15TH JUNE

 

 

Raising money for Bradford Football tragedy, The Crowd make the expected leap 4-1 (85,816) to become the third charity No 1 single of the last 6 months. By way of trivia the single features Zak Starkey, son of Ringo, and as such they become the first father/ son relationship to both hit the top spot independently. The song was under no threat from the chasing pack from the off ending up with over 30,000 sales clear of “Kayleigh” by Marillion which nevertheless continues to rise 3-2 (55,794). "You'll Never Walk Alone" creates a bit of history as Gerry Marsden becomes the only man to take the same song to No 1 twice.

 

 

 

Featuring her first mainstream cinematic appearance “Vision Quest” is the film which features the new Madonna track “Crazy For You”. The song has already been a US No 1 single (her second) in what has been an already fantastic year for the singer, in the UK she’s had two No 3 hits “Like A Virgin” and “Material Girl” and her new song shoots 25-9 (33,524), though as noted it is lifted from the soundtrack album to the movie and not the current Madonna album “Like A Virgin” which has sold roughly 300,000 copies so far.

 

 

 

Dutch girl group Mai Tai are named after the famous cocktail and are finally in the mix with a top 10 single. “History” is their first single to be a hit outside their homeland and the group are about to release their debut album in case you wanted to hear from the girls. The song powers 16-10 (33,014) to make up for their previous flops.

 

 

Billy Ocean continues to threaten the top slot ominously moving 9-4 (43,418), his first top 5 single in 8 years and also is No 4 in the states this week, Animotion also rise but less dramatically 6-5 (38,709) and Scritti Politti slither 10-8 (35,326). Moving down are Paul Hardcastle 1-3 (49,436) who crosses the 600,000 mark, Duran Duran 2-6 (38,675) and Gary Moore & Phil Lynott dip 5-7 (38,284)

 

 

 

1- YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE- The Crowd (85,816)

2- KAYLEIGH- Marillion (55,794)

3- 19- Paul Hardcastle (49,436)

4- SUDDENLY- Billy Ocean (43,418)

5- OBSESSION- Animotion (38,709)

6- A VIEW TO A KILL- Duran Duran (38,675)

7- OUT IN THE FIELDS- Gary Moore/ Phil Lynott (38,284)

8- WORD GIRL- Scritti Politti (35,326)

9- CRAZY FOR YOU- Madonna (33,524)

10- HISTORY- Mai Tai (33,014)

 

yay for Crazy for You, I was such a fan that even bought the Vision Quest soundtrack vinyl :D

Crazy for You is basically a cheesy 80s ballad that I would usually hate but I think it’s one of the best ballads of the decade

Didn’t take long for everyone to jump on the charity bandwagon!

'Obsession' is great with its rocky synthpop production and so is 'History'. Both very cool uncheesy songs! 'History' shows that in 1985 the slower form of dance music was still really popular despite the recent Hi-NRG trend.

 

'Crazy for You' is a bit cheesy yes but lovely atmospheric ballad with its clarinet/woodwind sound.

Edited August 21, 20231 yr by TheSnake

22ND JUNE

 

 

The country’s philanthropic spirit continues unabated with the Crowd sitting pretty at the top spot with their version of “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. I mentioned last week that in hitting No 1 Gerry Marsden becomes the first act in UK Chart history to top the charts twice with two versions of the same song although I’m sure he would have wanted to do it under different circumstances. The song sold a still improving 134,538 last week to bring its total to 260,695 after 4 weeks.

 

 

 

Danger is on the horizon in the form of Sister Sledge who see the real reward of those remixes on their back catalogue last year by public interest in their new work. The Nile Rodgers produced “When The Boys Meet The Girls” is their eighth studio album and features the lead single “Frankie” which is apparently an homage to Frank Sinatra and arrives 11-2 (68,867) to become their highest placed single a decade into their chart career. Could it give The Crowd a run for its money this week?

