Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

#1's - The Eighties

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    #1's - The Eighties

    Going by the list below..

    1: What was the best year.

    2: What was the worst year.

    3: What was the best #1 from each year

    4: What was the worst #1 from each year.

    1980

    The Pretenders - Brass In Pocket
    The Specials - The Special AKA Live! (EP)
    Kenny Rogers - Coward Of The County
    Blondie - Atomic
    Fern Kinney - Together We Are Beautiful
    The Jam Going - Underground / Dreams Of Children
    The Detroit Spinners - Working My Way Back To You
    Blondie - Call Me
    Dexy's Midnight Runners - Geno
    Johnny Logan - What's Another Year
    Mash - Theme From MASH (Suicide Is Painless)
    Don McLean - Crying
    Olivia Newton-John & The Electric Light Orchestra - Xanadu
    Odyssey - Use It Up And Wear It Out
    Abba - The Winner Takes It All
    David Bowie - Ashes To Ashes
    The Jam Start - 1
    Kelly Marie - Feels Like I'm In Love
    The Police - Don't Stand So Close To Me
    Barbra Streisand - Woman In Love
    Blondie - The Tide Is High
    Abba - Super Trouper
    John Lennon - (Just Like) Starting Over
    St Winifred's School Choir - There's No-one Quite Like Grandma

    1981

    John Lennon - Imagine John Lennon - Woman
    Joe Dolce Music Theatre - Shaddap You Face
    Roxy Music - Jealous Guy
    Shakin' Stevens - This Ole House
    Bucks Fizz - Making Your Mind Up
    Adam & The Ants - Stand & Deliver
    Smokey Robinson - Being With You
    Michael Jackson - One Day In Your Life
    The Specials - Ghost Town
    Shakin' Stevens - Green Door
    Aneka - Japanese Boy
    Soft Cell - Tainted Love
    Adam & The Ants - Prince Charming
    Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin - It's My Party
    The Police - Every Liitle Thing She Does Is Magic
    Queen & David Bowie - Under Pressure
    Julio Iglesias - Begin The Beguine
    The Human League - Don't You Want Me

    1982

    Bucks Fizz - Land Of Make Believe
    Shakin' Stevens - Oh Julie
    Kraftwerk - The Model / Computer Love
    The Jam - A Town Called Malice/Precious
    Tight Fit - The Lion Sleeps Tonight
    The Goombay Dance Band - Seven Tears
    Bucks Fizz - My Camera Never Lies
    Paul McCartney with Stevie Wonder - Ebony & Ivory
    Nicole - A Little Peace
    Madness - House Of Fun
    Adam Ant - Goody Two Shoes
    Charlene - I've Never Been To Me
    Captain Sensible - Happy Talk
    Irene Cara - Fame
    Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen
    Survivor - Eye Of The Tiger
    Musical Youth - Pass The Dutchie
    Culture Club - Do You Really Want To Hurt Me
    Eddy Grant - I Don't Wanna Dance
    The Jam - Beat Surrender
    Renee & Renato - Save Your Love

    1983

    Phil Collins - You Can't Hurry Love
    Men At Work - Down Under
    Kajagoogoo - Too Shy
    Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
    Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse Of The Heart
    Duran Duran - Is There Something I Should Know
    David Bowiev - Let's Dance
    Spandau Ballet - True
    New Edition - Candy Girl
    The Police - Every Breath You Take
    Rod Stewart - Baby Jane
    Paul Young - Wherever I Lay My Heart (That's My Home)
    KC & The Sunshine Band - Give It Up
    UB40 - Red Red Wine
    Culture Club - Karma Chameleon
    Billy Joel - Uptown Girl
    The Flying Pickets - Only You

    1984

    Paul McCartney - Pipes Of Peace
    Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax
    Nena - 99 Red Balloons
    Lionel Richie - Hello
    Duran Duran - The Reflex
    Wham! - Wake Me Up Before You Go Go
    Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Two Tribes
    George Michael - Careless Whisper
    Stevie Wonder - I Just Called To Say I Love You
    Wham! - Freedom
    Chaka Khan - I Feel For You
    Jim Diamond - I Should Have Known Better
    Frankie Goes To Hollywood - The Power Of Love
    Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas?

