Dissidents is fantastic. It makes great use of the stereo speakers with many different sounds coming from either the left or the right one but not both. It would probably have done a lot better than Windpower in that contest for me.

#91

 

2 consecutive weeks at a peak of #91

Indecent Obsession - Tell Me Something (1990)

Michael Jackson - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (1987)

Rockolas featuring Mike Read - Let's Dance (1983)

Seven - Man With A Vision (1990)

(2015)

07/02/2015: 91-91

 

2 non-consecutive runs at a peak of #91

(1985, 1986)

21/12/1985: 91-98-93-91

 

Imagine Dragons have only had one UK #1 album - 2015's Smoke & Mirrors - and Shots was one of the charting songs from it, but none of them had the longevity of the big hits from their albums before and after it.

 

The only song to have made a #91 peak twice, All The Love (In The World), is... actually a version of Auld Lang Syne, but with different words! (After the first verse anyway.) What a concept, wonder if anything else to the same tune could perhaps even reach #1 :thinking: As you might expect, its return to its peak was from the tracking week which covered New Year's Eve.

#92

 

2 consecutive weeks at a peak of #92

James Hype / Dots Per Inch / Ayak - I Was Lovin' You (2019)

Steve Shelto - Don't You Give Your Love Away (1983)

(2022)

21/07/2022: 92-92-96

(1984)

26/05/1984: 92-92; 16/06/1984: 96

(1989)

22/07/1989: 92-92

 

2 non-consecutive runs at a peak of #92

[NONE]

 

Belters Only had one of this year's biggest dance hits in Make Me Feel Good - I did get ever so slightly tired of it after a while, but I can still give it the occasional listen now. Can't really say the same about this cover version from them, but here it is anyway.

 

New Order have already featured in this countdown with Sub-Culture at #63, but I had to showcase them again as this song from their previous album is so sonically different - a brooding guitar, bass and drums instrumental, which appears to have charted as an import single only.

 

However I think the best song today is from Linda and Cecil Womack, brother and sister-in-law of soul singer Bobby Womack. From the same album as their huge hit Teardrops which was a #3 in the UK, this is more mid-tempo and funk infused.

#93

 

2 consecutive weeks at a peak of #93

(1983)

22/10/1983: 98-96-93-93

(2000)

12/08/2000: 93-93

Toy Dolls - She Goes To Finos (1985)

30/08/1985: 93-93

 

2 non-consecutive runs at a peak of #93

[NONE]

 

Three songs today - first a pleasant slice of 80s synth-backed guitar pop from Friends Again who only had one other chart hit.

 

We've already had a version of Auld Lang Syne this weekend, so why not God Save The Queen? No, not the national anthem, it's the Sex Pistols one - complete with video of Motorhead on top of a Union Jack decked open-top bus around London. I'm not sure why this ended up coming out in 2000, but anyhow it's the only song from that year in this countdown that wasn't an import preceding a full release.

 

The Toy Dolls' version of Nellie The Elephant reached #4 for Christmas 1984, behind a famous Top 3 of Band Aid, Wham! and Paul McCartney And The Frog Chorus. This was their only other charting single and is perhaps more representative of their punk roots.

#94

 

2 consecutive weeks at a peak of #94

Momus - Hairstyle Of The Devil (1989)

(2013)

03/08/2013: 94-94

(1991)

02/02/1991: 94-94

 

2 non-consecutive runs at a peak of #94

Michael Bolton - Georgia On My Mind (1990)

(1985)

13/07/1985: 94-100; 03/08/1985: 99-94

 

X Factor 2012 runner-up Jahmene Douglas is possibly the only act from Swindon to have a #1 album, with his only foray into the singles chart coming at the same time.

 

The next song is a proper cult classic - Motown Junk was the Manics' second single and their first to chart. It was left off their debut album Generation Terrorists, although more recent reissues of the album have included it, and exudes the same raw energy without the big production that album's tracks had.

 

A couple of Michaels had songs which visited their #94 peaks twice - I've selected the non-Bolton one. He made the Top 75 with his only other chart hit which also appears to be his only song on Spotify.

How many songs do we think we'll get today then?

My two favourites in this countdown are still to come.

