Crazy that Phil Collins released his solo debut in early 81 and 6 months later Genesis are already back with another album

(and they already had had an album in 1980)

 

the pace of album releases in the 80s was insane to say the least

Yay Tainted Love, I was aware if the 12" but can't say as I ever heard it or noticed if it revitalised song mixes. I would imagine ABBA did more for 12 inch sales than tainted love did, though. That was certainly the first Big One with Blue Monday the second.

 

Can I take the opportunity to mention again that I've seen Marc Almond twice? Thanks. Once in concert, about 10 or 15 years ago, and once 20 years ago when he was doing a PA in Playa Del Ingles, Gran Canaria during Pride. I was sat on a stool in Centre Stage bar (based around Hollywood divas and singers) and walked by, popped his head through the door to have a look, and carried on walking. I was just about to advise him which classic 60's oldies he should tackle as covers as well, tch! (He's done most of them since anyway) :lol:

 

Gary Numan really went downhill fast in terms of my interest in his singles from 1981 onwards - bar the brilliant Bill Sharpe collab in 85) and Genesis were a bit ho hum compared to Phil's solo stuff, at least until 1983 when they dropped a career-best single.

12TH SEPTEMBER

 

 

Another week and barely any slackening of the pace for "Tainted Love" as it completes another 170,000 copies to take its total to 463,000 putting it right on course to be one of the biggest hits of the year if not the top seller itself. We'll take a look at the best sellers of the year to date in a few weeks but there is no doubting the way that the song has certainly jelled with the British record buyer in part due to a mildly controversial appearance on TOTP. The pair are actually the first duo to hit No 1 since John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John back in 1978.

 

 

 

Were it not for the extraordinary showing of Soft Cell at No 1 then no doubt we would be celebrating a second No 1 (not to mention a second debut at the top) for Adam & The Ants. "Prince Charming" is the title track from the most eagerly awaited album of 1981 which is due in November and it will be a miracle if it doesn't top the charts, the follow up to the first release from the era "Stand And Deliver" (it remains the biggest selling single of the year) this week "Prince Charming" debuts at No 2 on a sale of 79,000. In a normal week I would be stating that nothing could prevent its charge to the top next week but maybe the high bar set by Soft Cell might be to much to overcome!

 

 

 

Now on his 45th top 10 hit Cliff Richard will shortly be issuing his next album "Wired For Sound" and the title track bounds 11-4 (63,000) this week to become his biggest hit since last year's "Carrie" peaked at the same position. It's co-written by BA Robertson who is gearing up for a release of his own next month in a bit to keep his tag as popstar (in his own right) alive, and by way of trivia the video is filmed in Milton Keynes!

 

 

 

A 21st top 10 hit for Rolling Stones is up next, "Start Me Up" is already a major US release and its rise this week from 13-7 ( 54,000) to become their highest placed track since "Miss You" back in 1978 indicates the same over here. Interestingly the track actually dates back to 1975 when the band recorded it as a reggae song, subsequently it has been remade over the years into different versions but never good enough until it made the new album "Tattoo You" which debuts on the album charts at No 2 today behind "Dead Ringer" by Meat Loaf.

 

 

 

The subject of a mix up at the pressing plant saw initial copies of the Human League's "Love Action" (this week's No 6- 57,000) actually being pressed with "Souvenir" by OMD on the A-Side. Well both songs are now in the top 10 independent of each other with the OMD song storming 23- 8 (53,000) to equal the peak of last year's "Enola Gay" and shares the same county house as backdrop to the promo as the Cliff Richard track, namely Buckinghamshire (in this case Stowe House). With a third album due before Christmas it proves the wealth of expected big sellers due before the big day itself in December, it also allows a chance at vocals for Paul Humphreys.

 

 

Four fallers also to mention, Aneka slacks off the pace dropping 2-3 (72,000) and was lucky to hold the top 3, ELO drop 4-5 (61,000) despite a sales increase, UB40 head into reverse 7-9 (47,000) as even a TOTP performance can't help them, and Gary Numan can't make it into the top 5 and dips 6-10 (36,000) but his album goes in at No 4 to compensate.

