I'm so pleased that 'Madam Butterfly (Un Bel Di Vedremo)' was a good discovery for quite a few at the SyncTube session, including yourself - it would top that group for me too. My first exposure to it was on my Now 4 vinyl as a teen and my ears couldn't quite believe what they were hearing! This was from the same Malcolm McLaren of 'Buffalo Gals' and 'Double Dutch'?! What a satisfying swerve. It's a breath-takingly beautiful blend of genres, with the operatic vocals particularly stealing the show.

Alphaville's 'Forever Young' never making the top 40 is such a shocking stat on paper, especially with its revival in the streaming era, but I'm glad the group managed a top 10 result out of 'Big In Japan' - also a quality release. I'd highly recommend the accompanying album! I was once on the hunt for more '80s synth-pop records to sink my teeth into, so looked up recommendations from forums and found the likes of that album and The Human League's Travelogue, both fantastic.

Speaking of acts with a lack of chart presence here... it's shocking to me that The Romantics never touched the U.K. chart, as I'm really familiar with both 'Talking In Your Sleep' and 'What I Like About You'. At least Bucks Fizz gave the former some kind of top 40 stamp here, even if I wouldn't choose it over the original.

Shame I didn't have room for 'Master and Servant' in my weekly SyncTube top 5 votes! A striking release from the group both lyrically and production-wise.

Snap favourite for the next group as it couldn't be anything other than the epic 'Purple Rain' at the top for me too 💜 I first discovered the song when Ruth Lorenzo performed it on the X Factor, unaware of how much I'd adore the whole album as an adult. I'm pretty sure I came across Blondie's 'Call Me' from that series as well, thanks to Diana Vickers, so a formative time for some of my '80s favourites. I've still been trying to work out why 'Purple Rain' re-entered the chart in 2012, as per the discussion on SyncTube and the best evidence I can find for its boost remains a reduction to 59p on iTunes, what a time capsule. Glad the song eventually re-peaked even if under sad circumstances. An evergreen classic from the purple one!

A tragically low showing in the charts for the wonderfully classy 'Smooth Operator' indeed! The first top 20/40 hit with 'smooth' in the title, but should've been top 10. Unsurprisingly Michael Jackson is the one who will rectify this, with Santana and Alien Ant Farm following suit...

'Apollo 9' was produced by Tony Visconti so neat that it should wind up in a section alongside Bowie, a long-time collaborator of his. I never got into his solo career as much as his work with the Ants, but shame his Live Aid appearance was quite the flop as mentioned by John, stalling his chart career until the '90s as you say. I only recently found out that he was part of the line-up of another iconic event, the Motown 25 special featuring that iconic 'Billie Jean' performance, how random! I understand Adam was a bit of a style icon for MJ though.

You once asked me Julian, what my favourite guitar solo was. Well that would be Purple Rain. Epic and only really topped by When Doves Cry.

Smooth Operator is great. As others have mentioned, as shockingly low peak. Especially when you consider how successful Olivia Dean has been recently, doing similar things, but less well.

Pride is one of my favourite early U2 singles, brilliantly anthemic

Human Racing is lovely

Tesla Girls is fun, but I can’t believe it’s not about EM!

Hammer To Fall is certainly dramatic

Why is good but inferior to Smalltown Boy

“Drive” is a fabulous example of how evocative soft rock can be: it’s such a warm and immersive track. However it’s come up against one of my all time favourites in “Together In Electric Dreams”, a song I love even more “Don’t You Want Me”, Oakey’s peak with the Human League.

10	Giorgio Moroder With Philip Oakey	Together In Electric Dreams	Only Top 40 creditors for either of these artists in their own right, and it's exquisite and sparkling of synth pop
9	The Cars	Drive	This is actually their last hit though it will be Top 5 again next year: a beautiful, wistful and emotional song
8	Alison Moyet	All Cried Out	One of her best remembered solo songs and it's very powerful, emotionally charged and brilliantly performed
8	The Style Council	Shout To The Top	Their most streamed song on Spotify: it's about the miners' strike and that riff is very memorable and effective
7	The Stranglers	Skin Deep	A lovely song about superficiality: their hits continue to be great even though most aren't big or well known
7	Wham!	Freedom	539th #1: this is a very good, bright and breezy song, though George solo has now shown more artistic depth
7	Paul McCartney	No More Lonely Nights (Ballad)	Continuing a very successful run of singles, this is a rather gorgeous ballad with a Dave Gilmour guitar solo
6	Big Country	East Of Eden	Their 2nd album lead not managing to give them a 4th Top 10, but it has their usual expansive hopeful sound
6	Paul Young	I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down	A cover of a 1970s soul song, but it's well done and with some strong and punchy '80s production added
5	John Waite	Missing You	Very well remembered as a Heart FM staple and it is good for its genre, but everything about it is quite ordinary
5	Meat Loaf	Modern Girl	This is very much in the usual Meat Loaf sound world: it is enjoyable but I don't find it particularly distinctive
4	Dio	Mystery	1st Top 40 after a few misses for this US band: this is fine but I find it indistinguishable from other hard rock
3	The Bluebells	Cath	Their last Top 40 apart from the "Young At Heart" revival: this is rather lightweight with some basic lyrics
2	Culture Club	The War Song	A 7th straight (and last) Top 3 but a rather poor and banal effort from them, plus the melody is quite grating

