1994 in British music
This is a summary of 1994 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.
Summary
The first number 1 single of the year was the 700th since charts began, a reggae version of "Twist and Shout" by Chaka Demus & Pliers. The next month saw Mariah Carey get her first solo UK number 1 with "Without You", after having 8 previous chart-toppers in the United States. Coincidentally, "Without You" did not top the US Billboard Hot 100.In late May, Wet Wet Wet reached number 1 with "Love Is All Around", from the film Four Weddings and a Funeral. It would remain at number 1 for fifteen weeks, the second longest consecutive run at No. 1 ever in the UK Singles Chart, and become the biggest selling single of the year. When Danish singer Whigfield replaced it in September with "Saturday Night", she became the first ever act to enter the UK singles chart at No.1 with their debut single.
Manchester rockers Oasis found their success on their debut album, Definitely Maybe, which shot to number No. 1 on its first week out in September.
December saw the debut of Boyzone to the charts, with a No. 2 cover of The Osmonds 1974 No. 1 "Love Me For a Reason". They would go on to have another fifteen singles, six reaching No. 1 and the rest reaching the top five, as well as four No. 1 albums.
Aside from Wet Wet Wet and Whigfield, the only other million selling single this year came from Céline Dion, with "Think Twice". In all, 15 singles topped the chart this year, the second lowest number for any year in the decade.
1994 also saw a first for Prince, who scored his only UK No.1 single with "The Most Beautiful Girl in the world"
This was the year when Karl Jenkins, soon to be the UK's favourite classical composer, launched his crossover project, Adiemus, with the album, . Popularised through its use in TV commercials, the title track became known to classical and popular music fans alike. It also made the name of vocalist Miriam Stockley.
Another British composer, Stephen Warbeck, won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music in a Play, awarded for achievements in Broadway theatre; the award was made for his music for a production of An Inspector Calls.
A record was broken in 1994 for the longest song to become a UK top 10 hit when Bon Jovi released the single "Dry County" in March, when it peaked at #9. The song was 9 minutes and 52 seconds long.
Charts
Number-one singles
| Chart date | Song | Artist |
| 1 January | "Mr. Blobby" | Mr Blobby |
| 8 January | "Twist and Shout" | Chaka Demus & Pliers featuring Jack Radics & Taxi Gang |
| 15 January | "Twist and Shout" | Chaka Demus & Pliers featuring Jack Radics & Taxi Gang |
| 22 January | "Things Can Only Get Better |Things Can Only Get Better" | D:Ream |
| 29 January | "Things Can Only Get Better |Things Can Only Get Better" | D:Ream |
| 5 February | "Things Can Only Get Better |Things Can Only Get Better" | D:Ream |
| 12 February | "Things Can Only Get Better |Things Can Only Get Better" | D:Ream |
| 19 February | "Without You" | Mariah Carey |
| 26 February | "Without You" | Mariah Carey |
| 5 March | "Without You" | Mariah Carey |
| 12 March | "Without You" | Mariah Carey |
| 19 March | "Doop" | Doop |
| 26 March | "Doop" | Doop |
| 2 April | "Doop" | Doop |
