I love Cruel Summer... probably the best Bananarama song.

But that TOTP performance where Sarah holds the microphone anywhere but near her mouth!! :rofl:

Cruel Summer :wub:

6TH AUGUST

 

 

Well the headline is that Paul Young clings to the top slot for a third week but the fact that "No Parlez" rises 6-3 is starting to eat into single sales. "Wherever I Lay My Hat" sold a poor 62,764 copies last week a drop of 16% and is unlikely to hold for a fourth week if that trend continues, you have to feel sorry for Freeez who hold at No 2 for a third week but itself dips 22% to 53,006 but reduced the gap on Young from 14,000 to just 9,000 over the course of the last fortnight, it may sneak a week at the top yet!

 

 

Despite that big dip in sales Malcolm McLaren and the Eurythmics are still not making up the charge, they swap places with McLaren rising 4-3 with improved sales on 46,206 and "Who's That Girl" receding 3-4 (43,809).

 

 

The brightest hope for the next No 1 is probably KC & The Sunshine Band, yes you read right! The 70s disco band look to have made one of the most remarkable comebacks of the 80s with a track entitled "Give It Up", The band had 11 hits between 1974-1980 and then....nothing! A fact popularly attributed to the backlash against disco in the US, few expected to see them in the UK top 10 again but it proves you can never write off anyone in pop, the track actually appeared on their last album "All In A Night's Work" which was released last year and made No 46 here hardly setting the charts alight, which ironically will have contributed to the single's current success now- it rockets 19-5 (37,094) with a little help from TOTP.

 

 

 

Due to head out on tour in October and now with a No 1 album to their credit, 1983 is fast turning into a great one for Wham!, A fourth single from the "Fantastic" album is now tearing up the charts 27-10 (27,217). "Club Tropicana" comes with an Ibiza lensed video and more than enough flesh to attract the female teenage audience which seems to be where the group are positioning themselves given their numerous appearances in Smash Hits over the past few months.

 

 

Elsewhere good news for the Police and Bananarama who both climb 9-7 (30,430) and 10-8 (29,546) respectively, whilst Gary Byrd can only maintain No 6 (36,159) on a slight sales dip, and Heaven 17 round this week off with a slide 5-9 (28,254).

 

 

 

1- WHEREVER I LAY MY HAT (THAT’S MY HOME)- Paul Young (62,764)

2- I.O.U- Freeez (53,006)

3- DOUBLE DUTCH- Malcolm McLaren (46,206)

4- WHO’S THAT GIRL- Eurythmics (43,809)

5- GIVE IT UP- KC & The Sunshine Band (37,094)

6- THE CROWN- Gary Byrd & Experience (36,159)

7- WRAPPED AROUND YOUR FINGER- The Police (30,430)

8- CRUEL SUMMER- Bananarama (29,546)

9- COME LIVE WITH ME- Heaven 17 (28,254)

10- CLUB TROPICANA- Wham! (27,217)

 

Club Tropicana is by far Wham’s best song.

'Club Tropicana' is one of the ultimate holiday songs! Definitely influenced I think by the success of the band Modern Romance.

 

I think Fine Young Cannibals were influenced by KC and 'Give It Up', the vocalist is so similar sounding! Good song, a bit retro for 1983.

I didn't know that KC & The Sunshine Band had a chart drought before coming back strong. 'Give It Up' is the best I've heard from them.

Ahhh I love 'Give It Up' so much :wub:

13TH AUGUST

 

 

The Summer continues to produce the doldrums in the chart- only the No 1 single topped the 50,000 mark and even then only just. That allowed KC & The Sunshine Band's "Give It Up" to rise 5-1 without TOTP exposure and on a sale of just 56,525 copies, an increase of just 52% though that should increase with more exposure this week, That tally is the second lowest of the year so far. Paul Young vacates the top spot (1-2, 47,753) which is itself the 2nd lowest tally of the year for the runner up spot and Freeez (2-3, 41,072) complete the top 3.

 

 

 

This July was one of the hottest on the record and as if by magic The Style Council produce a single called "Long Hot Summer" which was recorded in Paris back in June. The track is officially a double A-Side with "Paris Match" and Weller pulls his normal promotional tool (used also on "Beat Surrender" of issuing a usual two track 7" plus a special 4 track 7" & 12" EP entitled "A Paris", all told it helps the single debut at No 8 (30,651) which must be a blessed relief after their second single Money Go Round" spun out at No 11 despite a No 12 debut- already they are picking up from where the Jam left off in terms of being frontloaded.

