Every UK #1 Single of The 1980's Discussion Thread.

How many were irritated over the years by the sound of Al Stewart's voice? (That I have his "Time Passages" single is an indication I ain't among that crowd.)

 

Interesting that you mentioned Al Stewart. I used to play the Year Of The Cat album a lot and saw Al at the Cambridge Folk Festival, enjoying his set. One day without realising that others disliked his admittedly very stylised vocal delivery, I suddenly thought his voice to be a bit irritating! Still great music and hasn't stopped me from playing his albums....

As for Neil Tennant, the music has triumphed and I no longer turn off the radio when I hear his dulcet tones.

 

Another Poptastic number one from Madonna.

It might not have been what I was listening to in 1987, but it is a perfect chart fodder and deserving number one.

 

A couple of great songs taken from the Famous Blue Raincoat album, where the excellent vocal talent of Jennifer Warners takes on the songs of Leonard Cohen.

First We Take Manhattan being the opening track, the recognisable SRV on guitar and Zappa's Vinnie Colauita on drum duty.





This album became a Hi-Fi shop dem favourite, the track I used the most being Joan Of Arc, where Jennifer duets with Leonard and Vinnie pushes the envelope of some of his fills to the extreme. Outstanding and hauntingly beautiful.

 

While I much prefer The Pretenders' "If There Was a Man", A-ha's "Living Daylights" is still an amazing song thanks to the genius of John Barry.

I was always fascinated with this soundtrack. John Barry, the old Bond-theme warhorse, seems to have deftly entered the synthesized 80's with a series of absolutely beautiful motifs. Each one was then stylized in a few different ways to flush out the soundtrack. Both's Chrissie's and A-ha's pop treatment of these themes pays off in spades and yields impressive results.

They are like the tip of the iceberg. What you see is impressive but what's buried beneath (and also on the rest of the soundtrack) is what's truly astounding.



PSB's "It's A Sin": I love that Neil and Chris are getting some genuine love and respect on this thread. It's hard to get anything PSB-related going on the SHMF because of all the Americans (like me!). There just isn't enough of a knowledge base there. As @boyjohn noted, this is just the beginning of a long and amazingly solid career of fantastic music. "It's A Sin" showed that they could really stretch the rules a bit and meld beautiful artsy music with concise pop sensibilities. No wonder they named a greatest hits package "Pop Art".

Even though I am not Catholic, I do like the Catholic tinge in the song. I just MAKES you feel guilty along with Neil in the song for whatever it is he's singing about.

 

Best new entry, and a great song:

 

Who's that girl
It's a cute little ditty. Not much content. Not bad but not one of her best.

 

Next...

1st August 1987

Los Lobos - La Bamba

2 Weeks at No 1

13th No 1 of 1987 and No 595 in total.


"La Bamba" (pronounced [la ˈβamba]) is a Mexican folk song, originally from the state of Veracruz, best known from a 1958 adaptation by Ritchie Valens, a top 40 hit in the U.S. charts and one of early rock and roll's best-known songs. Valens' version of "La Bamba" is included in Robert Christgau's "Basic Record Library" of 1950s and 1960s recordings—published in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981)[1]—and ranked number 345 on Rolling Stone magazine′s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It is the only song on the list sung in a language other than English.

"La Bamba" has been covered by numerous artists, most notably by Los Lobos, whose version was the title track of the 1987 film La Bamba and reached No. 1 in the U.S. and UK singles charts in the same year. The Los Lobos version remained No. 1 for three weeks in the summer of 1987. The music video for Los Lobos' version, directed by Sherman Halsey, won the 1988 MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film.
Los Lobos version
"La Bamba"

Single by Los Lobos
from the album La Bamba Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
B-side "Charlena"
Released June 20, 1987
Format

• CD single
• 7"

Recorded 1986
Genre

• Rock and roll
• Chicano rock
• rock en español

Length 2:54
Label Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s) Ritchie Valens
Producer(s) Los Lobos
Los Lobos singles chronology
"Come On, Let's Go" / "Ooh! My Head"
(1987) "La Bamba"
(1987) "Down on the Riverbed"
(1990)
Music video
The music video for Los Lobos' version of the song was directed by Sherman Halsey and featured Lou Diamond Phillips (who played Valens in the film named after the song). The music video was the winner of the 1988 MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film.

