Showing posts with label January Charts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label January Charts. Show all posts

Thursday, 5 February 2026

January Charts: 1996

Here are the new entries ranked from best to worst:


By January 1996 I was a rave purist so it's only right we should have a rave record at the top. Of all the Baby D singles I would say "So Pure" is my favourite and was at the time. It didn't appear on any of the rave tapes I had though, the scene had split into happy hardcore and drum & bass and this didn't fit either, more a pre-split sort of sound.

In 2nd we have "Little Britain" by Dreadzone, their only Top 40 hit and one of a select few dub records to make the Top 40. Another of these was "Release The Pressure" by Leftfield in 7th place.

In 3rd place we have The Chemical Brothers with "Loops Of Fury" who hadn't put a foot wrong singles wise up to that point. Then it's Dubstar with "Not So Manic Now" or the cup of tea song as I like to call it. Then we have Goldbug with a dance cover of "Whole Lotta Love" which I very much liked at the time.

Although my tastes had moved away from guitar music I did like The Presidents Of The USA and their quirky sort of sound. Sticking with the guitars I have no recollection of "Stuck With Me" by Green Day at the time but became very familiar with it a few years later and it's a solid fast number. I don't think "Lightning Crashes" by Live came on my radar until I had music channels a few years later and like the record.

The last non-rave record I'd bought to this point was the "Gangstas Paradise" single by Coolio. His follow up "Too Hot" wasn't as good but a decent record nonetheless. There's a posthumous record for rapper Eazy-E with his only Top 40 hit "Just Ta Let You Know". LL Cool J always seemed a bit pop for my liking but some of his records have grown on my retrospectively and "Hey Lover" is one of those.

Skunk Anansie were one of the better guitar bands of this era for the simple fact they'd not gone soft like many of the others. Ace of Base had moved away from their reggae pop sound with more of a dance sound with the cheesy but enjoyable "Beautiful Life".

At the time my main criticism of house music was that it was too slow. The records "Hide-A-Way" by Nu Soul and "Feel Like Singing" by Tak Tix are both solid records without being anything groundbreaking.

I can't say the same for "Imitation Of Life" by Billie Ray Martin which finds itself down the bottom. First of all I find her voice irritating but also I've already forgotten how the tune goes and I know this isn't the first time I've heard it.

Just above we have "Oh Father" by Madonna which was her joint lowest charting Top 40 hit to that point. Just above that is Cher with "One By One" which one in a long line of covers she had Top 40 hits with at the time.

Also down there we have Lush which is just feminist claptrap, Q-Club doing a cover of "Tell It To My Heart" which I don't think can ever be made to sound good, Xscape with something very generic, boy band Upside Down with a blatant rip off of "Careless Whisper" by George Michael who had a very boring number 1 with "Jesus To A Child". 

I must also give a mention to "Spaceman" by Babylon Zoo which sounded great on the Levi's advert but the rest of the song was terrible.

1995 may have only just ended at this point but we're already seeing a decline in quality.

Score: 40
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Thursday, 29 January 2026

January Charts: 1995

Here are the new entries ranked from best to worst:


It's often said that we look back upon the past with rose tinted specs and conveniently forget the crap but this batch of records really makes me want to go back to 1995.

Some tough competition at the top but the winner is "I Luv U Baby" by The Original. It would fare better in the charts when rereleased in the summer and is one of those almost perfect summer anthems. The video makes me want to go to Ibiza, in 1995 though not today.

Missing out on top spot is Portishead with "Glory Box". It was their Top 40 debut and came from their "Dummy" album which is one of my all time favourites. Then comes Green Day with "Basket Case" if anything for the moment the drums kick in.

Then we have Tricky making his Top 40 debut with "Overcome". The relatively low position of his former group Massive Attack is more to do with the competition, a good record but simply put I'd rather hear Tricky's voice on a record than Tracey Thorn.

R Kelly and Jodeci wouldn't of been so high up if I was compiling this in 1995 but when I went through my R&B phase a few years later they were amongst my favourites and I had nostalgia about their 1995 material.

At a time when guitar music in general was getting softer it's good to see the Almighty and Van Halen not following that trend. The Almighty appeared on Top of the Pops for the first time with "Jonestown Mind", a fact I didn't like because they were one of the more obscure bands I was into but when someone told me it was the crappest shit they'd ever heard it reassured me they weren't going commercial.