| 9 April | "Everything Changes" | Take That |
| 16 April | "Everything Changes" | Take That |
| 23 April | "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" | Prince |
| 30 April | "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" | Prince |
| 7 May | "The Real Thing " | Tony Di Bart |
| 14 May | "Inside" | Stiltskin |
| 21 May | "Come on You Reds" | Manchester United Football Squad |
| 28 May | "Come on You Reds" | Manchester United Football Squad |
| 4 June | "Love Is All Around" | Wet Wet Wet |
| 11 June | "Love Is All Around" | Wet Wet Wet |
| 18 June | "Love Is All Around" | Wet Wet Wet |
| 25 June | "Love Is All Around" | Wet Wet Wet |
| 2 July | "Love Is All Around" | Wet Wet Wet |
| 9 July | "Love Is All Around" | Wet Wet Wet |
| 16 July | "Love Is All Around" | Wet Wet Wet |
| 23 July | "Love Is All Around" | Wet Wet Wet |
| 30 July | "Love Is All Around" | Wet Wet Wet |
| 6 August | "Love Is All Around" | Wet Wet Wet |
| 13 August | "Love Is All Around" | Wet Wet Wet |
| 20 August | "Love Is All Around" | Wet Wet Wet |
| 27 August | "Love Is All Around" | Wet Wet Wet |
| 3 September | "Love Is All Around" | Wet Wet Wet |
| 10 September | "Love Is All Around" | Wet Wet Wet |
| 17 September | "Saturday Night" | Whigfield |
| 24 September | "Saturday Night" | Whigfield |
| 1 October | "Saturday Night" | Whigfield |
| 8 October | "Saturday Night" | Whigfield |
| 15 October | "Sure" | Take That |
| 22 October | "Sure" | Take That |
| 29 October | "Baby Come Back" | Pato Banton |
| 5 November | "Baby Come Back" | Pato Banton |
| 12 November | "Baby Come Back" | Pato Banton |
| 19 November | "Baby Come Back" | Pato Banton |
| 26 November | "Let Me Be Your Fantasy" | Baby D |
| 3 December | "Let Me Be Your Fantasy" | Baby D |
| 10 December | "Stay Another Day" | East 17 |
| 17 December | "Stay Another Day" | East 17 |
| 24 December | "Stay Another Day" | East 17 |
| 31 December | "Stay Another Day" | East 17 |
Number-one albums
| Chart date | Album | Artist |
| 1 January | ' | Meat Loaf |
| 8 January | Everything Changes | Take That |
| 15 January | So Far So Good | Bryan Adams |
| 22 January | ' | Diana Ross |
| 29 January | Tease Me | Chaka Demus & Pliers |
| 5 February | Tease Me | Chaka Demus & Pliers |
| 12 February | Under the Pink | Tori Amos |
| 19 February | The Cross of Changes | Enigma |
| 26 February | Music Box | Mariah Carey |
| 5 March | Music Box | Mariah Carey |
| 12 March | Music Box | Mariah Carey |
| 19 March | Music Box | Mariah Carey |
| 26 March | Vauxhall and I | Morrissey |
| 2 April | Music Box | Mariah Carey |
| 9 April | The Division Bell | Pink Floyd |
| 16 April | The Division Bell | Pink Floyd |
| 23 April | The Division Bell | Pink Floyd |
| 30 April | The Division Bell | Pink Floyd |
| 7 May | Parklife | Blur |
| 14 May | Our Town - The Greatest Hits | Deacon Blue |
| 21 May | Our Town - The Greatest Hits | Deacon Blue |
| 28 May | I Say I Say I Say | Erasure |
| 4 June | Seal | Seal |
| 11 June | Seal | Seal |
| 18 June | Real Things | 2 Unlimited |
| 25 June | Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? | The Cranberries |
| 2 July | Happy Nation | Ace of Base |
| 9 July | Happy Nation | Ace of Base |
| 16 July | Music for the Jilted Generation | The Prodigy |
| 23 July | Voodoo Lounge | The Rolling Stones |