In the video, the band performs at a carnival in front of a merry-go-round at night. In between, clips from the movie are shown. While they are performing, the carnival-goers dance near and on stage. Phillips joins the band for the song's final chorus. At the end of the music video, in the morning, the band is still playing on their acoustic guitars (with Phillips present) on the empty carnival grounds while janitors clean up around them.

 

Week Ending 01 August 1987

03 - 05 - 01 - Los Lobos - LA BAMBA
03 - 01 - 02 - Madonna - WHO'S THAT GIRL
10 - 03 - 03 - Atlantic Starr - ALWAYS
06 - 02 - 04 - Pet Shop Boys - IT'S A SIN
10 - 06 - 05 - Heart - ALONE
10 - 04 - 06 - Bruce Willis - UNDER THE BOARDWALK
05 - 10 - 07 - Boogie Box High - JIVE TALKIN'
04 - 07 - 08 - Mel And Kim - FLM
07 - 12 - 09 - Freddie McGregor - JUST DON'T WANT TO BE LONELY
03 - 20 - 10 - Beastie Boys - SHE'S ON IT
07 - 08 - 11 - Terence Trent D'Arby - WISHING WELL
06 - 13 - 12 - Shakin' Stevens - A LITTLE BOOGIE WOOGIE (IN THE BACK OF MY MIND)
08 - 17 - 13 - Hue And Cry - LABOUR OF LOVE
04 - 15 - 14 - Bananarama - I HEARD A RUMOUR
06 - 09 - 15 - Black - SWEETEST SMILE
06 - 29 - 16 - Luther Vandross - I REALLY DIDN'T MEAN IT
05 - 11 - 17 - A-ha - THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS
05 - 35 - 18 - Judy Boucher - YOU CAUGHT MY EYE
1 - NEW - 19 - New Order - TRUE FAITH
04 - 25 - 20 - Gap Band - OOPS UPSIDE YOUR HEAD
11 - 18 - 21 - Whitney Houston - I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY (WHO LOVES ME)
02 - 33 - 22 - Marillion - SUGAR MICE
05 - 22 - 23 - Kenny G - SONGBIRD
03 - 26 - 24 - Boy George - SOLD
06 - 37 - 25 - Errol Brown - PERSONAL TOUCH
07 - 16 - 26 - Cliff Richard - MY PRETTY ONE
08 - 21 - 27 - Christians - HOOVERVILLE (AND THEY PROMISED US THE WORLD)
04 - 46 - 28 - Spagna - CALL ME
09 - 14 - 29 - Firm - STAR TREKKIN'
02 - 42 - 30 - Stock Aitken Waterman - ROADBLOCK
02 - 34 - 31 - Samantha Fox - I SURRENDER (TO THE SPIRIT OF THE NIGHT)
05 - 19 - 32 - Jackie Wilson - (YOUR LOVE KEEPS LIFTING ME) HIGHER AND HIGHER
02 - 41 - 33 - Sinitta - TOY BOY
1 - NEW - 34 - Def Leppard - ANIMAL
1 - NEW - 35 - Motley Crue - GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS
08 - 23 - 36 - Billy Idol - SWEET SIXTEEN
09 - 24 - 37 - Whitesnake - IS THIS LOVE
04 - 60 - 38 - Linda Ronstadt And James Ingram - SOMEWHERE OUT THERE
12 - 28 - 39 - Curiosity Killed The Cat - MISFIT
16 - 27 - 40 - John Farnham - YOU'RE THE VOICE
05 - 32 - 41 - Cure - CATCH
02 - 44 - 42 - Mirage - SERIOUS MIX
02 - 55 - 43 - Wet Wet Wet - SWEET LITTLE MYSTERY
03 - 48 - 44 - Pseudo Echo - FUNKY TOWN
03 - 43 - 45 - Anita Dobson - TALKING OF LOVE
1 - NEW - 46 - Sherrick - JUST CALL
09 - 30 - 47 - Chris Rea - LET'S DANCE
04 - 50 - 48 - Robbie Nevil - WOT'S IT TO YA
09 - 31 - 49 - ABC - WHEN SMOKEY SINGS
02 - 63 - 50 - Millie - MY BOY LOLLIPOP
07 - 36 - 51 - Genesis - THROWING IT ALL AWAY
03 - 57 - 52 - Was (Not Was) - SPY IN THE HOUSE OF LOVE
03 - 71 - 53 - Then Jerico - THE MOTIVE
02 - 62 - 54 - Westworld - WHERE THE ACTION IS
18 - 38 - 55 - Starship - NOTHING'S GONNA STOP US NOW
08 - 40 - 56 - George Michael - I WANT YOUR SEX
1 - NEW - 57 - Echo And The Bunnymen - LIPS LIKE SUGAR
1 - NEW - 58 - Roxanne Shante - HAVE A NICE DAY
02 - 69 - 59 - Siouxsie And The Banshees - SONG FROM THE EDGE OF THE WORLD
03 - 61 - 60 - Art Of Noise - DRAGNET
16 - 47 - 61 - Beatles - ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE
09 - 53 - 62 - U2 - I STILL HAVEN'T FOUND WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR
03 - 59 - 63 - Taffy - STEP BY STEP
02 - 65 - 64 - Spear Of Destiny - WAS THAT YOU
04 - 56 - 65 - Fleetwood Mac - SEVEN WONDERS
02 - 71 - 66 - Sly And Robbie - FIRE
10 - 39 - 67 - Broken English - COMIN' ON STRONG
11 - 45 - 68 - Johnny Logan - HOLD ME NOW
1 - NEW - 69 - Dio - I COULD HAVE BEEN A DREAMER
1 - NEW - 70 - Ritchie Valens - LA BAMBA
02 - 91 - 71 - David Grant - CHANGE
03 - 82 - 72 - Wax - BRIDGE TO YOUR HEART
03 - 58 - 73 - Suzanne Vega - TOM'S DINER
04 - 54 - 74 - Swing Out Sister - FOOLED BY A SMILE
07 - 52 - 75 - Simple Minds - PROMISED YOU A MIRACLE (LIVE)