Another Top of the Pops performance I remember was "Geordie In Wonderland" by The Wildhearts and I seemed to be alone in liking that record, in part because my fellow rock fans were now rejecting the harder stuff.

I went through a brief phase of being into cricket and can pin point that to this time due to "Saved" by Mr. Roy which was a dance version of "Soul Limbo" which is best known for being the cricket theme music.

I was also into formula one which drew my attention to "Better Days Ahead" by Tyrrel Corporation. It has nothing to do with the Tyrrell formula one team though, it's a little cheesy but an enjoyable record. Similarly I enjoyed the cheesy Eurodance of The Real McCoy with "Run Away".

Some cheesy music I didn't enjoy though was Deuce with "Call It Love". They were basically Steps but before Steps came about and are just plain irritating as as a result finish bottom.

Just above Deuce is Shawn Colvin and Mary Chapin Carpenter with "One Cool Remove". This one is just plain boring and too American for the UK market.

3rd from bottom is "Tell Me When" by The Human League. It bugged me at the time and I though it belonged in the 80s. I've taken more of a liking to them in more recent years but still can't take to this record.

Overall though there's more good than bad and as expected it's one of the better years.

Score: 60
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Thursday, 22 January 2026

January Charts: 1994

Here are the new entries ranked from best to worst:


In dance music history 1994 was the year of jungle. This didn't really translate to the Top 40 though, no jungle records in this batch and you can count the number of jungle Top 40 hits in 1994 on 1 hand.

Whilst there's always been the not so good commercial side of dance music in the charts there's been plenty of good stuff in there too. This time though I wouldn't say any of the dance records are underground ones that became successful, they all sound like they were made for the charts.

The best of those dance records is "Astral America" by Apollo 440 closely followed by "Blow Your Whistle" by DJ Duke. Not much to choose between them and both solid if unspectacular records. Other dance records have to settle for mid-table at best.

There's a case for saying "Whoomp! (There It Is)" by Tag Team is a dance record but Miami bass is more an offshoot of hip hop in America. Decent record nontheless.

Just above that is Enigma with "Return To Innocence". Although it didn't top the charts like "Sadeness" I would say this is the better known record and a good one for the chill out room.

Depeche Mode had very much made the transition to their darker sound with "In Your Room" and I like it. Almost another extreme is the cod reggae of Bitty McLean with "Here I Stand", very commercial but very fun at the same time.

Soul Asylum are seen by many as a one hit wonder with "Runaway Train". A decent record but I would say their other hits were better with "Black Gold" being one of those.

I must confess I have no recollection of "I'm In Luv" by Joe being in the charts in 1994 but a few years later when I went through my R&B phase he was one of the artists I'd listen to and this was amongst his best.

I've been aware for some time that the Inspiral Carpets were still having hits in 1994 but it did initially come as a surprise. I remember "Saturn 5" and like it but it does sound like it should of charted in 1990.

Dr Dre made his Top 40 debut with the double a-side "Nuthin' But A 'G' Thang/Let Me Ride" which both came from his excellent 1992 album "The Chronic". It has to settle for 2nd place though.

The best record goes to Therapy? with "Nowhere". This was very much a reflection of my music taste at the time and it wasn't long before I owned the "Troublegum" album on which this was amongst my favourite tracks.

At the other end of the table we have Pauline Henry with "Can't Take Your Love". A sort of soul and rock crossover that's a bit of a non-entity but you have to put up with her singing voice. Aside from the crossover part the same could be said for 2nd bottom record "I'm In The Mood" by Ce Ce Peniston.

Cyndi Lauper manages to make a tune more dreary than Celine Dion with "Who Let In The Rain" which finishes just below Celine Dion with "The Power Of Love".

In later 1993 the Essential Mix started on Radio 1 with Pete Tong doing the first one. The first record he played quite surprisingly was "Save Our Love" by Eternal albeit a dance version. Always saw them as an example of why us Brits don't do R&B very well generally speaking.

I've previously been complimentary about "Breathe Again" by Toni Braxton mainly due to the man behind it being Babyface who I very much rate as a producer. Who am I kidding though, it's rubbish.

