a rewritten version of "Candle in the Wind" known as "Candle in the Wind 1997", a song originally written about Marilyn Monroe (made #11 in 1974, with a live version reaching #5 in 1988). When released this year, it quickly overtook 1984's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" to become the biggest selling UK single ever, selling 4.86 million copies, and the biggest selling in the world, selling 37 million. It continues to hold the record to this day.

Andrew Glover's string quartet The Fickle Virgin of Seventeen Summers was one of several new classical works by British composers. Others included Geoffrey Burgon's City Adventures, a percussion concerto written for Scottish virtuoso Evelyn Glennie and premièred by her during the 1997 Proms season. One of the UK's most prolific classical composers, Wilfred Josephs, died on 17 November. In April, Nigel Kennedy, now calling himself simply Kennedy, returned to the stage at the Royal Festival Hall after a five-year absence from the concert stage resulting from neck surgery. Towards the end of the year, veteran composer Sir Michael Tippett developed pneumonia while visiting Sweden, which would lead to his death early in 1998.

Events

[edit]

Charts

[edit]

Number-one singles

[edit]
Chart date
(week ending)
SongArtist(s)Sales
4 January"2 Become 1"Spice Girls301,000
11 January113,000
18 January"Professional Widow"Tori Amos80,000
25 January"Your Woman"White Town119,500
1 February"Beetlebum"Blur120,000
8 February"Ain't Nobody"LL Cool J80,000
15 February"Discothèque"U2125,000
22 February"Don't Speak"No Doubt195,000
1 March140,000
8 March85,000
15 March"Mama" / "Who Do You Think You Are"Spice Girls248,000
22 March152,000
29 March85,000
5 April"Block Rockin' Beats"The Chemical Brothers84,700
12 April"I Believe I Can Fly"R. Kelly51,000
19 April76,000
26 April87,000
3 May"Blood on the Dance Floor"Michael Jackson85,000
10 May"Love Won't Wait"Gary Barlow92,000
17 May"You're Not Alone"Olive75,000
24 May74,000
31 May"I Wanna Be the Only One"Eternal featuring Bebe Winans150,000
7 June"MMMBop"Hanson260,000
14 June120,000
21 June86,000
28 June"I'll Be Missing You"Puff Daddy & Faith Evans featuring 112109,000
5 July156,000
12 July167,000
19 July"D'You Know What I Mean?"Oasis377,000
26 July"I'll Be Missing You"Puff Daddy & Faith Evans featuring 112124,000
2 August127,000
9 August100,000
16 August"Men in Black"Will Smith182,000
23 August133,000
30 August122,000
6 September105,000
13 September"The Drugs Don't Work"The Verve105,000
20 September"Candle in the Wind 1997" / "Something About the Way You Look Tonight"Elton John658,000
27 September1,546,688
4 October1,067,000
11 October572,000
18 October274,000
25 October"Spice Up Your Life"Spice Girls321,000
1 November"Barbie Girl"Aqua190,000
8 November239,000
15 November190,000
22 November165,000
29 November"Perfect Day"Various Artists385,082
6 December274,706
13 December"Teletubbies say "Eh-oh!""Teletubbies317,000
20 December230,000
27 December"Too Much"Spice Girls252,000

