Record Mirror, November 12, 1988: Difference between revisions
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The greatest domination of the top of the chart by multi-artist compilations came in 1972, shortly after K-Tel, Ronco and Arcade exploded onto the scene as the first companies to use TV advertising to sell records. On December 9, 1972, the top four albums were ''25 Rock And Roll Greats'', ''20 Fantastic Hits Volume 2'', ''20 All-Time Hits Of The 50s'' and ''22 Dynamic Hits''. The number two album in this historic listing was on Arcade, the others were on K-Tel, which remains the most successful marketer of "various artists" albums to this day, with more than 100 albums safely charted, amongst them eight number ones. Sitting patiently behind the four sales-grabbing compilations that December day nearly 16 years ago was Slade's ''Slayed?''. which would have topped the charts for no fewer than five weeks before it got its first official week al number one on January 13, 1973. Six months earlier, Slade's first album ''Slade Alive'' was less tenacious, and lost its chance of reaching number one when it failed to overtake the very first K-Tel album ''20 Dynamic Hits''. | The greatest domination of the top of the chart by multi-artist compilations came in 1972, shortly after K-Tel, Ronco and Arcade exploded onto the scene as the first companies to use TV advertising to sell records. On December 9, 1972, the top four albums were ''25 Rock And Roll Greats'', ''20 Fantastic Hits Volume 2'', ''20 All-Time Hits Of The 50s'' and ''22 Dynamic Hits''. The number two album in this historic listing was on Arcade, the others were on K-Tel, which remains the most successful marketer of "various artists" albums to this day, with more than 100 albums safely charted, amongst them eight number ones. Sitting patiently behind the four sales-grabbing compilations that December day nearly 16 years ago was Slade's ''Slayed?''. which would have topped the charts for no fewer than five weeks before it got its first official week al number one on January 13, 1973. Six months earlier, Slade's first album ''Slade Alive'' was less tenacious, and lost its chance of reaching number one when it failed to overtake the very first K-Tel album ''20 Dynamic Hits''. | ||
So effective were K-Tel, Ronco and Arcade in this period, that TV advertised | So effective were K-Tel, Ronco and Arcade in this period, that TV advertised albums, whether compilations or by individual acts, were banned from the chart from mid-1973 for 2 years. | ||
Perhaps the most famous album never to reach number one as the result of a compilation is Pink Floyd's ''Dark Side Of The Moon'', which was beaten by K-Tel's ''20 Flashback Great Hits Of The Sixties'' on March 31, 1973, and never challenged for chart leadership again. Other albums to be frustrated in their effort, to reach number one by various artists compilations not mentioned above are Don McLean's ''American Pie'', Emerson, Lake And Palmer's ''Trilogy'', Simon & Garfunkel ''Greatest Hits'' and Cat Stevens' ''Catch Bull At Four'', all in 1972; Gary Glitter's ''Touch Me'' and George Harrison's ''Living In The Material World' (1973); Sade's 'Diamond Life' and Iron Maiden's ''Powerslave'' (1989); Tears For Fears' ''Songs From The Big Chair'' and Spandau Ballet's ''Singles Collection'' (1985); Lionel Richie's ''Dancing On The Ceiling'' (1986) and Alison Moyet's ''Raindancing'' (1987). McLean's album was the first so to suffer, as all albums which had previously ended up second best to compilations had themselves reached number one sooner or later. | |||
All the above, of course, assumes that the absence from the chart of various artists albums would not significantly alter the pattern of sales for other albums, though it is possible that if, for instance, ''Now 12'' was not racked with chart albums, some record buyers seeking an album containing T'Pau's ''I Will Be With You'' hit would have opted for the group's ''Bridge Of Spies'' album, which may, with these extra sales under its bet, have been in a position to have challenged the LP we have here assumed to be the substitute number one, ''Tracy Chapman''. | |||
Obviously, Chartfile will continue to reflect what's happening in the published album chart, but rest assured that as and when various artists compilations outsell all others you will be told about it. | |||
I dislike the high profile of compilations, but strongly disagree with the decision to expel them from the chart. Purist that I am, I believe that the chart should reflect exactly what is being sold, and should not be massaged in any way, Nuff said? | |||
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<br><small>Cover | [[image:1988-11-12 Record Mirror page 35 clipping 01.jpg|x120px|border]] | ||
<br><small>Cover, contents page and clipping.</small> | |||
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Revision as of 01:27, 17 October 2014
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