October 22Oct 22 'Chi Mai' is absolutely beautiful and would top that group for me too love that something of this ilk could get as high as #2 in the charts.That marks the end of my favourite ever run of #2 hits then, take a bow the following songs:Happy Xmas (War Is Over)AntmusicIn The Air TonightViennaKings of the Wild FrontierKids In AmericaChi Mai
October 23Oct 23 Author Interesting to see all the different directions rock was heading in at this point, several types of which appear here.8Department SIs Vic There?Only Top 40 for this UK new wave band whose title is based on a Monty Python sketch: a marvellously irreverent yet moody hit8The ClashThe Magnificent SevenQuite a surprising but great track from them that verges on hip hop, with delightful nonsense stream of consciousness lyrics7Stray CatsStray Cat StrutThis missed the Top 10 unlike their last 2, but it's a really fab jazzy and swag filled number with very amusing feline lyrics7Echo And The BunnymenCrocodiles1st Top 40 after a miss for this Liverpool band: quite a frantic number with furious guitar strumming that builds very effectively7Quincy JonesAl No Corrida (I-No-Ko-Ree-Da)One of the best known songs from this US producer but actually a Chas Jankel cover: it's a great Spanish flavoured funk track6REO SpeedwagonKeep On Loving You1st hit for this US rock band who had been going since 1967: not pushing boundaries but a soft rock classic that I do enjoy6The BeatDrowning/All Out To Get You"Drowning" isn't bad but feels a little plodding and like it isn't quite getting into gear: the other side has a really good energy5GirlschoolHit And RunOnly solo Top 40 after the EP with Mötorhead for the still active rock band: I like this but it somehow it doesn't quite hit5WhitesnakeDon't Break My Heart AgainTheir 2nd Top 20 after a few Top 40 misses: it's a rousing rock song but feels quite standard for its genre and not so memorable5Eddy GrantCan't Get Enough Of YouThe previous hit "Do You Feel My Love" has more impact while this washes over a bit, though I really like the instrumental break4MadnessGrey DayAlready their 6th hit of the decade but my least favourite: it all feels a little grey in fact and seems to lack their usual punch4FreeezFlying High1st Top 40 for this UK electronic group: the sax solo and chorus are good but it all feels a bit like a track that's waiting to kick in3StarsoundStars On 451st of these hit medleys: very inessential but at least this one has a standard song length and features some great '60s tracks2Barry ManilowBermuda TriangleThis has a tropical feel to it making it more upbeat than most of his hits, but it isn't good and the lyrics really are rather cheesy1The Gap BandHumpin'Aside from the unfortunate subject matter this really is an interminable 5 minutes of funk that seems to go absolutely nowhere 1981 Group 8:#43225/04/1981Tenpole TudorThe Swords Of A Thousand Men673-37-22-10-{6}-6-9-16-16-38-45-68->12#43318/04/1981Level 42Love Games3858-48-{38}-39-45-68->6#43402/05/1981Shakin' StevensYou Drive Me Crazy239-5-{2}-2-2-2-7-10-16-28-40-59->12#43509/05/1981Adam And The AntsStand And Deliver1{1}-1-1-1-1-5-7-13-26-28-40-46-58-61-69->15#43602/05/1981Sheena EastonWhen He Shines1242-27-23-{12}-19-24-33-64->8#43702/05/1981Thin LizzyKillers Live EP1946-28-24-{19}-27-31-62->7#43809/05/1981Kim WildeChequered Love432-9-{4}-4-5-18-26-44-56->9#43902/05/1981The Human LeagueThe Sound Of The Crowd1253-34-27-15-{12}-18-21-30-52-58->10#44002/05/1981The Teardrop ExplodesTreason (It's Just A Story)1856-30-25-{18}-21-25-30-49->8#44102/05/1981The UndertonesIt's Going To Happen!1861-36-29-21-{18}-22-32-57-71->9#44209/05/1981Tottenham Hotspur F.A. Cup Final SquadOssie's Dream (Spurs Are On Their Way To Wembley)545-8-{5}-5-17-26-50-69->8#44309/05/1981Kim CarnesBette Davis Eyes1051-20-{10}-10-11-14-25-45-67->9#44416/05/1981ToyahI Want To Be Free837-13-9-{8}-10-11-14-24-30-49-67->11#44509/05/1981Duran DuranCareless Memories3755-38-{37}-37-38-48-65->7#44609/05/1981Smokey RobinsonBeing With You163-39-23-7-3-{1}-1-2-5-8-27-39-55->13
