And so it is that "Only You" becomes the Christmas No 1 for 1983 as their is no chart next week as previously noted. The track sold 129,000 copies last week as it continues to grow at retail to now amount to 367,000 copies and was never in danger of being caught by the chasing pack who all underperformed considering the time of year. Slade take the silver medal for this year as they rise 3-2 with "My Oh My" which is now their biggest hit since 1974, their other Christmas favourite "Merry Xmas Everyone" also stands at No 20, it's first time in the top 20 since the original release 10 years ago, in the end though "My Oh My" only sold 79,000 copies to take that position. Bookies favourite Culture Club ended up in bronze rising 4-3 though it had a minimal sales bump to 62,000, though of course "Colour By Numbers" ended up No 3 on the album charts and detracted considerable sales from the single.
Back with their 17th top 10 hit Status Quo serge 25-5 (54,000) with the party themed "Marguerita Time". It comes with a special Christmas double pack of "Caroline/ Joanne" to keep fans entertained over the festive period and rounds another successful year for the rockers tough all is not well in the camp as several noted. Guitarist Alan Lancaster has made it known that he personally dislikes the track thinking it too pop orientated and pointedly made a non-appearance at TOTP to promote the single, his place being taken by Jim Lea of Slade for proceedings.
Already a US No 1 single "Islands In The Stream" becomes a UK top 10 single this week rising 11-8 ( 48,000), it is penned by the Gibb brothers who seem to have become solely writers for other acts these days. The song was apparently written with Marvin Gaye in mind but passed on Rogers for his new album "Eyes That See In The Dark", as for Parton her only bigger UK single was 1976's "Jolene" which went one place better at No 7.
The only other climber is Billy Joel who creeps 8-7 (48,000). Not such good news for Paul Young who gives up the fight and drops 2-4 (60,000) but has the consolation of the Christmas No 2 album "No Parlez", also heading south are Thompson Twins (5-6, 53,000), Tina Turner 6-9 (48,000) and Cliff Richard 7-10 (45,000). I'll see you in two weeks with the final chart of 1983 and a run-down of the top 10 best selling singles acts of the year.
02 01 06 Hold Me Now Thompson Twins NEW NUMBER ONE
03 03 06 Thriller Michael Jackson
01 01 14 All Night Long (All Night) Lionel Richie
