wasn't the MASH song written by some kid aged 11 or something, someone's son, the film director or something

and allegedly in like 5 minutes?

Like most people who bought the single, as I did, the MASH instrumental theme tune had been playing for 7 years for almost 6 months in every year twice a week and the show was beloved and critically rated. The film version with lyrics took on added pathos for a very pathos-filled dark comedy. But the lyrics were also based around part of the movie plot where a dentist nicknamed Painless decides to kill himself when his libido disappears for a while and the staff put on a mock funeral and wake party for him with little sympathy. War is hell, of course is the message and that's the theme of the movie, and tv show, a sly dig at Viet Nam. He doesn't kill himself.

 

The Beat is fab, love that one. Funkytown a disco classic with a pun band name, MJ is an emotional performance and favourite, but Hot Choc should have been number one....

7TH JUNE

 

 

M*A*S*H reign supreme once more with their theme selling a very healthy 97,000 copies to take its overall total to 256,000 copies after 5 weeks on the chart- not bad at all. On paper Hot Chocolate's "No Doubt About It" is putting up a good fight holding at No 2 but its sales are off at 65,000 and an inevitable drop should result next week.

 

 

A strong showing from Lipps Inc keeps them on course for No 1 as "Funky Town" climbs 9-3 (44,000) but it may find MASH too powerful an opponent next week to threaten No 1.....at present. It remains No 1 stateside.

 

 

Lipps Inc didn't have it all their own way this week though as coming up on the outside was Don McLean's cover of the Roy Orbison classic "Crying". The song stems from McLean's 1978 album "Chain Lightning" his brief time with Arista records, that deal having long broken down Mclean was without a record track when radio in Holland suddenly started to play this version as the song became a surprise hit there earlier this year. That prompted the UK release and this week he climbs 13-4 (42,000) to become his first top 20 hit in 8 years.

 

 

 

Brother Michael might be the bigger star now but Jermaine Jackson scores his first UK hit this week as "Let's Get Serious" rises 21-9 (38,000). The former member of the Jackson 5 and of course Berry Gordy's son-in-law, has been having hits in his native US since 1973 but this is his first hit to translate across here and is co-penned by none other than Stevie Wonder.

 

 

Outside of the top 4 the only climber are the Specials (8-5) who sold 42,000 copies of "Rat Race" last week, Roxy Music hold at No 6 with "Over You" but decrease sales to 39,000 despite a TOTP performance (the album shoots 7-2 to help explain it). The other three tracks all fall, Gary Numan 5-7 (39,000) Michael Jackson 4-8 (38,000) and Johnny Logan 3-10 (35,000)- the two Jackson brothers beside each other in symmetry.

 

On a side note TOTP will not be on air until the current strike at the BBC is settled so we'll see how that affects sales!

 

1- THEME FROM MASH- M.A.S.H (97,000)

2- NO DOUBT ABOUT IT- Hot Chocolate (65,000)

3- FUNKY TOWN- Lipps Inc (44,000)

4- CRYING- Don McLean (42,000)

5- RAT RACE/ RUDE BOYS OUTTA JAIL- The Specials (42,000)

6- OVER YOU- Roxy Music (39,000)

7- WE ARE GLASS- Gary Numan (39,000)

8- SHE’S OUT OF MY LIFE- Michael Jackson (38,000)

9- LET’S GET SERIOUS- Jermaine Jackson (38,000)

10- WHAT’S ANOTHER YEAR- Johnny Logan (35,000)

 

For those interested in the Musicians strike of 1980 there's more here Strike of 1980

14TH JUNE

 

 

It's been an odd week, yet an interesting one, for the charts or more accurately for TOTP. The flagship music show for BBC1 and indeed the nation was off air last week thanks to a well publicised strike by the Musicians Union protesting about cut-backs at the corporation, this has had two effects on the chart- firstly its created a much more level playing field with the show unable to exert its usual power and influence over the charts, and secondly it's certainly affected sales. "Theme From MASH" tops the chart for a third week but sales slide by 9% to 88,000 but the challengers are not exactly leaping into action in the way you might expect if TOTP had been shown, Don McLean lift 4-2 (55,000) leaving Lipps Inc stranded at No 3 on a sale of 50,000. There was a bank holiday in there too but even so only the top 3 clearing 50,000 is notably poor for 1980.

 

 

 

Donny Hathaway may no longer be with us having died in January last year but he's in the top 10 for the first time with his old collaborator Roberta Flack on "Back Together Again" at No 6 (30,000) which also becomes Flack's 2nd highest chart position after "Killing Me Softly With His Song" which made No 6 seven years ago. It comes from an album which was intended as a duets album until Hathaway's untimely death.

