REMEMBER WHEN - 9TH FEBRUARY 1980

TW	LW
1	1	Special A.K.A.	Too Much Too Young (E.P.)
2	10	Kenny Rogers	Coward Of The County
3	4	Nolans	I'm In The Mood For Dancing
4	3	Madness	My Girl
5	5	Joe Jackson	It's Different For Girls
6	7	Styx	Babe
7	2	Pretenders	Brass In Pocket
8	14	Boomtown Rats	Someone's Looking At You
9	6	Billy Preston & Syreeta	With You I'm Born Again
10	9	Booker T And The MGs	Green Onions
11	12	Regents	7Teen
12	15	Jon And Vangelis	I Hear You Now
13	20	New Musik	Living By Numbers
14	8	K.C. & The Sunshine Band	Please Don't Go
15	40	Keith Michell	Captain Beaky
16	11	Dollar	I Wanna Hold Your Hand
17	13	Dr. Hook	Better Love Next Time
18	37	Whispers	And The Beat Goes On
19	18	Sheila B. Devotion	Spacer
20	30	Queen	Save Me
21	29	Selecter	Three Minute Hero
22	19	Azymuth	Jazz Carnival
23	27	Rupert Holmes	Escape (The Pina Colada Song)
24	22	Matchbox	Buzz Buzz A Diddle It
25	36	Ramones	Baby I Love You
26	NEW	Shadows	Riders In The Sky
27	NEW	Cliff Richard	Carrie
28	35	Buggles	Living In The Plastic Age
29	23	Kool And The Gang	Too Hot
30	31	Jefferson Starship	Jane
31	21	Bee Gees	Spirits (Having Flown)
32	25	Positive Force	We Got The Funk
33	NEW	John Foxx	Underpass
34	16	Clash	London Calling
35	NEW	Michael Jackson	Rock With You
36	32	Sad Cafe	Strange Little Girl
37	17	Beat	Tears Of A Clown
38	34	Suzi Quatro	Mama's Boy
39	NEW	Brass Construction	Music Makes You Feel Like Dancing
40	NEW	Dexy's Midnight Runners	Dance Stance

The third single from the original 'Two Tone' band surprisingly entered at number 15 and then leapt straight to number one the following week for a two week stay. It was a speeded up version of a track from their eponymous debut album, and caused quite a bit of controversy. Eventually, Radio One chose to play it but cut it just short of the last line ("Try wearing a cap").

Such a promising start to the decade was complimented by the transformation of these sisters from 'Grandparents favourites' into chart stars. They would have seven top twenty hits over the next two years, but this was the biggest, and spent two weeks at number three. Were they to be around now, The Nolans would no doubt be scorned upon in much the same way as the Spice Girls, Steps and boy bands are. But that would be a pity as these girls are gifted with something that has sadly become less important as each year rolls by, They are very talented Singers !

Could this really be the band that had recently given us "The Prince" and "One Step Beyond" ?
Yes it was. I was quite surprised at how good this actually was. It was the third hit in four months for Madness, and the biggest to date. It had just missed the top 40 in it's first week, but had then taken a huge leap into the 40 at number 14. Two weeks later it was spending the first of two weeks at number three. They would still have to wait a further two years before reaching number one, but only one of the eight singles released between now and then would fail to reach the top ten (and that was possibly due to problems with the compiling of the chart in early '82). Four years later the gender of the song was changed as Tracey Ullman took "My Guy" to number 23, and then in 1992 Madness reverted back to the original as a re-issue went to number 27.

A classic single from Joe, and the one that would be his biggest hit after peaking at number five. With two hit singles in six months to his credit, Joe looked to have a long successful chart career to look forward to. But, his only other hit single was to come three years later.
Isn't it depressing when you realise how many years have passed since we were listening to this on the Top 40 show ?

It had taken over seven years and eight albums, but Styx were finally having their first UK hit. They were a band very much in the same mould as 'Reo Speedwagon', and had been formed in 1964 as 'The Tradewinds'. This American number one single surprisingly had to settle for a number six peak in the UK, and to date the band have not entered the UK top 40 again.