1984 Group 18:

1511	06/10/1984	Bruce Springsteen	Cover Me	16	44-38-38-42-74-32R(20)-18-{16}-20-34-42-55-72->13
#1512	20/10/1984	Chaka Khan	I Feel For You	1	22-5-2-{1}-1-1-2-6-14-21-25-21-25-50-63-74->16
#1513	20/10/1984	Ultravox	Love's Great Adventure	12	23-13-13-{12}-12-16-30-46-65->9
#1514	20/10/1984	Spandau Ballet	Highly Strung	15	25-{15}-21-30-54->5
#1515	06/10/1984	Julian Lennon	Too Late For Goodbyes	6	71-42-30-12-{6}-6-9-19-34-50-75->11
#1516	13/10/1984	Kim Wilde	The Second Time	29	52-33-{29}-29-37-59->6
#1517	20/10/1984	Lionel Richie	Penny Lover	18	36-22-{18}-18-22-30-58->7
#1518	13/10/1984	Eugene Wilde	Gotta Get You Home Tonight	18	50-39-32-24-22-{18}-23-36-52->9
#1519	13/10/1984	Feargal Sharkey	Listen To Your Father	23	63-40-30-{23}-24-29-42->7
#1520	27/10/1984	Status Quo	The Wanderer	7	23-{7}-7-7-10-18-31-43-53-59-66->11
#1521	13/10/1984	Billy Ocean	Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run)	6	68-43-25-12-9-{6}-6-10-17-31-38-43-47-53->14
#1522	03/09/1983	ZZ Top	Gimme All Your Lovin'	10	68-61-72-56R(55)-47-41-34-15-11-{10}-15-21-38-48-60-56-60-67->18
#1523	13/10/1984	Limahl	Never Ending Story	4	69-47-40-20-10-5-{4}-5-10-18-27-33-43-66->14

Electric Dreams is pure joy, always goes down a blast at Human League gigs - I guess it's rated 9 here? Giorgio did have his own top 40 hit though, From Here To Eternity in 1977 not long after I Feel Love exploded. 10/10 No Moroder on the credit though. Drive is one of the most-heartbreaking records ever made, first from the video mental illness point of view, and then from the Live Aid video point of view, gets me every time. Perfection. 10/10.

All Cried Out of one of Alison's best, oodles of vocal power 9/10. Shout To The Top a goodie too, 8/10, and my brother was fully on strike at the time and down living with us with the wife and kids at times in '84. I prefer You're The Best Thing, Long Hot Summer, Speak Like A Child, The Lodgers as they had killer melodies, and this was more about the riff and lyrics.

Skin Deep another Stranglers goodie, 8/10. Freedom all the joy and pathos of a Motown track, 9/10, No More Lonely Nights a more mature Paul plugging his new film, nice enough but I think I preferred his telly excurison with the Frogs. 7/10. East Of Eden I felt Big Country were becoming a bit samey by this stage 6/10. Paul Young's a good single though 7/10.

Missing You sounded better at the time than now, and it's not in the same league as the epic Isn't It Time, when John was lead of The Babys. 6/10. Parts of it refer back melodically a bit to The Babys Everytime I Think Of You. Meat Loaf without Jim Steinman was more of a cartoon character, Modern Girl 5/10. Dio I don't recall at all. Not one bit. Pretty sure I didnt like it. Cath was frothy enough for me 6/10, and The War Song getting a right royal slagging at the time for the lyrics, but I rather liked the simplicity of the statement and intent given we half-expected nuclear war. Cos War is indeed stupid. The tune was decent. It's not the number one I rated it off the back of their massive album though, Colour By Numbers is better and George was dabbling with substances it came to light later 8/10. Pretty much signals the end of their peak era, though George would still have sporadic inspiration over the years.

