Oh, this 1980 chart is beautiful tonight

[Chris Brown]

I've just remembered it's Friday!
I was going to give myself the birthday present of two 1990s charts in a
row, but then I found this Top 100 from 1980. Well, I found the bottom 25,
and added the other 75 positions from another source, hence the change in
format at that point, sorry. It may also be that some entries to the T75 are
really climbers.

Anyway, there's a lot of good if familiar music in this chart, it was a
pretty good era. Possibly the most mod-revival-heavy chart ever. And the T75
debut of a consistently popular - if not consistently good -act.

Slightly different majorities are on Deezer and Spotify.
http://www.deezer.com/en/playlist/231436481
http://open.spotify.com/user/nowthats/playlist/0x7FLJR68zMEgwCOUoNEgv

1. (1) Blondie Atomic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW6OrdLkCLU
2. (9) Fern Kinney Together We Are Beautiful
3. (6) Marti Webb Take That Look Off Your Face
4. (5) Elvis Costello And The Attractions I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down
5. (3) The Whispers And The Beat Goes On
6. (2) Kenny Rogers Coward Of The County
7. (4) Cliff Richard Carrie
8. (17) Peter Gabriel Games Without Frontiers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYUGXuTNsic
9. (7) Michael Jackson Rock With You
10. (22) Rainbow All Night Long
11. (8) Tourists So Good To Be Back Home Again
12. (19) The Police So Lonely
13. (12) The Shadows Riders In The Sky
14. (11) The Ramones Baby I Love You
15. (25) Stiff Little Fingers At The Edge
16. (20) The Beat Hands Off - She's Mine
17. (10) Captain Beaky Captain Beaky/Wilfred The Weasel
18. (34) The Vapors Turning Japanese
19. (40) Gibson Brothers Cuba/Better Do It Salsa {1980 re-issue}
20. (16) The Buggles The Plastic Age
21. (13) The Specials Too Much Too Young (The Special AKA Live! EP)
[Too Much Too Young; Guns Of Navarone; Skinhead Symphony]
22. (14) The Boomtown Rats Someone's Looking At You
23. (47) Liquid Gold Dance Yourself Dizzy
24. (21) Jefferson Starship Jane
25. (30) The Captain And Tennille Do That To Me One More Time
26. (23) David Bowie Alabama Song
27. (15) The Nolans I'm In The Mood For Dancing
28. (28) Dave Edmunds Singing The Blues
29. (29) AC/DC Touch Too Much
30. (43) Shakin' Stevens Hot Dog
31. (48) Detroit Spinners Working My Way Back To You/Forgive Me Girl
32. (44) The Brothers Johnson Stomp
33. (27) Selecter Three Minute Hero
34. (38) Iron Maiden Running Free
35. (57) Jon Pertwee Worzel's Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2dOo5Z9dsk
36. (18) Jon And Vangelis I Hear You Now
37. (35) Donna Summer On The Radio
38. (45) Narada Michael Walden Tonight I'm Alright
39. (67) Martha And The Muffins Echo Beach
40. (65) Squeeze Another Nail In My Heart
41. (50) Tony Rallo Holdin' On/Burnin' Alive
42. (NE) UK Subs Warhead
43. (36) Sammy Hagar I've Done Everything For You
44. (69) Lambrettas Poison Ivy
45. (55) Def Leppard Hello America
46. (39) John Foxx Underpass
47. (54) Phyllis Hyman You Know How To Love Me
48. (46) New Musik Living By Numbers
49. (52) Joan Armatrading Rosie
50. (24) Queen Save Me
51. (73) BA Robertson Kool In The Kaftan
52. (NE) Trussel Love Injection
53. (33) Regents 7 Teen
54. (37) Styx Babe
55. (64) Bad Manners Ne-Ne-Na-Na-Na-Na-Nu-Nu
56. (58) Skids Animation
57. (53) Shalamar Right In The Socket
58. (61) Godiego Gandhara (Theme From Monkey)
59. (46) Flying Lizards TV
60. (NE) Earth, Wind And Fire In The Stone
61. (42) Joe Jackson It's Different For Girls
62. (72) Patrice Rushen Haven't You Heard
63. (NE) Bette Bright Hello, I Am Your Heart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWmnmCY9j0s
64. (NE) Slave Just A Touch Of Love
65. (NE) UB40 King/Food For Thought
66. (56) Jocko Rhythm Talk
67. (NE) Rose Royce Ooh Boy
68. (NE) The Dooleys Love Patrol
69. (41) Madness My Girl
70. (31) Kool And The Gang Too Hot
71. (NE) Purple Hearts Jimmy
72. (NE) Secret Affair My World
73. (59) The Pretenders Brass In Pocket
74. (32) Matchbox Buzz Buzz A Diddle It
75. (NE) Billy Preston And Syreeta It Will Come In Time


76 (49) Maybe Tomorrow - Chords
77 (68) Caravan Song - Barbara Dickson
78 Monkees EP - Monkees
[I'm A Believer; Daydream Believer; Last Train To Clarksville; A Little Bit
Me, A Little Bit You]
79 (51) Green Onions - Booker T & The MG's
80 That's The Way The Money Goes - M
81 (63) Martian Hop - Rocky Sharpe
82 Longer - Dan Fogelberg
83 (60) Fan Mail - Dickies
84 (71) Motorbike Beat - Revillos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJX_xxLM-Js
85 2,000 Man - Kiss
86 (62) Jazz Carnival - Azymuth
87 The Boys In Blue - Light Of The World
88 Sister Europe - Psychedelic Furs
89 Don't Push It, Don't Force It - Leon Haywood
90 (66) Bad Man! - Cockney Rejects
91 (74) Are You Ready - Billy Ocean
92 Where's Captain Kirk? - Spizz Energi
93 I Like To Rock EP - April Wine
94 Tonight - Zaine Griff
95 Spirit Of Radio - Rush
96 (75) Music Makes You Feel - Brass Construction
97 Rappers Delight - Sugarhill Gang
98 Fire Lake - Bob Seger
99 Let's Go Rock & Roll - KC & The Sunshine Band
100 Bring It All Home - Gerry Rafferty

Chris
--
"Back next week with another ridiculous tie knot"

The Hit Parade Blog - now with added 1997!
http://thehitparade.blogspot.com/search/label/Charting%201997

http://nowthats.blogspot.com

http://jottingsbythescribe.blogspot.com

[Paul Hyett]

On Fri, 8 Mar 2013 at 19:03:36, Chris Brown <extrem...@yahoospam.com>
wrote in uk.music.charts :

Err, you might have quoted the chart *date* (8th March 1980). :p

>1. (1) Blondie Atomic

One of her best (yes, I know, but I've always though of them in terms of
just Debbie Harry)

>2. (9) Fern Kinney Together We Are Beautiful
>3. (6) Marti Webb Take That Look Off Your Face
>4. (5) Elvis Costello And The Attractions I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down
>5. (3) The Whispers And The Beat Goes On
>6. (2) Kenny Rogers Coward Of The County
>7. (4) Cliff Richard Carrie

Don't remember any of these off-hand.

>8. (17) Peter Gabriel Games Without Frontiers

Barely remember this.

>11. (8) Tourists So Good To Be Back Home Again

Not bad.

>16. (20) The Beat Hands Off - She's Mine

On one of those LP's I converted last year.

>21. (13) The Specials Too Much Too Young (The Special AKA Live! EP)
>[Too Much Too Young; Guns Of Navarone; Skinhead Symphony]

No-one I know remembers anything but the first of those songs.

>27. (15) The Nolans I'm In The Mood For Dancing

I wish I *didn't* remember this!

>30. (43) Shakin' Stevens Hot Dog

Wasn't this his first hit?

>31. (48) Detroit Spinners Working My Way Back To You/Forgive Me Girl

OK.

>39. (67) Martha And The Muffins Echo Beach

One of the best two songs in this chart - an (almost) forgotten classic!

>69. (41) Madness My Girl

They've done worse.
--
Paul Hyett, Cheltenham (change 'invalid83261' to 'blueyonder' to email me)

[Chris Brown]

"Paul Hyett" <vidc...@invalid83261.co.uk> wrote in message
news:Ue6AKugy...@blueyonder.co.uk...

> On Fri, 8 Mar 2013 at 19:03:36, Chris Brown <extrem...@yahoospam.com>
> wrote in uk.music.charts :
>
> Err, you might have quoted the chart *date* (8th March 1980). :p

Yeah, I suppose I could have, but then it might have looked a bit dubious to
be posting it this week.

>>1. (1) Blondie Atomic
>
> One of her best (yes, I know, but I've always though of them in terms of
> just Debbie Harry)

But the best bit about this song is the riff, which she didn't write or
perform. Her lyrics aren't really any good and I doubt even she would argue
with that.

>>2. (9) Fern Kinney Together We Are Beautiful
>>3. (6) Marti Webb Take That Look Off Your Face
>>4. (5) Elvis Costello And The Attractions I Can't Stand Up For Falling
>>Down
>>5. (3) The Whispers And The Beat Goes On
>>6. (2) Kenny Rogers Coward Of The County
>>7. (4) Cliff Richard Carrie
>
> Don't remember any of these off-hand.

I remember five of them (though not from the time). I even like two.

>>8. (17) Peter Gabriel Games Without Frontiers
>
> Barely remember this.

Quite distinctive.

>>11. (8) Tourists So Good To Be Back Home Again
>
> Not bad.

Not as good as the Eurythmics though.

>>16. (20) The Beat Hands Off - She's Mine
>
> On one of those LP's I converted last year.

It was re-issued on CD as well. But I decided I wasn't that keen on the
non-single tracks so I didn't buy it.

>>21. (13) The Specials Too Much Too Young (The Special AKA Live! EP)
>>[Too Much Too Young; Guns Of Navarone; Skinhead Symphony]
>
> No-one I know remembers anything but the first of those songs.

How did you find time to ask them all within twelve hours?

I do agree that it's the lead track that's most remembered and tends to turn
up on compilations. Although it is notable that it's this live version
people know, not the studio track.
Obviously the fanbase at the time would have appreciated the full EP, which
is presumably why it sold so well; I'm pretty sure they never recorded any
of the covers in the studio. It wasn't released on CD in full until 2000
though.

>>27. (15) The Nolans I'm In The Mood For Dancing
>
> I wish I *didn't* remember this!

It's not as bad as their other songs.

>>30. (43) Shakin' Stevens Hot Dog
>
> Wasn't this his first hit?

I think it was. Far from his first single though.

>>39. (67) Martha And The Muffins Echo Beach
>
> One of the best two songs in this chart - an (almost) forgotten classic!

I don't think it's particularly forgotten TBH, probably one of the five or
six most-famous on this chart now.