October 24Oct 24 yay my BJSC entry of t'other year out front, it's a classic 9/10 Is Vic There. Vaughan died way too young. Have to admit I have no memory of the Clash track, pretty sure it's been 44 years since I last heard it but it sounds like an early version of E=MC2 from the description - and I am a huge fan of that Clash-related Mick Jones BAD track. Stray Cat Strut was middling for me 7/10. Retro Swing-Rockabilly. Crocodiles is another one I have forgotten - I think I have never re-reviewed 1981 and its long overdue! I expct its about a 5/10. Ai No Corrida is a good funk track from the Master, and uncredited vocals from Patti Austin and Dune, and a host of hitmakers on it - Herbie Hancock, Jim Gilstrap, Greg Phillinganes a real Who's Who of a track. 8/10. Keep On Loving You topped my charts of the time, but I'm a lot cooler on it these days 8/10, All Out To Get You was the radio-favoured side, and fits in nicely with their recent hits for The Beat 8/10. Hit & Run vague memories of, around about 5/10 I'd say. Whitesnake were invariably competent but dull MOR rock, 6/10, Eddy not as his best after the 2 recent reggae classics, but even lesser Eddy is good 7/10. Grey Day also had the grey-vibe on it to me too, not one of my fave Madness singles but still an 8/10. Flying High is yet another not-heard-it-in-44-years moment but I think I liked it, a follow-up to Southern Freeze I think. 6/10. Stars On 45 really grated after saturated plays, but that intro stays great and anything that pushes The Beatles back into the charts (albeit cheesy covers) is welcome. So good the Fabs did their own a year later. 7/10.Bermuda Triangle I never thought much of and I was mystified how this did well when Could It Be Magic and Copacabana were more minor hits. Bazza was giving it the UK push in the 80's as his US career stopped being such a priority is the reason. 4/10. Humpin' I dont recall much, but I expect it was a 5/10 funk workout.
Monday at 21:514 days Author A great varied group here that feels full of ‘80s possibilities.9Kim CarnesBette Davis EyesA US #1 and the only Top 40 here for this US singer: it's an astonishingly good piece of storytelling with brilliant husky delivery9The Human LeagueThe Sound Of The Crowd1st Top 40 after several misses for the UK group with a brilliant pulsating, catchy and quintessentially early '80s electro track8Adam And The AntsStand And Deliver479th #1: their 1st chart topper and the usual style with the Burundi beat and gung ho high testosterone feel, but a great track 8ToyahI Want To Be FreeJust a single track from them this time about her frustrations being dyslexic at school: excellent with a heartwarming energy7Duran DuranCareless MemoriesTheir 2nd single and a very small hit, but it's another great and emotionally performed new wave track with punchy rhythms 7Kim WildeChequered LoveAnother track written by her father and brother Marty and Ricky, and another strong and exciting slice of pulsating '80s pop 7Tenpole TudorThe Swords Of A Thousand Men1st hit for this group who came to prominence through the Sex Pistols: it's another testosterone laden song but very good fun6The Teardrop ExplodesTreason (It's Just A Story)This was re-released following the success of "Reward": I think the riff and verse are very strong but the chorus a slight letdown6The UndertonesIt's Going To Happen!Their last Top 40: this has a frenzied excitement to it and is an enjoyable new wave song inspired by the 1991 hunger strikes5Thin LizzyKillers Live EPThis includes "Dear Miss Lonely Hearts" which was a 1980 hit and the punky "Bad