'Night Games' kind of (melodically) reminds me of Bonnie Tyler's 'It's a Heartache'.

 

Didn't know Rainbow and their former member were that popular in the singles charts in 1980-81.

Edited June 13, 20241 yr by TheSnake

Chai Mai is wonderful, by far the best new one in the top 10 since I last commented

25TH APRIL

 

 

With thoughts of Eurovision fading fast so Bucks Fizz's sales do, they manage to hold the No 1 spot on a reduced tally of 118,000, but it was still an easy victory as Ennio Morricone rises 4-2 but on a sale of 82,000, however next week could easily see a change of guard at the top

 

 

 

The only new entry to the top 10 are the Nolans which has become a third top 10 hit and keeps their record of making the big 10 with alternating releases intact. "Attention To Me" climbs 14-10 (32,000), it's the fourth release from the "Making Waves" album which is by far their biggest seller and the group are now hitmakers in the Australia and Japan which is turning into their biggest market.

 

 

Climbers in the top 10 this week include Sugar Minott 7-4 (51,000) and the Jacksons 8-7 (41,000), whilst The Whispers hold at No 9 (35,000). Four songs go down however Shakin Stevens 2-3 (52,000) but he's now got the third biggest selling single of the year, Stevie Wonder moves 3-5 ( 44,000), Landscape drop 5-6 (42,000) and Graham Bonnet falls 6-8 (35,000).

 

1- MAKING YOUR MIND UP- Bucks Fizz (118,000)

2- CHI MAI (THEME FROM “THE LIFE AND TIMES OF LLOYD GEORGE”)- Ennio Morricone (82,000)

3- THIS OLE HOUSE- Shakin Stevens (52,000)

4- GOOD THING GOING- Sugar Minott (51,000)

5- LATELY- Stevie Wonder (44,000)

6- EINSTEIN A GO GO- Landscape (42,000)

7- CAN YOU FEEL IT- The Jacksons (41,000)

8- NIGHT GAMES- Graham Bonnet (35,000)

9- IT’S A LOVE THING- The Whispers (35,000)

10- ATTENTION TO ME- The Nolans (32,0000)

 

Sorry just looked and all 9 episodes are on YouTube.

 

Nice one, I might have a watch of that! They’d never show anything like that nowadays!

Funnily enough I was thinking about this. I think it was probably because the UK entry for eurovision hadn't been a decent hit since 1976 so maybe not much was expected?

O

Makes sense I guess, you always assume this was the golden age of Eurovision but guess it was more sporadic than you realise!

2ND MAY

 

 

A rather quiet week on the charts (as per usual at Easter) sees Bucks Fizz hold the top spot though it sold just 86,000 copies last week, fortunately for the group TOTP did not feature Ennio Morricone either or the destination of No 1 could have been very different. As it is "Chi Mai" holds at No 2 but sees its sales falter to 73,000

 

 

That winning sale is only the 3rd occasion in 1981 when the No 1 has failed to breach the 100,000 mark, the song has however now sold 522,000 copies and is easily placed in the top 10 of the year well ahead of Morricone who has sold a far more modest 243,000 thus far.

 

 

The "brainchild" of Willem van Kooten, Starsound are this weeks big mover 17-3 (58,000) looking for the world like next weeks chart topper. It is essentially a medley record of several 60s singles (mainly Lennon/ McCartney songs) and the composition has already been No 1 in Van Kooten's native Holland earlier this year- perhaps the Lennon connection will lift this all the way to the top?

 

 

 

The other new entry to the big 10 is at No 5 for Madness with "Grey Day" which jumps 20-5 (42,000) and is the band's 6th top 10 hit this decade making them the most prolific hit makers of the new decade to date. The single is the first release from their as yet untitled third album due at the end of the year though this track was actually written back in 1978 before the band broke.

 

 

In other news Sugar Minott holds at No 4 despite a dip in sales to 49,000 and the Jacksons manage a one place climb again with sales down to 38,000, and also holding is Graham Bonnett at No 8 (35,000). Three other fallers to comment on, Shakin Stevens drops 3-7 (36,000), Landscape fall back 6-9 (35,000) and Stevie Wonder slides 5-10 (33,000).