>>69. (41) Madness My Girl
>
> They've done worse.

Like 'My Girl 2' for example?

Chris

[John]

On Fri, 8 Mar 2013 19:03:36 -0000, "Chris Brown"
<extrem...@yahoospam.com> wrote:


Happy birthday Chris

>1. (1) Blondie Atomic
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW6OrdLkCLU

One of my favourites from Blondie's commercial era.

>2. (9) Fern Kinney Together We Are Beautiful

I love this, good tune and good lyrics.

>3. (6) Marti Webb Take That Look Off Your Face

Good song.

>4. (5) Elvis Costello And The Attractions I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down

I had a sneaking respect for Elvis C. Not his best but good
nethertheless.

>6. (2) Kenny Rogers Coward Of The County

One of my favourites. I like songs that tell a story.

>12. (19) The Police So Lonely

Another group that made some great records. Not my favourite but
decent.

>13. (12) The Shadows Riders In The Sky

Seems out of place on this chart somehow.

>14. (11) The Ramones Baby I Love You

OK

>16. (20) The Beat Hands Off - She's Mine

Reminds me a bit of the Specials

>17. (10) Captain Beaky Captain Beaky/Wilfred The Weasel

Ha, Hissing Sid. I always associated this with the British Gas
adverts (Tell Sid) when it was sold off, don't know why.

>18. (34) The Vapors Turning Japanese

Excellent tune.

>21. (13) The Specials Too Much Too Young (The Special AKA Live! EP)
>[Too Much Too Young; Guns Of Navarone; Skinhead Symphony]

I always liked The Specials. Ghost Town is undoubtable their best but
the title track is also quite good.

>23. (47) Liquid Gold Dance Yourself Dizzy

Brilliant Disco song

>25. (30) The Captain And Tennille Do That To Me One More Time

Indeed.

>27. (15) The Nolans I'm In The Mood For Dancing

Probably the weakest of their hits, but the one they're most famous
for.

>35. (57) Jon Pertwee Worzel's Song
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2dOo5Z9dsk

I had the dubious pleasure of meeting Jon Pertwee once, at Harewood
House near Leeds. He had this really expensive sports car which some
kids where messing about round. In a rather indignant, and incredibly
posh voice he said (something like) "Oh I say, get orf my car"

Er, Jon, you were quite famous and it was obvious kids were going to
be attracted to your car. Putting it on display in the middle of
where the public were milling around was not the brightest idea, was
it?

>39. (67) Martha And The Muffins Echo Beach

As Paul says, a mini classic.

>44. (69) Lambrettas Poison Ivy

Featured in the film Quadrophenia from memory.

>53. (33) Regents 7 Teen

Ha, I remember this, 7 teen and not yet a woman. Just reading the
background to this song and apparently there were two versions, one
had permanent erection but the clean version had permanent reaction.
Oo err Matron

>54. (37) Styx Babe

Brilliant, and a funny story to tell of when my mate got married. A
small gathering and we all went out in the evening to a working mens
club, where a band called Styx were playing. Me and mate were joking
about how they must have gone down hill a lot to be appearing at a
Working Mens Club. Turned out to be a three piece male group from
Lincolnshire playing a few oldies but we were extremely disapointed
they never sang Babe :-) We even requested it at the interval!!

>55. (64) Bad Manners Ne-Ne-Na-Na-Na-Na-Nu-Nu

Isn't she a news reporter on ITV news?

>61. (42) Joe Jackson It's Different For Girls

Not bad, but "Is She Really Going Out With Him" was far superior.

>62. (72) Patrice Rushen Haven't You Heard
>63. (NE) Bette Bright Hello, I Am Your Heart
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWmnmCY9j0s

>68. (NE) The Dooleys Love Patrol

They should have recorded a song called "I've Got You"

>97 Rappers Delight - Sugarhill Gang

Rapping has come a long way since this :-)
--
John

[Chris Brown]

"John" <focus594...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:tf6mj89ijrqdnrvkt...@4ax.com...

> On Fri, 8 Mar 2013 19:03:36 -0000, "Chris Brown"
> <extrem...@yahoospam.com> wrote:
>
>
> Happy birthday Chris

Thanks.

>>1. (1) Blondie Atomic
>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW6OrdLkCLU
>
> One of my favourites from Blondie's commercial era.

I do like the start but I don't think enough happens further in.

>>2. (9) Fern Kinney Together We Are Beautiful
>
> I love this, good tune and good lyrics.

Not the hit she had in America, oddly.

>>3. (6) Marti Webb Take That Look Off Your Face
>
> Good song.

From a musical.

>>4. (5) Elvis Costello And The Attractions I Can't Stand Up For Falling
>>Down
>
> I had a sneaking respect for Elvis C. Not his best but good
> nethertheless.

Second of his three Top 10s, two of which were covers.

>>6. (2) Kenny Rogers Coward Of The County
>
> One of my favourites. I like songs that tell a story.

Depends on the story though, IMO.

>>12. (19) The Police So Lonely
>
> Another group that made some great records. Not my favourite but
> decent.

A bit underpowered.

>>13. (12) The Shadows Riders In The Sky
>
> Seems out of place on this chart somehow.

Because it's them?

>>14. (11) The Ramones Baby I Love You
>
> OK

Their biggest hit but far from the style they're known for.

>>16. (20) The Beat Hands Off - She's Mine
>
> Reminds me a bit of the Specials

Yeah, they were part of the same scene. They released their first single on
Two-Tone but then moved away.

>>17. (10) Captain Beaky Captain Beaky/Wilfred The Weasel
>
> Ha, Hissing Sid. I always associated this with the British Gas
> adverts (Tell Sid) when it was sold off, don't know why.

Sid, I suppose.

>>18. (34) The Vapors Turning Japanese
>
> Excellent tune.

Bit dated now. I did hear one of their other songs once.

>>21. (13) The Specials Too Much Too Young (The Special AKA Live! EP)
>>[Too Much Too Young; Guns Of Navarone; Skinhead Symphony]
>
> I always liked The Specials. Ghost Town is undoubtable their best but
> the title track is also quite good.

This is definitely the more raucous side of them.

>>23. (47) Liquid Gold Dance Yourself Dizzy
>
> Brilliant Disco song

It's a bit tacky and showbiz but there's something sort of likeable.

>>35. (57) Jon Pertwee Worzel's Song
>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2dOo5Z9dsk
>
> I had the dubious pleasure of meeting Jon Pertwee once, at Harewood
> House near Leeds. He had this really expensive sports car which some
> kids where messing about round. In a rather indignant, and incredibly
> posh voice he said (something like) "Oh I say, get orf my car"
>
> Er, Jon, you were quite famous and it was obvious kids were going to
> be attracted to your car. Putting it on display in the middle of
> where the public were milling around was not the brightest idea, was
> it?

Did he just park it there or was it a car show of some sort?

>>39. (67) Martha And The Muffins Echo Beach
>
> As Paul says, a mini classic.

Agreed.

>>44. (69) Lambrettas Poison Ivy
>
> Featured in the film Quadrophenia from memory.

I think you might be right.

>>53. (33) Regents 7 Teen
>
> Ha, I remember this, 7 teen and not yet a woman. Just reading the
> background to this song and apparently there were two versions, one
> had permanent erection but the clean version had permanent reaction.
> Oo err Matron

Hmm... not sure this would be greeted so fondly now.

>>54. (37) Styx Babe
>
> Brilliant, and a funny story to tell of when my mate got married. A
> small gathering and we all went out in the evening to a working mens
> club, where a band called Styx were playing. Me and mate were joking
> about how they must have gone down hill a lot to be appearing at a
> Working Mens Club. Turned out to be a three piece male group from
> Lincolnshire playing a few oldies but we were extremely disapointed
> they never sang Babe :-) We even requested it at the interval!!

They were lucky not to get sued.
Coincidentally I just heard an anecdote (on Simon Mayo's podcast) which
involved a drummer called Stix.

>>55. (64) Bad Manners Ne-Ne-Na-Na-Na-Na-Nu-Nu
>
> Isn't she a news reporter on ITV news?

Luckily I got that before I started imagining Buster Bloodvessel in a dress.

>>61. (42) Joe Jackson It's Different For Girls
>
> Not bad, but "Is She Really Going Out With Him" was far superior.

It probably was but this one's less over-familiar.

>>97 Rappers Delight - Sugarhill Gang
>
> Rapping has come a long way since this :-)

It has. In many different directions.

Chris

[Mark Goodge]

On Fri, 8 Mar 2013 19:03:36 -0000, Chris Brown put finger to keyboard and
typed:

>I've just remembered it's Friday!

That's OK; I was out last night so I didn't see this until this morning
anyway. So let's just decide that, for this week, Saturday night is music
night.

>Anyway, there's a lot of good if familiar music in this chart, it was a
>pretty good era. Possibly the most mod-revival-heavy chart ever. And the T75
>debut of a consistently popular - if not consistently good -act.

1980 was a pretty good year for music. The 80s, in the musical sense (which
started in 1978) were in full swing, but hadn't been going long enough for
homegenity to creep in. So there's a pretty good variety about this chart;
not all of it I appreciated at the time but plenty that, in retrospect, was
better than I realised.

>Slightly different majorities are on Deezer and Spotify.
>http://www.deezer.com/en/playlist/231436481
>http://open.spotify.com/user/nowthats/playlist/0x7FLJR68zMEgwCOUoNEgv
>
>1. (1) Blondie Atomic
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW6OrdLkCLU

One of my favourite Blondie singles. In retrospect, though, this was their
high water point. Their only better songs (of which there were few) than
this were already in the past, but more tellingly so were nearly all of
their not-quite-as-good-as-this songs. The only post-Atomic Blondie single
to even approach this level was the following year's Rapture.

>2. (9) Fern Kinney Together We Are Beautiful

Bit slushy, even now.

>3. (6) Marti Webb Take That Look Off Your Face

From the days when Andrew Lloyd Webber could have top-ten hits.

>4. (5) Elvis Costello And The Attractions I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down

Not one of his best.

>5. (3) The Whispers And The Beat Goes On

Somewhat formulaic disco.

>6. (2) Kenny Rogers Coward Of The County

Something of a country classic. It's hard to imagine a song like this
charting now.

>7. (4) Cliff Richard Carrie

Not hugely memorable.

>8. (17) Peter Gabriel Games Without Frontiers
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYUGXuTNsic

Brilliant song. One of my favourites at the time. There can't be many other
songs which contain a lyrical reference to Enrico Fermi as well as a
popular low-brow TV show.

>9. (7) Michael Jackson Rock With You

Mediocre.

>10. (22) Rainbow All Night Long

I liked this at the time, although I wasn't particularly into metal.
Although, listening to it now, it's very light metal.

