'Ein bißchen Frieden' is my favourite 80s Eurovision winner :wub: I don't mind the English version 'A Little Peace' seen here but do prefer to listen to it in German.

 

I was quite late to 'I Won't Let You Down', only discovering the original after Armand Van Helden sampled it in his 2016 song 'Wings', but am a fan and much prefer it to Jim Diamond's solo #1.

Not really a fan of any of the recent additions, 1982 has definitely taken a turn for the worse after a great start to the year.

I didn’t realise that PHd were where Jim Diamond or random pre Band Aid no1 came from?

'I Love Rock And Roll' is a good track,

 

'A Little Peace' is OK, good lyrical themes but it is not my sort of thing genre wise, its quite MOR and retro sounding for the time, which is probably how it won Eurovision with the older voters.

 

And yeah it maybe sounds more authentic in German.

 

I was quite late to 'I Won't Let You Down', only discovering the original after Armand Van Helden sampled it in his 2016 song 'Wings', but am a fan and much prefer it to Jim Diamond's solo #1.

 

That's where I first discovered it too!

Edited October 14, 2024Oct 14 by TheSnake

Ebony & Ivory sounded nice for a while, and there was a lot of goodwill for Stevie finally getting a chart-topper, but in retrospect its one of the lesser tracks off Macca's album, which has some real gems in Here Today (for John), Take It Away and Tug Of War, which is brilliant. Pigbag was funky fun, and yes I recall it hanging around for ages in 1981 without breaking through or getting any radio play. Great horn riffs.

 

Nicole was a sweet winner of Eurovision, I preferred it to Bardo's OK entry for the UK. PHD was a goodie, one that topped my charts for a week, though I didn't love it quite enough to buy (being short on cash and all), nice tune still. Joan Jett is still a singalong pounding rock anthem, it was nice to see Arrows get some cash 8 years later. Football anthems? Meh, pass. Fun Boy Three & Bananarama was a great team-up, and the song was an obscure oldie to me, great fun still. I wanted the Nana's previous single, a cover of Yamasukis A-E-I-Mwana to be a hit, but like every other version it's yet to be a hit. Black Blood did a great version in 1975 too. Yamasukis were a 1971 project of Daniel Vangarde/Bangalter, dad of Thomas Bangalter aka Daft Punk member.

 

Shalamar were about to take over the UK in a huge way they didnt manage in the USA, and I Can make You Feel Good remains one of their best tracks, and Jeffrey Daniels' and Howard Hewlett still tour (saw them a year or two back). That leaves haircut 100 having a Fantastic Day, a 3rd great single in a row, and fresh in my current top 10 with the very fun Lightning-Seeds-ish (or are Lightning Seeds very haircut-100ish?) The Unloving Plum.

I def see the comparison between the Lightening Seeds and Haircut 100, great melodies and lyrics make a great pop song and both were great at that!

15TH MAY

 

 

Three is the magic number today, that's how many weeks Stevie Wonder & Paul McCartney managed at the top with "Ebony & Ivory" which this week drops a place to No 2 still selling a very healthy 83,000 copies to boot. It's replaced by the third Eurovision winning song in a row to make the top slot in the UK (and 7th overall), this time it's Nicole who sprints from No 8 (where she debuted last week) to No 1 today and outstripping the outgoing duo by just 4,000 copies in the main thanks to a studio performance by the singer on TOTP. Just 6 months ago an East or West German act had never topped the UK singles chart, now there have been three as Nicole follows Kraftwerk and Goombay Dance Band to the summit. At 17 she's the youngest act to make No 1 since St Winifred's school choir.

 

 

The strength of the BBC show is apparent elsewhere, you'll note that both Ph.D and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts both hold at numbers 3 and 4 respectively, the sales difference? Well Ph.D performed and shoot up by 17% to 78,000 whilst "I Love Rock N Roll" had no such advantage and increases by 4% to 67,000 copies.

 

 

The Scotland World Cup Squad are proving that anything England can do they can do. The team has now reached the top 20 for the last 3 world cup's. "Easy Easy" made No 20 in 1974, then "Ole Ola" made No 4 four years ago which is now followed by "We Have A Dream" which climbs 13-5 (59,000), it enlists the help of John Gordon Sinclair and is written by BA Robinson who seems only capable of writing of hits for other acts these days. On a World Cup theme, the England team plummet 2-8 (47,000) as they have peaked too early.

