REMEMBER WHEN - 14TH NOVEMBER1981

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1981
Week 46
WEEK ENDING 14TH NOVEMBER 1981

TOP 40 SINGLES

TW	.......	LW	.......		.......
1		3		Police		Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
2		2		Altered Images		Happy Birthday
3		5		Four Tops		When She Was My Girl
4		4		Squeeze		Labelled With Love
5		7		Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark		Joan Of Arc
6		1		Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin		It's My Party
7		21		Julio Iglesias		Begin The Beguine (Volver A Empezar)
8		NEW		Queen & David Bowie		Under Pressure
9		19		Haircut 100		Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)
10		13		Rod Stewart		Tonight I'm Yours (Don't Hurt Me)
11		18		Olivia Newton John		Physical
12		6		Elvis Costello		Good Year For The Roses
13		11		B.A. Robertson & Maggie Bell		Hold Me
14		17		Fureys & Davey Arthur		When You Were Sweet Sixteen
15		10		Human League		Open Your Heart
16		9		Tweets		Birdie Song
17		12		Barry Manilow		Let's Hang On
18		14		Shakin' Stevens		It's Raining
19		8		Jam		Absolute Beginners
20		37		Earth Wind & Fire		Let's Groove
21		16		Toyah		Thunder In The Mountains
22		40		Diana Ross		Why Do Fools Fall In Love
23		NEW		Modern Romance		Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey
24		15		Laurie Anderson		O Superman
25		32		Kool And The Gang		Steppin' Out
26		26		Rush		Tom Sawyer
27		NEW		Ultravox		The Voice
28		NEW		Soft Cell		Bedsitter
29		NEW		Pretenders		I Go To Sleep
30		30		E.L.O.		Twilight
31		31		Trevor Walters		Love Me Tonight
32		NEW		Japan		Visions Of China
33		22		Depeche Mode		Just Can't Get Enough
34		20		Bad Manners		Walkin' In The Sunshine
35		NEW		Jets		Yes Tonight Josephine
36		23		Ottawan		Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)
37		NEW		Funboy Three		The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum
38		33		Genesis		Keep It Dark
39		NEW		ABC		Tears Are Not Enough
40		24		Godley & Creme		Under Your Thumb

Police

Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic

In reaching number one for one week, this single peaked one place higher than the much superior "Invisible Sun". It was taken from the disappointing 'Ghost In The Machine' album and it almost seemed as though they were deliberately trying to make a happy song in direct contrast to most of their previous offerings. In America it peaked at number three

Altered Images

Happy Birthday

Cute little Claire and her band had the second single with the title "Happy Birthday" to peak at number two in 1981. This one spent thrice as long as Stevie Wonder's one week and was the biggest hit that the band ever had. They had an image that was geared towards appealing to children which was unfortunate as their music not only got classier later on in their career, but they had a fantastic 'punky' single titled "Dead Pop Stars" released before this one. It was a Siouxsie & The Banshees type of song, but that wasn't too surprising, as the band were protoges of Steve Severin. John Peel was also a huge fan.
Claire is now a presenter on Satellite channel 'VH1' and is as childishly cute as she always was.

Four Tops

When She Was My Girl

This was their first top ten hit since "Simple Game" had reached number three in 1971. It also peaked at number three and was their first hit for 'Casablanca Records'. I thought that it was similar not only in title but also in sound, to the O'Jays hit "Use Ta Be My Girl" from 1978. Over in the States it peaked at number eleven.

Squeeze

Labelled With Love

A change of style for Squeeze with a song that wouldn't have seemed out of place on CMT (A country music TV channel that's popular in the States, but wasn't over here). It was their first top ten hit in over two years ( reached number four), and was also their last. It was to be another six years before they even made the top twenty again.

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark

Joan Of Arc

Not to be confused with their later single "Maid Of Orleans (The Waltz Joan Of Arc)", this third top ten hit in a year for 'OMD' peaked at number four. If you're still not sure of the difference (as this single is often overlooked), this is the one that starts with the line "Little Catholic Girl Has Fallen In Love", and not "Joan Of Arc Had A Heart".

Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin

It's My Party

A cover of the Leslie Gore number nine from 1963, this version went all the way to number one and spent four weeks on top. It was very different to the original, and was recorded in the style that the lyrics suggested. The lyrics depict someone being very upset about their current situation, yet the original was sang as though the singer was the happiest girl in the world. So yes, this cover is one of those rarities that I consider to be much superior to the original.

Julio Iglesias

Begin The Beguine (Volver A Empezar)

At the time this entered the chart I was shocked to hear that Julio was CBS-Columbia Records' biggest selling artist in the World at that time (I'd never heard of the bloke !). After hearing it a few times, this single grew on me and I think it was yet another fully deserved number one single (whatever it all meant). Julio's success in the singles chart then tapered off with just the odd hit here and there, but I believe he still sells a colossal amount of albums now.
I don't like his son's music much though.

Queen & David Bowie

Under Pressure

I think I expected something better from a collaboration by two of my favourite acts. After all these two acts had been responsible for "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Ashes To Ashes", so naturally I expected the best song ever recorded to hit the top of the chart and stay there until the following Easter at the very least. The problem is all mine for having impossible expectations, as this was in fact a very good single that fully deserved it's two week stay at number one.
This song was the victim of one of the worst crimes in the history of music, when in 1990 Vanilla Ice not only copied/sampled it, but also had the audacity to spend four weeks at number one with a shower of sh*te entitled "Ice Ice Baby". Not only that, he denied that it sounds anything like "Under Pressure", something to do with a "ding" being in a different place.

Haircut 100

Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)

Like many others, Haircut 100/Nick Heyward were a victim of the 'Little Girl Syndrome'. Despite recording some great singles they would never be taken seriously, and once the teen fans had moved on to other heartthrobs, there was no-one left to buy their records. This was their first hit and it spent two weeks at number four at the peak of it's short chart run of just eight weeks.

Rod Stewart

Tonight I'm Yours (Don't Hurt Me)

Rod's chart positions had been disappointing during the previous three years, but he returned to chart form with this magnificent number eight peaking single. It was accompanied by a 'Look everyone's having fun' video, a video that had a fair few mentions in national newspapers before it was even broadcast on TV.

Olivia Newton John

Physical

This spent Ten weeks at number one in the States, but had to settle for number seven over here. On this track and particularly the video, Olivia seemed to be trying to portray some kind of sexy image. Instead she came across as being about as exciting as February. The song itself was one that drilled into the mind, wouldn't go away and made you feel like cutting your ears off to avoid hearing it again. I can't begin to imagine how much our American friends suffered. The rest of the album was quite good though (my sister bought it).

Elvis Costello

Good Year For The Roses

There seemed to be something about Country music in the air, as even the 'angry young man' Elvis Costello was at it. He recorded a whole album of the stuff, and it wasn't bad either. It became his third and last top ten hit, reaching number six.

B.A. Robertson & Maggie Bell

Hold Me

This song had originally reached number three for 'P J Proby' in 1964. B.A. Robertson resurrected his flagging career by recruiting former 'Stone The Crows' singer 'Maggie Bell' to sing a duetting cover. It reached number 11, but it was only a short reprieve for B.A., as this was his last ever week in the 40.

Fureys & Davey Arthur

When You Were Sweet Sixteen

I even surprised myself in liking this single. The Fureys were an Irish folk group and I believe (but I'm not certain) that Davey is Scottish. It spent two weeks at number 14 and although they didn't have any further hits, they paved the way for 'Foster and Allen' to have a few hits with the same style of music.

Human League

Open Your Heart

This was the third single from the 'Dare' album. It peaked at number six, and at the time was my favourite Human League single. I particulary liked the piano notes at the end of the lines in the chorus. And, there just happened to be a piano in the lounge of the Legion, so when this song came on the jukebox, well, you can guess the rest. I was told to stop it or get out !

