REMEMBER WHEN - 9th December 1978

No.	LW
1	7	Boney M	Mary's Boy Child
2	1	Rod Stewart	Do You Think I'm Sexy
3	14	Bee Gees	Too Much Heaven
4	19	Barron Knights	A Taste Of Aggro
5	2	Boomtown Rats	Rat Trap
6	9	Sarah Brightman & Hot Gossip	I Lost My Heart To A Starship Trooper
7	5	Blondie	Hanging On The Telephone
8	18	Chic	Le Freak
9	11	Heatwave	Always And Forever / Mind Blowing Decisions
10	3	Olivia Newton John	Hopelessly Devoted To You
11	4	Cars	My Best Friend's Girl
12	25	Village People	YMCA
13	12	Elkie Brooks	Don't Cry Out Loud
14	6	Showaddywaddy	Pretty Little Angel Eyes
15	8	Dan Hartman	Instant Replay
16	10	Frankie Miller	Darlin'
17	26	Musique	In The Bush
18	17	Patrick Juvet	I Love America
19	20	Darts	Don't Let It Fade Away
20	16	Elton John	Part Time Love
21	13	Queen	Bicycle Race / Fat Bottomed Girls
22	22	X-Ray Spex	Germ Free Adolescence
23	37	John Travolta	Greaased Lightning
24	40	Racey	Lay Your Love On Me
25	30	Barbra & Neil	You Don't Bring Me Flowers
26	27	Dollar	Shooting Star
27	29	Clash	Tommy Gun
28	NEW	Leo Sayer	Raining In My Heart
29	24	Streetband	Toast/Hold On
30	15	John Travolta & Olivia Newton John	Summer Nights
31	32	Sylvester	Dance (Disco Heat)
32	NEW	Chaka Khan	I'm Every Woman
33	21	John Travolta	Sandy
34	NEW	Mankind	Dr. Who
35	28	Buzzcocks	Promises
36	NEW	Hot Chocolate	I'll Put You Together Again
37	38	Alicia Bridges	I Love The Nightlife
38	35	Dean Friedman	Lydia
39	36	Status Quo	Accident Prone
40	NEW	Father Abraham & The Smurfs	Christmas In Smurfland

There was no way on Earth that this wouldn't be the Christmas number one. It was released in November and entered the chart at number seven in the chart that was announced on Tuesday 28th November. Naturally, it then jumped up to number one for a four week stay. It wasn't unusual in those days for the Christmas number one to reach the top so early. In fact during my 'Golden Days' period (73-84), 1976 and 1980 were the only years in which the Christmas number one didn't make the top until Christmas week. And, it didn't happen at all between 1962 and 1972. This was also only the fifth time in chart history that a song had been taken to number one by two different acts, as Harry Belafonte had spent seven weeks at number one with it in 1957.

Rod has received a lot of criticism for this song. It has been said that Rod should not have gone disco, he sold out.
I know it's no "Maggie May", but I strongly disagree. On this, Rod took the piss out of both disco music and himself, and came up with a song that the public loved and sent to number one. It was taken from the album 'Blondes Have More Fun', his last great album for 13 years.

After what seemed like an eternity since the last single "Night Fever", the Bee Gees were back with a return to ballads. After taking a leap from 14 to 3, they surprisingly dropped to number five. They didn't just disappear though, as they climbed back to number four for a couple of weeks. It was also the fourth of six consecutive number ones in the States for them.

Another one of those parody singles from the Barron Knights, this one parodied, Rivers Of Babylon, The Smurf Song and Matchstalk Men And Matchstalk Cats And Dogs. It didn't do as well as any of the originals, but it spent two weeks at number three. The album from which it came (Night Gallery) contained many gems including My Will (I Will), Little White Bum (Little White Bull), and the follow up single Boozy Nights (Boogie Nights).

Some would say that this was about to become the first punk number one, but at the risk of re-opening an old (and pointless) debate on the newsgroups, I won't go down that road. Quite a shock number one really, not because of the quality of the song (it's one of my favourites from the 70's),but due to it being the third track to be pulled from the album 'Tonic For The Troops'. The previous two had reached number 12 (She's So Modern) and number six (Like Clockwork). All of a sudden the 'Rats' had become big news, and for a while (certainly during the following summer) were the most popular band in the land. Something that many will remember this for, is in the week that this knocked "Summer Nights" off the top, Bob tore up a photo of Travolta & Newton John at the beginning of the Rats' performance on Top Of The Pops. But no one would have guessed how much good lead singer 'Bob Geldof' would do for mankind just over six years later.