 

 

 

Proving there is life after Depeche Mode, Vince Clarke's new group Yazoo register on our radar this week with "Only You" which homes in on the top spot moving 14-7 (50,000). The band actually formed thanks to add in Melody Maker placed by the vocalist Alison Moyet to which Clarke replied shortly after he left "the mode" in late 1981 and this is the first fruits of their joint labour, the track is once again a Clarke composition and he can feel vindicated in his decision to branch out.

 

 

 

It's been two long years since we last had a reason to discuss Hot Chocolate so it must be a relief to fans of the 70s supergroup that they can produce the goods as they score a tenth top 10 track in "Girl Crazy" (18-9, 45,000). It features on their new album "Mystery" which isn't exactly tearing up the charts at present, perhaps not a surprise given its first single" only made No 52 last year but they have better luck this time around.

 

 

 

The long heralded second Spandau Ballet album "Diamond" which is already home to three singles (Chant No 1 #3, Paint Me Down #30, and She Loved Like A Diamond #49) is now home to a fourth hit "Instinction". It's been heavily remixed by Trevor Horn from the version on the album and comes complete with a similar workover of "Chant No 1" on the 12" which hasn't harmed the singles progress as it leaps 17-10 (41,000), the album however has yet to progress higher than No 15 which must be a disappointment for the group.

 

 

The only other track to mention is "Really Saying Something" for Bananarama and Fun Boy Three which finally slips a spot 5-6 (52,000)

 

1- A LITTLE PEACE- Nicole (87,000)

2- EBONY & IVORY- Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder (83,000)

3- I WON’T LET YOU DOWN- PhD (78,000)

4- I LOVE ROCK N ROLL- Joan Jett & The Blackhearts (67,000)

5- WE HAVE A DREAM- Scotland World Cup Squad (59,000)

6- REALLY SAYING SOMETHING- Bananarama and Fun Boy Three (52,000)

7- ONLY YOU- Yazoo (50,000)

8- THIS TIME (WE'LL GET IT RIGHT} ENGLAND, WE'LL FLY THE FLAG- England World Cup Squad (47,000)

9- GIRL CRAZY- Hot Chocolate (45,000)

10- INSTINCTION- Spandau Ballet (41,000)

 

 

Finally it was announced this week by the BPI that BMRB had lost the contract it has held since 1969 to compile the charts. Instead Gallup have been awarded the task on the promise to computerise compilation of the charts and improving the robustness of the process to give greater accuracy. They will take over in January!

‘Only You’ one of the best songs of all time for me, such a amazing track!

Only You is very good and Instinction is my favourite Spandau Ballet song. The humour in the Scotland squad song made it more interesting than the England one.

Really early for the England record when the World Cup won’t kick off until 13th June!

Urgh BA Robertson - horrible presence on the charts.

Yay for Yazoo, finally a great song in the top 10

Elton signalling his future career with Blue Eyes sounding all Frank Sinatra vocally, as that was his range after his vocal chord operation in the 90's, but it was quite a sweet record and return to the top after being out of vogue for 3 years despite some great (and future chart-topping) singles. Shakatak were part of the jazz-funk movement, always pleasant and vibes of 60's cocktail jazz mixed with current laid-back versions of dance - but Bill Sharpe peaked in 3 years time with an unexpected collab. The Fun Boy 3/Nana's follow-up was fine, though no up to the first hit, and it was great to have Hot Chocolate back in the top 10 after being a fan for 12 years. I still love the under-rated band, ahead of their time in so many ways, and versatile in genre, songwriters that gave away hits, but also not afraid to seize on a new song if it was good-enough. Speaking of which, the flop in 1981 was a Ricky/Marty Wilde song that could have been a Kim Wilde goodie single - You'll never Be So Wrong (helped by Hot Choc being on RAK Records since 1970, and Kim Wilde also getting picked up by Mickie Most for his label).

 

Yazoo hit the mark right off with Vince upping his game on Only You. Sounds like a number one song (and indeed it topped my chart of the time just ahead of Girl Crazy). I liked the production of Instinction but Spandau continued to generally underwhelm me - Tony's vocals just never managed to win me over, and lyrically ditto, bar the odd goodie like Story Short and Chant No. 1.

Yay Nicole, my favourite #1 since The Jam after a streak of several that aren't my thing.

 

Agreed that 'Only You' is the highlight of this week, a synth-pop staple.

Only You is amazing :wub:

Love Only You. It's stood the test of time. It was played over the credits of an episode of Normal People a few years back and just sends shivers every time I hear it.

 

My mum loved the Nicole song, so I always think of her when it's mentioned. It is a good song. Shame Bardo didn't finish higher in the contest.

