Richard Ashcroft

No 1: Jul 2nd

Not quite the album that Verve fans were waiting for but despite the relatively poor showing of the two leading singles, Richard Ashcroft's first solo album Alone With Everybody debuts at no 1 on July 2nd. Never one to laugh much, Ashcroft smiles contentment with his world on this album, perhaps erring towards the ballad and lacking in the arrogant anger of his previous band. Nevertheless the album has some key moments and as well as the singles tracks to look out for are the moving love-songs On A Beach, Slow Was My Heart and You On my Mind (In My Sleep) and the funky New York.

All Saints

No 1: Oct 22nd

Three years after their debut All Saints release their second album and instantly go one better than the first by debuting at the top on October 22nd. Two classy singles have preceeded the album Pure Shores from the film The Beach and Black Coffee. Both were produced by William Orbit and both were number ones. However this is not an Orbit release - Stuart Zender (ex-Jamiroquai) produces many funky tracks including I Feel You, Distance and All Hooked Up. Reviews so far are mixed with one comparing it to the likes of Black Lace. As a follow-up it's not bad but with three years between albums fans may be disappointed that it is not perfect...

... Abba

No 7: Feb 20th (No 1: Oct 1992, Jan 1999)

Why are Abba so cool again? Well, apart from their Mamma Mia show which is doing the business, all manner of celebrities have recently come out as Abba fans including the Who's Pete Townshend who chose SOS as his single of the twentieth century. That track is on this greatest hits collection, Gold, as are the majority of the Swedish groups successes, from the Eurovision Song Contest winner Waterloo to their final top 10 British hit, One of Us. The most notable exception is their first foray into disco, Summer Night City. The album was one of the Top 10 sellers in 1999 so it's no surprise that it's only spent a couple of weeks in the chart in 2000, peaking at no 7 on February 20th.

... Alice Deejay

No 8: Jul 23rd

Not a solo singer nor a girl band, Alice Deejay are an open-ended DJ and dance collaboration based in Holland with DJs from around Europe. Their first album Who Needs Guitars Anyway? debuts at no 8 on July 23rd. As well as the three hit singles Back In My Life, Will I Ever and Better Off Alone, there are many more tracks in the same vein. In fact unless you are into the pop and dance Ibiza anthem then you may find this album a little tiresome. However summer is here, and if you can't make it to the Balearics, playing this in your front garden might be the next best thing...