Used to love Bananarama. I think Na Na Hey Hey was probably the first single I bought by them.

'Too Shy' is utterly fantastic!

 

I love how we're getting exact sales for these as well. :o Most fascinating.

 

I’ve a feeling it’ll rise further in the coming weeks 😉 some of the songs in the charts in this era were just amazing, culturally defining!

Bit late to this thread. Too Shy is an utter classic - the most 80s song ever!

 

Plus Africa in the same chart :wub:

19TH MARCH

 

 

Well any fears that Bonnie Tyler had reached her peak where swept aside this week as "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" powered to another easy victory selling a new 1983 record of 134,249 copies to lift its overall haul to 357,054 and now hot on the heels of "Billie Jean" which has now totalled 432,412 after shifting 64,651 as it falls 2-3. In between those two tracks are Eurythmics who swap places with Jackson and see 101,507 copies fly out of stores, that track has now sold 257,111 copies, Impressive totals all around for tracks which are still in the top 3 with the top 2 well clear of the rest of the field.

 

 

 

 

When Weller called time on The Jam last autumn anticipation was rife for his next project, he teemed up with Mick Talbot (formerly of Dexy's Midnight Runners) to form the Style Council and the new band were announced as soon as the dust had settled on his former group. The first fruits of the labour is "Speak Like A Child" which debuts this week straight into No 6 (28,424) and features the backing vocals of Tracie Young (Weller's protégée) who herself releases her first solo track this month. Don't be clambering for the album though, it isn't pencilled in until Christmas!

 

 

 

The replacement of Geoff Deane at the end of last year for Modern Romance proved to be a wise commercial move with Michael Mullins collecting his fair share of teenage magazine covers and helping the group to bigger hits than they previously achieved, indeed last single "Best Years Of Our Lives" has sold 337,000 copies in total and is their best seller. They'll be hoping to change that as "High Life" is propelled 18-8 (24,565) and is their third top 10 smash.

 

 

 

13 Top 10 hits including 4 chart toppers between 1957-1965 is an impressive tally but it's now been 18 years since Phil Everly was in the top 10, that changes this week as he hooks up with Cliff Richard to score a hit with "She Means Nothing To Me" as it climbs 14-9 (23,970) this week. It's Cliff's 48th Top 10 hit which somewhat dwarfs the achievements of Phil Everly but then few can compete with the consistency of Richard.

 

 

 

Orange Juice are a band who you may only be familiar with if you follow Indie music at all, they've had four hits which have charted but all have failed to dent the top 40 until "Rip It Up" was released which not only becomes their first Top 40 single but their first top 10 smash as it climbs 22-10 (22,644). It's the title track to their second album which has yet to grace the top 20 but perhaps that's about to change?

 

 

Elsewhere we have one of each, Bananarama climb 7-5 (40,188), Forrest holds at No 4 (50,762) with a slight sales bump, and Toto continue to falter 5-7 (26,741)

 

 

1- TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART- Bonnie Tyler (134,249)

2- SWEET DREAMS (ARE MADE OF THIS)- Eurythmics (101,507)

3- BILLIE JEAN- Michael Jackson (64,651)

4- ROCK THE BOAT- Forrest (50,762)

5- NA NA HEY HEY KISS HIM GOODBYE- Bananarama (40,188)

6- SPEAK LIKE A CHILD- Style Council (28,424)

7- AFRICA- Toto (26,741)

8- HIGH-LIFE- Modern Romance (24,565)

9- SHE MEANS NOTHING TO ME- Phil Everley & Cliff Richard (23,970)

10- RIP IT UP- Orange Juice (22,644)

 

Rip It Up - what a tune!

Yes, Rip It Up is definitely the best of the four new songs.

Didn't know Modern Romance had that many hits, I think they may have influenced Wham!'s 'Club Tropicana' with their tropical salsa sound!

 

'Rip It Up' is a good track.

 

The Bananarama song 'Na na hey hey' is good but has been ruined by its use in annoying bingo adverts

 

Forrest's 'Rock the Boat' is a good party song but I prefer the more electronic follow up 'Feel The Need In Me'.

