REMEMBER WHEN - 25TH JULY 1981

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1981
Week 30
WEEK ENDING 25TH JULY 1981

TOP 40 SINGLES

TW	.......	LW	.......		.......
1		1		Specials		Ghost Town
2		2		Starsound		Stars On 45 (Volume 2)
3		3		Bad Manners		Can Can
4		18		Spandau Ballet		Chant No. 1
5		4		Imagination		Body Talk
6		6		Motorhead		Motorhead Live
7		17		Abba		Lay All Your Love On Me
8		7		Tom Tom Club		Wordy Rappinghood
9		NEW		Stevie Wonder		Happy Birthday
10		12		Third World		Dancing On The Floor
11		15		Kate Bush		Sat In Your Lap
12		8		Bob Marley		No Woman No Cry
13		5		Michael Jackson		One Day In Your Life
14		11		Randy Crawford		You Might Need Somebody
15		19		Depeche Mode		New Life
16		21		Sheena Easton		For Your Eyes Only
17		9		Odyssey		Going Back To My Roots
18		26		Saxon		Never Surrender
19		10		Elaine Paige		Memory
20		30		Jacksons		Walk Right Now
21		13		Quincy Jones		Razzamatazz
22		NEW		Shakin' Stevens		Green Door
23		33		Dexy's Midnight Runners		Show Me
24		14		Kirsty MacColl		There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis
25		25		Visage		Visage
26		20		Rainbow		Can't Happen Here
27		32		Evelyn King		I'm In Love
28		34		Reo Speedwagon		Take It On The Run
29		NEW		Duran Duran		Girls On Film
30		NEW		Tight Fit		Back To The Sixties
31		22		Linx		Throw Away The Key
32		23		Evasions		Wikka Wrap
33		NEW		Royal Philharmonic Orchestra		Hooked On Classics
34		16		Bucks Fizz		Piece Of The Action
35		37		Gidea Park		Beach Boy Gold
36		39		Kraftwerk		Computer Love / The Model
37		24		Ultravox		All Stood Still
38		NEW		Carl Carlton		She's A Bad Mama Jama
39		27		Smokey Robinson		Being With You
40		29		Kate Robbins		More Than In Love

Specials

Ghost Town

This eerie three week number one, summed up the Summer of '81 in Britain. Inner city riots all over the country, and I don't think most of us knew the cause of them. It seemed to me, that most of them were started for the sole reason that they were happening elsewhere, particularly the ones in Liverpool. Still, it gave the hooligans an excuse to have a go at the police. But enough of the politics. This was the seventh and last hit for the Specials, of which all seven made the top ten. I had been collecting the entire Two Tone catalogue, but it's fortunes declied rapidly after the Specials split up, and it became increasingly hard to keep up with the releases.

Starsound

Stars On 45 (Volume 2)

Following their first hit with the Beatles medley, Starsound put together a medley of Abba songs for their second hit. Just like the first one, this went all the way to number two, and they weren't finished yet.
This is at it's best on the second Star Sound album, and the 12 inch version was particularly good too.

Bad Manners

Can Can

Rather silly single from Bad Manners (weren't they all ?), that stormed up the chart to number three. And who can forget the sight of Buster Bloodvessel doing the "Can Can" on Top Of The Pops ?

Spandau Ballet

Chant No. 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On)

I wasn't particularly impressed with Spandau Ballet's first three singles, in fact "Muscle-Bound" had bored me to tears ("The Freeze" had been a grower though). But this one simply blew my mind, it was that good. They brought in the horn section from Beggar and Co., and gave us one of the best dance singles of the 80's (if not all time), what a refreshing change from what had preceded. It was also bigger than their previous three hits, reaching number three.

Imagination

Body Talk

This first of nine hits for Imagination reached number four and spent 11 weeks in the top 40, but it spent 18 weeks in the top 75. Imagination were very much an 'Earth Wind and Fire' copycat band (except there was only three of them !). Most of their singles were very good anyway, but they were embarrassing to watch.

Motorhead

Motorhead Live

Noisy, couldn't find a melody there anywhere, reached number six. No more top twenty entries after this for Lermmy's gang.

