REMEMBER WHEN - 8th December 1979

1979
Week 49
WEEK ENDING 8th DECEMBER 1979

TOP 40 SINGLES

No.	LW
1	5	Police	Walking On The Moon
2	26	Pink Floyd	Another Brick In The Wall
3	3	Donna Summer & Barbra Streisand	No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)
4	1	Dr. Hook	When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman
5	12	Gibson Brothers	Que Sera Mi Vida
6	22	Tourists	I Only Want To Be With You
7	2	Queen	Crazy Little Thing Called Love
8	6	Gary Numan	Complex
9	8	E.L.O.	Confusion/Last Train To London
10	7	Madness	One Step Beyond
11	4	Commodores	Still
12	38	Sugarhill Gang	Rappers Delight
13	9	Jam	Eton Rifles
14	23	Moody Blues	Nights In White Satin
15	13	Boomtown Rats	Diamond Smiles
16	21	Blondie	Union City Blue
17	14	Isley Brothers	It's A Disco Night (Rock Don't Stop)
18	11	Kool And The Gang	Ladies Night
19	15	Ramblers	The Sparrow
20	10	B.A. Robertson	Knocked It Off
21	18	Matchbox	Rockabilly Rebel
22	25	Michael Jackson	Off The Wall
23	20	Herb Alpert	Rise
24	24	Thin Lizzy	Sarah
25	33	Dynasty	I Don't Want To Be A Freak
26	31	Three Degrees	My Simple Heart
27	16	Lena Martell	One Day At A Time
28	32	Skids	Working For The Yankee Dollar
29	34	Rose Royce	Is It Love You're After
30	36	Status Quo	Living On An Island
31	NEW	Paul McCartney	Wonderful Christmas Time
32	17	Specials	Message To You Rudy
33	NEW	Pretenders	Brass In Pocket
34	19	Abba	Gimme Gimme Gimme
35	NEW	Sheila B. Devotion	Spacer
36	NEW	UK Subs	She's Not There / Kicks EP
37	NEW	Lowrell	Mellow Mellow Right On
38	30	Dan-I	Monkey Chop
39	27	Suzi Quatro	She's In Love With You
40	NEW	Diana Ross	It's My House

Police

Walking On The Moon

A little daft really wasn't it ?
"Giant steps are what you take, walking on the moon,
I hope my legs don't break, walking on the moon"
Somehow, they got away with it and spent a week at number one. The B side "Visions Of The Night" wasn't bad though.

Pink Floyd

Another Brick In The Wall

This five week number one single was the last number one of the seventies and the first of the eighties. Quite an unusual single to be the Christmas number one considering the type of singles that usually achieve the honour. It had been Pink Floyd's first single release in the UK for 11 years, and their first hit single for 12 years. They weren't eager to follow it either, as they didn't release their next single until August 1982.

Donna Summer & Barbra Streisand

No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)

Put two talented women together and this is what you get. Because of them not being signed to the same record company, the seven inch single was released on Donna's label 'Casablanca' and backed with Donna's "Lucky". While the Twelve inch was released on Barbra's 'CBS' with her "Wet" on the B Side. I thought this was quite strange considering that Donna's songs were more suitable for twelve inch.
Whatever label it was on, this 12 inch was a classic. It began just as it's seven inch cousin did, it built up, seemed as though it would subside a little, then just carried on. The "It's raining" bit came on again but in time with the faster beat. At times it seemed like a duel between the two as to who could hold a note the longest. Absolutely brilliant. Two weeks at number three.

Dr. Hook

When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman

This single by Dr. Hook had been around for about six months before finally becoming a hit over here. I remember hearing it every week on Paul Gambaccini's US chart show, and wondering why it had done nothing here. It finally got released and hit the top for a three week stay making it the band's biggest ever hit. It also launched the bands most successful spell in the UK.

Gibson Brothers

Que Sera Mi Vida

An extremely catchy single that quickly reached a peak of number five to become their biggest ever hit. I remember hearing this a couple of times in the last few hours of the '70s.

