REMEMBER WHEN - 9TH MAY 1981

1981
Week 19
WEEK ENDING 9TH MAY 1981
TOP 40 SINGLES

TW	LW
1	NEW	Adam And The Ants	Stand And Deliver
2	3	Starsound	Stars On 45
3	2	Ennio Morricone	Chi Mai
4	1	Bucks Fizz	Making Your Mind Up
5	39	Shakin' Stevens	You Drive Me Crazy
6	5	Madness	Grey Day
7	4	Sugar Minott	Good Thing Going
8	6	Jacksons	Can You Feel It
9	12	Nolans	Attention To Me
10	13	Spandau Ballet	Musclebound / Glow
11	8	Graham Bonnet	Night Games
12	14	Keith Marshall	Only Crying
13	18	Eddy Grant	Can't Get Enough Of You
14	11	Whispers	It's A Love Thing
15	26	Barry Manilow	Bermuda Triangle
16	15	Saxon	And The Bands Played On
17	25	Whitesnake	Don't Break My Heart Again
18	16	Bad Manners	Just A Feeling
19	7	Shakin' Stevens	This Ole House
20	9	Landscape	Einstein A Go-Go
21	29	Reo Speedwagon	Keep On Loving You
22	37	Ten Pole Tudor	Swords Of A Thousand Men
23	17	Gillan	New Orleans
24	27	Quincy Jones	Ai No Corrida
25	10	Stevie Wonder	Lately
26	31	Strat Cats	Stray Cat Strut
27	NEW	Sheena Easton	When He Shines
28	NEW	Thin Lizzy	Killers Live (EP)
29	28	Department S	Is Vic There
30	NEW	Teardrop Explodes	Treason (It's Just A Story)
31	22	Beat	Drowning / All Out To Get You
32	NEW	Kim Wilde	Chequered Love
33	20	Hazel O'Connor	D-Days
34	NEW	Human League	Sound Of The Crowd
35	24	Public Image Limited	Flowers Of Romance
36	NEW	Undertones	It's Going To Happen
37	30	Shalamar	Make That Move
38	34	Clash	The Magnificent Seven
39	38	Level 42	Love Games
40	19	Linx	Intuition

Adam And The Ants

Stand And Deliver

Adam And The Ants had burst onto the scene with five top 40 hits in the previous six months. So, it was no real surprise when "Stand And Deliver" crashed straight in at number one. It's five week stay at number one was the longest for a single in 1981. It was also the third single to enter the chart at number one in just over a year.
The promo for this was highly entertaining, and the Space Invaders machine in the medieval banqueting hall was a nice touch.

Starsound

Stars On 45

One weeks at number two and four weeks at number three for this medley of Beatles songs sang by session musicians under the guidance of Dutch producer 'Jaap Eggermont'. This all started when a bootleg 12 inch titled "Bits And Pieces" began circulating through the discos of Europe. "Bits And Pieces" was one of the earliest examples of what we call sampling today. The said Beatles songs, along with a snatch of "Last Train To London" by ELO, plus "Boogie Nights", "Funkytown", "Video Killed The Radio Star" and a few others were all put together in a medley and aided by a drum machine. Just for extra effect a song about smoking 'marijuana' was stuck on the end. Of course, sampling was illegal in those days (should be now too, judging by the current music scene), so Jaap had a brainwave, recorded most of it with session musicians and a new craze was born. Incidentally, the first time I ever visited a record fair was when I discovered one by accident in Liverpool, December 1983. While there, I picked up the original bootleg 12inch for just 30p, and yes, it's better than the Starsound version. Having said that, I did buy all of the Starsound 12 inch singles and two of the albums.

Ennio Morricone

Chi Mai (Theme From The Life And Times Of Lloyd George)

This beautiful instrumental from the man who gave us the music in all the best spaghetti westerns, was a hit largely due to it being used as the title music for a TV series named 'The Life And Times Of David Lloyd George'. It reached number two.

Bucks Fizz

Making Your Mind Up

The Eurovision winner of that year Bucks Fizz, spent three weeks at the top. They were formed especially for the Eurovision song contest, but continued to chart for seven years. Cheryl Baker said in a late '90s interview that having been with Euro hopefuls Coco in 1978, she had given up the music biz and gone back to being a secretary (I think), but then came out of retirement for one last crack. She said that if they had not won the contest, the band would have immediately split. She also said that she hadn't seen former member Jay Aston for many years, and doesn't care ! In my opinion Bucks Fizz were treated very unfairly by the music fascists. They had some brilliant catchy tunes. And so what if they couldn't play instruments, I could name quite a few 'music fascist approved' acts who can't sing (see UK newsgroups circa 1997), and unfortunately do not take the wise option of recruiting session singers *lol*
Anyway, Bobby Gee is the only original member still with the group, I saw them perform at the 'What A Weekend' festival in Wollaton Park, here in Nottingham in May 1998.

