* NM retro singles - 1981 (redone) *

[Earl Purple]

3 January 1981

1 ( 3 ) Antmusic - Adam & The Ants < 1st #1 >
2 ( 4 ) 9 To 5 - Dolly Parton
3 ( 1 ) (Just Like) Starting Over - John Lennon (#1[3])
4 ( 2 ) Stop The Cavalry - Jona Lewie (#1[1])
5 ( 12 ) Keep On Loving You - REO Speedwagon
6 ( 14 ) I Ain't Gonna Stand For It - Stevie Wonder
7 ( 8 ) Fade To Grey - Visage
8 ( 5 ) Rabbit - Chas & Dave (#5)
9 ( 6 ) I Made It Through The Rain - Barry Manilow (#6)
10 ( 11 ) I Am The Beat - The Look

11 ( 7 ) Do Nothing - Specials (#7)
12 ( 21 ) Young Parisians - Adam & The Ants
13 ( 10 ) Too Nice To Talk To - Beat (#10)
14 ( 22 ) Clubland - Elvis Costello
15 ( 29 ) Don't Stop The Music - Yarbrough & Peoples
16 ( 9 ) Super Trouper - Abba (#1[2])
17 ( 17 ) Hey Nineteen - Steely Dan
18 ( 13 ) Runaway Boys - Stray Cats (#8)
19 ( 23 ) Love Me To Sleep - Hot Chocolate
20 ( 15 ) I Love A Rainy Night - Eddie Rabbitt (#11)

21 ( 16 ) Flash - Queen (#12)
22 ( 25 ) Heartbreak Hotel - Jacksons
23 ( 38 ) Burn Rubber On Me - Gap Band
24 ( 20 ) Lorraine - Bad Manners (#18)
25 ( 19 ) December Will Be Magic Again - Kate Bush (#16)
26 ( 28 ) Louis Quartorze - Bow Wow Wow
27 ( 34 ) I'm In Love Again - Sad Cafe
28 ( 27 ) Who's Gonna rock You - Nolans (#27)
29 ( 18 ) Embarrassment - Madness (#4)
30 ( 35 ) This Wreckage - Gary Numan

31 ( 26 ) Lies - Status Quo (#21)
32 ( 39 ) Giving It Up For Your Love - Delbert McClinton
33 ( 24 ) Kiss On My List - Daryl Hall & John Oates (#3)
34 ( 49 ) Same Old Lang Syne - Dan Fogelberg
35 ( 41 ) Back On The Road - Earth Wind & Fire
36 ( 50 ) Miss Sun - Boz Scaggs
37 ( 37 ) Time Is Time - Andy Gibb
38 ( 31 ) A Woman In Winter - Skids (#24)
39 ( 33 ) Never Mind The Presents - Barron Knights (#29)
40 ( 30 ) Rock 'N' Roll Ain't Noise Pollution - AC/DC (#16)

41 ( 36 ) Israel - Siouxsie & The Banshees (#32)
42 ( 40 ) One Step Closer - Doobie Brothers (#39)
43 ( 32 ) Banana Republic - Boomtown Rats (#12)
44 ( 43 ) What A Fool Believes - Aretha Franklin (#42)
45 ( -- ) Too Risky - Jim Davidson
46 ( -- ) My Girl - Rod Stewart
47 ( -- ) You're Ok - Ottawan
48 ( -- ) Runaround Sue - Racey
49 ( -- ) Together - Tierra
50 ( 42 ) The Tide Is High - Blondie (#3)

---

-- ( 44 ) Hungry Heart - Bruce Springsteen (#4)
-- ( 45 ) Ace Of Spades - Motorhead (#1[2])
-- ( 46 ) Looking For Clues - Robert Palmer (#21)
-- ( 47 ) Don't Walk Away - Electric Light Orchestra (#13)
-- ( 48 ) Blue Moon - Showaddywaddy (#34)

---

-- ( -- ) Killin' Time - Fred Knoblock & Susan Anton

---

So 1981 is going to have a strong start regarding new entries, but not this week, which was a frozen chart in both the UK and USA so picks up the last 3 weeks of December's flops, those replacing at least 4 far superior songs with one cover of a classic from the early 60s replacing another. I think "Looking For Clues" may have still been stuck at #33 in the UK, whereas in this chart it's now been to #21 and down again.

The "sound of 1981" in the UK was Adam & The Ants. Ok, it was also Shakin' Stevens and medleys, but had it not been for the death of John Lennon and the re-issue of Imagine then "Antmusic" would have been a UK #1 in the UK too.

The massive week for new hits will be 17 January (i.e. 2 weeks from now) with 24 January producing another and 3 songs from those two weeks are expected to get to #1, leaving some other classics out in the cold. We're almost on the level of 10 February 1979 here and this in January! I have said before that 1981 had the strongest ever January (for new entries) and from my first playlist and all the retro years I have covered so far, I will stick with this, it was.

[Earl Purple]

10 January 1981

1 ( 1 ) Antmusic - Adam & The Ants < 2nd week at #1 >
2 ( 2 ) 9 To 5 - Dolly Parton
3 ( 5 ) Keep On Loving You - REO Speedwagon
4 ( 6 ) I Ain't Gonna Stand For It - Stevie Wonder
5 ( 3 ) (Just Like) Starting Over - John Lennon (#1[3])
6 ( 4 ) Stop The Cavalry - Jona Lewie (#1[1])
7 ( 7 ) Fade To Grey - Visage
8 ( 10 ) I Am The Beat - The Look
9 ( 12 ) Young Parisians - Adam & The Ants
10 ( 13 ) Too Nice To Talk To - Beat

11 ( 14 ) Clubland - Elvis Costello
12 ( 8 ) Rabbit - Chas & Dave (#5)
13 ( 9 ) I Made It Through The Rain - Barry Manilow (#6)
14 ( 15 ) Don't Stop The Music - Yarbrough & Peoples
15 ( 23 ) Burn Rubber On Me - Gap Band
16 ( 11 ) Do Nothing - Specials (#7)
17 ( 19 ) Love Me To Sleep - Hot Chocolate
18 ( 17 ) Hey Nineteen - Steely Dan (#17)
19 ( -- ) He Can't Love You - Michael Stanley Band
20 ( 22 ) Heartbreak Hotel - Jacksons

21 ( 27 ) I'm In Love Again - Sad Cafe
22 ( 18 ) Runaway Boys - Stray Cats (#8)
23 ( 16 ) Super Trouper - Abba (#1[2])
24 ( 34 ) Same Old Lang Syne - Dan Fogelberg
25 ( 26 ) Louis Quartorze - Bow Wow Wow
26 ( -- ) Days Are Ok - Motels
27 ( 20 ) I Love A Rainy Night - Eddie Rabbitt (#11)
28 ( 30 ) This Wreckage - Gary Numan
29 ( 36 ) Miss Sun - Boz Scaggs
30 ( 21 ) Flash - Queen (#12)

31 ( 32 ) Giving It Up For Your Love - Delbert McClinton
32 ( -- ) Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) - David Bowie
33 ( 24 ) Lorraine - Bad Manners (#18)
34 ( 28 ) Who's Gonna rock You - Nolans (#27)
35 ( 45 ) Too Risky - Jim Davidson
36 ( 35 ) Back On The Road - Earth Wind & Fire (#35)
37 ( 46 ) My Girl - Rod Stewart
38 ( 25 ) December Will Be Magic Again - Kate Bush (#16)
39 ( 47 ) You're Ok - Ottawan
40 ( 48 ) Runaround Sue - Racey

41 ( 49 ) Together - Tierra
42 ( 31 ) Lies - Status Quo (#21)
43 ( 37 ) Time Is Time - Andy Gibb (#37)
44 ( -- ) Cold Love - Donna Summer
45 ( 29 ) Embarrassment - Madness (#4)
46 ( 33 ) Kiss On My List - Daryl Hall & John Oates (#3)
47 ( 42 ) One Step Closer - Doobie Brothers (#39)
48 ( -- ) Seven Bridges Road - Eagles
49 ( 38 ) A Woman In Winter - Skids (#24)
50 ( 44 ) What A Fool Believes - Aretha Franklin (#42)

---

-- ( 39 ) Never Mind The Presents - Barron Knights (#29)
-- ( 40 ) Rock 'N' Roll Ain't Noise Pollution - AC/DC (#16)
-- ( 41 ) Israel - Siouxsie & The Banshees (#32)
-- ( 43 ) Banana Republic - Boomtown Rats (#12)
-- ( 50 ) The Tide Is High - Blondie (#3)

---

-- ( -- ) Rapp Payback (Where Iz Moses) - James Brown

---

Last week was the "frozen" chart in the UK, this one therefore is the one where "Imagine" climbed up to #1 with that Grandma song dropping to #6. So the year hasn't really got going.