I've never liked the collaboration between Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart And Sting with "All For Love" though. To me it was find 3 blandest aging middle of the road musicians to collaborate on a bland middle of the road record.

This is the problem with this batch generally. There's a real lack of excitement or anything groundbreaking. Most have just played it safe, a problem that will only grow over time.

Score: 35
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Thursday, 15 January 2026

January Charts: 1993

Here are the new entries ranked from best to worst:


Who would of thought a naff 80s band would have the best Top 40 hit of January 1993. That's exactly what has happened. I generally don't like the music of Duran Duran and find the so called classics often irritating. However "Ordinary World" is an excellent song and despite it being after their 80s hey day many agree that this was their finest moment.

Rave music in a breakbeat hardcore sense had all but disappeared from the Top 40 by 1993. The nearest we get some some bouncy techno from Scotland with TTF making their Top 40 debut with "New Emotion" which has to settle for 2nd place.

Rap music was now starting to have a greater presence in the Top 40 and the 2 rap records by Arrested Development and Naughty By Nature sit in 3rd and 4th place respectively.

Below this we have some guitar bands who frequently made their way onto my Top 10 bands lists from around this time. The best of these was "Start Choppin" by Dinosaur Jr which I wouldn't have put as the best at the time but has probably aged the best. Further down the list is Alice In Chains with their debut "Would". It was seen as almost compulsory to have them on your Top 10 list by my peers, but I never truly thought they were as good as Little Angels who were a band I brought to the table.

We were yet to reach the point of pop music being deemed uncool. I remember unashamedly dancing to "Open Your Mind" by USURA at the school disco and I remember "Deep" being the last East 17 record where I could still admit that I liked them.

The worst record by some distance is "It's Gonna Be a Lovely Day" by SOUL SYSTEM. What they have done here is take the best bits of "Lovely Day" by Bill Withers and throw them away. Once left with the rubbish they get the worst rapper they can find to do a rap over it. Without going back and looking at the competition I would speculate this is quite possibly the worst January Top 40 hit of the 20th century.

As a result Cher's cover of "Many Rivers To Cross" has to settle for 2nd from bottom. I remember it really irritating me at the time. Likewise the band Belly just irritated me in general. Then at 4th from bottom we have some irritating rapping from Leila K on "Open Sesame".

Go West were an 80s band still hanging around with their estate agents music and at the time I remember questioning why. I also considered "Things Can Only Get Better" by D:Ream to be dance music for estate agents. 

Despite being into guitar music at the time Def Leppard were considered to be crap amongst me and my peers. Probably because they were too 80s though their best song was yet to come. Even Alexander O'Neal was past his best with "Love Makes No Sense".

Much of the middle of the table is solid if unremarkable music and this is probably why we arrive at this score.

Score: 50  
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Thursday, 8 January 2026

January Charts: 1992

Here are the new entries ranked from best to worst:


We're very much into the breakbeat hardcore era by January 1992 and the best of these records is "Everybody In The Place" by The Prodigy. This was their 2nd Top 40 hit and is one of those all time classics.

Just missing out on top spot is Isotonik with "Different Strokes". The man behind Isotonik was Chris Paul who was running the Orange raves in London at the time.

It wasn't just the rave music near the top, "Welcome To The Cheap Seats" was the follow up to The Wonder Stuffs chart topper "Dizzy" and I remember loving this record at the time.

Next up we have some ambient dance music from Marathon with "Movin" and then some harder Belgian music from Convert with "Nightbird". Public Enemy had one of their underrated hits with "Shut Em Down" which incidentally was what they played on their only appearance in the studio on Top of the Pops.

We were in an era where I still liked pop music in general and as a result there are records such as "Goodnight Girl" by Wet Wet Wet and "I Wonder Why" by Curtis Stigers which are in theory records I should hate because they're pop ballads but I have fond memories of them and like them.

I can't say the same for Mariah Careys dreary ballad "Can't Let Go" which finds itself down the bottom. In 1992 I don't think there was anything I hated more than a Mariah Carey ballad and I haven't really changed my mind.

As a result "Stay" by Shakespear's Sister is 2nd from bottom. It was number one for what felt like an eternity and I always hated this record.

Ce Ce Peniston is one of those singers who has always irritated me. She is an example of why dance music in general is better without vocals.