 

 

 

1- MAKING YOUR MIND UP- Bucks Fizz (86,000)

2- CHI MAI (THEME FROM “THE LIFE AND TIMES OF LLOYD GEORGE”)- Ennio Morricone (73,000)

3- STARS ON 45- Star Sound (58,000)

4- GOOD THING GOING- Sugar Minott (49,000)

5- GREY DAY- Madness (42,000)

6- CAN YOU FEEL IT- The Jacksons (38,000)

7- THIS OLE HOUSE- Shakin Stevens (36,000)

8- NIGHT GAMES- Graham Bonnet (35,000)

9- EINSTEIN A GO GO- Landscape (35,000)

10- LATELY- Stevie Wonder (33,000)

 

Stars on 45 just sounds like the early 80s Jive Bunny!

9TH MAY

 

 

For a third time in the 80s a record crashes straight into the No 1 spot replicating the Jam's "Going Underground" and the Police's "Don't Stand So Close To Me". Yes Adam & The Ants with their first release from a new album due in September, "Stand And Deliver" is like most of the bands output penned by Adam Ant himself and Marco Pirroni who can do little wrong currently. The group are currently in the States trying to bring Antmusic to the yanks but have created one of the more eye catching videos doing the rounds currently, directed by Mike Mansfield it sees Ant as a "dandy Highwayman" and seems to be keeping his UK fans happy. It sold 102,000 copies last week to take the top position, a reflection of their popularity in the teen market at present. On the album charts "Kings of The Wild Frontier" tops the charts for a ninth straight week, equalling the decade record along with ABBA's "Super Trouper", once again the band are demonstrating when you're hot you're hot.

 

 

All of this bad news indeed for Starsound who continue to climb 4-2 (86,000) and would reasonably have been expected to top the charts this week but that now looks like a very distant dream.

 

 

All might not be as plain sailing as Adam and his ants suspect however as Shakin Stevens replaces himself in the top 10. "This Ole House" drops out of the top 10 this week 7-19 but the Welsh singer's follow up "You Drive Me Crazy" dashes 39-5 (56,000). The track is an original composition (unusual in his releases so far) and isn't available on the album "This Ole House" which help to account for its instant popularity, it's climb goes into the record books as the biggest rise ever within the top 40.

 

 

 

Spandau Ballet brush aside the disappointment of last single "The Freeze" (it peaked at No 17) and return with "Musclebound/ Glow" double A-Side which rockets 13-10 ( 35,000) the inclusion of the non album track "Glow" could be the key to the songs appearance here, indeed the groups debut album "Journey To Glory" returns to the top 10 for the first time since its release in March this week.

 

 

Other items of note this week include the return of the Nolans to the big 10 with "Attention To Me" 12-9 (36,000) (though its sales are up fractionally week on week) but a raft of songs fall, Ennio Morricone falls 2-3 (75,000) with sales up thanks in part to a full week at retail, Bucks Fizz make their expected tumble 1-4 (64,000), Madness dip 5-6 (51,000), Sugar Minnot 4-7 (41,000) and the Jacksons move 6-8 (40,000)

 

1- STAND AND DELIVER- Adam & The Ants (102,000)

2- STARS ON 45- Starsound (86,000)

3- CHI MAI (THEME FROM “THE LIFE AND TIMES OF LLOYD GEORGE”)- Ennio Morricone (75,000)

4- MAKING YOUR MIND UP- Bucks Fizz (64,000)

5- YOU DRIVE ME CRAZY- Shakin Stevens (56,000)

6- GREY DAY- Madness (51,000)

7- GOOD THING GOING- Sugar Minnot (41,000)

8- CAN YOU FEEL IT- The Jacksons (40,000)

9- ATTENTION TO ME- The Nolans (36,000)

10- MUSCLEBOUND/ GLOW- Spandau Ballet (35,000)

 

Fantastic performance from ‘Stand and Deliver’ to sell over 100k on what I assume is its first week of release and airplay. They really were massive in 1980/81!

 

Love the cover of the new Spandeu song.