Great stuff at the top of your ranking.

Together In Electric Dreams is gorgeous synth pop, right up there with any Human League single.

Love Drive’s warm sentiments

All Cried Out might be my favourite Alison Moyer song, a real powerhouse vocal.

I’m a bit surprised Shout To The Top is the most streamed Style Council song, though I do like it a lot and the lyrics are great.

I didn’t really remember Skin Deep but enjoyed it a lot in the playback.

Freedom is a lot of fun.

Not quite as stellar a bunch as some others this year, but some really good stuff all the top. “Ain’t Nobody” is Chaka Khan’s classic but “I Feel For You” is a very interesting and innovative record.

8	Chaka Khan	I Feel For You	540th #1: an extraordinary cover including features such as rapping from Melle Melz and Stevie on harmonica
8	Limahl	Never Ending Story	His last hit and a beautiful track recorded for the film of the same name, with lovely backing vocal interplay
8	Ultravox	Love's Great Adventure	Their last hit for a while and it's an excellent one with their soaring, emotive vocals and warm production
7	Bruce Springsteen	Cover Me	I like how different this is from his previous hits: quite a raw sounding, enjoyable and stomping rock track
7	Kim Wilde	The Second Time	The lead from her new album not setting the charts alight, but it's a very strong track with pulsating synths
6	Julian Lennon	Too Late For Goodbyes	His 1st hit: his voice sounds remarkably like his father's on this and it's a nice song with a slight reggae feel
6	Billy Ocean	Caribbean Queen (No More Love On The Run)	His 1st Top 40 for 7 years and a well remembered and very highly streamed song that I respect but don't love
5	Feargal Sharkey	Listen To Your Father	Debut solo single for the Irish singer: it's quite an enjoyable and bouncy track, though nothing remarkable
5	ZZ Top	Gimme All Your Lovin'	Originally charted last year but now becomes a big hit: it's a decent track but I can't really say it excites me
4	Spandau Ballet	Highly Strung	Their lowest peak since 1981: the track itself isn't bad but nothing special, and some of the lyrics are banal
3	Lionel Richie	Penny Lover	A 5th single that doesn't really leave much impression, and he's very much back to the moribund ballad style
2	Eugene Wilde	Gotta Get You Home Tonight	1st for this US R&B singer: I find this very similar in style to "Sexual Healing", but a far less interesting track
2	Status Quo	The Wanderer	A 1961 song by Dion, and I really can't see what this rendition adds, but it manages to outpeak the original

1984 Group 19:

#1524	03/11/1984	Duran Duran	Wild Boys	2	5-3-{2}-3-9-19-29-32-31-26-23-39-50-70->14
#1525	27/10/1984	The Pointer Sisters	I'm So Excited	11	44-28-16-14-{11}-16-22-39-51-60-61->11
#1526	03/11/1984	Iron Maiden	Aces High	20	32-{20}-25-43-71->5
#1527	27/10/1984	Heaven 17	This Is Mine	23	46-36-28-{23}-29-42-69->7
#1528	03/11/1984	Gary Numan	Berserker	32	38-{32}-37-45-66->5
#1529	27/10/1984	Chicago	Hard Habit To Break	8	60-39-21-11-{8}-8-11-24-29-34-39-44-73->13
#1530	03/11/1984	Jim Diamond	I Should Have Known Better	1	40-13-3-2-{1}-2-6-18-20-19-28-46-57->13
#1531	10/11/1984	Depeche Mode	Blasphemous Rumours/Somebody	16	29-{16}-17-32-54-64->6
#1532	03/11/1984	The Dazz Band	Let It All Blow	12	50-35-28-14-{12}-14-27-30-36-38-38-59->12
#1533	17/11/1984	Nik Kershaw	The Riddle	3	17-5-4-{3}-8-8-12-11-14-32-55->11
#1534	03/11/1984	Eurythmics	Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)	4	62-44-24-7-6-{4}-9-17-17-17-22-47-72->13
#1535	17/11/1984	The Temptations	Treat Her Like A Lady	12	26-{12}-13-18-28-31-41-33-42-66->10
#1536	27/10/1984	Alvin Stardust	I Won't Run Away	7	68-75-51-31-18-11-{7}-10-16-18-22-30-67->13
#1537	10/11/1984	Matt Bianco	Half A Minute	23	50-34-28-{23}-33-45-52-62-62-75->10
#1538	17/11/1984	The Human League	Louise	13	36-26-14-{13}-15-24-28-27-36-61->10
#1539	17/11/1984	Slade	All Join Hands	15	38-20-{15}-20-23-25-27-29-52->9

Not quite as many highlights this time.

