I'm assuming you mean Nick Heyward?

 

I do indeed, who’s Nik Kershaw? 😆

Oh Nik Kershaw / Howard Jones are the same person anyway. Now I’m throwing Nick Heyward into the mix haha

18TH SEPTEMBER

 

 

Survivor continue to dominate the field this week with "Eye Of The Tiger" having a third week at No 1 and an easy victory despite having peaked sales wise, it suffers a slight 2% dip to 101,000 copies outselling the No 2 track by 33,000 and lifting the songs overall sales to 608,000 copies, that's enough to see them enter the YTD top 10- watch out Dexy's!

 

 

Those of a mathematical nature will have worked out that Dire Straits' move 4-2 with "Private Investigations" is accompanied by a sale of 68,000 incredibly a sales dip of 10% over last week- it's a funny old world in the charts!

 

 

Fresh from their success of scoring a first No 1 album "The Gift" back in March this year the Jam continue to clock up the top 10 hits as "The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had To Swallow)" debuts at No 5 this week. The band are yet to enter the studio to record their follow up album but this will be the track to watch next week as any band who can make No 8 with an import must be fancied to go all the way with full release yet to feature on an album, it could easily spell a fourth No 1 for the outfit. Its opening salvo was 57,000- not a bad start, and features Jennie Matthias from The Belle Stars on backing vocals!

 

 

 

Rap isn't a genre that has really taken off in the UK, whilst some acts have utilised it in pop records (Adam Ant a notable example) "pure" rap records are few and far between in chart history but seeking to change that is Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Grandmaster Flash doesn't actually appear on the track (it's really Furious Five member Melle Mel who raps) but the act is signed to Sugarhill records and were responsible for the first acknowledged UK top 10 single "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang three years ago, "The Message" is the groups take on Reganomics and this week pounces 13-8 (45,000) on sales of 12" alone- the second track after Abba's "Lay All Your Love On Me" to make the top 10 on that format alone.

 

 

 

Shalamar score their third top 10 hit of the year with "There It Is" just slipping into the top 10, 17-10 (43,000). Despite being hit heavy, the album from which all three is taken, "Friends", has only spent 4 weeks in the top 20 peaking at No 16 thus far.

 

 

Talking of climbers Rockers Revenge continue their upward climb, though they are making hard work of it, they rise 5-4 (58,000), and ABC advance 8-6 (51,000). Going the wrong way however are Duran Duran 2-3 (58,000), Kids From Fame 6-7 (47,000) and a fast fading "Come On Eileen 2-9 (45,000) and should cross the million mark next week as it continues to chase "Tainted Love" in the decade's best list.

 

1- EYE OF THE TIGER- Survivor (101,000)

2- PRIVATE INVESTIGATIONS- Dire Straits (68,000)

3- SAVE A PRAYER- Duran Duran (58,000)

4- WALKING ON SUNSHINE- Rockers Revenge (58,000)

5- THE BITTEREST PILL (I EVER HAD TO SWALLOW)- The Jam (57,000)

6- ALL OF MY HEART- ABC (51,000)

7- HI FIDELITY- Kids From “Fame” (47,000)

8- THE MESSAGE- Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five (45,000)

9- COME ON EILEEN- Dexy’s Midnight Runners (45,000)

10- THERE IT IS- Shalamar (43,000)

 

That Jam song is very good, maybe my favourite of theirs. C'mon Bjork's gotta like it!

 

I'm really surprised that Dire Straits 'Private Investigations' made #2 :o

 

'Sultans of Swing' and 'Romeo and Juliet' are more well known I would say and more likely to be played on the radio now.

 

The double hip hop top 10 is interesting and welcome.

Edited November 4, 2024Nov 4 by TheSnake

I like all three of those new additions - that was my second favourite song by The Jam for a while, and although I prefer the early punky stuff these days, their move towards soul had its moments too. 'The Message' is a hip hop classic (Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel are two different people though - the group's history may be a tad confusing). The Shalamar song is the best I've heard from them, more shifted into electro than their disco hits which are probably better known.

