King Rollo

We all got 39 today. Round 1: 39 💥 Round 2: 36 The year 3 in 10: 3 Sometimes, Ship Of Fools, Blue Savannah

9. Reet Petite (The Sweetest Girl In Town) - Jackie Wilson Reet Petite was Jackie Wilson's first solo hit single after leaving The Dominoes, reaching number 6 in 1957. Its resurgence in 1986 was down to a claymation video for the song being shown on the BBC2 documentary series Arena. It was the Christmas number 1 and held on to that position for four weeks. Jackie had died three years before. The success of Reet Petite led to two more reissued singles reaching the top 20, 'I Get The Sweetest Feeling' (number 3) and '(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher' (number 15). Jackie's vocals combined with the brass section and double bass make this one of the better songs from the 1950s. It's always a fun song to listen to and the claymation video suits its light-heartedness. Jester included the single as one of the 1987 number 1s and ranked it 16th so it does a bit better here.

Well done John for today's double 39. Round 1: 30 Michael Bolton, Back Of My Hand Round 2: 36 The year 3 in 10: 3 You Don't Have To Say You Love Me, Son Of A Preacher Man, Goin' Back

I thought England might be going out there but Harry Kane and the second half changes saved them. Onwards to Mexico.

10. Caravan Of Love - The Housemartins Caravan Of Love was released as a single in 1985 by Isley-Jasper-Isley who were a splinter group from the Isley Brothers. Their original version reached number 52. I was expecting it to be a 1970s song so it's news to me that it preceded this cover by just one year. I don't think I've heard it before so I had a listen. It's a good, smooth R&B/soul version. The Housemartins were formed in Hull in 1983. After failing to reach the top 40 with their first two singles, they had a top 3 hit with 'Happy Hour' in the summer of 1986 which was followed by 'Think For A Minute' (number 18). They rounded off the year with their cover of Caravan Of Love which spent one week at number 1 just before Christmas. The Housemartins only lasted two more years but separately went on to have more number 1 singles, Paul Heaton with The Beautiful South and Norman Cook with Beats International and as a solo artist (Fatboy Slim). This is only the second a cappella number 1 after 'Only You' by The Flying Pickets which I put in 13th place in my 1983 rankings. I think the standard of songs in 1983 was higher so 10th place here is about the same as 13th there and I like both songs to the same extent. This one shows what a fine vocalist Paul Heaton can be while the other three back him up nicely on the harmonies which is impressive when you consider that they were primarily musicians. The song's positive message of hope and coming together would have made it a suitable Christmas chart topper but it wasn't to be.

France are looking like the very likely winners of this World Cup, so many talented players in their attack.

Round 1: 24 To Be With You (I could hear it in my head but couldn't think of the title), Lobo, Promise Me Round 2 33 Status Quo 3 in 10cc : I'm Mandy Fly Me, Good Morning Judge, The Dean And I

30th June - 6th July 1966 34. I Couldn't Live Without Your Love - Petula Clark https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWTun8B1lHg I do recognise this one, it has a good chorus and the deep drum sound and expansive orchestration give it some scale. Her second top 10 hit of the year. 37. Mama - Dave Berry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--UybzpevdM This is reminding me of No Charge by J J Barrie except this time the list of things that the mother does extends all the way to the son's wedding. It will be the last of Dave Berry's seven top 40 singles. He's still going at the age of 87 and has not yet retired. 39. The More I See You - Chris Montez https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXJIQNDC-N4 This will do much better than last week's version, reaching number 3, but I think I prefer Joy Marshall's out of the two. Record of the week : 35. Black Is Black - Los Bravos Los Bravos were a mainly Spanish rock band, the lead singer being from Germany. I'm more familiar with La Belle Epoque's disco cover of this song from 1977 but I have heard the original a few times and it's very good with a Gene Pitney style vocal, bass guitar, tubular bells and an additional horn section. It will reach a peak of number 2, the same position that La Belle Epoque will later take the song to.

Well spotted! I've corrected it now.

Great to see Germany lose a penalty shoot out at last.

