The Top 100 Acts of the 90's - No 1!

[matthew_dixon]

200. Cathy Dennis
Score: 38.13 points
Singles Rank: 152
Albums Rank: 278

Our top 200 starts with the writer of some of the 00s' finest songs. From "I Kissed A Girl" and "Toxic" to ballads like "Never Had A Dream Come True" and "Anything Is Possible" and of course her most classic song "Can't Get You Out Of My Head", it's easy to forget Cathy Dennis used to perform, but in the early 90s she had some classics of her own.

Singles of the Decade:
1. Touch Me (All Night Long)
2. Just Another Dream
3. Too Many Walls

Album of the Decade: Move To This


199. Shaggy
Score: 38.15 points
Singles Rank: 69
Albums Rank: 818

He's Mr Boombasic, Mr Fantastic, Mr Lover Lover, and it's very alarming to say that Shaggy actually has four UK No. 1 singles to his name! Two of those were in the 90s, and it's largely down to those that he makes this list. Oh dear! Who actually bought things like "Oh Caroline" and "Boombastic"? It wasn't me!

Singles of the Decade:
1. Oh Carolina
2. Boombastic
3. In The Summertime (with Ray'von)

Album of the Decade: Boombastic


198. Barbra Streisand
Score: 38.17 points
Singles Rank: 307
Albums Rank: 180

Across this site, many people have argued for many years as to who is the biggest female soloist worldwide ever - Madonna, Mariah or Celine. I've always wished for a shock result, and Barbra Streisand to beat the lot to shut them up! Barbra gets here largely thanks to albums, plus working with the two biggest Canadian acts of all time!

Singles of the Decade:
1. Tell Him (with Celine Dion)
2. I Finally Found Someone (with Bryan Adams)
3. Places That Belong To You

Album of the Decade: Back To Broadway


197. B-52's
Score: 38.30 points
Singles Rank: 166
Albums Rank: 260

The incredibly cool and highly quirky B-52's come next - the band behind a load of great songs you don't know, and one huge hit that you do - "Love Shack". It is without a doubt one of those timeless floorfillers, so it's shocking and frankly ridiculous than in this listings it is beaten by a cover of the Flintstones theme from a 90s film version of the hit cartoon series!

Singles of the Decade:
1. Meet The Flintstones
2. Love Shack
3. Roam

Album of the Decade: Cosmic Thing


196. Curtis Stigers
Score: 38.31 points
Singles Rank: 299
Albums Rank: 181

Finally for today's batch, one of the biggest soft rock names of the early 90s. Both "I Wonder Why" and "You're All That Matters To Me" were in the definitive soundtrack of 1992, and singer Curtis Stigers is someone I'd definitely consider as a big two-hit wonder. Hoewver, he's continued with a career right up to the present day... as a rather critically acclaimed jazz musician! Funny how things turn around!

Singles of the Decade:
1. You're All That Matters To Me
2. I Wonder Why
3. Never Saw A Miracle

Album of the Decade: Curtis Stigers

[Blondini]

I adored that Cathy Dennis album. It was great to have a sexy geek girl (years before Nicola Roberts). Shame she went "indie" and rubbish.

[Play]

He's Mr Boombasic, Mr Fantastic, Mr Lover Lover, and it's very alarming to say that Shaggy actually has four UK No. 1 singles to his name! Two of those were in the 90s, and it's largely down to those that he makes this list. Oh dear! Who actually bought things like "Oh Caroline" and "Boombastic"? It wasn't me!

I love that write-up Matthew!

[matthew_dixon]

Score: 167.70 points
Singles Rank: 48
Albums Rank: 11

I don't know about you, but I was certainly not expecting all round music legend Tina Turner to feature in this top 20! She just doesn't seem "90s" enough for me.

Well, she did have some big 90s hits, including a Bond theme - "Goldeneye", several covers - including a version of "It Takes Two" with Rod Stewart, and the classic "I Don't Wanna Fight".

However, her biggest successes came on the album chart, particularly with her greatest hits package "Simply The Best".



