Gezza

7TH FEBRUARY 1998 continues to produce a new No 1 every week, this week Aqua become the 16th act in UK chart history to start their chart career with a couple of No 1 singles as “Doctor Jones” takes the top spot on sales of 102,000. It trailed all the way through to the week to the outgoing No 1 from Usher “You Make Me Wanna” but came through at the death outstripping the latter by 6,000 when all was said and done. The group’s album “Aquarium” is yet to make the top 10 but gets a best position yet rising to No 13 this week, and they thought “Barbie Girl” was a one hit wonder! That single is still in the top 40 (No 34) in its 16th week! Will Smith’s last single “Just Cruising” proved a surprising miss before Christmas when it only made No 23 so there was a lot riding on his new single “Getting’ Jiggy Wit It”. With samples of The Bar-Kays “Sang & Dance” and Sister Sledge’s “He’s The Greatest Dancer” he now enters at No 3 (64,000) to put his solo career back on track and even manages to push his album “Big Willie Style” 51-40, its highest position yet. Aaron Carter finds success with his second single “Crazy Little Party Girl” which as you might expect is more of the pre teen pop which has supported his star. It enters at No 7 (34,000) and sets up his debut album nicely for when it is released in three weeks’ time. All Saints drop 2-4 (48,000) but that sales drive the total to 1,007,000, the third million selling single by a girl group after “Wannabe” and “2 Become 1”- it took just 12 weeks to do it as well. “Angels” and “Together Again” both entered the charts 9 weeks ago and both are still there, the former at No 6 (37,000) and the latter at No 9 (29,000) both are big sellers with totals of 538,000 and 568,000 and they should both go platinum in the near future. Lighthouse Family ebb again 4-5 (39,000) and Catatonia hurtle 3-8 (32,000) with Bamboo rounding out of the top tier 6-10 (26,000). 1- DOCTOR JONES- Aqua (102,000) 2- YOU MAKE ME WANNA- Usher (96,000) 3- GETTIN JIGGY WIT IT- Will Smith (64,000) 4- NEVER EVER- All Saints (48,000) 5- HIGH- Lighthouse Family (39,000) 6- ANGELS- Robbie Williams (37,000) 7- CRAZY LITTLE PARTY GIRL- Aaron Carter (34,000) 8- MULDER AND SCULLY- Catatonia (32,000) 9- TOGETHER AGAIN- Janet Jackson (29,000) 10- BAMBOOGIE- Bamboo (26,000)

3RD FEBRUARY Nothing Compares 2 Sinead O’Connor this week as copies of her single flew off the shelves after a live TOTP performance of the song saw 81,192 copies change hands this week. It climbs 3-1 to easily become the third chart topper of the 90s as the turnaround rate at the top is quite ferocious. That’s bad news for Kylie Minogue who slumps 1-2 (53,856) after losing just 9% saleswise. The highest new entry of the week comes straight in at No 3 for Belgian dance act Technotronic who finally give Ya Kid K the singing credit she should have had on their first single “Pump Up The Jam”. “Get Up! (Before The Night Is Over)” gets off to a much more immediate start than that song after selling 31,450 copies but it will have some way to go to top the near 430,000 copies that Jam sold. Those S/A/W boys strike lucky again with the new Lonnie Gordon single “Happenin All Over Again” lifting 32-9 (17,612), it’s the 59th hit factory production to make the top 10 as the pounds keep rolling in. Gordon’s first release “It’s Not Over” missed the charts but all she needed was the production team behind her to score a hit, this track was originally penned by S/A/W for Gordon and not (as the rumour goes) for Donna Summer. Another act who’s just sitting back watching the bank balance swell is Phil Collins. “But Seriously” spent its first 8 weeks at No 1 before being deposed by the Christians who in turn are replaced by Collins again this week, all that to accompany sales of over 1.25 million thus far and breaking records to get the million mark in just 5 weeks. Second single “I Wish It Would Rain Down” features a guest guitar spot from Eric Clapton and bass from Pino Palladino (more famous for his work on Paul Young’s “Whenever I Lay My Hat”). It’s Collins’s 11th top 10 single and 6th on the trot in a sequence dating back to 1985, as it smashes 26-10 (17,510). Mantronix’s chart movement over the last few weeks 4-5-4 has belied the fact that it actually had it's peak sales week so far last week at No 5! it sold 28,730 in its latest frame, 49ers slip 4-5 (28,492) just above Halo James who hold firm at No 6 (26,605). Behind them New Kids On The Block soften 2-7 (25,466) and Jimmy Somerville continues to descend graciously 7-8 (18,802) 1- NOTHING COMPARES 2 U- Sinead O’Connor (81,192) 2- TEARS ON MY PILLOW- Kylie Minogue (53,856) 3- GET UP (BEFORE THE NIGHT IS OVER)- Technotronic (31,450) 4- GOT TO HAVE YOUR LOVE- Mantronix (28,730) 5- TOUCH ME- 49ers (28,492) 6- COULD HAVE TOLD YOU SO- Halo James (26,605) 7- HANGIN TOUGH- New Kids On The Block (25,466) 8- YOU MAKE ME FEEL (MIGHTY REAL)- Jimmy Somerville (18,802) 9- HAPPENIN ALL OVER AGAIN- Lonnie Gordon (17,612) 10- I WISH IT WOULD RAIN DOWN ON ME- Phil Collins (17,510)

