REMEMBER WHEN - 9TH AUGUST 1980

1980
Week 32
WEEK ENDING 9TH AUGUST 1980

TOP 40 SINGLES

TW	.......	LW	.......		.......
1		9		Abba		The Winner Takes It All
2		3		Diana Ross		Upside Down
3		1		Odyssey		Use It Up Wear It Out
4		2		Leo Sayer		More Than I Can Say
5		20		Sheena Easton		9 To 5
6		5		Kate Bush		Babooshka
7		18		Gap Band		Oops Upside Your Head
8		6		Bob Marley & The Wailers		Could You Be Loved
9		30		Roxy Music		Oh Yeah (On The Radio)
10		22		George Benson		Give Me The Night
11		7		Dexy's Midnight Runners		There There My Dear
12		11		Undertones		Wednesday Week
13		4		Olivia Newton John & E.L.O.		Xanadu
14		23		Gibson Brothers		Marianna
15		15		Bad Manners		Lip Up Fatty
16		24		Tom Browne		Funkin' For Jamaica (N.Y.)
17		8		Stacy Lattisaw		Jump To The Beat
18		13		Darts		Let's Hang On
19		12		Rolling Stones		Emotional Rescue
20		10		Detroit Spinners		Cupid-I've Loved You For A Long Time
21		27		Hot Chocolate		Are You Getting Enough Of What Makes You Happy
22		16		Joy Division		Love Will Tear Us Apart
23		17		Change		A Lover's Holiday / Glow Of Love
24		NEW		E.L.O.		All Over The World
25		31		Grace Jones		Private Life
26		NEW		Piranhas		Tom Hark
27		19		Yellow Magic Orchestra		Theme From The Invaders
28		21		Joan Armatrading		Me Myself I
29		NEW		Kelly Marie		Feels Like I'm In Love
30		28		Gene Chandler		Does She Have A Friend
31		33		New Musik		Sanctuary
32		32		Jermaine Jackson		Burnin' Hot
33		34		Ultravox		Sleepwalk
34		14		UB40		My Way Of Thinking / I Think It's Going To Rain
35		36		John Foxx		Burning Car
36		26		Black Sabbath		Neon Knights
37		NEW		Mike Berry		The Sunshine Of Your Smile
38		29		Whispers		My Girl
39		NEW		Roger Daltrey		Free Me
40		NEW		Sue Wilkinson		You Gotta Be A Hustler

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".

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.

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).

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'.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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+

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

E.L.O.

All Over The World

Another single from the "Xanadu" soundtrack, I think this was played in a scene where everyone seemed to be on rollerskates. Good track, reached number 11.

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.

Piranhas

Tom Hark

Maybe we weren't being spoilt that much. The Piranhas reached number six with this cover of 'Elias And His Jive Flutes' number two hit from 1958. Ted Heath had also taken it to number 24 in 1958 (no, not THAT Ted Heath).

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.

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.

Kelly Marie

Feels Like I'm In Love

On Channel Four's Disco Inferno broadcast in 1998, Kelly was included in a small section of acts that were described as Disco Criminals. The facts are, this Ray Dorset composition spent two weeks at number one, spent 12 weeks in the 40, was third best selling single of the year, sounded a lot like Tina Charles, and the 12 inch was bloody good. Sadly for Kelly she would not become a superstar for two reasons,
1: She did not look anything like Debbie Harry or Olivia Newton John
2: NO ONE was going to take her seriously while she had those two male dancers in tow (ask the Boystown Gang !)
2 1/2: Oh Yeh, she had fake bagpipes on her third hit.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Mike Berry

The Sunshine Of Your Smile

This was Mike's first hit for over 17 years, and he peaked at number nine with it. His only other appearance inside the top ten was when "Don't You Think It's Time" made number six in January 1963. This wasn't quite Mike's last chart hit, but I can't help feeling that he was better suited to his role in the TV Sitcom 'Are You Being Served'.

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.

Roger Daltrey

Free Me

Track from the "McVicar" soundtrack, though why films have to be made that glorify dangerous criminals is beyond me (As in"The Krays" too). I did like this song though, I liked it a lot, even bought the soundtrack. Only reached number 39 though.

Sue Wilkinson

You Gotta Be A Hustler

Cheeky song from Sue that probably wouldn't have even been played on the radio a few years earlier. She even did a whole album of the stuff. This reached number 25.

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

Stiff Little Fingers

Back To Front

Number 49 for this quite melodic track that had a touch of the Skids about it.

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.

ON TO THE FOLLOWING WEEK
BACK TO THE PREVIOUS WEEK
BACK TO THE 1980 INDEX
THE REMEMBER WHEN ARCHIVES
GOLDEN DAYS INDEX

Email: nige@innotts.co.uk

Please be patient as you wait for my reply :-)
You will get one