Number-one albums

[edit]
Chart date
(week ending)
AlbumArtistSales
4 JanuarySpiceSpice Girls375,000
11 January119,000
18 January65,000
25 January54,000
1 FebruaryEvitaMadonna49,000
8 FebruaryGlowReef55,000
15 FebruaryWhite on BlondeTexas47,000
22 FebruaryBlurBlur92,000
1 MarchAttack of the Grey LanternMansun48,000
8 MarchSpiceSpice Girls72,000
15 MarchPopU2152,000
22 MarchSpiceSpice Girls62,000
29 March65,000
5 April85,000
12 April59,000
19 AprilDig Your Own HoleThe Chemical Brothers62,793
26 AprilUltraDepeche Mode43,000
3 MayTellin' StoriesThe Charlatans68,000
10 May33,000
17 MaySpiceSpice Girls23,700
24 MayBlood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the MixMichael Jackson37,000
31 May30,000
7 JuneOpen RoadGary Barlow58,000
14 JuneWu-Tang ForeverWu-Tang Clan26,000
21 JuneMiddle of NowhereHanson24,000
28 JuneOK ComputerRadiohead136,500
5 July48,200
12 JulyThe Fat of the LandThe Prodigy316,951
19 July98,000
26 July66,000
2 August49,000
9 August36,000
16 August30,500
23 AugustWhite on BlondeTexas30,000
30 AugustBe Here NowOasis696,000
6 September235,000
13 September95,000
20 September64,000
27 SeptemberMarchin' AlreadyOcean Colour Scene64,000
4 OctoberBe Here NowOasis48,000
11 OctoberUrban HymnsThe Verve250,054
18 October97,000
25 October63,500
1 November56,000
8 November61,000
15 NovemberSpiceworldSpice Girls192,000
22 November91,228
29 NovemberLet's Talk About LoveCéline Dion91,000
6 December91,000
13 DecemberSpiceworldSpice Girls121,000
20 DecemberLet's Talk About LoveCéline Dion142,000
27 December219,918

Number-one compilation albums

[edit]
Chart date
(week ending)
Album
4 JanuaryNow 35
11 January
18 JanuaryThe Annual II Mixed by Judge Jules & Boy George
25 January
1 February
8 February
15 FebruaryIn the Mix 97
22 FebruaryThe Annual II Mixed by Judge Jules & Boy George
1 MarchClub Mix 97 2
8 March
15 MarchThe Soul Album
22 MarchThe Best Album in the World...Ever! 5
29 MarchDance Nation 3 – Pete Tong & Judge Jules
5 AprilNow 36
12 April
19 April
26 AprilNew Hits 1997
3 May
10 May
17 May
24 MayBig Mix 97
31 May
7 JuneSmash Hits Summer 97
14 JuneThe Best Club Anthems...Ever!
21 June
28 June
5 July
12 JulyThe Best Disco Album in the World...Ever!
19 July
26 JulyNow 37
2 August
9 August
16 August
23 AugustFresh Hits 1997
30 August
6 September
13 SeptemberIbiza Uncovered
20 September
27 September
4 OctoberKiss in Ibiza 97
11 OctoberIbiza Uncovered
18 OctoberBig Mix 97 – Volume 2
25 OctoberThe Best Anthems...Ever!
1 NovemberNow Dance 97
8 NovemberHuge Hits 1997
15 NovemberThe Annual III Mixed by Pete Tong & Boy George
22 November
29 NovemberNow 38
6 December
13 DecemberDiana Princess of Wales – Tribute
20 December
27 December

Year-end charts

[edit]

Best-selling singles

[edit]

Based on sales from 30 December 1996 to 28 December 1997.[4]

No.TitleArtistPeak
position
Sales[5]
1"Candle in the Wind 1997"/"Something About the Way You Look Tonight"Elton John14,770,000
2"Barbie Girl"Aqua11,500,000
3"I'll Be Missing You"Puff Daddy & Faith Evans featuring 1121
4"Perfect Day"Various Artists11,000,000+
5"Teletubbies Say Eh-Oh!"Teletubbies1
6"Men in Black"Will Smith1
7"Don't Speak"No Doubt1
8"Torn"Natalie Imbruglia2813,000
9"Tubthumping"Chumbawamba2
10"Spice Up Your Life"Spice Girls1
11"MMMBop"Hanson1
12"D'You Know What I Mean?"Oasis1
13"Never Ever"All Saints3[a]
14"I Believe I Can Fly"R. Kelly1
15"Mama"/"Who Do You Think You Are"Spice Girls1
16"I Wanna Be the Only One"Eternal featuring BeBe Winans1600,000+
17"Freed from Desire"Gala2
18"Where Do You Go"No Mercy2
19"Sunchyme"Dario G2
20"Free"Ultra Naté4
21"Encore Une Fois"Sash!2
22"Too Much"Spice Girls1
23"Time to Say Goodbye (Con Te Partirò)"Sarah Brightman & Andrea Bocelli2
24"Bellissima"DJ Quicksilver4
25"As Long as You Love Me"Backstreet Boys3
26"Baby Can I Hold You"/"Shooting Star"Boyzone2
27"Ecuador"Sash! featuring Rodriguez2
28"Wind Beneath My Wings"Steven Houghton3
29"Don't Let Go (Love)"En Vogue5
30"Stay"Sash! featuring La Trec2
31"Lovefool"The Cardigans2
32"The Drugs Don't Work"The Verve1
33"Tell Him"Barbra Streisand & Celine Dion3
34"Together Again"Janet Jackson4
35"2 Become 1"Spice Girls1
36"You Might Need Somebody"Shola Ama4
37"You're Not Alone"Olive1
38"Everybody (Backstreet's Back)"Backstreet Boys3
39"Angels"Robbie Williams5[b]
40"C U When U Get There"Coolio featuring 40 Thevz3
41"Your Woman"White Town1
42"Never Gonna Let You Go"Tina Moore7
43"Bitter Sweet Symphony"The Verve2
44"Remember Me"Blue Boy8
45"Closer than Close"Rosie Gaines4
46"Stand by Me"Oasis2
47"Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)"Tori Amos1
48"Picture of You"Boyzone2
49"Say What You Want"Texas3
50"I'll Be There for You"The Rembrandts5[c]

