The first U.S. Number One of the 1980's, and the fifth and final topper for one of the hottest acts of the disco era, the 480th #1 of Billboard's Hot 100, standing there for exactly 1 week (05 January 1980); however, as a sign their star was in decline, this could only attain peaks of #3 in Cash Box, #2 in Record World, and #7 in Radio & Records.
Walking On The Moon – Not particularly lunar, let alone stellar. It’s ‘okay’; reggae-lite. Lori & The Chameleons were a launch pad for Dave Balfe (Teardrop Explodes) & Bill Drummond (KLF). Touch sounds like a sanitized Throbbing Gristle. The rest zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. There was a changing of the musical guard afoot. These four singles weren't hits, but the respective artists would soon to be chart regulars:
The Inmates - The walk Super groovy! Someone's put together this video with different walks such as the moonwalk and the one from the ministry of silly walks.
Week Ending 08 December 1979 02 - 05 - 01 - The Police - WALKING ON THE MOON One of their bigger hits that I've never been sure about 02 - 26 - 02 - Pink Floyd - ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL (PART II) Maybe to their hardcore fans it was selling out, but this was big in my bedroom for a long long time 03 - 21 - 16 - Blondie - UNION CITY BLUE My favourite Blondie track -- by a big mile 03 - 31 - 26 - The Three Degrees - MY SIMPLE HEART My mum had the cassette in the car, their last major hit and a pleasant pop song at that 02 - 45 - 41 - The Stranglers - DON'T BRING HARRY (EP) The hits were getting marginally smaller, for a while at least. A song about Heroin but with an intricate & interesting musical arrangement 02 - 69 - 46 - The Damned - I JUST CAN'T BE HAPPY TODAY A big yes from me; always found this quite euphoric despite its title 03 - 50 - 48 - Marianne Faithfull - THE BALLAD OF LUCY JORDAN Didn't appreciate it as the time, but love it now. Deserved to do much better on the charts 1 - NEW - 67 - The Beat - TEARS OF A CLOWN / RANKING FULL STOP An inspired cover / the AA side is quite good too 1 - NEW - 70 - Lori And The Chameleons - TOUCH Sort of silly nonsense, mainly due to the somewhat insipid lyrics; the people involved would go on to bigger and better things
Marianne Faithfull - The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan I'm a day behind, but couldn't pass on the opportunity to enthuse about this gem - who says that drinking, smoking and drug abuse is bad for your voice?! I didn't know that the single charted and have never seen the video before, but the album Marianne Faithfull - Broken English is absolutely stunning.
I'll have to give Eat To The Beat another listen as my favourite was always Plastic Letters, but Union City Blue is fabulous. Couldn't agree more about the wonderful Janis Ian, usually a stunning listen. Whilst I prefer her earlier albums to Night Rains, it says much about her talent that it is still very good.
The Police - Walking On The Moon Big step down in quality from Message In A Bottle, fairly simple but still OK.
And now for the 18th and final Number One of 1979 (and indeed, the last topper of the entire decade of the 1970's), and 448th in total . . . "Another Brick In The Wall (Part II)" by Pink Floyd (#1 for 5 weeks - 15 December 1979-12 January 1980) The UK single: The US single (with both custom and regular labels): Wikipedia entry - also NME #487 (same duration as BMRB - 15 December 1979-12 January 1980) and Melody Maker #447 (4 weeks - 22 December 1979-12 January 1980); in U.S., reached the top of all four major charts three months later, according to Billboard (Hot 100 #484) the fifth Number One of the 1980's, staying there 4 weeks (22 March-12 April 1980); whilst on Cash Box' Top 100 it was #1 for 3 weeks (22 March-05 April 1980), Record World's Singles Chart for 5 weeks (15 March-12 April 1980) and Radio & Records' National Airplay / 30 for 3 weeks (07 March-21 March 1980). In an interesting coincidence, Record World's duration was three months to the day, sequentially, after the BMRB and NME run, whilst Billboard's was three months to the day after Melody Maker's. Whichever way you slice it, their biggest hit.
