Welcome to the next instalment of our search for the worst Number 1 ever!

 

See the previous thread covering 1952-1979 here:

http://www.buzzjack.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=253396

 

This is in conjunction with the Number 1 listening sessions where we are covering the full 70 year history of the charts. The idea is to compile a shortlist for an eventual poll.

 

As usual we are trying to largely keep personal taste out of it and choose records where we objectively struggle to see the appeal. For the 80s we have come up with the following list of 13:

 

St Winifred’s School Choir - There’s no one Quite Like Gramdma (1980)

Joe Dolce Music Theatre - Shaddup You Face (1981)

Goombay Dance Band - Seven Tears (1982)

Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder - Ebony and Ivory (1982)

Renée and Renato - Save your love (1982)

Lionel Richie - Hello (1984)

Stevie Wonder - I Just Called To Say I Love You (1984)

USA for Africa - We are the World (1985)

UB40 featuring Chrissie Hynde - I Got You Babe (1985)

Spitting Image - The Chicken Song (1986)

Chris de Burgh - The Lady in Red (1986)

Nick Berry - Every Loser Wins (1986)

The Firm - Star Trekkin’ (1987)

Glenn Medeiros - Nothing’s Gonna Change my Love for You (1988)

Phil Collins - A Groovy Kind of Love (1988)

Jive Bunny & the Mastermixers - Let’s Party (1989)

Band Aid II - Do they Know it’s Christmas? (1989)

 

We would love to have comments, both on what you think we have wrongly left out and on anything that you don’t think deserves to be here. If anything the former is more important as if anything ends up in the poll unfairly it presumably won’t get many votes anyway.

 

Note that we’re imposing a 1 song per artist limit. Hence, for example, Cliff won’t appear yet as his worst isn’t until 1999.

 

I have updated the Spotify playlist of doom, which also includes the pre 1980 list:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6fthHhVbt...QSU2n6IpekkiSUQ

Edited August 29, 20222 yr by JulianT

The Glenn Medieros, Phil Collins, Stevie Wonder/Paul McCartney and Chris De Burgh songs I am not sure if I would have included, but I admit with the exception of Ebony and Ivory and its good message behind it, the other songs are cheesy and 80s MOR at its worst.

 

The Renée and Renato song though I actually like - it's popera long before it became popular in the 00s with Il Divo and G4. The UB40/Chrissie Hynde duet is OK I think, but both artists had better songs.

Edited April 26, 20223 yr by The Sake

I Got You Baby? Why? That's an amazing cover, maybe I'm biased cos I love Chrissie Hynde and Pretenders but think that's a very weird choice imho

there's gazillions of worst #1s: Johnny Logan, Shakin Stevens, Julio Iglesias, Stevie Wonder-I Just called..., Cliff Richard-Misteltoe and wine, Falco, Sonia, Jason Donovan-sealed with a kiss

 

I'd say all the Kylie singles are worst than I Got You babe, and even some of ABBAs :)

I Got You Baby? Why? That's an amazing cover, maybe I'm biased cos I love Chrissie Hynde and Pretenders but think that's a very weird choice imho

there's gazillions of worst #1s: Johnny Logan, Shakin Stevens, Julio Iglesias, Stevie Wonder-I Just called..., Cliff Richard-Misteltoe and wine, Falco, Sonia, Jason Donovan-sealed with a kiss

 

I'd say all the Kylie singles are worst than I Got You babe, and even some of ABBAs :)

 

Disagree in that Falco - Amadeus I really like! It was kind of the last new wave style #1 after the genre had mostly died out in the charts.

Much as I enjoy Star Trekkin', I can't complain about it's inclusion here. I also find Save Your Love rather endearing, but can see why it's here.

However I also think Ebony And Ivory, while nowhere near either artists' best, should be saved.

I'd take out the UB40 and Phil tracks personally as I like both of those although I do agree both do have better songs. Everything else is fine to stay.

 

I'd nominate 'Perfect' by Fairground Attraction as a number one I dislike. Always found that one rubbish.

Edited April 26, 20223 yr by Roba.

I Got You Baby? Why? That's an amazing cover, maybe I'm biased cos I love Chrissie Hynde and Pretenders but think that's a very weird choice

Ah I think you missed the session when we listened to it. We just thought it’s a bit of a pointless cover of a song that’s already quite twee. But if a couple of others speak up for it we’ll save it - and if others agree with your extra suggestions we might put them on. I’m not putting ABBA on though. ;)

I'd say all the Kylie singles are worst than I Got You babe, and even some of ABBAs :)

 

Poor brave 'Star Trekkin''.

I love that Phil Collins track. Beautiful melodic ballad. Definitely not one of the worst.

 

Agree with Roba that “Perfect” by Fairground Attraction can make the list. Grating.

 

Oh why on earth isn’t Sonia in the list. Rubbish third rate SAW.

Edited April 26, 20223 yr by Smint

I think Jimmy Nail could be quite a worthwhile addition to the list.

I think Jimmy Nail could be quite a worthwhile addition to the list.

 

He is 90s (1992) and I like his #1 song, sounds quintessentially 90s and Take That reminiscent!

You're right, in my head I was thinking 1988 for some reason. :lol:

I mean, Kylie's #1s from the 80s are terrible, I Should be so lucky, Hand on your hand, her cover of Tears of my Pillow... SAW was giving her the worst songs could they knew it was enough

 

I personally love Fairground Attraction-Perfect, I'd put it in the best of the 80s category rather than worst... for me the worst not included so far are definitely:

 

Jason Donovan - Sealed with a Kiss

Stevie Wonder - I just called to say I love you

Cliff Richard - Misteltoe and wine

Sonia - You'll never stop me...

anything from Shakin'Stevens

 

^Forgot to mention there’s a 1 song per artist limit, so Cliff definitely won’t appear until 1999.

 

Think it needs to be a specific nomination rather than “anything by” - we’re not going to say X artist is generally a bit rubbish so we’ll choose a song by them at random. I do agree Shaky could be a candidate though.

 

The Sonia one is a possibility - any other views on that?

 

The Kylie ones may be lazy but I don’t think they’re widely regarded as awful.

 

Any other views on Sealed With A Kiss?

 

I think Fairground Attraction has enough fans to avoid.

 

Stevie’s already appearing once.

 

 

I'd be happy for 'Tears On My Pillow' to be nominated tbh :lol: I really do hate it so much. Although isn't that a 1990 #1?

 

What about...

 

Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen? (a total room 101 song if ever I knew one)

Wet Wet Wet - With a Little Help From My Friends?

 

yes you're right Tears on My Pillow is from her 89 album but was released as single in Jan 90 so counts for the 90s

Edited April 27, 20223 yr by Bjork

I'd nominate Japanese boy by Aneka to be added

I actually like Band Aid II's Do they Know it’s Christmas - I can see why it's here but musically I way prefer it to the charity ensemble versions of Let It Be, Ferry 'Cross The Mersey and, in particular, We Are The World.

 

I Got You Babe imo doesn't fit the rest of the list, to me it's a perfectly good cover of a good song. I can see a case for the rest.

 

Sealed With A Kiss and the Sonia song are probably SAW's worst No.1s indeed, I definitely wouldn't include I Should Be So Lucky or Hand On Your Heart.

I'd nominate Japanese boy by Aneka to be added

We did consider that but decided it’s musically fine despite the theme being a bit offensive to modern sensibilities! Any other views on that?