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Posted by: Gezza 21st March 2024, 08:08 PM

Well hello there, we're doing some step back in time action as we rewind to the beginning of the 80s!

The British Market Research Bureau (BMRB) were in charge of collecting data and compiling the charts from 1969 to 1982 and panel sales for the 1980-1982 period have recently come to light so I bring this thread for your entertainment. Be prepared to finally have some light thrown on the mysterious pre-Gallup era! Thanks as usual go to Robbie and Kobyhadrian for the raw data.

The Multiplier and panel sales

There is some debate over the exact multiplier used for the years 1980-1982 as these were compiled by BMRB and not Gallup. Therefore there is some element of guestimation involved here on what we do with the raw panel sales, we also don’t have weekly panel sales like we do for post 1982. Instead we do have monthly panel sales so whilst we can’t be sure on the weekly front we do know the monthly figures which is more accurate than ever before. For the avoidance of doubt I have used 13 as the multiplier for 1980.


So sit back and enjoy the delights of the year when things went atomic in

Posted by: Jade 21st March 2024, 08:11 PM

Oh I'm all over the early 80s so can't wait for this 1981 is one of my favourite years for chart music but plenty of good stuff either side of it too.

Posted by: dandy* 21st March 2024, 08:34 PM

Really looking forward to this. I don't know the charts so well from this era, even though I know I like a lot of the genres and styles that were popular at the time.

Posted by: Jessie Where 21st March 2024, 11:44 PM

First time hearing of BMRB Ooops

Posted by: Steve201 22nd March 2024, 01:10 AM

Yeh I chose this era ahead of the 1988 thread as described by Gezza it’s more mysterious and further back to a different music era completely when the sound of the music hits was even not what we hear today. So it’ll be fun to see the fledgling development of todays genres!

Posted by: Bjork 22nd March 2024, 07:30 AM

But I don't understand, if there were only monthly sales available, how do you go from monthly to weekly sales?

Posted by: Popchartfreak 22nd March 2024, 09:55 AM

should be good! When the charts changed to Gallup there was a very obvious change in weekly chart movements, more records yo-yoing up and down rather than smooth trajectories up and down, most likely due to Top Of The Pops having a more pronounced initial effect on sales, which seemed to filter through quicker and bigger. I still think Golden Brown would have topped the chart under BMRB but I have zero proof of that so it'll be fascinating to see how close sales were then...

Posted by: Gezza 22nd March 2024, 10:18 AM

QUOTE(Bjork @ Mar 22 2024, 07:30 AM)

Posted by: Smint 23rd March 2024, 09:45 AM

As working from home I spent a LOT of time listening to the end of year top UK 100s starting from 1978 onwards so will know all these hits extremely well.

1980-1982 are easily the most interesting years of the 80s IMO as top 10 music was rawer, less formed back then and became more and more polished and commercial as the decade went on (although 88 and 89 appeal to me as love dance music from that time). There's lots of big stars and very well known hits this year though so something for everyone

Posted by: Bjork 23rd March 2024, 09:48 AM

I'm 100% the opposite but I think It's cos I started following the chart as a kid from 1986-87 on

Posted by: Steve201 23rd March 2024, 12:40 PM

I’m with Smint - he’s exactly right the music was rawer and developing still in terms of synth pop/New Romantics/New Wave whereas by 84 the record companies controlled the talent more.

Obviously not to suggest that there were no amazing songs there always are but it was a lot more defined.

Even the TOTP studio reflected this. In 1980 it was like a group of mates going to play music by 83/84 it was like a commercial tv studio with glitz and glamour and by 89 they didn’t even bother having the audience near the artists ��

Posted by: Gezza 23rd March 2024, 06:51 PM

12TH JANUARY



A new decade may very well have dawned but Pink Floyd won't have noted it as they start of the 80s exactly as they finished the 70s with the No 1 song in the land "Another Brick In The Wall" which shifts a further 92,000 last week to take its overall tally to in excess of 820,000 over the course of last 7 weeks and now looks certain to pass the million mark sometime this year. Naturally its sales plummet from the 200,000 plus of last week but it still managed to keep clear of Abba who spend a fourth week as the bridesmaids in this chart battle.



Selling a further 71,000 copies they pulled nearer to Pink Floyd than in any other previous week but the steep decline of both songs must mean that their respective time is up at the top. That almost happened this week as The Pretenders ran them very close for the runner up spot with "Brass In Pocket" which slides sales wise but is holding up rather well with 65,000 copies passing over the counter.



The top 4 are quite a bit clear of the rest of the field with just two tracks climbing into the top 10. First up are Birmingham's "The Beat" who manage to score parent label 2tone a second top 10 hit in just months, the label of course being set up by Jerry Dammers of the Specials who gave his group the labels first top 10 hit in November with "A Message To You/ Nite Klub". This time around it is labelmates The Beat cover of "Tears Of A Clown" that does the trick, and yes it is a cover of the Smokey Robinson & The Miracles 1970 chart topper. It actually only managed to increase sales minimally but jumps 17-6 due to everything else around it collapsing, it sold 48,000.





Better known for their disco output KC & The Sunshine Band return to the big 10 today and the US No 1 spot with "Please Don't Go on sale of 48,000. It's their first top tenner since "That's The Way (I Like It)" five years ago and looks like a possible contender for a similar chart position here as it has achieved stateside.



The remaining tracks in the top 10 are all falling in the post Christmas slump and with memories of those Christmas parties fading so does Fiddler's Dram (61,000) who move 3-4,

The Tourists similarly drop 1 to 5 (52,000), Sugarhill gang drop to 8 (41,000), Former No 1 from the Police "Walking On The Moon" continues to descend gently to No 9 (33,000) and the Three Degrees round off the top 10 with a non mover (32,000).

1- ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL- Pink Floyd (92,000)
2- I HAVE A DREAM- Abba (71,000)
3- BRASS IN POCKET- The Pretenders (65,000)
4- DAY TRIP TO BANGOR- Fiddler’s Dram (61,000)
5- I ONLY WANT TO BE WITH YOU- The Tourists (52,000)
6- TEARS OF A CLOWN/ RANKING FULL STOP- The Beat (48,000)
7- PLEASE DON’T GO- K.C & The Sunshine Band (48,000)
8- RAPPER’S DELIGHT- Sugarhill Gang (41,000)
9- WALKING ON THE MOON- The Police(33,000)
10- MY SIMPLE HEART- Three Degrees (32,000)

Posted by: TheSnake 23rd March 2024, 07:48 PM

'Another Brick In The Wall' is obviously a classic. 'Brass In Pocket' until recently I thought was from the mid 80s it has that 'jangle pop' guitar sound that was popular all through out the 80s. I am so used to the KWS/Double You versions of 'Please Don't Go', it's a good song. 'I Have A Dream' is lovely and a classic. 'Rappers Delight' is obviously iconic.

Posted by: Jade 23rd March 2024, 07:57 PM

'Another Brick In The Wall' is one of my favourite Christmas #1s - wonderful end to 70s chart-toppers and beginning of 80s ones 'Rapper's Delight' is another big standout there!

Posted by: Steve201 23rd March 2024, 09:21 PM

This first top 10 of the 80s has many hark backs to bands that symbolised the decade just past - Abba, The Three Degrees, KC and the Sunshine Band and glimpses of the big new genres and bands of the decade to come like The Police, The Beat, Rappers Delight!

Posted by: Smint 23rd March 2024, 10:06 PM

I'm a massive Pink Floyd fan and could write a thesis about 'The Wall' album. I won't but this was a very unexpected no.1 as they had been an albums band only once Syd Barrett left the band in the late 60s. 'The Wall' album overall is an acquired taste - very vast, deep and depressing in places (I love it though) but was a stroke of inspired genius to put a disco beat behind this track and release as a single
An iconic animation by Gerald Scarfe of teacher putting children through meat grinders and hey presto a million seller.

The Police 'Walking on.the Moon' was a very atmospheric, moody track too. Great when I finally got into it.

I didn't actually know 'Day Trip to Bangor' so am listening to it for first (and probably) last time. Hmmm, maybe you had to be there to get the joke or something....

Not massively fan of KC and Sunshine's band's 'Please Dont Go' but a million times better than the KWS monstrosity in 1992!

Posted by: jimwatts 23rd March 2024, 10:52 PM

A Top 3 of Pink Floyd, ABBA and The Pretenders not a bad way to start the decade!

Posted by: dandy* 23rd March 2024, 11:20 PM

My favourites from the first chart are Sugarhill Gang, The Tourists, Pretenders and The Police. Not a fan of the #1 song at all, had forgotten that we'd be starting with the track that gave me nightmares as a kid

Posted by: Steve201 24th March 2024, 12:57 AM

Sales for the Christmas no1 in 1979 were huge!

Also, love how the 70s had so many originals that would become dance classics in the 90s like Please Don’t Go!

Posted by: Bjork 24th March 2024, 08:21 AM

oh come on Pretenders, that's my fav in the top 10, love love it!!

Not crazy about that top 2, never been into Pink Floyd and that's one of ABBA's weakest hits for me

Posted by: Gezza 24th March 2024, 04:35 PM

19TH JANUARY



All Change at the top of the charts with the first new No 1 single of the decade which comes in the form of the Pretenders. Chrissie Hynde's boys have had two previous hit "Stop Your Sobbing" and "Kid" both stalled outside the top 20 during last year, a fate which "Brass In Pocket" looked like sharing as it rose 57-48-47-33-30 pre Christmas, however it seemed to catch the public interest as it burst into the Christmas top 10 selling over 200,000 copies during 1979 and this week increases sales to a very respectable (for January) 76,000 copies this week taking the tally to 356,000 as it reaches the No 1 spot, could it end up a million seller?



Proving that keeping that top spot won't be a walkover for the Pretenders are Billy Preston and Syreeta who bolt from 11-2 this week with "With You I'm Born Again". The track is taken from the forthcoming film "Fast Break" and is co-penned by David Shire who of course had a hand in the Saturday Night Fever" film soundtrack that you may have lingering in your record collection. The appearance on Top Of the Pops helped the track to leapfrog over KC & Sunshine Band's "Please Don't Go" which looked to have the No 2 position all sewed up, just 1,000 copies separated the pair with sales of 72,000 and 71,000 respectively.



One place beneath KC rests Madness, proving that their last hits ability to make the magic 10 "One Step Beyond" was no one off. "My Girl" becomes both their fastest rising hit and now highest peaking as it sprints to No 4 on sales of 60,000. It's the third release from the "nutty boys" all of which are available on their debut album which saw the light of day back in October. Band member Mike Barson wrote the song about his girlfriend in case you were curious- wonder if she's forgiven him?



Also powering up the charts at No 6 are the Nolans, improving considerably on the No 33 peak of "Spirit, Body and Soul" last November. Since that hit one Nolan has recently left the band (Anne) and been replaced by another (Coleen) full time and changed their name from the Nolan Sisters. Of course the act have been staple on the TV for last few years after debuting on Cliff Richard's show "Stuck On You" and have supported the likes of Englebert Humperdink and Frank Sinatra and failed in last years "A song for Europe" losing out to Black Lace. They finally get a hit today with "I'm In The Mood For Dancing" with sales of 56,000.

Elsewhere in the top 10 Pink Floyd finally give up the top spot after 5 weeks sliding 1-5 (58,000), Abba fall further moving 2-7 (45,000) The Beat collapse 6-8 (32,000), Fiddler's Dram fall 4-9 (31,000) and The Tourists just hang in there 5-10 (29,000).

1- BRASS IN POCKET- The Pretenders (76,000)
2- WITH YOU I’M BORN AGAIN- Billy Preston & Syreeta (72,000)
3- PLEASE DON’T GO- KC & The Sunshine Band (71,000)
4- MY GIRL- Madness (60,000)
5- ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL- Pink Floyd (58,000)
6- I’M IN THE MOOD FOR DANCING- The Nolans (56,000)
7- I HAVE A DREAM- Abba (45,000)
8- TEARS OF A CLOWN/ RANKING FULL STOP- The Beat (32,000)
9- A DAY TRIP TO BANGOR- Fiddlers Dram (31,000)
10- I ONLY WANT TO BE WITH YOU- The Tourists (29,000)




I made a few of these but they took so long and got blocked but I'll embed the ones I did!

So the top 10 in ITV chart show stylee!

Posted by: Jade 24th March 2024, 05:45 PM

'Brass In Pocket' has grown on me soooo much over the years, another good #1!

'With You I'm Born Again' doesn't sound like my kind of thing at all on paper but I have a slight soft spot for it, has a haunting quality and they sound great together

Posted by: Bjork 24th March 2024, 09:05 PM

oh great #1 for Pretenders, phenomenal single

same as Jade, I also have a soft spot for With You I'm Born Again. I used to have a Best of the 80s compilation and this was track 1

always had a soft spot for the Nolans track too

Posted by: TheSnake 24th March 2024, 09:20 PM

Not a massive fan of Madness but I think 'My Girl' is one of my favourite songs of there's.

'With You I'm Born Again' just sounds like a big throwback to the 50s charts when orchestral ballads like this were common.

Posted by: jimwatts 24th March 2024, 09:52 PM

Fantastic #1 for The Pretenders, they had a great run of early singles of which 'Kid' is my favourite but this comes close.
I also have a soft spot for 'I'm In The Mood For Dancing'

Posted by: Steve201 24th March 2024, 09:55 PM

Ah Madness enter for the first of many times this decade. Also, didn’t realise that Nolan’s song was an 80s hit, always thought they were huge in the 77-79 period. And of course the no1 is a classic, they deserved far more successful singles than they got The Pretenders!

Posted by: King Rollo 24th March 2024, 10:03 PM

I do quite like the Nolans' song and My Girl is a good one from Madness. Brass In Pocket is a fine no.1 single, taking over from an even better one, Another Brick In the Wall.

Posted by: Smint 24th March 2024, 11:11 PM

Very contrasting top 2 but both great tracks. I agree with TheSnake that Pretenders sounds very ahead of its time whereas Billy Preston/Syreeta sounds very 70s with its haunting, flowing orchestral feel. Reminds me a bit of the late 70s ballads from Minnie Riperton (Loving You) and Rose Royce ('Wishing on a Star', 'Love Don't Live Here Anymore').

Madness - don't think I ever loved a song by then but neither really disliked one - 'My Girl' was okay.

The Nolans - 'I'm in the Mood For Dancing' was an excellent track - a bop as they would say now. Of course we were lumbered with one of the band members who became a reactionary presenter on daytime Television but hey ho!

Posted by: Dotty New Year 25th March 2024, 03:52 AM

Guess i'm the odd one out then, I find the #2 quite crap. Pretenders is a great #1 though.

Posted by: Gezza 25th March 2024, 04:48 PM

26TH JANUARY



Sales increase by just 10% but The Pretenders remain easily the biggest selling single of the past 7 days, it sales of 84,000 aren't too shabby for a January chart topper as total sales are just shy of the 400,000 now. The possible threat from Billy Preston and Syreeta never materialised as their sales increased by a similar 10% to 79,000 indicating that it may not have the legs to trouble the top spot after all.

Not so for Madness, on paper it moves just one place from 4 to 3 yet its sales spiral 24% to 74,000 and was outstripping "With You I'm Born Again" on Saturday with ease. If it repeats that increase it would seriously challenge for No 1 next week.

The Nolans are also far from done as "I'm In The Mood For Dancing" continues to rise all the way to No 4 this week with another 26% hike in sales to 70,000.



There's 4 new hits in the top 10 this week as we get a Christmas clear out. First up are US band Styx who first made the top 10 in the US back in 1975 but over here we've been immune to their charms until "Babe" that is. A US No 1 single last month it makes the journey over the Atlantic to rise 17-6 and it would foolish to dismiss its ability to be a chart topper here as well.



Just behind Styx are Booker T & The MG's whose "Green Onions" climbs from 12 to 7 with a sale of 51,000 just 2,000 behind "Babe". The track was originally a No 3 hit in the US in 1962 but did nothing when released here. The re-issue was instantly more popular even though the group disbanded just under 10 years ago though they have reunited for several concerts since. The reason for it's re-issue? It's used in the recent film "Quadrophenia" which was released back in November.



Also new to the ten are Dr Hook, "Better Love Next Time" is of course follow up the No 1 single "When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman" and takes just a month to climb into the top rung selling 42,000 and is the bands fifth top 10 hit.



They've just scored their first US top 100 hit but it's hit number four for Thereza Bazar and David Van Day in the UK as Dollar. Their cover of the Beatles "I Want To Hold Your Hand" finally makes the top 10 on its tenth week in the charts selling a healthy 39,000 though it has some way to go to match the original million selling 1963 version.

Not mentioned already, KC & The Sunshine Band drop two to No 5 (55,000) and former No 1 from Pink Floyd drop a further five spots to No 10 (37,000) as its sales move over the 900,000 mark, whether or not it passes the million depends on a slow descent from here on in.

1- BRASS IN POCKET- The Pretenders (84,000)
2- WITH YOU I’M BORN AGAIN- Billy Preston & Syreeta (79,000)
3- MY GIRL- Madness (74,000)
4- I’M IN THE MOOD FOR DANCING- The Nolans (70,000)
5- PLEASE DON’T GO- KC & The Sunshine Band (55,000)
6- BABE- Styx (53,000)
7- GREEN ONIONS- Booker T & The MG’s (51,000)
8- BETTER LOVE NEXT TIME- Dr Hook (42,000)
9- I WANNA HOLD YOUR HAND- Dollar (39,000)
10- ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL- Pink Floyd (37,000)

Posted by: TheSnake 25th March 2024, 06:58 PM

Green Onions is the 60s guitar tune everyone knows but can't put a name to!

The Styx ballad is quite good, kind of forgotten though now.

Posted by: Bjork 25th March 2024, 07:20 PM

never heard any of those newbies before
surprised Please Don't Go peaked at #3, was sure it had been a #1

Posted by: Jade 25th March 2024, 07:21 PM

Yeah I'd say both 'Green Onions' and 'Soul Limbo' by Booker T & The MG's are very recognisable tunes but difficult to put a name to - shame the latter (which is heavily associated with cricket) stalled at #30 in the 60s, but great that 'Green Onions' got a revival thanks to Quadrophenia.

Posted by: Steve201 25th March 2024, 07:26 PM

I actually forgot The Tourists was Annie Lennox old band!

Posted by: dandy* 25th March 2024, 07:32 PM

I absolutely love Green Onions, was not expecting that from 1980 at all!


A bit late but that Madness song is also pretty decent. One of their better songs but, like others, I don't think I can say that I think anything they've done is amazing

Posted by: Jester 25th March 2024, 07:45 PM

I never knew that song was called Green Onions! I also assumed it was a 60s song.

Posted by: Smint 25th March 2024, 08:12 PM

One great track 'Green Onions' - don't actually know it but sounds lovely and surprised it's as old as 1962. Would have placed it late 60s. That Dr Hook I didn't know either but sounds pleasant like most of their tracks. I don't think we needed a cover of 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand' and especially not this version!

Styx 'Babe' is cheesy slush with no redeeming features whatsoever.

Posted by: Dotty New Year 25th March 2024, 09:03 PM

Green Onions is a classic! I was already aware this one got a re-release and top 10 peak in the 80s and brilliant that it did.

Shame Madness couldn't quite make it to #2.

Posted by: Bjork 26th March 2024, 08:04 AM

that Beatles cover is so useless

Posted by: Bjork 26th March 2024, 08:06 AM

QUOTE(Steve201 @ Mar 25 2024, 08:26 PM)

Posted by: Gezza 26th March 2024, 02:31 PM

2ND FEBRUARY



2Tone comes of age today with its first chart topper in the form of The Specials whose "Special AKA Live EP" moves from 15-1 today, the last time a track climbed to the top from outside the top 10 was last June when the Boomtown Rats achieved that with an identical 15-1 climb for "I Don't Like Mondays". In many ways that wasn't the story of this week on the charts as it all started out quite differently with Madness' "My Girl" topping initial sales flashes narrowly ahead of The Pretenders but the power of Top Of The Pops proved too great again with both "Brass In Pocket" and "Too Much Too Young" getting valuable exposure and both sprinting ahead of the nutty boys. Sales of 88,000 earned The Specials No 1, 16,000 ahead of the Pretenders and Madness who had only a few hundred between them.





The Nolans sold virtually the same at No 4 (67,000) as last week and refuse to move, but the top 4 are over 20,000 copies clear of the remainder of the chart with Joe Jackson's "It's Different For Girls" moving 12-5 (44,000) to become his first top 10 hit and beating the peak of his debut hit "Is She Really Going Out With him" last year. It's taken from his second album "I'm The Man" Illustrating an admirable work rate for such a new act.





Moving with pace up the charts 33-10 is Kenny Rogers who proves once again that you can never quite write him off. After scoring two big hits in 1969/70 it took another seven years for Rogers to return the charts but then he made No 1 with "Lucille", he's never been back in the top 30 since but this week "Coward Of The County" rectifies that. A country tale of revenge and putting right some wrongs, it seems to have captured the public imagination, we'll see how high this can go its sales of 42,000 brings its collective tally to 58,000 in total so far.



Bad news for the remainder of the top 10 as they all fall. Billy Preston and Syreeta tumble four places 2-6 (43,000), Styx move back one spot 6-7 (42,000), KC & The Sunshine band slip 3 (5-8, 42,000) and Booker T & The MG's fall 2 places (7-9, 42,00) in an incredibly packed lower top 10 with just over 1,500 copies separating No's 6 and 10.

1- TOO MUCH TOO YOUNG- The Specials (88,000)
2- BRASS IN POCKET- The Pretenders (72,000)
3- MY GIRL- Madness (72,000)
4- I’M IN THE MOOD FOR DANCING- The Nolans (67,000)
5- IT’S DIFFERENT FOR GIRLS- Joe Jackson (44,000)
6- WITH YOU I’M BORN AGAIN- Billy Preston & Syreeta (43,000)
7- BABE- Styx (42,000)
8- PLEASE DON’T GO- KC & The Sunshine Band (42,000)
9- GREEN ONIONS- Booker T & The MG’s (42,000)
10- COWARD OF THE COUNTY- Kenny Rogers (42,000)

Posted by: Bjork 26th March 2024, 02:57 PM

but The Specials and The Special AKA were the same thing?

Posted by: Gezza 26th March 2024, 03:04 PM

QUOTE(Bjork @ Mar 26 2024, 02:57 PM)

Posted by: Bjork 26th March 2024, 03:06 PM

ouch that Kenny Rogers is a 0/10 for me, country music at its worst, horrible lyrics and story
the Joe Jackson song is average and the Specials is ok I guess but not really my thing

Posted by: Dotty New Year 26th March 2024, 04:31 PM

Fantastic additions from the Specials and Joe Jackson. Two brilliant tracks.

Never realised how unlucky Madness were not to peak higher than #3 with My Girl given the trajectory of these past two weeks.

The Kenny Rogers song is horrendous.

Posted by: dandy* 26th March 2024, 07:14 PM

Joe Jackson is my favourite this time. Not a song I listen to really but I do always enjoy it when I hear it, best be off to add it to my 80s playlist before I forget all about it again

Posted by: King Rollo 26th March 2024, 07:41 PM

It's Different For Girls by Joe Jackson is a fantastic song. Babe by Styx was a fairly good soft rock ballad.

Posted by: jimwatts 26th March 2024, 07:45 PM

'Too Much Too Young' is such a blast, especially in its live form on this single. The decade began with three excellent #1s in a row!

Posted by: TheSnake 26th March 2024, 07:49 PM

Some other top 20 hits at this time that are iconic/that I really like



#11 a pretty iconic record and album



Reaching #13 An early synthpop hit, I have seen it in some 80s electronic compilation CDs, surprisingly I don't think the synthpop genre was that common in the charts at this point.



#18 and 11 weeks top 40 - iconic space disco hit, you'll recognize the tune as it was sampled by Alcazar.

Posted by: Dotty New Year 26th March 2024, 07:53 PM

London Calling is timeless

Posted by: TheSnake 26th March 2024, 08:13 PM

The Joe Jackson song I don't really like compared to "Is She Really Going Out With Him" which is like an ancestor to the whole pop-punk sound.

The Specials song/EP sounds good but I don't know it very well. Its one of only a few EPs to make UK #1 there was Five Live From George Michael EP and Erasure's ABBA covers one in the 90s but I can't remember any more.

Posted by: Dotty New Year 26th March 2024, 08:24 PM

Demis Roussos with The Roussos Phenomenon is one that comes to mind.

Posted by: dandy* 26th March 2024, 08:37 PM

Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Che EP?

Posted by: Dotty New Year 26th March 2024, 08:41 PM

QUOTE(dandy* @ Mar 26 2024, 08:37 PM)

Posted by: dandy* 26th March 2024, 08:46 PM

OMG where on earth did you pull that memory from?

Posted by: Steve201 26th March 2024, 09:03 PM

QUOTE(Bjork @ Mar 26 2024, 08:06 AM)

Posted by: Dotty New Year 26th March 2024, 09:03 PM

QUOTE(dandy* @ Mar 26 2024, 08:46 PM)

OMG where on earth did you pull that memory from?

Posted by: Gezza 26th March 2024, 09:07 PM

QUOTE(Steve201 @ Mar 26 2024, 09:03 PM)

Posted by: Dotty New Year 26th March 2024, 09:10 PM

Eurythmics is the better name imo.

Posted by: Smint 27th March 2024, 01:42 AM

Best new song musically is definitely The Special's 'Too Much Too Young' (and wow at how fast it got to no.1) BUT the lyrics are incredibly misogynistic with the singer blaming an ex (presumably) for having a child instead of being with him with lyrics such as 'Haven't you heard of contraception' and 'Try wearing a cap'. Slightly shocking

The Joe Jackson track is pleasant enough but don't quite get the hype. Kenny Rogers track is boring but not as offended as others here are. Don't think I can be bothered to listen to the lyrics closely of this one.

Posted by: Bjork 27th March 2024, 07:27 AM

for what I recall, Annie and Dave were not writing songs in Tourists, the main songwriter was someone else

Posted by: Popchartfreak 27th March 2024, 10:59 AM

fond memories of my final year at uni here, taping them onto cassette to play loudly which sometimes annoyed Bev in the room upstairs if she wasnt out on Teaching Practice. Most of them I love and they sound wonderful in the clubs, a lot of them I was dancing to the other week in London on a night out. I was not however dancing to Kenny Rogers which I hated, as a non-violent person, the idea that you had to take revenge to be a "man" was and still is morally wrong while pandering to macho stereotype bullsh*t.

The Specials on the other hand were making socially aware songs, and Too Much Too Young is pretty much good advice fighting against the working class stereotype that you leave school at 16 get a job, get pregnant, get married - it might come over as judgemental, but that was society prior to the 80's when things started to change a bit. It's an attempt to say "enjoy being young, get some cash first, plan ahead". My mum and my Aunty Norma (who I saw yesterday) both married at 18, and I was shortly on the way, so I'm obv very grateful they did - but we were poverty-stricken in the old-fashioned sense of the word, as in had the clothes you had passed down and nothing much else beyond inexpensive food until dad joined the RAF and escaped the poverty-trap of Northern coal-mining town living.

Not just pop music then

Posted by: jimwatts 27th March 2024, 01:41 PM

That's also my impression of 'Too Much Too Young', it's discourse on the working class male fear of women, rather than The Specials advocating misogyny themselves. This sort of social commentary mostly disappeared from popular music later in the 1980s.

Posted by: Gezza 27th March 2024, 04:07 PM

9TH FEBRUARY



A week of consolidation as The Specials remain on top with "Too Much Too Young" on a strong sale of 109,000 returning the chart topping single to six figure sums for the first time in the decade and brings its accumulated total to 228,000. It should be noted that the track borrows from a 1969 track "Birth Control" by Lloyd Charmers which wasn't a hit here but is certainly getting a second chance in the limelight now, and whole package is only the 2nd EP top the charts following in the footsteps of Demis Roussos in 1976.



Rising at an alarming rate and showing distinct signs of a future No 1 is Kenny Rogers whose "Coward Of The County" accelerates 10-2 on sales of 62,000, that's an increase of 49% over last week, suddenly that Specials winning margin looks less secure now!

The Nolans and Madness swap places at No's 3 & 4 respectively, but both records are now in decline saleswise- The Nolans off 13% to 58,000 and Madness slide 19% to slip behind the Irish sisters by a matter of 300 sales. Also reaping a sales benefit (though not chart positions) is Joe Jackson who holds at No 5 on an improved tally of 55,000 but Styx's "Babe" bounces 7-6, also with 55,000 buyers.