Notes:

  1. ^ Reached number 1 in 1998
  2. ^ Reached number 4 in 1998
  3. ^ Reached number 3 in 1995

Best-selling albums

[edit]

Based on sales from 30 December 1996 to 28 December 1997.[6]

No.TitleArtistPeak
position
Sales[7]
1Be Here NowOasis11,500,000
2Urban HymnsThe Verve11,315,000[8]
3SpiceSpice Girls11,230,000+
4SpiceworldSpice Girls11,060,000+
5White on BlondeTexas11,000,000+
6The Fat of the LandThe Prodigy1
7Let's Talk About LoveCeline Dion1
8OK ComputerRadiohead1
9Greatest HitsEternal2550,000
10The Best of Wham!: If You Were There...Wham!4
11Ocean DriveLighthouse Family3
12Backstreet's BackBackstreet Boys2
13OlderGeorge Michael7[a]
14Postcards from HeavenLighthouse Family2
15Sheryl CrowSheryl Crow5
16Travelling Without MovingJamiroquai4[b]
17FrescoM People2
18Lennon Legend: The Very Best of John LennonJohn Lennon4[c]
19Paint the Sky with StarsEnya4
20All SaintsAll Saints5[d]
21Blue Is the ColourThe Beautiful South3[e]
22Like You Do... Best of the Lightning SeedsThe Lightning Seeds5
23EvitaMadonna/Various Artists1
24Everything Must GoManic Street Preachers2
25PopU21
26Tragic KingdomNo Doubt3
27Falling into YouCeline Dion2[f]
28SecretsToni Braxton10
29BlurBlur1
30Their Greatest HitsHot Chocolate10[g]
31Marchin' AlreadyOcean Colour Scene1
32Do It YourselfThe Seahorses2
33StooshSkunk Anansie9
34Always on My Mind: Ultimate Love SongsElvis Presley3
35(What's the Story) Morning Glory?Oasis17[h]
36GlowReef1
37The Big PictureElton John3
38Tellin' StoriesThe Charlatans1
39KKula Shaker7[i]
40It's My Life – The AlbumSash!6
41Left of the MiddleNatalie Imbruglia5
42Before the RainEternal3
43Open RoadGary Barlow1
44Come Find YourselfFun Lovin' Criminals7
45The Very Best of Sting & The PoliceSting & the Police11[j]
46Jagged Little PillAlanis Morissette11[k]
47Mother Nature CallsCast3
48ShelterThe Brand New Heavies5
49Dig Your Own HoleThe Chemical Brothers1
50The Very Best of the Bee GeesBee Gees11[l]

Notes:

