REMEMBER WHEN - 2ND AUGUST 1980

1980
Week 31
WEEK ENDING 2ND AUGUST 1980

TOP 40 SINGLES

TW	.......	LW	.......		.......
1		1		Odyssey		Use It Up Wear It Out
2		3		Leo Sayer		More Than I Can Say
3		8		Diana Ross		Upside Down
4		2		Olivia Newton John & E.L.O.		Xanadu
5		7		Kate Bush		Babooshka
6		5		Bob Marley & The Wailers		Could You Be Loved
7		12		Dexy's Midnight Runners		There There My Dear
8		4		Stacy Lattisaw		Jump To The Beat
9		NEW		Abba		The Winner Takes It All
10		6		Detroit Spinners		Cupid-I've Loved You For A Long Time
11		20		Undertones		Wednesday Week
12		9		Rolling Stones		Emotional Rescue
13		11		Darts		Let's Hang On
14		10		UB40		My Way Of Thinking / I Think It's Going To Rain
15		21		Bad Manners		Lip Up Fatty
16		13		Joy Division		Love Will Tear Us Apart
17		14		Change		A Lover's Holiday / Glow Of Love
18		19		Gap Band		Oops Upside Your Head
19		17		Yellow Magic Orchestra		Theme From The Invaders
20		29		Sheena Easton		9 To 5
21		28		Joan Armatrading		Me Myself I
22		NEW		George Benson		Give Me The Night
23		23		Gibson Brothers		Marianna
24		33		Tom Browne		Funkin' For Jamaica (N.Y.)
25		16		Paul McCartney		Waterfalls
26		22		Black Sabbath		Neon Knights
27		25		Hot Chocolate		Are You Getting Enough Of What Makes You Happy
28		32		Gene Chandler		Does She Have A Friend
29		26		Whispers		My Girl
30		NEW		Roxy Music		Oh Yeah (On The Radio)
31		NEW		Grace Jones		Private Life
32		NEW		Jermaine Jackson		Burnin' Hot
33		31		New Musik		Sanctuary
34		39		Ultravox		Sleepwalk
35		15		Saxon		747 (Strangers In The Night)
36		38		John Foxx		Burning Car
37		27		B.A. Robertson		To Be Or Not To Be
38		36		George Duke		Brazilian Love Affair
39		NEW		Amii Stewart & Johnny Bristol		My Guy-My Girl
40		24		Lipps Inc		Funky Town

Odyssey

Use It Up Wear It Out

We all thought that Odyssey had disappeared following their brilliant number five hit "Native New Yorker" at the beginning of 1978. But they were back with a bang. Obviously, part of the reason for the size of the success for this single was the TOTP strike, just as George McCrae had taken advantage in much the same way six years previous. Heavy play in discos had given it a great advantage over it's competitors. Although Odyssey singles did not sound the same as one another, you always knew when you were listening to Odyssey by the lovely vocals of Lillian & Louise Lopez. This was number one for two weeks, in a year that had so far seen 10 out of the 15 number ones spend two weeks at the top.

Leo Sayer

More Than I Can Say

After a hitless 1979, Leo was back with one of the biggest hits of his career. It was his fourth single to peak at number two, and his second consecutive hit to be a cover of a 'Crickets' song. He would have to wait two years for his next hit, even though he released a great follow up single to this, "Once In A While"(also recorded by Cliff Richard this year).

Diana Ross

Upside Down

This was Diana's biggest hit for nine years, and peaked at number two. It was also her first visit to the top twenty for over four years, but she couldn't fail this time. The parent album had been written and produced by Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers who'd been responsible for all those Chic and Sister Sledge hits of the last couple of years. This set Diana up for another two year run of hits, before the next fallow period followed. Strangely, this happy upbeat single reminds me of my first real experience of death, as my grandmother died while it was charting.

Olivia Newton John & E.L.O.

Xanadu

These acts were very grateful for the Top Of The Pops strike that summer. With it being the title track from a film, it got enough promotion to push it to number one for two weeks. It was a pretty good soundtrack as these things go, with a healthy number of E.L.O. songs, and Olivia collaborating with everyone else in the film. More singles from the soundtrack will be discussed later in the year.
Strange that after all those years of great singles, this was the only number one that E.L.O. achieved.

Kate Bush

Babooshka

Kate peaked at five with her biggest hit since her debut "Wuthering Heights" had gone all the way to the top in 1978. This was a favourite on the Jukebox at the 'Duke Of Wellington' in Ruabon which was one of my regular haunts in those days. She looked good in the video too, but not as good as the woman who did her on "Stars In Their Eyes" twenty years later.

Bob Marley & The Wailers

Could You Be Loved

Great single that reached number five to become Bob's biggest hit to date. It reminds me of a party I went to, and how I was given the cold shoulder by someone called Bridget, who'd been a big part of my life for the previous two years. That night was virtually the 'final straw' as far as that relationship was concerned.