27TH JANUARY There was no fight back for New Kids On The Block this week as they get roundly defeated and fall 1-2 (40,426) though it does move over 100,000 in total sales at least! Instead nothing could prevent a fourth chart topper for Kylie Minogue and “Tears On My Pillow” as she becomes only the second female act to score as many chart toppers, the only lady ahead of her? Madonna of course on 6 No 1’s so far. It is also S/A/W’s 13th chart topper with a change of decade not appearing to hamper their ability to score big hits, this production bumps 2-1 (59,262), and at 2 minutes 28 seconds it’s also the shortest chart topper since the Specials ten years ago. A big hit with critics back in 1988 Sinead O’Connor’s debut set “The Lion And The Cobra” yielded only one hit “Mandika” which made No 17 but with her second due in March she’s found the perfect cover, a version of the Family’s “Nothing Compares 2 U” which was written by a certain Prince. Much has been made of the promo and a teary O’Connor which has affected many with O’Connor reflecting on her own mother’s death during the filming. It’s certainly a hit on radio and at retail as it powers 30-3 (38,930) with an eye on the top slot next week. First single “Wanted” petered out at No 45 but second release “Could Have Told You So” marks the arrival of Halo James in the UK consciousness. Fronted by the photogenic Christian James (already a hit with “Smash Hits”) the group also contains Ray St.John who co-wrote “Smooth Operator” for Sade back in 1984 so this isn’t quite his first brush with fame. The song bounds 13-6 (25,908) after a strong TOTP performance. FPI Project nudge 10-9 (16,677) with a sales drop but no good news to be had anywhere else, 49ers and Mantronix both slide to make way for O’Connor dipping 3-4 (35,496) and 4-5 (31,603) respectively. Jimmy Somerville disco’s 5-7 (25,500) with increased sales, D.Mob slip 7-8 (19,159)- sales exactly the same as last week!, and Rob N Raz Ft Leila K don’t get it as they fall 8-10 (16,575) 1- TEARS ON MY PILLOW- Kylie Minogue (59,262) 2- HANGIN TOUGH- New Kids On The Block (40,426) 3- NOTHING COMPARES 2 U- Sinead O’Connor (38,930) 4- TOUCH ME- 49ers (35,496) 5- GOT TO HAVE YOUR LOVE- Mantronix (31,603) 6- COULD HAVE TOLD YOU SO- Halo James (25,908) 7- YOU MAKE ME FEEL (MIGHTY REAL)- Jimmy Somerville (25,500) 8- PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER- D.Mob (19,159) 9- GOING BACK TO MY ROOTS- FPI Project (16,677) 10- GOT TO GET- Rob N Raz Ft Leila K (16,575) Top 10 in pics

indeed so

Whilst I remember, a polite reminder to ask not to mention where songs are peaking before they peak please.