Singles of the Decade:
1. It Takes Two (with Rod Stewart)
2. I Don't Wanna Fight
3. Goldeneye
4. Way Of The World
5. When The Heartache Is Over

Album of the Decade: Simply The Best

[Wayne]

I totally saw this coming - she didn't really begin to shift albums in huge quantities until the mid-to-late 80's and this success continued well into the mid 90's.

She sold about 40-45m albums between 1985-1995.

When The Heartache Is Over is one of my all-time favourite songs.

[EdWood]

Think Tina Turner's Hits album went 8 times platinum so knew she would do well in the albums side.

Didn't think she'd be this high though!

[Wardo]

I used to listen a lot to Goldeneye, great song.

I Don't Wanna Fight is amazing too, great to see Tina so high!

[matthew_dixon]

195. Coolio
Score: 38.55 points
Singles Rank: 91
Albums Rank: 449

In at No. 195, we have one of the 90s' biggest rap names. Where many rappers were only big within their genre, "Gangsta's Paradise" transformed Coolio into a household name who went on to have two top 5 hits, and feature many years later on Celebrity Big Brother!

Singles of the Decade:
1. Gangsta's Paradise (featuring LV)
2. C U When U Get There (featuring 40 Thievz)
3. 1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)

Album of the Decade: Gangsta's Paradise


194. Neneh Cherry
Score: 38.59 points
Singles Rank: 98
Albums Rank: 390

Little brother Eagle-Eye has already featured, and now it's a very respectable top 200 placing for Neneh Cherry. She started her career in the late 80s, but it was the 90s that saw her biggest successes, when she collaborated with Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour, and then on a chart topper with Cher, Chrissie from the Pretenders and Clapton (on guitar) for a charity single.

Singles of the Decade:
1. 7 Seconds (with Youssou N'Dour
2. Love Can Build A Bridge (with Cher, Chrissie Hynde and Eric Clapton)
3. Woman

Album of the Decade: Raw Like Sushi


193. Nigel Kennedy
Score: 38.70 points
Singles Rank: N/A
Albums Rank: 112

In at No. 193, it's one of the most famous classical instrumentalists of all time. Violinist Nigel Kennedy brought proper classical music to the masses with his recording of Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" which became a bemusingly huge seller. He had plenty of other albums out, but, as you might expect of a classical instrumentalist, he's never actually charted with a single in his life!

Tracks of the Decade:
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Album of the Decade: Vivaldi: The Four Seasons


192. Mike Oldfield
Score: 39.00 points
Singles Rank: 696
Albums Rank: 135

I have to say that Mike Oldfield is another of those acts you probably wouldn't have expected quite so high up this list. The man behind the tubular bells continued having quite a lot of album chart success in the 90s - particularly with follow up album "Tubular Bells II" and the singles from it didn't do too badly themselves. He's a legend of his style, even if it's not the sort of thing that usually sells.

Singles of the Decade:
1. Sentinel
2. Tattoo
3. Hibernaculum

Album of the Decade: Tubular Bells II


191. Primal Scream
Score: 39.26 points
Singles Rank: 251
Albums Rank: 186

In at 191, it's time to get your rocks off and discuss music that's got guitars in it. Oh for the wonderful Rock forum definition, from that 90s staple "Rocks" by Primal Scream. Therefore, it's bemusing me that "Rocks" actually wasn't one of their top 3 hits! They had plenty that were much of a muchness without any really enormous smash hit records, and the intro to "Loaded" is definitely a classic 90s moment. Their biggest album "Screamadelica" is also very critically acclaimed.

Singles of the Decade:
1. Loaded
2. Come Together
3. Dixie Narco EP

Album of the Decade: Screamadelica

[matthew_dixon]

190. Duran Duran
Score: 39.73 points
Singles Rank: 242
Albums Rank: 192

In at 190, it's one of the biggest bands of the 80s. They continued to have success into the 90s, particularly in the early part of the decade with songs like "Come Undone" and "Ordinary World". I'd expect in an 80s version of this, they'd be challenging for the top 10!

Singles of the Decade:
1. Ordinary World
2. Come Undone
3. White Lines (Don't Do It) (with Grandmaster Flash)

Album of the Decade: Duran Duran (The Wedding Album)


189. No Doubt
Score: 39.81 points
Singles Rank: 217
Albums Rank: 202

I bet some people might have thought that No Doubt would have made the top 100 acts of the 1990s. Well, the simple fact is they made their breakthrough far too late, and just weren't THAT big. Even so, in 1997 they were enormous, and songs like "Just A Girl" and the mighty "Don't Speak" are phenomenal parts of the 90s soundtrack.

