Unexpected #1, didn't think it was gonna climb to #1

Like it but not love it, too retro, too 70s

 

love the One Day I'll Fly Away song, only knew the cover from the Moulin Rouge movie

is that an original from Randy Crawford?

 

oh wow at Sheena getting 2 simultaneous top 10s, not easy feat

 

It's Only Love from Elvis I kinda like, crazy he continued having hits like that

 

 

 

 

Still prefer Modern Girl :D One Day I'll Fly Away is gorgeous, love that one, and I loved having It's Only Love chart at the time, reviving my Elvis love of his 1969/1970 period - but it was a bit flattered from a 2024 viewpoint TBH. I have the 12" version, and I think fans were just happy to find a minor goodie they didn't know from that period.

20TH SEPTEMBER

 

 

Kelly Marie holds steady at the No 1 spot though her grip is not as secure as last week, her own sales receded to 99,000 which takes its tally to 450,000, enough to rank it in the top 10 for the year to date. There was never any doubt the track would keep ahead of the field as Randy Crawford jumps 4-2 but sold 89,000 copies this week to set up a very interesting race next week though Crawford may be affected by her album leaping 27-10 this week.

 

 

 

Only two new entries to the top 10 this week and first up is the return of Stevie Wonder with "Masterblaster (Jammin)" which soars 30-4 this week and could be a contender for the No 1 spot next week with sales of 60,000. The song is a tribute to Bob Marley who was the opening act for part of Wonder's last tour and serves as the lead track to Wonder's new album "Hotter Than July" which hits here in a fortnight's time, it is also his first top 10 hit in three years, since "Sir Duke" in 1977 to be precise.

 

 

 

Talking of 70s superstars Queen are also back this week, their last two singles "Save Me" and "Play The Game" both narrowly missed the top 10 but "Another One Bites The Dust" finally makes a mends climbing 18-10 this week (37,000). It has a baseline not unlike a Chic record, no co-incidence as the bands have been spending some time together recently.

 

 

Elsewhere climbers this week come courtesy of Elvis Presley 7-3 (81,000) who now has his biggest hit since his last chart topper "Way Down" with no 1 not beyond the track, and Sheena Easton's "Modern Girl" which rises slightly 10-8 (45,000) but everything else heads south. The Jam dive 2-5 (49,000), Hazel O'Connor 5-6 (46,000), David Bowie 3-7 (46,000) though his focus will move to his album out this week, and Cliff Richard 8-9 (38,000)

 

1- FEELS LIKE I’M IN LOVE- Kelly Marie (99,000)

2- ONE DAY I’LL FLY AWAY- Randy Crawford (89,000)

3- IT’S ONLY LOVE/ BEYOND THE REEF- Elvis Presley (81,000)

4- MASTERBLASTER (JAMMIN)- Stevie Wonder (60,000)

5- START- The Jam (49,000)

6- EIGHTH DAY- Hazel O’Connor (46,000)

7- ASHES TO ASHES- David Bowie (46,000)

8- MODERN GIRL- Sheena Easton (45,000)

9- DREAMIN- Cliff Richard (38,000)

10- ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST- Queen (37,000)

 

love the One Day I'll Fly Away song, only knew the cover from the Moulin Rouge movie

is that an original from Randy Crawford?

Yes she was first to record it

Liking the new additions of 'Masterblaster (Jammin)' and 'Another One Bites The Dust'! The latter probably has one of the most instantly recognisable basslines ever.

'Modern Girl' is as good as '9 to 5' by Sheena Easton but I find it hilarious that the subject matter of the two songs are polar opposites - '9 to 5' has her as a subservient domesticated woman who spends all day waiting for her man to get home and 'Modern Girl' she's an independent woman, not needing a man to make her happy. :D

 

Randy Crawford's track is really beautiful. 'Beyond the Reef' is better than 'It's Only Love' with the nautical backing track.

 

 

Liking the new additions of 'Masterblaster (Jammin)' and 'Another One Bites The Dust'! The latter probably has one of the most instantly recognisable basslines ever.

 

Although it isn't arguably theirs :D John Deacon was so against putting on the album because recently Sugarhill Gang had gotten into trouble with Rodgers/ Edwards over sampling and Deacon openly admitted to being inspired by "Good Times" after the two bands were recording next door to each other in 1979. Only when Rodgers and Edwards gave their blessing did Deacon relent and allow it to be released on the album and become a single.

