14TH NOVEMBER

 

 

Celebrating their fourth chart topper today The Police are back on top with "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" which slips past Altered Images 3-1 (76,000) to become 1981's 16th No 1 hit, a marked come down from 1980 which recorded 24 in total, it was, in some respects, the last track standing as all other challenges appeared to fade. Altered Images meanwhile cling to No 2 spot though it loses sales at 67,000 as it faded through the week.

 

 

 

Finishing fourth in the Eurovision song contest in 1970 Julio Iglesias has been recording albums in French and Spanish during the 70s and creating an not inconsiderable career on the continent and indeed is the biggest selling artist on CBS worldwide outstripping even Adam & The Ants in sales over 1981. Two years ago he signed a worldwide deal with CBS and began recording in English which has now yielded a top 10 single here, though the single itself is sung mostly in his mother tongue. "Begin The Beguine (Volver A Empezar)" sprints 21-7 (54,000) today and is a cover of a Cole Porter 1935 composition from the musical "Jubilee" and has been covered by Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and Liberace among others but never with this success in the UK charts. The former Real Madrid Goalkeeper is now a bona fide pop star- could it hit the back of the net?

 

 

 

Duets between big acts sometime hit the right vein, and this week "Under Pressure" sees Bowie and Queen combine and become the 11th track in 1981 to debut in the top 10. It enters this week at No 8 (43,000) to become Queen's 11th top 10 hit and Bowie's 15th, it started out as a Queen track with a working title of "Feel Like" but was re-written substantively with the help of Bowie who was due to record backing vocals for another Queen track which was subsequently scrapped. Incidentally Queen are No 1 on the album charts today with their "Greatest Hits" which doesn't feature this track, and holds off new albums by Adam & The Ants, Depeche Mode, OMD and another act who makes his top 10 presence felt today- more on that in a minute.

 

 

 

Rapidly becoming pin ups thanks in the main to front man Nick Heyward, Haircut 100 are the new kids on the block in the chart world with debut single "Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)" thundering 19-9 (42,000) . The band only formed in its present line up last year and were signed earlier this year so things have happened pretty quickly in the grand scheme of things.

 

 

 

Like Bowie, Rod Stewart is today enjoying his 15th top 10 hit with the lead single from his album of the same title ("Tonight I'm Yours)". The album debuts at No 8 with the single up 13-10 (40,000) to become Stewart's first top 10 hit in 3 years the longest absence from the top flight since his solo career began back in 1971. Stewart is also rumoured be funding the screening of his L.A show via satellite over here over the festive period in what is thought to be a first, and is currently in talks with the BBC over the project..

 

 

So what's going on elsewhere in the top 10? The Four Tops climb 5-3 (65,000) and OMD follow suit 7-5 (60,000) whilst Squeeze hold at No 4 (62,000) but the big faller is Barbara Gaskin & Dave Stewart who topple 1-6 (56,000) the biggest fall since St Winifred's School Choir back in January this year.

 

 

 

1- EVERY LITTLE THING SHE DOES IS MAGIC- The Police (76,000)

2- HAPPY BIRTHDAY- Altered Images (67,000)

3- WHEN SHE WAS MY GIRL- Four Tops (65,000)

4- LABELLED WITH LOVE- Squeeze (62,000)

5- JOAN OF ARC- O.M.D (60,000)

6- IT’S MY PARTY- David Stewart & Barbara Gaskin (56,000)

7- BEGIN THE BEGUINE (VOLVER A EMPAZAR)- Julio Iglesias (54,000)

8- UNDER PRESSURE- David Bowie & Queen (43,000)

9- FAVOURITE SHIRTS (BOY MEETS GIRL)- Haircut 100 (42,000)

10- TONIGHT I’M YOURS- Rod Stewart (40,000)

 

Ah the introduction of Haircut 100 one of my fav discoveries of the old TOTP reruns, kinda like the McFly of this era.

 

 

Is that a spoiler? :o

Hope not, as that would be the third time!!!

oh surprising #1 by The police, considering it was a post-album single

but it's one of their very bests

 

so Adam Ant only could debut at #2??? That's insane considering they were THE band of 1981!!

I see OMD debuted at #5 and DM at #10

 

Does anyone know how much Adam & the Ants sold for #2?

'Under Pressure' is an epic, have long appreciated that song, and its social commentary music video is apt, like a part 2 to the Specials 'Ghost Town' really.

Edited July 13, 20241 yr by TheSnake

Playing catch-up again and my favourite additions since last commenting are 'O Superman', 'Happy Birthday', 'Joan of Arc' + 'Under Pressure' <3

 

Wow at how close Altered Images came to #1 :o I do love the Dave/Barbara song more but do wish they'd had one less week at the top so that had a turn too, aw.

Does anyone know how much Adam & the Ants sold for #2?

No sorry- no information on that one sadly- album figures pre mid 80s are virtually non-existent.

No worries - I would have assumed it would have been a huge seller following the success of their debut and the two very popular singles from it

No worries - I would have assumed it would have been a huge seller following the success of their debut and the two very popular singles from it

Relatively- it was the 8th best selling album of 81, total sales of albums were 92 million in the year which was equivalent to 2013 approximately to give you an idea of size- not massive.

