Probably not only the greatest Christmas no1 of all time but one of the great no1s of all time!

Could we say the Sound of Make Believe was the only remotely Christmassy song in the top 10 which would go to no1 eventually?

 

Is it a Girls Aloud / Bucks Fizz mash-up?

Or a The Human League / Bucks Fizz mash-up, perhaps?

😄

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25TH DECEMBER

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Christmas has arrived! Though of course in chart terms the Christmas sales week is actually as far away from the big day as it can possibly be which goes a long way to explaining why sales aren’t as good as they normally are for the period.

All that being said congratulations go to Renee & Renato who make it a fortnight at No 1 with “Save Your Love” which sells a healthy 136,000 thanks to the publicity afforded to the festive chart topper, and a total which facilities the tracks total sales swelling to 396,000 copies which is far better than how it was looking last week.





In total that’s an increase of 57%, indeed only 2 tracks in the top 10 register a sales drop as you might expect given the festive period, their victory was in the end quite an easy one, nearest challenger Shakin Stevens rises 4-2 on a sale of 102,000, itself healthy but never in danger of threatening “Save Your Love”.





Phil Collins’s second album “Hello I Must Be Going” entered the charts at No 2 last month unable to unseat “Kids From Fame” but has underperformed since dropping out of the top 20 on the strength of the first single “Thru These Walls” which surprisingly tanked at No 56 in October. Perhaps that influenced his choice of second single which is a cover of the Supremes classic “You Can’t Hurry Love” which seems to have about faced the situation by catapulting 17-6 (67,000) to become his second top 10 hit as a soloist.





Accumulating 7 top 10 hits (including two chart toppers) in the 70s David Essex has been busy in films and treading the boards in the 80s but he still remembers his roots now and again. “Silver Dream Machine” peaked at No 4 back in 1980 and now he’s back for his 9th top 10 smash with “A Winter’s Tale”, it’s written by Tim Rice and Mike Batt. It rockets 30-7 (59,000) but it’s a bit too late for the big day, we’ll have to see how many want that Winter feeling in the new year?!





David Bowie and Bing Crosby power 10-3 (85,000) proving popular with mums and dads





Culture Club dip 3-4 despite a sales increase of 40% to 78,000,





and Madness hold at No 5 with sales of 71,000.






Modern Romance rise gently 9-8 (54,000)



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whilst those two tracks losing sales are Lionel Richie (6-9 47,000)



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and The Jam (2-10 44,000)



1- SAVE YOUR LOVE- Renee & Renato (136,000)
2- THE SHAKIN STEVENS EP- Shakin Stevens (102,000)
3- PEACE ON EARTH- LITTLE DRUMMER BOY- David Bowie & Bing Crosby (85,000)
4- TIME (CLOCK OF THE HEART)- Culture Club (78,000)
5- OUR HOUSE- Madness (71,000)
6- YOU CAN’T HURRY LOVE- Phil Collins (67,000)
7- A WINTER’S TALE- David Essex (59,000)
8- BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES- Modern Romance (54,000)
9- TRULY- Lionel Richie (47,000)
10- BEAT SURRENDER- The Jam (44,000)

Top 10 in pics

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This top 10 will be shown on TOTPs 1982 on BBC 4 in the coming months - once again not hugely packed with Xmas tracks but A Winters Tale & Peace on Earth still get regular spins every year now. A poor no1 for me though - roll on 1983.

 

Madness had so many classic hits between 1979-83 such a great band!

 

No surprise to see Shaky assaulting the top of the Xmas chart with a Christmas 50s cover as he had been doing that with a lot of success since 1980 although something tells me he may well have a bigger Christmas hit before the decades out....

Also not a fan of the Number 1, rated 5th in the Daily Telegraph worst Christmas number 1's of all time poll, says it all.

The video was bizarre as well, Renee was replaced by a model, a cruel decision in my opinion.

Not surprised by that - it was a random no1, but like Reel Petite in 1986!

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24TH DECEMBER



And so it is that "Only You" becomes the Christmas No 1 for 1983 as there is no chart next week. The track sold 129,000 copies last week as it continues to grow at retail to now amount to 367,000 copies and was never in danger of being caught by the chasing pack who all underperformed considering the time of year.





