Talk Talk - Today is very good its like the start of the high energy synthpop path A-ha would eventually follow!

But I still prefer their eponomously named Talk Talk as its more dancey!

I will miss The Associates on this, one of the quirkiest bands ever!

I really like the Haysi Fantasee novelty song, obviously influenced by Adam and the Ants and Bow Wow Wow.

Edited January 28Jan 28 by TheSnake

There was only going to be one winner this time, but Sylvian Sakamoto is a very special discovery.

9	Duran Duran	Save A Prayer	The zenith of their emotive synth pop with the most beautiful lyrics and atmospheric instrumentation, somehow missing #1
8	Sylvian Sakamoto	Bamboo Houses/Bamboo Music	"Bamboo Houses" in particular is an incredibly inventive instrumental, but both are wonderful Eastern influenced songs
8	Pink Floyd	When The Tigers Broke Free	Their 1st single of the decade and a beautiful and very moving  track about Roger Waters' father losing his life in the war
7	Toto Coelo	I Eat Cannibals	Only Top 40 for this female UK group: as well as being very fun lyrically this is a very arresting and well delivered pop song
7	Soft Cell	What	Their 5th straight Top 5 with a well chosen cover of a 1965 song that really suits a makeover with Marc's emotive vocal style
7	Gary Numan	White Boys And Heroes	It's the usual style with deadpan slightly wailed vocals and siren style synths: very good and quite mesmerising though
6	Captain Sensible	Wot	Another delightfully silly though slightly repetitive hit from him with Sugarhill Gang inspiration: he won't have any more
6	Haircut One Hundred	Nobody's Fool	Last of their Top 40 hits, all of which have reached the Top 10, and a nice track with saxes and a rich and warm vocal sound
5	The Kids From 'Fame' Featuring Valerie Landsberg	Hi Fidelity	A mixture of teenage and adult voices from the series on this: it's a nice song for its genre with a bright and breezy feel
5	Rockers Revenge Featuring Donnie Calvin	Walking On Sunshine	1st and biggest hit for this US duo with an Eddy Grant cover: it's quite a successsful version although I prefer the original
4	Tom Tom Club	Under The Boardwalk	Their 2nd and last Top 40 with a cover of the Drifters song: this is perfectly nicely done but lacks enough unique character
4	Boystown Gang	Can't Take My Eyes Off You	Only Top 40 for this US post disco group: another cover of an old song that's fine but nothing new and not really necessary
4	Sting	Spread A Little Happiness	Originally from 1929, this version was for a film: it's a nice jolly number but I find the showtune style quite unsuited to him
3	Modern Romance Featuring John du Prez	Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White	A cover of this 1950s song with vocals as well as the classic trumpet part that isn't anywhere near as good as Perez Prado's
3	Kool And The Gang	Big Fun	Beyond the classics their songs are all too similar and tend to drag on in the way many non memorable funk tracks do
2	Shakin' Stevens	Give Me Your Heart Tonight	This agonisingly peaked at #11 for 3 weeks : unfortunately it isn't enjoyable and the vocal style here is particularly grating

1982 Group 15:

#843	28/08/1982	Grandmaster Flash And The Furious Five	The Message	8	32-19-13-{8}-8-16-20-43-56->9
#844	21/08/1982	Queen	Backchat	40	48-{40}-46-60->4
#845	04/09/1982	Dire Straits	Private Investigations	2	13-4-{2}-3-8-18-26-55->8
#846	04/09/1982	ABC	All Of My Heart	5	28-8-6-{5}-12-17-23-47->8
#847	14/08/1982	David Christie	Saddle Up	9	70-51-42-32-19-12-{9}-13-15-21-44-63->12
#848	28/08/1982	Depeche Mode	Leave In Silence	18	52-33-21-23-{18}-19-22-25-50-70->10
#849	04/09/1982	Shalamar	There It Is	5	34-17-10-6-{5}-6-9-19-41-61->10
#850	28/08/1982	UB40	So Here I Am	25	47-36-27-27-31-{25}-27-29-36->9
#851	14/08/1982	Thomas Dolby	Windpower	31	64-56-41-37-{31}-32-39-56->8
#852	28/08/1982	Evelyn King	Love Come Down	7	54-39-29-18-15-{7}-7-7-15-20-39-46-74->13
#853	21/08/1982	Carly Simon	Why	10	74-49-40-24-17-12-{10}-13-12-23-26-54-72->13
#854	04/09/1982	Shakatak	Invitations	24	47-28-{24}-30-24-29-31->7
#855	28/08/1982	Showaddywaddy	Who Put The Bomp (In The Bompa-A-Bomp-A-Bomp)	37	73-49-{37}-38-43-67->6
#856	28/08/1982	Simple Minds	Glittering Prize	16	61-41-38-28-25-17-{16}-18-25-31-74->11
#857	21/08/1982	Wonder Dog	Ruff Mix	31	63-43-44-40-{31}-33-44->7

I like 'Save A Prayer' but I recently discovered a hip hop and dance UK chart song from 1995 'Save It For The Mourning After' by Shut Up and Dance that heavily samples it and I prefer it!