20TH JANUARY For a second week in a row a S/A/W production led midweek flashes and for a second week in a row that track just missed out on the money, more on that in a minute. What that also means is that New Kids On The Block fought back again with “Hangin Tough” and overcame stiff competition, it improved saleswise to 50,320 and it certainly needed to in order to keep pole position. In total the boys have spent 5 weeks at No 1 in the last 2 months and in three of those weeks they had to come from behind. Incidentally their album bounds 6-2 to reach a new peak with only Phil Collins “But Seriously” now ahead of it. This week the challenger was predictably the new Kylie Minogue single “Tears On My Pillow”, a cover of 1958 Little Anthony & The Imperials No 4 US hit which failed to chart here. It features not only on Minogue’s last album “Enjoy Yourself” but also on the soundtrack to her first feature film “The Delinquents” which opened here on Boxing Day to moderate success. The film was originally set to be released in October and the delay meant that S/A/W went with "Never Too Late" as her 3rd single from "Enjoy Yourself" instead. It’s Kylie’s 9th single and a ninth top 5 hit to boot as it debuts at No 2 with sales of 43,588, the album has spent its first 14 weeks in the top 6 amassing sales of 900,000 so far! This is also S/A/W's 50th top 10 hit production wise, the last 25 have come in just 17 months! Consisting of a varied line up but always with Kurtis Mantronix at the helm, the group that bears his surname arrive 12-4 (26,707) this week with “Got To Have Your Love” which features Wondress Hutchinson on vocals. The outfit have been influential in dance circles since their 1985 debut and hit a previous best with “Bassline” a No 34 hit in 1986. Finally braving it truly alone, Jimmy Somerville’s new single “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)” is obviously a cover of the Sylvester classic from 1978 which turned into a gay disco classic. Here it’s been remade by the former Bronski Beat/ Communards frontman who is rewarded with a 24-5 (20,128) move surpassing the No 8 peak of the original, his debut solo album “Read My Lips” has struggling in the Christmas slog moving 62-50 this week to mark a new high. Catch the promo if you can which features a clip of Sylvester himself who died just over a year ago. Dancin Danny D is back under the D Mob moniker with a new featured artist (Nuff Juice) and a fourth single in the form of “Put Your Hands Together”, their last single “C’Mon And Get My Love” became their first "failure" peaking at Just No 15 though a sizeable club hit. This time around they’ve slung in a bit of the O’Jays 1983 track “Put Our Heads Together” to come up with a hit to return them to favour moving 16-7 (19,159). Featuring the now ubiquitous “Yeah! Woo!” drum loop borrowed from James Brown, another Italo House track makes the UK top 10, and yes it’s a cover again this time by the FPI Project who have taken Lamont Dozier’s “Going Back To My Roots” and revamped it for the 90s. The song was finally a hit in the UK in 1981 for Odyssey (No 4) but this version takes its cue from Richie Havens 1980 version with a slicing of Honesty 69’s club hit “Rich In Paradise” and T99’s “Too Nice To Be Real” and it’s another song that has been floating around since pre Christmas making slow progress 48-40-30-28-25-14 selling 17,714 in its latest frame to climb to No 10. It was helped by the introduction of a vocal version of the single a few weeks ago (with a different vocalist) which has propelled up quickly and Gallup (who have history in making different versions of a track chart separately) have decided to combine both versions of the remix and the original on this occasion. The 49’ers progress nicely 6-3 (27,234) but the festivities are truly over for Soul II Soul who slip 3-6 (20.043), Rob N Raz hold at No 8 (18,955) and Jason Donovan dives 2-9 (18,326). 1- HANGIN TOUGH- New Kids On The Block (50,320) 2- TEARS ON MY PILLOW- Kylie Minogue (43,588) 3- TOUCH ME- 49ers (27,234) 4- GOT TO HAVE YOUR LOVE- Mantronix (26,707) 5- YOU MAKE ME FEEL (MIGHTY REAL)- Jimmy Somerville (20,128) 6- GET A LIFE- Soul II Soul (20,043) 7- PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER- D.Mob (20,043) 8- GOT TO GET- Rob N Raz Featuring Leila K (19,159) 9- WHEN YOU COME BACK TO ME- Jason Donovan (18,326) 10- GOING BACK TO MY ROOTS/ RICH IN PARADISE- FPI Project (17,714) Top 10 in pics

