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

Detroit Spinners - Working My Way Back To You / Forgive Me Girl

This is my favourite number one so far. The mash-up of the 2 songs works really well!

 

The "Detroit" in the group name as on the UK was due to a British folk group known as the Spinners.

As for the U.S. release, first-pressings mentioned only the track being covered, as on the UK label:

Then they incorporated Zager's little composition and emphasized it was a medley:

While this revived their chart fortunes since the double-whammy of Philippe Wynne's 1977 departure and prior producer Thom Bell moving on, it was a formula that grew old rather fast; after another medley of a cover and an original (Sam Cooke's "Cupid" and "I've Loved You For A Long Time"), they never again were a major U.S. chart presence.

And with all due respect, I was and am more leaning towards The 4 Seasons' original myself.

 

From this period, in my collection would be #21-2, #27-45 and #/-62.

 

Next...

26th April 1980

Blondie - Call Me

1 Week At No 1

9th No 1 of 1980 and No 456 in total.


"Call Me" is a song by the American new wave band Blondie and the theme to the 1980 film American Gigolo. Released in the US in early 1980 as a single, "Call Me" was number one for six consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it became the band's biggest single and second No. 1.[1] It also hit No. 1 in the UK and Canada, where it became their fourth and second chart-topper, respectively. In the year-end chart of 1980, it was Billboard's No. 1 single and RPM magazine's No. 3 in Canada.[4][5]
Song and single information
"Call Me" was the main theme song of the 1980 film American Gigolo. It is played in the key of D minor. Italian disco producer Giorgio Moroder originally asked Stevie Nicks from Fleetwood Mac to help compose and perform a song for the soundtrack, but she declined as a recently signed contract with Modern Records prevented her from working with Moroder. It was at this time that Moroder turned to Debbie Harry and Blondie. Moroder presented Harry with a rough instrumental track called "Man Machine". Harry was asked to write the lyrics and melody, a process that Harry states took a mere few hours.[6] The lyrics were written from the perspective of the main character in the film, a male prostitute.[7] Harry said the lyrics were inspired by her visual impressions from watching the film and that "When I was writing it, I pictured the opening scene, driving on the coast of California."[8] The completed song was then recorded by the band, with Moroder producing. The bridge of the original English-language version also includes Harry singing "Call me, my darling" in Italian ("Amore, chiamami") (Love, call me) and in French ("Appelle-moi, mon chéri") (Call me, my darling).

In the US, the song was released by three record companies: the longest version (at 8:06) on the soundtrack album by Polydor, the 7" and 12" on Blondie's label Chrysalis, and a Spanish-language 12" version, with lyrics by Buddy and Mary McCluskey, on the disco label Salsoul Records. The Spanish version, titled "Llámame", was meant for release in Mexico and some South American countries. This version was also released in the US and the UK and had its CD debut on Chrysalis/EMI's rarities compilation Blonde and Beyond (1993). In 1988, a remixed version by Ben Liebrand taken from the Blondie remix album Once More into the Bleach was issued as a single in the UK. In 2001, the "original long version" appeared as a bonus track on the Autoamerican album re-issue.

Harry recorded an abbreviated version of the song that was backed by the Muppet Band for her guest appearance on The Muppet Show in August 1980. It was first broadcast in January 1981.

Popularity and acclaim
The single was released in the United States in February 1980. It peaked at No. 1 and remained there for six consecutive weeks until it was knocked off by Lipps, Inc.'s worldwide smash hit "Funkytown" and was certified Gold (for one million copies sold) by the RIAA. It also spent four weeks at No. 2 on the US dance chart. The single was also No. 1 on Billboard magazine's 1980 year-end chart. The song lists at No. 57 on Billboard's All Time Top 100.[9] It was released in the UK two months later, where it became Blondie's fourth UK No. 1 single in little over a year. The song was also played on a British Telecom advert in the 1980s. 25 years after its original release, "Call Me" was ranked at No. 283 on the list of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 1981, the Village Voice ranked "Call Me" as the third-best song of the year 1980 on its annual year-end critics' poll, Pazz & Jop.[10]

In 1981, the song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, as well as for a Golden Globe for Best Original Song.

