UK Charts Best Year Search: 1982

What's this all about?

Top 40

Best Song: Lynyrd Skynyrd - Free Bird

I would have never guessed in a million years I'd be picking this record in 1982 because I had no idea it charted in 1982. It was originally recorded in 1973 and originally charted here in 1976 and then again in 1982. In the modern era of having pretty much every tune I'd want to listen to available on the internet, I like many have got a bit impatient when it comes to long songs. More often than not when playing music on YouTube I go for the shorter version when I can so I can fit more in. With "Free Bird" however, it's always the full 12 minute live version, that's how much I like this record.

Worst Song: Shalamar - A Night To Remember

It may fall under the "post-disco" category, but this sounds like it belongs in the 70s to me as one of the crappy watered down disco records. If I hear this when I'm out I hope it's a night to forget so I can erase any memory I have of hearing this record.

Top 40 Review

The best song is from the 70s and the worst songs sounds like it should be from the 70s. But there's also something a bit 60s about this chart with both The Beatles and The Rolling Stones having hits. The Beatles one is a medley so has it's moments but not keen on The Rolling Stones one. The following week is the last week to date we've had both bands in the Top 40.

You can often rely on Roxy Music to have a good record, and here they are again with "Avalon". Sadly this was the last year they were in the Top 40 barring a remix of "Love Is The Drug" in 1996, but this won't be appearing in the Top 40 we look at then. Steve Miller Band have their second Top 40 hit and first in 6 years with "Abracadabra" which also gets the thumbs up from me.

Despite it seeming a bit 60s/70s so far, this is very much like an 80s chart for the bulk of it. We have some "post-disco" records that are pretty good. There's the excellent "Mama Used To Say" by Junior, "Do I Do" by Stevie Wonder and quite an obscure one in "Murphy's Law" by Cheri which is definitely worth checking out if you've never heard it.

The main genre we have though is synth pop. A bit of a mixed bag in terms of quality, but the ones I've given full marks to are "Night Train" by Visage and "Only You" by Yazoo. The Gary Numan and Soft Cell records do seem to have potential, but I've probably heard the latter enough times to conclude it will never be better than average.

By the time I got down to number 15 I didn't have much hope for this chart. Only one record got full marks and the total score at that point was 3. Thankfully things improved in the lower reaches of the chart to the point we end up with the same score as 1981.

Score: 14

Table

I can basically say the same for 1982 as I did for 1981:

UK Number 40s: Elton John Band featuring John Lennon & The Muscle Shoals Horns - I Saw Her Standing There (1981)

 

Although many people probably won't know this particular record exists, it's actually quite surprising this never made number one let alone only just making the Top 40.

John Lennon had topped the charts with "(Just Like) Starting Over" following his death in December 1980. In 1981 the first two number ones also came from John Lennon with "Imagine" and "Woman". Then in March Roxy Music topped the charts with their cover of the John Lennon song "Jealous Guy".

What we have here is a big name in Elton John doing a Beatles cover with John Lennon himself which peaked at 40 the week Roxy Music fell from the top of the charts.

It was a live performance at Madison Square Garden from 1974 where John Lennon joined Elton John on stage. It was the last time John Lennon appeared in concert. Originally this was the B-side to "Philadelphia Freedom".

It was the first time "I Saw Her Standing There" charted as the Beatles version was never a single. It was also the first Lennon/McCartney composition to peak at 40, but wasn't the last. Paul McCartney is way out in the lead with most Top 40 hits as songwriter and the only position one of his compositions hasn't peaked at is 38.

Despite being a big name with lots of hits, Elton John's Top 40 record isn't as impressive as you'd think it would be. Most of his hits failed to make the Top 10. His albums fared better, but at this point in time even they weren't selling as well as previous efforts. His previous single "Sartorial Eloquence" failed to make the Top 40 as did the follow up to this "Nobody Wins".

Interestingly the song that this replaced at number 40 was "Walking On Thin Ice" by Yoko Ono.

Top 30 in 1991 Reviewed - Week 24

Here's my weekly look at the Top 30 from 30 years ago. The plan is for these posts to go out at 17:30 on a Sunday.