25TH SEPTEMBER

 

 

It's got the bit between its teeth as "Eye Of The Tiger" is refusing to give up the No 1 spot as it becomes the second chart topper of 1982 to spend 4 weeks at the summit, another week of gently declining sales again of 18% sees the Survivor track sell another 82,000 copies, that sees the track move up the YTD list, we'll have a full top 10 update next week, but there are lots of changes happening on it! It does, however, bring to an end a record run of 9 weeks in the 80s where the No 1 sold over 100,000 weekly.

 

 

A fair few tracks see the benefit of TOTP performances, none greater than The Jam who soar 5-2 with a 40% sales hike to 79,000 and was pushing Survivor all the way toward the end of the week. The strange tale of "Private Investigations" continues, last week it climbed 4-2 despite selling less than the previous week, and this week moves 2-3 whilst improving sales to 71,000! Of course TOTP helped to explain that but without the show the single should now fall back. Further sales increases also for Rocker's Revenge and ABC, they both sold 49,000 which resulted in the former holding at No 4 and the latter lifting 6-5.

 

Outside of the top 5 Shalamar also climb 10-6 (57,000) whilst Grandmaster Flash persists at No 8 (43,000) with help from a new 7" version (the length of the track remains the same as the 12" however) and Duran Duran fall from favour 3-7 (47,000).

 

 

That Leaves us with two new entries to discuss, first up is one Jacques Pépino who is better known on this weeks chart as David Christie. He is a man with many alias' though, one being James Bolden who was the co-writer (perhaps most famously) of Tina Charles's 1976 chart topper "I Love To Love" as well some Gloria Gaynor tracks, he's finally a star in this country in his own right with "Saddle Up" which rises 12-9 (42,000).

 

 

 

 

Some eyebrows were raised last week when "Friend Or Foe" debuted at No 22 for Adam Ant, especially as the album of the same name is due next month and tipped by most as a surefire No 1. Better news this week as it progresses 22-10 (38,000) it, like most of the album is another Ant/ Perroni composition and turns the trick of giving the dandy highwayman a 9th top 10 hit of the decade just one behind the most prolific top 10 act of the decade so far, Madness.

 

 

1- EYE OF THE TIGER- Survivor (82,000)

2- THE BITTEREST PILL (I EVER HAD TO SWALLOW)- The Jam (79,000)

3- PRIVATE INVESTIGATIONS- Dire Straits (71,000)

4- WALKING ON SUNSHINE- Rockers Revenge (59,000)

5- ALL OF MY HEART- ABC (59,000)

6- THERE IT IS- Shalamar (57,000)

7- SAVE A PRAYER- Duran Duran (47,000)

8- THE MESSAGE- Grandmaster Flash & Furious Five (43,000)

9- SADDLE UP- David Christie (42,000)

10- FRIEND OR FOE- Adam Ant (38,000)

 

'Saddle Up' another rare 1980s Top 10 hit where I recognise neither title nor artist on seeing it here.

2ND OCTOBER

 

 

Part of the joy of following the charts is when they throw up a genuine surprise, this week is one of those weeks. Debuting at No 26 last week was a track by Birmingham based group Musical Youth, hitherto unknown to the charts with a track called "Pass The Dutchie", the group were formed back in 1979 and released one track, the double A Side "Generals/ political" on Birmingham's independent 0121 label. It failed to make the charts but brought them to the attention of John Peel who featured the band on his show and the band signed to MCA. With the support of a major label however the group (oldest member is just 15!) storm 26-1 this week (the third biggest climb to No 1 behind "Hey Jude" and "Happy Talk"), the song itself is a cover of two tracks which have spliced together, "Pass The Koutchie" by Mighty Diamonds and "Gimme The Music" by U Brown, well known tracks within the Caribbean community. It should be noted that lyrics have been substantively altered for the release, the Mighty Diamonds track had an altogether different meaning which might not have gone down well with either radio or TOTP. It was on it's way into the top 5 thanks to radio support anyway but TOTP sent the record into the stratosphere and helped it on the way to 120,000 copies last week amid rumours that stocking was an issue in some stores on Saturday due to unexpected demand.

