REMEMBER WHEN - 3RD MAY 1980

1980
Week 18
WEEK ENDING 3RD MAY 1980

TOP 40 SINGLES

TW	LW
1	2	Dexy's Midnight Runners	Geno
2	7	Paul McCartney	Coming Up
3	1	Blondie	Call Me
4	6	David Essex	Silver Dream Machine
5	11	Sky	Tocatta
6	4	UB40	King / Food For Thought
7	3	Detroit Spinners	Working My Way Back To You-Forgive Me Girl
8	5	Dr. Hook	Sexy Eyes
9	9	Pretenders	Talk Of The Town
10	26	Bobby Thurston	Check Out The Groove
11	21	Undertones	My Perfect Cousin
12	12	Leon Hayward	Don't Push It Don't Force It
13	27	Rodney Franklin	The Groove
14	10	Madness	Work Rest And Play (EP)
15	NEW	Johnny Logan	What's Another Year
16	14	Sad Cafe	My Oh My
17	8	Liquid Gold	Dance Yourself Dizzy
18	13	Barbara Dickson	January February
19	35	Narada Michael Walden	I Shoulda Loved Ya
20	28	Saxon	Wheels Of Steel
21	15	Lambrettas	Poison Ivy
22	17	B.A. Robertson	Kool And The Kaftan
23	NEW	Motorhead	Golden Years (EP)
24	23	Selecter	Missing Words
25	25	Nolans	Don't Make Waves
26	24	Bodysnatchers	Let's Do Rock Steady
27	NEW	Cockney Rejects	The Greatest Cockney Rip Off
28	36	Bad Manners	Ne-Ne-Na-Na-Na-Na-Nu-Nu
29	NEW	Kate Bush	Breathing
30	NEW	Whitesnake	Fool For Your Loving
31	NEW	Hot Chocolate	No Doubt About It
32	31	Ruts	Staring At The Rude Boys
33	20	Jam	Going Underground
34	NEW	Smokie	Take Good Care Of My Baby
35	NEW	Cure	A Forest
36	NEW	Jimmy Ruffin	Hold On To My Love
37	32	Phil Lynott	Dear Miss Lonely Hearts
38	NEW	New Musik	This World Of Water
39	NEW	Average White Band	Let's Go Round Again
40	NEW	Jam	In The City

Dexy's Midnight Runners

Geno

Dexy's Midnight Runners had been to number 40 in February with their previous single "Dance Stance". This time they made it to the opposite end of the top 40 and spent two weeks there. A strange fact about 1980 is that 14 of the 24 number ones this year resided at the top for two weeks.

Paul McCartney

Coming Up

Paul McCartney was having his biggest hit since the 1977 number one "Mull Of Kintyre". Surprisingly, despite climbing from number 62 to number 7, and then climbing to two, it progressed no further. The B side of this single was a live version of the A side and was released as the A side in the States, where it climbed to number one. Note that Paul was now solo and not going under the banner of 'Wings'.
It has been reported that this song prompted John Lennon to return to recording as Paul had finally "done something good".

Blondie

Call Me

This was their second number one of the year and fourth in total. This one only stayed on top for a week, but managed six weeks in the USA. It was produced and co-written by Giorgio Moroder, and taken from the soundtrack of the awful film 'American Gigolo. They would complete their hat trick for the year in November.

David Essex

Silver Dream Machine

David Essex was back with his first top ten hit in almost two years with the title song from his latest movie "Silver Dream Racer". This one peaked at number four. These days David seems to concentrate solely on cover versions, his recent albums being collections of such. If only David was a skinhead with a few scars on his face and spoke about his music being his 'art', instead of being a happy pretty loveable chappy, then he may still have been having hits today.

Sky

Tocatta

Sky were a band of mainly ex session men. The band included Classical Guitarist John Williams,Bassman Herbie Flowers and Guitarist Kevin Peek. They fused Classical music with rock, and this number five peaking track was their only hit single. They had four top ten albums though, including the number one "Sky 2".