11. The Lady In Red - Chris de Burgh Born in Argentina to British parents, Chris de Burgh eventually made his way to the UK where he signed his first record contract in 1974. The following year, his single 'Flying' spent 17 weeks at number 1 in Brazil. Later that same year, his Christmas song 'A Spaceman Came Travelling' got to number 1 in Ireland but failed to make an impression in the UK. It's now better known in Britain but is not one of the regular Christmas songs that move into the top 40 each December. By 1986, a UK top 40 hit still eluded him until The Lady In Red climbed from 76 to 40 and then to number 10 before reaching number 1 two weeks later and staying there for three weeks in August. Chris had only one more top 10 single, 'Missing You', in 1988 but has eight top 10 albums to his name. Many of you will be relieved that this has finally appeared. When I first heard it, I immediately noticed the backing track had a resemblance to the wonderful two minute intro to 'Duchess' by Genesis on the full album version from 1980. They both use a Roland drum machine. If you ignore the vocals, you have a relaxing piece of chillout music and that keyboard effect in the chorus that sounds like a voice stands out in particular. As for the vocals and the lyrics, I don't mind them. It's a love song he wrote about the first time he met his future wife, there's nothing too unpleasant to my ears. It may have regularly appeared in polls for worst number 1 or worst song of the 80s but I'm sticking up for it.

Round 1: 33 The Chi-Lites Round 2: 27 Undercover, The Thorn In His Side 3 in 10: 2 Sexual Healing, I Heard It Through The Grapevine

These would be my top 40 from the year: 1. Genesis - Mama 2. New Order - Blue Monday 3. Depeche Mode - Everything Counts 4. The Lotus Eaters - The First Picture Of You 5. Ultravox - Visions In Blue 6. Yes - Owner Of A Lonely Heart 7. Howard Jones - New Song 8. Robert Plant - Big Log 9. Tears For Fears - Pale Shelter 10. Wah! - The Story Of The Blues 11. Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse Of The Heart 12. Ultravox - Hymn 13. David Sylvian & Riuichi Sakamoto - Forbidden Colours 14. Mike Oldfield and Maggie Reilly - Moonlight Shadow 15. Men Without Hats - The Safety Dance 16. New Order - Confusion 17. Echo & The Bunnymen - The Cutter 18. Malcolm McLaren - Buffalo Gals 19. Robert Wyatt - Shipbuilding 20. Flash And The Pan - Waiting For A Train 21. Toto - Africa 22. Kissing The Pink - The Last Film 23. Blancmange - Waves 24. Bucks Fizz - When We Were Young 25. Aztec Camera - Oblivious 26. David Bowie - Let's Dance 27. OMD - Genetic Engineering 28. The Thompson Twins - Hold Me Now 29. Freeez - IOU 30. The Kinks - Come Dancing 31. ABC - That Was Then But This Is Now 32. Marillion - Garden Party 33. Yazoo - Nobody's Diary 34. Heaven 17 - Come Live With Me 35. Paul Young - Love Of The Common People 36. Heaven 17 - Crushed By The Wheels Of Industry 37. Tears For Fears - Change 38. Paul McCartney - Pipes Of Peace 39. Culture Club - Victims 40. ELO - Rock'n'Roll Is King

Yes, there were so many songs in contention this week. The Police - King Of Pain Eurythmics - Here Comes The Rain Again Queen - Radio Ga Ga Nik Kershaw - Wouldn't It Be Good Ultravox - One Small Day

I'm sad to see him leave, what a great all rounder he's been for the England test team. Meanwhile Ireland beat world champions India for the second time this week to take the T20 series 2-0. Great bowling from them in both matches to defend relatively low scores batting first.

12. True Blue - Madonna True Blue was Madonna's twelfth top 10 hit and the third to reach number 1, spending one week there in October. It was written as a declaration of love for her husband Sean Penn. True Blue is lighter and simpler than most of Madonna's 80s singles. It's a throwback to the 60s girl group sound and is pleasant enough to listen to. Apart from the excellent 'Like A Prayer' and 'Frozen' and one or two other good songs, I'd rate the rest of her singles from average to awful and this one is average. Madonna's people really need to improve the sound quality on this youtube video and the picture as well.

