July 4, 20232 yr Author 3RD NOVEMBER It goes into reverse at retail but Wham!s "Freedom" is still the country's favourite track. It's downturn of 14% still sees a sale of 121,499 bringing its total to 411,286 after its first month on sale and will probably outsell "Wake Me Up" by the time we reach the end of the year. With the album out in a week it probably only has one more week at the top left! kufh8YJCMZs Paul McCartney has had a mixed week, his film has been largely slated by the critics and “No More Lonely Nights” dips 2-3 (67,575), he does however have the No 1 album as he beats Culture Club to the top slot in something of a shock outcome given the year that Culture Club have had. The album doubtless detracted sales from the single which allows Chaka Khan’s “I Feel For You” to move past it 5-2 (79,271) to become the highest charting Prince composition, he’s had quite a remarkable year- could it be topped off with a No 1? Whether it will or not will in part depend on the fast fading Wham! and a new Duran Duran song who debut with a bang as a new entry at No 5. The song arrives with a supposed million dollars video directed by Russell Mulcahy who portrays a futuristic “Mad max” esque world as a prelude to a proposed attempt to dramatise the William Burroughs book “The Wild Boys: A Book Of The Dead” by Mulcahy and for which he approached the band to make a record for. You’ll doubtless have read about Le Bon’s “near death” experiences in filming the promo which have helped to promote the track which will feature of the band’s forthcoming live album “Arena” due next month. It comes with a possible six sleeves (one for each member and a group sleeve) just to ensure fans snap them all up, it debuts this week on a sale of 54,264 and looks set fair for No 1 next week. x985LxWESmo Having John Lennon as your father can only help your career as his son Julian is finding out. His debut single “Too Late For Goodbyes” jumps 12-6 (43,333) this week as his debut album “Valotte” is a new entry at No 20, he is of course the inspiration for several songs by the Beatles most notably “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” and “Hey Jude”, and just to make sure that he has a hit on his hands he gets Phil Ramone in to produce the track. FpavBBI3W58 Want a Status Quo album for Christmas? Then have no fear, a new greatest hits compilation “12 Gold Bars Volume II” will be released in a month and feature all their singles from 1980 to present, that will now include their version of “The Wanderer” which was a hit for Dion in 1962 when it peaked at No 10. The Quo’s version is a bigger hit as it flies 23-7 (42,415) and comes at something of a crossroads for the band who claim they have will never tour again and the future of guitarist and founding member Alan Lancaster unknown. kozqsQ1IcE4 Not much else to cheer I’m afraid with only Alison Moyet managing to maintain their position from last week at No 8 (40,290). Heading down are Phil Oakey & Giorgio Moroder 3-4 (66,249), Stevie Wonder 4-9 (35,853) and John Waite 9-10 (33,167) 1- FREEDOM- Wham! (121,499) 2- I FEEL FOR YOU- Chaka Khan (79,271) 3- NO MORE LONELY NIGHTS (BALLAD)- Paul McCartney (67,575) 4- TOGETHER IN ELECTRIC DREAMS- Phil Oakey & Giorgio Moroder (66,249) 5- WILD BOYS- Duran Duran (54,264) 6- TOO LATE FOR GOODBYES- Julian Lennon (43,333) 7- THE WANDERER- Status Quo (42,415) 8- ALL CRIED OUT- Alison Moyet (40,290) 9- I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU- Stevie Wonder (35,853) 10- MISSING YOU- John Waite (33,167)
July 4, 20232 yr Don't mind the Duran Duran and Julian Lennon songs, but the Status Quo is rather pedestrian Surprised Duran only debited at 5 :) maybe people were having the same problem I have with them, songs are good but they all sound the same, it's like they release the same song again and again, really cannot tell this one apart from The Reflex or View to a Kill...
July 4, 20232 yr The Duran Duran song is a good one, good answer to the Frankie rivalry. I like the Ch-ch-ch-Chaka khan song which I first discovered via that Virgin Media ad a few years ago. Strange that it way outcharted 'Ain't Nobody', which is more well known than 'I Feel For You' now (and I prefer 'Ain't Nobody' myself) Edited July 4, 20232 yr by TheSnake
July 5, 20232 yr I would say now Ain’t Nobody just because it’s more of a dance hit still, I was surprised to see this one hit no1 watching TOTP repeats a few years back but it does sound ahead of it’s time in the 1984 chart considering the rapping and hip hop vibes! Wild Boys is class probably on Notorious, Come Undone and Ordinary World left to come as Duran classics left!