I recall at the time that smash hits ran an article on NKOTB sales and said that if it had sold the same amount in the same week in 1989 and 1988 then it would have been No 5 and No 10 respectively. A quick look at the other threads and that is entirely correct. A rare revelation of weekly sales back in 1990.

13TH JANUARY It’s a new year, a new decade, and we have a new No 1 single to celebrate. New Kids On The Block confirm their position as the newest teen heart throbs in the charts with the re-issued “Hangin Tough” springing 9-1 this week just 6 weeks after their previous single “You Got It (The Right Stuff)” vacated the top slot, the shortest gap between chart toppers by the same act since John Lennon 9 years ago. That’s the good news, sadly its move to the top is accompanied by a sale of 28,067, that’s the lowest tally since Gallup took over compilation of the charts in 1983 beating the Pet Shop Boys "West End Girls" which sold just 34,597 in 1986, the parent album of the same name (which serves as their debut UK release) lifts 8-6 in recognition of the fact that it now holds two UK chart toppers, that’s a new peak for it. More Italo house for you up next, Vocalist Ann-Marie Smith was the 49th vocalist to audition for the group and gave them their name though it should be noted that Dawn Mitchell has been recruited to front the group and thusly appears in the video for the 49ers. “Touch Me” features two samples, Alysha’s Warren’s “Touch Me” and Aretha Franklin’s “Rock-A-Lott” which have been meshed together to give us “Touch Me” which accelerates 23-6 (16,031) now that the Christmas period has passed. The project is the brain child of Gianfranco Bortolotti the man behind Capella who scored a No 11 hit last year with “Helyom Halib”. Swedish producers Robert Wåtz and Rasmus Lindwall first spotted singer Laila El Khalifi in a singing competition in 1988 and decided to work with her, abbreviations all around happened as they became Rob N Raz Featuring Leila K and “Got To Get” became a European hit at the end of 1989. It’s certainly taken its time here as it’s moved 57-32-14-13-14-11-11 since its November release to finally enter the upper reaches as it hits No 8 (15,317). Meanwhile it’s relief all round for Sonia whose third single “Listen To Your Heart” puts her back on track after last single “Can’t Forget You”’s underperformance. The latter track only made No 17 after the chart topping “You’ll Never Stop Me Loving You” in the summer, she now climbs 20-10 (12,308). The video features some neat moves from fellow S/A/W produced act Big Fun which, seems to be helping her, expect that debut album in Spring apparently. Elsewhere it’s tough on Jason Donovan who led for most of the week with “When You Come Back To Me”, its chances were scuppered by TOTP giving it no air time, and now the prospect of it topping the charts must be behind it as it trailed in with 24,140 sales marking its third week in the runner up spot. S/A/W still have 2 of the top 5 records, last week’s chart topper from Band Aid slumps 1-4 (19,023) losing 50% saleswise week on week and at that rate it will be lucky to be top 20 next week however it is now the 33rd week in a three year period where PWL/SAW have helmed at least two of the top 5 singles in a week. In between them are two non movers who both lose sales as well, Soul II Soul at No 3 (20,366) and Madonna at No 5 (18,377), De La Soul improve 8-7 (15,487) and Kaoma dip 7-9 (13,617). The terrible sales all round see record lows required (in the Gallup era) not only for the Chart topper, but also No's 2, 3, 4, and 10. Bleak. 1- HANGIN TOUGH- New Kids On The Block (28,067) 2- WHEN YOU COME BACK TO ME- Jason Donovan (24,140) 3- GET A LIFE- Soul II Soul (20,366) 4- DO THEY KNOW IT’S CHRISTMAS- Band Aid II (19,023) 5- DEAR JESSIE- Madonna (18,377) 6- TOUCH ME- 49ers (16,031) 7- THE MAGIC NUMBER/ BUDDY- De La Soul (15,487) 8- GOT TO GET- Rob N Raz Ft Leila K (15,317) 9- LAMBADA- Kaoma (13,617) 10- LISTEN TO YOUR HEART- Sonia (12,308)

