So do Wham! hold that record for most #1s for a duo outright now then?

 

On the one hand 5 seems a small total for that but I guess two person groups are less common than soloists or larger bands.

Has Pepsi and Shirley left the group at this stage?

 

Love The Housemartins, Norman Cooks first appearence on TOTP!

did they count as members of Wham? ;)

They were never official members of the group but backing singers. Although even then the actual backing vocals were done mostly by George Michael

5TH JULY

 

 

The death throes of Wham! continue as they finished their tale of success before 72,000 people at Wembley and the song “Edge Of Heaven” holds at the top spot though its sale is only slightly improved to 66,725 making a total of 170,034 after its first three weeks indicated that perhaps it was the right decision to call time, that total being well down on the 264,316 of their last single “I’m Your Man” at this stage, that of course had the pre- Christmas lift to help it. The band are now pushing the track as a double A-Side with "Where Did Your Heart Go" a cover of a Was Not Was 1981 single which the duo performed on TOTP. Their greatest hits compilation “The Final” is out in a fortnight to round off the teary goodbye.

 

 

 

It’s unlikely that they will be No 1 next week at any rate, in the main thanks to Madonna who surges 13-2 (62,679) with her new single “Papa Don’t Preach”. The single has predictably caused some controversy in the US where it has been seen as both an anti-abortion song and a song which advocates teenage pregnancy, it comes with a new image for Madonna which has quickly become a theme in her career. The single was pressing Wham! hard as the week drew to a close and given another day it would have charged 13-1, the possible hindrance to her ascending next week to the top is the release of her third album “True Blue” which is in shops now. It is Madonna’s 11th top 10 single of the 80s placing her behind only Madness and Shakin’ Stevens in the table of the regular acts in the top tier, Madness have been there 14 times before with Shaky just one behind them.

 

 

 

It’s been a while since we heard from Bananarama but they return this month with a third album “True Confessions” which is once again a collaboration with Jolley & Swain, in the main that is. Their cover of Shocking Blue’s “Venus” is however produced by Stock Aitken & Waterman who revealed recently that the girls wanted them to produce something along the lines of “You Spin Me Round” by Dead or Alive. The story it seems is a bit more convoluted than that, the group has long been performing the track as part of their live set but when it came to recording the song as a dance track Jolley & Swain seem to have dismissed the idea and the girls turned to Stock Aitken & Waterman to give them the hit. It’s worked anyway as the cover moves 15-9 (24,803) to become their first top 10 smash since 1984’s “Robert De Nero’s Waiting”.

 

 

The Housemartins fail to move at No 3 (49,708) and seem to have missed the boat on climbing as their debut album also arrives at No 3 on the album chart, Owen Paul powers 7-4 (42,738) leaping over the falling Nu Shooz 2-5 (42,313). Amazulu trip 5-6 (39,644) and A-ha similarly slide 6-7 (25,381) with Bucks Fizz holding at No 8 (25,058), Dr & The Medics tumble 4-10 (24,701) but that is enough to see the track go 8-6 on the YTD which, as we are now half way through the year, looks like this:

 

 

 

1- LIVING DOLL- Cliff Richard & Young Ones 629,119

2- CHAIN REACTION- Diana Ross 600,270

3- WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GET GOING- Billy Ocean 553,894

4- A DIFFERENT CORNER- George Michael 434,639

5- ROCK ME AMADEUS- Falco 432,242

6- SPIRIT IN THE SKY- Dr & The Medics 372,946

7- THE SUN ALWAYS SHINES ON TV- A-ha 344,709

8- THE CHICKEN SONG- Spitting Image 332,588

9- ON MY OWN- Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald 322,456

10- LESSONS IN LOVE- Level 42 311,355

 

This week's top 10

 

1- THE EDGE OF HEAVEN- Wham! (66,725)

2- PAPA DON’T PREACH- Madonna (62,679)

3- HAPPY HOUR- The Housemartins (49,708)

4- MY FAVOURITE WASTE OF TIME- Owen Paul (42,738)

5- I CAN’T WAIT- Nu Shooz (42,313)

6- TOO GOOD TO BE FORGOTTEN- Amazulu (39,644)

7- HUNTING HIGH AND LOW- A-Ha (25,381)

8- NEW BEGINNING- Bucks Fizz (25,058)

9- VENUS- Bananarama (24,803)

10- SPIRIT IN THE SKY- Dr & The Medics (24,701)

 

They were never official members of the group but backing singers. Although even then the actual backing vocals were done mostly by George Michael

 

I always thought they were!