    1985

    Foreigner - I Want To Know What Love Is
    Elaine Paige & Barbara Dickson - I Know Him So Well
    Dead Or Alive - You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)
    Philip Bailey (duet with Phil Collins) - Easy Lover
    USA For Africa - We Are The World
    Phyllis Nelson - Move Closer
    Paul Hardcastle - 19
    The Crowd - You'll Never Walk Alone
    Sister Sledge - Frankie
    The Eurythmics - There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart)
    Madonna - Into The Groove
    UB40, guest vocals by Chrissie Hynde - I Got You Babe
    David Bowie & Mick Jagger - Dancing In The Street
    Midge Ure - If I Was
    Jennifer Rush - The Power Of Love
    Feargal Sharkey - A Good Heart
    Wham! - I'm Your Man
    Whitney Houston - Saving All My Love For You
    Shakin' Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone

    The rest coming in the next post...

    #2
    #1's - The Eighties

    1986

    Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls
    A-Ha - The Sun Always Shines On TV
    Billy Ocean - When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going
    Diana Ross - Chain Reaction
    Cliff Richard & The Young Ones, featuring Hank Marvin - Living Doll
    George Michael - A Different Corner
    Falco - Rock Me Amadeus
    Spitting Image - The Chicken Song
    Doctor & The Medics - Spirit In The Sky
    Wham! - Edge Of Heaven
    Madonna - Papa Don't Preach
    Chris De Burgh - The Lady In Red
    Boris Gardiner - I Want To Wake Up With You
    Communards - Don't Leave Me This Way
    Madonna - True Blue
    Nick Berry - Every Loser Wins
    Berlin - Take My Breath Away
    Europe - The Final Countdown
    The Housemartins - Caravan Of Love
    Jackie Wilson - Reet Petite

    1987

    Steve 'Silk' Hurley - Jack Your Body
    Aretha Franklin & George Michael - I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)
    Ben E. King - Stand By Me
    Boy George - Everything I Own
    Mel & Kim - Respectable
    Ferry Aid - Let It Be
    Madonna - La Isla Bonita
    Starship - Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now
    Whitney Houston - I Want To Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)
    The Firm - Star Trekkin'
    The Pet Shop Boys - It's A Sin
    Madonna - Who's That Girl
    Los Lobos - La Bamba
    Michael Jackson - I Just Can't Stop Loving You
    Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up
    MARRS - Pump Up The Volume
    The Bee Gees - You Win Again
    T'Pau - China In Your Hand
    The Pet Shop Boys - Always On My Mind

    1988

    Belinda Carlisle - Heaven Is A Place On Earth
    Tiffany - I Think We're Alone Now
    Kylie Minogue - I Should Be So Lucky
    Aswad - Don't Turn Around
    The Pet Shop Boys - Heart
    S'Express - Theme From S'Express
    Fairground Attraction Perfect
    Wet Wet Wet / Billy Bragg - With A Little Help From My Friends / She's Leaving Home
    The Timelords - Doctorin' The Tardis
    Bros - I Owe You Nothing
    Glenn Medeiros - Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You
    Yazz & Plastic Population - The Only Way Is Up
    Phil Collins - A Groovy Kind Of Love
    The Hollies - He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother
    U2 - Desire
    Whitney Houston - One Moment In Time
    Enya - Orinoco Flow
    Robin Beck - First Time
    Cliff Richard - Mistletoe & Wine

    1989

    Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan - Especially For You
    Marc Almond with Gene Pitney - Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart
    Simple Minds - Belfast Child
    Jason Donovan - Too Many Broken Hearts
    Madonna - Like A Prayer
    The Bangles - Eternal Flame
    Kylie Minogue - Hand On Your Heart
    The Christians, Holly Johnson, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden, Stock Aitken & Waterman - Ferry 'Cross The Mersey
    Jason Donovan - Sealed With A Kiss
    Soul II Soul featuring Caron Wheeler - Back To Life (How Ever Do You Want Me)
    Sonia - You'll Never Stop Me From Loving You
    Jive Bunny - Swing The Mood
    Black Box - Ride On Time
    Jive Bunny - That's What I Like
    Lisa Stansfield - All Around The World
    New Kids On The Block - You Got It (The Right Stuff)
    Jive Bunny - Let's Party
    Band Aid II - Do They Know It's Christmas?

    Comment


      #3
      #1's - The Eighties

      Wet Wet Wet / Billy Bragg
      That was a thing? Seriously? Yikes.

      Comment


        #4
        #1's - The Eighties

        Yeah, but it was for charidee remember? Childline I think.

        'Ride On Time' aside the back half of 89 is potentially as grim as anything else seen pre-2000.

        Comment


          #5
          #1's - The Eighties

          So obviously 81 and 82.
          The best years, I mean.

          Comment


            #6
            #1's - The Eighties

            OK, i've just looked it up, and they were on different sides; i feel better now.

            MsD, where's Dog Eat Dog on this? That track grabbed me by the throat and wouldn't let go, to the extent that i probably didn't appreciate the rest of the album to the extent i should've; am i alone in that?