Tweets

Birdie Song

If you know someone who bought the 1997 hit "Tubthumping" by 'Chumbawamba', look at their parents (or maybe their older brother/sister). You are now looking at someone who probably bought this single, helping it to spend two weeks at number two and a total of twenty weeks in the top 40. They probably spent their Summer holiday in Spain that year and did the stupid dance to this record every night of their holiday. They probably woke up every morning and spent time practicing the said dance, so that they would be sure of getting it right that evening. They probably spent the following six months forcing people to view their holiday snaps. They probably got nowhere in life.

Barry Manilow

Let's Hang On

The 'Four Seasons' and 'Johnny Johnson And The Bandwagon' had both had hits with this song in the '60s. Then 'Darts' had their very last hit with this song in 1980 when they took it to number 11. Now just 18 months later, Barry Manilow had his biggest hit in six years as he took it to number 12. Mildly entertaining video too.

Shakin' Stevens

It's Raining

After having two number ones and one number two with his previous three singles, it wouldn't have surprised anyone had this gone into the chart inside the top five. Yet, it entered at a lowly number forty. I can only assume that it must have been released towards the end of the week, and so only had a couple of days sales in the week's total. The following week, as expected, it took a huge leap. This took it to number 11. But, it only climbed one more place after that to peak at number ten.

Jam

Absolute Beginners

Better than the woeful "Funeral Pyre", but still very sub-standard compared to the Jam's pre-1981 recordings. The B Side "Tales From the Riverbank" was quite a good track to be fair, but there it was stuck on the flip. It quickly reached number four, but spent just five weeks in the top 40.

Earth Wind And Fire

Let's Groove

Ironic that the biggest hit in the career of Earth Wind And Fire should also be their last major hit. It even looked as though it was going to make number one at one point. But Julio and Queen/Bowie kept it at bay the following week and it then started it's chart decline. It peaked at number three on both sides of the Atlantic.

Toyah

Thunder In The Mountains

The best single ever from Toyah. Great video too where she rode along on a chariot in 'Mad Max' style, while going on about motorways being monuments. It peaked at number four, after which her music career went downhill.

Diana Ross

Why Do Fools Fall In Love

The 1980-82 period was a good one for Diana. The preceding four years had not produced a top twenty single for her, but suddenly she never seemed to be away from the chart. This was her first single on 'Capitol Records' having just left 'Motown', and in reaching number four became the third highest charting single of her solo career. It was of course a cover of the 'Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers' number one from 1956 that had also been a hit for Alma Cogan. In the US chart it peaked at number seven.

Modern Romance

Ay Ay Ay Ay Moosey

The second hit in quick succession for Modern Romance became their first top ten hit when it reached number ten. Their music wasn't to everyone's taste, but what they did, they did well.

Laurie Anderson

O Superman

You either loved it, or you hated it, I loved it. It is probably the strangest thing to ever threaten the number position and if it wasn't for "It's My Party", it would have gone all the way. It was also very good value in that the 7 inch single ran at over eight minutes long (only good value if you liked it of course), and the even stranger B Side "Walking The Dog" ran at roughly the same time. It was great to put both sides of it on the jukebox to annoy the hell out of people. I did that a few times in the Vaults one Friday afternoon a few hours before a crowd of us were going on the Legion weekend to Blackpool. It wasn't that successful a trip for me really. On the Saturday, I had drank that much in the afternoon that I was shoved into my room and locked in before 8PM. I remember later crawling around the room while someone named Bob was errm, doing things in bed with a young lady.
I'm not at all proud of my behavior, especially the part where I was lying in a gutter. We all travelled home the following afternoon, I didn't drink that day, myself and a few old ladies were sober when we arrived home.

Kool And The Gang

Steppin' Out

Another one off the production line for Kool And The Gang. Nothing special, just an average disco song that reached number 12.

Rush

Tom Sawyer

After the wonderful "Spirit Of Radio" had become a top twenty hit in 1980, much had been expected of Rush. Instead, when they finally got around to releasing another single, "Vital Signs", it had failed to enter the top 40. They followed that with this live version of "Tom Sawyer" from their 'Exit...Stage Left' live album. The original version had appeared on the disappointing 'Moving Pictures' album (just as "Vital Signs" had), but this live treatment was enough to give them a number 25 hit.