"The Stars On 45 keeps on turning in your mind / like we can work it out, remember twist and shout / you still don't tell me why and no reply-y-y-y" - yeah I think Jade's run of classic #2s might be at an end there :kink:

16TH MAY

 

 

A bit of a sales bonanza this week sees the top 5 all clear 50,000 sales, and no-one benefits more from that than "Stand And Deliver" which sold 196,000 copies last week bringing its 2 week tally to 298,000, that makes it the fastest selling track since "Don't Stand So Close To Me" last October. "Kings Of The Wild Frontier" also tops the album charts for a tenth straight week (and a 12th in total) they are decade records to date.

 

 

Behind Adam & The Ants on the album charts is Shaky's "This Ole House" and back on the singles chart the situation is repeated with his track "You Drive Me Crazy" continuing to grow at retail 5-2 (105,000) making it the second highest tally for 1981 for a track in that position. The track fought Starsound at the start of the week but ended up well clear even though "Stars On 45" continued to expand at retail to an impressive 89,000.

 

 

Around for 10 years now REO Speedwagon moved from Rock to AOR a few years ago and are starting to feel the commercial benefits when "Keep On Loving You" made the US No 1 spot back in March. The track is now making waves over here as it shoots 21-7 (43,000), parent album "Hi Infidelity" hits the top 20 here for the first time.

 

 

 

Becoming something of a celebrity since he started playing for Tottenham Hotspur, Osvaldo Ardiles is the focus of the track at No 8 (37,000). It has the uncredited help of long time spurs fans Chas & Dave who were only in the top 10 earlier this year with "Rabbit", it is also the first football record to make the top 10 since the England World Cup team topped the charts 11 years ago with "Back Home".

 

 

 

Charging 32-9 (35,000) there appears no hanging about for Kim Wilde's second single "Chequered Love" it is a pre cursor to her debut eponymous album due next month. Her debut single "Kids In America" is still on the charts down to No 60 but has now sold over 450,000 copies.

 

 

 

First gaining exposure (and two top 30 hits) off the back of their appearance on the film "The Great Rock N Roll Swindle" Ten Pole Tudor now have a hit in their own right with "Swords Of A Thousand Men" which climbs this week 22-10 (33,000).

 

 

"Grey Day" climbs 2 places 6-4 (53,000) whilst Ennio Morricone drops 3-5 (53,000) and Bucks Fizz move 4-6 (44,000)

 

 

 

1- STAND AND DELIVER- Adam & The Ants (196,000)

2- YOU DRIVE ME CRAZY- Shakin Stevens (105,000)

3- STARS ON 45- Starsound (89,000)

4- GREY DAY- Madness (53,000)

5- CHI MAI (THEME FROM “THE LIFE AND TIMES OF LLOYD GEORGE”)- Ennio Morricone (53,000)

6- MAKING YOUR MIND UP- Bucks Fizz (44,000)

7- KEEP ON LOVING YOU- REO Speedwagon (43,000)

8- OSSIE’S DREAM (WAY TO WEMBLEY)- Spurs Football Team (37,000)

9- CHEQUERED LOVE- Kim Wilde (35,000)

10- SWORDS OF A THOUSAND MEN- Ten Pole Tudor (33,000)

 

Oops just realised this whole time I forgot to include '(Happy Xmas) War Is Over' in my favourite #2s run, belatedly incorporating it as I do love it!

 

So, completed favourite #2s run ever: 01. Happy Xmas (War Is Over) | 02. Antmusic | 03. In The Air Tonight | 04. Vienna | 05. Kings of the Wild Frontier | 06. Kids in America | 07. Chi Mai :wub:

 

"The Stars On 45 keeps on turning in your mind / like we can work it out, remember twist and shout / you still don't tell me why and no reply-y-y-y" - yeah I think Jade's run of classic #2s might be at an end there :kink:

...correct :kink:

 

Back to chart-toppers now... 'Stand and Deliver' :wub: :wub: my favourite Adam and the Ants song, even if I'm none the wiser as to what a qua diddley qua is. What an incredible debut there, the public were clearly hungry for more after the success of Kings of the Wild Frontier. This theatrical record is a far cry from their punk days already but so much fun. The video is a spectacle as well, especially for the time. The Horrible Histories parody 'Dick Turpin' is also on point.

 

From this week - 'Chequered Love' is one of my favourite Kim Wilde singles and 'Swords of a Thousand Men' is also a tune *.*

Swords of a 1000 Men is an absolute banger and performed in what is finally the legendary main TOTP stage which would dominate the show through the 80s, not really changing until Jan 89!

