14TH JULY

 

 

The incredible story of Frankie Goes To Hollywood continues unabated this week as they hold the top 2 positions again. “Two Tribes” naturally dominates though it takes a further sales knock of 27% (130,424) a figure softened by the release of new mixes of the song, a trick that ZTT have quickly become masters of in a very short time. The song is now over 800,000 and should hit in the million within a month, it still has some way to go to catch “Relax” which holds at No 2 on a sale of 61,863 which means that it’s total sales of 1,298,018 see it fly past “Karma Chameleon” to become officially the best selling single of the 80s so far. “Two Tribes” is incidentally in the top 20 for the decade at present.

 

 

 

In non-Frankie news the highest new entry on the charts this week comes from Nigel Planer, better known as Neil from the BBC Comedy series “The Young ones” which has just come to the end of its second series. Planer of course plays the resident hippie and his version of Traffic’s 1968 No 2 hit “Hole In My Shoe” debuts instantly at No 5 this week with 32,878 buyers and is the new great white hope for those already tired of the FGTH success. It features Barbara Gaskin on backing vocals and is produced by Dave Stewart who of course had his own No 1 just three years ago with “It’s My Party”. The single is released as Planer’s alter ego Neil from the show and an album of Neil’s similar musings will be available in the autumn. It also creates a bit of chart history becoming the first debut single to enter the charts in the top 5!

 

 

 

Prior to his most recent single Prince was known primarily in this country for his Mo 25 hit “1999” in 1983 (confusingly). Anyway he’s now about to release his sixth album “Purple Rain” of which “When Doves Cry” is the lead track and now his first UK top 10 single, it is currently the No 1 single in the US so expect this to continue to rise here though the album is released this week so may impact on the single, it moves 21-8 (30,141)

 

 

 

Also sneaking into the top 10 is a third hit for Tina Turner from her “Private Dancer” album. “What’s Love Got To Do With It” has a long history dating back some years now and was offered to Cliff Richard originally back in 1981 but rejected before being offered to both Phyllis Hyman and Donna Summer before Turner got to record it for her album. Funnily enough Bucks Fizz recorded the song earlier this year but Turner seems to have gotten in first in making it a hit, the album was only released three weeks ago and has moved 16-19-16 thus far, the single meanwhile powers 18-10 (24,582).

 

 

Cyndi Lauper continues to have a great 1984, “Time After Time” responds well to TOTP exposure and moves 4-3 (56,610) behind FGTH who blocjked her previous hit making the top!, Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel also move upwards 10-9 (25,908) but no good news to be found elsewhere. Nik Kershaw continues to slide 3-4 (41,718), Ollie & Jerry dip 5-6 (30,566) and The Pointer Sisters recede 6-7 (30,413)

 

 

 

1- TWO TRIBES- Frankie Goes To Hollywood (130,424)

2- RELAX- Frankie Goes To Hollywood (61,863)

3- TIME AFTER TIME- Cyndi Lauper (56,610)

4- I WON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME- Nik Kershaw (41,718)

5- HOLE IN MY SHOE- Neil (32,878)

6- BREAKIN...THERE’S NO STOPPING US- Ollie & Jerry (30,566)

7- JUMP (FOR MY LOVE)- Pointer Sisters (30,413)

8- WHEN DOVES CRY- Prince (30,141)

9- WHITE LINES (DON’T DO IT)- Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel (25,908)

10- WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT- Tina Turner (24,582)

 

Interesting that the Sun was just as vile back in 1984.

 

Amazingly it was a pro Labour Party paper as recently as pre-1979 when it turned right. It’s original name was the Daily Herald set up as an independent left wing paper by Labour MP Arthur Lansbury( a corbynista back in the day)!

yay for Prince and Tina, insane it took 6 albums for Prince to have to a top 10

don't get that Neil thing, guess you needed to watch the tv show

White Lines (Don't Do It) is my favourite song from the rap genre.

 

I bought the cassette single of Two Tribes which consisted of a 16 minute version of the song which then merged into its B side, a cover of 'War'.

 

Time After Time, I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me and When Doves Cry are also highlights from that top 10.

When Doves Cry

Even the most fanatic of Bucks Fizz fans (i.e. someone who likes them even more than me) would admit their version of Whats Love deserves being overlooked for Tina.

 

Time After Time, Sun Go Down, When Doves Cry and White Lines. Some great tracks there away from the Frankie domination.

 

 

21ST JULY

 

 

As you were at the top of the charts with Frankie's "Two Tribes" becomes only the second single of the decade to make No 1 for 6 weeks. It's not following traditional sales patterns either as once again it increased sales! It may only be by 3% but that makes another 133,943 and should be a million seller next week. There stranglehold on the top 2 however is over as "Relax" dips 2-3 (62,628) and that in spite of similar sales increase week on week- we cannot get enough of them!

