#70

 

2 consecutive weeks at a peak of #70

Jethro Tull - Lap Of Luxury (1984)

Sting - Fragile (1988)

Tyree - Hardcore Hip House (1989)

(1984)

29/09/1984: 76-72-70-70

(1986)

07/06/1986: 95-70-70-71

 

2 non-consecutive runs at a peak of #70

(1989)

11/02/1989: 82-70-72-70-87

 

A couple of acts who had a #1 elsewhere in the 80s feature today. British reggae group Aswad had existed since the mid-70s, but didn't make the chart until 1984 when this was one of their two minor hits that year. They wouldn't make the Top 75 again until the chart-topping Don't Turn Around in 1988.

 

I've also picked out The Locomotion more through curiosity than anything else - Stewart and Gaskin's cover of It's My Party reached #1 in 1981, and this was one of only two subsequent chart hits for the duo. It predated the Kylie version by two years, but unlike their chart topper, it doesn't really do anything different with the song.

 

Today's double-peaking song is from an act I do know a little about - Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman were part of Prince's band The Revolution, and had significant roles in developing such hits as Purple Rain and Kiss which largely went unrecognised at the time. After Prince dissolved the group, they continued as a duo and eventually had a Top 40 later in 1989.

 

The halfway point in this countdown has been reached! :w00t:

#71

 

3 consecutive weeks at a peak of #71

Hugh Jackman and The Greatest Showman Ensemble - From Now On (2018)

20/09/2018: 71-71-71-77-77-75-75-79-85-90

 

2 non-consecutive runs at a peak of #71

[NONE]

 

The most weeks at a #71 peak were taken by the closing track and eighth charting song from the soundtrack of The Greatest Showman. A combination of the 3-track rule and ACR meant it had to wait until its 36th week on the Sales top 100 until the previous seven tracks had gone to ACR to give it a chance to breathe officially - by that time, it would have likely managed a peak somewhere between #40 and #50 by the old rules. Despite this still-low peak, it was 79th in the EOY chart of 2018.

 

When you get to #71, you'll be picking on one of my favourite songs of the 1980s which had a chart run of 86-{71}-71-72. <3

As I'd only been looking for songs which held records (solely or jointly) for weeks at each position, and I already knew From Now On had managed 3 weeks at #71 before I started looking for songs with 2 weeks anywhere, I didn't complete a list of everything which had just 2 weeks at #71. However it didn't take me long to identify this song as

(1983), the second of fifteen Top 75 hits for Matt Johnson and co, none of which made the Top 15.

There was a version of 'War' with one of the Gladiators?! How did that not become an all time classic *_*

#72

 

2 consecutive weeks at a peak of #72

 

(2020)

08/10/2020: 79-98-87; 05/11/2020: 95-74-72-72-89; 14/01/2021: 82-89

(1993)

25/09/1993: 72-72

(2022)

10/02/2022: 93-72-72-79-83-95-96

 

2 non-consecutive runs at a peak of #72

[NONE]

 

We're now down to a new low of just three songs sharing a record of 2 weeks, and all of them after the 1980s. Too Many Nights is JC Stewart's only appearance in the Top 75 to date, with the #96 Break My Heart his only solo chart hit. Meanwhile, 220 Kid went on to appear on a #1 with some sea shanty remix a few months later.

 

Next here's another artist (after The The yesterday) who's had exactly fifteen Top 75 hits without reaching the Top 15. Lloyd Cole started out alongside The Commotions - I particularly like their 1984 debut hit Perfect Skin - but was on his own by 1993. So You'd Like To Save The World actually shared the #72 spot with two other songs on its first week there, as they had sold exactly the same amount.

 

The last song today, Notion, was a beneficiary of TikTok, much like just about every other hit this year by a previously uncharted artist which doesn't sound anything like Too Many Nights.