The sole new entry to the top 10 comes from the Boomtown Rats with "Someone's Looking At You" selling 38,000. That's a good improvement on their last outing "Diamond Smiles" which peaked at No 13 before Christmas and was a marked comedown after a couple of No 1 hits, it's now their fourth top 10 hit from 8 releases.



Everything else moves south, former No 1 "Brass In Pocket" tumbles 2-7 (40,000), Billy Preston & Syreeta drop 3 (6-9, 35,000) and Booker T & MG's drop a place (9-10, 33,000)

1- TOO MUCH TOO YOUNG- The Specials (109,000)
2- COWARD OF THE COUNTY- Kenny Rogers (62,000)
3- I’M IN THE MOOD FOR DANCING- The Nolans (58,000)
4- MY GIRL- Madness (58,000)
5- IT’S DIFFERENT FOR GIRLS- Joe Jackson (55,000)
6- BABE- Styx (55,000)
7- BRASS IN POCKET- The Pretenders (40,000)
8- SOMEONE’S LOOKING AT YOU- Boomtown Rats (38,000)
9- WITH YOU I’M BORN AGAIN- Billy Preston & Syreeta (35,000)
10- GREEN ONIONS- Booker T & The MG’s (33,000)

Posted by: Bjork 27th March 2024, 07:39 PM

Really like the Boomtown Rats one, great band even though I'm not a fan of Bob Geldof

Posted by: TheSnake 27th March 2024, 08:09 PM

'Someone's Looking At You' is very good.



This #31 hit at the time has become a quite iconic early electronic tune, certainly sounds great for its time.



Only made #23 Thought it was a top 10 hit in the UK, its pretty famous as it made #1 in the US. Don't like it much myself some of the lyrics are a bit patronising.

And what the hell, this only made #32 in the UK? I have liked this song for a long time, used to be popular on disco night on The X Factor!

Posted by: Smint 27th March 2024, 10:00 PM

I absolutely love Boomtown Rats breakthrough in 1978 'Like Clockwork' and,of course, the legendary 'I Don't Like Mondays'. This track isn't quite as good as those two but still a corker.

Posted by: Steve201 27th March 2024, 10:15 PM

They were on their way downwards by this stage only had one more top 10 I think!

Posted by: Dotty New Year 27th March 2024, 11:18 PM

The Pina Colada Song is for sure one of those "I can't believe that peaked so low" tracks.

Posted by: Smint 28th March 2024, 08:47 AM

Well like many cases when comparing UK and US charts I think we got it right with 'Pina Colada' (or even better if flopped completely)
Didn't know it but it's awful on first play.

Great having the non top 10 tracks too - great stuff both Gezza and TheSnake!

Posted by: Popchartfreak 28th March 2024, 11:12 AM

loved The Boomtown Rats, the critics always had it in for them as not being "proper punk", possibly due to Bob being a gobby opinionated eloquent journo just like them. Went to see then after the hits dried up and they were still cracking. The only reason band Aid/Live Aid/charity records in general became a thing was due to Geldof being pushy and badgering busy pop stars to develop a conscience for a day, so that all worked out pretty well.

I loved Pina Colada, witty and amusing laid back story pop of 2 wanna be adulterers Rupert Holmes had an early flop I bought late 1974 called Our National Pastime, all about dating in America set to the tune of the US national anthem. Quite cute. Havent heard it in decades, but I will later this year when I get to my late 1974 re-reviews...

Posted by: dandy* 28th March 2024, 11:37 AM

Underpass! My first ever entry to the retro forum song contest

There was a remix (not majorly different but updated in terms of sound quality) a few years back that I really enjoy - there's three different lengths of it but this one is the edit

Posted by: TheSnake 28th March 2024, 01:41 PM

QUOTE(Smint @ Mar 28 2024, 08:47 AM)

Posted by: Gezza 28th March 2024, 04:35 PM

16TH FEBRUARY



1980 keeps on turning over the No 1 hits with The Specials failing to make it three weeks at the top as they slide to No 2 on sales of 72,000 a decline of 34% which suggests its appeal is more fleeting that 15-1 surge a fortnight ago might hint, at any rate it has a solid healthy total of 300,000 since its release 4 weeks ago. That means that at the top is Kenny Rogers who becomes the first act to score top 2 hits in the 60s, 70s and 80s as "Coward Of The County" becomes the new UK No 1 single with a further increase of sales of 41% to triumph by 15,000 copies and that DESPITE no TOTP performance this week implying that it could explode at retail in 7 days time.



A good week for Bob Geldof and the boys as "Someone's Looking At You" moves 8-4 (65,000) with an outside chance it could make the top, even the Nolans profit from another TOTP performance as their sales swell to 72,000 this week losing out to the Specials by under 700 copies- are there legs left on the track at this late stage?



An intake of 3 tracks to the top 10 this weeks allows for plenty of discussion this week. First up is Keith Michell is much more famous as a serious actor but he lends his voice to some poetry by Jeremy Lloyd which was first put to music three years ago by Jim Parker and spawned a successful album. With Volume II imminent Michell voices "Captain Beaky" the lead character in the poems and finds himself in the top 10 climbing 15-5 (61,000). The track actually appears on Volume I which has been championed by Noel Edmunds who gets his reward by becoming narrator on a couple of tracks on Volume II later this year.





Next up are the Whispers who have been going since the mid 60s with only middling success in the US and virtually nothing here, but all that changes this week with "And The Beat Goes On" which rises 18-6 (47,000) and maybe worth watching over the next couple of weeks- who says disco is dead?





The last new entry comes in from 12-8 (43,000) for Jon & Vangelis. Jon is of course lead vocalist with the band Yes and this is the first fruits of the collaboration with Vangelis who he met when considering him as a replacement in the band for Rick Wakeman 6 years ago. With Jon Anderson now confirming he has left the group this may become his vehicle of choice for chart success based on this hit.



Those tracks not mentioned yet include Joe Jackson (5-7, 45,000), Styx (6-9, 42,000) and Madness (4-10, 42,000) who could all be looking at their last week In the top 10.

1- COWARD OF THE COUNTY- Kenny Rogers (87,000)
2- TOO MUCH TOO YOUNG- The Specials (72,000)
3- I’M IN THE MOOD FOR DANCING- The Nolans (72,000)
4- SOMEONE’S LOOKING AT YOU- Boomtown Rats (65,000)
5- CAPTAIN BEAKY- Keith Michell (61,000)
6- AND THE BEAT GOES ON- The Whispers (47,000)
7- IT’S DIFFERENT FOR GIRLS- Joe Jackson (45,000)
8- I HEAR YOU NOW- Jon & Vangelis (43,000)
9- BABE- Styx (42,000)
10- MY GIRL- Madness (42,000)

Posted by: TheSnake 28th March 2024, 04:52 PM

I absolutely love 'And The Beat Goes On' just disco perfection

My dad likes the band Yes so I know of them and singer Jon, I assumed up to recently that their better known I'll Find My Way Home was a one hit wonder for Jon and Vangelis.

Posted by: Jessie Where 28th March 2024, 05:24 PM

Echoing the Whispers love

Posted by: King Rollo 28th March 2024, 05:37 PM

And The Beat Goes On is a good one. I Hear You Now by Jon and Vangelis is a great chilled out synth tune, the vocal doesn't come in until it's almost halfway through. I've not heard that live version before, it's sounds a lot different with piano and clarinet. It's a bit of a shock that Trevor Horn from Buggles has been chosen as Jon's replacement as lead singer of Yes, I wonder how long that will last?

Posted by: Smint 28th March 2024, 06:11 PM

'Captain Beaky' is definitely one of the most unusual top 10 hits ever. Maybe Baz Luhrmann's 'Everybody's Free (to wear sunscreem)' is the most similar. Do like the brass bits though.

'And the Beat Goes On' is a track thought would be covered many times but according to Polyhex it hasn't been a hit. Was heavily sampled by Will Smith in 'Miami'

'I hear you now' is atmospheric and mesmerising. Love these early electronic hits so so much.

Posted by: Bjork 28th March 2024, 07:35 PM

that *thing at #1 :/ how did he brainwash the uk buyers? :/

not the bestest top 10, don't really like any of the songs

Posted by: Dotty New Year 28th March 2024, 09:11 PM

Abysmal #1.

Good entry from The Whispers though.

Posted by: Gezza 29th March 2024, 12:07 PM

23RD FEBRUARY



Well it did explode at retail as it was forecast to, Kenny Rogers remains No 1 this week on a very nice sale of 121,000 that's a new high for 1980, doubtless helped by Valentine's day. That also helps the single over the 300,000 mark (329,000 to be exact) and is not too far from becoming the biggest selling single of 1980 so far (an accolade currently held by The Nolans!), some achievement for an artist who looked dead in the water commercially six months ago.



We could say that the race to No 1 was tight but we'd be lying, the Whispers advance four places 6-2 and a sale of 55,000 which creates a record gap for the 80s of 66,000 between the top 2- Rogers seems to have little to fear!



However- big news at No 3 comes courtesy of Blondie whose "Atomic" becomes the first single to debut in the top 10 in the 80s, the last one was "Walking On The Moon" by The Police which of course went on to become a No 1 single, the omens are good! An opening sale of 51,000 is nothing to be sniffed at either on 2 days of sales, it remains to be seen if it has the potential to overturn Rogers next week. it's also the first song to enter the top 3 since Slade in late 1974 which highlights just how big the band are at present and comes as a welcome return to form as their last single "Union City Blues" only made No 13.





A healthy intake of five new entries into the top 10 this week with Cliff Richard next who proved that a fourth decade in the top 10 is easily achievable. "Carrie" moves 13-6 (44,000) and makes his last outing "Hot Shot" look like a blip in his rebirth as a modern popstar, That only made No 46 as a follow up to "We Don't Talk Anymore" which was of course his first No 1 single in 11 years.





The 80s may have just begun but it's all about the 60s at No 8 as the Ramones cover of the Ronettes 1963 track "Baby I Love You" rises 20-8 (38,000) and in doing so out peaks the original which made No 11 in early 1964. Phil Spector returns to production duties to give the cover that authentic feel and finally gives the band a top 20 hit after 3 years of trying.





Well we've had Cliff so it seems fair we have Elvis! No, not that one but Elvis Costello & The Attractions who secure a second top 10 hit after "Oliver's Army" almost went all the way last year. It debuted at No 17 last week and moves to No 9 on sales of 37,000, it is of course a cover of the Sam & Dave 1967 original which failed to chart and thusly like the Ramones manages to do better than the original.





Also new to the top 10 are the Tourists who jump 18-10 (37,000) with "So Good To Be Back Home Again" which follows their cover of "I Only Want To Be With You" quickly into the charts.



All the others are either stuck in the groove (Keith Michell at No 5- 48,000) or dropping down. These include the former No 1 from the Specials 49,000) 2-4 and the Boomtown Rats 4-7 (43,000)


1- COWARD OF THE COUNTY- Kenny Rogers (121,000)
2- AND THE BEAT GOES ON- The Whispers (55,000)
3- ATOMIC- Blondie (51,000)
4- TOO MUCH TOO YOUNG- The Specials (49,000)
5- CAPTAIN BEAKY- Keith Michell (48,000)
6- CARRIE- Cliff Richard (44,000)
7- SOMEONE’S LOOKING AT YOU- Boomtown Rats (43,000)
8- BABY I LOVE YOU- Ramones (38,000)
9- I CAN’T STAND UP FOR FALLING DOWN- Elvis Costello (37,000)
10- SO GOOD TO BE BACK HOME AGAIN- The Tourists (37,000)

Posted by: Jade 29th March 2024, 12:42 PM

Oh 'Atomic' is brilliant of course, definitely my favourite song to appear here since Pink Floyd the #1 may be unexciting at the moment but at least new wave sounds are creeping in elsewhere.

I only know 'Captain Beaky' because my dad loved it as a small child (he would've been 5 years old at the moment), it is... an experience, to say the least

Posted by: Gezza 29th March 2024, 03:16 PM

https://canvas-story.bbcrewind.co.uk/2tone/

How appropriate- story on 2tone on the BBC website today!- are they reading this thread??

Posted by: King Rollo 29th March 2024, 04:41 PM

Atomic is Blondie at their best with that great guitar riff and Carrie is one of Cliff's better songs. That's a good cover of Baby I Love You by The Ramones even if they never wanted to record it.

Posted by: Dotty New Year 29th March 2024, 05:44 PM

Atomic is a classic of course!

I really love Carrie by Cliff tbh, one of his best for sure.

Posted by: dandy* 29th March 2024, 08:14 PM

Atomic <3

One of my favourite songs of the decade. It still amazes me what a flawless run of singles Blondie managed to create in the late 70s and early 80s.

Posted by: TheSnake 29th March 2024, 09:09 PM

Yes Atomic is great, probably their best song, influential and also I generally prefer that form of new wave with electronic input over non-electronic new wave like the Tourists.

I saw the 2tone article/story on the BBC website today too and thought of this thread!

Posted by: Gezza 30th March 2024, 11:33 AM

1ST MARCH



Nothing, it seems, can stay on top for a fortnight in 1980 as the latest casualty Kenny Rogers falls back to No 2 despite selling 100,000 copies to take its grand total 429,494 now by some stretch the biggest selling single of the year so far. Victory instead goes to Blondie, whose "Atomic" moves from 3-1 selling 115,000 just 6,000 less than 1980's record currently held by....well Kenny Rogers obviously. It's Blondie's third chart topper following "Heart Of Glass" and "Sunday Girl" from 1979, the former remains their biggest seller topping the 900,000 mark.





Three new songs in the top 10 this week lead by Marti Webb, her hit "Take That Look Off Your Face" is taken from the musical "Tell Me On A Sunday" by Andrew Lloyd-Webber/ Don Black which was the feature of a BBC documentary two weeks ago. The exposure ensures that Marti Webb (the star of the show) gets her her first hit and very nice sales of 56,000 into the bargain, not enough to match Cliff however as "Carrie" bubbles 6-4 (63,000) increasing its sales by 19,000 in just one week. Sandwiched between Cliff and Webb is Elvis Costello and his attractions as "I Can't Stand Up (For Falling Down)" goes up 9-5 with increased sales of 63,000 copies.





Meanwhile "Off The Wall" throws up another top 10 hit for Michael Jackson who is having something of a golden period at the moment as "Rock With You" has also become a US No 1 single for him. It is written by former Heatwave member Roger Temperton for Jackson just like the title track from the album which made the top 10 just before the new year.





Also new in the ten is Fern Kinney, her version of the Steve Allan 1979 track "Together We Are Beautiful" is proving much more successful than the original which flopped here. The B-Side "Baby Let Me Kiss You" was originally going to be the A-Side until DJ's cottoned onto this track and Kinney has never looked back, it arrives at No 9 with sales of 45,000.



Not mentioned already are the Whispers who drop 2-3 (85,000) even with 55% sales increase and TOTP to help it, The Tourists jump 10-8 (52,000) and Keith Michell drops 5-10 as the novelty of "Captain Beaky" seems to have worn thin (38,000)

1- ATOMIC- Blondie (115,000)
2- COWARD OF THE COUNTY- Kenny Rogers (100,000)
3- AND THE BEAT GOES ON- The Whispers (85,000)
4- CARRIE- Cliff Richard (63,000)
5- I CAN’T STAND UP FOR FALLING DOWN- Elvis Costello (63,000)
6- TAKE THAT LOOK OFF YOUR FACE- Marti Webb (56,000)
7- ROCK WITH YOU- Michael Jackson (53,000)
8- SO GOOD TO BE BACK HOME AGAIN- The Tourists (52,000)
9- TOGETHER WE ARE BEAUTIFUL- Fern Kinney (45,000)
10- CAPTAIN BEAKY- Keith Michell (38,000)

Posted by: TheSnake 30th March 2024, 08:42 PM

Together We Are Beautiful is such a nice song, Fern Kinney has a similar vocal style to 60s and 70s Diana Ross.

Posted by: Jade 30th March 2024, 08:47 PM

Very happy that 'Atomic' became a chart-topper - Blondie have quite the collection of high quality #1s already at this point. I do like 'Rock With You' as well

Posted by: Dotty New Year 30th March 2024, 09:02 PM

A miles better chart topper taking over in the form of Atomic.

Rock With You is a good one from MJ.

Posted by: Bjork 31st March 2024, 06:35 AM

Atomic is just incredible, also really like the Elvis Costello song
also like the Tourists one, was expecting it to sound more like Eurythmics but it's not, it's very guitar-driven
Annie Lennox looks kinda scary with that head thing

Posted by: jimwatts 31st March 2024, 07:52 AM

'Atomic' Blondie's best #1 fo me, and yet another classic #1 hardly two months into 1980!

Posted by: Smint 31st March 2024, 09:04 AM

I don't think Blondie are overrated or anything but I merely like than truly love any of their songs for some reason. However, 'Atomic' is by far an exception. Truly amazing masterpiece and must have sounded so futuristic and exciting back in 1980 - the US only had it only peaking at 39. Make it make sense!

Posted by: Gezza 31st March 2024, 11:49 AM

8TH MARCH



Blondie rule the roost again and "Atomic"'s sales show no sign of abating as they expand to 129,000 this week bringing its 3 week total to 295,000 copies easily placing it in the top 10 best selling singles of the year to date (that sale the best of 1980 to date as well). If it fails to stay at the top there will be a neat symmetry with each Blondie single to make No 1 spending a week less at the top than the previous one, it is worth noting that the single edit of the track is a remix of the version on "Eat To The Beat".



Fern Kinney moves 9-2 looking for all the world like the next one until you realise that the track sold 69,000 to make that move but it will post no serious threat to Blondie in 7 days time. In the process she jumps over Marti Webb who accelerates 6-3 but is way off the pace on 62,000 copies, but is still 4,000 clear of Elvis Costello who continues his climb 5-4 but is actually losing sales now- funny thing the charts.



Only two new tracks invade the top 10 this week, and first up is former Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel who scores a second hit single in the form of "Games Without Frontiers" which rises 17-8 (48,000) and in doing so becomes his biggest solo hit and almost out peaks anything Genesis has done since he left 5 years ago. The parent album, again called "Peter Gabriel" is due out in May. It also features the backing vocals of Kate Bush though uncredited on the single.





Also new are rockers Rainbow who fly 22-10 with "All Night Long". The change in vocalist with Graham Bonnet now on board has resulted in a more commercial sound with their last track "Since You Been Gone" becoming their first top 10 single, and they're not showing any signs of letting up with their new single attracting 46,000 buyers this week.



In other news the Whispers drop 3-5 (54,000), former chart topper "Coward Of The County" drops 2-6 (52,000) but will easily sail past the 500,000 mark next week, Cliff drops 4-7 (51,000) and Michael Jackson surprisingly falls 7-9 (46,000)

1- ATOMIC- Blondie (129,000)
2- TOGETHER WE ARE BEAUTIFUL- Fern Kinney (69,000)
3- TAKE THAT LOOK OFF YOUR FACE- Marti Webb (62,000)
4- I CAN’T STAND UP FOR FALLING DOWN- Elvis Costello (58,000)
5- AND THE BEAT GOES ON- The Whispers (54,000)
6- COWARD OF THE COUNTY- Kenny Rogers (52,000)
7- CARRIE- Cliff Richard (51,000)
8- GAMES WITHOUT FRONTIERS- Peter Gabriel (48,000)
9- ROCK WITH YOU- Michael Jackson (46,000)
10- ALL NIGHT LONG- Rainbow (46,000)

Posted by: Bjork 31st March 2024, 01:21 PM

oh love Games Without Frontiers, great track

ouch that Fearne track at #2 is evil

Posted by: King Rollo 31st March 2024, 10:54 PM

All Night Long is not as good as Since You've Been Gone but still worth listening to and Games Without Frontiers is one of Peter Gabriel's finest songs.

Posted by: TheSnake 31st March 2024, 11:10 PM

'Games Without Frontiers' is a great electronic song, sounds great for its time.

'Since You've Been Gone' is one of my favourite rock tracks. 'All Night Long', the follow up is not very good lyrically but the chorus is good.

Posted by: Smint 31st March 2024, 11:45 PM

'Games without Frontiers' was epic indeed. Def in my top 5 of the year and that's not even including the fact it's got the divine Kate Bush on vocals.

Posted by: Dotty New Year 1st April 2024, 01:34 AM

Games Without Frontiers is a fantastic track.

Posted by: Gezza 1st April 2024, 11:03 AM

15TH MARCH



Right on track the No 1 single changes hands after just a fortnight- this time Fern Kinney celebrates a chart topper with "Together We Are Beautiful" which climbs 2-1 on an increase of 23% to 84,000 and was helped no doubt by a steep decline in demand for "Atomic" which it swaps places with and this week recorded a sale of 78,000 copies (down a whopping 39%) perhaps as buyers flip to parent album "Eat To The Beat" which has been rising this month and is up to 11 this week. Good climbs this week for Peter Gabriel (8-4) on sales of 65,000, and Rainbow who accelerate 10-5 and record their biggest hit with "All Night Long" just 5,000 copies behind Gabriel.





Four new songs make the top 10 this week, firstly the police who release another of their 1978 singles in the form of "So Lonely" which bombed here on initial release, not so now as it shoots 16-6 this week (50,000) in the wake of their new found popularity. It seems as though they can do little wrong at present but there is nothing new from the band planned until the end of the year, regardless the band have both their albums in the top 15 for the last 3 weeks and are currently on their first world tour.





Rocketing 25-7 is a track which topped the US chart just last month for Captain and Tennille who had a string of minor hits over the last 5 years but it finally seems to be happening on this side of the Atlantic. The husband and wife duo first struck it big with a cover of Neil Sedaka's "Love Will Keep Us Together" in 1975 which also went to the top stateside but failed to dent to the top 30 here but things look rosier now attracting 48,000 buyers last week.





Landing at No 8 this week are the Vapors (note that missing u to make the band seem American) with "Turning Japanese". They are managed by Paul Weller's father John who will see his son in action next week (probably), the song's author David Fenton assures that the supposed meaning of the song doing the rounds at the moment is not accurate! It probably helped sales as 37,000 people partied with their cash last week.





Becoming the first act to grab two new top 10 hits in the 80s The Beat return at No 9 with "Hands Off- She's Mine". The band are now releasing singles on their own label "Go Feet" in case you wondered not that it seems to have affected sales at all with 37,000 copies being sold in the last 7 days.



Elsewhere Marti Webb holds at No 3 as her sales increase to 71,000 and the Whispers drop 5-10 (34,000)

1- TOGETHER WE ARE BEAUTIFUL- Fern Kinney (84,000)
2- ATOMIC- Blondie (78,000)
3- TAKE THAT LOOK OFF YOUR FACE- Marti Webb (71,000)
4- GAMES WITHOUT FRONTIERS- Peter Gabriel (65,000)
5- ALL NIGHT LONG- Rainbow (60,000)
6- SO LONELY- The Police (50,000)
7- DO THAT TO ME ONE MORE TIME- Captain & Tennille (48,000)
8- TURNING JAPANESE- Vapours (37,000)
9- HANDS OFF- SHE’S MINE- The Beat (37,000)
10- AND THE BEAT GOES ON- The Whispers (34,000)

Posted by: dandy* 1st April 2024, 11:44 AM

What a terrible chart topper :/

Posted by: Gezza 1st April 2024, 11:53 AM

What strikes me about 1980 which I didn't really think about until now is how many singles didn't have official record sleeve art and nor for that matter a promo vid. Of course the invention of MTV in 1981 and forthcoming new romantic movement (with its importance on the visual elements of pop music) would make both of these essentials within a few years.

In other news does anyone else of a certain age remember buying singles, even in the late 80s, where the shop seemingly ran out of the actual cover and just gave them to you in a plain sleeve? I often wondered why they had copies of singles without the right sleeve?

Posted by: Bjork 1st April 2024, 11:54 AM

never understood how that Fearne song managed the top spot, terrible #1, one of the worst of the early 80s
by comparison, the Captain song is also a bit corny but also endearing

really like So Lonely, all their early singles are pretty good, also like The Beat one,
Turning Japenese not half bad either

Posted by: King Rollo 1st April 2024, 12:01 PM

Turning Japanese is the best of that week's new entries. At the time, everyone thought that The Police were singing about Sue Lawley who was one of the presenters on Nationwide and other BBC programmes.

Posted by: TheSnake 1st April 2024, 07:27 PM

The Beat song is another good 2tone style track.

QUOTE(Gezza @ Apr 1 2024, 12:53 PM)

Posted by: Jade 1st April 2024, 07:42 PM

The addictive 'Turning Japanese' is my favourite new entry from the past couple of days.

Boo Blondie being knocked off #1

Posted by: Dotty New Year 2nd April 2024, 01:36 AM

Oof great #1 from the Specials, horrendous #1 from Kenny Rogers, great #1 from Blondie and now an utterly crap one again.

Posted by: Popchartfreak 2nd April 2024, 09:03 AM

Two personal chart-toppers I rushed out to buy in I Hear You Now and Atomic (no need to thank me for contributing sales ) Both classics. Most of the rest I like or love (Marti Webb, as I love a good showtune, for example). Carrie's one of Cliff's best, thanks to B A Robertson for that one.

Eat To The Beat was the first album to have an entire set of videos made (see Jungle's Volcano for 2023 equivalent) and it may well have been screened around the time it's sales picked up - though I got mildly annoyed it was the album version of Atomic, the single is perfect, the album meanders and drops the excitement in the bass-heavy bridge twiddling about unnecessarily.

Re: singles covers, yes it was very annoying getting a boring standard label cover, but that was the norm in the 60's and 70's until around 1978 when picture covers and picture discs started coming in more often, to boost demand. Single sales boomed, mostly through sales of music centres with cassette and turntables, disco, New Wave, big pop acts. When demand for a single out-performed availability they'd bring in emergency plain singles from France. I recall getting very pissed off at a French-pressing of a Boomtown Rats single which had crappy sound quality. That aligned with US singles pressing of the 60's and 70's which were also rubbish sound quality - I'm convinced to make you buy the albums which were way better quality.

price was also a factor, singles were 50p in the early 70's, quite pricey relative to income, but got cheaper as inflation ran riot in the late 70's at 79p or so for the boom years, but they hit one pound around mid-1979 which I think was a psychological barrier to not seeming cheap. So picture sleeves became the norm, they seemed a better buy with those. Unemployment (including me for 2 years) started to bite in 1980, 3 million on the way, and I'm sure that affected singles sales through to the mid-80's, too.

Posted by: Gezza 2nd April 2024, 11:26 AM

22ND MARCH



It's been just over 6 years coming but another record finally debuts at No 1, the first since Slade in December 1973 with "Merry Xmas Everybody" in fact. This week belongs entirely to the Jam who have their first chart topper and in some style selling 131,000 in the process which also gives them the biggest weekly sale of the year. The song is a double A-Side with "Dreams Of Children" and is therefore the first double sided No 1 since Christmas 1978 when Boney M turned the trick, but the funny thing is that "Going Underground" was only intended as the B-Side originally but a mix up at the pressing plant gave them both A-side status and certainly radio is far more supportive the latter track. The Jam have had 10 hits now but only made the top 10 for the first time last year with "Eton Rifles".




It was also helped by some clever marketing at Polydor who serviced the track to record stores for the Monday instead of the usual Friday meaning that the song got a full six days sales in its first week instead of the normal 2 days and issued the first 100,000 copies with a bonus "free" single of a couple of live tracks recorded last November hence assisting in its opening position.

You have to feel slightly sorry for Fern Kinney who becomes the decade's first solitary week No 1 track, she increased sales by 44% week on week to a mighty 120,000 but still falls to runner up spot.

Just below the tussle between the Jam and Fern Kinney there was Marti Webb who relents at retail to 68,000 but holds at No 3, the Vapors rise 8-4 post TOTP selling 57,000 in the process.



Keep an eye on the record which arrives in the top 5 this week all the way from 14-5 for the Brackley based act Liquid Gold. They've had only one previous hit "Anyway You Do It" which narrowly missed the top 40 in 1978, however "Dance Yourself Dizzy" is hurtling up the charts and looking like a No 1 if it can overcome the Woking trio, it attracted 44,000 buyers last week,





Much more of a "veteran" act ascend 20-8 with "Working My Way Back To You/ Forgive Me Girl". First hitting the charts 10 years ago with "It's A Shame" under the moniker The Motown Spinners the band changed their name to the Detroit Spinners and now score their 7th hit UK single (with only one track 1973's "Ghetto Child" being the only one to peak higher at No 7) on sales of 39,000. It's actually a medley of two tracks which are covers "Working...." was originally made popular by The Four Seasons in 1966 and "Forgive..." is a track by Michael Zager.



