was it normal for a post album single, and also a huge seller album, to go to #1? and with sales over 100K :o

 

fantastic singles from A-ha and PSB

and while I usually hate S Quo, In the army now is the exception to the rule, loved it as a kid and even bought the vinyl :D

 

the only meh newbie in the t10 is the Eastenders guy one :/

18TH OCTOBER

 

 

With a few additional shameless plugs after the normal shows “Eastenders” help to push Nick Berry all the way to the top as he sold a very impressive (and record for 1986 to date) 177,055 copies to lift total sales of “Every Loser Wins” to 231,183 after just three weeks and is, in short, looking like it could become one of the year’s big hits. It’s also the first No 1 on the BBC records label.

 

 

All of which makes you feel rather sorry for Madonna who despite posting a sales increase of 9% to 111,741 still falls 1-2, that’s also the highest sale for a No 2 single since Whitney Houston's "Saving All My Love For You" back in December 1985 and also keeps the track ahead of Nick Berry in total sales terms but not by much as it has sold 276,862 in its first three weeks.

 

 

“The Phantom Of The Opera” finally opened in the west end last week to near universal praise and now can boast a second top 10 single for the project. The opera’s female lead Sarah Brightman joins Cliff Richard on “All I Ask Of You” which has progressed 46-19-7 (38,794) to register Brightman’s 4th top 10 single and Richard’s 52nd! It is of course Richard’s follow up to his 11th chart topper (depending on how you view “Living Doll”) and for the show the song equals the peak of its other hit “The Phantom Of The Opera” though sadly Steve Harley (Brightman’s duet partner on that hit) has now been replaced as male lead by Michael Crawford.

 

 

 

Offered to both Lene Lovich and Toni Basil and turned down by both, “Walk Like An Egyptian” was picked up by the Bangles who make it their third release from the album “Different Light” and the quirky tune becomes their second top 10 hot on the heels of “Manic Monday”, it climbs 20-9 (29,682).

 

 

Five Star ebb 2-3 (55,216) but are still well clear of fast rising Paul Simon 5-4 (49,538) and Status Quo 9-5 (48,416), further down Pet Shop Boys rise 10-8 (33,473) and A-ha dip 8-10 (28,067) though their album “Scoundrel Days” debuts at No 2. Finally the Communards drop 3-6 (39,423) but they move 4-3 on the YTD list just 17,000 short of hitting the top- you'd expect that next week!

 

 

 

1- EVERY LOSER WINS- Nick Berry (177,055)

2- TRUE BLUE- Madonna (111,741)

3- RAIN OR SHINE- Five Star (55,216)

4- YOU CAN CALL ME AL- Paul Simon (49,538)

5- IN THE ARMY NOW- Status Quo (48,416)

6- DON’T LEAVE ME THIS WAY- The Communards (39,423)

7- ALL I ASK OF YOU- Sarah Brightman & Cliff Richard (38,794)

8- SUBURBIA- Pet Shop Boys (33,473)

9- WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN- The Bangles (29,682)

10- I’VE BEEN LOSING YOU- A-Ha (28,067)

 

True Blue is selling far more impressively than I would have guessed. I always assumed it fluked a low sales week #1

'Walk Like An Egyptian' *.* I had no idea that it was originally offered to Lene Lovich and Toni Basil, I could imagine the former tackling it.

I always had it in my mind that 'True Blue' was a fluke #1 but that's not a bad sale at all!

 

'Suburbia' is an absolute masterpiece :wub:

wow incredible sales for True Blue

and also for the Eastenders guy despite how awful the song is

I also never liked his character in the show

 

too bad Aha is going down, #8 seem too low for I've been Losing You

 

great newbie for Bangles, loved that song, a US #1 I believe, I did buy the 7" single

Pet Shop Boys' 'Suburbia' is very good as is 'Walk Like An Egyptian'. Not that big on the Five Star, Nick Berry or the Cliff and Sarah songs.

Edited November 26, 20231 yr by TheSnake

Nick Berry is awful. Terrible number 1!

 

We are now up to where I started the TOTP reruns on BBC4.

25th OCTOBER

 

 

“Every Loser Wins” scores an emphatic week at the top selling an eye watering 198,577, that's the biggest weekly sale since Band Aid and demonstrates the power of "Eastenders" on the British public meaning it breaks the 400,000 mark (429,760 to be exact) and has a tight grip on the top slot with Madonna holding At No 2 with a reduced tally of 58,837 which is still nothing to be disgraced about, sales of the two tracks now mean they both race into the YTD top 20.

 

 

 

Long a fixture on the US R & B chart Midnight Star broke through here with their last single “Headlines” which peaked at No 16, they’ve gone and topped that though with “Midas Touch”. Amidst rumours that there is acrimony in the group they manage to score their biggest hit with the track rising 22-10 (21,556).