July 5, 20232 yr Author Yes some people are following this "live" so please no spoilers. I am, after all, writing it as live!
July 5, 20232 yr Yeh sorry about that, didn’t realise when I wrote it that it hadn’t peaked. I will make sure and not spoil going forward!
July 5, 20232 yr Author 10TH NOVEMBER In what threatened to be an interesting week in the pop charts it turned into a slightly damp squib, Chaka Khan won’t be complaining however as “I Feel For You” duly rises 2-1 to become her first No 1 single 6 years after her first hit “I’m Every Woman” though it only sold 85,425 copies. That was enough to dethrone Wham! Who slide 1-2 (80,818), their attention will turn to the album charts this week as second album “Make It Big” attempts to knock Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s “Welcome To The Pleasuredome” off the top spot after just a week. Regardless it was an achievement for Khan to overturn a deficit of 42,000 last week to take the crown, and for "Freedom" it means it will cross the half million mark this week. Khan's total also breaks a string of 12 weeks where the No 1 sold over 100,000 and is the lowest winning tally since Duran Duran's last week at No 1 with "The Reflex" way back in May. qkz4vZa6dM8 Talking of Duran Duran, their expected challenge never quite happened as they climb 5-3 (72,301) but a weak show might highlight the beginning of the end of the group as a major force, history tells us that if a Durannie record isn’t No 1 after a fortnight then it won’t get there, and saleswise the idea of one of their singles topping the 100,000 a week mark look to be a thing of the past. The Current US chart topper arrives in the top 10 this week from Mr Billy Ocean. We haven’t seen him in the top 40 as a performer since 1977’s No 2 hit “Red Light Spells Danger” but he’s not been idle penning hit or other acts including The Nolans “Who’s Gonna Rock You” as well as pumping out the albums even if the UK public were largely unimpressed. “Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run)” proves a return to form however flying 12-9 (36,686), the track is available in multiple variations depending on location, yes “European Queen” and “African Queen” are also to be heard in disco’s around the world. Indeed "European Queen" got a UK release over the summer and missed out on a top 75 position. e8gTMnuRjts Though the split was far from amicable it seems that ultimately Limahl has come out of it better than Kajagoogoo, both the group’s 1984 releases have failed to make the top 20 yet Limahl is back in the top 10 this week. His first solo single was “Only For Love” which made No 16 last year but he was looking like a has been when first “Too Much Trouble” made No 64 then debut album “Don’t Suppose” could only make No 63. However whilst promoting his debut single he was spotted by Giorgio Moroder who asked him to sing the theme to a new movie “The NeverEnding Story” which he duly obliged. It climbs 20-10 (32,011) this week to become the third Moroder track to be a top 10 track in the past few months, the man is on a roll, he also falls 4-5 (42,041) in duet with Phil Oakey. 41jwGq25PoU Paul McCartney slips 3-4 (46,155) whilst the rest of the field remain stuck in the groove, Julian Lennon at No 6 (40,358), Status Quo at No 7 (39,117) and Alison Moyet at No 8 (37,009) 1- I FEEL FOR YOU- Chaka Khan (85,425) 2- FREEDOM- Wham! (80,818) 3- WILD BOYS- Duran Duran (72,301) 4- NO MORE LONELY NIGHTS (BALLAD)- Paul McCartney (46,155) 5- TOGETHER IN ELECTRIC DREAMS- Phil Oakley & Giorgio Moroder (42,041) 6- TOO LATE FOR GOODBYES- Julian Lennon (40,358) 7- THE WANDERER- Status Quo (39,117) 8- ALL CRIED OUT- Alison Moyet (37,009) 9- CARIBBEAN QUEEN (NO MORE LOVE ON THE RUN)- Billy Ocean(36,686) 10- NEVER ENDING STORY- Limahl (32,011)
July 5, 20232 yr Caribbean Queen is a very good song, better than Billy Ocean's later 80s stuff in my opinion. I would say now Ain’t Nobody just because it’s more of a dance hit still, I was surprised to see this one hit no1 watching TOTP repeats a few years back but it does sound ahead of it’s time in the 1984 chart considering the rapping and hip hop vibes! Yes theres been quite a few top 10 Ain't Nobody covers including one as early as 1997 from The Course so definitely better known than I Feel For You. Edited July 5, 20232 yr by TheSnake