>11. (8) Tourists So Good To Be Back Home Again

I liked this. I was later disappointed to hear that they'd split up, since
I didn't expect any much of their post-split members. Little did I know.

>12. (19) The Police So Lonely

Sting has never been known for the clarity of his vocal technique, but this
still sounds like "Sue Lawley" even though I know full well it's not.

>14. (11) The Ramones Baby I Love You

Good cover version.

>17. (10) Captain Beaky Captain Beaky/Wilfred The Weasel

As novelty records go, this was actually pretty good.

>18. (34) The Vapors Turning Japanese

Not, according to the band's lead singer, about what a lot of people think
it's about.

>19. (40) Gibson Brothers Cuba/Better Do It Salsa {1980 re-issue}

Good song.

>20. (16) The Buggles The Plastic Age

They weren't a one-hit wonder, but they might as well have been.

>21. (13) The Specials Too Much Too Young (The Special AKA Live! EP)
>[Too Much Too Young; Guns Of Navarone; Skinhead Symphony]

The lead song on this EP is still one of my all-time favourites. Going off
on a slight political tangent, it's interesting that in 1980, it was
considered politically correct for a left-leaning band to sing a song which
implicitly criticises an unemployed mother for creating an unnecessary
burden on the welfare state by having a child she couldn't afford to
support herself. These days, such a sentiment would be considered
distinctly right-wing.

>22. (14) The Boomtown Rats Someone's Looking At You

Not one of their best-known songs, but pretty good nonetheless.

>23. (47) Liquid Gold Dance Yourself Dizzy

Ugh.

>24. (21) Jefferson Starship Jane

The first in this chart that I don't remember.

>25. (30) The Captain And Tennille Do That To Me One More Time

Sort of a classic, although not one of my favourites.

>26. (23) David Bowie Alabama Song

Rather an odd song. Didn't chart very highly. Didn't deserve to.

>27. (15) The Nolans I'm In The Mood For Dancing

Aaaaaaaaaargh!

>36. (18) Jon And Vangelis I Hear You Now

I liked this at the time.

>39. (67) Martha And The Muffins Echo Beach

Now a staple of 80s compilations. And deservedly so.

>40. (65) Squeeze Another Nail In My Heart

Not one of their more successful songs.

>46. (39) John Foxx Underpass

I really loved this at the time. I was hugely into electronic music as a
teenager, and I was part of a school music club which spent a lot of time
cooped up in a small room in the music department during lunch break using
the school's one and only synthesizer to try and recreate stuff like this.
A couple of years later, having left school and got a job, I scraped
together enough money to buy a synth of my own. I was never successful
enough get any closer than dabbling in the edges of pro music, but it's
still one of the best things I've ever done.

>48. (46) New Musik Living By Numbers

Another 80s classic. Or cliche, depending on how you look at it.

>50. (24) Queen Save Me

Not one of my favourite Queen tracks. My brother was a huge Queen fan,
though, so I heard this often enough :-)

>51. (73) BA Robertson Kool In The Kaftan

Great song. Minor triva fact: BA Robertson co-wrote another song in this
chart, as well as several others which were hits for their respective
performers and some well-known TV themes.

>59. (46) Flying Lizards TV

Not the song that they are primarily remembered for, but this is probably
more representative of their output.

>61. (42) Joe Jackson It's Different For Girls

Another classic of the era.

>69. (41) Madness My Girl

Great song. Referred to in their latest album.

>73. (59) The Pretenders Brass In Pocket

Another classic.

>97 Rappers Delight - Sugarhill Gang

This is the sort of rap that definitely has a silent "c".

Mark
--
Blog: http://mark.goodge.co.uk
Stuff: http://www.good-stuff.co.uk

[Paul Hyett]

On Sat, 9 Mar 2013 at 12:56:04, John <focus594...@yahoo.co.uk>
wrote in uk.music.charts :

>
>>97 Rappers Delight - Sugarhill Gang
>
>Rapping has come a long way since this :-)

Unfortunately - since I actually don't mind this one.

[Paul Hyett]

On Sat, 9 Mar 2013 at 21:48:48, Mark Goodge
<use...@listmail.good-stuff.co.uk> wrote in uk.music.charts :

>>
>>1. (1) Blondie Atomic
>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW6OrdLkCLU
>
>One of my favourite Blondie singles. In retrospect, though, this was their
>high water point. Their only better songs (of which there were few) than
>this were already in the past, but more tellingly so were nearly all of
>their not-quite-as-good-as-this songs. The only post-Atomic Blondie single
>to even approach this level was the following year's Rapture.
>

Another of the few rap songs I like - though the hot blonde helped a lot
with that... :P

>
>>11. (8) Tourists So Good To Be Back Home Again
>
>I liked this. I was later disappointed to hear that they'd split up, since
>I didn't expect any much of their post-split members. Little did I know.

Grin.

In my case, I don't think I'd even noticed The Tourists, before the
Eurythmics came along.

>
>>21. (13) The Specials Too Much Too Young (The Special AKA Live! EP)
>>[Too Much Too Young; Guns Of Navarone; Skinhead Symphony]
>
>The lead song on this EP is still one of my all-time favourites.

Definitely one of the most memorable songs of the time.

>Going off
>on a slight political tangent, it's interesting that in 1980, it was
>considered politically correct for a left-leaning band to sing a song which
>implicitly criticises an unemployed mother for creating an unnecessary
>burden on the welfare state by having a child she couldn't afford to
>support herself.

I never got that from the song - ISTM it was just about jealousy over
someone else having the girl the singer wanted.

>These days, such a sentiment would be considered
>distinctly right-wing.

Would they - she was at least '*married* with a kid'...

>
>>39. (67) Martha And The Muffins Echo Beach
>
>Now a staple of 80s compilations. And deservedly so.

Gabriella Cilmi did a good cover of it several years ago.

>
>
>>97 Rappers Delight - Sugarhill Gang
>
>This is the sort of rap that definitely has a silent "c".
>

I couldn't disagree more - for me it is modern rap that deserves that
silent 'c' (I hope Col isn't lurking). But of course my opinion on that
is hardly news. :)

[Col]

"Paul Hyett" <vidc...@invalid83261.co.uk> wrote in message

news:KWcHor3s...@blueyonder.co.uk...

> On Sat, 9 Mar 2013 at 21:48:48, Mark Goodge
> <use...@listmail.good-stuff.co.uk> wrote in uk.music.charts :

>>>97 Rappers Delight - Sugarhill Gang
>>
>>This is the sort of rap that definitely has a silent "c".
>>
> I couldn't disagree more - for me it is modern rap that deserves that
> silent 'c' (I hope Col isn't lurking). But of course my opinion on that is
> hardly news. :)

You're entitled to your opinion as much as anyone and to be
fair, you don't go on about it as much as you used to.
--
Col

And all the stars that never were
Are parking cars and pumping gas.

[John]

On Sat, 9 Mar 2013 19:33:48 -0000, "Chris Brown"

<extrem...@yahoospam.com> wrote:

>
>"John" <focus594...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
>news:tf6mj89ijrqdnrvkt...@4ax.com...
>> On Fri, 8 Mar 2013 19:03:36 -0000, "Chris Brown"
>> <extrem...@yahoospam.com> wrote:


>>>2. (9) Fern Kinney Together We Are Beautiful
>>
>> I love this, good tune and good lyrics.
>
>Not the hit she had in America, oddly.

Apparently not, TWAB failed to chart there I just found out.

>>>4. (5) Elvis Costello And The Attractions I Can't Stand Up For Falling
>>>Down
>>
>> I had a sneaking respect for Elvis C. Not his best but good
>> nethertheless.
>
>Second of his three Top 10s, two of which were covers.

By reading this group I am discovering that there are a lot of songs
that are covers that I wasn't aware of. For instance Denis by
Blondie. However, having now heard the Sam & Dave version, I would
call this a complete re-working rather than a cover (although it is,
obviously)

>>>6. (2) Kenny Rogers Coward Of The County
>>
>> One of my favourites. I like songs that tell a story.

>Depends on the story though, IMO.

Yes, I should have clarified that :-) In particular I am thinking of
Up The Junction, Rat Trap and Billy Don't Be A Hero.

>>>13. (12) The Shadows Riders In The Sky
>>
>> Seems out of place on this chart somehow.
>
>Because it's them?

Partly, and partly because this was an era where there was lots of
fresh music, so seeing a well known song from the sixties on hear it
looked out of place.

>>>35. (57) Jon Pertwee Worzel's Song
>>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2dOo5Z9dsk
>>
>> I had the dubious pleasure of meeting Jon Pertwee once, at Harewood
>> House near Leeds. He had this really expensive sports car which some
>> kids where messing about round. In a rather indignant, and incredibly
>> posh voice he said (something like) "Oh I say, get orf my car"
>>
>> Er, Jon, you were quite famous and it was obvious kids were going to
>> be attracted to your car. Putting it on display in the middle of
>> where the public were milling around was not the brightest idea, was
>> it?
>
>Did he just park it there or was it a car show of some sort?

I can't really remember tbh.

>>>53. (33) Regents 7 Teen
>>
>> Ha, I remember this, 7 teen and not yet a woman. Just reading the
>> background to this song and apparently there were two versions, one
>> had permanent erection but the clean version had permanent reaction.
>> Oo err Matron
>
>Hmm... not sure this would be greeted so fondly now.

Have I misunderstood the song? There's nothing unusual about
seventeen year old boys lusting after seventeen year old teenage
girls.

>>>54. (37) Styx Babe
>>
>> Brilliant, and a funny story to tell of when my mate got married. A
>> small gathering and we all went out in the evening to a working mens
>> club, where a band called Styx were playing. Me and mate were joking
>> about how they must have gone down hill a lot to be appearing at a
>> Working Mens Club. Turned out to be a three piece male group from
>> Lincolnshire playing a few oldies but we were extremely disapointed
>> they never sang Babe :-) We even requested it at the interval!!
>
>They were lucky not to get sued.
>Coincidentally I just heard an anecdote (on Simon Mayo's podcast) which
>involved a drummer called Stix.

This was in 2007, but they're still going

https://www.facebook.com/styx.lincoln

--
John

[Paul Hyett]

On Sun, 10 Mar 2013 at 09:15:56, Col <reddw...@btinternet.com> wrote
in uk.music.charts :

>
>"Paul Hyett" <vidc...@invalid83261.co.uk> wrote in message
>news:KWcHor3s...@blueyonder.co.uk...
>> On Sat, 9 Mar 2013 at 21:48:48, Mark Goodge
>> <use...@listmail.good-stuff.co.uk> wrote in uk.music.charts :
> >>>97 Rappers Delight - Sugarhill Gang
>>>
>>>This is the sort of rap that definitely has a silent "c".
>>>
>> I couldn't disagree more - for me it is modern rap that deserves that
>> silent 'c' (I hope Col isn't lurking). But of course my opinion on that is
>> hardly news. :)
>
>You're entitled to your opinion as much as anyone and to be
>fair, you don't go on about it as much as you used to.