Music video
There were two videos made:

• One was clips and video footage in New York of Debbie Harry. The video can be found on the 1991 UK video compilation The Complete Picture: The Very Best of Deborah Harry and Blondie.
• The other, which came out in 1981, was non-representational, not featuring any of the band. It depicted a New York City taxi driver (who had appeared in several other Blondie music videos) driving his Checker Taxi through Manhattan traffic. This version was part of the 1981 "Best of Blondie" compilation video.
  
  

 

Week Ending 26 April 1980

03 - 02 - 01 - Blondie - CALL ME
06 - 12 - 02 - Dexy's Midnight Runners - GENO
10 - 01 - 03 - Detroit Spinners - WORKING MY WAY BACK TO YOU / FORGIVE ME GIRL
08 - 04 - 04 - UB40 - KING / FOOD FOR THOUGHT
05 - 05 - 05 - Dr Hook - SEXY EYES
04 - 09 - 06 - David Essex - SILVER DREAM MACHINE
02 - 62 - 07 - Paul McCartney - COMING UP
10 - 03 - 08 - Liquid Gold - DANCE YOURSELF DIZZY
04 - 08 - 09 - Pretenders - TALK OF THE TOWN
04 - 07 - 10 - Madness - NIGHT BOAT TO CAIRO (WORK REST AND PLAY (EP))
04 - 24 - 11 - Sky - TOCCATA
07 - 14 - 12 - Leon Haywood - DON'T PUSH IT DON'T FORCE IT
07 - 11 - 13 - Barbara Dickson - JANUARY FEBRUARY
07 - 23 - 14 - Sad Café - MY OH MY
09 - 10 - 15 - Lambrettas - POISON IVY
07 - 13 - 16 - Genesis - TURN IT ON AGAIN
09 - 19 - 17 - BA Robertson - KOOL IN THE KAFTAN
05 - 16 - 18 - Judas Priest - LIVING AFTER MIDNIGHT
08 - 18 - 19 - Secret Affair - MY WORLD
06 - 06 - 20 - Jam - GOING UNDERGROUND / DREAMS OF CHILDREN
04 - 29 - 21 - Undertones - MY PERFECT COUSIN
07 - 20 - 22 - Siouxsie And The Banshees - HAPPY HOUSE
05 - 26 - 23 - Selecter - MISSING WORDS
07 - 22 - 24 - Bodysnatchers - LET'S DO ROCK STEADY
03 - 34 - 25 - Nolans - DON'T MAKE WAVES
05 - 30 - 26 - Bobby Thurston - CHECK OUT THE GROOVE
02 - 70 - 27 - Rodney Franklin - THE GROOVE
06 - 25 - 28 - Saxon - WHEELS OF STEEL
10 - 15 - 29 - Brothers Johnson - STOMP
03 - 32 - 30 - Elvis Costello And The Attractions - HI FIDELITY
02 - 51 - 31 - Ruts - STARING AT THE RUDE BOYS
04 - 37 - 32 - Phil Lynott - DEAR MISS LONELY HEARTS
06 - 31 - 33 - Rupert Holmes - HIM
12 - 17 - 34 - Vapors - TURNING JAPANESE
1 - NEW - 35 - Narada Michael Walden - I SHOULDA LOVED YA
09 - 36 - 36 - Bad Manners - NE-NE-NA-NA-NA-NA-NU-NU
07 - 33 - 37 - Monkees - THE MONKEES EP
04 - 38 - 38 - Buggles - CLEAN CLEAN
04 - 41 - 39 - Pete Townshend - ROUGH BOYS
03 - 44 - 40 - Billy Joel - ALL FOR LEYNA
03 - 55 - 41 - Cure - A FOREST
09 - 21 - 42 - Martha And The Muffins - ECHO BEACH
06 - RE - 43 - Jam - IN THE CITY
1 - NEW - 44 - Kate Bush - BREATHING
03 - 47 - 45 - Sham 69 - TELL THE CHILDREN
11 - 28 - 46 - Fern Kinney - TOGETHER WE ARE BEAUTIFUL
1 - NEW - 47 - Cockney Rejects - THE GREATEST COCKNEY RIP OFF
05 - 42 - 48 - Harry J All-Stars And The Pioneers - LIQUIDATOR / LONG SHOT KICK DE BUCKET
09 - RE - 49 - Jam - ALL AROUND THE WORLD
02 - 72 - 50 - Smokie - TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY BABY
1 - NEW - 51 - Whitesnake - FOOL FOR YOUR LOVING
02 - 75 - 52 - Brenda Russell - SO GOOD SO RIGHT / IN THE THICK OF IT
06 - RE - 53 - Jam - NEWS OF THE WORLD
05 - RE - 54 - Jam - THE MODERN WORLD
11 - 35 - 55 - Rainbow - ALL NIGHT LONG
1 - NEW - 56 - Prima Donna - LOVE ENOUGH FOR TWO
10 - RE - 57 - Jam - STRANGE TOWN
02 - 54 - 58 - Ramones - DO YOU REMEMBER ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO
1 - NEW - 59 - New Musik - THIS WORLD OF WATER
02 - 61 - 60 - Shy - GIRL
02 - 73 - 61 - Anne Murray - DAYDREAM BELIEVER
03 - 58 - 62 - Motors - LOVE AND LONELINESS
09 - RE - 63 - Jam - DAVID WATTS / 'A' BOMB IN WARDOUR STREET
04 - 49 - 64 - High Numbers - I'M THE FACE
12 - 40 - 65 - Marti Webb - TAKE THAT LOOK OFF YOUR FACE
1 - NEW - 66 - Mystic Merlin - JUST CAN'T GIVE YOU UP
03 - 50 - 67 - Girl - HOLLYWOOD TEASE
06 - 52 - 68 - Magnum - MAGNUM LIVE EP
1 - NEW - 69 - Average White Band - LET'S GO ROUND AGAIN
1 - NEW - 70 - Prelude - PLATINUM BLONDE
07 - 39 - 71 - Rush - SPIRIT OF RADIO
1 - NEW - 72 - Boney M - MY FRIEND JACK
1 - NEW - 73 - Chords - SOMETHING'S MISSING
02 - 67 - 74 - Marti Webb - TELL ME ON A SUNDAY
09 - 27 - 75 - Squeeze - ANOTHER NAIL IN MY HEART

