Mixed feelings about Sigue Sigue Sputnik. Its more hi-NRG dance in the charts which is good to hear (courtesy this time of the legendary Giorgio Moroder) and the 70s glam rock influence is cool too. But the lyrics/video are very violent and warlike which bothers me especially recently.

 

Chain Reaction is not quite hi-NRG - more based in retro nostalgia, but its both livelier and in my opinion better to dance to than the Billy Ocean song at #1.

Edited October 22, 20231 yr by TheSnake

8TH MARCH

 

 

It’s taken 14 years between No 1 UK hits, and that’s a record folks, but Diana Ross has finally clawed her way back to the top this week as “Chain Reaction” makes its expected final step and in some style heading the list with 87,329 copies sold last week and gives the Brothers Gibb their 6th No 1 as writers.

 

 

 

We’ve had quite a few comebacks in the top 10 already in 1986 for acts who have been absent from the big 10 for some years but Frank Sinatra tops them all so far, he was last in the upper reaches back in 1969 but his version of Liza Minelli’s “Theme From New York, New York” gives him an unexpected return. It was written for the film “New York New York” (no surprise there) which starred Minelli and was picked up by Sinatra for his 1980 comeback album “Trilogy” and has become something of a signature song for the legend despite only making No 59 when it was released. It’s been given a second whirl and does much better rocketing 28-10 (24,208) to be our only new track to discuss, the reason for the re-issue? it's recently become a much requested song in the gay clubs apparently prompting the record company to try again.

 

 

Sigue Sigue Sputnik don’t quite live up to the hype but do move up albeit only 7-3 (57,885) and look like they have no chance of catching Ross without TOTP this week, the Bangles snap at their heels jumping 10-4 (41,106).

 

Heading the wrong way this week is Billy Ocean 1-2 (59,704) as his sales just slip past the 450,000 so I doubt he’ll be disappointed, Su Pollard’s time is up as she drops 3-5 (37,536), Survivor dip 5-6 (32,113), Whitney Houston continues her slow descent 6-7 (27,234), The Damned aren’t hanging about 4-8 (25,738) and Paul Hardcastle is procrastinating 8-9 (25,466).

 

 

1- CHAIN REACTION- Diana Ross (87,329)

2- WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GET GOING- Billy Ocean (59,704)

3- LOVE MISSILE F1-11- Sigue Sigue Sputnik (57,885)

4- MANIC MONDAY- The Bangles (41,106)

5- STARTING TOGETHER- Su Pollard (37,536)

6- BURNING HEART- Survivor (32,113)

7- HOW WILL I KNOW- Whitney Houston (27,234)

8- ELOISE- The Damned (25,738)

9- DON’T WASTE MY TIME- Paul Hardcastle (25,466)

10- THEME FROM NEW YORK NEW YORK- Frank Sinatra (24,208)

 

I kinda thought 86 was gonna be incredible but have to admit I only like Bangles in that top 10

I always think post 1985 is poor although there’s individual brilliance from some artists and most no1s are still classics but there’s no defined era like the 1981-84 period was with the New Romantics - the most interesting it gets is house music becoming massive!

for me 1000% the opposite

I hate the first half of the 80s with the mediocre Duran Duran, Culture Club and Spandau Ballet dominating

 

87/88 was incredible and I thought 86 too but let's see, guess once Madonna comes back it will get better

15TH MARCH

 

 

Still setting the cash till’s ringing “Chain Reaction” clocks up another 114,138 this week, that’s up 32% on last week’s sum but the gap between it and the next record increased to over double with the Bangles “Manic Monday” storming 4-2 with 55,488 buyers. Diana Ross therefore looks set for another easy week at least of her current reign.

 

 

 

 

Onto the challengers and the first one has form! Jim Diamond was last in the top 10 in late 1984 when “I Should Have Known Better” topped the chart for a week before the mighty Frankie Goes To Hollywood brushed him aside. His new album “Desire For Freedom” will contain his new single “Hi Ho Silver” which you may know better as then theme to the current ITV series “Boon”, although Diamond is at pains to explain that it was written in tribute to his late father and not expressly for the show. His single flies 16-6 (32,810) this week.

 

 

 

Rap music is starting to become a solid, if not spectacular performer on the UK chart and the newest kids on the block are US group Whistle, their first hit “Nothing Serious (Just Buggin)” arrives 14-7 (29.903) though the group may suffer the same fate of so many acts within the genre (chart wise) and struggle with their follow up. Time will tell anyway, this hit samples classical artist Edvard Grieg and Glenn Miller amongst others.