Elsewhere In the big 10 Peter Gabriel slides two places 4-6 (44,000), Blondie descend with some speed 2-6 (40,000), Rainbow also recede 5-9 (37,000) and Captain and Tennille move 7-10 (35,000)



1- GOING UNDERGROUND/ DREAMS OF CHILDREN- The Jam (131,000)
2- TOGETHER WE ARE BEAUTIFUL – Fern Kinney (120,000)
3- TAKE THAT LOOK OFF YOUR FACE- Marti Webb (68,000)
4- TURNING JAPANESE- Vapors (57,000)
5- DANCE YOURSELF DIZZY- Liquid Gold (44,000)
6- GAMES WITHOUT FRONTIERS- Peter Gabriel (44,000)
7- ATOMIC- Blondie (40,000)
8- WORKING MY WAY BACK TO YOU- FORGIVE ME GIRL- Detroit Spinners (39,000)
9- ALL NIGHT LONG- Rainbow (37,000)
10- DO THAT TO ME ONE MORE TIME- Captain & Tennille (35,000)

Posted by: Gezza 2nd April 2024, 11:40 AM

By way of explanation further on release dates, my understanding was that historically that singles generally went to retail as soon as they were pressed and nothing was held back- less emphasis was placed on making a "splash" and more about making it a hit once available- so nothing was held back. The marketing strategy by the Jam was specifically designed to make headlines and hence releasing on a Monday designed to enter at No 1 given their growing popularity. Within a short space of time (a few years) it would become standard practice to release a new single on a Monday and thereby get a full week of sales to give the track the maximum time to start off in a better position.

Seems obvious now but I guess entering the charts high wasn't something that was purposely thought important until the mid 80s. The acts that had had debuts at No 1 until this point (The Beatles, Cliff, Elvis, Gary Glitter, and Slade) all did so at the height of their commercial appeal so would have sold by the bucketload as soon as released regardless of the release date- bearing in mind that the charts were compiled differently pre 1969 so are somewhat less reliable.

Posted by: jimwatts 2nd April 2024, 12:11 PM

Back to quality at #1 'Going Underground' is for me The Jam's best song and one of the best #1s of the entire decade - seems incongruous that it was supposed to be the B-side to 'Dreams Of Children'

Posted by: dandy* 2nd April 2024, 02:00 PM

Wow Blondie really fell away quickly

Posted by: Gezza 2nd April 2024, 02:07 PM

#blondieinventingACR

Posted by: Bjork 2nd April 2024, 03:39 PM

And even in week 4
Pretty good newbies, the Jam is just ok for me
Much prefer the other two even if theyre very 70s

Posted by: Jester 2nd April 2024, 04:16 PM

Dance Yourself Dizzy is cheesy but fun. Catchy too.

Adore Going Underground, never knew it was t supposed to be the A side!

Posted by: Gezza 3rd April 2024, 02:07 PM

29TH MARCH



The Jam hold No 1 which is only to be expected given its sensational debut there last week, but this week it sells a little less at 124,000 and take its 14 day tally to 255,000 copies impressive by any band's standards and a silver certification, it also looks like the ploy of making the track a double A-Side is paying off with some radio stations coming round to playing "Dreams of Children". It should enter the top 10 best selling tracks of the year so far next week. The band abandoned a US tour to return to the UK to do TOTP- seems it was worth it!



All of this of course is bad news for Fern Kinney who keeps faith at No 2 but her sales are well down to 80,000 raising its total to 444,000, the only record ahead of it currently in the YTD's is of course "Coward Of The County" which is still in the top 20 at No 18 and should keep that position when we review the top 10 of the year next week.

The Vapors increase their sales by just 14,000 copies this week to 71,000 and earn themselves a one place climb but they are well off the pace and could struggle next week to advance further. Healthier increases are recorded for both liquid Gold and the Detroit Spinners who increase sales by 57% and 75% to 69,000 and 68,000 respectively.

Rainbow and Captain & Tennille both reverse gear and move back up the charts with minimal increases. Rainbow move 9-7 selling 49,000 copies and Captain & Tennille float 10-8 selling just 10k less. Much harsher returns to reality for Marti Webb who tumbles 3-6 (49,000) and Peter Gabriel 6-9 (39,000).



The sole new entrant to the top 10 comes for Martha & The Muffins with "Echo Beach" which storms 15-10 (37,000). It's their first hit in this country for the Canadian band who insist that the beach in question is entirely fictional, parent album "Metro Music" is already available.



1- GOING UNDERGROUND/ DREAMS OF CHILDREN- The Jam (124,000)
2- TOGETHER WE ARE BEAUTIFUL- Fern Kinney (80,000)
3- TURNING JAPANESE- Vapors (71,000)
4- DANCE YOURSELF DIZZY- Liquid Gold (69,000)
5- WORKING MY WAY BACK TO YOU- FORGIVE ME GIRL- Detroit Spinners (68,000)
6- TAKE THAT LOOK OFF YOUR FACE- Marti Webb (49,000)
7- ALL NIGHT LONG- Rainbow (49,000)
8- DO THAT TO ME ONE MORE TIME- Captain & Tennille (39,000)
9- GAMES WITHOUT FRONTIERS- Peter Gabriel (39,000)
10- ECHO BEACH- Martha & The Muffins (37,000)

Posted by: dandy* 3rd April 2024, 03:04 PM

Echo Beach is a huge fave of mine - really happy to see it make an appearance

Posted by: Notorious D.O.T 3rd April 2024, 03:33 PM

Great #1 from the Jam and Echo Beach is also a brilliant track.

Posted by: TheSnake 3rd April 2024, 07:45 PM

Echo Beach is great, easily my favourite in that top 10. The single cover artwork is great too, according to the map, Echo Beach is on the shores of a lagoon then technically!

The Jam #1 is good too, debuting at #1 is quite something back then.

The Spinners' track is good and a classic. Dance Yourself Dizzy is fun but definitely not one of the best disco tracks of all time. Both songs sound more 70s than 80s to me.

Posted by: Gezza 4th April 2024, 03:22 PM

5TH APRIL



Becoming the first No 1 single of the year to do so (and thusly the decade) "Going Underground/ Dreams Of Children" makes it three weeks in pole position though the pace of sales lessens dramatically to 85,000, a 31% drop. In total the track has now sold 340,067 copies in just 20 days and rockets to No 10 on the YTD list.



As it's the end of the first quarter of 1980 it might be relevant to sum up the first 3 months of the decade by showing the top 10 best selling singles in that period.

1. COWARD OF THE COUNTY- Kenny Rogers 557,128
2. TOGETHER WE ARE BEAUTIFUL- Fern Kinney 501,904
3. ATOMIC- Blondie 451,061
4. I’M IN THE MOOD FOR DANCING- The Nolans 443,781
5. THE SPECIAL AKA EP- The Specials 427,635
6. BRASS IN POCKET- The Pretenders 401,206
7. TAKE THAT LOOK OFF YOUR FACE- Marti Webb 380,419
8. MY GIRL- Madness 369,629
9. AND THE BEAT GOES ON- The Whispers 369,005
10. GOING UNDERGROUND/ DREAMS OF CHILDREN- The Jam 340,067

The Jam didn't have it all their own way however and fought tooth and nail this week for the top spot against Liquid Gold whose "Dance Yourself Dizzy" outsold the Woking boys on Saturday and ended up off the pace by just 12,000 copies, both had TOTP performances this week but it was Liquid Gold who profited most from the experience. It is produced by Adrian Baker who you may recall had a top 10 hit 5 years ago with "Sherry".

Yet again though its Detroit Spinners who pursue Liquid Gold all the way as they move 5-3 and in the end sold 73,000 (and were the best selling single of all three on Saturday) meaning that next week it could be a fight to the death between them and "Dance Yourself Dizzy".



To compensate for only one new entry last week there are five!!! this week. Starting us off are the Brothers Johnson who move 11-6 (52,000) with "Stomp", it's their fourth hit but the first to make the top 30, their previous best is "Strawberry Letter 23" which peaked here at No 35.





Also jumping 5 places from 12-7 (50,000) are the Lambrettas with their version of "Poison Ivy" originally by Leiber and Stoller, the song has been a hit in the UK for the Coasters in 1959 (#15) and The Paramounts in 1964 (#35) so this is the first time for the song in the top 10 and the first hit for the band who hail from Lewis, Sussex.





Peter Gabriel was only in the top 10 a matter of weeks ago, now it's the turn of former band mates Genesis to grab their second top 10 of their already lengthy career. "Turn It On Again" bolts from 23-8 (43,000) one place short of their highest peaking track "Follow You, Follow Me" a fact that looks like being altered next week.





Dr Hook are back with a third top 10 in just 5 months, "Sexy Eyes" jumps 38-9 (42,000) and is the follow up to "Better Love Next Time" which peaked at No 8 earlier this year, along with The Beat they are the only act so far to have two top 10 singles this year (that weren't hangovers from 1979).





For those out of work at present the next bands name "UB40" will be familiar, it is of course the name of the form used for signing on and was taken by the Birmingham based group as a sign that they were, mostly, on the dole before joining the group. Seen in a pub by Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders she offered them support act on the last tour and lo and behold here they are in the top 10 (38,000), released on graduate records it is being touted as the first record to make the top 10 without a major record company backing and thematically is about Martin Luther King fact fans.




Elsewhere we have a couple of fallers, The Vapors drop one spot 3-4 (59,000) and Fern Kinney falls 2-5 (57,000).



1- GOING UNDERGROUND/ DREAMS OF CHILDREN- The Jam (85,000)
2- DANCE YOURSELF DIZZY- Liquid Gold (73,000)
3- WORKING MY WAY BACK TO YOU- FORGIVE ME GIRL- Detroit Spinners (73,000)
4- TURNING JAPANESE- The Vapors (59,000)
5- TOGETHER WE ARE BEAUTIFUL- Fern Kinney (57,000)
6- STOMP- Brothers Johnson (52,000)
7- POISON IVY- The Lambrettes (50,000)
8- TURN IT ON AGAIN- Genesis (43,000)
9- SEXY EYES- Dr Hook (42,000)
10- KING- FOOD FOR THOUGHT- UB40 (38,000)

Posted by: Bjork 4th April 2024, 04:02 PM

Not crazy about any of those newbies, think the Drifters is the only one I truly like in that t10
well at least UB40 started with original material

Posted by: TheSnake 4th April 2024, 09:30 PM

'Turn It On' by Genesis is my favourite of those new entries. Really feels like the start of Mr. Collins' impact on the charts.

Stomp is good too though, 'Uptown Funk you up' with the last spoken word bit!

Posted by: Jade 4th April 2024, 09:42 PM

Glad to see the love for 'Echo Beach' in here, it's a big favourite of mine too a relatable escapist feeling captured so wonderfully and with excellent new wave production to boot.

My mum was a massive fan of The Jam, they were the first act she saw in concert - their appeal definitely stretches to me too, good #1 and interesting to read about their week 1 tactics

'Dance Yourself Dizzy' is sampled in 'Synth & Strings' by Yomanda so I imagine that was the first iteration of it that I heard.

Posted by: King Rollo 4th April 2024, 11:06 PM

Turn It On Again has a great intro and the lyrics are about watching television, it's something we all do but not often the subject of a song. Poison Ivy and Echo Beach are also good ones.

Posted by: Smint 5th April 2024, 08:12 AM

Haven't had time to do many replies to this excellent thread but gave to say that I adore 'Dance Yourself Dizzy' - absolutely burst of joy and so so catchy. Didn't really like the Yomanda 'Synth and Strings' track from 1998 which sampled it mind.

UB40 first top 10 hit and what a couple of corkers. Prefer 'King' ever do slightly although know 'Food for Thought' got more airplay.

Posted by: Gezza 5th April 2024, 12:44 PM

12TH APRIL



Though it led midweek it wasn't to be for Liquid Gold whose "Dance Yourself Dizzy" misses out on No 1 after registering only a minimal sales increase at 73,000, the reason for this are the Detroit Spinners who score by far the biggest hit of their career with "Working My Way Back To You- Forgive Me Girl" both of which are covers as we previously discussed. It has been tracking Liquid Gold all the way over the past few weeks and posts a mere 5% sales increase to 78,000 enough to slip past their rivals though hardly a great sale in itself- sales in part impacted by Easter and the Bank Holiday.



The Jam descend 1-3 with "Going Underground/ Dreams Of Children", they fought back to almost recover the 2 position on 73,000 but were a few hundred when all sales were recorded, regardless they push 10-6 on the YTD chart.



After the onslaught of new entries last week there is just one this week coming from Madness who pluck a fourth single from their debut album. It forms part of the "Work, Rest, and Play EP" with three new compositions including "Don't Quote Me On That" which is the band's response to recent allegations of supporting the National Front. The band chose an EP as they wanted to offer fans something substantial other than an already available single in case you wondered, it's done the trick as the song entered at No 14 last week an impressive debut and climbs to No 6 this week on sales of 44,000 copies.



A couple of last weeks new tracks continue to climb this week including Dr Hook who progress 9-4 (61,000) and UB40 who track them 10-5 (50,000).

The rest are falling sadly, the Vapors 4-7 (43,000) The Lambrettas 7-8 (38,000) and the same sale for the Brothers Johnson who recede 6-9, and rounding the top 10 off Genesis who drop 8-10 (35,000) but continue at No 1 on the album charts with "Duke".

1- WORKING MY WAY BACK TO YOU- FORGIVE ME GIRL- Detroit Spinners (78,000)
2- DANCE YOURSELF DIZZY- Liquid Gold (73,000)
3- GOING UNDERGROUND/ DREAMS OF CHILDREN- The Jam (73,000)
4- SEXY EYES- Dr Hook (61,000)
5- KING- FOOD FOR THOUGHT- UB40 (50,000)
6- NIGHT BOAT TO CAIRO- Madness (44,000)
7- TURNING JAPANESE- Vapours (43,000)
8- POISON IVY- Lambrettas (38,000)
9- STOMP- Brothers Johnson (38,000)
10- TURN IT ON AGAIN- Genesis. (35,000)

Posted by: Bjork 5th April 2024, 12:55 PM

nice surprise at #1, wasn't expecting that, ncie for them even on low sales, probably something will come out of nowhere next week and replace them...

also didn't know UB40 had done so well, was expecting #10 to be its peak

another kinda silly one from Madness, not a fan

Posted by: Smint 5th April 2024, 07:53 PM

Quite like 'Night Boat to Cairo' - being largely instrumental it's very different to their other hits. Decent atmosphere.

Posted by: TheSnake 5th April 2024, 07:53 PM

'Night Boat To Cairo' is good never really heard it before.

Surprised about the chart longevity of 'Dance Yourself Dizzy', still not really a fan of the vocal for some reason, the strings are the best thing about it hence the genius of Yomanda's Synth and Strings.

Posted by: Jessie Where 5th April 2024, 09:00 PM

I definitely heard Yomanda before I heard 'Dance Yourself Dizzy', I remember hearing that for the first time somewhere in the early 00s and I sorta did a double take.

Posted by: Steve201 6th April 2024, 09:07 AM

QUOTE(Gezza @ Apr 1 2024, 12:53 PM)

Posted by: Steve201 6th April 2024, 09:09 AM

QUOTE(King Rollo @ Apr 1 2024, 01:01 PM)

Posted by: Popchartfreak 6th April 2024, 09:40 AM

I bought The Jam and Madness singles, The Jam had a short and huge career form 1979 onwards, saw them at Bingley Hall standing on a coke can to get a view of the sweaty gig. Madness are now national treasures © and were always naughty boys doing whatever they wanted to do, and that was consistently fab. Bought their next album. I liked all the others a lot too, UB40 it was Food For Thought that got the airplay, and they have been 1 on sales the last few days with a football remake (Forever True).

My least-liked of the latest batches was Dr Hook - I loved their 70's stuff but in 1980 they turned to mush MOR. Cut to the 2010's and I went to see lead singer UK-based Denis Laccoriere twice, and he is great in a live setting, the mush gets a cursory treatment.

Posted by: Steve201 6th April 2024, 10:08 AM

QUOTE(Gezza @ Apr 2 2024, 12:40 PM)

Posted by: Gezza 6th April 2024, 02:13 PM

19TH APRIL



Well it holds the No 1 position but a third week looks unlikely for two reasons. Firstly "Working My Way Back To You/ Forgive Me Girl" is increasing its sales very incrementally (up 4% to 81,000) to take its total to almost 400,000 but its failure to really accelerate coupled with the meteoric rise of Blondie at No 2 makes a third week at the top look beyond them.





Rocketing from 21 to No 2 this week on a healthy sale of 79,000 are Blondie who look set for a fourth No 1 single with "Call Me" taken from the current film "American Gigolo". It hits the top spot in the USA this week, composer Moroder wrote the music hoping that Stevie Nicks would provide the vocals but contractual obligations meant she couldn't oblige and so it falls to one of pop's biggest names to oblige with the lyrics. Should be an interesting fight next week. It is credited to Blondie although it may be fairer to say that it is Moroder featuring Debbie Harry as (allegedly) the rest of the band were not even at the recording of the song and active promotion from them has been muted to say the least....





Two other new entries into the top 10 this week, firstly the Pretenders are back with "Talk Of The Town" follow up to the No 1 single "Brass In Pocket" and the first to be lifted their as yet untitled second album due at the end of the year. It rises 13-8 (49,000).





For the last few years you'd more likely to see David Essex treading the boards than on TOTP but he returns to the top 10 this week after a two year absence with "Silver Dream Machine (19-9, 35,000). It's the theme tune to his most recent film "Silver Dream Racer" which has had mixed reviews.



Good news for UB40 as they continue to rise (5-4) with "King/ Food For Thought" which sells strongly this week with 65,000 copies sold and looked good for the top 3 until Blondie came along.

Everything else drops, Liquid Gold are unlucky to sell 69,000 yet drop 2-3, Dr Hook fall one as well to No 5 (52,000), the former No 1 for the Jam drops 3 (3-6, 51,000), Madness fall one 6-7 (49,000) and the Lambrettas fall 8-10 (32,000).

1- WORKING MY WAY BACK TO YOU- FORIVE ME GIRL- Detroit Spinners (81,000)
2- CALL ME- Blondie (79,000)
3- DANCE YOURSELF DIZZY- Liquid Gold (69,000)
4- KING- FOOD FOR THOUGHT- UB40 (65,000)
5- SEXY EYES- Dr Hook (52,000)
6- GOING UNDERGOUND/ DREAMS OF CHILDREN- The Jam (51,000)
7- NIGHT BOAT TO CAIRO- Madness (49,000)
8- TALK OF THE TOWN- The Pretenders (49,000)
9- SILVER DREAM MACHINE- David Essex (35,000)
10- POISON IVY- The Lambrettas (32,000)

Posted by: Gezza 6th April 2024, 02:16 PM

QUOTE(Steve201 @ Apr 6 2024, 11:08 AM)

Posted by: Steve201 6th April 2024, 02:37 PM

QUOTE(TheSnake @ Apr 4 2024, 10:30 PM)

Posted by: Notorious D.O.T 6th April 2024, 03:07 PM

The Spinners #1 is alright but not a big fave of mine, Call Me on the other hand is a stone cold classic.

Posted by: Jade 6th April 2024, 03:28 PM

'Call Me' is another amazing Blondie single, they were on fire it feels weird to imagine anyone other than Debbie Harry on vocals so I'm glad it fell to them.

I think I would've first heard 'Call Me' when Diana Vickers sung it on X Factor

Posted by: jimwatts 6th April 2024, 03:46 PM

'Talk Of The Town' is another great one from The Pretenders and an excellent addition to the Top 10 alongside 'Call Me'

Posted by: Bjork 6th April 2024, 06:40 PM

Call me and Talk of town are both fantastic

Crazy how Pretenders had a #1 in Jan and 3 month later they're back with a brand new single already,
as opposed to milking the debut album a bit more or re-releasing one of their early singles like Kid

Posted by: dandy* 6th April 2024, 06:47 PM

Call Me is another 10/10 track from Blondie, absolutely love it. I think it's their last one for me though (well in these threads anyway, there's one great track still to come in the 90s one obvs)

Posted by: Steve201 6th April 2024, 06:53 PM

Another good one from the Pretenders there, quite the wait for the album though from when ‘Brass in Pocket’ was released!

Posted by: Steve201 6th April 2024, 06:55 PM

QUOTE(dandy* @ Apr 6 2024, 07:47 PM)

Posted by: dandy* 6th April 2024, 07:23 PM

It's okay but it's a 6/10 kinda track at best for me.

Posted by: TheSnake 6th April 2024, 08:00 PM

Call Me is good, but not as good as Atomic. Didn't know it was produced by Giorgio Moroder, doesn't really sound like his style.

QUOTE(Steve201 @ Apr 6 2024, 11:08 AM)

Posted by: Notorious D.O.T 6th April 2024, 09:10 PM

This World Of Water.

A big favourite of mine that deserved a higher peak!

Posted by: Gezza 7th April 2024, 10:51 AM

26TH APRIL



Blondie rise to No 1 with "Call Me" though sales wise it improves only moderately to 82,000 copies last week but that was enough to overcome the outgoing No 1 from Detroit Spinners which slides to No 3 on sales of 62,000, Blondie were of course only at No 1 7 weeks ago with "Atomic" and are therefore the first act to achieve multiple chart toppers in the 80s, but are also the first act since The Beatles in 1969 ("Get Back" and "Ballad Of John & Yoko") to have chart toppers so close to each other! The nearest challenger ended up being "Geno" by Dexy's Midnight Runners which climbs 12-2 to become their biggest hit, eclipsing the No 40 peak of debut "Dance Stance" earlier this year, it sold 69,000 in the process.





"Geno" is of course a tribute to US singer Geno Washington, if it makes No 1 it will be the first chart topper to be about a popstar since The Beatles in 1969 "The Ballad Of John & Oko" funnily enough- spooky.





Also new to the top 10 (and continuing the Beatles theme) is old timer Paul McCartney with "Coming Up" the first release from his second solo album "McCartney II" which is due for release next month and provides him with solo back to back top 10 singles for the first time in his post Beatles/ Wings career. It also records the biggest climb within the top 75 rising from 62-7 (39,000)



There are no other new entries in the top 10 this week but David Essex manages to move 9-6 with "Silver Dream Machine" though his sales improve only marginally to 49,000 and both UB40 (4) and Dr Hook (5) hold in last weeks position though both are dropping sales wise with UB40 selling 61,000 and Dr Hook 52,000 and both should tumble swiftly next week.

Everything else is heading southward as Liquid Gold dive 3-8 (39,000), The Pretenders drop one (38,000) and Madness fall back three spots (35,000)

1- CALL ME- Blondie (82,000)
2- GENO- Dexy’s Midnight Runners (69,000)
3- WORKING MY WAY BACK TO YOU- FORGIVE ME GIRL- Detroit Spinners (62,000)
4- KING- FOOD FOR THOUGHT- UB40 (61,000)
5- SEXY EYES- Dr Hook (52,000)
6- SILVER DREAM MACHINE- David Essex (49,000)
7- COMING UP- Paul McCartney (39,000)
8- DANCE YOURSELF DIZZY- Liquid Gold (39,000)
9- TALK OF THE TOWN- The Pretenders (38,000)
10- NIGHT BOAT TO CAIRO- Madness (35,000)

Posted by: Bjork 7th April 2024, 11:30 AM

Geno I kinda like but not a super favourite

the Paul Mac one is the definition of a very very very annoying song

Posted by: Smint 7th April 2024, 11:50 AM

Awww I like 'Coming Up' with that quirky, high pitched vocals. They used a live version for the US market though with more standard vocals (and that did better even going to no.1 there).
'Geno' is pretty good fun.
'Call Me' is a fine track but not as good as 'Atomic' (but nothing really is tbh)
'Silver Dream Machine' is a catchy little song which never hear nowadays. Think would work better with a different vocalist mind (sorry David Essex!)

Posted by: dandy* 7th April 2024, 11:58 AM

I’m struck by just how much better the artwork to Call Me is than pretty much anything else in the thread so far

(Although the cover for Turning Japanese was also good)

Posted by: Gezza 7th April 2024, 12:08 PM

QUOTE(Smint @ Apr 7 2024, 12:50 PM)

Posted by: King Rollo 7th April 2024, 12:26 PM

Me as well, I liked Silver Dream Machine at the time. Geno is a very good song from Dexys and I don't mind Coming Up but it's not a particular favourite from Paul McCartney.

Posted by: Steve201 7th April 2024, 12:32 PM

I like the McCartney one sounds different with the vocals and funky production. When does Brit Funk replace disco and make its mark? Love ‘Geno’ is it just me or does it sound like something from The Specials?

Posted by: Last Dreamer 7th April 2024, 12:36 PM

In 2010 year Samantha Fox and Sabrina recorded a cover version of Call Me.

Posted by: JackJones 7th April 2024, 06:08 PM

QUOTE(Last Dreamer @ Apr 7 2024, 12:36 PM)

Posted by: TheSnake 7th April 2024, 07:05 PM

'Coming Up' is one of Paul's best. With the effects it sounds like it's being played down a phone line though

'Geno' I used to group in with the ska/2-tone movement because of the brass instrumentation, but its actually more 60s retro soul revival. I have listened to Geno Washington and The Ram Jam Band's most popular track on youtube called Michael to appreciate the influence behind the track.

QUOTE(Steve201 @ Apr 7 2024, 01:32 PM)

Posted by: Steve201 7th April 2024, 08:56 PM

What’s an example of American Post Disco?

Posted by: TheSnake 7th April 2024, 09:14 PM

QUOTE(Steve201 @ Apr 7 2024, 09:56 PM)

Posted by: Jade 7th April 2024, 09:24 PM

That's four chart-toppers for Blondie now then in the span of a little over a year *.* fantastic stuff, British public.

I can understand disdain for 'Coming Up' but it's actually one of Paul's better solo songs for me. My favourite thing he ever did away from The Beatles/Wings is quite possibly 'Temporary Secretary', from the same album, so his quirkier moves were working for me.

Posted by: Gezza 8th April 2024, 05:00 PM

3RD MAY



Just 7 days after Blondie became the first act to have two No 1 hits in the 80s they're bounced off the top slot. Indeed with sales of just 72,000 it doesn't look it will be a stellar seller, its total to date is 250,960 and unless something major happens it won't rival "Atomic" sales wise. Its fall from the top is thanks to Dexy's midnight Runners who rather explode to the top of the chart with "Geno" on sales of 95,000 and with Paul McCartney's "Coming Up" moving 7-2 on sales of 74,000 it looks safe for at least another week, so far ahead of the rest of the pack as it is.



David Essex continues to climb, this time helped with a TOTP performance which sees "Silver Dream Machine accelerate 6-4 (60,000) and easily becomes his biggest single in 2 years.



Onto the new entries of which there are two, First up are Sky (who also celebrate getting the No 1 album today) with their prog rock take on Bach's "Toccata" which moves 11-5 (47,000) and evidences the wide diversity of the British public taste,





Also new is Bobby Thurston who moves from the soul of his first album to a more disco feel for "Check Out The Groove" which soars 26-10 (31,000). It's his first hit though it is the first release from his second album.



As predicted last week UB40 fall 4-6 (44,000), Detroit Spinners move 3-7 (42,000) and Dr Hook drop 5-8 (34,000), the Pretenders meanwhile hold at No 9 though its sales are down to 34,000.


1- GENO- Dexy’s Midnight Runners (95,000)
2- COMING UP- Paul McCartney (74,000)
3- CALL ME- Blondie (72,000)
4- SILVER DREAM MACHINE- David Essex (60,000)
5- TOCCATA- Sky (47,000)
6- KING- FOOD FOR THOUGHT- UB40 (44,000)
7- WORKING MY WAY BACK TO YOU- FORGIVE ME GIRL- Detroit Spinners (42,000)
8- SEXY EYES- Dr Hook (34,000)
9- TALK OF THE TOWN- The Pretenders (34,000)
10- CHECK OUT THE GROOVE- Bobby Thurston (31,000)

Posted by: jimwatts 8th April 2024, 05:45 PM

Another two great 1980 #1s in a fortnight in 'Call Me' and 'Geno'

Posted by: Jade 8th April 2024, 05:52 PM

The Sky version of 'Toccata and Fugue in D Minor' is a pretty idiosyncratic hit single, am here for it *.*

Posted by: TheSnake 8th April 2024, 06:26 PM

'Geno' is a great #1. 'Toccata' is very good too.