Tourists

I Only Want To Be With You

This was the first top ten hit to feature the talents of 'Annie Lennox' and 'Dave Stewart'. Just like the two previous hit versions by 'Dusty Springfield' & 'Bay City Rollers', this single had peaked at number four. A later cover by 'Samantha Fox' in 1989 didn't keep up the success though, and peaked at number 16.

Queen

Crazy Little Thing Called Love

This was Queen's first top five hit for two years, and the fourth of six singles by Queen to peak at number two. It was a slight change of style for the band with a song that wouldn't have seemed out of place in the '50s. It was a good single but all the same, I'm glad that it wasn't a sign of things to come. A nice coincidence is that I saw Brian May at the Nottingham Royal Concert Hall the night before I updated this commentary in 1998, and got more than I bargained for. Being such a big Queen fan, I was terrified of being disappointed with Brian out on his own. But I had no need to worry at all, he was ten times better than I expected. Not only did he perform a great selection from the Queen back catalogue, some of his solo stuff, a tribute to Cozy Powell (including the playing of "Dance With The Devil" as he came out on stage), but he's still one of the greatest guitarists in the world.

Gary Numan

Complex

An extremely depressing song by Gary Numan had no chance of giving him a hat trick of number ones. His swiftly gathered fan base pushed it to number six in it's second chart week, but six weeks was all it spent in the top 40.

E.L.O.

Confusion/Last Train To London

A swift follow up to their biggest hit to date ("Don't Bring Me Down") was this double A Side. "Confusion" was typical E.L.O. in the same manner as "Evil Woman", while "Last Train to London" was E.L.O. in "Sweet Talking Woman" mode. Almost the best value E.L.O. single ever (the honour of best value belongs to the 1978 E.P), but considering how big the album 'Discovery' was, it's something of a surprise that a single containing two tracks from that album went to number eight.

Madness

One Step Beyond

The second hit for Madness was their first on the Stiff label (the first was a one off on Two Tone). The video for this was our first glimpse of them living up to their name. Their first single "The Prince" had been a tribute to their Ska idol 'Prince Buster', while this was one of their favourite Prince Buster compositions. It gave them a top ten hit peaking at number seven.

Commodores

Still

I'm sure that even if you've never heard this, you'll still know what it sounds like. Another American number one, and a number four hit over here. This was almost the last hit for the Commodores while Lionel Richie was in the line up ("Wonderland" later reached number 40), and the name of the 'Commodores' didn't appear in the top ten again until 1985.

Sugarhill Gang

Rappers Delight

Back in the early days of rap I was a big fan and in the minority. In fact I liked all this stuff until the latter part of the eighties when they decided to just start shouting unintelligible lyrics and throw in a few "Everybody In The House"s and "Put Your Hands In The Air Like You Just Don't Care"s (and start shooting each other of course). "Rappers Delight" is credited as being the first Rap hit in the UK (though there had been a few singles that weren't far away from rap in the past, including the recent "Reasons To Be Cheerful Pt. 3" by Ian Dury), and had shot quickly up the chart to a number three peak.
This genre has never been far away from controversy, and there was a problem back then too. This single had used the bass line from "Good Times" by 'Chic', and the Chic organization were not too pleased about it. Eventually a compromise was reached and the label credited Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards as writers, with no mention of Sylvia Robinson who'd written the rap. The label also clearly stated "Based on the song Good Times by Chic". As well as the regular 7 inch single with 3 minute and 6 minute versions, a 12 inch was released with a mammoth 15 minute version. That version is so good that I still listen to it in it's entirety very often.

Jam

Eton Rifles

This was the ninth hit single for the Jam, and in it's second chart week was their first top ten entry. It went on to reach number three and set the stage for the Jam to become the first act to enter the chart at number one for over six years the following March. It has been re-issued twice since then, but failed to make the top 40 again on both occasions.

