I would have preferred Housemartin but at least Reet Petite makes some chart record

I remember finding the sogn quite annoying as a kid :D

 

Why the videos for A-ha's 2nd album were so bad compared to the 1st? I've Been Losing You didn't even have a proper proper video it was like a mashup of live performances and Cry Wolf had a video but rather lacklustre...

 

and finally a good song from Alison Moyet, her first era was terrible, but Is This Love is fantastic, her first great single

Love Reet Petite - one of my favourite records of the 50s. Caravan Of Love is great too though.

Would the disqualified format have actually made a difference to the #1 Gezza?

3RD JANUARY

 

 

With no songs entering the top 10 this week was always going to be a rather static one, however given that three days of the week included pre-Christmas sales it’s no surprise that sales remain healthy at the top but unspectacular at the bottom. Jackie Wilson fought all the way last week but is on cruise control this week as he retains the top slot with 143,837 copies sold, an 11% increase week on week bringing its total to 372,640 in its current run. Wilson died almost three years ago (21/1/84) and so "Reet Petite" becomes the longest Posthumous No 1 if measuring between death and topping the charts.

 

 

The Housemartins hold at No 2 but recede to sales of 93,262 which brings the “Caravan Of Love” to a total 351,237 both songs should sneak into the top 20 year end at the death next week.

 

Other than that there are just two movers, A-ha who rise 7-5 (28,526) to score their fourth top 5 single, and that’s at the expense of Erasure who slip 5-7 (27,625).

 

There are also six non movers in the top 10, Europe at No 3 (39,712), Madonna at No 4 (32.793), Oran “Juice” Jones at No 6 (27,965), Alison Moyet at No 8 (26,129), Gregory Abbott at No 9 (23,222) and Bon Jovi at No 10 (22,168).

 

 

1- REET PETITE (THE SWEETEST GIRL IN TOWN)- Jackie Wilson (143,837)

2- CARAVAN OF LOVE- The Housemartins (93,262)

3- THE FINAL COUNTDOWN- Europe (39,712)

4- OPEN YOUR HEART (REMIX)- Madonna (32,793)

5- CRY WOLF- A-Ha (28,526)

6- THE RAIN (SHORT VERSION)- Oran “Juice” Jones (27,965)

7- SOMETIMES- Erasure (27,625)

8- IS THIS LOVE- Alison Moyet (26,129)

9- SHAKE YOU DOWN- Gregory Abbott (23,222)

10- LIVIN ON A PRAYER- Bon Jovi (22,168)

 

Would the disqualified format have actually made a difference to the #1 Gezza?

Unknown but probably not- No 86 in the album chart for the week would have been in the thousands but touch and go as to whether it would have been 5k or more.

10TH JANUARY

 

 

1986 is a 53 week year which means we get treated to an extra week but dear lord it’s a poor one! A new year breaks and as usual it provides almost no new initial hits and sales collapse all around. Jackie Wilson holds the top slot but it was hardly a convincing show as sales slide by a whopping 39% to a mere 87,465, compare that to the 63% dip experienced by “Caravan Of Love” and you’ll realise that the Housemartins were well behind Wilson on just 34,476.

 

 

Alison Moyet sold almost exactly the same as last week (down only 9% to 23,698) yet sees “Is This Love” sprint 8-3 and is worth a punt to be her first chart topper next week. The sales figure however marks a new low required for a top 3 track in the 80s- an accolade she won't want.

 

 

There is only one new song to discuss and that’s the Gap Band’s “Big Fun” which finally climbs 12-9 (17,799) as the festive hits are asked to leave. Somewhat confusingly the track is cut from their tenth album called “Gap Band 8”, the band’s biggest hit here previously was 1980’s “Oops Upside Your Head” which peaked at No 6 though it should be noted that they have had 8 hits between these two singles. In more worrying news it is the first time that the sales required to have a top 10 hit have slipped below the 20,000 mark!

 

 

The rest of the top 10 are either non movers or fallers, Europe dip 3-4 (23,358), A-ha hold at No 5 (22,610) whilst Madonna slides 4-6 (22,032). Erasure are also stuck in the groove at No 7 (21,284) and like the rain this week Oran “Juice” Jones falls 6-8 (17,901) with Gregory Abbott anchoring 9-10 (13,651) in a top 10 generally in the doldrums though not as bad, Moyet aside, as the first week of 1986 which remains the record for positions outside No 3 for the decade so far.

 

 

1- REET PETITE (THE SWEETEST GIRL IN TOWN)- Jackie Wilson (87,465)

2- CARAVAN OF LOVE- The Housemartins (34,476)

3- IS THIS LOVE- Alison Moyet (23,698)

4- THE FINAL COUNTDOWN- Europe (23,358)

5- CRY WOLF- A-Ha! (22,610)

6- OPEN YOUR HEART (REMIX)- Madonna (22,032)

7- SOMETIMES- Erasure (21,284)

8- THE RAIN (SHORT VERSION)- Oran “Juice” Jones (17,901)

9- BIG FUN- Gap Band (17,799)

10- SHAKE YOU DOWN- Gregory Abbott (13,651)

 

And that's it for 1986- thanks as always to all who commented. The threads will continue with the rest of the 80s next year!

Thanks as always Gezza!

Yes thank you Gezza. Always a good read and enjoyable to follow.

 

Looking forward to looking backwards at 1987 ^_^

Thanks Gezza for taking us through 1986!

Thanks for these threads Gezza, my favourites on the site.

 

God sales were poor that week!!

thanks Gezza cannot wait for 87!! <3 hope it comes sooner than later

I got into music in 1987 so this will be great.

This will be my birth year, so I'm very interested to see it!

Are we ready for 1987 ????

yes 1987 is all kinds of amazing <3

Absolutely!