I've learnt my lesson, especially on Buzzjack! :p

[Chris Brown]

"John" <focus594...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message

news:9quoj8pisih4pa321...@4ax.com...

> On Sat, 9 Mar 2013 19:33:48 -0000, "Chris Brown"
> <extrem...@yahoospam.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>"John" <focus594...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
>>news:tf6mj89ijrqdnrvkt...@4ax.com...
>>> On Fri, 8 Mar 2013 19:03:36 -0000, "Chris Brown"
>>> <extrem...@yahoospam.com> wrote:
>
>
>>>>2. (9) Fern Kinney Together We Are Beautiful
>>>
>>> I love this, good tune and good lyrics.
>>
>>Not the hit she had in America, oddly.
>
> Apparently not, TWAB failed to chart there I just found out.

But she did have a hit there was 'Groove Me'.

>>>>4. (5) Elvis Costello And The Attractions I Can't Stand Up For Falling
>>>>Down
>>>
>>> I had a sneaking respect for Elvis C. Not his best but good
>>> nethertheless.
>>
>>Second of his three Top 10s, two of which were covers.
>
> By reading this group I am discovering that there are a lot of songs
> that are covers that I wasn't aware of. For instance Denis by
> Blondie. However, having now heard the Sam & Dave version, I would
> call this a complete re-working rather than a cover (although it is,
> obviously)

He seems to have recorded quite a few covers around this time. In fairness
to him, some of his songs have been hits for others.

>>>>13. (12) The Shadows Riders In The Sky
>>>
>>> Seems out of place on this chart somehow.
>>
>>Because it's them?
>
> Partly, and partly because this was an era where there was lots of
> fresh music, so seeing a well known song from the sixties on hear it
> looked out of place.

Yeah, I can see what you mean there. The Shads tended to prefer more
contemporary covers.

>>>>35. (57) Jon Pertwee Worzel's Song
>>>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2dOo5Z9dsk
>>>
>>> I had the dubious pleasure of meeting Jon Pertwee once, at Harewood
>>> House near Leeds. He had this really expensive sports car which some
>>> kids where messing about round. In a rather indignant, and incredibly
>>> posh voice he said (something like) "Oh I say, get orf my car"
>>>
>>> Er, Jon, you were quite famous and it was obvious kids were going to
>>> be attracted to your car. Putting it on display in the middle of
>>> where the public were milling around was not the brightest idea, was
>>> it?
>>
>>Did he just park it there or was it a car show of some sort?
>
> I can't really remember tbh.

Still, he should have thought people would be interested, like you say.

>>>>53. (33) Regents 7 Teen
>>>
>>> Ha, I remember this, 7 teen and not yet a woman. Just reading the
>>> background to this song and apparently there were two versions, one
>>> had permanent erection but the clean version had permanent reaction.
>>> Oo err Matron
>>
>>Hmm... not sure this would be greeted so fondly now.
>
> Have I misunderstood the song? There's nothing unusual about
> seventeen year old boys lusting after seventeen year old teenage
> girls.

No, but in the world we live in now people don't always think.

Chris

[Chris Brown]

"Mark Goodge" <use...@listmail.good-stuff.co.uk> wrote in message
news:t56nj85lmj7iav64g...@news.markshouse.net...

> On Fri, 8 Mar 2013 19:03:36 -0000, Chris Brown put finger to keyboard and
> typed:
>

> 1980 was a pretty good year for music. The 80s, in the musical sense
> (which
> started in 1978) were in full swing, but hadn't been going long enough for
> homegenity to creep in. So there's a pretty good variety about this chart;
> not all of it I appreciated at the time but plenty that, in retrospect,
> was
> better than I realised.

I think it was a lesser year than 1979 and maybe 1978, but the early part of
the year was very good (I guess a lot of hits at this point were written or
recorded in 1979 anyway)

.
>>Slightly different majorities are on Deezer and Spotify.
>>http://www.deezer.com/en/playlist/231436481
>>http://open.spotify.com/user/nowthats/playlist/0x7FLJR68zMEgwCOUoNEgv
>>
>>1. (1) Blondie Atomic
>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW6OrdLkCLU
>
> One of my favourite Blondie singles. In retrospect, though, this was their
> high water point. Their only better songs (of which there were few) than
> this were already in the past, but more tellingly so were nearly all of
> their not-quite-as-good-as-this songs. The only post-Atomic Blondie single
> to even approach this level was the following year's Rapture.

Even as somebody who wasn't a massive fan, it is remarkable how fast they
tailed off once the 80s started.

>>2. (9) Fern Kinney Together We Are Beautiful
>
> Bit slushy, even now.

Good slushy though.

>>3. (6) Marti Webb Take That Look Off Your Face
>
> From the days when Andrew Lloyd Webber could have top-ten hits.

Which makes me wonder when his last one was.

>>4. (5) Elvis Costello And The Attractions I Can't Stand Up For Falling
>>Down
>
> Not one of his best.

No, the trouble with the covers is that it's harder to excuse his stupid
voice.

>>5. (3) The Whispers And The Beat Goes On
>
> Somewhat formulaic disco.

Interesting point actually - I know this is often called a disco track (and
indeed it's on the streaming services as part of a disco compilation) but
there seems to be a whole batch of tracks released around this time that are
more like each other than the sort of thing that springs to mind when I
think of Disco.

>>6. (2) Kenny Rogers Coward Of The County
>
> Something of a country classic. It's hard to imagine a song like this
> charting now.

You'd hope the pro-violence message would attract more controversy now.

>>7. (4) Cliff Richard Carrie
>
> Not hugely memorable.

I think it is, partly because it's so unlike Cliff. And not really typical
of BA Robertson either.

>>8. (17) Peter Gabriel Games Without Frontiers
>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYUGXuTNsic
>
> Brilliant song. One of my favourites at the time. There can't be many
> other
> songs which contain a lyrical reference to Enrico Fermi as well as a
> popular low-brow TV show.

Fascinating song.

>>9. (7) Michael Jackson Rock With You
>
> Mediocre.

By his standards, perhaps.

>>10. (22) Rainbow All Night Long
>
> I liked this at the time, although I wasn't particularly into metal.
> Although, listening to it now, it's very light metal.

Yeah, almost closer to AOR in retrospect though I don't suppose that's the
sort of image Rainbow had back then.

>>12. (19) The Police So Lonely
>
> Sting has never been known for the clarity of his vocal technique, but
> this
> still sounds like "Sue Lawley" even though I know full well it's not.

Are you sure he wasn't doing it on purpose?

>>14. (11) The Ramones Baby I Love You
>
> Good cover version.

Bit of the Costello problem.

>>17. (10) Captain Beaky Captain Beaky/Wilfred The Weasel
>
> As novelty records go, this was actually pretty good.

I probably agree.

>>18. (34) The Vapors Turning Japanese
>
> Not, according to the band's lead singer, about what a lot of people think
> it's about.

Do you believe him?

>>19. (40) Gibson Brothers Cuba/Better Do It Salsa {1980 re-issue}
>
> Good song.

Only one though, 'Better Do It Salsa' isn't much cop.

>>20. (16) The Buggles The Plastic Age
>
> They weren't a one-hit wonder, but they might as well have been.

Nowadays they probably would be.

>>21. (13) The Specials Too Much Too Young (The Special AKA Live! EP)
>>[Too Much Too Young; Guns Of Navarone; Skinhead Symphony]
>
> The lead song on this EP is still one of my all-time favourites. Going off
> on a slight political tangent, it's interesting that in 1980, it was
> considered politically correct for a left-leaning band to sing a song
> which
> implicitly criticises an unemployed mother for creating an unnecessary
> burden on the welfare state by having a child she couldn't afford to
> support herself. These days, such a sentiment would be considered
> distinctly right-wing.

Though this raises the question of whether it's really a point on the
left-right spectrum or more of a sexist thing. I'm inclined to suspect the
latter actually.

>>22. (14) The Boomtown Rats Someone's Looking At You
>
> Not one of their best-known songs, but pretty good nonetheless.

Is he singing that badly on purpose?

>>24. (21) Jefferson Starship Jane
>
> The first in this chart that I don't remember.

You wouldn't remember even if you were listening to it. Dull.

>>25. (30) The Captain And Tennille Do That To Me One More Time
>
> Sort of a classic, although not one of my favourites.

It's OK, they were married.

>>26. (23) David Bowie Alabama Song
>
> Rather an odd song. Didn't chart very highly. Didn't deserve to.

I quite like it, but it was an odd thing to release out of context.

>>39. (67) Martha And The Muffins Echo Beach
>
> Now a staple of 80s compilations. And deservedly so.

Even though it was probably released in Canada in 1979.

>>40. (65) Squeeze Another Nail In My Heart
>
> Not one of their more successful songs.

Biggest hit from this album though.

>>46. (39) John Foxx Underpass
>
> I really loved this at the time. I was hugely into electronic music as a
> teenager, and I was part of a school music club which spent a lot of time
> cooped up in a small room in the music department during lunch break using
> the school's one and only synthesizer to try and recreate stuff like this.
> A couple of years later, having left school and got a job, I scraped
> together enough money to buy a synth of my own. I was never successful
> enough get any closer than dabbling in the edges of pro music, but it's
> still one of the best things I've ever done.

Not so portable back then were they?

>>48. (46) New Musik Living By Numbers
>
> Another 80s classic. Or cliche, depending on how you look at it.

Possibly the most of-its-time song in the chart.

>>50. (24) Queen Save Me
>
> Not one of my favourite Queen tracks. My brother was a huge Queen fan,
> though, so I heard this often enough :-)

Millions of people must own this on the Greatest Hits, but I wonder how many
of them could hum it?

>>51. (73) BA Robertson Kool In The Kaftan
>
> Great song. Minor triva fact: BA Robertson co-wrote another song in this
> chart, as well as several others which were hits for their respective
> performers and some well-known TV themes.

Mike & The Mechanics and Scotland spring to mind.

>>59. (46) Flying Lizards TV
>
> Not the song that they are primarily remembered for, but this is probably
> more representative of their output.

Unfortunately it's the only other one I've ever heard by them.

>>61. (42) Joe Jackson It's Different For Girls
>
> Another classic of the era.

Yep.

>>69. (41) Madness My Girl
>
> Great song. Referred to in their latest album.

Indeed.