This was very different to the music we would be hearing from Sarah during the '80s & '90s. At this time Sarah was a pin up girl (well, I had a saucy poster of her on my wall anyway) and part of risqué dance troupe 'Hot Gossip'. They had made a name for themselves while appearing regularly on 'The Kenny Everett Video Show', an innovative show that was first broadcast on the day I started work (July 3rd 1978). I remember that because everyone was talking about the show the following day. Why they decided to record a single, I don't know, but they were rewarded with this number six hit. Soon afterwards Sarah split from the rest and recorded her own singles including "The Adventures Of The Love Crusader" and "Love In A UFO", which all failed to chart (though the former was included on a K Tel compilation album called 'Hi Energy'). The rest of Hot Gossip actually released an album of their own a few years later, an album that included their cover of the Human League's "Circus Of Death".

Blondie had become quite popular over the course of the year, this was the last one before they became 'really' popular. This didn't do too bad though and reached number five. I was quite confused about the opening line to this song for a while. It sounded to me like "I'm in the phone booth, I'm the one you call a whore", but I eventually realised that "It's the one across the hall".

A single that seemed to be around forever on both sides of the Atlantic (it actually hit the top three times in the States). Over here it peaked at number seven in the middle of December. But after spending the next four weeks between number 9 & 10, it then climbed back up to it's peak before dropping for the rest of it's 14 week run. Even then, it wouldn't fall out until the follow up was ready to chart in the last week of February 1979.

The fifth hit in under two years for Heatwave was their second and last top ten hit . It took six weeks to reach it's peak position of number nine, and hung on for a while longer to register 12 weeks on the chart. The superb "Mind Blowing Decisions" had been a great Summer hit and reached number 12 during it's original nine week run. A re-mixed version of that song appeared on the B.Side here. "Always And Forever" was taken to number 20 in 1995 when covered by 'Luther Vandross'.

I've always had some confusion in my mind about this one. I bought it (from Rabbit records) at the beginning of October, but it didn't chart until about 5 weeks later. Considering how popular Olivia was at that time, I don't understand why it didn't chart straight away (maybe it was withdrawn or something). Anyway, it spent two weeks at number two and was Olivia's biggest solo single.

Now this was very unusual. Listening to the chart countdown on a rainy Tuesday afternoon in November, a single by an unknown act went straight in at number ten. This was unheard of in those days, so what was so special about this ?
On first listen, Nothing at all. It's high debut was due to it being released as a picture disc. It wasn't the first picture disc ever, but was one of the first in modern times, certainly the first to grab the public's attention.
It still continued to climb after the limited editions had ran out, and peaked at number three. And after a few listens, it had grown on me to such an extent that I bought it myself (and later the album). But there is still no doubt that the picture disc gave it the initial sales surge.
Can you just imagine an unknown act entering the chart inside the top ten now ? *sarc*

This single had a three week stint at number two to close 1978. It then began 1979 with three weeks at number one. It was the first and biggest hit for the Village People and spent 13 weeks on the 40. A re-mixed version reached number 12 fifteen years later. It did get a little tiresome at the time, but it's a classic of the disco era.

The last of their run of seven consecutive top five hits, and also the last Showaddywaddy single to appear in the top ten. It was a cover of an old Curtis Lee single and peaked at number five. I worked with someone named Wayne who loved this song. I hated it, and thought Wayne was a dickhead. Although he did give me some amusement. Once he persuaded me to try and ride his moped, I crashed it into a fence, he didn't ask me again. He also told so many lies that we all called him Billy Liar behind his back. More on him later.

Another classic of the disco era. This was Dan's first and biggest hit, and spent three weeks at number eight. It stayed in the chart for twelve weeks, not falling out until his follow up single entered. Dan of course recorded the original of the 'Take That' hit "Relight My Fire", while 'Yell' had a number ten hit with their abysmal cover of "Instant Replay" in 1990.

'Frankie no longer had his 'Full House', and that seemed to be a good move for him, as this soared up the chart to give him a number six placing and a ten week chart residency. His follow up "When I'm Away From You" was quite good too, but stopped two places short of the 40. He didn't even get near the chart again until "Caledonia" peaked at number 45 in 1992.