  1. ^ Reached number 1 in 1996
  2. ^ Reached number 2 in 1996
  3. ^ Reached number 3 in 1998
  4. ^ Reached number 2 in 1998
  5. ^ Reached number 1 in 1996
  6. ^ Reached number 1 in 1995
  7. ^ Reached number 1 in 1993
  8. ^ Reached number 1 in 1995
  9. ^ Reached number 1 in 1996
  10. ^ Reached number 1 in 2002
  11. ^ Reached number 1 in 1996
  12. ^ Reached number 6 in 1990

Best-selling compilation albums

[edit]

Based on sales from 30 December 1996 to 28 December 1997.[9]

No.TitlePeak
position
Sales[10]
1Now 381920,000
2Diana, Princess of Wales: Tribute1700,000
3Now 371600,000
4Now 361600,000
5The Annual III1400,000+
6The Full Monty Original Soundtrack3350,000
7The Greatest Hits of 19972
8The Best '60s Album in the World... Ever! III5
9The Annual II1
10Ibiza Uncovered1

Classical music

[edit]

Opera

[edit]

Musical films

[edit]

Births

[edit]

Deaths

[edit]

Music awards

[edit]

Brit Awards

[edit]

The 1997 Brit Awards winners were:

Mercury Music Prize

[edit]

The 1997 Mercury Music Prize was awarded to Roni Size/ReprazentNew Forms.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Rosney, Daniel (27 November 2015). "Sorry Adele, Oasis are still the album chart record breakers". BBC News. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  2. ^ "OK Computer". 1 May 1997 – via Amazon.
  3. ^ Pareles, John (11 January 1997). "Once More the Outsider, David Bowie Turns 50". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 April 2008.
  4. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1997". Music Week. 17 January 1998. p. 27.
  5. ^ Jones, Alan (17 January 1998). "Independent labels fight back in the year of the platinum single". Music Week. p. 26.
  6. ^ "Top 100 Albums 1997". Music Week. 17 January 1998. p. 29.
  7. ^ Jones, Alan (17 January 1998). "British acts trounce US rivals in race for the albums crown". Music Week. p. 28.
  8. ^ Jones, Alan (16 January 1999). "Ireland takes the crown but Robbie scores top five double". Music Week. p. 8.
  9. ^ "Top 50 Compilations of 1997". Music Week. 17 January 1998. p. 30.
  10. ^ Jones, Alan (17 January 1998). "Now! series just misses clean sweep". Music Week. p. 30.
  11. ^ Dalton, Stephen (2 April 2007). "Billy Mackenzie Tribute". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 17 June 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2009.
  12. ^ Obituary; accessed 22 September 2014.
[edit]

    This is a summary of 1997 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.

    Summary

    Oasis released their highly anticipated third album, Be Here Now, on 21 August (in the UK). It sold 695,761 copies in its first three days and 813,000 copies in its first week. As of 2023, it is the fastest-selling album in UK history.[1] Radiohead's third album, OK Computer, was released in June and topped the UK Albums Chart for two weeks. Met with widespread critical acclaim, it was voted the greatest album of all time by Q Magazine readers barely months after its release.[2]

    Compared to just five years earlier, singles sales were very high this year. From 22 June right through to the end of the year, every single #1 sold at least 100,000 copies a week. Like the previous year, 24 singles topped the chart, double as many as 1992.

    The Spice Girls continued their success from 1996, once again getting three number ones. The first was the double A-side songs "Mama" and "Who Do You Think You Are"; the latter of which was the Comic Relief single for 1997. This ensured the group became the first act to have their first four singles all reach number 1. This was followed by "Spice Up Your Life" in October, and "Too Much" in December, which once again gave them the Christmas number one single. They had now become the first act to have their first six singles reach number 1, but this run would be broken in 1998, with "Stop" only reaching #2. Spice Girls also had great success on the album charts as Spice and Spiceworld were two of the top five best sellers of 1997.

    The Backstreet Boys released their second international album Backstreet's Back. The album was a massive success reaching number two and selling over 800,000 copies in the U.K. The three singles released from the album were massive hits with "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" reaching number 3 and "As Long as You Love Me" also reaching number three and staying in the charts for 19 weeks.