I Feel For You is fantastic though, it still feels very futuristic and testament to Prince’s songwriting skills. Absolutely love Stevie’s harmonica too.

Never Ending Story is gorgeous especially the lovely vocals and twinkling synths.

Love’s Great Adventure is one of Ultravox’s great uptempo songs.

Too Late For Goodbyes is really nice, as you say, very reminiscent of his dad

Caribbean Queen is good but not outstanding.

I do have a soft spot for Gimme All Your Lovin’s unapologetic rock though

Love's Great Adventure - epic and operatic trance-like production.

Caribbean Queen probably Billy Ocean's best 80s track!

The Second Time I have liked for a long time - good high energy track.

I Feel For You is good too, it blends hip hop, post disco and soul indeed!

Edited August 26Aug 26 by TheSnake

I Feel For You remains fresh and exciting as it was at the time, 9/10. Never Ending Story never seen the film but it's Limahl's best record by a mile 9/10, Love's Great Adventure is great live, so upbeat and the video is fun, Midge stops to catch his breath half-way after doing an Indiana Jones performance 8/10.

Kim's Second Time is also a goodie, sounds great in concert too, 8/10. Cover Me is OK Bruce, 7/10. Too Late For Goodbyes was lovely to see Julian get a hit, Hey Jude and all that 8/10. Caribbean Queen finally became the hit after several different version for different regions - African Queen, European Queen for 2 - which just didnt sound right, syllable-wise. Great to have Billy back again and another gem 9/10.

Listen To Your Father was a decent track, but not quite Undertones class 7/10, for now. ZZ Top broke through thanks to the linked theme videos of cars and girls and guitars and beards and were a bit of rock-riff fun Gimme All Your Lovin' 8/10. Highly Strung reaching a new low for Spandau, really got on my nerves 4/10. Still does.

Penny Lover better than Stuck On You, but not in the same class as All Night Long/Running With The Night as they go for the new-fave-thing of the time: mining albums for endless singles 6/10. Eugene Wilde is one I havent heard in 42 years! Pretty sure I liked it 6/10. The Wanderer is back as Quo go all Showaddywaddy formula covers, but the 1976 Dion reissue of the 60's hit is way better and it seemed a bit pointless as it had already been revived. 4/10.

'Together In Electric Dreams' is my very own 'Angels' aka a record I always forget didn't peak at #1, as it feels so massive and timeless! Going to finally drum this fact into my head now. Good to know it wasn't blocked by anything bad, as I like Wham!'s 'Freedom' and Paul McCartney's 'No More Lonely Nights', but this blows them out of the water and would be my favourite of this section too. Love the dreamy synth production, Oakey's ever commanding vocal and the long distance lyrics. 'Drive' is a wonderful runner-up too, its slow burn sound really appeals to me and the lyrics are all the more evocative with the famous Live Aid footage.

I'd agree with the Spotify streams that 'Shout to the Top' feels like The Style Council's signature song, probably because the riff has been used in media. I really like it myself although 'Long Hot Summer' just about pips it as my favourite from them.

'I Feel For You' is great (and what a line-up with the Prince origins, Chaka, Melle Mel and Stevie) although I think 'Never Ending Story' just beats it as my favourite here - what a beautiful, fantastical and unexpected turn in Limahl's discography. I agree the backing vocals really add to it and Moroder is on fire once again with the production.

The Cars Drive is a good atmospheric ballad, like a successor to Paul Young's 'Wherever I Lay My Hat' especially the synth bit in the latter song reminds me of it.

So many great songs in the last three batches. 'Purple Rain' is absolutely Prince's magnum opus and he'd only better it once for me. 'Pride (In The Name Of Love)' started to define U2's big rock sound complete with the "oh-ohh-oh" ending that's become something of a calling card for them but a powerful anthem too.

'Together In Electric Dreams' is a wonderful song from a meeting of visionaries in synth pop, I wouldn't argue with a 10 if that is its missing score. 'Freedom' is probably my favourite here, it's so joyous and George nails the Motown vibe with his vocals and the stomping middle eight, while details like the echo on the vocal makes it sound like it fills the room. 'Shout To The Top' is possibly The Style Council's peak lyrical and musical statement.