            Apropos of nothing in particular, music-decades are notoriously different than 20th-xtian-century actual decades; "The Eighties", for me, probably started around '84-'85: Front 242, No Comment; Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, Talk About The Weather; Laibach, Laibach; Einstürzende Neubauten, Halber Mensch (i know there was earlier stuff, this is entirely subjective). (Nor do i mean to derail what looks to be a seriously fun thread, just one data point.)

            Comment


              #7
              #1's - The Eighties

              I thought Another Brick In The Wall was the 1st number one of the eighties.

              Best year was 1980 by the way

              Comment


                #8
                #1's - The Eighties

                If it were set out as a graph, I think you yould see a general downward trend, though there would be a massive dip for 1985 down to the same level of 1989. I know we are not supposed to be too harsh on "chariddee" records, but when being judged solely as a piece of music, they are absolute guff, and wouldn't get near the charts on their own merit.

                Comment


                  #9
                  #1's - The Eighties

                  Best year : 1980, with 1987 and 1988 not far behind.

                  Worst year : It's a tie between 1985 and 1989.

                  Best #1 :
                  1980 Odyssey - Use It Up And Wear It Out
                  1981 Adam & the Ants - Stand & Deliver
                  1982 Madness - House of Fun
                  1983 Duran Duran - Is There Something I Should Know
                  1984 Chaka Khan - I Feel For You
                  1985 Paul Hardcastle - 19
                  1986 Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls
                  1987 Pet Shop Boys - Always On My Mind
                  1988 Pet Shop Boys - Heart
                  1989 Really struggling here. Hand On Your Heart by Kylie is probably the best of a bad bunch.

                  Worst #1 :
                  1980 Blondie - The Tide Is High
                  1981 Joe Dolce Music Theatre - Shaddap You Face
                  1982 Survivor - Eye of the Tiger
                  1983 Culture Club - Karma Chameleon
                  1984 Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas?
                  1985 USA For Africa - We Are The World
                  1986 Falco - Rock Me Amadeus
                  1987 Los Lobos - La Bamba
                  1988 Fairground Attraction - Perfect
                  1989 Band Aid II - Do They Know It's Christmas?

                  Comment


                    #10
                    #1's - The Eighties

                    alyxandr wrote:
                    MsD, where's Dog Eat Dog on this? That track grabbed me by the throat and wouldn't let go, to the extent that i probably didn't appreciate the rest of the album to the extent i should've; am i alone in that?
                    No, I love that above all other AATA tracks, too. So does Marco, and Adam used to say he did (but probably doesn't at the moment). One of my favourite non-Bowie songs, ever.
                    Apart from that riff, it has so much defiance and exuberance.

                    But it only got top 5, didn't it?

                    There's one live performance of it on YouTube that I really love, will try to find the link to pop in here, later.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      #1's - The Eighties

                      Fussbudget wrote: Worst #1 :
                      1980 Blondie - The Tide Is High
                      This is worse than The St Winifreds School Quoir?
                      My guess is that you have never heard There's No-one Quite Like Grandma, in which case you should, though I would advise having a bucket ready to vomit into.
                      The alternative is that you actually attended St Winifreds School and their harsh brainwashing teaching methods left you unable to level any kind of criticism toward them.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        #1's - The Eighties

                        Oh that was a conscious decision, I don't mind There's No-one Quite Like Grandma that much, though I suppose not having been exposed to it repeatedly probably helps.

                        I really fucking hate The Tide is High though.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          #1's - The Eighties

                          I hate TTIH and I love Blondie, and Deborah Harry. It seems so un-Blondie. I hated Goody Two Shoes for ages and can just about tolerate it now by focussing on the guitar key changes.

                          My fave from that list in 82 is The Model, btw.

                          I can't be bothered getting down my Guinness Book, but it does seem to me that there are omissions. Where is Geno?

                          Other beauties on there: Ashes to Ashes. Seems strange that Let's Dance was a sort of "breakthrough" hit for Bowie, it's so comparatively bland.

                          Oh God, and West End Girls, what a record.

                          89: All Around the World

                          Comment


                            #14
                            #1's - The Eighties

                            MsD wrote: Where is Geno?
                            Between Call Me and What's Another Year.

                            Comment


                              #15
                              #1's - The Eighties

                              Ah, some levity after all that Savile Squalor.

                              It does show you just how bad Number 1s are, in the scheme of things. And to think we say things were better in the old days.

