“Relax” remains at the No 1 spot and was never under threat at the top in what is a sluggish chart sales wise despite five new songs in the top 10. Sales of the Frankie Goes To Hollywood single increased by only 24% week on week to 85,000 and it seems clear that the “ban” on the record is having some effect though total sales now stand at 322,000 enough to rise to the No 1 spot on the YTD chart.
Trouble is on the horizon for FGTH though in two forms, firstly Cyndi Lauper paces 10-2 on a sales bump of 157% after a particularly energetic TOTP performance, you must think that the show is eager to push for the next chart topper so that it can actually showcase the biggest single in the land again.
So onto those five new hits, and making by far the biggest splash is a brand new entry for Queen who now have their 13th top 10 hit and their joint highest new entry ever matching the No 4 debut of 1976’s “Somebody To Love”. They should challenge for the top slot next week though they will be hoping for a slightly better fate than that earlier hit which was halted at No 2 behind Showaddywaddy, it was written by Roger Taylor and comes with a “Metropolis” themed promo which ties in thematically with the song itself. The group’s eleventh album “The Works” arrives later this month but so far could easily contain their third No 1 single as “Radio Gaga” sold 57,000 copies in its first week.
Shooting 14-5 (41,000) this week is Matthew Wilder who is, co-incidentally, also standing at No 5 stateside with his debut single “Break My Stride” which is his debut single. He was part of the New York folk duo Matthew & Peter before going on to become a backing singer for Bette Midler among others.
Hailing from Perth in Bonnie Scotland Fiction Factory are also experiencing a successful debut single as “(Feels Like) Heaven” arrives 12-6 (36,000). The band were formed from the original Ska band who evolved to incorporate former Simple Minds member Mike ogletree who must feel that he made the right move as this single now out performs any single by his former band. Expect a debut album at some point this year.
Onto the fifth top 10 single on the trot for the Eurythmics who are now on a roll. “Here Comes The Rain Again” slinks 11-8 (32,000) which not sound promising but it has certainly sparked renewed interest in the parent album “Touch” which this week ascends to the top of the album charts deposing Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and becoming their first chart topping album. Film composer Michael Kamen provides the orchestration on the track, and in case you’re wondering the opening shot in the promo is of the old man of Hoy is the Orkneys.
Last week’s highest new entry dashed into No 17 and this week advances to No 9 (27,000) for Echo & The Bunnymen who may very well decide to only to release singles in January as last January saw their only other top 10 hit “The Cutter” bow out at No 8. This January sees “The Killing Moon” become their second top 10 hit, it’s also their lead single from a fourth album “Ocean Rain” which is due this spring.
Elsewhere Joe Fagin holds at No 3 but did get a significant TOTP boost of 37% to 61,000 last week whilst Paul McCartney tumbles 2-7 (35,000) and Big Country retreat 8-10 (26,000)
80s Top 10 Sales- Week By Week- 1984-1985