'I Feel For You' has such a stellar cast and lives up to it. 'Cover Me' a song Bruce originally wrote for Donna Summer but works very well as a soulful twist on his own style for his album which would become huge in 1985. 'Gimme All Your Lovin'' another rock song fusing a disco influence that's added to its longevity.

3 hours ago, jimwatts said:

So many great songs in the last three batches. 'Purple Rain' is absolutely Prince's magnum opus and he'd only better it once for me.

Now you’ve got me intrigued as to which Prince song it is? Don’t spoil the surprise though, I’ll wait til it comes up….. unless it’s something that’s already been?

“The Riddle” just has such a timeless sound to it and has to win this group. “Blasphemous Rumours” would be up there too though it’s twin, while also excellent, makes the overall package an 8.

9	Nik Kershaw	The Riddle	An incredibly well constructed song and his best I think: interestingly he has said that the lyrics are nonsense
8	Depeche Mode	Blasphemous Rumours/Somebody	A wonderful double A: "Blasphemous Rumours" is brilliantly dark, and the other side is an excellent ballad
8	The Pointer Sisters	I'm So Excited	This song is an adrenaline rush and their most streamed and best for me: amazing that it missed the Top 10
8	Heaven 17	This Is Mine	Their last Top 40 this decade and I found this a grower and a track with a very warm and sincere feeling to it
7	Duran Duran	Wild Boys	Yet another huge hit for them: this doesn't reinvent their sound at all but it's a dramatic track all the same
7	Gary Numan	Berserker	The lead from his 6th album and rather an underperformance, but it's a very strong and striking synth track
7	Eurythmics	Sexcrime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)	From their "1984" film soundtrack album: an interesting track that uses sampling techniques and works well
6	Matt Bianco	Half A Minute	Another enjoyable and classy though not hugely memorable track from them, with a lovely jazzy sound to it
6	Jim Diamond	I Should Have Known Better	541st #1: debut solo hit for this Scottish singer and an emotive, slightly clunky song that has grown on me
6	The Human League	Louise	All their singles this year have missed the Top 10: I love the storytelling on this one but musically it's ordinary
5	The Dazz Band	Let It All Blow	Only hit for this US funk band: this is one where I find the production stands out more than the song itself
5	Iron Maiden	Aces High	This is from the point of view of an RAF pilot in the war: it's a pretty good track but very much their usual fare
4	Chicago	Hard Habit To Break	Their 5th Top 10 hit in their usual soft rock style: this is fine for its style but not something I would revisit
3	Alvin Stardust	I Won't Run Away	His 7th Top 10: it has quite a nice tune but it really does feel limp and soppy and like it belongs in the '70s
2	Slade	All Join Hands	Their last '80s hit: a similar style to "My Oh My" here and it's trying to be anthemic but ends up being turgid
2	The Temptations	Treat Her Like A Lady	Their last new Top 40 on their own and unfortunately very passé and not enjoyable lyrically or sonically

1984 Group 19:

#1540	10/11/1984	Murray Head	One Night In Bangkok	12	53-39-27-17-16-{12}-14-15-15-16-30-43-53-74R(2)->14
#1541	27/10/1984	Huey Lewis And The News	If This Is It	39	62-45-45-40-{39}-50->6
#1542	24/11/1984	Shakin' Stevens	Teardrops	5	24-7-{5}-7-11-16-20-27-71->9
#1543	17/11/1984	Tina Turner	Private Dancer	26	56-32-31-{26}-30-35-37-42-50->9
	17/11/1984	Sister Sledge	We Are Family {1984}	33	41-{33}-38-55->4
#1544	03/11/1984	Nick Heyward	Warning Sign	25	65-47-45-34-{25}-27-46-64-72R(2)->9
#1545	24/11/1984	Kool And The Gang	Fresh	11	35-19-12-{11}-12-13-14-12-24-39-50-74->12
#1546	17/11/1984	Madonna	Like A Virgin	3	51-36-27-8-5-4-5-4-{3}-4-7-9-15-23-31-38-53-68->18
#1547	10/11/1984	The Kane Gang	Respect Yourself	21	54-44-38-24-{21}-26-28-38-31-41-75R(2)->11
#1548	01/12/1984	Frankie Goes To Hollywood	The Power Of Love	1	3-{1}-3-5-6-7-10-20-35-45-64-64R(2)->12
#1549	24/11/1984	Black Lace	Do The Conga	10	48-26-15-13-{10}-14-13-18-53->9
#1550	01/12/1984	Big Country	Where The Rose Is Sown	29	35-{29}-34-40-50-48-47->7
#1551	01/12/1984	Culture Club	The Medal Song	32	37-{32}-42-62-74R(2)->5
#1552	24/11/1984	Paul McCartney And The Frog Chorus	We All Stand Together	3	50-39-9-4-{3}-3-3-5-11-27-33-42-61->13
#1553	01/12/1984	Alison Moyet	Invisible	21	40-24-25-23-26-25-{21}-25-37-54->10
#1554	08/12/1984	Spandau Ballet	Round And Round	18	23-19-19-22-{18}-20-33-48->8
#1555	08/12/1984	Thompson Twins	Lay Your Hands On Me	13	30-20-20-19-16-{13}-23-42-68->9