Here is the Top 40 in full.

Obviously some of the records will be the same as last week so therefore the review will be the same for these. I've indicated which ones are new so you can skip the others if you read last weeks post.

Once again my opinions are inevitably going to differ from other people, but I'm not trying to convince anyone something is good or rubbish, I'm simply giving my opinion.

So this is the top 30 from this week in 1991 with my verdict on each record:

30. Kraftwerk - The Robots

This was the only Top 40 hit for Kraftwerk in the 90s and was their first since 1983. It was actually originally released in 1978 but was taken of their remix album from 1991. Perhaps doesn't quite fit in with the other dance music that was happening at the time, but then it's thanks in part to records like this that 90s dance music existed in the first place.

Verdict - Good

29. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Sailing On The Seven Seas

This was the first OMD record to hit the Top 40 for 5 years. By now it was just Andy McCluskey on his own. On paper this should be 80s band trying to squeeze the last bit of life out of them in the 90s, but this was actually their joint highest charting hit. At the same time, because their last hit prior this came before my music memories began, I had no idea they were even around in the 80s at the time. 

Verdict - Good

28. Lenny Kravitz - It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over (New)

Although not his debut, this was the breakthrough hit for Lenny Kravitz in the UK. This is one I didn't really appreciate until later, I hated it at the time. When Lenny Kravitz returned to Top 40 a couple of years later with "Are You Gonna Go My Way?" I couldn't believe it was the same person who did this. Then came the day when I realised that it's possible to like both songs despite them being completely different to each other.

Verdict - Good

27. Rod Stewart - Motown Song (New)

Oh dear, this is dreadful. After doing a poor cover of a Motown record with "It Takes Two" in 1990, Rod Stewart is back with a song about that very label. It's actually from the same album though. Unsurprisingly given it's Rod Stewart, this is a cover. The original was by Larry John McNally.

Verdict - Rubbish

26. Extreme - Get The Funk Out (New)

I remember people being surprised that Extreme were a rock band when they would hear an Extreme song that wasn't "More Than Words". I wasn't though because I remembered them doing this before "More Than Words". Doesn't quite have enough to it to truly like it but its alright. 

Verdict - OK

25. Bette Midler - From A Distance (New)

It had been less than a year since Cliff Richard was torturing us with this record. Now here's Bette Midler back to do the same.

Verdict - Rubbish

24. LaTour - People Are Still Having Sex (New)

With the Color Me Badd record with sex in the title still in the Top 40, here's another record with it. I'm actually surprised this was as late as 1991, I've always associated this one more with the late 80s. A good record nonetheless.

Verdict - Good

23. Kirsty MacColl - Walking Down Madison

Having previously collaborated with the Happy Mondays, here's Kirsty MacColl adopting the Madchester sound for her own material. It was co-written by Johnny Marr and features mancunian rapper Aniff Cousins. It's not a bad record but does seem to lack something.

Verdict - OK

22. Gloria Estefan - Remember Me With Love (New)

One of many 90s hits from Gloria Estefan that I don't remember. This one isn't even listed on everyhit.com so it's very much a forgotten record. Is it worth remembering? No, not really.

Verdict - Rubbish

21. Dannii Minogue - Success

It seems a bit premature to called your 2nd single "Success". But then I suppose she had already had success as an actress on Home & Away and was confident of following in the footsteps of other Australian soap stars. It didn't successfully make it into the Top 10 though.

Verdict - Rubbish

20. Divinyls - I Touch Myself (New)

Every Wednesday at the students union when I first started university was a 70s and 80s night and almost every week this record would get played. Being the music snob I am this used to annoy me because I knew this was from 1991 not the 80s. I was much more appreciative when it got played at cheese night on a Saturday.

Verdict - Good

19. Skid Row - Monkey Business (New)

I can't listen to this one without thinking of "Paradise City" by Guns n Roses. I like that song so that's no bad thing. It has it's similarities but it's different enough not to be considered a blatant rip off. 