 

Blondie - Call Me
On a roll...another great single.
5/5

 

New Entry Buys and favs......

 

I'm realising that by 1980, my interests were moving away from the singles charts, though I still bought the odd one. I have no recollection of the Detroit Spinners reaching number one, didn't buy it and probably like it more now than back then.

 

I love Blondie, but for some reason I inexcusably and inexplicably didn't buy Call Me. Another fantastic single, continuing Blondie's run of brilliant singles.

 

Record Mirror scan for the first week Blondie were number one.

 

Looking at the album charts....I picked all these up!!!!
4. Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden
8. Judas Priest - British Steel
12. Saxon - Wheels Of Steel
29. Black Sabbath - Heaven And Hell
42. Phil Lynott - Solo In Soho

 

The U.S. single (this post will show the labels and the "Debbie" sleeve which, unlike in the UK, was white with black print):

 

Here's the alternate, "Richard sleeve" - a reference to the fact that this variant has a pic of the film's star, Richard Gere, as a tie-in to the movie:

 

The Blondie record topped both the US and UK charts, and it leads in my collection. As for the others in this week, the positions of which are in my collection, by country:
- UK: #7
- US: #5, 6, 9, 14, 16, 19, 27, 49 and 73.

As for the US #74, "Twilight Zone" by The Manhattan Transfer, initial US pressings miscredited Bernard Herrmann (whose theme was only on the first season) with the "Twilight Zone" part, with a narration that seems a composite of all the show's original seasons when Rod Serling was host. (In fact, the theme used was Marius Constant's, which first full season was its second - and which Atlantic would later correct.)

And as for UK #7 / US #73 - I much prefer the original studio version . . .

. . . to the live recording on the flip (credited to 'Macca' and Wings) that would ultimately top the U.S. charts.

 

Next...

3rd May 1980

Dexys Midnight Runners - Geno

2 Weeks At No 1

10th No 1 of 1980 and No 457 in total.


