11.07.1981 : Kirsty MacColl - There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis (3 weeks # 1)

 

http://www.justiceforkirsty.org/pic/abbey.jpg

 

 

Kirsty Anna MacColl was an English singer-songwriter. She scored several pop hits from the early 1980s to the early 1990s. During this era, she often sang on recordings produced by her then husband Steve Lillywhite, notably those of The Smiths and the song "Fairytale of New York" by The Pogues. She was killed in a boating accident in Mexico in 2000, under controversial circumstances.

 

Her debut solo single "They Don't Know", released in 1979, peaked at number two on the Music Week airplay chart. However, a distributors' strike prevented copies of the single getting into record stores, and the single consequently failed to appear on the UK Singles Chart. MacColl recorded a follow-up single, "You Caught Me Out", but felt she lacked Stiff's full backing, and left the label shortly before the song was to be released. The single was pulled, and only a few "white label" promo copies of the single are known to exist. MacColl moved to Polydor Records in 1981.

 

"There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis" was Kirsty MacColl's first hit single, charting in the UK at #14 in 1981, and remaining in the charts for nine weeks. It reached #9 in the Irish charts. A promotional version was released in the USA which referenced a truck stop as opposed to the very British chip shop, but this was only available to DJs and did not get a full release.

 

In the United States, MacColl was probably most recognisable as the writer of "They Don't Know". Tracey Ullman's version, helped by a video guest-starring Paul McCartney, reached Number 2 in the UK in 1983 and the Top Ten in North America.

 

25.07.1981 : Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes (1 week # 1)

 

http://www.musicismylife-divasandotherbeings.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Kim-Carnes-Bette-Davis-Eyes-C-Gs-Respectful-Acoustic-Edit.jpg

 

 

"Bette Davis Eyes" is a classic hit song written by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon, and made popular by American singer-songwriter Kim Carnes. It spent nine weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was Billboard's biggest hit of the entire year for 1981. The recording won the 1982 Grammy Awards for both Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year.

 

The song was written in 1974 by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon. DeShannon recorded the song that same year on her album New Arrangement. But it was not until 1981, when Kim Carnes recorded her version of the song, that it became a commercial success.

 

The Carnes version spent nine non-consecutive weeks on top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and was Billboard's biggest hit of the year for 1981. The song won the Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Record of the Year. The song was also a number one hit in 31 countries, including Germany, Australia, Switzerland, Italy, Norway, Japan and Brazil, but it achieved more moderate success in the United Kingdom, where it peaked at No. 10. The music video was directed by Russell Mulcahy.

 

According to producer Val Garay, the original demo of the tune that was brought to him sounded like "a Leon Russell track, with this beer-barrel polka piano part." Bette Davis admitted to being a fan of the song and approached Carnes and the songwriters to thank them for making her "a part of modern times."

 

The song was ranked at No. 12 on Billboard's list of the top 100 songs in the first 50 years of the Billboard Hot 100 chart and at No. 2 on the biggest hits of the 80s.

Edited April 19, 201312 yr by AlexRange

 

08.08.1981 : Aneka - Japanese Boy (5 weeks # 1)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/90/Aneka_-_Japanese_Boy.jpg

 

 

"Japanese Boy" is a UK No.1 hit single by Scottish singer Aneka, released in 1981. The song became her biggest hit and provided the singer with a memorable Japanese image, which she found difficult to discard.

 

Written by Bob Heatlie and produced by Neil Ross, the song was recorded by Scottish folk singer Mary Sandeman. Realising that the name didn't fit the song, they decided to come up with a name to put to the single. Leafing through the telephone directory, they came upon the name of Aneka. This was then released as a single and Sandeman came up with a Japanese image under which to perform the song. To their surprise, the song became a major hit when it eventually reached No.1 in August 1981. The song went on to become a hit all over Europe and beyond, although according to Sandeman, it failed to chart in Japan itself because "they thought it sounded too Chinese."

