1986 already- time passes quickly when you're having fun. Yes it's back, the title says it all. We'll count down all the sounds of the year and hopefully generate a few "almost forgotten gems" along the way. As always thanks go to MFR, Vas tariner, Youtube, Wikipedia, MW, popscene, and a few other sources who have helped over the years. Here's the links to previous threads if this isn't your year!

1983
1984
1985

Actual weekly sales have recently come to light and are now presented to you in the same vein as the current 1995 thread. My thanks go to Robbie and kobyhadrain for sourcing the information and presenting it. So sit back and enjoy every top 10 hit of the 80s (eventually). By the end of the year come rain or shine we'll be done with

A REMINDER PEEPS- CAN WE AVOID SPOILERS PLEASE OVER PEAK POSITIONS OF FUTURE HITS (Unless after 1995 then fine)

11TH JANUARY

 

 

It may have lost 33% of its sales week on week but “West End Girls” holds up better than anything else in the post festive doldrums in one of the tightest races for the No 1 spot this decade. The song has been a slow grower moving 59-40-23-9-5-4-3-1 so far making tough work in the pre Christmas market but benefits from the collapse in sales of both Whitney Houston who holds at No 2 (28,084) and Shakin’ Stevens (26,486) who drops 1-3, but The Pet Shop Boys sold a miserly 34,697 last week the lowest tally of the 80s so far, its overall total now stands at 264,010 copies, nevertheless I’m sure they’ll be celebrating anyway.

 

 

 

Jimmy Somerville may have left the group last summer but Bronski Beat prove they don’t need him to have a hit single, they recruited a new frontman, John Foster, and got a nice spot of promotion when their first single in their new line up was featured in the British movie “Letter To Brezhnev” and in the Christmas episode of “Only Fools & Horses”. “Hit That Perfect Beat” has been knocking around since November but finally gets to rise as the festive hits subside, it grows 11-4 (19,159) to become the band’s third top 5 single, a second album is out in the Spring. As an aside these are record sales lows for the entire top 10 in the decade.

 

 

 

A-ha have a second hit single on their hands, and one that didn’t take three releases unlike “Take On Me”. The promo for “The Sun Always Shines On TV” is clearly meant to be a sequel to the former track and takes just three weeks to make the top 10 as it shoots 27-5 (18,173) though it will have to go some to match the total sales of their first hit which rebounds slightly this week 33-32 as it bounces over the 560,000 mark. The album failed to make the top 20 when it was released back in November but also responds well to a second top 10 single and blusters 50-14 this week to reach a new peak.

 

 

 

Hailing from Jamaica Sophia George is here to warm up the winter months with a spot of reggae in the form of “Girlie Girlie” which this week lifts 14-7 (14,977). The song was written by Sangie Davis who has helped to pen some hits for Jamaica’s other great export Bob Marley, the title of this track references his mother who spotted him hanging around a pack of girls and remarked “How you so girlie girlie”- a bit harsh maybe but he’s reaping the rewards now.

 

 

 

Cherrelle’s debut album and associated singles passed the UK by but she seems to be in luck with her second album as “Saturday Love” glides 21-10 (12,937). It is produced (as with her first album) by US DJ’s Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis who are fast making a name for themselves as the hottest producers around, not bad for a pair that were fired by Prince back in 1983, and talking about artists fired by Prince, see Alexander O’Neal who teams up here with Cherrelle. He was in a band “The Time” which were signed by Prince but he was subsequently “let go” and found himself a solo deal but is introduced to our charts in this duo, perhaps the purple one is cursing his misfortune now?

 

 

Madonna continues to climb 7-6 (15,844) with “Dress You Up” though it has lost sales every week as it moved 9-7-6, whilst Aled Jones finds himself dumped 5-8 (14,484) and Wham! are almost finished 8-9 (13,855) with former chart topper “I’m Your Man”. Only the top 3 managed in excess of 20,000 as noted- dark days indeed.