Still, an unknown "Michael Stanley Band" followed by the second Motels single prevail against 4 bigger names for the new entries.

Watch out for next week though!

[Earl Purple]

17 January 1981

1 ( 1 ) Antmusic - Adam & The Ants < 3rd week at #1 >
2 ( -- ) Vienna - Ultravox
3 ( 3 ) Keep On Loving You - REO Speedwagon
4 ( 2 ) 9 To 5 - Dolly Parton (#2[2])
5 ( -- ) Romeo And Juliet - Dire Straits
6 ( 4 ) I Ain't Gonna Stand For It - Stevie Wonder (#4)
7 ( -- ) In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins
8 ( 8 ) I Am The Beat - The Look
9 ( -- ) While You See A Chance - Steve Winwood
10 ( 9 ) Young Parisians - Adam & The Ants (#9)

11 ( 7 ) Fade To Grey - Visage (#7)
12 ( 19 ) He Can't Love You - Michael Stanley Band
13 ( 5 ) (Just Like) Starting Over - John Lennon (#1[3])
14 ( 10 ) Too Nice To Talk To - Beat (#10)
15 ( 6 ) Stop The Cavalry - Jona Lewie (#1[1])
16 ( -- ) Woman - John Lennon
17 ( 11 ) Clubland - Elvis Costello (#11)
18 ( 15 ) Burn Rubber On Me - Gap Band (#15)
19 ( -- ) Twilight Cafe - Susan Fassbender
20 ( 26 ) Days Are Ok - Motels

21 ( 14 ) Don't Stop The Music - Yarbrough & Peoples (#14)
22 ( 17 ) Love Me To Sleep - Hot Chocolate (#17)
23 ( 12 ) Rabbit - Chas & Dave (#5)
24 ( 32 ) Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) - David Bowie
25 ( 21 ) I'm In Love Again - Sad Cafe (#21)
26 ( 24 ) Same Old Lang Syne - Dan Fogelberg (#24)
27 ( 13 ) I Made It Through The Rain - Barry Manilow (#6)
28 ( 20 ) Heartbreak Hotel - Jacksons (#20)
29 ( 18 ) Hey Nineteen - Steely Dan (#17)
30 ( 16 ) Do Nothing - Specials (#7)

31 ( 29 ) Miss Sun - Boz Scaggs (#29)
32 ( 25 ) Louis Quartorze - Bow Wow Wow (#25)
33 ( 22 ) Runaway Boys - Stray Cats (#8)
34 ( 28 ) This Wreckage - Gary Numan (#28)
35 ( 35 ) Too Risky - Jim Davidson
36 ( 44 ) Cold Love - Donna Summer
37 ( 37 ) My Girl - Rod Stewart
38 ( 23 ) Super Trouper - Abba (#1[2])
39 ( 31 ) Giving It Up For Your Love - Delbert McClinton (#31)
40 ( 39 ) You're Ok - Ottawan (#39)

41 ( 48 ) Seven Bridges Road - Eagles
42 ( 40 ) Runaround Sue - Racey (#40)
43 ( -- ) Lonely Heart - UFO
44 ( 27 ) I Love A Rainy Night - Eddie Rabbitt (#11)
45 ( 41 ) Together - Tierra (#41)
46 ( -- ) Gangsters Of The Groove - Heatwave
47 ( 36 ) Back On The Road - Earth Wind & Fire (#35)
48 ( 30 ) Flash - Queen (#12)
49 ( 34 ) Who's Gonna rock You - Nolans (#27)
50 ( -- ) Hang Together - Odyssey

---

-- ( 33 ) Lorraine - Bad Manners (#18)
-- ( 38 ) December Will Be Magic Again - Kate Bush (#16)
-- ( 42 ) Lies - Status Quo (#21)
-- ( 43 ) Time Is Time - Andy Gibb (#37)
-- ( 45 ) Embarrassment - Madness (#4)
-- ( 46 ) Kiss On My List - Daryl Hall & John Oates (#3)
-- ( 47 ) One Step Closer - Doobie Brothers (#39)
-- ( 49 ) A Woman In Winter - Skids (#24)
-- ( 50 ) What A Fool Believes - Aretha Franklin (#42)

---

-- ( -- ) My Mother's Eyes - Bette Midler
-- ( -- ) The Bed's Too Big Without You - Sheila Hylton
-- ( -- ) I Shot The Sheriff - Light Of The World

---

So here it is, 1981 has really arrived. 4 new entries inside the top 10 and John Lennon has only the 5th entry with "Woman" coming in at #16 with another entry inside the top 20 by Susan Fassbender (and Kay Russell, who should have really been co-credited on this song and maybe I will co-credit her from next week). On this week "Woman" by John Lennon entered the US top 40 and "Vienna" by Ultravox entered the UK top 75 outside of the top 40. The following week "Woman" crashed in at #3 whilst "Vienna" climbed up to #16 and "In The Air Tonight" which entered at #36 this week leapt all the way up to #4.

For Steve Winwood, it's the start of his solo career having had hits with the Spencer Davis Group in the 1960s, songs he did not write, but he co-wrote this song and all his hits that follow, usually (or maybe always) with Will Jennings. One of those songs "Roll With It" will also credit Holland Dozier Holland due to a plagiarism.

For Dire Straits, the first single since "Lady Writer" and from the album "Love Over Gold". Although it has entered behind "Vienna" you can expect both of these to get to #1. It is, for me, by far their best ever song, and I've even nominated this as the best love song ever.

So Phil Collins, with his classic solo debut, is stuck 3rd behind them, and is unlikely to get to #1 (didn't get there at the time because of those two) and there's another one to come in next week that will rock the lot, a song by a band who got to #1 with both their last two singles but the one coming is their biggest for me, and the album it comes from was the #1 album of 1981 and one of my top 5 albums of all time.

[Earl Purple]

24 January 1981

1 ( 2 ) Vienna - Ultravox < 1st #1 >
2 ( 5 ) Romeo And Juliet - Dire Straits
3 ( 7 ) In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins
4 ( 1 ) Antmusic - Adam & The Ants (#1[3])
5 ( 9 ) While You See A Chance - Steve Winwood
6 ( 3 ) Keep On Loving You - REO Speedwagon (#3)
7 ( -- ) The Best Of Times - Styx
8 ( 16 ) Woman - John Lennon
9 ( 4 ) 9 To 5 - Dolly Parton (#2[2])
10 ( 19 ) Twilight Cafe - Susan Fassbender

11 ( 12 ) He Can't Love You - Michael Stanley Band
12 ( 8 ) I Am The Beat - The Look (#8)
13 ( 6 ) I Ain't Gonna Stand For It - Stevie Wonder (#4)
14 ( 10 ) Young Parisians - Adam & The Ants (#9)
15 ( -- ) Rapture - Blondie
16 ( -- ) Sgt Rock (Is Going To Help Me) - XTC
17 ( 11 ) Fade To Grey - Visage (#7)
18 ( 20 ) Days Are Ok - Motels
19 ( -- ) The Return Of The Los Palmas Seven - Madness
20 ( -- ) The Freeze - Spandau Ballet

21 ( 24 ) Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) - David Bowie
22 ( 14 ) Too Nice To Talk To - Beat (#10)
23 ( 13 ) (Just Like) Starting Over - John Lennon (#1[3])
24 ( -- ) Games People Play - Alan Parsons Project
25 ( 18 ) Burn Rubber On Me - Gap Band (#15)
26 ( -- ) A Little In Love - Cliff Richard
27 ( 17 ) Clubland - Elvis Costello (#11)
28 ( 15 ) Stop The Cavalry - Jona Lewie (#1[1])
29 ( 22 ) Love Me To Sleep - Hot Chocolate (#17)
30 ( 43 ) Lonely Heart - UFO

31 ( 21 ) Don't Stop The Music - Yarbrough & Peoples (#14)
32 ( 26 ) Same Old Lang Syne - Dan Fogelberg (#24)
33 ( -- ) Hitsville UK - Clash
34 ( 36 ) Cold Love - Donna Summer
35 ( 25 ) I'm In Love Again - Sad Cafe (#21)
36 ( -- ) IOU - Jane Kennaway & Strange Behaviour
37 ( 46 ) Gangsters Of The Groove - Heatwave
38 ( -- ) Turn Me On Turn Me Off - Honey Bane
39 ( 31 ) Miss Sun - Boz Scaggs (#29)
40 ( 23 ) Rabbit - Chas & Dave (#5)

41 ( 35 ) Too Risky - Jim Davidson (#35)
42 ( 41 ) Seven Bridges Road - Eagles (#41)
43 ( 50 ) Hang Together - Odyssey
44 ( 28 ) Heartbreak Hotel - Jacksons (#20)
45 ( 37 ) My Girl - Rod Stewart (#37)
46 ( -- ) Zerox - Adam & The Ants
47 ( 32 ) Louis Quartorze - Bow Wow Wow (#25)
48 ( 34 ) This Wreckage - Gary Numan (#28)
49 ( 29 ) Hey Nineteen - Steely Dan (#17)
50 ( 27 ) I Made It Through The Rain - Barry Manilow (#6)

