Gezza, I noticed you say for the new Police and Spandeu singles that they were ‘big at radio’ before release, was this the reason for their higher debuts?

 

Also, why did songs fall so quickly in them days?

 

Also of note was the fact singles came and went very quickly in those days!

 

Edit: Lol didn’t read Dandy’s post before I posted mine I swear!

Edited March 12, 20232 yr by steve201

They were both established acts so had a good fanbase but radio certainly helped. Don't forget most of these songs had already spent a month or more climbing before they make this thread so the declines aren't as sudden as they seem. Once a record dropped, TOTP would then ignore it and so the decline was steep as nothing had the reach of the show at that time.

The chart show back then also didn't play any fallers if I remember correctly.

 

I am surprised by some of the big climbs to Top 10, but as has been said an appearance on TOTP elevated a song so much back then.

 

But once it was falling, in general it was done - no more promo - so people just stopped buying it.

 

That Jo Boxers song is quite Jam/Style Council in style, I guess because it similarly updates the 60s upbeat sound.

 

 

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

 

Just listening again to it now I am thinking 'Blind Vision' might have influenced Bronski Beat - 'Why' with its high energy beat and use of brass!

11TH JUNE

 

 

Joining the Jam, Blondie, Shakin Stevens, Bucks Fizz and Adam Ant as the only acts to score a hat-trick of No 1 singles in the 80s, last Week the Police ascended to the top with "Every Breath You Take" with just 6.000 sales advantage. This week that grip tightens with a much easier victory as sales soared to a far better 88,536 copies, parent album "Synchronicity" will be out in a fortnight and is widely expected to thrash all opposition. For now however the single has notched up sales of 207,383 copies helped by a memorable video directed by Godley & Crème, the band of course announced their world tour last week and predictably most of the dates have already sold out!

 

 

 

For the first time in his career Bowie sees successive releases debut inside the top 10, his last single "Let's Dance" debuted at No 5 before spending 3 weeks at the top back in April, now Bowie is back with "China Girl" which eases straight into the top 10 at No 8 (27,965). The song is co-written by Iggy Pop and the man himself and first appeared on Pop's 1977 album "The Idiot" without troubling the charts but now makes a much bigger splash, this version is naturally taken from the LP "Let's Dance" which has never left the top 5 since it was released 8 weeks ago and has already sold over 200,000 in that time frame.

 

 

 

Last year Irene Cara spent three weeks at the top with the film soundtrack "Fame", clearly she things that film soundtracks are goldmines and to be honest she appears to be right as she returns with "Flashdance...What A Feeling" which explodes 30-9 (25,245) in its second week. It features in the film "Flashdance" which is the new flick by Adrian Lyne starring Michael Nouri and Jennifer Beales which is already topping the film charts, and indeed the song is in its third week at the top over in the US!

 

 

Wham! play bridesmaids again as "Bad Boys" can't go anywhere at No 2 as their sales recede slightly to 69,751 but that's still well clear of Yazoo who do climb 4-3 on sales of 52,224, also falling are New Edition 3-5 (36,465) and The Beat collapse 5-10 (24,531) whilst JoBoxers hold at No 7 (32,912). Doing better are Bob Marley 6-4 (36,618) and Booker Newbury III also rises 8-6 (36,618).

 

 

 

1- EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE- The Police (88,536)

2- BAD BOYS- Wham! (69,751)

3- NOBODY’S DIARY- Yazoo (52,224)

4- BUFFALO SOLDIER- Bob Marley & Wailers (36,618)

5- CANDY GIRL- New Edition (36,465)

6- LOVE TOWN- Booker Newbury III (36,346)

7- JUST GOT LUCKY- Jo Boxers (32,912)

8- CHINA GIRL- David Bowie (27,965)

9- FLASHDANCE....WHAT A FEELING- Irene Cara (25,245)

10- CAN’T GET USED TO LOSING YOU- The Beat (24,531)

 

Booker Newberry III's strong soulful vocal is a good precursor to Colonel Abrams and Alexander O'Neal later in the decade.

Always thought ‘Every Breath’ sold bucketloads like 150k a week like ‘True’ did!

18TH JUNE

 

 

The Police's reign at the top continues for a third week with "Every Breath You Take" posting another good sale at the top of 74,885 to bring its total to 282,268 which should see it in the top 10 for the year when we review the list in a couple of weeks time, parent album "Synchronicity" is out this week which could spell trouble for the single. Especially so as Bowie is piling on the pressure, "China Girl" blazes 8-2 (59,500) with the only factors against it going further will be the lack of TOTP this week coupled with the album's outstanding performance where it holds at No 2 again this week behind Jackson's "Thriller. By way of trivia the song is now highest placed track in history to contain the word "China" in it, sailing past Emile Ford & The Checkmates 1960 No 3 hit "Slow Boat To China".