Shakin' Stevens

You Drive Me Crazy

Shakin Stevens spent four weeks at number two with this. If Adam And The Ants were the band of 1981, then Shaky was easily the solo artist of the year.
From May 1981 until February of the following year, I did a little bit of waiting tables and washing up in the evenings at a small Chinese restaurant in my home village of Ruabon. It wasn't so much for the money (I already had a day job), but more for the money I saved from having something else to do instead of going to the pub every night. Going to the pub had started to become a tedious affair once the initial euphoria of being legally old enough to consume alcohol had died down. For no apparent reason, non UK citizens have a very romantic view of 'The English Pub'. The truth is, they are usually either particularly dull places, occupied by regulars who sit in the same seats each evening, having the same conversations night after night. But most have now become extremely noisy places where you can't have a conversation with anyone above the knob head Ibiza music unless you're prepared to shout all evening. When the weekend arrives, the conversations take a new slant, namely "How many have you had ?". At this point the men claim to have consumed more alcohol that they actually have in an attempt to give the impression that they can 'hold their beer' and so prove their manhood ! On a Sunday morning, claiming that you have short term amnesia concerning the previous evening marks a highly successful Saturday night. Rather immature really !
Back to the Chinese, Andy and Jane were more friends than employers, and I really enjoyed my time there. The reason I'm mentioning this, is the restaurant had a juke box, and this song was one that was played over and over again, particularly by a contract worker from South Wales who came in early every evening. Incidentally, Andy and Jane left the restaurant to go and live in the Sudbury area of Suffolk early in 1982. I had a phone number for them but lost it before I could phone them. Their surname was Tsui (sp), and the eldest son 'Samuel' would be about 23 or so now, so if anyone knows them, please say hello from me, I'd love to get in touch.

Madness

Grey Day

Madness were having their eighth hit since September 1979. "Grey Day" wasn't as nutty as previous efforts and reached number four.

Sugar Minott

Good Thing Going

"Good Thing Going" had previously been recorded by Michael Jackson and released on his 1972 album "Ben", and would turn up on the b side of Michael's next single. This reggae version grated after a while and reached number four.

Jacksons

Can You Feel It

This was a very slow climber, taking nine weeks to reach number six, and totalling 13 weeks in the chart. If the video had been completed in time for the chart run, it may have reached number one, but it wasn't shown on British TV until well after the single's demise. Such a shame that the 1998 bastardisation of the song peaked higher in the chart than the original, number one actually.

Nolans

Attention To Me

A year on from their big breakthrough and a fifth top 12 hit. This was the last to make the top ten though and it made hard work of getting there. It peaked at number nine in it's eighth chart week. It only stayed in the chart for a further two weeks after that.

Spandau Ballet

Musclebound / Glow

"Musclebound" was nothing special, but "Glow" wasn't a bad song at all. This third hit in less than five months took them into the top ten for a second time when it peaked at ten.

Graham Bonnet

Night Games

Having led Rainbow on the magnificant "Down To Earth" album before being sacked by Ritchie Blackmore, it was now time for Graham to make another Rainbow single, but without his former band mates. This was better than anything Rainbow did without him, and peaked at number six.
I always wondered about the line "He takes his pleasure in strange ways". I wondered if he was referring to someone who was maybe a bit of a perv, or was it someone who spends a lot of time in Strangeways prison ?
BTW - This song was available as a free flexi single with the magazine 'Flexipop' at the same time as it's release.

Keith Marshall

Only Crying

Keith Marshall reached number 12 and spent nine weeks in the top 40 with this. Many think "Only Crying" was Keiths only hit, but they'd be slightly wrong. Keith was formerly the lead vocalist with Glam Rock band 'Hello', and had two top ten hits in the mid 70's with "Tell Him" & "New York Groove".

Eddy Grant

Can't Get Enough Of You

Eddy Grant was having his third solo hit with the number 13 peaking "Can't Get Enough Of You". This was the second of three consecutive top 40 hits for Eddy, the only time that he ever managed a hat trick.

Whispers

It's A Love Thing

Almost as good as 1980's "As The Beat Goes On", but it fell seven places short of the number two peak enjoyed by their biggest hit. That was almost it for the Whispers. All they managed afterwards was a brief top 40 appearance in 1987 with "Rock Steady".

Barry Manilow

Bermuda Triangle

A potentially good song that is spoilt by some extremely dodgy lyrics (Gotta see it from my angle, Bermuda Triangle ! ). Very catchy all the same. It reached number 15.

