'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' is one of U2's very best singles for me <3 also liking 'Victim of Love' in that current top 10.

 

Not a Johnny Logan fan (my favourite of Ireland's Eurovision winners was Eimear Quinn in the 90s) but impressive that he managed victory twice in the contest - of course there would be a wait of 36 years for that to happen again with Loreen! It's fun that their parallels stretch further with two top 3 hits each and no other top 40 entries, at least so far.

20TH JUNE

 

 

With sales of 102,408 and being clear of the rest of the field by over 40,000 copies last week, few would have bet against Whitney Houston being No 1 for a third week, but to the surprise of everyone and even with 91,613 buyers this week Whitney Houston retreats 1-2 to make way for a climber from 13-1 from The Firm. The group are a front for producer and writer John O’Connor and guitarist Grahame Lister who team up for the occasional novelty record and previously hit the charts in 1982 with “Arthur Daley (‘E’s Alright)” which peaked at No 14. Now they’ve done a “tribute” to the “Star Trek” TV series called “Star Trekkin” which O’Connor and Lister sent to radio stations as every label they sent it to was uninterested, those 500 copies they initially pressed did the trick as the song was picked up some radio stations and even promoted by Simon Bates on Radio 1 which saw it get picked up finally and has flown up the charts 74-13-1 with 105,060 copies sold last week. By way of trivia it is also the 20th track to rise to No 1 from outside the top 10 and the second this year after "Stand By Me".

 

 

 

Originally a 1964 single for The Drifters “Under The Boardwalk” only made No 45 on the UK Charts though a top 5 single stateside, it now serves as a second single for Bruce Willis who gets his celebrity pals The Temptations in to provide backing vocals on his version. The song shoots 17-6 (34,000) this week and enables his album “The Return Of Bruno” to climb to No 18, it’s first time in the top 20.

 

 

 

Samantha Fox has turned to Stock Aitken & Waterman for her first single from that difficult second album and the result is “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Me Now” which sees her storm 11-8 (28,679) and restore the former page 3 star to the top 10 for the third time. Her second album is out next month proving that she’s already exceeded many pundits predictions for her, the video is set in Marbella by way of trivia and makes ample mileage of her assets.

 

 

 

 

 

From teen star back in the 60s John Farnham has been a successful act in his native Australia for three decades now becoming the only act to top the Aussie charts in three decades (60s-80s) and now he finally gets some UK success with his Australian No 1 from last year “You’re The Voice”. In its 9th week on the chart it rises 15-9 (28,645) this week, is it on its way to repeat its native success?

 

 

After George Michael’s sensational debut last week he’s clearly struggling without the aid of Radio 1 and TOTP as he moves 4-3 (49,113) but on that sale he won’t be troubling the top 2 anytime soon. He does however push Johnny Logan down 2-4 (48,926) who nearly caught Michael at the death, and Starship who tumble 3-5 (35,139) but sell their 600,000 copy.

 

 

U2 dip 6-7 (30,396) and Erasure move 8-10 (23,987) to complete our recap though of course we must mention the launch of “The Roxy” on ITV last week as a rival of TOTP and airs at the earlier slot of a Tuesday using the Network charts instead of Gallup- could it spell the end of the TOTP effect?

 

 

1- STAR TREKKIN- The Firm (105,060)

2- I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY (WHO LOVES ME)- Whitney Houston (91,613)

3- I WANT YOUR SEX- George Michael (49,113)

4- HOLD ME NOW- Johnny Logan (48,926)

5- NOTHING’S GONNA STOP US NOW- Starship (35,139)

6- UNDER THE BROADWALK- Bruce Willis (34,000)

7- I STILL HAVEN’T FOUND WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR- U2 (30,396)

8- NOTHING’S GONNA STOP ME NOW- Sam Fox (28,679)

9- YOU’RE THE VOICE- John Farnham (28,645)

10- VICTIM OF LOVE- Erasure (23,987)

 

 

Just for nostalgia- the first episode of "The Roxy"- ITV's brief rival to TOTP

'Star Trekkin' :cheeseblock: one of my favourite novelty songs ever, smashing into the Top 10 with huge sales!

after so many weeks with great debuts, a pretty shitty week

'Star Trekkin' is iconic, watched Star Trek at Christmas and had to listen to the song.

