WEEK ENDING 7TH APRIL 1984
TOP 40 SINGLES
WEEK ENDING 7TH APRIL 1984
TOP 40 SINGLES
Last weeks position in Brackets
1-(-1)Lionel Richie----------Hello
2-(-7)Shakin' Stevens-------A Love Worth Waiting For
3-(-3)Bananarama-----------Robert De Niro's Waiting
4-(13)Thompson Twins----You Take Me Up
5-(-9)Depeche Mode--------People Are People
6-(-2)Weather Girls----------It's Raining Men
7-(-4)Culture Club------------It's A Miracle
8-(-5)Galaxy--------------------What Do I Do
9-(14)Richard Hartley & Michael Reed Orchestra------Music Of
Torvill And Dean
10(-6)Sade-----------------------Your Love Is King
11(20)Michael Jackson-------PYT (Pretty Young Thing
12(15)UB40----------------------Cherry Oh Baby
13(-8)Break Machine----------Street Dance
14(29)Special AKA------------Nelson Mandella
15(36)Captain Sensible-------Glad It's All Over
16(27)Madonna-----------------Lucky Star
17(10)Kool And The Gang---Joanna
18(37)Rufus And Chaka Khan-----Ain't Nobody
19(17)Billy Joel-------------------An Innocent Man
20(11)Nena------------------------99 Red Balloons
21(12)Nik Kershaw--------------Wouldn't It Be Good
22(16)Van Halen------------------Jump
23(21)Frankie Goes To Hollywood-----Relax
24(18)Mel Brooks----------------To Be Or Not To Be (The Hitler
Rap)
25(38)Scritti Politti----------------Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha
Franklin)
26(--)Phil Collins------------------Against All Odds (Take A Look
At Me Now)
27(30)Simple Minds----------------Up On The Catwalk
28(22)Wang Chung----------------Dance Hall Days
29(19)Alexei Sayle------------------'Ullo John ! Gotta New Motor
?
30(40)Dead Or Alive---------------That's The Way I Like It
31(--)The Cure-----------------------The Caterpillar
32(33)John Lennon-----------------Borrowed Time
33(28)Siouxsie And The Banshees-----Swimming Horses
34(--) Cliff Richard-------------------Baby You're Dynamite
35(24)Julia And Company---------Breakin Down (Sugar Samba)
36(26)Rockwell-----------------------Somebody's Watching Me
37(--)Cameo---------------------------She's Strange
38(25)Kajagoogoo-------------------The Lion's Mouth
39(--) Psychedelic Furs-------------Heaven
40(--)Gap Band------------------------Someday
1-(-1)Lionel Richie----------Hello
Lionel Richie was halfway through his six week stay at number one
with Hello (aided by that awful promo video). The success of this
single helped to push his 'Can't Slow Down' album back to the
number one position it had previously occupied back in November.
It went on to become the best selling album of the year.
2-(-7)Shakin' Stevens-------A Love Worth Waiting For
Shaky looked as though he was about to have his fourth number
one, but had to settle for two weeks at number two instead. This
was his third number two peaking single.
3-(-3)Bananarama-----------Robert De Niro's Waiting
Bananarama were having their biggest hit to date, but would get
no higher than number three. Quite why this was a bigger hit than
"Cruel Summer" is one of life's great mysteries.
4-(13)Thompson Twins----You Take Me Up
Thompson Twins were also having their biggest hit with a song
that was about to reach number two. It all seemed to start going
wrong for them after this one.
5-(-9)Depeche Mode--------People Are People
Depeche Mode were having their biggest hit too and peaked at
number four. They were to have one further top ten hit this year
before disappearing from the top ten for six years.
6-(-2)Weather Girls----------It's Raining Men
Weather Girls were falling after reaching number two with their
only hit. Check out the 12 inch which segues into "I'm Gonna
Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair" if you can. And yes,
Martha Wash has recently revived the song in collaboration with
Ru-Paul.
7-(-4)Culture Club------------It's A Miracle
Culture Club were falling after peaking at four with the fourth
single from the Colour By Numbers album. Again, the 12 inch which
combines this song with "Miss Me Blind" is worth a
listen. Each of the four singles to be culled from 'Colour By
Numbers' peaked at a different position inside the top four.
8-(-5)Galaxy--------------------What Do I Do
Galaxy led by Phil Fearon were having their third hit in a year
and on their way down from number five. Just one more to come
before Phil dropped the band name and went solo.
9-(14)Richard Hartley & Michael Reed Orchestra------Music Of
Torvill And Dean E.P.
Peaking this week at number nine was this E.P. of the music that
Torvill & Dean used for their ice-skating routines. The lead
track on this was "Bolero".
10(-6)Sade-----------------------Your Love Is King
Sade was having her first hit which was surprisingly the only top
ten hit she ever had, and peaked at number six. Yet, she was a
major album act for quite a few years.
11(20)Michael Jackson-------PYT (Pretty Young Thing
Michael Jackson was having his sixth and final hit from
'Thriller', and was peaking just short of the top ten. He would
of course be hitting the chart again later this year with a
couple of old Motown tracks, and also on some new tracks with his
brothers.
