ScottyEm

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

31 Gwen Guthrie/Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But The Rent HCP:5/1986 "Bill collectors at my door/What can you do for me... hey!". Gwen Guthrie was the original gold digger - and there was no shame! In an age where women are rightfully declaring independence, 1986 was a very different time and a man with a flash job and a decent salary was more important than the size of his manhood. This was THE R&B jam of 1986. A ridiculously addictive hook thanks to that bassline. Gwen would never come close to the chart highs of this and later passed away in 1999. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/89/Ain't_Nothin'_Gwen_Guthrie.jpg gkO9us2ZmGg

32 New Order/Bizarre Love Triangle HCP:56/1986 Oh I'm full of surprises! Mancunian indie darlings save a SAW hat-trick with what is, in my opinion, one of the most under-rated singles of the decade. A glorious, breezy and joyous track - what's more bizarre is how this was a complete commercial failure! That said, what remains is a cult classic. Very of it's time, so it sounds a bit dated now but the prodding bass and the electronic strings just before the chorus explodes... Wonderful! http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/04/Blt_New_Order.jpg 7uEBuqkkQRk

33 Dead Or Alive/You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) HCP:1/1984 Any 80s rundown worth its salt is incomplete without this instant blast of giddy Hi NRG pop. Inspired by Hazell Deans "Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)", Pete Burns fancied a bit of that for the said track and SAW were equally looking for an act they could get their teeth into. The development of "YSMR" is a well documented story - it was pain-staking and time consuming. But what a result! 28 years later, Im sure both parties can look back with a smile... or as close to a smile Pete Burns can manage these days. http://chartarchive.org/artwork/7757-raw.jpg lUHbLhMPo5E

34 Mel & Kim/Showing Out (Get Fresh At The Weekend) HCP:3/1986 What a track! "Showing Out" was basically 2 good-time girls giving a stern middle finger to the Thatcherite champagne socialists of the mid 80s. "Can't afford to wear diamonds and pearls/wouldn't want to be that kinda girl - anyway". DAMN RIGHT! And let's remind ourselves this is 1986 and SAW were still making tracks made firmly for the weekend with aplomb. This is so close to Chicago house, DJs were spinning this against the most underground of house tracks. It's raw, inperfect and clumsy in parts but that only adds to its charm. A bloody great record, nothing less. Mel Appleby was sadly be no longer with us but her memory will remain, atleast on my ipod anyway! http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/10/Showing_out2.jpg cRScWseLXSg

35 Terence Trent D'arby/Wishing Well HCP:4/1987 Terence owned 1987. 35 weeks on the chart and that album, which the infectious "Wishing Well" came from, "Introducing The Hardline...". Who could have guessed he would crash in spectacular fashion just a couple of years later. But lets remembers his sole glory year. All singles were great but "Wishing Well' towers above. A simplistic drum kick, a nagging whistle and shit-hot vocal. It's also worth mentioning Terence was my very first music fixation - "Introducing The Hardline" was my favourite tape when I was just 4 years old! http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/58/Wishing_Well_song.jpg ynIHsHYaig0

I hated by singles on tape, but is only what I could afford at the best of times! That said, I bought a ton of vinyl and CD singles in my teens!

36 Evelyn King/Love Come Down HCP:7/1982 Let's go back a bit now. It's 1982 and disco is, essentially dead, certainly in its purest form. That said, it never went away as such, is evolved and branched out. Evelyn King, part of the disco movement, enjoyed a brief flutter with the top 10 most notably with this absolute beauty. "LCD" is the sort of track your mother would appreciate, a perfectly simple, soul song that just swings so effortlessly. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f4/Love_Come_Down.jpg cWOpls3Onqo

Sometimes you have to revisit to realise the goodness of past tracks. I only ever bought one 7", which was Sybil "When I'm Good and Ready"!!, but within a matter of months the 7" was virtually out of circulation and cassette singles were the order of the day!

37 Neneh Cherry/Buffalo Stance HCP:3/1988 "Who-wh-wh-who-whooos that gigalo on the street with his hands in his pocket and his crocodile feet!". With an opener like that, you know you're on to a winner! "Manchild" has already been featured and, like I say, it's a real head-scratcher why such a bold and exciting talent like Miss Cherry only has enough steam to carry out one successful album. "Buffalo Stance" genre hops like an over excited yo-yo and still packs out bar floors... I had a drunken wiggle (freak out!) to this just the other week on Friday night! Oh and here she is back in 1988 - 8 months pregnant! http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/61/Neneh_Cherry_Buffalo_Stance_cover.jpg ToNvjTrNlL8

38 Ten City/That's The Way Love Is HCP:8/1989 Now we're sailing into the top half of the rundown, the dance tunes of 88 and 89 are starting to flood in. Dance and house music was often hard and even cold sounding to the casual listener - Ten City however, a 3 piece male group from Chicago, added a dollop of soul to proceedings - swaggery guitars, trumpets and Byron Stingilys knock-out vocals make for one of the greatest soul tracks ever in my opinion. "TTWLI" charts the breakdown of relationships - how "feelings change just like seasons". Such a profound lyric and sung with such sincerity. Music that is very much good for the soul, as cheesey as it sounds. http://chartarchive.org/artwork/10300-raw.jpg Y_edhEpE_YM

39 Madonna/Lucky Star HCP:14/1984 Missing the top ten is something Madonna is probably used to now, but "Lucky Star" was a rather unlucky star chart-wise, missing the top 10 was a very rare occurrence in the 80s . Saying that, I have immense fondness for this quick blast of vintage Madonna. The primitive choreography is utterly endearing and, despite it's tiny budget, still stands head and shoulders above anything her disastorous MDNA album has to offer. 80s producer and dance music extraordinaire (and then boyfriend of said songstress) Jellybean paved the way for a superstar and also produced one of the great dance albums ever - "The First Album". http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/39/Lucky_Star_Single_Cover.jpg ThHz9wlBeLU