 

 

There are no more new entries into the top 10 allowing some interesting moves, up go Sarah Brightman & Cliff Richard 7-3 (54,111) jumping over Status Quo 5-4 (52,377) and also on the move northwards are The Bangles 9-6 (38,760). Pet Shop Boys hold at No 8 (30,345) above the falling Communards 6-9 (22,491), Five Star dip 3-7 (33,286) and Paul Simon falls 4-5 with sales of 46,801. Something you don't see every week, that sale by the Communards means that "Don't Leave Me This Way" and "I Want To Wake Up With You" both share the exact same sale of 649,825! meaning they are both the best selling singles of the year- until next week anyway.

 

 

 

Finally we see the release of the first Duran Duran single in over a year, expect a top 10 debut.

 

 

1- EVERY LOSER WINS- Nick Berry (198,577)

2- TRUE BLUE- Madonna (58,837)

3- ALL I ASK OF YOU- Sarah Brightman & Cliff Richard (54,111)

4- IN THE ARMY NOW- Status Quo (52,377)

5- YOU CAN CALL ME AL- Paul Simon (46,801)

6- WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN- The Bangles (38,760)

7- RAIN OR SHINE- Five Star (33,286)

8- SUBURBIA- Pet Shop Boys (30,345)

9- DON’T LEAVE ME THIS WAY- The Communards (22,491)

10- MIDAS TOUCH- Midnight Star (21,556)

 

Wow at the sales for Nick Berry stellar!

 

Madonna did great considering the huge album but why did True Blue reduce so much this week?

 

Suburbia selling consistently for a late album release for PSBs!

I think these things are psychological in part. Even though it had great sales the fact that it dropped from 1 to 2 would have meant that week it would not have got any TOTP exposure and some radio stations may have demoted it from their playlists as it "appeared" to be losing interest with the public. Plus I suppose it was a driver for continued sales to the album though of course the album Version is different. A rare example of the promo not using the single version of a song.

 

 

 

 

1ST NOVEMBER

 

 

Just as quickly as it accelerated Nick Berry's "Every Loser Wins" goes into sharp decline at the top but still sold 107,355 copies as he moves into the top 10 on the YTD survey with 537,115 and is the 8th track to sell half a million in 1986. Letitia Dean and Paul Medford move 67-26 to join Berry in the top 40 this week, perhaps we’ll get back to back “Eastenders” number ones? The track has an interesting format breakdown with under 1% of its sales on 12", normally a pop track which was a top 10 hit would sell between 5-10% (Dance records even more) but "Every Loser Wins" has a lower percentage than most with only "Anyone Can Fall In Love" and "Just Say No" in the same bracket.

 

 

 

Currently the nation’s most watched film “Top Gun” has started to spawn hit singles including Kenny Loggins “Danger Zone” which enters at No 73 and far more impressively “Take My Breath Away” by Berlin which shoots 37-7 (28,305) which is, to give it its full title, “The Love Theme From “Top Gun”” and was a US chart topper back in September. The song was originally offered to the Motels who had a couple of UK hits in the early 80s and did the demo but it was Berlin who got the gig, their only real slice of previous chart action is a top 30 US single in 1983 “No More Words” which was later featured on the US b-side to Madonna’s “Crazy For You” though it was substituted over here for a Sammy Hager track. The soundtrack album also rises 13-9.

 

 

 

The Pretenders debut at No 11 this week with third album “Get Close”, it’s a near miracle that it finally hit the shops given the personnel changes that have occurred to the group over the last few years, so much that only Hynde remains now of the original members. That aside, lead single “Don’t Get Me Wrong” darts 14-10 (22,695) a fourth top 10 single, but their first in 5 years since “I Go To Sleep”.

 

 

Berry’s victory is an easy one as though Status Quo move 4-2 (56,933) they barely sold half of his tally last week, “In The Army Now” looks unlikely to progress any further and if it doesn’t it becomes only their second No 2 single of their long career. Sarah Brightman & Cliff Richard hold at three on an improved sale of 56,933, and there’s two climbers further down the top 10, The Bangles 6-4 (48,960) and Midnight Star 10-8 (24,565). Madonna tumbles 2-5 (36,227), Paul Simon dips 5-6 (30,498) and the Pet Shop Boys slide 8-9 (23,307), much to the surprise of many in the business Duran Duran’s first single in over a year limps in at No 14! We’ll see if former rivals Spandau Ballet can do any better this week?

 

1- EVERY LOSER WINS- Nick Berry (107,355)

2- IN THE ARMY NOW- Status Quo (56,933)

3- ALL I ASK OF YOU- Sarah Brightman & Cliff Richard (49,096)

4- WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN- The Bangles (48,960)

5- TRUE BLUE- Madonna (36,227)

6- YOU CAN CALL ME AL- Paul Simon (30,498)

7- TAKE MY BREATH AWAY- Berlin (28,305)

8- MIDAS TOUCH- Midnight Star (24,565)

9- SUBURBIA- Pet Shop Boys (23,307)

10- DON’T GET ME WRONG- The Pretenders (22,695)

 

Take My Breath Away :wub: so 80s!

Nick Berry reminds me a lot of Robson and Jerome over on the 1995 thread, not as big selling as them though, but I am guessing that like R&J, a lot of older people who didn't usually buy singles bought the Nick Berry song.

