Wow at those sales over the past few weeks for Careless Whisper and the rest of the top 3!

I've said that 1984 doesn't get started sales wise really until June (with the exception of "relax" of course)

8TH SEPTEMBER

 

 

Well here’s a turn up for the books, TOTP finally got around to showing the video for "I Just Called To Say I Love You" and the track flew off the shelves! Yes Stevie Wonder was chasing “Careless Whisper” for most of the week but it created clear blue water over the George Michael track by the week end. It sold an incredible 194,701 last week against 141,780 for the outgoing chart topper, in doing so it becomes Wonder’s first solo chart topper after 18 years in the charts, he did of course hit No 1 just 2 years ago in duet with Paul McCartney on “Ebony And Ivory”, and by way of co-incidence McCartney had his first solo chart topper this year as well.

 

 

The top 2 sold a combined 345,202 two weeks ago and a slightly diminished 336,481 last week but both figures are the highest since the combo of "Come On Eileen" and "Fame" back in August 1982. Sales are certainly booming at present.

 

 

One of the blockbuster films of the summer returns to haunt us (apologies) now that autumn has come around, “Ghostbusters” may not be in UK cinema's until Christmas but Ray Parker Jr’s theme is on the way up 18-6 (45,254). Parker Jr was a member of late 70s group Raydio along with a certain Jerry Knight who was in the top 10 earlier this year as part of Ollie & Jerry (the other member of the duo actually appears in the video for the track along with several other celebrities), and before Raydio he worked with Barry White and the guy at the top of the charts this week, Stevie Wonder. The song has already topped the charts in the US for three weeks and is currently subject to a lawsuit by US act Huey Leiws & The News who are claiming that Parker Jr “borrowed” the melody for their track “I Want A New Drug” though the case is not expected to make it into the courts this side of Christmas.

 

 

 

 

Spandau Ballet manage to pull a second top 10 single from “Parade” in the form of “I’ll Fly For You” which creeps 11-9 (32,674). It’s the group’s ninth top 10 single and fourth on the trot though it seems their days of challenging for No 1 are over. The album might not have made the top (it peaked for three weeks at No 2 behind Bob Marley) it has spent just a fortnight out of the top 10 so that fanbase clearly remains!

 

 

Though it can’t stop losing sales Howard Jones’ “Like To Get You Know Well” holds at No 4 (56,423) thanks to TOTP which clawed back a fall of around three or four places, but it was well behind Black Lace’s “Agadoo” at No 3 (72,828) but has so far sold an impressive 454,087 to easily become their biggest hit. Elton continues to rise though 6-5 (51,629) and could yet challenge the top 3, while Miami Sound Machine can’t make any progress at No 7 (43,911). Heading out are Laura Branigan 5-8 (41,497) and Hazell Dean 8-10 (23,970)

 

 

 

1- I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU- Stevie Wonder (194,701)

2- CARELESS WHISPER- George Michael (141,780)

3- AGADOO- Black Lace (72,828)

4- LIKE TO GET TO KNOW YOU WELL- Howard Jones (56,423)

5- PASSENGERS- Elton John (51,629)

6- GHOSTBUSTERS- Ray Parker Jnr (45,254)

7- DOCTOR BEAT- Miami Sound Machine (43,911)

8- SELF CONTROL- Laura Branigan (41,498)

9- I’LL FLY FOR YOU- Spandau Ballet (32,674)

10- WHATEVER I DO (WHEREVER I GO)- Hazell Dean (23,970)

 

Those top 2 sales are incredible :o

 

nice to be reminded of a time when George and Elton were ruling the charts together, after Elton sang a tribute to George at Glastonbury yesterday.

 

'Dr. Beat' and 'Self Control' are good recent additions

 

'I Just Called To Say I Love You' just reminds me of Dandy's dislike for it now :kink:

Huge sales at the top, but it's also interesting to see the sales gaps lower down the Top 10 in some of these weeks, for example the #8 on 40k+ and #10 on less than 24k here.

ouch that #1 :( not a very great top 10

15TH SEPTEMBER

 

 

Winning in emphatic style this week Stevie Wonder sold an incredible 214,030 copies last week to bring its first month tally to 637,109 as it sends out a clear warning to the domination of those Frankie records which currently sit in the top 2 positions for 1984 and for the decade though that might be getting slightly ahead of ourselves. The release of the soundtrack album this week might dampen the ardour of the track, however this week’s tally is not only the biggest 7 day sale of any track of 1984 (taking that accolade from “Two Tribes”) but the largest since "Karma Chameleon" posted 239,598 last October!

 

 

George Michael easily holds the No 2 position though his sales are well down at 97,903, a figure which would normally impress, his tally of 908,038 would suggest that the million is probably just a fortnight away, a feat that looks to be increasingly easy in the high sales climate of the last few months, indeed 1984 looks like it could be a bumper year for the million sellers.