Verdict - Good

18. KLF ft The Children Of The Revolution - Last Train To Trancentral

One thing I've realised whilst doing these reviews is that I lot of the music I listened to on YouTube when I first discovered it was from 1991. This was one of those tunes I'd regularly listen to. I've always liked it, but when I was listening on YouTube all those years later I realised just how good this tune really is. If I had to pick my favourite KLF single then this would probably be it.

Verdict - Good

17. MC Hammer - Yo!! Sweetness

The 5th and final Top 40 hit from his "Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em" album. Sounds very much like an album filler to me. 

Verdict - Rubbish

16. Cathy Dennis - Touch Me (All Night Long)

The first solo Top 40 hit for Cathy Dennis. Maybe its my age, but to me there's something a lot more acceptable about pop music from this era than there was at the end of the decade. Cathy Dennis is a prime example of this even though by the end of the decade she was writing songs for the likes of S Club 7. The ironic thing of Cathy Dennis going on to become a successful songwriter for others is that her solo debut was a cover.

Verdict - Good

15. Technotronic - Move That Body

The penultimate original Top 40 hit for Technotronic. It was also the first hit from their 2nd album "Body to Body". Ya Kid K was gone and in came Reggie. It could just as easily have been the same person though. Can't say I'm too keen on this one.

Verdict - Rubbish

14. Soft Cell ft Marc Almond - Tainted Love

Nearly a decade after topping the charts, "Tainted Love" was remixed and re-entered the charts in 1991. It's also now credited to Soft Cell ft Marc Almond, presumably to illustrate that Marc Almond was no longer part of Soft Cell. It doesn't sound very different from the version that was originally released, but its not a bad record I guess.

Verdict - OK

13. Salt-N-Pepa - Do You Want Me

I'm just remembering watching a Channel 4 programme where they had a count down of the 10 best rap acts of all time and in 2nd place was Salt-N-Pepa. I thought how? but then number one was Will Smith. I think they were taking the piss.

Verdict - Rubbish

12. Pet Shop Boys - Jealousy

This was the final single to be taken off the "Behaviour" album. It was originally written in 1982 and was the first Pet Shop Boys composition. It's quite surprising that the first thing they'd write would be a ballad. They do it well though.

Verdict - Good

11. Sonia - Only Fools (Never Fall In Love)

The fist Top 40 hit for Sonia after leaving Stock Aitken & Waterman. Unfortunately this never improved the quality of her music. It sounds like it should be a karaoke version of an older record but it isn't.

Verdict - Rubbish

10. Kenny Thomas - Thinking About Your Love

The second Top 40 hit for Kenny Thomas and his only Top 10. This is the song he's best known for. I must have seen this on The Chart Show at some point because it's making me want to watch an episode. I'd also say the fact this reminds me of the good old days of 1991 and watching The Chart Show means I quite like it.

Verdict - Good

9. Kylie Minogue - Shocked

This was the last original Stock Aitken & Waterman penned Top 40 hit before Matt Aitken sailed off into the sunset. It also denied Kylies sister Dannii a Top 10 hit with "Success". I do prefer this to the Dannii Minogue record, but that doesn't mean I like it.

Verdict - Rubbish

8. Crystal Waters - Gypsy Woman (La Da Dee)

I think I know why I've always though Alison Limerick is American now. It's because I heavily associate "Where Love Lives" with this record, and Crystal Waters is American. Much like the Alison Limerick record, this has fallen victim to being overplayed but still a decent record.

Verdict - Good

7. The Doors - Light My Fire

This failed to make the Top 40 when it was first released back in 1967. Thanks to a film about The Doors being around at the same time, it finally made the Top 40 in 1991. I actually had no idea this was an old record at the time, I guess the Inspiral Carpets using the organ around the same time may have had something to do with it. By the end of the decade I'd gained a lot more knowledge of The Doors and owned all their albums.

Verdict - Good

6. REM - Shiny Happy People

The band themselves hate this record and pretty much disowned it, but I actually like it. Yes it is a bit cheesy and completely not what you'd expect from REM, but the guitar riff, the breakdown going into the guitar riff and to an extent the backing vocals from Kate Pierson really make this record for me.