Quite a few 2tone associated tracks in the top 40 at this time, my favourites are Missing Words - Selecter (#24) https://youtu.be/N4b-rJPGdOY?si=BrPEbvx_AbJXQaTA and the slightly electronic ska of Ne Ne Na Na Na Na Nu Nu - Bad Manners https://youtu.be/Lfbe0TS-Iww?si=UAB8fgPS_I0FMROA (#28)

Posted by: Smint 8th April 2024, 09:02 PM

This thread is very educational - did know the Sky track 'Toccata' from a Spotify hits of 1980 playlist but had never heard of the band before so no idea the band had a no.1 album (plus had 3 other top ten albums). I do like 'Toccata' and can see myself checking more of their stuff out. I do miss the times when we had classical music charting (it only does very rarely now for charity/novelty releases now). They'll be a few more in the next couple of years.

'Check out the Groove' is very pleasant although not exactly my kind of thing, and probably wouldn't distinguish it from the other late 70s/early 80s soul/disco tracks.

Posted by: Notorious D.O.T 8th April 2024, 10:57 PM

Geno is another great #1.

Posted by: Steve201 9th April 2024, 12:26 AM

What a great and random top 10 that is with so many genres compared to the chart of 2024(sound like an old man already 😬).


‘Geno’ is a fantastic no1 and the TOTP performance is great and upbeat ike you’d expect from them. There really was a decent fast no1 turnover in 1980, always thought it was a lot slower but guess that only happens when sales are slow/low.

Also love the two NEs, wouldn’t call either of them classics but they def add something to the distinctiveness of the charts then. Had never heard of Sky but very prog rock even the performance and Bobby is standard disco but sounds like the kind of artist that many well change styles by mid decade when he hears the ‘house’ sounds coming out of chicagos clubs.

Posted by: Popchartfreak 9th April 2024, 09:34 AM

Macca was on experimental form in 1980, it's Beatles Goes Synth basically on McCartney II and it's fresh and vital and touching and fun in a way Paul hadn't been since Venus & Mars. Coming Up is fab, the US live version was very dull in comparison. America just not ready for quirky synth yet...

Geno I bought and helped get to number one, topped my chart, but Call Me just fell short.

Posted by: Gezza 9th April 2024, 06:05 PM

10TH MAY



After a very healthy gap of 22% over the remainder of the field last week "Geno" increases the gap to 25% even though it loses sales itself to 93,000 which may on the surface make it look like a shoe-in for the top spot next week, and indeed it would be wrong not to expect such a victory for Dexy's Midnight Runners.





Its security in the top slot is threatened by Eurovision (Believe it or not) which has not threatened our No 1 position for 4 years since Brotherhood Of Man took "Save All Your Kisses For Me" to the top for a 6 week jaunt. With peak positions for subsequent winning entrant singles being 42-20-5 it's been on an upward trajectory and that continues with last months winner, Ireland's Johnny Logan. "What's Another Year?" was originally composed by Shay Healy as a song about the coming to terms of the death of his father's partner from cancer but it's transformed into a love ballad for the purposes of the competition and was Ireland's second victory in the annual event after Dana 10 years ago. It rockets from 15-2 in its second week of chart action on sales of 69,000, it may be a case of next week or bust for the song as the Eurovision memory fades though.





A bit of a tidy out in the top 10 this week with four other new tracks to keep Logan happy, that includes Rodney Franklin (13-7, 41,000) and shows that we can now add Jazz to the genres for a top 10 single this year. The single has been helped by the current dance graze "Freezing", in essence where the crowd stop and freeze when there is a stop in the music.





They might be on tour in Europe at the moment but Motorhead get their biggest UK hit this week. Their fifth hit "Golden Years EP" moves 23-8 (37,000) and is a live EP of their current tour which has easily surpassed last years "Bomber" which peaked at No 34





One of the 70s biggest groups return this week to the big 10, none other than Hot Chocolate who now have their 9th top 10 hit with "No Doubt About It" which soars from 31-9 (37,000) people must love the sight of Errol Brown in a spacesuit!





If critical acclaim were a measure of sales then the Undertones would rest easy at No 1 this week but as it is they advance to No 10 with 36,000 people being tempted to part with their cash and give the band the first top 10 hit of their 18 month career.



Thanks to Johnny Logan No's 3-6 all drop 1 place Paul McCartney (62,000), Blondie (58,000) David Essex (50,000) and Sky (43,000) must all be ruing Eurovision this week.


1- GENO- Dexy’s Midnight Runners (93,000)
2- WHAT’S ANOTHER YEAR- Johnny Logan (69,000)
3- COMING UP- Paul McCartney (62,000)
4- CALL ME- Blondie (58,000)
5- SILVER DREAM MACHINE- David Essex (50,000)
6- TOCCATA- Sky (43,000)
7- THE GROOVE- Rodney Franklin (41,000)
8- GOLDEN YEARS E.P- Motorhead (37,000)
9- NO DOUBT ABOUT IT- Hot Chocolate (37,000)
10- MY PERFECT COUSIN- The Undertones (36,000)

Posted by: dandy* 9th April 2024, 06:14 PM

I've never been able to get into that Dexy's track... it's okay but it's definitely not a particular favourite of mine.

Posted by: Notorious D.O.T 9th April 2024, 06:56 PM

That Johnny Logan track is really quite dull.

Posted by: Bjork 9th April 2024, 07:13 PM

The Johnny Logan song is the definition of snoozefest

Posted by: TheSnake 9th April 2024, 07:14 PM

'The Groove' by Rodney Franklin is very good, I think the early piano house producers were influenced by songs like 'The Groove'.

The Johnny Logan track isn't the most interesting, but its saved by a good chorus.

The Undertones track I prefer over the Motorhead one, but the Motorhead song has good drumming it it!

'No Doubt About It' is very good, I like the change of style between the verses and chorus. The verses with the bass guitar certainly sound like an example of early 80s Britfunk, which Steve was talking about a few posts back!

Posted by: jimwatts 9th April 2024, 07:31 PM

'My Perfect Cousin' has some brilliant lines, namechecking University Challenge, Subbuteo, and The Human League before the latter had even made their chart debut!

Posted by: Gezza 9th April 2024, 07:43 PM

To the surprise of no-one I'm sure Johnny Logan was managed by........Louis Walsh

Posted by: King Rollo 9th April 2024, 09:10 PM

I agree that My Perfect Cousin has some brilliant lines, I hadn't noticed the Human League being mentioned before.

No Doubt About It is my favourite Hot Chocolate song.

Posted by: TheSnake 9th April 2024, 09:18 PM

QUOTE(King Rollo @ Apr 9 2024, 10:10 PM)

Posted by: Popchartfreak 10th April 2024, 09:07 AM

Hot Choc another massive fave of mine, bought that one right away, I was a fan from the moment I first Errol & Co, the sci-fi theme and sound obv appealed to me a lot. The band never had a hit album, bar Greatest Hits collections, and very much had to fight for every single to become a hit, it was never guaranteed, not least because they genre-hopped like crazy and were hard to pigeon-hole. Which is why I loved them, and why their record of 15 consecutive years of at least one top 40 hit was really impressive and much-quoted at the time.

Johnny Logan was nice enough but got annoying after a while, Motorhead I much preferred my BJSC flop Overkill, and The Undertones still on top of their game, quirky with great lyrics. Feargal still doing his bit for the environment slagging off the money-spewing privately-owned debt-ridden polluting-rewarding water companies.

Posted by: Bjork 10th April 2024, 02:29 PM

oh The Groove is great! sounds so familiar, did it re-chart later or someone covered it?

Posted by: Popchartfreak 10th April 2024, 04:24 PM

Not sure it was ever covered, but Shakatak had a very similar backing track on stuff like Easier Said Than Done and Night Birds. Laid back jazz funk was a mini-boom in the UK in 1981/82.

Posted by: Smint 10th April 2024, 06:47 PM

That Johnny Logan track is abysmal- 'Hold Me Now' despite being very cheesy was a lot better.

When I first heard 'No Doubt About It' would never have thought it wasHot Chocolate, especially the verse. Very diverse band!

Only hearing 'My Perfect Cousin' for first time. What a riff!

Posted by: TheSnake 10th April 2024, 07:02 PM

QUOTE(Bjork @ Apr 10 2024, 03:29 PM)

Posted by: Gezza 10th April 2024, 08:13 PM

17TH MAY



In a week when sales were impacted by the bank holiday, it looked good to hold the No 1 spot but in the end "Geno" just didn't have the legs needed and lost out on the top slot though the track can console itself with crossing the 400,000 mark (421,000 to be exact) to put Dexy's Midnight Runners in the top 10 singles of the year so far. It lost out in the end to Johnny Logan who won the Eurovision Song Contest for Ireland last month.

"What's Another Year" duplicates the feat of Ireland's only other Eurovision Winner Dana a decade ago with "All Kinds Of Everything", it sold 88,000 copies last week (2,000 more than "Geno") so we'll see if it has genuine appeal now that Eurovision is over and memories fade . In total it's the 10th new chart topper of the year making it the fastest turnover at the top in UK Chart history, last year it took until 22nd July to reach our tenth No 1, a reminder that only The Jam have managed a three week chart topper so far in 1980.





Making it three top 10 hits from three releases it's been a pretty flawless 6 months for the Beat who become the first act of the 80s to get the hat-trick as "Mirror In The Bathroom" jumps 17-4 (46,000) and becomes in the process their highest peaking single.





Meanwhile "Off The Wall" continues to yield hits for Michael Jackson as a fourth single from it, "She's Out Of My Life" leaps 25-5 (44,000). Written by Tom Bahler, some say about his relationship with Karen Carpenter, Jackson becomes the first act to lift 4 top 10 singles from the same studio album.





Six years after his last hit Jimmy Ruffin returns to the charts with "Hold On To My Love" his first hit after he left Motown and had a helping hand from Robin Gibb who co-wrote the track. He moves 14-7 (41,000).





After "Tonight I'm Alright" made No 34 earlier this year Narada Michael Walden scores an even bigger hit with follow up "I Shoulda Loved Ya" which bounds up three spots 11-8 (31,000) but with the Undertones lifting 10-9 (30,000) and David Essex drifting 5-10 (25,000) we can see how that day of trading affected sales. Paul McCartney holds at No 3 (61,000), Hot Chocolate improve 9-6 (33,000) despite losing sales.



1- WHAT’S ANOTHER YEAR- Johnny Logan (88,000)
2- GENO- Dexy’s Midnight Runners (86,000)
3- COMING UP- Paul McCartney (61,000)
4- MIRROR IN THE BATHROOM- The Beat (46,000)
5- SHE’S OUT OF MY LIFE- Michael Jackson (44,000)
6- NO DOUBT ABOUT IT- Hot Chocolate (33,000)
7- HOLD ON TO MY LOVE- Jimmy Ruffin (31,000)
8- I SHOULDA LOVED YA- Narada Michael Walden. (31,000)
9- MY PERFECT COUSIN- The Undertones (30,000)
10- SILVER DREAM MACHINE- David Essex (25,000)

Posted by: Jade 10th April 2024, 08:33 PM

'Call Me' dropping from #4 to out of the top 10? Aww I see it managed 7 weeks in the top 40 just like 'Atomic', shame they didn't stick around for a bit longer!

Pretty poor Eurovision winner but I do much prefer the next one... those thoughts can be expanded on when we hit 1982 of course

Posted by: Smint 10th April 2024, 08:43 PM

Well the top 10 certainly isn't stale as after a week with 5 newies we get one with 4, and an all male top 10 to boot. Not really blown away by any of these new ones. The Beat and Jimmy Ruffin are fine but always found 'She's Out of My Life' a really boring Michael Jackson song. The Narada song isn't my genre either so can't really persevere with that one.

Posted by: Bjork 11th April 2024, 07:21 AM

oh really liked Mirror in the Bathroom, love those singles from The Beat even though thats not really my style of music
the Jacko single is good too

Posted by: Smint 11th April 2024, 09:10 AM

Peaking this week at no.31 was the debut top 40 hit for one of the classic alternative/goth groups of all time. This is actually my favourite Cure single - so haunting and mysterious but with THAT amazing riff. And we see Robert Smith before he applied tonnes of make up and ruffed up his hair!

Posted by: Gezza 11th April 2024, 10:01 AM

24TH MAY



It may still be No 1 but it's more through the lack of a strong opponent rather than strong sales, and this week Johnny Logan is struggling with sales dipping to 83,000 copies even with a full week of sales to support it, it managed to have a more comfortable week at the top than last week even though Hot Chocolate storm from 9-2 with "No Doubt About It" (69,000) which must be a favourite to take over in 7 days time and give the band a second UK No 1 single.





Here's an oddity- The film "MASH" is 10 years old, the book 12 years old, and the TV series has just finished its 8th series in the US so quite why the theme from the show should be a hit now is a mystery, Until that is you consider that it is currently being championed by Noel Edmonds on his Radio 1 show, a campaign that seems to be paying off as the song "Theme From MASH (Suicide Is Painless)" moves from 23-6 (52,000) and has an outside chance at the top next week.





Back to the top 10 for a seventh time are Roxy Music who debuted at No 18 last week (their highest debut ever) and rockets to No 7 this week (52,000). It's the first release from forthcoming album "Flesh & Blood" which is released next month.





From an act with a new album next month to one who's certainly taking his time to release his 4th. Gary Numan (AKA Tubeway Army) pumped out his first three albums in 10 months but it's been 8 months since "The Pleasure Principle" and no album is currently pencilled into the release schedule. All of which means that a "new" Numan single is a big deal, and an indication of his fan base allows "We Are Glass" to debut at No 10 (38,000) which means he's only the third act this decade to manage this feat after Blondie (No 3) and The Jam (No 1). Previous hits have debuted at No 20, then No 15 so the odds are he should secure a top 5 debut next time around!



The only climber this week (Hot Chocolate aside) is Michael Jackson 4-3 (62,000) and in the process leaps over the Beat who stall at No 4 despite sales spiralling 33% to 61,000. Former No 1 "Geno" slides 2-5 (61,000), Jimmy Ruffin 7-8 (45,000) and Narada Michael Walden 8-9 (42,000)

1- WHAT’S ANOTHER YEAR- Johnny Logan (83,000)
2- NO DOUBT ABOUT IT- Hot Chocolate (69,000)
3- SHE’S OUT OF MY LIFE- Michael Jackson (62,000)
4- MIRROR IN THE BATHROOM- The Beat (61,000)
5- GENO- Dexy’s Midnight Runners (61,000)
6- THEME FROM M.A.S.H- M.A.S.H (52,000)
7- OVER YOU- Roxy Music (52,000)
8- HOLD ON TO MY LOVE- Jimmy Ruffin (45,000)
9- I SHOULDA LOVED YA- Narada Michael Walden (42,000)
10- WE ARE GLASS- Gary Numan (38,000)

Posted by: Jade 11th April 2024, 10:40 AM

I've never seen M*A*S*H before but have always felt quite drawn to 'Suicide Is Painless'. The Johnny Mandel composition is beautiful, then the added choral harmonies of the session singers and dark lyrics, written by the 15-year-old son of the movie director, make for quite a haunting experience. I wasn’t aware that Noel Edmonds was the reason behind it becoming a hit in 1980 though, so that was very interesting to learn!

I quite like that Gary Numan song as well and adore 'A Forest' that was posted from outside the top 10, one of The Cure's best

Posted by: Bjork 11th April 2024, 03:01 PM

Love the theme for MASH, first time I heard it was the Manics version from the early 90s, which I prefer cos of its faster tempo

the Roxy Music one I also like

Posted by: Smint 12th April 2024, 02:53 PM

The Theme from MASH becoming a hit so long after it first aired seems really RANDOM - guess it's one of those first Radio DJ campaigns. The title and subject of the song is certainly one that would not fly nowadays (well in the sense of getting airplay) as the perception of suicide has changed so much. Weird track tbh - not bad though.

Reaching a peak position of #16 and just has to be mentioned (let's face it virtually all of her early singles are legendary) is the first single from Kate Bush's third album 'Never For Ever'. 'Breathing' was her attempt at producing a Pink Floyd style epic and has the heavy subject matter of a new born baby in a nuclear fall out/post apocalyptic world who also is addicted to nicotine from her mother. With a very memorable video too - brave choice for lead single but that's always been Kate.

Posted by: Gezza 12th April 2024, 04:15 PM

31ST MAY



Errol Brown may very well be less than impressed with the BBC this week as he and his group are denied a second chart topper after leading the list all week with "No Doubt About It". The song that swanned past it at the last minute is the theme from M*A*S*H which benefitted from constant plays on radio 1 coupled with a TOTP video slot which wasn't afforded to Hot Chocolate sees the track sell 74,000 copies this week, Hot Chocolate by contrast lost sales slightly to 68,0000.



Another couple of climbers this week come courtesy of Gary Numan whose "We Are Glass" climbs 10-5 (59,000) and Roxy Music who budge just one place 7-6 (44,000) despite losing sales of 15%.



It's the return of 2tone this week as The Specials return to the top 10 with their third straight top 10 hit and follow up to the No 1 "Too Much Too Young" back in February. A diatribe against intellectual snobbery it rises 18-8 (37,000) and heralds their second album due out later this year.





Number one in both Holland and the US this week is Lipps Inc, and here they climb 25-9 here with "Funky Town" (37,000). The song has already been atop of the US Dance chart and promises to replicate that feat here in a matter of weeks.



Elsewhere Michael Jackson drops one 3-4 (59,000), The Beat move 4-7 (40,000), and two former chart toppers both drop but with wildly different totals, Dexy's Midnight Runners slide 5-10 (36,000) but has now sold 518,336 copies (enough to be in the top 10 for the year so far) whilst Johnny Logan falls two places 1-3 with "What's Another Year" (60,000) but has less impressive total sales of 330,642.

1- THEME FROM M.A.S.H- M.A.S.H. (74,000)
2- NO DOUBT ABOUT IT- Hot Chocolate (68,000)
3- WHAT’S ANOTHER YEAR- Johnny Logan (60,000)
4- SHE’S OUT OF MY LIFE- Michael Jackson (59,000)
5- WE ARE GLASS- Gary Numan (59,000)
6- OVER YOU- Roxy Music (44,000)
7- MIRROR IN THE BATHROOM- The Beat (40,000)
8- RAT RACE/ RUDE BOYS OUTTA JAIL- The Specials (37,000)
9- FUNKY TOWN- Lipps Inc (37,000)
10- GENO- Dexy’s Midnight Runners (36,000)

Posted by: Jade 12th April 2024, 04:19 PM

Yessss loving that trade at the top, quite an unusual #1 hit. 'Funkytown' is of course a classic (first introduced to me as a kid via Shrek 2) - wonderful synth riff *.*

Posted by: dandy* 12th April 2024, 05:07 PM

QUOTE(Smint @ Apr 12 2024, 03:53 PM)

Posted by: Bjork 12th April 2024, 05:53 PM

yay much prefer the Mash theme to the Hot Chocolate song

Funky Town is also great

Posted by: TheSnake 12th April 2024, 07:35 PM

Definitely one of the worst #1s ever lyrically.

'Mirror In The Bathroom' is fab, very atmospheric.

'We Are Glass' is good, but Numan's 1979 songs were better.

The Roxy song is good not the most interesting though.

For Funkytown I enjoyed the stadium rock styled Pseudo Echo cover in the 1987 thread and the original is very good too, more electronic based than most disco at the time.

Posted by: jimwatts 12th April 2024, 10:15 PM

'Funkytown' is another timeless classic from 1980 - part disco and part electropop.
The Specials' double A-side is good, although I wouldn't say either song is in my top favourites by them.

Posted by: Notorious D.O.T 12th April 2024, 11:01 PM

The Theme From MASH Is surely one of the most depressing tracks to have got all the way to #1, it's very well composed though.

Funkytown is of course an undeniable classic and Rat Race is another decent one from the Specials.

Posted by: Smint 13th April 2024, 03:36 AM

QUOTE(dandy* @ Apr 12 2024, 06:07 PM)

Posted by: Bjork 13th April 2024, 06:38 AM

wasn't the MASH song written by some kid aged 11 or something, someone's son, the film director or something
and allegedly in like 5 minutes?

Posted by: Popchartfreak 13th April 2024, 11:40 AM

Like most people who bought the single, as I did, the MASH instrumental theme tune had been playing for 7 years for almost 6 months in every year twice a week and the show was beloved and critically rated. The film version with lyrics took on added pathos for a very pathos-filled dark comedy. But the lyrics were also based around part of the movie plot where a dentist nicknamed Painless decides to kill himself when his libido disappears for a while and the staff put on a mock funeral and wake party for him with little sympathy. War is hell, of course is the message and that's the theme of the movie, and tv show, a sly dig at Viet Nam. He doesn't kill himself.

The Beat is fab, love that one. Funkytown a disco classic with a pun band name, MJ is an emotional performance and favourite, but Hot Choc should have been number one....

Posted by: Gezza 13th April 2024, 11:59 AM

7TH JUNE



M*A*S*H reign supreme once more with their theme selling a very healthy 97,000 copies to take its overall total to 256,000 copies after 5 weeks on the chart- not bad at all. On paper Hot Chocolate's "No Doubt About It" is putting up a good fight holding at No 2 but its sales are off at 65,000 and an inevitable drop should result next week.



A strong showing from Lipps Inc keeps them on course for No 1 as "Funky Town" climbs 9-3 (44,000) but it may find MASH too powerful an opponent next week to threaten No 1.....at present. It remains No 1 stateside.



Lipps Inc didn't have it all their own way this week though as coming up on the outside was Don McLean's cover of the Roy Orbison classic "Crying". The song stems from McLean's 1978 album "Chain Lightning" his brief time with Arista records, that deal having long broken down Mclean was without a record track when radio in Holland suddenly started to play this version as the song became a surprise hit there earlier this year. That prompted the UK release and this week he climbs 13-4 (42,000) to become his first top 20 hit in 8 years.





Brother Michael might be the bigger star now but Jermaine Jackson scores his first UK hit this week as "Let's Get Serious" rises 21-9 (38,000). The former member of the Jackson 5 and of course Berry Gordy's son-in-law, has been having hits in his native US since 1973 but this is his first hit to translate across here and is co-penned by none other than Stevie Wonder.



Outside of the top 4 the only climber are the Specials (8-5) who sold 42,000 copies of "Rat Race" last week, Roxy Music hold at No 6 with "Over You" but decrease sales to 39,000 despite a TOTP performance (the album shoots 7-2 to help explain it). The other three tracks all fall, Gary Numan 5-7 (39,000) Michael Jackson 4-8 (38,000) and Johnny Logan 3-10 (35,000)- the two Jackson brothers beside each other in symmetry.

On a side note TOTP will not be on air until the current strike at the BBC is settled so we'll see how that affects sales!

1- THEME FROM MASH- M.A.S.H (97,000)
2- NO DOUBT ABOUT IT- Hot Chocolate (65,000)
3- FUNKY TOWN- Lipps Inc (44,000)
4- CRYING- Don McLean (42,000)
5- RAT RACE/ RUDE BOYS OUTTA JAIL- The Specials (42,000)
6- OVER YOU- Roxy Music (39,000)
7- WE ARE GLASS- Gary Numan (39,000)
8- SHE’S OUT OF MY LIFE- Michael Jackson (38,000)
9- LET’S GET SERIOUS- Jermaine Jackson (38,000)
10- WHAT’S ANOTHER YEAR- Johnny Logan (35,000)

Posted by: Gezza 13th April 2024, 12:04 PM

For those interested in the Musicians strike of 1980 there's more here https://www.muhistory.com/the-massacre-of-the-musicians-1980/

Posted by: Gezza 14th April 2024, 11:59 AM

14TH JUNE



It's been an odd week, yet an interesting one, for the charts or more accurately for TOTP. The flagship music show for BBC1 and indeed the nation was off air last week thanks to a well publicised strike by the Musicians Union protesting about cut-backs at the corporation, this has had two effects on the chart- firstly its created a much more level playing field with the show unable to exert its usual power and influence over the charts, and secondly it's certainly affected sales. "Theme From MASH" tops the chart for a third week but sales slide by 9% to 88,000 but the challengers are not exactly leaping into action in the way you might expect if TOTP had been shown, Don McLean lift 4-2 (55,000) leaving Lipps Inc stranded at No 3 on a sale of 50,000. There was a bank holiday in there too but even so only the top 3 clearing 50,000 is notably poor for 1980.





Donny Hathaway may no longer be with us having died in January last year but he's in the top 10 for the first time with his old collaborator Roberta Flack on "Back Together Again" at No 6 (30,000) which also becomes Flack's 2nd highest chart position after "Killing Me Softly With His Song" which made No 6 seven years ago. It comes from an album which was intended as a duets album until Hathaway's untimely death.





Having considerable Stateside success Crown Heights Affair are best known here for their 1978 hit "Galaxy Of Love" which peaked at No 24, but they can now claim a top 10 hit here as "You Gave Me Love" rises 12-10 (28,000)



Sales are down everywhere in the top 10 with the exception of Don McLean and Lipps Inc so even the risers are selling less, namely Roxy Music at No 5 (34,000) and Jermaine Jackson who rises 9-8 (30,000). In other news Hot Chocolate stumble 2-4 (42,000), the Specials back 5-7 (30,000) and Gary Numan dips 7-9 (28,000)



1- THEME FROM M.A.S.H- M.A.S.H (88,000)
2- CRYING- Don McLean (55,000)
3- FUNKY TOWN- Lipps Inc. (50,000)
4- NO DOUBT ABOUT IT- Hot Chocolate (42,000)
5- OVER YOU- Roxy Music (34,000)
6- BACK TOGETHER AGAIN- Roberta Flack & Don Hathaway (30,000)
7- RAT RACE/ RUDE BOYS OUTTA JAIL- The Specials (30,000)
8- LET’S GET SERIOUS- Jermaine Jackson (30,000)
9- WE ARE GLASS- Gary Numan (28,000)
10- YOU GAVE ME LOVE- Crown Heights Affair (28,000)

Posted by: jimwatts 14th April 2024, 09:53 PM

'You Gave Me Love' one of two songs vocally sampled in Utah Saints - Believe In Me, the other being The Human League - Love Action

Posted by: Bjork 15th April 2024, 08:40 AM

had Crying been originally a hit for Roy Orbison too? Or is it the McLean version the first time it charted?
I remember a duet version of Roy Orbison. KD Land charting in the 90s

Posted by: Gezza 15th April 2024, 02:22 PM

QUOTE(Bjork @ Apr 15 2024, 09:40 AM)

Posted by: Gezza 15th April 2024, 05:41 PM

21ST JUNE



All change at the top again as 1980 just can't provide a 4 week chart topper, "Theme From MASH" is no exception as it slides 1-2 (67,000) which is the bad news- better news however in that it has now sold 411,000 copies- we'll have a look at the top 10 best sellers of the year so far in a fortnight's time, but MASH will feature have no fear. New chart leader is Don Mclean whose cover of "Crying" makes a meal of it selling just 1,000 more than the outgoing chart topper which also makes it the lowest tally for a No 1 this year so far. As noted before this si McLean's second chart topper following "Vincent" in 1972





Two new entries this week to the top 10, up first are the Korgis, they're back with their second album and lead single "Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime" (19-6) with sales of 38,000, a considerable improvement on their first hit last year "If I Had You".





And one place below them we welcome Mary Brockert otherwise known as Teena Marie who created some controversy last year fooling many on US radio into believing she was a black artist before becoming the first white female artist to appear on US TV show "Soul Train". Her offering "Behind The Groove" jumps 17-7 this week on sales of 37,000.



Lipps Inc hold at No 3 with "Funky Town" as it increases its sales by 20% to 60,000, meanwhile Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway rise 6-4 with sales up to 41,000, Jermaine Jackson holds at No 8 also improving sales wise to 36,000, and Crown Heights Affair also hold at no 10 with a 3,000 copies increase week on week to 31,000.