"Geno" is a 1980 single by Dexys Midnight Runners. Written by Kevin Archer and Kevin Rowland,[1] it was the band's second single[2] and their first UK number one, staying at the top of the Singles Chart for two weeks.[1] The song charted at number two in Ireland.
Composition
The song is a tribute to soul singer Geno Washington, and performed in approximately the style of Geno Washington's Ram Jam Band. Rowland and Archer began working on the song in early 1979, with Rowland writing lyrics to Archer's music.[3]

The song bears resemblance to Zoot Money's Big Roll Band's "One and Only Man" and The Turtles' "Happy Together".[3]

The "Geno! Geno! Geno!" chant at the beginning and end of the song (sampled from crowd noises on Van Morrison's acclaimed 1974 live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, a favourite of Rowland's) is reminiscent of Washington's 1960s performances, whereby the shows' compères would excite the audience before Washington took to the stage.[3] The song's saxophone riff was inspired by Washington's "(I Gotta) Hold on to My Love", the B-side to "Michael (the Lover)".[3]

Release and reception
EMI, the band's record label, wanted their recording of Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon's "Breakin' Down the Walls of Heartache" to be released, feeling that "Geno" was only suitable as a B-side. The band refused, though the possibility of a double A-side was suggested. However, "Geno" was released (backed with "Breakin' Down the Walls of Heartache") on 15 March 1980. It slowly climbed the charts until it reached number 1 on 3 May.[4][5]

Record Mirror described "Geno" as "a turgid eulogy with few redeeming features", stating that they believed Dexys Midnight Runners had missed the opportunity to have the same success as Madness and The Specials.[4] Similarly, Robbi Millar from Sounds wrote in March 1980 that "the most boring band of 1979 burst forth again with this erratic and timeless tribute to their hero, Geno Washington, who would probably keep his earplugs in if he heard it".[1]

"Geno" soon became a crowd favourite, with audiences chanting for the song throughout whole concerts.[6] Pete Saunders said that the band found it best to play the song once at the beginning of the set, and once towards the end.[6]

The song is included in 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die, where it is written that the song was inspired by Washington's "Michael (the Lover)" and subsequently inspired The Specials' "Ghost Town".[7]

 