Dexy's Midnight Runners

There There My Dear

Their previous single "Geno" had gone all the way to number one. This time they only climbed as high as number seven, but it was still a great single, that in complete contrast to the previous one, rushed along at breakneck speed. It's another one that reminds me of the 'Duke' jukebox. Amazingly, neither of their next two singles made the top forty.

Stacy Lattisaw

Jump To The Beat

Thirteen year old Stacy released one of the finest singles of the disco era with this. She had previously been earmarked to record "Ring My Bell" , but that had instead been given to Anita Ward who took it to number one in 1979. So this was Stacey's debut and she took it to number three. Her follow up single "Dynamite" failed to make it past number 51, and Stacey was never heard of again in the UK. The same can't be said of the song though as Dannii Minogue took it to number eight in 1991.
The 1998 UK number one, "Because We Want To" by "Billie" reminds me of this song for no apparent reason. It just seems to have that 1980 sound about it.

Abba

The Winner Takes It All

As a lot of the regular visitors to my site will know, I have reservations about a lot of Abba's work and also about the way in which they were regarded as being something special and the horrible way in which they would 'sing with 'that' accent'. But, I have to admit, this was a great single, one of the best of the '80s. Their previous attempts at ballads usually sucked, but this time they got it right and deserved their two weeks at number one. It's a pity the same couldn't be said about the video which looked like one of those awful subtitled films that Channel 4 often shows in the early hours of the morning (I half expected Benny or Bjorn to suddenly acquire a pair of breasts and then start chasing a dog which just happened to have a bra between it's teeth). But, Abba never did master the art of video anyway, apart from '82's "Head Over Heels".

Detroit Spinners

Cupid-I've Loved You For A Long Time

Having hit number one earlier in the year with a cover of "Working My Way Back To You" (two weeks at the top, naturally), the Spinners had followed it with "Body Language" which could only struggle to number 40. So, it was time to try another cover, and the trick worked as they rose to number four. This marked the end of their top twenty days though, and their only further appearance in the top 40 was when featured on the number 30 peaking "I'll Be Around" by '4-Tay' in 1995.

Undertones

Wednesday Week

The Undertones were following their best and biggest hit "My Perfect Cousin" with this fun piece of pop that peaked at number eleven. I remember in those days that a group of lads about three years older than me and who always seemed to be in the same pubs as me, were keen followers of the Undertones and went to see them live quite regular. Unfortunately, I heard that one of the said lads fell victim to alcohol and died in 1998.

Rolling Stones

Emotional Rescue

More great music from the Stones. Following on from the success of their disco orientated "Miss You" smash hit from 1978, they went down the same path with this single, and enjoyed the first of only two top ten hits that they would have during the '80's when it peaked at number nine. I suspect that many diehard Stones fans would list this near the bottom of their list of Stones singles though.

Darts

Let's Hang On

When Darts first appeared at the end of 1977, I wasn't keen. The last thing I wanted to see in the chart was another band playing covers of 50's hits, Showaddywaddy were already testing my patience far enough. But from their third single, they had started to cover 60's songs instead, and I could live with that. More than that, they were also very good at it, "Let's Hang On" was no exception. It reached number 11, but was sadly the last top 40 hit for a band that I now remember with fondness.

UB40

My Way Of Thinking / I Think It's Going To Rain

These were the days when UB 40 weren't boring and recorded original songs. They reached number six with this, their second hit, and it was very good. They later turned to covers quite often, and though some were good (the Labour Of Love songs), some were very bad ("Can't Help Falling In Love"). There were some original songs inbetween, but most were very dreary songs sang in Ali's dreary tones.

Bad Manners

Lip Up Fatty

Bad Manners had found success on the back of the Two Tone Ska explosion, and did things the Madness way. They peaked at 15 with this second hit, and continued to hit the charts regularly for the next two years.

Joy Division

Love Will Tear Us Apart

Joy Division had released an album and three singles over the previous two years with no mainstream chart success at all (the Indie charts were an entirely different matter). Then, after lead vocalist Ian Curtis hanged himself in May 1980, this single was released (along with an album), and made it to number 13. Out of the ashes came New Order, and we all know what happened to them. Whether this single would have been a hit were it not for Ian's death, we'll never know, but I suspect it would have been, as it was released at just the right time for music of this type.

Change

A Lover's Holiday / Glow Of Love

The first of four hits in a five year period by Change reached number 14. A typical disco single of the day, but nothing really special, especially compared to their next one. "Glow Of Love" was a much better track though, pity it didn't get the airplay.