Verdict - Good

5. Madonna - Holiday

The 3rd time this song entered the Top 40. It was the debut Top 40 hit for Madonna and was rereleased to promote "The Immaculate Collection", her greatest hits album. It's shit.

Verdict - Rubbish

4. Beverley Craven - Promise Me

This was the Top 40 debut for Beverley Craven. One thing I am thankful to this song for was providing the sample to the rave classic "4am" by Orca. Unfortunately that's the only positive thing I can say about this record.

Verdict - Rubbish

3. Cher - The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)

The most recent Top 40 hit for Cher prior to this was "Just Like Jesse James", a song I liked. Therefore my impression of Cher at the time was quite positive. Then this came out and I thought what the fuck is this. It's a cover and I'm not overly keen on the original but it's tolerable. This version just makes me angry though, absolutely awful.

Verdict - Rubbish

2. Amy Grant - Baby Baby

This was another song I played a lot when I started using YouTube. I loved this record at the time and I loved Amy Grant too. I had no idea she was a Christian singer who was controversially crossing over to pop music. It seemed such an innocent song.

Verdict - Good

1. Color Me Badd - I Wanna Sex You Up

Like many kids my age, I found it hilarious at the time that there was a song with the word sex in the title. It wasn't the first Top 40 hit to have this, but I guess the way it was used played a part too. I did like it at the time but when I heard it on the music channels for the first time in years I realised it's actually a pretty poor record.

Verdict - Rubbish

If we give the records which were good 1 point each and those which were OK half a point, the final score is 15.5/30, or 52%. Slight improvement on last week.

UK Charts Best Year Search: 1981

What's this all about?

Top 40

Best Song: Tom Tom Club - Wordy Rappinghood

This was my record of the year for 1981. I'll never forget the first time I heard this in a school assembly and then find it on Fabriclive mix years later, it's a great tune.

Worst Song: Elaine Paige - Memory

As a kid I used to go to music school on a Saturday morning. What we'd all do at the start of the day before going to learn our instruments was sing in a choir. A lot of what we'd sing would be Andrew Lloyd Webber crap and this was one of them. I never did like that part of music school.

Top 40 Review

We have a Motown record at number one in "One Day In Your Life" by Michael Jackson. This was from 1975 before Michael Jackson left the label so it's basically Motown cashing in on Michael Jacksons success. It knocked another Motown record off the top in "Being With You" by Smokey Robinson which remains in this Top 40. Both decent records.

Staying with soul music, there's "You Might Need Somebody" by Randy Crawford which is good and a couple of average records in "Body Talk" by Imagination and "How 'Bout Us" by Champaign.

I'm liking the reggae music in this Top 40. We have "Dancing On The Floor (Hooked On Love)" by Third World, the double a-side "Don't Let It Pass You By/Don't Slow Down" by UB40 and a re-issue of "No Woman No Cry" by Bob Marley following his death.

Synth pop is still in it's infancy with the Depeche Mode debut "New Life" and "All Stood Still" by Ultravox the only 2 records from this genre in the charts, both good records.

Disco music no longer dominates the charts and the disco records we have aren't worth writing about, so I won't. In it's place is a bit more soul and a couple of medleys in "Stars On 45 (Volume 2)" by Starsound and "Ain't No Stopping" by Enigma, neither of which is any good.

The overall result though isn't good. It's quite a drop from the year before.

Score: 14

Table

1981 gets the same score as 1971, 1972 and 1973 and we're basically saying it's better than the mid-70s but not as good as the late 60s:

UK Number 40s: Light Of The World - I Shot The Sheriff (1981)

 

Light of the World may not be a name familiar to the casual music listener, but they were very much a big name in the jazz funk scene.

This was their Top 40 debut, a cover of the Bob Marley record. It was the 2nd of 3 versions that have made the Top 40 to date, but the Bob Marley original isn't one of them. The other 2 versions were covers by Eric Clapton and Warren G.

4 weeks later Beggar & Co, who were 3 members of Light of the World were in the Top 40 with their debut "(Somebody) Help Me Out" which would peak at 15. Then 2 weeks after that fell out the Top 40, Light of the World were back with their 2nd and final Top 40 hit "I'm So Happy/Time" which would peak at 35. Beggar & Co had one further hit with "Mule (Chant No2)" which came later on that year.