Ultravox

The Voice

After the slight disappointment of "The Thin Wall", this was Ultravox back on form. This second of two singles from the 'Rage In Eden' album was their fifth top 40 hit of the year, but unfortunately only stayed on the chart for six weeks and peaked at number 16. For me this was the best out of the five hits, but most would disagree and choose "Vienna".

Soft Cell

Bedsitter

The follow up to the best selling single of the year and a worthy successor it was (better in my opinion). It only attained a week at number four, but managed an eleven week run in the top 40.

Pretenders

I Go To Sleep

After the failure of "Day After Day" to make the top 40, the Pretenders released this great ballad that eventually peaked at number seven. This was the last Pretenders single to feature James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon who both died from heroin overdoses shortly afterwards.

E.L.O.

Twilight

Good but not great track from the 'Time' album. Still thought that it should have climbed higher than number 30 though.

Trevor Walters

Love Me Tonight

OK-ish lover's rock thing, lyrics were a little corny in places (I thought). It took five weeks to reach it's peak of number 27, and he then had to wait until the Summer of 1984 for his second hit, a reggae rendition of Lionel Richie's awful "Stuck On You".

Japan

Visions Of China

I daren't say what I was intending to as I've incurred the wrath of Japan fans too many times already ;-)
Seriously, I thought it was better than most of their later singles, but not really my cup of tea. It peaked at number 32.

Jets

Yes Tonight Josephine

I'm no fan of this type of music, but there were enough fans to take it to a number 25 peak. The original by 'Johnny Ray' had been a number one in 1956

Depeche Mode

Just Can't Get Enough

"New Life" had sounded to me like the kind of thing that would give a band their one and only hit. This one proved me wrong and peaked at number eight. Twenty years later, Depeche Mode were still having hit singles.

Bad Manners

Walkin' In The Sunshine

Quite a good single, even if it is one that's usually forgotten. It was also a little late for sunshine, but it was still a fun video that had the band splashing about in the sea. Just the kind of thing you need as winter begins to set in. It peaked at number ten.

Ottawan

Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)

I'll own up to this one, yes I did like it and bought the 12 inch, well, it was the same price as the 7 inch, so why not ?
It didn't do quite as well as their previous hit "D.I.S.C.O.", but it did spend two weeks at number three amongst a total of eleven in the top 40.

Fun Boy Three

The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum

This first hit for the former members of the 'Specials' peaked at number twenty. The title of course referred to the ruling Conservative Part. If they were to have reformed and re-recorded this song in the late '90s, they could call it "A Slightly Different Set Of Lunatics Have Now Kicked The Other Lunatics Into Touch".

Genesis

Keep It Dark

My favourite track on the album, and one of my favourite Genesis tracks of all time. I was very surprised that it failed to climb higher than it's number 33 debut.

ABC

Tears Are Not Enough

I love ABC, and even like their three 1997 flopped singles more than I do most of the big hits from that year. But, there are two ABC singles that I detest, and this first hit is one of those two. To me, it was nothing more than a terrible noise in the same vein as the hits by the 'Associates' that would shortly follow. Still, I didn't have to suffer it for long as it climbed no higher than number 19 and spent just six weeks in the 40.
The other one I dislike is "That Was Then, This Is Now", also known as the "Apple Crumble Song".

Godley & Creme

Under Your Thumb

This was very different from anything else around at the time, and deserved to be the number three peaking hit that it was. Since leaving 10CC a few years previous, Kevin and Lol ahd released a couple of albums, but had also got into video work, and had directed promos for many acts. Unfortunately, they didn't get around to making a video for their own first hit single. Having said that, it was entertaining to watch Kevin Godley performing this in any case, his expressions were very strange.

In the top 50 this week, but failing to reach the top 40.

Black Sabbath

Mob Rules

I like Black Sabbath and even have a few of their albums, but not this one, not for me at all. Reached number 46.

Aneka

Little Lady

Not very impressed with this either, silly squeaky voiced woman. Number fifty, then no more from her.

Stranglers

Let Me Introduce You To The Family

Even the Stranglers weren't getting it right this week. What an awful choice of single, reached number 42.

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.

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 :-)
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