Whitesnake

Don't Break My Heart Again

Quite a good track, but maybe not as different to "Fool For Your Loving" as it should have been. I saw Whitesnake live at Deeside Leisure Centre while this was charting. I wasn't really that sure I wanted to see them, but Paul Evans (not the one who sang about telephone answering machines) persuaded me to go. They were good, even the songs that I'd not heard before sounded good. I still have the ticket stub and two T shirts I bought that night. I doubt that the T shirts would fit me now, the stub might though.
It reached number 17.

Saxon

And The Bands Played On

Another great single from Saxon. This one was a tribute to the Castle Donnington Monsters Of Rock Festival, and their biggest hit, reaching number 12.

Bad Manners

Just A Feeling

Boring single from Bad Manners. It reached number 13.

Shakin' Stevens

This Ole House

I was never over keen on Shaky, though most of his singles seem much better now than they did at the time. I suppose he did what he did very well, but I didn't like what he did (if you get my drift). I hated this one with a passion, so naturally it became his first major hit and spent three weeks at number one.

Landscape

Einstein A Go-Go

Landscape had been around for a while before this first hit. Their first single "U2XME1X2MUCH" had been released in February 1978, and had been followed by an album and four other singles before they finally achieved this hit. One of those singles "The Electronic Bride" needed a guitar, but none of the band could play one. So they improvised with an electric trombone, and it made a damn good guitar.
This single was taken from the album "From The Tearooms Of Mars To The Hellholes Of Uranus", the first album where a member of Landscape actually sang. Richard Burgess was chosen to handle the vocals as he was the only one with any experience.
This single began with a recording of phone calls they made trying to get in touch with the then US president "Ronald Reagan". It was the biggest of their two hit singles and reached number five.
Thanks to Peter Bibbs for most of the Landscape history.

Reo Speedwagon

Keep On Loving You

Reo Speedwagon peaked at number seven with this, their only top ten hit. "Keep On Loving You" was taken from the huge album "Hi Infidelity" which spent something like 15 weeks on top of the US album chart. Something that always springs to mind when I hear the name 'REO Speedwagon' is something that a UK DJ/TV presenter named Richard Skinner said when going through a chart rundown on 'Whistle Test' in 1985. He said, "REO Speedwagon, the most exciting thing about them is their name".

Ten Pole Tudor

Swords Of A Thousand Men

Ten Pole Tudor was having the first 'unshared' hit of his career with the number six peaking "Swords Of A Thousand Men". I say unshared because his "Who Killed Bambi" was a double A side with "Silly Thing" by the Sex Pistols, and "Rock Around The Clock" was a double A with "Rock And Roll Swindle", also by the Pistols. Both were hits in 1979 and were not the work of a musical genius, this was much better if not brilliant.

Gillan

New Orleans

Tragic rock cover of a classic rock 'n' roll song. It took six weeks to reach number 17.

Quincy Jones

Ai No Corrida

Quincy Jones, fresh from producing Michael Jackson's major breakthrough album, 'Off The Wall' had recorded an album of his own. The first hit single from "The Dude" was "Ai No Corrida" and featured 'Dune' on vocals. It was a good poppy disco track, peaked at number 14 and was the first song with a Japanese title to chart since Kyu Sakamoto's "Sukiyaki" 18 years earlier.

Stevie Wonder

Lately

A third single from the wonderful "Hotter Than July" album, and the second of three top three hits from it. This spent two weeks at number three and spent ten weeks in the top 40.
There was also a reggae cover of this out at this time by Rudy Grant. It only reached number 58, but this was still better than his cover of "Space Oddity" which didn't chart at all.

Stray Cats

Stray Cat Strut

The Stray Cats were having their third hit in six months with the number 11 peaking "Stray Cat Strut". They apparently took their name from the fictional band in the David Essex movie 'Stardust'. This was their last top 20 entry.

Sheena Easton

When He Shines

This number 12 hit was Sheena's 4th hit in 10 months (she also had a single peak just outside the top 40 in February of this year). It was the fifth track to be lifted as a single from her debut "Take My Time" album, but I first became aware of this song when she performed it at a Royal Variety Performance type show.
There would be three further single releases from her before the year was out.

Thin Lizzy

Killers Live (EP)

Thin Lizzy hit the top 20 for the last time with this number 19 peaking single. The lead track on this EP (or the one given the airplay) was "Are You Ready". It hit just a few weeks short of the fifth anniversary of the beginning of their great run, that had started with "The Boys Are Back In Town" in 1976. During that five years, only two singles had peaked outside of the top 20, and then only just (24 & 21). There were further top 40 hits right up to the belated release of Dedication in 1991.