Slade take the silver medal for this year as they rise 3-2 with "My Oh My" which is now their biggest hit since 1974, their other Christmas favourite "Merry Xmas Everyone" also stands at No 20, it's first time in the top 20 since the original release 10 years ago, in the end though "My Oh My" only sold 79,000 copies to take that position.



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Bookies favourite Culture Club ended up in bronze rising 4-3 though it had a minimal sales bump to 62,000, though of course "Colour By Numbers" ended up No 3 on the album charts and detracted considerable sales from the single.





Back with their 17th top 10 hit Status Quo serge 25-5 (54,000) with the party themed "Marguerita Time". It comes with a special Christmas double pack of "Caroline/ Joanne" to keep fans entertained over the festive period and rounds another successful year for the rockers tough all is not well in the camp as several noted. Guitarist Alan Lancaster has made it known that he personally dislikes the track thinking it too pop orientated and pointedly made a non-appearance at TOTP to promote the single, his place being taken by Jim Lea of Slade for proceedings.





Already a US No 1 single "Islands In The Stream" becomes a UK top 10 single this week rising 11-8 ( 48,000), it is penned by the Gibb brothers who seem to have become solely writers for other acts these days. The song was apparently written with Marvin Gaye in mind but passed on Rogers for his new album "Eyes That See In The Dark", as for Parton her only bigger UK single was 1976's "Jolene" which went one place better at No 7.



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The only other climber is Billy Joel who creeps 8-7 (48,000).





Not such good news for Paul Young who gives up the fight and drops 2-4 (60,000) but has the consolation of the Christmas No 2 album "No Parlez"



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also heading south are Thompson Twins (5-6, 53,000),





Tina Turner 6-9 (48,000) and



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Cliff Richard 7-10 (45,000).



1- ONLY YOU- Flying Pickets (129,000)
2- MY OH MY- Slade (79,000)
3- VICTIMS- Culture Club (62,000)
4- LOVE OF THE COMMON PEOPLE- Paul Young (60,000)
5- MARGUERITA TIME- Status Quo (54,000)
6- HOLD ME NOW- Thompson Twins (53,000)
7- TELL HER ABOUT IT- Billy Joel (48,000)
8- ISLANDS IN THE STREAM- Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers (48,000)
9- LET’S STAY TOGETHER- Tina Turner (48,000)
10- PLEASE DON’T FALL IN LOVE- Cliff Richard (45,000)

Top 10 in pics

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Also not a fan of the Number 1, rated 5th in the Daily Telegraph worst Christmas number 1's of all time poll, says it all.

The video was bizarre as well, Renee was replaced by a model, a cruel decision in my opinion.

 

 

What were top 4?

Love the number one - sounds quite like a future top 3 Xmas hit - Caravan of Love by the Housemartine IMO. Not especially Xmassy but I have to say I do hear it quite a lot each Christmas still now!

 

Loved seeing Slade having a random comeback in 1982/83 - I Assume this was the reason why Merry Xmas Everybody was at no20?

I think so. It was the 10th anniversary of its release as well and slade had had something of a revival in the early 80s.

Yeh they were on TOTPs 1982 at the start of the year a few times with a minor heavy rock hit and I'm looking forward to My Oh My!

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29TH DECEMBER



Taking just three weeks to become the best-selling single of the 1984 and of the 80s, “Do They Know It’s Christmas” refuses to slacken the pace somewhat incredibly posing a sales increase of 11% to 631,000 copies last week to become Christmas No 1 for 1984. That puts its sales at 1,837,000 in just 21 days as it stays on course to sell its two millionth copy during this week, those who suspected the selling power of Frankie couldn’t be met this year are proved wrong at the death!

Phonogram are ensuring demand for the single by having all five of its European factories dedicated to produce copies of the single as it tops the charts in various countries around the world, the stars of the record came together this week to make the Christmas TOTP a special one with a “live” performance though the absence of some of the singers made it clear that it was anything but live.





This chart doesn’t include sales for 23rd or 24th of December but most tracks get a sales boost except Madonna who slips 4-5 (103,000)



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and Frankie Goes To Hollywood who continue to slide 5-6 (70,000) but neither will get too disappointed as the Frankie’s move over the 400,000 mark and Madonna sells her 350,000 copy.



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“Ghostbusters” returns to the top 10 on the strength of its UK Cinema release to cinema which sees the song, which had been as low as no 46 bound back up 15-7 (63,000) this week and in the process sells its 600,000 copy as the year comes to a stellar end for the big sellers.



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The only new song to the top 10 sneaks in 13-10 (49,000) for Tears For Fears who have struggled to find their 1982/83 form when they scored three top 5 hits on the trot. Subsequent singles “The Way You Are” and “Mother’s Talk” only made No’s 24 & 14 respectively but they have found their form again with “Shout”. The song is apparently a call to arms to engage with politics, it’s the second single to be lifted from the second TFT album “Songs From The Big Chair” expected in the spring.



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The entire top 5 top the 100,000 mark with Band Aid and Madonna having already been discussed Wham! Are runner’s up again to Band Aid with “Last Christmas” moving 195,000 copies meaning it has sold 731,000 in three weeks to become the group’s biggest seller. Promotion for the single will now switch to “Everything She Wants” with a promo and remix to boot, if they pull it off then the track could yet make the million mark! In terms of No 2 hits of the decade the song is now second only to “Vienna” and “The Birdie Song” though it should overtake both next week.





Paul McCartney holds at No 3 and increases sales to 141,000 which is the highest sale for a No 3 hit since December 1981 when Abba sold 152,000,





and the Toy Dolls stomp 6-4 selling 139,000 into the bargain.



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Gary Glitter falls back 7-8 (51,000)





and Paul Young holds at No 9 (51,000) though both post sales increases.



1- DO THEY KNOW IT’S CHRISTMAS- Band Aid (631,000)
2- LAST CHRISTMAS/ EVERYTHING SHE WANTS- Wham! (195,000)
3- WE ALL STAND TOGETHER- Paul McCartney & Frog Chorus (141,000)
4- NELLIE THE ELEPHANT- Toy Dolls (139,000)
5- LIKE A VIRGIN- Madonna (103,000)
6- THE POWER OF LOVE- Frankie Goes To Hollywood (70,000)
7- GHOSTBUSTERS- Ray Parker Jr (63,000)
8- ANOTHER ROCK N ROLL CHRISTMAS- Gary Glitter (51,000)
9- EVERYTHING MUST CHANGE- Paul Young (51,000)
10- SHOUT- Tears For Fears (49,000)

Top 10 in pics

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I'm amazed that the "Ghostbusters" song was still selling loads, despite appearing on not one but two of the most recent albums at the time (HITS 1 and NOW 4) which were also selling loads as you'd think that appearing on two of the biggest recent albums can dent the sales of a song

Edited December 16, 20168 yr by Hadji

Yeh interesting information on Ghostbusters - I just assumed it was released at Halloween and was big enough to still be top 10!

 

I know it's probably hard to know and a bit of a pain but do you have info Dasher on the weekly sales breakdown of Last Christmas and Do they know it's Christmas? Where both in their 2 or 3rd week on the chart?

 

At any rate probably the best Christmas top 10 ever for hits and Christmas hits!!

Yeh interesting information on Ghostbusters - I just assumed it was released at Halloween and was big enough to still be top 10!

 

I know it's probably hard to know and a bit of a pain but do you have info Dasher on the weekly sales breakdown of Last Christmas and Do they know it's Christmas? Where both in their 2 or 3rd week on the chart?

 

At any rate probably the best Christmas top 10 ever for hits and Christmas hits!!

 

DTKIC had done 639k then 567k in the previous week whilst LC had done 348k then 188k :D

28TH DECEMBER



The big day arrives and right on cue sales explode in a frenzy of buying that sends Shakin’ Stevens to the No 1 spot with “Merry Christmas Everyone”. It’s Shaky’s fourth chart topper drawing him level with the Jam in terms of the most chart toppers in the 80s, Shaky is also the biggest selling singles act of the decade as he overtakes Madness with sales of over 5.5 million in 6 years, some achievement, he added 167,000 to that tally this week and was an easy victor.



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The only new entry in the top 10 comes from Aled Jones and his version of “Walking In The Air” which dates back a couple of months when toy retailer “Toys R Us” was planning its Christmas advert campaign and wanted to use the song which features in the Channel 4 short film “The Snowman” with slightly altered lyrics. The original artist Peter Auty couldn’t oblige as his voice had broken so step forward Aled Jones who redid the song and bingo, he then recorded the whole track and it’s this version which climbs 14-5 (64,000), Auty’s original is also in the charts but at a rather lowly No 42 this week.





All the singles in the top 10 get a sales improvement regardless of movement, Whitney Houston dips 1-2 (109,000) up 14% in sales terms,



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Band Aid end up at No 3 (92,000- up 32%),





Pet Shop Boys nudge 5-4 (71,000- up 43%)





and Wham! improve 10-6 (63,000 up 108%)





and Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin hold at No 7 (57,000- up 39%).





Three fallers at the bottom of the festive ten Wham! dive 4-8 (56,000- up 4%),



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Madonna slips 8-9 (47,000 up 30%)



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and even Dee C Lee whilst slipping 6-10 sells 44,000 up 5% week on week.



1- MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE- Shakin Stevens (167,000)
2- SAVING ALL MY LOVE FOR YOU- Whitney Houston (109,000)
3- DO THEY KNOW IT’S CHRISTMAS- Band Aid (92,000)
4- WEST END GIRLS- Pet Shop Boys (71,000)
5- WALKING IN THE AIR- Aled Jones (64,000)
6- LAST CHRISTMAS- Wham! (63,000)
7- SEPARATE LIVES- Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin (57,000)
8- I’M YOUR MAN- Wham! (56,000)
9- DRESS YOU UP- Madonna (47,000)
10- SEE THE DAY- Dee C Lee (44,000)

Top 10 in pics

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The above Top 10 features on Pick Of The Pops next Saturday at 1pm on Radio 2 along with 1967 and 1972.

Merry Christmas Everyone was apparently originally due to be released in 1984 but was delayed a year to avoid a clash with Band Aid.

DTKIC had done 639k then 567k in the previous week whilst LC had done 348k then 188k :D

Y

Thanks very much - so they were both released in the first week of December - unbelievable sales consistency there!!

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27TH DECEMBER



In a situation that few foresaw as recently as last month Jackie Wilson storms to the top of the charts just in time to rob the Housemartins of the Christmas No 1 spot, in doing so he creates a bit of chart history, the longest wait from debut to get a chart topper, a total of 29 years in his case. “Reet petite (The Sweetest Girl In Town)” advances 2-1 with a whopping sales increase of 100% compare that to the Housemartins who still gain sales but a more modest 48% to 108,000 resulting in a 14,000 deficit to Wilson.



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Both tracks were the only two songs to break the 100,000 mark this week though the Christmas chart was about as far away from the big day as is possible which helps account for it, they were locked in a neck and neck battle for most of the week with bizarrely more of a boost for Jackie Wilson than the Housemartins post TOTP.



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The only new song in the top 10 is from Alison Moyet who sneaks in just in time with “Is This Love?” the first release from her second album “Raindancing” which is out next month. It also means that she is top 10 simultaneously with former Yazoo partner Vince Clark, it’s a shame that Depeche Mode have nothing currently charting so we can complete the reunion. This track is co-written by Eurythmic Dave Stewart under the pseudonym Jean Guiot and is Moyet’s 4th top 10 hit as it moves 12-8 (37,000).





Europe hold at No 3 (54,000) with a sales increase,





indeed all the top 10 singles get a boost regardless of their movement so Madonna (4-4, 44,000)



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Erasure (5-5, 42,000)



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and Oran “Juice” Jones (6-6, 38,000) all have reason to be cheery.



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As indeed do A-Ha who climb 10-7 (38,000) but must still be relatively disappointed with the performance so far given the hopes,





Gregory Abbott falls 7-9 (37,000)





and Bon Jovi also dip 9-10 (34,000).



1- REET PETITE (SWEETEST GIRL IN TOWN)- Jackie Wilson (122,000)
2- CARAVAN OF LOVE- The Housemartins (108,000)
3- THE FINAL COUNTDOWN- Europe (54,000)
4- OPEN YOUR HEART (REMIX)- Madonna (44,000)
5- SOMETIMES- Erasure (42,000)
6- THE RAIN (SHORT VERSION)- Oran “Juice” Jones (38,000)
7- CRY WOLF- A-Ha (38,000)
8- IS THIS LOVE- Alison Moyet (37,000)
9- SHAKE YOU DOWN- Gregory Abbott (37,000)
10- LIVIN ON A PRAYER- Bon Jovi (34,000)

Top 10 in pics

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