Bamboo Houses and Bamboo Music are good. The Toto Ceolo song is fun!

'Walking On Sunshine' is good, it is the more electronic form of R&B/dance which I prefer in the 80s.

I prefer 'Glad Its All Over' from Captain Sensible.

Save A Prayer was my fave Duran single to date at the time, but I overdosed on the song I think, though the synth twiddley-bits decorating the backdrop are still fresh. Simon's vocals could get a little OT in those days too, but he got better as he went on. 8/10. Bamboo Houses I liked, my sort of soundscape, but I'm not sure about the tune - haven't heard it in over 40 years I reckon, so playing it now. It's quite pleasant 7/10. When The Tigers Broke Free, ditto not heard it since it left the charts, but I'm not sure I was that fond of it at the time. Not that fussed but the choir and brass is nice 5/10.

I Eat Cannibals got on my nerves after a few weeks and I've never got to the stage where I get nostalgic about it. 6/10. What was a goodie though, I like the 60's Northern Soul vibes 8/10. White Boys And Heroes was OK, but not on a par with his first half-dozen singles 6/10. Wot was great fun, bought that one, 8/10. The Captain, as Snakey mentions, had one more gem to come in 84. I like that the chart titles are What? Wot? Nobody's Fool was a good one to go out on before Nick Heyward waves bye to the band. Their comeback single last year was fab (The Unloving Plum), even better than this. 8/10.

Hi Fidelity was catchy pop with a nice melody, and Fame the gritty and fab movie classy. I saw the gay kid in the film 45 years older in a TV show the other month looking 60-something, no hair, but still recognisable. Fame the TV series was a Glee prototype but not as good. Record 8/10. Rocker's Revenge version of Walking On Sunshine is sparklingly fresh and modern-sounding, I still love it, and much as I am a fan of Eddy's this version is the dog's bollocks, packed with great touches and unusual 9/10.

Under The Boardwalk was a tad pedestrian, prefer The Drifters original, but worth a 6/10, and not in the same league as the non-hit Genius Of Love. Boystown's was a boystown camp, cheesy cover anthem of an anthem cover of an anthem. Frankie Valli robbed of a hit with it (as often the case in the 60's) but Andy Williams was fab, this one could get a bit annoying but it set up the monster brilliance of Pet Shop Boys' cover mash-up so all is forgiven 7/10.

Spread A Little Happiness didn't bear hearing too much before one wanted to chuck something at the radio, but I rather like the idea of it - I just wish Sting had gone for any number of way better songs from that era, though the mood was quite British and appropriate for the film. 4/10. Modern Romance going all 50's, great tune and all that, but not a band that impressed me generally 6/10. Big Fun not Kool & co at their best, very forgettable and samey 5/10. Shakey's not one of his better efforts though I'm more tolerant now of his duffers than I was at the time 5/10.

There can’t be many more genre defining tracks than “The Message”, which has to top the group. Carly’s track is just a top notch tune and I love the explosion at the climax of “Private Investigations”.

