REMEMBER WHEN - 1ST MARCH 1980

1980
Week 9
WEEK ENDING 1ST MARCH 1980

TOP 40 SINGLES

TW	LW
1	3	Blondie	Atomic
2	1	Kenny Rogers	Coward Of The County
3	2	Whispers	And The Beat Goes On
4	6	Cliff Richard	Carrie
5	9	Elvis Costello	I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down
6	14	Marti Webb	Take That Look Off Your Face
7	12	Michael Jackson	Rock With You
8	10	Tourists	So Good To Be Back Home Again
9	23	Fern Kinney	Together We Are Beautiful
10	5	Keith Michell	Captain Beaky
11	8	Ramones	Baby I Love You
12	16	Shadows	Riders In The Sky
13	4	Special A.K.A.	Too Much Too Young (E.P.)
14	7	Boomtown Rats	Someone's Looking At You
15	11	Nolans	I'm In The Mood For Dancing
16	18	Buggles	Living In The Plastic Age
17	25	Peter Gabriel	Games Without Frontiers
18	13	Jon And Vangelis	I Hear You Now
19	38	Police	So Lonely
20	NEW	Beat	Hands Off She's Mine
21	27	Jefferson Starship	Jane
22	30	Rainbow	All Night Long
23	NEW	David Bowie	Alabama Song
24	20	Queen	Save Me
25	28	Stiff Little Fingers	At The Edge
26	22	New Musik	Living By Numbers
27	21	Selecter	Three Minute Hero
28	31	Dave Edmunds	Singing The Blues
29	34	AC/DC	Touch Too Much
30	39	Captain And Tennille	Do That To Me One More Time
31	24	Kool And The Gang	Too Hot
32	26	Matchbox	Buzz Buzz A Diddle It
33	15	Regents	7Teen
34	NEW	Vapors	Turning Japanese
35	32	Donna Summer	On The Radio
36	37	Sammy Hagar	I've Done Everything For You
37	17	Styx	Babe
38	NEW	Iron Maiden	Running Free
39	33	John Foxx	Underpass
40	NEW	Gibson Brothers	Cuba / Better Do It Salsa

Blondie

Atomic

After the failure of "Union City Blue" to make the top ten, it came as something of a surprise when this entered the chart at number three. Naturally it then went to number one and spent two weeks there. On first listen to this track, I thought that it sounded like something the Shadows would have done (until Debbie began singing of course).
This was the fifth consecutive number one to reign for two weeks in 1980 (the first by Pink Floyd had also clocked up three weeks in '79). A further ten singles spent two weeks on top during 1980, and only three dropped after one week on top.

Kenny Rogers

Coward Of The County

A very worthy number one, and this highly listenable song spent two weeks there. It was Kenny's first major hit since his 1977 number one "Lucille", but he'd only have to wait 10 months for his next hit (his last solo).

Whispers

And The Beat Goes On

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.

Cliff Richard

Carrie

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 ?

Elvis Costello

I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down

This was the second of Elvis' three top ten hits, and this cover of a Sam & Dave song was easily his most 'poppy' sounding yet. It was originally meant to be released on 'Two Tone Records'. This situation came about because Elvis had been recording for 'Radar Records', but it had been closed down by it's parent company 'WEA'. Elvis did not want to sign to 'WEA' and felt so strongly about it that he said that he's rather not release any records at all. Elvis had recently produced the Specials' debut album, so Jerry Dammers offered to repay the favour by releasing an Elvis single on 'Two Tone'. It was about to be released when 'WEA' won an injunction which stopped the release (some copies got out and are worth a bit if you're daft enough to pay). It was eventually released on Elvis' own 'F-Beat' label and quickly went to number four. It's parent album 'Get Happy' contained twenty tracks and was, in my opinion, better than '79's 'Armed Forces' LP.

Marti Webb

Take That Look Off Your Face

I liked this a lot, it had a certain quality about it. It was from a musical titled "Tell Me On A Sunday", and I may be wrong about this, but I seem to recall it being a Television Musical rather than a stage show. It spent three weeks at number three.
Marti later blotted her copybook with me when she took her cover of Michael Jackson's "Ben" to number five in 1985, it wasn't very good.

Michael Jackson

Rock With You

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).

Tourists

So Good To Be Back Home Again

I've always thought that the 'Tourists' reached a peak before they became commercially successful. Having said that, this was certainly a big improvement on their cover of "I Only Want To Be With You" (Why did they do that ?). It reached number six and was from 'Reality Effect' which was the second of three albums they released in a 16 month period.

Fern Kinney

Together We Are Beautiful

Always reminded me of Janet Kay's "Silly Games" this one did, even though it was nothing like it really. It was a cover of a song that Steve Allan had taken to number 67 just over a year previous, but believe me, Fern's cover was much better. She spent a week at number one with it, but can be considered very unlucky to be deposed so soon by the first new entry at number one for over six years.

Keith Michell

Captain Beaky

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.

Ramones

Baby I Love You

And now my Mum liked a Ramones single, surely that wasn't supposed to happen. But this was the only 'real' hit that they ever had. So, this Ramones in Beach Boys mode (and produced by Phil Spector) made number eight, and Joey looked ridiculous in those sunglasses.

Shadows

Riders In The Sky

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.

Special A.K.A.

Too Much Too Young

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").

