Yeah as Steve201 said on here before, 'Temptation' with its combination of soulful female vocal and fast tempo is like a bridge to later 80s dance like Yazz.

 

'Dancing Tight' in contrast sounds a bit dated for 1983 - more modern sounding post-disco music will soon be on its way.

Pale Shelter is fantastic and should have made the final of the number 5 poll.

 

Just now I noticed another 1983 synth pop song being played in the Queen Vic in Eastenders, it was Age Of Consent by New Order.

 

 

Pale Shelter. :wub:

14TH MAY

 

 

Spandau Ballet gain complete domination over the UK charts with "True" topping both the singles and album charts to give the group their first album No 1 as well. The single moved another 107,440 copies which is a significant comedown sales wise (28%) but from a record high for the year that's hardly surprising, the track is now easily in the top 10 for the year having sold 377,485 copies in 28 days and should go gold in a few weeks.

 

 

Ordinarily such a drop in sales would mean the rest of the field was catching up but in fact the gap remains in excess of 2:1 that's because Human League advance 3-2 but actually lose sales and sell 52,173, the lowest figure required for the position since David Essex sold 43,639 back in January, indeed they only just held off formal band members Heaven 17 who power 8-3 on a sale of 51,714.

 

 

Spotted at a local talent show by Maurice Starr he has re-imagined the Jackson 5 in his new group New Edition. "Candy Girl" is their first single written by Starr specially for them and arrives 30-7 (30,668) this week. The group were formed in 1978 though not in their current formation when the boys were little more than 9 years old and even now they are just into their teens- the future looks bright!

 

 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nGRyZNYI7ws/UrIiYKV6ekI/AAAAAAAAFKI/qyeLHMQwbVw/s1600/Fun%20Boy%20Three%20Fun_Boy_Three_1.jpg

 

The Fun Boy Three score their fourth top 10 hit today with "Our Lips Are Sealed" a song written by Terry Hall and Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Go's after the band supported the Specials on tour in 1980. The Go-Go's released it as a single in the US back in 1981 when it peaked at No 20, but underperformed here when released the following year by only making no 47, that left the way clear for Hall's band to record their version for the current Fun Boy Three album "Waiting" and it easily becomes a bigger hit in their hands moving 16-9 (30,600).

 

 

 

The Beat recently announced their split and to commemorate their time together a compilation album "What Is Beat" will be released next month and a single "Can't Get Used To Losing You" and is a cover of the Andy Williams track from 1963 which peaked at No 2. The song was recorded by the band for their 1980 debut album "I Just Can't Stop" though it didn't make it to single status until now, it climbs 29-10 (30,056) as the UK public seem set to give them a decent farewell, it's also the band's 5th top 10 single though the band's last 6 releases have all failed to make the top 20 proving their decision to split was probably wise.

 

 

Galaxy and Phil Fearon Climb 6-5 (44,438) but heading south are FR David 2-4 (47,889), Tears For Fears 5-6 (42,755) and Thompson Twins 7-8 (30,617)

 

 

1- TRUE- Spandau Ballet (107,440)

2- (KEEP FEELING) FASCINATION- Human League (52,173)

3- TEMPTATION- Heaven 17 (51,714)

4- WORDS- F.R.David (47,889)

5- DANCING TIGHT- Phil Fearon & Galaxy (44,438)

6- PALE SHELTER- Tears For Fears (42,755)

7- CANDY GIRL- New Edition (30,668)

8- WE ARE DETECTIVE- Thompson Twins (30,617)

9- OUR LIPS ARE SEALED- Fun Boy Three (30,600)

10- CAN’T GET USED TO LOSING YOU- The Beat (30,056)

 

Fun Boy Three's version of 'Our Lips Are Sealed' is very good, more sensible than their previous stuff and so quite similar to Tears For Fears' 1983 songs in style.

Edited March 9, 20232 yr by TheSnake

21ST MAY

 

 

"True" is knocked from the top spot on the album charts after a week by "Thriller" by Michael Jackson (which is now the biggest selling album of the year so far), better news on the singles front as the Spandau Ballet single of the same name holds the No 1 for a fourth week becoming the longest running chart topper of the year! There may be trouble ahead though, as the song goes, as the single is now dipping sharply sales wise and only managed 80,988 last week, a further drop of 25% week on week and could be in real trouble next week.

 

 

 

The only new song in the top 10 comes from Blancmange who are back with their first single from their as yet untitled second album, "Blind Vision" climbs 12-10 (30,566) to ease into the big 10. It's their second time in the top flight after last year's "Living On The Ceiling" peaked at No 7, that was followed by "Waves" at the beginning of this year which disappointed at No 19 despite a remixed single version.