 

 

With Chrissie Hynde on backing vocals “Pride (In The Name Of Love” is the first U2 single in 17 months and the first to be lifted from their forthcoming fourth album “The Unforgettable Fire” which is due next month. Their previous best came with 1983’s “New Year’s Day” which made No 10 but “Pride” goes instantly better smashing straight into the charts at No 8 on a sale of 43,316 spurred on by evocative lyrics about Martin Luther King Jnr. t's the 8th track of 1984 to debut inside the top 10.

 

 

 

If the Goombay Dance Band, Nicole, Kraftwerk and Nena have taught us anything it’s that German acts can produce No 1 singles and the newest German band to hit our charts are Alphaville who strike it rich with “Big In Japan” which this week moves 11-9 (36,550). The track comes with a promo directed by Yello’s Dieter Meier and has already topped the charts in their native land back in April this year.

 

 

Ray Parker Jr halves his position 6-3 but on just 63,223 sales he’s no challenge to the top 2 at present as Miami Sound Machine hold the No 7 for a third week and are still increasing at retail to 44,251. Heading down are Black Lace 3-4 (56,933), Howard Jones 4-5 (48,144), Elton John 5-6 (45,611) and Laura Branigan 8-10 (33,745)

 

 

 

1- I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU- Stevie Wonder (214,030)

2- CARELESS WHISPER- George Michael (97,903)

3- GHOSTBUSTERS- Ray Parker Jnr (63,223)

4- AGADOO- Black Lace (56,933)

5- LIKE TO GET TO KNOW YOU WELL- Howard Jones (48,144)

6- PASSENGERS- Elton John (45,611)

7- DOCTOR BEAT- Miami Sound Machine (44,251)

8- PRIDE (IN THE NAME OF LOVE)- U2 (43,316)

9- BIG IN JAPAN- Alphaville (36,550)

10- SELF CONTROL- Laura Branigan (33,745)

 

had never ever in my life read that chrissie hynde was on that U2 song... or heard a female vocalist on it

 

crazy sales for the bad Stevie wonder song :D

Nope neither had I, what a tune though.

Alphaville gearing up for their 2-week #98 smash

'I Just Called to Say...' really is utter cringe! :puke2:

 

I watched the Wham! documentary this evening which was really fascinating, and of course covered in detail this segment of their career and 'Careless Whisper'.

22ND SEPTEMBER

 

 

Romping home again to an easy victory, Stevie Wonder’s “I Just Called To Say I Love You” sold a stellar 234,175 copies over the course of last week, that brings the total to 871,284 copies in 5 weeks with a very real prospect that the song will make the million mark as early as next week. The soundtrack debuts at No 2 this week unable to dislodge “Now 3”. It's the first track in the 80s to post sales north of 200,000 per week for 2 weeks. Simply phenomenal.

 

 

 

Whether it gets there before or after George Michael is debatable though, he falls 2-3 with “Careless Whisper” on a sale of 58,565 which brings its total haul to 966,603, almost certainly a million seller next week. It’s overtaken by Ray parker Jr who really shifted the units after TOTP this week in the end coming in with 84,286 buyers- It’s hard to imagine that Wonder won’t be at No 1 next week.

 

 

Back in 1979 Sister Sledge scored a No 17 hit with “Lost In Music” which this year gets a workover from Nile Rogers whose work with Diana Ross and Duran Duran has proved chart gold over recent years. Of course the original was also a Rogers/ Edwards creation but this version features additional backing vocals from a certain Simon Le Bon and Andy Taylor which might help to account for the top 10 position of this track. The song has already outperformed the original as it arrives 14-7 (35,173) and follows on from the release of “Thinking Of You” which was also from the 1979 album “We Are Family” but wasn’t released until May this year and unexpectedly peaked at No 11, the album is getting a re-issue next week.

 

 

 

Their fourth album is just a fortnight away but Depeche Mode can relax as the second single from it “Master And Servant” becomes their fifth top 10 single, and a second one on the trot. The song of course has run into some controversy with its rather risqué lyrics and S & M sound effects but it has managed to slip pass the BBC censor making onto both Radio 1 and TOTP, perhaps they’ve learned from the Frankie episode? At any rate it is struggling as it nudges 11-9 (31,807).

 

 

U2 fly 8-4 (57,970) to score their first Top 5 single (and almost a top 3 hit but for 600 copies) which must please them, whilst Miami Sound Machine finally improve 7-6 (36,771) thanks in part to TOTP though sales fell for the first time ironically, and Alphaville improve, but only just, 9-8 (33,439). Meanwhile Black Lace slip 4-5 but hold up saleswise on 43,775,that makes their total 554,795, and Elton completes falling 6-10 (29,750)

 

 

 

1- I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU- Stevie Wonder (234,175)

2- GHOSTBUSTERS- Ray Parker Jnr (84,286)

3- CARELESS WHISPER- George Michael (58,565)

4- PRIDE (IN THE NAME OF LOVE)- U2 (57,970)

5- AGADOO- Black Lace (43,775)

6- DOCTOR BEAT- Miami Sound Machine (36,771)

7- LOST IN MUSIC- Sister Sledge (35,173)

8- BIG IN JAPAN- Alphaville (33,439)

9- MASTER AND SERVANT- Depeche Mode (31,807)

10- PASSENGERS- Elton John (29,750)

 

It's Stevie blimmin' Wonder! It doesn't matter if the lyrics are cringe. He still makes it listenable.

