Week Ending 22 September 1979 04 - 02 - 01 - Gary Numan - CARS 10 - 01 - 02 - Cliff Richard - WE DON'T TALK ANYMORE 04 - 04 - 03 - Electric Light Orchestra - DON'T BRING ME DOWN 07 - 07 - 04 - Bellamy Brothers - IF I SAID YOU HAD A BEAUTIFUL BODY WOULD YOU HOLD IT AGAINST ME 06 - 09 - 05 - Dollar - LOVE'S GOTTA HOLD ON ME 06 - 05 - 06 - Crusaders - STREET LIFE 09 - 03 - 07 - B.A. Robertson - BANG BANG 1 - NEW - 08 - The Police - MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE 08 - 08 - 09 - Randy Vanwarmer - JUST WHEN I NEEDED YOU MOST 07 - 06 - 10 - Roxy Music - ANGEL EYES 07 - 23 - 11 - Frantique - STRUT YOUR FUNKY STUFF 06 - 18 - 12 - Bill Lovelady - REGGAE FOR IT NOW 07 - 12 - 13 - Boney M - GOTTA GO HOME / EL LUTE 05 - 24 - 14 - Commodores - SAIL ON 07 - 21 - 15 - Johnny Mathis - GONE, GONE, GONE 05 - 26 - 16 - Nick Lowe - CRUEL TO BE KIND 08 - 10 - 17 - The Flying Lizards - MONEY 06 - 14 - 18 - The Stranglers - DUCHESS 09 - 11 - 19 - The Special A.K.A. - GANGSTERS 07 - 17 - 20 - Sister Sledge - LOST IN MUSIC 04 - 27 - 21 - Secret Affair - TIME FOR ACTION 06 - 25 - 22 - Racey - BOY OH BOY 04 - 37 - 23 - Madness - THE PRINCE 10 - 16 - 24 - The Boomtown Rats - I DON'T LIKE MONDAYS 03 - 32 - 25 - Squeeze - SLAP AND TICKLE 02 - 33 - 26 - Rainbow - SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE 02 - 35 - 27 - Kate Bush - KATE BUSH ON STAGE (EP) 03 - 28 - 28 - U.K. Subs - TOMORROWS GIRLS 02 - 51 - 29 - Michael Jackson - DON'T STOP 'TIL YOU GET ENOUGH 06 - 30 - 30 - Gerry Rafferty - GET IT RIGHT NEXT TIME 10 - 13 - 31 - Gibson Brothers - OOH! WHAT A LIFE 05 - 22 - 32 - The Jam - WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG 03 - 29 - 33 - The Ruts - SOMETHING THAT I SAID 03 - 42 - 34 - The Jags - BACK OF MY HAND 1 - NEW - 35 - Status Quo - WHATEVER YOU WANT 02 - 65 - 36 - Al Hudson And The Partners - YOU CAN DO IT 09 - 15 - 37 - Earth, Wind And Fire - AFTER THE LOVE HAS GONE 04 - 46 - 38 - Donna Summer - DIM ALL THE LIGHTS 08 - 20 - 39 - Joe Jackson - IS SHE REALLY GOING OUT WITH HIM? 02 - 57 - 40 - The Dickies - NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN 10 - 19 - 41 - Darts - DUKE OF EARL 05 - 38 - 42 - Billy Connolly - IN THE BROWNIES 04 - 45 - 43 - Gene Chandler - WHEN YOU'RE NUMBER 1 03 - 48 - 44 - David Bendeth - FEEL THE REAL 03 - 50 - 45 - The Tourists - THE LONELIEST MAN IN THE WORLD 05 - 31 - 46 - Buzzcocks - SPIRAL SCRATCH 08 - 39 - 47 - Ian Dury And The Blockheads - REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL, PART 3 02 - 63 - 48 - Slick - SEXY CREAM 08 - 34 - 49 - Sham 69 - HERSHAM BOYS 02 - 73 - 50 - Jackie Moore - THIS TIME BABY 03 - 59 - 51 - Starjets - WAR STORIES 1 - NEW - 52 - Dave Edmunds - QUEEN OF HEARTS 05 - 47 - 53 - David Naughton - MAKIN' IT 06 - 41 - 54 - The Planets - LINES 1 - NEW - 55 - Sad Café - EVERY DAY HURTS 1 - NEW - 56 - Dr. Hook - WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN 1 - NEW - 57 - The Buggles - VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR 04 - 54 - 58 - Billy Ocean - AMERICAN HEARTS 09 - 44 - 59 - Me And You - YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'VE GOT 09 - 36 - 60 - Showaddywaddy - SWEET LITTLE ROCK N' ROLLER 10 - 43 - 61 - Spyro Gyra - MORNING DANCE 02 - 75 - 62 - Sheila Hylton - BREAKFAST IN BED 1 - NEW - 63 - XTC - MAKING PLANS FOR NIGEL 05 - 49 - 64 - Average White Band - WHEN WILL