As with the last songs of the 1950's and 1960's on the respective #1 UK singles threads, all of the weeks including the spillover to the new year (and decade) will be included here: Week Ending 15 December 1979 03 - 02 - 01 - Pink Floyd - ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL (PART II) 03 - 01 - 02 - The Police - WALKING ON THE MOON 03 - 12 - 03 - Sugarhill Gang - RAPPER'S DELIGHT 06 - 06 - 04 - The Tourists - I ONLY WANT TO BE WITH YOU 07 - 03 - 05 - Donna Summer / Barbra Streisand - NO MORE TEARS (ENOUGH IS ENOUGH) 05 - 05 - 06 - Gibson Brothers - QUE SERA MI VIDA 04 - 22 - 07 - Michael Jackson - OFF THE WALL 13 - 04 - 08 - Dr. Hook - WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN 06 - 10 - 09 - Madness - ONE STEP BEYOND... 04 - 26 - 10 - The Three Degrees - MY SIMPLE HEART 05 - 09 - 11 - Electric Light Orchestra - CONFUSION / LAST TRAIN TO LONDON 09 - 07 - 12 - Queen - CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE 04 - 16 - 13 - Blondie - UNION CITY BLUE 06 - 14 - 14 - The Moody Blues - NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN 04 - 08 - 15 - Gary Numan - COMPLEX 05 - 15 - 16 - The Boomtown Rats - DIAMOND SMILES 07 - 11 - 17 - Commodores - STILL 04 - 30 - 18 - Status Quo - LIVING ON AN ISLAND 07 - 21 - 19 - Matchbox - ROCKABILLY REBEL 03 - 31 - 20 - Paul McCartney - WONDERFUL CHRISTMASTIME 1 - NEW - 21 - ABBA - I HAVE A DREAM 07 - 17 - 22 - The Isley Brothers - IT'S A DISCO NIGHT (ROCK DON'T STOP) 1 - NEW - 23 - David Bowie - JOHN I'M ONLY DANCING (AGAIN) (1975) 05 - 29 - 24 - Rose Royce - IS IT LOVE YOU'RE AFTER 09 - 24 - 25 - Thin Lizzy - SARAH 1 - NEW - 26 - Fiddler's Dram - DAYTRIP TO BANGOR (DIDN'T WE HAVE A LOVELY TIME) 04 - 28 - 27 - The Skids - WORKING FOR THE YANKEE DOLLAR 10 - 19 - 28 - The Ramblers (From The Abbey Hey Junior School) - THE SPARROW 02 - 56 - 29 - Chic - MY FEET KEEP DANCING 05 - 33 - 30 - Pretenders - BRASS IN POCKET 02 - 67 - 31 - The Beat - TEARS OF A CLOWN / RANKING FULL STOP 12 - 27 - 32 - Lena Martell - ONE DAY AT A TIME 08 - 18 - 33 - Kool And The Gang - LADIES NIGHT 03 - 42 - 34 - Motörhead - BOMBER 02 - 74 - 35 - K.C. And The Sunshine Band - PLEASE DON'T GO 05 - 50 - 36 - Storm - IT'S MY HOUSE 04 - 35 - 37 - Sheila And B. Devotion - SPACER 03 - 36 - 38 - U.K. Subs - SHE'S NOT THERE / KICKS (EP) 03 - 40 - 39 - Diana Ross - IT'S MY HOUSE 02 - 72 - 40 - Mike Oldfield - BLUE PETER 08 - 20 - 41 - B.A. Robertson - KNOCKED IT OFF 1 - NEW - 42 - The Clash - LONDON CALLING 07 - 13 - 43 - The Jam - THE ETON RIFLES 02 - 64 - 44 - M - MOONLIGHT AND MUZAK 04 - 37 - 45 - Lowrell - MELLOW MELLOW RIGHT ON 10 - 23 - 46 - Herb Alpert - RISE 1 - NEW - 47 - Elvis Presley - IT WON'T SEEM LIKE CHRISTMAS (WITHOUT YOU) 03 - 46 - 48 - The Damned - I JUST CAN'T BE HAPPY TODAY 04 - 57 - 49 - Dollar - I WANNA HOLD YOUR HAND 1 - NEW - 50 - Boney M - I'M BORN AGAIN 03 - 54 - 51 - Darts - REET PETITE 09 - 34 - 52 - ABBA - GIMME, GIMME, GIMME (A MAN AFTER MIDNIGHT) 06 - 38 - 53 - Dan-I - MONKEY CHOP 08 - 32 - 54 - The Specials Featuring Rico + - A MESSAGE TO YOU RUDY / NITE KLUB 04 - 48 - 55 - Marianne Faithfull - THE BALLAD OF LUCY JORDAN 02 - 71 - 56 - One Way Featuring Al Hudson - MUSIC 03 - 41 - 57 - The Stranglers - DON'T BRING HARRY (EP) 1 - NEW - 58 - Sammy Hagar - THIS PLANET'S ON FIRE (BURN IN HELL) / SPACE STATION NO. 5 04 - 45 - 59 - Shalamar - THE SECOND TIME AROUND 02 - 66 - 60 - The Inmates - THE WALK 04 - 60 - 61 - Dave Edmunds - CRAWLING FROM THE WRECKAGE 