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Posted by: Colm 28th September 2020, 07:12 PM

Due to the enormous success of my 1990s thread, and pressure from the record company to come out with another best seller, I am going to do it all over again.

Hopefully this will even more of a revelation.

I'll be back in a few days - once I've tackled 1980s hidden treasures.

Posted by: Colm 30th September 2020, 08:55 AM

1980

10th place - Dexys Midnight Runners - Geno

3.8




There's 5 songs battling not to be at the bottom but one of them has to take it.

I know this is critically acclaimed but I can't work out why. It sort of lurches from section to section, most of which are irritating. Is he drunk? Are they all drunk? The parping brass does my head in.


7th best seller of 1980

Posted by: Colm 30th September 2020, 09:00 AM

1980

9th place - Blondie - The Tide it High

3.9



I've always disliked this song. I do love Blondie but this just grates. The verses are not too bad but the chorus sounds like she doesn't give a sh*t about what she's singing. It almost sounds like a novelty song, to me.

6th best seller of 1980

Posted by: Colm 30th September 2020, 09:05 AM

1980

8th place - Fern Kinney - Together We Are Beautiful

4.0



I reserve the 4.0 mark for songs that are dreary but aren't actually irritating. This is the only song of the 10 that I wasn't familiar with before re-listening. It may be a grower but I doubt it.

8th best seller of 1980

Posted by: Bjork 30th September 2020, 09:41 AM

was that a #1? never heard it before, not even the name rings a bell
sounds quite boring and even her voice is borderline annoying

Posted by: Colm 30th September 2020, 09:59 AM

It is a literal one-hit-wonder. A number 1 from an artist that had no other top 75 hits.

Posted by: Colm 30th September 2020, 10:47 AM

1980

7th place - Kenny Rogers - Coward Of The County

4.5



Initially, I had this in 10th place, purely because it's a country song and I can't abide that sort of thing. But in re-listening it doesn't get on my nerves as much as the previous songs. Kenny was quite popular in the UK in the late 70s/early 80s.

9th best seller of 1980

Posted by: Colm 30th September 2020, 10:58 AM

1980

6th place - John Lennon - (Just Like) Starting Over

5.0



This is a bit if a dirge in places but then there's lovely parts too. This is only here because it shot to number 1 immediately following his death, as it had already been a top 10 hit a few weeks previously and jumped from 21 to the top spot. The first of his 3 solo number 1s which all happened in the six week period after his death.

10th best seller of 1980

Posted by: Colm 30th September 2020, 11:20 AM

1980

5th place - Kelly Marie - Feels Like I'm In Love

5.3



A solid disco number, but not one I am ever likely to listen to, by choice again. Amazingly, it was the 3rd best selling single of 1980 with a fairly ordinary chart run.

61-29-16-8-5-3-1-1-4-7-12-27-34-50-58-69

Posted by: Colm 30th September 2020, 11:34 AM

1980

4th place - The Police - Don't Stand So Close To Me

6.9



An anthem for the Covid era - I had this penciled in for a top 2 placing but it took a tumble due to the rising fortunes of the next two songs.

Like the Jam and Blondie, they were one of very few rock bands that were a regular fixture at the top of the charts in the early 80s. This was the only time they entered at number 1.


Best selling single of 1980.

Posted by: Colm 30th September 2020, 11:47 AM

1980

3rd place - Barbra Streisand - Woman In Love Video

7.2



From the golden pen of the Gibb brothers, this has slinky, seductive verses and a yearning, irresistible chorus. I've never really appreciated the verses in this song.

Her only number 1.

2nd best selling single of 1980.

Posted by: Colm 30th September 2020, 11:57 AM

1980

2nd place - Ottawan - D.I.S.C.O

7.8




Obviously, I am forgiving them the repetitive chorus and focusing mainly on the music. You all know that Daniel Bangalter wrote and produced this and that his son, Thomas Bangalter went on to make disco cool again as part of an obscure French group called Daft Punk.

This was the biggest song that didn't get to number 1 in 1980 - stuck at number 2 behind The Police and then Barbara Streisand.

5th best selling single of 1980.

Posted by: Colm 30th September 2020, 12:09 PM

1980

1st place - ABBA - Super Trouper

7.9



As soon as I saw the 1980 list I didn't have much trouble in deciding what would be at the top of a provisional list.

With ABBA, it's almost always the backing vocal harmonies that I listen for. Nearly everything about the song is a hook.
It is hard to believe that ABBA were derided all the way through the 80s. Notions of what was uncool evaporate with time and pop music gets judged on its own terms by successive generations - who, in the case of ABBA, rightly place that band at the pinnacle of popular music.

4th best selling single of 1980.

Posted by: Bjork 30th September 2020, 02:14 PM

not a big fan of any of those but Im more into late 80s
my #1 would probably be The Police and that's just probably a 6/10 for me

Posted by: King Rollo 30th September 2020, 02:35 PM

The best three from those would be (Just Like) Starting Over, Don't Stand So Close To Me and Geno. 1980 was a great year for chart music but the top 10 bestsellers don't really reflect that.

Posted by: Colm 30th September 2020, 05:17 PM

Well knowledged chart fans will know who will do well here if I just type three words
Shaddap You Face

Posted by: Crazy Chris 30th September 2020, 07:56 PM

I love it and bought it.

Posted by: Crazy Chris 30th September 2020, 07:57 PM

Great song from the fantastic Guilty album.

Posted by: Crazy Chris 30th September 2020, 08:00 PM

Great country story song and another that I bought at the time. His second UK No.1 after Lucille in 1977. Have that GH album too.

Posted by: Popchartfreak 2nd October 2020, 04:25 PM

Kenny Rogers def last for me by quite a distance, the story became a film I havent watched. Then Fern Kinney which I like, Ottawan (fun bit of fluff but that's about all), Kelly Marie (fun cheese written by Mungo Jerry's Ray Dorset) Blondie (not their best record but a decent enough cover).

So that leaves 5 great singles, Barbra at 5, and 4 that topped my chart: The Police at 4, Dexy's at 3 (I love those horns and his 60's defiant style), John Lennon (legend) at 2 and Abba (on top of their game, but The Winner Takes It All should have been in the list and on top, as should Ashes To Ashes, Xanadu, Going Underground, Crying all better than the bottom 5)

Posted by: Colm 2nd October 2020, 05:01 PM

what is there to like about Geno? I'm completely at a loss as to its popularity.

Posted by: Crazy Chris 4th October 2020, 01:34 PM

Me too. Never liked it.

Posted by: Popchartfreak 4th October 2020, 05:01 PM

Well I can't speak for everyone else that bought it, but for me Kevin Rowlands stroppy vocal delivery was pretty unique, and he absolutely loved Geno Washington which came over in a very funked-up version of the late 60's soul scene. It was passionate, the horn section was marvellous, so good they left the band and set up their own band called The Bureau (who were also good, I went to see them in concert in 1981, great live). I can understand how modern ears not used to the power of a sax cacophony might not like it though Like so many things, horn sections not featuring much on 21st century tracks....

Posted by: Colm 5th October 2020, 11:51 AM

yeah, but top 10 of the year?

Posted by: Colm 5th October 2020, 12:16 PM

1981

10th place - Adam and the Ants - Stand and Deliver

3.5



I like like the verses but that chorus puts this at the bottom of the pile. I don't know this song very well - there's a lot going on in it so, perhaps it's a grower. The public didn't think so - it entered at number 1.

Second best selling song of the year.

Posted by: Colm 5th October 2020, 12:21 PM

1981

9th place - Joe Dolce - Shaddap You Face

4.3




The rules state that I am compelled to hate this song because it inflicted one of the greatest chart injustices ever.

I don't hate it.

Eight best selling single of the year.

Posted by: Colm 5th October 2020, 12:32 PM

1981

8th place - The Tweets - The Birdie Song

4.7



You know, if it wasn't for the chirruping sound this would be higher. It was originally a Swiss polka. There were many versions recorded by various bands before the Tweets made it a hit.

Ninth best selling songs of the year.

Posted by: Jade 5th October 2020, 12:39 PM

'Stand and Deliver' bottom and below 'Shaddap You Face'?!

Posted by: Colm 5th October 2020, 01:44 PM

Yep. Sad day.

Posted by: Colm 5th October 2020, 02:01 PM

1981

7th place - Shakin' Stevens - You Drive Me Crazy

4.9



1981 is a really poor year - top 10 wise. This is so average and yet if it wasn't for Stand and Delivery this would have been number 1 for 4 weeks.

Tenth best selling single of the year.

Posted by: Colm 5th October 2020, 02:07 PM

1981

6th place - Michael Jackson - One Day In Your Life

5.4




I had this on in the background last week and I honestly thought it was The Carpenters. Especially the first verse. It's kinda boring.

This was the 6th best seller of the year - the highest he has ever been in any End of Year top 10, matched by Earthsong in 1995.

Posted by: dandy* 5th October 2020, 02:08 PM

I'm not sure I'm ever going to recover from this

Posted by: Colm 5th October 2020, 02:10 PM

I'm having trouble recovering myself.

Posted by: Colm 5th October 2020, 02:15 PM

1981

5th place - Shakin' Stevens - This Ole House

5.5



Minimally better than MJ - this ole thing.

Fourth best selling song of the year. I'm so glad I was too young to be a chart follower back then.

Posted by: Colm 5th October 2020, 02:20 PM

1981

4th place - Soft Cell - Tainted Love

6.0



If any of you were betting people (and some of you must be), you'd have probably put money on this being top 2 if not at the top.

I just don't like it very much. I don't think I ever did.

Finished 1981 as the best seller.

Posted by: Colm 5th October 2020, 02:28 PM

1981

3th place - Adam & The Ants - Prince Charming

7.0



Now this is much better than Stand and Deliver. It wonderfully strange - I am surprised it was a such a huge hit.

Some of the vocals remind me of Bloc Party's Ares.

Third best selling song of the year.

Posted by: Colm 5th October 2020, 02:35 PM

1981

2nd place - Bucks Fizz - Making Your Mind Up

7.3



I never really appreciated how great this is. I know I'll get raised eye brows for having it above Soft Cell and Adam and the Ants.

I find it hard to fault it.

Seventh best seller of the year.

Posted by: Colm 5th October 2020, 02:41 PM

1981

1st place - Ultravox - Vienna

7.9



I'm quite sure this is a contender of best single of the 80s for many music fans - if not all time. It's impossibly graceful and dripping with European cool - taking in synth minimalism, piano, violin and orchestral majesty.

Finished the year as the 5th best seller.

Posted by: Jade 5th October 2020, 02:49 PM

Ooh yes I definitely thought 'Tainted Love' would be at least top 2 for you! 'Vienna' is a great #1 - that, Soft Cell and the two Adam songs are the clear standouts for me.

I'm glad you're more complimentary towards 'Prince Charming' following that surprising last place! "Ridicule is nothing to be scared of" is a lyric that really sticks love how outrageous the video is too, especially for its time

Posted by: Colm 5th October 2020, 02:57 PM

I love a lot of ridiculous music. But not all of it.

Stand and Delivery my grow on me.

Posted by: Вuzzjack user 5th October 2020, 04:14 PM

Vienna is an excellent #1 on your list, emotive and epic song. I do like Adam and the Ants for their quirkiness and they arguably led to quite a few other very quirky alternative sounding hits that made the charts by 1982 such as Associates - Club Country (which is certainly one of the weirdest sounding songs to ever make the chart imo), Blue Zoo - Cry Boy Cry and Classix Nouveaux - Is It A Dream. I actually prefer Stand and Deliver to Prince Charming, because of the very new wave backing vocals in the verses and guitar solo and also because its more energetic, both songs are good though. Soft Cell's version of Tainted Love I really like too, the synthpop era had really started once it made #1, Making Your Mind Up is good from Bucks Fizz but I do prefer Land of Make Believe. Yes the Michael Jackson song does remind me a bit of The Carpenters in style but without Karen Carpenter's excellent deep vocal.

Blondie - Tide Is High is OK but not one of their best - the Atomic Kitten cover being overplayed back in the early 00s kind of makes me like it less sadly. I like Geno by Dexy's Midnight Runners but not as much as Kelly Marie Feels Like I'm in Love, Fern Kinney - Together We Are Beautiful and Barbra Streisand - Woman In Love, the latter two are really nice songs with great vocals - Fern Kinney sounds rather like early Diana Ross. The Kelly Marie tune is a fun hi-NRG disco tune, pity she didn't have many other hits in the UK, she could have came back to the charts in 1984 when the hi-NRG sound became popular again but alas it wasn't to be. And yes Super Trooper's highlight is the backing vocals.

Posted by: King Rollo 5th October 2020, 05:39 PM

From 1981,Vienna is definitely the best out of those 10,followed by Tainted Love and Stand And Deliver.

Posted by: Bjork 5th October 2020, 06:23 PM

for me: 1 Tainted Love and 2 Vienna
the lyrics of Tainted Love are genious! The rest I dislike them all especially Shakin'Stevens

Posted by: Popchartfreak 6th October 2020, 04:33 PM

ooh we're going to differ about 1981 an abfab year for music and some great and weedy number ones. Of course the real biggest-seller is Don't You want Me, just had its sales split over Xmas/New Year.

Tainted Love is top for me, Vienna 2, both 10/10's, One Day In Your Life is a 1975 track just after his voice broke, hence the Carpenters style to it, I loved it then I love it now 10/10, then Stand & Deliver & Prince Charming good 9/10's. Shaky's You Drive Me Crazy is a decent 7/10, and then there's the rest.....!