We'll kick off tonight!

Two separate things. "Holiday" made No 5 whilst the "Holiday Collection" made No 98. It was released on CD (I have it on CD at any rate though I suppose it may be an import).

It's 1990 in this thread and a new decade has begun. We'll count down all the sounds of the year and hopefully generate a few "almost forgotten gems" along the way. As always thanks go to MFR, Vas tariner, Youtube, Wikipedia, MW, popscene, James Masterton and a few other sources who have helped over the years. Here's the links to previous threads if this isn't your year! https://www.buzzjack.com/forums/topic/270540-gezzas-yearly-sales-threads/ Actual weekly sales have recently come to light, my thanks go to Robbie and kobyhadrain for sourcing the information and presenting it. So sit back and enjoy every top 10 hit of the year (eventually), before the autumn you'll see that you really can't touch:

Well the guru has arrived so I guess it must nearly be that time.....

"Club fantastic megamix" is in the Wham total. Only official credits count so anybody doing being vocals on anything won't count unless they are a credited.

We need to bear in mind that the actual panel sales have only been known for a few years now and no one has (to the best of my knowledge) totted them up and produced a list like this. It may be that previous articles omitted the word "UK" or "British" or that they used another metric like most top 40 hits or indeed most hits in the decade which i believe Shaky does hold too.

Yes sometimes "best selling act" means "best selling UK act" and again it depends on what multiplier you use for 1980-1982, using a higher multiplier would boost the earlier 80s acts higher up this rundown but I think the ones I use are more realistic given the limited information we know about the accepted wisdom and conventions of the period (i.e if you increase the multiplier then you get more million sellers in the early 80s). I have shaky at approx 3.8 million 1980-82 but you'd need to push that to 4.4 million to make him the biggest selling act of the 80s given we "know" the sales of the two acts 83-89.

All that remains to say is to thank all who have contributed to the thread with their own memories and thoughts. I'm finally leaving the 80s behind now and we venture into the 90s later in the month!

1. MADONNA (7,000,000) 22 TOP 40 HITS BEST SELLER: INTO THE GROOVE (723,000) BEST SELLING ACT OF 1985 & 1986 So, she left it late as we’ve seen but Madonna finally pulled clear of Shaky in the summer of 1989 and sold her 7 millionth single in the final week of the decade. She had more No 1 hits than any other act in the decade (6) and more top 10 hits stringing 21 of them back-to-back, her mixture of controversy of cracking tunes ensured that publicity was never hard and some iconic videos meant that no act sold as many singles as she did! She was the bestselling singles act of 85 and 86 (a double no one else achieved) and sold another million in 1987! In conclusion not only the Queen of pop but also queen of 80s sales- officially.

2. SHAKIN STEVENS (6,436,200) 27 TOP 40 HITS BEST SELLER: THIS OLE HOUSE (727,000) Well Shaky led the way from 1985 right through to April 1989 despite never being the top selling artist of any individual year of the decade, his mixture of regurgitated 50/60s hits and inoffensive pop proved a winning formula with kids and grown-ups alike. He was in the top 30 in every year of the 80s grabbing 14 top 10 hits including a quartet of chart toppers as he accumulated sales of over 6 million singles (that’s more than Oasis in the 90s). In truth his selling power had started to diminish as the late 80s came round and after 1987 he never got another top 10 single (the annual festive charting “Merry Christmas Everyone” aside) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm0J6-RezL4

Right then............