Another record that's always bugged me is "Feel So High" by Des'ree. It's difficult to put my finger on why because it sounds like life music at the same time.

This is comfortably the most records to feature in a given January so far and what I'm seeing is a lot of gems in there but plenty of rubbish at the same time. Isotonik may not have topped this list but it would of topped many other years lists. Likewise Shakespear's Sister could easily finish bottom of other years lists. 

As a result the score isn't has high as I expected it would be.

Score: 50
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Thursday, 1 January 2026

January Charts: 1991

Here are the new entries ranked from best to worst:


A few years after I left school I went to the pub in the town I went to school and a bloke a couple years older than me came up to ma and said "You're the one who used to sing Queen and KLF at school".

It's true, that's what I was doing in 1991 and we have records from both here. KLF is a clear winner with "3AM Eternal" but Queen have to settle for 8th with "Innuendo" which is long and varied like "Bohemian Rhapsody" but much better in my opinion.

In 2nd and 3rd place we have records I got into later on in life. There's "Summers Magic" by Mark Summers which kick started the "Toytown Techno" era but putting that to one side, those beats in a chart record in January 1991 would of been quite something.

Then we have "Sensitivity" by Ralph Tresvant which I got into when I got into R&B and it was one of the stand out tracks on the "Pure Swing" album. It was the only solo Top 40 hit for the former New Edition member.

Another memory from 1991 was a vote on Children's BBC, do we prefer Andi Peters favourite song "Wiggle It" by 2 in a Room or Ed the Ducks favourite song "Do The Bartman" by the Simpsons. I didn't vote myself but you can see here that I was clearly more inclined to agree with Andi Peters choice.

Sticking with kids TV we have "Hippy Chick" by Soho which I remember then performing on Motormouth. This was more or less marking the end of the era of the Soul II Soul beat.

The 2 highest new entries in the first week were both metal tracks. Straight in at number one was Iron Maiden with "Bring Your Daughter... To The Slaughter" which isn't bad but too slow for an Iron Maiden record. Then at a more appropriate speed we have "Got The Time" by Anthrax which finds itself near the top. 

Just below is "Dedication" by Thin Lizzy which was an old record hitting the Top 40 for the first time. Likewise we had "Good Times" by Jimmy Barnes & INXS hitting the Top 40 for the first time not long after the INXS record "Disappear" had left the Top 40 which video footage from a Christmas 1990 family party confirmed was my favourite song at the time. I do like "Good Times" but it didn't have the same impact.

There was the return of Rick Astley who had moved away from Stock Aitken & Waterman for a more mature sound. What I remember most about this comeback was that he now had long hair but I do think it's a pretty decent record too.

The same can't be said of "Someday" by Mariah Carey. This was a minor hit for her and to it's credit it isn't one of her dreary ballads. Still has her screechy voice though and wasn't only a stepping stone to her being an established chart act but also inspired some cheesy Eurodance rubbish.

Not quite as bad is "Coming Out Of The Dark" by Gloria Estefan. This was a ballad and was co-written by a then unknown Jon Secada who actually went on to do more interesting ballads.

A lot of nostalgia here then which no doubt helps with the score.

Score: 56
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Thursday, 25 December 2025

January Charts: 1990

Here are the new entries ranked from best to worst:


There was a lot going on in 1990 but if I had to pick one thing it's best remembered for I'd say it's the Soul II Soul beat. The best of these came from American producer Quincy Jones, not someone who you thing would be influenced by a collective from London but he clearly was here.

I can also see a Soul II Soul influence in "Got To Have Your Love" by Mantronix, a new sound for them having had hits with rap records previously. Further down the table we have "Walk On By" by Sybil which I do like, there are just better records.

Nellee Hooper was a member of Soul II Soul at the time and he produced "Nothing Compares 2 U" which is the only decent thing Sinead O'Connor has ever done.

For my top pick though it's in the world of new jack swing with "Juicy" by Wreckx-N-Effect. It's a cover of the record by Mtume which Notorious BIG also famously did a version of, but this is the best  version for me.

In 2nd place we have the Adamski debut hit "N-R-G". He was already an established name in the rave scene and was one of the early British producers of techno music.

Completely different sound in 3rd place with Del Amitri debuting with "Nothing Ever Happens" which has got better with age. Some Birmingham reggae in 4th that's not UB40. And Why Not? were short lived and "The Face" was their biggest hit.

