Some housekeeping to start.   2015 is continuing to be a remarkably lethargic year for the singles chart – which seems to be in part a consequence of adding streaming data, which (mildly) favours records with enduring appeal and squeezes out what would otherwise have been one-week entries at the lower end of the top 40.  That also means that the records that are making the top 40 are tending to be less interesting on the whole.  That being the case, I’m thinking of putting this feature on hiatus for a bit, or perhaps converting it to a monthly round-up or something.  Instead, I thought I might do some posts on CBeebies, the BBC’s channel for young children.  Because I see a lot of CBeebies these days.  And several people have actually said they’d read it…

Anyhow.

39.  Tough Love featuring Ginuwine – “Pony (Jump On It)”

Re-issue of their first single, after “So Freakin’ Tight” got to number 11 earlier this year.  It’s another of those dance records where the sampling is so extensive and so recognisable that there’s little choice but to acknowledge it as a bootleg remix and give credit to the original artist.  In this case, it’s Ginuwine’s “Pony”, which got to 16 in 1997.  The original has also re-entered the lower reaches of the chart, getting to 62.  Ginuwine is still active, but he hasn’t been in the top 40 since 2003 – which may explain why he was willing to show up for the video for this one.

29.  Selena Gomez featuring A$AP Rocky – “Good For You”

Selena Gomez has a rather patchy track record in the UK; every so often she has a moderately big hit, but those seem to be the ones that cross over beyond a fairly narrow core audience.  Her biggest UK hit remains 2010’s “Naturally” (as “Selena Gomez & The Scene”), which got to number 7.  This is the lead single from her second album, and like most Disney Channel alumni now in their early twenties, she’s repositioning herself as a sultry grown-up.

A$AP Rocky has had two top ten albums, but this is his first appearance in the singles chart.  In an intriguing promotional decision, the video above omits his contribution entirely.

23.  Rita Ora featuring Chris Brown – “Body On Me”

The second single from her second album, released without prior promotion, and without a music video.  And that will no doubt be the explanation offered for why it lands at a distinctly underwhelming 23.  It’s a technically competent song, but if you can listen to Chris Brown in a love song without cringing, you’re a more forgiving man than I am.

1.  Charlie Puth featuring Meghan Trainor – “Marvin Gaye”

Charlie Puth’s second number 1 of the year, after appearing on Wiz Khalifa’s “See You Again” back in April.  It’s a 50s throwback track – in fact, the production might as well have pressed a button for a “Stand By Me” preset – which no doubt explains why Meghan Trainor winds up here as a guest singer.  It’s very much in her wheelhouse.  It’s polished enough, but a bit too slavishly copycat for my taste.  The actual Marvin Gaye did have a UK number 1 hit of his own – “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”, from 1969.  It’s much better than this.

On the album chart:

• “Compton” by Dr Dre at 1.  Only Dre’s third album as a solo artist, and the first to make number 1.  “2001” got to number 4 back in 1999, and his debut “The Chronic”, astonishingly, has never made the albums top 40 (even though it produced a minor hit single in “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang”).  This was released as an iTunes exclusive, which no doubt explains why there’s presently nothing from it (legitimately) available on YouTube to link to.
• “Positive Songs for Negative People” by Frank Turner at 2.  His sixth studio album and the second to get to number 2.  That must be annoying.  Single: “The Next Storm”.
• “Automatic” by Don Broco at 6.  They’re a rock band from Brighton.  It’s been three years since their debut album “Priorities”, which got to 25; either the eroding albums market has worked in their favour, or touring has been helping them.  Single: “Superlove”.
• “Another One” by Mac DeMarco at 24.  Indie Canadian songwriter, finally charting in the UK on his fourth album.  Sample track: “No Other Heart”.
• “Knockin’ Boots” by Julio Bashmore at 25.  UK dance producer; not a genre that traditionally does very well in the album chart.  Single: “Holding On”.  (Which is probably the best thing we’ve had so far.)
• “Genexus” by Fear Factory at 31.  Sounds like a rejected mid-nineties X-book, doesn’t it?  This is the first time Fear Factory have made the album chart since 2001, though they charted four times before that (and in fairness, their 2004 album got to 41).  Single: “Dielectric”.