 

 

1- TAINTED LOVE- Soft Cell (170,000)

2- PRINCE CHARMING- Adam & The Ants (79,000)

3- JAPANESE BOY- Aneka (72,000)

4- WIRED FOR SOUND- Cliff Richard (63,000)

5- HOLD ON TIGHT- E.L.O (61,000)

6- LOVE ACTION (I BELIEVE IN LOVE)- Human League (57,000)

7- START ME UP- The Rolling Stones (54,000)

8- SOUVENIR- O.M.D (53,000)

9- ONE IN TEN- UB40 (47,000)

10- SHE’S GOT CLAWS- Gary Numan (36,000)

 

Yeah I’m not too bothered about certifications either Gezza.

 

Great thread as usual though, thanks :)

What a really strong top 10 this week :o

 

All of the new ones are decent, even the Cliff Richard song is one of his better efforts. OMD, Adam & the Ants are exceptional and the Rolling Stones also with one of their best

I generally prefer more upbeat synthpop but the OMD song is a good chill-out track.

 

'Start Me Up' is a good track that I have known and liked for ages as my parents had a Rolling Stones best of cassette.

Prince Charming is rather iconic!

Adam & the Ants are exceptional

 

Stop being dandy*, showing me you're handsome!

 

'Prince Charming' is great though, its medieval folk music influenced and a very different sound for the charts.

Edited July 4, 20241 yr by TheSnake

^medieval folk music... please stop :D

Haha - I like Snake and his quirky comparisons!

19TH SEPTEMBER

 

 

Well it turned into a bit of a tussle for the top spot this week but it was all over before the weekend with "Prince Charming" commanding a slimmish lead of 17,000 in the end and shifting a cool 146,000 copies for Adam & The Ants. It's their second No 1 single of the year selling 225,000 in 14 days it looks set to deliver them another massive seller for the act of the year. Minor controversy occurred this week when it was alleged that Ant had "borrowed" the riff from none other than Rolf Harris and his track "War Canoe" from the early 60s- this, it transpired, is true but merely because they are both based on an old Mauri folk song.

 

 

"Tainted Love" therefore drops to No 2, yet in selling 129,000 copies it has the highest tally for a record in that position in the whole of 1981 and beats the previous high of 124,00 recorded by Shakin Stevens' "You Drive Me Crazy" back in May, it also takes its total sales to 592,000 copies and is now in the top 5 for the YTD.

 

 

Already a hit in France under the title "Haut Les Mains" Ottawan looked to be joining the long list of one hit wonders with the massive "D.I.S.C.O" being followed up by "You're OK" fizzling out at No 56 and not much after, they have however rekindled their UK chart career with another song that the UK public seem to have brought back in their suitcases. "Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)" leaps 11-4 (82,000) this week and looks like it could at least replicate the chart peak of "D.I.S.C.O" if not its total sales of 620,000. It was released originally back in April but once again the power of the summer holiday proves its worth!

 

 

 

Talking about career resurrections, Alvin Stardust arrives in the top 10, 26-8 (47,000) with "Pretend". He last had a hit in 1975 when "Sweet Cheatin Rita" made No 37 and it now takes a cover of the Nat "King" Cole classic which spent 5 weeks in the runner up position in 1953 to give him another hit- let's see if this can do any better!

 

 

Elsewhere OMD make waves with "Souvenir" which climbs 8-3 (83,000) but is way off the pace of the top 2. Moving down this week are Cliff Richard 4-5 (63,000) though he has his album out this week, Aneka 3-6 (54,000), ELO 5-7 (49,000), Rolling Stones 7-9 (43,000) and Human League 6-10 (42,000). Interestingly we found out this week that Hansa's Japanese licencing partner turned down releasing "Japanese Boy" in that country as it was "too Chinese"- go figure.

 

1- PRINCE CHARMING- Adam & The Ants (146,000)

2- TAINTED LOVE- Soft Cell (129,000)

3- SOUVENIR- O.M.D (83,000)

4- HANDS UP (GIVE ME YOUR HEART)- Ottawan (82,000)

5- WIRED FOR SOUND- Cliff Richard (63,000)

6- JAPANESE BOY- Aneka (54,000)

7- HOLD ON TIGHT- E.L.O (49,000)

8- PRETEND- Alvin Stardust (47,000)

9- START ME UP- Rolling Stones (43,000)

10- LOVE ACTION (I BELIEVE IN LOVE)- Human League (42,000)

 

Haha - I like Snake and his quirky comparisons!