In 5th we have Deacon Blue with "Queen Of The New Year" where the only bad thing I can say about it is that it's not "Real Gone Kid". Similarly with Public Enemy in 8th with "Welcome To The Terrordome" which is solid Public Enemy but they've done better.

In 9th we have "Happenin All Over Again" which I fell should go in the guilty pleasure category because it's Stock Aitken & Waterman wanting to make a Donna Summer record but getting someone else to dress up as Donna Summer and sing it.

Stock Aitken & Waterman find themselves down the bottom via "Tears On My Pillow" by Kylie Minogue which I very much remember hating at the time and still haven't changed my mind.

At 2nd from bottom we have Rod Stewart doing one of his many shit covers. At the time I remember thinking he was an old duffer who needed to retire. Little did I know he'd still be going 35 years later.

I remember the silly lyrics of "you set my lips on fire" in "Instant Replay" by Yell! and also remember New Kids on the Block being uncool to like when they did "Hangin Tough".

Perhaps a surprise one 5th from bottom with "I Called You" by Lil Louis & the World given it's a house record, but I just find it irritating.

Going into mid-table territory we have Phil Collins drumming for Eric Clapton on "Bad Love" and Eric Clapton playing the guitar for Phil Collins with "I Wish It Would Rain". Both good records, but "Bad Love" edges it because of the tempo.

A solid start to the decade with music records getting at least 3 and the Top 2 both get 5.

Score: 57
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Thursday, 18 December 2025

January Charts: 1989

Here are the new entries ranked from best to worst:


I have very fond memories of pop music as a kid in 1989. By this point I was reading Smash Hits magazine and listening to and taping the Top 40 countdown on Radio 1 on a Sunday.

My number one pick though isn't really connected to those memories. I do remember "That's the Way Love Is" by Ten City at the time but it wasn't until I had it on a rave compilation that it really made an impact on me. It's also one of those dance records where I even think the vocals are good.

My number two pick on the other hand is very much connected to those memories. The moment Gene Pitney sang "and a feeling unknown took my heart..." had the biggest impact on me the way he sang it. Incidentally years later the same person who got me into rave got me into Gene Pitney as well.

More rave in 3rd place with Todd Terry under the alias Royal House with "Yeah! Buddy". Then in 4th we have "You Got It" by Roy Orbison which charted just after he'd passed away, a fact I remember well from the time.

Then Jerico could of only worked in the 80s and "Big Area" was a record I loved at the time. Equally I loved the strange singing of Roland Gift of the Fine Young Cannibals on "She Dives Me Crazy" and this was also when I learned what a cannibal was.

Next up is an old punk record by The Stranglers making the Top 40 for the first time. Then we have some hip house from Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock with "Get On The Dancefloor" which is one of the good examples of the genre. 

Mike & the Mechanics may have been considered old mans music even in 1989, but my young boy self liked it. 

Down the bottom of the table we have Samantha Fox with "I Only Wanna Be With You". Even my young self could see this was a joke record and even at primary school people would take the piss out of her.

Debbie Gibson was one of those singers I couldn't stand and the only positive thing I can say about "Lost In Your Eyes" is that it's not as bad as Samantha Fox. "Where Is The Love" by Mica Paris and Will Downing is another record that's always irritated me.

I don't think I had any idea who Andrew Lloyd Webber was at the time or if I even knew there was such a thing as musicals but what I do remember was how bad "Love Changes Everything" by Michael Ball was.

Overall though I like most records in this batch so some of the lower places is simply due to the competition. We therefore end up with a decent score.

Score: 52

Now we've reached the end of the decade lets take a look at the table:


The 80s were at their best at the start, middle and end. The 60s and 70s each have a year better than the best 80s year but then the 80s have 2 in the Top 4. 7 of the Top 9 years either end with 0, 5 or 9 with the only post-Beatles year end with one of these numbers and not being in the Top 9 is 1975.

The interesting question is how will 1990, 1995 and 1999 do?
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Thursday, 11 December 2025

January Charts: 1988

Here are the new entries ranked from best to worst:


Well this was a tough batch to get through. 35 records when the most we've had previously is 28. I certainly remember several of these charting the first time but to be honest it's not really given me the nostalgia I thought it would.