The two previous singles by the Pretenders (Stop Your Sobbing & Kid) had peaked at numbers 34 & 33. When this single climbed just three places from 33 to 30 in the middle of December, it looked as though it wasn't going to fare much better. But it then amazingly climbed 20 places to number ten, before kicking off the New Year by climbing to five, to three and then finally to number one. As was the case with the first five number ones of 1980 (and with a further nine of that year's number ones), it stayed on top for two weeks. It then quickly dropped down the chart and it's last week on the chart was at number 19.

A very fast climber up the chart had looked odds on to hit number one after it's leap from 11 to 2. But it wasn't to be and it started to drop the following week. This was Billy's first appearance on the chart since the re-issued "Get Back" by 'The Beatles with Billy Preston' had gone to number 28 in 1976. Billy has only ever had one solo UK top 40 hit, and that was "That's The Way God Planned It", a number 11 hit in 1969.
Syreeta (for people who don't know, Stevie Wonder's ex wife) had two solo hits in 1975, the biggest being "Your Kiss Is Sweet" a number 12 hit. Neither hit the chart again after this big hit, though they did just miss out on a chart placing shortly afterwards when they again teamed up for the highly infectious "It Will Come In Time".

Booker T And The MG's had originally released this single in 1962, when it had reached number two in the USA, but failed to chart at all in the UK. They had to wait until the 1968 release of "Soul Limbo" before finally cracking the UK chart albeit only a number 30 peak. Over the following eight months, they had two further hits, the biggest being the number four "Time Is Tight". Now over ten years later, the re-emergence of the mods (and the Quadrophenia movie) had prompted Atlantic records to re-issue this single, and it peaked at number seven. Not a lot has been heard of Booker T chartwise since then, but there have been a few recent 'remixes' with his name stamped on them.

These one hit wonders peaked at number 11 with this quirky song and no, they didn't spend a week at number 17.
Whatever happened to these ?
I asked that question in my 1999 newsgroup posting of the chart for 26th January 1980,and no-one seemed to know. The following week Steve Wright not only featured the song on Top Of The Pops 2, but also quoted "No one seems to know much about the Regents". This wasn't the first or last time that Top Of The Pops 2 had included a track that I had featured in the days when I did a different year each week. , All I can say is that I'm very honoured if someone I hold in such high regard for not only his days with the 'then' fantastic Radio One, but for the shows that he does now too is a reader of my humble web site or newsgroup postings. Keep up the good work Steve.

Something of a surprise pairing at the time. Jon Anderson was the former vocalist with 'Yes', while his new partner was a synthesizer wizard who's major claim to fame (as far as we were concerned) was writing music that was used with ice skating quite a lot (though he had with Demis Roussos also been a member of Aphrodite's Child who'd had a minor hit with "Rain And Tears" in 1968). It worked, and this single climbed to number eight.

This was Howie and the boys' biggest hit to date. Completely different sounding to their eight previous hits, which was a good move for them as people seemed to be tiring of their brand of disco music judging by the chart positions of their last four hits (and the ones that were not hits). Even so, they would have to wait over three years before they hit the chart again, and that was with their number one smash "Give It Up". "Please Don't Go" was revived and given the dance treatment by KWS in 1992 and taken to number one, but it isn't the only KC song to have been revived over the years. "That's The Way (I Like It)" was taken to number 22 by 'Dead Or Alive' in 1984, and was charting again early in 1998, courtesy of a cover by 'Clock'. At the same time, a cover of "Get Down Tonight" renamed "Bamboogie" was taken to the upper reaches of the chart thanks to 'Bamboo'.

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.

I always had a soft spot for Dollar, and this cover of (what was at the time) the second biggest selling single in the UK, was done in such a way that it barely resembled the Beatles original. After entering the chart at number 39 just before Christmas and obviously still there in the week that no chart was published, it then dropped out in the first new chart of the year. It then re-entered at number 30 and just two weels later had made it to number nine. But that was as far as it got. It was Dollar's fourth hit in the space of a year, but they would have to wait until August 1981 for their next one.

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.

