ScottyEm

9 Patrice Rushen/Forget Me Nots HCP:8/1982 Now, this may not ring many bells on song title alone but within, say, 2 seconds of play it becomes instantly recognisable to even the most casual music listener. Patrice was considered a child prodigy, playing the piano, percussion and writing what I consider to be the single greatest soul/funk track of the decade. Those hand claps, funky bassline and organ stabs would go on to be responsible for 2 chart toppers in 1996 and 1997 respectively (I'm sure I don't need to tell you which!). A track whenever I hear I just HAVE to move! Will Smith however can do one! http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1b/Forget_Me_Nots_single.jpg ggvGr8CV3BI

10 Hazell Dean/Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go) HCP:4/1984 You can laugh all you like, "Whatever I Do.." is a choon! It's basically a gay/diva remix of "Blue Monday". SAW's breakthrough hit was Divine (see number 47), but this was their first top ten hit. Hot on heels of Searchin' (see number 63), Hazell Queen urgently required a follow up - and a big hit to boot. This was originally known as "Dance Your Love Away", however a change to the chorus resulted in a song title change and a track I regard as SAW's SECOND best single of the decade (yes, there is another SAW 7" left!). The urgency of the erratic synth, the pounding beat and a typically strong vocal from the queen of Gay Prides up and down the country ensure a personal favourite. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/21/Whatever_I_do.jpeg c2glrm_8C-E

Agreed! Never really gets played much, which is a good thing in a way. Anyway... Top ten time!!! How exciting!!!

11 Inner City/Good Life HCP:4/1988 Ah yes! One of house musics evergreen classics. "Good Life" is maybe a victim of overplay, but I for one never tire of hearing it. Such a feel-good, breezy, summer sort of track (even though it was released right in the middle of winter!). Inner City hailed from Detroit and were part of the development of techno. It was however Paris Greys gorgeous, easy-on-the-ear voice that helped keep the momentum going - 7 top ten hits in total, a rare feat for a dance act. You know when Paris advises "Let me take you to a place I know you wanna go - it's the good life" - you're already there! Not just a great house track - a great 80s classic still getting continuous airplay to this day. http://chartarchive.org/artwork/10236-raw.jpg jz1f_QrUq3g

12 Eighth Wonder/I'm Not Scared HCP:7/1988 It's, yet again, another case of a short-lived act with the one killer hit single! In the midst of all the happy, giddy teen pop of '88 came a seductive and intriguing 7" by the name of "I'm Not Scared". Penned by Pet Shop Boys, yet towers above anything they wrote for themselves in my humble opinion (they even did their own version a year later - it's THAT good!). A haunting and dramatic melody song, delivered by a very sexy and confident Patsy Kensit (even her strictly limited vocal ability didn't compromise her ambition). For me, this is one of the best "f*** you" songs ever, you can almost hear her ex lover getting crushed in the palm of her hand. A remarkable track! http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fa/I'm_not_scared.jpg Dym-T3AkKYk

13 Indeep/Last Night A DJ Saved My Life HCP:13/1983 Bassline alert! Comprising of 2 girls and a guy and like a number of acts on this rundown, were essentially known for one hit track. They hailed from New York's trendy nu-wave/post disco scene of the early 1980s and though a relatively short lived act, made an absolute killer of a track! "LNADSML" is a peculiar choice, it doesn't built, doesn't peak - it just swings in a sort of effortlessly cool sort of way. It's all in the nagging guitar that loops round and round. And nearly 30 years on, that middle rap and toilet flush sound effect don't sound remotely cheesy... well OK, maybe a little. The song was brought band up to date in 2007 by Seamus Haji and coincidentally also charted at No. 13! http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/39/Indeep-LastNightADJSavedMyLife.jpg tlmr_IiUqxk

