10th MAY

 

 

It turned into an almighty fight at the top of the charts this week with the top 4 all within 3,000 copies of each other! Against the odds it is Falco who triumphs and becomes the new chart topper with "Rock Me Amadeus". It retracted 16% week on week to turn in a sale of 44,778, the third lowest amount needed for No 1 in the 80s, but it does raise the tally to 319,328 not bad for a No 1 single, the follow up single “Vienna Calling” is already picking up airplay and will be out in just three weeks, he’s striking whilst the iron is hot it would seem. He is the first, as far as I can establish, act from Austria to have a chart topping UK single.

 

 

The Challengers all line up behind Falco, notably Madonna who was a mere 833 sales behind Falco on 43,945 that's how close it was, and Level 42 shot 9-3 (41,854) who, in light of TOTP, were the strongest seller of the three and almost nabbed No 2 at the end.

 

 

The most likely No 1 single next week however will come from Patti Labelle and Michael McDonald who fly 19-4 (41,769) to stake their claim, the duo never met during the recording of their single and indeed the promo is shot with each act on different coasts of the US, not that that matters with the Burt Bacharach and wife Carol Bayer Sager penned “On My Own” becoming a fast favourite with the UK Public. The song was apparently penned for Bacharach’s normal muse Dionne Warwick but eventually found its way to these two though Labelle initially thought about it as a solo record before encouraging Michael McDonald to record it as a duet. In becoming a top 10 single it already eclipses the previous peaks of either Labelle or The Doobie Brothers who of course were their respective groups in the 1970s.

 

 

 

 

Even if you weren’t familiar with the 1969 UK No 1 song “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye then I’m pretty sure you’ve seen THAT Levi ad with the male model who strips off in the laundrette. The Levi brand seems to be able to get substantive hits with its use of old school classics, they of course helped Sam Cooke to No 2 earlier this year and now assist Gaye into the top 10 posthumously as the singer of course died a few years ago. Gaye incidentally was not the first to record the track (that was the Miracles) nor the first to have a hit with it (that was Gladys Knight & The Pips) but his version of the track is the definitive version and climbs 11-8 (27,353) to have a second bite of top 10 action.

 

 

Two songs stick around at No 7 (31,807) for Five Star and No 10 (22,525) for Whitney Houston while Janet Jackson dips 3-5 (38,692) and Queen slip 6-9 (22,882). Last week’s chart topper “A Different Corner” slips 1-6 (34,289) which is the biggest drop from the top since Dead Or Alive 14 months ago, it was however only 10.5k away from No 1!

 

 

1- ROCK ME AMADEUS- Falco (44,778)

2- LIVE TO TELL- Madonna (43,945)

3- LESSONS IN LOVE- Level 42 (41,854)

4- ON MY OWN- Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald (41,769)

5- WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY- Janet Jackson (38,692)

6- A DIFFERENT CORNER- George Michael (34,289)

7- CAN’T WAIT ANOTHER MINUTE- Five Star (31,807)

8- I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE- Marvin Gaye (27,353)

9- A KIND OF MAGIC- Queen (22,882)

10- GREATEST LOVE OF ALL- Whitney Houston (22,525)

 

'Rock Me Amadeus' is definitely one of the most unusual #1s in UK chart history being mostly in German. Its also a rare new-wave style hit this late in the 80s.

 

'I Heard It Through The Grapevine' is very good, sad that Marvin Gaye and Sam Cooke died at a relatively young age.

 

Only found out recently about there being a lot of 60s nostalgia in the 80s, makes sense as it was about 20 years before.

Edited November 2, 20231 yr by TheSnake

8 weeks for Falcao to top the chart and only 4 more to leave the hit 40, ah the 80s chart runs!

A very unusual sales trajectory for 'Rock Me Amadeus' to coincide with moving 3-2-2-1, losing around 9k sales per week from 71k while at #3!

'Rock Me Amadeus' is a kooky but classic sounding track!

 

'Heard It Through The Grapevine' and 'A Kind of Magic' are both superb too!

17TH MAY

 

 

Well for a second week the charts confounds reason, the plan read that “On My Own” would move to the top and for at least the first half of the week that was going to happen, but then “The Chicken Song” occurred! Broadcast only a few weeks ago it featured in the “Spitting Image” show on ITV and was ready for purchase more or less instantly resulting in the song charting at No 11 last week and now exploding 11-1 (73,338) to nab the top slot at the last minute. The song is a parody of holiday songs best exemplified by the likes of “Agadoo” and “Do The Conga” and it seems the record buyers now agree with the show, it’s the first TV track to top our charts since “Fame” back in 1982, and the first song to jump to No 1 from outside the top 10 since “Happy Talk” in the same year. It should be noted that at least one of the voices on the track does belong to a former No 1 act, namely impressionist Chris Barrie who featured as the voice of Ronald Reagan on FGTH’s “Two Tribes” two years ago.

