Britain has a new No 1 this week as the Police ascend 7-1 for their fifth chart topper in the shape of "Every Breath You Take". That's the good news, but sales wise the traditional summer slump has hit home quickly as the song sold a mere 73,000 copies, the lowest tally for the year and the 8th lowest tally of the decade so far, the song was also in an almighty struggle for the top spot with the top 3 tracks all within 1,500 copies of each other with the lead changing hands on multiple occasions, the outgoing No 1 "Candy Girl" drops 1-3 but did sell 72,000 copies for that position.
You could also be permitted to feel sorry for the Wham! boys as "Bad Boys" was in pole position for a significant part of the week but as the only track in the top 3 not to feature on TOTP last week its showing of 72,000 as it moves 5-2 must be a poor consolation prize and had it have fallen differently doubtless the boys would be celebrating their first No 1 today.
Comprised of previously unreleased material recorded before his death "Confrontation" is the most recent release from Bob Marley which climbs 8-5 on the album charts this week. To accompany that "Buffalo Soldier" becomes Marley's fifth top 10 single as it rises 11-6 ( 49,000), the song takes its title from the black soldiers that fought in the American Indian wars of 1866 and was recorded back in 1980 a year before the singer's death.
Joboxers make it two out of two with their second single "Just Got Lucky" following "Boxerbeat" into the top 10 as it floats 16-7 (45,000). Their previous hit sold a very respectable 238,000 copies so the group have something big to aim for, and indeed that single just drops off the top 75 this week.
Former singer with US soul bands Impact and Sweet Thunder, Booker Newbury III has now gone solo and immediately scored something he never did with either band- a UK hit! "Love Town" is co-penned by 60s popstar Len Barry best known for his hit "1-2-3 (No 3 in 1965), and he's also been in the charts much more recently as co-writer of the Fat Larry's Band hit "Zoom" from last year which almost went all the way, "Love Town" has a little way to go but jets 19-8 (42,000) in only its second week- a future No 1?
Yazoo keeps the pressure on the top 3 as "Nobody's Diary" climbs 8-4 (58,000) perhaps they regret splitting up they remain chart gold, much like the Beat who do drop 3-5 (53,000) but have their biggest hit of their career. Also falling are Heaven 17 4-9 (40,000) and Spandau Ballet who drop like a stone 2-10 (40,000).