Week Ending 08 August 1987

04 - 01 - 01 - Los Lobos - LA BAMBA
04 - 02 - 02 - Madonna - WHO'S THAT GIRL
11 - 05 - 03 - Heart - ALONE
11 - 03 - 04 - Atlantic Starr - ALWAYS
1 - NEW - 05 - Michael Jackson With Siedah Garrett - I JUST CAN'T STOP LOVING YOU
09 - 13 - 06 - Hue And Cry - LABOUR OF LOVE
02 - 19 - 07 - New Order - TRUE FAITH
05 - 28 - 08 - Spagna - CALL ME
06 - 07 - 09 - Boogie Box High - JIVE TALKIN'
04 - 10 - 10 - Beastie Boys - SHE'S ON IT
07 - 04 - 11 - Pet Shop Boys - IT'S A SIN
08 - 09 - 12 - Freddie McGregor - JUST DON'T WANT TO BE LONELY
11 - 06 - 13 - Bruce Willis - UNDER THE BOARDWALK
05 - 08 - 14 - Mel And Kim - FLM
05 - 14 - 15 - Bananarama - I HEARD A RUMOUR
02 - 34 - 16 - Def Leppard - ANIMAL
03 - 30 - 17 - Stock Aitken Waterman - ROADBLOCK
07 - 16 - 18 - Luther Vandross - I REALLY DIDN'T MEAN IT
07 - 12 - 19 - Shakin' Stevens - A LITTLE BOOGIE WOOGIE (IN THE BACK OF MY MIND)

For some reason...the rest is missing!!!!!