 

 

Whilst the Jam Started off the week well they were in truth struggling to maintain the lead and ended up just managing to keep the No 2 spot such was their trail off with a sale of 71,000

 

 

Fat Larry's Band's "Zoom" which rockets 17-3 (64,000) this week. The group were previously best known for their 1977 No 31 hit "Centre City" but their current track seems to have gotten the backing of radio which has transported them to a much larger audience!

 

 

 

Another act more famous until now for a 70s hit is Evelyn "Champagne" King who holds the record for the biggest selling non top 20 hit of all time with 1978's "Shame" which spent 23 weeks on the charts despite never climbing higher than No 39! No such worries climbing with "Love Come Down" which vaults 15-7 (49,000) and her fifth album "Get Loose" is released in a few weeks.

 

 

 

The chart's haven't seen a Carly Simon single since her James Bond Theme "Nobody Does It Better" in 1977 and it's now been a whole 10 years since the iconic "You're So Vain" but Simon returns for her fourth top 10 hit this week with "Why?". It has a helping hand from Chic's main men Rodgers and Edwards on production/ writing duties who sprinkle their magic on the disc, it also features in the recent film "Soup For One" which didn't make a big splash at the cinema but that won't bother Simon who clearly has done well without it.

 

 

Survivor's "Eye Of The Tiger" was never in danger of clinging on to the top spot it collapses 1-4 (53,000), also falling are Rocker's Revenge 4-6 (49,000) and Dire Straits 3-8 (49,000) they will be happy today anyway as "Love Over Gold" debuts at No 1 on the album charts, but happier news for Shalamar who leap 6-5 (52000) thanks to TOTP and equal their highest placed hit "I Can Make You Feel Good", and Adam Ant who surprisingly only goes up a sole spot 10-9 (49,000) not good news for his album which is three weeks away from release.

 

1- PASS THE DUTCHIE- Musical Youth (120,000)

2- THE BITTEREST PILL (I EVER HAD TO SWALLOW)- The Jam (71,000)

3- ZOOM- Fat Larry’s Band (64,000)

4- EYE OF THE TIGER- Survivor (53,000)

5- THERE IT IS- Shalamar (52,000)

6- WALKING ON SUNSHINE- Rockers Revenge (49,000)

7- LOVE COME DOWN- Evelyn King (49,000)

8- PRIVATE INVESTIGATIONS- Dire Straits (49,000)

9- FRIEND OR FOE- Adam Ant (49,000)

10- WHY?- Carly Simon (42,000)

 

Ooh I love Zoom!

'Why' is very good and arguably ahead of its time, song/production sounds a bit like Ace of Base

 

'Zoom' is a very nice song.

Edited November 6, 2024Nov 6 by TheSnake

post-holiuday catch-up time:

 

Pass The Dutchie I rushed out to buy, it was so joyful and upbeat and slightly naughty, a great number one, The Bitterest Pill was really the last great Jam record and it morphs nicely into Style Council stuff, unlike their actual last single. Zoom was nice enough, reminds me of an evening at Nottingham's Goose Fair with ex-college friends. Love Come Down was a nice reparation for Shame not going top 10, and Carly Simon was back for her usual 5-yearly top 10 (tis true, check the chart-facts) and Why was a Chic-tastic unexpected change of direction, still fab. Shalamar;s There It Is is one of their best, I saw them last year (minus Jody watley).

 

Private Investigations is Dire Straits best track, love it, sprawling and moody, and Friend Or Foe was Adam treading-water, but OK. Saddle Up was pure Euro-cheese, and The Message is classic rap, an important record and the sort of powerful message modern rappers could be making but most choose to go for "me me me" instead. All Of My Heart makes it 4 brilliant records in a row for ABC, and the album has plenty of potential singles left, it's that good.