Week Ending 03 May 1980

07 - 02 - 01 - Dexy's Midnight Runners - GENO
03 - 07 - 02 - Paul McCartney - COMING UP
04 - 01 - 03 - Blondie - CALL ME
05 - 06 - 04 - David Essex - SILVER DREAM MACHINE
05 - 11 - 05 - Sky - TOCCATA
09 - 04 - 06 - UB40 - KING / FOOD FOR THOUGHT
11 - 03 - 07 - Detroit Spinners - WORKING MY WAY BACK TO YOU / FORGIVE ME GIRL
06 - 05 - 08 - Dr Hook - SEXY EYES
05 - 09 - 09 - Pretenders - TALK OF THE TOWN
06 - 26 - 10 - Bobby Thurston - CHECK OUT THE GROOVE
05 - 21 - 11 - Undertones - MY PERFECT COUSIN
08 - 12 - 12 - Leon Haywood - DON'T PUSH IT DON'T FORCE IT
03 - 27 - 13 - Rodney Franklin - THE GROOVE
05 - 10 - 14 - Madness - NIGHT BOAT TO CAIRO (WORK REST AND PLAY (EP))
1 - NEW - 15 - Johnny Logan - WHAT'S ANOTHER YEAR
08 - 14 - 16 - Sad Café - MY OH MY
11 - 08 - 17 - Liquid Gold - DANCE YOURSELF DIZZY
08 - 13 - 18 - Barbara Dickson - JANUARY FEBRUARY
02 - 35 - 19 - Narada Michael Walden - I SHOULDA LOVED YA
07 - 28 - 20 - Saxon - WHEELS OF STEEL
10 - 15 - 21 - Lambrettas - POISON IVY
10 - 17 - 22 - BA Robertson - KOOL IN THE KAFTAN
1 - NEW - 23 - Motorhead - GOLDEN YEARS (EP)
06 - 23 - 24 - Selecter - MISSING WORDS
04 - 25 - 25 - Nolans - DON'T MAKE WAVES
08 - 24 - 26 - Bodysnatchers - LET'S DO ROCK STEADY
02 - 47 - 27 - Cockney Rejects - THE GREATEST COCKNEY RIP OFF
10 - 36 - 28 - Bad Manners - NE-NE-NA-NA-NA-NA-NU-NU
02 - 44 - 29 - Kate Bush - BREATHING
02 - 51 - 30 - Whitesnake - FOOL FOR YOUR LOVING
1 - NEW - 31 - Hot Chocolate - NO DOUBT ABOUT IT
03 - 31 - 32 - Ruts - STARING AT THE RUDE BOYS
07 - 20 - 33 - Jam - GOING UNDERGROUND / DREAMS OF CHILDREN
03 - 50 - 34 - Smokie - TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY BABY
04 - 41 - 35 - Cure - A FOREST
1 - NEW - 36 - Jimmy Ruffin - HOLD ON TO MY LOVE
05 - 32 - 37 - Phil Lynott - DEAR MISS LONELY HEARTS
02 - 59 - 38 - New Musik - THIS WORLD OF WATER
02 - 69 - 39 - Average White Band - LET'S GO ROUND AGAIN
07 - 43 - 40 - Jam - IN THE CITY
02 - 66 - 41 - Mystic Merlin - JUST CAN'T GIVE YOU UP
08 - 16 - 42 - Genesis - TURN IT ON AGAIN
10 - 49 - 43 - Jam - ALL AROUND THE WORLD
05 - 39 - 44 - Pete Townshend - ROUGH BOYS
11 - 57 - 45 - Jam - STRANGE TOWN
11 - 29 - 46 - Brothers Johnson - STOMP
06 - 18 - 47 - Judas Priest - LIVING AFTER MIDNIGHT
02 - 56 - 48 - Prima Donna - LOVE ENOUGH FOR TWO
08 - 37 - 49 - Monkees - THE MONKEES EP
08 - 22 - 50 - Siouxsie And The Banshees - HAPPY HOUSE
03 - 52 - 51 - Brenda Russell - SO GOOD SO RIGHT / IN THE THICK OF IT
06 - 54 - 52 - Jam - THE MODERN WORLD
07 - 53 - 53 - Jam - NEWS OF THE WORLD
10 - 63 - 54 - Jam - DAVID WATTS / 'A' BOMB IN WARDOUR STREET
1 - NEW - 55 - Michael Jackson - SHE'S OUT OF MY LIFE
04 - 30 - 56 - Elvis Costello And The Attractions - HI FIDELITY
02 - 73 - 57 - Chords - SOMETHING'S MISSING
1 - NEW - 58 - Beat - MIRROR IN THE BATHROOM
04 - 40 - 59 - Billy Joel - ALL FOR LEYNA
02 - 70 - 60 - Prelude - PLATINUM BLONDE
1 - NEW - 61 - Crown Heights Affair - YOU GAVE ME LOVE
09 - 19 - 62 - Secret Affair - MY WORLD
1 - NEW - 63 - Four Bucketeers - THE BUCKET OF WATER SONG
02 - 72 - 64 - Boney M - MY FRIEND JACK
07 - 33 - 65 - Rupert Holmes - HIM
05 - 38 - 66 - Buggles - CLEAN CLEAN
1 - NEW - 67 - Junior Murvin - POLICE AND THIEVES
13 - 34 - 68 - Vapors - TURNING JAPANESE
10 - 42 - 69 - Martha And The Muffins - ECHO BEACH
03 - 58 - 70 - Ramones - DO YOU REMEMBER ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO
1 - NEW - 71 - James Last Band - THE SEDUCTION (LOVE THEME)
1 - NEW - 72 - Fischer Z - SO LONG
03 - 60 - 73 - Shy - GIRL
03 - 61 - 74 - Anne Murray - DAYDREAM BELIEVER
1 - NEW - 75 - Human League - HOLIDAY 80 EP