 

The success of the single proved to be a problem however, as Sandeman was left with a dilemma of what to do as a follow-up, now that her image was so firmly associated with one song. She modified her image and kept the Aneka name, but future single releases failed to chart highly in the UK, although she did score two follow-up hits in many countries in Europe.

 

"Japanese Boy" sold almost half a million copies in the UK, making it one of the best-selling singles of 1981, and the second-best seller by a solo female artist (behind Kim Wilde's "Kids in America").

Edited April 18, 201312 yr by AlexRange

 

12.09.1981 : Rex Smith and Rachel Sweet - Everlasting Love (4 weeks # 1)

 

http://static.rateyourmusic.com/album_images/d009260759871a931fd5e01d22b249c5/438640.jpg

 

 

"Everlasting Love" is a song written by Buzz Cason and Mac Gayden, originally a 1967 hit for Robert Knight and since remade several times.

 

"Everlasting Love" reached the Top 40 for the third time in the summer of 1981 via a duet version cut by Rex Smith and Rachel Sweet; this version features revised lyrics including an additional verse of uncredited authorship.

 

The track marked the Columbia debut of Sweet who'd previously recorded two albums for the New Wave oriented Stiff label. According to Sweet upon submitting the tracks intended to comprise her first album for Columbia - all original songs produced by Pete Solly - she was told: "we'd like you to cut some more songs. And we'd like it if they weren't yours." Columbia was hoping that augmenting Sweet's album with outside material produced by Rick Chertoff - then best known for his work with Air Supply - would provide Sweet with a commercial breakout, with "Everlasting Love" in particular being recorded for its perceived hit potential.

 

In keeping with the trend for duets prevalent in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Sweet was paired on "Everlasting Love" with another Columbia artist who was being produced by Chertoff: Rex Smith, who had reached #10 in 1979 with "You Take My Breath Away": their duet on "Everlasting Love" was featured on both Sweet's And Then He Kissed Me album and the album Everlasting Love by Smith and the single was a two-track B-side featuring Sweet's "Billy and the Gun" and Smith's "Still Thinking of You" respectively taken from each singer's last-named album.

 

With neither Smith nor Sweet being a strong Top 40 force, their collaboration on "Everlasting Love" would only generate qualified chart impact: the single peaked at #32 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1981, affording Sweet her only Top 40 showing and Smith his second and last. The track also appeared on Billboard's Hot Adult Contemporary chart peaking at #31. This Rex Smith/Rachel Sweet version of "Everlasting Love" was also a mid-chart item in the UK at #35; in Australia the track reached #41 mainly due to its being a local Top Ten hit in Adelaide at #9. In 1982 the Smith/Sweet version of "Everlasting became a Top Ten hit in Switzerland (#9) and Denmark (#4) also reaching #11 in South Africa.

 

A promotional video was shot for "Everlasting Love" with Smith and Sweet playing a couple getting married. The singers performed "Everlasting Love" live on the Solid Gold episode aired 19 February 1983: Smith was currently co-hosting the show on which Sweet guested to promote her current single "Voodoo".

Edited January 26, 201510 yr by NICI Moose

 

10.10.1981 : Dooleys - And I Wish (4 weeks # 1)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c8/In_Car_Stereo_The_Dooleys_album.jpg

 

 

By late 1981, the group had released two consecutive flop singles, "In a Riddle" from the previous album and "Taken at the Flood", a stand-alone single, which wasn't considered good enough for inclusion on this album. The group spent the year recording this album with new producer, former pop singer Barry Blue. In September, the lead single "And I Wish" was released, an upbeat pop song, it became their first chart entry for a year, but only managed to reach No.52. The album was released soon after. Their record label, GTO Records was at the time being taken over by Epic Records and promotion for the album suffered. Secrets failed to chart, as did the follow-up single "The Dancer", which was released by Epic. Track "Love Me, Love Me Do" had been recorded (but never released) a year earlier by pop duo Dollar as "Living Each Day for You".