---

-- ( 30 ) Do Nothing - Specials (#7)
-- ( 33 ) Runaway Boys - Stray Cats (#8)
-- ( 38 ) Super Trouper - Abba (#1[2])
-- ( 39 ) Giving It Up For Your Love - Delbert McClinton (#31)
-- ( 40 ) You're Ok - Ottawan (#39)
-- ( 42 ) Runaround Sue - Racey (#40)
-- ( 44 ) I Love A Rainy Night - Eddie Rabbitt (#11)
-- ( 45 ) Together - Tierra (#41)
-- ( 47 ) Back On The Road - Earth Wind & Fire (#35)
-- ( 48 ) Flash - Queen (#12)
-- ( 49 ) Who's Gonna rock You - Nolans (#27)

---

-- ( -- ) Car Trouble - Adam & The Ants
-- ( -- ) Smoky Mountain Rain - Ronnie Milsap
-- ( -- ) Never Gonna Give You Up (Won't Let You Be) - Patrice Rushen

---

Yes, this is far and away the best ever start to any year in pop history. Adding to that list from last week we now have the most classic song by Styx (sorry it's this one not "Babe"), Blondie's "Rapture" which in the UK entered at #14 this week, and new ones by XTC, Madness and Spandau Ballet, those 5 entering inside the top 20.

Adam & The Ants now have 3 songs in the chart, which might have been 4, but it's a relatively bad week for them, losing the top spot, Young Parisians dropping out of the top 10 and Car Trouble failing to chart, as well as Zerox being quite a low entry.

The record company, or possibly their old record company, was cashing in on their success by releasing back-catalogue, but of those only Young Parisians was a top 10 hit in the UK and similarly in my chart.

[Earl Purple]

I have the next list ready. Shaddap You Face actually finished about halfway on it, so it will get into the chart but will only be a mediocre hit (maybe top 30). It probably was the worst number 1 of 1981 (although Julio Iglesias is likely to struggle too) but by no means the worst top 3 hit, with Tony Capstick being far worse.

[Earl Purple]

31 January 1981

1 ( 2 ) Romeo And Juliet - Dire Straits < 1st #1 >
2 ( 1 ) Vienna - Ultravox (#1[1])
3 ( 3 ) In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins
4 ( 7 ) The Best Of Times - Styx
5 ( 5 ) While You See A Chance - Steve Winwood
6 ( 8 ) Woman - John Lennon
7 ( 15 ) Rapture - Blondie
8 ( 16 ) Sgt Rock (Is Going To Help Me) - XTC
9 ( 10 ) Twilight Cafe - Susan Fassbender & Kay Russell
10 ( 19 ) The Return Of The Los Palmas Seven - Madness

11 ( 20 ) The Freeze - Spandau Ballet
12 ( 4 ) Antmusic - Adam & The Ants (#1[3])
13 ( 6 ) Keep On Loving You - REO Speedwagon (#3)
14 ( -- ) Reward - Teardrop Explodes
15 ( -- ) I Surrender - Rainbow
16 ( 24 ) Games People Play - Alan Parsons Project
17 ( 11 ) He Can't Love You - Michael Stanley Band (#11)
18 ( 9 ) 9 To 5 - Dolly Parton (#2[2])
19 ( 26 ) A Little In Love - Cliff Richard
20 ( -- ) The Elephant's Graveyard (Guilty) - Boomtown Rats

21 ( -- ) I'm In Love With A German Film Star - Passions
22 ( -- ) The Oldest Swinger In Town - Fred Wedlock
23 ( 12 ) I Am The Beat - The Look (#8)
24 ( 18 ) Days Are Ok - Motels (#18)
25 ( 33 ) Hitsville UK - Clash
26 ( -- ) (Do) The Hucklebuck - Coast To Coast
27 ( 14 ) Young Parisians - Adam & The Ants (#9)
28 ( 21 ) Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) - David Bowie (#21)
29 ( 36 ) IOU - Jane Kennaway & Strange Behaviour
30 ( 13 ) I Ain't Gonna Stand For It - Stevie Wonder (#4)

31 ( -- ) Hello Again - Neil Diamond
32 ( 30 ) Lonely Heart - UFO (#30)
33 ( 38 ) Turn Me On Turn Me Off - Honey Bane
34 ( 17 ) Fade To Grey - Visage (#7)
35 ( -- ) We'll Bring The House Down - Slade
36 ( -- ) Treat Me Right - Pat Benatar
37 ( -- ) Cheated - Praying Mantis
38 ( 37 ) Gangsters Of The Groove - Heatwave (#37)
39 ( 22 ) Too Nice To Talk To - Beat (#10)
40 ( 46 ) Zerox - Adam & The Ants

41 ( -- ) Shine On - L.T.D
42 ( 25 ) Burn Rubber On Me - Gap Band (#15)
43 ( 34 ) Cold Love - Donna Summer (#34)
44 ( 23 ) (Just Like) Starting Over - John Lennon (#1[3])
45 ( -- ) Thrown Away - Stranglers
46 ( 29 ) Love Me To Sleep - Hot Chocolate (#17)
47 ( -- ) Just When I Needed You Most - Barbara Jones
48 ( 43 ) Hang Together - Odyssey (#43)
49 ( 27 ) Clubland - Elvis Costello (#11)
50 ( 32 ) Same Old Lang Syne - Dan Fogelberg (#24)

---

-- ( 28 ) Stop The Cavalry - Jona Lewie (#1[1])
-- ( 31 ) Don't Stop The Music - Yarbrough & Peoples (#14)
-- ( 35 ) I'm In Love Again - Sad Cafe (#21)
-- ( 39 ) Miss Sun - Boz Scaggs (#29)
-- ( 40 ) Rabbit - Chas & Dave (#5)
-- ( 41 ) Too Risky - Jim Davidson (#35)
-- ( 42 ) Seven Bridges Road - Eagles (#41)
-- ( 44 ) Heartbreak Hotel - Jacksons (#20)
-- ( 45 ) My Girl - Rod Stewart (#37)
-- ( 47 ) Louis Quartorze - Bow Wow Wow (#25)
-- ( 48 ) This Wreckage - Gary Numan (#28)
-- ( 49 ) Hey Nineteen - Steely Dan (#17)
-- ( 50 ) I Made It Through The Rain - Barry Manilow (#6)

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-- ( -- ) All Night Long - Cloud
-- ( -- ) Mysteries Of The World - MFSB
-- ( -- ) Who's Making Love - Blues Brothers
-- ( -- ) (You Know) You Can Do It - Central Line

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I'm not sure if this shocks you, that Dire Straits replaces Ultravox after just one week. Both of these songs represent for me the pinnacle of the careers of these two bands who will go on to greatness in the next few years but neither of them match for me the song they have out now, and neither will top my chart again although Dire Straits will get to #2. Of course neither had a UK #1 single either, with Ultravox reaching #2 with this song and Dire Straits a couple of times later on, but Dire Straits sold more albums and had the biggest selling album of the decade, and Midge Ure would get a solo #1 single (as well as co-writing the big hit I'm going to mention).

And as on this week we see the Boomtown Rats entering with Elephant's Graveyard (Guilty) which failed to reach the UK top 20 and sort-of marks the end for them - the post-punk era coming to an end whilst the new romantics are starting, but of course Bob Geldof and Midge Ure will work together to write that Band Aid song.

Nearing the end also for Blondie, until their comeback - Rapture was their last top 10 hit other than "Maria". Neil Diamond also pretty much finished, I was actually surprised to see this one didn't get into the UK top 40. But then of course a song he wrote will become a massive hit in a cover version in 1983. And 1983 will also bring a big hit for Slade - they're not done yet.

Of the new entries, Teardrop Explodes' classic enters just above Rainbow's biggest UK hit (and last top 10 hit). A memorable hit for the Passions, and Fred Wedlock singing about himself perhaps, a decade of releasing albums without any chart success, he's 38 at the time of this hit, the kind of age where you may still feel young - close to mid-life crisis. I know TheThorne hates it though.

Rock N Roll revivalism isn't dead yet, (Do) The Hucklebuck reached NM #8 for Chubby Checker in 1960, the first rock n roll version, but it was based on a slow jazz tune by Paul Williams from 1949.