 

Ridicule is nothing to be scared of

Wonderful that 'Souvenir' gave OMD a Top 3 hit, there's something enigmatically beautiful about it.

Never expected Souvenir to sell that much, what a result!

26TH SEPTEMBER

 

 

Both of the top 2 records this week hold steady despite a decline in sales for both tracks of 8% and 31% respectively to record a total of 134,000 and 88,000. Cumulatively "Prince Charming" has sprinted to 359,000 in just 21 days, an impressive feat regardless of the act, but it is still a long way behind the 618,000 sales of "Tainted Love" - where that places it on the YTD we'll find out next week.

 

 

It's a strong week for sales with Ottawan advancing 4-3 (86,000) and almost sneaking past "Tainted Love", and OMD shifting 80,000 copies of "Souvenir" but lose a spot 3-4.

 

 

Lionel Richie is better known as the lead singer of The Commodores who were last in the top 10 with "Still" in 1979, he now strikes out as a solo act with "Endless Love which Is taken from the film of the same name. In tow he has Diana Ross who has had a quiet 1981 after a rather stellar 1980 and this is her 14th top 10 as a credited artist, it's also currently in its 7th week at No 1 Stateside where it is on the money to become the biggest hit of the year. It climbs 13-7 (65,000) this week.

 

 

 

Dating back to the 50s and called, at various times, the Chicken Dance, the Duck Dance and the little bird dance and composed as a folk song in Switzerland, the "Birdie Song" has landed in the UK. Though the exact roots are unknown it was recorded by Dutch act "De Electronica's" last year as a B-Side which some bright DJ decided sounded better than the A side and flipped it. It went on to be a massive Dutch hit and success around Europe followed in a slew of alternative versions, here in the UK an entirely reputable producer, Henry Hadaway, produced a version for which he invented the group The Tweets, and this week finds himself soaring 25-8 (47,000) with the "Birdie Song", a far cry from working with some of the big names from 50s/60s pop. The "original" Dutch version climbs 59-29 this week and could join it in the top 10.

 

 

 

Becoming the 6th track to debut in the top 10 this year The Police return with a song which has already been blanked by BBC due its subject, namely the current troubles in Northern Ireland. "Invisible Sun" shoots straight into No 9 (35,000) and is the first single from their forthcoming album "Ghost In The Machine" which is due in a fortnight's time and the track is also a 7th top 10 hit for the group.

 

 

 

The Pointer Sisters are already 12 years old but have only 2 minor UK hits to their name thus far though they are a big act in their native US where they have achieved several top 10 hits, including "Slow Hand" which provides them with a top 10 hit this week as it glides 11-10 (35,000). The track has already peaked at No 2 in the US behind "Endless Love" and is again seemingly beaten by that song in the UK listings.

 

 

Two other songs to mention, Alvin Stardust continues to impress 8-5 (79,000) and Cliff drops 5-6 (66,000).

 

 

1- PRINCE CHARMING- Adam & The Ants (134,000)

2- TAINTED LOVE- Soft Cell (88,000)

3- HANDS UP (GIVE ME YOUR HEART)- Ottawan (86,000)

4- SOUVENIR- O.M.D (80,000)

5- PRETEND- Alvin Stardust (79,000)

6- WIRED FOR SOUND- Cliff Richard (66,000)

7- ENDLESS LOVE- Diana Ross & Lionel Richie (65,000)

8- THE BIRDIE SONG (BIRDIE DANCE)- The Tweets (47,000)

9- INVISIBLE SUN- The Police (35,000)

10- SLOW HAND- The Pointer Sisters (35,000)

 

And yes I think this is the first top 10 of the 80s where we have proper single sleeves on every single!

I love the cover to Tainted Love

oh The Birdie Song :D That was called El Baile de los Pajaritos in Spain and was absolutely everywhere

 

always liked Endless Love, even if it's a bit cheesy.

 

Invisible Sun, don't recall it much, never clicked

Prince Charming was great fun, Diana Dors in the video was iconic, the former 50's sex symbol was a national treasure by this time as she embraced her more matronly figure and took no BS from anyone in a self-confident amusing fashion. It's not as good as Stand & Deliver or Antrap though, and peaked at 2 for me. Hitting the top spot, I bought Souvenir, the change of pace for OMD was easily as good as Messages and better than Enola Gay.

