That Rick Astley Nat King Cole cover is a bit of pre-rock and roll era nostalgia aimed at an older market than Rick's other songs!

 

PSB's version of Always On My Mind is still very Hi-NRG but distinctive from both SAW and Communards interpretations of the genre.

Edited February 22, 20241 yr by TheSnake

Singles seemed to come and go quite quickly in this era with Astley just leaving the top 10 to be replaced by his Xmas single, no wonder stars tended to fade quite quickly. Is this the last solo McCatney top 10 hit?

 

Also noted the TOTP studio was changing!!

 

Always loved that China In Your Hand Christmas performance with the big snowman falling forward - real 80s commercial feel at this time.

Edited February 22, 20241 yr by Steve201

Amazing that T’pau blocked Rick twice!

His debut is a classic but those two are just ok

 

Always on my mind is the best thing PSB ever did

Just pure brilliant, taking an oldie and making it modern

Thats how you do a cover unlike Rick or Alison Moyet

Which are just too straightforward

 

Also love the Jacko track, Bad is his best era by miles

 

I notice Madonna debuts out of the t10 but understandable due to

The heavy competition, lack of video promo etc

I never actually knew this story behind 'King's Cross' cancellation as a single, so that's been pretty fascinating to learn about!

was When I Fall in Love officially a double A side with My Arms... cos the OCC has it just as When I Fall in Love but guess it's them being morons cos the full title wouldn't fit or something

Yes it's an official double a side

19TH DECEMBER

 

 

If Rick Astley has one Christmas wish it would be that he hold on to a midweek No 1 slot, for a third week in his short career he looked like he was heading to the top and for a third time it proved not to be the case with “When I Fall In Love/ My Arms Keep Missing You” falling at the final hurdle, and once again it was (arguably) TOTP that worked against the boy this time sending Pet Shop Boys flying past him by a margin of 87,669 to 73,797, the two tracks increasing sales by 118% and 60% respectively. For Neil & Chris it’s their third No 1 single in under two years and crowns an amazing year for the duo in which they’ve scored chart topping singles as well as starting filming their first movie for which clips have been used for the promo in case you wondered, they must now be favourites to be the Christmas No 1 next week though their winning margin is precarious at present.

 

 

Two extra factors worked against Astley, his album contains the main A Side and holds at No 3 whilst “Always On My Mind” is a non album track, and Nat “King” Cole’s version of “When I Fall In Love” expands 51-20 on a sale itself of 13,974, how many sales they jointly drained from the Astley single is debatable but it must form part of the explanation.

 

 

Plenty of last minute contenders enter the top 10 in case either of the top two can’t pass muster next week. Firstly a seasonal Comic Relief single rockets 13-6 (43,367) for the unusual pairing of Mel Smith and Kim Wilde, it’s a fifth top 10 single for Wilde but a first for Smith who is naturally more famed for being half of comedy duo “Alas Smith & Jones” with Griff Rhys Jones. “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” was originally recorded and released by Brenda Lee (herself a recorder of “Always On My Mind”) which peaked at No 6 in 1962 and becoming one of 7 top 10ers for Lee, this version comes with the appropriately comedic video and features Curiosity Killed The Cat as carol singers!

 

 

 

Titled after J. P. Donleavy’s 1973 novel of the same name “Fairytale Of New York”, The Pogues are back in the top 10 with a Christmas tale of drink, arguing, and crushed dreams. Cheery! The single was written back in 1985 with the female part of the track performed by bassist Cait O’Riordan, she left in 1986 to become Mrs Elvis Costello meaning that when the group finally recorded the track this summer they needed a female vocalist. Cue producer Steve Lillywhite who was working on the track and got his wife Kirsty MacColl to put down a demo which the band loved. The end product accelerates 19-8 (33,796) and is the second straight top 10 single for both acts but only MacColl’s “A New England” has peaked higher making No 7 in 1985. Naturally the video is filmed in the city itself and features a cameo from actor Matt Dillon.

 

 

 

Her 17th top 10 single on the trot Madonna may be back in the top 10 but some are surprised by the fact that “The Look Of Love” seems to be struggling after it only debuted at No 15 last week, her first single in 6 releases to miss a debut in the top flight. Fears over anyway as the song rises to No 9 (30,991) however if it progresses no further it will be her lowest peaking singles since “Lucky Star” three years ago, it is a third single to be culled from the “Who’s That Girl” soundtrack.