A mixed bag for me.

I like The Riddle’s almost folk like melody.

Blasphemous Rumours has Depeche Modes trademark brooding menace.

I’m So Excited is a little overused for me though I still enjoy its energy

Wild Boys is great, a big sound, love the intro.

Sexcrime has always been one of my favourite Eurythmics singles, more uptempo than usual for them.

Louise is pretty but a bit inconsequential

The Riddle is Nik at his best along with Wouldnt It Be Good, and sounding pretty different from anything around at the time 9/10. Blasphemous Rumours is all about the lyrics, though the music/arrangement was more suited to it than of an equal for me 8/10. I'm So Excited very much came over as third-single-off-an-album in 1984, being nowhere near as good as Automatic nor Jump, but movie slots have ensured its longevity even though I got sick of hearing it decades ago 7/10.

This Is Mine was decent, though Ive not heard it in forever, 7/10 is my recall. Wild Boys was my new fave Duran single, even better than The Reflex, Chic-tastic, dramatic, and the Mad Max video with Simon Le Bon getting dunked on a waterwheel, what's not to love? Simon was starting to win me over as a good singer in 1984 10/10. Berserker was Gary Numan as niche artist, he had one more pop hit in him, but pretty much he didnt get much radio play and his records were bought by the fanbase 6/10.

Sexcrime sounded delightfully state-of-the-art and experimental at the time, a big fave, but I dont love it quite as much as I did then as the song isnt as strong as most previous hits 9/10. Matt Bianco does coffee-table 60's easy-listening jazz for the 80's and it was quite nice, though lead singer Basia would go solo before too long. 6/10. Jim Diamond's hit got on my nerves after a few weeks with the I-I-I-I's, and not a patch on pHD but its much better than his next hit 6/10.

Louise was sweet, and I'm still fond of it and the Hysteria album, for not repeating Dare. 8/10. Let It All Blow was a great production-dance track for the clubs 7/10. Aces High I approve of the theme of the song, but it's Iron Maiden 4/10. Hard Habit To Break, and it might seem hard to believe, was one of Chicago's better ballads. Pretty much all of their 2-decades-long US ballad monsters were not UK hits for a very good reason. This is good in comparison! 6/10.

Alvin does Mike Batt, song and production, and yes it's very late 70's but it's a good tune singalong bit of fluff 7/10. Aimed at older pop fans in their 30's and 40's on the whole. Mike's Rainmaker at the end of the long hot dry summer of 76 came out as Wellington Womble and flopped, but Mike shoulda hadda hit with it, it's better than Alvin's record. I just heard that for the first time in 50 years! All Join Hands is a christmas singalong a la My Oh My, and Slade still held my affection - I'd rather hear it at Xmas than THAT one. 7/10. The Temptations' last hurrah without Hall & Oates or Bruce Willis assistance, and not many of the originals left on board, was very much not Motown soul-funk, more 80's plastic dance-soul but that harmony bit was nice. 7/10.

I know most people wouldn’t rank the 3 big Frankie Goes To Hollywood chart toppers in reverse chronological order but that is how they line up in my affections. Not only that but I’ve always found “The Power Of Love” to have immense beauty and majesty and it receives my 3rd and final 10 for the year. I’ve surprised myself with the runner up which I wouldn’t have picked out on 1st listen, but I think for a song from a musical it’s really special.