As I'd only been looking for songs which held records (solely or jointly) for weeks at each position, and I already knew From Now On had managed 3 weeks at #71 before I started looking for songs with 2 weeks anywhere, I didn't complete a list of everything which had just 2 weeks at #71. However it didn't take me long to identify this song as

(1983), the second of fifteen Top 75 hits for Matt Johnson and co, none of which made the Top 15.

 

 

It was indeed- although I guess it probably shouldn't count anyway as it did chart in the Top 20 in January 1994 after a re-recorded version.

'Notion' is fab, shame it didn't take off more.

#73

 

2 consecutive weeks at a peak of #73

Stiff Little Fingers - Bits Of Kids (1982)

Tracie - Soul's On Fire (1984)

Trevor Walters - Never Let Her Slip Away (1984)

(1993)

25/12/1993: 73-73

 

2 non-consecutive runs at a peak of #73

Puff Daddy featuring R. Kelly - Satisfy You [import] (2000)

(1981)

13/06/1981: 73-74-73

 

Ever wondered how a happy hardcore version of the Home Alone 2 soundtrack would sound? Wonder no longer - and the X-Mess in the title is pretty spot on. Elsewhere, I like what I've heard from punk band Stiff Little Fingers, but I couldn't bring myself to look up a song of that title - I can recommend Suspect Device from them instead.

 

For the double-peakers, I'll skip over the import forerunner this time. I know little about Bill Nelson, but that's a fairly rousing synth-assisted reggae song there.

That Rotterdam Termination Source song was sent to one of the BJSC Christmas spinoffs, I don't remember it that well but I gave it a few points so I guess it must have been a mess in a good way :lol:

#74

 

2 consecutive weeks at a peak of #74

Aretha Franklin - Get It Right (1983)

Bang - You're The One (1989)

Dion - King Of The New York Streets (1989)

Jody Watley - Everything (1990)

Vanessa Williams - Dreamin' (1989)

Wendell Williams - So Groovy (1991)

(2019)

30/08/2018: 92; 13/09/2018: 78; 15/08/2019: 91-74-74-82-96-78

(1988)

19/03/1988: 80-74-74-85

 

2 non-consecutive runs at a peak of #74

(1983)

14/05/1983: 81-79-74-75-74

 

Amy Wadge co-wrote Thinking Out Loud for Ed Sheeran, and although her song from Keeping Faith didn't have quite the same chart longevity, it deserves a spot for finally breaking into the Top 75 in 2019 from mostly pure sales. The song I've picked out for the late Teena Marie was interpolated by the Fugees in their first chart hit, Fu-Gee-La.

 

Probably the lowest peaking hit to manage a 3-week continuous Top 75 run (although Wet Leg - Wet Dream for one also had 3 weeks in total with a #74 peak) is this synth pop hit from Paul Haig - his vocal style sounds reminiscent of Blancmange, as featured at #65 in this countdown.

#75

 

2 consecutive weeks at a peak of #75

(1980)

17/05/1980: 75-75

(1987)

15/08/1987: 75-75-86

 

2 non-consecutive runs at a peak of #75

(2020)

22/10/2020: 76-81-75-86-82-75

(2018)

08/03/2018: 75; 22/03/2018: 75

 

We bid farewell to the remaining years before 1983 after today, and also most of 1991-93 where the OCC have only given a Top 75 online.

 

Calibre Cuts is a fitting end to those earlier years - it's a collage of samples of 70s disco/soul songs, the first of which I recognised from the Massive Attack song Lately (from their Blue Lines album) using the same sample, which it seems is Mellow Mellow Right On by Lowrell. Colonel Abrams reached #3 with Trapped in 1985, one of the first major hits based around the Chicago house sound. He had a handful of smaller hits, including How Soon We Forget which seems to have stuck to the same formula.

 

Two songs also managed two weeks at the bottom rung of the chart as Polyhex and Music Week know it, but with a gap in the middle. Clairo's song very nearly got a third as it entered at #76 after taking off on, what else, TikTok. Logic's was always unlikely to reach the same audience as his previous hit, 1-800-273-8255, which was one of my favourite songs of 2017.

