REMEMBER WHEN - 23RD MAY 1981

1981
Week 21
WEEK ENDING 23RD MAY 1981
TOP 40 SINGLES

TW	LW
1	1	Adam And The Ants	Stand And Deliver
2	2	Shakin' Stevens	You Drive Me Crazy
3	3	Starsound	Stars On 45
4	9	Kim Wilde	Chequered Love
5	8	Tottenham Hotspur F. C. With Chas & Dave	Ossie's Dream
6	10	Ten Pole Tudor	Swords Of A Thousand Men
7	7	Reo Speedwagon	Keep On Loving You
8	4	Madness	Grey Day
9	5	Ennio Morricone	Chi Mai
10	20	Kim Carnes	Bette Davis Eyes
11	14	Strat Cats	Stray Cat Strut
12	23	Sheena Easton	When He Shines
13	37	Toyah	I Want To Be Free
14	16	Quincy Jones	Ai No Corrida
15	27	Human League	Sound Of The Crowd
16	6	Bucks Fizz	Making Your Mind Up
17	17	Keith Marshall	Only Crying
18	25	Teardrop Explodes	Treason (It's Just A Story)
19	24	Thin Lizzy	Killers Live (EP)
20	12	Nolans	Attention To Me
21	29	Undertones	It's Going To Happen
22	15	Spandau Ballet	Musclebound / Glow
23	39	Smokey Robinson	Being With You
24	18	Eddy Grant	Can't Get Enough Of You
25	26	Beat	Drowning / All Out To Get You
26	22	Department S	Is Vic There
27	11	Jacksons	Can You Feel It
28	NEW	Champaign	How 'Bout Us
29	13	Sugar Minott	Good Thing Going
30	19	Barry Manilow	Bermuda Triangle
31	21	Whitesnake	Don't Break My Heart Again
32	NEW	Enigma	Ain't No Stopping
33	31	Graham Bonnet	Night Games
34	NEW	Vangelis	Chariots Of Fire
35	NEW	UB40	Don't Slow Down / Don't Let It Pass You By
36	NEW	Paul Shane & The Yellowcoats	Hi-De-Hi
37	38	Duran Duran	Careless Memories
38	NEW	Polecats	Rockabilly Guy
39	NEW	Kraftwerk	Pocket Calculator
40	NEW	Squeeze	Is That Love

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.

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.

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.

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.

Tottenham F.C. With Chas & Dave

Ossie's Dream

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club had two bad habits between 1981 & !991. The first was reaching F.A. Cup Finals. The other was releasing awful singles with the help of Chas And Dave on each occasion. The biggest of those singles was this one and it peaked at number five. The only one that didn't hit the top 40 was "When The Year Ends In 1" which stalled at number 44 in 1991. However they still managed to annoy me by beating my team, 'Nottingham Forest' in the final that year !

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.

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".

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.

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.

Kim Carnes

Bette Davis Eyes

This number 10 peaking single was the biggest selling single in the world that year. She never ventured into the UK chart again. Strange promo to this where people seemed to be slapping each other in the face.

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.

Toyah

I Want To Be Free

Toyah was having her second hit, and her second top tenner too, "I Want To Be Free" peaked at number eight. Very Shortly afterwards, Tracy Ullman did a very amusing parody of the video for this on the TV show 'A Kick Up The Eighties' (Tracy was funny in those days).

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.

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.

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.

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".

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Smokey Robinson

Being With You

This was Smokey's first top ten hit since 1970. It reached number one for two weeks but he then had to wait nine years for another top 40 hit. This was another one from the restaurant jukebox, and it's B side "What's In Your Life For Me" also got played a lot.

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.

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".

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.

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.

Champaign

How 'Bout Us

This peaked at number five and was their only hit. It was another favourite from the jukebox in the Chinese. I could reveal who used to select this every night, but he was a big bloke, so I'd better not say anything except that he was a big married bloke named John who fancied a younger woman.
In the promo for this, the group were gathered aaround microphones as if they were recording the track. But I always thought that the woman looked quite frightening.

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.

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.

Enigma

Ain't No Stopping

Enigma reached number 11, but do not confuse them with the Enigma of the 90's. This Enigma were another Star Sound, except this band actually had public faces and performed on 'Top Of The Pops'. Rather than stick with one artist, Enigma sang a medley of Disco Favourites from the previous three years. They had a further hit ("I Love Music") and also spawned a spin off act in 'This Years Blonde'. This Years Blonde was the featured Enigma vocalist 'Tracy' and you'll read more about her later. She also returned as featured vocalist with 'Massivo' when they hit number 25 with a cover of Minnie Ripperton's "Loving You" in 1990.