10	Frankie Goes To Hollywood	The Power Of Love	542nd #1: one of the most powerful ballads of this kind ever; the lyrics and emotional build to it are epic
9	Murray Head	One Night In Bangkok	His only Top 40 from "Chess", and a marvellous Benny & Born penned track with quirky rapped verses
8	Paul McCartney And The Frog Chorus	We All Stand Together	A big Christmas #3 that is sometimes derided,  but that I think is a very fun, whimsical and surreal song
7	Madonna	Like A Virgin	Her 1st Top 3 and the start of a run of superstar success: it's an excellently written song that I don't adore
7	Alison Moyet	Invisible	Not a big hit but another very strong song from her where her storytelling and star quality shine through
6	Kool And The Gang	Fresh	Another of their well remembered and highly streamed songs: it's good but very much business as usual
6	Thompson Twins	Lay Your Hands On Me	Only a middling sized hit and not one of their best known, but a nice spiritual song with an uplifting feel
5	Big Country	Where The Rose Is Sown	An anti war song with their usual generous and hearty sound, but not quite as effective as previous hits
5	The Kane Gang	Respect Yourself	Their 2nd and last Top 40 with a cover of a '70s soul song that's nicely done but doesn't bring much new
4	Tina Turner	Private Dancer	A very good vocal performance here, but I don't entirely enjoy the song with its rather laboured chorus
4	Spandau Ballet	Round And Round	This isn't bad but it does rather feel like they're running out of steam and it's their last hit for a while
3	Huey Lewis And The News	If This Is It	1st minor hit for this US band who will have better to come, but this is rather limp and not memorable
3	Culture Club	The Medal Song	I don't find this as irritating as "The War Song" but it's another fairly trite and not very interesting track
2	Shakin' Stevens	Teardrops	Another original track from him that feels a couple of decades older than it is with the lilting dance style
2	Black Lace	Do The Conga	A 3rd Top 10 for them with this party song about the traditional Cuban dance: I don't get much from this

1984 Group 21:

#1556	01/12/1984	Tears For Fears	Shout	4	45-35-32-13-10-8-7-5-{4}-5-8-16-23-29-49-75->16
#1557	08/12/1984	Queen	Thank God It's Christmas	21	36-{21}-22-32-44-69->6
#1558	08/12/1984	Paul Young	Everything Must Change	9	39-17-{9}-9-9-9-9-14-26-41-57->11
#1559	01/12/1984	The Stranglers	No Mercy	37	47-40-{37}-44-55-59-68->7
#1560	15/12/1984	Band Aid	Do They Know It's Christmas?	1	{1}-1-1-1-1-2-9-17-30-38-37-57-71-24R(39)-6-3-3-4-13-47->20
#1561	15/12/1984	Wham!	Last Christmas/Everything She Wants	2	{2}-2-2-2-2-3-8-11-21-33-38-51-67->13
#1562	01/12/1984	The Toy Dolls	Nellie The Elephant	4	63-42-16-6-{4}-5-6-14-32-39-54-75->12
#1563	01/12/1984	Gary Glitter	Another Rock And Roll Christmas	7	72-56-22-{7}-8-12-31->7
#1564	01/12/1984	Bronski Beat	It Ain't Necessarily So	16	53-41-40-33-30-24-19-{16}-23-35-57->11
#1565	08/12/1984	Foreigner	I Want To Know What Love Is	1	67-41-26-11-10-4-{1}-1-1-3-5-12-21-30-43-67->16
	19/12/1981	Wizzard	I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday {1981}	23	61-41-41-68-50R(153)-36-{23}-36->8
#1566	22/12/1984	Council Collective	Soul Deep (Part 1)	24	37-{24}-28-26-44-62->6
#1567	15/12/1984	Alvin Stardust	So Near To Christmas	29	54-39-{29}-40->4
#1568	15/12/1984	Grandmaster Melle Mel And The Furious Five	Step Off (Part 1)	8	73-42-35-30-11-{8}-11-15-28-37-53-73->12
#1569	15/12/1984	Smiley Culture	Police Officer	12	66-56-40-34-15-{12}-15-27-36-53->10
#1570	15/12/1984	Sal Solo	San Damiano (Heart And Soul)	15	62-49-47-37-17-{15}-19-28-33-55->10

Power Of Love is unusual, starkly beautiful and yes emotional, and the reference to The Hooded Claw aka the very camp Paul Lynde in Penelope Pitstop is enough for a 10/10 from me too! As is OneNight In Bangkok, dramatic rap-musical track long before Lin-Manuel had a go, Chess is under-rated and for a while it looked Bjorn & Benny could have done some more musicals, but hey ho Mamma Mia I suppose! Having Tim Rice on lyrics helped, he knows how to knock out a great phrase or two.