Chris

[Paul Hyett]

On Wed, 13 Mar 2013 at 00:22:39, Chris Brown
<extrem...@yahoospam.com> wrote in uk.music.charts :
>

>>>2. (9) Fern Kinney Together We Are Beautiful
>>
>> Bit slushy, even now.
>
>Good slushy though.

Oh yeah - about as appealing as half-melted snow that soaks your
shoes...

>
>>>22. (14) The Boomtown Rats Someone's Looking At You
>>
>> Not one of their best-known songs, but pretty good nonetheless.
>
>Is he singing that badly on purpose?

No, that takes a lot of practice. :p

[Chris Brown]

"Paul Hyett" <vidc...@invalid83261.co.uk> wrote in message
news:KWcHor3s...@blueyonder.co.uk...

> On Sat, 9 Mar 2013 at 21:48:48, Mark Goodge
> <use...@listmail.good-stuff.co.uk> wrote in uk.music.charts :
>>>

>>>11. (8) Tourists So Good To Be Back Home Again
>>
>>I liked this. I was later disappointed to hear that they'd split up, since
>>I didn't expect any much of their post-split members. Little did I know.
>
> Grin.
>
> In my case, I don't think I'd even noticed The Tourists, before the
> Eurythmics came along.

I couldn't have obviously.

>>>21. (13) The Specials Too Much Too Young (The Special AKA Live! EP)
>>>[Too Much Too Young; Guns Of Navarone; Skinhead Symphony]
>>
>>The lead song on this EP is still one of my all-time favourites.
>
> Definitely one of the most memorable songs of the time.
>
>>Going off
>>on a slight political tangent, it's interesting that in 1980, it was
>>considered politically correct for a left-leaning band to sing a song
>>which
>>implicitly criticises an unemployed mother for creating an unnecessary
>>burden on the welfare state by having a child she couldn't afford to
>>support herself.
>
> I never got that from the song - ISTM it was just about jealousy over
> someone else having the girl the singer wanted.

That's obviously the initial motivation, but those lyrics about "Just
another burden on the welfare state" and "try using a cap" are in there.

>>These days, such a sentiment would be considered
>>distinctly right-wing.
>
> Would they - she was at least '*married* with a kid'...

...But with the very strong implication that she's only married because she
was pregnant. Obviously that's something that, for good or ill, was more
likely to happen in 1979 than now. And of course it is only the singer's
assumption even then, so perhaps he's supposed to be an unreliable
narrator - but even if he is I don't imagine most people singing along at
the time would have got that. I get the impression that the Specials
appealed to a disproportionately male audience at the time.
The sexism is obvious though (with the above proviso that it may be
fictional) in the concept that it's entirely seen as the woman's fault.

>>>39. (67) Martha And The Muffins Echo Beach
>>
>>Now a staple of 80s compilations. And deservedly so.
>
> Gabriella Cilmi did a good cover of it several years ago.

I agree with every word except "good".

>>>97 Rappers Delight - Sugarhill Gang
>>
>>This is the sort of rap that definitely has a silent "c".
>>
> I couldn't disagree more - for me it is modern rap that deserves that
> silent 'c' (I hope Col isn't lurking). But of course my opinion on that is
> hardly news. :)

I think this gets a bad rep from serious rap fans that isn't entirely
deserved.

Chris

[Robbie]

On 08/03/2013 19:03, Chris Brown wrote:
> I've just remembered it's Friday!
> I was going to give myself the birthday present of two 1990s charts in a
> row, but then I found this Top 100 from 1980.

I appreciate you posting this chart from 1980, this is the chart from
two weeks before my birthday and I can remember this chart like it was
yesterday and not 33 years ago.

Well, I found the bottom
> 25, and added the other 75 positions from another source, hence the
> change in format at that point, sorry. It may also be that some entries
> to the T75 are really climbers.

It was myself who first posted up numbers 76 to 100 so it's good to see
someone using that portion of the chart. Numbers 76 to 100 in this chart
were originally listed by Alan Jones in his Record Mirror "Chartfile"
column in the issue dated 15/03/80. In 1980 he frequently made reference
to positions outside the top 75 in the larger top 200 industry only
chart but this was the only time he put up and entire list. On another
occasion he did list all the new entries to the top 200 for the previous
week.

>
> Anyway, there's a lot of good if familiar music in this chart, it was a
> pretty good era. Possibly the most mod-revival-heavy chart ever. And the
> T75 debut of a consistently popular - if not consistently good -act.
>
> Slightly different majorities are on Deezer and Spotify.
> http://www.deezer.com/en/playlist/231436481
> http://open.spotify.com/user/nowthats/playlist/0x7FLJR68zMEgwCOUoNEgv
>
> 1. (1) Blondie Atomic
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW6OrdLkCLU

I can still remember sitting with my friends at school huddled around
the radio on the day this climbed to number 1. It's a good song but I
much prefer the original album version rather than the edited 7" mix as
it removes the two best parts of the song - the "Three Blind Mice" intro
and the middle section.

> 2. (9) Fern Kinney Together We Are Beautiful

Dreadful song. Far too twee.

> 3. (6) Marti Webb Take That Look Off Your Face

Another poor song but at least it's better than the awful Fern Kinney song.

> 4. (5) Elvis Costello And The Attractions I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down

The first single from this chart that I owned. Good sing but Cotsello's
voice is the week link.

> 5. (3) The Whispers And The Beat Goes On

The second I owned, this one on 12". Sounds a bit bland now but I loved
it back then.

> 6. (2) Kenny Rogers Coward Of The County

I bought this one for my mother for Mother's Day. She loved it, I hated it.

> 7. (4) Cliff Richard Carrie

One of his best singles from the 80s.

> 8. (17) Peter Gabriel Games Without Frontiers
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYUGXuTNsic

Features an uncredited Kate Bush on backing vocals. Good unconventional
song that everyone used to whistle along to.

> 9. (7) Michael Jackson Rock With You

OK song but not his best from the 'Off the Wall' album.

> 10. (22) Rainbow All Night Long

A song I didn't like back then but one which I have since grown to like.
The "don't know about your brains but you look all right" bit upset a
number of feminists at the time and I can remember this being reported
in the music papers.

> 11. (8) Tourists So Good To Be Back Home Again

The only one of theirs I really liked.

> 12. (19) The Police So Lonely

I liked this at the time but now it sounds a bit annoying, mainly due to
Sting's voice.

> 13. (12) The Shadows Riders In The Sky

Poor.

> 14. (11) The Ramones Baby I Love You

Produced by Phil Spector who infamously pulled out a gun and pointed it
at the band during the recording of the song, threatening to shoot them!

> 15. (25) Stiff Little Fingers At The Edge

Good song, one of their best.

> 16. (20) The Beat Hands Off - She's Mine

Another I owned but one of their weaker songs. It didn't put me off
buying it though as I was buying every single by all the 2 Tone related
acts at the time.

> 17. (10) Captain Beaky Captain Beaky/Wilfred The Weasel

Bizarre record that could only chart in the UK! Promoted heavily by Noel
Edmonds on his weekend Radio 1 show.

> 18. (34) The Vapors Turning Japanese

I liked this back then and bought it but it sounds very dated now.
Produced by Vic Coppersmith-Heaven, the producer of The Jam.

> 19. (40) Gibson Brothers Cuba/Better Do It Salsa {1980 re-issue}

Owned it on 12". 'Cuba' is a great song that was a minor hit the
previous year.

> 20. (16) The Buggles The Plastic Age

bought the album on CD a few years ago. Not a bad song.

> 21. (13) The Specials Too Much Too Young (The Special AKA Live! EP)
> [Too Much Too Young; Guns Of Navarone; Skinhead Symphony]

Bought this one. This is a much better version than the studio version
which appears on their debut album. That version is much slower and just
drags on and is much longer.

> 22. (14) The Boomtown Rats Someone's Looking At You

Owned it on 7". Decent enough song.

> 23. (47) Liquid Gold Dance Yourself Dizzy

My mother bought this one - absolutely awful song! Sampled by Yomanda on
'Synth And Strings', a top 10 hit in July 1999.

> 24. (21) Jefferson Starship Jane

Grace Slick had temporarily left the group so this one featured a male
lead vocal. Very dull song.

> 25. (30) The Captain And Tennille Do That To Me One More Time

Another dull song and a former US number 1.

> 26. (23) David Bowie Alabama Song

Not a bad song, very different sounding.

> 27. (15) The Nolans I'm In The Mood For Dancing

My mother owned this one too and it's yet another I hated!

> 28. (28) Dave Edmunds Singing The Blues

Dull cover.

> 29. (29) AC/DC Touch Too Much

Not one of their best songs. The singer, Bon Scott, died during the
chart run of this record.

> 30. (43) Shakin' Stevens Hot Dog

Poor

> 31. (48) Detroit Spinners Working My Way Back To You/Forgive Me Girl

Owned this on 12". I liked it then but went off it by mid 1980.

> 32. (44) The Brothers Johnson Stomp

Owned this on 7". Still like this one.

> 33. (27) Selecter Three Minute Hero

Owned this on 7". OK song but not as good as 'On My Radio'.

> 34. (38) Iron Maiden Running Free

Features the original lead singer Paul Di'Anno who fairly recently was
jailed for benefit fraud. Not a good song.

> 35. (57) Jon Pertwee Worzel's Song
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2dOo5Z9dsk

Another silly song!

> 36. (18) Jon And Vangelis I Hear You Now

I'm not a great fan of Jon Anderson's voice but it works well on the
hits he had with Vangelis.

> 37. (35) Donna Summer On The Radio

A very good song but the big hits were starting to dry up for Donna at
this point.

> 38. (45) Narada Michael Walden Tonight I'm Alright

Preferred the follow up to this.

> 39. (67) Martha And The Muffins Echo Beach

One of those songs that I loved but just never got around to buying.
This song brings back so many memories for me, it's very evocative of
its era.

> 40. (65) Squeeze Another Nail In My Heart

One of my favourite Squeeze singles.

> 47. (54) Phyllis Hyman You Know How To Love Me

Owned this on 12". excellent disco song.

> 48. (46) New Musik Living By Numbers

Owned this on 10" single. Not too bad but not their best.

> 50. (24) Queen Save Me

One of the worst ueen singles in my opinion.

> 55. (64) Bad Manners Ne-Ne-Na-Na-Na-Na-Nu-Nu

This record had a very meandering chart run.

> 58. (61) Godiego Gandhara (Theme From Monkey)

My two sisters loved the TV programme but I just couldn't get into it
myself. If I remember it was shown on a Friday on BBC2 at something like
6pm.

> 59. (46) Flying Lizards TV

Bought this on 7". Different!

> 60. (NE) Earth, Wind And Fire In The Stone

Bought this on 7". A bit generic really.