Everything else drops- Hot Chocolate 4-5 (40,000), and Roxy Music 5-9 (33,000)

1- CRYING- Don McLean (68,000)
2- THEME FROM MASH- M.A.S.H (67,000)
3- FUNKY TOWN- Lipps Inc (60,000)
4- BACK TOGETHER AGAIN- Roberta Flack & Don Hathaway (41,000)
5- NO DOUBT ABOUT IT- Hot Chocolate (40,000)
6- EVERYBODY’S GOTTA LEARN TO SOMETIME- Korgis (38,000)
7- BEHIND THE GROOVE- Teena Marie (37,000)
8- LET’S GET SERIOUS- Jermaine Jackson (36,000)
9- OVER YOU- Roxy Music (33,000)
10- YOU GAVE ME LOVE- Crown Heights Affair (31,000)

Posted by: Bjork 15th April 2024, 06:10 PM

the korgis song is the kinda song you know but don't know the title or who sings it
but I immediately recognized it, great song

Posted by: Notorious D.O.T 15th April 2024, 06:40 PM

Shame it wasn’t Funkytown that ascended to #1 instead, don’t care about the Don McLean song.

Great addition from the Korgis.

Posted by: King Rollo 15th April 2024, 08:45 PM

Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime sounds as good now as it did at the time, one of the highlights of 1980. Funkytown is also fab.

Posted by: Jade 15th April 2024, 08:59 PM

Marc Et Claude's 'I Need Your Lovin (Like The Sunshine)' was my introduction to 'Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime' in any form but eventually found the original, wonderful top 10 addition

Posted by: jimwatts 15th April 2024, 09:07 PM

Yeah it's great - the Baby D version was the first I heard (and I like that too). I'd forgotten 'Funkytown' had such a run at #3, it really wasn't far off #1 this week too!

Posted by: TheSnake 15th April 2024, 09:25 PM

Behind The Groove is very good, it sounds more like a mid-80s dancefloor hit

The Korgis song is a very nice chillout track and yes like Jade it was the Marc et Claude version I discovered first.

Posted by: Bjork 16th April 2024, 08:46 AM

Don McLean was a bit lucky getting to #1 by 1K
just recall he had this other #1 in the 70s with this track call Vincent which is a big fav of mine

Posted by: Jessie Where 16th April 2024, 09:26 AM

QUOTE(Jade @ Apr 15 2024, 09:59 PM)

Marc Et Claude's 'I Need Your Lovin (Like The Sunshine)' was my introduction to 'Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime' in any form but eventually found the original, wonderful top 10 addition

Posted by: Popchartfreak 16th April 2024, 09:48 AM

Continuing my trend of buying number ones I bought Crying, loved the Roy Orbison build Don gave his version, starting off low key and growing to a proper climax. Next faves Crown Heights Affair, been on my potentials pile for a few years now if I'm in a funked-up clubbing mood. Teena Marie is a great dance tune too. It was very sad having Donny hathaway get posthumous success, especially the very odd way he died after years of mental health issues. That always added pathos to the record for me.The Korgis is one I grew to love more with time, I'd always preferred If I Have You till the 90's really when Everybody's Got To Learn started to have legs.

Posted by: Gezza 16th April 2024, 05:03 PM

28TH JUNE



Enjoying his time back in the limelight Don McLean's holds the No 1 position in the UK this week with his second chart topper "Crying" he heads a chart which is full of little quirks which again TOTP would normally have ironed out. "Crying" is falling sales wise though and registered 67,000 copies this week (again a new low) and raises its total to 309,000 in 8 weeks.





Another week, another 2 tracks enter the top 10 for the first time, Splodgenessabounds, named after lead singer Max Splodge, must be one of the most unusual band names to grace the big 10 but their take on the theme from the "Saint" coupled with "Two Pints Of Lager and A Packet of Crisps Please" shoots 22-7 (36,000) in its third week after being championed by John Peel on his radio 1 show.







Following the massive selling "Dance Yourself Dizzy" (494,000 copies sold) Liquid Gold strike it lucky for a second time as "Substitute" rises16-8 (32,000)



In other news Lipps Inc finally climb a place to No 2 this week but on sales of 63,000 but is struggling really hard to overcome Don McLean, in fact the real challenge may come from Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway who climb again from 4-3 (56,000) increasing sales by 37% and should at least overtake Lipps Inc in a weeks time. It looks promising too for The Korgis who rise 6-5 (44,000) and Teena Marie (up 1 spot to No 6) with sales of 41,000, and most interesting of all a return for the Specials "Rat Race/ Rude Boys Outta Jail" which dropped 7-11 last week but now moves back up to No 10 (27,000) though its sales do actually drop slightly.

Jermaine Jackson falls 8-9 (32,000) and former No 1 from MASH drops two 2-4 (56,000).

1- CRYING- Don Mclean (67,000)
2- FUNKY TOWN- Lipps Inc (63,000)
3- BACK TOGETHER AGAIN- Roberta Flack & Don Hathaway (56,000)
4- THEME FROM MASH- M.A.S.H. (56,000)
5- EVERYBODY’S GOTTA LEARN SOMETIME- Korgis (44,000)
6- BEHIND THE GROOVE- Teena Marie (41,000)
7- SIMON TEMPLAR/ TWO PINTS OF LAGER AND A PACKET OF CRISPS- Splodgenessabounds. (36,000)
8- SUBSTITUTE- Liquid Gold (32,000)
9- LET’S GET SERIOUS- Jermaine Stewart (32,000)
10- RAT RACE/ RUDE BOYS OUTTA JAIL- The Specials (27,000)

Posted by: TheSnake 16th April 2024, 06:12 PM

Assumed Substitute was a disco The Who cover but no. I prefer it to 'Dance Yourself Dizzy' anyway.

QUOTE(Bjork @ Apr 16 2024, 09:46 AM)

Posted by: Gezza 17th April 2024, 05:10 PM

5TH JULY



Don McLean still rules the roost this week as "Crying" stays at the top for a third week though incredibly his sales again are on the slide to just 59,000- we're making history in the wrong way week on week! that takes its total to 396,903 copies, it can also claim a double celebration as the song simultaneously climbs into the top 20 for the year.



Whilst we're on that subject here's the top 10 for 1980 as we reach the halfway point:

1. GENO- Dexy’s Midnight Runners 576,719
2. TOGETHER WE ARE BEAUTIFUL- Fern Kinney 572,806
3. THE COWARD OF THE COUNTY- Kenny Rogers 568,893
4. WORKING MY WAY BACK TO YOU- FORGIVE ME GIRL- Detroit Spinners 551,993
5. GOING UNDERGROUND/ DREAMS OF CHILDREN- The Jam 518,141
6. DANCE YOURSELF DIZZY- Liquid Gold 494,741
7. THEME FROM MASH- Mash 491,829
8. ATOMIC- Blondie 475,072
9. I’M IN THE MOOD FOR DANCING- The Nolans 446,771
10. SPECIAL AKA EP- The Specials 432,185

Note there hasn't been a strong standout single which has dominated the field yet, with "Geno" overtaking Fern Kinney only a matter of weeks ago.



Also not far of that list is Lipps Inc (currently No 21 on the YTD list) but "Funky Town" fades badly with only 54,000 sales last week, that's the lowest tally for a No 2 track this year, and the track will be very lucky to hold the position next week. Especially given the track at no 3 looks set to be the biggest challenge to McLean's 4th week, that of course is "Xanadu" by Olivia Newton John & ELO which jumps 14-3 (49,000) and is a marked improvement on her last single "Deeper Than The Night" which fizzled out at No 64 last year. Much like Newton John's biggest hits it is supported by a film in which she stars, but unlike "Grease" the film "Xanadu" isn't meeting with critical approval time will tell if the audience when it opens next month.





It was only a few months ago that Narada Michael Walden was in the top 10 with "I Shoulda Loved Ya" and he's back there this week as the writer of "Jump To The Beat" for 13 year old Stacy Lattisaw which expands 11-6 (40,000). She becomes the youngest female solo act to have a top 10 hit since Lena Zavaroni back in 1974 at the young age of 10.





With a debut album out next month expectations are high for UB40 who score a second top 10 single with their second release "My Way Of Thinking/ I Think It's Going To Rain" the latter a cover of a Randy Newman track. It bolts 19-8 this week (36,000) but has a long way to go to beat their debut hit which sold 390,000 copies.






In an exact reverse of the Narada Michael Walden situation here's B A Robertson who was in the top 10 as a writer earlier as co-author of Cliff Richard's "Carrie" this week finds himself zooming up the charts 25-9 (36,000) with "To Be Or Not To Be" which becomes his fourth top 10 hit from 5 releases and rectifies the blip that was "Kool In The Kaftan" which could get no higher than No 17 in April.



The Korgis hold at No 5 this week a their sales remain 44,000 and Splodgenessabounds also hold at No 7 with a slight increase to 37,000.

Dropping this week are Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway who slip one to No 4 (47,000) and Teena Marie who moves 6-10 (35,000).


1- CRYING- Don McLean (59,000)
2- FUNKY TOWN- Lipps Inc (54,000)
3- XANADU- Olivia Newton-John & ELO (49,000)
4- BACK TOGETHER AGAIN- Roberta Flack & Don Hathaway (47,000)
5- EVERYBODY’S GOTTA LEARN SOMETIME- Korgis (44,000)
6- JUMP TO THE BEAT- Stacy Lattisaw (40,000)
7- SIMON TEMPLAR/ TWO PINTS AND A PACKET OF CRISPS- Splodgenessabounds (37,000)
8- MY WAY OF THINKING/ I THINK IT'S GOING TO RAIN- UB40 (36,000)
9- TO BE OR NOT TO BE- B.A Robertson (36,000)
10- BEHIND THE GROOVE- Teena Marie (35,000)

Posted by: Steve201 17th April 2024, 05:11 PM

QUOTE(jimwatts @ Apr 9 2024, 08:31 PM)

Posted by: Steve201 17th April 2024, 05:22 PM

QUOTE(Smint @ Apr 11 2024, 10:10 AM)

Peaking this week at no.31 was the debut top 40 hit for one of the classic alternative/goth groups of all time. This is actually my favourite Cure single - so haunting and mysterious but with THAT amazing riff. And we see Robert Smith before he applied tonnes of make up and ruffed up his hair!

Posted by: jimwatts 17th April 2024, 07:03 PM

'Funkytown' was a bit unlucky to miss out as it did 60k in both the previous two weeks which would have been enough for #1 this week, but it had a great run in the Top 3 by 1980 standards. 'Jump To The Beat' is my favourite of the Top 10 additions.

Posted by: TheSnake 17th April 2024, 07:11 PM

UB40s 'My Way of Thinking' sounds familiar, its very good.

'Jump To The Beat' by Stacy Lattisaw is a classic and very catchy.

Also this is my favourite OMD hit I think:

#13 in June 1980

Posted by: Steve201 17th April 2024, 09:06 PM

QUOTE(Smint @ Apr 13 2024, 04:36 AM)

Posted by: Jade 17th April 2024, 09:15 PM

Can't say I've see the Xanadu film but I really like that ELO/Olivia collab. 'Jump To The Beat' still gets some radio plays but never knew it was sang by a 13-year-old!

Posted by: King Rollo 17th April 2024, 09:34 PM

I saw Xanadu when it was shown TV as ELO were involved in the music and can confirm it's pretty awful. The soundtrack still managed to produce six top 40 singles.

To Be Or Not To Be is another good one from BA Robertson with his usual wordplay.

Posted by: TheSnake 17th April 2024, 09:44 PM

QUOTE(King Rollo @ Apr 17 2024, 10:34 PM)

Posted by: Steve201 17th April 2024, 09:56 PM

QUOTE(Gezza @ Apr 13 2024, 01:04 PM)

Posted by: Steve201 17th April 2024, 10:34 PM

QUOTE(TheSnake @ Apr 17 2024, 08:11 PM)

Posted by: TheSnake 17th April 2024, 10:35 PM

Welcome back Steve, was just saying the verses of Hot Chocolate - No Doubt About It sound like the start of '80s Britfunk' to try and answer your question before!

QUOTE(Steve201 @ Apr 17 2024, 10:06 PM)

Posted by: Gezza 18th April 2024, 05:08 AM

QUOTE(Steve201 @ Apr 17 2024, 10:56 PM)

Posted by: Bjork 18th April 2024, 06:56 AM

Oh Xanadu was huge, I remember it as a child the song was everywhere

Posted by: Gezza 18th April 2024, 06:22 PM

12TH JULY



1980 continues to be a poor year for sales at the top of the charts, lack of TOTP is playing its part with no track really lifting off, not that that matters too much to Olivia Newton-John who strikes gold with Electric Light Orchestra in tow, "Xanadu" rises 3-1 after shifting 74,000. It's her third No 1 following on from "Summer Nights" and "You're The One That I Want". The parent album of the same name will be in the shops this week so can the single survive the loss of sales to it?





"Xanadu" continues the trend for high turnover at the top of the charts, it's 1980's 13th No 1 single, there were a total of 18 in the whole of 1979 so this year is set to be something of a record breaker, and given that Odyssey rocket 12-2 (59,000) this week it looks far from certain that ONJ/ELO will hold down the top spot next week. The group are known here for their 1977 hit "Native New Yorker" which made No 5 and remained their sole UK hit until "Use It Up, Wear It Out" which creates a disco influenced top 2 at a time when the US market has turned decidedly against the genre.



For most of the week Don Mclean's "Crying" was running at No 2 but faded at the final hurdle to dive to No 4 by Saturday (53,000) and was overtaken not only by Odyssey but also Stacy Lattislaw who climbs 6-3 (57,000).



Completing the top 5 are the Detroit Spinners who followed up the No 1 single "Working My Way Back To You- Forgive Me Girl" with "Body Language" which burned out at No 40, they return to the winning formula however with another medley "Cupid- I've Loved You A Long Time" a combination of covers of songs recorded by Sam Cooke and the Michael Zager Band respectively. It jumps 16-5 (52,000) and isn't without its own threat to top our charts next week.





Taken from their new album "Uprising" Bob Marley & The Wailers score a No 9 hit with "Could You Be Loved" which now equals his peak position which he reached with both "Jamming" and "Is This Love", it climbs 21-9 (33,000) whilst the album lifts 10-6 in response with Marley's tour in the country taking place this week.



There's only one other climber within the top 10 and that's UB40 who rise 8-7 (37,000) with a minimal increase and look to be struggling, whilst Lipps Inc dive 2-6 (41,000), The Korgis drop 5-8 (33,000) and Splodgenessabouts just cling onto their place in the top 10 but can only sell 31,000 copies.


1- XANADU- Olivia Newton John & ELO (74,000)
2- USE IT UP AND WEAR IT OUT- Odyssey (59,000)
3- JUMP TO THE BEAT- Stacey Lattisaw (57,000)
4- CRYING- Don McLean (53,000)
5- CUPID/ I’VE LOVED YOU A LONG TIME- The Detroit Spinners (52,000)
6- FUNKY TOWN- Lipps Inc (41,000)
7- MY WAY OF THINKING/ I THINK IT’S GOING TO RAIN- UB40 (37,000)
8- EVERYBODY’S GOTTA LEARN SOMETIME- Korgis (33,000)
9- COULD YOU BE LOVED?- Bob Marley & The Wailers (33,000)
10- SIMON TEMPLAR/ TWO PINTS OF LAGER AND A PACKET OF CRISPS- Splodgenessabounds (31,000)

Posted by: Notorious D.O.T 18th April 2024, 06:25 PM

Could You Be Loved!

Good entry for Odyssey too and nice to see Stacy Lattisaw climbing. I'm not too fussy on Xanadu tbh.

Posted by: Bjork 18th April 2024, 06:59 PM

Love the Bob Marley one but those other 2 newbies are too 70s

Posted by: TheSnake 18th April 2024, 08:12 PM

The #1 is good but both artists have better songs.

The Odyssey song is good, quite a fast disco song

Could You Be Loved is a classic of course, Jamaican music and Jamaican influenced music was doing well in the charts at this time with Bob Marley, UB40 and 2tone/ska in the UK.

Posted by: Gezza 18th April 2024, 08:29 PM

Something moderately interesting. Whilst the BBC orchestra were on strike TOTP trialled some different formats featuring members of the crew standing in for artists. The one here is for this week's chart though of course these were never aired.

Posted by: Steve201 18th April 2024, 09:24 PM

QUOTE(TheSnake @ Apr 17 2024, 11:35 PM)

Posted by: Steve201 18th April 2024, 09:26 PM

QUOTE(Gezza @ Apr 18 2024, 06:08 AM)

Posted by: TheSnake 18th April 2024, 09:44 PM

And then Phil Lynott (and Midge Ure production) for the theme tune. What theme tune did they use before that?

Posted by: Steve201 18th April 2024, 09:53 PM

I don’t know the name but could hum it lol! Was a real 70s style intro start!

Posted by: Gezza 18th April 2024, 10:03 PM

Looking at some episodes from 1979 they just played a chart track as they ran down the charts with graphics.

Posted by: Gezza 19th April 2024, 03:45 PM

19TH JULY



Sales of the chart topper once again slide under the 70,000 mark this week, but "Xanadu" remains in pole position moving 69,000 copies in the last week, perhaps some are being put off by the savaging the film is currently getting or are investing i the album which slams in at No 7. The tracks total sales now stand at 223,000 not very impressive for a chart topper, and as it's losing sales which means it may be lucky to even break 400,000 mark at the end of the day. Whether or not it can claim a third week is very much up in the air with Odyssey holding at No 2 but they are losing sales to 56,000 too, depressing all around.





Three new hits make the top 10 this week with Kate Bush being the highest 16-7 (32,000) with "Babooshka". It's the second track to be lifted from her forthcoming third album "Never For Ever" which is due in a couple of months after being delayed, the first single "Breathing" peaked at No 16 and sold 123,000 copies in all. It is also Bush's fourth top 10 single, her best seller of course being her introductory single "Wuthering Heights" in 1978.





McCartney's also back in the top 10 with a second single from his second solo album, and a second top 10 hit this year. It has spent a fortnight at 11 looking like entry to the upper echelon would be impossible, however it stumbles 11-9 this week (29,000).





After 7 straight top 10 singles between 1973-77 Leo Sayer had a fine start to his chart career, but he's had a slightly barren period recently having been absent from the top 10 since October 1978 but he hasn't lost the touch as "More Than I Can Say" takes just 3 weeks to make the grade jumping 22-10 this week (28,000). It has a good calibre of songwriter being penned by Sonny Curtis and Jerry Allison former members of the Crickets who recorded it in 1960 and made No 42 before being covered by Bobby Vee a year later when it went to No 4, Sayer has therefore a little way to go to become the highest charting version of the track.



In other news Stacy Lattisaw holds at No 3 with sales up to 53,000, the Detroit Spinners don't look like repeating their trick of earlier in the year and getting a No 1 as they move just one spot 5-4 but sales dive to just 44,000, Bob Marley jumps 9-5 to have the biggest hit of his career but his sales increase just 10,000 copies to 43,000, UB40 continue to climb 7-6 though again it loses 10% sales wise to 33,000, and finally Don McLean is a spent force as "crying" collapses 4-8 (29,000)

1- XANADU- Olivia Newton-John & ELO (69,000)
2- USE IT UP, WEAR IT OUT- Odyssey (56,000)
3- JUMP TO THE BEAT- Stacey Lattisaw (53,000)
4- CUPID/ I’VE LOVED YOU A LONG TIME- Detroit Spinners (44,000)
5- COULD YOU BE LOVED- Bob Marley & The Wailers (43,000)
6- MY WAY OF THINKING/ I THINK IT’S GOING TO RAIN- UB40 (33,000)
7- BABOOSHKA- Kate Bush (32,000)
8- CRYING- Don McLean (29,000)
9- WATERFALLS- Paul McCartney (29,000)
10- MORE THAN I CAN SAY- Leo Sayer (28,000)

Posted by: Smint 20th April 2024, 10:14 AM

Kate Bush! 'Babooshka' despite being one of her biggest hits isn't in my top tier of Kate singles but that's because she sets the bar so damn high. Great storyline though which predates the Tindr/Grindr phenomena of using fake profile to catch a cheating partner out by several decades. And oh my at that video!

Despite being one of her biggest hits in the UK she never performed it live or on a TV promo here but a couple of interesting European TV performances exist on YouTube.

Posted by: Bjork 20th April 2024, 10:52 AM

agree love Kate Bush but. Babooshka is meh, not a favourite, one of my least least favourite of hers in fact

all 3 newbies kinda cheesy

Posted by: dandy* 20th April 2024, 10:56 AM

Yeah, Babooshka is fine and I can see why it was the biggest hit but I prefer Army Dreamers and Breathing from the album.

Posted by: Gezza 20th April 2024, 02:16 PM

26TH JULY



"Xanadu" takes a fall from the top after just a fortnight as sales fall to 51,000 for the track, the lowest tally needed for the runner up track this year so far- will it even make the year end top 40 at the current rate? Parent album at least lifts 7-3. It is replaced by Odyssey whose "Use It Up Wear It Out" which reverses its trend and improves sales wise to 62,000 copies marking an easy victory for them this week



Leo Sayer catapults 10-3 with "More Than I Can Say" (42,000)- his biggest hit since he hit the top three years ago. Stacy Lattisaw dips 3-4 (40,000) and Bob Marley holds at No 5 (40,000) but both appear to be a spent force sales wise.



Diana's back this week! It's been over 4 years since "Love Hangover" became a top 10 hit and in the interim 9 singles bearing her name have been released, none of them reaching higher than No 23, but "Upside Down" hurtles 31-8 (32,000) in just its second week and is the first product of her collaboration with Edwards/ Rogers of Chic. Keep an eye on it it seems to have the hallmark of a No 1 at present!





Speaking of returns to the chart the Rolling Stones are back as well. "Emotional Rescue" rises 19-9 (32,000) and is of course the title of their most recent album which has already topped the album charts for two weeks and currently sits at No 2. Along with Ross and arguably half the top 10 it marks a triumph for Disco which is showing no slacking in its attempt to dominate the charts this year.



Kate Bush Holds the No 7 spot this week on an increased sale of 37,000 and both the Detroit Spinners and UB40 take tumbles this week of 4-6 (38,000) and 6-10 (31,000) respectively.

1- USE IT UP, WEAR IT OUT- Odyssey (62,000)
2- XANADU- Olivia Newton-John & ELO (51,000)
3- MORE THAN I CAN SAY- Leo Sayer (42,000)
4- JUMP TO THE BEAT- Stacy Lattisaw (40,000)
5- COULD YOU BE LOVED- Bob Marley & The Wailers (40,000)
6- CUPID/ I’VE LOVED YOU A LONG TIME- Detroit Spinners (38,000)
7- BABOOSHKA- Kate Bush (37,000)
8- UPSIDE DOWN- Diana Ross (32,000)
9- EMOTIONAL RESCUE- The Rolling Stones (32,000)
10- MY WAY OF THINKING/ I THINK IT’S GOING TO RAIN- UB40 (31,000)

Posted by: Bjork 20th April 2024, 02:39 PM

Chain reaction <3

Don't think I ever heard the Rolling Stones song, his vocals sound beyond weird

Posted by: Jade 20th April 2024, 05:14 PM

'Babooshka' appreciation post wonderfully bonkers and her presence is everything in the video.

Posted by: jimwatts 20th April 2024, 08:40 PM

Bob Marley was close to getting a Top 3 hit in his lifetime there, and with The Wailers too.

Yay for 'Upside Down' entering, the Edwards / Rodgers disco sound worked a treat for Diana - it's shaping up for something special in the coming weeks perhaps?

Posted by: TheSnake 20th April 2024, 08:54 PM

Babooshka is good but is the one song that is often not really taken seriously in her discography.

This #13 hit at the time has become iconic certainly.

Posted by: Gezza 21st April 2024, 11:54 AM

2ND AUGUST



News that their may be an end to the strike in sight must come as a mighty relief to record companies up and down the land this week as Odyssey hold the top spot and increase sales to 76,000. That's an 8 week period where the No 1 in the land has failed to break the 90k mark, not helped of course by the natural summer slump which has left some chart toppers with disappointing totals, for example "Xanadu" which falls 2-4 (47,000) with a sales total of 369,000 to date, however Odyssey haven't done too badly thus far running up 386,000 to overtake Newton-John/ ELO whilst still at No 1. "Xanadu" the album is at least at No 2 in mitigation.



Right on cue though their tenure at the top is starting to look shaky given that Leo Sayer moves 3-2 (63,000) and registers a 53% increase in sales and more impressively Diana Ross bounces 8-3 (63,000) a 97% increase and must be fancied to seriously challenge Odyssey next week.



Meanwhile Dexy's Midnight Runners are back with "There There My Dear" which follows the top 10 debut for their first album "Searching For The Young Soul Rebels" last week, it rises 12-7 (41,000) after just 4 weeks on the chart. It is of course the follow up to "Geno" which remains the biggest selling single of the year so far!





No stranger to the No 1 spot Abba make a sensational New entry at No 9 this week with "The Winner Takes It All" (32,000), the band have had 7 previous UK chart toppers but only two singles have debuted in the top 10, "Take A Chance On Me" in 1978 and "Chiquitita" last year, the latter title the only song to debut higher than "The Winner Takes It All" by one place. It's the first release from their forthcoming (as yet unnamed) album due at Christmas. The lyrics appear to be slightly personal if reviews are to be believed focusing on the inner wranglings of the group.



Kate Bush is also on the rise this week 7-5 (47,000) whilst fallers include Bob Marley 5-6 (47,000), Stacy Lattislaw 4-8 (32,000) and the Detroit Spinners 6-10 (30,000)

1- USE IT UP, WEAR IT OUT- Odyssey (76,000)
2- MORE THAN I CAN SAY- Leo Sayer (64,000)
3- UPSIDE DOWN- Diana Ross (63,000)
4- XANADU- Olivia Newton-John & ELO (47,000)
5- BABOOSHKA- Kate Bush (47,000)
6- COULD YOU BE LOVED- Bob Marley & The Wailers (47,000)
7- THERE THERE MY DEAR- Dexy’s Midnight Runners (41,000)
8- JUMP TO THE BEAT- Stacey Lattisaw (32,000)
9- THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL- Abba (32,000)
10- CUPID- I’VE LOVED YOU A LONG TIME- Detroit Spinners (30,000)

Posted by: Last Dreamer 21st April 2024, 11:58 AM

My favourite song from 80s decade debuted at # 70 on this week (Peak position # 25)

Posted by: Bjork 21st April 2024, 12:58 PM

oh was rooting for Chain reaction, wasn't expecting Odyssey to hold on, not a fav that one

the Dexys one is no Geno but not that bad

good entry for Abba, guess they're favourites to climb to #1 next week?

Posted by: King Rollo 21st April 2024, 01:06 PM

The Diana Ross song is Upside Down, not Chain Reaction.

Posted by: Bjork 21st April 2024, 01:35 PM

yes yes always mix those up

Posted by: Jester 21st April 2024, 02:24 PM

The Winner Takes It All really is peak ABBA.

Posted by: Jade 21st April 2024, 02:29 PM

'The Winner Takes It All' is stunning, my second favourite ABBA single only behind 'Lay All Your Love On Me'.

Posted by: TheSnake 21st April 2024, 07:52 PM

'The Winner Takes It All' is one of ABBAs best, 'Upside Down' by Diana Ross is very catchy. the Dexys song is quite good.

Posted by: Steve201 21st April 2024, 10:39 PM

QUOTE(TheSnake @ 20th April 2024, 09:54 PM)

Posted by: Steve201 21st April 2024, 10:48 PM

Why did Abba not enter the chart in the top 5 by this stage? Surely a new single by then would be hugely anticipated following previous output?

Posted by: Gezza 22nd April 2024, 04:57 AM

QUOTE(Steve201 @ 21st April 2024, 11:48 PM)

Posted by: Popchartfreak 22nd April 2024, 10:02 AM

I bought OMD's Messages, fab record should have been bigger than 13, and then as my Uni days drew to a close, exams over, I bought Xanadu (the film was bad but the music was great) as I said bye to all my friends and headed off to 2 years of unemployment and grimness, just the music scene to keep me going. Xanadu is still a great record.

Two Pints was funny, Jump To The Beat a top dance tune, Bob Marley back with a banger and we had no idea he was seriously ill. babooshka was a talking point with the video, Kate still beating her own unique path, and Waterfalls is just gorgeous, wistful and atmospheric. Not the usual Macca sound at all.

