1980's US Hits & UK Misses

I have the Billboard chart book and no Jam single even cracked the Hot 100 or the Bubbling Under chart. While I was looking, I did find that the Jags' "Back Of My Hand" got to #84. So there's that.

By the way, no Specials singles made the U.S. Hot 100 or Bubbling Under chart either. No wonder I was so annoyed at mainstream radio back then. You'd think something might have caught on, especially after MTV made its debut.

 

As a Yank I'm guessing, but perhaps because it was released at around the same time as Sheena Easton's "Nine to Five"? That song, when it was belatedly released in the USA, was retitled "Morning Train (Nine to Five)" to prevent confusion.

 

Sorry if already mentioned

Bowie - Ashes To Ashes was #1 in the UK in 1980, 101 on Billboard (according to Wikipedia).

 

That's a good point. Curiously though, these days, although I wouldn't say Sheena's song has been completely forgotten, I don't think it's anywhere near as popular as Dolly's tune.

To my ears, they're both fab.

 

FOREIGNER

Say you will: US 5, UK 71
I don't want to live without you: US 5, UK 91

 

Ironically their debut single 'Heart & Soul' flopped in the UK only to go stellar in the US

 

DEF LEPPARD

When love and hate collide: UK 2, US 58
Photograph: UK 66, US 12
Rock of ages: UK 41, US 16

CHER
We all sleep alone: UK 47, US 14
Heart of stone: UK 43, US 20

BANANARAMA
Love in the first degree: UK 3, US 48
Robert de niro waiting: UK 3, US 95

PAT BENATAR
Shadows of the night: UK 50, US 13

THOMPSON TWINS
Love on your side: UK 9, US 45
You take me up: UK 2, US 44

WHITESNAKE

Still of the night UK 16, US 79
Give me all your love: UK 18, US 48

HEART

Stranded: UK 60, US 13
(Surrender to me: A Wilson, R Zander) UK 87, US 6
Love in the first degree: UK 3, US 48

 

Unless you count # 8 in the UK in '88 as the double AA side on the "Never"/"These Dreams" single release

 

Scandal feat. Patty Smyth "The Warrior" - # 7 in the US in '84. Reached # 86 in the UK and don't recall ever hearing it on the radio here.

 

I think there should be a section of singles from 1980-88 that reached #1 on the "other" UK charts (NME and Melody Maker) but not the "Official" Charts (BMRB and then Gallup), that either saw no U.S. release, did not chart in the U.S., or charted very low. Earlier "There's No One Quite Like Grandma" by St. Winifred's School Choir was mentioned. That was kept at #3 on the NME and Melody Maker charts. O.T.O.H., those two publications had at #1 for Christmastime 1980 "Stop The Cavalry" by Jona Lewie which, in contrast, only got to #3 on the Official Charts (then compiled by BMRB). His record didn't see any U.S. release either.

One #1 unique to Melody Maker, "Two Pints Of Lager" by Splodgenessabounds, from 1980, also saw no U.S. release.

 

Or as she enunciated it, "The Woe-Ree-Yuuuuuh."

 

We've addressed that now. It's off the list. Thanks.

Here's the final result.

1980's US Hits & UK Misses

1 Escape Club Wild Wild West
2 Men At Work Who Can It Be Now?
3 Michael Sembello Maniac
4 Steve Winwood Roll With It
5 Dolly Parton 9 To 5
6 Hall & Oates Out of Touch
7 Rick Springfield Jessie's Girl
8 Ready For The World Oh Sheila
9 Christopher Cross Sailing
10 Eddie Rabbitt I Love a Rainy Night
11 Billy Vera At This Moment
12 Richard Marx Satisfied
13 Michael Damian Rock on
14 Cheap Trick The Flame
15 Bob Seger Shakedown
16 Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam Head To Toe
17 Peter Cetera & Amy Grant The Next Time I Fall
18 Exposé Seasons Change
19 Starship Sara
20 Paula Abdul Cold Hearted
"The One That You Love" by Air Supply (1981)
"Amanda" by Boston
"When I'm with You" by Sheriff
Huey Lewis and the News - Jacob's Letter
Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam - Lost In Emotion
"Look Away" by Chicago
"When I See You Smile" by Bad English
Richard Marx - Hold On to the Nights
Milli Vanilli - Blame It On The Rain