July 6, 20232 yr Author 17TH NOVEMBER Chaka Khan remains at No 1 though the chart has a lacklustre feel about it as most of the big guns are holding back for the Christmas No 1 slot but more on that later! She sold 100,419 copies last week to easily romp home to victory, and on paper Duran Duran’s move from 3-2 should be a warning, but “Wild Boys” is struggling and lost sales in fact to just 68,833 and below them it's a tightly packed top 6 with the numbers 3-6 separated by only 2,414 copies separating 4 tracks, Billy Ocean climb s9-6 (46,359), Limahl’s rise 10-5 is accompanied by 47,056 sales! and above him Wham! Dip 2-4 (48,484) but have at least three reasons to be cheerful. Firstly the track has now sold 570,588 copies making it the second Wham! Track on the trot to pass the magic half million mark, secondly their second album “Make It Big” debuts at No 1 this week on a very healthy sale to dethrone FGTH with unexpected ease, and thirdly “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go” tops the US Chart, marking their own arrival on the international stage, all in all a remarkable achievement for the group. 85QJa7X3tgY At No 3 is the first of our new tracks, you’ll remember the band Ph.D who hit No 3 back in 1982 with “I Won’t Let You Down”, shortly after that lead singer Jim Diamond contracted hepatitis which resulted in an inability to tour and ultimately in the group disbanding. That proved to be a blessing in disguise as Diamond releases his first solo record on a major label “I Should Have Known Better” which this week powers 13-3 (48,773) to equal his previous best with the former band. An album is promised sometime next year. qWEFNFsFrgE Founded in 1969 and producing albums since 1971 ZZ Top were a regular chart act throughout much of the 70s in the US without ever troubling the UK Charts until the release of their recent album “Eliminator” which has taken off in 1984 spending the last 10 weeks in the top 10 peaking at No 4 and now can boast a top 10 single as “Gimme All Your Lovin’” ascends 11-10 (29,597). The track was originally released back in 1983 and made No 61 but has gone on to become a reasonably big hit in several European countries and a top 40 hit in the US this year before finally make it over here thanks in part to a memorable video. Ae829mFAGGE Both Status Quo and Alison Moyet hold at No’s 7 & 8 and both records had TOTP to help them but have differing results at retail. Status Quo improve at No 7 (39,440) whilst Moyet at No 8 (33,286) dips. Julian Lennon collapses 6-9 (29,988). Time now to have a quick review of the runners and riders for the festive top spot just a month away. THE POWER OF LOVE- Frankie Goes To Hollywood. Currently the bookies favourite for the Christmas No 1 and already being marketed as “their third No 1” in typically boastful ZTT advertising it seems as though nothing can stop these lads in 1984. LAST CHRISTMAS- Wham! On the other hand these lads have also been unstoppable! George Michael has penned three chart toppers this year and recently announced their intention to go for the big one. The song hasn’t been premiered yet but those who have heard it promise it will be worth the wait, and to be honest they’re probably the only thing that can stop FGTH. THE MEDAL SONG- Culture Club. With 7 straight top 4 hits to their name Culture Club’s new song should be there or thereabouts come the big day, it’s the second single from “Waking Up With The House On Fire” which has disappointed sales wise since its release. Despite that the group have still had a fantastic 1984 with a US No 1 single and enough inches in the tabloids to still make them headliners. The group have also been in the top 5 the last two Christmas’s! ANOTHER ROCK AND ROLL CHRISTMAS- Gary Glitter. One of the oldies to return this Christmas, Gary Glitter and Slade are both offering new tracks, Slade’s “All Join Hands” enters at No 38 this week and might be a shade early, but Gary Glitter is more