I was helping in a youth club that year while gainfully unemployed along with 3 million others, and the kids absolutely loved Adam & The Ants, Shaky, Bucks Fizz, Birdie Song. I don't hate them, I'm sort of fond of them all for that reason, but I wouldn't call them faves. Birdie Song bottom, annoying if heard too often (say 2 times a year), Shaddup ya face is unplayable these days but it didn't have any malice to it, and was quite sweet, it just got annoying if you heard it too often (say, 3 times a year). Bucks Fizz, jolly & fun & ultimately quickly annoying. I don't mind it these days, actually, but I'd rather hear ANY other Bucks Fizz single, it was all uphill from here, they got seriously good. This Ole House was OK just got a bit overplayed after a few weeks. At least it wasn;t Green Door, which was number one for 4 weeks and was an inhuman torture to endure.

One of the most popular of all-time, Imagine topped the chart, Smokey Robinson's lovely Being With You, the brilliant Ghost Town (as everyone went rioting) for The Specials, & the now-still-fab Under Pressure, and It's My Party also a goodie.

All missing, but at least so were these ones: Begin The Beguine, Japanese Boy, There's No One Quite Like Grandma....

Posted by: Colm 10th October 2020, 11:12 AM

1982

10th place - Goombay Dance Band - Seven Tears

4.1



I've been struggling with 1982 for a few days now. It's not got anything that I hate but the bottom 7 are "ok" songs for me.

First off this one-hit-wonder (if we discount the follow up that made number 50), it's the most uninspiring of the 10. I assumed this it was a Christmas hit all these years but it turns out it was a hit in February 82.
It was only the 4th time a German band topped the singles chart and they were only the third band to do so - Kraftwerk were there a few weeks before and Boney M took the top spot twice in 1978.

Eighth best seller of the year.

Posted by: Colm 10th October 2020, 11:24 AM

1982

9th place - Tight Fit - The Lion Sleeps Tonight

5.0



This isn't that bad. Obviously we all know it.

I am shocked to learn that it started out like this in 1939



Different versions been recorded over 60 times. Wikipedia has a long list of them.


Fourth best seller of the year.

Posted by: Colm 10th October 2020, 11:32 AM

1982

8th place - Ebony and Ivory - Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder

5.2



I never realised that I don't like Paul McCartney's voice until now. It's a bit of a trudge through his parts. Stevie, however, is golden.

Ninth best seller of the year.

Posted by: Colm 10th October 2020, 11:39 AM

1982

7th place - Culture Club - Do You Really Want To Hurt Me

5.5




I'd forgotten about the court room and, er, minstrels in the video. Never been a huge fan of Culture Club - then again, I probably only know 3 of their songs. Their chart career started with 7 consecutive top 4 singles.

Fifth best seller of the year.

Posted by: Jester 10th October 2020, 01:17 PM

Do You Really Want To Hurt Me is superb! Eek at the minstrels though.

Posted by: Bjork 10th October 2020, 01:28 PM

that Macca/Stevie Wonder duet is the snoozefest
I really liked the Culture Club song, although I'm not the biggest fan of Boy George

Posted by: Colm 10th October 2020, 01:33 PM

There's nothing awful in this 10.

Posted by: Colm 11th October 2020, 07:35 AM

1982

6th place - Musical Youth - Pass the Dutchie

5.7



This is pleasant enough - at least it's authentic reggae

This jumped from number 26 to number 1

Sixth best seller of the year.

Posted by: Colm 11th October 2020, 07:43 AM

1982

5th place - Eddy Grant - I Don't Wanna Dance

5.8



This is the earliest song I remember seeing on Top of The Pop. I was 6. As such, it held a special place in my musical experience since then.

Seventh best seller of the year.

Posted by: Colm 11th October 2020, 07:49 AM

1982

4th place - Dexy's Midnight Runners and the Emerald Express - Come On Eileen

6.0



A song of 2 halves - the intro and first verse are excellent, as is the second verse. But the chorus just kills it - sounds like a pub full of pissed lads.

Best seller of the year.

Posted by: Colm 11th October 2020, 08:27 AM

1982

3rd place - Irene Cara - Fame

7.3



The empowerment of that chorus. Outstanding!

Second best seller of 1982

Posted by: Colm 11th October 2020, 08:30 AM

1982

2nd place - Survivor - Eye Of The Tiger

7.5



Now this is a revelation. I have always associated Eye of the Tiger with The Lion Sleep Tonight, given the animal connection and that they are both huge sellers from the same year, sitting consecutively in the top 10 best sellers. Both sort of one-hit-wonders.
The re-listen of this top 10 has allowed me to compare them on song quality and Eye of the Tiger is in a different league.

The verse is measured and restrained. I love the sudden stop of the music for the title at the end of the chorus. I will definitely be listening to this a lot more in the future.

Third best seller of the year.

Posted by: Colm 11th October 2020, 08:53 AM

1982

1st place - The Jam - A Town Called Malice

9.1



A clear favourite, as soon as I looked at the list. There are many, many great things about this song. One thing that I didn't appreciate is that this was their 16th hit single, well into their 5th year of chart action and a decade into the band's existence. Has any band sounded so exuberant this far into their career? Perhaps The Cure did.

And the song itself - it owes a debt to Motown, even down to the "ooooooooh" at 2:04 which pays homage to The Supremes Baby Love. The whole thing is so euphoric and intoxicating. It's no wonder it's an indie disco staple, where I come from.

Then there's influence - I hear Blur. I hear the Libertines. I hear Bloc Party.
Add to this, that they entered the chart at number (their third occasion of doing so) - not commonly done back then. It must have been amazing being a fan of the band, in those years.

Irresistible.

Posted by: Doctor Blind 11th October 2020, 09:14 AM

Funny enough, the bassline and drums always sounds similar to The Supremes “You Can’t Hurry Love” * which is what I love about it. Apparenty the song is about Woking - which I've travelled through on the train and seems like a town called malice to me.

*Then Phil ('I'm leaving the country if Labour get in' [1992]) Collins went and covered it.

Posted by: Colm 11th October 2020, 09:21 AM

Joke lost on this Irish man

Posted by: Bjork 11th October 2020, 12:48 PM

Fame would be my #1

Posted by: ВuzzjackHallowee 11th October 2020, 07:02 PM

1982 was a very good year for the charts, one of the best in the 80s in my opinion, I mean Duran Duran and ABC at the top of their game, quirky alternative hits including top 10s from the Associates, Blancmange and The Mobiles, great 80s pop rock songs from J Geils Band, Steve Miller Band and XTC, Yazoo's Don't Go, I could just go on...but most of this top 10 best selling list isn't the best of the year in my opinion.

However in terms of what did make the top 10, Come On Eileen is great, I Don't Wanna Dance is a good reggae song (Pass The Dutchie also of that genre is good too but I prefer IDWD) - it turns out the early 80s had a brief reggae revival before the one you mentioned in the 90s thread in 1993. A Town Called Malice is good but not one of my favourite Jam songs, Eton Rifles or Down In The Tube Station At Midnight are my favourites from them.

Seven Tears is a nice song but sounds a bit dated for 1982. I am not a massive fan of Culture Club they are a bit too poppy for my tastes, but my favourite one from Culture Club is It's a Miracle. Tight Fit Lion Sleeps Tonight I find a bit too cheesy for my tastes and Irene Cara is a very good singer but I am not sure whether I like the lyrical themes of 'Fame' much, same with Bros' 'When Will I Be Famous' later in the decade, just not a big fan of songs about being famous

As for Ebony and Ivory, the lyrics are a good metaphor but the song itself I find a bit boring.

Posted by: Jester 11th October 2020, 07:35 PM

Great pick for number 1!

Posted by: Colm 13th October 2020, 10:41 AM

1983 reads like an 80s compilation. Littered with classics. However, most of them don't blow me away.

Posted by: Colm 13th October 2020, 11:06 AM

1983

10th place - Spandau Ballet - True

4.5



Perhaps I'm in a generous mood but everything from 1983 gets at least a 4.5. True was the only one that made me wince slightly on a second re-listen. The intro always bring PM Dawn to mind and that sparks joy
- most of the points are earned by that.

The lyrics are poor.

Sixth best seller of the year.

Posted by: Colm 13th October 2020, 11:13 AM

1983

9th place - Lionel Richie - All Night Long

5.5



This is light and breezy and completely over-familiar at this stage. Much like all of the top 10.

Tenth best seller of 1983.

Posted by: Colm 13th October 2020, 11:23 AM

1983

8th place - Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart

5.7



I'm quite sure most of you would place this higher up the top 10 but some of the vocals are a real challenge to get through for me.

The chorus seems to go on forever and she struggles more and more with each line she has to sing

" And we'll only be making it right
'Cause we'll never be wrong
Together we can take it to the end of the line
Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time (all of the time)
I don't know what to do and I'm always in the dark
We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks
I really need you tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight"

Even if someone else was singing it, I may not like it very much more anyway.


Fifth best seller of the year.

Posted by: Colm 13th October 2020, 11:30 AM

1983

7th place - Billy Joel - Uptown Girl

6.0




While listening to this, I noticed how it really could have been written by the Bee Gees. There's a lot of high-pitched backing vocals and the "fi-yi-ine"/"mi-yi-ine".

I'd never choose to put this on but I'd probably leave it on - depending on how recently I had heard it.

Second best seller of the year.

Posted by: Colm 13th October 2020, 11:43 AM

1983

6th place - Men At Work - Down Under

6.6



Not quite a one hit wonder - they had 3 other top 40 hits after this, but I don't recognise any of them. The lyrics are quite unique - vegemite sandwich included.

Seventh best selling song of 1983

Posted by: Colm 13th October 2020, 11:56 AM

1983

5th place - David Bowie - Let's Dance

6.8



Far from my favourite David Bowie song, it is, however, his best selling single in the UK (as of January 2016 when the Official Charts website stated as much). It's always interesting to listen to but not always enjoyable to listen to.

Fourth best selling single of 1983.

Posted by: Colm 13th October 2020, 12:05 PM

1983

4th place - Culture Club - Karma Chameleon

6.9



There will no doubt be puzzlement at how some of the Top 4 have managed to be placed higher than Let's Dance and/or Total Eclipse - this is the beauty of subjectivity.

Posted by: Blade 13th October 2020, 12:10 PM

I can't stand Bonnie Tyler's vocal performance on 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart' so I wholeheartedly agree with your opinion there it's fine as a song otherwise.

'Let's Dance' and 'Karma Chameleon'

Posted by: Pting Rollo 13th October 2020, 12:53 PM

From 1982,I would put Come On Eileen 1st followed by I Don't Wanna Dance and Do You Really Want To Hurt Me.

Posted by: ВuzzjackHallowee 13th October 2020, 02:58 PM

1983 overall wasn't as good a year for the charts as 1982 in my opinion, the quirkiness of new wave and new romantic was starting to die out and being replaced by pop (we see that with Spandau Ballet having gone from having hits with Chant Number 1 to True in one year) but I think many of us will agree that the year end top 10 is better overall than the year end top 10 for 1982. My favourite of those so far for 1983 - Let's Dance. True may be cheesy and not as good as Spandau's more interesting earlier songs but is still a good ballad I think. Lionel Ritchie songs I generally find listenable enough (even his later hit My Destiny is rather nostalgic) and All Night Long's African music influenced choir part is my favourite part of that song. Down Under is a nice song but its a bit of novelty hit so I can't really take it that seriously. Total Eclipse.... is a good song but overplayed and Uptown Girl is good but Billy Joel had a more interesting song near the end of the decade, We Didn't Start The Fire which I really like. Karma Chameleon I prefer to Do You Really Want To Hurt Me.

Posted by: Popchartfreak 13th October 2020, 03:59 PM

well 1982, not as good as 1981, and you've got two major legends getting together, both huge heroes of mine in the 60's and 70's. Yes I'd put Ebony & Ivory last, just not worthy. Not only just not worthy of their back catalogues, not even worthy of the album it came from which had some gems on it, not least paul's tribute to John Lennon, Here Today, and Take It Away which is fab.

Another 60's & 70's legend (The Equals and solo) Eddy Grant is another fave - and also not a fan of I Don;t Wanna Dance, just not in any way as good as Living On The Frontline, Walking On Sunshine (NOT the Katrina song, the Rocker's Revenge song from 1982 that was massively better than this) Baby Come Back or Do You Feel My Love.

So just above them I'd put 7 Tears which I have a soft spot for - no, not the marsh over the road, I like it's old-fashioned melody - and The Lion Sleeps Tonight, which I knew from earlier hit versions, but the cheese-factor wasn't too overpowering, though fantasy island, the follow-up, was much better.

Fame next for me, great single though I bought it in 1980 and I still refuse to associate it with the TV show that made it a hit when it was the movie that came out in 1980 that had the quality.

A Town Called malice was a great single, the jam were great, saw them at their peak in 1981, and that Supremes bassline pops up again for Stevie Wonder's Part Time Lover in 1985 who commented on remarked similarities to Hall & Oates Maneater that they all owe The Supremes. As does this one.

The rest all topped my chart, so it's just the order to sort: Pass The Dutchie is joyous kiddie reggae, albeit about smoking weed in reality, then I'd opt for Eye Of The Tiger cos as great as it is, it's overplayed. Then Culture Club, smooth, classy and genuinely taking the world by storm and breaking society's boundaries paving the way for so much that followed in culture. Top is Dexy's cos it's just a great record but also for my fab Auntie Eileen who died last year and had to put up with nearly 40 years of people quoting it...

Posted by: Colm 14th October 2020, 10:09 AM

1983

3rd place - Michael Jackson - Billie Jean

7.4




This top 3 was anyone's game for the last 24 hours.
Billie Jean was the favourite going into this top 10. I went through a phase of this being my favourite MJ song because I really got into funky disco in 2013 when Daft Punk made their comeback. I've actually never been a big Michael Jackson fan at all. I think Dirty Diana was my favourite until I started to appreciate Billie Jean.

