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Post by Panda on Jun 2, 2020 1:48:53 GMT 1
I'm currently celebrating my 40th year on the planet by being locked in my house and what better way to celebrate than with music? So I've decided to re-visit each year I've been alive in the form of a points chart for the year. I am aware other points charts exist in various places so I should state I'm not stealing anyone's work or ideas - this is actually something I used to do as far back as 1994, using paper, a pen and A LOT of Tipp-ex. I doubt any record of that work still exists unless it's in a box in my mam's garage, in which case, I'll leave it for the spiders.
Anyway, I'm straying off-topic. I've used a points system where singles earn points according to their position in the UK Singles Chart each week. A song gets 1 point for being at #40, up to 37 points for #4, then it's 40 points for #3, 45 points for #2 and 50 points for #1. This is the same system I used over 25 years ago. Using this system, I have compiled a top 40 chart for 1981. The plan is to do this for each year since then. Whether I still have the will to live once I get past the noughties is another matter but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. All information is from the Official Charts Company website, while I've also made use of Polyhex here and there to speed the process along a bit.
I will start counting down from 40 on Tuesday and also post, for comparison purposes, each song's position in the end-of-year sales chart (as posted on here by Robbie in 2008).
Any predictions for #1? Or the top 5?
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Post by Earl Purple on Jun 2, 2020 8:54:48 GMT 1
I'd be interested to know what the best points system to use is, i.e. get the average sales for each top 40 chart position and use that.
I've generally been using a A/(x+B) system for my own chart, with B=5 which is quite a high value. It leads to a smaller difference between the lower positions but there's the issue that you cut the chart off at the bottom position like the lower ones are not there at all.
I used to use a logarithmic scale previously.
Vienna by Ultravox didn't get to number one but did have a long run in the chart so I'd expect that to finish high and above both Woman and Shaddap You Face like it did in the real end of year chart.
Tainted Love had just 2 weeks at number one but we'll see how it ends up.
O Superman reached #2 but went in and out so fast it won't appear anywhere near the top songs of the year.
Stand And Deliver had the most weeks at #1 with 5 but no climb to the top and #5 on its sixth chart week. It was still the 2nd biggest seller of the year but in your points-based chart I'd expect it to be somewhat lower.
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Post by o on Jun 2, 2020 9:04:50 GMT 1
I'd hope Ghost Town would be up there, but no idea on it's chart run. Some OMD would be nice, but again, dont think they hung around for long enough?
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Good Old Days
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Sielos grožio niekas nepavogs, kol širdy jaunystė gros.
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Post by Good Old Days on Jun 2, 2020 10:10:43 GMT 1
Very good idea, chartruns (even for big hits) usually weren't very long in late 70s and 80s, so we can get some unpredictable results. For sample you can watch chartruns of biggest Blondie hits.
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Post by Whitneyfan on Jun 2, 2020 10:11:51 GMT 1
'Don't you want me' has to be a strong contender, although some of it's points will be carried over to 1982.
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Post by Panda on Jun 2, 2020 11:48:32 GMT 1
I'll start posting the top 40 soon and will also mention a few songs that didn't make it in.
One of those is 'Don't You Want Me'. Its late appearance meant it fell a few points short of the top 40 for 1981 and it won't pick up enough for 1982 either. However, its combined points across both years were more than the #1 on the 1981 list.
I may do a top 40 for the decade at some point (which would mean going back and doing 1980 but hey ho).
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Post by Earl Purple on Jun 2, 2020 12:25:27 GMT 1
If you did 1980 then "Crying" by Don McLean would possibly end up at the top because of its slow chart run.
However because there was no TOTP at the time it was number one (it did get on the show on its way up) sales in general were relatively low at that time and it wasn't that high in the chart of the year.
When I did points-based countdowns of the year, I would count only the charts within that year but would also calculate cross-over points in both directions and stated where a song would finish in the combination.
The start of 1981 had John Lennon not died and we'll assume "Woman" would not have got to #1.