 

Wired For Sound was Cliff's most credible record since We Don't Talk Anymore and signalled his unstoppable second-wind career (thanks largely to Alan "a-ha" Tarney) which for me was better than his old stuff. Great record. Hands Up was more Ottawan fun, def big in local Youth Club discos, as was the unstoppable Birdy Song which I still refuse to dance to as much as I did then. I have my dignity to consider! :lol:

 

Start Me Up is the last but one classic Stones rock track - since 1983 they have been largely uninspired bar occasional oddities like Ghost Town. Not bad, but not top notch. Alvin's 50's-styled rockabilly re-imagining of Pretend was fab as he changes direction once again for a 3rd career in a third decade. Mansfield Woodhouse lad made good.

 

Invisible Sun was the best Police record that nobody remembers, haunting, and another chat-topper for me, their 5th. I think it may be their best record to date these days, give or take Message In A Bottle and Can't Stand Losing You. Shame it's been forgotten! Shame Endless Love hasnt been forgotten! The moment I went off both Lionel & Diana who'd been downgrading their artistic output since preparing to leave Motown (Di) and The Commodores (Li). They'd both comeback mid-80's with good stuff, mind.

 

The Pointer Sisters should have hit bigger earlier, but better late than never, Slow Hand is good, but Fire is better. And Automatic will be awesome in 3 years time.

3RD OCTOBER

 

 

"Prince Charming" continues to lead a charmed life at the top as it clings onto No 1 but again loses a further 13% sales to clock in at 116,000 for this week but more importantly had another easy week at the top! It will move over the half million this week as the group top the charts for an 8th week- a new 80s record. Returning to the "Prince Charming/ War Canoe" issue of a few weeks ago, it seems that while Rolf Harris has officially been silent on the matter, his label is re-releasing the latter track this week to cash-in, just in case you wanted a copy.

 

 

The Police's "Invisible Sun" continues to bask in its mild controversy at it jumps 9-2 (69,000) and doubles its sales. it managed to just, at the death, catch Ottawan (68,000) to keep them in third place but they are both too far from Adam & The Ants to suggest they will make up the difference next week. TOTP and the BBC have declined to show the promo as it shows scenes from "the troubles" and instead used the track as playout with still photos of the band,

 

 

The concept of a ghost haunting a commuter isn't a common one but clearly ex 10ccers saw a gap in the market and created "Under Your Thumb" which this week materialises 11-6 (63,000). Though it isn't the duo's first release since they left their famous group it is the first one to chart, and they even show their skill for producing as they direct the promo, they also have a high benchmark to recreate the success of 10cc after accruing 11 top 10 singles including 2 chart toppers.

 

 

 

Moving ahead of the rest of the field again Madness score a 7th top 10 hit in the 80s today, which is fittingly enough from their new album "7" which is finally out next week. Following Godley & Creme's rather unusual theme Madness have chosen a song about a criminal who tries to convince others of his innocence, all of which is backed up by another typically energetic Madness promo. The group will also feature in their own film "Take It Or Leave It" out later in the month and will detail the band's rise to fame which is part financed by the group themselves.

 

 

So what of our other tracks in the top 10, well climbers come from Alvin Stardust who is quite done yet as he moves 5-4 (65,000) and the Tweets 8-7 (60,000) who make a decent gain for retail despite a 1 place rise. Not so good news for OMD who recede 4-5 (63,000), Lionel Richie & Diana Ross who slip 7-9 (57,000) and Soft Cell who have a dramatic drop 2-8 (57,000) and have a 35% loss of sales as the public seem to have had enough for now. Regardless it is a very strong week at retail

 

1- PRINCE CHARMING- Adam & The Ants (116,000)

2- INVISIBLE SUN- The Police (69,000)

3- HANDS UP (GIVE ME YOUR HEART)- Ottawan (68,000)

4- PRETEND- Alvin Stardust (65,000)

5- SOUVENIR- O.M.D (63,000)

6- UNDER YOUR THUMB- Godley & Creme (63,000)

7- THE BIRDIE SONG (THE BIRDIE DANCE)- The Tweets (60,000)

8- TAINTED LOVE- Soft Cell (57,000)

9- ENDLESS LOVE- Diana Ross & Lionel Richie (57,000)

10- SHUT UP- Madness (55,000)