 

 

 

Notching up his 16th top 10 hit Rod Stewart has had a disappointing 1980s thus far with only one of those coming in the decade (1981's "Tonight I'm Yours") with that song peaking at No 8. Well today he now has his biggest 80s hit as "Baby Jane" arrives 19-6 (35,785) it's the lead single from Rod's 12th studio album "Body Wishes" which debuts at No 11 today, and this single is now his biggest hit since 1978's "Do You Think I'm Sexy" which of course went all the way to the top!

 

 

 

With an 80s track record very much akin to Rod Stewart, Elton John is also having trouble finding his feet in the charts with only "Blue Eyes" scoring any kind of success with the UK public after 1979. Brushing all that aside and proving you can't quite write him off he's found his form again with the hit "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues" which cruises 18-9 (28,883) this week to become his 12th top 10 hit. Elton's 17th album "Too Low For Zero" climbs 9-7 this week and sees a return full time for Bernie Taupin who last wrote an entire John album back in 1976, seems the UK public agrees.

 

 

 

Before their new single Flash And The Pan were primarily known for their 1978 track "And The Band Played On" (No 54) about the Titanic sinking and their song "Walking In The Rain" which was a minor cult hit in Europe for Grace Jones. In the wake of the success of Men At Work we can't, it seems, get enough of Australian pop and these Aussies rise 12-10 (27,761) with "Waiting For A Train" which contains the vocals of Stevie Wright formerly of the Easybeats (Biggest hit "Friday On My Mind" No 6, 1966).

 

 

Irene Cara is also showing promise with "Flashdance....What A Feeling" which continues to attract buyers moving 9-4 (48,450) but it isn't good news for the remainder. Wham dip 2-3 (51,663), Yazoo recede 3-5 (43,503), Bob Marley ebbs 4-7 (30,362) and Booker Newbury III heads south 6-8 (29,410)

 

 

 

1- EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE- The Police (74,885)

2- CHINA GIRL- David Bowie (59,500)

3- BAD BOYS- Wham! (51,663)

4- FLASHDANCE...WHAT A FEELING- Irene Cara (48,450)

5- NOBODY’S DIARY- Yazoo (43,503)

6- BABY JANE- Rod Stewart (35,785)

7- BUFFALO SOLDIER- Bob Marley & The Wailers (30,362)

8- LOVE TOWN- Booker Newbury III (29,410)

9- I GUESS THAT’S WHY THEY CALL IT THE BLUES- Elton John (28,883)

10- WAITING FOR A TRAIN- Flash & The Pan (27,761)

 

Waiting For A Train was a very good song and unlike anything else in its sound.

I've never actually seen Flashdance before but 'Flashdance...What a Feeling' is an instant pick-me-up kind of song! Was sad to hear of Irene's passing last year.

I do like that Rod Stewart song although I prefer 'Young Turks' - forgot that it peaked at #11

 

The Flash and the Pan track reminds me of Dire Straits vocally and has some good synths in it.

I've never actually seen Flashdance before but 'Flashdance...What a Feeling' is an instant pick-me-up kind of song! Was sad to hear of Irene's passing last year.

 

I've never seen Flashdance either... it's one film that I really want to watch and just have never got round to... It's on ITVX, so I might give it a watch.

 

Rod Stewart... that's certainly an 80s look isn't it. The photo for the cover is a choice.

 

Always liked I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues.

I couldn’t remember what Baby Jane was at all - turns out I do like it but had no idea that was the song, also don’t think I’d ever realised that song was Rod Stewart either

One of things I love about the 80s is that new entries in the top 10 tended only to happen for already big acts and because of the way it was structured every week counted in terms of moving up the charts. You had to keep improving or radio and TV support just dwindled. It was all pretty immediate.

25TH JUNE

 

 

We're turning into a police state this week as the group top the singles chart with "Every Breath You Take" and the album charts with "Synchronicity" pushing all opposition aside to become their 4th album chart topper. Sales of the single really feel it though with sales sliding to a new 1983 low of just 56,423, but in retaining the top spot for a fourth week it equals the 1983 record set by Spandau Ballet's "True" for most weeks at No 1. In the US the song also makes the top 10 as it moves up to No 4 but will have to continue to grow to topple Irene Cara who is topping the charts for a fifth week over there whilst it holds at No 4 here (in neat symmetry with the Police) on a sales dip of 43,180.

 

 

 

"Thriller" spends a 15th straight week in the top 5 as it makes way for the Police on the album charts, in the meantime Jackson plucks a fourth single from it and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" doesn't disappoint in becoming a fourth top 10 hit from it as the song climbs 14-8 (27,982). This is the second time that Jackson has pulled four top tenners from a studio album but the rumour is that he isn't quite done yet with a "spectacular" video in production for his next single "Thriller".

 

 

 

Without doubt the greatest success story of Eurovision in the 80s Bucks Fizz are already on their ninth single and a greatest hits album which is due before Christmas. "When We Were Young" became their highest debuting single last week when it entered at no 23 and this weeks shoot to No 10 (26,197) and becomes their sixth single to do so, it's a marked change in direction for the group musically speaking, veering away from pure pop to a more sophisticated sound but it seems to have worked for the group. The band have never failed to reach the top 20 which is quite an achievement and should ensure that the best of album is a strong seller for the big day.