I'm with you on the frogs, utterly charming and that video/TV clip is amazing 9/10. If nothing else Macca showing that kids songs can still be melodic, classy and positive. I've never OD'd on it either. Like A Virgin was the one that made Madonna the superstar and the video is great, it was a noticeable move away from dance music, but Holiday is still my fave of '84 8/10. Invisible deserved better, one of Alison's best singles, but at least it went top 30, 8/10.

Fresh is indeed fresher than most later-career Kool & The Gang singles, not bad at all 7/10. Lay Your Hands I also liked, but not quite as much as the Twins' previous ballad in late '83 7/10. Big Country I was waning on by now they somehow had lost their widescreen riff knack 5/10. The Kane Gang made Respect Yourself a UK hit, so there's kudos for that as it was pretty much unknown at this point, and set up Bruce Willis nicely for '87. Not as good as the Staple Singers Obv but the Kane Gang were on the whole not bad at all with their singles, but under-achieved commercially. 7/10.

Private Dancer sounds like a dull Dire Straits ballad, for obvious reasons, and I never really warmed to it either. Competent and Tina is the best thing about it 6/10. Round And Round wasnt their worst single, it was passable pop 6/10, and they essentially split up at this point for 2 years, with projects Arcadia and The Power Station with Robert Palmer. Which was a sign of things to come long-term after the next get-back-together.

Huey Lewis having finally broken through in the UK with one of his lesser tracks was mystifiying, given the excellent Heart & Soul had flopped, still his best record. 5/10. The Medal Song and George had definitely lost the plot. They would have been better lifting off the US-only singles from either previous album. 4/10. Teardrops typical Shaky by and large 5/10. Do The Conga well its a follow-up I suppose, and parties enjoyed it for a bit 3/10.

Some really great songs here!

I love all 3 FGTH number ones and the order depends on my mood at the time. Power Of Love is gorgeous though.

One Night In Bangkok is unique and something I’ve grown to like more with time.

I’ve a soft spot for the Frog Chorus, very nostalgic and proof (again) that Paul could do anything.

Like A Virgin is fantastic, I know she had bigger hits but to me it still feels like her signature song

I’ve mentioned my soft spot for the Thompson Twins before

More great vocals on Invisible from the fantastic Alison Moyet

The last group doesn’t follow the usual pattern of being considerably weaker than the rest of the year this time. In fact it’s probably the most iconic Christmas in chart history, with 2 of the biggest records ever and huge sales continuing further down the chart. The best record isn’t a Christmas one though as Tears For Fears come through with another huge classic, and they aren’t done yet.

9	Tears For Fears	Shout	Perhaps one of the most powerful choruses of the decade, and a hugely arresting record about venting
8	Wham!	Last Christmas/Everything She Wants	"Everything She Wants" is a very atmospheric record and the other is a very fine festive heartbreak piece
8	Band Aid	Do They Know It's Christmas?	543rd #1 and one of the biggest selling singles ever: a brilliantly written all star collaboration for the ages
8	Sal Solo	San Damiano (Heart And Soul)	Only solo Top 40 for this Classix Nouveaux singer, and a beautiful track about embracing Catholicism
7	Smiley Culture	Police Officer	Only Top 40 for this UK reggae artist: it's a great bouncy and humorous record with unique storytelling
7	Foreigner	I Want To Know What Love Is	544th #1: this is one of my favourite soft rock ballads in existence: there's a real power and euphoria to it
7	Queen	Thank God It's Christmas	Not one of the best known Christmas classics but I think there's a beautiful warmth to the production
6	Gary Glitter	Another Rock And Roll Christmas	This doesn't have huge amounts of depth but it's a very effective, energetic and catchy Christmas song
6	Paul Young	Everything Must Change	5 weeks at #9 for this: it's another track with nice production and a very warm feel, sincerely delivered
6	The Stranglers	No Mercy	They're into a period of mostly small hits now, but this is another good song with nice backing vocals
5	Bronski Beat	It Ain't Necessarily So	Surprising they're covering a "Porgy And Bess" song but it is a very nice jazzy version with a clarinet solo
5	The Toy Dolls	Nellie The Elephant	Only hit for this UK band with a more fun than might be expected punk rock cover of the children's song
4	Grandmaster Melle Mel And The Furious Five	Step Off (Part 1)	Their last and least interesting Top 40 hit, sampling the '70s track "For The Love Of Money" by the O'Jays
3	Alvin Stardust	So Near To Christmas	His last Top 40: there's a sweetness to this but overall it's quite a forgettable and slushy festive number
2	Council Collective	Soul Deep (Part 1)	Only hit for this group put together to make a charity song for striking miners: the song does little for me