 

 

Patti Labelle and Michael McDonald therefore end up at the runner up position on a still respectable sale of 57,120 but may now have missed their window.

 

 

With a state of the art promo that is winning plaudits all round Peter Gabriel’s new single “Sledgehammer” powers 15-7 (24,667) to become his second top 10 single. It is the first release from his forthcoming “So” album which, if you’re a fan, you’ll only have to wait a fortnight for, some have questioned the sexually suggestive lyrics but for now that seems to be a minor issue only.

 

 

Level 42 hold at No 3 but on an increased sale of 52,802, Whitney Houston also improves 10-8 (21,641) as she hits the top position in the US, her third US chart topper from her last three releases! A raft of fallers to cover, Falco drops 1-4 (45,033) getting a boost pf only 1% from being No 1, Madonna dips 2-5 (36,618), Janet Jackson ebbs 5-6 (25,092), Marvin Gaye slides 8-9 (21,369) and Five Star troop 7-10 (20,927).

 

 

1- THE CHICKEN SONG- Spitting Image (73,338)

2- ON MY OWN- Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald (57,120)

3- LESSONS IN LOVE- Level 42 (52,802)

4- ROCK ME AMADEUS- Falco (45,033)

5- LIVE TO TELL- Madonna (36,618)

6- WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY- Janet Jackson (25,092)

7- SLEDGEHAMMER- Peter Gabriel (24,667)

8- GREATEST LOVE OF ALL- Whitney Houston (21,641)

9- I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE- Marvin Gaye (21,369)

10- CAN’T WAIT ANOTHER MINUTE- Five Star (20,927)

 

soLive to Tell could have been a @1

Less than 1k away :o damit Falco

It would have been a fluke low selling one though as the track instantly fell away again. Falco definitely deserved it even if it wasn’t in his highest selling weeks

24TH MAY

 

 

After the surprise of last week there was nothing too shocking in this week’s chart with Spitting Image creating clear blue sky between it and the opposition from the off, a very healthy 91,290 copies were sold last week of the “Chicken Song” which was a nice injection into the charts after a lacklustre month of sales, it has now sold 185,453 in total, nothing to write home about at present. Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald remain the nearest challengers though they gain sales only minimally at 61,149 and they weren’t in with a shot at all in reality, Level 42 complete a static top 3 with 56,406 sales, again a sales increase, no 2 next week?

 

 

 

A No 1 single in 1970 for Norman Greenbaum, “Spirit In The Sky” now returns in the form of a cover by Dr & The Medics. The group have had some indie success but nothing of a main stream nature until this track, they have certainly generated some press with their attire which seems stuck in 1970 along with the Greenbaum original, the song sprints 17-5 (37,638).

 

 

 

With the world championship recently finished and with Snooker fresh in the mind we now also have a record to celebrate the sport coming from those cheeky cockney’s Chas & Dave. The duo have been absent from the top 40 for 4 years and last time around almost went all the way with “Ain’t No Pleasing You”, for their new single “Snooker Loopy” they’ve roped in some of the biggest name in the sport to add some weight to the song including last year’s finalists Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor (collectively known as the Matchroom Mob). The song is going for the maximum break and moves 11-6 (32,164).

 

 

 

Featuring a new frontman in the form of Sammy Hagar, Van Halen are back in the studio and see the first results with “Why Can’t This Be Love?” a song which has hardly been an immediate hit having moved 66-54-43-40-31-22-13-8 so far. The split from former frontman David Lee Roth has not been overly amicable with various stories circulating as to the reasons though of course Lee Roth’s solo career has taken off in the US but faltered here with his cover of “California Girls” being his sole hit and even that bombed at No 68. Van Halen’s hit sold 24,565 this week to prove that they can do it without him.

 

 

 

Speaking of acrimonious splits Alan Lancaster left Status Quo last year and slapped an injunction on the band using the name to release singles as a farewell shot. That explains the AWOL nature of the group who are nothing if not normally prolific, but with that matter cleared up the band are free to record again and a new album is in the bag for release in a few months, first single “Rollin’ Home” is produced by Dave Edmunds and written by John David, a member of Edmunds band, it is now the group’s 19th top 10 single as it climbs 25-9 (23,987) it’s also their 8th top tenner of the 80s.

 

 

Peter Gabriel jets 7-4 (46,376) as he prepares to unleash his album this week, but Falco 4-7 (27,489) and Madonna 5-10 (23,562) are on their way out.

 

1- THE CHICKEN SONG- Spitting Image (91,290)

2- ON MY OWN- Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald (61,149)

3- LESSONS IN LOVE- Level 42 (56,406)

4- SLEDGEHAMMER- Peter Gabriel (46,376)

5- SPIRIT IN THE SKY- Dr & The Medics (37,638)

6- SNOOKER LOOPY- Matchroom Mob/ Chas & Dave (32,164)

7- ROCK ME AMADEUS- Falco (27,489)

8- WHY CAN’T THIS BE LOVE- Van Halen (24,565)

9- ROLLIN HOME- Status Quo (23,987)

10- LIVE TO TELL- Madonna (23,562)

 

'The Chicken Song' and 'Snooker Loopy' in the same Top 10, what a time :lol: The latter especially is one of those hits which just seem implausible now, but it goes to show how huge snooker was at the time.