#95

 

2 consecutive weeks at a peak of #95

Above & Beyond featuring Zoe Johnston - No One On Earth (2004)

Bonnie Tyler - The Best (1988)

Dennis Brown - Senorita (1988)

Hardfloor - Mr Anderson / Fish 'N' Chips (1994)

Mike Oldfield - Shadow On The Wall (1983)

Peter Murphy - Indigo Eyes (1988)

(1985)

02/11/1985: 95-95-98

(1989)

16/12/1989: 95-95

 

2 non-consecutive runs at a peak of #95

(1984, 1985)

15/12/1984: 96-95; 12/01/1985: 95

(2004)

19/06/2004: 95; 11/09/2004: 97-95

 

Spoiled for choice with ten songs today. The Associates had a Top 10 hit in 1982 with the excellent Party Fears Two, however Alan Rankine left the group later that year, leaving it effectively as a Billy Mackenzie solo project.

 

Jethro Tull had three Top 10 hits in 1969 or 1970 - Another Christmas Song is what it says it is, but a charming one at that. Elsewhere, the Bonnie Tyler song is indeed an earlier version of that (with an often misquoted title) which Tina Turner took to #5 the following year.

 

Evelyn Thomas had a #5 hit with High Energy earlier in 1984 - this minor hit which followed soon afterwards sounds a less essential song, but she gives it a belting vocal anyway.

 

The only two songs from 2004 in this countdown appear today, including the Matar dance track which climbed back to #95 three months after it debuted there.

 

And like an advent calendar with only 20 doors, that's all for now. I'll finish off with 96-100 after Christmas.

Edited December 21, 20222 yr by jimwatts

Caught up with this to hopefully see the last few posts on the day you actually post them :magic:

 

Also managing 3 weeks at an #82, albeit with a break in the middle, was Avicii's song which preceded the similarly named The Nights. I'm not entirely sure why it had such a low-key release, but its lyrical theme is just as strong.

 

IIRC it was a streaming-only release for some reason at a time when such a thing made for a significant chart handicap! (It is on iTunes now, not sure when it was finally added but I don't think it was during its chart run, unless I am confusing it with something else in my memory).

 

Kordhell a big highlight from the remainder of the thread, shame that never did take off properly. I totally forgot Jahméne Douglas ever made an appearance in the singles chart and didn't really need the reminder x Also if only that unexplained midweek position for OneRepublic's 'Run' remained their most recent "success"...

#96

 

2 consecutive weeks at a peak of #96

Joy Division - The Peel Sessions EP (1986): Exercise One / Insight /

/

13/12/1986: 96-96

 

2 non-consecutive runs at a peak of #96

(2017)

27/04/2017: 96; 06/07/2017: 96

 

Christmas break over, now this is back for the last 5 days of 2022!

 

As mentioned on the previous page, every position so far has had at least two singles which had at least two weeks in total peaking there. Also, where the consecutive weeks records at peak have been two weeks, there have been at least two singles which have done that. However that latter run is now broken, as only one has had two weeks in a row at a #96 peak - but what a single it is!

 

One of the most influential groups in popular music history, Joy Division never charted during the lifetime of frontman Ian Curtis, and only two of their songs made the Top 75 since his death in May 1980. However two EPs compiled from session recordings on John Peel's Radio 1 show did also make the Top 100, of which this was the first one, released in 1986.

 

Instead of searching for footage of the Peel Sessions performances, I've linked She's Lost Control as it appears on the Unknown Pleasures album, as it is one of my very favourite songs of all time, with the drums, bass and guitar circling hypnotically around the stark, impassioned vocals. It's also my aforementioned favourite song in this 41-100 countdown (not counting Bruce Springsteen's The River from #35 in the intermission section). I've also given the official video of Transmission from a different live recording.

 

The quota of at least two songs having had at least two weeks in total at this peak is fulfilled by the only Top 100 hit from Royal Blood's #1 album How Did We Get So Dark. The duo have had twice as many Top 100 hits, and thrice as many Top 75, as Joy Division, however they have yet to break into the Top 40.

#97

 

2 consecutive weeks at a peak of #97

Damned - There Ain't No Sanity Clause (1983)

Time UK - Playground Of Privilege (1985)

ZieZie - Sensei (2019)

(2014)

23/08/2014: 97-97

 

2 non-consecutive runs at a peak of #97

(1987)

04/07/1987: 97-98-97

 

The title track of Foxes' debut album managed a couple of weeks in the lower reaches - she has only added Body Talk to her singles chart history since then.

 

Regina Belle is a name you may recognise alongside Peabo Bryson from A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme). The two had previously charted with another duet, Without You, shortly after her debut hit which twice made #97 - it's more mid-tempo but still in late-night radio territory.

 

My second favourite song in this countdown is coming tomorrow - I may have hinted earlier in the thread as to what it might be.