Week Ending 10 May 1980

08 - 01 - 01 - Dexy's Midnight Runners - GENO
02 - 15 - 02 - Johnny Logan - WHAT'S ANOTHER YEAR
04 - 02 - 03 - Paul McCartney - COMING UP
05 - 03 - 04 - Blondie - CALL ME
06 - 04 - 05 - David Essex - SILVER DREAM MACHINE
06 - 05 - 06 - Sky - TOCCATA
04 - 13 - 07 - Rodney Franklin - THE GROOVE
02 - 23 - 08 - Motorhead - GOLDEN YEARS (EP)
02 - 31 - 09 - Hot Chocolate - NO DOUBT ABOUT IT
06 - 11 - 10 - Undertones - MY PERFECT COUSIN
03 - 19 - 11 - Narada Michael Walden - I SHOULDA LOVED YA
07 - 10 - 12 - Bobby Thurston - CHECK OUT THE GROOVE
10 - 06 - 13 - UB40 - KING / FOOD FOR THOUGHT
02 - 36 - 14 - Jimmy Ruffin - HOLD ON TO MY LOVE
05 - 25 - 15 - Nolans - DON'T MAKE WAVES
07 - 08 - 16 - Dr Hook - SEXY EYES
02 - 58 - 17 - Beat - MIRROR IN THE BATHROOM
12 - 07 - 18 - Detroit Spinners - WORKING MY WAY BACK TO YOU / FORGIVE ME GIRL
09 - 12 - 19 - Leon Haywood - DON'T PUSH IT DON'T FORCE IT
08 - 20 - 20 - Saxon - WHEELS OF STEEL
03 - 30 - 21 - Whitesnake - FOOL FOR YOUR LOVING
06 - 09 - 22 - Pretenders - TALK OF THE TOWN
03 - 27 - 23 - Cockney Rejects - THE GREATEST COCKNEY RIP OFF
09 - 16 - 24 - Sad Café - MY OH MY
02 - 55 - 25 - Michael Jackson - SHE'S OUT OF MY LIFE
03 - 29 - 26 - Kate Bush - BREATHING
04 - 32 - 27 - Ruts - STARING AT THE RUDE BOYS
03 - 39 - 28 - Average White Band - LET'S GO ROUND AGAIN
06 - 14 - 29 - Madness - NIGHT BOAT TO CAIRO (WORK REST AND PLAY (EP))
03 - 41 - 30 - Mystic Merlin - JUST CAN'T GIVE YOU UP
03 - 38 - 31 - New Musik - THIS WORLD OF WATER
05 - 35 - 32 - Cure - A FOREST
11 - 28 - 33 - Bad Manners - NE-NE-NA-NA-NA-NA-NU-NU
04 - 34 - 34 - Smokie - TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY BABY
02 - 61 - 35 - Crown Heights Affair - YOU GAVE ME LOVE
02 - 63 - 36 - Four Bucketeers - THE BUCKET OF WATER SONG
07 - 24 - 37 - Selecter - MISSING WORDS
11 - 22 - 38 - BA Robertson - KOOL IN THE KAFTAN
02 - 67 - 39 - Junior Murvin - POLICE AND THIEVES
12 - 17 - 40 - Liquid Gold - DANCE YOURSELF DIZZY
1 - NEW - 41 - Don McLean - CRYING
1 - NEW - 42 - MASH - THEME FROM 'M*A*S*H' (SUICIDE IS PAINLESS)
05 - 56 - 43 - Elvis Costello And The Attractions - HI FIDELITY
12 - 45 - 44 - Jam - STRANGE TOWN
08 - 40 - 45 - Jam - IN THE CITY
09 - 18 - 46 - Barbara Dickson - JANUARY FEBRUARY
11 - 21 - 47 - Lambrettas - POISON IVY
02 - 71 - 48 - James Last Band - THE SEDUCTION (LOVE THEME)
08 - 33 - 49 - Jam - GOING UNDERGROUND / DREAMS OF CHILDREN
03 - 48 - 50 - Prima Donna - LOVE ENOUGH FOR TWO
03 - 60 - 51 - Prelude - PLATINUM BLONDE
1 - NEW - 52 - Squeeze - PULLING MUSSELS
1 - NEW - 53 - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - MESSAGES
11 - 43 - 54 - Jam - ALL AROUND THE WORLD
03 - 57 - 55 - Chords - SOMETHING'S MISSING
08 - 53 - 56 - Jam - NEWS OF THE WORLD
06 - 37 - 57 - Phil Lynott - DEAR MISS LONELY HEARTS
1 - NEW - 58 - Peter Gabriel - NO SELF CONTROL
11 - 54 - 59 - Jam - DAVID WATTS / 'A' BOMB IN WARDOUR STREET
09 - 26 - 60 - Bodysnatchers - LET'S DO ROCK STEADY
1 - NEW - 61 - Jermaine Jackson - LET'S GET SERIOUS
06 - 44 - 62 - Pete Townshend - ROUGH BOYS
03 - 64 - 63 - Boney M - MY FRIEND JACK
04 - 51 - 64 - Brenda Russell - SO GOOD SO RIGHT / IN THE THICK OF IT
07 - 52 - 65 - Jam - THE MODERN WORLD
09 - 49 - 66 - Monkees - THE MONKEES EP
1 - NEW - 67 - Matchbox - MIDNITE DYNAMOS
12 - 46 - 68 - Brothers Johnson - STOMP
1 - NEW - 69 - Detroit Spinners - BODY LANGUAGE
09 - 42 - 70 - Genesis - TURN IT ON AGAIN
07 - 47 - 71 - Judas Priest - LIVING AFTER MIDNIGHT
02 - 75 - 72 - Human League - HOLIDAY 80 EP
1 - NEW - 73 - Jona Lewie - YOU'LL ALWAYS FIND ME IN THE KITCHEN AT PARTIES
02 - 72 - 74 - Fischer Z - SO LONG
1 - NEW - 75 - Street Whispers - LADY

