Average score for 1981 was 5.57, up very slightly from 5.55 in 1980 and would have been higher without all the medleys.

There were 14 1/10 scores up from 6 in 1980 (again largely thanks to medleys). I’ll give the worst hit of the year award to Children Of Tansley School - My Mum Is One In A Million.

I gave 3 10s, 28 9s and 49 8s.

I’ve put together my Top 40:

1 Laurie Anderson - O Superman

2 Phil Collins - In The Air Tonight

3 Ultravox - Vienna

4 The Human League - Don’t You Want Me

5 Soft Cell - Tainted Love

6 Visage - Fade To Grey

7 Kraftwerk - The Model / Computer Love

8 Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Souvenir

9 Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime

10 ABBA - One Of Us

11 Ultravox - The Voice

12 Ennio Morricone - Chi Mai

13 The Specials - Ghost Town

14 ABBA - Lay All Your Love On Me

15 Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes

16 Queen And David Bowie - Under Pressure

17 The Teardrop Explodes - Reward

18 Blondie - Rapture

19 The Creatures - Mad Eyed Screamer

20 The Police - Invisible Sun

21 The Human League - The Sound Of The Crowd

22 Ultravox - The Thin Wall

23 Grover Washington Jr - Justin The Two Of Us

24 Tom Tom Club - Wordy Rappinghood

25 Kim Wilde - Cambodia

26 Hazel O’Connor - Will You

27 Godley And Creme - Under Your Thumb

28 Kim Wilde - Kids In America

29 Bruce Springsteen - The River

30 Electric Light Orchestra - Twilight

31 Genesis - Abacab

32 The Jam - That’s Entertainment

33 Fun Boy Three - The Lunatics (Have Taken Over The Asylum)

34 Duran Duran - Girls On Film

35 Kraftwerk - Pocket Calculator

36 Rush - Tom Sawyer

37 Yoko Ono - Walking On Thin Ice

38 Adam And The Ants - Stand And Deliver

39 Dave Stewart And Barbara Gaskin - It’s My Party

40 UB40 - One In Ten

Would love to see yours again @jimwatts @Jade @dancember @King Rollo !

This is my top 40:

1. Ultravox - Vienna

2. ELO - Twilight

3. Phil Collins - In The Air Tonight

4. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Souvenir

5. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Joan Of Arc

6. Queen & David Bowie - Under Pressure

7. Visage - Fade To Grey

8. Laurie Anderson - O Superman

9. Ultravox - All Stood Still

10. Abba - One Of Us

11. Ultravox - The Thin Wall

12. Jon & Vangelis - I'll Find My Way Home

13. Hazel O'Connor - Will You

14. Ultravox - The Voice

15. Godley & Creme - Under Your Thumb

16. Landscape - Einstein A Go-Go

17. Human League - Open Your Heart

18. Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin - It's My Party

19. Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime

20. Teardrop Explodes - Reward

21. New Order - Everything's Gone Green

22. Kim Wilde - Cambodia

23. Tom Tom Club - Wordy Rappinghood

24. Dollar - Hand Held In Black And White

25. Human League - Don't You Want Me

26. Foreigner - Waiting For A Girl You

27. Blondie - Rapture

28. Visage - Mind Of A Toy

29. The Jacksons - Can You Feel It

30. Genesis - Abacab

31. ELO - Hold On Tight

32. Department S - Is Vic There?

33. Visage - Visage

34. The Passions - I'm In Love With A German Film Star

35. Dave Stewart and Colin Blunstone - What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted

36. REO Speedwagon - Keep On Loving You

37. Landscape - Norman Bates

38. The Pretenders - I Go To Sleep

39. Dire Straits - Romeo And Juliet

40. Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes

The Human League and ABBA would top those final two groups for me too

this is my attempt at a top 40:

1. Kraftwerk - The Model

2. Visage - Fade to Grey

3. Ultravox - Vienna

4. ABBA - Lay All Your Love On Me

5. Soft Cell - Tainted Love

6. Kim Wilde - Cambodia

7. The Human League - Don't You Want Me

8. The Specials - Ghost Town

9. Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime

10. The Jam - That's Entertainment

11. Kim Wilde - Kids in America

12. Ennio Morricone - Chi Mai

13. ABBA - One Of Us

14. Kraftwerk - Computer Love

15. Laurie Anderson - O Superman

16. Adam and the Ants - Stand and Deliver

17. Phil Collins - In The Air Tonight

18. New Order - Ceremony

19. Siouxsie and the Banshees - Spellbound

20. Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin - It's My Party

21. Adam and the Ants - Prince Charming

22. The Human League - The Sound of the Crowd

23. Godley & Creme - Under the Thumb

24. Adam and the Ants - Kings of the Wild Frontier

25. Fun Boy Three - The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Asylum)

26. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Souvenir

27. Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes

28. David Bowie - Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)

29. Ultravox - The Voice

30. Queen & David Bowie - Under Pressure

31. The Human League - Open Your Heart

32. The Jam - Funeral Pyre

33. Ultravox - The Thin Wall

34. New Order - Procession

35. The Human League - Love Action (I Believe In Love)

36. The Police - Invisible Sun

37. Duran Duran - Planet Earth

38. New Order - Everything's Gone Green

39. Depeche Mode - New Life

40. The Teardrop Explodes - Reward

My top 10 :

Bucks Fizz - The Land Of Make Believe

Aneka - Little Lady

Sue Wilkinson - Time'N'Tide

Clash and Ellen Foley - Hitsville UK

Barbra Streisand - Promises

Sue Wilkinson - Women Only

Rachel Sweet and Rex Smith - Everlasting Love

Dooleys - And I Wish

Kirsty MacColl - There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis

Kate Robbins - More Than In Love

My top 40 of 1981 would look something like this:

1 Bruce Springsteen - The River

2 Kraftwerk - The Model

3 Depeche Mode - Just Can't Get Enough

4 Kim Wilde - Kids In America

5 The Jam - That's Entertainment

6 Tom Tom Club - Wordy Rappinghood

7 Laurie Anderson - O Superman

8 New Order - Ceremony

9 Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Souvenir

10 Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime

11 Ultravox - Vienna

12 REO Speedwagon - Keep On Loving You

13 Diana Ross and Lionel Richie - Endless Love

14 Modern Romance - Everybody Salsa

15 Spandau Ballet - Chant No. 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On)

16 The Specials - Ghost Town

17 The Human League - Love Action (I Believe In Love)

18 Altered Images - I Could Be Happy

19 Visage - Fade To Grey

20 Fun Boy Three - The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum

21 Kirsty MacColl - There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis

22 The Human League - Don't You Want Me

23 Meat Loaf - Dead Ringer For Love

24 Soft Cell - Tainted Love

25 Blondie - Rapture

26 Bad Manners - Can Can

27 Shakin' Stevens - This Ole House

28 The Human League - Open Your Heart

29 Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Joan Of Arc

30 Tenpole Tudor - Swords Of A Thousand Men

31 Duran Duran - Planet Earth

32 Japan - Visions Of China

33 Ultravox - The Voice

34 Soft Cell - Bedsitter

35 Teardrop Explodes - Reward

36 Depeche Mode - New Life

37 Altered Images - Happy Birthday

38 XTC - Sgt. Rock (Is Going To Help Me)

39 Pretenders - Message Of Love

40 The Clash - The Magnificent Seven

1982 Spotify playlist:

Group 1:

#639	26/12/1981	Phil Lynott	Yellow Pearl {1981 Re-Release}	14	47-47-25-22-{14}-21-24-34-70->9
#640	16/01/1982	Shakin' Stevens	Oh Julie	1	13-3-{1}-2-3-7-14-29-39-48->10
#641	09/01/1982	The Human League	Being Boiled	6	53-19-9-{6}-10-16-23-38-63->9
#642	09/01/1982	The Stranglers	Golden Brown	2	67-25-16-4-3-{2}-2-6-9-23-39-68->12
#643	17/10/1981	Christopher Cross	Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)	7	70-56-62-67-54R(9)-27-18-10-{7}-7-8-12-22-44-68->15
#644	09/01/1982	The Mobiles	Drowning In Berlin	9	48-30-13-14-{9}-10-16-24-36-66->10
#645	09/01/1982	Alton Edwards	I Just Wanna (Spend Some Time With You)	20	62-33-{20}-20-23-20-22-44-70->9
#646	21/11/1981	Shakatak	Easier Said Than Done	12	74-47-42-42-42-51-51-42-36-22-19-{12}-13-15-26-37-64->17
#647	09/01/1982	Electric Light Orchestra	Here Is The News/Ticket To The Moon	24	57-38-26-{24}-26-31-43-54->8
#648	23/01/1982	Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark	Maid Of Orleans (The Waltz Of Joan Of Arc)	4	31-17-6-6-{4}-7-10-19-27-49->10
#649	16/01/1982	Olivia Newton-John	Landslide	18	43-35-29-44-32-{18}-27-33-69->9
#650	23/01/1982	Gillan	Restless	25	36-42-{25}-41-44-40-58->7
#651	23/01/1982	George Benson	Never Give Up On A Good Thing	14	37-26-21-23-{14}-18-17-31-47-73->10
#652	23/01/1982	Stiff Little Fingers	Listen	33	39-34-{33}-33-55-67->6

Couldn't do a 1981 top 40 or even top 10; too hard to rank but I am drawn to synth stuff so Ultravox, Japan, ELO Twilight, Soft Cell, Human League Love Action, Duran Planet Earth and Toyah Thunder in the Mountains would all be there along with a great forgotten rock tune Graham Bonnet Night Games.

1982 is perhaps the last really great year of the 80s for me a lot of music became a bit too slow/mid tempo poppy for me from 1983 on. There are exceptions though in dance and electro mostly.

Edited December 15Dec 15 by TheSnake

1982 starts with a bang: a very high scoring group and I’m already blowing my first 10. “Golden Brown” is perfection to me, with one of the best instrumental parts ever made. “Being Boiled” is a thrillingly dark follow up to The Human League’s festive million seller. But most of the other songs here are really good too.

10	The Stranglers	Golden Brown	By far their biggest hit and an utterly captivating track with a unique irregular metre and a warm dancing harpsichord sound
9	The Human League	Being Boiled	A big contrast between the poppy "Don't You Want Me" and the stark synth heavy sound of this, but another brilliant single
8	Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark	Maid Of Orleans (The Waltz Of Joan Of Arc)	A second Joan Of Arc related Top 5 hit for them: beautiful again with a mesmerising distorted bagpipe style backing track
8	The Mobiles	Drowning In Berlin	Only Top 40 for this UK new wave band: this has a style very similar style to Toyah and it's a really gutsy and punchy track
8	Phil Lynott	Yellow Pearl {1981 Re-Release}	Only #56 last year for this, fortunately re-released as it's surely one of his best songs and an electrifying piece of synth pop
7	Stiff Little Fingers	Listen	Last Top 40 for them: it's surprisingly soft for them, especially in the verses, but an excellent and emotionally powerful song
7	Electric Light Orchestra	Here Is The News/Ticket To The Moon	More time travel from them with "Here Is The News" broadcasting from the future and the other about futuristic life: both strong
7	Christopher Cross	Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)	Only Top 40 for this US singer for the film "Arthur" and something of a soft rock classic: it's a lovely gentle and tender song
6	Olivia Newton-John	Landslide	Her last solo Top 40: this is another fairly standard but strong and slightly rocky track from her that shows off her voice well
6	George Benson	Never Give Up On A Good Thing	All his hits sound quite similar, with "Give Me The Night" being the best version of the sound, but this is one of the better ones
5	Gillan	Restless	Last of their 6 Top 40s in 15 months: it's nothing really special but a rather catchy tune and one of their more enjoyable efforts
4	Shakatak	Easier Said Than Done	1st Top 40 for this UK group after a few near misses: it's quite a pleasant jazzy track and melody but doesn't have much bite to it
3	Alton Edwards	I Just Wanna (Spend Some Time With You)	Only hit for this Zimbabwean singer: unfortunately it's one of these unnecessarily long funk tracks that leaves little impression
2	Shakin' Stevens	Oh Julie	493rd #1: an original chart topper written by Shaky himself, but the lyrics are clumsy and the track has a rather brash feel to it

#653	16/01/1982	Elkie Brooks	Fool If You Think It's Over	17	57-55-30-41-29-21-{17}-24-28-40->10
#654	16/01/1982	Lindsey Buckingham	Trouble	31	65-50-{31}-37-35-45-50->7
#655	23/01/1982	XTC	Senses Working Overtime	10	41-32-15-17-{10}-16-19-46-67->9
#656	23/01/1982	Japan	European Son	31	52-33-{31}-38-53-65->6
#657	30/01/1982	Haircut One Hundred	Love Plus One	3	36-36-12-11-4-4-{3}-4-10-23-40-58->12
#658	30/01/1982	Diana Ross	Mirror, Mirror	36	37-42-{36}-51-59->5
#659	23/01/1982	Rhoda With The Special AKA	The Boiler	35	66-38-{35}-47-69->5
#660	16/01/1982	Mike Post featuring Larry Carlton	The Theme From 'Hill Street Blues'	25	64-44-39-34-30-32-{25}-28-27-34-63->11
#661	23/01/1982	Daryl Hall And John Oates	I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)	8	49-40-27-11-12-{8}-12-20-28-58->10
#662	06/02/1982	AC/DC	Let's Get It Up	13	14-22-{13}-21-34-56->6
#663	06/02/1982	Soft Cell	Say Hello Wave Goodbye	3	20-18-{3}-5-7-17-24-40-70->9
#664	23/01/1982	Tight Fit	The Lion Sleeps Tonight	1	70-43-29-8-6-2-{1}-1-1-2-6-20-31-50-72->15
#665	23/01/1982	Stevie Wonder	That Girl	39	75-49-{39}-49-57-74->6

Yellow Pearl the iconic 1982-5 TOTP theme tune with Ultravox style production!

You're right, The OMD song production sounds like electronic bagpipes and drums.

Drowning In Berlin dark and atmospheric.

I do prefer Shakatak to Shalamar easy to get those names confused!

As for Golden Brown the medieval baroque instrumentation is good.

Oh Julie is catchy I must admit but yeah more for the older audience with the late 50s rock and roll revival.

Edited December 18Dec 18 by TheSnake

Golden Brown, the record that started phase 2 of their career, and a classic 10/10. As fresh as it ever was, as it never sounded like anything else much at the time or now. Being Boiled being Human League/Heaven 17 era was more of a label cash-in at the time than a proper single from Dare - Things That Dreams Are Made Of or another track would have made more sense, but this was OK 7/10. Maid Of Orleans may well be fave OMD single (of very many) just gorgeous 10/10.

Drowning In Berlin sounded 2 or years old in terms of synthpop development of the time, and never a big fave, 7/10. Yellow Pearl OTOH was fab and sounded new and exciting, Midge could do no wrong around 80/81 9/10. I have no memories at all of that Stiff Little Fingers record! ELO's a good double feature, with neither of them quite top tier ELO but I prefer Here Is The News 9/10 to Moon's 7/10.

Arthur's Theme is pleasant enough, but Ride Like The Wind and Sailing were way better and flopped in the UK, annoyingly. 6/10. Landslide was a weird single, and it's shocking to think that she went from 3 number ones and a global monster in Physical to this and then nothing ever again. 6/10. George Benson's 80's career never far from the Rod Temperton template, but he never got the A-team level songs, Michael J grabbed those. 7/10.

Restless another forgotten oldie for me, Shakatak were always laid-back jazz-vibes pleasant but they had better songs to come, 7/10, Alton Edwards indeed has left little impression in me, not heard it since 1981. Oh Julie, how on earthb it got to number one when The Stranglers didnt remains a mystery, always got on my nerves and a "stick to the covers" was my general view. 4/10.

'Golden Brown' would top this group for me too the unusual, hypnotic time signature chosen for the harpsichord really stands out. The equally psychedelic lyrics keep me hooked for the whole duration too despite never having a proper chorus. I was delighted when this song appeared on the Spotify chart for the first time this year, an enduring classic.

'Being Boiled' is also excellent. I'm glad The Human League were now big enough to propel something that doesn't really sound like much of a hit into the top 10. I would've first come across this song through Richard X vs. Liberty X sampling it, but later checked out the accompanying Travelogue album and I'd highly recommend.

Speaking of unusual top 10s... 'Drowning In Berlin' is fabulous, love its dark cabaret feel with the intensity of both the vocals and synth production. Great stuff from OMD too. I'm still getting used to 'Yellow Pearl' actually having vocals, rather than just being the TOTP instrumental for a while

A strong start to the year indeed.

“Say Hello, Wave Goodbye” is a wonderfully bitter storytelling masterpiece that tops this group.

I’ve reviewed over 6,000 Top 40 hits and heard many thousands more, and I’ve never come across anything like “The Boiler”. It’s very shocking and not for the faint hearted. I’ve read that it was intended to be heard only once which makes sense, and for that reason haven’t given it more than 8, but it’s also a masterpiece in its way.

9	Soft Cell	Say Hello Wave Goodbye	"Tainted Love" is great but this is likely their best remembered original song, with a heartbreaking and beautiful lyrical story
8	Rhoda With The Special AKA	The Boiler	Only hit for this UK singer who worked with The Specials: I love the instrumental and it's a brilliantly written but harrowing song
8	Lindsey Buckingham	Trouble	Debut release and only solo hit for this Fleetwood Mac member: this is quite understated but a lovely song with a wistful feel
7	XTC	Senses Working Overtime	Their highest peaking hit reaching #10, and they won't be in the Top 40 again for  a long time: a strong track with some fun lyrics
7	Daryl Hall And John Oates	I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)	The instrumental backing here is wonderful and will be sampled on other hits: otherwise it's a very nice and laid back number
7	Mike Post featuring Larry Carlton	The Theme From 'Hill Street Blues'	Only Top 40 for this US composer with the theme to a drama series: a gorgeous intrumental with piano and soft electric guitar
6	Japan	European Son	A remix of a song written a few years prior: it's good with a cascading synth backing, but not as striking as their last couple of hits
5	Haircut One Hundred	Love Plus One	Their highest peaking hit and a nice song, but it doesn't have a memorable ring like "Favourite Shirts" and I find it less dynamic
5	Elkie Brooks	Fool If You Think It's Over	Originally a Chris Rea song, this cover is her first hit for a few years and a nicely done version but unremarkable easy listening
4	Tight Fit	The Lion Sleeps Tonight	495th #1: it's been a hit in several versions and originally a 1939 South African song: this is fairly well done but nothing new
4	Stevie Wonder	That Girl	From his greatest hits album, a nice enough song with a similar feel to "Happy Birthday", but certainly not one that stands out
3	AC/DC	Let's Get It Up	The suggestive lyrics are not very subtle here, but aside from that I don't find it a very interesting track with no light and shade
3	Diana Ross	Mirror, Mirror	It's hard to put my finger on why I don't enjoy this: it feels flat and laboured somehow, and like it never quite gets off the grou