 

 

9TH OCTOBER

 

 

After their phenomenal jump of 25 places to the top spot last week it was unthinkable that Musical Youth would fail to hold their ground, and so it proved with "Pass The Dutchie" spending a second week there on a best yet for 1982 sale of 224,000 copies as stocking issues were fixed, that equals 369,288 in just three weeks putting it on track for a top 10 YTD placement come three months time.

 

 

Talking of the YTD chart lets take a last look before Christmas as to how it stands

 

1- COME ON EILEEN- Dexy's Midnight Runners 1,047,339

2- FAME- Irene Cara 955,765

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

4- EYE OF THE TIGER- Survivor 778,849

5- SEVEN TEARS- Goombay Dance Band 655,615

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

7- TOWN CALLED MALICE/ PRECIOUS- The Jam 596,942

8- GOLDEN BROWN- The Stranglers 548,653

9- MICKEY- Toni Basil 521,398

10- LOVE PLUS ONE- Haircut 100 515,165

 

Survivor will overtake Tight Fit next week marking three chronological chart toppers as the top 3 of the year if nothing else alters. This week's sales for "Pass The Dutchie" are not only the biggest of 1982 yet but also of the entire 80s and only the second time in the decade that weekly sales of a track have sped through the 200k mark.

 

 

Already creating more headlines than sales (so far) Culture Club's first performance of "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me" caused such a media circus that the track was always going to be a hit and so it has proved with the track leaping 15-3 (77,000) repaying the faith Virgin had put in them after they were rejected by EMI. It's the band's third release after their first two releases "White Boy" (No 112) and "I'm Afraid Of Me" (No 100) both failed to chart, their debut album "Kissing To Be Clever" is released this week which contains all three singles. Though the new Romantic movement may have passed into pop history lead singer Boy George was once the cloakroom attendant at the Blitz Club where the movement took shape and so can lay some claim to producing another chart act. They owe a debt to Shakin Stevens for the big break- he was due to appear on TOTP but had to pull out due to ill health allowing the group to get the gig at the BBC and send everything skyward!

 

 

 

Already a US No 1 single Chicago are finally back in the top 40 for the first time since their 1976 chart topper "If You Leave Me Now". Their new album is a slight derivation in sound which is more updated for the 80s and seems to prove a success at retail with "Hard To Say I'm Sorry" which advances 11-4 (64,000) it's taken 8 weeks for the song to make the top 10 showing it to be a grower with the public.

 

 

 

Following up a million seller (and biggest seller of the decade so far) is never an easy task and Dexy's Midnight Runners have opted for a cover to do the trick. "Jackie Wilson Said" is their version of the Van Morrison single from 1972 which failed to chart, thusly Dexys improved on the original when it debuted at No 26 last week, if they were hoping for a Musical Youth style climb they will be slightly disappointed as it jumps 26-5 (54,000) but a top 5 hit is not something to be disappointed about even if TOTP can't tell the difference between Jackie and Jocky Wilson!

 

 

 

It might be her 6th single but for Mari Wilson it's her first sizeable hit as she attempts to being back the 60s with that beehive hairdo that recently graced TOTP. "Just What I've Always Wanted" rises 14-8 (44,000) this week, her debut album "Showpeople" should be out at the start of next year,

 

 

"Zoom" climbs a spot this week to No 2 (87,000) but is miles behind Musical Youth (137,000- the biggest gap between the top 2 in the 80s so far) and given the strong showing of Culture Club and Chicago looks unlikely to make any in roads next week. Falling however are Shalamar 5-6 (48,000) and The Jam who collapse 2-10 (39,000) dramatically, whilst holding steady are Evelyn King at No 7 (45,000) and Adam Ant at No 9 (42,000)

 

1- PASS THE DUTCHIE- Musical Youth (224,000)

2- ZOOM- Fat Larry’s Band (87,000)

3- DO YOU REALLY WANT TO HURT ME?- Culture Club (77,000)

4- HARD TO SAY I’M SORRY- Chicago (64,000)

5- JACKIE WILSON SAID- Dexy’s Midnight Runners (54,000)

6- THERE IT IS- Shalamar (48,000)

7- LOVE COME DOWN- Evelyn “Champagne” King (45,000)

8- JUST WHAT I ALWAYS WANTED- Mari Wilson (44,000)

9- FRIEND OR FOE-Adam Ant (42,000)

10- THE BITTEREST PILL (I EVER HAD TO SWALLOW)- The Jam (39,000)

 

The best Culture Club song :wub:

'Just What I Always Wanted' is my favourite of the new entries.