 

 

So if not Spandau Ballet then who next week? On paper it may look like Heaven 17 are in with a shot but they only increased sales by 19% to 60,537 and look to have peaked, New Edition look a far better bet as they move 7-3 on sales splurge of 85% to 55,318 and were unlucky not to move past Heaven 17 at the death. Also climbing, and worth considering are Galaxy & Phil Fearon 5-4 (50,184), The Beat 10-5 (45,696) and Fun Boy Three 9-7 (37,978). All making way for those hits are Human League 2-6 (42,636), Tears For Fears 6-8 (36,091) and FR David 4-9 (35,156).

 

 

 

1- TRUE- Spandau Ballet (80,988)

2- TEMPTATION- Heaven 17 (60,537)

3- CANDY GIRL- New Edition (55,318)

4- DANCING TIGHT- Phil Fearon & Galaxy (50,184)

5- CAN’T GET USED TO LOSING YOU- The Beat (45,696)

6- (KEEP FEELING) FASCINATION- Human League (42,636)

7- OUR LIPS ARE SEALED- Fun Boy Three (37,978)

8- PALE SHELTER- Tears For Fears (36,091)

9- WORDS- F.R.David (35,156)

10- BLIND VISION- Blancmange (30,566)

 

'Blind Vision' is a very good song and rather like 'Temptation', is dramatic and has a building tension throughout it.

Edited March 11, 20232 yr by TheSnake

Temptation. :wub:

 

Our Lips Are Sealed. :wub:

I voted Temptation my fave no.2 of the 80s, I also have memories of it in my teens from the 1992 remix.

.

Edited March 11, 20232 yr by fiesta

Oops a triple post :lol:

Edited March 11, 20232 yr by fiesta

Temptation is brilliant. I also have a huge soft spot for Words.

28TH MAY

 

 

Just four weeks ago Spandau Ballet's "True" recorded a sale of 149,022, a new 1983 high, well now a new low has been created for the year with "Candy Girl" by New Edition moving 3-1 on sales of just 65,025, it is arguably the first UK No 1 single to feature rapping and of course follow Musical Youth to the top in terms of bands comprised of teenage boys. The track only increased sales by 19% which hardly points to a big seller overall but it takes its opportunity to capitalise on the free falling Spandau Ballet who dip to No 2 on sales of 57,477, however with sales of 515,950 to date it is already by some way the Spandau's Biggest hit, New Edition by contrast have sold just 175,304 copies of "Candy Girl".

 

 

 

Wham!'s debut album, modestly called "Fantastic" arrives in shops next month and to preview it their third single "Bad Boys" follows "Young Guns" and "Wham Rap" into the top 10 rising 12-5 (42,160). In just its third week the track is easily the group's most instant hit and follows their stock in trade pop/rap songs with a serious theme, this time round the restrictions of youth. The band recently announced their first tour kicking off in October which will doubtless be sold out by the growing number of young female fans.

 

 

 

It's their ninth top 10 single and the sixth of those to debut inside the top 10, The Police are the big chart news of the week with "Every Breath You Take" which is already a favourite at radio. It smashes into the chart at No 7 this week after selling 37,111 and is looking good to become their fifth No 1 over the next few weeks, the song is actually about the obsession over a former lover and not a romantic ballad which it, at first, seems. Taking inspiration, if that's the word, from Sting's recent divorce from Frances Tomelty which has of course gained considerable press over the last year some of it less than flattering but he seems to have got something of commercial value out of it. The fifth Police album is out next month and will, like their last album "Ghost In The Machine", take its name from the work of Psychologist Arthur Koestler, though "Synchronicity" is actually a theory by Carl Jung.

 

 

 

We also welcome back Yazoo this week. The group announced their split last week as it looks from all the evidence that the recording of the second album "You And Me Both" seems to have taken its toll on the pair who always a notoriously rocky relationship, the album will still be released next month but the band have confirmed that "Nobody's Diary" will be their final single as it rises 20-8 (32,606) to become their third top 10. The only single to fail to make the top 10 was their last single "The Other Side Of Love" which bowed out at No 13 being lost in the rush for the festive No 1.

 

 

http://www.errolbrown.com/images/main_errolmusic2.jpg

 

Their last single only made No 32 but Hot Chocolate are back in the game with their 12th top 10 single "What Kinda Boy You Looking For (Girl)" which this weeks creeps 13-10 (30,107). The band have been written off on many an occasion but are now into their 14th year as hit makers.

 

 

The Beat continue to climb 5-3 (52,236), but it's all over for Heaven 17 who drop 2-4 (47,549), Galaxy & Phil Fearon ebb 4-6 (37,451) whilst Fun Boy Three slide 7-9 (31,637).