Moody Blues

Nights In White Satin

Another attempt by the Moody Blues to capture the Christmas number one spot with this song. In 1967 they were too late and didn't break into the top 40 until the first chart of the following year, climbing slowly to a number 19 peak in February.
The 1972 release charted in good time in the first chart of December, and reached a number nine peak in the first chart of 1973.
This time it entered the chart in the last week of November and spent 2 weeks at number 14 just before Christmas.

Boomtown Rats

Diamond Smiles

I like this a lot, just as much as "I Don't Like Mondays". It's entry position of number 35 seemed strangely low, as after all, it was the follow up to a single that spent four weeks on top. Even odder is the fact that it climbed no higher than number 13.
Many forget that the Boomtown Rats embraced the medium of video before many others that are credited with being amongst the first. After the rather basic effort for "Rat Trap", they had put a considerable amount of effort into the one for "Mondays", enough to make it one that stuck in the mind after seeing it just once. And now, they had taken it one step further. This one actually had a story to it that went with the song.
At the time, these 'promos' (as they were then called) were just something that the accompanied the occasional single. But within three years, everyone seemed to be doing them. As predictable as ever, it became trendy to knock the medium. The most commo gripe was that the videos took something away from the song, they didn't let a person make their own mind up as to what the song was about. This was of course complete rubbish. Music is entertainment, anything that adds to the entertainment can only be good. Besides, if you don't like the video, you can always look away.

Blondie

Union City Blue

This is the Blondie single that almost everyone seems to rate highly, but didn't go out and buy. This peaked lower than any of their previous seven singles (which included two number ones and a number two from earlier in 1979) and only got to number 13.
I've often heard it said on TV and Radio and read in books that this was from Debbie Harry's film 'Union City', but it wasn't.

Isley Brothers

It's A Disco Night (Rock Don't Stop)

The Isleys had done all that "Twist And Shout" stuff, then the motow sound stuff. They then left Motown and brought out the best singles of their long career through the Seventies. Now right at the end of the decade, they threw themselves head first into disco music for this single. This wasn't always a wise move, but hey, this was the Isley Brothers, it worked like a charm. Those vocals could make a Bob Dylan song sound cheerful. If I remember correctly it topped the disco chart, though it had to settle for number 14 in the national chart.

Kool And The Gang

Ladies Night

After many years of trying, Kool And The Gang had finally entered the top 40 with this track. They eventually stopped climbing when they reached number nine and then had a further 17 hits up to 1986. Most copies of this single featured a longer version of the A side on the flip, but mine featured a song called "Too Hot" which was released as their next single. Both songs were later sampled by acts unfit to be named in the same paragraph as Kool And The Gang.

Ramblers

The Sparrow

A little early for the silly season, but it was still around at Christmas anyway. It got as high as number 11 during it's 11 week run and thankfully, this school choir didn't bother us again.

B.A.Robertson

Knocked It Off

A very different kind of song from B.A. to follow up the huge hit he'd enjoyed with "Bang Bang". It was another tongue in cheek song, but I think that the humour probably washed over most people. To be fair, it wasn't very good really. It somehow got to number eight and spent just five weeks in the top 40.

Matchbox

Rockabilly Rebel

I thought Showaddywaddy were getting annoying, but they did nothing as bad as this. It was the first of five hits for Matchbox and easily the most tiresome (they did actually get a little better during the course of 1980). This peaked at number 18.

Michael Jackson

Off The Wall

For some reason that I can't fathom out, this reminds me of New Years Eve from that year. This is strange, because on New Years Eve 1979, Radio One came on air at 6:00am with the 100th best selling single of the decade ("See My Baby Jive" by Wizzard), and for the remainder of the day counted down the remainder of the top 100 selling singles as well as the top 100 albums of the decade.
So, the only way that I could have heard this song that day, was if I had heard it at the New Years Eve disco in the Wynstay Arms. But I don't thnk I did.
It was the title track and second single release from Michael's big solo comeback album. Not as 'disco' as "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough", but it did seem to be a much more interesting song. It peaked at number seven.