Papa Don't Preach is just pop perfection and Madonna at her very very best

hope she catches Wham next week, don't think it's one of their best singles, rather lacklustre and a poor way to finish their career

 

also love Bananarama-Venus, good they're back on track after a few flops, insane this went to #1 in the US

 

great to have two of my fav artists of the 80s as newbies

Papa Don’t Preach :wub:

It took me a while to appreciate 'Hunting High and Low', with the two big singles commanding most of my attention from that era, but it is a stunner :wub: I also like 'The Edge of Heaven', which is quite an earworm, plus 'Venus' is one of the better SAW productions too - although do prefer the Shocking Blue original these days

12TH JULY

 

 

For all the top 10 singles and all the headlines and controversy, Madonna had only scored a solitary chart topper in the form of “Into The Groove” but she’s now finally added to that as “Papa Don’t Preach” takes the step 2-1, she also debuts at No 1 on the album charts with “True Blue” making her the first act since Phil Collins back in March 1985 to hold both titles simultaneously but only the second lady to do so after Barbra Streisand in 1980. Not only did she achieve that, but over 200,000 copies of either the single or album were sold last week with 80,614 of sales going to “Papa Don’t Preach”. She crushed the outgoing chart topper from Wham! which sold a mere 68,357 copies in dipping 1-2, they will of course be hoping to gain revenge on the album charts with “The Final” released this week. Incidentally that weekly sale for "Edge Of Heaven" is its best yet!

 

 

 

US duo Sly Fox have already had a US No 7 hit with “Let’s Go All The Way” and for a while they were looking doubtful if the UK would grant the same status, it’s moved 63-50-43-39-30-23 thus far but now rockets to No 6 (26,860) to outperform its native peak. Members of the band are Gary "Mudbone" Cooper and Michael Camacho, the former once a vocalist with Parliament Funkadelic.

 

 

 

There’s fox’s all round as in addition to Sly Fox we also have Samantha Fox in the top 10, her second release “Do Ya Do Ya (Wanna Please Me)” debuts a more rockier side to her repertoire. She’s now quit the modelling to convince us she’s a serious artists though there is still a healthy slice of innuendo in her new song, Fox’s debut album is out in a fortnight, but her new single seems to be running out of steam already as it inches 12-10 (17,238) though two top 10 singles is no bad way to start a career.

 

 

Paul Owen continues to apply pressure at the top as it moves 4-3 (41,072), though it has a minimal sales decrease it does climb above The Housemartins 3-4 (40,868) who are putting in a quite consistent showing sales wise. Good news for Amazulu (6-5, 30,685) and Bananarama (9-8, 24,769) who climb despite sales slumps, but Nu Shooz (5-7, 26,333) and Bucks Fizz (8-9, 21,845) can’t keep pace and fall back.

 

 

1- PAPA DON’T PREACH- Madonna (80,614)

2- THE EDGE OF HEAVEN- Wham! (68,357)

3- MY FAVOURITE WASTE OF TIME- Owen Paul (41,072)

4- HAPPY HOUR- The Housemartins (40,868)

5- TOO GOOD TO BE FORGOTTEN- Amazulu (30,685)

6- LET’S GO ALL THE WAY- Sly Fox (26,860)

7- I CAN’T WAIT- Nu Shooz (26,333)

8- VENUS- Bananarama (24,769)

9- NEW BEGINNING- Bucks Fizz (21,845)

10- DO YA DO YA (WANNA PLEASE ME)-Sam Fox (17,238)

 

I always thought ‘Venus’ was one of the biggest hits of Bananaramas career and that year, hope it climbs a bit. It’s a real classic of the era for me.

 

‘Papa Don’t Preach’ is certainly a worthy chart topper probably one of Madges best!

 

Also love The Housemartins and Sly Fox are cool tracks and the later very much like Snake described some of those big dance beat 80s hits!

Of the two Foxes, Sly is definitely the better. :basil: 'Do Ya...' not a patch on 'Touch Me'.

 

'Papa Don't Preach' is a good #1 and 'Venus' has been overplayed over the years in adverts but the production certainly added a lot more energy to the charts!

 

 

 

 

 

yay for Papa don't Preach going all the way to #1 no easy task with the album also out

I listened to the True Blue album the other day, first time in ages, and was surprised at how good it is, I even remembered the album tracks that were not singles

19TH JULY

 

 

On paper Madonna should be worried about keeping her crown as she faces a strong challenge from Rod Stewart who piles in 17-2 with his new track “Every Beat Of My Heart”, a second release from his album of the same title.

 

 

 

 

In reality there is little challenge, she put in another strong performance of 89,522 copies to Stewart’s 46,444, though kudos to Stewart he got both TOTP and a slot of “Wogan” to promote the track last week and has now his biggest hit since “Baby Jane” topped the charts in 1983 though his challenge is curtailed by the lack of those shows this week coupled with the album which is climbing 7-5 this week to dent sales. It is Stewart’s 18th top 10 single in 15 years, not a bad strike rate.