 

 

 

1- CANDY GIRL- New Edition (65,025)

2- TRUE- Spandau Ballet (57,477)

3- CAN’T GET USED TO LOSING YOU- The Beat (52,326)

4- TEMPTATION- Heaven 17 (47,549)

5- BAD BOYS- Wham! (42,160)

6- DANCING TIGHT- Phil Fearon & Galaxy (37,451)

7- EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE- The Police (37,111)

8- NOBODY’S DIARY- Yazoo (32,606)

9- OUR LIPS ARE SEALED- Funboy Three (31,637)

10- WHAT KINDA BOY YOU LOOKING FOR (GIRL)- Hot Chocolate (30,107)

 

I remember reading that Bad Boys wasn't one of George Michael's favourite Wham! songs, but I always liked it and still do.

 

Every Breath You Take another future classic hitting the charts this week.

Nobody's Diary is my favourite Yazoo song :wub:

My favourites since I last commented are: '(Keep Feeling) Fascination', 'Pale Shelter', 'Temptation', 'Blind Vision', 'Every Breath You Take' & 'Nobody's Diary' :wub:

 

brb in synth heaven

Nobody's Diary is by far my favourite of the new ones this week, I really love it and it's my favourite of the Yazoo singles too. Didn't realise they had managed to hit top 10 with all but one of them - albeit that's still not a huge number.

Nobody's Diary is my favourite Yazoo single as well. The Hot Chocolate song is the first one since this thread started that I don't remember.

4TH JUNE

 

 

Britain has a new No 1 this week as the Police ascend 7-1 for their fifth chart topper in the shape of "Every Breath You Take". That's the good news, but sales wise the traditional summer slump has hit home quickly as the song sold a mere 81,736 copies, the track was also in an almighty struggle for the top spot with the top 3 tracks all within 10,000 copies of each other with the police only the best selling single on Friday and Saturday, the outgoing No 1 "Candy Girl" drops 1-3 but did sell 71,961 copies for that position, an improvement on its chart topping tally last week.

 

 

You could also be permitted to feel sorry for the Wham! boys as "Bad Boys" was in pole position for a significant part of the week but as the only track in the top 3 not to feature on TOTP last week its showing of 75,140 as it moves 5-2 must be a poor consolation prize and had it have fallen differently doubtless the boys would be celebrating their first No 1 today.

 

 

Comprised of previously unreleased material recorded before his death "Confrontation" is the most recent release from Bob Marley which climbs 8-5 on the album charts this week. To accompany that "Buffalo Soldier" becomes Marley's fifth top 10 single as it rises 11-6 (38,726), the song takes its title from the black soldiers that fought in the American Indian wars of 1866 and was recorded back in 1980 a year before the singer's death.

 

 

 

Joboxers make it two out of two with their second single "Just Got Lucky" following "Boxerbeat" into the top 10 as it floats 16-7 (33,592). Their previous hit sold a very respectable 245,000 copies so the group have something big to aim for, and indeed that single just drops off the top 75 this week.

 

 

 

Former singer with US soul bands Impact and Sweet Thunder, Booker Newbury III has now gone solo and immediately scored something he never did with either band- a UK hit! "Love Town" is co-penned by 60s popstar Len Barry best known for his hit "1-2-3 (No 3 in 1965), and he's also been in the charts much more recently as co-writer of the Fat Larry's Band hit "Zoom" from last year which almost went all the way, "Love Town" has a little way to go but jets 19-8 (31,841) in only its second week- a future No 1?

 

 

Yazoo keeps the pressure on the top 3 as "Nobody's Diary" climbs 8-4 (44,574) perhaps they regret splitting up they remain chart gold, much like the Beat who do drop 3-5 (42,517) but have their biggest hit of their career. Also falling are Heaven 17 4-9 (30,702) and Spandau Ballet who drop like a stone 2-10 (30,260).

 

 

 

1- EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE- The Police (81,736)

2- BAD BOYS- Wham! (75,140)

3- CANDY GIRL- New Edition (71,961)

4- NOBODY’S DIARY- Yazoo (44,574)

5- CAN’T GET USED TO LOSING YOU- The Beat (42,517)

6- BUFFALO SOLDIER- Bob Marley & The Wailers (38,726)

7- JUST GOT LUCKY- Jo Boxers (33,592)

8- LOVE TOWN- Booker Newbury III (31,841)

9- TEMPTATION- Heaven 17 (30,702)

10- TRUE- Spandau Ballet (30,260)

 

Singles seem to come and go so quickly. Even huge tracks jump to #1, spend about 3 weeks there and then plummet :o