YOU BE MINE 1 - NEW - 65 - Errol Dunkley - O.K. FRED 11 - 40 - 66 - ABBA - ANGELEYES / VOULEZ-VOUS 02 - 71 - 67 - City Boy - THE DAY THE EARTH CAUGHT FIRE 1 - NEW - 68 - The Headboys - THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME 1 - NEW - 69 - John Du Cann - DON'T BE A DUMMY 1 - NEW - 70 - Purple Hearts - MILLIONS LIKE US 1 - NEW - 71 - The Charlie Daniels Band - THE DEVIL WENT DOWN TO GEORGIA 06 - 64 - 72 - Fat Larry's Band (FLB) - LOOKIN' FOR LOVE TONIGHT 04 - 56 - 73 - AC/DC - HIGHWAY TO HELL 1 - NEW - 74 - The Dooleys - THE CHOSEN FEW 1 - NEW - 75 - The Quads - THERE MUST BE THOUSANDS
And for the 'newies', very few that can be shown here had U.S. pressings (at least one if not more debuting this week had some, but will be shown at the proper times): It should be noted that this is the same song that, two years later, was covered by American country/pop singer Juice Newton whose version would not grace these charts. In the States, Mr. Edmunds' rendition was the B side of "Crawling From The Wreckage" which, unlike "Girls Talk," did not chart "across the pond." The biggest hit of this veteran performer who died this July, this made peaks of #3 in both Billboard and Record World, #4 in Cash Box, and #9 in Radio & Records. A forerunner of what kind of music will be amongst those that dominate the U.S. pop charts in the next 3-4 years.
I like Cars. It’s Berlin Bowie, Moroder, and Krautrock rolled into one. XTC – Making Plans For Nigel Punky; punchy; angular; arty. The rest zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Here's one that didn't chart, from a band that didn't last long........but would be hugely influential re the post-punk landscape.
As I would say . . . in this period and continuing through 1982-83, that would sum up the US singles charts.
If I was Cliff I would have ripped up a pic of The Boomtown Rats on TOTP to celebrate such a magnificent return to the top of the hit parade..
Cars - I'm not really a fan of his style, but surely these must have been influential on a lot of cool stuff.
Favs... Week Ending 22 September 1979 1 - NEW - 08 - The Police - MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE 1 - NEW - 35 - Status Quo - WHATEVER YOU WANT 1- NEW - 57 - The Buggles - VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR 1 - NEW - 63 - XTC - MAKING PLANS FOR NIGEL 1 - NEW - 71 - The Charlie Daniels Band - THE DEVIL WENT DOWN TO GEORGIA
Says something that Mr. Richard managed #7 on the "official" US chart (a.k.a. Billboard) whilst the Rats' number could only get up to #73 there, dunnit?
Whatever You Want - One of the better post Blue For You era singles. Dave Edmunds with another cracking number. XTC - Making Plans For Nigel Always loved this song, but have somehow avoided the video for 41 years! The Devil Went Down To Georgia was great fun - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wBjPAqmnvGA
#13 of 1979 (#443 in total) - "Message In A Bottle" by The Police (#1 for 3 weeks - 29 September-13 October 1979) The UK single: The US single: Wikipedia entry - also NME #482 and Melody Maker #422 (both 2 weeks - 06 October-13 October 1979); in U.S., given its current ubiquity on "classic rock" radio stations (and in contrast thereto), "at the time" it didn't exactly set the charts on fire, unable to get any higher than #74 in Billboard, #62 in Cash Box, and #86 in Record World.
