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Post by raliverpool on Mar 26, 2014 20:35:18 GMT 1
16 Depeche Mode - Never Let Me Down Again (1987)
The second single for their 1987 album Music for the Masses only made UK #22. But it was a far bigger hit in Europe peaking at #2 in Germany; #5 in Austria; #7 in Sweden & Switzerland; and going Top 15 in Ireland, Italy, Norway, Finland & Poland. The song has since become an encore favourite amongst fans, perhaps as it highlights the tipping point the band became an alternative-rock band.
We're flying high We're watching the world pass us by Never want to come down Never want to put my feet back down On the ground
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TheThorne
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*Hillside, slip and slide, feel the pain, it's no surprise!*
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Post by TheThorne on Mar 27, 2014 0:17:29 GMT 1
totally agree with your verdict on Depeche Mode. It was always a bit of an also ran tarck for me behind the previous singles Question Of Time and Strangelove but after seeing them live this is now one of my top 10 favourite DM songs, just sounded fantastic live and yes as it is right on the boundary of the change as QOT was old skool DM. I like both eras of DM and I wish they would play the odd pre86 song live as some like 'Blasphemous Rumours' and 'Shake The disease' would benefit from being modernised a little. I wouldnt expect them to ever do 'People Are People' again though.
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vastar iner
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Post by vastar iner on Mar 27, 2014 18:06:40 GMT 1
Although, given that she had led her party to 3 consecutive general election victories, one would think the politician granny knew what the majority feels. When it comes to eighties politics, I am with Mark E Smith, who told a right-on NME embryo "you don't remember Labour, do you, son? They were f***ing s***e." Wow, I never had you down as a far left-wing Trotskyist Socialist Workers Party supporter like Mark E. Smith. I'm passive-anarchic. I don't want to smash the system as much as put it away carefully. Think I mentioned how much I loved "Absolute Beginners" on the Missing Number Ones thread. "Slave To The Rhythm" is another tremendous track, which displays the strident, stentorian, apocalyptic power of Jones' voice well. One of the great Chart Show coups was getting "Alphabet Street" for a British premier - it was on the outro with the full amount the next week. Amazing nobody else showed it in the intervening.
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Post by smokeyb on Mar 29, 2014 0:54:44 GMT 1
I have neglected this fantastic thread for too long, time for some updated comments.
847 Ultravox - Hymn A fantastic track from a great album, brings back happy memories from the early 80's, I was a huge fan of Ultravox.
844 ABC - The Look Of Love A wonderful album with great pop songs even if the video was a bit twee.
842 The Vapors - Turning Japanese Liked this one a lot when it was in the charts, you can't resist singing along to the chorus.
724 Queen And David Bowie - Under Pressure This song always puts a chill up my spine when I hear it, one of the best collaborations of all time.
705 Electronic - Getting Away With It Another collaberation resulting in a brilliant track.
702 Climie Fisher - Love Changes (Everything) This is a song by an act I didn't know much about, but it certainly struck a chord with me.
696 A Flock Of Seagulls - Wishing (If I Had A Photograph Of You) I loved this song so much I actually bought it, and considering I only bought about 6 singles in the 1980's that's saying a lot.
690 Madness - Baggy Trousers Brilliant track by a brilliant act, they could do nothing wrong for me.
669 China Crisis - Wishful Thinking I was moving house when this track was out, and everytime I hear it, memories flood back, not happy ones, good song though.
608 Fleetwood Mac - Little Lies Wow this reminds of some great times...........but that's another story. Classic tune from a great album.
559 Tears For Fears - Shout From one of my favourite albums of the 80's, love this song.
545 Robert Plant - Big Log Although I was never a huge fan of Led Zep in the 70's, I did like this change in musical direction.
535 Flash And The Pan - Waiting For A Train Wow, where did this one come from, loved it then still like it now,
533 The Lotus Eaters - The First Picture Of You Didn't think I would have anything in common with Peter Powell, but this was probably my favourite song from 1983.
528 Altered Images - I Could Be Happy They were just brilliant, the tragedy is they should have been much bigger than they were, they ticked all the right boxes for me.
519 Joy Division - Atmosphere When I feel a bit down I always play Joy Division, sounds daft but I always feel better after listening to them.
505 Kim Wilde - Cambodia This is my favourite track by Kim, just love hearing it, goes to put the album on now.
504 Pet Shop Boys - Always On My Mind The rare occasion where a cover is so far superior to the original, brilliant version and worthy of the xmas No.1
501 Johnny Hates Jazz - Shattered Dreams I did like them when they came out, a very catchy song that still sounds fresh to me.