Abba

Lay All Your Love On Me

Abba were running out of time, but they could still turn out the occasional song that was a fully deserved hit. This was different in that it was available on 12 inch only (apart from jukebox copies). Both sides of the single were typical of Abba at their best. The B side was "On And On And On" and it did a bit, but was still good. The A side sounded as if they were going to perform a hymn for the first few seconds, but then developed into a great dance track, it peaked at number seven. The song was revived by Erasure for their "Abba-esque E.P". and taken to number one in 1992, but I won't knock Erasure as that single was a significant improvement on the boring rubbish they'd been giving us for the previous couple of years.

Tom Tom Club

Wordy Rappinghood

Very catchy single from this Talking Heads spin off that was better than most of the singles issued by the Heads, though that's probably because David Byrne's vocals couldn't be heard on it. It deservedly reached number seven, didn't seem to stay around for very long, but was actually in the top 40 for eight weeks, which is of course better than a poke in the eye with a pointed stick.
One thing that I didn't like about this was the part in the video where there's a drawing of a cowboy with a speech bubble saying "Howdy Pals". I just didn't like it, that's all, but I don't like cowboy films much either.

Stevie Wonder

Happy Birthday

A great song from Stevie that gave him a fourth number two hit as he chased that elusive first number one single. It was the fourth single to be taken from the "Hotter Than July" album. The album had been a huge success, and all four singles had made it into the top ten (the only time that Stevie has ever had four consecutive top ten hits).

Third World

Dancing On The Floor (Hooked On Love)

A welcome return to the top 40 for Third World after a two and a half year gap. This equaled the number ten placing of their first hit "Now That We've Found Love", but they had no more hits (apart from a re-issue). I think that's a great pity as Third World (as well as Inner Circle) were producing some great stuff during the late 70's/ early 80s. They did look a little silly in the video though, strolling over sand dunes in a line.

Kate Bush

Sat In Your Lap

This very unusual song from Kate peaked at number eleven. The video was also very weird with Kate sitting on the floor a lot wearing a dunce's hat. This was to be Kate's last top 40 hit for over four years.

Bob Marley & The Wailers

No Woman No Cry

Bob had passed away on the 11th May this year, and the sick joke about him going to heaven and not getting anything to eat because Bobby Sands had eaten all the sandwiches was still doing the rounds.
This single had been Bob's first hit and reached number 22 in 1975. I was quite surprised that this had been chosen as the cash in release, it's hardly a dynamic song, but that's just my opinion. I would have chosen "Waiting In Vain" or one of his 1978 singles.
It gave him his fourth top ten hit by reaching number eight, and he would have four more by the end of the century.

Michael Jackson

One Day In Your Life

This was one of the final tracks that Michael recorded for Motown in 1975. Since Michael had found considerable success with his 'Off The Wall' album, Motown decided to cash in. They certainly did that, as this became Michael's first solo number one single, and as it displaced Smokey Robinson at number one, it gave Motown two consecutive UK number ones for the first time ever.

Randy Crawford

You Might Need Somebody

Aww, didn't young Randy seem nice ?
Strange name for a woman though, and let's be honest, you couldn't imagine her actually feeling randy, far too nice for that kind of nonsense.
I always think of this as being a top ten hit, but despite it's nine weeks in the chart, it stopped one place short of the top ten. It was the first single to be taken from the hugely successful "Secret Combination" album.

Depeche Mode

New Life

First hit for the boys from Basildon (well, everyone else makes a point of mentioning Basildon, so why not me, even if I was involved in a traffic accident there in 1995 ?), and they went as high as number 11. This was the first of 30 odd successive top 40 hits to date (not including an import).
Incidentally, I've been in the home of a woman in Essex who's son grew up with Dave Gahan, and Dave was often around at the house, so there.

Sheena Easton

For Your Eyes Only

Almost unheard of 12 months previous, here was Sheena being given the honour of recording the title song for the latest 'James Bond' film. Things had certainly moved quick for Sheena, five top 40 hits and one near miss in a year. This number eight peaking single had a good chart run lasting ten weeks, but was her last top ten hit ever. She did a great performance of this at the Oscars.

Odyssey

Going Back To My Roots

They never disappointed me. Another pleasureable single, and one of the big sounds of that summer. It reached number four.
FPI Project took their cover of this song to number nine in January 1990.

Saxon

Never Surrender

Another great single from Saxon, and one that I often used to select on the Jukebox at the Cuckoo Birch in Mansfield while visiting my Mum, that I did a lot of that Summer. The trouble with the jukeboxes in most of the Mansfield pubs at that time was that the volume was far too low, so it was a struggle to hear them. Don't get me wrong, I don't like music blaring out to the extent that you have to shout to have a conversation with someone, but if you're going to have it on, you should at least be able to hear it.
As for Saxon, they reached number 18 with this, but it was the last time they climbed above number 32. This was despite having top 75 entries right up until 1988.