 

Soon after the album's release three members of the group departed to live in South Africa and a new female singer was employed, making the group now a six-piece. Some new tracks were recorded and released along with several songs from this album in Germany in 1982, where "And I Wish" had been a hit. The album was titled "And I Wish" there, while it was renamed The Dancer in Japan, where they had experienced some success over the past two years. The group released two more singles in the UK and did record another album in 1983, but this was only released in Japan. Single, "And I Wish" remains The Dooleys final UK chart entry.

 

07.11.1981 : Aneka - Little Lady (3 weeks # 1)

 

http://tekstovi-pesama.com/g_img2/0/a/69381/aneka-6.jpg

 

 

Aneka (Mary Sandeman) is a Scottish singer.

 

In 1981 she hit number one in the UK Singles Chart with her song, "Japanese Boy". She was well known for the Oriental image she adopted for the song. After her brief foray into pop she reverted to her real name and established herself as an accomplished singer of Scottish traditional music.

 

Buoyed by this level of success, the record company commissioned an album and looked to find a follow-up single. The song "Little Lady" was chosen, but caused some concern as to what her image would be now, as it was felt that a Japanese look would be inappropriate for the song as well as giving the artist a limited lifespan. In the event, Sandeman adopted a 19th Century lady image, but retained the same high-pitched voice as used for her hit. The song failed to chart highly in the UK, reaching only No.50 - securing her the label of 'one-hit wonder'.

 

Sandeman's debut album "Aneka" was released at the same time and featured a mix of upbeat pop tracks in the vein of "Japanese Boy" and a selection of slow-paced numbers, sung in her 'true' singing voice. The album however failed to chart.

 

A third and final single was released in early 1982. This was "Ooh Shooby Doo Doo Lang", which told a light-hearted tale of a singer bemoaning the fact that she is relegated to backing vocals, but goes on to mention Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder as well referencing both "Japanese Boy" and "Little Lady". The song missed the UK Chart and this effectively saw the end of Aneka. In Europe however, it gave her a third hit and was followed there by the release of another album track, "I Was Free". Two further singles were released over the next two years, "Heart to Beat" in 1983 and "Rose Rose I Love You" in 1984, but neither of these found success. Sandeman then dropped the Aneka title and continued with the folk-singing career she had begun before her fame.

Edited April 18, 201312 yr by AlexRange

 

28.11.1981 : Bucks Fizz - The Land Of Make Believe (9 weeks # 1)

 

http://991.com/newGallery/Bucks-Fizz-Land-Of-Make-Beli-433662.jpg

 

 

"The Land Of Make Believe" is a 1981 single by British band Bucks Fizz. It reached No.1 in the UK in early 1982 - the second single by the band to do so. The song was produced by Andy Hill with music by Hill and lyrics by ex-King Crimson member Peter Sinfield. Despite the apparent sugar-coated style of the song, Sinfield later claimed it was a subtle attack on Margaret Thatcher and her government's policy at the time. The song was later covered by amazing pop band allSTARS* for a 2002 single release.

 

The single was released in November 1981 and became a top 10 hit in December, being placed at No.5 for the Christmas chart. The following week it was placed at No.2, behind The Human League's "Don't You Want Me", before finally taking over at No.1 in January. Critical reaction to the song was favourable with Record Mirror stating: "Prejudices and preconceptions aside, it's an excellent record and a worthy successor to 'Don't You Want Me' at the top."

 

"The Land of Make Believe" remains a firm fan favourite and reviews in the press at the time were positive with Smash Hits calling the song "sheer genius" and more recently Q Magazine labelling the song "not half bad" and "an 80s classic". Members Bobby G and Cheryl Baker have both named it as the best of their own songs. The song became the group's biggest-selling single in the UK, outselling their Eurovision winner "Making Your Mind Up", to finish as the 41st biggest-seller of the 1980s. It also reached No.1 in The Netherlands and Ireland, while in Germany it also became their biggest selling single. The song became the group's debut single release in the US, but was unsuccessful there.

 

"The Land of Make Believe" also was the third single by the British band allSTARS*. The single was slightly faster than the original version and had a more euro-pop sound. The music video was set in a circus tent, with each individual member of the band performing tricks e.g. being cut in half, levitating or juggling. The single performed to moderate success, achieving allSTARS*' highest UK chart position of No.9.

