so great It's My Party climbed all the way to #1, beating the Birdie song too

 

glad to have the first DM top 10. Their later material was much better, especially love the Music for the Masses era

Ooh that was a close thing, thank goodness Birdie Song didnt hold on to the top spot :)

 

Open My Heart was the first of 6 consecutive Human League chart-toppers for me, a great pop tune (though they did look unfavourably on it for quite some years!) and Dare is easily one of the 10 greatest albums of the 80's. They do a chunk of it in concert still, and it totally bops albeit in a dark fashion in places. So many of the tracks could have been an early and mid-1982 single (but weren't). Things That Dreams Are Made Of and Seconds especially.

 

Toyah's best record to date with Thunder In The Mountains, and she was doing a great Queen Boadicea in the video, and Depeche keeping up with fluffy synth pop, looking like 15-year-olds, much more Erasure than later Depeche, courtesy of Vince-soon-to-leave for Yazoo. Catchy but preferred later singles for both acts, I'm guessing it's Girls Aloud that made it so popular as it was never that remembered before then.

 

Bad Manners still upping the fun levels. So that makes 2 acts I saw at the time in Bad Manners and Depeche Mode, and two I caught in later years - Toyah I've seen twice in the last 10 years, great fun and energetic, and Human League from the 90's onwards around 6 times I reckon, one of the best nights out guaranteed. Catch 'em at Christmas!

I think you may have meant the Saturdays instead of Girls Aloud :D

24TH OCTOBER

 

 

A whopping 5 new hits in the top 10 this week mean we have a lot to get through in this report. None of the new entries can deny a second week at the top for Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin who improve their weekly total to 112,000 and moves over the 300,000 mark since its release.

 

 

 

A fortnight ago Laurie Anderson was unknown in the pop charts though as a performing artist she was known in the art world. Taking inspiration from Massenet's 1885 opera "Le Cid", "O Superman" crashed in at No 18 last week and this week zooms to No 2 (93,000) championed as it is by Radio 1 DJ John Peel, it's certainly one of the more unusual tracks to make the top 10 this year- could it go all the way next week given Stewart & Gaskin are hardly leaving the field behind? At 8 minutes long it is now officially the longest track to be a hit, its eruption on the charts is due to the aforementioned Radio 1 plays which extended to Noel Edmonds and Kenny Everett and generated pent up demand for the track.

 

 

 

Speaking of John Peel he's also partly responsible for the success of Altered Images, another band he has championed during his time. Lead singer Grogan may be just as famous for her role in this year's "Gregory's Girl" but that didn't prevent the bands first two singles failing to trouble the top 40 (though "Dead Popstars" did suffer the fate of an unfortunate release date in the immediate aftermath of Lennon's death). "Happy Birthday" however has no trouble making the band stars and duly catapults 16-5 (71,000) today.

 

 

 

A seventh track to debut in the top 10 this year "Absolute Beginners" is also the second one to do so for The Jam, equalling the achievement of Adam & The Ants. The title is taken from one of Weller's favourite novels by Colin MacInnes and is again a stand alone single though the band are back in the studio recording a new album for 1982 release, taking out of the equation imports and re-issues of their old singles this is the fourth consecutive official Jam single to debut in the big 10- the first time this has been done since Slade in the mid 70s. It debuts at No 7 on a sale of 58,000

 

 

 

After three hits which failed to climb any higher than No 30 Elvis Costello & his attractions finally hit the mark again with a cover of a Country hit for Jerry Chesnut , "A Good Year For The Roses" which climbs this week 14-9 (58,000) and is from an album consisting of C & W covers "Almost Blue" which is released next week.

 

 

 

Allen Toussaint wrote many songs under the pseudonym Naomi Neville (his mother's maiden name to circumvent a contract he'd signed) including famously Labelle's "Lady Marmalade", he also wrote a song called "It's Raining" (not the same Darts hit from 1978) which has now been covered by Shakin Stevens. After Debuting at No 40 a fortnight ago it sprinted to No 11 last week but this week moves just a spot to No 10 (48,000) proving that with his album top 3 this may be a single too far from the current campaign.

 

 

In other news Toyah are still moving northward 5-4 (76,000) to equal the peak set by "Four From Toyah") and the Human League hold at No 6 (60,000) as they sell fractionally more this week than last week but do enter at No 2 on the album chart. The Tweets give up the fight and drop 2-3 (81,000) with a nice sales increase thanks to TOTP but a week too late (popular thought is that sales split between it and the Electronicas version ultimately cost it the No 1 spot), and Godley & Crème tumble 3-8 (58,000).