Jona Lewie would be #1 the first week with Adam & The Ants #2 with "Antmusic". St Winifreds, which would have been on top for 3 weeks with Jona Lewie behind it, would fall to number 3.
Adam & The Ants would then get to #1 for 2 weeks, The Specials would be #2 behind it with "Do Nothing", then Phil Collins with "In The Air Tonight" (a massive leap up to that position). "Stop The Cavalry" falls from 1 to 3 on the week it drops from the top.
Phil Collins would take over at #1 and stay there 2 weeks with Adam & The Ants at #2, then Vienna by Ultravox
Ultravox would get one week at #1 with Shaddap You Face by Joe Dolce leaping to #2 that week (while Phil Collins falls to #3)
Joe Dolce would still get 3 weeks on top with Ultravox behind it.
Adam & The Ants would get another number one with "Kings Of The Wild Frontier" for one week with Joe Dolce behind it.
Then Shakin' Stevens would take the #1 a week earlier than it did with "This Ole House" and "Kids In America" by Kim Wilde would be number 2 that week as Adam & The Ants fall to #3.
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Post by suedehead on Jun 2, 2020 12:43:12 GMT 1
I'll start posting the top 40 soon and will also mention a few songs that didn't make it in. One of those is 'Don't You Want Me'. Its late appearance meant it fell a few points short of the top 40 for 1981 and it won't pick up enough for 1982 either. However, its combined points across both years were more than the #1 on the 1981 list. I may do a top 40 for the decade at some point (which would mean going back and doing 1980 but hey ho). Alternatively, assuming it is all on spreadsheets, you could do July-June lists as well which would allow for songs whose chart runs spanned two years.
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Post by Panda on Jun 2, 2020 12:57:43 GMT 1
I'll start posting the top 40 soon and will also mention a few songs that didn't make it in. One of those is 'Don't You Want Me'. Its late appearance meant it fell a few points short of the top 40 for 1981 and it won't pick up enough for 1982 either. However, its combined points across both years were more than the #1 on the 1981 list. I may do a top 40 for the decade at some point (which would mean going back and doing 1980 but hey ho). Alternatively, assuming it is all on spreadsheets, you could do July-June lists as well which would allow for songs whose chart runs spanned two years. I could but I don't want to.
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Post by Panda on Jun 2, 2020 14:20:24 GMT 1
So before I begin the countdown, here are some of the songs that missed out:
51. HUMAN LEAGUE - Don't You Want Me (226 points)
As previously mentioned, a monster hit at the end of the year, topping the chart at Christmas and remaining at no.1 into 1982. With just 5 weeks on the chart, its points total wasn't quite enough to reach the top 40, coming in at no.51, 16 points short of the top 40. When I eventually do a list for the decade, it will make a significant impression as its points across both years will be combined. The Christmas no.2 that year, Cliff Richard's "Daddy's Home" came in at 41, 3 points behind the no.40 song.
44. THE POLICE - Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (243 points)
Along with "Don't You Want Me", the only no.1 hit to miss the top 40 on this list.
64. TENPOLE TUDOR - Swords Of A Thousand Men (209 points)
I was only a few months old at the time but this seems such a random top 10 hit. Almost as random as Ed Tudor-Pole, as he was later known, taking over from RIchard O'Brien on The Crystal Maze. Incidentally, this song once came 2nd in a poll to decide which song Marske United should walk out to.
67. CLIFF RICHARD - Wired For Sound (203 points)
Included here purely because it has one of the worst videos of all time.
98. THE TEARDROP EXPLODES - Reward (170 points)
Probably my favourite top 10 hit of 1981. Another one that makes me stop and think "How was this such a big hit?" But it was. And it was a genuine hit, rather than the fanbase top 10 hits that were the norm in the 90s, gradually climbing up the chart and spending 2 weeks inside the top 10.
116 . LAURIE ANDERSON - O Superman (151 points)
The most surprising no.2 hit ever? Probably the longest, coming in at over 8 minutes. Championed by John Peel, it shot to no.2 from no.18 on its second week on the chart and then went as quickly as it came, spending just 5 weeks inside the top 40. Unsurprisingly it is the lowest no.2 hit on the list.