> 61. (42) Joe Jackson It's Different For Girls

The first single that bought in the 1980s and - shock, horror - the
first time I paid over �1 for a 7" single, the record companies
welcoming in the 80s by raising the price of singles just after the new
year. I think the price went up from 90p or 95p to �1.05.

> 62. (72) Patrice Rushen Haven't You Heard

Owned this on the B side of the 12" of 'Forget Me Nots' some two and a
quarter years later. Good song.

> 64. (NE) Slave Just A Touch Of Love

Owned this on 12". OK.

> 65. (NE) UB40 King/Food For Thought

and I owned this on 7". Still a great song and one of their best.

> 66. (56) Jocko Rhythm Talk

A dreadful early rap record.

> 69. (41) Madness My Girl

Owned this on 7". Still a good song.

> 71. (NE) Purple Hearts Jimmy
> 72. (NE) Secret Affair My World

Two good mod type records by two of the most popular bands in that genre.

> 73. (59) The Pretenders Brass In Pocket

Owned this on 7". Another song that still sounds good.

> 75. (NE) Billy Preston And Syreeta It Will Come In Time

Owned this on 7", bought from the bargain bin of my local record shop.
OK song.

>
>
> 76 (49) Maybe Tomorrow - Chords

Owned this on 7". Another good mod-style record.

> 79 (51) Green Onions - Booker T & The MG's

Owned this on 7". Still love it.

> 83 (60) Fan Mail - Dickies

Another 7" I bought from the bargain bin. Decent song.

> 84 (71) Motorbike Beat - Revillos
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJX_xxLM-Js

I do love this one. The Revillos were previously known as the Rezillos,
of 'Top Of The Pops' fame.

> 85 2,000 Man - Kiss

First song I don't remember.

> 91 (74) Are You Ready - Billy Ocean

The music in this song sounds like it was inspired by 'Don't Stop Til
You Get Enough' - I'm surprised Billy didn't get sued! Good song though.

> 92 Where's Captain Kirk? - Spizz Energi

I love this song! I bought it from iTunes a few months ago along with
their previous single from October 1979, 'Soldier Soldier'.

> 95 Spirit Of Radio - Rush

I always liked this one, especially the reggae breakdown in the middle.

> 97 Rappers Delight - Sugarhill Gang

Got my dad to buy me the 12" of this for Christmas 1979. He hated it, I
loved it!

> Chris


--
Robbie

[Paul Hyett]

On Sat, 16 Mar 2013 at 18:47:28, Chris Brown
<extrem...@yahoospam.com> wrote in uk.music.charts :
>

>>>>21. (13) The Specials Too Much Too Young (The Special AKA Live! EP)
>>>>[Too Much Too Young; Guns Of Navarone; Skinhead Symphony]
>>

>>>Going off
>>>on a slight political tangent, it's interesting that in 1980, it was
>>>considered politically correct for a left-leaning band to sing a song
>>>which
>>>implicitly criticises an unemployed mother for creating an unnecessary
>>>burden on the welfare state by having a child she couldn't afford to
>>>support herself.
>>
>> I never got that from the song - ISTM it was just about jealousy over
>> someone else having the girl the singer wanted.
>
>That's obviously the initial motivation, but those lyrics about "Just
>another burden on the welfare state" and "try using a cap" are in there.

I always saw those lines as red herrings, given the singer says '...
when you could be having fun with me', which hardly implies
responsibility/commitment...

>
>>>These days, such a sentiment would be considered
>>>distinctly right-wing.
>>
>> Would they - she was at least '*married* with a kid'...
>
>...But with the very strong implication that she's only married because
>she was pregnant. Obviously that's something that, for good or ill, was
>more likely to happen in 1979 than now. And of course it is only the
>singer's assumption even then, so perhaps he's supposed to be an
>unreliable narrator

Exactly.

> - but even if he is I don't imagine most people singing along at the
>time would have got that. I get the impression that the Specials
>appealed to a disproportionately male audience at the time.
>The sexism is obvious though (with the above proviso that it may be
>fictional) in the concept that it's entirely seen as the woman's fault.

I must Youtube this song, given that I can only half remember the lyrics
from 35 years ago...

OK, done - I certainly had to look up 'Pickni', which I didn't remember
from the time at all.

>
>>>>39. (67) Martha And The Muffins Echo Beach
>>>
>>>Now a staple of 80s compilations. And deservedly so.
>>
>> Gabriella Cilmi did a good cover of it several years ago.
>
>I agree with every word except "good".

I'm surprised you've even *heard* her version?

>
>>>>97 Rappers Delight - Sugarhill Gang
>>>
>>>This is the sort of rap that definitely has a silent "c".
>>>
>> I couldn't disagree more - for me it is modern rap that deserves that
>> silent 'c' (I hope Col isn't lurking). But of course my opinion on that is
>> hardly news. :)
>
>I think this gets a bad rep from serious rap fans that isn't entirely
>deserved.

Too little swearing for them, presumably... :p

[Paul Hyett]

On Sun, 17 Mar 2013 at 00:15:35, Robbie <ngrob...@hotmail.com> wrote
in uk.music.charts :

>
>> 6. (2) Kenny Rogers Coward Of The County
>
>I bought this one for my mother for Mother's Day. She loved it, I hated it.

I always try to avoid buying songs I hate for people who are likely to
play it in proximity to me... :)

>
>> 12. (19) The Police So Lonely
>
>I liked this at the time but now it sounds a bit annoying, mainly due
>to Sting's voice.

Wouldn't that apply to other songs by The Police too, though?

>
>> 14. (11) The Ramones Baby I Love You
>
>Produced by Phil Spector who infamously pulled out a gun and pointed it
>at the band during the recording of the song, threatening to shoot
>them!

Surely that was an urban legend?

>
>> 21. (13) The Specials Too Much Too Young (The Special AKA Live! EP)
>> [Too Much Too Young; Guns Of Navarone; Skinhead Symphony]
>
>Bought this one. This is a much better version than the studio version
>which appears on their debut album. That version is much slower and
>just drags on and is much longer.

I'd forgotten just how short TMTY was!

>
>> 39. (67) Martha And The Muffins Echo Beach
>
>One of those songs that I loved but just never got around to buying.
>This song brings back so many memories for me, it's very evocative of
>its era.

I'd imagine it trickle-sells quite well on download.

>
>> 97 Rappers Delight - Sugarhill Gang
>
>Got my dad to buy me the 12" of this for Christmas 1979. He hated it, I
>loved it!
>

Much more tolerable to me than modern rap.

[Robbie]

Paul Hyett wrote:
> On Sun, 17 Mar 2013 at 00:15:35, Robbie <ngrob...@hotmail.com> wrote
> in uk.music.charts :
>>

>>> 12. (19) The Police So Lonely
>>
>> I liked this at the time but now it sounds a bit annoying, mainly due
>> to Sting's voice.
>
> Wouldn't that apply to other songs by The Police too, though?

His voice is particularly whiny on this track.

>>
>>> 14. (11) The Ramones Baby I Love You
>>
>> Produced by Phil Spector who infamously pulled out a gun and pointed
>> it at the band during the recording of the song, threatening to shoot
>> them!
>
> Surely that was an urban legend?

It definitely happened, the band have admitted it.

>>
>>> 21. (13) The Specials Too Much Too Young (The Special AKA Live! EP)
>>> [Too Much Too Young; Guns Of Navarone; Skinhead Symphony]
>>
>> Bought this one. This is a much better version than the studio version
>> which appears on their debut album. That version is much slower and
>> just drags on and is much longer.
>
> I'd forgotten just how short TMTY was!

Somehow the shortness of the live version is what makes it sound more
appealing.

>>> 97 Rappers Delight - Sugarhill Gang
>>
>> Got my dad to buy me the 12" of this for Christmas 1979. He hated it,
>> I loved it!
>>
> Much more tolerable to me than modern rap.

The 15 minute version on the B side drags on a bit though.

The unauthorised use of the bassline from 'Good Times' by Chic cost
Sugarhill Records dearly as the two Chic guys threatened legal action
and were given sole composer credits meaning the label and the writers
of the song never made a penny from the track.
--
Robbie

[Chris Brown]

"Robbie" <ngrob...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ki31sg$be4$1...@dont-email.me...

> On 08/03/2013 19:03, Chris Brown wrote:
>> I've just remembered it's Friday!
>> I was going to give myself the birthday present of two 1990s charts in a
>> row, but then I found this Top 100 from 1980.
>
> I appreciate you posting this chart from 1980, this is the chart from two
> weeks before my birthday and I can remember this chart like it was
> yesterday and not 33 years ago.

In a good way I hope.

> Well, I found the bottom
>> 25, and added the other 75 positions from another source, hence the
>> change in format at that point, sorry. It may also be that some entries
>> to the T75 are really climbers.
>
> It was myself who first posted up numbers 76 to 100 so it's good to see
> someone using that portion of the chart.

Thanks. I'm being a bit cautious about attributions these days after what
happened to ChartStats.

>Numbers 76 to 100 in this chart
> were originally listed by Alan Jones in his Record Mirror "Chartfile"
> column in the issue dated 15/03/80. In 1980 he frequently made reference
> to positions outside the top 75 in the larger top 200 industry only chart
> but this was the only time he put up and entire list. On another occasion
> he did list all the new entries to the top 200 for the previous week.

I wonder if he got told off.

>> Anyway, there's a lot of good if familiar music in this chart, it was a
>> pretty good era. Possibly the most mod-revival-heavy chart ever. And the
>> T75 debut of a consistently popular - if not consistently good -act.
>>

>> 1. (1) Blondie Atomic
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW6OrdLkCLU
>
> I can still remember sitting with my friends at school huddled around the
> radio on the day this climbed to number 1. It's a good song but I much
> prefer the original album version rather than the edited 7" mix as it
> removes the two best parts of the song - the "Three Blind Mice" intro and
> the middle section.

It always seemed a bit unfinished.

>> 2. (9) Fern Kinney Together We Are Beautiful
>
> Dreadful song. Far too twee.

Just the right side IMO, but not a fave.

>> 4. (5) Elvis Costello And The Attractions I Can't Stand Up For Falling
>> Down
>
> The first single from this chart that I owned. Good sing but Cotsello's
> voice is the week link.

Often is IMO, though I know many disagree.

>> 5. (3) The Whispers And The Beat Goes On
>
> The second I owned, this one on 12". Sounds a bit bland now but I loved it
> back then.

Not classic disco but a decent pop tune.

>> 7. (4) Cliff Richard Carrie
>
> One of his best singles from the 80s.

Agreed.

>> 8. (17) Peter Gabriel Games Without Frontiers
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYUGXuTNsic
>
> Features an uncredited Kate Bush on backing vocals. Good unconventional
> song that everyone used to whistle along to.