Singles of the Decade:
1. Don't Speak
2. Just A Girl
3. Spiderwebs

Album of the Decade: Tragic Kingdom


188. Robert Palmer
Score: 39.88 points
Singles Rank: 279
Albums Rank: 173

In at 188, one of the less expected entries in the top 200. British singer-songwriter Robert Palmer broke out in the mid 80s with songs like "Addicted To Love", and whilst he's not known that much as a 90s act, his career continued on through the 90s with various hit singles and a decent greatest hits package.

Singles of the Decade:
[url]1. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight (with UB40)[/url]
2. Mercy Mercy Me / I Want You
3. Know By Now

Album of the Decade: The Very Best Of Robert Palmer


187. Offspring
Score: 39.99 points
Singles Rank: 302
Albums Rank: 166

Another great American band next - and another one whose break was just too late on in the decade. 1999 really was the year that the Offspring became chart names. Many people slated them for "selling out", but they produced some of the most fun rock music of the 1990s! Now all together... "Give it to me baby..."!

Singles of the Decade:
1. Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)
2. Why Don't You Get A Job?
3. The Kids Aren't Alright

Album of the Decade: Americana


186. Kenny Thomas
Score: 40.18 points
Singles Rank: 127
Albums Rank: 274

I have to say I wasn't expecting to see Kenny Thomas in here! He's probably best known for "Thinking About Your Love" - indeed I didn't really know of his other songs. Personally, to be honest, it doesn't seem like I was missing much...

Singles of the Decade:
1. Thinking About Your Love
2. Outstanding
3. Best Of You

Album of the Decade: Voices

[matthew_dixon]

No comments on any of those 10? Ah well, let's get another big name announed...


Score: 174.99 points
Singles Rank: 28
Albums Rank: 14

At 19, we have without a doubt one of the biggest bands of the 1990s - one of the signature bands of the Britpop era - Blur.

Their career goes right back into the 80s amazingly, and 1991's "There's No Other Way" gave them a much needed chart breakthrough. However, it didn't really cement them as major league stars as what followed was a long string of rather underperforming singles. All until 1994 when they released one of their most defining songs.

"Girls and Boys" would become one of the singalong songs of the 1990s and its parent album "Parklife" would become their biggest charting album by miles. However, whilst they were big, everyone couldn't help but think that Oasis were simply that bit bigger.

August of 1995 saw what is probably the greatest chart battle of all time, as Oasis and Blur released songs head to head. Oasis were the favourite band to top the chart... but they had one thing against them, if you ask me. "Roll With It" was a rather weak Oasis song, whilst "Country House" was to become Blur's biggest hit by miles. The rest of that album - "The Great Escape" would produce several more classic singles.

In 1997, they released a self-titled album, and scored two other really defining songs - their second chart topper "Beetlebum", and the iconic "Song 2", which despite its similarities to "Smells Like Teen Spirit", has become an indie disco floorfiller ever since. 1999 saw yet another album - "13" - complete with a massive hit called "Tender" and the gorgeous video to "Coffee and TV" (trust me, watch it, you'll never be able to look at a milk carton the same way again!)

The band did vaguely continue into the 00s, but not with particularly great success. They've come back now, but they're not the chart force they once were, with "Under The Westway" limping in at No. 34.



Singles of the Decade:
1. Country House
2. Tender
3. The Universal
4. There's No Other Way
5. Girls and Boys

Album of the Decade: Parklife

[Chun]

I love Blur's album cover. I think I bought this CD just because of the album cover. To The End is fantastic.

[matthew_dixon]

185. 911
Score: 40.70 points
Singles Rank: 81
Albums Rank: 454

In at No. 185, it's another classic 90s boyband - 911. They never really quite made it as big as the likes of Take That, Boyzone or East 17, but they still somehow managed ten consecutive top 10 singles! An awful lot of them were really cheesy though - as can be seen by checking out the big three below!