 

Los Lobos - LA BAMBA
This got on my nerves back in '87. My Ex Wife bought the soundtrack as well which made it worse!!!
Its a OK cover....for a OK film.
3/5

 

x2, Whats new n good????

wk1
Week Ending 01 August 1987
1 - NEW - 19 - New Order - TRUE FAITH
1 - NEW - 34 - Def Leppard - ANIMAL
1 - NEW - 35 - Motley Crue - GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS
1 - NEW - 57 - Echo And The Bunnymen - LIPS LIKE SUGAR
03 - 82 - 72 - Wax - BRIDGE TO YOUR HEART

 

wk2
Week Ending 08 August 1987

32 New

NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP
RICK ASTLEY
RCA
32 1

57 80

HEART AND SOUL
T'PAU
SIREN
57 2

67 New

HOURGLASS
SQUEEZE
A&M
67 1

75 79

LIES
JONATHAN BUTLER
JIVE
75 2

 

The "missing" charts.

 

I can fill in the rest (the US equivalent release, and my pertinent observations, will wait) . . .

06 - 18 - 20 - Judy Boucher - YOU CAUGHT MY EYE
08 - 11 - 21 - Terence Trent D'Arby - WISHING WELL
03 - 33 - 22 - Sinitta - TOY BOY
05 - 38 - 23 - Linda Ronstadt And James Ingram - SOMEWHERE OUT THERE
03 - 22 - 24 - Marillion - SUGAR MICE
05 - 20 - 25 - The Gap Band - OOPS UPSIDE YOUR HEAD {1987}
07 - 25 - 26 - Errol Brown - PERSONAL TOUCH
07 - 15 - 27 - Black - SWEETEST SMILE
02 - 35 - 28 - Mötley Crüe - GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS
03 - 31 - 29 - Samantha Fox - I SURRENDER (TO THE SPIRIT OF THE NIGHT)
06 - 17 - 30 - a-ha - THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS
03 - 43 - 31 - Wet Wet Wet - SWEET LITTLE MYSTERY
1 - NEW - 32 - Rick Astley - NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP
12 - 21 - 33 - Whitney Houston - I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY (WHO LOVES ME)
04 - 24 - 34 - Boy George - SOLD
10 - 29 - 35 - The Firm - STAR TREKKIN'
04 - 44 - 36 - Pseudo Echo - FUNKY TOWN
02 - 57 - 37 - Echo & The Bunnymen - LIPS LIKE SUGAR
06 - 23 - 38 - Kenny G - SONGBIRD
02 - 46 - 39 - Sherrick - JUST CALL
08 - 26 - 40 - Cliff Richard - MY PRETTY ONE
09 - 27 - 41 - The Christians - HOOVERVILLE (AND THEY PROMISED US THE WORLD)
04 - 72 - 42 - Wax - BRIDGE TO YOUR HEART
05 - 48 - 43 - Robbie Nevil - WOT'S IT TO YA
10 - 37 - 44 - Whitesnake - IS THIS LOVE
04 - 53 - 45 - Then Jerico - THE MOTIVE
03 - 50 - 46 - Millie - MY BOY LOLLIPOP {1987}
06 - 32 - 47 - Jackie Wilson - (YOUR LOVE KEEPS LIFTING ME) HIGHER AND HIGHER {1987}
1 - NEW - 48 - Kim Wilde - SAY YOU REALLY WANT ME
03 - 42 - 49 - Mirage - SERIOUS MIX
17 - 40 - 50 - John Farnham - YOU'RE THE VOICE
04 - 52 - 51 - Was (Not Was) - SPY IN THE HOUSE OF LOVE
1 - NEW - 52 - Dynamix II Featuring Too Tough Tee - JUST GIVE THE DJ A BREAK
09 - 36 - 53 - Billy Idol - SWEET SIXTEEN
13 - 39 - 54 - Curiosity Killed The Cat - MISFIT {1987}
03 - 64 - 55 - Spear Of Destiny - WAS THAT YOU?
02 - 70 - 56 - Ritchie Valens - LA BAMBA
02 - 80 - 57 - T'Pau - HEART AND SOUL
10 - 47 - 58 - Chris Rea - LET'S DANCE
04 - 45 - 59 - Anita Dobson - TALKING OF LOVE
1 - NEW - 60 - Brother Beyond - CHAIN GANG SMILE
03 - 66 - 61 - Sly And Robbie - FIRE
03 - 54 - 62 - Westworld - WHERE THE ACTION IS
03 - 59 - 63 - Siouxsie And The Banshees - SONG FROM THE EDGE OF THE WORLD
06 - 41 - 64 - The Cure - CATCH
03 - 71 - 65 - David Grant - CHANGE
09 - 56 - 66 - George Michael - I WANT YOUR SEX
1 - NEW - 67 - Squeeze - HOURGLASS
10 - 49 - 68 - ABC - WHEN SMOKEY SINGS
02 - 58 - 69 - Roxanne Shante - HAVE A NICE DAY
04 - 60 - 70 - The Art Of Noise - DRAGNET
02 - 76 - 71 - Natalie Cole - JUMP START
10 - 62 - 72 - U2 - I STILL HAVEN'T FOUND WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR
04 - 63 - 73 - Taffy - STEP BY STEP
08 - 51 - 74 - Genesis - THROWING IT ALL AWAY
02 - 79 - 75 - Jonathan Butler - LIES