 

 

 

You would have to have been Rip Van Winkle not to have heard and seen the promotion for the forthcoming film “Absolute Beginners” which is due in cinema’s next month, and to hammer home the point we have the film’s theme which debuts straight into the chart at No 8 this week for David Bowie on a sale of 29,053. Bowie gets a part in the film, as does fellow popstars Sade, TenPole Tudor and Ray Davies and it is being hailed as the saviour of the British film industry, it is also Bowie’s 22nd top 10 single, his 8th to debut in the top 10 and his 4th to debut at the No 8 position, all of those previous three made the top 2 at least! Ross take note! Rumour is that a certain Kate Bush was asked to do backing vocals but diaries couldn't be arranged!

 

 

 

Another increasing trend over the last few years are movie soundtrack’s, we’ve got Bowie at No 8 and now Huey Lewis & The News are a place behind them. The band have been a major US act since they broke big in 1984 with a string of US top 10 singles though no-one took interest over here, they then recorded “The Power Of Love” and it was used in the film “Back To The Future” which topped the charts there last August and made No 11 over here as the film was in US cinema’s. It took until January for the film to make it over here and naturally spurred another spate of interest in the track which now hits a new peak 11-9 (28,798). They are of course also in the courts with Ray Parker Jr over whether or not “Ghostbusters” borrowed a bit too much for their 1984 hit “I Want A New Drug”, you’ll also recall that “Ghostbusters” had a similar chart run re-peaking in December after the film premiered over here. Their current single is a double A-Side with “Do You Believe In Love” which was their first top 10 single stateside way back in 1982.

 

 

 

Sigue Sigue Sputnik hold at No 3 but their sales are down at 41,616 just in front of the only climber within the top 10 Frank Sinatra’s “New York, new York” which shoots 10-4 (39,695) whilst Billy Ocean continues his drift 2-5 (39,508). It’s worth noting that just Ross and The Bangles will get a TOTP slot on Thursday out of the top 5, can they provide a barrier to another Bowie No 1? Survivor round us off as they fall back 6-10 (24,463)

 

 

1- CHAIN REACTION- Diana Ross (114,138)

2- MANIC MONDAY- The Bangles (55,488)

3- LOVE MISSILE F1-11- Sigue Sigue Sputnik (41,616)

4- THEME FROM NEW YORK, NEW YORK- Frank Sinatra (39,695)

5- WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GET GOING- Billy Ocean (39,508)

6- HI HO SILVER- Jim Diamond (32,810)

7- (NOTHING SERIOUS) JUST BUGGIN- Whistle (29,903)

8- ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS- David Bowie (29,053)

9- THE POWER OF LOVE/ DO YOU BELIEVE IN LOVE- Huey Lewis & The News (28,798)

10- BURNING HEART- Survivor (24,463)

 

for me 1000% the opposite

I hate the first half of the 80s with the mediocre Duran Duran, Culture Club and Spandau Ballet dominating

 

87/88 was incredible and I thought 86 too but let's see, guess once Madonna comes back it will get better

 

I guess it depends what you like and I know your a Madonna Stan but the 85-89 period for me was all created by the revolution of the earlier period it just became more perfected. The intro of house music in 1986 was the only big change in this era then we had the madchester scene from 1989!

Absolute Beginners is great

not a fan of Huey Lewis, they were so huge in the US with so many hits and #1s, some of which didnt even go top 100 in the UK

the UK never cared much it seems

22ND MARCH

 

 

It’s still No 1 but it’s now a sitting duck after a 33% sales loss, “Chain Reaction” grabs a third week at No 1 on a sale of 76,109, which was still enough to be comfortably clear of David Bowie who surges 8-2 (60,809) but if sales patterns continue like that Bowie should overtake Ross next week to become the nation’s new No 1.

 

 

 

The only possible spanner in the works comes from Cliff Richard. Richard has been absent from the top 10 for over two years but was approached by the Comic Relief charity to make a new recording of his 1959 chart topper “Living Doll” and to feature the cast of the comedy “Young Ones” which is of course a reference to the title of one of Cliff’s other hits, Rik Mayall’s character in the show was an avid Richard fan, so it all kind of makes sense and even Hank Marvin is back to recreate the authentic sound. The Comic Relief fund itself stems from the Live Aid event and the idea that if pop stars can do something then so can comedians, the version of “Living Doll” will raise funds for the charity and in debuting at No 4 this week it becomes his highest peaking single since “Daddy’s Home” in 1981 and his highest debut since 1962’s “The Young Ones” (aptly enough) arrived right at the top! 46,070 buyers bought it last week.