22ND MAY

 

 

Nicole's "A Little Peace" gets a much easier second week at the top and a full week at retail and sells a healthy 101,000 into the bargain bringing a three week haul to 236,000 copies- a poor showing for 1982 thus far. Incidentally I forgot to mention last week that it is now the 500th UK Number One single since the charts began 30 years ago, it's also taken 5 years and 3 months to get there since the 400th No 1 which was "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" back in February 1977.

 

(Includes the top 10 rundown)

 

 

Until 3 weeks ago the Jam's "Town Called Malice/ Precious" was the only song to debut in the top 10 this year, then a fortnight ago Nicole arrived at No 8 and this week two singles debut in the top 10 simultaneously- a first in the decade. Making the biggest splash is Adam Ant with his first solo hit after disbanding the ants last month, "Goody Two Shoes" smashes in at No 5 today after selling 51,000 copies, initial copies of the single note "Adam & The Ants" on the cover illustrating some confusion over the timing of the split of the band and with some justification. It is written by Adam along with former ant co-writer Marco Pirroni and co-produced by Chris Hughes (the drummer in the band) so some may argue over how "solo" this single is. The album is due before Christmas so a lot rides on how this performs- sigh's of relief all around today I suspect, thematically Ant returns to his relationship with the press and his perceived image.

 

 

 

The list of accolades that Madness have in the 80s is already impressive. In terms of singles sold they are second only to Adam & The Ants (how appropriate this week) but since they split Madness now must be favourite to pass then in the course of 1982 unless something dramatic happens, they also have more top 10 singles than any other group, 8 in total before today. Their last single "Cardiac Arrest" only made No 14 earlier this year breaking that run of 9 top 10 singles but all is back on track this week as not only do they score a 9th top tenner (in the 80s) but "House Of Fun" becomes their first single to debut inside the big 10 as it does today at No 8 (43,000) it also features on their first greatest Hits album "Complete Madness" which this week rises to No 1 on the album charts deposing Paul McCartney- their very first No 1 album. The song's mildly controversial theme (young boy's coming of age) may help slightly though of course it all comes with Madness' usual slice of tongue in cheek charm and the first 70,000 copies are available in picture disc- get them quick!

 

 

 

Patrice Rushen is a name you might not have heard off, she's had one hit a year in the decade so far though "Haven't You Heard" (#62) and "Never Gonna Give You Up" (#66) hardly set the charts alight. "Forget Me Nots" has done far better in giving her the breakthrough as it rises 11-10 (42,000) today to sneak into the big 10.

 

 

There's lots happening elsewhere in the top 10 as well, Yazoo could very well be No 1 next week as they climb 7-2 (77,000) and Hot Chocolate still aren't done as they climb 9-7 (49,000). Ph.D and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts both hold at Numbers 3 and 4 but both are receding sales wise to 67,0000 and 60,000 respectively. Also falling are Scotland World Cup Squad 5-6 (50,000) and "Ebony & Ivory" which bombs 2-9 (43,000) and may have trouble hanging around for long.

 

1- A LITTLE PEACE- Nicole (101,000)

2- ONLY YOU- Yazoo (77,000)

3- I WON’T LET YOU DOWN- PhD (67,000)

4- I LOVE ROCK N ROLL- Joan Jett & The Blackhearts (60,000)

5- GOODY TWO SHOES- Adam Ant (51,000)

6- WE HAVE A DREAM- Scotland World Cup Squad (50,000)

7- GIRL CRAZY- Hot Chocolate (49,000)

8- HOUSE OF FUN- Madness (43,000)

9- EBONY & IVORY- Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder (43,000)

10- FORGET ME NOTS- Patrice Rushen. (42,000)

 

Solo Adam pales in comparison to the Ants in general but I do like ‘Goody Two Shoes’ - the TOTP performance was epic with the multiple sets *.*

 

I do enjoy ‘Forget Me Nots’ too, of course interpolated in both ‘Fastlove’ and ‘Men In Black’

Goody Two Shoes sounds more retro rock and roll/Shakin' Stevens adjacent, good song anyway, very catchy.

 

'Forget Me Nots' chorus vocal is very understated compared to 'Men In Black' and both are good songs.

 

'Only You' has been overplayed on adverts over the last few years which has diminished my enjoyment of it, first discovered it when it was sung by a contestant on Pop Idol iirc in the early 00s.

 

'House of Fun' I used to really like as a song but I am not so keen now on it.

Edited October 18, 2024Oct 18 by TheSnake

Goody Two Shoes is a great solo start for Adam Ant. I still sing the "Don't drink, Don't smoke... what do you do?" at times.

 

House of Fun is good for Madness as well.