Week Ending 29 September 1979 02 - 08 - 01 - The Police - MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE 05 - 01 - 02 - Gary Numan - CARS 08 - 04 - 03 - Bellamy Brothers - IF I SAID YOU HAD A BEAUTIFUL BODY WOULD YOU HOLD IT AGAINST ME 07 - 05 - 04 - Dollar - LOVE'S GOTTA HOLD ON ME 05 - 03 - 05 - Electric Light Orchestra - DON'T BRING ME DOWN 11 - 02 - 06 - Cliff Richard - WE DON'T TALK ANYMORE 1 - NEW - 07 - Blondie - DREAMING 06 - 14 - 08 - Commodores - SAIL ON 07 - 06 - 09 - Crusaders - STREET LIFE 08 - 11 - 10 - Frantique - STRUT YOUR FUNKY STUFF 03 - 26 - 11 - Rainbow - SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE 02 - 35 - 12 - Status Quo - WHATEVER YOU WANT 05 - 21 - 13 - Secret Affair - TIME FOR ACTION 06 - 16 - 14 - Nick Lowe - CRUEL TO BE KIND 07 - 12 - 15 - Bill Lovelady - REGGAE FOR IT NOW 03 - 29 - 16 - Michael Jackson - DON'T STOP 'TIL YOU GET ENOUGH 09 - 09 - 17 - Randy Vanwarmer - JUST WHEN I NEEDED YOU MOST 08 - 15 - 18 - Johnny Mathis - GONE, GONE, GONE 10 - 07 - 19 - B.A. Robertson - BANG BANG 08 - 10 - 20 - Roxy Music - ANGEL EYES 05 - 23 - 21 - Madness - THE PRINCE 08 - 13 - 22 - Boney M - GOTTA GO HOME / EL LUTE 03 - 27 - 23 - Kate Bush - KATE BUSH ON STAGE (EP) 02 - 57 - 24 - The Buggles - VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR 07 - 18 - 25 - The Stranglers - DUCHESS 07 - 22 - 26 - Racey - BOY OH BOY 08 - 20 - 27 - Sister Sledge - LOST IN MUSIC 04 - 25 - 28 - Squeeze - SLAP AND TICKLE 03 - 36 - 29 - Al Hudson And The Partners - YOU CAN DO IT 04 - 34 - 30 - The Jags - BACK OF MY HAND 02 - 52 - 31 - Dave Edmunds - QUEEN OF HEARTS 05 - 38 - 32 - Donna Summer - DIM ALL THE LIGHTS 09 - 17 - 33 - The Flying Lizards - MONEY 02 - 55 - 34 - Sad Café - EVERY DAY HURTS 06 - 32 - 35 - The Jam - WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG 10 - 19 - 36 - The Special A.K.A. - GANGSTERS 07 - 30 - 37 - Gerry Rafferty - GET IT RIGHT NEXT TIME 04 - 28 - 38 - U.K. Subs - TOMORROWS GIRLS 03 - 40 - 39 - The Dickies - NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN 04 - 45 - 40 - The Tourists - THE LONELIEST MAN IN THE WORLD 02 - 71 - 41 - The Charlie Daniels Band - THE DEVIL WENT DOWN TO GEORGIA 11 - 31 - 42 - Gibson Brothers - OOH! WHAT A LIFE 02 - 56 - 43 - Dr. Hook - WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN 02 - 74 - 44 - The Dooleys - THE CHOSEN FEW 1 - NEW - 45 - The Skids - CHARADE 02 - 69 - 46 - John Du Cann - DON'T BE A DUMMY 03 - 48 - 47 - Slick - SEXY CREAM 02 - 65 - 48 - Errol Dunkley - O.K. FRED 03 - 50 - 49 - Jackie Moore - THIS TIME BABY 1 - NEW - 50 - Lena Martell - ONE DAY AT A TIME 04 - 33 - 51 - The Ruts - SOMETHING THAT I SAID 02 - 63 - 52 - XTC - MAKING PLANS FOR NIGEL 04 - 51 - 53 - Starjets - WAR STORIES 05 - 43 - 54 - Gene Chandler - WHEN YOU'RE NUMBER 1 11 - 24 - 55 - The Boomtown Rats - I DON'T LIKE MONDAYS 10 - 37 - 56 - Earth, Wind And Fire - AFTER THE LOVE HAS GONE 02 - 70 - 57 - Purple Hearts - MILLIONS LIKE US 1 - NEW - 58 - Siouxsie And The Banshees - MITTAGEISEN (METAL POSTCARD) 1 - NEW - 59 - Stiff Little Fingers - STRAW DOGS 09 - 39 - 60 - Joe Jackson - IS SHE REALLY GOING OUT