I will hit the top 500 later.
I've got a feeling I might know what song is No.1 on the list, but I will keep quiet, I will let you know if I'm right once you reveal it.
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 30, 2014 18:51:18 GMT 1
15 The Adventures - Broken Land (1988)
The Northern Irish band's most well known song was written by guitarist Pat Gribben about the troubles in Northern Ireland. It became their solitary UK Top 40 hit (#20); and went Top 40 in Germany, Italy, The Netherlands; and peaked at #8 in Ireland. Whilst it even made USA #95. It was taken from their second of four albums The Sea Of Love.
Show me the love to keep us together Open up your hearts don't turn me away Comfort me through this stormy weather From where I stand, I see a broken land
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 30, 2014 19:05:24 GMT 1
14 The Specials - Ghost Town (1981)
This popular ska music social commentary was written by Jerry Dammers with regards to the urban decay, deindustrialisation, spiralling unemployment and violence in inner cities under Thatcher's Britain, so becoming a UK #1 hit at the same time as riots were occurring in many British cities. The summer of 1981 saw riots in over 35 locations around the UK. Whilst pathetically the then Home Secretary William Whitelaw blamed this song as a contributing factor to these events, singer Terry Hall said, "When we recorded 'Ghost Town', we were talking about [1980]'s riots in Bristol and Brixton. The fact that it became popular when it did was just a weird coincidence." Outside of the UK, it peaked at Ireland #3, went top 20 in several European countries, as well as New Zealand.
This town's becoming like a ghost town Why must the youth fight against themselves? Government leaving the youth on the shelf This place, is coming like a ghost town No job to be found in this country Can't go on no more The people getting angry
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 30, 2014 19:16:22 GMT 1
13 This Mortal Coil - Song To The Siren (1983)
This cover of the Jeff Buckley song from his 1970 Starsailor album (the song's reference to the sirens tempting sailors at sea stems from Greek mythology), was recorded by gothic dream pop supergroup led by Ivo Watts-Russell, founder of the British record label 4AD. It features the haunting vocals of Cocteau Twin' Elizabeth Fraser. It may only have peaked at UK #66, but far more impressively it spent 101 weeks in the UK's Indie Top20 chart.
Hear me sing, "Swim to me, swim to me, Let me enfold you, Here I am, Here I am, Waiting to hold you"
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 30, 2014 19:27:44 GMT 1
12 The Human League - Don't You Want Me (1981)
Taken from Dare, produced by Martin Rushent, it is well known that Philip Oakey who came up with the teen-girl's magazine A Star Is Born type melodrama as an album filler, strongly disliked the idea about the "poor quality filler track" being a single as it was too poppy. Thanks to the Steve Barron directed video, the song became the UK Xmas #1 of 1981, and became a massive global success also topping the charts in the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland & Norway; and going Top 10 virtually everywhere else.
It's much too late to find You think you've changed your mind You'd better change it back Or we will both be sorry
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 30, 2014 19:38:59 GMT 1
11 Pet Shop Boys And Dusty Springfield - What Have I Done To Deserve This? (1987)
Produced by Stephen Hague, and co-written with Allee "the theme from Friends" Willis it was taken from the synthpop duo's second album Actually; and became a huge international success peaking at #2 in both the UK & USA; as well as #1 in Ireland, #2 in Sweden, the Netherlands, #3 in Canada, #4 in Germany, Spain, Belgium, etc ... so giving the 1960s UK pop soul icon her first major international hit in nearly two decades.
Since you went away I've been hanging around I've been wondering why I'm feeling down You went away, it should make me feel better But I don't know, oh
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vastar iner
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Post by vastar iner on Mar 30, 2014 21:16:19 GMT 1
You won't get me saying anything against the ethereal Ms Fraser. The most unique voice (insofar as you can have gradations of uniqueness) in pop history, it swoops to the highest heavens and takes you with her. This Mortal Coil was basically 4AD's Ivo Watts-Russell's record-making attempts - he would pull in whomever he could find available to help with his attempts. Cocteau Twins had a track called "Ivo" in his honour.
Never understood why "Don't You Want Me" was kept so late as a single from Dare; that and "Open Your Heart" were to me the most immediate hit singles from it. Amazing to think that it was still a Christmas number one - it captured an audience way beyond the League's normal.