Singles of the Decade:
1. A Little Bit More
2. Bodyshakin'
3. More Than A Woman

Album of the Decade: The Journey


184. Lauryn Hill
Score: 40.88 points
Singles Rank: 334
Albums Rank: 154

To this day, if you ask any serious R&B fan to name the most defining R&B albums of all time, Lauryn Hill's solo work "The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill" would rank high in their list. It's a seminal work of its genre, and whilst she only had one studio album to her name, she still makes the top 200 as a solo artist, just because that album (and its top 5 singles it produced) was just SO huge!

Singles of the Decade:
1. Doo Wap (That Thing)
2. Ex-Factor
3. Turn Your Lights Down Low (with Bob Marley)

Album of the Decade: The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill


183. Paul Young
Score: 40.92 points
Singles Rank: 267
Albums Rank: 170

At 183, we have the guy that provided opening vocals to the Band Aid classic "Do They Know It's Christmas". Back in the 80s, Paul Young was a huge legend, but by the 90s, he was far from his peak. He still had a certain amount of success though. Interestingly, his most famous song is not his biggest points scorer, as it was technically "Zucchero featuring Paul Young" and thus he only gets half points for it.

Singles of the Decade:
1. Now I Know What Made Otis Blue
2. Senza Una Donna (Without A Woman) (by Zucchero featuring Paul Young)
3. Softly Whispering "I Love You"

Album of the Decade: From Time To Time - The Singles Collection


182. Mark Morrison
Score: 41.61 points
Singles Rank: 93
Albums Rank: 338

Oh dear, here goes... Next up, it's mid 90s pop star Mark Morrison. Best known for the anthemic "Return Of The Mack", Mark Morrison was bemusingly big at the time, and whilst I can't see his appeal myself, some people clearly really liked him!

Singles of the Decade:
1. Return Of The Mack
2. Crazy
3. Horny

Album of the Decade: Return Of The Mack


181. Fun Lovin' Criminals
Score: 42.33 points
Singles Rank: 558
Albums Rank: 138

Who would have thought a song named after a cartoon dog's favourite food would turn an incredibly eclectic band into big name stars? Well, the rather genre-bending Fun Lovin' Criminals were definitely amongst the soundtrack of the 90s, even if none of their singles ever managed to go top 20 - yep, not even "Scooby Snacks" itself made it!

Singles of the Decade:
1.I'm Not In Love/Scooby Snacks
2. Love Unlimited
3. Korean Bodega

Album of the Decade: Come Find Yourself

[Wayne]

Lauryn Hill is pretty good [Tell Him being my favourite song], Blur had some epic songs [Tender being my favourite]

[matthew_dixon]

180. Puff Daddy
Score: 42.44 points
Singles Rank: 83
Albums Rank: 391

At 180, we have one of the biggest name businessmen in rap music history. Head of Bad Boy Records, and the whole Bad Boy family, Puff Daddy brought the world some of the biggest names in the 90s rap scene. However, none was quite as special as the Notorious BIG. Biggie, as he was called, would be his best friend (aside from Jesus), as well as being his greatest star. Alas, in the rap wars of 1997, Biggie was shot to his death - an event that resulted in Puff Daddy scoring by far his biggest hit when together with BIG's widow Faith Evans he recorded a tribute. Aside from that, he had a big hit from the Godzilla soundtrack, and a host of other tracks.

Singles of the Decade:
1. I'll Be Missing You (with Faith Evans and 112)
2. Come With Me (with Jimmy Page)
3. Mo Money, Mo Problems (by Notorious BIG featuring Puff Daddy)

Album of the Decade: No Way Out


179. Iron Maiden
Score: 42.70 points
Singles Rank: 273
Albums Rank: 156

There are few acts to which I really have to say "each to their own", but Iron Maiden definitely are one of them. Their brand of heavy metal music, frequently with very dark and rather satanic-sounding lyrics is not something I personally care for. Even so you can't deny that their huge fanbase has seen them get plenty of hits in the 90s in both singles and albums, even if they did rather catapult down the chart mostly.