WITH HIM? 03 - 62 - 61 - Sheila Hylton - BREAKFAST IN BED 11 - 41 - 62 - Darts - DUKE OF EARL 05 - 58 - 63 - Billy Ocean - AMERICAN HEARTS 02 - 68 - 64 - The Headboys - THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME 04 - 44 - 65 - David Bendeth - FEEL THE REAL 02 - 75 - 66 - The Quads - THERE MUST BE THOUSANDS 1 - NEW - 67 - The Three Degrees - JUMP THE GUN 06 - 42 - 68 - Billy Connolly - IN THE BROWNIES 1 - NEW - 69 - The O'Jays - SING A HAPPY SONG 03 - 67 - 70 - City Boy - THE DAY THE EARTH CAUGHT FIRE 09 - 49 - 71 - Sham 69 - HERSHAM BOYS 1 - NEW - 72 - The Beach Boys - SUMAHAMA 06 - 53 - 73 - David Naughton - MAKIN' IT 06 - 46 - 74 - Buzzcocks - SPIRAL SCRATCH (EP) 1 - NEW - 75 - Matumbi - POINT OF VIEW (SQUEEZE A LITTLE LOVIN') Week Ending 06 October 1979 03 - 01 - 01 - The Police - MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE 02 - 07 - 02 - Blondie - DREAMING 06 - 02 - 03 - Gary Numan - CARS 03 - 12 - 04 - Status Quo - WHATEVER YOU WANT 09 - 03 - 05 - Bellamy Brothers - IF I SAID YOU HAD A BEAUTIFUL BODY WOULD YOU HOLD IT AGAINST ME 03 - 24 - 06 - The Buggles - VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR 04 - 16 - 07 - Michael Jackson - DON'T STOP 'TIL YOU GET ENOUGH 04 - 11 - 08 - Rainbow - SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE 08 - 04 - 09 - Dollar - LOVE'S GOTTA HOLD ON ME 06 - 05 - 10 - Electric Light Orchestra - DON'T BRING ME DOWN 04 - 23 - 11 - Kate Bush - KATE BUSH ON STAGE (EP) 07 - 14 - 12 - Nick Lowe - CRUEL TO BE KIND 07 - 08 - 13 - Commodores - SAIL ON 09 - 10 - 14 - Frantique - STRUT YOUR FUNKY STUFF 06 - 13 - 15 - Secret Affair - TIME FOR ACTION 06 - 21 - 16 - Madness - THE PRINCE 12 - 06 - 17 - Cliff Richard - WE DON'T TALK ANYMORE 08 - 09 - 18 - Crusaders - STREET LIFE 08 - 15 - 19 - Bill Lovelady - REGGAE FOR IT NOW 03 - 31 - 20 - Dave Edmunds - QUEEN OF HEARTS 03 - 34 - 21 - Sad Café - EVERY DAY HURTS 04 - 29 - 22 - Al Hudson And The Partners - YOU CAN DO IT 09 - 18 - 23 - Johnny Mathis - GONE, GONE, GONE 05 - 28 - 24 - Squeeze - SLAP AND TICKLE 09 - 22 - 25 - Boney M - GOTTA GO HOME / EL LUTE 10 - 17 - 26 - Randy Vanwarmer - JUST WHEN I NEEDED YOU MOST 05 - 30 - 27 - The Jags - BACK OF MY HAND 02 - 50 - 28 - Lena Martell - ONE DAY AT A TIME 08 - 26 - 29 - Racey - BOY OH BOY 03 - 44 - 30 - The Dooleys - THE CHOSEN FEW 09 - 27 - 31 - Sister Sledge - LOST IN MUSIC 06 - 32 - 32 - Donna Summer - DIM ALL THE LIGHTS 02 - 45 - 33 - Skids - CHARADE 03 - 48 - 34 - Errol Dunkley - O.K. FRED 05 - 40 - 35 - The Tourists - THE LONELIEST MAN IN THE WORLD 09 - 20 - 36 - Roxy Music - ANGEL EYES 11 - 19 - 37 - B.A. Robertson - BANG BANG 03 - 41 - 38 - The Charlie Daniels Band - THE DEVIL WENT DOWN TO GEORGIA 03 - 46 - 39 - John Du Cann - DON'T BE A DUMMY 03 - 43 - 40 - Dr. Hook - WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN 02 - 69 - 41 - The O'Jays - SING A HAPPY SONG 03 - 52 - 42 - XTC - MAKING PLANS FOR NIGEL 08 - 25 - 43 - The Stranglers - DUCHESS 11 - 36 - 44 - The Special A.K.A. - GANGSTERS 02 - 59 - 45 - Stiff Little Fingers - STRAW DOGS 04 - 39 - 46 - The Dickies - NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN 02 - 58 - 47 - Siouxsie And The Banshees - MITTAGEISEN (METAL POSTCARD) 02 - 67 - 48 - The Three Degrees - JUMP THE GUN 02 - 72 - 49 - The Beach Boys - SUMAHAMA 08 - 37 - 50 - Gerry Rafferty - GET IT RIGHT NEXT TIME 1 - NEW - 51 - Nolan Sisters - SPIRIT, BODY AND SOUL 10 - 33 - 52 - The Flying Lizards - MONEY 1 - NEW - 53 - Fleetwood Mac - TUSK 02 - 75 - 54 - Matumbi - POINT OF VIEW (SQUEEZE A LITTLE LOVIN') 05 - 38 - 55 - U.K. Subs - TOMORROWS GIRLS 03 - 64 - 56 - The Headboys - THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME 04 - 61 - 57 - Sheila Hylton - BREAKFAST IN BED 04 - 49 - 58 - Jackie Moore - THIS TIME BABY 04 - 47 - 59 - Slick - SEXY CREAM 05 - 53 - 60 - Starjets - WAR STORIES 03 - 57 - 61 - Purple Hearts - MILLIONS LIKE US 07 - 68 - 62 - Billy Connolly - IN THE BROWNIES 1 - NEW - 63 - The Chords - NOW IT'S GONE 1 - NEW - 64 - Viola Wills - GONNA GET ALONG WITHOUT YOU NOW 05 - 51 - 65 - The Ruts - SOMETHING THAT I SAID 1 - NEW - 66 - Gloria Gaynor - LET ME KNOW (I HAVE A RIGHT) 07 - 35 - 67 - The Jam - WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG 1 - NEW - 68 - Earth, Wind And Fire - STAR 1 - NEW - 69 - Cats U.K. - LUTON AIRPORT 1 - NEW - 70 - New Musik - STRAIGHT LINES 12 - 42 - 71 - Gibson Brothers - OOH! WHAT A LIFE 1 - NEW - 72 - Addrisi Brothers - GHOST DANCER 05 - 65 - 73 - David Bendeth - FEEL THE REAL 12 - 55 - 74 - The Boomtown Rats - I DON'T LIKE MONDAYS 1 - NEW - 75 - Diana Ross - NO ONE GETS THE PRIZE Week Ending 13 October 1979 04 - 01 - 01 - The Police - MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE 04 - 06 - 02 - The Buggles - VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR 03 - 02 - 03 - Blondie - DREAMING 05 - 07 - 04 - Michael Jackson - DON'T STOP 'TIL YOU GET ENOUGH 04 - 04 - 05 - Status Quo - WHATEVER YOU WANT 05 - 08 - 06 - Rainbow - SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE 07 - 03 - 07 - Gary Numan - CARS 10 - 05 - 08 - Bellamy Brothers - IF I SAID YOU HAD A BEAUTIFUL BODY WOULD YOU HOLD IT AGAINST ME 03 - 28 - 09 - Lena Martell - ONE DAY AT A TIME 05 - 11 - 10 - Kate Bush - KATE BUSH ON STAGE (EP) 04 - 21 - 11 - Sad Café - EVERY DAY HURTS 09 - 09 - 12 - Dollar - LOVE'S GOTTA HOLD ON ME 08 - 13 - 13 - Commodores - SAIL ON 08 - 12 - 14 - Nick Lowe - CRUEL TO BE KIND 05 - 22 - 15 - Al Hudson And The Partners - YOU CAN DO IT 04 - 30 - 16 - The Dooleys - THE CHOSEN FEW 10 - 14 - 17 - Frantique - STRUT YOUR FUNKY STUFF 04 - 20 - 18 - Dave Edmunds - QUEEN OF HEARTS 07 - 16 - 19 - Madness - THE PRINCE 07 - 10 - 20 - Electric Light Orchestra - DON'T BRING ME DOWN 07 - 15 - 21 - Secret Affair - TIME FOR ACTION 13 - 17 - 22 - Cliff Richard - WE DON'T TALK ANYMORE 04 - 34 - 23 - Errol Dunkley - O.K. FRED 09 - 18 - 24 - Crusaders - STREET LIFE 06 - 24 - 25 - Squeeze - SLAP AND TICKLE 04 - 40 - 26 - Dr. Hook - WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN 04 - 38 - 27 - The Charlie Daniels Band - THE DEVIL WENT DOWN TO GEORGIA 06 - 27 - 28 - The Jags - BACK OF MY HAND 07 - 32 - 29 - Donna Summer - DIM ALL THE LIGHTS 02 - 53 - 30 - Fleetwood Mac - TUSK 09 - 19 - 31 - Bill Lovelady - REGGAE FOR IT NOW 06 - 35 - 32 - The Tourists - THE LONELIEST MAN IN THE WORLD 04 - 39 - 33 - John Du Cann - DON'T BE A DUMMY 02 - 68 - 34 - Earth, Wind And Fire - STAR 03 - 54 - 35 - Matumbi - POINT OF VIEW (SQUEEZE A LITTLE LOVIN') 1 - NEW - 36 - Sex Pistols And Ten Pole Tudor - THE GREAT ROCK N' ROLL SWINDLE / ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK 04 - 42 - 37 - XTC - MAKING PLANS FOR NIGEL 10 - 25 - 38 - Boney M - GOTTA GO HOME / EL LUTE 03 - 41 - 39 - The O'Jays - SING A HAPPY SONG 02 - 51 - 40 - Nolan Sisters - SPIRIT, BODY AND SOUL 02 - 66 - 41 - Gloria Gaynor - LET ME KNOW (I HAVE A RIGHT) 03 - 33 - 42 - The Skids - CHARADE 10 - 23 - 43 - Johnny Mathis - GONE, GONE, GONE 03 - 45 - 44 - Stiff Little Fingers - STRAW DOGS 03 - 49 - 45 - The Beach Boys - SUMAHAMA 11 - 26 - 46 - Randy Vanwarmer - JUST WHEN I NEEDED YOU MOST 02 - 64 - 47 - Viola Wills - GONNA GET ALONG WITHOUT YOU NOW 03 - 48 - 48 - The Three Degrees - JUMP THE GUN 12 - 37 - 49 - B.A. Robertson - BANG BANG 10 - 36 - 50 - Roxy Music - ANGEL EYES 1 - NEW - 51 - Chic - MY FORBIDDEN LOVER 04 - 56 - 52 - Headboys - THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME 10 - 31 - 53 - Sister Sledge - LOST IN MUSIC 02 - 69 - 54 - Cats U.K. - LUTON AIRPORT 06 - 55 - 55 - U.K. Subs - TOMORROWS GIRLS 09 - 29 - 56 - Racey - BOY OH BOY 02 - 72 - 57 - Addrisi Brothers - GHOST DANCER 1 - NEW - 58 - Eagles - HEARTACHE TONIGHT 02 - 75 - 59 - Diana Ross - NO ONE GETS THE PRIZE 1 - NEW - 60 - The Slits - TYPICAL GIRLS / I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE 12 - 44 - 61 - The Special A.K.A. - GANGSTERS 03 - 47 - 62 - Siouxsie And The Banshees - MITTAGEISEN (METAL POSTCARD) 1 - NEW - 63 - Dynasty - I DON'T WANT TO BE A FREAK (BUT I CAN'T HELP MYSELF) 1 - NEW - 64 - The Selecter - ON MY RADIO 05 - 46 - 65 - The Dickies - NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN 1 - NEW - 66 - Herb Alpert - RISE 02 - 70 - 67 - New Musik - STRAIGHT LINES 09 - 43 - 68 - The Stranglers - DUCHESS 05 - 59 - 69 - Slick - SEXY CREAM 05 - 57 - 70 - Sheila Hylton - BREAKFAST IN BED 09 - 50 - 71 - Gerry Rafferty - GET IT RIGHT NEXT TIME 1 - NEW - 72 - The Knack - GOOD GIRLS DON'T 1 - NEW - 73 - The Ramblers (From The Abbey Hey Junior School) - THE SPARROW 02 - 63 - 74 - The Chords - NOW IT'S GONE 05 - 58 - 75 - Jackie Moore - THIS TIME BABY
Now for those which'd grace my whole set of 45's . . . This, from their highly anticipated but, ultimately sales-wise, disappointing double-LP of the same name, still managed to get as high as #5 in US Radio & Records, while all the other charts (Billboard, Cash Box and Record World) pegged it at #8. Let's suffice it to say that as a drum soloist, Mick Fleetwood was no Gene Krupa or Buddy Rich. Could only muster #64 in US Billboard, #68 in Cash Box, and #68 in Record World. I have this, but . . . as a test pressing, with labels like below: The fifth and final U.S. #1 for the country-rock-whatever group, in Billboard (Hot 100 #475 - 1 week, 17 November 1979), Cash Box, Record World (both 1 week - 10 November 1979) and Radio & Records (4 weeks - 19 October-09 November 1979).