 

1- WEST END GIRLS- Pet Shop Boys (34,697)

2- SAVING ALL MY LOVE FOR YOU- Whitney Houston (28,084)

3- MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE- Shakin Stevens (26,486)

4- HIT THAT PERFECT BEAT- Bronski Beat (19,159)

5- THE SUN ALWAYS SHINES ON TV- A-Ha (18,173)

6- DRESS YOU UP- Madonna (15,844)

7- GIRLIE GIRLIE- Sophia George (14,977)

8- WALKING IN THE AIR- Aled Jones (14,484)

9- I’M YOUR MAN- Wham! (13,855)

10- SATURDAY LOVE- Alexander O Neal & Cherrelle (12,937)

 

Oh wow, what a brilliant start to 1986! 'West End Girls' is a fantastic chart topper, 'The Sun Always Shines On TV' is also sublime and I really like 'Hit That Perfect Beat', it's difficult to top 'Smalltown Boy' but that one deserves to be better remembered too. :wub:

'Hit That Perfect Beat' is possibly the most energetic song in the charts until 2Unlimited!

 

'The Sun Always Shines On TV' is a bit of an epic.

 

'Saturday Love' is a bit boring it is only saved by a catchy 'Sunday, Monday, Tuesday...' and so on bit.

 

The Sophie Sophie song indeed provides some rare reggae in the charts.

Edited October 15, 20231 yr by TheSnake

PSBs have truly arrived :wub:

 

The Sun Always Shines on TV is my favourite from the top 10 though I think, a-ha really were great for their first two albums

The Sun Always Shines on TV is so epic sounding! One of my fave songs of the 80s :wub:

announcing it as The Sun Always Shines on The Telly :D

 

1986 is off to a great start with PSB, A-ha, Madonna etc

Sad to see the sales of WEG though. Lowest of the 80s so far isn't deserved.

Would sales have been affected by shop opening days? Not sure if your chart dates are w/e dates? If so would it have been impacted by New Year holidays?

Yes this is a week ending date so the chart was covering 30th December to 4 January so a day would be lost to new year's day. On the other hand that would be the same for any week that includes a bank holiday.

 

Normal January lull I suppose

Was there a Christmas gift card effect at that point in the 80s?

No that was only a thing after Downloads became a major force. 2010-11. People bought the Singles in the run up to Christmas back then, then you had rubbish sales in the aftermath.

Sad to see the sales of WEG though. Lowest of the 80s so far isn't deserved.

Still, a number 1 is a number 1 regardless of sales. WEG still makes a brilliant number 1!

18TH JANUARY

 

 

Getting that TOTP boost they so desperately needed the Pet Shop Boys retain control of the top of the charts on an improved sale of 59,143 and they certainly did need it as they were behind most of the week to A-ha who rise 5-2 (49,980) with “The Sun Always Shines On TV” and can rightly feel aggrieved that they may once again be destined for the runner up spot, and to add to that emotion their album “Hunting High & Low” leaps 14-2 as well getting lodged behind Dire Straits’ “Brothers In Arms”.

 

 

 

And the reason that Dire Straits are back at the top is in part thanks to their new single “Walk Of Life” which takes full advantage of the January lull to soar 30-4 (28,407) this week. The video comes with a UK version and a US one if you fancy taking your pick, not that either is required to sell the album, it sold 1.2 million copies in the UK last year to take the crown as the best selling album of 1985 and is starting 1986 off the same way. The single is the fifth top 10 single of the boys career though only 1982’s “Private Investigations” has gone top 3.

 

 

 

Following up a No 1 song is never easy and “You Little Thief” is Feargal Sharkey’s attempt, it is written by Heartbreakers member Benmont Tench about his relationship with Maria Mckee, you will recall of course that “A Good Heart” was written by Mckee about Tench so we’re finally getting the other perspective. We may struggle to recall the last time a relationship featured on two separate top 10 singles from each party’s perspective, let alone sung by an act who wasn’t a part of that relationship. In any case the song jets in 26-5 (26,707) to give Sharkey another hit.

 

 

 

Inspired by the book by Khalil Gibran, “Broken Wings” has already been a US chart topper last month and now flies in (apologies) 31-8 (18,360) to become their first hit here. Lead singer Robert Page turned down opportunities to front both Toto and Chicago over the past few years so must be thankful that Mr Mister finally make it on their own, they were helped by being one of the opening acts for Tina Turner on her “Private Dancer” tour last year.

 

 

 

 

A spot of US R & B next, Full Force are a New York group who not only produce hits for other Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam most notably, but also throw out their own stuff. “Alice I Want You Just For Me” however becomes their first solo credit though they did reach No 12 last year on Lisa Lisa’s “I Wonder If I Take You Home” the song powers 27-10 (17,952) as the public seem to be latching onto anything new to get over the festive excess.

