Slade sound so strange compared to the glam rock of their previous top 10 hit, music changed ALOT between 1974-81!!

 

Stray Cats jumping on the 50s nostalgia of the era!

Ohhhhh Vienna :wub:

28TH FEBRUARY

 

 

In a week when Ultravox's lead singer Midge Ure has been less than complimentary about "Shaddap You Face" Dolce's response was given in sales, and it seems the record buying public have sided with him. The track not only spends a second week at No 1 but its sales expand to a new 1981 record of 174,000 copies whilst "Vienna" limped in with a still none too shabby 84,000 copies, in total Ultravox also start to lag Dolce with 388,000 copies to "Shaddap You Face" on 383,000.

 

 

 

Buddying up together to form "headgirl" the single "St Valentine's Day Massacre EP" is a collaboration between Motorhead and labelmates Girlschool and this week climbs 15-5 (48,000). The lead track is a cover of the Johnny Kidd & The Pirates "Please Don't touch" which has already become the biggest hit by either act sailing past the peak of No 8 achieved by Motorhead last year with "Golden Years EP" and the No 49 peak of "Race With The Devil" by Girlschool (also 1980), the original peaked at No 25 back in 1959.

 

 

 

John Lennon drops 3-4 (53,000) this week and whilst this is his sole top 10 entry he's also back at No 6 in the form of a cover of "Jealous Guy" by Roxy Music. The original appeared on his 1971 album "Imagine" which was recently back in the top 5 and is still top 20 this week, the band added it to their live set in the wake of Lennon's death and have now recorded it and it shoots 21-6 (47,000) to give them their 9th top 10 single and makes up for their last single, "The Same Old Scene", missing the top 10.

 

 

 

British rockabilly is still alive and well with Coast to Coast and their take on the 60s track "(Do The) Hucklebuck" which has never been a hit in the UK though the track did make No 1 in Ireland with a version by Brendan Bowyer back in 1965, this version has all the hallmarks of becoming a party favourite!

 

 

 

 

 

Debut track "Keep In Touch" might have fizzled out at No 49 but follow up "Southern Freeez" has no such problem jumping 23-9 (37,000) for Freeez. It takes advantage of the recent dance craze of "freezing" when the music temporarily cuts out, you may recall it surfaced last year and helped Rodney Jenkins into the top 10.

 

 

In other news we have one going up (Rainbow up to No 3 on 71,000) one going down (Fred Wedlock 7-10, 36,000) and one sticking (Madness at No 7, 42,000).

 

1- SHADDAP YOU FACE- Joe Dolce Musical Theatre (174,000)

2- VIENNA- Ultravox (84,000)

3- I SURRENDER- Rainbow (71,000)

4- WOMAN- John Lennon (53,000)

5- ST VALENTINE’S DAY MASSACRE EP- Motorhead/ Girlschool (48,000)

6- JEALOUS GUY- Roxy Music (47,000)

7- RETURN OF THE LOS PALMAS 7- Madness (42,000)

8- DO THE HUCKLEBUCK- Coast To Coast (38,000)

9- SOUTHERN FREEZE- Freeez (37,000)

10- OLDEST SWINGER IN TOWN- Fred Wedlock (36,000)

 

Girlschool was great true female rock band :cheer: "Race With The Devil" :wub:

Maybe only Vixen was cooler.

Edited June 6, 20241 yr by Last Dreamer

I remember Roxy Music's version of 'Jealous Guy' was on the Music of the Millennium CD my parents bought in 2000. I think it was one of my favourites from the album at the time. So its kind of nostalgic for me.

 

Some very classy Britfunk with 'Southern Freeez'.

 

I am happy Rainbow - 'I Surrender' got top 3 the chorus has been stuck in my head since it was posted on here!

Edited June 6, 20241 yr by TheSnake

Love Freeze - such a great group! Is it the first top 10 for britfunk following disco fading away in these past few months?

 

Coast to Coast is a rockability classic - reminds me of the Paddy Keilty show in the 90s who used it on his comedy show!

 

 

Is Joe Dolce the last no1 without a vinyl picture cover??

Edited June 6, 20241 yr by Steve201

7TH MARCH

 

 

Well it turned into another week of Joe Dolce Vs Ultravox on paper, in reality there's little competition with "Shaddap You Face" walking away with honours though it is certainly calming down in the shops, sales of 118,000 are down 32% indicating that perhaps public appetite for the novelty hit is starting to wain, meanwhile "Vienna" only loses 10% to 73,000, both tracks are now over the 450,000 mark with Dolce actually over half a million!

 

 

 

In just 6 months Adam & The Ants have now scored four top 10 singles, the latest being the title track from their album "Kings Of The Wild Frontier" which is back up to No 2 on the album charts this week behind Phil Collins. It was originally released last year and peaked at No 48 but now spurts 17-6 (51,000) and should give them a third top 5 hit from the album next week. They are actually now outselling Lennon on the singles front with tracks also placed at No 28, 38, 40, 62 and "Dog Eat Dog" just outside the top 75.

