For a seventh week on the trot the No 1 record sells below 100,000, the record so far in the 80s occurred in June- August 1980 when that was the state of play for 8 weeks which was at least explainable due to the lack of TOTP from our screens. Some industry insiders point to the fact that now Gallup have taken over the charts "cooking" the books has become considerably harder and that these sales (far from being a sharp downturn) are simply a truer reflection of the natural cycle of record sales throughout the sales.
Rod Stewart scores his sixth No 1 single of his 12 year solo career this week as "Baby Jane" takes that final step 2-1 but it sells only 69,000 in the process, the lowest tally since the final week of Renee & Renato back in January of this year proving just how deep the summer slump has set in. The Police slip a notch to No 2 (65,000) and looked good all week to hold the top slot again on both charts but in the end Rod proved too strong on the singles front though they easily claim a second week on the albums.
The seminal album "Tubular Bells" is famous for launching not only Mike Oldfield but also Virgin Records but Oldfield has not been seen in the top 10 since 1976 in part due to turning his attention to non commercial exploits including composing music for the royal wedding among other things! Over the past few years he has ventured back to mainstream pop and roped in several guest vocalists to front his new found Lyrical composition skills, Maggie Riley, a Scottish folk singer, currently fronts his hit "Moonlight Shadow" which rockets 19-4 (44,000) following a TOTP performance and is a good bet to top the charts next week. An Oldfield composition from his 1982 album "Five Miles Out" is currently in the US top 10 by way of co-incidence, Hall & Oates' cover of "Family Man"- it never rains but it pours for the singer!
You may recall a group called Freeez from 1981 who reached the top 10 with "Southern Freeez" and then kinda disappeared? Well they're back with the highly infectious "I.O.U" which shoots 23-7 (37,000) to become their biggest hit. It is produced by Arthur Baker who recently helmed Rocker's Revenge into the top 10 and is currently one of the hottest producers stateside who seems to be working his magic over here.
Shalamar had a fantastic 1982 with three top 10 hits and the 21st best selling album of the year in "Friends", a new album is due this month which of course requires a lead single and duly "Dead Giveaway" carves its way through the charts 12-8 (34,000) to become a fourth top 10 smash for the group. "The Look" is released in 4 weeks time and should confirm the groups place as one of the most successful dance acts of the decade,
Still No 1 in the US for a 6th week "Flashdance...What A Feeling" rises 4-3 (47,000) but is well off the pace of the top 2 and can only hope for a rapid loss of sale from the Police to gain any ground (and of course to keep ahead of Oldfield), and Elton isn't done yet as he climbs again 6-5 (39,000) but you'll note the sales decrease whilst Bucks Fizz continues to prop up the top 10 with a non mover and virtually identical sales of 29,000. Bowie descends 3-6 (39,000) whilst Wham! slump 5-9 (32,000) but will be concentrating on their debut album released this week.
01 01 06 Every Breath You Take The Police FOURTH WEEK AT NUMBER ONE 
05 04 03 When We Were Young Bucks Fizz 
04 04 12 Temptation Heaven 17
