REMEMBER WHEN - 13TH SEPTEMBER 1980

TW	.......	LW	.......		.......
1		3		Kelly Marie		Feels Like I'm In Love
2		1		Jam		Start
3		2		David Bowie		Ashes To Ashes
4		26		Randy Crawford		One Day I'll Fly Away
5		5		Hazel O'Connor		Eighth Day
6		4		Sheena Easton		9 To 5
7		17		Elvis Presley		It's Only Love / Beyond The Reef
8		10		Cliff Richard		Dreamin'
9		7		Piranhas		Tom Hark
10		13		Sheena Easton		Modern Girl
11		9		Mike Berry		The Sunshine Of Your Smile
12		6		Gary Numan		I Die You Die
13		12		Clash		Bank Robber
14		11		Village People		Can't Stop The Music
15		20		Billy Joel		It's Still Rock And Roll To Me
16		8		Abba		The Winner Takes It All
17		24		Black Sabbath		Paranoid
18		NEW		Queen		Another One Bites The Dust
19		15		Gap Band		Oops Upside Your Head
20		22		Nick Straker Band		A Walk In The Park
21		21		Shakin' Stevens		Marie Marie
22		27		Beat		Best Friend / Stand Down Margaret
23		14		Diana Ross		Upside Down
24		32		Shalamar		I Owe You One
25		25		Ian Dury		I Want To Be Straight
26		31		Judas Priest		United
27		35		Split Enz		I Got You
28		16		George Benson		Give Me The Night
29		18		E.L.O.		All Over The World
30		NEW		Stevie Wonder		Masterblaster (Jammin')
31		23		Tom Browne		Funkin' For Jamaica (N.Y.)
32		33		Skids		Circus Games
33		19		Roxy Music		Oh Yeah (On The Radio)
34		34		Olivia Newton John		Magic
35		NEW		Gladys Knight		Taste Of Bitter Love
36		NEW		Madness		Baggy Trousers
37		29		Sue Wilkinson		You Gotta Be A Hustler
38		NEW		Change		Searching
39		NEW		XTC		Generals And Majors / Don't Lose Your Temper
40		NEW		Splodgenessabounds		Two Little Boys / Horse

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.

What were the Jam doing ?
They had finally got the commercial success they deserved with the previous "Going Underground" single, but then they released this. It used the exact same riff as the Beatles' "Taxman", and while that kind of thing may be considered the height creativity these days, it was considered a little naughty back then.
As far as the success of the single went, it didn't really matter. At that time they could record any old rubbish and it was sure to go to number one, and sure enough, it did manage a single week at the top. On the other hand, the B Side was a much better song titled "Liza Radley" (Eleanor Rigby anyone ?).

This single was complimented by one of the best video promos ever made. This single also saw a considerable upturn in fortunes for him after his last single "Alabama Song" had only reached number 23. This one spent two weeks at the top. But David is no stranger to this type of behavior. He's had three solo number one singles, and each one of them has been the follow up to a single that hasn't really done 'that' well (18, 23, 26).
There's something else about this single though. My Nana (Grandmother) passed away on Saturday August 9th 1980. Just three days later, this single entered the chart. As if that wasn't enough, two weeks later the highest new entry was Gary Numan's "I Die You Die", and two weeks later the highest new entry honours went to Queen with "Another One Bites the Dust". Conspiracy ?
Or did Black Sabbath get it right when "Paranoid" re-entered the chart the week after Bowie ?

And on to someone who could so easily have been as big as Whitney Houston, but instead spent the next six years grabbing the occasional slice of success. This was the biggest of them all, and was taken from the under-rated 'Last Night At Danceland album'. It spent two weeks at number two and has either already spawned a dance remix, or it will soon enough. Nicole Kidman covered this song on the "Moulin Rouge" soundtrack in 2001.

The trend for making music orientated films that had followed Saturday Night Fever and Grease continued into 1980 with 'Xanadu', 'Can't Stop The Music' and the best of the bunch 'Breaking Glass', from which this song came. The principle characters were Phil ("Park Life") Daniels and the singer of this song, Hazel O' Connor. It made an instant star out of Hazel, and she deserved it for this number five peaking single alone. Some kind of rivalry grew between Hazel and Toyah, but one year and just two more hits later, most had forgotten about Hazel. She was still performing in the mid 90s and we had tickets to see her at Notts County football club's social club. But we had a really bad day with lots of expense and so didn't bother going.

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'.

If we discount "Way Down" on account of the fact that it was a single going nowhere until it shot to number one after Elvis died, then this was Elvis's first proper top three hit since "The Wonder Of You" had been at number one in 1970. I'm not sure where or when it actually came from, but it peaked at number three and was rather a nice song. Don't know about "Beyond The Reef", I've never bothered to listen to it.

Since "We Don't Talk Anymore" had taken Cliff to number one 12 months previous, he had again become a chart regular. This was just a run of the mill Cliff song that received loads of airplay on both Radios One & Two and peaked at number eight. I got fed up of hearing it at the time, but it seems OK now.

Sheena hit the big time after being the subject of a TV show titled 'The Big Time'. Her first single had been this one, but it had only managed to get as high as number 56. But after the success of the second single, it had been re-promoted and had entered the top 40 the same week that "9 To 5" had reached number three. It went on to peak at number eight.

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'.

For reasons that I can't remember, this was a long awaited release. Surprising then that there wasn't really anything special about it. It certainly didn't have me queuing outside Woollies on the day of release (I waited for it's debut in the bargain bin). Still, I suppose that we were getting spoilt in those days and in hindsight it was better than just OK. It peaked at number 12.