    Six singles released this year went on to sell over a million. The first to do so was Puff Daddy & Faith Evans' "I'll Be Missing You", a tribute to the late rapper The Notorious B.I.G. In November and December, three consecutive number ones all sold over a million, for only the third time in UK chart history (it had previously happened in 1984 and 1995/6). These were Aqua's "Barbie Girl", the Children in Need charity single "Perfect Day", and "Teletubbies say "Eh-oh!", the theme tune to the popular children's television series Teletubbies. In addition, All Saints' "Never Ever" was released in November and also sold over a million, though it wouldn't reach number one until January 1998.

    In November, The Prodigy released "Smack My Bitch Up", which received huge international media attention, due to the fact that many people believed it to be misogynistic and / or that it promotes violence against women. Some stores refused to stock the single and / or album from which it came, and some radio stations refused to play it. A graphic video showing bad behaviour on the part of the protagonist in the music video led to its showing on television being greatly restricted.

    By far the biggest-selling single of the year, though, came from Elton John. In August, Diana, Princess of Wales, was killed in a car crash. At her funeral, John played a rewritten version of "Candle in the Wind" known as "Candle in the Wind 1997", a song originally written about Marilyn Monroe (made #11 in 1974, with a live version reaching #5 in 1988). When released this year, it quickly overtook 1984's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" to become the biggest selling UK single ever, selling 4.86 million copies, and the biggest selling in the world, selling 37 million. It continues to hold the record to this day.

    Andrew Glover's string quartet The Fickle Virgin of Seventeen Summers was one of several new classical works by British composers. Others included Geoffrey Burgon's City Adventures, a percussion concerto written for Scottish virtuoso Evelyn Glennie and premièred by her during the 1997 Proms season. One of the UK's most prolific classical composers, Wilfred Josephs, died on 17 November. In April, Nigel Kennedy, now calling himself simply Kennedy, returned to the stage at the Royal Festival Hall after a five-year absence from the concert stage resulting from neck surgery. Towards the end of the year, veteran composer Sir Michael Tippett developed pneumonia while visiting Sweden, which would lead to his death early in 1998.

    Events

    Charts

    Number-one singles

    Chart date
    (week ending)
    SongArtist(s)Sales
    4 January"2 Become 1"Spice Girls301,000
    11 January113,000
    18 January"Professional Widow"Tori Amos80,000
    25 January"Your Woman"White Town119,500
    1 February"Beetlebum"Blur120,000
    8 February"Ain't Nobody"LL Cool J80,000
    15 February"Discothèque"U2125,000
    22 February"Don't Speak"No Doubt195,000
    1 March140,000
    8 March85,000
    15 March"Mama" / "Who Do You Think You Are"Spice Girls248,000
    22 March152,000
    29 March85,000
    5 April"Block Rockin' Beats"The Chemical Brothers84,700
    12 April"I Believe I Can Fly"R. Kelly51,000
    19 April76,000
    26 April87,000
    3 May"Blood on the Dance Floor"Michael Jackson85,000
    10 May"Love Won't Wait"Gary Barlow92,000
    17 May"You're Not Alone"Olive75,000
    24 May74,000
    31 May"I Wanna Be the Only One"Eternal featuring Bebe Winans150,000
    7 June"MMMBop"Hanson260,000
    14 June120,000
    21 June86,000
    28 June"I'll Be Missing You"Puff Daddy & Faith Evans featuring 112109,000
    5 July156,000
    12 July167,000
    19 July"D'You Know What I Mean?"Oasis377,000
    26 July"I'll Be Missing You"Puff Daddy & Faith Evans featuring 112124,000
    2 August127,000
    9 August100,000
    16 August"Men in Black"Will Smith182,000
    23 August133,000
    30 August122,000
    6 September105,000
    13 September"The Drugs Don't Work"The Verve105,000
    20 September"Candle in the Wind 1997" / "Something About the Way You Look Tonight"Elton John658,000
    27 September1,546,688
    4 October1,067,000
    11 October572,000
    18 October274,000
    25 October"Spice Up Your Life"Spice Girls321,000
    1 November"Barbie Girl"Aqua190,000
    8 November239,000
    15 November190,000
    22 November165,000
    29 November"Perfect Day"Various Artists385,082
    6 December274,706
    13 December"Teletubbies say "Eh-oh!""Teletubbies317,000
    20 December230,000
    27 December"Too Much"Spice Girls252,000