[TheThorne]

It’s definitely the worst song on your chart closing followed my ‘Do The Hucklebuck’ both higher than Pat Benatar shocking hehe but yes agree with your highest entry for sure

[Earl Purple]

There seem to be a lot of reggae covers at present, some of very recent songs. In fact Rudy Grant's cover of Lately hit the UK top 75 before Stevie Wonder's version. "Just When I Needed You Most" gets in, quite an interesting way to do that song, but my favourite cover of that song is by Millie Jackson. Sheila Hylton covering the Police "The Bed's Too Big Without You" is also among this list of covers. The one that will be a big hit in the UK thought is "Good Thing Going" by Sugar Minott, that at the time many like me didn't know was a cover.

Reggae cover versions are nothing new of course, with Ken Boothe's version of "Everything I Own" obviously being the most memorable time such a cover became a massive hit.

They date back even further though ."Black And White" was a big hit for Greyhound but was originally from the late 50s I think, and "Young Gifted And Black" was first recorded and also co-written by Nina Simone and wasn't a reggae song.

[Earl Purple]

Ok, the next playlist has 14 songs, one of which is Shaddap You Face. And that came in 6th. Which 5 songs beat it, and which 8 songs managed to finish worse than it? Ok, I'll give you one, the Krankies are bottom of those 14.

[Earl Purple]

7 February 1981

1 ( 1 ) Romeo And Juliet - Dire Straits < 2nd week at #1 >
2 ( 4 ) The Best Of Times - Styx
3 ( 2 ) Vienna - Ultravox (#1[1])
4 ( 3 ) In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins (#3)
5 ( 7 ) Rapture - Blondie
6 ( 14 ) Reward - Teardrop Explodes
7 ( 8 ) Sgt Rock (Is Going To Help Me) - XTC
8 ( 15 ) I Surrender - Rainbow
9 ( 5 ) While You See A Chance - Steve Winwood (#5)
10 ( 6 ) Woman - John Lennon (#6)

11 ( -- ) Once In A Lifetime - Talking Heads
12 ( 10 ) The Return Of The Los Palmas Seven - Madness (#10)
13 ( 11 ) The Freeze - Spandau Ballet (#11)
14 ( 20 ) The Elephant's Graveyard (Guilty) - Boomtown Rats
15 ( 9 ) Twilight Cafe - Susan Fassbender & Kay Russell (#9)
16 ( 21 ) I'm In Love With A German Film Star - Passions
17 ( -- ) That's Entertainment - Jam
18 ( 22 ) The Oldest Swinger In Town - Fred Wedlock
19 ( -- ) Rock This Town - Stray Cats
20 ( 16 ) Games People Play - Alan Parsons Project (#16)

21 ( 26 ) (Do) The Hucklebuck - Coast To Coast
22 ( -- ) Southern Freeez - Freeez
23 ( 19 ) A Little In Love - Cliff Richard (#19)
24 ( 31 ) Hello Again - Neil Diamond
25 ( 25 ) Hitsville UK - Clash
26 ( 35 ) We'll Bring The House Down - Slade
27 ( 36 ) Treat Me Right - Pat Benatar
28 ( 13 ) Keep On Loving You - REO Speedwagon (#3)
29 ( 12 ) Antmusic - Adam & The Ants (#1[3])
30 ( 37 ) Cheated - Praying Mantis

31 ( 17 ) He Can't Love You - Michael Stanley Band (#11)
32 ( -- ) Back In Black - AC/DC
33 ( 29 ) IOU - Jane Kennaway & Strange Behaviour (#29)
34 ( 41 ) Shine On - L.T.D
35 ( 18 ) 9 To 5 - Dolly Parton (#2[2])
36 ( -- ) Shaddap You Face - Joe Dolce Music Theatre
37 ( 33 ) Turn Me On Turn Me Off - Honey Bane (#33)
38 ( 45 ) Thrown Away - Stranglers
39 ( 24 ) Days Are Ok - Motels (#18)
40 ( 47 ) Just When I Needed You Most - Barbara Jones

41 ( -- ) (Somebody) Help Me Out - Beggar & Co
42 ( -- ) Hot Love - Kelly Marie
43 ( 23 ) I Am The Beat - The Look (#8)
44 ( 32 ) Lonely Heart - UFO (#30)
45 ( 40 ) Zerox - Adam & The Ants (#40)
46 ( 28 ) Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) - David Bowie (#21)
47 ( -- ) Hearts On Fire - Randy Meisner
48 ( -- ) Ah Leah - Donnie Iris
49 ( 38 ) Gangsters Of The Groove - Heatwave (#37)
50 ( -- ) Slide - RAH Band

---

-- ( 27 ) Young Parisians - Adam & The Ants (#9)
-- ( 30 ) I Ain't Gonna Stand For It - Stevie Wonder (#4)
-- ( 34 ) Fade To Grey - Visage (#7)
-- ( 39 ) Too Nice To Talk To - Beat (#10)
-- ( 42 ) Burn Rubber On Me - Gap Band (#15)
-- ( 43 ) Cold Love - Donna Summer (#34)
-- ( 44 ) (Just Like) Starting Over - John Lennon (#1[3])
-- ( 46 ) Love Me To Sleep - Hot Chocolate (#17)
-- ( 48 ) Hang Together - Odyssey (#43)
-- ( 49 ) Clubland - Elvis Costello (#11)
-- ( 50 ) Same Old Lang Syne - Dan Fogelberg (#24)

---

-- ( -- ) What's On Your Mind - George Benson
-- ( -- ) Kids On The Street - Angelic Upstarts
-- ( -- ) Fan Dabi Dozi - Krankies

---

And here is the top 40 of 7 February 1981, with a high entry for a classic by Talking Heads, followed by the Jam whose song was available only on import so was not a high-charting UK hit. Some rockabilly by the Stray Cats and soul by Freeez, and then AC/DC's title track comes in at #32 - those 5 ahead of Joe Dolce who enters at #36 this week.

Those who did worse than Joe Dolce: Beggar & Co - they were a mix of musicians some of whom had been in Light Of The World, and would later work with Spandau Ballet on Chant No 1 and the bongos were popular in 1981 later on, possibly partly due to them. This one we used to sing "Somebody help miaow miaow" as it sounded a bit like that's what they were singing. Kelly Marie - I think many of you would agree that loses to Joe Dolce - doesn't sound anything like T Rex but does sound a bit like "Take A Chance On Me" by Abba at one point. You probably don't know the other 3 that entered. If you listened you'd probably think they were pleasant, but SYF has history for me and those don't. Randy Meisner used to be in the Eagles - Joe Walsh has already had some solo hits and Glenn Frey and Don Henley will both do so later on.

[Earl Purple]

Ok I just listened to Randy Meisner again, it should at least be beating Kelly Marie. I'll give it a decent climb next week. It may pass Joe Dolce too.

[Earl Purple]

14 February 1981

1 ( 2 ) The Best Of Times - Styx < 3rd #1 >
2 ( 1 ) Romeo And Juliet - Dire Straits (#1[2])
3 ( 3 ) Vienna - Ultravox (#1[1])
4 ( 11 ) Once In A Lifetime - Talking Heads
5 ( 6 ) Reward - Teardrop Explodes
6 ( 5 ) Rapture - Blondie (#5)
7 ( 8 ) I Surrender - Rainbow
8 ( 4 ) In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins (#3)
9 ( 17 ) That's Entertainment - Jam
10 ( 7 ) Sgt Rock (Is Going To Help Me) - XTC (#7)

11 ( 19 ) Rock This Town - Stray Cats
12 ( 22 ) Southern Freeez - Freeez
13 ( 14 ) The Elephant's Graveyard (Guilty) - Boomtown Rats
14 ( 16 ) I'm In Love With A German Film Star - Passions
15 ( 9 ) While You See A Chance - Steve Winwood (#5)
16 ( 10 ) Woman - John Lennon (#6)
17 ( 12 ) The Return Of The Los Palmas Seven - Madness (#10)
18 ( 18 ) The Oldest Swinger In Town - Fred Wedlock
19 ( 13 ) The Freeze - Spandau Ballet (#11)
20 ( 32 ) Back In Black - AC/DC

21 ( -- ) It's A Mystery - Toyah
22 ( 21 ) (Do) The Hucklebuck - Coast To Coast (#21)
23 ( 24 ) Hello Again - Neil Diamond
24 ( -- ) Message Of Love - Pretenders
25 ( 26 ) We'll Bring The House Down - Slade
26 ( 47 ) Hearts On Fire - Randy Meisner
27 ( 36 ) Shaddap You Face - Joe Dolce Music Theatre
28 ( 27 ) Treat Me Right - Pat Benatar (#27)
29 ( 15 ) Twilight Cafe - Susan Fassbender & Kay Russell (#9)
30 ( -- ) I'm In Love With The Girl On The Manchester Virgin Megastore Checkout Desk - Freshies