 

 

 

Having considerable Stateside success Crown Heights Affair are best known here for their 1978 hit "Galaxy Of Love" which peaked at No 24, but they can now claim a top 10 hit here as "You Gave Me Love" rises 12-10 (28,000)

 

 

Sales are down everywhere in the top 10 with the exception of Don McLean and Lipps Inc so even the risers are selling less, namely Roxy Music at No 5 (34,000) and Jermaine Jackson who rises 9-8 (30,000). In other news Hot Chocolate stumble 2-4 (42,000), the Specials back 5-7 (30,000) and Gary Numan dips 7-9 (28,000)

 

 

 

1- THEME FROM M.A.S.H- M.A.S.H (88,000)

2- CRYING- Don McLean (55,000)

3- FUNKY TOWN- Lipps Inc. (50,000)

4- NO DOUBT ABOUT IT- Hot Chocolate (42,000)

5- OVER YOU- Roxy Music (34,000)

6- BACK TOGETHER AGAIN- Roberta Flack & Don Hathaway (30,000)

7- RAT RACE/ RUDE BOYS OUTTA JAIL- The Specials (30,000)

8- LET’S GET SERIOUS- Jermaine Jackson (30,000)

9- WE ARE GLASS- Gary Numan (28,000)

10- YOU GAVE ME LOVE- Crown Heights Affair (28,000)

 

'You Gave Me Love' one of two songs vocally sampled in Utah Saints - Believe In Me, the other being The Human League - Love Action

had Crying been originally a hit for Roy Orbison too? Or is it the McLean version the first time it charted?

I remember a duet version of Roy Orbison. KD Land charting in the 90s

had Crying been originally a hit for Roy Orbison too? Or is it the McLean version the first time it charted?

I remember a duet version of Roy Orbison. KD Land charting in the 90s

It only made No 25 in the uk so Mclean's version was already the highest charting.

21ST JUNE

 

 

All change at the top again as 1980 just can't provide a 4 week chart topper, "Theme From MASH" is no exception as it slides 1-2 (67,000) which is the bad news- better news however in that it has now sold 411,000 copies- we'll have a look at the top 10 best sellers of the year so far in a fortnight's time, but MASH will feature have no fear. New chart leader is Don Mclean whose cover of "Crying" makes a meal of it selling just 1,000 more than the outgoing chart topper which also makes it the lowest tally for a No 1 this year so far. As noted before this si McLean's second chart topper following "Vincent" in 1972

 

 

 

Two new entries this week to the top 10, up first are the Korgis, they're back with their second album and lead single "Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime" (19-6) with sales of 38,000, a considerable improvement on their first hit last year "If I Had You".

 

 

 

And one place below them we welcome Mary Brockert otherwise known as Teena Marie who created some controversy last year fooling many on US radio into believing she was a black artist before becoming the first white female artist to appear on US TV show "Soul Train". Her offering "Behind The Groove" jumps 17-7 this week on sales of 37,000.

 

 

Lipps Inc hold at No 3 with "Funky Town" as it increases its sales by 20% to 60,000, meanwhile Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway rise 6-4 with sales up to 41,000, Jermaine Jackson holds at No 8 also improving sales wise to 36,000, and Crown Heights Affair also hold at no 10 with a 3,000 copies increase week on week to 31,000.

 

Everything else drops- Hot Chocolate 4-5 (40,000), and Roxy Music 5-9 (33,000)

 

1- CRYING- Don McLean (68,000)

2- THEME FROM MASH- M.A.S.H (67,000)

3- FUNKY TOWN- Lipps Inc (60,000)

4- BACK TOGETHER AGAIN- Roberta Flack & Don Hathaway (41,000)

5- NO DOUBT ABOUT IT- Hot Chocolate (40,000)

6- EVERYBODY’S GOTTA LEARN TO SOMETIME- Korgis (38,000)

7- BEHIND THE GROOVE- Teena Marie (37,000)

8- LET’S GET SERIOUS- Jermaine Jackson (36,000)

9- OVER YOU- Roxy Music (33,000)

10- YOU GAVE ME LOVE- Crown Heights Affair (31,000)

 

the korgis song is the kinda song you know but don't know the title or who sings it

but I immediately recognized it, great song

 

 

Shame it wasn’t Funkytown that ascended to #1 instead, don’t care about the Don McLean song.

 

Great addition from the Korgis.

Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime sounds as good now as it did at the time, one of the highlights of 1980. Funkytown is also fab.