Good example of a song that's arty but accessible.

>> 9. (7) Michael Jackson Rock With You
>
> OK song but not his best from the 'Off the Wall' album.

Agreed.

>> 10. (22) Rainbow All Night Long
>
> A song I didn't like back then but one which I have since grown to like.
> The "don't know about your brains but you look all right" bit upset a
> number of feminists at the time and I can remember this being reported in
> the music papers.

Can't say I blame them, it is quite cock-rock.

>> 14. (11) The Ramones Baby I Love You
>
> Produced by Phil Spector who infamously pulled out a gun and pointed it at
> the band during the recording of the song, threatening to shoot them!

And people were surprised when he murdered somebody.

>> 16. (20) The Beat Hands Off - She's Mine
>
> Another I owned but one of their weaker songs. It didn't put me off buying
> it though as I was buying every single by all the 2 Tone related acts at
> the time.

I even forgot I owned this one.

>> 17. (10) Captain Beaky Captain Beaky/Wilfred The Weasel
>
> Bizarre record that could only chart in the UK! Promoted heavily by Noel
> Edmonds on his weekend Radio 1 show.

My mum liked this and played it to me sometimes.

>> 18. (34) The Vapors Turning Japanese
>
> I liked this back then and bought it but it sounds very dated now.
> Produced by Vic Coppersmith-Heaven, the producer of The Jam.

And they were co-managed by Bruce Foxton and John Weller too. Presumably
this was timed to arrive during the anticipation for 'Going Underground'.

>> 19. (40) Gibson Brothers Cuba/Better Do It Salsa {1980 re-issue}
>
> Owned it on 12". 'Cuba' is a great song that was a minor hit the previous
> year.

And was written by one of Daft Punk's dads, fact fans.

>> 21. (13) The Specials Too Much Too Young (The Special AKA Live! EP)
>> [Too Much Too Young; Guns Of Navarone; Skinhead Symphony]
>
> Bought this one. This is a much better version than the studio version
> which appears on their debut album. That version is much slower and just
> drags on and is much longer.

I presume this is nearer the way they played it live before the album, so
I'm not sure why they recorded it that way. I shall blame Elvis Costello.

>> 22. (14) The Boomtown Rats Someone's Looking At You
>
> Owned it on 7". Decent enough song.

Speaking of poor vocals.

>> 26. (23) David Bowie Alabama Song
>
> Not a bad song, very different sounding.

Rarely mentioned, but I had a bit of a soft spot for it.

>> 28. (28) Dave Edmunds Singing The Blues
>
> Dull cover.

I suppose at least he realised he couldn't write songs.

>> 32. (44) The Brothers Johnson Stomp
>
> Owned this on 7". Still like this one.

Good funk track.

>> 33. (27) Selecter Three Minute Hero
>
> Owned this on 7". OK song but not as good as 'On My Radio'.

I agree (except that I never owned it on 7")

>> 34. (38) Iron Maiden Running Free
>
> Features the original lead singer Paul Di'Anno who fairly recently was
> jailed for benefit fraud.

And the original drummer Clive Burr who's just died as well.

> Not a good song.

It is Iron Maiden.

>> 36. (18) Jon And Vangelis I Hear You Now
>
> I'm not a great fan of Jon Anderson's voice but it works well on the hits
> he had with Vangelis.

This came on the radio at work the other day and somebody said it sounded
like the theme from Brookside. It does.

>> 37. (35) Donna Summer On The Radio
>
> A very good song but the big hits were starting to dry up for Donna at
> this point.

People must have been getting tired of her.

>> 40. (65) Squeeze Another Nail In My Heart
>
> One of my favourite Squeeze singles.

And mine actually. Good video too.

>> 48. (46) New Musik Living By Numbers
>
> Owned this on 10" single. Not too bad but not their best.

I prefer 'World Of Water'. That might actually be the only other one I know
though.

>> 50. (24) Queen Save Me
>
> One of the worst ueen singles in my opinion.

Sounds like a filler, but apparently it was the first single from the album?

>> 58. (61) Godiego Gandhara (Theme From Monkey)
>
> My two sisters loved the TV programme but I just couldn't get into it
> myself. If I remember it was shown on a Friday on BBC2 at something like
> 6pm.

I think so, not that I was old enough to watch it yet.

>> 60. (NE) Earth, Wind And Fire In The Stone
>
> Bought this on 7". A bit generic really.

By numbers.

>> 61. (42) Joe Jackson It's Different For Girls
>
> The first single that bought in the 1980s and - shock, horror - the first
> time I paid over �1 for a 7" single, the record companies welcoming in the
> 80s by raising the price of singles just after the new year. I think the
> price went up from 90p or 95p to �1.05.

And yet when I started buying 7"s in the late 90s a lot of them were 99p.

>> 65. (NE) UB40 King/Food For Thought
>
> and I owned this on 7". Still a great song and one of their best.

Two of their best, in fact. Did it have a picture sleeve, mine hasn't?

>> 66. (56) Jocko Rhythm Talk
>
> A dreadful early rap record.

He claimed to have been rapping since the early 1960s though, so fair play
to him.

>> 69. (41) Madness My Girl
>
> Owned this on 7". Still a good song.

Part of their great run.

>> 83 (60) Fan Mail - Dickies
>
> Another 7" I bought from the bargain bin. Decent song.

Didn't impress me.

>> 84 (71) Motorbike Beat - Revillos
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJX_xxLM-Js
>
> I do love this one. The Revillos were previously known as the Rezillos, of
> 'Top Of The Pops' fame.

And guess what show they got to plug this on, even though it never made the
Top 40.

>> 85 2,000 Man - Kiss
>
> First song I don't remember.

Dull.

>> 92 Where's Captain Kirk? - Spizz Energi
>
> I love this song! I bought it from iTunes a few months ago along with
> their previous single from October 1979, 'Soldier Soldier'.

IIRC this was Number One on the first ever indie chart, though it never made
the national Top 75.

>> 95 Spirit Of Radio - Rush
>
> I always liked this one, especially the reggae breakdown in the middle.

I thought that was the worst bit.

>> 97 Rappers Delight - Sugarhill Gang
>
> Got my dad to buy me the 12" of this for Christmas 1979. He hated it, I
> loved it!

At least you got his money's worth. It's a long 12" version.

Chris

[Chris Brown]

"Paul Hyett" <vidc...@invalid83261.co.uk> wrote in message

news:+EeqMHvc...@blueyonder.co.uk...

> On Sat, 16 Mar 2013 at 18:47:28, Chris Brown <extrem...@yahoospam.com>
> wrote in uk.music.charts :
>>
>>>>>21. (13) The Specials Too Much Too Young (The Special AKA Live! EP)
>>>>>[Too Much Too Young; Guns Of Navarone; Skinhead Symphony]
>>>
>>>>Going off
>>>>on a slight political tangent, it's interesting that in 1980, it was
>>>>considered politically correct for a left-leaning band to sing a song
>>>>which
>>>>implicitly criticises an unemployed mother for creating an unnecessary
>>>>burden on the welfare state by having a child she couldn't afford to
>>>>support herself.
>>>
>>> I never got that from the song - ISTM it was just about jealousy over
>>> someone else having the girl the singer wanted.
>>
>>That's obviously the initial motivation, but those lyrics about "Just
>>another burden on the welfare state" and "try using a cap" are in there.
>
> I always saw those lines as red herrings, given the singer says '... when
> you could be having fun with me', which hardly implies
> responsibility/commitment...

I'd have called them sour grapes, more than red herrings, but that might be
splitting hairs. I take the point, but isn't the whole implication that he's
only bothered because she got pregnant and stayed with the father?

>>>>These days, such a sentiment would be considered
>>>>distinctly right-wing.
>>>
>>> Would they - she was at least '*married* with a kid'...
>>
>>...But with the very strong implication that she's only married because
>>she was pregnant. Obviously that's something that, for good or ill, was
>>more likely to happen in 1979 than now. And of course it is only the
>>singer's assumption even then, so perhaps he's supposed to be an
>>unreliable narrator
>
> Exactly.

There is a thread of what would now be called laddishness in the early
Specials songs though. I think Jerry Dammers made up for this to an extent
in the Special AKA era.

>> - but even if he is I don't imagine most people singing along at the time
>> would have got that. I get the impression that the Specials appealed to a
>> disproportionately male audience at the time.
>>The sexism is obvious though (with the above proviso that it may be
>>fictional) in the concept that it's entirely seen as the woman's fault.

He doesn't think the bloke should have worn a condom. Or kept his zip done
up.

> I must Youtube this song, given that I can only half remember the lyrics
> from 35 years ago...
>
> OK, done - I certainly had to look up 'Pickni', which I didn't remember
> from the time at all.

Spellings vary anyway.

>>>>>39. (67) Martha And The Muffins Echo Beach
>>>>
>>>>Now a staple of 80s compilations. And deservedly so.
>>>
>>> Gabriella Cilmi did a good cover of it several years ago.
>>
>>I agree with every word except "good".
>
> I'm surprised you've even *heard* her version?

Not recently I admit.

>>>>>97 Rappers Delight - Sugarhill Gang
>>>>
>>>>This is the sort of rap that definitely has a silent "c".
>>>>
>>> I couldn't disagree more - for me it is modern rap that deserves that
>>> silent 'c' (I hope Col isn't lurking). But of course my opinion on that
>>> is
>>> hardly news. :)
>>
>>I think this gets a bad rep from serious rap fans that isn't entirely
>>deserved.
>
> Too little swearing for them, presumably... :p

Ironically, the version I put on the Deezer playlist (which is the full 15
minute mix) censors the word "damn", although it leaves in the bit about the
"super sperm".

Chris

[Chris Brown]

"Paul Hyett" <vidc...@invalid83261.co.uk> wrote in message

news:uUbuYmvJ...@blueyonder.co.uk...

> On Sun, 17 Mar 2013 at 00:15:35, Robbie <ngrob...@hotmail.com> wrote in
> uk.music.charts :
>>

>>> 12. (19) The Police So Lonely
>>
>>I liked this at the time but now it sounds a bit annoying, mainly due to
>>Sting's voice.
>
> Wouldn't that apply to other songs by The Police too, though?

It does (apart from the instrumentals), but this one is particularly bad.
Maybe because it's so repetitive?

>>> 14. (11) The Ramones Baby I Love You
>>
>>Produced by Phil Spector who infamously pulled out a gun and pointed it at
>>the band during the recording of the song, threatening to shoot them!
>
> Surely that was an urban legend?

I don't think so, the band did confirm it. When he was producing John
Lennon's Rock & Roll album in 1973 he actually fired a gun in the studio,
admittedly not at anybody.