1 - NEW - 62 - Kurtis Blow - CHRISTMAS RAPPIN' 02 - 68 - 63 - The Barron Knights - FOOD FOR THOUGHT 10 - 25 - 64 - Dynasty - I DON'T WANT TO BE A FREAK (BUT I CAN'T HELP MYSELF) 05 - 44 - 65 - Janis Ian - FLY TOO HIGH 05 - 58 - 66 - Rocky Burnette - TIRED OF TOEIN' THE LINE 1 - NEW - 67 - Barry Biggs - WHAT'S YOUR SIGN GIRL? 08 - 53 - 68 - Iris Williams - HE WAS BEAUTIFUL (CAVATINA) 1 - NEW - 69 - Earth, Wind And Fire - CAN'T LET GO 09 - 39 - 70 - Suzi Quatro - SHE'S IN LOVE WITH YOU 1 - NEW - 71 - The Greedies - A MERRY JINGLE 05 - 51 - 72 - Atmosfear - DANCING IN OUTER SPACE 06 - 49 - 73 - Secret Affair - LET YOUR HEART DANCE 1 - NEW - 74 - Booker T. And The M.G.s - GREEN ONIONS 1 - NEW - 75 - Billy Preston And Syreeta - WITH YOU I'M BORN AGAIN Week Ending 22 December 1979 04 - 01 - 01 - Pink Floyd - ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL (PART II) 02 - 21 - 02 - ABBA - I HAVE A DREAM 04 - 02 - 03 - The Police - WALKING ON THE MOON 02 - 26 - 04 - Fiddler's Dram - DAYTRIP TO BANGOR (DIDN'T WE HAVE A LOVELY TIME) 07 - 04 - 05 - The Tourists - I ONLY WANT TO BE WITH YOU 04 - 03 - 06 - Sugarhill Gang - RAPPER'S DELIGHT 04 - 20 - 07 - Paul McCartney - WONDERFUL CHRISTMASTIME 06 - 06 - 08 - Gibson Brothers - QUE SERA MI VIDA 05 - 10 - 09 - The Three Degrees - MY SIMPLE HEART 06 - 30 - 10 - Pretenders - BRASS IN POCKET 08 - 05 - 11 - Donna Summer / Barbra Streisand - NO MORE TEARS (ENOUGH IS ENOUGH) 05 - 07 - 12 - Michael Jackson - OFF THE WALL 02 - 23 - 13 - David Bowie - JOHN I'M ONLY DANCING (AGAIN) (1975) 05 - 13 - 14 - Blondie - UNION CITY BLUE 06 - 11 - 15 - Electric Light Orchestra - CONFUSION / LAST TRAIN TO LONDON 05 - 18 - 16 - Status Quo - LIVING ON AN ISLAND 06 - 24 - 17 - Rose Royce - IS IT LOVE YOU'RE AFTER 07 - 14 - 18 - The Moody Blues - NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN 07 - 09 - 19 - Madness - ONE STEP BEYOND... 03 - 31 - 20 - The Beat - TEARS OF A CLOWN / RANKING FULL STOP 14 - 08 - 21 - Dr. Hook - WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN 08 - 19 - 22 - Matchbox - ROCKABILLY REBEL 05 - 15 - 23 - Gary Numan - COMPLEX 05 - 27 - 24 - The Skids - WORKING FOR THE YANKEE DOLLAR 02 - 47 - 25 - Elvis Presley - IT WON'T SEEM LIKE CHRISTMAS (WITHOUT YOU) 10 - 12 - 26 - Queen - CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE 06 - 16 - 27 - The Boomtown Rats - DIAMOND SMILES 03 - 35 - 28 - K.C. And The Sunshine Band - PLEASE DON'T GO 02 - 42 - 29 - The Clash - LONDON CALLING 03 - 40 - 30 - Mike Oldfield - BLUE PETER 11 - 28 - 31 - The Ramblers (From The Abbey Hey Junior School) - THE SPARROW 03 - 29 - 32 - Chic - MY FEET KEEP DANCING 05 - 37 - 33 - Sheila And B. Devotion - SPACER 04 - 39 - 34 - Diana Ross - IT'S MY HOUSE 03 - 44 - 35 - M - MOONLIGHT AND MUZAK 02 - 62 - 36 - Kurtis Blow - CHRISTMAS RAPPIN' 06 - 36 - 37 - Storm - IT'S MY HOUSE 02 - 50 - 38 - Boney M - I'M BORN AGAIN 05 - 49 - 39 - Dollar - I WANNA HOLD YOUR HAND 13 - 32 - 40 - Lena Martell - ONE DAY AT A TIME 04 - 34 - 41 - Motörhead - BOMBER 08 - 17 - 42 - Commodores - STILL 02 - 75 - 43 - Billy Preston And Syreeta - WITH YOU I'M BORN AGAIN 08 - 22 - 44 - The Isley Brothers - IT'S A DISCO NIGHT (ROCK DON'T STOP) 02 - 74 - 45 - Booker T. And The M.G.s - GREEN ONIONS 02 - 69 - 46 - Earth, Wind And Fire - CAN'T LET GO 02 - 71 - 47 - The Greedies - A MERRY JINGLE 03 - 63 - 48 - The Barron Knights - FOOD FOR THOUGHT 09 - 33 - 49 - Kool And The Gang - LADIES NIGHT 03 - 60 - 50 - The Inmates - THE WALK 