 

 

 

Madonna’s former boyfriend and DJ/ producer Jellybean is up next, he became a popstar in his own right back in 1986 when he produced the Madonna penned “Sidewalk Talk” which made No 47 in part thanks to the uncredited vocal of the lady herself. His second album “Just Visiting This Planet” has already produced the No 13 hit “The Real Thing” featuring Steven Dante and now has given John “Jellybean” Benitez an even bigger hit with “Who Found Who” which features Elisa Fiorillo which this week inches 11-10 (27,557). She was discovered via a US talent show “Starsearch” in 1985 which bought her to the attention of Jellybean.

 

 

Michael Jackson may hold at No 3 (50,269) but he is struggling to make a bigger impact and is almost caught by Alison Moyet who strides 9-4 (49,402) thanks to a TOTP performance. The race for the festive spot is certainly over for two tracks, former chart topper “China In Your Hand” delves 1-5 (46,257) and Shaky won’t be repeating his 1985 success as he drops 5-7 (36,329).

 

 

1- ALWAYS ON MY MIND- Pet Shop Boys (87,669)

2- WHEN I FALL IN LOVE/ MY ARMS KEEP MISSING YOU- Rick Astley (73,797)

3- THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL- Michael Jackson (50,269)

4- LOVE LETTERS- Alison Moyet (49,402)

5- CHINA IN YOUR HAND- T’Pau (46,257)

6- ROCKIN AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE- Mel Smith & Kim Wilde (43,367)

7- WHAT DO YOU WANT TO MAKE THOSE EYES AT ME FOR- Shakin Stevens (36,329)

8- FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK- The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl (33,796)

9- THE LOOK OF LOVE- Madonna (30,991)

10- WHO FOUND WHO- Jellybean Ft Elisa Fiorillo (27,557)

 

 

Next week is the big one with the festive No 1 revealed!

Another great #1.

 

That's a funny idea to use another Mel and Kim for the comic relief single. It's sad though what was happening with the other Mel and Kim at this time :(

 

Jellybean was one of the most popular pre-house era DJ/producers but Who Found Who is a bit dated sounding for the time I think. His other song in the charts, Jingo made #12 in December 1987 and its more house sounding

 

Edited February 23, 20241 yr by TheSnake

The first of many top 10 appearances for the legendary FONY!

glad Always on my Mind beat Rick, the former is the better cover

 

big fan of Fairytale, and always liked Who Found Who

 

also The Look of Love is such and under-rated gem for Madonna, beautiful ballad

That cover to the look of love feels like it’s from the Bedtime Stories era.

 

Yes for PSBs, it is easily the best track and I’m glad it won out

26TH DECEMBER

 

 

And the Christmas No 1 for 1987 is………The Pet Shop Boys. With the Christmas chart being announced on 20th December and covering the time frame 14-19th December (in other words about as far away from the big day as possible) it is perhaps not surprising the winning tally of “Always On My Mind” is 112,217 copies, good in terms of chart topping sales for 1987 (it’s the seventh highest) but not great in terms of 80s Christmas No 1 weeks, I’m sure that won’t particularly bother the duo who claim the biggest prize the charts have to offer.

 

 

They may ultimately thank the timing as it at least meant that the more obviously festive themed tracks haven’t had a chance to get into their stride, The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl rush 8-2 (71,808) whilst Mel Smith & Kim Wilde are up 6-3 (58,293) and are the two obvious contenders.

 

 

Rick Astley collapses 2-4 (54,281) as the original Nat “King” Cole version of “When I Fall In Love” powers 20- 7 (45,033) indicating that if it was an obvious ploy by EMI to split sales of the Astley version then it has certainly worked a treat. Alison Moyet slides 4-5 (49,759) and Michael Jackson ebbs 3-6 (57,787) as they don’t prove strong enough, and the other new track in the top 10 arrives 19-8 (42,755) for former Go-Go singer Belinda Carlisle.

 

 

 

When the Go-Go's split in 1985 Carlisle embarked on a solo career most notably scoring a No 3 hit with “Mad About You” in her native US though nothing translated to UK Success, come her second album coupled with an image change and “Heaven Is A Place On Earth” topped the US chart last month. It comes with high credentials, Thomas Dolby on Keyboards, Michelle Phillips of the Mama’s & Papa’s on backing vocals and a promo directed by actress Diane Keaton, this could do well post Christmas.