Elaine Paige

Memory

If it wasn't for the birth of Rock & Roll in the fifties, then we wouldn't have most of the types of music we like listening to, so it was quite a good idea on the whole. But the downside of it is, talented singers like Elaine Paige hardly ever make the charts. And when they do, they tend to get slagged off by half-wit music journalists (LeAnn Rimes 1998).
In Elaine's case, this was the only song to give her a solo top 40 hit. It was taken from the musical "Cats", and reached number six. She re-recorded it in 1998 when it reached number 36.
Of course, she did hit number one in a duet with Barbara Dickson in 1985 with "I Know Him So Well". She also once remarked that she doesn't wear any knickers under her dress when performing. Whether she meant performing on stage or in the bedroom is left to our imaginations.

Jacksons

Walk Right Now

After the legendary slow climbing success of "Can You Feel It", this follow up took just four weeks to reach it's peak of number seven. For all those who believe Michael reached his creative peak with Thriller, Bad, Dangerous, or History, take a listen to his two 1981 hits with his brothers, much better aren't they ?

Quincy Jones

Razzamatazz

This time Quincy enlisted Patti Austin to handle the vocals, and it gave him his biggest UK hit by reaching number eleven. This is one that you tend to forget about, and then when you hear it, you wonder just how you could have forgotten, damn fine track.

Shakin' Stevens

Green Door

Shaky had already been around forever before he had his first hit in early 1980. What happened in 1981 was just unbelievable. Considering that Showaddywaddy had been experiencing a decline in fortunes, it seemed that no one wanted 50's style songs anymore. But then, Shaky released "This Ole House", "You Drive Me Crazy" and "Green Door", three of the biggest singles of the year. He also built up a teen idol status, which was surprising considering he must have been near 30 years older than some of those teens. This single spent four weeks at number one. On it's first week at the top, it had the biggest climb up the chart to number one for Twenty years. The only other single to have ever climbed from a lower chart position to the top was Elvis Presley's "Surrender, which jumped from number 27 to number one in in 1961. Even though two singles made bigger jumps to the top in 1982, Shaky's climb from 22 to number one is still the fourth biggest climb to the top ever.
Even though this was far from my favourite single in the chart, I didn't begrudge Shaky his success after all those years of hard work, including his time with the TV show 'Oh Boy' and with his band 'The Sunsets'. In fact, in my most unworthy of opinions, he got better as the 80's wore on, apart from the odd dodgy single here and there.

Dexy's Midnight Runners

Show Me

Dexy's first hit in a year stalled at number 13. They had changed their image this year, and were running about on Top Of The Pops in tracksuits. It didn't last though, and the following year they returned with yet another image for their most successful period.

Kirsty MacColl

There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis

I always thought that this sounded like a Country song, but apparently not because the Country version was on the B.Side. It was a lyrically good song from one of the most undersold acts of our time and reached number 14. Three and a half years later, she would have her second hit.

Visage

The third hit from Visage sounded just as good as the first two, but this wasn't reflected in it's peak position of number 21. The Video was very interesting too, but Visage never quite came up to scratch after this one.

Rainbow

Can't Happen Here

Bye Bye Rainbow.
They'd had their three top ten hits, and this was the final one to make the twenty with a token appearance at number twenty. Very ordinary.

Evelyn King

I'm In Love

She'd now dropped the 'Champagne' from her name, and was in top forty for the second time, a full three years after her debut. Good one, and her highest chart position to date, but that was just number 27.

Reo Speedwagon

Take It On The Run

The second hit for this band climbed no higher than number 19, which was sad considering that it was just as good as their previous hit. But, they would have to wait four years for their next hit, so with hindsight I suppose they're pleased.

Duran Duran

Girls On Film

This was Duran Duran's third hit of the year, but first to make the top ten, peaking at number five. This is the one with the banned video, even though the only exposure it would have got would have been on Top Of The Pops, Swap Shop and Tiswas anyway (unless The Old Grey Whistle Test was still Duran Duran friendly).