31 ( 20 ) Games People Play - Alan Parsons Project (#16)
32 ( 30 ) Cheated - Praying Mantis (#30)
33 ( -- ) What Kind Of Fool - Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb
34 ( 25 ) Hitsville UK - Clash (#25)
35 ( 41 ) (Somebody) Help Me Out - Beggar & Co
36 ( 42 ) Hot Love - Kelly Marie
37 ( 23 ) A Little In Love - Cliff Richard (#19)
38 ( 34 ) Shine On - L.T.D (#34)
39 ( 38 ) Thrown Away - Stranglers (#38)
40 ( 48 ) Ah Leah - Donnie Iris

41 ( 40 ) Just When I Needed You Most - Barbara Jones (#40)
42 ( 50 ) Slide - RAH Band
43 ( 33 ) IOU - Jane Kennaway & Strange Behaviour (#29)
44 ( -- ) Take My Time - Sheena Easton
45 ( 37 ) Turn Me On Turn Me Off - Honey Bane (#33)
46 ( 28 ) Keep On Loving You - REO Speedwagon (#3)
47 ( -- ) Children Of Paradise - Boney M
48 ( 31 ) He Can't Love You - Michael Stanley Band (#11)
49 ( -- ) Mutually Assured Destruction - Gillan
50 ( 29 ) Antmusic - Adam & The Ants (#1[3])

---

-- ( 35 ) 9 To 5 - Dolly Parton (#2[2])
-- ( 39 ) Days Are Ok - Motels (#18)
-- ( 43 ) I Am The Beat - The Look (#8)
-- ( 44 ) Lonely Heart - UFO (#30)
-- ( 45 ) Zerox - Adam & The Ants (#40)
-- ( 46 ) Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) - David Bowie (#21)
-- ( 49 ) Gangsters Of The Groove - Heatwave (#37)

---

-- ( -- ) Hellbound - Tygers Of Pan Tang
-- ( -- ) (Ghost) Riders In The Sky - Outlaws
-- ( -- ) Living In A Fantasy - Leo Sayer
-- ( -- ) Lately - Rudy Grant

---

For Styx this is 3 number ones in a row, all of which have been composed by Dennis De Young. Their next single will be a Tommy Shaw composition.

Toyah gets the highest entry this week, but it was only 10th on the playlist which covered this week and the two weeks before it, behind 5 from 31 January and 4 from 7 February.

The Freshies entry is the longest ever song title with no parentheses (to reach the chart). The title as I have written it is how it appears on Spotify, so I presume it's correct.

[Earl Purple]

I had this ready to post yesterday but then didn't

21 February 1981

1 ( 1 ) The Best Of Times - Styx < 2nd week at #1 >
2 ( 2 ) Romeo And Juliet - Dire Straits (#1[2])
3 ( 4 ) Once In A Lifetime - Talking Heads
4 ( 3 ) Vienna - Ultravox (#1[1])
5 ( 5 ) Reward - Teardrop Explodes
6 ( 9 ) That's Entertainment - Jam
7 ( 7 ) I Surrender - Rainbow
8 ( 11 ) Rock This Town - Stray Cats
9 ( 12 ) Southern Freeez - Freeez
10 ( -- ) Kids In America - Kim Wilde

11 ( 6 ) Rapture - Blondie (#5)
12 ( 21 ) It's A Mystery - Toyah
13 ( -- ) Jealous Guy - Roxy Music
14 ( 8 ) In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins (#3)
15 ( 13 ) The Elephant's Graveyard (Guilty) - Boomtown Rats (#13)
16 ( 14 ) I'm In Love With A German Film Star - Passions (#14)
17 ( 24 ) Message Of Love - Pretenders
18 ( 20 ) Back In Black - AC/DC
19 ( 10 ) Sgt Rock (Is Going To Help Me) - XTC (#7)
20 ( 26 ) Hearts On Fire - Randy Meisner

21 ( 30 ) I'm In Love With The Girl On The Manchester Virgin Megastore Checkout Desk - Freshies
22 ( -- ) Planet Earth - Duran Duran
23 ( 33 ) What Kind Of Fool - Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb
24 ( 18 ) The Oldest Swinger In Town - Fred Wedlock (#18)
25 ( 27 ) Shaddap You Face - Joe Dolce Music Theatre
26 ( 15 ) While You See A Chance - Steve Winwood (#5)
27 ( 17 ) The Return Of The Los Palmas Seven - Madness (#10)
28 ( 16 ) Woman - John Lennon (#6)
29 ( 23 ) Hello Again - Neil Diamond (#23)
30 ( 22 ) (Do) The Hucklebuck - Coast To Coast (#21)

31 ( -- ) Star - Kiki Dee
32 ( 25 ) We'll Bring The House Down - Slade (#25)
33 ( 19 ) The Freeze - Spandau Ballet (#11)
34 ( 44 ) Take My Time - Sheena Easton
35 ( -- ) Jones vs Jones - Kool & The Gang
36 ( 28 ) Treat Me Right - Pat Benatar (#27)
37 ( 35 ) (Somebody) Help Me Out - Beggar & Co (#35)
38 ( -- ) Please Don't Touch - Motorhead & Girlschool
39 ( 36 ) Hot Love - Kelly Marie (#36)
40 ( 47 ) Children Of Paradise - Boney M

41 ( 40 ) Ah Leah - Donnie Iris (#40)
42 ( 49 ) Mutually Assured Destruction - Gillan
43 ( 32 ) Cheated - Praying Mantis (#30)
44 ( 42 ) Slide - RAH Band (#42)
45 ( -- ) Precious To Me - Phil Seymour
46 ( 39 ) Thrown Away - Stranglers (#38)
47 ( -- ) Fade Away - Bruce Springsteen
48 ( 31 ) Games People Play - Alan Parsons Project (#16)
49 ( 41 ) Just When I Needed You Most - Barbara Jones (#40)
50 ( 38 ) Shine On - L.T.D (#34)

---

-- ( 29 ) Twilight Cafe - Susan Fassbender & Kay Russell (#9)
-- ( 34 ) Hitsville UK - Clash (#25)
-- ( 37 ) A Little In Love - Cliff Richard (#19)
-- ( 43 ) IOU - Jane Kennaway & Strange Behaviour (#29)
-- ( 45 ) Turn Me On Turn Me Off - Honey Bane (#33)
-- ( 46 ) Keep On Loving You - REO Speedwagon (#3)
-- ( 48 ) He Can't Love You - Michael Stanley Band (#11)
-- ( 50 ) Antmusic - Adam & The Ants (#1[3])

---

-- ( -- ) Don't Go - Judas Priest
-- ( -- ) Underwater - Harry Thumann

---

Two big hits, two debuts by major artists. Kim Wilde's dad of course has reached the chart before - he never got higher than NM #8 as a singer with "Bad Boy". He had reached #1 as a co-writer though, back in 1968 when the Casuals topped the chart with "Jezamine", and he also co-wrote "Kids In America" with his son (and Kim's brother) Ricky Wilde.

John Lennon wrote "Jealous Guy" and Roxy Music have covered it as a tribute. The original is among the songs on my John Lennon playlist I play each year on 8 December.

And a debut also for Duran Duran.

When Bruce Springsteen made his debut, he did so in style - #1 on his first week with "Born To Run". Phil Seymour is the only debutant on the chart we're not likely to hear from again. He was on the bubblers in 1975 as lead singer of Dwight Twilley Band but "I'm On Fire" failed to make the chart. Of course I said that in the same paragraph as mentioning Bruce Springsteen... (different song though, of course).

It's also a debut for Girlschool - their cover of Gun's "Race With The Devil" didn't reach my chart, but Motorhead recently got to #1 with "Ace Of Spades" and this song originally also got to #1 in 1959 for Johnny Kidd & The Pirates.