 

 

 

For the first time in 7 years Elton John has got himself two top 10 hits on the trot in a major revival to his chart career. Following "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues" into the big 10, "I'm Still Standing" now replicates in a 24-9 (30,379) move, it's another Taupin/ John creation and he must be thankful to return to the set up after years in the chart wilderness, parent album "Too Low For Zero" looks to have longevity as it moves back up 21-14 this week.

 

 

 

Their third album is due in just 3 weeks and Depeche Mode are finally back in the top 10 after their last three singles all made the top 20 but failed to make the top 10 grade. "Everything Counts" soars 16-10 (29,665) this week as it lyrically attacks corporate greed in its lyrics, the band have become increasingly political since their poppy Vince Clarke days, speaking of the man himself he's denied rumours that now Yazoo have split he's thinking of a return to the group who are now doing very well on their own!

 

 

The only other climber are Wham! who gallop 10-5 (40,273) as their album "Fantastic" rallies 7-4 whilst Gary Byrd holds at No 6 for a third week on a sale of 34,442 despite losing sales. Going the wrong way are Malcolm McLaren 3-4 (41,055) and Eurythmics (4-7, 30,889)

 

 

 

1- GIVE IT UP- K.C & The Sunshine Band (56,525)

2- WHEREVER (I LAY MY HAT (THAT’S MY HOME)- Paul Young (47,753)

3- I.O.U- Freeez (41,072)

4- DOUBLE DUTCH- Malcolm McLaren (41,055)

5- CLUB TROPICANA- Wham! (40,273)

6- THE CROWN- Gary Byrd & Experience (34,442)

7- WHO’S THAT GIRL- Eurythmics (30,889)

8- LONG HOT SUMMER- Style Council (30,651)

9- I’M STILL STANDING- Elton John (30,379)

10- EVERYTHING COUNTS- Depeche Mode (29,665)

 

'Everything Counts' is easily my favourite in that top 10 now :wub: an improvement at the top also!

Everything Counts :wub: :wub:

Everything Counts gets large amounts of :wub: :wub: :wub: from me too - one of the very best in Depeche Mode's impressive discography

Long Hot Summer is a great track.

Everything Counts is one of Depeche Mode's best singles, especially the 12 inch version.

Everything Counts was the song that made me sit up and pay attention to Depeche Mode.

20TH AUGUST

 

 

Fears that the No 1 record was going to drop even further than last week prove to be very unfounded as KC & The Sunshine Band's "Give It Up" gets a good gust of wind from both the fact that it was a new No 1 last week and of course TOTP to sell a very impressive 88,944, the highest total in 13 weeks! From Famine to feast.

 

 

 

KC gets all the headlines but it was a great week for Spandau Ballet with their new single "Gold" from the "True" album. They must lament their decision not to fly back to the UK to perform live on TOTP as it may have turned the trick for them and pushed them all the way to the No 1 spot but they didn't and history will show a 12-2 rise for the track on a sale of 54,383 but it could have been so much more sensational.

 

 

 

An influential name in the Jazz, Herbie Hancock has been releasing solo albums since the early 70s and scored a couple of top 20 hits, last seen in 1979 with the No 18 hit "You Bet Your Love" but he now goes even better with "Rockit" which rises 15-8 (31,450) this week. It comes with a state of the art video directed by those pioneers of the pop promo Godley & Crème who seem to be everywhere in 1983. The album "Future Shock" will be Hancock's 35th album in all- he's nothing if not productive!

 

 

Elsewhere it really is a top 10 comprising groups, KC, Spandau, and Style Council all benefit from TOTP exposure whilst Wham! announced that their first UK tour was now sold out and have been on a TV blitz which means all four are well clear of the bottom 5. Style Council advance 8-3 (47,719) and have their biggest hit on their hands, whilst Wham! only move a spot 5-4 but record a sales hike of 16% to 46,206.

