14TH DECEMBER

 

 

Christmas arrives with a bang this week as three potential festive chart toppers reach the top 10. First to the headline which is that Whitney Houston grabs her first UK No 1 single this week with “Saving All My Love For You”. It is the year’s 18th chart topper making it the highest turnover at the top since 1982 which boasted 21 chart toppers, it sold just 80,325 to take the crown from the fast fading Wham! who slip to No 2 (70,040). Her debut eponymous album arrives rather inauspiciously at No 52 this week and she must be hoping for big sales over the next few weeks, but no matter a No 1 single is not to be sniffed at even with the lowest tally needed in 10 weeks.

 

 

 

She’s the first artist in UK chart history to ever achieve 8 top 10 singles (let alone 8 top 5 hits) in one calendar year, and this week Madonna is back with “Dress You Up”. It’s a fifth single to be plucked from “Like A Virgin” which is now rapidly approaching the million mark any week now, and was a No 5 hit in the States a few month ago when we got the treat that is “Gambler”. It’s produced once again by Nile Rogers and features the man himself on guitar, it debuted at No 12 last week and accelerates to No 5 (41,854) this week- perhaps the No 1 spot isn’t beyond it! "Like A Virgin" becomes only the second studio album in UK chart history to spawn 5 top 10 singles ("Thriller" was naturally the first) but it has gone better to give us 5 top 5 singles.

 

 

 

She’ll have to content with the raft of re-issues of previous festive favourites though- none bigger than last year’s Christmas No 1 which was of course Band Aid. “Do They Know It’s Christmas” has now been re-issued, repackaged and given a new B-side which updates us all on what the trust has spent money on- it moves 24-6 (36,125) this week and is naturally the favourite with the bookies if you fancy a flutter, it’s total sales are now an incredible 2,452,250 with 2.6 million probably in sight by the end of this Christmas.

 

 

A quick round up of those other runners and riders we previewed a few weeks ago are: Bruce Springsteen (No 17) Wham! (No 32), Aled Jones (No 37) Black Lace (No 42) Peter Auty (No 63), Inspirational Choir (No 65) Keith Harris & Orville (No 74) Paul McCartney (No 76) Slade (No 77) Mud (No 91) Bing Crosby (No 95)- expect them all to rise over the next few weeks. If you're after the latest odds then they are Shakin Stevens- Evens, 6-4 Whitney Houston, 5-1 Wham! (Last Christmas, 6-1 Band Aid, 8-1 Pet Shop Boys, Aled Jones and 10-1 Bruce Springsteen.

 

 

Until April of this year Neil Tennant was deputy editor of Smash Hits magazine believe it or not, he quit the magazine to become an actual popstar himself and what do you know his new group Pet Shop Boys have done just that. “West End Girls” started off life as being produced by legendary New York producer Bobby O and was released in Europe last year becoming a minor hit though never getting a full release here, their second single “Opportunities” flopped here so they’ve got the remixers in and reworked their debut single and issued it properly here. It was released back in October and took its time to get into gear but has finally clicked as it shoots 23-9 (25,534) this week

 

 

 

Shaky is also making his move for the Christmas chart topper with “Merry Christmas Everyone” which sleighs in 38-10 (23,953) this week to become is 13th top 10 smash of the 80s just one behind Madness the current leaders in the field. The song is written by Bob Heatlie who, in addition to several other Shaky hits, wrote a No 1 for Aneka back in 1981 (indeed Heatlie has revealed he wrote this song for her with different lyrics originally), it is produced by Dave Edmunds who himself scored a Christmas No 1 back in 1970 with “I Hear You Knocking” so the song has good credentials. Shaky has revealed that the song was originally destined as a single last year with an eye toward the Christmas chart topper but plans were cancelled when the Band Aid single was revealed- looks like he was wise.

 

 

Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin climb 5-4 (50,864), and Lionel Richie rises 9-8 (26,282) and also becomes the new US No 1 single this week, Dee C Lee holds at No 3 (59,704) despite a sales lapse, and bad news for Feargal Sharkey who regresses 4-7 (35,139).

 

 

 

1- SAVING ALL MY LOVE FOR YOU- Whitney Houston (80,325)

2- I’M YOUR MAN- Wham! (70,040)

3- SEE THE DAY- Dee.C.Lee (59,704)

4- SEPERATE LIVES- Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin (50,864)

5- DRESS YOU UP- Madonna (41,854)

6- DO THEY KNOW IT’S CHRISTMAS- Band Aid (36,125)

7- A GOOD HEART- Feargal Sharkey (35,139)

8- SAY YOU SAY ME- Lionel Richie (26,282)

9- WEST END GIRLS- Pet Shop Boys (25,534)

10- MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE- Shakin Stevens (23,953)

 

love Dress You Up, such a great song from Madonna, only Into the Groove beats it on the album

and crazy she got 8 top 5 singles in a calendar year

 

great for Whitney to grab a #1, even though the song is kinda vanilla, but her vocals are great

 

and obv. great to have the PSB for the first time in the t10 with a classic of classics <3

 

also kinda liked Say You Say Me #goeshides

Great to see another new Xmas classic in the decade of classic enter this week for Sir Shaky!