 

 

 

Celebrating their seventh top 10 single are Kool & The Gang who were one of the few US acts to appear on the recent Band Aid single and now the third track from their current album “Emergency” is charging 13-7 (37,808) and is entitled “Cherish”. It’s another love song which the band are becoming famous for, it has re-activated the album which responds 82-79 though it has performed poorly peaking thus far at a lowly No 47.

 

 

 

More renown as a composer and soundtrack artist Harold Faltermeyer seems an unlikely popstar yet his theme from “Beverley Hills Cop” and named after the lead character “Axel Foley” charges 30-10 (34,986). “Axel F” was originally released back in March but bottomed out at No 62, it’s since become a major US hit (No 3) and that success caused a re-issue, coupled with the release of the film on home video, and the song is finally a hit, an unusual feat for an instrumental in the charts these days.

 

 

Madonna surges 9-3 (66,402) to score a hat-trick of No 3 hits, could it go further and be a case of third time lucky especially as she was running in the second spot all week?, Scritti Politti continue to rise 8-6 (40,018) getting a big boost from TOTP despite the album arriving at No 5 this week, and Mai Tai round off a good week for the ladies as they rise 10-9 (36,278). Descending the charts are Marillion 2-4 (56,508) though they will be hoping for better things in the album chart this week, Billy Ocean slips 4-5 (53,839) despite increasing sales, and Animotion hurtle 5-8 (36,890).

 

 

 

1- YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE- The Crowd (134,538)

2- FRANKIE- Sister Sledge (68,867)

3- CRAZY FOR YOU- Madonna (66,402)

4- KAYLEIGH- Marillion (56,508)

5- SUDDENLY- Billy Ocean (53,839)

6- WORD GIRL- Scritti Politti (40,018)

7- CHERISH- Kool & The Gang (37,808)

8- OBSESSION- Animotion (36,890)

9- HISTORY- Mai Tai (36,278)

10- AXEL F- Harold Faltermeyer (34,986)

 

'Cherish' and 'Frankie' are so dated retro for 1985, but I suppose they provided a change from the usual synths and 80s drum sound in the charts. Frankie is so cheesy and not one of Sister Sledges best songs imo.

I quite liked Frankie when I was 9, but now not so much.

Love the longevity of the 70s acts into the 80s, think they are dated and cheesy but maybe it just shows the public had appetite for other genres too even by 1985.

I kinda like Frankie but yes its a bit too cheesy

 

Madonna missing again a top 2 place by such a little margin grrrr :/ much prefer Crazy for You to anything in that top 10

 

Axel F is great though, cannot really recall how high it charted

 

 

29TH JUNE

 

 

They were close in initial reports but as the weekend approached Sister Sledge sprinted clear of Madonna as they claim their first UK chart topper on a sale of 93,007 compared to Madonna's 71,315. Whilst it is their first chart topper, for producer Nile Rogers it’s his third No 1 which he’s scoring at a rate of one a year since 1983, he also produced Madonna’s “Like A Virgin” thus connecting the top 2 acts.

 

 

 

The only new comer to the big 10 this week comes from Marti Webb, a name missing from the upper reaches of the charts for 5 years now, indeed her last outing “Take That Look Off Your Face” went all the way to No 3. She’s back with her cover of Michael Jackson’s 1972 No 7 hit “Ben” which is in aid of the Ben Hardwick Fund, Hardwick you may recall was Britain’s youngest Liver transplant patient at just 2 years old but who tragically died in March this year. His story was highlighted on “That’s life” and led to this single which was co-written by Don Black who is currently Webb’s manager, it leaps 12-9 (31,586).

 

 

Harold Faltermeyer jets 10-4 (59,891) as he leaps over the improving Kool & The Gang who are themselves up 7-5 (41,752) and Mai Tai refuse to give up just yet inching 9-8 (33,456). Everything else is heading south, The Crowd fade 1-3 (67,643) and were never in with a shout of maintaining the No 1 spot, Billy Ocean continues to fall 5-6 (40,443), and Marillion tumble 4-7 (38,114) though they do have a chart topping album to recompense. Scritti Politti move 6-10 (30,957) to complete the run down.