Group member Bluey had already formed Incognito as a side project by this point who are still going today after many albums. He would have 5 Top 40 hits in the 90s with them including Top 10 hit "Always There".

Top 30 in 1991 Reviewed - Week 23

Here's my weekly look at the Top 30 from 30 years ago. The plan is for these posts to go out at 17:30 on a Sunday.

Here is the Top 40 in full.

Obviously some of the records will be the same as last week so therefore the review will be the same for these. I've indicated which ones are new so you can skip the others if you read last weeks post.

Once again my opinions are inevitably going to differ from other people, but I'm not trying to convince anyone something is good or rubbish, I'm simply giving my opinion.

So this is the top 30 from this week in 1991 with my verdict on each record:

30. Kirsty MacColl - Walking Down Madison (New)

Having previously collaborated with the Happy Mondays, here's Kirsty MacColl adopting the Madchester sound for her own material. It was co-written by Johnny Marr and features mancunian rapper Aniff Cousins. It's not a bad record but does seem to lack something.

Verdict - OK

29. Jason Donovan - RSVP

I think we've reached the point here where Jason Donovan had released basically the same song multiple times. I would be his penultimate Stock Aitken & Waterman hit and his final one to be written by them.

Verdict - Rubbish

28. Zucchero ft Paul Young - Senza Una Donna (Without A Woman)

I originally thought they were singing "sense of Madonna". It was the Top 40 debut for Zucchero and the final Top 10 hit for Paul Young. This was originally by Zucchero on his own and all in Italian. I regarded this as music for old people at the time, but now I'm probably as old as these old people were back then so I have no shame in liking it.

Verdict - Good

27. Pixies - Planet Of Sound (New)

We're not too far away from grunge music entering the Top 40 for the first time, but here is an example of what influenced the genre. It was the 2nd Top 40 hit for the band and by the next time we'd see them in the Top 40 grunge had come and gone. Its not something I'd go out my way to listen to but I don't mind it.

Verdict - OK

26. Roxette - Fading Like A Flower

I'd forgot about this one until the Dancing DJs did a version back in 2005. I liked that version but it also made me grow fond of the original. In fact if I had to pick my favourite Roxette hit then this would certainly be a contender.

Verdict - Good

25. Salt-N-Pepa - Do You Want Me (New)

I'm just remembering watching a Channel 4 programme where they had a count down of the 10 best rap acts of all time and in 2nd place was Salt-N-Pepa. I thought how? but then number one was Will Smith. I think they were taking the piss.

Verdict - Rubbish

24. Queen - Headlong

The penultimate Queen hit before the death of Freddie Mercury later on in the year. It just seems a bit of a nothing song to me.

Verdict - Rubbish

23. Pop Will Eat Itself - 92 Degrees

I don't specifically remember this record, but years later I wrote a song where the melody of the verse was quite similar to this. No idea whether we'd had the same idea or I'd heard this in 1991 and only remembered that particular melody. Shows its a good tune anyway. For the record I never made a penny out of that song and probably never will.

Verdict - Good

22. Kenny Thomas - Thinking About Your Love (New)

The second Top 40 hit for Kenny Thomas and his only Top 10. This is the song he's best known for. I must have seen this on The Chart Show at some point because it's making me want to watch an episode. I'd also say the fact this reminds me of the good old days of 1991 and watching The Chart Show means I quite like it.

Verdict - Good

21. T'Pau - Whenever You Need Me

Much like Transvision Vamp a few weeks ago, I have no recollection of T'Pau still existing in the 90s but here they are with their last Top 40 hit. Unlike Transvision Vamp though, I actually quite liked T'Pau in the 80s. It definitely sounds more 80s than 90s, not necessarily a bad thing. Not really got enough to it to like it though. 

Verdict - OK

20. Kraftwerk - The Robots

This was the only Top 40 hit for Kraftwerk in the 90s and was their first since 1983. It was actually originally released in 1978 but was taken of their remix album from 1991. Perhaps doesn't quite fit in with the other dance music that was happening at the time, but then it's thanks in part to records like this that 90s dance music existed in the first place.