    Number-one albums

    Chart date
    (week ending)
    AlbumArtistSales
    4 JanuarySpiceSpice Girls375,000
    11 January119,000
    18 January65,000
    25 January54,000
    1 FebruaryEvitaMadonna49,000
    8 FebruaryGlowReef55,000
    15 FebruaryWhite on BlondeTexas47,000
    22 FebruaryBlurBlur92,000
    1 MarchAttack of the Grey LanternMansun48,000
    8 MarchSpiceSpice Girls72,000
    15 MarchPopU2152,000
    22 MarchSpiceSpice Girls62,000
    29 March65,000
    5 April85,000
    12 April59,000
    19 AprilDig Your Own HoleThe Chemical Brothers62,793
    26 AprilUltraDepeche Mode43,000
    3 MayTellin' StoriesThe Charlatans68,000
    10 May33,000
    17 MaySpiceSpice Girls23,700
    24 MayBlood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the MixMichael Jackson37,000
    31 May30,000
    7 JuneOpen RoadGary Barlow58,000
    14 JuneWu-Tang ForeverWu-Tang Clan26,000
    21 JuneMiddle of NowhereHanson24,000
    28 JuneOK ComputerRadiohead136,500
    5 July48,200
    12 JulyThe Fat of the LandThe Prodigy316,951
    19 July98,000
    26 July66,000
    2 August49,000
    9 August36,000
    16 August30,500
    23 AugustWhite on BlondeTexas30,000
    30 AugustBe Here NowOasis696,000
    6 September235,000
    13 September95,000
    20 September64,000
    27 SeptemberMarchin' AlreadyOcean Colour Scene64,000
    4 OctoberBe Here NowOasis48,000
    11 OctoberUrban HymnsThe Verve250,054
    18 October97,000
    25 October63,500
    1 November56,000
    8 November61,000
    15 NovemberSpiceworldSpice Girls192,000
    22 November91,228
    29 NovemberLet's Talk About LoveCéline Dion91,000
    6 December91,000
    13 DecemberSpiceworldSpice Girls121,000
    20 DecemberLet's Talk About LoveCéline Dion142,000
    27 December219,918

    Number-one compilation albums

    Chart date
    (week ending)
    Album
    4 JanuaryNow 35
    11 January
    18 JanuaryThe Annual II Mixed by Judge Jules & Boy George
    25 January
    1 February
    8 February
    15 FebruaryIn the Mix 97
    22 FebruaryThe Annual II Mixed by Judge Jules & Boy George
    1 MarchClub Mix 97 2
    8 March
    15 MarchThe Soul Album
    22 MarchThe Best Album in the World...Ever! 5
    29 MarchDance Nation 3 – Pete Tong & Judge Jules
    5 AprilNow 36
    12 April
    19 April
    26 AprilNew Hits 1997
    3 May
    10 May
    17 May
    24 MayBig Mix 97
    31 May
    7 JuneSmash Hits Summer 97
    14 JuneThe Best Club Anthems...Ever!
    21 June
    28 June
    5 July
    12 JulyThe Best Disco Album in the World...Ever!
    19 July
    26 JulyNow 37
    2 August
    9 August
    16 August
    23 AugustFresh Hits 1997
    30 August
    6 September
    13 SeptemberIbiza Uncovered
    20 September
    27 September
    4 OctoberKiss in Ibiza 97
    11 OctoberIbiza Uncovered
    18 OctoberBig Mix 97 – Volume 2
    25 OctoberThe Best Anthems...Ever!
    1 NovemberNow Dance 97
    8 NovemberHuge Hits 1997
    15 NovemberThe Annual III Mixed by Pete Tong & Boy George
    22 November
    29 NovemberNow 38
    6 December
    13 DecemberDiana Princess of Wales – Tribute
    20 December
    27 December

    Year-end charts

    Best-selling singles

    Based on sales from 30 December 1996 to 28 December 1997.[4]