 

Wonderful sales of ‘Stand & Deliver’ it was a great tune. It’s made how Adam and the Ants fell quite quickly from their 1980-82 hugeness!

 

Love the new Kim Wilde there also and Ossies one liner in the Spurs song!0”

Swords of a 1000 Men is an absolute banger and performed in what is finally the legendary main TOTP stage which would dominate the show through the 80s, not really changing until Jan 89!

 

Wonderful sales of ‘Stand & Deliver’ it was a great tune. It’s made how Adam and the Ants fell quite quickly from their 1980-82 hugeness!

 

Love the new Kim Wilde there also and Ossies one liner in the Spurs song!0”

"Tot-ting-ham" very much the stuff of legend, along with rhyming "Wembley" and "trembly" :kink:

 

Just like 'Can't Fight This Feeling' which was a 1985 #16 hit for REO Speedwagon, 'Keep on Loving You' is a guilty pleasure that's very much a pleasure, widescreen AOR with a huge chorus. 'Swords Of A Thousand Men' is a raucous anthemic tune too.

Was REO Speedwagon the first example of a rock group going MOR in the 80s!

Stand and Deliver is a way better song from Adam and the Ants.

 

The REO song is a bit too MOR for my liking.

 

The Tenpole Tudor song is quite good but I prefer the follow up Wunderbar!

 

'Chequered Love' is also quite good but not one of my favourite Kim Wilde songs.

 

 

'Chequered Love' was the first big hit for Kim Wilde in my chart.

Adam and The Ants, REO Speedwagon and Ten Pole Tudor some good stuff popping up in the last couple of weeks. 'Einstein A Go Go' also quirky. Didn't come across that until after 'Norman Bates' was sent to BJSC and should've gone top 40!

Musclebound is one of Spandau Ballet's lesser known songs but is another good one from them. Keep On Loving You is a great soft rock song and I echo the love for Swords Of A Thousand Men.

23RD MAY

 

 

An entirely static top 3 for the first time in the 80s this week (except for the frozen week over New Year) sees Adam and the Ants, Shakin' Stevens, and Starsound form a barrier to all other tracks. But for the first time in its reign "Stand And Deliver" was under real pressure, it lost 31% week on week but still posts a sale of 134,000 verses Shaky's 124,000 (a new 1981 record for the No 2 position). The two tracks are racking up impressive sales between them with "Stand And Deliver" now on 432,000, "You Drive Me Crazy" on 295,000, even third place "Stars On 45" is still selling well on 77,000 last week (347,000 in total).

 

 

The rest of the top ten are languishing far behind, so badly that though Kim Wilde accelerates 9-4 she is over 20,000 behind Starsound on 51,000, with Tottenham Hotspur Football Club chasing her 8-5 (51,000) off the back of their victory over Manchester City in the FA cup final last Thursday, and Tenpole Tudor following suit 10-6 (51,000) all within 1,000 copies of each other.

 

 

No 1 in the US this week is Kim Carnes with her cover of the 1974 Jackie DeShannon track "Bette Davis Eyes, and the track looks like it could be heading to the top here as it shoots 20-10 (37,000). The track has been substantively altered into its current arrangement but the film star who it name checks is rumoured to be very happy with Carnes' version.

 

 

REO Speedwagon hold at No 7 this week frustratingly (50,000) whilst Madness and Ennio Morricone both struggle to stay in the top 10 dropping 4-8 (39,000) and 5-9 (38,000) respectively.

 

1- STAND AND DELIVER- Adam & The Ants (134,000)

2- YOU DRIVE ME CRAZY- Shakin Stevens (124,000)

3- STARS ON 45- Starsound (77,000)

4- CHEQUERED LOVE- Kim Wilde (51,000)

5- OSSIE’S DREAM (WAY TO WEMBLEY)- Spurs Football Team (51,000)

6- SWORDS OF A THOUSAND MEN- Ten Pole Tudor (51,000)

7- KEEP ON LOVING YOU- REO Speedwagon (50,000)

8- GREY DAY- Madness (39,000)

9- CHI MAI (THEME FROM “THE LIFE AND TIMES OF LLOYD GEORGE”)- Ennio Morricone (38,000)

10- BETTE DAVIS EYES- Kim Carnes (37,000)