 

 

 

Recording a 13th top 10 hit Status quo now have a chart career dating 13 years, latest release "Something Bout You Baby I Like" a cover of a song written by Richard Supa which has only previously been a hit in the UK for Tom Jones when it reached No 36 in 1974 making the Quo's version far and away the biggest version as it climbs 19-9 (44,000) this week. It's the first release from their 14th (!) studio album "Never Too Late" due in 3 weeks time.

 

 

Ultravox should have competition next week from Roxy Music whose cover of "Jealous Guy" rises 6-3 (73,000) ending up around 100 copies short of "Vienna" and is only their third single to climb as high, "Love Is The Drug" and "Dance Away" both peaking at No 2. Also climbing are Coast to Coast 8-7 (48,000), Freeez (9-8 (47,000) whilst Motorhead and Girlschool hold at No 5 despite a 12% increase, dropping this week are Rainbow 3-4 (53,000) and Madness 7-10 (43,000)

 

 

1- SHADDAP YOU FACE- Joe Dolce Musical Theatre (118,000)

2- VIENNA- Ultravox (73,000)

3- JEALOUS GUY- Roxy Music (73,000)

4- I SURRENDER- Rainbow (53,000)

5- ST VALENTINE’S DAY MASSACRE- Motorhead (53,000)

6- KINGS OF THE WILD FRONTIER- Adam & The Ants (51,000)

7- (DO) THE HUCKELBUCK- Coast To Coast (48,000)

8- SOUTHERN FREEZE- Freeez (47,000)

9- SOMETHING BOUT YOU BABY I LIKE- Status Quo (44,000)

10- RETURN OF THE LOS PALMAS 7- Madness (43,000)

 

Really liked the Jealous guy cover

Not sure i ever heard the original

I can't stand Roxy Music, ugh what a dreadful band

14TH MARCH

 

 

Well it took 13 singles and 9 years but today Roxy Music grab their first UK No 1 single, and in some style Bryan Ferry's boys were out in front from the off racking up a considerable lead and it was a good job as well. The two tracks behind "Jealous Guy" both featured on TOTP and ate away at its lead but it proved more than enough with Adam and The Ants again unable to overcome the spirit of John Lennon as "Kings Of The Wild Frontier" climbed 6-2 (88,000) and the outgoing chart topper "Shaddap You Face" slipping 1-3 (70,000) all chasing the 112,000 that Roxy Music sold last week.

 

 

 

50's pop star Marty Wilde's daughter follows in her father's footsteps this week as Kim Wilde bolts 18-6 (56,000) with "Kids In America" written by her father and her brother Ricky, and at just 20 years of age she brings a welcome female touch to the top 10 this week. The song rather mysteriously spent a few hours at No 64 last month before being booted out of the final version of the charts- whether it failed the checks BMRB make or there was another issue is unclear, however it since officially made it and is now a bona fide hit.

 

 

 

Elvis may be dead but his spirit lives on in the form of Shakin Stevens, starting out in Shakin' Stevens and the Sunsets, they had a record contract and a supporting slot for the Rolling Stones 12 years ago but nothing much came of it. Shaky then got a break as lead in the musical "Elvis!" and went solo in 1979, so far he's had two hit singles "Hot Dog" (No 24) and "Marie Marie" (No 19), his continuing success is cemented this week as his cover of Rosemary Clooney's 1954's No 1 single "This Ole House" moves 29-7 (53,000) this week to join Wilde in the ranks of their first top 10 singles.

 

 

Coast To Coast continue to climb 7-5 (57,000), and Freeez hold at No 8 (42,000) with sliding sales and Status Quo complete the trio holding at No 9 (37,000). Moving down this week are Ultravox 2-4 (62,000) and Motorhead/ Girlschool 5-10 (35,000)

 

1- JEALOUS GUY- Roxy Music (112,000)

2- KINGS OF THE WILD FRONTIER- Adam & The Ants (88,000)

3- SHADDAP YOU FACE- Joe Dolce Musical Theatre (70,000)

4- VIENNA- Ultravox (62,000)

5- DO THE HUCKLEBUCK- Coast To Coast (57,000)

6- KIDS IN AMERICA- Kim Wilde (56,000)

7- THIS OLE HOUSE- Shakin Stevens (53,000)

8- SOUTHERN FREEZE- Freeez (42,000)

9- SOMETHING BOUT YOU BABY I LIKE- Status Quo (37,000)

10- ST VALENTINE’S DAY MASSACRE- Motorhead (35,000)

 

I can't stand Roxy Music, ugh what a dreadful band

 

Nah 'Love Is The Drug' is great! Dont know many of their songs though.