14 Madonna/Open Your Heart HCP:4/1986 The last time now I promise! I promise! "Open Your Heart" is, in my eyes, her greatest 80s single. It was the sound of a new era. By '86, Madonnas twee thin vocals were out in exchange for a vocal full of ambition and grit. The girl meant business and critics were listening up. But above all, everything I love bout 80s music is pretty much all contained in this glorious 4 minute pop gem! It's remained a firm fan fave as it currently takes pride of place on her current world tour (one of the rare occasions she listens to her fans). http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f5/Open_Your_Heart_1986.png snsTmi9N9Gs

15 Sonia/You'll Never Stop Me Loving You HCP:1/1989 Any credibility left has been zapped, I know. I'm just a hopeless sucker for a SAW track (like you need reminding). I'll never forget being in a taxi in Liverpool (well, where else?) when this came on the radio and I hadn't heard it in years - it sounded f***ing brilliant and I was hoping the driver would do a D-tour back to my house! - I was a kid of 5 again! Sometimes we can't fully let go of our past and for me, this includes the music. Sonia; a pint-sized, flame haired girl from Skelmersdale was plucked from obscurity by Waterman and the then 18 year old would find herself at number one almost overnight. This was the power of the SAW stable and, in some ways, Sonia signalled the beginning of the end for The Hit Factory ("YNSMLY" would be SAW's final number one hit as songwriters). The song is a standard in SAW hitmaking; vapid and vacuous yet infectious and irresistible in equal measure. I've also included Dawn French's much celebrated (yes really!) impression for all times sake! http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/52/You'll_never_stop_me_loving_you.jpg cDfb6XFbPYI yJ7O8nYnsbQ

16 Shannon/Let The Music Play HCP:14/1983 There must've been something in the water of November 1983. I was born and one of the greatest pre-house dance tracks of all time was released, "Let The Music Play" disco napped in the lower reaches of the chart for nearly 3 months before gathering pace. "LTMP" was the sound of disco being resuscitated by a Roland TR-808 drum machine, but the true sentiments of real disco remained. A killer hook, knock out vocal and a beat that demands a stampede to the dancefloor. "Let The Music Play" is considered a key track in the shaping of dance music as we know it today. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8a/LtmpShannon.jpg uB_dYLTHsPA

17 Taylor Dayne/Tell It To My Heart HCP:3/1988 From one blonde bombshell to another, to the beginning of the decade to right near the very end. Principally a one hit wonder in the UK ("Prove Your Love" was a modest top ten hit, but do you remember it? Exactly...), but a mighty one hit wonder it was! The turn of 88 was a good time for US female pop singers; Tiffany, Belinda Carlise, Debbie Gibson, Vanessa Paradis all enjoying a brief flutter with the top ten in the beginning months of the year. And best of all, the stupendous "Tell It To My Heart". Big, clunky production, hysterical synth riffs and vocals done with sheer gusto never fail to put a big gay grin my my face!... Just don't mention Kelly Llorenna's pathetic attempt from 2002. http://chartarchive.org/artwork/9639-raw.jpg C_yBVYodMUY

18 Blondie/Atomic HCP:1/1980 "Oooohhhhhhhhhhhh! Oh your hair is beautiful! Oooohhhhhhhhh! Tonight!...... Atomic". Eh? I don't give 2 shits what it means, "Atomic" is a beast of a tune. A classic, that transcends genres, time, cultures - the lot! I like a bit of Blondie, but "Atomic" is the money shot, a frantic mix of nu wave and fiery disco which I'll never get sick of hearing. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/10/Blondie_-_Atomic.jpg qW6OrdLkCLU

19 Donna Summer/This Time I Know It's For Real HCP:3/1989 When I featured "I Don't Wanna Get Hurt" at No.54, Donna was still alive... no one could've predicted the gutting and untimely death of discos original queen......... Not content with making super starts from nobodies, in 1989 SAW moved on to resurrecting the careers of established artists. They did their bit for Cliff Richard (but I don't wanna get into that - thanks). However, I'm more than happy to talk about the late great LaDonna Gaines, a truly amazing woman (we'll turn a blind eye to her naive perception on gay men and we'll just simply regard as a terrible blip!). "TTIKIFR" is one of SAW finest and most euphoric moments - a great song, a great voice, a great melody and a thumping PWL beat! It's weird how the odious and regrettable "I'd Rather Jack" was released the same day, managing to release one of their best and their worst efforts at the same time. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a2/This_Time_I_Know_It's_For_Real.jpg 3ufXrFb0_Po