 

About Top Gun, I don't know why 'Danger Zone' flopped in the UK. I prefer that song to 'Take My Breath Away', although TMBA is still good.

 

'Don't Get Me Wrong' is a very good song.

Paul Simon the most consistent seller at the moment!

Something you don't see every week, that sale by the Communards means that "Don't Leave Me This Way" and "I Want To Wake Up With You" both share the exact same sale of 649,825! meaning they are both the best selling singles of the year- until next week anyway.

That is quite a coincidence, even for a fleeting snapshot of the YTD sales so late in the year! I can't actually remember what ended up as the EOY bestseller, so it's been fun to follow the many changes of hands at the top - something we rarely see in the streaming era.

love love love Take my Breath Away <3 even if it overplayed

I was obsessed with the song and even bought the Berlin album on vinyl, not the bestest album ever

 

also love Don't Get Me Wrong, one of the best singles from Pretenders <3

8TH NOVEMBER

 

 

In a move that few saw coming Nick Berry is unseated at the top of the charts by THAT song from "Top Gun". Berlin saunter 7-1 (72,165) to become the first chart topper from a movie since Falco back in May and a welcome return to the top for producer Giorgio Moroder, its ascendancy to the top is as much to do as the relatively quick sales fall of Nick Berry as their own surge, Berry haemorrhages sales to end on 70,703 and be a fraction short of defending his No 1 position. Nevertheless “Every Loser Wins” has now sold 607,818 in total which means it’s the 4th biggest seller of the year, it should be joined by Letitia Dean and Paul Medford who leap 26-12 this week. May’s other composition “Always There” by Marti Webb which is the theme to “Howard’s Way” won’t be as big anyway, it peaked at No 13 and dives 20-34 this week.

 

 

 

Kim Wilde had a pretty amazing start to her career with two top 10 singles right off the bat, since then however she’s struggled with some singles missing the top 75 altogether, she’s just about to release her fifth album “Another Step” this week and her cover of The Supremes “You Keep Me Hangin’ on” becomes her biggest hit since “Chequered Love” in 1981 as it charges 15-6 (38,981). It’s already the highest charting of the four versions to make the hit list so far, all of them made the top 40 for The Supremes (No 8), Vanilla Fudge (No 18), Roni Hill (No 36) and now Wilde.

 

 

 

It’s been a tumultuous year for Duran Duran as the tabloids told us, with internal rancour resulting in both Taylor’s leaving and the band being reduced to a trio. They’ve teamed up again with Nile Rodgers to produce their 14th single and 11th top 10 single, but last week “Notorious” debuted only at No 14, the lowest debut of all their singles since “Rio” back in 1982, it’s move 14-7 (30,022) means they keep that string of top 10ers going strong but it’s fair to say it’s a hefty comedown from previous glories. The album is out in 4 weeks’ time and will be the real test for the trio.

 

 

 

Written by Stock Aitken & Waterman for Bananarama but turned down by them “Showing Out (Get Fresh At The Weekend)” was given to a new duo Mel & Kim Appleby who are sisters from London. Originally the b-side “System” was intended as the single but it was switched when the girls recorded this track. That decision wasn’t initially validated by the chart performance of the disc which has so far moved 67-65-64-55-43-38-24 but now finally catches on with the UK public leaping 24-8 (29,818).

 

 

The Bangles hold at No 4 (51,051) unable to move past Status Quo who however reverse 2-3 (52,292) but they do dodge the falling Sarah Brightman & Cliff Richard as they trip 3-5 (38,981)

 

The Pretenders hold at No 10 (26,571) just tucked behind a tumbling Midnight Star 8-9 (27,778)

 

 

1- TAKE MY BREATH AWAY- Berlin (72,165)

2- EVERY LOSER WINS- Nick Berry (70,703)

3- IN THE ARMY NOW- Status Quo (52,292)

4- WALK LIKE AN EGYPTIAN- The Bangles (51,051)

5- ALL I ASK OF YOU- Sarah Brightman & Cliff Richard (38,981)

6- YOU KEEP ME HANGIN ON- Kim Wilde (38,301)

7- NOTORIOUS- Duran Duran (30,022)

8- SHOWING OUT (GET FRESH AT THE WEEKEND)- Mel & Kim (29,818)

9- MIDAS TOUCH- Midnight Star (27,778)

10- DON’T GET ME WRONG- The Pretenders (26,571)

 

oh love love that Kim Wilde cover, her post-debut material was terrible, so great to have her back with a killer cover

which went all the way to #1 in the US too

oh and Showing Out is equally great, kinda see why Bananarama passed but was perfect for Mel & Kim

 

2 excellent newbies which I bought both on 7" single back in the day <3

 

Notorious on the other hand is terrible, showing a band that had lost all inspiration...

I really like the production of Kim Wilde's version of 'You Keep Me Hanging On'.

 

'Showing Out' is well produced too, its technically the second house hit to make the top 10 in the UK.