The U.K. 80s Singles & Albums Chart General Discussion Thread.

Yes, this was a time where it looked like Madonna might have a decent acting career. Her reviews for Susan were pretty good as I recall.

 

Always a favourite and better than the first three Dream Into Action singles. Beats me why it wasn't on any album.

 

It's amazing that 'Holiday' hit the Top 10 twice in 18 months. Its first UK chart run was Jan-Mar 1984 (#6) and then Aug-Oct 1985 (#2). Maybe the summer holidays helped it become an even bigger hit the second time around?

Madonna really was unstoppable in 1985.

 

I mean, 1986 wasn’t too shabby either, but 1985… That’s one of the best runs I’ve seen by anybody

 

Outside of the Beatles it's hard to think of any artist that had 7 or more top 5 hits in one year

 

Adam & The Ants had a good 1981...

Antmusic (still charting from 198o) - #2
Kings of the Wild Frontier (re-entry) - #2
Stand & Deliver - #1
Prince Charming - #1
Ant Rap - #3
Young Parisians - #9 (?)

Plus several old 45s made the lower reaches of the top 40.

EG.

 

Madonna actually achieved 8 Top 5 singles in 1985 as 'Like A Virgin' peaked at #3 on 12 January 1985.

 

I haven't heard that for years and forgot how good it was. Great vocal from Mr Heaton, though I remember being disappointed in the album because it had a different version on it.

And changing tack slightly, Tina looks great in that picture disc.

 

And "Antmusic" managed to make #1 in Melody Maker!

 

Best I can give is Abba - 5 top 5 hits in 1979. But can anyone beat Madge's record of 8 top 5 hits in a single year?

 

T.Rex in 1972

Singles....

Jeepster _#2
Telegram Sam -#1
Metal Guru - #1
Debora - #7
Children Of The Revolution - #2
Solid Gold Easy Action - #3

Albums....
Electric Warrior - #1
My People Were Fair/Phrophets Seers ans Sages - #1
Bolan Boogie - #1
The Slider - #4

 

I could not agree more! "Have You Ever Been In Love" is a solid, heartfelt ballad, and "Orchard Road" is both Alan Tarney and Leo Sayer´s masterpiece. So moody, so beautiful.

 

Best I know of is the Beatles in 1964 (US charts) - 9 top 5 hits including 6 chart toppers and the entire top 5 at one point. Don't know of any act that did better in the UK charts.

 

I have one for Pat Benatar’s ‘Love Is A Battlefield’.

 

Probably Ed Sheeran in the last couple of years.
Didn’t he have like 13 singles in the top 20 or something?

 

It's difficult to compare the eras though - vinyl V streaming

 

Madness are a different cup of tea. All of their singles, including the instrumentals or predominantly instrumentals (and their are a few of those as well) are really catchy and "ear friendly".
The Jam`s Funeral Pyre is exactly the opposite of that and thats why I was amazed how well that song did.
I beg to differ about Going Underground & Start - very easy to get into.......unlike Funeral Pyre.

 

Outside of the ballads, easily my favorite one.

 

Certainly not when I saw them. Very much an indie crowd but they emerged a bit after the skinhead thing anyway. That was 1979/80ish. The Housemartins didn't come along until the mid 80s.

 

The Housemartins have assembled some great b-sides over those few years and I feel that they deserve a better compilation
than whats available at the moment or better yet, a complete deluxe box of their complete work.

 

Here is a band that has always been almost criminally underrated just about only in the UK.....
One sole chart placement on no.26 in their whole career.

Peter Kingsberry & Anna LaCazio were the duo at the core of the band for many many years.

Here is a great example of the way their vocals blend seamlessly......



Extraordinary songwriting & interpretation IMHO.

 

The Swiss duo Double had a big hit in 1986 with The Captain Of Her Heart,
but their 1987 single Devils Ball (feat. Herb Alpert) is where they have really hit their peak
and created a timeless (almost) instrumental track with several amazing solos on different instruments.



Too bad the chart position didnt reflect my view.
Reached no.71 in late 1987.

 

Some nice choices Twist - but, and of course you must have expected that, I much prefer Captain of Your Heart and for Cock Robin, The Promise You Made is tremendous.

But here's some choice Dundee soul, I don't know why Danny Wilson never made it big.

 

Morrissey has a go at reviewing the week’s singles, Record Mirror February 1984.


While Pat Nevin has his turn 6 months later.

 

@Twist-Of-Shadows, I've been listening to Kissing The Pink today — the Naked album and the 12" singles of 'The Last Film' and 'Love Lasts Forever'. I love them and wondered if their other two 80s albums are as good. I bet you're into them. Am I right?