                              Best Year: 1980 (most songs I like)

                              Worst Year: 1985 (no songs I like) (1989 almost edged it due to more novelty/charity hits and the presence of Jive Bunny and most of the Neighbours cast)

                              Best of 1980: [strike]There’s No-one Quite Like Grandma[/strike] Geno
                              Best of 1981: Ghost Town
                              Best of 1982: Town Called Malice
                              Best of 1983: Billie Jean
                              Best of 1984: Relax
                              Best of 1985: N/A
                              Best of 1986: Reet Petite
                              Best of 1987: It’s a Sin
                              Best of 1988: Desire
                              Best of 1989: Back to Life

                              Worst of 1980: What’s Another Year
                              Worst of 1981: Japanese Boy
                              Worst of 1982: I’ve Never Been to Me (one of a small selection of records I physically can’t listen to)
                              Worst of 1983: Is There Something I Should Know
                              Worst of 1984: I Should Have Known Better
                              Worst of 1985: Most of them
                              Worst of 1986: Lady in Red
                              Worst of 1987: Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now (see 1982)
                              Worst of 1988: Mistletoe and Wine
                              Worst of 1989: You Got it (The Right Stuff)

                              Comment


                                #16
                                #1's - The Eighties

                                Is this really all of the UK number ones? No Thompson Twins, no Take On Me? And 1984's list reads like the soundtrack to an HBO miniseries on the Third World War.

                                For me:

                                1. What was the best year.

                                Probably 1984, nuclear terrors aside.

                                2. What was the worst year.

                                1989's pretty thin. 1981 & 1982 have some real highs but a fairly average mix beyond them.

                                3. What was the best #1 from each year

                                1980 - Bowie, Ashes To Ashes
                                1981 - Queen & Bowie, Under Pressure (although Aneka is a close second as my grandma's favourite song)
                                1982 - Kraftwerk, The Model
                                1983 - Jackson, Billie Jean
                                1984 - tough one. Two Tribes or 99 Red Balloons. Honestly, the one that stands out most (and gets the biggest emotional reaction) is Hello, but I associate that with my parents getting divorced so it's probably a bit skewed
                                1985 - sparse pickings for me. Probably Foreigner, but I think that's artificial post-Grand Theft Auto musical nostalgia
                                1986 - Aha, The Sun Always Shines On TV
                                1987 - Pet Shop Boys, Always On My Mind
                                1988 - Theme From S'Express (Pet Shop Boys' Heart a close second)
                                1989 - Soul II Soul, Back To Life

                                4. What was the worst #1 from each year.

                                1980 - St Winifred's School Choir
                                1981 - Lennon, Woman (it just grates)
                                1982 - Captain Sensible, Happy Talk
                                1983 - New Edition, Candy Girl (but this wasn't an awful year compared to some of the others)
                                1984 - McCartney, Pipes Of Peace
                                1985 - USA For Africa, We Are The World
                                1986 - Housemartins, Caravan Of Love (even Nick Berry was better than that)
                                1987 - Ferry Aid, Let It Be (I was never a fan of charity songs)
                                1988 - Wet Wet Wet & Billy Bragg
                                1989 - Ferry Cross The Mersey

                                Comment


                                  #17
                                  #1's - The Eighties

                                  Take On Me got to number 2, it was one of those mega-selling number 2s that I always think of when I think of the '80s (see also Vienna, Automatic, Golden Brown, Temptation...). Thompson Twins' biggest hit was You Take Me Up, also a number 2.

                                  1: What was the best year.

                                  1980, I think. 1981 rocks too. 1989 was a cesspool but what jewels there were (Black Box, Bangles, Madonna) sparkled incredibly brightly, for me anyway.

                                  2: What was the worst year.

                                  1985. None of the good ones were that good and there were some real stinkers. 1983 would really be struggling if it weren't for the good ones being really, really good.

                                  3: What was the best #1 from each year

                                  1980 - David Bowie - Ashes To Ashes
                                  1981 - Soft Cell - Tainted Love
                                  1982 - Kraftwerk - The Model / Computer Love
                                  1983 - Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse Of The Heart
                                  1984 - Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax
                                  1985 - Elaine Paige & Barbara Dickson - I Know Him So Well
                                  1986 - A-Ha - The Sun Always Shines On TV
                                  1987 - Pet Shop Boys - Always On My Mind
                                  1988 - Belinda Carlisle - Heaven Is A Place On Earth
                                  1989 - Black Box - Ride On Time

                                  4: What was the worst #1 from each year.