 

allSTARS* version

 

Edited January 26, 201510 yr by NICI Moose

All my personal # 1 singles (1981) :

01. Lynda Carter - The Last Song (4 weeks # 1)

02. Sheena Easton - Take My Time (1 week # 1)

03. Kim Wilde - Kids In America (5 weeks # 1)

04. Bucks Fizz - Making Your Mind Up (5 weeks # 1)

05. Juice Newton - Angel of the Morning (1 week # 1)

06. Kim Wilde - Chequered Love (2 weeks # 1)

07. Barbra Streisand - Promises (4 weeks # 1)

08. Kate Robbins - More Than In Love (3 weeks # 1)

09. Kirsty MacColl - There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis (3 weeks # 1)

10. Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes (1 week # 1)

11. Aneka - Japanese Boy (5 weeks # 1)

12. Rex Smith and Rachel Sweet - Everlasting Love (4 weeks # 1)

13. Dooleys - And I Wish (4 weeks # 1)

14. Aneka - Little Lady (3 weeks # 1)

15. Bucks Fizz - The Land Of Make Believe (9 weeks # 1)

 

Personal Awards:

Best single, which was not my personal # 1 : Pretenders - I Go To Sleep

Most # 1 singles : Aneka, Bucks Fizz, Kim Wilde (2)

Most # 1 weeks : Bucks Fizz (14)

Singer of the Year : Aneka

Group of the Year : Bucks Fizz

Favourite Eurovision song : Bucks Fizz - Making Your Mind Up (United Kingdom)

Favourite official UK # 1 single : Aneka - Japanese Boy *

Song of the Year : Bucks Fizz - The Land Of Make Believe

 

* "The Land Of Make Believe" was UK # 1 in 1982

Edited April 19, 201312 yr by AlexRange

 

16.01.1982 : ABBA - One Of Us (3 weeks # 1)

 

http://clubtrade.ru/images/artcats/714/photo/abba_show_abba_mia_(11).jpg

 

 

"One of Us" was ABBA's last major hit, and their last No. 1 single in many countries. It became ABBA's 13th and final Eurochart and Irish No. 1 single, and also topped the charts in Belgium, West Germany and the Netherlands, while reaching the Top 3 in Austria, Great Britain, Sweden, and Switzerland. It also hit the Top 10 in France, Norway, South Africa and Spain.

 

The track debuted at #11 on the UK Singles Chart on 12 December 1981 and peaked at #3 the following week, where it stayed for 3 weeks. After 10 weeks in the charts, it exited on 13 February 1982. When "One of Us" was released as a single in the United States in February 1983, it proved to be ABBA's worst ever performing charting song in that territory, reaching a high of #107, though it should be pointed out that the song was released over a year after its release elsewhere and ABBA had disbanded by this time. Nevertheless, "One of Us" was ABBA's swansong in terms of their hit-making career.

 

 

20.02.1982 : ABBA - Head Over Heels (5 weeks # 1)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/25/Headoverheels.jpg

 

 

"Head over Heels", originally named "Tango", is a 1981 song recorded by Swedish pop group ABBA, released as a single the following year. It was extracted from their final studio album "The Visitors" and coupled with the title track of that album as the B-side.

 

"Head over Heels" was not a successful chart hit by ABBA's standards. The release came as the group's popularity was declining, and became ABBA's worst selling single since "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do", seven years earlier. It only managed to chart as high as #25 in the UK, breaking a run of 18 consecutive Top 10 hits (from "SOS" in October 1975 to "One of Us" in December 1981). This 18-hit run had equaled that of The Beatles, who had consecutive Top 10 hits from 1964 (with "A Hard Day's Night") to 1976 (with "Yesterday"), broken by "Back in the U.S.S.R.". Although "Head over Heels" did experience Top 10 success in Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria and France, by this time, ABBA's chart domination was all but over, and the group effectively disbanded a year later. The track was excluded from their retrospective double LP The Singles: The First Ten Years, which was released later in 1982.