 

 

 

1- FRANKIE- Sister Sledge (93,007)

2- CRAZY FOR YOU- Madonna (71,315)

3- YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE- The Crowd (67,643)

4- AXEL F- Harold Faltermeyer (59,891)

5- CHERISH- Kool & The Gang (41,752)

6- SUDDENLY- Billy Ocean (40,443)

7- KAYLEIGH- Marillion (38,114)

8- HISTORY- Mai Tai (33,456)

9- BEN- Marti Webb (31,586)

10- WORD GIRL- Scritti Politti (30,957)

 

great for Madonna - Crazy for You, her highest charting position at the time...

 

just found my old copy of the single!!

 

06TH JULY

 

 

 

No shadow of a doubt this week where the No 1 was heading as “Frankie” by Sister Sledge consolidates its position with a healthy sale of 109,584 bringing the track’s total sales to 320,773 which sees them enter the YTD top 20, while we’re on the subject here’s this year’s top 10 singles as we reach the halfway mark:

 

1- I KNOW HIM SO WELL- Elaine Paige & Barbara Dickson 749,275

2- 19- Paul Hardcastle 669,103

3- MOVE CLOSER- Phyllis Nelson 553,384

4- LOVE AND PRIDE- King 537,115

5- I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LOVE IS- Foreigner 523,600

6- EASY LOVER- Philip Bailey & Phil Collins 512,448

7- SOLID- Ashford & Simpson 457,878

8- YOU SPIN ME ROUND (LIKE A RECORD)- Dead Or Alive 451,758

9- EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD- Tears For Fears 415,123

10- DANCING IN THE DARK- Bruce Springsteen 369,954

 

 

 

Rising 11-8 (30,226) is the third single from the “Born In The USA” and it’s title track. It’s actually a double A Side with “I’m On Fire” both of which have been separate top 10 hits in the US (#9/#6), they’ve been combined here after the relative poor performance of his last single “Cover Me” (no 16) and it seems to have worked. “Born In The USA” was in the running to be used by Ronald Reagan in the US presidential race last November until Springsteen vetoed the idea being the staunch Democrat that he is. The album responds well by returning to the No 1 spot for the first time since February helped not least by his current UK leg of the tour which is making headlines for the singer.

 

 

 

Harold Faltermeyer climbs 4-2 (75,072) but seems way off Sister Sledge, further down Kool & The Gang are on the up 5-4 (52,156) and Marti Webb floats 9-5 (40,664) following a TOTP slot. Moving downward are Madonna 2-3 (71,230) who was unlucky to slip, The Crowd ebb 3-6 (31,858), Billy Ocean retreats 6-7 (30,736), Mai Tai tip 8-9 (30,039) and Marillion recede 7-10 (27,880) as the summer slump starts.

 

1- FRANKIE- Sister Sledge (109,854)

2- AXEL F- Harold Faltermeyer (75,072)

3- CRAZY FOR YOU- Madonna (71,230)

4- CHERISH- Kool & The Gang (52,156)

5- BEN- Marti Webb (40,664)

6- YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE- The Crowd (31,858)

7- SUDDENLY- Billy Ocean (30,736)

8- I’M ON FIRE/ BORN IN THE USA- Bruce Springsteen (30,226)

9- HISTORY- Mai Tai (30,039)

10- KAYLEIGH- Marillion (27,880)

 

I like both Bruce songs but the production is a bit 80s generic on Born In The USA so I prefer the moody atmosphere of 'I'm on Fire' I think.