Eight best seller of 1983.

Posted by: Colm 14th October 2020, 10:17 AM

1983

2nd place - UB40 - Red Red Wine

7.5



Obviously, I am a huge reggae fan [/sarcasm]. I am as surprised as anyone at Red Red Wine being in the top 2. It was actually sitting at the top yesterday for a while until I listened to the first place with good headphones.
The 7" version is strange in that it starts to fade out before the 3 minute mark. Normally, short songs just stop.

Anyway, I love this. Who knows how long that will last.

Third best seller of the year.

Posted by: Colm 14th October 2020, 10:29 AM

1983

1st place - The Flying Pickets - Only You

7.9



This breaks one of my most firmly held music rules - novelty cover versions should never be done. Right now, it's an uplifting, enchanting rendering of an already great song.

Ninth best seller of 1983.

Posted by: Steve201 14th October 2020, 11:50 AM

Loved the Flying Pickets version of ‘Only You’!

Posted by: Steve201 14th October 2020, 11:51 AM

Loved the Flying Pickets version of ‘Only You’!

Posted by: Bjork 14th October 2020, 12:13 PM

Billie Jean the best for me

Posted by: Blade 14th October 2020, 01:05 PM

^ 'Billie Jean' is my favourite of the bunch too! Love the hypnotic disco-tinged production and the entire build-up to a very strong pop chorus. A huge contender for my MJ favourite too.

Posted by: Poptarttreat 14th October 2020, 02:54 PM

1983, ha I agree about True. give me PM Dawn anyday, and yes Spandau lyrics are notoriously bad at times, my fave worst example the diplomat/laundromat forced rhyme.

Red Red Wine I'm just bored with, I'm afraid, the Neil Diamond song is fine, their treatment is fine, but put it next to UB40 tracks like Kingston Town, King and Don't Break My Heart and it's just not in the same league...

Only You is kinda sweet. My dad loves it.

Karma Chameleon not weathered as well as the rest of Colour By Numbers, give me Miss Me Blind or Church Of The Poison Mind any day, though it did top my chart in 1983 and they didn't.

All Night Long - Lionel's best solo record by some distance. Not that much competition to be fair - Running With The Night, and err, that's it. Commodores stuff much better.

Down Under another chart-topper, love it, went to see them in concert, bought the other singles.

Uptown Girl is pure early 60's doowop pop love. Billy Joel is hugely under-rated, classically-trained and it shows.

Total Eclipse Of The Heart is OTT genius. Meatloaf must have been SO pissed off he didn't get this dark gem as he'd moved into drivel-based rock by 1983 instead of the masterminded Jim Steinman epics.

Let's Dance, Bowie at his most joyous and commercial, just to prove he could do it when he wanted to (he just didn't want to).

Billie-Jean: candidate for greatest video ever, greatest bassline ever, greatest vocal performance ever, and we all felt for poor Michael being accused of shagging a girl, and getting her pregnant, in song - the very idea was always obviously highly unlikely...

Posted by: Steve201 14th October 2020, 09:37 PM

Love 1983 but agree with Bjork about the increased commercialisation of the chart but it wasn’t always a bad thing as the MOR changed from Shaky to the big new romantic artists aiming higher due to pressure from record companies. It can even be seen by the TOTP studio of the day becoming a lot more commercial looking!

Posted by: Bjork 15th October 2020, 05:32 AM

As a kid I didn't mind UB40 but now I find their covers very cheap and they always repeat the same trick
red red Wine was fine but they did the same trick too many times

billie Jean is really genious, especially the lyrics, it's very original to say the least, and a pretty bizarre chorus with the kid is not my son line.

Posted by: Crazy Chris 15th October 2020, 09:28 AM

I much prefer Green Door

Posted by: Pting Rollo 15th October 2020, 10:12 AM

Total Eclipse Of The Heart is my favourite from those ten followed by Let's Dance and Down Under.

I prefer Overkill, Men At Work's follow-up single to Down Under and Dr Heckyll and Mr Jive is a good song to play for Halloween.

Posted by: Colm 18th October 2020, 08:37 AM

1984 is peculiar.

Posted by: Colm 20th October 2020, 07:49 AM

1984

10th place - Black Lace - Agadoo

4.1



So, this summer hit lands in 10th place in this most peculiar of years. I've listened to a few of the other Black Lace his this week. They certainly cornered the market in party tunes back then.


Eight best seller of 1984.

Posted by: Colm 20th October 2020, 08:11 AM

1984

9th place - Wham! - Last Christmas

4.8



I'm very conflicted about the next 5 song. None of them are bad, but none of them blow me away, like I'm sure they do other people. First to exit the batch is Last Christmas.

It doesn't seem quite right to say it but looking at the top 10 it appears one man owned 1984. If fact, if we take number 11 (Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go) into consideration his voice appears of 5 of the 11 tracks. I think perhaps only Ed Sheeran beat this when he released ÷. I'm sure others will correct me if I am mistaken.

Listening to this in October - this October - is a very hollow experience.

Sixth best seller of the year.

Posted by: Colm 20th October 2020, 08:18 AM

1984

8th place - Stevie Wonder - I Just Called To Say I Love You

5.1



If this was by someone else it would be even lower. He just about saves the verses with his gorgeous voice.

Second best seller of the year.

Posted by: Colm 20th October 2020, 08:25 AM

1984

7th place - Wham! - Freedom

5.4



Another song where the verses are the better. The 60s girl-group beat is certainly the highlight and the pre-chorus is magic. Not a fan of the chorus and the intro grates.

Tenth best selling song of the year.

Posted by: Colm 20th October 2020, 08:43 AM

1985

6th place - Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax

6.4



I've never really liked this song. Obviously, there's so much more to this than the music in the song - the cultural impact and the bulldozing of what was acceptable in mainstream pop music. Trevor Horn took creative control of the song during recording and it might as well be credited to "Trevor Horn featuring Holly Johnson".

Third best selling single of the year.

Posted by: Colm 20th October 2020, 08:50 AM

1984

5th place - Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Two Tribes

6.7




Not exceeding the score of Relax very music, Two Tribes, while not having a very strong melody, beats it on production. Trevor Horn's maximalism is upped even higher in this.

Fourth best selling single of the year.

Posted by: Colm 20th October 2020, 08:57 AM

1984

4th place - George Michael - Careless Whisper

6.9




More from him. Parts of this are lovely. Other parts not so much. Schmaltzy.

Posted by: Colm 20th October 2020, 03:32 PM

1984

3rd place - Ray Parker Jr. - Ghostbusters

7.4



I was really into this at the start of this re-listening session - it's still safely top 3, though. I've a friend who misheard the lyrics of this as a kid as - "Who you gonna call?". "Those bast*rds".

Posted by: Colm 20th October 2020, 03:46 PM

1984

2nd place - Lionel Richie - Hello

7.7



This is not usually my sort of thing but this is quietly devastating.

I've never let myself like this song before. I think now might be the time I started doing just that.

Posted by: Colm 20th October 2020, 03:52 PM

1984

1st place - Band Aid - Do they Know it's Christmas?

8.0





Perhaps it's just me but there's something very dignified about this song - not on a musical level - on some other level. That, despite some of the generalised lyrics about a whole continent that are questionable. The intro is so solemn and stops me in my tracks. Plus it rips off the Doctor Who! theme.

Posted by: Pting Rollo 20th October 2020, 04:31 PM

Two Tribes would definitely be my favourite from those ten with Relax in 2nd place and Do They Know It's Christmas 3rd.

Posted by: Steve201 21st October 2020, 10:40 PM

Colm I sometimes wonder if you like any of the top sellers of the year 😂

My favourite out of the year would be ‘Careless Whisper’ wonderful lyrics!

Posted by: Colm 22nd October 2020, 09:30 AM

I'm a bit confused. I've scored the ones I like with high scores.

Posted by: Doctor Blind 22nd October 2020, 09:34 AM

Posted by: Colm 22nd October 2020, 11:27 AM

Posted by: Steve201 22nd October 2020, 08:20 PM

I know I just mean from the narratives but I was joking!

Posted by: Colm 23rd October 2020, 05:18 PM

I generally don't like most music

Posted by: Poptarttreat 24th October 2020, 09:15 AM

pop music exploded in 1984, million sellers galore, and it was George & Frankie all the way.

Black Lace bottom, designed to make your brain explode on more than one hearing in a day.

Hello is just schmaltz, I got so sick of hearing it and have never gone back to it, though I liked it for a time - it was the video mainly.

Stevie Wonder topped my chart in 1984, but a lot of that was love for Stevie Wonder and being happy he'd finally got a chart-topper solo. Catchy, but long-term a bit annoying. There are around 50 better Stevie Wonder tracks.

Ghostbusters is cracking pop, but it's annual outing every Halloween has tarnished the fun a bit.

Do They Know It's Christmas? was a great record for a great cause and saved many lives, topped my charts, re-entered my charts for many, many xmasses. And then I reached saturation point and it no longer moves me to the same degree. Shame.

Freedom is a great Motown song for the 80's, and has never suffered from overkill airplay, consequently I like it more than I did at the time.

Careless Whisper is a hugely mature song for a teenager to write, and a brilliantly sad song. It brings back unhappy memories for me (emotional/mental problems at the time, and a funeral) so I prefer not to hear it, but it is top notch.

Last Christmas is an anthem, topped my charts in many chart years over christmas/new year and still charts occasionally if I catch it while out over the christmas period, such as on holiday in the Canaries, but again I never choose to play it due to it's never ever going away for even just one christmas to give me a break from it.

Two Tribes is exciting, a wall of sound that hits you right between the eyes, and still relevant. Without Trevor Horn it would sound like other Frankie Goes To Hollywood tracks without Trevor Horn - a bit meh.

Relax. Epic. Controversial. Horntastic. I advise against pissing on people from the balcony in a club though (see banned video) in much the same way as being against people chucking bottles full of wee wee that theyve filled at Madonna concerts to not lose their place in the crowd by going to the toilet. It's not clever! The voice of experience has spoken...

Posted by: Colm 29th October 2020, 08:01 AM

1985

10th place - David Bowie & Mick Jagger - Dancing In The Street

3.8




Oh dear. This is awful. Points for Bowie's vocals being better than Mick's. When I say better, I mean not quite as awful.

It comes across as a charity single. The silent video is obviously genius.

Posted by: Colm 29th October 2020, 08:14 AM

1985

9th place - Feargal Sharkey - A Good Heart

6.0




Huge jump in score from that last atrocity on music. This strikes me as quite an unlikely number one - actually the next few songs all seem pretty unremarkable to sell enough to be among the top 10 sellers of the year.

A Good Heart is mildly distracting but its follow up was a lot catchier - You Little Thief - which I only discovered because of this re-listening exercise. My early 80s knowledge is poor.

Posted by: Bjork 29th October 2020, 08:15 AM

consider the big names involved, Dancing in the Street was pretty average

Posted by: Colm 29th October 2020, 02:27 PM

1985

8th place - Phyllis Nelson - Move Closer

6.3





This is fine but I would never have predicted top 10 seller of the year. I read that it was picked up by BBC Radio London and a pirate radio station Laser 558. A slow burner it took 13 weeks to get to number 1.

She was the first black woman to have a UK number 1 hit with her own composition.

I notice a big trend in 80s chart action. Some songs hang around for maybe 5 or 6 weeks between numbers 40 and 75 but if they then manage to scrape into the top 40, they then take great leaps towards the top end of the chart. There must have been a sizable amount of radio stations that didn't play a song unless it became a top 40 his. Obviously, a Top of the Pops appearance would also be a catalyst for big climbers.

Posted by: Colm 29th October 2020, 02:48 PM

1985

7th place - Sister Sledge - Frankie

6.5





Frankie marked a departure for Sister Sledge. It was more of a girl-group sound that their classic disco sound and was produced by their usual collaborator Nile Rogers. It comes across as more lightweight, to me.

I wouldn't have seen it being the 5th best seller on the year.

Posted by: Colm 29th October 2020, 02:57 PM

1985

6th place - King - Love & Pride

6.8




This is all over the place. There's bits that sound like The Stranglers, there's all sorts of guitar sounds scattered around it. I can hear Mansun in there somewhere and the music in the chorus reminds me of Acceptable in the 80s

Tenth best seller of the year.

Posted by: Jester 29th October 2020, 05:47 PM

Dancing in the Street is awful. Good call.

Posted by: Steve201 31st October 2020, 12:16 AM

Didn’t realise ‘Love & Pride’ was one of the years best sellers, great track. Also ‘Move Closed’ took so long to climb it must have sold loads overall. Always had a soft spot for ‘Dancing In The Streets’ just due to the added relevance chart wise of the two.

With regards to the chart movements yeh once a song reached the top 40 they could potentially get a TOTP play or performance which encouraged huge upwards movement.

Posted by: Colm 31st October 2020, 09:28 AM

Currently deciding the ranking of the top 5. All great songs. We're looking at a possible 10

Posted by: Steve201 31st October 2020, 10:46 AM

�� ‘The Power Of Love’?

Posted by: Colm 31st October 2020, 04:33 PM

1985

5th place - Paul Hardcastle - 19

7.3




19 wasn't Paul Hardcastle's first single but it was his first hit. Entering at number 4, 19 must surely have been the highest ever debut for an artist that had never had a top 40 hit - charity singles excluded.
Before this re-listening session, I'd have expected 19 to be top 3 as I do like it a lot. It's one of the earliest sample-based number 1 singles, and has plenty of synthy stuff going on it it, which I love.