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Post by o on Jun 2, 2020 14:32:22 GMT 1
64. TENPOLE TUDOR - Swords Of A Thousand Men (209 points) Loved this as an 11 year old!
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Post by Earl Purple on Jun 2, 2020 15:08:17 GMT 1
I was expecting "Under Pressure" did worse than the Police but my count makes it just above 243 (248 to be precise) so it must have just scraped in.
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Post by Panda on Jun 2, 2020 15:33:12 GMT 1
Part 1 (40-36):
(position on end-of-year sales chart in brackets)
Chart runs are for 1981 only.
40(40) QUEEN & DAVID BOWIE - Under Pressure (248 points) Top 40 run: 8-1-1-2-8-16-35-35
We start with a classic that saw two legendary British acts work together to produce a no.1 hit, though while it spent 2 weeks at no.1, it wasn't the monster hit some might remember it as. In terms of points, it was matched by 'Flash' which only peaked at no.10 but racked up a score of 250 across the winter of 1980/81.
39(38) PHIL COLLINS - In The Air Tonight (249 points) Top 40 run: 36-4-3-2-4-5-12-21
Another enduring classic whose score is hurt by steep rises and falls at either end of its chart life. Collins would go on to have solo no.1s but this was his finest moment as a solo artist, thanks in part to arguably the most famous drum break of all time.
38(47) CHAMPAIGN - How 'Bout Us (250 points) Top 40 run: 28-11-6-6-5-7-10-18-28
One of those songs everyone knows but might not be aware of who or what it was. This was their only UK hit though they made several appearances on the US R&B chart during the early 80s.
37(51) LANDSCAPE - Einstein A Go-Go (253 points) Top 40 run: 38-21-11-8-5-5-6-9-20-34
An early synth pop hit that would later find a new audience when it was used on a TV ad (something to do with energy efficiency I think). The follow-up "Norman Bates" reached no.40 but they were the bands only hits. Band member Andy Pask would later go on to write the theme tune for The Bill.
36(49) TOYAH - Four From Toyah EP (255 points) Top 40 run: 26-16-11-8-4-6-8-16-27-33
"Whoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo?"
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Post by Panda on Jun 2, 2020 15:34:36 GMT 1
I appreciate all the comments and feedback and welcome any questions but if you're sad enough to go and count the totals yourself, please don't post any spoilers.
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Post by Panda on Jun 2, 2020 16:29:54 GMT 1
Part 2 (35-31):
35(43) STEVIE WONDER - Happy Birthday (259 points) Top 40 run: 9-4-2-3-7-11-19-29-34
A slightly baffling hit (in the sense of who would want to listen to it unless it was the birthday of someone they know, or their own) from someone who produced much better work during a stellar career. There was a restaurant in Middlesbrough where the waiters would bring sparklers to your table if it was your birthday and blast this song (or occasionally, Paul McCartney's "Birthday") over the speakers so everyone turned and looked.
34(39) ODYSSEY - Going Back To My Roots (265 points) Top 40 run: 23-8-6-5-4-5-9-17-27
Another top 10 hit for a band that was pretty consistent around that time. The song would also be a top 10 hit at the end of the decade for FPI Project.
33(14) ALTERED IMAGES - Happy Birthday (265 points) Top 40 run: 28-16-5-2-2-2-11-16-40
The song that gave the world Clare Grogan (though Gregory's Girl was out around the same time). This was a huge hit in the second half of the year but they were never able to repeat that success and Grogan would ultimately enjoy more success as an actress rather than a singer.
32(34) HUMAN LEAGUE - Love Action (I Believe In Love) (272 points) Top 40 run: 29-7-3-6-3-6-10-15-29-35-40
The first of many top 10 hits for the Human League, who would be one of the biggest acts in the country by the end of the year. Phil Oakey's vocals would later be sampled by Utah Saints for their top 10 hit "Believe In Me".