Marc Et Claude's 'I Need Your Lovin (Like The Sunshine)' was my introduction to 'Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime' in any form but eventually found the original, wonderful top 10 addition :wub:

Yeah it's great - the Baby D version was the first I heard (and I like that too). I'd forgotten 'Funkytown' had such a run at #3, it really wasn't far off #1 this week too!

Behind The Groove is very good, it sounds more like a mid-80s dancefloor hit

 

The Korgis song is a very nice chillout track and yes like Jade it was the Marc et Claude version I discovered first.

Don McLean was a bit lucky getting to #1 by 1K

just recall he had this other #1 in the 70s with this track call Vincent which is a big fav of mine

 

Marc Et Claude's 'I Need Your Lovin (Like The Sunshine)' was my introduction to 'Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime' in any form but eventually found the original, wonderful top 10 addition :wub:

 

Baby D was mine :lol:

 

Funky Town :wub:

Continuing my trend of buying number ones I bought Crying, loved the Roy Orbison build Don gave his version, starting off low key and growing to a proper climax. Next faves Crown Heights Affair, been on my potentials pile for a few years now if I'm in a funked-up clubbing mood. Teena Marie is a great dance tune too. It was very sad having Donny hathaway get posthumous success, especially the very odd way he died after years of mental health issues. That always added pathos to the record for me.The Korgis is one I grew to love more with time, I'd always preferred If I Have You till the 90's really when Everybody's Got To Learn started to have legs.

28TH JUNE

 

 

Enjoying his time back in the limelight Don McLean's holds the No 1 position in the UK this week with his second chart topper "Crying" he heads a chart which is full of little quirks which again TOTP would normally have ironed out. "Crying" is falling sales wise though and registered 67,000 copies this week (again a new low) and raises its total to 309,000 in 8 weeks.

 

 

 

Another week, another 2 tracks enter the top 10 for the first time, Splodgenessabounds, named after lead singer Max Splodge, must be one of the most unusual band names to grace the big 10 but their take on the theme from the "Saint" coupled with "Two Pints Of Lager and A Packet of Crisps Please" shoots 22-7 (36,000) in its third week after being championed by John Peel on his radio 1 show.

 

 

 

 

Following the massive selling "Dance Yourself Dizzy" (494,000 copies sold) Liquid Gold strike it lucky for a second time as "Substitute" rises16-8 (32,000)

 

 

In other news Lipps Inc finally climb a place to No 2 this week but on sales of 63,000 but is struggling really hard to overcome Don McLean, in fact the real challenge may come from Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway who climb again from 4-3 (56,000) increasing sales by 37% and should at least overtake Lipps Inc in a weeks time. It looks promising too for The Korgis who rise 6-5 (44,000) and Teena Marie (up 1 spot to No 6) with sales of 41,000, and most interesting of all a return for the Specials "Rat Race/ Rude Boys Outta Jail" which dropped 7-11 last week but now moves back up to No 10 (27,000) though its sales do actually drop slightly.

 

Jermaine Jackson falls 8-9 (32,000) and former No 1 from MASH drops two 2-4 (56,000).

 

1- CRYING- Don Mclean (67,000)

2- FUNKY TOWN- Lipps Inc (63,000)

3- BACK TOGETHER AGAIN- Roberta Flack & Don Hathaway (56,000)

4- THEME FROM MASH- M.A.S.H. (56,000)

5- EVERYBODY’S GOTTA LEARN SOMETIME- Korgis (44,000)

6- BEHIND THE GROOVE- Teena Marie (41,000)

7- SIMON TEMPLAR/ TWO PINTS OF LAGER AND A PACKET OF CRISPS- Splodgenessabounds. (36,000)

8- SUBSTITUTE- Liquid Gold (32,000)

9- LET’S GET SERIOUS- Jermaine Stewart (32,000)

10- RAT RACE/ RUDE BOYS OUTTA JAIL- The Specials (27,000)

 

Assumed Substitute was a disco The Who cover but no. I prefer it to 'Dance Yourself Dizzy' anyway.

 

7- SIMON TEMPLER/ TWO PINTS OF LAGER AND A PACKET OF CRISPS- Splodgenessabounds.

Lananeeneenoonoo, Kajagoogoo, Showaddywaddy and Chumbawamba have a competitor. The double A-side are both good songs anyway, 'Simon Templar' is a good post-punk song! 'Two Pints of Lager' is a bit The Streets - Fit And You Know It reminiscent actually but much more repetitive.

 

Don McLean was a bit lucky getting to #1 by 1K

just recall he had this other #1 in the 70s with this track call Vincent which is a big fav of mine

 

'Vincent' is a great song.

Edited April 16, 20241 yr by TheSnake