Department S

Is Vic There

I bought this single quite a while before it charted, and even though the record books list the hit single as a 'Demon Records' release, I've a feeling that it was the 'Stiff Records' re-issue that actually charted, but don't quote me on that. It reached number 22 and had a decent cover of "Solid Gold Easy Action" on the flip. I presume that they took their name from the popular TV show of the 70's.

Teardrop Explodes

Treason (It's Just A Story)

The Teardrop Explodes were having their second hit with the re-issued "Treason", and peaked at number 18. They would never venture into the top 20 again.
I saw this band live when they supported Queen at Elland Road, Leeds in 1982. Unfortunately, they were not appreciated by the audience and while objects were being thrown at them, a plastic bottle hit Julian Cope on the head.

Beat

Drowning / All Out To Get You

The Beat reached number 22 with this double A side, their sixth hit in 18 months. I liked the Beat a lot and "All Out To Get You" was typical of the band at their best, but I have to admit that I was disappointed with "Drowning".

Kim Wilde

Chequered Love

Kim Wilde was enjoying her second top five hit as "Chequered Love" went to number four. Although she would continue to have hits on a regular basis over the next 12 years, she wouldn't return to the top ten until November 1986.
The promo was another entertaining one, if only for Kim pouting in a shower.

Hazel O'Connor

D-Days

Not a terribly good single from Hazel. It reached number ten.

Human League

The Sound Of The Crowd

The Human League were having their first top 40 hit in what would be a great year for them (three more hits before the end the year). "Sound Of The Crowd" peaked at number 12.

Public Image Limited

Flowers Of Romance

Doing something different is often considered a really good thing to do if you're in the music business. Unfortunately, just because something is different doesn't always mean that it isn't crap. Get all of your Black Lace, Joe Dolce, school choirs, Red Sovine, even Mr Blobby records, put them on a crapometer scale. Put this on the other side and it will drop with a thud. No, this three minutes or so of wailing wasn't very good at all.
It reached number 24, but did provide a few minutes amusement on one occasion. This was when my Grandad came to tea one Sunday and I switched on the top 40. When this was played, he stared at the radio in disbelief all the way through it.

Undertones

It's Going To Happen

This Undertones single was the last to make the top 40 and peaked at number 18. Strange single, especially the way it faded in at the start.

Shalamar

Make That Move

Slightly better than average disco track, but slightly below average for Shalamar. I remember that it was naturally played a lot in discos, but only reached number 30.

Clash

The Magnificent Seven

The best single that the Clash had released for around three years. They employed a dance beat and more or less rapped over it. Very brave choice of single release and not a great success with it's number 34 peak. But it did pave the way for other gems such as "Radio Clash" and "Rock The Casbah"

Level 42

Love Games

Just two weeks in the chart with a peak of number 38 for this first top 40 entry for Level 42. I could usually take or leave Level 42, but this was pretty good, and I'm surprised that it didn't get a re-release at the same time as one of their compilations. They had to wait almost two years before they next hit the top 40.

Linx

Intuition

Hopelessly catchy single that seemed a world away from their debut "You're Lying", entertaining video too. It was their highest charting single in reaching number 7, and while they had their moments after this, they never matched it.

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

Juice Newton

Angel Of The Morning

PP Arnold reached number 29 with her version of this song in 1968. Mary Mason combined it with "Anyway That You Want Me" and reached number 27 in 1977 (my favourite version). And now Juice Newton was having a go. Again, it was a good cover, but it only reached number 43 (her cover of Dave Edmund's "Queen of Hearts" was good too).
And so after three attempts it seemed that this song was not destied to be a major British hit, and the idea seemed to have been shelved. But Twenty years later, Shaggy added a new twist and it spent three weeks on top of the UK chart.

Shadows

The Third Man

I would probably recognise this if I heard it, but I can't place it at present. It reached number 44 and brought the curtain down on the Shadows 21 years of top 50 hits.

Bill Haley & His Comets

Haley's Golden Medley

Three months after his death at the age of 55, this was Bill's UK swansong. Having said that, his real chart career had lasted just two years and four months. His only chart entries since March 1957 had been re-issues of "Rock Around The Clock" (bangs head into wall). I know this is selfish and I should really keep it to myself, but when I learned of Bill's death, one of the first thoughts that came into my head was "Oh no, they're going to overplay "Rock Around The Clock" on the radio".
This medley reached number 50.

Some 1981 MP3s

Tony Capstick - Capstick Comes Home
Freeez - Flying High
Roger Taylor - Future Management

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 1981 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