Reputation", but I prefer the studio versions 4Level 42Love Games6 of their first 8 hits were non Top 40s but this scraped in: the track feels like it's building to something that never really comes4Smokey RobinsonBeing With You480th #1: impressive for him to have reached the top more than a decade after "Tears Of A Clown" but I find the track laboured3Shakin' StevensYou Drive Me Crazy"Quay-ay-zy": a month stuck at #2 thanks to Adam And The Ants; good to get an original song from him but it's rather lightweight 2Sheena EastonWhen He ShinesA love ballad with a musical theatre feel, and it appeared in the "Miami Vice" film: it's saccharine and does very little for me2Tottenham Hotspur F.A. Cup Final SquadOssie's Dream (Spurs Are On Their Way To Wembley)It's certainly a tune that's still heard today so iconic in its way, but why do they always have to sing so deliberately obnoxiously?1981 Group 9:#44709/05/1981ChampaignHow 'Bout Us574-42-28-11-6-6-{5}-7-10-18-28-42-64->13#44823/05/1981EnigmaAin't No Stopping1132-17-16-{11}-13-19-37-50->8#44909/05/1981VangelisChariots Of Fire1256-44-34-25-19-{12}-14-21-30-45-69R(41)-46-41-49-63-57-52->17#45023/05/1981UB40Don't Let It Pass You By/Don't Slow Down1635-{16}-21-19-18-25-36-53-69->9#45116/05/1981Paul Shane And The YellowcoatsHi-De-Hi (Holiday Rock)3669-{36}-38-45-57->5#45216/05/1981The PolecatsRockabilly Guy3572-38-36-{35}-46-67->6#45309/05/1981KraftwerkPocket Calculator3973-43-{39}-48-53-72->6#45416/05/1981SqueezeIs That Love3559-40-43-40-{35}-36-47-71->8#45523/05/1981George HarrisonAll Those Years Ago1358-{13}-15-15-20-37-66->7#45623/05/1981Hazel O'ConnorWill You851-23-10-9-{8}-10-19-29-45-74->10#45723/05/1981Michael JacksonOne Day In Your Life142-24-12-3-2-{1}-1-2-5-13-22-31-54-70->14#45830/05/1981Kate Robbins And BeyondMore Than In Love228-13-{2}-3-3-8-17-29-40-67->10#45923/05/1981Coast To CoastLet's Jump The Broomstick2865-30-30-{28}-28-39-49->7#46030/05/1981Siouxsie And The BansheesSpellbound2232-29-23-23-{22}-32-37-74->8#46116/05/1981Grover Washington JrJust The Two Of Us3474-46-{34}-34-40-60-72->7
Tuesday at 12:453 days Bette Davis Eyes is a classic cover, thats how to do one 9/10 and Kim's More Love from 1980 is also another good cover - Smokey Robinson - but not as synth-pioneering as this one. Sound Of The Crowd is still exciting and hinting how incredible Dare is going to be 9/10. Stand And Deliver is also a 9/10 but not as borderline 10 as the previous two. Toyah full-on fun 8/10. Careless Memories a bit of a step down for me, song-wise, 6/10. Chequered Love still exciting in concert 9/10, as is Sound Of The Crowd. I've seen all of these live except Kim Carnes.Swords Of A thousand Men another great pop chantalong track that has been rediscovered for adverts and the like since the great Pirate movie from Aardman had it. 9/10. Treason not quite as brilliant as Reward, but still a great hornsome 8/10. The Undertones still knocking out punk pop bangers, 9/10 - and then it all ended suddenly after this! Dont recall the Thin Lizzy live EP, but then I am rarely a fan of live recordings over studio originals, so expect its a 3/10. Love Games gave no indication that Level 42 would become chart regulars for 15 years, they seemed like just one of the many jazz-funk bands of the time 5/10. Being With You is a 10/10 from me, loved it and the smooth Motown vibes with an 80's sheen - I think the UK public had missed Smokey by this time, not having had a top 40 hit in a decade - unlike the US where his late 70's easy listening soul had had success. You Drive Me Crazy preferable to Shaky's covers, a decent production 8/10. Sheena's ballad was dross, but she did go on to have a star turn in the mid 80's Miami Vice TV show, marrying Don Johnson (and getting shot) so I guess that's why it was used in the Soundtrack. 3/10. I hated the Spurs song. Still do, totting-ham, indeed. 2/10