Diana Ross' Chic-tastic smash was her best record since Love Hangover and a goodbye to Motown and quality control of some sorts after this as she seises the comeback album moment to sign to Capitol for cash and years of musical meh bar 2 or 3 notable exceptions. Joy Division did better in 1983, in 1980 it was ahead of the time - into the early 80's times were grim, and when times get grim people want to feel like they can party to forget not wallow in misery (see Lockdown and Dua Lipa).

I was back in Mansfield and applying for jobs as ABBA dropped me a sad gift in The Winner Takes It All. The video got showed on telly, and obv I bought it. My dad was considering buying a new-fangled expensive Phillips 2000 video recorder, the tapes alone cost £20 for 2 hours (hugely expensive) - so I encouraged him so I could tape top Star Trek episodes and my fave videos off Top Of The Pops when it started up again shortly (a few weeks from now after Abba drop off the top spot).

Posted by: Smint 22nd April 2024, 10:43 AM

'The Winner Takes It All' I absolutely loved for decades and decades. Like many other songs on Abba Gold, I find them suffer from overplay and now I prefer their more obscure singles like 'The Day Before You Came', 'Head over Heels', 'Summer Night City' etc but no denying it's power and poignancy.

Posted by: Gezza 22nd April 2024, 05:31 PM

9TH AUGUST



It's taken two and a half years and six releases to do it but finally ABBA are back at the No 1 spot in the UK and on sales of 71,000 . It's also their 8th No 1 single placing them joint 4th on the all time list of acts with the most chart toppers which now reads:

17- The Beatles, Elvis Presley
12 The Shadows
10- Cliff Richard
8- Rolling Stones
8- ABBA.



But they left it VERY late indeed, leading the way all week was Diana Ross with "Upside Down" which looked an odds on favourite to top the charts even as Friday dawned but in the end she lost out by 9,000 copies, but even a sale of 62,000 would have seen her No 1 at some points over the last 2 months.





Ever dreamed of being a popstar? Certainly Sheena Orr did, she of course had the benefit of a BBC show "The Big Time" to help her achieve the feat, a name change to Sheena Easton and the additional promo (which was too late to save her debut single "Modern Girl" from being a flop and halting at No 56 -it gets a re-issue this week so we'll wait and see how it does), means the follow up is doing rather better. "9 to 5" rockets 20-5 (45,000) and seems to have placed her on the way to stardom.





Taking rather longer to finally make it in the world of pop, The Gap Band have been releasing singles for 7 years without scoring a hit but they finally remedy that with "Ooops Upside Your Head" which has developed its own dance in the clubs of the land, a fact which is no doubt helping with sales as it soars 18-7 (38,000)





A second release from the No 1 album "Flesh & Blood" becomes a second UK top 10 single for Roxy Music as "Oh Yeah" climbs 30-9 in just its second week selling 37,000 copies in the process. The first release "Over You" made the top 5 earlier this year and sold a none too shabby 311,000 copies when the dust had settled.





And rounding off the new entries to the top 10 is George Benson, initially known as a Jazz artist since the 60s- he has hooked up with pop royalty Quincy Jones who recently helmed Michael Jackson's "Off The Wall" and came up with his new album "Give Me The Night" and the title track which rises 22-10 (35,000) his first top 20 hit here. it's written by Roger Temperton who returns to the big 10 as a writer after helping on Michael Jackson's "Off The Wall" single earlier this year.



Former No 1 "Use It Up Wear It Out" dives 1-3 (51,000), Leo Sayer retreats 2-4 (48,000), Kate Bush takes a one place tumble 5-6 (43,000) and Bob Marley dips 6-8 (38,000).

TOTP returns to our screens this Thursday so we'll see how much the public has missed it next week!



1- THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL- Abba (71,000)
2- UPSIDE DOWN- Diana Ross (62,000)
3- USE IT UP, WEAR IT OUT- Odyssey (51,000)
4- MORE THAN I CAN SAY- Leo Sayer (48,000)
5- 9 TO 5- Sheena Easton (45,000)
6- BABOOSHKA- Kate Bush (43,000)
7- OOOPS UPSIDE YOUR HEAD- Gap Band (38,000)
8- COULD YOU BE LOVED- Bob Marley & The Wailers (38,000)
9- OH YEAH- Roxy Music (37,000)
10- GIVE ME THE NIGHT- George Benson (35,000)

Posted by: dandy* 22nd April 2024, 05:44 PM

Give Me The Night is a great addition, didn't know that it made the top 10 over here. One of my favourite soul singles of the 80s *.*

Posted by: Smint 22nd April 2024, 08:18 PM

'Oh Yeah(On the Radio)' is probably my favourite Roxy single so glad it was a top 10.

'9 to 5' or 'Morning Train' is cheesy but catchy as hell and sef one if my favourite guilty pleasures of the year. Sheens generally got worse after her first two singles.

Gap Band 'Oooops Upside Your Head' is a great early 1980s disco classic but very difficult to separate in my mind from the Snap cover from 1990 which I heard first as a child!

George Benson is very strong and stands the test of time.

Posted by: jimwatts 22nd April 2024, 09:41 PM

A chart close to my heart 'The Winner Takes It All' #1, 'Upside Down' #2 and AC/DC - Back In Black the #1 album, doesn't get much better than that!

ABBA gave us yet another classic 1980 #1 - the emotion is all there in Agnetha's delivery, almost choking on the words with the story clearly so close to home, but facing up gamely to the relentless chorus.

Posted by: Notorious D.O.T 22nd April 2024, 09:44 PM

Would have preferred Diana Ross to cling on and take the #1 there tbh.

Posted by: TheSnake 22nd April 2024, 11:47 PM

That Roxy song is very MOR

9-5 Morning Train I know well, its less dated sounding than her later hit 'For Your Eyes Only'

The George Benson track is one of the better disco songs of the year.

'Oops Upside Your Head' is good but yeah I prefer the Snap cover - what's in the bowl, b*tch!?

Posted by: Bjork 23rd April 2024, 07:23 AM

For Your Eyes Only is not dated, it's your typical James Bond theme with the typical Bond production

also wish Diana Ross had climbed to #2 rather than Abba
not a bad top 10, decent newbies though none is a huge huge fav

Posted by: Gezza 23rd April 2024, 04:30 PM

16TH AUGUST



After beating Diana Ross to the top by just 9,000 copies last week, the past 7 days have produced a much easier victory for the Swedes as they sell a very impressive 105,000 copies, the first time in 20 weeks that the No 1 tripped into six figures and naturally benefitted from the return of TOTP to our screens. The effect was noticeable too in the remainder of the top 3 which saw Diana Ross hold at No 2 with sales up to 87,000 (itself a 13 week high for the position) and Sheena Easton leaping 5-3 with 76,000 sales- enough for No 1 last week. Total sales of "The Winner Takes It All" now stand at 208,000 after three weeks and should be spurred on by a special gatefold release of the single this week.





Next week it may not be Diana who is the main worry for ABBA but David Bowie who debuts at No 4 (the fifth track to debut in the top 10 this year) and in the process becomes his highest debuting single ever and biggest hit since "Sound & Vision" three years ago. Thematically it continues to use the character of Major Tom which Bowie first invented for his "Space Oddity" which remains his only UK No 1 single, perhaps he's seeing if good luck can strike twice? It's also the first release from his forthcoming album "Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)" which is due next month, "Ashes To Ashes" sold 63,000 copies last week the highest tally for a No 4 record since April, had it been released three weeks ago and sold the same it would have debuted at No 1!





The only other new entry to the top 10 comes from Tom Browne whose ode to his neighbourhood "Funkin For Jamaica" rises 16-10 (33,000) it's the first hit for the US Funk/ Jazz artist and the first release from his second album "Love Approach".




Roxy Music rejoice as "Oh Yeah" climbs 9-5 (63,000) which joins in the sales bonanza to mark another high, their album is similarly moving units 4-2, and the Gap Band power 7-6 on 57,000 sales, George Benson accelerates 10-7 (57,000), the sales highs could be attributed to the return of TOTP and a number of current singles from high demand acts not available on albums at present.

All of which is bad news for Odyssey 3-9 (34,000) and Leo Sayer 4-8 (35,000) who tail off badly and are seemingly spent.



1- THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL- Abba (105,000)
2- UPSIDE DOWN- Diana Ross (87,000)
3- 9 TO 5- Sheena Easton (76,000)
4- ASHES TO ASHES- David Bowie (63,000)
5- OH YEAH- Roxy Music (63,000)
6- OOPS UPSIDE YOUR HEAD- Gap Band (57,000)
7- GIVE ME THE NIGHT- George Benson (57,000)
8- MORE THAN I CAN SAY- Leo Sayer (35,000)
9- USE IT UP, WEAR IT OUT- Odyssey (34,000)
10- FUNKIN FOR JAMAICA- Tom Browne (33,000)

Posted by: jimwatts 23rd April 2024, 06:59 PM

Great sales for ABBA at #1, Diana at #2 and 'Ashes To Ashes' on its first week! Could that be yet another classic 1980 #1 on the way?

And yeah it's kind of a shame that Diana and ABBA couldn't get a week at #1 each.

Posted by: TheSnake 23rd April 2024, 07:27 PM

'Ashes to Ashes' is very good, its supposed to be very influential on the New Romantics and the rest of the early 80s, I can hear it with the use of the Brit-funk bass guitar sound.

Posted by: dandy* 23rd April 2024, 07:27 PM

Ashes to Ashes One of my favourites from the 80s, a real classic for me

Posted by: Notorious D.O.T 23rd April 2024, 07:50 PM

Ashes To Ashes

What a classic!

Posted by: Bjork 24th April 2024, 06:36 AM

Im the opposite, Ashes does nothing to me
And prefer many other of his singles

Posted by: Popchartfreak 24th April 2024, 09:13 AM

The video sold Ashes To Ashes immediately, it was the arrival of New Romantics (with Steve Strange in the video), was on TV a lot and I recorded it off Top Of The Pops and played it loads - as well as buying the single. It sounded like nothing before it, genuinely fresh and exciting and set up the album for bigger sales in a way that had generally eluded him since Aladdin Sane/Ziggy era.

Posted by: Jessie Where 24th April 2024, 09:17 AM

'Morning Train' is such a huge guilty pleasure of mine.

Posted by: Gezza 24th April 2024, 07:00 PM

23RD AUGUST



The Story of Major Tom continues to provide commercial gold for Bowie as he grabs his second UK No 1 single this week. The promo vid is reportedly the most expensive ever made coming in at £250,000 and includes some key movers in the new London club scene centring around the Blitz Club in Covent Garden which has been hitting the headlines in recent months. As one of the primary influences on the new scene it is no surprise that Bowie has utilised the "movement", "Ashes To Ashes" sold 111,000 copies last week to easily power to the top spot (and record the 6th highest tally of 1980), no shame to ABBA though as they may drop 1-2 but they added 94,000 to their total which now stands at 302,000 a month after release.





There's a little bit of chart history created this week as for the first time since the chart went to a top 50 a record debuts in the top 10 in successive weeks. Following Bowie into the top 5 The Jam return with "Start" which debuts at No 3 and sells 91,000 into the bargain though it actually slacked off sales wise toward the end of the week and was initially neck and neck with Bowie! Some have said it that it seems to bear more than a passing resemblance to the Beatles "Taxman".





It may not be the muso's favourite single but Kelly Marie is finally in the top 10 after gliding 16-8 (53,000). It was released some months ago and was something of a cult hit on the Scottish club scene which prompted a re-issue and it is finally a hit breaking her in this country, it is worth noting that she has hit the big time in several countries with other tracks most notable in France and of course she won opportunity knocks four times in a row a few years ago. The track itself was written by Mungo Jerry frontman Ray Dorsey and originally offered to Elvis Presley but was not recorded by him before his death, It's ended up with Marie who turns it into a hit





First championed by DJ John Peel Brighton's punk band The Piranhas finally slip into the top 10 moving 13-9 (42,000). "Tom Hark" is of course a cover of the 1958 hit by Elias and His Zig Zag Jive Flutes which spent 4 weeks at No 2 so it has big boots to fill if it's to match the original.




Elsewhere Sheena Easton continues to set records as she now records the highest sales for a No 4 track in 1980 with "9 To 5" selling 88,000 and almost overtaking The Jam- it's shaping up to be one of the biggest hits of the year so far.

Dropping this week are Diana Ross 2-5 (73,000), Roxy Music 5-6 (64,000) Gap Band 6-7 (54,000), but are No 1 on the album charts again, and George Benson 7-10 (40,000)

1- ASHES TO ASHES- David Bowie (111,000)
2- THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL- Abba (94,000)
3- START- The Jam (91,000)
4- 9 TO 5- Sheena Easton (88,000)
5- UPSIDE DOWN- Diana Ross (73,000)
6- OH YEAH- Roxy Music (64,000)
7- OOPS UPSIDE YOUR HEAD- Gap Band (54,000)
8- FEELS LIKE I’M IN LOVE- Kelly Marie (53,000)
9- TOM HARK- The Piranhas (42,000)
10- GIVE ME THE NIGHT- George Benson (40,000)

Posted by: Jade 24th April 2024, 07:06 PM

Ahhhh another brilliant #1 in a row with 'Ashes To Ashes' I recently finished a book all about the New Romantics and it was interesting to learn about Bowie's Blitz Club visit and the creation of the music video. Unsurprisingly both him and Bryan Ferry were name-checked a lot in the book as influences for many acts from that scene who blew up in the 80s.

Posted by: Gezza 24th April 2024, 07:10 PM

Aired on 18th of August "World In Action" shone a light on chart rigging which had the ultimate outcome that Record companies ended its practice of trying to "bribe" record shops in an overt way and instead moved toward offering free gifts with tracks for the record buyer (T-shirts, free gifts, posters etc) which was also then regulated in 1983 when Gallup came along and stipulated that any free gist should have a value less than the record itself was being sold for.

Posted by: TheSnake 24th April 2024, 07:54 PM

'Start' is quite good but not among the best Jam songs imo.

The Piranhas song I know and its good fun, probably an influence on the band Modern Romance who we saw in the 1983 thread.

The Kelly Marie track I know well and it is absolutely joyous in my opinion. Perhaps an influence for the Pet Shop Boys - Heart with its synth 'heartbeat' sounds.

QUOTE(Jade @ 24th April 2024, 08:06 PM)

Ahhhh another brilliant #1 in a row with 'Ashes To Ashes' I recently finished a book all about the New Romantics and it was interesting to learn about Bowie's Blitz Club visit and the creation of the music video. Unsurprisingly both him and Bryan Ferry were name-checked a lot in the book as influences for many acts from that scene who blew up in the 80s.

Posted by: Smint 24th April 2024, 10:00 PM

Can't believe I've never actually watched the 'Ashes to Ashes' video. It's amazing - so so weird and wonderful. Bowie such an innovator.

Never blown away by the Jam but 'Start' with that riff is amongst their best.

Agreed with TheSnake about Kelly Marie being joyous - that, Liquid Gold, Stacy Lattishaw, Lipps Inc etc So much infectious happy disco music around (as well as the darker stuff) makes 1980 a classic year.

Posted by: Popchartfreak 25th April 2024, 08:46 AM

Start is def Taxman inspired, I liked it a lot but not enough to buy it like Going Underground. 9 to 5, meh, always preferred Modern Girl, the TV show was fascinating and Sheena would move to the USA in a couple of years. John Peel had a small record-case of precious 7" singles, and I read he had 3 copies of 9 to 5 in it along with Teenage Kicks and a single by unknown band The Legion Of Super-Heroes, named after my all-time DC comics future-set super-heroes. I think John had a soft spot for Sheena, he introduced Machinery on Top Of The Pops in 1982 as her best record since 9 to 5 (which it clearly was).

Kelly Marie is pinging fun, those backing dancers costumes' were quite eye-catching at the time. It was hard not to see... Topless oiled-up Pirhanas also stood out.

Posted by: dandy* 25th April 2024, 12:28 PM

I quite like the Kelly Marie track too - it is what it is, not something I'd normally choose to play at home but good fun if it is played whilst you're out and very catchy

Posted by: Gezza 25th April 2024, 07:26 PM

30TH AUGUST



The charts have a bit of a summer slump this week as almost all the tracks in the top 10 have a sales dip. Bowie holds onto the top spot with "Ashes To Ashes" though sales dip fractionally to 109,000 (cumulatively 283,000) and on paper The Jam look to be serious challengers as "Start" rises 3-2 but its sales are only up 8% to 98,000. Further progress may rely on the collapse of Bowie, the rest of the top 4 won't be a threat, Sheena Easter bounces back to No 3 but sales dive 22% to 68,000 marginally ahead of ABBA's "Winner Takes It All" which relents 2-4 (65.000). Total sales of "9 to 5" are now 326,859





Meanwhile records continue to be broken as for a third week in a row a track debuts in the top 10, this time its the return of Gary Numan who turned the trick earlier this year with "We Are Glass" which debuted at No 10, he goes two better this time around with "I Die: You Die" on sales of 48,000, four thousand more than its predecessor. Lyrically about the harsh press the star received this year, it heralds a new album "Telekon" which is due next month though indications are that it won't be on that album.





Further down the charts Mike Berry returns with "Sunshine Of Your Smile" which rises 13-10 (36,000), it dates back to 1913 but its the first time the song has charted. The actor, who is better known for his role in "Worzel Gummidge" recently, was a pop star back in the early 60s as part of Mike Berry and the Outlaws whose biggest hit was in 1963 with "Don't You Think It's Time" which peaked at No 6, this song is produced by Chas from" Chas & Dave" who made the top 20 themselves last year with "Gertcha".



There are two climbers not mentioned so far in the top 10, Kelly Marie, who sashay's her way 8-5 (64,000) and The Piranhas who move 9-6 (50,000), and in neat symmetry there are two fallers not mentioned as well, Diana Ross who dips 5-7 (49,000) and the Gap Band 7-9 (37,000)

1- ASHES TO ASHES- David Bowie (109,000)
2- START- The Jam (98,000)
3- 9 TO 5- Sheena Easton (68,000)
4- THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL- Abba (65,000)
5- FEELS LIKE I’M IN LOVE- Kelly Marie (64,000)
6- TOM HARK- The Piranhas (50,000)
7- UPSIDE DOWN- Diana Ross (49,000)
8- I DIE: YOU DIE- Gary Numan (49,000)
9- OOPS UPSIDE YOUR HEAD- Gap Band (37,000)
10- SUNSHINE OF YOUR SMILE- Mike Berry (36,000)

Posted by: Bjork 26th April 2024, 07:24 AM

really like Kelly Marie and the Mike Berry too all very retro
Start from The Jam is good too

Posted by: Popchartfreak 26th April 2024, 08:36 AM

The Mike Berry comeback was sweet (Are You Being Served drafted him in as a cast member replacement around this time or shortly after), nice to see an ancient song work in a modern format. I Die You Die was great and Gary Numan was another example of press hostility (see The Monkees), so not at all surprising he made a song out of it. The music press back in those days (there isnt a music press anymore, yet the music biz manages to carry on somehow) often acted like packs of hounds where what mattered was being currently cool, and they decided what was cool or not. That said, this was Gazza's last real solo pop hit, he moved into darker waters in 1981 and stuck with it for oooh, 43 years so far, bar a fab collab with Bill Sharpe and reissues/remixes of the 2 number ones, not to mention samples galore.

Posted by: Gezza 26th April 2024, 06:09 PM

6TH SEPTEMBER



By one of the quirks that makes chart watching entertaining the Jam climb to No 1 this week with "Start" despite falling sales, it's a case of the last one standing really. It sold a further 81,000 copies to bring its total to 270,000 after 3 weeks, that dip of 17% is outstripped by a 29% drop for Bowie as he falls to the No 2 spot (77,000) perhaps buyers are waiting for the parent album due in a fortnight's time.



The Jam become only the second act in the 80s to grab two chart toppers though on current evidence it will struggle to add many more weeks to its reign. Sheena Easton is also down 3-4 (58,000), and falls behind a still rising Kelly Marie 5-3 (60,000) but next week's chart topper could be anyone as they all cool at retail.



Garnering glowing reviews for its release this month is the movie "Breaking Glass" which stars Hazel O'Connor as the lead character Kate. Featured as a song in the film "Eighth Day" storms into the top 10 this week 13-5 (55,000) which is another good omen.





Cliff's back with a new album "I'm No Hero" and a lead single "Dreamin" which rises 14-10 (28,000) giving him back to back top 10 hits for the first time since 1969 and a 44th top tenner in total! The song was co-written by none other than Leo Sayer.



Good climbs for Gary Numan this week 8-6 (47,000) and Mike Berry 10-9 (39,000), but falls for The Piranhas 6-7 (47,000) and ABBA 4-8 (45,000)

1- START- The Jam (81,000)
2- ASHES TO ASHES- David Bowie (77,000)
3- FEELS LIKE I’M IN LOVE- Kelly Marie (60,000)
4- 9 TO 5- Sheena Easton (58,000)
5- EIGHTH DAY- Hazel O’Connor (55,000)
6- I DIE: YOU DIE- Gary Numan (47,000)
7- TOM HARK- The Piranhas (47,000)
8- THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL- Abba (45,000)
9- SUNSHINE OF YOUR SMILE- Mike Berry (39,000)
10- DREAMIN- Cliff Richard (28,000)

Posted by: Jade 26th April 2024, 06:27 PM

Great that 'Ashes to Ashes' was a multi-week #1. 'Start!' is pretty good but I do find that the 'Taxman'-style riff does quite a bit of heavy lifting.

'I Die: You Die' is another fab Gary Numan single

I knew that Chas Hodges was in the Outlaws (read a biography all about Joe Meek and those he worked with) but didn't realise he was still working with the front-man until as late as the 80s.

Posted by: Smint 26th April 2024, 07:24 PM

'Eighth Day' by Hazel O'Connor is absolutely amazing - spacey, quirky, arresting but so catchy. Reminds me a bit of the 1979 wonder 'Lucky Number' by Lene Lovich.

Posted by: Bjork 27th April 2024, 08:50 AM

Never heard of Hazell O'Connor but that one is great, more 80s than recent entries

Posted by: King Rollo 27th April 2024, 10:47 AM

Oh yes, the Hazel O'Connor song is very good. Ashes To Ashes and Tom Hark are the other highlights from this top 10.

Posted by: Gezza 27th April 2024, 11:07 AM

13TH SEPTEMBER



1980 registers its 18th No 1 single as it works its way to the current record of 24 set in 1965, we can now add Kelly Marie to the list of chart topping acts of this year as "Feels Like I'm In Love" ascends 3-1 on a rather nice sale of 102,000 copies buoyed by TOTP. In total the disco track has now sold 351,000 copies and has a third a million sales behind it as it makes the top, it's on track to make the YTD top 10 which we'll have a look at in a few weeks. She takes over at the top from The Jam who slide to two on sales of 74,000 but it will easily pass the 400,000 mark which is some solace.





Look out for Randy Crawford who leaps 26-4 (65,000) this week with "One Day I'll Fly Away" which could become our 19th chart topper of 1980 in a few weeks time. Her only other solo hit "Last Night At Danceland" disappointed at No 61 in June but she is of course better known as lead singer of the Crusaders whose "Streetlife" made No 5 last year making her current hit the biggest of her career.





Sheena Easton becomes the first female solo act to score two top 10 hits simultaneously since Shirley Bassey 21 years ago (and the first since the chart went top 50) as debut single "Modern Girl" Rises 13-10 (41,000). It comes after her recent ascent to tabloid favourite and as "9 To 5" descends 4-6 (47,000). It originally peaked at No 56 back in April but it seems to have caught the public imagination this time around.





Proving just how prolific you can be posthumously Presley scores a third UK hit after his passing in 1977 with "It's Only Love/ Beyond The Reef" (46,000) which is taken from the new boxset "1955-1980- 25th Anniversary" the songs were originally recorded in 1967 by the king.




Elvis' old chart rival Cliff continues to climb with "Dreamin" 10- 8 (43,000) as his album "I'm No Hero" arrives at No 4, and Hazel O'Connor holds at No 5 on almost identical sales of 55,000, meanwhile both Bowie and the piranhas drop 2-3 (68,000) and 7-9 (41,000) respectively



1- FEELS LIKE I’M IN LOVE- Kelly Marie (102,000)
2- START- The Jam (74,000)
3- ASHES TO ASHES- David Bowie (68,000)
4- ONE DAY I’LL FLY AWAY- Randy Crawford (65,000)
5- EIGHTH DAY- Hazel O’Connor (55,000)
6- 9 TO 5- Sheena Easton (47,000)
7- IT’S ONLY LOVE/ BEYOND THE REEF- Elvis Presley (46,000)
8- DREAMIN- Cliff Richard (43,000)
9- TOM HARK- The Piranhas (41,000)
10- MODERN GIRL- Sheena Easton (41,000)

Posted by: Gezza 27th April 2024, 11:10 AM

As we've referenced it several times here's the episode of "The Big Time" which launched Sheena Easton into stardom.

Posted by: Jester 27th April 2024, 12:08 PM

Love Kelly Marie - such a joyous number 1.

Posted by: TheSnake 27th April 2024, 07:43 PM

Probably my favourite #1 of 1980. Some good electronic disco at #1.

Posted by: Bjork 28th April 2024, 06:31 AM

Unexpected #1, didn't think it was gonna climb to #1
Like it but not love it, too retro, too 70s

love the One Day I'll Fly Away song, only knew the cover from the Moulin Rouge movie
is that an original from Randy Crawford?

oh wow at Sheena getting 2 simultaneous top 10s, not easy feat

It's Only Love from Elvis I kinda like, crazy he continued having hits like that

Posted by: Popchartfreak 28th April 2024, 10:47 AM

Still prefer Modern Girl One Day I'll Fly Away is gorgeous, love that one, and I loved having It's Only Love chart at the time, reviving my Elvis love of his 1969/1970 period - but it was a bit flattered from a 2024 viewpoint TBH. I have the 12" version, and I think fans were just happy to find a minor goodie they didn't know from that period.

Posted by: Gezza 28th April 2024, 11:31 AM

20TH SEPTEMBER



Kelly Marie holds steady at the No 1 spot though her grip is not as secure as last week, her own sales receded to 99,000 which takes its tally to 450,000, enough to rank it in the top 10 for the year to date. There was never any doubt the track would keep ahead of the field as Randy Crawford jumps 4-2 but sold 89,000 copies this week to set up a very interesting race next week though Crawford may be affected by her album leaping 27-10 this week.





Only two new entries to the top 10 this week and first up is the return of Stevie Wonder with "Masterblaster (Jammin)" which soars 30-4 this week and could be a contender for the No 1 spot next week with sales of 60,000. The song is a tribute to Bob Marley who was the opening act for part of Wonder's last tour and serves as the lead track to Wonder's new album "Hotter Than July" which hits here in a fortnight's time, it is also his first top 10 hit in three years, since "Sir Duke" in 1977 to be precise.





Talking of 70s superstars Queen are also back this week, their last two singles "Save Me" and "Play The Game" both narrowly missed the top 10 but "Another One Bites The Dust" finally makes a mends climbing 18-10 this week (37,000). It has a baseline not unlike a Chic record, no co-incidence as the bands have been spending some time together recently.



Elsewhere climbers this week come courtesy of Elvis Presley 7-3 (81,000) who now has his biggest hit since his last chart topper "Way Down" with no 1 not beyond the track, and Sheena Easton's "Modern Girl" which rises slightly 10-8 (45,000) but everything else heads south. The Jam dive 2-5 (49,000), Hazel O'Connor 5-6 (46,000), David Bowie 3-7 (46,000) though his focus will move to his album out this week, and Cliff Richard 8-9 (38,000)

1- FEELS LIKE I’M IN LOVE- Kelly Marie (99,000)
2- ONE DAY I’LL FLY AWAY- Randy Crawford (89,000)
3- IT’S ONLY LOVE/ BEYOND THE REEF- Elvis Presley (81,000)
4- MASTERBLASTER (JAMMIN)- Stevie Wonder (60,000)
5- START- The Jam (49,000)
6- EIGHTH DAY- Hazel O’Connor (46,000)
7- ASHES TO ASHES- David Bowie (46,000)
8- MODERN GIRL- Sheena Easton (45,000)
9- DREAMIN- Cliff Richard (38,000)
10- ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST- Queen (37,000)

Posted by: Gezza 28th April 2024, 11:32 AM

QUOTE(Bjork @ 28th April 2024, 07:31 AM)

Posted by: Jade 28th April 2024, 12:03 PM

Liking the new additions of 'Masterblaster (Jammin)' and 'Another One Bites The Dust'! The latter probably has one of the most instantly recognisable basslines ever.