I was surprised to read that Paul is British - I assumed he was American, given the content of the track. He's a multi-talented instrumentalist, releasing jazz and synth jazz albums, as well as composing and, in his early career, singing. He did have a second top 10, which I don't recognise - Don't Waste My Time in 1986.

I think this is the highest scoring 5th place we've seen in either the 80s or 90s edition of this thread.

It was the 4th best selling single of 1985.

Posted by: Doctor Blind 31st October 2020, 04:42 PM

I love “19”, there aren't many (any?) songs about the somewhat cold and dark reality of war that sound so upbeat.. I also learnt that the average age of a soldier in World War II was 26.
Yes, he had a moderately successful career in Smooth Jazz which makes this a huge anomaly in his output - but one that went on to score other successes such as the Top of the Pops theme for 5 years (“The Wizard”).

This record deserved more of a heroes welcome from you Colm though. : (

Posted by: Colm 31st October 2020, 04:55 PM

I never really seen it as an upbeat song. I only read today that he did the Top of the Pops theme for those years.

Perhaps it does deserve a more gushing comment but I think I've always seen it as a novelty hit - albeit a really good one.

Posted by: Doctor Blind 31st October 2020, 05:01 PM

I was being a bit facetious really, it's not exactly groundbreaking but for the reasons you mention in your review (the cut jumps and sampling) I really enjoy it. It's really odd to hear such a strong political statement, presuming it was one, from an Englishman about a war largely supported by America and Australia and NOT the UNited Kingdom. Especially with all the Falklands and Cold War stuff at the time..

Scanning back through 1985 I also heartily agree with your “Dancing In The Street” review. Can't stand it! A huge mis-fire in a largely solid discography up until that point from Bowie. Sadly to be joined by many other duff hits in the 1990s.

Posted by: Colm 31st October 2020, 05:21 PM

1985

4th place - Elaine Paige & Barbara Dickson - I Know Him So Well

7.4




I Know Him So Well is basically a bonus ABBA song - golden harmonies, and all. Cracking verses but the chorus can drag at times - especially with Barbara's voice.

The melody for this song was based on a song called I Am an A - a self referential ABBA song which never got a studio recording but appeared in live ABBA performances. Bjorn and Benny had included I Know Him So Well on the Chess album which was a cast soundtrack album for a stage show that didn't exist. It did eventually become a musical, on which the boys worked with Tim Rice.

The single was huge, rocketing from number 34 to number 6 and on to number 1 a few weeks later. This pushed the, at the time, flop album into the top 10, briefly.

I actually got this on 12" a few years ago. Myself and my mates have an 80s power balled vinyl night a few times a year and I quickly saw a use for it when I seen it for a quid in a charity shop.

Second best seller of the year.

Posted by: Colm 31st October 2020, 05:22 PM

I like Bowie's 90s singles a lot. I think we similarly disagree on when U2s best period was. It was deffo the 90s

Posted by: Colm 31st October 2020, 05:55 PM

1985

3rd place - Madonna - Into The Groove

8.5




I didn't see this coming.

I am of the opinion that generally, 80s Madonna is overrated. The pop music coming out of the UK from 1985 to 1990 was far better, in my opinion.
Anyway, away from the chorus, (which is ok) this is great. The synth bass just puts a spring in my step and the "live out your fantasies here with me" bit is what pop music is all about.

She ended up having 3 singles in the top 12 around this time.

There must have been a major push at the time. It was the first time she entered the chart in the top 5. Her best entry before this was at number 25 when Crazy For You entered 6 week before ( a single that was still in the top 6 when Into the Groove debuted at number 4.

There must have been a re-release of Holiday planned because there was enough copies around for it to join Into the Groove in the top 3, three weeks later.

It's time I revised all of her 80s singles.

Third best selling single of the year.

Posted by: dandy* 31st October 2020, 06:03 PM

Glad you like Into The Groove, it's definitely one of Madonna's strongest singles and it perfectly encapsulates the free dance floor type of vibe so I can imagine it having been played all over the place.

My other 80s favourites from her are Borderline, Papa Don't Preach, Open Your Heart, La Isla Bonita and Like a Prayer. I also really like 'Til Death Do Us Part which is an album track but it sounds pretty dated now, although it does still have an appeal.

Posted by: Colm 31st October 2020, 06:23 PM

There's a version of Like A Prayer that I love and one I don't.

Posted by: dandy* 31st October 2020, 06:28 PM

I've just realised what is still to be included and it's one of my favourite 80s singles, a definite 10/10 moment so please let that be the winner! Indeed I think it may have been crowned Buzzjack's favourite song or something in the chart forum fairly recently.

Posted by: Steve201 1st November 2020, 02:59 AM

I agree solid including Little Drummer Boy from 1982 😊. In all seriousness though by the 90s he was out of fashion and more experimental!

Posted by: Colm 1st November 2020, 09:46 AM

Which worked for me.

Posted by: Colm 1st November 2020, 10:12 AM

1985

2nd place - Jennifer Rush - The Power of Love

9.0




What strikes me most about this song is the progression. Several of Jennifer's melodies get boosted and ramped up by spectacular vocals as the song progresses. That's nothing unusual but she does it with so many of the lyrics that each section has a different dynamic - nothing gets stale.

Her voice has wondaful character to it too. This is a hugely underrated song.

The Power of Love is a stark example of that feature of 80s chart behaviour that I mentioned earlier. This spent 13 weeks between numbers 40 and 100 but as soon as it hit the top 40, at number 36, it went 36-15-2-1...

It must be listened to in the album version.

Best selling single of the year.

Posted by: Steve201 1st November 2020, 10:26 AM

Also the last million seller of the decade

Posted by: Colm 1st November 2020, 10:53 AM

1985

1st place - a-ha - Take On Me

10.0




The obvious bits first. Everyone loves trying to sing this song. Everyone loves the synth riff. Everyone loves the video. Everyone loves Morten.

Put simply - this is one of the greatest songs ever made. I had typed out "pop songs ever made" but I'm getting rather fed up of pop songs having praised heaped upon them, only to have that praise qualified by adding the word "pop". When people say "That's a good pop song" what they really mean is "That's a good song - for a pop song".

On a less fun, muso-nerdy note - there's Wagnerian structure to Take On Me. Something they injected into most of their magnificent songs and used most obviously on the follow up The Sun Always Shines on TV and Stay on These Roads.
Start small with the beat, bring in some keyboard flourishes. Followed that with drama-hyping bass synth before the unleashing the glorious, energetic, dizzying synth riff. *Remember to include Flight of the Bumble Be.

The extended version is a phenomenal "director's cut" take and is almost too much to cope with.

Their influence is everywhere - The Weeknd, Keane, Coldplay, Take That have all stolen their tricks. Best boy band ever.

Ninth best selling song of the year.

Posted by: fchd 1st November 2020, 12:06 PM

You can't just say "Everyone loves the video" and then not include the proper version!

Posted by: King Rollo 1st November 2020, 01:50 PM

Out of those 10, I would also put Take On Me in first place with 19 second and A Good Heart in third place.

Posted by: Steve201 1st November 2020, 01:51 PM

Yeh fantastic song and one of the moments of TOTP in 1985!

Posted by: dandy* 1st November 2020, 03:09 PM

Take On Me is the right winner for me too, a total classic. It's one of those songs that just never fails to make me smile, so infectious and joyous.

Posted by: Colm 1st November 2020, 03:25 PM

1986 is utter tripe. So much MOR eugh....we're talking 1st place getting a 6.5

Posted by: JackJones 1st November 2020, 03:32 PM

I would rank In To The Groove no 1 and Take On Me a close second. Both the best 80s made (with Sam Fox, Modern Talking, and Sandra). 1986, Rock Me Amadeus is brilliant but that missed year end top 10 so Lady In Red tops it for me with Madonna/Berlin/Sinitta/Billy all providing good songs.

Posted by: Sixth Sense 1st November 2020, 03:37 PM

Yes it's far better than their No.1 single and is their signature tune really

Posted by: Sixth Sense 1st November 2020, 03:38 PM

Nah, Joshua Tree period for me.

Posted by: Jade 1st November 2020, 03:51 PM

Excellent choice of #1! It really does personify euphoria. I like to pretend the A1 version doesn't exist though

Posted by: Colm 1st November 2020, 03:53 PM

90s U2 was actually interesting. They showed a hunger for new sounds and new ways of writing songs.

Posted by: Colm 1st November 2020, 03:54 PM

I disagree. I prefer TSASOTV which is also 10/10, obviously.

Posted by: dandy* 1st November 2020, 04:31 PM

I love The Sun Always Shines On TV too, both are indeed 10/10 tracks.

Posted by: Steve201 1st November 2020, 05:19 PM

Yip the good and creative 80s years ended with 84/85 - I do like some of the cheese in 1986-90 but other than house there wasn’t much that changed.

Posted by: Sixth Sense 1st November 2020, 05:42 PM

Best thing about 1986 was Madonna's best-selling studio album, True Blue.

Posted by: Sixth Sense 1st November 2020, 05:44 PM

The original is a million times better.

Posted by: Sixth Sense 1st November 2020, 05:48 PM

Into The Groove is my second favourite Madonna song after Like A Virgin. It was hurriedly added to the LAV album but isn't on the re-mastered re-issue.

Til Death Us Do Part is great. I love Oh Father too and Dear Jessie is great and like a cute little nursery rhyme.

Posted by: Doctor Blind 1st November 2020, 09:44 PM

“Take On Me” is pop perfection, never fails to light up a dancefloor at weddings, and “The Sun Always Shines On TV” is excellent too. Let's forget that the boyband named after a road version ever existed (and outcharted the original).

I'll shoehorn in my annecdote about thinking The Sun Always Shines On TV was about the sun shining through the window onto the TV and making it impossible to see when you get a low sun angle.

Posted by: Colm 2nd November 2020, 08:17 AM

Posted by: Bjork 2nd November 2020, 02:05 PM

for me it would have been #1 Madonna- Into the Groove #2 Aha- Take on Me
Into the Groove is probably my #1 song of the 80s, an 11/10 of a song, I can even play it on ukulele

Posted by: Bjork 2nd November 2020, 02:31 PM

regarding A-ha I much prefer Take on Me to The Sun Always Shine... the latter is not one of my fav singles from them... I actually prefer Hunting High And Low from the early singles, and in general I prefer their slower ballads... my fav A-ha songs were a couple singles in the mid 00s, Forever Not Yours and Lifelines, which flopped and did nothing in the UK... I also liked their cover of Crying in the Rain... great band overall

Posted by: Colm 2nd November 2020, 08:03 PM

Lifelines is amazing.

Posted by: dandy* 2nd November 2020, 08:11 PM

Major Earth, Minor Sky is a pretty good album as well from their 00s period. I'd say it's up there with their very best in terms of a complete package of work.

Posted by: Colm 2nd November 2020, 10:55 PM

I really must include Lifelines in my review of my Songs of the 00s list. Things have changed in the decade since I last compiled it

Posted by: Colm 4th November 2020, 04:29 PM

1986

10th place - Boris Gardiner 'I Want To Wake Up With You

4.0




My thoughts on reggae are well known and this is no different. Dreary and limp. I'm totally baffled as to how this was the 3rd best selling single of the year. The mid-80s seemed to be a period of unremarkable songs outselling anything interesting at all.

The two that outsold it do not cover themselves in glory either. Not a good year for number 1s.

Posted by: dandy* 4th November 2020, 04:36 PM

I have a soft spot for the biggest selling single of the year but I'd agree the #1s in general weren't great. A-ha, Pet Shop Boys, Madonna (Papa) and Falco are my favourites.

Posted by: Colm 4th November 2020, 04:42 PM

1986

9th place - Nick Berry - Every Loser Wins

4.1




Not really any more interesting, perhaps just not as annoying is this damp squib which was promoted in an East Enders story-line. For some reason the single entered at number 64 but jumped to number 4 the following week. Maybe there was a distribution problem or the public didn't know it was available to buy during the first week. Does anyone remember why that unprecedented climb happened?

Second best seller of the year.

Posted by: Colm 4th November 2020, 04:43 PM

They really do outshine everything else.

Posted by: Doctor Blind 4th November 2020, 04:55 PM

Oh god Nick Berry, absolutely abysmal.

Surprised that you gave it a 4.1, I'd struggle to give it 1.

Posted by: Steve201 4th November 2020, 04:57 PM

Yeh Boris Gardiner likely some so well as it appealed to a larger demographic - I’d call it simply pop rather than raggae, seems like a late 70s no1 by a faceless country singer than something from 1986!

Posted by: Colm 4th November 2020, 05:00 PM

1986

8th place - The Communards - Don't Leave Me This Way

4.8




I'd never really formed an opinion on this - I just assumed I'd like it if I gave it more attention. During this re-listening I did just that. For a few days this really was in 10th place. The chorus is ear ache. The verses are fine and Jimmy is great, naturally.

He got around a lot, back in the mid 80s and must have had a huge following for this to come out on top in 1986. There was a lot of moving around of synth pop band members.
There are better version of this song available. The Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes version is preferable. Even the Thelma Houston version is better.

I'm sure that some of you will be horrified at what I have placed higher in this top 10.

Posted by: Colm 4th November 2020, 05:01 PM

I get a reggae feel off the guitar. It could almost be a Culture Club song, if you squint your ears.

Posted by: Colm 4th November 2020, 05:03 PM

4.0 is for the dreary songs. Anything below that I actively disapprove of. Every Loser Wins is smidgen above dreary.