[Earl Purple]

28 February 1981

1 ( 1 ) The Best Of Times - Styx < 3rd week at #1 >
2 ( 3 ) Once In A Lifetime - Talking Heads
3 ( 2 ) Romeo And Juliet - Dire Straits (#1[2])
4 ( 10 ) Kids In America - Kim Wilde
5 ( 13 ) Jealous Guy - Roxy Music
6 ( 6 ) That's Entertainment - Jam
7 ( 5 ) Reward - Teardrop Explodes (#5)
8 ( 4 ) Vienna - Ultravox (#1[1])
9 ( 8 ) Rock This Town - Stray Cats (#8)
10 ( 9 ) Southern Freeez - Freeez (#9)

11 ( 12 ) It's A Mystery - Toyah
12 ( 7 ) I Surrender - Rainbow (#7)
13 ( 22 ) Planet Earth - Duran Duran
14 ( -- ) Einstein A Go-Go - Landscape
15 ( 17 ) Message Of Love - Pretenders
16 ( -- ) Can You Feel It - Jacksons
17 ( 21 ) I'm In Love With The Girl On The Manchester Virgin Megastore Checkout Desk - Freshies
18 ( 31 ) Star - Kiki Dee
19 ( 20 ) Hearts On Fire - Randy Meisner
20 ( 11 ) Rapture - Blondie (#5)

21 ( 23 ) What Kind Of Fool - Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb
22 ( 18 ) Back In Black - AC/DC (#18)
23 ( -- ) This Ole House - Shakin' Stevens
24 ( 15 ) The Elephant's Graveyard (Guilty) - Boomtown Rats (#13)
25 ( 16 ) I'm In Love With A German Film Star - Passions (#14)
26 ( 35 ) Jones vs Jones - Kool & The Gang
27 ( 14 ) In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins (#3)
28 ( 38 ) Please Don't Touch - Motorhead & Girlschool
29 ( 25 ) Shaddap You Face - Joe Dolce Music Theatre (#25)
30 ( 34 ) Take My Time - Sheena Easton

31 ( -- ) Can You Handle It - Sharon Redd
32 ( 19 ) Sgt Rock (Is Going To Help Me) - XTC (#7)
33 ( 45 ) Precious To Me - Phil Seymour
34 ( 24 ) The Oldest Swinger In Town - Fred Wedlock (#18)
35 ( 47 ) Fade Away - Bruce Springsteen
36 ( -- ) Something 'Bout You Baby I Like - Status Quo
37 ( -- ) Guilty - Classix Nouveaux
38 ( 40 ) Children Of Paradise - Boney M
39 ( 29 ) Hello Again - Neil Diamond (#23)
40 ( 42 ) Mutually Assured Destruction - Gillan

41 ( -- ) Somebody's Knockin' - Terri Gibbs
42 ( 27 ) The Return Of The Los Palmas Seven - Madness (#10)
43 ( 26 ) While You See A Chance - Steve Winwood (#5)
44 ( 30 ) (Do) The Hucklebuck - Coast To Coast (#21)
45 ( 32 ) We'll Bring The House Down - Slade (#25)
46 ( 37 ) (Somebody) Help Me Out - Beggar & Co (#35)
47 ( 28 ) Woman - John Lennon (#6)
48 ( -- ) Boys And Girls - Human League
49 ( 41 ) Ah Leah - Donnie Iris (#40)
50 ( 39 ) Hot Love - Kelly Marie (#36)

---

-- ( 33 ) The Freeze - Spandau Ballet (#11)
-- ( 36 ) Treat Me Right - Pat Benatar (#27)
-- ( 43 ) Cheated - Praying Mantis (#30)
-- ( 44 ) Slide - RAH Band (#42)
-- ( 46 ) Thrown Away - Stranglers (#38)
-- ( 48 ) Games People Play - Alan Parsons Project (#16)
-- ( 49 ) Just When I Needed You Most - Barbara Jones (#40)
-- ( 50 ) Shine On - L.T.D (#34)

---

-- ( -- ) Staying With It - Firefall
-- ( -- ) All America Girls - Sister Sledge
-- ( -- ) Too Tight - Con Funk Shun
-- ( -- ) Walking On Thin Ice - Yoko Ono
-- ( -- ) Don't Stop - K.I.D

---

The highest new entry is "Einstein A Go-Go", a one-off classic from 1981. That means "Is Vic There" is coming soon.. I always associate those two.

Can You Feel It is the next entry - that means Ai No Corrida must be coming soon too. Funny how I associate songs that were out at the same time. But I guess in this case there's a real connection with Quincy Jones.

I don't even remember that Human League song, and yet in a short while they'll be massive.

[Earl Purple]

7 March 1981

1 ( 1 ) The Best Of Times - Styx < 4th week at #1 >
2 ( 4 ) Kids In America - Kim Wilde
3 ( 2 ) Once In A Lifetime - Talking Heads (#2[1])
4 ( 5 ) Jealous Guy - Roxy Music
5 ( 14 ) Einstein A Go-Go - Landscape
6 ( 3 ) Romeo And Juliet - Dire Straits (#1[2])
7 ( 16 ) Can You Feel It - Jacksons
8 ( -- ) You Better You Bet - Who
9 ( 6 ) That's Entertainment - Jam (#6)
10 ( 13 ) Planet Earth - Duran Duran

11 ( 23 ) This Ole House - Shakin' Stevens
12 ( 7 ) Reward - Teardrop Explodes (#5)
13 ( -- ) Just The Two Of Us - Grover Washington Jr & Bill Withers
14 ( 11 ) It's A Mystery - Toyah (#11)
15 ( 9 ) Rock This Town - Stray Cats (#8)
16 ( 18 ) Star - Kiki Dee
17 ( 10 ) Southern Freeez - Freeez (#9)
18 ( 8 ) Vienna - Ultravox (#1[1])
19 ( 15 ) Message Of Love - Pretenders (#15)
20 ( 17 ) I'm In Love With The Girl On The Manchester Virgin Megastore Checkout Desk - Freshies (#17)

21 ( 31 ) Can You Handle It - Sharon Redd
22 ( 12 ) I Surrender - Rainbow (#7)
23 ( 19 ) Hearts On Fire - Randy Meisner (#19)
24 ( -- ) Lately - Stevie Wonder
25 ( 21 ) What Kind Of Fool - Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb (#21)
26 ( 26 ) Jones vs Jones - Kool & The Gang
27 ( 36 ) Something 'Bout You Baby I Like - Status Quo
28 ( -- ) I Missed Again - Phil Collins
29 ( 28 ) Please Don't Touch - Motorhead & Girlschool (#28)
30 ( 37 ) Guilty - Classix Nouveaux

31 ( -- ) Living In The UK - Shakatak
32 ( 33 ) Precious To Me - Phil Seymour
33 ( 41 ) Somebody's Knockin' - Terri Gibbs
34 ( -- ) Intuition - Linx
35 ( 22 ) Back In Black - AC/DC (#18)
36 ( 35 ) Fade Away - Bruce Springsteen (#35)
37 ( 30 ) Take My Time - Sheena Easton (#30)
38 ( 20 ) Rapture - Blondie (#5)
39 ( 48 ) Boys And Girls - Human League
40 ( 24 ) The Elephant's Graveyard (Guilty) - Boomtown Rats (#13)

41 ( 29 ) Shaddap You Face - Joe Dolce Music Theatre (#25)
42 ( 25 ) I'm In Love With A German Film Star - Passions (#14)
43 ( -- ) Big Green Car - Polecats
44 ( 38 ) Children Of Paradise - Boney M (#38)
45 ( 40 ) Mutually Assured Destruction - Gillan (#40)
46 ( 27 ) In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins (#3)
47 ( 34 ) The Oldest Swinger In Town - Fred Wedlock (#18)
48 ( 32 ) Sgt Rock (Is Going To Help Me) - XTC (#7)
49 ( -- ) Bon Bon Vie - TS Monk
50 ( 39 ) Hello Again - Neil Diamond (#23)

---

-- ( 42 ) The Return Of The Los Palmas Seven - Madness (#10)
-- ( 43 ) While You See A Chance - Steve Winwood (#5)
-- ( 44 ) (Do) The Hucklebuck - Coast To Coast (#21)
-- ( 45 ) We'll Bring The House Down - Slade (#25)
-- ( 46 ) (Somebody) Help Me Out - Beggar & Co (#35)
-- ( 47 ) Woman - John Lennon (#6)
-- ( 49 ) Ah Leah - Donnie Iris (#40)
-- ( 50 ) Hot Love - Kelly Marie (#36)

---

A 4th week at #1 for Styx, the longest stay since "Baggy Trousers" by Madness managed 5 weeks last year, and the longest for them after "Babe" was 3 weeks and "Why Me" 2 weeks on top.

Kim Wilde moves closer to #2, whilst the highest new entry would be the final UK top 10 hit for The Who. They were last in the NM top 10 in 1976 with "Squeeze Box" peaking at #5, and in 1971 "Won't Get Fooled Again" stalled at #2 behind T-Rex, who are namechecked in their latest song. In the UK they never had a #1 single, but they topped the NM chart twice in the 1960s with "Substitute" and "Pinball Wizard".

"Just The Two Of Us" was originally credited to just Grover Washington Jr but on Spotify Bill Withers is credited on two versions, and the regular single version has him as the main act (which means it was included in one of his Best Of albums). A rap interpretation of this song was a UK hit for Will Smith in 1998.

"Lately" the Stevie Wonder version rather than Rudy Grant's cover was a UK #3 hit.

"I Missed Again" was the follow-up to "In The Air Tonight" and it's a good song which may have under-achieved in the UK chart, but his next single after this is a total dirge which will probably miss in this chart.

Another of TheThorne's hates - Shakatak are in the chart - next year it will get worse for you then - this has the trademark piano on it.