 

 

 

After much promise in 1984 last year seemed something of an anti-climax for Prince when his album “Around The World In A Day” performed poorly and failed to generate A top 10 single, he seems to have pulled it back with a new album “Parade” due next month and a lead single “Kiss” which advances 13-6 (31,127) and is now Prince’s 5th top 10 hit. Prince’s second film “Under The Cherry Moon” should be in cinema’s over the summer and the “Parade” will serve as it’s official soundtrack, obviously Prince is trying to pull off the same trick that he managed with “Purple Rain”- we’ll see if he succeeds.

 

 

 

1986 is rapidly shaping up to be the year of some major returns to the chart by once major acts who for various reasons have taken time out, Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, and Frankie Goes To Hollywood are all pencilled in for later in the year, but first up are Culture Club, 1983’s biggest act. Their last album “Waking Up With The House On Fire” was a surprising dud for the group in late 84 and led to a long delay in recording the follow up but “From Luxury To Heartache” is now ready and will go head to head with Prince for the No 1 spot next month, first single “Move Away” is doing good business for them vaulting 17-7 (29,954) to return them to the big 10 after their last outing “The Medal Song” broke their string of 7 straight top 10 singles when it peaked at No 32. Rumours are currently rife in the press of acrimony within the group and drug abuse but they seem to manage to keep the hits rolling.

 

 

The Bangles dip 2-3 (58,871) even with a sales increase, whilst Jim Diamond inches 6-5 (37,638) with his “Boon” theme, further down Whistle slide 7-8 (27,965) old blue eyes Frank Sinatra finds himself travelling 4-9 (25,109) and Sigue Sigue Sputnik make the inevitable drop 3-10 (25,041).

 

 

1- CHAIN REACTION- Diana Ross (76,109)

2- ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS- David Bowie (60,809)

3- MANIC MONDAY- The Bangles (58,871)

4- LIVING DOLL- Cliff Richard & The Young Ones (46,070)

5- HI HO SILVER- Jim Diamond (37,638)

6- KISS- Prince (31,127)

7- MOVE AWAY- Culture Club (29,954)

8- (NOTHING SERIOUS) JUST BUGGIN- Whistle (27,965)

9- THEME FROM NEW YORK NEW YORK- Frank Sinatra (25,109)

10- LOVE MISSILE F1-11- Sigue Sigue Sputnik (25,041)

 

Kiss is really Prince at his best <3

Culture Club taking their time to come back really didn’t help them!

 

Is Absolute Beginners Bowies last big hit of the 80s?

Pretty good week for Prince here, at #6 with 'Kiss' and having a song he wrote be in the top 3!

29TH MARCH

 

 

Cliff Richard scores his 11th No 1 single today with his remake of “Living Doll” along with the Young Ones, a tally which places him behind only the Beatles and Elvis in the all time list of chart topping acts (they both have 17). He did that not only with ease but in spectacular style posting a sale of 148,002 a new 1986 high, and was helped by the Easter school break and the Live Comic Relief event which was filmed for release next month, all of which proves his career is far from in trouble.

 

 

 

Far more famous for countless Page 3 spreads, Samantha Fox recently announced that she was quitting topless modelling next month in a bid to be taken seriously as a pop artist, the first fruits of which are “Touch Me (I Want Your Body)” which has taken no time in blasting 22-4 (46,903) in just its second week. Fuelled by a rather suggestive video and some near the knuckle lyrics it seems that the song has hit a chord with the UK public, she certainly has no trouble generating news articles at the moment but we’ll see if she can stick around longer than this track. Fox has already released a couple of singles under the name S.F.X which have both flopped but she's since become a media figure which has evidently helped.

 

 

 

Co-penned by Lou Adler and Herb Alpert, Sam Cooke’s “Wonderful World” originally made No 27 in 1960 though it was covered to greater success by Herman’s Hermits five years later when the track made No 7. Fast forward 21 years and Cooke’s version is currently being aired over the new Levi Jeans advert and vaults 30-5 (42,551) to become his highest charting track, Cooke died in 1963 at just 33.

 

 

 

Scoring 5 top 20 singles between 1976-79 The Real Thing have been missing in action (almost) since then but did pop up on TOTP backing David Essex on “Nightclubbing” some years ago, ten years ago they were hitting No 1 with “You To Me Are Everything” which now gets a “Decade” remix and powers 19-6 (42,211), a new best of should be available sometime in the summer.

