REMEMBER WHEN - 8TH MARCH 1980

1980
Week 10
WEEK ENDING 8TH MARCH 1980

TOP 40 SINGLES

TW	LW
1	1	Blondie	Atomic
2	9	Fern Kinney	Together We Are Beautiful
3	6	Marti Webb	Take That Look Off Your Face
4	5	Elvis Costello	I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down
5	3	Whispers	And The Beat Goes On
6	2	Kenny Rogers	Coward Of The County
7	4	Cliff Richard	Carrie
8	17	Peter Gabriel	Games Without Frontiers
9	7	Michael Jackson	Rock With You
10	22	Rainbow	All Night Long
11	8	Tourists	So Good To Be Back Home Again
12	19	Police	So Lonely
13	12	Shadows	Riders In The Sky
14	11	Ramones	Baby I Love You
15	25	Stiff Little Fingers	At The Edge
16	20	Beat	Hands Off She's Mine
17	10	Keith Michell	Captain Beaky
18	34	Vapors	Turning Japanese
19	40	Gibson Brothers	Cuba / Better Do It Salsa
20	16	Buggles	Living In The Plastic Age
21	13	Special A.K.A.	Too Much Too Young (E.P.)
22	14	Boomtown Rats	Someone's Looking At You
23	NEW	Liquid Gold	Dance Yourself Dizzy
24	21	Jefferson Starship	Jane
25	30	Captain And Tennille	Do That To Me One More Time
26	23	David Bowie	Alabama Song
27	15	Nolans	I'm In The Mood For Dancing
28	28	Dave Edmunds	Singing The Blues
29	29	AC/DC	Touch Too Much
30	NEW	Shakin Stevens	Hot Dog
31	NEW	Detroit Spinners	Working My Way Back To You-Forgive Me Girl
32	NEW	Brothers Johnson	Stomp
33	27	Selecter	Three Minute Hero
34	38	Iron Maiden	Running Free
35	NEW	Jon Pertwee	Worzel's Song
36	18	Jon And Vangelis	I Hear You Now
37	35	Donna Summer	On The Radio
38	NEW	Narada Michael Walden	Tonight I'm Alright
39	NEW	Martha And The Muffins	Echo Beach
40	NEW	Squeeze	Another Nail In My Heart

Blondie

Atomic

After the failure of "Union City Blue" to make the top ten, it came as something of a surprise when this entered the chart at number three. Naturally it then went to number one and spent two weeks there. On first listen to this track, I thought that it sounded like something the Shadows would have done (until Debbie began singing of course).
This was the fifth consecutive number one to reign for two weeks in 1980 (the first by Pink Floyd had also clocked up three weeks in '79). A further ten singles spent two weeks on top during 1980, and only three dropped after one week on top.

Fern Kinney

Together We Are Beautiful

Always reminded me of Janet Kay's "Silly Games" this one did, even though it was nothing like it really. It was a cover of a song that Steve Allan had taken to number 67 just over a year previous, but believe me, Fern's cover was much better. She spent a week at number one with it, but can be considered very unlucky to be deposed so soon by the first new entry at number one for over six years.

Marti Webb

Take That Look Off Your Face

I liked this a lot, it had a certain quality about it. It was from a musical titled "Tell Me On A Sunday", and I may be wrong about this, but I seem to recall it being a Television Musical rather than a stage show. It spent three weeks at number three.
Marti later blotted her copybook with me when she took her cover of Michael Jackson's "Ben" to number five in 1985, it wasn't very good.

Elvis Costello

I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down

This was the second of Elvis' three top ten hits, and this cover of a Sam & Dave song was easily his most 'poppy' sounding yet. It was originally meant to be released on 'Two Tone Records'. This situation came about because Elvis had been recording for 'Radar Records', but it had been closed down by it's parent company 'WEA'. Elvis did not want to sign to 'WEA' and felt so strongly about it that he said that he's rather not release any records at all. Elvis had recently produced the Specials' debut album, so Jerry Dammers offered to repay the favour by releasing an Elvis single on 'Two Tone'. It was about to be released when 'WEA' won an injunction which stopped the release (some copies got out and are worth a bit if you're daft enough to pay). It was eventually released on Elvis' own 'F-Beat' label and quickly went to number four. It's parent album 'Get Happy' contained twenty tracks and was, in my opinion, better than '79's 'Armed Forces' LP.