 

 

Bronski Beat equal their peak of “Smalltown Boy” with “Hit That Perfect Beat” which floats 4-3 (30,175) as Cherrelle and Alexander O’Neal advance 10-6 (26,112) but sadly Sophia George finds herself immobile at No 7 (20,570). Whitney completes the top 10 dropping 2-9 (18,071) as she loses 35% of her sales from last week but promotion has now shifted to her new single “How Will I Know” which is out this week.

 

 

1- WEST END GIRLS- Pet Shop Boys (59,143)

2- THE SUN ALWAYS SHINES ON TV- A-Ha (49,980)

3- HIT THAT PERFECT BEAT- Bronski Beat (30,175)

4- WALK OF LIFE- Dire Straits (28,407)

5- YOU LITTLE THIEF- Feargal Sharkey (26,707)

6- SATURDAY LOVE- Alexander O’Neal & Cherrelle (26,112)

7- GIRLIE GIRLIE- Sophia George (20,570)

8- BROKEN WINGS- Mr Mister (18,360)

9- SAVING ALL MY LOVE FOR YOU- Whitney Houston (18,071)

10- ALICE, I WANT YOU JUST FOR ME- Full Force (17,952)

 

'Broken Wings' is so atmospheric!

Two great top 10s there and by mid Jan we already nearly have a new top 10! Only WEGs and Whitney remaining from the Xmas chart.

 

Overall I’m looking forward to the first ‘house’ hit in 1986!

 

 

The Sun Always Shines>>>Take On Me

Walk of Life is similar in style to Bruce Springsteen's Dancing In The Dark but I prefer the Dire Straits song!

Great top 2 with PSB and A-ha

 

Zero fan of Dire Straits/Mark Knopfler so never liked Walk of Life, not crazy about Broken Wings

 

have to go check the Feargal Sharkey single cos I don't recall it, but crazy to pick up songs from other people's relationship and then first one point of view and then the other...

25TH JANUARY

 

 

There’s a new No 1 in the land and it goes to those Norwegian boys A-ha who finally make the top with “The Sun Always Shines On TV” and become the first act from Norway to make it all the way here. The song was heading easily to the top before TOTP but it really hammered home its advantage selling 69,972 copies in the end which lifts its overall tally to a mere 151,895 copies, that total being hampered by the album which holds at No 2. Dire Straits and Pet Shop Boys fought it out all week for the No 2 position with the former holding out to record their second No 2 hit of their career, “Walk Of Life” recording a sale of 56,270 to “West End Girls” 49,334, A-ha therefore score some revenge on the singles front for their defeat to Dire Straits on the album chart.

 

 

 

 

Long a star on the continent and also on our album charts Nana Mouskouri has never had a UK hit single, until now. “Only Love” is the theme to “Mistral’s Daughter” which was aired on TV as a mini series last year and created demand for the single which now rises 25-8 (26,826), parent album “Alone” is out next month.

 

 

 

The Fine Young Cannibals single “Blue” narrowly missed the top 40 when it peaked at No 41 last November, but they’re back with a third single from their debut album, a cover of Elvis Presley’s “Suspicious Minds” which features Jimmy Somerville on backing vocals. The track was a flop when first released by composer Mark James in 1968 before Elvis sprinkled his magic a year later and sent it to No 2, it now climbs 17-10 (21,624) to become a top 10 single 17 years later.

 

 

Somerville’s arrival in the top 10 is offset by his former band Bronksi Beat dipping 3-7 (29,427) and are the only fallers in the big 10 Pet Shop Boys aside. Some non-movers however Feargal Sharkey at No 5 (31,688) and Cherrelle & Alexander O’Neal to No 6 (29,818) but good times for Mr Mister 8-4 (32,096) and Full Force 10-9 (25,075) who both move in the right direction.

 

 

1- THE SUN ALWAYS SHINES ON TV- A-Ha (69,972)

2- WALK OF LIFE- Dire Straits (56,270)

3- WEST END GIRLS- Pet Shop Boys (49,334)

4- BROKEN WINGS- Mr Mister (32,096)

5- YOU LITTLE THIEF- Feargal Sharkey (31,688)

6- SATURDAY LOVE- Alexander O’Neal & Cherelle (29,818)

7- HIT THAT PERFECT BEAT- Bronski Beat (29,427)

8- ONLY LOVE- Nana Mouskouri (26,826)

9- ALICE, I WANT YOU JUST FOR ME- Full Force (25,075)

10- SUSPICIOUS MINDS- Fine Young Cannibals (21,624)