Doing a big catch-up - I had no idea that Tom Tom Club was a Talking Heads side project until now :o I really like 'Genius of Love' and 'Wordy Rappinghood' under that name.

 

It took me quite a few years to realise that 'See The Day' by Girls Aloud was a cover! The original is nice, I prefer this release from a former Wham! member to the actual Wham! chart topper at the moment... another one that would get the 2000s cover treatment, courtesy of Shane Richie *_*

 

I'm really enjoying all the Madonna-related chart stats in these posts (e.g. her slow ascent to the #1 album and now one record spawning 5 top 5 singles) - what a phenomenon.

 

I had no idea that 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' was reissued the following year :o learning a lot this week :lol: Team Shaky was very smart to delay 'Merry Christmas Everyone' to this year when it was being outpaced by just the reissue at this stage. I'm happy it's one of the Christmas staples - easily my favourite thing he's recorded.

 

also... 'West End Girls' :wub: :wub: :wub:

 

p.s. one of the bonus TOTP episodes shown this week was a 1985 one! It was one of the charts where 'Dancing In The Street' was #1... a memorable video for sure :kink:

'West End Girls' is great, the female backing vocal is like an early gateway to the 90s.

 

'Dress You Up' is good but forgotten!

Edited October 4, 20231 yr by TheSnake

so Band Aid and Wham were re-issues? cos the occ has themas re-entries not re-issues

Yes both had different covers, and different b sides

21ST DECEMBER

 

 

Lots of jostling this week in preparation for next week’s big one, Whitney gets a second week at the top and increases her sale by 37% to 109,157 which is more than enough to fend off the competition at least for a week.

 

 

Behind her however are Christmas hits galore, Shakin’ Stevens used his TOTP performance to great affect powering 10-2 (90,848) and overtakes Band Aid who themselves jump 6-3 (56,576) hinting that Shaky may prove the bookies nemesis this year. Indeed before TOTP aired Shaky was in 4th position with Band Aid looking comfortable for No 2 but obviously punters want something slightly newer this Christmas.

 

 

Dating back to 1934 “”Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town” is of course a Christmas standard now being covered by many artists, yet it never charted until the Jackson 5 managed No 43 with it 13 years ago. The song has never been top 30 in any version until now but that man Bruce Springsteen has taken just a fortnight to make it a top 10 smash as it climbs 17-9 (35,207). His version was actually recorded as a live rendition back in 1975 but it’s taken him 10 years to cut it as a single, it’s technically a double A Side with “My Hometown” from the current “Born In The USA” album which has sold over 1.1 million copies so far, in the US it became Springsteen’s 7th top 10 hit from the album making him a record holder, here it becomes just his 3rd top tenner.

 

 

 

 

As Band Aid make the top 3 Wham! again lag behind them, the re-issued “Last Christmas” does however fly 32-10 (30,787) to be a top 10 single all over again, it gives the band two singles in the upper branch of the chart with “I’m Your Man” dropping 2-4 (47,566) and if you count Michael’s contribution to the Band Aid single he actually has vocals on three simultaneous top 10 single, something not done since the aftermath of the Lennon death four years ago. The song has been "remixed" to the extent that the new version is an edited version of the "Pudding Mix" which was only available on the 12" version of last year's single and therefore not the same 7" version that charted last year.

 

Pet Shop Boys continue to be a surprise Christmas gift as it climbs 9-5 (47,209) but three singles are squeezed out in the cold, Dee C Lee slips 3-6 (46,818), Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin ebb 4-7 (46,427) and surprisingly Madonna falls 5-8 (43,248) excluding her from the potentials for next week despite actually increasing at retail!

 

 

1- SAVING ALL MY LOVE FOR YOU- Whitney Houston (109,157)

2- MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE- Shakin Stevens (90,848)

3- DO THEY KNOW IT’S CHRISTMAS- Band Aid (56,576)

4- I’M YOUR MAN- Wham! (47,566)

5- WEST END GIRLS- Pet Shop Boys (47,209)

6- SEE THE DAY- Dee C.Lee (46,818)

7- SEPARATE LIVES- Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin (46,427)

8- DRESS YOU UP- Madonna (43,248)

9- SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN/ MY HOMETOWN- Bruce Springsteen (35,207)

10- LAST CHRISTMAS- Wham! (30,787)

 

It’s always the ‘Pudding Mix’ of Last Christmas on the playlists I hear!

 

Shaky doing really well from TOTP exposure great to see, def his legacy song

 

Also love the Bruce version of SCICTT def the standard for me in the modern era.

 

Wonder why Band Aid didn’t meet bookies expectations - guess with all the charity songs in 1985 and the hype of last year and the summer people had grown tired of it and also the amount already sold. I always thought the 1985 re entries were due to stock from last year so good to know the reissue info.