Meanwhile, as I'm perusing the Official Charts lists, here's the last 25 spots:

03 - 84 - 76 - Pete Wylie - IF I LOVE YOU
02 - 86 - 77 - Red Box - CHENKO
02 - 82 - 78 - Laura Branigan - SHATTERED GLASS
1 - NEW - 79 - Dionne Warwick And Jeffrey Osborne - LOVE POWER
02 - 69 - 80 - Dio - I COULD HAVE BEEN A DREAMER
1 - NEW - 81 - Lillo Thomas - DOWNTOWN
1 - NEW - 82 - Blow Monkeys - SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL
04 - 81 - 83 - Steve Walsh - I FOUND LOVIN'
03 - 85 - 84 - Exposé - POINT OF NO RETURN
08 - 96 - 85 - Alexander O'Neal - FAKE
02 - 90 - 86 - Off - ELECTRICA SALSA
26 - 89 - 87 - The Fatback Band - I FOUND LOVIN' {1987}
1 - NEW - 88 - Simply Red - MAYBE SOMEDAY
02 - 77 - 89 - Jody Watley - STILL A THRILL
1 - NEW - 90 - Icehouse - CRAZY
04 - 95 - 91 - All About Eve - FLOWERS IN OUR HAIR
04 - 91 - 92 - Bob Seger And The Silver Bullet Band - SHAKEDOWN
03 - 97 - 93 - Elton John - YOUR SONG (LIVE)
1 - NEW - 94 - Slade - YOUR BOYZ MAKE BIG NOIZE
1 - NEW - 95 - Briar - EDGE OF A BROKEN HEART
02 - 94 - 96 - Big Audio Dynamite - SIGHTSEE M.C.!
1 - NEW - 97 - Force M.D.s - LOVE IS A HOUSE
17 - 100 - 98 - Judy Boucher - CAN'T BE WITH YOU TONIGHT
1 - NEW - 99 - This Way Up - TELL ME WHY
02 - 99 - 100 - Tongue 'N' Cheek - DON'T STOP THE LOVE

 

The US single:

Needless to say, I much prefer Ritchie Valens' . . .

. . . which in this two week stretch hit #70-56 . . .

 

As for the rest of the lot (my own entry of the missing positions of the next week to ensure it can be copied and pasted for this purpose) . . .

 

With two pic sleeves:

 

Had two different releases . . .

And then the later ish with a different lead vocal . . .