festively attuned and could see his first top 20 hit in 9 years with this little number- could it repeat 1973? WE ALL STAND TOGETHER- Paul McCartney & Frog Chorus. Another man who has had a great 1984 with a chart topper and a No 2 hit, Fancy some animated fun about frogs? This is your song guaranteed to be massive with the kids at Christmas! NELLIE THE ELEPHANT- Toy Dolls. An alternative punk take on the children’s classic, this might be unusual enough to be worth a wager and is creeping up on the bookies lists! DO THE CONGA- Black Lace. Yes they’re back- the office party is one to be avoided this year if this is playing! EVERYTHING MUST CHANGE- Paul Young- His last single disappointed but Young is back on ballad territory and we all know what happened the last time he did that. CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN- Frank Kelly. As an outside bet try this one. A well known Irish actor who appears in the TV show “Wanderly Wagon” is the voice here, it’s a take on “12 Days Of Christmas” and was a top 10 hit in Ireland two Christmas’s ago. Take your pick folks! 1- I FEEL FOR YOU- Chaka Khan (100,419) 2- WILD BOYS- Duran Duran (68,833) 3- I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER- Jim Diamond (48,773) 4- FREEDOM- Wham! (48,484) 5- NEVER ENDING STORY- Limahl (47,056) 6- CARIBBEAN QUEEN (NO MORE LOVE ON THE RUN)- Billy Ocean (46,359) 7- THE WANDERER- Status Quo (39,440) 8- ALL CRIED OUT- Alison Moyet (33,286) 9- TOO LATE FOR GOODBYES- Julian Lennon (29,988) 10- GIMME ALL YOUR LOVIN- ZZ Top (29,597)
July 7, 20232 yr Author 24TH NOVEMBER Christmas is fast approaching but you wouldn’t know it from the charts, Chaka Khan tops the singles chart for a third week but her sales are now in decline with just 80,070 buyers being tempted. The song has now sold 406,011 copies and should clear half a million before the year end so not a bad result all in all, she was up against it toward the end of the week when Jim Diamond pushed her hard as he rose 3-2 with a TOTP performance which expanded by 49% to 71,672 putting him in prime position to take over were it not for a new FGTH record! _HOJBzduXHI Nik Kershaw’s second album “The Riddle” is released this week and the title track has bounded 17-5 (42,857) to become a third top 5 hit for the singer this year. Much speculation has been done by fans on what exactly the lyrics mean and Kershaw is currently refusing to expand on the interpretation, the track is his most instant hit debuting higher than any other of his releases but the desire to push the album out before Christmas, whilst understandable, might harm the singles chances. We’ll wait and see. 4PK-3YpQLNQ 6 straight top 10 in a row, not a bad record in any band’s discography and that’s the boast that the Eurythmics can now make. Approached by Virgin to record the soundtrack to the film “1984”, an interpretation of the George Orwell classic novel, Eurythmics have produced the goods with lead single “Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)” which hurtles 24-7 (30,345) this week. The film is the subject of some controversy with director Michael Radford not keen on the tracks provided by the duo he has done a separate soundtrack, the film is available in two versions, a decision which has caused some rancor between the group and the director as they were unaware of Radford’s thoughts on their output. It seems the charts have vindicated Annie and Dave though. MDQ7dq7a8T4 Chicago are already up to their 14th studio album, for all that and despite a UK No 1 single back in 1976 with “If You Leave Me Now”, they’ve only hit the singles chart on five previous occasions, yet on four of those they went all the way to the top 10. So it proves again with “Hard Habit To Break” which arrives 11-8 (30,345) to become a first hit in over 24 months. _aCAZNcTVeo Limahl continues to inch closer to the top three as he glides 5-4 (44,523), Billy Ocean finds himself stuck at No 6 (37,383). Heading out of the top 10 are Duran Duran 2-3 (49,776), Wham! 4-9 (27,880) and Status Quo 7-10 (25,449) Next week sees the new Frankie single enter the charts- UK’s next No 1 seems assured…… 1- I FEEL FOR YOU- Chaka Khan (80,070) 2- I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER- Jim Diamond (71,672) 3- WILD BOYS- Duran Duran (49,776) 4- NEVER ENDING STORY- Limahl (44,523) 5- THE RIDDLE- Nik Kershaw (42,857) 6- CARIBBEAN QUEEN (NO MORE LOVE ON THE RUN)- Billy Ocean (37,383) 7- SEXCRIME (1984)- Eurythmics (30,345) 8- HARD HABIT TO BREAK- Chicago (30,345) 9- FREEDOM- Wham! (27,880) 10- THE WANDERER- Status Quo (25,449)