Edited March 1, 20232 yr by TheSnake

For three weeks at this time at #17 was this good tune, production-wise its an electronic dance-pop tune that builds up throughout, its like an 80s version of Tony di Bart's 'The Real Thing' .

 

I always thought that 'Hey Little Girl' sounded like Roxy Music.

26TH MARCH

 

 

The US are currently in the middle of Duran Duran fever as "Hungry Like A Wolf" sits at No 3 this week, back in their homeland and the band see their first post "Rio" single debut straight at the No 1 spot! It's the first time since The Jam turned the trick back in December that a song debuts at the top, It's also only the sixth time in the decade that it has happened and the group are only the fourth act in the 80s to achieve such an impressive accolade following the Jam, The Police, and Adam & The Ants, the single "Is There Something I Should Know" has been hyped by the band as a stand alone single and one which will never appear on a DD album, good job really, the band have been so phenomenally busy this year that recording of their album has been pushed back to the Summer. It sold 108,137 copies last week overturning a depleted Bonnie Tyler by just 14,000 copies.

 

 

 

With Duran Duran's debut all the headlines this week have been stolen from David Bowie who himself debuts afresh at No 5 this week with "Let's Dance". It's the first single from what will be his 15th studio album also called "let's Dance" and he's roped in Chic's Nile Rogers on guitar and on production duties with an another image overall. It's a 17th top 10 hit for the thin white Duke but of all of those only 1980's "Ashes To Ashes" debuted higher when it entered at No 4 on a far greater first week tally of 107,000, "Let's Dance" only managed 45,203 last week.

 

 

The last time the top 10 contained two new entries was back in May when Adam Ant rocked in at No 5 ahead of Madness at No 8, both ended up as No 1 hits so we'll see how Bowie progresses over the weeks. it is also the first time two tracks debuted inside the top 5 in the same week. Elsewhere the charts are also full of movement, Style Council only move 6-4 (63,535) but record a hefty 125% sales hike thanks to considerable promotion over the course of last week yet predictions that it was going to No 1 were always well wide of the mark. Orange Juice also rise 10-9 (34,102), that sale incidentally would have given them a top 6 placing last week.

 

Heading in the wrong way are Eurythmics 2-3 (78,642), Forrest 4-6 (43,282) again though TOTP helped to stabilise sales, Bananarama dip 5-7 (40,987) despite a TOTP sales boost, Michael Jackson drops 3-8 (36,210) though he remains top 2 on the album charts and Modern Romance reverse 8-10 (21,199).

 

 

 

1- IS THERE SOMETHING I SHOULD KNOW- Duran Duran (108,137)

2- TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART- Bonnie Tyler (94,605)

3- SWEET DREAMS (ARE MADE OF THIS)- Eurythmics (78,642)

4- SPEAK LIKE A CHILD- Style Council (63,535)

5- LET’S DANCE- David Bowie (45,203)

6- ROCK THE BOAT- Forrest (43,282)

7- NA NA HEY HEY KISS HIM GOODBYE- Bananarama (40,987)

8- BILLIE JEAN- Michael Jackson (36,210)

9- RIP IT UP- Orange Juice (34,102)

10- HIGH-LIFE- Modern Romance (21,199)

 

Amazing that David Bowie managed this imperial era quite far into his career. 'Let's Dance' is yet another classic!

2ND APRIL

 

 

As you were at the top of the charts this week as Duran Duran relish in their first chart topper but the warning signs are already there, "Is There Something I Should Know" increases by just 23% to 132,889 (241,026 in 14 days) suggesting that the single has been very frontloaded and failing to branch out beyond, their admittedly, large fanbase.

 

 

The second factor involved in that warning comes from last weeks other top 10 debut, a certain Mr David Bowie, he benefitted much more from TOTP (despite only a video slot as opposed to Duran's studio performance), "Let's Dance" expands 5-2 with a sales upload of 133% to 104,176, the only factor that could save Duran is the fact that they will get TOTP again this week though Bowie probably won't.

 

 

Formed from the remnants of the punk band Subway Sect, Joboxers instantly find mainstream fame with their first release "Boxerbeat" which climbs 21-6 (33,728). The song has taken its time so far climbing 62-61-51-42-32-21 before radio got on board with it fully. The band have been supporting Madness on the "Rise and Fall" tour which allowed them to drum up interest in the single.