 

1- IT’S MY PARTY- Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin (112,000)

2- O SUPERMAN- Laurie Anderson (93,000)

3- THE BIRDIE SONG (THE BIRDIE DANCE)- The Tweets (81,000)

4- THUNDER IN THE MOUNTAINS- Toyah (76,000)

5- HAPPY BIRTHDAY- Altered Images (71,000)

6- OPEN YOUR HEART- Human League (60,000)

7- ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS- The Jam (58,000)

8- UNDER YOUR THUMB- Godley & Crème (58,000)

9- GOOD YEAR FOR THE ROSES- Elvis Costello& The Attractions (58,000)

10- IT’S RAINING- Shakin Stevens (48,000)

 

 

Finally we say goodbye to Legs & Co on TOTP, they will still be dancing on the show but as part of a larger pool of dancers now called Zoo who will consist of both male and female dancers. The producers have stated that the current troupe of 6 ladies was too restrictive, they have been the regular outfit in the studio since 1976!.

'O Superman' :wub: what an extraordinary song to hit #2 so quickly when that still rarely happened even for established acts, but fantastic to see! It's a big favourite for the Sunday afternoon listening sessions group. Happy to see Altered Images here too, that song is a year-round joy.

31ST OCTOBER

 

 

Another week on top for Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin looked like a close run thing until the weekend when "It's My Party" created some clear blue water between itself and Altered Images "Happy Birthday" as the two tracks posted sales of 93,000 and 71,000 respectively. As Gaskin and Stewart lost 17% and Altered Images barely moved at all (but that was without TOTP exposure), a change of guard at the top next week looks likely.

 

 

 

Causing a few raised eyebrows when it debuted at a lowly No 27 last week, "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" shoots in the right direction this week to No 6 (57,000) for the Police. It's a bit of a quick 2nd release with their previous hit "Invisible Sun" which is only 6 weeks old and is still sitting at No 26 this week, there are reports the band have rush released the track after the relative failure at radio of the lead single, the official line however is that this track was released in Europe and US as the lead single from the album and the record label here are worried that imports will flood the market and harm its eventual UK release. Meanwhile parent album "Ghost In The Machine" drops 1-3 this week after 3 weeks of ruling the roost to make way for the Human League.

 

 

 

Two years after "Up The Junction" and "Cool For Cats" both ended up in the runner spot, Squeeze are back with "Labelled With Love". It's the third release from "East Side Story" and is a slight surprise hit given the first two singles disappointed at No's 35 and 41, it's co-produced by a certain Elvis Costello who is himself struggling to make much headway this week moving 9-8 (49,000) but the B-side of the current Squeeze track is also attracting some attention. Entitled "Squabs on Forty Fab" it's a parody on the current medley fad being, as it is, a segued collection of their previous hits. It rises 19-9 (45,000) this week.

 

 

Laurie Anderson fades as fast as she arrived proving rather a marmite hit as it retreats 2-3 (69,000) and is joined in the fallers by The Tweets 3-5 (57,000) but it does sell its 400,000 to recompense, and Toyah drop 4-7 (52,000). The Jam drive 7-4 (60,000) but don't look like troubling the top 2 unless something dramatic happens given that most Jam singles are now quite front loaded and the track barely increased in sales week on week, whilst Shaky can't progress beyond No 10 (44,000) though he does return to the No 2 spot on the album charts.

 

1- IT’S MY PARTY- David Stewart & Barbara Gaskin (93,000)

2- HAPPY BIRTHDAY- Altered Images (71,000)

3- O SUPERMAN- Laurie Anderson (69,000)

4- ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS- The Jam (60,000)

5- THE BIRDIE SONG (THE BIRDIE DANCE)- The Tweets (57,000)

6- EVERY LITTLE THING SHE DOES IS MAGIC- The Police.(57,000)

7- THUNDER IN THE MOUNTAINS- Toyah (52,000)

8- GOOD YEAR FOR THE ROSES- Elvis Costello (49,000)

9- LABELLED WITH LOVE- Squeeze (45,000)

10- IT’S RAINING- Shakin Stevens (44,000)

 

I love the song 'Up The Junction' and 'Cool For Cats' is good but 'Labelled For Love' isn't great imo.

Oh really liking Happy Birthday, don't think I ever heard it before

the Elvis Costello is so weird, almost sounds like Garth Brookes - If tomorrow never comes

7TH NOVEMBER

 

 

One of the closest run weeks in chart history (and certainly in the 80s) sees both "It's My Party" and "Happy Birthday" sell virtually the same amount of copies to keep the top two on lockdown for a further week. In the end under 20 sales separated the two tracks with both songs recording a sale of 73,000 copies, that's a decline of 21% for Barbara Gaskin and Dave Stewart and a 3% increase for Altered Images, the two songs fought all week with an early slight advantage to Gaskin & Stewart being eroded over the weekend but both will be lucky to be in the running next week given those sales. In fact "It's My Party" registers the lowest sale for a No 1 this year and lowest since Abba last August!

 

 

 

With 10 top ten hits to their name between 1966 and 1971 the Four Tops were one of Motown's best selling acts in the late 60s though they have been absent from the UK charts for 8 years. They've now left Motown (back in 1972) and are currently newly signed to Casablanca records, and to celebrate they find themselves back in the charts on both sides of the Atlantic with "When She Was My Girl" 14-5 (63,000).