And I loved this treatment of it.
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 31, 2014 20:40:32 GMT 1
10 Ultravox - Vienna (1981)
This synthpop ballad was written by the British New Wave quartet fronted by Midge Ure. Ure: "We wanted to take the song and make it incredibly pompous in the middle, leaving it very sparse before and after, but finishing with a typically over-the top classical ending." It is of course famous for spending 4 consecutive weeks at #2 in the UK singles chart without ever getting to #1. Where it was kept off the UK #1 slot by John Lennon's "Woman" for a week, and then by Joe Dolce's terribly borderline xenophobic novelty hit, "Shaddap You Face", for a further 3 weeks. Of course it did sell more copies than either of these records and ranked as the 5th best selling UK single for 1981; and it also won "Single of the Year" at the 1981 BRIT Awards; as well as being voted Britain's favourite single to ever peak at #2 in the charts in a 2012 poll run by BBC Radio 2 and the Official Charts Company. Outside of the UK it topped the charts in Ireland, The Netherlands, & Belgium. Whilst its Third Man inspired video was directed by Russell Mulcahy (not the last time I'll be saying that on this countdown!).
The music is weaving Haunting notes, pizzicato strings The rhythm is calling Alone in the night as the daylight brings A cool empty silence
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 31, 2014 20:53:30 GMT 1
09 Adam & The Ants - Prince Charming (1981) Written by Marco Pirroni and the Ants, and co-produced by Chris Hughes; the title track of the band's third album spent 4 weeks at UK #1, thanks to the hugely entertaining "Cinderella" themed video featuring swashbuckling Adam Ant, in flamboyant Regency clothes, performing a much imitated arm-crossing dance. The Swindon born actress Diana Dors, in one of her last on-screen performances, appeared in the video as a Fairy Godmother. It became a sizeable hit in Europe and peaked at #4 in Australia. However, it was noted by the music press at the time that it had a similarity to a 1965 single by Rolf Harris called War Canoe. Indeed, in 2010 Rolf Harris on BBC Radio 5 Live's Danny Baker Show confirmed that a confidential out-of-court settlement had been reached, and he received a large sum of royalties as a result. Ridicule is nothing to be scared of Don't you ever, don't you ever Stop being dandy, showing me you're handsome
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Post by raliverpool on Mar 31, 2014 21:12:13 GMT 1
08 The Pogues feat Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale Of New York (1987)
This Irish folk ballad, written by Jem Finer and Shane MacGowan, featured on The Pogues' album If I Should Fall from Grace with God. The song was originally planned as a duet by Shane MacGowan and Pogues bassist Cait O'Riordan, but O'Riordan left the band in 1986 before the song was completed. The Pogues were at the time being produced by Kirsty MacColl's husband Steve Lillywhite, who asked his wife to provide a guide vocal of the female part for a demo version of the song. The Pogues liked MacColl's contribution so much that they asked her to sing the part on the actual recording. This call and response song by a bickering couple is regarded by many including myself as the Best Christmas Song ever. It peaked at UK #2 (but made #1 in Ireland) in the 1987 Xmas chart (behind The Pet Shop Boys' Always On My Mind) where MacGowan said: "We were beaten by two queens and a drum machine"; although MacColl was suitably more diplomatic later saying "I'm glad we beat that Stock Aitken & Waterman sh*te murdering Nat King Cole" about Rick Astley's hideous cover of "When I Fall In Love". Since the untimely death of Kirsty MacColl in 2000; and the advent of legal downloading this track has become an annual Top 20 hit re-peaking as high as Ireland & UK #3 in 2005.
You're a bum You're a punk You're an old slut on junk Lying there almost dead on a drip in that bed You scumbag, you maggot You cheap lousy faggot Happy Christmas your arse I pray God it's our last
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vastar iner
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Post by vastar iner on Mar 31, 2014 23:06:36 GMT 1
I think 1981 is my favourite year for music. All sorts of stuff was being thrown at the charts. And while I could live without the medley craze or The Tweets, it was perhaps because of the confused nature of the year that Ultravox and Adam & The Ants could emerge as stars. It's difficult at this remove to emphasize how important Adam Ant was at the time; all the girls at school fancied him and all the boys wanted to be him. Us against the world.
We really need a facebook campaign to rectify the godawful wrong done to "Vienna"...
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Post by thehitparade on Apr 1, 2014 20:59:03 GMT 1
Of course, posting that Ultravox bit last night robbed you of the opportunity to post the Joe Dolce song this morning!