 

I see it as the first part of a two part science fiction novelty near the top of the charts.

 

The John Farnham song is an epic, and I have liked that song for a long time, it outdoes other 80s rock power ballads from the likes of Starship and Foreigner I think. Also bagpipes!

Edited January 28, 20241 yr by TheSnake

'Star Trekkin'' and 'You're The Voice' :cheeseblock:

27TH JUNE

 

 

It seems that as soon as “Star Trekkin” hit the top the joke has started to wear thin with the UK public, it holds the top spot but sales are up only 16% to 121,261 but it is still well clear of the opposition which remains Whitney Houston who sold 58,531 copies but holds the No 1 album for a third week.

 

 

 

Continuing with their ability to make each single debut higher than the prior one, Pet Shop Boys are putting the final touches to their second album and to tease us the lead single “It’s A Sin” debuts at No 5 (28,815). The song dates back to 1984 when the boys demoed it with Bobby Orlando though it is now substantively remixed for single release, and lyrically it deals with the repression of Catholicism which Tennant grew up with. It may have an outside chance at No 1 depending on how well The Firm hold up.

 

 

 

Fresh from the success of scoring a chart topping album Curiosity Killed The Cat have re-issued their debut release “Misfit” along with its Dylan aping video which first got the group noticed last year and was one of the last things Andy Warhol did before he passed away. It was pencilled in for re-issue after “Down To Earth” which made No 3 back in February but the group went with “Ordinary Day” in the end which narrowly missed out on the top 10 but this puts them back on track as it scorches 21-9 (24,123)

 

 

Elsewhere Bruce Willis climbs 6-3 (47,583) with his biggest hit and the highest peaking version of “Under The Boardwalk”, he notches George Michael down 3-4 (32,708) and Johnny Logan also declines 4-6 (28,152). Incidentally that's the first George Michael release (including Wham! releases) to miss the top 2 since 1983! John Farnham floats 9-7 (27,642) and slinks past Samantha Fox who is stuck in the groove at No 8 (26,639) whilst the year’s biggest seller from Starship falls 5-10 (22,780)

 

 

1- STAR TREKKIN- The Firm (121,261)

2- I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY (WHO LOVES ME)- Whitney Houston (58,531)

3- UNDER THE BOARDWALK- Bruce Willis (47,583)

4- I WANT YOUR SEX- George Michael (32,708)

5- IT’S A SIN- Pet Shop Boys (28,815)

6- HOLD ME NOW- Johnny Logan (28,152)

7- YOU’RE THE VOICE- John Farnham (27,642)

8- NOTHING’S GONNA STOP ME NOW- Sam Fox (26,639)

9- MISFIT- Curiosity Killed The Cat (24,123)

10- NOTHING’S GONNA STOP US NOW- Starship (22,780)

 

It’s A Sin and Misfit are both superb new entries in the top 10!

'Its a Sin' is a bit of an epic.

It's a Sin :wub: Definitely one of the most iconic songs of the 80s, Neil is at his best with those lyrics and Chris made a synth line that is just so unbelievably distinctive

'It's A Sin' :wub: for me it's the best Pet Shop Boys song bar none - lyrically it pushed boundaries while the dramatic production is the epitome of what Neil Tennant would describe as "ice rink music" that could fill a huge room.

Got to add to the 'It's A Sin' appreciation, of course! Definitely my favourite hit of the year so far, not sure it'll be beaten :wub:

 

Incredible lyrics and production - the intro is so commanding, it immediately came to mind when we had a 'Best intros' thread in The Lounge before.

My thoughts on It's A Sin are well known. The 12" version is gargantuan.

not sure if been mentioned but kinda funny to have Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now

and Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now simultaneously in the top 10 :D

 

It's a Sin is great but not really my thing

 

was quite the fan of Curiosity Killed the Cat back then... it's a pity Ordinary Day peaked outside the top 10 cos that was a great 2nd single and deserved top 10... funnily it's the same exact situation as Erasure with It Doesn't Have to Be...