9	Grandmaster Flash And The Furious Five	The Message	1st hit for this Barbadian DJ and his group, and a hugely pioneering hip hop track with a mesmerising electronic beat
9	Carly Simon	Why	A Nile Rodgers film track giving her a 1st hit in 5 years: it's a beautifully produced and performed song with a reggae tinge
8	Dire Straits	Private Investigations	A powerful progressive rock track with intense and  poetic spoken lyrics and a building instrumental with a piano climax
8	ABC	All Of My Heart	The 3rd Trevor Horn produced single from "The Lexicon Of Love" and another very slick and compelling power pop hit
7	Depeche Mode	Leave In Silence	A 5th straight Top 20 hit for them: this doesn't have as catchy a riff as previous ones but I like the moody atmosphere
7	Thomas Dolby	Windpower	He's already released a few singles but this is his 1st Top 40: it's an experimental and futuristic feeling new wave track
7	Simple Minds	Glittering Prize	Their 2nd Top 20: a track about having a big life goal that glitters and shimmers just out of reach; this has a hopeful feel
6	Evelyn King	Love Come Down	Her biggest hit: not entirely my thing but a well written post disco track that has a nice smooth and romantic feel to it
6	Queen	Backchat	The last single from "Hot Space" and only a Top 40 scrape but it has an enjoyable pulsating funk influenced energy to it
5	David Christie	Saddle Up	Only hit for this French singer: I don't love the vocals but it's a catchy funk style track that's relentless and cleverly written
5	Wonder Dog	Ruff Mix	Simon Cowell was behind the release of this quite fun track by a German producer putting dog sounds over a disco beat
4	Shakatak	Invitations	This is quite pleasant to listen to with gentle vocals and a piano melody, but feels rather like background parlour music
4	Shalamar	There It Is	A 3rd straight big hit for them in a very similar style to the others: I don't think this is as memorable as the previous ones
3	UB40	So Here I Am	Nothing bad about this but it coasts along without grabbing the listener and I can see why it underwhelmed commercially
2	Showaddywaddy	Who Put The Bomp (In The Bompa-A-Bomp-A-Bomp)	Their final hit with a cover of an early '60s doo-wop song in their usual cheery style but with nothing much interesting to it

1982 Group 16:

#858	18/09/1982	The Jam	The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had To Swallow)	2	5-{2}-2-10-16-40-65->7
#859	18/09/1982	Adam Ant	Friend Or Foe	9	22-10-{9}-9-11-21-28-60->8
#860	21/08/1982	Chicago	Hard To Say I'm Sorry	4	73-48-45-46-33-22-11-{4}-5-6-9-12-30-38-55->15
#861	04/09/1982	Jennifer Holliday	And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going	32	55-41-34-{32}-36-51->6
#862	11/09/1982	Mari Wilson	Just What I Always Wanted	8	61-36-19-14-{8}-8-14-23-40-73->10
#863	18/09/1982	Fat Larry's Band	Zoom	2	40-17-3-{2}-3-4-8-16-39-46-74->11
#864	25/09/1982	Musical Youth	Pass The Dutchie	1	26-{1}-1-1-2-5-14-34-43-65-73-75-65R(4)->13
#865	25/09/1982	Roxy Music	Take A Chance With Me	26	34-27-{26}-33-29-55->6
#866	11/09/1982	Sylvester With Patrick Cowley	Do Ya Wanna Funk	32	70-43-35-{32}-35-48-58-68->8
#867	18/09/1982	Dollar	Give Me Some Kinda Magic	34	59-36-{34}-38-45-63->6
#868	18/09/1982	Culture Club	Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?	1	66-38-15-3-2-{1}-1-1-4-7-18-30-47-58-68-68-55-61->18
	18/09/1982	The Animals	The House Of The Rising Sun {1982}	11	70-40-28-19-13-{11}-14-23-31-69->10
#869	02/10/1982	Dexys Midnight Runners	Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)	5	26-{5}-6-10-17-26-56->7
#870	25/09/1982	Ultravox	Reap The Wild Wind	12	50-29-21-20-{12}-13-21-28-66->9
#871	18/09/1982	The Pinkees	Danger Games	8	62-44-30-30-27-{8}-12-29-42->9
#872	25/09/1982	Imagination	In The Heat Of The Night	22	52-31-25-28-24-{22}-31-36->8
#873	25/09/1982	The Clash	Should I Stay Or Should I Go/Straight To Hell	17	62-33-24-24-{17}-18-25-37-72->9

'Why' is ahead of its time, it has 90s vibes with the piano and also the rhythm being like a bit like Ace of Base.

'Leave In Silence' is much darker from Depeche Mode, they had really changed.

Private Investigations is such an unlikely number 2 hit single, it's sound is pretty unique. I didn't know about Thomas Dolby until I heard Windpower. I went on to buy the album it comes from, 'The Golden Age Of Wireless', and it became one of my favourite albums from the 80s. The Message, All Of My Heart and Leave In Silence are further highlights from that batch and Ruff Mix is one of my favourite novelty hits.

The Message is classic rap as it found its feet as social commentary, and rap had great diction and energy 9/10. These days its more about dick-tion in many cases. Carly's 5-yearly hit arrives unexpectedly via Chic and is nearly as good as their greatest stuff 9/10. Private Investigations is peak Dire Straits (for me), sprawling and moody 9/10. All Of My Heart is Horn-tastic melodrama-pop another 10/10 from a 10/10 album from ABC.