As we're concluding tomorrow with the top 2, here's the top 100 so far... 100. SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES (1,383,300) 99. JULIO IGLESIAS (1,385,900) 98. SINITTA (1,390,700) 97. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN (1,418,900) 96. IRENE CARA (1,420,600) 95. THE COMMUNARDS (1,429,000) 94. BROS (1,456,800) 93. THE BANGLES (1,473,300) 92. YAZOO (1,473,900) 91. TOYAH (1,540,900) 90. MODERN ROMANCE (1,541,000) 89. KATE BUSH (1,542,700) 88. ALISON MOYET (1,554,000) 87. DOLLAR (1,569,200) 86. JIVE BUNNY & THE MASTERMIXERS (1,576,500) 85. THE STRANGLERS (1,577,600) 84. NIK KERSHAW (1,594,200) 83. GARY NUMAN (1,602,700) 82. TIGHT FIT (1,610,800) 81. FUN BOY THREE (1,621,800) 80. GEORGE BENSON (1,623,500) 79. ABC (1,624,200) 78. THE BEAT (1,641,600) 77. THE PRETENDERS (1,651,900) 76. DIRE STRAITS (1,660,649) 75. DONNA SUMMER (1,669,400) 74. IRON MAIDEN (1,671,300) 73. ROXY MUSIC (1,761,300) 72. GENESIS (1,762,300) 71. HOT CHOCOLATE (1,769,200) 70. ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA (1,788,100) 69. STYLE COUNCIL (1,788,700) 68. NEW ORDER (1,800,900) 67. EDDY GRANT (1,851,300) 66. TINA TURNER (1,859,900) 65. THE NOLANS (1,867,600) 64. ODYSSEY (1,879,900) 63. BILLY OCEAN (1,909,700) 62. SHEENA EASTON (1,922,700) 61. FIVE STAR (1,938,800) 60. THOMPSON TWINS (1,966,300) 59. IMAGINATION (1,970,300) 58. THE SPECIALS (1,984,300) 57. U2 (1,984,400) 56. ERASURE (2,002,100) 55. SHALAMAR (2,006,200) 54. HOWARD JONES (2,012,900) 53. RICK ASTLEY (2,032,100) 52. BLONDIE (2,058,800) 51. BILLY JOEL (2,071,300) 50. LEVEL 42 (2,105,700) 49. PAUL YOUNG (2,112,700) 48. A-HA (2,118,400) 47. BAD MANNERS (2,170,500) 46. ROD STEWART (2,214,600) 45. JASON DONOVAN (2,261,500) 44. SIMPLE MINDS (2,271,800) 43. ABBA (2,297,500) 42. WHITNEY HOUSTON (2,368,700) 41. TEARS FOR FEARS (2,554,500) 40. ELTON JOHN (2,558,000) 39. PRINCE (2,622,100) 38. BAND AID (2,671,600) 37. JOHN LENNON (2,674,800) 36. ULTRAVOX (2,702,200) 35. DEXY’S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS (2,735,500) 34. SOFT CELL (2,764,100) 33. ORCHESTRAL MANOEUVRES IN THE DARK (2,765,100) 32. GEORGE MICHAEL (2,804,100) 31. DEPECHE MODE (2,837,100) 30. PET SHOP BOYS (2,849,000) 29. KIM WILDE (2,894,200) 28. EURYTHMICS (2,932,000) 27. LIONEL RICHIE (2,962,000) 26. THE POLICE (3,080,900) 25. BUCKS FIZZ (3,277,500) 24. STATUS QUO (3,293,600) 23. BANANARAMA (3,310,000) 22. KYLIE MINOGUE (3,337,500) 21. THE HUMAN LEAGUE (3,381,100) 20. DIANA ROSS (3,395,500) 19. KOOL & THE GANG (3,401,300) 18. SPANDAU BALLET (3,567,200) 17. QUEEN (3,693,300) 16. THE JAM (3,719,800) 15. CULTURE CLUB (3,898,000) 14. ADAM & THE ANTS (4,144,200) 13. PAUL MCCARTNEY (4,174,900) 12. PHIL COLLINS (4,178,700) 11. FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD (4,363,600) 10. DURAN DURAN (4,369,700) 9. UB40 (4,634,300) 8. STEVIE WONDER (4,786,200) 7. DAVID BOWIE (4,809,400) 6. WHAM! (4,831,100) 5. MICHAEL JACKSON (5,401,300) 4. MADNESS (5,434,400) 3. CLIFF RICHARD (5,590,300)