31(53) JACKSONS - Can You Feel It? (274 points) Top 40 run: 34-31-28-26-23-11-8-7-6-8-11-27-39
Another song that would later be sampled on another big hit, this time by The Tamperer. While they would have a smaller top 10 hit with "Walk Right Now" later in the year, this was really the Jacksons' collective last hurrah as a chart act and Michael was already on his way to bigger and better things. I resisted the urge to deduct points for the annoying sound effects in the video, which pretty much drown out the song.
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Post by suedehead on Jun 2, 2020 17:08:21 GMT 1
Alternatively, assuming it is all on spreadsheets, you could do July-June lists as well which would allow for songs whose chart runs spanned two years. I could but I don't want to. Fair enough! Glad to see O Superman get a mention even though it fell some way short of the top 40. I remember getting very excited when it made it to number two!
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Post by Panda on Jun 2, 2020 18:11:43 GMT 1
I'd hope Ghost Town would be up there, but no idea on it's chart run. Some OMD would be nice, but again, dont think they hung around for long enough? "Souvenir" was at 43, just 3 points behind "Under Pressure". "Joan Of Arc" came in at 68 with 203 points.
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Good Old Days
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Post by Good Old Days on Jun 2, 2020 18:12:12 GMT 1
My favourite top 10 singles from 1981 year : Bucks Fizz - The Land Of Make Believe (UK # 1) Aneka - Japanese Boy (UK # 1) Bucks Fizz - Making Your Mind Up (UK # 1) Kim Wilde - Chequered Love (UK # 4) Kate Robbins - More Than In Love (UK # 2) Altered Images - Happy Birthday (UK # 2) Altered Images - I Could Be Happy (UK # 7) Elaine Paige - Memory (UK # 6) ABBA - One Of Us (UK # 3) Kim Wilde - Kids In America (UK # 2)
Who blocked "Happy Birthday" from # 1 ?
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Post by Panda on Jun 2, 2020 18:23:48 GMT 1
Who blocked "Happy Birthday" from # 1 ? Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin for 2 weeks, then The Police for one week.
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Post by Panda on Jun 2, 2020 19:01:51 GMT 1
Part 3 (30-26):
30(37) STEVIE WONDER - Lately (278 points) Top 40 run: 27-18-6-4-3-3-5-10-25-35
A second appearance for Mr. Wonder and far less gimmicky than his previous one. His next solo top 10 after this year was the absolutely massive "I Just Called To Say I Love You".
29(32) ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA - Hold On Tight (284 points) Top 40 run: 40-19-9-6-5-4-5-7-14-20-38
Their last top 10 hit and sounding very much like a band who'd already peaked.
28(26) ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA - Hooked On Classics (284 points) Top 40 run: 33-7-3-2-2-3-5-15-31
Part of a trend for medley singles, this featured bits of famous classical works performed by the orchestra, with a generic, monotonous beat laid over the top, which makes it sound very cheap and nasty. No doubt, it introduced this kind of music to a new audience but it could've been so much better. Effectively, the classical Jive Bunny.
27(24) ANEKA - Japanese Boy (284 points) Top 40 run: 19-4-1-2-3-6-13-21-34
Our second no.1 single on the list. Would this get released today? Not a chance. But it has a certain innocence about it. Aneka was actually Mary Sandeman from Edinburgh. This was her only UK top 40 hit, with the follow-up "Little Lady" peaking at no.50. She had further hits in Europe but later reverted to performing traditional Scottish folk music under her own name.
26(31) COAST TO COAST - (Do) The Hucklebuck (287 points) Top 40 run: 39-14-8-7-5-5-7-9-17-22-31
A much-covered early rock 'n' roll tune (the original was an instrumental) though this was the only version to ever chart in the UK. It spent 6 weeks inside the top 10, peaking at 5. Had it been released a month or two later, when Shakin' Stevens' popularity had exploded, it could've become huge. The follow-up, a cover of "Let's Jump The Broomstick", reached the top 30 later in the year.
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