Another One Bites The Dust was my fave Queen record for at least 3 years (We Will Rock You) and the funky Chictastic riffing was unexpected. I like Queen best when they defy expectations. Masterblaster was Stevie back on form, and nice Bob Marley got to enjoy the respect given - the Hot July album had many gems on it.

a very retro top 3

not a fan of Queen in general, and thats one of my least fav from them :D

27TH SEPTEMBER

 

 

Even though it was always a possibility few predicted that the new Police Single would enter at No 1 today but that's exactly what "Don't Stand So Close To Me" does as it sells 112,000 copies making it an easy victory for the group who score a third UK chart topper. It's the first release from their third album "Zenyatta Mondatta" which is released in a fortnight and could easily replicate the single's feat, thematically controversial (it concerns a teenagers crush on her school teacher and the trouble caused in the staff room which given Sting's former job may or may not be an autobiographical tale) it appears to only have added to its appeal, it will be interesting to see where it goes next week sales wise! It's only the second song of the year (and therefore of the 80s) to debut at No 1.

 

 

All of which puts pay to Randy Crawford, Stevie Wonder, and Kelly Marie who all had high hopes of garnering the top position but in truth it was hardest on Crawford who holds at No 1 on an improved sales of 103,000 itself, only the third time this year the runner up has got into six figures. Stevie Wonder does rise a spot 4-3 on an increase to 78,000 and poor Kelly Marie dives 1-4 with a drop to 73,000 copies, her time clearly up. That might sound bad news but the track now sold 523,000 and is on course to be the year's best seller when we run down them next week!

 

 

We must be in the run up to Christmas as in addition to the return of the Police Madness are also back with their second album "Absolutely" due next week lead single "Baggy Trousers" accelerates 21-5 (79,000) to become the bands fourth straight top 10 hits, it too has a school days connection being essentially the band's reminisces of their school days and was written as a response to "Another Brick In The Wall", keep an eye on this one!

 

 

 

Fronted by Jean Patrick Baptiste and Annette, Ottawan are essentially an act fronting the records of euro producers Daniel Vangarde and Jean Kluger and this week see their 1979 track "D.I.S.C.O" rise 28-8 (46,000), it has already topped various European charts and looks as though it is now in the running over here.

 

 

In other news Queen rise 10-7 (51,000) but nothing else can manage an upward trajectory with Elvis sliding 3-6 (54,000), Sheena Easton drops one 8-9 (39,000) and Hazel O'Connor moves 6-10 (36,000)

 

1- DON’T STAND SO CLOSE TO ME- The Police (112,000)

2- ONE DAY I’LL FLY AWAY- Randy Crawford (103,000)

3- MASTERBLASTER (JAMMIN)- Stevie Wonder (78,000)

4- FEELS LIKE I’M IN LOVE- Kelly Marie (73,000)

5- BAGGY TROUSERS- Madness (58,000)

6- IT’S ONLY LOVE/ BEYOND THE REEF- Elvis Presley (54,000)

7- ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST- Queen (51,000)

8- D.I.S.C.O- Ottawan (46,000)

9- MODERN GIRL- Sheena Easton (39,000)

10- EIGHTH DAY- Hazel O’Connor (36,000)

 

Well I bought the Police single too, Sting and the guys were huge in 1980, with teen appeal on posters (sting), but also serious muso fans (not teens) and this was their peak commercially in the UK, I also bought the album and the Madness album when they came out, both pretty good. Baggy Trousers is fabulous, play loud and singalong to the boyhood school days of those of us of a certain age (before the teen awful years). D.I.S.C.O. is still fun, too. party time!

'Don't Stand So Close to Me' is awesome - yes it's controversial and wouldn't be a hit nowadays (especially since the attraction is consummated) but sonically it's so menacing and hits you straight away. Along with 'Walking on the Moon' this is probably my favourite Police song.

 

'Baggy Trousers' is original enough but meh, not just that keen on them. Not my thing (although some of their less representative tracks I enjoy).

 

'DISCO' is another one of 1980s cheesy but guilty pleasures! :D

Masterblaster is one the best of the newer entries to the top 10, I am more familiar with the DJ Luck and Mc Neat 2000 version but the original is very good too.

 

Not a big fan of the Ottawan track just heard it too much and its become used in media as a generic disco track because of its title. 'Baggy Trousers' is good but that's a silly name for a track, makes it hard to take seriously.

Never knew Randy Crawford was as close as that to getting the #1.

 

Great new entry from #1 at the Police and some more great stuff rising the ranks from Stevie (who has many greats but sadly none of the good ones made #1) and Madness.