04 - 38 - 51 - U.K. Subs - SHE'S NOT THERE / KICKS (EP) 02 - 58 - 52 - Sammy Hagar - THIS PLANET'S ON FIRE (BURN IN HELL) / SPACE STATION NO. 5 05 - 45 - 53 - Lowrell - MELLOW MELLOW RIGHT ON 08 - 43 - 54 - The Jam - THE ETON RIFLES 02 - 67 - 55 - Barry Biggs - WHAT'S YOUR SIGN GIRL? 03 - 56 - 56 - One Way Featuring Al Hudson - MUSIC 11 - 64 - 57 - Dynasty - I DON'T WANT TO BE A FREAK (BUT I CAN'T HELP MYSELF) 09 - 41 - 58 - B.A. Robertson - KNOCKED IT OFF 10 - 25 - 59 - Thin Lizzy - SARAH 04 - 51 - 60 - Darts - REET PETITE 1 - NEW - 61 - Lynyrd Skynyrd - FREE BIRD (EP) 05 - 59 - 62 - Shalamar - THE SECOND TIME AROUND 07 - 53 - 63 - Dan-I - MONKEY CHOP 04 - 48 - 64 - The Damned - I JUST CAN'T BE HAPPY TODAY 05 - 55 - 65 - Marianne Faithfull - THE BALLAD OF LUCY JORDAN 11 - 46 - 66 - Herb Alpert - RISE 1 - NEW - 67 - Fleetwood Mac - SARA 10 - 52 - 68 - ABBA - GIMME, GIMME, GIMME (A MAN AFTER MIDNIGHT) 06 - 65 - 69 - Janis Ian - FLY TOO HIGH 06 - 72 - 70 - Atmosfear - DANCING IN OUTER SPACE 1 - NEW - 71 - Positive Force - WE GOT THE FUNK 1 - NEW - 72 - The Regents - 7 TEEN 1 - NEW - 73 - The Nolans - I'M IN THE MOOD FOR DANCING 09 - 54 - 74 - The Specials Featuring Rico + - A MESSAGE TO YOU RUDY / NITE KLUB 06 - 66 - 75 - Rocky Burnette - TIRED OF TOEIN' THE LINE Week Ending 29 December 1979 - CHART FROZEN FOR THIS WEEK - 05 - 01 - 01 - Pink Floyd - ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL (PART II) 03 - 02 - 02 - ABBA - I HAVE A DREAM 05 - 03 - 03 - The Police - WALKING ON THE MOON 03 - 04 - 04 - Fiddler's Dram - DAYTRIP TO BANGOR (DIDN'T WE HAVE A LOVELY TIME) 08 - 05 - 05 - The Tourists - I ONLY WANT TO BE WITH YOU 05 - 06 - 06 - Sugarhill Gang - RAPPER'S DELIGHT 05 - 07 - 07 - Paul McCartney - WONDERFUL CHRISTMASTIME 07 - 08 - 08 - Gibson Brothers - QUE SERA MI VIDA 06 - 09 - 09 - The Three Degrees - MY SIMPLE HEART 07 - 10 - 10 - Pretenders - BRASS IN POCKET 09 - 11 - 11 - Donna Summer / Barbra Streisand - NO MORE TEARS (ENOUGH IS ENOUGH) 06 - 12 - 12 - Michael Jackson - OFF THE WALL 03 - 13 - 13 - David Bowie - JOHN I'M ONLY DANCING (AGAIN) (1975) 06 - 14 - 14 - Blondie - UNION CITY BLUE 07 - 15 - 15 - Electric Light Orchestra - CONFUSION / LAST TRAIN TO LONDON 06 - 16 - 16 - Status Quo - LIVING ON AN ISLAND 07 - 17 - 17 - Rose Royce - IS IT LOVE YOU'RE AFTER 08 - 18 - 18 - The Moody Blues - NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN 08 - 19 - 19 - Madness - ONE STEP BEYOND... 04 - 20 - 20 - The Beat - TEARS OF A CLOWN / RANKING FULL STOP 15 - 21 - 21 - Dr. Hook - WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN 09 - 22 - 22 - Matchbox - ROCKABILLY REBEL 06 - 23 - 23 - Gary Numan - COMPLEX 06 - 24 - 24 - The Skids - WORKING FOR THE YANKEE DOLLAR 03 - 25 - 25 - Elvis Presley - IT WON'T SEEM LIKE CHRISTMAS (WITHOUT YOU) 11 - 26 - 26 - Queen - CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE 07 - 27 - 27 - The Boomtown Rats - DIAMOND SMILES 04 - 28 - 28 - K.C. And The Sunshine Band - PLEASE DON'T GO 03 - 29 - 29 - The Clash - LONDON CALLING 04 - 30 - 30 - Mike Oldfield - BLUE PETER 12 - 31 - 31 - The Ramblers (From The Abbey Hey Junior School) - THE SPARROW 04 - 32 - 32 - Chic - MY FEET KEEP DANCING 06 - 33 - 33 - Sheila And B. Devotion - SPACER 05 - 34 - 34 - Diana Ross - IT'S MY HOUSE 04 - 35 - 35 - M - MOONLIGHT AND MUZAK 03 - 36 - 36 - Kurtis Blow - CHRISTMAS RAPPIN' 07 - 37 - 37 - Storm - IT'S MY HOUSE 03 - 38 - 38 - Boney M - I'M BORN AGAIN 06 - 39 - 39 - Dollar - I WANNA