Yeh looking forward to seeing the sales for Relax and if it was a steady seller or huge seller weekly.

There’s loads of long stayers at the top in the next year or so!

28TH JANUARY

 

 

With a near blanket TV snub and radio avoiding it at best, nothing can stop “Relax” powering to the top of the charts this week, fuelled more or less on pure controversy. The only real exposure the track got was on “The Tube” on Channel 4 who re-aired the band’s appearance from last month, but even with that the song sold 90,270 to take the crown from the fast fading Paul McCartney who slips 1-2 (67,184). It’s also a ringing endorsement of the production kudos of Trevor Horn who has overhauled the track from the original 1982 version and has made commercial gold from the controversial track, a new video was released this week for the track which is considerably tamer than the first promo merely featuring the band performing the song but it remains unaired here.

 

 

 

Culled from the recording sessions for his “Double Fantasy” album, Lennon is back in the top 10 this week with “Nobody Told Me” which was unfinished at the time of his death. It was completed by his widow Yoko Ono and will form a track on the forthcoming “Milk & Honey” album which is released this week and was, apparently, always intended as the follow up to “Double Fantasy” which has so far sold just under 800,000 copies. It arrived at No 11 last week but can only advance 5 places this week to No 6 (36,550)

 

 

 

Big Country are currently in Sweden recording their second album at ABBA’s Polar studios but to keep their UK chart career ticking over they’ve released a stand alone single “Wonderland” which debuted at No 13 last week and this week climbs 13-8 (31,569). That makes it a third top tenner out of four releases from the Scottish band who big things are expected from this year, their debut album (which doesn’t contain the single obviously) responds with a 31-13 leap this week.

 

 

 

Liverpool is proving something an inspiration at present for top 10 acts with Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Paul McCartney, John Lennon and now China Crisis making it four acts in the current big ten. Last year’s “Christian” looked to be the start of their ascendancy went it peaked at No 12 but subsequent releases failed to dent the top 40 until “Wishful Thinking” debuted at No 36 a fortnight ago. It now shoots 16-9 (30,260) for the band and is the third release from their second album “Working with Fire and Steel – Possible Pop Songs Volume Two” which has yet to dent the top 20 but makes a positive step 46-22 this week.

 

 

 

Cyndi Lauper was told 7 years ago that she would never sing again after damaging her vocal chords, well she proves the doctors wrong this week as her cover of Robert Hazard’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” flies 23-10 (29,546) to give her the breakthrough she was after. Lauper has altered some of the lyrics with the consent of Hazard as the original was sung from a male perspective, and she’s turned it into something of a female anthem and her striking appearance is augmented with a promo which features wrestling star "Captain" Lou Albano and also her real life mother who appears as her on screen mother as well.

 

 

 

Joe Fagin rises 4-3 (60,163) and should get a TOTP performance this week to bolster his sales, Shaky & Bonnie hold at No 5 but they are well down sales wise (37,757). Moving down are Howard Jones 3-4 (39,967) and Snowy White 6-7 (33,201).

 

 

 

1- RELAX- Frankie Goes To Hollywood (90,270)

2- PIPES OF PEACE- Paul McCartney (67,184)

3- THAT’S LIVIN ALRIGHT- Joe Fagin (60,163)

4- WHAT IS LOVE- Howard Jones (39,967)

5- A ROCKIN GOOD WAY- Shakin Stevens & Bonnie Tyler (38,757)

6- NOBODY TOLD ME- John Lennon (36,550)

7- BIRD OF PARADISE- Snowy White (33,201)

8- WONDERLAND- Big Country (31,569)

9- WISHFUL THINKING- China Crisis (30,260)

10- GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN- Cyndi Lauper (29,546)

 

Cyndis TOTP performance is one of the most iconic of all time imo!

Cyndis TOTP performance is one of the most iconic of all time imo!

 

With the big beat its also the start of the mid to late 80s generic dance pop sound really too!

Wishful Thinking is a beautiful song, I'm glad China Crisis got a Top 10 out of it.

'Wishful Thinking' is a new discovery for me - it is very OMD but it also has Depeche Mode - Everything Counts style woodwind.

With the big beat its also the start of the mid to late 80s generic dance pop sound really too!

 

It sounds so fresh in 1984, not so much by 1992!

4TH FEBRUARY

 

 

“Relax” remains at the No 1 spot and was never under threat at the top in what is a sluggish chart sales wise despite five new songs in the top 10. Sales of the Frankie Goes To Hollywood single increased by a mighty 76% week on week to 158,168 and it seems clear that the “ban” on the record is having little effect, total sales now stand at 376,941 enough to rise to the No 1 spot on the YTD chart.