And now, for the other 'newies' that came down the 'pike . . . From their new album Eat To The Beat, this made #27 in US Billboard, #20 in Cash Box, #23 in Record World, and #18 in Radio & Records. As an example of how they were part of the collateral damage wrought from the anti-disco backlash, this could only reach #102 in US Billboard - and only very marginally better in Record World, peaking at #95.
Only on 12": The total tally: #42 US Billboard, #62 Cash Box, #74 Record World. Managed to get up to #45 in US Billboard, #65 in Cash Box, and #70 in Record World.
After the highs of "Good Times," the radically changed radio climate in the States ensured this got no higher than #43 in Billboard - and a puny #102 in Record World. They list both sides, we show 'em (and both sides o' the picture sleeve, too):
The big comeback from this legendary trumpeter and '60's mainstay of MOR radio, was the 473d Number One of US Billboard's Hot 100 where it stayed for 2 weeks (20 October-27 October 1979; with this he became the first [and only] artist to have both an instrumental and a vocal - his 1968 hit "This Guy's In Love With You" - reach the top); also topped Cash Box (2 weeks - 27 October-03 November 1979), Record World (1 week - 27 October 1979) and Radio & Records (1 week - 12 October 1979). This follow-up to the megasuccessful "My Sharona" managed twin peaks of #11 in both US Billboard and Cash Box, and #10 in both Record World and Radio & Records.
Now for the last week this was at the top - courtesy NME and Melody Maker: NME SINGLES CHART - Week Ending 13 October 1979 01 (01) - The Police - MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE 02 (04) - Blondie - DREAMING 03 (14) - Michael Jackson - DON'T STOP 'TIL YOU GET ENOUGH 04 (17) - The Buggles - VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR 05 (16) - Kate Bush - KATE BUSH ON STAGE (EP) 06 (08) - Status Quo - WHATEVER YOU WANT 07 (03) - Gary Numan - CARS 08 (02) - Bellamy Brothers - IF I SAID YOU HAD A BEAUTIFUL BODY WOULD YOU HOLD IT AGAINST ME 09 (12) - Rainbow - SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE 10 (05) - Commodores - SAIL ON 11 (06) - Dollar - LOVE'S GOTTA HOLD ON ME 12 (11) - Nick Lowe - CRUEL TO BE KIND 13 (21) - Dave Edmunds - QUEEN OF HEARTS 14 (07) - Frantique - STRUT YOUR FUNKY STUFF 15 (18) - Madness - THE PRINCE 16 (19) - Al Hudson And The Partners - YOU CAN DO IT 17 (15) - Secret Affair - TIME FOR ACTION 18 (24) - Sad Café - EVERY DAY HURTS 19 (NEW) - The Dooleys - THE CHOSEN FEW 20 (13) - Electric Light Orchestra - DON'T BRING ME DOWN 21 (NEW) - Lena Martell - ONE DAY AT A TIME 22 (NEW) - Errol Dunkley - O.K. FRED 23 (26) - The Jags - BACK OF MY HAND 24 (10) - Cliff Richard - WE DON'T TALK ANYMORE 25 (20) - Bill Lovelady - REGGAE FOR IT NOW 26 (30) - The Charlie Daniels Band - THE DEVIL WENT DOWN TO GEORGIA 27 (RE) - Squeeze - SLAP AND TICKLE 28 (09) - Crusaders - STREET LIFE 29 (NEW) - Viola Wills - GONNA GET ALONG WITHOUT YOU NOW 30 (NEW) - The Skids - CHARADE MELODY MAKER SINGLES CHART - Week Ending 13 October 1979 01 (01) - The Police - MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE 02 (02) - Blondie - DREAMING 03 (15) - The Buggles - VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR 04 (08) - Michael Jackson - DON'T STOP 'TIL YOU GET ENOUGH 05 (07) - Status Quo - WHATEVER YOU WANT 06 (06) - Rainbow - SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE 07 (04) - Gary Numan - CARS 08 (03) - Bellamy Brothers - IF I SAID YOU HAD A BEAUTIFUL BODY WOULD YOU HOLD IT AGAINST ME 09 (16) - Nick Lowe - CRUEL TO BE KIND 10 (20) - Kate Bush - KATE BUSH ON STAGE (EP) 11 (21) - Dave Edmunds - QUEEN OF HEARTS 12 (25) - Sad Café - EVERY DAY HURTS 13 (05) - Dollar - LOVE'S GOTTA HOLD ON ME 14 (10) - Electric Light Orchestra - DON'T BRING ME DOWN 15 (12) - Frantique - STRUT YOUR FUNKY STUFF 16 (14) - Madness - THE PRINCE 17 (11) - Commodores - SAIL ON 18 (19) - Al Hudson And The Partners - YOU CAN DO IT 19 (NEW) - Lena Martell - ONE DAY AT A TIME 20 (09) - Crusaders - STREET LIFE 21 (13) - Secret Affair - TIME FOR ACTION 22 (30) - The Jags - BACK OF MY HAND 23 (NEW) - The Dooleys - THE CHOSEN FEW 24 (NEW) - The Charlie Daniels Band - THE DEVIL WENT DOWN TO GEORGIA 25 (22) - Squeeze - SLAP AND TICKLE 26 (18) - Bill Lovelady - REGGAE FOR IT NOW 27 (NEW) - XTC - MAKING PLANS FOR NIGEL 28 (NEW) - Errol Dunkley - O.K. FRED 29 (17) - Cliff Richard - WE DON'T TALK ANYMORE 30 (NEW) - The Selecter - ON MY RADIO
