'Abracadabra' has some awful lyrics but its so catchy.

 

Happy Talk isn't a good #1, really don't like it at all, I would put even Goombay and Charlene's #1s above it.

Edited October 24, 2024Oct 24 by TheSnake

'Happy Talk' is a classic!

Happy Talk and Abracadabra are both good additions to the top 10. I'd forgotten that Happy Talk had such a massive climb in one week.

'Happy Talk' is amazing, thought it entered at no1 for a minute there!!

I’ll side with Snake on this one, Happy Talk really isn’t it.

Its a very unique no1 single imo!

a top 5 from hell, all songs are a 0/10

must be one of the worst top 5 ever

 

Duran Duran the only remarkable song in that top 10

Pretty much agree. Hungry Like the Wolf is by far my favourite. Adam Ant and Abracadabra are both decent enough for me but the other seven are pretty bad.

 

1982 has been very mediocre so far imo

10TH JULY

 

 

After his meteoric leap to No 1 last week Captain Sensible maintains his position with "Happy Talk" which sells another 92,000 copies to help pull the chart from its summer slumber. Now having sold 184,287 copies it becomes the biggest seller of his career overtaking the Damned's "Love Song" a No 20 hit in 1979 and the previous holder of that accolade.

 

 

Although it was never ahead of "Happy Talk" (there was only clear blue sea between "Abracadabra" and the former track after Thursday's TOTP which assured an easier victory than it at first looked for Captain Sensible), Steve Miller Band sold 71,000 copies in the end, enough for No 1 in 3 of the last four weeks.

 

 

Back in 1980 you may recall a film called "Fame" and its theme song of the same name by Irene Cara (who also starred in the film), it made the US No 4 in that year but was a flop in the UK. The Film has now spawned a TV spin off which has started to be aired on BBC prime time Thursday last month and has seen the show explode in popularity, that prompted a rush release of the theme, it should be noted that Cara does not appear in the TV Series (being replaced by Erica Gimpel in the role she took in the film), nor is it her voice you hear in the opening credits to the TV show (again that's Gimpel's re-recorded vocals) but it's Cara's version that takes off this week as it soars 51-4 (56,000) a massive climb of 47 places which doesn't quite match the all time record leap of 55 places which occurred to Paul McCartney's "Coming Up" in May 1980. With continued exposure weekly it may run "Happy Talk" close next week! In case you're wondering why we have Cara's version and not Gimpel's as a single, well that's because the BBC passed on the rights to release the track as a single leaving RSO free to push Cara's single- silly move.

 

 

 

Arriving 17-6 (42,000) are Shalamar who top even the performance of their only other Top 10 single "I Can Make You Feel Good" which peaked at No 7 in May this year. "A Night To Remember" gained considerable expose thanks to some fancy moves on TOTP by group member Jeffrey Daniel which have generated some headlines and helped the song on its way.

 

 

 

There is seemingly some new chart record to report every week and this week is no different thanks to the Jam. "Just Who Is The Five O'clock Hero" debuted at No 13 last week but now climbs to No 8 (38,000) despite the fact that the single is only available on Dutch import, it is now the highest peaking track to be available only on import, taking the record from another Jam import, namely "That's Entertainment" which peaked at No 21 last year. The single is available on the current Jam album "The Gift" which became their first No 1 album but has not returned to the top 20 since it left there back in April.

 

 

 

 

Midge Ure has had top 10 hits with both Slik, Visage, and of course Ultravox, he can now add a solo top 10 single to his repertoire as "No Regrets" accelerates 11-9 (35,000). The song is a cover of a 1968 track by Tom Rush which was covered by the Walker Brothers in 1975 an made No 7 marking their return to the top 10 after a ten year absence, it now gets another appearance in the upper reaches of the chart thanks to Ure's cover.