 

Richard of PopLoveDance said it is "criminally...unjust" that the song, the second UK single from The Visitors, only reached #25 in the charts. He added that in his opinion the track is "at least as good as half of [ABBA's] 70s hits, and one of the most early ABBA-esque on the album with the big chorus, harmonies and pop production". He commented that the song, released near the end of the band's career, is "a true lost 'hit'", and gave it a rating of 9.5/10.

Edited April 21, 201312 yr by AlexRange

All my personal # 1 singles (1981) :

01. Lynda Carter - The Last Song (4 weeks # 1)

02. Sheena Easton - Take My Time (1 week # 1)

03. Kim Wilde - Kids In America (5 weeks # 1)

04. Bucks Fizz - Making Your Mind Up (5 weeks # 1)

05. Juice Newton - Angel of the Morning (1 week # 1)

06. Kim Wilde - Chequered Love (2 weeks # 1)

07. Barbra Streisand - Promises (4 weeks # 1)

08. Kate Robbins - More Than In Love (3 weeks # 1)

09. Kirsty MacColl - There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis (3 weeks # 1)

10. Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes (1 week # 1)

11. Aneka - Japanese Boy (5 weeks # 1)

12. Rex Smith and Rachel Sweet - Everlasting Love (4 weeks # 1)

13. Dooleys - And I Wish (4 weeks # 1)

14. Aneka - Little Lady (3 weeks # 1)

15. Bucks Fizz - The Land Of Make Believe (9 weeks # 1)

 

Personal Awards:

Best single, which was not my personal # 1 : Pretenders - I Go To Sleep

Most # 1 singles : Aneka, Bucks Fizz, Kim Wilde (2)

Most # 1 weeks : Bucks Fizz (14)

Singer of the Year : Aneka

Group of the Year : Bucks Fizz

Favourite Eurovision song : Bucks Fizz - Making Your Mind Up (United Kingdom)

Favourite official UK # 1 single : Aneka - Japanese Boy *

Song of the Year : Bucks Fizz - The Land Of Make Believe

 

* "The Land Of Make Believe" was UK # 1 in 1982

 

Hi alex

The only ones to make my number one in 1981 was Bucks Fizz Land of Make Believe, though Kim Wilde (both), Kim Carnes, Pretenders, all came close. That Rachel Sweet duet is a real obscure goodie so well done in bringing it back:) And Kirsty Maccoll of course, much missed. Some of the others Ive forgotten, and I'm not sure I ever knew the Lynda carter track! I will review them when I get round to finishing 1980 (I'm still only only in late september and I already have 300 from that year I rate a lot!)

 

cheers

john

 

27.03.1982 : Bucks Fizz - My Camera Never Lies (3 weeks # 1)

 

http://musopedia.ru/uploads/1294940657_bucks-fizz.jpg

 

 

"My Camera Never Lies" is a 1982 single by pop group, Bucks Fizz. It became the group's second consecutive (and third overall) UK number-one in April 1982. The song was written by Andy Hill and Nichola Martin and was featured on Bucks Fizz's second album Are You Ready.

 

"My Camera Never Lies" was written by Andy Hill and Nichola Martin and produced by Andy Hill. Hill was the group's regular songwriter and producer, while Martin had been the woman who had put the group together and occasionally co-wrote some songs. This was her only No.1 hit, although she also co-penned the follow-up, "Now Those Days Are Gone", which was a top 10 hit. The lyrics concern a man who has become obsessed with a woman, who is clearly not interested, but he thinks differently and has convinced himself that she is lying to herself and so he pursues her. The 'camera' of the title denotes his view of the situation.

 

"My Camera Never Lies" was the third UK number one single for Bucks Fizz for a single week in April 1982 and saw the group reach the peak of their career, being the follow-up to "The Land of Make Believe", which had also reached No.1 a few months earlier. The single was one of the group's biggest hits and after a swift rise to the top, remained on the chart for 8 weeks. This was to be the group's final No.1, but gave Bucks Fizz their third chart topper in 12 months. It was one of the top 40 selling singles of the year.