Wednesday at 16:352 days Author A brilliant top 5 in this group, but it’s also well endowed with not so good stuff, with relatively little in-between.“Just The Two Of Us” may be a controversial top pick but I think it’s one of the best examples of its style ever. Amazing that Hazel O’Connor had 3 Top 10s but everything else missed the Top 40, including 2 #41 leakers. A fab final big hit from her anyway.9Grover Washington JrJust The Two Of UsOnly hit for this US saxophonist with Bill Withers singing: one of the most beautiful and dreamy smooth soul songs in existence9Hazel O'ConnorWill YouHer 3rd Top 10 and final Top 40: a beautiful high drama and emotionally performed ballad with an extraordinary saxophone solo8KraftwerkPocket CalculatorTheir 2nd Top 40 6 years after the 1st: a fab and innovative single, and I love the bleepy noises like tapping calculator buttons8SqueezeIs That LoveA minor hit for them but a really special and beautifully performed bouncy Beatles-esque pop song about at troubled marriage8Siouxsie And The BansheesSpellboundThey're back after a #41 and this is indeed spellbinding with their usual punchy vocals and swirling electronic accompaniment7George HarrisonAll Those Years AgoHis 1st hit in a long time and a tribute to John: like most George tracks this has a lovely warmth and a familiar intimate feel to it7VangelisChariots Of FireThe film theme and the Greek composer's only solo Top 40: an iconic instrumental though has more impact alongside visuals6The PolecatsRockabilly GuyTheir only other Top 40 after the double A of covers with an original Rockabilly song: this is well done with a strong guitar solo5Michael JacksonOne Day In Your Life481st #1: I used to think this was a dirge but I do like the soaring vocal lines, and it's an excellent performance from Michael4UB40Don't Let It Pass You By/Don't Slow DownA 4th consecutive double A side hit from them: "Don't Let It Pass You By" does just that but the other side has more oomph3ChampaignHow 'Bout UsOnly hit for this US soul bands: it gets a few points for the big production and rich vocal harmonies but overall it's quite sleepy3Coast To CoastLet's Jump The BroomstickA 1959 song which Brenda Lee had covered earlier: there's nothing wrong with this version but it doesn't feel very necessary2Kate Robbins And BeyondMore Than In LoveOnly hit for this "Crossroads" actress who had appeared in Eurovision with her sister last year: this is a dull and soppy track2Paul Shane And The YellowcoatsHi-De-Hi (Holiday Rock)The theme to the "Hi-De-Hi" sitcom: it's very far from good but an inoffensive and chirpy little 1950s style rock and roll number1EnigmaAin't No StoppingA project by UK producer Nigel Wright: this is a bloated medley of clips of various tracks that doesn't give me any enjoyment1981 Group 10:#46206/06/1981The JamFuneral Pyre4{4}-4-12-24-38-54->6#46330/05/1981OdysseyGoing Back To My Roots444-23-8-6-5-{4}-5-9-17-27-42-58->12#46430/05/1981Kool And The GangTake It To The Top1555-33-24-22-{15}-18-25-31-62->9#46506/06/1981UltravoxAll Stood Still846-17-9-{8}-11-20-24-37-65-73->10#46613/06/1981Red SovineTeddy Bear422-{4}-4-9-19-35-54-75->8#46706/06/1981Bucks FizzPiece Of The Action1257-25-17-{12}-13-15-16-34-53->9#46830/05/1981Phil CollinsIf Leaving Me Is Easy1758-44-29-27-{17}-23-31-36->8#46916/05/1981ImaginationBody Talk468-54-45-43-31-19-11-7-6-{4}-5-8-13-20-34-43-65-73->18#47006/06/1981Elaine PaigeMemory666-34-15-9-{6}-7-10-19-28-38-53-75-69R(23)-70-67->15#47130/05/1981Dead KennedysToo Drunk To f***3665-41-{36}-42-57-72->6#47206/06/1981WhitesnakeWould I Lie To You3760-{37}-37-48-50-67->6#47306/06/1981Third WorldDancing On The Floor (Hooked On Love)1064-38-31-27-25-13-12-{10}-10-12-17-24-38-60-67->15#47420/06/1981The SpecialsGhost Town121-6-2-{1}-1-1-2-5-12-22-30-47-56-73->14#47513/06/1981LinxThrow Away The Key2151-32-23-{21}-22-22-31-38-74->9#47620/06/1981GillanNo Laughing In Heaven3133-32-{31}-34-60-73->6