The top record this month is one I have fond memories of from Now 11. "The Jack That House Built" by Jack 'N' Chill was an acid house record, not something I knew anything about at the time but perhaps even back then there were signs I'd go on to be a raver.

Another acid house record was "I'm Tired Of Getting Pushed Around" by Two Men, A Drum Machine And A Trumpet which was also on Now 11 which I liked but not to the same extent. The "Two Men" were the Fine Young Cannibals members who weren't Roland Gift.

There was also what was said to be the first hip house record in the charts in "Rok Da House" by The Beatmasters ft The Cookie Crew, also on Now 11. That ones not so good, more to do with the rapping and The Cookie Crew themselves have said they don't particularly like it.

Similarly on an actual rap record I find the voice of Sweet Tee irritating on both of the tunes on her double a-side which finds itself near the bottom. Public Enemy on the other hand have an excellent record in "Bring the Noise" which comes in 2nd.

The bottom 3 records really are the worst of the worst from around this time. Even my young self couldn't stand Tiffany, Taylor Dayne or Debbie Gibson at the time. The order I've put them in more or less reflects how many times I've heard them since 1988, Tiffany gets played all the time, Taylor Dayne gets played often enough but fortunately you don't really hear the Debbie Gibson record anymore.

Back to the top and in 3rd place we have the INXS debut "New Sensation" and they were very much a band I was into as a kid. Depeche Mode on the other hand never made a big impression on me until later on in life and "Behind The Wheel" is an excellent record.

Deacon Blue made their debut with "Dignity", certainly a record I've known since the late 80s but it wasn't until "Real Gone Kid" later on in the year that they had a real impact on me. Take nothing away from "Dignity" though, a great record.

The Stranglers did a great cover of "All Day And All Of The Night" and I'm pretty sure this was the first version of this record that I'd heard. 

Being the late 80s we inevitably have Stock Aitken & Waterman records. There's the Kylie Minogue debut "I Should Be So Lucky" which even my young self thought was a bit naff. Then we have "I Can't Help It" by Bananarama which was the final Top 40 hit them before Siobhan left the group. Again even my young self wasn't a fan.

As I was discovering music for the first time there are certain cheesy pop records I'll always like as a result. Not in this batch though, the records near the top would have got their higher scores regardless.

Score: 41
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Thursday, 4 December 2025

January Charts: 1987

Here are the new entries ranked from best to worst:


There have been a few years so far that have started out really good but than the crap has come in subsequent weeks to ultimately bring the score down. This time it's been the opposite, it was looking bleak to begin with but got better.

1987 was the first year I properly remember music and the charts but that was part way through the year so this pre-dates that. Saying that, I'm sure I remember "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" by George Michael & Aretha Franklin being a new record and that nostalgia helps it into a respectable position.

Wham! had broken up in 1986 and backing singers Pepsi & Shirlie kicked off their brief Top 40 career with "Heartache". You can tell why it was brief. We also had Dee C Lee, the woman Pepsi replaced in Wham! as part of The Style Council showing why they're not so fondly remembered either.

The clear winner is Steve 'Silk' Hurley with "Jack Your Body" which was the first house number one. I gave it a score of 4 rather than 5 though because house was yet to fully develop as a genre and there would be better house records that would follow.

Nothing screams 80s to me more than synth pop but I wouldn't class any of these records synth pop. It was by no means finished as a genre, there were Pet Shop Boys number ones still to come for example but even they jumped on the acid house bandwagon at the end of the decade.

We do however have several records that have what I would call that 80s sound. One such example is 2nd placed "It Doesn't Have To Be This Way" by The Blow Monkeys which has been retrospectively classified as sophisti pop and there can be many debates as to what does or doesn't fit that description.

UB40 had arguably their best known original hit with "Rat In Mi Kitchen" proving they were more than just a reggae covers band. China Crisis is very much that 80s sound. Billy Ocean does a ballad but does it well. 

In the British Hit Singles book one band name that stood out to me was Mental As Anything. Once I had the ability to listen to anything on the internet I gave their 1 Top 40 hit a listen and realised I knew it all along.

Down the bottom we have "Crush On You" by The Jets. I like freestyle music and appreciate some of it is a bit cheesy but this is too much. To me it's not a million miles away from Five Star who had the worst Jan 1986 record.

