Five weeks in and Culture Club are still ruling the roost becoming the first act since The Human League to top the singles chart for that long, but they had to overcome an early week wobble which saw Tracey Ullman run them neck and neck. However as the week wore on "Karma Chameleon" created clear blue water between the tracks in the end selling 140,000 to 103,000, but it was the first time since it ascended to the top that it didn't command an insurmountable lead from the off, despite all that "Karma Chameleon" has now sold 1,034,000 and becomes the second million seller of the 80s and is only around 150,000 short of overtaking "Come On Eileen" as the decade's biggest seller.
So if Ullman isn't going to be the next No 1 (which now looks likely) then who? Well the smart money is on Lionel Richie, he has a new album out this week "Can't Slow Down" which features his new single "All Night Long (All Night)" which soars 16-4 this week selling 55,000 into the bargain. In doing so it becomes his highest charting single though of course he hit No 1 in 1978 as a member of the Commodores with "Three Times A Lady". The single comes with a memorable video which is directed by former Monkees member Michael Nesmith.
The world of breakdancing is introduced to the top 10 this week in the form of the Rocksteady Crew whose "(Hey You) The Rocksteady Crew" advances 11-6 (37,000). Formed in the Bronx in New York back in 1977 the b-boying crew have finally struck commercial gold in the aftermath of the recent New York City Rap Tour which generated press interest over the summer- let's see how many hits the genre can generate.
The UK's entrant to Eurovision back in 1979 Black Lace have been absent from the charts ever since but have been busy supporting Suzi Quatro on tour back in 1980 along with "almost£ having a hit with "Chicken Dance" which was their version of the "Birdie Song" which was a massive hit for the Tweets in 1981 which rather made their version redundant. The group make an unexpected return to the charts this week with "Superman" which comes with its own dance which thanks to TOTP has infected some of the UK Public, it rises 12-9 (33,000) today.
Last year's "The Girl Is Mine" provided a top 10 hit from Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney, it was the lead track from Jackson's "Thriller" album which is now a million seller and looking good to become the year's biggest selling album. Jackson returns the favour on "Say Say Say" which is McCartney's lead release on his new album "Pipes Of Peace", the song was produced by the famed Beatles producer George Martin and written by the pair during the recording session's for McCartney's 1982 album "Tug Of War" but was held over for this album making the song about 2 years old already. It leaps 25-10 (31,000)
Howard Jones put in a good performance to move 5-3 and sold an impressive 98,000, the highest for a No 3 track since Wham! sold 99,000 back in December of last year. George Benson holds at No 7 (37,000) whilst those falling include Siouxsie & The Banshees 3-5 (39,000), and David Bowie dips 4-8 (36,000)