Wednesday at 16:432 days 'Bette Davis Eyes' is kind of more mid 80s than early 80s sounding, not that that always is a good thing, good song anyway.Toyah 'I Want To Be Free' I actually like, great production, although I can see how the vocal can make it a marmite track.'Just The Two of Us' is a really nice track.'Sound of The Crowd' is very good, I read on Buzzjack before that the Human League used to divide their singles into 'pop' and 'dance' with different colours for the single art, I would say 'Sound of The Crowd' is more dance!I like 'Chequered Love', its more 70s glam rock revival than 80s but there is a place for it in the charts. Still not one of my favourite Kim Wilde tracks though. Edited Wednesday at 17:222 days by TheSnake
Thursday at 12:031 day Just The Two Of Us was under-appreciated at the time (including by me) in the UK, it was great having Bill back and who knew it was essentially his last hurrah with new stuff. An early retiree who meant it but kept the back catalogue working. 9/10 Will You was my fave Hazel track, largely due to the sax instrumental bit, it was so popular it got released on its own as a short single. 8/10. Pocket Calculator was fine but was sounding a bit dated what with synth advances since Autobahn (and The Model). They were pioneers of dour electronica, quirky and whimsy too, but I never saw them in the same league at the time as Moroder, Jarre, Bowie or even Space were in 1977 and subsequent newer acts. 7/10.Squeeze always classy, Is That Love 7/10. Spellbound is top Siouxsie 9/10 she was really peaking in 81. All Those Years Ago is bittersweet - a Beatles reunion about John, and not remotely maudlin, this was a number one for me at the time, but sentiment aside it's a sweet little reunion track for Paul, Ringo & George, as opposed to a major George comeback - that was still pending. 8/10. Chariots Of Fire was huge at the time, the theme and the movie, and it gave Vangelis a new career as a film composer, having already rebranded himself from Progrock to melodic synth with cinematic flourishes with Jon Anderson (Progrock star of Yes) 9/10. Rockabilly Guy is one that slipped by with the years, but I think 6/10 sounds about right for a track I havent heard in over 40 years. One Day In Your LIfe has been put back into 1975 in my retro charts, where it belongs, but even in 1975 I loved this emotive ballad, and still do - this was the point where Michael's vocals were changing from child to young adult and had that Motown charm 10/10. Don't Let It Pass You By was the radio side, and that was merely OK, so maybe they should have just gone with t'other side (I dont know it) 6/10. How Bout Us a lush soul track that sounded lovely at the time, less so from a distance 8/10. I didn't know Let's Jump The Broomstick at the time, so this was a fun bit of rockabilly for me - and anything that pushes Brenda is fine 7/10. And then we get to the well-endowed group for me 😄Kate Robbins More Than In Love and MOR ballad 5/10 at best and better known as an impersonator on Spitting Image in later years in the 80's, not to mention Paul McCartney's cousin, making the second Macca relative to get a hit. Paul Shane, it is what it is - a sitcom theme tune, and it's fine as that, but not so much in the charts 3/10. Paul's daughter lived next door to my Uni mate in Rotherham in the 80's, so he would chat over the garden fence if they had a Barbecue. Enigma not to be confused with the European act, this was an early adopter of the Stars On 45 template that would hang around at least a year, and cover classical to Beatles. I dont remember it but they were usually cheap n semi-cheerful cover-recordings 3/10.