 

That's every position in the Top 75 covered now! :yahoo: I've updated the original posts with all records revealed in this countdown.

 

I'd like to complete 76-100 in a continuous run like I've done so far, but to do that I'll need a few days to get ahead of myself with the prep, so I'm pausing the countdown for the next 5 days. To plug the gap, I'll be posting the lists of songs which share the current records of 2 consecutive weeks at each of #30, #35, #36, #38 and #39, since I haven't yet added them to the original posts.

2 consecutive weeks at a peak of #30

Alexander O'Neal - Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) / Thank You For A Good Year (1988)

Bananarama - Long Train Running (1991)

Carter USM - Let's Get Tattoos (1994)

Communards - You Are My World (1985)

Cult - Revolution (1985)

Dan-I - Monkey Chop (1979)

Eagles - Please Come Home For Christmas (1978)

Echo And The Bunnymen - Silver (1984)

Electric Light Orchestra - Twilight (1981)

Elton John - I Don’t Wanna Go On With You Like That (1988)

Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight (Live) (1991)

Gerry Rafferty - Get It Right Next Time (1979)

Heart - Who Will You Run To (1987)

Jeremih featuring 50 Cent - Down On Me (2011)

Martha Reeves and The Vandellas - Honey Chile (1968)

Rose Royce - Do Your Dance (1977)

Roy Head - Treat Her Right (1965)

Samantha Janus - A Message To Your Heart (1991)

Silver Convention - Save Me (1975)

Special AKA / Madness / Selecter / Beat - The 2 Tone EP (1993)

T-Pain - I'm Sprung (2006)

(2009)

Thunderthighs - Central Park Arrest (1974)

Toni Braxton - You Mean The World To Me (1994)

Transvision Vamp - Revolution Baby (1988)

 

No chart runs as 2 weeks at these Top 40 positions isn't extraordinary in itself. You Belong With Me reached #2 in the US and (famously) won Best Female Video at the 2009 MTV VMAs. The "Taylor's Version" of the song reached #52 in the UK last year.

2 consecutive weeks at a peak of #35

AC/DC - Nervous Shakedown (1984)

(1981)

Calvin Harris featuring HAIM - Pray To God (2015)

David Guetta & Afrojack featuring Charli XCX & French Montana - Dirty Sexy Money (2017)

Del Shannon - Mary Jane (1964)

Frank Sinatra and Count Basie - My Kind Of Girl (1963)

Glyn Poole - Milly Molly Mandy (1973)

Julian Cope - Charlotte Anne (1988)

Jungle Brothers - What 'U' Waitin' '4' (1990)

Linda Ronstadt - Blue Bayou (1978)

Los Pop Tops - Mammy Blue (1971)

Madness - Sweetest Girl (1986)

Neneh Cherry - Buddy X (1993)

Pyramids -Train Tour To Rainbow City (1967)

Spencer Davis Group - Mr Second Class (1968)

Sweet - The Lies In Your Eyes (1976)

T-Pain featuring Teddy Verseti - Church (2008)

 

The River was Bruce Springsteen's first Top 40 hit in the UK. I've mentioned it elsewhere, but it's one of my absolute favourite songs of all time.

So that's both of T-Pain's solo top 40 hits having 2 weeks at their peak :magic: (Teddy Verseti is just an alias of T-Pain)

 

:heart: @ 'The River' as I have also had a chance to express my love for recently x

2 consecutive weeks at a peak of #36

Banned - Little Girl (1977)

Barry Manilow - I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter (1982)

C.C.S. - Band Played The Boogie (1973)

Chris Andrews - Stop That Girl (1966)

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Sweet Hitch-Hiker (1971)

Diana Vickers - The Boy Who Murdered Love (2010)

Doug Sheldon - I Daw Linda Yesterday (1963)

Erin Rocha - Can't Do Right For Doing Wrong (2003)