>>> 39. (67) Martha And The Muffins Echo Beach
>>
>>One of those songs that I loved but just never got around to buying. This
>>song brings back so many memories for me, it's very evocative of its era.
>
> I'd imagine it trickle-sells quite well on download.

I downloaded it a few years ago. Although I've since bought at least two
compilations with it on, so perhaps I didn't need to.

Chris

[Paul Hyett]

On Wed, 20 Mar 2013 at 23:36:18, Chris Brown

<extrem...@yahoospam.com> wrote in uk.music.charts :
>>>
>>>>>>21. (13) The Specials Too Much Too Young
>>>

>>>That's obviously the initial motivation, but those lyrics about "Just
>>>another burden on the welfare state" and "try using a cap" are in there.
>>
>> I always saw those lines as red herrings, given the singer says '... when
>> you could be having fun with me', which hardly implies
>> responsibility/commitment...
>
>I'd have called them sour grapes, more than red herrings

Yes, that sums it up far better!

>, but that might be splitting hairs. I take the point, but isn't the
>whole implication that he's only bothered because she got pregnant and
>stayed with the father?

Probably.

>
>> I must Youtube this song, given that I can only half remember the lyrics
>> from 35 years ago...
>>
>> OK, done - I certainly had to look up 'Pickni', which I didn't remember
>> from the time at all.
>
>Spellings vary anyway.

I'd never heard of it under *any* spelling before.

[Chris Brown]

"Paul Hyett" <vidc...@invalid83261.co.uk> wrote in message

news:qXcfo3Sa...@blueyonder.co.uk...

> On Wed, 20 Mar 2013 at 23:36:18, Chris Brown <extrem...@yahoospam.com>
> wrote in uk.music.charts :
>>>>
>>>>>>>21. (13) The Specials Too Much Too Young
>>>>
>>>>That's obviously the initial motivation, but those lyrics about "Just
>>>>another burden on the welfare state" and "try using a cap" are in there.
>>>
>>> I always saw those lines as red herrings, given the singer says '...
>>> when
>>> you could be having fun with me', which hardly implies
>>> responsibility/commitment...
>>
>>I'd have called them sour grapes, more than red herrings
>
> Yes, that sums it up far better!

I suppose a red herring would taste quite sour.

>>> I must Youtube this song, given that I can only half remember the lyrics
>>> from 35 years ago...
>>>
>>> OK, done - I certainly had to look up 'Pickni', which I didn't remember
>>> from the time at all.
>>
>>Spellings vary anyway.
>
> I'd never heard of it under *any* spelling before.

Also spelt "Pickney", as in the title of Desmond Dekker's song 'Pickney
Gal'. Being a dialect word I don't think it has a very consistent spelling.

Chris

[Robbie]

On 20/03/2013 23:26, Chris Brown wrote:
>
> "Robbie" <ngrob...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:ki31sg$be4$1...@dont-email.me...
>> On 08/03/2013 19:03, Chris Brown wrote:
>>> I've just remembered it's Friday!
>>> I was going to give myself the birthday present of two 1990s charts in a
>>> row, but then I found this Top 100 from 1980.
>>
>> I appreciate you posting this chart from 1980, this is the chart from two
>> weeks before my birthday and I can remember this chart like it was
>> yesterday and not 33 years ago.
>
> In a good way I hope.

A very good way!

>>> 36. (18) Jon And Vangelis I Hear You Now
>>
>> I'm not a great fan of Jon Anderson's voice but it works well on the hits
>> he had with Vangelis.
>
> This came on the radio at work the other day and somebody said it
> sounded like the theme from Brookside. It does.

I see what you mean.

>>> 50. (24) Queen Save Me
>>
>> One of the worst ueen singles in my opinion.
>
> Sounds like a filler, but apparently it was the first single from the
> album?

'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' was the first single. I remember
thinking when 'Crazy' was released that it was good to see Queen coming
up with something fresh sounding for a change but they then reverted
back to their then recent dull and generic sound with 'Save Me'.

>>> 61. (42) Joe Jackson It's Different For Girls
>>
>> The first single that bought in the 1980s and - shock, horror - the
>> first
>> time I paid over �1 for a 7" single, the record companies welcoming in
>> the
>> 80s by raising the price of singles just after the new year. I think the
>> price went up from 90p or 95p to �1.05.
>
> And yet when I started buying 7"s in the late 90s a lot of them were 99p.

and I can remember 7" singles still being 99p in 2005 when they
underwent something of a renaissance.

>
>>> 65. (NE) UB40 King/Food For Thought
>>
>> and I owned this on 7". Still a great song and one of their best.
>
> Two of their best, in fact. Did it have a picture sleeve, mine hasn't?

Looking at discogs.com there were two picture sleeves for the UK release
but I don't remember either so I'm guessing that I must have just owned
the single in a plain sleeve.

>
>>> 92 Where's Captain Kirk? - Spizz Energi
>>
>> I love this song! I bought it from iTunes a few months ago along with
>> their previous single from October 1979, 'Soldier Soldier'.
>
> IIRC this was Number One on the first ever indie chart, though it never
> made the national Top 75.

At number 2 on that first ever indie chart - 'Daytrip To Bangor' by
Fiddler's Dram!

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL19E6C8E01EB1C832

The indie chart in 1980 was compiled for a trade publication called
'Record Business', a rival trade magazine to 'Music Week'. The first
compiler of the chart was Barry Lazzell, the chart manager of Record
Business. After a short while he passed on compilation duties to one of
his junior staff, a certain Alan Jones who of course also wrote a weekly
chart column for Record Mirror. It's through working at Record Business
that AJ was able to get access to the official BMRB top 200 charts each
week which is how he was able to quote positions below the top 75 in his
weekly Record Mirror columns. It doesn't look like he ever got into
trouble for doing this though as he continued mentioning chart positions
below #75 all through 1980.

> Chris


--
Robbie

[Paul Hyett]

On Sun, 24 Mar 2013 at 00:02:14, Chris Brown

<extrem...@yahoospam.com> wrote in uk.music.charts :
>>>>>
>>>>>>>>21. (13) The Specials Too Much Too Young
>>>>

>>>> OK, done - I certainly had to look up 'Pickni', which I didn't remember
>>>> from the time at all.
>>>
>>>Spellings vary anyway.
>>
>> I'd never heard of it under *any* spelling before.
>
>Also spelt "Pickney", as in the title of Desmond Dekker's song 'Pickney
>Gal'. Being a dialect word I don't think it has a very consistent
>spelling.

If I noticed it at the time at all, I probably assumed the word was
'picnic' - which doesn't make any sense either of course, but there was
no internet to look it up on back then...

[Chris Brown]

"Robbie" <ngrob...@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:kilhgm$a0d$1...@dont-email.me...

> On 20/03/2013 23:26, Chris Brown wrote:
>>
>> "Robbie" <ngrob...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:ki31sg$be4$1...@dont-email.me...
>>> On 08/03/2013 19:03, Chris Brown wrote:
>>>> I've just remembered it's Friday!
>>>> I was going to give myself the birthday present of two 1990s charts in
>>>> a
>>>> row, but then I found this Top 100 from 1980.
>>>
>>> I appreciate you posting this chart from 1980, this is the chart from
>>> two
>>> weeks before my birthday and I can remember this chart like it was
>>> yesterday and not 33 years ago.
>>
>> In a good way I hope.
>
> A very good way!

Didn't want to make anyone feel old.

>>>> 36. (18) Jon And Vangelis I Hear You Now
>>>
>>> I'm not a great fan of Jon Anderson's voice but it works well on the
>>> hits
>>> he had with Vangelis.
>>
>> This came on the radio at work the other day and somebody said it
>> sounded like the theme from Brookside. It does.
>
> I see what you mean.

I presume Vangelis did not in fact write the theme tune to Brookside,
although I didn't check.

>>>> 50. (24) Queen Save Me
>>>
>>> One of the worst ueen singles in my opinion.
>>
>> Sounds like a filler, but apparently it was the first single from the
>> album?
>
> 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' was the first single.

Oh yes, right you are. This was still a pre-album single though, which is
bad enough.

>I remember thinking
> when 'Crazy' was released that it was good to see Queen coming up with
> something fresh sounding for a change but they then reverted back to their
> then recent dull and generic sound with 'Save Me'.

Even though literally millions of people must own this track on Greatest
Hits, I bet not many can remember.

>>>> 61. (42) Joe Jackson It's Different For Girls
>>>
>>> The first single that bought in the 1980s and - shock, horror - the
>>> first
>>> time I paid over �1 for a 7" single, the record companies welcoming in
>>> the
>>> 80s by raising the price of singles just after the new year. I think the
>>> price went up from 90p or 95p to �1.05.
>>
>> And yet when I started buying 7"s in the late 90s a lot of them were 99p.
>
> and I can remember 7" singles still being 99p in 2005 when they underwent
> something of a renaissance.

Yep. Of course the "official" price was up to about �2:49 by then but they
were discounted to help them chart. You'd be lucky to get one under 3:99
nowadays.

>>>> 65. (NE) UB40 King/Food For Thought
>>>
>>> and I owned this on 7". Still a great song and one of their best.
>>
>> Two of their best, in fact. Did it have a picture sleeve, mine hasn't?
>
> Looking at discogs.com there were two picture sleeves for the UK release
> but I don't remember either so I'm guessing that I must have just owned
> the single in a plain sleeve.

I got mine for free because it was tucked into a secondhand coy of the
Signing Off album, although that's obviously not how it was originally sold.

>>>> 92 Where's Captain Kirk? - Spizz Energi
>>>
>>> I love this song! I bought it from iTunes a few months ago along with
>>> their previous single from October 1979, 'Soldier Soldier'.
>>
>> IIRC this was Number One on the first ever indie chart, though it never
>> made the national Top 75.
>
> At number 2 on that first ever indie chart - 'Daytrip To Bangor' by
> Fiddler's Dram!
>
> http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL19E6C8E01EB1C832

Foreshadowing all those controversies later when budget ABBA compilations
showed up in the indie album chart.

> The indie chart in 1980 was compiled for a trade publication called
> 'Record Business', a rival trade magazine to 'Music Week'. The first
> compiler of the chart was Barry Lazzell, the chart manager of Record
> Business. After a short while he passed on compilation duties to one of
> his junior staff, a certain Alan Jones who of course also wrote a weekly
> chart column for Record Mirror. It's through working at Record Business
> that AJ was able to get access to the official BMRB top 200 charts each
> week which is how he was able to quote positions below the top 75 in his
> weekly Record Mirror columns. It doesn't look like he ever got into
> trouble for doing this though as he continued mentioning chart positions
> below #75 all through 1980.

Lucky for us.

Chris