 

Elton leaps 9-5 (40,341) but the bottom half of the big 10 are as poor in sales as last week, Depeche Mode advance 10-6 (33,099) that's their joint biggest hit with last year's "See You". Bad times for Malcolm McLaren 4-7 (31,824), Paul Young 2-9 (30,362) and Freeez 3-10 (30,328)

 

 

 

1- GIVE IT UP- KC & The Sunshine Band (88,944)

2- GOLD- Spandau Ballet (54,383)

3- LONG HOT SUMMER – Style Council (47,719)

4- CLUB TROPICANA- Wham! (46,206)

5- I’M STILL STANDING- Elton John (40,341)

6- EVERYTHING COUNTS- Depeche Mode (33,099)

7- DOUBLE DUTCH- Malcolm McLaren (31,824)

8- ROCKIT- Herbie Hancock (31,450)

9- WHEREVER YOU LAY MY HAT (THAT’S MY HOME)- Paul Young (30,362)

10- I.O.U- Freeez (30,328)

 

ooh 'Gold' *.* lyrically it may be cheesy as hell but it always puts me in a great mood :lol: and I love the rhythmic production. I have quite fond childhood memories of it too <3

 

'Rockit' is also right up my street as a synth instrumental. Still annoyed that the title wouldn't come to my head in PopMaster recently :kink:

Thought IOU was the big dance track of 1983, but here comes 'Rockit' which like Malcolm McLaren's 'Buffalo Gals' earlier in the year displays the scratching hip hop style that would influence house music later in the 80s. Aptly of course Herbie Hancock is from Chicago, the birthplace of house.

 

Rockit also reminds me that

Art of Noise

must be coming soon too then EDIT: not that soon actually!

 

Gold is a great track from Spandau, paving the way for the popularity of sophisti-pop in the mid 80s.

Edited March 23, 20232 yr by TheSnake

Some great tracks in the last few weeks, ‘Rockit’ must have sounded so modern and futuristic in 1983!

 

Everything Counts ❤️❤️❤️

 

Begs that question again are Depeche Mode the biggest group never to have had a Uk single no1?

Some great tracks in the last few weeks, ‘Rockit’ must have sounded so modern and futuristic in 1983!

 

Everything Counts ❤️❤️❤️

 

Begs that question again are Depeche Mode the biggest group never to have had a Uk single no1?

 

I'd say it's probably between them and Bon Jovi, although I believe Depeche Mode have more chart entries.

27TH AUGUST

 

 

"Give It Up" retains the top slot for a third week as it also sells to 77,622 buyers, it will hit the 300,000 mark next week. It was a difficult week for the track which was pushed all the way by Spandau Ballet who retain the No 2 spot on an improved sale of 70,074 helped by their return to the UK and associated promo though they weren't eligible for TOTP.

 

 

 

If there is a new challenger to KC's chart crown then surely Madness must be it. "Wings Of A Dove" is a new non album single from the group which now turns into their 14th top 10 hit and 13th of the 80s which makes them well clear in the list of acts with the most top tenners in the decade. The song is unusually in their cannon as it features joint vocals between Suggs and Smash and this week powers 19-6 (42,415) in its second week on the charts- could it become their second No 1 next week?

 

 

 

UB40's fourth album "Labour Of Love" is an album of covers which have been given the groups trademark Reggae make over, and the first single plucked from the project is a cover of Neil Diamond's 1968 No 62 US song "Red Red Wine" which flies 36-9 (25,721) this week to become the group's 4th appearance in the top flight. They have been absent from the big 10 for just over 2 years with most commentators considering them past their best when their last 4 singles all failed to go higher than No 25 with the parent album "UB44" underperforming hence a move to more commercial sound- looks like it worked.

 

 

 

 

As lead singer of Linx David Grant was last in the top 10 back in 1981 when "Intuition" peaked at No 7, the group disbanded late last year when their chart fortunes faded with Grant deciding to go solo and debut solo release "Stop And Go" went all the way to No 19. He's doing a lot better with their third release "Watching You, Watching Me" which advances 17-10 ( 25,585), the self titled album will be released in October.

 

 

Wham! and Depeche Mode are both on the way out slipping 4-5 (50.915) and 6-7 (35,564) and Elton is still standing and still climbing 5-4 (52,054) but regardless all increase their sales! There are 3 non movers Herbie Hancock at No 8 (32,572) , and the Style Council are unlucky not to nab the runner up spot whilst they hold at No 3 (56,372).

 

 

1- GIVE IT UP- KC & Sunshine Band (77,622)

2- GOLD- Spandau Ballet (70,074)

3- LONG HOT SUMMER- Style Council (56,372)

4- I’M STILL STANDING- Elton John (52,054)

5- CLUB TROPICANA- Wham! (50,915)

6- WINGS OF A DOVE- Madness (42,415)

7- EVERYTHING COUNTS- Depeche Mode (35,564)

8- ROCKIT- Herbie Hancock (32,572)

9- RED RED WINE- UB40 (25,721)

10- WATCHING YOU WATCHING ME- David Grant (25,585)