Verdict - Good

19. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Sailing On The Seven Seas

This was the first OMD record to hit the Top 40 for 5 years. By now it was just Andy McCluskey on his own. On paper this should be 80s band trying to squeeze the last bit of life out of them in the 90s, but this was actually their joint highest charting hit. At the same time, because their last hit prior this came before my music memories began, I had no idea they were even around in the 80s at the time. 

Verdict - Good

18. New Kids On The Block - Call It What You Want

Here's New Kids On The Block going down the dance music route with this C&C Music Factory produced effort. Once again it fails to make the Top 10 over here and fails to chart at all in America.

Verdict - Rubbish

17. Pet Shop Boys - Jealousy (New)

This was the final single to be taken off the "Behaviour" album. It was originally written in 1982 and was the first Pet Shop Boys composition. It's quite surprising that the first thing they'd write would be a ballad. They do it well though.

Verdict - Good

16. MC Hammer - Yo!! Sweetness

The 5th and final Top 40 hit from his "Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em" album. Sounds very much like an album filler to me. 

Verdict - Rubbish

15. Sonia - Only Fools (Never Fall In Love)

The fist Top 40 hit for Sonia after leaving Stock Aitken & Waterman. Unfortunately this never improved the quality of her music. It sounds like it should be a karaoke version of an older record but it isn't.

Verdict - Rubbish

14. Technotronic - Move That Body

The penultimate original Top 40 hit for Technotronic. It was also the first hit from their 2nd album "Body to Body". Ya Kid K was gone and in came Reggie. It could just as easily have been the same person though. Can't say I'm too keen on this one.

Verdict - Rubbish

13. Cathy Dennis - Touch Me (All Night Long)

The first solo Top 40 hit for Cathy Dennis. Maybe its my age, but to me there's something a lot more acceptable about pop music from this era than there was at the end of the decade. Cathy Dennis is a prime example of this even though by the end of the decade she was writing songs for the likes of S Club 7. The ironic thing of Cathy Dennis going on to become a successful songwriter for others is that her solo debut was a cover.

Verdict - Good

12. Madonna - Holiday (New)

The 3rd time this song entered the Top 40. It was the debut Top 40 hit for Madonna and was rereleased to promote "The Immaculate Collection", her greatest hits album. It's shit.

Verdict - Rubbish

11. Dannii Minogue - Success

It seems a bit premature to called your 2nd single "Success". But then I suppose she had already had success as an actress on Home & Away and was confident of following in the footsteps of other Australian soap stars. It didn't successfully make it into the Top 10 though.

Verdict - Rubbish

10. The Doors - Light My Fire

This failed to make the Top 40 when it was first released back in 1967. Thanks to a film about The Doors being around at the same time, it finally made the Top 40 in 1991. I actually had no idea this was an old record at the time, I guess the Inspiral Carpets using the organ around the same time may have had something to do with it. By the end of the decade I'd gained a lot more knowledge of The Doors and owned all their albums.

Verdict - Good

9. KLF ft The Children Of The Revolution - Last Train To Trancentral

One thing I've realised whilst doing these reviews is that I lot of the music I listened to on YouTube when I first discovered it was from 1991. This was one of those tunes I'd regularly listen to. I've always liked it, but when I was listening on YouTube all those years later I realised just how good this tune really is. If I had to pick my favourite KLF single then this would probably be it.

Verdict - Good

8. REM - Shiny Happy People

The band themselves hate this record and pretty much disowned it, but I actually like it. Yes it is a bit cheesy and completely not what you'd expect from REM, but the guitar riff, the breakdown going into the guitar riff and to an extent the backing vocals from Kate Pierson really make this record for me.

Verdict - Good

7. Soft Cell ft Marc Almond - Tainted Love

Nearly a decade after topping the charts, "Tainted Love" was remixed and re-entered the charts in 1991. It's also now credited to Soft Cell ft Marc Almond, presumably to illustrate that Marc Almond was no longer part of Soft Cell. It doesn't sound very different from the version that was originally released, but its not a bad record I guess.