Whispers

And The Beat Goes On

Long before Will Smith was "Going To Miami", that tune was this classic disco single. The Whispers had been having hits on the other side of the Atlantic since 1970, and their cover of the Bread hit "Make It With You" had turned up on one of my compilation albums 'Disco Direction'. But as well as being their first single to rise above number 50 in the US (reached number 19), this was their first British hit. It spent a week at number two.

Kenny Rogers

Coward Of The County

A very worthy number one, and this highly listenable song spent two weeks there. It was Kenny's first major hit since his 1977 number one "Lucille", but he'd only have to wait 10 months for his next hit (his last solo).

Cliff Richard

Carrie

This was a great start to the decade for Cliff. This was the best song he'd done in ages and fully deserved it's number four peak. Trouble with this song is that 'Jeff Wayne's War Of The Worlds' pops into my head everytime I hear it - - - - When I reached their little brick house, Carrie and her father were gone - - - - know what I mean ?

Peter Gabriel

Games Without Frontiers

Very different and very good was my opinion of this single. It took a while, but finally reached number four. In turn this helped his third album to (titled 'Peter Gabriel', just as the previous two were) reach number one.
Am I the only person to think that when he sings the name "Lottie" on this, he sounds like 'Ken Dodd' ?

Michael Jackson

Rock With You

This was the one we were waiting for. The best track on the 'Off The Wall' album had already been to number one in the US, and it was finally getting it's UK release. But it was too late, many had already taped it off the radio or bought the album, so it peaked at number seven. Had this been the first single to be released from the album, I'm sure that it would have been number one (which would have meant that Buggles and Lena Martell would not have been number one the previous Autumn).

Rainbow

All Night Long

A second good single from what I think was the first heavy album I bought 'Down To Earth' (well, people called it heavy at the time). It had a slow start to it's chart run, but eventually peaked at number five.

Tourists

So Good To Be Back Home Again

I've always thought that the 'Tourists' reached a peak before they became commercially successful. Having said that, this was certainly a big improvement on their cover of "I Only Want To Be With You" (Why did they do that ?). It reached number six and was from 'Reality Effect' which was the second of three albums they released in a 16 month period.

Police

So Lonely

This had failed to chart when originally released in October 1978, but just like "Roxanne" & "Can't Stand Losing You" it had been re-issued. This time it went to number six and gave them an excuse to film a pointless video on a train in Japan.
Yes, I know about the Sue Lawley thing !

Shadows

Riders In The Sky

Nine months after the release of the second single from the 'String Of Hits' album, came this, the third single. It was the song you know as "Ghost Riders In The Sky" but naturally without the singing. It seemed to be around for much longer than it's seven charting weeks (during which it peaked at number 12). It was the Shadow's last ever top 40 hit.

Ramones

Baby I Love You

And now my Mum liked a Ramones single, surely that wasn't supposed to happen. But this was the only 'real' hit that they ever had. So, this Ramones in Beach Boys mode (and produced by Phil Spector) made number eight, and Joey looked ridiculous in those sunglasses.

Stiff Little Fingers

At The Edge

"Back when I was younger they were talking at me".
So growled Jake Burns at the beginning of this, Stiff Little Fingers' biggest hit, a number 15 peak. For some reason, two months later, a friend of mine (Tony Waters) thought it highly amusing when I walked into the pool room of the Duke Of Wellington just as Jake uttered those immortal words.
The B.Side featured a rotten live version of "White Christmas" and a live version of Johnny Preston's "Running Bear" that was at least worth a listen.

Beat

Hand's Off She's Mine

The second hit for the Beat, and the first to be released on their own 'Go Feet' label. It kind of sounds better now than it did then, it reached number nine.

Keith Michell

Captain Beaky

A well written childrens song I suppose, well actually, I think it was taken from a story book, and we have Noel Edmonds to thank for it's popularity, or maybe the people who actually bought it when it really comes down to it. No, I didn't buy it, I foud it extremely irritating. It wasn't Keith's first hit, he had reached number 30 with "I'll Give You The Earth" in 1971 But it was his biggest, it reached number five.