13TH JULY

 

 

An oddly static top 3 this week as nothing is going anywhere which is good news for Sister Sledge who score a third week at the head of the class though their sales are in decline at 78,863 bringing them to a total of 399,636 just enough to hit No 10 on the YTD list. Harold Faltermeyer holds in the runner up position though sales fall away to 68,714 (a total of 277,559) and Madonna remains steady at No 3 (48,875) and has now sold 302,549 as it overtakes “Material Girl” in her best selling list, now only “like A Virgin” remains ahead on 670,000.

 

 

 

Releasing records for almost 30 years Rockin Sidney was virtually unknown outside the musical circles of US R N B and Zydeco music before he released “My Toot Toot” at the beginning of this year which made the top 20 in the US Country charts and was a regional hit in new Orleans where it came to the attention of another R N B singer, Denise LaSalle, who is most famous for 1971 US No 13 hit “Trapped by A Thing Called Love”. She’s recorded her own version and finds her first UK chart hit as it flies 17-7 (21,607), My Toot Toot is apparently a Cajun term for heart or sweetheart though several less innocent meanings have been implied, Sidney’s original however languishes at No 91 this week.

 

 

 

Telling the tale of a young man’s arrival in the big city contrasted with the views of his parents the track “Johnny Come Home” is the first release from Fine Young Cannibals and this week moves 11-8 (21,301). The group consists of two former members of The Beat who themselves scored 5 top 10 singles between 1980 and 1983, now David Steele and Andy Cox have moved on and found vocalist Roland Gift to front the new outfit. An appearance on “The Tube” saw a record contract being offered and here they are with a top 10 single.

 

 

 

It’s been a surprisingly poor year by normal Eurythmics standards, by the end of 1984 the group had scored 6 straight top 10 singles but then “Julia” bombed at No 44 and was followed by “Would I Lie To You” which stumbled at No 17 despite being the first single from their fourth album “Be Yourself Tonight”. All that seems to be halted now by “There Must Be An Angel “Playing With My Heart)” which rockets 37-10 (18,785) in just its second week, having Stevie Wonder on harmonica on the track I dare say has helped it! The album hasn’t done as well as previous releases peaking at No 3 back in May and has since dropped out of the top 20, it now resurges 22-14.

 

 

Kool & The Gang hold at No 4 (40,579) but should get a TOTP boost this week, they are ahead of Bruce Springsteen who leaps 8-5 (28,662) whilst Mai Tai stop the rot by sticking at No 9 (20,417). Marti Webb slips 5-6 (24,191) and completes the round up.

 

 

 

1- FRANKIE- Sister Sledge (78,863)

2- AXEL F- Harold Faltermeyer (68,714)

3- CRAZY FOR YOU- Madonna (48,875)

4- CHERISH- Kool & The Gang (40,579)

5- I’M ON FIRE/ BORN IN THE USA- Bruce Springsteen (28,662)

6- BEN- Marti Webb (24,191)

7- MY TOOT TOOT- Denise LaSalle (21,607)

8- JOHNNY COME HOME- Fine Young Cannibals (21,301)

9- HISTORY- Mai Tai (20,417)

10- THERE MUST BE AN ANGEL (PLAYING WITH MY HEART)- Eurythmics (18,785)

 

nice to see I'm on Fire top 5, my fav from Bruce

 

the FYV is great too, didn't know it was their debut

 

EU were always kinda bad at picking lead singles, that said There Must Be an Angel is not a fav of mine, they have much better songs

nice to see I'm on Fire top 5, my fav from Bruce

 

the FYC is great too, didn't know it was their debut

 

EU were always kinda bad at picking lead singles, that said There Must Be an Angel is not a fav of mine, they have much better songs

There Must Be An Angel is one of the most delightful songs of the 80s

Mai Tai - History had good top 10 staying power despite not getting higher than #8!

 

'Johnny Come Home' is good with the funky guitar and distinctive voice of singer Roland Gift.

Edited August 25, 20231 yr by TheSnake

Love to see the first appearance from Fine Young Cabbibals - Roland Gifts vocals are class!!