 

 

 

There’s only one new entry into the top 10 this week which slips in at No 10 (28,373) for The Bluebells. The Scottish band of course had a No 11 earlier this year with “I’m Falling” and now go one better as they leap 14-10 with “Young At Heart” which includes a promo featuring Clare Grogan and Molly Weir, more famous to youngsters as Hazel McWitch in “Rentaghost”. The song of course appeared on Bananarama’s debut album “Deep Sea Skiving” last year but was co-written by the girls and Fahey’s boyfriend Robert Hodgens who is also the guitarist in the Bluebells hence the connection.

 

 

For the first time since it ascended to No 1 six weeks ago “Two Tribes” at least looked catchable, that was thanks to Neil whose “Hole In My Shoe” rushed 5-2 (107,474) thanks in part to a colourful TOTP appearance but otherwise Frankie can rest easy. Improvements can also be seen for Prince 8-5 (45,662), Tina Turner 10-6 (43,401) and Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel 9-8 (30,566).

 

Cyndi Lauper takes a fall as Neil pushed by her 3-4 (61,013) as does Nik Kershaw 4-7 (34,578) and The Pointer Sisters 7-9 (28,781). For Lauper she must be thoroughly hacked off with FGTH after "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" peaked at No 2 behind "Relax" and now "Time After Time" appears to have peaked behind a FGTH duo of singles- perhaps she needs to ensure a closer check on the release schedule next time around.

 

 

1- TWO TRIBES- Frankie Goes To Hollywood (133,943)

2- HOLE IN MY SHOE- Neil (107,474)

3- RELAX- Frankie Goes To Hollywood (62,628)

4- TIME AFTER TIME- Cyndi Lauper (61,013)

5- WHEN DOVES CRY- Prince (45,662)

6- WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT- Tina Turner (43,401)

7- I WON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME- Nik Kershaw (34,578)

8- WHITE LINES (DON’T DO IT)- Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel (30,566)

9- JUMP (FOR MY LOVE)- Pointer Sisters (28,781)

10- YOUNG AT HEART- The Bluebells (28,373)

 

nice to see young at Heart in the top 10 great song

 

not a fan of that top 2

Hole In My Shoe will surely be a future contender for worst #2 :drama:

Time After Time, When Doves Cry and White Lines (Don’t Do It) are my favourites in this Top 10. Funny that two songs here, Relax and Young At Heart, will return to the Top 10 in 1993!

'When Doves Cry' is my favourite Prince song :wub: the accompanying record has got to be a contender for my favourite 80s album also

 

I love the original 'Hole In My Shoe' by Traffic but the Neil version is errr... interesting :lol: had no idea that Barbara Gaskin was on backing vocals! There's something about her and 60s covers, taking on 'It's My Party' and 'The Locomotion' too.

 

back to the good stuff... 'White Lines (Don’t Do It)' is fab, must've sounded so fresh at the time

Two Tribes is a brilliantly energetic and epic track mixing 80s stadium rock with high energy dance, strange that it didn't really start a trend of more tracks like it in the charts.

 

Young at Heart is a good track, I remember it from my childhood because of the 90s revival of the track. When Doves Cry and Time After Time are good songs too.

 

Hole In My Shoe is another example of the 60s nostalgia in the 80s.

this is how the original Young at Heart by Bananarama sounds like

 

28TH JULY

 

 

Well they did it- and in some style. Frankie Goes To Hollywood can celebrate making their first two singles into million sellers- the only other act that can claim that are John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John though of course Newton-John had many hits prior to her involvement in those duets so arguably this is new ground in the pop world. "Two Tribes" sold another impressive 123,012 to take its total to 1,073,057, "Relax" sold another 60,707 which sees its sales rest at 1,421,353 as it holds at No 3 this week giving the Frankie's sales of over 2.4 million in the last 8 months- absolutely incredible. To add to all that "Two Tribes" is now in it's 7th week on top making it the longest chart topper of the 80s and the longest since "Summer Nights" by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John- how fitting!

 

 

 

Jolly & Swain are back this time with Alison Moyet who co-writes her first solo single “Love Resurrection” which this week’s proves the only new blood in the top 10 as it glides 12-10 (25,007). Her debut album “Alf” is due before Christmas with its title being taken from her nickname, the single has moved 14-13-12 in recent weeks so is clearly struggling perhaps the addition promo of being in the top 10 can motivate it.