UB40

King / Food For Thought

Over two decades later and UB40 have still not released a better single than this one have they ?
Even though "King" (about Martin Luther) was listed first, and was a damn good song, "Food For Thought" was the one that had most of the airplay. It took a while to decipher the lyrics (Ali Campbell has one of those voices, usually sounds as though he's crying), and discover that he wasn't singing "I Believe In Donna", but it was worth it in the end.
After entering at number 40, it halved it's position for the next three weeks and then climbed one place to number four for a two week stay (Now that's what I call a real chart run).
UB40 remained quite good for about three years, but they then went into the dodgy cover version business. As a result, their original material seemed to suffer and I don't like any of the original songs that they've released since 1986.

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.

Dr. Hook

Sexy Eyes

Dr. Hook went to number four with their third top ten hit in 6 months. But after this they said goodbye to the top ten for good, as they never had a single advance any further than number 40 after this effort.

Pretenders

Talk Of The Town

The Pretenders were following up the number one single "Brass In Pocket" with this extremely inferior single. It got as high as number eight, and they only hit the top ten again on one occasion during the next five years.

Bobby Thurston

Check Out The Groove

Bobby Thurston was having his only hit with the number ten peaking "Check Out The Groove". A popular song in discos, but nothing too special about it otherwise.

Undertones

My Perfect Cousin

The Undertones were having their biggest ever hit with the number nine peaking "My Perfect Cousin". As many will know, John Peel was a very big fan of this band. I thought that to be quite unusual considering how lightweight I considered the band to be (not that I think there's anything wrong with being lightweight), but hey John liked Sheena Easton too !
A unique thing about this particular song was the fact that the 'Human League' were mentioned in the lyrics even though they had only made their top 75 debut this very week with the "Holiday 80" double single, which would fail to reach the top 40.

Leon Hayward

Don't Push It Don't Force It

Leon Hayward was someone else having his one and only hit, with "Don't Push It, Don't Force It". He peaked at 12 with yet another good disco sound, but lyrics that didn't tax the mind too much.

Rodney Franklin

The Groove

Rodney Franklin won the battle of the 'Groove' records when his single "The Groove" peaked at number seven. If my memory isn't playing tricks, this single was connected to a short lived dance craze called 'The Freeze' (as was the Bobby Thurston single).

Madness

Work Rest And Play (EP)

Madness were having their fourth top 20 (third top ten) hit in six months with their EP, of which the title track was "Night Boat To Cairo". It went on for ages without any vocals, then just when you were beginning to get tired of it, Suggs started singing some nonsense about the River Nile and monsoons. Harmless enough, it peaked at number six.

Johnny Logan

What's Another Year

This was the Eurovision Song Contest winner of 1980 and was the first of three consecutive years where the Eurovision winning song was to go on to top the UK charts. This was on top for (you've guessed it) two weeks. I have to admit that I like this song and it doesn't really sound like a typical Eurovision thing.

Sad Cafe

My Oh My

Sad Cafe were having their third hit in six months and peaked at number 14 with this very 'Rolling Stones' sounding song (or is that Inxs ?). Sadly for them, one hit at number 40 was all they could manage after this.

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).

Barbara Dickson

January February

Barbara Dickson, ahhh, this number 11 peaking single brings back memories. Both of my divorced parents listened to the easy listening 'BBC Radio Two' and it was always playing when I got up in the morning. This song ALWAYS seemed to be on in the mornings. I was sick of it. In later years though, I've come around to the idea of liking it. Even more to the point, I myself have now become a Radio Two listener. I just can't get over how GOOD that station has become. Many of the better Radio One presenters have made themselves at home there during recent years including 'Steve Wright', 'Alan Freeman', 'Johnny Walker', 'Andy Peebles', 'Paul Gambaccini', 'Bob Harris', 'Janice Long', 'Ed Stewart', and even 'John Peel' and 'Jools Holland' have presented shows on Radio Two. My work means a lot of late night driving and in the mid-90s I gave up with late night Radio One and had to content myself with tapes, but then the radio enjoyed a new lease of life thanks to Radio Two's late night programming.

Narada Michael Walden

I Shoulda Loved Ya

Narada Michael Walden was having his second top 40 hit of the year, and climbed to number eight with "I Shoulda Loved Ya". Personally I preferred his previous single "Tonight I'm Alright".
He would have to wait eight years for his next hit. He was still kept busy with a lot of production work for other artists throughout that time.