Verdict - OK

6. Kylie Minogue - Shocked

This was the last original Stock Aitken & Waterman penned Top 40 hit before Matt Aitken sailed off into the sunset. It also denied Kylies sister Dannii a Top 10 hit with "Success". I do prefer this to the Dannii Minogue record, but that doesn't mean I like it.

Verdict - Rubbish

5. Crystal Waters - Gypsy Woman (La Da Dee)

I think I know why I've always though Alison Limerick is American now. It's because I heavily associate "Where Love Lives" with this record, and Crystal Waters is American. Much like the Alison Limerick record, this has fallen victim to being overplayed but still a decent record.

Verdict - Good

4. Beverley Craven - Promise Me

This was the Top 40 debut for Beverley Craven. One thing I am thankful to this song for was providing the sample to the rave classic "4am" by Orca. Unfortunately that's the only positive thing I can say about this record.

Verdict - Rubbish

3. Amy Grant - Baby Baby

This was another song I played a lot when I started using YouTube. I loved this record at the time and I loved Amy Grant too. I had no idea she was a Christian singer who was controversially crossing over to pop music. It seemed such an innocent song.

Verdict - Good

2. Cher - The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)

The most recent Top 40 hit for Cher prior to this was "Just Like Jesse James", a song I liked. Therefore my impression of Cher at the time was quite positive. Then this came out and I thought what the fuck is this. It's a cover and I'm not overly keen on the original but it's tolerable. This version just makes me angry though, absolutely awful.

Verdict - Rubbish

1. Color Me Badd - I Wanna Sex You Up

Like many kids my age, I found it hilarious at the time that there was a song with the word sex in the title. It wasn't the first Top 40 hit to have this, but I guess the way it was used played a part too. I did like it at the time but when I heard it on the music channels for the first time in years I realised it's actually a pretty poor record.

Verdict - Rubbish

If we give the records which were good 1 point each and those which were OK half a point, the final score is 15/30, or 50%. Sliding but still respectable.

UK Charts Best Year Search: 1980

What's this all about?

Top 40

Best Song: The Korgis - Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime

There have been numerous dance versions of this over the years such as the Baby D version. Generally speaking I've liked all the dance versions I've heard. Then around 20 years ago I bought a compilation which had this on and I realised the original was pretty good too. It wasn't until I saw Erol Alkan play this at the end of a "Bugged In" set though that I realised just how good this record is.

Worst Song: Lipps Inc - Funky Town

One of the most irritating records ever. I just hate everything about it, the riff annoys me, the vocals annoy me and it probably inspired future music for the Sega Megadrive which I used to often play on mute because the music was so irritating.

Top 40 Review

Motown is back. With just a solitary disco hit for Marvin Gaye flying the flag for Motown in the late 70s charts I looked at, we have two Motown records here. Jermaine Jackson makes his debut with "Let's Get Serious" and Teena Marie makes her debut with "Behind the Groove" and they're both good records.

Disco isn't quite as dominant, but we still have more disco than any other genre in this Top 40. The only one of these records I like is technically post-disco and it's a double a-side by Change with "A Lover's Holiday/Glow Of Love". Both sides were contenders for best song.

Another contender was "Love Will Tear Us Apart" by Joy Division. This was just weeks after the death of Ian Curtis and was their first time in the Top 40. 

The ever reliable Electric Light Orchestra have two records in this chart, "Xanadu" and "I'm Alive" and no surprise to say they're both good. The also reliable Roxy Music are also in the charts with "Over You" which also gets the thumbs up.

We have the final Top 40 hit to date for The Sex Pistols with a cover of  "(I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone" but this was pretty average. Punk wise it was all about the double a-side "Simon Templar/Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps Please" by Splodgenessabounds.

The most obscure record that's worth checking out is "The Scratch" by Surface Noise. This is an instrumental jazz funk record.

1980 is similar to 1979 in a lot of ways, hardly surprising given it was only a year later. As a result we also get a similar score, just half a mark in it.

Score: 20

Table

1980 sits in 3rd place, a solid start for the decade: