We're into a new decade though being January all of these records would of existed one way or another in the 70s.
It's topped by a rare 5 rating in "Baby I Love You" by The Ramones. It's a cover that beats the original, it's one of those punk bands experimenting with something different but keeping the punk elements and it works.
One of the main things you'd associate with the 80s is synth pop and it was already very much a thing at the beginning of the decade. In 2nd place we have "Underpass" by John Foxx, the former Ultravox singer making his Top 40 solo debut though Ultravox were yet to have a Top 40 hit at this point. It's a haunting record and again experimenting coming good.
There is also the debut for New Musik with "Living By Numbers". This was their Top 40 debut and the hit they are best known for. Also debuting are Jon & Vangelis with "I Hear You Now" though both had prior Top 40 hits separately, Jon as a member of Yes and Vangelis as a member of Aphrodite's Child. Then we have "The Plastic Age" from The Buggles, their follow up to their big hit "Video Killed The Radio Star" which doesn't suffer from being overplayed.
2 Tone was also big around the turn of the decade and one of the best records to come out of that scene in my opinion is "Too Much Too Young" by The Specials. We also have "My Girl" by Madness which finds itself nearer the bottom of the list but that's more to do with there being better records in there because I do like it.
We have quite an obscure Bee Gees record in "Spirits (Having Flown)" which was their final Top 40 hit before a lengthy hiatus from the charts. They'd already moved away from disco and this is one of their better efforts.
Jefferson Starship were essentially the link between Jefferson Airplane and Starship and this month they had their only UK Top 40 hit with "Jane". It's definitely worth a listen.
Down the bottom we have "Mama's Boy" by Suzi Quatro. Not the worst thing I've heard but does feel a bit like a hangover from the 70s with her glory days behind her.
There was a rockabilly revival going on around this time which I can't say I'm a fan of and that's why Matchbox are 2nd bottom with "Buzz Buzz A Diddle It". Likewise a lot of country music isn't for me which is why Kenny Rogers is just above with "Coward Of The County".
It's a great start to the decade, we have a 5 and no zeros which gives this a very respectable score.
Score: 59
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