 

The promotional video which accompanied the song depicted Bucks Fizz dressed as characters from a number of famous movies, such as The Wizard of Oz and Cleopatra.

"My Camera Never Lies" featured on the group's second album "Are You Ready", released two months later. An extended version of the song was released on 12" single. A slight reworking with some re-recorded vocals was released on "The Lost Masters" album in 2006.

 

 

17.04.1982 : Bardo - One Step Further (2 weeks # 1)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5c/One_step_further_bucks_fizz.jpg

 

 

One Step Further", written by Simon Jefferis, was the United Kingdom's entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1982, performed by the duo Bardo, comprising Sally Ann Triplett and Stephen Fischer.

 

Bardo won the right to perform at Harrogate by winning the UK national final, A Song for Europe, where they were the seventh act to perform. On the day of the contest, bookmakers Ladbrokes rated the song as the favourite to win at odds of 5-2. Commentator, Terry Wogan also thought the song would be the "outright winner".DJ and well-known Eurovision fan, John Peel stated in an interview that "One Step Further" was his favourite Eurovision song of all time. At the end of judging that evening, "One Step Further" took the seventh-place slot with 76 points.

 

During Preview Week, the music video involved the two going on a date at London's Covent Garden market, viewing, among other things, the vendors and shops in the centre, a Punch and Judy puppet show and animals doing special tricks.

 

At the night of the Contest itself, the orchestra played the tune in a retro style; the song related the singers' nervousness about seeing one another as they both fancy each other. They are so afraid of being embarrassed, however, that they don't do anything about their feelings. They both lament that if they only took "one step further," they would have been able to conquer these fears. The single version and subsequent live versions used many electronic musical instruments popular in the early 1980s and had more of a contemporary feel than many Eurovision entries. Despite containing a grammatic faux pas ("I could have tooken one step further"), the BBC did not request that 'proper' English was performed at the contest as they had with previous examples of bad grammar in UK entries.

 

After Eurovision, the song was placed at #2 on the UK Singles Chart, which would be the highest chart placing for a UK Eurovision entry until 1996. The song was the 75th highest selling single of 1982 in the UK, achieving a Silver disc for sales of over 250,000.

 

Bardo were managed by Nichola Martin, the woman responsible for 1981 Eurovision victors Bucks Fizz, and produced by the same producer, Andy Hill. Signed to Epic Records, plans were in place to continue Bardo's career, but subsequent singles, "Talking Out of Line" and "Hang On to Your Heart" failed to chart. An album was planned but shelved due to the low sales of the singles.

Edited January 26, 201510 yr by NICI Moose

 

01.05.1982 : Tight Fit - Fantasy Island (3 weeks # 1)

 

http://www.goodrichard.com/wp-content//2009_tight_fit_fantasy_island_cover.jpg

 

 

Tight Fit are a British pop group who had a number of hits in the early 1980s, including a UK No.1 (for three weeks) with their cover version of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" in 1982. The group had two completely different line-ups - the first (a group of session singers) in 1981 and a male/female trio in 1982.

 

In 1981, record producer Ken Gold came up with the idea to record a single made up of a medley of 1960s songs. The medley trend was in full swing at this time, following the success of Starsound and their Stars on 45 singles. He put together a group of male/female session singers and released "Back to the 60s" under the group title, Tight Fit. The song became a hit in the summer and reached No.4 in the UK Singles Chart. Instead of the sessions singers who sang on the record, a group of models were hired to mime to the recording when Tight Fit appeared on the BBC's music show Top of the Pops. A follow-up, "Back to the 60s Part 2" was released soon after and also hit the UK Top 40.

 

Later in the year record producer Tim Friese-Greene recorded a version of the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" with another group of session singers. The song was released in early 1982, again under the name Tight Fit. The song gained instant attention and so a new group was formed to front it. Dancer, singer and male model Steve Grant was teamed up with female singers Denise Gyngell and Julie Harris. The song reached No.1 in the UK for three weeks in March 1982 and the line-up were catapulted into sudden and unexpected stardom.