Ooooh the arrival of Kim!

I love Kids in America

 

Kings of the Wild Frontier is another good one from Adam & the Ants, I do like the distinctive style of their early hits

'Antmusic' blocked by John Lennon and now 'Kings of the Wild Frontier' blocked by a Lennon cover -_- :lol: and 'Shaddap You Face'

 

'Kings of the Wild Frontier' and 'Kids In America' are both wonderful :wub: the drumming on the former is probably my favourite in any Adam and the Ants song, amazing energy

 

My favourite run of #2s ever watch: 01. Antmusic | 02. In The Air Tonight | 03. Vienna | 04. Kings of the Wild Frontier

'Kids In America' is so euphoric - I've listened to it on trips to the US and it's the best feeling. The Shaky version of 'This Ole House' is a bit of fun too :cheeseblock:

Shakin' Stevens was quick to follow Stray Cats in the retro revival.

 

The Kim Wilde track is good electronic new wave, I like the bit after the second chorus!

 

That Adam and the Ants song isn't one of my favoruites of theirs, but it is an unusual song to be so high in the charts though.

I can't stand Roxy Music, ugh what a dreadful band

 

:o controversial opinion there mate adore ‘Love Is A Drug’ and ‘Dance Away’ Ferry has a great voice. Life is all about opinions though so fair enough!

Edited June 8, 20241 yr by Steve201

Rosemary Clooney 'This Ole House' is my favourite song from 1950s.

Edited June 8, 20241 yr by Last Dreamer

21ST MARCH

 

 

An unexpectedly close week this week sales wise which saw a cruel TOTP schedule deprive a 7-1 climb for Shakin Stevens who lead until late on with “This Ole House” and came in with 86,000 (an increase of 64%) but without an appearance on the BBC flagship show Roxy Music eased past him at the death even with a 22% sales slide to 87,000, even Kim Wilde (who also benefitted from TOTP) gets a decent increase with sales up 33% to 74,000. On current trends though it will be Shaky who gets the boost next week and should stroll to the top unless something outstanding happens.

 

 

The same factor affects the lower positions too with Coast to Coast up sales wise to 64,000 thanks to the programme (though they hold at No 5) and among those who feel the consequences of a non appearance include Adam & The Ants (2-4, 67,000) Ultravox (4-7, 45,000) and perhaps most tellingly of all Joe Dolce who not only collapses 3-10 but sold just 41,000 last week, that’s an eye watering 41% drop week on week, it seems the joke has finally worn thin.

 

 

Onto those new entries and we start with Teardrop Explodes, with only hit to their name previously (When I Dream, No 48 last year) “Reward” has surprised many by being their breakthrough as it bolts 13-6 (49,000), parent album “Kilimanjaro” will be re-issued shortly in light of the bands commercial arrival.

 

 

 

Toyah are fronted by lead vocalist Toyah Willcox who is better known for her TV and Film work most memorably in the Derek Jarman’s “Jubilee” and “The Tempest” and of course “Quadrophenia”, but she has run her musical ambitions alongside her acting though as yet to no avail. She now has something to brag about as the “Four From Toyah EP” climbs 11-8 (44,000) with lead track “It’s A Mystery” the one picking up the radio support, it’s the bands sixth release.

 

 

 

 

Speaking of “Quadrophenia” that film is of course loosely based on The Who’s album of the same name, and the band themselves are back in the top 10 this week with “You Better You Bet”. It’s the group 14th top 10 single though they are yet to get that all important No 1 single having made the runner up spot twice, well if Roxy Music can do it!. It rises 16-9 (41,000) this week, parent album “Face Dances” is out this week.

 

 

1- JEALOUS GUY- Roxy Music (97,000)

2- THIS OLE HOUSE- Shakin Stevens (86,000)

3- KIDS IN AMERICA- Kim Wilde (74,000)

4- KINGS OF THE WILD FRONTIER- Adam & The Ants (67,000)

5- DO THE HUCKLEBUCK- Coast To Coast (64,000)

6- REWARD- Teardrop Explodes (49,000)

7- VIENNA- Ultravox (45,000)

8- FOUR FROM TOYAH EP- Toyah (44,000)

9- YOU BETTER, YOU BET- The Who (41,000)

10- SHADDAP YOU FACE- Joe Dolce Musical Theatre (41,000)

 

'Reward' is an interesting song, very fast beat. Thought it was new wave but its actually more 60s psychadelic and Northern Soul infleunced apparently https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/mar/...des-julian-cope

 

The Toyah song is also interesting, but I prefer 'I Want To Be Free' from her.

 

This debut from Duran Duran made #12 around this time, some great electronic new wave, a bit of an epic and its a song I have only started to appreciate quite recently.

 

 

I must check the rest of the 1981 top 40 chart for interesting new entries going forward.

Edited June 9, 20241 yr by TheSnake