REMEMBER WHEN - 21ST NOVEMBER1981

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1981
Week 47
WEEK ENDING 21ST NOVEMBER 1981

TOP 40 SINGLES

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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".

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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".

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.

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.

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".

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.

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.

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".

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".

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

Kim Wilde

Cambodia

Kim's fourth hit of the year and, for me at least, her best so far. It boasted a promo where Kim had snakes crawling over her in a jungle and reached number 12.

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.

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.

Spandau Ballet

Paint Me Down

Spandau had just had their biggest hit to date with "Chant Number One", but followed it with this very disappointing single. They made a controversial video to go with it, but even that couldn't help it's chart progress as it struggled to it's number 30 peak.

George Benson

Turn Your Love Around

George had released a couple of classic disco singles in 1980 ("Give Me The Night" & "Love X Love"), but this was one of the 'production line' efforts that was starting to become all too evident as the '80s kicked in. Happily, it only got a little more than it deserved and peaked at number 29. In the US, it peaked at number five.

Cliff Richard

Daddy's Home

This single had flopped when recorded by 'Jermaine Jackson' in 1973, just as it had when recorded by 'Shep And The Limelites' 12 years before that (though both hit the US top ten). So it hardly had the pedigree to become a hit by Cliff or anyone else. But it was an enormous hit that was only kept from the top by the 'Human League' during it's four week stay at number two.

Imagination

Flashback

Many bands release uptempo tracks as their first two singles followed by a slow smoochy song for the third. Imagination did things the opposite way around. After having hits with "Body Talk" and "In And Out Of Love", they ventured into disco territory for their third hit. It reached number 16 and spent 10 weeks inside the 40.

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.

Blue Rondo A La Turk

Me And Mr Sanchez

Different, but I could take it or leave it. I'm sure that this band became someone else later (Matt Bianco I think). Spent a week at number forty and then dropped out.

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

Level 42

Starchild

Still in search of a major hit, and they still had quite a wait. This was a good one, better than much of their later stuff, but it only made number 47.

Ten Pole Tudor

Throwing My Baby Out With The Bath Water

IT was no "Swords Of A Thousand Men", but it was a massive improvement on "Wunderbar. I liked it, it reached number 49, and that was the end of his chart activity.

Classix Nouveaux

Never Again (The Days Time Erased)

Great title, almost a great song. The melody was very familiar, but I've never been able to place it. It reached number 44 and their hit wasn't far away.

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
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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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