Vapors

Turning Japanese

This song is said to be about masturbation, but not too many people noticed at the time. Indeed the BBC obviously didn't notice as they played it to death. The Vapors had been very lucky in that they got their big break by supporting the Jam on tour. This single spent nine weeks in the top 40 and peaked at number three. A few more singles followed, including the excellent "Jimmie Jones", but they never made the top 40 again.

Gibson Brothers

Cuba / Better Do It Salsa

A re-release of their number 41 hit from a year previous coupled with a similar sounding track called "Better Do It Salsa". It wasn't as good as their recent two hits, that's probably why it wasn't a top 40 hit first time around. This time it peaked at number 12.

Buggles

Living In The Plastic Age

Now this WAS a great single, one that I thought was far better than "Video Killed The Radio Star". It surprisingly peaked at number 16 and only spent seven weeks in the 40. Pity they didn't perform this when I went to see 'Yes' later in the year, but at least Trevor Horn revealed to the audience that Kristen had shot J.R.

Special A.K.A.

Too Much Too Young

The third single from the original 'Two Tone' band surprisingly entered at number 15 and then leapt straight to number one the following week for a two week stay. It was a speeded up version of a track from their eponymous debut album, and caused quite a bit of controversy. Eventually, Radio One chose to play it but cut it just short of the last line ("Try wearing a cap").

Boomtown Rats

Someone's Looking At You

The third hit single from their third and (in my opinion) best album. This returned them to the top ten after missing out with the previous single ("Diamond Smiles"). It spent a week at number four.

Liquid Gold

Dance Yourself Dizzy

Liquid Gold peaked at two with "Dance Yourself Dizzy", the first of two top ten hits for them this year. They were very much towards the pop end of disco, and had been completely forgotten about 12 months later (despite some of their later singles being included on a few K.Tel compilations).

Jefferson Starship

Jane

Not only was this a great single, but it was a big surprise too. In the time that they had been known as 'Jefferson Airplane', they had released some great singles ("White Rabbit" & "Somebody To Love") that had failed to capture the imagination of the British public. Their albums didn't do much over here either. They became 'Jefferson Starship' in the mid 70s, but still UK success eluded them for the remainder of the decade. That wasn't too surprising though, Grace Slick had left in early 1976. Then came the 1979 recording sessions for the 'Freedom At Zero Point' album when Grace came into the studio and sang uncredited on some of the tracks. That was it, the album was their highest charting in the UK ever, Grace re-joined as a full time member, and they got this hit single too. It only reached number 21, but hell, that was better than a poke in the eye with a pointed stick.
They had no more hits after this until they were forced to drop the Jefferson by original member Paul Kantner, and became known as 'Starship' in 1985. They then had two further hits, one of which "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" gave them a number one. In the late '80s it got complicated. Grace left again, to join Jefferson Airplane. That's right, the classic line up from the late '60s reformed, while the other band continued using the name 'Starship'. In 1995 came 'Jefferson Starship (The Next Generation)' !

Captain And Tennille

Do That To Me One More Time

This was the hit that "You Never Done It Like That" should have been in 1978. But this was the only one of their singles that even came close to repeating the success they enjoyed in the States, it reached number seven.
It was ok, but sounded as if you had heard it before.

David Bowie

Alabama Song

I remember hearing this for the first time on Radio One's 'Round Table' and couldn't believe what I was hearing. It was a song from the '20s (or maybe '30s) that went on about the Moon of Alabama and the need to find a whisky bar. Unbelievable, even from Bowie. Still, I thought it was the best thing he'd done for five years. It peaked at number 23, and gave us hope that David was moving away from the stale sound of his previous four albums, and he did.
This single featured a Guitar only version of "Space Oddity" on the B Side.

Nolans

I'm In The Mood For Dancing

Such a promising start to the decade was complimented by the transformation of these sisters from 'Grandparents favourites' into chart stars. They would have seven top twenty hits over the next two years, but this was the biggest, and spent two weeks at number three. Were they to be around now, The Nolans would no doubt be scorned upon in much the same way as the Spice Girls, Steps and boy bands are. But that would be a pity as these girls are gifted with something that has sadly become less important as each year rolls by, They are very talented Singers !