Shaky must have pretty much doubled his sales in one day if he was only 4th before TOTP and ended up over 40K clear of Wham :o

Shaky such a classic, good to see it shooting in the chart.

Shaky must have pretty much doubled his sales in one day if he was only 4th before TOTP and ended up over 40K clear of Wham :o

Until downloading Friday and Saturday always accounted for roughly 60% of weekly sales.

It’s always the ‘Pudding Mix’ of Last Christmas on the playlists I hear!

 

Shaky doing really well from TOTP exposure great to see, def his legacy song

 

Also love the Bruce version of SCICTT def the standard for me in the modern era.

 

Wonder why Band Aid didn’t meet bookies expectations - guess with all the charity songs in 1985 and the hype of last year and the summer people had grown tired of it and also the amount already sold. I always thought the 1985 re entries were due to stock from last year so good to know the reissue info.

 

Well yes, the version which is everywhere is the 85 mix (which is in turn the "Pudding Mix" edited. The original had different backing vocals and adlibs

 

 

Most noticeable from 3 minutes on. The promo was shot to the edited Pudding Mix which is bizarre unless that was intended as the main mix but then abandoned for some reason. Anyway for whatever reason the Pudding Mix is the one everyone knows now, I remember buying the original 7" many years ago at a record fair and playing it at home and thinking it sounded weird- only found out a few years ago that I had the 84 7" version. :D

'My Hometown' is a very downbeat but very good song.

Well yes, the version which is everywhere is the 85 mix (which is in turn the "Pudding Mix" edited. The original had different backing vocals and adlibs

 

 

Most noticeable from 3 minutes on. The promo was shot to the edited Pudding Mix which is bizarre unless that was intended as the main mix but then abandoned for some reason. Anyway for whatever reason the Pudding Mix is the one everyone knows now, I remember buying the original 7" many years ago at a record fair and playing it at home and thinking it sounded weird- only found out a few years ago that I had the 84 7" version. :D

 

Thanks for the info and yes the 1984 version does sound a bit tinny or something!

28TH DECEMBER

 

 

The big day arrives and right on cue sales explode in a frenzy of buying that sends Shakin’ Stevens to the No 1 spot with “Merry Christmas Everyone”. It’s Shaky’s fourth chart topper drawing him level with the Jam in terms of the most chart toppers in the 80s, Shaky is also the biggest selling singles act of the decade as he overtakes Madness with sales of over 5.5 million in 6 years, some achievement, he added 186,949 to that tally this week and was an easy victor.

 

 

 

The only new entry in the top 10 comes from Aled Jones and his version of “Walking In The Air” which dates back a couple of months when toy retailer “Toys R Us” was planning its Christmas advert campaign and wanted to use the song which features in the Channel 4 short film “The Snowman” with slightly altered lyrics. The original artist Peter Auty couldn’t oblige as his voice had broken so step forward Aled Jones who redid the song and bingo, he then recorded the whole track and it’s this version which climbs 14-5 (56,066), Auty’s original is also in the charts but at a rather lowly No 42 this week.

 

 

All the singles in the top 6 get a sales increase regardless of movement. Whitney drops 1-2 (112,540), Band Aid remain at No 3 (87,312) and crosses the 2.5 million mark in the process, Pet Shop Boys lift 5-4 (78,540) and Wham! zoom 10- 6 (54,587). Not sharing the festive love however are Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin at No 7 (40,953), Wham!'s other track "I'm Your Man" which slides 4-8 (40,290), Madonna relaxes 8-9 (38,879) and Dee C Lee drops 6-10 (38,012).

 

 

1- MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE- Shakin Stevens (186,949)

2- SAVING ALL MY LOVE FOR YOU- Whitney Houston (112,540)

3- DO THEY KNOW IT’S CHRISTMAS- Band Aid (87,312)

4- WEST END GIRLS- Pet Shop Boys (78,540)

5- WALKING IN THE AIR- Aled Jones (56,066)

6- LAST CHRISTMAS- Wham! (54,587)

7- SEPARATE LIVES- Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin (40,953)

8- I’M YOUR MAN- Wham! (40,290)

9- DRESS YOU UP- Madonna (38,879)

10- SEE THE DAY- Dee C Lee (38,012)

 

'Merry Christmas Everyone' is just so joyful 💖

 

Also love Snowman and 'West End Girls' from that top 10 too!

I personally hate Shakin'Stevens with a passion, so not happy with that one

would have been far more iconic if PSB had made it but alas

 

How on Earth would it have been more iconic if PSBs had made it on Xmas week?? 😳

 

 

'West End Girls' is easily my favourite song in that top 10 but happy Shaky got the Christmas #1 all the same, agreed that it is really joyful.

 

Also have a soft spot for 'Walking In The Air' as The Snowman is so nostalgic for me :heart: actually rewatched that (+ the Snowdog) last Christmas.