 

 

The threat to Frankie from Neil is effectively over, he holds at No 2 but sales dip to 85,255, but once again this week’s climbers are Prince, Tina Turner, and Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel, and this week they are joined by the Bluebells. Prince slinks 5-4 (49,266) while the album “Purple Rain” arrives at No 21, Tina Turner impresses 6-5 (49,096) whilst her album shoots 10-5 to hit a new peak, and “White Lines” lifts 8-7 (33,082). The Bluebells improve 10-8 (28,883), and moving down the charts are Cyndi Lauper 4-6 (41,599) and Nik Kershaw 7-9 (26,537).

 

 

 

1- TWO TRIBES- Frankie Goes To Hollywood (123,012)

2- HOLE IN MY SHOE- Neil (85,255)

3- RELAX- Frankie Goes To Hollywood (60,707)

4- WHEN DOVES CRY- Prince (49,266)

5- WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT- Tina Turner (49,096)

6- TIME AFTER TIME- Cyndi Lauper (41,599)

7- WHITE LINES (DON’T DO IT)- Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel (33,082)

8- YOUNG AT HEART- The Bluebells (28,883)

9- I WON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME- Nik Kershaw (26,537)

10- LOVE RESURRECTION- Alison Moyet. (25,007)

 

I was expecting the Bluebells to fly to #1 and just realised if was the 90s re-issue that went to #1 and actually have no clue how it did in the 80s

 

on 1st listen that Alison Moyet song is kinda underwhelming especially compared to her Yazoo stuff

I love the Alison Moyet song, it’s really not at all underwhelming for me

'When Doves Cry' is the best Prince song for me but I'm not a big fan generally overall.

 

'Young At Heart' is such a hipster fun vibing tune. I specifically remembered studying that at one point in Uni and how it all come about them re-releasing nearly a decade later and going to #1!

4TH AUGUST

 

 

Another week and another set of records for Frankie Goes To Hollywood. Not only does “Two Tribes” retain the top spot for an 8th week on a sale of 109,633, but it has now sold almost 1.2 million which makes it the third best selling single of the 80s. The group’s first release “Relax” also holds at No 3 (55,573)

 

 

Neil makes it three weeks at No 2 but his sales again wain down to 63,699 and indeed he was outsold by "Relax" on a few days in the week.

 

 

Top 10 hit number 14 for Queen this week, “It’s A Hard Life” rockets 23-6 (38,692) this week and in the process becomes the third top 10 single from “The Works”, the album responds 11-5 in its 22nd week, a run which has seen the album refuse to leave the top 20. A suitably theatrical video comes with the song, the melody and some lyrics comes courtesy of Ruggiero Leoncavello’s “Pagliacci” composed back in 1892.

 

 

 

Shakatak have had 11 hit singles, only four of them have made the top 20 including their latest “Down On The Street” which climbs 15-9 (28,288). It now matches their previous best position which they hit back in 1982 with “Night Birds”, the song is also the lead single from the album of the same name which is their fifth album and is due next month.

 

 

 

Phil Fearon and Galaxy are celebrating again this week as they get a third top 10 single with “Everybody’s Laughing”. The single rises 12-10 (27,132) although it’s advance over the last few weeks 15-12-10 would indicate it’s running out steam, you only have to wait three weeks for his debut album.

 

 

The top of the charts has a static feel this week with all the top 5 remaining the same which means that Prince (No 4, 50,677) and Tina Turner (No 5, 49,793) can’t move though they continue to increase at retail, and even Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel (No 7, 34,680) stand still with a sales upturn. Cyndi Lauper rounds off the recap as she slumps 6-8 (30,957).

 

 

 

1- TWO TRIBES- Frankie Goes To Hollywood (109,633)

2- HOLE IN MY SHOE- Neil (63,699)

3- RELAX- Frankie Goes To Hollywood (55,573)

4- WHEN DOVES CRY- Prince (50,677)

5- WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT- Tina Turner (49,793)

6- IT’S A HARD LIFE- Queen (38,692)

7- WHITE LINES (DON’T DO IT)- Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel (34,680)

8- TIME AFTER TIME- Cyndi Lauper (30,957)

9- DOWN ON THE STREET- Shakatak (28,288)

10- EVERYBODY’S LAUGHING- Phil Fearon & Galaxy (27,132)

 

Shakatak really stand out in that top 10 as a group that are of a different era with the Brit funk sound, kinda feels like 1978-81 era band still grabbing hits!

Shakatak really stand out in that top 10 as a group that are of a different era with the Brit funk sound, kinda feels like 1978-81 era band still grabbing hits!

 

The Galaxy ft Phil Fearon song too sonically sounds a bit dated for 1984.

Edited June 21, 20232 yr by TheSnake