 

 

 

UB40 release their 7th studio album next month entitled “Rat In The iamspamspamami, lead single “Sing Our Own Song” becomes their 10th top 10 single this week and features on backing vocals both Ruby Turner and Jaki Graham. The song’s anti-apartheid’s message is a return to the political lyrics that dotted the group’s earlier works and leaps 22-6 (28,900), interestingly the group have only placed two tracks in the top 10 in their second week on the charts, and on both those occasions they both went to No 1, the last one “I Got You Babe” knocked Madonna off the top- all eyes on next week then!

 

 

 

Plugging away since the early 70s without much UK Success except a couple of top 50 singles Chris De Burgh was helped into the public consciousness with a “best of” album which entered the top 10 in January 1985 thanks to some TV advertising and a slow sales period but “The Lady In Red” seems to have captured interest as it rockets 40-10 (23,443) to become his first real hit in the UK. Though it is written with his wife in mind though I’m sure they’ll be a few ladies who will be receiving a copy from their husbands.

 

 

Sly Fox threaten 6-3 (44,438) and move past Owen Paul who slips 3-4 (42,636) but with a healthy sales boost thanks to TOTP, it was a tight packed section in the top 5 in which No's 2-4 could have gone any way. Wham! slide 2-5 (30,872) but will sail past the 300,000 mark in the next fortnight, their last album “The Final” enters at No 2 unable to unseat Madonna spoiling a perfect ending for the pair.

 

 

 

Bananarama hold at No 8 (26,809) but there are fallers either side of them, The Housemartins ebb 4-7 (28,271) while Amazulu tumble 5-9 (23,562).

 

1- PAPA DON’T PREACH- Madonna (89,522)

2- EVERY BEAT OF MY HEART- Rod Stewart (46,444)

3- LET’S GO ALL THE WAY- Sly Fox (44,438)

4- MY FAVOURITE WASTE OF TIME- Owen Paul (42,636)

5- THE EDGE OF HEAVEN- Wham! (30,872)

6- SING OUR OWN SONG- UB40 (28,900)

7- HAPPY HOUR- The Housemartins (28,271)

8- VENUS- Bananarama (26,809)

9- TOO GOOD TO BE FORGOTTEN- Amazulu (23,562)

10- THE LADY IN RED- Chris De Burgh (23,443)

 

Did Rods 1st release from this era flop? And was this the first new music since the successful 1983 era?

Did Rods 1st release from this era flop? And was this the first new music since the successful 1983 era?

No he had an album in 1984 which gave him a top 20 hit with "Some Guys Have All The Luck". The first release from this album "Love Touch" made No 27 so not an entire flop.

Rat In The iamspamspamami:kink:

 

 

Great album title :D

 

 

26TH JULY

 

 

Madonna completes three weeks at No 1 in both the singles and album charts with “Papa Don’t Preach” and “True Blue” both holding strong, though singles wise her track looks like it is on its final week as sales contract to 82,518 taking overall sales to 334,764 making it already her biggest seller since “Into The Groove”. It was outsold on both Friday and Saturday by “The Lady In Red” by Chris De Burgh which seems destined for the top next week failing some miracle as it moves 10-2 (69,581) this week.

 

 

 

Former Wall of Voodoo frontman Stan Ridgway has gone solo and first fruits provide him with a bigger hit than he ever got in his group, “Camouflage” is the tale of a ghostly marine who protects a younger soldier and leads him back to his camp after he gets separated and this week it leaps 17-7 (26,605).

 

 

 

Despite their name Hollywood Beyond hail from Birmingham and “What’s The Colour Of Money?” is their first release. An album is allegedly in the pipeline if you like the sound of them but for now the single flies 24-8 (22,185) to be a dream of a start for them.

 

 

UB40 continue to climb 6-5 (33,541) but they’re going against the grain as Rod Stewart sees his chances of getting a 7th chart topper falter as he sags 2-3 (60,581) even with a 32% sales increase, Sly Fox gets pushed down 3-4 (55,420) but sales are up 26%, Owen Paul drops 4-6 (29,444), Bananarama dip 8-9 (22,134) and Housemartins cling onto the top 10 7-10 (18,989).

 

 

1- PAPA DON’T PREACH- Madonna (82,518)

2- THE LADY IN RED- Chris De Burgh (69,581)

3- EVERY BEAT OF MY HEART- Rod Stewart (60,537)

4- LET’S GO ALL THE WAY- Sly Fox (55,420)

5- SING OUR OWN SONG- UB40 (33,541)

6- MY FAVOURITE WASTE OF TIME- Owen Paul (29,444)

7- CAMOUFLAGE- Stan Ridgway (26,605)

8- WHAT’S THE COLOUR OF MONEY- Hollywood Beyond (22,185)

9- VENUS- Bananarama (22,134)

10- HAPPY HOUR- The Housemartins (18,989)

 

Happy Hour has been much more successful than I would have guessed, it's been a pleasant surprise to see how many weeks it has remained top 10

 

 

Like bjork, I was expecting Venus to have done better than it has done so far. It's never really had a big sales week. It's probably all of the advert use over the years that's made me assume it was a huge recognisable song from the 80s.