 

 

Elsewhere there are two non movers, Odyssey hold at No 3 (57,000) and Imagination are static at No 5 (51,000) whilst two songs are on their way out, Charlene drops 2-7 (38,000), and Diana Ross dips 7-10 (34,000)

 

 

1- HAPPY TALK- Captain Sensible (92,000)

2- ABRACADABRA- Steve Miller Band (71,000)

3- INSIDE OUT- Odyssey (57,000)

4- FAME- Irene Cara (56,000)

5- MUSIC AND LIGHTS- Imagination (51,000)

6- A NIGHT TO REMEMBER- Shalamar (42,000)

7- I’VE NEVER BEEN TO ME- Charlene (38,000)

8- JUST WHO IS THE FIVE O’CLOCK HERO- The Jam (38,000)

9- NO REGRETS- Midge Ure (35,000)

10- WORK THAT BODY- Diana Ross (34,000)

 

As we are now half way through the year here's the YTD top 10

 

1- THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT- Tight Fit 795,098

2- SEVEN TEARS- Goombay Dance band 655,615

3- EBONY AND IVORY- Stevie Wonder & Paul McCartney 608,051

4- PRECIOUS/ A TOWN CALLED MALICE- The Jam 596,942

5- GOLDEN BROWN- The Stranglers 548,653

6- MICKEY- Toni Basil 521,287

7- LOVE PLUS ONE- Haircut 100 515,165

8- COMPUTER LOVE/ THE MODEL- Kraftwerk 514,257

9- OH JULIE- Shakin Stevens 511,083

10- GOODY TWO SHOES- Adam Ant 479.596

 

I did not know JWITFOCH made the Top 10 as an import single only!

Would have preferred 'Abracadabra' to make #1.

 

'A Night To Remember' is a well known classic.

 

I usually like Midge Ure but 'No Regrets' is a bit boring. I get why he has to change it up compared to his Ultravox stuff.

17TH JULY

 

 

Whichever record was going to be No 1 this week it certainly wasn't going to be "Happy Talk", it recedes 1-3 on a sale of just 67,000 as the British public seems to have stopped laughing at the joke (if they started that is) but it has at least now sold 251,000 copies so something to be happy about. Indeed two records were out in front from the off and were vying for the top spot with Steve Miller Band's "Abracadabra" making the early running before "Fame" benefitted from exposure on TOTP and of course the "Fame" TV series shown after it, in the end that swung it for Irene Cara as she outstripped Steve Miller towards the end of the week selling 98,000 to the latter's 79,000 copies.

 

 

 

German band Trio have their debut UK hit on their hands, "Da Da Da" has already been a hit in most of Europe and finally makes its mark here thanks doubtless to tourists returning from their summer holidays. Whilst some critics are less impressed with it lyrically it expands 30-7 (46,000) this week and has its sights set firmly on the No 1 spot where it has already peaked in Switzerland and Austria.

 

 

 

Trio had better watch out though as Bucks Fizz are also on the look out for a No 1 and that would be their third chart topper on the trot! "Now Those Days Are Gone" climbs 13-8 (45,000) and is a break from their usual full on pop being as it is a ballad from the group and also features a lead vocal from Mike Nolan.

 

 

 

Bananarama finally have the confidence to go it alone without Fun Boy Three and no wonder with "Shy Boy" being written and produced by Jolly & Swain (famous for their work in crafting the sound of Imagination) and a promo directed by Midge Ure. All that support results in "Shy Boy" moving 20-9 (43,000) this week, the debut album from the girls has just been confirmed and they are due to enter the studio to record it later this year.

 

 

 

Telling the tale of a collision of two sets of Mardi Gras Indians at a parade in New Orleans, "Iko Iko" was originally a No 23 hit in 1965 by the Dixie Cups and was subject this year to two competing versions of the track. The Belle Stars version petered out at No 35 last month by a rival version by Natasha England (known by her forename for the purposes of the hit) jumps 12-10 (38,000) this week.

 

 

One other climber on this weeks top 10, Shalamar climb 6-5 (60,000) whilst Odyssey drop 3-4 (61,000) and Imagination also topple 5-6 (53,000) but all improve at retail.

 

1- FAME- Irene Cara (98,000)

2- ABRACADABRA- Steve Miller Band (79,000)

3- HAPPY TALK- Captain Sensible (67,000)

4- INSIDE OUT- Odyssey (61,000)

5- A NIGHT TO REMEMBER- Shalamar (60,000)

6- MUSIC AND LIGHTS- Imagination (53,000)

7- DA DA DA- Trio (46,000)

8- NOW THOSE DAYS ARE GONE- Bucks Fizz (45,000)

9- SHY BOY- Bananarama (43,000)

10- IKO IKO- Natasha (38,000)

 

I didn't know that Fame only got released because of the TV show. I always assumed it was from the movie.