'What Have You Done For Me Lately?' was so much better than Janet's really early material, she's heading in the right direction now, with better to come.

 

'I Heard It Through The Grapevine' is a classic of course. I really like 'Sledgehammer' and its iconic video too.

 

Happy that 'Rock Me Amadeus' got some time at the top. Less keen on 'The Chicken Song' however :kink:

I know all the words to The Chicken Song and Snooker Loopy haha :kink:

'Spirit In The Sky' is a good song but The Doctor and the Medics cover is rather boring compared to the band's appearance.

 

The video of Sledgehammer is weird and iconic, there is another video to come soon in 1986 which it reminds me of, clue - dog with sunglasses!

 

I like the flute synths bit of Sledgehammer especially, maybe an influence on the early 90s panpipe trend

 

'Snooker Loopy' is way better than the Chicken Song. Snooker deserves a song dedicated to it! :spin:

 

Black Lace, the group which the Chicken Song is parodying, didn't make top 40 at all since just before Christmas 1984 so why was this parody needed? I guess Black Lace's 1985 flop singles that missed the top 40 were still on the radio and TV a lot?

Edited November 5, 20231 yr by TheSnake

Was Peter Gabriel in Genesis?

Yes- he left in 1975

Thought that, thanks!

The Van Halen song is very good! I especially like the vocal improvisation in it.

31ST MAY

 

 

The joke is starting to wear thin as sales decrease to 59,296 for Spitting Image and with another day of trading may have been overhauled by Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald who are runners up for a third week straight but they too are down saleswise to 55,743, slim hope is offered by Dr & The Medics as “Spirit In The Sky” advances 5-3 (53,295) and is most likely to be the chart topper next week.

 

 

 

Simply Red’s cover of the Valentine Brothers “Money’s Too Tight” became their introduction to the UK charts peaking at No 13 last year but since that point the band have struggled to make an impact with their next three singles all failing to make the top 40. One of those flops was called “Holding Back The Years” which could only make No 51 last November and was in fact a rerecording of the song by a band called Frantic Elevators which was a previous group containing frontman Hucknell and a 1982 release. He’s held faith with the song and it gets a third shot at the charts and finally does the business lifting 19-6 (40,885) to become their biggest single to date.

 

 

 

One of the biggest UK female acts of the past couple of the years Jaki Graham seems to have found her stride again with “Set Me Free” after a second duet with David grant resulted in the No 20 hit “Mated” earlier this year, and now second release from her second album “Breaking Away” returns her to the top 10 for a third time and is shaping up to be the Birmingham singer’s biggest hit steamrolling in 20-9 (24,480).

 

 

 

Robert Palmer was always a much bigger singer in the US than over here despite hailing from Yorkshire though his hits “Every Kinda People” and “Johnny & Mary” have become staples on radio over the years. His involvement in the Power Station project with some Duran Duran members helped his profile here considerably and reaps the reward with the recent US No 1 single “Addicted To Love”. It was originally intended to be a duet between Palmer and Chaka Khan (she’s still credited as the arranger on the track) and has a guest guitarist in Duran Duran’s Andy Taylor putting to rest any stories about Palmer falling out with his former colleagues, it also comes with an eye catching video which has dominated MTV for the last few months and mimics the work of Patrick Nagel, it is directed by famous photographer Terence Donovan. 1986 is rapidly turning into a year which is producing some incredibly memorable videos and Palmer adds to that as he accelerates 16-10 (23,409).

 

 

Also boasting an innovative video Peter Gabriel holds at No 4 (47,923) as he debuts at the top over on the albums rundown and Van Halen are also static at No 8 (25,942). Getting bad news this week include Level 42 3-5 (45,594), and Chas & Dave 6-7 (30,362)

 

1- THE CHICKEN SONG- Spitting Image (59,296)

2- ON MY OWN- Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald (55,743)

3- SPIRIT IN THE SKY- Dr & The Medics (53,295)

4- SLEDGEHAMMER- Peter Gabriel (47,923)

5- LESSONS IN LOVE- Level 42 (45,594)

6- HOLDING BACK THE YEARS- Simply Red (40,885)

7- SNOOKER LOOPY- Matchroom Mob / Chas & Dave (30,362)

8- WHY CAN’T THIS BE LOVE- Van Halen (25,942)

9- SET ME FREE- Jaki Graham (24,480)

10- ADDICTED TO LOVE- Robert Palmer (23,409)

 

 

That's a pretty dire top 10 really. Only Peter Gabriel, Level 42 and Robert Palmer saving it

Holding Back the Years is a classic for me too!