Saxon

Wheels Of Steel

Saxon were one of the 'New Wave' of metal bands and were having their very first hit, with the number 20 peaking "Wheels Of Steel". The identically titled album wasn't bad either.

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.

B.A. Robertson

Kool And The Kaftan

B.A. Robertson was having the smallest of his five hits with "Kool In The Kaftan". It seemed to be the 'in thing' to mention other acts in songs this month, as T.Rex were mentioned in the lyrics of this (crap) song.

Motorhead

Golden Years (EP)

Motorhead entered at their highest chart position to date (#23) with "Golden Years EP", and they rose to number eight the following week before falling. The lead track was "Dead Men Tell No Tales". I've never been a buyer of Motorhead albums, but have liked a few of their singles. So when they toured in the Spring of '82, I went along to Deeside Leisure Centre to see them (ticket cost 4 pounds). The support bands, 'Tank' & 'Raven' were quite good (I think 'Budgie' were on too), but apart from the familiar songs Motorhead were just an endless barrage of noise. I spent most of their set in the refreshment area.

Selecter

Missing Words

Another representative from the Two Tone label in the 40. This was Selecter's third hit in six months. It was their last hit on Two Tone before they switched to Chrysalis and almost instant obscurity (yes, I know Chrysalis distributed Two Tone anyway), but Pauline Black did re-emerge to become a TV presenter for a while (and sent me an e-mail in late 2000). This reached number 23 and was spelt "Nissing Words" on the label.

Nolans

Don't Make Waves

This was the third of the eight top 40 hits enjoyed by the Nolans. "Don't Make Waves" reached number 12, but wasn't a patch on "I'm In The Mood For Dancing"

Bodysnatchers

Let's Do Rock Steady

The debut hit from Two Tone act the 'BodySnatchers'. Their "Let's Do Rock Steady" went as high as number 22. Their follow up single "Easy Life" failed to make the top 40 (even though it was pretty good),and they were never heard of again. At least the name 'Bodysnatchers' wasn't heard of again. But they did return as 'Amazulu', and had greater success.

Cockney Rejects

The Greatest Cockney Rip Off

The Cockney Rejects growled about "The Greatest Cockney Rip Off" as they climbed to number 21. I think I got it, they were ripping off Sham 69 weren't they ?
Bloody awful anyway.

Bad Manners

Ne-Ne-Na-Na-Na-Na-Nu-Nu

Bad Manners were having the first of nine top 40 hits they would have over a two year period, and peaked at number 28. It was predominantly an instrumental track with ne-ne etc. repeated many times by a bald fat bloke, complete rubbish really.

Kate Bush

Breathing

This was Kate's first new material in 18 months and I found it slightly disappointing. It reached number 16.

Whitesnake

Fool For Your Loving

Whitesnake were making their top 40 debut with this, and it peaked at number 13 . This sounded not unlike the recent Rainbow hit "All Night Long". I wonder why this was so :>
In a Record Mirror interview at the time, Whitesnake leader "David Coverdale" said something along the lines of "If I ever see Ritchie Blackmore (Rainbow) again, I'll kick his head in".
I mentioned this to Rainbow fan Martin Roberts (one day older than me) in the Vaults pub one Saturday afternoon. He replied that Rainbow were better than Whitesnake. No, I didn't get it either.

Hot Chocolate

No Doubt About It

Hot Chocolate had failed to make the top 40 at all in 1979 (they'd stopped just short a couple of times though) for the first year since they made their first appearance in 1970. "No Doubt About It" put them back in the picture with it's eventual number two placing. It was apparently written after vocalist 'Errol Brown' had an encounter with visitors from outer space. I'm only repeating what he said, besides I personally know someone who's also seen a UFO, so there :-P.

Ruts

Staring At The Rude Boys

The Ruts were having the last of their three hits in the 79/80 period. "Staring At The Rude Boys" peaked at number 22 and wasn't a bad song at all.