HOLD YOUR HAND 14 - 40 - 40 - Lena Martell - ONE DAY AT A TIME 05 - 41 - 41 - Motörhead - BOMBER 09 - 42 - 42 - Commodores - STILL 03 - 43 - 43 - Billy Preston And Syreeta - WITH YOU I'M BORN AGAIN 09 - 44 - 44 - The Isley Brothers - IT'S A DISCO NIGHT (ROCK DON'T STOP) 03 - 45 - 45 - Booker T. And The M.G.s - GREEN ONIONS 03 - 46 - 46 - Earth, Wind And Fire - CAN'T LET GO 03 - 47 - 47 - The Greedies - A MERRY JINGLE 04 - 48 - 48 - The Barron Knights - FOOD FOR THOUGHT 10 - 49 - 49 - Kool And The Gang - LADIES NIGHT 04 - 50 - 50 - The Inmates - THE WALK 05 - 51 - 51 - U.K. Subs - SHE'S NOT THERE / KICKS (EP) 03 - 52 - 52 - Sammy Hagar - THIS PLANET'S ON FIRE (BURN IN HELL) / SPACE STATION NO. 5 06 - 53 - 53 - Lowrell - MELLOW MELLOW RIGHT ON 09 - 54 - 54 - The Jam - THE ETON RIFLES 03 - 55 - 55 - Barry Biggs - WHAT'S YOUR SIGN GIRL? 04 - 56 - 56 - One Way Featuring Al Hudson - MUSIC 12 - 57 - 57 - Dynasty - I DON'T WANT TO BE A FREAK (BUT I CAN'T HELP MYSELF) 10 - 58 - 58 - B.A. Robertson - KNOCKED IT OFF 11 - 59 - 59 - Thin Lizzy - SARAH 05 - 60 - 60 - Darts - REET PETITE 02 - 61 - 61 - Lynyrd Skynyrd - FREE BIRD (EP) 06 - 62 - 62 - Shalamar - THE SECOND TIME AROUND 08 - 63 - 63 - Dan-I - MONKEY CHOP 05 - 64 - 64 - The Damned - I JUST CAN'T BE HAPPY TODAY 06 - 65 - 65 - Marianne Faithfull - THE BALLAD OF LUCY JORDAN 12 - 66 - 66 - Herb Alpert - RISE 02 - 67 - 67 - Fleetwood Mac - SARA 11 - 68 - 68 - ABBA - GIMME, GIMME, GIMME (A MAN AFTER MIDNIGHT) 07 - 69 - 69 - Janis Ian - FLY TOO HIGH 07 - 70 - 70 - Atmosfear - DANCING IN OUTER SPACE 02 - 71 - 71 - Positive Force - WE GOT THE FUNK 02 - 72 - 72 - The Regents - 7 TEEN 02 - 73 - 73 - The Nolans - I'M IN THE MOOD FOR DANCING 10 - 74 - 74 - The Specials Featuring Rico + - A MESSAGE TO YOU RUDY / NITE KLUB 07 - 75 - 75 - Rocky Burnette - TIRED OF TOEIN' THE LINE Week Ending 05 January 1980 06 - 01 - 01 - Pink Floyd - ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL (PART II) 04 - 02 - 02 - ABBA - I HAVE A DREAM 04 - 04 - 03 - Fiddler's Dram - DAYTRIP TO BANGOR (DIDN'T WE HAVE A LOVELY TIME) 09 - 05 - 04 - The Tourists - I ONLY WANT TO BE WITH YOU 08 - 10 - 05 - Pretenders - BRASS IN POCKET 06 - 07 - 06 - Paul McCartney - WONDERFUL CHRISTMASTIME 06 - 06 - 07 - Sugarhill Gang - RAPPER'S DELIGHT 06 - 03 - 08 - The Police - WALKING ON THE MOON 08 - 08 - 09 - Gibson Brothers - QUE SERA MI VIDA 07 - 09 - 10 - The Three Degrees - MY SIMPLE HEART 07 - 12 - 11 - Michael Jackson - OFF THE WALL 04 - 13 - 12 - David Bowie - JOHN I'M ONLY DANCING (AGAIN) (1975) 04 - 25 - 13 - Elvis Presley - IT WON'T SEEM LIKE CHRISTMAS (WITHOUT YOU) 10 - 11 - 14 - Donna Summer / Barbra Streisand - NO MORE TEARS (ENOUGH IS ENOUGH) 08 - 17 - 15 - Rose Royce - IS IT LOVE YOU'RE AFTER 07 - 14 - 16 - Blondie - UNION CITY BLUE 05 - 20 - 17 - The Beat - TEARS OF A CLOWN / RANKING FULL STOP 07 - 16 - 18 - Status Quo - LIVING ON AN ISLAND 09 - 18 - 19 - The Moody Blues - NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN 05 - 28 - 20 - K.C. And The Sunshine Band - PLEASE DON'T GO 05 - 32 - 21 - Chic - MY FEET KEEP DANCING 09 - 19 - 22 - Madness - ONE STEP BEYOND... 