9 hours ago9 hr Author I haven’t had any #1 hits topping a group so far this year but “Ghost Town” is a very clear choice and fitting for a 31 October post.9The SpecialsGhost Town482nd #1: amazingly their last Top 40 but the best with brilliant social commentary, ghoulish backing vocals and guitar effects 8The JamFuneral PyreI love the frenetic opening as the bassist and drummer jam with each other, and it's another great social commentary track8OdysseyGoing Back To My RootsAn excellent cover of a song about genealogy with an African American influence: I find this an incredibly soulful disco track 8UltravoxAll Stood StillA 4th hit from "Vienna" and all but the title track have been in a similar style, but it's another spiky and bouncy new wave track7Elaine PaigeMemoryFrom the "Cats" musical, this is one of the most iconic powerful showtune ballads, and Elaine does an excellent job with it7Third WorldDancing On The Floor (Hooked On Love)Last Top 40 for this Jamaican reggae fusion band and their 2nd #10: this is a real earworm and a joyous well performed track 6LinxThrow Away The KeyI've rather enjoyed all their hits and this is another classy and well performed slice of soul funk, if not especially memorable 5ImaginationBody Talk1st hit for this UK soul trio: it's a long track that I feel doesn't quite get going, though I like the dramatic violin bits in the chorus 5Bucks FizzPiece Of The ActionI quite enjoy this as a rather understated follow up to "Making Your Mind Up": it's catchy and not so naff, but doesn't stand out4GillanNo Laughing In HeavenThe spoken verses on this take some getting used to although I think it's meant to sound like crazy ramblings: it's intriguing 4Kool And The GangTake It To The TopAnother of those funk songs that no matter how many times you listen you can never quite remember: fine but not distinctive 3WhitesnakeWould I Lie To YouA 2nd hit of the year for them in a blues rock style: the "would I lie…" hook is repetitive and it all feels a little disinterested2Dead KennedysToo Drunk To f***Only Top 40 for this US punk band after "Kill The Poor" missed: the lyrics are meant to be silly but I don't really enjoy this at all2Phil CollinsIf Leaving Me Is EasyUnusual for an artist to receive a 10 and a 2 in the same year but this really is a turgid and sluggish track and a slog of a listen 1Red SovineTeddy BearOnly hit for this US country singer with a recitation track about truck drivers and a boy: it's very much not enjoyable for me1981 Group 11:#47730/05/1981Randy CrawfordYou Might Need Somebody1167-55-47-34-28-17-12-{11}-14-17-24-32-63->13#47813/06/1981The EvasionsWikka Wrap2059-35-31-{20}-23-23-32-59->813/06/1981Bob Marley And The WailersNo Woman No Cry {1981}863-38-20-12-9-{8}-12-18-23-43-60->11#47913/06/1981ShowaddywaddyMultiplication3960-{39}-42-51->4#48023/05/1981LandscapeNorman Bates4072-54-54-44-{40}-46-62->7#48127/06/1981Bad MannersCan Can318-{3}-3-3-3-6-6-16-26-36-48-58-71->13#48220/06/1981Quincy JonesRazzamattaz1156-26-16-{11}-13-21-29-48-70->9#48320/06/1981RainbowCan't Happen Here2041-29-29-24-{20}-26-31-65->8#48420/06/1981Tom Tom ClubWordy Rappinghood766-30-14-10-{7}-8-16-22-38->9#48520/06/1981The BeatDoors Of Your Heart3345-{33}-33-33-44-71->6#48620/06/1981Dave Edmunds And The Stray CatsThe Race Is On3452-{34}-39-35-46-53->6#48713/06/1981Bruce SpringsteenThe River3569-43-{35}-35-41-57->6#48813/06/1981Kirsty MacCollThere's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis1471-47-40-22-16-{14}-24-32-62->9#48904/07/1981StarsoundStars On 45 (Volume 2)215-4-{2}-2-5-9-27-31-54-67->10#49013/06/1981Depeche ModeNew Life1155-54-43-27-21-19-15-12-{11}-15-18-31-42-57-74->15
8 hours ago8 hr Of the two Brit-funk tracks 'Throw Away The Key' is very catchy with quite a fast beat and I really like it, in comparison 'Body Talk' is slow and I don't like it as much although it has some good production.'Back To My Roots' is good though.'Ghost Town' is a very good and spooky #1.'All Stood Still' is very different to 'Vienna', it has a great dance beat to it. Edited 8 hours ago8 hr by TheSnake
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