 

 

The rise of Cliff and the Young Ones has demoted both Diana Ross 1-2 (65,549) and Bowie 2-3 (53,975) who must have now missed his chance at the top slot, “Chain Reaction” incidentally is rapidly approaching “Upside Down” as her best seller of the 80s on a sales total of 498.729 and will overtake next week. There’s four more fallers towards the bottom of the big 10, Jim Diamond rides 5-7 (38,148), The Bangles fret 3-8 (37,842), Prince smooches 6-9 (30,345) and Culture Club shy 7-10 (29,478).

 

 

1- LIVING DOLL- Cliff Richard & The Young Ones (148,002)

2- CHAIN REACTION- Diana Ross (64,549)

3- ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS- David Bowie (53,975)

4- TOUCH ME (I WANT YOUR BODY)- Sam Fox (46,903)

5- WONDERFUL WORLD- Sam Cooke (42,551)

6- YOU TO ME ARE EVERYTHING- The Real Thing (42,211)

7- HI HO SILVER- Jim Diamond (38,148)

8- MANIC MONDAY- The Bangles (37,842)

9- KISS- Prince (30,345)

10- MOVE AWAY- Culture Club (29,478)

 

I really like the Samantha Fox song, it doesn't take itself too seriously and in terms of production-wise very Italo-disco influenced I think (eg. Laura Brannigan Self Control and Baltimora Tarzan Boy). And lyrically it reminds me of another - Sabrina of course!

 

Wonderful World is a good song too, not many songs about academic subjects.

 

Kiss is good too although its not one of my favourite Prince songs.

Edited October 26, 20231 yr by TheSnake

5TH APRIL

 

 

A series of firsts this week, with a new chart presenter (Bruno Brookes taking over from Richard Skinner) and a new TOTP theme from Paul Hardcastle to entertain music fans, but no change at the top as Cliff Richard & The Young Ones continue to easily dominate, a further 175,576 copies found a home this week (beating his own record of highest weekly sale of 86 so far), that takes the songs tally to 369,648 in just three weeks as it flies to No 3 on the YTD list, speaking of which here’s how it stands after the first quarter:

 

1-CHAIN REACTION- Diana Ross 544,646

2-WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH- Billy Ocean 537,489

3-LIVING DOLL- Cliff Richard & The Young Ones 369,648

4-THE SUN ALWAYS SHINES ON TV- A-ha 340,476

5-MANIC MONDAY- The Bangles 257,584

6-STARTING TOGETHER- Su Pollard 251,107

7-THE WALK OF LIFE- Dire Straits 241,587

8-BORDERLINE- Madonna 235,263

9-ONLY LOVE- Nana Mouskouri 224,723

10-HOW WILL I KNOW- Whitney Houston 206,805

 

Though Diana Ross falls 2-6 this week the 45,917 she sold is enough to take her to the No 1 spot on the YTD list from Billy Ocean as well as her best seller of the 80s so far.

 

 

 

Calling time on probably the biggest band in the country last month George Michael of course announced the end of Wham! with a farewell single, a greatest hits album and final concert, but before all of that he’s released a second solo single “A Different Corner” which debuts at No 4 this week on a sale of 57,001. Michael’s last solo release was of course “Careless Whisper” which topped the million mark, he’ll be hoping for a perfect start to his solo career with a couple of chart toppers but he’ll have to go some to overtake Richard at the top.

 

 

 

Queen 16th top 10 single (and 8th of the 80s) “A Kind Of Magic” arrives 16-7 (44,863) with a video costing a reputed £250,000. The next Queen album arrives in the summer and will be, essentially, a soundtrack to a new film “Highlander” which hits the screens along with the album, and a tour to support the era.

 

 

 

Written by Henry Mancini, “Peter Gunn” was originally a No 6 hit for Duane Eddy in 1959 for the television show of the same name, it’s now been released in a new remixed version courtesy of the Art Of Noise but they’ve got Duane Eddy back into the studio to recreate his part and it now surges 12-9 (38,658).

 

 

 

The current US chart topper “Rock Me Amadeus” nips into the top 10 (30,889), the star is the first artist whose primary language is German who achieved the feat of a US No 1 (Falco is actually Austrian) and is in part inspired by the film “Amadeus” which was out last year. It’s Falco’s debut single and rockets 27-10 (30,889) this week in a bid to emulate its stateside success.