I only ever liked one Police single; this isn’t it. The Good Siouxsie raids the Krautrock deep freezer...... Ska revivalist time.............. More poptasticness from Debbie & Co............ Sounding like a dub Banshees............ Jake Burns gives his vocal cords an extra sandpapering for Straw Dogs. Cats UK Luton Airport sounds like the love child of Squeeze and Kirsty MacColl. The Bad Two Tone would prove a creative shot in the musical arm; unlike the ‘mod’ revival with third-rate Jam wannabes like Secret Affair, The Chords, and Merton Parkas. The Great Rock & Roll Swindle, McLaren's 'cash from chaos' trashy ego trip, is Rotten's "Ever get the feeling you've been cheated" writ large. As for The Ramblers' Sparrow.
I suspect that some disco singles failed to do as well as their predecessors not because of any backlash but simply because they just weren’t as good. For instance, “My Forbidden Lover” just isn’t as good as “Good Times” IMO. In the UK the hottest new import tracks just didn’t seem quite as hot, either. For instance, there was a massive buzz around “Feel The Real” by David Bendeth but, to be honest, it was mediocre compared to the hottest new tracks from the previous year IMHO. Like all things in popular music, disco had probably just run its course. I also believe that 1979 just didn’t quite have the same fabulous shine as 1978 from a pop singles perspective. Then again, perhaps 1978 was just truly exceptional.
You may have a point about the newer disco offerings not being as good as their predecessors, but the backlash in the States didn't help matters any. 1979 also didn't have a shine in another way: In many countries, the recording industry entered a protracted sales slump that lasted well into the early 1980's. Record companies slashed budgets and staff; and the industry started a contraction process that continued, with fits and stops, into a few years from here. In 1979 - and in the U.S. - alone: - United Artists Records, which Transamerica sold in Spring 1978 to a consortium led by Artie Mogull and Jerry Rubinstein, was taken over by Capitol-EMI after Mogull and Rubenstein defaulted on loan payments (EMI loaned them a boatload of money to acquire the label from Transamerica). Out went "United Artists Music And Records Group, Inc." (in the U.S. anyway); in came "Liberty/United Records, Inc." - MCA Records acquired the flailing ABC Records which, despite the odd hit, had been losing money hand over fist for the past couple years. Within a month or two, MCA discontinued ABC and transferred all its artists to MCA. - 20th Century-Fox Records, about to lose Barry White, ended its run as an independently-distributed label and arranged for RCA to manufacture and distribute its product. - A&M also arranged a deal with RCA to distribute their product in an entity called "RCA and A&M and Associated Labels." - Janus Records, which had the occasional hit in the States from its initial startup in 1969, went out of business; a few months after, its parent, GRT, hurt deeply by the end of ABC Records whose tape product GRT made, filed for bankruptcy. - Pickwick International, makers of budget record albums, also entered into bankruptcy. Which made the industry essentially revolved around the "Big Six": CBS, Warners', PolyGram, RCA, EMI, MCA. Over the years, these doings will have an impact on how pop music sounded. This manifested itself starting a few years into the new decade and from the next onwards. Any experts from the UK have any word as to what belt-tightenings came about within the record companies there?