Posted by: Smint 28th April 2024, 12:53 PM

'Modern Girl' is as good as '9 to 5' by Sheena Easton but I find it hilarious that the subject matter of the two songs are polar opposites - '9 to 5' has her as a subservient domesticated woman who spends all day waiting for her man to get home and 'Modern Girl' she's an independent woman, not needing a man to make her happy.

Randy Crawford's track is really beautiful. 'Beyond the Reef' is better than 'It's Only Love' with the nautical backing track.

Posted by: Gezza 28th April 2024, 01:00 PM

QUOTE(Jade @ 28th April 2024, 01:03 PM)

Posted by: Popchartfreak 28th April 2024, 06:36 PM

Another One Bites The Dust was my fave Queen record for at least 3 years (We Will Rock You) and the funky Chictastic riffing was unexpected. I like Queen best when they defy expectations. Masterblaster was Stevie back on form, and nice Bob Marley got to enjoy the respect given - the Hot July album had many gems on it.

Posted by: Bjork 29th April 2024, 06:12 AM

a very retro top 3
not a fan of Queen in general, and thats one of my least fav from them

Posted by: Gezza 29th April 2024, 03:57 PM

27TH SEPTEMBER



Even though it was always a possibility few predicted that the new Police Single would enter at No 1 today but that's exactly what "Don't Stand So Close To Me" does as it sells 112,000 copies making it an easy victory for the group who score a third UK chart topper. It's the first release from their third album "Zenyatta Mondatta" which is released in a fortnight and could easily replicate the single's feat, thematically controversial (it concerns a teenagers crush on her school teacher and the trouble caused in the staff room which given Sting's former job may or may not be an autobiographical tale) it appears to only have added to its appeal, it will be interesting to see where it goes next week sales wise! It's only the second song of the year (and therefore of the 80s) to debut at No 1.



All of which puts pay to Randy Crawford, Stevie Wonder, and Kelly Marie who all had high hopes of garnering the top position but in truth it was hardest on Crawford who holds at No 1 on an improved sales of 103,000 itself, only the third time this year the runner up has got into six figures. Stevie Wonder does rise a spot 4-3 on an increase to 78,000 and poor Kelly Marie dives 1-4 with a drop to 73,000 copies, her time clearly up. That might sound bad news but the track now sold 523,000 and is on course to be the year's best seller when we run down them next week!



We must be in the run up to Christmas as in addition to the return of the Police Madness are also back with their second album "Absolutely" due next week lead single "Baggy Trousers" accelerates 21-5 (79,000) to become the bands fourth straight top 10 hits, it too has a school days connection being essentially the band's reminisces of their school days and was written as a response to "Another Brick In The Wall", keep an eye on this one!





Fronted by Jean Patrick Baptiste and Annette, Ottawan are essentially an act fronting the records of euro producers Daniel Vangarde and Jean Kluger and this week see their 1979 track "D.I.S.C.O" rise 28-8 (46,000), it has already topped various European charts and looks as though it is now in the running over here.



In other news Queen rise 10-7 (51,000) but nothing else can manage an upward trajectory with Elvis sliding 3-6 (54,000), Sheena Easton drops one 8-9 (39,000) and Hazel O'Connor moves 6-10 (36,000)

1- DON’T STAND SO CLOSE TO ME- The Police (112,000)
2- ONE DAY I’LL FLY AWAY- Randy Crawford (103,000)
3- MASTERBLASTER (JAMMIN)- Stevie Wonder (78,000)
4- FEELS LIKE I’M IN LOVE- Kelly Marie (73,000)
5- BAGGY TROUSERS- Madness (58,000)
6- IT’S ONLY LOVE/ BEYOND THE REEF- Elvis Presley (54,000)
7- ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST- Queen (51,000)
8- D.I.S.C.O- Ottawan (46,000)
9- MODERN GIRL- Sheena Easton (39,000)
10- EIGHTH DAY- Hazel O’Connor (36,000)

Posted by: Popchartfreak 29th April 2024, 04:50 PM

Well I bought the Police single too, Sting and the guys were huge in 1980, with teen appeal on posters (sting), but also serious muso fans (not teens) and this was their peak commercially in the UK, I also bought the album and the Madness album when they came out, both pretty good. Baggy Trousers is fabulous, play loud and singalong to the boyhood school days of those of us of a certain age (before the teen awful years). D.I.S.C.O. is still fun, too. party time!

Posted by: Smint 29th April 2024, 08:08 PM

'Don't Stand So Close to Me' is awesome - yes it's controversial and wouldn't be a hit nowadays (especially since the attraction is consummated) but sonically it's so menacing and hits you straight away. Along with 'Walking on the Moon' this is probably my favourite Police song.

'Baggy Trousers' is original enough but meh, not just that keen on them. Not my thing (although some of their less representative tracks I enjoy).

'DISCO' is another one of 1980s cheesy but guilty pleasures!

Posted by: TheSnake 29th April 2024, 10:09 PM

Masterblaster is one the best of the newer entries to the top 10, I am more familiar with the DJ Luck and Mc Neat 2000 version but the original is very good too.

Not a big fan of the Ottawan track just heard it too much and its become used in media as a generic disco track because of its title. 'Baggy Trousers' is good but that's a silly name for a track, makes it hard to take seriously.

Posted by: Notorious D.O.T 29th April 2024, 10:28 PM

Never knew Randy Crawford was as close as that to getting the #1.

Great new entry from #1 at the Police and some more great stuff rising the ranks from Stevie (who has many greats but sadly none of the good ones made #1) and Madness.

Posted by: Gezza 30th April 2024, 04:09 PM

4TH OCTOBER



A new record is set this week as for the first time this year (and consequently the decade) the No 1 record has sold over 200,000 copies in a week, 209,000 to be exact bringing its two week total to 321,000 copies. You have to expect the track to be a sizeable hit with that kind of selling rate and it progresses into the Top 30 for the YTD list with the highest weekly sale for a No 1 so far this year.

Talking about the YTD list it's time to review where we are as we enter the final quarter of the year, the top 10 (with their current weekly position in brackets) is below:

1. GENO- Dexy’s Midnight Runners 584,675
2. TOGETHER WE ARE BEAUTIFUL- Fern Kinney 572,806
3. FEELS LIKE I’M IN LOVE- Kelly Marie 569,894 (No 7)
4. COWARD OF THE COUNTY- Kenny Rogers 568,893
5. WORKING MY WAY MY WAY BACK TO YOU- FORGIVE ME GIRL- Detroit Spinners 551,993
6. THEME FROM MASH- MASH 524,342
7. ASHES TO ASHES- David Bowie 519,597 (No 36)
8. GOING UNDERGROUND/ DREAMS OF CHILDREN- The Jam 518,141
9. 9 TO 5- Sheena Easton 517,049 (No 31)
10. CRYING- Don Mclean 514,852

Eagle eyed readers will spot that the current No 7 track by Kelly Marie sold 46,000 copies as it dives 4-7 but is also moves 7-3 on the YTD list but it should become the biggest seller of 1980 next week, meanwhile Bowie and Easton are fading too fast now to pose a serious threat to Dexy's Midnight Runners.



Stevie Wonder continues to expand sales wise rising 22% to 95,000 sales but the real winners are Ottawan who sail 8-3 and increase sales by a whopping 100% to 92,000 and in a normal week would be a shoe in for the No 1 spot next week but given the strength of "Don't Stand So Close To Me" it may be too much of a mountain to climb. The sales bonanza is also enjoyed by Madness at 4 (79,000).



A second single from her album "Diana" and a second straight top 10 hit from Ross, her 11th in total since her departure from the Supremes in 1969 and is once again helmed by Rodgers/ Edwards to give it that 70s disco feel. "My Old Piano" rises 13-6 (52,000)





Shooting 35-10 this week is "Amigo" the first hit for Black Slate, a UK based reggae group who have backed Ken Boothe on some UK Tours and scored some European chart success over the past few years without troubling the UK charts but that's all changed now.



Three other fallers we need to care off, Randy Crawford drops 2-5 (58,000), Queen move back one spot 7-8 (44,000) and Elvis continues to free fall 6-9 (40,000)

1- DON’T STAND SO CLOSE TO ME- The Police (209,000)
2- MASTERBLASTER (JAMMIN)- Stevie Wonder (95,000)
3- D.I.S.C.O- Ottawan (92,000)
4- BAGGY TROUSERS- Madness (79,000)
5- ONE DAY I’LL FLY AWAY- Randy Crawford (58,000)
6- MY OLD PIANO- Diana Ross (52,000)
7- FEELS LIKE I’M IN LOVE- Kelly Marie (46,000)
8- ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST- Queen (44,000)
9- IT’S ONLY LOVE. BEYOND THE REEF- Elvis Presley (40,000)
10- AMIGO- Black Slate (36,000)

Posted by: jimwatts 30th April 2024, 08:10 PM

Some great recent additions, especially from Madness and Stevie Wonder. Not so keen on that Police song, but those are seriously impressive sales for it.

Posted by: King Rollo 30th April 2024, 08:51 PM

Amazing that The Police sold almost double in their second week compared to the first one. Baggy Trousers and Another One Bites The Dust are good additions to the top 10.

Posted by: dandy* 30th April 2024, 09:04 PM

Wow, great sales for Sting and co. Really seems like a huge improvement on the typical weekly #1 figures we've been seeing.


Love the Stevie Wonder song at #2, it's one of his top tier tracks for me. And belated love for Randy Crawford too, really surprised that the single managed a six figure sales week

Posted by: Smint 30th April 2024, 09:26 PM

Was 'Another Brick in the Wall' the last time a track sold over 200K in a single week? And any ideas about its highest weekly sale?
Guessing Boney M's 'Mary Boy's Child must have been a huge weekly seller too as that sold over a million copies alone in the Christmas period of 1978
'My Old Piano' is a nice little track - not as well remembered as 'Upside Down' or 'Coming Out' but just as good.

Posted by: Roba. 1st May 2024, 12:22 AM

That is phenomenal sales for The Police there. Had no idea 'Don't Stand So Close...' got to #1 with over 200k one week

Posted by: Popchartfreak 1st May 2024, 09:32 AM

The Police doing the biz, the album release will hit sales next week - Zenyatta like all Police studio albums sells well. My Old Piano is a great Chic track, way better than the following single, and Amigo was great - sadly forgotten these days, but cool reggae for me.

Posted by: Gezza 1st May 2024, 04:16 PM

11TH OCTOBER



"Zenyatta Mondatta" duly debuts at No 1 today and naturally takes some sales away from "Don't Stand So Close To Me" which still holds the top position on a very healthy sale of 121,000 taking the songs 21 day tally to 442,000 and has all the landmarks of a stellar seller- It is already the 14th biggest selling single of the year and could perhaps jump into the top 5 next week. Talking of the YTD tallies Kelly Marie has now sold over 600,000 copies and tops that list though perhaps not for long as it drops to No 12 this week.



There are four climbers from within the top 10 this week with Ottawan's "D.I.S.C.O" climbing a place and shifting 89,000 copies in doing so, that tally is actually down from last week and it may have problems hanging round long enough to depose The Police. Madness also share in the current healthy market with a rise of a place 4-3 though again its sales deflate to 73,000, the parent album "Absolutely" climbs 7-2 on the album charts and doubtless prevented a serious challenge on the No 1 single from them this week. Diana Ross also climbs a spot 6-5 (49,000) as well as a solitary place climb for Black Slate 10-9 (40,000).



Three new hits to cover this week starting with the Specials who score a fourth consecutive top 10 hit as "Stereotype/ International Jet Set" sprints 25-6 (44,000). It's the lead single from their second album "More Specials" which this week makes the top 5, two places than their debut set made earlier this year.






Following up the July No 1 single "Use It Up, Wear It out" Odyssey return with the ballad "If You're Looking For A Way Out" and find themselves back in the top 10 as it climbs 20-7 (43,000)





It's doubtless the most controversial song in the top 40 at the moment (if not the year) but Thin Lizzy rise 18-10 (38,000) with "Killer On The Loose". Lynott takes on the persona of Jack the Ripper which has considerable resonance with current events in the north of England and has created something of minor media frenzy but it has become their 4th top 10 in a seven year career.



Not mentioned already Stevie Wonder drops 2-4 (62,000) and Randy Crawford falls 5-8 (41,000)

1- DON’T STAND SO CLOSE TO ME- The Police (121,000)
2- D.I,S,C.O- Ottawan (89,000)
3- BAGGY TROUSERS- Madness (73,000)
4- MASTERBLASTER (JAMMIN)- Stevie Wonder (62,000)
5- MY OLD PIANO- Diana Ross (49,000)
6- STEREOTYPE/ INTERNATIONAL JET SET- The Specials (44,000)
7- IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A WAY OUT- Odyssey (43,000)
8- ONE DAY I’LL FLY AWAY- Randy Crawford (41,000)
9- AMIGO- Black Slate (40,000)
10- KILLER ON THE LOOSE- Thin Lizzy (38,000)

Posted by: Bjork 1st May 2024, 05:25 PM

Catching up with the last few weeks
Love the Police song, great comeback
Also love the Stevie Wonder song. I actually knew the song but never knew how it was called or that it was him singing
Similarly, I know DISCO but didn’t know it was Ottoman
Diana Ross-Old Piano also sounds familiar, but it’s just so-so for me, not her bestest

On the other hand, that Amigo song, the Odyssey ballad, The Specials, Thin Lizzy are pretty bad
With Madness-Baggy Trousers being the absolute worst

Posted by: jimwatts 1st May 2024, 06:50 PM

'Stereotype' is another good one from The Specials - a song which tells a story, even as the lyrics state the character "doesn't really exist". I'm less familiar with their other A-side.

Posted by: Popchartfreak 2nd May 2024, 08:51 AM

Stereotypes is great, loved the playing with 60's Easy Listening sounds in this single, though the other side didnt get much airplay. Never rated that Odyssey track - Native New Yorker was their jewel in the crown, and they still had one classic to come, but this one was a bit dull. Killer On The Loose was also great, a bit unfortunate maybe timing-wise, but murdering sadly is never out of fashion with some warped human beings and it's valid to highlight that, especially those dangerous individuals that do it for sexual gratification or to get famous.

Posted by: Gezza 2nd May 2024, 06:44 PM

18TH OCTOBER



Finally a song spends 4 weeks at the top and today the Police can celebrate again as they do the double with "Don't Stand So Close To Me" and "Zenyatta Mondatta" topping their respective charts. That's the good news for the band but sales slide on both fronts as the single loses 19% week on week to record a sale of 97,000 copies, over the course of its first month it has sales now totalling 539,000 which means it bounds 14-6 on the YTD survey and must be odds on to move into the top 3 next week. The expected challenge from "D.I.S.C.O" never quite materialised as it holds at No 2 on a sale of 80,000, off exactly 12% on last week but the track has already sold 330,000 in the UK indicating the strength of its popularity, and special mention must go to Madness who complete a static top 3 on a sale of 71,000 which raises its total to 316,000 and makes the top 3 a powerful and particularly popular one at present.





Four new entries to the top 10 to catch up with, the first of which has to be one of the most unusual entries into the top 10 this year "Et les oiseaux chantaient (And The Birds Were Singing)" has rocketed 51-11-4 over the last three weeks, a track which is basically a collection of bird song over a relaxing tune by the Swiss group Sweet People. Could this instrumental become a surprise No 1 next week? It attracted 64,000 buyers this week- who would have thought.....As to why it is charted well you can thank DJ Jimmy Young who uses the track in his lunchtime show.





A much more familiar name to the big 10 Status Quo record their 12th Top 10 hit today as "What You're Proposing" moves 27-5 (53,000) it's also the lead single from their 13th album "Just Supposin" which hits the shops this week so could spoil the party with regards to how high this will climb.





Barbra's back! Streisand's most recent album is helmed by the Bee Gees and is certainly producing results as "Guilty" climbs 12-2 on the album charts and lead single "Woman In Love" jumps 22-9 (45,000) to become her fourth top 10 hit on the trot!





Rockabilly also makes its presence felt this week with Matchbox finally scoring a top 10 hit with "When You Ask About Love" which moves 15-10 (42,000). The group formed 9 years ago but didn't score their first hit until 11 months ago when "Rockabilly Rebel" peaked at No 18, their current single is a cover of a Crickets original.




Clearing up the other positions both Stevie Wonder (4-6, 53,000) and Diana Ross (5-8, 47,000) drop whilst Odyssey hold at No 7 whilst increasing sales marginally to 53,000.



1- DON’T STAND SO CLOSE TO ME- The Police (97,000)
2- D.I.S.C.O- Ottawan (80,000)
3- BAGGY TROUSERS- Madness (71,000)
4- AND THE BIRDS WERE SINGING- Sweet People (64,000)
5- WHAT YOU’RE PROPOSING- Status Quo (53,000)
6- MASTERBLASTER (JAMMIN)- Stevie Wonder (53,000)
7- IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A WAY OUT- Odyssey (53,000)
8- MY OLD PIANO- Diana Ross (47,000)
9- WOMAN IN LOVE- Barbra Streisand (45,000)
10- WHEN YOU ASK ABOUT LOVE- Matchbox (42,000)

Posted by: Bjork 3rd May 2024, 06:49 AM

oh really like the Matchbox song, always liked it, didn't know they were rockabilly though
th Status Quo song I also kind like

but that Barbra Streisand is pure evil

Posted by: Popchartfreak 3rd May 2024, 09:14 AM

The Birds Singing is pleasant forgettable muzak. I reminded myself of it a couple of years back and Ive forgotten it already again. Oops! Matchbox were great fun, Buzz Buzz A Diddle It was hilarious rockabilly romping, but this was easily their most accessible record. Quo were peaking with a great driving rock single again after the gentle ballad Living On An Island was a lesser hit, and Babs was still reinventing herself with the Bee Gees collab while they gave away their best material to others and went a bit uncommercial for their forthcoming (flop) album and single Livin' Eyes. Love Woman In Love back in ballad mode after a flirtation with disco tracks, movie albums, showtunes and gospelpop during the 70's. Sadly she stuck with showtunes and movies pretty much for the rest of her career. I liked her other stuff more.

Posted by: dandy* 3rd May 2024, 09:35 AM

That's such an unusual top 5 hit for Sweet People. I don't believe I've ever heard of it before, very strange to see it do so well amongst all the other types of music that were more typical of 1980.

Posted by: Smint 3rd May 2024, 10:07 AM

Sweet People reformed of course back in 2019 under another name and had a top 20 hit with 'Let Nature Sing' - that one was of course acapella!

Posted by: Gezza 3rd May 2024, 03:51 PM

25TH OCTOBER



With the highest climb to the top spot since the Specials back in January Barbra Streisand soars 9-1 this week to depose the Police who fall back 1-3 (75,000) but move 6-2 on the YTD charts and the band hold onto the No 1 spot over on the album charts, they also move to within 10,000 copies of Kelly Marie who currently has pole position on the YTD listings but she should lose that position next week along with the tracks place in the top 40 as it moves 27-34 this week.

Streisand sold an impressive 91,000 copies this week to claim her first No 1 single and beat her previous peak position of No 3 attained by "A Star Is Born (Evergreen)" and "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" clearly no parenthesis is all she needed. The battle for No 1 this week was a close run thing with both The Police and Ottawan coming out on top on various days early in the week and it was actually "D.I.S.C.O" who led early week when it looked like it was finally going to get its week in the sun but it wasn't to be- it ended up selling 79,000 copies to take its cumulative tally to 409,000 copies and should make half million ultimately.





Only 2 new tracks to concern us this week and they both come from acts who have already graced the upper reaches of the chart this year. The Nolans of course scored a massive hit in January with "I'm In The Mood For Dancing" which has shifted just shy of half a million, follow up "Don't Make Waves" stopped at No 12 but "Gotta Pull Myself Together" returns them to business as it climbs 14-9 (43,000) and shows that the recent line up change (Anne has left as is replaced by Coleen) hasn't dented fans enthusiasm.





Shooting 21-10 (39,000) is George Benson who scores another top 10 from his album "Give Me The Night" with "Love X Love". Again penned by Rod Temperton this has already become his biggest era commercially speaking.



Climbers this week comprise Status Quo with "What You're Proposing" up 5-4 (61,000) and Matchbox 10-6 (57,000) whilst Odyssey hold at No 7 for a third week though sales cool to 48,000. Both Madness (3-5, 59,000) and Sweet People (4-8, 44,000) both look like heading out of the 10!

1- WOMAN IN LOVE- Barbra Streisand (91,000)
2- D.I.S.C.O- Ottawan (79,000)
3- DON’T STAND SO CLOSE TO ME- The Police (75,000)
4- WHAT YOU’RE PROPOSING- Status Quo (61,000)
5- BAGGY TROUSERS- Madness (59,000)
6- WHEN YOU ASK ABOUT LOVE- Matchbox (57,000)
7- IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A WAY OUT- Odyssey (48,000)
8- AND THE BIRDS WERE SINGING- Sweet People (44,000)
9- GOTTA PULL MYSELF TOGETHER- The Nolans (43,000)
10- LOVE X LOVE- George Benson (39,000)

Posted by: jimwatts 3rd May 2024, 07:51 PM

That Sweet People hit had escaped my attention entirely, what an oddity to chart so high. Unusually for 1980, I have only one huge favourite in this Top 10 ('Baggy Trousers'), however one of the definitive songs of the year has yet to make it this high (and I'm not referring to St. Winifred's )

Posted by: TheSnake 3rd May 2024, 08:02 PM

'Woman In Love' by Barbra Streisand is good, I thought the Bee Gees were officially credited on it too.

'And The Birds Were Singing' is an unusual top 5 hit, a very relaxing track.

Posted by: chartjack2 4th May 2024, 05:33 AM

I always thought Masterblaster was a posthumous tribute to Bob Marley but he was still alive! Wonder what he made of it?

Posted by: Bjork 4th May 2024, 06:12 AM

the Barbra Streisand thing at #1 no thanks that's the corniest song ever

Posted by: chartjack2 4th May 2024, 02:36 PM

Thank God we’re not likely to get any more corny songs at #1 in 1980!

Posted by: Gezza 4th May 2024, 03:21 PM

1ST NOVEMBER



After last weeks uncertainty over No 1, this week proves a much easier victory for Streisand who sold 115,000 copies of "Woman In Love" nearly a cool 44,000 clear of the No 2 track and takes overall sales of the song to 285,000 and sees parent album "Guilty" return to the No 2 spot behind a still stuck fast Police.



That record at No 2 this week comes from Status Quo and "What You're Proposing" which sees its sales increase to 71,000. It may be well off the pace but it's the Quo's highest peaking single since they got their only (to date) No 1 "Down Down" in 1975 so they won't be too disheartened by that news.



The first of our new hits in the top 10 comes from Bad Manners (and gregarious lead singer Buster Bloodvessal) who have had a growing fan base all year after their first release "Ne-Ne Na-Na Na-Na Nu-Nu" peaked at No 28 followed by "Lip Up Fatty" which went better by hitting No 15, now "Special Brew" exceeds both those hits and climbs 15-5 (54,000). All the hits are taken from their introductory album "Ska N Be" which has thus far failed to make the top 30 but provides evidence that the SKA revival is still on.





Also sneaking in the top 10 for the first time are OMD (Orchestral Manoeuvers In The Dark) with "Enola Gay" which rockets 12-8 (44,000). The band have been cultivating an underground following over the last few years and their last single "Messages" was their breakthrough reaching No 13 in June, but their current track is the first single from their second album "Organisation" which this week debuts at No 6 on the album charts. It's one of the more unusual songs in the charts thematically speaking taking as it does the subject of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima in 1945, the Enola gay referred to is the name of the bomber used that day.



In other news good times for Matchbox as "When You Ask About Love" ascends 6-4 (65,000) with a 15% increase in sales and Odyssey who rise a place 7-6 , selling 51,000, whilst the Nolans hold at No 9 on 41,000 (another 5% slip sales wise). It's all over for Madness and the Police who both fall, "Baggy Trousers" dips 5-7 (46,000) and "Don't Stand So Close To Me" 3-10 (39,000) but The Police can console themselves with that No 1 album and now having the biggest selling single of the year!


1- WOMAN IN LOVE- Barbra Streisand (115,000)
2- WHAT YOU’RE PROPOSING- Status Quo (71,000)
3- D.I.S.C.O- Ottawan (68,000)
4- WHEN YOU ASK ABOUT LOVE- Matchbox (65,000)
5- SPECIAL BREW- Bad Manners (54,000)
6- IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A WAY OUT- Odyssey (51,000)
7- BAGGY TROUSERS- Madness (46,000)
8- ENOLA GAY- O.M.D (44,000)
9- GOTTA PULL MYSELF TOGETHER- The Nolans (41,000)
10- DON’T STAND SO CLOSE TO ME- The Police (39,000)

Posted by: chartjack2 4th May 2024, 03:52 PM

Buster Bloodvessel wasn’t even that fat by 2024’s standards! Love Special Brew - absolute tune!

Posted by: jimwatts 4th May 2024, 04:45 PM

QUOTE(jimwatts @ 3rd May 2024, 08:51 PM)

Unusually for 1980, I have only one huge favourite in this Top 10 ('Baggy Trousers'), however one of the definitive songs of the year has yet to make it this high (and I'm not referring to St. Winifred's )

Posted by: Bjork 4th May 2024, 05:43 PM

Enola Gay <3 amazing single from OMD

Bad Manners for me are one of the worst bands of the 80s

Posted by: dandy* 4th May 2024, 06:26 PM

Enola Gay <3

I've got the RSD version of the single from a few years ago as I really wanted a 12" version of the main track - I didn't realise at the time that they had made it especially for the single and that originally there wasn't an extended version available. Soft Cell did something similar for Tainted Love not so long ago too, albeit obviously there was the main 12" that segued into Where Did Our Love Go at the time.

Posted by: TheSnake 4th May 2024, 06:40 PM

This thread is going a bit fast for me, not many tracks I know elsewhere in the top 40 though but Air Supply - All Out of Love is a well known cheesy but good #11 hit

And a #16 hit for Kate Bush



I prefer 'Ne-Na-Nu-Nu' from Bad Manners. 'Lip Up Fatty' is more well known I think than its chart placing suggests.

QUOTE(Bjork @ 4th May 2024, 06:43 PM)

Posted by: Bjork 5th May 2024, 06:19 AM

from recent songs that missed the top 10 I love this one, Lynx-You're lying

Posted by: Roba. 5th May 2024, 10:03 AM

'Enola Gay' is a classic.

I do like 'Woman In Love' as well.

Posted by: Gezza 5th May 2024, 10:37 AM

8TH NOVEMBER



"Guilty" finally topples the Police over on the album charts this week and whilst it isn't halting the still expanding "Woman In Love" at the top (sales again up to 119,000) it is certainly preventing the single exploding at retail, it still gives Streisand the No 1 single and the double!



It isn't necessarily over for Status Quo as they maintain No 2 with a still improving tally of 80,000, they are well clear of Bad Manners who lift 5-3 to complete the top 3 with 66,000 sales as they finally fought off the highest new track in the top 10 by around 100 copies.



All eyes must be on the two records below Bad Manners though, Adam & The Ants are the brain child of lead singer Adam Ant and writer partner Marco Pirroni and of course have had some press recently thanks to altercations with Malcolm McLaren after he lured away Ant's former band to create Bow Wow Wow, who aside from giving us the first cassingle have failed to set the charts alight so far. Not so for "Dog Eat Dog" which leaps 13-4 (66,000) this week to allow some room for Adam Ant to gloat.





Blondie also return and grab themselves another top 10 debut, the third act to debut twice in the top 10 this year- the full list is

ATOMIC- Blondie (No 3)
GOING UNDERGROUND/ DREAMS OF CHILDREN- The Jam (No 1)
WE ARE GLASS- Gary Numan (No 10)
THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL- Abba (No 9)
ASHES TO ASHES- David Bowie (No 4)
START- The Jam (No 3)
I DIE: YOU DIE- Gary Numan (No 8)
DON'T STAND SO CLOSE TO ME- The Police (No 1)

"The Tide Is High" debuts at No 5 today on sales of 63,000, it's a cover of a 1967 Paragons track which bombed just about everywhere but could well deliver the band a third UK No 1 single this year, it's also the lead single from the band's "Autoamerican" album which will be released here in three weeks time.





Another release, another visual treat for Bowie fans, as "Fashion" powers 20-8 (44,000) in just its second week and given that proximity in sales as discussed earlier the fall out next week should be interesting, parent album "Scary Monsters and Super Creeps" remains in the top 20 where it has been for the last 7 weeks.



The other 4 tracks are all falling, Matchbox 4-6 (52,000), Odyssey 6-7 (50,000), OMD 8-9 (44,000) and Ottawan 3-10 (42,000)


1- WOMAN IN LOVE- Barbra Streisand (119,000)
2- WHAT YOU’RE PROPOSING- Status Quo (80,000)
3- SPECIAL BREW- Bad Manners (66,000)
4- DOG EAT DOG- Adam & The Ants (66,000)
5- THE TIDE IS HIGH- Blondie (63,000)
6- WHEN YOU ASK ABOUT LOVE- Matchbox (52,000)
7- IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A WAY OUT- Odyssey (50,000)
8- FASHION- David Bowie (44,000)
9- ENOLA GAY- O.M.D (44,000)
10- D.I.S.C.O- Ottawan (42,000)

Posted by: TheSnake 5th May 2024, 10:44 AM

Fashion is another good New Romantic influencing track from David Bowie.

The Adam and the Ants track is interesting certainly with the beat and not very poppy sounding.

Posted by: Gezza 5th May 2024, 10:50 AM

I think that November 1980, with the arrival of OMD and Adam & The Ants, marks the real beginning of the 80s for me!

Posted by: Bjork 5th May 2024, 11:24 AM

rooting for Blondie to grab the #1 next week, The Tide is High is such a classic

never got Adam & The Ants, wanna like them, but this does very little for me

the Bowie song is not really a classic

Posted by: chartjack2 5th May 2024, 11:51 AM

“On theeeee dance floor” Way to stretch out that syllable, David!

Posted by: jimwatts 5th May 2024, 01:23 PM

QUOTE(chartjack2 @ 5th May 2024, 12:51 PM)

Posted by: Smint 5th May 2024, 01:33 PM

'Fashion' is amazing - just so clever and multi layered earworm. He was on fire this year!

I've never been that keen on Adam and the Ants - 'Prince Charming' was their best one.

Odyssey's 'If You're Looking for a way out' is really beautiful sad ballad which reminds me of Rose Royce. Songs which are about acceptance about the partner doesn't feel the same way and letting them go are always the saddest - see 'Say Something'

OMD are a fantastic band, one of my favourite of all time - 'Enola Gay' is great, although I think other candidates coming in the next couple of years deserve to be their signature song.

Blondie's 'The Tide is High' is a catchy gem although a step down from 'Atomic' (let's face it everything is though). Weirdly, the Atomic Kitten cover is their biggest streamed hit on Spotify, eclipsing even 'Whole Again'.

Posted by: Roba. 5th May 2024, 01:37 PM

'Prince Charming' is my fave of theirs too!

'The Tide Is High' is of course a great!

Posted by: dandy* 5th May 2024, 02:20 PM

Fashion is my favourite of the new ones this week

Happy to see the arrival of Adam & the Ants too, not long to wait now until we get to their best songs

Posted by: Popchartfreak 6th May 2024, 09:11 AM

The Nolans track is their best record to date, loved Bad Manners, huge fun, went to see them in 1981 in Lincoln and wrote a review that got printed in Record Mirror. Buster was chucking pints of beer over the front rows of the audience so I kept my distance from the po-going masses. OMD, I was mad on Messages, marginally less on Enola Gay but they were on course to be one of my top bands of the 80's, Adam & The Ants were also huge fun (if I'm over-using the word, it's only in contrast to current charts where the word "fun" being applied to anything in the top 40 is a rarity vs 1980 where 70% of the top 10 could easily apply it). Bowie is a great riffing monster of a track, still sounds great in a club. The Tide Is High may not be peak Blondie, but it gave writer royalties to the reggae original and yes it's fun!

Posted by: Gezza 6th May 2024, 01:23 PM

15TH NOVEMBER



Blondie score their third chart topper of 1980 to make them the most successful act of the year. "The Tide Is High" advances 5-1 on a sale of 110,000 and in doing so the band become the first act since ABBA in 1976 to score a hat trick of chart toppers in a calendar year, album "Autoamerican" is just a fortnight away and must be fancied to debut at the top too!





A TV star for over a decade already Dennis Waterman struck it big in "The Sweeney" and despite a poorly received first series he now finds himself in another hit role as Terry McCann in "Minder". The theme "I Could be So Good For You" powers 19-4 (53,000) and next week should tell us whether this will challenge Blondie or not, it's co-penned by his wife Patricia and is the first single by Waterman.





From a TV Star who has become a singer to a musical star who has turned her hand to pop, one time Michael Jackson girlfriend Stephanie Mills failed to lift any UK hits from her first three albums but album 4 finally throws up a hit in "Never Knew Love Like This Before" which jumps 18-9 (46,000).



Two songs climb within the top 10, David Bowie 8-6 (48,000) and OMD 9-8 (47,000) both with increased sales, Bad Manners hold at No 3 for another week but a lose a little sales to 63,000 and are still a long way off Barbra Streisand who may slip a place to No 2 but she still sold 100,000 copies to bring her total to 504,000 copies.

The rest of the top 10 all tumble, Status Quo 2-5 (49,000), Adam & The Ants debut at No 4 on the album charts with their second album but the single falls 4-7 (48,000) and Odyssey hurtle 7-10 (42,000).

1- THE TIDE IS HIGH- Blondie (110,000)
2- WOMAN IN LOVE- Barbra Streisand (100,000)
3- SPECIAL BREW- Bad Manners (63,000)
4- I COULD BE SO GOOD FOR YOU- Dennis Waterman (53,000)
5- WHAT YOU’RE PROPOSING- Status Quo (49,000)
6- FASHION- David Bowie (48,000)
7- DOG EAT DOG- Adam & The Ants (48,000)
8- ENOLA GAY- O.M.D (47,000)
9- I NEVER KNEW A LOVE LIKE THIS BEFORE- Stephanie Mills (46,000)
10- IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A WAY OUT- Odyssey (42,000)

Posted by: Bjork 6th May 2024, 02:14 PM

yay a much better #1 and 3 in a row for Blondie!

Posted by: chartjack2 6th May 2024, 03:28 PM

Dennis Waterman singing the “theme tooon” - it’s actually pretty catchy - much better effort than his duet with George Cole!

Posted by: Jade 6th May 2024, 03:59 PM

Oops fell a bit behind, all caught up and my favourites are unsurprisingly 'Enola Gay' and 'Dog Eat Dog' there are indeed better Adam and the Ants singles on the way but I still think this was a pretty striking start to their top 40 career. That cheery OMD synth riff is such a classic and an effective juxtaposition against the heavy subject matter.

Edit: oh somehow missed 'Fashion', that is also fab *.*

Posted by: Smint 6th May 2024, 09:06 PM

I really like the Dennis Waterman track although 'Minder' is so not my thing. It's really catchy and uplifting. Stephanie Mills is a nice track too!

Posted by: My... WAP?? 6th May 2024, 09:50 PM

Write the theme tune, sing the theme tune

Posted by: Gezza 7th May 2024, 05:12 PM

22ND NOVEMBER



"The Tide Is High" seems to have caught the public imagination as sales swell to 132,000 this week which is more copies sold in a week than either of their other 1980 chart toppers "Call Me" and "Atomic" though of course TTIH has the advantage of not being available on any album and also the additional sales that the run in to Christmas always provides. The song has sold 305,000 copies in just 3 weeks but still has some way to go to beat their biggest seller of the year, that being "Atomic" which has sales of over 475,000 to date.





Debuting sensationally at No 1 over on the album charts with "Super Trouper" ABBA prove that that is no hold back to the title track which made its presence felt last week when it debuted at No 13 and this week bounds to No 2 with 86,000 being convinced enough to purchase it. Only 4 previous ABBA singles have been as high as "Super Trouper" is on their second week and of them two went on to be No 1 hits ("Waterloo" and "Take A Chance On Me") whilst two never made it there ("Chiquitita" and "I Have A Dream") so it's 50/50 on this ones chances next week.



ABBA are the only new entry in the entire top 10 this week though there are two climbers, David Bowie rises 6-5 (63,000) and Stephanie Mills jumps 9-6 (53,000) whilst Dennis Waterman holds at No 4 though does increase sales wise by 27% to 67,000, indeed he almost overtook a falling Barbra Streisand whose "Woman In Love" drops 2-3 (74,000) and which has now sold 578,000 copies rising to No 7 in the YTD's and should make the top 4 next week on that list.

Fallers make up the bottom of the big 10, Bad Manners drop 3-7 (46,000), Adam & The Ants move 7-8 (43,000), OMD are in reverse again 8-9 (43,000) whilst Status Quo cling on 5-10 (36,0000)

1- THE TIDE IS HIGH- Blondie (132,000)
2- SUPER TROUPER- Abba (86,000)
3- WOMAN IN LOVE- Barbra Streisand (74,000)
4- I COULD BE SO GOOD FOR YOU- Dennis Waterman (67,000)
5- FASHION- David Bowie (63,000)
6- I NEVER KNEW A LOVE LIKE THIS BEFORE- Stephanie Mills (53,000)
7- SPECIAL BREW- Bad Manners (46,000)
8- DOG EAT DOG- Adam & The Ants (43,000)
9- ENOLA GAY- O,M.D (43,000)
10- WHAT YOU’RE PROPOSING- Status Quo (36,000)

Posted by: chartjack2 7th May 2024, 07:47 PM

Only found out “Super Trouper” was a light last year - I’d always thought they meant “trooper”, as in “ah, what a trooper”. Unless it’s a clever pun?

Posted by: TheSnake 7th May 2024, 07:52 PM

I only really know Dennis Waterman from him being mentioned with Stock and Aitken in the lyrics of the Harry Enfield novelty hit in 1988!

Super Trouper is very good, I also thought it was spelt 'trooper' in the song.

Posted by: Smint 7th May 2024, 08:38 PM

And a very random use of Glasgow in the first verse- could have chosen any big city really but nice they chose that one!

Posted by: Bjork 8th May 2024, 08:15 AM

oh I didn't know it was referring to lights either

Super Troupers are huge spotlights used in stadium concerts and events. As popular ABBA was, the foursome were not really fond of performing onstage and liked performing in studios rather than going on tour. The idea is reflected in this song, which has an upbeat tempo while the lyrics take a more lonely approach to stardom.

Posted by: Gezza 8th May 2024, 10:02 AM

29TH NOVEMBER



ABBA are back at No 1 today with their 9th chart topper putting them behind Elvis, The Beatles, and Cliff Richard in the all time list, not only that but they complete the double by also hanging onto the No 1 spot on the album charts as well. "Super Trouper" recorded a sale of 121,000 copies bringing its total to 239,000 copies so far!



The track is also the 22nd No 1 hit of 1980 and the year is now behind only 1965 in terms of chart toppers in the year, the latter had a total of 24 and with 5 weeks of the year left this year could still easily outdo 65 and create a new record. With the release of "Autoamerican" this week (it debuted at No 3) Blondie take a tumble with "The Tide Is High" which still sold 92,000 copies and should move over half a million all told.



After last weeks drought the top 10 gives us 4 new tracks to discuss starting at No 7 with the arrival of Kool & The Gang. "Celebration" rises 12-7 (54,000) to become their highest peaking single out doing "Ladies Night" which made No 9 last year. The track is the lead single from their 14th album "Celebrate!" Which was released a couple of months ago but which is yet to break the top 20 here.





Also back in the frame is John Lennon, he returns with a new album "Double Fantasy" which climbs 27-14 on the album chart, and lead track "(Just Like) Starting Over" which moves 13-8 (51,000) this week. It's his first album and new music in 5 years after he went into self imposed hiatus to concentrate on family life but it seems like we've missed him!





With a fourth album due in January the Boomtown Rats released their 9th single "Banana Republic" which this week ascends 23-9 (49,000) to record a fifth top 10 hit, very single they have released has made the top 15, quite an achievement! The song is about their homeland Eire which has banned the group from performing in the country though there are reports that story is little more than a rouse dreamed up to cause promotion.





Meanwhile it's single number three and top ten hit number three for UB40 who continue to ride the coat-tails of success. Another double A-Side "The Earth Dies Screaming/ Dream A Lie" isn't on their debut album "Signing Off" though they were recorded at the same time as the album, but being left off the LP might be key to the success of this single as it rises 11-10 (45,000).



(The video for "Dream A Lie" isn't one you could make in 2024 so be aware)

Elsewhere Dennis Waterman and Stephanie Mills both climb, 4-3 (69,000) and 6-4 (68,000) respectively whilst Bowie holds at No 5 (60,000) and Barbra Streisand falls 3-6 (56,000) but makes its predicted move to No 3 on the YTD list.

1- SUPER TROUPER- Abba (121,000)
2- THE TIDE IS HIGH- Blondie (92,000)
3- I COULD BE SO GOOD FOR YOU- Dennis Waterman (69,000)
4- I NEVER KNEW A LOVE LIKE THIS BEFORE- Stephanie Mills (68,000)
5- FASHION- David Bowie (60,000)
6- WOMAN IN LOVE- Barbra Streisand (56,000)
7- CELEBRATION- Kool & The Gang (54,000)
8- (JUST LIKE) STARTING OVER- John Lennon (51,000)
9- BANANA REPUBLIC- Boomtown Rats (49,000)
10- EARTH DIES SCREAMING/ DREAM A LIE- UB40 (45,000)




We're a month from Christmas so here's the runners and riders for the festive top spot!

ANTMUSIC- Adam & The Ants

Much is expected from these boys and perhaps this call to arms for “antpeople” might just go all the way to be their first No 1?

DE DO DO DO DE DA DA DA- The Police

The last three “proper” Police singles all went to No 1 and what’s to stop this piece of festive fun heading all the way!

DECEMBER WILL BE MAGIC AGAIN- Kate Bush

She may not be chart topping these days but Kate’s new single has a festive feel to warm us all up

NEVER MIND THE PRESENTS- The Barron Knights

It’s Christmas so it must be time for a Barron Knights single- this one is set to the usual medley of recent hits - they got to the No 3 just 2 years ago so don’t discount it.

RUNAWAY BOYS- Stray Cats

If hype were sales then this lot would be in the top 10 for sure- this is their debut single and it’s fair to say there’s a lot riding on this- whether it was wise to release it for the festive market will soon be decided.

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN- Elvis Presley

Something much more traditional from Elvis but he was in the top 3 just a few months ago- long live the king.

STOP THE CAVALRY- Jona Lewie

This heartwarming anti-war tale has all the ingredients to be a festive chart topper.

THERE’S NO-ONE QUITE LIKE GRANDMA- St Winifred’s School Choir

Every Grandmother should be frightened of this one- children at Christmas- who can resist?

THIS WRECKAGE- Gary Numan

Like Kate Bush, he doesn’t seem to be hitting the very top of the charts these days but his last two singles debuted in the top 10 so this could be there or thereabouts.

Posted by: chartjack2 8th May 2024, 01:52 PM

Surprised they made the Dream a Lie video in 1980 tbh.

Obviously no spoilers, but #8 seems about right for Just Like Starting Over - musically, it’s fairly perfunctory but clearly the work of a Beatle.

Posted by: Popchartfreak 8th May 2024, 04:19 PM

I bought the Super Trouper album and loved it to bits, so many brilliant tracks, and the video for the single was just fabulous, recorded it onto my £20 videotape and played it a lot. I, for once, didn't buy the single because B side The Piper was on the album - I only bought singles from albums if they had bonus non-album tracks on the B side. The Piper was great too though, and it was blatantly obvious that Happy New Year would be out in time for a 3rd single for Xmas - except it wasn't!! Missed opportunity, though it wouldnt have made the top spot unless they'd released early enough to challenge the actual Xmas number one.

Celebration was the one that really kickstarted the Kool & The Gang pleasant non-challenging smooth run of hits for the 80's, after the funk era failed to make any impression. It's OK. Kylie liked it! Starting Over heralded a media comeback for John Lennon and I was ecstatic to have him back with the new album also sounding promising (until I found out 50% of the tracks were Yoko's, at which point I opted out until after his brutal murder and was also converted to Yoko in 1981 by her brilliant Yoko's single, Walking On Thin Ice - the one they were working on the night of the murder). This single was the return of a hero for me, and the retro vibes were charming.

Banana Republic was fun, at least on the surface, but it was the final big Rats single, sadly. UB40 OTOH were just getting started. The Earth Dies Screaming was the best side.

Posted by: chartjack2 8th May 2024, 07:00 PM

Curious John Lennon never made a video for Starting Over considering it was out for a month before his death. I’m not sure if there’s any filmed interviews with him either to promote Double Fantasy. Perhaps he was just a bit shy?

Posted by: King Rollo 8th May 2024, 07:16 PM

QUOTE(Smint @ 7th May 2024, 09:38 PM)

Posted by: Bjork 8th May 2024, 07:22 PM

My fav from the newbies is Banana Republic
the John Lennon song, not a favourite
amazed UB40 where consistently being top 10 considering they sound dull as dishwater

Posted by: Smint 8th May 2024, 10:15 PM

'Banana Republic' is a great Boomtown Rats track, up there with 'I Don't Like Mondays' and 'Like Clockwork'. A bit avant garde which is always a good thing. Whereas 'Just Like Starting Over' is a bit meh - sounds very Elvis tribute if anything.
'Celebration' is a fun classic disco track which is impossible to dislike. 'Earth Dies Screaming' is pretty good too - UB40 did bland out in later years with all their covers but their early stuff sounded fresh and different.

Posted by: TheSnake 8th May 2024, 10:25 PM

Kool on their 14th album wow!

Celebration is a good song but its been overused by the media over the years so I am not a massive fan.

The John Lennon song is good, its quite late 50s early 60s retro sounding.

Posted by: Popchartfreak 9th May 2024, 08:52 AM

music and hits sometimes need to be seen as part of the culture and events of the time - John Lennon had been away for 5 years, an eternity in pop terms in those days, and the whole music scene had changed - John himself had been inspired by acts like Madness to get recording again, so there was huge goodwill to have the legendary Beatle back to grab his first top 10 with new material in 8 years. Most of the media stuff was radio, a lot of it broadcast after his death - see the Andy Peebles in-depth series on his career interviewing John for hours. I expect a video just didnt occur to John, they werent really a thing when he last did an album, and he had only done one singing TV appearance (Old Grey Whistle Test pre-filmed studio special) for 1975's Stand By Me and some other covers, since Instant Karma in 1970, so he was def out of the video loop - pre MTV I'm not sure there were many video outlets on US TV, the UK had TOTP and kids shows so we were lucky really, which is why we had a head start on the 80's MTV explosion and UK acts really took off.

UB40 were the voice of the unemployed and poor (before they went in for reggae covers) - the charts might be fun but life wasn't for many. I was part of the 3 million on the dole unable to get a job for 2 years: any job! 1981 would be even worse, with riots in the streets, and benefits were about as low as you could get if you were straight out of education. The North was especially hit hard and that would get even worse when all coalmines were closed. My grandad, dad had worked down the mines in the past, and my brother in the 70's and 80's as that was the biggest employer until Thatcher. Plus UB40 were multicultural, which was a social and musical statement in itself, along with Two-Tone acts carrying on the tradition of previous musical generation bands like Hot Chocolate, Blue Mink, The Equals.

Posted by: Gezza 9th May 2024, 09:15 AM

6TH DECEMBER



A quiet week at the top of the charts this week with no movement for either ABBA at No 1 or Blondie at No 2 though both slide sales wise as fans switch to the albums for Christmas presents. "Super Trouper" loses 22% of its sales and registers 101,000 sales whilst Blondie lose only 6% as they drift to 86,000, both acts have current top 5 albums with ABBA again completing the double! it's the 4th time this year that the double has been achieved and also the fourth time that ABBA have done it- putting them behind only Elvis and the Beatles in this respect.





Becoming the first act to score 4 top 10 hits in 1980 Madness soar 12-4 (60,000) with "Embarrassment" which is the follow up to "Baggy Trousers" which still lingers in the chart at No 58 this week as sales now exceed 500,000. Thematically it's rather darker than your normal Madness single covering themes of racism, illegitimacy and teenage pregnancy, that hasn't stopped it becoming the bands fifth straight top 10 hit. Rumour has it that it's based on a real life tale which happened to a relative of the band who got involved in an interracial relationship much to the anger of her family.





Named after the German prison where many executions took place (the "Ballet" refers to the twitching the bodies exhibited as they were hanged) Spandau Ballet see their first single "To Cut A Long Story Short" jump 11-5 (56,000) . The band are part of the emerging "New Romantic" crowd which have grabbed many headlines over the last 6 months and finally provide the movement, if it is such a thing, with a hit of its own!





This week also sees the return of Eddy Grant who of course famously topped the charts back in 1968 as a member of the Equals with a song he wrote himself "Baby Come Back". He split with them and struck it big last year with "Living On The Front Line" which narrowly missed the top 10, a curse he breaks this week with "Do You Feel My Love" which climbs 15-9 (45,000).



Boomtown Rats are finally back in the top 3 for the first time since "I Don't Like Mondays" in June 1979 as they jump 9-3 (77,000) but they're the only climbers. Dennis Waterman drops 3-6 (47,000), Stephanie Mills dips 4-7 (47,000), Kool & The Gang descend 7-8 (46,000) and John Lennon can't advance any further and moves 8-10 (43,000)



1- SUPER TROUPER- Abba (101,000)
2- THE TIDE IS HIGH- Blondie (86,000)
3- BANANA REPUBLIC- Boomtown Rats (77,000)
4- EMBARRASSMENT- Madness (60,000)
5- TO CUT A LONG STORY SHORT- Spandau Ballet (56,000)
6- I COULD BE SO GOOD FOR YOU- Dennis Waterman (47,000)
7- I NEVER KNEW A LOVE LIKE THIS BEFORE- Stephanie Mills (47,000)
8- CELEBRATION- Kool & The Gang (46,000)
9- DO YOU FEEL MY LOVE- Eddy Grant (45,000)
10- (JUST LIKE) STARTING OVER- John Lennon (43,000)

Posted by: jimwatts 9th May 2024, 10:07 AM

'To Cut A Long Story Short' with that circling synth riff is Spandau Ballet's best song for me, or at least joint best with another of their multi-word titled hits. 'The Earth Dies Screaming' is the best UB40 song I've come across thus far - I suppose the success of their 1983 Labour Of Love album and specifically 'Red Red Wine' sent them on a different course.

Posted by: chartjack2 9th May 2024, 06:49 PM

Embarrassment - longest one word chart hit?

Posted by: dandy* 9th May 2024, 06:55 PM

I'd forgotten which one Embarrassment was but it is one of the better Madness songs. It reminds me of a prototype Britpop in a way with the lyrics and vocal delivery.

Posted by: jimwatts 9th May 2024, 07:25 PM

QUOTE(chartjack2 @ 9th May 2024, 07:49 PM)

Posted by: TheSnake 9th May 2024, 07:58 PM

To Cut A Long Story Short is a very good electronic dancefloor new wave track which there hasn't been in the top 10 of 1980 really since Blondie's 'Atomic'.

Some Adam and the Ants style drumming in it too midway through.

QUOTE(jimwatts @ 9th May 2024, 11:07 AM)

Posted by: Gezza 9th May 2024, 07:58 PM

Embarrassment is the only Madness song that I would seek out- the rest I can pretty much leave.

Posted by: My... WAP?? 9th May 2024, 08:22 PM

Embarrassment and To Cut A Long Story Short are great additions to the top 10!

Posted by: Bjork 10th May 2024, 06:28 AM

not 2 of my least fab bands in the history of music, Madness and Spandau Ballet going top 10 :/
at least this first Spandau Ballet hit doesn't sound much like them

Posted by: Popchartfreak 10th May 2024, 09:52 AM

Love Embarrassment, great record and their first non-Nutty Boy single, the album is also a goodie. Spandau looked very silly when they did TOTP, as did most of the throwback costumes. The record was decent though, but their best was to come in 1981. Mostly though they under-whelmed me, however my mate is a long-time big fan so seen them in concert at least 3 times and every time I came out feeling underwhelmed, a few decent ones here and there along the course of their career though. Not True....

Posted by: Gezza 10th May 2024, 11:56 AM

13TH DECEMBER



With Christmas just a fortnight away the singles chart starts to reap the benefits with 6 of the top 10 discs recording a sales increase- which of course means that four tracks don't and one of those is ABBA who again pull off a double for a third week with "Super Trouper" on both charts, but last week the single only sold 94,000 bringing an end to 6 weeks of the No 1 track topping the 100k mark. The song does move over the 400,000 mark though to 434,000 to be exact and is just 60,000 behind their previous chart topper "The Winner Takes It All" in the process. Another faller is Blondie who recede 2-7 and in doing so lose 32% of the previous weeks sales as they drift to 58,000 but have now sold 541,000 copies of "The Tide Is High" which is now their biggest seller of 1980. Both tracks should finish 1980 in the top 10 of the year.





Onto brighter news, and probably ABBA's replacement at No 1 next week and subsequently the festive chart topper. St Winifred's School Choir is a name you may not recall but you've heard them on a record before and a No 1 record at that, as they provided the backing to Brian & Michael's 1978 No 1 "Matchstick Men and Matchstick Cats & Dogs", and now they have a record of their own "There's No-one Quite Like Grandma" which this week powers 16-2 (89,000) running ABBA close, as far as the bookies are concerned the race for the festive No 1 is all over now this has shot up the charts having the Kids market to itself.





Proving what might be the only real challenge to St Winifred's is Jona Lewie who scored his first hit as an artist earlier this year with "You'll Always Find Me In the iamspamspamamiAt Parties" which peaked at No 16. He has of course been in the music industry since the late 60s and most notably was in Terry Dactyl and the Dinosaurs who hit No 2 in 1972 with "Seaside Shuffle". 8 years later he finds himself back in the top 3 with "Stop The Cavalry" which ascends 15-3 (82,000), the song has been a hit in various territories over the summer only just makes it here at Christmas helped by some festive lyrics, watch the battle ensue next week between these two.





The Police can't quite pull off another debut at the top this week, as the follow up to "Don't Stand So Close To Me" is released. "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" does however slam straight into No 9 (52,000) so they won't be disappointed, and it has 2 weeks to rise to the top so next week will be the best indication if it has the legs to pull of a festive surprise! Every other Police song to debut in the top 10 has gone onto be a No 1 smash for them so there's form here.





After generating some press in the summer whilst on tour and with some famous fans, the Stray Cats created a label race to sign them in the UK and the first spoils of their work with Dave Edmunds is "Runaway Boys" which this week bolts 23-10 (48,000) for the US rockabillies whose debut album is out in the new year.



Apart from those already mentioned, Madness hold at No 4 with a 28% increase in sales to 77,000, Spandau Ballet fall back a place to No 6 despite an 11% surge sales wise to 62,000 and Eddy Grant climbs one spot 9-8 with an improved 7 day tally of 54,000. Only the Boomtown Rats slip in sales down to 62,000 as they drop 3-5.

1- SUPER TROUPER- Abba (94,000)
2- THERE’S NO-ONE QUITE LIKE GRANDMA- St Winifred’s School Choir (89,000)
3- STOP THE CAVALRY- Jona Lewie (82,000)
4- EMBARRASSMENT- Madness (77,000)
5- BANANA REPUBLIC- Boomtown Rats (62,000)
6- TO CUT A LONG STORY SHORT- Spandau Ballet (62,000)
7- THE TIDE IS HIGH- Blondie (58,000)
8- DO YOU FEEL MY LOVE- Eddy Grant (54,000)
9- DE DO DO DO, DE DA DA DA- The Police (52,000)
10- RUNAWAY BOYS- The Stray Cats (48,000)

Posted by: chartjack2 10th May 2024, 01:05 PM

How many copies did Starting Over sell that week out of interest please Gezza?

Posted by: Jade 10th May 2024, 01:27 PM

Like Jim, 'To Cut A Long Story Short' is the best thing Spandau Ballet ever did for me too.

'Stop The Cavalry' is one song from the annual festive crop that I'm still not bored of <3 I suppose it has only re-entered the top 40 once since release which probably helps.

Posted by: Gezza 10th May 2024, 01:37 PM

QUOTE(chartjack2 @ 10th May 2024, 02:05 PM)

How many copies did Starting Over sell that week out of interest please Gezza?