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.

Vangelis

Chariots Of Fire

Vangelis reached number 12 with his only solo hit single , the theme from the film "Chariots Of Fire".

UB40

Don't Let It Pass You By / Don't Slow Down

UB40 were having their fourth hit in just over 12 months, but they couldn't make it four top tens in a row, as this stalled at number 16.

Paul Shane & The Yellowcoats

Hi-De-Hi

"Hi-De-Hi" by Paul Shane And The Yellowcoats is best forgotten. To listen to it is torture. Thankfully it only reached number 36.

Duran Duran

Careless Memories

Duran Duran were having their second hit, but "Careless Memories" could only spend two weeks at number 37 and two at number 38.

Polecats

Rockabilly Guy

I didn't like the Polecats, so I was pleased that both of their hits only reached number 35. Their previous hit had been a cover of David Bowie's "John I'm Only Dancing".
I was still working in the Hightown area at the time, and every now and then would be bothered by, sorry spoken to, by the local road sweeper. The Polecats were his favourite band, and most of his conversations would be about Crepes and Drepes. He hated Showaddywaddy though, so I suppose that was something.

Kraftwerk

Pocket Calculator

A song about a German motorway was fine, worked really well. But one about a calculator, no, did nothing for me. It spent just one week in the top 40.

Squeeze

Is That Love

It was nice to see Squeeze back in the top 40. But all that talk about Difford & Tilbrook being the new Lennon & McCartney must have gone to their heads, as this sounded very much like the Beatles. It only reached number 35 though.

This was in the top 50 this week, but failed to reach the top 40.

Marc Bolan

Return Of The Electric Warrior EP

"Sing Me A Song" was the featured track on this EP, and it was the first T.Rex record (though credited to Marc Bolan) to make the top 50 for four years. Quite a catchy song, but it only made number 50.

The Week That I Invented Music Video

My Father and myself hired our first video recorder in May 1981. The first thing I did with it was watch "Saturday Night Fever" 14 times in five days. But after that, something significant happened.
There was a kids TV show on Tuesdays (possibly "Get It Together") that usually featured live acts. But for the show to be broadcast on 19th May, the TV Times stated that there would be another opportunity to see David Bowie's film for his "Ashes To Ashes" hit from last summer. A light bulb lit up in my head, and after finishing work on Monday 18th May 1981, I walked into my local Radio Rentals store and parted with ten pounds for a blank three hour tape (they cost a tenth of that twenty years later). It was a Thorn brand tape and came in a plastic slip case (not the rubbish fall to pieces cardboard that you get now) and a sticker was placed on the side of the tape you see last as it slips into the VCR. The sticker proclaimed that it had been supplied by Radio Rentals LTD. on 18-5-81.
So the following day I recorded "Ashes To Ashes" and was left with just under three hours of blank tape after it. Then I had an idea, why not copy the music films from Top Of The Pops and other programmes ?
And so I started doing so with Kim Wilde's video for "Chequered Love" from that week's TOTP. So, I had to think of something to write on those sticky labels that came witrh my prized possession. I figured that each of those films was very likely to be on it's own video tape with nothing else on the tape. Each of these films featured music, so, they were Music Videos. So, I wrote 'Music Video' on the sticky labels and the index number A1. Within a year, everyone knew what a music video was, but I know how it started !
I went on to continue recording music videos from lots of different TV programmes until the mid 90s. There didn't seem to be any point once I had MTV, VH1 etc. As for that original tape, yes I still have it, and after easily over a hundred plays, it is as good as new. Here is part 1 of the tracklisting

MUSIC VIDEO A1
David Bowie - Ashes To Ashes - - recorded at 16:34 on May 19th 1981 from kids tv show
Kim Wilde - Chequered Love - - 19:44 on May 21st 1981 from TOTP
Vangelis - Chariots Of Fire - - 19:35 on May 28th 1981 from TOTP
Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes - - 19:48 on May 28th 1981 from TOTP
Adam And The Ants - Stand And Deliver - - 19:54 on May 28th 1981 from TOTP

I'll continue the listing (with comments) as I get to the appropiate weeks when the songs charted.

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

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