Posted by: Bjork 4th November 2020, 05:09 PM

that Nick Berry song was really bad, a 0/10 for me you're far too generous giving it a 4 at least the album bombed, I remember reading a while a go that
his debut album peaked at #99 sorry not sorry

not a fan of reggae and that Boris song could be another UB40 one

I didn't mind the Communards cover, decent song, their later covers were much worse

Posted by: Colm 4th November 2020, 05:12 PM

1986

7th place - Chris De Burgh - Lady in Red

5.0



I'm pretty sure that this is among the worst things ever to be committed to tape for some people.

- ok, I just checked and surveys done by Dotmusic, Rolling Stone, Gigwise, The Observer and Channel 4 all deem it to be one of the worst songs ever.

Little old me prefers it to Don't Leave Me This Way
Then again, I love Nicki B's Startship. ( ) so what do I know?

Sixth best selling single of 1986.

Posted by: Colm 4th November 2020, 05:13 PM

The title makes no sense either.

Posted by: Colm 4th November 2020, 05:16 PM

1986

6th place - Billy Ocean - When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going

5.1



What a tedious year 1986 was.

I find if I open this on 3 different youtube tabs and started playing them all a few seconds apart the intro is weirdly hypnotic. Then I realise what I am doing and start to question my life choices.

Seventh best selling single of 1986.

Posted by: Colm 4th November 2020, 05:26 PM

1986

5th place - Sinitta - So Macho

5.6



Where in Sinitta promotes toxic masculinity by singing over the offcuts of You Spin Me Right Round (Like a Record).

Tenth best selling single of 1986.

Posted by: Colm 4th November 2020, 05:30 PM

1986

4th place - Diana Ross - Chain Reaction

6.4



This is so conflicting. I mean, it's got the Beegees doing backing vocals which is always a plus. And Diana does have an effortless voice but I think Steps have tarnished this forever.

Fifth best selling single of 1986.

Posted by: Colm 4th November 2020, 05:44 PM

1986

3th place - Berlin - Take My Breath Away

6.7



I always think I'm going to enjoy this more than I end up doing. The intro leads me into thinking that it's no so bad but there's something off-putting about the chorus and there's quite a weird key change after the third chorus.

Ninth best selling single of 1986.

Posted by: Colm 4th November 2020, 05:45 PM

1986

2nd place - Cliff Richard & The Young Ones - Living Doll

6.9



This makes me smile. I can just about tolerate Cliff's bits for Rick's genius. I suppose I should be grateful that it's not worse, considering that it's for charity.

Fourth best selling single of the year.

Altogether now "...Fies my soul"

Posted by: Colm 4th November 2020, 05:51 PM

1986

1st place - Madonna - Papa Don't Preach

7.5



And that leaves us with Papa Don't Preach. It's quite good and the pre-chorus is great. And a big plus for the message behind the song.
Gaga stole the dancing as well as some of the tune.

Eight best selling single of 1986.

Posted by: Colm 4th November 2020, 05:57 PM

Lordy - 1987 is big step up from that ordeal.

Posted by: Bjork 4th November 2020, 06:50 PM

Ouch, lots of meh songs only saved by Madonna and Berlin
Madonna is the best by millions, still love the song, genious lyrics and amazing melody

Always loved Take my Breathe Away too, even bought the album as a kid back in the day

Posted by: Colm 4th November 2020, 07:01 PM

I thought I liked it more. I feel I was too generous to some of the songs lower down. Oh well.

Posted by: King Rollo 4th November 2020, 09:09 PM

Not a great year for best sellers. I'd put Chain Reaction in first place followed by Take My Breath Away and The Lady In Red.

Posted by: Gezza 4th November 2020, 09:13 PM

it was performed by "Wicksy" on "Eastenders".

Posted by: Doctor Blind 5th November 2020, 06:19 AM

So true!
The pop music of 1999-2001 is (in general ) universally terrible.

Posted by: Colm 5th November 2020, 03:11 PM

In 1987 I became interested in music. The first ever song that caught my attention is in this top 10.

We could be looking at two 10s

Posted by: Colm 5th November 2020, 04:14 PM

I rather like all ten songs - even the novelty one.

Posted by: dandy* 5th November 2020, 04:53 PM

Just checked what they are and I quite like them all too - although I wouldn't choose to listen to the novelty one.

Posted by: Popchartfreak 5th November 2020, 05:27 PM

Me, too.

behind them, Madonna. Madonna was HOOOOOOGE in 1985 as became the first solo female pop superstar in the sense of a female in control of every aspect of her career, based in dance music, and set the tone for all future pop music where men weren't pulling the strings. Girls had never become obsessed by female pop stars before, they went almost exclusively for male pop stars or dance tracks with female vocals. Culture change moment. And she got better as she went on.

The Abba boys track, shame it wasn't Abba, I would have loved it more than I do.

Then the rest, all quite good, but agree Bowie/Jagger last - were it not for Frankie, an annoying huge diversion from Sister Sledge's epic early stuff....

Posted by: Popchartfreak 5th November 2020, 05:47 PM

1986 had some classic chart=toppers: A-ha and Pet Shop Boys 2 of the greatest records ever. Sadly, we had absolute drivel as well. Spitting Image not funny, not clever, and even more annoying than the records it was trying to parody. Just awful.

In the top 10, Nick Berry was absolute tripe, last place by a country mile. Sinitta was just terrible, hear it more than 6 times in 2 weeks and you want to pull your ears off. Then Lady In Red, no 80's wedding complete without it, those always the bridesmaid can only hate it! Dirge. Living Doll was great, because of the Young Ones taking the piss and Cliff going along with it - but musically, errr, hmmm, it's not even amongst Cliff's Best 100 tracks (and he had some fantastic tracks before and after this one).

Then moving into the "OK" category, Boris Gardiner is pleasant, and he'd waited 16 years for a follow-up to his version of the fab Elizabathan Serenade, so I dont begrudge him anything. Billy Ocean, another 70's legend, I was a fan of his records when he was known as Scorched Earth in 1974 (On The Run) - this wasn't anywhere near his best 70's stuff, or even his Caribbean Queen & Loverboy, but at least it wasn't Suddenly that topped!

Then the good stuff, The Bee Gees - sorry I mean Diana Ross! Great to see her get a biggie 15 years on from her last chart-topper. Madonna & Berlin are both great chart-toppers and tracks. Love 'em both. Berlin has the edge I think. Or was that U2?

Posted by: Colm 5th November 2020, 06:02 PM

Hey ...no reading ahead

Posted by: Bjork 6th November 2020, 08:56 AM

Lots of great #1s in 87 especially T'Pau, PSB, Mel & Kim, also partial to La Isla Bonita but guess it didn't do enough to be top 10 of the year

Posted by: Colm 8th November 2020, 02:35 PM

1987

10th place - Ben E King - Stand By Me

6.0



This is one of those songs that sounds like it existed even before it existed. Almost as if mankind had no choice but to produce this song at some point in its evolution. It was always on the cards - a necessary song. Amazingly, it was originally rejected by King's band so he kept it for himself and released it when he went solo.

Not only has it become his signature song, it also became a standard, being covered over 100 times by notable artists. The song was a minor hit when it was released in 1961.

During the late 80s and early 90s Levi's jeans developed a television advertisement campaign of using classic songs as the sound track to brief retro vignettes usually featuring good looking men in white underwear taking off or putting on the jeans in the presence of admiring women and disapproving men. The ads became so talked about that record companies spotted an opportunity for some re-release revenue.

Stand By Me was the fourth in the advertisement series and the third/fourth to be re-released as a single. Another song from the series - Percy Sledge's When a Man Loves a Woman - was released the same day, going on to climb the chart and sit at number 2 behind King's hit for two weeks.

Stand By Me had one of the biggest jumps to number 1 in chart history, leaping from 19 to 1 in February 1987.

It's a fine song but not one I would be in a hurry to listen to. That's going to be the case for most of these 1987 songs.

Seventh best selling single of the year

Posted by: Sixth Sense 8th November 2020, 02:42 PM

Actually prefer the John Lennon version of Stand By Me.

Posted by: Sixth Sense 8th November 2020, 02:42 PM

Actually prefer the John Lennon version of Stand By Me.

Posted by: Bjork 8th November 2020, 03:49 PM

agree this sounds very very dated, still a good song

Posted by: Colm 8th November 2020, 04:22 PM

Dated?

Posted by: Popchartfreak 9th November 2020, 10:25 AM

I love both versions of Stand By Me, both topped my charts - Lennon in 1975 and Ben in 1987, and although John's is my "original version" (the one I really knew well first) these days I love Ben's even more.

Posted by: fchd 9th November 2020, 05:47 PM

The Berlin "Count Three & Play" album was very good, "Take My Breath Away" was probably the lowlight of the whole record. "Like Flames" was the best track.

Posted by: Colm 10th November 2020, 08:56 AM

1987

9th place - Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up

6.3




The star here is Rick's voice - which at the time many assumed was the voice of a black man. Not far behind is the housey bassline stolen/borrowed from Colonel Abrams 1985 hit Trapped. The backing music is fairly standard Stock, Aitken and Waterman fare, in comparison to their previous number 1 single Mel and Kim's Respectable - more on that later.

Never Gonna Give You was a worldwide phenomenon long before it became a worldwide meme - hitting number 1 in 25 countries. An astonishing feat for the debut single of a chronically shy 22 year old British singer. Even more impressive is that one of those countries was the USA where it became the 4th best seller on 1988.

It wasn't actually his debut single. A duet with Lisa Carter, When You Gonna, credited to Rick and Lisa, came out earlier in 1987 and was a hit in Belgium and the Netherlands.

I was never a big fan of this song. It was sorta just there. My favourite SAW-period Rick song is Take Me To Your Heart - which also featured a borrowed house base line - this time from Inner City's Big Fun.

Best selling single of 1987.

Posted by: Colm 10th November 2020, 10:34 AM

1987

8th place - The Firm - Star Trekkin'

6.8



I do like the progression in this - the ever increasing tempo, the gathering derangement of the vocalists, the vocoder interludes.
The chorus is probably the weak point.

Another song that jumped to number 1 from outside the Top 10. They didn't have a video for the song until a few hours before it was due to be broadcast on Top of the Pops, at number 1. It was done by a group of art school graduates who had less than a week to come up with something.

Ninth best seller of the year.

Posted by: Bjork 10th November 2020, 12:10 PM

I didn't mind Never Gonna Give You Up, his singles were all pretty decent

Posted by: Colm 10th November 2020, 12:22 PM

Yep - his singles were all decent but hardly any of them were remarkable.

Posted by: Colm 10th November 2020, 05:25 PM

1987

7th place - Starship - Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now

6.9


I'm quite sure opinions vary on this slice of mid-80s FM rock. It's probably a slight overstatement to call it a power ballad - there's not enough anguish in it for a start.

It came straight off the production line of mid-80s hit machines Albert Hammond and Diane Warren and dusted with sparkling production care of Narada Michael Walden - who will be mentioned again later in this thread. All in aid of providing the soundtrack to 1987 romantic comedy Mannequin.

What may not be apparent to some people is, while there were no million sellers between 1985 and 1991, there were still huge runaway hits. This did over 740,000 and Never Gonna Give You Up did over 810,000. Massive sales in late '80s terms.

One thing I notice is that the follow up - It's Not Over ('Til It's Over) barely charted at all - peaking at number 86. Does anyone know if that was a full UK release?

Second best seller of the year.

Posted by: Jester 10th November 2020, 05:37 PM

Adore Nothings Gonna Stop Us Now, probably my fave of the year!

Posted by: Bjork 10th November 2020, 06:07 PM

I quite liked the Starship song back in the day, haven't heard it in ages

Posted by: fchd 10th November 2020, 09:24 PM

Starship only 0.1 higher than The Firm? Scandalous!

Posted by: Colm 10th November 2020, 11:40 PM

But you're ok with Stand By Me being 0.8 lower than Star Treckin'?

Posted by: Colm 11th November 2020, 07:23 PM

1987

6th place - M|A|R|R|S - Pump Up the Volume

7.2



There had been sample-based number 1s before Pump Up The Volume; Steve "Silk" Hurley's Jack Your Body had been at the top of the charts earlier in 1987 and we've already had Paul Hardcastle's 19 featured in this thread, which also hit the top. The difference with Pump Up The Volume was that it was the first to contain over a dozen samples from a variety of sources. Wikipedia lists 26 of them on the 12" version and 21 on the 7".

Hip-Hop was going mainstream in 1987 and a prominent feature of hip-hop was its mélange of sampled beats, breaks, vocals and riffs. The purpose of Pump Up the Volume was to emulate that mix of sounds and add a house beat. Indeed, several hip-hop songs were sampled for Pump Up The Volume - Eric B. & Rakim, Public Enemy, Afrika Bambaataa and Run DMC all had their work pilfered, along with the most sampled man in the history of music - James Brown.

Pump Up the Volume was a one off project of musicians on the 4AD record label, A.R. Kane and Colourbox, with contributions from DJs Chris Mackintosh and Dave Dorrell. It hit number 1 in five countries and went top 10 in a further eleven. Unusually, for a hugely successful record there was no pressure from the record company for a follow up, making it a one hit wonder.

While it was by no means the first track created in this fashion, its success ushered a new period in dance music. Its influence is hard to overstate. By the time we got to 1988, songs consisting of collages of samples were common place in the Top 40 enabling dance music and acid house to explode into the mainstream.

At the time, I didn't really like it and it was slow to grow on me in the intervening years but listening to it now is a revelation. Just knowing the context of its release and what it must have meant for dance music is easy to appreciate, even now.

Tenth best seller of the year.