Singles of the Decade:
1. Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter
2. Holy Smoke
3. Be Quick Or Be Dead

Album of the Decade: No Prayer For The Dying


178. Neil Diamond
Score: 42.87 points
Singles Rank: 1988
Albums Rank: 97

You can't get much different to that! From "Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter", to a primary school hymn! "Morning Has Broken" was Neil Diamond's only ever UK chart single in the 1990s. He did have a lot of album chart success though, and he's largely here down to greatest hits packages.

Single of the Decade:
1. Morning Has Broken

Album of the Decade:


177. Spin Doctors
Score: 43.09 points
Singles Rank: 347
Albums Rank: 143

Next up then, and it's a one hit wonder pretty much. "Two Princes" is without a doubt a 90s classic, but most people, myself included, would struggle to name another single by New York band Spin Doctors. Where they outclass most one hit wonders though, is that they managed to have a huge success on the album charts with their debut package "Pocket Full Of Kryptonite".

Singles of the Decade:
1. Two Princes
2. Little Miss Can't Be Wrong
3. Cleopatra's Cat

Album of the Decade: Pocket Full Of Kryptonite


176. Mike and the Mechanics
Score: 43.47 points
Singles Rank: 383
Albums Rank: 139

Mike Rutherford from Genesis is next, with his soft-rock side project. His band he put together were of course the Mechanics, and together they had a string of hits from the late 80s to the early 90s. Incidentally a lot of this chart success is down to their 1996 greatest hits mind you!

Singles of the Decade:
1. Over My Shoulder
2. Word Of Mouth
3. Beggar On A Beach Of Gold

Album of the Decade:

[matthew_dixon]

Score: 176.64 points
Singles Rank: 16
Albums Rank: 22

At 18, we have one of the most evergreen stars of them all - Cher. A lot is said of Cher's great age, so it might surprise you to learn that not only is she six years Sir Cliff's junior, she's actually 4 years junior to Sir Paul McCartney amongst others. She does however have so much lengthy chart success that she made it into the "Pop Goes The Decades" survivor no less than four times!

The 90s was definitely a big year for her, with plenty of classic soft-rock anthems to start the decade off, such as the phenomenal "Save Up All Your Tears" and "Just Like Jesse James", plus "Love Hurts" and "Love and Understanding". However, she would be best remembered at that time for a cover she did for a film soundtrack. The Cher version of "The Shoop Shoop Song" has gone down as the defining version ever since.

In 1998, everyone pretty much thought that Cher was past it. However, she proved us all wrong thanks to a dance hit called "Believe". All of a sudden Cher was back in the mainstream and tearing up clubland with tracks like "All Or Nothing" and "Strong Enough". This second wind didn't last long as she was soon back into the "used to be great but no longer releasing" territory. Apparently there is a new album coming this year that's described as "hardcore dance". We wait and see...!



Singles of the Decade:
1. Believe
2. The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)
3. Love Can Build A Bridge (with Chrissie Hynde, Neneh Cherry and featuring Eric Clapton)
4. Strong Enough
5. Love and Understanding

Album of the Decade: Love Hurts

[Wayne]

She is one of the biggest chameleons in music, and one of the all-time greatest female singers.

The 90s were great for Cher and solidified her legendary status.

[pcdm3]

'Believe' did wonders for her with the youth

[JSparksFan]

I love Bon Jovi and U2 are great as well. I'm not very familiar with Michael Bolton's music but "Said I Loved You...But I Lied" is absolutely phenomenal.

Cher and Tina Turner are absolute legends.

[Lioha]

Cher is amazing! One of my favorite singers ever!
It's increadible for a person who was already popular in 60's be within the top 20 in 90's

[Lemo]

I love Cher. And to be honest I think the 90s was her best decade. I love songs like 'Just Like Jessie James', 'Love Hurts' and 'Believe'

[Muzikritik]

Some great acts here: Blur, Lauryn Hill, Spin Doctors, No Doubt, Coolio...

[matthew_dixon]

175. Travis
Score: 43.52 points
Singles Rank: 338
Albums Rank: 142

At 175, it's the band who were tied to the 90s itself - Scottish indie band Travis. They might be more considered a 00s act, but actually "The Man Who..." was a 90s release, and was one of the defining albums of 1999. The band were "Tied To The 90s" in the middle of the decade as a classic Britpop band, but as 1999 came along, they were "Writing To Reach You", and asking that greatest of 90s questions "What's a 'Wonderwall' anyway?" They also had the phenomenal "Driftwood" and "Turn" with its amazing press-ups-in-the-street video however it was one song they will forver be remembered for.