Round 1: 27 Deacon Blue, Don't Give Up, Bob and Marcia Round 2: 27 The year, Dance The Night Away, Blur 3 in 10: 3 I Have A Dream, Mandy, Uptown Girl

23rd - 29th June 1966 19. Bus Stop - The Hollies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9AYPtFtMzU I think this is the best Hollies song so far and it's unlucky to miss out on the ROTW award. Written by Graham Gouldman, it's a romantic tale of meeting a future partner at a bus stop and sharing an umbrella in the rain, many years before Rihanna came up with something similar. 28. Get Away - Georgie Fame and The Blue Flames https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZKrYVTGDYE After his last three singles missed the top 20, Georgie has his second number 1 with this one which is less remembered than 'Yeh, Yeh' and was originally written for a petrol advert but was considered to be good enough to be a single. There's some good use of brass instruments and it's a fun tune to listen to. 31. No One Will Ever Know - Frank Ifield https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8YUNw8dK6U We may be in 1966 now but Frank is not going to change his sound and this is pleasant enough with the strings and backing singers behind Frank's familiar voice. 34. The More I See You - Joy Marshall https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUxCqFUPSf8 A song from 1945 done by many artists and this is a good version from the English jazz singer who delivers a fine vocal. Even OMD had a go at this in 1980, in their own synth pop style. 37. This Door Swings Both Ways - Herman's Hermits https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRdkN56rjJs A nice little song about dealing with joy and sorrow in your life. Record of the week : 36. Out Of Time - Chris Farlowe Chris Farlowe follows up his minor hit from earlier in the year with this marvellous cover of one of the tracks from the current Rolling Stones album 'Aftermath'. The string arrangement at the start draws you in before the song opens up with a powerful vocal from Chris, a big drum sound and the Beach Boys style "whoo ooh"s. Produced by Mick Jagger, the single will top the chart for one week.

Fantastic to see Ireland beat India for the first time and they won by a big margin as well, 34 runs.

You'll Never Walk Alone has been a number 1 four times for Gerry and the Pacemakers, The Crowd, Robson & Jerome and Michael Ball & Captain Tom Moore.

The top two from my vote ended up as the top two overall, just the other way around, so I'm pleased with that result. Congratulations to Jim. Thanks to everyone who voted for Eggstone and thanks to Dan for a great job hosting this spinoff.

I've been knocked out already! ☹️

I agree with those who said the first half was stronger so I'm not surprised that most of these have qualified so far.

13. Spirit In The Sky - Doctor and the Medics I always think of Norman Greenbaum's original being a 70s record but it was released in December 1969. It reached number 1 in May 1970 and was his only top 75 hit. Doctor and the Medics were formed in 1981 in Ken Dodd's part of Liverpool, Knotty Ash, by their singer Clive Jackson. Their cover of Spirit In The Sky was their first hit single, spending three weeks at number 1 in June. They came close to emulating Norman Greenbaum's one hit wonder status with just one more top 40 hit, 'Burn', which got to number 29 and a cover of Abba's 'Waterloo' which stalled at number 45 despite one of their glam rock influences, Roy Wood, playing the saxophone, singing backing vocals and appearing in the video. Proving that one number 1 single is enough to sustain a career, the group are still touring and have a new album coming out this year. I like the original version of the song and while this cover is decent enough, it's not much different in sound and adds very little that's new to it. The Doctor's flamboyant image and charisma probably played some part in the single climbing to number 1. A further version by Gareth Gates and the Kumars also reached the top of the chart in 2003 for Comic Relief meaning that we have now had three songs so far with a connection to that charity.

Well done both for those 39s. Wednesday: Round 1: 39 💥 Round 2: 33 Closest Thing To Crazy 3 in 10: 2 Toy Boy, So Macho Today: Round 1: 30 Natalie, Music In Me Round 2: 33 Desert, Whitney Houston 3 in 10: 2 Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart, 24 Hours From Tulsa (I've already forgotten the one I listened to last week)