Boomtown Rats

Someone's Looking At You

The third hit single from their third and (in my opinion) best album. This returned them to the top ten after missing out with the previous single ("Diamond Smiles"). It spent a week at number four.

Nolans

I'm In The Mood For Dancing

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 !

Buggles

Living In The Plastic Age

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.

Peter Gabriel

Games Without Frontiers

Very different and very good was my opinion of this single. It took a while, but finally reached number four. In turn this helped his third album to (titled 'Peter Gabriel', just as the previous two were) reach number one.
Am I the only person to think that when he sings the name "Lottie" on this, he sounds like 'Ken Dodd' ?

Jon And Vangelis

I Hear You Now

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.

Police

So Lonely

This had failed to chart when originally released in October 1978, but just like "Roxanne" & "Can't Stand Losing You" it had been re-issued. This time it went to number six and gave them an excuse to film a pointless video on a train in Japan.
Yes, I know about the Sue Lawley thing !

Beat

Hand's Off She's Mine

The second hit for the Beat, and the first to be released on their own 'Go Feet' label. It kind of sounds better now than it did then, it reached number nine.

Jefferson Starship

Jane

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)' !

Rainbow

All Night Long

A second good single from what I think was the first heavy album I bought 'Down To Earth' (well, people called it heavy at the time). It had a slow start to it's chart run, but eventually peaked at number five.

David Bowie

Alabama Song

I remember hearing this for the first time on Radio One's 'Round Table' and couldn't believe what I was hearing. It was a song from the '20s (or maybe '30s) that went on about the Moon of Alabama and the need to find a whisky bar. Unbelievable, even from Bowie. Still, I thought it was the best thing he'd done for five years. It peaked at number 23, and gave us hope that David was moving away from the stale sound of his previous four albums, and he did.
This single featured a Guitar only version of "Space Oddity" on the B Side.

Queen

Save Me

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.

Stiff Little Fingers

At The Edge

"Back when I was younger they were talking at me".
So growled Jake Burns at the beginning of this, Stiff Little Fingers' biggest hit, a number 15 peak. For some reason, two months later, a friend of mine (Tony Waters) thought it highly amusing when I walked into the pool room of the Duke Of Wellington just as Jake uttered those immortal words.
The B.Side featured a rotten live version of "White Christmas" and a live version of Johnny Preston's "Running Bear" that was at least worth a listen.

New Musik

Living By Numbers

This song is now better known through it's use in TV Commercials, but this is how it started life. It peaked at number 13, and they followed it with two minor hits.

Selecter

Three Minute Hero

Not as good as "On My Radio", but pretty decent all the same. It was another of those songs that sounded really weird if you fell asleep while listening to the radio, and then woke while it was playing. It reached number 16.

Dave Edmunds

Singing The Blues

Quite a good cover of the Tommy Steele/Guy Mitchell number ones from 1957. It was Dave's last solo hit though and peaked at number 28.

AC/DC

Touch Too Much

This was only their second top 40 hit and only climbed as high as number 29. We didn't seem to like them very much while Bon Scott was handling the vocals. But during this single's run, Bon died after drinking too much. His replacement was Brian Johnson from 'Geordie', and the band went from strength to strength.

Captain And Tennille

Do That To Me One More Time

This was the hit that "You Never Done It Like That" should have been in 1978. But this was the only one of their singles that even came close to repeating the success they enjoyed in the States, it reached number seven.
It was ok, but sounded as if you had heard it before.

Kool And The Gang

Too Hot

This song had originally been on some copies of their previous single "Ladies Night", and that hampered the progress of this release a little. After entering at number 29, it only managed to rise to a peak of number 23. The song finally made the top ten when covered by 'Coolio' in 1996.

Matchbox

Buzz Buzz A Diddle It

The follow up to "Rockabilly Rebel" didn't do quite as well and peaked at number 22. Not as irritating as the previous one.

Regents

7Teen

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.

Vapors

Turning Japanese

This song is said to be about masturbation, but not too many people noticed at the time. Indeed the BBC obviously didn't notice as they played it to death. The Vapors had been very lucky in that they got their big break by supporting the Jam on tour. This single spent nine weeks in the top 40 and peaked at number three. A few more singles followed, including the excellent "Jimmie Jones", but they never made the top 40 again.

Donna Summer

On The Radio

Another Donna Summer single that surprisingly didn't become a bigger hit. This one peaked on it's debut at number 32. As well as being the title track of Donna's latest compilation album (a double that was later released as two single albums), it was also the theme song from the film "Foxes". Donna would have to wait until 1982 for her next top 40 entry.

Sammy Hagar

I've Done Everything For You

I liked this one a lot, but it didn't do much. Two weeks in the chart and a peak of number 36, and that's the sum total of Sammy's solo top 40 adventures.
He was of course lead vocalist with Van Halen when they hit the top ten in Bucks Fizz mode with "Why Can't This Be Love" in 1986.

Styx

Babe

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.

Iron Maiden

Running Free

Horrible debut hit from a band that would later be regarded as the world's best heavy metal band. It spent just two weeks in the chart, peaking at number 34.

John Foxx

Underpass

"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.

Gibson Brothers

Cuba / Better Do It Salsa

A re-release of their number 41 hit from a year previous coupled with a similar sounding track called "Better Do It Salsa". It wasn't as good as their recent two hits, that's probably why it wasn't a top 40 hit first time around. This time it peaked at number 12.

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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