Posted by: Bjork 12th November 2020, 06:37 AM

^I'm the same, I like it now but don't think I appreciated it back in the day, guess it's not really music for kids

love the samples, some are genius, especially Ofra Haza

Posted by: dandy* 12th November 2020, 12:00 PM

Me too. When I first heard it I just thought it was pretty boring and glossed over it, it definitely has improved with age. I'd say your score is about right for it Colm.

Posted by: Colm 12th November 2020, 02:01 PM

Certainly not as hooky as Beat Dis or Doctorin' the House,

Posted by: Colm 12th November 2020, 02:59 PM

1987

5th place - T'Pau - China In Your Hand

7.4



T'Pau brought something slightly different to the power-ballad table. An intriguing, lush layer of counterpoint vocals here. A dash of Celtic instrumentation there.

They'd released their debut single, Heart and Soul in early 1987, which flopped, totally. All was not lost, though. The song was picked up by Pepe Jeans in the US for their ad campaign which ran in the Summer of that year. It became a top 5 hit there, when released as a single. This prompted a re-release in the UK where it matched its number 4 position that it achieved across the Atlantic. Debut album, Bridge of Spies was ready in September to take advantage of this success and was a modest hit, hanging around the lower half of the top 40 for a number of weeks.

The follow up to Heart and Soul was an easy decision. The band chose to release China in Your Hand, the stand-out track on their album, but not before it was re-arranged and re-recorded for an October release. It wasted very little time racing to number 1, where it lodged for 5 weeks, matching Rick Astley's stint at the top of the chart a few months earlier - the longest of 1987.

Singer, Carol Decker was none-too-shy about self promotion and a year later claimed that Enya had ripped off China in Your Hand for her number 1 hit, Orinoco Flow. While there's only a passing similarity in the re-recorded version, the album version does bear more resemblance.

I love this song. This was my first year of being a chart watcher and I was thrilled when this showed no signs of dropping from number 1 for weeks.

Fifth best seller of the year.

Posted by: Colm 12th November 2020, 02:59 PM

1987 is such a strong year for big sellers.

Posted by: dandy* 12th November 2020, 04:49 PM

Oh I do like China In Your Hand. As you say, it brings something different to all the power ballads that had gone before it. I love the background instrumentation - that I'm only just hearing Orinoco Flow in for the first time - and of course a sax solo is always welcome!

Posted by: Jester 12th November 2020, 05:32 PM

Love China In Your Hand - such a late 80s classic.

Posted by: Colm 12th November 2020, 05:58 PM

Did you try the album version, Dandy? That's where Orinoco Flow is most obvious.

I image that sax solo was detested by all the cool kids who were into The Smiths and The Cure back then. 😃

Posted by: fchd 12th November 2020, 06:31 PM

"China In Your Hand" was recognised at the time as the 600th UK Number One.

It is in my Top 50 of all time.

Posted by: Bjork 12th November 2020, 06:49 PM

I love love love China in Your Hand, song of the year for me, an 11/10, everything is amazing about the song
and the lyrics are the most bizarre thing ever being about Mary Shelley and Frankestein, not your standard love song lyrics

Posted by: fchd 12th November 2020, 07:02 PM

"Pump Up The Volume" was technically a double A-side with "Anitina (The First Time I See She Dance)".

I suspect not many sales were for the latter.

Posted by: Colm 12th November 2020, 07:03 PM

The lyrics are quite original without being pretentious.

Posted by: Bjork 12th November 2020, 07:08 PM

so did they ever sue Enya?

Posted by: Popchartfreak 13th November 2020, 10:19 AM

Star Trekkin'! First off, it was amusing for the first week, then it became downright annoying and still is, albeit good-humoured...

Starship, I liked at the time - certainly a step up on We Built This City - and was happy to see them getting a chart-topper after such a long wait since Jefferson Airplane days, but it's not their best record (That's Jane, or Grace Slick's Dreams), nor is it the best Albert Hammond song, nor Diane Warren song.

Rick is a classic pop track, it's overplayed now but it was ignored for 20 years till it found a new younger audience, and it's his best 80's track by some distance.

China In Your Hand is a goodie, but I still much-prefer Heart & Soul. Carol Decker can still belt 'em out, caught her the other year, if you get a chance to see her in concert, worth it!

Stand By Me slots in here for me, so far.

Top one to date is MARRS, as I was grown-up at the time I found it incredibly exciting and inventive, and was clearly ground-breaking for dance music. Still love it. I also loved that it was a marmite record, so many of my generation and older hated it, totally missing the point that it had multiple sampled hooks and played loud it was just fab. People who don't like dance music amusingly don't get that it's supposed to make you want to dance. This makes me want to dance.

Posted by: Steve201 21st November 2020, 03:07 AM

Think 'China In Your Hand' was like a two finger to the new house dance that was set to take over the charts and was already on the horizon, it was more like a song from the previous decade.

Posted by: Colm 24th November 2020, 07:27 PM

1987

4th place - Mel & Kim - Respectable

7.6




Stock, Aitken and Waterman have often been accused of producing identikit music using a watered down, uninspiring formula. They did make an effort now and again, and they certainly did that with Respectable.
It's devoid of any of the trudging elements that would later bog down the music of Sonia, Big Fun and a handful of Kylie, Jason and Rick moments.

It was their second production to hit number 1 following You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) in 1985. While it doesn't quit hit the heights of that song, it has nothing that would indicate the depths to which they would sink.

It helped that, in Mel & Kim, they had a duo with a certain, je ne sais quoi to hand the goods over to - The Reynold Girls could neva.
Of course, none of the tricks were invented by SAW. But they weren't in the business of invention - just hoping to make successful pop music. And some of that also managed to be great - Respectable is a fine example of that.

The hook vocal in the intro and the piano break do it for me every time.

It finished the year as the 6th best seller.

Posted by: Bjork 24th November 2020, 09:40 PM

loved Respectable, it's a great pop song, think SAW were still ok in early 87 but quality went downhill pretty quick

Posted by: Steve201 24th November 2020, 10:10 PM

Think slot of the time it depended on the artist as well.

Love ‘Respectable’ such a great beat and production! Also sad to think what was to come now looking back

Posted by: Colm 28th November 2020, 08:17 AM

1987

3rd place - Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)

8.2



This is 80s pop music at its most bright, effervescent and exciting. Produced by Michael Walden, who also did Starship's Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now, I Wanna Dance With Somebody is a showcase of the very best sounds that you could pile on to a mass-appeal pop song in the late 80s.
The intro alone needs to have its own "for 10 hours" version on YouTube. Then we're hit with the one-two punch of that first "wooooo" and a synth blast that remains as head-rush-inducing as it did 33 years ago.

From there Whitney treats us to one the most perfect pop vocals ever. After a few verse/chorus sections and a key change, the song dives into a break down of sorts and then heads in the direction of increasingly addictive hooks, all leading inexorably towards that 'don't you wanna dance, say you wanna dance' climax. Utterly joyful.

In a year dominated by icons of American pop music, Michael Jackson and Madonna, Whitney holds her own with ease.


Finished as 3rd best seller of the year.

Posted by: Colm 28th November 2020, 09:17 AM

1987

2nd place - Bee Gees - You Win Again

10.0



After a six year break for solo projects and writing great songs for other people, the Bee Gees returned in 1987 with You Win Again. And what a song it is.

There's nothing about this song that isn't exceptional. As if it needs saying, the vocals are excellent. The backing vocals are preternaturally rendered in a way that only gifted musicians like these siblings can achieve - airy and reverb-laden.

That would be impressive enough even if the melody was merely good - but here the melody could not be more perfect. The uplift of the chorus defies description. It's made all the more enchanting that the words that they sing sound very little like the ones that were published. I swear that they're singing about Halloween, at one point.

So far, I've failed to mention the impact of that introduction - apparently, mostly constructed from clattering and bashing objects together, recorded by Maurice in his garage. They had to fight the record company to keep them so prominent.

The entire thing has the subtle magnificence and lightness of touch of an Electric Light Orchestra classic - the brass and strings, the sparkling keyboards.

I've listened to it on a loop about 10 times this morning and I could do another 10 more with pleasure. One of the most underrated songs by anyone, ever.

Fourth best seller of the year.

Posted by: Steve201 28th November 2020, 10:33 AM

You Win Again 😍 pure genius and I always felt this sat out for being released quite late in their career!

Posted by: Colm 28th November 2020, 12:15 PM

For Whom the Bell Tolls is also a late career highlight.

Posted by: Bjork 28th November 2020, 03:35 PM

loved the Whitney song but probably prefer Respectable in term of pure pop songs

not a fan of Bee Gees and You win again was too AOR for me

Posted by: Colm 28th November 2020, 04:18 PM

what does that mean?

Posted by: Steve201 28th November 2020, 11:40 PM

Great track also!

Posted by: Popchartfreak 29th November 2020, 09:56 AM

Mel & Kim was SAW at their near-best, great pop music. Whitney, I agree about the intro, but I'm so sick of hearing this track I turn it off if it comes on the radio. I liked it off the bat, then I got bored with it more quickly than I do with longlasting faves, now it's just a bit too middle of the road for me with nothing to hook onto. The Bee Gees, OTOH, is genius. 20 years into an ever-changing pop career and they do an about turn into Depeche Mode. No exaggeration, Maurice was experimenting with an industrial sound and beat along the lines of Depeche, but with the Gibbs talent for melody and harmony grafted on top, and it totally worked. Best track on the list, and one of their many many brilliant records.

Posted by: gooddelta 29th November 2020, 10:07 AM

I regularly listen to You Win Again, it really is one of their best ever songs, and doesn’t get enough attention these days. That baseline/heavy percussion is genius and the melody is wonderful, as is the instrumental key change transition.

Posted by: dandy* 29th November 2020, 10:46 AM

You Win Again is indeed great, agree with the consensus that the intro is particularly good - my favourite of their singles by far as I’m not usually a huge fan.

Posted by: Jester 29th November 2020, 11:01 AM

Yeah, You Win Again is fantastic.

Posted by: Colm 29th November 2020, 01:40 PM

1987

1st place - Pet Shop Boys - It's A Sin

10.0



And speaking of intros that have IMPAKT.

This isn't the first song I ever liked. But it is the first song I ever loved. It's hard to think back to what made this so compelling to an 11 year old Irish boy in 1987. I'm sure it wasn't the intro - it's rarely the intro of a song that gets my attention, although it can obviously be a part that gets appreciated in retrospect. Perhaps, it was the catholic guilt that bleeds out of every word of it.

I don't need to tell anyone that this is one of the most over the top, magnificent (I do use that word a lot) and downright pervasive pop songs ever released. Neil wanted to write a dance song that had huge religious overtones, so Chris and Julian Mendelsohn (who produced the track) set about doing that by adding just about any element that pushed it further over the top - the 4 tectonic blasts at the start, copious thunder claps, ominous choral passages, organs, rippling arpeggiated synths, vocoders, the "T-15 seconds and counting" sample pitch bent so it ground to a halt, the Confiteor, that humongous descending drum fill sounds like it was ripped from In the Air Tonight. Some of these were recorded in Westminster Cathedral for added incense-infused ambience.

They got into a spot of bother with accusations of plagiarism by Johnathan King when he pointed out that the chords sounded remarkably like those of Cat Stephens' Wild World. King recorded a version of Wild World in a PSB-style which can be found at your local YouTube. The boys defended themselves by bringing proceedings against King. They won and donated the money to charity.


If you do one thing today, let it be this....
Get out your best headphones (and it should really headphones and not earphones). Click on the 12" video that I posted in this post. Turn it up loud and try not to be speechless for too long afterwards.

The best bit is the first 7 minutes and 46 seconds.

Eighth best seller of the year.

Posted by: Colm 29th November 2020, 02:45 PM

1988 oh dear

Posted by: Steve201 29th November 2020, 03:17 PM

‘It’s a Sin’ is PSBs at their best

Posted by: King Rollo 29th November 2020, 03:27 PM

It's A Sin is definitely the best song out of those ten. I would put China In Your Hand in 2nd place with You Win Again 3rd just ahead of Pump Up The Volume.

Posted by: dandy* 29th November 2020, 04:09 PM

It's a Sin

I can't quite remember it from the time but it must have sounded so utterly unique at the time - and still does now to be fair. It's just so wonderfully OTT in the best possible way as everything about it from the lyrics to the synths are all just so maximalist. A truly amazing single.

Posted by: Jester 29th November 2020, 04:40 PM

Tune! Great top 3 choices.

Posted by: Bjork 29th November 2020, 05:17 PM

for me it would be:
1 China in Your Hand, by miles and miles and miles
2 Respectable
3 I Wanna Dance

I like It's a Sin but don't love it, much prefer other PSB songs...

Posted by: Colm 29th November 2020, 05:53 PM

Ah but did you listen to.the 12'" with good headphones. 1:41 onwards blows my mind.

Posted by: Sixth Sense 29th November 2020, 07:27 PM

Adult orientated rock.

Posted by: Colm 29th November 2020, 07:54 PM

Oh..it was ACR when I read it.

Posted by: Colm 29th November 2020, 09:09 PM

I've always thought The Sun Always Shines on TV has similar sounds.

Posted by: Bjork 30th November 2020, 06:49 AM

sorry, always thinking of the accelerated ratio ACR these days

87 is probably my fav 80s year in terms of #1s, don't think 88 is gonna be that great but not sure what made the top 10 other than Kylie

Posted by: Colm 30th November 2020, 09:07 AM

Looking at the list for 88 - it looks poor.

But the I listened and it wasn't so bad. Still not great.

Posted by: Steve201 30th November 2020, 11:29 AM

Can’t remember much but can’t imagine it’s that good - early house and SAW!