Jam

Going Underground / Dreams Of Children

This was the first single to enter the chart at number one since Slade had done it in 1973 with "Merry Xmas Everybody". With the exception of the very first number one in 1952, this was the very first time that a new entry at the top had been by a band that had achieved no previous number ones at all. Having said that, this was only the tenth single to enter the chart at the top since the UK charts began, and the Jam were only the seventh act to do it. The first eight Jam singles had all failed to reach the top ten, while the ninth had made number three, this was the tenth.
So why did it go straight into number one, after all there always used to be a very good reason when a single did that ?
The popular theory would be that the Jam were loved by the 'new mods', and so were hugely popular enough to get all those mods running to the shops at the weekend to send it soaring straight to the top (the extra disc with the live recordings may have helped too). This would be partly true, but there is a bigger reason. It was common practice for singles to be released towards the end of the week, Thursdays & Fridays. So, they only had 2-3 days sales in their first chart week. That's why so many big hit singles entered at a low chart position and then took a massive climb the following week, look at how many of Abba's top five singles entered below number 20.
Polydor normally released all of their singles on Fridays, but switched to Mondays at the time of this release. This ensured optimum first week sales and a higher chart debut debut. I doubt that they expected a debut so high though. At the time, Music Week, BMRB, Polydor, and the daily newspapers and TV all reported that this single was the first to enter at number one since Gary Glitter's "I Love You Love Me Love" in November 1973. Very embarrassing for Polydor considering that the Slade single in December 1973 had been released by them !
These events seemed to be quickly forgotten about, but I assure you that they are true, even down to Record Mirror (who got their facts right) predicting that Monday releases would become standard procedure.
Anyway, it spent three weeks at number one, which was still at that time the minimum number of weeks that any number one debuting single had stayed on top.
In fact, the Jam themselves would have the dubious distinction of having the first new entry at number one not to last longer than two weeks, with the fourteenth single to debut at the top.
Three years later it was back with a more modest debut at 37. It reached number 21 that time.

Smokie

Take Good Care Of My Baby

Smokie reached number 34 with the last of the twelve hits they had from 1975 to 1980. It was the very last hit with original singer 'Chris Norman'. They did of course re -appear with a novelty hit in 1995, but that had a touch of Black Lace and Chubby Brown.

Cure

A Forest

The Cure made their top 40 debut with this enjoyable song. "A Forest" only reached number 31, and it was three long years before they bettered that position.

Jimmy Ruffin

Hold On To My Love

Jimmy Ruffin was on the comeback trail with this Bee Gees produced, Robin Gibb/Blue Weaver written song. This first hit in six years reached number seven, but no further singles charted.
The women allways selected this on the Duke Jukebox.

Phil Lynot

Dear Miss Lonely Hearts

Seemed a weird time for Phil to release his first solo single considering that the next Thin Lizzy single was less than a month from release. But here was this disappointing number 32 peaking single.

New Musik

This World Of Water

New Musik were having the second of their three top 40 hits this year, but this one only reached number 31, a far cry from the number 13 peak of their previous hit "Living By Numbers". I preferred this one myself.

Average White Band

Let's Go Round Again

Average White Band were in the top 40 for the first time in Four years. "Let's go Round Again" got as high as number 12, then they vanished again. This song was later a hit all over again when recorded by 'Louise' in 1997.

Jam

In The City

As a result of their current popularity, Polydor records had re-released all of their previous singles. Only one of the nine actually reached the top 40, as "In The City" peaked at the exact position it had three years previous (number 40), but another five singles came close. After the band split, Polydor did the same thing again at the beginning of 1983 when four of them actually made the top 40 with a further nine making the top 75. This was one of those latter nine and reached number 47 on that occasion. But it finally reached it's highest chart position when reissued on the 25th Anniversary of it's original release in 2002. On that occasion it reached number 36.

This was in the top 50 this week, but failed to reach the top 40.

Prima Donna

Love Enough For Two

Our own Eurovision entry that year was by 'Prima Donna' and called "Love Enough For Two". It failed miserably both in the contest and in the singles chart reaching a low of number 48. But the woman from the group was one half of 'Bardo' our 1982 Euro entrants, who went to number two in the chart.

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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