3. CLIFF RICHARD (5,590,300) 25 TOP 40 HITS BEST SELLER: MISTLETOE & WINE (760,000) Didn’t Cliff do well! After a mixed 70s he seemed to find his footing again in the 80s with a couple of chart toppers including the festive No 1 for 1988 “Misletoe & Wine”. He even managed to get 3 top 3 hits back to back in 1989- something he hadn’t done since his early 60s hey day so much had he returned to form! His tenacity sees him into bronze position in part due to all those duets in the 80s (Phil Everley, Sarah Brightman, Van Morrison, The Young Ones among others).

4. MADNESS (5,434,400) 21 TOP 40 HITS BIGGEST HIT: BAGGY TROUSERS (561,000) BIGGEST SELLING ACT OF 1980 One of only 2 acts in the decade to sell a million in three different years in the 80s, Madness led the list in 1980 and again from 1982 to 1984 getting 14 top 10 singles from 15 releases between 1980 and 1984. The pace slackened thereafter and the group split in 1986 with a slimmed version continuing on with only 1 charting single but they were undeniably one of the defining acts of the decade.

5. MICHAEL JACKSON (5,401,300) 23 TOP 40 HITS BIGGEST SELLER: ONE DAY IN YOUR LIFE (686,000) It may surprise some that Jacko only comes in in 5th place on the rundown, and that his personal best seller in the decade is the often forgotten “One Day In Your Life” but these are both facts. Jackson was of course responsible for revolutionising the video promo and redefining how many singles you could pluck from an album as well as setting the standards for choreography in the medium. He entered the 80s as a popstar but was a megastar by the end of it becoming one of only 5 acts to shift 5 million singles in the decade.

6. WHAM! (4,831,100) 10 TOP 40 HITS BIGGEST SELLER: EVERYTHING SHE WANTS/ LAST CHRISTMAS (1,234,000) Here they are then- the biggest of the “big 4” in mid 80s pop, Wham! Started out with social commentary rapping but quickly abandoned the genre after their first three singles to make a deliberate ploy to become “the biggest band in the world”. It didn’t turn out so badly with 4 No 1 singles and 5 top 10 singles to their credit all in 4 years before splitting at their peak in 1986. Combined with sales of his solo career (he’s at No 32 on this list) would place George Michael at No 1 on this list, thanks in part to the boy’s good looks which saw “Whamania” become as big as “Duranmania” in the US, and they sold over 2 million singles in 1984 alone from just 3 releases.

7. DAVID BOWIE (4,809,400) 22 TOP 40 HITS BIGGEST SELLER: LET’S DANCE (616,000) Another 70s survivor who had an exceptional 80s scoring more chart toppers than he managed in the 70s. Bowie successfully borrowed from the New Romantic movement for his first 80s hit “Ashes To Ashes” and turned to Nile Rogers for his “Let’s Dance” era which proved his most successful in the decade with three top 2 hits and ran a mildly successful acting career in the process. Post 1986 his albums were not as successful and he decided to plough his energies into his group Tin machine by 1989 which may have cost him a few places on this list.