The tradition of a quiet opening to the chart year was shattered in the U.K. yesterday (Jan. 7) by the arrival of an all-new top three on the singles chart. Debuting at No. 1 was London-based Portuguese producer Rui Da Silva's club anthem "Touch Me," featuring vocalist Cassandra and released by Kismet/Arista. Unlike many crossover dance hits, which struggle for mainstream radio support, the track has already been a top-10 U.K. airplay hit. The chart-topping debut knocked the holiday No. 1, "Can We Fix It?" by Bob The Builder (BBC Music), down to No. 4. In a chart blip, the No. 2 entry, while new to the top-40, was actually the biggest climber in the history of the U.K. top-75 chart. Pop act Steps saw their latest Ebul/Jive release, "It's The Way You Make Me Feel," creep onto the survey at No. 72 last week, charting in error as a result of about 1,000 copies being sold before the single's official Jan. 1 release date. Backed by their cover of Marvin Gaye's "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby," from the pre-Christmas "Motown Mania" U.K. TV special, the title climbed 70 places to No. 2. Meanwhile, Fragma -- the dance duo whose "Toca's Miracle" was the U.K.'s seventh-best-selling single of 2000 -- arrived at No. 3 with the Positiva follow-up "Everytime You Need Me," featuring singer Maria Rubia. The dance flavor continued with "Komodo (Save A Soul)" by Italian producer Mauro Picotto on VC Recordings, the week's other prominent new entry at No. 13. Parlophone enjoyed a good week on the album chart, as the Beatles' Apple compilation "1," marketed by the EMI label, spent its eighth week at No. 1, while the label's 2000 breakthrough band Coldplay celebrated six months on the chart with "Parachutes" by vaulting back 8-2. The album is certified quadruple platinum (1.2 million units). Across Europe, Eminem's "Stan" is still on top of Music & Media's Eurochart Hot 100 Singles tally for the Jan. 13 issue, with teenage French star Alize achieving Sales Breaker honors with "L'Alize" (Polydor) as it moves to No. 1 in France. "1" again is No. 1 on the European Top 100 Albums chart.