Surprisingly the Village People were not included in the 'Disco Criminals' section of Channel Four's 'Disco Inferno'. Maybe it's because the wally-like "YMCA" & "In The Navy" had been followed by "Go West" and this final hit. It was the title track from their film and not a bad song at all. It just failed to reach the top ten by peaking at number Eleven. Not sure about "Milkshake" on the B Side though.

It was very rare that Billy could get more than one big UK hit single from any of his albums, and this was his hit from the excellent 'Glass Houses' album. In the words of this song, Billy seemed to be saying that it doesn't matter what you call it, Punk, New Wave, Hard Rock or whatever, it's still Rock & Roll. I wonder what he thinks these days. Billy peaked at number 14.

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".

Brilliant ! One of the best singles of not only the 70's, but (thanks to this re-issue) the 80's too. One of the most recognisable set of opening bars to a song ever, and a true classic. Yes, it's one of my favourite songs of all time, sitting right up there alongside "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Blue Monday", "The Message" & "A Day In The Life". It had originally been a number four hit in 1970, but had now been re-released to cash in on the new wave of heavy metal, and the renewed interest in the band that were now without the sacked Ozzy Osbourne. This time around it reached a creditable number 14, and it's 12 weeks in the chart took it to a total of 30 weeks. Black Sabbath were featured on 'Rock Family Trees' a few years back, and I was surprised to learn that they'd appeared on 'Live Aid'. This is news to me as I didn't see them and I thought I had it all on tape. I wonder if by any chance they appeared right after The Who while technical difficulties were being experienced. Something that made me laugh but in retrospect also sad, is that on a 1998 edition of 'Never Mind The Buzzcocks', current Radio One DJ Chris Moyles failed to recognise the opening bars to this song. Where do Radio One get these people ?

Seven of the previous eight Queen albums had all spawned a maximum of two single releases (Day At The Races belatedly spawned a third after the second failed to make the top thirty), but 'The Game' now boasted four top 20 hits. With this John Deacon written song, Queen had finally joined people like the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney & David Bowie in trying their hand at disco. This song laid the foundations for their under-rated 1982 album 'Hot Space'. Freddie and the boys would always bring the house down when performing this number seven peaking song live. But even though I'm a big Queen fan, I have to admit that the bass line owes more than a little to Chic's "Good Times".

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.

I have only seen one other act looking so chuffed with themselves that they were appearing on Top Of The Pops, that was Bass-O-Matic who hit with "Fascinating Rhythm" in 1990. Funny how neither act managed another top 40 hit. This was a good single that spent three weeks at number 20 and nine weeks inside the top 40. I preferred his follow up "Leaving On The Midnight Train" (I Know - yet another bloody midnight train).

Shaky's first ever top 20 hit, and it peaked at number 19. Shaky caused me great embarrassment a few years ago. I bought his 'Greatest Hits' cassette for 99p a few years ago and my Hi Fi tape deck decided to stop functioning while that tape was inside it. Try as I might, I just couldn't get the thing out. So a few months later, I finally plucked up the courage to take it for repair (I was so embarrassed). The man got the tape out and handed it to me with a smirk on his face, but said that he couldn't do anything with the tape deck. So I went through all that for nothing !

"Best Friend" was a good typical Beat song and this number 22 hit is probably remembered by very few. On the other hand "Stand Down Margaret" was a vicious attack on the then Prime Minister 'Margaret Thatcher'. It appears that our 'lovely' Prime Minister didn't listen to the radio much back then. But ten years later she was listening to Alan Freeman on a Sunday afternoon playing the chart from 1980. The rest is history.

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.

We could do with more like Shalamar around today. All of their singles were aimed at the clubs, but they were also good to just listen to. There was no aggression in them, it wouldn't annoy the neighbours too much if you played them too loud. Jody, Howard and Jeffrey were Angels sent from above to brighten up our little lives. They had amazingly failed to hit the top 40 earlier in the year with "The Second Time Around" & "Right In The Socket". But now they were having their biggest hit to date with this number 13 peaking single. They had to wait a further 18 months before they reached the top ten for the first time.

After a year away, Ian had returned with a single that had quite an ironic title considering his disability. But it wasn't about that, and neither was it about his sexuality. No, this number 22 peaking single was about having a straight mind, free from the effects of drugs and drink. And I always thought that Ian looked as though he often used a pint and a couple of dodgy substances.

There is no truth in the rumour that Sky Television have acquired the exclusive rights to play this single. Actually over the years since, there have no doubt been quite a few Manchester United fans left disappointed when learning that the United supported by Judas Priest are Sheffield United. That's why Rob Halford inserted a backwards message into the song telling Rupert Murdoch to try and ruin that club over in Manchester (bloody hell, I'm on form today !). Unable to match the top 20 placings of their previous two hits, this could only reach number 26. Three weeks later Judas Priest's top 40 career was over.

People may be surprised to learn that this single used to get played a lot in Clubs (at least in the ones that I frequented). It was the only hit for the band that contained the Finn brothers of later Crowded House fame. After a long climb it eventually peaked at number twelve and was very good.

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).

After entering the chart at number 30, this single made a massive climb to number four. This didn't normally happen to Stevie Wonder singles, but in this case there is a simple explanation, it's because this song was pure class and just had to happen. A tribute to Bob Marley, this single peaked at number two a fortnight later. This was a great favourite on the jukebox at the Duke Of Wellington in Ruabon.

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.

I was going to be rude about this, but I can't because I like it really. It's just that I got so fed up of hearing it at the time, talk about overkill. It went on to spend two weeks at number three and become their biggest hit so far spending 11 weeks in the 40. If I remember correctly it was the ninth best selling single of the year.

Another single that reminds me of my early clubbing days. I hadn't thought their previous hit "A Lover's Holiday" was anything to write home about, but this was different. It had something about it that just 'walloped you on the head and said "I'm a classy song" '. Sadly it only climbed to number 11.

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.