 

 

 

Blazing in 21-7 (48,000) come OMD with a third straight top 10 hit "Joan Of Arc". The single is a second release from their new album "Architecture and Morality" which hits the shops this week, as it's up against new releases from Depeche Mode and, more importantly, Adam & The Ants, its unlikely to be topping the charts in its debut week at any rate.

 

 

The Police move 6-3 (71,000) and could be under real pressure from the Four Tops and OMD next week for the No 1 spot, and that's not to mention Squeeze who leap 9-4 (64,000) but who won't have TOTP to assist them this week. Co-producer on that track Elvis Costello continues to creep slowly up the charts 8-6 (58,000) and the Human League re-appear at No 10 (39,000) they're back up a spot most likely after the publicity of grabbing the No 1 spot on the album charts. Two fallers to cover briefly, The Jam drop 4-8 (46,000) and the Tweets 5-9 (43,000)

 

 

 

1- IT’S MY PARTY- David Stewart & Barbara Gaskin (73,000)

2- HAPPY BIRTHDAY- Altered Images (73,000)

3- EVERY LITTLE THING SHE DOES IS MAGIC- The Police (71,000)

4- LABELLED WITH LOVE- Squeeze (64,000)

5- WHEN SHE WAS MY GIRL- Four Tops (63,000)

6- GOOD YEAR FOR THE ROSES- Elvis Costello (58,000)

7- JOAN OF ARC- O.M.D (48,000)

8- ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS- The Jam (46,000)

9- THE BIRDIE SONG (THE BIRDIE DANCE)- The Tweets (43,000)

10- OPEN YOUR HEART- Human League (39,000)

 

It's a shame that Altered Images couldn't quite do it this week, I never realised that they came so close

I think you may have meant the Saturdays instead of Girls Aloud :D

 

OOpsie! :D TBH I dont recall many Saturdays singles, so that must be the other big one I do remember apart from Up. Or was that Demi Lovato? :lol:

 

Crikey the top 10's coming at a pace now! :) Time to catch up..

 

Happy Birthday is joyous, saw Clare about 20 years or more ago on an 80's package tour, she was having a right ol laugh enjoying herself. Absolute Beginners is a good Jam single, but it seems to have been forgotten these days sadly. Funeral Pyre is even better though. Good Year For The Roses wasnt familiar to me at the time, but Elvis did a nice version - have to say the 1972-ish George Jones version is pretty fine, only heard it in the last 2 or 3 years. It's Raining not one of Shaky's best it must be said.

 

O Superman was a left-field arty hit, I did buy it but best heard in small doses, it can get annoying if you hear it too often. As I did at the time. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic was upbeat and catchy, but not as good as Invisible Sun to me, and not a chart-topper for me, either. DEf one of their most popular records though. The Four Tops back in the charts was a great moment, and it's a goodie, maybe not in the classic vein of their 60's and 70's hits, but SO fab to have them back. I caught them on tour in 1989 same original line-up they started with in the 50's, a bit of a record back in the day, and nostalgia galore for me.

 

Labelled With Love was nice, Squeeze always classy, see them live always worth it, quite happy to do songs on request and not in a fixed order if the mood takes. Prefer Take Me I'm Yours though! Joan Of Arc is another OMD winner, and another band worth catching on tour, such a great back catalogue mixed with good new stuff. This was peak OMD period, though there were many later comeback peaks too.

 

 

 

 

 

OMD's song 'Joan of Arc' is a bit too serious sounding for me but I still appreciate it as a good chillout synthpop tune and an infleunce to the indie scene.

 

'Happy Birthday' by Altered Images is OK but I much prefer their other songs.

Edited July 12, 20241 yr by TheSnake

I love the cover to Tainted Love <3

 

This!

Adam & The Ants, OMD and Depeche Mode all releasing the same day? Thats insane

Altered Images missing out by just 20 sales? If I'd known that at the time (and been old enough to follow the charts then), I'd have been very disappointed.

'Joan Of Arc' is another great OMD single.

1981 def took a huge upward curve after the summer didn’t it, week after week of classics and most no1s era defining! Also with bands like Depeche Mode, OMD, The Police, The Jam, Human League entering the top 10 each week what’s not to love! Seems like disco ended suddenly in the spring of 81 and synth pop just was huge as the record labels slowly realised the change!

 

Sales were unreal for the top 10 too!

Seems like disco ended suddenly in the spring of 81 and synth pop just was huge as the record labels slowly realised the change!

 

Duran's next single 'My Own Way' would combine both disco and synthpop though!

my Own Way? That's 0 disco, it's your typical Duran Duran like all the rest

 

Not crazy about the new OMD on 1st listen, don't really see the appeal

 

the last Human League I also didn't like, so surprised Dare did so well, climbing to #1 in albums, considering the big single is still to come

But woulda sounded great in the context of 1981.

 

Aneka - Little Lady debuted only at # 64. :(