    No.TitleArtistPeak
    position
    Sales[5]
    1"Candle in the Wind 1997"/"Something About the Way You Look Tonight"Elton John14,770,000
    2"Barbie Girl"Aqua11,500,000
    3"I'll Be Missing You"Puff Daddy & Faith Evans featuring 1121
    4"Perfect Day"Various Artists11,000,000+
    5"Teletubbies Say Eh-Oh!"Teletubbies1
    6"Men in Black"Will Smith1
    7"Don't Speak"No Doubt1
    8"Torn"Natalie Imbruglia2813,000
    9"Tubthumping"Chumbawamba2
    10"Spice Up Your Life"Spice Girls1
    11"MMMBop"Hanson1
    12"D'You Know What I Mean?"Oasis1
    13"Never Ever"All Saints3[a]
    14"I Believe I Can Fly"R. Kelly1
    15"Mama"/"Who Do You Think You Are"Spice Girls1
    16"I Wanna Be the Only One"Eternal featuring BeBe Winans1600,000+
    17"Freed from Desire"Gala2
    18"Where Do You Go"No Mercy2
    19"Sunchyme"Dario G2
    20"Free"Ultra Naté4
    21"Encore Une Fois"Sash!2
    22"Too Much"Spice Girls1
    23"Time to Say Goodbye (Con Te Partirò)"Sarah Brightman & Andrea Bocelli2
    24"Bellissima"DJ Quicksilver4
    25"As Long as You Love Me"Backstreet Boys3
    26"Baby Can I Hold You"/"Shooting Star"Boyzone2
    27"Ecuador"Sash! featuring Rodriguez2
    28"Wind Beneath My Wings"Steven Houghton3
    29"Don't Let Go (Love)"En Vogue5
    30"Stay"Sash! featuring La Trec2
    31"Lovefool"The Cardigans2
    32"The Drugs Don't Work"The Verve1
    33"Tell Him"Barbra Streisand & Celine Dion3
    34"Together Again"Janet Jackson4
    35"2 Become 1"Spice Girls1
    36"You Might Need Somebody"Shola Ama4
    37"You're Not Alone"Olive1
    38"Everybody (Backstreet's Back)"Backstreet Boys3
    39"Angels"Robbie Williams5[b]
    40"C U When U Get There"Coolio featuring 40 Thevz3
    41"Your Woman"White Town1
    42"Never Gonna Let You Go"Tina Moore7
    43"Bitter Sweet Symphony"The Verve2
    44"Remember Me"Blue Boy8
    45"Closer than Close"Rosie Gaines4
    46"Stand by Me"Oasis2
    47"Professional Widow (It's Got to Be Big)"Tori Amos1
    48"Picture of You"Boyzone2
    49"Say What You Want"Texas3
    50"I'll Be There for You"The Rembrandts5[c]

    Notes:

    1. ^ Reached number 1 in 1998
    2. ^ Reached number 4 in 1998
    3. ^ Reached number 3 in 1995

    Best-selling albums

    Based on sales from 30 December 1996 to 28 December 1997.[6]