#98

 

2 consecutive weeks at a peak of #98

Band Of Gold - This Is Our Time (1985)

David Grant and Double Trouble - Life (1990)

Francis Rossi and Bernard Frost - Jealousy (1985)

Van Morrison - Cry For Home (1983)

(1986)

08/03/1986: 98-98; 29/03/1986: 100

 

2 non-consecutive runs at a peak of #98

(1984, 1985)

03/11/1984: 98; 12/01/1985: 98

(1983)

18/06/1983: 98-99-98

 

Thomas Dolby makes a second appearance in this countdown after Dissidents at #90 - as I mentioned on that entry, he also appeared in Buzzjack's first Best Song Contest In The World... Ever! (more on that contest below). This collaboration was also one of six chart appearances for Japanese producer Ryuichi Sakamoto, including Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence (under artist name "Ryuichi" on the OCC site) which also formed the basis of his biggest hit, the #16 Forbidden Colours with David Sylvian, and was sampled on Watergate's Heart Of Asia which made #3 in 2000.

 

There are two songs which spent two separate weeks at a #98 peak. Both are rather iconic 80s electronic songs, but I'll start with Devo. They never made the Top 40 in the UK, and only once in the US where Whip It reached #14, but their music and visuals have been hugely influential.

 

However the other song is my second favourite in this countdown. Yes, it is none other than Forever Young - a beautiful synth-backed contemplation of mortality and the fragility of youth. I first became aware of the song through the cover versions by Interactive in the 90s, and subsequently by Jay-Z and Mr Hudson in 2009, however I didn't come across Alphaville's original until about 8-9 years ago, at a time before anything had 400 million streams on Spotify. I was pleased to have tracked down something of a lost classic in terms of the UK chart as I knew it - their only Top 75 hit was Big In Japan which reached #8 earlier in 1984.

 

That's how I remembered it (and I had completely forgotten about the Becky Hill version) when I entered it in the song contest mentioned above, where it quickly became apparent that its familiarity was out of place (aside from its Spotify count, it had reached #4 in Germany and performed similarly in much of Europe) and belied its vanishingly small imprint on the UK chart. As it happened, it was one of just ten out of the 25 contest entries to have charted in the UK at all. However its #98 peak was the lowest of those ten and its 2 weeks on the chart were the joint fewest, while the highest peaking song (#16) finished 2nd (although the song which finished 3rd made #15 in remixed form in 1995) and the song with the most weeks on the UK chart (13 in all, albeit with a #67 peak) was the runaway winner. But I've gone off at a tangent here - at least it is immortalised in this here countdown.

Didn't know the Alphaville track even made the top 100 in its original form! I confess I kinda prefer the Jay-Z/Mr Hudson version but it's a good song in all forms. (Not you Becky).

#99

 

2 consecutive weeks at a peak of #99

Expose - What You Don't Know (1989)

Index - Give Me A Sign (1989)

(1983)

24/12/1983: 99-99

 

2 non-consecutive runs at a peak of #99

(1986)

23/08/1986: 99; 13/09/1986: 99

 

Canadian synth-pop group Men Without Hats gave us the brilliant The Safety Dance which reached #6 earlier in 1983. The song above was the only other time they charted in the UK, while their later song Pop Goes The World missed out altogether here but made #20 in the US and #2 in their homeland.

 

I know little about either Sophie or Peter Johnston, but I can confirm their only UK hit was not a cover of the Turtles song of the same name.

 

So there have been at least two songs to have had 2 or more weeks at peak for each position from #1 to #99. If you've been following another thread in this forum, you may have spotted one song which had 2 weeks at a #100 peak - but will there be any more?

Edited December 30, 20222 yr by jimwatts

#100

 

2 consecutive weeks at a peak of #100

Hooray and The Henrys - All Stuck Up (1983)

(1989)

21/10/1989: 100-100

(1986)

10/05/1986: 100-100

 

2 non-consecutive runs at a peak of #100

(1986)

06/09/1986: 100; 20/09/1986: 100

 

The Christmas Number One Hundreds thread revealed at the very start that the Hooray and The Henrys song had 2 Top 100 weeks with a #100 peak. As seen here, there were a few more which did the same - so a full house of Top 100 positions where at least two songs spent 2 or more weeks at peak is complete :cheer:

 

I previously knew Carmel's two Top 40 hits Bad Day and More, More, More - songs which give contrasting vibes as their titles suggest, and their song which had 2 weeks at #100 is at the same happier end of the scale as the latter. Mike Oldfield is perhaps best known as an albums artist, but was quite prolific in the singles chart too with 20 Top 75 hits, and a few which charted a bit lower such as this collaboration with Jon Anderson from the band Yes.