1980's UK Hits & US Misses

1980/1981

Too Much Too Young - The Special A.K.A.
Together We Are Beautiful - Fern Kinney
Going Underground / The Dreams of Children - The Jam
Geno - Dexys Midnight Runners
What's Another Year - Johnny Logan
Suicide Is Painless - The MASH
Use It Up and Wear It Out - Odyssey
Start! - The Jam
Feels Like I'm in Love - Kelly Marie
Super Trouper - ABBA
There's No One Quite Like Grandma - St. Winifred's School Choir
Shaddap You Face - Joe Dolce
Jealous Guy - Roxy Music
This Ole House - Shakin' Stevens
Making Your Mind Up - Bucks Fizz
Stand and Deliver - Adam & the Ants
One Day in Your Life - Michael Jackson
Ghost Town - The Specials
Green Door - Shakin' Stevens
Japanese Boy - Aneka
Prince Charming - Adam & the Ants
It's My Party - Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin
Begin the Beguine - Julio Iglesias
Dexy's Midnight Runners - Geno: No 1 in UK in 1980.
Johnny Logan - What's Another year: No 1 in UK in 1980
Abba - Super Trouper: No 1 in UK in 1980
1982
The Jam - "Beat Surrender": No 1 in UK in 1982
1983
Candy Girl - New Edition (US #46)
Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home) - Paul Young (US #70)
Only You - The Flying Pickets (no US release) 1984
1984
Pipes of Peace - Paul McCartney (no US release)
Two Tribes - Frankie Goes to Hollywood (US #43)
I Should Have Known Better - Jim Diamond (did not chart in US Hot 100)
The Power of Love - Frankie Goes to Hollywood (no US release, but a promo may exist)
1985
I Know Him So Well - Elaine Paige & Barbara Dickson (did not chart in US Hot 100)
Move Closer - Phyllis Nelson (did not chart in US Hot 100)
You'll Never Walk Alone - The Crowd (no US release)
Frankie - Sister Sledge (US #75)
Into the Groove - Madonna (did not chart in US Hot 100)
If I Was - Midge Ure (did not chart in US Hot 100)
The Power of Love - Jennifer Rush (US #57)
A Good Heart - Feargal Sharkey (US #74)
Merry Christmas Everyone - Shakin' Stevens (no US release)
1986
Chain Reaction - Diana Ross (US #66)
Living Doll - Cliff Richard and the Young Ones (no US release)
The Chicken Song - Spitting Image (no US release)
Spirit in the Sky - Doctor and the Medics (US #69)
I Wanna Wake Up with You - Boris Gardiner (did not chart in US Hot 100)
Every Loser Wins - Nick Berry (no US release)
Caravan of Love - The Housemartins (did not chart in US Hot 100)
Reet Petite - Jackie Wilson (US #62 in 1957; reissued by US Columbia in 1987, but that reissue did not chart)
1987
Jack Your Body - Steve "Silk" Hurley (did not chart in US Hot 100
Everything I Own - Boy George (did not chart in US Hot 100)
Respectable - Mel & Kim (did not chart in US Hot 100)
Let It Be - Ferry Aid (did not chart in US Hot 100)
Star Trekkin' - The Firm (no US release)
You Win Again - Bee Gees (US #75)
China in Your Hand - T'Pau (did not chart in US Hot 100)
1988
Don't Turn Around - Aswad (did not chart in US Hot 100)
Heart - Pet Shop Boys (no US release)
Theme from S-Express - S-Express (US #91)
Perfect - Fairground Attraction (US #80)
Wet Wet Wet / Billy Bragg & Cara Tivey - With a Little Help from My Friends / She's Leaving Home (no US release)
Doctorin' the Tardis - The Timelords (US #66)
I Owe You Nothing - Bros (did not chart in US Hot 100)
The Only Way Is Up - Yazz and the Plastic Population (US #96)
First Time - Robin Beck (did not chart in US Hot 100)
Mistletoe and Wine - Cliff Richard (no US release)
1989
Especially for You - Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan (no US release)
Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart - Marc Almond feat. Gene Pitney (no US release)
Belfast Child - Simple Minds (no US release)
Too Many Broken Hearts - Jason Donovan (did not chart in US Hot 100)
Hand on Your Heart - Kylie Minogue (no US release)
Ferry Cross the Mersey - various artists (no US release)
Sealed with a Kiss - Jason Donovan (no US release, though a promo-only CD single exists)
You'll Never Stop Me Loving You - Sonia (did not chart in US Hot 100)
Ride on Time - Black Box (did not chart in US Hot 100)
That's What I Like - Jive Bunny (US #69)
Let's Party - Jive Bunny (no US release)
Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid II (no US release)

I haven't validated the UK hit/US miss list and I think we're missing most of 1982. They are interesting lists. The US one is more consistent but I don't think there's any real classics, though I'm a big fan of Sailing.
The UK list is much bigger and has some terrible entries so less consistent but does have some classic tracks.

 

Kim Carnes "Crazy in the Night" - # 15 in the US in '85. Missed the Top 75 in the UK (but, if you can believe Wikipedia, was a Top 10 hit in Austria and a Top 3 hit in South Africa)
I played this to death on 7" that year. Still sounds great...

 

John McEnroe thought it was cute, no doubt. Always thought Patty Smyth was a decent singer.

 

Wow, really surprised this one failed in the UK. It was a huge hit here in Australia.

I'm shocked that these songs weren't successful in the US. Such big hits!

 

I see a few that should be off your list too by that reasoning...

 

Very interesting thread, thanks. It should be noted that while "Don't Turn Around" by Aswad didn't chart in the U.S., the Swedish group Ace Of Bass had a huge hit with the song in the U.S. in 1994 (Billboard Hot 100 - #4). I didn't realize until I looked up the chart position that Tina Turner was the first person to record the song in 1986 (it was the B-Side to "Typical Male").