Terrible as it is, I think calling the song "xenophobic" is a little harsh since he's clearly reflecting on his own experience in an immigrant family.
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Post by raliverpool on Apr 1, 2014 22:21:26 GMT 1
Of course, posting that Ultravox bit last night robbed you of the opportunity to post the Joe Dolce song this morning! Terrible as it is, I think calling the song "xenophobic" is a little harsh since he's clearly reflecting on his own experience in an immigrant family. Seriously, If I'd have been off work today, I'd have posted this up as my #7:
As for Shaddup Your Face, it is "of its time" in the same way as the UK's two most popular comedians were the "borderline racist" Jim Davidson; and the "borderline sexist pervert" Benny Hill.
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Post by raliverpool on Apr 1, 2014 22:31:38 GMT 1
07 Duran Duran - The Wild Boys (1984)
With hindsight this really was an incredibly brave musical and visual statement which hit the zenith (or tipping point) of over the top 1980s artistic pretentiousness mere months before Band Aid effectively brought that outlandish behaviour to an end. In 2013 when he did a 2 hour show on Radio 6 Music Nile Rodgers made no apologies about including the 12 inch video mix as his finest production. Simon Le Bon wrote the lyrics based on William S. Burroughs surreal and sexual 1971 novel The Wild Boys: A Book Of The Dead, with the band composing the suitably harsh sounding music. The very famous video was directed by Russell Mulcahy on the "007 Stage" at Pinewood Studios with a metal pyramid and a windmill over a deep enclosed pool, and called for a lifelike robotic face, dozens of elaborate costumes, prosthetics, and makeup effects, and then-cutting-edge computer graphics. The choreography of dance routines was undertaken by the West End's finest Arlene Phillips, including intricate stunts and fire effects added to the cost resulting in the most expensive pop video ever made (at that time). The track became a massive worldwide hit going Top 10 virtually everywhere, although it only topped the charts in Germany & Italy. In the USA it spent 6 weeks at #2 behind Hall & Oates' Out Of Touch and then was leapfrogged by Madonna's Like A Virgin; it also made #2 in the UK, Canada, South Africa, Ireland, Austria, Portugal, & Switzerland.
You got sirens for a welcome There's bloodstain for your pain And your telephone been ringing While you're dancing in the rain
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Post by raliverpool on Apr 1, 2014 22:45:31 GMT 1
06 David Bowie - Ashes To Ashes (1980)
Taken from the Tony Visconti co-produced album Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) album, this was the first single culled from it peaking at UK #1; #3 Australia & Norway, #4 in Ireland, Top 10 in Germany, New Zealand, Austria & Sweden, etc. However it failed to reach the USA Top 100. As well as its musical eerie New Wave qualities, it is noted for its innovative video, directed by Bowie and David Mallet which at the time (costing £250K) was the most expensive ever made, and featured the Blitz Kids forerunners of the New Romantic movement including Visage's Steve Strange. The lyrics revisit Bowie's Major Tom character from 1969's "Space Oddity. As we now know this album represented the end of Bowie's truly seminal artistically great years, before he moved towards the middle ground and his "Phil Collins years" before the creative rebirth at the end of the 1980s with the Tin Machine project.
I never done good things I never done bad things I never did anything out of the blue, woh-o-oh Want an axe to break the ice Want to come down right now
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Post by raliverpool on Apr 1, 2014 23:04:38 GMT 1
I can tell you my plan is to post:
#4-5 tomorrow #2-3 Thursday #1 on Friday
Also, Ashes To Ashes is my highest ranked UK #1 hit of the decade; there are no American acts left; one of the tracks was the last that act ever recorded; one of the tracks had its instrumental bed used by the BBC to cover a particular sport; one of the songs was a hit again this century; one of the songs has a chapter in an Irvine Welsh's novel named after it; and one of the songs has an almost Twilight Zone-esque story with regards coincidences and its composition towards a famous unsolved mystery.
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vastar iner
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Post by vastar iner on Apr 1, 2014 23:15:42 GMT 1
Wasn't so keen on "Wild Boys", seemed to be trying too hard in every respect. But humankind can be proud of "Ashes To Ashes". The single that best sums up the eighties, even though it came out at the start of it - probably because the mainstream after about 1984 has added very little to the store of human achievement.
Won't try to think about what might be in the top five, to avoid spoiling the surprise.
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