 

 

Sam Cooke gets his biggest hit with the re-issued “Wonderful World” which rises 5-2 (71,672) jumping over the mighty Sam Fox 4-3 (67,830) which incidentally creates the biggest gap between the top 2 since last September, and the Real Thing nudge 6-5 (50,031) but Bowie is down and out dropping 3-8 (40,324) and singles sales in general rise thanks to Easter with everything clearing the 30,000 for the first time this year.

 

 

1- LIVING DOLL- Cliff Richard & The Young Ones (175,576)

2- WONDERFUL WORLD- Sam Cooke (71,672)

3- TOUCH ME (I WANT YOUR BODY)- Sam Fox (67,830)

4- A DIFFERENT CORNER- George Michael (57,001)

5- YOU TO ME ARE EVERYTHING- The Real Thing (50,031)

6- CHAIN REACTION- Diana Ross (45,917)

7- A KIND OF MAGIC- Queen (44,863)

8- ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS- David Bowie (40,324)

9- PETER GUNN- Art Of Noise & Duane Eddy (38,658)

10- ROCK ME AMADEUS (AMERICAN EDIT)- Falco (30,889)

 

'A Different Corner' is a very good atmospheric ballad.

 

I don't like 'Peter Gunn' that much, although it may have influenced Yello's 'The Race' which I prefer.

 

'Rock Me Amadeus' is very good, especially the main keyboard/guitar riff.

 

Some fantastic sales through the top 10 and great new entries esp from George Michael, Queens is a classic and I even enjoy the Art of Noise track!

These couple of months were quite rough (with the odd exception like 'Absolute Beginners') but it's picking up a bit now, 'A Different Corner' is one of my favourite George songs :wub: and I do quite like 'Rock Me Amadeus' and 'A Kind of Magic'. These write-ups continue to be really interesting, had no idea about the context for the 'Theme from New York, New York' reissue for instance.

12TH APRIL

 

 

No change for a third week as Cliff Richard is still streets ahead of the competition this week with “Living Doll” which sold a still impressive 98,515 copies buoyed by the showing of the Comic Relief concert on BBC, and should sell its half millionth copy sometime this week, only “Daddy’s Home” is ahead of “Living Doll” in terms of his 80s best sellers on a tally of 534,000, a tally which Richard could easily better. George Michael looks to be in trouble with a mere 4-2 move but that’s more a testament to the vast lead Richard had last week rather than a failing on his behalf as the climb is accompanied by a 43% sales hike to 81,226 and could easily be the next No 1 next week.

 

 

 

Moving 11-6 this week is the album “Hunting High And Low” which is now home to three top 10 hits with third single “Train Of Thought” which moves 23-9 (22,270) in just its second week for A-Ha. It is of course the follow up to the chart topping “Sun Always Shines On TV” and arrives in a remixed form from the album with Alan Tarney again remixing the original which is produced by Tony Mansfield on the album much the same as “Take On Me” was. The promo is the third to use same animation tricks as their first clutch of singles which have a combined UK total of over a million. If it ain’t broke……

 

 

 

New York quintet Atlantic Starr first hit the UK charts back in 1978 with the No 66 hit “Gimmie Your Lovin” and then nothing until a few minor top 75 hits last year, but certainly nothing that prepared us for “Secret Lovers”. A duet between band members about extra marital affairs the song has already been a top 3 hit stateside and now rises 14-10 (21,267) here.

 

 

Current American No 1 Falco rises fast 10-5 (44,285) whilst Art of Noise move a notch 9-8 (25,364), nearer the top Sam Cooke slips 2-3 (58,259), Sam Fox falls flat 3-4 (54,145) and the Real Thing slide 5-6 (41,140). Queen hold at No 7 (40,069) but should see a boost after TOTP this week.

 

1- LIVING DOLL- Cliff Richard & The Young ones (98,515)

2- A DIFFERENT CORNER- George Michael (81,226)

3- WONDERFUL WORLD- Sam Cooke (58,259)

4- TOUCH ME (I WANT YOUR BODY)- Sam Fox (54,145)

5- ROCK ME AMADEUS- Falco (44,285)

6- YOU TO ME ARE EVERYTHING- The Real Thing (41,140)

7- A KIND OF MAGIC- Queen (40,069)

8- PETER GUNN- Art Of Noise Ft Duane Eddy (25,364)

9- TRAIN OF THOUGHT (REMIX)- A-Ha (22,270)

10- SECRET LOVERS- Atlantic Starr (21,267)

 

Train of Thought is not half bad but lacks the greatness of their previous 2 singles

 

The Falco song was so so huge in Europe, cannot really call it if #5 will be its peak or if it will climb higher

 

never seen the appeal of A Different Corner, kinda lacklustre for me