1999 was a year with its fair share of rain, but there was one thing that guaranteed rain at any festival that summer. Yes, as soon as Travis launched into their big hit "Why Does It Always Rain On Me?" you could be guaranteed it would rain on them! Anyway, classic band, obviously split between the two decades.

Singles of the Decade:
1. Why Does It Always Rain On Me?
2. Turn
3. Writing To Reach You

Album of the Decade: The Man Who...


174. Tori Amos
Score: 43.95 points
Singles Rank: 147
Albums Rank: 210

At 174, it's one of the most interesting female voices of the 90s. Tori Amos never was really a big name commercial star, but she was always critically acclaimed, and always has had a huge fanbase. Classics like "Crucify" and "Cornflake Girl" show off her great and very unique talent. However, neither would give her her biggest hit.

Rather like Florence and the Machine this week, Tori Amos found her biggest hit came courtesy of a dance remix - Armand Van Helden was the man behind the decks and the song was 1997 No. 1 "Professional Widow". Hardly classic Tori, but rather big 90s classic.

Singles of the Decade:
1. Professional Widow (It's Got To Be Big) (Armand Van Helden Remix)
2. Cornflake Girl
3. Crucify

Album of the Decade: Under The Pink


173. Metallica
Score: 44.23 points
Singles Rank: 226
Albums Rank: 159

Rather like Tori Amos, Metallica are another act who are largely here thanks to a very loyal fanbase. Metallica songs and albums have tended to do very well, but because they've never really crossed over to the mainstream, their chart progress has been spectacular - crashing down the chart very quickly.

That's not all they share in common with Tori though, as they too have a biggest charting single which is atypical of their usual style - the gorgeous ballad "Nothing Else Matters". This song is so pop that even Lucie Silvas did a cover of it! Still, it's a fantastic song!

Singles of the Decade:
1. Nothing Else Matters
2. Enter Sandman
3. Until It Sleeps

Album of the Decade: Metallica (The Black Album)


172. Michael Ball
Score: 44.38 points
Singles Rank: 701
Albums Rank: 114

Michael Ball is probably best known for his work on Andrew Lloyd-Webber musicals in the 80s, such as Aspects Of Love, from which he had a huge hit in 1989. The 1990s therefore isn't a decade he's known for, but the name Michael Ball by this point was able to sell albums rather a lot. His singles success was somewhat more limited, aside from the fact that he did represent the UK at Eurovision in 1992, and didn't do all that shabbily.

Singles of the Decade:
1. One Step Out Of Time
2. The Rose
3. From Here To Eternity

Album of the Decade: The Movies


171. New Order
Score: 44.39 points
Singles Rank: 134
Albums Rank: 213

At 171, we have synthpop legends New Order. Formed out of the ashes of Joy Division, New Order are best known for 80s classic "Blue Monday". However they did manage some big 90s success with the likes of "Regret" and a remix of "True Faith". Oddly enough, just like Metallica and Tori Amos before them, New Order are yet another act whose biggest hit of the 90s is far from a defining song of the band's typical style.

When it comes to classic football songs, "Three Lions" will forever be at No. 1. However, 1990's "World In Motion" by New Order tends to come in a strong second these days. Alas, it's less for New Order's singing, and more for John Barnes's unforgettable rap!

Singles of the Decade:
1. World In Motion (with the England World Cup Squad)
2. Regret
3. True Faith

Album of the Decade: ? (The Best Of) / ? (The Rest Of)

[Wayne]

Oh I'm not here for these lessor acts

[TheBiatches]

I ADORE Travis! I think they are fantastic, at least up until "12 Memories". "The Man Who" was my favourite album by them, I think the songs are great and they pretty much feel like anthems.

[CrazyCrazy]

Iron Maiden, Tori, Travis, Lauryn, Blur, Duran Duran, No Doubt, Offspring, Neneh Cherry, Mike Oldfield & Tina are all great acts!! I like a few from Cher as well but she has never remotely been a favourite.