Finishing 2nd from bottom for the 2nd year in a row is Sarah Brightman with more crap from an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. This sort of music really isn't my thing, I find it quite painful to listen to.

Finishing 3rd bottom is "Male Stripper" by Man 2 Man Meets Man Parrish which I just find cringeworthy and over the top.

After initially thinking we may be on for the lowest score yet we end up with one that's respectable.

Score: 40
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Thursday, 27 November 2025

January Charts: 1986

Here are the new entries ranked from best to worst:


January is widely regarded as the most depressing month of the year, a time when the days are short, the weather is cold and we're broke after Christmas. A significant number of these records feel like they reflect that January mood.

It was a close contest between the Top 2 for the best record but I decided "Walk Of Life" by Dire Straits just about pips it. It's the first record that springs to mind when I hear the name Dire Sraits and I love that intro.

Just missing out was James Brown with "Living In America". Surprisingly this was his only UK Top 10 hit. It was also the only one of his UK Top 40 hits that he didn't write himself but he's on good form performing it.

In 3rd place we have "You Little Thief" by Feargal Sharkey which was the lesser known follow up to his chart topper "A Good Heart" and musically at least is one of the more uplifting records this month.

The Alarm are ever reliable with "Spirit Of 76" and although "When The Going Gets Tough (The Tough Get Going)" by Billy Ocean is overplayed I still find it a fun record to listen to.

Rap music first hit the UK Top 40 in 1979 but it never really got going in terms of consistent hits until 1986. The first of these was "If I Ruled The World" by Kurtis Blow who'd previously had the 2nd rap Top 40 hit in 1979 with "Christmas Rapping".

Down the bottom of the table we have Five Star with "System Addict". They had quite a sizeable number of Top 40 hits in a short period and all the ones I've heard are really cheesy and rubbish.

Just above we have "The Phantom Of The Opera" by Sarah Brightman & Steve Harley which is just your typical musical record that I don't like.

Madonna and Whitney Houston are also examples of crap from the 80s and find themselves near the bottom as a result.

We have TV theme "Starting Together" down near the bottom too but to it's credit it's supposed to be a rubbish record.

1976 goes down in history as the year music lost its way and whilst 1986 wasn't as bad there was definitely a blip thanks to the rubbish records bringing down the score.

Score: 39
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Thursday, 20 November 2025

January Charts: 1985

Here are the new entries ranked from best to worst:


The best word to describe this batch of records is solid. Whilst it was riding high in the charts this month unfortunately the record "Solid" doesn't make the cut because it was released the last week of 1984, otherwise it would have come near the top of the table.

It's probably the tightest its ever been. The truth be told I like the mid-table records all equally. We have a clear winner though with "This House (Is Where Your Love Stands)" by Big Sound Authority. It was a relatively minor hit and their only hit but is simply a great piece of 80s pop.

A clear 2nd place is the more successful return of "1999" by Prince to the charts. Ordinarily I wouldn't include it, but it was double a-side with "Little Red Corvette" which made the Top 40 for the first time and is the better tune.

Staying with the funk we have "20/20" by George Benson in 3rd place which I'm surprised to learn only got to number 29. There's the Top 40 debut and biggest hit for King with "Love & Pride". In addition to Prince and King being on this list there were also Top 40 hits for Queen and Princess later on in the year.

Motown continues to be present in the Top 40 with a comeback by The Commodores minus Lionel Richie for one final Top 40 hit with "Nightshift". Then we have something the 80s is best known for, a power ballad which comes from Chicago with "You're The Inspiration".

Is the Chicago better than the Big Country record down in 15th? Only marginally, that's how tight the table is. The Chaka Khan and Kirsty MacColl records are alright and it's the lack of rubbish records that put them this far down the table.

The Pointer Sisters are an example of 80s cheese that's just irritating. However with "Neutron Dance" it's not especially cheesy but that just means it's rubbish without being particularly catchy.

At the bottom though we have Pat Benetar with "We Belong". She was only 2nd bottom with "Love Is A Battlefield" the last year but record is even worse and it's bottom placing is well deserved.

If we had more truly great records then this might have been the best January, but it still scores well.

Score: 55
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Thursday, 13 November 2025

January Charts: 1984

Here are the new entries ranked from best to worst:


It now seems to be taking more effort to get through each batch of records. Not so much the quantity, more the songs are getting longer so its taking longer.