12(15)UB40----------------------Cherry Oh Baby
UB40 were having the fourth and last hit from their covers album
'Labour Of Love'. It had done slightly better than the previous
single "Many Rivers To Cross", and was peaking at
number 12 this very week.
13(-8)Break Machine----------Street Dance
Break Machine were on their way down with "Street
Dance", having reached number three. They were to have two
further hits before the year was out.
14(29)Special AKA------------Nelson Mandella
Special AKA were having their last hit with the song that raised
a lot of awareness to what was happening in South Africa. It
peaked at number nine, and should perhaps be credited with being
a big influence on the changing face of the world.
15(36)Captain Sensible-------Glad It's All Over
Captain Sensible was also getting political with "Glad It's
All Over". It was a great number six peaking song, but hard
to take seriously, when it came from the man who brought us
"Happy Talk" and "Wot". The 12 inch featured
"Happy Talk" as well as "Damned On 45". Sadly
the Captain didn't have any further hits despite recording the
wonderful "One Christmas Catalogue" later in 1984.
16(27)Madonna-----------------Lucky Star
Madonna was having her second hit and would only reach number 14.
Her next single failed to chart at all (until re-issued in 1986),
but after that it would be over ten years before she next failed
to reach the top ten.
17(10)Kool And The Gang---Joanna
No point in me commenting on the Joanna/Daydreamer/Last
Christmas/Can't Smile Without You saga again. This was very
different from all their previous hits, but gave them their
biggest ever hit, peaking at number two.
18(37)Rufus And Chaka Khan-----Ain't Nobody
Chaka Khan had got back with Rufus to have a massive number eight
hit with "Ain't Nobody". It was her first hit for five
years, and would again grace the top ten five years later and
reach number six. Unfortunately, LL Cool J reached number one
with an awful rap version of this classic in 1997.
19(17)Billy Joel-------------------An Innocent Man
Billy Joel had been to number eight with his third of five hits
from the 'An Innocent Man' album. A particularly standout track
that would surely have reached the top had it not been already on
the said album.
20(11)Nena------------------------99 Red Balloons
Nena was on her way out, having reached number one with 99 Red
Balloons. Interestingly, the German language version of this was
the one that had airplay in the States.
21(12)Nik Kershaw--------------Wouldn't It Be Good
Nik's first hit had followed the failure of his previous single
"I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" to hit the top 40
(it later became his biggest hit). This single went all the way
to number four, helped in no small part by a brilliant video.
22(16)Van Halen------------------Jump
The first of two big hits in 1984 with the title
"Jump". This was the only Van Halen hit to feature
David Lee Roth and reached a number seven peak. Their only other
top ten hit came two years later with Sammy Hagar on vocals. That
number eight peaking single "Why Can't This Be Love"
strangely sounded like the type of song Bucks Fizz may have
recorded.
23(21)Frankie Goes To Hollywood-----Relax
Frankie Goes To Hollywood were now moving up and down in the
lower reaches of the 40 with the single that had earlier spent
five weeks at number one. Relax would later move back up to spend
a further seven weeks inside the top five, including two weeks at
number two. It was considered something of a shock when it
finally fell out of the top 40 after 37 weeks.
24(18)Mel Brooks----------------To Be Or Not To Be (The Hitler
Rap)
Mel Brooks had one of two comedy singles in the chart, and had
already peaked at number 12. "To Be Or Not To Be" was
taken from the movie of the same title, and was reasonably funny.
It's just started me thinking actually. American Comedy Movies I
find usually funny, but when it comes to the American sit-coms, I
just don't get it. I don't understand why the canned laughter is
placed where it is (and if it isn't canned and is a real
audience, then I'm afraid Americans may have a problem). Take
'Friends' (please !), Sky TV and Channel 4 continously tell us
how much we like it, and how we can't wait for the new series.
Eventually people did start actually watching it and some may
even like it. The next tactic was to tell us that we really want
to buy every series on video, even though they are repeated every
six months. I've seen it twice, it's no more amusing than 'The
Krankies'. I wonder if that's part of the joke, maybe the
laughter is placed deliberately in the wrong place. The only one
I can watch and find humour in is 'Police Squad'. Is there anyone
out there who can tell me why there is such a big difference
between the movies and the small screen humour ?
25(38)Scritti Politti----------------Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha
Franklin)
Scritti Politti had been around for a few years and were finally
having their first hit with this number ten peaking single. The
parent album (Cupid And Psyche '85) wasn't actually released
until over a year later when four singles had already been
released, and I consider it to be a worthwhile purchase for
anyone who's ever liked a Scritti single. Apparently 'Scritti
Politti' means 'Political writing', I think it's Latin.
26(--)Phil Collins------------------Against All Odds (Take A Look
At Me Now)
Phil Collins was in the charts, and on his way to number two,
with the title song from a film that I'll never forget. Not that
I remember it as being a film that grabbed my attention, just the
opposite in fact. I was so riveted when I saw this in the
pictures that I actually fell asleep. It taught me a valuable
lesson, Don't think a film will be good just because the title
song is !