4TH JULY

 

 

Neck and neck all the way there was an almighty struggle for the No 1 position last week which ended up with just 3,000 copies separating the top 2 but Pet Shop Boys emerge as the new chart toppers after shifting 84,983 copies of “It’s A Sin”. It’s the duo’s second No 1 after “West End Girls” which went on to sell 434,900 copies and remains their best seller, the duo have dropped a hint that their next single will involve a 60s icon, place your bets. This song was originally written with Divine in mind (of all people) then Miquel Brown but neither project came to pass and a good thing too.

 

 

The firm thusly trip 1-2 (82,569) which puts sales of the song at 331,007 and enters the YTD top 10, it was just ahead of Bruce Willis who holds at No 3 (73,287) with a nice sales boost from TOTP, enough anyway to overhaul Whitney Houston who dips 2-4 (40,528) but she is however No 4 for the YTD which, as we’re half way through the year looks like this:

 

1-NOTHING’S GONNA STOP US NOW- Starship 666,791

2-RESPECTABLE- Mel & Kim 528,020

3-STAND BY ME- Ben E King 499,001

4-I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY (WHO LOVES ME)- Whitney Houston 491,963

5-I KNEW YOU WERE WAITING (FOR ME)- George Michael & Aretha Franklin 416,279

6-LET IT BE- Ferry Aid 397,290

7-CAN’T BE WITH YOU TONIGHT- Judy Boucher 356,524

8-LA ISLA BONITA- Madonna 345,899

9- STAR TREKKIN -The Firm 331,007

10- EVERYTHING I OWN- Boy George 321,640

 

 

The first of three new intake this week rockets 14-5 (34,765) for Terence Trent D’Arby who is gearing up for the release of his first album in three week’s time and he can now boast two top 10 singles to promote it with “Wishing Well” doing the business for him. It’s co-produced by Heaven 17’s Martyn Ware and D’Arby is, for now anyway, living up to his own hype though he might ultimately live to regret making some of his more extravagant claims.

 

 

 

Formed 9 years ago when lead singer David Coverdale left Deep Purple, Whitesnake have so far scored 12 hit singles never progressing higher than No 13 with 1980’s “Fool For Your Loving” but that nine year wait is finally over. “Is This Love?” was penned with Tina Turner in mind but Coverdale thought it was too good to give away, the right decision it seems as it slides 11-9 (23,511) to become their first top 10 single, the video features real life girlfriend and actress Tawny Kitaen.

 

 

 

1986 was an odd year for Cliff Richard during which he kept the songs coming but only released three hits, all duets. He, of course, scored two top 3 hits with the Young Ones (No 1) and Sarah Brightman (No 3) but he finally returns in earnest with his first album in 3 years “Always Guaranteed” which is due in the Autumn, and this single “My Pretty One” which reunites the singer with his main songwriter Alan Tarmey. Richard has been busy with starring in the west end “Time” and was involved in a near fatal car crash last year but he’s back in the charts this week rising 26-10 (23,477). The track is actually a cover of a track by Jamie Rae from 1985 which flopped at No 117 trivia fans!

 

 

John Farnham isn’t done climbing yet as he inches 7-6 (32,759) just ahead of Curiosity Killed The Cat 9-7 (26,911) but it all proves too much for George Michael who hurtles 4-8 (24,667).

 

 

1- IT’S A SIN- Pet Shop Boys (84,983)

2- STAR TREKKIN- The Firm (82,569)

3- UNDER THE BOARDWALK- Bruce Willis (73,287)

4- I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY (WHO LOVES ME)- Whitney Houston (40,528)

5- WISHING WELL- Terence Trent D’Arby (34,765)

6- YOU’RE THE VOICE- John Farnham (32,759)

7- MISFIT- Curiosity Killed The Cat (26,911)

8- I WANT YOUR SEX- George Michael (24,667)

9- IS THIS LOVE?- Whitesnake (23,511)

10- MY PRETTY ONE- Cliff Richard (23,477)

 

That's a great #1.

 

'Wishing Well' is quite good. 'Is This Love' is certainly an 80s rock classic.

Edited January 30, 20241 yr by TheSnake

My 2 favourite number 1s of the 80s almost back to back (with the Firm separating them)!

We all know that really it's all 3 of your favourite 80s number ones in a row :kink:

We all know that really it's all 3 of your favourite 80s number ones in a row :kink:

Shush :lol: