been a bit hectic of late and am behind on this, oops! Catch up time.

 

Romeo & Juliet was a nice one from Dire Straits, and Slade getting a top 10 rock chanter was lovely to see after being absent for 4 years. Glam Rock survivors were very thin on the ground in the 80's though their influence was everywhere, even if just visually for synth acts not namechecking Roxy & Bowie. Talking of Roxy, they were long-overdue for a number one, so Jealous Guy was a great bonus from them - I certainly had a lot of residual love for them and the Lennon tribute (topping my charts) even though I much preferred their 70's heyday, compared to their recent mellow vibes. Headgirl was fun and rocking, and retro 50's was back too with Coast To Coast, still fun, and Southern Freeez heralded the mini boom in Brit jazzfunk acts for the 80's.

 

Kings Of The Wild Frontier showing Adam could drop anything and it would chart, though it was decent enough, the charting of pre-fame stuff would take it a step too far for me. Kids In America dopped Kim Wilde into the pop mainstream courtesy of her dad and brother, and not a million miles away from Ricky's Teen Wave attempt at pop stardom as a pre-teen in 1974, but Kids In America had 80's style and polish. She and the family are still fab, catch them on tour whenever I can, and it's basically a family business as it always was, right from the moment when Marty stopped having hits in the 60's and moved into songwriting.

 

Shaky hits the big time with a George Clooney's aunt cover, and one of his best records to boot. The first of his I properly liked. I took my aunty to see Whole Lotta Shakin' last week, a tour based on his career, enjoyable and loads of classic rock n roll and 60's instrumentals while Rebel Dean had costume changes, before the 2nd half covered most essential Shaky tracks. I never thought I'd hear surfer instrumentals like Wipeout, and 60's goodies like Nut Rocker, Apache in a live setting, so that was a real bonus.

 

Reward is a monster epic production, so exciting, Julian Cope never bettered it, though he had a largely good 80's career and into the 90's. Toyah is another touring survivor, her profile kept up with hubbie Robert Fripp & progrock mates, still fun, and she was a real character of the 1981 pop scene, It's A Mystery still crops up in her live set, a bit of fluff fun. The Who return, nice to see but I never rated it much, it's no My Generation, Pinball Wizard or I can See For Miles, all of which should have been chart-toppers....!

 

Lately is a gorgeous Stevie Wonder ballad, topped my chart, and stretched my love of Stevie's stuff to 14 years, the main difference being he was still as great as he ever was, and still relevant. By this time he'd had 3 number ones for me with loads more to come, both new and retro oldies. Bucks Fizz, catchy but not a massive fave of mine, I preferred Cheryl's previous chart-hit Bad Old Days with Coco, and expected that to be the end of her chart career. Oops, wrong!

 

Einstein A Gogo was deliciously off the wall synth, very 1981, and Linx still sound great, You're lying remains the best thing they did, but Intuition was the most commercial, deliciously fresh and upbeat. It's a shame they had such a short career, later hit So This Is Romance is also fab, and cynically lovely.

 

Chi Mai was a nice instrumental, Sugar Minott bringing some always-welcome reggae into the charts, but it was The jacksons and their amazing futuristic video that excited me in a not especially classic top 10, Can You Feel It was and is amazing, the best record to be released under the Jacksons name, and their first personal chart-topper (not solo Michael) since Show You The way To Go.

Stars On 45 debuts, nostalgia for Beatles, Abba and old music generally, but the hook intro and ending works in it's own right (see the recent Sgt Slick revamp) and is by far the best bit of the track as the sliced-up covers quickly get on your nerves along with the mundane clapalongs. Beatles, yay, though, always welcome. Madness' Grey Day probably my least fave track from the lads since The Prince, Night Games was great to see a hit, Graham Bonnet having been the singer of a big 1968 fave of mine, Only One Woman, as donated by the Bee Gees to The Marbles.

 

Adam's back with a bang, the big sensation of 1981 with Stand & Deliver, I bought it, it topped my chart, it brightened up my otherwise depressing life looking for a job (in vain) in the dead North. I also went big on REO Speedwagon's Keep On Loving You, also a chart-topper - must have been feeling sorry for myself as it's not a huge fave these days. I still like it, but more of a top 20 rating than a number 1. Chequered Love was more fab Glam/New Wave-ish pop from Kim Wilde, and Tenpole Tudor was a real out-there chantalong romp that still works (see TV & movie slots). Ossie's Dream was just effing awful, so got on my nerves.

 

Shaky's You Drive Me Crazy is one of his best records, and not an ancient cover, though obv keeps the rock'n'roll style, but Bette Davis Eyes is amazing, American acts starting to get properly into synthpop sounds and a breakthrough in the States where it was a monster hit. Still classic, though I suggest googling Marty Feldman Eyes (see Young Frankenstein) for a parody cover. I think Marty was OK with it the time, given his entire career took advantage of his looks. I hope so anyway!

 

I Want To Be Free was better than Four From Toyah, I thought, Smokey Robinson grabbing a much-deserved 2nd chart-topper with the lovely Being With You (another chart-topper for me) 20 years into his career and The Jam's Funeral Pyre was a cracking record (and surprisingly not a UK number one). Champaign was soul smoothness niceness, and Hazel O'Connor's Will You by far her best record, that sax solo so good it was released in it's own right later on.

 

An obscure Michael Jackson oldie signalled his status as a huge star, One Day In Your Life was 70's soul loveliness, all the rage this summer, and another chart-topper for me, Michael's 3rd. Odyssey's Roots were fab, their best record since Native New Yorker, and keeping them as one of disco's 80's survivors.

 

Phew, caught up!

I've just discovered upon Googling Kate Robbins (no idea who she is) that she is Emily Atack's mother!

 

Didn’t realise that, she doesn’t really look like her there!

They are also related to Paul McCartney. Emily Atack was on 'Who Do You Think You Are' a couple of years ago.

20TH JUNE

 

 

Smokey reigns supreme this week with an easy victory for "Being With You" which shifted 117,000 copies last week, meaning that whilst Michael Jackson moves into second place his sales increase of 20% to 94,000 is way short of the mark, perhaps a further TOTP boost this week could create a tighter race this week? Regardless "One Day In Your Life" is now Michael Jackson's highest peaking single.

 

 

 

Long a Country and Western star in the US Red Sovine released his track "Teddy Bear" back in 1976 in the states where it topped the Country charts, but it has taken 5 years to make it across the pond to finally hit it big here. Sadly it's too late for Sovine who died last year but the track entered last week at No 22 and soars to No 4 this week on a sale of 71,000, it's a tale of a disabled boy who speaks to truckers as his only friends, they all converge on his home to take him out for a spin- an odd tale all in all. Why is it back in the charts? Well you can think Capital FM's DJ and TV star Kenny Everett for that whose listeners voted it the second worse song last year- it's been in demand since but was wrapped up in litigation with the record label- now free of trouble it soars to the top 5.

 

 

 

After the dud of "Slow Motion" (No 33) Ultravox prove there is more to them than just "Vienna" as "All Stood Still" becomes a second top 10 for them. It should be noted of course that "Slow Motion" was actually a single from 1978 which was released as a cash in after "Vienna" hit it big so fans, if not the chart books, will state this is the real follow up, it's also the fourth single to be plucked from the album named after their biggest hit.

 

 

 

After last weeks sales extravaganza sales are generally slightly down, another bit of "Crossroads" exposure with a hasty script re-write sees Robbins fall 2-3 but increased sales fractionally to 93,000 and lost out to Jackson at the death, I omitted to mention that Robbins is the cousin of a certain Paul McCartney last week which must have helped her. In terms of sales gains only Hazell O'Connor records one of those as she lifts 9-8 (51,000), other than that sales are down regardless of movement, Champagne pop 6-5 (62,000) Odyssey climb 8-6 (54,000) and two much older songs continue to drop, Adam & The Ants 5-7 (52,000) and Shaky dips 7-10 (35,000) but with collective sales of 737,000 and 547,000 placing them at No 1 and No 6 for the YTD's, they've made their money. Also pop open the bubbly as "Stand And Deliver" becomes the biggest selling single of not only the year but of the 80s so far!

 

 

 

1- BEING WITH YOU- Smokey Robinson (117,000)

2- ONE DAY IN YOUR LIFE- Michael Jackson (94,000)

3- MORE THAN IN LOVE- Kate Robbins (93,000)

4- TEDDY BEAR- Red Sovine (71,000)

5- HOW BOUT US- Champaign (62,000)

6- GOING BACK TO MY ROOTS- Odyssey (54,000)

7- STAND AND DELIVER- Adam & The Ants (52,000)

8- WILL YOU- Hazell O’Connor (51,000)

9- ALL STOOD STILL- Ultravox (47,000)

10- YOU DRIVE ME CRAZY- Shakin Stevens (35,000)

 

terrible top 5

It’s been generally shocking year so far, with a few glorious exceptions of course.

27TH JUNE

 

 

A change of guard at the top this week as Michael Jackson claims his first solo No 1 single in the UK, "One Day In Your Life" did it the hard way though struggling to fend off the outgoing chart topper "Being With You" all week and eventually pulled clear toward the weekend triumphing by just over 10,000 copies. The Jackson track sold 102,000 copies last week, not a stellar total but it has already attracted 347,000 buyers, a case of slow and steady wins the day. Smokey Robinson can't be too disappointed with the result as "Being With You" has now sold 455,000 copies and should book its place in the top 10 singles of the year, we'll be recapping the first 6 months of 1981 in a fortnight.

 

 

 

becoming their sixth straight Top 10 hit "Ghost Town" jets 21-6 (50,000) this week for the troubled Specials. You may recall their tour late last year was accompanied by reports of violence in the crowd and rancour within the band, but something came from the experience, namely this track which is a response to events the band witnessed on the tour. It has been proclaimed by the music press as a soundtrack to the unrest in Brixton back in April of this year and the growing unemployment in the country.