Dave Edmunds

Singing The Blues

Quite a good cover of the Tommy Steele/Guy Mitchell number ones from 1957. It was Dave's last solo hit though and peaked at number 28.

AC/DC

Touch Too Much

This was only their second top 40 hit and only climbed as high as number 29. We didn't seem to like them very much while Bon Scott was handling the vocals. But during this single's run, Bon died after drinking too much. His replacement was Brian Johnson from 'Geordie', and the band went from strength to strength.

Shakin' Stevens

Hot Dog

If Shaky was going to be the decade's most successul act, he sure started at the right time. This was his first hit, but wasn't that big, it only reached number 24. His next 22 hits all climbed higher before "Come See About Me" matched this peak in September 1987.

Detroit Spinners

Working My Way Back To You - Forgive Me Girl

I was surprised to learn that this was The Detroit Spinners, it was a big change in direction for them. It gave them their only number one hit (2 weeks of course) with their first top 40 entry in three years, and first top ten hit since 1973. They would soon be back in the top five with yet another disco styled cover.

Brothers Johnson

Stomp

A classic disco song that couldn't fail to become a big hit. If I remember correctly, it was on top of the disco chart for six weeks. As for the pop chart, it peaked at number six.

Selecter

Three Minute Hero

Not as good as "On My Radio", but pretty decent all the same. It was another of those songs that sounded really weird if you fell asleep while listening to the radio, and then woke while it was playing. It reached number 16.

Iron Maiden

Running Free

Horrible debut hit from a band that would later be regarded as the world's best heavy metal band. It spent just two weeks in the chart, peaking at number 34.

Jon Pertwee

Worzel's Song

"A Wur with a W and a Wur with an O", yes I remember how it goes, consider me unlucky if you like. Worzel Gummidge was of course the scarecrow star of a Sunday teatime TV show, fortunately this only reached number 32.

Jon And Vangelis

I Hear You Now

Something of a surprise pairing at the time. Jon Anderson was the former vocalist with 'Yes', while his new partner was a synthesizer wizard who's major claim to fame (as far as we were concerned) was writing music that was used with ice skating quite a lot (though he had with Demis Roussos also been a member of Aphrodite's Child who'd had a minor hit with "Rain And Tears" in 1968). It worked, and this single climbed to number eight.

Donna Summer

On The Radio

Another Donna Summer single that surprisingly didn't become a bigger hit. This one peaked on it's debut at number 32. As well as being the title track of Donna's latest compilation album (a double that was later released as two single albums), it was also the theme song from the film "Foxes". Donna would have to wait until 1982 for her next top 40 entry.

Narada Michael Walden

Tonight I'm Alright

I quite liked this one, but it hardly caught the imagination of the rest of the population. It peaked at number 34.

Martha And The Muffins

Echo Beach

I've always thought that this sounds like a track Blondie decided to drop from the 'Plastic Letters' album. That's not to take anything away from it, I thought that it was a really good single and still do. It quickly reached number ten, but only stayed on the top 40 for seven weeks.
Toyah covered it in 1987, but failed to make the top 40.

Squeeze

Another Nail In My Heart

After the previous seven singles, I was a little disappointed with his one. I still quite liked it, but not enough to buy it until it hit the bargain bin. It peaked at number 17.

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

Joan Armatrading

Rosie

Joan tried to capture a reggae feel complete with steel drums, but some of the lyrics were, shall we say, below par when you consider Joan's reputation as a songwriter ? "It can be so chilling, when you act so willing" & "He had a little baby brother, a big bad mother" stick out like a sore thumb. It peaked at number 49.

Def Leppard

Hello America

Didn't hear much of this at the time, and even though I've heard it a lot since, I'm not too keen on it. It peaked at number 45 and they would have to wait another seven years before they had their first UK top 40 hit.

Phyllis Hyman

You Know How To Love Me

It's another of life's great mysteries why this wasn't a massive hit. It had all the airplay, it was massive in the clubs, yet it only made number 47 and caused a few schoolboy sniggers when her name was announced on the radio.

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

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