| 30 July | ' | Wet Wet Wet |
| 6 August | ' | Wet Wet Wet |
| 13 August | ' | Wet Wet Wet |
| 20 August | ' | Wet Wet Wet |
| 27 August | Come | Prince |
| 3 September | End of Part One: Their Greatest Hits | Wet Wet Wet |
| 10 September | Definitely Maybe | Oasis |
| 17 September | The Three Tenors In Concert 1994 | José Carreras, Plácido Domingo & Luciano Pavarotti with Orchestra Conducted by Zubin Mehta |
| 24 September | From the Cradle | Eric Clapton |
| 1 October | Songs | Luther Vandross |
| 8 October | Monster | R.E.M. |
| 15 October | Monster | R.E.M. |
| 22 October | Cross Road | Bon Jovi |
| 29 October | Cross Road | Bon Jovi |
| 5 November | Cross Road | Bon Jovi |
| 12 November | MTV Unplugged in New York | Nirvana |
| 19 November | Cross Road | Bon Jovi |
| 26 November | Cross Road | Bon Jovi |
| 3 December | Carry on up the Charts | The Beautiful South |
| 10 December | Live at the BBC | The Beatles |
| 17 December | Carry on up the Charts | The Beautiful South |
| 24 December | Carry on up the Charts | The Beautiful South |
| 31 December | Carry on up the Charts | The Beautiful South |
Number-one compilation albums
| Chart date | Album |
| 12 February | Sweet Soul Harmonies |
| 19 February | Dance Hits '94 Volume 1 |
| 26 February | Dance Hits '94 Volume 1 |
| 5 March | Dance Hits '94 Volume 1 |
| 12 March | Soul Devotion |
| 19 March | Soul Devotion |
| 26 March | Soul Devotion |
| 2 April | Soul Devotion |
| 9 April | Now 27 |
| 16 April | Now 27 |
| 23 April | Now 27 |
| 30 April | Now 27 |
| 7 May | Dance Zone Level One |
| 14 May | Dance Zone Level One |
| 21 May | Dance Zone Level One |
| 28 May | Dance Zone Level One |
| 4 June | Energy Rush – Xtermin8 |
| 11 June | Dance Hits '94 Volume 2 |
| 18 June | Pure Moods |
| 25 June | Pure Moods |
| 2 July | Now Dance Summer 94 |
| 9 July | Now Dance Summer 94 |
| 16 July | Dance Zone Level 2 |
| 23 July | Dance Zone Level 2 |
| 30 July | It's the Ultimate Dance Album |
| 6 August | It's the Ultimate Dance Album |
| 13 August | Now 28 |
| 20 August | Now 28 |
| 27 August | Now 28 |
| 3 September | Now 28 |
| 10 September | Now 28 |
| 17 September | The Best Rock Album in the World...Ever! |
| 24 September | The Best Rock Album in the World...Ever! |
| 1 October | The Best Rock Album in the World...Ever! |
| 8 October | Dance Zone Level 3 |
| 15 October | Now 1994 |
| 22 October | Now 1994 |
| 29 October | Now 1994 |
| 5 November | Now 1994 |
| 12 November | The Best Rock Album in the World...Ever! |
| 19 November | The Love Album |
| 26 November | Now 29 |
| 3 December | Now 29 |
| 10 December | Now 29 |
| 17 December | Now 29 |
| 24 December | Now 29 |
| 31 December | Now 29 |
Year-end charts
Best-selling singles
| Title | Artist | Peak position | |
| 1 | "Love Is All Around" | Wet Wet Wet | 1 |
| 2 | "Saturday Night" | Whigfield | 1 |
| 3 | "Stay Another Day" | East 17 | 1 |
| 4 | "Baby Come Back" | featuring Ali and Robin Campbell of UB40 | 1 |
| 5 | "I Swear" | All-4-One | 2 |
| 6 | "Without You" | 1 | |
| 7 | "Always" | Bon Jovi | 2 |
| 8 | "Crazy for You" | Let Loose | 2 |
| 9 | "Things Can Only Get Better |Things Can Only Get Better" | D:Ream | 1 |
| 10 | "Doop" | Doop | 1 |
| 11 | "The Sign" | Ace of Base | 2 |
| 12 | "Come On You Reds" | 1 | |