    No.TitleArtistPeak
    position
    Sales[7]
    1Be Here NowOasis11,500,000
    2Urban HymnsThe Verve11,315,000[8]
    3SpiceSpice Girls11,230,000+
    4SpiceworldSpice Girls11,060,000+
    5White on BlondeTexas11,000,000+
    6The Fat of the LandThe Prodigy1
    7Let's Talk About LoveCeline Dion1
    8OK ComputerRadiohead1
    9Greatest HitsEternal2550,000
    10The Best of Wham!: If You Were There...Wham!4
    11Ocean DriveLighthouse Family3
    12Backstreet's BackBackstreet Boys2
    13OlderGeorge Michael7[a]
    14Postcards from HeavenLighthouse Family2
    15Sheryl CrowSheryl Crow5
    16Travelling Without MovingJamiroquai4[b]
    17FrescoM People2
    18Lennon Legend: The Very Best of John LennonJohn Lennon4[c]
    19Paint the Sky with StarsEnya4
    20All SaintsAll Saints5[d]
    21Blue Is the ColourThe Beautiful South3[e]
    22Like You Do... Best of the Lightning SeedsThe Lightning Seeds5
    23EvitaMadonna/Various Artists1
    24Everything Must GoManic Street Preachers2
    25PopU21
    26Tragic KingdomNo Doubt3
    27Falling into YouCeline Dion2[f]
    28SecretsToni Braxton10
    29BlurBlur1
    30Their Greatest HitsHot Chocolate10[g]
    31Marchin' AlreadyOcean Colour Scene1
    32Do It YourselfThe Seahorses2
    33StooshSkunk Anansie9
    34Always on My Mind: Ultimate Love SongsElvis Presley3
    35(What's the Story) Morning Glory?Oasis17[h]
    36GlowReef1
    37The Big PictureElton John3
    38Tellin' StoriesThe Charlatans1
    39KKula Shaker7[i]
    40It's My Life – The AlbumSash!6
    41Left of the MiddleNatalie Imbruglia5
    42Before the RainEternal3
    43Open RoadGary Barlow1
    44Come Find YourselfFun Lovin' Criminals7
    45The Very Best of Sting & The PoliceSting & the Police11[j]
    46Jagged Little PillAlanis Morissette11[k]
    47Mother Nature CallsCast3
    48ShelterThe Brand New Heavies5
    49Dig Your Own HoleThe Chemical Brothers1
    50The Very Best of the Bee GeesBee Gees11[l]

    Notes:

    1. ^ Reached number 1 in 1996
    2. ^ Reached number 2 in 1996
    3. ^ Reached number 3 in 1998
    4. ^ Reached number 2 in 1998
    5. ^ Reached number 1 in 1996
    6. ^ Reached number 1 in 1995
    7. ^ Reached number 1 in 1993
    8. ^ Reached number 1 in 1995
    9. ^ Reached number 1 in 1996
    10. ^ Reached number 1 in 2002
    11. ^ Reached number 1 in 1996
    12. ^ Reached number 6 in 1990

    Best-selling compilation albums

    Based on sales from 30 December 1996 to 28 December 1997.[9]

    No.TitlePeak
    position
    Sales[10]
    1Now 381920,000
    2Diana, Princess of Wales: Tribute1700,000
    3Now 371600,000
    4Now 361600,000
    5The Annual III1400,000+
    6The Full Monty Original Soundtrack3350,000
    7The Greatest Hits of 19972
    8The Best '60s Album in the World... Ever! III5
    9The Annual II1
    10Ibiza Uncovered1

    Classical music

    Opera

    Musical films

    Births

    Deaths

    Music awards

    Brit Awards

    The 1997 Brit Awards winners were:

    Mercury Music Prize

    The 1997 Mercury Music Prize was awarded to Roni Size/ReprazentNew Forms.

    See also

    References

    1. ^ Rosney, Daniel (27 November 2015). "Sorry Adele, Oasis are still the album chart record breakers". BBC News. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
    2. ^ "OK Computer". 1 May 1997 – via Amazon.
    3. ^ Pareles, John (11 January 1997). "Once More the Outsider, David Bowie Turns 50". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 April 2008.
    4. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1997". Music Week. 17 January 1998. p. 27.
    5. ^ Jones, Alan (17 January 1998). "Independent labels fight back in the year of the platinum single". Music Week. p. 26.
    6. ^ "Top 100 Albums 1997". Music Week. 17 January 1998. p. 29.
    7. ^ Jones, Alan (17 January 1998). "British acts trounce US rivals in race for the albums crown". Music Week. p. 28.
    8. ^ Jones, Alan (16 January 1999). "Ireland takes the crown but Robbie scores top five double". Music Week. p. 8.
    9. ^ "Top 50 Compilations of 1997". Music Week. 17 January 1998. p. 30.
    10. ^ Jones, Alan (17 January 1998). "Now! series just misses clean sweep". Music Week. p. 30.
    11. ^ Dalton, Stephen (2 April 2007). "Billy Mackenzie Tribute". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 17 June 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2009.
    12. ^ Obituary; accessed 22 September 2014.
    • BBC Radio 1's Chart Show
    • Official Charts Company
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