July 7, 20232 yr I-I-I-I-I, I-I-I-I-I should have known better! Actually have a soft spot for that! :)
July 7, 20232 yr oh love The Riddle, great single, kinda like Should have known Better too, bit Phil Collins-esque ;) I wouldn't have predicted Chaka Khan so many weeks at #1 kinda disappointed with that Eurythmics single, not a favourite
July 8, 20232 yr Author 1ST DECEMBER It ended up being a bit of a tussle but Jim Diamond sees himself top the UK chart this week with “I Should Have Known Better” though it sold just 64,787 copies to be crowned, actually a 9% decrease week on week and is the lowest tally for a chart topper in 26 weeks , it fought a rear guard attack from Chaka Khan’s “I Feel For You” which had a bit of a sales push at the week end thanks to TOTP but didn’t have enough propulsion to get a fourth week, it ended up with 61,132 sales. X-iaMc9g6VU (clip includes a top 10 countdown) Promoted as their “third No 1 single” Frankie Goes To Hollywood didn’t quite manage to carry off the boast and end up debuting at No 3 with “The Power Of Love”. It was doubtless hampered also by the success of “Welcome To The Pleasuredome” which of course made No 1 last month, the nativity based promo was directed by Godley & Crème and also comes with a 12” mix in which the group parody DJ Mike Smith’s banning of “Relax” at the start of the year. The song sold just 53,431 last week which is a marked comedown from the 135,762 opening of their last single “Two Tribes” but it’s early doors for the single and with Christmas soon here it could easily become the third million seller of the year from the group. WtdRv6GT9Zg His “Greatest Hits” album gets a new peak this week moving 10-9 and Shakin Stevens now has his 12th top 10 hit of the 80s with “Teardrops” as it flies 24-7 (34,272) a track which owes a little bit of help from Hank Marvin on Guitar. Shaky is still second only to Madness in terms of top 10 singles (14 to 12) and in terms of sales he isn’t far off the 5 million mark now and closing fast having sold roughly 3 times as many singles in 1984 as the Nutty boys. zTMtQhK9M1E There’s no other new entries in the top 10 but that doesn’t mean that there’s any lack of movement, most notably Nik Kershaw who continues to rise 5-4 (47,566) and is matched by the Eurythmics who slink 7-6 (42,636) yet Chicago get stuck in the mire at No 8 (32,810). Moving towards the exit are Limahl 4-5 (44,880), Duran Duran 3-9 (32,759) and Billy Ocean 6-10 (30,974) Just as I was running down the runners and riders for the Christmas chart topper last week Bob Geldof made the announcement about Band Aid which has been all over the press all week. The track “Do They Know It’s Christmas” was recorded on Sunday just gone and naturally the papers were full of pictures of the stars involved arriving at the studio which amounts to a who’s who of the charts of 1984. The bookies have closed the books on bets for Band Aid such is their confidence that the song will be at No 1 on Christmas Day, the song will be issued to radio’s by midweek and in the shops next week which should make next week do or die for FGTH in terms of getting that record equalling third No 1 from their first releases. 1- I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER- Jim Diamond (64,787) 2- I FEEL FOR YOU- Chaka Khan (61,132) 3- THE POWER OF LOVE- Frankie Goes To Hollywood (53,431) 4- THE RIDDLE- Nik Kershaw (47,566) 5- NEVER ENDING STORY- Limahl (44,880) 6- SEXCRIME (1984)- Eurythmics (42,636) 7- TEARDROPS- Shakin Stevens (34,272) 8- HARD HABIT TO BREAK- Chicago (32,810) 9- WILD BOYS- Duran Duran (32,759) 10- CARIBBEAN QUEEN (NO MORE LOVE ON THE RUN)- Billy Ocean (30,974)
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