 

 

 

Though she made her west end debut back in 1968 Elaine Paige has only really entered the public consciousness after her starring role in "Evita" three years ago and is now starring in a new musical "Cats" which is another success. From that musical "Memory" has become her first top 40 hit as It climbs 15-9 (37,000).

 

 

Outside of those mentioned there are two climbers within the top 10, Odyssey move a notch 6-5 (55,000) and Ultravox jump 1 place too 9-8 (44,000), there's also two non movers Kate Robbins at No 3 (84,000) and Red Sovine at No 4 (62,000) as well as two fallers Champaign 5-7 (49,000) and Hazel O'Connor 8-10 (36,000)

 

1- ONE DAY IN YOUR LIFE- Michael Jackson (102,000)

2- BEING WITH YOU- Smokey Robinson (92,000)

3- MORE THAN IN LOVE- Kate Robbins (84,000)

4- TEDDY BEAR- Red Sovine (62,000)

5- GOING BACK TO MY ROOTS- Odyssey (55,000)

6- GHOST TOWN- The Specials (50,000)

7- HOW BOUT US- Champaign (49,000)

8- ALL STOOD STILL- Ultravox (44,000)

9- MEMORY- Elaine Paige (37,000)

10- WILL YOU- Hazel O’Connor (36,000)

 

Ghost Town I kinda like, best in the top 10 together with the Odyssey one

That MJ track does nothing for me, a strange one to be his first #1.

 

Ghost Town is easily the best in the top 10.

'Ghost Town' is brilliant, easily the standout of the current top 10 for me too :wub:

'All Stood Still' by Ultravox is a good fun synthpop and guitar dance track, certainly way different to Vienna.

 

'Ghost Town' is good and atmospheric, its often described as a good social commentary track too.

Edited June 24, 20241 yr by TheSnake

Ghost Town is excellent - proper music with a message.

I would say ‘Ghost Town’ is one of the best xxx of the decade!

Spoilers

Oops sorry!! :(

4TH JULY

 

 

After last weeks struggle to make the top this week is an easy victory for Jackson as "One Day In Your Life" soars to a sale of 115,000 copies meaning it is now approaching 500,000 copies in total, it should be the 13th track to make the half million mark next week, interestingly the "Best Of" it is taken from debuts at No 70 this week but should shoot up the charts over the next month. Jackson looks unassailable for another week at least with the Specials flying 6-2 this week with "Ghost Town" on a sale of 71,000, a 42% increase but they are way off Jackson at present.

 

 

Smoky Robinson drops 2-5 this week adding 56,000 to his tally as he keeps ahead of Jackson on the YTD list.

 

 

Due for a third album in a few months Bad Manners are back after a couple of singles which failed to make the top 10. Their take on the "Can Can" debuted at No 18 last week and this week soars to No 3 (58,000) and could easily see itself with a real shot at No 1 next week. In making that move it also ties "Special Brew" as their largest hit which sold 393,000 copies, a high benchmark for their current hit to surpass.

 

 

 

New band alert! Imagination are fronted with former backing singer Leee John and named the band as a tribute to John Lennon (he's back again), the first fruits of the group is the track "Body Talk" which this week jumps 11-7 (50,000)

 

 

Odyssey are refusing to give up the fight with "Going Back To My Roots" climbing for a fifth week, this week it goes 5-4 (58,000), For the last four weeks it has sold within 4,000 copies of the other weeks, remarkable consistency. Elaine Paige also glides 8-6 (53,000) meaning the entire top 7 clear the 50,000 mark, it's a good time for single sales!

 

Three fallers hold up the top 10, Kate Robbins 3-8 (45,000), Red Sovine 4-9 (36,000) and Champaign 7-10 (34,000), all three are now spent forces.

 

1- ONE DAY IN YOUR LIFE- Michael Jackson (115,000)

2- GHOST TOWN- The Specials (71,000)

3- CAN CAN- Bad Manners (58,000)

4- GOING BACK TO MY ROOTS- Odyssey (58,000)

5- BEING WITH YOU- Smokey Robinson (56,000)

6- MEMORY- Elaine Paige (53,000)

7- BODY TALK- Imagination (50,000)

8- MORE THAN IN LOVE- Kate Robbins (45,000)

9- TEDDY BEAR- Red Sovine (36,000)

10- HOW BOUT US- Champaign (34,000)

 

Body Talk is similar style of slow funk to Musclebound by Spandau but a better song I think, and more synths - I first discovered Body Talk on an electronic 80s Ministry of Sound compilation.

 

Bad Manners version of Can Can is just so fun with the fairground synths.

After almost getting a top 10 filled with single covers we're back to sleeves being in the minority- wonder when we get an entire top 10 with picture sleeves! Must be at some point in 1981!