 

Satisfied that this line-up could actually sing in their own right, Friese-Greene produced their next single, "Fantasy Island" - a song which had been in the Dutch Eurovision Song Contest heats. The song, in a very similar vein to pop group ABBA, also became a success and reached No.5 in May 1982.

 

The group then set about recording an album as well as rehearsing for their first tour. A third single was released in August. "Secret Heart" was not as big as a success as the previous two and stalled at No.41. The debut album was released soon after, but coincided with both Harris and Gyngell leaving the group. Both unhappy with their contract, they claimed that they were not receiving any royalties from their hits and were being paid a paltry wage for their work. Swiftly two new female singers, Vicky Pemberton and Carol Stevens, were employed to take their place and the group released another single, "I'm Undecided" - a song from the album, with new vocals. The song failed to make the UK Chart and this signalled the end of Tight Fit's brief pop stardom. In an interview, Harris stated that the public did not take to the new line-up and had she and Gyngell been still with the group, it would have likely been a hit.

 

The following year, Tight Fit released one more single - a cover of Stephen Stills' "Love The One You're With". Under the banner, Steve Grant with Tight Fit, the song completely missed the chart and the group duly split-up.

Edited May 20, 201312 yr by AlexRange

The only ones to make my number one in 1981 was Bucks Fizz Land of Make Believe, though Kim Wilde (both), Kim Carnes, Pretenders, all came close. That Rachel Sweet duet is a real obscure goodie so well done in bringing it back:) And Kirsty Maccoll of course, much missed. Some of the others Ive forgotten, and I'm not sure I ever knew the Lynda carter track! I will review them when I get round to finishing 1980 (I'm still only only in late september and I already have 300 from that year I rate a lot!)

 

Thanks for comments, John

 

I think, that you must like Dooleys - "And I Wish". It's very ABBA style song.

Lynda Carter song was released in late 1980, but wasn't # 1 in short period of time, because here was 3 songs domination (Sue Wilkinson, ABBA, Barbra)

300+ songs from 1 year ? You are very huge music fan. Most my year charts are top 40 / 50, even with Eurovision and Dutch singles.

Edited April 22, 201312 yr by AlexRange

 

22.05.1982 : Dana - I Feel Love Comin' On (4 weeks # 1)

 

http://www.recordpalace.com/images/d/Dana_I.JPG

 

 

After she scored an Irish number one with the Pope John Paul II tribute, "Totus Tuus" in January 1980, the much larger American Christian market became a possible outlet for her music. During a visit to the National Religious Broadcasters' conference in Washington, opened by US President Jimmy Carter, she signed a recording contract with Word Records. Meanwhile, Warwick Records (United Kingdom) issued Everything is Beautiful in late 1980. Subtitled 20 Inspirational Songs, the album contained covers of songs like "Let it Be", "Morning Has Broken" and "My Sweet Lord" and became her biggest-selling album in the UK. It was followed by "Totally Yours" in 1981, her first Christian album for Word.

 

She was soon back in the studios again to make Magic in 1982, a pop album for Lite Records. It included four songs by her younger brothers, John and Gerald Brown as well as "I Feel Love Comin' On", which was to be Dana's final UK chart entry. Dana released the official World Cup song for the Northern Ireland football team, "Yer Man", which was recorded with the full squad heading to Spain for the finals. Following this, she recorded her second album for Word, Let There Be Love, containing a variety of tracks from up-tempo to an old Irish hymn sung in Gaelic.

 

A tour of America took place in 1984 to promote the Word albums: Dana appeared in concert halls, churches and colleges, as well as TV and radio. After fifteen years in show business, Hodder and Stoughton published her first book, Dana – An Autobiography, in 1985, which told of her family life, pop career and growing devotion to God. Dana finally saw the Pope in 1987 at the Superdome in New Orleans. She was invited to perform "Totus Tuus" before a gathering of 80,000 or more.