| 13 | "The Rhythm of the Night" | Corona | 2 |
| 14 | "All I Want for Christmas Is You" | 2 | |
| 15 | "I Like to Move It" | Reel 2 Real featuring The Mad Stuntman | 5 |
| 16 | "7 Seconds" | and Neneh Cherry | 3 |
| 17 | "Swamp Thing" | 3 | |
| 18 | "Let Me Be Your Fantasy" | Baby D | 1 |
| 19 | "Love Me for a Reason" | Boyzone | 3 |
| 20 | "Everything Changes" | Take That | 1 |
| 21 | " The Flintstones" | 3 | |
| 22 | "Streets of Philadelphia" | 2 | |
| 23 | "Inside" | Stiltskin | 1 |
| 24 | "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" | Prince | 1 |
| 25 | "Searching" | China Black | 4 |
| 26 | "Crocodile Shoes" | 4 | |
| 27 | "Compliments on Your Kiss" | Red Dragon with Brian and Tony Gold | 2 |
| 28 | "Return to Innocence" | Enigma | 3 |
| 29 | "We Have All the Time in the World" | 3 | |
| 30 | "Baby, I Love Your Way" | Big Mountain | 2 |
| 31 | "Another Night" | The Real McCoy | 2 |
| 32 | "The Real Thing" | 1 | |
| 33 | "Breathe Again" | 2 | |
| 34 | "Think Twice" | 5 | |
| 35 | "Regulate" | and Nate Dogg | 5 |
| 36 | "Sweetness" | 4 | |
| 37 | "All for Love" | /Rod Stewart/Sting | 2 |
| 38 | "Hey Now " | 4 | |
| 39 | "Around the World" | East 17 | 3 |
| 40 | "Stay " | and Nine Stories | 6 |
| 41 | "Sweets for My Sweet" | 3 | |
| 42 | "Sure" | Take That | 1 |
| 43 | "I'll Make Love to You" | Boyz II Men | 5 |
| 44 | "Endless Love" | and Mariah Carey | 3 |
| 45 | "Cotton Eye Joe" | Rednex | 5 |
| 46 | "" | 3 | |
| 47 | "Shine" | Aswad | 5 |
| 48 | "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" | Crash Test Dummies | 2 |
| 49 | "No Good " | 4 | |
| 50 | "Get-A-Way" | Maxx | 4 |
Best-selling albums
| Title | Artist | Peak position | |
| 1 | Cross Road: The Best of Bon Jovi | Bon Jovi | 1 |
| 2 | Carry On up the Charts: The Best of the Beautiful South | 1 | |
| 3 | Music Box | 1 | |
| 4 | Always & Forever | Eternal | 3 |
| 5 | The Division Bell | Pink Floyd | 1 |
| 6 | ' | Wet Wet Wet | 1 |
| 7 | Monster | R.E.M. | 1 |
| 8 | Parklife | Blur | 1 |
| 9 | Live at the BBC | 1 | |
| 10 | Steam | East 17 | 3 |
| 11 | The Three Tenors in Concert 1994 | , Plácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti, orchestra conducted by Zubin Mehta | 1 |
| 12 | Crocodile Shoes | 2 | |
| 13 | ' | Sting | 2 |
| 14 | The Cross of Changes | Enigma | 1 |
| 15 | The Hit List | 3 | |
| 16 | 12 Deadly Cyns... and Then Some | 2 | |
| 17 | Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? | 1 | |
| 18 | Our Town – The Greatest Hits | Deacon Blue | 1 |
| 19 | Happy Nation | Ace of Base | 1 |
| 20 | Elegant Slumming | M People | 4 |
| 21 | Definitely Maybe | Oasis | 1 |
| 22 | Everything Changes | Take That | 1 |
| 23 | ' | 1 | |
| 24 | Bedtime Stories | Madonna | 2 |
| 25 | Bizarre Fruit | M People | 4 |
| 26 | Crazy | 6 | |
| 27 | Labour of Love Volumes I and II | UB40 | 5 |
| 28 | Music for the Jilted Generation | 1 | |
| 29 | The Greatest Hits | INXS | 3 |
| 30 | Debut | Björk | 3 |
| 31 | MTV Unplugged in New York | Nirvana | 1 |
| 32 | The Essential Collection | 6 | |
| 33 | The Best of Chris Rea | 3 | |
| 34 | No Need to Argue | 2 | |
| 35 | Brother Sister | 4 | |
| 36 | Songs | 1 | |
| 37 | Seal | Seal | 1 |
| 38 | ' | Meat Loaf | 4 |
| 39 | New Order | New Order | 4 |
| 40 | The Best of Sade | Sade | 6 |