Gap Band

Oops Upside Your Head

On first listen, "What a crap single !". Later, "Hey, this is ok", and it was. It went to number six and started a new dance craze, rowing. It was a fun thing to do in discos at the time, and this song was usually followed by the Black Slate single "Amigo" to carry on the rowing dance. It must be said though, that there was more to the Gap Band than novelty hits. They released quite a few good singles over the next seven years, some of which charted, some didn't. Their chart career ended with a remix of this reaching number 20.

Yellow Magic Orchestra

Theme From The Invaders

As I previously mentioned, I had just become legally entitled to enter pubs and drink alcohol at this time. This coincided with Space Invader machines being introduced into pubs. Years previous I had been fascinated by the type of game where punters looked through a periscope and blasted ships on the horizon, but I had only seen those machines in amusement arcades at the seaside. But now, similar types of machines were everywhere. Personally, I thought the actual "Space Invaders" game was very boring, but some better, more exciting games such as "Galaxians", "Defender", "Astro Wars", and my favourite "Moon Cresta" soon followed, and all the pinball tables were taken out of the pubs.
Anyway, Ryuichi Sakamoto and his band used the music from the game as the central theme to this single which became their only UK hit reaching number 17. They followed it with "Behind The Mask" which although not charting for them (or Greg Phillingass:sp), was a hit when recorded by Eric Clapton in 1987.

Sheena Easton

9 To 5

Sheena Easton was having one of the biggest hit singles of the year with her number three peaking first hit single. This was retitled "Morning Train" when released in the USA, where it sped to number one. A strange bit of trivia about Sheena is that John Peel used to regularly play her new singles as they were released right in the middle of all his Indie stuff, and Christened himself and his listeners the 'Sheena Barmy Army'.

Joan Armatrading

Me Myself I

No, this isn't the same track that was a hit for De La Soul in 1989 (the title is slightly different anyway), but it is a great song. It was Joan's first hit for four years, and spent seven weeks in the top 40 despite peaking at a lowly 21. She followed it with another song that looked a sure fire hit "All The Way From America", but sadly it wasn't and she had to wait until 1983 for her third hit.

George Benson

Give Me The Night

George had been having minor hits since 1975 never rising above number 26. But this was the big one, it rose majestically to number seven, and was one of the big disco hits of the year. This was a song that everytime I hear it, reminds me of a club I often went to at the time known as 'The Erbistock' (after the village where it was situated), or sometimes 'The Country Club' (because it was in the Country, not because of the type of music played).

Gibson Brothers

Marianna

This fourth and final hit for the Gibson Brothers reached number 11. Like the other hits, this had a Latin feel to it and was very good if you like that sort of thing. I did actually like all of their hits, but they had already gone as far as they could go with this type of music.qw+

Tom Browne

Funkin' For Jamaica (N.Y.)

Brilliant ! One of the singles of the year for me was this great dance track that also reminds me of the 'Country Club' (see elsewhere). It peaked at number Ten, got regular play in clubs for about 12 months, and just failed to chart again when re-mixed in 1992. He also just failed to chart with the follow up single "Thighs High" in October 1980.
Mariah Carey used this melody as the central theme to her track "Don't Stop" in 2001.

Paul McCartney

Waterfalls

Paul McCartney is of course a legend. He has written some great songs, but sadly this wasn't one of them. I usually defend him to the hilt when people rubbish him in favour of whatever today's flavour of the month may be. But, I can never defend this one. The melody's ok, but the lyrics are so awful, it's unbelievable that they came from the creator of "Yesterday", "Live and Let Die" and "Silly Love Songs", and was later to bring us "Pipes Of Peace" and "All My Trials". He sang about keeping to lakes, chasing Polar bears and goodness knows what else. But, his loyal fanbase and a number of other people it seems bought it, and pushed it to number nine in the chart.

Black Sabbath

Neon Knights

With a strong heavy metal/hard rock revival taking place, who better to have a few hit singles this year than Black Sabbath ?
This was the first single to be released since Ozzy Osbourne left the band to be replaced by Ronnie James Dio, and reached number 22. He proved a competent replacement and stayed in the band for three years, but the album this was taken from "Heaven And Hell" was the last Black Sabbath album that I bought until "Headless Cross" in 1989.

Hot Chocolate

Are You Getting Enough Of What Makes You Happy

A disappointing follow up to "No Doubt About It" dithered a little before climbing to peak at number 17. There was a cheeky play on words in the title, but it wasn't really enough to save it and so, the following year became the bands' least successful year since they'd first hit the chart in 1970.

Gene Chandler

Does She Have A Friend

Only a number 28 peak for this final hit from Gene. It didn't quite have the appeal of his "Get Down" single from the previous year, but was a pleasant enough song, that maybe deserved to go a little higher.

Whispers

My Girl

The Whispers had been around for a few years, but hadn't hit the UK chart until the number two hit "And The Beat Goes On" earlier this year. The Follow up "Lady" had been a flop, but they returned to the chart with this cover of the Temptations "My Girl", and took it to number 26.