07 - 24 - 23 - The Skids - WORKING FOR THE YANKEE DOLLAR 04 - 43 - 24 - Billy Preston And Syreeta - WITH YOU I'M BORN AGAIN 10 - 22 - 25 - Matchbox - ROCKABILLY REBEL 08 - 15 - 26 - Electric Light Orchestra - CONFUSION / LAST TRAIN TO LONDON 05 - 30 - 27 - Mike Oldfield - BLUE PETER 04 - 47 - 28 - The Greedies - A MERRY JINGLE 04 - 29 - 29 - The Clash - LONDON CALLING 04 - 36 - 30 - Kurtis Blow - CHRISTMAS RAPPIN' 16 - 21 - 31 - Dr. Hook - WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN 12 - 26 - 32 - Queen - CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE 07 - 33 - 33 - Sheila And B. Devotion - SPACER 05 - 35 - 34 - M - MOONLIGHT AND MUZAK 15 - 40 - 35 - Lena Martell - ONE DAY AT A TIME 04 - 38 - 36 - Boney M - I'M BORN AGAIN 13 - 31 - 37 - The Ramblers (From The Abbey Hey Junior School) - THE SPARROW 06 - 34 - 38 - Diana Ross - IT'S MY HOUSE 04 - 45 - 39 - Booker T. And The M.G.s - GREEN ONIONS 03 - 73 - 40 - The Nolans - I'M IN THE MOOD FOR DANCING 08 - 37 - 41 - Storm - IT'S MY HOUSE 07 - 39 - 42 - Dollar - I WANNA HOLD YOUR HAND 08 - 27 - 43 - The Boomtown Rats - DIAMOND SMILES 05 - 50 - 44 - The Inmates - THE WALK 06 - 41 - 45 - Motörhead - BOMBER 05 - 48 - 46 - The Barron Knights - FOOD FOR THOUGHT 04 - 46 - 47 - Earth, Wind And Fire - CAN'T LET GO 07 - 23 - 48 - Gary Numan - COMPLEX 03 - 61 - 49 - Lynyrd Skynyrd - FREE BIRD (EP) 03 - 67 - 50 - Fleetwood Mac - SARA 10 - 44 - 51 - The Isley Brothers - IT'S A DISCO NIGHT (ROCK DON'T STOP) 06 - 51 - 52 - U.K. Subs - SHE'S NOT THERE / KICKS (EP) 10 - 42 - 53 - Commodores - STILL 1 - NEW - 54 - Madness - MY GIRL 11 - 49 - 55 - Kool And The Gang - LADIES NIGHT 10 - 54 - 56 - The Jam - THE ETON RIFLES 07 - 53 - 57 - Lowrell - MELLOW MELLOW RIGHT ON 1 - NEW - 58 - Dr. Hook - BETTER LOVE NEXT TIME 06 - 60 - 59 - Darts - REET PETITE 07 - 62 - 60 - Shalamar - THE SECOND TIME AROUND 1 - NEW - 61 - Bee Gees - SPIRITS (HAVING FLOWN) 03 - 72 - 62 - The Regents - 7 TEEN 04 - 55 - 63 - Barry Biggs - WHAT'S YOUR SIGN GIRL? 04 - 52 - 64 - Sammy Hagar - THIS PLANET'S ON FIRE (BURN IN HELL) / SPACE STATION NO. 5 03 - 71 - 65 - Positive Force - WE GOT THE FUNK 12 - 59 - 66 - Thin Lizzy - SARAH 11 - 74 - 67 - The Specials Featuring Rico + - A MESSAGE TO YOU RUDY / NITE KLUB 05 - 56 - 68 - One Way Featuring Al Hudson - MUSIC 1 - NEW - 69 - Styx - BABE 13 - 66 - 70 - Herb Alpert - RISE 11 - 58 - 71 - B.A. Robertson - KNOCKED IT OFF 1 - NEW - 72 - Jon And Vangelis - I HEAR YOU NOW 09 - 63 - 73 - Dan-I - MONKEY CHOP 12 - 68 - 74 - ABBA - GIMME, GIMME, GIMME (A MAN AFTER MIDNIGHT) 13 - 57 - 75 - Dynasty - I DON'T WANT TO BE A FREAK (BUT I CAN'T HELP MYSELF) Week Ending 12 January 1980 07 - 01 - 01 - Pink Floyd - ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL (PART II) 05 - 02 - 02 - ABBA - I HAVE A DREAM 09 - 05 - 03 - Pretenders - BRASS IN POCKET 05 - 03 - 04 - Fiddler's Dram - DAYTRIP TO BANGOR (DIDN'T WE HAVE A LOVELY TIME) 10 - 04 - 05 - The Tourists - I ONLY WANT TO BE WITH YOU 06 - 17 - 06 - The Beat - TEARS OF A CLOWN / RANKING FULL STOP 06 - 20 - 07 - K.C. And The Sunshine Band - PLEASE DON'T GO 07 - 07 - 08 - Sugarhill Gang - RAPPER'S DELIGHT 07 - 08 - 09 - The Police - WALKING ON THE MOON 08 - 10 - 10 - The Three Degrees - MY SIMPLE HEART 05 - 24 - 11 - Billy Preston And Syreeta - WITH YOU I'M BORN AGAIN 05 - 12 - 12 - David Bowie - JOHN I'M ONLY DANCING (AGAIN) (1975) 09 - 15 - 13 - Rose Royce - IS IT LOVE YOU'RE AFTER 02 - 54 - 14 - Madness - MY GIRL 05 - 29 - 15 - The Clash - LONDON CALLING 09 - 09 - 16 - Gibson Brothers - QUE SERA MI VIDA 08 - 18 - 17 - Status Quo - LIVING ON AN ISLAND 07 - 06 - 18 - Paul McCartney - WONDERFUL CHRISTMASTIME 06 - 27 - 19 - Mike Oldfield - BLUE PETER 04 - 40 - 20 - The Nolans - I'M IN THE MOOD FOR DANCING 08 - 23 - 21 - The Skids - WORKING FOR THE YANKEE DOLLAR 06 - 21 - 22 - Chic - MY FEET KEEP DANCING 08 - 16 - 23 - Blondie - UNION CITY BLUE 05 - 13 - 24 - Elvis Presley - IT WON'T SEEM LIKE CHRISTMAS (WITHOUT YOU) 08 - 11 - 25 - Michael Jackson - OFF THE WALL 05 - 39 - 26 - Booker T. And The M.G.s - GREEN ONIONS 10 - 22 - 27 - Madness - ONE STEP BEYOND 08 - 33 - 28 - Sheila And B. Devotion - SPACER 11 - 14 - 29 - Donna Summer / Barbra Streisand - NO MORE TEARS (ENOUGH IS ENOUGH) 08 - 42 - 30 - Dollar - I WANNA HOLD YOUR HAND 02 - 58 - 31 - Dr. Hook - BETTER LOVE NEXT TIME 07 - 38 - 32 - Diana Ross - IT'S MY HOUSE 06 - 34 - 33 - M - MOONLIGHT AND MUZAK 04 - 65 - 34 - Positive Force - WE GOT THE FUNK 05 - 36 - 35 - Boney M - I'M BORN AGAIN 06 - 44 - 36 - The Inmates - THE WALK 02 - 69 - 37 - Styx - BABE 02 - 61 - 38 - Bee Gees - SPIRITS (HAVING FLOWN) 10 - 19 - 39 - The Moody Blues - NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN 11 - 25 - 40 - Matchbox - ROCKABILLY REBEL 04 - 50 - 41 - Fleetwood Mac - SARA 17 - 31 - 42 - Dr. Hook - WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN 04 - 49 - 43 - Lynyrd Skynyrd - FREE BIRD (EP) 13 - 32 - 44 - Queen - CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE 02 - 72 - 45 - Jon And Vangelis - I HEAR YOU NOW 05 - 30 - 46 - Kurtis Blow - CHRISTMAS RAPPIN' 09 - 26 - 47 - Electric Light Orchestra - CONFUSION / LAST TRAIN TO LONDON 04 - 62 - 48 - The Regents - 7 TEEN 08 - 48 - 49 - Gary Numan - COMPLEX 1 - NEW - 50 - Joe Jackson - IT'S DIFFERENT FOR GIRLS 09 - 41 - 51 - Storm - IT'S MY HOUSE 05 - 47 - 52 - Earth, Wind And Fire - CAN'T LET GO 09 - 43 - 53 - The Boomtown Rats - DIAMOND SMILES 05 - 28 - 54 - The Greedies - A MERRY JINGLE 16 - 35 - 55 - Lena Martell - ONE DAY AT A TIME 07 - 45 - 56 - Motörhead - BOMBER 05 - 63 - 57 - Barry Biggs - WHAT'S YOUR SIGN GIRL? 06 - 46 - 58 - The Barron Knights - FOOD FOR THOUGHT 12 - 67 - 59 - The Specials Featuring Rico + - A MESSAGE TO YOU RUDY / NITE KLUB 14 - 37 - 60 - The Ramblers (From The Abbey Hey Junior School) - THE SPARROW 11 - 56 - 61 - The Jam - THE ETON RIFLES 07 - 59 - 62 - Darts - REET PETITE 1 - NEW - 63 - UFO - YOUNG BLOOD 06 - 68 - 64 - One Way Featuring Al Hudson - MUSIC 1 - NEW - 65 - Azymuth - JAZZ CARNIVAL 07 - 52 - 66 - U.K. Subs - SHE'S NOT THERE / KICKS (EP) 08 - 57 - 67 - Lowrell - MELLOW MELLOW RIGHT ON 11 - 51 - 68 - The Isley Brothers - IT'S A DISCO NIGHT (ROCK DON'T STOP) 08 - 60 - 69 - Shalamar - THE SECOND TIME AROUND 12 - 71 - 70 - B.A. Robertson - KNOCKED IT OFF 12 - 55 - 71 - Kool And The Gang - LADIES NIGHT 1 - NEW - 72 - Rupert Holmes - ESCAPE (THE PINA COLADA SONG) 05 - 64 - 73 - Sammy Hagar - THIS PLANET'S ON FIRE (BURN IN HELL) / SPACE STATION NO. 5 11 - 53 - 74 - Commodores - STILL 13 - 66 - 75 - Thin Lizzy - SARAH
I was sent KC & The Sunshine Band - Greatest Hits as a record of the month by a record club I'd joined back in 1980 / 81 and very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Literally a few months ago I wanted to replicate it digitally, so bought The Best Of KC And The Sunshine Band and was once again reminded of what a good listen KC are - agreed, non-pretentious fun. Please Don't Go is a lovely tune.
Now for those records of this "cusp" period that grace my collection . . . The main track I have, which when edited down to single length made it in January 1975 to #19 in US Billboard, #25 in Cash Box, #33 in Record World, and #23 in Radio & Records. (The remaining charts will just list the title itself sans the EP designation.)