20 The Pointer Sisters/Automatic HCP:2/1984 This 3 piece vocal act from California had a long time to wait before waiting for the big time. It was 1984 and their "Breakout" album that catapulted these sisters to new heights. "Jump" and at a push, "I'm So Excited" were the big pop hits, but it's "Automatic" that does it for me. A thumping, zesty slice of 80s American post-disco funk. Commonly mistaken as a male sung track, due to Ruth Pointers bizarre ability to reach such low notes - almost robotic sounding. That, coupled with big synthesizer riffs in that terribly 80s sort of way, make this a firm fave. And that video... 80s fashion was the best! http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9e/Automatic45.jpg 2dU4OZD0HEw

You're right, it is SAW by numbers... which might be why I like it so much!

21 Janet Jackson/When I Think Of You HCP:10/1986 Always dancing in the shadows of her brother, here's Janet. Yet if it's any consolation, Janet easily gets the higher position on my rundown. "When I Think Of You" is wonderful. A simple, happy love song but with a rough, raw and booming production from usual suspects of mid 80s R&B, Jam & Lewis. Lyrically it's rather like a SAW B-Side, very simple and throw-a-way. But with a hooky bass riff, a chunky drum lick and a female vocal... you have the ingredients of a classic dance track and one I easily regard as Janet's single finest moment! http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3f/Janet_Jackson_-_When_I_Think_Of_You_US_and_EU.jpg EaleKN9GQ54

22 Chaka Khan/I Feel For You HCP:1/1984 "Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Chaka Khan-Chaka Khan!". Chaka, one of THE original dance divas, could quite easily sing the timetable from Manchester to London Euston Virgin Trains service and make it sound amazing! "I Feel For You" was written by Prince, which if you didn't know, is blatantly obvious when you think of it. The song oozes sex! This is 80s dance music (pre-house) at its very near best and groundbreaking. I also believe it defies time, you can play this now to almost anyone, anywhere and be guaranteed a floor filled to capacity. It's countless amount of parodies in pop culture will ensure its legacy will remain... not that it needs it. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d6/Chaka_Khan_-_I_Feel_for_You.JPG 1XV5_WagxZg

23 Kylie Minogue/Never Too Late HCP:4/1989 I'm not entirely sure what it is about "Never Too Late" which rises head and shoulders above her hits of this decade. SAW knew how to fit the right mood to the right song, "Never Too Late" is full of faith and optimism, which is captured beautifully in the faux trumpets and lush strings in the middle 8. I might be laying it on a little thick but I'm not alone here, "Never Too Late" remains a firm fan favourite and is one of my all-time fave Kylie tracks. Incidentally, Kylie pushed for "Enjoy Yourself" to be the 3rd single from the album but was (unsurprisingly) overruled by Waterman. Oh well, at least she got to wear a gorgeous pair of bright orange trousers... :) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/85/Never_Too_Late.jpg 1iArRuLngwI

24 Nu Shooz/I Can't Wait HCP:2/1986 Y'know what, 1986 was a crackin' year for chart music! The said year seems to get a frequent mention, from power pop to American R&B, '86 had it all going on. As for Nu Shooz, they were a husband and wife duo from the north-west coast state of Oregon and while having a long-term career in music, 1986 would be the only time the duo would have a brief flirtation with the top end of the charts. It was "The Dutch Mix" that brought attention to "I Can't Wait" - a vocal snippet was essentially used to create that hook, rather like an earworm refusing to leave ones head and a hook big enough to hang your coat on! Deliciously funky! http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c7/I_Can't_Wait_NS.jpg v_Yx0X-eHn8

Brilliant! Thanks guys for your kind comments, makes the work all the more worthwhile.