1982 Group 3:

#666	23/01/1982	Theatre Of Hate	Do You Believe In The Westworld	40	42-53-{40}-44-40-52-60->7
#667	13/02/1982	The Jam	Town Called Malice/Precious	1	{1}-1-1-3-11-20-39-54->8
#668	13/02/1982	The J. Geils Band	Centerfold	3	26-17-{3}-5-5-9-17-40-66->9
#669	13/02/1982	Black Sabbath	Turn Up The Night	37	{37}-49-39-51-72->5
#670	06/02/1982	Toni Basil	Mickey	2	64-39-24-11-{2}-2-3-5-13-26-35-46->12
#671	13/02/1982	Depeche Mode	See You	6	40-31-10-8-{6}-11-13-27-42-59->10
#672	20/02/1982	Madness	Cardiac Arrest	14	26-28-{14}-15-14-20-29-49-52-74->10
#673	06/02/1982	The Jets	Love Makes The World Go Round	21	47-55-28-45-26-{21}-22-34-62->9
#674	06/02/1982	Earth, Wind And Fire	I've Had Enough	29	45-42-{29}-41-45-73->6
#675	06/02/1982	D Train	You're The One For Me	30	53-54-{30}-36-31-35-38-56->8
#676	20/02/1982	Iron Maiden	Run To The Hills	7	33-19-11-{7}-13-15-32-38-50-64->10
#677	20/02/1982	Kraftwerk	Showroom Dummies	25	35-35-{25}-34-57->5
#678	13/02/1982	Fun Boy Three And Bananarama	It Aint What You Do It's The Way That You Do It	4	43-36-9-6-{4}-5-12-22-46-55->10

Another excellent group overall. “A Town Called Malice” would top it on its own, but “Precious” while good isn’t on the same level and pulls the overall package down to an 8. That allows the crown to pass to this wonderful not so well known song.

9	Theatre Of Hate	Do You Believe In The Westworld	Only Top 40 for this UK group and it only just made it: this is a fabulously delivered track using the pulsating Burundi Beat
8	The Jam	Town Called Malice/Precious	"A Town Called Malice" is a brilliant song about Woking: the other is an enjoyable bouncy funk track similar to "Papa's Got A…"
8	Iron Maiden	Run To The Hills	Finally a really great song from them: this builds from an arresting opening section to a frenetic, dramatic and powerful track
8	Kraftwerk	Showroom Dummies	This is in fact a track from their 1977 album "Trans-Europe Express": a great track with their wonderfully stark and robotic style
7	Depeche Mode	See You	It feels like they haven't quite found their style yet and this feels very Kraftwerk inspired, but it's a gorgeous atmospheric track
7	Fun Boy Three And Bananarama	It Aint What You Do It's The Way That You Do It	A ska flavoured cover of a 1939 jazz song and Bananarama's 1st hit: this feels like a breath of fresh air, is fun and works well
7	The J. Geils Band	Centerfold	A well remembered US #1, and by far the biggest hit for this band; it's thoroughly enjoyable and catchy without being brilliant
6	Toni Basil	Mickey	Only Top 40 for this US singer which is a cover of a song called "Kitty": this can grate but it's very well made and performed
6	Madness	Cardiac Arrest	This ended a run of 9 straight Top 10 hits: it is enjoyable with their usual fun lyrics and cheeky style, but not distinctive enough
5	Black Sabbath	Turn Up The Night	Their last Top 40 for a decade: this is typical of its style with high drama and frantic electric guitar parts, but not memorable
5	D Train	You're The One For Me	1st Top 40 for this US RnB duo: this has a nice insistent riff and overall is an enjoyable track, but again not one you'll remember
4	The Jets	Love Makes The World Go Round	Another cover of an old rockabilly song from them: this is fine but fairly by the numbers and they won't grace the Top 40 again
3	Earth, Wind And Fire	I've Had Enough	Their last new Top 40 hit and a big comedown from their #3 a few months ago: this is fairly dull and doesn't really go anywhere