 

 

Rod Stewart's "Baby Jane" expands 6-2 but only sales wise by 50% to 52,649 and may pose a threat given he should be on TOTP this week whilst Bowie slides 2-3 (48,467) and Wham! continue to lose their grip 3-5 (34,476).

 

Outside the top 5 there are better showings for Elton John 9-6 (29,835) and Flash And The Pan continue to chase him 10-7 (28,543) whilst Yazoo slide 5-9 (26,673) as we wave them goodbye.

 

1- EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE- The Police (56,423)

2- BABY JANE- Rod Stewart (52,649)

3- CHINA GIRL- David Bowie (48,467)

4- FLASHDANCE...WHAT A FEELING- Irene Cara (43,180)

5- BAD BOYS- Wham! (34,476)

6- I GUESS THAT’S WHY THEY CALL IT THE BLUES- Elton John (29,835)

7- WAITING FOR A TRAIN- Flash & The Pan (28,543)

8- WANNA BE STARTIN SOMETHIN- Michael Jackson (27,982)

9- NOBODY’S DIARY- Yazoo (26,673)

10- WHEN WE WERE YOUNG- Bucks Fizz (26,197)

 

When We Were Young is one of Buck Fizz's best songs.

Look at Bucks Fizz with Mike Nolan having bullets around his neck and Cheryl Baker with her legs wide open.

 

When We Were Young was so different to what they had released before and was Jay Aston's shining moment in the group. Was going to be a while before we saw them in the Top 10 again and that Greatest Hits later in the year seriously under-performed after their next single stalled outside the Top 30.

 

 

Jay Aston 😍

2ND JULY

 

 

For a seventh week on the trot the No 1 record sells below 100,000, the record so far in the 80s occurred in June- August 1980 when that was the state of play for 8 weeks which was at least explainable due to the lack of TOTP from our screens. Some industry insiders point to the fact that now Gallup have taken over the charts "cooking" the books has become considerably harder and that these sales (far from being a sharp downturn) are simply a truer reflection of the natural cycle of record sales throughout the seasons.

 

Rod Stewart scores his sixth No 1 single of his 12 year solo career this week as "Baby Jane" takes that final step 2-1 but it sells only 68,000 in the process, an improvement at least on last week's sales. The Police slip a notch to No 2 (49,062) and never looked like retaining No 1 for a fifth week though they easily claim a second week on the albums.

 

 

 

The seminal album "Tubular Bells" is famous for launching not only Mike Oldfield but also Virgin Records but Oldfield has not been seen in the top 10 since 1976 in part due to turning his attention to non commercial exploits including composing music for the royal wedding among other things! Over the past few years he has ventured back to mainstream pop and roped in several guest vocalists to front his new found Lyrical composition skills, Maggie Riley, a Scottish folk singer, currently fronts his hit "Moonlight Shadow" which rockets 19-4 (39,236) following a TOTP performance and is a good bet to top the charts next week. An Oldfield composition from his 1982 album "Five Miles Out" is currently in the US top 10 by way of co-incidence, Hall & Oates' cover of "Family Man"- it never rains but it pours for the singer!

 

 

 

You may recall a group called Freeez from 1981 who reached the top 10 with "Southern Freeez" and then kinda disappeared? Well they're back with the highly infectious "I.O.U" which shoots 23-7 (30,481) to become their biggest hit. It is produced by Arthur Baker who recently helmed Rocker's Revenge into the top 10 and is currently one of the hottest producers stateside who seems to be working his magic over here.

 

 

 

Shalamar had a fantastic 1982 with three top 10 hits and the 21st best selling album of the year in "Friends", a new album is due this month which of course requires a lead single and duly "Dead Giveaway" carves its way through the charts 12-8 (29,104) to become a fourth top 10 smash for the group. "The Look" is released in 4 weeks time and should confirm the groups place as one of the most successful dance acts of the decade.

 

 

Still No 1 in the US for a 6th week "Flashdance...What A Feeling" rises 4-3 (42,959) but its movement of 4-4-3 belies the fact it has lost sales in each of its last 2 weeks, and Elton isn't done yet as he climbs again 6-5 (35,989), whilst Bucks Fizz continues to prop up the top 10 with a non mover and virtually identical sales of 26,622 to last week. Bowie descends 3-6 (31,501) whilst Wham! slump 5-9 (27,166) but will be concentrating on their debut album released this week.

 

1- BABY JANE- Rod Stewart (68,000)

2- EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE- The Police (49,062)

3- FLASHDANCE...WHAT A FEELING- Irene Cara (42,959)

4- MOONLIGHT SHADOW- Mike Oldfield (39,236)

5- I GUESS THAT’S WHY THEY CALL IT BLUES- Elton John (35,989)

6- CHINA GIRL- David Bowie (31,501)

7- I.O.U- Freeze (30,481)

8- DEAD GIVEAWAY- Shalamar (29,104)

9- BAD BOYS- Wham! (27,166)

10- WHEN WE WERE YOUNG- Bucks Fizz (26,622)