Leave In Silence is my fave early Depeche Mode track as Martin Gore started to get into his stride 8/10. Thomas Dolby I always felt was technically good, but he never moved me emotionally, quirky and interesting though 6/10. Glittering Prize a good ticking-over track as Simple Minds were building up to greater things 7/10. Love Come Down a good dance track of the era as it was in the process of morphing into a more synthy Jam & Lewis takeover 7/10.

Backchat came and went very quickly, and left little impression on me 5/10. Saddle Up catchy europop for the summer holidays in Spain, though overplay made it a tad annoying fairly quickly 6/10. Ruff Mix was a bit of fun, taking its cue from Ray Stevens chicken-based In The Mood, only sampling rather than actual human voices and not nearly as funny 6/10.

Invitations I have totally forgotten, but I can imagine what it sounds like - pleasant laid-back jazz-funk. There It Is is Shalamar still at their peak, and another smash 8/10. So Here I Am is another never-played-these-days minor hit that I have vague memories of and I can imagine what it sounds like too and a likely 5/10. Showaddywaddy going through the motions by now, and the song choice is a good one, but the new Rockabilly bands had basically stolen their thunder. 4/10.

No doubt about the top pick here: both sides are brilliant and incredible that will be another decade before “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” becomes the smash it obviously should be. “Do Ya Wanna Funk” really crept up on me with repeat plays though and I have a huge soft spot for “Zoom”. Nothing below par in this group at all!

9	The Clash	Should I Stay Or Should I Go/Straight To Hell	The 1st side will be the 661st #1 in 1991 and the 2nd will be sampled in a great 2008 song: a brilliant punk rock double A
8	Sylvester With Patrick Cowley	Do Ya Wanna Funk	Both these artists died young and it's Sylvester's last Top 40: it's an excellent disco track with interesting production
8	Fat Larry's Band	Zoom	By far the biggest hit for this US R&B group: I find this a remarkably lovely and gently soulful track with sweet imagery
8	Culture Club	Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?	509th #1: 1st hit for this UK group that caught fire after their striking TOTP appearance: it's a lovely heartbreak ballad
7	Ultravox	Reap The Wild Wind	The lead from their new album and only US hit: another great single that creates the feeling of wind and motion well
7	Adam Ant	Friend Or Foe	The title track of his debut solo album and another pulsating galloping track with the Burundi beat: works very well again
7	Roxy Music	Take A Chance With Me	Their last new hit: I love the twangy intrumental intro and the track has a brooding and introspective yet warm feel to it
6	Jennifer Holliday	And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going	Only hit for this US singer and actress from "Dreamgirls: it's an impressive vocal performance with real emotional power
6	The Jam	The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had To Swallow)	Another huge hit from them, which doesn't quite pop like some of their others for me but still has very good storytelling
6	Dexys Midnight Runners	Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)	A cover of a Van Morrison song from a decade before: it's a very good catchy number and a well made energetic version
5	Chicago	Hard To Say I'm Sorry	Their 1st Top 40 hit for 6 years: it's certainly not groundbreaking but I do enjoy the big, warm rock ballad sound of this
5	Mari Wilson	Just What I Always Wanted	1st and biggest Top 40 for this UK singer with a cute, catchy and poppy track: a fun listen but without any great depth
5	Musical Youth	Pass The Dutchie	508th #1: 1st hit for this UK schoolboy reggae band interpolating other songs; it's quite good but does feel very young
4	Dollar	Give Me Some Kinda Magic	This is quite  a jolly little number but has arecycled  5th single feel to it and is missing the Trevor Horn production magic
4	The Pinkees	Danger Games	Only hit for this Essex group whose stalling and then leaping to #8 led to chart hyping suspicions: not a bad retro track
4	Imagination	In The Heat Of The Night	Their 1st non Top 20 hit and they won't get back there: it's not bad but very similar to their usual sound and nothing new