It's My Party was a fabulous number 1 with the intro in particular standing out. Thomas Dolby plays the role of Johnny in the video, a year before his first chart hit, rather like Steve Strange appearing in the video for David Bowie's Ashes To Ashes.

 

I didn't like O Superman at the time but really appreciate it now as a unique top 3 hit. Open Your Heart, Joan Of Arc and Under Pressure are also great additions.

amazed people like Open Your Heart, those flutes are evil :D

amazed people like Open Your Heart, those flutes are evil :D

 

It actually reminds me of the Blue Peter flute theme tune, not evil but a bit random!

21ST NOVEMBER

 

 

For artists who have between them sold millions of singles and had 26 top 10 hits it may come as a surprise to note that prior to “Under Pressure” Bowie and Queen had only had three chart toppers to their joint credit. They add to that tally today with the aforementioned song which leapfrogs 8-1 (85,000), both acts are busy touring at present which explains why there is no appearance from the acts themselves in the promo. Queen hold at the top of the album charts holding off Adam & The Ants much to the surprise of many insiders who thought that those ants couldn’t be stopped this year.

 

 

The police clock in at No 2 as they drop off the top but sell just 73,000, a reduction from last week which bucks the general trend of new No 1 singles which sell well off the back of the associated press, perhaps with Christmas fast approaching their album seems a better present?

 

 

Two new hits this week for tracks which are already big sellers stateside. First up is Olivia Newton-John who isn’t a star used to courting controversy but “Physical” is getting some commentators in the US hot under the collar thanks to some of the lyrics and a rather risqué ending to the promo video. It is certainly a more sexual image than many are used to but it seems to have paid off as the song is now No 1 in the US and climbs 11-7 (49,000) here to become her first top 10 single since she made No 1 last year with “Xanadu”. Rumour has it that it was offered to Rod Stewart who turned it down, he must be regretting it now as his own “Tonight I’m Yours” does climb 10-8 (47,000) but is not below Newton-John.

 

 

 

After a pretty amazing 1979 which saw Earth Wind & Fire score three top 10 hits the band had a less than impressive 1980 releasing 4 singles none of which got higher than No 29. They’re back with a new album and find themselves back in the top flight as “Let’s Groove” rushes 20-9 (43,000) proving that there is still some room in the market for some old fashioned disco!

 

 

A couple of fallers this week, Four Tops drop 3-6 (55,000), and Squeeze take a big tumble 4-10 (42,000) whilst OMD hold steady at No 5 (57,000). Two climbers as well- Julio Iglesias edges nearer the top 6-3 (66,000) and Haircut 100 make a more impressive move 9-4 (62,000) and could make a challenge to the top next week.

 

 

 

1- UNDER PRESSURE- David Bowie & Queen (85,000)

2- EVERY LITTLE THING SHE DOES IS MAGIC- The Police (73,000)

3- BEGIN THE BEGUINE (VOLVER A EMPAZAR)- Julio Iglesias (66,000)

4- FAVOURITE SHIRTS (BOY MEETS GIRL)- Haircut 100 (62,000)

5- JOAN OF ARC- O.M.D (57,000)

6- WHEN SHE WAS MY GIRL- Four Tops (55,000)

7- PHYSICAL- Olivia Newton-John (49,000)

8- TONIGHT I’M YOURS- Rod Stewart (47,000)

9- LET’S GROOVE- Earth, Wind & Fire (43,000)

10- LABELLED WITH LOVE- Squeeze (42,000)

 

 

My favourite Ultravox song made #16 in the UK charts at around this time, an epic!

 

Under Pressure, I bought that one and topped my chart, then I went off it a bit quite quickly - being Bowie & Queen it was almost obligatory to like it, but it took Vanilla Ice to help me come back to it again. No honestly! Tonight I'm Yours is decent Rod, he still had a bit of an edge to his dancier tracks at this stage before the big fab one drops in 2 years. Physical was a bit of a change of pace and massive in the USA, the video was considered a bit naughty but it really wasn't. Gymn bunnies holding hands and then Livvie going off with a big bloke was funny. Culturally this was moment going to the gymn became a cultural phenomenon that hasnt eased up, and perfect bodies have been expected ever since. No pressure then.... The record is fun.

 

 

Let's Groove is top earth Wind & Fire, love that synthed-up electronic "boogie down" vocal and the video state of the art special effects. One last gasp before 70's disco officially died, pretty much. Didnt like Begin The Beguine at the time, but it's a pretty good oldie song actually - it's just Julio's version that is a little on the MOR side. Haircut 100, and Nick Heyward was quite the fresh new boy-ish pin-up, and their brand of popfunk was very enjoyable for about 12 months, before he ditched t'others for a patchy solo career that was never quite as big, but sometimes as good as the band. favourite Shirts is funkfilled fun.

Never realised just how close Altered Images were to the #1 spot, shame they couldn't quite make it.

Ouch get Julio Iglesias out of the t10!!! Worst Spanish export ever!

Happy with that new #1 and 'Let's Groove' is a tune! Earth, Wind & Fire have a great trio of signature songs (although 'Boogie Wonderland' is my favourite)