4TH OCTOBER

 

 

A new record is set this week as for the first time this year (and consequently the decade) the No 1 record has sold over 200,000 copies in a week, 209,000 to be exact bringing its two week total to 321,000 copies. You have to expect the track to be a sizeable hit with that kind of selling rate and it progresses into the Top 30 for the YTD list with the highest weekly sale for a No 1 so far this year.

 

Talking about the YTD list it's time to review where we are as we enter the final quarter of the year, the top 10 (with their current weekly position in brackets) is below:

 

1. GENO- Dexy’s Midnight Runners 584,675

2. TOGETHER WE ARE BEAUTIFUL- Fern Kinney 572,806

3. FEELS LIKE I’M IN LOVE- Kelly Marie 569,894 (No 7)

4. COWARD OF THE COUNTY- Kenny Rogers 568,893

5. WORKING MY WAY MY WAY BACK TO YOU- FORGIVE ME GIRL- Detroit Spinners 551,993

6. THEME FROM MASH- MASH 524,342

7. ASHES TO ASHES- David Bowie 519,597 (No 36)

8. GOING UNDERGROUND/ DREAMS OF CHILDREN- The Jam 518,141

9. 9 TO 5- Sheena Easton 517,049 (No 31)

10. CRYING- Don Mclean 514,852

 

Eagle eyed readers will spot that the current No 7 track by Kelly Marie sold 46,000 copies as it dives 4-7 but is also moves 7-3 on the YTD list but it should become the biggest seller of 1980 next week, meanwhile Bowie and Easton are fading too fast now to pose a serious threat to Dexy's Midnight Runners.

 

 

Stevie Wonder continues to expand sales wise rising 22% to 95,000 sales but the real winners are Ottawan who sail 8-3 and increase sales by a whopping 100% to 92,000 and in a normal week would be a shoe in for the No 1 spot next week but given the strength of "Don't Stand So Close To Me" it may be too much of a mountain to climb. The sales bonanza is also enjoyed by Madness at 4 (79,000).

 

 

A second single from her album "Diana" and a second straight top 10 hit from Ross, her 11th in total since her departure from the Supremes in 1969 and is once again helmed by Rodgers/ Edwards to give it that 70s disco feel. "My Old Piano" rises 13-6 (52,000)

 

 

 

Shooting 35-10 this week is "Amigo" the first hit for Black Slate, a UK based reggae group who have backed Ken Boothe on some UK Tours and scored some European chart success over the past few years without troubling the UK charts but that's all changed now.

 

 

Three other fallers we need to care off, Randy Crawford drops 2-5 (58,000), Queen move back one spot 7-8 (44,000) and Elvis continues to free fall 6-9 (40,000)

 

1- DON’T STAND SO CLOSE TO ME- The Police (209,000)

2- MASTERBLASTER (JAMMIN)- Stevie Wonder (95,000)

3- D.I.S.C.O- Ottawan (92,000)

4- BAGGY TROUSERS- Madness (79,000)

5- ONE DAY I’LL FLY AWAY- Randy Crawford (58,000)

6- MY OLD PIANO- Diana Ross (52,000)

7- FEELS LIKE I’M IN LOVE- Kelly Marie (46,000)

8- ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST- Queen (44,000)

9- IT’S ONLY LOVE. BEYOND THE REEF- Elvis Presley (40,000)

10- AMIGO- Black Slate (36,000)

 

Some great recent additions, especially from Madness and Stevie Wonder. Not so keen on that Police song, but those are seriously impressive sales for it.

Amazing that The Police sold almost double in their second week compared to the first one. Baggy Trousers and Another One Bites The Dust are good additions to the top 10.

Wow, great sales for Sting and co. Really seems like a huge improvement on the typical weekly #1 figures we've been seeing.

 

 

Love the Stevie Wonder song at #2, it's one of his top tier tracks for me. And belated love for Randy Crawford too, really surprised that the single managed a six figure sales week

Was 'Another Brick in the Wall' the last time a track sold over 200K in a single week? And any ideas about its highest weekly sale?

Guessing Boney M's 'Mary Boy's Child must have been a huge weekly seller too as that sold over a million copies alone in the Christmas period of 1978

'My Old Piano' is a nice little track - not as well remembered as 'Upside Down' or 'Coming Out' but just as good.

That is phenomenal sales for The Police there. Had no idea 'Don't Stand So Close...' got to #1 with over 200k one week :o