The biggest hit for David Grant's Linx was a #7 hit in the UK, and for the Polecats, the track they mostly played was their cover of John I'm Only Dancing but I skipped that for an original song. Boz Boorer was a member of this group and later he achieved massive success with Morrissey, in particular in 1994 when he was co-wroter on "The More You Ignore Me The Closer I Get" and about half of the "Vauxhall & I" album, and he wrote the 3 best songs on that album, with "Now My Heart Is Full" and "Speedway". He's essentially the musical director behind Morrissey's music from about 1991 onward.

[TheThorne]

Why do you keep calling them hates, I barely hate anything, I specifically said if I really hated or disliked something. They were my least liked hits, its still maybe a 3/10

[Earl Purple]

May 22, 2022 14:57:05 GMT 1 TheThorne said:

Why do you keep calling them hates, I barely hate anything, I specifically said if I really hated or disliked something. They were my least liked hits, its still maybe a 3/10

Maybe scores are relative to what else was around at the time, and I'm not sure what 3/10 means anyway, possibly a track that has the right sound and feel to it but no clear hook or melody, which covers a lot of music, although those usually get a 5 from me.

Really bad songs from this time around 1981 are "Capstick Comes Home" and "My Mum Is One In A Million". The latter isn't on Spotify and I didn't bother looking for it on youtube.

The list of bubblers is probably incorrect too, K.I.D is not worse than Yoko Ono, nothing on that playlist was, just they both got a quick reject.

Maybe Yoko Ono was a good wife and mother but a singer she certainly was not. (Nor was Linda McCartney)

[Earl Purple]

14 March 1981

1 ( 2 ) Kids In America - Kim Wilde < 1st #1 >
2 ( 1 ) The Best Of Times - Styx (#1[4])
3 ( 8 ) You Better You Bet - Who
4 ( 5 ) Einstein A Go-Go - Landscape
5 ( 13 ) Just The Two Of Us - Grover Washington Jr & Bill Withers
6 ( 7 ) Can You Feel It - Jacksons
7 ( 4 ) Jealous Guy - Roxy Music (#4)
8 ( 3 ) Once In A Lifetime - Talking Heads (#2[1])
9 ( 11 ) This Ole House - Shakin' Stevens
10 ( 10 ) Planet Earth - Duran Duran

11 ( 6 ) Romeo And Juliet - Dire Straits (#1[2])
12 ( 24 ) Lately - Stevie Wonder
13 ( -- ) Mind Of A Toy - Visage
14 ( 9 ) That's Entertainment - Jam (#6)
15 ( 28 ) I Missed Again - Phil Collins
16 ( -- ) It's A Love Thing - Whispers
17 ( 16 ) Star - Kiki Dee (#16)
18 ( 21 ) Can You Handle It - Sharon Redd
19 ( 31 ) Living In The UK - Shakatak
20 ( -- ) Attention To Me - Nolans

21 ( 14 ) It's A Mystery - Toyah (#11)
22 ( 12 ) Reward - Teardrop Explodes (#5)
23 ( 34 ) Intuition - Linx
24 ( 27 ) Something 'Bout You Baby I Like - Status Quo
25 ( -- ) Tango In Mono - Expressos
26 ( 15 ) Rock This Town - Stray Cats (#8)
27 ( 19 ) Message Of Love - Pretenders (#15)
28 ( 20 ) I'm In Love With The Girl On The Manchester Virgin Megastore Checkout Desk - Freshies (#17)
29 ( 17 ) Southern Freeez - Freeez (#9)
30 ( 30 ) Guilty - Classix Nouveaux

31 ( 26 ) Jones vs Jones - Kool & The Gang (#26)
32 ( 33 ) Somebody's Knockin' - Terri Gibbs
33 ( 23 ) Hearts On Fire - Randy Meisner (#19)
34 ( 43 ) Big Green Car - Polecats
35 ( -- ) I Can't Stand It - Eric Clapton
36 ( 18 ) Vienna - Ultravox (#1[1])
37 ( 25 ) What Kind Of Fool - Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb (#21)
38 ( -- ) Just Between You And Me - April Wine
39 ( 29 ) Please Don't Touch - Motorhead & Girlschool (#28)
40 ( 32 ) Precious To Me - Phil Seymour (#32)

41 ( -- ) Ain't Ever Done With The Night - John Cougar
42 ( 39 ) Boys And Girls - Human League (#39)
43 ( 22 ) I Surrender - Rainbow (#7)
44 ( -- ) New Toy - Lene Lovich
45 ( 49 ) Bon Bon Vie - TS Monk
46 ( 36 ) Fade Away - Bruce Springsteen (#35)
47 ( -- ) Ceremony - New Order
48 ( 37 ) Take My Time - Sheena Easton (#30)
49 ( 35 ) Back In Black - AC/DC (#18)
50 ( -- ) We Are The Band - More

---

-- ( 38 ) Rapture - Blondie (#5)
-- ( 40 ) The Elephant's Graveyard (Guilty) - Boomtown Rats (#13)
-- ( 41 ) Shaddap You Face - Joe Dolce Music Theatre (#25)
-- ( 42 ) I'm In Love With A German Film Star - Passions (#14)
-- ( 44 ) Children Of Paradise - Boney M (#38)
-- ( 45 ) Mutually Assured Destruction - Gillan (#40)
-- ( 46 ) In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins (#3)
-- ( 47 ) The Oldest Swinger In Town - Fred Wedlock (#18)
-- ( 48 ) Sgt Rock (Is Going To Help Me) - XTC (#7)
-- ( 50 ) Hello Again - Neil Diamond (#23)

---

-- ( -- ) What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted - Dave Stewart & Colin Blunstone
-- ( -- ) Twilight Zone - Iron Maiden
-- ( -- ) Get Tough - Kleeer
-- ( -- ) Her Town Too - James Taylor & J.D. Souther

---

A new number one as Kim Wilde gets her classic to the top. As I mentioned when it enters, it's the second number one co-written by Marty Wilde, this song co-written with Ricky Wilde. His first was back in 1968 when the Casuals topped the chart with Jezamine.

Visage follow up "Fade To Grey" with "Mind Of A Toy". AFter "And The Beat Goes On" the next few Whispers songs were very sub-standard but they finally have another good song - actually I like this one more than "And The Beat Goes On". A bit more attention to the Nolans this week, and a great song by Expressos that is a lost hit and not on Spotify.

Far lower down we have the entrance for New Order, not really a debut as they formed out of Joy Division who got to #1 last year.

[Earl Purple]

21 March 1981

1 ( 1 ) Kids In America - Kim Wilde < 2nd week at #1 >
2 ( 3 ) You Better You Bet - Who
3 ( 5 ) Just The Two Of Us - Grover Washington Jr & Bill Withers
4 ( 2 ) The Best Of Times - Styx (#1[4])
5 ( 4 ) Einstein A Go-Go - Landscape (#4)
6 ( 13 ) Mind Of A Toy - Visage
7 ( 16 ) It's A Love Thing - Whispers
8 ( 6 ) Can You Feel It - Jacksons (#6)
9 ( 12 ) Lately - Stevie Wonder
10 ( 20 ) Attention To Me - Nolans

11 ( 9 ) This Ole House - Shakin' Stevens (#9)
12 ( -- ) Being With You - Smokey Robinson
13 ( 15 ) I Missed Again - Phil Collins
14 ( -- ) D-Days - Hazel O'Connor
15 ( 10 ) Planet Earth - Duran Duran (#10)
16 ( 7 ) Jealous Guy - Roxy Music (#4)
17 ( 25 ) Tango In Mono - Expressos
18 ( 19 ) Living In The UK - Shakatak
19 ( -- ) Night Games - Graham Bonnet
20 ( 8 ) Once In A Lifetime - Talking Heads (#2[1])

21 ( 18 ) Can You Handle It - Sharon Redd (#18)
22 ( 23 ) Intuition - Linx
23 ( 11 ) Romeo And Juliet - Dire Straits (#1[2])
24 ( 17 ) Star - Kiki Dee (#16)
25 ( -- ) Yellow Pearl - Phil Lynott
26 ( 35 ) I Can't Stand It - Eric Clapton
27 ( 14 ) That's Entertainment - Jam (#6)
28 ( -- ) (We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thing - Heaven 17
29 ( 24 ) Something 'Bout You Baby I Like - Status Quo (#24)
30 ( 38 ) Just Between You And Me - April Wine

31 ( -- ) Jitterbuggin' - Heatwave
32 ( 41 ) Ain't Ever Done With The Night - John Cougar
33 ( 34 ) Big Green Car - Polecats
34 ( 21 ) It's A Mystery - Toyah (#11)
35 ( 44 ) New Toy - Lene Lovich
36 ( 30 ) Guilty - Classix Nouveaux (#30)
37 ( 32 ) Somebody's Knockin' - Terri Gibbs (#32)
38 ( 47 ) Ceremony - New Order
39 ( 22 ) Reward - Teardrop Explodes (#5)
40 ( 27 ) Message Of Love - Pretenders (#15)