 

Second version

 

Cyndi Lauper's energetic TOTP performance helped her push 10-2 (62,203) on a sales bump of 116%, you must think that the show is eager to push for the next chart topper so that it can actually showcase the biggest single in the land again.

 

 

So onto those five new hits, and making by far the biggest splash is a brand new entry for Queen who now have their 13th top 10 hit and their joint highest new entry ever matching the No 4 debut of 1976’s “Somebody To Love”. They should challenge for the top slot next week though they will be hoping for a slightly better fate than that earlier hit which was halted at No 2 behind Showaddywaddy, it was written by Roger Taylor and comes with a “Metropolis” themed promo which ties in thematically with the song itself. The group’s eleventh album “The Works” arrives later this month but so far could easily contain their third No 1 single as “Radio Gaga” sold 39,712 copies in its first week.

 

 

 

Shooting 14-5 (37,179) this week is Matthew Wilder who is, co-incidentally, also standing at No 5 stateside with his debut single “Break My Stride” which is his debut single. He was part of the New York folk duo Matthew & Peter before going on to become a backing singer for Bette Midler among others.

 

 

 

Hailing from Perth in Bonnie Scotland Fiction Factory are also experiencing a successful debut single as “(Feels Like) Heaven” arrives 12-6 (33,592). The band were formed from the original Ska band who evolved to incorporate former Simple Minds member Mike ogletree who must feel that he made the right move as this single now out performs any single by his former band. Expect a debut album at some point this year.

 

 

 

Onto the fifth top 10 single on the trot for the Eurythmics who are now on a roll. “Here Comes The Rain Again” slinks 11-8 (32,606) which not sound promising but it has certainly sparked renewed interest in the parent album “Touch” which this week ascends to the top of the album charts deposing Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and becoming their first chart topping album. Film composer Michael Kamen provides the orchestration on the track, and in case you’re wondering the opening shot in the promo is of the old man of Hoy is the Orkneys.

 

 

 

Last week’s highest new entry dashed into No 17 and this week advances to No 9 (32,028) for Echo & The Bunnymen who may very well decide to only to release singles in January as last January saw their only other top 10 hit “The Cutter” bow out at No 8. This January sees “The Killing Moon” become their second top 10 hit, it’s also their lead single from a fourth album “Ocean Rain” which is due this spring.

 

 

Elsewhere Joe Fagin holds at No 3 (61,914) after running in second place until the death, whilst Paul McCartney tumbles 2-7 (33,405) and Big Country retreat 8-10 (31,450)

 

 

 

1- RELAX- Frankie Goes To Hollywood (158,168)

2- GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN- Cyndi Lauper (62,203)

3- THAT’S LIVIN ALRIGHT- Joe Fagin (61,914)

4- RADIO GAGA- Queen (39,712)

5- BREAK MY STRIDE- Matthew Wilder (37,179)

6- (FEELS LIKE) HEAVEN- Fiction Factory (33,592)

7- PIPES OF PEACE- Paul McCartney (33,405)

8- HERE COMES THE RAIN AGAIN- Eurythmics (32,606)

9- KILLING MOON- Echo & Bunnymen (32,028)

10- WONDERLAND- Big Country (31,450)

 

Must be one of the best ever batches of 5 Top 10 additions in a week *.* all great songs there!

^ Yeah was scrolling down that post and the great new entries kept on coming *.* my favourite of the lot is 'Here Comes The Rain Again' which is my top Eurythmics song overall :wub:

 

Those 'Relax' sales :cheeseblock: stomping on all of the competition!

Here Comes The Rain Again, surely a source of inspiration for Clean Bandit's entire career.

 

Break My Stride was following on from the Modern Romance/Club Tropicana 'tropical pop' trend. Break My Stride also had recent online popularity because of a meme iirc!

 

Feels Like Heaven musically and vocally is very downbeat I think despite its positive title, but I guess that's just 80s indie music!

Edited May 26, 20232 yr by TheSnake

I need to study more cos I only know few of those singles

 

But incredible top 5 with such classics as Relax, Cyndi and Radio Ga Ga

Cyndi is #1 deserving but got the feeling she's gonna be blocked

 

the Eurythmics track is one of their best, looks like it's not gonna progress further, but at least it got them the #1 album

 

one band I don't get the appeal is Big Country, songs sound kinda pedestrian but maybe I need further listening

I’m the same one big hit and that was it.