Roxy Music

Oh Yeah (On The Radio)

One of my favourite Roxy Music tracks ever. This number five hit is another that reminds me of the Duke jukebox, and as soon as I hear it, the number '1980' just pops into my head. To me, this is THE sound of Summer 1980.

Grace Jones

Private Life

I've never rated Grace very highly. Her "Do Or Die" single from 1978 was good, but I've not been impressed with any of her other work (but I wouldn't tell her to her face *lol*). This was her first hit and Grace spoke/growled her way through a Pretenders album track taking it to number 17. She waited five years for her second hit.

Jermaine Jackson

Burnin' Hot

Another great disco track that reminds me of the 'Country Club', but it got no higher up the chart than it's debut number 32 position. This was a much better disco record than any of the singles that had been lifted from brother Michael's 'Off The Wall' album, which was really saying something as that album was red hot. Get the 12 inch if you find it, you'll wonder how you survived without it.

New Musik

Sanctuary

New Musik had started their hit making in promising style with "Living By Numbers", and then followed with another great single in "This World Of Water". Sadly they couldn't keep it up, and this wasn't as impressive (but still good). It peaked at number 31, and they never hit the top 40 again.

Ultravox

Sleepwalk

First ever hit for Ultravox, and it reached number 29. Most of the band had been together since 1975 when they were known as Tiger Lily, but despite changing their name to Ultravox!, being name checked in every Gary Numan interview, and releasing three albums, had gained no chart success at all. It seems that John Foxx's decision to quit and go solo, along with the band's decision to appoint ex Slik singer (and one time member of Rich Kids & Thin Lizzy) 'Midge Ure' as new vocalist were very good decisions for both parties. Ultravox started a six year run of success, while John also had some minor chart hits.

Saxon

747 (Strangers In The Night)

Saxon were another band to have taken advantage of the metal revival. This number 13 peaking single from their "Wheels Of Steel" album was their second hit of the year. It was a good single, and had nothing at all to do with Frank Sinatra.

John Foxx

Burning Car

"Burning Car" was the third of John's hits, and peaked at number 35. After "No One Driving", was this "Burning Car" meant as a reference to Gary Numan and his "Cars" perhaps ?
He continued recording until 1985, after which he retired from the music business.
Also see above.

B.A. Robertson

To Be Or Not To Be

This is another song like "January February" earlier in this year, that seemed to get more than it's fair share of airtime on Radios One And Two. It was his fourth and last solo hit, and peaked at number nine. Some of the rhyming was awful though, the way he added "eo" to the end of words.

George Duke

Brazilian Love Affair

Only two weeks in the top 40 in George's career and a peak of number 36. I don't remember this being played much on the radio, but it had it's fair share in the clubs.

Amii Stewart & Johnny Bristol

My Guy-My Girl

Johnny Bristol hadn't charted since 1974, while Amii's previous two singles had not got anywhere near the heady heights of her first two. They got together and recorded this combination of the Temptations hit (also in the chart by the Whispers), and the Mary Wells hit "My Guy". Maybe the Whispers single took away some of the sales, as they climbed no higher than number 39. Six years later Amii recorded the same medley with a different partner 'Deon Estus', but that version didn't chart at all. Neither were any good anyway, but seeing Amii on TOTP was always a pleasureable experience (now if only that strike had ended a little sooner).

Lipps Inc

Funky Town

This single doesn't seem to be held in very high regard these days. I still like it myself and think that it was a deserved number two smash, very typical of the era. But, there was an awful cover of it by Pseudo Echo that reached number eight in 1987.

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

Average White Band

For You For Love

A ballad that sounded similar to Earth Wind & Fire's "After The Love Has Gone". But this wasn't the first time they'd released a single that sounded like an EWF song. Their 1979 single "Atlantic Avenue" was similar to "Fantasy". "For You For Love" peaked at number 46.

Baby O

In The Forest

Very popular dance track at the time, but not one of my favourites then. Now, I do like it more. It reached number 46

Michael Jackson

Girlfriend

A fifth single from the "Off The Wall" album, this being a cover of a song from the 1978 Wings album "London Town". After four cuts from the album making the top seven, this would have been expected to at least make the top twenty. But it peaked at number 41.

Manhattans

Shining Star

Four years after their two hit hits, the Manhattans were still trying in vain for their third top 40 hit. This should have been reasonably expected to have given it to them. If you had heard this ten years later, you'd have thought it was Londonbeat. But, the third hit never came as this peaked at number 45.

Some MP3s

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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BACK TO THE 1980 INDEX
THE REMEMBER WHEN ARCHIVES
GOLDEN DAYS INDEX

Email: nige@innotts.co.uk

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