 

 

19.06.1982 : Bucks Fizz - Now Those Days Are Gone (2 weeks # 1)

 

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"Now Those Days Are Gone" is a single by UK pop group Bucks Fizz. It became a UK top ten hit in July 1982 and featured on the group's album "Are You Ready".

 

Written by Andy Hill and Nichola Martin and produced by Hill, this was the group's only single to feature member Mike Nolan on lead vocals, it was also the last to be co-written by Martin, who founded the group. The song was a stark contrast to the group's singles up to this point, which had all featured very full pop productions, this time, the song was partly an a cappella piece with soft harmonies and a gentle orchestral build towards the end. One reviewer remarked that the impressive vocal structure would give Bucks Fizz some much-needed credibility.

 

The song centres around the narrator who looks back on younger days and recalls how innocent he was then, and reflects on the love he once felt for his partner. The promotional video for the song saw the group in a World War II setting, with Nolan as a radio singer and members Bobby G, Cheryl Baker and Jay Aston being caught in a love triangle. Much of the video was filmed in Hyde Park, London. The single sleeve's cover shot was taken at the group's publicist, Jenny Halsall's manor house in Cambridge.

 

Released in June 1982, this single followed up two No.1 hits, "My Camera Never Lies" and "The Land Of Make Believe" and reached No.8 in the UK Charts. It remained on the chart for nine weeks and earned a silver disc for sales of over 250,000. It performed even better in Ireland, where it reached No.5. The following year, "Now Those Days Are Gone" received an Ivor Novello nomination for best song of 1982.

 

03.07.1982 : Brotherhood Of Man - Lighting Flash (4 weeks # 1)

 

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"Lightning Flash" is their first single from their final 12th studio album.

 

The album contained the singles "Lightning Flash", "Cry Baby Cry" and "When the Kissing Stops". Of these, only the first managed to chart, their first UK singles chart placing for nearly four years. The front cover of the album only has the lettering B H o M as an indication of a title or artist, the back cover states the group's name, while only the record itself gives the title as Lightning Flash on the label. This is the official title given to the album according to release information. Track "Is it Love" is erroneously titled "It is Love" on the back sleeve, but correct title is given on the record's label. The song "When the Kissing Stops" had been entered into A Song for Europe earlier in 1983, and although the group briefly considered performing it themselves, ultimately a three-piece group, Rubic was chosen to sing it. The song made it to the finals, but stalled at 5th place (out of eight entries). Brotherhood of Man themselves released the song in June 1983 as their final ever single.

 

Despite being highly regarded by fans, the album failed to chart and met with critical response from the music press. Writing for Smash Hits, Neil Tennant said of the "Lightning Flash" song that despite its synthesized sound, "the group have failed to capture the freshness that new pop demands". In reviewing the album, Record Mirror commented on the low budget sound of the music claiming that it was "mortgaged to the hilt".

Edited January 26, 201510 yr by NICI Moose

 

24.07.1982 : Nicole - A Little Peace (3 weeks # 1)

 

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"Ein bißchen Frieden" ("A Little Peace" in English) is a song in German, written by prolific German Eurovision-writing duo Ralph Siegel (music) and Bernd Meinunger (lyrics) for the Eurovision Song Contest 1982 in Harrogate, Yorkshire, England.

 

The song was performed by 17-year-old high-school student Nicole, resulting in Germany's first win at the Eurovision Song Contest by a record margin of sixty-one points, setting a new record for the largest winning margin that lasted until the Eurovision Song Contest 1997, at which "Love Shine a Light" by Katrina and the Waves won by 70 points.

 

After winning the contest, Nicole performed the reprise in four different languages: German, English, French and Dutch. It topped the charts in many countries, selling more than three million copies and English version was the last Eurovision winner to top the charts in the United Kingdom. The English version also holds the honour of becoming the 500th British Number One.

 

 

21.08.1982 : Nicole - Give Me More Time (4 weeks # 1)

 

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Next single from Eurovision winner Nicole after her European hit "A Little Peace". # 75 in UK Singles Chart.

Edited January 26, 201510 yr by NICI Moose