 

Dexys Midnight Runners - Geno
Iconic single...loved by my mates at college.
As a side note....Kevein Rowland was still signing on...taking benefits when this was in the charts!!!!.
My sister In-law delt with him at the job center!!!!!!
Great single tho....
5/5

 

New Entry favs and buys....

Rest In Peace Ranking Roger...

 

Top Of The Pops...

 

This Dexys record did not see any release in the US, so I will otherwise have no comment on this. (This will not be the only such UK topper not to see a US release in this year.)

As to what's in my collection from this period, I have: #2-3, #3-4, #55-25, and #/-42 (in its original 1970 release form).

 

Great song, bought the single and bought the Searching For The Young Souls album.

Kevin Rowland was already showing signs of being a very unique and talented songwriter and performer. Two years later he would repeat the feat, with a totally different sound and look... impressive.

 

Next...

17th May 1

Johnny Logon - What's Another Year

2 Weeks At No 1

11th No 1 of 1980 and No 458 in total.

"What's Another Year" was Johnny Logan's first Eurovision Song Contest winner, achieving success in the 1980 edition of the Contest. This was Ireland's second Contest victory. Composed by Shay Healy, the song reached number one in the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in May.[1]

The song is often misinterpreted as a power ballad, sung from the point of view of a man who has been waiting for the girl of his dreams to fall in love with him. On some level, he seems to recognise that she will never share his feelings, but he still holds them regardless. The title appears in the chorus, specifically "What's another year/To someone who is getting used to being alone?" In other words, he is prepared to wait as long as it takes. In reality, the song was written by Shay Healy (who also wrote "the Ultimate Country and Western Song" performed by Billy Connolly) about watching his father coming to terms with the death of his wife and companion, Mairin.

When showband frontman Glen Curtin, the original choice of singer, turned down "What's Another Year", the song was rearranged by Bill Whelan to suit Johnny Logan's singing style.[2] Whelan later composed Riverdance for the interval entertainment slot at the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin. Musically, the song is easily identifiable by its saxophone introduction played by Scottish musician Colin Tully, who now lives and teaches in Wales. The success of "What's Another Year" launched Logan's Eurovision career (he would go on to success in 1987 with "Hold Me Now"). In addition, the song was selected as one of the 14 greatest Eurovision entries in a special to mark the 50th anniversary of the contest. It was covered by Shane MacGowan of The Pogues in the "Song for Eurotrash" cover album of 1998.

Famously, after being announced as the winner of the Contest, Logan was overcome with emotion and could not achieve the high notes near the end of the song in his reprise. Instead, he called out "I love you Ireland", a phrase he would repeat seven years later.

The song was performed seventeenth on the night (following France's Profil with "Hé, hé M'sieurs dames" and preceding Spain's Trigo Limpio with "Quédate esta noche"). At the close of voting, it had received 143 points, placing 1st in a field of 19. The song was succeeded as Eurovision winner at the Eurovision Song Contest 1981 by British band Bucks Fizz and the song "Making Your Mind Up". It was succeeded as Irish representative at the 1981 Contest by Sheeba with "Horoscopes".

Johnny Logan released a German-language and Spanish-language version of "What's Another Year".