                                  1980 - The Pretenders - Brass In Pocket
                                  1981 - Joe Dolce Music Theatre - Shaddap You Face
                                  1982 - Captain Sensible - Happy Talk
                                  1983 - Culture Club - Karma Chameleon
                                  1984 - Stevie Wonder - I Just Called To Say I Love You
                                  1985 - UB40, guest vocals by Chrissie Hynde - I Got You Babe
                                  1986 - The Housemartins - Caravan Of Love
                                  1987 - Ferry Aid - Let It Be
                                  1988 - Cliff Richard - Mistletoe & Wine
                                  1989 - Ferry 'Cross The Mersey

                                  5. Worst run. I was only 11 but I'm surprised I did't top myself during this parade of grimness...

                                  The Police - Every Breath You Take
                                  Rod Stewart - Baby Jane
                                  Paul Young - Wherever I Lay My Heart (That's My Home)
                                  KC & The Sunshine Band - Give It Up
                                  UB40 - Red Red Wine
                                  Culture Club - Karma Chameleon
                                  Billy Joel - Uptown Girl
                                  The Flying Pickets - Only You
                                  Paul McCartney - Pipes Of Peace

                                  6. Best run. ...especially as the early part of the year had served up these treats (OK, the Duran one's not that good but it kept the seat warm for the King).

                                  Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
                                  Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse Of The Heart
                                  Duran Duran - Is There Something I Should Know
                                  David Bowie - Let's Dance

                                  7. Lessons learned - keep ferries, Christians and Chrissy Hynde out of pop music.

                                  Comment


                                    #18
                                    #1's - The Eighties

                                    I've been looking at the music from 1984, 1985 and 1986 for a while now.

                                    The Wikipedia page for The Crowd's song, that I can't link to as the work network won't let me on it, is really quite something.

                                    Comment


                                      #19
                                      #1's - The Eighties

                                      'The Tide Is High' is the sound of band running on empty. Very tired sounding indeed.

                                      Comment


                                        #20
                                        #1's - The Eighties

                                        Gangster Octopus wrote:
                                        Originally posted by MsD
                                        Where is Geno?
                                        Between Call Me and What's Another Year.
                                        Ta. Could have sworn etc.

                                        No Fun Boy Three/Bananarama? Is there already a thread on No2s you thought were No1s?
                                        Plenty of No1s here I think are No2s.

                                        Comment


                                          #21
                                          #1's - The Eighties

                                          'The Tide Is High' is a cover of an old reggae tune. The original I heard on some compilation or other, it's really good.

                                          Comment


                                            #22
                                            #1's - The Eighties

                                            Tramp The Dirt Down wrote: I thought Another Brick In The Wall was the 1st number one of the eighties.
                                            It was. It went to No. 1 on 15 December 1979 and stayed there for 5 weeks. The Wikipedia list doesn't show overlaps from previous years/decades.

                                            Comment


                                              #23
                                              #1's - The Eighties

                                              For a little more context, here's a (mostly complete) list of songs which peaked at No. 2 in 1980 and 1981.

                                              1980

                                              ABBA - I Have a Dream
                                              Billy Preston and Syreeta - With You I'm Born Again
                                              Whispers - And the Beat Goes On
                                              Liquid Gold - Dance Yourself Dizzy
                                              Paul McCartney - Coming Up
                                              Hot Chocolate - No Doubt About It
                                              Lipps Inc - Funkytown
                                              Leo Sayer - More Than I Can Say
                                              Diana Ross - Upside Down
                                              Randy Crawford - One Day I'll Fly Away
                                              Stevie Wonder - Master Blaster(Jammin')
                                              Ottawan - D.I.S.C.O.
                                              Status Quo - What You're Proposing

                                              1981

                                              Adam and the Ants - Antmusic
                                              Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight
                                              Ultravox - Vienna
                                              Adam and the Ants - Kings of the Wild Frontier
                                              Kim Wilde - Kids in America
                                              Ennio Morricone - Chi Mai (Theme from the TV Series 'The Life and Times of David Lloyd George')
                                              Star Sound - Stars on 45
                                              Shakin' Stevens - You Drive Me Crazy
                                              Kate Robbins and Beyond - More Than In Love
                                              Star Sound - Stars on 45 (Vol.2)
                                              Stevie Wonder - Happy Birthday
                                              Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Hooked on Classics
                                              Police - Invisible Sun
                                              Tweets - Birdie Song
                                              Laurie Anderson - O Superman
                                              Altered Images - Happy Birthday
                                              Cliff Richard - Daddy's Home

                                              Comment


                                                #24
                                                #1's - The Eighties

                                                1981 is nothing to write home about from that list. 1980 has +50% hit rate, but doesn't quite match it on the #1 side of things.

                                                Comment


                                                  #25
                                                  #1's - The Eighties

                                                  AATA RULED 1981 with songs from the Kings album.

                                                  Comment

                                                  Working...
                                                  X