 

'Hard To Say I'm Sorry' is a good ballad.

The original vocal was later used in a eurodance song by Aquagen.

 

The Culture Club song is quite good and easily the most well known of that top 10.

Love Come Down is probably my favourite at the moment, it's a decent enough soul/dance track. Culture Club is okay as well but I don't love it.

Huge sales for Musical Youth - so 'Zoom' was nowhere near to becoming the only #1 whose title begins with "Z", which would since seen a complete alphabet - I'm sure 'Zambesi' by Lou Busch was a lot closer in 1956. The Jam came pretty close to another #1 a couple of weeks earlier though.

 

'Hard To Say I'm Sorry' is my favourite of the new additions.

The four new songs are all good but the ones by Chicago and Mari Wilson would be my favourites.

16TH OCTOBER

 

 

They may have seen their sales sip 36% but it's still an easy victory for Musical Youth with "Pass The Dutchie" selling 143,000 copies in the last 7 days. The boys are of course limited by law as to how much work they can undertake given their age but they have managed 512,000 buyers in the last month and should climb into the YTD top 10 next week illustrating just how much the track has taken off.

 

 

Culture Club move 3-2 (91,000) though they were well beaten this week it could be a close call next week if both sales patterns are repeated. Fat Larry's Band are the victim in the squabble as they drop 2-3 though they have their best week yet at 89,000 and fought back hard on the lead Culture Club had accumulated.

 

 

Kids From Fame are still on the scene, on the album charts they have a new entry at No 38 with their second album "Again" whilst "Kids From Fame" is in the top 2 for a twelfth week on the trot and is now the second biggest album of the year behind Barbra Streisand. Meanwhile the second single "Starmaker" bounds 14-4 (78,000) this week outstripping their previous release "Hi Fidelity" the latter track sold 327,000 so far and is just about to exit the charts. This single is actually a cover of a Bruce Roberts track from 1978 and has lead vocals from a record 7 individuals!

 

 

 

Arriving 28-10 (36,000) is the first release by Spandau Ballet from their third as yet untitled album which is due in early 1983. "Lifeline" is the first product of the groups work with Jolley & Swain (producers of the moment) and becomes their fifth top 10 single of their career.

 

 

Dropping down the charts this week are Chicago 4-5 (67,000), Dexy's Midnight Runners slip 5-6 (55,000), whilst Shalamar dive 6-9 (41,000) whilst Evelyn King and Mari Wilson hold at No's 7 & 8 on sales of 49,000 and 47,000.

 

1- PASS THE DUTCHIE- Musical Youth (143,000)

2- DO YOU REALLY WANT TO HURT ME- Culture Club (91,000)

3- ZOOM- Fat Larry’s Band (89,000)

4- STARMAKER- Kids From “Fame” (78,000)

5- HARD TO SAY I’M SORRY- Chicago (67,000)

6- JACKIE WILSON SAID- Dexy’s Midnight Runners (55,000)

7- LOVE COME DOWN- Evelyn “Champagne” King (49,000)

8- JUST WHAT I ALWAYS WANTED- Mari Wilson (47,000)

9- THERE IT IS- Shalamar (41,000)

10- LIFELINE- Spandau Ballet (36,000)

 

I was obsessed with Starmaker when I was 5. We did some sort of awful dance and song to it to our parents :lol:

I was quite addicted to the Fame tv show but cannot recall Starmaker or High Fidelity just the main theme tune