80s Top 10 Sales- Week By Week- 1984-1985
- Thread starter gezza76
- Start date
Could never stand the Stevie Wonder track, a glaring zit on the otherwise beautiful face of his career to that point. I did pick up the OST of Woman In Red last month for £2, simply for completism's sake, and because I quite like the other two singles from the record (neither of which hit the Top 40).
I hated "I just called to say I love you" at the time….but when you've actually been on the receiving end of THAT call….it is QUITE something - so this sentimental cub has grown to love it over the years!
Yer big softie!
Hahaha! you're so right EG.
I've gone from being a prowling cub to a big romantic fluffy wuffy cub during the course of 25 years…deep down I'm a real romantic!
I've gone from being a prowling cub to a big romantic fluffy wuffy cub during the course of 25 years…deep down I'm a real romantic!
w/e 25th August 1984 and what's peaking outside the top ten this week:
At number 11 are Iron Maiden and "Two minutes to midnight" - I actually like all their singles from "Run to the Hills" to "The Clairvoyant" (oh the irony - if you read my last post above!)
[video=youtube;GPbqQOf41Qc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPbqQOf41Qc[/video]
At number 11 are Iron Maiden and "Two minutes to midnight" - I actually like all their singles from "Run to the Hills" to "The Clairvoyant" (oh the irony - if you read my last post above!)
[video=youtube;GPbqQOf41Qc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPbqQOf41Qc[/video]
Oops I made a boo boo again!
Tracey Ullman's "Sunglasses' actually peaked one place higher the next week:
Number 18 on w/e 25th August 1984
My apologies!
Here's where it all makes sense to EG:
Peaking at number 36 is David Sylvian and "The ink in the well"
[video=youtube;Y9LWfVjXXAU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9LWfVjXXAU[/video]
Peaking at number 36 is David Sylvian and "The ink in the well"
[video=youtube;Y9LWfVjXXAU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9LWfVjXXAU[/video]
"Picasso is painting the ships in the harbour"...aahhhhhh....
I love The Ink In The Well for having rabbits in the lyric too....it's like a prelude to the title track of his next Double Album from '86, Gone To Earth.
I love The Ink In The Well for having rabbits in the lyric too....it's like a prelude to the title track of his next Double Album from '86, Gone To Earth.
1ST SEPTEMBER
Powering to another easy victory “Careless Whisper” sold an impressive 202,000 copies last week as it shows no sign of surrendering the No 1 spot yet. It also crosses the half million mark and is part of the generally improving second half of the year after record sales struggled for the first 6 months of 1984 but is now quickly catching up with 1983. Michael’s first solo effort now has only Wham!’s last single “Wake Me Up” ahead of it sales wise which limps over the 600,000 mark this week.
[video=youtube;EhE6HwQWPUA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhE6HwQWPUA[/video]
The only cloud on the horizon comes from Stevie Wonder who creeps 3-2 this week with “I Just Called To Say I Love You” on a sale of 135,000, the song has been embraced by Radio this week and now records the highest sale for a No 2 record since Dionne Warwick’s “Heartbreaker” back in November 1982- it seems that it could prove a challenge even to the mighty “Careless Whisper”. Indeed the link to “Heartbreaker” is appropriate given that the soundtrack album to “Woman In Red” is due in a month and will be a collaboration between the two acts. Somewhat oddly, TOTP didn’t show the video last week which makes it sales hike an even greater achievement.
Married life is clearly agreeing with Elton John who pulls a second top 10 single from his “Breaking Hearts” album which peaked at No 2 back in June and hasn’t left the top 20 since. “Passengers” arrives in the chart 15-6 (44,000) and becomes John’s 15th top 10, though of course only one, “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” has gone all the way to the top.
Recording primarily in Spanish The Miami Sound Machine released their first album way back in 1977 and became a relatively big name in Latin markets through the early 80s without troubling the UK Charts. Their eighth album “Eyes Of Innocence” however marks the band’s crossing into the English speaking market and their first UK Success with “Dr Beat” which powers 16-7 (41,000) this week.
Black lace fall 2-3 but they join in the sales bonanza recording a sale of 85,000 which is the highest for No 3 since Shakin Stevens last November, and Laura Branigan also climbs 6-5 (49,000) to record her highest placed single. Howard Jones manages to cling on to the No 4 position though with a sales drop to 50,000 and also heading the wrong way are Hazell Dean 7-8 (35,000), Frankie Goes To Hollywood 5-9 (33,000) and Trevor Walters who dips 9-10 (28,000).
Powering to another easy victory “Careless Whisper” sold an impressive 202,000 copies last week as it shows no sign of surrendering the No 1 spot yet. It also crosses the half million mark and is part of the generally improving second half of the year after record sales struggled for the first 6 months of 1984 but is now quickly catching up with 1983. Michael’s first solo effort now has only Wham!’s last single “Wake Me Up” ahead of it sales wise which limps over the 600,000 mark this week.
[video=youtube;EhE6HwQWPUA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhE6HwQWPUA[/video]
The only cloud on the horizon comes from Stevie Wonder who creeps 3-2 this week with “I Just Called To Say I Love You” on a sale of 135,000, the song has been embraced by Radio this week and now records the highest sale for a No 2 record since Dionne Warwick’s “Heartbreaker” back in November 1982- it seems that it could prove a challenge even to the mighty “Careless Whisper”. Indeed the link to “Heartbreaker” is appropriate given that the soundtrack album to “Woman In Red” is due in a month and will be a collaboration between the two acts. Somewhat oddly, TOTP didn’t show the video last week which makes it sales hike an even greater achievement.
Married life is clearly agreeing with Elton John who pulls a second top 10 single from his “Breaking Hearts” album which peaked at No 2 back in June and hasn’t left the top 20 since. “Passengers” arrives in the chart 15-6 (44,000) and becomes John’s 15th top 10, though of course only one, “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” has gone all the way to the top.
Recording primarily in Spanish The Miami Sound Machine released their first album way back in 1977 and became a relatively big name in Latin markets through the early 80s without troubling the UK Charts. Their eighth album “Eyes Of Innocence” however marks the band’s crossing into the English speaking market and their first UK Success with “Dr Beat” which powers 16-7 (41,000) this week.
Black lace fall 2-3 but they join in the sales bonanza recording a sale of 85,000 which is the highest for No 3 since Shakin Stevens last November, and Laura Branigan also climbs 6-5 (49,000) to record her highest placed single. Howard Jones manages to cling on to the No 4 position though with a sales drop to 50,000 and also heading the wrong way are Hazell Dean 7-8 (35,000), Frankie Goes To Hollywood 5-9 (33,000) and Trevor Walters who dips 9-10 (28,000).
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Great to see sales picking up with the top 2 selling over 100k
Wasn't Elton John's "Passengers" about Apartheid?
Great to see Miami Sound Machine make their debut into the top 10 with "Dr Beat"
Wasn't Elton John's "Passengers" about Apartheid?
Great to see Miami Sound Machine make their debut into the top 10 with "Dr Beat"
Some records peaking outside the top ten w/e 01 Sep 1984:
Number 15 we've for Rod Stewart and "Some guys have all the luck"
[video=youtube;sY2WIFGQttE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY2WIFGQttE[/video]
Number 15 we've for Rod Stewart and "Some guys have all the luck"
[video=youtube;sY2WIFGQttE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY2WIFGQttE[/video]
Peaking at number 25 are The Pointer Sisters and "I need you":
[video=youtube;Z7CzeKcAocQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7CzeKcAocQ[/video]
[video=youtube;Z7CzeKcAocQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7CzeKcAocQ[/video]
Peaking at number 26 are A Flock of Seagulls and "The more you live (the more you love)" with a beautifully shot video at the Giants Causeway, Northern Ireland:
[video=youtube;TROOtt-68F4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TROOtt-68F4[/video]
[video=youtube;TROOtt-68F4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TROOtt-68F4[/video]
Summer '84, especially the latter part, seemed strange music-wise...compared to the seminal summer of the previous year. I was getting used to the idea that 1983 might have been just one of those magical eras in pop...and even after such a great first half, 1984 was flagging a little. I wasn't feeling as inspired to buy new albums (the release schedules ritually dry up between July and September, I would realise) and even the singles weren't exciting me after the FGTH climaxes. I dutifully bought the new HoJo, but even that - a brand-new, non-album track - wasn't grabbing me that much. Purple Rain was dominating my personal charts, and my whole outlook to an extent, but thankfully things would get into gear again soon...
8TH SEPTEMBER
Well here’s a turn up for the books, TOTP finally got around to showing the video for "I Just Called To Say I Love You" and the track
flew off the shelves! Yes Stevie Wonder was chasing “Careless Whisper” for most of the week but it created clear blue water over the George Michael track by the week end. It sold an incredible 184,000 last week against 164,000 for the outgoing chart topper, in doing so it becomes Wonder’s first solo chart topper after 18 years in the charts, he did of course hit No 1 just 2 years ago in duet with Paul McCartney on “Ebony And Ivory”, and by way of co-incidence McCartney had his first solo chart topper this year as well.
[video=youtube;1NikOMSj4wU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NikOMSj4wU[/video]
As noted already George Michael may be down to No 2 but his sale is the largest for a runner up single since The Stranglers sold 177,000 copies back in February 1982 though of course that was thanks to readjustment of chart dates which meant that that particular sale incorporated two Saturdays. The track is now the biggest single that Michael has ever released having sold 699,000 copies in total in just 6 weeks. The top 2 combined sold an incredible 348,000 the largest combined figure since 07.08.82 when Dexy's Midnight Runners and Irene Cara sold 350,000 put together, 1984 is certainly raking in the sales now!
One of the blockbuster films of the summer returns to haunt us (apologies) now that autumn has come around, “Ghostbusters” may be on the way down the film rankings but Ray Parker Jr’s theme is on the way up 18-6 (43,000). Parker Jr was a member of late 70s group Raydio along with a certain Jerry Knight who was in the top 10 earlier this year as part of Ollie & Jerry (the other member of the duo actually appears in the video for the track along with several other celebrities), and before Raydio he worked with Barry White and the guy at the top of the charts this week, Stevie Wonder. The song has already topped the charts in the US for three weeks and is currently subject to a lawsuit by US act Huey Leiws & The News who are claiming that Parker Jr “borrowed” the melody for their track “I Want A New Drug” though the case is not expected to make it into the courts this side of Christmas.
Spandau Ballet manage to pull a second top 10 single from “Parade” in the form of “I’ll Fly For You” which creeps 11-9 (36,000). It’s the group’s ninth top 10 single and fourth on the trot though it seems their days of challenging for No 1 are over. The album might not have made the top (it peaked for three weeks at No 2 behind Bob Marley) it has spent just a fortnight out of the top 10 so that fanbase clearly remains!
Though it can’t stop losing sales Howard Jones’ “Like To Get You Know Well” holds at No 4 (45,000) thanks to TOTP which clawed back a fall of around three or four places, but it was well behind Black Lace’s “Agadoo” at No 3 (69,000) but has so far sold an impressive 398,000 to easily become their biggest hit. Elton continues to rise though 6-5 (43,000) is on a sales decrease which could spell trouble next week while Miami Sound Machine can’t make any progress at No 7 (43,000). Heading out are Laura Branigan 5-8 (42,000) and Hazell Dean 8-10 (31,000)
Well here’s a turn up for the books, TOTP finally got around to showing the video for "I Just Called To Say I Love You" and the track
flew off the shelves! Yes Stevie Wonder was chasing “Careless Whisper” for most of the week but it created clear blue water over the George Michael track by the week end. It sold an incredible 184,000 last week against 164,000 for the outgoing chart topper, in doing so it becomes Wonder’s first solo chart topper after 18 years in the charts, he did of course hit No 1 just 2 years ago in duet with Paul McCartney on “Ebony And Ivory”, and by way of co-incidence McCartney had his first solo chart topper this year as well.
[video=youtube;1NikOMSj4wU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NikOMSj4wU[/video]
As noted already George Michael may be down to No 2 but his sale is the largest for a runner up single since The Stranglers sold 177,000 copies back in February 1982 though of course that was thanks to readjustment of chart dates which meant that that particular sale incorporated two Saturdays. The track is now the biggest single that Michael has ever released having sold 699,000 copies in total in just 6 weeks. The top 2 combined sold an incredible 348,000 the largest combined figure since 07.08.82 when Dexy's Midnight Runners and Irene Cara sold 350,000 put together, 1984 is certainly raking in the sales now!
One of the blockbuster films of the summer returns to haunt us (apologies) now that autumn has come around, “Ghostbusters” may be on the way down the film rankings but Ray Parker Jr’s theme is on the way up 18-6 (43,000). Parker Jr was a member of late 70s group Raydio along with a certain Jerry Knight who was in the top 10 earlier this year as part of Ollie & Jerry (the other member of the duo actually appears in the video for the track along with several other celebrities), and before Raydio he worked with Barry White and the guy at the top of the charts this week, Stevie Wonder. The song has already topped the charts in the US for three weeks and is currently subject to a lawsuit by US act Huey Leiws & The News who are claiming that Parker Jr “borrowed” the melody for their track “I Want A New Drug” though the case is not expected to make it into the courts this side of Christmas.
Spandau Ballet manage to pull a second top 10 single from “Parade” in the form of “I’ll Fly For You” which creeps 11-9 (36,000). It’s the group’s ninth top 10 single and fourth on the trot though it seems their days of challenging for No 1 are over. The album might not have made the top (it peaked for three weeks at No 2 behind Bob Marley) it has spent just a fortnight out of the top 10 so that fanbase clearly remains!
Though it can’t stop losing sales Howard Jones’ “Like To Get You Know Well” holds at No 4 (45,000) thanks to TOTP which clawed back a fall of around three or four places, but it was well behind Black Lace’s “Agadoo” at No 3 (69,000) but has so far sold an impressive 398,000 to easily become their biggest hit. Elton continues to rise though 6-5 (43,000) is on a sales decrease which could spell trouble next week while Miami Sound Machine can’t make any progress at No 7 (43,000). Heading out are Laura Branigan 5-8 (42,000) and Hazell Dean 8-10 (31,000)