-

Edited June 28, 20231 yr by TheSnake

Big In Japan by Alphaville is a bit of an epic.

 

The Depeche Mode song has interesting production certainly although I dont like its title and lyrical themes.

 

Lost in Music by Sister Sledge is a good disco song.

 

Pride (In The Name Of Love) is the first really well known U2 anthem and its good.

Edited June 28, 20231 yr by TheSnake

Much preferring the bottom half of the top 10 right now - 'Big In Japan' and 'Master And Servant' are welcome additions :wub:

The U2 song is the only one I truly like in that top 10

Always thought The Joshua tree songs were their first top 10s so positively surprised to see this so high

and unluckily close to the top 3

You might get a pleasant surprise next week

Pride (In The Name of Love) was the first U2 song I took any notice of. Love it.

 

Big in Japan is a brilliant track.

 

Master and Servant was at a time when Depeche Mode could do no wrong.

29TH SEPTEMBER

 

 

The UK has two new million selling singles to add to the list this week, and it was the current No 1 single from Stevie Wonder who managed it first. “I Just Called To Say I Love You” tops the chart for a fourth week and is still showing little sign of fatigue moving 198,560 copies across the counter that makes its total a cool 1,069,844. It is being touted as Motown’s first million seller in the UK making that 18 year wait all worthwhile for Wonder, the album holds at No 2 this week meaning he is denied a double for another 7 days at least.

 

 

Following suit as Saturday came around was Mr George Michael whose “Careless Whisper” slumps 3-5 (42,653) to end the week on 1,009,256 as it is overtaken by Wonder. Wham!’s next single is released in just a fortnight called “Freedom” with the album “Make It Big” currently scheduled for November which will house all George Michael’s hits of the year in whatever guise. The two tracks are at No 4 and 7 for the decade

 

Whatever knocks Wonder off the top it probably won’t be Ray Parker Jr, “Ghostbusters” holds at No 2 but sales go into reverse to 83,572. A real scrap emerged for the No 3 position with U2 and Sister Sledge at points just 1,000 sales from each other but in the end the Irish lads pulled clear to lift 4-3 (54,961) to the girls 48,637.

 

 

David Bowie’s 16th album “Tonight” arrives in shops this week, and unless you’ve been nowhere near a TV or radio over the last few weeks you’ll be fully aware of the fact and heard lead single “Blue Jean”. Julien Temple has produced a full 21 promo for the song entitled “Jazzin for Blue Jean” which was aired on Channel 4 earlier this month and the track becomes his 20th top 10 single shooting 17-6 (42,449) in its second week.

 

 

 

Bronski Beat are back with a second single, and would you believe it, a second top 10 hit. “Why” takes a more direct angle on the subject of homosexuality and finds itself a more immediate hit with the UK public as it ascends 22-7 (32,708), the group seem to have no trouble making the charts with songs which only a few years ago would have struggled to make any impact at radio or on TOTP. The test as to whether they can sell any albums or not will come in a few weeks when “Age Of Consent” goes on sale.

 

 

 

“A Letter To You” was written by Dennis Linde, a name you might not know but you should be familiar with his work having penned “Burning Love” for Elvis Presley and is a big star on the country circuit. He’s now penned a hit for Shakin Stevens who releases his “Greatest Hits” in time for Christmas, the single is now his 11th top 10 single of the 80s bringing him nearer the record 14 which is held by Madness who have struggled this year. “A Letter To You” can only float 11-10 (29,138) to make the important step.

 

 

Two fallers to round it off, Black Lace drop 5-8 (31,297), and Alphaville drift 8-9 (29,903), finally next week will see the debut of the new Culture Club record, expect it near the top but can it enter at No 1?

 

 

 

1- I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU- Stevie Wonder (198,560)

2- GHOSTBUSTERS- Ray Parker Jnr (83,573)

3- PRIDE (IN THE NAME OF LOVE)- U2 (54,961)

4- LOST IN MUSIC- Sister Sledge (48,637)

5- CARELESS WHISPER- George Michael (42,653)

6- BLUE JEAN- David Bowie (42,449)

7- WHY?- Bronski Beat (32,708)

8- AGADOO- Black Lace (31,297)

9- BIG IN JAPAN- Alphaville (29,903)

10- A LETTER TO YOU- Shakin Stevens (29,138)

 

Strange to think Sister Sledge's biggest chart successes came in the mid 80s or later, with Lost In Music being first of three Top 5 hits for them, two of them being reworking of their older hits.