Proving that anything Culture Club can do so can they, Duran Duran celebrate their second No 1 single this week as “The Reflex” advances 5-1 (73,000) and marks a return to form for the band who all but abandoned the UK through 1983 due to tax reasons and whilst making their album in Australia, France and Montserrat. Speaking of the album it still stubbornly refuses to re-entry the top 20 and currently rests at No 25 though it has now sold nearly 400,000 copies so not a bad tally, they also picked up two Grammies recently and show no sign of decreasing popularity in the teen press back in the UK.
Two tracks who also continue to improve rest behind Duran Duran this week, Phil Collins holds at No 2 on 66,000 and Queen also hold at No 3 on 61,000 and both could yet pose trouble for the Durannies.
US Trio The Pointer Sisters are already on their 10th album yet they only have one UK top 20 hit to their name so far, that came in 1981 with “Slow Hand” which peaked at No 10. Now they can rejoice as they score the biggest hit of their career in “Automatic” which has already peaked at No 5 stateside. The track accelerates 20-5 (33,000) this week but that’s the lowest tally required for that position in the 80s- a sobering thought.
Composed by Van McCoy and recorded originally by Ruby & The Romantics back in 1964, “When You’re Young And In Love” was a UK No 13 hit for the Marvelettes three years later but this week becomes a top 10 hit for the first time ever in the capable hands of The Flying Pickets. Their last single “Only You” was of course the Christmas chart topper last year selling 689,000 to date and their current single isn’t doing too badly either as it rises 13-7 (30,000).
A second album due in just three Weeks this is an important time for Blancmange. The first two singles to be released from the album peaked at No 10 (“Blind Vision”) and No 33 (“That’s Love, That It Is”) but current single “Don’t Tell Me” proves to be the biggest one as it jumps 11-8 (29,000) to become their third top 10 single.
“One Love” can trace its history back to 1965 when it was written by Bob Marley and made its first appearance on vinyl on the following year’s compilation “The Wailing Wailers” though its re-recording for the album “Exodus” in 1977 is the first version that most will be familiar with! Its release as a single (segued into Curtis Mayfield’s “People Get Ready” on that version) is now released to promote a major new compilation of the deceased singers work entitled “Legend” which is out in a fortnight.
Richie’s reign at the top ends with a 1-4 (46,000) slump though he has now at least sold 600,000 copies of “Hello”, and a song it held off No 1, The Thompson Twins’ “You Take Me Up”, also slides 4-10 (27,000), it’s better news for OMD who rise 10-6 (32,000).
https://forum.popjustice.com/thread...-by-week-1984-1985.38232/page-15#post-3582484