REMEMBER WHEN - 15TH MARCH 1980

1980
Week 11
WEEK ENDING 15TH MARCH 1980

TOP 40 SINGLES

TW	TW
1	2	Fern Kinney	Together We Are Beautiful
2	1	Blondie	Atomic
3	3	Marti Webb	Take That Look Off Your Face
4	8	Peter Gabriel	Games Without Frontiers
5	10	Rainbow	All Night Long
6	12	Police	So Lonely
7	25	Captain And Tennille	Do That To Me One More Time
8	18	Vapors	Turning Japanese
9	16	Beat	Hands Off She's Mine
10	5	Whispers	And The Beat Goes On
11	7	Cliff Richard	Carrie
12	4	Elvis Costello	I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down
13	9	Michael Jackson	Rock With You
14	23	Liquid Gold	Dance Yourself Dizzy
15	6	Kenny Rogers	Coward Of The County
16	19	Gibson Brothers	Cuba / Better Do It Salsa
17	13	Shadows	Riders In The Sky
18	15	Stiff Little Fingers	At The Edge
19	11	Tourists	So Good To Be Back Home Again
20	31	Detroit Spinners	Working My Way Back To You-Forgive Me Girl
21	39	Martha And The Muffins	Echo Beach
22	14	Ramones	Baby I Love You
23	NEW	Rush	Spirit Of Radio
24	26	David Bowie	Alabama Song
25	32	Brothers Johnson	Stomp
26	24	Jefferson Starship	Jane
27	40	Squeeze	Another Nail In My Heart
28	NEW	Lambrettas	Poison Ivy
29	17	Keith Michell	Captain Beaky
30	NEW	UK Subs	Warhead
31	30	Shakin Stevens	Hot Dog
32	20	Buggles	Living In The Plastic Age
33	35	Jon Pertwee	Worzel's Song
34	NEW	Tony Rallo And The Midnight Band	Holdin' On
35	NEW	Genesis	Turn It On Again
36	NEW	Siouxsie And The Banshees	Happy House
37	38	Narada Michael Walden	Tonight I'm Alright
38	28	Dave Edmunds	Singing The Blues
39	NEW	Dooleys	Love Patrol
40	NEW	Secret Affair	My World

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.

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.

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.

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' ?

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.

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 !

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 ?

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.

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).

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).

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Rush

Spirit Of Radio

Rush had already released eight albums, but I'd heard nothing at all by them until this single entered the chart. It was different to most of the rock music of the day, it sounded as though a lot of thought had gone into it. It was a winner with me straight away and is still one of my all time favourites.
It also reminds me of the time I turned 18 in April 1980, as it was on the jukebox at the Duke Of Wellington. I almost always selected both this and it's excellent B Side "The Trees".
It went to number 13 giving them their only UK top 20 hit, and by the summer I had four of their albums in my collection.

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.

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.

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)' !

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.

Lambrettas

Poison Ivy

The Lambrettas peaked at number seven with their revival of "Poison Ivy". It has been alleged that this song is about 'Veneral Disease', but not having had the symptoms I can't comment. They were to later release a single about page three girls. But they were a bunch of tits anyway.

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.

UK Subs

Warhead

I don't really remember this one, but I suppose what I should really say is that I don't recall this being any different from their other singles. It entered at a peak of number 30 and was gone two weeks later.

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.

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.

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.

Tony Rallo & The Midnight Band

Holdin' On

I remember hearing a lot of this on the radio, but it was quite ordinary really. Spent just one week in the chart, and was sampled on the "Calibre Cuts" single two months later.

Genesis

Turn It On Again

Another one that reminds me of 'coming of age'. On the jukebox at the Duke, those new fangled Dry Roast Peanuts made by 'Planters', thinking you're ok on a Saturday afternoon until you leave the pub, hit the sunshine and then feel giddy and begin slurring as you speak. The lads in their early twenties who thought it highly amusing that anyone would select a Police song on the jukebox, let alone buy their records.
Genesis were a different proposition, everyone liked this one. I was surprised by this one. I hadn't heard much by Genesis, but what I had heard, wasn't as lively as "Turn It On Again". It peaked at number eight, and from here on Genesis were commercially big right into the early nineties.

Siouxsie And The Banshees

Happy House

It seemed to take a long time to reach number 17, and they wouldn't get that high again with an original song until 1988. It was OK, but nothing special.

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.

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.

Dooleys

Love Patrol

The Dooleys top twenty days were now behind them, in fact this was their last ever top 40 entry. Slightly different from their previous couple of singles, but it was never going to be a big hit. It peaked at number 29.

Secret Affair

My World

The final part of Secret Affair's trilogy of top 40 hits came six months after the first. A very good song with a smoother sound than the previous two, and it reached number 16.

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

Trussel

Love Injection

I don't know this one, but it was probably rude and reached number 43.

Billy Preston & Syreeta

It Will Come In Time

I liked this bouncy pop song more than their big hit duet "With You I'm Born Again". Sadly, it only reached number 47.

Rose Royce

Ooh Boy

It was the end of the line for Rose Royce. They'd had their last hit, put out a compilation and pulled this from it. It made number 46.

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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