25 Erasure/Sometimes HCP:2/1986 "Sometimes" is bloody brilliant! The epitome of 1980s pop! That dumpy drum kick and Vince Clarks keyboard wizardry was a noise rarely off the radio at the time and Andy Bells amateur dancing and stonewash denims were a regular sight on a relatively new MTV. Erasure would have an avalanche of top 10 hits of the latter half of the decade and "Sometimes" was where it all began, but only after 3 false starts on the chart. Remember this is a time when record labels would invest time in their artists... 6 years and 4 near misses later, the duo would eventually get that elusive number one hit. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0a/Erasure_single_sometimes.jpg XmfLayA59lI

26 Madonna/Borderline HCP:56/1984 HCP:2/1986 (re-issue) It took a re-release to get "Borderline" 54 places higher up the chart, which by 1986 and 8 top 5 hits to her name, it seemed like the sensible thing to do. Madonna is easily the most featured artist in the rundown (and it may not be the last you hear from her) so it fair to say I'm a fan - or certainly of her 80s work at least. "Borderline" is a curious song, illustrating that there is fine line between throw-a-way and absolute classic... and this sits on the borderline! Then boyfriend at the time Jellybean was asked to remix the track as Madonna was apparently not happy with the initial final mix. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1b/Borderline_Single.jpg rSaC-YbSDpo

27 S.O.S. Band/Just Be Good To Me HCP:13/1984 S.O.S. Band were from Atlanta and SOS stands for Sound of Success. How modest. Mind you, it's not exactly an inaccurate claim considering the legs "Just be Good To Me" would go on oto have. This was one of an array of 80s R&B tracks produced by the proflic Jam & Lewis team (they jump started Janet Jacksons career). This was also the decade of the cowbell. Another production group would use it to overkill later in the decade... I'll let you guess who. Of course, the track was propelled to a new level when Norman Cook covered it 6 years later for his Beats International project thus dumping the track 12 places higher up the chart. http://chartarchive.org/artwork/7384-raw.jpg NHMnCr0pE4w

28 Pet Shop Boys/Suburbia HCP:8/1986 A third dent on the rundown by the finest British duo of our generation. Not exactly sure what it is about "Suburbia" I like so much - maybe it's the crisp production, the melancholic melody or Tennant and Lowe's ridiculous flair for mixing current affairs with pop. In all honestly, it's not something I want to get to involved with. The fact remains is "Suburbia" is a masterclass in sophisticated pop.... that sax at the end... Marvellous! http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/74/PSB_Suburbia.jpg 5FjB6R9l0QU

29 Grace Jones/Slave To The Rhythm HCP:12/1985 Graces second and final feature on the countdown. her androgynous image and striking features together with a reluctance to conform secured her gay iconic status, which she has proudly maintained to this day. Her socialising in Studio 54 in the late 70s didn't do any harm either. But back to the track and of her back catalogue, "STTR" remains her biggest and most mainstream hit. Trevor Horns usual epic sized, glossy production (big brass sections and orchestral strings) bagged her one of the most highly acclaimed singles of the 80s. And the track lives on... hula-hooping outside Buckingham Palace, as you do. Bravo Grace! How amazing is this cover!! http://chartarchive.org/artwork/8229-raw.jpg faortSsKHyc

30 Belinda Carlisle/Heaven Is A Place On Earth HCP:1/1987 One of the most iconic, exhilarating pop anthems of the said decade - US style! It's also one of the most obvious and heavily spun 7" singles of its time. "HIAPOE" was the first new number one of 1988 and would be the first of 3 consecutive solo international female artists to top the UK chart (Tiffany and Kylie followed). There isn't much more to be said about this. It's godlike, it's marvellous - enough said! http://chartarchive.org/artwork/9581-raw.jpg wGcYXR1jSDs