We have a clear winner this time with "Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke" by The Alarm. I first came across this around 15 years ago and have regularly played it since and I just have to sing along to the backing vocals in the chorus.

Comfortably in 2nd place we have "Street Dance" by Break Machine which as you may have guessed is a breakdancing record which appeared to be all the rage around this time.

An 80s synth pop anthem in 3rd place with "Wouldn't It Be Good" by Nik Kershaw. Then we have a more obscure Whitesnake record in "Give Me More Time" which I got to like via the Top of the Pops reruns.

In 5th we have the "Auf Weidersehn Pet" theme which I've known for as long as I've known the programme. I have to say though working on a building site in the German winter whilst staying in a cabin with a bunch of other builders isn't my idea of living alright.

John Lennon has a posthumous hit with "Nobody Told Me" which is better than his more obvious solo hits. When I hear the name Echo & the Bunnymen I think boring music on TFI Friday in the 90s but it turns out they had some good records in the 80s with "The Killing Moon" being one of them.

At the other end of the table we have the debut Top 40 hit for Madonna with "Holiday". I've hated it as long as I've known it which is the majority of my living memory. 

Just above Madonna is Pat Benatar with "Love Is A Battlefield". It's just always irritated me. Then above that we have "Here Comes The Rain Again" by Eurythmics. I've tried to like them and think Dave Stewart is a very talented musician  but I have to concede I find most of their records rubbish.

The Police had their final original hit with "King Of Pain". It's not a bad record but it does nothing for me and just tells me they'd run out of ideas by this point. Likewise with Musical Youth with their final Top 40 hit "Sixteen".

I think the best way to describe this batch overall is solid if unspectacular.

Score: 47
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Thursday, 6 November 2025

January Charts: 1983

Here are the new entries ranked from best to worst:


I think the best word to describe this batch of records generally speaking is funky. 

Lets begin with the top record which is "My Love Is Waiting" by Marvin Gaye. A lot is said about his big 80s comeback with "Sexual Healing", a great record by the way. This follow up barely gets acknowledged but is one of the best things he's done and showed not all former Motown artists were past their best.

There were 2 more former Motown artists entering the charts this month. Former Miracles member Billy Griffin had his only solo hit with "Hold Me Tighter In The Rain" which is a decent effort. Michael Jackson had one of his biggest hits with "Billie Jean" which isn't bad but I've heard it far too many times in my life.

In 2nd place is "Down Under" by Men Of Work, a record I've also heard many times but I never tire of it. In 3rd we have the largely forgotten "European Female" by The Stranglers where they're again illustrating they can do other things besides punk.

Prince made his Top 40 debut with "1999" which had little impact on the charts this time but would find greater success when it was reissued 2 years later. It's a surprise really because it fits in well with other records around this time.

Joe Jackson had his final hit with "Steppin Out" which sees him moving in a synth pop direction and works really well. Speaking of which we have debuts from China Crisis with "Christian" and The Thompson Twins with "Love On Your Side", both showing the good side of synth pop.

The same can't be said for fellow synth pop debutants Kajagoogoo with "Too Shy". This to me is the cheesy jump on the bandwagon style of synth pop but you're probably more likely to hear it at an 80s night than the other synth pop records mentioned.

Wham! were on their 2nd Top 40 hit with "Wham Rap" which is their attempt at a rap record. They bucked the normal trend of having their big hits later on in their existence rather than this beginning and I don't think this one is fondly remembered by many.

Haysi Fantayzee were what Jeremy Healy did before he became a big name DJ. Their 2nd and final hit was "Shiny Shiny" and I find it cheesy and crap. A bit like his DJing really.

"Africa" by Toto is a very marmite record and I'm one of those who hates it. It's always bugged me. Likewise "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life" is another thing that bugs me, I find it very cringeworthy.

The worst record though is "Sign Of The Times" by The Belle Stars. It was the biggest hit for them and I find it really irritating. It also proves there were shit girl groups before the Spice Girls.

One thing I've found with a few years now is that the first week is great and it almost looks like it could be the best year, but then the quality starts to decline in subsequent weeks. This was one of those years, but it still finds itself near the top of the leaderboard for now.

Score: 49
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