1982 Group 17:

#874	02/10/1982	The Kids From 'Fame'	Starmaker	3	38-14-4-{3}-3-4-7-19-36-53->10
#875	25/09/1982	Hot Chocolate	Chances	32	65-39-{32}-42-61->5
#876	02/10/1982	Spandau Ballet	Lifeline	7	57-28-10-{7}-7-9-18-48-61->9
#877	02/10/1982	The Pretenders	Back On The Chain Gang	17	62-33-30-22-24-{17}-22-30-39->9
#878	02/10/1982	Sharon Redd	Never Give You Up	20	66-37-32-27-25-24-{20}-25-31->9
#879	09/10/1982	Kid Creole And The Coconuts	Annie I'm Not Your Daddy	2	39-15-9-{2}-6-12-23-45->8
#880	02/10/1982	The Who	Athena	40	54-{40}-53-60->4
	16/10/1982	The Beatles	Love Me Do {1982}	4	14-5-{4}-7-15-29-64->7
#881	09/10/1982	Bauhaus	Ziggy Stardust	15	42-22-18-{15}-19-26-42->7
#882	09/10/1982	Japan	Life In Tokyo	28	54-34-{28}-37-45-66->6
#883	16/10/1982	Barry Manilow	I Wanna Do It With You	8	36-13-10-{8}-8-16-23-49->8
#884	09/10/1982	Melba Moore	Love's Comin' At Ya	15	58-37-26-21-{15}-16-26-33->8
#885	02/10/1982	Tears For Fears	Mad World	3	65-47-38-16-6-{3}-3-3-6-15-23-38-47-47-45-57->16
#886	09/10/1982	Toyah	Be Proud Be Loud (Be Heard)	30	57-39-35-{30}-36-53-75->7
#887	09/10/1982	Julio Iglesias	Amor	32	52-40-33-34-{32}-40-65->7
#888	16/10/1982	Shakin' Stevens	I'll Be Satisfied	10	44-20-19-{10}-13-22-30-61->8

'Do You Wanna Funk' is a great electronic dance tune.

'Bitterest Pill' is epic and great too.

'Hard To Say I'm Sorry' is a nice song and was on your 2002 thread in the form of the Aquagen remix which used the original verses.

The Clash single seemed very 70's in a very different 80's music scene, tbh I wasn't that fussed by it at the time, either side. They sounded OK, and Should I Stay def sounded better in the 90's music scene as guitar riffs were more a thing again. I like them both though 7/10. Do Ya Wanna Funk was also OK, but not in the same class as the euphoric You Make Me Feel 6/10. Not heard it in years though! Zoom reminds me of walking round Nottingham's Goose Fair that Autumn with 2 Uni friends. Always a fan of funfair rides/theme parks and loud pop music blaring out of the dodgems or whatever. Pleasant 8/10.

Culture Club arrived with a bang, and the track remains lovely wistful gentle reggae vibes 9/10. George Martin making Ultravox sound a step up on Reap The Wild Wind, one of their best tracks 9/10. Friend Or Foe, the template was starting to sound samey and a bit of a disappointment when it came out 7/10, though still pounding. Roxy Music say farewell on a rather meh track for them, but always classy enough to scrape a 7/10.

Jennifer Holliday is a total show-stopper, 10/10, and the best version still of the Dream Girls musical anthem. The Bitterest PIll foreboding Style Council melodic soul sounds and one of my fave Jam singles 9/10. Jackie Wilson Said is great fun, Dexy's in their heyday still bopping 8/10. Chicago were largely dull ballads by this stage of their career but occasionally they would chuck out a decent song amongst the endless run of stodge 7/10.

Just What I Always Wanted, a fun pop retro sound and Mari was always value for money 8/10. Pass The Dutchie was charming with a hint of couchie naughtiness, still a fave reggae singalong 9/10, tinged with sadness as is often the case when looking back at some child stars and what came after. Dollar, not heard it since 1982, my memory of it is not flattering on the whole 5/10. Danger Games, not a big radio hit, and again vague memories of it being around about a 5/10. Imagination not their best single, but it was quite pleasant 6/10.

Oops I missed that this was back until now but clearly the taste is still flowing as 'Save A Prayer', 'The Message' and 'Should I Stay Or Should I Go' would top these groups for me too 'Save A Prayer' is Duran Duran's finest moment of the '80s and the closest challenger to 'Ordinary World' overall in my affections. 'The Message' is such an iconic moment of its genre - absolutely timeless, much-sampled production and important lyrical content. I was satisfied it made the final of the #8s contest as hip-hop isn't really BuzzJack's genre of choice. 'Should I Stay Or Should I Go' has lived so many lives with that original release, '90s ascent to #1 and recent Stranger Things revival - loved it kicking off a chart show recently.

'Why' and 'The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had To Swallow)' stand out as other particularly big favourites - the latter was a real slow burner for me, very soulful and gorgeous strings. It's quite an eighties-fest in general as one of the Belle Stars is the female vocalist and the lead singer of Department S is on the single cover.

Reap The Wild Wind is good but I prefer the next two singles to come from the Quartet album. Hard To Say I'm Sorry and Just What I Always Wanted are my other two picks from that batch.

'Should I Stay Or Should I Go?' and 'Do You Really Want To Hurt Me' are both superb. 'Pass The Dutchie' is a tune as well!