I'm sure it works both ways, but no only do I not know some of the UK #1s, in many cases I don't even know the artists ! It's amazing to me that there was so little "cross pollination" at that time between the UK and the US.

One thing the Jackie Wilson charting single reminded me of...it's much more common (in general) for an older song to be used in an advert in the UK, get a re-release and become a hit. I'm thinking songs like "I Just Want To Make Love To You" by Etta James or "Here Come The Girls" by Ernie K-Doe. That almost never happens in the U.S. (or at the very least, it's infrequent). That's likely changed in today's download world though.

 

Like what?

 

I wanted to also say that I was floored that those Whitesnake tracks mentioned charted higher in the UK than the US. I definitely feel that there were songs that were in heavy rotation on MTV that did not do much on the actual charts (for some reason). I saw the "Still Of The Night" video quite often back in the day, for example.

 

From what I gather, here are the "extra," "non-official" UK #1's that met this criteria:

1980
- "My Girl" (NME / MM #1) by Madness (no US release)
- "Dance Yourself Dizzy" (NME #1) by Liquid Gold (did not chart in US Hot 100)
- "No Doubt About It" (NME #1) by Hot Chocolate (no US release)
- "Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps Please" (MM #1) by Splodgenessabounds (no US release)
- "One Day I'll Fly Away" (NME / MM #1) by Randy Crawford (did not chart in US Hot 100)
- "Stop The Cavalry" (NME / MM #1) by Jona Lewie (no US release)

1981
- "Antmusic" (MM #1) by Adam And The Ants (did not chart in US Hot 100, though it did reach #14 in US Rock Albums & Top Tracks)
- "Kids In America" (MM #1) by Kim Wilde (US #25)
- "Chi Mai" (NME / MM #1) by Ennio Morricone (no US release)
- "You Drive Me Crazy" (MM #1) by Shakin' Stevens (did not chart in US Hot 100)
- "Chant No. 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On)" (NME #1) by Spandau Ballet (did not chart in US Hot 100, though it did reach #17 in US Disco Top 80)
- "Invisible Sun" (MM #1) by The Police (no US release)
- "Happy Birthday" (NME / MM #1) by Altered Images (did not chart in US Hot 100)

1982
- "One Of Us" (NME #1) by ABBA (US Bubbling Under #107)
- "Golden Brown" (MM #1) by The Stranglers (no US release)
- "Just An Illusion" (MM #1) by Imagination (did not chart in US Hot 100, though it did reach #27 in US Hot Black Singles)
- "Ain't No Pleasing You" (MM #1) by Chas And Dave (did not chart in US Hot 100)
- "I Won't Let You Down" (NME #1) by Ph.D. (did not chart in US Hot 100)
- "Only You" (MM #1) by Yazoo [Yaz] (US #67)
- "Torch" (MM #1) by Soft Cell (no US release)
- "Private Investigations" (NME / MM #1) by Dire Straits (no US release)
- "The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had To Swallow)" (NME / MM #1) by The Jam (did not chart in US Hot 100)
- "Mirror Man" (NME / MM #1) by The Human League (US #30)

1983
- "Change (MM #1) by Tears For Fears (US #73)
- "Speak Like A Child" (MM #1) by The Style Council (no US release)
- "Temptation" (MM #1) by Heaven 17 (did not chart in US Hot 100, though it did reach #34 in US Club Play Singles)
- "I.O.U." (MM #1) by Freeez (did not chart in US Hot 100, though it did reach #13 in US Hot Black Singles)
- "Gold" (NME / MM #1) by Spandau Ballet (US #29)
- "Never Never" (NME / MM #1) by The Assembly (did not chart in US Hot 100)
- "Love Of The Common People" (NME #1) by Paul Young (US #45)

1985
- "Love And Pride" (NME / MM #1) by King (US #55)
- "Welcome To The Pleasuredome" (NME #1) by Frankie Goes To Hollywood (US #48)

1986
- "Only Love" (MM #1) by Nana Mouskouri (no US release)
- "Absolute Beginners" (NME #1) by David Bowie (US #53)
- "Sometimes" (MM #1) by Erasure (did not chart in US Hot 100, though it did reach #4 in US Hot Dance Club Play)

1987
- "Can't Be With You Tonight" (MM #1) by Judy Boucher (no US release)
- "Full Metal Jacket (I Wanna Be Your Drill Instructor)" (NME #1) by Abigail Mead And Nigel Goulding (did not chart in US Hot 100)
- "When I Fall In Love (NME / MM #1) by Rick Astley (no US release)

1988
- "Beat Dis" (NME / MM #1) by Bomb The Bass (did not chart in US Hot 100, though it did reach #1 in US Dance Club Songs)

 

'Town Called Malice' by the Jam was also #1 in the UK in 1982, and not a Top 40 hit in the US (meaning the Billboard Hot 100 chart).

 

A lot of the UK songs I've never heard of though I followed the charts then. The US songs are more widely known. On average. The UK hits are more of a mixture.

 

A deviation from the original intent of the thread. Do we know what made it to #1 in both countries in the 80's?

 

I make it 37 songs but I might well have missed/added a few.

 

Come see my record collection

Has Madness - House of fun been mentioned? No idea if it charted in the US