Herb Alpert

Rise

This was a real turn up for the books. Herb was back in the chart after ten years away, and it became his biggest hit since "This Guy's In Love With You" reached number three in 1968. "Rise" reached number 13 and became an American number one. The follow up "Rotation" was quite good too, but failed to make any impact on the top 40, so Herb had to wait until 1987 for his next hit.

Thin Lizzy

Sarah

Phil Lynot said that he wrote this song about his daughter. It's quite strange that I should be typing this at this very time on 4th November 2000. The due date for our daughter to be born is just seven days away, and Sarah was a name that we strongly considered before finally deciding on Shania (NO, it isn't the Kylie or Britney syndrome).
This was unlike any single we'd heard by Thin Lizzy previously. Gone were the rocking guitars and drums. This was a gentle song that showed Lizzy could be as mellow as the next band. A very good effort that unfortunately got no higher than number 24.
A funny story about this song concerns my wife's first husband, a woman beating bastard called Christopher Poismans from Mansfield. He made out that he'd composed a poem for his daughter Rachel (from his relationship with his previous victim). A few months after we got together, she found this poem and showed it to me. When I saw it, I burst into laughter. It was "Sarah" with "Rachel" inserted into the appropiate places, what a tosser !

Dynasty

I Don't Want Too Be A Freak

In much the same vein as the Al Hudson single this was a song that sounded really good in a disco, but didn't quite have the same impact at home. Many obviously disagreed with me as it reached number 20 during it's six weeks in the top 40, and spent 13 weeks in the top 75.

Three Degrees

My Simple Heart

A number nine hit, this was the last single that the Three Degrees ever placed on the chart. It was their tenth hit in six years, but it sounds very much as though they are singing "Bicycle Part" and not "My Simple Heart".

Lena Martell

One Day At A Time

Three weeks at number one for Lena with this Kris Kristofferson song. Lena had been around for a number of years without ever entering the chart before now, and has been around since then without having any further hits. A true one hit wonder our Lena. Lena must be respected as a decent singer and she sure deserved at least one big hit in her life (just a pity that it was this one).

Skids

Working for The Yankee Dollar

The Fourth hit inside a year for the Skids, and the last one to reach the top twenty. It was another single with very slow chart movements as follows, 34-32-28-27-24-24-23-21-20-28. Lead vocalist Richard Jobson is now better known for being a movie critic on Sky TV and for presenting shows on VH1.

Rose Royce

Is It Love You're After

This is the one with 'that intro', the one that was sampled, ripped off, whatever by S Express eight years later. This was the seventh hit for the band and also the last (apart from a 1988 re-issue). It took eight weeks to reach number 13.

Status Quo

Living On An Island

A very strange choice of track to be given a single release considering their usual output. A much more gentle track that for some reason had penguins on the picture sleeve. It Reached number 16.

Paul McCartney

Wonderful Christmas Time

Even some die hard McCartney fans would dismiss this as seasonal rubbish. Not me though, I love Christmas singles and have a box full of them. Christmas songs always bring back memories of childhood Christmas's. Waking up some 30 minutes after my parents had gone to bed, waking up my brother and sister, sneaking downstairs with our Bolster (sp) pillowcases full of presents. Taking it in turns to open a present each, right down to the apple, orange and nuts at the bottom of the 'sack'. From 1973 onwards, any records received would be listened to and then the radio would be switched on for Ed Stewart's 'Junior Choice'. My Mum would eventually get up and cook breakfast (always a good one on Christmas day), while telling us to clear away the wrapping paper. My Dad would then get up with the most enormous hangover. The TV would then be switched on and would remain on for most of the day. That massive meal called Christmas Dinner would be eaten at around One O'Clock (the time northerners call Dinner time), and eaten just in time for Christmas Day Top Of The Pops. This was of course the highlight of Christmas and one of the most watched TV shows of the whole year. All of the year's number ones would be featured between this show and part two which would sometimes be broadcast on Boxing Day, and other times on New Years Day. Some number two hits would occasionally feature on these shows too.
Another massive meal would follow at tea time (5-6ish), it's amazing that I didn't grow up as big as Barry White. Soon afterwards, both BBC 1 and ITV would have a programme called something like "Christmas Night With the Stars". These shows would have specially recorded 5 minute versions of the most popular programmes from the past year. This would be followed by something like "A Val Doonican Christmas" or something similar on on ITV, while BBC would have Morecambe And Wise. The "Mike Yarwood Show" would follow later, but by then I'd be fast asleep in bed. But it didn't end there, I loved the whole thing right through, and thought it so unfair if I had to go back to school on the 11th day of Christmas.
Yes, Paul McCartney knew what he was singing about, and don't you just hate people who try and put a dampner on it by saying things like "I'll be glad when it's over" ?
Paul hit number six.