Everly Brothers - Gone, Gone, Gone (1964)

Gap Band - Humpin' (1981)

(2017)

Maze featuring Frankie Beverly - Too Many Games (1985)

Ned's Atomic Dustbin - Intact (1992)

New Seekers - Goodbye Is Just Another Word (1973)

PM Dawn - A Watcher's Point Of View (1991)

RIO featuring U-Jean - Turn This Club Around (2012)

Ronnie Lane and The Band Slim Chance - The Poacher (1974)

Settlers - The Lightning Tree (1971)

Spotnicks - Just Listen To My Heart (1963)

Stiff Little Fingers - Nobody's Hero / Tin Soldiers (1980)

Stutz Bear Cats / Dennis King Orchestra - The Song That I Sing (Theme From 'We'll Meet Again') (1982)

Tears For Fears - Advice For The Young At Heart (1990)

Time Frequency - New Emotion EP (1993)

UFO - Young Blood (1980)

Vixen - Love Made Me (1989)

Wayne Fontana - It Was Easier To Hurt Her (1965)

 

Spirit was the second Top 40 hit for J Hus as lead artist.

2 consecutive weeks at a peak of #38

Adam Wade - Take Good Care Of Her (1961)

And Why Not? - Restless Days (She Screams Out Loud) (1989)

Billy Connolly - In The Brownies (1979)

(1985)

Buggles - Clean, Clean (1980)

CHVRCHES - The Mother We Share (2013)

Elvis Presley - You Gotta Stop / Love Machine (1967)

Fatback Band - Night Fever (1976)

Gary Glitter - Papa Oom Mow Mow (1975)

George Harrison - Ding Dong Ding Dong (1975)

H2O - Just Outside Of Heaven (1983)

Hothouse Flowers - An Emotional Time (1993)

Kid Laroi - So Done (2021)

Lady Sovereign - So Human (2009)

Lee Dorsey - Confusion (1966)

Lindy Layton - We Got The Love (1993)

Lloyd Cole and The Commotions - Cut Me Down (1986)

Milltown Brothers - Which Way Should I Jump? (1991)

Ry X - Berlin (2013)

Scaffold - Gin Gan Goolie (1969)

Sheena Easton - Machinery (1982)

Soft Cell with Marc Almond - Say Hello Wave Goodbye '91 (1991)

Status Quo - Rock 'Til You Drop (1992)

 

This set of songs are only here because of a 1992 reissue of Sex Pistols - Anarchy In The UK which made #33 and wiped out its 3-week #38 peak from its 1976 original release. The less said about some of this list the better, although there are a few good ones like the CHVRCHES song which rightly gets a lot of support in RotD every year, and Bryan Adams' first US #1 which DJ Sammy covered for a UK chart topper.

2 consecutive weeks at a peak of #39

Big Country - Peace In Our Time (1989)

Boney M - We Kill The World (Don't Kill The World) (1981)

Bugzy Malone and MIST - Energy (2022)

Connie Francis - Don't Break The Heart That Loves You (1962)

Edwin Starr - Headline News (1966)

Gary Glitter - And Then She Kissed Me (1981)

James Brown - Rapp Payback (Where Iz Moses?) (1981)

John Inman - Are You Being Served Sir? (1975)

Lene Lovich - Bird Song (1979)

(1967)

Level 42 - Take Care Of Yourself (1989)

Machine Gun Kelly featuring Bring Me The Horizon - Maybe (2022)

Midge Ure and Mick Karn - After A Fashion (1983)

Motley Crue - Without You (1990)

Neil Diamond - Desiree (1977)

O'Jays - Sing A Happy Song (1979)

Roger Daltrey - Free Me (1980)

Salt-N-Pepa - Start Me Up (1992)

Santa Claus and the Christmas Trees - Singalong-A-Santa Again (1983)

Sharon Redd - Love How You Feel (1983)

Texas - You Owe It All To Me (1993)

 

Lastly for this middle section, the highlight of today's list has to be the legendary fast banjo picking of Foggy Mountain Breakdown, a bluegrass tune which dates back to the 1940s and one you might recognise once you hear it.