41 ( 50 ) We Are The Band - More
42 ( -- ) Plan B - Dexy's Midnight Runners
43 ( 28 ) I'm In Love With The Girl On The Manchester Virgin Megastore Checkout Desk - Freshies (#17)
44 ( 31 ) Jones vs Jones - Kool & The Gang (#26)
45 ( 26 ) Rock This Town - Stray Cats (#8)
46 ( -- ) New Orleans - Gillan
47 ( 29 ) Southern Freeez - Freeez (#9)
48 ( 45 ) Bon Bon Vie - TS Monk (#45)
49 ( -- ) Turn Me Loose - Loverboy
50 ( 33 ) Hearts On Fire - Randy Meisner (#19)

---

-- ( 36 ) Vienna - Ultravox (#1[1])
-- ( 37 ) What Kind Of Fool - Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb (#21)
-- ( 39 ) Please Don't Touch - Motorhead & Girlschool (#28)
-- ( 40 ) Precious To Me - Phil Seymour (#32)
-- ( 42 ) Boys And Girls - Human League (#39)
-- ( 43 ) I Surrender - Rainbow (#7)
-- ( 46 ) Fade Away - Bruce Springsteen (#35)
-- ( 48 ) Take My Time - Sheena Easton (#30)
-- ( 49 ) Back In Black - AC/DC (#18)

---

-- ( -- ) I Saw Her Standing There - Elton John & John Lennon

---

We have a new entry for Smokey Robinson, whose solo UK career was virtually non-existent but this one got him back to number one. And he wrote it in response to Kim Carnes covering his song "More Love" with the intention of her singing it too, but ended up recording it himself, whilst she covered Bette Davis Eyes, and in the USA, this song peaked at #2 behind that one.

Entering next is Hazel O'Connor. It's a good song but we all know what's coming soon.

Graham Bonnet going solo after being with Rainbow, I always thought at the time this song ripped of "Wanted" by the Dooleys, but actually it dates back to about 1971, a sort-of cover, but the original was never actually released.

Phil Lynott's song was used for Top of the Pops then became a bigger hit for him in 1982 with that publicity, and then a few acts we know, but Ian Gillan is sort-of connected to Graham Bonnet in that they've both sung in a band with Ritchie Blackmore.

Plan B by Dexy's Midnight Runners.. one of a few that were not successful and they were about to get dropped by their record label until "that" one came along to save them.

[Earl Purple]

28 March 1981

1 ( 2 ) You Better You Bet - Who <3rd #1 >
2 ( 1 ) Kids In America - Kim Wilde (#1[2])
3 ( 3 ) Just The Two Of Us - Grover Washington Jr & Bill Withers
4 ( 12 ) Being With You - Smokey Robinson
5 ( 6 ) Mind Of A Toy - Visage
6 ( 7 ) It's A Love Thing - Whispers
7 ( 14 ) D-Days - Hazel O'Connor
8 ( -- ) Too Much Time On My Hands - Styx
9 ( 5 ) Einstein A Go-Go - Landscape (#4)
10 ( 4 ) The Best Of Times - Styx (#1[4])

11 ( -- ) Making Your Mind Up - Bucks Fizz
12 ( 19 ) Night Games - Graham Bonnet
13 ( 10 ) Attention To Me - Nolans (#10)
14 ( 9 ) Lately - Stevie Wonder (#9)
15 ( 8 ) Can You Feel It - Jacksons (#6)
16 ( 25 ) Yellow Pearl - Phil Lynott
17 ( -- ) Take It On The Run - REO Speedwagon
18 ( 13 ) I Missed Again - Phil Collins (#13)
19 ( 17 ) Tango In Mono - Expressos (#17)
20 ( 28 ) (We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thing - Heaven 17

21 ( 11 ) This Ole House - Shakin' Stevens (#9)
22 ( -- ) Up The Hill Backwards - David Bowie
23 ( 31 ) Jitterbuggin' - Heatwave
24 ( -- ) Good Thing Going - Sugar Minott
25 ( 18 ) Living In The UK - Shakatak (#18)
26 ( 26 ) I Can't Stand It - Eric Clapton
27 ( 15 ) Planet Earth - Duran Duran (#10)
28 ( 22 ) Intuition - Linx (#22)
29 ( -- ) Just A Feeling - Bad Manners
30 ( 30 ) Just Between You And Me - April Wine

31 ( -- ) Almost Saturday Night - Dave Edmunds
32 ( 21 ) Can You Handle It - Sharon Redd (#18)
33 ( 32 ) Ain't Ever Done With The Night - John Cougar (#32)
34 ( 16 ) Jealous Guy - Roxy Music (#4)
35 ( -- ) How 'Bout Us - Champaign
36 ( 42 ) Plan B - Dexy's Midnight Runners
37 ( -- ) Slow Motion - Ultravox
38 ( 35 ) New Toy - Lene Lovich (#35)
39 ( -- ) Just Fade Away - Stiff Little Fingers
40 ( 46 ) New Orleans - Gillan

41 ( 38 ) Ceremony - New Order (#38)
42 ( 24 ) Star - Kiki Dee (#16)
43 ( 20 ) Once In A Lifetime - Talking Heads (#2[1])
44 ( 33 ) Big Green Car - Polecats (#33)
45 ( -- ) Dead Pop Stars - Altered Images
46 ( 41 ) We Are The Band - More (#41)
47 ( 29 ) Something 'Bout You Baby I Like - Status Quo (#24)
48 ( 49 ) Turn Me Loose - Loverboy
49 ( -- ) W.O.R.K - Bow Wow Wow
50 ( 23 ) Romeo And Juliet - Dire Straits (#1[2])

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-- ( 27 ) That's Entertainment - Jam (#6)
-- ( 34 ) It's A Mystery - Toyah (#11)
-- ( 36 ) Guilty - Classix Nouveaux (#30)
-- ( 37 ) Somebody's Knockin' - Terri Gibbs (#32)
-- ( 39 ) Reward - Teardrop Explodes (#5)
-- ( 40 ) Message Of Love - Pretenders (#15)
-- ( 43 ) I'm In Love With The Girl On The Manchester Virgin Megastore Checkout Desk - Freshies (#17)
-- ( 44 ) Jones vs Jones - Kool & The Gang (#26)
-- ( 45 ) Rock This Town - Stray Cats (#8)
-- ( 47 ) Southern Freeez - Freeez (#9)
-- ( 48 ) Bon Bon Vie - TS Monk (#45)
-- ( 50 ) Hearts On Fire - Randy Meisner (#19)

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-- ( -- ) Make That Move - Shalamar
-- ( -- ) Who Do You Think You're Foolin' - Donna Summer
-- ( -- ) Don't Panic - Liquid Gold
-- ( -- ) Sweetheart - Frankie & The Knockouts
-- ( -- ) One More Chance - Diana Ross
-- ( -- ) Time Out Of Mind - Steely Dan
-- ( -- ) Vital Signs - Rush
-- ( -- ) I'm So Happy - Light Of The World

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This appears to be my birthday chart, but as my birthday fell on a Tuesday for the first time since 1970 meaning there was a new UK chart announced on my birthday, as the new chart was back then, I was quite excited about that, but the UK chart of that week was the one dated 4 April. Note that had Easter Monday fallen on 29th March then the new chart would have been on the Wednesday but that didn't happen in any of those years, nor did Easter Monday fall on 30 March which would have pushed it to the 1st April. My birthday itself fell on Easter Monday in 1975 and 1986, and 28th March was Easter Monday in 1983 meaning the new chart that year was on 30th March.

The Who got their 3rd number one, but as I mentioned their wonderful "Won't Get Fooled Again" was kept off the top by the sounds of old T-Rex (Get It On). (In particular "You Better You Bet" has a lyric "the sounds of old T-Rex"). I guess now there will be no need for them to sing about the sounds of Kim Wilde in a decade's time.

We haven't had enough of Styx yet - The Best Of Times is the biggest hit of the year so far although it won't hold on to it. Paradise Theatre however will be the biggest album of 1981 and is up there with the best albums of all time (yeah I know, the Best of Times...). "Too Much Time On My Hands" was written by Tommy Shaw as opposed to Dennis DeYoung, and Tommy also sings the lead vocal on it. In the USA it would reach #9 in the Billboard chart but it failed to impact the UK chart at all.

Back in the days the UK could win Eurovision, Bucks Fizz didn't win by a great margin either but it won our poll of the best UK entry. In the qualification it beat Liquid Gold's "Don't Panic" which was also released this week but has flopped. Another song in that contest "Have You Ever Been In Love" will be covered by Leo Sayer in 1982.

Of the reggae covers, "Good Thing Going" was originally recorded by Michael Jackson but it works well as a reggae song.

Altered Images get their debut this week. Not their most memorable moment of course, they'll be big soon.