Specials / Rico

A Message To You Rudy / Nite Klub

This double A Side was the fourth hit from 'Two Tone'. This single was at it's number ten peak just three weeks into it's chart run, and spent just six weeks inside the top 40. But, it spent a whopping 14 weeks inside the top 75.
In 2000, the song was used in a very annoying commercial for a supermarket chain.

Pretenders

Brass In Pocket

The two previous singles by the Pretenders (Stop Your Sobbing & Kid) had peaked at numbers 34 & 33. When this single climbed just three places from 33 to 30 in the middle of December, it looked as though it wasn't going to fare much better. But it then amazingly climbed 20 places to number ten, before kicking off the New Year by climbing to five, to three and then finally to number one. As was the case with the first five number ones of 1980 (and with a further nine of that year's number ones), it stayed on top for two weeks. It then quickly dropped down the chart and it's last week on the chart was at number 19.

Abba

Gimme Gimme Gimme

Abba were in disco territory again with one of their few singles that I rate highly. Were it not for the release of their second Greatest Hits album this very month, this would probably have been their eighth number one single, instead of stalling at number three. It also included one of their best B.sides "The King Has Lost His Crown".

Sheila B Devotion

Spacer

Two years on from the disco cover of "Singing In The Rain", the beautiful Sheila was back with a more polished sound courtesy of the 'Chic' organization. This single was a very slow climber and took nine weeks to reach it's peak of number 18, take a look at it's chart run, 35-37-33-33-33-28-22-20-18-19-30.

UK Subs

She's Not There / Kicks EP

A frantic version of the song that the Zombies had taken to number 12 in 1964, and Santana one place higher in 1977. This cover was ok as long as you didn't hear it too often, it peaked at number 36.

Lowrell

Mellow Mellow Right On

Quite a smooth soulful song that I expected to do much better than the 37 peak it attained. K.Tel records obviously thought so too, as they included it on their then new release "Video Stars".

Dan-I

Monkey Chop

If I remember correctly, this was a very boring reggae-ish tune that I couldn't wait to see the back of. It spent two weeks at number 30 and only stayed in the top 40 for four weeks. He didn't chart again.

Suzi Quatro

She's In Love With You

Suzi's last major hit was this number 11 peaking single. Suzi's sound had got much softer since the rocking sound of the mid 70's, and this had enabled her to have a couple of late '70s hits. After this single she went back to her harder sound for a while, but never rose above number 34 again.

Diana Ross

It's My House

Rather weak track from the otherwise excellent "The Boss" album. In it's second chart week, Diana's version was overtaken by the reggae version of the song by 'Storm'. But that version didn't go higher than it's debut of number 36, while Diana took 7 weeks to make number 32.

These songs were in the top 50 this week, but failed to reach the top 40.

Shalamar

The Second Time Around

One of Shalamar's finest and one that throws up that question again - "How the hell wasn't this a hit ?"
Even though it only reached number 45, it remained in the top 75 for nine weeks. It also topped the disco chart.

Damned

I Just Can't Be Happy Today

The previous two singles "Love Song" and "Smash It Up" were ok, but this was a particularly horrible song. It reached number 46, and it would be over five years before they next made the top 40.

More next week including these new entries,
A nightmare that returned to haunt us 20 years later
A song about a North Wales city that wasn't
The return of Smokey's song, but with a different rhythm

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.

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Email: nige@innotts.co.uk