And now, the 'newies' for the remaining period of this look . . . This was one of a very few ABBA singles from the time US Atlantic first licenced their recordings in 1974, not to be released by the label. Instead, its only US single release, was via a Spanish language version put out on Discos CBS International: Only released in the States as a 12" single: Not issued as a U.S. single until three years later, and then as a B side . . . This oldie-but-goodie, when ish'd way back in 1962, got up to #3 in all the US music charts - which at that time were Billboard, Cash Box and Music Vendor.
The last U.S. Top 10 to Mr. Preston's name, and the only such hit to Ms. Wright's, peaked early the next year at #4 in Billboard, #5 in both Cash Box and Record World, and #13 in Radio & Records.
The next single off their Tusk album, this peaked at #7 in both Billboard and Record World, #6 in Cash Box - and #1 in Radio & Records for 1 week (25 January 1980). And thus is the last new entry for the 1970's (the 29 December chart is "frozen").
Now for the first 'newies' of the '80's: Their follow-up to "When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman," in the States, managed peaks of #17 in Billboard, #21 in Cash Box, #17 in Record World and #18 in Radio & Records. After another minor-charted single, they would leave Capitol for Casablanca to diminshing returns. Their biggest hit, the 478th Number One of US Billboard's Hot 100 where it lay for 2 weeks (08 December-15 December 1979); also topped Cash Box for 3 weeks (24 November-08 December 1979), Record World for 2 non-consecutive weeks (17 November and 15 December 1979) and Radio & Records for 3 weeks (16 November-30 November 1979). Managed to sneak into the #58 position in US Billboard, #63 in Cash Box and #61 in Record World.
And now for the last 'newies' falling under this look: 'Bubbled under' to #101 in US Billboard, lurked as high as #103 in Record World. A slightly different title in the States:
This was the last U.S. Number One of the 1970's, the 479th of Billboard's Hot 100 (for 3 non-consecutive weeks - 22 December-29 December 1979 and 12 January 1980); also topped Cash Box' Top 100 (3 weeks - 22 December 1979-05 January 1980), Record World's Singles Chart (4 weeks - 22 December 1979-12 January 1980), and Radio & Records' National Airplay / 30 (07 December-21 December 1979). While this was charting, the original issuing label, Infinity, went out of business, and the record (and Mr. Holmes) were transferred to MCA - as the above labels indicate. Would be his biggest hit.
Now to compare and contrast, here's the last 1979 chart of the Top 30 within US Billboard's Hot 100: Week Ending 22 December 1979 10 - 04 - 01 - Rupert Holmes - ESCAPE (THE PINA COLADA SONG)* 18 - 03 - 02 - K.C. And The Sunshine Band - PLEASE DON'T GO* 12 - 01 - 03 - Styx - BABE* 08 - 05 - 04 - Stevie Wonder - SEND ONE YOUR LOVE* 13 - 02 - 05 - Commodores - STILL* 10 - 08 - 06 - The Captain And Tennille - DO THAT TO ME ONE MORE TIME* 16 - 07 - 07 - J. D. Souther - YOU'RE ONLY LONELY** 10 - 06 - 08 - Barbra Streisand / Donna Summer - NO MORE TEARS (ENOUGH IS ENOUGH)* 12 - 11 - 09 - Kool And The Gang - LADIES NIGHT* 11 - 10 - 10 - Supertramp - TAKE THE LONG WAY HOME** 08 - 12 - 11 - Michael Jackson - ROCK WITH YOU* 10 - 13 - 12 - Little River Band - COOL CHANGE** 10 - 14 - 13 - Cliff Richard - WE DON'T TALK ANYMORE* 07 - 16 - 14 - Foreigner - HEAD GAMES** 12 - 22 - 15 - Smokey Robinson - CRUISIN'** 11 - 18 - 16 - Dr. Hook - BETTER LOVE NEXT TIME* 03 - 19 - 17 - Eagles - THE LONG RUN* 08 - 20 - 18 - Jefferson Starship - JANE* 11 - 21 - 19 - Pablo Cruise - I WANT YOU TONIGHT** 12 - 09 - 20 - Eagles - HEARTACHE TONIGHT* 10 - 23 - 21 - Kenny Loggins - THIS IS IT** 06 - 26 - 22 - Kenny Rogers - COWARD OF THE COUNTY* 05 - 27 - 23 - Prince - I WANNA BE YOUR LOVER* 13 - 15 - 24 - Crystal Gayle - HALF THE WAY** 06 - 31 - 25 - Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers - DON'T DO ME LIKE THAT** 09 - 30 - 26 - Daryl Hall And John Oates - WAIT FOR ME** 13 - 29 - 27 - The Alan Parsons Project - DAMNED IF I DO** 09 - 32 - 28 - Isaac Hayes - DON'T LET GO** 11 - 17 - 29 - Barry Manilow - SHIPS** 06 - 33 - 30 - Foghat - THIRD TIME LUCKY (FIRST TIME I WAS A FOOL)** * Indicates a record that passed through or would later pass through the British charts. ** Indicates a record that also saw UK release but did not appear on the UK charts.