 

 

 

Turning to Mike Chapman to produce their forthcoming third album "Bite" Altered Images score their third top 10 hit this week as "Don't Talk To Me About Love" rises 12-7 (30,413). It goes some way to make up for the disappointing show from their last 45 "Pinky Blue" which became their first single "Happy Birthday" broke to fail to make the top 20 when it fizzled out at No 35, the band have gone through a line up change in the interim but all seems returned to normal now.

 

 

Bonnie Tyler continues to drift 2-3 (52,207) but has now sold 521,866 copies- we'll reveal the top 10 for the year so far next week but suffice it to say Tyler will be present on that list! Also falling are Eurythmics 3-5 (44,336), Bananarama 7-9 (27,829) and Forrest 6-10 (26,962). Better news for Orange Juice who continue to sneak northwards 9-8 (30,396) but it lost sales, whilst the Style Council can't progress beyond No 4 as they hold on a reduced sale of 49,453.

 

 

 

1- IS THERE SOMETHING I SHOULD KNOW- Duran Duran (132,889)

2- LET’S DANCE- David Bowie (104,176)

3- TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART- Bonnie Tyler (52,207)

4- SPEAK LIKE A CHILD- Style Council (49,453)

5- SWEET DREAMS (ARE MADE OF THIS)- Eurythmics (44,336)

6- BOXERBEAT- Jo Boxers (33,728)

7- DON’T TALK TO ME ABOUT LOVE- Altered Images (30,413)

8- RIP IT UP- Orange Juice (30,396)

9- NA NA HEY HEY KISS ME GOODBYE- Bananarama (27,829)

10- ROCK THE BOAT- Forrest (26,962)

 

'Boxer Beat' is just pure 50s/60s nostalgia I reckon! Shakin' Stevens went down the same route.

 

Not a big fan of that Altered Images song, 'See Those Eyes' is way better by them.

Edited March 3, 20232 yr by TheSnake

9TH APRIL

 

 

Bowie scores his fourth chart topper this week as "Let's Dance" hits the top but it's sales only increased by 6% to 110,789, it sets the album up perfectly however, it itself is due in just a fortnight. That sale allows "Let's Dance" to advance to No 13 for the year already on just three weeks sales! as it racks up a total of 260,168, the full YTD top 10 is as below....

 

1-DOWN UNDER- Men At Work 586,177

2-TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART- Bonnie Tyler 554,880

3-BILLIE JEAN- Michael Jackson 510,408

4-YOU CAN’T HURRY LOVE- Phil Collins 485,197

5-TOO SHY- Kajagoogoo 472,158

6-SWEET DREAMS (ARE MADE OF THIS)- Eurythmics 434,214

7-SIGN OF THE TIMES- Belle Stars 340,255

8-IS THERE SOMETHING I SHOULD KNOW- Duran Duran 334,441

9-ELECTRIC AVENUE- Eddy Grant 309,230

10-AFRICA- Toto 289,935

 

The observant will note that no less than 4 tracks In the current top 10 are also in the YTD top 10, other acts include Duran Duran (1-2 this week on a sale of 93,415), Eurythmics (holding at No 5, 34,125), and Bonnie Tyler (3-8, 33,014), Tyler will probably overtake Men At Work at some point in the next few weeks to become 83's biggest seller.

 

 

 

Better known as a west end actress and a TV Comedienne Tracey Ullman proves that she can also sing a tune or two. Recorded by Irma Thomas back in 1964 but deemed only good enough for a b-side to her single "Wish Someone Would Care" Ullman has given the track a lick of paint and now "Breakaway" ascends 18-6 (35,904) helped no doubt by a memorable TOTP performance substituting microphones with hairbrushes!

 

 

 

With a debut album due in just 3 weeks Kajagoogoo are back with "Ooh To Be Aah" which is of course the follow up to the chart topper "Too Shy" which has, and you will now know, sold over 470,000 copies this year. Nick Rhodes is again on Production duties for the guys although the track itself is penned by the boys who prove they don't need an established writer to provide the hits for them.