1982 Group 4:

9	Theatre Of Hate	Do You Believe In The Westworld	Only Top 40 for this UK group and it only just made it: this is a fabulously delivered track using the pulsating Burundi Beat
8	The Jam	Town Called Malice/Precious	"A Town Called Malice" is a brilliant song about Woking: the other is an enjoyable bouncy funk track similar to "Papa's Got A…"
8	Iron Maiden	Run To The Hills	Finally a really great song from them: this builds from an arresting opening section to a frenetic, dramatic and powerful track
8	Kraftwerk	Showroom Dummies	This is in fact a track from their 1977 album "Trans-Europe Express": a great track with their wonderfully stark and robotic style
7	Depeche Mode	See You	It feels like they haven't quite found their style yet and this feels very Kraftwerk inspired, but it's a gorgeous atmospheric track
7	Fun Boy Three And Bananarama	It Aint What You Do It's The Way That You Do It	A ska flavoured cover of a 1939 jazz song and Bananarama's 1st hit: this feels like a breath of fresh air, is fun and works well
7	The J. Geils Band	Centerfold	A well remembered US #1, and by far the biggest hit for this band; it's thoroughly enjoyable and catchy without being brilliant
6	Toni Basil	Mickey	Only Top 40 for this US singer which is a cover of a song called "Kitty": this can grate but it's very well made and performed
6	Madness	Cardiac Arrest	This ended a run of 9 straight Top 10 hits: it is enjoyable with their usual fun lyrics and cheeky style, but not distinctive enough
5	Black Sabbath	Turn Up The Night	Their last Top 40 for a decade: this is typical of its style with high drama and frantic electric guitar parts, but not memorable
5	D Train	You're The One For Me	1st Top 40 for this US RnB duo: this has a nice insistent riff and overall is an enjoyable track, but again not one you'll remember
4	The Jets	Love Makes The World Go Round	Another cover of an old rockabilly song from them: this is fine but fairly by the numbers and they won't grace the Top 40 again
3	Earth, Wind And Fire	I've Had Enough	Their last new Top 40 hit and a big comedown from their #3 a few months ago: this is fairly dull and doesn't really go anywhere

I was intrigued to hear 'The Boiler' when a trigger warning was issued for its contents on SyncTube. Harrowing is exactly how I'd describe it too. I think we were all stunned into silence during that devastating final portion. It's one that would be difficult to return to (although I may check out its sole live performance one day when I'm in the right frame of mind, as I imagine that must have been pretty powerful) but I do appreciate that it's a well-made song that highlights a heart-breaking, important issue.

'Town Called Malice' is an absolute classic Weller paints a great picture of tough times and flips it infectiously with a message of hope, on top of the energetic production. I agree that 'Precious' isn't quite as good, I appreciate them doing something a bit different with the funky backing, but I usually check out of it after a couple of minutes. Elsewhere, 'See You' also particularly jumps out at me as a highlight ❤️

The 'See You" music is quite a bit darker than the previous Depeche Mode tracks so I would say it is progress in their sound even if the lyrics are still rather happy.

Town Called Malice is one of The Jam's most effortless songs.

Used to really like 'Centerfold' its very catchy and the Na na na-na-na bit makes you want to sing along, but the lyrical themes have aged very badly.

'It Ain't What You Do' is familiar from adverts over the years especially B&Q. Still good though even though I prefer Fun Boy Three's 'The Telephone Always Rings'.

'Mickey' was on music channels too much even in the late 90s/ early 00s when I was growing up and soon grew tiresome.

Edited 18 hours ago18 hr by TheSnake