 

 

T’Pau continue to slide 5-9 (36,635) and Shaky is down and almost out 7-10 (28,798).

 

 

1- ALWAYS ON MY MIND- Pet Shop Boys (112,217)

2- FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK- The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl (71,808)

3- ROCKIN AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE- Mel Smith & Kim Wilde (58,293)

4- WHEN I FALL IN LOVE/ MY ARMS KEEP MISSING YOU- Rick Astley (54,281)

5- LOVE LETTERS- Alison Moyet (49,759)

6- THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL- Michael Jackson (47,787)

7- WHEN I FALL IN LOVE- Nat “King” Cole (45,033)

8- HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH- Belinda Carlisle (42,755)

9- CHINA IN YOUR HAND- T’Pau (36,635)

10- WHAT DO YOU WANT TO MAKE THOSE EYES AT ME FOR- Shakin Stevens (28,798)

 

I imagine next weeks top 10 sales will be as good if not better than these given the dates!

One of the best top 2 ever <3

 

Oh I loved Belinda Carlisle and Heaven is a Place back in the day, If I remember it well, it was written by Rick Nowles, who later wrote with Lana del Rey some of her biggest hits

Wow, 1987 really was PSB's year wasn't it!

 

Bel Car :wub: Adore 'Heaven is a Place On Earth's but she has some absolute belters in her discography.

 

Shame 'The Look Of Love' couldn't get any higher but I suppose the time of year coupled with being a 3rd soundtrack single, at least it made the top 10.

Wonderful number 1, well deserved victory over the awful number 2.

Now now even if you dislike FONY it’s hard to say it’s awful, it’s performed beautifully by Kirsty and Shane, probably overplayed now though!

Now now even if you dislike FONY it’s hard to say it’s awful, it’s performed beautifully by Kirsty and Shane, probably overplayed now though!

The song is tainted for me (but that is my opinion!).

This was my first year of loving pop music so this period was an exciting for me. And I thought that fact may have caused me to see this period through rose tinted glasses but it appears that there's huge support here for a lot of the songs that charted and were top 3 from September until the end of 1987.

 

What Have I Done To Deserve this?

I was sure this would overtake Never Gonna Give You Up at some point but it wasn't to be. Still one of my favourite duets of all time (there will be others later in the year).

 

Call Me

Always loved this even though it doesn't sound great now.

 

Girlfriend in a Coma

I didn't really know who or what The Smiths were back then but the song did register with me. I remember being confused when I started getting into indie music in the 90s and found out they were hailed as the greatest indie band ever, because I only had this song to go on and it never seemed the work of a guitar genius but more along the lines of The Housemartins - Morrissey does sound like Paul Heaton on Girlfriend in a Coma.

 

Wonderful Life

Similarly dark was this wonderful song. That baritone, the melancholy, the hooks.

 

Some People

Really good follow up to My Pretty One, which is also great.

 

Pump Up the Volume

The new ground being broken here passed me by at the time because of how recently I had got into pop music but this must have seemed exciting and revolutionary to others, at the time.

 

Crockett's Theme

Beautiful synthpop classic

 

You Win Again

Delighted to see the support for this song here. I've said in other places on BuzzJack but it's so light and fresh and full of hooks - the intro and the brass. One of my favourite songs of the 1980s.

 

Love in the First Degree

My favourite Bananarama song. The intro guitar always struck me as similar to that of Spagna's Call Me - I wonder if there was any "inspiration" involved here. The verses are stronger than the chorus.

 

Rent

One of the most compelling lyrics of all time and Neil's best - which is quite the achievement.

 

China in Your Hand

Also slightly surprised by the love for this in this thread. Unusual lyrics for a power ballad. Magnificent and seemingly timeless - even the sax solo.

 

Got My Mind Set On You

What a song! The impact of those drums and the unexpected lift of the post-chorus. The harmonies of "set on you".

 

Barcelona

I overuse this word but "magnificent" was made for this song.

 

So Emotional

She made it look so easy - didn't she. She may not have been the equal of Madonna and Michael Jackson in 1987 but she was on their tails.

 

Always on My Mind

Loved it at the time but got bored of it for a few years for some reason. Now I love it again. They also make it look so easy in 1987.

 

Fairytale of New York

Offensive or not this taps into a strange sort of love that rarely gets mentioned in song.

 

 

Weird that Heart and Soul was a top 5 in the US but China did nothing there

Edited February 25, 20241 yr by Bjork