 

The countdown resumes with #76 tomorrow!

#76

 

2 consecutive weeks at a peak of #76

Busta Rhymes featuring Mariah Carey - I Know What You Want [import] (2003)

Clive Griffin - Be There (1989)

Diana Ross - Shock Wave (1987)

It Bites - Kiss Like Judas (1988)

Mad'House - Like A Prayer [import] (2002)

Roy Orbison - Wild Hearts (1985)

Sam Smith - I Feel Love (2019)

Uriah Heep - Stay On Top (1983)

Walkers - Don't Waste My Time (1986)

(2003)

01/02/2003: 91; 15/02/2003: 76-76

 

2 non-consecutive runs at a peak of #76

Mad'House - Like A Prayer [import] (2002: 2+1)

(1984)

27/10/1984: 76-80-76-92

(1988: 1+2)

13/02/1988: 76-77-76-76

 

We move to positions 76-100 over the next 24 days, like the advent calendar you didn't know you wanted (and probably don't). A fair number of songs spent 2 or 3 weeks at #76: eleven to be precise, or nine if we exclude imports - in the latter case, Miss You (not that one) is the only 2003 hit in this countdown, charting almost 18 months after Aaliyah's tragic death at the age of 22.

 

Champaign are best know for their late-night commercial radio staple How 'Bout Us - the song above which had two separate weeks at #76 is a little more upbeat and was their only other charting song.

 

However the prize for unluckiest song not to make it into the Top 75 goes to Kiss Like Judas, with 3 weeks at #76 broken only by a week at #77. It Bites did reach the Top 75 with a handful of their other hits, but only the #6 Calling All The Heroes made the Top 40.

Reminded of the existence of that Sam Smith cover of 'I Feel Love' for a second time in the span of 2 weeks after it being mentioned at the #1 albums session when playing the Bronski Beat version.

#77

 

2 consecutive weeks at a peak of #77

Balaam & The Angel - I'll Show You Something Special (1987)

Cheap Trick - Don't Be Cruel (1988)

Dermot Morgan - Thank You Very Much Mr Eastwood (1985)

Joe Fagin - Breaking Away (1983)

Julia Michaels - Heaven (2018)

Justin Bieber - Get Used To Me (2015)

Kevin McDermott - Wheels Of Wonder (1989)

(2019)

19/09/2019: 77-77; 17/10/2019: 98; 09/01/2020: 100-98

(1984)

17/03/1984: 93-77-77

 

2 non-consecutive runs at a peak of #77

[NONE]

 

As mentioned when the Armani White song came up at #65, here is Billie herself - this post-album single was pushed while 'bad guy' was still in the Top 40. Danse Society never had a Top 40 hit, but have a couple of songs in this countdown - this one is a Rolling Stones cover.

 

Nothing has yet had two visits to today's peak. However for tomorrow's, it has happened - and for the first time earlier this year...

#78

 

2 consecutive weeks at a peak of #78

Brendan Shine - Thank God For Kids (1983)

Brian Spence - Reputation (1988)

Hot House - The Way We Walk (1987)

Shanice Wilson - I'll Bet She's Got A Boyfriend (1988)

Tom Zanetti featuring Silky - Flight Mode (2020)

Vitamin Z - Every Time That I See You (1985)

(1990)

27/01/1990: 78-78

 

2 non-consecutive runs at a peak of #78

(2022)

14/07/2022: 94-82-78-88-82-79-78-81-93

 

A couple of dance tunes today. Westbam made their chart debut with this track - they went on to have a Top 40 hit with Wizards Of The Sonic five years later.

 

As promised, a song from earlier this year became the first to double-peak at #78. And what a song it is too - how Jungle didn't reach anywhere near the heights of Turn On The Lights again.. is one of the year's chart injustices.