Tight Fit

Back To The Sixties

Tight Fit's very first hit reached number four but was not really the same Tight Fit who would have a number one in 1982. But, Jive records didn't want you to know that. The medley of song were recorded by session musicians, but when it became a hit, Steve Grant and Co were the faces for the Top Of The Pops appearances. Actually, Steve Grant wasn't really the singer on "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" either, but that's another story.

Linx

Throw Away The Key

The funk seemed to have gone as Linx decided to just make pop records, good pop records though it has to be said. This sounded like a top ten hit to me, but you all thought otherwise. Only reached number 21, but had seven weeks in the forty.

Evasions

Wikka Wrap

We didn't really get much rap in the chart in the early '80s, so it seemed a little odd that a novelty rap record should chart. This was someone sounding like T.V. presenter "Alan Whicker" talking about dance music over a dance track. It worked, it was quite amusing. It reached number 20, but they didn't follow it with any more hits.

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Hooked On Classics

You're going to see the word 'medley' mentioned a lot this week. Since 'Star Sound' had kicked it all off in April, the charts had become medley crazy, and the whole thing seemed to be at it's peak in August. This one was different to most of the others in that it used pieces of classical music set to the obligatory drum machine. Conducted by Louis Clark from E.L.O., this spent two weeks at number two, and had a quite amusing video made up of old film clips arranged so that they fitted in with the music 'Old Grey Whistle Test' style.

Bucks Fizz

Piece Of The Action

I hated this song. I couldn't understand why people had boughgt a second Bucks Fizz record. Surely they'd disappear after this one. As we know, they got better and they didn't vanish.
Now, I like this song, it sounds much better twenty years on, much better than "Making Your Mind Up". It reached number 12.

Gidea Park

Beach Boy Gold

Gidea Park was Adrian Baker, who had hit number ten with "Sherry" as a solo act back in 1975. This dreary medley of Beach Boys hits peaked at number eleven, but the oddest thing is that Adrian later joined the Beach Boys. His first single with them "Come Go With Me" had a b.side entitled "Don't Go Near The Water". Before any more Beach Boys recordings were released, drummer Dennis Wilson drowned in his swimming pool, Spooky !

Kraftwerk

Computer Love / The Model

"Computer Love" droned on a bit and was a huge disappointment to me. But "The Model" was something else. Unfortunately, the DJs seemed to prefer playing "Computer Love" at the time, and so it faltered at number 36.
Then Five months later, someone picked up on "The Model" and the single re-entered the chart, eventually spending a week at number one in February 1982.

Ultravox

All Stood Still

Yes, these were bloody good weren't they ?
After the massive hit "Vienna", we expected "Vienna pt2", but instead we got something totally different. A much faster paced single about turbines crackling or something, and Midge wanting you to remember to mention him. Cracking single, reached number eight.
BTW: We got "Vienna pt2" in 1983 when they released "Visions In Blue".

Carl Carlton

She's A Bad Mama Jama

Medleys aside, there seemed to be a shortage of disco hits in this chart. This was one of the great disco hits of the year, but could only climb to number 34 despite a five week chart run. I suspect this is one of the last few hits from the legendary '20TH Century' label.

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.

Kate Robbins

More Than In Love

This was another hit from the TV soap 'Crossroads'. I think it was sang at the wedding of Jill Richardson and Adam Chance (but don't quote me on that, it could have been Meg and someone). "More Than In Love" reached it's peak of number two just two weeks after debuting. Kate is now better known as an impressionist comedian, but this hit kept up the McCartney connection with the popular soap. Paul McCartney had recorded his own version of the theme to the show for his "Venus And Mars" album, and this was used for the end credits when it was deemed compatible with the ending. Kate is Paul's cousin.

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

B. B. & Q. Band

On The Beat

The first time that Brooklyn, Bronx & Queenscame close to the top forty was with this number 41 peaking single. I thought that it was a good track, but maybe people were put off the same type of clapping effect that was being used in most of the medley singles of the day.

Echo And The Bunnymen

A Promise

I don't think I heard this until I bought their "Songs To Learn And Sing" compilation in 1985. I don't think that I would have bought it anyway. It's ok, but that's as far as it goes. Reached number 49.

Squeeze

Tempted

One that most people old enough to remember would bet their house on their belief that it was a big hit. But sadly it wasn't. This Paul Carrack sang gem only got to number 41.

Some 1981 MP3s

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

Some More MP3s

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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BACK TO THE 1981 INDEX
THE REMEMBER WHEN ARCHIVES
GOLDEN DAYS INDEX

Email: nige@innotts.co.uk

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