Three weeks at number 16 for this single and it spent a total of ten weeks in the chart. Isn't it strange how a single that could only climb this high can still be remembered clearly over 20 years later, yet many top ten hits from just six months ago have already been forgotten ?
Musique had no further hits, but their "Keep On Jumpin'" became a top ten hit twice in 1996, courtesy of 'Todd Terry' and 'Lisa Marie Experience'.

In September, Patrick had been denied the big hit he deserved when "Got A Feeling" stalled at number 34. This time he got a number 12 hit with the help of a blue vinyl 13 minute 12 inch of this song. The B. side of the 12 inch featured another long track called "Where Is My Woman", while the 7 inch boasted "Got A Feeling" on the flip. Strangely, the B. Side of the original release of "Got A Feeling", a track called "Just Another Lonely Man" was released as his next single, with "Where Is My Woman" on the flip. This made "I Love America" the only track on his album that didn't get released on single twice within a matter of months. The song did get released as a single again though when 'Full Intention' covered/sampled it in 1996 and took it to number 32.

Queen were back with a new album and a double A sided single. "Fat Bottomed Girls" is a classic 'Queen Rocks' song, while 'Bicycle Race' is one of those strange songs that Queen came up with occasionally. The album 'Jazz' came with a poster depicting hundreds of naked women riding bicycles. The photo was taken from the video shoot for the song "Bicycle Race", although naturally the finished video had to be carefully edited in order to make it acceptable for TV use.

The biggest of the band's three hits had peaked at number 19 despite a restriction on Radio One airplay. The restriction was due to the brand name 'S.R.' being mentioned as a toothpaste. This was the band's last ever week in the top 40 as they never did get the success that looked inevitable. Even the brilliant 'Germ Free Adolescents' album could only reach number 30, but it's an album that is well worth tracking down on CD, especially as it now includes the earlier "Oh Bondage (Up Yours)" single.

The final hit from 'Grease' was also the worst performer in the chart. Two weeks at number eleven was the best it could manage before falling to 13, then 15 before vanishing altogether. Coincidentally, the same day that I bought this single it disappeared. I never did find out where it went, and bought it again for half price after it had fallen out of the chart.
Ooops-I admitted buying it not once, but twice. I've gone off it since if that will help my case.

This first hit for Racey spent three weeks at number three in January. It had what would become the distinctive 'Racey sound' (or do I mean all of their songs sounded the same ?). That same sound was evident on a track called "Kitty" that was featured on theri album "Smash And Grab". Toni Basil later picked up on the track, changed a few words and renamed it "Mickey". She had a massive worldwide hit with it in 1982 reaching number 2 in the UK, and aa cover of her version was taken to number 4 in the UK in 1999.

A kind of breakthrough hit for the Clash was this. They had already had four minor hits that had vanished from the chart as quickly as they had appeared, but this was the first to crack the top twenty. It spent three weeks at number twenty, before rising one more time to number 19. It totalled eight weeks in the chart and was taken from my favourite Clash album. The album "Give 'Em Enough Rope" just has the edge on their eponymous debut album for me. "London Calling" doesn't come near.

Leo's second single from the "Leo Sayer" album was a cover of a song that was originally on the B Side of Buddy Holly's 1959 number one "It Doesn't Matter Anymore". It was a simply brilliant cover and promised so much, but sadly got caught up in Christmas and could only reach number 21 during it's eight week run.

'Hold On' was the intended A Side of this single, but in truth it wasn't very good. Some DJ somewhere discovered 'Toast' and started playing it. In time Radio DJs everywhere were playing this ode to the joys of eating toasted bread, and it became a top 20 hit peaking at number 18. The drummer with Streetband was Vince Chaulk, who was once the drummer with Mr Big, the band who had a top 5 hit with "Romeo" in 1977. But there was a more famous person in this band, the lead vocalist was Paul Young. Over the following 12 months Streetband released a further four singles and two albums without success. Just before the end of the decade they split, so Paul and Bassist Mick Pearl formed the Q-Tips. The Q-Tips had a great reputation for their live shows but without commercial success. They split in the Summer of 1982 ad Paul decided to go solo. The rest is history.