Two years on from the disco cover of "Singing In The Rain", the beautiful Sheila was back with a more polished sound courtesy of the 'Chic' organization. This single was a very slow climber and took nine weeks to reach it's peak of number 18, take a look at it's chart run, 35-37-33-33-33-28-22-20-18-19-30.

Probably a little 'too Queen' if you get my meaning, but I loved it all the same. Seems a really sad song now though for two reasons. I have no need to mention the obvious one of those reasons, and I'd rather not dwell on the reason why I listened to it a lot in 1983. It reached number 11 in it's third week, but only spent two further weeks in the top 40.

This was the single that ended the seventies at number one in the States. What at first seems an unremarkable song to have such an honour, is actually a very listenable and well written song, and I don't find it as crass as many others do. It didn't repeat anything like it's American success over here, and it struggled to peak at number 23.

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.

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 ?

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.

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)' !

The title track of the Bee Gees album that had been released almost 12 months earlier had seen a very belated release. Much of the reason for this was that it was included on a recently released 'Bee Gees Greatest' compilation. But, what was the best track on the album for me, could only get as high as number 16 in the singles chart. Around the time that the track had originally been available, there had been talk in the music press about a film starring the Bee Gees called 'Spirits', I wonder if it ever saw the light of day ?
The Bee Gees didn't hit the top 40 again until the Autumn of 1987, when they returned with the number one "You Win Again".

The second hit for 'Sugarhill Records' had a couple of weeks in the bottom ten of the top 40 before taking an impressive leap from 32 to number 18. It surprisingly fell to number 25 the following week and kept falling. It wasn't anything above an average dance track, but was in fact sampled four months later on a single called "Calibre Cuts". That particular single could only make number 75 for two weeks and quite frankly, even though I'm guilty of helping it to chart (I was very 'with it' back then) it was a bit of a mess.

"He's copying Gary Numan ! "
Just how many times did you hear that ?
You just felt like calling them ignorant sods, but it wasn't their fault that they had better things to do than read the music press every week. So we couldn't really blame them for it. Anyway, I once said that Jan And Dean copied the Beach Boys (as if anyone in their right mind would want to).
So yes, John had been the singer with Ultravox in the days when they didn't appeal to many people (I did later get one of those early albums, but I decided not to use the 'S' word to describe it's content). John left to be replaced by Midge Ure, and all in all it seemed to be a sensible move for all concerned. John came along with this and three or four other good singles too, and we all know what happened to Ultravox. So, this song that was not called "Underpants" reached number 31, which was the highest he ever got.

This track had the honour of being the first song heard on Top Of The Pops in the Eighties. They didn't actually appear of course, but it was played as the chart was counted down at the beginning. In reaching number 11, it also held the honour of being the Clash's highest charting single until the re-release of "Should I Stay Or Should I Go" in 1991. It's parent album (also titled "London Calling") was released in time to feature on the last Album chart of the '70's and is many people's choice as the best album of the '80's (others choose it as their best of the '70's). Personally, I don't find it to be anything more than an average album, I much prefer the first two albums.

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).

The follow up to their huge "Everyday Hurts" single had nothing in common with the former, except that they both came from the excellent 'Facades' album. It resembled the sound of 'Inxs' from a few years later (as did their next single), and had nothing like the same success peaking at number 32.

Another release from the 'Two Tone' label, and one that peaked at number six. This was of course a Ska cover of the Smokey Robinson And The Miracles hit, and was the first of seven top 40 hits for the band in an eighteen month period. Rather annoyingly they had to change their name to 'English Beat' for the release of their records in the States to avoid confusion with another band.

Parts of this remind me of "Sorrow" (Merseys, David Bowie) only much faster. But if you didn't actually buy it, you won't have the foggiest idea what I'm talking about. It only spent two weeks in the chart, and peaked at number 34 on it's debut. After this, that was that. A great follow up called "I've Never Been In Love", singles on the 'Dreamland' label "Rock Hard" & a cover of "Glad All Over", and a switch to Polydor with the "Heart Of Stone" single, but no more top 40 hits.

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.