Posted by: Bjork 30th November 2020, 01:05 PM

I think it was only Kylie from SAW doing well in 88
when I think 88 I think cheesy ballads like Glenn Medeiros etc and covers like Phil Collins and Wet Wet Wet
there were some great pop singles that I hope made the top 10 but probably missed
like Belinda Carlisle, Fairground Attraction, Push It

Posted by: Steve201 30th November 2020, 03:26 PM

Hey leave Glenn alone, great track!!

Always feels like the last real year of the 80s, even watching the old TOTP episodes as the old main stage changed for the first tome since 1980!

Posted by: Colm 6th December 2020, 07:25 PM

1988 is a struggle. None of them are truly awful so it will come down to taste and others will no doubt disagree with my ranking.

In other exciting news, the top 2 switched places today, during the latest replay.

Posted by: Colm 6th December 2020, 08:08 PM

1988

10th place - The Hollies - He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother

4.3



For the second year running an advert-related re-release starts us off in 10th place. This time it was larger brand Miller Lite that prompted the re-issue.

I kinda feel like I'm disrespecting the Hollies by putting this at the bottom of the list. Perhaps with a different vocalist it may not grate as much. They spent years 1963 to 1967 as one of the most consistent chart acts hitting the top 10 eleven times out of 12 releases. Only the Stones, Beatles, Cliff and Elvis could match them.

The song was a cover and the puzzling title had been a phrased first uttered in 1924 when a someone related the story of a young Scottish girl who looked like she was struggling to carry her younger, unwell brother. She was said to have replied that he wasn't heavy because he was her brother, implying that the burden of carrying him was no burden because she loved him. And that's rather beautiful.

It was last in the chart when The Justice Collective took it to the Christmas number 1 position in 2012.


Eighth best selling single of the year.

Posted by: Colm 6th December 2020, 08:28 PM

1988

9th place - Wet Wet Wet - With A Little Help From My Friends

4.8



And here we have another cover (there's 4 more to come).

I can't say I really like very many Beatles song. Most of them are rather pleasant and this one of them. To his credit, Marty doesn't blot his copybook with a decent vocal. The Wets were a wise choice for this Childline charity single being one the few bands with a charismatic/showbiz-grinning front man that year that had any commercial appeal. I can't image Bros or Climie Fisher being asked.

It was a double A-side coupled with a cover of Sgt. Pepper album track She's Leaving Home by the slightly less picturesque Billy Bragg, accompanied by Cara Tivey providing chorus vocals and piano. It's beautiful.


Ninth best selling single of the year.

Posted by: Colm 6th December 2020, 08:35 PM

1988

8th place - Cliff Richard - Mistletoe and Wine

5.4



I figured that this would be an automatic 10th place finisher, due to the fact that it's Cliff and that it was a Christmas song but it skips up to 8th place based purely on nostalgic feels. It's certainly better than Saviour's Day and Millennium Prayer.

Bells + Choirboy = Crimbo magic.

Best seller of the year.

Posted by: Colm 6th December 2020, 08:48 PM

1988

7th place - Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan

5.7




Rumour has it that this wasn't Christmas number 1 in 1988 because there just weren't enough copies in the shops to challenge Cliff. It was sold out in many places, and that is borne out by the fact that demand didn't drop off until the end of January 1989.

It's a soppy pop ballad and I am very hard to please when it comes to soppy pop ballads. Hardly anyone can carry them off with enough star power to make it playable many years after initial release. An unpopular opinion, no doubt.

Fourth best seller of the year.

Posted by: Bjork 6th December 2020, 08:50 PM

ouch hated that Cliff song, a 0/10 for me... the Wet Wet Wet cover was kinda meh

disagree about the Hollies song, love it, would definitely place it much higher

Posted by: Colm 6th December 2020, 09:19 PM

1988

6th place - Glenn Medeiros - Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You

5.9




And another cover. This time a 3 year old George Benson single.

Scanning through the lyrics for this song, you'd be forgiven for thinking this was a Jason Donovan album track. It reeks of the SAW formula.

It's one of a handful of songs that leaped to number 1 from outside the Top 10. While reading up on this rather pedestrian singer I did not expect to read these words in this exact order "Glenn Medeiros Featuring Bobby Brown". It appears Glen had a new jack swing number 12 hit in 1990 with Mr Brown called She Ain't Worth It. I must have been asleep for a while that year.

He was rather easy on the eye in the video for that video.

The internet is trying to tell me that Glen looks like this now



Sixth best selling single of the year.

Posted by: Christmasteve201 6th December 2020, 10:07 PM

Really like the Glenn Mederios track. Also like Cliff and The Hollies but the charity release is awful. Was there not a
B-Side with Billy Bragg?

Posted by: Colm 6th December 2020, 10:08 PM

Yes. I mentioned that.

Posted by: dandy* 6th December 2020, 10:23 PM

I don’t really care for anything so far in 1988. Nothing is really diabolical but they’re all pretty much just kinda there for me.

Posted by: Colm 6th December 2020, 10:38 PM

I totally agree.

Posted by: Bjork 7th December 2020, 06:47 AM

the Glen Medeiros song was too sappy, as bad as Mistletoe and Wine

I liked the Kylie & Jason song as a kid, less so now

Posted by: Christmasteve201 7th December 2020, 10:45 PM

Why do we feel this was the case by 88?

Posted by: Popchartfreak 8th December 2020, 08:46 AM

It's A Sin is pop perfection and the best record of 1987 to top the charts. The only better track that year overall was...Pet Shop Boys What Have I Done. It's what the phrase OTT Epic Production was invented for. 1987 was their year, it wasn't even close.

1988...hmmm. Mixed. Glenn M was bland pop, She Ain't Worth It was much better. Mistletoe & Wine just so sick of it, though I liked it for a few weeks at the time. Especially For You was a terrific old-fashioned male-female duet with a great melody, still very fond of it. Check out awful cover versions to realise the charms of the original. Talking of awful cover versions, Wet Wet Wet. Worst track on the list, not helped by the Billy Bragg murdering of the exquisitely beautiful and heartbreaking She's Leaving Home. How to do a great cover version? Inject passion, see Joe Cocker version of With A Little Help. The Hollies is the best track on the list, 1969 or not. Timeless message, The Hollies knew how to do ballads and pop, both.

Posted by: Colm 8th December 2020, 12:24 PM

1988

5th place - Phil Collins - A Groovy Kind Of Love

6.4



Cover 4 of 6 - this time from Muzio Clementi - Sonata No. 5 - Rondo




Well, not exactly but that was the original source of the melody. The lyrics were written by Toni Wine and Caole Bayer Sagar for The Mindbenders in the 60s. Mr Collins suggested using it for his film Buster.

I'm quite sure that no two of us would have put these lower 6 songs in the same order. Phil comes out on top but definitely not for some of the laughably Des'ree/Enya style lyrics.

Exhibit A

Any time you want to
You can turn me on to
Anything you want to
Any time at all

I'd rather have a piece of toast.

I do like the pre-chorus a lot.

Seventh best seller of the year.

Posted by: Christmasteve201 9th December 2020, 12:45 AM

Always loved this song by Phil didn’t even know it was a cover!

Posted by: Colm 9th December 2020, 10:48 AM

Is there any one not quite sure what's left?

Posted by: Bjork 9th December 2020, 11:49 AM

I'm totally lost at what's left, I guess Kylie for sure... maybe even twice? Yazz maybe? Tiffany?
Bros? They had a bunch of hits but not sure if they sold that well...

Posted by: dandy* 9th December 2020, 12:56 PM

I have no idea what's left and I've decided not to look so it's a nice surprise - or a not nice surprise as the case may be!

Posted by: Colm 9th December 2020, 01:00 PM

1 Cliff
2 ***
3 ***
4 ***
5 Kylie and Jason
6 Glen
7 Phil
8 The Hollies
9 WWW
10 ***

Posted by: Colm 9th December 2020, 01:34 PM

1988

4th place - Kylie Minogue - I Should Be So Lucky

6.7



Ah, Kylie. Let us count the way we love thee.

Like Wannabe, I Should Be So Lucky was a watershed moment when many younger listeners fell in love with pop music. It ushered in a new era. An era of sustained commercial appeal. An era during which Kylie would spend more than six months in the top 2, over her first 18 months of chart action. (It took the Spice Girls 24 months to do the same).
Despite a rough patch in the late 90s, it was the start of a love affair that still hasn't ended.

According to Mike Stock they forgot that they had arranged a meeting with Kylie and had to write the song while she sat in the waiting room. She recorded it in less than an hour. So, in less than 2 hours this song went from not existing at all to being the iconic pop gem it is.

After Can't Get You Out of My Head, I Should Be So Lucky is her signature song.

It hasn't dated all that well, for me. The chorus grates a bit but the rests is fine, and a decent entry in the cannon of SAW.

Third best seller of the year.

Posted by: Bjork 9th December 2020, 01:48 PM

not the biggest fan of I Should be so lucky, a kinda silly song, and you can tell it was done in 2 hours, I always thought SAW gave pretty shitty material to Kylie, but it didn't matter cos the public was so into Kylie they'd buy anything... Average song at best.

Posted by: Popchartfreak 9th December 2020, 04:09 PM

ISBSL oddly sounds better when Kylie does it as a ballad, in concert, as it takes away the banality and gives the melody more of a chance. As a recording, it's not in the same league as even Especially For You, never mind He Ain't Heavy....! I liked it for a while, then got annoyed by it after overplay and I took some convincing that Kylie was anything other than a flash in the pan disposable pop star, especially after the god-awful cover of The Locomotion. It was Better The Devil You Know that started to change my opinion, and I think her first core long-term fans came along about that time.

Groovy Kind Of Love is a lovely version of a greater 60's pop biggie. Eric Stewart (& later Graham Gouldman) of 10CC was the core of the band at this time - see their I'm Not In Love as a future chart-topping song. Toni Wine was the female vocalist on The Archies' chart-topping Sugar Sugar, and Carole Bayer Sager was co-writer of the chart-topping When I Need You (for Leo Sayer) & US chart-toppers like Arthur's Theme & That's What Friends Are For, not to mention her own hit You're Moving Out Today hit & the Bond Theme Nobody Does It Better for Carly Simon. Just to say the record I adored when I was 8 years old had impeccable credentials....

Posted by: Christmasteve201 9th December 2020, 10:17 PM

I always find it hilarious when you remove the vocals from a SAW song and the general beat is the same for nearly them all and continuously rotates through the verses 😂

Posted by: Colm 10th December 2020, 11:53 AM

1988

3rd place - Tiffany - I Think We're Alone Now

7.0



Another cover - just one to go.

Written by Ritchie Cordell in the 60s and recoded by Tommy James and the Shondells.

Pipping I Should Be So Lucky to 3rd place is I Think We're Alone Now based on the sole factor of sounding like a subdued New Order backing track.
Some day I will get around to the much promised mash-up with Blue Monday.




Fourth best seller of the year.

Posted by: Bjork 10th December 2020, 12:35 PM

oh I really liked this back in the day, and I remember buying her album on vinyl as a kid
I was Debbie Gibson team but also liked Tiffany a tiny bit

Posted by: Colm 10th December 2020, 01:01 PM

I never understand pop rivalry from the fan's point of view. Even in quite a public rivalry between, say Blur and Oasis, why would I deprive myself of listening to one because I preferred the other.

Posted by: dandy* 10th December 2020, 01:22 PM

Oh now I really like that Tiffany track, it's easily my favourite song to feature so far. I agree with you that it probably has something to do with the New Order style backing but I do also think it's got a decent melody to it and it's sort of 80s cheese pop but in the best possible way.

Posted by: Colm 10th December 2020, 01:26 PM

It's just more distinctive that the other pop music that was around at the time. I didn't like it back then but now I really love it.

Posted by: Bjork 10th December 2020, 01:27 PM

A while ago I was in a band doing covers and we did Tifanny's I Think We're Alone Now and was a fun song to play on guitar and sing
not sure if I've ever heard the original though, probably not

I don't see anything New Order-esque about the song though I have to say

Posted by: Colm 10th December 2020, 01:30 PM

The beat and the hand-claps. The synth bass isn't a million miles away either, if a little sunnier than NO would do it. That's why I included the instrumental version.

Posted by: Popchartfreak 10th December 2020, 01:50 PM

I liked the Tiffany pretty decent cover, and anything that highlights the terrific Tommy James back-catalogue is to be applauded. Mony Mony & Crystal Blue Persuasion especially are epic. A bit better than Kylie's ISBSL on the whole. I bought the 12" vinyl and then replaced it with a 3" mini-CD (another dead format, that needed an extra plastic adaptor to play in a CD player). Bad choice!

Posted by: Colm 10th December 2020, 02:13 PM

1988

2nd place - Yazz and the Plastic Population - The Only Way Is Up

8.0



The final cover of the 10. That must be a record for number of cover versions in a year top 10.

The house explosion was the most exciting thing about 1988. A few house collectives found that having a vocalist was a much more successful way of achieving chart success. Coldcut, The Beatmasters, Bomb the Bass and D-Mob all brought us singers that would go on to have varying levels of stardom - Lisa Stansfield and Cathy Dennis proving most durable.

But first to score a chart topper we had Yazz and her Plastic Population, who had worked with Coldcut earlier in the year on the sample-laden Doctorin' the House. Coldcut also produced The Only Way is Up, but didn't get a credit as the artist.

A feel good anthem of positivity and resilience - the single was an absolute smash and, following Glen Medeiros who had unexpectedly jump to the top spot, also came out of nowhere (number 10 actually) to take the crown from Glen. It had been expected that Kylie's Locomotion would enter at number 1 that week but it wasn't to be. Miss M was beaten on sales for the following 4 weeks.