 

And what better way to end this countdown than with "Swindon's finest"... that would be XTC, know for such hits as Making Plans For Nigel and their #10 hit Senses Working Overtime (from their only Top 10 album which reached #5). They had moved a little further from post-punk by 1986, but were still making well-crafted pop songs such as Grass - gotta love the West Country pronunciation of "fire" and "desire" too.

 

 

That ends this journey through the peak positions, and the project I started almost five years ago to identify and collate the songs which had the most weeks at each. Thanks to Bré, Rollo and everyone else who commented along, hope the rest of you found it of some interest too. Happy new year to you all ^_^

Has definitely been interesting to read through this even though I don't know the vast majority of the songs - this is a good reminder that I need to give Hooray And The Henrys a curiosity listen though :lol: well done on completing this :jump:

Thanks so much for this Jim - I am absolutely in awe of your commitment! Sorry I haven’t been commenting - it’s only because I’ve known embarrassingly few of the songs! A mightily impressive piece of work. :)

I didn't know that Mike Oldfield and Jon Anderson had recorded a song together. Giving it a listen, it wasn't as good as I hoped it would be but it had its moments.

Kill Bill on it's 6th week at #3, SZA is the queen of #3's

Edited February 24, 20232 yr by ~1^∞

D-Block Europe - Side Effects appears to have become the first song to visit a #53 peak twice, meaning there has now been at least one double-peaker at every position from #1 down to #55.

 

As of earlier this year, there has now been at least one song to spend each of 1-7 weeks at every peak position in the Top 4. As far as I can tell, the last of each to do so (excluding the current #1 and #2 plus the Christmas songs which are likely to add to their weeks at peak) are as follows:

 

#1s

1 week: Lewis Capaldi - Wish You The Best (2023)

2 weeks: Eliza Rose & Interplanetary Criminal - B.O.T.A. (Baddest of Them All) (2022)

3 weeks: Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) (2022)

4 weeks: Sam Smith & Kim Petras - Unholy (2022)

5 weeks: Olivia Rodrigo - good 4 u (2021)

6 weeks: Taylor Swift - Anti-Hero (2022)

7 weeks: Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Felix, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz & Encanto Cast - We Don't Talk About Bruno (2022)

 

#2s

1 week: Loreen - Tattoo (2023)

2 weeks: Beyoncé - Break My Soul (2022)

3 weeks: J Hus featuring Drake - Who Told You (2023)

4 weeks: PinkPantheress - Boy's a liar (2023)

5 weeks: David Kushner - Daylight (2023)

6 weeks: Fireboy DML & Ed Sheeran - Peru (2022)

7 weeks: Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera - Moves Like Jagger (2011)

 

#3s

1 week: Jung Kook featuring Latto - Seven (2023)

2 weeks: Venbee & Goddard - Messy In Heaven (2022)

3 weeks: Becky Hill & David Guetta - Remember (2021)

4 weeks: George Ezra - Green Green Grass (2022)

5 weeks: Anne-Marie - 2002 (2018)

6 weeks: Doja Cat featuring SZA - Kiss Me More (2021)

7 weeks: SZA - Kill Bill (2023)

 

#4s

1 week: Switch Disco & Ella Henderson - REACT (2023)

2 weeks: Miguel - Sure Thing (2023)

3 weeks: Paul Woolford & Diplo feat. Kareen Lomax - Looking for Me (2020)

4 weeks: Lana Del Rey - Summertime Sadness (2013)

5 weeks: Bobby Vee - More Than I Can Say / Stayin' In (1961)

6 weeks: Little Mix - Touch (2016)

7 weeks: Doris Day and Johnnie Ray - Let's Walk That-A-Way (1953)

Shaboozey - A Bar Song (Tipsy) has equalled the record of 7 weeks at a #3 peak, set by SZA - Kill Bill only last year.

 

It now looks safe to say that Tems - Love Me JeJe has become the first song to spend 3 weeks at a #36 peak, leaving #18, #30, #35 and #39 as the only Top 40 positions where no song has done this yet.

 

Likewise, after 3 non-consecutive weeks at #98 earlier this year, I think we can declare Jazzy - Shooting Star as the first song to make 3 visits to any peak position outside the Top 50, and only the second (after Procol Harum - A Salty Dog at #44 in 1969) to do so at any peak position below #14, as well as the first to spend any 3 weeks at a peak position between 91-100.

Edited July 20, 20241 yr by jimwatts