 

Now Those Days Are Gone is one of my least favourite Bucks Fizz singles. Always preferred their more uptempo ones, but good to see them getting another Top 10 (so far).

NTDAG is certainly up there with my fave BF singles.

 

"Fame" (TV series) started to be aired directly after TOTP in June 1982 proving to be an instant hit with the UK public. BBC records snapped up the rights to the show and the albums, though oddly not the singles, another reason why "Fame" appeared.

Now Those Days Are Gone was a beautiful song and an interesting change of direction with more than a minute at the start being acapella.

 

I never really liked Da Da Da.

The Trio and Natasha songs are actually well known to me after hearing them!

The Trio song is interesting if a bit minimalist for my tastes; the combo of modern with the synths and retro with the 60s surf rock guitar is particularly interesting.

 

Never liked 'Iko Iko', its been on too many adverts and TV.

Edited October 26, 2024Oct 26 by TheSnake

Love Da Da Da!

24TH JULY

 

 

Britain truly goes "Fame" crazy this week with the single holding at the No 1 spot and the original soundtrack dethroning ABC on the album charts. Irene Cara goes from strength to strength as she sells an impressive 167,000 copies last week that's the biggest weekly tally in 21 weeks, the biggest in fact since "A Town Called Malice" stood at the pole position, and accounted for 1 in 11 singles sold last week, the highest ratio of the year. The song has now sold 332,000 copies and has finally provided a bit of life to an otherwise currently depressed market.

 

 

Trio climb 7-2 with "Da Da Da" but it sold just 88,000 copies last week to pose no real threat to "Fame" at the top spot.

 

 

Next month sees the release of the debut album by Yazoo "Upstairs At Eric's" and to preview it their second single "Don't Go" wastes no time joining their debut single "Only You" as a top 5 hit. It rockets 24-5 this week on a sale of 60,000 in just it's second week becoming a far more instantaneous hit than their debut release- it's also another Clarke composition which again has eclipsed any hit that Depeche Mode have so far had.

 

 

 

The big news of the week however goes to Madness who prove that the high debut of their last hit (and first No 1) "House Of Fun" was no one off. The follow up track "Driving In My Car" smashes straight into No 6 (58,000) this week to get off to an even better start than their last single, but the band are planning on the single being a stand alone track and not featuring on their next album which is due before Christmas.

 

 

 

Meanwhile Hot Chocolate score their 12th top 10 single with "It Started With A Kiss" which records a 12-8 (54,000) improvement this week. It marks the first time the group have been able to record back to back top 10 hits since 1977, not a bad track record for a group which have been written off more than once since their emergence back in 1970.

 

 

 

Talking of comebacks, Dexy's Midnight Runners have been rather quiet since their first flush of success with the No 1 hit "Geno" in 1980, indeed only one of their three previous singles made the top 40 and their last release (and first from their forthcoming second album) fizzled out at No 45. Part of that time has been spent in dispute with their record label but in the meantime Kevin Rowland has enlisted support with a string of fiddlers known collectively as the Emerald Express and the project is again chart bound with "Come On Eileen" screeching 31-9 ( 43,000) Co-star in the video and on the cover of the single is one Marie Fahey, sister of Siobhan, one third of Bananarama- a family affair this week!

 

 

Just one other climber to note, Bananarama score their joint biggest hit as "Shy Boy" jumps 9-4 (61,000) as three other hits give up the chase, Steve Miller Band fall 2-3 (64,000), Shalamar dive 5-7 (57,000), and Odyssey slump 4-10 (40,000)

 

1- FAME- Irene Cara (167,000)

2- DA DA DA- Trio (88,000)

3- ABRACADABRA- Steve Miller Band (64,000)

4- SHY BOY- Bananarama (61,000)

5- DON’T GO- Yazoo (60,000)

6- DRIVING IN MY CAR- Madness (58,000)

7- A NIGHT TO REMEMBER- Shalamar (57,000)

8- IT STARTED WITH A KISS- Hot Chocolate (54,000)

9- COME ON EILEEN- Dexy’s Midnight Runners (43,000)

10- INSIDE OUT- Odyssey (40,000)

 

Yazoo and Dexys Midnight Runners vastly improving that Top 10 after a few middling weeks recently!