27(30)Simple Minds----------------Up On The Catwalk
Yawn ! They were peaking this week, it was awful, but they got
better in 1985.
28(22)Wang Chung----------------Dance Hall Days
A great single, but this number 21 peaking single was their only
UK hit. They had more success in the States where "Everybody
Have Fun Tonight" peaked at number two during the last week
of 1986. The video for that hit was banned from some US TV
stations because its visuals were said to have caused seizures
for some epileptics.
29(19)Alexei Sayle------------------'Ullo John ! Gotta New Motor
?
The other comedy single was by Alexei Sayle. This wasn't funny
because of any great comical lyrics, it was funny because it was
so stupid if you get my drift. I bought the 12 inch !
30(40)Dead Or Alive---------------That's The Way I Like It
Dead Or Alive were having their first hit and on their way to
number 22 with a remake of the old 'K.C. and the Sunshine Band'
hit. I wouldn't describe it as a particularly good cover, but the
wheel almost turned full circle in 1998. In January 1985 Dead Or
Alive had a massive hit with "You Spin Me Round (Like A
Record), and that song almost hit the chart again courtesy of an
awful cover by 'Caffeine' in the spring of '98.
31(--)The Cure-----------------------The Caterpillar
The Cure were starting to become chart regulars after years of
limited success as "The Caterpillar" hit the chart this
week. It didn't quite match the number seven success of the
ridiculously catchy "Love Cats", but still managed a
credible number 14.
32(33)John Lennon-----------------Borrowed Time
John Lennon was on his second hit from the 'Milk And Honey'
album, but would get no higher than the number 32 slot he
occupied this week. In fact, this was John's last ever week in
the top 40 as a solo artist.
33(28)Siouxsie And The Banshees-----Swimming Horses
I like Siouxsie And The Banshees a lot, but I have to admit that
this single was nothing special. It was the follow up to their
biggest hit "Dear Prudence", but it was no surprise to
me that it failed to get beyond number 28.
34(--) Cliff Richard-------------------Baby You're Dynamite
Mr. Goody Two Shoes, Cliff Richard had the promo video for
"Baby You're Dynamite" banned by the BBC. The reason
was something to do with people walking on railway lines. Alas
for Cliff, the ban didn't have the kind of success the one on
Frankie's "Relax" had earlier in the year, and the
single only reached number 27. Strange how acts seem to be able
to get away with virtually anything in both their lyrics and
videos today. Don't they just love to sing/rap "Ass, Arse,
Mutha (we know what they really mean)". I suspect that the
first number one to include the 'F' word is very near to being
performed on Top Of The Pops, quickly followed by some moron
shooting up heroin while his bass player tosses him off (on a
Saturday morning kids show).
35(24)Julia And Company---------Breakin Down (Sugar Samba)
A quick mention to this excellent single by Julia And Company.
It's a classic and should have got higher than number 15. Get the
12 inch if you can.
36(26)Rockwell-----------------------Somebody's Watching Me
Mr. Gordy's son enlisted the help of Michael Jackson for the
singing bits on this one and it helped to make it a number six
hit. Rockwell's paranoia continued into his next single
"Obscene Phone Caller", but by then we'd all had enough
of him.
37(--)Cameo---------------------------She's Strange
Cameo made their debut this week with "She's Strange",
but only stayed for a week. They would return 18 months later.
38(25)Kajagoogoo-------------------The Lion's Mouth
Kajagoogoo were having their last ever week in the top 40 with
their fifth hit of a chart career that lasted all of 14 months.
They had peaked at number 25 the previous week. I just thought
I'd mention that the chart for the week ending 17th March, this
single had been the ONLY new entry that week at number 37.
39(--) Psychedelic Furs-------------Heaven
The Psychedelic Furs made their debut this week and reached
number 29 with "Heaven". They would never achieve great
commercial success.
40(--)Gap Band------------------------Someday
The Gap Band made a welcome return after a 'Gap' of three years.
Someday was written by Stevie Wonder, and peaked at number 17.
There would be another 'Gap' of three years before their next
hit.
Special mention for Hot Chocolate who'd fallen out of the chart
this week with their very last (non re-issue/re-mix) hit single
"I Gave You My Heart (Didn't I)" which had peaked at
number 13.
The other singles that had charted since 4th February 1984 were,
Michael Caine (Madness #11), Punch And Judy (Marillion #29), Soul
Train (Swansway #20), One Small Day (Ultravox #27), Run Runaway
(Slade #7), My Ever Changing Moods (Style Council #5), Hide And
Seek (Howard Jones #12), Main Theme From The Thorn Birds (Henry
Mancini #23), Get Out Of Your Lazy Bed (Matt Bianco #15), I Gave
You My Heart (Hot Chocolate #13), The Politics Of Dancing (Reflex
#28), More More More (Carmel #23), Down In The Subway (Soft Cell
#24), Cry And Be Free (Marilyn #31), Fraggle Rock Theme (Fraggles
#33), My Guy (Tracey Ullman #23), Renegades Of Funk (Afrika
Bambaataa And The Soul Sonic Force #30), Help (Tina Turner #40)
Thank you to Marc Wielage for the Wang Chung info.