The two biggest things in music during 1978 were two of the biggest films of all time. First of all it was 'Saturday Night Fever', and now 'Grease'. A couple of weeks after John & Olivia had ended their run of nine weeks at the top with "You're The One That I Want", a duo named 'Chris Blake & Honey Brown', decided to cash in by recording a cover of one of the other tracks from the soundtrack, namely "Summer Nights". It sank without trace. I was then very surprised when John annd Olivia's rendition of "Summer Nights" was also released as a single just a few weeks after that. But surprisingly, it became the second number one from the soundtrack, spending seven weeks on top. This brought the total weeks spent at number one this year by the duo of Travolta/Newton John to 16, and "Summer Nights" was the third best selling single of the year.

A lovely song from Hot Chocolate that was regularly heard at the end of the night in discos at that time. It peaked at number 13 in it's seventh chart week.
Speaking of Disco's, I went to my first Disco on licensed premises on Christmas Eve in 1978. It was at the British Legion in Ruabon. I remember that night so well, my favourite memory being at midnight when the DJ played "Merry Xmas Everybody" by Slade.

Another track that always seemed to be on the radio in December 1978. But in contrast to the Brecker Brothers hit, this one will be remembered by many, despite spending only four weeks in the top 40 and it's lowly peak of number 32. It's another of my favourite singles from 1978, and I just love the line "Maybe that'll make, huh, a man out of you".
But my most significant memory associated with this song is of freezing cold weather. From first of all maintaining shrub beds in the Acton Park area of Wrexham, to clearing snow from footpaths in the same area.
'I Love The Nightlife' was remixed in 1994 for it's inclusion in the very silly film 'Priscilla Queen Of The Desert', but it failed to chart.

Dean was following the brilliant top three single 'Lucky Stars' with another slice of outstanding songwriting. Unfortunately, 'Lydia' was unable to repeat the success and was his last ever hit to date. Dean attempted a comeback and released his best album to date 'Songs For Grown Ups' in the summer of 1998. Don't forget to check out his website at http://www.deanfriedman.com .

The second single release from the 'If You Can't Stand The Heat' album. It was unusually a very poor chart performance from one of my favourite Quo singles. Mention of this track prompts yet another memory associated with my work for Wrexham council's parks department. One day I decided to walk from Acton Park depot to the nearest chipshop at Borras Park. The quickest route was through the park and instead of walking around the lake, I opted to take a shortcut across the frozen water. There was no problem until I approached the far side, yes you've guessed it, I went through the ice up to my waist. Non deterred, I continued on my way and bought my fish cake and chips from what was one of the best chippies in the Wrexham area. Would you believe I did exactly the same thing on the return journey ?
........Yeh, you probably would, if I was daft enough to do it once !
(note to Americans----The chips I refer to are not the things that you call chips and we call crisps. Our chips are like your fries, but they are made from real potato, are thicker than fries, and do not taste like cardboard)

This was the third and last hit that Father Abraham had with the Smurfs and it reached number 19. After this, internal wrangling within the band led to Father Abraham leaving to go solo with no success at all. The Smurfs took some time off to rest for a while, and eventually came back 18 years later with two top ten hits.
Here's some food for thought:
The Smurfs made music for kids. They were good at what they did and kids loved them. Others thought that they were crap.
Led Zeppelin made music for rock fans. They were good at what they did and rock fans loved them. Others thought that they were crap.

This must have been one of the biggest radio hits of the year in the UK. It had blanket airplay on both Radios One and Two. Surprising then that it only got as high as number 43 despite it's eight weeks in the top 75. His follow up single "D-D-D- Dancin' " didn't chart at all, but his album "Made It Through The Rain" went into the top 20 the following summer. It was quite a good album (picked it up cheap) and the title track was taken into the chart by Barry Manilow. It's one of life's great mysteries that Gerard didn't make it as big as Barry or Neil Diamond.

More next week including these new entries,
A tune for November 5th
Three months late for a song by three elements
A record on top of a country

Disclaimer All comments concerning the quality of the songs in this and any other chart, are purely my opinion and not a statement of fact. I believe that we are all equal when it comes to deciding what makes a good song. I do not believe that good songs have to be serious or dull. I am of the opinion that if a single sells many copies, then many people like it, so it must be good whether I like it or not. Good music is everything YOU like, and it's also everything I like.