 

I know all the number ones to come unfort so not a surprise for me 😁

Cyndi Lauper's TOTP performance was the reason why I bought Girls...

 

I think I was a bit in awe of FGTH. Relax was probably the first really song that I knew which was banned and considered so controversial.

Great wasn’t it, another one similar was The Communards classic performance in Oct 1986 when they performed their no1 Don’t Leave Me This Way, Jimmy Somerville walked round the audience too and then the famous vocal changeover!

11TH FEBRUARY

 

 

“Relax” remains stubbornly at No 1 for a third week but it is now on a downward trajectory sales wise to 137,819, and has now passed the half million mark at 514,760. Its sales were augmented by the releases of two new mixes this week in what appears to be a new strategy by ZTT, there are apparently “Frankie says” T-shirts in the pipeline as well- the domination looks set to continue!

 

 

So what of the challengers to the throne then? Well three of the top 5 got TOTP exposure and all of those three tracks get significant boosts, not least of all Queen who rise 4-2 (83,351) with “Radio Gaga” to become their biggest single since 1981’s “Under Pressure” and could pose a significant risk to FGTH next week, meanwhile Matthew Wilder also gets a sales hike of 64% to 60,724 as he advances 5-4. The threat from Cyndi Lauper seems over on paper as she slides 2-3 but the song is popular at radio and sees its sales rise to 79,322 ( an increase of 28% compared to Queen’s 114% upswing).

 

 

The other benefiter of the BBC show comes from The Thompson Twins who return with a second single from the forthcoming album “Into The Gap” which arrives in store in just 2 weeks. “Doctor Doctor” debuted at No 18 last week becoming their highest first week hit and evidencing their growing stature in the charts, it leaps this week to No 5 (55,981) to become their fourth top 10 hit.

 

 

 

Turned down by former supreme Mary Wilson, the song “Holiday” was finally picked up by US singer Madonna and became her first top 20 single stateside. It now manages to go even better here as it rises 13-7 (40,154), her debut self titled album also arrives this week at the dizzy heights of No 85, it’s actually her third release here after “Everybody” and “Lucky Star” both failed to chart.

 

 

 

Duran Duran are back and with a 17 minute video! The group are currently in the states completing their US tour amongst continuing hysteria in their teenage audiences, managing to squeeze in a video shoot in France for their current release “New Moon On Monday” which floats 12-9 (31,637) to become their 7th top 10 hit. Though a top 3 hit, many consider their last single “Union Of The Snake” a disappointment after the expensive promo video and hype, it seems that this may be further evidence that the appeal of the band is on the wain on this side of the Atlantic if this single fails to climb any further. The album “Seven And The Ragged Tiger” became their first No 1 album last November but it has spent just 5 weeks in the top 10 and currently bounces slightly 29-26.

 

 

In other news Joe Fagin dives 3-6 (51,952), Fiction Factory also slip in reverse 6-8 (33,881) but you’ll note that sales increase thanks again to TOTP, and Eurythmics dip 8-10 (31,195) but console themselves as “Touch” holds at the top of the album charts.

 

 

 

1- RELAX- Frankie Goes To Hollywood (137,819)

2- RADIO GAGA- Queen TOTP (83,351)

3- GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN- Cyndi Lauper (79,322)

4- BREAK MY STRIDE- Matthew Wilder (60,724)

5- DOCTOR DOCTOR- Thompson Twins (55,981)

6- THAT’S LIVIN ALRIGHT- Joe Fagin (51,952)

7- HOLIDAY- Madonna (40,154)

8- (FEELS LIKE) HEAVEN- Fiction Factory (33,881)

9- NEW MOON ON MONDAY- Duran Duran (31,637)

10- HERE COMES THE RAIN AGAIN- Eurythmics (31,195)

 

Another great one from Thompson Twins following 'Hold Me Now'. Wow the arrival of Madonna in the charts also *.*

 

Don't really care for that Duran Duran song

oh Madonna's first appearance! Holiday is not my fav song but good to see her arrive into the charts already

 

that Duran Duran song is kinda weak

I think the arrival of Madonna probably passed me by at the time as it wasn't really until her Like a Virgin album that I became a fan. I've never been that keen on Holiday, but it's good to see it here.

Also, never knew her album debuted at No.85.

 

 

The Duran song was kinda them on autopilot but they would return to form with The Reflex!

 

Thompson Twins were huge for like 1983/84 and gone by 85, bands just faded so quickly in the 80s!