| 41 | Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me | 5 | |
| 42 | So Close | 2 | |
| 43 | D:Ream On Vol. 1 | D:Ream | 5 |
| 44 | Big Ones | Aerosmith | 7 |
| 45 | So Far So Good | 1 | |
| 46 | Psyche – The Album | PJ & Duncan | 5 |
| 47 | Tease Me | 1 | |
| 48 | Under the Pink | 1 | |
| 49 | Toni Braxton | 4 | |
| 50 | God Shuffled His Feet | Crash Test Dummies | 2 |
Best-selling compilation albums
| Title | Peak position | |
| 1 | Now 29 | 1 |
| 2 | Now 28 | 1 |
| 3 | The Best Rock Album in the World... Ever! | 1 |
| 4 | The Love Album | 1 |
| 5 | Pure Moods | 1 |
| 6 | Now 27 | 1 |
| 7 | Now That's What I Call Music! 1994 | 1 |
| 8 | Dance Zone '94 | 2 |
| 9 | The Very Best of Andrew Lloyd Webber | 3 |
| 10 | Four Weddings and a Funeral Original Soundtrack | 5 |
Notes:
Classical music: new works
- Thomas Adès – Living Toys
- Peter Maxwell Davies – Symphony No. 5
- Graham Fitkin – Length
- Jonathan Harvey – One Evening...
- Alun Hoddinott – The Silver Swimmer, Op. 152/1 – for soprano and ensemble
- Michael Nyman – MGV
- John Rutter – "I will sing with the spirit"
Opera
- Harrison Birtwistle – The Second Mrs Kong
- Andy Vores – Freshwater
- Judith Weir – Blond Eckbert
Film and incidental music
- Richard Rodney Bennett – Four Weddings and a Funeral.
- Howard Goodall – The Vicar of Dibley
Musical films
- Backbeat
- Brave
Music awards
BRIT Awards
The 1994 BRIT Awards winners were:- Best soundtrack: "The Bodyguard"
- Best British producer: Brian Eno
- Best selling album & Single: Meat Loaf
- British album: Stereo MC's – "Connected"
- British breakthrough act: Gabrielle
- British dance act: M People
- British female solo artist: Dina Carroll
- British group: Stereo MC's
- British male solo artist: Sting
- British single: Take That – "Pray"
- British video: Take That – "Pray"
- International breakthrough act: Björk
- International female: Björk
- International group: Crowded House
- International male: Lenny Kravitz
- Outstanding contribution: Van Morrison
Mercury Music Prize
Births
- 1 February – Harry Styles, singer
- 1 April – Ella Eyre, English singer-songwriter
- 5 May – Celeste, American-born singer
- 2 August – Jacob Collier, jazz pianist and singer
- 23 September – Andrew Johnston, boy soprano
- 24 November – Reece Mastin, English-Australian singer-songwriter
Deaths
- 6 February – Norman Del Mar, conductor, horn player, and music writer, 74
- 1 March – Tim Souster, songwriter and composer of electronic music, 51
- 23 March – Donald Swann, pianist, composer and comedy entertainer, 70
- 7 April – Lee Brilleaux, vocalist with Dr. Feelgood, 41
- 23 May – Ronald Hanmer, conductor, composer and arranger, 77
- 14 June – Lionel Grigson, jazz pianist, cornettist, trumpeter, composer and teacher, 52
- 26 June – Thomas Armstrong, organist, conductor, composer, educationalist and adjudicator, 96
- 29 July – William Mathias, composer, 57
- 31 July – Anne Shelton, British singer, 70
- 2 September – Roy Castle, musician and all-round entertainer, 62
- 6 September – Nicky Hopkins, pianist and organist, 50
- 7 September – Eric Crozier, librettist, 79
- 20 September – Jule Styne, English-born American songwriter, 88
- 22 September – Leonard Feather, jazz pianist, composer, producer and music journalist, 80
- 11 November – Elizabeth Maconchy, composer, 87