 

 

 

Culture Club are also back with a bang as "Church Of The Poison Mind" debuts at No 9 on a sale of 29,920- by far the best week for the band in their admittedly short career. The band have been very busy in the US where "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me" spends its third week at No 2 behind "Billie Jean" which has delayed the second album until autumn but there is little doubt that here in the UK the band remain as popular as ever!

 

 

 

Like Ullman, Kenny Everett is better known for other things than singing, namely his DJ skills and TV sketch shows, but he has also produced a track that the British public seem to have taken a shine to! "Snot Rap" features "guest" spots by Everett's characters Cupid Stunt and Sid Snot who lends his name to the hit, it advances 27-10 (26,826) this week, he also features in the recent Kajagoogoo hit and has therefore a double of sorts this week in the top 10.

 

 

Elsewhere JoBoxers rise 6-3 (45,747) but it's so far behind the top 2 that further advances look beyond it, whilst Style Council hold at No 4 for a third week but it's peaked sales wise as it records just 36,635 copies for the position.

 

 

 

1- LET’S DANCE- David Bowie (110,789)

2- IS THERE SOMETHING I SHOULD KNOW- Duran Duran (93,415)

3- BOXERBEAT- Jo Boxers (45,747)

4- SPEAK LIKE A CHILD- Style Council (36,635)

5- SWEET DREAMS (ARE MADE OF THIS)- Eurythmics (36,125)

6- BREAKAWAY- Tracey Ullman (34,904)

7- OOH TO BE AAH- Kajagoogoo (34,238)

8- TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART- Bonnie Tyler (33,014)

9- CHURCH OF THE POISON MIND- Culture Club (29,920)

10- SNOT RAP- Kenny Everett (26,826)

 

I like 'Africa' but it's one of those really perennially overplayed songs. Kind of like 'Livin' on a Prayer'

 

You will find that with quite a lot of songs through this era :lol: this really is the defining music era for anyone from the 2010s I find the big hits are some culturally embedded in peoples lives now. I remember travelling through this era watching TOTP and it’s ridiculous how nearly every top 10 hit is so well known, makes me wonder whether it’ll be the same with the top 10 from the last 5 years…….but maybe I’m just biased as the chart does reflect as much of my tastes any longer?

Yeah I’m not one for saying any particular period was better or that everything is rubbish now, but there’s something about this particular era of pop music that sets it apart. I don’t know why that is - whether it was the climax of technology and innovation for instance.

Have to agree.

Since this thread started I have been amazed at how many "classics" made the Top 10 in just a few weeks.

There was also a lot less choice of music around though, and accessibility to it (I guess the shops would stock a few hundred singles a time at most) so the love was presumably concentrated by the general public/radio/TV etc into the songs at the top end of the charts even moreso than it is now and they had more of a chance to cement themselves in the public consciousness, particularly with Top of the Pops at its peak too.

 

Not that I don't agree that the quality here is insane. Billie Jean, Total Eclipse Of The Heart, Africa and Sweet Dreams in the same top five is quite a sight, I still hear all of these everywhere all the time.

 

I can't say what from 2023 will be well remembered and still played in 2063, but I'd hazard a guess it won't be more than one or two songs from any given weekly top ten. Radio doesn't seem to cling onto the same breadth of retro stuff as it used to - when I was growing up radio would still play a vast range of 80s music (I guess as there were so many iconic hits), but I can't say I exactly hear much from the 00s on the radio in 2023. Of course there are the iconic songs that are played to death but it's a small, concentrated bunch that is repeated ad nauseum.

Nitpick moment: surely Duran Duran recorded more than a 3% increase in week 2?

 

 

Good to see that Sweet Dreams sold over 100,000 in a week. Unlike Tawdry, I don’t think I could ever tire of the track, it just feels incredibly influential and I think the production holds up so well today - and Annie’s vocals are something I could never tire of, I’ve really grown to appreciate how great she was.

 

Like others, there’s lots to love here - so I’ll pick on Style Council as the others have been shown enough love. Was it surprising at the time to see Paul Weller go down this route? It must have felt like quite the departure for fans of the Jam.

Nitpick moment: surely Duran Duran recorded more than a 3% increase in week 2?

Sorry omitted a digit. Fixed. Thanks