The breakdowns in the 12" version is some of my favourite acid-house music...in the world ever!

After Black Box's Ride On Time this was the biggest selling dance hit of the decade (if you don't include Blue Monday ).

Second best seller of the year (damn you Cliff)

Posted by: Colm 10th December 2020, 02:24 PM

1988

1st place - Womack & Womack - Teardrops

8.4




Mystery solved

And the highest placed non-cover is this uniquely warm and affecting song. Its release date was unfortunate as it got continually thwarted in the weekly top 4 by Phil Collins and Hollies but ended up spending more weeks(six) in the top 4 than either of them. It also outsold the incoming U2's Desire and Whitney's One Moment in Time and indeed any chart topper until Mistletoe and Wine.
It's a tale of a lost love and the profound grief and regret involved in the aftermath. The most subtle backing vocals make this equally as comforting as it is sorrowful. And that chorus.
There's nothing quite like this song - one of those rare ones that is made totally of raw human emotion.

It's been covered a lot too - Sugababes, The XX, Elton John and kd Lang, and Lovestation all took a stab at it.

Tenth best selling single of the year.

Posted by: Bjork 10th December 2020, 03:19 PM

oh wasn't expecting Teardrops to be in the top 10 best sellers, I was sure it had to be The Locomotion, but agree Teardrops is the best of the lot by far
although I also liked the Yazz song

my top 5 would be:
1 Teardrops
2 Tifanny
3 Yazz
4 He ain't Heavy
5 Groovy Kind of Love

Posted by: dandy* 10th December 2020, 05:56 PM

Definitely the correct top 3 and actually I'd possibly have them in the same order too, they're far better than everything else before them

Posted by: Colm 10th December 2020, 06:13 PM

At the beginning of this 10 I had Teardrops as the instant favourite but TOWIU sorta took over yesterday for a while but I listened to Teardrops again today with good headphones and there was just no contest.

Posted by: Colm 10th December 2020, 06:27 PM

On paper, 1988 looks like it was Kylie and Bros' year but even Kylie's lowest seller of 5 singles - Got to Be Certain, sold more than Bros' highest seller of 5 - I Owe You Nothing.

They both had one number 1 single. Kylie had four numbers 2s, Bros had three and a number 4 placing for I Quit.

Posted by: Christmasteve201 10th December 2020, 11:53 PM

Wow didn’t realise that ‘Teardrops’ was such a big hit and yes it’s easily the best song out of that bunch!

Posted by: CHRIS-TMAS 11th December 2020, 02:50 PM

Got To Be Certain is still my fave Kyle single and I loved her debut album.

Posted by: Bjork 11th December 2020, 03:03 PM

Seriously? Got to be certain is possibly the worst single Kylie ever released, SAW should be ashamed to have given her such a crappy song

Posted by: Rollofsellotape 11th December 2020, 07:45 PM

My top 3 would be:

1. He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother
2. A Groovy Kind Of Love
3. Especially For You

Posted by: CHRIS-TMAS 11th December 2020, 07:57 PM

Well I just love it. Her first two albums easily her best.

Posted by: CHRIS-TMAS 11th December 2020, 07:59 PM

Yeah I love Tiffany's version. She betters the original imo.

Posted by: Christmasteve201 11th December 2020, 11:30 PM

Mine would be:

1) Womack & Womack
2) Phil Collins
3) The Hollies

Posted by: Colm 13th December 2020, 05:04 PM

There's some top quality stuff in 1989. Three songs that I didn't like at the time but grew to love in later years.

Posted by: CHRIS-TMAS 13th December 2020, 06:08 PM

I prefer 74's The Air That I Breathe by The Hollies.

Posted by: Christmasteve201 13th December 2020, 07:05 PM

It’s a decent song! Think they released it in 88 too, well Pop charted it in his chart!

Posted by: Colm 13th January 2021, 08:49 PM

1989

10th place - Jive Bunny And The Mastermixers - That's What I Like

4.5



I guess I've put this off for long enough.

We all know the deal with some novelty songs. The first one is ok for a while and the inevitable follow up is the same idea, but unnecessary.
And it's here we meet Jive Bunny for the first time in this top 10 (I don't care if I've spoiled the surprise of their other, bigger hit coming up later )

That's What I Like is a litany of 60s sounds stapled together, in a somewhat competent manner. It's not quite as awful as we're told it is.

Finished as 7th best seller of the year.

Posted by: Colm 13th January 2021, 08:54 PM

1989

9th place - Jive Bunny And The Mastermixers - Swing The Mood

5.5



And here they are again with that huge debut single which is actually ok. Am I allowed to say that?

Second best seller of the year.

1989

8th place - Kylie Minogue - Hand On Your Heart

6.0



After I Should Be So Lucky, I was never very impressed by any of her SAW stuff. This is fine, but really lacks any impact for a lead single and really should have been an event release.

Tenth best seller of the year.

Posted by: Bjork 13th January 2021, 08:59 PM

I really hated Jive Bunny back then, now less I have to admit

Posted by: Jester 13th January 2021, 09:24 PM

What’s 9th? Poor Kylie though

Posted by: Colm 13th January 2021, 09:34 PM

1989

7th place - Band Aid II - Do They Know It's Christmas?

6.3




I challenged myself to identify all the singers in this, with just the audio.

I didn't do very well.

Kylie
Chis Rea
Big Fun
Bros
Cliff
Marti Pellow
Jason Donovan
Sonia?
Bananrama - only because I know they were in it.
Lisa Stansfield

Ninth best seller of the year.

Posted by: Jester 13th January 2021, 09:35 PM

I loved Jive Bunny at the time woe is me!

Posted by: Colm 13th January 2021, 09:39 PM

1989

6th place - Jason Donovan - Too Many Broken Hearts?

6.6




And here's Jason with his white t-shirt and blue jeans combo that plagued the late 80s.

SAW were almost totally without merit at this stage.

Fourth best seller of the year.

Posted by: Colm 13th January 2021, 09:56 PM

1989

5th place - The Bangles - Eternal Flame

7.0



This is rather great - despite what Atomic Kitten might have done to it.

Something that always puzzled me about this single, or rather perhaps the single that it kept at number 2 for 3 week. The Bangles sat at number 1 for 4 weeks and for 3 of those, If You Don't Know Me By Now from Simply Red was the second best seller.

Eternal Flame finished as the third biggest seller of the year.

Normally, if a single was stuck at number 2 for 3 weeks behind one of the biggest sellers of the year you'd expect that it would finish in the top 20 best sellers. If You Don't Know Me By Now only managed 38th best seller of 1989.

That is a huge gap and must surely be among the biggest gaps between a three-week 1/2 stand-off.

Posted by: Colm 13th January 2021, 09:58 PM

Four great singles are left. Three of them at the very forefront of popular music in 1989. Predict, if you will.

I shall return tomorrow.

Posted by: Gezza 13th January 2021, 11:51 PM

It was 8k, 25k and 33k adrift in those weeks plus it didn't accumulate many sales before its climb going 19-2 in its second week and only spent 4 weeks in the top 10 in its entirety.

Posted by: Bjork 14th January 2021, 07:05 AM

^I guess people were buying the parent album, a New Flame

not sure what's left, Ride on Time for sure, maybe Technotronic too? Back to Life?
did Like a Prayer make the top 10 of the year? I know Madonna is a bit of an underachiever in single sales, so maybe not?

Posted by: common sense 14th January 2021, 09:10 AM

Yes they were. Well I did anyway.

Posted by: Colm 14th January 2021, 11:28 AM

I'm guessing it's 3rd week at number 2 must have had sales low enough to normally only reach number 5.

Posted by: Colm 21st January 2021, 05:59 PM

1989

4th place - Marc Almond & Gene Pitney - Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart

7.5



I did not really get this at the time. I was a big fan of the song that it kept at number 2 - The Living Years and was baffled by this duet stopping it being a chart topper.

From what I read, much of the industry was expecting the same until Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart got an airing on Friday's Wogan show that week, and sales soared.

I love this song now. It brings me back to early 1989 and being a chart fan. Still love the Living Years too.


Sixth best selling single of the year.

Posted by: Colm 21st January 2021, 09:50 PM

1989

3rd place - Soul II Soul - Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)

7.8



It's hard to really understand the impact of Soul II Soul's emergence in 1989. I was too young to appreciate them at the time, and even now, I'm sure I still don't grasp how it must have been to hear this effortlessly talented sound system as they presented their thoroughly modern soul music which commanded the lead in both the singles chart and the album chart in a Summer heat wave at the end of July.

One thing that helped impress upon me their greatness was when I heard the (mostly acapella) album version of Back to Life. Like Teardrops in 1988, this is the sound of pure musical emotion; those vocal harmonies at 2:19 are a thing of rare beauty.

The album version would have got a 9.0 at least.

Posted by: dandy* 21st January 2021, 10:24 PM

Great song. I liked it at the time but I’ve only grown to love it in subsequent years, I’m a fan of quite a lot of their material now.

Posted by: Colm 21st January 2021, 10:30 PM

1989

2nd place - Technotronic - Pump Up The Jam

8.2



Third song in a row that I didn't like at the time. Dance music was very much my thing in 1989. It had been my thing since early 1988 but there were plenty of instances when I didn't quite get the fuss over a song dance song that everyone else seemed to like. Pump Up the Jam was one of those tunes.

It all comes down to that elastic, spring loaded bass synth as it bounces you from refrain to refrain.

For anyone who likes mixing tunes - The Chems' Hey Boy Hey Girl mixes really well this.

Eight best selling single of the year and the best selling song that didn't make it to number 1.


---

Chart trivia section

While inspecting the chart run I noticed that the song Pump Up The Jam kept at number 3 for 2 weeks, Sydney Youngblood's If Only I Could (which was 1989's second best selling single that didn't get to number 1) was never very far from PUTJ. In the 11 weeks it spent in the top 40 it was within 2 chart places nine times and never more than 4 at any time.

PUTJ 37-19-04-03-02-02-04-08-11-19-26
IOIC 36-17-06-04-03-03-05-10-15-20-29
DIFF 01-02-02-01-01-01-01-02-04-01-03

Posted by: Colm 21st January 2021, 10:44 PM

1989

1st place - Black Box - Ride on Time

9.2




Something something...Loleatta Holloway....something something.....Heather Small.



Best selling single of the year

Posted by: dandy* 21st January 2021, 10:48 PM

Great top 2, both dance classics that have held up really well over time. Strange how dance tracks from 1989 still sound great whilst dance tracks from 2018 can sound so dated!

Posted by: dandy* 21st January 2021, 10:50 PM

Also, where would Like a Prayer have placed? It would be my #1 but I can’t remember if you’re that fond of it or not

Posted by: Colm 21st January 2021, 11:51 PM

Prob number 2, 3 or 4. It's great. There's a really ploddy version somewhere that really drags. I can't find it now. Maybe it has been deleted from existence.

Posted by: Colm 22nd January 2021, 08:40 AM

Top 10

1 Pet Shop Boys - It's A Sin 10
2 Bee Gees - You Win Again 10
3 a-ha - Take On Me 10
4 Black Box - Ride on Time 9.2
5 The Jam - A Town Called Malice 9.1
6 Jennifer Rush - The Power of Love 9
7 Madonna - Into The Groove 8.5
8 Womack & Womack - Teardrops 8.4
9 Technotronic - Pump Up The Jam 8.2
10 Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) 8.2

Posted by: Colm 22nd January 2021, 08:47 AM

Bottom 10

91 Joe Dolce - Shaddap You Face 4.3
92 Goombay Dance Band - Seven Tears 4.1
93 Black Lace - Agadoo 4.1
94 Nick Berry - Every Loser Wins 4.1
95 Boris Gardiner 'I Want To Wake Up With You 4
96 Fern Kinney - Together We Are Beautiful 4
97 Blondie - The Tide it High 3.9
98 Dexys Midnight Runners - Geno 3.8
99 David Bowie & Mick Jagger - Dancing In The Street 3.8
10 Adam and the Ants - Stand and Deliver 3.5


Compare that to the 90s where the 10th worst got just 2.5 and the 80s wasn't so bad.

Posted by: Gezza 22nd January 2021, 09:42 AM

It was probably the huge difference between the album and single versions of BTL that allowed them to make the top of both charts. I recall some people bought the album only to find that the single version was substantively different so bought that as well.

Posted by: Gezza 22nd January 2021, 09:43 AM

I have 8 of the top 10 from 1989 on 7 inch. I was such a chart ho back then.

Posted by: Popchartfreak 22nd January 2021, 10:13 AM

Great top 2 1988, and a good dance top 2 for 1989, fab top 10 of the 80's and also some fab ones in your bottom 10

Good thread, interesting take on rating big hits

Posted by: Bjork 22nd January 2021, 11:40 AM

Madonna's Into the Groove would be my #1 with an 11/10 score

Posted by: Colm 22nd January 2021, 07:07 PM

I was planning to do the 2000s but 2002 has nothing of any note.

Posted by: Jester 22nd January 2021, 08:26 PM

I’ll pick 2002 for you if it helps. I’d struggle with 2004 personally.

Posted by: King Rollo 22nd January 2021, 10:38 PM

I was hoping you were going to move on to the 1970s next.

My top 3 for 1989:

1. Eternal Flame
2. Back To Life
3. Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart

I don't even like the third one but the other 7 songs are even worse.

Posted by: Colm 22nd January 2021, 11:05 PM

Feel free to do your own thread, Jester.

Posted by: Bjork 23rd January 2021, 07:24 AM

I guess 2002 was dominated by Will Young/Gareth and their awful covers
but at least it had Shakira!!:) she gets extra points for singing about being lucky cos her breasts are small and humble